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

BIRMINGHAM CHAMBER of COMMERCE.

at all in case 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.

The half-yearly meeting of this body was held
on Thursday evening—Alr. 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

Miscellaneous Foreign News.

six months.
In moving its adoption, the CuairmAN 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 hands,
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 baukrupt could get his
discharge. The features in the bill were very
thankfully received by commercial people generally.
There were some things- about it that they would
have liked to see 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
ofll,.:ial assignee had expressed when somebody was
deprecating bankrupts. He rather opposed that de-
precation, and said, " W hp, they are ourbest 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 hat there were no proper provi-
udu-
sions for the punitshment of reckless and fra
lent debtors. Till they could get some more
stringent Clause—something that would really
punish a man who had 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 man who
had squandered his creditors' property recklessly
—the man who had 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 lost hardly any of their
prestige, 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 bea right state of things. He did not fear for
Englishmen generally becoming too hard upon
those who, through inadvertence or misfortune, be-
came insolvent. He 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 d
there.
in Eng-
land as nearly as possible tl3 it operate
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.)
Ile had 110 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
21 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 5,00 failies, from
150,000 to 200,000 persons in thoe toown, a mnd 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. Ile 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 b 3 making r,strictions 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 had 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 (lie said) they had
in this country the trial by jury of every fraudulent
baekrupt—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 Acta, 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. SamrsoN 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
intedcrence 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 suffir'
cient attention from the parties most interested.
Your council do nit 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 House of Com-
mons (by which the same trade is placed under two
distinct laws, making that penal in case more than
50 workpeople aro- employed, which is no offence

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
(From Correspondents of the Anglo-American Times.) central depot for the placement, if I may use such
PARIS, Aug. 15. an expression, of the products and merchandise
Many years ago when I was a small boy reading of France, but the advantages offered by the society
Caesar at the grammar school, I came to a passage will be far more thoroughly felt and appreciated in
which announced that Caesar had gone into winter its extension by and bye to other countries, and
quarters. Not perfectly understanding the meaning especially to England and America. A few illus-
of the phrase, I ventured to ask the usher. That trations will probably here explain to the reader the
great man being fortunately in a good humour, objects and value of this society. A wine grower
probably in consequence of the close approach of of the Cote d'Or (the richest and finest district of
the winter vacation, facetiously informed me that the wines of Burgundy), of Epernay, or of Bor-
Cxear, like myself and others, went home for the deaux, wishes to find a market for his champagne,
Christmas holidays, with which explanation I was Burgundy, or claret, and even in France it is
satisfied, thinking within myself that Caesar was per- astonishing what difficulties exist in this point of
fectly justified, and that his going home for the boll- view. A farmer of Calvados or the Manche has
days, and leaving the Bituriges, the Caturiges, and some 10,000 kilogrammes of flour to dispose of ; the
the Allobroges, and a host ofpther ruffians, whose Representant of the Society for either of these
names alone were sufficiently troublesome (at least places writes to his colleague at Paris, and at the
I know they were to me) to fight their own battles, wine or flour halls the market is speedily found.
was one of the wisest possible courses he could On the other hand, whatever may be the special
adopt. I little thought then that another Caesar produce required in any town of France, wines,
would write the history of the first, or that I should silks, laces, &c., a letter despatched from the
live to witness the meaning of my friend the assist- Representaut Director at Paris is sure to obtain
ant's waggery, or practically confirmed and illus- immediate attention, and the most advantageous
trated in the departure of his Imperial Majesty market. Neither are these advantages confined to
Napoleon the Third for winter quarters in camp at wholesale commerce, for the Society, whilst thus
Chalons. His Majesty left Paris on Thursday last, assisting the large dealers, does not fear to extend
being accompanied as far as the Eastern Railway its assistance to the public at large. Thus, for
Station by the Empress and the Prince Imperial, instance, does a private family require a small cask
and was received at Mourmelon by General Lad- or a few cases of wine, the agent is equally atteu-
mirault, commandant of the camp, at the head of tive, and procures the same genuine quality, the
'his staff. The arrival of the Emperor at the camp, same advantageous market for the purchase of a
which had been attended with the greatest impa- few gallons as for one who may take the whole
tience by the soldiery, was saluted with the most produce of the year from the grower. It will make
enthusiastic acclamations. the matter still clearer to the reader if I give him
Their Majesties the Kings of Sweden and an idea of what wines and brandies of the first
Portugal, as also their Excellencies the Princes
Charles and Albert of Prussia, had previously taken quality cost in France, as compared with the enor-
mous prices given both in America and England
leave of their Imperial host. The departure of the frequently for an inferior article. As regards cham-
y
Emperor for Chalons, where he will be joined b
the Empress, who will then leave with him fur Salz- pagne, it is a very prevalent but very grave error to
believe that only three or four marks arc worth pur-
bourg, is regarded as a notification of his with- chasing—a belief, whilst it has the effect of rendering
drawal from his public connexion with the Exposi- these few wines enormously dear, acts in a most un-
tion, and it is therefore probable that Paris will just and injurious manner upon the other pro-
receive no more visits from foreign potentates, un-
prietors, who can produce a wine equally good. An
less they assume an incognito. In accordance with excellent champagne may be purchased of the
this view of the case the Viceroy of Egypt, who had grower even in small quantities at half-a
at -c ro wn
much
bottle, in the case of wholesale dealing,
a
intended to return to Paris for the fetes of the
15th andl6th, left on Saturday last forToulon,whence lower cost. From lfr. to 3fr.—that is to say, from
he will proceed to Constantinople in his yacht the 10d. to half-a-crown—one may purchase even at
Mahrousa. Though the brilliancy of its attractions Coenac a quart (French) of the finest brandy at
be thus in a measure diminished, the Exposition .
has completed the great preliminary objects for I, entities of 100 litres, or
sale ordinarily is by qu . , some 50 to 58 deg. of strength. The method of
which it is designed, as well as powerfully influenced
others in a more indirect manner. With regard 'i but, of course, it is very easy to obtain a dozen
' quarts, equivalent to 22 gallons English measure,
to the latter there can be no doubt of its having 1 cases. I may possibly return on soothe r occa-
exerted considerable influence in the most beneficial \
sion to this subject, but in the meantime I will
manner upon the peace prospects of Europe ; whilst conclude with mentioning that all letters requiring
in respect to the former it has effected a cordial
1 information on this subject addressed to the Direc-
rapprochement of nearly all the nations of the earth.
tion of the Society, the Union of Commerce and
Aided by the presence and example of the rulers
Industry, 21, Rue Vivienne, Paris, will receive im-
themselves, it has brought hither the princes and
mediate attention.
people of the extreme East, again to be followed up
An International competition has recently taken
by the establishment of European colleges and place at the Imperial Farm, Vincennes, for mowing,
insti- .
tut,!ons in those hitherto sealed regions; it has reaping, &c. The following prizes have fallen to
1
she wn, and lighted, and smoothed the path of
the lot of our American friends : Reaping Machines
1
(worked by five horses).—lst prize, M'Corinick,
future progress ; it has has sown the good seed, and
however long or short may be the remaining duration
Chicago, Illinois ; 3d, Wood, New York. liar-
of the Universal Exhibition of 1867, it remains rows.—lst prize, Wood, New York ; 2d, Perry,
only for the devotion, and study, and labour Rhode Island ; 3d, M'Cormick, Chicago, Illinois.
of practical men, to assure and confirm, so Hay Tedder (honourable mention).—Silas C. Iler-
far as may be, the advantages it has opened , ring, New York.
up. France is fortunate in her Minister of ' A subscription has been opened at the principal
Public Instruction, and from indirect allu-
'
: banking-houses in Paris, and at the office of the
sions made by M. Duruy, on the occasion of
Franco-Anzerican, 21, Rue Vivienne, near the
awarding the educational prizes, it is believed that '
Bourse, in aid of the American Colony at Jaffa,
the Prince Imperial, who has commenced his educa-
,
Syria, who make an urgent appeal to their country-
tion under the charge of a private tutor (M. Mon-
men for help. They inform, us that their
pier), will continue his studies at the Public
remains now in the colony only 70 members,
Lyceums of France.. M. le General Frossarcl will
governor of the Prince, whilst who have been brought to utter destitution by
continue to be the
M. Monnier will be called to the discharge of other . misfortune, sickness, and the failure of the harvest,
on which they depended even to the latest moment.
duties. \ They arc without provisions, without money, with-
Berezowski, whose departure had been announced out medicines or medical advice. Their case is
in more than one journal, is, however, still in Paris.
It is not until the ensuing month that he will be urgent, as it is evident that unkss relief be speedily
afforded them they must succumb under the united
transferred to Toulon, where be will be placed at
the Guzane Francaise ; the injuries that he received attack of disease and famine. This appeal is veri-
, fied by the official statement of the United States'
are not yet entirely cured ; he is not therefore sub- . Consul-General at Alexandria and at Jerusalem,
jetted to any labour. His conduct since his impri- \as well as by the verbal testimony of Dr. W. 11.
sonment leaves no room for reproach. I Bidwell, special agent of the United States Govern-
The programme of the fete of the 15th, as given went, sent to investigate the affairs of the colony.
in the Moniteur, is as follows : —The fete of the day i There is no doubt that our friends will respond
will take place at the Trocadero and the Barriere , heartily to a call like the present.
du Trone. At one o'clock a solemn mass will be I The King and Queen of Portugal, with the Duke
celebrated at the Cathedral Church of Notre Dame. of Coimbra, and their suite, left Paris on Monday
At the same hours the various theatres and circuses last for Bordeaux, where great preparations are
will be opened gratuitously to the public. In the I making for their reception. From Bordeaux their
evening all the public promenades, gardens,
and ; 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-
monuments will be illuminated. At half-past seven i
1 peratrice. Many of the pieces were enthusiastically
a second representation will be given at the mili-
tary theatres of the Trocadero and Place du
Trone.
Die Sultan has arrived at Constantinople, where
; encored. ••
Two Feux d'Artifiee will be discharged, the one at
the Place du Trone, the other at the Arc de ,
I'Etoile. great rejoicings have taken place to celebrate his
On Saturday, the 10th, an instance was afforded
return from a
of the practical manner in which the benefits of the amongst
' displays an illuminegasttiotnhe infidels.ontheßo Amongst glstt
is
sotshaiedr
Exposition are to be worked out in an interesting 'that one of the first matters with which his Majesty
•
will occupy himself will be
conference by M. P. Nicol upon the Maritime Inter-
to
oe
eu
rtrheadt
this
s Saintw eekCyr. calculated
national Exposition, to take place at Havre in 1868. military college similar
A curious incident the foundation of a
Amongst the many princely visitors of Paris the i
Prince Humbert, eldest son of Victor Emmanuel, i
to place a distinguished lawyer of Paris on the horns
.
appears to excite the greatest attraction and good-
of a dilemma. Visiting the Jardin des Plantes in
1 '
will, especially amongst the military portion of company with a friend, whilst his attention
; on was
the population. This is owing to various reasons. fixed on one of the cages, a hand glided softly into
In the first instance, the Prince has come to Paris I
almost unattended, save by two veteran Generals.
lie has assumed no incognito, and mixes freely i his pocket, and
his portemonnaie. T
I not escaped the vigilanceretired,
troafnstithieona,gehoot\sv,evaeord, hadthe
, with the Parisians ; in the second, he is the brother
1 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 Poste. Oa his arrival,
his intended victim,‘
1, rdeoteaei ntihneg
lohim o forof
lhaisw
ial, and finding the quality of
arrested and conducted to the
he at once wrote to the lawyer
to accept the brief,
defence. If bar etiquette in-
in the ranks of the French army during the Italian 1
1 all events, be provided with a queer client.
war. This incident, in which the King commanded I he will, at
in person the 3d Regiment of Zouaves, occurred as The village of Serehass, Saone et Loire, has been
follows :—The Austrians having learnt that Palestro thrown into great consternation during the last
was garrisoned only by the 4th Brigade of the Sap-
week by the depredations of an enormous she wolf.
dinian army, under the command of Cieldini,
. It appears that not only the pangs of hunger in the
marched an overwhelming force to the attack. At
winterincrease and exasperate the ferocity and
the critical moment, however, arrived the regiment
boldness of this animal, but that in the summer the
of Zonaves, and, putting himself at their head,
care of providing for the young, incite it to an equal
Victor Emmanuel, by a brilliant and well-executed
~
t I ( f hardihood. One evening last week an aged
.., e pi e i )
charge, redeemed the fortunes of the day. 'i i
' woman who had been occupied in the borders of the
Zouaves were so pleased with the personal bravery
wood of Meillerage, in the cultivation of her patch
and companionship of the King that, at a solemn
of vineyard, accompanied by a little grandchild
consultation over time bivouac fire, they decreed to
of about four years of age, happening to look round
his Majesty the title of Corporal of honour in the
saw what she considered to be an enormous sheep-
-3d Regiment of Zouaves, a distinction which Victor
dog creeping round towards the infant. Thinking
Emmanuel accepted with great gusto, and it is said
that the play of the supposed dog would be too
ranks amongst his most special military orders. A
rough, the woman placed the child on her shoulder,
murder was committed on Saturday evening last by
when the immediate attack of the disappointed
a young Artilleryman of the 10th, on the person of
animal at once showed the foe with which she had
his sweetheart. The soldier, who is named Thomare,
to contend. The woman, however, faced the wolf
had been imprisoned a few days for some fault he
boldly, retreating backwards towards her house,
had committed. During his incarceration he had
the wolf following, growling, and snapping
been informed that he had been supplanted
every now and then at the legs of the child.
in the good -graces of the fair one by his sergeant, It is difficult to say what would have been the result
and being'-a man of violent temper, he promised
himself to take an immediate revenge upon the con-to the rescue, when the
come
firmation of the report. Being discharged from had not a neiehbour, who was passing armed with
a scythe, fortunately
animal was driven off. A general pursuit was at
prison on the Saturday, he betook himself to the ,
woadwoadof Vincennes, where he arrived about nine
has been seriously ill from the terrible fright she
o'clock in the evening, and almost immediately saw once organised hut in vain. The poor old woman
had experienced.
his- fickle fair one upon the arm of his comrade.
On his appearance she quitted the arm of the ser-
geant fur that of Thomare, who walked with her for ,
some time amongst the trees. At I.ngth 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
l-,iyAt,hheiadveiantgli
beenof th e
struckv i ctimwwi
with
bi
nrsetaasnt
taa
ndeaogugse, r
the knife
b
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 mat-
ters which appeared to me to possess either a useful
or interesting character. Ido not know that I can
do hotter in my present letter than to speak of a
society recently established in France under the
title of the. Union of Commerce a-41 Industry, the

Before I fulfil my promise of giving a faithful
description of the Dui/Jeri/cry, I must say a
word to the wise, which an old adage observes "
sufficient to them." Old adages do sometimes
make mistakes ; therefore, instead of one word, I
will utter two, " Inca 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 pardonwill exonerate me,
as I have only committed myself —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 Danderberg,
had been confided to Messrs. Tucker and Co. in
Paris, and I was led to believe this, knowing that
they had purchased the plates for Mr. Webb'; two
Italian vessels, and I had the despatch meaning

elscted governor by a majority of 60,000. Mr.
Galtoday fills the vacancy caused by the death of
Mr. Hise 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 in 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 be far surpassed 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 bad 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 be 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 Larned. 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 on 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
an assassin's hand. A crime more
ever died by
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, be 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
h"ated term, and the exodus of many of the leading
politicians to Europe—have combined to make
things dull in the United States. Speakers are dis-
cussing, newspapers are writing, on the coming
man who is to be the next President. The Re-
publican Central Committee of New York has
nominated General Grant. Senator Nilson made
a speech at Saratoga, when he stated that the
people would vote either for Grant, or Sheridan,
or Thomas, Chase, Colfax, or brave old Ben
Wade. He assured his hearers that "no man who
opposed the cause of the country during that war,
no man who opposed emancipation, no man who
opposes the civil rights of the emancipated race, no
roan who opposes lieep Naragel will ever be rre.

the arrival of the Dunderberg at the above bankers.
On requesting the favour of more information I
was told thatMr.Tucker hadbeen 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. Tier 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 31, 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
g al
ev i
renders
ra
by 41- inches of forged iron. The sides of the
casemate incline to the deck at au angle of
116th0atdetgnsis., itan hg e
n beender
s i
t shown
pebtiyealelxy perimen
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 sand 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. She 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 vesels 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 a.midship, 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 in 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 Dttiukrbery
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 womenshould 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 lung of Italy, the Maharajah
of Burdwan, the Raja of Curnba, 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 Thames.
Twelve were recovered with the assistance of
llenicke'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. I\h. Walker has received many medals,
and the medal of honour, especially at the Exhibi-
tion 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 time catalogue, Ise
is 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
jury lists are revised. General Pope has ordered
suspension of trial by jury until the
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 iu the Radical 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 violatio,
of the Constitution, as the Tcnnesce Lewis'
had not called for the troops.. The triumph of the
Democrats in Kentucky has balanced that of the
Itepublicaus in Tennessee, 'qr. IlAra has Deo,

ature

silent of the United States again." This _
Convention will not sit for a year, and the un-
As harvest operations have now commenced in th.
fortunate man now nominated will have to stand a South of England the weather has some influence upon all
battery of abuse for all that period. Already Grant Stock Exchange securities. With fine weather, about an
is the object of attack. He commands a power average crop may still be secured, but with wet weather
wholly independent of party, as the great Northern the damage will be so much greater, as many fields have
General. The design of the Democrats as giving been laid by the late storms. The fear of a bad harvest
andsn
thetr generalt. want of confidence prevents n 3
them their only chance, appears to be to nominateprevents many busi-
ness transactions, and although the tendenm.sa.f-
abl ls
voiii-
e him. It is said that General Butler engaged a de- of a rise at the pre
sent low
quotations, still any advance in
tective officer to keep Grant constantly in sight, Iprice brings in sellers. Foreign stocks have been very
and the unfortunate individual selected for this much neglected, and the attempt to bring out new loans
agreeable office got well thrashed by one of the in the present state of the money market, is most im-
Geneial's friends. Mr. Wade's ill-judged speech in prudent. It is believed that scarcely a single public
Kansas is not yet forgotten, nor is it likely to be. subscription has been sent in fdor t.he
has newb Russian loan,
General Sheridan, if removed from his command, adn, d)rteleii:„.ot t-to, only
oeffect ' o
utf
twot .r
pt:ro
cent. t ninthe eon
xis
ttiongcauusues.a
will obtain a fair start. But changes in the United sia.in Stocks. A hope is generally expressed that the
States are so rapid, that a fair start early in the race system of bringing out loans in rapid succession—each
is almost sure to be fatal to the competitor. There i new one at a lower price than its predecessor, will thus
are people who think that the man is compara- have received a check. It is surprising that any respectable
tively unknown, who is destined to fill Mr. John- firm can venture to bring out any loan at a time that all
description of stocks are more offered for sale than bought.
son's place. To invite public subscriptions at such times must end in
The Quaker City, with G 5 American excursionists, failure ; and how can the public be expected to subscribe
arrived at Naples last week, and was put into 600,000 obligation bonds of £2O each, even at the price
quarantine for seven days. A large portion of her of £l2 55., when Brazilian 5-per-cent. stock is at 75, and
Chili 6-per-cent. at 82, and every other foreign stock at
passengers on hearing to what they would be sub-
abnoduno t then samew
t to
bEroverf3-tsotnoctkunretausinreast rest,
jetted landed at Civita Vecchia, and many of them l,
came by land from Naples. They expected to stay as the oldes-per-cent.g stocks shall brought gone up again to
12 days, of which seven were to be passed in quaran- par. But business men seem to have no consideration for
tine. the ruin they bring down upon the public that have had
At Pekin have just been struck, as an experiment sufficient confidence to subscribe to these foreign loans,
in monetary reform, pieces of gold and silver in and who are daily exposed to see their stocks fall sto 10
conformity with the French system, of the value of per cent. by the issue of some new stock at that lol.vt
20f., 5f., and lf. These coins have, on one side, idsisetehuente.redlft theof Russia. credit of anylt
appears
sy
that requiresdnr i
nrest,g the
the cipher of the present Sovereign of China, and, last eight years no less than six loans have been con-
on the other, the winged dragon. tracted. The loan of 1859 was for £7,000,000, that of
An extensive fire broke out at two o'clock on 1860 for £6,210,000. The loan for 1862 was for
Thursday morning in the Cathedral of Frankfort, £15,000,000 ; theloan of 1864 for £6,000,000 ; and that of
by which the entire sacristy and some adjacent 110an866
fforrx£46„.00000,000000 ; in
andalltll4o77ol,awnod
sViniteeepslkBsßiaillAvaoy.
buildings have been burnt to the ground. Three
cordinc, to the last reliable statement of the whole Russian
;ves were lost. debt, funded and unfunded, it amounted in 1863 to
£242,000,000, or more than 1,500,000,000 silver roubles,
and since that time it has, as we have seen, increased.
In 1864 (the latest year for which revenue accounts appear
to be-published) the revenue was £57,000,000, and the ex-
penditure £70,000,000. The new railway loan at .4 per
cent. being issued at £l2 ss. in the £2O, or at £6l in the
£lOO, is offered at a price which would be equivalent to
about 761 at 5 per cent., or about 10 per cent. lower than
the loan of 1866, which, bearing 5 per cent. interest, stands
at 86. How any Government that has any respect for its
credit can accept such terms is surprising; and it is to
be hoped that the non-success of this Russian obligation
loan will prevent other loans being brought out on similar
terms. No doubt the resources of Russia are great, but
no country can trifle with impunity with its credit.
The proposed railway dividends to the 30th of June
show a decrease when compared with those paid for the
first half of last year. The London and South-Western
pay 34 per cent., the Great Northern 41, the London and
North-Western 51 ; but the traffic receipts show an in
crease upon those of last year, since the Ist of July, which,
if supported during the autumn, may enable those com-
panies which are well managed to pay about the satue
amount of dividend as last year. Railway shares are
firmer in price, and, as confidence returns, they will, ne
doubt, be able to renew their debentures at reduced
rates, and more in harmony with the low rates of moneY'
and with increased traffic better returns may be expected
The Pernambuco Railway Company have announced
that their debentures, which fell due on the 31st of July,
have all been renewed or provided for.
The last returns of the Bank of France show that the
metallic reserve has again increased, the augmentation
being 17-1 millions of francs. The total amount of the
metallic reserve at present is 903,000,000, or £36,120,000 to
1,149 millions of francs of notes in circulation.
The fine harvest weather at the beginning of the week
caused an advance in the English funds. Foreign stoeltB
were a little less weak, the few changes that occurred
being upwards. In the share market railway stocks werde
more active ; the best managed lines are looking up, all
s
there is more inquiry in miscellaneous description
generally.—Westminster Gazette.

THE TIIEORY OF MINORITIES.

The recognition by Parliament of the right o,
minorities, though for the present limited in extent,
involves a principle deeply affecting the whole
organism of Government. Its universal adoption—
for it is not in the nature of such a principle to
remain only partial in its application—will shift the
basis on which public society rests, and will, in
reality, do more towards weakening obedience and
upsetting authority than the most democratic
lowering of the franchise ever yet seriously pro-
posed. For, to admit the right of minorities is to
break up the unity of corporate bodies, of the com-
munity; it is to transfer authority from the com-
munity to the individual, to make the house of
Commons represent not communities, not the na-
tion, but persons and numbers.
But what authority is there in mere numbers ?
There is an authority intelligible and definite in
the community, in the corporate body, in the nation.
Its will, as expressed by the majority, is the will of
the community, of the corporate body, or of the
nation, loyally accepted and obeyed by all ; the acts
which proceed from such an expression of will are
the acts of the nation. But once destroy this prin-
ciple and you disintegrate society, and you will
have to fall back, as the only alternative, for the
source of authority on the will of the individual.
To admit the doctrine of minorities is to inaugurate
the reign of individualism, which is the bane of
modern society. But what Christians regard as
the bane of modern civilization—the erection of the
individual reason into the supreme and ultimate
judge of all acts, the source of all authority, philo-
sophers look upon as the triumph and the highest
result of modern progress. The supremacy of the
individual will is their creed ; all authority outside
of the individual is nothing else than a cession of his
sovereign rights,
a delegation, for convenience sake,
to the community of a portion of his supremacy. We
were not, therefore, surprised to find the philoso-
phers, the doctrinaires, the advocates of pure
"Geist," combining with old-fashioned and obstruc-
tive Tories to force on practical statesmen what, in
men like John Stuart Mill, is no mere crotchet,
but a Parliamentary development of their philoso-
phical theories.
To stiff and " wooden " politicians of the Lord
Ellenborough stamp—the heavy weights on the
Tory course—any extension of the franchise, though
conceived in the spirit of the Constitution, is down-
right treason—the commencement of inevitable
democracy—the beginning of the end of the British

COUNTRY MARKETS•

NORWICH—SATURDAY.
White wheat (weighing 631 b), 72s to 74s ; red (lin
(weighing 631 b), 66s to 68s per qr. Flour, 49s Od to 50s
0
per sack.

NOT TINGIIAM—SATURDAY.
Old white wheat, 70s to 79s ; old red, 66s to 72s ; n°o
white, 74s to 78s ; new red, 68s to 73s per 36 stone. C"-tiT
fine, 28s to 365; new, 28s to 36s per 21 stone. Beans, oins
—s to —s; new, 46s to 50s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 41'
to 51s per sack.

LEICESTER —SATURDAY.
New white wheat, 68s to 75s ; new red, 60s to 69s • °l+?'
white, —s to —s ; old red, --s to —s per 36 stone. '13',1..;
ley, for malting, —s to —s per qr.; grinding, 35s to `0,,4
per 30 stone. Oats, fine, 37s to —s ; now, 23s to 34s per
stone. Beans, old, —s to —s ; new, 46s to 50s per 38 stony
Fine flour, 52s ; seconds, 46s to 18s per 20 stone.

Empire.
Such men, with political weights and scales in
their hands, are for ever weighing and balancing,
as grocers do pennyworths of sugar, political privi-
leges against popular demands ; they see in the
growth of the people in intelligence and political
activity, nothing but danger to the Constitution.
They are wilfully blind to the great merit of our
Constitution —its elasticity, its adaptability to the
growth of the nation, its power of comprehension.
Dull of eye, these obstructive politicians, void of
the true Conservative spirit, see not the signs of the
times in which they can scarcely be said to live, but
they fill the ear with evil forebodings ; prophets of
ill, their prophecies have a tendency to bring about
their own fulfilment. In voting with the philoso-
phical Radicals these men, both Tory and Whig,
had no idea whatsoever on the theory of minorities.
They seized upon it simply in the hope of surrepti-
tiously cutting down and paring away the largely
extended franchise which, in a generous and un-
grudging spirit, the Government and the House of
Commons had conferred upon the people in full
confidence that the working classes, admitted to
the franchise, would act in obedience to old tradi-
tions and kindly associations so as to continue in
the ways of the Constitution. If the right of mi-
norities was only made use of by the obstructives
as a" dodge" to cripple the Reform Bill, the doc-
trinaires and philosophers rejoiced in its success as
in the triumph of a principle which, though prized
by " the ppliticians of the writing table," by the
" philosophers," the " enthusiasts," and the
" dreamers," they never for an instant fancied
would be adopted by practical statesmen, or be
driven by " Geist" into the heads of the " Philis-
tines." Hence their inordinate joy at such an un-
expected triumph.
The Times broke out in a strain of unconcealed
self-laudation. It regretted, for the honour of the
English press, that it stood alone in its support of
the right of minorities which but yesterday scouted
by Mr. Bright as the " spawn of feeble brains,"
rejected by practical politicians like Mr. Disraeli
and Mr. Gladstone, is to-day, thanks to Mr.
Lowe and the doctrinaires of the Times, to
John Stuart Mill and the philosophers, to the
House of Lords and its fears of the people,
erected into a principle of the Constitution. How
far in the support and in the development of
this novel principle—so deeply affecting the whole
organism of Government—Tories of the Lord
Ellenborough stamp, and philosophical Radicals will
combine, it is difficult to reckon. Between these
two small but influential parties there is one point
of contact, and that is their common detestation of
practical politicians of the great Middle class and of
the "Philistines." The Spectator, the most able and
consistent exponent of Rationalism in every rela-
tion of life, looks upon the introduction of the
new principle involved in the right of minorities as
the dawn of a new era in English politics. This
English interpreter and worshipper of c; Geist,'
—this high-priest of individualism—announces
with an almost ecstatic joy, the dethronement
of the great Middle class and of its unintellectual
leaders. It sees in the alliance of the " thinkers,"
and of the Democrats, an inauguration of the
reign in England of a philosophic democracy. The
working men, inspired and led by the philosophers,
the philosophers freed from ancient prejudices and
precedents, by which unintellectual statesmen and
the great Middle class arc bound, will not shrink
from applying to politics the discoveries of pure
reason.. In such a process the Spectator and the
class it represents sees not only the means of de-
livering modern society from the dangers which
threaten its stability, but of attaining to a more
perfect state than has ever yet been seen. Fas
est et ab haste cloceri ; which means that we may
wisely learn from the Spectator what we have to
avoid, viz., the application to politics by the theory
of minorities of the doctrine of individualism, a
doctrine equally opposed to the principles of
authority in polities as ul religion.—Westminster
CkPette.