The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-27 00:00:00

LON DON. S!-% T It DAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 27, 1856.

I ,

MR. VERINTON SMITH AND MR.4loaysvu§
STAFFORD AT NORTIIAIVTON.

The ar.nual meeting of the Northamptonshire Agricul-
tural Satiety was held on Thursday last, in the county
town.. The morning was occupied with the inspection
of Van stock, the show of which surpassed the exhibitions
of 'late years. The dinner afterwards took place at the
George Hotel ; Lord HENLEY in the chair. After
dinner,

The CHAIRMAN gave "The Queen," "Prince Albert
and the rest of the Royal Family," which were drunk
with three times three.
The Right Hon. R. V. SMITH, M.P.; rose, by per-
mission. of the chairman, to propose " lihe Army and
NaTy." • (Cheers.) With what xecollecitions it filled
them when'tkey remembered the enduranCe and achieve-
ments of those devoted services.. Though{, at the'outset
of the war, we might, from unpreparedneths, have exhi-,
bited comparative failure—though we wet not able to
pour-in our myriads of men like the Emp ror of Russia
and of France—still, with the pride of Edglishmen, we
'could remember the'higli position in which we stood at
'the conolfision of th( 0, was
aa the
Let
;f her
had'
in aP
.‘*y to .I
per-
Ayr.'
•Ift
icitUut!

A to
,ay that be was anxious to propose the tqast, because
it enabled him not only to state his conviction of the
indomitable valour of the men composing our army, but
to eLpress his hope that the- militia, which bad done
the country such good service, would now, upon
their return, become as useful labourers in peace as
they had been beneficial soldiers in war. But in
speaking of peace, if the subject had been mentioned in
his presence ten years ago, he should have spoken of
peace as likely to be permanent. He was ;afraid, how-
ever, that was not the case now. Events were occurring
on all hands preventing any firm reliance in.the prospect
of peace. But by those events, we also, being fore-
warned, should be forearmed., (Hear, hear.) He did
not Unit it necessary to keep together a large and use-
less military force, but a sufficient force ought to be
maintained to uphold the dignity of the country in criti-
cal periods. Let no one suppose that such periods were
not likely to happen. And though it might be impolitic
to maintain a very numerous standing army, it would
yet be most unwise for the country to disarin to the ex-
tent that it had done in years recently passed. (Hear.)
Every unjust and unlawful expenditure ought certainly
to be cut down. It would be necessary to.have a good
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a goed Secretary-at-
War, but he did not hesitate to say it would be wise
policy to be always prepared with such an army and
navy as would do honour to England in time of need.
Therefore, in time of peace, as in time of war, he was
most happy to propose the toast " The Health of the
Army and Navy of England." (Cheers.)
Colonel CARTWRIGHT, as an old Peninsular officer,
returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " Prosperity to the
Northamptonshire Agricultural Society," said that be
defied any man to find a place in which the agriculturist
could beat the British farmer in the production of corn.
But even if it were found that the English farmer were
beaten in corn production, he hid still another staff on
which to lean. The British farmer could still breed and
feed cattle better than any other nation in the world—
proved by the falling off of the importation of foreign
cattle, about which so much apprehension was at one
time entertained. And why, he would ask, should they
not cease to import corn as they had ceased to import
cattle, and become the monopolists of their own markets,
by producing the best articles in the greatest quantity ?
There was another mrstter. Five or six years ago, when
it was questioned whether the English farmer would be
able to continue to produce corn, landlords were called
upon to erect buildings for the reception and feeding of
cattle. His lordship reminded farmers that landlords thus
called upon would naturally expedt to be sharers in the
profits, and that it would be to their mutual interest for
occupier°. who required buildings to tender to the land-
lords a proper percentage on the required outlay. His
fordsf*.ip remarked that there were other imperfections in
the social system, and pointed at once to a vast burden
rai fed upon the land alone, amounting to six or seven
millions, paid by the holders of real property. Why the
tax was so charged he had never been able to discover.
He was always told that it was a most difficult Wog to
assess funded and personal property, but allowing thg,

; „,:-----.7,-Yeseao,kuomealeetweervesessirgewee
more equally amongst themselves. He hoped they
might live to see a new system in assessing the poor rate
—parishes in a larger area, or minimum rate fixed for
parishes. There was also another rate—the county rate.
Those who paid it appeared to imagine that the magis-
trate had power to fix the tax and spend' the money
without reference to the rate-payers. Let him undeceive
them. The ratepayers had already directed the sum to
be spent through their representatives in Parliament.
If, therefore, Parliament ordered the building of a gaol,
a IstinaCc asylum, &c., the magistrates were only the
agents in carrying out the act, and those who asked for
a voice in that agency were asking for more than the
constitution intended to give them, for they would not
only have a voice in ordering the expenditure, but in
spending the money also. The noble speaker concluded
by proposing " Prosperity to the Northamptonshire Ag-
ricultural Society." (Cheers.)
Mr. AUGUSTUS STAFFORD, M.P., proposed the next
toast, " The Agricultural Labourers," and in the course
of his speech referred to the subject of agricultural sta-
tistics. Alluding to the remarks of Sir Edward B. Lytton
at Hitchin, that the bill of last session was founded upon
the recommendation of a committee of the House of
Lords, the evidence of which was collected, not from the
representatives of the feelings and habits of the tenant
farmers, but from Government officials, and that the
said committee were " green" enough to believe the re-
presentations of these men, he (Mr. Stafford) would
venture to add that, in the opinion of the majority of the
tenant farmers, so odd a "green crop" was never pro-
duced as the bill on agricul;.Jeal statistics in the last
session of Parliament. (Loud laughter.) He (Mr.
Stafford) had hal some experience of the collection of
agricultural statistics in Ireland. It was not done there
by the Government ; the police we-e simply requested
to ask the different neighbours certain questions, which
they might answer or not, and on the answers to those
questions were founded the shtistict which were sent to
Parliament. The tenant farmers of Ireland did not
object to this system, because there was nothing inquisi-
torial and compukary in it ; and he believed that if the
Government would bring in a bill which should not be
inquisitorial and compulsory, the tenant farmers of Eng-
land
would readily respond, and the agricultural statistics
of the empire would be generally collected, perhaps not
so minutely as to catalogue every egg that was laid, but
sufliciere.4 accurate to afford to the country and to the
world all necessary information as to the agricultural
caps'oilities cf the island. (Hear, hear.) It was urged
by the press that a return was made of every pound of
cotton iinpored. But did the manufacturer give an
account of every pound of cotton be bought, spun, or
wove, or did every shopkeeper tell the extent of his
sales ? Well, then, farmers would say that agricultural
statistics might, or might not, be useful to the commu-
nity at large, but that they at all events were able to
manage their business without them. (Hear, hear.) The
statistics of Ireland were no more guide to the occupiers
there as to the state of the market than the Georgics of
Virgil. What really would influence farmers, as well
as the community at large, would he a knowledge of the
quantity of coin to be expected from foreign parts, but
of this it was impossible to have anything more than
vague rumours. The returns from Scotland, too, of
agricultural statistics formed no guide for the market,
as it was known that they referred only to the crop of
1855, and not• that of 1856. Well, then, the farmers
felt this, that as a class they were not more likely to
benefit than any other elms by the provision of agricul-
tural statistics, and that, if the process were to be com-
pulsory and inquisitorial, if they were to be annoyed and
harassed by its exactions, they would one and all protest
against it, and direct their representatives to resist it in
every possible way. (Cheers.)
Several other toasts were drunk, and the meeting
separated.

Naval and Military intelligence.

I The annual inspection of the troops and the garrison
establishment of Woolwich was yesterday morning com-
menced by the Commandant, Major-General Sir W. F.
Williams. The usual parade at guard mounting having
been dispensed with, the C and D troops of Royal Horse
Artillery, and Captain and Adjutant Calvert's detach-
ment were assembled in review order on the common,
under the direction of Col. E. C. Warde, C. 8., in com-
mand. Brevet Lieut.-Col. Strange, Capt. Hill, Lieut.
Strangways, and Lient. Stirling were attached to the C
troop, and Major Earlit and Lieut. Tillard to the D
troop. The Colornandan oh. attended by his aide-de-cainp,
Lieut.-Col. Teesdale, Bade-Major Shaw, and Deputy-
Assi,tant Quarterina4m4eneral Captain Froeth, arrived
on the ground at 10 o'clock. The inspection commenced,
and was proceeding in tie ordinary routine of a field-
.day, when, at the suddei; clang produced by 'unsheath-
ing the swords from the steel scabbards, a young and
untrained horse on whichtlajor Earle was mounte I made
a plunge among the acaminition waggons, and jammed
the rid( •,h En against the wheels as to
render it his seat a most difficult
one. ajor attempted to throw
himsel came in collision with one
of the observed gushing over his
face,,a his position, it was found
that lit •ely lacerated wound over
the tei of the legs and side from
the un he horse. The major was
remove and immediately attended
by. Dr, Dr. Staunton, and three
othet. ",oyal Ordnance Hospital,
de opinion of his ultimate
rsoire;
' "''he. 'earn gunvessel, atrived at
Wool w: er coaling, proceeded to
Sheerness.

The experimental paddlewheeldespatch gunboat B•une
was yesterday morning ordered down the river to Sea-
reach on a trial trip of her machinery. Mr. Atherton,
chief engineer of Woolwich Dockyard and inspector of
machinery, accompanied the vessel on behalf of Govern-
ment.

The Admiralty yacht Vivid, Master-Commander
Alio; was yesterday morning ordered to get up steam,
and sail immediately for Devonport to await orders for
special service.

The paddle-wheel steam-yacht Black Eagle arrived at
Woolwich on Thursday night from Portsmouth.
A. Norwegian transport, the Jonas Gabrielson, with
chains, anchors, and 7,500 shot, from Sebastopol, en-
tered the outer basin of Woolwich Dockyard yesterday
morning.

The neither, a Norwegian transport, laden with a
cargo of corn from the East, arrived at Woolwich yester-
day morning, and was ordered to the Victoria Docks to
discharge.

The Isabella Bligh and the Ordnance transport Lord
Lqndesborough have been discharged the Government
service at Woolwich.

A court-martial, comprising Capts. Sir Thomas Mait-
land, C. 8., President; G. A. Eliott, J. Robb, G. H.
Seymour, C. 8., G. Giffard, C. 8., T. S. Thompson, W.
Pet-I, C. 8., C. F. A. Shadwell, C. 8., W. H. Stewart,
C. 8., and Mr. W. J. Hellyer, deputy judge-advocate of
the fleet, assembled on board the V►ctory flag-ship, at
Portsmouth harbour, yesterday morning, to try Mr. T.
Reece, acting assistant-engineer of the 3d class, serving
on board her Majesty's gun-boat Hawk. for having on
the 4th of August last, in Queenstown Harbour, quitted
his ship without permission, his leave at the same time
being stopped for baying committed a similar offence,
and for remaining on shore until brought on board the
next day by a serjeant of Royal Marines. The Court
found the charge fully proved, and sentenced the pri-
soner to be discharged her Majesty's service and be de-
prived of all pay and allowances due to

- Her Majesiyi's ship Malacca, 17, Capt. Farquhar, left
Spithcad yesterday for the Mediterranean.
Rear-Admiral W. F. Martin, Superintendent of Ports-
mouth Dockyard, left yesterday with his flag in her
Majesty's ship Fire Queen, Mr. Paul, Master R.N ,
commanding, for Plymouth, to sit as a member of the
court of inquiry commissioned to investigate the conduct
of Captain Nias, C. 8., superintendent of the Royal
William Victualling-yard.
. _

The Powerful, 84, Captain T. L. Massie (1854) has
been towed up to Chatham dockyard, from Folly-point,
for the purpose of being paid off.
The Resistance, Government troopship, has arrived at
Chatham from Woolwich, to be paid off.
The Dido, Captain Williams, H. A. Morehead, was
paid off at Sheerness yesterday.
The Eurotae, Captain William Moorsom, was taken
into the fitting basin at Sheerness yesterday to be dis-
masted. She is to be paid off on Monday.
The new screw steamcorvette, Cadmus, 21 guns,
passed through Sheerness harbour from Chatham at 10
yesterday,a.m. on 4,,trirtj trip of her machinery,
"IlarChinlsibisr 'the
/lir e'vAii4.
The following appointments were made yesterday at
tho Admiralty :

Frederick Skead, master, to the Tartarus; Edward
A. Bindon, second master, to the Impregnable ; John
W. Dobbin, acting assistant•surgeon, to the Weser;
Thomas F. Edgeworth. acting assistant-surgeon, to the
Royal Albert; Wm. Connolly, acting assistant-surgeon,
to the Arrogant; Thomas Craig, acting assistant•surgeon,
to the Itnperieuse.

TILE NATIONAL GALLERY-HERHMUIV.
DLER "LE DOOTEU_R WA.AGEN."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sist,—Mr. Wilson, of the Treasury, Mr. W. Stirling,
and other sycophants of Germanism, an,l ab3ttors of the
fraudulent appointments at the National Gallery, have,
on various occasions, endeavoured to excuse the foisting
upon us of the German, Herr Mundler, as " travelling
agent," at the cost of 1,0001. a-year ; and, at the same
time, their own servility, by affirming that that indivi-
dual was "favourably known" in the principal capitals
of the continent. Mr. Stirling, however, ventured upon
particulars, and specified Paris in support of that state-
ment. My personal experience of Herr Mundler justi-
fied me in immediately denouncing that assertion as a
mere fabrication, meant to serve a particular purpose,
for I knew it to be impossible that a man of his capacity
and conduct could have won favourable consideration
anywhere. I can now deal directly with the assertion
r3garding Paris, in every respect by far the first capital
of the Continent, and where Messrs. Wilson and Stir-
ling's German client has resided many years ; where he
is best known, and where our patriotic ministers picked
him up. I have been at no small pains, during iny stay
here, to master this knotty point. The result of my re-
searches is a complete confirmation of all that I have at
various times advanced in the public papers, and I offer
those whom it may concern the benefit of my experience.
The reply to my questions respecting the opinion enter-
tained here of Herr Mundler is invariably as follows :
" Mundler n'est connu s Paris qua pour un bavard, un
intrigant, un faiseur, enfin, qui a empoisonnd la ville
avec ses crontes—(a babbler, a time-server, a humbug,
in short, who has poisoned the town with his daubs)—
jamais comme connoisseur. C'est un individu qui
s'insinue par des bassesses. On sait parfaitement qu'il
n'est h la Galerie Nationale de Londres quo parceque
le Princl Albert a intrigud pour placer, et parceque
c'est un Allemand. Si Monsieur IVlundler posed fait
moindra sentiment d'honneur, it n'y resterait pas une
heure," &c.
I have conversed with many Frenchmen here, con-
nected with art and well acquainted with thin Mundler.
I solemnly declare that I have heard but one account of
him, and I defy contradiction. Tae thousands squan-
dered on those daubs, the "Adoration of the Magi,"
the "Botticelli," the " Giovanni Bellini," &c.,* the
pertinacity with which he clings to a place into which he
was surreptitiously inducted, and the effrontery with
which he holds that place in defiance of the Press and
the feeling of the nation—a clique of jobbers and para-
sites excepted—prove to what a nicety he is appreciated
in Paris.

With regard to " Gustav Waagen," the few here who
are acquainted with his name hold the same opinion of
him as of his associate, Mundler. They meet my in-
quiries about him with " C'est nn Decteur, n'est ce pas ?
—c'est ci. C'est un intrigaut, un faiseur, un meneur
aussi, et tres stupide. II aurait bier voulu s'imposer ici,
mais ca n'a pas pris du tout. On dit que lui et Mundler
partagent—est ce vrai ?" " They say that he and Mun-
dler divide—is it true ?"

I will add, that the English residents in Paris are
both indignant and ashamed that their country should
be dragged in the mire at the heels of incompetent, in-
triguing, and mean-spirited aliens ; and the French,
with a just sense of national honour, entirely sympathise
with them.—l am, sir, yours obediently,
Paris, Sept. 20. MORRIS MOORE.

*I have heard Mr. Davenport Bromley, a friend of
" Doctor" Waagen, and Mr. Alexander Barber, of Picca-
dilly, express opinions of all these pictures similar to those
publicly recorded by Mr. Wm. Coningham and myself.
The "Doctor" speaks of these gentlemen, in his book, as
men of rare judgment and authority on art.

LONDON MISSION OF THE AGAPEJIONII.

Yesterday evening two members of the "Agapemone,"
near Bridgewater, appeared at the Hanover-square
Rooms, according to their advertisement, " for the pur-
pose of publicly making known the testimony of what
the Lord Jesus has done to redeem the earth." The
large room was densely crowded. Two respectably-
dressed men, having nothing peculiar in their attire or
appearance, spoke to the meeting, one after another, and
urged the claims of their leader, "Brother Prince," to
be regarded as the inspired author of a new revelation.
They observed that some persons had been so foolish as
to say that his followers regarded Mr. Prince as God, or
as the Messiah, or the Holy Ghost ; but God forbid that
any one, either in foolishness or in wickedness, should
ever say such a thing. Brother Prince was by nature a
child of wrath, but he had been made by grace a vessel
of mercy. Some eleven years ago the Holy Ghost ful-
filled in Brother Prince all that he came to be and to do,
as-the-epirit of the Gospel dispensation emptied Brother
Prince entirely of self, destroyed in him all personal
consciousness, all independence, all knowledge of him-
self ; and thus the Holy Ghost became the life of his
body, and was enabled through him to carry on the pur-
pose f•tr which Christ came on earth. The audience at
this statement evinced much disapprobation and disgust,
and some persons cried out that it was gross blasphemy,
and worse than Mormonism. The speakr, who seemed
quite imperturbable, and who calmly surveyed the meet-
ing
through a single glass stuck jauntily in one eye, pro-
ceeded to allude to a second spiritual manifestation,
which, he said, occurred at the Agapemone about five
years ago, in which case the phenomenon was exhibited
in the person of a woman, a prophetess, "not privately,
but in the presence of us all." Some of the expressions
used by the speaker in describing this transaction were
probably misunderstood by many of his hearers, for they
interrupted him indignantly, and at last stopped him
with a very general howl of execration. The two stran-
gers, who preserved their impassive demeanour, then re-
tired from the room ; upon which
Mr. NEWMAN, apparently a working man, rose and
denounced the doctrines and practices of the Agapemone
as impious. He moved as a resolution that the state-
ments which bad been made by the two persons from the
platform that evening were contrary to common sense,
degrading to humanity, and blasphemous towards God.
Toe Resolution was carried with acclamation, and
amidst vociferous cheers.

A sergeant of police then stepped forward, and good-
humourediy said, " Now, gentlemen, the meeting is
over," and the proceedings terminated.

TEE LATE LORD HARDINGE.

His lordship was a Knight Grand Cross of the Order
of the Bath, a Knight Grand Cross of the Red Eagle of
Prussia, of Wilhelm of the Netherlands, of the Tower
and Sword of Portugal, and of St. Ferdinand of Spain.
He had a gold cross and five silver clasps fir Roleia,
Vimiera, Corunna, Douro, Busaco, Torres Vedras,
Albuera, Badajoz, Ciudad R idrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria,
Parapeluna, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, and Orthes ; and
also had a medal and two clasps for Moodkee, Feroze-
shah, and Sobraon.
The deceased viscount's commissions bore date as fol-
low ;—Ensign, Oct. 8, 1798 ; lieutenant, March 25,
1802 ; captain, April 7, 1804 ; major, April 13, 1809 ;
lieut.-colonel, May 30, 1811 ; colonel, July 19, 1821 ;
majorgoneral, July 22, 1830 ; lieut.-general, Nov. 23,
1841 ; general, 1854; and field-marshal, 1855. His
lordship was in the receipt of a pension for the loss of
his arm at Ligny, and enjoyed a pension of 5,0001. per
annum for his services in India while he was a Gover-
nor-General.

The noble and gallant viscount is succeeded in his
hereditary honours by his eldest son, the Hen. Charles
Stewart Hardinge, M.P. for Downpatrick, who was born
in 1822, and was private secretary to his father whe❑
Governer-General in India. He married, last spring,
Lady Lavinia Bingham, second daughter of Maj or-General
the Earl of Lucan. A vacancy occurs in the representa-
tion of Downpatrick, which he has represented since
August, 1852, by his elevation to the peerage. The
deceased lord married Lady Emily, daughter of the first
Marquis of Londonderry, and widow of Mr. John James,
by whom he leaves issue, in addition to the successor to
the title, Colonel the Hon. Arthur Hardinge (Coldstream
Guards), the Hon. Frances Elizabeth, married to Majer-
General Cun3nghitine, and the Hon. Emily Caroline,
unmarried. By the lamented demise of his lordship, the
fainiliesiof the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry,
the Marchioness (Frances) of Londonderry, the Mar
quis Cambden, Colonel and Lady Caroline Wood, the
Earl and Countess Vane, and many others of rank are
placed in mourning.

THE WOMAN :FLOGGING IN MARYLE-
BONE.

At the usual weekly meeting a communication was
read from the Poor-law CoMmissioners, requesting the
guardians to reconsider their decision with respect to the
master of the workhouse. The letter concluded with
the following passage :
"Unless, however, the directors and guardians are pre-
pared to tlke the former course, I am directed to inform
you that the board having decided that the master is
unfit to fill his office will have no other alternative than
to adopt the latter."
The following resolution was passed by the board :
"That the board of guardians of St. Marylebone, hay-
ing already decided upon the case, decline further to
consider the same, especially as the Poor-law Board, in
their communication of the 11th inst., state that no
mere change of the officers of the house will enab!e the
directors and guardians successfully to cope with the
evi s which exist.'

The report of a special committee appointed to inquire
into an :•Ileged flagrant outrage committed on a young
lady by Green, the porter, who was concerned in the late
flogging business, and who bad been retained in the ser•
vice of the directors, was next brought up and read.
l'hc committee stated that the charge bad been clearly
proved against Green and his ,wife, and recom►nended
that they should be reprimanded.
Dr. Bachhoffuer and others whiled for Green's instant
smi

Atter some discussion the motion for the dismissal of
the accused was carried, and the board, after a length•
ened discussion up Jn score charges of irregularity against
the medical officers of the house, whose dismissals were
nearly carried, adjourned after a lengthened meeting.

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED SD•

THE CUSTOMS CONGEES3.

(From the Daily News.)
BRUSSELS, SEPT. 25.
• The Congress met to-day at twelve o'clock, in the
splendid gothic house opposite the old Town hail, in the
.plendid gothic room of the Literary and Artistic So-
ciety. The addition to the list of pamphlets for distri-
bution was on "The Past and Future of the old Flemish
Ports, Bruges, Ostend, and Nieuport." In this pamph-
let a contrast is drawn between free and protected
ports. To this protection, it is asserted, is due the de-
cline of Bruges, of Nieuport, of Ostend. "To compare
our port of to-day," said some Marseilles writer, " with
the port of former times, would be to compare death
with life." This state of death, it is asserted, is the con-
dition of the F.emish ports in question.
The Congress was thinly attended. The secretary
having read a report of yesterday's proceedings, the Pre-
sident proceeded with the business of the day. In the
first place a letter from a M. Policant was read, asking
to be heard on a general question. He was supported
by M. Pascal Duprat. It was arranged that the gen-
tleman should be heard at the conclusion of the business
of tile day. M. de Brouckere then read a copy of the
address it was proposed to send to the King, thanking
his Majesty for the opportunity the free institutions
he had known how to preserve to the Belgians had
affordel them of calmly discussing the great subject
of customs reforms. The address concluded with ex-
pressions of gratitude for the opportunity given them of
carrying out their business in Brussels ' • and of con-
gratulation on the brilliant fetes that had been offered
to his Majesty on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his
advent to the throne. This address was carried unani-
mously, with the exception of one voice—that, it was
Understood, 'of a Belgian communist.
M. de Broucklge then introduced two propositions to
the Congress; which he proposed should he debated before
the rest, viz., one to abolish octrois, and one to abolish
the salt tax. He proposed to allow one hour for the
. .

. .
discusiion of the former, and halt an hour for that of the
latter. Each speaker was to be allowed ten minutes.
After the reading of the sections' report on the octroi,
Ni.Wolowski, of the French Institute, declared that he

had been in favour of their abolition, but be must con-
fess that he had been converted to the other side. In

the first place, be would state that the question should
not have been introduced at all to the Congress. It was
fi-cal, not a protective duty ; and the object of the
Congress was to substitute fiscal for protective duties.
He referred the Congress to Mr. Cobden's letter. He
was persuaded that the wants of the towns made octrois
for the present inevitable. It had been proposed often
to abolish the octrois and tax houses ; but this would
have an effect exactly like that of the octroi it would
supplant, for the landlord would add the duty to the
relit. It had been said that England was au apt example
of the possibility of suppressing ootrois ; but in England
indirect taxes were more easily carried out than in other
countries.

Monsieur Faider succeeded M. Wolowski. He al-

luded to M. Wolowski's statement that it was unpopular
to support octrois. He didn't care whether this imposi-
tion was popular or unpopalai —all he wanted to esta-
blish was that it was against reason. It was simply a
question—the old question—as to the preference the
world should give to direct or to indirect taxation.
Thiers had maintained that indirect taxation was the
sign of a barbarous nation—in this case Englishmen and
Americana were savages. It had been said that the octroi
was a fiscal and not a protective duty : he contended
that it was a protective duty, and a most oppressive one,
touching raw materials—materials of general consump.
tion. Why, in Brussels there was an octroi duty on
wood. _Caere were protective duties in various towns on
shoes, to protect shoemakers ; on clothes, to protect
tailors. At Liege the octroi levied dutiee upon every-
thing, even eau-de-Cologne and pomatum. The meat of
the inhabitants of Brussels v% as taxed to the amount of
32,000/. They had a set of octroi servants, who lounged
about the town gates, peeped into baskets, were particu-
larly severe with pretty women, and cost 6,0001. a-year.
➢id they propose to let meat free through the frontier to
reserve all the pleasure of taxing it at the town gates ?
It was this belief that a house tax was the'proper substi-
tute for the octroi. As regards fiscal duties, if they
must tax beer, for instance, the way was to tax it in the
manufactory, and not in retail quantities at the town
gates. _ _ _

M. de Brouckere now left the chair and ascended the
tribune to give the reasons why he had continually op-
posed the system of octrois since 1848. To abolish the
octroi, however, was not enough. He thought that the
proposition should be altered ; thet the question, instead
of being referred to the International Free trade Con-
gres., should be referred to the delegates of the various
countries, and that they should bo recommended to form
local committees, baying for object the abolition of this
obnoxious task. It was not an international question.
There were no octrois in England or Switzerland, and in
those countries where 'it exisiel tkey were distinct and
different from those of their neighbours. After a few
words from M. Pascal Dupre, the President's proposi-
Con, " That the Congress declares a wisb that some tax
be substituted for the system of octrois, and tkat com-
mittees be formed in those countries where octrois
existed to advocate their abolition," was carried.

The next proposition as regards the salt duty having
been set aside, as beyond the province of the Congress,
The next proposition was to the effect that all duties
on alimentary substances should Us at once and finally
asolished. This proposition, the author of which was
M. Berthoud, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of
Marseille', was carried unanimously, after a few words
from M. Pascal Duprat.
The third proposition—that of M. D'Anj on—ran as
follows :—" That the Congress expresses a wish that the
high duties on foreign wines levied in England should be
reduced." This proposition elicited some discussion, in
the course of which a delegate said he spoke from his
own personal experience when he said that you never
saw drunken people when wine was plentiful. It was
carried unanimously, with one dissentient voice.

An amendment of M. Pascal Dnprat, to that calling
for the abolition of all duties on raw materials, viz.,
that protective duties on iron and coal should he grade•
ally but definitively abolished, was carried after a short
discussion.

Then M. Garnier's proposition—that, indeed, in-
cluded all the rest—was put forward. Briefly it meant
this—that the Congress expressed a hope that a general,
gradual, and ti tal reform of custom duties be carried
out in all countries ; and that the Congress reproves all
domiciliary visits, prohibitions, reprisals, and premiums
on exportation. This proposition, each clause of which
was .voted upon separately, was carried almost unani-

mously.
M. Brennus, of Switzerland, then spoke on the finan-
cial advantages to governments of commercial freedom;
and was followed by Mr. Richard Bird, of Manchester,
on the high duties still imposed in England. He cited
the tea duties, as equal to 150 per cont. ad valorem, and
noticed that the Ciiinese received our manufactures at
5 per cent.
The business of the Congress now being at an end,
M. Corr Vandaniaren read the statutes of his Interna-
tional Free Trade League. He announced that Mr.
Cobden had been appointed its English representative.
Among other foreign representatives was M. Mon.?, for
Spain. There was to be an international fund, a cen-
tral office in Brussels, and a subscription of 12 franca
from each member, together with voluntary subscrip•
tions.

M. Brouckere then thanked the International Free
Trade League fir the promptitude with which they had
organised themselves.
Alter speeches from M. Policant and M. Kuranda,
for Austria, a preposition was put in from M. Cipri, re• '
questing that the Congress would express a hope that
the Governments of Italy would call together a congress
at Florence to harmonise their commercial laws in the
interest of free trade. M. Cipri spoke in favour of his
proposition, and assured the Congress tlmt it would have
a great effect in Italy. A delegate having spoken against
it, MM. Arrivabene and Cassati begged M. Cipri to
withdraw his proposition. Withdrawn accorlingly.
M. Cogels then put in a resolution advocating the
simplification and codification of customs duties. The
author of this proposition supported it in a speech show.
ing the complicated and unintelliaile state in which the
Customs:laws of Belgium eamined. Carried unanimously,
with the exception of one voice.
The President, in closing the Congress, hoped that all
to whom he had spoken harshly in the course of the sit-
ting, would attribute it to the heat of debate. He be-
lieved the battle was won. LA them thank once
more, and in conclusion, the Belgian Association for
the Reform of Customs Duties. (Immense applause.)
M. Sciajoia proposed a vots of thanks to the chair-
man, which was carried with great applause, and so
brought the meetings of the Congress to a close.

FATAL COLLIIIRY EXPLOSION.—On Wednesday Mr.
Badger, coroner, opened an inquest at the Red Lion
Inn, Thorpe Hexley, near Sheffield, on view of the bodies
of Samuel Smith, aged 20, years, and Samuel Hodgson,
aged 14 years, who wore killed on the previous day by
an explosion of firedamp at the Grange.lane
belonging to Mr. Joseph Stenton, of Ecelesfiold. The
pit has been sunk but a short time, and the workings,
which are not extens;a7e, are as yet in a somewhat in-
complete state. The deceased went to work at 6 o'clock
on Tuesday morning, and about 11 o'clock John Fox,
the underground steward, entered a heading in their
boardgate with a lighted candle. There being an accu-
mulation of inflammable gas, an explosion instantly
succeeded, which was so powerful as to blow away the
board and other parts of the gearing at the top of the
The.only person engaged in the boardgate at the
tune of the explosion besides the deceased were Fox and
Willoughby Wood. Shortly after the explosion Fox
and Wood arrived at the bottom of the shaft very
seriously injured, and were at once drawn up and re-
rnovtd to their homes. In the meantime two men,
named Moxon and Rodgers, courageously descended to
A. arch for the deceased. Hodgson they found lying
under a waggon, which had been blown upon him by '
the force of the explosion, and severely injured about
the head. He expired shortly afterwards. Smith was
found at a little distance, severely burnt and quite dead.
Fox and Wood were 3o ill as to be unfit for examination
before the jury, and the inquiry was adjourned to
Thursday next fur their evidence and for the attendance
of Mr. C. Morton, the Government inspector, who will
in the meantime make an examination of the pit.

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ch4se frOm the seas every flag, hostile and thus • to'
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