The Queen has conferred the honour of knighthood upon Vice-Admiral

Alexander Dundas Arbuthnott ; Hercules George Robert Robinson, Governor of Hongkong ; and Stephenson Villiers Surtees, Chief Justice of the Mauritius.

The Gazette of Tuesday contained the announcement of the elevation of Mr. Vernon Smith to the Peerage, as Baron Lyveden, of Lyveden in Northamptonshire ; and of Sir Benjamin Hsdl, as Baron Llanover, of Llanover and Aberearn, in the county of Monmouth.

The annual assembly of the Independents for the counties of Cardigan, Pembroke, and Carmarthen, sent a memorial to Lord Palmerston, urging the necessity of non-intervention on the part of this country, in the war between France, Sardinia, and Austria. The reply on behalf of the Pre- mier is that her Majesty's Government have no intention of advising her Majesty to take part in the present war, and that they do not foresee the probability of any events that would lead them to depart from the policy of neutrality.

Mr. Cobden, who arrived in Manchester on Wednesday evening, de- voted a part of Thursday to visits to private friends, and was expected to arrive in London at ten o'clock on Friday night. Various rumours were prevalent in Manchester as to his intentions with regard to the accept- ance or rejection of the office tendered to him in the Ministry, by the Premier' but, of course, no reliance could be placed in them. It is pro- bably too early for the honourable gentleman to have fully determined for himself as yet on a question about which the public seem to have so little difficulty.—Times.

In reply to a letter from Mr. Samuel Morley, asking Lord John Rus- sell to reconsider the question of the Ballot, Mr. Barrington, on behalf of Lord John, briefly states that he continues to be of opinion that the evils to which the Ballot would give rise would prove greater than those which at present exist.

Mr. Stuart Wortley has been one of Mr. Gladstone's election com- mittee. This seems to have annoyed some of his friends in the West Riding, and Mr. Wortley has been asked to contradict the statement. In reply he vindicates it, on the ground that his party should "encou- rage rather than repel the more Conservative portion of the present mixed Cabinet, and, while in a minority, to abstain at such a juncture as the present from embarrassing the Queen in the choice of her ser- vants or the conduct of her Government."

A great number of English Militia regiments have been called out for their annual training.

The Reverend Joseph Brown, rector of Christchurch, Blackfriars, has a just claim to be ranked amongst the pioneers of that important move- ment which has for its object the elevation, social and intellectual, of the humbler classes of our population. He was among the first to whom it occurred that the object would be greatly assisted by the arrangement and organization of an occasional holiday for the poor man, during which he should be provided with entertainment such as he never would have been able to obtain by his own unassisted means. In the first instance, Mr. Brown organized excursions to parks and pleasure-grounds, kindly lent for the purpose, and situated at short distances from London. But two years since he ventured upon a bolder flight, and arranged for a day's visit to Brighton; and so great was his success, and so unqualified, was the satisfaction of the poor people for whom the holiday had been got up, that this year he set about arranging a party which from its numbers must have absorbed a very large portion of the working popula- tion of the parish, there being not less than 6000 persons—men, women, and children—who on Monday visited Brighton under Mr. Brown's protection' and to a considerable extent at his expense. It is true that the railway company having met Mr. Brown's views by a most liberal arrangement, the great majority of his friends paid their own expenses, but there still remained the poor and aged inmates of the workhouse, who, ranging in age from sixty to ninety, and making nearly four hundred in number, were all franked by Mr. Brown out of his own pocket, assisted by a few trifling subscriptions collected amongst his im- mediate private friends. The muster of the first detachment, upwards of 1000—not all strong—commenced at London Bridge station before six o'clock in the morning, and between that hour and eight the whole 6000 were safely conveyed to Brighton in four successive trains, the en- tire party having commenced the exploration of the local lions long be- fore nine o'clock. Their first visit was of course made to the beach— every Englishman and woman runs first to the sea, as if by instinct—and they soon broke up into merry groups under the unwonted stimulus of the fresh sea breeze combined with the superb sunshine overhead. Some bathed, some boated, some gathered shells on the shore while the very old and feeble sat in smiling clusters on the shingle, shore, watched the gambols of their children and grandchildren. Some of the poor people from the workhouse had reached the patriarchal age of ninety, and amongst them were persons who had hunted with their own hounds or ridden in their own carriages. These were the objects of Mr. Brown's particular care, but for all the old people he provided luncheon and a comfortable tea, and for the smokers even a moderate supply of tobacco. The Chain Pier was thrown open to them by arrangement, and, in con- sequence, was nearly impassable for the regular promenaders during the greater part of the day. There could not be imagined a more extraordi-

nary mixing upof "St. Giles's and St. James's" than might have been seen any any moment during the morning upon the Chain Pier, so well known as one of the most fashionable promenades out of London in the kingdom. But the poor people were most orderly and decorus, and the rich sympathising and interested, and so the novel colouring did not in any way deteriorate from the usual beauty of the picture. From the beach and the pier the leviathan party went to the Pavilion, and wan- dered at will over the gardens, which not many years ago were as se eluded from the gaze of the vulgar as the Seraglio at Constantinople. Under such a commander as Mr. Brown a visit to the parish church was of course not forgotten. The party arrived there about two o'clock, and were most kindly received by the Reverend Mr. Ellerton, who ad- dressed them a few words of welcome and advice, after which three verses of a hymn were sung. The worthy clergymen then pointed out to their notice the various curiosities of the old church. The Duke of Wel- lington—the Duke—had been a regular attendant, and his cenotaph was shown in the chantry ; and immense interest was also taken in the tomb of the famous old woman who served King George for fifty years as a soldier, and then declined more than half-a-guinea a week pension, the King having offered her a guinea—an example which may fairly be com- mended to the notice of many distinguished patriots of the present day. After the church, the town was explored from end to end, due examina- tion was had of the wonderful" Groynes" which arrest the progress of the sea, and preserve the aristocratic watering place from the fate of Earl Godwin's lands, and then those of the party who were too poor to pay for themselves were entertained at tea in the dissenting school-room and chapel, which had been kindly given for the purpose by the Reverend Mr. Goulty, the officiating minister. Mr. Goulty himself visited the poor people in company with Mr. Brown, and gave them a kind and friendly welcome to Brighton.

The return, which was effected with the same regularity as the morn- ing journey, commenced at half-past six and by ten o'clock the whole of this remarkable pleasure party had safely returned to town. The whole of the railway arrangements, which were under the personal direction of Mr. F. Slight, were excellent, and did not permit this extraordinary in- flux of passengers to interfere for a moment with the regular traffic of the line.—.Daily News.

A new and ingenious mode of signals by lights was on Wednesday exhibited at the Underwriters'-rooms, Liverpool, and gave general satis- faction. This new patent is the invention of Mr. Ward, an American, and consists of four lamps attached to an iron frame in the shape of a cross. These lamps can all and at one time be changed from a white to a red light, and as often completely obliterated, so as to suit the time and the occasion of signal.

It is not amongst the least formidable of the signs that our great Leading Journal has at last ascertained the whole of the indictment that may be brought against Austria, over and above the prosecution now going forward against her in Italy. "The defeat of her mili- tary system is by no means all the evil with which Austria is threatened. The successors of Joseph II. have concluded a degrading Concordat with Rome ; they have taken to their heart and counsels that strange and fatal race of men who seem destined ever to pursue an end which they are never allowed to reach. In her intellectual degradation Austria has prostrated herself before the Order of Jesus. The throne of the young Emperor is surrounded by that ominous band, the sure precursors of the ruin of thrones and the downfall of monarchies. Louis XIV. took them to his heart, and prosperity left him never to return. James II. and Charles X. lost under their advice the kingdoms of their ancestors ; and surrounded by them Francis Joseph seems to be drifting towards a similar consumma- tion. Even at a moment like the present there is hardly a loyal race in the Empire that is not disgusted at ecclesiastical tyranny, and the misfortunes of the State bring no relaxation to the miseries of the Protestant or the Jew. Every province of Austria in the meanwhile groans under the confiscation of its nglits and the forfeiture of its privileges. Hungary, loyal and aris- tocratic in its aspirations, cannot forget that ten years ago it had a Consti- tution as ancient as our own, and that it has been degraded from the rank of a Constitutional Monarchy to that of a subjugated Province. Bohemia is plunged in sullen and dangerous discontent ; and Tyrol—faithful Tyrol— so often the last and surest refuge of the House of Austria—Tyrol, the mo- ther of Hofer and of Specbacher, is for the first time in history alienated and discontented, and draws back in the hour of trial from the service of a Go- vernment which it no longer loves or respects. Matters are coming rapidly to a crisis, while the Austrian Government with absurd tenacity adopts the ruinous logic of pride and folly, and will not yield to the just demands of her subjects, for fear she should be thought to do so upon compulsion.' "

The report gains strength that Ireland is to be again honoured by a visit from royalty. Saunders says that orders have been issued to have 10,000 troops encamped on the Curragh for review order, on her Majesty's expected -visit to this country in the course of August next.

It is stated that Lord Spencer has been appointed Groom of the Stole, and Lord Waterpark Lord in Waiting to the Prince Consort.

The Empress of the French has subscribed 50,000 francs toward the funds to be given to the wounded and families of the soldiers who may be killed or disabled in the present war. The Municipality of Bordeaux has sub- scribed 20,000 franca ; the Paris Chamber of Commerce 10,000 francs. Committees for collecting subscriptions will be formed throughout France.

The Journal de la Corse states that upwards of 1000 Austrian prisoners are to be sent to Bastia, Calvi, and Bonifacio. Ajaccio is to receive some of the wounded of the Army of Italy.

The town of Clermont Ferrand has been fixed upon by the French Go- vernment as the principal place of residence for the superior officers among the Austrian prisoners..

The Italians in New York are raising a fund for the benefit of the families of those who may fall in fighting for the independence of Italy.

Mr. H. Drummond Wolff, late private secretary to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, and now chief secretary to the government of the Ionian Islands, has passed through Paris en route to Corfu.

A public dinner will be given to Sir S. Morton Peto, Bart., M.P., as a mark of personal respect, and in celebration of his return for Finsbury at the late general election, at the Freemasons' Tavern, on Wednesday, the 13th proximo ; Mr. Roger Cunliffe will preside.

Mr. James Fazy, of Geneva arrived in Paris at the end of last week. It is stated that Counts Telecky and Tur, who took so active a part in the Hungarian revolution, have joined Garibaldi's troops as volunteers. The Grand Duke Constantine has arrived at Nicolaev, on the Black Sea. The health of London is still good. Last week 970 died, or 130 fewer than the calculated average. But the Registrar-General sounds a note of warning, and calls attention to the increase of deaths from diarrhcsa.

General Gunkel, of the Dutch army, appealed some days ago to the Supreme Court of Holland, sitting a the Hague, against the condemnation to death passed on him by the Cnminal Court for poisoning ; but the court rejected the appeal.