The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-10 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10 1861.

The Prince Boris Galitzin and the Princess
Wladimir Galitzin have arrived at Long's Hotel from Paris.
His Excellency the Italian Minister has arrived
at the residence of the Italian legation, in Park-lane, from
Germany.
The Duke of Rutland is shortly expected in
England. His grace is now at Emms, in Germany, and
has not been yachting, as erroneously stated.
The Earl and Countess Delawarr, who are paying
visits in Scotland, are expected at Bourne Hall, the noble
earl's seat in Cambridgeshire, early in October.
The Earl and Countess of Craven arrived at
Ashdowne Park yesterday from Scarborough, where his
lordship has been staying for the benefit of his health.
The Countess of Glengall has arrived in Gros-
vener-street from her seat in Ireland.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston arrived at
Cambridge House on Saturday from Weimer Castle, and
will leave town in a few days for Btoadlands.
Viscountess Jocelyn has left Tallymore Park on
a visit to the Marquis and 'Marchioness of Londonderry at
Mount Stewart, County Down.
A fearful explosion occurred on Saturday after•
noon at Mr. Kirby's fireworks manufactory, Sandymount,
in-
jured.fire, the ligtnaiptcresxttehnadtiwnghitlost
Dublin, by which two of the workmen were seriously fillingthe e
x pal
orocket a trho eu rnodd, sbtlr uo
wc k-
ing up the workmen, and destroying the building. The
two poor fellows were at once removed to the City of Dub-
lin Hospital, where, up to the latest account; they were
both progressing favourably.
THE HEALTH OF SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON.
—An unfounded statement has appeared in some of the
daily papers, alleging that Sir E. Bulwer Lytton has been
seriously indisposed and confined to his bed. We are autho-
rised to announce that there is not the slightest ground for
these rumours, the right hon. Bart. enjoying better health
than he has done for years past.
Lord Clyde has arrived at Frankfort.
THE DRAWBACK UPON PRINTERS' STOCKS OF
PAPER.—The printers and stationers of Liverpool, who are
taking up this subject with much activity and earnestness,
held another meeting yesterday, at which a memorial to the
Commissioners of Inland Revenue was agreed to, pointing
out the injustice of withholding from printers the drawback
upon stocks of paper while it is allowed to stationers,
strictly so called, as persons who do not print upon the
premises where the paper is held. It was also resolved to
seek the co-operation of the Liverpool Chamber of Com-
merce, and to recommend the tra'le in other towns to inte-
rest their local chambers of commerce in laying the question
before the Government in a proper light.
POLISH PIETY.—In removing to a new farm it
is always customary in Poland to have it solemnly blessed
by a priest. In fact, God's blessing is invoked upon every
undertaking and trivial domestic arrangement and duty.
No cook will as much as put a batch of bread into the oven
without having first made the sign of the, cross over it, to
ensure a satisfactory result. One of the national charac-
teristics is strong religious feeling, and an ever-present
conviction of a watchful Providence; and, although in the
poor, untaught or ill-taught, superstitious observances are
substituted for spiritual worship, yet " God's holy will be
done" is invariably the concluding phrase in the recital of
an afflicted creature's misforfune, as " God repay you" is
the expression of thanks for any benefit received.—Lublin
University Magazine.
ABOLITION OF OATH'S IN CRIMINAL CASES.--.0n
the Ist of next month an important Act of Parliament,
passed in the late session, will come into operation, under
that he solemnly,
which persons who may refuse ur be unwilling, from alleged
conscientious motives, to be sworn in criminal proceedings,
may make declarations or affirmations.
htegisentoabne
Oa a person de-
clining to be sworn to an affidavit or as a witness in court,
the party may make a declaration alleging
oathr;a b 1 ;e. andt thefor
sincerely, and truly affirmed and declared " that the takine•
of any oath is, according to his religious belie; unlawful;"
and the declaration to speak the truth is to be of the wale
aforfcaelsaenddeect,rcattaiosnif
otrheapffietrttlsoantihonad
same penalties as for perjury.

as diverse from the rest of Virginia as any of the
old Free States, they will, however the war may
go, cast in their lot with theirs. Yet that strangely
technical man, Mr. LINCOLN, ignores all the facts,
and writes to them regretting their proceedings, be-
cause, like some of his own, it is not in accordance
with the Constitution ! The territory thus sepa-
rated is about a third of Virginia, and includes that
singular part called " the Panhandle"—a narrow
strip of land running up between Ohio and Penn-
sylvania towards Lake Erie, and leaving the Free
States of the East and West little better connection
than that of an isthmus. One would have supposed
that LINCOLN would have been thankful enough to
make sure of such an accession to the Free States.
In one respect matters look more doubtful than
ever. Parties are forming both in the North and in
the South. Maine, in the former, is publicly agita-
ting for peace, and the numbers of individuals who
do so is becoming annoyingly great. Probably the
seizure of the journals has much to do with this.
On the other hand, the South has similar difficulties.
DAVIS intended to have had a strongly united
secession; but it is evident enough that the seces-
sion principle is being worked against him more
than he likes, and he finds Georgia and North
Carolina asserting the doctrine of State Rights, and
prepared to secede from the Leader of Secession
FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE.

_
Fatalities come in groups. This has never been
more strikingly illustrated than by the recent
grave sequence of fires, headed by the almost un-
precedented conflagration in Southwark. The
locale and time of advent of these groups are alike
uncertain, but there is nought of uncertainty in
their results. These the prudent citizen nullifies to
the best of his ability by the provident intervention
of insurance. This, to equal the import of its name,
must possess the one grand faculty of being able to
meet any and every emergency, no matter how ex-
ceptional or tremendous. Amongst the companies
that have proved themselves equal to the almost
unexampled trial and test of stability alluded to
in the awful fire of Tooley-street, we have
noted the admirable promptitude of the "THE
ROYAL." In three days after the outbreak, Mr.
Johnston, the secretary, was in position to pay all
claims, as presented prior, and that this was no
light achievement is demonstrated by the figures
of the amounts already paid—X7s,ooo. The re-
serve fund secured from the judicious savings of
past years is, we are informed, so ample, that had
the Royal's quota of the damage been thrice the
sum it could have been liquidated on the instant,
and without drawing on the company's capital.
No better or more satisfying evidence could be
given of the prudence and stability of the Royal
Insurance Company, and its ability to fulfil its mis-
sion as an institution of its class in giving speedy
and liberal indemnity for loss by fire, even under
the most exceptional circumstances. That a vast pub-
lic appreciate the first-class position of the office is
demonstrated in the confidenee that endows it with
an annual and increasing revenue of above
£262,000.
Two years only have seen an increase in Fire
business to the• extent of £66,000, or a rise of 34
per cent. on the then income—the ratio of expan-
sion of which is a type and guarantee of the com-
pany's vitality and success.
The Life business, too, keeps in parallel advance
with the Fire, a circumstance gratifying, not only
as a commercial fact, but as an exponent of rapidly
extending healthy habits of prudence and resulting
civilisation among the masses.
In 1860, although an augmentation of £15,000
1 new business came to swell the totals of the bonus
year, the first six months of 1861 have surpassed
i by 50 per cent. the receipts of any like previou
period.. This marvellous momentum is to be as-
cribed to the felicitous effect a brochure on life
curves and averages, published by Mr. Dove, the
manager, last year, has had in waking attention to
the duty and advantages of life assurance. This
pamphlet, illustrated by coloured diagrams, and
couched in language of the simplest kind, makes
comprehensible to even the unprofessional what
had previously been deemed subject-matter for the
study of the erudite. The writer may well be
congratulated on the solid reward his explanations
r have deservedly secured, and on the humanising
influence that so large a life assurance growth must
have on the habits and independence of the people.
To all intending insurants, the report of the
Royal Insurance Company bears its own commen-
dation, not only in its satisfactory totals and large
bonus of £2 per cent. per annum, the largest ever
continuously declared by any company, but in the
candour with which its affairs are unreservedly
and lucidly disclosed to the investigation of the
public.

ILATEks'
NEW.

AMERICA.

LONDONDERRY, SEPT. 10.
The Canadian steamer Bohemian, which arrived
here this morning, passed the John Bell on the Ist,
and the North American on the 6th inst. The
Bohemian has brought £21,500 in specie.
NEW YORK, AUG. 30.
The defeat of Colonel Tyler, at Summersville, in
Western Virginia, is confirmed.
Governor Denison has received the following tele-
gram from General Cox, dated Gauley Bridge, Aug.
29th :—" Authentic reports show that fifteen of ou r
men were killed and about forty wounded in this
recent fight at Summersville. A large number o f
the 7th Ohio Regiment were scattered during tho
fight, and are missing, but it is hoped that most of
them will escape."
Despatches from Washington of the 29th inst.
state that the enemy are in full possession of Bailly
cross roads, and are bringing up their baggage from
Springfield Station.
The four New York Regiments composing
Franklin's brigade were ordered to advance, and
marched to within two-and-a-half miles of the cross
roads.

Several picket skirmishes are reported, in which
several were killed on both sides.
A rumour from St. Louis states positively that
General M'Culloch is marching on Jefferson City
with 10,000 men. It is believed that the Union
forces are well disposed to repel such an attack as
this is represented to be.
Information is received that the Unionists are
leaving Harper's Ferry in great numbers.
Advices from Texas state that Fort Staunton has
been abandoned and fired by the Union forces.
The Post-office, in consequence of a violation of
the mails, have discontinued the postal service to
offices in Kentucky West and Tennessee river.
Tly.3 Secretary of War has ordered the stoppage
of telegraphic despatches to points south of Ken-
tucky.

(LATEST BY TELEGRAPH TO FATHER POINT.)
NEW YORK, AUG. 31.
Martial law has been proclaimed in Missouri.
The slaves of Insurrectionists in that State are to
be freed.