The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

THE SON, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1866.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1866.

We learn by the last intelligence from Jamaica
that the Royal Commission have not been able to
complete their labours so soon as they expected,
but we arc not at all surprised at this, because there
was so much to do, and that of a nature which re-
quired minute investigation. The number of wit-
nesses examined has been very great, and, indeed,
additional evidence has been tendered at the last,
so that the labours of the Commissioners have been
greatly augmented, although two courts were held
instead of one, as at the first, it has been found
necessary to prolong the inquiry. It seems strange,
to say the least of it, that Mr. GURNEY and Mr. H.
PAYNE should not have been able to make up the
number of their witnesses before this, but instead
a this they have handed in a fresh list of more than
150 witnesses. It would not do to pass this over,
but, of course, the delay and awkwardness of this
proceeding are very great. Doubtless many of the
officers who have been examined will have to appear
again before the Commissioners. Provost RA3ISAY
has been examined before the magistrates at
Spanish Town, and discharged by them, but since
then he has been again arrested, and will be ar-
raigned before the next Circuit Court. Some wit-
nesses have stated that MARSHALL used threaten-
ing language, which is contrary to what
was at first put forth, that he was hung without
having made a sign. We have the answer sent by
Mr. EYRE to the communication he received, on the
Inca-Ding of the outbreak, from PAUL BOGLE and
others. It is very temperate and firm, and much to
the Purpose, but, of course, the circumstances which
tool; Place
on that eventful day rendered it void of
effect.
The Government Secretary wrote to say
that the writers Were misguided and under the in-
fluence of desig,i
ha
men, and that serious conse-
quences would en%k,, it
they did not withdraw from
the attitude they had
atsutued. This intimation
was only too well i
.tiStified• 1,1, what afterwards oc-
curred.that great It is amusing to notice
by the blacki),
indigna-
tion was expressed ople about at. the
..
outrageous assertions of SARAH hoe,
sox. They
had discernment enough to see that this audacious
woman had done great barn to their cause by her
extreme course of mendacity. It is just as well that
she should have gone to such lengths, for it enables
one to see how little reliance can be placed on many
• h
apparentlywell-grounded tales, wine , if thoroughly
looked into, would no doubt appear to be very
much the same in point of substance as hers have
done.

The evidence of Brigadier NELSON was given
with great clearness and precision, and this accords
with the opinion generally entertained of his con-
duct and his promptness of action. Among other
statements relative to the treatment of prisoners,
the brigadier declared that after the amnesty he
released about one hundred prisoners. Previous
to that be sent for the president of the court-mar-

tial and told him he could not confirm proceedings
which‘sentenced women to be flogged; as might have
been expected, he gavethe most " unequivocal denial"
to the statement made by the man CnisHoLm, to the
effect that, because his answers in giving evidence
about GORDON were unsatisfactory, RAMSAY struck
him in the face, and that Gen. NELSON came in and
asked where the blood came from. NELSON said
he put a stop to the " gauntlet running," and for-
bade, in most peremptory terms, that it should be
repeated. It is of importance to notice that Briga-
dier NELSON'S explanation of the words "disposed
of" is very different to the interpretation that has
been put upon it in England. It occurred in the
Queen's Regulations as a "technical phrase," that
prisoners were not to be kept in confinement for
more than forty-eight hours without having their
cases disposed of. It is satisfactory to notice
the decided tone adopted by this wit-
ness throughout, and his bold denials and clear
statements are quite in contrast to the varnished
tales and gross exaggeration of some others.
The officers who were engaged in the trial of
GORDON have given in their evidence, and there is
nothing in their statements to gainsay the opinion
of the guilt of the accused so far as having stirred
up the people to revolt. Various evidence has been
handed in by the authcrities to stow that the pri-
soner was implicated in the rebellion. Mr. GORDON
said at one time to a missionary, in discussing the
affairs of the island, "Matters will not be bet-
ter in Jamaica unless we have a Republic."
Some of his speeches were also cited, which showed
he thought he bad great influence among the people.
On one occasion when a magistrate interfered in
some dispute GORDON. threatened to meet force by
force, and said that he would call in the people to
his assistance. The Commissioners stopped this
evidence, however, very inconsistently remarking
that they were not there to try the character of
GORDON. It is one of the chief things which they
have to do and ought to do, and at any rate
they should hear all statements. The same thing
occurred respecting the Confederate vessel which it
was stated that Mr. GORDON had wished to purchase.
They would not allow the letter to be read from Mr.
EDENBOROUGH, the commander of the vessel. This
is quite inconsistent with the readiness with which
the Commissioners have listened fo the exaggerated
tales of the blacks, and we are at a loss to account
for their conduct in this matter. It would be much
more satisfactory if they would be more impartial as
to hearing both sides; and indeed, how can they form
a just conclusion if they do not act upon this course ?
It adds greatly to the difficulty of the task of those
who are accused that the rebellion was so promptly
put down, and all that they bring forward ought
to be attended to whether the Commissioners think
that it exactly bears upon the case or not. There
is no lack of evidence to show that GORDON'S great
desire was to raise the people up to deeds of vio-
lence against the authorities, which wish he plainly
showed by declaring that the people must do in
Jamaica as they had done at Hayti.

The arrival of the Java from New York on the
21st brings us satisfactory intelligence. St.
Patrick's-day had passed over quietly and the
Fenians, as well as the Americans, have, we may
hope, been taught a salutary lesson. The Cana-
dians have proved the truth of the old rhyme
about the nettle, they have truly " grasped it like
men of mettle," and the consequence is that the
Fenian leaders had to think twice about crossing
the frontier. The enthusiasm, unanimity, and
decision of the Canadians could not be mistaken ;
it was very evident that they meant to give Yan-
kees and Fenians alike convincing testimony that
thoir °owl try was not to ho alh dto change hands
so easily as was believed in the States. In less than
twenty-four hours a formidable organisation was in
existence : volunteers replied to the appeal of the
authorites with a fervour and a promptitude that
augured well for the success of their arms, while on
every side their efforts were seconded by the popu-
lation who bore cheerfully the cost, the delay, the
inconvenience occasioned by the Fenian movements.
In fact, the national spirit was deeply moved, and
exhibited much the same temper and characteristics
that we should look for in an English community
if a similar alarm were raised. The danger, what -
ever the absurdity of the Fenian pretensions, is un-
doubtedly a real one, and if the Canadians had not
made so great and united an effort, it is more than
probable that there would have been actual blood-
shed. The leaders, audacious and unscrupulous
as they are, can hardly succeed in extracting more
subscriptions from their dupes, if they have nothing
to show for them. Hitherto it has been easy enough
to talk about invading Canada, as if the capture of
the whole province was to be accomplished by a
few bands of armed men taking the trouble to
walk across the frontier, but the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, and the advent of
St. Patrick's-day has brought affairs to a crisis.
Thanks to the credulity of the Irish and the general
ignorance of English affairs which prevails among
the lower classes in New York, it has been generally
believed in that city that SWEENEY, at the head of
20,000 or 30,000 men, would- march triumphantly
into Canada on St. Patrick's-day. The American
press has been very greatly to blame for encourag-
ing these schemes, and giving colour to their illu-
sory promises. In their hatred of England they
were glad to take up anything which appeared da-
maging or discreditable -to her, and Fenianism was
a ready plea for denouncing English tyranny and
sneering at English weakness. Neither can the
'American Government be acquitted of blame in the
matter, though they cannot, of course, be suspected
of complicity in the schemes of SWEENEY and his
friends. But the least that could have been expected
from the Washington Cabinet was a disavowal of
sympathy or approval, and au open protest against the
Fenian breach of neutrality laws. The Canadians,
it is said, complain bitterly of the American Govern-
ment for giving encouragement to the leaders of
this mischievous conspiracy, and entailing upon
them the expense of military preparations, which
amounts, it is said, to about £1,200 a day. This is
most unfair to the colonists, though, as we have
said, we have no doubt it will be beneficial in the
end. The Fenians will have received a vigorous
check. The pretensions of the leaders will be ex-
posed, and even their credulous dupes will hardly
be likely to put faith in further schemes. The ice
is breaking up, and therefore no one can pretend
that they can cross over into Canada so easily, and
in fact the evident opportunity has been allowed to
slip. It is possible that SWEENEY and his coadju-
tors never intended to do anything more
than talk and to profit by the sensa-
tion oxcitod by their elaborate' schemes and
the consequent subscriptions. Having done this
There are quite
content
enough
ho setlieblsuiednetsinotfo
they may bec
minissiclieifif,canee.
how-
ever, to render preca • ution necessary. The inflam-
mable materials of the American-Irish population
have been kindled, and it would take very little real
earnestness on the part of the leaders to fan them
into a blaze. The Canadians have shown their
prudence, courage, and good sense in the vigour of
their preparations, and it is to be hoped will effec-
tually silence those politicians
who are so ready to
sneer at the colonists or the mother country. They
have proved that they are fully prepared to do All

that lies in their power, but that is no reason why
we should leave them entirely unassisted. A very
simple and ready means of doing them effectual
service lies at our command, and we hope it will
not be overlooked by the Government. A few gun-
boats on the lakes would afford effectual protection
to the Canadian shores, and would relieve the
colonists from much anxiety and expense. We
have plenty of gunboats lyingidle and a few of them
might surely be employed in this service with great

•
advantage.
It is said that in official circles in the
States very little apprehension is felt of the
Fenians making any active demonstration. The
whole excitement about the matter has, indeed, a
good deal subsided since St. Patrick's-day has been
safely got over. At Halifax there was still some
excitement when the Java left New York, the forts
having been manned by artillerymen and the militia
called out. The intelligence respecting the depar-
ture of the West India mail for Halifax is con-
firmed, so that Sir FREDERICK BRUCE was evidently
convinced of the necessity for prompt and decisive
action. We shall now see what course the Fenian
leaders will adopt, and whether they will still be
able to retain their influence over their infatuated
dupes. It is greatly to be hoped that this affair of
the invasion will have enlightened a good many as
to the true character of these enthusiastic patriots,
in which case St. Patrick's-day will have done more
service to the Irish than it ever did before.

CORRESPONDENCB FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Friday Evening.

In Paris it needs no bishop,,as in London, to
exhort people to a religious and devout observance
of Good Friday. I have visited several churches in
Paris to-day, and, judging from the vast congrega-
tions at all of them, one might almost safely pro-
nounce that nearly the whole population of the city
have attended to the outward observance, at least,
of their religious duties. I do not profess to be
deeply versed in religious matters, but I do not re-
collect an occasion when, as has been the case this
year, the Bishop of London has thought it neces-
sary to endeavour to induce people to observe Good
Friday religiously and decorously. If it be not to
the disgrace it is not to the credit of Londoners
that Good Friday is a day set apart for pleasure
excursions. This is certainly not the case in Paris.
It is observed as a day of fasting and a day of reli-
gious duty by the great majority of the inhabitaits
of Paris.

It is still the practice of the Pope to go to the
Basilisk of St. Jean de Latran on Holy Thursday
(yesterday), where his Holiness washes the feet of
the humblest of his subjects, and waits upon them
at table, like a servant. The Court of France
formerly celebrated with much religious pomp the
occasion of the last supper which Jesus took with
his disciples, and the custom was observed, indeed,
under the Restoration. The King, followed by the
officers of his household, who came that day on
duty, presented 12 dishes to 12 children, who re-
presented the apostles. These dishes were carried
in procession by the gentlemen of the household in
grand uniform, having napkins of fine cambric, and
also bearing an enormous bouquet, who took from
the buffet fish and other aliments and placed them
on wooden dishes. There was no meat. After
the repast the King washed the feet of the repre-
sentatives of the apostles, chosen from among the sons
of the officers of the.household. They were clothed
in red tunics. The feet of these children had been
previously washed. The first valet-de-chambre of
the King poured upon the feet of the children holy
water, from a golden vase. The solemnity took
place in the gallery of Diana at the Tuileries, and
great numbers of persons were allowed to witness
it with tickets. Ladies generally constituted a large
proportion of the visitors. The custom has now
fallen into desuetude in Paris, but it has been ob-
served in modern times. If I mistake not this
ceremony has been performed by Louis Philippe.
Cardinal Tosti, librarian to the church, has just
died at Rome, in his 90th year. 'Under Pope
Gregory XVI. he held the office of Minister of
Finance.

The funeral of General Zusuf took place at Al-
giers on Friday last, with much " pomp, pride, and
circumstance." It was a great and imposing
ceremony. Troops lined the road from the
admiralty to the cathedral. The funeral car
was drawn by six white horses. Commandant
Petel, the Generals Aide-de-canip, carried the de-
corations of the deceased upon a cushion. At the
four corners of the funeral car were the generals
commanding the artillery, the Vice-Admiral of the
Marine and the Intendant of the Division ; Marshal
M'Mahon, Governor of Algeria ; General Ladmi-
vault, Sub-Governor ; the military authorities, and
a vast number of influential natives and foreigners
followed. The funeral service at the cathedral was
performed by the Abbe Suchet. At the entrance to
and departure of the remains from the cathedral
salvoes were fired from the Marine battery. The
body was interred at the cemetery of Bab-el-oved.
Speeches, eulogistic of the deceased general, were
made over the grave by General Wimpffen and M.
Piervey, Chief President of the Imperial Court of
Algiers. _ _ _

Among the houses demolished in order to com-
plete the site for the new Hospital of
_Hotel Dieu,
now in progress of construction, was one at the
corner of the Rue des Chantres, to which interesting
historical recollections are attached. It was the
residence of Abelard and Heloise, and formerly it
bore this inscription, " Abelard and Heloise for-
merly inhabited this spot. They were rare models
of sincere lovers. 1118." In 1832 the house was
occupied as a school for young ladies. There still
existed then the dark, original staircase, with a
balustrade of oak, which led to the room where
Abelard lived, and further on was a small tower
where Heloise was educated. How the destiny of
this locality has been changed by Time Abelard's
room became the receptacle for dirty linen. The
window where Heloise watched for the return of
her preceptor had lines around it where hung to
dry the frocks and linen of the young ladies.
The room where the two unfortunate lovers
used to. study was the class room for the
young ladies. Near the spot is now a splendid
mansion five storeys high. To commemorate the
fact of the residence of the two lovers there are now
to be seen two medallions, representing the profiles
of Abelard and Heloise, and this inscription :
" Ancient habitation of Heloise and Abelard. 1118.
Rebuilt in 1849." It is, I believe, pretty generally
known that there is in Pere la Chaise a remarkable
tomb which encloses the remains of the lovers.
Visitors to Paris seldom omit to visit this monument.

To-day is the anniversary of the death, in 1249,
of Guillaume d'Auvergne, who was 21 years Bishop
of Paris. He bad been Professor of Theology at
the Sorbonne, and was considered to be the most
solid writer of his age. This was one of the prelates
who, at that early day, condemned plurality of
livings. The Bishop was buried at the Abbey of St.
Victor, in the chapel of St. Denis.
To-day the political vane again points to war
among the great German potentates. The Siecle
gives the following account of the position :—" One
is less able than ever to form a judgment upon the
respective intentions of the great German Powers.
In spite of the official denials, to which we have
alluded, Austria is making military preparations,
which are very minutely described by the Gazette
de l' Allemagne du Nord. Prussia has addressed to
all the Cabinets a despatch, in which she insists
upon the impossibility of obtaining a settlement of
the present difference by the Diet, and all the news-
paper organs of the Prussian Government have re-
sumed a warlike tone. The news from the Saxo-
Bohemian frontier is that the contingents of some
regiments were increased by calling into .activity
soldiers who were heretofore at liberty. Numbers
of horses have been purchased, and those for the
artillery at very high prices."

CHANGE-RINGING.—A funeral peal was rung on
the bells of St. Mary, Islington, on. Wednesday last, the
28th inst., as a mark of respect to the lath William Smith,
for many years a riner of the Society. f Islington Youths

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM S.)

PORTUGAL.

LISBON, MARGH 30.

The official Gazette of to-day publishes a contract
concluded between Portugal, France, Brazil, and
Italy, for a telegraph to America.
The Cortes will close on the 20th April.

OVERLAND MAILS.
BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.

ALEXANDRIA, MARCH 30.
The China left at 6 a.m. yesterday and the Euxine

at 6 a.m. to-day.
The former may be expected at Marseilles on the
4th, and the latter at Southampton about the 12th

proximo.

OUTWARD CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRA•

LIAN MAILS.

MALTA, MARCH 30.

The Massilia, from Southampton on the 20th
inst., arrived to-day at noon, and left at 5 p.m. for
Alexandria.

The Nyanza, from Marseilles on the 28th inst.
arrived to-day at 6 p.m., and will leave at midnigh
for Alexandria.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 21.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Poonah, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived here. She brings 70 passengers, £1,900
in specie, pearls vahie 4,300 rupees, and 619
packages of general cargo.

Heavy south-westerly gales had prevailed at
Gibraltar, and several casualties had occurred
amongst the shipping.
The Governor, Sir Richard Airey, left Gibraltar
on the 24th inst. for Seville, to witness the reli-
gious ceremonies and processions of Holy week at
the Andalusian capital.

Exehange on London, 491 s ; on Paris, 5.13 ;
Madrid, to dis. Freights unaltered.

FRANCE.

PARIS, MARCH 31.

The Constitutionnel of this morning says :—" The
position of France in view of the present diffi-
culties in Germany is very simple, and is the re-
sult of a wise and far-seeing policy which may
be summed up in the word neutrality. God
alone can know if the crisis will be decided by
war, but the Imperial Government has provided
for all contingencies, and whatever may happen
France will not be found unprepared."

BOURSE, March 30, Three o'clock.—The market
closed at the following quotations :-
41 per Cents 96
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 75
Do. end month 67 771
Credit Mobiliar
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3575
Credit Foncier
Italian Loan 5B 90
Do. end month 5B 90
RAIL'

Orleans

Roman —
Ottoman Fives —
Mexican Loan 47 50
Do. Bonds 3OO
Russian —
Austnan
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred

rAYI3.
Cash.

Acct.

- .. . 865 -

Northern lll6 25
Lyons and Mediterranean — ••• 875
Southern — 550
Western 562 .50
Eastern 537 50
Sardinian. lO7 50
Austrian — 383 75
Lombard — ... 396 25
North of Spain — 165
-
Saragossa 205
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

87 50
•••

BANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, March 29.

Thyfottowing is the return of the Bank of France
for the week ending to-day, together with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :

Mr. Woodin's New Entertainment.

-0.---

After a somewhat protracted absence, occasioned
by a successful tour in the provinces, Mr. Woodin
made his first appearance this season at the Poly-
graphic Hall, King William-street, Strand, on
Thursday evening last, in a new entertainment en-
titled " Baden-Baden," and " Up in the Air.". The
first, as its title suggests, is a hit at the fashionable
gaming German watering-place, with its visitors
from all parts of the world, and, in the latter, the
fun is produced by the introduction of a variety of
English incidents and characters, " descriptive,
humorous, musical, mimetic, characteristic, national,
aeronautic, and domestic comical." On the rising
of the curtain a very excellently-painted view of a
well-known spot in Baden is disclosed, and the first
character introduced by our clever English Proteus
is Alderman Dither, a visitor desirous of
becoming a resident—an invalid and a student
in search of health. The reflections and
conclusions of this civic visitor are laughable in
the extreme, although in the end they amount to
but two—how best to enjoy his dinner and his pills.
Next we have the pet German Doctor at Baden,
whose admiration for the English is very high, be-
cause they are "so very rich and so very stupid."
Then we have a gushing young lady, Miss Aurora
Spankle, eighteen, and rapid, who is in search of an
establishment. This young lady takes the audience
into her entire confidence ; and, after giving them
a graphic imitation of the many partners she had
in dance, both old and young, married and single,
tells them that husbands nowadays must be con-
sidered as part of the trousseau. The make-up for
this character is remarkably clever,—the bonnet !
the velvet jacket, embroidered with horse-shoes!
and the sky-blue moire skirt, trimmed with anchors
and Prince of Wales's plumes !—all tend to
make her the observed of all observers. We
have also a speculative Yankee, whose
father has struck ile and struck it hard, who
has serious notions of buying the whole place as an
investment, because it would be quito possible to
induce the President to take up his permanent
residence there, and to govern the " States" by
telegraph. The other full-length portrait is Mary
Ann `Crew, an English nursemaid, whose lover has
turned out false ; but she is consoled, even in her
trouble, by the thought that she is sure a Coldstream
never could have a warm heart. The saloon with
its gaming table is next introduced, where Mr.
Woodin gives up half-a-dozen more illustrations of
the sort of persons to be found risking everything
in the chances of rouge et noir. The race course
follows, and here we hare the captivating Isabella,
the flower girl to the French Jockey Club, and
Joe Downey, an English jockey who can't under-
stand the way " things is done at Baden." This
concludes the continental portion of the enter-
tainment, but we must not omit to mention
that during its performance Mr. Woodin sings a
variety of songs, and in the last-mentioned character
actually gives us a jockey hornpipe! What can he
not do ?

"Up in the Air" is intended to illustrate the
aspirations and elevated ideas of those who delight
to moralise far above the haunts of common men.
The scene represents the flat roof of a house over-
looking Cremorne Gardens, and surrounded by
picturesque stacks of chimneys of every conceivable
size and shape, with the lofty Mr. Flyte keeping
them company—smoking. The inflated gentleman
relates the beauties to be found up in the air, more
especially in a balloon, which, if not the safest means
of travelling, is at all events, according to his idea,
the most pleasant—no turnpikes, no obstructions,
excepting the top of a church steeple, which
now and then, perhaps, may stop the way. Then
we have another young lady, Angelina, who has
induced her lover to avail himself of the facilities
presented by the repairs of the adjoining house, and
mount the ladder, and have an interview far beyond
interference. The lover obeys his mistress, but un-
fortunately an elderly maiden lady is also fond of
the leads, and of course she gets the notes and
presents intended for her younger neighbour. A
hodman, a policeman, and a distinguished fo-
reigner, who is on the look out for open trap-
doors which lead down to the plate basket, fill
up the scene, which is brought to a conclusion
by the appearance of Mr. Woodin in the Star
Scaler balloon " Up in the air," where he says he
must remain if his audience will not let him "go
down." The applause of the audience here was
enthusiastic, and assuredly the popular favourite
may congratulate himself upon the triumphant
manner in which his exertions "went down" on
Thursday evening.

" The author of the entertainment is Mr. T. W.
Robertson, the scenery is by Mr. John O'Conner,
and the music by Mr. Wallerstein.

The National Choral Society.

The three grand oratorios given by this society,
under the direction of Mr. Martin, during Passion:
week attracted the usual overflowing audiences.
On each occasion every seat in the large hall was
occupied, and the pleasure given to the vast assem-
blage was perfect and complete. We can only
again do that which we have so frequently had the
gratification of doing, compliment Mr. Martin on
the admirable manner in which all his concerts are
conducted.
The next oratorio we believe will be "Israel in
Egypt." " Ads and Galatea" is in active prepara-
tion.

THE BRIGHTONREVIEW.—Mr. Wyld, of Charing-
cross, has just issued from the press a plan of the ground
and the purposed manoeuvres at the Brighton Review. The
movement will be one of the most effective that has ever
been witnessed in England, and the plan, which is pub-
lished at a low rate, will greatly assist visitors in under-
standing the evolutions.
MR. BEECHER ON THE VETO.-.Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, in the course of a%lecture delivered in Brooklyn,
on the 23d ultimo, said:—" There is a Freedmen's
Bureau. There was in Congress a bill for the more efficient
organisation of it. All men's hearts have been to-day ex-
cited by the tidings that the Freedmen's Bureau Bill has
been vetoed by the President. (Some hisses.) lam sorry
that he felt it to be his duty to veto it, and lam sorry that
the bill was so drawn that he was obliged to feel it to
be his duty to veto it. But, mark, this is not vetoing a
bureau, nor an amended or reorganised bureau, but only
that particular form of bureau which that bill contained.
It does not commit the President against any proper de-
partment administering to the blacks throughout the South.
We know, on the other hand, that he is in favour of such
a bureau, and I confess that on reading his Message it has
left a profound impression on my mind, that he urges most
serious and weighty measures why, in the form in which
it went before him, it should not have become the law of
the land. But I believe, and am sure, that no man in this
land is more in favour of some legislation that shall amount
to an efficient protection of the black man. (Applause.)
They are to be protected, but they are not to bo protected
at the expense of the Constitution, but by its integrity.
No one in the United States is more in need of having that
immortal instrument maintained than the poor, recently
enslaved, but now emancipated
.black man. Men who
have knowledge of the freedmen • may be warped by their
sympathy and their generous sentiments so as not well to
consider that, while legislating_ to save the freedmen, it
may be at the expense of those laws and those instruments
in which its very safety itself resides ; and if they are car-
ried past the point of moderation it is well there should be
opportunity for reconsideration." In another part of his
lecture Mr. Beecher said :—" I hold it dangerous to place
too much power in the Central Government. It is a most
extraordinary spectacle of the times to see Congress
gathered from the people, representing the great mass of
the people, passing a bill and putting it into the hands of
the President, and thereby clothing him with a power
greater than any monarch ever yielded, and the President
vetoing itand returning it, saying, cannot give my assent
to it '—vetoing a bill that makes him so strong. What if
we had
.a President there then like him who sat there
before our martyred Lincoln, would he have refused so
much power? What if we had that President that was
there before him—l forget who he was. (Laughter.) Do
you suppose that you will always have a President like
Mr. Johnson ? But lam mistaken in my judgment if
there has,- since the earliest and best days of our presi-
dency been a man more honest, more single minded for
liberty, who, without bias of the feeling or of the heart,
without bias of any kind, endeavoured to do what he
thought best for the interests of the country and the
whole country. (Applause.) Not another man. I should
hold it to be a bad sign if, on that account, I should pass
without criticism his acts ; if his power should be with-
out review.. It is dangerous to have any man iu the com-
munity that is not amenable to the criticism of all his fel-
low-mon ; President Johnson more than any other, because
be is in a place of the greatest importance to the well-being
of the country. But while you hold the sovereign right
to criticise, do not forget that you have an able statesman
and an honest and pure man and patriot in your Presiden-
tial chair." (Great applause.)

History of " Pickwick."

(From the Athenxum.)
Gad's-hill-place, March 28, 1866.

_ .
As the author of the "Pickwick Papers" (and of one or
two other books), I send you a few facts, and no comments,
having reference to a letter signed " R. Seymour," which in
your editorial discretion you published last week.

Mr. Seymour, the artist, never originated, suggested, or
in any way had to do with, save as illustrator of what I
devised, an incident, a character (except the sporting tastes
of Mr. Winkle), a name, a phrase, or a word, to be found
in the "Pickwick Papers."

I never even saw Mr. Seymour's handwriting, I believe;
in my life.

I never even saw Mr. Seymour but once in my life, and
that was within eight-and-forty hours of his untimely
death. Two persons, both still living, were present on
that short occasion.

Mr. Seymour died when only the first twenty-four printed
pages of the "Pickwick Papers" were published; I think
before the next three or fourpages were completely written;
I am sure before ono subsequent line of the book was in-
vented.

In the preface to the cheap edition of the "Pickwick
Papers," published in October, 1847, I thus described the
origin of that work :—" I was a young man of three-and-
twenty, when the present publishers, attracted by some
pieces I was at that time writing in the Morning Chronicle
newspaper (of which one series had lately been collected and
published in two volumes, illustrated by my esteemed friend
Mr. Geo. Cruikshank), waited upon me to propose a some-
thing that should be published in shilling numbers—then
only known to me, or I believe, to anybody else, by a dim
recollection of certain interminable novels in that form
which used, some five-and-twenty years ago, to be carried
about the country by pedlars, and over some of which I re-
member to have shed innumerable tears before I served my
apprenticeship to life. . . . The idea propounded to me was
that the monthly something should be a vehicle for certain
plates to be executed by Mr. Seymour, and there was a no-
tion, either on the part of that admirable humorous artist,
or of my visitor (I forget which), that a Nimrod Club, the
members of which were to go out shooting, fishing, and so
forth, and getting themselves into difficulties through their
want of dexterity, would be the best means of introduc-
ing these. I objected, on consideration, that although born
and partly bred- in the country, I was no great sports-
man, except in regard of all kinds of locomotion ; that the
idea was not novel, and had been already much used ; that
it would be infinitely better for the plates to arise naturally
out of the text ; and that I should like to take my own way,
with a freer range of English scenes and people, and was
afraid I should ultimately do so in any case, whatever course
I might prescribe to myself at starting. My views being
deferred to, I thought of Mr. Pickwick, and wrote the first
number, from the proof sheets of which Mr. Seymour made
his drawing of the Club, and that happy portrait of its
founder, by which he is always recognised, and which may
be said to have made him a reality. I connected Mr. Pick-
wick with a club, because of the original suggestion, and I
put in Mr. Winkle expressly for the use of Mr. Seymour.
We started with a number of 24 pages, instead of 32, and
four illustrations in lieu of a couple. Mr. Seymour's
sudden and lamented death before the second number was
published brought about a quick decision upon a4oint al-
ready in agitation ; the number become one of thirty-two
pages with two illustrations, and remained so to the end."
In July, 1849, some incoherent assertions made by the
widow of Mr. Seymour, in the course of certain endeavours
of hers to raise money, induced me to address a letter to Mr.
Edward Chapman, then the only surviving business partner
in the original firm of Chapman and Hall, who first pub-
lished the "Pickwick Papers," requesting him to inform
me in writing whether the foregoing statement was cor-
rect.

In Mr. Chapman's confirmatory answer, immediately
written, he reminded me that I had:given Mr. Seymour mor
credit than was his due. "As tilts letter is to be historical,'
he wrote, " I may as well claim what little belongs to me in
the matter, and that is the figure of Pickwick. Seymour's
first sketch," made from tho mod of my first chapter,
" was of a long, thin man. The present immortal one he
made from my description of a friend of mind at Rich-
mond." CHARLES DICKENS.

MARKETS.—This Day.

COVENT GARDEN.

Fair average supplies of fruit and vegetables are on sale
to-day. On the whole, the trade is steady, as follows :
FRUIT—Pine apples, 8s to 10s; hot house grapes, —s to
—s ; foreign do, is Od to 3s Od ; filberts, is 6d to 2s Od per lb ;
apples, 2s 6d to 4s Od per half sieve ; oranges, 4s Od to 8s ;
lemons, 3s 6d to is per 100.
VEGETABLES—Red cabbages, 2s Od to 3s Od; white do.,
8d to is 3d; Savoys, 10d to is 4d ; horseradish, is to 2s
Od per doz. heads; greens, 3s Od to 4s Od; turnips, is 6d to
2s Od ; carrots, 4s 6d to 5s 6d per doz bunches ; brocoli, Od
to Od ; rhubarb, 6d to is Od per bundle ; Brussels spouts,
is 6(1 to 2s Od per half sieve ; seakale, is Od to 2s Od ; mush-
rooms, 9d to is 3d; new potatoes, is to is 3d per punnet.

POULTRY.
Turkeys, 5s Od to 3.0 s Od; geese, 6s Odto 10s; duelcs,
3s Od to 6s Od ; tame rabbits, is 3d to 2s Od ; wild do,
Is Od to is 3d ; pigeons, 6d to is Od. each ; Surrey fowls,
10a to 19,3 Od, du. cliickous, Os CU `Js; barn door fowls,
5s Od to is per couple. Guinea fowls, 6s to 7s per couple.
English eggs 8s to 9s ; French do., 6s Od to is 6d per
100. Ostend fresh butter, is Od to is 2d; English, is ld
to is 4d per lb.