The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-16 00:00:00

might be effectual if applied, it appeared to him an
inglorious method of attacking an enemy, without
letting him have any chance of retalia''on. He,
nevertheless, strongly recommended m 2 to return
to Turkey, and lay my method of d?:troying the
fleet and defences of the enemy befo _•c the Turkish
Government for adoption, and that he would in-
struct Admiral DUNDAS (then commanding the
British Fleet in the East) to assist me."
It is naturalto conclude that the Admiralty intended
to assist Mr. MACINTOSH, and by requesting his
return to Constantinople (where he had a supply of
material ready for use), and promising to send out
instructions to Admiral DUNDAS to assist him in
his object, it would appear that the Admiral's
intentions were both prompt and laudable.
It will appear that the Turkish High Admiral
had made arrangements with the British Admiral
not to permit any ships of the Turkish fleet to enter
the Black Sea, unless accompanied by a squadron
of the Allied fleet, owing to the destruction of part
of his fleet at Sinope, when it will be remembered that
the Russian Admiral cruised about the Black Sea,
waiting for a Black, Sea fog, and under its favouring
veil pounced upon the Turkish fleet and completely
annihilated it.

Mr. MACINTOSH hastened to join the Allied fleet
(then anchored in the Bay of Baltshik, north of
Varna) bearer of a despatch from Lord STRATFORD
to Admiral DUN DAS (date 27th May). A council
of war was immediately assembled, consisting of
several of the leading superior officers, amongst
whom was Captain DRUMMOND (now Commodore),
the commander of H. M. steamer Retribution ,who had
previous to the official declaration of war, gallantly
entered the harbour of Sebastopol ("under the
favouring veil of a dense Black Sea fog") to the
amazement and horror of the Russians, bearing
official despatches to the Russian Governor.

" The unanimous opinion of the Council was, that
if the sea-face batteries of Sebastopol were to be
bombarded by the Allied fleets, and their total de-
struction effected, such must be done under the
cover of a dense black fog, similar to that above
described.

" Admiral DUNDAS fully agreed with the general
opinion of the Council, but stated he would have
to consult Vice-Admiral HAMELIN (Admiral-in-
Chief to the French fleet) prior to the adoption of

my system."
It will now appear that Admiral BERKELEY'S
promise to send out instructions had not been com-
plied with, as Admiral DUNDA.S " declined taking
the responsibility of employing such an unusual
mode of warfare without having written orders
from the Admiralty, and suggested that I should
immediately apply to the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty, with the view of having proper in-
structions sent out."

Mr. MACINTOSH immediately returned to Con-
stantinople, and " had an interview with Lord
STRATFORD, who, although much surprised at our
Admiral's inerteess in carrying out our 'Articles of
War,' which empower to burn, sink, and destroy,'
suggested I should again communicate with the
Admiralty."

Mr. MACINTOSH remained at Constantinople for
a period of twenty-two days, expecting a reply
to a letter he had sent to the Admiralty ; receiving
none, he returned (second time) to England, and in
reply to his despatch of June 26, received the fol-
lowing answer, viz., that "the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty are not prepared to adopt your
plan," (July 5, 1854).
This peculiar conduct of Admiral BERKELEY, in
first persuading Mr. MAcinosll to return to Tur-
key with promise of assistance—neglecting to send
out the promisod instructions, and then, on his re-
turn to Valgland some months after, to coolly write,
or cause to be written to him, that "the Admiralty
are not prepared to adopt your plan"— is worthy
of those who can conacientiously act with such
openness and candour. Jt rather appears in the
light of official wilyness, to ward off an unwelcome
applicant ; the country risked nothing by the pro-
posed trial, as Mr. MACINTOSH frequently ex-
pressed a wish to perform the whole experiments
at his own private expense ; the riddance was the
true object, and not the honest welfare for the
national cause.

The Lords of the Admiralty again refused to send
out any instructions to either Sir CHARLES NAPIER
or Admiral DUNDAS, with respect to applying Mr.
MACINTOSH'S agent against the enemy—(date,
11th July, 1854.)
Having devoted so much time, energy, and
capital in his endeavours to awaken our Govern-
ment to, at least, practically test (on a large scale,
and at his entire personal expense) his system
against the enemy's fleet and sea defences, and
finding all his exertions of no avail, he proceeds to
Paris with introductory letters to his Imperial Ma-
jesty the Emperor NAPOLEON, who, unfortunately,
had left the day of his arrival for Biarritz. It ap-
pears he had an interview with Monsieur DUCAS,
the Minister of Marine, and tested on a small scale
his system of warfare to the satisfaction of the
Minister. On his return to England he communi-
cated to the Earl of EGLINTON and the Earl TALBOT
the very discouraging results of his correspondence
with our Admiralty, also the prompt and energetic
manner in which the French Minister had attended
to the matter.

From satisfactory tests Mr. —MAciNTosii per-
formed before their Lordships, he received several
letters for presentation to his Grace the Duke of
NEWCASTLE (then Secretary of State for War),
which resulted in an audience.

His Grace was prompt in responding to his
wishes, and promised to see the Lords of the Ad-
miralty on the subject of his new war agent, which
resulted in a despatch from their lordships (August
16, 1854) to Mr. MACINTOSH, appointing for a trial
in their presence, to take place at Portsmouth.
Mr. MACINTOSH complied with the wishes of
the Lords of the Admiralty, and on the 19th met
Sir JAS. GRAHAM, Admiral BERKELEY, and Capt.
Sir T. MAITLAND at the George Hotel, Portsmouth.
After having distinctly informed their lordships
of the opinion of the Council of War and Admiral
DUNDAS, relative to the application of his agent
against sea•defences, and the " utter folly of attempt-
ing to attack the sea-faces of Sebastopol by ships of
war, owing to the enemy's forts mounting innu-
merable guns of an enormous calibre, and that
their concentration of fire was so adjusted as,
ships coming within range.'
provided
to sink any
i
Mr, MACINTOSH, having all the neces-
sary materials for testing his new agent, requested
both of the Lords Commissioners to accompany him
on board H.M.S. Excellent to -witness the experi-
ments, such being in compliance withtheirlordships'
despatch of the 16th inst. Strange to say, both of
the Lords Commissioners complained of serious
indisposition, and also being pressed for time, end-
although he urged and repeatedly requested their
Lordships to witness his experiment (" which would
have occupied less than one hour"), he could not
induce them to accompany him. Sir THOMAS
MAITLAND and the Government chemist were
directed to witness and report. We give the details
in full :

" We proceeded on board the Excellent, and having
shipped a sufficient quantity of the hydro-carbon in a six-
oared gig, pushed off towards Rochester Creek, and there
discharged on the water a sufficient quantity, which, float-
, INS riA its surface, was propelled 11 the vial to 0910 200

yards, when Sir Thomas Maitland directed me to ignite it,
which I did by projecting a small ball of the metal potas-
sium into it. This had the effect of generating an impene-
trable black, suffocating fog. We pulled up to the burning
material and ignited a piece of paper, clearly demonstrating
that ships of war could follow up in its wake without injury
to the attacking party, thus enabling sq uadrons to form up
in a line of battle wider cover of the. black smoke, and
when within point-blank range of any - land batteries, to
disembark troops and take possession, or simultaneously
open a concentrated fire and entirely destroy them. No
animal can breathe within the folds of this smoke ; conse-
quently, on its entering the embrasures, it would naturally
compel all the gunners to beat a quick retreat, thereby
leaving the enemy's forts at the mercy of the attacking
squadron."

To scientific or practical judges, such an experi-
ment would have been probably conclusive, but as
the Lords of the Admiralty were too callous to the
interests of the nation, neglecting, as they did, to
witness in person the experiment, when they had a
fitting opportunity (of their own appointing) for
so doing, it would be needless to attempt to prove
that any of the several other trifling experiments
Mr. MACINTOSH subsequently and successfully
performed before Sir THOMAS MAITLAND, would
add one iota of increase to the balance of opinion in
its favour.

It is the energy and presence of a chief which
gives weight, value, and promptness of action.
Dilatoriness is but too often the result of this
absence, and needless delay necessarily follows.
In diverging for a moment from the thread of
this communication, the Leviathan, of yester-
day's date, triumphantly extols the past acts of its
political fraternity—Sir CHAS. WOOD is the cham-
pion of his party ; it says, " The present Govern-
ment could not have found so much to do if other
Governments had not left a great deal undone."
Again, "We can give the public some idea of the
actual—load, also, past]—state of affairs." It is
an undeniable fact, that at the time these editorial
remarks were penned the contents of Mr. MAC-
INTOSH'S interesting and instructive book were in
the editor's hands. Never was more truth spoken,
but it evidently falls heavier on the giver than on
the intended recipient.

The Leviathan, in wielding its colossal Nasmy-
thic engine, is rather too clogged within its own
wheels to always admit of a free and uniform
stream of unbiased patriotism. Too much is rather
injurious, and too little is quite immaterial for the
good of the country, when such clashes and cen-
sures the acts of their own political sphere.
On the 6th December, 1854, Mr. MACINTOSH
addressed a letter to his Grace the Duke of NEW-
CASTLE, informing him of the successful experi-
ments made at Portsmouth, &c., and from some
successful experiments made before his Lordship,
his Grace promised that Mr. MACINTOSH'S system
should be fully investigated."
It appears that by a despatch from the Admiralty
(9th December, 1854) to Mr. MACINTOSH he was
informed that Captain Sir THOMAS MAITLAND
" had been directed to send in a report," but from
two applications, under date 12th and 13th Decem-
ber, for copy of Sir THOMAS'S report, it was
refused.

Mr. MACINTOSH received the following despatch
from the Admiralty, which is of too much import-
ance to be omitted :

" Admiralty, 16th December, 1854.
"Sir,—ln reply to your inquiries relative to your plan
for destroying ships, &c., I am directed by Admiral
Berkeley to acquaint you that your plan, with Sir Thomas
Maitland's report, have been forwarded to Vice-Admiral
Dundas, Commander-in-Chief of H. M. ships and vessels
on the Mediterranean station, for his consideration.—l am,
sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) "P. PORRIER.
" J. Macintosh, Esq."

Mr. MACINTOSH states that " it will be hereafter
clearly proved that neither myself nor Admirals
DUNDAS and LYONS ever obtained a copy of those
instructions." He again requested, on 20th Decem-
ber, for a copy of Sir THOMAS MAITLAND'S report ;
but on the 26th December, and on the 22d January
(1855), his third application was rejected, for the
following reason—viz., "it not being customary
to furnish reports made by their officers in such

cases. "

Would it not be more beneficial for the interests
of the country, and scientific pursuits generally,
that such an antiquated and secret custom should
be at once abolished. All experiments (with
the exception of those in question) are generall y
carried on by public servants of the Crown, at
the expense of the nation, and if no better reason
can be assigned than " old custom," new
rules and more enlightened customs should be
adopted. A period of six weeks having elapsed
since the despatch of the 16th December (1854) had
been sent to Admiral DUNDAS, Mr. MACINTOSH
applied (on 23d January, 1855) to the Lords of the
Admiralty, requesting to be informed of the " result
of their communication to, and nature of, the an-
swer " supposed they hail received from Vice-
Admiral DUNDAS. The reply from the Admiralty
(dated 27th January, 1855) was, that " no report had
been received from Vice-Admiral DUNDAS."
Mr. MACINTOSH states, " Vice-Admiral DUNDAS
having returned to London, (Bth February) assured
me that he had never received my plan or Sir
THOMAS MAITLAND'S report." I consequently re-
newed my application of the 2.3 d ultimo. Also,
" From a subsequent interview I had with Admiral
Lord LYONS on this subject, he also informed me
that no such plan and report had ever reached him."
In reply to Mr. MACINTOSH'S letter of the Bth
inst., the Lords of the Admiralty informed him
that "it was not intended to adopt the plan, Rad
that their Lordships are not in the habit of giving
copies of the reports of their officers"—(date 13th
February, 1855.)
" Prior to the despatch of the above letter the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had seen
Vice• Admiral DUNDAS, and from both Admirals
not having received the plan and report in question,
their Lordships could not, consequently, send him
any other than an ambiguous reply. He was for
the fourth time refused a copy of Sir THOMAS
MAITLAND'S report."
It is a well-known fact that all Government
despatches were conveyed from England to Con-
stantinople, and from thence to the Admirals com-
manding the Fleets by special messengers. Mr.
MACINTOSH begs of "The Honourable the Members
of the House of Commons" (to whom he has ad-
dressed his book) to call on Admiral BERKELEY to
produce a copy of the instructions, together with
Sir THOMAS MAITLAND'S report and Mr. MACIN-
TOSII'S plan, and further to satisfactorily and
fully explain the extraordinary discrepancy of the
above proceedings.

There is nothing to which Lord JOHN RUSSELL
is not ready to turn a hand : he is one of those
men who are ready to make themselves generally
useful, to undertake any job that offers, in fact, a
" Jack of all trades." We have already had the
opinion of SYDNEY SMITH that he would be pre-
pared at a moment's notice to accept the command
of the
heinChannel fleet, or perform the most arduous
operation in lithotomy, without for a moment
the possibility of a failure. There can be no
doubt that he has the most perfect faith in his
own infallibility. We cannot then wonder that,
although pledged to bring forward one of four
rival bills for Parliamentary Reform, he should also
enter into competition with the Lord Chancellor
in a Bankruptcy and insolvency Reform Bill.
The noble lord brought forward the heads of his
549140 leaf eight, and, 7ith. tew oue tiono it i 5
p

manifest that it is a creditors bill, intended to ren-
der more stringent the law with respect
to all who are unable to satisfy the claims
of their creditors. Of course it proposes to
abolish the distinction between traders and
non-traders. That, however, has long been re-
garded as a matter of inevitable necessity. The
folly and injustice of paralysing a man's future
energies, and compelling him to expend all he may
acquire, or to contract debts sufficient to cover the
amount, has long been regarded as by no means a
favourable specimen of the wisdom of our ances-
tors. Surely the man who had surrendered all
that he possessed, and had been declared
entitled to his discharge or protection on certain
terms, should be rendered free to labour for the
benefit of himself and family, without having a
constant millstone hanging about his neck. One
energetic man out of a thousand may conquer the
difficulty, but that men would voluntarily come
forward and satisfy the equitable demands although
the legal claims were extinguished, we see many
honourable instances in bankruptcy, and we believe
that the proportion would be equally large amongst
insolvents.

It has been said that it would not be right to
deprive a creditor of the chance of his debtor's
afterwards coming into possession of property,
under a bequest or otherwise. This, however, is
easily disposed of, although the " expectation"
might not appear on the face of the schedule. If it
arose from any deed or settlement previous to the
date of his petition and the consequent vesting
order, it would go to the assignee as a matter of course.
But when it arises from a subsequent bequest it
should not be interfered with. Testators are anxious
to benefit their own relatives or friends, and not cre-
ditors, whom they may believe, and not always
erroneously, to have led them into temptation. We
have known of many wills having been altered to
prevent the legacy falling into the hands of the
assignee, but never of one having been given with
a full knowledge of the law on the sub-
ject. The creditors have only been bene-
fited through ;the ignorance or indolence of
the testator. The rule is seldom beneficial to them ;
it is invariably injurious to the man who has suffi-
ciently expiated his extravagance, or misfortune,
whichever might (have been the cause of his in-

solvency.
Lord JOHN deplores the expenses of the Court
of Bankruptcy, and proposes to reduce them. But
they will still, even under the most favourable
circumstances, be far beyond the means of
thousands of those small traders who obtain
relief through the Insolvent Court, but who
are virtually kept without certificates for
the rest of their lives, although their conduct may
have been perfectly free from blame, and they
would, if possessed of the requisite £l5O for ex-
penses, be entitled to a first-class certificate. Nine
out of ten petitioners for protection are of this
class, and there can be no doubt that they ought
to receive the same relief that is extended to their
wealthier but perhaps less meritorious brethren.

We strongly object to any extension of the County
Court jurisdiction in matters either of bankruptcy
or insolvency. There is no uniformity of decision ;
no fixed or recognised rules. There is no bar in
attendance—no regular reporters to exercise control
over the judges, some of whom are as widely lenient
as the majority are unjustly severe. The Insolvent
Court, the administration whereof elicited so
handsome and well-merited a complement from the
Lord Chancellor, cannot be dispensed with. It is
the poor man's court. It is one where fair and im-
partial justice is equitably administered; where the
assets are distributed with comparatively trifling
deductions, and which, under any circumstances,
must be retained for the benefit of the community,
of the creditor as well as of the debtor class.

Short is the twilight in India. May it be as
short financially as physically. From the summit
of Indian administration, to which he has ascended
not only by the political luck of his father's having
superseded Lord PALMERSTON, but by his
own appropriate attainments and abilities, Lord
STANLEY proclaims that having taken the post
amidst financial darkness, he clearly sees a finan-
cial dawn. The look behind him is, indeed, still
a gloomy one. The two years of the mutiny have
caused a deficiency of not less than 21 millions,
and it has been impossible yet to take any account
of compensation for losses incurred during the
mutiny both by Englishmen and natives ; for the
latter, if not rebels, must of course be dealt with as
fairly as the former. How shall this heavy change
be met, especially when, as we are accustomed to
hear, the Indian exchequer is but too much like
that of Austria, in a state of chronic deficiency ?
Can Government be long carried on if every year
it has to borrow, and if its taxation shows no signs
of elasticity ?
It must be acknowledged that Lord STANLEY
met these inquiries on Monday night in the true
spirit of an Englishman. There appeared to be no
desire to overlook difficulties, but a full determina-
tion to meet them ; and the spirit and enlarged
views exhibited by the noble lord are about the
best guarantee we can have that they will be met
successfully.

The nature of the deficiency should be steadily
looked at. It turns out that it has not been an
uniform one ; that in the course of the ten years
prior to the mutiny, the first three and the last
three, only, were years of deficiency, and the inter-
vening ones years of surplus. Also, when the
employment of a considerable portion of the income
in remunerative public works is taken into account,
the last year of the ten, perhaps others also, were
years of surplus. This shows a balanced inoome
and expenditure prior to the late disturbance.
Again, a great part of the debt has been incurred
through wars, such as those in the North-West, and
in Burmah, little likely to recur. So that, if ex-
ternal and internal peace can be maintained
for a few years, the revenue would in the
natural course of things be fully equal to the
expenditure, and even permit a reduction of the
debt. The debt itself cannot, moreover, be re-
garded as oppressively heavy, not being more than
two years' income, while with us it amounts to
thirteen or fourteen times our yearly revenue. The
pressure, also, of taxation on the 130 millions of
our Indian empire, subject to it, is not more than
Aurteen shillings, while with us it is £2B, annually,
per head. Of course the relative poverty of the
people makes a vast difference ; still, since there is
little indirect taxation, it cannot well be considered
heavy.

Amongst other encouraging facts must be noticed
the improved credit of our Indian administration.
In the year 1800, upon the small debt then exist-
ing, the Government had to pay 81 per cent.
interest. The average interest of the present com-
paratively large debt is only 41 per cent. ! A
hopeful prospect is opened also by the in-
creased commerce of the country. Though con-
fessedly so much below what it might be,
it is a rapidly increasing commerce. Lord
STANLEY took the twenty years from 1837,
and each five years showed a large aggre-
gate increase
; the extreme differences being
that in the five years ending 1842, the imports into
incliA were X 13,000,000: iyhile in the five ending in

1857, they amounted to £101,000,000. The exports
for the parallel periods were, in the former one,
£63,200,000, in the latter, X 102,700,000. Very
few countries indeed have doubled their exports
and imports within the same space of time. The
tonnage of vessels employed in the trade sustains
the same inferences; and with regard to cotton
especially, of which we hear so much, the progress
is largely in the right direction. In the five years
ending, as before, in 1842 the exports of that article
amounted to 352 millions of pounds ; in the five
ending with 1857 to not less than 863 millions.
" The cotton supply has increased in the ratio of five
to two of the tonnage, and the exports have nearly
doubled, and the imports more flail doubled."
But there is every reason to hope that this na-
scent life of Indian commerce will rapidly develop
itself. Happily the stand-still policy has come to
an end. Colonel ARTHUR'S noble principles will
now enjoy fair play; instead of trusting to squeezing
the needy the reliance will henceforth be placed on
enriching them, and making even heavier taxation
a much lighter burden. Already irrigation, canal,
and road works, have been splendidly remunerative
to the Government; and taught by its own success
on a small scale, it will now effect much greater
things by calling in the aid of railway and irriga-
tion companies through a well-considered system of
guarantees. We stated some of the almost mar-
vellous facts of irrigation last year; this year the
company whose project and documents called forth
our remarks has received the hoped-for guarantee,
and will soon commence operations ; and " water
is gold in India." Railways will now make rapid
progress. They do not cost above one-third of
what they do in England, and it is reasonably ex-
pected that in three years' time, 3,100 miles will be
open—connecting the three Presidencies, bringing
the cotton districts virtually to the coast, and also
enable Government to derive revenue froin
land which is yet for the most part uncultivated.
At the same time, the electric telegraph will soon
bring us into immediate correspondence with our
distant empire. The line as far as Aden will, it is
expected, be complete next midsummer, and the
Turkish Government will construct another lino to
the Persian Gulf.

Thus—though the land tax, the great source of
revenue, admits of comparatively little expansion—
there is every hope for the improvement of the
circumstances of the population. They will then
be able to bear other taxes, from which the wealthy
in India now escape. The present difficulties and
pressure Lord STANLEY does not deny, but he takes
a justly cheerful view of the future. On two points
the financial prosperity of India must depend—the
earliest possible reduction of the military establish.
ments and expenses caused by the mutiny, and
vigorous, yet judicious, encouragement of commerce.
To a speech so full of matter, of facts, and statistics
as that of the noble lord we can do, of course, but
imperfect justice. We can only say that it will
abundantly repay the perusal of all who are spe-
cially interested in the subject. It is one in which,
responsible in his measure as every Englishman is
for the welfare of India, we aught all to feel much
more than a passing interest.
Reasonably enough might Lord STANLEY, after
such a speech, ask powers to raise a loan in Eng-
land, not for Russian railways, nor to aid Austria
in grinding and oppressing Italy, but to benefit
our own empire colony, and thereby eventually to
benefit equally the commerce of our native land.

The Duke and Duchess of Argyll, accompanied
by the Marquis of Lorn and family, arrived at their villa at
Campden-hill, Kensington, last evening, from Inverary
Castle, N.B. The duke and duchess have been detained
in Scotland by influenza in the family.
The Duchess of Sutherland, who came to Stafford
House, accompanied by the Earl of Carlisle, on Monday,
from visiting the Right Hon. Henry and Lady Mary
Labouchere, at Stoke Park, near Windsor, left town yester-
day, to join the duke at Trentham.

The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P., and
Lady Mary Labouchere, have been entertaining a small
circle at Stoke Park, their seat near Windsor. The Duchess
of Sutherland, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord and Lady Begot,
Lady Dover, and the Hon. Mrs. oke, have been among
the guests.

DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF LEINSTER.—The
Duchess of Leinster expired yesterday morning, at Carlton
House, near Dublin, in the 66th year of her age. Her
grace was greatly and deservedly esteemed at Maynooth
and in the surrounding districts • and the poor and desti-
tute of that neighbourhood, to whose wants she had con-
stantly and liberally ministered, will deplore her loss not
less bitterly than the members of her distinguished family.
The deceased was third daughter of the third Earl of Har-
rington, and married the present duke in 1818.
DEATH OF THE MARQUIS OF BRISTOL.—We have
to announce the demise of the Marquis of Bristol. The
venerable Marquis was in the enjoyment of his usual health
up to Saturday last, when he was attacked with gout, which
seized him in the stomach, the symptoms increasing in in-
tensity up to the time of his death. He died at half-past
two yesterday afternoon, at his house in St. James's-square.
The deceased Frederick William Hervey, Marquis and Earl
of Bristol, Earl Jermyn of Hor-nin' ghurst, County Suffolk,
and Baron Hervey, of Ickworth, County Suffolk, in the
peerage of the. United Kingdom, was son of Frederick,
fourth Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derry), by his wife Eliza-
beth, daughter of Sir Jermyn Davers, Bart. The venerable
peer was born on 2d Oct., 1769, and was consequently in the
90th year of his age, and the oldest member of the House
of Lords.
The Master of the Rolls, who is charged with
the winding-up of the Mexican and Bouth American Com-
pany, proposes on the 24th inst. to make a call of Z 5 per
share on the iierSons Settled on the list of contributories
since.the 21st of July.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's new
Australian mail contract commences this day, by the .de-
spatch of a mail steamer from Sydney for Suez, which is
expected to reach the latter port en the 28th of next month.
The new monthly service from Southampton will commence
on the 12th of March.

THE CASE OF MR. POOLE.—The Archbishop of
Canterbury has fixed Friday next, Feb. 18, for hearing Mr.
Poole's appeal, at the Palace, Lambeth.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government
emigrant southal 706 tons, Captain Jamieson, sailed
from Plym on Sunday, the 13th inst., for Sydney, New
South Wales, with 282 emigrants, under charge of Surgeon-
Superintendent William Holman.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.-
Her Majesty the Queen, the Prince Consort, the Princess
Alice, and the Princess Helena honoured the opera of
"Satanella" with their presence last evening. The royal
suite consisted of Lady Churchill, Miss Byng, Lord Vera-
lam, Col. F. H. Seymour, and Captain de Ros.

At the Court of Bankruptcy, yesterday, Robert
Hills, the bankrupt banker of Gravesend and Dartford,
failed to be present at a meeting appointed for hearing his
application for certificate, and it was stated that he was be-
lieved to have left the country.
CRYSTAL PALACE DISTRICT GAS COMPANY.—
The report of the directors shows that the profits of the
year amount to £2,952 Bs. Out of this sum they recom-
mend the declaration of a dividend on the capital of the
company at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum ; which, after
writing off the sum of £l6O for preliminary expenses,
208 7s. 9d. for Parliamentary expenses, and £2OO for de-
preciation on land, leaves a balance of £285 Os. id. to bo
carried to the profit of the next half-year.

WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY.--It ap-
pears that, after providing for the preferential dividends for
the past half-year, there will remain a sum of £3,000, out
of which it is proposed to pay a dividend of 1 per cent.
upon the original shares of this company. This will absorb
about £2,000, and leave £l,OOO for the commencement of a
reserve fund.

A RAILWAY SERVANT CONVICTED FOR NEGLI-
GENCE.—On Monday, a ganger on the Great Western
Railway was fined £2 by the Bath magistrates, at the
Guildhall in that city, for having on Saturday placed what
was called a "trolley," loaded with ballast, upon the line
at Sydney-gardens, without sending a signal-man back a
mile with a red flag, the consequence of which was that
the down goods train ran into the trolley and smashed it to
pieces. Henry Amor, inspector of the engineers in the
employ of the company, stated that the prisoner had been
employed under him for 14 years, and his conduct had
always been very good ; but the directors were determined
to punish every disobedience to orders.

SALMON FISHING.—At the mouth of the Spey
very nearly 200 salmon were taken last week. About
Craigellachie, a section of the Spey very much frequented
by anglers, no clean fish have yet been got. The first day's
fishing in the Deveron :was excellent, the number caught
being somewhere about 70, some of them very large. The
subsequent takes, in gross, do not come quite up to the
number captured on the opening day; but, on the whole,
the fishing as yet is reckoned a good one.—Elgin Courant.
Salmon fishing has now commenced on the west coast. A
number of fish were taken in the Doon in the early part of
last week, though the spate caused by the melted snow was
rather unfavourable to fishing operations. The salmon are
of first quality, and sell at from 3s. to 3s. 6d. per lb. Weregret
to see that herrings are being brought into the market in
immense numbers. Trawling for them has been carried on
with much assiduity during the past week, and nearly a
million fish have been taken. Such an enormous destruc-
tion of fish now will no doubt affect the takes at the proper
season, and it is a pity that the fishermen-have not intelli-
gence enough to enable them to know that if it be continued
it will ultimately ruin the herring fishing on the west coast.
If they destroy the •spawn they cannot expect to catch the
Avprcss,