The Aberystwith Observer

EXTRACTS FROM MR. BRIGHT'S SPEECH. W. eilI e gIve our readers a few extracts from the ex- on Mn sPeech of Mr. Bright in the House of Commons, for tliJT\ ? night, on the vote for 50,000?. being taken T e efences of Canada lefehe IlDportance of this debate Is very great, because it Its delifo^ P°88ihility of a war with the United States, and fllestinn from thiB» that It is difficult to discuss the *tirectini 6hout saying things which teiul rather in the 118 Is that tK. Wa* ^an °' Peace. The difficulty now before is an extensive colony or dependency of this Partv in n/ to the United States, and* if foere be a war 'hat riiSn tec^ party hostile to hisountry, witlinn* ance sffords it a very strong temptation to enter It fepi, hesitation into a war with Eugland, because tion nn 'through Canada it can Inflict a great bumilia- knownt.?oull!,y- At the same time, it is perfectly well &nd nnhi? a lntelligent men, and especiaily to all statesm them u J11611 01 the United States—it is as well known to Unitl>H iV8 to UR—that there is no power whatever in this Canario ^B8dcm to defend successfully the territory against the United States. THE DIFFICULTY BEFORE US. We Ought to know that in order to put ourselves right taVkf neque,ti0D. and that we may not "po" t0 rv5 foUy and to act folly. The noble lord at the head of the J'overoment-or his Government, at least—is responsible be o I 'vjn,? compelled this d'scussion because if a vote is to asked from the House of Commons—and it will only be the beginning of votes—it is clearly the duty of the House to bring the matter under discutsun. That is perfectly clear many reasons, but efpecially since we have heard from can .-Governor- General of Canada that in the North Ameri- w ?-Provinces they are about to call into existence a new t»> ty; and I, for one, should certainly object to the nation of this country being expended needlessly on be- al1 of any nationality but our own. WHO WILL BEGIN? tV^at I should like to ask the Houee first of all is this— 'Ui panada attack the States? Certainly not. Next, will the States attllck Canada, keeping England out of view afto- &t#f ? Ctrtv,iDly I5'* lhere is not a man in the United sihJn8 PT°!? y' wl,°se vi ice or opinion would have the Uest influence, who would recommend or desire that Mtv. It should Pe made hy the United States on Canada \Vh v*ew ot its forcible annexation to the Union the state of things now ? There is the greatest asvii if.ca,m 011 tlle frontier. The United States have not thpV say a £ ainst Canada. The Canadian people found ftiiif/iWere wro"8; they have now returned to their Tight beii *• ail(i there is not a man in Canada at this moment, I Govalf' who has aty kind of idea that the United States o Overnment has the smallest notion of attacking them, now t r at any future time on account of anything which has 6(^ between Canada and the United States. If ihere be o Z.a War ^hich Canada may be made a victim, it will the On got UP between the Government of Washington and Whfith ernment ,n London, and it becomes us to inquire that is at all probable I will assume that you, for n'rImen, have come to the CT elusion that it is better thev a D°'! to mabe war with the United States, not because *ars n stronS. but on the higher ground that we are against history for the last 200 years and more has recorded '^calamitous and, for the most part, unnecessary from have had enough of whatever a nation can gain disasic ry sncceps and glory. I will not speak of the spread ^'ch might follow to our commerce, and the wide- h»nUln m%ht be caused by a war. We are a wiser regard peof?'e than we were in this respect, and we should 'f epbhi* War with 'ha United S;ates as even agreater crime, llattedJessJy entered into, than a war with almost any other on In tbe world. WHO IS IT THAT WANTS TO FIGHT? thpi4vlet me ask' are the u,li!ed States for war ? I will take be»», rtyof esPressirg this opinion, that there has never of ?,an administration in the United States since the time favn Revolutionary War up to this hour n ore entirely estionf n e Peace with all foreign countries, and more KMM y wtth this conctry, than tbe Government of which the n?^ L'ncoln is the head. I will undertake to say that HaaM ° exac^ investigator of wbat has taken place will be *aid or Po'nt to a single word, he, President Lincoln, has done' »in S1i)8le i,ne he has written, or a single act he has anoor flrst accession to power that betrays that gornp Passion or ill feeling towards this country, which Cahinpte0T.e^llere 'naagine, lifluence the breasts of his for war'if A. T?'aTiada i8B0t ,or war' if England is not *ar to come? States aie not for war, wtence is the THE NEWSPAPER DOES IT Well'Vw *hat •henewspspers have got intoasort of panic. When thov d.o that every night btt^efn twelve and six, or Danic-^tripircn ita.rlicles; they cari be very cou=apeous What tbe is said that "the City"-we know It to night they ar?«fr rtg^t' hon gentleman alluded to does not describe KS°IDS "hodeal ln 'bares, though that thev call the mor^T^ 'bem,—it is said that what Uiotietary t'ansactlons, and steenfdT^th^f' p great Perilous speculations, they are not ahf« tift £ 8 *°™etlnies in Passionate view of questions < f this natu e. & 8" THE EFFECTS OF IDLENESS. I have discovered one reason why in that other nlace mistakes of this nature arc so often made. Not toncaco Jhere was a great panic raised, very much by what was said Jbere about France. Now the time is to raise a panic on question. In the hall of tbe Reform Club there is ld 10 the wall a paper which gues a telegraphic aecount Of whnt Is being done in this House every night, and what is also being done in the other P. uae, and I find almost every h»v 003 'he bfgiDDicg of the session the only words that CPLVPPeared on 'hat «i.'e devoted to a record of tlie pro- M, of the House of Lords are these words, "Lords Is r Ded-" The noble lord at the head of the Government sanfo o°n has brought this Hou»e nearly to the hothi^condition. We do veiy little, and tbey do absolutely tfpto t «.A'J us our younger days, I am quite sure, »a« j 4 •hose who had the care of us a Vfrse which ^aa to ttiis Cif ^°tteack Wessings of industi y. One couplet "Satan still some mischief finds yoridiehandatodo." A.nd I do not believe that men, however high in station, are exenjpt from that unfortunate effect which arises to ail of w "cm a course of continued idleness. DOES CONSCIENCE PRICK ? srould like to ask this House if there is not a con- OUI heaTt of hearts that we have not du'ing Don't f years behaved gener<ju«ly to our neighbour. PersoriQ «.^ee somewi.y a pricking of conscience—in fur to m»to are we not sensible of this that conscience herds sbalJls e ns cowards at this particular juncture? Wei', I feeHrwa ,ev'ew the past transaction with anger, but with bear fsorrow, for I maintain, and I think history will toinrtoli T?* i- v. 885'' t^at tbere ls no generous at d high- i111!11, wtl° cou'd look back upon the tran- *t thn^> S years without a feeling of sorrow course we have pursued on some particular occasions. LET US BE JUST AND GENEROUS. towl"!?8^ express mv hope (alluding to our unfriendly feelings i.. 08 the Federals) that if any one of you who have been fri Snenerousshall ever fall into trouble you will find your fell' more kind andgeneiou-. than you h-ive been to your ao f countfymen at the other side of the Atlantic. And v to the press, sir, I think it is unnecessary to say about that oecause now every night those unfortunate writers are en- deavouring to back out of everything they have been saying- and I can only hnpe that their power of evil in future will be greatly tenon, d by the stupendous exhibition of ignorance and folly which they have made to the world. Our most perfect security is that as the war in America draws to a close, if it should happily soon draw to a close, we shall come more generous to tl em, and their G )vernment and £ °plewill probaoly become less irritating to us. And when £ e passions have c oled down I am quite sure that Mr. on that side, and Lord Russell on this, Mr. Adams eTe, and Sir Frederick Bruce there, will be able, without •uucb difflculyr, to fettle this after all unimportant matter as a question oi accounts between the two nations. A BUBBLE THAT WILL BE A LONG WHILE IN BURSTING i, J have only one more observation to make, and that Is thls-I suspect the root of all the unfortunate circumstances ^at have occurred is In the feeling of jealousy which we cherished with regard to the American nation. It was very much shown at the beginning of this war, when a Member whom I will not name, for 1 am sure his wish is that name should not be mentioned in connection with it bow, spoke of the bursting of the bubble republic. I Jecoilect Lord John Russell, as he then was member for the City, sittlfig on t'nat bench, turned rc und and rebuked him that was worthy of his name, and character, and Position. I beg to tell ttiat gentleman, and anybody else •'hota'ks about a bubble republic, ttiat I have a strong "uspicion that a great many bubbles will burst before that RULE BRITANNIA" SHOULD NOT BE ARROGANT. Whyehnuldwefeara great nation on the American con- tinent? Some people fear that a great nation will be arro- gant and aggressive. It does not follow ibat it should be ■o. The character of a nation does not depend altogether upon its size, but upon the instruction, the civilisation and the morals of its people. You fancy the nuprtmacy of the saa will pass away from you and the noble lord, I dare say, Who has had such exooieice and is wi, er on the subjec" than any man In the House, will say that "Rule Britannia" Would become ob-olete. Well, inasmuch as it means arro* gance and tbe assumption of supremacy on the part, of this country the sooner that becomes <b<olete the better. I do not believe that it is for the advantage of this country or any country in the world that any one nation should Pride itself upon what it te'ms tupremacy of the tea; and I hope the time is coml: g—I believe the hour is hastening -when we shall find that law and justice thall guide the councils, and shall direct the policy of the Chris.ian nations °f the world THE FUTURE GREATNESS OF AMERICA. Now nature will not be baffled because we are jealous of the United States. The population of the United States is now not less than 35,000,000. When the next Parliament has lived to the jjge that this has lived to, that population will be 40,000,000, and you may catcu'ate that increase at ef rather more tban 1,000,000 of persons per year. » to gainsay it? Will con.-tant snarling at a great laio-j a'ter the state of things, or swell us up in the?e on "00,000 or 50.000,000, or bring th-m down to ? Uon members and the country at large shou'd .1 facts' and learn ,rom them that it is the interests of the nations to be at one —to be in perfect 1T~VA 1111!/ w'(h the English nation on the otht-r tb<Ri^QB will onr m ^atn snre the longer that nation exists the less wlllour pe„ple be disp08fd to sustain you in any ie.6d e»Sp moK cottl5h? or jealousy of th.m. And of their conduct in the nort°h oV EnXn^ d'uH^Th T'l four years "hat the Amertcan People, when tnis excitement is over, will be willing an far as aggressive acts against us are concerned to ^inrv in oblivion transactions which h<ve given them mu^h pahf and that they will make the allowance which they mav faiily make, th*t the people of this conntrj—eVeneyt^aJ high in rank and distinguished in culture—have had a ■Very inadfquate knowledge of the real state of the events which have taken place in '"Vsince the beginning of the war. Now, it is on reco that when the author of "The Decline and Fail of the Roman Emplre„ Was about beginning his great work, Pay'" 9T,'i?i,i,Trote a letter to him, urging him not to employ the r ench but the English tongue, because," he said, 011 r 'ab »hmentsin America promise superior stability at d dura i n 10 the Enclish language." How far that promise has oeeu n part fulfl led, we who are living now can s'ate but how x»r it will be more largely and more comp'etely fulfilled in auer times, we must leave after timts to tell. 1 that in the centuries which are to come, it will be tne greatest pride and the highest renown of England that irt'tn her loins have sprung a hundred millions—it may be -00 milliolls-of men who dwell and pro-prr on that continent which the old Genoese gave to Europe. Sir, if the1 sentiments which I have uttered shall brcone the sentiments of the Parliament and people of the United Kingdom—if the moderation which 1 have described shall mark the course and government of the people of the United States—then, notwithstanding some present irritation and ;ome present distrust—and I have faith both in us and then —I believe that these two great commonwealths will march abreast the pirents and the guardians of freedom and justice where- soever their language shall be spoken and their power shall extend.

EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE. On Monday an inquest respecting the death o( John Hackett, aged 32, late corporal in the 60tli Rifles was held in London :— Mary Sullivan sa.id The deceased came to lodge with me two months ago. He had been a corporal in the 60th Rifles, but he was discharged in consequence of ill-health from exposure to the climate of India during the mutiny. He stated that his wife died a month since. He got work at Pickle Herring-wharf. On Thursday morning he was called to go to work, and he said, My time is not up yet; it is right enough, it is not too late." He came down and sat at the breakfast table. He took my baby and seated him on his lap. He then said, "Mrs. Sullivan, give me half a cup of tea, or, if you have not that, of hot water." He would not give the cup, but he held it. 1 saw that he had put a white substance into it, and I asked him waat it was. He said, quite coolly, It is only sugar, Mrs. Sullivan." He added some rum to it, and then tasted it. I said, U You make such a nasty face, that I something must be wrong. I will show it to a doctor or throw it in the fire." He clenched his fist In my face, and said, "You will. By —you don't," and he seized the cup and drank off the whole of the liquid. He put down the child and staggered to the door saying, "Let me out of your house. Oh, God what agonv!" I raised an alarm at once. Isaac Bunker, a fellow lodger of the deceased, proved having seen him put a powder under his pillow on the Wednesday. He said tbat it was something good that he wanted for his own purpose, and that he would give witness a dram of it, but that it would kill him. Dr. White said he was called in to see the deceased, and found him dying from the effects of a very large dose of cyanide of potassium. That poison was easily procurable by soldiers for the purpose of cleaning gold lace. g A police constable said that he searched the de- ceased's room, and ascertained from documents that he had been 14 years in the 1st battalion 60th Rifles. He fought at the siege of Delhi, and he lost his health through the Indian climate. He was discharged on the 13th December, 1864, in consequence of ill-health brought on during the Indian campaign. He had a pension of 7d. a day for three years. He had two clasps to his medal. He stood well with his omcers, and they had induced Colonel Beresford, of the ourrey Rifles, to get him a light employment at Pickle Her. ring-wharf. While at his employment his manner was strange. It appeared that he had a fortnight ago pro- vided himself with 6d. worth of poison cyanide of potassium.. The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while of un- sound mind.

THE LOCK-OUT IN THE IRON TRADE It will be seen by the following extract from the Northern Express of Monday, that the lock-out has extended itself to the northern districts of England :— We regret to have to announce that the lock-out in the iron trade has taken effect in all the magnitude whiqh was anticipated. Previous to last Saturday up- wards of 40,000 ironworkers in Staffordshire had been deprived of the meaus of making a living, and on that day about 30,000 men in the North of England, also engaged in the same trade, were thrown into a similar position. Notices have also been posted up in a few other ironworks in the north country, intimating to the workmen that they will be locked out on Saturday week. unless the North Staffordshire men have. pre- vious to that time, worked at the reduction of 10 per cent. in their wages. It was expected that large meet- ings of the men would have been held on Saturday, but they were postponed until Monday. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, Monday. In consequence of the great lock-out of the iron. works in the North of England Ironmasters' Associa- tions a great number of puddlers and men working under them are thrown out of employment in the two northern counties of Durham and Northumberland and North Yorkshire this morning. But the turned-out men are singularly quiet, orderly, and cheerful, for the universal impression among them appear to be that the lock-out will not continue many days. Such, also, seems to be the opinion in the best informed com mercial circles to-day, and if the northern masters and men keep in their present frame of mind, and if more violent counsels do not prevail in the Ironworkers' Association probably this week will see the end of the dispute. The questions to be settled in this part of the country are simply these :—Have the North Country Workmen's Association su rported the men out onstrike in North Staffordshire? Will the ironworkers of the north support the North Staffordshire men ? To-morrow deputations from the workmen employed at Walker, Jarrow, Consett, Spenny-moor, Darlington, Middles- borough, Witton-park, and other districts will have an interview with the master's committee in this town, and, if the matters in dispute are approached in a spirit of conciliation, the most hopeful results may be anticipated from the meeting. Though trade dis- putes, of course, are constantly arising between the masters and men in this immense ir n district, as in most others, a better feeling generally prevails between the employers and the employed than in any other parts of the country. The masters taoke more interest in education, mechanics' institutes, building societies, and other movements to promote the social welfare of their workmen and families and, though they entered into obligations with the North Staffordshire iron- masters to lock out their hands, which they have honourably kept, there is little doubt they will spare no honest efforts to put an end to it as speedily as pos- sible. NBWCASTI,E-ON-TYNE, Tuesday Afternoon. f The conference of the deputation from the Northern iron-workers with the masters' committee held in this town this afternoon continued two hours and a half. A number of subjects were discussed, in an amicable temper. The deputation from the men repeated that they would not support the North Staffordshire strike. The discussion took this practical form at last: The Northern masters, it was suggested, might send puddled bars into North Staffordshire, and thus reopen the mills, the men of all other districts not to inter- pose or object. The Gateshead and Brierly-hill exe- cutives are called upon to give a definite pledge to such arrangement. A meeting of the North-country and Staffordshire ironmasters will be held in York on Friday, delegates from the Gateshead and Brierly-hill Union will attend, when terms of arrangement will be submitted by the latter, and there is great reaSOD to believe they will be accepted by the former and so end the lock-out in the North. The Newcastle Chronicle of Tuesday says:- The first day of tbe great lock out in the iron trade in the North haa been tided over wi hout any manifestatiM1 of ill-feeling or violent demonstrations, and in a manner which would lead a person acquainted with the stern reality to suppose that the men were holiday keeping rather than entering upon a state of enrorced Idlene8s, 1 he duration of wbich may possibly extend to mnntb8, aLd bring with it all the hardships and sufferine which are inseparable from such restrictions of industry. Thn cau'e of thi, hopeful aspect of affairs is the general belief that the 1 .ck-ont will not last many days. The confidence that is placed in the justice and integrity of the ironmasters of the North and their antece- dents lead to the supposition that a measure so harsh and arbitrary as that a general lock-out (which must surely have been adopted without due consideration) will not long be enforced.

THE STOPPAGE OF ATTWOODS, SPOONER, AND CO.'S BANK. The people of Birmingham and the surrounding district awoke last Saturday scorning to hear of an occurrence which 13, perhaps, as great a calamity ai has ever befallen any locality. The stoppage of a bank must be always at ended with more or less 01 hardship, disaster, and mUerv, but this ill a case very far out of the ordinary way iu that respect. Here was a bank occupying the very highest place in public confidence, persons in almost every rank aud station of life resorting to it, and in countless instances consigning their all to its keeping. ° ° When Birmingham retired to rest on Friday night, very few persons had the slightest idea of the great disaster im- pending. ThIs mornltlg", fcoon :dter daylight, the sad news spread like wildfire; the local papers told the story, but people, unwilling to believe, pouted into New-s'reet to be convinced of the truth. On the door of the bank the follow- wgwas posted :— "It is with feelings of the deepest concern and distress we announce that, owing to circumstances over which we have no control, we are comp- lied to suspend payment." ATTWOODS, SVOONER, MARSHALL AND CO. "March 10, 1865." There was no longer room to foubt the occurrence of the terrible disaster which rumour had totd the excitement and consternation ari-ing from such a blow may he imagined, the effect of it is to be felt horeatter; and at that time it was too early to estimate it; but the feelings of dis- may spread abroad, depicted in thousands of faces told of the anticipated misery and ruin. Between 9 and 10 o'clock there weresigns that the news of the stoppage had reached the district; from the agricultural localities eppecially the early trains brought In hundreds, for in all probability more than three fourths of the neighbour- ing population kept their accounts at Attwoods'. Persons of every class deposited their moneys there in countless cases, too, these were the had savings of the humblej-t. There were deposits in the bank which had remained un- touched for a generation. Who would hav9 dared to ven- ture the expression of a doubt as to the s'abili'y of A tt- woods and Spooner ? Such was the tone of public feeling. In thpse circumstances it is needless to say that the ruin will be wide-spread, and affect an immense number of persons and interes's. Ladies, and others of the sex in lower stations, were a very numerous class of depositors trust moneys, the funds belonging to different societies, and many other instances might be named in which the amounts were deposited at this hank. The liabilities, it is said, exceed 1,000,0001., the deposits alone amounting to 700.000Z. and on Friday notes 10 the amount of 20,0001. were found to be in circulation. It is said that there are about 3,{)00 depositors, and one deposit is said to amount, o 15 00ù1. and people have gone on (ull of confidence placing their deposits with the firm, yet there cao be little doubt that the bank ought to have been closed years ago. The accounts of merchants, manufacturers, and ethers of that cltis* were not so numerous as they were a few years asio many have been transferred to joint stock companies, but there wf-s still a sufficient number of such accounts with this firm to do an immense amount of mischief, and the inconvenience felt "n Saturday was enormous, mitigated as it was to som > extent by the assistance afforded by the joint- stock companies. Sot the slightest indication was experienced of a run on either of the other private banks, but all through the day the crowd remained In front of Attwoods," gaz'ng on the dingy wal s, stilt ueeming to doub'. whbther the Old Bank, to which a sort of homage has been paid for two or three generations—the honoured name of which was a magical word transmitted from father to son—had reaby closed, Far into the evening the people lingered in front of the build- ing- rhere were rumours of cases of "pecuUar hardship,' arising from the circumstance of amounts of money bsing received at the bank up to the last moment; but these are not" peculiar" Cases; they are of ihvariabl" and inevitable occurrence when a bank suspends payment, so that what- ever may have be»n the faults ot the Aim there is no blame which can be fairly imputed to them on that account. It is right, too, to add that when the contemplated arrange- ment for an ama'gamat'on with the Joint-Stock Bank jvas broken off there was scarcely the de'ay of an hour in Th bluing to cl^te the bank. neighbol?*1? tIjroughout the day that presented itself in the character <?d of tho Bat)k was °' the Most distressing doors, and 200 or 300 persons congregated about the to their ast'onis? the most melancholy faces gave expression their chances 0j t^t at wha'had occurred, and discussed As on all such 00 What they would recover out of their lms. blow, gave way, ana h s' there were many who, at the first was the most they despondlngJy declared 6d. in the pound looked forward to the"?in wh'lst the more sanguine individual cases of great h i1 £ he Pouncl- l'here are many incidents might have been hlp' ail(1 some very touching door of the bank, Placed*^63', 0nelad* carae the 7 wincr as If she had r»cRi» hand nlj0n it and stood K in' o tears Another p^;d a violent blaw, and then ? Tvierrial masters could creature whose notions « cZ f lT bS she could n«t realisation 0 J! on the step dete*™1"^ was her own, resolutely sat on seor £ >ined not to go till she got her •» j that 1,61 from sea. Nor was It f alone Rave wav Men who bad not heard calarcUy overtaken their fortunes ca ti.em .^aDk. and find- ing its doors closed agatns^t th before them almost fainting, whilst °th red on seeking admittance, and in their faces seem y. Surely they will give vie seme but it was in vai against tv,tho*e doors, onte finally closed, were sealed an gainst the en treaty of friends, the imprecations of the exasperated suffereis, and the appeal for mercy and eon31<1 eration cxthe poor small depositors. There was yet an<?' fF „.lri were to be seen about the bank and the streets, th dejected countenances, talking of that which n'Ie^ of every man in the town These were not the depos these were men with nothing to deposit and nothing to •> to but the labour of their hands for the support 1 families; but their employers being amongst the sufferers the question arose in their minds, where were their wages to come from. and many a family would have gone without a diuner on Sunday but for lhe prompt, energttic and liberal course pursued by ths Birmingham Joint-stock Blink. Itwa* the suhj ct of some complaint that it should have been Lund necessary to close the bank on a Friday, that being a day upon which large amounts were generally paid in, and Saturday the day on which it is necessary to make large draws for the purpose of paying wages, &c. Whilst the old Bank was the scene of so much despair the Joint-stock Bank was the scene of the greatest activity, for they at the earliest possible moment announced that they would open credit accounts to relieve the immediate necessities of customers. For this purpose the Bank was kept open long after the usual hour, and from the manager down to the porter no one that long and anxious day could spare time even for refreshment, and the result was that over two hundred credit accounts were opened, and the wages of many hundreds and even thousands of workmen paid who otherwise must have remained unpaid. The tradesmen and manufacturers have thus found relief, and it seems quite clear that the classes who will suffer most are the agriculturists and the men with small savings ^Th^petition in bankruptcy was filed on behalf of Mr. Henry Marshall, the only surviving partner, who issued the following :— It is with feelings of the deepest concern and distress we announce that we are compelled to suspend payment, and this at the moment when, after several months of ne- gotiation, we had confidently trusted we should obtain such assistance as would enable Wi to carry into effect our part in the preliminary agreement for the amalgamation with the Birmingham Joint-Stock Bank. In this hope we have been disappointed. Sums of money to a large amount were drawn out of the bank some years since by the family of the Attwoods, To this circumstance it can be clearly shown at the proper time our failure is to be attributed. For the last ten years every effort has been made to redeem the loss thus occasioned but this has only been partially ac- complished. The assets of the bank are, however, sttllvery considerable, and there are real estates of great value be- longing to the bank, and but slightly encumbered. We hope that in our suspending payment we shall be considered as taking the best and only step to insure a jmt and equal dis- tribution of our assets among our creditors."

The history of the bank is briefly told. It was established in the sping of 1791, the original partners being Messrs. Isaac Spoocer, James Matthias, and Aaron Attwood, and Thomas Aynsworth. The Messrs. Marshall were subse- quently admitted into partnership, and after various changes, the proprietors a year ago were Messrs..Richard Spooner, M.P., Henry Marshall, and Thomas Aurelius Att- wood. Mr. Spooner and Mr. Attwoods, however, died in the course of the year, and Mr. Marshall was left the sole pro- prietor. Some little uneasiness was felt after Mr. Attwood's death, increasing somewhat on the decease of Mr. Spooner, and several accounts were quietly transferred but confi- dence was completely restored and great expectations formed by the announcement that the old bank was about to be amalgamated with the new Joint-Stock Bank # of Temple- row. Negotiations were all but completed, and it is obvious that the painful notification of Saturday morning was the I remit of an investigation of the affairs of the old bank by the directors of the new company.

The Birmingham Daily Post says:—" We are happily in a position to state that, whatever may be the immediate inconvenience to the depositors and customers, the ultimate loss will he less than might be anticipated. The facts upon which we base this statement are beyond cavil, and we therefore lay the following figures before the public with the greatest confidence in their correctness :— "The assets consist, first, of 250,0002., of advances made to customers, against which the bank, in many eases holds security In addition to these balances owing to tbe bank, there is something like 70,0001, of bad or doubtful debts, against wh ch there are securities and probable divi- dends that will realise, say one third of the amount. A large estate near Haes Owen, belonging to the firm, is valued at 167,0002, indeed that sum has been offered for it. There are also two estates one near Worcester, and a small one in Herefordshire, worth 22 0001 and properties in New-Street, and Broad-street, estimated to realise 17,oOOZ. The Bills of Exchange and cash amount to about 200000Z., and there are a few shares III public companies. Those assets represent a total 01 say 600,0002., or about 12s. in the pound. Making, therefore, an allowance for contingencies, there is some probability that the estate, if taken out of the Bankruptcy Court, may pay 103. in the pound, "Many stories are afloat as to the cause of the failure, and charges of fraud are whispered here and there. W e have reason to kuow that though there are some rather heavy advances, there is no ground tor the giave charge of fraud The cause of the failure is very simple, and is comprehended in the fact that, fourteen or twenty years ago one of the part- ners Mr. George Attwood, drew out a large sum fr;.m the business ranging fr >m 300,00> Z. to 400,0002 Just before his dealh the Hales Owen estates, in which part of the money had be» n invested, were conveyed to the bank. S nee that time the firm has been struggling to retrieve this loss, and so anxious were they to do so that for some years the late Mr Spooner has drawn little, if anything, from the business but lived moderately and unpretendingly on his wife's for- tune. Thessme justice mmt be delle to Mr. Marshall, who witb great responsibilities on his shoulders has lived as un. ostentatiously as any clerk, and now, in his old age, is leit entirely without resources.

The Times, in a leader upon tbe stoppage of the Bank remarks:—" fhe sudden failure of one of the iargest and most respected of our country Banks is something more than a local calamity. Every cne who knows anything of banks and banking has heard of Attwoods and Spooler's, of Birmingham, and th usands more who were unac- quainted with tne existence of the firm have learnt to associate the names of its partners with everything that was trustworthy and respfctable. But the Bir- mingham Bank will be most widely known through the Palllamtntary nOI oritty of successive partnen in the firm. The tame of Air, Attwoods is now somewhat faded, but few men of his class filled a larger spsce In the world than he did not many years since. The perfect sincerity and un- wavering contideuce with which he euunclated his views would under any circumstances have attracted at- tention; but his reputation as a practical man, at the head of a great banking establishment caused his opinions to be received with a respect which their- in- trinsic merit never wl1rranted. As a politician and as an economist he was as guiltless of logic as his frequent ally, Air. Cobbett, and more recent students of political econoaiy are amazed that such crude conceptÏ1ns should ever have been dignified by the name of a School, even though it were the Birmingham School of Currency. When Mr. Attwood retired from the Parliamentary arena, Mr. Spooner came prominently forward in it, though in a different character. He passed away so recently that iUs unnecessary to recall the incidents of his car. er. We all remember his zeAlous Protestantism, but the majority, which steadily refused to support bis annual motion against Miynootb, listened to blm with unfailing respect. We venture to say th 9re Is not a. member of the House of Common8, whatever may be his creed and whatever opinion he may have of the na rowi ess of Mr. Spoonet's notions, who will not feel a personal regret that any suspicion of hlame should rest on the memory of a nun whose l"ng Hfe 01 eighty years was spent without a speck up Jll its houour."

A meeting of the friendly societies who are sufferers by the failure was held on Monday night. Some of the societies gave. in the amount of their losses, hilt many not hein!( offiCIally delegated declined to do so The largest amounts were: — Foresters, 1,8361.; Manchester Unity, 2,1742 a Burial Society, 9401. United Brothers, 1,7282. and s.' me others, making a total of 8,954*.

AN EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH IN THE FRENCH SENATE. The Marquis de Boi^sy has been making one of his usual ridiculous speeches in the French Senate, and his buffooneries fill six close columns of report, from which we give an extract, though they must lose much of their grotesque effeet by any process of condensa- tion. He commenced by saying that he blessed the Emperor who had done so much for France, and was the admiration of all Europe. The Emperor, on reaching the throne, had already studied the epoch, its wants and its dangers, and he had formally promised a parliamentary government. (Denials—several senators stating that this was not the case.) M. de Boissy had heard some one say that that time would be long in arriving, but in his opinion he did not think that the Emperor would delay the promise he had given. The Emperor was aware that no dynasty could be founded on despotism, but on parliamentary government. [Marshal St. Jean d'Angely remarked that parlia- mentary government rendered thrones unstable]. He (the Marquis de Boissy) was of opinion that if two or three thrones had been reversed by Parliaments, that would prove the truth of what he had advanced (laughter). In the course of his speech the Marquis said :— I am a serious old man, and for the three-quarters of a century I have lived, fourteen Governments have rolled over J^ranie. Ooly one f. rm of ru e has las ed 33 years alt the thirteen others have had an aggregate duration of 44, an average of four years each. The pledge given on the 24th of JN ovember, 1863, was a vast, stride towards true Parliamentary rule. But we must have responsible Ministers, and a free tribnne (It is free!)—aye, like the press! We must have honest prefects, [President Troplong objected to such sweeping defamation of these functionaries] His Majesty, whoml blesg by day, and by i lght when I don't sleep, will hold a higher place in history than his uncle. He won't have a hundred battles to boast of, but neither will he have all Europe coalesced against us he won't lead us to Moscow; no fatal page of his life will record an assassin .t)on in the ditches of Vicennes He is a fitting bio- grapher of CfOsar; but le does not take enough precaution for his own personal security. The man Mazzini must be locked up. A price is set on the heads of the poor brigands in Naples; and the EnglMi put apiice on the head of the gallant Nana S/ihlb (whom tht y called a rebel, but who was only apatiiot), while they harbour Mazziri, a wretch who, to my oertain knowledge, for I live half the year in Italy, has hired an Italian Charlotte Corday to poignard Napoleon III. How often do I hear the awful forebodirg* of what would ensue at any fatal casualty of this sort. [The President Troplcg protested ajainst allusions to the Emperor's dea'h.] The convention wi h Italy ought not and shall hot be carried out; it would be playing into Mazzini's hands. The Pope would go elsewhere, and that act of Fiance would be pariicidal, suic'c-l, dymsticidal. If the Papal pnwer falls, ail thrones will collapse at once. Qui mange clu Pape en crcvera is a popular proverb. Passing tu the topic of taxf iou why should theie he any tax 011 the p or man's do: his only frit natality; and perhaps only attendant on his funeral? Wnen I see In Paris 'streets so many amhulatoryexhibitors of fo e gn gimcrack orders, obtained God knows how. or for what-ortof services, I ask myself aie not such offensive supei fiu'ties far litter ol jects for taxation.—(Applause.) I salute the common soldier wearing tbe Legiou ribbon but my gorge rises at the sight of these alien decorations. I'hEre is a tax on fowling. pieces in the game season, why not on folks who sport foreign crosses or insignia, won per- haps by escorting an illustrious visitor to his box at the opera, or introducing him behind thescenes, orforst,i' "Iv equivocal ministra ions? Again, why waste in subsidising itinerant PoUs, or any other set of re,u'? [Here Cardinal Donnet interposed with warm woj' favour of these recipients.) These barricaders by pr were prominent in our streets both at July and In 1848, and everywhere else in upsetting Ttp„vp," ment. What business have we in Ueiic"! grant the war between Yankees and slaveholders y g continue to their mutual extermination, for if J stop fighting our army will be a 1 taken prisonerr of difs.nt,) What? Can our 20 000 men cope with 000,000 scamp? (chenapans)? Then there is Ganba:WI iiiffl°„ tbe lellow; yet the British aristocracy treat mm Ke a crowned head, and I detest them accordingly. For two long hours the worthy Marquis kept ltting right and left, in the same style, at sundry other objects of his dielike, and sat down only when quite exhausted.

THE EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN BEALL. The following account of the execution of Captain Beall is from the New York Tribune of the 2¡).h of February The execution of the sentence of death upon John Y. Beall, the rebel spy, recently convicted by court-martial, duly took place on Governor's Island yesterday, the 24th of February AUhoueh the sentence was not to be carried iiro effect uotii between the hours of 12 and 2 o clock p.Ir., the sightseers, who were so fortunate as to procure passes, began to arrive in large numbers at Governor s Island at an early hour in the morning, and there was also a considerable throng, an10ng whom were several hundreds of soldiers. As we entered the cell of the prisoner, in company with Marshall Murray, a Deputy Sheriff, and another gentleman, we were struck by his singularly cool and confident mien. He was sitting on a chair by a little table which stood in the middle of the cell, with the black cap of death already up. on his head. Saeing us enter, he immediately arose, and said to the Marshal— "I am at your servio9. You will oblige me by making this thing as short as possible." The Marshal, who had seen him frequently before, did can flrst recognize him, as the black lurnan-bke nigbt- &DD6»r« its ion* tas&eled overlap, somewhat altered his Soon as h«e' iIIe knew ,um to he the same, however, as Captain T* I?' and PRORNIsed to comply with his request, height a »i™ was a handsome man. Ab.iu* 5ft. 9 n. in moustache and^v'nCon,pactly bul,t form> ^ht beard and culture and intell. « hair' regular features indicative of eye—these were the nh, I™"6". an(1 a clear, brilliant grey Tber. was aiso a .i^uiarll^ manner of movement and • Tr i ? Murray to the door of his cell hi' Marshal guards, who were awaiting him towarda^hi3^^611 i I apartment, heedless of the curious gaze of the toots of loungers who had gathered to witness tbe scene i 8 erected on a pleasant little knoll of I ground which slopes gently to the waters of the bay on the extremity of the Narrows. The structure itself was simple enough. There was no drop but a chair was placed directly extremity of the Narrows. The structure itself was simple enough. There was no drop hut a chair was placed directly under the rop9, which ran through an apeture and along a groove ot series of pulleys in the beam above, the other end fa ling in o a rude box or shanty, where it had connexion with a heavy weight, oa which the severing of a subordinate line would bring the noose up with a swift jerk to the top of the gallows res. Fp and down in the interior of the inclosure containing the weight, paced the man whose busi- ness it was to cut the short line at the signal, and by the action of the falling weight run up the outer cord with its danglh g burden of flesh and blood. He was in fact the hangman of the occasion, a deserter long confined on the island, but who, we understand, was extemporised Into an executioner on the condition that thereafter his own past sms were to be forgiven. By noon there was a large crowd collected round this spot, viewing the structure with a morbid curiosity, and several platoons of troops were march- ing and counter-marching around it with a full band play- Ing at their head. Nearly all the press was represented and stood very near the scaffold. As the fatal hour drew near the crowd of spectators be- came so pressing that a guard was detailed which quickly drove them back, while the troops were formed in a hollow square around the gallows to keep ou'siders at a distance. Just about 1 o clock the guard, with the prisoner and the chaplain in their midst, came filing down the slope, and the crowd respectfully opened to let them through. The prisoner walked swiftly, and evidently without fear. His arms were pinioned by the elbows behind his baek, which induced a slight forward stoop as he walked, but there was something defiant and free in his gait and bparing. There was something gracefully romantic in his attire, especially in the short dark cloak which he wore, falling theatrically down to his waist and concealing the hempen twist round his neck, and even his black cap added to this dramatic effect, being rored up, turban-like, above his brows, the bacgy end falling on one side and fluttering in the fresh wind that blew in from the sea. It is said that the prisoner entertained, almost up to the hour immediately preceding his death, confident hopes that the execution would not be carried into effect. These hopes probably vanished before he started on his last brief journey to the gallows indeed they must have done so, for on the way he looked up, gazed steadily at the sun, which was shining in a clear blue sky and pouring a flood of efful- gence over his pathway to the grave, and said to the chap- lain, "How beautiful the sunlight is I never knewwhstits splendour was till now, when I look upon it for the last time." A rriving at the gallows, the prisoner threw a quick, curious glance upward, as though he had never seen the structure before, and quietly stepped forward under the rope, while the adjutant proceeded to read the various findings of the Court the order accompanying it, and the death sentence. While this was going on the quiet, almost cheerful courage of the prisoner won the respect of all who saw him. His demeanour was, however, anything but that of a hravo; it evinced a pure moral courage an intellectual contempt for death. His face was pale, but not sorrowful, and frequent smiles played across his lips as he listened to the reading of the different specifications of which he had been found guilty, and for which he was there to meet his death. Especially at the reading of that specification respecting the Lake Erie piracy, where he had placed the innocent passengers of the captured steamer under durance by force of arms, he almost laughed, as if the reading recalled some incident which had once particularly amused him. In all this carelessness, however, there was only contempt and hard hooti-nothing 11 fi,(i0n^r'on 'or the crimes which he had attempted, and nothing like a conviction of the fanaticism or spirit of re- venge which had impelled him. immediately after the reading of the sentence the prisoner stood up, and the noose round his neck was fastened to the suspended cord above, leaving a slack of abont two feet. He faced the sea On his rinht stood Marshal Murray, Major L/Ogsweli, and another rmcial. On his left stood the chaplain wno produced a copy of the Episcopal Liturgy, aud read the commendatory prayer therefrom in solemn tones, the prisoner bending his head reverently, and evidently listening with profound attention. At the conclusion of this cere- mony the Deputy-Marshal approached the prisoner, adjusted tnei ron', and asked him if he had an) thing to say. The prisoner replied, "Yes I protest aeainst the execution of tllis sentence, it is absolute murder—brutal murder! I die in the defence and service of my country." j eiore the cap was drawn over his eyes, on being asked if ne wisnefitosay anytning further, he said, "No; I beg you m, haste!' His last woros addressed to the hang- man sassistant were—" Give my body to my brotlu r-in-law, bequck an out it." The Signai was then given, the weight v pi0!/3"'tfle r°Pe was seen to spring high up, and i in. V.Was in eternity for his neck was immediately 0 probably died in a second. There was a e?™ f ,on of tbe leSs and all motion ceased. The TneTwdv wa^ P'ace 14 minutes past 1 o'clock precisely. 1 .fVutf. red to hang just 20 minutes It was then r uP°n examination the surgeon in attendance pr°^ "!iT o'!1e1ex'lnct It was then placed in the coffin aWfifv,n?,<rh^v, horne away, when the crowd dispersed. Alth g ere was a n tural itebng of commiseration for the you d respect for the valorous bearing of the pri- soner among the spectators, the general and profounder sentiment was that he richly deserved the death he received. A fe"Y' days before his death the prisoner wrote a sketch of ?'>n« nJIT t*le early morning preceding his execu- of°himself re(luest hr.d a photographic likeness taken

A gentleman remarking on the above memoir of the Duke, says:— To Englishmen it will be more interesting to know that he was always the powerful and consistent counsellor of a good alliance with this country and of a peaceful policy towards Europe. In the evil days of February, 1858, the Due de Morny and the Emperor himself were the only public men in France who resisted the hurricaueof hatred against us which the attempts of rjnhn ,—. raised. De Mornv wan bis connexion with Bernard i courage to oppose his masted y Frenchman who had the properties. The former acts nrnw^ v". of t^le 0rleal18- deserve our gratitude the latter mil? 'tical wisdom and spirit, and mecits a posthumous remzlnder**6 a Senerou3

Tho Paris correspondent of a London paper writes -— But a few weeks have elapsed since I was received hv duke In his private library. The audience terminated with his accustomed courtesy he accompanied me along the magnificent gallery where he had collected with such con- summate discrimination the gems of nt which he always contemplated with so much evident pleasure. Suddenly a ,door burst open: three lovely children fair, almost as of ?,°rn, °? English foil, joyously claimed his presence tho game. The (vreuzes, the Meissoniers, orre foTOn?t^OCCHP^iont°' the hour> wefe each and all at thfoiS j 1 f Children evidently won the day. As doors closed on the merry group, it would have been difficult to have believed that death had set his seal on the affectionate father, the refined art-patron the gifted statesman and the kind and ^ever-faibnrfriend afound whose princely home so unusual a portion of eanhlv happiness appeared to have entered. The erief nf thl Duchess is the more poignant as she refused to admit the possibility of any danger existing till late on Thursday and so utterly unaware was she of the real state of things that it was at her request the preparations were commenced for the bal costume at Mi Carcmc, to which the duke gave an unwilling coBsent. It is to be feared that, owing to the duke's constant acts of generosity, a very small provision as been made for his children.

On the evening before the Duke's death the Em. eror remained with him for a couple of hours. What assed on the solemn occasion cannot be known, as all attendants and friends had discreetly withdrawn to the embrasures of the windows; but all heard the Em- peror stifling his sobs, saw him shake the Duke's hand and heard him say Adieu Auguste; I shall see you again soon." Not in this world" was the reply.

The obsequies of the Duke de Morny took place on Monday. By the Emperor's orders an unusual amount of magnificence was imparted to the cere- mony, and the large numbers of the public which as- sembled at various points upon the route taken by the procession added to the splendour and grandeur of the solemnity. At seven p.m. the first cannon was discharged from the Invalides, and a salvo was fired hourly until the procession started. The principal front of the Legislative Chamber was draped black, and silver candelabra were placed between the columns of the portico. The saloon of the Palace Guards was converted into a chapelle ardente. The body of M. de Morny was placed upon a cata- falque draped with silver cloth, under a canopy sup- potted by four columns enveloped in black. Two funeral altars were erected right and left. At the foot of the coffin a priest and a Sister of Charity knelt upon faldstools, praying. Two Zouaves of the Guard were stationed beside the catafalque. Under the portico of the Bourbon Palace and upon the front of the canopy overhanging the coffin, was to be seen the escutcheon of the De Morny family, at the foot of which was the motto, "Pro patria et Imperatore." The saloon called the saloon of the Emperor, pre* ceding the G uards' saloon, was entirely draped with black. At eleven a.m. tbe constituted authorities and functionaries invited to the ceremony arrived at the Legislative palace, and were assigned their various positions. At half-past eleven, the coffin containing the mortal remains of the President of the Corps Legislatif was taken down from the catafalque, and carried to the funeral car, waiting in front of the Palace Colonnade. The car was drawn by six horses, and the vehicle was of extreme magnificence. Figures of weeping angels were at the four corners, and a b^ack velvet cushion was placed upon the summit, bearing a ducal crown covered with crape. The coffin was enveloped in blaek cloth, richly or- namented with large plates of silver. The hat and sword of the deceased were placed upon it. Fourteen mourning coaches followed the funeral car. The procession at starting was preceded by detach- ments of the Garde de Paris, and a great body of cavalry and infantry and arrived at the Madeleine a little after noon. Immediately after the funeral car came three bearers in mourning cloaks carrying cushions, upon which were displayed the insignia orders, and decorations of the deceased. MM. Rouher' Minister of State, Troplong, President of the Senate', Schneider, Vice President of the Corps Legislatif, and Vuitry, Minister presiding over the State Council,'held the sttings of the pall. The facadc of the Madeleine was hung with black in the centre, and displayed the escutcheon of the de- ceased. The interior of the church was lined through- out with black cloth, upon which the letter M and the escutcheon of M. de Morny appeared at intervals. The altar was also completely draped with black, and in the centre of the church was a magnificent catafalque surrounded with columns sustaining a Greek dome. All persons furnished with tickets had taken their places by eleven o'clock. The funeral car arrived at a quarter to one. The clergy of the Madeleine came to receive the body at the door of the church, and the religious ceremonies at once commenced. High mass was chanted by M. Ie Cure, and the Archbishop of Paris pronounced the absolution. The ceremony terminated in an hour and a half, and the procession moved along the hDe of thq boulevards. It was headed by various detachments from varIOUS regiments, and the funeral car was followed by a cortege comprising the family of the deceased, deputations from the Department of the Puy de Dome, Chamber- lains representing the Emperor, the Ministers. Mem- bers of the privy Council, Marshals of France, Admirals, the Governor of the Invalides, the Chief Commandant of the National Guards of the Depart- ment of the Seine, the Senate. the Corps Legislatif, the Council of State, the Court of Cassation, the Cour des Comptes, and all the other public offices had their representatives. The procession passed along the whole line of the Boulevards as far as the Place de 130 Bastille, where it branched off in the direction of the cemetery of Pere- la-Chaise, along the Rue de la Roquette. The pro- cession arrived at the cemetery before three o'clock. Large crowds of people were present at all the points passed by the cortege, but everything passed off with the greatest order, and the weather was favourable for the ceremony. | Upon arriving at Pere-la-Chaise, the mortal remains of M. de Morny were deposited in a temporary vault and M. Schneider, the Vice-President of the Corps Legislatif, in the midst of the deepest silence, made a very affecting speech, after which, M. Rouher, Minister of State, advanced, and spoke as follows:- Gentlemen,—I have been asfed to say a few words over the tomb of the friend we deplore. It is wilh the greatest difficulty I am able to gather my recollections and collect my th< uahts. Forgive me. My heart is still affected by the painful spectacle I have had under my eyes during the last few hours, from the moment that icience declared i'.self powerless until that of the fital end. I have been the witness of that silent agitation, that sombre and dumb solemnity which precedes death I have seen De Moroy upon his conch calm, patient, resigned, stoical, without a murmur against his eru.-1 and premature end, detaching one by one his earthly affections, so as to I enter the less shackled into the bosom of God. He addressed to the agitated Emperor the touching farewells of a devoted frlt n d: he blessed with his hands his desolate poor young wife overcome by tears and despair, and his four little children whom tteirage saved from the sorrows of separa- tion. He called successively tc him his faithful friends to tell them his last wishes. Ihen he aeked the p'ous Arch- bishop of Paris to crown his life by the Christian'* death, and snbdued for some time the sufferings of his agony to receive the sublime consolations the priest gives in the name 01 the Divine principle of immortality. The speaker then briefly sketched the main incidents of the Duke de Morny's career, and concluded with the following apostrophe:— Mor.>y, our friend if you have preceded us to the tomb, the void your absence produces In our ranks could not diminish our confidence, and has only fortified our courage. We a'-e the jealous inheritors of your devotion, your will and yrur power: resolute labourers under the authority of the Prince who has initiated great things and great ideas, we shall continue our daily task. lhe, edifice is founded, and. notwithstanding fata passions, will remain the sacred deposit of the public liberties and of the dynasty daar to the country. The Emperor has surrounded you with the tenderest affection his son, that young prince whom ycu received in the name of the Corps Legislatif as a pledge of security and of the furure," will, when upon the throne, be the protector and friend of your children. A salvo of 15 guns concluded the ceremony.

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. Adult baptism in the river is being revived at Malton, and on Sunday the immersion of four upgrown persons was the cause of one of the most remarkable scenes ever witnessed in the town aa the following account will show:— That part of the river Derwent between the county bridge and ihe old Roman ford is known as Jordan," and tra- dition has it that the Swon King E lwin of Xorttrarcbria was baptised here, witli many of his subjects, by Archbishop Pau inus, in the 7th century. About 35 or 40 years ago, on the establbhwfnt or the B.ptist mission in the town, there was a resumption of baptism hy immersion at this part of the river, and some 13 or 14 persons were then immersed. The practice was discontinued on the formation of a well In the chapel, and has not been revived till about two years ago, when the new sect calling themselves Christian Brethren, restored it, by the public baptise of a young man in the river, but the sect do not hold this immersion as a sine qua non. About two months since a lady was baptized in the same manner, and on Sunday one young Lody, Miss Birss, and three of the male sex, Mr. Graham, Mr Vasey, and another jourig lad, were immersed in the river by Mr. Wright, the leader of the "brethren." Two baptisms of other young ladies were deferred until waiiaer weather, the ladies being iu delicate health. The novelty of the ceremony attracted crowds ef persons of all classes, the bridge, the railway viaduct, the island, and every available point where a view cou d be had, being oewdel. Toe candidates for the rite met in the bridge-house, from which the three men snon emerged, lightly clad, followed by tbe lady in a robe of white. Mr. Wright found his task no easy one, owing to the considerable amount o! flood water in the river, in which a t-ath was a- yf ing but inviting. S retime was consumed by Mr. Wright in getting into the liver at various points, to try to find out a place sufficiently shallow for the immersion to take place, each failure being hailed with derisive laughter from certain of the crowd many of whom trea'ed the affair as a capital joke. At leng h asuitahle p ace was found, and Mr. Wtight was pre- puing to undertake the baptism of the young lady, when a young lad named Blackburn, who had perchtd on a ledge of the gasworks, was observed to fall headlong into the most datuierous part of the river, close by the main arch, through which a very powerful current was running. An alarm was raised, and the whole 1,200 or 1,500 persons at once lett the tiaptumal party to see the result of the lad's struggles in the river at the opposite side of the island. At first it stemed as if the Jadmustbe drowned in the presence of every oi,e but shorty a young man named KUlen, son of Mr. Kill n, shoe- maker, threw off his coat and impt into the current, and StlC; ceeded in leaching the drowning lad just in time Amid the plaudits of the crowd he brought Blackburn to land, though him-elf thoroughly exhausted by the strong current. Several gentlemen on the spot resolved that a testimonial shouid ba raised to reward the gallant fellow. When this drowning business was settled tbe cNwd hurried back to "Jordan," where the baptismal proceedings had been arrested by the alarm. Betting on any subject whatever is sure to characterize a crowd in the sporting atmosphere of Malton, and offers to back Killen against Wright were numerous, and again roused the hilarity which the accident had suppressed. Mr. Wright himself seemed to hllve 10meVlhat loet nerve, and was possibly rendered worse by the taunts and gibes of the roughs. At length all was ready, and Mr. Wright, havicg walked a few yards into the river, was followed by the young lady, whom he baptized in the name 01 the Tiinity, the immersion being the signal for a grand cheer from a considerarle part of the assem- blage. The same form was gone through with each of the men, one of whom looked particularly nervou«, and was laughed at immensely. Alter tbe proceedings were completed the newly-baptised persons were taken to the bridgehouse to resume their ordinary dress and partake of hot coffee. The morning was very cold, and the vrater in a hall muddy state. There were very few sympathisers with the "brethren" whose peculiar baptismal notions and the method of putting them into practice caused amusement to almost ail present, and were a source of fun to a majority of the beholders, who saw no- thing sacred in the proceedings.

THE REAL AND THE IDEAL! The writer of auarticle entitled Below the Gang. sketch Morning Star, gives the following called6 t<f ged°ne> a friend from the country him the gerUlwnnn TOI? upstairs and pointed out to "There •' I MM il £ ho was seconding Sir Kitzroy's motion, had not the least Hnow who that is ?" M? friend it was no other than ^n!■ and when he learat "at greatly amaz-d. "What MdftBll,wer Lytton was wrote fiction, in order as he *n ^the man who man from the low passions and t0 ^e into a higher region; S °f ?ife excite a generous sorrow at vicigaitudM nnt P4111» raise the passions into sympathy with heroic strugg^ knd to admit the soul into that serener atmosphere from which it rarely returns to ordinary existence And this some- what ardent admirer of Sir Edward, who quoted him With great zest, would hardly be persuaded that he aaw the veri- table author before him. He had always thought him so different to that," he said. So many people I notice say the sanje thing. So many people observe a contrast between the Fe^i T r ward and the one they had figured to themselves, and I mu&t confess myself I have often felt that this was „P:'t0 style slightly like his own, the more inevitable .J?e^ee,i the 1(1 eal and the Eeal, but that Sir nrpssinn J*1? does strikingly contradict the im- floweve" formed of him from his writings. whiTh hid his speech. When he rose the House, otpIs J.athe.r thlu during Sir Fitzroy Kelly's pro- gress, filled up directly. Sir Edward, indeed, always com- mands a good audience. For thi. there are two reasons. In the first place he speaks but very seldom, so that you might faithfully attend to your Parliamentary duties a whole session and not hear him once. Then it cannot be denied that the sentences are well put together, and so they ought to be, considering that the whole speech is learnt by heart from beginning to end. lhere is no small charm, let it be remembered, in listening to a man who knows beforehand what he is going to say, and who is under no necessity to introduce that tedious verbiage and those endless inter- jections so necessary to half the House of Commons. As for any other merits I never could discover them. Sir Edward has a wretched pronunciation, a poor delivery, and the soiid extract obtainable from his oration h, alas! but small.

EXTINCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. This very desirable event is not altogether off the cards, even under the present improvident system of collecting and spending therevenue (says the Financial Reformer). Behold the proof— The surplus income for the year ending September 30, 1864. being £2,587,571, one-fourth of that sum, viz, £ 646,892, has been applied to the reduction of the debt." At this rate it will be paid off somewhere about the year A.D. 3100. supposing the world to last so long. We fancy we see a way in which the surplus, or a portion of it, might be applied rather more beneficially than in this peddling provision for the benefit of our very remote deecenaantf. Looking over the compte rendu of customs duties for the year ending March 31, 1864, published in the "Finance Accounts," we find that twelve articles only, namely, coffee, corn, currants, pepper, raisins, spirits, f-ngar, tea. tobacco, wine, timber, and wood contributed 22,852.2762. 19s. 4d. to the aggregate total, namely, 23,039,4762. 8s. 6d; ana that commodities yielding less than 20,000Z. each, with two exceptions only—most of them less than 5.0007. and some less than 2,oool contributed 176 0742. 4s. 2d., making, with the produce of the "all other articles" not specified, namely, 11,1252. 5s. a total of 187,199, 9,f. 2d., as their quota to the customs revenue. The articles named are beer (spruce), cards, chicory (82,928?.); chocolate and cocoa, figs (23,195?); ginger, mahogany, plate, plums, prunes, sago, ships, succades, and the official" all other articles" bring up the rear New, suppose that, in lieu of or in addition to that driblet towards reduction of the debt, from which no person now living will derive any appreciable benefit, a portion of the surplus were applied to the liberation of all these articles from customs trammels and ex- actions, there would be greatly increased consumption of them all; increased consumption would increase trade; increased trade would increase the demand for labour; increased demand for labour would increase wages; increased prosperity of the people would increase the value of property, its uses, and products and all living would be benefitted. If to that 187,1022. were added the 746,3612. 18 J. 3d. yielded last year by "corn, meal, and flour," and the corn trade set entirely free, the sum taken from the surplus would be 933,56i2. 7s. 5d" still leaving 1,654,0092. 13s. 7d. to be disposed of. This would be another great advance towards freedom of trade; and if that were accom- plished very many of the present generation might live to see the national debt, huge as it is, extin- guished, instead of having merely to contemplate the possibility of such an event 12 or 13 centuries here- after.

RAILWAY COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES. At Worcester, the cause of "Jaseland v. the Great Western Kaitway Company," has been tried, and was an action brought to recover damages for injuries sustained by the plaintiff from a collision which happened to a train on the defendants line, by which he was a passenger The plaintiff is a wine merchant and brewer, and the managing partner of the firm of Joseland and Sons, of Worcester. On the 23rd of August last he started with the choir of the Angel-street Chapel for tbeir annual excursion bv the excursion train on the defend- ants' railway to Newport and the Crumlin viaduct. On the return journey from the viaduct the train on approaching the Pontypool-road station ran into a coal train on the same line of rails. The line at this spot was worked on the block signal system—that is to say, at a place called the Blandare Junction, about three miles and a half nearer Crumlin than Pontypool- road, there is a signal-box, and a man stationed there, and until he receives a signal from the signal-man stationed for that purpose at Pontypool-road no train is allowed to pass on its journey to Pontypool. On this occasion, however, the signal-man at Pontypool, calculating on the coal-train, which was being drawn off the line, clearing it in a minute or so, which under ordinary circumstances it would have done, gave the signal to Blandare of "Line clear." Thereupon tbe train was allowed to go on its way to Pontypool-road but, unfortunately, the coupling-chain of the coal-train broke, and the coal-train could not be got off the line. The driver of the excursion train, too, allowed the pace of the train to be much too fast, and instead of taking 12 to 15 minutes to come from Blandare to Pontypool-road, only occupied about seven minutes. The consequence was that though if the train had been coming at the proper pace it could have been stopped in a quarter of a mile, on this occasion it could not be stopped in a mile and a half. As soon as the accident happened to the coal trai n the danger signals were put up, but the excursion train was going too fast to be stopped, and ran past them into the coal train. Many persons were injured, but the plaintiff did not feel that he had suffered any injury at the time, and assisted Dr. Woodward in attending to the other wounded. At the time of the accident the plaintiff was sitting with his face to the engine in the back part of a third-class carriage, and was thrown violently against the back of the bench opposite to him. The concussion had the effect of bending the buckle of his braces. On his way home the plaintiff found his stockings to be wet with blood, and felt thiverings, and could not remember the names of people who were with him. The plaintiff next day attempted to go to business, hut was obliged to be taken home in a cab. He then became seriously ill, with intense pains in the head, deafness of one ear, and acute sensibility in the other. He suffered also from intolerance of light and loud noises, like the hum of a thrashing- machine, in his head. He was recommended rest, and sent to a place about four miles from Worcester, and afterwards went to Malvern for about six weeks but instead of improving, he became worse, he was then attended by Dr. Bastings and Mr. Everett, of Worcester. He was afterwards attacked with violent spasms in one hand and foot, and pains at of knives being thrust through his chest to his backbone. Mr. (harden, of Worcester, was then called in. No improvement has taken place, and when the plaintiff came into the witness-box he presented the appearance of a man suffering from intense pain. He stated that he was subject to horrible dreams, and had nut had more than three nights' rest since the accident. Mr. Erichsen, of the London University College, Dr. Hastings, Mr. Carden, and Mr. Everett gave it as their opinion that there was in j ary to the brain and spine at the point of junction between the brain and spinal cord, and that the plaintiff's ultimate recovery to his full vigour was verv doubtful. For the defendants Dr. Skey. Dr. Wade, of Birming- ham Dr. Cooper, of Stough Mr. Braddon, of Upton- upon-Ssvern, and two other medical gentlemen, stated that the plaintiff's symptoms were consistent with and attributable to hysteria but they admitted that it was possible that hysteria might supervene upon or be concurrent with the effects of the accident. The plaintiff had never suffered from hysteria. The plain- tiff had been a most energetic man of business, and since the accident the business of the firm had greatly fallen off, the other partners being incapable of its management. Th? stock of the business had increased between May, 1861, and May, 1864, from 17 0007 to 2S LOOt. The divided profits were only$00L a year by reason of the investment of the residue in increas- ing the stock in trade. After a powerful reply on the case by Mr. Powell, the learned Judge sum-red up, and the j ury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damagts, 6,000l.

THE ENGLISHMAN IN THE FRENCH DEBTORS' PRISON! I love an Anglo-French story (says the Paris correspondent of a contemporary). The mirror which represents BrItts nature is always held up in so curious a light; I therefore borrow the following true anecdote from L'Opinione JS a- tionu.le Sir G well known on the bou'evards, was ar- rested, and carried to Ciichy. Curiously enough, he does not seem to have appreciated the fun of that per- formance yet he went. On entering the fatal doors he was asked to give up his cane..Never!" said the bold Briton "I shall stay here perhaps ten years, and you will lose it." An contraire, says Turnkey, here is a ticket for it." So after a fight Sir G-- is locked up. He stayed in dichy a year and a half, where he spent enormoos sums, and was surrounded by princely luxury. then suddenly, in the dead of the night, he was taken with a love of freedom, and in-usted upon paying u p at once, and going to Meunce s. Ihe authorities were knocked up, and the lIttle bIll made out; principal 28,000f., interest and expenses I 000. Good, give me my cane." "Mon. sieur must pay first: Mossoo "-of course, Sir G —— so pronounced it—"will see you all further first, 811 u"01i .Pay he has back his cane." Sir G put back into his pocket his bank-notes—are they a legal tender to the gaolers of Ciichy ?—and there was an awful row. At last, just as Sir G was insist- ing on being taken back to his dungeon, one having authority came and ordered the cane to be given up with one band and the bank noites to be taken with the other

The following particulars respecting th's prison, which is shortly to be done away with, may atford some idea of the style in which French debtors are kept in durance vile" As it is likely that the debtors' prison of Clichy will be done away with during the course of this session the — "L.II following details on its organisation may prove in. terestmg The average number of prisoners for debt sent there is from 450 to 500. Once the prisoner has passed the three great entrance ga.tes he is paid 45f. per month-a sum totally inadequate to his support, as government neither supplies him with firingnor any kind of provision, and many of the unfortunate inmates have to support their families out of this pittance of Is. 3d. per day. Necessity is the mother of invention. In 1848 the prisoners formed an association for their mutual support, and, strange to tell, Government did not attempt to interfere with their plan. A committee, chosen by ballot among the prisoners, drew up the following regulations :—Each member was bound to subscribe 10c. (Id.) per day, which would give him the privilege of using the close oven purchased by the as- sociation, likewise baths at a reduced price, and to mess with the association at the rate of 5d. per day, which, by purchasing their provisions wholesale, enabled the members of the association to live on soldiers' rations. The society not only fulfils these conditions but realises profits, which, to the credit of the poor subscribers, they devote to the release of the poorest among them, and often when the debt the committee have voted to be defrayed has been beyond e funds at tbeir disposal they have sent weekly Pf les to the family of the debtor, who in many in- „m have been thus rescued from starvation by the more ,°* t^le. prisoners—an example that from fhvv, clubs might do well to take a hint and draught boardf86 T& ^iard ™om wel1 as ^ess of ninepins and K ar?,?amf8 M Ttf \L M. de ViUemessant, editor of the Fu>aro, the Grand Journal, &c., established a reading-room, which he liberally supplied with papers, periodicals as well as books, a subscription of one sou (id.) entitling a pri- soner to the use of this library, and a supply of fresh works being sent in daily.

A GOOD GENERAL. At a time such as this, when expectation is concen- trated upon what General Sherman is doing and on wjat he is expected to do, and in the very crisis and cul'xiination of his career, it is instructive to dwell for a while upon what such a man has said or written (writes the New York correspondent of the Times). it is not often that his utterances find their way to the public, for he has the rare genius of silence, and n(:yfr sPeaks but to good purpo-e, or writes without carefully weighing his words. All that is known of him tends to prove not only that he has a sound head, but a good heart. While no Northern soldier has equalled him in military genius, if success in daring achievement be accepted as a test, no states- man or politician in office, or philosopher or preacher out of office, has expressed himself with half his sense, modesty, and humanity on the events of the war' He never asserts that the negro is better than the white man, as some writers and speakers of the fanatic school of Abolitionists are constantly doing; never encourages his countrymen in the delusion that the end of the war is at hand, or that the Southern people are mere braggarts and bullies, as the "Buncombe" orators of the North are never tired of asserting; and never maintains that the crime of secession is so deadly that nothing but the devastation of the South- ern States, the extermination of their people, and the re-settlement of the land by the conquerors can atone for it. Though a warrior, he does not pretend to be a "War Christian;" and though carrying fire and sword before him, he does not believe that fire and sword are the best agents of civilization, or that their employment against men and women of the same blood and history, and speaking the same language as him- self, is other than a dire necessity. In a letter to a Mrs. Bowen, of Maryland, dated as far back as June, 1864, from his head-quarterp, and now for the first time printed, he gives expression to sentiments which reflect the highest honour on his character both as a Christian soldier and a wise statesman. "As a nation," he says, we (the Korth) were forced to accept baitle and that once begun, it has gone on till the war has assumed proportions at which even we, in the hurly- burly, sometimes stand aghast. I would not subjugate the South in the sense so offeLsively assumed, but I would make every citizen of the land obey the common law, submit to the same that we do; no worse, no better-our equals and not our superiors. My heart bleeds when I see the carnage of battle, the desolation of homes, the bi! ter anguish of families; but the very moment the men of the South say that, instead of appealing to war, tluy should have appealed [will appeal] to reason to Congress to the courts of law, to religion, and the experience of history, then will I say, "Peace! come back and resume your proud place as American citizens, with all your rights and privileges." The Times correspondent continues:—"This is not the doctrine of the Butlers, the Suaaners. the Chandlers, the Beechers, the Philipses, and the Loyal Leaguers neither is it a doctrine which is generally popular or that General Sherman himself would be forgiven for teaching had he not earned by eminent service the right to speak his mind, even though his sentiments should be in direct opposition to the passion or preja. dice of the majority. Yet the Southern people, of whom he speaks so kindly, might ask him, in sorrow, not in anger, if he has not taken a wrong and partial view if their case. He declares that, On earth, as in "Hea.ven, man must submit to some arbiter, and must not throw off his allegiance to his Government or his God without j vst reason or cause." George III. believed that the American colonists had no just reason to rebel, and the sword decided the difference of opinion—against the King, and in favour of th people. General Sherman and the North but repeat George Ilf.'s argument without having George III.'s excuses of knowing no better, or cf being unguided by the light of any previous experience.

TRAVIATA IN PARIS. A new feature of Parisian society is that in the year of grace, 1865, the demi-monde ladies issue invitations for a ball (,r fete, exactly after the fashion of ladies of the Court and there is nothing which is to be found at the hotels of these grand dames which the "half- great lady" does not imitate. May I be permitted to add a few notes about one of these truviata fetes given on Monday evening? (says the Paris correspondent of the Morning Post). Healthy horror and disgust will be daintily fed, propriety made more proper, and curiosity alimented on a tonic which ought to cure. Well, at Mademoiselle C 's (the Aspasia of Paris life) ball all the prettiest actresses were present, and displayed jewels, lace, and costly finery such as are rarely seen even at Court, and certainly bespeaks the wonderful liberality of European paymasters. By these traviata ladies, who nevertheless in Paris lead the fashions, crinoline is now completely tabooed. Their ball dresses are made somewhat in the style of the First Empire, or the English fashion of 1811, with the skirt confined, the body cut extremely low both in front tnd back, while the train is worn very long. The salons of Mademoiselle C-, who did the honours with clever imitative grace and elegance, were crowded with princes, dukes, marquises, counts,—in fact, with the same male company as one meets at the parties of the Princess Metternich and Madame Drouyn de Lbuys. Some English peers and members ofParlia- liament were present, and appeared to enjoy the animated dazzlingly improper scene. On the second floor the supper tables were loaded with every deli. cacy of the season. Choice Yquem, Johannisberg, Lafitte, Tokay, and champagne of the finest vintages were served most lavishly throughout the mght. After supper dancing was resumed with increased animation, and the ball terminated with a chain diabolique and a cancan d'enfer, at seven in the morning. Since the days of the Regency such a Sardanapalian entertain- ment of such a class has not been given in Paris. Be it observed that the whole of this entertainment, from beginning to end, was conducted according to the etiquette of the highest society.

THE MARKETS, MARK-LANE, Mo mi?. Fresh up to our market to-day the arrivals of wheat from Essex were small Tbere was a falr number of samples on the Kentish stands, but the quantity of produce represented in bulk was limited. The condition ctthe produce being very midding dry samples met a steady slLle, and were dis- posed of at the prices 01 Monday last. Far damp qualities the trade ruled heavy, yet no change took place In prices. The whole of the supply had not been disposed of ac the close of business. The supply of foreign wheat on the stands was but moderate. The business transacted was chiefly to meet the immediate wants of millers neveitheless, holders were firm, and last Monday's prices were supported.' Wheat afl at was in fair average request, at the late advance in prices, and most descripti Ins if spring corn, to trrive, were held at fully late rates. The supply of barley on offer was in a considerable degree confined to secondary and inferior produce. Even fine samples, however, met a slow sale, whilst the trade for inferior produce was very small. Prices were unaltered from Monday last. The malt trade was quiet at late rates. With oats the market was but moderately supplied. The trade, however, was slow, and whilst inftrior samples changed hands at rather easier prices, Rood and fine qualiiies freely supported previous rates. The supply of beans on sale was moderate. The demand was in a sluggish state, and prices were rather drooping. Peas were in short supply, and the trade was firm at full currencies. Above an average business was transacted in flour, at late rates. The market continues to be scintily supplied with barrels. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MAKKKTMONDAT. The supply of foreign beasts here to day was rather ex- tensive, ani, with the exception of the stook for Normandy, In but middling condition. The number of foreign sheep, calve«, aud pigs was only moderate. The arrival of beasts fresh up from our own grazing districts were seasonably good. The general qaaiity of tin stock, however, was by no means prime. From Scotland the supply was again re- markably prime, trat the show from Ireland, was inferior. Oa the who e the demand for most breeds ruted steady at prices equal to Monday las. A few very superior Scots and crosses realised 5s. 4a but the general top fiture for beef was Sb. 2d. per s o. lhere on'y a limited show ol ■beep ln tl^ P • About three-fourths were out of the „°ol, and in fair average condition. The mutton trade was 7erXencv^' PRFMP n>tnu instances prices had an upward fi to'fi* r i ^°wns and half breis, in the wool, sold at \0Ut of ^e wool, 5s. 21 to 5s. 4d. per 8!b. dnil^ p m )a s°l'l readily, but inferior breeds were nniv e» r&nged from Cs. to 7s per 81b. The supply was oniy moderate. Ci'.ves were in moderate supply and steady request, at extreme rates, viz.. from 4s Ci. to 5s 8tb. There war a hir sale for pigs, at full quotations. The top figure was 4d. 10d. per 81b. POTATOES. The supplies of Pjtitoes on sale are moderate. In most qualities a fair average business is 'cine, and prices ru e Arm List week's import was 141 sacks from Dunkirk; and 100 tons from Caen. Yorkshire Regents, 90i. to 110s. Ditto Flukes, 1303. to 145s. Kent and E*.«ex Regents, 90s. to 105s. Scotch Regents, 90s. to 1 0s. Ditto Rocks, 70s. to 85s. Dunbar Regents, 90s. ta 110s. Foreign, 60s. to 70s. per ton. HOPS. Th9 market continues to be very moderately supplied with English hops, and most qualities demand a steady sale, at very fall prices. Good ttnj fine foreign hops are in moderate request, at fall quotations, but for inferior pro- duce the trade is dull. List week's import was 37 bales from Antwerp, 243 from Bremen, 33 Hamburgh. 4 Brussels, and 20 Rotterdam :—Mid and East Kents, 110s. to 2001.; Weald of Kents, 105s. to 155s. Sussex, 10Cs.to 1401.. Year- lings, lOQs. to 140s American, 50s. to 130s. per cn. WOOL. The public sales of colonial wool continue to be we attendee by buyers, and the biddings for most descriptions of prod11.éerule steady CJmpared with, the opening lal811 very litlfte change has taken place in prices tioce we last wrote. The principal feature to notice is a somewhat active inquiry for Cape wool, at a slight advance in prices from last series Gool Australian c othing wool is quoted at Is lOJd. to 2s. 6i i. combing ditto, Is. Hid to 2s. 7id greasy, Is Id. to Is. 5J1 g >od and fine Cape, la. 8d to 2-1 Id.; medium, 1<. 5d. to Is. 7J-J.; greasy, 9d. to lid. per ib. The export trade, as far as the continent is concerned,1, sin a healthy state. Privately, the trade for Eaglish wool con- tinues dull with a downward tendency in prices. The impor into London last week was 2,154 bales, from Melbourne, an 2,710 bales from Adelaide.