The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-14 00:00:00

THE sUN, LONDON, MONDAY E VENING, JUNE l4, 1858:

troops were under canvas, and they were in a vtry
healthy state. (Hear, hear.)
MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN THIS COUNTRY

IS A VAL AND

AND AUSTRALIA.

Mr. H. BERKELEY asked the Secretary to the
Treasury whether any application had been made by
the present contractors, for performing the mail service
between this country and the Australian colonies, to
obtain any remission of the existing penalties, or any
modification of the size of the vessels employed ; the
extension of the term of the said contract ; or any other
alteration in the conditions thereof
Mr. HAMILTON said the Treasury some time since
were in communication with the Australian and Euro-
pean Steam Packet Company, in consequence of a de-
putation waiting on them from the colonies. The ob-
ject was to recommend the promotion of an amalgamation
with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and the
extension of the term of the contract, when the commu-
nication was broken off, and the direction of the
Australian and European Company entered into further
communication with the Treasury for the furtherance of
objects similar to those asked for by the other company,
but seeing certain resolutions in the newspapers relative
to the winding up of that company he had thought fit
to suspend further negotiation with them.
Mr. DIVETT asked the hon. gentleman to state what
steps were being taken to secure uninterrupted com-
munication between this country and Australia.
Mr. HAMILTON said it was necessary, under the
circumstances, for her Majesty's Government to pro-
ceed with caution. He assured the hon. gentleman her
Majesty's Government world take steps to secere un-
interrupted communication between the two countries.
THE CONFESSIONAL IN BELGRAVIA.

Mr. BUTLER asked the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer if it was the intention of her Majesty's Government
to take any, and what steps, to allay the feelings of
irritation and disgust, created not only in the neigh-
bourhood of St. Barnabas, Pimlico—(hear, hear)—but
throughout the breadth and length of the land in conse-
quence of the conduct of that gentleman. He also
called attention to the reported sermon delivered by the
Rev. Mr. Ingle yesterday at St. Barnabas Church, in
support of the abominable practices he referred to.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
honourable gentleman had put a question of which be
had given no notice, referring to a great variety of par-
ticulars, some of which he admitted only happened yes-
terday. He (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought
the hon. gentleman would consider, upon reflection, that
it would be more convenient to the Government, and
more in accordance with the rules of the house, if he
were tl put his questions on the paper, when they would
be answered in due course. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BUTLER said he would repeat the question to-
morrow. (Hear.)

The ads ices of our Malta correspondent reach to
the 7th of June, when her Majesty's screw line-of-
battle ship Royal Albert, bearing the flag of the
Commander-in-Chief, Admiral the Right Hon.
Lord Lyons ; Hibernia, receiving ship (of theline)
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral the Lion. Sir M.
Stopford ; the Princess Royal, Conqueror, and
Centurion, screw steamships of the line ; the Vul-
ture, steam frigate ; the Vigilant, steam corvette ;
the Caradoc, steam despatch vessel ; the Hearty,
steam tug; and the Urgent, screw steam transport,
continued in Valetta harbour. The Grand Cross
of the most distinguished order of St. Michael and
St. George has been conferred upon Admiral Lord
Lyons, and it is not improbable that the ceremony
of investiture will take place at Malta, unless the
Admiralty issues orders which will allow of his re-
turning to Corfu. Her Majesty's steam corvette
Swallow left on the 26th of May for Constanti-
nople, to relieve on that station the Osprey, or-
dered to Malta. The Vulture steam frigate re-
turned to Malta from Alexandria on the 31st. The
Ariel, steam corvette, left Malta on the same day
for Corfu ; and the Vigilant, steam corvette, ar-
rived from Patras. Her Majesty's steam gunboat
Wanderer left Malta for Gibraltar on the 23d of
May to order to remain there tbe Renown, 91, and
Racoon, 21, on their way to Malta from England,
in consequence of the large naval force which is
being assembled at Toulon. The Algesiras, screw
line-of-battle ship, bearing a rear-admiral's flag,
arrived on the 18th of May at Corfu from Toulon,
and left on the following day, accompanied by the
Eylau steam frigate, for the Adriatic. A French
screw steam-frigate, bearing another rear-admiral's
flag, arrived at Alexandria on the 19th, and is re-
ported ito have landed a party of gendarmes to
protect French subjects in concert with the Egyp-
tian police. A very large force issaid to have been
landed at Oran from the French Toulon fleet. The
Princess Royal, screw steam line-of-battle ship,
returned to Malta from Alexandria on the 4th of
June, after a long passage under canvass, of 16
days. Her Majesty's screw steam transport Ur-
gent arrived at Malta on the sth, from Gibral-
tar, after landing troops, for the purpose of taking
in a large quantity of lime juice for the victualling
yards in England. The hired steam transport
Dutchman arrived from Portsmouth at Malta on
the 25th of May, and left for Alexandria on the
next day. The moveirents of screw steamers at
Malta with general cargoes between the 24th of
May and the 6th of June include the Melita, Thes-
salia, Cairo, and Pactolus, from Alexandria, for
Liverpool ; the lonia, ftom Smyrna for the same
port; the Ageri Sofia, from Liverpool for Constae-
tinople, conveying among other passengers Mr. C.
Dickson, the newly-appointed Consul at Redout-
Kali, and Mr. 11. R. Guarraciro ; the Karnack,
from Liverpool for Constantinople and Trebizond ;
the Demetrius, from Salonica for Liverpool ; the
Madinina and Rhumel (French steamers, from
Tunis, the latter bringing Lieut. Thurlow, Royal
Artillery ; Capt. Simson, I. A., and Lady Frank-
lin, the widow of the Arctic navigator, who left for
Athens on the 29th in the Aventin French steam
packet for Messina.
Among several improvements for the benefit of
the troops at Chatham which have been effected by
Col. H. Eyre, the newly-appointed Commandant
of that garrison, is one which has been received
with considerable satisfaction by the large body of
reinforcements now awaiting the order for their
embarkation for India. For several years it
,has
been the practice for the troops ordered to India to
receive their sea necessaries on board the vessel
after they had embarked. This plan had given rise
to much dissatisfaction among the non-commis-
sioned officers and men, and repeated complaints
were addressed to the authorities on the subject,
the articles which were supplied by the army agents
and other tradesmen connected with the town
on being opened on board, having been generally
found, when too late to return them, to be of
an inferior character, and in many c,aces utterly
worthless. In order to put a stop to the system
which has so long prevailed Col. Eyre, with the
sanction of the authorities, has issued orders di-
recting that all clothing and other necessaries
required for use by the soldier during his voyage to
India shall be sent to the barrack stores, when the
whole will be inspected by a board of officers ap-
pointed 'for that purpose, and no stores allowed to
be issued to the troops but such as have been ap-
proved by the board. The practice of issuing neces-
saries to the non-commissioned officers and men on
board is to be dis.continual.
The 10th Hussars will arrive at Birmingham to-
day (Monday) to form a guard of henour on the
occasion of Ler Majesty's visit to that town.
The following officers Lave passed an examination
at the Royal Naval College, Yortsmow.L, and been
found qualified to be registered as steam officers
Capt. S. T. P. Hornby, Capt. D. Robertson, Com-
minder S. H. Henderson, Commander 11. Nelson,
Commander R. Studdart, Commander C. E. Side-
bottom, Lieut. W. G. Annesley, Second-Lieuls.
(R.M.) M. H. Farquharaon, C. B. Smith, D. S.
Pitcher, W. D. Welch, C. J. Kinsman, and W.
Stewart. At the usual monthly examination at the
college which terminated on the 10th inst., the
following passed :—For Masters—Messrs. W. Hew-
lett and W. L. Dobbs. For Assistant Clerks—
Messrs. E. H. Dyers A. P. Freeman, H. J. Gard-
ner, and A. N. C. King.
One of the members of the Royal Commission
went down to Woolwich on Saturday last and in-
stituted inquiries relative to certain departments
of the Royal Arsenal at Woolviich. Notwithstand-
ing the length of time which has elapsed since the
Royal Standard Gun Foundry was completed, at a
co=t regardless of the amount, not one serviceable
gun has been turned out and passed the ordinary
proof, although a guarantee was given to tbe Secre-
tary of State for the production of 250 guns from
that foundry by the 31st of March past. The im-
portant blunder, it is mid- rstood, lay in the utter
absence of practical men to direct the working of
the establishment, the nominal and responsible
founder being an artilleryofficer, and thesubordinate
foremen or eub-directors, who should be well np to
the work of gun c fisting, being mere novices in that
class of duty, having passed their lives as engineers'
workmen and cylinder casters, and being there-
fore unacquainted with the proper fusion of the
metals requisite for making good and durable iron
ordnance. The Royal Laboratory is likewise about
to undergo investigation, it having been stated on
official authority that, in spite of the large expen-
diture end cost of that establishment, the Brit'sh
Government is not in possession of a single species
of shell adapted to present use. The enormous sums
claimed by that department for the expenses of the
late peace rejoicings in Hyde Park are also about
to be rigidly_ inqtrired into. It is stated that the
cost of the fireworks alone amounted to upwards of
160,0001., and that the surplus, buried and de-
stroyed at times in Woolwich marsh, is iuconceiv-
able.

The Hecate,- steam-sloop, Cora. G. F. Burgess,
arrived at Spitbead on Saturday night from the
West Coast of Africa. Her dates are Ascension,
April 28 ; Sierra Leone, May 13 ; and St. Michaels,
June 2. She has been sent home on account of her
sickly state, having got the coast fever on board,
and it being impossible to clear her of it. She had
been at anchor since Friday off the Isle of Wight,
owing to a dense fog in the Channel. Cora. Gordon,
(her former commander), Assistant Surgcon W. J.
Butler, and two boatswains have fallen victims to
the fever, and about 40 of her crew. were sent to
hospital at Ascension. She brings 12 invalids from
Ascension for Haslar Hospi al, who have been
taken there. The Hecate has taken twa. prizes of
only small value since she has been in comtniaion
—the brig Chatsworth and the -topsail schooner
Niagara. The Medusa, Corn. Bowden, had taken
the richest prize that had been made on the coast
for some years—a brig with a cargo of rum and to-
bacco, slave fittinto, and 6,5001. sterling in cash.
The Boacawen, 70, Roar-Admiral the Hon. Sir F.
Grey, K. C. 8., arrived at Ascension on April 15th;
after provisioning, &c., she loft the same evening
for the Cape of Good Hope. The Viper, 4, steam-
vessel, Lieut.-Cora. A. B. Hodgkinson, arrived at
Ascension from the river Congo on April 18th ;
after victualling, coaling, &e., she left on the 21st
on her return. . •

The Black Eagle, Admiralty steam-yacht, Mr.
J. E. Petley,
master, RN., in command, arrived
at Portsmouth on Saturday night, from Woolwich,
to embark his. Royal Highness Prince Alfred for
an aquatic tour to all the principal ports of the
United Kingdom. Ireland will have the greater
share of the Prince's attention. The sure who
will accompany him will consist of Lieut. Cowell,
R.E , the Rev. W. R. Jolly, Chaplain of her Ma
jesty's ship -
of her Majesty's yachts.
Illustrious, and Mr. Minter, surgeon
The Marlborough, 131, Vice-Admiral Arthur
Fanshawo, C• 13., remained at Spithead last
night wloa this report left (5 1.0 p.m.) ; it was cur-
rently rumoured that an Admiralty telegram
stopped her sailing on Saturday, and that she will
remain until to-morrow or Wednesday.
E.M.'s ship Pembroke, Capt. Charlcwocd, which,
succeeded the Southampton at Harwich, has left
that pelt for the purposa of jdning the Channel
fleet.

The Monarcb, 81 guns, Capt. G. E. Patey, was
paid off at Sheerness on Saturday, under the in-
spection of Capt. H. 11. G!asse, C, li, of the
Tarrible. Several seamen received medals and gra-
tuities for lob and meritorious services, and some
first-class petty officers also received gratuities for

good conduct.
Tile Locust steamvessel, Lieut.-Commander, J.
B. Field, took seamen paid off from the Monarch,
and proceeded for Plymouth on Saturday.
The Lizard steamvessel, Lieut.-Cona ED ander Edw.

'TELLIGERCE. E. Maunsell, also received seamen from the
Monarch, and left the same day for Plymouth.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :
Capt. C. Fredrick to the Caesar; Henry Brehant,
master, to the Caesar ; Charles E. Neve, master's
assistant, to the Racer ; John Rorie, surgeon, to
the Oberon ; James Lilburne, surgeon, to the
Hydra ; and J. Martin, paymaster, to the Caesar.

OUR HOME FORCES,

True to his promise to the House of Commons,
Sir J. Pakington, the First Lord of the Admiralty,
is gradually strengthening the home force by the
means suggested in his clever elucidation of the
navy estimates.

Since thelet of May the China force has been
reduced, the Pacific division has been strengthened,
and the particular service nearer home has been
increased.

From China, one ship, the Himalaya, screw
transport, Commander S. P. Piers, has arrived in
England, and a dozen others are on their way
home, namely—

SCREW SHIPS.
Sanspareil
Shannon
Pelorns .
Pearl ....
Hornet....
Roebuck .

SAILING SHIPS.
Nankin 5O
Picino
Bello4le (hospital slip) 6

20

Assurance -
Mohawk

making a total of 13 ships, 301 guns, and 3,552
men. Two other ships have been detached from
China to the Pacific station ; the Pylades, 21,
screw, Captain Da Conroy, and Amethyst, 26,
Captain Grenfell ; so that the China fleet now
musters 50 vessels of all classes, 457 guns, and
6,302 men, instead of, as on May Ist, 60 ships, 720
guns, and 9,395 men.

The Mediterranean, we are glad to find, has an
additional line-of-battle ship added to its force, and
now it may be said that the station has once more
a screw fleet, powerful although small, composed
of the Royal Albert, 121; Conqueror, 100 ; Re•
nown, 91 ; Princess Royal, 91; and Centurion,
80 ; and the Renown having left the Channel for
the Mediterranean, a sister ship, the Orion, 91, has
been put into commission.

In April last we remarked that, badly off as we
were stated to be with respect of a home force, we
could muster from all sources about 20,000 seamen,
marines, and boys iu active service in the Channel
ports. Since then we are glad to find that this
force has been gradually and steadily increased
—our coast-guard ships afloat, for instance, 26
efficient vessels (all but one of them screws) carry-
ing 633 guns, and having on their books 3588 men,
Two ships paying-off have 880 men available. The
ships fitting out are 8, with 284 guns, and 2755
men ; and the "particular-service" ships and the
" Telegraph Squadron" have 2392 men. These
give a total of 9600 men. If to these we add the
furce at Cork, 500 ; at Sheerness, Woolwich, and.
Pembroke, 1700 ; at. Portsmouth, 2490 and Ply-
mouth, 1700 ; total, 6300 ; add, also, 3500 men
employed in the coast-guard service ashore, &c.,
and the marines at head quarters, we shall find
that at the present moment we have at our home-
ports and on our coasts in actual employment
under the Crown no less than 25,000 officers, sea-
men, marines, and boys. The number of ships
ordered home from all stations is 22, with 382 guns
and 4766 men. If these are counted in withour pre-
sent home strength, theavailable force for an emer-
gency will not come far short of 30,000 of all ranks.
Thus from this force, together with the additional
-seamen that will daily enter to makeup the num-
bers voted for 1857-58, we may shortly expect to
have a Channel fleet of eight or ten screw of the
line, and a dozen screw frigates and corvettes,
manned by 14,000 seamen and marines ; a regular
cruising fleet, totally independent of; but ready to
work with all the efficient coast-guard ships, steam
guard ships, port flag ships, and any other seagoing
home port vessels, from each and any of which,
after very little exercise, divisions of men might
be taken on an emergency to form the nucleus of
three fleets.—Morning Herald.

yards being- run in 4 minutes 46 seconds, while
making 16i revolutions per minute. The principle
of cheap fares has been adopted by the proprietors,
as the through passage-money from London to New
York is for the first class passengers only 181. ; se-
cond class, 10/. ; and steerage, 71. By this new
route the merchants of Belfast and of other towns
in Ireland will be greatly benefited. At present
they are compelled to ship their goods to Liver-
pool and then trans-ship them to the Atlantic
steamers ; this expenditure will be saved ; the in-
surance will be reduced one-half, because only one-
half of the risk will be incurred. Liverpool may,
indeed, be jealous, as she was when competition
was established at Glasgow, and the Clyde con-
tended against the Mersey, but the expanding
trade between Great Britain and the United States
will furnish occupation to all the rival lines. The
public at large must be benefited by the earlier re-
ceipt of intelligence, and as it will arrive two days
Boomer than by any of the established routes, Lon-
don, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and
Glasgow will participate in this common advan-
tage. We must, therefore, not only congratulate
the merchants of the United Kingdom but the
landowners of Ireland, 4in the extension of ocean
steam navigation between Galway, Halifax, and
New York. If we mistake not Lord Campbell, the
Lord Chief Justice, is owner of the Barna estates,
which adjoin the town of Galway. His property
will be doubled in value, and that may give him
some secret satisfaction for the displacement of
Lord Palmerston. In the improvement of his pos-
sessions in the west of Ireland, Lord Clanricarde
may find ample compensation for the loss of the
Privy Seal, which so suddenly escaped his grasp.
The illustrious Lord Gough, whose military ser-
vices have not yet been rewarded with the well-
merited baton of a marshal, will be pleased with
the prospective improvement of his Galway estates,
and his magnificent castle of Loughconter ; and
many others will participate in this prosperity, and
receive honourable reward in the augmented value
of their Irish possessions.

THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT VESUVIUS.

NAPLES, June B.—At the risk of being considered
a one-ideasd man I send you another report ofjthe
burning mountain. Wishing to have another and
more perfect view of it, on Saturday last, at about
two hours of day, I started from Naples, and after
escaping from all the varied seceature of guides,
torch-bearers, drivers, and a host of other impro-
vised artists, found myself after three-quarters of
an hour's walk in front of the fire. E trier as it was
there were many there before me gazing on the
wondrous scene. A vast Led of burning metalic-
looking coke was sweeping down over smiling vine-
yards, carrying everythiug before it. The mass was,
I should say, 800 feet in width—the "Journal" says
half a mile—and how long the eye could not calctt-
late ; for, looking upwards, it was lost behind the
heights. As to thorate at which it was travelling
nothing could be more deceptive. Had it been in a
narrow channel it would have been comparatively
easy to make some decision, but its very grandeur
baffled me. Row after row of the vines, however, fell
before it—great trees shivered and shook and tossed
about as if a heavy wind were blowing, though it
was a dead calm, and soon yielded to the destroyer
—aud, marching continually over the black frag-
ments of scoriae on the surface, on it came without
ceasing. Since midday it had advanced full 100
paces. There had been a house on a point not far
distant, tenanted a few hours before, the fragments
of which I saw in the folds of the lava. The poor
creatures had taken refuge in a cave formed be-
tween the upper and lower &rata of an old lava
eruption. Behind the shoulder of a hillock stood
a handsome villa which had been saved by its posi-
tion ; the grounds belonging to it were all, how-
ever, buried under the black mosses, and the ten-
ants were standing on the terrace looking down
upon the ruin and calculating the probabilities of
the stream touching them. Though the whole of
this enormous bed was in movement, still, running
over it, or sometimes under it, were two channels
of liquid red-hot lava, which had never stopped
since they issued from their sources. The blackened
bed had become so by an interval of suspension,
and was moved on by the immense weight behind.
On looking up and around me my wonder was
whence could have come this enormous quantity of
matter. Could it speak what a history would it
tell—hove it had been turning about to and fro
under the surface of the land for the last six months,
upheaving and ruining great cities, destroying cul-
vated lands, and carrying death to many 'thou-
sands. The speculation was not an idle one, for
in less than an hour later said Professor Palmieri
to -me, "1 thinkthe periodof earthquakes has now
terminated for the present. I connect this erup-
tion with them." I passed through a number of
I fine young vineyards, where the clustered fruits
held out the promise of an abundant vintage. One
after another they were shrivelling up and flaming
like small torches, while the- country people were
saving what they could. I pass on to the next
point of importance ;it is half-way up the moun-
tain. I wind and wind up, and make a series of
short cuts, steep enough to take all the breath out
of a man's body, and stand all at once on a crag,
which commands a view of one of the most mag-
nificent spectacles I ever -witnessed. The whole
stream is visible from the source to the place which
I have just left ; it is coursing down, or rather
they are coursing down, for there is more than
one stream, as rapid as a cascade ; in fact, they
are cascades of as pure liquid fire as can be well
conceived ; sometimes they are hidden under the
blackened scorim, and then they emerge again, and
run on as if impatient of-destruction. It was one
of those spectacles so astounding to look upon,
that a man seeks in some way to relieve his feel-
ings. Ho bursts if he is silent ;he must shout,
scream, anything 'to let off his pent-up excitement,
and I suppose that I did so myself. It is now
dusk ; the Italian night is descending rapidly upon
us, the sun has just gone down, and the stars are
out in a minute, and we have yet to climb to the
top ; so one pull race e. There is a lazy blasé
Frenchman, with his Cest toujours le menu "and why should we go further P—but we pull
him along reorally and physically, and at last ar-
rive at the Hermitage. Behind it is another grand
spectacle, perhaps grander even than what we have
just described. There is less apparent activity,
but the gorge is wider, and the slow butt certain
manner in which the mass moves on gives us a
striking idea of power. It is 750 feet in width ;
to calculate its bulk by millions of tons would be
only trifling with a giant—we might better cal-
culate by the million the enormous quantities
which are issuing every minute from the many
sources. In all there are seventeen and upwards,
says Professor Palmieri, and this feet constitutes
ono of the striking features of this eruption, as
does a'so the fact that they do not run in one
line, but are opened in various parts. Another
new feature is the long-continued fluidity of the
lava, all showing the overgorged state of the moun-
tain and the immense power at we:wk. It was the''
opinion of the Professor, however, that the erup-
tion was on the decline, as no internal rumblings
ware now heard. The lava had found its outlets,
and was now pouring down with the rapidity and
tranquillity of an unobstructed stream. There have
been, eight earthquakes since the eruption began,
local only perhaps ; and the last, as marked in the
seismograph of Palmieri, had taken place that
mousing at half-past 7 o'clock. Nothing had been
removed from the Observatory, nor in fact was
'there any immediate danger, as there was a vast
depth behind which was not filled up as yet. An
inconvenience might have arisen from an union of
the two streams, which were flowing down, and
men were always out on the watch and to report.
On descending we met thousands of people en route
from Naples. The path for miles down was
marked • by a line of torches ; the gorge down
which the lava was coursing looked from
a dis-
tance like a Vast crater, the walls of which were
irradiated by the fires below. ' The stream had ad-
vanced so rapidly as to cut off our road, so we were
compelled to make a long detour. Arrived at the
lava bed we stopped to gaze on the scene of ruin
and of grandeur, bought some coins imbedded in
lava, and falling into the descending line of human
beings, soon found ourselves in Resina. It is only
a short hour's drive to Naples, and grand was the
spectacle which the mountain presented from a dis-
tance; up to the very streets the reflection of two
great streams fell across the sea.
On Sunday, at midday, the eruption seemed to
be on the decrease, and the spectacle seemed less
grand in the evening. Last evening however,
there was much greater activity, and this morning
the increased length of the line of smoke seems to
indicate much greater activity. No life has as yet
been lost ; legs and arms have been broker', and a
child who haii strolled out to tbnOttrajano side of
the lava had fallen asleep, and not until the stream
was close up to it had some men perceived its
dangerous situation and rescued it at considerable
risk to themselves.—Times.

'JEWELS FDOM LUCKNOW.—We learn that a lady re-
siding at Clifton, the wife of a gallant major at present
serving in India, has received a letter from her husband,
Which gives a glowing account of the treasure seized by
our troops at Lucknow. As an earnest cf bid own auc.
cese, ho has sent her home a necklace of splendid pearls,
end some emerald,', one of which is believed to be of
great value. The gems are in a comparatively rough
state the emeralds having been ignorantly and, we had
almost said, mercilessly drilled through. The letter
spooks of a corporal in the gallant officer's regiment
having got a bracelet which will probably be worth
from 100,0001. to 200,0001. Another -letter, from a
younger officer, received at Cato]; states that, the
writer has got three superb embroidered shawls of rare
workmanehip and great price,--Brida Mercury,

SLAVE TRADE-IN DISGUISE.

Lord Goderich on Thursday evening asked the
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether
there was any truth in the statement that the.
British Government had given its sanction to the
French scheme for the exportation of Negroes from.
the West Coast of Africa? The answer of Mr. Fitz-
gerald was plain and precise. He said that the
communications of this country were expressions
of regret that such a scheme had been originated
and persisted in, and that the British Government
had felt it their duty to point out strongly their
objections to it. This statement comes oppor-
tunely at present. It can no longer be doubted
that the project which has received the approval
and support of the French. Government, and which
is now being carried out by French speculators,
is simply the Slave Trade disguised under the
name of industrial emigration. As it is be-
coming obvious that for the protection of the
black race from forcible abduction and servi-
tude, we must trust to the moral sense of France,
America, and the other countries possessing ter-
ritory between or near the Tropics, we give
to the world a narrative which has reached
us, and which demonstrates clearly the nature
of the proceedings which the French Govern-
ment has sanctioned. We trust that when
once such faots are known the task of those who
remonstrate against the scheme will be no longer
difficult. We cannot claim to prevent other na-
tions embarking in the slave trade, but it may be
allowed to us to expose any practices akin to it
which are carried on under a specious name—a
name which perhaps quiets the consciences of
many who have good feeling enough to shrink from
evil, but not energy enough to track it to its
haunts and destroy it there.
The Ethiope, Capt. Croft, a steamer belonging
to the West Africa Steam Company, arrived at
Monrovia, the capital of the settlement of Liberia,
on the 14th April. The captain, on landing, was
informed by ex-President Roberts that a French
vessel, the Regina Cceli, which had been for some
weeks collecting "emigrants" under the new sys-
tem, had been the scene of a fearful catastrophe.
These so-called emigrants had revolted during the
absence of, the captain, purser, and a few. of the
crow, who, fortunately for themselves, had gone on
shore for a short time. The seamen left on board,
to the number of 11, were murdered by the negroes;
the dOctor alone was spared and put on shore. The
ignorant wretches, after perpetrating this deed, had
taken possession of the vessel, and were known to
be in the neighbourhood of Cape Mount. Shortly
after Capt. Croft received this information there
came a formal request from the French consul that
the Ethiope would, if possible, recapture the ves-
sel. The Ethiope set out accordingly. Tha Regina
Coeli was known to be well armed; ships convey-
ing this clasr of emigrants are, it appears, well
armed ; and Capt. Croft made every preparation.
But, sightly believing that ex-President Roberts
would exercise a moral influence on the blacks,
that gentleman was requested to accompany the
expedition. At nine o'clock the next morning
they sighted the Regina Cceli, " quite unmanage-
able near the shore." "As 'we neared," says an
eye-witness, "we saw her decks crowded with
people, who, as soon as they saw the British flag,
hung out a white shirt, and the Ethiope coming
within' hailing distance, they made all possible
demonstrations, by clapping their hands and
crossing their arms, thus expressing their joy at
seeing a British ship, and their readiness to give
themselves up." Mr. Roberts went on board, and
when the blacks heard they were to be taken to
Monrovia they danced and shouted with delight.
sir. Robert,, having heard the account of these
people, expresioi his opinion that all the so called
emigrants were merely slaves, and had been regu-
larly bought, shipped, and manacled just in the
regular way, as practised on the coast for many a
year.

The account the negroes gave of themselves
leaves, indeed, no doubt of the fact. The irons with
which they bad been manacled were on board, and
many of them retained the marks on their wrists
and ankles. They were about 270 in all, but 100
had left before the Ethiope fell in with the ship.
One of the men said that the greater part had been
brought down from the interior and bought by the
Frenchmen in the usual way. Others had gone on
board as labourers, he himself among the number,
and had been suddenly seized, put in irons, and
stowed away in the hold: By these means were the
emigrants obtained, who, but for the mutiny, were
destined to "develcpe their faculties by contact with
civilisation' in the Island of Reunion, late Bour-
bon. , The account given by them of the massacre
itself was, that it arose from the cook stabbing one
of the people who had gone to the galley to get
something to eat ; but there can be little doubt
that the deed was premeditated, and that the cook's
violence, even if tine, was only the signal for the

rising.
The sequel of this story is ridiculous enough,
and we only relate it as a specimen of the manner in
which the chief of the French naval squadron on
the West Coast of Africa interprets in ernational
usages and respects foreign authorities. Captain
Croft had been requested by the French Consul to
go and recapture the Regina Cceli, and he did so ;
but M. Simon, the captain of the lost ship, put
off in an open boat when he saw the Ethiope ap-
' preach, and when the Regina Cali was cap-
tured, he demanded that she should be immedi-
ately given up to him, on the ground that she had
never been out of his possession, inasmuch
as he was in the neighbourhood, and had moreover
demanded 25 men of the Liberian Government to
help him in the recovery. The answer naturally
was, that the Ethiope had captured the vessel, and
must have salvage. The French captain refused to
pay any or come to any settlement, and, as the
Regina Cceli had been taken into Monrovia, he
called on the French naval force to interfere, and
the last we hear of the Matter is that two despatches
have been addressed to the President of the Re-
public of Liberia, couched in the phraseology of
which Europe has lately had more than one speci •
men. The demand is, that "Captain Simon, of
the French ship Regina Coati, may be again placed
in possession of his vessel, illegally seized by the
English packet-ship Ethiope, an d brought into the
roads of Monrovia ;" and, furthermore, that the
murderers be apprehended and delivered up. It
will hardly be b2lieved that it is desired also to
make the Ethiope responsible for the damage which
the rebellious slaves did on board. But the style of
the " Chief of the Staff of the French Naval Divi-
sion" is the point moatworthy ef wtention. With
a just scorn of so plebian a functionary as the Pre-
sident of a republic he thus expresses himself :—" I
declare that the capture has been arbitrary, illegal
and valueless, and order that Captain Simon be im-
mediately replaced in possession of his ship. I ,
also insist that the murderers of the Regina Ccea
1)0 arrested and delivered to the commander of the
Renaudin."

This, however, is but a pendant to the original
history, which is the mutiny of a number of kid-
napped slaves, bought, carried on board, chained in
the usual way, and destined to be transported
to the French plantations under the name of
" voluntary emigrants." That the system is no-
thing more than the Slave Trade under another
name cannot be doubtel. Tiiat the immigra-
tion of Africars and -Asiatics into thinly-peopled
colonies is desirable we have always upheld, and
even this French scheme might have been so worked
as to be a blessing both to Africa and the Antilles.
The various races which have been introduced
into the British possessions have cf late years pros-
pered and been productive of prosperity to others.
The Coolies in the Mauritius and Demerara, the
Chinese in Anstralia, and even large bodies of
Negroes introduced into different islands, have had
no reason-to regret the change in their lot ; and we
hope that this kind of emigration will continue and
increase. But nothing is more likely to check a
really healthy supply of labour than such a nefari•
ous traffic as has now been exposed. We trust that
the FrenCh. Government will no longer hesitate to
discountenance proceedings which are ab!e now to
boast the Imperial approbation.—Times.

BARRACKS.-619,0911. is the SUM Which it is proposed
to expend on barracks in the estimates of 1853-59,
against 522.7151. last year, and 1,012,5001. in tLe pre-
ceding one. For the erect on of new barracks this year
181,4081. is proposed, including 109.0001. for permanent
barracks at Aldershott, and 41,00(1. for new barracks
_at Gosport, Hants. During the last three years 20,8011.
has been expended for supplying venter to barracks,
18,537/. for improving the drainage, 1,177/. on ventila-
tion, 13,1261. for sanitary purposes connected with bar-
racks and hospitals, and 120,0001. for improvements to
existing barracks (including provision of quarb:rs for
married sergeants and men). In the same three years,
1856-59, 602 officers and 12,441 men have been provided
with quarters by new barracks, exclusive of the Royal
Ho=pital at Netley, which, when completed, will ace )m-
-modate 1,000 patients. The total amount of money ex-
pended on new barracks in the 20 years ended April,
18t6, was 1,432,1961, and the accommodation pro-
vided was for 391 officers and 11,237 men. This is ex-
elasive c f 722,1741. expended in 1854, 1855, and 1856
for hutting accommodation for 2,100 officers and 40,296
men.

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