MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH.

4‘ Vtkron" writes to the Times on the important question of "Where is our cotton to come from ?" He quotes the authority of the paper read by Mr. Bazley, at the recent meeting of the British Association, for the fact that the birthplace of the cotton-plant was in the Ba- hamas, and suggests that we should look to those islands for our supply. Mr. Bazley considers Queensland to be the colony most suitable for the cultivation of cotton, but " Viator" contends that, even taki 0. it for granted that free white labour would thrive in Queenslan , the difference of distance from England of the two colo- nies is sufficiently great to decide the question in favour of the Ba- hamas. Queensland is nine thousand miles, or at least sixty days from England, while the Bahamas are only three thousand miles, or twenty. days. The area of the latter is large, and though the popu- lation is but small, coolie immigration would soon provide labour sufficient for the cultivation of cotton on any scale.

— The annual meeting of the Theme Agricultural Association was held on Thursday. After the distribution of the customary prizes—including that for "length of servitude"—the principal land- owners and tenant-farmers of the district dined together at the Town-hall. Mr. Wykeham, of Tythorpe Park, presided, and among those present were the Right Hon. J. W. Henley and Colonel North, two of the members for Oxfordshire. The toast of the "County members" was proposed by Mr. Hammersley, late high sheriff of Oxfordshire, who spoke in eulogistic terms of the services of the two then present :

" They bad as one of their members a gentleman who had acquired not only an English, but a world-wide reputation for his sagacity, his honesty of purpose, the deep insight he possessed into all that concerned the prosperity of the country, and for the manner in which he had devoted his time, his energy, and his great intellect for the benefit of his fellow countrymen. He was known to have effected as much good in Parliament as probably any man in that assembly. (Cheers.) But they had also another member then present—Colonel North— who since he had been their representative had devoted his time and intellect to the general welfare of the country, and whose services in the House of Commons were of peculiar value from the extensive military knowledge he posse-ssed. During the period that the gallant colonel had represented the county of Oxford in Parliament, many questions affecting the military service of the country and our military reputation in the eyes of the world had been brought under the consideration of the House of Commons, and Colonel North had brought to bear upon them an acute knowledge and an ability which were not possessed by any other county member. (Cheers)"

Mr. Henley responded. After acknowledging the warm reception which the toast had met with, he observed that the duties of Mem- bers of Parliament were much heavier than was generally supposed, though they were comparatively light in the case of men who, like himself and his colleague, were returned by a large and independent constituency, which sent them to Parliament unfettered by any pledges, and at liberty to exercise their own judgment. He was strongly in favour of meetings such as that at which they were then assembled : •

"What is it that these meetings do? They do not confer any particular ad- vantage upon the occupied' of land, but the whole efforts either of agricul- tural or horticultural associations are directed towards endeavouring to induce agricultural labourers to improve themselves in that calling in which they have been placed by Providence. Such associations must, therefore, surely be for their advantage. So far as my limited means of forming an opinion is concerned, I can unhesitatingly say that they do great good. (Hear, hear.) I was asked

i

by a gentleman to-day, n the garden in which your flower show was held, if I did not think it was a great bore to come to a place or this sort. (Laughter.) Now, for the life of me, I cannot understand what bore it can be to a country gentleman to visit an agricultural association at its annual display, and at the close of the proceedings eat a good dinner. It is 1ways said that nothing goes on well in England unless it is supplemented by a good dinner. Even our public charities do not get on very well unless there is an annual banquet. In point of fact, nothing can be well done in this country without a good dinner. (' Hear; and laughter.) Why, then, should not agricultural associations celebrate their anniversary meetings with a dinner? When men dine together publicly they have an opportunity of seeing and conversing with those whom they do not often meet. Old friendships are revived, and we hear a good deal that stirs us up. (Hear.) We get to 'mow something more of each other than we knew before, and we often hear statements that convey valuable information to our minds. For my own part, I never could understand the notion that Englishmen should not come together on any legitimate occasion and enjoy a good dinner."

Colonel North also responded. After some remarks on the advan- tages of being returned so perfectly unpledged as they were, he men- tioned an instance in which he had been the rat— - of obtaining the reversal of an injustice to the army.

"You will hardly believe that until a comparatively recent period the only person who was excluded from the gallery of the House of Commons, and pre- vented from listening to the debates, was the man who wore that uniform which has carried the honour and glory of this country to every part of the world. It so happened that towards the end of the Crimean war I saw in one of the lobbies of the House an Artilleryman and a private of the 17th Lancers, who had been most desperately wounded. They asked me for an order that would admit them to the strangers' gallery, which I gave them immediately, when one of the officials who was standing by observed, 'It's of no use. sir ; when they get

i

up they will find the door shut n their faces.' I said, 'If that is so, it is the last time it shall occur, if I can help it.' fhe men went up and found the door closed against them, on which I at once went to the Speaker and reported the matter to him. He expressed great surprise, and said ha could not understand under what circumstances such a rule had been adopted. He added that, in his opinion, the last men who ought to be excluded were men who had rendered so many gallant services to their country. I felt it my duty to bring the matter before the House, and I am glad to say the result was that the rule was imme- diately abolished. (Hear.) I must say that ever since I have felt no little pride and delight when I can see red coats in our gallery."

The health of Mr. T. T. Bernard, M.P., was also drunk, and re- sponded to by that gentleman.

— The Times of Saturday gives a long and interesting description of the breakwater at Portland, which is advancing towards comple- tion, and is a work of not only such grandeur but also of such real utility as to atone for many of the failures associated too often with Admiralty management. Previously to the erection of the break- water, Portland-harbour, while possessing the great natural advantages of a firm anchorage of blue clay, and a vast expanse of water without a single rock or shoal, did not offer sufficient security as a harbour of refuge. In addition to these advantages, its position directly oppo- site to the enormous fortifications commenced about twelve years ago at Cherbourg, prevailed upon the Admiralty of the day to fix. upon Portland as the place for the construction of a secure harbour by means of a huge breakwater protected by impregnable forti- fications. The breakwater, as a breakwater, is completed, though the forts and coal warehouses to be erected on it will still re- quire a great amount of time and work. It runs Ill an easterly direction 1900 feet from the land, and then due north for 6000 feet more. Just before the spot where it takes the turn to the north, is an opening of 400 feet in width, the object of which is to enable vessels to pass out easily with a north wind instead of having to work round the 6000 feet of the northern breakwater. Above the sea, the breakwater does not present a very striking appearance to a looker-on. It is beneath the waves that the gigantic nature of the work is bidden. For more than a mile and a half stretches what may be fairly called a range of hills, 100 feet high and 300 feet wide at its base. To pile up this 131383 of rock, 5,000,000 tons of stone have been used, and 1,500,000 more will still be required. Three- fourths of the enormous amount of stone has been obtained by con- vict labour from the Portland quarries. The construction of he breakwater was, of course, exposed to great dangers from the action of the waves, and work which cost several thousands has fre- quently been swept away by one night's rough weather. The masa operandi is as follows : A huge cylinder, 100 feet long by 7 feet diameter, is filled with logs, and the air exhausted by a steam-pump until the vacuum is as nearly complete as possible, when creosote is forced in at a pressure of 300 lbs. to the square inch. The logs, thus rendered mdestructible by either water or air, are bolted together with the strongest possible iron bands into one huge pile, 90 feet long, 3 or 4 feet diameter, and weighing 8 or 9 tons. A large Mitchell screw is then fitted on to the end of the mass, and it is lowered into the sea and worked round by a capstan until the screw has bitten 8 feet or more into the clay. It is then secured by a number of wrought-iron tie-rods which are fastened to the top of the pile, and screwed with Mitchell screws into the clay round its base. As soon as several of these piles have been fixed, they are bound together, a tramway is laid over them, and the work of "tipping" the stone commenced. There are two lines of rails between the break- water and the quarries, which are situated between 400 and 500 feet above the level of the former, and the weight of the descending wag- gons filled with stone pulls the empty ones up the incline by a wire- rope turning round a large drum. At their arrival at the end of the breakwater, the waggons are drawn by a powerful locomotive engine along the tramway over the piling to the end of the works, where their contents are tipped over into the sea. As soon as the hill of stones has risen to its required level, the work of fixing the piles again commences. 3000 tons of stone have occasionally been tipped in this manner at Portland. The tipping is now going on for the foundation of the large fort at the extreme north end of the breakwater, which will consist of a pile of stone 700 feet in diameter and 30 or 40 feet in height. On the top of this pile, 20 feet below low-water mark, the granite wall of the fort will be commenced. The fort itself will be about 200 feet in diameter, and will rise 60 feet from the sea. Its armament will consist of 60 of the heaviest guns in use at the time of its opening, which, as it cannot be completed under four years, are as likely to be 200 or 500 pounders as not. It is said the Admiralty has not yet determined whether to construct the walls of this fort of an immense thickness of granite, granite faced with 4-inch iron plates, or 15-inch iron alone. The expense of. the latter would very probably equal that of the whole breakwater. On the surface of the breakwater will be constructed a series of arches, which will be used as warehouses for at least 16,000 tons of coal. Appliances for the coaling of vessels from these warehouses have been devised, by which it is supposed a line-of-battle ship will be able to coal full in a few hours—the only limit being the rate at which it can be stowed away when on board. The estimated cost of the whole breakwater is 1,017,1251., and all the expensive work has been completed at an expense of only 928,0001. — The annual meeting of the Sparkenhoe Farmers' Club took place on Wednesday last. After the usual exhibition of stock, im- plements, &c., in Sir Alexander Dixie's park at Market Bosworth, 900 ladies and gentlemen sat down to dinner in a large marquee. The chair was occupied by Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P., president of the society, supported by Earl Howe, Lord Berners, Sir A. B. C. Dixie, Admiral Arbuthnot, Mr. Newdegate, M.P., Mr. Hunt, M.P., Mr. W. U. Heygate, M.P., Major Wollaston, Sir H. Hartopp, &c. In responding to the toast of "the House of Commons," Mr. Newde- gate, M.P., who was most enthusiastically received, defended that body from the charge of wasting time in protracted debates which ought to have been employed in useful legislation.

"When so many complaints are made of the long speeches in the House of Commons, has it never occurred to you that perhaps those who represent public opinion BO powerfully, I mean the press, may think that by originating new ideas in debate we are wasting that time which might be turned to more pro- fitable account? Has it never occurred to you that of late years there has been a system in the House of Commons of being too blindly led by organization, not authorized, as we are, to decide the great questions of your welfare ; and when we are blamed for not having passed more measures, would you justify those who, condemning the speakers as the Sisyphuses of debate would regard Lord Palmerston as the Penelope of legislation ? Remember the Liberal party has been long inwer. You cannot expect them hastily to undo their own work —(Hear, hear) ;—and it seems to me a strange reproach from Conservative lips when we are blamed because more radical measures do not assume the form of law. Lord Beniers has spoken of the Massacre of the Innocents. But would they have been Innocents if they had not been massacred?" (Laughter and cheers.) Be then complained of the insufficient representation of the counties. Though the county members represented a majority of the popula- tion of England, they were only 162 out of an assembly of 600. They could certainly sympathize with Hungary in her fears that her representation would be merged in that allotted, perhaps in undue proportion, to the Austrian Empire. After some allusion to the associations connected with the place of their meeting—Bosworth—he gave what he considered to be the true qualities which rendered a nation capable of enjoying freedom : " I rejoice at the patriarchal character of your meetings. It is a recognition of that love of family, of that reverence for those sacred ties which has made England what it is, and has rendered England capable of enjoying the freedom which other nations are striving, and too many in vain, to imitate. Think not there is anything antiquated in these principles. Look around. What is the real reason that France for 70 years, that those gallant Frenchmen, have proved their incapacity for freedom ? It is that because in the madness of their revolution they imperiled the great principle of home ; they endangered that great prin- ciple of family in their madness, and now in their sober moments they would recal its glories. Look, again, at the United States and the contest going on there. Our kindred forgetting the basis of the constitution under which their forefathers had arisen to eminence, and which they had enjoyed, accepted the false principles of the French revolution. But it is attributable to the force of their character that institutions upon that sandy basis have existed so long. And now you see the Union is shattered. What is the instruction to be derived from the contest that is going on? Why is it that the South, a minority, withstand the power of the North ? I say it is for this reason— that, although polluted by the stain of slavery, although corrupted by the means of supplying the demand of that insatiate system, still the pa, taiarchal system is stronger in the South than in the North, where the abolition of the laws of primogeniture, where the habit of casting early upon the world to seek their own fortunes with such means as their parents can at the time com- mand the children of the nation, has loosened the great principles of the family. Why have they succumbed to the South hitherto? Because the South has pre- served the patriarchal principle whieli induces men to submit to a just authority, while the North, with all its power, all its msjority of population, all its mesas, all its command of the ocean, has proved weak when brought into colliaion. Because the elements of disorganization which the constitution of their society has generated renders all that indispensable discipline impossible which would give effect to the courage of that great people. (Hear, hear.) Depend upon it you have nothing to be ashamed of in the patriarchal character of your assembly. It is the recognition of that respect for family which is and has been the strength of England. You show you will not lag behind the times, yet still retaining this element of strength, thanks to the presence of the ladies, you are in a position to look forward to the continued prosperity of this well-deserving association." (Cheers.)

— No less than four large fires occurred on Sunday, in London. Early in the morning, the printing establishment of Messrs. Taylor and Greening, Greystoke-place, Fetter-lane, was found by a policeman to be in flames, and though Messrs. Shand and Mason's land steam engine, and five or six other engines were soon at work, the house and contents were almost altogether destroyed before the fire could be extinguished. About three o'clock, another fire broke out at the premises of Messrs. Hagen and Co., oil-merchants and refiners, carrying on business at Rushton-street, Hoxton. For three hours the fire raged with the greatest possible violence, and was only got' under after the total destruction of the refining-house, the tank-rooms, and the warehouses. It is supposed to have originated in the sponta- neous combustion of some oily rags. Just as this fire was extin- guished, the firemen received intelligence that another fire had broken out in a pile of warehouses facing the Custom House-quay, in Lower Thames-street. A number of engines, including the steam float, Shand and Mason's engine, and nearly a dozen manual engines, were at work in time to prevent the flames from spreading further than the ground floor of the warehouse occupied by Messrs. Colbatch and Co: In the afternoon, a fire broke out in the premises situate at 32, Lansdowne-place, Kent-street, Borough, belonging to Mrs. Gain, but let out to various lodgers, and a little child was burnt to death before assistance could be rendered.

— 10,433 miles of railway were open in the United Kingdom at the close of last year. 163,435,678 passengers, besides 47,894 holdeis of season tickets, travelled by railway during the course of the year, giving an average of nearly six journeys for every person in the kingdom. 12,083,503 cattle, sheep, and pigs, 267,134 horses, and 357,474 dogs were conveyed by railway. Ile goods traffic com- prised 89,857,719 tons of minerals and general merchandise. 3,896,960 trains ran 102,234,692 miles. The rolling stock employed consisted of 5801 locomotives, 15,076 passenger carriages, and 180,574 waggons for goods traffic ; in all, 201,451 engines and carriages. The total receipts of the various companies were 27,760,622/. to which passenger and goods traffic contributed in nearly equal proportions. year Comparing the ye with the previous increased by the passengers by 13,600,000, the minerals by 8,600,000 tons, the receipts by above 2,000,0001., the miles travelled by trains by nearly 9,000,000.

— There is at Aldershott a certain pontoon bridge across the canal It is so contrived, that when swung atnight, there is no protection against a man stepping from the end of it over into the canal. Last month, the armourer of the 2nd Life Guards was drowned by falling into the canal from the bridge, and a correspondent of the Army and Navy Gazelle states that the unfortunate man was the fiftieth soldier who has lost his life in precisely the same manner.

— Mr. Grant Duff, M.P., addressed a large meeting of his con- stituents at Elgin, on Wednesday. The present position of affairs, he said, was not favourable to the Liberal party. There was no strong political interest in the great mass of the community.

"It is not for me to say what are the questions which the Liberal party would do right to stir, if it wishes to remain really a Liberal, Reforming, Movement party. Perhaps the folly of our opponents, if they push their anti-church-rato triumph a little too far may chance to give our leaders a hint."

The Legislature had got through a great deal of work during the session, though there had been but five really important changes in our laws. The Bankruptcy Bill had been well received by the mer- cantile community of England. Three important Indian measures had passed with very little discussion. He thought Government had adopted a most unwise course in the Appropriation of Seats Bill, and Scotland had especial cause to complain.

"I know of no reform short of doubling the amount of wealth in the country, which would do so much good to Scotland, as putting our Universities and our higher education generally. in a thorough state of efficiency; and I have no doubt that the bestowal of the franchise would have been one step towards that most desirable consummation. (Hear, hear.) I should not like to see it ever become the custom either in Scotland or in any other country to which I wished well, to educate her sons too much within her own borders. We have an excellent pro- verb, that the gangin' fit is aye gettin'.' It has ever been usual with us to send out students all over Christendom. I trust that this excellent practice may increase in geometrical ratio with the increased facility of travelling. It is a proud thing for Scotland that the Scotch College at Oxford should for the last five-and-twenty years have outstripped so completely the great foundations of Philippe, and Wolsey, and I know not how many others. (Applause.) l should like to see us have the converse glory of possessing within our nil land, founda- tions to which other countries should be as anxious to send their sons as any of us may be to send ours to Band, or Heidelberg, or to Trinity, Cambridge."

Mr. Grant Duff then alluded to the success of his effort to obtain an inquiry into the public schools of England. In home politics, the only important party question had been that of the repeal of the paper duty.

An attempt was made to raise a false issue by asserting that the form in which the arrangements announced in the budget speech were embodied in a bill, was an invasion of the privilege of the House of Lords; but the learning of Mr. Macdonogh one of the chief Irish supporters of the Derbyite party, was ex- pended in vain in trying to convince either the House or the country that such

was really the case. All moderate men were agreed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had taken the only course which rail open to him after the events of

last year—(hear, hear)—and a sufficient number of those who generally vote with Mr. Disraeli, went into the same lobby with the Government, or stayed away, to enable us to obtain an easy victory in spite of the factions conduct of some of the friends of the Galway contract."

With regard to the changes in the Ministry, Mr. Grant Duff said :

"I am afraid that some of them were not very popular in the House of Com- mons, and I fancied that I observed the same uneasy and, so to speak, thunderous state of the political atmosphere which preceded the fall of the Liberal Govern- ment in 1858. I cannot say that I see anything to object to in the appointments to which I refer, though one or two of them seem to need some explanation. Sir George Lewis has shows himself able to do so many things well, that he may very probably prove as efficient as usual even in a department of the public service which seems so ludicrously remote from his aptitude and pursuits. All fair-minded persona must rejoice to see a politician of Mr. Layard's ability and extensive knowledge of foreign affairs having the rare good fortune of being for a second time carried forward upon that tide which rarely comes twice in the affairs of men. As to Sir Robert Peel, I defy any person to predict whether he will upset the coach' with his characteristic recklessness, or administer Irish affairs with the wisdom of Lord Chesterfield."

The House of Commons had displayed great moderation and good sense in abstaining from any discussion of American affairs during the past session.

"6 When we consider how great was the temptation to the Conservative party to use the events which have been taking place in the United States as a text for a warning to Reformers in the spirit of Mr. Gregory's speech of last year ; when we consider how anxiously the merchants engaged in the American trade must have looked for some expression of governmental opinion about the various ques- tions of international law which will probably require solution before this de- plorable contest is at an end ; when we consider what a field was open for anti- slavery, anti-Brightian, and anti-Yankee declamation—I think we may con- gratulate ourselves on that long practice of free discussion which has taught us when to be silent, as well as when to speak. (Hear, hear.) The humblest member of the House of Commons, speaking in the House of Commons, has a certain responsibility, because his words are read, at least in foreign countries, not as his own words only. The friendly and intimate relations in which we meet here make reticences unnecessary, and I do not hesitate to say that while I deeply regret this fratricidal struggle between the North and South, I should not have been sorry to see them separate, if they could have done so without effusion of blood. (Hear, hear.) The Northern States would have got rid of the curse of slavery, and with it of the darkest shadow on their future. (Hear, hear, and applause.) They would have been left to pursue a great and probably more blameless destiny than that which with a strange though probably a weaker infatuation they are courting for themselves, since all pretext for further exten- sion towards the Smith, whether in the direction of Cuba or elsewhere, would have been for ever at an end. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose by a peaceful separation, except, indeed, the opportunity of doing mischief. All this their best minds know perfectly well; but passion, as usual, is far stronger than reason, and so the dogs of war are let slip, and we shall hare horror enough and to spare for some time to come. Perhaps, when the mist of blood clears away, we may find North America split into as many independent states as we now see in the Southern half of the New World. Who shall say that this will necessarily be a misfortune to mankind?"

Mr. Grant Duff then alluded to Mr. Roebuck's defence of the Em- peror of Austria.

"I am by no means so much surprised that he should do so, as that, having determined to take that aide, he should not have made a better defence for his protege. I do not agree with Mr. Roebuck in wishing that Austria should keep Venetia, but I am free to admit that she has a great deal to say for herself. To many Austrian statesmen the Quadrilateral appears to be not only a means of influence in Italy, but an absolutely necessary defence of Germany. If we sell Venetia, they say, we must expend much more than we get for it in building new fortifications, and in maintaining 150,000 additional troops. It is vain to talk to us of defending the Julian Alps ; we know that they would be a poor barrier if we did not command the north-east corner of Italy. Vienna would not be safe in case of a war with France, as the campaign of 1797 very suffi- ciently proves. (Her, hear.) Again they say—if we lose Venice, how long shall we keep Trieste, or even Fiume? How long shall we keep the Dalmatia coast? How long shall we have any navy or mercantile marine at all? They would go on to urge much about its being the interest of all Europe that they should hold the Quadrilateral against France or against Italy, which they consider likely to be the vassal of Franee. They would add reflections on Eng- land for refusing to them in Venetia the rights which she claims in Malta and in Gibraltar, with professions of their intention to be warned by the past, and to rule Venetia as we now rule Ireland. But I cannot pause longer upon this. You will find these and other arguments enforced with great ability in a pam- phlet by Mr. Bonamy Price, which puts the Austrian side of the question, as it seems to me, very mach more felicitously than Mr. Roebuck has done. (Bear, hear.) To all such arguments, however, there seems to me this answer—it is too late. Doubtless it will be inconvenient for Austria to lose Venetia, but by her own outrageous folly she has rendered her permanent retention of it quite impossible. Thirty years ago' Italian unity was the aspiration of a few exiles. The atrocious system which Austria established in her own Italian dominions, and the much more atrocious systems which she fostered beyond their limits, have made it the faith of a people. Italy might have been great and happy, although divided into half a dozen States. Austrian Italy might have been happy, though the white uniform was to be seen in all her strong places, but her rulers deliberately chose that this should not be so; and, consequently, they may rest assured that no complaints of inconvenience, no suggestions of danger to English interests (dangers which I may observe seem to me very visionary), will prevent the English people from fully sympathizing with the Italians."

With regard to our relations with France, Mr.Grant Duff said :

"Many of you have read, no doubt, the remarks which were recently made by Lord Palmerston, in a speech at Dover. These remarks have attracted the more attention, because they called forth a somewhat angry rejoinder from a most eminent man, and a good friend of this country—I mean M. Michel Chevalier. Now I am sure no one who knows what he is talking about will accuse me of being wanting in respect for M. Michel Chevalier, for whom publicly and pri- vately I have the sincerest esteem. He is a good man and an able man—he is a great economist, but he wants, perhaps, that political sense which is so necessary to a statesman. (Rear, hear, and applatsse.) Now I say to M. Chevalier—and I am sure I speak the sentiments of most of his English friends, except the small clique of the peace-at-any-price politicians, whose importance is so much exag- gerated by some French journalists—we believe that on the friendship of France and England depends the happiness of our age. We believe that a war with France would do more to imperil the results of civilization and to retard its advance than almost anything that could be mentioned. We are ready to admit that in all the negotiations connected with the commercial treaty the French Government behaved with the strictest honour and with the greatest courtesy. (Bear, hear.) We know that our friendly sentiments are reciprocated by many persons in all classes ia France—we know that the Emperor himself reciprocates them, with certain reservations—but we also know that the masses in France do net re- ciprocate them. We knew that a hatred of England is deeply rooted amongst the peasantry and in the army. (Hear, hear.) We know that at any moment the scruples of the enlightened and the wishes of the Emperor himself would have to be disregarded it the popular voice called loudly for war with England. And who shall say that if England interfered with any-of the wild schemes of ambition which possess so many minds in France, the 'popular voice would not do so? To show how thoroughly unsettled people's ideas of political right and wrong have become beyond the Channel, I will relate a conversation which I had in Paris last December with an eminent political writer—one, indeed, of the half- dozen most eminent political writers in }ranee. We were discussing the decrees of the 24th of November last, which, as you will remember, made a material and salutary change in the constitution established after the coup d'Etat, when my friend observed, ' Well, France seems to me between two great fortunes—either we shall have more liberty at home, or we shall have the Rhine." on earth do you want with the Rhine,' I said. • Oh,' he replied, it would give us a frontier.' We in England,' I rejoined, ' do not think a river an valuable a frontier as you seem to do." Of course not,' he said, • God has given you the best of all fron- tiers—the sea—and you can well afford to despise a river frontier ; but depend upon it, if France had the frontier of the Rhine, even without the fortresses on its banks—all Europe could not get across it-' Now I appeal to M. Chevalier, is this merely the dream of an individual, or is it a fair expression of the feeling of multitudes? Is it, or is it not, true that the acquisition of Savoy and Nice was the most popular act done by any French Government since the fall of Na- poleon I.? We cannot allow hi. Chevalier to lull us into security by the pleasant dreams which seem congenial to his nature. While ardently—passionately —anxious to keep the peace with France, we must be prepared for the wretched alternative. I trust however that the many knots which have to be untied in Europe will be untied without war on the great scale, and that a better future than any one wobld venture confidently to predict awaits our generation. In the hopeful words of the wisest of modern men, the great De Tocqueville, 'I will not believe in the continuance of darkness merely because I do not see the new sun which is destined to arise.' (Applause.)"

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH.

— A dreadful tragedy took place at Fulwood Barracks, near Preston, on Saturday last. -Patrick McCafferay, a young man of nineteen or twenty years of age, enlisted in the 22nd Regiment about a year ago. One day last week, he was directed to ascertain the names of some children who had been troublesome in the barrack-yard. This he only did in one instance, mid in consequence of the sullenness of his manner, was on Saturday morning sentenced to confinement to the barracks for fourteen days. Immediately after hearing his sentence, he went to his own room, took down his rifle, and deliberately cleaned and loaded it. Lieutenant-Colonel Crofton and Captain and Adjutant Hanhani were at the time walking up and down the square of the barracks, and McCafferay knelt at the window of his room and fired his rifle at them. Colonel Crofton immediately exclaimed, " Oh ! I am shot." Major Coils, who heard the report, suspecting something was wrong, ran out into the square, and assisted Colonel Crofton to his quarters, when it was found that the ball had struck him on the left side, passed through his left lung, and out at his right side. It then struck Captain Hanham also in the left side, and filially settled in his spine. Colonel Crofton expired on Sunday, and Captain Han. ham only lingered till Monday morning. McCafferay was immedi- ately arrested, and stated that. he had no intention of shooting the Colonel, but wished to injure Captain Hanham only. He was brought before the magistrates on Monday, and evidence having been given by Major Coils, who witnessed the shot, and Superintendent Green, who arrested him, he was remanded till Wednesday. Colonel Crofton had seen much service, and leaves a wife and family. Captain Hanham had been through the Sutlej campaign of 1845-6, for which he had obtained a medal and clasps.

— The jubilee of the National Education Society was celebrated at Exeter on Friday last, when the Earl of Devon and Sir John Coledridge both spoke at some length on education. Among those present were Sir S. Northcote, M.P.. Sir L. Palk, M.P., Mr. S. T. Rekewich, M.P., &c. &c. The Earl of Devon (who presided), in opening; the meeting, dwelt upon the great benefits conferred upon time British community by the Society during the fiftieth year of its existence. Sir John Coleridge moved the first resolution.

"He was anxious to do what he could to maintain this excellent society, be- cause he thought that in its maintenance was involved to a very great extent that most momentous of all questions, the right and proper education of tbe poorer classes. (Hear, hear.) They had done much for the upper classes, and more was now in progress, and he trusted that the education of the higher classes would greatly improve, as Ile was sure it was necessary that it should improve, in proportion to the education and advance of the middle classes of the country. (Hear, hear.) Bat if it was important that the higher and middle classes should have their education improved both in principle and detail, it must be, he thought, manifest to every one that the advance and spread of education among the lower orders, founded on true religious principles, was the sine gud non of the well.. doing of the country at large. (Cheers.) The National Society was established to meet a great want, and he could not help thinking, as an Englishman, of the peculiar circumstances of the times under which this movement arose. It was in 1811, when this country was engaged in a great struggle against the power of the French Emperor, and when it was exhausted by a long and most expensive war, such as those in the present day had no idea of, that a few individuals, whose names might be mentioned in a sentence, met together — Herbert Marsh, of Cambridge ; Van Mildret, of Oxford, Joshua Watson, and a few others in London ; and these were ably and kindly met by the Arch- bishop of that time. The society soon grew, and it had now attained to that great institution which they now saw, and the jubilee of which they were met to celebrate. Having alluded to the fundamental principles of the society, which he warmly commended, the honourable and learned gentleman observed that the society had a claim to their gratitude for having materially countenanced the institution of diocesan inspection throughout the country. These inspectors were certainly a most useful body of men, and he took that opportunity of expressing his opinion, because it was assumed that some degree of slight was intended to be cast upon them in the report of the Education Commissioners, in which he took a part. Nothing, however, he was sure, was less intended on the part of those who framed that report. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the Commission there was no point made more clear than this—that where there were good schools and discretion and ability in those who worked them, no difficulty arose with respect to the religious question. The child of the Churchman and the child of the Dissenter met in the same school, and submitted to the same discipline, and the only question in the parent's mind was whether the school was good or not? (man hear,) The Education Commissioners took some pains to ascertain the per-ceutage of educa- tion in relation to the population of different countries, and they found that although in Prussia education was compulsory, and in England it was not, yet that this country stood next in the world in reference to its educational position, showing, as he believed, that compulsion was not necessary. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, Sir John warmly advocated night or evening schools in country places, which, he said, were accomplishing a great educational work." — Captain Mortimer, whose violent assault upon Mr. Cother, a barrister, on Hungerford-bridge, is fresh in the recollection of the public, was found guilty at the Middlesex sessions, on Monday, on the charge of having unlawfully inflicted bodily harm upon that gentleman, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment. — The freedom of the city of Perth was presented to Sir Hope Grant, G.C.B., on Thursday. At a dinner given in the evening to Sir Hope Grant, by the gentlemen of the county and city, the Earl of Mansfield presided, and the company included the Duke of Atholl, the Earl of Airlie, Viscount Strathallan, Viscount Stormont, Lord Kinnaird, Lord Dupplin, Lord Charles Kerr, Lord Gray of Kinfauns, Sir B. Menzies, Sir G. Ramsay, General Lindsay, M.P., Mr. Stan- hope, M.P., the Lord Provost of Perth, Mr. E. T. Gordon, Sheriff of Perthshire, Mr. Grant, of Kilgraston, and Mr. Frank Grant, brothers of the guest, Ste. The Chairman proposed the health of Sir Hope Grant. In his reply, the latter described several of the most striking scenes he had taken part in or witnessed in China. Among them was the signing of the treaty : "A day was fixed for signing the treaty, and as I had been informed by Roman Catholic missionaries—who had heard it from Chinese converts, of whom there are a great number in that city—that infernal machines and guns were to be turned against us when we gut into the intricacies of the town, I sent a large force to be prepared for any little contretemps we might meet with. Lord Elgin accordingly started at the hour appointed, and I accompanied him. We pro- ceeded to the hall of audience, where we were received by the Prince Kong and about 400 or 500 mandarins, dressed in splendid robes. The terror displayed in the prince's countenance was truly amusing. His eyes kept turning about without moving his bead, first towards Lord Eight and wen towards me, and he was as pale as death. The ceremony was just commencing, when Mr. Berto, a photographer who had accompanied me to China, being anxious to obtain a good view of the signing of the treaty, placed his large apparatus within twenty yards of Prince Kong, the large lens presented at his breast and at the other man- darins, who, like ourselves, poor fellows, are just as frightened at infernal machines as we are. (Great laughter.) They thought this was some terrible species of mortar with which we intended to blow them all into the next world, and their looks of consternation were truly amusing. (Renewed laughter.) The treaty was soon signed, and we were bowed out much more pleasantly than we were bowed in. (Laughter.) You are aware, gentlemen, everything ended satis- factorily. In a few days we marched down the country, and got away just as the severe frosts commenced. The river closed up, and snow fell, and I was obliged to march the cavalry thirty-two miles in one day to the mouth of the river Peiho to enable them to embark Shortly after the frost became so severe that the sea froze over forty miles from land. Well, gentlemen, we got safely home to our native country, and I trust we shall have no more war with China. (Cheers.) I trust, when I return from India, which I hope to do before long, that I shall not be forgotten by my old friends who have treated use so kindly and warmly this evening." — A large and important nieeting of clergy from all parts of the country took place on Monday, at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, for the purpose of taking into consideration the new educational minute, and ghat steps were necessary in order to procure its sus- pension. The Rev. Mr. Charlton Lane presided, and read letters from the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Bishop of Winchester, and others, expressing their full concurrence in the objects of the meeting. Mr. Reynolds then moved the first re- sointioe, to the effect that the meeting viewed with surprise (after what had been said on the subject in the House of Commons) the issuing on the last day of the Session of a minute, not merely of an administrative character, but which included a revised code of education, making fundamental alterations in the Privy Council system, and which would compel thousands of schools to accept its provisions as the only con- dition on which they could avoid heavy pecuniary responsibilities before the matter could be discussed in Parliament. Archdeacon Hone seconded the resolution, which was carried. The Rev. Mr. Martin then moved another resolution, which was also carried, to the effect—"That this meeting regards the revised code as a very ob- leetionable and pernicious measure, and calculated to be directly or indirectly injurious to the progress of popular education in Great Britain—first, upon elementary schools, religiously, intellectually, and financially ; secondly, upon the pupil-teacher system, as tending to impair its efficiency, and ultimately to destroy it ; thirdly, upon train- ing schools, as crippling their resources and practically discouraging students from availing themselves of their advantages. In addition to this the meeting regrets the repudiation of engagements with teachers in training schools and certificated teachers as an act of in- justice without precedent in this country."

— Earl Fortescue died on Saturday, in his 79th year. Hugh Fortescue, Earl Fortescue, Viscount Ebringtou, and Baron For- tescue, was the son of the first Earl Fortescue by a daughter of the late Right Hon. George Grenville. He married first, Lady Susan Ryder, eldest daughter of the first Earl of Harrowbv, by whom he had issue three sons, by the eldest of whom, Viscount gbrington, he is succeeded ; and secondly, the widow of Sir Marcus Somerville. The present earl was born in 1818, and married, in 1847, the eldest daughter of the late Colonel Dawson-Damer, by whom he has a youthful family. He sat for Plymouth from 1841 to 1853, and for Marylebone from 1854 to 1859. He held office as a Lord of the Treasury from July, 1847, to December, 1847, and was Secretary to the Poor-Law Board for several years previous to 1851. in 1859 he was summoned to the House of Peers in his father's barony of Fortescue. By the death of the late Earl, a Garter falls to the dis- posal of Lord Palmerston.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

— Two boiler explosions, one of them attended with great loss

of life, occurred in London on Monday. The first was that of a small steam-engine used for cutting wood, on the premises in the joint

occupation of Mr. Jones, carpenter and builder, and Mr. Gadenne, machine-ruler. Though the force of the explosion was so great as to tear up floors, send bricks over the street in showers, and a large

door through the window into the opposite premises, no one was killed. Several of the workmen employed on the upper floors of course received severe wounds and contusions. The whole of the first floor was found to be on fire immediately after the explosion, but the speedy arrival of several engines prevented the further spread of the flames. Another and far more serious explosion took place in the afternoon of the same day at the oil-cake manufactory of Messrs. Francois and Joseph Bedart, Tower Ordnance What% Rotherhithe, by which ten persons, including Mr. Alfred Davensart, a nephew of a member of the firm, and Bark, the foreman, lost their lives. The engine-house stood near the river, and contained two boilers, each fifty feet long. About six in the afternoon, the feed-pipe to the engine was. discovered to be out of order, and an engine-fitter was sent for to repair it. When he arrived, he immediately set to work, with the assistance of six other men, to hold the pipe up. While thus engaged, the head. of the boiler, with the bars of the furnace beneath, were blown out like a cannon-shot straight at the workmen. As soon as the other workmen on the premises ventured into the ruins of the engine- house, they found that not one of the ten men in it had escaped. Five of them were dead, three of the others did not survive through the night, and two lingered until Tuesday morning. At present no explanation of the cause of the explosion has been given. — The Victoria, a new steamer recently placed on the Folkestone and Boulogne service by the South-Eastern Railway Company, made her first voyage between those places on Tuesday. She accomplished her passage out in one hour and thirty-three minutes, and the return voyage in one hour and thirty-four minutes, notwithstanding a strong- adverse wind. Her average speed was at the rate of twenty miles. an hour. The advertised time of the rest of the company's boats is two hours and ten minutes, so that the saving of time by the Victoria is nearly three-quarters of an hour. The Victoria also beat the Leinster, supposed to be the fastest vessel afloat, by seven minutes is he eighty-four miles from Gravesend to Folkestone. The sister boat to the Victoria has been built by Messrs. Samuelson, of Hull, and will be called the Euninie. — The mortality of London still continues slightly- below the cor- rected average. Last week, the deaths registered in London were 1110. If the deaths from epidemic cholera in the 37th week of 1864 are excluded, the average number of deaths for the corresponding weeks of the last 10 years, corrected for increase of population, would be 1137. 916 boys and 879 girls, in all 1795 children, were born in London during the week. In the 10 corresponding weeks. of the years 1851-60, the average number was 1568.

— In August, 1851, Sarah Watts, aged sixteen, the daughter of a farmer at Woodlands, near Frome, was brutally outraged and subse- quently drowned in a milk-pail during her father's absence at Promo market. Suspicion fell upon three men, who were committed for trial on the charge, but acquitted by a jury, and ten years passed without any clue to the murder having been found. Last week, an in- valided soldier, named Joseph Sears, who formerly lived near Wood- lands, but had enlisted in the army shortly after the murder, attended at the Frome police station for the purpose of having his remittance form filled up. He then expressed a wish to make a confession with regard to the Woodlands murder, as he felt very unhappy. Mr. Turner, the magistrate's clerk, then took down the following state- ment in writing :

"I murdered Sarah Watts. I hope the God above will let me live to see her again in another world. I have it on my mind a long time. I have been very unhappy ever since. I went away, I was so unhappy. I hope the God above will wash away our sins. I done it for love. It was on a market-day. I asked her to go up Birch-hill-lane to pick some water-creases. She wouldn't go. I asked her to go up on a Sunday, and then she wouldn't go. I often played with her. It was in August it happened. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon I went to the house. I thought he was worth some money and she wouldn't tell me where it was. I told her to tell me where it was, and I would marry her and take her to America—I was very fond of her—then we would live happy together. She said, 'The money don't belong to you.' I said, 'If you don't tell where it is I will be the death of you.' I then took hold of her by the neck. I had a poker in my hand, and I hit her on the head with it. I said I should have to suffer for it, either in heaven or in hell. I struck her in the kitchen, and dragged her into the dairy. I caught hold of her by the feet, and put her head first into the milk-pail, and left her in the dairy dead. I took two shillings out of a cup on the mantelpiece. I went up-stairs and searched above. I took some clothes and went my way, and went to sea. I was blamed for it at the time, and I en- listed a soldier to get out of the way. I have now got it off my mind. I killed her for love. I was very fund of her."

He was then taken into custody and brought before the county magistrates at Frome, but after the above statement had been pro- duced was remanded for a week.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TR.

— The usual autumnal agricultural meetings and their attendant dinners are now being held all over the country. On Tuesday, the members of the North-West Bucks Agricultural Association met at Buckingham. After dinner, Sir H. Verney, M.P., proposed, "Pro- sperity to the North-West Bucks Agricultural Association." He thought the best thing a landlord could do for himself, the country at large, and the labouring populktion of the district, was to endea- vour to the utmost to make his land produce as much as possible. It had been said that a man who made two blades of grass grow where but one grew before, was a benefactor to his country. Of course, to make the land more productive a larger amount of capital must be employed, and he hoped to see the day when the capitalists of the country would come forward and go hand in hand with the agriculiurists in making the land produce as much as possible. The great hindrance, however, would be the present system of land tenure.

"Of course the capitalist could not be expected to invest his money in the cultivation of land unless those who cultivated It were men of intelligence, rec- titude, and principle, and that, in addition to these moral qualities, they had a certain tenure in the land. (Cheers.) He knew that this was a point on which there would be a difference of opinion, and if any gentleman thought there was.a fallacy in what he stated he should be glad to hear him expose it; but be did hold that there was nothing which could be of greater benefit to all classes of the community than that the capitalist should be induced to invest his money in the cultivation of land. (Hear, hear.) It was clear that he would not do so unless the agriculturist had a certain permanency of tenure. Now, how such a per- manency was to be given, except by lease, he could not discover. Therefore he should be happy to see a system of long leases come into greater prevalence than they had yet seen in this country. (Hear, hear.) Not that he thought such a system would lead to tenants being longer on estates; for he believed that there were many estates in this country on which there were no leases, and on which the tenants and landlords went on together for—he was going to say—hundreds of years. On these estates the tenants felt as secure, and felt as much confi- dence in their landlord, and as great a security that no unfair advantage would ever be taken of them, and that they would retain their land, as if they had leases. He was not, therefore, suggesting that the system of leases would in- crease the confidence between landlord and tenant; but, speaking rather in a political sense, when he said it was desirable that the capitalist should invest money in the cultivation of land, he hoped that the time might come when leases would be more prevalent than they were at present. If the landlord gave a lease, he, on his side, would expect an assurance that the terms of the written agreement would be observed; and, consequently, lie must have his conditions as well as the tenant; but what he desired to see was that the tenant farmers of this country might have leases which would enable any of them to go to a capitalist and say, • I have got this farm for twenty-one years, will you trust to my intelligence, honesty, and skill as an agricultui ist, and lend me money to cultivate my land?' He believed that such a thing as that was practicable, that it would be for the advantage of the community at large; and for that reason he should be glad to see it in operation."

He concluded by expressing his conviction that it was the duty of every landlord to make himself thoroughly acquainted with all that related to the management of his estate :

"Speaking of himself and his brother landlords, he had to remark that they were wonderfully deficient in knowing their business. (Laughter end' Hear, hear.') He confessed that he was astonished when he considered that while in an other professions a man went through a severe course of study, none what- ever was generally considered necessary for that of a landed proprietor. A doctor, a lawyer, a sailor, or a soldier worked hard to fit himself for his calling, but it was supposed that every landlord was born fit to discharge the duties of his position. That he believed to be a great mistake. (Hear, hear.) He was not 'brought up as a landlord. In his youth he had other pursuits, but he sin- cerely desired that those who came after him should learn the management of land. No good steward would object to seeing a great landlord thoroughly con- versant with everything that belonged to the management of the land. Such a knowledge on the landlord's part would make him value the services of a good steward the more." (Hear, hear.)

— The Banbury Agricultural Association also held their annual meeting at Banbury on Wednesday. At the dinner in the evening Colonel North, M.P., presided. In responding to the "The Army and Navy," he spoke of the great progress in both number and efficiency of the volunteer force during the year:

"In the first place he never expected that the class which had so fully entered into the movement would have done so to such an extent; and, in the next place, he never imagined it would have been possible for them, within so short a time, to exhibit so much soldierlike feeling and military intelligence as they had done. Cheers.) In Banbury the progress of the volunteer corps had been most wonderful. He was confident that thevolunteer movement had opened the eyes of Europe and of all the world to the fact that they could not approach our shores with impunity.' (Cheers.)

Colonel North also returned thanks for " The Health of the Members for the counties of Oxford, Northampton, and Warwick, and the borough of Banbury," but as politics were strictly excluded by the rules of the association, his speech was comparatively devoid of general interest.

— On Tuesday, the Brackley Agricultural and Horticultural Society held their annual meeting, M. J. L. Stratton in the chair. Colonel Cartwright, M.P., returned thanks for the toast of the "Army, Navk, and Volunteers," speaking in terms of warm praise of the self-devotion of the volunteers in giving up so much of their time and submitting themselves to the strict drill which was required. Colonel Cartwright also responded for "The County Members." He considered it to be a good and wholesome rule which excluded politics from their meetings, but it was a difficult thing for a man whose health had been drunk in his public capacity as one of their representatives, to refrain from touching upon subjeci s of that nature. "A complaint had been made that the House of Commons had done nothing daring the lastsession of Parliament, but there was no doubt that they had left nothing for platform orators and newspaper articles, for if they looked through the record of Parliament, the sittings of which extended over a period of nearly six months, they would find that no less than 400 Acts of Parliament, public and private, had been passed into law. In addition to this, it should be remembered that Parliament had discussed many other important subjects, and particularly foreign affairs, which naturally engaged a great deal of their attention, because, although Great Britain was only a small island, no other country could be revo- lutionized, and no great change could be carried out, without England being materially affected by it. Oar commerce extended to every quarter of the world, and we were therefore greatly interested in everything that took place abroad. There WAS one great thing which touched them all, and which men of all parties would wish to see carried out, and that was a reduction of taxation. (C.. er.) But we were not our own masters in this respect, for there was one who ruled us in a great measure, and he was sorry to say he was not an Englishman—he meant the Emperor of the French (Hear, hear.) Last year Louis Napoleon negotiated a Treaty of Commerce with this country, and yet at the present time he had 600,000 men under arms; a large and powerful navy was being formed, including the construction of a number of iron ships, which could not be required for the purposes of defence; ueither could the army be intended for defence, for there was no nation who wished to attack France; and, under these circum- stances, it was our duty to maintain our army and navy in a state of efficiency, in order that we might repel any aggression that was made upon our soil."

— The Cotton Supply Association have addressed a letter to Messrs. Mosley and Hurst, of Calcutta, commenting upon the reply of the Indian Government to their former letter on cotton cultiva- tion in India, which appeared in the Speelator of August 31. With regard to the new Stamp Act, the committee of the Association bring before the Indian Government the following statement of a gentleman who speaks from experience of the obstructions it imposes upon commercial transactions : " As all engagements must be on stamped paper the merchant cannot have them printed, because he cannot tell beforehand how many stamped papers will be required, or of what value each is to be; consequently every engagement must be written, and when it is remembered that engagements have to be made with some thousands of ryots and others, the enormous trouble and labour in- volved, and the time taken up in writing them at the several stages of the mer- chant's tour, can be better imagined than described. Neither are stamped papers to be had wherever and whenever they are required. The merchant who invests capital in any article of commerce requires them chiefly at the villages, and at all times, but they must be sent for either to the collector's, or the nearest jaheildar's office, where only they are sold by licensed vendors and at stated hours."

The committee fear that much more extensive improvements must be made in the local courts before they can -offer that facility for cheap and speedy justice which is absolutely necessary to a large introduction of the European element into the industrial operations of the country. "Till the ryot is taught that he cannot with impunity receive money ad- vances, and then wilfully neglect to fulfil his share of the agreement on which such advances are made; till the money-lender is made to feel that ready redress is offered to the ryot for any attempt to take unfair advantage of his poverty; till, in short, good faith, the foundation of all commercial morality, is compulsorily enforced between the two, there is little hope that the capital of the one will be invested in the culture of the soil, or that the condition of the other can undergo any considerable amelioration."

With regard to the question of land-tenure, the committee observe :

"In asking for an improved land tenure they do not become the advocates of spoliation. They seek to encroach upon no man's vested interests, and all that they desire may be accomplished without the slightest improper interference with that extraordinary variety of private rights and intricate tenures' to which allusion is made. The extent of their requirement is this: That land may be sold or granted in perpetuity by the proprietors as a heritable and transferable property, subject to no enhancement of land tax; in other words, that any men may be at liberty to purchase land from its present holders with such a title as will give him and his heirs the benefit of improvements made thereon, instead of the fruits of their outlay or industry being appropriated by the tax gatherer. Any measures which the Government may take in order to realize so desirable a result would, the committee feel assured, receive the cordial approval, not only of the existing class of landowners and those seeking land investments, but of almost every person in India and this country who has given an unbiased consideration to the subject."

The committee conclude by expressing their surprise at the state- ment in Lord Canuing's reply, that "the natives of India had little or nothing to learn from the agriculturists of other quarters of the globe."

"They would respectfully submit that as in America 6001b. of clean cotton per acre is considered an average crop, while in India the averge crop does not amount to 1001b. per acre they believe there is full scope for improved culture and a better development of the industry of that country; and that satisfactory evidence of the result of cultivation is seen in the few thousand bales of a highly improved and excellent class of staple, already received thence. The committee regarded a backward state of agriculture in India as the natural result of clearly defined causes operating in that country. It would be accounted for by the existing laws relating to landed property, and the poverty of the cultivator, which deprives hint of all incentive to improvement. From such considerations the committee venture to hope that the opinion of his Excellency the Governor-General was not intended to have the wide bearing which appears to be given to it in the letter before them.

"The committee believe that a serious reconsideration by the Government of the points now referred to would greatly tend to the furtherance of the object which the Cotton Supply Association have in view."

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH.

— A. conference of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Cotton Supply Association, and the Manchester Cotton Cultivation Association, was held at Manchester on Thursday, for the purpose of hearing from Mr. Laing, the Finance Minister of India, his views on the cultivation of cotton in India. Among the gentlemen present were Mr. Bazley, M.P. Mr. Hadfield, M.P., Sir E Armitage, Mr. George Wilson, Mr. 3. Shuttleworth, Mr. W. R. Wood, Mr. H. Mason Mr. J. Platt, Mr. J. Cheetham, Mr. B. Nicholls, Mr. M. Ross, M. E. Ashworth, Mr. T. Clegg, Mr. T. Mosley, Mr. M. Glad- stone, and many other representatives of the three commercial bodies above named. Addresses to Mr. Laing were presented by tho Chamber of Commerce and the Cotton Supply Association, that of the latter urging strongly the necessity of some alteration in the tenure of land in India, by which Europeans could acquire the fee simple. Mr. Laing, in reply, said that as he was only one member of a Government sitting 10,000 miles off, he was placed in the alterna- tive of speaking with a great deal of official reserve, or, if he spoke frankly, as he should wish to do, and as he believed would be most acceptable, it must be taken merely as an expression of his own sen- timents, whatever they might be worth. "When he arrived in India, hardly nine months ago, nothing could well be more gloomy than the financial prospect. In the three preceding years some thirty-eight millions had been added to the national debt, and an official circular had just been issued admitting a deficit for the current year of over six millions. The very gravity of the danger, perhaps, proved the means of extricating the Government from this position, because through it they were enabled to carry out some very large measures of reduction which were sure to encounter much opposition and difficulty. The moment the Government applied themselves in earnest to the work of reduction the tide seemed to turn, and they bad a com- plete run of luck. The result was that in April be was enabled to present a budget in which the deficit (previously only reduced to about live millions by taring into account the proceeds of income-tax and the other new taxes im- posed by Mr. Wilson) was met and an additional expenditure of 500,000i. out roads and communications was provided for by, in round numbers, about three and a half to four millions of reduction in expenditure, and a mil- lion and a half in almost imperceptible additions to indirect taxation. Now

the course of a short time a great difference in the habits of the rising generation; possible disadvantage."

'4As to the proposed specific measures for the extension of commerce, he

agreed in the opinion tint the question of communications was at the root of the

route for coming down to the sea, must be the route for Europeans to go

up to look after the growth of cotton in the interior. Water communications were whether the river would be rendered navigable for steamers going up depended

the Gollavery on all those portions which had been surveyed and reduced to any- this year As soon as the storm moderated a little, Mr. Hamilton Towle, an surmounted, something like 500,0001. more had been devoted than last to that and similar works, consisting mainly of roads and cone. American engineer, who happened to be on board, suggested a most mnnientions in the cotton districts.. He believed the greatest outlay that could ingenious plan, by which the rudder was sufficiently repaired to now be made profitably was in common roads, so as to enable the bullock- enable the captain to bring the ship round, and also to clear the cart, the universal conveyance of India, to carry produce as cheaply as possible screw. The storm was succeeded on Monday by a dead calm, and either to the nearest railway station or to the nearest shipping port; and it was very much with a view to accelerate the construction of these works that be had by the aid of the screw alone the ship was enabled to make nearly bein anxious to introduce the system of local budgets, by which different loth& nine knots an hour. On Tuesday, she reached Queenstown in safety ties might supplement the Government grants by local rates or taxation. The and without any loss of life throughout the whole of her disastrous question of tenure of land and the question of the law of contracts were of about voyage, though twenty-seven of the passengers are more or less equal importance, or perhaps the latter was the more important. Relative to the seriously injured by having been pitched head first against mirrors, immediate supply of cotton—the question of getting cotton next year—a good deal depended on European capitalists being in a of to make advances to the native growers. It was for the true benefit of the natives themeelres that the passengers, held OR Tuesday, the following resolutions were the law of contracts should be stringent. (Hear hear.) The chief difficulty agreed upon among others : in getting speedy results in India from a fee simple tenure by Europeans was " 2. That we feel it to be our imperative duty to state that the Great Eastern the distance of the waste lands from the population. Ceylon and the Mauritius was sent to sea thoroughly unprepared to face the storms which every one must were more favourably situated in this respect for the supply of coolies. Wherever expect to meet in crossing the Atlantic ; and that, if it had not been for the ex- the duty of the Government to encourage them ; in the Bengal Presidency a there were efforts of enterprising Europeans in India, it was the desire as well as tniordinary strength of the hull, and the skill which was manifested in the con- struction of the vessel and its engines, in all human probability every soul on great deal had been already effected as to the land settlement, but they could board would have perished. We call particular attention to the ballasting of the not path exceptional or special laws, inconsistent with equal rights and justice to Great Eastern, the state of her paddle-wheels, the position of the boats, the the natives." insecure and most perilous character of her internal fittings and the careless way After a few observations on other subjects, Mr. Laing sat down amid in which she was stowed, owing to which carelessness, in get, a large portion of loud applause. our luggage has been most recklessly and utterly destroyed. — The annual cattle show of the Warwickshire County Agricul- "3. That we desire to express our satisfaction with the conduct of the cap- tural Association was held at Stratford-on-Avon on Wednesday. thin, especially since the occurrence of the disaster which overtook the ship, paid 700/. M More than ILS given in prizes, and 4000 or 5000 visitors which has been marked by a high degree of courage, fertility of resources, energy,

for admission at the gates. About 800 persons sat down to dinner,

which sengers is in took place at 4 o'clock, in a spacious tent. The Earl of Warwick "4. That we would also acknowledge with deep thankfulness the sense we presided, and among the gentlemen present were Lord Leigh, Lord entertain of the valuable scientific suggestions of one of the cabin passengers, Willoughby de Broke, Sir C. Mordatud, M.P., Mr. C. N. Newdegate, Hamilton E. Towle of Boston U.S., civil engineer, made in order to repair the M.P., &c. "The Health of the Lord-Lieutenant and the Magis- injuries sustained by the by apparatus of the vessel; and of the patient "6. was proposed by the noble President, and briefly acknow-

ledged by Lord Leigh, who then proposed "The Health of the Pre-

sident, and Success to the Warwickshire Agricultural Society." The of Mr. Towle be provided and presented to him by the passengers. toast was drunk with enthusiasm. The Earl of Warwick responded. "6. That we regret being obliged to condemn in the strongest terms the con- After some observations on matters of local interest connected with fusion and mismanagement evident in every arrangement relating to the comfort the Association, he expressed his satisfaction at the good feeling and convenience of passengers of all classes, and we have been grieved by the which now prevailed between the agricultural and commercial in- waste and wanton destruction which we have witnessed.

threats.

of men—it meant a meeting of farmers and landowners ; but it almost entirely inquiry into excluded the presence of manufacturers and those who were the advocates and representatives of commerce. The commercial interest then felt the greatest

Jealousy of the agriculturists, not perhaps unreasonably, because they were treated rather as aliens than as friends and neighbours. The agriculturists, on t4t Curt. the other hand, were prejudiced against the the manufacturers. They thought the commercial interests undervalued their talents and usefulness in the country, BALMORAL, SEPT. 12.—The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanied and treated them with contempt. I am glad to be able to say that in these days by Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse, drove to Birkhall yes- such is not the case; I am proud to say the agriculturists of Great Britain know bow to value that important branch of national enterprise, our manufactures and terday afternoon, and honoured Mrs. Gordon with a visit. commerce. (Hear, hear.) The agriculturists of this country now know that SEPT. 15.—The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanied by Princess they have been in the wrong: they have learnt how to make use of all those valuable implements which have been invented for them- and they can now meet SEPT. 16.—The Queen and Prince Consort, with Prince Alfred and the manufacturers of England, not with enmity, not with distrust, not with envy, Prince Louis of Hesse, attended divine service in the parish church but with a cordial and mutual good wilL (Applause.) Under these circum- of Crathie yesterday morning. stances, what are politics? Nothing. (Cheers.) Men are here joined together SEPT. 17.—The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena, and at- by one universal feeling in promoting the welfare of all classes in common. They tended by Lad_y Churchill, took a drive yesterday afternoon. . are met together with views far superior to the petty politics of the day. SEPT. 18.—The Queen, accompanied by Princess Alice and Prince

(Hear, hear.) Louis of Hesse, and attended by Lady Churchill, drove yesterday

Mr. Newdegate, M.P. acknowledged the toast of "The County morning to Loch Bulig, where the Royal party partook of luncheon, and Borough Members." In conclusion, he again alluded to Boa- and then rode across the hills by Glen Gairn, returning by Invercauld

worth, and the criticisms his remarks at Sparkenhoe had elicited: in the afternoon.

mince the reductions were commenced in earnest at the beginning of the year the "I will not trench upon your time further than to say that if there are cash balances in India had increased by more than 3,000)000/. He did not writers, however able they may be, who think fit to cavil at us because in these mean that there was an actual surplus of 3,000,0001. in six months, because meetings we cherish the great principle of family—that principle which France temporary exceptional circumstances would account for a good deal of it ; but has severed, and which we in England vindicate for ourselves in the good old be referred to this with considerable confidence as proving that, on the whole, Saxon term of " home ;" if at least when we record the victory, the great tri- they could not be far off from a substantial equilibrium. The greater outlay on umph of the principle of home over a monarch who, endowed with all the talensa communications-iellich was desired, and the reduction of tariff on imports, all that should have made him great, yet in his own person violated every domestic depended eir6nanC41 improvement. It was in farther economy and reductions tie—a man who, having plotted his own brother's death, having defamed his we must seek the miens of meeting those necessary demands, for he thought we mother, murdered both his nephews, and suspected of having by poison de.. hadnearly reached the limit of taxation in India. He would mention, as another stroyed his own wife—I say, if there are those who are jealous of our recording reason for confidence, that an era of peace was being at last entered on. Until the triumph of our ancestors over such a monarch, let them not quarrel with the recently there could not have been, one year with another, less than from 500,000 member for North Warwickshire, who is proud of those historical associations, to 1,000,000 armed men in India, or men subsisting by the profession of arms, but rather let them quartet with old Holiugshed, who chronicled those dayd_ As things were now arranged there would not be more than 120,000 or 150,000 let them quarrel with our own Will Shakspeere, who has immortalized that natives holding arms in their hands, and whose object in living was rapine and triumph. (Cheers.) Let them from to-day gam experience from the writings of slaughter. Although he was not an advocate of peace at any price, and thought a man who, it seems, not to us only but to all the world, in his portraiture of the Volunteers had a right impulse, he conceived this must necessarily make in the battle-fields of England wrote for all time. (Loud cheers.)" and adding to this the great rise in wages, and consequent inereaaing habit of — The Great Eastern, which left Liverpool for New York on the sleady industry, it must tell in diminishing the tendency to manufacture wars. 10th, ran into Queenstown Harbour on the 17th, almost a wreck. The army of 75,000 Europeans was a solid element of strength, in the face of It appears from an account in the Times, front a passenger, that on which it seemed utterly impossible there should be any serious attempt at COM- the second day after leaving Liverpool she encountered a strong motion, half that number having sufficed to put down a mutiny under every

gale, which increased before night into a violent tempest. The

With regard to the extension of our commerce with India, and the rolling of the ship was very great, and she did not answer her helm.

question of an immediate supply of cotton, Mr. Laing said : A heavy sea struck her, and twisted her paddle-wheels, so as to render them entirely useless. Shortlyafter, another sea struck her stern, breaking the rudder-post, a piece of iron 10 inches in diameter, and

Whole matter. The railways would not only be important politically, because, partly fouling the screw with the disabled rudder. The ship then be- though water-carriage might be a cheaper mode of transport for cotton or bulky came perfectly unmanageable, lying in the trough of the sea and commodities, yet it was equally true that in many cases there was no water- rolling fearfully. Before morning the paddles were carried en. carriage available, and in still more cases, the railroad, if it was not the tirely away. In the cabins the scene was most alarming.

Everything that could get loose was being dashed from sick

in many respects preferable, but most Indian streams were not not so much river to side of the vessel with the greatest possible violence. All as gigantic mountain torrents, which in the dry season were reduced to mere threads the gorgeous fittings, mirrors, &c., of the saloons were shattered of water winding in devions and impracticable channels. The most promising, no in pieces, and casks of tallow, weighing many hundred-weight, pieces doubt, was the Godavery. He was sanguine that something might be done there of chain cable, &c., were being rolled up and down, to the immment to enable native boats and barges with a supply of cotton to get down, but

danger of the passengers. A cow broke through a compartment, and

on the engineers, not upon the Government. The Indian Government were fully was carried into the ladies' saloon. The water had got into the bag. sensible of the importance of communications of that sort. Before despatches gage stores compartment, and floated the passengers' luggage, dash- reached them from home they had provided in the last budget for the outlay on mg, all the boxes against each other till they were reduced to what thing like a definite estimate, and although the financial crisis was not absolutely the writer of the account in the Times describes as " a 111839 of pulp." this year As soon as the storm moderated a little, Mr. Hamilton Towle, an surmounted, something like 500,0001. more had been devoted than last to that and similar works, consisting mainly of roads and cone. American engineer, who happened to be on board, suggested a most mnnientions in the cotton districts.. He believed the greatest outlay that could ingenious plan, by which the rudder was sufficiently repaired to now be made profitably was in common roads, so as to enable the bullock- enable the captain to bring the ship round, and also to clear the cart, the universal conveyance of India, to carry produce as cheaply as possible screw. The storm was succeeded on Monday by a dead calm, and either to the nearest railway station or to the nearest shipping port; and it was very much with a view to accelerate the construction of these works that be had by the aid of the screw alone the ship was enabled to make nearly bein anxious to introduce the system of local budgets, by which different loth& nine knots an hour. On Tuesday, she reached Queenstown in safety ties might supplement the Government grants by local rates or taxation. The and without any loss of life throughout the whole of her disastrous question of tenure of land and the question of the law of contracts were of about voyage, though twenty-seven of the passengers are more or less

or knocked down by stoves running adrift, &c. At a meeting of

a great measure attributable.

untirinkperseverance, and nautical skill, to which the safety of the ship and pm-

proceed. oceed. attention with which, at much personal inconvenience, he assisted Captain Walker until the ship was enabled again to " 5. That some suitable testimonial of our appreciation of the skill and services

"7. That feeling that there is ground for the gravest possible censure, we re- "At At that period an agricultural meeting meant simply a meeting of one class spectfully urg that the Board of Trade should be asked to make immediate

she was sent to sea." the condition of the ship when