The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

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" THE

SUN"

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that the charge, if it meant anything, amounted
to an assertion, that similar practices had, within
the personal knowledge and under the observation
of the Honourable Gentleman, been carried on
between the Government and certain members of
the Irish Brigade. It could never for a moment
have been supposed that this sweeping denuncia-
tion was aimed at gentlemen who had fairly and
honourably accepted offices' for which they were
well qualified on the formation of a new Adminis-
tration—with the leading members whereof
they coincided in political opinions. The charge,
as against Ministers, was, however, altogether
withdrawn in the explanation, and the matter re-
solved itself into the charge of tergiversation,
which had been repeated, neque ad nauseam, on
the hustings at Carlow and Athlone, and which
had been so fully and completely rebutted. Of
course—more especially as Mr. DUFFY declared
that if he had offended against the rules for the
proper conduct of the business of the House, he
regretted having done so—the matter dropped ;
and the episode, which at one time assumed rather
aninteresting aspect, terminated, after delaying
the business of the country for an entire day.
The remainder of the proceedings of the evening
were scarcely more creditable to the Members who
participated therein. The questions nominally
under consideration were completely thrown over-
board, while abuse and recrimination were bandied
about in a manner that might have done honour
to the most promising pupils of Billingsgate.
The " sham-fight" about the extension of the In-
come Tax to Ireland was brought to the conclusion
that might have been easily anticipated, some well-
merited cuts being administered to those who,
after opposing the amendment of Sir E. B. LYTTON,
where their votes might have been beneficial,
brought forward propositions without a hope of
any practical result. The worst part of the transac-
tion was, that the house got so very impatient that
the really important amendment of Mr. Mumma
was slurred over almost without discussion. It
will, however, be again brought foritard under
more favourable circumstances ; and we earnestly
hope that the contemplated measure may not be
permitted to become the law of the land until
that approxiination to justice be rendered to those
who have been so long and so seriously aggrieved
under the iniquitous system about to be revived.

A singular incident took place last evening, in
' the 'London Tavern, in the presence of a numerous
assemblage of working men—an incident as curi-
a ous as it was eminently beautiful. The presen-
tation to Louis liossirra of a magnificent edi-
' tion of the works of SHAKSPERE, bound in mo-
rocco and embossed with the arms of Hungary !
The volumes, which were CHARLES, KNIGHT'S cele-
brated edition " Illustrated," were enshrined in
a bookcase of black oak and white holly, carved
into an exquisite model of the Poet's birthplace at
Stratford-upon-Avon. The gift was a tribute
purchased by 9,215 pennies, subscribed by Eng-
lishmen and Englishwomen—according to a sug-
gestion made some time since by DOUGLAS
JERROLD. There are several, we doubt not,
who regard the whole proceedings as a jumble
of anachronisms, or, what shall we call it ? inap-
propriateness. Yet nothing, we believe, could be
more true to the time, the man, or the occasion
than each circumstance connected with this
most interesting testimonial. It was appropriate
that the suggestion should have emanated origi-
nally from DOUGLAS JERROLD, because DOUGLAS
JERROLD is at once one of the champions of the
working classes, and one of the conspicuous names
in modem literature. It was appropriate that
KOSSUTH should thus receive a tangible evidence
of the homage of the English multitude for his
patriotism, of their admiration for his career, and
of their profound interest in his misfortunes, seeing
that the illustrious stranger has been latterly sub-
jected to so much shameless calumny and disgraceful
vituperation. It was appropriate that Lord DUD-
LEY STUART, of all men, should have occupied the
chair last evening, and that Mr. COBDEN should
have appeared among the more notable persons on
the platform. Above all it was appropriate that
the tribute should have been exactly what it was
—an edition of SnAxsrEßß--because it was from
the study of the writings of SHAKSPERE in his
dungeon that Louis Kossum derived his wonder-
ful mastery of our language. Everything, there-
fore, as we have said, in the proceedings which
terminated so delightfully yesterday, was remark-
able for its extraordinary and admirable appro-
priateness.

It is over incidents like these that the multi

tude lingers with a sense of solace as well as of
satisfaction as the events of contemporary history
follow each other in rapid sequence over the re-
flecting disc of the public journals, to be after-
' wards celebrated on the scroll of the national
annalist. It is by occurrences of this kind that
the people are consoled for the knowledge of those
base and cruel slanders by which, in regard to
men like KOSSUTH, our boasted hospitality is
rendered, at times, a subject of derision. We
exult, therefore, in recording every detail of last
night's proceedings in reference to this Working
Man's Testimonial, remembering that it is a spon-
taneous tribute offered by the toiling sons and
daughters of England to the implacable foe of
Austrian Despotism, and the beloved and idolised
Liberator of the Hungarians.

DEATH OF LADY DALHOUSIE.—The ship Monarch,
Captain Arrow, of and for London, from Calcutta, ar-
rived off the port of Falmouth yesterday afternoon,
having sailed from that city on the 2d of January, from
Sandheads on the 27th following, and from St. Helena
on the 29th of March The Marchioness of Dalhousie,
wife of the Governor-General of India, was a passenger
by this vessel, on her return to England, and expired
yesterday from exhaustion, accelerated by sea-sicknesi.
The body of this distinguished lady was brought on
shore here in charge of Captain C. B. Bowie, of the
Royal Artillery, and Mr. J. Howard, the ship's surgeon,
accompanied by two servants, and immediately taken
on by post conveyance to London, via Plymouth.
ACCOUNT DAY.—The next account will take place on
the Ist of June, and Consols for that period left off at
101. This unusually early date has been fixed in con-
sequence of the arrangements requisite at the Bank of
England in connexion with the conversions of stock
proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
COLONIAL Housz INVESTMENT COMPANY.—The pros.
pectus has been issued of an undertaking called the
Melbourne and Colonial House Investment Company,
with a capital of 200,0001., in 51. shares. The object
of its promoters is to ship the complete materials of
small fireproof brick cottages to Melbourne, Victoria,
ready for immediate erection in that colony.
PARIS CHAYIBER OF COMMERCE.—A decree has just
been issued by the French Government authorising the
Chamber of Commerce at Paris to establish a house for
the conditioning of silk and wool. The Hotel Bullion,
Place de la Bourse, has been arranged for the purpose,
at a heavy coat, and is expected to be in full operation
in the course of next month.

EMIGRATION--The Emigration Commissioners have
advertised for tenders on the 12th inst. for two vessels
to New Sout'ia Wales and Victoria. Tha one for Sydney
is to be ready on the 4th, and that for Melbourne on
the 6th of July.
ARGYLL Rooms.—Mon. E. Laurent, the well-known
caterer for the public amusement, takes his annual bene-
fit at these popular rooms on Monday evening. The
orchestra on Vie occasion is to be greatly augmented,
and a rich treat will be provided for the lovers of music.
The beneficier has announced his intention to distribute
a new waltz gratis to his friends ; and, since the attrac-
tions of the evening will be of an unusual character,
there can be little doubt that the " house" will be a
bumper.

CLOSING OF THE CITY GRAVEYARDS.—Yesterday
afternoon a. general meeting of beneficed clergymen
of the city of London was held at Zion College,
under the presidency of the Venerable Archdeacon
Hale, to take into consideration the closing of the
City grave-yards by order of the Government--a
circumstance which will deprive many of the incumbents
of large portions of their incomes. The archdeacon was
supported by the Rev. Dr. Croly, president of Zion
College, and rector of St. Stephens, Walbrook ' • the Rev.
Dr. Worthington, the Bev. C. Lacy, the Rev. T. Simp-
son Evans, &c. The proceedings were of a private cha-
racter, but it is understood that it was agreed that a
representation of the circumstances affecting the City
clergy should be forwarded to her Majesty's govern-
ment.

ORDERS TO CLOSE THE BURIAL-GROUNDS OF ST.
Gius-Dr-THE-FniLns.--Complaints having been made
by the inhabitants of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, as to the
state of the churchyard in High-street, Dr. Sutherland
inspected the ground, and reported on the necessity of
immediately discontinuing interments therein, and Lord
Palmerston has thereupon given the requisite notice to
that effect to the parochial authorities. The burial-
ground belonging to the same parish, situate near Old
Bt. Pancras Church, is also closed at the end of a
year.

- ROYAL THAMEB YACHT CUM.—Owing to the Draw-
ing-room' aPpolnted for the 2d of June, the schooner
match of tins club from Gravesend round the Mouse
Light and back, oriyi
pingo on tlio 14 of tines 7 fixed for that day will take

MONEY MAREET AND COMMERCIAL
INTELLIGENCE--(THIS DAY.)

CITY) TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 6,000 bales—of which 1,000 American
were taken for export and on speculation. The
market closed steadily without animation. Rail-
way Shares were very dull.
The changes in the balance sheet of the Bank of
England during the week to the 30th April, were
mostly indicative of an increased demand for
money, not withstanding the sum of the discounts
was smaller. The deposits seem to have been made
available to meet the requirements of parties want-
ing cash, and bullion was taken in preference to
notes. Compared with the previous week, the
changes are as follows :
Active circulation £23,124,555

Decrease
Bullion
Decrease

Rest

Increase .
Public Deposits

Increase .
Other deposits ..

Decrease
Seven-day and other Bills
Increase
Government Securities
Other Securities
Decrease
Notes unemployed
Increase

283,775
18,355,094
199,087
3,120,987
6,648
3,934,322

221,333
12,922,620

284,303
1,427,737
15,258
No alteration
13,506,745
125,752
8,684,410
100,265

Business, in bills of exchange, upon the principal
Continental cities was done yesterday afternoon at
fuller rates on Hamburgh, but lower on Trieste,
and Paris was scarcely so high, being 25.224 to 25.
Amsterdam, 11.175 to 18, and Hamburgh 13-51 to
6 ' • all for three months' paper.
Accounting for the recent decline in Mining
Shares, Mr. J. S. Tripp remarks

" The English Mining Market has remained firm
until within this last two or three days, when the con-
tinuous decline in the standard for copper produced a
complete panic, and prices suddenly dropped very con-
siderably. Those who are supposed to be the best infermed
have not however shown any desire to force sales, and we
believe no extent of purchases could be effected excepting
at improved rates. Everybody has felt that after
so great a rise in the price of copper a reaction must
occur, and though it may occasion a temporaiy depres-
sion in the share market, yet it has generally been cal-
culated that the mining interest would be promoted
more healthily by moderate than excessive prices. The
average standards of last year compared with those of
the present, show that the price of copper can suffer
further reduction, and yet leave fair profits for the
miner."

The cause of the decline in the Metcalfe (Jamaica)
Mining Shares is the news received by the company
from the captain on the spot, of the abandonment
of the working of one of the Pembroke lodes, and
the anxiety, seeming the high premium at which
the shares stand, lest the other lodes should disap-
point the high expectations formed. The purchase
of the freehold had become known in Jamaica.
The sum given is 20,0001., and a few months since
the property could have been bought for 5001. The
agent of the Metcalfe Company, in writing over,
warns against the many new mines that will be
brought out, comprising as they will, several
" bubbles."

The exports of bullioa direct from London
during the week to Thursday last were 23,302
ounces of gold, and 79,470 ounces of silver.
Consols are steady, being 1001 to for Transfer,
and 1001 for Account. Exchequer Bills are par
to 4s. premium. Bank Stock is firm at 228.
Very little is doing in Foreign Stocks. Spanish
New Deferred Bonds are at 24k, and the Certificate
is at 61. Mexican Bonds are worth 27. Dutch-
Four per Cents. are at 96k.
Railway Shares are neglected, and at rather
lower rates.
The Gold Mines are heavy.

Joint-Stock Bank Shares are much the same.
British American Land have fallen 2/. to 3/.

BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY
( From the Official List.)
Business done.
Bank Stock
3 per Cer.:;. Reduced Annuities 99,1 103 k
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities lO4
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859
India Bonds, £lOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO 27 32
South Sea Old Annuities 99R
Consols for Account
Exchequer Bills lid. June. March.
£1000.
£5OO par 4 par 4 1
Small par 4 par 4 1
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Small

Mexican 3 per Cent.
Spanish Bonds 3 per Cent 4B
Ditto for the Account 4B
Spanish 3 per Cent., New Deferred 24i
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 6a
Swedish Loan ....
Dividends on the above pay,ible in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2h per Cent. 12 Guil.
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates
TWO O'CLOCK.
10(1
1001 s

Consols
Ditto May Account

COURT CIRCULAR.

PC
di S

OSBORNE, FRIDAY.
The Queen drove and walked in the Park at Osborne
yesterday.
The Prince and the Royal children also walked and
rode in the grounds.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accom-
panied by her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of
Ilohenlohe, went to Frogmore yesterday morning. The
Royal Duchess and the Princess returned to Clarence-
house, St. James's, in the afternoon.
A joint deputation, on the subject of refining sugar in
bend, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yes-
terday, at his official residence in Downing-street :
The deputation consisted of Mr. Martin, Provost of
Greenock ; Mr. Wrede, of Greenock ; Mr. Richardson,
of Glasgow • Mr. M'Ewan, of Glagsow ; Messrs. Crum,
Russell, C. karryat, S. Cave, and Macgregor, and was
accompanied by Mr. John Macgregor, M.P., Sir James
Anderson, M.P., Mr. Alexander Hastie, M.P., Sir
James Matheson, Bart., M.P., Colonel Blair, M.P.,
Mr. Cowan, M.P. Mr. James Baird, M.P., Mr. Mof-
fatt, M.P., and Mr.i Forbes, M.P.
Dispatches were sent last evening from the Colonial-
office to the Governor of Canada.

UNFORTUNATE SPECULATIONS.—A case of suicide under
very distressing circumstances occurred at Birmingham
on Thursday. Mr. John Pogh, a gentleman well known
to the South Staffordshire iron trade, shot himself at the
Hen and Chickens Hotel about midday. The deceased
was manager of the Park Field Ironworks, near Wolver-
hampton, and was little more than 35 years of age.
Depression of spirits, the result of unfortunate specula-
tions unconnected with his trade, is said to have brought
about the melancholy occurrence.
SUICIDE BY POISON. —lnformation was forwarded
yesterday to Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster,
to the effect that a servant named Thomas Hawkes had
expired in St. George's Hospital from the effects of
swallowing a quantity of oil of vitriol. It appears that
the misguided man had been for some time in a very
desponding state, though from what cause cannot be
ascertained, and left his wife to go on one side in Sloane-
square, when he drank the poison in question. There
are five other patients at present in St. George's Hos-
pital who have attempted their lives by the same means.

ALARMING FIRES.—Last evening, between the hours
of six and seven o'clock, a fire that caused considerable
alarm in the heart of the city, broke out in the premises
belonging to Mr. Wm. Dawkins and Mr. Clarke, ware-
housemen, situate in Bread-street, Cheapside. The
flames commenced, from some unknown cause, in the
basement, and owing to the inflammable character of
the contents the fire spread with great rapidity, so that
at one time there seemed little chance of saving any of
the contiguous premises. The engines of the London
Brigade and West of England Office were soon in at-
tendance, and a plentiful supply of water having been
procured, the Brigade from Watling-street went to
work, and succeeded in confining the fire to the lower
Part of the premises ; but it was not extinguished until
a great deal of damage was done. The sufferers, we
understand, were insured. Whilst the engines were en-
gaged at the above fire information was received that
another had occurred in the extensive premises known
as Butler's-wharf, situate at Shad Thames, Horselydown.
The fire commenced amongst a quantity of the stock in
one of the warehouses, but owing to the timely arrival
of assistance was soon subdued. The damage done,
considering the magnitude of the premises, may be de-
scribed as inconsiderable. Two other fires also occurred
yesterday (one at High-street, Poplar, and the other at
Bloomsbury), but the damage done at each was so
trifling as not to require a lengthened report.

MELANCHOLY DEATH AT THE GREAT NORTHERN RAIL-
WAY TERMINUS, KiNa's-caoss.--On Thursday morning
a cart, containing a man, apparently in the last stage of
consumption, drove up to the Great Northern Railway
terminus. The poor fellow, who was lying on some
straw in the bottom of the cart, was in such a weak and
exhausted state, that he had to be carried from the
vehicle, and seated on a bench outside the booking.
office, but he had hardly been placed there, when he fell
to the ground a lifeless corpse. It appeared, from the
statement of the man who drove deceased to the station,
that they had travelled from Kent the preceding night,
in order that deceased might reach the station in time
for the morning train, which was to convey him to his
friends, residing in Bedfordshire. The body was con-
veyed to the St. Pancras workhouse to await a coroner's
inquest. In his pockets were found 81. in gold, and a
Bible, with "Charles Washer" written on the blank
_ .
Page.

AYTOUN ON POETRY.

LECTURE THE FIRST.
Yesterday afternoon we had the peculiar gratification
of attending the first of a series of six lectures, now in
course of delivery at Willis's Rooms—the lecturer being
no other than William Edmonstone Aytoun, the author
of the " Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," and the lec-
tures relating to the congenial themes of Poetry and
Dramatic Literature. Although it would be somewhat
premature at this moment to pronounce any decided opi-
nion upon the arguments advanced by the Professor, in
the course of these artistic dissertations—it may be
allowed, at any rate, to commend both the taste which
regulated and the enthusiasm which coloured their
introduction. We believe this to be the impression of
the majority of those who yesterday enjoyed the privi-
lege of listening to its delivery. It was implied at least
net onlyby the eager attention of the audience throughout,
but also, and in a wholly unmistakeable manner, by
their occasional bursts of approbation. Professor Aytoun
gives promise already of extending his popularity through
the medium of his novel and admirable occupation. We
assert this with all cordiality and confidence. He will
thereby, we feel assured, considerably extend his popu-
larity : but we doubt very much at the same time
whether he will, by so doing, contrive either to elevate or
consolidate his reputation. We say this, of course, under
correction. In the development of his views in regard
to poetry as an art—perhaps we should say as the
art—he may explain away what at present appears
to us a mass of confused and bewildering contra-
dictions. He may reconcile, for example, in a later
stage of his undertaking, the incongruity of many
of the more remarkable ideas to which he gave
utterance yesterday. He may render comprehensi-
ble, for instance, how it is he conceives poetry to be
apart altogether from any code of laws, however con-
spicuous for its elasticity or adaptability—how he con-
siders it, in fact, to be little else than a God-born inspi-
ration entirely independent of rule or culture—and yet at
the same moment avows with se much truth, and grace, and
beauty of expression, that the Seed of Genius may always
be developed to a magnificent Flower. Poetry—there
cannot possibly be any doubt of that—must necessarily
in its origin, be, in a manner, so to speak, spontaneous.
Glorious poems are not generally manufactured as
Edgar Poe would fain induce us to believe was the case
with his "Raven." The old proverb, po.;a nascitur
non fit, like most old proverbs, has a wonderful deal of
truth in it. But—allowing all this— we cannot there-
upon accede-to the justice of Professor Aytoun's start-
ling assertion that, neither poet nor poetry are to be
trammelled by any rules or laws whatsoever. Not even,
that is to say, by the laws of taste or the rules of gram-
mar ! Poetry, in fact, according to that, is to spring
perfect and complete from the brain of the poet—like
Minerva from the brain of Zeus. Accepting even that
symbol as applicable—we would venture to remind the
learned and gifted lecturer that, before Wisdom
was thus called into being, the creative blow
had been struck by the weapon fashioned with so
much toil and wielded with so much strength—
by the God of Labour ! Nevertheless, with Professor
Aytoun, rhyme and metre seem to " come by nature,"
just as reading and writing appeared to do with our old
friend Dogberry. And so impressed is the lecturer with
the reasonableness of this conviction that he scorns as
utterly contemptible one of the everlasting glories of our
national literature. He sneers at Alexander Pope, and
has nothing mere respectful than scoffs and gibes to
scatter over his reputation ! Generally speaking we
could not but admire throughout the principal portion
of the lecture yesterday, the delicacy with which Pro-
fessor Aytoun refrained from thrusting his N.ews
aeuletherolryitateinveeulyg—h,
rus
auptbohmne hisnwg
ha
iul
edt
hi t
eeomer auditors
mpt ruoangi metahat
eti
ni cga pragmatically
peoml re'
recognition of
those assembled. Generally speaking it was thus—but
it was precisely the reverse when he arrived at the men-
tion of Pope and of the school of which Pope has been
absurdly designated the founder. Then, instead of ex-
plaining his opinions as he had done hitherto, he set
openly at defiance the sympathies of all those who, with
revere
ereßythroengoenriuthe eefEatrhle ofieeCeamrlipsalrea,
hlloevewrtihteerweift and
the
" Imitations of Horace " and the " Ess.y on Man," the
lectured—heof t the L o
de Lock."
g.
Then—instead
ma uatthisoerdo.f tlhte i :3'
ef
from Df
olemne ei at
ou d a
ur
ire
remembrance
ema
he
remembrathence of this, and from
ionu r
his painfulerargument
sme ne se of
tthe a
wb she
ini
ec e (asw e
b yet)el ofie v
ea I I
tures will tend to widen the popularity of Pro-
t e lsymmetry-ecfessor Aytoun, we question whether they will either
elevate or consolidate his reputation. The following
was the programme of the lecture delivered yesterday,
according to the printed syllabus :
" Definitions of poetry—the common resemblance of
the fine arts—the affinity of poetry and eloquence—the
bardic order, and the Minstrel College of Greece—the
Druids, Senachies, Scalds, and Trouveres—effect of oral
delivery, and the importance of an audience to the poet
—the most effective poetry that which is intended for
recitation, and the reason explained--the old bards of
Greece ; Illustration : Demodocus in the hall of Alcinous
—his subjects, and the manner of their treatment ; Spe-
cimen : the song of the Trojan horse—ardficial rules not
favourable to the product of high poetry—Pope and the
French poaical canons—state of the artificial school
towards the close of last century, with specimens—
powerful poetry of rude times ; Illustration : the death
song of Regner LoCtbrog."
Although the delivery of the lecture was considerably
marred by the rattling of the carriages outside that
abominable room which has been selected for the recep-
tion of those by whpm the series will be attended—we
listened with singular delight to the majority of the sen-
timents which fell from the lips of Professor Aytoun, and
particularly to his impassioned declamation of 'the vat
rious interpolated illustrations. Nothing could scarcely.
be nobler or more inspiriting than his panegyric on.
Homer, as scarcely anything could be droller in its way
than his twofold castigation of Addison and Blacklock.
We anticipate no ordinary pleasure from the five lectures
yet to be delivered. Among those present yesterday we
observed the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Duchess of
Sutherland, the Duchess of Cleveland, the Marchioness of
Londonderry, the Ea7l and Countess of Eglinton, the
Countess of Jo :soy, the Dowager Lady Blantyre, Lord
and Lady Blantyre, the Countess of Lichfield, Lady
Naas, Lady Colchester, Lord and Lady John Manners,
the Countess of Wilton, Lady Borough, Lady Harriet
Fermor, Lady Augusta Poulet, Lady Agnes Duff, Lord
Mahon, Lady Antrobus, Lady Eastlake, Hon. Mrs.
Liddell, Sir Hugh Campbell, Mrs. Orme, Mrs. Fraser
Tyler, Mr. Matson, Miss Macfarlane, Miss Johnstone,
Miss Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. Thackeray,
Mr. Albert Smith, and nearly all the literary celebrities
of the metropolis.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of
this society was held last evening in Exeter-hall, the
Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., in the chair. After sing-
ing and prayer the chairman expressed his sympathy
with the objects of the society, and mentioned certain
statistics connected with the operations at home and
abroad. One of the main features of the association was
that of taking advantage of great public events. and
turning them to a religious account. Among the tracts
distributed during the past year were—one on the case
of the Madiai, of which 160,000 copies had been circu-
lated ; and one on the death of the Duke of Wellington,
which had had a circulation of 350,000-145,000 having
been given away on the day of the funeral; 68,000 tracts
had also been given to emigrants. The income of the
society, from sales, donations, and subscriptions, was
77,6901. lie. 2d., being an increase over the previous
year of 9,563/. 19s. 2d.
THE LAW OF BANKRUPTCY.—Yesterday a Government
bill, in the Commons, was printed, to amend the law
relating to bankruptcy in Scotland. The object of the
bill is to abolish the office of interim factor, and the
sheriffs' clerk is to take immediate pos-,ession of a bank-
rupt's estate. In cases where the assets are found to be
under 10( . sequestration is to be recalled.
Commo..: LODGING-HOUSES.—Yesterday was printed,
by order of Parliament, a supplemental report on Com-
mon lodging-houses, by Captain Hay, Commissioner of
Police, made to the Secretary of State. The former re-
port has already been noticed, and there is a bill in the
House of Lords to amend the present law on the sub-
ject. From the present report it appears that last
month the number of children in common lodging-houses
was 1,782, and of' children residing in each division out
of common lodging-houses 1,316, making a total, as it is
expressed, of " mendicants and thieves 3,098."
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A CONVICT.—Thomas Kokel,
while being conveyed from Manchester to Liverpool en
route for Dublin, on Monday, leaped from the train at
its entering the tunnel, to escape the policemaa who
had apprehended him on a charge of robbery. He was
much injured, but sought concealment in a ditch, to
which he had crawled. He was taken to the Royal
Infirmary.
THE EARTHMAN.—Two young specimens, male and
female, of the last link in the human chain, termed the
Earthman (the penultimate being the Bosjesman), have
been in this country since 1851, and are now exhibited
at a private lodging in Regent-street. The taller of
the two is not three feet and a half in height, but they
have lost no time in acquiring the rudiments of
European civilisation. and they play on the
piano and sing in a pretty childish style. The
absence of a prominent cartilage to the nose mars the
beauty of the face, but the expression of countenance i s
very pleasing, and the figures and movements of the
children are remarkably graceful. One of the most
agreeable features of the exhibition consists in the per-
fect freedom afforded to the little creatures. They are
not set up on a platform to be stared at, and made to
perform distasteful feats, but they are in a drawing- I
room, quite at their ease, so that the visitor literally
gives them a call, and becomes one of their society.
STRIKES OF WELSH WORKMEN.—The flannel weavers
of Carmarthen have struck for an advance of wages, and
the masters being determined not to give the rise de-
manded, and the men not yielding, the consequence is
that the men are still out of employ.
THE METROPOLITAN BRIDGES.—Mr. Oliveira has given
notice for the 10th inst., to move for a select committee
to inquire into the state and condition of the bridges on
the Thames, to report whether they are adequate to the
increasing traffic of the metropolis ; whether it be desir-
able to construct one or more bridges over the river ; if
so, at what point or points ; whether it would be desir-
able to throw open to the public the present toll-paying
bridges ; and if so, upon what terms such bridges could
be thrown open ; and generally to report upon any mea-
sures for improving and facilitating the intercourse be-
tween the two sides of the river Thames in the metro-

polis.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday week a
boy, named Feargus Taylor, was requested to put a
scotch before some trucks upon the railway at Codnor
Park, but not perfectly understauding what he was told
to do, he went to a truck which was in motion, and on
taking hold of the break he let it down, fell over it upon
the line of the rails, and the wheels passing over his bodY
owed instant death.

THE BELGIAN SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.

This important undertaking has just been successfully
completed. The iron screw collier steamer William Hutt
arrived at Dover on Monday morning last, having on
board the cable, 70 miles in length.
The Admiralty, who have behaved with the greatest
liberality, granted the assistance of two Government
steamers—the Vivid and the Lizard, under the command
of Captain Smithett and Captain Washington, who have
been most indefatigable in their exertions to bring this
gigantic undertaking to a prosperous termination.
A party of the directors, including Lord De Manley
(the chairman of the company), Sir James Carmichael,
the Messrs. Brett, Mr. Campbell, Dr. O'Shaughnessy,
Mr. Kennard, Messrs. Crampton and Wollaston (the
engineers to the Submarine Telegraph Company), and
Messrs. Newell and Co. (the contractors for the rope),
also reached Dover on Monday. The weather would
not allow of the commencement of the work before
Wednesday. At break of day the steamers, which
were at anchor in Dover Bay, got their steam up and
started for the foreland, when the end of the cable was
got on shore, and made fast in the cave where the tele-
graph rope to France, belonging to the said company,
also commences. As soon as this was completed, the
steamers all started on their course, and the paying out
proceeded in a most admirable manner. Telegraphic
messages were forwarded throughout the day between
the persons on board the William Hutt and those left in
the cave at the Foreland. On Wednesday night the
steamers came to anchor in sight of Dunkirk, having
laid down between 30 and 40 miles of the cable. The
work was proceeded with on Thursday morning, and at
1 p.m. of that day the expedition arrived off Middlekirk,
on the Belgian coast, the spot selected for the termina-
tion of the cable, and dropt anchor, about half a mile
from the shore. A large number of persons were
assembled to watch the arrival of the steamers. A
message was then sent by the telegraph rope, announ-
cing the happy termination of the undertaking to this
point. The parties engaged landed, and the steps for
getting the end of the cable on shore were delayed till
Friday morning, when operations were again com-
menced, and at 1 p.m., the telegraph cable being landed,
the wires joined up and an instrument attached, a mes-
sage was sent through from the Belgian coast to the
office of the Submarine Telegraph Company, 30, Corn-
hill, London, announcing the happy and successful ter-
mination of the enterprise.
A short time must necessarily elapse to complete the
junction of the wires between the Belgian coast and
Ostend, when messages will be sent through from Lon-
don to Ostend and Brussels instantaneously.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

(Front the Mining Journal of this day.)

MlNES.—During the early part of the week there was
an uneasy feeling in the market, on account of the fur-
ther and unexpected fall in the standard, and several
shares in the heavy copper mines were offered for sale
at considerably reduced prices. West Caradons were
sold at 2501., being a fall of 1001. per share, but within
the last day or two these, as well as a few other shares,
have rallied a little, and there has been altogether a
better business doing. Alfred Consols have improved
upon last week's quotations, and have been largely
dealt in at 181. and 181. 10s. per share.
In the Metal Market, Copper and Tin stand at the
last quotation, with no very extensive dealings in either.
With one or two exceptions, there has been no special
demand in the market for gold mining shares during the
week ; but, although business has been generally stag-
nant, prices may be pronounced fairly supported. The
exceptions above referred to are the Agua Fria and
the Great Nugget Vein both of which have realised
advanced prices. Each of these stocks, however, has
since experienced a reaction. On the whole, the Cali-
fornian descriptions are most generally supported. Ad-
vices from the various companies, colonial and Califor-
nian are, of course, an xiously awaited ; and, meanwhile,
there is no disposition to deal extensively.