The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-15 00:00:00

L.A.TEST INITIAL IGEN CE 1 7HE PURCHASE OF THE TELEGRAPHS.
(REU"'ER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, June 14.
The Cunard steamer Hecla arrived at 6 p.m.

yesterday.
The Inman steamship City of London and the
Guion steamship Minnesota arrived out to-day.
The Allan steamship Prussian arrived at Quebec
:to-day.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 1381 ; the highest quotation dur-
ng the day was 1391 ; the lowest, 1384.
Sterling Exchange on London lO9l.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 1882
ti " 1885 ll9l.
" 18G7 ll9l.
1081.
144.
294.
Cotton—Mid. upland 32c.
Petroleum—Standard White 3llc.
Flour, extra sta'e, $5.70c. to $6.30c. Corn, old
mixed, s9.lc.

10-40 it
Illinois
Eric

WASHINGTON, June 14.

The President has ordered that the differentia
duties hitherto levied on merchandise imported in
French bottoms should be discontinued, thus re-
ciprocating the action taken by France in reference
to American vessels.

According to a report of Secretary Boutwell,
published this day, the cash in the Treasury
amounts to $134,000,000, showing an increase of
$10,000,000 since the Ist inst. Of this sum
$107,000,000 are in coin, and $27,000,000 in cur-
rency.

SOUTHAMPTON, June 15.

The North German Lloyd steamer America, from,
New York, has arrived here, with 170 passengers
42 sacks of mails, and $94,684 for London.

QUEENSTOWN, June 15.

The Cunard Royal mail steamer Malta, from
New York, arrived here at 3.30 a.m. to-day. She
brings 95 passengers, of whom she landed 23 and
despatches, and proceeded for Liverpool imme-
diately. All well.

HUNGARY.

PESTH, June 15.

In yesterday's sitting of the Lower House the
members of the delegations were electal, all of
them belonging to the Deak party.
The bill introducing a gold coinage with the
franc as unit was agreed to.

CANADA.
OTTAWA, June 14.
The House of Assembly has to-day reconsidered

its votes of Saturday refusing to grant an additional
subsidy to Nova Scotia, and has rescinded that re-
solution and granted the subsidy in question.

NOVA SCOTIA.
HALIFAX, June 14.

It is asserted that the Repeal League, established
in this city, has resolved to make annexation to the
United States the platform of their policy.

FRANCE.

PARIS, June 15.
The Gazette des Tribunaux, published this morn-

ing, says :

At Belleville some persons who had collected in
groups, shouting " Vive Rochefort !" were arrested
as late as Sunday, and were handed over to the
sergents de yille by the inhabitants themselves.
Yesterday (Monday) complete tranquility pre-
vailed everywhere. Strong bodies of sergents de
vile, however, are still traversing certain quarters.

The terms which the Post Office have agreed to pay to
the British and Irish Magnetic Company are stated in
a circular just issued to the shareholders. Ths
price is £1,243,000, and is calculated, as agreed, upon the
net profits of the half-year ending June 1868. If the
Government now had to purchase upon the same terms,
and were compelled to take as their basis the net profits
on the half-year ending December 31, 1868, they would
have to pay £1,452,000. The receipts of this company
for the first four months of 1869 are £10,250 more than
for the corresponding period of 1867, thus shewing an
improvement equivalent to £30,000 per annum. A large
portion of this increase is, no doubt, owing to the more
moderate rates which have prevailed of late years, and
which have induced a habit of telegraphy that may be
still further encouraged. It is satisfactory to find that
under the arrangements proposed by the Telegraphs Bill
the State will profit by all future developments.

MR. BRIGHT OA THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

The following is the text of Mr.' Bright's letter which
was read at the meeting in Birmingham ou Monday

evening :

"London, June 9, 1869.

" Dear Sir, I must ask my friends to excuse me if I am
unable to accept their invitation for the meeting on
Monday next.
" The Lords are not very wise, Lut there is some•
times profit to the people even in their unwisdom.
If they should delay the passing of the Irish Church
Bill for three months they will stimulate discussion
on important questions which, but for their infatuation,
might have slumbered for many years.
"It is possible that a good many people may ask what
is the special value of a Constitution which gives a ma.
jority of 100 in one house for a given policy, and a majority
of 100 in another house against it.
"It may be asked also why the Crown, through its
Ministers in the House of Commons, should be found in
harmony with the nation, whilst the Lords are generally
in direct opposition to it.
"Instead of doing a little childish tinkering about Life
reerages, it would be well if the Peers could bring them-
selves on a line with the opinions and necessities of our
day. In harmony with the nation they may go on for a
long time, but throwing themselves athwart its course,
they may meet with accidents not pleasant for them to
think of.

" But there are not a few good and wise men among
the Peers, and we will hope their counsels may prevail,
" I am sure you will forgive me if I cannot come to
your meeting.-13elieve me always, very truly yours,

" JOHN BRIGHT."

ELECTIONEERING AMENITIES.

An action for libel was brought in the Court of Exche-
quer on Monday—` `Jackson, M.P.,v. Bell." The defendant
pleaded not guilty. The plaintiff, Mr. Ralph Ward Jackson,
was the founder of West Hartlepool, and when the Hartle-
pools were constituted a borough under the last Reform
Act, he presented himself to the constituency as a
candidate in the Conservative interest, a Mr. Richardson
being the Liberal candidate. Political feeling ran very
high during the election, but on the declaration of
the poll Mr. Jackson, who had been returned by a
small majority, offered to shake hands with his oppo-
nents and make up all differences. On the following
Saturday, viz., the 28th November, 1868, there appeared
in a paper published by the defendant, Mr. Bell—
the South Durham and Cleveland Mercury—a letter
signed by "A Liberal Member of the Liberal Committee,"
referring to Mr. Jackson's offer, and containing the fol-
lowing passage If the most disgraceful bribery and
corruption paralleled only in the worst days of Notting-
ham or Yarmouth or bloated `pot-wallopers' of York; if
beerhouses thrown open and drink scattered with lavish libe-
rality to all ; with strangers dexterously retained at all the
dirty work, and then retreating under cover of the night to
escape identification ; if drunkenness and debauchery of the
grossest quality, constitutes titles to your consideration
and esteem, then, indeed, is Ralph Ward Jackson en-
titled to the position he assumes. The writer went on
to say that on the day he took his seat in the House
of Commons he would find a petition against his
return, and that before many days were over they would
pull him down from his pedestal, and return him back upon
his clerical and Tory friends for consolation and sympathy."
A petition was presented against Mr. Jackson's return,
but when it came on for trial before Mr. Justice Black-
burn, the counsel for the petitioners confessed that be had
no case, and consented to pay the expenses of Mr. Jack-
son, who was consequently declared duly returned.
In opening the case, Mr. Huddleston said, as the defen-
dant had refused to apologise for these serious allegations
against the plaintiff, he claimed heavy damages.
Mr. Baron Marlin suggested that the case was one for
amicable settlement ; and, on the application of the lead-
ing counsel on each side, his lordship granted them a
private interview with a view to an arrangement.
Mr. Davidson, on returning into court, said the letter
nad been written during the heat of the political antagonism
that existed in the borough, and did contain libellous
matter, of which Mr. Jackson had every right to complain;
but immediately after the decision of Mr. Justice Black-
burn, the defendant published an ample apology in his
paper. The defendant now entirely retracted the charges,
which, he said, was without foundation, and expressed his
regret at having circulated them, and apologised to the

Mr. Huddleston, on the part of the plaintiff, accepted
this apology, and, subject to a private arrangement, a
verdict was entered for the plaintiff, damages 40s.

The Leeds Mercury announces the death of Mr.
Josiah Lewis, of Edge Hill, Duffield, near Derby, one of the
oldest directors of the Midland Railway, in the 64th year of
his age.

THE FIRE AT PENTONVILLE. —At the adjourned
inquest on the bodies of the three persons who lost their
lives in the fire at Pentonville on Saturday week, the
jury has returned a verdict of Accidental Death, accom•
panied by a resolution declaring that the Board of Works
had neglected to provide Clerkenwell with sufficient
protection against the loss of life by fire.

A Cork correspondent telegraphs that on Sunday a
policeman was savagely attacked. Two constables came to
his assistance and endeavoured to take the assailants into
custody. A mob collected and furiously assailed the police
with stones. The constables took refuge with their prisoner
in Shandon barracks, when the mob attacked the barracks,
hurling volleys of stones, and smashing the doors and win-
dows. The police, on being reinforced, sallied out, and got
several prisoners to bridewell. Three policemen were
severely wounded.

NINE DAYS WITHOUT FOOD.—A negro named
James Wilson, 25 years of age, arrived here on Tues-
day evening, 25th inst., in the steamer Rising Star, from
Aspinwall, who had existed during the entire passage
without eating. He was employed at Aspinwall in
receiving the cargo, and after supper on the 17th inst.
fell asleep in a secluded part of the lower hold. At
one o'clock on the morning of the 18th the vessel sailed.
The man, on awakening, perceived that she was at sea,
but the hatchways being closed, he was unable to make
himself heard from the depth where he was situated. The
cargo in his proximity consisted of wool, indiarubber,
mother-of-pearl shells, and hides, and offered no
means of sustenance. The hold was by no means
crowded with goods, and he enjoyed locomotion, but
weakness and the confined air finally overcame
him, and he slept profoundly until the hatches
were reopened on Wednesday morning after arrival.
The fresh air revived him, and, as the stevedores
descended, he was discovered, but was unable to stand.
He had been nearly nine days without eating. Tea was
administered, but he could not retain it. Sherry wine
was tried with better success, and he gradually became
able to absorb food. He was taken to the Coloured Home,
at the foot of East Sixty-fifth-street, and will be returned
to Aspinwall after recovery by the Commissioners of
Charities and Corrections, in whose charge he remains.—
New York limes, May 29.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.-
Seven out of the eight directors of this company have
just issued a circular to the shareholders and mortgagees,
with the object of obtaining their assent to the bill now
before Parliament, in order to shew that the great
majority of the holders are favourable to the scheme of
arbitration proposed. Remarking upon the recent Chan-
cery proceedings, the directors state that the persons
moving the court did not derive their authority from the
shareholders and mortgagees whom they professed to re-
present,-and whom they had on no occasion called together
or consulted with respect to the bill ; and they add that
the result of the polls at the half-yearly a-meeting
were :—At the shareholders' meeting, 17,115 voted for
the bill, and 361 against it ; at the mortgagees' meeting,
7,334 votes for the bill, and 1,291 against it. The
circular then goes on to state the reason which
induced the directors to apply to Parliament for the
bill, and points cut certain provisions in the bill which
they do not consider altogether free from objection,
but they add that they believe the main principles of the
measure are approved by a very large majority of both
shareholders and mortgagees, and that they will obtain
such modifications of its details as they deem desirable.
In conclusion, the directors say they look forward to the
passing of the bill as the most sure, just, expeditious, and
least expensive mode of putting an end to the present
disastrous state of things, and rendering the net income
of the railway available for those to whom it rightfully
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