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THE BORNEO PIRATES.
THE BORNEO PIRATES. A very interesting letter has appeared in the columns Cf a contemporary from a gentleman who had accompa- nied Sir James Brooke, acting as the Rajah Mudaw of Sarawak, in his efforts to put down piracy in those waters. After chasing some pirate vessels without effect, and taking others, but not without desperate resistance on the part of the pirates, and having boarded their first, prize, he thus describes the sceue: — The unwounded pirates jumped overboard, leaving their own wounded, and slaves, and captives, whom we told to remain in the ves- sel until the boats came to take them off. The first vessel which had escaped, seeing the fate of the others, ran ashore among the rocks, just inside Tanjonz Ridorong, and the crew and captives all ran into the jungle. The Jolly Bachelor, with Messrs. Paul and Lucas on board, was ordered to stay to look after thcsm, while we saved all we could of the former boats. Several of our crew re- cognised friends and acquaintances among those we saved, and the joyous, thankful look of the captives, when they came aboard and found themselves among friends, was, indeed, a compensation for the awful work we had been engaged in. Many were wounded, some with our fire, others with the fearful cuts of the heavy Illanun swords and Sooloo knives of the pirates, who, when they found thev could not get away, commenced murdering their captives, and only our running them down put a stop to their dire work of spite and despair. Tery few of the pirates who were not wounded surren- dered. They are marvellous swimmers) they took their arms into the water with them, and fought with our men in the boats when they were trying to pick up the captives. My hands and those of Mr. Walters, who was a very kind and able assistant, were soon full of work with the wounded, friends and foes alike, arresting hemorrhage, extracting balls, and closing frightful sword or chopper wounds, such perhaps, as are hardly ever seen in civilised warfare, One man was brought up with the top of his skull as. cleanly lifted up by the blow of a Sooloo knife as if it kad been done secundum artem by an adept at pest morterns who wished to have a peep at the dura mater in situ; it was like the lid of a box partly open, and required con- siderable force to shut it, and to get it into, its right place again. He had also two heavy cuts on his back. The man is still alive, and seems likely to recover. Another poor fellow could not be got up the ladder, because a long-handled, three-pronged barbed Illanun spear was sticking in his bilck, which I had to cut out to liberate him. We soon learnt from the captives, among whom were two wemen and four Sarawak Chinese traders, that the other three pirate vessels had gone out to sea, and were to wait there until those we had just secured rejoined them; so, when we had saved all the; people we could, we steamed out to sea in search of them. Then, after giving the details of another capture of six boats, he thus relates what followed:— The pirates fought to the last, and then would not surrender, but jumped into the sea with their arms and the poor captives, who were all made fast below as we came up to engage them, were doubtless glad when -ear stem opened the sides of their ships, and thus let them out of prison. Few, comparatively, were drowned, being mostly all good swimmers. All those who were not lashed to the vessels, or killed by the Illanuns, escaped. Our decks were soon covered with those we picked up, men of every race and nation in the Archipelago, who had been captured by the pirates in their cruise, which had already lasted seven months. One poor Chinese came swimming alongside, waving his tail over his head, and the other captives held up the cords round their necks to show they were slaves, lest they should be mistaken for Illanuns, and shot or left to their fate. We soon picked up the poor fellows, and the Chinaman came under my hands, being shot through the arm. Many of the pirates We took were badly wounded, some mortally, the greater part were killed or disabled by our fire before we closed. As I was dressing one man, with a shot in the wrist, he addressed me in English, and having-expressed his gratitude for his wonderful deliverance from the pirates, he told me he was a Singapore policeman, and was going to see his friends in Java when he was cap- tured. There were also several other Singaporeans—a mother and daughter, who had a child with her and two men, British-born subjects, Bencoolen Malays, who were taken in their own boat, trading to Tringannu. The husband of the younger woman and owner-of the boat was killed by the pirates, and she, like every woman who falls into their hands, had suffered every outrage, insult, and injury that could befall a Woman. One poor creature, who was still suckling a child of two years old, as Malays do, was almost a liv- V?'' °Wet.pn: she was shot through the thitrb. and atter I had dressed ner my Kind assistant quaintly said of her;" Poor, poor thing! She has not meat enough on her bones to bait a rat-trap." It is a marvel how these poor captives live at all under the terrible tortures and ill-treatment they endure, sometimes for months, before they reach their destination, and settle down as slaves to the worst of masters, very demons, not men. I asked many of those I was dressing if their wounds hurt them much, and they said, Yes, they hurt 4 but nothing hurts us so much as the salt water the Illanuns have made us drink; they never gave us fresh, but mixed three perts of fresh water with four of salt, and all they gave us to eat was a handful of rice or sage twice a-day." p The captives state that when the pirates take a vessel they kill every one who makes any resistance, plunder and sink their boats or ships, and, when those they spare IiHfiret taken aboard their own prahus, they put a rattan, or a black rope haltei, round their necks, beat them with aflat piece of bamboo on the elbows ac.d&nees, and the muscles of the arms and legs, so that they cannot use them to swim or run away. After awhile, when suf- ficiently tamed, they are put to the sweeps and made to row in gangs, with one of their fellow-captives as a mandoor, or foreman, over them, who is furnished with a lattan to keep them at their work and if he-doea not do this effectually, he is w<ferissed and thrown over- board, and another man put -in his place. If any of the rowers jump overboard, the pirates have a supplv of three-pronged and barbed spears, with long bamboo handles, ready to throw at them. When hit by one of them they can neither swim nor run, and are easily re- captured. They are made to row in relays night and day, and to keep them awake they put cayenne pepper in their eyes, or cut them with their knives and put pepper on their wounds. Their prahus are essentially rowing craft, long, low, and very sharp, «ke the old Maltese galleys,, with a high fight- ing deck; their masts and sails are small and in- efficient, so as not to be seen at a distance. Those We encountered were seen at Cape Datu on Monday aight, and on Friday morning we met them off Bintulu, a distance of 240 miles, having delayed a whole day about Muka on their wayt and picked up more than 30 of our people on the coast. We had the happiness of re- capturing and landing most of these people on our return to Muka. We found, on reckoning up, that we had Picked up 165 people, and that, perhaps, 150 to 200 had Sot to land from the vessels we sank near shore. The OALPtives who swam to shore would all be saved by the fiajah's people at Bintulu, who received orders to go after them, while the Milanows themselves would surely "ill all the Illanuns—their most dreaded and hated foes. In every pirate vessel there are from 40 to 53 Illanuns-- ightiag men, all well armed, each having a rifle or Musket besides his native weapons, and from 60 to 70 captives, many of whom were killed by the pirates when troy found themselves beaten; among them, two women. We saved in all, nine women, with six children. Seven of the women and four of the children were our own Muka people; and it was indeed most touching to wit- ness the joy and gratitude of them and their relation When we returned them to their friends. 0 the Ulatiuns We captured 32, 10 of them boys. Some have died since of their wounds, the remainder are in irons in the fort here. The boys have been given out by Brooke for *ve yaars to respectable people to train and bring up. I have taken one now in the hospital with three shots in him, whom we hope to cure; he is a fine lad about 14, the brother of a Sooloo Datu, or chief. I shall try to educate and make a Christian of him. Very few of the pirates live to tell the tale; some captives assured us that in the boat they were in there were only two out of the 40 fighting men who had not been killed or wounded by our fire, when we gave them the stem and Gut her down. We have all great cause to be most thank- ful to the Rajah Muda for the very gallant, and yet wise and cautious, wav in which he planned and carried out the attack, and also to Captain Hewat and his officers for the cool and steady way in which the ship was handled, and everything done in the right time and place. Our Malay crew and Sarawak fortmen showed the in- fluence of their good training, and the example set them «y their European leaders. Not a man flinched from his lJork, and, although never in action before, they showed the coolness and steadiness of veterans. He then describes the bravery of their crew, and adds: «ut the whole affair was most providentially ordered in our not meeting the six gan-boats together, when their £ e might have been too much for us; and then in their ^Parting from their usual plan of rushing at us en 4 to board, and by theii separating and giving us «• opportunity of running them down one after the iner. We are, indeed, all most thankful to our Father ^hp thus ordered things for us, and made us his instruments to punish these bloodthirsty j foes of- the human race. It appears that it is seven months since these vessels left Tawi Tawi, an island on the south-west of Sooloo, under the Sultan of Sooloo, who is in league with the pirates and receives part of the captives and plunder. In the only boat we boarded we found the Sultan's flag, which is given to people of high rank. There was also the usual Illanun flag, and we got also six Dutch and one Spanish flag, which, doubtless, had belonged to boats and larger vessels they had captured. He then comments upon the dangerous character of these pirates, and states that they obtained information from some of the released slaves, that five vessels had parted company from those they had captured to go over to Banca Strait, intending to carry their depredations right up into the Straits of Singapore, to pick up English subjects and injure English vessels. But, he continues, apart from all our local feelings about, and dangers from, these people, it makes an Englishman out here ashamed to feel that his own dear country, which he would fain regard as the liberator of the slave and the avenger of he wronged, is, in truth, doing nothing against the system, fraught with incalculable misery to so large a section of the human race. For it must be remem- bered that the slavery these people .suffer is far more crushing to them than the African, who is taken as a savage to serve civilised, and, at least nominally, Chris- tian masters but these are generally well-to-do men of civilised nations, who are made the slaves of utter fiends, who work and torture them to death one year only, to replace them by fresh victims whom they capture the next. It is, indeed, vm victis with them, and I think it is the duty of every Christian man and every Christian nation to do all that can be done to rid the earth of such horrible and dangerous monsters, and to punish the Sultan of Sooloo and all who abet and aid them. The Dutch and Spaniards are always doing something, but not enough, and during the last four or five years these pirate fleets have been gradually getting more and more numerous and daring on these coasts, and now it is for England to rouse herself and complete the work of, putting them down. Labuan is near their haunts, and it, might be done from thence. A few thousands spent out here yearly for the purpose would, I believe in my heart, soon effect much more real and lasting good than the millions which are being spent on the coast of Africa. All honour is due to Sir James Brooke and his nephew, the Rajah Muda, and the other officers of the Sarawak Government, who, in spite of misrepresentation and factious opposition, through evil report and good report, have persevered for years in constant, steady, and syste- matic efforts to put down piracy en this coast, and chas- tise these villanous marauders whenever they ceme into Sarawak waters. If the English Government will now act with and assist us, we shall soon clear the Sarawak and Labuan waters of these pests. Assisted by the experience and knowledge of our natives, the work wculd be done surely and effectually, but, Single-handed, the Sarawak Government, notwithstanding all it has done, cannot carry it out. We want means; if England or Englishmen will give us that, we shall gladly do the werk, and fell ell that we are delivering our fellow-men, and doing our duty to God, who has commanded us to free the captive and deliver the oppressed:; while at the same time we shall be averting a danger which is ever threatening us at ourovin doors, and has so long crippled the energies and resources of this countrv.
INDIAN FINANCE.
INDIAN FINANCE. Mr. S. Laing, who has just returned from India, has published a minute dated Hordle, near Lymington, July 10, in reference to an alleged mistake in the Budget of India, embodied in a dispatch from the Secretary of State, respecting Indian Finance, to which, he says, it is necessary to make an immediate reply. The credit of Lord Canning's Government, and public in terest of the greatest importance, the aright hon. gentle- man. affirms, are alike at stake on the issue, whether there be or be not a mistake involving a deficiency of in the Indian Budget; and as the material facts lie in a narrow compass, and as it is very desirable that they should be known before the annual statement of Indian finance is laid before the Ilcuse of Commons, he deems it better not to delay a day lenger in submit- ting his reply. Passing over the accounts of 1859-60, Mr. Laing proceeds at very great lesgth to state the grounds of his financial policy, together-with the details of the Budget in which >they were exemplified. At the,olose of his explanations, Mr. Laing sums ap his defence as follows :—"I now conclude the last lines which I-shall write in the canacjty of Financial Member of the Council of the Governor-General of India. Whether my health woald have permitted of my return is doubtful," but. of course, this dispatch decides the question. After sharing in what I believe to be the signal success of the concluding act of Lord Canning's Indian administration, I cannot serve under a minister who views a material part of that policy so differently as to think that it calls for public censure and disavowal. It is nowjust 18 months since I first landed in India, and during this period I have-been absent six months from severe illness. I found India with a deficiency estimated by the government at X6,4000,000 i I leave it with a surplus. I found it with an annual expenditure, open to revision, of £ 29,365,966 Heave it with one of £ 23,45^087. Ifound it with a cash balance below £ 12,000,000:; I leave it with one of £ 17?7$3;978. I found it with gloom and despondency prevailing, great animosity of races and parties, and wide-spread disaffection and discontent; I leave it with one universal feeling of hopefulness and satis- factioo, and amidst general expressions -of loyalty and attachment from the natives of India to the British rule. I have no wish to claim more than my fair share of credit as a member of Lord Canning's Govern- ment for these results, but if they have failed to secure me against the repeated expressions of disapproval and disavowal on the part of the Secretary of State, I aEi recompensed by the consciousness that I hare had no inconsiderable part in bringing them aboet, under the guidance and with the constant confidence and approval of that illustrious statesman who has been taken from us, and in cordial co-operation with colleagues, such as Sir Bartle Frere and Mr. Beadon, who have been selec'ed as the fittest men for the highest posts in India. If I required any further consolation, I should find it in the belief that there is not a single man of any class, race, or religion in India who does not recognise that, as a Minister of India under most arduous circumstances, I have endeavoured to do my duty fearlessly and faithfully, and that my labours have been attended, on the whole, with more success than any one in India had ventured to anticipate."
WAR IN CHINA.
WAR IN CHINA. A dispatch has been received at the Admiralty from the Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's navy on the India station, giving an account of the capture of Ningpo by the English squadron, assisted by two French gun- boats and inclosing an official letter from Capt. Dew, the commanding officer, with the following detaits :— This morning, at 10 a.m." the Kestrel and French vessels Etoile and Confucius were fired on by the Point battery, I cleared for action in this ship, when a volley of musketry was fired on us from the bastion abreast. The undermentioned vessels—viz., Encounter, Ring- dove, Kestrel, and Hardy, with the Etoile and Confucius French gunboats, now opened fire with shell on the walls and batteries, which was replied to with much spirit from guns and small arms. At noon, having silenced the guns and knocked down the battlements, ekposing the top of the wall, 25 feet thick, at a point where I intended to scale, I ceased firing and went to dinner. At two I landed and installed a party of marines, under Mr. Alexander D. Douglas, midshipman, in a house commanding the walls got scaling ladders ready, and when joined by Lieuten int Kenney, the senior French naval officer, I scaled the walls, meeting with a most determined resistance 'twas here the gallant Kenney, one of the first on the wall, was dangerously wounded. I now- advanced and took possession of the Salt Gate, keeping up a heavy fire on the enemy, who, under cover of the houses, returned it. At 4 p.m. I sent the Hardy, Kestrel, and Confucius, with orders to cut away the bridge of boats, pass up, and shell the south and west gates; this duty was most ably performed under a galling fire, kept under by the Confucius and Hardy, whilst Lieutenant Henry Huxham landed on the bridge -spiked the guns in battery there, whilst Mr. Leach, assistant-engineer, 2nd class, cut the chains-then opened the bridge, when the three vessels passed up into po- sition. In the meantime the enemy made desperate efforts to regain the Salt Gate by front and flank attacks, and in one of these latter the bayonet and spear nearly met; it was when leading on his men in one of these charges that Lieutenant Wm. N. Cornewall fell. Words cannot express our sorrow for the loss of this gallant and amiable officer. At five o'clock, owing to the flank movements, all op- position ceased, when we passed on to tne North Gate, and joined Commander Robert G. Craigie, who had tfc? walls and taken the gftte with some opposition From the, masthead the rebels were seen to leave the city, so I returned to the Salt Gate, placed the Taoa-tai and Imperial soldiers, who now landed from their junks, in charge of the city, and re-embarked our own and the French people. I was most ably assisted throughout the day by Lieute- nant Kenney and Monsieur Caligny, commanding the Etoile and Confucius respectively, and the men under their orders. The severe wound which deprived me of the services of Lieutenant Kenney is much to be regretted, and the manner the Confucius was handled and fought reflects the highest credit on her commander. I esteem myself peculiarly fortunate in having had such able gunboat commanders as Lieutenants Huxham and Archibald G. Bogle. The manner they worked their vessels in this narrow river, with a spring tide runring, and the beautiful practice of their guns when close under the city walls, and expo ed to round shot and musketry, is bej'ond all praise. They speak highly of the conduct of their officers and men. I have much pleasure in bringing to your notice the conduct of the officers and men under my orders. Where all behaved so well distinction would be invidious. Lieutenant Hugh Davis, with Mr. H. H. Rawson, mid- shipman, commanded the seamen when Lieutenant Cornewall fell. Acting-Lieutenant E. C. Tniling, ably assisted by Mr. William Cantlow, boatswain of this ship, fot the howitzer on the walls and into action. Mr. ames B. Scarlett, assistant engineer, 2nd class, a volun- teer, was one of the first on the walls; Dr. A. Irwin, surgeon of this ship, was continually under fire when at- tending the wounded. When on the wall, the ship was in charge of Mr. Ed- mund Sw^ain, master, and he wa3 of great service with Mr. William Ferns, gunner, in covering our landing with the pivot gun, manned by cooks and stewards. Mr. Hewletts, acting interpreter, did good service, and in the performance of which, when in company with Mr. John Ashton, assistant paymaster, he was repeatedly ex- posed to the fire from the walls. I regret that our casualties ara so many; but under the circumstances, considering the vermin nature of these rebels, I feel that if one blow is not followed by another, most serious consequences might result to the foreign settlement, and the shelling having had but little effect, our very safety rested on the capture of the city. The delight displayed by the Chinese at the fall of the city, and the driving out of their hated oppressors, was something extraordinary throughout the day the bank of the river, opposite the city was one sea of heads, and though roumd shots and bullets flew plentifully about them, they never moved.
CIVIL LIST PENSIONS,
CIVIL LIST PENSIONS, The following is a list of all pensions granted between the 20th day of June, 1861, and the 20th day of June, 1862, and charged upon the Civil List (pursuant to act 1st Victoria, cap. 2). Date of grant, June 12, 1862:- Miss Elizabeth B&ly and Miss Marie Josephine Fauvet, a joint pension (£100), in consideration of the late Dr. Baly's long career in the public service, and of the merit of the scientific medical works of which he was the author.—Mr. Richard Cort (-658), in addition to his former pension of £50, on account of the great value and utility of his father's discoveries in the working of iron, and of his failure to derive any pecuniary benefit therefrom.—Mrs. Mary 'Cross_( £ 100), in consideration of her late husband's merits as a painter, and of her straitened circumstances. — Mrs. Jane Fon- blauque (BMO), on account of her husband having been 44 years in the consular service, and of his death having been ceused by an attack made upon him while at his post at Belgrade by a Turkish soldier, when his 'family was left entirely unprovided {or.—Dr. John Hart ( £ 75), Feliow of the Royal College of Sur- geons in Ireland, in consideration of his contributions to the science of anatomy and physiology, and of his being afflicted with blindness and broken health.—Mr. Charles Mackay (ZIOO), in consideration of his contribu- tions to poetry and to general literature. — Miss Emma ^Robinson ( £ 75), in consideration of her many romances, historical plays, and other contributions to periodical literature of admitted excellence. —Mr. George Eainey ( £ 100), in consideration of his labour in the field of minute anatomy and physiology, and of the many works which he has given to the public in the "Transactions" of learned so- cieties without receiving any pecuniary remuneration. -Mr. Leitch Ritchie ( £ 100), in acknowledgment of his labours to enrich the literature of Ms country, and to elevate the intellectual condition of the poor.—Mr. Thos. Roscoe ( £ 50), in considerationtof his literary la- bours.—Mr. John 6eynier in consideration of his contributions to literature, and of his career of useful- ness at home, and of educational labours among the na- tives.of India, in spite of his being blind from within two y(:ars of his birth.—Mr. Isaac Taylor ( £ 100), in public acknowledgment of his eminent services to literature, especially in the departments of history and philosophy, during a period of more than 40 years.—Mr. John Wade ( £ 50). in consideration of his contributions to political literature, more especially during the Reform Bill of 1832, —Mrs. Janet Wilson and Miss Jessie Wilson ( £ 100|, a joint pension in consideration of the eminent services of the late Professor George Wilson, of Edinburgh, as a public teacher and a scientific man.-Total £ 1,200.
SINGULAR CHARGE OF FELONY.
SINGULAR CHARGE OF FELONY. At Bow-street Police Court Archibald Anderson, fishing-tackle maker, was -summoned before Mr. Henry for stealing a quantity of hair from a horse's tail. Two carter-s named Cook and Hill, in the employ of Mr. Hilton, cemant merchant, 6, Thames-street, were in JDrury-lane with their horses and vans early in the morm- ing of the 11th inst., when they halted to breakfast at a coffee-house. Cook looked out and saw the defendant pulling hair cut of the tall of one of his companion's horses, and on calling to him the defendant went into his shop with a quantity of the hair in his hand. Hill went after him, but found;the shop door fastened inside, and it was not until he had knocked three times that the defendant admitted him. The latter said, I only took a little bit, and you can have it back again. Don't make any disturbance about it, and I will take care that it shall not happen again." The men, however, reported the circumstance to their master, and the summons was applied for; since then the defendant had called at the prosecutor's and begged to have it settled out of court. The prosecutor's Manager, Mr. Anderson, said there was no disposition to press the case beyond this Court, the value of the hair being very trifling-possibly not more than a farthings but it was necessary to take some steps to prevent this kind of robbery, which was very common. Lately a horse returned to the yard without a single hair being left on his tail. Of course, the carters were held to blame. The defendant said he did not think there was any harm in taking out a few hairs. He pulled them out to see if it matched some already in his possession. Mr. Henry said that during the 20 years he had officiated as a magistrate he had never had a charge of this kind before him; but there could be no doubt the offence committed was a felony, as it would be to steal the wool of a sheep and the milk of a cow. The defendant had sufficient intelligence to know that he had no right to take the hair, and for the protection of horses, as well as the carters having the charge of them, this prosecution was quite justifiable. He should, therefore, commit the defendant for trial, but it was a case in which he should have no objection to accept bail.
A SAD STORY.
A SAD STORY. The following melancholy story is related by a gentle- man, who gives his name and address, and is published by a contemporary. I venture to ask you to insert these few lines in your columns, as I have no other means in my power of com- municating the intelligence which they contain to the relations of those to whom it refers. It relates to a me- lancholy accident which occurred in Hobson's Bay, Melbourne, on the 16th of March last. On that day the fifth mate, Mr. Burrell, together with three midshipmen, named respectively Elliott, Voisin, and Dorling, belong- ing to Messrs. Green's ship, the Dover Castle, then lying in Port Phillip harbour, went out in a hired boat for a sail in the bay. None of them ever returned. A few days later the remains of Mr. Elliott and Mr. Voisin, were found on the beach, some miles down the bay; the bodies of Mr. Burrell and Mr. Dorling were not re- covered. The intelligence to which I refer is contained in a paragraph extracted from the Melbourne Age, which I have just received in a letter from Victoria. It runs as follows:— A deeply interesting record of the melancholy fate of the four midshipmen of the Dover Castle, whose untimely death by drowning in Hobson's Bay has been previously reported, was picked up on Saturday last on the Brighton beach by a gentleman connected with the Registrar-General's office. The record was inclosed in a tightly corked bottle, and consisted of the following words written in pencil on a small piece of paper: 'This morning, Sunday, we, four midshipmen from the Dover Castle hired a boat at Sangdridge, and proceeded on a voyage down the bay off Brighton we sprung a leak, and do not expect to be afloat five minutes. Anybody finding this will please reveal its contents. Good heavens, we are going down.' It may not be out of place to add that I was personally acquainted with these poor fellows, having been a pas- senger in the Dover Castle on the voyage which she had recently completed at the time of the accident.
BANQUET TO M. ROUHER.
BANQUET TO M. ROUHER. On Wednesdav evening a grand banquet was given to M. Rouher, the French Minister of Commerce, at Wiliis's rooms. All the arrangements for the occasion were on a magnificent scale, and. the dinner itseif was in all respects one of the highest and most unique character. About 150 gentlemen attended. The chair was taken by Mr. Milner Gibson, President of the Board of Trade; h id amongst those present were M. Dufour, M. Michel Che- valier,Sir G. C. Lewis, M P., Mr. Cobden, M.P., Sir S. M. Peto, M.P., Lord H. Lennox, M.P., Mr. White, M.P., Mr. Moffatt, M.P., Mr. Puller, M.P., Alderman Salomons, M.P., Mr. Doulton, M.P., Mr. Childers, M.P., &c. After the toast of The Queen and his Royal High- ness the Prince of Wales," and "The health of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French," the chair- man proposed the health of their distinguished guest, amid enthusiastic cheering. M. Rouher, who spoke in French, entered briefly into the history of the early struggles for commercial liberty between this country and France, and their triumphant issue in the French Treaty of 1860. M. Rouher con- cluded as follows:—And now, if I have not wearied out your kind attention, allow me to mention some of the results of the treaty which unites us. The first, which I name with sincere delight, is the resolute and courageous attitude of French industry on 'he morrow after the facts were accomplished. Dazzled for a moment by those new and unexpected horizons, our industrial population soon regarded them with calmness and serenity. Casting aside antiquated processes and material, they have de- manded from mechanic art its most perfect machines, from science its most novel applications and boldest methods. They have flung themselves into the conflict with con- fidence and vigour, inspired by that profound idea of Roger Bacon—" the youngest are the oldest—they profit by the experience of their predecessors." The second result which I have to state is, in spite of the recent date of our commercial reports, that of the reciprocal and profitable development of exchanges between the two countries—a development which has mitigated the pain- ful perturbations caused to the world's commerce by that fratricidal conflict which is raging b yond tbe Atlantic. The most striking feature of the convention of 1860 was not merely a commercial regulation between the two countries; it-was the proclamation in the name of two great nations of the principles of free trade (great cheers). Already the public authorities in France, following the ini:iative of the chief of the state, have broken through our old legislation on cereals and raw materials. France yesterday signed treaties of commerce with Belgium and the Zollverein (cheers). To-morrow she will sign that which she is negotiating with Italy (immense cheering). The banner of economic reform will thus continue its triumphal march. Those exchanges which we see growing in extent, those rela- tions multiplying in number, those interests that are be- coming intermingled and mutually identified, the wealth that is increasing among nations, the augmented welfare of the masses which is its inevitable consequence, the high reciprocal esteem which springs from relations which every day render more frequent the extinction of political passions and ancient animosities (cheers—are not all these things so many firm bases for a durable peace between the nations (renewed cheers) ? Are they not sure pledges of progress without convulsions, and p without reaction (loud cheers)? Ah, gentlemen, let us not disturb these nascent harmonies by our faults and OUT wayward impulses let us never assume so terrible a responsibility before God and man (cheers). I propose, with all the emotion of a soul profoundly convinced, a toast to the close alliance of the British and the French nations (loud and long-continued cheering). Mr. Cobden, M.P., said their distinguished guest con- cluded his eloquent speech by proposing the cordial and friendly alliance of England and France, and the chair- man had called upon him to respond to that toast. He had the honour of assisting M. Rouher to arrange the details of too commercial treaty, and, in his labours for that purpose, he had found him a true friend of the alliance between the two countries (cheers). Until that moir. ent he bad never badanopportunity of doing justice to the services of M. Rouher, with whom he laboured for a twelvemonth in the cause of free commercial intercourse. Their distinguished guest had to pass through a very difficult ordeal. Their president had alluded to the fact that he had to confront prejudice and interest. He had, in fact, to enter upon untrodden ground:: for though France had previously produced advo- cates of sound commercial principles, no one had ventured to attempt to carry them out. M. Rouher was a French- man to the core; the only difference between him and many of his countrymen was that he took a more en- lightened view of the real interests of France than they did (cheers). His f&sk was an extremely difficult one, and he (Mr. Cobden) had no hesitation in saying, after all that he had observed, that he was an honour to the country that produced him (cheers). It would not become him to say one syllable in praise of the Emperor of the Frereb, but he could not help expressing his conviction that his Majesty initiated this treaty witti a sincere desire not merely to unite the Governments of the twocotintries-his policy extended beyond that-but permanently to unite the two nations (continued cheers). Nay, he would go further, and say that he could imagine nothing that would induce that potentate to be a party to a rupture with this country, short of an attempt by any Government or any minister of this country to inflict humiliation upon the nation over which he ruled (cheers). They had on that occasion partly to felicitate and partly to condole with their guest. He had done a great work -a worit which would live in history. He had done what the great minister, M. Turgot, would have done eighty years ago, if the King and the aristocracy of France would have permitted it; and he would add that if M. Turgot had been allowed to carry out his wishes the dynasty might have been preserved and the French revolution averted. But, on the other hand, as Mr. Hus- kisson's labours forty years ago were followed by a commercial depression which made him exceedingly unpopular, so had the French commercial treaty bem followed by an American war which had indicted great loss on the manufacturing indus- try of France. There could be no doubt that free trade tended to the advancement of civilisation and humanity. The refrain of one of Beranger's songs was Donnez-vous les mains," the English of which was "Shake hands." Well, free trade told them to shake hands; but it also gave a rather practical and prosaic turn to the sentiment; it said, Give each other your hands, and something in those hands (laughter) -that something being the superfluity of the giver and the necessity of the receiver (cheers). There were some people who, while they gave their adhesion to free trade, resembled the Croaker in Goldsmith's comedy, who, even at a wedding, wished that all might be well that day twelvemonth (laughter). In the assembly that evening there was no feeling of that kind they had entire faith in the principles of free trade. Such a meeting as that had never been held before. He saw in it a proof of the universality of the sentiment of devotion to the principles of free trade and aspiration for the moral and political benefits which must accrue from tueir development; or if there ware any exceptions they were hardly worth noticing (cheers). In conclusion he was glad that their guest had on that occasion had an opportunity of making a speech on that subject which would make the tour of Europe and the world cheers). HJ- ^'ew*ls ^hey had already done honour to M. Rouaer, but he was not the only guest on that occa- sion. He observed near him M. Dufour and M. Cheva- lier and he would therefore propose their health, and that of the other foreign guests (cheers). M. Rouher referred to M. Turgot. It should never be forgotten that M. Turgot was the first among the statesmen of Europe whw gave a practical adhesion to the principles of commercial freedom; and certainly there was no country in Europe which, considering its antece- dents, ought to be more active in promoting free trade than the neighbouring country of France. There never was a time when the prospects of peace were more solid than they were at present (cheers). He believed that the Emperor of the French entertained the most cordial and earnest desire to maintain pacific relations with this country; and under these circumstances they had reason to look forward to an unbroken period of prosperity, so far as prosperity depended on the main- tenance of peace with France (cheers). M. Michel Chevalier returned thanks, and the -()m- sany soon afterwards sep&iattd, — + The Emancipation Bill proposed by the Minister
EPITOME OF NEWS. [ .
EPITOME OF NEWS. [ The great cricket match between the gentlemes of the North and the gentlemen of the South was brought to a conclusion at Lord's, on Friday, in favour of the North, by eight wickets. The score stood as follows t— Gentlemen of the South, first innings 143; second innings, 133-total, 276, North, first innings. 236; second in- nings, two wickets down, 41-total, 277. From New Zealand we learn that there is no fear of any immediate recommencement, of hostilities. Sir George Grey has been touring through the island, and. as one authority says, he is endeavouring to show the friendly natives how considerately the Government in- tends to tr,ep them. The Marseilles journals mention a player of bowls, named Morel, now in that city, of such great skilt at the game, as, not satisfied with beating his adversary as an ordinary mortal, he carried on his head, while playing, a pyramid of six bottles, which, whether he is bowling, picking up his ball or in motion, never lose their perpendicular. Colonel Colt, the inventor of the revolver, died worth about £ 800.000. His manufactory at Hartford, United States, employs 1,100 hands, and the wages paid there amount to £10,000 per month. Capital punishment has considerably diminished in Prussia within the last few years. During the period 1855-7, out of 158 condemnations, there were 78 execu- tions, and during that of 1858-69, out of 101 condemna- tions, only 11 executions. Mr. William JafFray, a gentleman for many years connected with the journalism and periodical lite-* rature of the metropolis, has departed for the "golden colony" of Australia, to join one of the leading journals of Melbourne, and probably take a political position in that busy community. The Opinione, the Gazetta, and the Espero, all Turin journals, were seized on the 14th inst., for having pub- lished the speech delivered by General Garibaldi to the National Guard of Palermo, at which the Prefect and general in command of that force were present. A meeting has been held at the rooms of the Architectural Society to inaugurate a new society, to be called the Society of Sculptors of England. Sir Charles Eastlake has just bought Gains- borough's portrait of Mrs. Siddons for the National Gal- lery, from Major Mair, the husband of Mrs. Siddons's grand-daughter, for 1,000 guineas. Baron Rothschild, M.P., who has been for the last fortnight suffering from a malignant affec- tion of the throat, which at one time assumed a dan- gerous character, is now convalescent. It is not probable, however, that he will be able to resume his attendance in Parliament during the present session. Press Persecution. — The Forres Gazette has been writing against the dearness of bread in that town, and states that in consequence of i's remarks seven of the Forres bakers have summoned it for X700 damages. The following is the Confederate route from Corinth to Richmond—viz., to Meridean, 194 miles; to Minon Town, Ala., 50 miles; to Selma, 30; toTallapega, 110; to Rome, 20; to Atlantic, 79; to Augusta, 171: to Brandywine, 75; to Columbia, 68; to Charlotte, 169; to Goldsboro', 223 to Richmond, 163-making a total of 1,282 miles by railroad, and 70 miles by common road. On Friday last the churchwardens of St. Mary, Stratford-le-Bow, proposed a church-rate of 2d- in the pound, which, on their refusing to give the customary assurance that it would not be "compulsory," was lost. A poll was demanded for Wednesday, which resulted in 98 votes being given for, and 254 against the rate. At the beginning of the present century, Trinidad, in the West Indies, exported over 300,0001bs of cotton. Cotton was at that time a larger export than cocoa from that island. A great portion of the soil in Trinidad is adapted for cotton growing. The Russian steam-frigate Smely is to proceed toiswinemunde, to embark the Japanese ambassadors for S. Petersburg. The captain, M. Kasnahow, of that vessel, who for a long time resided in Japan, and knows the language and customs of the country, has been ex- pressly selected to receive them. The rifle-shooting fetes at Frankfort commenced on Sunday with much ceremony. The marksmen made their entry into the city richly dressed, to the number of 12,000, preceded by the German tricolour flag, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, honorary president, marching at their head. At an immense banquet in the evening, several speeches, including one from the Duke, were delivered treating of German nationality and unity. From a parliamentary return we learn that the total amount as assessed for income tax in the 25 metropolitan districts for the year ended the 31st March last was £1,809,712 14s. 6Jd. The amount of land tax was 173,710 12s. 3Ad., and of assessed taxes £525,884 Is. 2id. The Viceroy of Egypt and the Mayor of Liverpool.—As an acknowledgment of the distinction and munificent hospitality with which he was received on the occasion of his recent visit to Liverpool, his High- ness Said Pasha, Viceroy of Egypt, has transmitted to his Worship the Mayor of that town (Mr. Robert Hutchi- son), a magnificent gold snuff-box. It is set with bril- liants, and is made to rest on a basement of exceedingly fine malachite, and, as a whole, is a bijou of great beauty as well as of high value. The French of St. Swithin. —The French, like ourselves have a pluvial saint Galirpiani says:—The 40_ rain-bringiDg days of St Mgdard will terminate oa Friday next. On the same day the moon will enter her last quarter, so that hopes are entertained that fine summer weather will then really set in. According to the last advices three ships had arrived at San Francisco ftem Hong Kong, with 1 900 Chinamen on boar^d. Through the abundancs of money, and the difficulty of employing it, large sums are available as loans upon Government securities at 1 per cent. Thf supplies have even increased since the adjustment of the half-monthly accounts. Mr. Laurie, late M.P. for Barnstaple, and one the Directors of the Royal Academy of Music, intends to offer annually two silver prize medals to the two most proficient students, the examination to be taken and awarded by the body of professors, to be called tb» "Laurie Medals." We understand that a movement is on foot tc present to Mr. Fisher Hobbs a testimonial of respect in acknowledgment of his long and valuable services in the cause of British agriculture. .No application has been made this season in Jamaica for labourers. The question of inducing immigrants from Canada and the United States to settle in Jamaica still continues to receive attention in that island. — 0 ^-•(Ij,ife^t Struek by Lightning.-The Caw-
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tor lifeboat, belonging to the National Lifeboat Institu- tion, says an eye-witness, was on Thursday lying on the beach ready for immediate service during this stormy weather. About 2 p.m. we were visited by a very heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by terrific flashes of lightning, which struck the lifeboat. The electric fluid appears to have entered at the mizen-mast-head of the boat and proceeded downwards to the iron keel but no injury is done to the boat herself. The mast, 25 feet long appears as if it burst from head to heel, and a long splinter driven out of it. Two men, Robert George, a.ge about 73, and J ames Webster, about 36, and also two little boys, Wickerson and Goulder, between 5 and 6 years old, were taking shelter under the bow of the boat from a very heavy shower of rain and hail, and were rendered insensible for a short time. Mr. Palmer, of Yarmouth, and Dr. Woodman, of Ormsby, were shortly in attendance and under their care the sufferers are likely to do wtll. George's injuries are in the leg and foot, which are scorched in several places; this morning he is able to leave his bed. Webster's arm is lacerated, and the sleeve of his coat was torn to some extent. He i3 well enough to visit Yarmouth this morning. The boys seemed stunned more than hurt. Some hair on the top of Wicker- son's head was singed and his cap driven off. This valuable lifeboat has during the past winter and spring rendered on two different occasions some of the most important services ever performed by a lifeboat to suffer- ing humanity, as the crews of sixteen men beloneim/L the brig Sisters, of Whitby, and schooneI Trial of Poole can testify. Removal of Mrs. Vyse from Newsate.- Mrs- J?86' ac1^ted of tXuTd^ Primfnil Pn the late sittings of the Central °? the sr0und of insanity, and who was ordered by the judge to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure, has, by order of the Home Secretary, been re- moved from the gaol of Newgate to Bethlehem Hospital, St. Ueorge s-fields, Lambeth where she will be kept as a criminal lunatic for the remainder of her days. She will, however, be permitted the occasional visits of her hus- band, her surviving children, and other relatives. Mrs. Vyse appears completely overwhelmed at her position and at intervals weeps bitterly. 1
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for the Colonies has passed the second chamber of the Hague by a large majority. Many amendments were introduced favourable to the negroes to be freed. The period for declaring emancipation has been fixed for tha 1st of July, 1863. The maximum term of the govern ment surveillance is ten years.