The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-29 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—The new morning sittings of the House
of Commons began yesterday, and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, when business was suspended at
7 o'clock, declared that the experiment had been
eminently successful. The independent members
who found it impossible, in spite of all the assist-
ance of Government officials, to make a house at
9, may perhaps dissent from this view of Mr.
Disraeli, but, so far as the progress of the Reform
Bill is concerned, there can be no doubt of the ac-
curacy of his statement. The work of Monday
night was taken up zealousy on Tuesday afternoon,
and if things go on as they have done in the last
two days members may even look forward to an
early prorogation. As far as the douse of Com-
mons is concerned, the franchise part of the bill is
settled. The committee yesterday commenced by
fixing the provisions under which those who are
converted from compound householders into rate-
payers shall at first be registered in spite of their
necessary failure to fulfil the ordinary condition of
residence as ratepayers 'which will be afterwards
required ; it-then proceeded to discuss and reject
Mr. Pouett Scrope's suggestion that no rates should
henceforth be levied on houses rated at £4 and
under—a suggestion involving the consequence
that the occupiers of such houses should not be-
come voters; and it finally discarded the " fancy
franchises" altogether. The dual vote had, as a
matter of form, to be eliminated from the bill,
and the consideration of part I. was thereupon
completed. It must be acknowledged that the de-
spatch shown yesterday afternoon was accomplished
by the summary excision of three clauses from the
bill, and the equally summary refusal to adopt Mr.
Poulett Scrope's proviso. This is an easy, if effec-
tual, way of getting rid of difficulties. The fran-
chises left are the ratepaying franchise and the
lodger franchise in boroughs, the £l2 rating fran-
chise and the reduced copyhold and leasehold pro-
perty franchises in counties. The first part of
the bill has thus been brought to a .condition
of greater simplicity," although it is, perhaps, open
to question whether the resolute desire of the
House of Commons to get through the work befo:e
it has not led it to reject additions to the bill which
might have been accepted had the time available
for discussion been unlimited. Mr. " Scrope, in
withdrawing his amendment, confessed that he had
been too late in urging it on the attention of the
committee, and probably this backwardness was the
reason for the failure of his suggestion. The objec-
tions to the proviso were, in fact, somewhat feeble.
Mr. Hibbert opposed it because it would disfran-
chise large numbers, and a proposition of disfran-
chisement ought not to come from the Liberal
benches ; but, even were the reason based on an
accurate representation of facts, it does not deserve
much regard when it is remembered that the edu-
cational and savings-bank franchises were also abate,:
doned because opposed by Liberal members. In
assumption was not borne out
the assumption
would occasion the dis-
iro. w
s• ecvf eor p, e
s h
franchisement attributed to it. The borough fran-
chise as finally settled is a franchise acquired by
tthruatthS however,
every ratepaying householder, and, as the Reform
Bill will not abolish poverty as well as compounders, ,
there will be householders enough who will fail to
satisfy the condition of being punctual ratepayers.
These defaulters will have to be excused, and the
question raised by Mr. Scrope was whether it were
better to excuse the poorest class altogether by a
Parliamentary enactment, or to leave a very im-
portant and delicate function, which may exercise
considerable influence on borough elections, to be
regulated by the discretion of overseers, controlled
by the slight supervision of borough magistrates.
The practical disfranchisement of numbers is
certain, and the dispute was by what machinery
it should be effected. We agree with Lord Cran-
.borne that it would have been better for Parlia-
ment to determine the line below which occupiers
should be excused the payment of rates. There
could be no question that the benefit of the remis-
sion would be reaped entirely by the occupier, and,
so far from the remission acting as an inducement
to build inferior cottages, it would really have made
it possible for builders to provide a better class of
tenements at low rents. Mr. Scrope showed by
statistics how little the adoption of his suggestion
would have affected the rates paid by other classes
of occupiers. The only reason of any weight against
the plan lay in the argument that it would have
affixed the characteristic of poverty to all the oc-
cupiers of the tenements exempted from Rating.
Unhappily, this poverty exists as a fact, and has
been recognised bysimilar exemptions in other direc-
tions, and it is now too late to put much stress on
the impropriety of recognising it once more.
The House of Commons, however, refused to ac-
cept the suggestion, and we can only hope that the
provisions for voting and the redistribution of seats
will be so ample and complete as to remove all
danger of the interference of election-agents on the
one hand, or of the capricious exercise of the ex-
cusing power by local authorities on the other.
Mr. Bright put forward a claim yesterday after-
noon to be regarded as the true author of the en-
franchising clauses of the Reform Bill ; but he will,
perhaps, allow that to Sir Roundell Palmer must
be attributed some of the merit, if merit it be, of
reducing them to their present simplicity. Sir
Roundell Palmer, who was supposed to have told
the electors of Richmond, when he was first intro-
duced to them, that he reserved, Complete indepen-
dence in joining a Liberal Government, was the first
convert to the prudence of going straight to House-
hold Suffrage, and yesterday he led the opposition
to the Educational and Pecuniary Franchises. The
history of these Franchises is sufficiently remarkable
as a striking illustration of the jealousy of anything
novel which animates the house of Commons even
in its most daring mood. Household Rating Suf-
frage members understand, because it, or something
like it, has .long existed in municipal elections ;
a Lodger Franchise is in the nature of an Occu-
pation Franchise, and so can, though with diffi-
culty, be accepted ; but to give a man a vote
because he is a graduate or has been admitted
to a learned profession is a suggestion so wholly
unprecedented as to be intolerable. It is true that
similar franchises were contained in former bills,
and have been approved by the leaders of all parties,
but there are times when the House of Commons is
too strong for its leaders. Sir Roundell Palmer
found a vigorous supporter in his opposition to these
innovations in Mr. Bouverie, who incarnated the
spirit of the House of Commons inn his strong de-
nunciation of all things new to the Constitution ;
and although Mr. Fawcett, as a University Pro-
fessor, entreated the Chancellor of the Exchequer
to persevere with the Educational franchises, the
latter gave way before what he aptly called the
" reactionary party" on the Opposition benches.
The Savings-back clause, " a clause of venerable
antiquity," was abandoned on similar compulsion ;
4nd Sir Roundell Palmer, looking forward to some
remote time when the Income-tax may be abolished,
WQUid not cTen allow the taxpaying franchise to be

es
theo nutbi
llup,
eruelte haved that
eu
enfranchised
ec
11
jai
retained.exl
uded
fromWsuetismtahnuys
persons who will not be entitled
to be registered on
other-grounds, and it is undoubtedly true, as'we
have before remarked, that the adoption' of the
lodger franchise has materially affected
the reason's
for maintaining them ; but it mu ,t be remembered
that they have been abandoned out of deference to
prej•idice rather than reason, and, we may almost
be permitted to say, throu'eli the influence of iemor-
ance..rather than of knowle lge. Oa Thursday the
Committee will attack the.second part of the Reform
Bill, and we cannot 'dissemble the difficulties they
will have to encounter, and which lie, indeed, on
the very threshold of their enterprise. Tlie first of
the redistribution clauses is that which proposes to
disfranchise Great Yarmouth and the other con-
victed boroughs ; and every subsequent chuse con-
tains proposals of disfranchisement, which must
occasion opposition, or of enfranchisement, which
will raise a crowd of. competitors for the privileges
of representation. There are further amendments
for altering the plan of conferring additional mem-
bers on populous constituencies, and for reforming
the method of voting itself. When the Chancellor
of the Exchequer brought in the Reform Bill he
more than half acknowledged the meagre character
of the scheme of redistribution is embodied, and
professed himself not unwilling to be encouraged
by the support of the house to greater efforts. We
trust the offer will be met,' and the implied promise
redeemed. The enfranchisement bestowed by the
' bill is ample and generous ; let the redistribution of
scats and the reform of our electoral machinery be
as bold and statesmanlike, and the bill of 1867 will
settle the problem of Reform for .aleisger time tha
(Rd its famous predecessor of 1832.
THE "WESTMINSTER GAzrrrE " ov 001 INTEL-
LECTUAL PROGRESS.—Next to the votaries of
Wealth, the worshippers of Intellect are undoubt-
edly the most numerous and most powerful body of
the upper classes of England at the present time.
In fact, atno period, probably, in the history of the
world, even from the ripest days of Athenian genius,
have men of intellectual power evinced greater
activity, wielded greater influence, or' obtained
higher consideration from their fellows, by reason
of their mental gifts. Indeed, it may be safely said
that Mind is now fighting on equal terms with
Money for public favour, and in no way cedes the
palm to its rival. But a few years ago—within
the memory almost of living men—first-rate talent,
combined with the widest learning and greatest
culture, was impotent to save its possessor from
absolute want. Those works which we have now
come to regard as masterpieces of literature, and
ornaments to our language, failed to procure for
their authors even the barest livelihood, or to aid
them over the temporary difficulties beneath the
pressure of which they not unfrequently produced
some of their best writings. But now we have
changed all that. Posterity has done what it
could to recognise the merits of those literati who
were neglected by their own generation, and we
are in danger of running to the opposite extreme
in the treatment of the authors of our day. Not
only do we now lavish abundant praise, together
with more substantial rewards, upon works of
undoubted power and merit in the higher ranks
Of literature, but fortunes are amassed and repu-
tations made by novels, and works of a like cha-
racter, whose literary worth is of a very dubious
kind. If any stronger proof were wanting of the
great change of attitude wrought in our generation
towards the professors of Intellect, nothing could
more clearly show the power they have acquired
than their ready admission within the body of
our national Legislature, to which formerly only
unbounded wealth and personal influence opened
the way. In fact, from being almost a stigma
of contempt, literature—the outward manifesta-
tion of intellectual activity—has come to be a
lever by Which a man may raise himself to the
highest places of emolument and honour, and
acquire an immense influence over a vast num-
ber of his fellow-creatures. It may be well, per-
haps, to look for a moment how the change has
been made, and what is its practical tendency.
The difference we have pointed out in the present
position of mental power, as compared with a few
years past, is, of course, due to the great change
effected in the intellectual state of the bulk of
the people. When, at the close of last century,
we came out of the struggles in which ive had been
;gloriously engaged on behalf of the freedom of
'Europe, the nation settled down to what has since
proved to be a period of comparatively unbroken
quiet, and was thus enabled to divert its energies to
internal improvement, and the prosecution of the
arts of peace. The wonderful scientific discoveries
brought to light during this time, and the steady
and gradual enlightenment which broke upon a
multiplicity of subjects, served to fix firmly upon
the mind the doctrine of the proverb which teaches
that 4, knowledge is power." Impressed with this
notion, many began to see that we had been too
long in a state of ignorance, and that if we were
to do any good—if England were to acquire power,
its people must be placed in a position to gain
that essential preliminary to power—knowledge.
The cry once raised, and the tide of opinion fairly
turned, as is generally the case. in such matters,
the reaction of public feeling was sudden and
rapid. Educate, educate, became the watchword,
which still resounds on all sides of us. Education
was to prove the panacea for all evils. Teach the
people to read and write, it was said, and they will
be thoroughly regenerated; they will abandon
all their vices and will become virtuous and orderly.
Beneath the influence of this movement, there have
been established in the last few years, partly at the
expense .of the State, National Schools, throughout
the length and breadth of the land, for the educa-
tion of the poorer classes. Municipal money and
that private patronage for which England is so
remarkable, have been exerted, and we have seen
mechanics' institutes, public libraries, and schools
for the arts and sciences, spring up numerously
around us, and learning of every branch has been
thus placed within the reach of all. In addition
to this, there has grown up, with our increased
commerce and prosperity, 'a wealthy and numer-
ous middle-class, whose money has enabled them
to proiide for their children a better and more
complete mental training than that given to our
working-classes. Still further to help on the course
of knowledge, we have thrown open many branches
of the public service to competition, by which
method we profess to bestow upon the fittest
of our youths appointments in the executive de-
partments of the Government, formerly supposed
to fall by patronage to very inefficient ser-
vants. And we have set on foot all over the
country, in connection with the universities,
public examinations under very attractive con-
ditions, which may be considered no mean incen-
tive in the same direction. It is by the impetus
thus given to the acquisition of learning, rendering
it as it were a sine qua 71011 for success in life, that
we have completely reversed the position formerly
held by the professors of Intellect. We have created
a remunerative demand for their services, greater
almost than can be supplied, which has brought
them from a state of want and obscurity to one of
affluence and honour. But what has been the result
of this eager quest of knowledge, and in what man-
ner have our intellectual men employed the influ-
ence so unexpectedly put into their hands? Some
eager interlocutor immediately replies : Look at
the intelligence which is now manifested i▪ n every
direction. See how our libraries are constantly
besieged by readers of every class. Note the
penny papers, which are scattered broadcast over
the country eYery day by the hundred thousand,
and let these facts bear testlinony to the liv▪
ely in-
terest now manifested in general literature and
'Where else
the affairs of the world at large.
than in Protestant England do you see displayed
a like mental activity to that which is proYed, be-
yowl doubt, to exist amongst , us by the wondrous
What an
development of our public press .
im-
mense advance, in fact, have we not made upon
the old state of things ! At first sight this lan-
guage sounds very unanswerable and convincing.
But let us look for one moment at the literature
so eagerly devoured by this improved and enlight-
ened generation. With regard to their interest in
general literature what are the facts? Is it not
undeniably true that the chief call upon the libra-
ries is for the productions of the Braitlons and
I\roods of the day, not to mention the minor mem-
bers of the same branch of the craft, to the true
influence and tendency of whose 'works no discern-
ing person' can be blind ? Yet the tone of decided
immorality, more or less deep, which pervades our
novels, is less pernicious. and less enduring thanimfind the
terrible spirit of Atheism which inspires e _
gradually -
ous portion of our literature, and is
ing its way into the pages of popular fiction. The
f every shade
' speculations and conjectures of mien o
r and, in fact,
f those infidelity are eagerly sought ose who call
form the staple mental food of
Neither are
themselves the educated classes.
dreams of their idols
such content that the wild.
the sphere of their
should be confined withui.
of the most dan-
gerousown society. Cheap editions.
ofirreligion.
to
works carry the poison
educated people of the
the poorer and less . _
well perform the task for
country, and only too

which they are designed. The productions of
Paine, of Colenso, of Ronan, are now to he found
in the hands of nearly all who can read, but who
have not the necessary knowledge to detect the
danger latent behind the display of intellectual fire-
works by which their mental vision is dazzled and
confused. Left to the resources of their own feeble
reason—enfeebled by the very fact of the mere
smattering of secular learning given them—they
are easily enmeshed in the snares laid for them. Do
we turn from this view of the matter to the field of
journalism, the result is the same—perhaps worse.
It is the province of journalism to guile the in-
tellect of the country—to direct the mind of the
multitude to a proper appreciation of matters of
public well-being and morality ; and no one who
is in the habit of coming in contact with all classes
of people—from the rich to- the poor—can fail to
see how effectively each is guided by its own special
organ. It would be well for the nation, indeed, if
such a powerful influence as journalism is every-
where acknowledged to be were consistently and
universally exerted amongst us on the side of jus-
tice and virtue. Far from this, however, being
the case, the majority of our papers are devoted to
the dissemination of revolutionary and destructive
doctrines. The indefeasible rights of sovereigns,
whose claims date back for ages, are ignored, and
their subjects openly exhorted to rebellion. The
safeguards of religion are ruthlessly attacked by
these public prints, and the deep-seated convic-
tions and inalienable beliefs of millions of fellow-
creatures—amongst whom are thousands whose in-
telligence and honesty do not admit of doubt—are
publicly scorned and ridiculed. In point of 'nor-

notlaipz_za.a-1,9 W4141 .04;-4,
dilation given—and that by the cheapest part -of
the press— to the revolting reports of some of
our public courts: Indeed, on reading the ac-
counts of many of these cases, given with such
fulness. of detail, an impartial person would not
hesitate to say that they were specially prepared to
appeal to the degraded passions of the lowest stra-
tum of society. Stich, in brief, is the way in which
English journalism too often acquits itself of its
responsibilities! It is the custom to compare the
• intellectual con4ition of the past generation with
that of our day—much, of course, to the advantage
of our own times. We have- certainly taught the
masses to read and write ; and, having thus ren-
dered them susceptible of mental impressions, we
have handed them over helpless to the purveyors
of infidelity and the writers of sensation novels.
Our youth is not educated. We cram them with
crude figures and facts,---of abiding principles, but
which should guide them to the choice of what is
good and true, and enable them to reject what is
false and vicious, we have taught them nothing.
Looking to the results which may be seen around
us, one may be permitted to doubt if, after all, our
ignorant ancestors are so much to be pitied ! Yet
the deplorable state of irreligion, to which our in-
tellectual progress is rapidly hurrying the nation,
is only the natural outcome of our false system
of education. Instead of bringing in religion to
control and direct the advance of intelligence, it
is the aim of modern science to keep them separate
and independent--and even to render them antago-
nistic. The antagonisms resulting between the hy-
potheses of science and the doctrines of religion
are strongly insisted upon, and made to tell with
destructive effect upon the pliant and suscep-
tible minds of their pupils by the Atheistic pro-
fessors who lead in the van of learning; and the
result is what we now see—the elevation of In-
tellect, in the esteem of men, to the place of God.
The tide of infidelity is rising rapidly around us,
and the only foundation yet unsapped by its
action—the only barrier capable of resisting its
advance—is the Rock of the Church, whose
strength and numbers are steadily increasing as
the crisis becomes more imminent.

Banquet at the Mansion-house.

- .0.-

Last evening the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress
entertained her Majesty's Judges, many of the more
prominent members of the Bar, members of Parlia-
ment, the Court of Aldermen, Sheriffs of Loudon,
the metropolitan magistrates, and others at dinner at
the Mansion-house. The banquet Was one of the
customary series given in every mayoralty, and was
served 'as .usual in the Egyptian-hall. The guests
were about 250 in number, and were received by the
Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress in the principal
saloon. There were present, among others, Lord
Chief Justice and Lady Bovill, Lord Justice and
Lady Turner, Vice-Chancellor Wood and Lady
W ood, Vice-Chancellor and Lady Malins, Mr. Baron
and Lady Martin, Mr. Baron and Miss Bramwell,
Mr. Justice and Miss Shee, Mr. Justice and Lady
Smith, Mr. Justice and Lady Lush, Sir William and
Lady Erie, the Judge-Advocate-General and Miss
Mowbray, the Queen's Advocate and Lady Philli-
more, &c.
On the removal of the cloth the Lord Mayor and
Lady Mayoress drank to the guests in a " loving
cup." The usual loyal toasts were then given in sue-
cessionfrom the chair, and drank with all the custo-
mary respect. The toasts of " The Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," proposed by the Lord Mayor, Lieut.-
Gen. Sir G. Lawrence, Vice-Admiral Robinson, and
Lieut.-Col. Hawkshaw, C.E., respectively replied.
The LORD MAYOR next gave the toast of " The
Equity and Common Law Judges," referring in
eloquent terms to the righteous and impartial admi-
nistration of the law which distinguishes the times
in which we live.
Chief Justice BovILL, whose name had been
associated with the toast, acknowledged the high
compliment paid to bei Majesty's Judges.
They had, he said, ever received there, as in
every assembly of Englishmen, that tribute which
their predecessors in forsier times deserved. They
were honoured that evening with the company of a
distinguished man, in whose footsteps he himself
humbly endeavoured to tread (referring to Sir Wm.
Erle, the mention of whose name was enthusiasti-
cally cheered). He remarked in passing that there
was no post on the English Bench which was not
open to any man in this country who devoted him-
self with assiduity to the study and practice of the
law, and he alluded in grateful terms to the encou-
ragement and assistance which its younger practi-
tioners had received from the corporation of London.
Mr. ROEBUCK, M.P., who in rising was loudly
cheered, responded to the toast of "The House of
Commons," with which his name had been con-
nected by the Lord Mayor. He felt, he said, how
inadequate he was to speak for that great body
of which he was a member. A mighty theme, he
said, required a mighty advocate, mid a mighty
theme the House of Commons was, though it was
now the habit to speak of that assembly in dis
paraging terms. Men eager to be in office cried
down the House of Commons, forgetting how much
the people of England owed to the institution.
It was, .in fact, the oldest representative assembly
in the world, and, he believed, the greatest. It re-
presented the intelligence, the feelings, the habits,
and the wishes of the English people, and it had re-
sponded to them, not altogether throughout its ex-
istence, but certainly of late years it had placed this
country in a poltion which every other country was
bound to envy. , Look, he said, at our law and our
liberty. In every station of life a man could ex-
press what he thought, and in expressing what be
thought he was in no danger. Bearing all that in
mind, he wanted to know what the House of Com-
mons could do ? It bad been said, and said tru!y,
that there were parties in the country who were
not represented. Look at the present house of
Commons. Did it not respond to the cal
there not now before the House of Commons. a bid
more liberal than ever Lilicrsils,i,,lvid conceived ?
(Loud cheers.) terrify some;
That bill sharlotvi forth a state
of things which would proba iy
but be was convinced that under it. we should
have a House of CO:111.11011S entirely epresentin g
the best.portion of thetpeople of England. (Cheers. )•
110 laboured, and he took to
For that he himself
himself no small glory for .aiding-,those who had
compelled that state of things—for compulsion it
was, disagreeable though ft rai,ght be: The people
they would, soabilit far as
of England might now do
regarded the exercise of every inan,sy and
wealth, so long as they hurt
his power of acquiring
nobody. To that point the House of Commons
had brought them, and for the House of Commons
he returned thanks. (Cheers )
appropriate to the °wagon,
-Souie other toasts,

MA.NCIIESTER, Mly 28.—1 n ).
ship•lAn ~ -aru
have had a steady market to-day, and fairbs u 4"
we
so
ness has been done at full prices. There are
very large orders in the market, which could be
ine
placed if spinners woull aleept rather lower offers,
but this branch of the market closes rather firm,
home trade yarns the market is steady. It In
numbers a moderate business has beendtone. coarse.
counts are steady, but not in much demand. Cloth
timellizivterrapcolool
and
cotton :
h foreign
ent arrelue tanrtlkt aettinigB
rfoarthebrodth heatrere, h
remained firm, notwithstanding
com-
mercial disasters. Manufacturers are well under
contract; though not doing much business
to-
day they adhere with much firmness to their q
tations. The principal of the orders for clothuoit:
the hands of manufacturers are for India, mer-
chants in the home trade continuing to ope- -
The shipping returns for India
rate sparingly.
are expected to show enormous consignments,
aad there might be fears that the trade
would be overdone, but that it is known from the
large influx of wealth to that country for cotton,
and the extension of yailways ther-. roqua.,for_n___
gretrdevelopment of are—U.loTh t ettie're. Messrs.
John Slagg and Co. report :—Since Tuesday last
prices have slightly hardened, and during the week
a.n ousiderable business has been done. Manufac-
turera,being now well engaged refuse further order s
at the current rates of to-day.
CARDIFF, 27.—There is more business doing in
the steam coal trade ; still the demand is far below
the capabilities of the eollieries, and below what it
was at the corresponding periOd of last year. The
removal of the war cloud will, it is believed, lead to
additional purchases on continental account. In
the inquiry from the mail packet companies there is
no alteration to note. The communication between
the Taff Vale Railway and the East Dock has been
completed, and that company will in future be able
to convey coal direct to the East Dock without going
over the Rhymney. There is a moderate coasting
sale for house qualities, but merchants experience a
good deal of keen competition, and prices are by no
means uniform. Freights continue low to both
home and foreign stations. There are slight indica-
tions of better times at the iron works, but the long
desired improvement will necessarily be a slow one,
owing to the utter prostration of many branches of
industry which are intimately connected with the
iron trade. Purchases of pigs are made with greater
freedom on the part of buyers, and the market indi-
cates an improving tendency. Tin plates dull.
LEEDS, 28.—There was no feature of change ob-
servable in the aspect of the woollen cloth markets
here to-day. The attendance of buyers was not
large, and there was no great disposition to purchase
beyond small selections of goods to complete orders
on hand or to fill up assorted stocks. The slight
improvement which was noticeable last week has
certainly not increased so far as the home trade is
concerned, but, on the contrary, it has rather fallen
off. The comparatively cold and ungenial nature
of the weather keeps the summer goods trade from
expanding; and until the retailers' shelves are cleared
of some of their present stocks, the purchase of
autumn goods by merchants will remain quiet. The
foreign trade, taken as a whole, is getting a little
more active than we lately had to report it, yet it is
far from being brisk. There is no change is the
prices of wool, woollen yarns, or goods ; but, con-
sequent on the quotations for colonial wools at the
sales now going on the metropolis, the local wool
markets have a lowering rather than a hardening

tendency.
ROCHDALE, 27.—The fl tuna market to-day
has shown little animation. The attendance of
buyers was less than last week, and they purchased
sparingly. The best demand was experienced for
fancy flannels,
for which a moderate amount of
orders were received in addition to the stock bought
for immediate 'delivery. The demand for Yorkshire
goods keeps quiet, but prices are steady. There
was not much done in wools to-day. The lowered
currency of the present series of colonial wool sales
in London causes a somewhat depressing feeling
here, and has the effect of restricting orders for goods
as well as the sales of wools. There was, however,
no noticeable change in the price of wool in this
market to-day.,

United Kingdom Band of Hope Union.

The twelfth annual meeting of the United King-
dom Band of flope Union took place last evening
at Exeter Hall ; Mr. Samuel Morley presided, and
amongst others on the platform were—the Rev.
John Guttridge, the Rev. L. D. Bevan, LL.D.,
the Rev. B. W. Backe, M.A., Rev. Newman Hall,
LL.D., and Joseph Payne, Esq. The proceedings
having been opened with prayer, the Secretary read
the report of the past year, from which it appeared
that a large number of bands of hope have been esta-
blished in different parts of the country; that juve-
nile intemperance was on the increase; and nowhere,
perhaps, is this more strongly manifested than at the
east-end of London. In one district of Whitechapel
there are 635 houses, peopled by 7,496 persons; there
are 1,780 children, 1,350 of whom do not attend any
school. In the same district there are 21 houses open
for drinking purposes; in another district, about a
quarter of a mile square, there are 6,165 houses,
25,000 families, and nearly 70,000 individuals; and
in one street alone in this district there are no less
than 24 houses licensed to sell intoxicating drinks.
The demand for the various publications of tho
union continues on the increase. The finances of
the union do not show the pecuniary support that
might be rendered to so deserving an object, nor do
the committee think it has ever been supported to
the extent to which it may fairly lay claim ; and
they, therefore, earnestly urge the claims of the
Baud of llope movement on all who are interested
in the moral and religious welfare of the young.
The income of the past year amounted to £942 4s
9,1, and the expenditure was £966 9s sd. The
Chairman moved the adoption of the report in au
appropriate speech, and the meeting was afterwards
addressed by several of the above-named gentle-
men. During the evening the children, of whom
there were about 600, sang a series of pieces very
well indeed.

IMPORTANT CAUTION.—The unpre:edented 5 retVCB5 of
Rowlands' Macassar Oil during the last half century in pro-
moting the growth, restoring, and boautitying the hinntu
hair, has caused imitators to spring, up in every, possible
variety ; some so far copy the is as frequently to de :dive
the unwa; y i some O'er to dispose of Ine recipe of A Macas-
sar Oil (omitting Rowlands' name). with other recipt s of a
similar character for a few postagq• stimps, whilst otho rs
preleas to maottlaJore the re il (?) article at a consideraWy
reduce I price, if the pub!ie will only purchase i-. Indee I,
the n.,,, of these w•cte,lie.l purloiner
ull lifrofom r
nr.re than
ch7ap and
troliy receipt book; Is - Legion," VI 1
and 1.1 traA.sate to sole.
usual care en the p ;11, of the purchasers in their selection of
arts. lea fir ilv tol7et. alussrs. Rowlat,ds have complain s
repehted y from pa; ti:o; who have materialiy suffered It'
the use of these trital:y cAnpoonde ;
extent such Imposition% putchasora s/i,,,thi sea ti
tat IDAtt -
lands' n lute is on the wrapper of each b otle. t!
'fur ToOTII OF A MA MMOTR. A large fossil
lump of the lower maxillary of a mammoth has been
stonc.tvating some dis-
covered in Nottingham. A labourer,ex hauled E ;win (lox,
was at work in St. Michael-street,
liavin
surprised hint. sand-
stone rock, when he esaumr
g picked it up
hhicaanlaSedociet •
e-like piece of cub-
stance which greatly
thielepvutotittinasgiitilaei,nanrdblittowsoaps
been examined with much interest.
wornseriebsyof over to the members of
The centre of the
greatlyof the constant mastication, but the
3, by whom it has
senamellitrestulnpis grinders are very bright and
clear. The tooth was found in the sand drift Bft. Gin
below the surface ; it weighs about 411 b, and would form
museum
a creditable addition to anyin the kingdom.
By news from Melbourne, April 27, we learn that
the Legislature and the public of Victoria unani-
mously condemn the art •
angements agreed upon at
the Were 1 'ow o al,Poatal Conference. . .-...

- _

_
OCIETY OF ARTS. —ln consequence of the
S
DEA t'll of t'ir TIIO3IAS PRILLII•S,
16 EVEN-
Chairman of
the Council, the 3I1:E1'1 NG announced tor T 11
ING, the 29th inst., WILL NOT TAKE PLACX.
By order.
I'. LE NEVE FOSTER, E ceretary.
Society's Home. Adelphi, W.C., Say 27, 1607.

COT—ROYAL
S ASCOT.—
.4."1 CALLAGHAN'S RACE GLASSES, 23A, New
Bond-street, W., corner of Conduit-street.
N.B.—Sole Agent to Voigtlituder, Vienna.

This day, No. 3, Price 6d.,-of
W.CHOES FROM. THE CLUBS !—Contains
.1:A —rite riince of Wales in the Uerby
,nolueror—llippia, another " Hoax"—Epsom Settling
Doti—Club Ethics—Bis-notrk and B ales—Club Lyrics, NO.
3, St. James'] —The Ladi,s' Day in the " liouse"—Our
" .A.thenteum" and " G „Last"— Shaving in
(;,crick Leado•rs—Proposed Hard-
a.od-Fast-Line Club—The Premier's
Navy—FAl of a Favourite—Our New Iht. lion. "J. 8."
—Change fur Guinness-Gold—lichees from Forgotten
Clubs, &A:.
OFFICES-19, CATHERINE-STREET, STRAND, W.C.
Sold at all Pooksollurs', News-agents', and Railway
Stations.

rIiVEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Sole L!,4see and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton.
TIIIS NVENING-, TuAT RASCAL. JACK. M,Fers. J.
It.olp.e, J. Neville, C. `winner; Mesdames B. Aleync, C.
Thompson.
To conclude icith T IIF. G REAT CITY. Messrs. C. are-,
Wn
F. 111orton, J. Fitzjame. C. llare.mrt, F Vi hers, J. C.
M'lntyre, J. Rome, J. Irvin;;, J B. Johnstone ;
Mew: antes 1.1. Robertson
i G
It. . Le Thicre, C. Thompson.
Contnence at :3( ven.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET,
Sole Lessee and Manager. Mr. Buckst ,ne.
Tills EVENING, DEAF AS A rust Mr. Compton.
To be followed by A WILD GOOSE. Messrs. Sothern,
But lEstone, liOgel'A. Gordon, White, Vincent, Weattiersby,
&c.; I....stlittnes Burke, llill, Chippendale, Laws, Sidney, &e.
To Gonetude with PaIFECTITS. sir. Kendal and .lliss
Burke.

-_____
mated that he had thought they had turned , me
corner in the awkward task
Bill iof gettinto the Hot Iseng throe gh
the introduction of a Reform
of Commons. We believe that of the two It tr.
GLADSTONE is more really
hemeaversnt e tfriend ; o the measur
but lase 41tF1
Government than his ve ll
night both the one and the other complimented thus
Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the success of Ma.
scheme. The right hon. gentleman may well.
plume himself upon these acknowledgments, tardy-
though they may be, and intermixed with sarca, ,
if not censure of some parts of the bill. After the
very unfitting manner in which Mr. BRIGHT has
often expressed himself, it is a welcome change to
find him giving utterance to expressions of a con-
trary nature. After giving some advice to those on
the Ministerial benches, which was received with
shouts of laughter, he concluded by addressing him-
self to Mr. DISRAELI in earnest and eloquent terms.
"I say thatl accept, most heartily and cordially, the
proposition for the borough franchise offered by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported by hon.
gentlemen opposite. I believe it will be found
hereafter a great and good thing for the
country, and I, who probably have given more
time and attention to the question than
any other man in the House, may at
least be allowed to thank the right hon. gentleman
from my heart for the conclusion at which he has
been able to arrive." While we recognise the frank-
ness with which Mr. BRIGHT has admitted the libe-
rality of the Government scheme, we venture to
point out that his own language last night shows
the mistakes that all may fall into by taking too
extreme a view of any question.
Mr. GLADSTONE also accorded his tribute of
praise to the Government measure, declaring
that, looking at it as a whole, he could not
for a moment hesitate to say "that it conferred
a large, liberal, and an equal enfranchisement
upon large masses of his fellow-countrymen who
were perfectly qualified, in his belief, for a wise
and honest exercise of the franchise." No doubt
it was harder for Mr. GLADSTONE than for Mr.
BRIGHT to arrive at this conclusion, because he has
perpetually in his mind the irritation and annoy-
ance arising from the failings of last year; but we
are glad to find the statesman triumphing over the
disappointed politician, and to see the right hon.
gentleman leave, what he has himself styled,
the " warm and sharp contests" in the
bill to discuss the general principles and
of the measure." As for the fuss which was made
about consistency it is a very idle argtnent to resort
to, and in truth the inconsistency is more in vision
than in reality. It is not surprising that those who
have been dilatory for years upon the stubbornness
of the Conservatives and their unwillingness to do
anything for the good of the people should feel
suspicious at their prophecies turning out false,
but if they had not exaggerated so much
there would have been no such discrepancy to
notice. There was much in the Bill of 1858,
too, that might have been made satisfactory
and profitable to the community, but no doubt the
measure of 1867 is better, but the thanks of the
community are not due to those who persistently
opposed the former scheme, for they run the risk of
preventing Reform being settled for this generation,
or at any rate settled in a satisfactory manner.
Mr. DISRAELI was very successful in showing
that his party had not been opposed to Reform in
itself, but they bad disapproved of the imperfect,
crude, and uncertain plan of last year. Mr.
BRIGHT, as he said, had claimed the right of
changing his own opinions in the space of
three months, while he &rile.] them the
privilege of altering a few particulars during the
lapse of ten years. It is perfectly true, as the right
lion. gentleman declared, that neither he nor his
colleagues ever said there was no necessity, for
the introduction of a measure of Parliamentary
Reform ; but the hon. member for Birmingham
seeks to arrogate to himself the privilege of origin-
ality upon all questions of political power, and is
therefore necessarily captious and critical when
others presume to interfere in the matter. On Thurs-
day the Committee will have hard work enough
upon their hands, for they must then address them-
selves to the second part of the bill, and that relates
to the redistribution clauses. The disfranchising
propositions will, it is needless to say, give rise to
much opposition, good, bad, and indifferent, as the
case may be. Through all the difficulties that lie
before it, however, the committee may steer with
safety unto success if they only persevere in the
spirit with which they have begun. The Govern-
ment, we are convince I, will make no fruitless ob-
jection to any reasonable proposition, and the
sense of the House has already plainly decided that
they must be supported in their endeavour to bring
this question to a settlement. We have sympa-
thised with the position of the Ministry, while they
wore apparently far from realising their expecta-
tions, and hence we may well rejoice now that they
seem to have got through the worst of the toils of
the wilderness, and to behold t'e land of promise if
still from afar at least with distinctness.

There seems to be little doubt, according to the
intelligence brought by the Atlantic Telegraph, that
the unfortunate Emperor of MExico has actually
falle,n into the hands of his enemies. A telegram,
dated New York, May 27, evening, affirms that
his capture was positively announced in that city,
and the information was so precise as to give the
very date on which the capture was effected—the
loth of May. MAXIMILIAN himself, MEJIA, and
MIRAMON were said to be prisoners, and a telegram
of still-later date—ycsterJay evening at six--affirms
that JUAREZ has ordered the EMPEROR to be shot.
We may hope that this intelligence is not altogether
reliable. Rumours and reports of all kinds are cer-
tain to be flying about under such exciting circum-
stances, and the statement does not bear an official
character, being merely published in one of the
journals. The news which we receive from America
by the mail states that JUAREZ assured the mes-
senger sent by Mr. SEWARD that MAXIMILIAN'S
lite should be spared if he were captured, and un-
less the EMPEROR were killed in the struggle, it
seems unlikely that JUAREZ would be rash enough
to risk offending the Americans for the sake of
.de-
stroying an antagonist who is no longer formidable.
The Americans have stood staunchly to the side of
JUAREZ, and have been powerful agents in his
temporary triumph.• They have refused to recog-
nise any other ruler in Mexico, and have brought
the whole weight of their influence and authority
to bear in his favour. Whether they will exert
themselves still further in his behalf is at present
uncertain, acrd the cinditim of Mexico does not
afford much ground for the belief or expectation
that the Liberal leader will be able to
restore order and tranquil ity alone and unaided.
As soon as MAxIstrLIAN is disposed of a
dozen other claimants to the thorny dignity of
Mexican sovereignty. will be certain to spring up,
and ORTEGA is already a formidable rival. Much
depends on the attitude assumed by the United
States, and JUAREZ can hardly afford to slight a
special revest on the part of their Government.
The capture of the unfortunate PRINCE is greatly
to be regretted, tholgh it could scarcely have been
averted. From a mistaken ilea ot. Louour, he de-
termined to remain and fight to Vas; very last for