The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE GREAT WESTMINSTER BELL. According to more precise accounts of the accident, which has occurred to Big Ben than those at first re- ceived it appears that the cracks are, as yet, compara- tively trifling in extent, and not penetrating entirely through the metal, have not appreciably affected the usefulness of the bell. As, however, they are certain to go on increasing if the bell was made to sound the hours, and no means whatever exist for mending them, Big Ben's doom is as absolutely sealed as if he were already in two pieces. The cracks were not produced by any fatal blow struck on Saturday, as was at first supposed, but were ascertained to exist on that day. They are scarcely perceptible in the ordinary state of the bell and, even when discovered, merely resemble a faint scratch, such as might be made with a needle. Their existence was betrayed to Mr. Hart, a gentleman connected with the works going on at the palace, in a curious manner. He happened to be in the belfry on Saturday while the bell was being struck. The day had been a rainy and windy one, and Big Ben and his companions were thoroughly wetted. As each blow was struck Mr. Hart noticed a line of minute air bubbles spring into momentary existence oil the side of the bell, and a closer examination revealed the secret. Though the sound emitted continued as sonorous as ever, it was considered advisable to stop the striking at once, and since that day solemn silence has reigned in the once noisy belfry. It is believed that the present bell may be cut up in the belfry and lowered down the air shaft without re- moving the clock. The clock, however, must come away before the new bell can be raised, since the air shaft is not nearly large enough. sh1!;tlsceh;,gc;etUf;' discussed in The Times by Mr. Denison, who distributes blame in no measured terms to every one who has been connected with the manufacture or hanging of the bell. He says that the bell was" a magnificent imposture for that there is a place on the soundbow, but far from where either clap- per or hammer have ever struck (and this is probably not by accident), full of holes, some a quarter of an ingh wide and more, and others smaller, of depths not certain yet, but some probed down to nearly half-an- inch, and, in short, every external indication of a per- fectly unsound casting, and that from two of those holes cracks were visible nearly a foot long and of depth unknown yet, (but with some indications of still wider holes within them. But how did Ir. Taylor and I come to certify such a bell as sound ? And how did such unsoundness as this elude the observations of the indefatigable clerk of works' who examines all the castings that come to the Palace, and of Sir C. Barry's engineer, Ir. Jabez James, and of the hundreds of people of all classes who came to see and hear the bell r For a very good reason because the holes were all as carefully stuffed as a bad tooth by a dentist with some mineral suceedaneum,' of which a piece has been sjnt to me, and which can be shown to yOIl at Mr. Dent's or in the bell itself; and to make all still safer the bell was washed over with some colouring stuff which the atmosphere has now removed."

THE STRIKE IN THE BUILDING TRADE. Towards the end of the past week, it was stated that Mr. Ayrton, M.P., had attended the meeting of the exe- cutive committee of the Masters' Association on Friday, to present a I)rol)o-i-ion on behalf of the bricklayers, carpen ers, plasterers, &c. We are enabled to give some further particulars of what took place on that occasion Mr. Ayrton proposed that the declaration should be withdrawn, and those who have already accepted be re- leased from it. He stated that there would be no objec- tion on the part of the men to work with those who have accepted the declaration. It being alleged that the rules of "the societies contain provisions contrary to law, the committees of the sccieties were ready, he said, to furnish to the master builders copies of theruleo, in order that they may take counsel's opinion upon them, and such societies were willing to modify them in com- mittee. The workmen were willing to work in strict conformity with the law. In reply to some observations by the chairman of the sub-committee who received Mr. Ayrton, that gentleman stated that his application and proposition must be understood as on behalf of certain workmen out of employment at issue with their masters, and not on behalf of the United Tra,les' Conference. The sub-committee informed Mr. Ayrton that the por- tion of the proposition having ref,rence to the rules ol the societies was imperfect, and would practically be in- operative for solving the difficulties existing, inasmuch as there was no arbitration proposed; and that the prece- dent condition to "oy articles of agreement must be, the public withdrawal of the strike at Messrs. Trollope's. Mr. Ayrton stated that he would report the interview to the parties he represented, and communicate further with the secretary, Mr. Wales. The matter having been reported by the sub-committee to the executive, that budy passed the following resolution:—" That Mr. Ayr- ton be informed that the executive committee of the Central Association are of opinion that the most prac- tical method of adjusting the differences which have arisen with the workmen in the building trade would be -firs, the withdrawal ofthe strike at Messrs. Trollope's; and secondly, the revision of the rules and bye-laws. and the abolition of various traic practices (within the metropolitan ^postal district) as shall be considered by metropolit?.n P o some eminentimpartial authority to be contrary to the spirit of the law o' the laud, and that in particular all rules and practices should be removed which interfere with the freedom of workmen, in preventing members of trales unions from working with other workmen." At a subsequent meeting of the Central Association the masons sent in an amended proposition to the fol- lowing effect;—" 1. That masons to resume work upon the same terms as before the lock-out-ten hours' pay for ten hours work. 2. The masters 'tv entirely with- draw the declaration. 3. Sboniu tne masters have any grievance to complain of, the masons will be ready to meet them at any time on the subject. 4. The masons will not object to work with those of their own trade or others who may have accepted the declaration. 5. The masons will resume work in conformity with the laws bearing on such agreements, i. e., to be considered in accordance with the laws of the land." The masons' deputation, consisting of Mr. Perham, Mr. Harnott, and four others, members of the committee of the London lodge, explained each clause of the proposition, their meaning of the first, in fixing the period belore the 11 lock- out," bing that their society did not recognise the strike at Messrs. Trollope's, and that fixing any prior date to the "lock-out" would identify them in some degree with it- they stronglv disavowed attaching any other meaning. On the 2ud clause it was their intention that all trades should be exempted from the declaration. On the 3re clause, they were willing to agree that their rules and bye-laws should be examined in a month after re- suming work; they contended that it would be inexpedi- ent, in the present state of excitement, to ask the men to meet and confer on their laws; but that if any of their laws and bye-laws were found illegal they would ask the Central Soci-ty to consider the subject forthwith, and alte, them accordingly. On the 4th clause, it was dis- tinctly stated after discusgoon that Messrs. Trollope's should be considered an open shop, and that the masons society should not exercise any influence to prevent men taking work under that firm. The deputation seemed unwilling te consent to an ar bitrator or umpire, as suggested by the resolution of the excutive committee on the 29th ult. But a'ter some discussion on the subject there seemed to be an inchn >- ?ion ?id this point; and Lord Brougham and Lord Lyndhurst were named as arbitrators. £ eneu- howenr, seemed in fa,our of three rather  tral person to determine between master and workman in case of a difference of opinion arising. The uepsta tion asked that the meeting might be adjourned in order that they might cousult their brethren as to the appoint- ment of umpire or umpires, and the meeting was ae- cordingly adjourned. On Monday last the conference made another dividend to the men on the same terms as last week—viz., 4s. to the lock-onts, and 8s. and 12s. each to Trollope's men. The following is the official return of the numbers and amouut paid:- Trollope's men £ 50 0 0 LOCK-OUTS. Masons .6 71 4 0 Bricklayers 610 122 0 0 Carpenters 1768 303 12 0 Plasterers 630 126 0 0 Painters 136 2700 Woolwich men.. 169 33 16 0 Stone sawyers (;9.. 13 16 0 Labourers 2048 423 16 0 5,766 £ 1,171 0 0 From the above list it will be seen that there is a dimi- nution of the numbers returned last week, which is to be accounted for from the fact of men going to work in shops wherc,the document ie not presented. The executive committee of the Central Association met on Tuesday, at Radley's Hotel, Bridge-itreet; Mr. G. Plueknett being in the chair. The Secretary re- ported that the number of men who have resumed work under the Declaration was 10,740, and that 2,100 in addition had entered establishments in which a shop rule embodying the spirit of the declaration was adopted. It was stated, on the part of the masons, that the following resolution was passed at a general meeting of their body, at Wilcock's-rooms, Lambeth, on Monday:— "That this meeting is of opinion that the terms of negotiation already submitted to the Central Associa- tion of Master Builders be considered final; and far- ther, that we do not agree to refer our bye-laws to any third party or parties. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that if the Central Association of Master Builders do not uncon- ditionally withdraw the declaration at their meeting to- morrow, the 11th inst., we the masons seek no further communication Kith them, and that all further commu- nications cease." To this communication the following reply was given "The executive committee of the Central Association of Master Builders regret that the operative masons should decline to be bound by the reference to an emi- nent impartial authority for revision of the rules and customs of their trade societies, and making them conformable to the laws of the realm. And the com- mittee would further point out to the masons that the entire withdrawal of the declaration, as demanded by them, would admit the workmen of all other trades without any guarantee, either that the strike at Messrs. Trollope's would be withdrawn, or that the obje(?tio- able rules and practices of other trade societies wou?? be modified." The following amended proposition was submitted by 3fr. Ayrton ;— | 1. That the declaration be withdrawn, those wll) have accepted it to be released from it. "2, There will be no objection to work with those who have accepted the declaration in a peaceable and orderly manner, and the members of the Workmen's Conference will use all their influence with their fellow workmen to effect this object. 3. It having been alleged that the rules of the trade societies contain provisions contrary to law, the, committee of the societies are ready to furnish the masters builders with a copy of their rules, in order that they may take counsel's opinion on them, and are willing to modify them in committee, so far as the opinion of masters' counsel is confirmed by the legal adviser of the workmen, and in other respects so far as the several committees see that a modification of their rules is necessary. "4. The workmen will work in strict conformity with the law. o. Should any difference arise between the master builders and their workmen upon the legality of trade practices or of the rules of the trade societies, both parties to agree to afIonl every facility for submitting i the same to'the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench, j nnrl ?n their best to give effect to its ju d gment. In reply to this proposition the masters passed the following resolution;— "That the executive committee of the Master Build- ers' Association regret that the proposition submitted this day by Mr. Avrton, on the part of the operatives, does not embrace the withdrawal of the strike at Messrs. Trollope's and also that the proposal evades (by the suggestion of protracted litigation) the simple plan proposed on the 7th inst. by the executive com. mittee, of revision by some eminent impartial authority of such rules and practices of trade societies as are op- posed to the spirit of the law of the land." Although it is not expressly stated, we regret to be obliged to infer that this resolution is intended to convey the non-acceptance of the proposition of Mr. Avrton. This unfortunate and long-protractcd struggle is therefore about as far removed as ever from a settle- ment The committee at its rising adjourned for a fortnight. On the same night, at nine o'clock, the usual weekly meeting of the delegates of the trades was held in the Shaftesbury Hall, Aidersgate street The Chairman, Mr. Thomas Hay, called upon Mr' Potter to make a report of their proceedings since the last meeting. Mr. Potter said that they were aware that a fortnight ago the proposition was sent in from the Conference to the master buiiders, but the executive committee re- fused to receive them, as they were an irresponsible body. That was communicated to the Conference, and thev determined that the masters should communicate with them only, as representing the building trades. He also detailed the steps which had been taken by Mr. Ayrton, M.P., towards bringing about a satisfactory result. These propositions were sent to the masters, but al- though they had sat until after seven at night, no infor- mation had been received whether they had been ac- cepted or not, and even Mr. Ayrton was not admitted into the meeting. He had no doubt that the proposi- tion of the masters to submit their rules to Lord Brougham and Lord Lyndhurst was with an expecta- tion that they would come back to them so pruned with their knives as not to be worthy of their acceptance. Mr. Jones suggested that steps should be taken to obtain a committee to confer with the masters, the de- claration being withdrawn as a primary step. It was generally felt that this step was premature until they had an answer from the masters on the pro- positions submitted by Mr. Ayrton. [The reply of the masters to Mr. Aryton's proposi- tions is given above.] Mr. Charles Murray believed that the masters would not listen to them. A Delegate condemned the proposition of going to the masters, as every time they went to them it was looked upon as a sign of their weakness. Mr. "Noblo said that in a few weeks further steps would be taken to bring this struggle to a termination

As QTq1'1'T£\V ;1n'R T4Tr.ESED VJ(:" TUALLERS.—A case of great importance to licensed vic- tuallers was decided by the Kendal magistrates on Friday. Two publicans of that town recently pitched tents for the sale of beer and other liquors on a field in which an agricultural show was being held. Now, these persons simply did what their brethren in all parts of the country regularly do under similar circumstances, with the sanction and authority of the Board of Inland Revenue; but it would appear that a Mr. Edward Whit well, who is described as a well-known advocate of teetotalism and the Maine Law," was of opinion that it was high time such practices should be discon- tinued. He, therefore, laid an information against the two unfortunate innkeepers for selling exciseable liquors in a certain tent or booth, not being any portion of the house or premises specified in their licence. It was objected, on behalf of the defendants, that such a charge could only be made by an officer of excise but this obj ection was overruled. The magistrates evidently didnotrelish thercsponsibilityof adj udicating upon such a case but, after a consultation, they announced that the act allowed them no alternative they must convict, and accordingly one of the defendants was fined in the sum of 51., the lowest penalty which could be enforced. The charge against the second defendant was abandoned by Mr. Whitwell, and notice was given that the decision of the bench would be appealed against. The licensed victuallers are of course alarmed at the interpretation put upon the act by their worships of Kendal, and an indignation meeting was held immediately after the close of the court, whenresolutions were passeddenoune- ing the anomalous state of the law on the subject, and calling upon the licensed victuallers throughout the kingdom to use every effort to procure an entire change of the present system." Mr. Candelet, of Manchester, was present at the meeting, and assured them of "the warm sympathy and support of association of which he was the secretary, in defending their right to fair treat- ment."— Manchester Guardian.

THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGRESS. The proceedings connected with the third annual meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science commenced at Bradford on Monday, and continues throughout the week. St. George's Hall has been placed at the disposal of the association, but the accommodation it affords has been found insufficient for the carrying on of all the business, and consequently the arrangements made for the departments are Juris- prudence, the Court-house public health and social economy, Sion Chapel; education, the saloon of the hall; and punishment and reformation, the Court- house. Bradford has given a hearty welcome to the association, and on Monday afternoon many hearty peals of bells were rung in honour of the occasion. The proceedings were inaugurated by a special ser- vice in the parish church. The church was crowded with a respectable audience, a large number of those connected with the association being present. After the usual evening service had been gone through, the Lord Bishop of Ripon ascended the pulpit to preach the sermon. His lordship took his text from the 4th chap. of Hosea, and part of the 6 th verse: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The general meeting of the members and friends of the association took place in the large room of St. George's Hall, which was well filled. The Earl of Shaftesbury, president of the association, took the chair. Lord Brougham, ihe Bishop of Ripon, and many other notabilities were present. The Noble Chairman, at great length, offered such remarks as he thought requisite to introduce the labours of his colleague, and of those gentlemen who had contributed their industry and experience for their amusement and instruction, touching upon every topic which would come within the range of social science, and concluded by saying that whilst :they might differ in phases of thought, and modes of action, and expres. sion of feeling, and the stamp and colour of their opinions-while those differences appeared on the surface, concord might be beneath; and they might all strive, though in various ways, to be really and effec- tively combined for one grand and final consummation Glory to God in the Highest" (loud cheers). The Conference assembled in St. George's Hall, on Tuesday morning, at eleven o'clock, when Lord Brougham, President of the Council, delivered his annual address. His lordship spoke at great length on various topics ;—Bribery at elections was very dif- fusely dealt with and in reference to it his lordship made the following strong observations. It was, he said, calculated to raise a grave doubt whether the country would not be injured by an extension of the franchise, if it did not beget a further doubt about the benefit of the franchise as already enjoyed. It seems, indeed, but too probable that the prevalence of corrup- tion will be used as a reason against granting elective rights with the attached duties, to those who are not at present allowed to possess them. The adversaries of this extension dwell much upon the ignorance of the great body of the people, and not merely their imperfect education, but their having no habits of reflection and deliberation. It ix true they would be unfit to be en- trusted with a voice upon mea?u?cf? upon policy foreign ucnet\ a c;Eheso;\Erl be e:t; puted to represent them in Parliament, they might per- haps be trusted. There are, however, other things beside their ignorance to be taken into the account, and a grave doubt arises whether men deserve the franchise who value it so little that they will not deprive them- selves of any indulgence in order to acquire it. If rent- ing a £10 house gives it, a man occupying a £(1 house might have it by saving 20d. a week in beer. It is but too certain that of those who are loudest in their call for the right of voting, a very great number would refuse to pay this very small price to obtain it. But the dis- position to regard the vote as a thing which may be turned to profit-in a word, as conferring the power of being bribed-as enabling them to commit a crime for the lucre of gain-offers a still stronger reason against;it. To imagine, as some reasoners do, that clothing these men with the franchise will raise them in their own es- timation and in that of others, and impress them with a sense of their importance as executing a great public trust, is altogether too romantic a view for any practical man to take. As a collateral branch of the subject his lordship referred to that unfortunate combination among the artizan classes, out of which so many cessations of labour have taken place under the name of "strikes." The noble lord, in c )u;in.iaiicr,siid, "while some reasoners contend that the people are disqualified for the exercise of'tlie franchise, in other words, for the possession of political power, by want of information, and some would withhold it because of their evil habits, there has been at all times, but never so much as of late years, a disposition in a large and important body to assume power by acts, sometimes of doubtful legality, and always leading, by their almost unavoidable con- sequences, to a breach of the law. I allude to combi- nations for raising wages, accompanied with a resolu- tion not to work either for more than a certain time, or for less than a certain remuneration. If the proceeding is connected with any plan of preventing others from working, either by actual violence or by threats, it is manifestly an offence, and severely punishable. But, without any violence or menaces, the raising a fund to keep one class idle, by supporting them when they re- fuse to wcrk, except on the terms prescribed by the [ body—terms to which their employers cannot or will not yield, and the waylaying another class coming from the country, offering to pay the journey back if they join in the refusal, approaches very near an unlawful conspiracy; or if it be not absolutely illegal, is in the highest degree oppressive to the employers, because it deprives them oftlic ordinary advantagesof competition, placing the whole relations of labour in a false and un- naturalposition. Thatwhichregulatesallprices, whether of commodities or of labour, is the higgling of themarket; and there is akindofindividualinstinct by which dealers in labour, as well as dealers in other things, adjust their demands. A combined action of 100 or 1,000 substitutes for this individual instinct ,a fixed rule, con- ceived without the least regard to the rate of supply and demand, to the circumstances of the party offering and the party accepting or refusing, and enforces that rule in an arbitrary manner, and by no natural appli- ances. The fallacy is enormous, by which the la- bourers, complaining of machinery as throwing hands out of work, hold that they ought to share directly with the employer in the gains which the machinery enables him to make. They do share in those gains, but not directly. The capital saved must always be employed in paying for labour, and the machinery that saves labour in one line to the capitalist enables him to em- ploy more labour in other lines the great probability being, that he will employ it in the line to which he and his workmen are accustomed. The combina- tions of masters is the inevitable consequence of the combinations of men; and as they have capi- tal to draw upon, which is a far more certain and se- cure resource of supply than the contributions of the men, such a conflict must always end in a great loss to both parties, but more especially to the poor man, whose families suffer severely in the meantime, and who after they have been defeated, are certain to find a very great diminution of employment from the injury mnicteaupon tne masters. It is needless to observe, that the immediate tendency of such combinations is the very reverse of the influ- ence of the establishment of guilds in the middle ages, which were the parents of skill in all the arts. The inevitable effect of strikes is to level all men to benefit the lazy and incapable at the expense of the industrious and skilful, and to rob all concerned in them, for the profit of a few agitators and mob-seekers. But though the employers have an unquestionable right to com- bine in self-defence against the tyranny of their com- bined workmen, and though they are secure of success in the end, it is only to be gained by patience, at some sncrifioo, L) joint and pruaeni action. It is sure to be lost by any imitation of the unjust and violent course pursued by the men; and it is most especially at a season of indiscreet and unscrupulous combination among the latter that the masters ought, more than ever, to beware of encroaching upon just rights, and rather to give their men more freedom than to curb them in any manner of way. It must be observed that all the erron into which one of the parties fall, and which are the cause of their unreason- able and unreasoning proceedings, and which present the enemies of an extended franchise with their most powerful argument, come from ignorance. If care were taken to teach them the plain, cnsily learnt, and:easily' understood principles, which, of all men, they have the greatest interest in uiiderstanding-the relation between prices, inducing that of labour and of supply and demand-between capital and wages-between machi- nery and profits, as well of matters as of workmen- between rights and duties-between the inforcement of the law and the interests of all-if these principles were everlpresent to their minds, the course of conduct which they oftentimes pursue, to their own great detri- ment quite as inuchts to the injury of others, would be next to impossible. Vice.Chancellor Page Wood followed his lordship with an address on Jurisprudence, and the departments subsequently .met in their rooms for the reading of papers and discussions.

FORTUNATE ESCAPE. An accident occurred on the railway near the New Bailey Station, Salford, on Friday, which, fortunately, was unattended with loss of life, but still very serious in its character. The axle of the tender broke shortly after the train left the station, and a violent oscillation of the train ensued. The rails were torn up, two horse boxes thrown off the iii2, and the passengers muoh shaken but beyond a slight injury to the fireman, there was no personal damage sustained.

pabal airtrjfltlttare, DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL Bowvim.-The above I gallant admiral, we regret to state, expired at South- ampton on Saturday last, in the 70th year of his age. ARTISTS' RIFLE CORPS FOR MARYLBBONB.-It has been proposed by Mr. Cave Thomas to form in Mary- lebone a rifle corps composed entirely of artists. Mary- lebone being the artistic quartw we should think the artists might muster a goodly contingent, and certainly no body of men should be able to turn out better marksmen. AMERICAN TRIBUTE TO ENGLISH VALOUR.-The Chinese correspondent of the New York Herald writes: —" Englishmen have no cause to blush for the battle of the Pehio. Such indomitable courage and dogged re- sistance as was there displayed are in themselves suffi- cient to reflect the rays of glory around the semi-circum- ference of the globe, and dry the tears which will shortly flow over the unburied dead." STORES FOR CHINA.—Orders have been received from the War Office for all the stores returned from the Turkish Contingent, after the close of the Crimean war, to be examined and reported upon, it being the inten- tion to send out military stores during the present month for the supply of 10,000 men. General Sir Harry D. Jones, K.C.B., made an inspection of the stores, &c., belonging to the engineer establishment, and the portable pontoons invented by Captain Francis Fawke, R.E., which are expected, will go to China. THE GOVERNMENT PROVISION CONTRACT,—The Ad- miralty has accepted tenders for the supply of salt meat for the use of the navy for 1859 and 1860, viz., 0,000 tierces and 3,800 barrels of beef, of which 1,000 are taken for America, 1,000 Hamburg, 2,000 Galatz, and the remainder for Irish account, at an average of about 61. 9s. per tierce and 41. 14s. per barrel; and 9,000 tierces and 13,000 barrels pork, principally of Irish cure, at an averege of about 71. 5s. per tierce and 51. 17s. 6d. per barrel. Notwithstanding the price of i beef and pork is 2 per cent. less than the average of last year's contract, manufacturers are sangtúne of rea- Using good profits. lis:I;oÆ AT CHATHAM.-The building of a perfect squadron of men of war is being carried on with unremitting activity at Chatham Dockyard. The Irre- sistible, 80, screw, will be afloat in about a fortnight.j The Undaunted, 50 Bulwark, 91 Atla, 61, new ?rst class screws, are in a forward state; and the small(?r vessels-viz,, Rattlesnake, 29; Orpheus, 20, are pro- gressing rapidly. The Severn, 70, and the Rodney, 91, are in dock; both ships have a considerable number of shipwrights at work on board them. AMERICAN NAVAL FORCES IN THE PACIFic.-The New York Evening Post says Whether the San Juan difficulty is likely to create hostilities between the United States and England we do not, of course, pretend to prophesy. However, should matters go to extremes, it is consoling to know that we are not as helpless in the Pacific Ocean as most people suppose. Annexed is a correct statement of our naval forces on the western side of the American Continent, and on their wnvtn 1t:- .¡ v-T Officers <?- ons. and Men. uns. 500 40 Flashio steam frigate Lancaster* 2360 500 18 Steacu frig ite Sirsnac 1446 300 6 Steam gunboat Wyoming 997 100 5 S illing sloop-of-wat C/aiie 792 230 20 Sailing sloop-of war Vandalia 7S3 240 20 230 20 Sailing sloopof-war St. Mary'i 958 250 22 Tot,] 11,328 2,350 151 On her way to relieve the Memmae as Commodore Montgomery's flagship. Soma ships of "the old squadron are included in the above, but, of course, in an emergency, both the old and new squadrons would be detailed alike for duty. The British have about twelve vessels, manned by 3,000 men, on the station. If the Warren, Saginaw, and Narragansett (the first two are already on the Pacific, and the last is ordered there), were 'added to Commo- (lore Montgomery's fleet, we would have as formidable a naval force in the Pacific Ocean as our British cousins. PLYMOUTH.—On Sunday there were in Plymouth Sound ships of war belonging to five different nations, a circumstance said to be unprecedented. The English ships of the line Aboukir, Algiers, Donegal, Hero, and Nile frigates Diadem, Emerald, Melpomme, Mersey, and Topaze corvette Pearl; the Dutch frigate Admi- ral Koopman, and sloops Vesuvius and Rainier; the Russian sloop Razbboynik; the Brazilian corvette Ba- hiana and the Turkish line-of-battle ship Shadie. In all 17 pennants. The whole of the ships, with the ex- ception of the Brazilian corvette, have steam power. CAPTAIN M'CLINTOCK AND THE Fox.—This gallant officer has been presented with with a handsome gold chronometer by the officers and crew of the screw yacht Fox, the companions of his late search and labours in the Arctic regions. The chronometer bears the follow- ing inscription :—" Presented to Captain F. L. M'Clin- tock, R.N., by the officers and crew of R.Y.S. explor- ing yacht Fox, as a token of their esteem and regard during a service of two and a half years, under his command in the Arctic Seas." Signed by the whole of the officers and crew. A TEETOTALLERS' RIFLE CORPS.—At the monthly soiree of the Gorbals Total Abstinence Society, (says the North British Daily Mail), Mr. R. M. Walker, who appeared in the uniform of the Glasgow Volunteer Rifles, sang some martial airs with great vigour, and brought from the chairman the remark that he had been repeatedly asked why the abstaining portion of the community could not also have their corps, as he happily termed it, of Coldstream Rifles, and that steps were now being taken for the formation of such a company, who, he was certain, would at least gain for themselves the character of Havelock's famous band of being "aye ready." SURVIVORS OF FRANKLIN'S COMPANIONS. The xted.cal Times says The news recently brought home as to the fate of Sir John Franklin shows very remarkably the fault committed by government in neg- lecting to follow the advice of a we!I-known member of our profession—Dr. King. It is now known that Fl..pkli.? ships were wrecked close to an island King William's Island—lying off the western land of North Somerset; and traces of the expedition have been found on the southern shore of this island, at Point Ogle, on the continent of America, and at Montreal Island, in the estuary of the Great Fish River Now, in February, 1845, Dr. King proposed to Lord Grey, then Colonial Secretary, to go by the Great Fish River to the western land of North Somerset to aid the Franklin expedition in its survey. Two years afterwards, when anxiety was felt for the fate of the expedition, Dr. King made his second offer to Lord Grey to go by the same route to the same coast to search for and assist the expedition in its difficulty. The letter making this offer was dated Juue 10, 1847, and, curionsly enough, it is now shown that Franklin died on the 11th of June, one day only after this letter was written, near the very spot which Dr. King proposed to explore. After Franklin's death, it appears from the records found by Captain M'Clintock, 105 survivors were on the road to the Great. Fish River, in April, 1848 so that had Dr. King's proposals of 1845 and 1847 been accepted he must have met the party and rescued them. Year after year Dr. King reiterated his warnings and offers, and in 1856 memoralised the Admiralty to arrange a combined effort by sea and land, again directed to the precise spot where the remains of the expedition have been found. Had his offers been accepted, not only would our gal- lant countrymen have been rescued, but no necessity would have arisen for the expedition of Ross, Richard- son, Collinson, Austin, Penny, Belcher, or Kellett, at a government expense of two millions; nor for the pri- vate expeditions under Ross, Kennedy, and M'Clintock, | or the American efforts of De Haven and Kane. We do not mention this in any spirit of vain regret, but to point out that a summer land search up the Great Fish River would be devoid of danger, would be inexpensive, and might be successful in rescuing some of the 105 survivors, all of whom can scarcely have perished in a country where there is plenty of game." CHATHAM.—Several changes have recently been made in the fleet of the steam reserve at Chatham and Sheer- ness, and the following are the vessels now attached to the steam reserve squadron in theMedway, viz. :-The Hood, 90, 600 horse power the Que n, 96, 500 horse power the Goliah, 80, 400 horse power; the Majestie, 80, 400 horse power; the Meanee, 80, 400 horse power the Forte, 51, 400 horse power the Phaeton, 51, 400 horse power the Challenger, 21, 400 horse power; the Charybdis, 21, 400 horse power the Fawn, 17, 100 horse power the Thunderbolt, 16, floating battery, 200 horse power the Miranda, 15, 250 horse power the Thunder, 14, floating bat ery, 150 horse power; the Trusty, 14, floating buttery. 150 horse power the Swal- low, 9, 60 horse poiver the Wasp, 13, 100 horse power; the Driver, 6, 280 horse power; the Eurotas, 12, 200 horj power; the Phoenix, 6, 260 horse power; the Victor, 6, 360 horse power; the Dragon, 9, 560 horse power the Alacrity, 4,200 ho: se power the Foxhound, 4, 200. horse power; the Jackal, 4, 150 horse power; the Wrangler, 4, 160 horse power; the Otter, 3, 120 horse power; and the Fearless, 76 horse power. I" addition to the above, the Waterloo, 90, 500 horse power the Renard, 4, 200 horse power; and the Snake, 4, 160 horse power, are stationed at Sheerness and the Rodney, 91, 500 hor9epower;the Severn, 51, MO horse power; the Ariadne, 32, 800 horse power; and the Etna, 16, 200 hor-e power, are stationed at Chatham. The above vessels give an aggregate of 1,000 guns, and 9,976 horse power. COURT MARTIAL AT PLYMOUTH. A court martial was held, on Saturday, on board the flag ship Impreg- nable, 104, Captain W. Houlston Stewart, for the trial of David Wale, private, Royal Marines, and serving oil board the Donegal, for having on the 9th of September, between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m., deliberately and maliciously stabbed with a knife Henry Fireash, sergeant of the same corps, accompanying the deed with threats that he would take his life. A second charge laid against the prisoner was of having rushed after First- Lie- Henry Colton, R.M., with a drawn knife in his hand, saying, "That is the I want," or words to that effect. The wounds inflicted were not of a nature to endanger life. The prisoner's defence was that he committed the act in a state of frenzy, and that he did not know what he was doing. The court found the first and more serious charge proved, but not the second, and sentenced the prisoner to be mulct of all pay receive fifty lashes, to be imprisoned in the county gaol at Exeter for two years with hard labour, and to be dismissed her Majesty's service. The officers com- prising the court' then" proceeded to try William Kitchen, able seamen, on board the Donegal, for deser- tion. The prisoner was sentenced to be imprisoned for six months. THE RETURN OF LORD CLYDE.-It is understood that Lord Clyde, after proceeding to Lucknow from Simla the latter part of September, tomeettheGovenor- General, will leave India at the close of the present year, or early in January next. His lordship is stated not to have derived much benetit from his stay in Simla, having suffered severely, during the rainy season, from a cold; all the staff, with the exception of the military secretary, Colonel Steiling, having likewise suffered more or less from illness. MILITARY TESTIMONIALS.—Monday witnessed the interesting ceremony of presenting good conduct medals and a gratuity of £ 5 each to five soldiers belonging to the 10th battalion at Colchester Camp. The names of the recipients were Mason, Martin, Knox, Cravan, and Keegan, who had each served upwards of20 years with credit to themselves in the army, The men were marched into the centre of the battalion drawn up on parade, under the command of Lieutenant. Colonel Street, C.B., and after being complimented by Colonel Bloomfield, commander of the garrison, as fitting examples for the young soldiers to follow, the gallant officer fixed the decorations on the soldiers' breasts, and they returned to the ranks to receive the congratu- lations of their comrades. THE IRON-CASED FLOATING BATTERIES.—Since the Trusty, 14, steam floating battery, returned to her former moorings opposite Upnor, Chatham, she has undergone an examination in order to ascertain the amount of injuries she met with during the experiments that were made on her with the view of testing her ca- pabilities of resisting the effects of the shot fired from the Armstrong cannons at Shoeburyness. The result of the survey has demonstrated that this new kind of iron-cased floating batteries presents comparatively no resistance whatever to the shots from the Armstrong guns. Although the Trusty is covered with massive wrought-iron plates, of extraordinary thickness, yet every shot that struck them shivered the plates to pieces and entered the vessel; some of the shots, it is evident, from the examination, having passed through the iron plates and beams of the battery on one side, and through the timber and iron casing of the vessel on the other. The battery presents the appearance of hav- ing been most severely handled and it is the unani- mous opinion of the officers and others who have ex- amined her, that vessels of this class will be found to be almost entirely useless when fired upon by guns of the Armstrong class.

THE PEHIO AFFAIR. Captain Longley, who was wounded in the action at the mouth of the Pehio, made the following remarks at a meeting at Bishop's Auckland, where he has been received with enthusiasm, and presented with an address of congratulation upon his return: I have returned home from a distant part ol the globe, having been sent some two years ago to India, and thence to China, where I was present during the recent engagement. We waited at Canton the arrival of the English Plenipotentiary, Mr. Bruce, and from Canton we had to proceed with that gentleman and tbi French Consul to Pekin, to ratify the treaties. When we approached the river we found the forts had been rebuilt which the year before had been destroyed. The entrance up the river was likewise blockaded. The ambassadors then consulted Admiral Hope, and placed the matter in his hands, and he resolved upon forcing the passage. I landed a party of ten men from one of the gun-boats, as skirmishers. Whilst I was in the act of leading the men on towanls the embrasures I was unfortunately wounded. If the Chinese had opened out the whole of their batteries I do not think a single gunboat would have escaped. On the 24th, the Chinese fired one gun to warn us to keep off, and waited for us to draw off our forces, and it was on out- part that the declaration of war was made. There was no treachery in the case at all. We saw the masks in the embrasures, and we knew by that there were guns as well And so far as treachery was concerned, I hope we will hear no more about it I might also remark with regard to the policy of forcing our civilisation on the Chinese. It appears to me to be this. If an old crusty man was living alone in a house in Auckland, and wi-hed to live by himself, and perfectlv independent, and all you gentlemen now present then went and said, I We wish to speak to you; we will not allow you to stay alone; you must become civilised;' would he not be perfectly right in defending his house? (Applause). This is the case with regard to the Chinese affair. In England every man's house is his castle, and the same regard ought to be paid to the Chinese. With all due regard to the immense trade we have with the Chinese, I do not think we are justified in forcing our civilisation upon them. I had it from Lord Elgin himself that the I further he went into the country, and had intercourse with the people, the better they received him and the better they liked us, and the more glad were they to see us. In Canton we have traded with the natives for a long time, yet still they do not speak well of us, as if justice had not been done to them."

Nokn's ARK AND THE GREAT EASTERN.—The fol- lowing is a comparison between the size of the Great Eastern and Noah's Ark :— Noah s Ark. According- to Great Xewton. Wilkins. Eastern. Feet. Feet. Feet. Length between per- pendiculars. 612-62 517 680 Extremebreadth 84-94 91'16 85 Height 51' 56 54-70 60 Tonnage. 18,231*58 21,760*50 23,092*25 The difference in the dimensions which exist between the calculations of Newton and Wilkins arises from their personal interpretation ef the measure mentioned in the Old Testament, which, according to one, was 20-62,5 English inches, and to the other, 31*88. IhatsG BURSHRY IN NF.WC STLK —One of the most daring and expert burglaries which we have had to record, took place at the shop of Ir. Thomson, watch- maker and j -we ler, Arcade, between Tuesiay night and Wednesday morning; and althonph the robbers suc- ceeded in obtaining and carrying off some X40 worth of goods, we are glad to g" th it their further intention of taking the safe with them also, was bsulked by some means which have not yet been ascertained. Alr. Thom- son secured his premises in the usual manner on Tues- day night, and left shortly aft-r sjven o'clock, returning next morning at about ten minutes to nine. Before he commenced to take down the shutt-rs, ho\> t ver, his S:1S picions were arouse 1 by seeing the precincts of the shop strewed with lime dust, and other signs were visible of an attempt having been ma le to break :h;ou;h «oTae wall. The door leading to the offices »' ove the shop was iriad, and found to have been fastened on the inside by some unusual means; and when Mr. Thompson entered his shop Lis fears were confirmed by the rather curious spectacle which met his eyes. About a yard distant from its ordinary standing place was the slife-packed with new canvas and corded Nith new cords, in a neat and workmanlike mainer, that would have done credit to a professional paeker-ready for being carried off wholesale. It is exactl),ftwelve months this month since a simil ir robbery took place on the same premises, and at that time Mr. Thompson deemed i' expedient to pro- cure a new safe, of larger dimensions than that which he then possessed, for the purpose of securing the most valu- able portions oi his stock. It A',Ii placed i, the comer next to tho window, and wh u filled with the gold and silver watches and cases of jewellery weighed above five cwt The thieves, 'knowing the almos insurmountable difficulty of opening i', under the circumstances in which they were then p).ccd, resorted to the novel expedient witch we have described, of t3 inik it away altogether, and getting at i s contents at their leisure; and their plan seems to have been to have a conveyance ia readi- ness at a certain hour by whIch to carry it away. Bnt, for some reason best known to themselves, their scheme was not, accomplished, and the probability is that they were startled whilst engaged in their nefarious design. It was not to be expected that they would go away with- out carrying off something; but it was satisfactory to learn that their booty was confined to the contents of the cases which stand on the counter, COlsist;ng almost iden ical'.y of the same class of goods which were stolen on the previous ocoasion, viz earrings, brooches, studs, bracelets, and other nicknacks, to the Value of.C40. The safe contained £800 worth of property; and its removal, toftuaately not effected, would cave been a profitable haul.—Newcastle Chronicle.