The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-18 00:00:00

Zett

:5/

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1865.

The rapid passage of the China, which has occu-
pied only eight days and a half, has not left us long
in expectation of fresh American news. We
have by her mails intelligence up to March Bth, and
although nothing positively decisive can be gained
from it, yet the general impression given confirms
our opinion that military matters are on the whole
more favourable to the South than the Federals
would like to admit. There is, too, to all appear-
ance, some mystery about SHERMAN'S movements
which does not look very promising for the Federal
arms., The reports respeetm. g him are conflicting,
and are almost entirely founded upon conjecture.
New York on the morning
The accounts which left
of the Bth of March tell us that nothing had been
heard direct from SHERMAN since the 17th of Feb-
ruary ! Surely a singular hiatus, since SHERMAN
could easily communicate with Washington by sea
if his inland position were at all as favourable as
the Federals try to believe. Bat from the total.
absence of direct communication, and the move-
ments of Admiral DAHLGREN, as well as other indi-
cations, it appears that the triumphant march of the
Northern commander has at last been checked, and
that his troops have experienced more than one
serious reverse. A Federal naval expedition has
been sent against Georgetown, South Carolina,

which succeeded in capturing the city. Admiral
DAHLGREN reports that he attacked this place be-
cause it afforded the best opportunities of commu-
nicating with SHERMAN, in case it became desirable,
before he entered North Carolina. This looks
rather as if he wished to cover SHERMAN'S retreat
to the coast if necessary, and it is significant that
the Admiral's official despatches state that he has
sent a naval force up Black River, on which George-
town is situated, to communicate with SHERMAN,
who was believed to be about 12 miles inland.
Georgetown is about 50 miles to the north of
Charleston.; but according to the general intelli-
gence received, it is quite uncertain in which direc-
tion SHERMAN'S army is. Whether or no the Go-
vernment has more particular information is of
course impossible to say ; but highly important
despatches are said to have reached official quarters
from General GILMORE. The only thing certain
about SHERMAN is, that he was at Columbia on the
17th ult. ; and while some report him to be at Fay-
etteville and others at Florence, the Herald asserts
that he is 60 miles above Wilmington, while
the latest advices from that city state that
his reported junction with SCHOFIELD is
untrue, since the latter has met with frequent
resistance, and is only ten miles from Wilming-
ton. It is evident that he has met with a serious
repulse, and has found it impossible to make head
against his opponents. Meanwhile, to carry off
the public uneasiness respecting SHERIDAN, Mr.
STANTON has circulated a statement to the effect
that a great battle had been fought at Charlotte-
ville, on the 2d inst., between SHERIDAN and
EARLY, in which the Federal General succeeded
in capturing General EARLY, his staff, and his
whole force of 18,000 men! After this splendid
achievement SHERIDAN was reported to be march-
ing rapidly on Lynchburg, whither LEE had hastily
despatched reinforcements. English readers, how-
ever, will not fail to remember that EARLY and
his staff have already 'been captured several
times ; but, strange to say, the next mail gene-
rally finds them at large again, and they will
scarcely need to be told that very little faith is to be
placed in this unauthenticated story, which is be-
lieved in New York to be a little " sensation" move-
ment on Mr. STANTON'S part to increase the public
enthusiasm at the rejoicings of the 6th.
We are not surprised to learn that the execution
of Captain BEALES has excited the greatest indig-
nation in Richmond. It was, in fact, a judicial
murder, as poor Captain BEALES himself said
when led to the humiliating gallows. The Fede-
rals have often shown how completely they disre-
gard the amenities of civilised warfare, and the
pretence of calling a recognised and properly ap-
pointed officer a spy, was merely an excuse for
wreaking their vengeance on an antagonist. If all
who carry out the orders of their Governments
in attacking or destroying the enemy's property
were to meet the same fate, all the generals of the
North would be hung to-morrow, for the worst of
the Southern raids, and the devastations of the
Alabama and Tallahassee to boot, do not approach
the damage and suffering inflicted by the desolation
of the Shenandoah.

As likely to bear an important influence on the
European relations of the United States, we may
notice the expulsion of the Federal Consul from
Matamoras, in consequence of his non-re-
cognition of the Mexican Government. The
Imperial Commander-in-Chief visited the Confede- •
&rate General at Brownsville, Texas, and an-
nounced that his Government would shortly recog-
nise the Confederacy.
Meanwhile we must wait patiently for further
news before we rightly ascertain the state of
affairs in the Carolinas, though there is every reason
to suppose that the Confederates have the best of it.

A temporary hindrance has been put in the way
of the grand Confederation of British North Ame-
rica, a delay which all parties interested in the wel-
fare of the colonies must regret. New Brunswick
has opposed the measure by defeating the Confede-
ration candidates by a large majority, possibly
owing to some jealousy as to surrendering any local
privileges or dignities which that colony might
possess from its natural position. There was sure
to be a good deal of difficulty before a matter of
such vast importance, and affecting such compli-
cated interests, could be fully completed. Local
jealousies, individual influence, and many other
causes were morally certain to interpose
at some stage or other of the proceed-
ings. It was only marvellous that the
inaugurative steps should have been taken so quietly
and promptly. That it should have been so was
doubtless mainly due to the pressure of events and
the keen insight which the Canadians, from their
geographical position, naturally had into the affairs
and sentiments of the States. New Brunswick is
likely to read the signs of the times, and is
probably more afraid of being overshadowed
by the superior importance of the larger colony
than of being invaded by the Federal troops. Wise
men will overlook the less danger in the larger, and
if the colonists would take the trouble to consider
what would be their position in the event of an
American invasion, they would not be disposed
to neglect the source of so much strength
and vigour as the proposed union of the
provinces. There is little doubt that such
views will yet influence them, and that the scheme
will eventually become a reality. The Attorney-
General has announced to the Canadian Parliament
that the Government will still pass resolutions in
favour of the measure, ask the vote of the supplies,
and adjourn Parliament immediately, so that
the members of the Government might pro-
ceed to England to confer with the Home
Government respecting the national defences
and other pressing matters. An extra sum-
mer session will be called, when the Canadian
Ministers will submit the results of their mission to
the Parliament, and we trust by that time that the
obstacles which at present delay the completion of
so important a measure will be happily disposed of.

Mr. HENNESSY is doubtless actuated by the best
intentions towards Poland, but it is to be questioned
if he is wise in his attempts to further the cause of
that unhappy country in the House of Commons.
On the whole, he acted very sensibly in withdraw-
ing his motion, for no possible good could have
resulted from pressing it to a division. Indeed, in
some respects positive harm would have been the
consequence, for the fact of his being defeated
would have led to mistaken conclusions by the
different parties concerned in the matter. The
Russians might have thought that the sympathy of
this country was on the wane, and the Poles might
have felt irritated and disappointed at the occurrence
of so unfavourable an event. Although the pur-
pose of Mr. HENNESSY'S motion would not have
produced the effect he desired, had it been
acceded to, it will be found upon the perusal of his
speech that it contains much which is true, and
much -which explains matters to the uninitiated, so
that it cannot be said that the hon. member's effort
of last night was all lost labour and did no good
service to those whom he so eaaerly d sires to aid.
It is not likely that at this period of ne affair any-
thing that is done or said in England will have any
effect upon the Government of St. I etersburg, or 1

else it might fairly be supposed that even Russian
indifference would be moved by the shame of having
its deeds exposed, and its relentless course of policy
commented upon. Nothing seems to alter one iota
the plans pursued by the Government of the CZAR,
whether or not foreign nations interfere, whether
or not the Poles succeed in their resistance, alike the
savage acts are continued, and the fierce system is
pursued with unabated vigour and vehemence. The
object of Mr. HENNESSY'S motion was to propose
that in consequence of Russia having violated the
engagements into which she had entered by the
Treaty of 1815, this country should abstain from
any further payment of the Russo-Dutch Loan.
The hon. member was very emphatic in his observa-
tions respecting the policy of Russia, and in all
that he said on the subject we cannot but fully con-
cur. The course pursued by Russia towards
Poland is a lasting disgrace to her, and
lowers the character of her people for ever. Innate
cruelty and deep-rooted vindictiveness seem to
pervade the notions of the emissaries of
the CZAR, both civil and military, and their
conscience appears quite as impassive as their feel-
ings are callous. Many would be only too glad to
believe, as Mr. HENNESSY does, that any change
could benefit Poland, but the experience of the past
does not confirm us in the opinion he expresses in
this passage, "If any change should occur in
Europe to cause war between Austria and Russia,
the first result would be the independence of Poland."
Unhappily, we have too much reason to fear, that
this generation will not witness the emancipation of
Poland, and there is no kindness in indulging false
hopes, and holding out delusive expectations. Mr.
HENNESSY concluded by quoting some eloquent
words of Lord LYNDHURST, which were very ap-
propriate. The noble lord declared that "to treat
crime with silence was to participate in its guilt,"
which is a sentiment that all right-minded persons
will concur in. Such a charge cannot be laid to the
account of this country, for all sympathy with the
Poles has been constantly testified, and if nothing
now seems done to show it, it may be the best ser-
vice that we can render to them in the long run, for
these manifestations should always be kept within
due limits if we do not intend to mislead the objects
of our regard respecting our intentions. Lord
PALMERSTON'S speech contained some very true ob-
servations, although doubtless its tone appeared
cold to the partisans of Mr. HENNESSY. Due con-
sideration should be taken of the noble lord's posi-
tion, and of the great effect which his words pro-
duce. He was decidedly against the proposition
respecting the Russo Dutch Loan, and showed
good reasons for his non-approval thereof. He
said that we might take up arms, if we
thought that the treaty was violated, but
that it would be unworthy of this country to change
our plans in order to put money into our pockets
which we have stipulated to pay to Russia. The
obligations to do this are totally distinct
from the question of Poland, and there-
fore the arguments of Mr. HENNESSY, so far as
this is concerned, fall to the ground. Lord PAL-
MERSTON also said, which was true enough, that
the subject of Poland had already been so fre-
quently discussed in the House that there was no
possible doubt respecting the opinions entertained
of the conduct of Russia. It will be as well to drop
the restion of Poland, for a time at least, because
no good can possibly accrue to that suffering nation
and gallant people ; and it would be most deplorable
if any new attempts at insurrection were made upon
the strength of our legislators taking up the
subject of Polish wrongs anew. Several hon. mem-
bers concurred in the sentiments of Lord PALMER-
STON that the subject had been sufficiently com-
mented upon, and it was prudent of Mr. HENNESSY
to abstain from pressing his motion to a division.
It seems to be a recognised fact that from one cause
and -another this country can do nothing to aid
Poland, but not the less should all influential per-
sons be to make a decided protest against the policy
of Russia and to reprobate a course of action which
has retarded the progress of civilisation in Europe,
and been a scandal to the communities of Christian
States. It should check the pride of those who
boast of the progress of the present day to reflect
that we can do nothing to stop the preparation of
as great a wrong as any that the dark ages wit-
nessed, or to mitigate the evils that a gallant
people are forced to endure. No one can regret
the difficulties that the Russians are getting into
with their own affairs when they reflect upon the
misery that they have occasioned to others by their
ruthless proceedings and unflinching practices of
cruelty.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean in Californi%,

(From the Daily Morning Call)

•
The last night of the Kean engagement was a grand
finale to a brilliant season. They ended, as they com-
menced, with " Henry the Eighth," and "The Jealous
Wife," and, as on the first presentation of these plays, the
house was packed as closely with human beings as the capa-
city of the walls could afford. Many ladies were com-
pelled to stand until they became exhausted, and then re-
luctantly withdrew. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean, Mr.
Coppin, and the company who accompanied them hither
from Australia, will have' reason to remember with the
most pleasurable feelings their visit to California ; and we,
on our part, have to thank the Keans for such mas-
terly expositions of the Shaksperian drama, as it may
never again be our good fortune to witness on the American
stage. We bid them a kindly farewell, hoping that good
fortune may attend them on their homeward journey. At
the end of the first piece, Mr. Kean was called before the
curtain, and made the following speech :

Ladies and Gentlemen,—ln our voyage thus far round
the world, we have received the most flattering evidences
of the good and kindly feeling entertained towards us in
the various places which we have visited. lam now truly
proud to add another important and gratifying testimonial
to the list, in the cordial reception that has been bestowed
upon us in San Francisco, and by the success which
has attended our lengthened engagements, extending to
three months—a success which would be a triumph
anywhere, but may be considered an extraordinary com-
pliment when the comparatively limited population of this
place is taken into account. So confident is Mr. Maguire,
the manager, in a continuance of your favour towards us,
that he has offered most liberal terms, free from all risk on
my part, to induce a postponement of our departure till the
next mail steamer, but I have felt myself from circum-
stances compelled to decline his agreeable proposal. We
shall leave on Friday morning by the Golden Age for
Panama, stopping a few days at Jamaica, on our way to
New York, where we hope to arrive by the middle of
March. I fear we shall never revisit Calfornia, for after
our long career of active and laborious service, my wife
and I aro anxiously anticipating that tranquil enjoy-
ment which rest and retirement alone can give. It
has been of late my constant and painful task to bid adieu
to many whom in all human probability I shall never meet
again. Each departure that we take finishes, alas another
chapter of life's history, bringing us nearer and nearer to
the end of the volume. Memory, however, the home of
tho past, will, I trust, still be left to reflect the events of
bygone days, and to recall the scenes, forms, and faces that
we have looked upon in our travels with so much pleasure,
and parted from with so much regret—showing us then,
in the words of a celebrated poet, " what once has been—
what now is not." It only remains for me now to offer
you the poor but sincere and grateful thanks of Mrs. Ilean
and myself, and to take our last long leave of our generous
friends, the California, publio, Ladies and gentlemen,
Farewell,

M. LAMARTINE writes to the press to state that
the " Vie de Cesar" by him, which is advertised by M.M.
Levy Freres, appeared originally in the Cirilisateur, and
that the copright having long since passed from him, he
has nothing to do with its publication at this opportune
moment of the appearance of the Emperor's " 1 istoire do
Jules Cesar."—The Reader.

NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION.—In our lead-
ing article of the 15th instant, on the operations of this
institution during the past year, we inadvertently stated
that Messrs. Cunard and Co. had given the institution
£2,000 to form and permanently maintain a lifeboat. The
name of the benevolent donors should have been Messrs.
Coma and Co., London and Bombay, merchuits.

LITERATURE.

2he North British Review. No. LXXXIII.
Edmonston and Douglas.

The prosperous career of the North British Re-
view, under its new management, we are delighted
to see continues. The freshness, the vigour, the
diversity of the contents of the current number of
this very able periodical, are quite as remarkable in
their way as were those of its immediate predeces-
sors. A rapid survey, here, of the mere themes
selected by the different contributors will serve to
indicate at once, at the very least, the variety of
the subjects descanted upon in the particular
number of the North British now under
our consideration. True, no doubt, that upon
starting on this cursory scanning of the eight
distinct articles making up the eighty-third in-
stalment of the North British, the subject-matter
of the very first of those eight papers may appear, at
a superficial glance, to be not particularly invit-
ing. " The Rise- and Progress of the Scottish
Tourist" is the title of it—the two pegs upon which
the argument is hung, being, on the one hand, a
reprint of a forgotten book of Defoe's (published
-by Defoe anonymously), and on the other hand,
a little prattling, harum-scarum, railway book
(that we remember noticing, ourselves, some months
back) written by one Toddles (nom de plume),
and published by the Messrs Routledge. But
—unpromising though all this might seem to be
ostensibly—the initial paper thus suggested, and
entitled, proves, upon an examination of it, not un-
deserving of the place of honour allotted to it, if for
no other reason because of the manner in which the
very curious materials there collected together have
been arranged and set forth. Afterwards—as a
very dish of ripe and flavorous " nuts to crack,"
each of these touched to a more poignant
relish by just a delicate suspicion of the attic
salt of wit—we have a choice accumulation
of the very pick and pink of " Epigrams " old
and new, culled from sources alternately the
most recondite and the most familiar. As the
third article in this current number of the North
British, there will be found a well-digested essay
upon " Spain," her people and ber Government.
Those who have no particular faith in the_sound
judgment of Professor Goldwin Smith—(and
with the highest admiration for his powers
in the abstract, we acknowledge frankly that we
ourselves set not the smallest value whatever
upon the soundness of the judgment direct-
ing those powers—will do well perhaps to skip, as
of comparatively small account, the very
next argument put forth in the North British
in the shape of Article Four, namely, an argument
weighing in the balance all the pros and cons for
the abolition, or for the retention of "Tests in the
English Universities." Shewing that neither by the
members of the Alpine Club generally, nor, before
that, by the late Albert Smith in particular, can
Mont Blanc be said, even yet, to have been " used
(asVesuvius maybe said to have been, when Sir
Charles Coldstream, on looking down the crater,
pronounced that there was " nothing in it I")—we
meet here next with a very readable paper on
the topography of the mountain-chain of
which Mont Blanc may certainly, be de-
clared to be the most prominent excrescence !
Professor Matthew Arnold's thoughtful and sug-
gestive book so entitled, has prompted another of
the North British Reviewers to pen an able essay
upon " Essays on Criticism." Finally, after an
article upon " The Holy Roman Empire," we
have as the bonne bouche of the number (bringing
the whole to a delightful close) a very charming
paper—a paper at once artistic and anecdotal,
critical . and biographical upon that Prince
(facile princeps) among all our Humorists of the
Pencil, John Leech, the Hogarth of the nineteenth
century, the right hand man of Mr. Punch.
the illustrator of Charles Dickens and Theodore
Hook, of Albert Smith and Douglas Jerrold, of
Percival Leigh and Gilbert A'Becket, of Bentley's
Miscellany and Once a Week, of Punch's Pocket
Book and Punch's A.lmanack, above all that great
weekly organ of the comicality of the age we live
in, Punch, or the London Charivari ! Very nearly
Fifty separate works (49 in all) embellished by the
pencil of John Leech, make up the goodly cata-
logue prefixed to the article commemorative,
here, in this March number of the North British
Quarterly, of his delightful and in many respects
inimitable genius. One of these we cannot but re-
gard as attributable to a slip of the pen, or of the
press—to wit " 27 Jack Hinton "—Charles Lever's
" Jack Hinton " having, in our vivid recollection of
it, been illustrated by the illustrator par excellence
of Harry Lorrequer, Phiz., otherwise, Hablot Knight
Browne—among whose embellishments to Jack
Hinton, who that ever once saw it can have
forgotten his etching of Jack's steeple-chaser
Modderidderoo ? As a whole, however, it is a
singularly accurate and certainly a very compre-
hensive list of works attributable to the hand of that
go
powers of
John Leech as
most indefatigable and delectable of pictorial
humorists. From the body of the article itself an
rt commemorativee—aanhd
! ex 0
i genially ! so appre-
caiatiicvleely !—of a
Humorous Artist we learn,
among other particulars of especial interest in rela-
tion to his innocent and laborious life, that
during the twenty-three consecutive years of his
connection with Punch as the illustrator of its pages
from week to week, John Leech received from the
proprietors of that world-famous publication, in
hard cash, for his good services, upwards of £40,000
sterling ! A noble and munificent recompense: yet,
while we say that, let us add also a recompense
every farthing of which the recipient of it most
richly earned and deserved. Had the merits of the
current number of the North British lain solely in
this one delightful article upon John Leech, they
would have been quite adequate of themselves to
have sustained the raised and advanced, the rising
and advancing reputation of our true blue Quar-
terly. Apart from this one admirable paper, how-
ever, as we have here shown, the North British
Review has again made good its claim to our
very particular consideration,

Lord Brougham and Mr. Edmunds..
(From the Law Times of to-day.)

Lord Brougham's name has been introduced into
the Edmunds' scandal, but on no sufficient grounds.
Mr. Edmunds was, we believe, the son of Lord
Brougham's solicitor, who was killed from a fall
from a gig during an electioneering trip. With
characteristic generosity Lord (then Mr.) Brougham
took upon himself the charge of the son of the man
who had lost his life in his service. If we are not
misinformed, Mr. Edmunds was taken into his
patron's house and became a member of his family.
When Lord Brougham was elevated to the wool-
sack, one of his first cares was to provide for the
orphan, and he presented him with the offices he has
now resigned. Whatever were the pecuniary trans-
actions between Mr. William Brougham and Mr.
Edmunds, whereby the salary of one of those offices
was set apart by Mr. Edmunds for payment of the
interest on a loan, Lord Brougham had nothing to
do with it ; nor indeed was there anything wrong,
or even uncommon, in an official borrowing money
and giving up a portion of his official income as
security for the interest and the premium on the
necessary life assurance. What was the precise na-
ture of the transactions between Mr. Edmunds and
Mr. William Brougham has not been stated ; but,
from the fact that Mr. Edmunds paid the interest
and premiums out of his salary, it may be assumed
that it was in some way an accommodation to him-
self.

It is perhaps necessary to state that this solution
is offered without authority, and only as a deduction
from the partial statement that has been pub-
lished.

THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN.—The Index points to
a region accessible to Lee, and readily convertible into a
gigantic stronghold, where 100,000 troops might bid defiance
to five times that number. This is in the mountainous
regions of Northern Georgia, Northern Alabama, and
Eastern Tennessee. Lee would there be placed in imme-
diate communication with the cotton States, his main
sources of supply. He would at a single stroke deprive the
Federals of all their advantages of coast and river commu-
nication. Thither, if hard pressed, Lee might finally direct
his army, and in that Switzerland of the Confederacy the
war may be carried on for 20 years.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

THE CAPE MAIL.

PLYMOUTH, MARCH 18.

The mail steamer Britain arrived here this morn-
ing with the Cape mail. She left the Cape on the
11th, St. Helena on the 19th, and Ascension on the
23d. She brings 50 passengers.
At the Cape the next Parliament had been sum-
moned to meet in Cape Town on the 27th, when
the most important business to be discussed will be
the:annexation of British Kaffraria. Against this
project the Kaffrarians were disclaiming. The ex-
tension of railways and telegraphs will also occupy
much of the time of the. Parliament. In the
Western Province the present line of railways is to
be extended still further into the heart of the
country. In the Eastern Province all prelimi-
nary arrangements had been made for the con-
struction of a railway between Grahamstown and
Port Elizabeth, and the Government only awaited
the voting of the necessary sum for the instruction
to commence the works.

Affairs on the frontier were pacific. There had
been some equivocal proceedings of the Basutos, but
no outbreak was expected in the Transkein terri-
tory. Future trouble was expected from the in-
creasing power and warlike demonstrations of Krell,
since he had been permitted to return into the coun-
try from which he had formerly been driven. The
Tambookies, his enemies, had also been permitted to
occupy part of the same country. The British resi-
dent was in a delicate position, and had much
trouble to prevent a collision betweenthe two parties.
Trade was steady in the colony, the import market
quiet. and money easy.
The new Eastern District Court had been opened
at Grahamstown.

The English Church Diocesan Synod had been
held at Cape Town under the presidency of the
Metropolitan. The Synod amended its previous
acts in accordance with the judgment of the Privy
Council in the case of Long v. Bishop Gray.
Two great agricultural shows had been held, one
at the Paarl, the other at Port Elizabeth.
The steamer Queen of the South from Calcutta,
left Table Bay, Feb. 11, and the Diamond Com-
pany's steamer' Eastern Province, was also to leave
that port on the 23d—both vessels for England.
The President of the Free State, Mr. Brand, was
at Bloemfoemfontien, and the burghers had left the
frontiers for their homesteads.

FRANCE.
PARIS, MARCH 15.

The Constitutionnel of this morning publishes an
article signed by M. Limayrac, demonstrating that
the apprehensions of American aggression in
Mexico are chimerical, and stating that the relations
between France and Washington have never ceased
to be of a most satisfactory character.
BOURSE, March 17.—The market is much firmer,
and transactions are more numerous than yester-
day. Threes, for the Account, are now at 67fr.
10c. (ex div.) Mobilier have been done at 876 fr.
25c. In Railway Shares business is brisk, and at
improved quotations. Paris Gas Shares are ex-
ceedingly firm at 1,780 fr., a rumour prevailing that
Bonds will be issued and not Shares for whatever
new capital may be required, which measure is con-
sidered of a nature to strengthen the position of the
present shareholders. The last operations of the
Bourse were very important, and there was a marked
improvement in the principal Securities. The Ita-
lian Five per Cents. have recovered in a slight mea-
sure from their depression. Business in Paris Gas
Shares has been transacted at an advance of 32fr.
50c., the closing price being 1,812 fr. 50c. The
following are the last quotations :
per Cents 94 70

Do. end month

Italian Loan 64 80
Do. end month .64 75
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
VAYS.

3 per Cents. 67 20

D. end month 67 15

Credit Mobilier ... 885

Do. end month BB3 75
Bank Shares 3522 50

Credit Foncier 1295
Roman 74 50

--- ...___
Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lO2O ... 1020
Lyons and Mediterranean 961 25 ... 961 25
Southern ~ 5BO ... 580
Western 545 ... 542 50
Eastern
Sardinian 303 75 ... 301 25
Austrian
Lombard 550 ... 548 75
North of Spain 305 ... 802 50
' Saragossa 877 50 ... 877 50
Ditto to Barcelona 165 —. ... 175

TURKEY.
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 8.

At the instance of the British and French Em-
bassies the term accorded by the Porte to Persia for
the settlement of the tariff difficulty between the
two Governments has been further extended to six
months.

The rumour of a disturbance in the Lebanon
turns out after all to have had some slight founda-
tion. The return of Joseph Karan appears to have
produced a ferment in some villages of the Kesro-
nan, and this being, it is said, encouraged by a cer-
tain influential Consulate at Beyrout, Daoud Pasha
felt himself unable to answer for the peace of the
mountain with the small police force at his disposal. He
accordingly applied for military assistance, which the
Porte, under-estimating the difficulties of his position,
refused, and thereupon tendered his resignation. This
the Government wisely declined to accept ; and the
excitement continuing, orders were telegraphed to
the commander-in-chief at Damascus to detail 3,000
troops for special service in the Lebanon, by the
Governor-General. The latest telegrams, however,
report that no occasion has arisen for employing any
portion of this force ; and as Mr. Outrey, the French
Consul-General at Beyrout, has been opportunely
promoted to Alexandria, there is no reason to fear
that the tranquillity of the Mountain, or of the
province generally, will be further disturbed.

REVENUE OF VICTORIA. The revenue of this
colony for the year 1864 amounted to £2,851,712
an increase of £129,413 over the previous year. The Cus-
toms' duties amounted to £1,103,025. The Estimates for
the year 1865. which have been laid before the Colonial
Parliament, show that after the proposed reduction in the
import duties on tea, coffee, opium, sugar, &c., and in the
export duty on gold, the Custom duties of 1865 are esti-
mated at only £1,019,000. The new taxes proposed for
supplying the deficiency to be thus created are estimated
to produce £236,900 ; they comprise taxes on grocers' and
oilmen's stores, on salt, on doors and window sashes, on
jewellery, on manufactures of silk, on millinery, on apparel
and slops, on musical instruments, on carriages, on saddlery
and harness, on boots_ and shoes, on earthenware and
glass and on furniture, toys, and a variety of other
articles. With this help the revenue of 1865 is estimated
at £3,095,400.

STEAM SHIPBUILDING ON THE CLYDE.—The Tarifa,
another of the Mediterranean steamers belonging to
Messrs. Burns, made a trial trip a day or two since under
the command of Capt. Inglis. She is upwards of 2,000 tons
burden, and has engines of 300-horse power ; she was built
by Messrs. Thomson, of Govan. In "running the lights"
she attained a speed of 13 miles an hour—a rate which is
expected to be considerably increased when she is under
canvas. The Tarifa has since left the Clyde for Liverpool,
from which port she will make her first voyage for Egypt.
The Turkish Government has ordered an iron-plated ram
on the Clyde. She is to carry guns of heavy calibre, and
will be provided with an iron beak upwards of 20ft. in
length, projecting underneath from the stem. The direc-
tors of the Wemyss Bay Steamboat Company intend put-
ting on the Millport station the Large, a new steamer built
by Messrs. Wingate and Co., of Whiteinch. The Kyles,
built by Messrs. Caird and Co., of Greenock, and belonging
to the same company, is also ready, and will be put on the
Rothesay station early in May. A third steamer, which is
also being built by Messrs. Caird and Co., is expected to be
launched in a few days. Messrs. J. and R. Swan, of Kelvin
Dock, have launched an iron screw steamer of 400 tons
burden, named the Valencia. This vessel is owned by
Messrs. Mories, Munro, and Co., of Glasgow, and has been
built for continental trade ; she is being engined by the
Greenock Foundry Company. Messrs. Hedderwick and
Co., of Govan, have launched for the Madras and Colombo
Steam Navigation Company (limited) a smart screw
of 340 tons, named the Negapatam. She is being fitted
with engines of 60-horse power by Messrs. J. Howden
and Co.

The Chinese Gems at the Crystal Palace.

THIS DAY.

This morning one of the most extraordinary
and wonderful exhibitions ever offered to the public
was opened at the Crystal Palace. It consists of
Captain de Negroni's collection of porcelain, jade,
jewels, silk, furs, &c., from Yuen-min-Yuen, the
summer palace of the Emperor of China. Captain
Negroni was attached to the 102 d Regiment of the
French army in China, during the year 1860, and
from the splendour and value of his collection he must
have been one of fortune's favourites at the sacking
of the Emperor's palace. It is quite impossible to
adequately convey in words an idea of the glittering
treasures now on view at Sydenham, and therefore
we must content ourselves with extracting a few of
the items from the catalogue published for the use of
visitors. First and foremost stands the extraordinary
sapphire, the largest in the world, weighing 742
carats, and estimated to be worth £160,000. The
stone is of the most lustrious beauty, and is num-
bered 301. In size it is about 2 inches in length,
2 inches in breadth, and 1 inch in thickness. 226
is a rose ruby, weighing 500 carats ; 223-4 two
large oriental amethysts, weighing respectively 150
and 100 carats. The diamonds are of unusual size,
from 50 carats upwards. No. 176 is a magnificent
jewel case used by the Empress. It is
Mosaic work, formed with sapphires, rubies,
emeralds, and large pearls. Nothing can be richer
than this box, and probably there is no other of
equal value in the world. Although there are many
other boxes of the same description in the glass case,
yet we must pass on to No. 183, a little bottle,
which is said to contain the " essence of crocodile."
It is reputed to be the strongest stimulant in exist-
ence, and when used terminates life through the
excessive action of.the emotions. According to the
Chinese law, this poison must only be in possession
of the Emperor, who alone has the power of life or
death. It is believed that the only other bottle in
existence is in the hands of the Sultan of Turkey.
No. 198, the Empress's hand mirror, is an article of
extraordinary beauty ; indeed, there is not an
article in this division of the exhibition that is not of
the greatest value. In another division of the
exhibition we have the " European Jewels pre-
sented at various times to the Emperors of
China," and amongst these are watches with-
out number, all ornamented with brilliants
of extraordinary size and lustre. Many of
them are, in addition, adorned with exquisite
enamel, by Watteau, and golden arabesques, which
render them of priceless value. No. 174 is a per-
fect marvel of mechanism, it is a little golden
filigree cage of the style of Louis XVI. ornamented
with fine pearls and enamels. In the base is a piece
of mechanism calculated to be composed of
2,500 distinct pieces. In connection with it
is a watch and two beautiful little birds
which move and sing in the most natural manner.
The movement is not only simply turning from side
to side ; but wings, beak, tail, eyes, are all in mo-
tion, and the tone is just what might be produced
by a living bird. The exhibition of agates and
jade carvings is, perhaps, more wonderful than the
jewels, because, owing to its extreme hardness, the
difficulty of fashioning each article into form must
have been the work of years and years. In this
division the articles appear to be of enormous value,
as No. 42, a chalcedony cameo vase, is considered
to be very superior to that exhibited at
Dijon, in 1858, which was valued at £40,000 by
Mr. Marshall, to whom it was presented by the
Emperor of China. No. 1, the jade jewel stand of
the Empress, is a perfect wonder ; so is also No. 2,
an imperial junk, carved from pure white jade.
There is amongst the collection the seal of the
Emperor of China, which was affixed to all death
warrants, and various other articles of extreme in-
terest. The silks, embroideries, porcelains, paint-
ings, &c., are all of the most gorgeous description,
and together the collection makes an exhibition
which will assuredly draw hundreds of thousands to
the Crystal Palace.