The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-07 00:00:00

no ballot at all. How a writer of his great intelli-
gence and strong common sense could suppose that
the advocates of the Ballot would accept such a per-
fectly futile proposal, is wonderful. What would
he think of an optional ballot in his club ? Would
he not at once object that if it were not wished to
offend or grieve certain parties, he must, while
open voting was permitted, vote openly for them
or for their candidates—that the intimidation of
personal obligation's, or of connections, would com-
pel him to show his vote, In regard to bribery,
the briber would ask for nothing but an optional
ballot. Sir J. WILMOT, after all, cannot trust real
freedom of ejection. He sees, however, the time
for action is coming, and he is amongst the early

songsters.
And to-day—indeed while we write—the friends
of Parliamentary Reform are assembling at the
Guildhall Coffee-house for discussion as to their
plan of action. We only hope it will be a Re-
former's,not a mere ministerial plan. If to keep in
PALMERSTON be the only object, their councils will
certainly be divided and resultless. We do not,
. -
indeed, want to turn him out. Let us, by all means,
have his Reform Bill, and see how much better it
is than the one which Lord DERBY would have car-
ried through the House of Lords as well as the
House of Commons. But when Reformers meet as
independent men they should meet to enlighten
ministers, not to send them to sleep by promises of
easy aid. _

This evening, also, the Ballot Society opens its
London campaign at the Whittington Club. We
hope the meeting will bo an effective one, and the
precursor of others. This is the Reform much
more wanted than any other, and which would lead
to all others that are desirable. The list of speakers
is one which should interest the metropolis, and
will probably attract a large meeting.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGIiT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

COWES, DEC. 6,

REMOVAL OF THE COtRT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT,

The Fairy steamed into Cowes harbour at 12 o'clock this
day, and her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and the royal
children landed at the Trinity-wharf, and proceeded in
their carriages through East Cowes Park to Osborne.
THE FLOATING BRIDGE.—The steam bridge to connect
ihe two towns of East and West Cowes commenced run-
ning on Thursday. It has given universal satisfaction.
It is only one minute in making the passage across the
harbour. Carriages and horses are ferried over for one-
fourth-the sum charged by the old boats, and'in less than
one-tenth of thertime.

V'
COWES AND NEWPORT RAILWAY.—The work is pro-
ceeding most satisfactorily. A great many men are em-
ployed. Ono vessel has already discharged a cargo of rails.
The tunnel under the Newport and Mill-hill-roads will be
commenced next week. The Cowes terminus is to be
within a few yards of the steamboat pier. The railway is
to be continued from Newport to Ventnor, Sandown, and
Ryde.

HER MAJESTY AND THE ROYAL FAMILY.—Her
Majesty, with his Royal Highness the Prince Consort and
the junior members of the Royal family, attended by the
ladies and gentlemen of the Court, arrived by special train
at the Royal Clarence Yard at 10.50 a.m. yesterday, from
Windsor. Her Majesty, on alighting from the train, was
received by the principal military and naval authorities of
the port, and a guard of honour of the 86th (Royal County
Down) Regiment, with their band and colours. The Royal
party immediately embarked on board the Fairy, Captain
the Hon. Joseph Denman, and left for Osborne, receiving
the usual Royal salutes from her Majesty's ship Victory,
in harbour, the saluting battery or King's bastion, and her
Majesty's ship Fawn, at Spithead, the crews of the men-
of-war, together with the Thetis (Prussian frigate), mann-
ing their rigging and cheering as the Royal yacht steamed
past.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale are about to honour the Duke and Duchess of
Sutherland with their company at Trentham, Statfordshheo.
The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli
have left Hatfield House, where they have been on a visit
to the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, and have re-
turned to Hug,henden Manor, Bucks.
We regret to announce the death of Lord William
Keith Douglas, youngest brother of Charles, fifth Marquis,
and John, sixth Marquis of Queensberry. He represented
the Dumfries district of burghs in Parliament for 22 years,
and was in his 77th year.

Mr. and Mrs. German Reed return on Monday
evening next to the Royal Gallery of Illustration, after a
very successful tour through the provinces. Their enter_
tainment consists of "Our Home Circuit," and "Sea Side
Sketches," in which several new characters are introduced.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS TO ST. GEORGE'S
HALL, LIVERPOOL.—Yesterday afternoon the Countess of
Derby, accompanied by the following distinguished visitors
who are at present guests at Knowsly, visited St. George's
Hall, for the purpose of hearing the great organ :—The
Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lady Con-
stance Grosvenor, Misses Egerton, Lord Otto Fitzgerald,
Lord Loughborough, Lady E. Stanhope, Mr. F. Stanley
and Mr. Russell. Mr. W. T. Best, the organist, played se-
veral pieces, including Mendelssohn's Fifth Organ Sonata,_
Prelude and Fugue by Bach, and Handel's Hallelujah
chorus. Mr. Best had subsequently the honour of being
presented to the Prince and Princess, who expressed them-
selves highly gratified with his playing, as well as with the
qualities of the noble instrument.
MR. JOHN S. RAREY.—This gentleman, last
night, gave the first of a series of five practical and demon-
strative exhibitions of his system of subduing wild and
vicious horses, at Allen's Riding-school, Seymour-place,
Bryanstone-square. The horse Cruiser was exercised in
the usual manner, and two other horses were severely
tested ; but Mr.ltarey expressed his regret that he had
hot had time to procure more vicious specimens. To re-
peat Mr, Rarey's observations nn his mode of treatment
would only be to repeat a thrice-told tale. The school was
pretty well filled, and the audience were much gratified.
HARROW SCHOOL FAREWELL TO THE REV. DR.
le-AUG HA-N.—Last evening nearly 250 gentleman, Harrow
men and "old Harrovians," dined together at the Free-
masons' Tavern, to do honour to the Rev. Dr. Vaughan,
who has lately resigned the office of headmaster. The. chair
was filled by Mr. C. S. Currer, as having been captain of
the school in Dr. Vaughan's first year. Earl Spencer, Vis •
count Sandon, Viscount Mahon, Viscount llamilton, the
Hon. Chandos Leigh, the Hon. Reginald Capel, Mr. Abel
Smith, M.P., Mr. Ralph Erle, and Mr. Spencer Percival
were amongst the company.
THE EXTRAORDINARY BREACH OF PROMISE.—
This case, in which Julia Sarah De Winton Trowsdale is
the plaintiff, and Hugh Stewart the defendant, tried at the
Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, on Friday last, before the
Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, was concluded on
Monday. His Lordship's summing up was in favour of
the plaintiff, and the jury, after an hour's deliberation,
brought in a verdict accordingly, with £5OO damages, and
Gd. costs.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—At a meeting of
the Paddington vestry held yesterday, the Rev. A. Boyd
in the chair, it was unanimously agreed, on the motion of
Mr. Sewell, to accept the offer of the Great Western Rail-
way Company, to the effect that the total valuation to be
assessed on the company for the railway and all their pro-
perty in the parish be £20,000.
PARLIA3IENTARY REFORM.—The conference con-
vened by the Parliamentary Reform Committee will meet
to-day at the Guildhall COffee-house, and as the result of
their deliberations we hope some definite and united action
will be agreed an amongst earnest reformers. We under-
stand that the extensive correspondence which has taken
place In reference to the preenut, puaithm of the reform
question clearly shows that any apparent inactivity is to be
accounted for by the general prosperity of the country, and
by unwillingness to prejudge the coming government Re-
form Bill. If this should prove deceptive or inadequate as
compared with the reasonable expectations of reformers,
there will be no want of agitation in the month of February.
The conference of to-day, we trust, will give practical di-
rection and encouragement to the reform movement through-
out the country.
THE NORWICH BRIBERY CASE.—NORWICH,
TUESDAY EVENING.—(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)—
The Town Council have decided upon stopping the inquiry
by 28 votes to 19. The Liberals will take further proceed-
ings.
THE ALLEGED BRIBERY AT BERWICK.—In addi-

tion to the writs issued by the Northern Reform Union, a
few days ago, against six of the leading supporters of Mr.
Marjoribanks at the last election, another batch of writs
has been served upon six other gentlemen, also prominent
supporters of Mr. Marjoribanks. The corruptionists are
now seriously alarmed, and they have endeavoured to tam-
per with some of the witnesses, but we are glad to learn
without success. We understand the Northern Reform
Union will publish a report in a few days, giving the rea-
sons for the proceedings which they have taken.—New-
castle Chronicle.

THE EMPEROR OF CHINA'S DECUEE IN RELATION
TO Mn. WARD'S NltssioN.—The Pekin Gazette of Aug. 9
contained an Imperial decres, in which the mission of Mr.
Ward and its result are thus referred to :—"-The American
Envoy, John Ward, kept his engagement with Kweiliang
and his colleague sailed to the port of Pch-tang, and
begged for permission to go up to the capital to present a
letter from his Government. We accordingly authorised his
admission into Pekin to present it, and having this day per-
used the letters addressed by the American Envoy, John
Ward, to Kweiliang and Ilwashaua, and laid before us by
thoso Ministers, we find the language so respectful, the
true -heartodness that has prompted them such, that we
have authorised the Envoy in question to present the letter
ho is charged with from his Government to Kweiliang and
his colleague, whom we have sent to receive it. As regards
the exchange of the treaty; he ought properly to return to
Shanghai and exchange it there, but in consideration of the
long voyage he has made we (are pleased) specially to
authorise that the seal be appended to the treaty, and that
it be delivered to liangfult to hand in exchange (for another
copy) to the aforesaid Envoy, that from the to of the
exchange there may be peace and commerce for evermore.
Thus do we manifest our great desire to show a nursing ten-
derness to the men from afar and our appreciation of good
faith and right principle. Let Kweiliang and llwashana
signify this our pleasure to the Envoy, John Ward, for tiis
infortuation, Respect this r