The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-17 00:00:00

THE MAILS.

MAILS DUE.
Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South-
ampton) .. .. May 19.
Do. (via Marseilles) May 13.
Brazil and Cape Verds .. June 4.
Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &o.
Cuba and Mexico May O.
Canada, &c. (via L'derry) .. May 15.
Cape of Good Hope, &c. June 1.
China, Penang, and Singapore (via' S'ampton) May 19.
Do (via Marseilles) May 13.
Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. May 19.
India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) May 19.
Do. (via Marseilles) May 13.
rndia (Bombay), (via Southampton) May 26.
Do. (via Marseilles) .. .. May 20.
• . May 11.

Lisbon

Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. May 11.
Do. (via Marseilles) .. June 4,
Vigo, and Oporto .. . • • • .. .. May 11.
United States, California, &c. .. May 15.
Western Coast of Attica, Madeira, Teneriffe .. Overdue.
West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, &c. May H.

THE YELVERTON CASE.—In the outer house of
the Court of Session on Tuesday last, before Lord Ardmil-
lan, the conjoined actions " Yelverton v. Yelverton" came
on. The proof in chief for Mrs. Yelverton was closed on
the 6th of April ; 'that on the opposite side was appointed to
be reported on the 20th of May, but we understand that a
further prorogation is to be applied for. Mr. Miller moved
that, before the proof of Major Yelverton is closed, the ap-
peals taken in the course of the proof on the other side
should be disposed of by the Lord Ordinary. The motion
was opposed by Mr. Fraser, and his lordship postponed his
discussion of the question till the following day.—Scotsman.
THE GROWTH OF CANADA.—The population of
Canada is now stated to be 2,500,000—viz., 1,350,000 in
Upper Canada and 1,150,000 in Lower Canada. When
Canada came into our hands, on its cession by the French, in
1763, the population of the entire territory was only 65,000 ;
in 1784 it had increased to 113,000; in 1825, after the sepa-
ration of the provinces bad been some time accomplished,
Lower Canada had 450,000, and Upper Canada 157,000; in
1831 these numbers were swollen to 512,000 and 250,000
respectively; in 1836, to 600,000 and 375,000;
in 1851, to
890,000 and 952,000; and now they have risen to 1,150,000
and 1,350,000, the numerical strength of the provinces
having been relatively reversed, although the
bothhits/.)0011 decidedly()Award.% geAeral emu

-HE DROGHEDA MURDER.

INQUEST—VERDICT OFWILFUL MURDER.
On Wednesday the investigation before the coro-
ner and jury was held, and occupied the entire day.
Around the door of the house in which the inquest
was held a large crowd of men, women, and children
congregated, and remained from the beginning to
the close, notwithstanding but little information
was to be had, as few but the jury and constabulary
, eccupied the room. The jury having been impan-
nelled in the West Gate Barracks, where the body
lay, and having taken a view thereof, proceeded to
the house of Mr. Tully, vintner, where the inquiry
was held.
The coroner having called over the names of the
jury, and the prisoners having been brought in, he
stated that in this case it would be well to have a
post mortenz examination made of the body.
The jury having expressed their wish that it
should be done,
Dr. Kelly was sworn, and proceeded to the bar-
racks to make the necessary examination.
Margaret Rafferty called, sworn, and examined
—Lives in Fairtlough's-lane, Sunday's-gate. A
fortnight on last Sunday, witness's mother called
her about half-past three o'clock, saying Mary
(witness's sister) was sick. In a few minutes after
she‘rose and came down, her sister was delivered
of a child. Heard the child crying. Witness's
mother pressed the child's throat to keep it from
crying, so that the noise might not be heard. Asked
her mother what she was doing ? She answered
that nobody would know anything about it. Ran
up to bed, but came down as she could not sleep.
On coming down the second time she observed her
sister Mary lthe child's mother) with her hands on
the throat of the child. The child was then
smothered. Witness told her sister to take it up
and do something with it, which she did. It was
put under a box in the room until evening. Saw
the body next morning lying on a dunghill. Told
Margaret M'Guiggan next day that Mary had had
a child, and that she smothered it. Did not like
to tell Head-constable Murtagh anything about the
case when he was up at the house on Saturday
the 11th.

The mother and sister asked the witness some
questions relating to the alleged fact that the mother
of the infant held the child before the fire for some
time to see if there was any life in it. Nothing
important was elicited.

Margaret M'Guiggan deposed that the first wit-
ness (Margaret Rafferty) never told her that the
child was smothered. Never heard of Mary being
in the family-way. Would not believe it if Mar-
garet said so, as she thought very little of what she
said. She did tell witness she believed it was all
over, by which witness understood that a child was
born but did not come to life, or something that way.
Head-constable Murtagh sworn—Deposed he got
the body of the infant on Monday. The elder Mary
Rafferty produced it to him, and stated it was her
daughter's. It was buried in the house. Went on
Saturday last to the house, when, in reply to his
question, was Mary confined, Margaret stated she
knew nothing about it. Afterwards the mother
informed him, and said she would give every infor-
mation respecting the matter. The elder Rafferty
alleged the child was still-born ; the younger,
thinking it might be alive, baptised it. They both
denied it was on the dunghill.
The Coroner having charged, the jury (consisting
of 14 persons) remained for a considerable time
together, after which the following verdict was
handed in :—" The deceased infant named Rafferty
was murdered by Mary Rafferty, senior, and Mary
Rafferty, junior, her daughter, on the 28th day of
April, 1861."

A warrant was then made out, and the prisoners
committed for trial.

CIVIL CONTINGENCIES.

A Parliamentary return shows the following
facts :—Balance to the credit of the vote on the Ist
April, 1860, was in the Exchequer, £32,000, in
the hands of the Paymaster General £2,035
I ls. Bd., in the hands of the Paymaster of the Civil
Services, Ireland, £235 9s. 4d.; the total being
£34,271 ls. The advances outstanding on the
Ist of April, 1860, were £132,082 10s. Id. The
amount granted for the service of the year 1860.1
ivas £125,000, the amount in 1859 to the Hon. F.
W. A. Bruce, her Majesty's Minister in China, on
account of expenses to be incurred in proceeding
from jShanghae to Pekin, since refunded by him
£3,000; the total being £294,353 lls. ld. The
amount of expenditure finally charged against the
vote in the year ended the 31st March, 1861, were
—Special missions abroad £34,090 18s. 11d., outfit
of diplomatic officers, on appointment £12,205,
conveyance and entertainment of distinguished
1,-.r.ons, colonial officPrs, kc., £7,130 170., royal
household expenses, not provided for in the civil
list, £2,805 Bs. 6d., special commissions at home,
£3,949 Os. 5d., fees, &c., payable on conferring
titles and dignity, £512 165., expenses of letters
patent, &c., exclusive of those conferring titles of
dignity, £630 7s. 2d., costs of presents, £BB 65.,
expenses incurred for legal and professional ser-
vices, £307 3s. 4d., rewards, compensations, and
expenses connected with criminal justice, £675
3s. ld., miscellaneous expenses, £26,775 15s. ; the
total being £91,935 ls. sd. The balance on 31st
March, 1861, was £40,041 10s. 3d. The advances
outstanding were to be repaid as follows :
From the Consolidated Fund, £8,271 9s. 5d., from
votes for ordinary services, £67,510 7s. 4d., from
votes proposed to be taken for new services,
£33,569 4s. 10d., from other sources, £53,025
17s. 10d. ; the whole advances amounting to
£162,376 19s. sd.

WILBERFORCE MEMORIAL.—A sum of £3,000,
being the residue of a fund raised at the time of the death
of the late 'William Wilberforce, M.P., for the erection of a
memorial, has been, under the sanction of Chancery, made
over to trustees for the foundation of an institution at
Sierra Leone which will embrace a savings bank with a
reading room and lecture hall. It will be under the super-
intendence of the Governor, the Chief Justice, the Colonial
Secretary, and two directors nominated by the Church Mis-
sionary Society.

THE BRISTOL SCANDAL IN HIGII LlFE.—Various
particulars of this melancholy affair have reached us, but
we feel unwilling to publish them. Before the lady left
her home, at H—, a painful scene took place. In a state
of distraction she sought forgiveness of her husband. This,
we are told, was granted. She was afterwards placed in a
close carriage, and, attended by hei= husband to the door,
she was driven away from husband and home. The "Hon-
ourable" delinquent who has brought this disgrace upon a
family held in the highest respect holds a commission in
her Majesty's service, and is the son of the Earl of H—.
He had been a frequent visitor at H—, and enjoyed
ample opportunities of abusing the confidence reposed in
him.— Western Daily Press.

The Moniteur publishes an Imperial decree au-
thorising the masters of boats fitted out for the herring
and mackarel fishery to take on board any quantity of
French salt they may require free of duty. They may
also use foreign salt, provided it is taken from the entre-
pots in France, where it will have paid the duty of N
centimes per 100 kilogrammes, charged on foreign salt
used in the Newfoundland cod fishery.
THE GREAT FIRE AT GLARIS.—A letter from
Berne of the 11th says :—" I have to day to inform ysu of i
a terrible disaster. The little town of Glaris, chief place of
the canton of that name, has been nearly burnt down. The
fire commenced yesterday evening at ten o'cleck, and Dam
not sure that it is completely extinguished yet. At noon it
was announced that 220 houses, about half the town, were
destroyed ; at 3 o'clock the fire was still more violent, and
the engines continued to arrive from Zurich. At the time
the fire eommenced a terrible fohn' was blowing The fohn
is nothiog else than the formidable sirocco, which after
traversing the Mediterranean blows against the Alps, and
sometimes occasions great damage. The hot breath of this
wind melts the snow and causes frightful avalanches. From
the mountains it comes down into the valleys, where its ap.
proach is the signal for all fires to be put out. At Glaris a
badly extinguished fire let some sparks escape, and these
coming in contact with some combustible material, were the
cause of the conflagration. The fire, once kindled, was so
intensified and extended by the action of the fohn, as to
render all aid vain. Unfortunately the telegraph office woo
one of the first buildings destroyed, so that it was impossi:
ble to make us of it for the purpose of obtaining assistance
I cannot give you a stronger idea of the intensity oftgt,',7
than by repeating what has been announced brootevie,
viz., that two engines were burnt where they stood.
letter
VENETIA.—The Augsburg Gazette quotes d
from Verona, in which it is stated that, all
Benedek
,weeks, in order
!d probability of
g
war having disappeared for the present,
has taken leave of absence for six or
freely granted at pre-
sent
seven
to go to the waters. Furloughs
Venetia.
to the Austrian soFurloughs
seirmioaugsltynea
had • d
The young men at
to M. k singular
decided on. the
their attachment ea Accord
mode of testifying
ing to a Vienna.)
which • of a volunteer guard,would not quit him
organisation -ournalsrtheeEythhad
Lists were d-
or night. awn up, in which the
either
day
yf
the Hungarian patriot were to inscribe their
admirers o
names' M. Deak was informed of the fact, and it required
nothing lass than a formal prohibition on his part to put
an end to the embarrassing mark of sympathy.
The Opinione of Turin denies the statement that,
on the French leaving Syria, they are to be replaced
by Italian troops. Such a charge, it says, would be
too heavy for Italy just at present, when she is
menaced by a powerful enemy.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—YESTERDAY.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE PROCLAMATION.

' The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said he was anxious
to ask the noble earl the President of the Council the con-
struction to be put upon certain portions of
the proclamation lately issued by her Majesty with
respect to a war in America. According to his
notions, it should not be necessary to go to a lawyer in
order to understand the document. He wished to know,
in the first instance, in what sense we were to understand
the phrases "lawfully" and " actually" applied to a blockade.
The noble earl explained at some length the meaning that
had been applied to the terms lawfully established and effec-
tively maintained, and he said he should like to know whe-
ther the new phrase was to bear the same meaning. He
much objected to the vague term, contraband of war, and
wished to be informal what articles they were which her
Majesty's subjects were not to carry to sea near the coasts of
America. The law relating to articles contraband of war
was very indistinct, and when he looked into this question
six years
whatearsagwo he
were to buen d
considered
a t lro)caodntlriambiat was
flawid doarwwe
were
those articles necessary to the combatants at war.
Earl GRANVILLE said, with respect to the first ques-
tion, the international law with respect to blockade had
not been altered. He considered that a blockade would be
lawfully and actually established if we accorded to the con-
tending parties the term belligerents, and if a sufficient
farce were used to prevent ingress or egress of vessels
into the ports blockaded. He thought the noble
earl had partly answered the second part of the
question himself in defining articles contraband of
war. In all cases, however, the matter depended on the
decision of the prize court.
Earl DERBY did not feel disposed to object to the pro-
clamation as vague, knowing the difficulty of drawing up
such a document. It was very important that we should
come to an understanding with the United States with re-

gard to this question of blockade. The navy of the United
States was numerous enough to carry out an effectual
blockade along the whole line of the American coasts. He
thought it important that the Government of the United
States should understand that we would not recognise a.
mere paper blockade. He referred to the threat of the
United States Government to regard all privateers as
pirates. It was invariably recognised that privatcering
was not piracy, and the United States Government ought
not to be allowed to punish privateers with capital punish-
ment.

Lord BROUGHAM said that privatering was net
piracy by the law of nations as at present understood and
administered; but any subject of her Majesty's going in
an expedition against any power at peace with her Majesty,
that was a piratical act, and after warning given in the(
proclamation, their blood must rest on their own heao.9.
He thought that contraband of war was anything that was
furnished to one State to enable it to carry on war. He
agreed that it was not essential that the whole coast should
be so blockaded so as to prevent all egress and ingress, but
that there should be sufficient force to make any attempt
extremely doubtful of success.

Lord CHELMSFORD could not agree with the noble
and learned lord in the view he had taken of the case.
The LORD CHANCELL DR said that his noble friend
had laid down the law most correctly. The law as to piracy.
was vague, and it had been suffered to remain in some un-
certainty. After the proclamation there was no doubt that
any person joining either side violated the law of his own
country, and must not look to it for redress. But on the
other hand, a person accepting a commission from either
belligerent parties, although violating the law of his own
country, was still carrying on what was called a justum
bellum, and if he was treated as a pirate, it would be
murder.

Lord KING SDOWN said the inhabitants of the Northern
considered the Southern States as rebels and guilty of high
treason, and might deal with them as such. That prin-
ciple might apply to their own subjects, but as the
southern States were recognised as belligerents they
were not entitled to apply it to the subjects of the other
powers. It was impossible to define before hand what
was contraband of war ? Coals, for instance, for commer-
cial purposes, were not contraband of watt but if they were
taken for the supply of war steamers that would materially
alter the case.
The subject then dropped.