The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-09 00:00:00

REMARKS.

Barometrical pressure has decreased at all stations since last even-
ing : on the W. coast of Ireland the change since yesterday morning
has been nearly Olin. The difference in pressures, in aN. and S.
direction, is nearly the same as it was yesterday. Temperature in
Great Britain is considerably higher. A S.W. gale set in last night on
the Irish coast, and it is now blowing at Holyhead : it ceased at
Roche's Point early this morning. A fresh south-westerly wind still
prevails generally. Rain has fallen generally, except In the S. of
England. The weather is cloudy or overcast.

Everyone, of whatever politics he may be, will regret
to learn that Sir William Heathcote has decided to retire
from the representation of Oxford University. There was
no member more respected on either side of the House.
In this he was a worthy successor to the late Sir Robert
Inglis ; but though a decided Conservative, he did not
possess Sir Robert's bigotry. Sir William was born in
1801, was educated at Winchester and Oriel College,
Oxford, was first-class in classics 1821, became Fellow
of All Souls, and graduated B.C.L. in 1824, D.C.L.
in 1830. He sat for Hants from 1826 till 1832,
and for the northern division from 1837 till 1849, when
he accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. He was first elected
for his university in 18M, on the death of Sir R. Inglis,
and has been at the head of the poll in subsequent elections.
He will always be remembered by Churchmen as the friend
and patron of Keble, whom he presented to the living of
Hursley. Sir William has been a tolerably frequent
speaker in Parliament, especially on university subjects.
He of course has always opposed changes in the univer-
sity, especially Mr. Coleridge's Tests Abolition Bill. He
retires from Parliament because at his age (sixty-seven) he
finds the late hours trying to his health. No successor has
yet been named.

The death of Sir John B. W. Smythe Gardiner, of Roche
Court, Hampshire, and Whalley Court, Lancashire,
Bart., is announced. He was born in 1814, succeeded to
the title in 18M, married when he was 47 years old, and
leaves an only child, a daughter. He was formerly in the
navy. Mr. Montagu Burrows, Chichel Professor of
Modern History at Oxford, married his sister. As Sir
John leaves neither son nor brother the baronetcy becomes
extinct. He was the fourth baronet.
Notwithstanding the labours of John Howard and
Elizabeth Fry, notwithstanding the improved state of our
prisons, the high civilisation to which we have attained,
and that regard for humanity of which so much boast is
made, torture does not seem to have been altogether
banished from our gaols. An inquest held by Mr. Payne
at the Queen's Bench Military Prison discloses a system of
refined torture which would be considered severe for the
Inquisition. The deceased was a soldier and an inmate of
the prison. He had been committed for striking his
corporal with his clenched fist. He appears to have been
a most violent man, the prison authorities had great
difficulty in managing him, and altogether his character
was not that which in itself would move one to pity. But
the punishment inflicted for insubordination is nothing
less than disgraceful. He was put upon bread and
water. This might be needful. But bread was only
served out once a day, at twelve o'clock. Having had
this, the prisoner had to wait till twelve o'clock next day
for another meal. In other words, punishment is inflicted
which would be likely.tcrimpair a man's constitution for
life. But this is not 6.11. At breakfast-time—that is to
say, when the prisoner had been some twenty hours
without food—he was' taken down into the breakfast-
room to see his fellow-prisoners eat ; and after breakfast
marched back again, without having his hunger satisfied.
This must have been almost unbearable. No wonder he
wished himself dead. And is it very strange that when he
found a rope in his cell he used it for putting an end to his
existence ? That nourishment which is indispensable to
keep up the power of resistance was wanting. What
wonder, then, that when the temptation came he gave
way to it. The position of the gaolers on the question,
too, is peculiar. They were unanimous in their opinion
—not that the man was driven to it, but that he tried
hanging (without intending to kill himself) as a means of
exciting sympathy.

Epicures have been complaining bitterly of late, anti
with reason ; for have not oysters, within a few years,
become something like 500 per cent. dearer than they
were ? And has it not become more than a possibility that
if something be not done there will soon be no oysters, even
though the price were yet again doubled? But the
gourmet may take courage. Something is about to be
done, A royal commission that antidote for every.
thing bad, from the abuses of the Irish Church to dear
oysters—has been issued, and the commissioners have set
off for the Continent to inquire into their systems of pre-
serving the favourite molusc. It is to be hoped that they
will inaugurate some plan by which oysters, cheap and
plentiful, may be preserved to us.
Good news for those who abominate racing. The race,
according to one of its own prophets, is fast losing its hold
over the hearts of the people of England. It has probably
gone over to France. Says the racing correspondent of
the Pall 111a11 Gazette : " Racing has certainly lost some-
thing of its interest for the public during the past year. As
one great race after another is run it is obvious that the attend-
ance is smaller in comparison with that in former seasons.
The betting on the Cesarewitch has been extremely heavy;
nearly every horse which accepted was backed, but a great
part of the betting was done by people who know very
little about the matter beyond what they see in the news.
papers, and who, perhaps, never look at a racehorse from
one year's end to another. And this shews that the love
of the sport for its own sake has extremely little to do
with the attention given to it. The Cesarewitch used to
attract large numbers from all parts, and the Heath was
then almost as full as on the Two Thousand day. Now,
notwithstanding the convenience afforded by fast trains,
there were comparatively few present." Has the fiasco
connected with Lady Elizabeth had anything to do with
this ? _ _

-- -
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—A shocking accident is re-
ported from Cork. Three soldiers belonging to the 81st
Regiment, who had been assisting in raising fortifications
at Camden Fort, were engaged in withdrawing a charge
of powder, the fuse of which had apparently failed to
ignite, when the charge exploded. One of the men, named
Cruice, was killed almost instantaneously; the other two
were badly injured.
THE CLYDE PORTS.—The amount of Customs'
revenue collected at Glasgow in September was £132,843,
as compared with £101,911 in September, 1867, and
£79,787 in September, 1866. For the quarter ending
September 30th this year the Glasgow Customs' duties
produced £332,940, as compared with £298,492 in the cor-
responding quarter of 1867, and £244,355 in the corre-
sponding quarter of 1866. The amount of Customs' re-
venue collected at Greenock in September was £172,783,
as compared with £122,320 in September, 1867, and
£139,378 in September, 1866. For the quarter ending 30th
September this year the Greenock Customs' duties pro-
duced £399,484, as compared with £368,404 in the corre-
sponding quarter of 1867, and £385,535 in the correspond-
ing quarter of 18f6.
THE GREAT EASTERN.--The Great Eastern steam-
ship arrived at Sheerness at half-past 4 yesterday after-
noon from Liverpool, to take on board the French Atlantic
cable. The ship came into the harbour very slowly, only
using her screw. The dockyard riggers and the Govern-
ment tugs belonging to Sheerness Dockyard safely moored
her at her original position in the Medway, about two
miles from Sheerness pier. Crowds of people assembled
on the beach and pier to witness her arrival. Navigating
Lieutenant Brockman, of her Majesty's steam yacht
Wildfire, accompanied the vessel from Liverpool to Sheer-
ness.

A court-martial was held yesterday on board the
Victory, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief at
Portsmouth, Admiral Sir T. S. Pasley, for the trial
of James alias George Hodge, private Royal Marine
Light Infantry, serving on board her Majesty's ship
Duncan, on a charge of insubordination, which was
fully proved, and the prisoner was sentenced to 18
months' imprisonment with hard labour in Win-
chester gaol, and at the expiration of the term be
dismissed her Majesty's service. The court was
under the presidency of Captain T. B. Seymour,
Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, and captain of her
Majesty's ship Victory.

-
/Canal
tirtuht

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL CASTLE, Oct. 7.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
and attended by Lady Churchill,
,went out yes'
t,rday morning.

In the afternoon her Majesty drove out, accom-
panied by Princess Christian and Princess Louise.
Prince Arthur and Prince Christian went out
deer stalking.

Prince Teck and her Royal Highne3 the
Princess of Teck arrived at the Castle on a visit to
her Majesty.

70 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In the Globe of this evening there appears,"
in a prominent position, a letter signet " Fitz,
under the heading, "Gladstone-Manning Alliance."

In this remarkable document the writer affirms
that the secret of the alleged alliance between Mr.
Gladstone and Archbishop Manning lies in the
fact that his Grace is one of the godfathers of Mr.
Gladstone's eldest son, the member for Chester.
Perhaps the writer in the Globe, or the Editor,
will inform the world how many godfathers claim
spiritual relationship with Mr. Gladstone, jun.
Hitherto we have been taught to believe that one
was sufficient.

Perhaps the writer may also be able to show why
it is to be considered a reproach to Mr. Gladstone,
sen., that more than twenty years ago he asked
Dr. Manning, at that time a good Protestant arch-
deacon, to stand godfather to his son.---I am, Sir,
faithfully yours, VISTA.
Arthur's Club, Oct. 8.

BANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, Oct. 8.

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

DEBTOR.
Oct. 1. Oct. 8.
fr. c. fr. e.*
Capital of the Bank.... 182,500,000 182,500,000
Profits in addition to
capital (Art. 8, Law,
June 9, 1857)
7,044,776 02 7,044,776 0=
Reserve of the Bank
and its branches 22,105,750 14 22,105,750.14
Reserve of landed pro-

perty • 4,000,000 4,000,000 --
Notes in circulation 1,285,913,750 1,245,909,200 --
Banknotes to order and
receipts payable at
sight 36,136,826 83 33,729,335 p
Treasury account cur-
rent creditor 198,523,894 13 181,195,207 6E,;
Current accounts, Paris 327,230,334 64 361,543,818 15
Do. branch banks 51,542,581 45,981,634
Dividends payable 1,240,849 1,141,508 --
Discounts and sundry
interests
Rediscounted the last
six months 703,152 42 703,152 42
Surplus of receipts not
distributed —
Sundries

Total
D,,,
2,100,199,942 73 2,104,833,602 i
CREDITOR.
Oct. 1. Oct. 8.
Cash in hand and in fr. c. fr. 0.
Branch banks
Commercial bills over- 1,273,721,751 80 1,251,244,885 03
due
Commercial bills dis-
counted, not yet due 228,313,031 89 240,504,667 20
Do. branch banks 213,127,707 205,311,102
Advances on deposit of _ _

bullion 31,755,600 31,534,200
Do. branch banks 9,171,300 9,369,500
Do. on French Public

Securities 11,748,000 11,741,400 --'
Do. by branch banks 7,114,900 7,481,000
Do. on railway shares
and debentures
Do. branch banks -
Do. on Credit Foncier

Bonds
Do. branches
Do. to the State (Con-
vention, June 10,
1857) 60,000,000 60,000,000
Government Stock re-
serve 12,980,750 14 12,980,750 14
Do. disposable
Elentes Immobalis4es

(Law, Juno '2, 1857) 10,000,000 100,000,000
Hotel and furniture of
the Bt,nk and landed
propel ty branches 8,996,123 8,997,123 -"
Expenses of manage-
ment 1,612,829 36 1,648,733 8!
Sundries

Total
Certified by the Senator-Governor of the Bank-
of France.

(Signed) RoULAND.

IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING•

BIRMINGIIIAII, Thursday Evening-'
The second meeting of the ironmasters of tbie
district was held in the Town-hall here this after'
noon. There was a very large attendance, and the
ordinary business was diversified by electioneering,
no less than seven candidates being proposed in the
hall—namely, the four for West Staffordshire ; Aff'
Hartley, for the eastern division of that county
Mr. Amphlett, for East Worcestershire ; and the
Liberal candidate for Wednesbury.
As at Wolverhampton the tone was a great im-
provement on recent quarter-days. There has been
so considerable a quantity of finished iron soh'.,
within the last fortnight that the contracts given
out to-day were .not large, but a feeling of satin'
faction was expressed at the improving position. a
the trade. Despondency has given place to cona'
dente, and the usual class of undersellers ask frore
2s. 6d. to ss. per ton more than they did three
months ago.
The Shropshire trade was represented, and that
of North Staffordshire. There were also represetv
tatives present from the iron-producing firms in the
north, and from the shipping houses of Londat
Liverpool, and Bristol. As regards the shiPPer°, •
there is more disposition to do business, but, al'
though they are not absolutely full of orders at the
most favoured works, in no instance was there all
pressure to obtain them.

Shropshire pig realised £4 55., that being th°
price of last quarter-day. A good make of Staf
fordshire pig, all-mine, realises £3 ss. to £3 12s. 6d•
per ton.

In the course of the day a meeting was held 0
the Queen's Hotel, convened by the secretary of the
Northern Iron Trade, for the purpose of consider'
ing the feasibility of establishing an Iron and Steel
Institute. Mr. W. Menelaus presided. Represen:
tatives from all the iron-making districts of Great
Britain were present. The following resolutioo
were passed :
" That, in the opinion of representatives of the
various iron-making districts of Great Britain,it iS
desirable to take steps for the establishment of 011
Iron and Steel Institute for the discussion of pran'
tical scientific questions connected with the mantl-
facture of iron and steel ; secondly, that it is desir
able to base the rules of the proposed institution
upon the general principal adopted by the Civil and
Mechanical Engineers and kindred societies, rigicil
excluding all questions connected with wages and
trade regulations."

It was decided that the head-quarters of the io"
stitute should be in London ; the provisional coui;
mittee was considerably extended, and it was agreed
that another meeting should be held in London tO"
wards the end of November. Mr. John Jones is t 4)
act as secretary of the committee pro tem.

EMIGRATION OF THE WORKING CLASSES.--'f
l
second meeting on the above subject was held on
nesday night iu Burden's Hotel, High-street, Edinburg'
—Mr. Turnbull in the chair. The minutes of the 194",
meeting having been read and approved, the committee
then appointed gave in their report, in which they state,
that, having waited on the Lord Advocate for the purPe ,14,-,
of ascertaining how far Government would be inclined wa
aid in promoting such an object, his lordship expose°
himself as being personally in favour of sucn assistance'
and that he would take the opportunity of bringing
it
under the notice of other members of the Government.
After a vote of thanks to the deputation, it was resolved
to meet next Wednesday night for the purpose of dray/lel
up a code of laws. After some further business, a vote
thanks having been given to the chairman, the meutiee
separated.—Scotsman.
EXCLUSIVE, VERY IMPORTANT, RARE, AND VALUAO
are the properties of Lamplough's Pyretic Saline, curing the
worst headaches, sickness, skin, or biliary affections. Pleas°t
palatable, and inTigorating. bold by all Chemists.—[Advt.]