The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-11 00:00:00

LEEDS. FEB. 9.

STOOK EXCHANGL—A pretty fair business to-day.
Midlands. 692—TbireIts' 14I—Berwieks, 10.3.9.—Craven
Moors, 18s. 6d.—Shetlields, 24i—Old Gas, 1004.

DUBLIN, FEB. 9.

STOCK EXCIIANGE.—Three per Cent. Consols, 00i 91—
Ditto for Account, 91/ s—New Three per Cont. Stock,
904 91—Royal Bank, 208.—General Mining Company of
Trolanol, 2—Dublin and Wicklow (for account), sg.
Midland Great Western halves, 24i—Bank Stock. 2 11-
- Dundalk and Enniskillen, 11—Royal Hibernian Mining
Company, V. shares (11. paid), 3s. 6d.—Waterford and
Limerick Railway Debentures, 5001.,5 per cent.; 3 years,
95—City of Dublin Steam Co., 58.

QUICV PASSAGE FROM AMERlCA.—Liverpool, Feb. 9.
—The ship Dreadnought, Capt. Samuel, arrived today
after a remarkably quick passage of little more than 14
days, with a-lvices from New York to the 23d ult.

THE ROYAL CHATITER.—PIymoutb, Feb. 9.—The
repairs of this steum•ship are nearly completed, and the
passengers are ordered to embark tomorrow. She will
probably sail for Port Philip on Wednesday.
A MAN FOUND IN HYDE PARE WITH HIS HEAD
CUT NEARLY OFF.—On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Chas.
Bedford, coroner for 'Westminster, received information
of the discovery of the dead body of a man, since
identified, 'Wog in Hyde Park with his head nearly cut
off. The police, with the coroner's summoning officer,
made every inquiry, and they have a,certained the de-
ceased's name to be George Connerbeare, a mechanic,
aged 36 years, living with his wife at No. 215, Kent-
street, Borough. His wife states that she last saw
him on the same morning, when be left his home for the
purpose of seeking employment. Mr. Bedford has
issued his warrant fora jury to be summoned to inquire
into the circumstances attending the death.—Sunday
Times.

THE GREATEST WORK.—According to Mr. Stevenson
the railway lines constructed in our country exceed in
length the ten chief rivers in Europe ; and if the Thames
and the Mersey be excluded, they undoubtedly carry
more goods and passengers than are carried on all these
rivers. In the United States there are, according to the
latest return, now 23,342 miles of rails, the increase in
1855 having been 3,406 miles, the rails in the States
!surpassing our rails as much as the rivers of America
surpass those of Europe. When to these we add the rails
of France, Germany, Belgium, and the other parts of
Europe, as well as those of India and Australia, we have
no doubt that railways constitute the greatest uniform
work ever performed in a few years by the hand of man.
All the high roads in Europe made in ancient and
modern times, sink into insigniQance, though they were
the work of many successive age', compared to the
great work in rails executed within 27 years. All the
great pyramids, all the vast monuments and extentive
walls of antiquity, all the churches and cathedrals of the
middle ages, with which all Europe was almost simulta-
neously dotted, were trivial, works compared to the rail-
ways, with their accompanying telegraphs and multi-
plied mechanical contrivances, that in a short period
have been constructed, as if by one mind and one will,
throughout the civilised world.—Economist.
NOVELTY IN BANKRUPTCY.— At the Liverpool Bank-
ruptcy Court, at the dividend meeting, in re Thomas
Walker, formerly proprietor of the Claremont Hotel in
that town, Mr. Frodehad, attorney for tke assigndes,
congratulated the creditors on the fact that, through the
instrumentality of the Bankruptcy C,,urt, they would
not only receive their debts in full, but interest likewise.
Mr. Commissioner Perry said there had been several
similar cases in that court recently. Walker, the bank-
rupt, absconded to America some time ago. It was
thought he had committed suicide, as the mangled re•
mains of a man, supposed to be Walker, were found,
soon after ho absconded, on one of the local lines of rail-
way. It bas since been ascertained that he went to
America. _ . .

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—Last week a return was issued
of the number and nature of the accidents which have
occurred on all the railways open for traffic in England
and Wales, Scotland and Ireland respectively, from the
or want of
Ist of July to the 31st of December, 1855. From this
return it appears that seven persons were killed, and 204
injured from causes beyond their own control. In the
corresponding half of 1854 the numbers were 9 killed
and 259 injured. Eleven persons were killed and 15
caution,injured oawsinaggaitnost their
killedirown
amndiseie2ndinu
injured cu in 1854. t
There were passengers making a total of 18 killed
and 219 injured, as against 24 killed end 271 injured in
1854. Ten servants of companies or contractors
wore killed, and 20 injured, from causes beyond their
own control, as against 20 killed and 37 injured in
1854 ; while 32 were killed and 35 injured, owing to
their own misconduct or want of caution, as against 37
killed and 11 injured in 1854. Twenty persons were
killed and 4 injured through crowing at level cross-
ings ; there were 3 suicides, and 2 persons killed
and 1 injured from miscellaneous causes. The grand
totals were—for England and Wales, 115 killed and 224
injured ; for Scotland, 8 killed and 56 injured ; for Ire-
land, 10 killed and G injured ; making together 133 killed
and 286 injured, as against 123 killed and 334 injured
in 1854. ' The length of railway opened on the 31st of
December, 1855, was 6,218 miles in England and Wales,
1,087 in Sotland, and 988 in Ireland, making together
8,293 miles, as against 8,054 for the corresponding half
of 1854.

.ALARMING- OCCURBENCE.—An Accident occurred two
nights bath to Mdle. Lefebre, of the Opera Comique,
which might have been attended with dangerous conse-
quences. She had dressed for her part in the Chien da
Jardinier, and was on the point of entering on the
stage, when, happening to stoop down, the long lace of
her cap caught fire, and in a moment her head-dress
was in flames. Notwithstanding the agitation caused
by the occurrence, Mdle. Lefebre had presence of
mind enough to slip off !the leap, and then to throw a
cloth over her head and extinguish the flame in the
artificial flowers in her Bair, which still remained on
fire. 'When the persons of the theatre came to her as-
sistance, the disaster was already at an end, and the
actress was able to proceed at once with her part,
though otill under the ialuence of conaidelablf emotial

L ITERATURE.

- - ---4 C.-

The North British Review.—M. Tealet's admi-
rable collection of State Papers, &c., relating to the
History of Scotland in the Sixteenth Century, have
originated the opening article, which is written in
a philosophical spirit, and will be welcome alike to
the archaeologist and the reader of history. The
writer points out the effect of the French alliance
on the history and institutions of Scotland, and
glances at its influence on the habits and manners of
the Scottish people. On the latter head, after noticing
its effect on Scottish architecture, he remarks—
" If you look to the French influence on
,the for-
mation of absolute national character, we believe
that England imbibed more of it than Scotland.
. . . In the one case it was a family union—an
admixture of blood ; in the other it was a mere
partnership." As to social habits, he is of opinion
" it would be a vain task to seek for the effects of
French influence on the social habits of the Scots-
men of the present day ;" and that " a search after
the festive customs which it may have bequeathed
to us would perhaps be more productive." The
holding of the great winter festival alike by the
French and Scotch on New-year's clay and not at
Christmas is noticed, and a similarity in the names
of the festival and the rhymes with which it is cele-
brated is pointed out. A useful article on " Colour
Blindness," indicates, among other things, the dan-
gers arising from that defect, and the necessity for
a reform in the system of signalling. Dr. George
Wilson's work on the subject has been taken as the
groundwork of the article. " Scottish Schools fur
the Middle Classes" deals boldly and thoughtfully
with a subject of much interest to the classes in
question. The writer aarees with Professor Blackie
in thinking that the reason why provincial schools
do not fulfil their duties is because in general
they are miserably below their work, and that the
Edinburgh schools, though thoroughly up to their
work, still cannot fill their places properly, be-
cause, as he elsewhere expresses himself, " the
Professors of the Faculty of Arts in the Scottish
Universities are supported in a great measure by
poaching on the schools, and are only saved from
starvation by making a compact with disgrace."
The remedies indicated are—imitation of Edin-
burgh and the better endowment of the Univer-
sities. "Bunsen's Signs of the Times" is noticed
with warm eulogiums ; and " Mettray and Red
Hill" supply another contribution to a very pro-
minent subject. The litterateur and the lover of
the drama will peruse with satisfaction a paper on
" Rare Ben Jensen," in which interesting parti-
culars of his life and times are harmoniously com-
bined. " Recent Sermons" will introduce some
readers to three of the more eloquent and able of
our modern divines, and add to the estimation in
which they were previously held. A. paper on
" Hotels and Lodging-houses," and a review of the
"Italian Character- and Italian Prospects," make
up the HSI of articles, and will well repay perusal.

The Journal of the Royal Agricultural So-
ciety of England. John Murray.— The six-
teenth volume and thirty-sixth number of this
invaluable journal, in which the researches
of science and the treasures of experience are ably
brought to bear on the promotion of agriculture
and the breeding and preservation of stock. In-
telligent farmers and others interested in the im-
provement of the soil, who are not already sub-
scribers,, have but to peruse this volume to be satis-
fied that it would be to theirinterest to become so,
so suggestive and full of useful information are its
contents. A prize essay by Clare Sewell Read, of
Barton Hall, Brandon, " On the Farming of Buck-
inghamshire," opens the volume, and.will be read
with much interest. It is accompanied by an out-
line of the geology of that county. Besides the
above, papers "On Diseases of Sheep, &c.," on
" The Chemioal Changes in the Fermentation of
Dung," on the "Autumn Cleaning of Stubbles,"
" On Agricultural Weeds," and " On the Value of
Artificial Manures," may be pointed out as worthy
of an attentive perusal.

The British Workman, and Friend of the Sons
of Toil, for 1855. Partridge and Co.—A penny
illustrated publication, issued monthly, and in-
tended " to promote tho health, wealth, and hap-
piness of the working classes." Arnow, its more
striking features are biographical sketches of Cele-
brated men belonging originally to the working
classes ; striking appeals, both to the eye, head,
and heart, on the particular vices to which the
British workman is exposed ; hints to wives and
mothers for making home happy and educating
their children ; and storiettes forcibly illustrating
the beneficial results of sobriety, thrift, diligence,
and perseverance. The engravings, which are nu-
merous, are fairly executed ; and . altogether,
though we cannot concur entirely in the views of
the editor, " The British Workman" may be de-
scribed as a cheap and attractive serial, calculated
to be of essential service to the class for which it is
designed. 'From the first yearly part now before
us we gather that the circulation falls short by
one-half of what is required to meet the cost of
production, and that the editor appeals to the in-
dustrial community for their further support to
enable him to carry out his undertaking. A little
effort on the part of subscriber!, ho is of opinion,
would meet the necessities of the case. Surely it
will be made. -

A New View of the Ester Question. By the
author of " Russian Turkey, or a Greek Empire."

Ed ward Stanford.

A second letter to Lord John Russell, on the
settlement of the Eastern Question. The writer
appeals to his lordship on behalf of the Greek
Christians in the East, who, in his opinion, have
nothing to hops from France or Austria, the
champions of the Latin Church, and endeavours
to show that " a Greek Empire, under guarantee
of the 'Western Powers, to be created by the retire-
ment back to Asia of the Turks," offers the only
satisfactory solution of this much-vexed question.

Spirit of the Public Journals.

(Front the Times of this day.)

The report of Sir John M'Neill and of Colonel
Tulloch has dissipated for ever all doubts and all
questions as to the guilt and responsibility for
i that awful tragedy which just a year ago was en-
tering into its fifth act on the shores of the Crimea.
The first impulse of public indignation was directed
against the Ministry of Lord Aberdeen, audit fell
without an effort before, the approach of the storm
which it now appears was not all of its raising.
The Ministry, we see, had a good defence, but it
did not put it forward ; they denied the miseries
and calamities the details of which were brought
to us by every post, and the country most justly
disbelieved their denial. They either knew not
that they had a defence or were too magnanimous
to avail themselves of it., and so they were swept
away before the torrent of popular indignation.
Upon the head of the devoted Duke of Newcastle
were laid the sins of the whole mismanagement
and miscalculation, and he carried them forth with
him into the wilderness. Then came the investi-
gations of the Sebastopol Committee; but' while
they were going on another inquiry was being pro-
secuted, with far greater skill, and under far more
advantageous conditions, on the shores of the Cri-
mea itself. Standing on the very spot, their feet
resting on the very graves of the army that had
perished, the Queen's Commissioners went pa-
tiently through every department of the service,
examined every officer who had occupied a situation
of responsibility, dived deep into the mysteries of
accounts and returns, and, as they had investi-
gated patiently, arrived at clear and irresistible
conclusions.

From their report it now appears that, although
there is no reason to suppose that our War
Department was administered with extraordinary
talent, vigilance, or foresight, yet the principal
blame and responsibility rest with crushing
weight upon the military authorities on the spot,
whose indolence, inertness, incompetence, and
fatuity would have baffled the vigilance of a Carnot
and overthrown the combinations of a Napoleon.
The result of this report is, that allowing every-
thing for the labours of a difficult siege ; assuming
it to be unavoidable that the. English army should
have occupied a position which required double its
numbers to maintain ; assuming that it was im-
possible to make a road which could have kept up
the communication by wheeled carriages with
Balaklava, still the whole blame of the destruction
that ensued is to be laid, not on the Ministry at
home—not on that convenient impersonation, " ill-
fortune," but wholly and solely on the wonderful
and inconceivable stupidity and. negligence of those
to whose weak and unworthy hands this mighty
trust was, in an evil hour, committed. The troops
suffered grievously from want of fresh meat, while
fresh meat was easily procurable on the southern
coast of the Black Sea, and could, unlike other
stores, when landed at Balaklava, have been made
to carry itself to the place where it was to be con-
sumed—an inestimable advantage as soon as the
road became impassable for carts. Vegetable food
might have been obtained with almost equal ease,
but was not sought for. The issue of rice, so valu-
able in diseases which were decimating the army,
ceased on the 30th of September. There was still
abundance in store, but the Commissary-General
did not continue to issue it, because Lord Raglan's
order for it was not renewed, and Lord Raglan did
not find out till the end of January what stores
were available for feeding his army. On the 20th
of December 20,000 pounds of limejuice arrived at
Balaklava, a specific remedy and almost certain pro-
phylactic against scurvy. The foresight of the Mi-
nister of War was, in this respect, most creditable, but
scurvy raged with unmitigated severity during the
whole of December and January, and it was only
in the first week of February that one drop of the
limejuice was applied to the service of the army.
The scorbutic gums of the sick required soft bread
instead of biscuit ; the soldiers willingly gave three
shillings for the two-pound loaf. There were
bakers, ovens, and flour in abundance, but no
bread was made. The soldiers were allowed no
fuel, because under totally different circumstances
no fuel was allowed in the Peninsula. A hundred
and forty seven thousand gallons of porter lay in
store at Varna from April, 1854, to April, 1655,
and not one drop was given to an army for which
it would have been a most acceptable medicine.
The road being gone, there was nothing for it but
to supply the want of carts by an increase in the
number of packhorses ; and these could have been
procured, but the Commissariat had no hay to feed
them ; and there was.no hay because the Commis-
sariat had bought 800 tons from an insolvent con-
tractor, had objected to receive it with an ill-timed
fastidiousness, had changed its mind when the sup-
ply bad been purchased by the French, had ob-
tained it after a long dispute, and had then been
• unable to send it to the Crimea because the hydrau-
lic presses which were to make it fit for transport
were erected at a place 15 miles from that where
the hay was made. The stores were absolutely en-
cumbered with warm clothing of every size and
desciiption, but the Quartermaster-General's De-
partment thought that the pour shivering wretches,
who were never dry for months together, needed
neither rugs nor blankets, and great-coats, of course,
they could not have, though they abounded in Ba-
laklava, because groat-coats are only issued once in
three years 1 The cavalry horses perished for want of
the most ordinary care andl recaution, which the two
Generals in command of that arm appear systemati-
cally to have discouraged. The tents were insufli-
cient,because, together with a large number of stores,
the surplus was abandoned at Varua and thought
of no more. From these "combined causes the
army perished. They starved on salt meat and
biscuit when wholesome food was within their
reach ; they perished of cold whip clothing in
abundance was laid up for them ; poor in the midst
of riches, hungry in the midst of plenty, shivering
and freezing while possessing the means of warmth
and shelter.

Who is responsible for these things ? Not the
system, not the Government,- nor primarily the
Commissariat. This is only an inferior service,
and the magnates of the army were firm in deny-
ing its members any rank or pretension to meet
them on terms of equality, though they are not
ashamed to throw on them the blame of all their
own deficiencies. The responsibility falls with
almost undivided weight on the Quartermaster-
General's Department,
.whose duty, according to
Colonel the. Hon. Alex. Gordon, Assistant Quar-
termaster-General of the Crimea, is to attend -to
the extra clothing and all extra stores for the use
of the troops, as well as the camp stores issued ac-
cording to regulation. To this gentleman and Sir
Richard Airey we may address the apostrophe of
Augustus to Varus—" Give us back our legions."
They cannot ; but they have given us back them-
selves, and those in whose hands army patronage
is deposited know how to make much of the gift.
The men who destroyed the British army come
home from the fields of their exploits to be loaded
with royal favour and with honours, and once more
to display at our expense those faculties of misma-
nagement which have already cost us so dear. While
hundreds of gallant friends have fought and bled
unknown and unrewarded, Sir R. Airey is made a
K.C.B. and Quartermaster-General, and Colonel
Gordon, only less mischievous because less highly
placed, Deputy Quartermaster-General and C. 8.,
each being rewarded in proportion to the injury he
has done to his country. If anything wore wanted
to show the absolute necessity of placing the Horse
Guards under Parliamentary control, it is that
such things can be done without the assent of the
Government of the day, and without any respon-
sibility to Parliament. Thesystem has now reached
the very climax of absurdity and iniquity, and
when that is the case in this country we know that
it has also reached the verge of extinction.

(From, the Morning Post.)

From the unwonted promptitude with which the
Government have introduced their bills, as well
as from the alacrity with which the Parliament
directs their attention to them, it is evident that
we are to have a genuine business session, and that
it is not intended to utilise the war as an excuse for
putting off things that ought to be done to a more
convenient season. - Foremost among
the subjects
pressed upon the consideration of the House of
Commons and her Majesty's Ministers is, as we
anticipated, the Bank Charter. Mr. Glyn, the
eminent banker, a few nights after the opening of
Parliament, made the first move, by. asking the
Government whether they proposed to appoint a
committee upon the question—a move which he
ollowed up by the presentation, a few days after,
an important petition from the Chamber of Com-
merce at Glasgow, which will probably be printed
by the House, and appended to its votes. Since
that Mr. Muntz has given notice of a motion that
now stands for to morrow night, which, whenever
it comes on, must necessarily bring the whole sub-
ject of our monetary system under discussion. It is
quite clear, in short, that the public mind will not
be satisfied without something being done, or un-
dertaken to be done, with regard Co this pressing
and important matter. The question is, what is
that something to be, and what, at this moment,
can a Minister with prudence attempt ?
We are entirely opposed to the appointment of a
Parliamentary Committee, and we trust that Lord
Palmerston will not let the House induce him to
withdraw or nullify the opinion which he has given
upon this point. The last committee of the House
of Commons which undertook the subject did its
work exceedingly ill, and it is not probable that one
appointed now would be at all more efficient or
useful. But even if it were otherwise—even were
there a likelihood of getting fifteen capable men to
I deal with the question, the years that have 'lased

since the great crisis of 1847, do not, as it appears
to us, present such an array of circumstances as to
render such an investigation as is applied by the
machinery of a committee of Parliament either
fitting or desirable. It was quite a different
matter in 1847. The crisis of that memorable time
was most complicated in its character, and most
puzzling in its indications. The whole world were
in fact aghast at it : its approach'was unobserved
cave by a few sagacious men, and it came like a
thief in the night, upon a public intoxicated with
an unexampled inflation of credit. The late one,
which has led to the explosion of the feelings of
distrust and anxiety which have so long been
accumulating in the mind of the commercial public,
is far more simple and easy of comprehension,
having been merely and purely monetary, and iu
no degree connected with over-trading or extrava-
gant speculation. From the very first appearance,
too, of its indioations—from the moment that its
cloud showed itself above the horizon, no bigger
than a man's baud, up to its outburst--this last
crisis has been watched by the press and the public
with the most anxious attention, and its every
symptom and mode of development carefully noted.
We do not think that, under these circumstances,
we should get much help from a House of Com-
mons' committee. The main defects of the Bank
Charter, and the mischiefs which are constantly being
put into activity by them, appear to us to he patent
enough, except to those who obstinately shut their
eyes. They are, it must be owned, tolerably nume-
rous, and there is, in addition, a fundamental
error which has influenced, more or less, every pro-
vision in the act. Nevertheless, we should not
despair of being able to amend the machine suffi-
ciently well to enable the mercantile community to
get on with it for a short time longer—a measure
which, if feasible, would unquestionably be prefer-
able, under the circumstances of the present year,
to knocking the whole thing at Once to pieces and
making a fresh one. We suggested some time ago,
and we still would advocate the step as an experi-
ment, theenlargement of the amount of notes which
the Bank is empowered toissueupon securities. Such
a modification of the act would do something in
alleviation of the difficulties which so constantly
occur, but still would leave untouched some of the
most important of the stumbling-blocks. One of
the most serious of these iources of mischief, it ap-
pears to us, is to be found in those arbitrary and
violent fluctuations which are so constantly taking
place in the rates of discount, and which produce
not only the most extensive influence upon credit,
but affect with most ruinous variations the actual
and market value of commodities—to such an ex-
tent, indeed, as, in not a few instances, to involve
solvent and respectable firms in positive bank-
ruptcy. There have been, since 1847, 26 of these
oscillations, during which the rate has passed from
eight to two per cent., and of these, eight, sliding
from three-and-a-half to seven per cent., were
actually compressed within six months of 1855. It
is incontestible that such rapid and extensive tran-
sitions as these must, and do, create always incon-
venience, and often violent and ruinous disturb-
ance in arranged mercantile transactions.

It would lie a task of some difficulty to graft an
amendment of these practices upon the present sys-
tem ; but we think it might be done by introducing
some improvements into the organisation by which
the Bank itself is administered. We do not think,
for instance, that the administration of the Bank
Charter is properly entrusted to a governor and
body of directors chosen by the shareholders, re-
sponsible only to them, and subject, the one to
triennial and the other to annual election. We
should prefer that the Governor of the Bank of
England should be an officer of the Crown, and we
would even be disposed to give to the Crown the
nomination, in addition, of a certain proportion of
directors. We believe that we should get, by this
means, a steadier and more equable administration
than we have experienced at -the hands of those
who themselves have not only trading interests,
but large commercial transactions, personally to
attend to, which may fairly be esteemed to have a
first claim upon their time and their consideration.
With some such modifications as these, it might
be worth while to give the Bank Charter a further
trial ; but it would be most unwise, in our opinion,
to attempt to force the mercantile community to
face another autumn and winter with their enter-
prises subject to an influence which they regard
with such anxiety and dread. To launch trade
again, indeed, with such a weight attached, would
be little more wise than setting a man to swim with
a mill-stone round his neck.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ENCROACH ON

II AM" PSTEAD-HEATS.

Mr. Nicholay, representative at the Metropolitan
Board of Works, called the attention of the Marylebone
Vestry on Saturday, for a few minutes, in order to draw
their serious consideration to another attempt which was
being secretly made to enclose, or at least encroach
upon, that lovely spot of politic recreation, Hampstead•
heath, an attempt which had been defeated session alter
session in Parliament. (Hear.) In order that that dis-
graceful piece of Vandalism might not be perpetrated,
he begged to move the appointment of a committee to
watch the bill which had been brought into the House
of Lords on the subject, the bill being one for entitling
the Court of Chancery to grant power to the owners
of property to grant leases, effect rates, or do what they
please, with what was technically termed " Settled
Estates." (Hear, and great dissatisfaction.) The bill was
brought in by the Lor I Chancellor, and it was so framed
that both Sir Thomas Wilson, and all proprietors of such
estates as Hampstead, could, at a moment's notice, de-
prive the public of what might be now justly termed their
right. (Hear.) It would be a great injustice, both AR
regarded the health of the metropolis, nod the peaceful
rural delights of the public, who flocked to Hampstead-
heath as the only place of salubrity and enjoyment in the
northern portion of the great city, to deprive them of the
heath by encroaching tin and building upon it ; at 41 he
hoped the committee would see that no clandestine
measure was carried in either. house for that purpose.
In conclusion, Mr. Nicholay observed that he would, at
the next meeting of the Ctintral Board, bring the sub-
ject under their notice, in ordet that means might be
adopted for securing to the public the right they had en-
joyed for so lengthened a period.
Mr. WINGFIELD seconded the proposition for the ap-
pointment of a committee.
Mr. GRAINGER said that lie was surprised that Sir
Thomas Wilson should attempt again, after being de-
feated session after session, to pusti his most unpopular
rights, and he trusted that, for the sake of the public
health, and more especially for the poorer inhabitants of
the metropolis, that the Government would settle all
further disputes by buying up the property, as, at the
death of the present lord of the manor, his successor
would be entitled to build on the heath, and do what he
pleased with the property. (Hear.)
Mr. LEWIS, solicitor, endeavoured to show that the
whole cry for years past, about Hampstead-heath being
encroached upon was a complete bugbear, and that Sir
Thomas Wilson was a much ill-used man. He had
watched the bill in question, and he could not see that
it threatened to interfere with the lungs of London.
(Hear, and "Oh.") The bill now brought in by the Go-
vernment was a Government measure, and not Sir
Thomas Wilson's. (Renewed cries of "Oh, oh.") Al
tkough he (Mr. Lewis) should support the appointment
of a committee, yet he did so with the firm conviction
that the bill alluded to had nothing in it by which Hamp-
stead-heath could he taken away from the public.
Atter some farther discussion the motion was carried,
and a committee appointed.

ALARMING FIRES AND NARROW
ESCAPE OF THE INMATES.

--42,

r Yesterdayoke ou
out
in mt
the
npi
rnegm,
~aebso
of
ft
i‘hiarl.f -Cpast
Hunt
'clock,
cnke,bmaa
kfierres
90, Playhouse-yard, Upper Whitecross-street, City.
brigadeed,
and engines n
w ingf rtcomithteho Th-t, fire was caused by the spark of a lighted candle,
which, falling upon the bed•furniture, set the room in a
ad-
joining station quickly exer-
tionsgeneral blaze.
. T
and
of the neighbours firemen, the flames were ex-
tinguished, but not until considerable damage was done
to the premises and their contents. Unfortunately the oof
tahteten(i
sufferer was uninsured.
On Saturday last, about 3 o'clock, a fire likewise took
place in the premises belonging to Mr. T. Spillman,
colour-manufacturer, situate at 28, George's-row. City-
road. The engines of the parish, and four of the London
Brigade, were soon in attendance, when the firemen
found that the heat of the flues had set fire to the drying-
houses on the ground Aoor, and extended from thence
to the ground floor and the rooms over. The firemen,
by great perseverance, succeeded in eventually extin-
guishing the flames, but not, however, until the drying-
houses, ground and first floors, together with their
valuable contents, were severely damaged by fire, &c.
The building and the fixtures were insured in the Nor-
wich Union Fire-office, but the contents wore supposed
to be not insured.

The same morning another fire happened in the pre-
mises termed the Bridge-house, the property of Mr. F.
Hadley, a linen draper, No. 29, Southwark-bridge•road.
The discovery was made by one of the initiates shortly
after the family had retired to rest. An immediate alarm
was given, and the various residents happily succeeded
in effecting a safe retreat through the heated smoke. The
engines of the West of England office and London bri.
gade were remarkably early in arriving, and a plentiful
supply of the Southwark and Vauxhall companies water
having been immediately procured, the firemen went to
work under the diraction of Mr.Hendersen, the foreman
of the district and with the aid of the portable engines
the fire was extinguished, but not nail the building and
its contents were severely damaged by fire, &,' The
origin c f the outbreak could not be learned. The police,
n° 1.1
under Inspectors Moore and Branford, renderedr
great
assistance by keeping the crowd back and preventing
the doors from being forced open.

The following bills have just been laid before the Se-
nate of Turin :-1. For a new loan of thirty millions of
francs ; 2. For empowering Government to open a tun-
nel through the Col de Menouve, which forms part of the
Great Saint Bernard ; 3. For laying a tax on joint•stook
companies; and 4, For talking intermit on capital.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

TATTERSALL'S.—(This Evening.)

LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
15 to 1 agst Escape (taken)
100 to 6 agst Emigrant (ta'ke©)
25 to 1 agst Dangerous (taken)
30 to 1 agat Boundaway (taken)
4to 1 agst Harry Lorrequer and Sir Peter
Laurie coupled (taken)
THE GREAT METR,OPOLITAN
15 to 1 agst Pyrrha (taken),
20 to 1 agst Mr. Huffain (taken)
GREAT NORTHERN.
Bto 1 agst Fandango (taken)
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
5 to 2 agst Yellow Jack (taken 3to 1)
9 to 2 agst Fly-by-Night (taken)

CHESTER cur.
100 to 8 agst Yellow Jack (offered)
1000 to 35 agst Coroner (taken)

DERBY.
7to 1 apt Weetworth (taken and offered)
10 to 1 agst Fly•by-Niglit (offered)
13 to 1 agst Yellow Jack (taken)
15 to 1 agst Artillery (taken)
15 to 1 agst R4gerthorpe
500 to 15 agiit West Langton (taken)

IMPiRIAL PARLIAM ENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—(This Evening.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

Lord SaAFTESBURY presented several petitions
against the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays.
Earl GREY presented a petition from Gateshead in
favour of the adoption of the recommendations contained
in the report of the commissioners upon local dues upon
shipping.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORT ON THE MANAGE-

MENT OF THE WAIL

The Earl of CARDIGAN said, seeing the Secretary
of State for War in his place, he was anxious to call his
attention to a statement on a subject which was of the
greatest importance to him, as involving bis character
and conduct. In a report from the commissioners to
inquire into the management of the war, which
had recenVy been published, he felt that his '
character and conduct had been reflected upon
in a very unfair manner. He felt that as a peer of
of that house he ought, in his place in the House of
Lords, to defend himself from those attacks. He
now begged to give notice to the noble lord that
to-naomw be would feel it his duty to transmit
to the noble lord a full explanation of his conduct
as far as it had been unfairly reflected upon by the report
referred to: He felt that he could refute every charge
that had been brought against him, and he could prove
that up to the last moment of his command at the seat of
war he had paid every attention to the welfare and comfort
of the men and horses. It was his sincere desire and
wish that the noble lord should give every possible pub-
licity to the statement which he would place in his
ands.

'rile Earl of LUCAN said he felt that he ought
to take this opportunity of replying to the reflec•
Lions made in the report upon his conduct and profes-
sional character. Immediately upon seeing that report
he addressed to the noble lord the Secretary of War a
letter, in which he refuted in the most positive terms
every part of the report in which his- conduct was
impovird. The noble lord also knew that he requested
that that letter should be given to the public at once.
As such publication had not yet taken place, he thought
it only re,4tonable to ask the noble lord to place the
letter on the table of that•hon.oe. -
Lord PAN MIRE said that in the full and elabOrate
report of the Commissioners he was quite sure that it
never was their intention to .attack in any manner the
character of the two noble earls as peers of
Par!iarrent. They simply expressea,their opinions as
to what bad taken place at the seat of war in the winter
And spring of 1354. He admitted having received a
letter from the noble earl who had last addressed the
house, addressed to hini officially. That letter he
had referred to the commissioners. One of those
commissioners, now in London, stated that the
charges contained in the report could be sup-
ported by returns given on the spot. In a few
days he hoped to be able to lay that letter, as well as
the reply, on the table of the house.
The Earl of DERBY thought it was the duty of the
Government to give every opportunity to the noble
earls whose conduct had been called in question to have
the whole matter investigated.
Lord PANMLTRE was understood to say he was of
the same opinion. _ _

The Earl of lIARDWICXE said that if he were in
the situation of either of his noble friends, and that full
opportunity. was not given to .11'.m to refute the charges,
he would consider himseli justified is removing the de-
corations from his breast and returning them bask to his

•
Sovereign.
Lord PANNIURE said that the decorations were
given for distiugui Led - services against the enemy.
Nothing contained in that report, tr that could be said
elsewhere, could detract from the merits of those
services.

THE WENSLEYDALE PEERAGE.

,The LORD CHANCELLOR said, seeing his noble
friend (L9rd Lyndhurst) in his pi ace, he begged to alk
him what course ho intended to pursue to-morrow, as
the committee of privileges was to meet that day at two
o'clock. He thought it ought to be known what course
was to he adopted when the committee met.
Lord LYNDHURST said that when the committee
met he would state the course he intended to pursue, and
he had no doubt the noble earl (Granville) opposite
would al'o have a course to propose, and that other
noble' lords would likewise offer suggeStions. The
course he proposed to adopt was this,—that when all
these suggestio::s were before the Committee of Privi-
leges, to leave that committee to adopt the course they
thought best.

A conversation here took place, in which the Earl of
Derby, Lord Brougham, and Lord Campbell took
part and the matter then dropped.
Earl GREY rose to ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs the question of which he had given
notice, namely, whether lie can give any explanation
of the apparent contradiction between Colonel -Rose's
despatch of the 25th of March, 1553, and that
of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe of the 27th of
May following ; the first of.— these despatches
contained a memorandum of Mr. Pisani of the
account given to him by Rifaat Pacha and the Grand
Vizier of the substance of the note verbale oresente.d by
Prince Menschiknff to the Porte on the 16th of March,
while Lord Stratford de Redeliffe states in his despatch
of the 27th of May that Mr. Pi-rani had assured him
that Rifaat Pacha would never be brought to admit the
existence of his note.