The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-11 00:00:00

USES.— TOPLIS and ROBERTS
' --
have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN,
Suburban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL.
Par,iculiw. upon application forwarded for two stamps,
upon stating requirements and rentaL Offices, 2f
Conduit-
street, Regent-*treet, and South Kensington, facing the
Museum.

QOUTII KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK,
Queen's. and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters-
ham Terraces, Queen's-gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort
Sardens, Elvaston-place, Cromwell-Told, Onslow and Thurloe
Squares, Boltcns, &c. Messrs TOPLIS and ROBERTS have
it E SI OEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surroundmg
localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and
South Kensington, lacing the Museum.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.-
Sole Lessee and Mangger, Mr. Backstone.
I: GIS EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT
Mr. Compton, Mr. W. Farren : Miss Ada Cavendish.
A f ter which. THE FAVOU tall: Or' FO lt rUN E
m Messrs.
co hern, Buckitone, Chippendale. Rogers, ,k.a. e,,larnes
Chippeud de, Saville, Moore, Fitzwilliam, UHL Lindley, Acc.
Concluding with A DAC.; UTE it £0 MA.RItY : Mr. W.
Farren and Ri.,s Li den Ilowarl.
Commence at Seven.

ROYAL LYCEUM_ TEIEATRE.-
Under the sole Management LA Mr. Fechter.
THIS EVENING, SIMPSON AND CO. Masers. S.
Emery, C. Horsman ; 3lesdarnes Elsworthy, Henrade, Hors-
man, and E. Boyce•
After s.hich, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD
4lr. Etehter ; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomt), Vezin,.
.1. H. Fitzpatric!,, 1). Evans ; alesdames Tetuan, E.sworthy
Lavenu, and C. Leclercq.
Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI.
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS ..I.:VENING, THROUGH FIRE AND WATER:
Messrs. J. L. Toole, R Phillips, Billington ; Nliss Woolgar
and Miss H. Simms.
After which, THE WRECK ASHORE : Messrs J. L.
Toole. P. Bedford. Stuart, Billingtor, Ashley ; Miss Woolgar
Yid Hiss 11. Simms.
To conalude with LEIIIND TIME. essrs. J. L. Toole, 'R.
Ihillips, Eburne. C. J. Smith ; Miss A. Seaman, Seaman, dr.c.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.
THIS EVENING, A GHOST IN SPIT OF EiIIISZLF.
E
Alter which, at a quarter to Eight, TUE STREETS OF
LO.), DON. Messrs. Vining, T. Mead, V. Murray, Shore,
Villiers; Mrs. H. )Larson, lifiss E. Barnett, and Miss K.
Rodgers.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. bwanborough.
THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, PERFE
After which will be produced a grand Eas'er Burlesque,
PARIS ; or, Vive Le trxpiere : Mesrs.tStoyle, I horne, James
3lesdames a. Swanborougb, Raynham, Jimpson. Johnstone,
Ranoe, and Molt
To conclude with DEAF AS A POST : Mr. Belford.

Qi IDLER'S WELLS THEATRE.-
Under the L'ole Management of Mr. W. H. C. Nation.
THIS EVENING, and during the week. Douglas Jerrold's
admired Comedy of TIME Wuftli, WONDERS: Messrs.
T. Swinbourne, Barrett, Beimore, Bareby; Miss Ada DYa
and Mrs. Poynter.
Concluding with 7th, Bth. 9:h, oth, 11th. 12th Nights of
F. C. Burnand's Ever-green burlaque of IXION : Misses
Lizzie Wilimore, Hudspeth,
Tracey, and G. Belmore. Fanny Gwynne, Harland, Hetty
In active preparation, Dion Boucicault's beautiful Drama,
Of 1)01'.

Commence at S,ven.
Acting Manager, lr. NYE CHART,

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etio
.4„
•

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1866,

The momentous day for which politicians of all
ranks and parties have looked so long is now
rapidly approaching, and endless are the conjec-
tures, the surmises, the threats, the promises, the
persuasions, which are actively passing to and fro.
'The meeting of the Government supporters, which
was yesterday held at Earl RUSSELL'S official resi-
dence, passed off as might have been expected with
tolerable unanimity. Mr. LAING and Mr. EDWARD
JAMES, it is said, resolutely opposed the Minis-
terial measure, but Mr. BOUVERIE has been
gained over and has promised the Govern-
ment his support. The general feeling of
the meeting was favourable to the prospects of the
Administration ; the adhesion of the Irish Catholic
members and of the Scotch Dissenters was promised
by Mr. COGAN and Mr. BAXTER, and so far Earl
RUSSELL had reason to be satisfied. In fact the
Ministers have now been forced by circumstances
to adopt a more resolute tone. The unsatisfactory
manner in which their future course was referred to
at the opening of the session has given place to more
prompt and vigorous language. Lord RUSSELL
yesterday assured his supporters that the
Government intends to lay their Redistribution
Bill speedily upon the table, and that they bind
themselves to stand or fall by it, as they do by the
Franchise Bill. He considers it just and right for
the same Parliament to pass the two measures, and
therefore the Redistribution Bill is to lie introduced
immediately after the second reading of the Fran-
chise Bill, that they should be discussed in connec-
tion, and that the Government pledge themselves to
stand or fall by them both alike. By this means
we may regard this Franchise Bill as a first part of
the Reform Bill rather than as the measure itself,
and it is evident that the position of the Ministry
is materially strengthened by the change. The
doubt and hesitation which they manifested at the
opening of the session gave their adversaries, whether
open enemies or pretended friends, the very opportu-
nity they wanted, and enabled those who really
wanted no Reform at all to complain that they had
not got enough!
There are in any case difficulties
enough in the
ay of any Ministry that really at-
tempts to carry a substantial
measure of Reform.
Long as it has been
Promised, Reform, when it
draws near, is never very welcome to many mem-
ranks themselves, if rigidly
bers ; and the Liberal
examined, would show a good manywho, however
on
strong their intellectual convictions the subject,
would secretly be very glad to have Reform post-
poned for the consideration of the next generation
and the next century. Such half-hearted friends
fulfil the familiar old couplet—
" An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse."

for.

which require removal ; the prospects of success are
so scanty that it is not worth while to disturb
the existing order of things. In fact, it was this
system carried on year after year that has secured
so long a period of inaction. Lord PALMERSTON
was no reformer himself—indeed he never professed
to be ; and, as head of the Liberal party, he did
not feel bound to do what the Liberal party were
not really in earnest about. Lord PALMERSTON
was too shrewd and keensighted to be mis-
led by hustings speeches or declamations
at public assemblies ; he had seen and heard
too much of such things in his fifty years'
political experience. Ile knew very well that
so long as the agitators had a grievance to talk
about they would be very well satisfied, and, for
his part, he did not believe very much in the neces-
sity for a change. But the accession of Earl
RUSSELL to power has altered the aspect
of affairs. In spite of his very unsatisfactory
conduct of late years, in spite of his famous
advice to " Rest and be thankful," in spite
of his unfair treatment of Lord DERBY'S Reform
Bill, and subsequent inaction when in office,
the name of Jo lIN RUSSELL is popularly
associated with Parlimentary Reform, and
no sooner was he at the head of the Cabinet
was " Now we shall have
than the general cry
Reform." It would be impossible for the RUSSELL
Government to exist a single session without re-
deeming the pledge made by so many- successive
Administrations. There is no excuse or plea of
any sort for delay. The second member of the
Cabinet, the Leader of the House of Commons,
is known to be a genuine and earnest Reformer.
No one doubts the sincerity of Mr. GL-A.DSTONE'S
convictions, even though there may be little
enough in the bill which it is his duty to lay
before the Commons to excite any en-
thusiasm. Left to carry out his own
wishes, we have no doubt that Mr. GLAD-
STONE would have framed a larger, more compre-
hensive, more statesmanlike measure, a mea-
sure which should set this vexed question
at rest for this generation, and leave
the public and the Parliament free to
turn their attention to questions of internal
policy, not concentrating all their forces on the
consideration of the mere form of government itself.
But he has thought, with reason, that it was better
to bring in such a bill as they could carry
than to let the matter wait another year.
The extension of the Franchise offered by the pre-
sent measure is at least the admission of a prin-
ciple ; it recognises the grievance of which some
millions of intelligent and respectable men have to
complain. It is partial, no doubt, and limited in
its action ; it only recognises a money qualification,
and it still excludes a very wide circle ; but it does
admit a considerable addition to the number of our
constituencies, and permits lodgers the right to
vote. It might, no doubt, be better, but it is
capable of improvement in committee, and as its
timidity is its chief fault the friends of moderate
counsels should uphold it. Let the Bill and the
Government both have a fair chance, and not be
condemned untried. There is nothing in this Bill
which will have to be retracted by any Govern-
ment ; let it therefore be proceeded with, and let us
see how far the Cabinet are prepared to fulfil their
übsequent pledges.

These are queries which it will be
very difficult to answer, and perhaps the
real question at issue is whether or not
the services of Count BISMARCK are to be retained
by the KING. If his MAJESTY be so imprudent as to
keep this crafty and dangerous statesman as his chief
adviser, it may yet turn out that a storm of dis-
content will arise too powerful for them to
withstand, and the ex-favourite of the -people,
now their terror and aversion, may have to make
an ignominious retreat from the position he is un-
worthy of and the power he has so greatly abused.
The next intelligence that we receive will doubtless
inform us of the opinion entertained by the Austrian
Cabinet of the Prussian reply to their last commu-
nication, and a great deal will depend upon that.
It is quite impossible that the two Governments
can go on like this much longer. Fond as they are
of sending forth despatches and issuing Circular
Notes, an end must come to them in time, and in
all probability a few more days will find
them arrive at a definite conclusion. One
of the greatest obstacles in the way of
a peaceful solution of the difficulty lies in the fact
that the demands of Prussia are so exorbitant, and
that she encroaches so greatly. At every fresh dis-
turbance Herr VON BISMARCK continues to put in
some fresh claim, or to make a new request of one
kind or another, so that Austria has virtually to
decide whether she will give up more and more, or
whether she had better really raise herself and go
to war. It is quite certain that if peace be now the
ruling spirit of the hour, it cannot be one of long
duration, for affairs have proceeded to such a
length that Prussia will have far too much power.
Of late there have been many signs and tokens to
show that Austria is getting tired of the arbitrary
course of her ally, and the lesser States have made
many protests, which, though unproductive of effect,
still shows the feeling that works beneath. All this
mere talk of Federal Reform by Count BIS3IARCK
really bears reference to the increase of power by
Prussia ; and, let the propositions be what they may
at the outset, it is quite certain that, in the end, the
lion's share will be taken by the Berlin Cabinet.
Nothing can put a stop to the aggressive policy of
the Prussian Government but a bold resistance,
carried out in a spirited manner.

tilise the bombes. Their austerities have been modi-
fied, and all reasonable indulgences are now allowed
among them. Notre Dame de la Trappe was
founded in 1140 by Rotron, Count de Perche, under
very strict and self-denying regulations. They
were, however, much modified in 1662 by the cele-
brated Abbe de Rance, who loved Madame de
Montbazon, and at her death he renounced the
world and gave all his property to La Trappe, to
which monastery he retired. He made the
Order the most rigorous of all Monastic
Orders. It was at the town of Trevoux, just
mentioned, that one of the most ancient newspapers
of France, the Journal de Trevoux, was established.
The Trappist Fathers are very hospitable, and many
illustrious individuals have been received at their
convent. James 11. of England and his Queen took
refuge there several times. In the convent there is
still a picture representing the exiled Monarch eat-
ing at the table with the reverend fathers, the Mar-
shal de Bellefort, and the Duke of Berwick. Charles
X., when Count d'Artois, spent several days there.
Bossuet and the celebrated St. Simon have also been
visitors there. Chateaubriand has been there very
often.

The official part of the Moniteur to-day contains
several decrees, but they are only of local interest.
The temperature has been very much lower since
the storm of Sunday. To-day the weather has been
quite cold again.
The following anecdote is related as authentic :
A young man of good family received from his
father 3,000 f. to buy a substitute, should he be
drawn for a soldier at the late conscription. He,
however, drew a lucky number, and was exempt
from the service. The father asked him for the
money back. The son sent the old gentleman the
following letter—" Dear Father, as I drew a good
number, and did not want to buy a man, I have
bought a woman for my wife.—Your respectful
son." On reading the letter the father said, " Poor
boy, he has not even purchased a property. lie
has only the interest of it."

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S READINGS

-.10--

"Doctor Marigold" and "Bob Sawyer."
Having, most unluckily for ourselves, been pre
eluded from the luxury of making one of the im
mense audience that last night crowded the huge
area of St. James's llall to listen to the Readings
of our Great Novelist, we are at least happily
enabled to transfer to our columns the following
graphic descriptions of what took place there, as
recounted by the faithful pens of the representatives
of two of our morning contemporaries :
If the spacious area of St. James's Hall, says
the Daily Telegraph, seen as it was last evening,
densely thronged by an extremely fashionable and
earnestly attentive assemblage, had not completely
satisfied any curious inquirer as to the extent of
popularity enjoyed by Mr. Charles Dickens as a
reader as well as a writer, there would have been
no possibility of forming an erroneous conclusion
on seeing an equally large crowd without, anxi-
ously desirous of admission, and compelled re-
luctantly to postpone a gratification to which they
had evidently looked forward most eagerly. Fa-
miliar as the graphic power with which Mr. Chas.
Dickens embodies his own creations must have be-
come to a large proportion of the dwellers in the
metropolis, all who have previously enjoyed the plea-
sure of hearing him, hasten to take advantage of
every fresh announcement of his appearance
at the reading-desk, and with' the addition of
those thousands emulous of participating in the
same privilege, it is sufficiently obvious that a
much larger space could be thickly occupied on every
occasion than the voice of the speaker could easily
fill. 'Under these circumstances, it will be good
news to proclaim that a renewed opportunity is now
given of sharing in one of the most intellectual and
thoroughly enjoyable evenings which the capital
affords ; but it is already evident that the only
course left for our eminent novelist to avoid the
infliction of bitter disappointment on a legion of
his admirers will be the frequent repetition of his
delightful readings at as brief intervals as pos-
sible. Last night Mr. Charles Dickens read for
the first time in London that charming story of
" Dr. Marigold," which formed the introduction
to the last Christmas number of " All the Year
Round." The breathless attention with which
every incident in the narrative was followed, the
strong feeling of reality which was produced, the
vivid impression of each personage described in the
printed page coming forth into positive existence,
forcibly attested the marvellous dramatic power of
the reciter. The form in which Mr. Dickens thus
gives his works to the public is indeed that of a re-
citation rather than a reading, for the eye never
refers to the book, and the constant change in the
expression of voice and feature comes in valuable aid
of the effect produced by the keen humour and
touching pathos of the story. The " Cheap Jack"
is actually seen in his cart as he tempts his rustic
auditors with wares of small price and high value,
and the political "Cheap Jack," who makes as
many promises with equal recklessness of fulfil-
ment, stands forth substantially to view.
The pathetic scene with " Little Sophy,"
the struggle between the wish to conceal and the
inability to repress the emotions as the child death-
smitten with fever expires in the father's arms as he
is uttering the laugh-creating jokes of his craft
went thoroughly home to the hearts of the auditors,
and might be cited as a marked proof of the real his-
trionic genius possessed by the gifted novelist. The
giant, with a great deal too much in him for his
joints and his mind, must have been visibly present
to all within hearing of that voice which so com-
pletely realised a notion of his prominent peculiari-
ties, and the poor deaf and dumb girl, brought by
the warm-hearted Doctor Marigold for a dozen pair
of braces, and educatedbyhimwith so much thought-
ful care and tender affection as his adopted daughter,
became a delightful reality, which no auditor
would have dared to disprove whilst under the
influence of such potent illusion. In hiS double
capacity of author and interpreter Mr. Charles
Dickens exercised a triumphant sway over the feel-
ings of his audience, and in the rounds of applause
which followed his departure from the platform
might be traced an emphatic expression of gratitude
as well as of sincere admiration. " Mr. Bob Saw-
yer's Party," from Pickwick, was given as the se-
cond portion of the Readings, and formed a sub-
stantial addition to the enjoyment of the evening.
On Tuesday week Mr. Charles Dickens will repeat
" Dr. Marigold," and add the famous Trial from
the pages of " Pickwick," an intimation which, to
a large class of expectant auditors, should come like
the news of the reward being claimed for the dis-
covery of a new pleasure.
The Morning Advertiser says the great novelist
has revived his public readings ; and last night gave
the first of a series in the large hall at this establish-
ment, which we need hardly say was crammed to
suffocation. The floor of the hall was nearly occu-
pied with stalls ; and the balconies and areas were
made reserved seats.
The selection was made from " Dr. Marigold's Pr-
escriptions," as exemplified in the Christmas volume ;
and " Bob Sawyer's Evening Party," from the
immortal novel of " Pickwick." Dr. Marigold
pierces through the town, the Court, and the Legis-
lature with his homely satire; and Mr. Dickens'
sense of humour is not only at the command of his
pen, but of his voice, his gesture, and his elocution.
He is wonderfully graphic, and suggests his charac-
ters and their extraordinary peculiarities with a
power that certainly no other person possesses.
" Bob Sawyer's Party" is full of extraordinary
characters and events, as we all know, and Mr.
Dickens invests it with a life and vitality that are
most effective. This great satirist and novelist of
the age was received with the utmost enthusiasm,
and everybody seemed rejoiced to see him in such
vigorous health, and with such a perfect command
of his wonderful powers, not only of conception,
but of execution. The next reading will take place
on the 24th inst.

A TRAIN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.—Daring a storm
on Sunday evening the electric fluid struck a train which
was travelling on the Orsay railway in France, and tra-
versing one of the carriages, shivered into fragments one
of the doors and broke the glass of the other, passing
out
without further damage. _ _ .

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ROME.

ROME, APRIL 10 (Evening).

The official Giornale di Roma of to-day energe-
tically protest a against some assertions contained in
a letter from Rome to the French journal Le
Monde. It declares the critical remarks made in
that letter against the fidelity of the functionaries
employed by the Roman Government to be entirely
unfounded, and stigmatises as calumny and slander
the statements in the same letter referring to the
Roman nobility, " who," says the official journal,
" are, with very few exceptions, faithful to the tem-
poral power of the Pope, and will bequeath noble
examples of devotion to their descendants."

SPAIN.

MADRID, APRIL 10 (Evening).

The treaty of peace and amity concluded between
Spain and China has been laid before the Congress.
It is stated that General Sersundi has been nomi-
nated Captain-General of Cuba, replacing General
Dulce, who has resigned that post.

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.

VIENNA, APRIL 11.

The Presse of to-day publishes a telegram stating
that the Prussian reply to the last Austrian note
(rives a decisive refusal to the Austrian demand that
•
Prussia should withdraw the order for the mobili-
sation of her troops.

FRANCE.
THE FRENCH SENATE.
PARIS, APRIL 11.

The Senate has adopted the previous question
upon the petition for a modification of the consti-
tution relative to the right of petition.
BOURSE, April 9, Three p'elock.—The market
closed at the following quotations :-
4 per Cents 97 50 '
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 50
Do. end month 67 40
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month

Unis —
Do. end month —

Bank Shares 3500
Italian Loan 56 50
Do. end month 56 50
Mexican Loan 42 75

Do. Bonds 286 25
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred
'AYB.
Cash.

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

Acct.

----
- - ... 825 -
-.-- ..,, 1105 -
- - ... 862 50

- - ... 545 -
- - ~. 536 -

- - ::: 102 50
- ... 385 -

- - 390 -
- - 150 -
- - 197 50
87 50
82 -

ANERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANIA.
( Via Southampton.)
NEW YORK, MARCH 31 (Morning.)
President Johnson, in addressing the Jersey
delegation, who came to offer him their supports
said that in the position he occupied he needed ens
couragement from those desiring to maintain the
first original principles of the Federal Government ;
that his line of policy was unmistakeable, and that
he had advanced too far in life to make any

retrograde movement.
In the House of Representatives Mr. Stevens
asked leave to introduce a constitutional amend-

meat, empowering Congress to impose an export
duty upon cotton. The permission was refused.
The Democrats and Republicans continue actively
canvassing throughout Connecticut. Great im-
portance is attached to the issue of the election
which takes place on Monday.
The result of the action of the Jessey Legislature
upon the election of a Senator in Mr. Stocktons
place is anxiously awaited. Mr. Stephens has tele-
graphed to the President of the Jessey Senate to
" hurry up " the election of a Radical Senator ; he
preferred a Copperhead to a Conservative Re-
publican.
To-day the Fenian leaders have cautioned all
Fenian public speakers against making in public
any further allusion to the plans and policy of the
Fenian organisation. The early arrival of Stephens
is anticipated here.
Despatches from Toronto assert that orders have
been issued for disbanding the entire Volunteer

'orce.

Earl Grosvenor, M.P., and his Reform BE

Amendment.
4.-

The following letter from Earl Grosvenor was
read amidst loud expressions of disapprobation at a
crowded and enthusiastic Reform meeting held on
Monday at Chester :
" Sir,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
inviting me, on the part of the committee of the Chester
branch of the National Reform Union, to attend a meet-
ing to support the Government Reform Bill. The com-
mittee are aware of the course I have thought it my duty
to take in moving a resolution on the second reading of
the bill, and they will therefore understand that on
this account I am unable to accept their invitation. We
are anxious to early a bill that, complete in all its parts an
moderate in its provisions, will be for some time at least a
settlement of the question. The returns relative to the
state of the representation lately laid before the house re-
quire furthor consideration from the country, for they
show that with regard to tho representation of the
working classes a far different state of things than
was supposed exists, and that, inasmuch as those
who are provident and intelligent can, owing to the
increasing rate of wages (and the higher rentals of
houses, obtain tho £l.O, qualification, the rate of increase
of voters of this class is progressing at a quicker rate
than the population—a most satisfactory state of things
and one full of hope for the future, but not one which now
calls for incomplete and hasty legislation. I may not
perhaps expect the approval of your association of the
course I intend to take, supported, as I believe I am, by

tho common sense of a vast number of my countrymen ;
but I will ask them at all events to give me credit for the
sincerity of my convictions on this most important sub-
ject, and for the honesty of my motives.—l have to remain
sir, your obedient servant,,
" Calveley, Tarporley, March 29, 18G6."

" GROSVENOR

MARKETS.—This Day.

MARK-LANE.
Fresh up to our market to-day the arrivals of home-
grown wheat were moderate, and in poor condition. The
few dry samples on offer changed hands at full prices, but
for damp qualities the trade was slow, at late rates.
I `The market was moderately supplied with foreign
wheat. The amount of business transacted was moderate,
at late quotations.
Floating cargoes of grain moved off slowly, at late
rates.
The market was fairly supplied with barley, The trade
was dull, and prices were ls. to 2s. per quarter lower than
on Tuesday last.
Malt sold slowly, at the prices of Monday.
The supply of oats on sales was moderate.
The trade was slow, yet Monday's currency was sup-
ported.
Beans and peas were dull, at Monday's quotations.
There was a moderate demand for flour, at late rates.
SHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 330 90 830 20 750
—"lrish
Foreign 2,120 3890 2,050 190 sks.
bls.

COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OP GRAIN.
For the week ending April For the corresponding week
7, 1866. last year.
Qrs. Aver. Qrs. Aver.
Wheat 50,006 —44 s 9d Wheat 75,137-39s 8d
Barley 22,901-370 2d Barley 31,291-29 s 5d
Oats
WHITECHAPEL.
The supply of meat on sale is moderate. The trade is
slow at the following prices
Beef, from 3s 6d to 5s Od; mutton, 4s 8d to 5s 6d ;
veal, 5s ed to 6s Od; and pork, 48 Od to 5s 4d per Blbs
by the carcase.

BOROUGH HOP.
The supply of hops on sale is moderate for the time o
year. Who trade is quiet, at late rates,

THE REFORM BILL.

--4&•.---

Yesterday the long-expected meeting of the sup-
porters of Government was held at the official re-
sidence of Lord Russell, and the final explanations
were made preparatory to the coming debate. As the
meeting was private, in the sense that reporters were
not present, any account of it must be necessarily
imperfect, and we do not profess to give even a sum-
mary of the proceedings. But the most important
feature was, of course, the speech of Lord Russell,
which contained several points worthy of notice. It
is needless to say that complete unanimity prevailed.
Those members who have made up their minds to vote
for Lord Grosvenor's Amendment would of course for
the most part stay away, or listen in silence to the
statements of the Premier. Lord Russell spoke about
an hour with temper and judgment, and we have no
reason to complain of the announcement he made
on the part of the Ministry, since they are the best
proof that the criticisms of ourselves and others on
the conduct of the Government were founded on
reason, and have not failed of their effect. Lord
Russell, of course, repeated the determination of the
Government to stand or fall by the vote of the
house on the second reading of the bill now before
it. If this, however, had been all, there would have
been little interest in the meeting. It would have
revealed nothing that was not known before, and
given no assurance which was not possessed by mem-
bers and the country before the Easter recess. The
attitude of the Liberal opponents of piecemeal Re-
form has, however, produced from Lord Russell a
declaration on the subject of the redistribution of
seats, which marks a considerable advance in Minis-
terial opinion. Lord Russell now states that the
Government will speedily lay their bill for redistri-
bution on the table of the House of Commons, and
that they bind themselves to stand or fall by it as
absolutely as by the Franchise Bill. He also states
that in his opinion it is just and expedient that the
same Parliament which passes the Franchise Bill
should also pass the bill for the Redistribution of
Seats. Those who will carry back their recollec-
tions to the utterances of Mr. Gladstone at an
earlier period of the session will be able to appre-
ciate the change which the remonstrances of the
Liberal party and of the chief organs of indepen-
dent opinion in the press have produced in the
counsels of Ministers. We do not say too much
when we describe the language used a few weeks
since as ominous of a most unjust and unconstitu-
tional manner of dealing with this question. It was
plainly suggested before Parliament met that the
lowering of the franchise was an expedient for the
election of a new House of Commons, which
should deal with the redistribution of seats in a
manner not to be expected from a house constituted
like the present. When the interest and curiosity
of the country were at their height, Mr. Gladstone
in a marked manner refused to pledge himself in any
way concerning a redistribution of seats. Such a
measure might, or might not, be introduced ; but it
had, according to the Ministerial exponent, no con-
nexion with the Franchise Bill, which was a scheme
complete and perfect of itself. The impression
which the declarations of the leader of the House
and his chief ally produced on all who heard them
was that a naked bill for the lowering of the fran-
chise was intended by Government, and that this
measure, with all its demoralising consequences in
certain boroughs, was not to be supplemented by
another, unless there should be some demand for it
at some future time. Having regard to Mr. Glad-
stone's well-known opinions concerning small
boroughs, there was reason to believe that, as far as
he was concerned, there was no intention of going
further; but at the same time it was not difficult to
foresee that the scandals which the new system
would create, the corruption which it would increase
in a number of the agricultural boroughs, and the
anomalies which it would render more intolerable,
must Soonlead to a strong agitation, and a long and
bitter conflict between the reinforced boroughs and
the other constituencies. We have now, however, a
very different Ministerial programme. It is con-
cluded that there shall be a Bill for Redistribution
brought in immediately after the second reading ;
that the Franchise Bill shall be discussed in con-
nexion with it ; that the Miniitry will bind diem-
selves to proceed with this very bill, and no other ;
that it shall be introduced to the present Parlia-
ment ; and that they will stand or fall according to
its success. Why, we may ask, could they not have
said all this before, and why could they have not
gone further and made up their minds to unite the
whole in one satisfactory measure ? Having con-
ceded so much, the Government might well go a
little further. They might lay their Bill for Redis-
tribution before the House at once, and not call
upon their supporters to take a leap in the dark by
voting for a measure the principle of which can only
be judged by something which is still withheld.
The speech of Lord Russell, we are informed, was
well received. Mr. Bouverie promised to vote for
the second reading. Mr. Laing and Mr. E. James,
however, persisted in their opposition. These gen-
tlemen, whose objections were, of course, not well
received by such a meeting, may, we presume, be
expected to support Lord Grosvenor's amendment.
Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cogan, on behalf of the Scotch
and Irish members, expressed themselves satisfied
with the postponement of the bills for their respec-
tive portions of the United Kingdom, on the pro-
mise of Lord Russell that these shall form parts of
the Government scheme. Nothing more remains to
be said or done before the debate begins. The opi-
nions of almost every member are now known, and
the speeches will be rather the manifestoes of those
who utter them than compositions intended to per-
suade the listeners and determine the result of the
id

THE AUTOGRAPHIC MIRROR ripens and improves
with time rather than deteriorates. When first
started, it was expected that it must only too speedily
run the length of its tether. Since which time, on
the contrary, it has advanced very considerably in
excellence. The new series, that is the current
series, every one recognises as a manifest improve-
ment upon its predecessors. And every now and
then, of this new series, we obtain a number of
really exceptional merit—such an one, for example,
as No. 41 just now issued. In it there are com-
pacted together a dozen specimens of handwriting
—the handwriting of twelve distinct persons cele-
brated in one way or another, by genius, by birth,
by virtue, by valour—the Queen's mother, and the
mother of the late King Louis Philippe, and .that
King's eldest son, the late Duke of Orleans—Bos-
suet, the Bishop of Meaux, and Fenelon, the
Archbishop of Cambrai—Marshal Turenne and the
Great Duke of Marlborough—Alexander Pope and
Lawrence Sterne--James Boswell, Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds, and Dr. Johnson, to say nothing of a copy
of Sir Joshua's likeness of himself, and of a fac-
simile of his original sketch of his Figu:e of Faith
in the Great West Window of the Chapel of New
College, Oxford. Twelve autographs in a number
published for sixpence clearly, according to
Cocker, a halfpenny each autograph—with the two
drawings and the letter-press thrown in !
DEATH OF DR. BABINGTON, F.R.S.—Dr. Ben-

jamin Guy Babington, F.R.S., the eminent London,
physician, died on Sunday at his town house, in George-
street, Hanover-street. He was born in 1794, and edu-
cated at the Charterhouse. After passing through Halley-
bury, he entered the Madras medical service in 1812, but
retired from it in 1819, and studied at the University of
Cambridge, whore he graduated M.D. in 1830. In 1831
Dr. Babington was elected Fellow of the Royal College of
Physicians. He was attached to Guy's Hospital, and was
physician to Charter-house, to the Deaf .and Dumb Asy-
lum, and to the Margate Infirmary ; consulting physician
to the German Hospital, to the City of London Hospital
for Diseases of the Cbest, to the New Equitable Assurance
Company, and to the English and Scottish Law and Clergy
Mutual Assurance Company. Dr. Babington has been for
many years a fellow of the Royal Society, and is known as
the author of a " Gyclopeedia of Anatomy and Physiolgy,"
and of various papers in the " Medico-Chhurgical Society's
Transactions," as editor of Feuchtersleben's "Medical
Psychology" (published for the Sydenham Society), and as
translator of " Ihe Epidemics of the Middle Ages."
THE HONDURAS MAIL. SERVICE.—III conse-
quence of the West India and Pacific Steamship Company
having given notice to terminate their contract, the Post-
office has issued a notice that henceforth letters for Hon-
duras ‘vill be forwarded by private ship unless specially
marked via Jamaica, in which case they will be forwarded
by the mail packet to that island and there left for convey-
- =CO tc) BtliZO by the, tint opportunity.