The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

JWstslIaruous jpotttgn items. The Emperor of Austria is an excellent linguist, and can speak twelve languages well. Marshal Biraguay d'Hilliers has quitted his com- mand, and has gone to a watering place for the benefit of his health; General Forey has consequently taken provisionally the command of the 1st corps d'armee in Italy. MABSACRE OF EUROPEANS AT SINGAPORE.By a des- patch from Singapore of the 11th June we learn that the inhabitants at Banjermassin have risen and mur- dered nearly every European. Constantinople journals state that brigandage is on the increase in Albania. On the 25th ult., as two Greek merchants, accompanied by a Turkish guide, were going from Janina to Prevesa, they were murdered 1 and robbed of large sums. Their remains were con- veyed to Janina, and interred with much pomp in the midst of a large crowd. During the proving of a 68-pounder gun at the Washington navy yard, it burst, and two persons were killed and several severely injured. Prince Jerome, the Empereror's uncle, is said to be suffering severely from gout, which it appears to threaten the stomarch. Prince Napoleon and the Princess Mathilde are in constant attendance on their father. Advices from Verona state that the grapes are so much affected by disease in Lombardy and Venetia that scarcely any are expected to ripen. This loss, with the partial destruction of the corn crops in Upper Italy, leaves a poor prospect for the winter. M. de Potter, who played a leading part in effecting the separation of Belgium from Holland, and who was president of the Provisional Government which decreed that separation, and convoked a national congress, has just died at Bruges, aged 73. Galignani reports that the Pope has permitted the Russian Government to purchase for 50,000f. (£2,000) the statue of the Marine Venus, excavated lately frdm the Gardens of Julius Ctesar, not far from the Portese Gate. Professor Guaccerini is charged with therestoration and cleaning of the statue. A despatch from Brescia announces the death of the Duke of Abrantes, son of the famous Junot, who was wounded at the battle of Solferino. The thigh had to be amputated, and the patient did not long-survive the operation. The Duke was chief of the staff of one of the divisions of the army of Italy. The body of the Prince Windischgratz, who fell at the battle of Solferino, and which, it will be remem- bered, was discovered by the French in the midst of a heap of slain, and handed over to the Austrians, was brought to Prague on the 17th ult., and deposited in the garrison church. On the next day a grand reli- gious ceremony was held. The Countess Contarini, whose son was one of Garibaldi's volunteers, has been arrested at Venice. She was taken to prison in open daylight. The cause of this violent act is said to be the possession by the lady of certain letters, describing the events of the war, written to her by her son The Washington Star denies the report that sixty or seventy cargoes of African negroes have been landed in the United States since the successful voyage of the Wanderer. It adds, however, tliat the parties in the South interested in the revival of the trade, are doing their best to.embarrass the action of the Government officers charged with the duty of guarding the coasts. PROSECLTioN AGAINST THE T"x? OF MOUENA.— According to letters from Modems, the Provisional Government has resolved on commencing a regular prosecution against the Duke and his father for abuse of the public funds, and the object of the committee of inquiry, charged to seek in the secret or public archives for acts showing abuse of power, and attacks made by them on civil order, family ties, and property, is to obtain evidence in the case. The result of the inquiry will in that way serve as the basis of a kind of impeach- ment before Europe. OUTRAGE ON CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA.—By the last advices from Australia, it appears the Chinese popula- tion on the Buckland have been outraged by a portion of the European population, who appear to be little better than banditti. Without the slightest provocation, the latter made a concerted attack on these unoffending people, burnt their tents, aud beat them in a most cruel manner. Several of the Mongolians were more or less injured in their persons and property, and one of them died from the effects of his wounds. The Chinese were surprised at night whilst asleep in their tents; NAVAL ARTIFICERS IN FRANCE.—The Paris corres- The following fact, pondent of The Times says:—" The following fact, which is only one of many, will serve to show how dis- ingenuous, and even positively untrue, is the note in yesterday's Moniteur as to the amount of cost to the French nation of the recent naval armaments here. All shipwrights and naval artificers of every description are enrolled in Inscription Maritime, and are, therefore, liable to serve the State at any time, and throughout the whole duration of their lives, until they are disabled. During the Crimean war, and even now, the ship- wrights, caulkers, and naval artificers in merchant yards were draughted into the dockyards of the Imperial navy. A batch of 16 shipwrights were taken from the private yards of Havre, where they were earning from 6f. to 7f. a-day, and sent to TouT. where they are compelled to work on men of war, and are paid 30 sous a-day. I believe they are rationed in addition, but the food is not of that quality to which they are accustomed, and the men complain bitterly. In England naval ar- tificers in Government yards are paid the full rate of wages, and it therefore follows that the cost of labour for extraordinary armaments in France is at least one- half below that of French private yards. I make no allusion to the difference between the rate of wages in the two countries." When the Duke of Modena took to flight, he carried off with him the whole of the money in the public treasury, amounting to about 27,6001. In this was comprised about 9,0001. for interest upon the national debt, due in June. The Provisional Government has paid this sum, and it has authorised the communes of the state to issue bills up to the amount of their revenue, as fixed in last year's budget, in order to provide for the extraordinary expenses of the times. A NOBLE ACT.-Two or three weeks since, a poor old slave woman was suddenly sold in Washington for the far Southern market. She was in great distress, and went to a white woman who had long known her, and told her tale. The listener was a wi j ow and poor, but she at once, without a moment's hesitation, mort- gaged the cottage she lived in-which was the entire amount of her worldly treasure--to nearly its full value, and set the slave acquaintance free Such an act, occurring in some countries, would make the woman world renowned. In this land she will be set down as a fanatic, but we may be very sure that she has treasure laid up in heaven.—Anti-Slavery Standard, Feb-, 1859. THE FRENCH EMPEROB AND THE CORPS DIPLOMA- TIQUE.—The Augsbourg Gazette offers the following explanation of the scene at St. Cloud a few days ago, when the Emperor made his angry speech to the corps diplomatique It appears that diplomatists them- selves could not help participating in the agitation which prevailed in Evrope during the war. In the most distingues drawing rooms politics were talked with as much animation as in cafes, and more than one statesman allowed his tongue to get the better of his discretion, and to utter things unbefitting his official position. Now as it happens that the political surveil. l?'?l ,c 0,the police is as well organised in drawing- rooms as elsewhere, the Emperor was very speedily informed of all the hard things said of him by foreign ambassadors; and, accordingly, when he found these gentlemen all assembled together before him in one group, he took the opportunity of letting them know that he was much displeased with their conduct. His spcech was rather a personal censure addressed to the diplomatists than a collective reproach to the govern- ments which they represent."

THE JURY SYSTEM IN INDIA. We quote the following from the Madras Aiheuaum of June 29th Considerable excitement, indeed we might say in- dignation, has been aroused in Madras, by a most serious imputation which his Excellency has cast upon the petit jurors of this presidency. In fact, the words which Sir Charles Trevelyan has written and published would, had they been written and published by a private indi- dual, have rendered their author liable to a criminal information for a libel upon the administration of justice. In order that the matter be clearly understood it is necessary to enteT into some particulars. At the last Criminal Sessions a European subordinate in the Public Works Department was tried for the manslaughter of a native. He was acquitted. Some time ago two railway engineers were charged with having caused the death of a native. They also were acquitted. Once or twice there have also appeared stray paragsaphs in some of the Calcutta papers stating that, in consequence of the acquittal of a European charged with causing the death of a native, ill feeling had been excited among that portion of the community. These two cases, au this bit of hearsay, were brought to the notice of the Governor by the advocate General, Mr. T. S. Smyth, and, with absolutely nothing else before him (so far at least as appears from the papers which will be found elsewhere), his Excellency penned the following sweep- ing condemnation of the petit jurors of Madras and Calcutta It is a painful, but undoubted fact, that however obvious the guilt of an Englishman may be, justice is not to be expected in cases of this description from an ordinary Madras jury, composed of Europeans and East Indians." All the jurymen are up in arms, and have called upon the sheriff to convene a meeting, at which they inteml to protest against the charges brought against them by Sir Charles Trevelyan. Strongly as all parties resent these charges, there is one point connected with them which has given satisfaction j we allude to the fact that as soon as made they were pub- lished. Unlike Lord Harris, who slandered the jury system in secret, our present ruler openly avows his sentiments, and all feel that they have a straightforward English gentleman to deal with. It only remains to add that the judges of the Supreme Court have consented to an alteration of the jury rules the effect of which will be that a prisoner cannot, by exercising his right of peremptory challenge, exhaust the native panel, so that in future natives will form a portion ofthe jury on the trial of an Englishman. Hitherto the prisoner, by his right of challenge, might get rid of all the native jurors--a state of things which it is possible may have excited unpleasant feelings among the native commu- nity, and to the abolition of which no reasonable man can object.

I petropolitan iicfos. A number of Royal Academicians have presented a gold pencil case to Mr. Maclise as a sign of congratula- tion and admiration of the finished drawings of his great Cartoon in the New Palace of Westminster. It appears from a parliamentary return issued on Saturday, that, on the 1st May, 1834, the public debt of India amounted to 37,827,715/. On the 1st May, 1858, it increased to 60,704,0841. A piece of plate of the value of 100 guineas has been voted by the committee of Spanish-American bond- holders to Mr. F. D. Orme, C.B., for his services on behalf of the Venezuelan bondholders. PRESENTATION OF A SILVER COLLAR TO JERRY,>( THE FIRE ESCAPE MAN'S DOG, A handsome and elaborately chased silver collar was presented, on Saturday, to Conductor Harmsworth, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, to be worn by his faithful dog. The collar bore the inscription :— Presented by the inhabitants ofwalworthto Jerry,' the fire dog. Stop me not, but let me jog. SF,ulr I'm Jlar!Uewortb'. fire dog. "Jerry," it ,ppc3r,. is in the habit of attending every fire that takes place in the neighbourhood of Walworth and Camber well, and is of great assistance to his master by running up the" escape," and awakening by his barking the occupants of burning premises. The second concert given by the Drury Lane com- pany, and the last operatic concert of the season, took place at the Crystal Palace on Saturday. The closing performance of the Italian operatic season at Drury Lane Theatre, took place on Saturday evening. PRICE OF BREAD.-The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from 7d, to n d.; of household ditto, 6d. to 6d.; some bakers are selling from õd. to 5Jd. per 41b. loaf, weighed on delivery. The lengthened season of Mr. Albert Smith at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, prolonged to two hundred and sixty-eight nights during which that gentleman has presented his China entertainment to the public, was brought to a close on Saturday evening. MR. STURGEON'S NEW TABERNACLE.-All the diffi- culties attendant on the purchase of a piece of freehold land for the erection of this loiig-talked- of Tabernacle have at length been overcome, and the site, which is near the Elephant and Castle, presents daily an altered appearance, so busily engaged are the workmen in ge= leady for laying the first stone. £ 580 was the contract tor laying the foundation of concrete, which is completed. The ceremony of commencing the work is fixed for the 16th of August. The work will cost at least 21,000 by the time it is completed. The funds in hand at present do not exceed E7,000, but the building committee are encouraged in their under. taking by some very liberal promises, which they confidently believe will be realised as the work pro. gresses. A CHILD CRUSHED to DEATH.-On Friday morning, Henry Grundry, aged five years, who resided in Union street, Borough, was crossing the road at the corner of Union street, when he was knocked down by a cart, the wheels of which passed over his chest and crushed him in such a frightful manner, that he expired shortly after his admission to St. Thomas's Hospital. A GOOD EXAMPLE.—The Medical Times says the Duke of Northumberland has just sent a thousand bottles of old sherry, 30 years in bottle, to the Westminster Hos- pital, for the use of the patients. STArUE OF GENERAL NAPIEE. A new statue in marble of this renowned soldier is to be placed in St. Paul's. The figure is represented standing, leaning on the gword. It stands eight feet high, on a plinth of six inches. Mr. Adams, whose fine statue of the hero in Trafalgar square is so justly admired is the sculptor. DEATH OP AIR, BAYLE ST. JOHN. Mr. Bayle St. John expired at his residence in Grove end-road, on Monday. Air. St. John was well known in the literary world, as the author of "Two Years' Residence in a Levantine Family," and within a recent period, "Purple Tints of Paris," "Life of Montaigne," and several other works of high pretensions and ac- kiiowledgedlite?ary merit. In addition to a large circle of friends, he has .left a widow and two children to mourn his loss. THE ODD FELLOWS AT THE CRYSTAL PALAcE.-There was an unusually large attendance at the Crystal Palace on Monday, the occasion being the annual excursion in aid of the Metropolitan Districts Widow and Orphans' and Distress Funds, in connexion with the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows. In addition to the numerous attractions, several special entertainments were'provided all of which gave infinite satisfaction to the numerous brethren of the Order, who had gathered together to aid in supporting two of their most valuable institutions. Tuesday was devoted to the same benevolent and highly praiseworthy object, when a display of the great foun- tains and entire series of waterworks (including the water temples, cascades, and dancing fountains) added to the attractive programme. THE STATB OF THE THAMES.—Much illness, and indeed death, has occurred in the neighbourhood of Westminster and lIermondsey the last few days, owing, most unquestionably, to the putrid and disgraceful state of the civer, aided as it is by the intolerable heat, whilst in the low neigheourhood of Bermondsey, amongst the wharfingers and journeyman, tanneis, sudden seizures whilst at work are of daily occur- rence.—Lancet. ABOLITION OF NKGRO SLAVERY IN THE BRITISH COLONIES.—Monday being the 1st of August, and the 26th anniversary of the emancipation of the negro population in the British colonies a public meeting was held in London in celebration of the event. The chair was occupied by Lord Brougham. The noble chairman delivered an eloquent address on a subject which is so peculiarly his own, and in the course of which he congratulated the meeting that they had lived to see the 25tli anniversary of the passing of that great measure for the emancipation of their negro brethren, and expressed his regret that the example of England had not been followed by other countries. Mr. Hicks, governor of Barbadoes, in a speech highly eulogistic of tho social virtues of the negroes, moved the first resolntion, stating that the retrospect of emancipation was satisfactory to the meeting. This was seconded by Mr. George Thompson, and unanimously approved of; as was also a resolution moved by the Hon. Amassa Walker, approving of the zealous labours of the existing Anti-Slavery Societies in Europe and America, when the proceedings terminated. DOOOETT'S COAT AND BADGE.-Monday being the 1st of August, the ancient annual contest by six apprentices who have served their time with watermcn or ig ht,?rmen, freemen of the Watermen's Company. took place for Doggett's coat and silver badge, and freedom of the company. The race was formerly rowed from the Swan, at Loudon-bridge to the Swan, at Chelsea, against tide but for some years past it has been considered, owing to the increased traffic, right to start the men with the swing of the up-tide. Previous to the men taking up their positions they proceed from Watermen's Hall, and from thence to Fishmonger's Hall, where, having produced their credentials, they receive a glass of wine each. The following :arc the names of the men: — Samuel Angell Burgess, Greenwich; Samuel Palmer, Horsely- down; Charles Starr Farrow, jun., Ifill-stairs; James Lowe, Lambeth; John Isaac Trimble, Bermondsey; Benjamin Joseph Lily, Hungerford. The race was to start at four o'clock from the Old Swan, London- bridge, finishing at the Old Swan, Chelsea. The men, owing to false starts, however, did not get off until some time after the time appointed. When they did so, a very spirited race took place up to Waterloo- bridge, when Lily took the lead, followed closely by Farrow; Lowe being third, the others being taile? After passing through Westminster-bridge, Lily was half a dozen boats ahea(l, but being out in the stream, andj Farrow lhugging the Middlesex shore, he was at a disadvantage, and a capital race ensued up to Pimlico Pier, where Farrow overhauled Lily, touched him on the quarter, and threw him into the stream, and rowed inside, eventually coming in a victor by two boats' lengths. Lowe a fair third, the other. tailed; Bi?rgess last. I taiTI;:ElaÊnL OF MINTO, G.C.B—We regret to announce the death of the Right Hon. the Earl of Minto, who expired at 12*30 a.m. on Sunday last, at his residence in Eaton-square, after a protracted illness. His lordship's lengthened indisposition had in some degree prepared the members of the family for the mournful event. A decided change for the worst took place on Friday last, and the earl continued rapidly to sink, when at the hour above-named he breathed his last, in the presence of Viscount Melgund, Lady John Russell, Lady Dunfermine, and the Hon. George Elliot. By the demise of his lordship the family honours and estates devolve on his eldest son, Viscount Melgund, born March 19, 1814, and married in 1844 to Emma Eleanor only daughter and heiress of the late General Sir Thos. Hislop, G.C.B. BRIGHTON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY DISPUTE. -The Brighton aud South-Western directors met on Thursday and came to terms. An outline of the terms is that the Brighton Company shall enjoy as before one- third of the Portsmouth on payment of one-third of the rent, EIS,000 a year. An equivalent commutation is to be given to the Brighton Company for the passage over the Havant and Hilsea part of their line, but the right over it is to remain as it has been, solely in the Brighton Company. The Epsom and Leatherhcadline is to be common property to both the South Western and Brighton Companies. The Brighton Company is to be permitted to make a line from Pulborough to Arundel. To make peace complete orders are sent, or to be immediately sent, to the agents of both parties to stop all hostile surveys.—Ilerepath.

Probincial Sntelltgcme. A cabinet of books purchased by the non-electors of the borough of Tynemouth will be presented to Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M.P" about the latter part of this month. On Saturday, about 2,000 Sunday-school scholars, enrolled as members of the Halifax Band of Hope, walked in procession through the town to the mansion of F. Crossley, Esq., M.P., at Belle Vue, and after- wards partook of a good substantial tea, in the yard of the ?anu facturers' Piece Hall. STATUTE FAIRS.—A public meeting was held at Gloucester on Saturday (Earl Ducie in the chair) to promote an improved system of hiring agricultural servants, the great object being to abolish the mops," or statute fairs in the country, and to which are traced many evils and much demoralisation. By way of compensating the labourers, it was agreed on all hands that a general holiday should be given once a year on some day to be fixed, this to be accepted in lieu of the mop holiday. A MURDERER RESPITED.-A respite was forwarded on Saturday night from the Secretary of State to stay the execution of Henry [Benjamin Haynes, who was convicted at the late Winchester Assizes for the murder of a woman at Aldershott. THIi CONDEMNED CRIMINAL AT YORK.—John Riley, who, for the barbarous murder of his wife at Hull, was condemned at the late Yorkshire assizes to expiete his horrible crime upon the scaffold, has since that time, as is usual, occupisd what is termed the condemned cell. He has been regularly attended by the Rev. J. C. Thompson, the chaplin of York Castle, and under that gentleman's Christian exhortations Riley seems to have been brought to a proper appreciation of the awful position in which he stands. His aged father, from Louth, and his brother and sister, from Hull, paid him a visit a few days ago, and the unfortunate man then expressed his contrition and sorrow for the dreadful offence he had committed, and also the hope that he may be forgiven by his Maker. The scene which was presented was of a most heart-rending description; but it may easily be supposed that even this did not bear comparison with the agonising scene that took place on Saturday, when the criminal's two sons, both of whom gave evidence against their father upon his trial, took their last leave of their parent. THE MOORS.The Stirling Journal learns that the prospects of the sportsmen in this locality are at this moment highly promising. The birds are plentiful, and already they are very strong on the wing. By the time the 12tii of August arrives, it is expected also that the birds will be very wild, as already they are showing symptoms of this characteristic. SHOCKING TRADE OUTRAGE.—OA Monday night Sheffield was again the ,cene of a dreadful trade outrage, the result of which is of a most serious if not fatal character. It appears I that a man named James Linley, residing at No. 5, Milk Street, and working at the Tower grinding wheel, was silting in the snug of the Crown Inn, Scotland Street, when lie was shot through the yard widow, the ball entering the left temple, and lodging behind the left orbit. He was at once removed to Ilr. Booth's surgery, where, npon examination, the wound was found to be of a most dangerous character. Immediately after the outrage was committed, a man was seen to ruth out of the Crown Inn yard into Scotland Street, but he succeeded in mak- ing his escape. Two previous attempts had been made to take away his life-one by shooting and another by attempting to blow up the house in which he was sleeping. FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT—On Saturday morning an accident occurred at the High Heworth Colliery, by which two lives were lost. It appears that the master- shifter, whose name is George Swinney, and two men named Mould and Dixon, were employed in the shall suspended in the cage milking some repairs, when a por- tion of the brattice gave way and came down upon them, breaking the chain of the cage, causing it to hang on one side. Mould and Dixon were both precipitated into the pit,. a distance of 200 yards. Swinney, who is the managing engineer, clutohod ho!d of the chain and hung there till he was rescued. Dixon and Mould fill to the bottom of the pit, and Dixon's body coming in contact with a bunting was cutpompletely in two. Mould's body was found at the bottom of the pit headless. Mould was a man of 50 years of age, and has a large family; Dixon was about 35 yeari old, and has left a widow and two young children. Mr. Swinney received a considerable shock, and it is reported is suffering from epileptio fits.— Newcastle Chronicle. ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER AT BRADFORD. On Mondav a drsperate attempt was made by a man named Thomas Duffield, a master shoemaker, residing in Oiley- road in this town, to murder his wife El zabeth by repeated stabs in the body. The man is frequently ad- dicted to dissipated habits, is :47 years of ago, and of respectable appearance, and, in the course of the forenoon, had been in a drunken condition, and, as has been sup- posed, his wife had been censuring him for his indulgence in such habits, when he snatched up a sharp-pointed knife, with a blade three and a half inches in length and an inch broad at the hilt, and ferociously attacked her tehind the door, and dashed the knife into her body in three diffe- rent places. The woman lies in a precarious condition. We understand that Duffield has a large family, his victim having borne him twelve children.—Manchester Examiner. EXTRAORDINARY AND FATAL ACCIDENT TO A FISHER- MAN.—On Friday last a young man named Hobbs was shrimp catching at Stokes Bay, near Gosport, and took in his net a small whiting. It is a custom with fisher- men, if they have no boat. to bite the heads of fish to prevent their escape and on this occasion the unfortu- nate man was about to do so, when the whiting slipped from his fingers and darted into his mouth with such force as to be completely jammed in the gullet. The poor fellow struggled fearfully until death put an end to his sufferings.

6encral N tWø. The Duke of Newcastle left town on Saturday, for Osborne, on a visit to the Queen. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing street. Lord Blantyre has recovered from his recent indispo- sition. His lordship has left Stafford House for the coast of Norfolk. The copyright of the Empire, a daily paper published in Sydney, New South wales, was recently sold by auction for £ 6,500. WHALES.—Whales, 'says the Northern Ensign, have recently appeared in considerable numbers along the coast, particularly about the Pentland Firth. The Grand Duke Constantine will arrive in this country in a few days, and take up his residence at Ryde. There is not the slightest prospect at present of the Court removing from the Isle of Wight; indeed it is understood that the stay will be somewhat prolonged this season. His Imperial Highness the Prince Nicholas and Prince Eugene, nephews of the Emperor of Russia, together with their aides-de-camp and tuites, are staying at Torquay. There is a loud complaint among the master builders that certain quarry owners of the Isle of Portland mark the blocks exported, in excess of their actual weight; and, in some instances, this deficiency reaches as high a figure as ten per cent. Mr. G. Scott's designs for the Foreign and India Office are to be seen in the Library and Reading-room of the Houses of Parliament, and as an additional illustration of their character, by their side a very neat model by Mr. Slater renders the intention of the architect more clearly to the uninitiated eye. THB WRECK OP THE ALMA.-The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Alma, which recently went on shore.in the Red Sea, has been altogether lost, having parted "amidships." She registered 2,160 tons, with engines of .150 horse power, and was worth i 10,000. The cargo consisted almost entirely of silk, of which 1,400 bales, worth about 9120,000, have been lost. The Grand Duchess Mary of Russia, sister of the present Emperor, accompanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Marie, her Royal Highness the Princess Eugenie, his Royal Highness the Prince Serge, his Royal Highness the Prince Georges, and a very numer- ous suite arrived at Dover on Saturday. They were received on landing by the Baron and Baroness de Brunnow, and conducted to Birmingham's Hotel where apartments had been prepared. THE HOGG MONVMBNT.—The proposal to erect a monument at Yarrow to the Ettrick Shepherd seems to have been most favourably received. Without any particular effect on the part of the committee, nearly one-half of the sum necessary to complete the erection has been subscribed in the course of a few months. THE COEDEN SOIRElI.-The Right Hon. Thomas Milner Gibson, Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P., James Kershaw, Esq., and John Bright, Esq., M P., have already signified their intention to be present at the soiree to Mr. Cobden on the 17th proximo. The soiree will be held in a tent at the rear of the Baptist Chapel, Drake street. Tiip DUCHESS OF KENT.—It was a short time back suggested by the medical advisers of the Duchess of Kent that the air of Tunbridge Wells would be more suitable for her Royal Highness than the keen climate of the HIghlands of Scotland, and some inquiries were therefore made to ascertain if a suitable residence was obtainable for the royal duchess in that neighbourhood. Since then the air of the Isle of Wight has been tound so beneficial, that her Royal Highness has determined to remain. Norris Castle has, in consequence, been taken as a residence, and the duchess, with her own household, will take possession on the 15th or 17th of August.—Court Journal. It will be seen by our Parliamentary rcp;- Church Rates Abolition Bill was withdrawn t)'- ? ing. The advanced period of the Session ??- certainty that in the Lords the Select Com? Church Rates would be made a reason forr?"? ?P, progress of the measure, justify the step whichT"? a? been taken.-I)aily News. as 110-. MAGNIFICENT P!lEEXT TO THE QUEE.'V _\Vca5 state, on the authority of a private letter FODI ?  that the Maharajah of Cashmere is forwardi* 35* that the Maharajah of Cashmere is forward present to her Majesty, a most costly shawl tent?' will coi?tain moreover a bedstead of solid gold T4 will contain moreover & bedstead of solid Ml) '? value of this regal onering is said toexceed.tt.Mo, Previously to her Majesty's leaving Londn? forn'' borne, Sir George Hayter, the Principal Paint"r 0\ Ordinary to the Queen, had the honour of subrn: 111 to her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Consort one of the two State Portraits of her Mv Consort one of the two State which he had been commanded to paint for Ch"?" ?d Constantinople. a and The proposal made by Eton College to the Camb?'? Umverslt) Commissioners more than two years g. YThat the sells of all British subjects otherwise?? qu.aJ¡?d be admissible as candidates for Eton S?'' ships, has, within these few days, received the sa?' of the Commissioners, and has now become a p? i the Statutes of Eton College. 01 A graceful tribute has been paid by her Maiestv^ Queen to the memory of the officers and crew 'be perished on board the Birkenhead troop shin n a Majesty, desirous of recording her admiration of? heroic consistency and unbroken discipline shown  board that vessel, has caused to be placed 0n tb colonnade at Chd.c" Iluapltal a tablet In commemor tion of the event. A tablet has also been ere???' command of her Majesty, to the memory of Licuten' Colonel Willoughby Moore, who perished on board tb' Europa. These tablets are from the works of !re Field, of Parliament street, a gentleman who has Lj much to do with the statuary at the New Palace a" Westminster, and redound much to his credit. THE SHREWSBURY ESTATES.—The Chest-r Chmcik announces that the control of the Shrewsbury estates has been given up to the Earl of Shrewsbury by Lord Edward Howard's trustees. It is understood, however that the noble earl takes possession subject to a., agreement to render an account of the revenues, should the judgment of the law courts require such a p^, cceding. This addition to Lord Shrewsbury's income will amount to something like E30,000 RomsH CHARITIES.—A Goveanment Bill enacts tha- endowments for unlawful purposes—that is to saV estates, &c., given for the exclusive benefit of person professing the Romish persuasion, or for any objtCt connected exclusively with that religion which i¡ already by law prohibited from taking effect by reason of its being deemed superstitious or otherwise, may be subject to new schemes of administration. Charities for lawful purposes are not to be invalidated bv the addition of an unlawful trust, but the propertvma? be apportioned and the whole applied to iawfiil purposes. THE ARMSTRONG GCN.—While the usual practice of the Armctrong guns was lately going on at Shoe, buryness, some large birds were observed to alioht at a distant point upon the shore. By the aid üf a telescope they were found to be wiW geese, and one of the guns loaded with shell was quickly aimed and fired. The shell burst as it came near the birds, and scattered its deadly fragments amongst them, when tile less fortunate than the rest fell dead upon the sayid, being the first victim of the new weapon and its terrible projectiles. ENGLAND AND FRANCE.—A clergyman of the church of England, the donor of the Great Exhibition Prize Essay, has offered two prizes of -50 guineas each-orie for England and one for France, for the best essay on the immense importance of a close union of England and France, both for their own interest and welfare, and for the peace and happiness of the world, with suggestions on the best means of making this union perpetual. The Right Honourable Lord Brougham and Vaux, and the Right Honourable the Earl oi Clarendon, have kindly consented to be the adjudi- cators of the English essay. INmAN MUTINY RELIEF FC.ND.—The committee ot this fund has received a letter from the Cape of Good Hope, enclosing a remittance of £1,000 from the local committee of that colony to the central fund. This sum is in akdition to Z5430 remitted immediately after the outbreak of the mutiny, through his excellency the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope to the Governor-General of India. The liberality of the colonists and residents, and their sympathy with the sufferers in India, was then nobly manifested by a subscription amounting to A'7,387. A portion cf thit fund was applied to furnish rations to the children of soldiers who had proceeded from the Cape to India for the suppression of the mutiny, as well as gratuities to the widows and children of many who had died there. Upwards of f500 still remains in the hands 01 the treasurer of the local committee to meet further claims of a like nature. THE INCOME-TAX.—A return to the House of Lords, ordered on the motion of Lord Monteagle 01 Brandon, inlorms the public that the total amount of property assessed under the five schedules of, the income-tax is 274,724,847/. in England and Wales, and 29,558 8991. ia Scotland. In England 109,978,2651. is assessed unier schedule A, 42,777,237/. under B, 28,083,9171. under C, 77,503,922/. under D, and 16,383,3961. under E. Ai regards schedule A, 42,684,5771. is assessed under the head of land,47,438,7661. under messuages, 209,9601. uciet tithes, 204,479/. under manors, 218,3631. under fine1, 366,8101 under quarries, 3,465,1.mm. unier mnei, 1,249,.5311. under ironworks, 17,9591. under fisheries, 802,7651. under canals, 10,450,4U21. under railroad" 843,0601. under gasworks, and 1,860,2901. under other property. Iu Ireland lid yenr 22,863,0991. WAS assess! under all schedules to wit 12.826,7391. under A, 2,8042481. under B, 1,432,3544 under C, 4.725,01! under D, and 1,011,741/. under E. The net amount ct income-tax assessed under all the schedules in England and Wales for the year ended the 5th of April, 1858, was 6,682,9991., and in Scotlaud 623,0901. In EngUcd 2,965,5281. was assessed under A, 383,5951. undirB, 818,0881. under C, 2,064,4441. under D, and 453,344;1 under schedule E.

DEPUTATION TO LORD PALMERSTON ON BIBLE EDUCATION FOR INDIA. A deputation comprising upwards of 70 noblemen and gentlemen waited on Lord Palmerston and Sir Charles Wood at Cambridge-house on Saturday. The deputation included the Archbishop of Canter- bury, who introduced the deputation, and expliinf" the strong feeling which existed throughout the country for a removal of the authoritative exclusion o! the word of God from the system of education in the Government schools in India, so that none who may be so disposed be interdicted from the hearing or the reading of the Bible in school hours, provided al\V:¡; that such safeguards be adopted against undue inter- ference with the religions of the natives as may appear just and proper to the chief local euthorities in the several governments of India. Sir Charles Wood explained that he and her Majesty's Government felt as anxious as the deputa- tion that the natives of India should embrace Christian religion. They desired this on the grour. that every additional convert to Christianity was M additional strength to the British Government f India that, notwithstanding the high authority 01 sa J. Lawrence, there were others of high authority wh" took a different view of the subject; that many, eren zealous for the promotion of missions, thought tha: a Bible class in Government schools might create a prejudice against Christianity, and so impede instead of promoting its progress; that it was a questio. which could not be definitively settled without com- munication with the authorities abroad as well as at home, Lord Palmerston expressed his conviction that no. only Her Majesty's Government, but all men, must unite in desiring the advancement of Chris- tianity in India, even as a matter of policy thit the deputation must not, therefore, regard the hcsit' of Government as arising from any disregard of the importance of the question, but only on account ot the difficulties with which it was surrounded in the apprehension of many Indian authorities. The Duke of Marlborough pressed upon her Majest) Government the importance of this question being settled without such agitation as might create the very evils in India which all parties deprecate. lie felt persuaded that if the moderate request ot t r deputation were now refused the demand from W( country would rise, and might create new difficulties, Mr. Kinnaird urged the same considerations. h-' Sir C. Wood afterwards explained the nature 01 t? interdict as far as his despatch of ISM was c,n cerned-namely, that it did not forbid the formation of a voluntary Bible class in any Government sc by the Government teachers, either before or after the school hours, nor did it forbid the reading o k Bible itself in school hours as an luatoncai book. without teaching the doctrines of the Christian reliOIrl The latter paint had been so explained in 184s by Mr. Cameron, the head of the Educational De^ parts]lt in Calcutta. > hcn" Several members of the deputation expte.? selves thankful to receive this interpretation o?? rule of Government in respect of -olunti?ry B'bl, classes, and their hope that it conceded in pM tbc principle for which the deputation contended,