plittinrial.

The inhabitants of Droitwich held an Anti-Income-tax meeting on Monday, in their Town-hall ; the Mayor in the chair. This meeting was noticeable for the part Sir John Pakington, the Member for the borough, took in the proceedings. Without pledging himself as to the course he would take in Parliament, Sir John argued against the continuance of the war ninepence, and distinctly avowed that there ought to be some equitable adjustment of the tax in its bearing on permanent and precarious incomes. He thought, however, that the owners of houses and of land pay a great deal more than their just proportion. The discussion of what should be done with the Income-tax led Sir John to speak of "the circumstances of considerable anxiety" under which Parliament will meet.

"it is happily true that the war with Russia in which this country was involved is at an end. It is also true that those questions which unfortunately—whether culpably or not he would not now say—had been left unsettled, and which might have involved us in a renewal of the European war, have been brought to a satisfactory' termination by the last Conference at Paris. lie hoped, therefore, we May feel a confidence that there is no danger of a renewal of European war. On the other hand, however, we cannot regard with indifference the fact that we have lately become involved in fresh hostilities with two different parts of the world. War has broken out with Persia, and there has been an unfortunate collision with the Chinese nation. On these subjects it will be the duty of Parliament to demand explanations of the Government." Those explanations, no doubt, her Majesty's Ministers will be ready to give; and therefore, it would be unbecoming in him, Sir John said, having no means of information beyond the public newspapers, to commit himself to any decided opinion upon these important matters which he might not be at full liberty to revoke or reconsider ; but he could not forbear expressing his apprehension that there are grave doubts as to the policy which led to the war with Persia, and as to the justice of our attack upon the Chinese. These are subjects which must await further information. The war with Persia is the subject of the most serious and threatening aspect, and is the one, moreover, on which we have the least infonuation. We are not informed, for instance, whether this war is the result of the policy of our Indian Government or of her Majesty's Government ; or whether its cost is to be defrayed from Indian revenues or from the revenues of England. Whichever it might be, he would follow out tho saying that "England cannot afford to have little ware." With regard to our attack on China, we have access to the fullest information through the published correspondence which had passed between our Plenipotentiary at Hongkong, the Chinese Commissioner, and the British Admiral. Sir John said he had carefully read that correspondence, and lie read it with the deepest pain. He could not recollect any Parliamentary papers connected with public affairs which he had read with such feelings of sorrow as those. He refrained, in the present condition of affitirs, from offering any decided opinion, and would not give expression, as he otherwise should do, to the indignation which he should feel if it were found that we had been involved in the cruel act of bombarding a peaceful city, destroying a number of its inhabitants, and stopping its trade, for causes which, so far as the despatches showed, were utterly unjustifiable. Whether these acts on our part arc wise and just or not, they may have arisen from the indiscretion of officers at a distance, involving us in complications which the Government at home may find it very difficult to extriente itself from. These matters have a bearing upon the question of the mode of raising the revenues of the country. He admitted it is his duty as their representative, and the duty of every man who has the honour of sitting in the House of Commons, to see that no umiecessary taxation is imposed on the people, and above all to see that there is no unjust taxation. But the Members of the House of Commons have another duty to perform—the duty of seeing that the necessary supplies are not withheld from our gracious queen when they are necessary to the security of this great kingdom. In the opinion of the meeting, the Income-tax, as it stands, should be abolished ; and " if direct taxation be necessary," then "it may more readily be levied with a nearer approach to absolute justice by means of a small property-tax."

The candidate for Newport, Mr. Kinglake, distinguished from the other banister of the same name as author of Eathen, met the electors last week, and expounded to them his political views. His programme includes an extension of the franchise, vote by ballot, the abolition of church-rates, national secular education, and extreme views on administrative reform.

In this country, he said, all high officers of state are taken from one class. And what is the result ? Why, that in a country abounding in intelligence and businesslike power, there is always one firm which is breaking down, and that is the firm of the Govermnent. In every foreign enterprise you

find an English:engineer and English workmen employed ; ruid yet, in a country abounding in marvellous intelligence and businesslike power' we find that of such materials is the Government of the country composed, that the Ministers are positively unable, with their united abilities, to feed an army of a few thousand men encamped at a distance of eight miles only from a seaport occupied by their own ships. What lathe reason ? It is, he repeated, that offices are distributed among persons of a particular class, without due regard to their fitness for holding them. The choice of Ministers is from too ' limited a circle. " All the high officers of state are taken either from the House of Peers or the House of Commons. The House of l'oers consists of, I believe, 346 men ; and the House of Commons consists of 658; so that, in round numbers, you have 1000 people from whom the Ministers of State have to be selected. Very well. Now, of the 346 Peers almost all, except our right reverend friends the Bishops and two or three Law Lords arc selected by the mere accident of birth. There remains, then, the House of C0111111011s, from which to find the selected talent of the country. Now, I ara going to venture upon telling you a home truth—an unpalateable truth. I do say that the constituencies have been wanting in their duty with regard to the selection of those whom they send to the House of Commons; and I do say that it is from this fitilure of duty. on the part of the constituencies that there has been so much difficulty ni finding men to fill the high offices of state. Why really, gentlemem, we mind confess, even though it may be an unpalateable thing to know, that the sprinkling of able men which you have in the House of Commons, although it is selected by the people, is not very much greater than the sprinkling of abler men in the House of Lords, where the only test is the mere accident of birth."

i

There is another cause of the nadequacy of public men. " The duty of a Member of the House of Commons is of a double character. One of hie duties, and that is the one which perhaps you are most accustomed to consider, is that of making laws, or refusing to make laws, and taking part in legislative discussion. But another and most important duty of every Member of the House of Commons is that of watching the formation of the successive Governments who are from time to time selected. I do say that in the performance of that duty the Blouse of Commons has been too lax. There exists the practice of asking men to give what is called confidence to the Government; and the effect of that is, that a Government, though not consisting of men sufficiently aide to govern—a Government which would not bear criticism when you came to inquire whether one man or another is fit for the office he holds—is enabled to secure a space of toleration, because there is a feeling that there will be all inconvenience in a change of Government. That is the threat always held out to induce men to avoid a vote rendering necessary a change of Government. Many men have a great dread of a change of Government. If they change so frequently, it is said, the time will come when England will be without a Government. Now, what they really mean when they say that hi, that England will be without a Government selected from the accustomed class : and when the day conies that England is to be without a Government of that kind, it will be a fortunate day, and not a day of danger ; for, depend upon it, you ear! never have good government or economy at home, you never can have that foresight and management which will bring success in war, until you withdraw the exclusive nght of governing from a few families, and seek for ability, combined with high character, wherever you can find it—from all ranks, from all classes, and from all conditions of men." Mr. Charles Seeley has withdrawn from the contest. Mr. Major Cooke is now the only opponent of Mr. Kinglake at Newport.

The remains of the late Mr. Brotherton were interred on Wednesday, in the new cemetery, Eccles New Road, Salford. Hardly a public body in the neighbourhood omitted to show its respect for Mr. Brotherton's memory by joining the procession, in which there were upwards of one hundred carriages, including those of the Bishop of Manchester and the High Sheriff. Mr. Kershaw, Mr. W. Brown, Mr. Hadfield, Mr. Barnee, and Mr. Cheetham, Members of the House of Commons, were present in

person. or was the display of general esteem limited to "carnage folk "—the people on foot mustered in thousands. The Reverend Mr. Metcalfe, of Philadelphia, pastor of the congregation of Bible Christians, commonly called " Cowherdites," conducted the funeral service.

Mr. Brotherton's death has called forth very general expressions of regret, and elicited many official tributes to his character publicly and privately. Thus, the Corporations both of Salford and Manchester have adopted resolutions of this kind; and the Magistrates of Manchester have held a meeting to record their opinion. They say—

"lie has been one of their body since its first formation; and, although his services as a Magistrate have for the most part been given as a County Justice, yet in any matters of great interest, when his other duties have allowed him, he has been always disposed and ready to give the benefit of his eeperienee and counsel within the city. For all those qualities which have rendered his public services so eminent, in the various capacities in which he has rendered them, his sound judgment, his calm temper, his persevering energy, the unvarying interest he has ever taken in all measures to promote the amelioration or happiness of his fellow subjects, the Justices entertain the most profound respect. At the present moment their feelings partake more of a personal nature : they deplore the loss of one who has been bound to many of them by the ties of friendship, and whose gentle and kindly disposition has attracted the affection and regard of all who have been brought into intercourse with him."

The Midland Institute held its annual meeting on Tuesday, in the theatre of the Birmingham Philosophical Institution ; the President, the Earl of Dartmouth, occupying the chair. The report read by the Secretary, and unanimously received, showed a flourishing state of things,— a financial surplus ; a large increase in members, in classes, and in pupils who attend them. Besides these encouraging signs, a new experiment of "penny lectures" has been tried with great success. The Reverend Canon Miller said he trusted that the Institute is. rapidly assuming the position and character of a Working lllan'e University,—a class of institutions greatly to be desiderated in this country. He despaired of making any very large number of persons in any country scientific. "General literature, the study of the languages, and such like studies, are the best means for elevating the character of the great mass of the people. It is desirable that ministers of religion should show, by their support of such institutions, that they do not so mistake the genius of Christianity as to imagine that they are unfavourable to the emancipation of the human intellect or the progress of the human mind. Although intellectual pride is a stumblingbloek to some men, he had no faith in preaching to a congregation of ignoramuses ; nor did he think ministers more likely to get on because their hearers happen to be boobies."

Halifax has built unto itself a new Mechanics' Institute, "one of the most complete in the country," says. Mr. Edward Baines. It was opened on Wednesday, and the opening was celebrated by a soiree which drew together a large company. There were among them, one Peer—Lord Wharneliffe, and three Members of the House of Commons—Mr. Monaton Maws, the Honourable Edwin Lascelles, and Mr. Frank Crossley, the President of the institution. These gentlemen took a prominent part in the proceedings, which consisted mainly of speech-making ; and besides them there were Mr. Edward Baines, Mr. E. B. Wheatley, and Dr. Sandwith of Kars. The topic in the ascendant was the influence of • education on the career of individuals and the wellbeing of the nation. Mr. Monckton Milnes exhorted the members to have faith in their means of acquiring knowledge, and to make that hall the testing-place of their mental powers. Lord Whtu-ncliffe—who said he was "a very young man, not much accustomed to public speaking "—told from his own observation in the Australian Diggings, how it is there, as in all countries, " not the man who has the strong sinews, but he who has intelligence and education, that carries off the honour and the gold." Mr. Baines hoped that Mechanics' Institutions will become People's Colleges ; and Mr. Milnes informed the meeting, that "the other day the University of London passed a decree attaching to its body the People's College of London, and giving to its members all the privileges and all the advantages of a great central university in this kingdom." The sum subscribed towards paying the cost of the new building was 2640/. Mr. Crossley promised to give 500/, if the debt be paid off by the 1st January 1861,

A case involving the question of judicial oaths came before the Newcastle County Court last week. James Watson, bookseller, sued Andrew Foggin, treasurer to a newsroom, for 11s. 11d. On the plaintiff making his appearance and taking the book to be sworn, Mr. Story, the defendant's solicitor, said lie wished the Judge to ask him what form of oath was binding on his conscience. The Plaintitf—" The regular form of oath, so far as I know." Mr. Story—"Then do you believe in the existence of a God ? " The Plaintiff—" I believe in the existence of a God." Mr. Story—" Whom we know as the Supreme Being ? " The Plaintiff—" I cannot exactly tell what you know, but I believe in a Supreme Being." Mr. Story—" Then I shall ask you the last question : do you believe in the existence of a future state of rewards and puniahments ? " The Plaintiff—" I can't say I disbelieve in them." Mr. Story—" I must have your absolute answer. The question is, do you or do you not believe in a future state of rewards andpunislunents —not disbelieve : do you or do you not absolutely believe in it ?" The Plaintiff—" I can hardly say whether I do or whether I don't." Mr. Story —" Do you or do you not believe in a future state of rewards and punishments ? " The *Plaintiff—" I can't tell exactly what you mean : if you will explain what you mean by rewards and punishments, I shall perhaps be able to answer you." Mr. Story—"Then do you believe us the existence of heaven and hell ? " The Plaintiff--" I believe there is such a thing talked about ; -whether there is such a thing I can't tell." Mr. Story—" Then, your Honour, I must submit that, this man by his answers brings hinisell within what the law terms incompetency to give evidence from infamy. The man who would give such answers as this is infiunous in the eyes of the law." The Judge—" It is not because he is infamous, but because he can't be believed." Mr. Story—"I say the form used is infamous.' Ile cannot be heard in any court of justice." The Judge (addressing the plaintiff)—" Suppose you are sworn in anypartioular way, do you consider that you would be in any way bound by what will take place hereafter in the way of punishments or sewer& for it'?" The Plaiutiff--" No, I don't, Sir." The Judge—" Then, I can't take your evidence." Mr. Story—" Then, your Honour ought to direct that he should -be removed from the court. A man who would give utterance to opinions of this sort—" The Judge—" He has a right to his opinion." The plaintiff was nonsuited. It was stated that the defendant laboured -snider a similar disability to give evidence as the plaintiff!

John Lewis, office-keeper at chambers in Merthyr, has been committed for the murder of his wife. He appears to have killed her by throwing her down a flight of stairs ; but pretended that she had fallen down the stairs. While in a cell at the police-station, he made two singular attempts at suidde : he fixed a large nail in the wall and strove to fracture his skull by striking his head against the point: failing to inflict a mortal wound, he next strove to force the nail into his bowels ; but the point was not sharp enough : he fainted from the pain, however, and was found senseless.

Three garotters at Nottingham have made a double mistake,—attacked poor man instead of a rich one for *hem they were on the watch ; and the victim they erroneously selected so vigorously resisted their operations that he put all three to flight, pursued one, knocked him down, and handed him to the police.