The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 23, 1867.

area and population, this conference is of opinion
that the most efficient legislative remedy for British
intemperance would consist in enablingeverylocality
to prohibit therein the common sale of alcoholic
liquors."
Mr. J. H. RAPER offered an explanation of the
principles on which the United Kingdom Alliance
was founded and conducted ; and he begged it to be
understood that the object of the present conference
was to advocate the cause of temperance, and not to
support the doctrine of total abstinence. He observed
that in furtherance of thedesire to secure a permis-
sive prohibitory liquor bill in this country the gene-
ral council of the Alliance, at i-s recent annual meet-
ing at the Free-trade Hall, Manchester, resolved to
aid the executive in raising a guarantee fund of no
less than £50,000. Towards that sum £45,000 had
already been subscribed, including £3,000 from Sir
W. Trevelyan, Bart., £3,000 from Mr. B. Whit-
worth, M.P., 12,500 from Sir W. Lawson, and
£2,000 from Mr. C. Jupe.
The original proposition was adopted, as was also
the two succeeding ones and the business was
brought to a close.
In the evening a soiree and public meeting took
Purpose of promot-
pinlagctehienntbh
jeenstamnfethrononmon,
ffeorre
nt r .
T. Chambers;
Q.C., M.P., presiding. Addresses were delivered
by Sir G. B. Pechell, Bart., Mr. W. Saunders, Dr.
F. It. Lees, and others, declaratory of the objects of
the association, and pointing out the distinction be-
tween those objects and the purposes of teetotalism.
The addresses were followed by the adoption of a
resolution " extending a hearty welcome to the Hon.
Neal Dow, as an American statesman ansi philan-
thropist who has been greatly distinguished through
many years by his arduous labours for the cure and
prevention of intemperance."
General NEAL Dow, in responding to the com-
pliment (which was conveyed with enthusiastic ac-
clamations), repeated in substance the arguments
which he used on the same subject at a recent
public meeting at the Guildhall. He observed that
the advocates of this movement were composed of
so many earnest and distinguished men that there
could be no doubt whatever that in the course of a
very few years the traffic in intoxicating drinks
would be abolished in this country, as it had hap-
pily been in the State to which he belonged.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

0--
The Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief will
hold a levee at 1 o'clock, on Tuesday, the 28th inst.
The Commandant of tne garrison at Colchester
has authorised the isssue of one-third
_additional

fuel to the troops in camp on account of the • cold
weather. Quartermaster Sergt. Smith has been pre-
sented with a good conduct medal at Colchester.

Lieut. Sanders, 84th Regiment, is under orders to
join the depot at Colchester on the 31st inst., and
Lieut. Murray is to proceed from the depot to the

service companies, after completing
two years as
assistant-instructor of musketry to the Bth depot

battalion.

Gen. Warde, C. 8., commanding, has for the past
fortnight been engaged in making his half-yearly
inspection of the troops at Woolwich and the dis-
trict of Maidstone, Purfleet, and Warley, accom-
panied by Major Hay, Brigade Major, Capt.
Naugle, Deputy-Assist. Quartermaster-Gen., and
Capt. Williams, A.D.C. On Monday Gen. Wards
inspected the garrison at Maidstone, and on Tues-
day he inspected on Woolwich-common the batta-
lion of Royal Marines, thereby terminating the out-
door visitation of the half-year. The depots at War-
ley and Maidstone are at present very full of men
ready for annual draughts for India, bat they will.
most probably not be transferred until the autumn
this year, when the new troopships will be ready
for their embarkation. Three troops of the Royal
Horse Artillery at head-quarters, Woolwich, the
C, 11, and E, are under orders to proceed to Alder-
shot the fir-t week of June, to be quartered in the
camp for the summer. Col. A. Huyshe will coin-
maud the whole brigade. The lit battery, 4th bri-
gade R )yal Artillery, has been placed under orders
for service in Ceylon as a garrison battery.
The officers of the 921 (Gordon Highlanders)
dined together on Tuesday evening at the London
Tavern, B:shopTate-street. Col. M'Kenzie, pre-
sided, Major Miller filling the vice-chair. There
were present, in addition, Col. Thorold, Lieut.-Col.
Hamilton, Major Stewart, Major ratnall, Capt. J.
C. Hay, Capt. Carruthers, Capt. Dewar, Capt.
Ormsby, Capt. Gooch, Capt. Murphy, Capt. C.
Rattray, Capt. B. Hay, Lieut. G. 'l'. Grant, Lieut.
A. C. Maxwell, Lieut. C. F. Dashwood, Mr. J. D.
Gordon, Mr. A. Laurie, &c.
Pending the promulgation of the report of the
commissioners on the reorganisation of the transport
service, of which Sir W. J. T. Power, K.C.8., Com-
missary General-in-Chief, was the chairman, the
officials connected with the department of the Quar-
termaster-General are engaged iu giving effect to
the existing arrangements for the embarkation of
the reinforcements intended to be despatched to
India, in the new Indian transports, during the pre-
sent summer. In anticipation of the large number
of officers and troops destined for India who will
embark at Gravesend, the Staff belonging to Chat-
ham garrison, under whose directions the embarka-
tion will be made, will require to be considerably
augmented, the duties of superintending the em-
barkation of the Indian reliefs at present pressing
with undue severity on the existing staff at Chat-
ham. The recent complaints in Parliament of the
wi
est transports nt
os proerctesi
corvette
ooe
rortyfretothotthepeeslßuloidamninapenbrhooel:a rer4dd-,
inefficient arrangements made for the removal of
the 98th Regiment from Gravesend to Portsmouth
would have been obviated had there been a Deputy
Assistant Quartermaster-General on the spot to see
that the comforts and necessaries for the men and
women during the voyage from the Thames to Ports-
mouth were on board, and the regulations laid down
by the Government for the conveyance of troops
fully carried out. The Euphrates and the Malabar,
theye ser-
vice, first ofto
bt he
erenade
by the latter end of the ensuing month.
tons, u n a na3soou rheodr
horse
screwpowselro, ocepn
1,2T6h:
class of corvettes, and sister ship to the Dante, just
launched at Portsmouth,is being brought forward
for launching at Chatham dockyard,
aid in accord-
ance with existing arrangements will leave the
building slip in about three months from the pre-
sent time, immediatelyafter h. h
w ic s eisto be brought
forward for commission.
The Minotaur arm
our plated steamship,Capt. J. G.
Goodenough, and
flagship of Pear-Admiral Warden,
C. 8., commanding
the Channel Squadron, went
out of Portsmouth harbour,yesterday and anchored
at Spithead. She is expected to leave in a few days
for Portland, where the
squadron will assemble.
The Warrior armour-plated screw ship, having
undergone a thorough repair and refit, went out of
Portsmouth harbour yesterday under the charge of
Capt. W. C. Chatnb • erl am of the Steam Reserve,
and proCeeded to sea for a trial of her machinery.
She returned in the afternoon and anchored at Spit-
head. The result of the trial was satisfactory.
The Tamar troopship, Capt. F. W. Sulivan, C. 8.,
was placed in No. 11 Dock at Portsmouth yester-
day for necessary •
repairs, and to have her bottom
examined.
The Alberta Royal yacht, Staff-Commander
Welch, was placed in No. 4 Dock at Portsmouth
yesterday, for any necessary cleaning, &C.
The Simoom troopship,
Capt. F. B. Lethbridge,
will be removed from the Steam Basin at Ports-
mouth this day, after considerable repairs. To-
morrow she will make a trial of machinery and
speed.

The May anniversaries commence at New York,
next week, those of the anti-shivery
society leading off.
A. Pneumatic Express Company, with a capital
of half a million of dollars, is about to be chartered by the
Massachusetts. Legislature. Es-Governor Andrew, Col-
lector Russell, and other prominent m9n are the incorpora-
tors.

An organ is being constructed in salt Lake City
for the Mormon Tabernacle, which will consume over
20,000 feet of lumber in its construction.
The Royal Mail steamer Tasmania, which
arrived at Southampton last Tuesday, brings news that
the American ship Patinas was at St. Thomas, discharging
guns and ammunition for the Chilian Government. She
was closely watched by two Spanish war-ships. The
American Consul had sent to the admiral on the Hayti=
station for a inan-of-war to proteot the Patmae.

THE PEACE SOCIETY,

The 51st public anniversary of this society was
held on Tuesday evening in Finsbury Chapel, Moor-
fields. Mr. J. W. Pease, M.P., son of the president

of the society, occupied the chair. The Rev. B. H.
Hooppell moved the following resolution :—" That
this meeting rejoices in the conviction, that iu spite
of recent deplorable outbreaks of the war-spirit
which have dishonoured the civilisation and Chris-

tianity of our age, there are encouraging symptoms
of progress in the direction of peace, as evidenced
by the greater reluctance and hesitation shown to
rush into war, and by the frequent efforts made by

governments to adjust their diff.J.ences by other
means than an appeal to the sword, of which the late
conference in London, which has so happily con-
cluded its labours, is a gratifying illustration." This
was seconded by Mr. Mitt Burritt, who paid an

aff,2eting tribute to the character and works of the
late Air. Fry, with whom he had been associated for

25 years, and who had been so suddenly taken away
in the midst of his usefulness. The Danish and Ger-
man wars were not without value, for they show,•d
that England and France hell fast to their doctrine
of non-intervention, which had now become a well-
established and well-recognised principle of those
nations. This was one of the principles of the
Peace Society, and another of its principles—indeed
its foremost principle—that of referring the
.deci-
sion of quarrels to impartial arbitration, waq tri-
umphant, as appeared from the events of the last
few days, he might say. A third object of the
society was the establishment of a common sense in-
ternational code of law. A ccmmittee had been ap-
, pointed for the purpose, on the motion of Mr. Dud-
ley Field, at the last meeting of the Social Science
Association, and before the close of the present year
this great work, which would do so much to make
war impossible, it might be hoped, would be accom-
plished. He concluded with an eloquent tribute
to the influence in favour of peace which in the
Luxemburg question was exercised by Queen Vic-
toria; nor did he omit signalling the wide growth
of French opinion against war, as shown by the
petitions sent up front all parts of France to the
Emperor. Besides, them was a third influence work-
ing in this direction, and that influence was embo-
died in the vast brotherhood of working men over
Europe, who were engaged in organising one great
strike against war ; and a great League of Peace
was now in progress of being formed in Paris.
Everything was at present encouraging and auspi-
cious for that cause. The following resolution was
also adopted :—" That this meeting has observed
with the deepest interest and satisfaction the popu-
lar movement in favour of peace that has lately
sprung up on the continent of Europe, and rejoices
to find that it is about to assume the form of a re-
gular and permanent organisation, which it is ear-
nestly hoped may hereafter exercise a powerful and
auspicious influence on the relations of peoples and
the policy of States. The meeting greets with re-
spectful and cordial salutations the League of
Peace recently inaugurated in Paris, and de-
sires for it an-.ple success in its arduous but
glorious undertaking." Mr. Handel Cossham
moved the third resolution :—" That this meet-
ing approves of the efforts made by the commit-
tee to arrange for the holding of a Peace Congress
on the continent during the present year, and hopes
it may yet succeed in accomplishing this object."
He had a strong conviction that the day was not far
distant when some substitute for the terrible system
of war would become a necessity. If they got, as
they saw, household suffrage from the Conservatives,
what might not they expect ? Let them continue
to sow the good seed, and be confident that the
nations were coming together in the bonds of peace.
Mr. Henry Pease seconded the motion, which was
agreed to ; and a vote of thanks to the chairman
terminated the proceedings.

BLAKELY S ORDNANCE CO. (LDIFIED)

Captain BLAKELY'S story of Mr. JoHN.DFNT's
connection with the Ordnance Company which
bears his name, although on some points contra-
dicted, is worthy of attention. The rise and fall,
clearly and truthfully told, of some of the worst of
the Companies formed under the Limited Liability

Act, would be useful in acquainting the public with
the system which recently prevailed, of promoting

and launching them, on their short and disastrous
careers. We will, therefore, take the few facts

given by Captain BLAKELY, who details them ap-
parently unconscious of the tale they tell. Mr. JOHN
DENT was the head of a princely mercantile house,
whose chief office was in a stately building in
Queen's-road, the street of Victoria, Hong Kong.
In front, reclaimed from the sea, was a spacious
wharf, near which always lay one of the costly,

• _
swift, and beautiful steamers of the firm. The
curious may wonder what this imposing China
house had to do with the casting of BLAKELY'S Ord-
nance, and this is just the point on which we wish
to enlighten them. In 1861 Mr. JOHN DENT

returned, it was supposed for ever, to England,
with an income, said in the colony to be not less

than £-10,000 a year. Being a man of active busi-
ness habits, he appears to have occupied himself in
London, among other things, in connection with
Captain BLAKELY in manufacturing his cannon.
According to the artillery officer's statement, the
firm, consisting of himself and Mr. DENT, cast, dur-
ing 1864 and 1865, yearly, guns worth a quarter of
a million, of which £50,000 remained as profit.

The orders came in more freely from Russia, Por-
tugal, Italy, Sweden, and America than the works
could produce, and fresh founderie3 were projected
at Greenwich. The public were simple enough to
believe that the proprietors of such a concern were
Wil:ing to share their gains with them. Ostensibly
they were, and the philanthropic offer was notified
in a widely circulated prospectus. About the time
this document was published, June, 1865, the
public were beginning to lose faith in the good
intentions of their benefactors, and companies
were promoted, by the discreditable means of
throwing shares on the Stock Exchange, and
buying them in at a high premium, thus giving
them a purely fictitious value. The Blakely
Ordqance Manufactory was offered to the public
and r the usual pretext that the increased business
required additional capital, and the proprietors
guaranteed the profits to amount at least to a divi-
dend of 15 per cent. on the capital paid up for the
first three years. lie would have been a shrewd
guesser who could have told the real reason.
The stately house in Queen's-road, Hong Kong,
during Mr. DENT'S absence, had been among the

heaviest losers by the fall in the price of Tea. For-
tuues melt like snow under a hot sun when pro-
duce, bought in vast quantities at a high cost, is
sold in a falling market at a low price. Bankers'
bilances, under such circumstances, disappear like
the snowy mantle, and differences have to be made
good which tax to the utmost the credit of firms
ranking highest. The great house that bears
Mr. DENT's name had an interest to him
far beyond Captain BLAKELY and his annon,
and every effort appears to have been made to prop
up the shaken edifice.. Mr. DENT prevailed upon
Captain BLAKELY to form the manufactory into a
limited liability company, with the view of supply-
ing the much-required funds to the China firm.
If the Captain's statement is to be accepted,
although it is contralictel by Mr. CIIIMLEY,
partner in DENT's house, the undertaking was
launched in the usual Stock Exchange style at a
high premium for speculators to traffic in, the main
proviso being that the shares should, be at once
placed. Mr. DENT'S portion was £115,000 in
shares, bills, and bonds, which he discounted, and
sailed for C hina, but Mr. CIIAMLEY denies he brought
any money with him. The manner of promoting the
company had resulted in placing three fourths of
the shares in the hands of dummies, with large
outstanding liabilities in the bills discounted by Mr.
DENT. Had the China firm been able to retrieve
its position, and the works been as profitable as
had been represented, the difficulties might have
been tided over, but the tea house was totally
insolvent. When the bills became due, dum-
mies were found to ba unsatisfactory share-
holders on whom to make calls, and they
were dishonoured. Mr. JOIIN DENT could not
take them up, and there remained but Captain
BLAKELY—whose bhoulciev, however broad, could