Ai tt rquilio.

A deputation, composed of many Members of Parliament, and gentle- men interested in the manufacture and consumption of paper, headed by Mr. Puller, M.P., waited °tithe Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday. What they urged upon him was, that all the countries of Western Eu- rope prohibit the export of rags, the raw material of paper, thereby pro- ducing an artificial cheapness in those countries ; that even now the dif- ference between the import duty and the Excise duty on paper does not keep out the article manufactured under conditions of cheapness in the raw material to which we cannot approach ; and that to abolish the dif- ferential duty would be to expose the British manufacture to a ruinous and unfair competition. Assuming that the Government is not precluded by the treaty, the deputation desired that foreign paper should not' be ad- mitted unless the foreigner took off the prohibitive duty on rags. Mr. Gladstone pointed out that it would be hopeless to enter on negotiations to obtain the abolition of prohibitive duties on the principle of equiva- lents. If France made a concession, all other countries would get the benefit of it under the most favoured nation clause. He did not disagree with the object of the deputation, and said the Government would be most happy to obtain the end in view.

The deputation next waited on Mr. Milner Gibson at the Board of Trade, and stated their case. They received a similar answer : the Go- vernment will do all they can to get rid of the export duty on foreign

rags-

A deputation:of distillers waited on Mr. Gladstone to point out that his plan would expose them to unfair competition. The merchants who are interested in the bonding system, with a great body of Members of Par- liament, called upon him, and raised objections to the penny duties on removals and transfers. The wholesale stationers came in with an ap- peal for a drawback. Mr. Gladstone heard their case, referred to his engagements, said he had above a hundred unopened letters to attend to, and so dismissed them.

More deputations crowded in on Monday—from maltsters, linen manu- facturers, and licensed victuallers in each case they were accompanied by Members:of Parliament ; the publicans carrying with them the retinue of Members.

The wine and spirit dealers held a meeting on. Tuesday, to consider the Budget as it affects them. They are of opinion that the alcoholic teat is objectionable in principle and impracticable in detail, injurious and vexa- tious to trade ; that there should be one uniform duty on all wines ; that the cancelling of a. Minute of 1843, thereby depriving the wine merchants of claiming drawback, is a breach of faith ; and that drawback should be allowed.

A number of firms in Mincing Lane having presented a memorial to Mr. Gladstone, objecting to his proposed penny taxation, he has replied in a publics letter. He asks them to consider whether the proposals of the Government relieve the community at the expense of the traders ; or whether the head and front of the attack on it is not that it relieves trade at the expense of the community ? The Government does not suggest any wanton infliction on trade ; or desire to czeate new obstructions where they are removing old ones. The trade receives services from the customs that cost a 1,000,000/. The registration due is intended to make a moderate contribution from trade towards this charge. He admits that a different farm of proceeding might be preferable, and asks what would be thought if an annual license were imposed on all dealers in bonded goods. The present is not the proper time for definitive explanation or improvement with respect to dock warrants and contract notes, but it is not intended that that there should be frequent repetitions of charges, nor that bills of parcels should pay the tax.

The Society for Promoting the Repeal of Taxes on Knowledge, held its annual meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Ayrton in the chair, and passed resolutions in favour of the proposed abolition of the paper-duty. In the course of the speaking, two remarkable statements were made. Mr. T. Routledge denied that there would be any scarcity of raw material for the manufacture of paper, and stated that he was ready to supply the trade if necessary with 100,000 tons. In fact a stimulus would be given to the British merchant to look abroad for raw material, which hitherto he had never attempted. An abundant supply of fibrous substances could be de- rived from foreign countries. Mr. John Towle, an Oxford alderman, maintained that the proposed removal of duty would have the effect, as stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of causing village mills once more to spring up. It was excessive taxation, and not Fourdrinier's machines, which has made them disappear, and left him at one time the only papermaker in Oxfordshire.

A rational proposal has been made that elementary drill should be taught in public schools. On Saturday, a meeting was held to promote this project at the Thatched House in St. James's Street. There were present among others Lord Elcho, Lord West, Mr. Stirling of Keir, Mr. William Coningham, the Honourable George Byng, Sir Do Lacy Evans, the Provost of Eton, the Dean of Westminster, Mr. George Ornikshank, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, Mr. Tuffnell, and the Chaplain General of the Forces. All the speakers heartily approved of the proposal. It has been tried in a Quaker school in Yorkshire, and in several parish schools with great success. It has beneficial effects on. the intellectual as well as the physical training of boys. Drill, too, is easier to learn in youth. At Oxford, the rifle movement has led to a decrease of frivolous expenditure, better discipline in the colleges ; and it is found that the best students are the most forward and active volunteers The same ef- fects are visible at Eton. Mr. Chadwick showed that employers of la- bour attach great importance to the acquisition of military drill by those they employ. It sharpens their faculties and fits them for responsible undertakings. Lord Palmerston, Lord Broughsun, Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Shaftesbury, the Bishop of London, the Dean of Christ Church, all approve of the proposal. The meeting resolved, that it is desirable our chief public schools should set the example of the regular practice of the elementary drill.

In the celebrated case of the Earl of Shrewsbury versus Scott and others, the Court of Exchever Chamber have delivered their unanimousjudgment in favour of the plaintiff; upholding the decision of the Court of Common Pleas. This was an ejectment brought by the Earl of Shrewsbury to recover the mansion and estate of Alton Towers. The facts are very complicated, but the questions turned principally upon the construotion of various family settlements, and a private Act of Parliament of the 6th of George I., which contained a restraint upon alienation. An attempt had been made by a Deed in 1856 to alienate the estate notwithstanding the provisions of this

Ant, and-it was argued that certain estate, Acts had repealed the Act which pre- vented the parties from dealing with the estates as they had attempted to do. After bearing the arguments of Sir Richard Bethel for several days against the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of Exchequer Chamber were so clearly of opinion that the judgment of that Court ought to be allkmed, that they did net feel it necessary to call on the counsel for the plaintiff; and the judgment now delivered is in accordance with the views then entertained. The defendants will probably appeal to the House of Lords.

At the Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday, an action for libel, "Dick- son versus Walker" was tried before Lord Chief Justice Cockburn. Colonel Die-ken complained that Colonel Walker published a libel on him in a letter in the United Service Magazine, dated March 26th, 1869. The libel con- sisted in Colonel Walker's commenting on the recent trial in which Colonel 11Mkson bad prosecuted the Earl of Wilton for a libel, and in reiterating several of the charges which had been contained in Lord Wilton's libel, but which the jury had negatived. The defendant imputed to the plaintiff certain irregularities as commanding officer of the Tower Hamlets Militia, innot holding mesa meetings, and causing the accounts of the tradesmen to be settled before the regiment was disembodied, and otherwise neglecting his duty as commanding-officer in reference to the accounts. The defen- dant pleaded justification, alleging-the truth of the libel. After some dis- cussion, the counsel on both sides agreed to come to some reasonable con- clusion of the case, and solicited his Lordship to act as a mediator in camera, to which he acceded. It appeared that the defendant had written the libel. under the impression that a cruel thing had been said of him in the same magazine, and he retaliated. Mutual explanations were entered into, and &verdict was taken for the plaintiff with 40s. damages, and an entire with- drawal of all imputations.

Some petitions for divorce or judicial separation have unexpected results. A Mrs. Winstone prayed to be separated from her husband, supporting it by allegations of cruelty. He had dragged her round a room by her hair, struck her in the street, knocked her against a door, and talked of stabbing her. They agreed to irparate, and she went to assist a Mr. Dyne in keeping a school. That was in 1847. In 1857, finding 501. a year inadequate, she celled on her husband, and he threw her down stairs. The answer was that the husband had never treated her with violence at all, and that she had neglected her domestic duties, and had sometimes even remained.from home all night. She left him on one occasion to his great surprise, stating in a letter that she had gone for a few days while the house was being dainted and papered. It was shown also that she had committed adultery with the schoolmaster Dyne. Thus the tables were turned, and the peti- tion was not granted.

Alfred Elliott, "a well-dressed man of about thirty, wearing a moustache, and described as lately a clerk to a merchant in the City, was charged at Bow Street as a "wandering lunatic.'" He believed he was the Prince of Wales ; had been to Windsor to assert his right to the throne ; written a letter to the Queen signed "The Duke of York ; " and had consulted Dr. Forbes Winslow as to his sanity ; "some one had told him he was insane, and he wished to know if this was a fact ? " At the examination before the Magistrate, Dr. Forbes Winslow asked Elliott, upon his asserting that his belief in his being the Prince of Wales rested upon what people had told him, who had told him so? No reply. Elliott subsequently confessed that "I feel so confused sometimes that I have no doubt tam insane, and it would be much better for me if I could be sent to the Hanwell Lunatic Asylum. I should be taken care of there." Dr. Winslow—" Should you prefer being taken to Hanwell ? " The defendant—" Yes, I should prefer Hanwell to any other place. I shall be very comfortable there, and they will put me right again, no doubt."

He was removed to Hanwell.

A French lady's maid, who gave her name Marie Julie Yintz, but who, it afterwards appeared had half-a-dozen aliases, was brought before Mr. Day: man at the Hammersmith Police Court on Tuesday, charged by Mr. Francis Little, a gentleman residing at No. 7, Onslow Square Brompton with ob- taining a situation in his service by means of a false Square, idr. Little suspected all was not right with Ins new servant from the great number of her visitors. lie questioned her about them, received very unsatisfactory replies, took active steps to obtain authentic information about them, and discovered these facts. That the certificate purported to be signed by the Count de Lisbonne, and a letter by the late Countess of Lisbonne's mother, testifying to the applicant having been six years in the service of the do- ceased Countess—were forgeries by. "an American gentleman with whom Marie had formed an acquaintance in Paris." Lady John Somerset had en- gaged her on the strength of a character, which turned out to be false, and during the few days she was in her service, her ladyship lost between 701. and 801. worth of lace. A gold watch was found upon her like the one Mrs. O'Connor lost when the prisoner lived with her in Ireland. The prisoner's real name appears to be Judlin. She speaks but little English, and told the interpreter she did not understand his French, and that she wanted a law- yer. She was remanded until today.

About three hundred of the "unfortunate class" frequenting the neigh- bourhood of Regent Street, in obedience to their invitations, partook of tea, coffee, and refreshments, at St. James's Hall, on Tuesday mu/night. This is the second meeting that has been called for the purpose of inducing the frail sisterhood to listen to exhortations from ministers and others to mend their ways and become candidates for reformatories. In. the east end of London a similar meeting is projected.

Several lives have been lost, and a large number of fractures and other injuries sustained, through an accident at the Tottenham station of the Eastern Counties Railway on Monday morning.

The names of the killed are—Mr. Satchell, hatter, Fenohureh Street, City; Mr. Stokes, miller, Saffron Walden ; William iowell, engine-driver, Cambridge; George Cornwall, fireman, Cambridge. The wounded are Mr. Manser, grocer, of Harlow, compound fracture. of the left leg, which leas been amputated ;, Mr. M.anser, junior, brother of the above, di hip; Mr. Mauston, miller,Hoddescem broken leg, which has been amputated ; Mr. Garrett, miller, Hoddesdon, thigh broken in two places ; Mr. Bean, corn-dealer, Paradoo, seventy-three years of age, frac- tures of both thighs ; Mr. Garrett, miller, Roydon, fractures of both legs; Mr. Empson, Saffron Walden, both legs and one thigh broken ; Mr. Cu- well, three dislocated ribs on each side • Professor Elliott, of King's College, Cambridge, badly injured, as was also side; Taylor, of Saffron Walden.. The accident appears to have been caused by the breaking of the tire ad the left leading-wheel of the engine. The accounts given by eye-witnesses vary in no important particular. Mr. Boys, the station master at Totten- ham says he was on the platform at 9.20., when he saw the train approach- ing. At a short distance from the station he saw gravel thrown into the air by the wheels. "The engine then began to roll about, left the metals, and was beginning appareutly to right itself, when it caught the edge of the brick platform, ran up, aud then descended, and ultimately turned over with great violence. Fortunately, the shock broke the coupling-iron of the third vehicle, and left the remainder of the train behind. These carriages —about eight in number—neverleft the metals, or the leas of life must have been fearful. As it was, however, a second-class and a first-class carriage which were nearest the engine were thrown over, and, with the break van, smashed in the way described. The tire of the wheel was found about 160 yards from the spot where the engine turned over, and, the line clearly ine (Heated that the locomotive never left the metals until arriving at that spot." Mr. Robert Sinclair, who was present, says, that in "turning over the water and steam were discharged from the boiler, and a cloud of steam enveloped the debris as soon as I had noticed what I have described." The engine- driver was one of the most careful on the line. The metal of the broken wheel is said to be of the best Yorkshire iron. The tires of all the other wheels are perfect The rails were uninjured by the crash. A large portion of the station wall was thrown down. One carriage was thrown completely through the platform wall. The tender, which flew over the engine, was not much damaged. The guard was buried alive in the ruins but escaped com- paratively unhurt. From the evidence given at the inquest on Wednesday it appeared that the , tires of the engine wheels were iron, not steel. The wheels had been tested at Cambridge on Saturday and on Monday, before leaving the shed; the under locomotive foreman, whose duty it is to inspect every locomotive before it leaves the shed, examined it by going underneath. "I made a minute exami- nation, and tested the tires and bolts. The only examination I made of the tires was by putting the engine in motion. I tested them in no other way. The driver takes charge. of the engine from me at the shed. make an entry in a book when the engine is delivered 'up." The entry in the book opposite "108," the number of the locomotive in question, corroborated this state- ment. George Barbrooke, the guard, said "the first thing that attracted my attention was the ballast flying up. I then knew there wassomething amiss; and I thought the engine was off the road. I applied the break, and con- tinued to do so until it was crushed and the engine went over. The loco- motive, I think, struck the platform, and I saw no more. I fell through on to the ballast, and the steam prevented me from seeing anything. I spoke to the driver and fireman on the journey. They were both perfectly sober. The driver and fireman were the most steady men I ever knew, the former particularly so. I am not aware the tires were tried during the journey. It is not customary to test the wheels of the carriages on the journey." The sufferers by the accident are progressing favourably. The inquest was ad- journed until next Thursday.