taint.

HIS Royal Highness Prince Alfred sailed for Halifax from Liver- pool in the royal mail steam-ship Niaeura on Saturday, having availed himself of the opportunity to visit some of the principal objects of interest in the latter place on the previous day. The steam tender Satellite was placed at the disposal of his Royal Highness by the Cunard Company, and the Prince, accompanied by the Mayor of Liverpool, General Sir J. Jones, Major Cowell, Mr. M`Ivas, the managing partner of the Cunard Company, and the chairman of the various dock committees, &c., proceeded up the river to the school- frigate Conway, where the boys manned the yards in honour of his Royal Highness. The Prince visited the reformatory ship Akbar, where the 160 boys who are now on board the ship were paraded, and the system pursued with regard to juvenile criminals explained to his Royal Highness. The party then landed at the Herculaneum- quay, and visited the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, where the Prince inspected with interest the cannon, armour-plates, &c., in process of construction. Among the former is a large wrought-iron rifled cannon on the Somes principle, calculated to throw a bolt of nearly 700 lbs. weight. At these works, also, is one of the largest masses of steel in the world, being a steam-hammer of eight tons' weight. This stupendous mass is fourteen feet six inches between its upright suppprts, and has a fall in working of six feet on to an anvil of thirty-two tons' weight. It was constructed at the Mersey Works under the superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel Gray, one of the managing partners of the firm. The party then visited the royal, mail steamer Niagara, in which the Prince was to sail on the follow- ing day, and partook of luncheon. The Satellite then steamed down the river, his Royal Highness landing at the Canada-dock to inspect the hydraulic machinery by which the 100-feet gates are worked. The Canada-dock forms part of an unbroken range of docks of the largest size which stretches for more than four miles along the Lancashire side of the Mersey. They contain a water space of 280 acres, and possess a lineal quay frontage of more than fifteen miles. Besides this enormous range of floating docks, there are on the Lancashire side of the river several large graving-docks, among which are the Sandon Docks, a series of six docks, each 600 feet long by 80 feet wide. Two series of large docks are also in process of construction north of the Canada-dock. On the Cheshire side of the river, the aggregate area of the Birkenhead docks is 166I acres, with a lineal quay frontage of six miles. The large graving-dock of Messrs. Laird, in which they propose to build the iron-clad frigate for which their tender has been accepted by Government, affords ample space in which to build a ship 400 feet long, which can be floated out into the river when completed without any of the risk and trouble of a launch. The Prince afterwards visited the Sandon Docks, the screw- steamer Great Britain, the Observatory, the Prince's Dock, St. George's Hall, and the Free Library. "He was also presented on 'Change, where he met with a most enthusiastic reception. In the evening, his Royal Highness dined with the Mayor at the Town Hall. On Saturday morninr, his Royal Highness was accompanied by the Mayor to the pier, whence he was conveyed by the Satellite to the Niagara. On his way to the pier, the Prince received a most hearty greeting from the crowd assembled along his route. On part- ing, his Royal Highness presented the Mayor with his portrait carte de visite and a valuable ring.

— On Saturday, being St. Matthew's-day, the annual delivery of orations by the senior scholars of Christ's Hospital took place in the great hall of that institution, which was crowded by a fashionable assemblage. In accordance with the established custom, the Lord Mayor, sheriffs, and others of the civic authorities, formed part of the audience, having previously attended divine service at Christ Church, Newgate-street, whence they proceeded in state to the school. The English oration was delivered by Mr. Edward Carlos, first Grecian, and was much applauded. The greatest interest of the day, however, was attached to the recital of a poem, "The Prince of Wales at the Tomb of Washington," by Mr. James Morson, second Grecian.

— The meeting of the South Staffordshire Agricultural Society took place on Saturday at Wolverhampton. The proceedings ter- minated with a dinner, to which nearly five hundred ladies and gen- tlemen sat down. The Earl of Dartmouth presided, and among the company were the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, Mr. W. 0. Foster, M.P., and Mr. Weguelin. M.P. The president having given "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot responded for the navy, and entered especially into the question of flogging. He did not think the present condition of either of our great services was satisfactory : "Firmness and decision were the proper remedies for such cases as had been recently investigated, where deadly weapons had been tamed towards superior officers. He did not wish to throw oil on the waters or to disguise the real state of affairs. There had been too little discipline in the navy of late years, a conse- quence of the multiplication of 'sea lawyers'—people who would argue whether or not they should do certain things. This lack of discipline, existing in the army as well as the navy, resulted from people not being properly educated. Re- ferring to the tragedy at Fulwood Barracks, the noble earl said he should have liked to see the murderer hung up or shot before his regiment. For years past had long tirades been delivered against the tyranny of flogging; but if a man entered the Queen's service and transgressed the Articles of War, which were founded on justice, he ought not to complain of being punished. According to his experience minor punishments were not effectual, because they afforded opportunities for skulking to men who did not care about confinement. He would sanction no exhibition of temper in the punishment inflicted, but all the preparations made for the British service and all the valour of the men would be useless unless discipline was firmly maintained."

The president returned thanks for the toast of "Success to the Staffordshire Agricultural Society." The Mayor then proposed "The Lords and Commons," to which the Earl of Shrewsbury and Mr. Foster, M.P., responded. Mr. Weguelin then spoke. After he preface customary on similar occasions, that he was not going to talk politics, he followed the equally invariable custom of talki er of nothing but politics. His political opinions, however, did not appear to harmonize with those of his audience, and an avowal of his dis- sent from Mr. Newdegate's eulogy of the "family" principle was the signal for a perfect chorus of groans and hisses, which continued as long as the speaker persevered in his criticisms of Mr. Newdegate's theory. As far as he could be heard, lie was understood to Object chiefly to the accumulation of land in large estates consequent upon the carrying to excess of the family principle. The Mayor of Wolver- hampton at last rushed into the fray, and energetically declared that if the interruptions continued, lie would "make it very unpleasant for the parties concerned." The extremely vague character of this threat rendered it of no avail whatever in quelling the disturbances, which, however, were somewhat allayed by a remark of the presi- dent's :

" Permit me to interrupt the mayor, and say that I hope the only way in which it will be made unpleasant will be by the ladies leaving the tent, and, as we have avoided controversial subjects until now, I hope they will be avoided for the rest of the evening."

Mr. Weguelin then proceeded with his speech, but on again reverting to Mr. Newdegate and the patriarchal system, his remarks 'were summarily and decisively brought to a close by an outburst of hoot- ing and yelling, amid which the president left the chair, and the meeting separated. — The Marine Department of the Board of Trade has demanded

from the captain and owners of the Great Eastern a full account of the extent of damage suffered by that vessel during her recent -die.

estrous voyage, and it is supposed that a strict inquiry into the state in which she was sent to sea will be made by Captain Robertson, head of the department.

— The examination of Richard Guinness Hill, on the charge of having made a false statement to the Rugby registrar of births and deaths with regard to the birth of a child, was resumed on Saturday, before the county magistrates, at Rugby. Evidence was taken at great length with regard to all the circumstances of the case, and the story which originally appeared was confirmed in every particular but one, that one, however, being of great importance in its bearing on the case. Mr. Maltby, the English vice-consul at Brussels and a solicitor, stated that he drew up the marriage settlements of Mrs, Hill : "The settlement provides that 1001. a year should be paid, free dall charges, to the wife out of the gross income of the settled property, but in the event of the husband committing certain specified acts, then the whole gross income is to go to the wife. 'I he property is to be continued in trust for the benefit of the issue of the marriage, if any, and after the death of the survivor, husband or wife, is to go, subject to a joint power of appointment, among the children. In default of such joint appointment, it is to be subject to the appointment of the survivor, and if no appointment is made, it is to be divided equally among the children. In the event of there being no issue, the trustees are to hold the property in trust for the benefit of the wire absolutely in case of her surviving her husband. In case of the husband being the survivor, an abso- lute power of appointment is vested in the wife. If that power be not exercised, half the property goes to the husband, and the other half to those who would take as next of kin to the wife. The amount of property has been exaggerated. I believe it is about 5000/. in possession, and 60001. in reversion."

At the close of the examination for the day, Mr. Philbrick, who se. peared for the prisoner, remarked that when the proper time came he would give a complete answer to the charge against his client, and expressed a hope that in the mean time the press would abstain from commenting on the proceedings. He added, that the brother of the prisoner, a clergyman in Hertfordshire, was only prevented by illness from attending that day to offer bail. The inquiry was then adjourned until Wednesday, and the prisoner was removed in a cab by the police. An attack was made upon him by the crowd who had as- sembled outside, and it was with great difficulty that the police could protect him from rough treatment. — A large meeting of metropolitan teachers was held at the Whittington Club on Saturday, " to take into consideration the sew minutes of the Committee of Council on Education." Mr. Randall, head master of St. James's School, Westminster, presided, and opened the proceedings in a speech of considerable length. While acknowledging the great things which had been done for edu- cation by the Committee of Council, he regretted the duty which had been forced upon the meeting, of putting themselves in direct anta-

gonism to that body. No one could have supposed from Mr. Lowe's speech in the House of Commons of the 11th July, that any such coup d'Etat as the minute under consideration was meditated by Go- vernment; yet within a month they had by that minute so mutilated and defaced the old system under which so much good had been done, that scarcely one of its original features was recognizable. The

changes made by the minute were briefly these :

"the grants for books, maps, diagrams, and scientific apparatus were with- drawn. The grants on drawing certificates were done away with. The grant of 1001. per annum to lecturers in training institutions was abolished. The sum of 65001. set apart for pensions for poor worn-out teachers was withdrawn; and last, though not least, the money value on certificates of merit was destroyed. Such were the omissions. What were the additions? They were to keep a log- book, and in lieu of the stipends which had hitherto been paid to the teachers they were to &et 15s. for each child who satisfied the inspectors in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and who fulfilled the various conditions under which the capitation grant could be claimed. It was to he noticed that the children were classified according to age, and this be regarded as unsafe and unsound. From the conditions laid down in Group IV., it would seem that the committee was of opinion that the education of a child was concluded at the mature age of eleven. (Laughter.) The managers would suffer pecuniarily unless they sent these children adrift. According to the minutes, babes and infants from three years of age would have to pass an examination before the inspector before the capitation grant could be claimed on behalf of infant schools. (Laughter.) A babe before it could distinctly articulate, when it could just lisp'daddy, was required to read a narrative in monosyllables—it was a pity that they did not say ' with ease and fluency of expression'—(laughter)--to write letters on a black board and figures on a slate. This absurdity had not emanated from the Royal Commissioners, who had recommended that, provided infant schools were effi- ciently conducted, the capitation grant should be 'd without the examination of babes and sucklings. The public had great • ■.culty in understanding the details of the question; but he would put the case so that it could be understood by all who knew the difference between right and wrong, between good and bad faith. He would allude to the withdrawal of the augmentations on certificates of merit. The Committee of Council, in 1846, decreed that the schoolmaster who passed a Government examination, and whose school was favourably reported on by the inspector, should receive sums varying from 151. to 301. annually. That regulation had been submitted to the House of Commons by Lord John Russell, and on the faith of it being carried out many persons had entered the scholastic profession. By the withdrawal of that grant, one-fourth of their incomes had been swept away, and he characterized the proceeding as an unfair breach of faith." (Applause.)

In conclusion, he called upon the meeting to throw aside all minor differences, and unite with vigour and energy to prevent the scheme of Mr. Lowe from being earned out. Mr. Langton, B.A., president of the London Association of Teachers, moved the first resolution :

"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the 'revised code or regulations' issued by the Committee of Council on Education will be productive of serious injury to the education of the labouring classes of this country, inasmuch as it will lower the standard of attainment, and impair the efficiency of elementary schools."

Mr. Eaton, honorary secretary to the London district of Church Schoolmasters, seconded the resolution, which was carried unani- mously amid loud cheers. Other resolutions were subsequently adopted, among which were the two following :

"That the estimate of pecuniary aid henceforth to be granted to elementary schools (as given in the Code, page 8, note) is fallacious." "That the withdrawal of the augmentation grants paid to certificated teachers is not only an injustice to those whom the Government have induced to enter the profession, by offering additional emoluments on ' account of their acquirements' (ride Mr. Lowe's reply to a deputation of the Associated Body of Church School- masters, July 4, 1860), but also a violation of the principles upon which public engagements should be based."

— The Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have just issued their annual report. The number of children on the rolls in the course of the year 1860 was 804,000, who were taught in 5632 schools. The average number at one time, 510,638 ; the average daily attendance, 262,283. Of 165,794 children examined in read- ing, 38 per cent. read the second book of lessons correctly, and 19 per cent. were able to read the third, or higher, class of lessons with ease and intelligence. Of 91,984 examined in writing, 38 per cent. could write on paper fairly, and 13 per cent. with ease and freedom. Of 128,940 examined in arithmetic, 29 per cent. could set down cor- rectly a sum of seven places of figures, 47 per cent. could work a sum in subtraction, 23 per cent. a sum in compound division, and 13 per cent. were able to solve questions in proportion or practice. With the exception of the arithmetic the above centesimal proportions are exclusive one of the other.

— The members of the Orange societies of Liverpool had a grand dinner on Tuesday. They assembled, to the number of 1200, early in the morning, and proceeded by two special trains from the Birken- head terminus to Ruaben, whence they walked in procession to Plas Madoc, the beautiful seat of Mr. Whalley, M.P. for Peterborough, on whom, it will be recollected, the mantle of Mr. Spooner appeared last session to have fallen. They were then addressed by Mr. Whalley iu a tone of the most red-hot Protestantism, after which they dispersed about the park until about one, when they sat down to a substantial dinner provided at the expense of Mr. Whalley. After dinner their host announced his intention of making over to a committee of the Orange societies a large building known at present as Trent Tower, to be used for such strictly Protestant purposes as the committee might think fit. The name of the tower was also changed from "Trem Tower" to "King William Tower." — The Warrior made her first sea-going trip on Thursday with the most complete success in every respect. Her engines worked splendidly, and with very little vibration. She answered her helm almost instantaneously, and the predictions of the alarmists that the smoke from .the guns on the main deck would be so con- fined by the narrow ports as to nearly suffocate the men, were completely upset by the result of two salutes of fifteen guns, with which the flags of Admiral Johnstone at Sheerness and the Admiral in command at Portsmouth were greeted. Some idea of the enormous size of the machinery required for the propulsion of the noble frigate may be gathered from the following figures. The total weight of all the machinery is 840 tons. The screw is of gun- metal, 20 feet in diameter, and weighs 20 tons, and is connected with the engines by a series of shafts, each 26 feet long by 18 inches in diameter. The engines, of 1250 nominal horse-power, are really of not less than 6000 horse-power. Each cylinder is 9 feet 4 inches in dia- meter, and they require for their joint services the evaporation of 16,250 gallons of water per hour. The main steam-pipe is 2 feet 8 inches across, and the condensers are each 15 feet long by 12 feet broad and 9 feet high, and each of them are supplied with a 9-foot pipe for admitting the steam to a 7-inch pipe for conveying the hot water to the boilers. The boilers are 10 in number, and are heated by 40 furnaces. Each boiler contains 440 tubes through which the flames pass, and when filled contain 19 tons of water. The weight of the piston and parts connecting it with the crank is 13 tons, and it is driven 4 feet backwards and forwards at each 'Stroke, at the rate of 50 revolutions a minute, which is equivalent to driving 13 tons more than 400 feet in a minute. No part of the machinery is sufficiently above the water-line to be exposed to any danger whatever from shot, and the cylinders are 7 feet below. The consumption of coal required for full steaming is calculated at about 125 tons for the 24 hours.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH • — The Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Norton Agricultural Society held their 21st annual meeting at Stow on Thursday. In the evening, the members dined together at the Unicorn Hotel, Lord Northwick in the chair. Mr. J. H. Langton, M.P., proposed the health of thee, chairman, and Lord Northwick responded :

"He entirely agreed with the remarks which had been made by the Rev. Mr. Witte, respecting the awarding of prizes to honest and industrious labourers, for he was much struck, in distributing the prizes, with a boy 15 years of age, who bad been in service seven years and a half, and who must therefore have com- menced work when he was only seven years old. He asked a great many of the candidates whether they could read and write, and he was glad to say that all of them replied in the affirmative, and that fact proved that education was making rapid progress in the agricultural districts. He agreed with Mr. Wilts that the development of the mental power of the labourer was far more important than his physical powers; and when they considered the mariner in which steam was being applied to the operations of agriculture, it was still more important that they should have an intelligent and educated class of labourers. For his own part, he attached great importance to the prizes given to the labourers, and it was :a question for the society to consider whether they_could not be advantageously increased. He hoped the use of machinery would be greatly extended, for he believed that the labourers, instead of being injured, would be benefited by its introduction. Many labourers, instead of earning ls. 6d. a day, were now enabled to earn 3s. a day ; and be was glad to know that the great mass of the labouring population looked with favour upon the extended use of machinery in their farming operations. At the same time, it would always happen that a great part of the farm-work must be done by hand, such as thatching and hedging. Another subject which was worthy their careful consideration was the improve- ment of the dwellings of the cottagers. (Hear, hear.) He was firmly con- vinced that cottages should never be built with less than three bedrooms, be- cause the labourer could let one if he did not require it for his own use. The question, however, was, could cottages be built so as to prove remunerative to the landlord ? It might he said they would not pay, so far as regarded the actual interest of the money spent in their erection, but lie was quite sure that they would pay indirectly, for he would ask any gentleman whether it was not worth while to spend a small sum of money if by that means he could improve the character and condition of the labourers in his employ." (Cheers.) Mr. Langston, M.P., in acknowleding the toast of the successful competitors, also spoke to the same effect, and, after a few toasts had been disposed of, the proceedings terminated. — "Africanus" writes to the Times in defence of Mr. du Chaillu against his assailants, especially Dr. Gray and Mr. Walker. Dr. Gray, who is keeper of the stuffed animals in the British Museum, in- cluding, of course, the great Gorilla, addressed a letter to the President of the Zoological Section of the British Association, as- serting that it was clear from the way in which the vertebrae of the animal were shattered, that it was shot from behind, and not, as Mr. du Chaillu says, in front. Dr. Gray's examination, however, took place after the animal had been set up in its present position, while Pro- fessor Owen and Sir Philip Egerton, an experienced deer-stalker, who examined the animal before it was set up, are perfectly convinced of the truth of Mr. du Chaffin's statement. Dr. Gray then tri- umphantly adduced the fact that a Mr.Walker, to whom Mr. du Chant had referred in support of his veracity, had written a letter to a London newspaper denouncing him as a scandalous impostor. This, however, does not appear to have really been the case. The Walker who wrote the letter in question is R. B. Walker, a trapper at. the Gaboon; while the gentleman referred to by Mr. du Chaillu is the Rev. William Walker, of Georgia, formerly a missionary at the Gaboou, and who has expressed his gratification at being able to "testify to the truth" of the statements contained in Mr. du Chaffin's book. Besides, R. B. Walker himself, strange to say, can be ap- pealed to as having given the strongest possible testimony in support of those statements, the truth of which lie now seeks to impeach. In a letter of his from the Gaboon, dated 1859, and read by his own brother-in-law at a meeting of the Ethnological Society last spring, B.. B. Walker says : " He" (Mr. du Chaillu) "Is a very nice little fellow, and he will amuse you with his description of tribes and people who never yet have been seen by another white man but him- self. As you will see him in a few months, I will not forestal him by recording any of his adventures here. He is no boaster, and I for one place confidence in all be has told me, and I consider that what lie relates may be relied on."

In his letter of last week, II. B. Walker says : " I, in common with most persons, doubt that Mr. du Chaillu ever killed, or assisted to kill, a Gorilla." In his letter dated May 3, 1859, he says : " I pre- sume lie is about the only European who has seen the Njena, or Gorilla, in its wild state, and killed it himself." "Africanus" refutes the other charges of R. B. Walker in an equally satisfactory manner, and concludes by remarking that,

"Unless gifted with a very thick skin, unless—to use a term of natural history—pachydermatous, one would nor, after such revelations as these, wish to be in the skins of John Edward Gray and R. B. Walker. One of your con- temporaries calls on Sir Roderick Murchison and Professor Owen to apologize to the public for introducing Mr. du Chaillu to it. These eminent men need take no trouble on the subject, for the opponents of Mr. du Chaillu have by their blunders not only relieved them from all responsibility, but justified their pro- tection."

— The Earl of Ellenborough spoke at Gloucester last week on the subject of the national defences. The occasion was a banquet with which the meeting of the Gloucestershire County Rifle Asso- ciation was brought to a close, and at which his Lordship presided. In proposing the toast of "The Volunteers," with which he coupled the names of Lord de Grey, Minister of War, and Colonel McMurdo, Inspector-General of Volunteers, lie said .

" Gentlemen, when we speak of the Volunteers as a body, let us recollect how they were originated. They originated not with the Government, but with the people. (Cheers.) They originated in the intuitive perception of a coming danger entertained by the people, in which they were not led by the Government, a danger which might possibly have been unseen by the Government, but against which the Government had certainly taken no precautions—perhaps they could not. That movement, begun by the people, has been continued by the people. It is at the present moment unimpaired, and I most earnestly trust that the whole country will show in the maintenance of that force that perseverance which is one of the first of public virtues, and also the first of military virtues. Without that perseverance in its support—if there be any lukewannuess or any falling back, depend upon it we shall make things worse than they were when that force was established, and bring on at au accelerated pace the very evil it was formed to avert. (Cheers.) We have met here this week to bestow honours and prizes on persons of the Volunteer force who have distinguished themselves in shooting, and a most excellent object it is; but I think my gallant friend near me will tell you that troops disciplined—discipline even with inferior accuracy of aim in the field—are of more value than the most perfect accuracy of aim without discipline. (Cheers.) No troops are of real value to a general unless he can move them where he pleases; unless lie can place them in positions which lie knows they will defend without assistance ; unless he can rely on them entirely ; and my gallant friend also knows that no man could do this if his troops have not discipline. I recollect that the gallant Sir Charles Napier, who knew better than any man in his day, saying Enthusiasm runs away.' This is rather a strong expression, although we have seen something of it in America. But at the same time it oc- curred where the men possessed great courage, and had the greatest accuracy of aim; and yet they ran away because they had no discipline. Now, I speak to solidera, and you know it ; you are perfectly well aware that the great and im- proved range of artillery and rifles, and the greater accuracy in the use of those weapons of destruction, make great changes necessary in the movements of the troops in the presence of the enemy. It is impossible to bring them near to the enemy in masses without being destroyed if exposed to the fire of their rifled guns. The victory is won if you bring the enemy near enough to pound laim with your rifled guns. It is therefore absolutely necessary in future warfare, partly by every possible advantage which genius points out—for books of practice don't teach—of every peculiarity, of every accident of ground, but above all to cover the advance of the masses which are to strike the decisive blow by the bayonet by an impenetrable line of fire that conceals their movements. If you do not do that, you may fight well, but you cannot win the victory. That must be obtained not by assembling in companies, but in battalions, and even brigades, and it is only I fear, by the assistance of the Government that the Volunteers can ob- tain a proficiency of movement in the field that will make them of use to a general. I do trust, therefore, that the Government, aware of the fact, will in the next session of Parliament take measures for the purpose of giving the Volunteers that efficiency. Gentlemen, I cannot express in terms sufficiently strong how absolutely essential I think it is to give the greatest possible efficiency to the Volunteers in masses. It is idle, however, to conceal it from ourselves that we have no certain superiority at sea. More than that, even if we had, the discovery of steam and its application to navigation renders the combination in the movements of fleets nearly as certain as combinations in the movements of troops, and this will give power to a foreign nation to effect an invasion if it is determined to do so, running all risks. (Rear.) We must consider, then, that not only is invasion at all times possible, but that under certain circumstances it will take place, and the battle will be decided by fighting on the soil of England. Now, it is not enough that we have a force able to repel any enemy that trap attack us, but we ought to have a force able to deter an enemy from making an attack. (Cheers.) You see detailed in the newspapers what three months of war has produced in America. We see how all commercial transactions have been paralyzed, how all the relations of society have been destroyed, and how complete is the disruption throughout that country. What would the effects of war be in England, where we are in a more artificial state? What would be the effect here of the presence of a foreign army even for a fortnight? The cost of the presence of a foreign army, even for a fort- night, would be greater even than the amount of a year's revenue. I assume that it is absolutely necessary to be prepared, be the cost what it may, and I know that any honest man who applies his mind to the purpose of the redaction of useless and crotchety expenditure may find the means of paying for the preparations necessary to our existence, without imposing any further taxes. I say that, cost what it may, there must be found means of giving effi- ciency to the Volunteer force; - it must be given, for without it the country is not safe. I rejoice in the existence of this force, and I rejoice also in the revival of that ancient spirit which prevailed in distant times through- out this country. The rifle has taken the place of the bow. There are butts in every town and in every village; and, more than that, you see the com- panies and battalions now formed, as in ancient times, composed of the men who gained the great victories to which we look back with so much pride. The country gentlemen are now at the head of the movement, as they were, and as they should be, and the men in the ranks know these gentlemen not only as their officers, bat also as individuals. The Volunteer force is a band of brothers which must succeed under any difficulty to which it may be exposed. (Cheers.) I do hope that the country gentlemen, and every one of those who have assume the military dress, and have taken on themselves the responsibility of command- ing men in the field, will adhere to their first determination, and endeavour to make themselves capable of performing all the duties of their position, and so return the confidence of all who serve under them. I feel that I am speaking in the language of the constitution of this country, and I assure you I speak the language dictated by the feeling of every gentleman engaged in this movement, when I say hi all times, and in all circumstances, but more especially in the cir- cumstances which portend danger, the proper position of every gentleman is in the front of the battle. (Loud cheers.) You understand, therefore, what your mission is as Volunteers. It is so to perfect yourself in discipline as to be able to throw an impenetrable veil of fire before the movements of the regular troops by whom you are supported, to enable them by acting with the decisive bayonet, the favourite weapon of your country, on the ranks of the enemy, to obtain the victory. Gentlemen, I congratulate you on your adoption of the military pro- fession. It is the first of all professions. The first profession I have always considered isthat of the soldier, and the first of all rewards is military honour." (Loud cheers.)

— Government has notified its intention of permitting fac-similes of the parts of the Domesday Book relating to each county to be made by photography, in the same manner as that,already pub- lished for CornwalL The publication will, however, not be extended to any county until a guarantee of the sale of a sufficient number of copies to defray the cost of its production has been received. Such a guarantee has been given by a few gentlemen of Cheshire, and Colonel Sir H. James, of the Ordnance Survey, to whom the work is entrusted, wilt commence the

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH.

— A soiree was held at Bealington on Friday last, in aid of the funds for the purchase of a piano for the village schoolroom. The Rev. C. T. Whitley, vicar of the parish, presided, and Sir George Grey addressed the meeting at some length. After some remarks on the coal production of the neighbourhood, he reminded his audi- ence of their advantages in possessing the schoolroom they were then assembled in. He said, with regard to the subject. of intem- perance which had been brought before them by the chairman,

"Mr. Whitley had alluded to the intemperance which prevailed, in not one but all classes, many years ago. It was a most gratifying circumstance that that habit of intemperance had greatly, he hoped, diminished ; and he had a hearty sympathy for those who, by any means which they thought were likely to effect their object, were endeavouring to wage a war against a habit—he might call it sin—which was the fruitful parent of misery and crime. But lie must say that he had much more faith in the counter-attraction of good schools, of meetings like the present, of reading-rooms, of innocent, useful, and instructive amuse- ments, and occupations placed within reach of the masses of the community, than he had in any legislative restrictions and prohibitions."

He concluded by urging upon those present the necessity of ex- erting themselves to make the utmost use of the advantages held out to them.

— The Toronto Leader recently contained an interesting account of the Canadian oil region. At a distance of twenty-four miles from the Wyoming station of the Great Western of Canada Railway is the township of Enniskillen, in which the most productive oil wells in America are situated. The township is about 11 miles square, and at its extreme south end a creek runs through the oil-producing district, which is called after it " Black Creek." The township is only partially cleared, very level, and the soil a stiff clay. Along the banks of the creek are wells every few rods, and in every stage of progress. Some of them are what are called surface wells, and are only sunk to the rock. Sometimes, when within a few feet of the rock, the oil rushes in with great force, and has been known to fill wells, 50 feet deep and 5 feet square, to the very brim, and flow over in a stream, wasting hundreds of barrels. The oil from these wells is thick, and more difficult to deodorize than that from the rock wells, but when refined makes the best oil, both for lighting and lubricating purposes. The rock wells are generally bored with an auger till they reach the rock, a distance of from 40 to 70 feet. Piping is then driven down on to the rock, and the drilling is continued by horse-power, and in a few instances by steam-engine, at the rate of from a few inches to 10 feet in a day. The rock con- tains layers of flintstone, sandstone, and sulphate of iron, but con- sists chiefly of soapstone, from which the oil is generally obtained. There are hundreds of wells already sunk, and it is said that before January the number will have reached 500. At pre.. sent the oil is conveyed to Wyoming in flat-bottomed boats, which are dragged by oxen along a species of mud canal, in which they alternately float and slide over the mud for four miles, when their cargo is transferred to waggons, in which it is taken on to Wyoming. The only road to Black Creek from Wyoming at present is extremely rough, and almost impassable in bad weather, but is in. process of being repaired and rendered of more use by a contractor who is laying down a plank-road all the way. A charter for a railway has also been obtained, and the place will soon be connected with the main line by a branch' from Wyoming. The traffic will be very great,. as at present the daily yield of oil, at the lowest estimate, is 3000 barrels, and will be greatly increased before long. Of the extent to. which this substance will come into use, it is simply necessary to say that refined toilet soap, candles superior to wax, oil which gives a. light superior to gas, and the best oil for machines yet known, are all to be manufactured from it.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.

— The Great Eastern is at length moored safely in Cork harbour,. to the great satisfaction of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who have been in a great state of suspense for the last fe w days in consequence of rumours to the effect that the captain, having pre- viously commanded a Galway ship, would probably take her to that harbour. While Irishmen with one voice raise the cry of "Justice to Ireland !" they have clearly not yet agreed among themselves as to the proper apportionment of that justice among themselves. However, the question is settled now, and great is the enthusiasm of Cork. One-half the population appear to be on board of the great ship, or goino-n round her in steamers, while the half who remain at home occupy themselves in the composition of triumphant jubilations on the tardy recognition of the merits of their "noble waters, so Well worthy of the motto statio bene fida earinis," &c. Prnee Alfred arrived at Queenstown in the Niagara on Monday, and while the ship was waiting for the special mail train from Dublin, sailed about the harbour in the yacht Argus, which wag' placed at his dis- posal by Admiral Talbot and Commander Yelverton. His Royal Highness, finding that a great number of the passengers detained on board the Great Eastern, including a large proportion of ladies, were desirous of continuing their voyage in the Niagara, with great kind- ness offered to give up his large apartments for their accommodation, and rough it himself. It is stated, as a proof of the immense strength of the Great Eastern, that after all the frightful tossing she has ex- perienced, every door in the ship works as freely on its hinges as when she left Liverpool, thereby showing that her hull remains free from the slightest strain.

— The Government of India has issued a resolution as to the supply of cotton. After stating the conviction of Government that, while the stimulus of high prices alone will prove sufficient of itself to rapidly extend the production of cotton in India, it will re- quire other influences to create any considerable improvement in its quality, it is expedient for Government to take such steps to promote the latter object as are not inconsistent with the resolution-of the 20th February last, it is provided as follows

" 4. In furtherance of these views the Governor-General in Council has re- solved to offer prizes for the production of cotton during the two next years— that is to say, is the current season of 1861-62, and in the subsequent season of 1862-63.

" Three prizes of 10,000 rupees each will be given in each season—one in the Presidency of Fort William, one in the Presidency of Madras, and one in the Presidency of Bombay. " 5. For the current season the conditions will be as follows: " A. The prize in each Presidency will be given for the largest quantity of cotton, combined with the best quality, which shall be grown upon any one estate within the Presidency during the season of 1861-62, and which shall be brought for shipment to any port in or before the month of June, 1862. " B. Any district in the interior will be considered to have a claim to compete for the prize in that Presidency to the port of which it is intended to send the cotton for shipment.

" C. The extent of ground under cultivation must not be less than 30 acres, all belonging to one property, or cultivated by one superintemlent.

" D. The fulfilment of the last-named conditions must be certified by the chief revenue officer of the district in which the estate is situate, or by any other agents specially recognized by the Government for that purpose. " These last two rules are intended to prevent the prize being given to a selec- tion of picked samples from a large area, which would require none of the care or attention to the general cultivation of the plant which it is the desire of Government to encourage. " E. The prizes will be awarded by the Chambers of Commerce at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, respectively, if the gentlemen representing those bodies will consent to undertake the task. " F. A sealed sample of the cotton must be sent by each competitor to the Chamber of Commerce, and the consignment to which the prize is awarded will afterwards be inspected by the Chamber and verified as corresponding with the sample. In case of its being desired to ship the consignment at an outport, the inspection of it will be made by some person specially appointed by the Chamber of Commerce.

" G. Each sample must be accompanied by a full and clear statement by the grower of the system which has been pursued in the cultivation, with an accurate and detailed account of all the expenses incurred.

" A. Any subsidiary rules which may be found requisite will be laid down by the Chambers of Commerce.

" 6. All public officers whose assistance may be sought in respect to the con- ditions of the 4th rule, or for any other object, are enjoined to give their cordial co-operation in carrying out the intentions of Government- " By order, &c. " W. GREY,

" Secretary to the Government of India?. The limit to Government interference laid down by the resolution of February 20th, is as follows :

"That no measure which places Government in the position of the private capitalist, cultivator, or speculator, or which in any way interferes with .private enterprise, can be otherwise than permanently injurious in itself and detrimental to the object in view. Therefore, all attempts to stimulate cultivation or labour by any exertion of Government authority, directly or indirectly, are out of the question. The same objection will apply to model farms and experimental culti- vation conducted by officers of Government."

— The case of Vincent Collucci came on at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. Mr. Sleigh, who, with Mr. Giffard, appeared for the prisoner, had previously applied that the letters, which formed the subject of the trial, should be placed in his hands, as they were essential to the defence. Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., who, with Serjeant parry and Mr. F. H. Lewis, conducts the prosecution, opposedlhe ap- plication, on the ground that the contents of the letters could not by any possibility be relevant to the inquiry as to the guilt or innocence of the prisoner; and it was believed that the only object for seeking to having copies of the letters was to intimidate the prosecutrix or to gratify idle curiosity ; and under these circumstances he asked the Coast not to accede to the application. Mr. Sleigh said that Mr. Keene, who had been originally retained as counsel for the prosecu- tion, but was absent on his circuit as revising barrister for the county of Norfolk, and who had a perfect knowledge of Italian, had expressed his opinion that it was of great importance that the letters should be produced. Mr. Justice Keating said he would look over the letters himself, and if there were any of them which he considered material to the defence, he would order that copies of such should be handed over to the prisoner's counsel.—Dr. David Griffiths Jones was also tried on the charges of perjury, of having forged and uttered a will purporting to be that of Mrs. Sophia Bellis. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the first charge, and Sergeant Ballantine, who conducted the prosecution for the Crown, stated that he had come to the conclusion, after attentive consideration, that there was not sufficient evidence to support the second charge, and he should therefore propose to withdraw it. After some discussion the second charge was withdrawn, and judgment upon the first post- poned until the following morning. — The adjourned examination of Richard Guinness Hill was con- cluded at Rugby, on Wednesday. Further evidence was taken, and Mr. Philbrick addressed the magistrates for the prisoner. He con- tended that the prosecution was instituted by his wife from motives of personal revenge and malignity. With regard to the prisoner's alleged pecuniary interest in the suppression of the child, Mr. Phil- brick said :

" What were the facts? Under the trusts of the marriage settlement Mr. Hill had a life interest, of which no children, however numerous, could deprive him, in the whole of the fund; so that any interest which he might have in con- cealing the birth of a child must be some ulterior interest to arise after his death. If there were no children of the marriage, and the wife survived, the property was to go to her absolutely ; whereas if Mr. Hill outlived her he was to take half of the fund, and the other half was to go to her next of kin. There remained the very material fact that the right of Mr. Hill, in case he survived, to take half of the settled fund, was subject to an absolute power of appointment on the part of the wife. If she survived, she had the fund absolutely; while, if Mr. Hill survived, by a single stroke of her pen she could prevent him from touching one penny without her consent. It followed that all attempts to suppress the child must be useless. Mr. Hill must have known that unless his wife consented to the suppression of the child—unless she became a partner in his guilt—he would never get a single shilling of the settled property. Thus the prosecution recoiled with a fearful rebound upon the wife and her advisers; because if Mr. Hill were to profit by the suppression of the child he could only do so, under the terms of the marriage settlement, with the full knowledge and consent of his wife. It was worthy of remark that the 14,0001. a year of the first published accounts had dwindled down to 14,0001. in bulk. The fact was however, that the capital did not amount to 14,0001., for the stamp on the marriage settlement would not cover a larger sum than 8000/. But he had shown that Mr. Hill could have no pecuniary motive without full complicity on the part of his wife."

Mr. Philbrick also maintained that it was manifestly impossible that the consignment of the child to London could have been made with-

out the connivance of Mrs. He would not then enter into the exact nature of the motives which induced Mrs. Hill to act thus, as he was unwilling that those who represented her should know the strength of the evidence which Mr. Hill would bring in support of a charge of adultery against his wife, which would be investi- gated in due course before Sir Cresswell CresswelL As to the actual charge then before the magistrates, he contended that as the _registrar, to whom the alleged false return was niade, had been when relieving officer, detected in serious defalcations and irregulari- ties in his accounts, and as he had been dismissed from his office as registrar on account of inaccuracies in the very same register in which was the entry in question, the authenticity of that re- gister was entirely destroyed, and no criminal proceedings could be founded upon it.

" In conclusion, he hoped the magistrates would not shrink from the responsi- bility of saying that the defendant ought not to be committed for trial. No harm could be done, because it would still be open to the prosecution to present a bill to a grand jury if they pleased, while a great injustice would be avoided. He had shown that the alleged pecuniary motive ou the part of Mr. Hill had no existence; that Mrs. Hill herself must have been from first to last cognizant of what was going on with the child, especially since the girl Parsons must have told her of the two women whom she saw hi London, and that there was not the slightest reason for supposing that the mistakes which appeared on the face of the register-book were the work of Mr. Hill, whose own signature was in all respects genuine. For these reasons he trusted the magistrates would spare Mr. Hal the inconvenience, anxiety, and expense which a trial must entail upon „

After about five minutes' consultation, the magistrates announced through the chairman that they were unanimously of opinion that the prisoner should be committed for trial, and also that if bail to tne amount of 5001. by the prisoner himself and 5001. each by two sureties was offered, it would be accepted.

— The Abysmal Official Wreck Regiskr and Chart for 1860 has been published. Owing to the continuance of bad weather throughout the early part of the year, the total number of wrecks was unusually large, being 1379 against 1233, the average for the last six years. The loss of life, however, was only 536, or 264 under the average of the last nine years. 2152 persons were saved by life-boats, rocket and mortar apparatus, &c. 21 wrecks took place from not heaving the lead, 2 through intemperance, 35 front general negligence and want. of caution, 39 from unseaworthiness, and 5 from defective com- passes. The loss of life from shipwrecks on the British coast alone within the last eleven years amounted to 6S83, distributed along various parts of the coast, in the following proportions :

"Fern Islands to Flamborough Head ... 523 Flamborough Head to the North Foreland ... na? North Foreland to St. Catherine's Point ... ••• .. 465 St. Catherine's Point to Start Point ... ... 81 Start Point to the Land's End 445 Land's End to Hartland Point, including Scilly ... 330 Hartland Point to St. David's Head ... ... 440 St. David's Head and Carnsore Point to Lai:obey Island and Skerries, Anglesey 879 Skerries and Lambay to Fair Head and Mull of Cantire ... 1453 Cape Wrath to Buchan Ness 197 Buchan Ness to Fara Islands ... 271 All other parts of the coast 842 ”

The number or lives saved on the coast during the last five years by life-boats, &c., is 11,495. In appealing, to the public for subscriptions, the Life-Boat Institution state that the fleet of life-boats now em- ployed numbers 115, the yearly cost of maintaining which does not amount to more than 20s. per head for each person saved during the year.

— A deputation of Liverymen of the City of London waited upon the Lord Mayor on Wednesday, for the purpose of .presenting to his Lordship a requisition to allow himself to be put in nomination for the chief magistracy for the ensuing year. The requisition was signed by 1672 citizens,•all of whom, with the exception of 25 or 30, were liverymen. In reply, the Lord Mayor said he had previously ex- pressed his disinclination for the toils and anxieties of another year

of office. •

" He had to-day to repeat that statement. He had had enough of the toil and anxiety ; he was content with the honour, and lie should still be sorry if any alderman who was aspiring to the office should feel that he had been put aside by his being referred. They, the deputation, however, were pleased to say in their requisition that his serving the office another year might be of great im- portance. (Year, hear.) if that be so—if his fellow-citizens were really of that opinion, he would forego all personal considerations, and place himself in the hands of the Livery, if he could think that was the general opinion, and that his brethren in the Court of Aldermen would also concur in that belief. As it was, he thought he must ask them to allow him to remain perfectly passive. If it should be the wish of the Livery that he should serve another year—au emphatic demonstration ought to prove that—and if the Court of Aldermen should also concur, and by an unmistakable vote in the hall and in the court the desire of his lellow-citizetis were expressed that he should serve another year, all he could say was, that hii should endeavour to do in the forthcoming year as lie had sought to do in that which was drawing to a conclusion—exert himself to the best of his humble abilities to satisfy the just expectations of his fellow-citiseus. (Cheers.)" The deputation then withdrew.

— Sir E. B. Lytton spoke at Hitchin, at the meeting of the Herts Agricultural Society, on Wednesday. In reply to the toast of "The County Members," the right honourable baronet reviewed at length the present position of foreign affairs. With regard to Italy and Austria, he said :

" When I last met you here, what was Italy ?—a discordant variety of petty states, in which the friends of order were the puppets of Austria ; and in which the friends of liberty seemed wild conspirators who could use no other weapon against tyrants but the dagger of the miserable assassin. Now what is Italy? A great nation ; a constitutional monarchy. The tyrant is gone, and let us hope that the assassin is disarmed. Like the enchanted princess in the old story-books, who was thrown into a death-like slumber till the walls that confined her fell down before the trumpet of her destined deliverer, Italy has risen out from the sleep of ages restored to thebloom, but exposed also to the passions and struggles of youth. Heaven guard and Heavenbless her: Itis for the interest of England that Italy should enter into the great community of constitutional nations. Foreigners misunderstand the foreign policy of England; I will endeavour to explain what it is. England is a free nation' and its statesmen must consult popular opinion ; the popular opinion of a free State goes with the free. England isa commercial and a manufacturing nation. It is the interest of England that good government, with the elements of progressive prosperity, should be established everywhere, because it is only in good governments that the interchange of her commerce is secure, and in proportion as the foreigner prospers the probability is that he will widen the market for our English manufactures. We have no interest in tyran- nies, where all progress is arrested. We have no interest in revolutions, where all property is insecure. But we have an interest in the, rise and prosperity of every people who adopt that temperate form of constitutional freedom which our own experience has proved to be the best for the development of human energies ; and, if to that good feeling we must seek a selfish motive, it is because every people so rising would naturally become our ally through the sympathy of freedom, and our customers through that commercial prosperity which Si the usual result of political freedom. In these few words, it foreigners would condescend to reflect, they will find the true key to the foreign policy of England. We have an in- terest in the regeneration of Italy. We have also an interest, certainly not less, in that great experiment, in which Austria has passed from the haughty repre- sentative of hereditary despotism to the ranks—still, unhappily, few—of consti- tutional monarchies. No politician worthy the name of statesman, no educated man, who will cast his eye over the map of Europe, but what must acknowledge the immense importance to freedom and to England of establishing, midway between Russia and France, midway between the two great military and absolute empires of Europe, a constitutional monarchy of immense resources both in territory and in population • resources that have utterly failed to Austria while her Government was despotic, but which may develop, as our resources have developed, under a system precisely analogous to our own. King, Lords, and Commons, with Ministers, and representatives responsible to the people, and criticized in safety by a free press—such is the Constitution of England ; such is now the Constitution of Austria. But whatever interest we may have in the prosperity and freedom of other nations is seldom an interest that admits of armed interference. Some of us may doubt whether Sardinia has beau either prudent or honourable in her annexation of Naples. Some of us may doubt

Whether Hungary or Austria be right in the dispute between them; but no Eng- lishman of common sense can doubt that these are questions which Italy and Austria should settle for themselves."

After a tribute to the wisdom and fearlessness with which Lord John Russell had upheld the honour of the British nation n a time of great and anxious difficulty, Sir Edward Bulwer turned to America :

"That separation between North and South America which is now being brought about by civil war I have long foreseen and foretold to be inevitable; and I venture to predict that the younger men here present will live to see not two, but at least four, and probably more than four separate and sovereign common- wealths arising out of those populations which a year ago united their Legislature tinder one President and earned their merchandise under a single flag. And so far from thinking that these separations will be injurious to the future destinies of America, or inflict a blow on that grand principle of self-government in which the substance of liberty consists, I believe that such separations will be attended with happy results to the safety of Europe and the development of American civilizatiOn. If it could have been possible that, as population and wealth in- creased, all the vast continent of America, with her mighty seaboard and the

fleets which her increasing ambition as well as her extending commerce would have formed and armed, could 'have remained under one form of government, in which the Executive has little or no control over a populace'exceedingly adven- turous and excitable, why then America would have hung over Europe like a gathering and destructive thundercloud. No single kingdom in Europe could have been strong enough to maintain itself against a nation that had once consolidated the gigantic resources of a quarter of the globe. And this unwieldy extent of empire would have been as fatal to the permanent safety and development of America herself as the experience of all history tells us an empire too vast to maintain the healthy circulation of its own life-blood ever has been, since the world

began, to the races over which it spread. By their own weight the old colossal empires of the East fell to ruin. It was by her own vast extent of dominion that Rome first lost her liberties, under the very armies which that extent of dominion compelled her to maintain, and finally rendered up her dominion itself to the re- venge of the barbarians she had invaded. The immense monarchy founded by the genius of Charlemagne fell to pieces soon after his death, and those pieces are now the kingdoms of Europe. But neither the empires of the East, nor the commonwealth of Rome, nor the monarchy of Charlemagne could compare in extent and resources with the continent of America ; and you will remember that

the United States claimed a right to the whole of that continent and the ultimate fate of America under one feeble Executive—the feeblest Executive perhaps ever known in a civilized community—would have been no exception to the truths of history and the laws of nature. But in proportion as America shall become subdivided into different States, each of which is large enough for great ness—larger than a European kingdom—her ambition will be less formidable to the rest of the world, and I do not doubt that the action of emula-

tion and rivalry between one free State and another, speaking the same language and enjoying that educated culture which inspires an affection for all that enlightens and exalts humanity, will reduce the same effects

upon art and commerce, and the improvements in practical government, which the same kind of competition produced in the old commonwealths of Greece. Heaven grant that my convictions may not be erroneous. I am not, then, one of those who say that the impending separation of the American States prove the failure of her experiment of Democracy. Any other form of Govern- s xnent would have equally failed in keeping together sections of a community so geographically cast, with interests antagonistic to each other. But this I may say, that when we see liberty and law alike suspended in the moment of danger,

printing presses destroyed by an unresisted mob, or the opinions of public writers stifled by a Democratic Government,—when we see an American President so

bewildered by his own armies, or so despairing of the skill of his own generals

that he offers to the Italian Garibaldi the command of American patriots,—I think, without vanity, we may say that in those acts of good Government which

can preserve freedom in the hour of danger, and enable a nation to right itself by the brains and the beads of its own children, America has more to learn from England than England to learn from America. Let us, then, turn our eyes back to our own country, humbly grateful for the blessings we enjoy, and man- fully resolve to defend and maintain them."

After an allusion to the effective state of the Volunteer force, lie re- marked that the influence of England was not so much the result of her arms as of her example.

"But England has done more than defend her shores. Her moral influence has been felt in every step that lies advanced the condition of the world. It was my task when in office, conjointly with Lord Malmesbury—though to him belongs the far greater share of the merit—to aid and to stimulate France in what to her was a difficult experiment, the substitute of free labour for negro slavery in her colonial possessions. Here, what encouraged France? It was the example of England. We have not assisted Italy with our arms, it is true, but then we have not asked from Italy the cession of Savoy and Nice. And, if the Government of Sardinia should preserve the courage to refuse further con- cessions of Italian territory, what can so maintain their resolution as the earnest dignity with which England has already protested against the terrible doctrine that the recognized boundaries of European kingdoms are to be altered by secret compacts and family arrangements? We have morally opposed ourselves to the domination of Austria in tier old Italian possessions. But when Austria, dis- mayed at her own feebleness under despotic forms of government, seeks to invigorate her system by constitutional changes, she looks neither to Russia nor to France for a model. She looks to England, and the constitution she gives is copied from our own. Thus, wherever we look, not the arms, but the example of England has advanced the condition of the world. In conclusion, Sir Edward said : " I thank you with sincere and earnest gratitude for the indulgence you all, on both sides of party, showed to use when my strength broke down in my efforts to discharge to the utmost the duties which I owed to my Sovereign and to you; and to assure you that now, in recovering my health, my remembrance of your kindnes, will make me still more anxious to merit your trust as long as I remain in your advice." — The ploughing match of the Wokingham Agricultural Associa- tion took place on Wednesday at Wokingliam. In the evening, the members dined together, Mr. Walter, M.P., in the chair. In pro- posing the toast of "Success to the Wokingham Agricultural As- sociation, the Chairman spoke chiefly with reference to the nature of the various prizes which had been that day bestwed. Others, however, of the prizes, Mr. Walter could not consider as either necessary or expedient, the prize for a good servant who had remained long m the same situation being a prize to a man for benefit- ing himself. After a few more remarks on the same subject, Mr. Walter concluded, and the company shortly afterwards separated.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH.

— At the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, Dr. Griffiths Jones was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment on the charge of perjury.—William Cogan was tried for the wilful murder of his wife, Mary Anne Cogan. No evidence of any importance further than that previously given at the police-office was offered, and the defence adopted was that all the circumstances of the case were perfectly consistent with the supposition that the deceased had attempted to murder the prisoner, and then committed suicide. Mr. Justice

Byles summed up the evidence carefully, and after half an hour's deliberation the jury returned a verdict of "Guilty," and

the prisoner was sentenced to death without any hope of mercy. —In the case of Collucci, Mr. Justice Keating ordered that the counsel for the prisoner should have access to the correspondence which had passed between him and Miss Johnstone, but.he could not allow copies of any of the letters to be made. He also acquiesced in the prisoner's application that the trial might be postponed until next session,—The grand jury having ignored the bill for manslaughter against Henry Rayner, the signalman at Kentish-town, Mr. Gifford, who had been instructed to prosecute, said the case against the prisoner appeared to him so strong, that he felt it his duty to go on with the charge upon the coroner's inquisition, but the day for the trial was not fixed.

— An alarming, though happily not fatal, collision took place on the loop line of the West Midland, near Droitwich, on Thursday last. The line in question, though belonging to the West Midland is also used by the Midland (Bristol and Birmingham) trains. On Thursday afternoon, a coal train was shunting at Droitwich station, when the movable bottom of one of the trucks fell out upon the rails, causing some delay. In consequence of this delay, a goods train, which was standing 300 or 400 yards off, was also delayed, and as a passenger-train behind it was nearly due, the guard ran back along the line with a red flag to stop its approach. The distance danger-signal, which was about 180 yards from the goods-train, was also put on. When the guard had passed this signal by about 300 yards, he met the passenger-train, the driver of which had not pre- viously seen the distance-signal. The engine was immediately stopped, the breaks put on, and sand poured on the rails, but all were inefficient to stop the train before it ran into the goods-train in front. The stoker jumped off the engine, but the driver remained at his post, and both escaped unhurt. About twelve of the passengers were more or less injured from cats and contusions, but no one was seriously injured. The fact that the train could not possibly be stopped in 480 yards is attributable to the extremely slippery state of the rails, produced by the rain. — A meeting was held at Salisbury on Thursday, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to establish some memorial to the late Lord Herbert of Lea. The attendance was large and in- fluential, and among those present were the Marquis of Bath, the Bishop of Salisbury, Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P., Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., the Right Honourable T. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., Mr. W. Ewart, M.P., General Buckley, M.P., Mr. H. Danby Seymour, M.P., &c. &c. Mr. Sotheron Est.court was called to the chair. The Mayor of Salisbury proposed, and Mr. Everett seconded, the first resolution : "That the noble example set by the late Lord Herbert in the service of his country and in all the relations of private life, of which we have been witnesses, appears to us to demand some public and enduring memorial by which the re- membrance of his truly Christian character and life may be preserved."

Mr. T. Baring, M.P., then proposed, and General Buckley, Mr.P. seconded, the second resolution :

"That we should wish any memorial decided upon to remind us both of the person of Lord Herbert and his devotion to every good work that tended to relieve the suffering and promote the happiness and well-being of his fellow-men."

The third resolution was proposed by the Bishopof Salisbury, who spoke in the warmest terms of respect and admiration for the de- ceased peer. He concluded by moving :

" That in the opinion of this meeting the most suitable mode of attaining the twofold object referred to in the previous resolutions is that a statue be erected in Salisbury, as the capital town of the county, and that a convalescent hospital be established in some place deemed best adapted for that purpose, to be called and known hereafter as the i Herbert Copvaleseent Hospital.' "

Other resolutions with regard to the collection of subscriptions were passed, and the meeting separated. — A grand review of Yorkshire Volunteers took place at Knares- mire, near York, on Wednesday. The total number of volunteers in the field was 5285, and more than 30,000 spectators were brought by train alone. Colonel Mliurdo put the troops through a variety of evolutions, including a sham fight, and expressing himself in high terms as to their efficiency. All the proceedings of the day pre- sented a marked contrast to the first review at the same place which was held in September last. Since then, the ground, which was then almost impassable in wet weather, has been thoroughly drained at an expense of several thousand pounds, and is now one of the best spots for a military display in F.ngland.

— The annual meeting of the Ledbury Agricultural Society was held on Thursday. At the dinner, in the evening, there were present Lord W. Graham, M.P., Mr. King King, M.P., Mr. C. Ricardo, M.P., and Colonel Biddnlph, M.P. Mr. King King, M.P., gave the "Army, Navy, and Volunteers." He said : " Great and extensive warlike preparations had been made on the other side of the Channel, and when people talked a good deal about fighting it generally came to something; and he was not inclined to believe that the increase of the French army and navy was made without an object. If we went to a great expense in that way, of course it was with an ulterior object in view. They all knew that the Emperor of the French was not his own master. He (Mr. King lcmg) believed that be would maintain peace throughout France if he could; but, on the other hand, the state of things in France rendered it necessary to occupy the people's minds in some way. Whenever the Emperor found his people un- manageable, he (Mr. King King) believed that the invasion of England would be his last card to play. (Hear, hear.)" In reply to the toast of " the House of Commons," the four members present all spoke. Lord W. Graham said " Everybody must lament the unfortunate war that had broken out in America. It was a most strange sight that in the land of boasted social equality and democratic institutions almost all the vices of despotism should be maintained, if not surpassed. (Bear, hear.) The Habeas Corpus Act had been suspended, and the liberty of the press abolished. They now saw in that country that universal suffrage and the ballot were not infallible recipes for maintain- ing the well-being and unity of nations ; and, with the example of America before LIS, it should be our pride in this country to maintain our constitution, and to e to ourselves those peculiar advantages which as Englishmen we have so rornegs. eenjoyed. (Cheers.)"

Colonel Biddnlph, in responding, said that members on the Conserva- tive side of the House and those on his own side so frequently agreed, that after conversing with a gentleman, he had frequently been obliged to ask him what his politics were. He thought, how- ever, that a strong opposition was a great advantage to a constitu- tional government, and he hoped we should always have the benefit of it.