The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

Rejoicings in New York. The same correspondent says:—"I despair of giving you an adequate idea. of-the effect produced in this city by the arrival of the news. It came about' one o'clock, arsd business was instantly suspended in shop, counting-house, and workshop. The ooults ad- journed, the common council adjourned, the brokers' board adjourned, and the whole male population poured into the streets. Wall-street, the centre of money getting, was also the focus of the excitement. Stocks, bonds, bills, and invoices, were for the nonce, utterly forgotten, and there followed a scene the like of which has, I venture to say, never been witnessed in any other city. Nobody who did not witness it knows what the phrase 'popular rejoicing' means. Staid, grey-haired merchants and bankers hugged one another, and positively danced on the sido Walk. An immense crowd collected in front of the Treasury and cheered till they were hoarse, and the great roar passed in waves up to Broadway and down to the river. Whentired of cheering, some onei struck up the Red, White, and Blue,' and thousands of voices sung it in full chorus. Then followed 'John Brown,' 'The Star Spangled Banner,Rally round; the Flag, Boys,' and finally Tha Old Hundredth,' that time-honoured Puritan Psalm tune, which is to every Baan of Yankee blood what the Ranz des Vaohes is to the Swiss, God save the Queen1' to the English- man, or 'Garry Owen' to the Irishman. There was probably not an American in the throng to whom it was not the finest music he had ever heard, the tune of all others round which moat associations clustered, and the spectacle of a vast crowd, at high noon, in the centre of one of the busiest haunts of trade, thundering it out as a war song, was not one easily forgotten. When tired of aingiagand sheering, speakers mounted the steps and harangued the audience, many of them so excited that their remarks were utterly incoherent. Every tnention of Grant's name was the signal for a fresh "UTst of cheering-not mere organised hurrahing, but ^discriminate yelling, in which every, man tried his lungs and throat to their utmost capacity. The houses ^ere generally dressed with flags along the whole of Broadway, over three miles, uhe stars and gripes waved from "the windows or the roof of every ~ouse. The church bells all rang, salutes were fired in navy yard, and in the City Hall-park, lasting through the whole afternoon, and at night tho clubs aild many private dwellings were illuminated. Prepa- ^tions are being made for a general celebration on a grand scale, to take place some day this week. It would fc&ve been difficult without the display of yesterday, 111 fact, to have thoroughly appreciated the intensity the feelings which found vent in these tumultuous y; moiistrations of joy. I suppose it will never be «tiown, for there is no way of making it known, how ««eply this war has stirred the national heart— how that "heart has been tortured by the break up of the Union—with what horror most Americana !1:e witnessed the fading of the long oheriahed ^ifeioa of the national growth—with what anguish tfaey have watched rebellion gathering strength and inning respect and recognition—and how they have pithed tinder the taunts which foreigners poured on £ hem without mercy or scruple. Thousands of families ave, I am satisfied, been prevented from going to Europe during the last three years by the dread of the comments of European drawing-rooms and hotels on American affairs, and this sensitiveness was deepened by the reports brought heme by many of the sufferers. On the Continent they were protected by ignorance of the languages, but in England, according to their own accounts, they had often to drink the cup of bitterness to the dregs. I have been assured by many Americans that they were driven out of England as much by the pity of the more polite or sympathetic as by the jeers and taunts of the positively hostile portion of the people with whom they came in contact.

Opinions on the Result of the late Victory. Everybody is now satisfied that the long agony is over; that the war is virtually at an end, and we shall see during the coming summer the United States in a prouder place than ever amongst the nations of the earth, and their rejoicing is as great as their humiliation has been deep. The flag which General Anderson had to haul down at Fort Sumter on the 13th of April, 1861, is to be hoisted by him on the anniversary of the day, and saluted by every battery erected by the Confederates to bear on it, as well as by the fleet. Henry Ward Beecher has been requested by Mr. Lincoln to go down and deliver an address on the occasion amidst the ruins of the fort, I and has agreed to do so, and is to be accompanied by a whole fleetofspectators. The dayhisjvoiceis heard echo- ing across the harbour the cup of South Carolina will in- deed be full. The high priest of revolution celebrating the triumph of his detested creed on the very spot on which she fired the first shot for slavery, in view, too, of Charleston, with the negro sentinel pacing his rounds in the grass-grown streets of the ruined city,' armed and accoutred, with the whole force of a nation at his back, and this the result of four years of a war which was expected to be a military promenade- these sights are surely as hard to look upon as the worst enemy of the Palmetto 'chivalry' could de- sire. And yet, from all I can see or hear, I am satis- that there is the strongest wish amongst the mass of the Northern people not to humiliate or exasperate the Southern population unnecessarily. Evaryboiy, -even the fiercest abolitionists—seems anxious to obliterate as soon as possible all traces of the con- flict, and to allow nothing to remain in the laws, or administration, which is not required by public security, that may remind Southerners of their struggle and defeat. Davis, Lee, Benjamin, Mason, &c., I think, will die in exile, but the rest of the population can come back to. morrow, and enjoy precisely the same rights and privileges which they enjoyed before the war broke out, except that of 'larrupping their own niggers.' This ines- timable immunity is certainly lost to them, but they will soon get used to the privation, and will, I have no doubt, wonder a few years hence that they ever valued it so highly. I think Mr. Beecher, in announcing to his congregation last Sunday his intention of going to Charleston, well expressed the general feeling when he said 'At other times, when the prospect of lifting the flag to its former place seemed almost visionary, he had spoken of such an event with jubilation. But now as the time in reality drew near, his soul trembled within him at its solemn meaning. Many would go there im- bued with this feeling of solemn jubilation, in this wonderful, event in the history of this people. He should be sorry if any went there with any other feel- ing than that of Christian patriotism. If others went with feelings of exultation over a fallen foe, for his part he went as a brother to appeal to misled brethren from the day of their misapprehension to the day of knowledge. It would be to say to them that, after four years of blood and darkness, we had brought back to them the same hearts of love that they had smitten in these long four years. If there be any minded in that spirit to go, praying the blessing of God to rest not on the North alone, but on the whole undivided country, he would welcome them.'

Rejoicings in Washington. Washington," says a correspondent," in a letter dated the 4th of April, is ablaze with enthu- siasm. Such a holiday was never before witnessed here. Upon the announcement of the news old and young men, and old and young women, wept as children with joy that the wa.r was ended. Stalwart men embraced and: kissed each other upon the streets friondawho had been estranged for years shook hands and renewed their vows of friendship. By one com- mon impulse the storekeepers closed their places of business • flags were evotywWo <3ispl»y6cl; tha people turned out en masse,-and joined in one grand,, universal expression of enthusiastic joy. "The despatch announcing the capture of Peters- burg was received early in the morning. Soon after- wards it was whispered through the War Department that Richmond, too, was taken. In a, few moments the whole array of clerks were. gathered together in the arena, and the despatch read. At once 100 couriers were speeding to every quarter of our city to disseminate the glorious news. The signal corps, with their flags from the observatory on Winder's building, hurled the cheering news,. Richmond is captured!' to all the forts surrounding Wash- ington; and from the streets, the barracks, the forts, and everywhere in and around the city began to resound shouts that aroused unconscious citizens to the fa.ot that some event had occurred that made the whole people rejoice with exceeding great joy, When the news reached the Post-office Department, Hon. A. W. BandaU, assistant postmaster-general, read the despatch to the assembled employes, and bade them for the day to go on rejoicing. Speeches were made by several heads of bureaus amidst the thunder of huzzas, and the clerks prepared to celebrate the day. The employes at the War, Navy, Treasury, and Interior Departments had a similar indulgence.

Mr. Seward's Speech. "The employes of the Interior and Post-office Depart- ments, and the various Union Leagues, immediately formed in line, and bearing the stars and stripes in front of each organisation, marched in procession towards the departments up town. On the way they were joined by numbers of citizens, and at the Treasury Department by its numerous employes. "Halting at the State Department, Secretary Seward was called for, and spoke as follows :— I thank my fellow-citizens for the hononr they do me by calling to congratulate me on the fall of Rich- mond (cheers). I am now about writing my foreign despatches. What shall I tall the Emperor of China. ? I shall thank him in your name for never having per- mitted a piratical flag to enter the harbours of the empire (applause). What shall I say to the Emperor of the French (a voice: To get out of Mexico) ? I shall say to the Emperor of the French that he can go to-morrow to Richmond and get his tobacco so long held under blockade there, provided the rebels have not used it up (laughter and cheers). To Lord Russell I will say that British merchants will find cotton exported from our ports, under treaty with the United States, cheaper than cotton obtained by running the blockade. As for Earl Russell himself, I need not tell him that this is a war for freedom and national independence asd the rights of 'hum&n nature, and not a war for empire; and that if Great Britain should only be just to the United States, Canada will remain undisturbed by us so long as she prefers the authority of her noble Queen to voluntary incorporation with the United States, cheers and exclamations of That's the talk;" "You're right." What shall I teU, the King of Prussia ? I will tell him that the Germans have been faithful to the standard of the Union, as his ex- cellent Minister, Baron Gorolt, has been constant in his friendship to the United States during his long residence in this country (cheers). To the Emperor of Austria I shall say that he has proved himself a very wise man, for he told us in the beginning that he had no sympathy with rebellion anywhere (cheers). I do not doubt, fellow citizens, but that at least you accede to the theory by which I have governed my- self during the war—namely, that the rebellion waa to end in ninety days (laughter and cheers). I have thought this the true theory,, because I never knew a physician able to restore the patient to health unless he thought he could work a cure under the most un- favourable circumstances in ninety days (renewed laughter). Finally, if the American people approve, )I will say that our motto in peace shall be what our text has been while in war. Every nation is entitled to regulate its own domestic affairs in its own way, and all are bound to conduct themselves so as to pro- mote peace on earth and good-will to mankind.'

Mr. Secretary Stanton and General Butler. Proceeding to the War Department, in front of whi^h an immense crowd was assembled, the despatches recently received were read by Secretary Stanton, amidst tremendous cheering. Mr. Stanton then in. troduoed Vice-President Andrew Johnson*, who spoke at considerable length. Mr. Johnson was followed by Searetary, Stanton* who spoke as follows:— 'Friends and Fellow-Citizens, In this great hour of triumph my heart as well as yours is penetrated with gratitude to Almighty God for his deliverance of the nation (tremendous and prolonged cheering). Our thanks are due to the President-(cheers)-to the army and navy—(cheers)—to the groat commanders by sea aadland-( cheers )-to the gallant officers and men who have perilled their lives upon the battle-field and drenched the soil with their blood (great cheers). Henceforth our commiseration and our aid should, be given to the wounded, the maimed, and the suffering, who bear the marks of their great suffering in the mighty struggle. Let us humbly offer our thanks to Divine Providence for his care over us, and beseech Him to guide and govern us in our duties hereafter; as He has carried us forward to victory, to teach us how to be humble in the midst of triumph; how to be just in the hour of victory, and to help us to secure the foundations of this republic, soaked as they have been in blood, so that it shall live for ever and ever (enthusiastic cheers). Let us also not forget the labouring millions in other lands, who i this struggle have given us their sympathies, their' aid, and their prayers; and let us bid them rejoice with us in our great triumph. Then, having done this, let us trust the future to Him, who will guide us, as heretofore, according to His own good will (loud cheers). Loud calls were made for General Butler. It was announced that he was at Willard's. "The procession was then reformed, and proceeded to Willard's Hotel, where General Butler was called out. After much cheering, General Butler appeared on the steps of the ladies' entrance at Willard's, and spoke as follows:—'Fellow Citizens—Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to meet you at any time. How much more, then, to mingle my congratulations with yours upon the glorious triumph of the American arms. All honour to the brave soldiers who have purchased by their blood this success to our arms and assurances of peace. In the hour of triumph let us remember that the.deluded masses of the South are and must be a por- tion of our countrymen and of ourselves but let ua also pledge ourselves that the leaders of the rebellion, who have cost the country all this treasure and blood, shall never hereafter have any political privileges or power -(immense applause)-agtdn to tear down the glorious flag which waves over us (great cheering). The God of justice works by mysterious means, and perhaps there can be no more suggestive instance of His retri- bution than that the corps of coloured troops, under the gallant Weitzel, was the first to plant the flag of freedom over the rebel Capitol (loud cheers). Let us, in this hour of high congratulations, with the eyes of a good God upon us, joy on our lips, speaking gladness each to each, our hands joined in union, our hearts filled with joy and our souls with gratitude, acknowledge that He has protected us as He did our fathers, and swear to each other that our country, thus regenerated and disenthralled, shall be for ever to all in the Union one and inseparable (applause and cheering). Let us thank God that we have obtained peace, not by negotiation or compromise with treason ,and rebellion, but by the right arms of our soldiers, and that the terms which we shall give will be conso- nant with the dignity, clemency, and the justice of the nation'(renewed applause). At noon the salvos of artillery were heard thunder- ing forth the feu dejoie, ordered by the Secretary of War, of one hundred guns for Petersburg, and five .hundred for Richmond, and one hundred guns from each of the forts around Washington. The salute of six hundred guns in town was fired by Batteries E and F, Second United States artillery, and Battery H, Fourteenth Pennsylvania artillery, from Camp Stone- man, under the direction of Brigadier-General Hall. A salute of one hundred guns was also fired from the Navy Yard, by order of the Secretary of the Navy."

THE MALT-TAX QUESTION. Mr. Gladstone's great success as a finance minister is, no doubt, largely owing to the respect he has for the business views of commercial men, and to the means he adopts to get at these views, that he may bring his comprehensive mind to bear clearly on all the points of any great public question. Immediately after the great meeting of M.P/s end agriculturists at the Freemasons' Tavern, where the words of past free- trade agitators and ministers were quoted, Mr. Glad- stone addressed a letter to Colonel North, who pro- minently brought these past expressions before the meeting. The sagacious character of this proceeding will be gathered from the questions quoted for re- plying to in the following letter, which was written by the secretary to the Central Anti-malt-tax Associa- tion, from the original questions put to Colonel North by the Chancellor of the Exchequer having been placed in the hands of the Council of this Association. The questions and answers were as follows :— Central Anti.malt.tax Association, 18, Warwick-street, Cockspur-street, London, February 28,1865. To Colonel North, M.P. "Sir,—I am desired by the Council of this Asso- ciation to acknowledge the receipt of your favour enclosing a series of questions relative to our demand for the repeal of the malt "tuty sent to you by BIr. Gladstone, and which would have had our earlier attention were it not for the difficulty in getting the Council together at a short notice, they being tenant farmers residing in all parts of the country. The first inquiry is, Where is the declaration of Sir Robert Peel, which has been quoted in favour of the repeal of the malt-tax, to be found ?' It is to be found in the report of the debate upon Mr. Villiers' motion with a view to the repeal of the oora. laws in 1839, reported in the "Mirror of Parliament" of March 15, 1839, page 1,290. The words are, But, says the farmer, extend the same principle to everything else as well as corn. Do not make me the sole victim of this excellent doctrine. Let me grow my own tobacco, let me manufacture and consume my own malt, &c. and, 'What answer have you for the farmer; can you deny the justice of his appeal ?' "Tha second inquiry is, 'la demanding the repeal of the malt duty, is it meant to demand that beer should be untaxed?' We do not go beyond the de- mand for the repeal of the malt-tax, and it ia not our duty to enter upon the ciuestion as to whether it is necessary or not to devise a substitute for it. We should certainly be glad to see beer wholly untaxed, because it is our great national beverage, and because also it is an almost indispensable article of the diet* of the working population of this country. But even if it were deemed essential that beer should be taxed, that would be HO argument for taxing malt, a tax upon a finished article being less oppressive and restrictive than a tax upon a raw material. Objectionable as we should deem a beer-tax to be, it would not at any rate be open to two prominent, of the many serious, objec- tions to the malt-tax—first, of restricting the farmer in turning the produce of his land to the best amount and preventing him from feeding his cattle upon the produce of his own land; and, secondly, the incidence of the malt duty weigh upon the consumer of beer to an extent far exceeding the amount of the tax which reaches the Treasury. No doubt it was this considera- tion, and the fact of the interference of the hop grower, which led Mr. Gladstone to repeal the hop duty by putting a tax of 3d. per barrel on beer. The third is, Or.tbat a-beer duty shall be aubati. tuted for the malt duty, and in that case is it to be levied off private brewings ? Whether, if there were a beer duty, it should be imposed upon private brew- ings is a question which we cannot be expected to dis- cuss, and is best fitted for the consideration of the proper department of the Administration. "Fourth, I If it be trae that of 6 millions of malt duty for 1864,5 (in round numbers) 51 are paid by England, and only about one half million by Scotland and Ireland (which pay on the strong liquors they use in other forms), does, such a state of facts in your view constitute an impediment in the way of the repeal of the duty ?' It can be no answer to our case to say that any particular portion of the country pays more or less of the malt duty than other portions of the United Kingdom; as well might such fine distinctions be drawn between various counties in England, as between England, Ireland, and Scotland. Whatever be the amount of duty paid by Ireland, it is believed by very high authorities that no portion of the United Kingdom, would benefit more by the repeal of the malt duty* than it would. The present state of things leads the Irish and the Scotch to drink whisky, but the repeal of the malt duty would undoubtedly lead to their drinking the far more wholesome and nourishing beverage of beer. In Ireland especially the malt-tax greatly restricts the cultivation of inferior barleys, and contributes largely to the present im- poverished condition of Agriculture there.. Upon tjhis v point we have had within a. few days the testimony of a prosperous Yorkshire farmer, that< he has been re* strained from transferring his capital and industry to A celebrated German described beer !lIS "liquid bread," Ireland by the conviction, after full inquiry on the spot, that whilst the malt-tax exists agriculture can- not be profitably. carried on there. "The fifth interrogatory must have been written under a misapprehension. What we allege is, not that the tax depresses the price of the higher barleys in particular, but that it depresses the price and re- stricts the growth of the lower barleys. Sixth and seventh, If the malt duty is condemned by principles of freA trade, how, in the view of the deputation, do those principles affect the spirit duty and the duties on sugar and tea ?' The interference of the malt duty with the principles of free trade is not in any way justified by the existence of the spirit duty. The latter stands upon distinct and separate grounds, and is maintained at its present high rate for a special purpose. Tea is a product of a foreign soil and much more lightly taxed than malt, the tax upon which amounts to as much as 80 per cent., or more than second or third class barleys, and the duties upon tea, coffee, sugar, and wines have been consider- ably reduced during the last few years; their con- sumption has thus been greatly stimulated, whilst that of beer remains nearly stationary instead of keeping pace with the increase of our wealth and population--I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant, (Signed) A. KINTREA, Secretary." It will be perceived that the Council took advantage —in a very fair way, however—of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's courtesy, and slipped in a few strong reasons as to why the free use of barley for feeding cattle and providing the labourer with beer should be conceded. When the time comes for the disciples of the above authorities to openly express their views on this question, it will be a matter of considerable in- terest, and probably of some amusement, to watch how they, as free-traders, will acquit themselves. It certainly is not consistent for an M.P. to profess free- trade principles, and then go a plumper for retaining a tax of 75 or 80 per cent., or X4 an acre on the raw material of every field of barley grown.

THE LATE MR. COBDEN. M.P. Despatch of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. The following despatch has been addressed, says the Morning Post, to the French ambassador in London by M. Drouyn de Lhuys :— To his Excellency the Prince de la Tour d'Auvargne, Ambassador of France at London. Prince,—A few days since, whilst the First Minister of her Britannic Majesty bore brilliant testimony in the HousEl of Commons to the memory of Richard Cobden, a speaker belonging to the Government of the Emperor expressed the regrets which the death of this illustrious man gave rise to in France, and the Legis- lative Body identified themselves with this homage by a unanimous impulse. A manifestation so honourable to the two nations, and to the person whose loss England deplores, will not have escaped your attention; and you will perhaps have already had occasion to communicate thereupon with the Ministers of the Queen. I desire, neverthe- less, Prince, to place you in a position to express to them officially the mournful sympathy and truly national regret which the death, as lamented as pre- mature, of Richard Cobden has excited on this side of the Channel. That indefatigable promoter of liberty in the domain of commerce and manufactures was not only the living proof of what merit, perseverance, and labour can ac- complish one of the most complete examples of those men who, sprung from the most humble ranks of society, raise themselves to the highest rank in public estimation by the effect of their own worth and of their personal services; finally, one of the rarest ex- amples of the solid qualities inherent in the English character. He is above all, in our eyes, the repre- sentative of those sentiments and those cosmopolite principles before which national frontiers and rivalries disappear; whilst essentially of his country, he was still more of his time he knew what mutual relations could accomplish in our day for the prosperity of peoples. Cobden, if I may be permitted so to say, was an international man. There are some mental views and aptitudes which are only given to those who in the outset of their career have felt the embarrassments and the difficul ties of life, who have had to struggle against the ne- cessities of a position less than humble. Richard Cobden had been brought up in this severe but strengthening sohool; he thence derived, as the best preparation for a knowledge of political economy, the gift of sympathy with the sufferings of the laborious classes, in the midst of whom he had lived; he under- stood the better the straitened circumstances which he had shared; and in feeling the need of alleviating them he was naturally led to seek the means to do so -firstly, in the abolition of the corn laws in England, then in the suppression or lowering of the barriers which the various commercial laws had raised between peoples. Certainly, Cobden did not create any of the principles of indnstrial and commercial liberty. They had been professed and propagated before him by eminent theorists in England and France. But his glory is to have followed up the practical application of them, abroad and at home, with au ardour and de- votedness quite unparalleled. Exempt from national prejudices as from those of education and caste, Richard Cobden brought to the pursuit of reforms which he judged useful to his country and profitable to humanity a disinterested- ness and a sincerity which one cannot but honour, whilst at the same time one is obliged to admit that all Ms views were not equally practicable. For ourselves,, we cannot forget the considerable part he took in the change of opinions which prepared, and in the negotiations which led to, the treaty of commerce at present existing between France and England. This- important act, the good results of which experience has already consecrated, and the liberal provisions of which are from day to day adopted by other Power3 of Europe, will have for effect not only the development of the material in- texeets bstwesa England and; France, but it will also aid powerfully in strengthening their friendly rela- tions. This was the double object of Richard Cobden. Ha loved and understood Franca better than any other person, and regarded as one of the greatest in- terests of his country and humanity the maintenance of peaceful relations between the two nations, which, according to the expression recently used by a mem- ber of the English cabinet, march at the head of the world. You will be good enough, prince, to acquaint the First Minister and the Principal Secretary ot her Britannic Majesty with the sentiments expressed in this despatch, and which they will receive, I doubt nob, with the willingness equal to that which has dic- tated them.—Receive, &a., (Signed) DEOTJYN DE LHUYS. Paris, April 8, 1865.

EXPECTED VISIT OF TN-B FRENCH FLEET TO SUNDERLAND. It has been already announced by us (says the Sun- derland Times) that the Mayor of "Sunderland, E. T. Gourley, Esq., having resolved to go to Paris to try and make arrangements for the French fleet visiting this port during the ensuing summer, had received an introduction from Earl Russell to his Excellency Earl Cowley, through whom his worship was introduced to M. Drouyn de Lhuys. His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his satisfaction with the manner in which the Sunderland people had received the officers and men of the French vessel of war which visited Sunderland last year, and expressed his own satisfaction and that of the Emperor and the French Government at the good feeling then exhibited. The request that Sunderland should be made an inde- pendent consulate is to be considered by the Govern- ment; M. Drouyn de Lhuys owned it to be due, but could not guarantee its being done owing to the in- crease of expense which would be created. In reply to the request that the French iron-clads should be sent to Sunderland, he feared that the Governments of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Denmark might ask why these vessels were being sent into the North Sea, such being an unusual course. But he thought that the difficulty could be over- come if the English Government would send their iron-clad squadron to France, say Cherbourg, where both officers and men should have a hearty reception. In any case, if the fleet should go to the Irish Channel, they would be ordered to call at some of the principal ports in the route, such as Torbay, Frith of Forth, Leith, &c., and Sunderland would not be passed over. He was not aware previously that the English Channel fleet had anchored in Sunderland Roads. The request that the British fleet should be sent to France has been submitted to Earl Cowley, and through Earl Cowley and the Mayor of Sunderland to the Home Govern- ment and we are happy to state that it is to be com- plied with. Further, the Mayor asked that the re- strictive use of French coals in the French navy should be repealed, especially under the present inauguration of free trade." The Minister of Marine admitted the extra cost to the French people, but thought that it would interfere too much with the interests of the colliery owners, who had invested their capital in collieries for the production of coals especially for the navy. Farther, that the furnaces of the steam vessels of war were all adapted for the use of French coal. In time, however, the restriction may be relaxed. The Mayor also placed befora the Minister of Foreign Affairs the necessity of releasing French shipowners from the conscript laws. As they are to have free trade they should likewise, as in England, have free- dom in the employment of seamen.

THE AGE OF PROGRESS. Nothing can be more satisfactory in the present age than to find prudence one of its chief characteristics. Twenty years ago only men with large annual incomes thought of insuring their lives; now, however, the trades- man, the mechanic, and even the daily labourer make some provision for their wives and families in case of death depriving them of their natural protectors. The same might be said about fire insurances; it is not only the holder of a mansion or the large trader that insure his premises, but the lesser tradesman, the tenant, and even the lodger protect their goods by in- suring them from fire. The man who fifty years ago insured his property was the exception, and now the man who does not insure is the great exception to the general rule. It is remarkable also that great companies which have latterly sprung into existence are not only satisfying every insurer's claim, but making fortunes for themselves. Money invested in insurance com- panies by the masses of the people has returned immense profits. A meeting of the directors of an insurance com- pany, when the dividend is to be declared, is some- thing like the gathering in the House of Commons to hear the annual Budget brought forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. When he has a prosperous year he exults in his surplus revenue, he gives glowing pictures of our prosperity, and delights that his calculations of the preceding year have been better than correct. The directors of the London and Lancashire Insu- rance Companies have had just as pleasant a task to perform at their third annual meeting on the 8th inst. as Mr. Gladstone will have on the 27th when he introduces his financial statement. hey are both enabled to say, We have been prosperous; we have something to give you. The general meeting of the proprietors of the companies to which allusion has been made was held at the Law Society's Rooms, Cook-street, Liverpool; and perhaps in no instance can the growth of a Sre insurance company be proved to have been so rapid as this London and Lancashire. The report shows that four times the amount of business has been transacted this year over that of 1862. The amount paid for fire pre- miums in the first year of this company's existence was < £ 25,246 19s. 3d. In 1863 it was £ 65,049 lis. 5d, whilst in 1864 it amounted to £ 108,597 5s. 3d. To still further extend their business, boards of management have been recently formed at Man- chester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, South- ampton,. Glasgow, and Dublin, composed of gen- tleman of high position and good commercial knowledge. At their offices, 73 and 74, King William- street, London, they have F. W. Russell, Esq., M.P., as chairman, the Lord Mayor of London and Mr. Al- derman and Sheriff Dakin also having seats at their board; whilst at the Dublin office, in Westmoreland- street, the Lord Mayor of that city presides. In con- sequence, however, of the increased business devolving upon this company, their premises in London, though large, are found altogether inadequate), and to provide better accommodation the directors have secured of the best and most prominent sites in Landon at the corner of Bishopsgate and Leadenhall streets, and are now erecting a building which, besides giving ample space for the management of the business of the com- pany, will, it is believed, yield a good raturn for the investment. The London and Lancashire Life Company is also in a most prosperous condition. In the year ending December 31, 1864, they received 688 proposals, and of these 502 policies were issued, the money value assured being £ 340,699, which would produce an annaal income of < £ 9,697 153. lid. The claims made upon them during the year amounted only to < £ 2,750; and aftsr payment of all charges, and interest at the rate of 5 per cent. to the shareholders, the. directors are enabled to add to the Accumulation Fund the sum of < £ 4,000, or nearly 31 per cent. of the net premium income. The character of the business, as shown in the statistical account, is that the average sum assured is .£680, and the average age thirty-four. «

Wendell Phillips is in possession of the bell once attached to the slave market of Charleston, and General Butler has the door plate of Mr. Richard Yeadon, who, it will be remembered, once offered 10,000 dols. for the general's head. Three Fishermen Drowned.—Another sad calamity has cast a deep gloom over St. Andrew's. Three fishermen met a watery grave from the upsetting of their fishing boat a few days ago. It appears that William Thomson, aged above 70, Henry Waters, 27, and James Wilson, IS, went out fishing early in the morning, and when within a mile of the pier on their return were caught in a sudaen gale from the west, which bore down the boat aa.d sunk her in deep water, carrying the three unfortunate men with her. The circumstance was observed by a boy from the shore, who shouted to those at hand. Boats put out at once to the spot, and Thomson was drawn up with a lIne to which he clung under the water. Life was still in him, and he was conveyed to the shore and taken to the Custom-house, where, medical aid having been procured, the usual appliances were administered, but without effect. Waters has left a wife and two children; Wilson a wife and cue child.

BLOWING. UP OF THE BRITISH SEIP I LOCH EE, AND LOSS OF LIFE. The subjoined communication, addressed to the Board of Trade, has been received at Lloyd's, an- nouncing the fearful loss of this ship by explosion and fire "I, John Paul Newton, master, beg to report the total loss of the ship Loehee, 1,500 tons burden, be- longing to Dundee, under my command, belonging to Messrs. Cox Brothers, of that port, which occurred on Thursday, the 5th January laat, about twenty miles off Point de Galle. The Lochee left Dundee on the 17th of last Sep- tember with a crew of forty men all told, five passen- gers, and a partial cargo of coal. Nothing worthy of remark occurred during the passage until Wednesday morning at six o'clock, when, on opening the hatch- way, smoke was seen to issue from the hold, from which it was evident the coals were on fire. On observing this I immediately lowered a thermometer down the ventilators of the main hold. The smoke was gradually increasing, and in consequence I ordered all necessaries to be brought from the hold on deck, and the hatches to be battened down, with the view to smother the fire. I, of course, as soon as it was discovered that the coals were on fire, bore up for the nearest port; bent the cables, got anchors out, and the boats in order for lowering. At 3.45 the following morning the ship exploded, blowing up the decks fore and aft. James Jansen, an able seaman, and John Yearn, an apprentice, were blown into the air, and fell into the sea and were drowned. The crew and passengers were all more or less injured, and some seriously so. The ship immediately burst into flame, and with the greatest difficulty the quarter boats were lowered into the water, some of the crew and passengers being compelled to jump overboard to save their lives, and all half naked, there not being a possibility of saving a single article. I saw a brigantine three or four miles off heading for us, and a mail steamer making for Galle. The brigantine proved to be the Sea King, of Hamburg, Captain Kier, who, being becalmed, sent his boats to our rescue in a very short time, and took us on board his vessel, where everything was immediately done to relieve the sufferings of the injured, and where we were all treated with the greatest kindness. Captain Kier, who was bound to Singapore, immediately bore up for Point de Galle, where he landed us all in safety about four p;m. Ii cannot speak too highly in praise of Captain Kier, his officers, and crew for the ener- getic manner in which they proceeded to our assis- tance, and the unexceptionable kindness they showed us all, and I sincerely trust that their praiseworthy conduct will be duly recognised by the proper authori- ties. (Signed). "JoHN P. NEWTON, Master."