The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-21 00:00:00

THE 8 ErN, 'LONDON, MONDAY EVE NI ISTG, 'APRIL 21, 1.862.

exercised by the spread of civilisation in the East
as well as in the West, through the greater facility
and the increasing promptitude of communi-
cations generally, through the good under-
standing (les bons rapports) established
between the Oriental Governments and the
Powers of the West, in fine, through the incontes-
tible influence often, even, it must be admitted,
the excessive influence exercised by this one upon
that! Further even, our Belgian contemporary
asks very pointedly in reference to the complaints
that are sometimes made in regard to the disorder
and anarchy occasionallyaffording still such afflicting
spectacles in certain parts of the East, if they ought
not perhaps to be attributed in a very great measure
at least to the incessant and, always at these times,
imperious intervention of certain great Powers of
Europe in the affairs and in the internal administra-
tion of the countries of the Levant? An intervention—
continues this outspoken journalist—which, accord-
ing to our notion, in a manner the most unjustifiable
and lamentable, finds its formula as it were pre-
cisely in these Capitulations, confiscating (without
any other right or reason than such as is derived
from ancient usage) a part of the sovereignty of
the Oriental Governments, and doing this all
the more effectually by partially despoiling
them of the right of administering justice! The
Independance might here even have said—despoil-
ing them partially of what we Europeans one and
all regard as the inalienable right of administering
justice!

Having spoken out thus thoroughly and man-
fully upon the opposite side, in vindication, that is
to certain of the new institutions secured to
foreigners and natives alike at Tunis by the re-
cently inaugurated Tunisian Constitution—the In-
dependance, therefore, quite as manfully publishes,
without garbling it in the least, publishes at full
length, names and all, the counter-protest already
referred to as having been transmitted lately
from Tunis in the shape of what we have called a
round-robin on the part of certain European mer-
chants resident in that city. We are certainly not
going to transcribe long passages from the argu-
ment put forward in this rather elaborate document.
We are not going even to annoy our readers with a
minute analysis of its contents. The reasoning
throughout it—from what has already been here
remarked—may be easily enough imagined. From
the cameo—the intaglio can be at once conjectured.
Every line, and turn, and twist in the convexity is
suggestive of the counterpart traced out in the
convexity from which it is taken from the opposite
side—as a seal is taken from a die, as a cast from a
matrix. There is one sentence, however, inciden-
tally occurring in the course of this argument, on
the part of the European residents at Turin, which,
as it happens to be not only a very brief but a very
brilliant and epigrammatic sentence, we are irre-
sistibly tempted to particularise. It occurs where
the protesting correspondents are insisting upon
what they manifestly regard as the rasiness (to say
the very least of it!) of counting upon the
Tunisian Constitution as already complete,
full-grown, so to speak, and perfectly reli-
able both in itself and in its working. " Civilisa-
tion," they observe as tersely as wittily, " does not
improvise itself by decree : it is necessary that it
should penetrate little by little into the character
of the masses"—La civilisation ne s'improvise pas
par decret, it faut qu'elle penetre peu a peu dans le
caractere des masses. It is in words equally epigra-
matic that the subscribers of this Document remark
sarcastically towards the close of it—and as the
significant pendant to the whole argument preceding
it—" We will leave, then, to our happier successors
the responsibility of applauding Tunisian equity
and of submitting themselves without risk to the
jurisdiction of the Tribunals instituted by the
Constitution." Nous laisserons alors I. nos suc-
cesseurs plus heureux le soin d'acclamer l'equite
tunisienne, et de se soumettre sans peril a la juri-
diction des tribunaux institues par la Constitution."
In effect, the Independance Belge is for the com-
plete and implicit reliance of all parties alike, na-
tives and foreigners without distinction, upon the
well-working of the regular courts of justice estab-
lished in Tunis by the new Constitution. Whereas
the European residents who have thus formally
protested against the notion of their doing any-
thing of the kind—are as decidedly in favour of
maintaining still in force at Tunis the ex-
ceptional and irregular jurisdiction hitherto
exercised in regard to their respective fellow-coun-
trymen, there, by the different European Consuls.
As elsewhere—here again we cannot but think that
the right path to be chosen lies as nearly as possible
midway between the two extremes. The trail of
common sense_ guides us here once more, we cannot
but think, in a very straightforward direction—
right onward, to the juste milieu ! Let the new
courts, if you will, be resorted to frankly even by
foreigners—but, remembering that they are new,
let the consuls keep them always within the range
of their vigilant supervision.

I Whea Parliament reassembles the recent expe-
riments at Shoeburyness must engross almost, if
not quite as much attention, as the experiment
made for us by the Monitor and the Merrimac in
American waters. Those experiments have pro-
bably been carried to the farthest which the new I
gun and the present quality of powder admit of.
We have seen no statement by Sir WILLIAM ARM-
STRONG as to the explosive foree which his new
and immense gun will bear. It is supposed that
the fifty pounds of powder now used may not all
be burnt in the gun, and that though it produces
conspicuously greater effects than forty pounds,
yet it might produce greater still if all the powder
ignited. Perhaps powder may be rendered by me-
chanical arrangements for its ignition, or by more
careful chemical preparation more rapidly and com-
pletely combustible than it now is, and the charge
which has been tried may produce yet more de-
structive results.

The last experiments, however, only confirm the
importance of the suggestion we made a few days
ago. It shows even more strongly than the smash-
ing of the Warrior target did, that we ought not to
spend a million more than is absolutely necessary
on the faith of each last experiment being the last.
We have had three now in quick succession,
all antiquating what we might hav3 done
on the faith of those which preceded. 'lndeed,
we might go farther back—Sir SOHN PAKINOTON
—the Tories being in want of a card—began recon-
structing our navy of wood, and praising himself
most abundantly, and being praised abundantly by
the other Tories for it. But even he had hardly
completed his short course ere he found himself
compelled to commence with iron-plated ships, and
Practically to confess that his vast outlay of the
nation's money had been to little purpose. Iron
plating then went on at an easy pace, and cupola
ships 'were neglected. Meanwhile the Merrimac
and the .
:Monitor experiment occurred—immediately
iron-plating
of
was everything for defence, and
the uahpatvaemsetCoLE s
earnestly for
in the
and
p
work
we A
second exPerirn
to
e.
ne w line.
ent is, however,
now performed at horne--the
Warrior's side,
ainnaewtagrguent;foarnmd what then is to become, is fairly pierced and smashed by
f our War-
riors ? One such gun working in a cupola would

sink them. Forts are therefore at a premium again,
though with no small misgivings about securing
one or more effective shots at the passing vessel.
But hardly had we made this last change when
another experiment confounds everything. Not
five inches only, but fifteen inches of iron plating
securely plated together, give way before the
monster smooth bored gun, and a whisper comes
from Paris that a new rifled gun there has pierced
more than twelve inehes of iron !

Now, where is all this to end P We believe no
mortal can yet conjecture. Two things are indu-
bitably plain. One that no ship can swim with
the weight of iron plating which would resist
the new artillery—the other, that the idea of
plating stone forts with iron thick enough to resist
such guns, must be abandoned. The expense,
and all incurred for the chance of getting a single
shot at a passing ship, would be beyond what even
a PALMERSTON would advise. There is one further
consideration ; all the probability is that a shell
will be perfected which will explode under water,
and destroy the wooden bottoms of our iron-plated
ships. In such a state of things it is prudence, not
i indolence, for the naval department not to be too
hasty. It must keep our naval power, according
to the testimony of the last experiment, ahead of
other powers, but to go beyond the minimum of
what safety requires, may be only to throw millions
more away after those luckless millions, for which
we have already paid a crushing income tax, to the
glory of Sir JOHN PARINGTON—and to find our-
selves with a vast fleet which could not face the
Merrimac and the Monitor, while those ships
which could face them would go to the bottom,
before a gunboat carrying the gun which has just
been tried at Shoeburyness.

Our attention has been called to a precious speci-
men of ecclesiastical Toryism, which it seems has
been forwarded to " all the clergy of England and
Wales, and the churchwardens of all large towns."
It is termed an " Easter Address to Churchmen,"
and professes to be issued by the " Council of the
Church Institution." The Council boasts of the
names so honoured in the annals of Religious Tory-
ism—of Lord INGESTRE, M.P., Lord ROBERT MON-
TAGU, M.P., the Earl of VERULAM, Earl NELSON,
Mr. PACKE, M.P., Mr. C. J. SELWYN, M.P., Mr.
BERESFORD HOPE (not now M.P.), and others less
known, but doubtless of similar quality.
This distinguished body has issued a circular ad-
dressed as above, of which the following are the
principal points :

1. Congratulation on the "improved feeling of
the country in regard to Church questions.
2. Exultation in beating the Church Rate Aboli-
tion Party last year by the Speaker's casting vote.
3. Laudation of Church-rates, and the parochial
system.

4. Thanks to GOD for having been able to resist
successfully every measure for conferring equal re-
ligious liberty on all worshippers of GOD.
5. As the practical result of the whole, an exhor-
tation to do battle for Church-rates at the coming
Easter vestries. Such the authors, noble or not
noble, of the circular will not deny is a fair sum-
mary of their circular.
Now let us compare with this circular, which
English Tories are not ashamed to issue, with
another—if so we may call it—we mean the
proposals placed by the Austrian Government
before its Reichsrath or council of the empire, in
regard to Religious Liberty—they are briefly as
follows :

" I.—To all churches and religious societies is granted
an equal position before the law. The State does not con-
fer special privileges upon any religion.
"2.—The special protection hitherto afforded to one par-
ticular religion by the law shall cease.
" 3.—Legislation respecting marriage belongs exclusively
to the State, so far as the validity and civil effects of those
contracts are concerned. The matrimonial jurisdiction of
the ecclesiastical tribunals will be transferred to the secular
courts.

" 4.—ln no case can the members of one church or reli•
gious society contribute to the expenses of the worship of

another.

" Lastly.—Tithes and other payments to which the mi-
nisters of a particular church now have a legal right, and
which form a charge on landed property, shall be abo-
lished, an indemnity being provided."
We do not think it unlikely that, taught by ad-
versity, the Government which, not many years
ago, consented to a very servile concordat with the
POPE, really makes these proposals in perfect good
faith. It sees that the hearty support of all sects and
creeds can be purchased only by the Government
becomsng the hearty and equal patron or protector
of all. But even were these terms not offered as
sincerely as, from political motives, we believe they
are, they yet show to what a perception of right, in
regard to religious liberty, even Austrian statesmen
have arrived. We put it to the clique of Lords and
M.P.'s, who appear as the aristocratical stars of the
English Council, whether they can read this Aus-
trian Religious Liberty programme, and compare it
with their own, without a blush. We, at least,
should blush for them at Vienna if we saw the
Viennese reading a translation of their document.
We should expect that Baron SCBMERLINO himself
would hold up his hands in utter astonishment, and
ask our Ambassador whether English Lords did not
need to come to school to Austrian Ministers.
The whole of the English circular is intended to
arouse those who belong to the Parliamentary
Church of the TUDORS, as last burnished up by
CHAS. 11. and the Cavaliers, to fight tooth and nail
for every vestige of their present supremacy and
privilege, as compared with the larger half of the
the nation which uses modes of public worship not
prescribed by Act of Parliament. It is a circular
to stimulate the love of Ecclesiastical domination
and special privilege. The Austrian document
starts with denying " special privileges to any reli-
gion." The English Lords lay special stress on
preserving intact the power of the Church of Eng-
land to tax all other communities of Christians, by
levying church rates. The Austrian Ministers say
emphatically that " in no case can the members of
one church or religious society contribute to the
expenses of the worship of another." The English
legislators make it a charge against Dissenters,
that they will not rest till, as it is acknowledged,
" after an equitable satisfaction of existing inte-
rests," they see tithe property applied as national
property to secular purposes. The Austrian legisla-
tors declare that tithes now given to a " particular
church" shall be abolished, after an equitable ar-
rangement with existing interests bas been made.
The English Lords condescend to what we must
term ignorant or superstitious cant about the
antiquity of the unequal, and therefore unjust, pe-
cuniary advantages conferred on their own sect,
as if injustice grew into justice by years; the Aus-
trian Ministers pay no attention to the hoary-
headedness of the injustice which conflicts with
the fundamental principle they start from, that to
" all churches and religious societies is granted an
equal position before the law."
Probably Austrian statesmen will little compre-
hend the nature of the measures specified in this
circular,eatieg, which Ecclesiastical Toryism gloried in
defeating, on Parliamentary Wednesdays last year.
fe
They would be astonished to find that the first was
to provide what the fourth article in the above
tio ve idefor, that no sect should be
forced era
to pay
expenses
of another's worship.
enumeration pe
th°

That a second bill was to provide that in the parish
burying ground, maintained at the cost of the pa-
rish, the relatives of a deceased person might inter
him with the funeral rites most consolatory to
themselves, because most in accordance with their
own views and those of the deceased. That a third
Bill was to do away with the bigoted interpreta-
tion of the word " religion" in trust deeds, by
which the courts of law held that religion,
in a deed, can only mean that of the Prayer-
book and the Thirty-nine Articles, and
that all other worships and creeds are not to be
known as religion at all—an interpretation by
which all who do not accept the Parliamentary
Liturgy and Creeds are excluded from all school and
charity trusts, however respectable persons they may
be. Such is the class of bills which men brought
up in a country which boasts of its true religious
liberty plume themselves on defeating ! The best
that can be said for them is, that party politics have
blinded their eyes.

We cannot conceive a more ignominious position
than the one into which that arch political sharper,
Mr. DISRAELI, has led his party. Even Austria will
laugh at thm, and history will consign them to
contempt. It will record this public fact, that a
clever Hebrew, a "Bedoueen Arab,"we should remem-
ber he calls himself, became in his way a Church-
man—that having been driven into a most ignomi-
nious minority on commercial protection, he re-
solved to beat up on behalf of religious protection.
That he went down into HAMPDEN'S county, and
there in a notable manifesto told the clergy " If
you get us Tory votes, we'll keep church rates and
all the good things of the State for you." And his-
tory will record that the poor elergy took the bait
of the bankrupt politician, and crowded to his sup-
port. At present all looks like a great success—
but in truth it is one like that which elected a Par-
liament to maintain the Corn Laws, though it ended
in abolishing them ; or like that which placed Lord
DERBY in power in 1852 to make .the last fight for
protection, but which ended in his first burying
protection under the resolution of the Opposition,
and then interring Toryism itself on the left hand
of the Speaker.

With regard to the special object of the circular
—to arouse our clergy and churchwardens to an
Easter strife with Dissenters on the subject of
church rates—we only hope that these provokers
of ecclessiastical war will have their fill of it. We
doubt not it appears to them as worthy a commemo-
ration of Easter as religious processions and jubila-
tions did to the Archishop of TOULOUSE, in comme-
moration of the great massacre of the Protestants in
his episcopal city. The spirit is the same—softened
in action it is true, by the secular spirit of an age
whose social sentiments are more benevolent than
hereditary and selfish ecclesiastical zeal. Eccle-
siastical bigotry and assumption are as bitter and
proud as ever, but they are cowed by the better
sentiments of the great majority of the laity.
They would like the Star Chamber, but are com-
pelled to be satisfied with seizing, ex-officio, the
chairmanship of parish meetings, and using it as best
they can to defeat rates by unjust management of a
vestry meeting. Let the friends of liberty and the
haters of ecclesiastical sectarian domination, how-
ever, but do their part ; let them fight locally, suc-
cessful or unsuccessful, and they will all be con-
tributing to the grand result. The time must be
approaching when England will come up to Austria
and will actually proclaim that " The State does
not confer special privileges upon any religion."

IR_RIGA2ION WORKS IN ITALY.

(From the Money .Market Review.)

Not the least interesting of the projects which have lately
been introduced upon the market is one for establishing a
system of irrigation, by means of canals, in a certain rich
district of Northern Italy. Irrigation works constitute a
form of enterprise of the highest value and interest, and
have as yet attracted not a tithe of the attention which their
importance demands, either in India or elsewhere. Yet in
in all those instances where well planned irrigation works,
whether on a small or large scale, have been constructed in
India, the profits and advantages have been extremely
large. The notice of the Indian Government will be more
earnestly directed to these works as soon as the great task
of railway, making shall have been carried nearer to com-
pletion. It would, of course, be beginning at the wrong
end to stimulate the production of the soil until means shall
have been provided for bringing the produce to a market,
or shipping port. It can afford neither satisfaction nor
profit to grow wheat in order to let it rot on the ground, as
is the case now in parts of the province of Scinde and else-
where. But in Italy the drawback involved in deficient
communication is not presented in anything like the same
degree, and such deficiency as exists is being rapidly re-
medied by the energetic and enlightened action of the Go-
vernment. Italy is ripe for works of irrigation, and atten-

tion is naturally directed to those districts in which there
is a lack of these facilities. Northern Italy has long been
known as one of the gardens of Europe. With a soil of
wonderful fertility, and a climate unsurpassed by any in
the world, the richness and variety of its productions have
been celebrated from the most ancient times. Many parts
are as well watered as any in our own island, but in many
others there is a great want of the means of irrigation, and
it is in one of the most important of these that operations

are to be commenced by the company lately formed. The
serious light in which the Government regards the under-
taking is shown by the fact that it has given a six per
cent. guarantee, besides providing for a sinking fund.
It is true that Italian Government guarantees have
latterly become somewhat plentiful in the mar •
ket, as is natural when we consider the magni-
tude of the work of re-organisation just cast upon the Turin
Cabinet, bearing in mind, too, that re-organisation means
expense. But the new kingdom of Italy is playing its part

bravely, and, if Government is compelled for the time to

make new securities faster than a strict attention to the
Position of its credit in the market would suggest, it will
have its compensation hereafter, when the vast resources of
that fertile region will have fair play, and when the public
expenditure will be found susceptible of a very important
reduction. The guarantee on the capital of the irrigation
works forms, at least, something substantial to go upon ;
and, besides being an earnest of the hearty support of the
authorities, ensures a very acceptable minimum return to

the shareholders. But there seems to be every ground for
reliance that the profits of the undertaking will be of a
much more important kind than any indicated in the rate
of the guarantee. According to the custom of the country,
the company will have the right to take payment in kind
out of the increased revenue obtained through the irriga-
tion. The payment in this form varies from 25 to 30 per
cent. of the produce, and estimates prepared with great
care, and verified by the local authorities, show a profit on
the share capital of no less than 18 per cent. in addition to
the guaranteed interest of 6 per cent. It appears, more-
over, that substantial parties are always ready to farm
these payments in kind. •

By operations of this nature, the Irrigation Company
completely links itself with the agricultural progress of the
coun ry, and establishes an identity of interest which affords
the best security for success and for a permanent entension
of Government support. It is another satisfactory feature,
in the present instance, that the English market is not ex.
elusively resorted to for the capital required. Native capi-
tal is likewise, being largely embarked in the project. We
have always thought that this point has not been adequately
attended to in the foreign undertakings which are brought
forward here. If a French or Italian concern be intro-
duced on our market, and it be found that the French or

Italians do not take part in it, there is, prima facie, ground
foi distrusting the representations made. But of the share
capital of the present scheme nearly one-half was reserved
for subset iption in Turin, where the amount was fully taken
in less than three days. It would seem that our capitalists
may safely embark in it in company with the Italians, who
have the advantage of complete acquaintance with the pro-
posed scene of operations.

A special meeting of the Brighton Railway Com-
pany is called for the 29th inst. for a similar purpose, and
a special meeting of the Great Northern for the 6th May.

Everything will be in readiness for the Queen's
arrival at Windsor Castle on the 26th inst., though it is
not positively fixed that her Majesty will leave Osborne on
that day. At present the departure of the Court from the
Isle of Wight stands for the 28th. Her Majesty will re-
main at Windsor Castle until the 30th, and perhaps not
leave for Balmoral until the let of May. Her Majesty will
travel to the Highlands by an entirely different route from
that which she has been accustomed to take, The route
will be by the Lancaster and Carlisle and Caledonian Rail-
ways, and if it is possible to do so conveniently, the Queen
will make the journey without stopping. It is expected
that her Majesty will remain at Balmoral for about a month
—certainly till after her birthday (the 24th of May) has
passed.—Court Circular.

The Cabinet of the Hague has proposed to that
of Brussels to postpone, until the first of August next, the
period fixed for the exchange of the ratification of the treaty
on the navigation of the Meuse.

Mr. Maltby, the English Vice-Consul at Brussels,
has published a notice that 1,500 forged one-pound notes
of the National Bank of Scotland are now in circulation on
the continent.

A special meeting of the Midland Railway Com-
pany is called for the 6th of May, at Derby, to approve of
several bills now before Parliament.

A special meeting of the London and North
Western Railway Company is called for the 2d of May, to
approve of various bills affecting the company, and now
pending in Parliament. Only two of these are promoted
directly by the London and North Western ; six are pro-
moted by it jointly with other companies ; and eight are
bills of other companies requiring the approval of the
London and North Western.

The Duke of Cambridge has given orders for the
redecoration of Gloucester House in anticipation of the hos-
pitalities which will be consequent on the influx of distin-
guished visitors during the International Exhibition.
Though the royal duke came to town on Saturday, he
leaves London to-day.—Court Circular.
DEATH OF LADY ELIZABETH REPTON.—The
Lady Elizabeth Repton, eldest daughter of the distin-
guished statesman ,and lawyer, the Earl of Eldon, died on
Wednesday last, after a long illness. Her ladyship was
born November 1, 1783, and married, November 27, 1817,
Mr. Geo. Stanley Repton.

THE BISHOP OF LONDON.—We regret to an-
nounce the continued illness of the Bishop of London.
His lordship was to have preached at the special service at
Westminster Abbey last night, but was prevented by his
serious indisposition. His place was supplied by the Rev.
Daniel Moore, ➢I.A., incumbent of Cambden Church, Cam-
berwell.

A good illustration of Mr. Smiles's popularity is
afforded in the fact that Messrs. Tinsley Brothers had an
order the other day for 200 copies of Self Belp for the work-
men of Mr. John Hick, of the Iron Works, Bolton.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.—The Emily St.
Pierre, which was captured off Charleston by a Federal
cruiser, has arrived here, having been recaptured by her

crew.

Two days ago the Moldo-Wallachian Govern-
ment granted a concession to an Austro-English com-
pany for a railroad from Czernowitz, in the Bukovina,
to Galatz and Jassy. A few Ways since Captain Blakely,
of the Royal Artillery, passed through Vienna on his way to
Constantinople, where he is likely to get a large order for
rifled guns. Mr. Orell Lever is again at Vienna, but I have
not yet heard what is his business there.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE.—We understand that the corporation of
the City of London have granted the use of Guildhall,
with the courts and offices adjoining, for the purposes of the
sixth annual meeting of the National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science, to be held in London from the
sth to the 14th of June next. A strong feeling is exhibited
in the City in support of the meeting, and the Fishmongers'
Company, with their accustomed liberality, have given 50
guineas to the fund that is being raised to defray the local
expenses.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL.—We understand that
Rear-Admiral Horatio T. Austin, C. 8., has been nominated
to fill the vacant post of lieutenant• governor of Greenwich
Hospital, vice Sir William Carroll, K.C.8., deceased. It
is not known whether there will be any re-arrangement of
the duties consequent upon the recommendation of the royal
commission; but it is rumoured that Rear-Admiral Austin
will be appointed rear-admiral superintendent for a term of
five years.— United Service Gazette.
CHELSEA SAVINGS-BANK.—The trustees of this
institution have issued their 42d annual report, from which
it appears that during the last year there were 10,166 con-
tributors to the bank, including 62 charitable institutions
and 29 friendly societies. The total balance due at the time
the accounts were made up was £171,234 3s. Bd. against
£170,786 6s. 10d. due, including interest, for the correspond-
ing period of the previous year. The sums received from
depositors within the year amounted to £50,101 ss, 10d.,
and the amount repaid during tne same time, including in-
terest, was £53,251 Os. 2d. The total cost of management
amounted to £7BO 6s. 4d., and, after providing for the pay-
ment of every depositor in full, there remained a surplus of
£787 16s. Bd., which was carried forward to meet the cur-
rent expenses of the present year. The directors have made
arrangements to pay in future all small sums without the
usual week's notice.

HOLYHEAD ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.—A largely
attended publi3 meeting has been held at Holyhead to ex-
plain to seamen the object of the Naval Reserve, and the
advantages held out to them by joining the force. The chair
was taken by the Hon. W. 0. Stanley, M.P., and among
those present were Captain Inglefield, of her Majesty's ship
Majestic; Captain Pechell, R.N., Commander Priest, R.N.
and a number of other naval officers. Captain Inglefield,
in an able and concise speech, explained the primary object
of the. Naval Reserve to be that England should not be bur-
dened with heavy taxation by keeping a large standing navy.
Nothing short of invasion could possibly call out the Naval
Reserve, and in such an event doubtless the seamen would
all come forward ; but the whole gist of the matter was to
teach them to work the guns properly. In Holyhead every
facility for drill would be afforded them, as the Majestic
would be there long enough to enable all to have their 28
days' drill. Only able seamen and the best men would be
taken. Men of 30 years of age, who had joined for 15 years,
would be entitled to a pension of not less than £l2, to the
benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and wound pensions, the
same as naval men. In North Shields 1,200 had already
joined ; in South Shields 370, 400 in Liverpool, 500 in Mary-
port, and 27 picked men in Carnarvon. Captain Tully said
that as far as the seamen belonging to the City of Dublin
Company were concerned, they would have every facility
to go through their drill, and Captain Warren expressed
himself to the same effect on behalf of the railway company.
The chairman, in some closing remarks, observed that in a
short time it would be a mark of distinction to belong to this
force, and in offering his services to a shipping master a sea-
man would find he would be preferred to those who had
not joined. The proceedings closed with the usual votes of
thanks.
THE CASE OF CAPTAIN ROBERTSON.—We be-
lieve that the decision of the authorities with reference
to the late court-martial in the 4th Dragoon Guards
now requires but the requirement of a formality be-
fore it is promulgated for public information. Offi-
cial secrecy is most properly observed in these matters, and
we do not profess to tell our readers the actual result; but
a secret which is known to some 30 cr 40 persons almost
ceases to be a secret, and we have some reason for believing
that the public anticipation of Captain Robertson's acquittal
will be very nearly justified by the event, and that that offi.
cer will be ordered to return to his duty. With the nature
of the changes that may be expected to follow we are unac-
quainted, but rumour associates the names of several officers,
notably those of Colonel Shute and Lieutenant-Colonel
Cureton, with the proximate command of the 4th Dragoon
Guards.—Army and Navy Gazette.
DEATH BY FIRE IN A MODEL LODGING-
wousE.—On Saturday Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the de-
puty-coroner for Middlesex, held an inquest at the London
Hospital, on the body of Mary Gross, aged eight years,
who lost her life by ffre at the New Model Lodging-house,
St. John-street, Brick-lane, Bethnal-green, under the fol-
lowing shocking circumstances :—lt appeared from the
evidence that the parents of the deceased were weavers,
and occupied one of the upper rooms of the new building,
and on Saturday night week, about nine o'clock, the
mother and father were absent to take home some work.
The deceased had the care of other children and while
standing in front of the fire her dress (which was extended
by crinoline) touched the bars of the grate and ignited.
Her screams brought one of the lodgers named Edmond-
son, to her aid, who found her running about the room
enveloped in a mass of flame, He rolled her up in a piece
of carpet, and with other assistance the flames were extin-
guished. She was removed to the above-named institution,
where she was found to be shockingly burned about the
arms, legs, and body. The deceased lingered in great
agony until Thursday, when she expired from the mortal
effects of the burns. The deputy-coroner remarked on the
distressing nature of the case, when the jury returned a
verdict of " Accidental death."
THE GREENLAND FISHERIES.—HULL, April 17.
:—Messrs. Brown, Atkinson, and Co., the directors of the
Hull Whale and Seal Fishing Company, have received the
following news from the Greenland fisheries :—The steamer
Lady Seale, of Hull, Capt. Silvey, which left this port about
the middle of February, returned to Lerwick on the 13th
instant, having had to bear up from the ice on the 10th.
The Lady Seale had experienced very heavy weather, with
a continuation of N.E. gales, and very heavy ice. Captain
Silvey reports having seen the steamer Diana, of Hull,
Capt. Simpson, about the time he made the ice. The Diana
had got into the ice, but Capt. Silvey, seeing no prospect of
making a successful fishery at Greenland, considered it pru-
dent to return to Lerwick, where he would replenish his
stock of coals, and proceed without loss of time to Davis's
Straits. No other ships were seen during the voyage. Capt
Gravell, late of this port, who took command of the steamer
Polyhymnia, of Dundee, for the purpose of proceeding to
the Newfoundland fishery, had put into Bull's Bay with
screw damaged. No seals had been taken. The Newfound-
land seal fishery has proved an entire failure. More news
may be expected in a few days,

LATEST NEWS.

TURIN, APRIL 20.

The clergy of Lecco have sent an address to the
Pope, praying his Holiness to renounce the tem-
poral power and to bless Italy.
The address bears 700 signatures.

FLORENCE, APRIL 20.
A collision has taken place between two trains
on the railway to Sienna.
One of the trains containing infantry soldiers
was damaged.
There are about 100 dead and wounded,

BERLIN, APRIL 21.

Advices from Munich announce the betrothal of
the Grand Duke Ferdinand to the sister of
Francis 11.

The marriage ceremony is to take place on the
12th May, after which they will reside at Lindau.

ROME, APRIL 20.
The Pope gave a solemn benediction (urbi et orbi)
in the Vatican to-day.
The whole of the French and Pontifical troops

were present.
An immense crowd assembled, and shouts were
raised of " Viva it Papa."

ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 20.

The Journal de St. Petersbourg of to-day contains
an Imperial decree, ordering that in future the
birthdays and namedays of the Grand Dukes shall
always be celebrated on the Sunday following the
dafon which they fall. The celebration of the anni-
versaries of national victories is abolished, except
in the case of the anniversary of the battle of
Pultowa.

The Borsen Zeitung of to-day publishes an Im-
perial decree, according to which parcels forwarded
through the post to foreign countries will no longer
be subject to the control of the Custom-house autho-
rities.

INDIA.

(BY TELEGRAPH TO POINT DE GALLE.)
CALCUTTA, MARCH 31.

Shirtings unchanged. Mule twist, 40's, active
and advancing. Indigo unchanged. Copper firm,
but little doing. Saltpetre quiet. Linseed firm,
but little doing.
Exchange.—Baring's credits, 2s. Old.
Government Securities.—Four per Cents., 1
discount ; Five per Cents., 1011.
Freights quiet.