The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-01 00:00:00

rHE SUN,.LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 186ai

part, be taken or interfered with for the purposes of the bill.
The other consists of the leases of houses in Hamilton-
place, or in the phrt of Piccadilly adjoining thereto, which
it was alleged wouldbe injuriously affected and depreciated
in value by the conv4rsion of Hamilton-place from a cul de
sac into a public thoroughfare.
" The latter class of petitioners, in order to make good
their claims to compensation, would have to bring their re-
spective cases within the operation of the 68th section of
the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, under the category
of lands or houses injuriously affected' by the construc-
tion of the works. Such cases may involve some important
questions of law, and may possibly come under the adjudi-
cation of the legal tribunals. The referees desire to refrain
from giving any opinion as to the validity or invalidity of
such claims; but it appears clear to them that claims of
this nature, founded upon allegations of contingent and
consequential injury, in respect of which the promoters
entirely deny their liability, are not such expenses as they
(the promoters) are required to provide for in their Parlia-
mentary estimate.

" The properties which come under the other class, as
being subject to be taken, in whole or in part, for the pur-
poses of the works, are the houses numbered 5,6, and 7, in
Hamilton-place.

" The case of No. 7, however, stands upon this footing :
The house is included within the limits of deviation, but
the promoters distinctly stated that it is not their intention
to take or interfere with it in any respect, and that they
will consent to be strictly confined to the line of the road
as laid down upon their deposited plans, leaving those
premises unaltered.

"Nos. 5 and 6 have each a garden attached to them. The
proposed roadway would cut off a small portion (about 20
superficial feet) from the garden of No. 5. It would inter-
sect and take away a large portion of the garden of No. 6.
According to the arrangement proposed by the promoters,
the space taken from the garden of No. 5 would be com-
pensated by throwing into it a much larger piece of ground
(about 1,000 superficial feet), and they consider that by so
doing they would indemnify the proprietors and leave no
further claim for compensation in respect of No. 5.
" The deterioration which would be caused to No. 6 by
the loss of garden ground and other injury is estimated by
them at £6,600, which their estimate would be just enough
to cover.

" According to the valuations of the witnesses for the
petitioners on the other hand, there would be a deterioration
in value of No. 5 amounting to £B,OOO, and of No. 6 amount-
ing to £6,000. Tho evidence on this part of the case was
very conflicting; but it appeared to the referees that the
houses in question, from their peculiar character anal the
circumstances of their position, possess to a considerable
extent what may be called a ' fancy,' or speculative value,
depending on individual taste and sentiment, and therefore
not capable of being estimated according to a strict standard
of market value. •

" Such being the case, the referees, feeling the difficulty of
arriving at a precise conclusion, and of determining before-
hand what-the value of the property in question may be in
case the proposed roadway should be constructed, are not
prepared to pronounce a positive opinion that the estimate
of the promoters will prove insufficient for the purpose of
the required compensation.
" The objections taken to the works on engineering
grounds were confined to two points. The first related to
a power at pre‘sent contained in the bill 9f deviating from
the level of the intended road, as shown upon the sections.
This objection was met on the part of the promoters by
declaring their intention to expunge these powers from the
bill, and to adhere to the levels shown. The second and
more material objection was to the alleged deficient width
of the roadway, which, as appears from the plans, would
allow no more than 28ft. 4in. at the narrowest point for the
carriage-way, measured between the kerbstones. These
dimensions may no doubt be regarded as less ample than,
with a view to public convenience, might be desired.' llt
should, however, be observed that the proposed width is
the utmost that can be afforded between the houses on
either side of Hamilton-place, as they now stand, and that
greater width could not -be obtained without sacrificing
property of large value.
" It appears to the referees under these circumstances
that the question, in this respect, is not to be regarded as
one of mere engineering merits or details, but involves
considerations affecting the expediency of , the proposed
route and the general merits of the scheme, which belong
properly *to the Committee on the Bill, and not to the
referees.

" HUGH EDWARD ADAIR, Chairman."

Metropolitan Board of Works.

Tho ordinary weekly meeting of tho Metropolitan Board
of Works was held yesterday at tho office, Spring-gardens,
Mr. John Thwaites in the chair.

FINANCE.

The cash statement of the Finance Committee was pre-
sented, which showed the following balances in the hands of
the treasurer—Current accounts, £256,177105. Bd. ; depo-
sit accounts, £348,300 ; total, £604,467 10s. Bd. ; Govern.
ment securities, £51,371 10s. 10d.; checks ordered but not
presented, £17,083 Bs. 7d.

was incurred thereby it should be defrayed by the Pneu-
matic Despatch Company.

The CHAIRMAN said that the company had put their large
pipe on the top; of their sewers, but the board, in conjunc-
tion with the District Board of Works, would be most will-
ing to lessen any inconvenience which might arise from
these works.

The subject was referred to the Streets Committee for
consideration and report.

Vacancies, Promotions. and Appointments

in the Civil Service.

(From the Civil Service Gazette.)

_ .
FOREIGN-OFFICE.—The office of vice-consul at Girgenti,
Sicily, has become vacant by the death of Mr. Oates.
WAR-OFFICE.—Mr. J. C. Cornwall has been appointed a
commissariat clerk, Bermuda; Mr. J. Shearer has been ap-
pointed a civil assistant, Southampton ; Mr. C. Brider has
been appointed a civil assistant, Southampton ; Mr. H. B.
Jennings has been appointed a civil assisiant, Southampton.
HO3IE OFFlCE.—Captain J. C. Farquharson has been ap-
pointed a deputy-governor, convict service.
BOARD OF TRADE.—Mr. A. J. Pittman has been ap-
pointed to be a temporary clerk.
ECCESIASTICAL COMMISSION.—Mr. W. P. Courtney has
been appointed to a temporary clerkship.
THE POST-OFFICE.—Mr. Banim, postmaster of Kilkenny
has been appointed postmaster of Kingstown (Ireland) ;
Mr. Castle, second clerk, has been promoted to be first
clerk at Newport (Monmouth).
CusToms.—Mr. James Higgins has been appointed a
clerk in the examiner's office, London ; Mr. Edward
William has , been appointed a clerk in the examiner's
office, London; Mr. William Thomas Leetham Wheeler
has been appointed a clerk for warehousing and general
duty, London; and Mr. James Hay Mackenzie Shand, has
been appointed a clerk at Glasgow.
INLAND REVENUE.—Stamp and Tax Branch : Mr. Win.
Pitt Bremner has been appointed clerk in the legacy duty
department, and to be stationed at Dublin ; Mr. Henry
Sydenham Dixon has been appointed clerk in the solicitor's
department, vice T. G. Garwood, superannuated ; Mr. Peter
Frederick Bluett has been appointed clerk in the special
commissioners of income tax department, vice J. B. Black-
burn, appointed to the secretary's department ; Mr. It. Wat-
terworth, surveyor of taxes, Manchester, first district, has
been promoted to be inspector, vice J. Purdue, superannu-
ated ; Mr. H. C. Hast, surveyor, Salford, has been promoted
to Manchester, first district ; Mr. H. Wootton, surveyor,
Bakewell, has been promoted to Salford ; Mr. R. Wyatt,
surveyor, Leeds, second district, has been removed to
Bakewell ; Mr. E. C. Michell, surveyor, Launceston, has
been promoted to Sunderland ; Mr. J. Dalziel, surveyor of
taxes, Sunderland, has been promoted to Leeds, second
district ; Mr. A. J. Apthorpe, surveyor of taxes, has been
removed to Peterborough ; Mr. T. W. Fozer, assistant sur-
veyor, Birmingham, has been promoted to be surveyor,
and stationed at Pershore, vice W. C. Shaw, removed to
Birmingham ; Mr. C. J. Foakes, surveyor, has been re-
moved from Hastings to Ludlow ; Mr. J. A. H. Calder,
surveyor, has been promoted from Ludlow to Hastings;
Excise Branch ; Mr. Augustine Knocker, supervisor, Long-
ford district, Athlone collection, has been appointed super-
visor of Dunster district, Barnstaple collection; Mr. John
Todd, examiner, has been appointed supervisor of Long-
ford district, Athlone collection ; Mr. Michael Carrigg,
supervisor, Dudley district, Stourbridge collection, has been
appointed supervisor of London, west district, London,
North collection ; Mr. Alexander David, supervisor,
Pwllheli district, Carnarvon collection, has been appointed
supervisor of Dudley district, Stourbridge collection ; Mr.
Henry Damerel, examiner, has been appointed supervisor
of Pwllheli district, Carnarvon collection; Mr. Charles
Smith, supervisor, Tain district, Inverness collection, has
been appointed supervisor of Pitlochry district, Perth
collection ; Mr. Edward James Maguire, examiner, has been
appointed supervisor of Tain district, Inverness collection;
Mr. James Summons, office; Newcastle, Ist division, New-
castle collection, has been appointed to be an examiner ;
Mr. George M`Loughlin, office; Dublin, Ist division,
Dublin collection, has been appointed to be an examiner ;
Mr. William Henry Rossiter, office; Cork, 3d division,
Cork collection, has been appointed to be an examiner.
EAST INDIES.—Mr. C. Robertson has been appointed
Under Secretary to the Government of the N.W.P. ; Mr.
W. Kaye has been appointed a joint magistrate anddeputy
collector of the second grade, vice C. Robertson ; Mr. D.
C. Macnabb, deputy commissioner has been posted to the
Peshawur district ; Mr. C. Knox, assistant commissioner,
has been appointed personal assistant to the commissioner
of Peshawur ; Captain C. V. Jenkins, assistant commis-
sioner, 2d class, has been appointed assistant commissioner,
Ist class, vice Mr. Knox ; Mr. J. D. Tremlett, assistant
_commissioner, 3d class, has been appointed assistant com-
missioner, 2d class, vice Captain Jenkins, promoted ; Mr.
P. O'Sullivan, barrister-at-law, has been appointed to act
as professor of law at the Presidency College, Madras,
during the absence of J. D. May on leave, or until further
orders ; Mr. T. M. Busted, barrister-at-law, has been ap-
pointed to act as assistant secretary to Government of Madras
in the legislative department during the absence of Mr.
Mayne on leave, or until further orders; Mr.W.E. Gordon,
officiating first assistant auditor-general of India, has been
appointed an auditor of the accounts of the administrator-
general in Bengal ; Mr. F. S. Chapman has been appointed
to act as secretary to the Bombay Government, in the re-
-1
venue, financial, and general departments,vice Mr.llavens-
croft ; Capt. F. P. P. Fenwick has been appointed assistant
resident at Baroda.

Royal Institution-,

-d--- -

Yesterday evening, at the ordinary meeting of
the members of this institution, Mr. Glaisher de-
scribed the results of one of his recent arial researches.
He commenced by noticing the process of the infla-
tion of a balloon, and some of the exaggerated repre-
sentations of those who have ascended in balloonsfor
the first time. One gentleman declared that hishead
became so much swelled that he could notkeep on his
hat ; another said his head became so much con-
tracted that his hat fell over his eyes; and a foreign
aeronaut asserted that a bottle containing
wine exploded, and that he ascended so high
that he was almost beyond the attraction of the
earth, the sand that was let out of the bag remain-
ing suspended in the air, and he feared he should
never return to our planet. These exaggerations,
produced by the excitement of the new sensation,
showed that it required much experience in aerosta-
tion to be enabled to make correct observations.
Mr. Glaisher described the extraordinary appearance
of the objects on the earth on ascending, which are
sufficient to perplex and astound one not accustomed
to aerial travelling. He exhibited and explained the
various instruments he took with him for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the elevation, the temperature
at different heights, the power of the sun's radiation
the variations in the humidity of the atmosphere,
and for observing the dark lines in the solar spec-
trum. The observations on the change of tempera-
ture on ascending, made in his earlier experi-
-ments, tended to confirm the previous experiments,
that up to about a height of I,oooft. the ther-
mometer falls 1 deg. for.every ascent of 300 f t., but
that on ascending higher the decrease of tempera-
ture proceeds at a lower ratio, until, as it was in-
ferred, that at great elevations the decrease would
not exceed 1 deg. in 100 miles. These observations
were made during the summer months, but during
ascents made in the winter and last spring the tem-
perature was found not to diminish in the same
ratio, and it was occasionally warmer at a height of
2,000 feet than near the surface of the earth. In
an ascent made during the night the temperature
became higher on ascending. This result tended to
show that during the night the temperature in the
higher regions of the atmosphere is greater than
it is near the ground, and that further experi-
ments are required to ascertain the law of decrease
at various elevations and times. With respect
to the solar spectrum, the observations proved
that the dark bands become more distinct
on ascending higher, and that they are
not occasioned by the atmosphere. The gra-
dual increase of solar radiation on ascending,
Mr. Glaisher said, leads to the inference that none
of the heat of the sun is lost by radiation through
space, and that the rays which reach the planets
Jupiter and Saturn may be as powerful as those
that come to the earth. He mentioned the extra-
ordinary variations in the currents of the atmo-
sphere at different elevations, and he observed that
the result of his experience of meteorological phe-
nomena was far from enabling him to forecast what
would be the state of the weather or the course of
the wind for a week or even for one or two days.
Further experiments at different seasons of the year,
in different latitudes, and during the night, must be
made before any general laws could be established
respecting the temperature of the atmosphere at
different elevations, and Mr. Glaisher said he was
glad to be informed that experiments of the kind
were to be made in France, which country is better
adapted for continued aerial researches than the in-
sular position of England. He concluded by allud-
ing to the important uses to which the balloon may
be applied, and one advantage attending his numer-
ous ascents, he said, would be to prove that such
researches might be made without much danger.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.—FRI-
DAY, March 31.—Admissions on payment, 902; ditto by
season tickets, 911; total visitors, 1,813.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS•

TIMES.—To-day, the Ist of April, the amended
American Tariff, which we published yesterday,
comes into operation. The new Secretary of the
Treasury must be persuaded that, in selecting this
day for its inauguration, if in no other respect, the
framers of the scheme showed peculiar wisdom. As
for the measure itself, it is impossible to find an
excuse for it. Tried by the light of reason or by
the results of experience, it is alike condemned.
The sole effect of the increase in import duties
enacted last year has been a decrease in the total
sum received, and it is with this fact staring them
in the face that the Federal Congress have passed
an act imposing still higher rates of duty. Mr.
M'Culloch was presented with this new law on
entering upon office, and one of ,his first duties has
been to issue circulars to the Collectors of Customs,
calling their attention to the fourth Tariff passed in
as many years. We do not envy his feelings in dis-
charging this function. As an economist, he has put
on record reasons for disapproving the policy of ex-
aggerated tariffs, and as Secretary to the Treasury
they must be more than ever hateful to him. He
knows what demands will be made on him in the
course of a few months for money, and he sees one
source recklessly cut off. No candid man would
quarrel with the financial management of the Fede-
ral Government because it did not correspond at all
points with the teaching of political economy. The
task imposed at the outset upon Mr. Chase was one
of unexampled difficulty, and some errors of practice
were inevitable. The Secretary to the Treasury was
called upon to furnish large supplies of money in quick
succession,while he was absolutelywithoutmachinery
for collecting it. A few small Customs Duties, aided
by land sales, had sufficed for many years to defray
the expenses of the United States' Government.
Excise Duties were unknown. No direct tax for
Federal purposes had been levied for more than a
generation. The Constitution itself threwadifficulty
in the way of any system of direct taxation, for it
required the different States to be assessed to such
taxes in proportion to their population. It would
be obviously unjust to compel the inhabitants of
Wisconsin and of New York to contribute at the
same rate per head to the National Treasury, and Mr.
Case was, therefore, debarred from using one of the
most powerful instruments of taxation. But the leni-
ency with which we must judge the earlier manage-
ment of the Federal finances cannot be extended to
the more recent conduct of the Secretaries of
the Treasury. Perfect freedom from error may
not be obtained even after four years crowded
with varied experience, but the most glaring
mistakes ought not to be repeated in fresh legisla-
tion. Taxes which defeat their own object by
stopping consumption entirely, and taxes which
cost in collection more than they produce, ought to
be abandoned altogether. Both kinds, on the con-
trary, flourish and abound. In Customs and in
Excise an attempt is made to tax every article of
consumption without regard to the profitableness of
the impost or the amount of pressure put upon the
taxpayer. Such a policy is wholly indefensible, and
as respects the Customs, at all events, it has been
most unequivocally condemned by -its results. In
the year ending June 30, 1862, the amount re-
ceived from Customs Duties was £9,800,000. New
duties were thereupon imposed, coming into opera-
tion on August 1, 1862, and the articles in the
tariff were so multiplied that they filled more than
16 pages of close print. The receipts increased in
the year ending June 30, 1863, to £12,800,000, and
in the next year to £20,400,000, but a comparison
of the sources of these receipts will show
that they are obtained from a comparatively
small number of commodities. The obvious les-
son was, however, so entirely lost sight of that
when the tariff was reformed last June the new list
was even longer than its predecessor. About 2,000
articles were separately enumerated, and while the
articles taxed were so numerous, the imposts to which
they were subjected were exorbitantly increased. The
inevitable consequence has been a large reduction in
the amounts received at the Custom-houses. After
six months' experience of the Tariff, Mr. Fessenden
was enabled to estimate the customs' receipts up to
the end of next June at little more than £14,000,000,
instead of £20,400,000 received last year. It might
have been thought that a Secretary of the Treasury
would have looked upon this result as anything but
satisfactory, but Mr. Fessenden, possibly knowing
how short would be his tenure of office, was able to
congratulate the country upon the reduction
of foreign imports indicated by the falling
off of the Customs' receipts. The Congress
has been entirely of his opinion. In House and
Senate there has been but one feeling upon the
result of past legislation, and one resolu-
tion—to persevere in the policy which has been so
successfully adopted. The Tariff which comes into
operation to-day is the fruit of the determination
to increase the rates of import duty whatever may
be the cost to the revenue or to the consumer. It
is unnecessary to refer to the several items of the
Tariff, but one of them may be noticed, because it
illustrates most completely the mischievous policy
to which the Northern States are committed. No
object is more eagerly desired in Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania than the substitution of home-
spun cotton for the yarn of Lancashire, and fore-
most in the new Tariff are the duties on cotton
manufactures. Before the war began the import
duty on cotton yarn was 24 per cent. ad valorem ;
the Tariff of 1862 raised the duty to 40 per cent.,
and last year the impost was again altered to
a specific duty of 3d. per 1,200 yards and 30
per cent. ad valorenz. The duty thus imposed
amounts to a shilling or thirteen pence per 1,200
yards, or about 60 per cent. ad valorem, and as it is
to be paid in gold it has dining the past year been
equal to from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per 1,200 yards in
American currency. The internal duty on yarn
manufactured in the States is 5 per cent. in currency,
a tax amounting at the utmost to 3d. per 1,2Q0 yards.
The protection thus given to the home manufacturer
is enormous, and the falling off in the Customs revenue
has, of course, been proportionably great. The
revenue collected at New York shows us the effect of
the different scale. Before the war began the tax
of 24 per cent. produced on an average about
£78,000 per annum; in the first half of the cur-
rent year the tax of 3d. per 1,200 yasds and 30
per cent. brought in only £21,600. This dispropor-
tion, great as it is, does not fully represent the
decline in the importation of yarn, which can only
be adequately learnt from the quantities brought
into New York. In 1859 and 1860 the average
importation was: 7,200 packages ." in the six months
from the Ist of July to the 31st of December, 1864,
it was under 700 packages. The effect of these ex-
aggerated duties in keeping out foregn manufac-
tures is the one to which attention is most naturally
attracted on this side of the Atlantic. We are cot-
ton-spinners and ironmasters, and feel a lively
interest in legislation which. deprives us of one of
our best markets. But we should wrong ourselves
if we attributed all our regret at the Protectionist
policy of the United States to self-interest. An
attempt to force Catawba down the throats of
American citizens instead of champagne must
seem as great an error as an attempt to benefit
Lowell at the expense of Manchester. In each
case the ruling power in the States wilfully pre-
fers the worse market and interposes obstacles
to the free exchange of commodites. But
Mr. M'Culloch must feel an especial pang at the
diminution of the Customs' receipts. He has lost
more than the difference between the £20,400,000
collected ;ast year and the £14,000,000 which will
probably be collected in the current twelve months.
The Customs' receipts were the sole specie payments
made to the Treasury, and they were on that account
doubly valuable. The interest on the national debt
so far as it is payable in gold, was charged on these
receipts, which have hitherto been able to provide
for it and to leave some considerable surplus in
addition. Last year the interest paid in gold was
no more than £10,730,000, and Mr. Fessenden had
therefore nearly 10 millions in gold left in his hands.
This sum was partly disbursed in buying stores
abroad ; and the rest was sold in the market at a
premium, and incidentally kept down the preniium
on gold. In fact, in the financial accounts of last
year a sum of £3,300,000 is credited for premium
on gold sold. The fatal legislation of Congress has
altogether destroyed any hopes of receiving such a
sum again. The amount to be paid in the way of inte-
rest has naturally increased, and the reduced Cus-
toms Duties will not be able to meet it. Mr.
M'Culloch will be driven to buy gold instead of
being able to sell it, and the accounts of the cur-
.
rent year will be debited with a sum paid for pre-
miums on gold purchased to meet claims for inte-
rest. We cannot regret this result, if it compels
Mr. M'Culloch to retrace the path pursued by his
predecessors. If Mr. M'Culloch would reduce the
articles in the tariff to a few productive items, would
impose an Excise law equally simple in its range
and equally onerous in its incidence, and would
supplement the tax-system of the States by a
genuine Income-tax, he would earn for himself a
name among the financiers of history.
HERALD.—That cool disregard of national obli-
gations which is the vice of American commanders

has at length met with a very summary check,
though at the hands of a small European Power.
Portugal has dared to uphold its dignity against
Federal America ; and in doing this it has shed the
blood of a seaman serving in the American navy,
and by a well-directed shot stopped an American
frigate. The story is this. On the 28th ulb. the
Federal war steamers Niagara and Sacramento en-
tered the port of Lisbon in search, no doubt, of the
Confederate ram Stonewall, lying there. The com-
manders of the two frigates must have been well
aware that by doing this they tacitly agreed to a
well-known rule—a rule wisely maintained by neu-
tral powers for keeping belligerents apart in neutral

waters. They must have known that once in the
port of Lisbon they would not be allowed to follow
the Stonewall when she left the harbour, but must
give the Confederate ram a fair 24 hours' start.
Disregarding this knowledge, however, the Federal
frigates steamed into the port, and the natural re-
sult was they were detained, and the Confederate
ram had the grace to which, by the law that governs
such cases, she was entitled. It was not in Yankee
flesh and blood to submit to this. There was the
example of Bahia, when the Wachusetts, after
quieting the authorities of the harbour by seeming
acquiescence in rules necessary for the prevention of
hostilities there,stole a march upon theßrazilian ad-
miral and the Confederate captain, and towed the
renowned Florida off in triumph. Brazil is a weak
Power, it is true, and not an European Power. Por-
tugal is not so small a Power, and Portugal happens
to be in Europe, and to have strong European allies.
Therefore the Brazilian example must be followed at
a respectful distance only, not taken up boldly for
imitation. There must be no absolute violation of the
neutrality of the port, but merely an -evasion of its
authority and a disregard of the Portuguese right to
detain for a time ships bent on a hostile expedi-
tion against a vessel that had just enjoyed Portu-
guese hospitality. Different countries have dif-
ferent ways of enforcing attention to their just
authority. Poor little Brazil did all she could by
taking the Florida to an inner anchorage, and giving
her the company of a Brazilian war vessel ; but
after that Brazil went to sleep, and left the Yankee
commander and the Yankee consul to their devices.
In France—they manage these things better in
France—the very simple expedient was adopted of
mooring a French man-of-war right across the bows
of a light-heeled Yankee craft, -inclined to be slip-
pery. And in England something of the kind has
happened, not only with armed and commissioned
Federal war ships, but also with unarmed, un-
finished and inoffensive hulls, said to be destined for
Confederate rams and Southern cruisers. Portugal,
however, though it did not adopt this very effectual
system of blocking the way, had recourse to a
measure as decisive and as useful ; a measure more
in consonance, perhaps, with one's notions of how a
Yankee captain should be held to his word than
any less bold but more pacific way of keeping him
to the truth and making him walk unwillingly in
the paths of rectitude. Portugal did not lay a ship
athwart the bows of the Niagara and the Sacra-
mento ; but Lisbon kept its powder dry in the
Belem Fort, and when, as was possibly anticipated,
the two Yankee frigates attempted to steal a march
upon.the local authorities, and to follow the Stone-
wall before the assigned twenty-four hours had
expired, a round shot plunging from the fort into the
poop of the Niagara, expressively, though somewhat
roughly, forbade their exit. Next to a Yankee com-
mander's temerity in trying to evade his obligations
is his patience in submitting to circumstances over
which he has no control. He will go a long way with
his bravado, but when he is met with vigorous hos-
tility he says, " Oh, if you mean that !" and retires
to whittle his stick and chew the cud of his resent-
ment in peace. Messrs. Mason and Slidell were
taken from the Trent, and they were never—no
never—to be given up. But when they were asked
for in -a certain tone, Messrs. Mason and Slidell
were " handsomely" returned to us. We are not,
therefore, surprised to find that the Niagara, with
a round shot through her poop, and an unfortunate
seaman killed, gave up the idea of defying the usages
of nations, and, with her consort, the Sacramento,
cast anchor, and yielded to fate. She was converted
to the rules of civilised warfare much as Colonel
Quagg was converted to those of piety and good
behaviour in Mr. Sala's admirable sketch. She was
drubbed into a decency, and brought to reason by a
rebuke that will no doubt have a good effect upon
Yankee commanders in general. Portugal has cer-
tainly done something towards revenging Brazil ;
and apart from this, it has performed excellent
service to Europe, by showing what can, and what
should, be done to a smart belligerent infesting our
shores and coming into our harbours to fish for what
he cannot catch on the high seas. A grave question,
however, arises out of this little encounter. There
is a man killed on board the Niagara—killed by a
Portuguese shot. Who is to be answerable for this
life taken away? The unfortunate seaman was not
the victim of ordinary war ; neither was death the
result of accident. Portugal, of course, is not to
blame. Then who is? The question is worth asking,
though the answer—the practical answer—lies with
the authorities at Washington. There is the guilt of
manslaughter somewhere ; for there was no state
of war between Portugal and the Northern half of
America. In England, certainly, this would be a
case for a court-martial, for in his excessive zeal the
captain of the Niagara has undoubtedly cast away
the life of one of his men to no purpose, save an
illegal and an unrecognised evasion of neutral rights.
He must either have believed that Portugal would
not assert her authority or that be could safely run
the risk of defying it. In either case, America not
being at war with Portugal, the commanders of the
Federal frigates have, in the result, gravely com-
mitted themselves, even to their own people. An
American sailor is killed, and to no purpose. An
American frigate is fired upon, and hit, and so
poor is the cause for which she suffers that her
captain dares not return shot for shot. These two
adventurous commanders have admitted that they
have not a -leg to stand upon in their speedily-
checked defiance of law and custom, and there,
with their dead evidence on board, they come sub-
missively to anchor as frightful examples of what
evasion and outrage may result in. How often during
this war are we to record these peculiar demonstra-
tions of Yankee smartness? Do these commanders
of Federal frigates think that neutral ports are nets
set to catch Southern cruisers for the advantage of
gentlemen in American naval uniform who always
miss their game in the open sea ? If they do, Por-
tugal has disabused them of the idea. That highly-
efficient schoolmaster, a shotted gun, has sent a
message to the deck of the Niagara which was so
well understood by the frigate's commander that he
at once desisted from the contemptuous and defiant
course he had rashly ventured upon. He will pos-
sibly be the last of the race, the example that will
not " encourage the others." Had he been success-
ful in his attempt to leave the port of Lisbon at his
pleasure; Portugal would have had to accept the
kind of apology with which Brazil has been smoothed
and salved over ; and not till the next time would
the thing have happened again. But to be unsuc-
cessful, to have a rough reminder in the shape of a
round shot that crashes through the poop, and takes
toll of human life on the way, is to err with more
than human fallibility. And then, after all, to wait
like a kept-in schoolboy till the flagellator declares
that the door is open, and the smarting pupil in the
school of international law may take himself and his
punishment off ! This is a terrible case, and we do
not envy the unhappy commander of the Niagara.
'An English court-martial once-shot an admiral for
what it was pleased to call cowardice, or, as Napo-
leon said, " pour encourager les autres." Whatever
may be done with the captain of the Niagara, the
ill-success of his Portuguese adventure will not
afford much encouragement to his naval brethren in
the imitative way. As to the excuse since put for-
ward, that the commanders of- the two frigates did
not mean to leave the harbour, but that they were
merely " shifting" their anchorage, we may"
takethat for what it is worth. It is not the first time
the plea of " I didn't mean to do it" has been heard
in cases of a similar character.

"And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And looking on it with lack lustre eye,
Says very wisely, ' It is ten o'clock :
Thus we may see,' quoth he, ' how the world wags."
StimorEAßF;

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-4. W. Benson, Ludgate-hill, watch and clock maker to
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

IRON SHIPBUILDING :IN THE NORTH.--The iron
shipbuilding trade of the north-eastern ports has
not -been very much embarrassed by the lock-out of the
puddlors, some of the leading firms having procured iron
plates from Belgium to prevent any stoppage of the works.
Several fine vessels have been launched this week from the
north-eastern ports. On Monday the largest iron vessel
built on the Wear was launched from the high yard of
Messrs. Oswald and Co., of Pallion. Sho is named the Med-
way, and is built for Messrs. Temperley, Coster, and
Drake, of London; she is 1,823 tons register, and will bo
propelled by engines of 250-horse power, nominal. Messrs.
Palmer Brothers, of Jarrow, launched on Tuesday an iron
steamship of 800 tons register, built for Messrs. Pickering
and Co., of London, and another fine vessel, the same tido,
from their Howden works. This firm have entered into a
contract with the Government to build a steam transport of
4,000 tons for the Indian service. On Tuesday Messrs. J.
H. Pile and Co., of Hartlepool, launched an iron steam-
vessel of 1,500 tons for the West Hartlepool Steam Navi-
gation Company.
1". ADITERTISEMENT.I—HOIIOWay'S Ointment and Pills.—
The Knife Superseded.—All afflicted with ulcers, diseases
of the bones, inflammations of the joints, should read this
testimonial to the curative powers' of these healing and
purifying remedies Mr. John Allen, 17, Denmark-
street, Leicester, suffered severely from a bad foot for three
years, during which long period he was undor surgical
treatment without any perceptible benefit. He resolutely
objected to amputation, which seemed the only course open,
till he providentially tried Holloway's remedies ; these gave
him great relief, and at last completely cured him." Spots,
blemishes, pores, and skin diseases, arising from impo-
verished blood or a reckless course of life, may be removed
by the judicious use of Holloway's ointment and pills,

The Lock-out in the Iron Trade.

HANLEY, Friday Afternoon.

A general meeting of the puddlers of this district
has been held in Hanley to-day, to consider the pro-
posal made by the masters at the conference at
Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday—that the men shall
resume work at the reduced rate of wages accepted
n the other iron districts, and that the question of
whether they are entitled to higher wages shall then
be submitted to arbitration. There was a full at-
tendance of men from all parts of the district. The
meeting was private, but the following resolutions,
which were passed, were afterwards communicated
to our correspondent :—" That a vote of thanks be
presented to Lord Lichfield for his kindness in en-
deavouring to bring the dispute to an amicable ter-
mination." " That if the South Staffordshire
masters will re-open their works and let the men
resume there, and if the masters in North Stafford-
shire will give their men the old rate of wages, the
men will then consent to submit the whole question
to arbitration." A deputation from the meeting
went down to Stoke to meet Lord Lichfield, on his
arrival there after the interview with the masters at
Stafford, and communicated to his lordship the de-
termination•of thuuddlers. Just as the meeting
was breaking up his lordship arrived at Hanley and
had an interview with the men.

Lord Lichfield stated that the masters had agreed
to his proposal for the men to resume work and
draw wages on account until the question has been
decided by arbitration, and advised the men to
accept it.

The meeting refused to listen to the proposal,
and the resolution previously passed was again put
and again carried unanimously.
The meeting lasted five hours.

The Leeds Mercury says the lock-out in the
North terminated on Thursday.
The ironworks at Middlesborough, Wilton Park,
Spennymore, Comet, Jarrow, and Walker, com-
mence work as previously arranged.