The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-20 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1865.

The " Lock-out" in the iron trade furnishes a

topic for consideration in many quarters ; and it is
sad to reflect upon the injury thus done to trade,
and the great losses which both sides incur in the
contest. A little more reflection might have pre-
vented the catastrophe, or at all events have modi-
fied its effects ; but for some years past there has
been a constant struggle, either open or secret, be-
tween masters and men, and thus things have gra-
dually approached a crisis. Selfish as the course
pursued by the masters has undoubtedly been in
many instances, and peremptory as their demands
are upon the present occasion, it must be admitted
that it is greatly the fault of the men themselves
that affairs have assumed so unfavourable an
aspect. Had they not been so pertinacious in
their prosecution of " strikes" their employers
would not have been - induced in their
turn to have sought refuge in combinations
among themselves; thus it will be seen that one evil
engenders another. The trades' societies in them-
selves are not be reprehended, provided that they
did not carry remonstrances to an excess, and push
things too far, but their history is a striking exem-
plification of the harm done by those proud of power
and reckless of the manner in which they exercise
it. Recourse was too frequently had to the employ-
ment of this engine of remonstrance against the
encroachments of employers, and the wise and
experienced have long since foreseen that the con-
stant recurrence of strikes would infallibly defeat
their Purpose in the long run ; and fully have their
predictions been realised. It was to put a stop to
the threatened danger of local strikes that the masters
resolved upon a lock-out, for it would have
been difficult to stem the storm of opposition had
each district struck singly, and, meanwhile, been
supported by those who continued their work. So
far, then, the circumstances of the case do not ap-
pear to bear so hardly upon the masters as at the
outset of the struggle, but great blame must be im-
puted to both sides, in that they allowed matters to
proceed to such lengths without making some corn_
promise or other to adjust the differences, and get
over the difficulties respectively experienced. Nearly
five hundred thousand pounds of wages will be re-
moved from circulation, and the iron trade of the
country will be greatly injured. Many interests
will thus be affected by the unfortunate collision
that has taken place between labour and capital,
and, indeed, it is difficult to say wheye
the mischief will stop in its extended rami-
fications. The failure of the York Conference

on Friday is greatly to be deplored, and both sides
regard it as a sign that the solution of the difficulty
is very far off. It is always to be deplored when
a decided disinclination to come to terms is exhi-
bited, and thus the resolution agreed upon by some
of the men was a very erroneous one, and calcu-
lated to militate against the best interest of them-
selves and others. Mr. PALMER, the Chairman of
the Masters' Committee, very truly said that a
system of tyranny like that which would not per-
' mit his works to be opened unless all the men joined
the Union was intolerable, " and he regretted sin-
cerely that they did not appear to improve their
position." The truth of such remarks cannot be
gainsaid, and the conduct of the Brierly-hill Union
in not appearing atYork is greatly to be reprehended,
retarding as it has done the object which all right-
minded persons of both sides of the question must
have, and to promote the success which all should
agree to leave their own prejudices in the back-
ground.

The commercial interests of this country are of
such paramount importance, that when any topic
touching upon them is brought up, it is likely to
lead to a prolonged discussion. So many persons
are concerned, so many have an opinion to give,
or consider themselves judges, that when such a
debate is begun, it is not probable that it will
end until a good deal has been said. Such proved
to be the case on Friday evening in the House of
Commons, when Mr. FORSTER asked what steps
had been taken by the Government to carry out
the arrangements recommended by the recent Par-
liamentary committee respecting the relations be-
tween. the Board of Trade and the Foreign-office.
The dealings of these two departments. with
foreign nations respecting matters of trade and
commerce was the chief difficulty. The
views which were elicited on the points were,
as might have been expected, very conflicting.
Mr. FORSTER, who opened the subject, was chiefly
anxious that some of the officials in the respective
public offices should be well informed on commercial
questions, and especially that the Board of Trade
should be consulted on all points of commercial
treaties or foreign trade relations. The three re-
commendations of the committee, two of which Mr.
FORSTER strongly supported, were to the effect that
the Board of Trade should have more weight in the
Government than at present ; that it should be put
in direct communication with the diplomatic and
consular services, through the Foreign-office ; and
that an officer should be appointed in the Foreign-
office to conduct its correspondence with the Board
of Trade. These recommendations, it will be seen,
tended to give increased importance to the Board, but
Mr. LOWE, on the contrary, thought it should be done
away with altogether. His opinion might naturally
have some weight, seeing that he occupied the post
of Vice-President for two years and a-half, but the
arguments with which he supported his views were
not altogether sound. The whole question, he de-
clared, had now resolved itself into a single maxim,
and the entire business which the Government had
with the trade qt the country might be described
by Lord MELBOURNE'S famous interrogatory,
" Why can't you let it alone ?" This, in fact,
is very much the principle upon which our suc-
cessive Governments have acted for a good many
years. Our railways and other important works are
left to be carried out by private enterprise and
capital, so much so, indeed, that complaints have
been made of the excessive independence and
unchecked action of the companies. Still
there must always arise some questions in
our extended and complicated relations which
require to be settled by a responsible
authority; and while the action of trade is so free in
this country that the Government make no sign
though an important trade is stopped and 70,000
men are thrown out of work by a dispute as to
monetary relations, there must be matters, especially
in regard to our dealings with foreign nations, with
which no private individual and no uninformed
official can properly deal. It appears then to be the
simplest and most effectual means of settling
the matter to have an assembly of gentlemen
who are duly qualified by knowledge and
experience to give an opinion on all legislative
matters connected with the trade and commerce of
this and other countries, and while there is, no doubt,
shortcomings and deficiencies in that as in other de-
partments of the administration, there is certainly
no ground for so sweeping a change as that recom-
mended by its ex-Vice-President. " I can imagine
nothing worse," says Mr. LowE, " than the prin-
ciple of having a consultative department at all.
For one department to advise, and another to act,
is to fritter away responsibility altogether." And
he adds that, the one who advises is not responsible
for the action, nor the one who acts for the advice.
But this is not very logical, seeing that
each bears the responsibility of his own share, and
the object is not to shuffle off responsibility but to
give to the party that acts the opportunity of acting
from knowledge rather than from ignorance. Mr.
GIBSON, in defending his department, reminded the
House that the recommendations of the committee
had for the most part been carried out, and that it
would therefore be no more than just to give
the experiment time before coming to a wholesale
conclusion. It appeared, he said, to be generally
admitted, that if the Foreign Secretary were en-
gaged in commercial negotiations he must consult
some one on the subject, so that in this aspect of
the case, as we have said, Lord MELBOURNE'S
theory is inadmissible. The debate which produced
rather
to ec,beprs,
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honourableheh int was closed h
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who ;
action of the Board. The Government appears to
have acted, on the -whole, with fairness and good
sense, and the strictures of some of our commercial
representatives are not to be always accepted as
indisputably correct, since there is no class for
which it is more difficult to legislate or which is
more hard to please.

Prussia has exceeded expectations in demandsher
the
upon the Duchies, more especially as
regards
military arrangements therein contemplated. If any
doubt yet remained in the minds of any respecting
the intentions of the Berlin Cabinet it must have
been dispelled by the nature of the note sent to
Vienna. From the terms of this communication it
will be seen that a deep-laid scheme is in contem-
plation, and that a dexterous contrivance has been
resorted to to effect a purpose long dwelt upon by
Prussian statesmen. The proposal to levy a general
conscription in Schleswig and Holstein is a very
ingenious one, and its object is clearly defined,
namely, to allow the Prussian navy a continual and
plentiful supply of sailors. When we think also of
the encroaching character of the rest of the demand,
by means of which two-thirds of the troops will be
added to the Prussian army, and the remainder,
to the Federal Contingent, be somehow or
joined
other iel
tro underte the jurisdiction of Berlin, it is not at
wondered at that the Austrian Government
should have sent a decided refusal. It is only
strange that the Imperial Cabinet should for so long
a period have yielded to the demands of Prussia ;
but doubtless there are politic reasons why such a
temporising course should have been pursued.
There are some States which, like individuals, never
know when to pause in their requirements, and of

these Prr issia may pre-eminently be cited as one of
the most, notorious and unscrupulous that it has
been the misfortune of others to deal with as friend
or foe. Austria has adopted a wise course in put-
ting off 'the requests of Prussia in a civil and yet a
peremptory manner. It was well thought of to
require that the question of who was the right
Sovereign of the Duchies should be ascertained,
before any special powers be conceded to another
State concerning his relations with it. While
matters are apparently in a quiescent state, however,
there is no doubt that the Prussians will be busy in
arranging their secret schemes, and in taking steps
to prevent the success of any project but their own.
They will rely upon the doctrine of chances, and
thus contrive to elude the expectations of those who
are trusting to the success of their own more mode-
rate and reasonable demands. The declaration of
the Minister of War is most significant, and fully
reveals the fixed and settled determination of the
Government at all risks and all hazards to carry
their point and put their dearly-cherished designs
into execution. The conditions upon which the
Government insists, if the strength of the army be
fixed by law, are in reality subversive of any attempt
on the part of the Chambers to legislate in the matter,
or to have any effectual control over the manage-
ment of the military arrangements. If the Go-
vernment be permitted to increase the strength of
the forces in times of danger, of what avail is it to
fix a standard which will be rendered virtually
illusory in its effect. What more easy than for a
Minister to declare that there is danger, and that
its approach is imminent. How absurd also is the
statement that the condition of Europe demands an
" armed peace." Who has been so busy in foment-
ing disputes and so sedulous in persisting in over-
reaching demands as Prussia herself. It is, how-
ever, no new thing to find Herr VON BISMARCK
pretend that others are to answer for his doings,
and that a course of rapacity and unblushing ef-
frontery is the line of policy which alone can serve
the interests of the country whose affairs he so mis-

manages.

The extreme severity of the weather which
threatens to continue still later in the season ren-
ders the price of coal a matter of considerable im-
portance to many. To say that England possesses
such magnificent collieries, and that our traffic sys-
tem is so extensively elaborated, the price of coal
within the metropolis is by no means reasonable.
Our House of Commons, however, consider that
the interests of one or two particular railway com-
panies deserve more consideration than the pockets
of the general public. Accordingly they have de-
cided that the appeal of the rival company cannot even
be entertained, and the very argument which its advo-
cates in their simplicity thought would be conclusive
was really the one to throw out the bill. It was urged
on behalf of the Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Great Eas-
tern Junction Bill that as the proposed line could
be made at a very small cost and the gradients were
remarkably good, heavier loads could be carried
with the same engine power as was employed on the
existing lines, and consequently it would be possible
to deliver coal in London at a rate of two or three
shillings a ton less tlan was now charged. But it
seems we have been mistaken in supposing that we
are living in an era of free-trade, and that
the business of the House is not to consult
the interests of the great body of the people,
which it represents, but to protect the profits of a
few monopolists. If this principle were to be carried
out to its full extent the results might be somewhat
startling, and it is certainly strange to find a
tolerably full house gravely supporting it. The
railway influence in the Commons is no
doubt great, and has probably been exerted
to the fullest extent to secure the maintenance of a
profitable monopoly, but it is really too bad that
independent members should lend themselves to a
proceeding whose real result is to defraud the public
and to tax heavily the poorer classes, as well as the
manufacturers of the metropolis. Competition is
the best safeguard for fair prices and fair goods,
and if our Legislature is to step in and
check it, we are reduced to a worse plight
than that produced by Continental administrative
interference in the regulation of prices. No doubt
the northern companies know best at what rate of
charge a fair profit can be got for their labour, but
if other companies from favourable circumstances
can supply no cheaper they must take the chance of
trade and not stand in the way of the public ad-
vantage for the interest of their own dividends.

AMERICAN MAIL STEAMERS DUE AT LIVERPOOL
THIS WEEK.—The following steamers are due at
Liverpool this week with the American and Canadian mails,
viz.: the Edinburgh from New York on the 11th, and the
Belgian from Portland on the same day, may be expected
to reach—the former Crookhaven and Queenstown, and
the latter Greencastle, in the course of Wednesday next.
The National Company's cteamer Pennsylvania (though
not a mail steamer), which was to leave New York on the
11th, may possibly anticipate the former two steamers.
On Saturday next the Cunard steamer Canada, from
Boston on the 15th, and Halifax, early on the morning of
the 17th, may be expected off either Crookhaven or Queens-
town.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND HIS HARRIERS.—OH
Saturday morning his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, Equerry
n Waiting, arrived at Datchet from Marlborough House
at 11.50, and was met by Prince Alfred, who, attended by
Lieutenant Haig, had driven over from the Castle. This
was the first meeting of the two princes since Prince Alfred
left England for Bonn, and both seemed delighted to see
each other, and shook hands most affectionately. Major-
General the Hon. A. N. Hood, the master of the prince's
harriers, conducted the two princes to the front of the sta-
tion, whence they rode off through the village to the Riding
Court, the residence of Mr. Cantrell, pleasantly situated
upon the Duke of Buccleuch's estate, and where the meet
was appointed to take place. The field assembled here was
perhaps the largest ever known to meet the harriers, there
being about 15.0 horsemen and ladies, the company includ-
ing many members of the principal families of the district,
several officers of the Windsor garrison, and a number of
farmers. Their royal highnesses reached Mr. Cantrell's
house at noon, and partook of refeshments in the drawing-
room. During the short stay in the drawing-room of the
farm-house a rather amusing incident occurred. Miss
Watkins, a niece of Mr. Cantrell, having just been married
to Mr. A. Minton, the whole of the lady's wedding gifts
were spread upon a table in the room. These attracted
their royal highnesses' attention, and, having been informed
of the lady's marriage, they were requested to taste the
wedding-cake, which both of the princes did. Their royal
highnesses shortly afterwards remounted, and, after several
good runs, the sport terminated at Chippenham. Prince
Alfred returned to Windsor Castle early, but the Prince of
Wales remained till the finish, and returned to London by
the Great Western Railway.
DEATH OF MR. T. C. WHITMORE, LATE M.P. FOR
BninoNonTii.—Mr. Thos. Charlton Whitmore, of Apley,
Shropshire, whose death has just been announced, was for
many years M.P. for Bridgnorth, and brother of Mr. Henry
Whitmore, tho present member for that borough. Accord-
ing to Dod's " Electoral Facts," the political influence in
Bridgnorth "is chiefly possessed by the family of Whit-
more, of Apley, some members of which, with trifling inter-
ruptions, has sat since the reign of James I." The• political
advowson of the borough has recently been offered for sale.
Mr. Whitmore resigned his seat in 1852. He married, in
1833, Lady Louisa Anne Douglas, eldest daughter of
Charles Marquis of Queensbtrry, by whom he leaves issue
two sons and eight daughters.

THE DESTRUCTION OF CLOTHING BY THE DES-
TITUTE POOL--The continual destruction of their
clothing by the destitute poor at the workhouses, which
necessitates their being taken before the magistrates for
punishment, and with regard to which the authorities at
some of the workhouses have been severely animadverted
upon, has led to a consideration of the subject, with a view
to a remedy of the canvass clothing which has generally
hitherto been supplied, and it is understood that, under the
recommendation of a high authority, a gray serge dress will
be furnished in future, so that no excuse can possibly be
made that the clothing is not warm or comfortable. There
will not be any distinctive patch or mark on either of the
garments, bnt the make and material will be of such a
character as to check the wanton destruction of clothing to
which the officials at many parishes have for a long time
sought to put a atop.--Observer.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

ITALY.

TURIN, HARCH 20.
King Victor Emmanuel arrived here to-day; and
was received by the Ministry.
On account of the diminution of brigandage in
the southern provinces the military department of
Benevento has been suppressed.

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, MARCH 20.

The Journal de St. Petersbourg of to-day publishes
an article replying to the assertion of the Moscow
Gazette, that Russia ought to follow her civilising
mission in the south-western provinces instead of
advancing in Asia.
The Journal de St. Petersbonrg says—" What has
recently taken place in Central Asia has not the
object of extending the frontier of Russia, hut of
rectifying it by acquiring an uninterrupted frontier-
line, and of establishing relations with tribes who
know how to value the blessings of peace and com-
merce, and are not given up to plunder."

FRANCE.

PARIS, MARCH 19.

The following address to the Emperor, in reply
to the speech from the throne, has been brought
into the Corps Legislatif :
" Sire,—The session of 1865 has been opened
under favourable auspices. Calm abroad and con-
fidence at homeAend to become strengthened. We
congratulate ourselves upon the circumstances which
permit us to turn our efforts towards the labours of
peace and interior improvements.
" For upwards of a year general and diverse
causes have seriously affected business matters
throughout the entire world. This crisis, which
has had less lamentable effects in France than else-
where, is now greatly diminished. It will have
proved once again the prudence, the solidity of our
commerce and our trade, whose progress is mani-
fested by the considerable development of our
transactions abroad.

" It has not been possible for our agriculture
completely to escape the effects of this crisis, but
its condition has been more particularly influenced
by climatic circumstances.

"The abundance of two successive harvests at the
same time that there was an insufficiency of forage
has brought about a gexeral depression of prices,
the source of more suffering for the producers than
of prosperity to the consumers. This condition of
affairs, although temporary, will appear to you,
sire, as to us, a new reason for seeking with solici-
tude all ameliorations that could be realised in
favour of the agricultural population, so laborious,
so modest, and so devoted.
"In agriculture, as in trade and commerce, in
material interests as in moral interests, there are no
more certain and more powerful auxiliaries than the
improvement and development of every kind of ways
of communication, the necessary corollary of liberty
of traffic.

" Thus, the completion of works having for their
objects the iron roads, ports, rivers, canals, high-
ways, and irrigation, must be energetically pursued
with the intention of carrying them out in a few
years. Struck with the fertile results of these great
enterprises, the populations desire their continuation
and extension, even at the cost of new sacrifices ;
upon many points they have already set the ex-
ample. The united support of the State, the .depart-
ments, the communes, and companies would not be
too much for the united accomplishment of such a
work.

"The Corps Legislatif has received with satisfac-
tion from your Majesty the assurance that the situa-
tion of the finances, lightened of the expenses
entailed by distant expeditions, will permit the pre-
sent year to impart efficacious activity to these
works without any appeal to credit.
"Another method of increasing the general pros-
perity is to open a career to individual initiative
and to the spirit of association. We will eagerly
second you. Majesty's views in this respect.
" It is important, in fact, to facilitate the play of
commercial operations and the formation of socie-
ties intended to develope the welfare of the work-
ing classes, to bring back excessive regulation laws
(reglementation) within proper limits, and without
abandoning the guarantees necessary for the public
safety, to release the State from the weight of a re-
sponsibility often illusory and always dangerous.
ts ee ss thetosimplify and hasten
the
the municipal councils are worthy through their
sagacity of receiving more extended powers. The
imitpuorptoanncethiosf
thesCorpsnh
despatch
oi 1 ltn whichdof which
Legislatif
has been
affairs.
brreeoeepni
auo
rlaidbefore s
"The trade of maritime transport justly excites
your Majesty's solicitude. Closely connected with
the interests of agriculture and commerce, it is one
of the elements of the national power. We shall
Idvei vt
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eu
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will th e bill,lay
itw ho ipcehn,
to the general system of competition.
" We shall be glad to see disappear from our code
rigorous measures no longer judged necessary to
public order, and shall examine with the zeal the
interests in question require, the laws relating to
provisional release, with or without bail, and to the
suppression of personal arrest.
" Sire, We partake your wishes for public in-
struction. Eminently useful in every society, edu-
cation is essential in those communities based upon
universal suffrage. The desire of the Corps Legis-
latif, as of your Majesty, is that every citizen should
know how to read and write. We hope that the
development of general prosperity, a more liberal
application of the gratuitous principle and proper
encouragement given by the State to poor com-
munes, will hasten the moment when all children
shall enjoy the benefit of public education.
" Religious questions have recently occupied a
larger share of the attention of the country, but we
considered there is no reason for anxiety. Upon
the one hand, the great principle of the liberty of
worship is beyond attack ; -upon the other public
opinion beaTri'witness to the defererice for and in-
terest in the Catholic mode of worship shown by
you in multiplying branch establishments, improv-
ing the position of the clergy, and opening the
Senate to the Princes of the Church. So much
consideration and support secured to religion autho-
rises us the more to
expect from her ministers re-
pect for the rights of the civil power. All sovereigns
in France have preserved these rights intact, and we
approve of your Majesty's firm maintenance of the
obedience due to the fundamental laws of the State.

" Sire, we learn with profound satisfaction the
pacific solution of foreign difficulties. We regret
that these questions have not received a general and
durable solution from
a Congress. But the pacifi-
cation obtained reassures minds and interests.
" In the conflict raised upon the shores of the
Baltic your Government has shown a proper reserve,
imposed upon it by our good-will towards Germany
and our sympathy for Denmark. Your were right,
Sire, to appeal in the diplomatic conferences for the
benefit of the populations to the principles upon
which our public right is based.
" With your Majesty we verify the results gained
in Mexico, where, thanks to the valour of our
soldiers, the wisdom of the Sovereign, and the
support of the people, order, security, and labour
are resuming their empire. It is fortunate that
such successes prepare for the proximate return of
our troops. _ _

" The unfortunate insurrection which broke out
in Africa has been happily subdued. We hope that
the Arab population, too long blinded by religious
fanaticism, will henceforth not misunderstand the
power of our arms, nor the benevolent intentions of
our Government, and that persevering efforts will
secure the development and prosperity of coloni-
sation.

" Thus, everywhere whither our armies have
carried their flag, everywhere where our diplomacy
has given its advice, in Germany, Japan, Algeria,
and Mexico, our Government, Sire, has defended

moderation, right, and justice. We thank you
for having given France this part in the world.
The entire country, with its heart filled with joy,
will salute our soldiers brought back by peace,
after having added new-lustre to the honour of
the French name, by their victories in the Old and
the New World.

" Sire, a situation existed in Italy which was the
object offjust alarm to all sensible and clear-seeing
minds. It was requisite to conciliate the establish-
ment of the kingdom of Italy, partly founded by
our hands, with the maintenance of the indepen-
dence of the Holy See. The convention of the 15th
September has wished to attain this twofold ob-
ject. By that solemn engagement the Italian
Government undertakes to respect the Pontifical
territory, and to protect its frontiers against all
direct or indirect attack, thus efficaciously guaran-
teeing the confidence of the Sovereign Pontiff.
Upon the other hand, by transferring and fixing
its capital at Florence, it constitutes itself in a
definitive manner.

" We reckon upon the exact and loyal execution
of the engagements reciprocally binding Italy and
France. There are, no doubt, Sire, events which
human prudence would not be able to foresee or to
provide against ; but, full of confidence in your
wisdom, we approve you having, in this respect,
received your full liberty of action.
" Persevere, Sire, in this road of sagacious pro-
gress abroad, of conciliatory resolution at home.
This policy secures the influence of France in the
world, and consolidates her devotion to your per-
son and your dynasty. By firmly maintaining the
authority of power, continue to show, by the calm
development of our liberties, that there is not one
single realisable benefit Which the constitution of
the empire cannot give to the country.."
The address was received by the Chamber with
loud and long-continued applause, and its discus-
sion fixed to commence on Monday week.
BOURSE, March 17.—The market is very firm to-
day, with . a decided tendency to a rise in all the
principal securities. Threes, for the Account, are
now at 67f. 25c. Mobilier have shown some ac-
tivity, and have been done at 890 f. In Railway
Shares transactions are somewhat numerous, at
about the rates of yesterday. The following are
the last quotations :

4- per Cents 94 75
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 15
Do. end month 67 15
Credit Mobilier ... 880
Do. end month 880
Bank Shares —

Cr3dit Foncier 1295
Roman 74 50

Orleans ...
Northern .

RAIL'

Italian Loan 64 70
Do. end month 64 65
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian ... 80
Spanish Threes 45 50
Home Debt —
Deferred -
rAYS.

Cash. Acct.
~ 922 50 ... 923 75
. 1018 75 ... 1017 50

Lyons and Mediterranean 965 963 75
Southern 582 50 ... 580
Western 542 50 ... 543 75
Eastern
Sardinian 303 75 302 50
Austrian
Lombard 550 548 75
North of Spain 307 50 305
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona ...

MARSEILLES, MARCH 19.

The Messageries Imperiales steamer Peluse left.
Marseilles to-day with 53 passengers and £2,000
for Alexandria, also 51 passenger and specie, value
£192,000, for India and China.

The Schleswig Holstein Flag.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
VIENNA, March 16.

The following note, replying to the proposal made
by Austria and Prussia for the recognition of the
temporary Schleswig Holstein flag, has been received
at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs :
" M. le Comte,—ln reply to the note dated Feb.
21, addressed by the Austrian ambassador in Lon-
don, in concert with the Prussian ambassador, to
her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
stating that the Government of Austria and Prussia
had determined to grant a provisional national flag
to the Duchies of Schleswig Holstein and Lauen-
burg until the definitive settlement of the constitu-
tion of those countries, and proposing at the same
time to her Britannic Majesty's Government to
recognise this flag, and grant to ships carrying it
the rights granted to ships of those Duchies prior to
their separation from Denmark, I have been desired
by Earl Russell to inform your Excellency that her
Majesty's Government has maturely examined this
proposal, and is disposed to recognise this flag pro-
visionally and under reserve of the rights of the
provincial estates of Schieswig and Holstein, as well
as of those of the Germanic Confederation, and
only until the definitive constitution of the Duchies
interested.

" I take this opportunity, &c.
(Signed)

" A. G. BONAR."

South American (, Jerked") Beef.

DEPUTATION TO SIR GEORGE GREY.

A deputation, consisting of merchants, brokers,
bankers, and traders of London, Liverpool, and
Manchester, on the subject of the South American
beef (" jerked ") which has been recently imported
into this country, waited on Saturday by appoint-
ment, upon the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the
Secretary of State for the Home Department. The
deputation was headed by Mr. J. Bright, M.P.,
Mr. Horsfall, M.P., Mr. J. Cheetham, M,P., Mr.
James Ewart, M.P., and consisted of Messrs. Fripp,
C. Holland, W. T. Wigg (from Liverpool), J. Sturt
(banker of Manchester), &c., &c.
The deputation having been formally introduced,
Mr. J. Madden (a City merchant) opened the
case to the right hon. gentleman, and explained the
merits of the beef as an article of food, and particu-
larly as stock for soups, and stated his efforts to
promote its consumption. In those endeavours he
was interfered with by the City authorities. They
had seized some of the meat upon his premises, but
believing, as he did, that it was good wholesome
food, he objected to any proceedings until the meat
had been analysed by Dr. Letheby, the City medical
officer. The meat may be considered unsightly to
the eye, but it was not unwholesome. He had had
an interview, in connection with merchants and
bankers, with Dr. Letheby, and that gentleman
said he was convinced that if this meat was properly
introduced it would be a great boon to the public.
Under these circumstances he wished to ask the
Home Secretary to give a Government sanction to
proper analysis, and to ask for the prevention of
the indiscriminate interference of the police in the
seizure of the meat.

Sir George Grey asked the deputation why they
had waited upon him. He did not see how he could
give them any assistance. If there were any good
qualities in the South American beef, of which he
had "no doubt, it would unfailingly find its way
into the London markets, and be generally used if
proved to be wholesome and fitted for consump-
tion.

Mr. Bright—The best test would be to get up a
Cabinet dinner off the jerked beef. (Laughter.) I
was about to ask the deputation what has brought
us here ?

Mr. Madden—To see what can be done for us in
the shape of protection in an economical point of
view.

Sir George Grey—You know well enough that
the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and it does
not matter whether it is English tripe or Scotch
beef, it would be seized in the same way as the
South American beef if it is not fit for human food.
He asked again what the deputation wished him to
do.

Mr. Madden—To prevent the indiscriminate
seizure by the police of this meat.
A long conversation ensued, in which it was stated
that at the next meeting of the Society of Arts the
whole subject would be fully gone into, and soups
and dishes made from the jerked beef.
A further discussion followed as to its introduc-
tion into_ the workhouses and prisons.
Sir George Grey said at present he could not ad-
vise the introduction of jerked beef into the prisons
and workhouses, but would recommend the deputa-
tion to wait until it found favour with the public.

Upon the suggestion of Mr. Bright, Mr. Lucas,
the caterer of the House of Commons Refreshment
Department, promised to bring it under the notice
of the members.

LITERATIJRE,

Carry's Confession. By the-Author of " Mattie.''

Three Vols. Hurst and Blackett.

It is a grand secret, says the author of this novel,
to know how to give way at the right moment. It
was a secret unknown to poor impetuous Carry
Webber, a secret undreamt of by the proud and
inflexible Neal Galbraith—a secret, nevertheless, of
greater value than any of those scientific discoveries
which occupied the life and ruined the fortunes of
his father, Galbraith the Inventor. One among the
best of the novels of last season was the simple
every-day history of " Mattie : the Stray," and
very certainly one of the most natural and interest-
ing stories which have as yet appeared this year is the
pathetic, o'wer true tale of " Carry's Confession."
This confession which comes too late to retrieve "a
life's mistake," as some chapters of the history are
bitterly entitled, serves at least to restore peace
of mind in the place of remorse, and remains
as a beacon of warning to all in like circum-
stances who may read the tale. The character of
Neal Galbraith, the youthful hero, who at the age
of nineteen becomes the protector of his father, the
ruined Inventor, ruined in estate and intellect, is
very skilfully and painfully depicted. The tender-
ness of his nature becomes prematurely hardened.
A series of mistakes and errors of judgment—those
" trifles light as air"—

" that move
Dissension between hearts that love,"
overcloud the early happiness of Neal and Carry
Galbraith. We do not wish to betray the secrets of
the story, albeit it is not a sensational one. Its in-
terest depends, not upon startling incidents, but
upon natural emotions. The ne'er-do-well brother
Joe and his strapping wife come in very effectively
in the denouement; although we cannot say that we
admire the particulars of the Investment, as Joe
denominates his marriage and his wife. Carry's
sensitive affection for her unfortunate bro-
ther is as naturally indicated as is Neal's
protecting tenderness for his invalid father.
In these little touches the skilful hand of
the accurate artist is revealed. The episode of Mr.
Tressider's visit to the man he has ruined is related
in a chapter entitled " founded on fact," and is very
possibly taken from reality. There are some parts
of the story which bear a slight resemblance to the
author's former work " Mattie," as, for example, the
stolen visit of Carry Webber to the festivities at
Richmond reminds us of a similar escapade on the
part of Mattie's friend and favourite Harriet,
for which poor Mattie, it may be remem-
bered, took all the blame. The coin-
cidence is quite immaterial, and yet, nevertheless,
the similarity of the incident surprises us. Old Mr.
Galbraith, who brightens up at the epithet of Gal-
braith the Inventor," who strews the table
with his papers, and is ever busied over
some all-but triumphant " plan" is a capital
portrait, and the reader, who at first sympathises
with Neal's filial anxiety to postpone the " plan" to
some " other day" which is never to arrive, watches
with melancholy interest poor Neal himself ultimately
affected by the mania of invention, a fascination
as overpowering and almost as fatal as that of the
gambler. There is an air of probability about the
whole situation which renders the contemplation of
its unhappy results peculiarly distressing. A friendly
warning to the foolish little wife, a timely explana-
tion to the proud mistaken husband the reader
long to utter ; but had such friendly intervention
taken place, where would have been the story of
" Carry's Confession," and where the effective moral
lesson which it so pathetically enforces ?

Dr. Webster's Complete Dictionary of the English
Language. Part 111. (Bell and Daldy)— com-
pletes one full quarter of this new and carefully
revised edition of a very noble compilation.
Nine more of these monthly instalments are
required to complete it. The present one,
Part. 111., brings the Dictionary down to the word
epigrammatizer inclusively. A sprinkling of wood-
cut illustrations will still be found, here, enlivening
the text, for the value and interest of which text
the purchaser is indebted to the conjoint labours of
Dr. Webster, Dr. Porter, and Dr. Goodrich.

Obituary Notice of Admiral the Hon. H. A. Murray.
(Ilidgway.)—The readers of the
.Spectator will
hardly be suprrised to find that that chaming
memorial of a lately deceased notability—the me-
morial entitled, oddly " D 4 : The Albany"—has
been reprinted by Permission (for Private
Circulation), in a little fly-leaf pamphlet-form Bvo.
pp. 8, verbatim et literatim from the Spectator—
in many respects, the ablest, certainly always the
most original, among our weekly contemporaries.
And it is a tribute in every way worthy of this
separate publication as a graceful and genial
memento of a thoroughly genuine " character"
—eccentric if you will, but singularly many-sided,
manly, kindly, accomplished !

EXETER HALL.—Mendelssohn's oratorio " Elijah"
will be performed for the last time this season by the
National Choral Society, on Tuesday, the 28th. Miss
Louisa Pyne, Mr. Sims Reeves, and other artistes have
been engaged.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER HALL.-
Haydn's " Creation" will be performed on Friday next, the
24th inst. Principal vocalists, Madame Lemmens Sher-
rington, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr.
Patey.

THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT.—We are au-
thorised in stating that there is no truth in the statement
published on Friday in the Liverpool Daily Post to the effect
that the local agents of the Confederate Government had
dishonoured some of their drafts, which were in conse-
quence protested. The drafts in question, with the con-
currrence of all parks concerned, are merely being held
over until the receipt of proper advices, which are ex-
pected to arrive by next steamer.

A CENSUS OF POPULATION, and a rating or valua-
tion of all the citizens' property, was certainly an
old Roman institution, says the Reader, and it is attributed
to Servius Tullius. It is stated on the authority of Fabius
Pictor, that the first census gave a result of 80,000
men capable of bearing arms. We do not know
what evidence Fabius had for this assertion,
and some persons may affirm that he could not have
any. This number of 80,000 fighting men implies,
according to modern statistics, a total of 290,000 men and
women, and with the slaves and artisans, a total of 320,000
persons. If we could trust this conclusion, Rome under
Servius Tullius was already a powerful State. The author
infers that the slaves were not numerous at that time ; and
this conclusion is in harmony with all that we know of the
early history of Rome. The great increase of slaves be-
longs to a comparatively late period of the Roman Com-
monwealth:- -6 (-= •

THE REPoltifßD EVACUATION OF MOBILE.--A New
Orleans correspondent of the New York Times,
writing on February 23, makes the following statements :
—"Notwithstanding the multiplicity of rumours relative
to the evacuation of Mobile that have surfeited the public
during the past six weeks, I am in the possession of facts
which show that, on the contrary, the rebel fortifications
covering the city have been materially strengthened, and
the garrison of the city reinforced by from 10,000 to 12,000
men. The city is not invested at all by the Federal troops
in Alabama, and rebel railroad and telegraphic communi-
cation between Mobile and Central Alabama are, up to the
present writing, uninterrupted. Generals Beauregard,
Richard Taylor, Chalmers, Frank Gardner, Dabner H.
Maury, and other luminaries of lesser brilliancy, were on
the 14th at Mobile. On the 15th an order was issued call-
ing upon every ablebodied male person to bear arms, and
on the evening of the same day a jubilee took place, upon
which occasion speeches were made by the prominent rebel
generals at present in the city. General Beauregard held
forth at the magnificent residence of Madame Le Vert, on
Canal-street. General Chalmers harangued a crowd in
front of the Battle-house ; while General Taylor delivered
himself oratorically in front of Tompkins's Restaurant,
nearly opposite the Battle-house."
BURGLARY AT A BANK AT SOUTHAMPTON.—
SOUTHAMPTON, Sunday.—The South Western Bank
was broken into last night. The burglars got first into
the adjoining premises of Mr. Cooksey, and broke open his
Milner's safe, taking all the money they found in it. They
then broke open two doors and entered the bank. They
broke open the cash-boxes, and were about to break into
the strong room, when it is supposed they were disturbed,
as they left two large crowbars, some powerful wedges, and
a lantern behind them. They took about £2O in money.
The burglary was discovered this morning by Mr.
Cooksey's servant going to his master's premises to feed
the horses. No one sleeps on the premises, or near where
the burglars were at work. A gang of burglars was cap-
tured here a few weeks ago.
TWEED SALMON FISHING.—In the district between
Norham and Coldstream there has been a slight
improvement in the produce of the Tweed salmon fishings
during the past week, the daily average being about 14
salmon and 20 trouts. In the Berwick Shipping Com-
pany's waters the fishings continue unproductive, the
daily average being only about half of that reported from
the higher district of tho river.—Berwick Advertiser.

Cirr.
I 1
1
~...

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, 'March 18.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by
Major Cowell, Lieut. Haig, and Dr. Bernhardt,
arrived at the Castle last evening from the Con-
tinent.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Helena, went out walking this morning.
Her Royal Highness Princess Louise rode in the
Home Park.

Prince Leopold, attended by Mr. Buff, took an
airing in the grounds.
His Royal Highness Prince Alfred went out with
the harriers, attended by Lieut. Haig.
The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers had an audience
of the Queen.

The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Murray have
had the honour of being received by her Majesty.
Mrs. C. Murray was presented by the Lady in
Waiting.
March 19.
Yesterday was the birthday of her Royal High-
ness Princess Louise.

The Lord Bishop of London arrived at the Castle.
The. Queen, their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred,
Princess Helena, Princess Louise, and Princess
Beatrice, and the Ladies and Gentlemen in Wait-
ing, attended Divine service this morning in the
private chapel.
The Bishop of London preached the sermon.