BAD NEWS FRO.U DAHOMEY. Paris, March 20. News hns reached here that the French captives m the hands of the Dahomoyai)3 are being subjected to great cruelties. The French consul at Whydah was so agitated at the state of affairs that he attempted to commit suicide. PARDONED. Ottawa, March 20. Mrs Birchall, who, together with her husband, was sentenced to death for the ; murder of an English tourist, and who afterwards had tho death sentence com muted, has been discharged fron« custody. (Received 9 p.m., March 2lst.) COLONIAL LOANS. LosDoy, March 20. Tho floating of the Gape loan has im proved tho prospects of the Queensland loan, and it is expected to bo covered at 97i. It was asserted that tho announce ment of tho Queensland loan spoilt tho Cape loau, and caused a 1033 of £100,000. OBITUARY. Mr Edward Swetenham, M.P. for Car narvon, died suddenly to-day. FROZEN MUTTON. New Zealand mutton, 3^d ; beef, 4|d. A portion of the cargo by tho Aorangi was spotted and mouldy, and only realised 3id. AN OVERDUE SHIP. Twelve guineas per cent, has been paid to reinnnre the ship Earl of Zetland, 135 days out from Glasgow to Sydney. TRUSTEES BILL. The Trustees Liability Bill gives the power to sue without offending tho dignity of the colonies. The atanding credit is to be either 105, or n yield per cent, not to exceed consols by more than 1 per cent. Thoamountd wore fixed by Mr Goschen. A FUTURE GOVERNOR. It is reported that tho Marquis of Lothian will succeed Lord Carrington as Governor of New South Wales. THE CREWE MCRDER. Mrs Richard Davios and her two son?, Richard, aged 20, and George, aged 10, have been committed for trial on a charge of murdering the husband of tho female prisoner. Deceased was a clothier carrying on business at Crowe, and it is nlleged that on the night of January 2Gth, when being driven home by the younger prisoner, all threo set on to Davie3 and murdered him. Deceased had nine shock ing wounds m the head. The female prisoner admitted that her husband was cruel towards her, and on one occasion tried to burn her alive. She also atated that ho was a bad father to herboys. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. 