ghat llannto.

Tax CRIMEAN INQUIRY.—The Board of Officers reassembled at Chel- sea Hospital on Wednesday. At the outset of the proceedings, the Tudge-Advocate stated, that since the Board adjourned he had summoned Sir John /11•Neill to attend as a witness, and had further requested him to attend in the absence of Colonel Tulloch. Sir John M'Neill had for- warded the following reply.

" Granton House, Edinburgh, May 10. " Sir—In reply to your letter of the 8th, requesting me to attend on Wednesday • the 14th instant at eleven o'clock a. in. in the Great Hall at Chelsea, for the purpose of being examined as a witness, I have to inform you that I am too unwell to be able to attend at that time.

"But, although the state of my health of itself precludes the possibility of com- plying with the request contained in your letter of the 8th, or with the suggestion contained in your letter of the 6th, I think it right, with all possible respect for the Board, to add, that even if that obstacle had not existed, I could not have agreed to depart from the course I have hitherto taken, in the absence of authoritative inform- ation, more definite. Man.! have yet received, as to the precise objects and the scope of the proceedings going on at Chelsea, and as to the position occupied, or ex- pected to be occupied, relatively to the Board, and to each other, by the persons who have appeared, or have been invited to appear, in those proceedings ; and especially whether the proceedings are intended to bear upon the manner in which the mem- bers of the late Commission of Inquiry in the Crimea, of whom I was one, discharged their duties ; and, if so, in what respect and particulars, and to what effect.

" I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

" Joan WhIaxix. " The Bight Honourable C. P. Villiers, Judge-Advocate-General."

The Judge-Advocate also read a certificate from Sir James Clark and Mr. Martin, stating that Colonel Tulloch, " although oonvalescent, was still in such a state of debility as to render him quite unfit for the trans- action of any business."

The sitting was occupied in hearing General Airey's reply upon the whole of his case, and Colonel Gordon's defence. General Awey relied, as he had done before, upon the-statement that the evidence given before the Board had removed every shadow of ground for the animadversions on his department contained in the Report of the Commissioners ; and that those animadversions would have been refuted by the testimony which, though not printed, was given before the Com- missioners. He again insisted that the Commissioners were instructed to inquire into "the Commissariat business and nothing more"; that his own business was solely to apportion the stores ; and that he had given every facility, by approving of requisitions, to enable the troops to obtain what they required. He appealed to the evidence of the "old seamen," summed up-in that of Admiral Lyons, to show the "fal- lades " in the suggestion of the Commissioners that spare canvass might have been merlin shelter the horses, and carpenters obtained either from the fleet or from Constantinople.

Colonel Gordon corrected misstatements of the Commissioners, and advanced-the allegation that some of his evidence had been omitted.

On Thursday, the. Judge Advocate read a letter from Sir Charles Tre. velyan ; who-declined to avail himself of the permission of the Board to attend the inquiry during Mr. Filder's examination, as he has " no rea- son to complain of any part of the report of the Commissioners, and as a full explanation has been furnished of the proceedings of the Treasury in reference to the supply of forage." Mr. Filder made a long explanation, but was indistinctly heard. He was understood to dwell upon the difficulties that beset him ; to complain of the inadequacy of his staff—all of his officers were not of the " right sort "; and to show that he had-done his best to supply the army.

Yesterday Mr. Elder concluded his defence,.and the. Board adjourned till Monday.

THE ARMY Poxes:sag SYSTEM— The Royal warrant appointing the Commissioners to investigate the system of purchase in the Army, and laying down the limits of their inquiry, was published in Tuesday's -Ga- zette. The names of the. Commissioners we have already published: the limits of the inquiry are -defined in the following terms-

" And we do hereby command and require you, or any three or more of you, to-report to us, under your hands and seals, with all convenient speed, your opinion whether it may be expedient to make any, and, if any, what changes in the system by which—firstly, gentlemen are permitted to purr chase first commissions in our Army ; secondly, officers are permitted to pur- chase any higher commissions; thirdly, officers are permitted to retire from our Army by the sale of their commissions, all at prices established by re- gulations of our Royal predecessors ; and likewise whether the sanction thus given to first entry into our Army, and subsequent promotion by purchase and retirement by sale of commissions, has been beneficial or otherwise to the interests and character of our Army generally."

THE DEFENDERS OF Kang.—Sir William Williams.is not alone in his honours. Tuesday's Gazette contained the announcement, that Lieute- nant-Colonel Lake, Lieutenant Teesdale, and Captain Thompson, are to be Honorary Members of the Military Division of the Third Class of the Order of the Bath ; and that Dr. Sandwith is to be an Honorary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class.

Lieutenant Ballard, who commanded the Rifles at the battle of Iour, is also named Honorary Member of the Military Division of the Third Class-of the Order of the Bath.

• THE WINDSOR REVIEW.—It may be useful to some of our readers to know that there is no truth in the report, current last week, that the Queen will review troops at Windsor on the 29th. Such a review, we are assured, has mever been for one moment in contemplation.

THE FRENCH HOSPITALS.—A severe epidemic prevailed recently in the French hospitals at Pere; during which the English detached several medical men to the assistance of our Allies. On his way from the Crimea to France, General Espinasse personally thanked Major-General Storks for this assistance ; and General Parisel, commanding the. French troops in the Bosphorus, addressed a letter of thanks to General Storks. In that letter the French General tenders his " gratitude for the care, the zeal, nay, the affection" which the English medical officers displayed towards the Frcnch.aick.

THE CHARM AT STAMBOUL.,—We are requested to state that the Sul- tan, on the application of the British. Government for permission to erect a memorial church at Constantinople, has most liberally granted a piece of ground large enough for a church, schools, and parsonage.—Tinies.

TaE Caturrox AND •"THE FEELITES."—It appears that the annual meet- ing of the Carlton Club was held last Saturday, but in consequence of the thinness of the attendance it was adjourned until Saturday week. Lord Ranelagh has placed the three following resolutions on the paper which he will move at the meeting. " 1. That this club was established for political purposes. 2. That the political principles of this club, as established ,were entirely adverse to those advocated by the present Government. 3. That the presence in this club of gentlemen who have altered their 'political views and are members of the present Government (to which. Government the Conservative party has been in direct opposition) is injurious to the interests of the Conservative party, and is at variance with the principles upon which the club.was esta- blished."

These resolutions, as he explains, in a circular forwarded to the mem- bers of the club and published by the Morning Herald, are not directed against excellent members who from temporary differences have held aloof from the party, but against " the Peelites." He thinks the course followed on the Corn-law schism was "temperate," but that there are limits to forbearance. The fall of the Aberdeen Administration practi- cally extinguished the Peelite party ; and after that event, only two courses were open to them,—"the one, to rejoin those from whom they

were severed only by one difference ; or to join.those who had been and are the opponents of the Conservative party."

The Marquis of Dalhousie, accompanied by his daughter Lady Susan Ramsay, arrived at Portsmouth on Tuesday, in the steam-frigate Tri- bune. Lord Dalhousie was physically incapable of removal on board the steam-tender of Sir George Seymour, the Commander-in-chief at Ports- mouth, who went to meet him. The Tribune therefore went alongside the Dockyard, and the invalid disembarked there more easily. He slept at Portsmouth that night, and arrived in London on Wednesday after- noon.

Mr. Mathew Talbot Baines is appointed Fourth Charity Commissioner, in the room of Lord John Russell, resigned.

The Duchess of Kent visited Madame Musurus on Saturday to meet the Grand Vizier.

The Grand Vizier dined with the Earl and Countess of Westmoreland on Tuesday ; and afterwards attended the Countess de Persigny's " soirée dansante."

Lord Panmure is on a visit to Mr. Whitworth, the Manchester engineer, and Lord Hemline hassle° visited him : the object of both War Minister and Commander-m-chief of the Forces was to witness the effects of Mr. Whitworth's invention in gun-construction, which is expected to " achieve results hitherto unheard of in field-artillery."

The Archbishop of York has not sufficiently recovered from his recent illness to hold the confirmations appointed to take place shortly in his diocese : Dr. Spencer, late Bishop of Madras, will officiate for him.

The King of Wurtemburg has been on a visit to• Paris. He left that -capital on Tuesday.

Prince Oscar of Sweden is on his way to Paris. He will afterwards visit London.

Baron de Bourqueney and Baron.11tihner are raised from Ministers to be " Ambassadors " at the Austrian and French Courts respectively. This is regarded as a sign of, increased amity between France and Austria.

The aristocracy of Vienna, especially the ladies, are very indignant that Baron Hiibner—" a glazier's son !"—should be appointed Ambassador at Paris. When he returns from his mission, the irate dames declare that he shall not be admitted to their drawingrooms.

The Princess. Paskiewiteh has not long survived her husband : she died at Berlin on the 13th.

General D'Orgoni is on his way to Europe as "Extraordinary Ambassa- dor " from the Burmese empire to France.

The Belgian Association for Free Trade have convoked an International Congress to be held at Brussels in September.

The Universal Prize Cattle and Agricultural Show in the Paris Exhibition building, ou the 23d instant, will be very extensive and complete.

The Honourable W. Napier, on behalf of the London shareholders of the Grand Trunk Railway, has presented a memorial to the Governor-General of Canada asking for a guarantee of 5 per cent interest on the capital of the company, the railway reverting to the colony at the end of ninety-nine years as public property. It is urged that if some assistance of the kind be not given, it is highly probable.that the railway, including the gigantic Vic- toria Bridge over the St. Lawrence, will not be completed.

The monopoly accorded to the State Bank at Berlin has prevented other banks from arising in Prussia; but numbers are formed on the frontiers with Prussian capital. The Minister of Commerce intends to extend the _scope of the State Bank, and to authorize the formation of a new bank in each of the eight Prussian provinces ; forty-nine associations have been formed to compete for the concessions of these banks. But a writer in the Times says that hardly any one in. Prussia has a notion of banking on the English or. Scotch system : the Prussians cannot understand how people can .deposit their cash with bankers without security and without interest, in re- turn for the convenience of payment by checks, and the like.

The Persia made her last outward run from Liverpool to New York in nine days and fifteen hours—the fastest ever known. It will be recollected that her last trip to England was also the quickest on record.

"It's an ill wind "— In consequence of the strike oteolliers at Glasgow, 4.eoalovrner has sold a vast mound of "sweepings" or " dross "—debris from mines usually of little or no value—at prices by which he has gained no less than 26,000/., after deducting 40001. which the 80,000 tons of rub- bish had cost him for raising to the surface : in fact, the strike has put 30,0001. into his pocket !

The wholesale shoe trade of Norwich now employs 5000 hands out of a gross.population of 70,000.

The Trustees of the British Museum have recommended to the Lords of the Treasury that a grant of 50001. should be made for decorating the inte- rior of the new reading-room ; a project vigorously advocated a few days be- fore in the Times. [Probably by some one who knew that the grant would be made.] The employers of a carman make honourable mention in the Times of the kindly and generous behaviour of " a gentleman." The carman picked up a check on the Bank of England for 2001. ; he took it to his employers, and they directed him to take it to the drawer. That person remarked that " he was sure his pocket had been picked of it" ; "however," he gave the car- man a shilling.

Mr. Allan Pollok, through the columns of the Times, calls upon the public to suspend their judgment on the alleged cruel evictions upon his estate in Ireland : he says he is "wholly innocent" of the conduct charged against him ; and he intends to bring the matter before Parliament, his character having been assailed in the House of Commons. He explains that he had only recently become acquainted with the charges against him.

Austria has just made four captains of frigates " captains of ships of the line "; yet she has not a single ship of the line !

There is now direct and instant eommunieatiou between London and St. Petersburg by electric telegraph : the length of wire is 1700 miles.

The latest advices from Victoria continue to tell of a great production of gold, and large arrivals in Melbourne. Some rich quartz reefs had been discovered at the Itiqvor field. In New South Wales, fresh discoveries of gold have occurred at Ophir Creek ; and there is a prevalent belief that "-the Ophir country is one large rich gold-field."

On. the 25th. January. Sir Wililiam Denison laid the first stone of St. Paul's College, which will form part of Sydney University. The ceremony went off with great eclat. The college is expected to cost 115,0001.

The cereal crops of New South Wales reaped at the beginning of this year were excellent and abundant. In February the Sydney Mint was issuing 100,000 sovereigns a month. A proposal is before the Victoria Legislature to make these sovereigns a legal tender in the colony.

Mr. Forbes, master of the Schoenberg, has been tried before the Supreme Court at Melbourne for negligently causing the leas of the ship. The ease against him failed, and he was acquitted. A. feeling seems to have arisen that the aspersions on Mr. Forbes's moral character while commanding the lost ship were unjust.

The King of Naples will make his own railways, in his own good time. After granting a concession of the line from Naples to Ceprano on the Rea man frontier to Baron de niseis, who had induced Baron Adolphe de Roth- schild to join in the enterprise, the King has suddenly withdrawn it—the Government will construct the railway.

Poerio and his hapless companions are living—that is, existing—in a prison so damp that salt liquefies and bread beoomeagreon after the first day.

The Royal Family of Naples went on the 5th instant to adore the blood of St. Januarius: the blood—from some bungling of the miracle-makers-+e was not entirely liquefied.; and from this disasters are foreboded.

Result of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last.

Ten

Weeks of 1846-'66.

Week of 1866.

Zymotic Diseases 200.1 .... 236 Dropsy, Cancer, and other Diseases of uncertain or variable seat 44.9 60 Tubercular Disease. 183.9 234 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, !Serves, and Senses 118.1 129 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 41.3 68 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 170.2 179 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 64.6 62 Diseases of the Kidney., Se 18.1 IS Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, Sc 13.0 13 Rheumatism, Diseases of the Bones, Joints, Se 9.4

7

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, &c. 2.3 4 Malformations 4.3 6 Premature Birth 26.3 37 Atrophy 30.0 40 Age 42.1 40 Sudden 7.0 7 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 22.8 22 Total (Including unspecified cause.) 1092.0

UN,

"Murder will out." A. human skeleton has been found hi a bog near Claudy1 in Derry. There is reason to suppose that it is the skeleton of Mr. Lambkin, an excise-officer, who is believed to have been murdered twenty- four years ago. At that ;period, three brothers named Matthews had a pa- per-mill at Lettermuck ; and they had been fined 8001. for a breaoh of ex- cise-law. Mr. Lambkin was seen to-enter the mill ; a shot was heard ; Mr. Lambkin was seen no more. An entry of his in the mill-hook was found unfinished. The Matthews were accused of the murder of the exciseman ; but as every effort to discover his body had failed, the Grand Jury ignored the bill. The brothers soon after emigrated to America. The bog where the skeleton was found is three-quarters of a. mile from the mill. The body had been wrapped in a coarse woollen rug—stuff used for making common PaPer.

Mr. William Collier, acting assistant-engineer to the Transit when she made her hapless voyage with the House of Peers for passengers, has been triediby Court-martial at Portsmouth for having been drunk on the day of themival review. In the evening, the course of the ship was delayed by Collier having, while intoxicated, allowed the fires to get too low. He wait found guilty, but on account of his previous excellent character he was merely sentenced to be severely reprimanded and dismissed from the Transit.

The notorious Nathan Brown, the most remarkable bigamist ever known in America, was brought by Officer Elliott, the other day, from near Jeffer- sonville, Indiana, under a requisition from Governor Chase. He is reputed to have nine living wives. His practice has been to live with each about three months, get hold of their property, and desert them. He is now safe in Butler County Gaol at the instance of his seventh wife, a resident of this city. The old sinner is fifty-three years of age, and has married three wives within two years.—Hamilton Intelligeneer.

Though the English are apt to vilify their own climate, they might be worse off : at Lisbon there has been " seven months of continual "; but at length there has appeared " some chance of summer."

The Star of Gwent tells an " extraordinary if true" story. It is to the effect that three young students of divinity, who expected to be ordained by the Bishop of Cheater, have been hoaxed by some Cambridge " gents" : one personated the Bishop, others clergymen, and others again domestics ; in a house at Chester the candidates underwent a long examination, success- fully ; next day they were ordained, as they thought ; they were entertained at dinner by the pretended Bishop ; ultimately they departed to the local- ities where they had been promised appointments. It was not till they had been acting as clergymen for some time that they discovered the supposed ordination to have been a shameful trick.

The tornado that did so much damage at Philadelphia appears to have swept over a thousand miles of the States, for a apace fifty to sixty miles wide ; several persona were hurt and one killed, and the destruction of pro- perty was very great.