The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-19 00:00:00

BII?MIIVGHAM CHAMBER of CC'IIIIIIERCE.

The half-yearly meeting of this body was held
on Thursday evening—Mr. J. S. Wright, the Pre-
sident, in the chair. The report was merely a
resume of the Parliamentary and other business in
which the Chamber has taken a part during the last

six months.
In moving its adoption, the CHAIRMAN referred
to the Bankruptcy Bill brought in by the late
Attorney-General, which, he said, was the best
that had emanated from any Government ; it pro-
posed to restore the power to creditors—to place a
bankrupt's affairs very much in their own bands,
and it gave them power to have the estate wound
up in the cheapest and most economical manner
outside of the Court. It enabled them to put
up the winding-up of the estate to com-
petition, and to select the best party to
wind up the estate. There was, also, he be-
lieved, a provision made for the payment of a suffi-
cient dividend before the bankrupt could get his
discharge. These features in the bill were very
thankfully received by commercial people generally.
There were some things about it that they would
have liked to sec improved. It made the passage
through court by insolvents too easy. It allowed
too great freedom to any one to go into court. It
seemed to contain a little of the feeling which an
official assignee had expressed when somebody was
deprecating bankrupts. He rather opposed that de-
precation, and said, "Why, they are our best friends."
The bill appeared to be drawn up a little too much
in favour of insolvents. Then there was the fear
that it gave too much power to officials. There were
too many references to the courts. The failing of the
bill appeared to be that there were no proper provi-
sions for the punishment of reckless and fraudu-
lent debtors. Till they could get some more
stringent clause —something that would really
punish a man who bad recklessly squandered and
wasted the property of his creditors—they would
never have a satisfactory bankruptcy law. He did
know whether they were ripe for that yet--whether
public opinion was quite prepared for it. He was
almost inclined to think that they had something
to charge against themselves in that matter.
Before they could get a right state of things they
must have in society a higher moral tone with
reference to such matters. He thought that until
they should taboo to a certain extent the and who
had squandered his creditors' property recessly
—the man who bad traded upon other
people's eapital in a wild and speculative
manner—until they could, outside of the law
courts, place that man in his proper position, they
could not get Parliament to do it. Parliament, at
the best, could only be a reflection of the state of so-
ciety. In England bankrupts lostbardly any of their
p restige, and they might go on the third and fourth
time in the same course of conduct. Till society
at large put down that sort of thing, and till they
placed a fraudulent bankrupt much in the same
category as a man convicted of larceny, there could
not be a right state of things. He did not fear for
Englishmen generally becoming too hard upon
those who, through inadvertence or misfortune, be-
came insolvent. lie had never found any num-
ber of gentlemen who were not willing to extend
help to those who, by things over which they had
no control, had got into difficulties. But how few
were such cases ! The cases of bankruptcy through
unavoidable misfortune and fair trading were
scarcely one per cent. cf the whole that happened
in the country. He hoped that during the few
months that would elapse before Parliament again
assembled-they would occupy themselves in enforc-
ing the importance of such changes in the bank-
ruptcy laws. It was no use letting professional
etiquette stand in the way. They must impress upon
Government, as they had done before, the fact that
they wanted the Scotch system introduced in Eng-
land as nearly as possible as it operated there.
Nothing less would satisfy the commercial com-
munity. In reference to the Factories and Workshops
Bill, he said he regretted, with a great many others,
that these very important measures had not re-
ceived a large share of attention. (hear, hear.)
He had no doubt that thousands of manufac-
turers in London would be affected by that bill, and
he believed he might safely say that there were not
2f per cent. of them who had any idea that a bill
was being passed that would affect them as that bill
did. That bill, which had passed the third reading,
would affect from 5,000 to 7,000 workshops and
factories in Birmingham, some 50,000 families, from
150,000 to 200,000 persons in the town, and all over
the country it would bear directly upon a million
and a half of the working population. And yet
there would be no offence on the part of one em-
ploying fewer hands. It seemed to him the most
bungling attempt at legislation that ever the House
of Commons had made. He should not claim to
be a prophet, but it would be impossible for these
two Acts to work for any considerable time concur-
rently in one place. He was quite aware that the
intention of these bills was to promote education
and to reduce the hours of labour of children.
He believed the manufacturers of Birmingham
were generally opposed to these tills, as was
shown by the petition which Mr. Bright pre-
sented from a large number of the leading
manufacturers, and from a great number of the work-
people of the town. If it were found that they did
promote the education of children, and did not prove
seriously injurious to the incomes of poor families,
they should all rejoice; but if their operation resulted
otherwise, the bills would necessarily require to be
amended. The present was a very dangerous time
to bs making restrictions on the labour-market.
Trade was bad, and the united earnings of father,
mother, and even of the children, were in many cases
barely sufficient to get the necessaries of life. Foreign
competition was every day increasing upon them.
There they bad to a great extent unrestricted labour
to contend with, and at rates such as that the foreign
manufacturer could employ men for what the Eng-
lish employer could scarcely afford to give to women.
It was a very critical time to introduce such inno-
vations, and whether they could carry them out
without great injury to their trade was a matter
upon which they would soon be able to speak with
experience.
Mr. JOHN LOWE supported the resolution for the
adoption of the report. Until (he said) they bad
in this country the trial by jury of every fraudulent
bankrupt—a trial at the expense of Government—
they might depend upon it they should not be able
to punish vagabond tradesmen as they deserved.
In regard to the extension of the Factory Acts, he
did not think that they were ripe for legislation on
the matter. With such a ',large number of small
manufacturers the matter would require to be dealt
with very carefully, or a great mischief would be
done.

Mr. SAIIPSON LLOYD said in reference to the
Factory Acts that the question whether parents'
earnings were affected or not by the labour of their
children employed in manufactories was not at all
the first consideration even with the parents them-
selves—certainly not with the temperate, well-edu-
cated portion of the working classes. Wise legis-
lative interference for the protection and education
of their children was what they desired, and it
would be a pity for the Chamber to assume an inde-
fensible attitude with regard to the actual facts, and
towards the public, by expressing themselves too
strongly against the Factory Acts. He moved
the following on this subject for insertion in the

report :
" Two bills on this subject have been under con-
sideration of Parliament during this session, and
will in all probability become law. The minute
interference proposed by these bills with the free
and hitherto unrestricted labour of this district may
involve serious consequences, and it is to be regretted
that these consequences have not received suffi-
cient attention from the parties most interested.
Your council do not object to the principle of legis-
lative protection being given to young children and
women, as respects excessive hours of labour but
they deem it highly important that due regard should
be paid in the legislative provisions which give that'.
protection to the peculiar circumstances of the
manufacturers of this district. Your council also
consider that the decision of the I-louse of Com-
mons (by which the same trade is placed under two
distinct laws, making that penal in case more than
50 works°ple are employed, which is no dello-

at all in ease less than that number are employed)

is unjust and unsatisfactory."
After a few words from Mr. Dixon, M.P., the
report as above amended was adopted.

Miscellaneous Foreign News.

(From Correspondents of the Anglo-American Times.)
PARIS, Aug. 15.
Many years ago when I was a small boy reading
Caesar at the grammar school, I came to a passage
which announced that Caesar had gone into winter
quarters. Not perfectly understanding the meaning
of the phrase, I ventured to ask the usher. That
great man being fortunately in a good humour,
probably in consequence of the close approach of
the winter vacation, facetiously informed me that
Csar, like myself and others, went home for the
Christmas holidays, with which explanation I was
satisfied, thinking within myself that Caesar was per-
fectly justified, and that bis going home for the holi-
days, and leaving the Bituriges, the Caturiges, and
the Allobroges, and a host of other ruffians, whose
names alone were sufficiently troublesome (at least
I know they were to me) to fight their own battles,
was one of the wisest possible courses he could
adopt. I little thought then that another Caesar
would write the history of the first, or that I should
live to witness the meaning of my friend the assist-
ant's waggery, or practically confirmed and illus-
trated in the departure of his Imperial Majesty
Napoleon the Third for winter quarters in camp at
Chalons. His Majesty left Paris on Thursday last,
being accompanied as far as the Eastern Railway
Station by the Empress and the Prince Imperial,
and was received at Mourmelon by General Lad-
mirault, commandant of the camp, at the head of
his staff. The arrival of the Emperor at the camp,
which bad been attended with the greatest impa-
tience by the soldiery, was saluted with the most
enthusiastic acclamations.
Their Majesties the Kings of Sweden and
Portugal, as also their Excellencies the Princes
Charles and Albert of Prussia, had previously taken
leave of their Imperial host. The departure of the
Emperor for Chalons, where be will be joined by
the Empress, who will then leave with him for Salz-
bourg, is regarded as a notification of his with-
drawal from his public connexion with the Exposi-
tion, and it is therefore probable that Paris will
receive no more visits from foreign potentates, un-
less they assume an incognito. In accordance with
this view of the case the Viceroy of Egypt, who had
intended to return to Paris for the fetes of the
15th and 16th, left on Saturday last for Toulon,whence
he will proceed to Constantinople in his yacht the
Mahrousa. Though the brilliancy of its attractions
be thus in a measure diminished, the Exposition
has completed the great preliminary objects for
which it is designed, as well as powerfully influenced
others in a more indirect manner. With regard
to the latter there can be no doubt of its having
exerted considerable influence in the most beneficial
manner upon the peace prospects of Europe ; whilst
in respect to the former it has effected a cordial
rapprochement of nearly all the nations of the earth.
Aided by the presence and example of the rulers '
themselves, it has brought hither the princes and
people of the extreme East, again to be followed up
by the establishment of European colleges and insti-
tutions in those hitherto sealed regions ; it has
shi.wn, and lighted, and smoothed the path of
future progress ; it has has sown the good seed, and
however long or short may be the remaining duration
of the Universal Exhibition of 1867, it remains
only for the devotion, and study, and labour
of practical meu, to assure and confirm, so
far as may be, the advantages it has opened
up. France is fortunate in her Minister of
Public Instruction, 'and from indirect allu-
sions made by M. Duruy, on the occasion of
awarding the educational prizes, it is believed that
the Prince Imperial, who has commenced his educa-
tion under the charge of a private tutor (M. Mon-
' nier), will continue his studies at the Public
Lyceums of France. M. le General Frossard will
continue to be the governor of the Prince, whilst
M. Monnier will be called to the discharge of other
duties.

Berezowski, whose departure had been announced
in more than one journal, is, however, still in Paris.
It is not until the ensuing month that he will be
transferred to Toulon, where he will be placed at
the Guzane Francaise ; the injuries that he received
are not yet entirely cured ; he is not therefore sub-
jected to any labour. his conduct since his impri-
sonment leaves no room for reproach.
The programme of the fete of the 15th, as given
in the Moniteur, is as follows : —The fete of the day
will take place at the Trocadero and the Barriere
du Trone. At one o'clock a solemn mass will be
celebrated at the Cathedral Church of Notre Dame.
At the same hours the various theatres and circuses
will be opened gratuitously to the public. In the
evening all the public promenades, gardens, and
monuments will be illuminated. At half-past seven
a second representation will be given at the mili-
tary theatres of the Trocadero and Place du Trone.
Two Feux d'Artifice will be discharged, the one at
the Place du Trone, the other at the Arc de
I'Etoile.
On Saturday, the 10th, an instance was afforded
of the practical manner in which the benefits of the
Exposition are to be worked out in an interesting
conference by M. P. Nicol upon the Maritime Inter-
national Exposition, to take place at Havre in 1868.
Amongst the many princely visitors of Paris the
Prince Humbert, eldest son of Victor Emmanuel,
appears to excite the greatest attraction and good-
will, especially amongst the military portion of
the population. This is owing to various reasons.
In the first instance, the Prince has come to Paris
almost unattended, save by two veteran Generals.
He has assumed no incognito, and mixes freely
with the Parisians ; in the second, he is the brother
of the Princess Clotilde, wife of the Prince Napo-
leon ; and, lastly, he is the son of Victor Emmanuel,
and has himself fought side by side with his father
in the ranks of the French army during the Italian
war. This incident, in which the King commanded
in person the 3d Regiment of Zouaves, occurred as
follows :—The Austrians having learnt that Palestro
was garrisoned only by the 4th Brigade of the Sar-
dinian army, under the command of Cialdini,
marched an overwhelming force to the attack. At
the critical moment, however, arrived the regiment
of Zouaves, and, putting himself at their head,
Victor Emmanuel, by a brilliant and well-executed
charge, redeemed the fortunes of the day. The
Zouaves were so pleased with the personal bravery
and companionship of the King that, at a solemn
consultation over the bivouac fire, they decreed to
his Majesty the title of Corporal of Honour in the
3d Regiment of Zouaves, a distinction which Victor
Emmanuel accepted with great gusto, and it is said
ranks amongst his most special military orders. A
murder was committed on Saturday evening last by
a young Artilleryman of the 10th, on the person of
his sweetheart. The soldier, who is named Thomare,
had been imprisoned a few days for some fault he
had committed. During his incarceration he had
been informed that he had been supplanted
in the good graces of the fair one by his sergeant,
and being a man of violent temper, he promised
himself to take an immediate revenge upon the con-
firmation of the report. Being discharged from
prison on the Saturday, he betook himself to the
wood of Vincennes, where he arrived about nine
o'clock in the evening, and almost immediateli saw
his fickle fair one upon the arm of his comrade.
On his appearance she quitted the arm of the ser-
geant for that of Thomare, who walked with her for
some time amongst the trees. At length as they
approached one whose foliage was thicker than or-
dinary, placing his arm around her, he drew her
towards him with a gesture of the tenderest fami-
liarity. At the same moment he drove into her left
breast a dagger knife ; the death of the victim was
instantaneous, the blow having been struck with
such force as to pierce the shoulder blade through
and through. The murderer was immediately se-
cured and confined in the Fort of Vincennes. The
body of the victim was conveyed to the Morgue.
I have had the pleasure from time to time to
signal to the reader and public at large, some
a u
mesi
mat-
ters which appeared to me to possess either
or interesting character. Ido not know that I can
do hetter in my present letter than, to speak of a
society recently established in France under the
title of the Union of Commerce a d Industry, the

object proposed being by means of representatives
in every town in France to effect a rapprochement
between the producer and consumer, the fabricant
and the purchaser, at first-hand, and unshackled
by the various heavy intermediary profits which at
present render it so difficult to procure a genuine
article at a reasonable price. Paris is at present the
central depot for the placement, if I may use such
an expression, of the products and merchandise
of France, but the advantages offered by the society
will be far more thoroughly felt and appreciated in
its extension by and bye to other countries, and
especially to England and America. A few illus-
trations will probably here explain to the reader the
objects and value of this society. A wine grower
of the Ciite d'Or (the richest and finest district of
the wines of Burgundy), of Epernay, or of Bor-
deaux, wishes to find a market for his champagne,
Burgundy, or claret, and even in France it is
astonishing what difficulties exist in this point of
view. A farmer of Calvados or the Manche has
some 10,000 kilogrammes of flour to dispose of ; the
Representant of the Society for either of these
places writes to his colleague at Paris, and at the
wine or flour halls the market is speedily found.
On the other hand, whatever may be the special
produce required in any town of France, wines,
silks, laces, &c., a letter despatched from the
Representant Director at Paris is sure to obtain
immediate attention, and the most advantageous
market. Neither are these advantages confined to
whole Sale commerce, for the Society, whilst thus
assisting the large dealers, does not fear to extend
its assistance to the public at large. Thus, for
instance, does a private family require a small cask
or a few cases of wine, the agent is equally atten-
tive, and procures the same genuine quality, the
same advantageous market for the purchase of a
few gallons as for one who may take the whole
produce of the year from the grower. It will make
the matter still clearer to the reader if I give him
an idea of what wines and brandies of the first
quality cost in France, as compared with the enor-
mous prices given both in America and England
frequently for an inferior article. As regards cham-
pagne, it is a very prevalent but very grave error to
believe that only three or four marks are worth pur-
chasing—a belief, whilst it has the effect of rendering
these few wines enormously dear, acts in a most un-
just and injurious manner upon the other pro-
prietors, who can produce a wine equally good. An
excellent champagne may be purchased of the
grower even in small quantities at half-a-crown a
bottle, in the case of wholesale dealing, at a much
lower cost. From lfr. to 3fr.—that is to say, from
10d. to half-a-crown—one may purchase even at
some Cognac
quart td
e(gF. r eonf chs
t)r
eof the finest brandy at
sale ordinarily is by quantities of 100 litres, or
sOatoq
quarts, equivalent to 22 gallons English measure,
but, of course, it is very easy to obtain a dozen
I may possibly return on anothe r occa-
sion cases,
to this subject, but in the meantime I will
conclude with mentioning that all letters requiring
information on this subject addressed to the Direc-
tion of the Society, the Union of Commerce and
Industry,
2 Rue Vivienne, Paris, will receive im-
mediateattention.
An International competition has recently taken
place at the Imperial Farm, Vincennes, for mowing,
reaping, &c. The following prizes have fallen to
the lot of our American friends : Reaping Machines
(worked by five horses).—lst prize, M'Cormick,
Chicago, Illinois ; 3d, Wood, New York. Har-
rows.—lst prize, Wood, New York ; 2d, Perry,
Rhode Island ; 3d, M'Cormick, Chicago, Illinois.
Hay Tedder (honourable mention).—Silas C. Her-
ring, New York.
A subscription has been opened at the principal
banking-houses in Paris, and at the office of the
Franco-American, 21, Rue Vivienne, near the
Bourse, in aid of the American Colony at Jaffa,
Syria, who make an urgent appeal to their country-
men for help. They inform us that their
remains now in the colony only 70 members,
who have been brought to utter destitution by
misfortune, sickness, and the failure of the harvest,
on which they depended even to the latest moment.
They are without provisions, without money, with-
out medicines or medical advice. Their case is
urgent, as it is evident that unless relief be speedily
afforded them they must succumb under the united
attack of disease and famine. This appeal is veri-
fied by the official statement of the United States'
Consul-General at Alexandria and at Jerusalem,
as well as by the verbal testimony of Dr. W. H.
Bidwell, special agent of the United States Govern-
ment, sent to investigate the affairs of the colony.
There is no doubt that our friends will respond
heartily to a call like the present.
The King and Queen of Portugal, with the Duke
of Coimbra, and their suite, left Paris on Monday
last for Bordeaux, where great preparations are
making for their reception. From Bordeaux their
Majesties will reach Madrid by special train. The
grand musical festival of the Orpheons of France
took place on Monday last at the Cirque de l'lm-
peratrice. Many of the pieces were enthusiastically
encored.
The Sultan has arrived at Constantinople, where
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his intended victim, he at once wrote to the lawyer
retaining him for his defence. If bar etiquette in-
duce the man of law to accept the brief, he will, at
all events, be provided with a queer client.
The village of Serchass, Saone et Loire, has been
thrown into great consternation during the last
week by the depredations of an enormous she wolf.
It appears that not only the pangs of hunger in the
winter increase and exasperate the ferocity and
boldness of this animal, but that in the summer the
care of providing for the young, incite it to an equal
pitch of hardihood. One evening last week an aged
woman who had been occupied in the borders of the
wood of Meillerage, in the cultivation of her patch
of vineyard, accompanied by a little grandchild
of about four years of age, happening to look round
saw what she considered to be an enormous sheep-
dog creeping round towards the infant. Thinking
that the play of the supposed dog would be too
rough, the woman placed the child on her shoulder,
when the immediate attack of the disappointed
animal at once showed the foe with which she had
to contend. The woman, however, faced the wolf
boldly, retreating backwards towards her house,
the wolf following, growling, and snapping
every now and then at the legs of the child.
It is difficult to say what would have been the result
had not a neighbour, who was passing armed with
a scythe, fortunately come to the rescue, when the
animal was driven off. A general pursuit was at
once organised, but in vain. The poor old woman
has been seriously ill from the terrible fright she
had experienced.

Before I fulfil my promise of giving a faithful
description of the Dunderberg, I must sly a
word to the wise, which an old adage observes " is
sufficient to them." Old adages do sometimes
make mistakes ; therefore, instead of one word, I
will utter two, " mca culpa." This is the briefest
confession of all the worst crimes ever heard of.,
When a Mexican robber plunders a man and shoots
him afterwards, he says " mea culpa," and there is
an end of it—nothing more can be expected of him.
I trust that this recipe for pardon will exonerate me,
as I have only committed myselff--not man-
slaughter.
I said in my last correspondence that the financial
transactions between the French Government and
Mr. W. 11. Webb, the builder of the Dunderberg,
had been confided to Messrs. Tucker and Co. in
Paris, and I was letl to believe this, knowing that
they had purchased the plates for Mr. Webb's two
Italian Vessels, and I had the despatch concerning

the arrival of the Dunderberg at the above bankers.
On requesting the favour of more information I ,
was told th atMr.Tucker had been called to Cherbourg,
and by forming too hasty conclusions of what was
said around me, incurred the necessity of declaring for
the sake of correct information that Mr. Tucker
disclaims having had any financial matter to trans-
act concerning the sale of the Dunderberg. I con-
gratulate him heartily on the subject. That such a
magnificent vessel should be bought by the French
Government at all must be a painful consideration
to true Americans, and it will be all the more so
after the following description.
In 1863 the Government at Washington awarded
to Mr. Webb a contract to furnish a vessel to be
built upon his own plans, such that her formida-
bility would render the Naval arm of the United
States invincible. Ile was required to deal promptly
with his contract, and at the same time to meet all
the new phases that were being developed in Ord-
nance and Naval Gunnery, and also notice the sug-
gestions of the Department, which were at times in
direct opposition to his designs. For this reason the
completion of the vessel was prolonged beyond the
time anticipated. When the vessel was ready for
delivery, as peace reigned in the United States, and
the causes which gave rise to her construction were
no longer operative, the vessel, without passing into
the hands of the Government, remained the
property of Mr. Webb, and was finally sold to
France. Her keel was laid in the summer of
1863, and considering the new features engrafted
in her construction and internal works she was
launched in the remarkably short period of

two years. She is the largest vessel of war afloat,
and is constructed with a view to unite all the ele-
ments of power and resistance ; for the purposes of
the former she carries the heaviest marine battery
in the world ; her bow is solid and surmounted by
a heavy iron prow, constructed to take a vessel
below the water-line ; for the latter purpose her
sides are solid and 7 feet through, which themselves
are protected by 3i inches of mailed armour of the
first quality. Upon the upper deck is built a case-
mate 8 feet in height and 200 feet in length, and
of a thickness of nearly 4 _feet, and protected
by 41 inches of forged iron. The sides of the
casemate incline to the deck at an angle of
60 degs., it having been shown 'by experiment
that this angle renders it practically impos-
sible for a projectile to secure penetration. The
Dunderberg has
great speed, and need not, except
from choice, subject herself to a combat at short
range. The weight of her ordnance gives her the
advantage of distance,
and her ram provides her
with a serviceable weapon at close quarters. She
is so easy in steering, and shows such subordination
to the helm, that she can be worked in the heaviest
sea-way by a single man. She has two rudders
both aft, and designed when working in concert to
give the vessel a facility and ease in movement
not ordinarily attained in vessels of her class,
but so well has one answered the purposes of both
that it has never been found necessary to put both
to use. Sbe has a pilot-house forward of the thick-
ness of eight inches, and all the appliances for work-
ing the vessel in time of action without exposing in
the least the lives of any one on board. The ven-
tilation and comfort of her quarters were tested
during her passage to France, and nothing could be
more satisfactory than the accounts given by those
on board. The most hopeful anticipations of all
were exceeded by her behaviour and superiority over
other vessels in a heavy sea, and had it not been for
the bad weather encountered in the passage the time
from New York to Cherbourg would have been
materially shortened. As it was, the period of 14
days 17 hours from port to port may well be con-
sidered remarkable. The Dunderberg is 378 feet
long, is 73 breadth of beam amidship, and has more
available deck surface than any war vessel ever
built. She displaces 7,000 tons of water, has two
engines of 5,000 horse-power each, and a screw of
21 feet in diameter. She has an overhang extend-
ing for a distance of 25 feet over her stern, which
is designed to protect her rudders and propeller from
the fire and ram of an enemy, and which acts iu a
heavy sea as a breakwater. Though built upon a
new model, and constructed upon entirely new prin-
ciples as regards attack and defence, the Dunderberg
has in a voyage of great severity decided the supe-
riority of the former, and it only remains for an
opportunity to fulfil the expectations of the latter.
It is to be hoped that the above description will be
found as interesting to my usual readers (chiefly
ladies) as the details I have sometimes entered into
on revolvers, breech-loaders, fishing-tackle, and
other masculine apparatus. Why women should not
be as well initiated in the appliances of a vessel as
in those of a dwelling-house has not been satisfac-
torily proved, and before I leave what in society is
called " arduous questions;" because anything me-
chanical is perversely called arduous, I must men-
tion the chronometers, clocks, and watches which
no man-of-war should be without—watches which
have been adopted by the managers of our Railway
Companies, and for the service of the guards on all
the principal lines. They have also been patronised
and adopted by the King of Italy, the Maharajah
of Burdwan, the Raja of Cumba, and the Govern-
ments of Bombay and Madras. Mr. Walker, of
230, Regent-street, and 68, Cornhill, is the inventor
of the crystal case watch and clock in question.
They are remarkable for solidity, elegance, and
precision, never break even when thrown from a
considerable height to the ground, and the watches
especially are of invaluable worth to officers in the
army or navy. They are either made of gold or
silver, the dial being protected by a flat crystal
glass covering, most ingeniously adapted in
order to avoid the casting of shade on the
surface. Eighteen of these watches having been
stolen in 1865 from Mr. Walker's warehouse, Corn-
hill, they were thrown by the guilty fugitives
from the top of Blackfriars-bridge into the Tbames.
Twelve were recovered with the assistance of
Henicke's diving apparatus; and of the twelve,
seven in crystal cases, had neither been broken nor
damaged ; the other five were of course shattered,
the water having penetrated through the broken
glasses. Mt. Walker has received
and the medal of honour, especially at the Exhibi-
tionmany medals,
of 1862. A visit to his stand at the Champs
de Mars will be found very interesting, as some of
his ladies' watches are perfect jewels, the same in-
vention being applied to them as to the immense
pieces of clock-work which he executes for railway
companies. On looking over the catalogue, I see
his stand is to be found in Class 23.

The news by the Persia is to the morning of the
7th August. General Sickles has ordered the post-
ponement of the reassembling of the North Caro-
lina Legislature until further notice, and has
directed the' suspension of trial by jury until the
jury lists are revised. General Pope has ordered
all civil suits against officers for. acts done in pur-
suance of military orders to be abandoned. The
State military authorities of Tennessee have assured
the protection of all negroes discharged by Con-
servative employers for voting the Radical ticket.
The Union meeting held at Covington, Kentucky,
on the evening of the 3d inst., was dispersed by a
mob. Negro troops, armed and equipped, partici-
pated in the Ridical procession at Prattsville, Ala-
bama, on the 3d inst.
The most important cable intelligence is to the
effect that President Johnson had pressed Mr.
Stanton to resign the Secretaryship of War ; that
Mr. Stanton had refused ; whereupon Mr. Johnson
had suspended him, and appointed General Grant
to act in his place.
The re-election of Governor Brownlow has
passed off without the anticipated riots in Tennes-
see. On the 30th of July a fight took place at
Purdy between a party of " gorillas," as their op-
ponents insist upon calling them, and a company of
State militia. Brownlow's majority was 30,000, .a
number he boasted he would secure. The Demo-
crats have, however, carried the Kentucky.elections.
It is possible that the movement of United States
troops from Kentucky into Tennessee, under orders
from General Grant, has had its effect in prevent-
ing riot. The World termed this preparation
against an unlawful outbreak a monstrous violation
of the Constitution, as the Tennessee Legislature
had not called for the troops. The triumph of the
Democrats in Kentucky has balanced that of the
Republicans in Tennessee. Ur. lielnz has been

elected governor by a majority of 60,000. Mr.
Galtoday fills the vacancy caused by the death of
Mr. use as member of Congress.
Mr. Edward E. Dunbar has written to the New
York Times in defence of Juarez. Of his descent
that gentleman speaks as follows :—" Taking the
now remaining Toltecs as one family, Juarez can
trace a pure lineage, clear and distinct, a great ways
further back than the Hapsburg family. He comes
from the mysterious regions of Mitla in Oajaca,
where the winds sweep mournfully through the
stately groves of cypress that shade the graves of
the kings of his ancient people—graves whose dates
are lost iu the unknown past." Personally, he con-
siders Juarez to be a man of great polish, compar-
ing favourably in this respect with Maximilian,
while in scope of intellect, solid acquirements, and
all those qualifications that constitute the true
statesman he far 'urpassed him. Such comparisons
are out of place ; the world will consider, and
history will record, the one as the murderer, the
other as the murdered.
Another last address of Maximilian has been pub-
lished. If the unfortunate Prince wrote and spoke
the last addresses attributed to him, the period of
his imprisonment must have been fully occupied.
There is nothing so touching as the two words
he uttered immediately before his death, " Poor
Carlotta." The proclamation which has been
placarded over Mexico bears too clearly the
stamp of its origin to deceive any one except the
miserable things who are now rejoicing in the grand
exploit of having executed a European Prince.
The shooting of Castillo and other Imperialist offi-
cers at Queretaro is confirmed, as well as of Vidaurri
at the capital. Canales and Gomez were creating
anxiety and causing much trouble in Tamaulipas
and forces were moving into the district to crush
them. Documents have been published authorita-
tively showing that the late Emperor Maximilian
made a proposision to Juarez through the United
States Government offering to retire from Mexico
until the permanency of the Empire could be decided
by the people. Mr. Seward declined to entertain
the proposition, not recognising the right of Maxi-
milian to represent any portion of the empire.
Juarez, it was thought, would be re-elected to the
Presidency by the unanimous voice of the people.
The body of the late Emperor had been given up to
Baron Magnus, the Prussian Ambassador. The
Austrian screw-frigate Novara had arrived at Gib-
raltar, and left on the 30th July, for Vera Cruz,
to receive the remains. Admiral Palmer proceeded
to the City of Mexico, it is said, to demand the
person of Santa Anna, who is still a prisoner at
Campeachy. Vera Cruz continued healthy. The
Consuls (except the United States') had lowered
their flags. Marquez, the brother of Miramon and
other generals, were organising a large force in
the mountains. The canvas for the Presidency was
progressing quietly. The Austrian frigate Eliza-
beth was about to return to New Orleans, as the
Mexican authorities were said to have refused to
surrender to the commander the body of the late
Emperor Maximilian. By the cable, however, as
above stated, we learn the remains had been handed
over to the Prussian Ambassador.
General Sheridan removed Governor Throck-
morton, of Texas, and appointed in his place ex-
Governor Pease, a lawyer, a native of Connecticut,
and a good Union man. This he did on the plea of
Mr. Throckmorton's opposing the State Convention
and impeding reconstruction. He also removed
certain of the aldermen and assistant-aldermen of
New Orleans for malfeasance, and for opposing the
reconstruction laws. The Virginia Republican State
Convention, which adjourned at Richmond on the
2d instant, endorsed the general's action, alluding
to the embarrassments thrown around Sheridan by
the President. The press reiterate the statement
that the President has determined to remove Sheri-
dan, and even that he had consulted at least two
Generals, who plainly told him that they would
pursue exactly the same course as Sheridan, if
appointed his successor. The news by the Persia
gives the additional information that Sheridan has
removed the city treasurer of New Orleans, and
appointed his successor.
Generals Sherman, W. S. Harney, and Alfred
11. Terry have been appointed military members of
the New Indian Commission by the President.
They were to meet those named by Congress at St.
Louis last week to organise and get to work on their
duties to make a permanent peace with the Indians.
The hostility of the Red Men has in no degree slack-
ened, and constant attacks have been made on small
isolated parties. Even on the route between Salt
Lake City and Denver coaches have been attacked,
and the Big Pond station burned. The inquiry into
the whipping of soldiers and civilians at Fort Sedg-
wick has shown the reports to have been much ex-
aggerated. Cholera prevails at Fort Harker, Fort
Gibson, and Fort Lamed. At Ellsworth, Kansas,
it is so fatal and rapid that nine out of ten attacked
die in from two to fifteen hours. The town is de-
serted, and the Indians will, it is expected, de-
stroy it.
As generally anticipated, the jury empannelled to
try Surratt could not be made to agree ou a verdict,
and have in consequence been dismissed. The trial
had assumed so political a complexion that it was
reasonable to expect such a result. There is neither
a verdict of " not guilty" nor even of "not proven," as
there might have been in Scotch law; so the world will
adhere to its own opinion, and there can be little
doubt that the mass of the American people will hold
that even if there was not sufficient evidence upon
which to convict Surratt, there was abundance
to show he was in connexion with the gang who
perpetrated one of the greatest crimes of the pre-
sent century. We believe that Mr. Lincoln was
beyond all comparison the most worthy ruler who
ever died by an assassin's hand. A crime more
unprovoked, less warranted by circumstances, more
idiotic, it would be difficult to conceive. However
high party spirit may run, there is but one opinion
on this subject, and wherever Surratt may go, he is
not likely to be welcomed as a hero. Broadhead
and Crookes may have their admirers, but the world
has not yet descended to the low ebb of baseness
that can associate anything but what is vile with
the conspiracy that cut short the most useful career,
of one of the greatest patriots the United States
have ever produced.
An important decision has just been given by the
Supreme Court of Michigan, in the case of the
Western Union Telegraph Company versus Carew,
on appeal from the Wayne County Circuit Court.
These are the circumstances :—Carew telegraphed
to Baltimore for forty cases of oysters. In the
transmission an error occurred whereby he received
four cases instead of forty. The message was written
on one of the telegraph blanks, with the usual
printed heading containing the conditions on
which messages are taken for transmission. The
Circuit Court held that the telegraph company
were liable for the damage suffered by Carew,
treating the company as common carriers, and
Carew as not bound by the conditions, unless his
attention was particularly called to them. The
question before the Court of Appeal was whether
Telegraph Companies were common carriers. If
such they were bound by the laws regulating those
companies. The Supreme Court ruled that a tele-
graph company is not a common carrier. The
Court further decided that they had a right to
establish reasonable rules to govern their liability in
the impartial transmission of messages—that the
sender, who wrote his message on a paper at whose
head was plainly printed in conspicuous letters the
terms on which the company undertook to forward
the message, was bound, by those terms, whether he
reads them or not, as it, is his own negligence if he
fails to notice them.
The adjournment of, Congress—the advent of the
heatei term, and the exodus of many of the leading
politicians to Euroye,--have combined to make
things dull in the U nited States. Speakers are dis-
cussing, newspaper& are writing, on the coming
man who is to be 'the next President. The Re-
publican Central 'Committee of New York has
nominated Generfal Grant. Senator Wilson made
a speech at Sa•tatoga, when he stated that the
people would vote either for Grant, or Sheridan,
or Thomas, Chase, Colfax, or brave old Ben
Wade. He as ,cured his hearers that "no man who
opposed the c'anne of the country during that war,
no man who. oppo3ed emancipation, no man who
opposes the civic rights of the emancipated race, no
maa who oppos43 ;logo garage, Will OM in Yro.

sident of the United States again." This
Convention will not sit for a year, and the un-
fortunate man now nominated will have to stand a
battery of abuse for all that period. Already Grant
is the object of attack. He commands a power
wholly independent of party, as the great Northern
General. The design of the Democrats as giving
them their only chance, appears to be to nominate
him. It is said that General Butler engaged a de-
tective officer to keep Grant constantly in sight,
and the unfortunate individual selected for this
agreeable office got well thrashed by one of the
General's friends. Mr. Wade's ill-judged speech in
Kansas is not yet forgotten, nor is it likely to be.
General Sheridan, if removed from his command,
will obtain a fair start. But changes in the United
States are so rapid, that a fair start early in the race
is almost sure to be fatal to the competitor. There
are people who think that the man is compara-
tively unknown, who is destined to fill Mr. John-
son's place.
The Quaker City, with 65 American excursionists,
arrived at Naples last week, and was put into
quarantine for seven days. A large portion of her
passengers on hearing to what they would be sub-
jected landed at Civita Vecchia, and many of them
came by land from Naples. They expected to stay
12 days, of which seven were to be passed in quaran-
. tine.

At Pekin have just been struck, as an experiment
in monetary reform, pieces of gold and silver in
conformity with the French system, of the value of
20f., 5f., and l.f. These coins have, on one side,
the cipher of the present Sovereign of China, and,
on the other, the winged dragon.
An extensive fire broke out at two o'clock on
Thursday morning in the Cathedral of Frankfort,
by which the entire sacristy and some adjacent
buildings have been burnt to the ground. Three
lives were lost.