The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-17 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1856.

The question of Civil Service Superannuation is
again occupying a large share of public attention.
To attempt to go through the whole history of
this matter would be a somewittt herculean task.
It has passed through many phases, and been
dealt with from time to time by successive Par-
liaments and different Govern►neats in such a
♦ariety of ways that to record all these changes
would be to string together a series of contradic-
tions so utterly irreconcileable that they can only
be attributed to those fits of caprice to which the

pressure of circutnstanccs in no way germane to
the subject will occasionally give risi•. It must
suffice to glance briefly at the leading facts of the
case; and to begin with the beginning it may be
stated, upon the authority of the evidence adduced
before the Select Committee, that, although the
idea of a provision for old age appears to have
originated with the hard-working demi-official
men or slaves--we might say of the holders of
patent offices in the palmy days of sinecurism—no
sooner was the death-blow struck at that system
and the sinecurist gave place. to an industrial class,
who were required not only to receive the wages,
but to do the work of office, than the country
became sensible of the justice of providing retiring
pensions for their more faithful servants when no
longer able to provide for themselves.

The broad distinction between the sinecurist
and the de facto working official is this—the
patentee enjoyed the salary of office for life, nay,
sometimes it was entailed on his heirs, whilst ill-
paid deputies did the work for a bare remunera-
tion. The working official under the new regime
performed the duties of the office is propria per •
sona, and received a moderate stipend for the
work so long as he was able to discharge Ulna.
When age and infirmity deprived the latter
of the power to earn, another stepped
in to his place and took his stipend
on similar terms. It was obvious that
a man who has wasted his best days in the
monotonous routine of a peculiar service, even if
all his energies were not exhausted, was ill calcu-
lated for the hopeless task of beginning the world
afresh, and that the justice of the case demanded
for the worn-out, faithful servant of the Crown
that he should not be left to a degrading depend-
ence on his friends, or, failing that, to those pa-
rochial resources, which the law provides for the
destitute.

The country, naturally enough, found a source
of gratulation in the downfall of those State
hangers-on, and the saving it effected in the Ex.-
chequer ; and to the fruits of that change the
attention of Parliament was directed for supplying
the requisite provision for its retiring servants.
The fees of abolished patent offices were devoted
to the augmentation of the funds which the
working staff under the defunct system had pra•
dently set on foot. This was the nucleus of the
Superannuation Fund. Thus it appears that the
moment the necessity for such a provision arose,
and the duty of the country to support it became
apparent, the liberality of Parliament signalised
itself in the gratuitous transfer of the patent fees
Feud, which together
in aid of the Officers'
amounted, in 18.1.2, to nearly 340,0001. This
was the balance of a growing Fund, which, whilst
satisfying the demand for retiring Fusions, was
accumulating at compound interest. This balance

attracted the keen eye of Mr. PlTT—keener, no
doubt, from the financial pressure of the time
—and under the twofold impetus of State neces-
sity on the one hand, and duty to the State's
servants on the other, he grasped the idea of di-
verting that Fund into the Crown's Exchequer,
and of granting in future gratuitous superannua-
tion to the despoiled and their successors.
Had this balance gone on augmenting in the
hands of Civil servants, or been invested at com-
pound interest, it would now have been repre-
sented by one million of money, ample for its
legitimate objects, and the present vccatio questio
would not have been the subject of Parliamentary
discussion in 1.556.

The Fund, however, was taken, and free super-
annuations were liberally awarded until 1821,
when the Government of the day, by Treasury
minute, imposed a tax of 2 per cent. on salaries
from 1001. to 500/. ; 5 per cent, from 5001. to
1,000/. ; and 10 per cent. on 1,0001. and up-
wards. In 1822 a Bill was brought in partially
affirming that arrangement to the extent that
Civil servants should provide one moiety of the
Fund, and the Government the other. Brief was
the reign of this tax. The House, roused to a
sense of the injustice perpetrated in 1822, re-
pealed that Act in 1824, and directed the sums
levied from the officers to be repaid. Five years
had scarcely elapsed when a fresh attempt was
made to re-impose the tax. In 1828 a Bill was
brought in for that purpose, but was indignantly
rejected by the good feeling of the House.
Scarcely had a year gone by ere the Govern-
ment of the day returned to the charge, but in-
stead of re-inviting the co-operation of Parlia-
ment, the present and 5 per cent. were di-
rected by Treasury Minute of August, 1829, to
be deducted from the salaries of all officers enter-
ing the service after that date.

For 5 years was this Minute acted upon, when,
in a luckless hour, another Bill was brought into
the House confirming and perpetuating the tax
imposed by that Minute. This was passed, and
is the Act of 1834, against which relief is sought
by the officers who entered since 1829, and who
have paid during that period no less than
800,000/. without computing interest, whilst
they have only received in pensions therefrom
about 40,000/.

In this state of things the present Chancellor
of the Exchequer came to the relief of the Civil
Service, and brought in a bill creditable in all
respects to its author, save as to the tax, which
is still left unrepealed. The main prayer of the
petitioners was to be absolved from an impost
which, being "an arbitrary tax on fluctuating
salaries, bore no equitable relation to the fixed
pension to be secured," a tax unjust in itself,
inequitable in principle, and contrary to sound
policy. The bill and the petition were referred
to a Select Committee, who, whilst condemning
the tax, appear to have yielded to a suggestion
that the Crown should have an equivalent in the
shape of an equally arbitrary reduction of salaries ;
bat what is more extraordinary, in bringing the
result of the Select Comm ittee's labours before the
House, embodied in the form of a new bill, the
principle of the first is almost entirely destroyed.
This is matter of deep regret, but fortunately the
mischief is capable of an easy remedy, and that
remedy has been suggested. It is to resort to
the bill as originally proposed by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, with the addition of a clause
disposing of the tax. The tax being conditionally
foregone, with an equivalent for its loss, matters
would stand as they were when the Chancellor in-
troduced his bill, and it is no mean compliment to
him to find that, after all the labours of the Select
Committee to improve it, the bill in its original
integrity is the only measure which has fairly
grappled with a difficult question, and is pre-
eminently calculated nut only to satisfy the Civil
Service, but to do justice both to them and to
the Crown.

It may appear strange that in a bill directed
against corrupt practices at Elections no mention
should be made of the system of voting—that
the mode of taking the suffrage, by which corrup-
tion in its most formidable forms is occasioned,
should be permitted to remain without modifica-
tion or alteration. But so it is. The Ballot—
which, under a judicious system, would render
bribery or intimidation perfectly impossible—is
passed by sub eilentie, while an elaborate ma-
chinery is created for the purpose of imposing
trifling difficulties in the way of that which might
be altogether obviated in a manner so simple and
so efficacious..

I The Hon. Gentleman the member for Bristol,
whose exertions in the cause of the Ballot have
earned the thanks and gratitude of every true
Reformer, is determined to attempt at least to
remove this grave anomaly. He has given notice
that he will, this evening, move the insertion of
clauses providing that votes shall henceforward
be taken at elections by ballot. If the professing
Reformers prove faithful to the promises made at
the hustings, there can be no doubt as to the com-
plete success of Mr. BERKELEY'S proposition. It
would be carried by an overwhelming majority,
in which the names of sundry members of the
Cabinet, and other leading Miuisterialists, would
figure. But years have fled since the last
appeal to the country. Former pledges are,
therefore, forgotten ; and the next General Elec-
tion is not sufficiently close to excite the appre-
hensions of the " waiters on Providence," many
of whom hope to have "made their game" before
the terrible appoarance of deceived and indignant
cons tituen's shall be presented to their astonished
,gazo. We shall, therefore, feel no great surprise
at finding some persons voting in direct opposi-
tion to all their former professions, and a still
larger proportion of absentees, who will adopt the
less manly course of avoiding the contest, and
thus keeping fair with both sides. We must
say, that, to our judgment, the party
who remains away on inadequate grounds
should be more severely condemned even than
the avowed ' rat. Both must be regarded
as deserters from. the standard to which they had
previously vowed: allegiance ; but sneaking away
from responsibility will be generally regarded
as the most un-English practice of the two, and
will certainly be visited with as stringent censure
when the parties are called on to render the
accounts of their respective stewardships.
We trust, however, that there will be found
at their posts a sufficient number of good men
and true to insure the triumph which the inde-
fttigable zeal and indomitable energy of the
champion of the Ballot so well merits. All
that is required is that the apathy and
iudifference which constitute the most fatal
obstacle to he much - required improvement
should be shaken off for the time being. The
matter has been fully argued all the salient
points of the cage are before the public. Mr.
BERKELEY has le.f t no point untouched that re-
quired elucidation!. The ridiculous absurdity of
speaking of it as an " un-English practice," by
men who resort to it at every election, at their
clubs, has long let .*u exploded. If voters wish to
proclaim the side on which they desire to array
themselves, it .-7.4;- perfectly easy to do so.

They may elevate their voices in favour of the
pppular candidate, or wear significant ribands,
the meaning of which is perfectly comprehensible.
But let then vote privately, which will prevent
bribery—because no man will trust a person base
enough to sell his birthright, or believe that he
would not also be capable of deceiving the in-
tending purchaser of his venal suffrage. It will
also render ineffective all kinds of coercion, whe-
ther that of the landlord, the employer, the
customer, the priest, or the mob. All kinds
of domination will be prohibited, and the
vote will be given in accordance with the voter's
crinscience ; and there will, of course, be a far
greater chance that the successful candidate will
fairly represent the wants and wishes of the
majority of the constituency by which he has
b:en elected.

The cry for public voting is practically one for
the right of purchasing support, and bringing the
most intolerable tyranny to bear on those who
are compelled to gain their daily bread by their
daily exertions. We are proud to say that many
of these men will boldly assert their independence,
and steadily refuse to listen to the insulting sug-
gestions. But why should they be exposed to
serious loss and injury for their honest discharge
of a constitutional duty ? Why should any
man be enabled to say—You have opposed
my wishes and interest, and I shall now
injure you by every means in my power. As we
have stated, a conscientious man may despise the
threat, but he may still suffer severely by the
results, and that should be guarded against by
every practicable measure.

Of all the points of elective reform we regard
the Ballot as the most important—even more so
than the extension of the suffrage, inasmuch as
it is of greater consequence to insure the
parity of election with a limited number
of voters, than to have a large addition of
persons who would be peculiarly liable to these
corrupt and improper practices, that are verbally
deprecated, but practically sustained by the re-
fusal to adopt the Ballot. Let the mystification
that has so long been resorted to be speedily dis-
pelled, and the question placed in a correct point
of view, so that all who run may read. We can
trust Mr. BERKELEY to do so, and the earnest
and consistentßeformers to give the necessary pub-
licity to his arguments.

THE LATE JOHN _HENRY BELVILLE,
ESQ.

During the past week the Royal , Observatory at
Greenwich has sustained a severe loss fn the decease of
John Henry Belville, Esq., who for the long period of
45 years was one of its most faithfill and attached offi-
c-:rs. Mr. Belville was born in the year 1796, at Bath,
was educated at Braintree, in Essex, with the view of
entering the church, but in 1814 passed to the Observa-
tory at the time of the late Astronomer Royal's (Mr.
Pond's) appointment. Whilst in office Mr. Belville's
duties were of a most onerous and responsible nature,
and he was successively entrusted with the superinten•
dente of the Great Mural Circle, erected by Troughton,
at Greenwich, ip the year 1812 ; with the ten•feet tran-
sit instrument erected likewise by Troughton, in 1816 ;
and within the last few years with the Great Transit
Circle erected by the present Astronomer Royal. For
many years also the rating of the Government chrono-
meters formed not the least part of his official duties ;
,and for the long period abovementioned to the time of
his last severe and most painful illness be continued to
discharge with the utmost faithfulness and ability the
duties of his office, requiring assiduous attention during
the hours both of the day and night.
Mr. Belville was favourably known as the author of a
treatise on the barometer and thermometer. He was
also distinguished as the most persevering meteorologi-
cal observer of the time, his private weather journal
extending from the time of his school days at Braintree
to within a very short period of his decease, and is one
of the finest on record. His third daughter was married
in the year 1844 to Mr. Glaisher, the well•known
meteorologist. It is understood to be the intention of
his family to inter the deceased in the old churchyard
at Lee, in Kent, beside the tomb of the late Astrono-
mer Royal.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Sir George Couper,
left town, yesterday, for har residence, Frogwore, near
‘Vindeor.
The Duke and Duchess of Atholl have left the St.
George's Hotel, for Dunkeld House, N.B.
The Earl and Countess of Lichfield have arrived at the
St. George's Hotel.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston entertained at
dinner, a, their mansion, on the Terrace, Piccadilly, last
evening, his Excellency the Ambassador 9fFrance and
the Countess de Persigny, his Excellen4 the Austrian
Minister, his Excellency the Portuguese Minister and
the Countess Lavradio, Count Karolyi, the Duchess of
Inverness, the Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford,
the Countess of Ta,nkerville, the Earl of Westmorland,
V scourit Chelsea, Sir Robert Peel, M.P., and Lady
Emily Peel, the Right Hon. William Cowper, M.P.,
and Mrs. C ,wper, Mr. Crampton, and Mrs. Augustus
Craven. After dinner her ladyship received a small
circle of friends.

The Frances Henty has arrived from Melbourne with
107,000 ounces of gold, valued at 428,000/. Her dates
are to the 30th of April.
Sir Erskine Ferry and Devonport Dockyard work-
men had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, yesterday, respecting superannuations.
SIR ALAN 111'ICAs.—Our readers will be glad to
learn, that her Majesty has been pleased to bestow a
Da,rocetage on this public-spirited and patriotic Cana-
dian gentleman.

Td;, COLDSTREAM GUARDS.—The annual banquet of
the Coldstream Gu;trds took place last evening at the
London Tavern ; Colonel the Hon. A. Upton presided.
Covers were laid for 110.

THE APPROACHING CORONATION AT Moscow.—On
the 20th of Augu-t the Emperor will arrive at the
Chateau of Petrowski, situated near the gates of Mos.
c.,w, and on the 22d will make a solemn entry into the
c tpital.
MADAME VLtRDOT GARCIA'S MATINEE.—A. concert
of v,,cal and in.trumental music was given yesterday
by Madame Pauline Viardot Garcia, at the Dudley Gal-
lery, by permission of Lord Ward. The attendance was
fashionable and numerous, the programme highly at-
tractive, and the performance admirable.
LYCEUM THEATRE.—Last night Madame Ristori
made " her last appearance this season," again sup-
porting the characters which sha assumed on Friday
last. Madame Ristori will of course return to London
after her viAt to the provinces.

ARRIVAL OF TROOPS.—PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday.
The Terrible, steam-frigate, with 1,000 troops, chiefly
Loyal Artillery, and the Firebrand, with 200 men, have
arrived from the Eest,
WAR DEPARTMENT, 17TH JULY, 1356.—The follow-
' ing vessels passed the Bosphorus on passage to Eng-
land on the 11th and 15th instant :—Royal George,
with head•quarters and wing of the 56th Reetimeet ;
Perseverance, with 200 men of the Medic ii Staff Corps.
AUSTRIA AND NAPLES.—An extremely well-informed
person, writing from Vienna, says that Austria cannot,
end does not, now employ such straightforward language
towards Naples as she did some months ago. Formerly,
the Imperial Government openly condemned the foreign
policy of the Nespolit rei Cabinet, but it does not ap-
ptove of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of a
state—" unless, indeed, that intervention is demanded
by its Sovereign.'
MURDER,—John Murdoch, aged 20, Wright, was
tried at the Lewis Assizes, yesterday, for the murder of
James Wallerd, the keeper of the gaol at Hastings, who
attempted to prevent the prisoner escaping therefrom.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended
him to mercy. The learned judge, in an impressive
speech, then sentenced the prisoner to death, on hearing
which the prisoner turned round and said to the people,
" There's a lesson fur you."
LIFE INSURANCE.— At the Lewis Assizes, yesterday,
an action was brought by a person named Gover against
Vie Albert Life Insurance Company for the recovery of
the amount of a policy of insurance for 8001., effected on
the life of his wife. The company pleaded that the
plaintiff hail made a false declaration as to the state of
health of Mrs. Gover at the time the insurance was
effected. The jury gave a verdict for the defendakts.
THE MURDER AT OLD SWINFORD.—At the Worcester
Assizes, yesterday, John Phipsou was indicted for the
wilful murder of Elizabeth Mtlward at Old Swinford on
the 27th of June last. The prisoner, it will be recol-
Meted from the facts that have already appeared in The
.‘",ot, was a nailer, and.during a quarrel he threw a piece
of hot iron at deceased, which entered her side and
killed her. The jory returned a verdict of guilty of man-
slaughter. 'The judge sentenced him to a fortnight's
imprisonment.

SEVERE TEMPEST AT LOWESTOFT.-On Tuesday even-
ing this town and neighbourhood was visited with a
severe tempest. During the day the wind blew a brisk
breeze from the south, and at 10 o'clock p.m. rocky
cumuli clouds rose rapidly, with distant lightning, which
lasted until midnight, when the heavens presented al-
mast one continual display of electricity, the thunder
about the same time being incessant. For more than
twenty minutes the rain fell very heavy, at intervals
mingled with hail, and at a qtarter-past one the storm
incroa4ed, the lightning became more vivid and forktd,
the thunder more startling, and another heavy fall of
rain. It was near 3 o'clock before the storm began to
subslde, when it gradually disappeared on its way north-
ward, having lasted for more than three hours. It was
the anniversary d St. Swabia.

THZ SUN. LONDON; THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 17, 1F456-

171-1 .
II

INSURRECTION AT MADRID.

MADRID, TUESDAY EVENING.

The fighting which began yesterday between
the National Guard and the Garrison of Madrid

has continued.

It is not true that a Republic has beeu pro-

claimed.

The Queen presented herself to the National
Guard, and to the troops of the garrison, and was

well received.

A suspension of hostilities has just been agreed
to, and the truce is to ba in force till 5 o'clock in
the evening. General O'Donnell has declared to
General Infante, commanding the Insurgents,
that, after that hour, the troops will act with the

greatest vigour.
If the insurgents should not have surrendered
by the time of the departure of the despatch, it is
feared that the telegraphic communication will
shortly be interrupted.

MADRID, WEDNESDAY.

The insurrection is crushed.

The O'Donnell Ministry has named a new mu-
nicipality for Madrid, and declared the whole
kingdom to be in a state of siege.
Several journals are suppressed.
There are still no tidings of Espartero.
The National Guard is disbanded, and their
arms are to be given u*,

It is rumoured that a movement has taken

place at Saragossa.

•-•
:;; -

A letter from Ancona of the 6th, in the Opi-
nione of Turin, states that the Austrian garrison
there has been considerably reinforced of late,
and that guns have been mounted on all the bat-
teries.

THE CRIMEA.
BALA_KLAVA, JULY 1.
The evacuation of the Crimea is all but accom-
plished. In last night's orders are the arrange-
ments for breaking up the Staff. There remain
now the 50th, 56th, 72d, and 82d regiments, a por-
tion of the 11th Husgars, some Land Transport
battalions, and a few Sappers and Miners. The
plateau is deserted.

By the It.,yal tna:l peke:, E trl of Seftoa, whose
arrival at Liverpool, we announced in our third
edition, last night, Noble, commander, Of the
White Star line, we are in receipt of advices from
MelboUrne, to the 25th of April. She brings
50,000 az. of gold on freight, and 10,000 oz. in the
hands of passengers, of whom there are about 120,
and a general cargo.

The—Earl of Sefton sailed from Melbourne on
the 26th of April, and has thus completed her
homeward voyage in 801 days.
She reports the arrival at Melbourne, on the
night of the 16th of April, of the screw clipper
ship Royal Charter, Captain Boyce, after an un-
paralleled passage of 59 days. She was under steam
only 14 days during the passage. The greatest
distance run in 24 hours was 352 miles, during
which time she attained the extraordinary speed of
18 nautical miles an hour.

The Annandale, from Liverpool, and the Aus-
tralia, from New York, had arrived at Melbourne.
The Oliver Lang was to sail fur Liverpool on
April 30, and the Royal Charter May 22 ' • the
Thomas Ann Cole, April 25, and the Walmer
Castle, May 15' for London.
The Francis Henty and the New Great Britain
had sailed for Loudon.

Th• mining intelligence continues favourable.
The rush to the Green Hills still continues.
From Bencligo we learn that the number of per-
sons trying their fortunes at those diggings was on
the increase, and their labours were attended with
success. Several new shafts have been sunk on the
Windmill Reefs. At the Victorial Reef several
claims have been lately sold at high prices, and the
whole line of ground presents a most healthy ap-
pearance. One poison lately crushed 901- ounces
of gold out of 10 tons of quartz.
It is reported that Mr. Pohlman has been offered
the Solicitor-Generalship of Victoria.
The returns for the banks of Australia during
the first quarter of the present year are very satis-
tory, showing a steadily progressive business. The
deposits are increasing in a greater ratio than the
indebtedness of colonists to the banks. The coin
and bullion also show a tendency to increase.
Miss Catherine Hayes had arrived at Melbourne
from Launceston, and would proceed to England
in the Royal Charter.

There is no political news by this arrival.
The price of gold bad declined to 765. 6d. The
receipts per escort for the week had been 32,594
ounces, and the quantity shipped 106,273 ounces
to London by the Francis Henty, and 0,769
ounces by the New Great Britain. The escorts
had provided only a small quantity as com-
pared with previous weeks, caused, it was sup-
posed by the rapid fall which had taken place on
the fields. At Bendigo the price within a fortnight
had fallen 2s. 9d. per ounce, with the exchange on
London at the same rate, 2 per cent. premium.
In wool little had been done during the week.
The advices per Royal Charter of the February
sales were lbatisfactory, an advance of 11d. to 2d.
being paid at the commencement, over the prices
current at the December sales in London.

In tallow, for colonial use, higher prices were
being paid than for shipment. Within a few days
an article quite unsuited for candles had been sold
at from 551. to 561.

FRANCE.

Gold, apparently in paying quantities is reported
to have been discovered near Mount Mitchell,
about 25 miles north cf Armidale. The gold resem-
bled that found at the Rocking River, but was
rougher. At Stockyard Creek, Gippsland, gold had
likewise indicated itself.

At Launceston a meeting had been held and re-
solution passed expressive of Mr. Gavan Duffy's
character and career. A committee bad been ap-
pointed to collect subscriptions towards the quali-
fication necessary to enable him to sit in the Par-
liament.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

The Monitcur continues to publish decrees pro-
mulgating different laws adopted by the Legislative
Body during its last session.

BOURSE, July 16.—The following were the last
quotations :
Cash. fr. er. End onfonth.
4i per Cente 93 75 —f. —o.
3 por Cents 7l 5 71 35
New Loan 7l
Bank Sharem ' 4 125 Ronan
Credit Mob; lier 1,530 -- kustaian
Belgian Fiveq ...... ~ 93 Span34h Threes —
Piedniontese (5) — goini) Debt ......... 37

Our Sydney files, to the 19th of April inclusive,
furnish the subjoined reports. The Empire says:—
" The general improvement in trade during the past
week gives a promise of better times. Large quantities
of goods have exchanged bands at auction, and the prices
obtained were much higher than recent quotations. We
notice in particular large sales of drapery goods, slop:•,
boots and shoes, and oilmen's stores. The parcels of
drapery offered for public competition have been un-
usually heavy, and no less than four sales have taken
place during the week. There are still large Parcels of
goods of a similar description held hack from the market
in consequence of the reserved prices being placed upon
them by the consignors. Large exports of spirits have
been made for the southern trade ; the City of Sydney
took away, oa Wednesday, 2,200 gallons of brandy for
Victoria ; there have also been several other shipments,
though of comparatively minor importance. There is
little notice in the breadstuff market ; prices remain
without any alteration, with the exception of the sale
of some Van Diemen'a Land wheat, which realised 10s.
6d. per bushel. Whitbread's bottled porter wai sold
at 103. 3d. per dozen ; loaf sugar, sd. per lb. ; washing
soda, 8/. to 8/. 10s. per ton. At a public sale, a por-
tion of the wools offered was withdrawn. The lots of
fleece wools sold at 16d. ; skins ranged high, say from
54d. to 61d., and these even were not of a superior
description ; good hides realised 14s. sd. The general
average price of hides for shipment ranged from 12s.
to 14s. 6d. ; beef tallow, good, from 435. Gd. to 43.5..
91. ; mutton, 434. All the above prices show a trifling
tendency lower. We have heard several complaints
that there exists a great difficulty in getting wool and
tallow down from Moreton Bay, and that large par-
cels are stored there for want of conveyance to these
markets. We have no doubt that this inconvenience
wiM very soon be remedied.
"A. meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held
on Thursday, when the report on the insolvent laws
was further discussed. 'Some progress was made with
the 32d clause, which specifies the acts that are prt posed
to constitute frau,tulent insolvency ; but it was un•
finished at the terininaq,in of a long sitting. The meet-
ing was adjourned until Monday next.
"The Empire publishes the Customs return of the
imports ant exports of New South Wales for the first
quarter of the present.year.
"Toe following were the imports by British ships :
Prom Great Britain
Victoria
Van Diemen's Land
New Zealand 39,472
South Australia 443
South Sea Islands 9,133
United States 1,239
Manilla.., • 41,823
China and Calcutta
Fisheries
Foreign States• 31,0 ,0

£903,640

Subjoined are the imports by foreign ships :
British goods from Great Britain
Foreign ditto
Ditto United States
Ditto Foraign States 177,410
Ditto South Sea Islands 4,370

X 356,067

" Total amount of imports, 1,256,7131.
" Our exports during the same period in British ships
have been as follows :
To Great Britain
Victoria 413,578
New Ze•tland 79,326
Tasmania
South Australia
Foreign States
South Sea Islands . 5,441

£1,032,566
"The following have been the exports in foreign
ships :
To Great Britain
Foreign States
South Sea Islands

£81,498
" Total amount of exports, 1,177, 064/.
"These returns show an excass of imports over exports
to the amount of 79,649/. They lilso show that the
colony of Victoria took produce from New South Wales
to the value of 39,8991."
The Geelong _Advertiser has I;he following re-
port :

"The estimated value of the ice ports this week is
10,8721., to which amount the cargo of sugars brought
by the Ospray has largely contrihu ted. The quantity
of flour received from Van Diemen's Land, per R yal
Shepherd and other colonial traders, is at present insuffi-
cient to affect this market, the price i laying kept steadily
at 2U. per ton for some time past, a: id it will be politic
for the farmers to continue supplying the mils at current
rates, Bs. to Bs. 6d. per bushel of ;0113. ; should any
other course than this be taken a v cry temporary ad-
vance would result, and bring with i t sufficient foreign
supplies to depress the market for mo ntbs to come. The
exports are valued at 771., and revetent sundry ship
stores, &c. The week's receipts at the customs have
amounted to 4,2491.145. 7d."

RETURN OF MR. JOHN FROST.—Th is gentleman hav-
ing received her Maj-sty's uocondition al pardon, arrived
at Liverpool from New York on Sati irday. He looks
in excellent health, and carne to town t o pay his acknow-
ledgments to Mr. Thomas Duneombe, M.P., Sir Joshua
Walwsley, and other gentlemen, for their exertions in
his behalf, and was present in the Ho use of Commons
during the discussion on the affairs of Italy on Monday
last. He has since joined his family, who are residing
near Bristol. He states that Williams and Jones, he
believes, will not avail themselves of her Majesty's per-
mission to return to 'England, as they Ire doing so well
in Tasmania, the forhaer being engaged. in mining, with
a large number of men in his employr aent, and the lat-
ter keeps a tavern with a prosperous tt•ade.
VIOLENT THUNDER-STORX—On Tuesday night the
metropolis was visited with a severe thruiderstorm which
lasted several hours. The- wind during the day had
blown from the south-west. The heat had been oppres-
sive, and the atmosphere extremely close until late in the
evening. About dusk the sky became heavy and dark,
and rapid flashes of lightning shortly afterwards follow-
ed, which continued until half-past 11 o'clock, when an
immense flash of forked lightning illuminated the hori-
zon, followed by a terrific clap of thunder. A storm of
hailstones, accompanied with a perfect deluge of rain,
followed, which lasted a considerable time, flooded the
market-gardeners' grounds, and destroyed a large quan-
tity of choice exotics which were intended for the forth-
coming exhibitions.

..

Thu Alinitreai :)...Ng;o-Saxon,
Capt. hiqVlac,ter (whose arrival at Liverpool was
announced in our third edition last night), brings
advices from Montreal and Quebec to the 3d inst.,
two days later than brought by the Atlantic. The
Anglo-Saxon brought 115 passengers and a full
cargo of merchandise on freight.
On the Ist instant, at Toronto, the Governor'-
General prorogued Parliament until the 9th of
August. He delivered the following speech on the
occasion :

" Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and
gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly,—ln the present
session of Parliament you have passed an act altering
the constitution of the Legislative Council. I sincerely
hope that the result of this change will be advanta-
geous by intrusting to the good sense of our people
the choice of that body whose calm and deliberate
iudgment must form an important element in the pro-
ceedings of successful legislation. I rejoice that you
have done your best to simplify the procedure of the
courts in the western portion of the province, and have
thus far facilitated the administra'ion of justice. From
the measure of last session abolishing se;goiorial tenure
the country expects substantial benefits, and the sup-
plementary act of this session will render easy the at-
tainment of those benefits. I trust that the arrange-
ments which have been made for securing to each
municipality of Upper Canada the immediate benefi; of
its share of the Clergy Reserves Fund will !save been
found satisfactory to the people. The act for establish-
ing Normal schools and improving superior education
in Lower Canada is calculated to increase the number of
those who will hereafter be qualified by instruction and
learning to advance the prosperity of their country.
Tue liberality of her Majesty's G weroment has given
over to the province the mass of the Ordnance lands,
and thus placed their proceeds at. our d►sposal for the
purpose of meeting the expenses of the militia, whose
loyalty and zeal have been so graciously acknowledged
by our Queen.

" Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly,—ln her
Majesty's name, I thank you for the supplies you have
gra..te:i for the public service I trust that the aid all
forded to the Grand trunk ItAilway of Canada will be
sufficient to secure the completion of that great work,
essential as it is to the progress and unity, political and
commercial, of both sections of the province.
" Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gen.
t'emen of the House of Assembly,—At the opening of
this session I expressed a hope that I might soon have
occasion to congratulate you on the conclusion of an
honourable peace. Ey the blessing of God that hope has
been fulfilled, and tranquillity has been restored to
Europe, and I hope that it may bring with it vigour to
the interests of trade and productive industry.
" I am happy in being able to relieve you from the
toils of a laborious session by proroguing the Parliament
of Canada as I now do."

The despatch received by the America (via Hali-
fax) to the effect that the Quebec mail steamer had
been lost, proves to be erroneous, as the North
American ha.t arrived in safety at Montreal. The
report in question must refer to the English mail
bags from Quebec, intended to be forwarded by the
America, but which, owing to an accident to the
railway train, did not reach Island Pond in time.
They were conveyed back to Quebec, and arrived
here by the Anglo-Saxon.
The jury on the recent explosion of the steam
ferry-boat belonging to the Grand Trunk Railway
at Longuevil, by which about 38 persons wero
killed, returned a verdict on the 2d inst., to the
effect that the explosion was caused by the negli-
gence of the engiueer, and added that the history
of the management of the boat presented from first
to last a series of misconduct, carelessness, and
utter recklessness, of the public safety, deserving
of the utmost condemnation. In order to mark
their sense of the culpable neglect of the Grand
Trunk Railway Company in so grievously neglect-
ing the necessary precautions fur the safety of its
passengers and servants, after the repeated warning,
the jury ordered that a deodand of 2,5001. be
levied on the boat, assuming that to be her worth.
The inhabitants of Montreal had subscribed the
munificent sum of 1,044/. Bs., for defraying the
expenses incurred in the reception and entertain-
ment of the 39th Regiment, arrived from the
Crimea. Preparations were also male to give an
enthusiastic reception to the 17th lbgimeat, ex-
pezted in her Majesty's ship Vulcan.
From all parts of the Canadian provinces but
one report prevails regarding the condition of the
crops. Wheat probably never bid fairer for a
universal good crop than now—for the spring,
however it may be against Indian corn, has just
been right for wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Al-
though Indian corn is backward, it may still make
it up in July and August, which are the great
months for perfecting this great staple of the
American continent.
No change in commercial affairs.