The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

Jest published, Part 1., price Is:, to be completed in about 40 Parts:
PrHE COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF
INDIA, CIVIL, MILITARY, and SOCIAL, from the First
landing of the English to the Suppressiaon of the Sepoy Mutiny ;
;nolud,ng an Outline of the Early history of Hindostan.
By HENRY BEVERIDGE, Esq., Advocate.
Illustrated by Five Hundred Engravings on Wood and Steel.
'Mackie and son, Warwick-square, Ncwgate-street, London; and
All Bo lksellers.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.-
LAST NIGHT BUT FIVE.

THE BOHEMIAN GIRL.
THIS EVENING, TUESDAY, will be repeated, the sth
time ie England, LA ZINGARI, being t,',e Italian version of
Ba,lfe's Opera of The Bohemian Girl, by Madlles. Piecolomini
and Sannier ; Signori Belleiti, Violetta, and Giuglini.
n the second Act a new Divertissement, by M. Massot
the music entirely new, composed by Mr. Balfe), by Manes.
Claveile, Morlacchi, and Pasquale.
To conclude with the successful
M DivertissemClave ent, by
Mor M.
Mascot, entitled L'HYMENEE, by adlles. lla, -
lacchi, and Pasquale,.
Prices :--pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons),
pit and one pair, 21. 23; grand tier, 31. 3s ; two pair, P. 55.;
three pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, 105; gallery stalls, 3s 6d ;
pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s.

RER, MAJESTY'S THEATRE,
LAST NIGHTS.
riocoloraini, Spezia,
L Sanuier, Belletti, Vialetti, Aldighieri,
uchesi, and Giuglini.
_ _ _ _ .

THURSDAY, Feb. 18 (Last islight but Four), LA
TRAVIATA;
SATURDAY, Feb. 20 (Last Night but Three), LUCIA DI
LAMMERMOOR.
TUESDAX, Feb. 23 (Last Night but Two), LA FIGLIA
DEL REGGIKENTO, and Last Act of LA FAITORITA.
THURSDAY, Feb. 25 (Last Night but One), LA
ZINGARI, being the Italian version of the Bohemian Girl.
SATURDAY. Feb, 27 (Last Night), IL TROVATORE.
Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at
the Box•office at the Theatre.

T"' T R E-R OYA L, DI-WRY-LANE,
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
Tiris EVENING, will be performed the new comic
drama, A LUCKY HIT.
After which, TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE.
Followed by the new grand pantomime, LITTLE JACK
NOJINER.
ammence at 7.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. Buckstone.
TIIIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with

THE RIVALS.
After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD; or, Harle-
quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ;
P,olumbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ;
Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq.
Orcheritra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the
evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.)
First Price. s. d. Second price. a. d
Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0
Upper Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0
Pit 2 () Pit 1 0
Ga 11,317

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean.
THIS EVENING, will be performed Sliakspere's Play of
A VIDSI7MMER-NIGLIT'S DREAM.
After which, a new grand e, omle Christmas Pantomime
entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess
Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess
Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cot,
Inaes. ; Clown, Mr. Haile ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; and
Columbine, Miss C. Adams.

'THEATRE ROYAL, AD EL PHI.
Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster.
TMS EVENING, will be performed THE FAIRY
CIE CLE. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams.
Aster which, YANKEE COURTSHIP.
To conclude with LATEST FROM NEW YORK.
Commence at Seven.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—SoIe Lessee
and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.—

THIS EVENING, WILD OATS. Rover, Mr. Charles
Dillon.
After which, a domestic tale, by Westland Marton, en-
titled A HARD STRUGGLE. Mr. C. Dillon, &c.
To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH
ROOKII, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU-
BADOUR ' • or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert.
Sup ported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White,
Eliza Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ;
Moritz, Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Poynter' and J. L.
Toole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ;
Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites,
Herr Zaleski and Sons ; Columbines, Misses Malcolm and
Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans-
formation Scene.
Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7.
"Soz-office open from ll to 5 daily.

STRAND. THE kTßE.—Leasee, Mr. T. Payne.
Under the management of Mr. W. H.
S/ranborough,
THIS EVENING, first night of a new Drama, adapted
fro, a a work of Mr. Charles Dickens, entitled SILVER
STORE ISLAND ; or, Perils of Certain English Prisoners.
Supported by Messrs. H. J. Turner, Bolton, Howard, Dean,
Van Buren, &c.; Misses Portman, Hastings, Victor.
To be followed by the highly successful Burlesque of THE
LADY OF LYONS; or, Twopenny Pride and Puny-tence.
Chaeacters by Messrs. Gomersal, Bolton, Howard, Swan.
borough; Misses Victor and Tempest.
T.) conclude with the screaming Farce of A WOMAN
IN MY DUST HOLE. Messrs. L. Buckingham, Turner,
and Miss Craven.

- -
Commence at Severr.
Boxes, 23.; Stalls, 35.; Pit, ls. ; Gallery ed. Hal
price at Nine. Commence at Seven.

OY-4.L SURREY THEATRE,
Xi) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick.

THIS EVENING, will be performed as original English
May, BIGHT AND WRONG.
After which, QUEEN MAB ; or Harlequin Romeo and
Jnlliet. Clown, by the Surrey Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Brad.
bury.

CANTERBU RY HALL, Westminster-road.—
OPEN THIS 'EVENING and To-morrow
Evening (ASH WEDNESDAY.)—The follow-
ing c.mnpany of Vocalists aro engaged for the performance of
Sde,:lions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS,
CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, dm, viz. :—Miss Russell,
Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, 'dies Bru cell, Miss Ray,
Mad tme Bartoletti, Mills Montague, and Madame Marietta ;
Her- F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, S. Jones, J.
Barl:cr, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr.
Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard; Messrs.
T. Michigan, W. 1. Critthleld and E. Mackacy. Piano-
fort, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ;
Director, Ilerr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Scvon o'clock
precisely. Snppers, des., until twelve o'clock.
Mr. AUGUSTUS MAFIA)" will appear every Evening.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TEE S DAT—Morn., 35 min. aft. 3 -Even., 51 min. aft. 3
To- ',lc:111E0w —Morn., 8 min. aft. 4--Even., 26 Ln:n aft 4

WEATHER—SuN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 16.
InzaIiONETER, IN THE SHADE.
44—highest since noon yesterday.
40—lowest this morning and during the night.
0 —this day at noon.

BAROMETER. 29.93.
WISD, North-Easterly ; light and flue.

xi, 4

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 1853,

The debate on the Bill for tranaferring, from the

Ear' India Company to the Crown the government
of her Majesty's East India dominions has again
been adjourned. It will be resumed, and we trust
disposed of this evening. It is full time that the
magi question should be decided, namely, whether
the Double Government is to be retained, with all
Its cumbrous machinery, or a new system is to be
introduced more in accordance
with the spirit of
the age, and the wants and requirements of that
incompetent
be shown
important empire. It does not follow that in
ord.3r to justify the change any charge should be
estr.blished, or even preferred against the Directors,
or Court of Proprietors. They need n
to be either indolent or apathetic,
or corrupt. They may be actuated by the purest
int-nticeas, and may have displayed ability, fidelity
and zeal on every occasion. But still the question
remains, are theirservices requisite, or even bene-
EdA.l, do they in fact conduce to the welfare,
pro4perity, and. happiness of either our English
or Indian fellow subject,.
This view of the subject has been completely
ignored by the advocates of the Leadenhall-street
Bo; rd. They a;e riding off on collateral issues,
• anft putting forward elaborate defences to
inliginary accusation. They assume that there
illr t be crave charges clearly and distinctly sub-
. sta:fdatedci to justify the contemplated change.
Ac ;ordingly we find Mr. WIIITESIDE the ablest
opi,onent of the bill who spoke last night, direct-
ing all his energies to prove that there had been
no “ffences either of commission or omission on
the part of the company. The eminent advocate
as usual, brilliant and effective, more espe-
cially in a matter which so (x..letly suits him as a
clef,-.lnce. It was only to be regretted that his
arguments were wholly beside the question, and
that even if the Directors were " all his fancy ,
ainted them," the moat perfect of human beings, ,

only " wanting wings to be angels," it could not
decide the point at issue. We confess we do not
entertain quite so exalted an opinion of thee
modern CRICEITONS, and shall, in case of need, be
prepared to support our doubts. We refrain
from doing so for the time being, on the simple
ground that the matter is not a personal one, and
that the contest is waged not against the men but
the system.

Lord PALMERSTON clearly foresaw the line
of argument that would be adopted, and very
judiciously cut the ground from under the
feet of his opponents. In place of attacking
he rather complimented the Directors. He did
not utter a single word against either their
morality or ability. He contented himself that
their agency could only be detrimental to the
interests of the country, which by a species of
legal fiction, they were supposed to govern, that
they were incapable of doing good, although
potent for mischief, and that even under the most
favourable circumstances, there must be inevitable
delay and procrastination, and an almost total
abuse of responsibility.
Practically the government has been with the
Crown. Her MAJESTY'S Ministers have been
enabled to do nearly as they liked, but at the same
time to avoid the responsibility that should have
attended their policy. The directors might recall
an efficient Governor-General, or otherwise a bril-
liant General, because he was not profuse in
" lip service," and not prepared "to boo, and
boo, and boo," to the satisfaction of those who
retained but a semblance of sovereignty as shadow
of their former power. But they could really do
nothing except clog and impede the wheels of the
State machine, and that when additional power
was required rather than a self-acting break.

Mr. ROEBUCK and Sir 11. RATTLINSON, the newly
elected Member for Reigate, mails very able
speeches in support of the measure. The great
leaders, however, on both sides have reserved
themselves for the last night, when the conflict
will be more furious, and the impressions of the
House will be manifested in the most unexcep-
tionable manner on the lobby that holds the
majority of members. We have but little doubt
as to the result. Indeed, as we have stated, our
chief objection is that the measure does not go
far enough—that there is no provision for an
improved administration of justice—and that
India will still remain, as it has so long been, for
the almost exclusive benefit of the civil service.

The Conspiracy Bill has not yet received the
Legislative sanction ! The National Seal has not
been affixed to this act of British degradation ! '
We earnestly hope that the people will yet bestir
themselves, and that their chosen representatives
may understand the full amount of responsibility
they are incurring in voting against the will of
their respective constituents. We have already
explained how important is the alteration contem-
plated. It is not merely in the amount of
punishment to the convicted criminal, but in the
machinery that may be put in operation to detect
the alleged guilt. This, as we proved on Saturday,
may be made an instrument of oppression and
annoyance, which will render the so-called right
of sanctuary of comparatively little value, and
enable any foreign power, not France merely, but
Russia, Austria, or even Naples itself, to perse-
cute, through the assistance of the English Go-
vernment, any obnoxious refugee, until he is
driven to seek shelter and protection across the
Atlantic, where the only land of freedom will
then be found—that is to say, of freedom for all
who have not African blood in their veins !

Last night a very numerous meeting was held
at the Freemasons' Tavern "to protest
against the surrender of English liberties
at the dictation :of a foreign Power,"
Many Members of Parliament whose presence in
the House of Commons was required on the ad-
journed debate on the India Bill wrote letters ex-
pressive of their sympathy with the objects of the
assembly. Mr. Joint BRIGHT hit the right nail on
the head. While expressing anxiety to avoid
causing any irritation between the people of this
country and France, he showed that our own Go-
vernment was to be blamed for a total want of
dignity in the matter, and from shrinking from
their duty in not giving a proper and respectful,
but firm reply to the French despatch. As the
Honourable Gentleman truly declared, the mea-
sure could give no additional security to the
Emperor, or to any other person, and can only be
regarded as " a humiliating concession to a hasty
and needless demand."

We all know how earnestly the honourable
gentleman deprecates any course that could lead
to hostilities. He must therefore have felt tho-
roughly convinced that the line which he advocated
would not only be perfectly safe, but that it would
be best calculated to avert perils looming in the
future from any quarter whatsoever. There was
a sound truth contained in the bibernicism, that
" the best way to avoid danger was to meet it
full in the face." And everyday's experience
proves that the men who are most jealous of their
honour, and will tolerate no insult or imputation,
are seldom if ever exposed thereto.
We have already commented on the extraordi-
nary omission of the French Government, in omit-
ting to publish the explanatory despatch of Count
WALEWSKI, expressing the regret of the Earr.sßoß
at the insertion oftheobiectionableaddresses from
the Bobadils of his army, in the Moniteur, •
the medium through which the insult
to EnOind was conveyed. This could scarcely
be an " act of inadvertance," considering the
manner in which the previous despatch of the
Foreign Minister was forced on the public atten-
tion, being not only given by every journal, offi-
cial, and non-official—but posted in every the-
rougbfare, so that he " who runs might read."
And surely it is time that the French people
should learn that we have not yielded to the
bland " invitation," for further legislation,
without having received an official expla-
nation of the insult inflicted on us by the
truculent sabrears whom the Emperor delights to
honour. We are glad to find that Mr. GRIFFITH
11.48 given notice of his intention to exhibit an
interrogatory to Lord PALMERSTON on this
subject.
It is to the following effect :
"Whether, since the letter of the 6th of February
from the
regret French Ambassador, expressing the
of the EMPEROR for the publication of the
addresses in
th
ofteitr, has not appeared in
that paper in thesame way as its predecessor of
the 29th January, e fo,
ti
asking for redress, for the
information of the French public, it be the
inten • tuna of Government to
French Goveriame suggest to the
nt, that its publication
would, in their opinion publi, be conducive to the
satisfactory termination 'of the transaction."
It will not, of course, in the present condition of
the French press, be noticed, unless the Emperor,
knowing that the bill has not yet passed its second
reading, should think proper to repair the gross
act of negligence, and to caution the redactear of
the Moiriteto. not to be guilty of a third act of
inadvertence.

In Lord PALMERSTON'S Government composed
of some sixty members, holding what are termed
Parliamentary places, either in the public offices or

j(exeepting the mere working

law officers) that
26 aro held by Peers ;
20 by Peers' sons and sons-in-law ;
3by gentlemen closely connected by blood
with the Peerage ;

12 by others, nine of whom perform the hard
work of subordinate secretaries without any
authority or patronage whatever ; and of the
other three, one only is at the head of what may
be fairly called a department.
Such is the summary presented us of aristocracy
in the Cabinet by the author of " Parliamentary
Reform—What and Where," who in the time of
the first reform discivsions was the author of
another well-known pamphlet—" What will the
Lords do ?" He seems to have kept his eye closely
on the House of Lords, for the latter half of this
present pamphlet is occupied with the question of
Peerage Reform ; a reform which he thinks, pro-
bably justly, t.) bo as important as Representative
Reform. As tho two houses must co-operate in the
legislature, he insists on adjustment of the two to
each other as no less important than the reform of
the lower of the two. His object is to raise the sta-
tus of the House of Commons, and to improve, by
reduction and other ;vise, the quality of the Upper
House, and thus to bring both more into harmony
with each other. The pamphlet indeed is chiefly
interesting as handling the Reform question from
lan important point of view—that of adjustment.
It is but to glance at the quotation with which
we began, to see definitely stated, what we all
knew generally very well before, that the pro-
fessedly liberal and popular Ministry of Lord PAL-
MERSTON is overrun with aristocrats. Probably we
have had none since the Reform Bill was passed,
in which the peerage and their connecti .oas so
pressed themselves into all the public employments
worth having. Why is this ? Is it entirely the
Premier's fault ? This, from mere prudential con-
siderations, is hardly likely. Lord PALMERSTON'
would probably prefer to have a fair proportion of
men of the people around him, if only to preserve
appearances. But whatever his wishes may be,
one reason why he must employ a large number
of the lordly class is, that its number is become
so large. "At the beginning of the last century
we had 167 English peers; at the close of the
reign of GEORGE 11., 175. We have now 393 !
In the first period of sixty years the peerage
was increased by eight ; in the second period of
100 years a like proportion would have given an
increase of 14 ; but instead of that the actual
increase amounted to 215 1" The peerage was
much more than doubled. The peers of different
kinds now number 460, with a tendency to rapid
increase ; indeed, we are told that we have now
no less than 555 hereditary peers and peeresses
in their right within the United Kingdom ; and
that, too, while the number of members in the House
of Commons is slightly diminished. When with
this is coupled the fact that no property qualifica-
tion is required for the House of Lords, the
increasing numbers and necessities of the aristo-
cracy are alone sufficient to account for the charac-
ter of the PALMERSTON Ministry.
All will agree with the writer's remarks that
" there are few greater evils than a faineante
noblesse ; but it is hardly less an evil when the
same body appropriate to themselves and their
families nearly all Me great offices of the State, and
press their children, on to the front rank in all its
tuorking departments." This will certainly be the
case if the peerage is suffered to be indefinitely
increased, and a body so closely bound together
by pride, family connections, and hereditary pri-
vileges, to become also a very large one. The
remedies do not appear to be difficult to find, and
as they would tend, most of them, to increase the
value of a Peerage, there is no reason why they
should not be acceptable to the House of Lords.
Limitation of the number of each class of Peers
is one of the most obvious restrictions ; enforce-
ment of a property qualification another ; and the
departure from the original arrangements, by which
the Scotch and Irish Peers have increased so largely,
affords another means of reduction. The elective
Peers for those parts of the United Kingdom aro
now become a great abuse. They are practically
two close peerage boroughs, furnishing 16 and 28
votes respectively to the patron.
Our author is much more interested in increas-
ing the weight and dignity of the House of Com-
mons, than in popularising the constituency which
returns it. He, indeed, from his point of view,
regards larger constituencies chiefly as one mode
of giving importance to our Representatives, He
is therefore desirous that the 101. franchise should
be lowered, and every arrangement made to include
the educated and well informed classes, in order
to give the House a firmer hold on the country,
since he acknowledges that this has been one great
advantage of the Act of 1832. He is also speci-
ally desirous that the public service, science, lite-
rature, and the press, should have easier access
to the House, and that the presence of represen-
tatives of these classes would correct and fill up
many defects.

Hi 3 proposals for giving the House of Commons
a "broader basis and a higher tone," are an exten-
sion of the suffrage to the competent classes ; in-
creasing the numbers in small constituencies, so
far as to render them independent of dictation ; and
transferring the franchise to larger constituencies
when a constituency cannot be rendered indepen-
dent.
,To raiso the 1)50 of the House he proposes
to check the aspirations of its Members to a peer-
age, and thus to fix their ambition to their own
House ; not to exclude high legal and other autho-
rities who are above Ministerial and party control;
to admit retired public servants without impeach-
ment of their pensions ; to form such Corporations
or Societies into constituencies as would presum-
ably return men of eminence ; to associate our
colonies in groups with the Imperial Legislature ;
to thrown open to both Houses all appointments
in the State and Court which are usually denomi-
nated Government offices ; to give Members of the
House of Commons precedence over all othei
Commoners ; and to abate the hunt after patro-
nage, through the steady carrying out under
well-digested arrangements of free competition for
all first appointments.
Such aro some of the principal recommendations
of a writer who certainly has a right to be beard ;
one who compares the Reformed Parliament to
great advantage with the old one, and who is
desirious to advance in the same course, while pro-
viding that the House shall rise in importance.

THE IRISH VICEROYALTY.—DUBLIN, Monday.— A
meeting was held this day in Dublin, to oppose the
abolition of the office of Viceroy. Lord Ilowth proposed
the first resolution, to the effect that Mr. Roebuck's
motion, coupled with Mr. Horsman's attack on the
office of Viceroy, made it a duty on the part of the
meeting to resist, by all constitutional means, a proposal
tao
odinpstleidlt. the Irish people, and to compromise the inte-
rests of the Crown itself, Colonel Taylor seconded the
resolution, which, with others of a similar tenor, was

- •
weeks
Inriimisz ABUNDANCE OF FISIT.—F or
pfilbs ten
bteeiltomfinygo
belonging
ahr
atotofs
atahnceod
bTeeshasrrrainn
gos
herrings.
eotnhae literallyiorn ne e
t occasionsoo mni some weeks
BWhtiahtihe.
lows near the ninth buoy, and the fish th.y took were so many that they could not draw it in again
without bre%king Theo et. The men got into the water
al.d lilted the firthnthe Coble by baskets full, and in
a short time filled it as lull as it-could carry. They
brought them to •it
and sold the quantity to one
mot at 21. a stone (14110. The shoal continues as
abundant as at first, and several nobles n)rue in every
day with upwards of one ton of fish, 'which are sold on
the quay to persons from the inland towns at 30.4.
boati( aJ, or lid. a stone ! Such an occurrence has not
been l n iwn before in the memory of the oldest fishermen
on the TeeB,—sundethula .Herald.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Royal Highness the DucheSs of Cambridge, yesterday,
at her reidence in St. James's Palace.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Van Dockum, the
newl)-appointed Danish Minister at this Court, has
taken a mansion, No. 7, Lowndes-square, at which
place the business of the L7gation will 'in future be
conducted.
His Excellew.y Count Adolphe Dubsky (Lord
Chamberlain to his Majesty the Emperor of Austria),
accompanied by his brother, the Count Victo Dubsky,
arrived at theßrunswick Hotel, St. James's, on Saturday
from Vienna.
B.xon and Baroness Stutterheim have left Fenton's
Hotel for Germany.
Sr C. R. Rushout, Bart., the Hon. Lady Rushout,
Miss Rushout, and Miss Pamela Rushout, have left
Fenton's Hotel for Seizincote, Gloucestershire.

_ .e..„.
Sir Paul and Lady Hunter have arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Mortimer-hill, Berks.
Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Hamilton Beckett have
arrived at their new residence, 55, Rutland-gate;
Mr. Gurdon, M.P., and the Lion. Mrs. Gordon and
family, arrived at 19, Hill-street, last week, for the
season.
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Ibbetteon have arrived at Fen.
ton's Hotel. The Mayor of Manchester and the Mayor
of Ashton-under-Lyne have arrived at the same estab-
Itchrnent.
DEATH OF ADMIRAL ARCHIBALD DUFF.—We regret
to announce the death, at the mature age of 84, of this
veteran naval officer, which took place at his house of
Braemoriston, on the 19th inst. The deceased was the
second son of Major A. Duff, and grandson of Mr. John
attained
on the
fiDaugff
r,
aonfke
iunl nB.
10H,
aenedn t
wasered
ptlha ec
enda, v ya
sas a ad
mb
iorya,l
reserved list in 1855. In 1837, on the death of his bro.
ther, Mr. J. Duff, he succeeded to the entailed estate of
Drummuir, in the counties of Banff and Aberdeen.
Soon afterwards he purchased part of the lands of Live-
rugie, in this county, on which he expended considerable
sums in improvements, especially upon the harbour of
' Hopennan. In politics Admiral Duff was a stanch Con-
servative. In the management of his extensive landed pro-
perties he acted on the principle that the larger farmers
are able to protect themselves, but that small ones
should be fostered and encouraged ; and on few estates
were cotters and small farmers more independent.
Having lett no children he is succeeded in the family
estate of Drummuir by his cousin, M,jor Lachlan Duff
Gerien of Park, M.P. for Banffshire, and cousin to the
Earl of Fife, who will assume the name of Duff, in
terms of the deed of entail.—Ekin Courant.
SURREY SESS'ONS.—Yesterday morning the Clerk of
the Peace (Mr. Greig) read a letter, addressed to the
Court by J. W. Freshfield, 'expressing Lis wish
to retire from the chairmanship of the Reigate Sessions,
owing to increasing infirmities, which chiefly consisted
of deafness, requesting at the same time that the Bench
would, at the next Quarter Sessions, proceed to elect a
gentleman as hip successor.
LEVIATHAN EXCURSIONS.—The railway companies
announced excursion train 3 to start on Saturday last
from Mar chester and Liverpool, "to see the Leviathan
efloal at 12s. 6d. first class, and 7s. 6d. in covered
carriages, there and back, allowing four days in the
metropolis. The remit was a monster train by the
London and North Western Railway from Liverpool,
drawn by three engines, and conveying from 2,000 to
3,000 passengers. Another train by the Groat Northern
route conveyed 260. From Manchester, the Great
Northern train conveyed 500 passengers, and there was
also a heavy train by the London and North Western,
the number of passengers by which cannot be exactly
stated, but it is supposed by the officers to have been
upwards of 500.
THE SPEAKER.—The Right Hon. the Speaker of the
House of Cornmeal gave his first Parliamentary full
dress dinner this year, at his house in Carlton House-
terrace, on Saturday evening, The following bad the
honour to receive invitations :—Viscount Palmerston,
Sir George Grey, the Chancellor of the Exehequer, Sir
C. Wood, Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Right Hon.
M. T. Baines, Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Viscount
Castlerosse, -Viscount Duncan, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord
Alfred Paget, Right Hon. W. F. Cowper, the Judge
Advocate-General, Right Hon. E. P. Bouverie, Right
Hon. Henry Fitzroy, Right Hon. Sir B. Hall, Right
Hon, Robert Lowe, Right Hon. H. A. Herbert, Right
Hon. W. G. Hayter, Hon. Henry Brand, Sir John
Ramsden, the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General,
the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Lord-Advocate,
Mr. Massey, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. C. Fortescue, Mr.
Osborne, Mr. R. W. Grey, Mr. Denby Seymour, Mr.
F. G. Baring ; Hon. George Waldegrave, secretary ;
Rev. Henry Drury, chaplain.
ATTEMPTED MURDER IN PRESTON GAOL BY A PRISONER
CHARGED WITH PARRICIDE.—it will be remembered that
Tenomas Kershaw, 19 years of age, a factory optative,
was on the 15th nit. committed for trial at the Lancaster

assizes on a charge of having murdered his father on the
13th ult., at Over Darwen, by striking him on the bead
with a poker. After committal he was removed to the

gaol at Preston to await his trial, and was confined in
one of the hospital wards, two orderlies, named Collins
and Garner (also prisoners) being appointed to watch
him alternately. It seems that he has made some state-
ments to Cedins about the murder, which Collins has
written down and given to Colonel Martin, the
governor. He told Collins on the Bth inst. that he
intended to aot mad bebre the assizes." He has mince
charged Collins with telling tales of him, and threatened
to use the poker and tongs against him. On Friday
morning Col.ine was sitting by his bedside, reading the
Testament, when prisoner got out of bed and struc
him on the head with an iron fire-shovel. Collins was

knocked do wninsemible, and dreadfully injured. Other

men ran in and seized Kershaw, who only said, " I may
as well be hung for two murders as for one." The mat-
ter was investigated by the visiting justices on Saturday,
and he was committed on this additional charge.
ESCAPE FROM HEREFORD COUNTY GAOL. —Shortly
after 8 o'clock on Friday morning, an official in the gaol
rep irted to Captain Glinn, the governor, that Thomas
Davis, a prisoner who was committed for trial to the next
aSSin,,, for housebreaking at Little Hereford, was miss-
ing. It was found that the prisoner had removed a
large lock from the door, and wrenched it off; the top
plate of this lock has not yet been found. He also
wrenched off a heavy bolt, and seems to have picked a
large padlock, removing the top plate by means which
have baffled all scrutiny to ascertain. A bag, composed
tihnegyen were e
u re s
manner.
of strong twine network, is placed in each cell, and in
this the prisoner every night deposits his clothes, which
are removed from the cell, and restored at 6 o'clock in
the morning. In this case, the prisoner, on receiving his
clothes a
placed, must
hive
atonce et
He
formed a ladder of the net-work of the bag, and pro-
vided steps for his feet by breaking up his wooden
trencher into steps. He must then have forced the locks
and made his way to the outer wall, which he succeeded
ud thes r
te o t work inwhinic an h
in climbing by the aid of his rope ladder of novel con-
struction, and got clear away before his escape became
known. A description of the fugitive, and a reward is
offered for his apprehension ; but no tidings of him can
be ascertained. Since his escape a robbery has been
committed at a house in the direction in which it is sup-
posed he has gone ; and, from the fact that wearing
apparel was the booty of the robbery, it is deemed to be
more than probable the prisoner was the perpetrator, in
older to change h's attire.— alocester Journal.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF INDIA.--yesterday was pub•
lished a copy of a memorandum (prepared at the India-
house) of the improvements in the administration of
India during the la,t 30 years. The statement is
ushered?, in by a prefatory notice, to the effect that
at this thee, when a calamity unexeenpled in the history
of India has excited an unusual amount of interest in'
Indian affairs, while the statements publicly made and
the opinions expressed coucernieg the Geveroment of
India strikingly manifest the deficiency of correct infor-
mation on the subject, u brief survey of the principal
measures which have of late been adopted for improving
the internal government of the country and the physical
and mental condition of its inhabitants, may be ser-
viceable in removing false impressions and in supplying
materials for a deliberate judgment. It is thought
proper, considering the very recent period at which the
charter was renewed (1853), to "trace the stream of
Indian improvement from a point much higher up in its
couree. ' The memorandum refers to the connection of
the revenue system with the rights, &c., of the people,
to the permanent settlement of Lower Beugal, the pre-
sent improvements in that Presidency, the ryotwar
system in Madras, the ryotwar reform inTornbay, the
settlement of the North-Weet provinces, the fiscal system
of India, the land revenue, the opium and salt monopo-
lies, Customs, the post-office, judicature and legislation,
police and prisons, 'nugget> and Dacoit suppression,
piracy, Suttee, witchcraft, Tragga, Aferiah eacriaces,
slavery, the remarriage of widows, public works and
railroads, education, the cultivation of tea, and the im-
provement of native States. The whole forms a Parlia-
mentary pamphlet of nearly 40 pages.
DREADFUL FIRE.—Tbe Carlow Post of Saturday con-
tains the following :--" On Thursday morning last, at
about five o'clock, a fire broke out in the clothes store
of Athy Workhouse, and the contents being of an in-
flammable nature the flames quickly spread to an
adjoining dormitory, in which there were about 13
children sleeping. This room also caught fire ; all the
children escaped, except three, who, melancholy to
relate, were burnt to ashes. The schoolmaster made several
attempts to rescue the unfortunate children, but in vain,
for the filmes had spread to such an extent that it was
impossible to obtain access to the room. Subsequently
the heated vapour coming from the burning building
extended to a dormitory occupied by 12 men, seven of
whom, on hearing of the fire, immediately got out of bed,
dressed themselves and quitted the room ; but the other
five, not being able to escape, such was the powerful
influence the smoke had or them, remained, and were
suffocated. A circumstance connected with the Buff).
cation of these men deserves to be related. There were
two brothers sleeping in ose bed. On the alarm reach-
ing them one awoke the other, and told him to get up as
quickly as he could, that the house was on fire ; but the
unfortunate man was sc much overpowered from the
effects of the smoke ttat he was unable to move,
and was afterwards with the other four men, suffo-
cated. The fire was first discovered by the cook,
who immediately informed the master, Mr. Tracey,
and ho at once proceedee to unlock all the dormi-
tories, in order to allow the inmates to escape, which,
when dune, he despatched a messenger to the police
barrack for a fire-engine ;
he also ordered the alarm ben
to be rung. In a short time the fire-engine al rived, and
was worked most efficiently by the police and a number
of civilians, who rendered very great assistance in ex-
tinguishing the fire, which was completely done before
8 o'clock. The amount of property destroyed is esti-
mated at between 3001. and 4001. The building is fully
insured in the Sun Insurer:, e Company. An iequest was
held on the bodice yesterday (Fridhj), the reenit of
which we have not yet heaid. Ou tut:; &lay (laiturday)
the commissioners' inquiry will be held to examine into
the particulars of the case. How the fire originated is
not known ; when the inquest is held all the circum-
stances connected with the tragic occurrence will appear,"