ViortIlautino.

Some of our contemporaries, who assume to be more than ordinarily well informed, have recently been enlightening the public as to nego- tiations on political subjects said to be in progress between Lord Derby and Lord John Russell. One of them is CITA able to state the precise overtures made by Lord Derby, the advice and opinions of the Duke of Bedford, who it seems, has been consulted, and the ultimate answer give by Lord John. We regret to be obliged to dispel the delusion of our contemporary, supported by such circumstantial details, but we have the highest authority for stating that there is not a shadow of foundation for the report, and that since the prorogation of Parliament there has not been, personally or in writing, directly, or through any immediate chan- nel, any communication whatever, between the two statesmen referred to bearing in the remotest degree upon public affairs. It is quite true that Lord and Lady John Russell, and the Earl of Carlisle, who are now attending the meeting at Liverpool of the Social Science Association, have accepted an invitation to pass next Saturday and Sunday at Knowsley, but this visit is of personal and private friendship only, and has not the slightest reference to any political question.—Morning He- rald, October 15.

The Gazette of Tuesday contained the announcement that Sir James Outram, G.C.B., has been raised by the Queen to the dignity of a Baronet.

Some changes in the Consular service have taken place. Mr. Henry Adrian Churchill, C.B. now Consul in Bosnia is to be Consul at Jassy ; Mr. Edward St. John Neale leaving Patras, will succeed him in Bosnia, Mr. Edward Sarell Ongely will take Mr. Neale's place in hares, Mr. Lewis John Barber, Consul in Virginia, will succeed Mr. Neale in Can- dle, and Mr. George Moore will be moved from Ancona to Virginia.

The Newcastle papers have published a series of questions addressed by the French Consul of that town to the Agricultural Societies of the Northern counties. The French Government desires to know the effect of free-trade upon agriculture—a significant proceeding—and thus M. Magne, the Minister of Agriculture, has directed the French officers in this country to obtain replies to these searching queries. 1. Whether the breadth of land devoted to the culture of grain has been extended or diminished.

" 2. In tbe event of the same having been diminished, -whether the ex- tension of drainage has not had the effect of compensating in a certain pro- portion for the diminution of breadth under cultivation, in increasing the quantity of the produce.

"3. What has been the effect of the repeal of the corn laws on agriculture in England ?

"4. Since the period of that repeal, has the produce of the soil ex- perienced increase or diminution ? "6. Has the rotation of crops been changed and in what manner ?

6. Has the rent of the land risen or fallen ?

7. Has the income of those who cultivate their own land increased or di- minished ? ",/1. Give the same information with respect to those who occupy their Ina as tenants, that is to say as farmers. In the examples given state also What are the most useful conditions of leasing, and what is the usual term of the lease ? " 9. Has the Belling price of land increased or diminished? ,. 10. What has been the influence of recent legislation on the consump- tion of bread and on that of butcher meat ? " We understand that after the 9th of November next, the Prince of Wales's seventeenth birthday, Mr. P. W. Gibbs, C.13., will retire from the office of tutor to his Royal If iglmess, which he has held since February, 1852, and that Colonel the Honourable Robert Bruce will be appointed governor to his Royal Highness. The Reverend C. Tarver will act as chaplain and di- rector of the Prince's studies. The future equerri,s t,, his Royal Highness will probably be appointed at the same time. We understand that they are Major Lindsay, Scots Fusileer Guards ; Major Teesdale, C.B., Rover Ar- tillery ; and Captain G. Grey, Rifle Brigade ; and an extra equerry, Lord Valletort.—Morningpapers of October 11.

The Princess Frederick William has sent through her secretary a hand- some acknowledgement to the ladies of Gravesend for the pretty souvenir of her departure which they forwarded to her through the Queen.

The Emperor and Empress of Austria have gone to Ischl for a short time. M. de Turgot, late French Ambassador at Madrid, took leave of Queen Isabella on the 12th.

The Sultan has bestowed the first class of the Medjidie order upon Ferukh Khan.

The King of Greece is at length going home. He left Munich for Athens on the 7th.

M. Donna, the discoverer of the comet now visible in the heavens, has been appointed assistant astronomer of the Imperial Museum of Florence.

Abraham Bold, formerly sergeant in the 7th Fusiliers, a warrior of thir- teen battles and a hundred skirmishes, died recently at Huddersfield. He served with great credit during the Peninsular campaign, and did not escape wounds. His reward was a shilling a day ! Since 1816 he has lived by weaving, and latterly as a porter.

Lord Charles Wellesley, the youngest of the two sons of the late Duke of Wellington, died early on Saturday morning, at Conholt Park, Wilts. He had served as an officer, and had represented South Hants and Windsor in the House of Commons. He was the heir presumptive to the title ; ho leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters.

Lord Lyons is lying dangerously ill at Arundel Castle. The Honourable Mr. Lyons arrived on Saturday from Florence, to be in attendance on his afflicted father.

Lord Adolphus Vane Tempest has recovered from his late indisposition. His Lordship and Earl Vane have left London for Machynlleth, North Wales.

Mr. James Bain, known to be a century, supposed to be upwards of a century old, died recently at Montrose. His descendants are counted by scores.

The Reverend Alfred Poole, whose opinions on the subject of the con- fessional have lately made his name familiar to the public, has been ap- pointed to a mastership in the Grammar School at Harlow, Essex. A few days since, when the reverend gentleman was occupying the reading desk at evening service in the church, a lad came to the aoor and flung a stone at him, but the missile fell on the organ blower. The police were called in, but the urchin had made off.

The delicate and laborious operation of raising Big Ben to his place in the clock-tower at Westminster has been going on for sonic days. He has been lifted up to his abode but not fixed in it. He reposes horizontally at present.

One of the most singular accidents that ever befel an aeronaut has befallen one in Canada Two gentlemen went up and came down in a balloon. While one was engaged with the netting the other sat astride of the main valve. By some neglect, the mouth of the sack of gas was not untied, and the balloon loosed from the car, leaped into the air, carrying with it the aeronaut astride of the valve. The balloon went out of sight.