Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

PROGRESS OF THE AMERICAN WAR. (From the Moriting Star.) An important addition has been made to our knowledge of events upon the Rappahannock. An extra edition of the New York Herald, mailed just before the departure of the steamer, acquaints us with the fate of that portion of Hooker's army com- manded by Sedgwick. To the corps under this general, numbering from fifteen to twenty thou- sand men, bad been assigned the onerous duty 01 capturing Fredericksburg and the hills behind. This tney accomplished, with great spirit, on the Saturday and Sunday during which Hooker was en gaged in repulsing Jackson's attacks upon Chan- cellorsville But, when these attacks ceased, the Confederates turned their attention to defeating Sedgwick's attempts to join Hooker, and in this they were successful. On Monday morning the battle was resumed in this portion of the field. The Federsls were compelled, by an attack from the west, to evacuate the heights which they had so gallantly captured, by ascending the steep acclivity on the east. They took with them their guns, and regained the town of Fredericksburg, from which no attempt was made to dblodge t hem. During the day, however, the column with which Sedgwick was endeavouring to strengthen Hooker's left was so repeatedly assailed that he failed to accom- plish the operation. His assailants are said to have consisted of an army under General Longstreet. just arrived from Suffolk.-and the fighting is de- scribed as very severe. There is of course hyper- bole in the expression that whole bngades of the rebels were literally wiped out." But an examina- tion on the map of the position of Sedgwick's column, the evacuated height on his left swarming with the enemy, the river curving at his back and right flank-in front the road alcng which his as- sailants were continually advancing under cover of a forest,-indicates that only by desperate exertion could he have saved his little army from destruc. tion. This, however, he accomplished. After keeping the enemy at bay until nightfall, he re- crossed the river at Banks's Ford, four miles above Fredericksburg, between midnight and two in the morning. Notwithstanding that his positions were raked by the rebel fire, be got his men and trains over without confusion, and marched straightway to join Hooker by the United States Ford, a few miles higher up, at the junction of the Rapidan with the Rappahannock. Beyond this we have no information. But the s ituation is now quite intelli- gible. At sunrise on the 5th of May, the Federal reserve remained in occupation of Falmouth and Fredericksburg; the main body of the army was posted on the south bank of the Rapidan and Rap- pahannock; Chancellorsville had been destroyed by the Confederate fire, but Hooker's head-quarters were at a farmhouse, a little in the rear of that ruined mansion; and Sedgwick, with a column twelve or fifteen thousand strong, was virtually acting as a rear-guard, resting on the United States Ford-the most important of the river passages. In such a position Hooker might almost defy at- tack, and the return of Stoneman with the cavalry might enable him at any hour to assume the oflensive. What had become of that officer was the most perplexing element of uncertainty in the whole situation. If be had succeeded in breaking up the railways the Confederates could have re- ceived no reinforcements, and, as he had not succeeded, his return to take part in the expected action miiht surely have been counted upon. The state of affairs upon the Mississippi continues to wear an aspect of encouragement to the Federal cause. The victorious march of General Hanks through Western Louisiana,—the presence of a Northern fleet in Grand Gulf, firing on the rebel batteries there.—the passage of the Missis sippi by General Grant with a large body of troops to move Oil Vicksburg from the south—and the re- sumed action of General Sherman in the Yazoo River, —are all expressive of such strength, activity, and resolution as the Confederates can scarcely hope to baffle. They have trusted in the vastness of their territory as rendering impossible its sub- jugation. But they must also see that this char- acteristic renders equally impossible its secure de- fence against such an enemy as they have created. The 11 peaceful democracy" of the Free States has has been goaded by them into war, and now thrust at them in so many places that they cannot hope to parry every thrust, any one of which may chance to prove fatal. To prevent the capture of Richmond by Hooker they have had to recall troops from Suffolk -a hundred and fifty miles to the south if Longstreet's reinforcements fail to dislodge Hooker, Beauregard must yield up a portion of the army at Charleston. That city has probaby by this time witnessed another bombardment of its harbour fortresses, and no one can safely prophesy the result.

THE BLACK FLY OF CANADA.-There we-e four of our party in one beat, which were too many to permit us all to fish in comfort; one, therefore volunteered to go on shore and take his chance in a deep bay the trout were rising merrily. We placed him on some rocks at the southern extremity of this gloomy inlet and then the commissioner and myeelf, accompanied by Mr. W. Price, proceeded higher up the great river. killing many trout of various size and weights, until the shades of evening, added to the gloom of the overhanging cliffs, warned us that it was time to turn homewards in search of shelter and of rest. As we moved along round each headland, we cast our eyes into the darkling indent- ations of the rooks, in search of our friend whom we had left behind ue. At length we came rather suddenly within a few yards of a very dark- visaged gentleman, who at the moment was playing a fish; whereupon the commissioner addressed him, congratulating him on his apparently good sport, and inquiring whether he had seen another fisherman during the evening. He was answered not by a guffaw but by. a pretty smart jobation for our having left him so long to be eaten alive by flies. The voice was the voice of our friend, but the face was the face of a negro in convulsions. To account for which it will be well to state that the assault of the black fly is generally sudden and unexpected i that the first indication you have of his presence is the running of a stream of bluod over some part of your face, which soon hardens there; and that these assaults being re- newed ad infinitum, under favourable circumstances, soon renders it difficult even for his nearest and dearest female relative to recognise him. The effect during the night following a mastification of this sort is dreadful Every bite swells to about the size of a filbert-every bite itobes like a barn and agonizes like a scald, and if you scratch them it only adds to your anguish—the whole bead swells, particularly the glandular and cell- ular pans behind and under the ears, the upper and lower eyelids, so as in many eases to produce utter in- ability to see. The poison is imbibed and circulated through the whole frame, producing lever, thirst, heat, restlessness and despondency. Paiienoe cooling medicines and strict temperance are the only remedies, the best preventives are temperance and fly oil; the latter should be oom posed of eqnal portions of castor and fine almond or olive oil, strongly scented with essence of penny- royal and spirits of camphor. This mixture, carried in a soda-water bottle, and frequently applied to the ex- posed parts of the head and face, will be found parti- cularly nselul in defending the hands and wrists from the cruet attacks of the terrible winged irsects, who are certainly the greatest drawback ti the enjoyment of tt. sportsman in Canada. Salmotl Fishing in Canada. Richard Quiller Couch has recently died at Penzance. He was the son of Mr. Jonathan Coach, of Polperro, the ichyologist and the naturalist, who is now pub- lishing a History of Fishes of the British Isles." The son was born in 1817, educated at Plymouth, and sub. sequently articled to his father. His researches into the metamorphoses of the orustaeea, and the part he took in the Cornish Fauna," abating the work with his father, have found fDu,:b appreciative criticism. Havingp.ssed through Guy's Hospital, and gained the meial for the prize essay oa opthalmio surgery, he settled at Penzanoe. He was greatly respected and his loss in the town and neighbourhood will be severely felt. The Gazette Musical* gives favourable mention of mate to c, Hamlet," oomposed by M. Vietorin Januieres a young French musician.—" Oberon," with Madame Uyalde as Reiza," and M. Monjauze as Huon, has been revived at the Theatre Lyrique. M. Auber's ad Hay dee" at the Opera Comique, for M. Leon Achard, for whom the part is said to be too weighty. The Paris mueical season is coming to a olose, and we may consequently have an additional number ot artists iu London, though we should imagine there is little room for them. The London season is scarcely turning out as profitable as managers and professors anticipated. HOLLOWAV'S OINTMENT AND PILlA. -Holloway's Pills and Ointment have the largest sale of any Medi- cine in the world. The Pills are the finest purifiers and regenerators of the blood ever known. They speedily correct all disorders of the Liver and Stomach, are in valuable in cases of Dysentery, and as a general Family Medicine have no equal. The Ointment will cure any old wound, sore or ulcer, even of twenty years standing, and in all cases of skin diseases, however malignant, such as Lepra, scurvy, itch, and all other annoying irri- tations of the skin, it may be relied upon as a perfect care, indeed for all external complaints it stands un- rivalled throughout the world. These famous remedies can be obtained of all Patent Medicine Vendors in Siam, Pekin, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and in fact throughout the whole of China, India, and the Islands of the Oriental Arehipelao, also m every part of Syria, Arabia, Greece, ?c lT k e with copious directions aaixed to eye, y po: ar boa, even in (;bieae (or any other language), and at a very reasonable prices. The figure oi justice is placed on the cupola of a court. bowse to indicate that she is above the reach of the mul. utoae. I <

ME. WHALLEY AND THE RAILWAYS. I We published. in oar last impression, a report of a public meeting, held at Ellesmere, on the previous Wednesday, also a letter from a correspondent, signing himself Ruabon, defending Mr Whalley from some of the strictures upon his conduct, in connection with the Ruabon extension, which have appeared in the Oswestry Advertiser. The Editor of the Oswestry Advertiser this week devotes a leading article to a sort of analysis of the report, and seems inclined to question its ac- curacy, and reiterates its charges against Mr Whalley. Our report of that meeting was received from a source which would lead us to have every confidence in its accuracy, and we had no other purpose to serve by its insertion, but the general one of giving our readers, who may be interested in the question, a report which would be of service to them, and which they could depend upon. The following letter, which appeared in the Oswestry Advertiser on Wednesday, has been sent to us with a request that we would insert it, which request we readily comply with, on public grounds alone:— Sir,—As you appear to be disposed to enter upon another crusade against Mr Whalley, allow me to call your attention to a few facts in the railway career of this gentleman in Montgomeryshire. I ask not for gratitude in these matters, but simply such measure of justice as may prevent you rashly involving in your censures the entire public of North Wales, who have on every fitting opportunity, testified to Mr Whalley's vast labours and success, and are certainly implicated as the most simple and deluded of mankind, if your general" observations are to be accepted as just and called for. In 1852, immediately after the election which drew forth from Mr Whalley a pledge to emancipate the county from isolation, Mr Whalley projected the Llan- idloes and Newtown line, and amidst the wreck of many other schemes, it floated proudly into Parliamen- tary harbour, after a contest in which there was not a single great interest in the county that had not taken an active part against him. The capital was £ 80,000, and it has been publicly stated that no more than £12,000 was ever bona fide received in cash, and it was finished, and at such moderate cost that from the day of its opening, it has paid f5 per cent., and its shares now stand higher than any other line in North Wales, in fact above par. In 1854, Mr Whalley, single handed, projected, de- posited the plans, and carried forward through the fiercest local opposition that could be organized, the Oswestry and Newtown Company. Oswestry ought to remember how in their Town Hall Mr Whalley carried his project, all but unanimously, against the personal opposition of Mr Gore, Mr Venables, and the Great Western interest. Welshpool does well remember how in spite of the unanimous (except one) frowns and con- tempt of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and the direct and determined hostility of Lord Powis, Sir Watkin, Mr Pugh and others, who actually tried their own hands at a rival scheme to Shrewsbury, Mr Whalley, with no other aid than an extemporized committee at Mont- gomery, fairly launched the project, and though he himself, in an evil hour for its fortunes, retired from the management, watched over it, and once, at least, saved it from shipwreck while in the hands of those who had in despair of defeating it by opposition, accepted the responsibility of conducting it into port. What was the history of this line from 1854 to 1859, when Mr Whalley again took the command, no one requires to be reminded, but at the time he did so, the shareholders had agreed to accept for a term of years about two per cent., and the value of the shares WAS almost nominal, but in less than three months afterwards the shares were worth near eight pounds, and the dividend has been from 3f at the first, to 51 at the last declaration of dividend since Mr Whalley became chairman of the company. The Mid-Wales, in like manner, was projected and carried right into port by Mr Whalley when by one of those coup de main that the outside public know so little about, Mr Whalley was not elected a Director, the contractors and others through your columns, and other- wise, raising a great outcry, and Mr Whalley, never deigning to make any other reply, than such as could be heard uni reported daring the row at Rhayadr." For three years after this, not another sod was turned upon that railway of fifty miles, what was ex- pended and how, it matters not now to enquire, but Mr Whalley was again elected chairman iu 1861, and with- in a month the works were commenced, and their pro gress from that time to the present, has been the ad- miration of the district. Who but Mr Whalley projected and defended against all enemies, including the Hail way Tines, which came into the field in 1861, the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast and the Oswestry and Whitchurch, and if any other person whatever is entitled to the credit of the vast suc- cess which has attended these great enterprizes, how is it that their opponents have never for a moment swerved in levelling against Mr Whalley alone the entire battery of their abuse "false, scandalous, and malicious," as he made them confess in open court at Westminster that it had been. That any man could have gone through all this, re- lying for his justification against slander, and for his support against all the manifold opposition, without one single stain or imputation on his character or conduct, and that you, sir, when you seek to lower him in public estimation can say no more than that you have always declared him unfit for his position does really constitute an appeal to the rescue, as it were, and an imperative demand on you to state the specific grounds on which you justify your remarks; and if it be as you say differences between himself and his colleagues and other parties, it is surely incumbent on you to state what is the nature of those differences, for it may be that herein may be found increased claims to confidence on the part of the shareholders and the public, and of which they ought to be allowed to judge. Awaiting your reply to this statement of facts, I am, sir, your obedient servant, FAIR FLAY. I Llanidloes, 18th May, 1863..t'.UR PLAY. 1

l THE WREXHAM, MOLD AND CONNAH'S QUAY I RAILWAY, AND THE CHESTER TOWN COUNCIL. [The following proceedings, which we copy from the Chester Couranf, with reference to the interference with the navigation of the river Dee, by the new railway from Wrexham to Connah's Quay, took place at a meeting of the Chester Town Council, last week]. On the 26th March, the Town Clerk laid before the River Dee Commissioners a copy of the Buckley and Connah's Qaay Railway Bill, by which the promoters sought to obtain exclusive powers over the river Dee and its banks at Connah's Quay. Several gentlemen were appointed as a deputation to wait upon the Board of Trade, to call the attention of the latter to the serious injury which would be caused to the trade in the upper part of the river, if the measure should pass into law, as it would give the promoters the power to prohibit vessels from anchoring off Connah's Quay, which is the only part of the river where vessels can anchor with safety, and where they are obliged to lie to wait for tides. At the meeting of the River Dee Committee, held the 27th day of April, the Town Clerk reported that he had, through his Parliamentary agent, written to the Board of Trade, pointing out the objections to the Buckley and Connah's Quay Railway Bill; and the Board had made a report, which rendered it unnecessary for the deputa- tion appointed at the last meeting to see the Board. The Town Clerk farther reported that the promoters intended to proceed with the Bill, and that the Parliamentary Committee on the Bill would meet in the course of this week. Ordered,—That the Town Clerk be, and is hereby authorised to proceed to London, and take such steps for obtaining a modification of the clauses in the Bill, or for opposing the Bill, as he may find necessary, and that this resolution be reported to the Council at the next meeting. The Town Clerk said the report he was about to read had been drawn up by himself, and had reference to the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay, and the Buckley and Connah's Quay Railway Bills. He had not had an opportunity of submitting it to the committee, but would read it, and he had no doubt it would meet with their approval. This subject had been taken out of the order in which it stood upon the notice paper, at the request of Alderman Trevor, who had a reason for wishing it to be done. He then read the followin0, report: — The Town Clerk has to report, that pursuant to the instructions of the River Dee Commissioners, he pro- ceeded to London to obtain a modification of the objec- tionable clauses in the Buckley and Connah's Quay Railway Bill, but he had been unable to get the clauses altered, and lie had therefore opposed the Bill in com- mittee, aud the opposition had been successful, all the clauses sought to be enacted by the Bill, giving the pro- moters control over the river, being rejected. The Town Clerk has also to report that he found a Bill was being promoted, called the 1 Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway Bill, for the construction of a railway from Wrexham to Connah's Quay, which if carried out would injuriously affect the navigation of the river; that he induced the promoters to agree upon clauses for the protection of the trade and navigation of the river before the Bill passed through committee, but since that arrangement was made, that part of the Bill relating to Connah's Quay has been thrown out. "The Town Clerk has further to report, that the Buckley and Connah's Quay Railway Company, under he Act which they obtained in the session of 1850, claim the right to prevent the mooring of vessels to the works 1 now in course of erection at Connah's Quay; they have also built a stage extending into the river, below low water mark, which cannot be otherwise than prejudicial to the navigation, and as that part of the river opposite Connah's Quay is the only anchorage ground between Chester and the Wild Roads, he would recommend that the whole question be referred to the River Dee Com- imittee, to enquire and report thereon to the Council." Mr Farish wished to know if the River Dee Com- mittee had any connection with the Corporation ? The Town Clerk-Yes, it is an old committee ap- pointed annually. Alderman Trevor said his reason for asking the Town Clerk to bring this matter on as i' it stood first on the notice paper was, because amongst the disbursements there would appear an advance of cash made to the Town Clerk on the authority of the committee, and he thought that anything that might be said on this ques- tion ought to be said previous to the accounts being pas- sed. The Town Clerk was authorised by the River Dee Committee to go to London to oppose the Buckley and Connah's Quay Railway Bill, and by their sanction the Treasurer had advanced 250 and although he (Alder- man Trevor) was not at the meeting of the committee when that took place, yet he was bound to say if he had been there, and knowing what was going to be attempted by the Connah's Quay Company, he should certainly have felt, as time and tide and parliamentary Committees wait for no man, it to be his bounden duty to have con- curred with the committee in deputing the Town Clerk to go up to London to oppose the Bill. The proceed- ings that took place before the committee seemed to him to have justified the act that had taken place, because that which was sought by the Connah's Quay Company was to make a harbour in the estuary of the river where it was most valuable for vessels to anchor with safety; and it was gratifying to know that the obnoxious clauses had been struck out, and now the Bill in effect was only to raise additional capital. Exceptional cases some- times arose where committees ought to take instant action, and this was one of them. After some further remarks, he proposed that the proceedings of the com- mittee he confirmed, and that the Town Clerk's report be adopted. The Sheriff seconded the proposition. Mr E. Owen said there was no donbt at all that mat- ters of this sort involved large expenditure, and he thought it was only right that the Council should be called together as quickly as possible to know their view in such an important case as this. They had not been informed whether the River Dee Company had co-opera- ted with Mr Walker in this matter. It was as much their interest to do so as theirs, but perhaps Mr Walker wonld kindly inform them of the facts of the case. I The Town Clerk-The committee were placed in this dilemma,—They had just three days' notice to go be- fore the Parliamentary committee, and it was totally I impossible to call the Council together in time to be of '1 any use in the matter. The River Dee Company had joined the Corporation, and the result had been suc- cessful (Hear, hear). Mr Farish said in his opinion the committee had done perfectly right. The Council sanctioned the oppo- sition to this project last year, and seeing that there was such a short time to go before the Parliamentary com- I mittee, and that the matter was so urgent and import- ¡ ant, he thought the River Dee committee would have been remiss if they had not adopted the course they had. If the thing was now over it was almost needless to grumble at paying 250 for the success the Council had achieved, and if that was all the expenditure in the matter, he should be satisfied. Alderman Trevor would not undertake to say that JE50 was the total expenditure in this matter, for they had not ascertained the amount of the Parliamentary agents' bills. The motion was carried unanimously. The treasurer's account showed an expenditure of the general account, f,199 Is.; improvement account, JB305 12s. llicl.; lamp account, X676 12s. 8d.; watch ac- count, JB148 6d. Alderman Trevor, after some remarks respecting one or two items, moved that the whole of the accounts be paid. Alderman Griffith seconded this motion, which was carried.

THE REARING OF SALMON. I A correspondent, of the limes writes as t illjgr.4 I Untij. within the laet few years very little comparati- vely was known on this subject; but the experiments lately conducted on a large scale by enterprising and scientifio men have thrown an unexpected flood of light upon it, advancing our knowladge to a point which pro- mises to be productive of most important reforms in the management of our exhausted fisheries and in the establishment of new ones. The results of these experiments may be epitomized as followsI »* 1 Salmon and grilse invariably spawn in fresh water if possible, both the eggs and the young fry, while in the parr state, being destroyed by contact with salt water. 2. The eggs are usually deposited on gravelly shal- lows, where tht-y batcfi in from 50 to 140 days, accord- ing to the temperature of the water. Exgs remaining uuhatcbed beyond the latter period will not hatch at at all, having been destroyed ny thti 1011 temperature. 3. The eggs deposited by the female will not batch under any circumstances unless vivified, after exclusion by the mdt of the male and-at least up to the period of migration-there is no difference whatever in fry bred between salmon only, between grilse only. between sal- mon and grilse, between salmon and parr, or between grilse and parr. '< 4. The female parr cannot spawn, but the male parr possesses and constantly exercises the power of vivifying salmon and grilse eggs. 5. The fry remain one, two, and in some cases three years in the rivers as parr before going down to the sea, about half taking their departure at one year, n.:arly all the others at two years, and the remainder (which are exceptional) at three years old. 6. All young salmon fry are marked with bluish bars on their sides until within a few days of their mi- gration, up to which period they are parrs; they then invariably assume a more or leas oompltte coating of silveiy soalel-, and become smolts, the bars, or parr marks, however, being stili clearly discernible on rub- bing off the new scales. 7. The young of all the species here included in the genus Salmo have at some period of their existance these bluish bars, and consequently such marks are not by themselves proofs that fry oearing them are the young of the true salmon (Salmo Salar) 8. Unless the young fish put on their smolt dress in May or early in Jane, and thereupon go down to the sea, they remain as parrs another year; and without smolt scales they will not migrate, and cannot- exist in salt water. "9. The length of the parr at sit week's old is about an inch and a half or two inehes, and the weight of the smolt before reaching the tidal wave from one to two ounoes. 10. In at least many cases smolts thus migrating to the sea in May and June return as grisle, sometimes within five, generally within ten wek3, the incr-ase in weight during that period varying from 21b to 101b the average being from 41b to 61b and these grilse spawn aboat November or December, go back to the sea, and in many caies ra-ascend the rivers the next spring as sal- mon, with a further increase of from 41b to 121b. Thus a fish hatched in April, 1854, and marked when migrat- ing in May, 1855, was caught as a salmon of 22lb weight in March, 1856. 11. It has been demonstrated. however, that smolts do not always return the same vear as grilse, but fre- quently remain nine or ten months in the sea, returning in the following spring a3 small-sized salmon.* 12. It has also been clearly proved that, in general, salmon and grilse find their way back to spawn to the rivers in which they were bred—sometimes to the iden- tical spots, spawn about November or December, and go down again to the staas spent fish or kelts in February or March, returning, in at least many cases, during the following four or five months a8, clean fish,' and in creased in weight by from 71b to lOlb." It will thus bsen seen that the fry of the salmon are called parrs until they put on their migratory dress, when they become smolts and go down to the salt water grilse if they return from the sea during the first year of I their migration; and at all other periods eal moo.

THE IGNORANT.—He that is not aware of his ignorance, will be only mis'ed by his knowledge. THE DUKR OF BCCKMGHA.M'S STRANGE DREAM —A for myself, I am Mbamed to say that I am more low  I should dare confess to <™y one, by a dream which &tt? f + me in ?y with a degree of precision which is really frightful. I was at Stowe, my dear and regretted home. All was desolate-not a soul appeared to ?ce?e mo. Mv prood do. met me, and licked my haiid. Accompanied by him, I traversed all the apart- ments-all desolate and soHtary: every room as I had Sft it. On my return from the state bedroom, I met my wwiiffe ef She told me all mv family were gone, and that l t C6U v°te~;that even ber little favourite dog, which ha(l been bei- sole rcmainin cotnpnuion, had died a W dn v. o We went out at the north hall door to- gether, ?n(I aij Jv, S0l,tu"e and ???rtion. 1 awoke with the distress of the moment, and I slept no more that I iiigbt. I do  like to confess how .much effect this hM J li'rfw mc. I 1 have not the sti?hteat faith in dreams, but this has stron?y accorded with the feeling and tone of my mind, and I cannot shake it, off. Those who will ever see this journal will, I am sure, not laugh at my feel. ings.-Ft-ont the Duke of Buckingham's Private Diary.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. I —————— I, ROUSE OF LORDS.-MoNDAY. I Earl GRANVILLK, in reply to a question, said the House would adjourn on Thursday next until Monday the 1st of June. THE DUBLIN METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—On the ques- tion that the Dublin Metropolitan Railway Bill be read a third time The Earl of CLANCAHTY moved, as an amendment, that the bill he read a third time that dity six months. After considerable discuss'on, their lord. ships divided, when the numbers were- For the third reading 65 Against 11 Majority for 54. The bill was then read a third time and passed.In reply to Lord Stratheden, Earl GBAJTVILLE said that ho could not hold out any hope that the Government would appoint a com- mission to inquire into the subject of metropolitan rail- ways until they had an opportunity of considering the report of the select committee now sitting upon the sub- lgct THE AMERICAN PRIZE COURTS.—The Marquis of CLAN- RICABDE moved for copies of any reports from our con- sular or diplomatic agents in North America of the decisions or proceedings of the Prize Courts of the United States. A country which professed to be at peace and on terms of amity with us was acting so contrary to the recognised law of nations, in reference to the seizure of ships engaged in conducting the commerce of the country, that it was absolutely necessary for Her Majesty s Gov. ernment to take more action in the matter than they had hitherto done. At this moment it was impossible to effect insurances upon vessels trading to the western hemisphere, owing to the constant seizures which were being made by the United States' cruisers. A vessel was seized, her cargo, worth probably X150,000, was locked up and if the owners applied to the Government for redress, they were simply told that their case had been referred to Lord Lyons. If there was any hope that the present state of things would soon pass away, or that the United States would evince a greater desire to respect the recotmised law of nations, he should wish the Govern- ment to make every allowance, but these seizures had now gone on for a considerable time, and he saw no prospect of a more satisfactory state of affairs arising unless the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government were of a more energetic and decisive character. The noble Marquis referred to the seizure of the Labuan, the Adcla, the Springbok, the Dolphin, and the Peterhoff, and urged that in each case the capture was clearly illegal, and contrary to inter- national law. He also complained of the course of pro- ceduse adopted in the American prize courts. Earl RUSSELL said his noble friend had made a speech containing very grave charges against the American government and prize courts. He had brought, in fact, a charge that the American government and courts had set aside the whole international law of the world; that they had given orders inconsistent with international law, and that they bad decided upon interrupting British com- merce as far as they could. Now, so far from denying the law of nations, Mr. Seward in all his communica. iions had completely acknowledged it, and had said over and over again that there must be a certain and legal cause of capture before a ship was taken. Admiral Milne had been instructed to send a ship or ships of war. to the neighbourhood of Matamoras in order that British vessels might be protected from unjustifiable seizure. The port of Matamoras was crowded with vessels engaged in commerce, so that it would not appear that the proceedings of the United States cruizers could have had any effect in deterring those who were engaged in legitimate commerce, from carrying on their ordinary busi- ness. He had referred to the law officers of the crown almost every case in which there had been a complaint, and they reported that there was no rational ground of objection. As to the decisions of the prize courts of the United States, they were bound to believe that as the knowledge possessed by those courts of international law was very great, so their impartiality and their wishes to do justice 1 must be for the present unques- tioned. There could be no doubt that many vessels built for speed were systematically engaged in breaking the blockade, and he was afraid that the moment one of them was seized her owners at once made their appear- ance at the Foreign Office, and, with all the airs of in. jured innocence, demanded redress. Referring to the case of the Alabama, the noble Earl denied that that vessel had been fitted out with the cognisance of the British Government, and said there was no wish on the part of this country to interfere unfairly in the contest now going on.Earl DERBY concurred with the remarks which had fallen from Earl iiussell, and thought we ought not either rashly or hastily to impute to the American courts that they deliberately, and contrary to law and justice, set aside the law of nations. We ought also fo make every allowance for the natural provocation the Ameri. cans must feel at seeing so large a portion of the com- merce of this and other countries carried on, notwith- standing the blockade, to the Confederate ports.After some remarks from Lord CR AN WORTH, the motion was withdrawn. j HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. I PUBLIC WORKS IN LANCASHIRE.—In reply to Mr. Far* rand, Mr. VILLIERS stated that he had received a report from the civil engineer sent down into the cotton districts which would he placed on the table..to--morTow. PRIZE ACCOUNTS.—In reply to Mr. Liddell, LordC. PAGET said that Sir Richard Bromley, the late Account- ant-General, received a salary of X300 per annum on ac- count of his duties as auditor of prize accounts. That sum was not taken from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, but from a naval reserve fund. As to who should be the future auditor and what his salary should be were mat. ters at present under the consideration of the Admiralty. Blt.A.ZIL. Mr. POLLARD URQUHART asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Brazilian Minister bad demanded his passport, or made any com- munication to Her Majesty's Government, to the effect that he has instructions which may require him to sus- pend diplomatic relations between England and Brazil ?. Mr. LAYARD said the only answer he could give was that the correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Brizilian Minister was still pending, and it would be highly inconvenient at present to lay the correspon- dence on the table. ARM? COMMISSIONS.—Mr. DALGLISH asked the Under Secretary of State for War why, in the recent published regulations for commissions in the army, the Universities of Scotland have been omitted from the list of universi. ties whose graduates holding the degree of B.A. or M.A. are enabled to obtain commissions without passing the usual examination ? The Marquis of HARTraatoit said the omission had been on the part of the Universities and not of the Horse Guards, as no communication had been received from them stating their desire to avail themselves of the privileges referred to by the hon. gentleman. If they wished to do so, and satisfied the Horse Guards as to their fitness, he did not apprehend that there would be any objection. ITALY.-In reply to various questions in reference to information received from Mr. Odo Russell with respect to Italian affairs, Lord PALMERSTON said the Go. vernment declined to furnish Sir G. Bowyer, or any other individual, with materials from which to forment a quarrel between Mr. Odo Russell and the French and Papal authorities. PRISON MINISTERS'BHA.—On the oraerof the dayfor the third reading of the Prison Ministers'BiU, Mr. BLACK moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a third time that day six months Sir G. GREY opposed the amend- ment, which was supported by Mr. Newdegate and Mr. Ad. derly.Mr. BRIGHT thought it probablethatthe bill, if pas- sed, might stir up bitter feelings upon RomanCatholic ques. tions in some quarters, but if it did he should attribute it tc the foolish excitement which was originated in refer. ence to those questions some ten or twelve years ago. He cordially supported the bill, because he believed it to be the duty of the State to provide for the education and the moral religious training of criminal offenders in ac- cordance with the principles they professed. He thought those who opposed the bill did it simply to uphold the supremacy of their own church, and the status of their own ministers. At the same time, he objected to the payment of Church or Roman Catholics chaplains, believ- ing that benevolent individuals could be found who were willing to go into the gaols and give religious Instruction to prisoners.The House then divided when the num. bers were-For the third reading 196 against 137 majority for 29.The bill was then read a third time; and passed. THE DOVER MAIL SERVICE.—Mr. PEEL proposed a vote "on account" for the packet service, in part of the sum of £ 159,878 required for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1864, which sum includes provision for payments to Mr. Joseph George Churchward, for the conveyance of mails -between Dover and Calais, and Dover and Ostend, from the 1st day of April, 1863, to the 20th day of June, 1863, but no part of which sum is to be applicable or applied in or towards making any payment in respect of the period subsequent to the 20th day of June, 1863, to the said Mr. Jos. G. Churchward, or to any person claiming through or under a certain contract, bearing date the 26th day of April, 1859, made between -the Lords Com- missioners of Her Majesty's Admiralty (for and on be. half of her Majesty) of the first part, and the said Joseph George Churchward, of the second part, or in towards the satisfaction of any claim whatsoever of the said Joseph George Churchward. By virtue of that contract, so far as relates to any'period subsequent to the 20th day of June, 1863, the hon. member stated that the terms of the resolution had been settled, after a careful consideration of a vote of the House in 1860, to the effect that the contract with Mr. Churchward ought not to be fulfilled in consequence of that gentleman having resorted to corrupt expedients for inducing Government to grant his application for an extension of the contract. The Government bad given Mr. Churchward a year's notice to terminate the contract, and had advertised for tenders. In consequence, they had received an offer from the Belgian Government to perform that part of the night service between Dover and Ostend, which was now discharged by Mr. Churchward, for 94,000 a year, and that offer had been accepted conditionally on the House declining to make any provision for Mr. Churchward's contract after June for the Dover and Calais service. A tender has been accented from Mr. E. Harrington, for seven years, for JM.OOO a year, and ?3,000 a year as premium for expediting the East India and China mails. ihus, the two services would come to £ 12,000 a year, as against the present payment of CI8,OW a year.Sir S. ?ORTHCOTE moved that all the words relating to Mr. Churchward should be struck out of the resolution. The committee divided, when the numbers were-for the resolution, 176 against, 168: majority for Government, 8 The announcement of the numbers was received with great cheering from the Ministerial benches, HOUSE OF LOI),DS.f trqDAY Titp, AcT OF UNIFORMITY.— Lord Enrur moved the second reading of the Acts of Uniformity Amendmont Bill and exp aincd its provisions at some length, stating that his object was to repeal the clause laving upon cler- gymen of the Church of Eugland the necessity of sub. scribing and dec'aring their assent to the articles aud to everything contained in the Prayer Book. He bad brought forward this bil: at the request of a large body of the clergy, and he desired to call espceial, attention to the fact that there had not been a single petition pre- sented against it. He contended that this necessity was no benefit, no safeguard to the Established Church that it pressed heavily ou the cormciences of men who had subscribed to this declaration and that it prevented many hundreds of able and estimable young men from entering the ministry The Archbishop of CANTER. BOltY opposed the bill. What Lord Ehllry intonded was unnecessary, and not desired by the [rroat bulk of the clergy. It would certain y confer no benefit upon the clergy of the Established Church and, as ho trusted their Lordships would not pass the bill, he would moro that it be read a second time that day six months. The Bishop of London said that his experience was that the declaration, or rather certain words which bad crept into it for the express purpose of catching certain per- sons which it was desired to exclude from the Church, were now not only useless, but mischievous Lord LYT. TLETOX opposed the bill The Bishop of OXFORD be- lieved the declaration had not kept one conscientious per. son out of the Church of England but there was no danger toit comparable to that of allowing persons the privilegeot using its outward forms-to speak with their what they no longer believed in their hearts. He denied that it was the subscription to this declaration which was reducing the number of young men entering the Univer. sities, and from their going into orders. This reduction was to be attributed to fields now opened to the middle classes in the other professions, the army and navy, and in India and the Colonies.The Bishop of St. DAVIDS supported the bill The Bishop of LLANDAFF said that the amendment of the Archbishop would close the door to all concessions but it was desirable in this respect to give some relief to conscientious scruples, and he trusted that some middle course would be discovered by which the efficiency of a declaration would be retained, and the words so offensive to a great number which required so stringently their adherence to every word in the Bock of Common Prayer expunged.After a few words from the Bishop of Lichfield and Earl Grey, Lord Ebury having briefly replied, their Lordships divided on the second reading :-Contents, 50; non-contents, 90; majority, 40. I .The bill was, therefore, thrown out. VARIOUS BILYS.-The redemption of Rents (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Stock Cer- tificates to Bearer Bill, and the Customs and Ireland Revenue Bill were read a second time. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY. PURCHASE OF THE EXHIBITION BUILDING.- Sir IbRRt VERSEY asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he could state for what sum the building of the Inter- national Exhibition of 1862 oould be purchased, with a view to convert a portion of it into a museum, or a gallery for works of art, or some institution for the encourage- ment of those objects to which the late Prince Consort devoted his efforts, and to bear his name The CHAli- CELLon of the EXCHEQUER said that he wu not ablo to say authoritatively for what sum the building of the International Exhibition could be purchased. The Com- missioners had not yet come to a decision, but they would meet on Thursday to consider a report of their financial committee. He had also received communica- tions, and he hoped on the day the House reasbombled either to be able to make a statement, or lay on the table a communication which would much more clearly indicate the intentions of the Government. He must, however, now say that if the building was obtained by the Government, it would be applied exclusively to the uses alluded to in the question of the hon. baronet. BRITISH OFFICERS IN FOREIGN SERVICE.—In reply to Lord Naas, Sir G. GREY said that no licences under the sign manual had been issued granting permission tc British officers to enter the Chinese service, as they had been rendered unnecessary by the order in Council. THE BRITISH CONSUL AT MOBILE.-In reply to Mr. War- ner Mr. LAYARD said that British ships of war could pene- trate the blockade to the Southern ports for official duties. Mr. Magee had been the acting consul at Mobile, but behad shipped some specie from that port without giving notice for a month, to Lord Lyons, who, as soon as he heard of it, telegraphed forbidding the transaction; but Mr. Magee alleged that although the specie was shipped the same day, it was done before he received Lord Lyons's orders, and although he was in constant communication with Lord Lyons, he never informed him of the fact until ten days after. This being the case the government consi- dered that Mr. Magee had not observed the conduct pro. Eer to the agent of a neutral state, and at once dismissed E-m. before any complaint was made by the American Government Sir J. FERGUSSON asked whether thie specie was not the interest duo on the Ala bama State Bonds and the property of British subjects, and xlso whether the other foreign consuls did not habitually do the same ? Mr. LAYARD said that it was doubtful whe- ther the money was this interest or intended to purchase Confederate cKiizers in this country. He did not know whether this was the practice of other consuls, but the Vesuvius having been admitted within the blockade on a distinct understanding, it was a point of honour that there should be no breach of that undertaking. THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLAND.—Mr. HEN- NESSY said he wished to put a question to the noble Lord with respect to the conduct of the Prussian Government towards the insurgents in Poland. He complained that the Russian troops were allowed to march through Prussian territory, and that when defeated by the in- surgents they were received into Prussia, and instead of being disarmed they were refreshed and re-supplied with ammunition, He condemned it in strong terms, and also the apathy of her Majesty's Government, for what was now going on in Poland was a disgrace to the great powers, who were bound to see that engagements which they had stipulated for were fairly and honestly carried out. He warned the noble Lord at the head of the Government that the feeling of the country towards Poland was a long way ahead of that of his Cabinet, and he would do well to pay some regard to that feeling Lord PALMERSTON said that by international law it was the duty of a neutral state conterminoua to a seat of war to allow neither belligerent to make use of its territory to the injury of the other. He very much feared that, as was the case in 1862, the Prussian Government was in this respect greatly aiding Russia, for at that time the power of marching through Prussia and getting into the rear of the insurgents materially abled Russia to put down the insurrection. It was also the duty of a neutral, when the troops of either party were driven into its territory, to disarm them, but not to confiscate their arms and baggage, but to conduct them to the frontier of their own sovereign, and there restore their arms and baggage. With respect to the supply of ammunition during the Crimean war, the United States Government laid it down as a rule of international law that a neutral could supply either belligerent with arms and ammunition. In this respect the Prussian Government had been guilty of a breach of international law Lord PALMERSTON moved that the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday the 28th of May.Mr. PEACOCK complained of the manner in which the foreign relations of the country were conducted. He also explained that nine Cabinet Ministers held seats in the House of Lords, while five of the most important departments were represented in the House of Commons by an under-secretary only. He warned the House against the danger of surrendering its position, and de- scending to the level of a poor debating club.After some remarks from Mr. Bentinck, Robert Cecil, and Mr. A. Cochrane, Sir G. GREY, said that the first business on the 28th inst. would be the report on the resolution on the Dover mail packet contract. PRIVATE INQUIRIES IN THE NAVT.—Captain JERVIS called attention to the recent Naval Courts of Inquiry, and strongly condemned the system of private inquiries, as unjust and unfair to the officers implicated, who in many cases were tried without knowing the charges brought against them, or being allowed the opportunity of answering or explaining them.Sir John Pakington, Sir J. D. Hay, Mr. D. Adams and other member? expressed similar opinions.Lord CLARENCE PAGET vindicated the course pursued by the Admiralty, more especially in the case of Lord Elphinstone, who had declined a court martial when offered to him. In his opinion the Courts of Inquiry were most useful in ascer- taining the causes of disasters. The motion for the ad- journment was agreed to. THE IRISH CHURCH.—Mr. DILLWYN moved for a Select Committee to enquire how far the present distribution of endowments for religious purposes throughout Ireland may be so amended as to conduce most to the welfare of all classes of her Majesty's Irish subjects. Also to search the journals of the House for any resolutions passed since the Act of 39 & 40 Geo. III., chap. 67, having reference to the application of any surplus revenue arising from ecclesiastical endowments in Ireland, and to report how far such portions of resolution or resolutions appear to have been subsequently carried in to effect. He said that the reform of the Irish Church was a question in which the liberal party ought to feel a dee p interest, and one which a Government that professed to rely upon the support of that party was bound to take up year afteryear Sir JOHN TRELAWNEY seconded the motion Mr. DANBY SEYMOUR moved, as an amend- ment, that a Royal commission be appointed to inquire into the territorial arrangements of existing benefices, the adjustment of revenues, kc Mr. NEWDEGATE seconded the motion Mr. WHITESIDE said he objected, as the motion was a violation of the fifth article of the Union, and if it was agreed to would not fail to he attended with great danger not only to the religious but the best interests of property.On the motion of Mr. OSBORNE the debate was adjourned until the 28th iust. SIR R. PEEL AND THE IRISH MEMBERS.—Sir. ESMOXDE asked Sir Robert Peel whether a statement in several of the Irish papers, to the effect that on Thursday last a meeting of the Irish members, convened by him, washeld in one of the committee-rooms and, if so, why he ounttecl to invite the attendance of members representing largo interests in connection with the salmon fisheries in Ireland. .Sir R. PEEL said that ha had collected together, at the moment, all the Irish members that he could hnd, with the view of elioiting their opinions. At that meetrng he certainly did not make the speech attributed to him- .Y[r. BUTT said the matter was not worth the notice which had been attracted to it. The facts were simply these the speech attributed to his right hon. friend was the statement which he submitted to the meeting. He did not see that there had been any violation of pMVMt .ç()la6cJ.ce._a matter.so. i?ublic».