The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1861.

pOY AL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
-11 -11)
Under the Managemen tot Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W.
Harri, Sole Lessees.
THIS EVENING, the First Act of BIANCA, THE
BRAVO'S BRIDE: Mr. W. Harrison, etc.
Followed by Auber's LE DOMINO NOIR. Miss Louisa
pyne, Miss Thirlwall, Miss Leffler ; Messrs. H. Haigh, H.
Corri, A. St. Albyn, and Horncastle.
To oonclnde with a Divertissement.
Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Levee, Mr. J. B. Backstone.

THIS EVENING, the pertormanee;will eotanirmse with
the cmedy of THE BABES IN THE WOOD. Messrs. E.
Villiers, Buckstone, W. Farren, Mrs. Wilkins, and Miss F.
Stirling.

After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD
AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimista by the un-
rivalled Leclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright.

Commence at 7.

OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee and lifanazer, Mr. A. Harris.

THIS EVENING, the Farce of A.S.S.
To be followed by DON CA:SAR DE BAZAN. I)on
emsar, Mr. Fechter. Supported by Messrs. Basil Potter,
F. Matthews, J. G. Shore, Miss M. Harris, miss C. Leclercq
and Mrs. Weston.

After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled
ROBINSON CRITSOE ; or, 'Harlequin Friday, and the King
of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and
Mdlle. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres
will appear. Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest.

THEATRE - ROYAL LYCEUM,
So:e Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE.

THIS EVENING the new drama, THE HOUSE ON THE
BRIDGE OF NOTRt DAME. Principal characters by
Mr. G. Vining, Mr. J. Johnstone, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Clifford,
Mr. John Rouse, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Morris ; Miss M.Ternan,
Miss K. Saville, Miss L. Thompson, and Madame Celeste.
Alter which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza,
CRYSTABELLE ; or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing.
THE VISION' OF A ROSE, ITS FADING AT EVE,
AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR.
To conclude with a new Divertissement. Mies Lydia
....1
Thompson, Ace.

A DELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL,
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster.
THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J.
L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E.
Thorne.

Alter which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Iloneicault, D.
Fisher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer.
Miss Agnes Robertson, Migq Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and
erg. Chatterley.
To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled
JILUE BEARD FROM A NEW POINT OF HUE.
Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar,
K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and 14:. Thorne.

Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7.
Box-office open from 10 till 5.
No charge for booking.
Private boxes, £2 25. ; Family Boxes, IL
Orchestra Stalls, ss. ' • Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, 3s. ;
Pit Stalls, 21.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d.

Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith.

A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.--
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Wm. BATTY.

Immense success of " Turpin's Ride to York."
The Last Morning Performance will take place on Friday,
Feb. 22, when the Boys of the Duke of York's School will
attend with their splendid Brass Band, commencing at two
o'clock with the Pantomime and Scenes in the Arena.
THIS EVENING. will be reproduced TURPIN'S RIDE
TO YORK, Aril) THE DEATH OF BLACK BESS, in
which the Brothers Edwin will appear with their celebrated
Steed Black Bess.

To be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by
talented Parisian and British Artistes.
Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto-
mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood,
entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL
HORSE ; or, Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and
the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr.
Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing
in the comic scenes Ratty's Prize Equestrian Flarlequinade,
and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley.
Box-oftice open daily from II till 4
Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST.
Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson.
Commence at 7.

CANTERBURY-HALL CONCERT S !!
A Grand Selection from Verdi's Opera,

IL CORSARO,
consisting of the following Morceaux:—
Preludio.
Coro Scena edAria. "Tutto parca Sorridere"
Coro di Odalische
Cavatina " Vola talor dal Carcere"
Coro ed inno
Scena ed Aria
Terzetto Finale " Voi tacete io non"
will be performed EVERY EVENING, in the origthal key
and Italian language—in addition to the usual attractions.

Mr. F. JONGHMANS, Musical Director.
Also, in preparation, Selections from Verdi's New Operas,.
Un Ballo in Maschera," "Simon Boccanegra ;" and Flo-
tow's celebrated Opera of " Stradella."

HIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
DAY.—Morning, 10h. 22m.—Afternoon, 11h. Om.
TO-MORROW. -Morning, 11h. Wm.—Afternoon, h. am.

THE WEATHER.—Str OFFICE, FEB. 21, 1861.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
53—highest since noon yesterday.
43—lowest this morning and during; the night.
51—this day at noon.

BinomETER-29.47.
WlND—South-Westerly—rather fresh ; it blew a gale
in the night. Slight rain now.

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THE SUN.
LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 20, 1881.

Nothing could have been better put, under the
circumstances, than Mr. HUBBARD'S case on Tues-
day evening when moving for a Committee of
Inquiry upon the matter of the Income-tax, with
a view to its more equitable adjustment, and
especially in the hope that Schedule D might in
future be regulated by a less cruel, a less unjust,
and a less demoralising mode of assessment. The
hon. gentleman obviously had reason on his side
when dividing incomes into three classes—namely,
fixed and permanent incomes, or incomes derived
from positive property, and, strongly contrasting
with these, two species of precarious and fluctuat-
ing incomes—incomes, that is to say, derived from
positive labour, whether of the brain or of the
muscles, labour distinguished, each from each, as
skilled or unskilled. The last-mentioned, the third
and lowest class here mentioned, he at once sets
aside as untaxable, he summarily dismisses it from
the argument, and restricts that argument entirely
thenceforth to the two previous classes of incomes
enumerated—First, the fixed and permanent
incomes derived from positive property, whether
money in the funds or landed possessions ; and,
secondly, the precarious and fluctuating incomes
derived from skilled labour, from the toil of
the Heads of Houses in the higher pur-
suits of the community, and the different
learned professions. Having defined the distinction
between these two widely contrasting sources of
taxation, the ex-Goverrior of the Bank of England,
in the course of his speech on Tuesday, quoted in
reference to the second class, to the class whom he
would now have only (too tardily) relieved by Par-
liament, to the class whose incomes are so very
cruelly, unjustly, and demoralisingly taxed under
Schedule D—Mr. HUBBARD quoted, in reference
to this class, the opinion emphatically expressed in
their regard, in regard to those precarious and
fluctuating incomes, by one of the most logical and
philosophical intellects of the age. Mr. JOHN
STUART MILL had said upon this point, remarked
Mr. HUBBARD-66 I would tax temporary or pre-
carious incomes at a lower scale than permanent
or certain incomes (not because of their lower
selling value), but because their possessors
are liable to be called upon to save
something to provide for their own future
years, or for those dependent on them."
And almost immediately after this, while
admitting that the scheme
suggested by the
late eminent economist Mr. JosEPH HumE was
apparently upon the surface altogether opposed to
the modifications inferentially- proposed by Mr.
MJLLs' definition of the anomaly, the ex-Governor
of the Bank intimated, with perfect truth, that both
one and the other had is the end identically the
same result, leading to the same kind of equitable
adjustment. Differences night reasonably arise in
the argument of this question as to the proportion
in which incomes of this class, incomes of this pre-
carious and fluctuating character, should be taxed
eventually, some placing that proportion at
one-half, and others again at one-fourth of
the total amount annually realised. But all
those who have looked at the matter dispas-
sionately, all those who have not the flinty hearts

of our Chancellor of the Exchequer, hearts that are
case-hardened by an abstract consideration of the
balanced totals of national income and national ex-
penditure—have admitted the need of making some
distinction : though where the line should be drawn
may have continued, has actually continued, up to
this moment matter of debate and difficulty.
When Mr. GLADSTONE observes, with a sneer, that
according to Mr. HUBBARD'S calculation " You
recover and recoup the one-third of the tax leviable
under Schedule I), surrendered by law, in conse-
quence of the honesty of the taxpayers, moved by
this appeal to his feelings," and adds in a tone of
derision " The offer must be of precisely 33 per
cent.—that is the standard, that is the
temperature which is necessary to bring him
up to par in morality"—his witticism is of
the pettiest and most superficial kind
imaginable. The returns of the Income-
tax collectors during all this score of years past
have proved beyond the possibility of denial the
fact that some modification is essential under
Schedule I) to bring a formidably large proportion
of those who are taxed under it (according to the
phrase adopted in Mr. GLADSTONE'S Stock Ex-
change ethics) "up to par in morality !" And
Mr. HUBBARD specifying one-third, specifying
precisely thirty-three per cent., no more lays him
open logically to a jibe of this kind than his selec-
tion of any other percentage from one to ninety-
nine !

Turning from this point in the argument,
however, to another, that told admirably in the
House on Tuesday evening, and that must have
an equally telling effect far and wide over the
land among the taxed earners of precarious and
fluctuating incomes, who will fail to admit
that Mr. HUBBARD had his great antago-
nist, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "upon
the hip" when the former came to specify what he
justly called, what he distinctly claimed as his
precedent ? "In 1852," said he, " the question of
a revision of the income tax was mooted in that
house, and in the following year a new Income Tax
Act was passed under the auspices of his right hon.
friend." Mr. HUBBARD adding—" In the 54th
clause a concession was introduced for the first time
—that a saving of one-sixth out of any income, if
invested in the purchase of a life or deferred annuity,
should be deducted from the income before it was,
brought under the incidence of the income tax."
No wonder with that in his recollection, in the
vivid recollection of the House and of the
country, no wonder Mr. HUBBARD puts his
finger on that 54 clause, under date 1852, and
asserts his right to it in the argument as at once
his precedent and his justification ! "Parliament,"
as he happily remarked at this point, "had no
right to treat the whole industrious classes as chil-
dren, saying to them that if they were economical
and saved their money and invested it in a policy
of life insuranee, or a deferred annuity, a special in-
dulgence would be given to them. The industrial
community had a right to exercise the economy in
any particular channel. Having once admitted
the principle of a deduction, Parliament
haa, no light to tie them down as to the way in
w14413j11,py should exercise their economy for the
purpose of receiving the amount of deduction
conclided." It was with no less telling effect that,
lia,ving said this, the ex-Governor of the Bank
added a reminder to the House that the same
indulgence conceded by that 54th clause in 1852 had

no' very recently been allowed to the same class
of :Incomes by the Income Tax only the other day
imppsed upon her MAJESTY'S subjects in Hindos-
tan.. So that, as he insisted with pitiless perti-
nacity, the principle to which he was thus direct-
ing the attention of the House was in several
successive stages adopted, allowed, admitted
by the members of her MAJESTY'S Government !
It is almost idle, however, at this point to
loiter over the consideration of anomalies we have
so often before now discussed in these columns;
particularly remembering that Mr. HUBBARD'S
motion on Tuesday was successful, and that conse-
quently, in spite of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
in spite of the whole opposing authority of her
MAJESTY'S Government, the cruelty, the injustice,
and the frightfully demoralising influence of the pre-
sent mode of assessing precarious incomes through
the medium of that financial bed of Procrustes,
Schedule D will now come under the consideration
of that committee of inquiry, to whose wisdom and
justice and humanity how many millions are now
looking in hopeful expectancy !

Mr. BERKELEY has this year changed somewhat
the terms of his notice. He will ask on the sth
of March for leave to bring in a bill for the better
protection of electors in voting for members of Par-
liament." We cannot object to this variation in
the form of his notice—indeed, it has several advan-
tages; a prominent one is that, if the proposal
itself be, as it may be, solely regarded, few can deny
that better protection is needed for voters. Mob
violence in Ireland, and in some places in England,
too; undue influence, the existence of which, even
those who use it, are not hold enough to deny, and
the temptations of money and drink, all demand
that, so far as practicable, the elector should be pro-
tected from compulsion, and from unworthy appeals
to his fears and his hopes. When Mr. BERKELEY,
therefore, offers a bill for "the better protection of
voters, there is no prima facie reason why fair-
minded men should not give it a hearing. In
voting for a first reading of it they would merely
acknowledge the preamble as proved—that better
protection is desirable. The principle of the bill
would be discussed on the second reading.
Of course it would be presumed that Mr.
BERKELEY'S, like Mr. WYLD'S Bill of last year,
which reached a second reading, was substantially
a Ballot Bill. That, however, would not be the
point then before the House. Consistently with
the notice of motion, and with we presume the in-
tended preamble, it would be competent to members
to expunge any clauses which made the voting
secret, if they thought them not calculated to afford
the proposed protection. We do not therefore see
why the proposed Bill should not,r;like that of Mr.
LOCKE KING and Mr. BAINES, be read a first time,
nemine contradicente. It has not, it is true, in its
favour the fact that any Government has yet for-
mally proposed the secret voting which must be
expected to form its essence, but it is true that most
Governments and both parties havehadaogfocoodrdreuaplt,
ostensibly, to do with the " Prevention
Practices at Elections." As the Government in
this case will not be asked in point of form to do
more than sanction a private member's attempt to
aid them in their own work, they may be fairly
asked to assent to a first reading of the bill.
But even if Mr. BERKELEY did not so kindly
smooth the way for Lord PALMERSTON and for
Lord JOAN RUSSELL—who hates the Ballot itself
with the bitter fanaticism of a " pervert " from ,
his own creed of thirty years ago—the Govern-
ment might be reasonably asked to assent to the
first reading. When so large a majority of its
Own supporters votes regularly for the Ballot—
it is mere decent respect to them to permit them
to place their measure before the House.
" Courtesy " seemed to be the order of the day
last Tuesday, it ought to be so when Mr..
SZAKELEY makes his motion. If a Goyernment

with

such a miserable majority as the present
one now has, does not care to be courteous
towards the most liberal section of its followers,
we can only hope that they will avail themselves
of the first fair opportunity to walk out of the
House on a division, and to leave them to the
tender mercies of the Tories. The Government
will richly deserve it.

There is one practical reason why the fairness
we demand for Mr. BERKELEY should be shown
him. The Ballot is voted against as a bugbear.
Members and people generally hear such strange
stories and absurd misrepresentations about the
Ballot that they are really confused, and have no
reasonable conception of what is asked by the Eng-
lishmen who have devoted most time and attention
to it. They have heard of the American Ballot,
and the French Ballot, and the Belgian Ballot, and
the Savoy and Nice Ballot, and the Australian
Ballot—and they are told of some of them that they
are solemn :farces, and of others that they are no
pattern for us, till they many are in perfect igno-
rance of what a fair and honest Ballot Bill really
would propose. If only for this reason it is desira-
ble that, by the first reading of their bill, the advo-
cates of the Ballot should be able to point to an au-
thorised document, and thus be in a position to say
to a large class of opponents—do not talk to us of the
Ballot here or there —of the Ballot where rapidity
of voting is more an object than secrecy—or of the
Ballot where Government agents have sole charge
of the urns in which are placed the votes for and
against their own nominees—speak to us of what
we ask. Here it is—show that any man would be
endangered, or his liberty infringed on by it—
show that great numbers would not vote more freely
under it—show that the canvasser,
.briber, or in-
timidator, with such an Act in the electors' favour,
would not create general disgust, and endanger his
own cause, by resorting to his unworthy "corrupt
practices." With so much reason for such a course,
then, may we not hope that Government
will accept Mr. BERKELEY'S conciliatory
offer, and as he comes half-way to meet
them, show their good sense and fairness by accord-
ing him a first reading.

It is not our intention just now to repeat any of
the arguments for the protection of secrecy, to the
voter, but we just remark in concluding, that all
testimony worth attention fully corroborates the
arguments of those statesmen who prefer to base
representative constitutions on the thorough inde-
pendence of the voter. And we must be pardoned
in holding an honest ballot as being identical with
the electoral independence of the many. We pub-
lishedyesterday an interesting letter from Mr. JOHN
LAZAN "the returning officer for the city of Adelaide,
and our readers would see how clear and straight-
forward is the testimony of this business-like
official to the good results -of the Ballot there. It
was predicted that the electors would not care to
vote if they voted secretly, the result proved that
these assertions were without foundation ; it was
said that the less educated would be unable to use
• •--
the ballot, this Mr. LAZAN found to be equally a
mistake ; a w advertisements made all plain to
. ,
the humblest capacity. He describes-Abe-plan-
adopted, whiai -was obviously both simple and
effectual ; and. the social and moral results were
such as even Lord JOHN RUSSELL would think
worth something,' if not worth the surrender of
aristocratic coArol over electoral independence.
Mr. LAZAN'S concluding words are worth re-
peating :

" During the whole of the day the most complete order
and decorum prevailed; this proved a very great con-
trast to the previous elections under the old system of epen
voting, which was marked in many instances with the
most disorderly (and I may say outrageous) conduct. I

have therefore no hesitation in saying that if the purity of
election is to be maintained, the ballot is the only system to
secure it. I say this from the experience I have gained up
to the present time, having superintended five elections, and
all with the same successful results."

May English Returning Officers be soon able to
record the same experience !

Mr. GLADSTONE may console himself for his well
merited defeat on the Income-tax, by his trium-
phant victory over Mr. WILLIAMs. There is, to be
sure, the slight take .off that he was triumphant
over justice in the first division, which will one
day revenge herself even on him, and beaten by
justice in the second, which seems as if her step was
not to be quite so tardy as that ascribed to her by
poets. In opposing Mr. WILLIAMS he had the
great advantage of speaking to a house of landlords,
who, almost to a man, were interested in the
barefaced injustice which Mr. WILLIAMS attacked;
he found his account in appealing to their pockets,
and he tried the same appeal against Mr. HUBBARD.
Luckily the proof was net quite so plain that ceas-
ing to rob Schedule D would lay a heavier load on
Schedule A. It was well known, for instance, that
taxation could be materially lightened, and
Schedules A and D be relieved together, as it was
not proposed to augment the per tentage paid by
the former.

Altogether different was Mr. WILLTAMS'S pro-
posal. It was, if anything, more conspicuously just.
Mr. GLADSTONE quibbled, indeed, about the
terms, but what Mr. WILLIAMS really demanded,
and Mr. GLADSTONE know it well, was, that
whatever probate duty was paid by one class of
property passing at death to another person, should
be paid by all propekty. It was simply childish of
Mr. GLADSTONE to play a kind of thimble-rig argu-
mentative game with the terms " real and personal
property," and to lay stress on the fact that only
property passing by will came under the probate
stamp duty. Indeed we think the sophistical tone
of reasoning taken by Mr. GLADSTONE affords Mr.
WILLIAMS the opportunity of moving another
carefully drawn resolution, of which the purport
should be this—that, as it is desirable all property
should be taxed equally as far as practicable for
the public service, whatever duty is now paid
by property administered under a will, should
be paid by all property of every kind, on passing
by the death of its proprietor, bona fide, into other
hands, Mr. GLADSTONE found no difficulty in
valuing property for his succession duties, which
themselves are but a partial concession to equal
taxation of the landlord class, and there would be
no kind of difficulty in demanding, as in the
case of probate, an affidavit of the value
of property which came into any one's hands by
the death of its former proprietor. The ingenuity
of landlord's advocates, like Mr. GLADSTONE, may
find up plenty of complicated cases in which ordi-
nary arithmeticians would be a little puzzled to say
what each beneficiary under another's death actually
received; but he might also find plenty of persons
able to tell him in a few minutes the equitable pro-
portional charge on each.
We hope Mr.-11'1111,1ms will not sit clown by this
vote of the landlords to button up their own pockets.
Nothing but perseverance, and putting the subject
in every light will make the owners of real pro-
ea mfiendd ofetuhre i
army
rfeudalestimates
e m p ti o s
ve_rhte3n' e,ffhe ce twu
eavl leyrashamed
re-
tained at a war standard during peace, and that not-
wit iitshhstiagnhdti
On the proprietors of the soil, in the good old times,
iningeathwahtofieeuadraral eyxeomf peffitiocniesnsthovuolludnctecaesres:
lay the onus of providing the national army ; ex-
emptions were fair then. But it is not fair that

they should saddle the country with the cost of
the army, and refuse still to be taxed equally with
their fellow citizens.

ARREST OF M. MIRES.

The following telegram has been received through
Mr. Reuter's office :—" Paris, Fob. 20.—The pay-
ments of the Caisse des Chemins de Fer of Messrs.
Mires and Co. have been suspended (qjournes)
until the inventory of the state of the bank is com-
pleted."
The writer of the Times' City Article says :
" The Constantinople bills on M. Mires falling due
yesterday and to day amount to about 1280,000,
and a strong hope was entertained that,
owing to the State having charged itself with
the administration of his affairs, provision would be
duly made for them. A telegram from Paris late
yesterday afternoon announced, however, that de-
fault had taken place. Ultimately it was notified
that a suspension of payment has been ordered
pending an examination into the condition of the
Casse des Chemins de Fer. The financial letters
mention that several persons connected with the
transactions of M. Mires have been arrested. Some
reports circulated yesterday afternoon of large
amounts of M. Mires's draughts being held by par.
ties connected with the London money market are
totally without foundation.

The circumstance is thus noticed by the Morning
Herald:—

The arrest of M. Mires, the great Parisian
financier,will, it is feared, be followed by disastrous
consequences. He will be arraigned on charges
of forgery and misappropriation, which, it is said
must lead to a variety of curious revelations. The
allegation is, that M. Mires will be prosecuted for
having diverted the funds subscribed to support
the Turkish Loan, and those paid on account
of the Rom an railways, to his own purposes.
Other individuals are asserted to be compro-
mised in the charges brought against him, and the
expectation is entertained that the French Go-
vernment will find it prudent to interfere to protect
several houses interested, and to prevent a deprecia-
tion in securities, which if realised would not cover
either the advances made upon them or the accru-
ing interest. The liabilities of Messrs. Mires
and Co. represent, it is said, about £2,000,000,
but this total may be exaggerated. The extent
of mischief which this disaster may occa-
sion cannot for the present be accurately
estimated, though it is believed that Greek esta-
blishments will prove the principal sufferers,through
arrangements endeavoured to be made to success-
fully float the late Turkish loan. During yesterday
several absurd reports were circulated with respect
to the supposed connection of London houses in the
operations of Messrs. Mires and Co. They, how-
ever, were of such a ridiculous character as almost
to carry with them their own refutation. One
especially, which alluded to the engagements of a
firm on behalf of M. Mires as representing
£1,000,000, is authoritatively asserted to have not
the slightest foundation, in fact, no transactions
having ever occurred between them.

THE BALLOT SOCIETY.—The weekly 'meeting
of the Executive Committee was held on Tuesday, at the
offices, 5, Guildhall-chambers—Mr. Mark E. Marsden in
the chair. Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. Sydenham Nodes, Mr.
Elt, Mr. Man, Mr. F. Clowes, &c., were present. Dr. R. F.
Lees (Leeds), Mr. Councillor Smith (Leeds), Elihu Finnie,
President of the Leeds Working Men's Reform Association,
and Mr. R. Tregamas (Pembroke), were elected members
of the council. Amongst other business transacted, a cor-
respondence was read relative to the approaching election
for the Pembrokeshire boroughs, and it was resolved " That
the recent election for Pembi eke county was disgraced by
intimidation beyond even the ordinary course of county
elections, and as Sir Hugh Owen, the defeated candidate
for the county, and now candidate for the Pembrokeshire
boroughs, declines to support the ballot,,though he com-
plains of the undue influences lately used against him, and
admits that the ballot would be a-remedy for such-mal-
practices, this committee earnestly recommends the friends
of the ballot in the Pembrokeshire-borouglig to from
voting for Sir Hugh Owen." A- kb-committee was ap-
pointed to watch the arrangements for the debate and divi-
sion on Mr. Berkeley's motion for a bill to provide protec-
tion for the voter, and further arrangements were made for
the public soiree to be held on the 6th March.
A MONSTER MAIL FOR AUSTRALlA.—Yesterday
morning the largest mail ever despatched from London to
Australia:was sent from the General Post-office, in St. Mar-
tin's-le-Grand. It consisted of 1,100 boxes, each 2 feet
long by 1 foot broad and 1 foot deep, and required 19 omni-
buses and one cab to convey the vast mass of letters, news-
papers, and book parcels to the railway terminus. Notwith-
standing its bulk, however, no delay took place in the de-
spatch. From the sizes above given it will be at once seen
that not less than 30,000 letters, parcels, and newspapers
would be sent out by this despatch alone.
THE TABU FORTS.—The following is from an
officer left with a detachment of the 31st in the South 1
_ _

Taku Fort :—" The fort we are in is the one we tried to
take in 1859, and, unless they have strengthened it im-
mensely since, it was almost impregnable. Towards the
sea there is, first, a pallisade of stakes driven into the bed
of the river, then, about a hundred yards of soft mud, then
a bed of bamboo spikes, then a series of, pitfalls about 10

feet deep, with a path of soft mud about a foot wide be.
tween them, then more stakes and spikes, then a
wet ditch about 10 feet wide, more spikes, and
an abattis of trees, another wet ditch, and more
spikes and stakes, and then •the walls of the fort ! This
Admiral Hope expected to take under a heavy fire with about
800 men and a few gunboats ; showing either want of pro
per information or singular audacity. The land side is very
little better. There are wet ditches, mud, and stakes, the
only approach being by a causeway, which was, of course,
commanded by heavy guns."

FRIGHTFUL ACClDENT.—Yesterday morning an
explosion, which it is feared will proved fatal, took place
at a leather manufactory, at West Ham. A 'man named
George Grogan was boiling oil, whenfrom sale unexplained
cause, the boiler burst, and the man was dreadfully scalded
by the boiling liquid. He was conveyed to Guy's Hospi-
tal, where he remains without the slightest hope of
recovery.

CANTERBURY HALL.—The lesees of the London
theatres have made an onslaught on Mr. Morton, the pro-
prietor of the above well-conducted place of amusement.
An application was made yesterday on behalf of Mr. Ben-
jamin. Webster, the lessee of the Adelphi Theatre, to the
magistrate at Lambeth Police Court, for a summons against
Mr. Charles Morton, the proprietor of Canterbury Hall,
calling on that gentleman to show cause by what authority
he permits stage plays to be performed on his premises in
the absence of a licence to do so from the Lord Chamber-
lain. After hearing the gentleman, Mr. Elliott at once
granted the summons as requested.

Mr. Dentu, the well-known publisher at Paris,
has protested against the act of piracy committed by
several French journals, which published the whole of M.
de la Guerronniere's pamphlet, and thereby enabled the
public to buy for three sous that which would have cost
them thirty at his shop. He abstains from a prosecution
this time, but givos it to be understood that he will not be
so indulgent in future. There can be no doubt that M. de
la Guerronniere's profits have been considerably diminished
by the piracy in question.

FRENCH SPOILS FROM CHINA.—The articles taken
from the Summer Palace at Pekin, and offered to the Empo-
ror and Empress by the army in China, are now exhibited
in the gallery of the ground floor of the Pavilion Marsan,
in the Tuileries. Visitors especially remark among them
several gigantic vases in enamel of different colours; a
magnificent pagoda in bronze gilt, chased, and several idols
in gold and enamel, with singular features and postures;
also a figure seated on an estrade, with the splendid costume
of a Chinese Emperor, consisting of several garments placed
one above the other, some decked with gold, others with
steel, and all surmounted by a silk mantle of the imperial
yellow colour, richly embroidered, and decked with buttons
of gold and precious stones, and on the head of the figure
is a helmet of gold and steel, having somewhat the shape of
a tiara, and terminating in a long steel point. Two sceptres
of gold, ornamented with jade, are to be seen ; they are in
the form of the letter C very much lengthened. There are
likewise two figures of monsters in gilt copper, each of
which weighs at least 300 kilogrammes, and is of such com-
plicated workmanship that wonder is felt how it could have
been cast in one piece, as it evidently has been. Among
various admirable articles in porcelain attention is attracted
by a large vase of the imperial yellow, ornamented with
representations of branches of a tree of a charming green
colour. Some blinds of extraordinary dimensions are also
remarked. The same gallery also contains the fine collection
of ancient armour of Europe which belonged to the cabinet
of Prince Soltikoff. A suit of steel armour, inlaid with
gold, of the most beautiful workmanship, is more particu-
larly to be noticed. There are in all about 40 suits, which
occupy all one side of the gallery.
THE SHERIFF SUBSTITUTE.—The Sheriff substi-
tute of —shire is one of the most facetious members of
that order. 11 e has fallen into the habit of crooning, or
whispering in an under tone, some of the more popular
Scottish airs. A youthful panel was, in his Court, found
guilty of larceny. After pronouncing the sentence of im-
prisonment, the Sheriff added, "Take care you don't come
here again, or --" he closed the sentence by humming
the tune, " Owre the water to Charlie." The hint was no
doubt understood. A tailor was summoned before his
court, charged with having unjustifiably dismissed a ser-
vant from his service. The defendant pled that the girl was
so enormously voracious that he could not keep her in food.
" Will four and sixpence a week (the usual amount of board
wages allowed a servant) keep her ?" inquired the judge.
"No near," replied the defendant. " Will six shillings do ?"
requestioned the Sheriff. " No, that wadna keep her."

"Now, take care," said the judge, "and answer cautiously.
Will seven shillings do ?" "It will tak eight," said the
persisting defender. "Then," said the Sheriff, "I decern
that you pay eight shillings a week to the girl till the ex-
piry of her engagement." The justice of the decree was
unquestionable,—Dr, Boyers' Familiar Iliostrations.

LATEST NEW S.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
CONSTANTINOPLE, FEB. 16.
The _Levant .Herald states that the Hasne Ta-
vilis are to be renewed for 14 years.
It also says that a general suspension of the
Galata bankers and merchants is threatened.

PESTH, FEB. 21.

The Judicial Conference demands the immediate
re-establishment of the Hungarian laws relating to
letters of exchange.
The municipality of Buda has resolved upon
excluding all non-Hungarian residents in that city
from the exercise of electoral rights.

TURIN, FEB. 20.
The Opinione gives a denial to the rumours of
negotiations between Sardinia and Rome.
Admiral Persano and General Cialdini, with
troops, have left for Messina.
General Mezzacapo, with a body of troops, has
proceeded to wards Civitella, on the Tronto.
Both fortresses will be attacked immediately if
their commanders refuse to surrender.

ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 20.

The Emperor has appointed his Aide-de-Camp,
General Count Stackelberg, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of Russia at the
Court of the Queen of Spain.

MADRID, FEB. 19.

The Epoca says-t--" Spain and Morocco have
'agreed that the Moors shall immediately complete
the payment of 200,000,000 reals."

The Customs of Tangier and Mogador will be
mortgaged to the Spaniards as a guarantee for the
payment of the remainder of the war indemnity.
The evacuation of Tetuan will take place at a
fixed date.

THE PENINSULAR MAIL.
SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Alhambra, Capt. Steward, with the above mail,
arrived off the Needles at 12.5 p.m.