The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-10 00:00:00

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

Lox Pox, Jan. 10.—Wind this day at noon—South.
Westerly; strong breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.

LIVERPOOL, Jan. 9.—Wind S.W.—Put back—Vidsarle,
from River Plate.

QUEENSTOWN, Jan. 9. —Wind S.W.—Arrived—Principe,
from Adine.

BRISTOL, Jan B.—Wind N.W.—The Reform, of this
port, was picked up this morning off Clevedon, abandoned,
full of water.

FALMOUTH, Jan. 9.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Baroness,
from Taganrog.
YARMOUTH, Jan. 9.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Maria,
from Middlesborough.

HAnwicir, Jan. 9. Wind S.W..—Arrived—Mtiry Ida,
from Taganrog.

LEY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]
GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning.
Arrived, Jan. 10—Leo, steamer, from Antwerp ; Holland,
steamer, from Ostend.

DEAi, Wednesday Morning.
Passed, in tow, dismasted—Rio Grande, from Jamaica
for London.

Shocking Murder in Paddington.

Last evening a shocking murder was perpetrated in
Green-street, Paddington, by a man named George Ring-
wood, aged 35, a contractor, living at No. 15, Green-street,
Paddington. Last night Ringwood was the successful com-
petitor for a contract for work to be done in Mortimer-street,
Russell-square, after which ho went into a public-house
in that neighbourhood, followed by his wife. After
drinking there for a short time they went towards their
home, and on arriving at Green-street the wife insisted
upon going into the Greyhound beershop, and Ringwood
went into his own house and gave their niue children their
sapper. He then went into the beershop and found his
wife singing in the parlour. This offended him, and angry
words ensued, but they subsequently became good friends.
After sitting in the parlour till near midnight Grace
(the wife) insisted upon singing another song, and
while ding so her husband was talking to a man named
Mackie, who spoke in a loud tone of voice, and this in-
terrupted the singing, whereupon Mrs.Ringwood got into a
passion and used harsh epithets to her husband. lie
became so exasperated that he seized a table knife which
lay on an adjoining table, went to his wife, seized
her by the hair of her head, and stabbed her. The knife
penetrated through the neck, and separated the jugular
vein. Dr. Beale, of Portous-road, was immediately called
in, but found her dead. Inspector Steer, X division, took the
man into custody, and then conveyed the nine children in
two cabs to the Paddington Workhouse. The man Ring-
wood has always borne a good character as a sober, indus-
trious man, but the deceased has for several years past been
addicted to habits of intemperance.

—... .., ...... _
The prisoner was examined at the Marylebone Police-
court this day, when the above facts were given in evi_
deuce; but the prisoner said he did not stab his wife, but
throw the knife at hsr. He was remanded.

NEW STAMPS FOR THE DIVORCE AND PROBATE
COURTS.—The fees in the Divorce and Probate Courts are
now paid by stamps under the new act, and regulations
havNeEbleyenumuaLdeEsonFtoheßTHEsubject.
PROBATE COURT.—New
rules for the Probate Court have been made, and will take
effect to-morrow. They are in addition to the rules for the
Divorce Court mentioned in The Sun on Monday.
HILARY TERM.—The courts will sit at 10 o'clock
to-morrow (Thursday), on the commencement of Hilary
Term. There are eight registration appealss to be decided
in twheitLeLrmull
ethAeßCLoEuTrotNo,f Common ingorn great
tlea
Irish writer, is
suffering, we regret to learn, under severe physical
infirmity, which totally precludes the further exercise of
his literary powers. In his 71st year, the author of the
"Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry," his faculties
obscured and his sight all but lost, is struggling to main-
tain himself and a large family 0n.£150 a year, the residuum
of his pension of £2OO a year, after paying the premium
on the policy of insurance effected for the benefit of his
survivors. Feeling that his time will be but short,
and wishing to give him a short respite from pressing care
before he passes away, some of his friends in Dublin have
commenced a movement for having an increase of a third
made to his pension during the brief balance of his life ;
and it is hoped that those in the North of Irelandiwho are
influential will not be slow to use their influence on behalf
of William Carleton, a North of Ireland man.—Northern
Whig.
THE HABEAS CORPUS AND GEN. HOOKER.—An impor-
tant case, involving the writ of Habeas Corpus, is now
before the Supreme Court of New York, sitting in New
York City. On the 27th of November last orders were
issued by the War Department for the transfer of Robert
Martin, one of the New York noted incendiaries from
Louisville, Kentucky, to New York, to be delivered by
Major-General Hooker for trial before a military commis-
sion, which was duly carried into effect. Since then the
order suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus in New York
and other States has been revoked by the President.
Taking advantage of this circumstance, the counsel for the
prisoner moved for a writ of Habeas Corpus in the Supreme
Court of New York, requiring Martin to be brought
before that Court for a hearing. . request was com-
plied with and a writ issued, but afterward withdrawn,
proper service not having been made on General Hooker.
Another writ was served on General Hooker, but the
prisoner was not produced. A return, however, was
h 1
made by General Hooker, setting fortt
that
prisoner
plaaNiv.psositendofofhetliinegPtrriessid-
ended throughout the
dweanst ho
ltdh Ob
a
yunthiteedatsitthaetersityfoorftthleie
d f ther that at the time of the arrest of Martin the
obfy
N theewp
yr, ooprekr, military ithetaryc
ht rairbguen aolf nowe
necixiiasrtiisnmg
andin t he
being City
n
spy ;an ur ,
PCoorritjhuessewraesassounssphe declined to produce
twUhnie.iittpe°drilsSojitnaaeterb.se.as Mr. Samuel G. Courtney, on behalf of
General Hooker, cited various cases to show that his
return was sufficient, and that he was not bound to produce
the prisoner, but the judge decided that General Hooker
must produce the prisoner or be held for contempt, and,
at the request of Martin's counsel, issued an order re-
quiring General Hooker to produce the prisoner, or be
attached for contempt. General Hooker has produced the
prisoner.

.0.0"

Representation of Tiverton.

SIR JOHN HAY BEFORE THE ELECTORS.

As already announced, Sir John Hay, Bart., is
now before the constituency of Tiverton as a can-
didate for their suffrages in the Conservative inte-
rest. The hon. baronet addressed a large and
enthusiastic meeting of the electors in the Town-
hall on Monday evening. Mr. T. Daniel, of Stood-
leigh, presided.
Sir STAFFORD NORTITCOTE said he was happy to be
there to bear testimony to the ability of Sir John
Hay to represent them in Parliament, and to his
great usefulness when in the house. lie earnestly
hoped and believed they would send him there
again, and that it would be that he would be as
useful as before. (Hear, and cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then introduced the hon. candi-
date.

Sir JOHN HAY, who was enthusiastically cheered,
said he was excessively happy to think that Tiver-
ton, at present represented by one Conservative,
was now so cordially inclined to welcome another
to contest its representation. (Cheers.) Although
the hon. gentleman who now represented them so
worthily was a neighbour and a friend to them, yet
he (Sir John) trusted—as they had thought fit, in
consequence, as he imagined, of the humble services
which he had given to the Conservative party
during the course of the last Parliament, to ask him
to be the second member—that the fact of his not
being a neighbour would not at all make him the
less friendly to them, and not the less able to serve
their interests should they be inclined to accept him
as their candidate and eventually return him.
(Hear, hear.) He could not, on this occasion, but
express the deep regret felt throughout all England
for the cause of the void in the borough of Tiverton
which had now occurred, because whatever their
political sentiments might be they must acknow-
ledge that they had in the late Lord Palmerston a
great and eminent Englishman, to whom all men
looked with respect and admiration ; and however
they might disagree with him on many of the topics
of the day, yet they felt he was an honour to the
country and that the welfare of England was safe
in his hands. (Applause.) There were many in-
stances of foreign policy where Lord Palmerston's
hand was seen and recognised. He (Sir John)
might mention the affair of the Trent with our
cousins on the other side of the Atlantic. It was
with great sorrow that all Englishmen heard of the
loss the country had sustained in the death of
Lord Palmerston. There was a Palmerston
administration without a Palmerston, and there
was the weakness of the present Government of
the country. As long as Lord Palmerston was at
the head of affairs the English people knew that
there would be no reform bill of so stringent a cha-
racter as the one now about to be proposed. (Hear,
hear.) He said so because already they had had a
speech from the present great supporter of the mi-
nistry, Mr. Bright, who had explained to them how
the reform measure was to be conducted. Since that
speech Mr. Cardwell, a cabinet minister, had spoken
on the same subject, and denied none of the motives
which Mr. Bright had imputed to the ministry. He
(Sir John) thought it would be clearly seen how
disadvantageous the proposals of the ministry, as
explained by Mr. Bright, must be to the small con-
stituencies of England, and through them to the
representative system which was the support of the
constitution. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bright had told
them that he would be satisfied at present with a re-
duction of the franchise to £lO for counties and £6
for boroughs. He (Sir John) understood that his
hon. and learned friend Mr. Denman had assented
to the proposed reduction of the borough franchise
to £6—(a Voice, " For his own benefit." Laugh-
ter.) Yet, where would be the benefit ?—that was
the point at what he wanted to arrive. According
to the commentary of Mr. Bright the £lO franchise
would be immediately swamped. It was true that
if Tiverton remained a borough there would be cer-
tain electors on the electoral roll, but Mr. Bright's
proposal was to destroy small boroughs, and place
them with the county constituencies—thus the six
pounders would have no vote. According to the
admirable system of their friend Mr. Bright the pre-
sent electors of Tiverton would become constituents
of North Devon, and the six pounders would have
no vote either for the county or the borough. He
wished it to be distinctly understood by the non-
electors, and that the gentlemen of the press would
explain, that the proposal of the ministry to intro-
duce a £6 franchise would not give one vote to one
single individual in the borough of Tiverton. He
believed that the logic was clear and con-
clusive—that the fact was patent to any
one who chose to look into the matter ; • and he
thought they were much indebted to Mr. Bright for
having lifted up the curtain so as to reveal the
future, and show what the proposal of the Ministry
was which he intended to support. (Hear, hear.)
All he (Sir John) could say was, that if the electors
of Tiverton on either side accepted this proposal
they would be committing political suicide ; and he
ventured to say that they would be by no means
wise in listening to Mr. Denman's charm, " charm
he ever so wisely." (Hear, hear.) The chairman had
alluded to the ballot as a dead letter ; he quite
agreed with him that it was such. Mr. Bright had
said it was to be the third bite of his cherry. (A
laugh.) If this question of the ballot were brought
forward he (Sir John) should give his unqualified
opposition to it. (Cheers.) If the ballot-box were
used the non-electors would become mere cyphers,
having no information with regard to the concerns
of their neighbours, and knowing not the reasons
for which they selected this or that person to be
their representative in Parliament. Therefore, he
said the ballot was un-English, and one of the most
foolish proposals ever urged upon the attention of a
country. (Applause.) He was glad to see that an
able exponent of Radical views (John Stuart Mill),
who was returned for Westminster, had written a
good chapter on the subject, in which chapter he
distinctly coincided with the view which he (Sir
John) had just expressed. Respecting the franchise
he (Sir John) would only say this. He was well
aware that there were many persons excluded from
exercising that privilege, and who it was wise should
be so excluded. But he had always thought that
the so-called "fancy franchises" propOsed in Lord
Derby's bill were wise and prudent. (Hear, hear.)
There were many persons of intelligence and means
living in clubs and lodgings who could not exercise
the right to which they were entitled. (Hear, hear.)
He believed that any means which could be devised
for admitting such persons to the right of voting
would be to the advantage of the country, and
strengthen the Conservative principle, which was to
maintain the English constitution. Passing on to
speak of himself, the hon. baronet observed he did
not
know whether any humble efforts which he
had happened to make in Parliament, with refer-
ence to economy in defence of the country, had ever
come before them. As a naval officer, and as a per-
son who had seen some service afloat, and with arms
on land, it had
naturally devolved upon him, be-
longing, as he did, to the Conservative party, to take
a rather prominent part in the debates which took
place in reference to the national defences. He was
always anxious to maintain the honour of the coun-
try at the highest point ; to maintain the efficiency
of the navy, so that they might always have the best
security for peace, a proper and just preparation for
war. (Hear, hear.) He was bound to say that there
bad seemed to him to be on various occasions a con-
siderable waste of public money, and that he had
thought that economy might be judiciously intro-
duced into these
on
John
departments. II avin g enlarged
his services to the country in this respect, sir
proceeded to say that in this country there were many
non-conformists to the Church of England ; and he
had always found, at least in Yorkshire, a portion
of which he had represented when last in Parliament,
that many of the best non-conformists were of his
opinion, viz., that everything possible should be done
to maintain the connexion between Church and State.
(Cheers.) The question of church-rates bad given
considerable difficulty to statesmen. It was a ques-
tion which one would be glad to see settled were it
possible. But this be must say, on no account would
he see the land, the funded property of this country,
relieved of the duty of 8 •
upportmg the National Church.
(Cheers.) The Church of England was every man's
church, and the reason why the land and property of
the country should be taxed for its support was that

all the poor of this country might receive instruction
in the Christian and Protestant doctrines taught there,
and without money and without price. (Hez r.) He
thought that the education of the poorer clan ses should,
rs far as possible, be kept in connexion with the Na-
tional Church. But he must say, so greatwas the evil
which existed with regard to the uneducated classes,
that to a certain extent he would advocate compulsory
education as it was practised in some other coun-
tries. Much as he desired economy he disagreed
entirely with the proposal of Mr. Lowe, for which
that gentleman lost his office, that the money spent
upon education should not be allowed to go on
increasing. We were spending no less than
£25,000,000 a year on our army and naval defences.
Surely, then, a bare million a year was far too little
to spend on so important a matter as education.
(Applause.) Passing on to notice another subject,
Sir John said the:cholera had been approaching this
country rapidly ; large towns, especially the metro-
polis, had been particularly threatened. Therefore,
sanitary reform should be promoted. It was in-
cumbent upon the Home-office to urge forward the
various metropolitan governing bodies, so as to pre-
vent London from being the nucleus of the terrible
disease now in some parts of Europe. It was the
duty of Parliament to urge forward active measures
for the cleanliness and improvement of the towns
for the repression of the disease. (Hear.) He had
alluded to foreign affairs. He must say that he
lamented exceedingly the conduct of her Majesty's
present Government in reference to the affairs of
Denmark. He was not at all ambitious to go to
war; but what he did object to was that Denmark
should be encouraged by England, and then, hav-
ing been led into a snare, left to her own resources.
(Hear, hear.) That course was certainly not hon-
ourable to this country—(hear, hear)—and he re-
gretted it exceedingly. The hon. baronet then al-
luded to the prospects of the election, and said he
felt sure that he should "go in and win." (Much
applause.)

The meeting resolved to support the hon. baronet,
who yesterday commenced his canvass with every
prospect of success.

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

The National Provincial Bank of England, which
has been established 33 years, and has now 108
branches, opens business in London to-day, at
their new premises in Bishopsgate - street and
Waterloo-place, under the recent act of Mr. Glad-
stone relieving banks of issue from the disabilities
under which they laboured in London. The chief
office in Bishopsgate forms an angle with Thread-
needle-street, where it joins South Sea houses,
and comprises the old site of the bank, which was
known as the old Mansion House, and stood back in
a courtyard from the main street, and the once
famous hostelry, the Flower Pot, from which the
greater part of the stage traffic for the east used,
prior to the railway extensions, to start. Owing to
the rather awkward situation of the ground he had
to deal with, so as not to intrench on the rights or
destroy the lights of other parties, the architect,
Mr. John Gibson, had some difficulty to contend
with, but he has succeeded in producing one of the
handsomest buildings in the City, and a decided
ornament to the neighbourhood. The principal
front of the building in Bishopsgate-street is about
53ft. in height. The columns attached are 30ft.
10in. in height, and are placed on pedestals and a
surbase, which together rise 9ft. Bin. from the pave-
ment where the ground is lowest. The shafts, cabled
the entire height, are 25ft. Bin. in height; the capi-
tals, of composite character, but freshly designed,
and each with a lion's head in the centre between the
volutes, are 3ft. 6in. in height, and the bases are if.
Bin. The entablature is 7ft. Bin. The blocking
course is 2ft. 10in. The figure, or group, in each
case, is about 9ft. 3in. in height, with its pedestal,
or Bft. without. The windows in the main front are
15ft. 6in. in height to the crown, and 6ft. 9in. in
the clear width. Each is glazed with a single sheet
of glass. The entablature is devoid of moulding,
its main features being dentils and block medal-
lions, but upon the frieze are the words in gilt
letters, " National Protection Bank of England,"
whilst the names of the various branches are cut on
the reveals of the entrance. Sculpture in groups,
single figures, and panels, has contributed largely
to the effect of the exterior. The groups are over
the coupled columns ; the single figures are over
the single columns. Commencing from the farthest
point on the rounded end of the building, we have
Manchester, represented by a single figure, and
having as " supporters," seated, a negro with raw
cotton, and a workman with a bale of goods ; next
we have England, represented by St. George, and
supportedby Britannia holding a wreath and shield,
and by a female figureto represent Navigation ; next
comes St. David of Wales, with an old harper, and a
miner with his pickaxe ; the next is a single female
figure, representing Birmingham, and having the
hammer and anvil ; then there is a figure with a
tazza, emblematic of Newcastle and the pottery dis-
tricts ; next is Dover, with a mortar and shot ; and
lastly., is a fourth group, which represents London,
by a female figure with a mural crown, and holding
a key, this figure being supported by one of old
Father Thames, and by a female figure, with fruits
of the earth, to typify abundance. The six panels,
folldwing the same direction, are filled with subjects
representing the arts, commerce, science, manufac-
tures, agriculture, and navigation. The circular
panel of the entrance doorway situated at the corner
of Threadneedle-street is filled with the arms of
England and France. The interior of the building
provides, on the ground floor, the banking-room,
the principal entrance, circular vestibule, and wait-
ing-rooms, the board room, directors' room for tak-
ing luncheon, two managers' rooms, a safe or strong
room, a waiting hall, and the principal staircase and
side entrance, besides various lifts, secondary stairs,
lavatories and conveniences. On the basement the
whole space below the banking room is appropriated
for storage of books. There is also a strong room,
similar to that above ; and there are a clerks'
luncheon-room, store-rooms for stationery, apart-
ments for one of the resident messengers, and ex-
tensive
lavatories and conveniences at each end of
the building for the clerks. On the basement is the
only communication there is, except that through
the banking room, between the front and back por-
tions of the building. The upper portion of that part
of the building contains one of the residences,besides
a large space comprising a room 49ft. by 15ft.,
available in the event of extension of business. In
the rear main building, on the one-pair story,
which forms a mezzanine to the banking-room, are
offices for the securities and advance departments,
and for the secretary, and a third strong-room. In
the floor above there is an office, 49ft. by 20ft., for
annual meetings and future extensions ; and there
are offices for an inspector, and for the advance-
ledger department, and a kitchen and scullery for
the resident clerk, approached by a private stair.
The top floor is set apart entirely for the resident
clerk's accommodation. The banking-room measures
about 118 ft. in the clear length, and about 50ft. in
breadth, including the recesses. The height to the
soffit of the girders is 27ft. ; and that to the highest
part of the domical light internally is 38ft. The cir-
cumstances of adjoining property have led to the
decorative features which chiefly give the architec-
tural character of the room. These include the pro-
jections from the side walls, carrying the main gir-
ders, the bracket-formed member rising from each of
these piers to the soffit of the girder, and the very
bold cove which springs from the cornice of the order.
Then, as to the support for the girders—on one side
of the building the external part of the wall had
to be kept down ; and to get proper support the
thickness had to be projected internally. The brick-
work of the piers had to be carried straight up to sup-
portar e o the
o endxe d ofpl
plate-iron,
transverseiro
aud
aorrem2af
ti n. gird
depth,These
and have a span of about' 6in.eirsn.
41ft. The main girders
carry longitudinal plate girders • , on these latter the
bracketing of the cove rests. Each one of the three!
squares produced by this arrangement of the trans-
verse and longitudinal girders is formed into an oc-
tagon by diagonal bridging girders, and the octagon
framing (afterwards finished as a circle in plaster)
carries the cast-iron ribs of the domical light. These
last are bolted at the top to a ring which carries the
pendant of the ventilating and artificial lighting sys-
tem. Here a large tube or pipe carries the foul air

above the roof, and in the centre of this is the venti-
lating tube ; so that the arrangement differing' from
what is now general is chiefly in what belongs to
decorative character and detail. There are sun-
burners in connection with the ceiling lights in
the board room and directors' room, as well as in
the banking-room. The glazing of the domes, which
is in coloured glass, is fixed in framework bars of
zinc, of which material also is the intricate pat-
tern-work of the pendants open for ventilation.
The domes measure 2ft. 6in. in the clear dia-
meter, and they rise 7ft. 6in. The ornamentation
of the banking-room, which, owing to the difficulties
to which we have alluded, is not quite so symme-
trical as could be desired, is very elegant. The
pedestals of the columns are finished in mahogany
and ebony. The shafts are of Ipplepen, Devon-
shire, marble, and are in one block, 12 feet in
length ; the bases are of Irish black marble. The
space in front of the counter, for the public, and
which forms a passage way between the two en-
trances, is paved with Sicilian marble, and Irish
black, the former in squares with quadrants cut out
of the angles, and the latter in filling-in circles or
dots. The circular vestibule of the entrance is
paved with yellow Mansfield and Hopton wood
stone, and Bangor slate. The capitals, in the bank-
ing-room, are of Huddlestone, which is cream-
coloured. But perhaps the most important orna-
mental details of the room are the architectural
and sculpturesque decorations of the panels which
there are between the columns. The figures and
emblems on these are intended to represent the
growing riches of the land, and those found in the
waters. At the sides of the room the composition
in each case is made up of a wreath, festoon, or
similar form, representing corn, flowers, oak-leaves,
or other vegetable production, or shells and • sea-
weed, enclosing a circular space for the emblem, and
having as supporters the figures of children in vari-
ous attitudes. Thus, the plough, the hive, the
spinning-wheel, and the ship appear in some cases;
and the children hold the sickle, the hammer, the
shuttle, the fishing-net, or other implement. The
four panels at the north end of the room show the
production of gold, and its coinage, with the busi-
ness of banking ; one long panel, with nine figures
of children, illustrate the finding and washing of the'
gold ; another, with a dozen figures, shows smelting
and operations connected with it ; a third panel
portrays coining ; and the last is banking. The
bust of the late manager, Mr. Daniel Robertson,
deceased, by Marochetti, is placed on a bracket
under the panel in the centre of the north end of the
room. The walls and ceiling are decorated in
polychromy, and the whole of the decorations ap-
pear to be in excellent taste.

The Gale.

CHATHAM, Tuesday Evening.

The gale which broke over this neighbourhood
from an early hour yesterday raged with great fury
throughout the day until the evening, and occasioned
several accidents, besides serious losses to property.
At 8 o'clock last evening the wind moderated, and
with a rising barometer it was anticipated that the
gale was at an end. This morning, however, the
mercury has again fallen as much as 3-10ths, and
it has been blowing half a gale throughout the day.
In the harbour communication with most of the
vessels from the shore was suspended nearly
throughout the day, and the arrangements fox
shifting the ships Diana, Diamond, and other
vessels had to be postponed. A brig lying at anchor
at Limehouse Reach was blown nearly on her beam
ends, her yards touching the water. The crew had
a narrow escape. This afternoon the wind shifted
more to the southward, and the latest reading of
the barometer showed the mercury to have fallen as
low as 28.65, being the lowest point touched for
some months past. The force of the wind against
the broadsides of the Great Eastern during the
time the gale was at its highest was very great ; but
with extra anchors down and every precaution adopted
for an emergency the ship again rode out in perfect
safety this, one of the severest gales she has ever
experienced while at hez moorings in the Medway.
As on former occasions, steam was got up on board
in case of the steamer breaking adrift, and to ease
the excessive strain on her cables.

LIVERPOOL, Jan. 9.

The gale continued very high during the night.
The three-masted schooner Singapore ran aground
on Taylor's Bank at the mouth of the Mersey, in
making the port, and two of her crew were drowned.
The others were rescued by No. 2 lifeboat.
SHIELDS, Tuesday, Noon.

A gale has blown with very great violence over
the north-east coast since yesterday:at noon, and it
continues very stormy. The wind is from the N. W.,
and consequently off shore. The sea is therefore
smooth, and there is no great danger to shipping.
The weather has been very boisterous last night upon
the Tyne, but the ships in the river and in the docks
have held by their moorings. Notwithstanding the
stormy and threatening appearance of the weather
yesterday several vessels put to sea, and with the
wind in the present direction they will have a good
run south. During the past fortnight Yarmouth
Roads and most of the places of shelter on the
east coast have been crowded with laden shipping
from the north,which has been obliged to seekshelter
in consequence of the wind having continued to blow
in gales from the southward. But the change will
set them free, and they will be able to proced upon
their voyages. The weather is extremely cold and
bleak in the north this morning, and it is snowing
fast. A steam tug, the Blue Bonnet, has blown up
at Blyth, and killed a man.
WELLS, NORFOLK, Jan. 9.
A gale commenced blowing off this coast N. by
W. on Saturday night, and has continued with
more or less violence since. During its existence
two vessels—the Cook and the George and Mary,
a couple of colliers, have gone ashore. Flags of
distress were hoisted by the crew of the latter, and
happily those on board both ships are safe. Should
the gale (which has slightly abated this morning,
but seems to be rising again) continue, these ships
must go to pieces. One of them is ashore to the west
of Blakeney Point, and the other off Wells Harbour.

YORKSHIRE.

A severe gale from the west blew continuously
during Sunday night, Monday, Monday night, and
Tuesday. A drive through the North and East Rid-
ings shows that very considerable damage has been
done among stacks, straw stacks particularly being
ruffled, and in some cases blown over and scattered
over the fields. Trees and buildings in various places
are considerably damaged, some of the less stable
being blown down. Trains facing the wind have
been considerably impeded.

DONCASTER, Jan. 9.

During the whole of yesterday the gale raged with
greater violence in this neighbourhood than for many
years past, and the damage done is very large. The
wind came in gusts from the south-west, and towards
evening increased in intensity. At the plant works
of the Great Northern Railway Company, situate
of the edge of a large tract of land known as Crimp-
sall, an extensive shed, 40 yards by 20 yards, was
levelled to the ground, with the iron columns which
supported it. The shed had just been completed, and
it was intended to be usedfor steam hammering pur-
poses. Two hammers were in course of erection, and
the boilers connected therewith were blown out of
their position. There were no men under at the time
it fell, but usually there are 30 or 40 employed
there. Fears were entertained during the day that
the chimney attached to the works would fall, as it
oscillated very much. Trees were uprooted in the
suburbs of the town, and a youth on horseback was
blown to the ground and had a narrow escape of his
life. It is said that there has been no such storm
since the corresponding period of 1839.

WEYMOUTH, Jan. 9.

On Sunday night the wind increased to a
strong gale, which has continued without inter-
mission all to-day, and the lightning has been
very vivid this evening. The trawler Lady,
of Weymouth, belonging to and commanded
by John Scott, had a very narrow escape from being
lost yesterday afternoon, when about 12 miles west-
ward of Portland. The vessel was brought to while
the crew went below to drink tea. A sea struck
her, threw her on her beam ends, broke in ber bul-
warks, and did other damage, and it was only by
cutting away the trawl from the vessel's side that
she was able to right herself once more. Had an-

other sea struck her while on her beam-ends she
must have sunk with all hands. The vessel arrived

in Weymouth harbour late in the evening. A large
number of vessels have again sought the shelter of
Portland harbour, but no serious casualty has hap-
pened to any of them. The Weymouth and Chan-
nel Islands steam-packet Aquila, Capt. Brache, due
at 4 p.m. to-day from Jersey, has not arrived up to
the present time, 8 p.m. There is every appearance
of the gale continuing.

CORNWALL, Jan. 8.

The weather continues very boisterous, the wind
having had tremendous power from about 3 o'clock
this morning until 3 p.m. There is no prospect of
a calm. For about 12 hours yesterday there was a
violent gale, and a large quantity of rain fell.
House property has suffered very seriously, and
there are already reports from all quarters of farm
buildings and corn stacks being compelled to yield
to the enormous power of the wind.

The Institution of Civil Engineers.

s

The inaugural address, delivered by Mr. John
Fowler yesterday evening on assuming the chair of
this institution as its president, referred to the ra-
pidly increasing prominence of the profession, due to
the high degree of material prosperity so long en-
joyed by this country and its dependencies, natu-
rally leading to great activity in public works.
Hence corresponding care was demanded for its
efficiency and dignity ; and in this view the Presi-
dent suggested that the present was a fitting mo-
ment for considering the means by which the
younger members might be best prepared for the
arduous duties and growing difficulties which they
would undoubtedly have to encounter. This was all
the more necessary, as it was becoming apparent that
engineers of every nation would enter into competi-
tion in many parts of the world, and as great efforts
were being made on the Continent and in the New
World, by special scholastic education and careful
practical training, to render the engineers of those
countries formidable rivals. While the address deals
almost exclusively with the future, Mr. Fowler, ex-
pressing peculiar sympathy with the younger mem-
bers, and feeling a strong desire to be useful to
them, some of the engineering problems of the
present time were noticed, and a few of the works
most remarkable for boldness and novelty were
alluded to. From this review the President thought
it was plain that in every department of civil en-
gineering the ;wants of commerce and society were
pressing more and more urgently upon the re-
sources of the profession. We had ship canals, but
the Suez Canal threw them all into the shade.
We had long tunnels through English mountains,
but we had now to penetrate the Alps. We had large
bridges, but larger were required. We had noble
ports, but they were chocked with trade, and new
accommodation of an improved kind was called for.
We had steam ferries across rivers, estuaries, and
straits, and rapid ocean steamers, but higher speed
and better accommodation were demanded. We had
large warehouses, with convenient mechanical ap-
pliances, but larger warehouses and better mechani-
cal appliances had become a necessity. We had
many thousands of miles of telegraphic communica-
tion, but nothing short of its universal extension
would suffice. In the solution of these and other
problems that would arise it was certain that the
difficulties would not be overcome by a stroke of
genius or by a sudden happy thought, but that they
would have to be worked out patiently by the com-
bination of true engineering principles and sound
judgment. Although men had existed from the
earliest times who were distinguished by great me-
chanical capacity, remarkable skill in working ma-
terials, profound science, and constructive know-
ledge, yet it was only during the present century
that civil engineering could be considered to have
become a distinct and recognised profession. It had
assumed at once the position of an art of the highest
order ; and perhaps, without arrogance, it might lay
claim to the title of true science. It was not easy
to define, in a brief and simple manner, the special
objects and limits of the profession, and an enume-
ration of some of the more important works the
civil engineer was required to design and execute
would serve to indicate the nature of the duties he
was called upon to perform. Thus the works in-
trusted to him related to-1, railways, roads, canals,
and all modes of inland communication ; 2, water
supply, gas-works, sewerage, and all other works
upon which the health and convenience of the in-
habitants of towns and cities were dependent; 3,
the reclamation, drainage, and irritation of large
tracts of country ; 4, harbours of refuge and of
commerce, docks, piers, and other branches of
hydraulic engineering ; 5, works connected with
large mines, quarries, ironworks, and other branches
of mineral engineering ; and 6, works on a large
scale connected with steam engines, with machinery,
shipbuilding, and mechanical engineering. This list
must appear almost appalling to a young engineer,
yet it greatly concerned his future success that he
should be prepared to undertake any or all of these
works. The personal history of most members of
the profession would show that circumstances had
led them in a widely different direction than that
originally contemplated, and the success of many
might be distinctly traced to their ability to avail
themselves of opportunities of advancement in some
department other than that which they had been
previously following. The first question which
would present itself, with respect to any proposed
work, was the choice of materials ; and on this sub-
ject the President dwelt, for the benefit of the younger
members, on many matters of detail as to the quali-
ties of stone, brick, mortar and cement, cast and
wrought iron, steel and timber suited for engineer-
ing works, for the purpose of illustrating that in the
selection of materials alone a large amount of pre-
liminary information was required, having regard to
their efficiency, durability, and economy. The kind
and degree of knowledge necessary to enable an en-
gineer to design and execute, and the various classes
of works before alluded to, were then successively
noticed, and it was remarked that without possess-
ing the practical knowledge which was obtained by
having first performed the duties of a resident engi-
neer in immediate charge of works, it was hopeless
to expect that any engineer could be competent to
undertake the responsibility of important enter-
prises, or be fit to have large sums of money in-
trusted to him for expenditure. It was in the capa-
city of a resident engineer that all previous prepara-
tion, scholastic and professional, and all theoretical
acquirements became utilised and rendered of
practical value, and it was only after much expe-
rience on different works of varied character,
dimensions, and materials, by which the mode of
execution, the real value or cost, and the know-
ledge of good and bad materials and workmanship,
were thoroughly and familiarly impressed on the
mind, and that a young student of engineering
could claim to take rank as a civil engineer. In
treating of the different classes of public works, the
President observed that the harbours of refuge
being large and costly works were necessarily few
in number and slow in progress of execution, and
had generally been so often changed from their ori-
ginal object and design that scarcely any engineer:
ing works had given less satisfaction, either to the
profession or to the public ; but it was believed that
if Government would accurately appreciate before-
hand the objects desired to be attained, and would
boldly grapple with the difficulties and cost of a
well-matured design, better and more useful works
might be accomplished in the future. The water-
works engineer would have to solve one of the great
problems brought about by the rapid increase of
population--this was a comprehensive system of
conservancy of the flood waters of mountainous
localities for the use of large cities and towns, and
of densely populated districts. In many instances,
the present arrangements for water supply were
quite insufficient, and the convenience, comfort,
and health of the public demanded that such works,
when required, should be no longer postponed.
Again, the discharge of collected sewage, without
any attempt at purification or deodorization, into
streams of pure water, was a gigantic evil, which
had been created by certain drainage and sewerage
works already executed, and where the convenience
and comfort of one set of people had been obtained
by the infliction of a nuisance upon others. It was
remarkable that an injustice so great and an evil so
intolerable should in any case have been permitted
by Parliaments or by the general law of the land—

for it was no longer a matter of doubt, that deodo-
rization or purification was quite practicable in every
locality. No discharge of sewage should ever be
permitted into existing streams without its being
effectually purified ; or it should be conveyed to the
sea, and be discharged, as was now proposed for the
north side of London. The President next proposed
to point out the kind of preparation which, in his
opinion—for widely different views were enter-
tained on the subject—was requisite to enable
civil engineers to perform in a proper manner
the various descriptions of works they were called
upon to carry out. This systematic training shoula
include-1, general instruction, or a liberal educa-
tion ; 2, special education as a preparation for
technical knowledge ; 3, technical knowledge ; and
4, preparation for conducting practical works.
Supposing a youth, say of 14 years of age, with a
decided mechanical bias, to have already made satis-
factory progress with his general education, espe-
cially in arithmetic, to be of a strong constitution,
and to have considerable energy and perseverance
of character—without which tendencies and quali-
fications it was quite useless to destine him for an
engineer—then the second period should be devoted
to the acquisition of the special education, during
which mathematics, natural philosophy, land sur-
veying and levelling, drawing, chemistry, minera-
logy, geology, strength of materials, mechanical
motions, and the principles of hydraulics should be
mastered, with, in addition, some proficiency in the
living languages, French and German especially.
The next step was of vital importance, and was one
about which the greatest difference of opinion was
found to exist. The youth might now either be at
once articled to a civil engineer, or be placed in a
mechanical establishment, or be sent to one of the
Universities. Mr. Fowler thought it could not be
doubted that a period of from 12 to 24 months might
be very profitably spent in manufacturing works
before going into a civil engineer's office ; but in
that case the greatest possible care must be taken
that the works selected were adapted in themselves
to impart the desired information, and that there
was a proper organisation for insuring strict discip-
line, regularity of attendance, and due diligence.
If it was decided to send the boy to Cambridge or
Oxford, then it was indispensable that all preliminary
professional preparation, such as a practical know-
ledge of mechanics, mechanical drawing, surveying,
and levelling should be previously acquired. After
leaving college his studies might be completed in the
office of a civil engineer. Such a course would pro-
bably constitute the best possible training, but the
President considered that it was a somewhat hazar-
dous combination, and could only be successful with
great determination on the part of the pupil to keep
his future career always in view. The period would
now have arrived for selecting a civil engineer's
office, and on this point Mr. Fowler advised that
the office should not be too large, and that the en-
gineer should be comparatively young, accustomed
to take pupils, in proportion to the extent of the
works under his discretion. During pupilage it was
necessary that, among other things, the young en-
gineer should obtain-1, a fair knowledge of the most
fitting material to use for any given work, under
any given circumstances ; 2, the power of designing
any ordinary work with a maximum of strength,
and a minimum of material and labour ; and 3, a
knowledge of the means of ascertaining the cost
price of any ordinary engineering work. The Presi-
dent then considered how the institution could be
made available in the preparation of the young en-
gineer, and more useful to the profession generally.
He thought that greater facilities should be afforded
for consulting the rich record of technical learning
and experience now collected in the library, by ex-
tending the hours of access to it; that there should
be a systematic collection of working drawings, spe-
cifications, and contracts of works in progress, with
permission to take tracings and copies, and to in-
spect the works themselves during their execution,
and that lectures on special subjects would also be
extremely valuable-. In conclusion, Mr. Fowler urged
the necessity of providing, as soon as possible, a
building more commodious and more convenient
than that now occupied by the institution ; and he
trusted that all the members would continue to com-
bine good personal feeling and friendship with pro-
fessional rivalry, and to maintain their high appre-
ciation of the institution and their interest in its
prosperity and usefulness.

Hon. Thaddeus Stevens's Speech on
Reconstruction.

- i.

We have not the room to give entire Hon. Thaddeus
Stevens's speech on reconstruction. But as it has excited
considerable interest, which the subsequent turn of affairs
has certainly not diminished, we present his leading posi-
tions, as follows:

Mr. Stevens, in opening, contended that it made no
practical difference whether the seceded States were re-
garded as out of the Union or "only dead carcasses lying
within the Union." In either case it requires the action of
Congress to enable them to form a State Government, and
send Representatives to Congress. This is evident from
the constitutional clauses about admitting new States, and
also about guaranteeing Republican forms of government,
both of which devolve action upon Congress in connection
with the Executive. That the States, however, have been
out of the Union to all practical intents and purposes is
evident from their recognition as an independent belligerent
by foreign nations, and from the decisions of our Supreme
Court in prize cases. Since their conquest, also, they have
been governed by martial law. From this point Mr.
Stevens spoke as follows :
"Military rule is necessarily despotic, and ought not to
exist longer than is absolutely necessary. As there are
no symptoms that the people of these provinces will be pre-
pared to participate in a constitutional government for
some years, I know of no arrangement so proper for them
as territorial governments. There they can learn the prin-
ciples of freedom, and eat the fruit of foul rebellion under
such governments. While electing members to the ter-
ritorial legislatures they will necesarily mingle with those
to whom Congress shall extend the right of suffrage. In
the territories Congress fixes the qualifications of electors,
and I know of no better place nor better occasion for the
conquered rebels and the conqueror to practise justice to
all men and accustom themselves to make and obey all
laws. As to these famed rebels they cannot at their
option re-enter the heaven which they have disturbed, nor
the Garden of Eden which, they have deserted, as flaming
swords are set at the gates to secure their exclusion. It
becomes important to the nation to inquire when the doors
shall be re-opened for their admission. According to my
judgment they ought never to be recognised as capable
of acting in the Union, or being counted as valid States
until the Constitution shall have been so amended as to
make it what its framers intended, so as to secure
a perpetual ascendancy to the party of- the Union;
and so as to render Republican Government firm and stable
forever."

Mr. Stevens maintained that these amendments should
be, first, a change of the basis of representation to actual
voters, instead of population ; second, an amendment of
the Constitution to allow the laying of duties on exports, in
order to get a fair share of revenue from the South ; third,
to make all laws uniform ; fourth, to prohibit the assump-
tion of the rebel debt. Laws also are needed to provide
homes and protection for the freedmen. Two things, said
Mr. Stevens, are of vital importance: so to establish a
principle that none of the rebel States shall be counted in
any of the amendments of the Constitution until they are
duly admitted into the family of States by the law-making
power of their conquerors ; and to solemnly decide what
power can revive, recreate, and reinstate these provinces
into the family of States, and invest them with the rights
of American citizans under the former head. He remarked,
"1 take no account of the aggregations of white-washed
rebels, who, without any legal authority, have assembled
in the capitals of the late rebel States and simulated
legislative bodies ; nor do I regard with any respect the
cunning by-play with which they deluded the Secretary
of State by frequent telegraphic announcements that
South Carolina had adopted the amendment,' Alabama
has adopted the amendment, being the twenty-seventh
State,' &c. This was intended to delude the people."
He continued with an eloquent protest against the claim
that this is a white man's Government. He disclaimed the
idea of spoaking for the Republican party, saying that he
spoke only for himself, and would settle with his own
constituents. He closed as follows :

"I see it stated that very distinguished advocates of the
right of suffrage declared in this city that they do not ex-
pect to obtain it by Congressional legislation, but only by
administrative action, because, as one gallant gentleman
said, the States had not been out of the Union; then they
will never get it. The President is far sounder than they.
He sees that administrative action has nothing to do with
it. If it ever is to come, it must be by Constitutibnal
amendments or Congressional action in the Territorial and
Enabling Acts. How shameful that these men of influence
should mislead and miseducate the public mind! They
proclaim this is the white man's Government, and the
whole coil of Copperheads re-echo (hiss) the same senti-
ments, and upstart jealous Republicans join the cry. Is
it any wonder ignorant foreigners and illiterate natives
should learn this doctrine and be led to despise and mal-
treat a whole race of their fellow men? Sir, this
doctrine of white man's Government is as atrocious
as the infamous sentiment that doomed the late Chief
Justice to everlasting fame and, I fear, to everlasting
fire."

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

-...0.--

TDlES.—Austria has on so many past occasions
angered her best friends, and filled with despair
those who wish to see the chief State of Central
Europe strong and prosperous, that the world has
become cautious in commending her or in hailing
any indications of reform which she may give. But
the old Empire has, it seems, now fairly abandoned
its old ways. Not all the Conservative influences
of the proudest of dynasties, of an aristocracy which
well matches it, and of a vast military system have
been able to prevent Austria from receiving the
strong though tardy conviction that greatness,
wealth, and honour are to be found in a liberal
policy. The political form which this feeling has
taken is to be found in the various measures which
the Emperor has adopted during the last four or five
years to reconcile his authority with a fair portion
of self-government among his subjects, and in the
attempts, at least likely to be successful, to bring to
a close the long quarrel between Vienna and the
Hungarian nation. Its commercial form may be seen
in the advances towards Free Trade, which show
that the Empire, in imitation of France and other
Continental States, has determined.to accept at last
the great principles which England enounced twenty
years ago. The Treaty of Commerce between Aus-
tria and Great Britain, which we publish elsewhere,
is for this reason an important event. Though
there is undoubtedly something theoretically un-
sound in these international agreements, yet in the
present phase of political development on the Conti-
nent they have their uses, the principal of which is
that they give an advanced commercial nation like
ours the opportunity of pressing on its neighbours
the adoption of reforms which are for their benefit
as well as ours, and of holding them to the
mutually profitable bargain whenever the counsels
of mercantile timidity or selfishness seem likely to
regain influence. This is especially the case with
the Austrian Treaty. Left to themselves, the Aus-
trian financiers would probably have waited another
twenty years before they had the courage to enter
energetically into the path of Free Trade. The
wisest of them would have seen the better course
and approved it, but have followed the worse. The
mass of the trading class might still have repeated
the fallacies which for so many generations have
kept nations poor and divided. But the Treaties
with France in 1860, and with Germany last year,
have not only roused the emulation of the Austrian
Freetraders, but have given our Government the
power of urging without offence a reconsideration
of the financial system of the Empire. The nego-
tiations have ended in the Treaty which is now before
the country. They have been long and difficult, for
if there be a region in the world where the orthodox
commercial creed of past times has been unassailed
by the spirit of inquiry, it is that which obeys the
Austrian Emperor. Political distrust has aided
commercial jealousy ; and if the efforts of a power-
ful party had not been thwarted, there would have
been no commercial treaty at all, and no loosening
of the Protectionist system for many a day. Hap-
pily, the arguments of the British agents have been
crowned with success. They have been met in a
liberal spirit by the Austrian negotiators, who knew
that their own Ministry and the Emperor himself
had arrived at the belief that Free Trade is neces-
sary for the country, and who accordingly made
less opposition than might have been expected to
the proposed changes. The result is the adoption
of a commercial policy which must in a few years
have momentous consequences in Austria. That.
Empire will probably make a more rapid advance
than any other State which has adopted Free Trade,
simply because there is so much room for advance.
In proportion to its population and resources the
Austrian Empire is one of the most backward in
Europe. In no part of the earth are there more
rich and beautiful regions, or greater capacity for
producing all that can make a people wealthy.
The chief populations are well disposed, easily
governed, fairly industrious, and as likely to make
their country prosperous as any North-German
or Belgian. But as yet they have had no chance.
They have been subjects of a monarchy in which
commerce has always held a very low position,
and the rulers have seldom thought of the in-
dustrious class, except to tax them. With this new
year, 1866, we may hope that a new period has
begun, and that these nationalities or principalities,
which have been so ill held together by the soldier
and the official, will in our time be fused into a
more coherent mass by the action of mercantile in-
tercourse with each other and the world beyond.
The Treaty consists of 12 Articles and a final Pro-
tocol. By the last Article it is stipulated that the
subjects and commerce of Austria shall enjoy within
the British dominions all the advantages enjoyed
by French subjects, and the subjects of the States
of the Zollverein, under the respective Treaties
concluded by Great Britain with those Powers.
On the other hand, by the 2d, 6th, and Bth Articles
British subjects are admitted to the privileges of the
most favoured nation, and placed on an equality
with Austrian subjects with regard to the practical
carrying on of commercial operations. But the
chief stipulations of the Treaty are as follows :
Austria undertakes by Article 3 to regulate its
Customs' Tariff so that the duty to be levied upon
articles the produce or manufacture of the British
dominions shall, from the Ist of January, 1867, not
exceed 25 per cent. of the value, in addition to the
cost of transport, insurance, and the like. From
and after the Ist of January, 1870, the maximum
of these duties shall not exceed 20 per cent. of the
value. The articles of State monopolies (tobacco,
salt, and gunpowder), and certain goods comprised
in the present Austrian Tariff, are alone excepted
from this agreement. It will thus be seen that in
a year hence extreme Protection will have ceased
on all but a limited class of articles, that Austrian
trade with the British dominions will be enlarged by
the entrance of all our manufactures at a maximum
rate of 25 per cent. on value; and, furthermore, that
in four years from this time this rate will be reduced
to a maximum of 20 per eent., which it is expected
will give a mean rate of duty of not more than 15
per cent. when apportioned by the Commissioners on
all articles imported into Austria from this coun-
try. Now, though even under a maximum 20 per
cent. duty it is possible to keep up a Protectionist
system, this concession must be considered one of
the, greatest victories which Free Trade has yet
achieved. In the Austrian Empire the expenses of
a great army and a complicated official service have
to be met, and the Customs' duties must ever be
among the most ready means of obtaining money.
For the present the importation is not so large as to
give a high revenue at such low rates of duty as suf-
fice in this country, with its enormous import trade ;
and it may be that in not fixing a lower maximum
than 25 per cent. the Austrians have shown a neces-
sary prudence. We may hope, however, that the
experience of three years will be sufficient to indi-
cate that low'rates of duty will rapidly bring large
returns, and that when the final arrangements are
made in 1870 the duties imposed by Austria will be
far less than the 20 per cent. which she will still
have a right to impose. The details of the work
have, however, still to be completed. A mixed
British and Austrian Commission are to meet not
later than the month of March in the present year
for the purpose of ascertaining and determining the
value of the various articles. of British produce and
the rate of duty which will attach to them. In the
final Protocol Austria undertakes to reduce the duty
on the export of rags, as well as on salted herrings,
and her Britannic ajesty engages to recommend
to Parliament the abolition of the duties payable on
the importation of wood and timber into the United
Kingdom, and also the reduction of the duties pay-
able on wine in bottle to the amount of those pay-
able on wine in wood upon importation into the
United Kingdom. This last article will be interest-
ing to those who are desirous of obtaining the wines
of Hungary. If it tends to introduce into this coun-
try a taste for the very palatable growths of the
Austrian Empire, its effect will be largely beneficial.
We have, on the whole, good reason to be content
with this Treaty, and to congratulate the Austrians
on being so ready to make what many of them
would consider concessions, while we, having already
carried out Free-trade principles, have little left to
offer as an equivalent.

POST.--It is highly improbable that Mr. Disraeli
will be deterred from calling upon the House of
Commons to consider all the questions arising out pf
the insurrection in Jamaica by the compliment which
Mr. Bright went out of his way to pay to him the
other day. He will, however, it may be presumed,
not fail to see that the proper time for raising the
discussion will be on the production of the Commis-
sioners' report. The Opposition cannot, in a party.
sense, reasonably object to any demonstration the
advanced Liberals may think it convenient to make
on this matter. Conduct that went to show their
incapacity for the work of administration would be
relevant evidence in another issue. People who are
unable to suspend their judgment while an im-
portant inquiry is pending are manifestly incompe-
tent to exercise authority in the Legislature. Mr.
Bright and his friends are arguing in the most
cogent manner possible—by acts and deeds—against
the organic change they desire to compass. They
are strengthening every opposing conviction, and
adding weight to all the doubts that are entertained;
and the circumstance that they are sincere, and pas-
sionately in earnest, is an aggravation of that which,
if it be not morally a crime, is a grave political
offence. But, although Mr. Disraeli may not feel
bound to interpose between Mr. Bright and the
Ministry., it would be an amazing blunder if he
were to anticipate the serious debate that must
eventually take place. There is no safe ground on
which the composition of the Commission may 'be
impugned, and, practically, the report will go far to
determine if the suspension of Mr. Eyre can be jus-
tified. It may, indeed, be contended generally, on

the theory of Government, that the step was injudi-
cious and unfair; but, on- the whole, those who
look at it from that point of view would lose rather
than gain by the premature expression of their opi-
nion. Mr. Cardwell has distinctly stated that suspen-
sion in this case does not imply censure, and so inter-
preted and guarded it may admit of explanation. The
Cabinet accepts the responsibility involved, and it
is obvious that the Commissioners' report will ab-
solve or condemn the authorities in England as welt
as in Jamaica. It is fair to assume, for the present,
that her Majesty's Ministers have not yielded to
clamour, but acted upon a proper apprehension of
their duty ; and it would be agreeable also to sup-
pose that Mr. Bright and his party only desire jus-
tice. That, however, is plainly inconsistent with
their proceedings, and with the language they hold.
It is but too evident that they are animated by re-
vengeful feelings, and it does not seem to occur to
them that if they throw their power into one scale
the balance may be maintained by corresponding
action on the other. Mr. Eyre's partisan's cannot
be at a loss for argument, and intemperance ill
speaking and writing is contagious. No one reason-
ing soberly could say that Nonconformist mission-
aries were emissaries of sedition, who went about
preaching republicanism ; but before the controversy
had gone far, this, and a great deal more, would be
affirmed as a matter of fact. Such a conflict is very
much to be deprecated; it would be humiliating to
the nation; and, inasmuch as it is idle to remon-
strate with the daily agitators of the question, we
can only hope that those who feel quite as strongly
as they do will endeavour to observe the forbear-
ance which must in the end tell in their favour. No
doubt it is extremely irritating to read what Mr.
Bright chooses to say on the subject. We may think
that his parallels are almost profane, and that his
propositions are excessively offensive; but this de-
clamation is simply intended " to split the ears of
the groundlings." It cannot in anywise affect the
result, and we may be satisfied that ultimately right
will be done, and the honour of the country vindi-
cated. The policy of the Government must be regu-
lated by the opinion of Parliament, and:in both houses
there will be a majority capable of looking above the
prejudices of sects, and of disregarding the rheto-
rical vehemence which is employed to pervert the
common understanding. Mr. Eyre's friends must
perceive the propriety and the expediency of waiting
patiently for the report of the commission. It is
scarcely possible that Ministers, on the eve of a ses-
sion in which they will have to encounter man,'
difficulties and much opposition, can be influenced
by any pressure which even Mr. Bright is able to
bring to bear on them ; and, in point of fact, they are
pledged to abide by their own measure. Nor is
there any reason to suppose that Mr. Cardwell is
exempt from human fallibility,and, however he may
have been afflicted by Governor Eyre's despatches,
the fanatical vituperation which has been poured out
upon his devoted head must have produced its na-
tural effect. The Peelites, too, who are, as it were,
the salt of a Whig Cabinet, will support one an-
other, and their great master taught them to con-
sider the interests of the country without respect to
parties. Moreover, the selection of the commie'
sioners, much as it has been objected' to, is to a car'
taro extent evidence of a straightforward and by"
partial purpose ; and in examining the report WI
make Parliament will have the assistance of eminent
lawyers who can look at it dispassionately, and in a
jddicial frame of mind.