The division on the ballot always attracts some attention. This

year, the minority as usual includes the bulk of the Liberal party and the In- dependent Irish opposition. The majority includes the names of the late Liberal leaders—Lord Palmerston, Lord John Russell, Sir George Grey, Sir Charles Wood, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Vernon Smith, Sir George Lewis, Mr. Baines, and Mr. Lowe ; and the names of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert. But the names of Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham are not to be found in either list. This, as well as the fact that

Mr. Disraeli did not speak in the debate, has been the subject of re- mark.

In the minority DU the church-rate division, we find the names of Mr. Gladstone, Sir William Heathcote, and Mr. Stirling of Keir. Mr. :Sidney Herbert did not vote.

In the majority on the County Franchise division were Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Cowper, Lord Ebrington, Sir Arthur Elton, Sir James Graham, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir George Grey, Mr. Labouchere, Lord Palmerston,

Lord John Russell, and Sir Charles Wood. In the minority is the name of Mr. Gladstone among a crowd. of Tories.

The next examination of candidates for direct commissions in the Army will be held at Burlington House, Piccadilly, on the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th of July.

The steam squadron intrusted with the onerous task of submerging the electric cable between Ireland and Newfoundland, departed from Plymouth on Thursday. The Agamemnon is to sail to her destination, and the attendant ships Valorous and Gorgon are on no account to tow either of the huge men-of-war although they are so heavily laden. This has caused some complaint. The whole squadron, favoured by the wind, started under canvass.

The last number of Household Words contained a letter signed "Charles Dickens," and touching on a private matter of a painful na- ture. After reminding the reader that he has never before obtruded on the public his personal uneasiness at calumnies which may have pursued him, he says- " Some domestic trouble of mine of long standing, on which I will make no further remark than that it claims to be respected as being of a sacredly private nature, has lately been brought to an arrangement which involves no anger or ill-will of any kind, and the whole origin, progress, and sur- rounding circumstances of which have been, throughout, within the know- ledge of my children. It is amicably composed, and its details have now but to be forgotten by those concerned in it. By some means, arising out of wickedness, or out of folly, or out of inconceivable wild chance, or out of all three, this trouble has been made the occasion of misrepresentations, most grossly false, most monstrous, and most cruel—involving not only me, but innocent persons dear to my heart, and innocent persons of whom I have no knowledge, if, indeed, they have any existence—and so widely spread that I doubt if one reader in a thousand will peruse these lines by whom some touch of the breath of these slanders will not have passed like an unwholesome air. Those who know me and my nature need no as- surance under my hand that such calumnies are as irreeoneileable with me as they are, in their frantic incoherence, with one another. But there is a great multitude who know me through my writings, and who do not know me otherwise ; and I cannot bear that one of them should be left in doubt, or hazard of doubt, through my poorly shrinking from taking the unusual means to which I now resort of circulating the truth. I most solemnly de- clare, then—and this I do, both in my own name and in my wife's—that all the lately whispered rumours touching the trouble at which I have glanced are abominably false, and that whosoever repeats one of them after this denial will lie as wilfully and as foully as it is possible for any fake witness to lie before Heaven and earth."

We are informed that there is now no doubt that proceedings are being taken on the part of shareholders, representing shares to a very large amount, against at least one Director of the Liverpool Borough Bank, and that the case will, in all probability, be tried at the Liverpool Assizes.—Times.

Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson have sold by auction the late Mr. Dy- moek's cabinet of coins. The 531 lots produced nearly 20001. The Saxon pennies brought extraordinary sums—many averaging at the rate of 700/. per ounce ! One sold for 451., another 441., a third 521. 10s.

An order has been issued by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury that the service in the Prayer-book for the celebration of the Restoration of King Charles II. be discontinued, and the service on those days to consist of prayers only, commencing at ten o'clock instead of half-past, as hereto- fore. This day happened on Saturday last, when the usual form of prayer, sermon, &c., were omitted, there being no observance of the occasion whatever, so far as the sevice was concerned.--Maidstone Journal.

The mail from the West Coast of Africa brings this item of news trating the new system of slave-trade-

"In consequence of information received at Monrovia, Commander Croft left in the Ethiope on the 14th April, and on the 15th fell in with the French ship Cmli Regina, 420 tons, in possession of a large number of ne- groes, who were not able to manage her. After a parley, the second officer of the Ethiope, with a part of the crew, went on board, when about zao of the negroes swam to the shore, where nearly the whole were murdered by the captain of the French ship and natives. It appears that the Cmli Regina, which is completely fitted for the slave-trade, had been cruising for a month near Cape Palmas, and, under pretence of taking them to a better place, had secured 500 negroes, who were immediately placed between decks, many of them in irons. When the Captain (Simon) was ashore, and part of the crew in a boat alongside, the negroes procured firearms, and shot all but the doctor and two of the seamen, whom they retained to steer the ship. Captain Simon came within gunshot several times afterwards, but was not allowed to come on board. The Cmli Regina was towed into Monrovia, where she was left in possession of the purser of the Ethiope."

The Duchess of Cambridge, the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklen- burg-Strelitz, and the Princess Mary, dined with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington on Monday. On the same evening the Duke of Cambridge dined with the Duke and Duchess of Montrose. Lord Palmerston had a dinner-party on Saturday ; and Ladaojalmerstort afterwards held an assembly. On the same day Sir John and rady Paking- ton had a dinner-party at the Admiralty; and the Fox Club had their fourth dinner of the season, at Brooks's.

Lady Palmerston gave a grand ball on Thursday evening ; which was attended by nearly five hundred members of the aristocracy.

After a long and painful illness Sir Philip Crampt,on died in Dublin rril Thursday morning. For half a century he was at the head of the medical profession in Ireland, he long held the post of Surgeon-General of the Forces, and he retained the title to the day of his death. The office was abolished many years ago. Sir John Crampton, formerly British Minister at Washington, and now British Minister at St. Petersburg, is the eldest son of Sir Philip. The total number of reinforcements, cavalry and infantry, to be held in readiness to proceed to India is now announced to be about 10,000. This addition will raise the number of Queen's troops in India to nearly 100,000.

The Postmaster-General notifies that on the 1st of July next and thence- forward, the postage on all newspapers sent abroad must, like the postage on inland newspapers, be prepaid in stamps, otherwise the newspapers will not be forwarded.

Thunderstorms appear to have prevailed over a wide extent of country last .week. In London, there was a violent storm early on Saturday morn- ing. At the East end much damage was done to market-grounds by floods. Five sheep were killed by lightning in Victoria Park. A policeman wag blinded : it is hoped that his sight will be restored. In the provinces, there were great storms on Thursday afternoon and evening. In many places animals were killed by the lightning, and several human beings were struck, but only one instance of death is reported—a schoolboy was killed in s

school-room at Wibsey in Yorkshire; three of his companions were burnt, but not fatally. Much property was destroyed by floods.

_ The health of the metropolis is now hardly up to the average of former years. Last week the number of deaths was 1087-27 above the average. In the preceding week the number was 1106.

The British brig of war Heron, in April, captured a slaver off Loango. The slaver first showed French, then American, colours. When taken it was found that there was no manifest, clearance, log-book, or track chart on board. The crew were Spaniards. The vessel was completely fitted up for the slave-trade.

There was a serious fight at Simon's Bay in April, between a body of Russian and English sailors, the crows of men-of-war. They drew up in line, well-armed, and regularly charged. The English won the day ; but both sides appear to have behaved very brutally. Some of the English were arrested and fined for assaulting Russians.