The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-01 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 1, 1856.

LORD CARDIGAN AT LEEDS.

LEEDS, SATURDAY.

Lord Cardigan visited Leeds-ta:day, the 30th August
having been appointed for the presentation to his lord
ship Gf the sword which has been subscribed for by his
tenantry and other inhabitants of Leeds.

The banquet took place at the St .rck Exchange, the
chair being filled by Edward Denison, Esq., M.P. for
the West Riding. Upon the removal of the cloth the
usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk.
Mr. BEEOROI7, as chairman of the committee of the
testimonial, then read an address from the subscribers to
the fond for purchasing the sword, in which it was
said It is to commemorate the events of your lord
ship's military life in that war, and particularly that
great incident which has rendered `Balaklava' a pass
word in the soldier'e mouth (of which he will ever feel
proud), that we now present your lordship with a
sword, and invite your acceptance of it, in the name of
numerous noblemen, gentlemen, merchants, tradesmen,
and yeomanry connected with the county of York."
The Earl of CARDIGAN, in the course of his speech
returning thanks, said—Gentlemen, it is gratifying to
me—and I think it will not be uninteresting to you to
learn that that conduct of mine, of which you have
been pleased to approve, met with the entire sanction,
approval, and approbation of that great general under
whom I was serving—the late Lord Raglan—under all
circumstances, even at the commencement of the opera
tions and up to and beyond the battle of Balaklava.
(Applause.) Lord Raglan, the lamented general whose
fall I so deeply deplore.--whose memory I honour and
revere--and,,twhoso- approbation and hood opinion
during life I valued more than those of any other man
living. (Here his lordship was for a moment or two
unable to proceed, from his extreme emotion. On re-
viving, he said) —I considered his praise as second only
in value to that of that great general, that great man
under whom he had so long served, and of whom he was
the friend and associate. I speak of the great Duke of
Wellington. (Lout cheers.) (Tne noble earl repeated
the history of his celebrated reconnaisance on the Dob-
rudscba, with which he has several times obliged the
public. Then proceeding, he said—Gentlemen, it fell
to my lot, on the 25th October—the day of the battle of
Balaklava—(bear)—as the officer in command of the
light cavalry brigade, to attack the Russian batteries to
the front. Gentlemen, I will not go into any lengthened
detail of what occurred during that charge. I think that
the circumstances are well known to most ; but I can-
not think that this opportunity, which is afforded by the
honour you have conferred upon me this day, is an in-
opportune moment for me to make one or two allusions
to some extraordinary fallacies which, if not generally
prevalent, still have been entertained by some, and are
known to me—l mean with regard to the duties of a
general of cavalry leading the brigade into action.
One would really suppose, from what has been said, that
when a charge of cavalry is ordered, the general officer
commanding a brigade has nothing to do but wave his
sword, and gallop off, his men following him, and come
into personal contact with the enemy's troops. Gentle-
men, no such thing is the case. The duties of a cavalry
general, in leading a charge, are very important. In the
first place, it is his duty to keep his regiments together ;
secondly, it is his duty to lead them at such a regular
pace, under any fire to which they may be exposed, that,
when they come into contact with the enemy, they may
attack them with a proper and full impetus. (Cheers.)
Further, it is necessary that, under whatever fire they
may be exposed during the advance, the general officer
should keep the alignment of his regiment. I believe
there is no person who was present—and there were
many persons present who were spectators (for the hills
on all sides were covered with our own troops and those
of our allies)—but there was no one so present
who will deny that the leading of the regiments of
the Light Cavalry Brigade into the battery on the
day of the battle of Balaklava, was not a firm, satisfac-
tory, and compact one—(cheers)—well and gallantly
supported by three other regiments belonging ito the
brigade, which came on in succession under their re-
spective commanding officers. Ladies and gentlemen,
I will leave the troops who have just arrived at the bat-
tery for one moment, and refer to one or two other falla-
cies. It has been also suggested, and the idea has been
entertained, that it is the duty ef a general officer com-
manding cavalry to fight the enemy, with and amongst
private soldiers, after coming into contact with them.
No such thing is the case, and I will give you the greatest
authority to the contrary. The greatest authority wo
have ever had in this country is that of the late noble
hussar, Lord Anglesea. Under the names of Lord Ux
bridge and Lord Paget, be frequently commanded ea-
valry, and distinguished himself in every way, and had
the reputation of being the best cavalry general that
ever lived in this country. He has been known to de- ;
Clare that he never, during his career, raised his 1
sword, or used it against an enemy, except on one
occasion in self-defence. I could not, ladies and gentle-
men, quote to you a greater authority than that of Lord
Anglesea, the mostgallant general of cavalry, who always
led his own troops into action, whether he was in com-
mand of a small force or a large one. I Hill give you an
instance or two. When he commanded the Hussar Bri-
gade in Spain, previous to Sir J. Moore's retreat, the 15th
Hussars, which composed one brigade, had an opportu-
nity of attacking the French cavalry, and Lord Paget
put himself at their head, led them to the attack, and
gained a victory. Subsequently, under the title of Lord
Uxbridge, when commanding the whole force of cavalry
at Waterloo, 10,000 strong, he put himself at the head of
the household brigade, showing himself first most gallantly,
and led his troops into action. There is one more fallacy
which at times has been suggested with regard to the du-
ties of a cavalry general. It is that of a general officer of
cavalry leading his first line, after getting amongst and at-
tacking the enemy, is to halt and receive the second line,
before bringing his brigade into action. That is not the case.
general officer commanding the first line has nothing
to do with anything but the regiments he immediate')
corrimands. Those who follow in support are under the
superior officer of each line. But, even supposing such
a thing was practicable in any common charge of cavalry,
of one body of cavalry against another, or even. against
infantry, can anybody living imagine that it would be
possible
for a general officer leading the first line of
cavalry in au affair like that of Balaklava, attacking iB,
19, or 20 heavy guns to the front, a battery on each
flank, and the hills covered with Russian riflemen—can
anybody suppose that when leading into the battery vo-
miting forth shells, round shot, and every missile of war,
a general officer can lead his line over the battery, and af-
ter that, corning in contact with 5,00 Russian cavalry,
which was the force stationed beyond the Russian guns,
he could turn his horse round and wait for the eecend
line ? I think any gentlemen must see the folly of such
a supposition. (Loud cheers.) Well, ladies and gentle-
men, I had brought the attacking line up to that bat-
tery, they were there employed, some of them in cut-
ting down the guns—and, gentlemen, it was there that
the great loss of life took place. It was then, or imme-
diately afterwards, that many a gallant spirit departed
this life —it was there—(his lordship again had to pause
hero from the intensity of his feelings)—it was there that
such men as Hotham, and Goad, and Montgomery, of
the 13th Light Dragoons, of Winter, and Webb, and
Thompson, of the 17th Lancers—it was there that they
met their death ; it was there that White and Morris and
Sir W. Gordon were cut to the ground ; it was there
that one of my aides-de-camp was wounded, another
taken prisoner, and then, or some time late r, another
met his fate like the rest. I speak of Capt. Lockwood,
of the Bth Hussars, than whom there never was a more
gentlemanly, a more gallant young officer. (Cheers.)
This slaughter took place both amongst officers and men,
for the men gallantly followed their officers wherever
they went. At the same time in the supporting regi-
ments both Packer and Fitzgibbon, of the Bth Hussars,
C- rnet Houghton, of the 11th Hussars, and others whose
names lam afraid I can't recollect, were cut off. Well,
tgiluen gentlemen,sl:aodniin c lineoutnh
tteoof
advance,ac
f te of
the
eoabll t thear ultdifficulties
cetri
obstruction
wtgetting
there were for
riages, the limber carriages, and other mgiachcihnitnhaeeraly:uonnfg.tethaharei
sort offered—many did advance, and lost their lives ; and
whin, in 20 minutes from the time we had moved up to
the attack, passed over one mile of ground in going, and
the same in retiring, I drew up that remnant of the
Light Brigade, there remained but 195 out of the 670
men that went into action. The loss of life of officers,
noncommissioned officers, and men—those who were put
hors de combat either by death or wounds, or taken pri•
loners, was 298, and there were 397 horses put hors de
combat, and the whole of that occurred in the short space
of 25 minutes. Gentlemen, after this had taken place, I
proceeded to Lord Raglan to report the circumstances of
the charge, and his lordship expressed to me his marked
disapprobation of what had been done, stating that such
an attack was totally contrary to the principles of
warfare—that is, the attacking a battery in front with
cavalry. I have only to say on the subject that there
never was a more uncalled for attack, inasmuch as we had
seen this Russian battery with a large body of heavy ca
valry in its rear at least 20 minutes ; and when this attack
was ordered they were neither advancing nor retreating.
Ladies and gentlemen, I firmly believe that although the
attack was useless in itself, and, in fact, was almost the
destruction of the light cavalry brigade, the moral effect
it had upon the Russian army was of great importance
—at least, so I was informed by that groat general,
Lord Raglan, who bad ascertained the fact from a num
her of Russian deserters who were constantly corning in
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, again, be
tore I sit down, let me return my most heartfelt thankr
for the great honour you have conferred upon me. Be
lieve me, I shall preserve this sword and esteem it of tin
greatest value to the last day of my life. I shall always
ecall to memory the kind and generous manner it
which I have been received in the West Riding of York
shire and in the town of Leeds. I shall carry the swor.
along with me to the day of my death, as the mos
gratifying of al! things I possess —as that which
value the most. (Loud cheers, during which the noble
lord regained big seat.)

BRITISH EMPIRE MUTUAL FIRE
INSURANCE COMPANY.

The Annual Meeting of the members and shareholders
of this company was held: on Friday at the offices, 47,
Moorgate-street ; Mr. James Low, chairman of the com-
pany, presiding.
The advertisement convening the meeting having been
read from the London Gazette,
The CHAIRMAN said that the business of the day lay
quite in a nutshell. The report to be presented would
supply the history of the movements of the company
during the year, and show, that, although the amount of
business done was not so large as could be wished, tgere
had been a decided progress, and that the affairs of the
company were in a healthy and eatisfacterrstrite.
o)uld not but believe, however, that, bad thore bees
more z.lal on the part of the members, a far larger lanai
ber of policies might have been effected iAnd he ear.
nestly hoped that less apathy would be manifesW in the
year ensuing. It would require but'a very-little _effort,
he was satisfied, on the part.of any member, to secure
one more at least. Did they all feel as livtly an interest
in the progress of the society as some did, thty would
i.ot fail to commend it to the notice of alt with whom
.hey came in Contact ; and then, instead of increasing
the business by
a million a-year there was apparently no.
reason
whyitmi
might not ben.extended to five, or even ten
millions. (Hear.) Let the mutual principle on which the
society is founded only become thoroughly -known, and
it must of necessity commend itself to the judgment of
every one ; if for no 'other reason because it would be
felt to be a pocket question. He would-litittbe mem-
bers consider, moreover, that a much more' extended
business might be done by the machinery required to
transact the present ; and consequently that being a
mutual society they were deeply interested in canvassing
for insurers. The eighth yaarmf the-company's .exist-
ence had now been. romikly4rd Poxtrit wet -plc
tracethegiadual advancement effected from the first year
to the present time. The amount of business clone in
the first year might be stated, in round numbers, at
659,000/. ; the second year, 664,0001. ; the third,
731,0001. ; the fourth, 829,0001. ; the fifth, 940.0../. ;
the sixth, 1,295,00@1.; the seventh, 1,301,000/. ; and
the eighth, 1,332,000/. (Cheers.) The latter figures
represented the amount insured at the office this last
year ; and the steady progress made was surely a clear
and pleasing indication that the mutual principle is
pressing itself on the general mind of the community ;
and that the expectation might be safely cherished that
tie British Empire Mutual Company would attract to
itself every new year a larger number of members than
that which preceded it, (Hear) The report would
now be read.

Mr. F. CUTHBERTSON, Managing Director, accord-
ingly submitted the following document
" The directors have again the pleasure-of reporting
a steady increase in the business of the company, some-
what larger indeed than last year, and, according to the
Governmental returns, larger than that of the great ma-
jority of offices ; at the same time, the directors cannot
think it equal to what the mutual principle justly de-
served, and must again appeal to their insurers to re-
commend in their respective circles a company whose
fundamental principle ought to command a very large
business.

" The policies issued during the year were 2,840, in-
suring property to the amount of 1,382,5511., which ex•
ceeds the increase of last year by 19G policies (averaging
in amount 4001. each).

" The recciptA of the company from policies during
the year amounted to 14,470/. 11a. 2d., of which 6,7411.
16s. sd. was for duty to the Government, and T,7281.
14s. 9d. for premiums.
"For claims on losses which have occurred during the
year, the sum of 6,1181. 17s. 31. has been paid, as also
an additional sum of 3,914/. 6s. ld. carried for claims
in progress of settleme tat the last audit. It is gra-
tifying that the losses by fire this year, though
large, should be so much less than those of the excep-
tional year 1855, which was a severe one for nearly all
the offices.

"The directors, in consequence of the heavy losses
referred to during the last two years—though none of
them are such as any care on their part could have pre-
vented, and though the average of a series of years will,
of c curse, be very much less—have yet determined to
economise expenditure in every way which will not be
disadvantageous to the company itself ; and have, ac-
coniii,gly, reduced the interest received by themselves
on their large proportion of the guarantee fund from
seven to five per cent. The majority of the shareholders
have also cheerfully followed their example, and it is
confidently hoped that 'All will ultimately concur.
"Some of the members may have been perplexed by
observing in the Times' statistics on fire assurance, that
large sums as capital are assigned to the old offices, but
n )thing to ihe British Empire. It may be useful to re-
mind such persons that the large guarantee fund, at
call (subscribed for shit company), is a security to the
insurers, fully equal to that of the subscribed shares in
any proprietary office.

i‘theattetnia of the French offices to insure English
property without payment of duty and policy stamp
would, it was hoped, have opened the eyes of the Go-
vernment to the unjust nature of the duty levied, in
addition to the necessary charge for insurance on all
property exposed to damage by fire ; a tax on honesty
and prudence exo'usively, and a tax which the fully equal
amount of incombustible troperty in the kingdom es-
capes. They accordingly forwarded to the House of
Commons petitions, signed by about 17,000 of their
members and others ; but, though other offices joined in
similar efforts, the Chancellor
,of the Exchequer would
neither repeal the tax, nor reduce its exorbitant rate. It
is understood, however, that the members of the House
of Common., generally, are so convinced of the iniquity
of the tar, that it will be "One of the first repealed when
the expenses of the war have been discharged.
" Messy. Cutlibertson, Gould, and Freeman are the
retiring Directors ; Mr. Gould, however, was obliged,
by the state of his health, to resign soon after the last
public meeting. The other two Directors are eligible
for re-electian.

" By the election of Mr. Doxsey to the Directorate, a
vacancy occurred in the Auditorship ; Mr. Moore, who
announced himself a►t Vie last Annual Meeting as a can-
didate for the vacancy, in case of Mr. Doxsey's election,
was therefore requested to audit the accounts with the
remaining Auditor, and now offers himself as a candidate
for the vacancy. Mr. Pewtress retires by rotation from
the Auditorship, and is eligible for re-election.
Mr. Clowes having resigned the Secretaryship, in
consequence of a decided opinion that the business of
the Company would be best conducted by a Managing
Director, the Directors, concurring with his view, re-
quested one of their number, Mr. Cuthbertson, to accept
that office, and have every reason to be satisfied that
the arrangement will be advantageous to the Company,
and give confidence to the members.
The Directors will only further add, that their agents
throughout the country are increasingly efficient, and
they h.ve no doubt of obtaining during the present year
a large augmentation of business.

The Cllantsf AN felt much pleasure in moving the
adoption of the Report. The members would see that
the Directors had endeavoured, by every means in their
power, to discharge the duties devolving upon them as
effectually as possible. One method adopted for bene-
fiting the members was, to ask the guarantee share-
holders to consent to the reduction of interest from 7 to
5 per cent.,—a request that had been very generally
complied with. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, the
Directors had resolved to give up their own attendance-
fees for the present. (Hear, hear.) It had become evi-
dent, during the last few yeare, that fire assurance is
attended with a great deal of uncertainty ; the Illaim3
on some of the offices had been almost overwhelming ;
and his own opinion was, that the question would have
to be very carefully considered whether ad litional
premiums must not be demanded. He attributed very
many of the large fires that now took place to the c tre-
less use of lucifer matches and fusees. The British Em-
pire, happily, had not suffered such heavy losses as some
of the other offices; and these would have been still

lighter if a multitu le of small claims, amounting to only
a few shillings each, hal not been made, and certainly
ought not. The individuals making them derived but
scanty benefit, and yet, when the- e insignificant sums
were put together, they amounted to a considerable sum.
If persons thought of 0111.4 they would surely be prevented
from making such claims. After dwelling at a ime
length on the peculiar advantages and the prosperous
position of the Company, the Chairman concluded by
moving the adoption of the Report.
The Report was then unanimously adopted.
Mr. Cuthbertson and Mr. Freeman, the two retiring
Directors, were next re-elected to the Board by a unani
mons vote. Mr. Pewtress, the retiring Auditor, was
also re-elected scith the same unanimity ; and Mr. Moore
chosen as the second Auditor in the room of Mr. Doxsey,
who had been elected a Director at the last annual
meeting.
Mr. Mom returned thanks. He had been engaged
upon the last audit, and could safely say that he believed
the Company to be in a state quite as satisfactory as
could be expected. Every facility had been given them
to understand the real position of affairs ; and both
himself and his brother Auditor were not a little pleased
with the straightforward andiclear way in which the books
were kept. (Hear, hear.) Before resuming his seat,
he wished to have the pleasure to move the following
Resolution :
" That this meeting is gratified to bear of the steady
increase of the Company's business, and wishes to urge
upon all insurers the great importance of giving tht it
support to a Company founded on the principle of giving
to them the entire profits of their payments; and that
this meeting fully according in all that is stated in the
Report and Petition respecting the injuitice and im policy
of the Fire Insurance Duty, requests the Directors to
watch every opening for promoting its repeal, and con-
siders it to be the duty of all insurers to use their best
efforts for the abolition of such an uniust impost."
[his being a speech in itself, no speech was needed to
recommend it fur the adoption of the meeting. He
would only suggest, that if the Society had not made
' so much progress as could have bean wished, it was not
;he fault of the Directors, but of the members. He had
Ihimself brought in three or four policies this last year;
And hoped that all those interested in the Company'i-
welfare would seek to do the same during the year en-

icing.
Mr. WATSON, the solicitor, said that evidently the in-
crease to which Mr. Runtz (a previous speaker) referred,

was the increase upon the increase. (Hear, hear.) The
premiums of the last year were 6,6821. against 7,7281.
this year, so that the increase by premiumg was more by
1,1001. than the business of the previous 3 ear ; which
was a resul,, he confessed, that appeared himself per-
fectly astonishing, when one considered the difficulties
which such an office Lad to contend with in consequence
of the reckless competition going en among the various
Fire-offides of the day. If the great liis;es experienced
by the several coepanies during the la 4 few years
should continn—which, however, he dill :not,supposie
would be the case—then they must either rai e their
rates of premium, er give up bu-iuess. 0,0 institution
that he could name, with an income i f 10,000/ , 'had
been required to pay 24,0001. fur tie fire losses,
of the year ; whereas the losses of th,s Society had
not reached 75 per cent. Now, if the bu-inese could be
doubled during the ensuing year there would be quite
sufficient to pay all expenses and leave a profit, even sup-
posing the losses should continue at the eame ratio ;
but, unless all previous calculations failed, 50 per cent.
would certainly pay them. (Hear.) But, whatever
might be the course of events, the ample"guarantee capi-
tal of the company would insure the prompt payment of
all just claims. The Company, was in the peculiar
pAition ad:ending related to three others, which made
a point of systematically bringing business of the hest
sort to the offide, so that there was no fear of a constant
supply coming in. He had the fullest possible confidence
.in the stability and progress of the society. (Cheers.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. GROS= moved :
" That the thanks of this meeting be given to the
directors for their disinterested services in the manage.
ment of this company."
Mr. D. PRATT seconded the resolution. - •
The resolution was unanimously alopted.
Mr. CUTHBRRTSON, in a few earnest- words, solmow.
4-40 t1314Y*41,04F-bebAltfif hltaselfiencr Ur. Frieman:
Mt. JOHN THOMPSON then moved, and Mr. B. W.
WEBB seconded—

"That the thanks of this meeting are due, and are
hereby given, to the Chairman, for the able manner in
which he has conducted this meeting."
The resolution having been cJrdially adopted, the
Chairman made his acknowledgments, and the proce7d-
lags terminated.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EAST RENT.

The seventh half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders of this company was held on Saturday at the
London Tavern—Lord Sondes in the chair. The direc-
tors' report has been given by us.
The balance sheet of the company showed that a sum
of 193,787/. had been received on the capital account of
350,0001., of which sum 158,646/. bad been expended
in works, legal expenses, and other matters, the re-
mainder of the amount received being invested in loans
and securities, and lying as balance at the company's
bankers.

Lord SONDES, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the meeting on the improved prospects of
the company, and the near approach to the termina-
tion of the works in course of progress.

Sir J. TYLDRN seconded the motioa, and called atten-
tion to the fact of Lord Sondes having consented to re-
ceive the whole value of 30 acres of his land, required
for the purposes of the raii:vay. En shares of the com-
pany. On the part of the in .1' i4.ants of Dover an in-
creased amount of interest was felt in the progress of
the undertaking, more especially sinca the partial de-
struction of that portion of the South-Eastern line be-
tween Shakapere's Cliff and the D..ver station. The
directors hoped to be able to s•:cure a West-end termi-
nus for their line in London is the course of the next
scission.

In answer to a question put by 3 shareholder,
The CHAIRMAN said that ab )it 140, 0001. at present
remained due on arrears of eallg.

Mr. ALDMIDGII thought that. I t ch ease it was bad
policy for the directors to carnot); to working at both
ends of the line; they ought rathat t ► economise their
capital.
Mr. Camovrorr, C.E., in answer to several questions
put by shareholders, explained that Cie total number of
miles of railway comprised in the Ka stein system,
including the North Kent line, was 10, and the ave•
rage traffic was about 3,2001. per mile lir annum. This
average was, however, almost entirely sitt ained by the
enormous amount of traffic on the North K en tline ; the
traffic on these 30 miles from London-',ri lg e to Strood
averaging 7,4001. per mile per annum. roe East Kent
Railway, which was an extension of this li 11, c ommencing
by a junction with it at Strood, and p • g through
Rochester, Chatham, Sittingbourne, and Fa versham, to
Canterbury, and thence to Dover, that shortening the
distance to Canterbury, Ramsgate, by 1:1 miles, and
that to Dover by 12 miles—it was not too much to
anticipate that the traffic on the Eat; Kent line, of
which it was the continuation, espeolatZ a as it received
the whole of the Canterbury, Rarns4at And Margate,
as well as the through traffic from L, ► , • mid Roohes,
ter to Dover, and the continental tr :)esi•les being
supplied with a Sheerness branch by WI independent
company. Taking this estimate of 7,100/. on 46 miles
from Strood to Dover, they had for the whole traffic a
total of 340,0001., which, deducting 50 per cent, for
working expenses, left 170,200/. for dlvidend, above 14
per cent. on the capital of 1,200,0001. If they took,
however, the average traffic on the whole SlutlnEastern
system, considering that the company lost about
100,0001. per annum by unproductive branches, it was
certainly far below the minimum that migbt be expected
on the East Kent line.

lThe thanks of the meeting were voted to the noble
chairman and the directors, and the proceedings termi-
nated.

BAPSBURG vice CALCBA FT.

(Front Punch.)

Hanging, with which, not long ago, the public appeared
to have got nearly disgusted, seems of late to have in
some measure recovered its popularity, or rather its place
in the affections of the educated and governing classe=.
It is trfie that Celestina Somner escaped the gallows, but
did not. the Home Se2retary hang Martha Brown ! and
if the former's crime was one of the most cruel murders
on record, was not the offence of the letter mere man-
slaughter committed under the extenuating circum-
stances of extreme provocation ! FrJm one extreme the
Government will of oourse run into the other, and the
executioner, in that his office is no sinecure, will differ
even more widely than he now does from the Cathedral
Canon.

The increasing employment of filo gallows will pro-
bably prove a stimulus to the attainment of excellence
in the executioner's department of high art : and then,
as a necessary consequence, we shall have foreign ability
invited to compete with British talent. Application
will naturally be made to Germany ; but, we would
suggest, chiefly to that particular portion of Father.
land called Austria.

A letter has been written to a Genoese paper by
General Garibaldi, stating that poor Ciceruacchio, the
popu:ar orator of the modern Romans, and his two sons
boys ut.der age, together with four other persons, one of
them a chaplain, have been barbarously shot, in cold
blood, at Contarioa, near the mouth of the Po, by Aus
trian soldiers commanded by an officer of the Iroperia
family. Since, even if Ciceruaccbio had rendered him
self liable to be shot, his Holiness the Pape was the
only pesson legally qualified to shoot hi,r, this abomi-
nable act on the part of the Austrians, was an officious
exercise of the office of the finisher of the Papal law. It
shows them to be born with a natural turn for that
officer's vocation.
Besides, was not the reign of the present Emperor of
Austria inaugurated by hangings? It is r( markable, in
connection with this circumstance, that the officer in com-
mand of the Austrian soldiers who put to death Ciceruac-
chi.), his children, and the other persons whom they had
no right to meddle with, was a member of the Imperial
family. No doubt they all harg together.
If, therefore, foreign professors of the halter are to be
excouraged, like so many other foreign artists, to afford
this country the advantage of their ingenuity in their
own peculiar line, let application be made, in the first in-
stance, to the Austrian Government for the required assist-
ance. The status of the hangman will be improved
by the importation of Austiian competitors ; for the
office is evidently one of honour in the dominions of
Francis Joseph, and any other dominions occupied by
his gallant troops, who volunteer its performance,
and are, doubtless, as handy with the rope as they
are with the rifle. Perhaps his Majesty will send us that
distinguished member of his family who commanded the
gallant party, all volunteers perhaps, that executed those
above-mentioned subjects of the Pope on account of his
Holiness. We shall doubtless receive with all the hon-
ours due to his exalted rank and elevating pursuit that
amateur Imperial assistant of Under-Sheriffs, and
shall unanimously agree in nominating him Arch-
Jack-Ketch.

VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS IN THE
CIVIL SERVICE.—TheRoyaI Household :—A Chaplaincy
in Ordinary to the Queen has b. come vacant by the
death of the Rev. W. Cooper. Foreign Department :
The Consul-Generalship of Odessa and the Consul-Gene-
ralship of Warsaw are vacant, as well as several Con-
sulships and Vice-Consulships in the Russian empire.
Coast Guard :—Lieut. C. Hawkey has been appointed
to command the Dingle Station. Customs :—Mr. A.
M. D'Arcy, Extra Clerk, has bean appointed Clerk in
the Examiners Office, London ; Mr. W. Thompson ha,-
been promoted from Inspector of Gaugers to Landing
Surveyor at Liverpool; Mr. F. Wilkin,on has been
promoted from Second to First Class Searcher at Liver-
pool; Mr. C. Stower has been promoted from Third ti
Second Class Searcher at Liverpool ; Mr. J. Bennet'
has been promoted from Fourth to Third Class Searcher
at Liverpool ; Mr. R. W. Swayne has been promoted
from F►fth to Fourth Class Searcher at Liverpool ; Mr.
W. Findlay, Clerk. Montrose, has been promoted to b,
Second Cleric at Dundee. Ireland :—Mr. T. M. H
Jones has been appointed a Cadet in the Constabulary,
after a competitive exarainatiot.—Civil Service Gazette.