The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

DUBLIN, FEE. 26.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—Three per Cent. Consols, 91
Ditto for Account, 7th of March, 911 i—New Three per
Cent. Stock, 91} a—Ditto, for Account.; 7th March, 91
—Now Loan Scrip, 2 preen.—Mining Company of Ireland,
134—City of Dublin Steam Co., ss—Dublin and Glasgow
Steam Co., 39 ex d.—Great Southern and Western, 53i—
Bank Stock, 2.2o.t—Royal Bank of Ireland, 201 20 --
Midland Great Western and Royal Canal, halves, 24A—
Dublin and Enniskillen, 13i.

THE LLTE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY.—The nobility
and gentry of the county of Durham, out of regard to
the memory of the late gallant Marquis of Londonderry,
propose erecting a handsome monument to his memory.
The Duke of Cleveland is to preside over a preliminary
meeting at the end of the ensuing week.
The Marquis of Westminster came to town from
Arundel Castle, after attending the funeral of the late
Duke of Norfolk on Tuesday, and yesterday left Gros-
venor Hone, to join the marchioness and his family
c:rcle, at Motcomb House, near Shaftesbury.
THE CONSERVATIVE Ls ND SOCIETY.—With the return
of tie spring, the executive committee have resolved to
display renewed activity in the allotment of estate!.
The opportunity of acquiring the freehold franchise in
three counties, namely, south Esser, East Sussex, and
West Kent, and at the same time of securing an excel-
lent investment in popular localities, will be afforded on
Thursday, the 3d of April, that day having been fixed
to offer for division, in plots of various prices, the estates
at Maldon, in Essex, at Brighton, in Sussex, and Forest-
bill, in West Kent.
SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—The dividend
declared at the meeting of the Southampton Dock '
Company, held 'yesterday, was at the rate of 4is
per cent., making, with the previous payment, a
total of 4 per cent. for the year.

The LORD Mexott rose to give " The House of Lords,"
associating with the toast the name of Lord E'gin, upon
whom he pronounced a high panegyric fur his successful
administration of the government of Canada. (Drunk
with the usual honours.)
Lord ELGIN', in returning thanks, observed that it was
1 upon the good opinion of such assemblages as that which
he 1-aw around him, rather than on the strength of any
traditional rights and privileges, that the House of Lords
must rely for that moral influence which would enable
it to do its duty to the Crown iv.d the country in the
critical times that might be approaching. Having but lately
taken his teat in the House of Peers he was hardly en-
titled to pot himself forward as the exdonent of its gen-
thnentß ; yet, he had seen enough of the spirit that ani-
mated that august. assembly to be able to hay with con-
fidence that no movement of opinion in this country ( f
a truly national character would fail to find a powerful
echo in that body. Whether the rigidity of our heredi-
tary system was about to be relaxed, and some infusion
of the life-rent element to be introduced into it—and
whether such an infusion, if it should cccur, would really
do good or harm, were questions into which it would not
be proper then to enter ; but, whatever might happen,
one way or the other, on this subject, there was no doubt
that the House of Lords would continue to reflect with
tolerable fidelity, if not every transient impulse of po-
pular feeling, yet the deliberate and settled convictions
of the country. (Hear.) The noble lord then expressed
the gratification it afforded him to meet so many mem-
bers of the Canada Club on that occasion. From his long
official connection with Canada be could not but feel
peculiar interest in the rapid progress of that important
colony. Without pretending to say that every law that had
been passed by the Legislature within the last eight years
was unexceptionable in its character, or such as to com-
mand universal assent, still it might be affirmed that in
all that essentially concerned the recognition of popular
rights and the application of sound principles of political
economy and finance the labours of the local Parliament
of Canada within that period would compare favourably
with the acts of the legislative body of any other country
that could be named. (Cheers.) Yet if his voice could
reach his Canadian friends, he would implore them to re-
member that Englishmen were a practical people, and
'hat it rested with the provincial Parliament of Canada
to do more to advance the great cause of colonial self-
government by an example of the wise and moderate
exercise of their functions than could possibly be accom-
plished by any other instrumentality. (Hear.) Ho re-
joiced at the conjunction of the Canada Club and the
name of the American Minister in the speech of the Lord
Mayor, because he had always desired that our posses-
sion of the British provinces on the American continent
should be a bond of union, instead of a source of jea-
ousy or dissension between England and the Govern-
ment, of the United State'. • (Hear.) The principles of
free trade had been recently applied to the commerce be-
tween Canada ned the States ; and the result was, that
the amount of that commerce, according to the statement
of Mr. Buchanan, had since then been quintupled. By
uniting in an amicable rivalry of that description, Eog-
laud and America could do much to promote the cause
of civilisation throughout the world, and he trusted that
Mr. Buchanan would carry back to his countrymen his
invaluable testimony to the universal desire of the people
of the United Kingdom to continue upon the most
friendly and peaceful footing with them. (Cheers.) The
noble earl concluded by proposing " The Health of the
Lord Mayor."
The Loan MAYOR, having briefly returned thanks, gave
" Prosperity to the Trade of Bristol, Liverpool, Bir-
mingham, Newcastle, and Manchester."

The toast was acknowledged by Mr. H. BERKELEY,
Mr. EWART, Mr. MUNTZ, and Mr. HEADLAM reepec•
tively. In the unavoidable absence of the representa-
tives of Manchester,
Mr. R. COBDEN responded on behalf of the trade of
that city. The hon. gentleman remarked that there
was great appropriateness in connecting the name of
Manchester with a festivity to do honour to the Ameri-
can Minister. That city had contributed as much as
any town in the kingdom to our wealth and power as a
nation, and to our reputation in the eyes of the world ;
and it was almost as much an American city as it was
an English one. Its industry and that of the 1,500,000
of eircunijacent population depended on the regular
supply from America of that fibre about 25,000 bales
of which per week were required to afford them
employment and the means of subsistence. The United
States, on the other hand, lay under almost an
equal obligation to the producers of the country. The
news conveyed to New York by every steamer from
England was eagerly expected by thousands ; and if
those tidings spoke of prosperity here a thrill of sympa-
thy was awakened throughout the States as quickly as
the electric telegraph could speed its welcome message.
If the burden of the intelligence was disaster or gloom
in Europe, a corresponding feeling rapidly overhung
like a pall almost every town and village of the Union.
This was not a thing to be deplored ; it was, according
to his doctrines, rather to be rejoiced at. Tue interde-
pendence of different countries was God's own ordinal ee
—free "trade was the international law of the Almighty ;
arid, when he heard of impious threats and foolish bins-
er being interchanged between countries so intimately
slated and mutually dependent as England and America
be said, " What God has joined together let no man,
nor body of men, dare to put asunder." (Cheers.) It
was much to be regretted that Mr. Buchanan was not
there to witness the fervour with which every friendly
syllable uttered in regard to this country was echoed by
that great assembly. No rational man in England en-
couraged the exhibition of a spirit of menace or hostility
towards America. Their sentiments towards that great
country were those of friendship and admiration. This
be said in no spirit of servile adulation of our Transat-
lantic kinsfolk. We could not elevate their character
and power in the scale of nations without indirectly
claiming credit for ourselves. • America owed, and must
ever owe, her distinguishing characteristics to this coun-
try. No doubt she had her faults ; but, of all colonised
countries in the world, she was the one which had most
closely imitated the failings of the parent State, During

Copy of Royal Warrant appointing a Board of General
Officers to inquire into the statements contained in the
Report of Sir J. M`Neill and Cel. Tulloch, and the
Evidence upon which that Report was founded.
Victoria R.—Whereas by instructions issued by our
Secretary of State for the \Vor Dvartment, bearing date
the 19th day of Feb., 1855, Sir J. M`Neill and Col. Tel-
loch were directed to proceed to the Crimea, in order to
inquire into the whole arrangement and management of the
Commissariat Department, and to acquaint themselves with
the mode by which supplies of food, forage, and any other
articles were obtained for our army there, and also to exa-
mine carefully into the system of accounting, with a view
to its simplification : Aod whereas; by additional instruc-
tions issued by our said Secretary of State. bearing date
the 221 day of Feb , 1855, the said Sir J. 31`!`.Teill and
Col. Tullecli were further directed to make inquiries into
the alleged delay in unshipping and distributing the cloth-
ing and other stores supplied for the use of our said army :
And whereas the said Sir J. M`Neill and Col. Tulloch
made to our said Secretary of State two reports, the first
dated Constantinople, the 10th day of June, 1855, and the
second dated London, Jan., 1856 ; and the same have, by
our command, been laid before our two houses of Parlia-
ment, together with the evidence taken by the said Sir J.
M`lteill and Col. Tulloch : And whereas the conduct of
certain officers on our General Staff and others in our army
has been animadverted upon in the said reports and evi-
dence : And whereas the said officers have demanded a full
inquiry into their conduct : Now we, taking the whole mat-
ter into our consideration, and being desirous that the
truth should be made manifest, and that justice should be
done to all parties, think it necessary that an inquiry
should be made by the general officers hereinafter named
into the statements contained in these reports and evi-
dence affecting our officers. above referred to : Our will
and pleasure therefore is, and wo do hereby nominate and
appoint our right trusty and well-beloved John Baron Sea-
ton, General of our Forces, Knight Grand Cross of the
Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and Knight Grand
Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and
St. Geokge ; our trusty and well-heloved Sir Thomas
M•Malion, Bart., General of our Forces, Knight Com-
mander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath ; our
right trusty and well-heloyed cousin, Henry Beauchamp,
Earl Beauchamp, General of our Forces ; our trusty and
well-beloved Sir John Bell, Lieutenant-General of our
Forces, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Oraisr
of the Bath ; our trusty and well-beloved Sir William
Rowan, Lieutenant-General of our Forces, Knight Coy,-
matithr of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; our
trusty and well-beloved Jonathan Peel, Esq., Major-Gene-
ral of our Forces; our trusty and well-beloved William
Thomas Knollys, Esq., Major-General of our Forces, to be
a board, of which we further appoint John Baron Seaton
to be president, who aro to meet accordingly for the pur-
poses above-mentioned. And you are hereby required to
give notice, with as little delay as possible, to the said ge-
neral officers when and -whore they are to meet for the said
inquiry; and you are hereby directed to summon such per-
sons as may be judged necessary by the sail general officers
to give ieformation upon the said matters : And the said
general officers are hereby directed to hoar and examine
such persons touching the same; and they are further
hereby authorised, empowered, and required, after strict
examination into the matters before-mentioned, to make
a report thereon, together with their opinion, whether the
said officers of our army, above referred to, be or be not
responsible to any and what extent for the unsatisfactory
condition of our sail army, or any portion thereof, noticed
by Sir John M`Neill and Colonel Tulloch in their reports,
and the evidence thereunto attached : All which you are
to transmit to us through our Field-Marshal Commanding-
in-Chief, to be by him laid before us for our consideration ;
and for so doing, this shall be, as well to you as to our said
general officers, and all others concerned, a sufficient war-
rant.

Givon at our C )nrt at Buckingham Palace, this 25th clay
of February, 1.'156, in the 19th year of our age.—By her
Majesty's command.

(Signed) PANMURE
To the Judea-Alvneate-Gennral. nr hiz Deputy.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN', TUESDkY MORNING.

SLIGO ELECTION.

Mr. Huldlestone, of the Et4,-lish bar, has gone to
Sligo to solicit the votes of the Conservative electors cf
that borough. Not being a native his chance of election
is doubtful. Mr. Knox, however, it appears, has re•
signed iu his favour, declining to divide the Conserva-
tive interest in Sligo.
LIBEL.-2,0001. DAMAGES.
An action for libel was tried yesterday at the Wick-
low a.siz,is, in which the Rev. Hugh Prior was plaintiff,
and William Kinnealy, Esq., defendant. Damages were
laid at 5,000/. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff
for 2,0001., with 6d. costs.

The facts of the case are briefly these :--The plaintiff
is the rector of the important parish of St. Mary's,
Clonmel, and the defendant was the editor of a paper
called the Tippe,•ary Leader. The libel complained of
was most false and malignant, and impugned in the
most offensive manner the character of a minister of
the Established Church. The plaintiff when he cota
menced his duties as a clergyrinvi was connected with
the county of Wicklow. He subsequently became
the rector of Lucan, and was the dispenser of the
charities of many benevolent persons. Among those
he assisted were persons ut the name of Longworth
and a woman named Maria Longworth, stating that
sho was their sister, and in very destitute circum-
stance•, obt:►ined relief from the plaintiff. He was
recently appointed to the rectory of St. Mary's, Clon-
me!, and Maria Longworth, having annoyed his resi-
dence, was given by his servant into cibtody, and
imprisoned in Cioninel gaol. This was an illegal act,
and she having intended to bring an action for false
imprisonment it was compromised by the payment of
a sum of 61.

The first of the libels complained of appeared in
the Tipperary Leader as if from a correspondent, and
attributed to the plaintiff an improper intimacy with
" the buxom. Miss Longworth. Another article in-
sinuated that the plaintiff was the father of her child.
'rho Counsel. for the plaintiff dwelt upon the grievous
and injurious effects of these unfounded articles, and
called upon the jury to punish the cowardly libeller by
giving exemplary damages.
The Rev. Mr. Prior was examined, and in the most
express and positive terms denied that there was the
slightest foundation for the charges referred to in the
libels it. question. _ _

Mr. Johnston stated they were also prepared to prove
by several witnesses the abandoned character of the
woman named in the publication, and that she had stated
to several persons who wai the father of her child.

Mr. Lawson ad tressed the jury for the defendant,
stating that his client deeply regretted having been mis-
led by his correspondent into the assertion of charges
which be now felt were without any foundation. He bad
expressed his regret by tendering his apology in the
columns of the Tipperary Leader, a j,,urnal which the
jurors he addressed might have beard of, and the plain-
tiff would not have displayed less of Chri,tian forbear-
ance had he accepted the same apology offered to him.
The jury were not in estimating the damages to take
into account any attaeks made on the Protestant Church
or the early Reformers ; and although, when the facts
were ascertained, there existed no foundation for the
charges preferred by Maria Longworth ; yet, in the first
insta • ce, when her complaint was preferred before the
Mayor's C3urt, the case wore a different aspect.
The jury brought in a verdict for the plaintiff, with
2,0001. damages and 6d. costs.
It may be observed that the Tipperary Leader ceased
to exist shortly after the publication of the libels on the
Rev. Mr. Prior.