The Aberystwith Observer

IMPERIAL" PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords on Friday, Feb. 10, Lord Wodehouse laid the commercial treaty between France and England on the table. Lord Granville, in reply to Lord Normanby, said there had been communications, but not of an official character, be- tween this country and France upon the subject of the an- nexation of Savoy and Nice to France. Lords Grey and Wodehouse having made a few remarks, the subject then dropped. Some conversation ensued in reference to the disturbances at St. George's in the East, and also to the performance of divine service in London theatres, after which their lordships adjourned. THE BUDGET. In the House of Commons, after a variety of questions had been put to and answered by different members of the Go- vernment, in a Committee, upon the Customs Act, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his financial statement. After some preliminary remarks upon the circumstances which "attracted public attention, especially to the statement of the present year, as an important epoch in our finances, he proceeded to show the results of the finance of the last year observing that circumstances had occurred during the 'latter portion which would materially affect these results,—namely, the expedition to China and the arrange- ments incident to our commercial treaty with France. THE BALANCE SHEET. He should first, he said, state the account apart from those disturbing causes, and how, when these causes came into action, the account was most likely to stand. The total amount of the revenue for the year had been estimated at 69,460,0002., and would give 70,578,0002. The total charge of the year, estimated at 09,270,0002., was,only 68,953,000?., which would have left a surplus income at the end of the year of 1,625,0002. But we had now to provide for the disturbing causes to which he had referred-viz., for the the army 900,0002., for the navy 270,0002., and for the treaty with France about 640,0002. making a total of 1,810,0002., which would place a small sum on the wrong side of the account But unexpected relief had come. An allied and friendly king- dom had paid a debt. Spain had remitted a sum of 500,0002., of which half would come to the credit of the revenue before the 31st of March. There would therefore be a balance of revenue of 1,875",0002. against a charge of 1,810,0002., leaving to the Chancellor of the Exchequer a narrow surplus. He now approached the more difficult part of the subject,—the charge and expenditure for 1860-61. The estimated charges were 70,100,0002., and the estimated income of the coming year, as the law stood, would be in round numbers, 60,700,0001. The total charge being 70,100,0002., there would be an ap- parent deficit of 9,400,0002., and he did not mean to make provision for the payment of Exchequer-bonds in November next. HOW THE DEFICIENCY MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR. Here, he observed, he might close by a short and simple process for supplying this deficiency, which might be filled up in two modes. The continuance of the duties on tea and sugar at the present rate would yield 2,100,0002., and the income-tax, at 9d. in the pound, 7,672,0002., or, supposing the war duties on tea and sugar were abandoned, to fill up the deficit of 9,400,0002. an income-tax of Is. in the pound would be required, then, it might be asked, what became of his calculations and predictions of 1853 ? But in that year he had reckoned that we should gain by the new taxes, and particularly the succession duty, 2,549,0002., which, with other expected accessions of revenue, entitled him to count upon a sum of 5,959,0001, as nearly as pos- sible the amount of the income-tax at 5d. in the pound. These est' iates had suffered considerable damage by ] wL_:t had since occurred; but this was not the sole 7 real cause. The succession duty had failed to product. he expected by 1,000,0002. Beside this, the stoppage application of a surplus of ie venue to the reduction of th debt ci nsed an increase of charge, and additional lebt Ind been contracted on account of the Russian war, "'•ems amounting to 2,720,0002., though the revenue had pernu, My increased. The actual charge in 1853 was 58,983,0C: which would havp left a surplus of revenue in 1860-61 of 2,317,0002., had th3 expenditure remained as it was. In 1853 the whole amount voted for-supplies was 24 279,0002. in 1861 it wor-id be 39,200,0002.; an increase of'l4 921 0002., while the i^oome-tax returns under Schedules A B and D showed the increase in the wealth, of the coun- try beyond the ratio of expenditure. He then called upon the Committee to consider the 1 est means of filling up the deficit of 9,40<\oow-> and the principles and policy which ou"-ht to be adopted. He trusted, he said, that th^ expenditure might be reduced by degrees, for mis was a process which was necessarily gradual, or the evil would be aggravated. At this epoch it was the view of the Government that i:. the duty of Parliament to make ccr-T.c stop forward in the career 01 public improvement, and he coulet no;, rdacc "uty on .arrow ground. The House must take it to* granted that we W8re likely to remain on a high level of public expenditure bat this was no reason for stopping in the process of commercial reforms. He pointed out the "essential connect between taxes or trade and in- dustry and the power to pay taxe", and showed the effect of a remission of taxation in the increase in th > amount of taxes that the Customs and Excise grew fast under the remission of taxes than when nothing at all was remitted A BROAD VIEW OF TAXATION FOR THE WORKING CLASSES. Then, upon what principle ought remission of taxes to be baseü 0 fie thou z1 t the bulk of the burden should fall upon the rich, hut t.iat other classes ought to bear theirproper share. It was a mistake to suppose that the best way to give to the labouring classes the yYKtxwyviiTYi of benefit-was to re- duce the duties on such articles as tea and sugar the most effectual relief was by remissions that operated upon the trades which gave *fm em. :cyn.enf T- r ^ed the House to renew the duties on those artic. the,} lod, foi another year. THE NEW TREATY WITH FRAft i„ii. Mr. Gladstone then addressed himself to the Commercial Treaty with France, the stipulations of which, the principles upon which it was based, and its results as they affected the trade and commerce of England, he expounded at great length. He repelled with much energy the charge of sub- serviency to France, asserting that, with an insignificant exception, we had given by the treaty nothing to France. He knew, he said, that a treaty with that country must bear a political character every commercial treaty with France bore such a character. The reduction of duties under the treaty would afford a total relief to the Gonsumer in this country of 1,737,0002., and a loss to the revenue of 1,190,0002. It had been objected to the treaty, he said, that the duties we repealed were revenue duties, laid upon luxuries, which did not affect the poor man but he showed that not one of the duties deserved that character. He contended that what we had done by the treaty was good for ourselves, if France had done nothing at all. Although wine was a rich man's luxury, so was tea in 1760, and both tea and sugar might now be made luxuries of the rich if duties enough were,imposed upon them The wine duties were duties of protection, differential, not revenue duties. CUSTOMS' REFORM AND NEW DUTIES. Mr. Gladstone then proceeded to develope a supple- mentary measure of Customs' reform, which would, he thought, effect a relief to the consumer to the amount of 1,040,0002., and a loss to the revenue of 910,0002., and he pro- posed to meet this loss by certain impositions on trade. This second portion of Customs' reforms consisted in the abolition and reduction of duties on various articles, a list of which he read, and the changes were to be met by an extension of a very small penny taxation, in the shape of registration dues upon goods imported and exported; a moderate charge on certain operations performed in warehouses—bottling, vatting, mixing, &c., which had grown up as an excrescence upon the warehousing system; and this would afford the means of solving a very difficult question,-that of inland bonding, He proposed to levy a duty of 6s. per cwt. upon chicory or other vegetable matter mixed with coffee, which would entail an Excise charge upon home-grown chicory. These charges would bring 510,0002. Other minpr charges upon dock warrants, licenses to eating-houses to sell wine and beer, an alteration of the duty on game certificates, the removal of the exemption from stamp duties on certain cheques, and other small items, would yield 386,0002., making, together with 510,0002., a revenue of 896,0001. There would be a saving in the Customs' establishment of 50,0002., and in the Inland Department of 36,0002., making an aggregate amount of 982,0002., which would more than replace the revenue with- drawn by the reforms. REMISSION OF THE PAPER DUTY. Still he estimated about 1,000,0002. of remission was due to the trade of the country and as the Govern- ment did not think a return to the minimum duties upon tea and sugar was the direction which relief ought to take, he proposed to abolish the Excise duty upon paper, one reason for which was that this duty had been condemned by the House of Commons with the full concurrence of the Executive of the day. The repeal of this duty would simpify the labours of the revenue officers, and it would be accom- panied by the abolition of the impressed stamp on newspapers, and the introduction of an intermediate l^d. postage-stamp. He proposed to alter the system of hop credits, and to reduce the duty on hops and malt. THE rfccOME-lfe AGAIN" INCREASED Mr. Gladstone then brought into one view the results ot these changes, which left a total loss of 2,108,0002., with a total relief to the consumer of 3 931,0002. The total charge for 1860-H being 70,100,0002., and the revenue 60,692,0001., there was still a deficiency of 9,408,0002. To meet this he proposed to continue the Income-tax at a higher rate by Id. than if there was no remission—namely, lOd. in the pound on incomes above 1502., and 7d. on incomes below that sum; the tax to continue with the tea and sugar duties, for one year. This would supply 8,472,0001., making, with the malt and hop credits, 9,872,0002., increas- ing the aggregate revenue to 70,564,0002., leaving an esti- mated apparent surplus revenue of 464,0002. Mr. Gladstone concluded an eloquent peroration by placing a resolution in the hands of the Chairman, and proposing that the con- sideration of the subject should be resumed on Thursday next. Mr. Disraeli thought this proposition unreasonable, and suggested that dayfortnight. A discussion ensued, which terminated in an arrangement by which Monday week was substituted for Thursday. The House then went into a Committee of Supply, when Mr. S. Herbert moved a vote to make good the deficiency of certain army grants for the year 1858-59, which, after some discussion, was agreed to. The Attorneys and Solicitors Bill was read a second time. The remaining business having been disposed of, the House adjourned. In the House of Lords on Monday, February 13, the In- dictable Offences (Metropolitan District) Bill was read a second time, after some discussion among the law lords. The object of the Bill is, that no charge shall be tried at the Central Criminal Court without previous investigation before a stipendiary magistrate—in fact, to abolish in the metro- politan districts the grand jury system, which has been stigmatised as the hope of the London thief." Lord Ebury, in presenting a. petition from the Vestry of St. George's-in-the-East, trusted that Parliament would pro- vide some means by which such unseemly disputes between a clergyman and his parishioners might be avoided for the future. The Bishop of Exeter denied that the Rev. Bryan King had acted in opposition to the law on the contrary, he had only fulfilled it. He considered that before a remedy was ap- plied it would be necessary to show that a remedy was wanted. He strongly insisted upon the necessity of putting a stop to the violence of the mob, which otherwise would gather courage from impunity, and finally perhaps be led into ex- cesses similar to those of the Mo-Popery mobs of 1780. The Bishop of London stated that the disturbances in St. George's-in-the-East had ceased, but he was sorry to say that the mode by which that event had been brought about was by the presence of 60 policemen inside the church. After a short conversation the subject dropped. Lord Ebury's motion for a statement of all alterations made in the Book of Common Prayer by the Queen's Printer since Easter, 1859, by whose orders they were made, &c., was then agreed to. Their Lordships then adjourned. In the House of Commons, on the order for going into a Committee of Supply, Mr. B. Cochrane called attention to our relations with China. He did so in a narrative speech, which was clear and very much to the point. Our demands in 1857, he observed, were limited to the fulfilment of the treaty engagements and compensation for British losses; but, unfortunately, in February, 1858, Lord Elgin took a step further, and demanded from the Chinese Government the right to have a British Minister resident at the Court of Pekin. The demand, lie contended, was the cause of all our present difficulties, in- asmuch as it was admitted to be intolerable to the Chinese, and their assent was only extorted from their fears. In order to establish this position, he gave, from the papers laid before the House, a narrative of the transactions preceding the attempt to force the passage of the Peilio, commenting as he proceeded upon the conduct of the several agents, and especially Mr. Bruce, who had incurred, he said, a heavy responsibility, and had not acted in the spirit of a Minister going to ratify a treaty of peace. He took a lenient view of the proceedings of the Chinese authorities, who looked upon our officials, not the British Government, as in fault, and he ridiculed the idea that the Russians had assisted the Chinese as absurd and a bugbear. He cautioned the Government against pursuing any other object in China but a commercial one. He had little hope of anything else but war arising out of the present complication. Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston also spoke on the same question, both of whom deprecated full discussion at this time on a subject so important. Lord John proceeded to offer a justification for the conduct of Mr. Bruce, dwel- ling upon the difficulties he had to encounter. He thought Mr. Bruce acted according to his instructions. Lord John was not prepared to give up the Treaty because of the defeat sustained at the mouth of the Peiho, and he was prepared to vindicate the honour and dignity of the British Crown. THE NAVY ESTIMATES. Several miscellaneous topics having been disposed of, the Speaker wis allowed to leave the chair, and the House having resolved itself into a Committee of Supply, Lord C. Paget moved the Navy Estimates. He observed that it was abso- lutely necessary that a country like this, with such extended territories and an immense commerce, should maintain a considerable number of ships, and that, supposing every other country should disarm, we should still be under the neces- sity of keeping up a large navy. The navy was now a new creation,—all nations had started fair, and it behoved us, therefore, to make efforts to restore our superiority. In order to give the House an idea of the navies which other nations possessed, he read a list of the French navy, which had 34 ships-of-the-line afloat and five building, 34 fri- gates afloat and 13 building, 5 iron-cased ships building, 17 corvettes afloat and 3 building, besides gunboats and small vessels, making in all 244 steamships; and most of those building might be launched in a few months. Russia had 9 steamships of the line afloat and 9 building, 18 steam frigates afloat and 3 building, 10 steam corvettes afloat and 11 building, and a number of smaller vessels, making 187 steamships afloat and 48 building-a total of 235 vessels. Unlike ourselves, both France and Russia could call out men to man their navies in a few weeks. He then stated the number of steam-vessels we had in commission on the 1st of December last (excluding sailing vessels) at 244, of which number the force at home and in the Mediterranean,. consisted of 27 line-of-battle ships, 14 frigates and corvettes, and 29 sloops and gunboats, in ad- dition to blockships, the number afloat and building, and the number he expected would be launched before the end of the year, including ten line-of-battle ships and 12 frigates. Lord Clarence then went through the several estimates, explaining them very fully, and commenting upon each. On the 10th vote he accounted for the programme of last year of the ships to be built falling short, and stated that it was pro- posed to build 39,934 tons during the ensuing financial year, besides converting four line-of-battle ships and four frigates. He claimed credit for effecting a real reduction in the vote for naval stores, &c., in the yards, without prejudice to the public service. In conclusion, he said it was with extreme pain he was instrumental in asking for such large sums of money, but it was the wish of the nation that our navy should be maintained in sufficient force and he referred to the suggestion of Mr. Cobden that where the French had two ships we should have three. The Government felt bound, therefore, to continue their exertions to put our navy on a sound footing. At the same time, although these large estimates were asked for, they did not think themselves under an obligation, if the state of Europe and the world should justify a reduction of our naval force, although the House of Commons granted the money, to expend it. He moved the first vote of 85,500 men and boys in the fleet and Coastguard service, including 18,000 Marines. Sir J. Pakington expressed his satisfaction at the state- ment of Lord Clarence, and, after some discussion, the vote was agreed to, as well as a vote of 3,476,7571. for wages of seamen and marines, and another of 1,458,0871. for victuals for the same. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to. The Probate and Administration (India) Bill was read a. third time and passed. The report upon the Customs' Acts was brought up and agreed to. The other orders were then disposed of, and the House adjourned. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, February 14th, a great number of petitions were presented against church rates. Lord Malmesbury called attention to a statement in another place that Mr. Bruce had acted pursuant to instructions in forcing the passage of the Peiho. He had the greatest re- spect for Mr. Bruce, but at the same time he could not let the statement pass unchallenged; and he gave notice that on Tuesday, the 21st, he should call attention to Chinese affairs. The Court of Chancery Bill passed through committee. The Marquis of Normanby moved for "copies of any instructions that may have been sent from the Secretary of State to the Charge d'Affaires at Florence, directing him to attend the official reception, on the 1st of January, of Signor Buoncompagni, now acting as Governor Gene- ral of Tuscany, having been nominated as such by Prince Carignan, of Savoy, without an ysutfsequent popular sanction on the part of the Tuscan people, and also for re- turns of all the dates of all communications between the Secretary of State and his Majesty's ambassador at Paris on the subject of the annexation of Savoy and Nice to France, up to the 1st of January last. The noble lord animad- verted severely on the agitation by which the Sardinian governors of the States of Central Italy had been appointed. He reviewed the late events in Italy at some length, con- sidering the policy which had been adopted towards the Central States. He endeavoured to show that it was a mis- take to suppose that the people had tranquilly submitted to the provisional government. Lord Granville defended Signor Buoncompagni and the Italian people from the attacks of Lord Normanby. The state of Italy was at the present moment most satisfactory, and he thought that the moderation the Italians had ex- hibited was highly creditable. Lord Malmesbury hoped that nothing would induce Govern. ment to abandon the policy of non-intervention. Lord Cardigan said that while it was most desirable that the French army should be withdrawn from Northern Italy, the withdrawal of the French army from Rome would be followed by the most dreadful consequences to the Papal Government and its supporters. Lord Derby asked whether the papers to be laid on the table of the House would contain the latest information on the subject of the negotiations, and whether Lord Granville would point out in what view Her Majesty's Government regard the project. Lords Clanricarde and Granville having made some obser- vations, a desultory conversation ensued, and the motions being ultimately agreed to, their lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons, after some private bills had been read a second time, Mr. Kinglake postponed his motion in reference to Savoy and Nice until that day fortnight. Mr. Berkeley gave notice that as soon as possible after the introduction of the Reform Bill, he would move for leave to bring in a bill to protect Parliamentary voters by the ballot. Mr. Edwin James asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what period he intended to postpone the introduc- tion of the Bill for Reform of the Representation of the People in Parliament. Lord J. Russell said he should take his chance for the ballot on Thursday, March 1st. If he should obtain a good place he would bring in his bill on that day. If not, he would bring it in on Friday, the 2nd, or Monday, the 5th of March. Lord Claude Hamilton asked the Secretary to the Ad- miralty whether the attention of the Board had been directed to the quality of the wine and drugs supplied to the navy for medical purposes, it having been described as unfit for the use of invalids, although exempt from duty. Lord C. Paget said that the drugs supplied to the navy were of the best possible character. No complaints had been made about the wine. The statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer the other evening had caustd some little sensation at the Admiralty, and inquiries were being insti- tuted. Mr. Spooner moved "that this House do resolve itself into a committee to consider the acts for the endowment of the College of Maynooth with a view to the withdrawal of any en- dowment out of the Consolidated Fund, due regard being had to vested rights and interests." He contended that the grant to Maynooth was a great national sin, and that this country was now reaping the fruits of it in the disloyalty which the Roman Catholics of Ireland were exhibiting towards the British Crown. Mr. R. Long seconded the motion, and after some remarks from Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Henessy, Mr. Cardwell, in a very few words, urged the inexpediency of disturbing an arrange- ment so long made, and unsettling religious institutions in Ireland. Mr. ITewdegate supported the motion, and Mr. Hadfield having essayed in vain to be heard, Mr. Spooner made a short reply, and the House divided, when the motion was negatived by 186 to 128. Mr. Pollard-Urquhart moved an address praying for some alterations in the statutes of Trinity and St. John's Col- leges, Cambridge. Mr. Baines seconded the motion, but after some remarks from Lord Stanley, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Briscoe, and Mr. Newdegate, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Clive moved for and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the regulation and inspection of mines. Mr. Whiteside obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the Medical Acts. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and agreed to. The House, after some further business, adjourned.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE BUDGET AND TREATY. We collate from the contemporary press the follow- ing expressions of opinions upon the new treaty with I France, and the Budget introduced by Mr. Glad- stone The Chancellor of the Exchequer has taken a line which we must admit to be admirably adapted to the temper of the British people. Brought to bay by pursuing events, by war and rumours of war, by finances bandied about from one to another, and by the consequent failure of his own high- wrought expectations seven years ago, he resolves not to be beaten, and turns upon the dellcit which threatens to devour him. The Budget is that of a man who wiU make the suc- cess which has not come, and celebrate as a festival the oc- casion which fate would have turned into woe. Should his Budget be adopted, we wish it every success. May fifty thousand Dame Quicklys put his effigy over their doors, and supply -capons and conserves, with cheap Canary, Sherry sack, Malaga, and even strong Oporto, to better customers than Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, and his suite.- Times. SOUND CALCULATION AND SAFE RESULTS. The characteristic of this memorable budget is its deter- mined fairness and striking honesty of purpose. Liberal in the highest and broadest sense, it disdains to pander to powerful prejudices, or to cater for popularity at the expense of public utility and public justice. It is, in a word, a budget of principles, not of expedients bold without rashness, ten- tative yet not fantastic, confident yet cautious; decisive as an onward movement, but sound in its calculations and safe in its results. Such is Mr. Gladstone's Budget of 1860 as a whole.-Daily News. A MORAL GUARANTEE FOR PEACE. Mr. Gladstone may be safely congratulated upon the suc- cess which attended his effort of last night. We know not what stimulus the productions of this country may re- ceive by the commercial relations which henceforth are to subsist between England and France we know not what treasures this new development of free trade, on the largest and grandest scale ever yet attempted, may bring to the English Exchequer and to the English manufacturer and English artisan, but we are sure that, by drawing closer the bonds of union, founded on reciprocity and good faith, Eng- land and France will give a moral guarantee in favour of the preservation of European peace, in comparison with which financial schemes, however nicely adjusted, are as dust in the balance.-Morning Post. TREASURY REFORM INAUGURATED. Mr. Gladstone achieved last night a memorable success, for he has proposed a plan of finance which will not only be popular, but will tend to establish the British Exchequer upon principles which previous Chancellors of the Exche- quer, in time of peace and in time of war, have with infatu- ation despised, until it has been discovered that either the Treasury must be reformed, or taxation would become too oppressive for the taxpayer to endure.-Daily Telegraph. A GLOOMIER PROSPECT THAN EVER! We cannot wonder that the Government were anxious to secure the services of the rhetorician of the day." No living Englishman, we venture to say, could have put so imposing a front on such a thoroughly hopeless project. The; nation looked for a statesmanlike measure of finance and a relief to its burdens. It meets with a proposal which vio- lates the principles on which its financial policy is based, and learns that the remission of the income tax is inde- finitely postponed, and our prospects for 1861 gloomier than ever.—Morning Herald. A TRANSPARENT SHAM The Budget is a sham, but a sham too easily seen through. It is a spiritless concession to a foreign Power, and a de- grading attempt to gain the support of the industrial classes in this country by holding out delusive proposals of amelior- ating their condition.-Standard. VAULTING FINANCIAL AMBITION. Our opinion is that the changes which Mr. Gladstone pro- poses are for the most part in themselves desirable; and it would not be seemly, after the interval of a very few hours, to pass judgment on a scheme which must have occupied its author for many weeks. But we cannot forbear to say that our first impression is, that the plan is of too ambitious a character, attempts too much in too short a time, and is not so acceptable to us as a less daring proposal would have been.—Economist. THE TREATY ALONE WORTH THE MONEY The Chancellor of the Exchequer declares that within a very limited time the experiment he thus proposes to make will, by its financial results, vindicate itself. We say, whether it does so or not, we shall be large gainers thereby; and that, taking into account calmly the whole of the consequences, were the whole of the revenue permanently lost which is now about to be temporarily given up, the treaty would be worth the money.-Leader. COMPLETING SIR R. PEEL'S JPOLICY. Its proportions are noble and imposing, while its details are worked out with a degree of finish and minuteness which inspires us with heartfelt admiration for the genius that framed it. We accept it from the most distinguished disciple of Sir Robert Peel, as the complement of the reforms for which we are indebted to that great statesman, and we cannot doubt that, in spite of factious rivalries and small ambitions, it will be carried triumphantly through the Legislature.- Manchester Examiner. "A PROVOKING PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS." A large liberality has become expected of us from our past precedents and, as with popular authors, the transcendant merit of our first performances creates the greatest difficulty to keep up, in our last, with the world's excited expectations. This difficulty at least Mr. Gladstone must be owned to have most successfully surmounted. We are disposed to think the large scope ofhis measures may subdne rather than strengthen the opposition which may be expected to them, as a matter of course, from some quarters. Mr. Disraeli must have sat and listened to Mr. Gladstone's speech with some- what of the dispiriting reflection of Sir Anthony Absolute- "There's a provoking probability of success about the fellow." -Globe. A COMPLETE AND DECIDED TRIUMPH. The treaty contains more of good, present and future, than had been predicted of it by those who were but par- tially informed of its contents, or unfavourable to its pro- visions. It is in connection with this treaty that the budget of 1860 is to be studied. But it is also worthy of all favour- able consideration on its own account. The proposition of Mr. Gladstone may be already pronounced a complete and jj decided success.—O&MTrcr.

"JIM MYERS" & THE "FIERY DRAGON" IN A FIX! In the Court of Queen's Bench, the case of Jim Myers v. Bray's Patent Traction Engine Company (Limited) has been tried. It was an action for a breach of contract. The de- fendants pleaded 20 pleas, and had paid 701, into court, as suflicient compensation. The following are the details:- Mr. Hawkins stated the case in a humorous speech. tHe said the plaintiff was "Jim Myers," the celebrated equestrian performer, and proprietor of the Pavilion Theatre in Whitechapel, London. He was the pro- prietor of a large stud of horses, and had a large es- tablishment of performers, and in the summer of last year he contemplated a country tour. His attention had been called to the powers of Bray's traction engine, and its adaptability to common turnpike roads, and, by way of astonishing the natives, he thought it would be desirable to enter into an engagement with the de- fendants for conveying his troupe through the provinces. He accordingly entered into a contract with the defen- dants to supply him with an engine for three months, and forthwith prepared to start, having provided himself with expensive show bills, printed in America, and at a cost of 251. a day for ad- vertising. The plaintiff had also incurred an expense of 5001. for making his carriages suitable (jto be conveyed by the engine. The plaintiff did •not like the ordinary appearance of the engine, and 'iin order to make it attractive as an exhibition engine, he caused it to be converted, by painting and an out- side covering, from a puffing, blowing, ordinary-looking engine to a fiery green dragon. On the day on which it was to start the engine became an unruly monster. Instead of going at the rate of seven miles an hour, as it was warranted, it took seven hours to go from the Pavilion Theatre to Camberwell-green, having more the appearance of a funeral procession than an enter- tainment to excite the admiration of the public. The engine and carriages proceeded to Camberwell-green amidst the derision of little boys, and the gibes of those of a larger growth, where the plaintiff had pitched his tent. He had advertised two entertainments the fol- lowing day at Croydon. The arrival was armour' •••• by large showbills, depicting the engine with a green dragon on the top, and so encased as to hid- funnel, Mr. Bray, the engine-driver, Slttlllg on the pc with a moustache, and Jem Myers himself, ready to meet an admiring populace, followed by a train of clever performers, one of whom appeared to be slipping out of the windows of one of the carriages. Myers started from Camberwell to Croydon, which was barely seven miles distant; but to his astonishment it took ten hours to perform the journey. The plaintiff's patience was very much tried. He had hardly reached the town, anticipating a triumphal entrance, when the engine broke down, and stuck fast in the middle of the road. The police authorities were indignant at the roadway being blocked up, and desired the engine to move on. "Move on," said Myers, "I wish I could move on." I'll have nothing of this sort," said the local authori- ties, and at last, after considerable difficulty, the engine was g°t out of the way. His next place was Bromley, and thence on to Dartford, but after it had got a mile and a half, it came to a dead stoppage. The engine- driver condoled with the plaintiff, and he was consoling himself the best way he could, when, to add insult to injury, out came a gentleman's servant in livery, be- fore whose house the engine had stopped, and told Mr. Myers that his master required him to take the nuisance away, or his master would do it for him. On leaving Dartford the engine again broke down. The company proceeded with horses to Gravesend, and at Chatham another engine (No. 4) was sent to the plaintiff. He left Chatham for Maidstone, and when he had got a mile on the top of the hill the steerage suddenly gave way, and the engine and train ran into a bank, upset, and the thing became a total wreck. He had again to send on his performers, &c., with horses. He com- plained again to the directors, and a third engine was sent down to replace No. 4. At Tonbridge Wells No. 6, which was a lively description of engine, joined them. His pace was suddenly increased to two and a half miles an hour, but it could never be kept in order. In one place it rr,n on one side, cut up the pavement, and the plaintiff was threatened by the local authorities for the damage done. At another time the engine knocked down and ran through a brick wall, which the plaintiff had to replace but near Dover it ran against the turn- pike gate, knocked it down, and upset the gate-keeper, for which the plaintiff got into law and into the hands of the magistrates and the police. All the sympathy the directors expressed was that they hoped he would get out of it. Before arriving at Newbury the engine suddenly turned off at right angles, ran through a gentleman's wall with the funnel in his drawing-room window. The gentleman rushed out in astonishment, and asked what they were about. The plaintiff said he could not help it-that it was an accident. The gentleman asked him what he meant by bringing such a thing about the country, but on the plaintiff's ex- plaining the matter to him he sympathised with plaintiff, and said he would not charge him with the damage, but said, Mind, don't let me see it here again." "No," said Myers, only let me get home safely." Another engine was sent him, which at first gave no notice of disorderly intentions, but going down a slight declivity the plaintiff or a sudden felt something go wrong, and the engine began running at a speed such as it never did before. It could not be kept straight, and it turned off as if to go across the country on a steeplechase, but ran against the bank. Myers was thrown into an oak tree, and found himself performing Charles II. on the public highway without an audience, for the stoker was after- wards found with his head in the fire-box, and on his being pulled out he was transformed from a man with a bushy curly head of hair to a bald-headed individual scarcely recognisable. Myers, who was a celebrated acrobat, was performing with no one to see him, and the stoker, who was not a very good performer, had taken an involuntary bolt through the fire-hole, like those who voluntarily jumped through the hoops in the circus, for it certainly was a summersault he never con- templated. The engine was ultimately deposited at Birmingham, where it awaits the result of law pro- ceedings between the parties. The plaintiff, in conse- quence of this mishap, had brought this action to recover compensation for losses in the performance from not arriving at the time advertised, and from the loss of his reputation. There was also a claim for money paid out of pocket. The plaintiff was put into the box, and was cross- examined at considerable length. He said :— At Dover, there being no charge for a, waggon not drawn by an ox, horse, mule, or ass," I charged the turnpike-gate. I tendered the man 4s. 6d.; he refused to take it, and I ordered the driver to charge the gate. The man afterwards took the 4s. 6d. I don't know the strength of the gate, but the engine went through it. (Laughter.) At one place I paid 111. turnpike tolls, over thirteen miles of road. We got into Dover pretty well, and paraded the place. We turned the old engine round, and backed her into Dover. Mr. Edwin James: Then you went into Dover backwards? -Plaintiff: Yes. Mr. Edwin James And the dragon went in tail first? (Laughter.)-Plaintiff: Yes. Mr. Edwin James: You charge 3,0002. for the loss of your reputation ?-Plaintiff: I won't take that for it. Mr. Edwin James It has not been offered to you yet.- Plaintiff: I have been working thirty years for it. After some discussion it was agreed that there should be a verdict taken for the defendants on the counts alleging fraud, and that a verdict should be taken for the plaintiff, subject to a reference upon all the other counts.

ANOTHER MURDER THROUGH DRINK. Another of those brutal murders for which the Lin- colnshire district has latterly become too notorious, there is every reason to believe has been perpetrated at the village of Skegness, a little watering-place on the Lincolnshire coast. The following are the particulars:— On the night of the 4th inst. three farm labourers, named Lynn, Moody, and Howard, were drinking together at one of the hotels by the seaside, and were turned out together when the house was closed at twelve o'clock. They were all at the time more or less excited by drink. Howard bought a bottle of gin to take home with him, but during their walk together Lynn and Moody several times drank out of the bottle. When they had arrived at a certain point of their journey Howard left the other two men, who were then apparently on friendly terms, and proceeded on his way home. Lynn and Moody pro- ceeded in an opposite direction. The following afternoon some boys playing by the roadside discovered the body of Lynn in a ditch, about 150 yards from the spot where the men had separated the previous night. There were marks of a strug- gle on the road, and by the ditch-side two caps were found, one of which belonged to the deceased, and the other to Moody, who was in consequence immediately apprehended, as it was known that he had for some time been at variance with the deceased. When in custody it was observed that he had sundry cuts on his face which were not there on the previous evening. When asked how these marks had been caused, he said that he had cut himself that morn- ing, while shaving. His beard, however, showed that no razor had touched it for several days. The trou- sers he had worn on Wednesday night were found to be quite wet and muddy on the knees, and his boots corresponded with marks on the road. He said that he knew nothing of the murder he had seen the deceased home. This is, however, contradicted by the widow of the deceased, who says that while sitting up for her husband she heard footsteps near the house about three o'clock in the morning, and on looking out she saw Moody pass her house without his cap. The post-mortem examination proved that the deceased had been stupefied by a severe blow on the head, and then smothered by lying in the muddy water at the bot- tom of the ditch. The inquest, at which the above facts were elicited, was adjourned, when it is expected that further facts will be brought forward to elucidate the mysterious affair.

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING IN LONDON. Some gentlemen in London connected with the va- rious benevolent societies lately conceived the idea of convening a meeting of "fallen women" in the neigh- bourhood of Regent-street, London, where judicious addresses might be given, to be followed by prayer. Cards of invitation were distributed among them, and on Thursday evening last, a large number of females, many of them very fashionably attired, assembled at the St. James's Restaurant, where an abundant supply of tea and coffee, with various eatables, were provided. The number gradually increased till there were at least 200 of those unfortunate creatures present, and some thirty or thirty-five clergymen and gentlemen who had been instrumental in convening the assembly. Whilst the repast was going on, the principal gentle- men present mustered together at a conspicuous spot for the purpose of delivering addresses. The Rev. W. Brock opened the proceedings by briefly stating the ob- ject of the meeting, when the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel delivered an eloquent, yet pathetic and affectionate discourse, alluding to his hearers as his dear young friends." He commenced by drawing a picture of the history of a virtuous woman from her childhood, point- ing out the unspeakable love of the father and mother for the child, the association with sisters and brothers, the affection of the husband, and, at last, the love which she herself bears her own children; and then he compared that picture with the position of those who had erred from the paths of virtue, told them they had a friend whu had died for them, and entreated them to turn to their Saviour at once, and they would be happy for the rest of their lives. The hon. and rev. gentle- man then read letters from several girls who had been reclaimed, stating the happiness they felt; and, in con- clusion, he exhorted his hearers not to depart without heeding what he had said. The Rev. W. Brock, the Rev. Mr. Houghton, the Rev. William O'Neil, and others, then offered up prayers, and the effect produced by the earnest and touching appeal of the first-named gentleman, delivered in a deep tone of voice, was most touching. A large number of the fallen sisterhood buried their faces in their handkerchiefs and sobbed aloud, whilst more than one had to be removed in an almost unconscious condition from the room. It was announced that any present who repented their sins would be received into the London Reforma- tory, or the Trinity Home and that further arrange- ments would be made for the reception of others else- where, if funds could be provided. The conduct of those present was highly creditable, and quite void of levity or contumely.

THE DEAN OF CARLISLE AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. The annual meeting of the Carlisle Auxiliary of one United Kingdom Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic has just been held in the Athenaeum of that place. The Dean of Carlisle presided, and we extract a few remarks from his speech :— He commenced by saying that he was fully persuaded that so long as the present system, or any fractional part of the present system, continues in this country—so long as the Le- gislature sanctioils and licenses any shop or house for the liquor traffic, so long will the people of this country be cele- brated throughout Europe for intemperance and drunken- ness. THE REMEDY. The idea they had immediately before them was, that people should petition Parliament that Parliament would pass a law to make it competent for any city, town, parish, town- ship, or district, wherein a certain majority of the inhabitants expressed their opinion that it was desirable that no liquor or intoxicating drink should be bought or sold, except for medicinal or manufacturing purposes, that it should be com- petent for such district to pass such a law, and so close up and destroy that traffic entirely. (Applause.) Now, a per- missive bill of this kind gained much favour with many people. They were dreadfully afraid of a compulsory bill; but if he had it in his power, he would pass a compulsory bill to- morrow morning. (Laughter and applause.) But one can't have one's own way..It's very odd. (Laughter.) It was just like the contemplated reform of the Prayer Book. A man came to him the other day, and asked him to sign a peti- tion praying for a revision of the Liturgy. He said, "I will, upon one condition." "What's that?" asked the man. "Why," replied the Dean, that I should do it myself." (Laughter.) Now, it was very odd their opponents would not consent to these terms but as the promoters could not get their own way, they must just go as far as they could. HOW TO GET ALL THAT IS WANTED Upon every great question of reform, upon the great question of slavery, it had been by a bit-and-bit principle that people had got at last what they wanted. So with this question of the liquor traffic. They had all become exceed- ingly moderate in asking Parliament for a permissive bill. (Laughter.) Well, that's not so bad it is said. If there be a city or town containing such a parcel of fools as do not want drink, then let them have their way by all means. (Laughter and applause.) If they could so effect that, he had no doubt of the result of the experiment—there would be found plenty of cities and towns and villages of the same way of thinking—where the people would rise up and say, We will try this experiment, and see whether we also can t do without wasting our money, ruining our health, and destroying our souls and bodies with these drinking habits." If the Maine Law were to come into operation to morrow-and he should like to see it, and all the drink shops shut up-it would not prevent the Times' advocate building a malt-house and making his beer, and drinking as much as he pleased—(laughter)—it would not interfere with him at all. All it would do would be to stop the open and public traffic and sale of it for drinking. (Applause.) It is said that it would be a tyranny but it is no more a tyranny than what we are doing every day. Suppose a man came and set up a house next door to his as a manufactory of fire- works, and he made squibs and rockets, why, the law would protect him (the Dean), and he could indict that man for keeping a nuisance. (Laughter and applause.) Well, he would say that he would sooner have a squib man next door than a gin-shop. (Laughter and applause.) He would run the risk of being blown up, rather than sit at his window and see two or three hundred men, women, and children dropping into that poison house, and drinking that which would destroy their souls and bodies to eternity. ( THE BETTER TIME TO COME! The next half century would doubtless see this country, which is now in the providence of God raised to a pinnacle I of commercial and manufacturing prosperity unrivalled-a country which stands in a position perfectly unparalleled by any nation whose history is recorded in the pages of old story—if we could turn away from this single vice, if by means moral and persuasive on the one hand, and legislative < on the other, we could abolish this one great cause of man's c misery, he believed that this great Christian country would indeed become, and remain so for many years, the greatest 1 and most glorious of all the lands and countries In the world. (Applause.) We must cast off this curse, as America must cast off slavery, or sink for ever in the scale of nations. Great Britain must cast away her bottle and her pipe, or, in spite of all her grandeur and greatness, she will sink into a second-rate Power. (Applause.) He would say no more. As this was the first time he had spoken in Carlisle on this particular subject, he was anxious to show that he felt deep interest in it. He was going to attend two meetings of this kind in distant parts of the country during the next ten days, after next Monday, at Bradford and Darlington, where he understood there was a great and mighty feeling upon it. They had pressed hir., ir-to it, not because he was a greater advocate than others, but because he would be exhibited as a bit of a show-a teetotal Deano (Laughter and applause.)

THE REAL PITH OF THE BUDGET FOR THE LADIES. The gross amounts which the Customs duties pro- posed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be replied produced in 1858 were as follows :—Butter, 95,489?.; I caoutchouc, manufactures of, 3,633Z.; cheese, 44,37fp^ clocks, 7,7471.; eggs, 22,440?. embroidery and needle? work, 8,5221.; leather manufactures, (boots, shoes, ] goloshes, and gloves,) 58,117?.; oranges and lemons, 32.830?.; spices, (except pepper, the duty on which ] remains,) 22,016l. silk manufactures, 270,536?.; tal- low, 87, 664l. watches, 15,152?.; woollen yarn, 2,207?.; wood for fuel, 6,2691. These principal articles make a total of 677,092?., and the other commodities enume- rated by Mr. Gladstone, though singly they produce but a few hundreds each, are numerous enough to bring up the total to about 900,000l. The duty on but- ter is 50 per cent., which adds a halfpenny per lb. to the retail price; that on cheese 2s. 6d., or a farthing per pound; on oranges and lemons 8d. per bushel, the effect of which on the retail price is, of course, inap- preciable and on tallow Is. 6d. per cwt., which, divided among so many pounds of candles, does not affect the price per pound in the smallest degree, being little more than one-eighth of a penny. With regard to the manufactures, however, the case is very different. The duty on men's boots varies ac- cording to quality, and to the height, from 7s. to 14s. per dozen pairs, and on women's boots from 4s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per dozen pairs. Paris boots will, therefore, be reduced in price by Mr. Gladstone's proposed new tariff to the extent of 6d. a pair for ladies'; andean average of Is. a pair for gentlemen's whilst Jouvin's gloves will in future be from 3|d. to 4Jd. per pair cheaper than at present, the duty on gentlemen's gloves being 3s. 6d. and on ladies' 4s. 6d. per dozen pairs. But the crowning glory of Mr. Gladstone's Budget, in the eyes of mercers and their lady customers, is the abolition of the duties on silk manufactures, which will or ought to make a reduction of 3s. 6d. upon every cap or turban, and of 7s. on every bonnet, the greater part of the material of which may be silk; and of 15 per cent. upon silks, velvets, gauzes, &c., of the looms of Lyons; whilst silk dresses may be imported ready made, ensuring the taste of the Parisian modiste as well as the real thing in the material, at a reduction of 30s. each. The ladies, and the mercers even more perhaps, will owe Mr. Gladstone a debt of gratitude too great ever to be repaid, should his scheme of tariff revision receive the approval of the House of Commons. j

A MISERABLE MARRIAGE. In the Divorce Court the suit of Cooke v. Cooke, being a suit instituted by Mrs. Cooke against her husband, for a judicial separation on the ground of his cruelty, has been heard:— The parties were married in July, 1858, the lady being the daughter of Mr. Percival, a provision merchant. It was pleaded that after a short intimacy the respondent introduced his father to Mr. Percival, and spoke in such grand terms of his wealth that the marriage was allowed to take place without the lady's father asking for any settlement at all. It was alleged that the eyes of Mr. Percival were opened on the wedding day, when the person who called himself Mr. Cooke's father asked him to give the young couple 1001. to go away with. He thought this -rather odd, I considering the asserted wealth of thEIr parties, but he gave them 10?. After their departure the senior Cooke visited Mr. Percival and obtained a loss of 100?., on the ground that by some extraordinary accident his j steward had not sent up his rents lately. The petitioner I and her husband subsequently took up their residence I in London, and it was alleged that a fortnight after the marriage Mr. Cooke began to treat her with coarseness and filthiness of language that when she was pregnant he struck her a violent blow across the face, and knocked her down, and afterwards struck her on the breast, constantly spat in her face, dug his nails in her arms so that the marks were visible; and at the time of her confinement, left her without any advice or pre- paration of any kind. She had been accustomed to be a regular attendant at church and upon her express- j ing a desire to go there, he said that nobody went to church but bad women, and threw her Bible in the fire. ) His language was generally brutal and disgusting, and at length having come to her bed side with a brace of loaded pistols, and threatened to inflict some bodily injury UDon her or relations, she left his house im- mediately she waf ufiiciently recovered to leave her bed, and had been living ever since with her father. It seemed that the respondent was continually quarrelling I with and abusing his wife about her father having promised him money and not riveni it. Mr. James Percival deposed that the respondent told him he had formed an attachment to his daughter, and introduced a person whom he called his father. That person said his son was in a very high position, and he allowed him 51. 5s. a week, and upon the marriage he would pay in 5001. to witness's bankers. The respond- ent had previously told Mr. Percival that his father was a man of for^ane, with estates in Herefordshire and in that he himself was pursuing his studies in the Temple, because he did not wish to be idle. The marriage took place at St. George's the Martyr, in Southwark, London. When they came home from church and after the company had left the room, the person who represented Mr. Cooke's father said, "What are you going to give them, now they are going away?" Witness was surprised at the question, and replied that he had no money in the house. He afterwards bor- rowed 101, and gave it to the respondent. The couple then went on a marriage trip, and Mr. Cooke, sen., subsequently called on witness and said he could not sell the property to pay in the 5001. as promised with- out a sacrifice, but that it would be a great convenience if he could obtain a loan of 10m. He was induced to lend the money, and the party called two days after- wards to say he would invite him down to shooting in September, but witness had never seen nor heard anything more of him. When the respondent returned from his wedding tour he made several applications to witness for money, but they were refused. He, however, provided money at the time of his daughter's confinement. When the petitioner left her husband it was quite with witness's consent. Cross-examined When I first met you at Margate pier I did not invite you to a goose dinner. You may have come up to town from Margate in the same boat with my daughters, but I never put them under your care. I am not a bill-dis- counter. I allowed your visits because I thought you a res- pectable man. When I gave you the 10?. you did not give it me back again. You said, Thank you," and put it in your pocket. The respondent continued for some time putting a variety of irrelevant questions to this witness, of which the above may be taken as a specimen, and he was frequently stopped by the learned judge, and repri- manded, for the violent abuse and libellous nature of his questions.. The petitioner was then examined, and she confirmed in every particular the statement made by counsel in .her behalf. She was also subjected to a long cross- examination, but only with an unfavourable result to 1;he respondent, who was at length stopped by the learned judge from puttihg any further questions, after having1 been once threatened to be committed. In the course of the cross-examination Mr. Cooke referred to the following lines which he had written to his wife in the spring of last year as a proof of affection "TO POLLY COOKE, vice 3IAKIA PEKCIVATJ. Ye gods inspire me as I pen this lay, To greet Maria on her natal day Infuse the fires of poetry sublime Into my soul, my head, or pen, And guide my rhyme. Say tis humble, yet twdl tell a tale Of that monarchs cannot purchase 'tis ne'er for sale, Of love unsullied, spotless', pure As angels wings that ever must endure, Even tdl the loved one and the devotee, Together mingle in their common clay. I )e&restPo]ly,—Accept this tribute of affection to this thy n atal day. Oh, may you have in any, many happy returns of it; and as year after year rolls on, n^y they laid you res- pected. and happy in the midst of those pledges of our mutual affection which it may please an all-wise Providence to be stow upon such, is Ule of COSMOPOLITAN." The servant of the parties was examined in corrobo- ration, of Mrs Cooke's statement, and her evidence was not in the slightest degree shaken by the cross- examination to which she was subjected by the re- SPAftt^r some further evidence, the respondent made a rambli ng statement to the jury, which was listened to with the neatest impatience, and then proceeded to call wi tnesses in support of has plea, that he had lived on verjr affectionate terms with the petitioner. The re- spondei at commented upon the evidence, and contended that it showed that, instead 6f victimising others, he had bee n victimised himself. The j my found a verdicb for Mrs. Cooke, and Sir C. Crest swell decreed the judicial separation.