The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

trite enwerJA• TO i'Ortittiql'ONT)ENTS. .ecled .f " rte P 14414...• mats:Raw the mitma Ma— les .I;asetc. ^ l• p.bblArt tree. 7 Tws.day as l noisy ..gt,t, • tin int powl. hat.44l kir " Tha faprararLan•.aa imealag lairq 1.4 at ta, cmtte. 10. act.scla.uca. *y Two fisloala cn St. day or pulgaiataa. RIGS WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE Us. Dat--Mareateg. 3i Ils....—..JlAnnr.m. 24.36 e. TaloaSiLm—Xtotucg. Sa. fm. LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 25. Tree Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Law of Divorce have issued their Report, and it is understood that this Report is to be the ground of legislation during the present session. The existence of the Commission snit the Report is evidence enough that no time should be loot. and that ti ernment and the Legislature are of that opinion ; for the difficulties of th. are so many, and so extremely serious, that veeryleisly has been willing to put off to the last possible moment all action urn the subject. The necessity for rime out of action, amending the pre sent state of the law, has been admitted, almost uni versally, since PC:9, when a small inetalmeut of re lief to certain sufferers under unhappy marriages granted in the passage of the Infants was Custody Bill. This bill peened by large majo rities in the Commons in 1338, was then thrown out in the Lords, when Lord BROUGUAM gave as his reason for opposing it the thorough bad ness of the marriage laws of this country, which were so cruel and indefensible that, if any part was touched, the whole mass must come down. Such a reason for keeping things as they were was a clear prophecy of change. The passage of the Infants' Custody Bill the next year began it ; and during the succeeding 'cars. opinion in favour of great changes in the Law of Divorce has strengthened into an irro sistihk demand, and the first result is the report be fore us. The merest glance at the subject, whether in the records of the House of Lords, or in every mans observation of society, or in the pages of this report, shows that the evils of our present system must be intolerable indeed to hale driven us into the thicket of difficul ties that we must struggle through to attain a better state. The time is come; the thing has to be done; and the business of every member of the Legislature and of every man who is represented flute, is to think, to thank seriously, to think apart from passion and prejudice: for the matter is one in which we have only a choice of difficulties, in which, for pecu liar reaaous, justice and expediency cannot at once be attained, and in which the welfare of future generations is more deeply involved than in any other legislative acts of the day, with the one excep tion of educational measures. The first hatch of difficulties involved is all con- sideration of our Divorce Laws is found in the con fusion:of ideas prevalentamong us as to what marriage is. Nut a few Protestants hold with the Catholics, consciously or unconsciously, that it is a sacrament and a bond, therefore indissoluble in every sense. One of the Commissioners appends to the report be fore us his dissent from its chief recommendation, and the grounds of it. On scriptural, as well as other grounds, he concludes that not only should marriage remain, as now. indissoluble under the law of Eng land, but that divorce should no longer be attainable from the Legislature in any case. Some people think that !Scripture warrants divorce in case of adultery, and would have it for that cause alone, as now, but by some more attainable and impartial method than a special law passed for each case. Others, again, seeing that cruelty is admitted as a second cause for legal separation, do not see why it should not procure the more complete relief of divorce; and these are regarding, not the theological, but the moral view of the subject. This moral view occasions and justi fies • great variety of opinion as to the limits of divorce : but then comes in the political view, and considerations of genealogy intervene, to alter again the whole character of the argument. Nothing, indeed, is so fatal to the moral view as the political, in this particular matter. It is from this regard to genealogical considerations ruling the de scent of property that proceeds that extraordinary morality about the comparative guilt of the two parties to a marriage, in case of infidelity, which was uttered in the House of Loris twenty years ago, and has been presented occasionally since, and which strikes with amazement the lower orders in this country, and all orders in some other countries. It is assumed as a matter of course in our Legislature that the sin of conjugal infidelity is immeasurably greater in the wife than the husband ; and a murmur of applause follows when a legislator asks whether any father would not infinitely rather see his son fall into vice than his daughter; whereas, the fanner or tradesman, reading the debate next day, mutters that the peer or the gentleman forgets that for the son's sin somebody's daughter must fall. This con fusion of religious, moral and political considerations would be enough to make the question difficult to deal with. But there are other embarrassments at the very outset. The common law of England "deems so highly, and v/ .. .1 such mysterious reverence, of the nuptial tie," th.it it has not always maintained that clearness and consistency which would have saved much toil in past times, and afforded some welcome guidance now. The doctrine of indissolubility was sometimes given up, and then resumed, among the fluctuations of opinion which followed the Reformation ; so that opposite judgments were given in the course of the reign of ELIZABETII ; and any effect on opinion and mural views that might have been produced since by marriage being indissoluble by the laws of England, has been broken up by the Parliamentary faculty of granting divorce. Then again, there is the different state of the law in Scotland compelling the observation that either the English law must be very cruel, or the Scotch very profligate. In Scotland, there were ninety-five eases in the five years from 1838 to 1841, while in England there have been 110 from the first day of this century till now. Of the nlnety-five Scotch divorces, one-third were at the suit of the wife; whereas in England the wife cannot seek a divorce at all, except in cases of unnatural atrocity; so that only four successful snits are on record. In Scot land, the parties in the ninety-five cases were almost all of the labouring classes, the expense being from 131. to 3W. , whereas in England divorce is wholly out of the reach of all but the rich—the expense rising from 300/. to several thousands. Wide limits these for the right and wrong to lio between! Again, there is the consideration that one of the two parties in the case is wholly unrepresented, and that the other party is the law maker. It is not merely that only one party can plead in a case of opposing interests; but that the pleading party decides as well as argues the cue. It has hitherto been decided by husbands that husbands alone shall be able to ob. tarn the relief; and it is now recommended by the Commissioners that while the facilities for divorce shall be increesed, husbands shall still be the only party to benefit by them. In order to justify this, a necessary confusion is introduced as to whether the practicability of divorce is a good or an eviL The power of being divorced is shown to be good in the case of the husband, but the impossibility of divorce is asserted to be favourable to the happiness of the wife. And this, side by side with the narrative of a case related by Lord llaoconam, of which he says that he "cannot conceive of a harder case," but which is yet far from uncommon—the case of a lady main taining by her ability and industry an adulterous husband, who claims all her earnings, and threatens the seizure of her whole property. Such a liability is to remain, by the recommendation of the Commis sioners ; and, no doubt, will remain under the new Law of Divorce, against which wives have no power of appeal • The other suggestions are, that adultery shall be still the only ground of complete divorce; that wil. ful desertion shall be another ground of legal separa tion, in addition to the two, conjugal infidelity and gross cruelty—which are admitted now—both par ties being able to obtain a separation for these causes; that the verdict at law, and ecclesiastical sentence, which must now be obtained as a title to divorce, shall no longer be necessary, and that divorce shall be legally obtainable without the intervention of IParliament ; that a special tribunal shall have charge of all questions of marriage and divorce (thus, • by the way, facilitating the abolition of the ecclesiastical courts), and that the three branches of the law, equ:ty, common law, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, shall be united in this tribunal, which shall consist of a vice-chancellor, a common law judge, and a judge of the Ecclesiastical Courts; and that the methods shall be those of the improved Chancery proceedings, with some modifications from the existing procedure in such eases; that a largo 1 discretion he vested in the court, for providing tor tile interests of the parties and their childien ; and that the sole appeal shall be to the House ut Lords. These are very important changes—likely to occa sion, if adopted, much good, though not of a very radical sort, and some evil. The grand feature is the transference of such a matter as this from exceptional legislation to the domain of common law—the making divorce obtainable by the laws of the coun t►v, which now interdict it. Few, we suppose, will ANA to this. If divorce is obtainable by Act of Parlia ment, it cannot be an objectionable license; and if not an objectionable license, it ought to be obtainable by all who have an equal need of it, without distinction of rank or wealth. It must follow front this that the new court, like our other courts. must admit pauper suits. Conjugal hatred is even more terrible to the poor than to the rich, because they canuot so easily part. It is cheering to think what may be the effect on the brutal husbands and wives, of whom we read in police reports with unavailing disgust or pity, of this new proposed power of obtaining a legal separation as a shelter from insult and cruelty. The doubt that is said to hang about the matter is lest the popular notions of marriage should become unsettled by increased means of relief, and by that want of uniformity of decision which is the at tendant peril of all administration of law. On the other hand, there is the hope that, by the opening of means of relief, much of the profligacy which arises from despair may be obviated, and that the effect upon morality of an improvement in jus tice may be good rather than bad. It must be pretty safe to assume this. The carelessness with which marriages are formed, the mercenary motives which enter into them, the levity with which they arc undertaken, and the selfishness and audacity with which they are brutalised under the present , system of practical indissolubility, afford ground for very much more hope than fear from a change. If present evils were not too great for longer endur ance, we should not be offered a change ; and those who, under such circumstances, advise and prepare for the change, are not likely to propose a move in the wrong direction. The question is rather, whether the relief should not have been extended so as to in. elude more cases of the oppression of the wife, and whether the facilities in England should not be at least equalised with those of Scotland. These are points for consideration ; and we can only hope that all the wise and good men among us mill consider, and give to our public and social morals the benefit of their wisdom when the discussion comes on. THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 25, 1853. months of 1832. This was not the ease this year. Our manufactories produced largely during the haat them months lust year, and after this movement they All into a dead season, and have not yet completely rallied. The ire ports in Jan. and Feb. were 17,048.168 f. in 1851, 20,543,066 t. in 18.52, and 18.68.3,722 f. in 18d3, being an au g ment& lion of ,535,554 f. on 13.31, but a diminution of 1,959,3441. on 13.52. There hm been this Tear a notable reduction is the arrivals of certiin descriptions of merchaadise on ac count of the contrary winds which retarded the course of vessels during a great part of January. the debt ; but the government being pled ged to th at de cree, Mr. Hislop's proposal goes to the effect of altering the whole financial legislation of the country ; a legislation for which the last Cortes were dissolved, election. made at such great risks, and majorities obtained in both houses. As the Duch( as of Bragausa (Empress) is expected, ac companying the mortal remains of her later daughter. the Princess Amelia, to Lisbon, the deputies have voted a reso lution that a large deputation shall receive berth the river, and again offer her their sincere conehelcuce for her irrepar able Ines. . In the peers, the discussion on the reply to the speech from the throne, is still progressing ; the opposition, in their speeches, censure ministers for the acts of the dictatorship, but particularly for calling them to a meeting, where they were threatened with the new creation of peers, if they did not arrange a majority in favour of government. Exchaoge, 541; discount of notes of the bank of Lisbon, 2 per cent. FRANCE. PARIS, TILOILEDLY AFTERNOON. The Moniteur of to-day announces the presenta tion to the Emperor of the insignia ci the Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Cruzeits, accompanied by a letter from the Emperor of Brazil. The Marseilles papers of the 22nn announce that on the 20th a violent storm had caused numerous casualties. All the ships moored in the new port had more or less suffered. A hundred pleasure-boats h a d been sunk. The English steamer Camdoc, dragging her anchors, was only enabled to secure herself by the use of her engines. The departure of the Levant packet Lugger had been delayed, to wait for despatches from the go- vernment. The promenade of Longcbamps had been dull, in consequence of the cold, which was excessive. - The Bourse has been again to-day very active, a large business was transacted both in 'Lenten and railway stock at a further improvement on yester day's quotations. The Three per Cents., for cash, advanced 45c., and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 80c. For the account the Three per Cents. improved 30c., and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 60e. ; whilst Bank Stock experienced a further decline of sf. At the close of the Bourse the quotations were: For cub, the Three per Cents. 79f. 70e.; and the Four and-a-Half per Cents. 103 f. 70c. For the account. the Three per Cents. 79f. 50c.; and the Four-and-a-Halt per Cents. 103 f. 50c. Bank Stock, 2,675. In railway shares a good business was also done, at higher rates, and the market closed with an upw ard tendency in prices. Vienna.—Metallique Five per Cents., 931; Loan, 1851, 2071; Lombardy-Venetian, 991; Bank Shares, 1,398. Berlin.—Loan Four-and-a-Half per Cent., 103; ditto Three-and-a-Half per Cent., 98; Bank, 1071. Frankfort.—Austrian Five per Cents., 981; ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 781 • ditto Three per Cents., 521; Bank, 1,520; Spanish Three per Cents., 43 ; Belgium Four-and-a-Half_per Cents., 991. PARIS, Win:42BDV( EVININCI. The excitement on the subject of the eastern question has considerably subsided tc-day, and the belief that it will be settled without producing a difference between the powers of Europe gains gamed. A report that the English govern ing* had sent orders to Admiral Dundee not M have Malta has been generally credited, and has preload a favourable effect. At the same time, I elseseve that the transitions of public opinion bon ars so rapid, and often rest upon such alight !bandanna, that no inference with regard to a matter of fact can be safely drawn from them ono way or another. If it be true that the English fleet is not to approach the Dardanelles, what is the French fleet going to do in that direction ? M. Grainier de Cassagnac, whose pen, although on one memorable occasion emphatically disavowed, has so often been employed to express the views of the Emperor, says this morning in the Constautionnel, that the French fleet has been ordered to leave Toulon simplj be cause the English agent at Constantinople " having sent for the British fleet, it was right, proper, and necessary, for the dignity of France, that our fleet should approach the spot where a new question has arisen." It is curious that while the Times of yesterday treats the crisis at Constantinople as one in which England has no concern, the Colistitulionnei says that France, having obtained all she wanted by the recognition of her " traditional protectorate of the holy places," is wholly disinterested, in the question, thinks only of preserving peace, and looks on as a calm spectator, while Austria, Russia, and England, wbo, by reason of their possessions in the immediate neighbourhood of the Turkish empire, have a direct interest in ar rangements to which France is indifferent, endeavour to settle any differences they may have with regard , to the Porte. It may be well to consider whether' some mystification may not possibly lurk in )d. de Caasagnac's article. Rumours of war were rife at Odessa, according to letters recently received. It was said that orders bad been given to assemble together several divisions of the army, that the 4th Corps d'Armee, under General Dannenberg, consisting of 70,000 men, was about to cross the Pruth, that the sth division of Luder's Corps and seven regiments of cavalry were to join General Dannenberg, that two divisions of Luder's corps were to embark at Odessa and Sebes tapol, and that all these movements were to be effected by March 20. The old Turkish citadel close by Odessa was being fortified. These accounts, although very circumstantial, must of coarse be re ceived with caution. The Independance of Brunelle says that extraor dinary estafottes are being organised for the frequent transmission of despatches between Odessa and St. I'etersbnrgh, the Czar desiring to be particularly in formed of all that passes in the Black Sea. It was thought at Odessa that tho Czar would go to Vienna in the spring, and thence proceed direct to Odessa by the Danube. He would go there to see that his orders for the urgiaisation of the fleet had been exe cuted. It appears that a prophecy of ancient date is cur rent in St. Petersburg that divine service, according to the rites of the Greek church, would be celebrated in Saint Sophia 406 years after the taking of Con stantinople by Mahomet 11. That event occurred in 1453. The believers in the prophecy therefore look for its fulfilment in the course of the present year. The Prase notices as follows the official returns of the customs which have just been published in the Meniteur: The produce of the customs during the first two months of the present par shows a uotable diminution on that of 18.52. This is a proof of the calm that has existed since the commencement of the year in the operations of com merce with foreign countries. This calm, however, is only relative. Tae markets and manufactories were, at the ended December, !Oil, without r.w material, and therefore considerable purchases were made abroad, thus augmenting considerably the customs receipts for the firs GERMANY. Lord Stratford de Radcliffe passed through Frank fort-on-the• Maine on the 20th, and travelled b y ordinary train as far as Guntershauscn, where he engaged a special engine. The district court of Prague has sentenced three students to be " Semen with rods for making wanton demonstrations in favour of the traitor Kossuth." Several other students are under examination before courts-martial; two of them are alleged to have drunk toasts in honour of Libenyi, the assailant of the Emperor. The paper, state that the Pope has presented to the Emperor of Austria, through the Cardinal and Nuncia, a tooth taken from the blessrdNuncio, remains of the Apostle Peter, by tho hands of his Holiness himself. ITALY . The ninth volume of the complete works of Galileo Galilei, published by order of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, has just appeared at Florence. It is tie fourth volume of Galileo's correspondence, and C3tl - above 300 letters of his illustrious contempora ries, such as Castelli, Cavalieri, Cesi, Campanelo, Gassendi, Micangio, Torricelli, with others. In addition to this, however, it contains the complete history of the celebrated Galileo process, drawn from the original documents in the archives of the Vatican. LIBERATION OF THE MADIAI. FLORENCE, MAacli 17: Rosa and Francesco Madiii eniberiedonisTlea a steamer bound for Marseilles yesterday evening (Wednesday), March 16. The fact of their approach. ing liberation, or rather of the commutation of their sentence of imprisonment fur exile, was kept a pro found secret, and the news only reached Florence this afternoon. All that has been done, either for their comfort or safety, has been done by the Tuscan authorities, as no one here knew of what was going to take place, and consequently no preparations could have been made ; indeed, the fact was only known to the Hon. Mr. Erskine, H.B.M. chargé d'affaires, this morning. The heart of every humane man must be too overjoyed at this act of justice, tardy though it be, to cavil at the (ungraciousness of its execution. The persecuted ones are still alive, and, under the blessing of God, are at this time on the free soil of France. Let all else be forgotten and forgiven. The hand of the All Merciful has been stretched out over these His servants, and has enabled them to bear up, unflinchingly and undoubtingly, under their severe and trying punishment; and the same hand will shelter them still. Nor can we doubt that the Grand Duke of Tuscany will himself; at no distant day, recel with the greatest satisfaction and thankfulness the remembrance of the exercise of his prerogative of mercy in behalf of these two humble, consistent, and faithful Christians. The Madiais were furnished with a French passport, made oat in the names of M. and Madame Pulini, Rosa Medlars maiden name. All the arrangements were made at the French consulate, and with the utmost secrecy. Poor Francesco Medial's mental and physical powers are completely prostrated. I send you these few lines to save the poet, knowing that you will kindly insert them in your columns, which have been so especially distinguished for numerous and ably written articles on the Media/ case. MILAN, Meant 19. The military commander, Baron Martini, has per mitted the sound of the bells of the cathedral to ac company the religions ceremonies of Palm Sunday. Intelligence from Ferrara, of the 16th, states that ten persons convicted of having been members of revolutionary societies had been condemned to death. The punishment of seven of them had been commuted, but the other three, of whom 000 was a medical man, had been shot. RUSSIA. The Army Gazette of Berlin has lately contained a number of letters on the military force of Russia, and the extent to which it may be brought to bear upon neighbouring countries. The last of these letters contains the following Palsaffe The construction of the great , railway lines connecting Moscow, Petersburg, Odessa, and Warsaw, in changing the conditions under which a military force may be trans ported, changes the principles upon which Husaia has hitherto conducted her preparations for war. If we cut a glance at the present distribution of the Russia& army av• cording to its great groups, we shall find these to be the Deistwujutschsja Annie, or active army, consisting of Los infantry corp , , united in a compact camp in Poland, Li thuania, Volhynia, and Podolia. Between this and Petersburg steads the Grenadier Corps, at Novgorod, and at Petersburg itself the Guard. In the south west stands the 6th army corps, with its most advanced garrison on the Pruth. The 6th army corps is in Moscow and its neighbourhood. Supposing • war to threaten from the west, we may assume that the active army would not move until Poland had been occupied either by the bth or 6th infantry corps or the guards from Novgorod and Peters burg. Hitherto this operation must have consumed months. But let the railroad from Petersburg to Warsaw be finished, and • week will suffice for the purpose. Before the first rail of the line is laid down, the futon military use his been a matter of study, and with especial reference to the transport of large muses of troops. Thousands of military transport waggons are already made or making, and their construction is truly artistic. The packing or eu pending of arms, knapsacks, cavalry saddles, and all the appurtenances of a battalion is abundantly cued for. In three days the half, or in a week the whole, kuerd and grenadier corps may stand in Poland while the reserves are coming up to St. Petersburg, by the Moscow and Petersburg Railway, followed, if necessary, by the 6th in fantry corp. Whether the 6th corps would move west ward would depend mainly upon the state of relations with Turkey. In any case the compact mass of the active army would be emancipated from the immobility it has hitherto suffered, and could be brought immediately into play. The whole political significance of the new railways lies in the fact that the guard and grenadier corps may in future be brought to Poland in a week instead of in months. Let that great artery be connected with Odessa, and with a rail road from Moscow to Warsaw, as well as with another from Warsaw to Odessa, and it cannot thin be denied that Rus sia will have effected a revolution in her military relations to Europe. PORTUGAL. LISBON, MARCH 19. Although the opposition in the Chamber of De puties strongly censures ministers for many of the decrees o the dictatorship, there is scarcely a doubt that Baldanha will triumph over every obstacle, and be enabled to carry his measures. As the commission appointed to inquire into the acts of the dictatorship have approved them all, they i will have the validity of law. There is, therefore, no hope for those who desire to see rescinded, or even msdilled, the decree of capitalisation of the 3rd of December, 1311, or the decree of August, 18.52, reducing the interest of the public debt ; and the country will be placed upon its own resources and as Mr. Barry could not, in consequence of the discredit of the government, obtain any assistance In England, France, or Belgium, to carry tho railway project into effect, the government, if it desire to lave one, must itself furnish resources for that purpose. My last letter, explaining some points relative to the railroad, will have informed your readers that the company was virtually defunct. Mr. Hislop has since arrived here from London, and although it is blazoned forth that be has brought the affair to a point to pay the deposit, and com mence the works, and that the directors will arrive by the forthcoming packet, yet, from what is passing, I have 'mien for saying that not only is the last view I took of it confirmed, bat that in fact the progress of the affair is an impossibility. It is admitted that Mr. Barry and others have seceded —have, in truth, abandoned the concern; but Mr. Hislop seems so confident of his own skill to carry out that which cannot he carried out under existing circum stances, that he fancies he has accomplished the desired point. That gentleman is merely an agent in the matter, and having gone to London under the forlorn hope of being able to renovate the provisional, or form a new company, he has done what just amounts to nothing. The forty days given the company to make the deposit have passed away, and, instead of the money, a proposal comes, that if the decree of August, 1852, which reduces the interest of the debt to 3 per cent., be so far revoked or modified that the minister will capitalise the difference of interest between the 3 per cent. and that which his decree deprives and spoils the creditors of, giving titmice for it to be paid in any given number of years, that then and in such ease the bondholders will nut only assist the government in carrying out the railroad, but the leading ones will take it upon themselves ! Here would be another immense augmentation of the capital of AMERICA. (IT ELECTRIC TLLLOYA?H•) SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY Monza llo. The Humboldt has arrived off Cowes, on her way for Havre : she left New York on the 13th instant. She has brought specie to the amount of 60,000 dollars. Exchange bills on London sold at 109 to 109 L and some drawers asking 109!. The Africa has arrived. Senator Clayton has defended the Clayton and Bulwer Treaty. Senator Douglas replied, and was bitter towards England. Some small banks have failed in New England. The British ship, Belmont, has been burned at New Orleans, and 3,000 bales of cotton destroyed. The panic has subsided at New York. Money very tight. Banks drawing in stocks aro recovering. Flour firm. Cotton firmer. Freights improving at New Orleans. Cotton active. THE WEST INDIES. (IT ELECTRIC TELLORAPIO PORTSMOUTH, Msacti 24. By the arrival of her Majesty's steam-frigate Highflyer, Captain Heathcote, at Spithead, this evening, we have adrices from Bermuda to the 4th inst. inclusive. She is healthy, and reports the West Indian Islands generally recovering from the late de vastating visitation. Nearly all the Windward Islands had suffered se verely from yellow fever. 500 soldiers, women, children, and four officers of the 50th Regiment, have arrived in the Hightlyer from BermudL _ H.M.S. Dauntless was expected to arrive at Ber- 1 muda daily when the Ilightlyer sailed, or, it was also expected, she might sail for England direct from Barbadoes. The loss from the yellow fever was 81, 16 of whom were officers. The Highflyer has lost four officers and four men on the station, and her Majesty's ship Calypso has since lost two officers, who caught the fever by dining on board the Highflyer; ani it is a remarkable fact that every stranger who went on board the High flyer took the fever, even the black pilot who navi gated her into Jamaica. Her majesty's ship Styx, Muter-Commander Wel lington, is appointed to sail from Spithead on Thurs day, with stores and supernumeraries, for the African Brazils squadron. VW Court. WINDSOR, MARCH 2 . The following had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday :—The Daohese of Kent, Princess Ade laide of Kobel'lobe, the Lady In Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, and Colonel the Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps. On Friday and Saturday lut, and on Monday and Tues day in the current week (Passion week), the customary Royal minor bounties and gate alms were distributed to the aged and necessitous poor at the Altnonry, in Whitehall, under the direction of the Lord High Almoner and the Sub-Almoner. The recipients included numerous came of bLindaese and other serious infirmities. . . Yesterday the ancient and Royal charities of Maundyy Thursday were distributed to 34 aged men and 34 aged women, the number corresponding with her Majesty's age, with the usual formalities, in Whitehall chapel. At two o'clock In the afternoon a procession, consisting of a de tachment of the Yeomen of the Guard (commanded by en Usher), one of them carrying the alms on a gold salver of the reign of King William and Queen Mary ; the Rev. Dr. Jelf, Sub-Almoner ; Joseph Hanby, Req. Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry in ordinary; hls Assistant, ac companied by six children, three boys and three girls of the National Schools in Westminster, who had been se lected for their good conduct to participate in this privilege, proceeded to the chapel. Tho procession was joined in the chapel by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, the priests in waiting, gentlemen, and choristers. The procession advanced to the communion table, and having taken their respective stations, the church service appointed fur the afternoon commences. Exhortation, confession, absolution, &c. Forty-first Psalm (the Grand Chant). First Lesson, St. Matthew, 25th chap., from v. 14 to v. 31. First Anthem (41st Psalm). £1 15s. distributed to each woman. To each man shoes and stockings. Second Anthem (a Prayer). Woollen and linen cloths distributed. Third Anthem (131st Psalm). Purses distributed. Second Lesson, St. Matthew, 25th chap., begin v. 31 to the end. Fourth Anthem. Then followed a prayer composed for the occasion, viz. : " 0 Lord, the Sovereign of the world, we acknowledge that Thine is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, said the majesty ; for ill hat Is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. Thine is the kingdom, 0 Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all ; both riches and honour oome of Thee ; and Thou reignest over all. In Thy hand Is power and might, and in Thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee and praise Thy glorious name, that Thou host not only bestowed greatness and majesty upon our Sovereign Lady Queea Victoria, blithest given her a heart, also, to take compassion on them that are below her, and show mercy unto the poor and needy. Ac cept, most ' gracious God, pf this tribute, which she pays unto Thee, the giver of all good things, mid make her still more fruitful and abundant in these, end all other good works, that by mercy and truth she may be preserved and her throne upholden by mercy. And stir up the hearts of all those who have now been partakers of her bounty, to be truly thankful unto Thee for it, and both to bless and praise Thee continually for setting such • pious Princess over us, and also pray most earnestly that Thou wouldst reward her charity with a long and prosperous reign in this world, and with a heavenkingdom in the world to come. through Jesus Cheist our Lora and only Saviour. Amen." A second prayer composed for the occasion. Then followed the prayer for the Queen, and so on to the end. The clergy present were the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner ; the Rev. Dr. Jell, Sub-Almoner ' (the Rev. Dr. Wesley, Sub-Doan, was unavoidably absent from sicken.), Rev. Dr. Vivian, Rev. Messrs. Helmore, Clark, Haden, Hall, Povah, and Hour. The gentlemen present were Messrs. Salmon, Francis, Busby, Hobbs, Wilda, "Lashio, Bradbury, Buc k land, and Benson. The prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Vivian. Sir George Smart, who usually presides at the organ upon this occasion, was not in monthly waiting, but the duty was performed by Mr. Turle, the organist of West minster Abbey. The most aged man last year had reached his 102nd year, but he has since died. The most aged man who received the royal arms in 18,53 is 91 years, and the most aged woman 89 yam. Viscount Gort had an interview with the Earl of Aber deen yesterday at his official residence in Downing-street. Sir Thomas Fremantle, Chairman of the Customs, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yester day at his official residence in Downing-street. Despatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial office for the Governors of ?delta, Ceylon, end Hong Hong, and for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands. THE FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE. WINDSOR, THURSDAY. This morning a meeting of the inhabitants of Windsor was held ►t the Town-hall, " for the purpose of adapting congratulatory addresses to her Majesty and his Royal llighneu Prince Albert, on the preservation of her Majesty, the Prince, and the royal family and household, under the perilous circumstances of the late lire at Windsor Castle." The chair was taken by the mayor (W. B. Hol derness, Esq.), and amongst those present were Aldermen Bedborough and Twinch, and most of the members of the corporation, the Hey. It. J. Gould, and the Nev. F. H. Morgan (curates of New Windsor), Captain Layard, Leslie More, Esq., Messrs. Oiley, Last, Long, Phillips, &a. The Mayor havinq opened the proceedings by reading the requi sition convening the meeting. The Rev. lt. J. Goviu moved the following address to her Majesty : TO IKER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY KIKEEN VICTORIA. " Mey it please your Majesty, We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of New Windsor, desire to approach your Majesty's throne with our most humble, hearty, and loyal congratulations, on the pre servation of your Majesty, your royal Consort, and all other members of tbe royal family and household, under the alarming circumstances of the late fi•e at Windsor Castle. " We feel that, as a Christian people, we are bound to return our most humble thanlos to Almighty God kr ills , gracious dealings towards Us in thus preserving our beloved sovereign, with her whole family and household, from all personal inlury. " That the same good and grad mo Providence, who has so highly favoured us in this deliverance, may long con tinue to bless and protect your Majesty, will ever be the prayer of your Majesty's loyal and devoted subjects." The rev. gentleman, after describing the origin of the fire, in much the same terms as have been alreirly used in this journal, proceeded to describe the present state of the rooms, immediately over the dining room, where the chief fire took place. He said the beds, the floors, and every morsel of wood about them were as black as a grate. This particular nest of rooms forms the dormitory of the domestics, and had the fire occurred but two hours later, gn at would have been the loss of life, for the whole of the servants must have inevitably been smothered in their beds. The first intimation he b►d of the calamity was the beating of the tattoo at the Infantry Barracks im mediately opposite his own house. It was then ball-past ten o'clock, and it struck h;m as something very extraor dinary. Immediately afterwards there was a loud calling by the officers of "all up ;" his family were dreadfully alarmed, and they unanimously agreed that the French were come at last. (Laughter.) It was only due to the Guards to say that in less than five minutes from the first call the men were all up and equipped, the barrack-engine was drawn out of the yard, and the whole of the battalion rushed towards the Castle. (Cheers.) Mr. MINTON seconded the resolution. Mr. Alderman Bannonovoit then proposed, in suitable terms, the following address to Ms Royal Highness Prince Albert: "TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRISM! ALBIRT. "May it please your Royal Highness, " We, the undersigned inhabitants of the borough of New Windsor, desire to approach your royal highness with the espreuion of our most humble and hearty congratula tions en the preservation of her Majesty the Queen, of your Royal Highness and the members of the Royal Family, and household. under the alarming circumstances of the late fire at Windsor Castle. We feel that, as a Christian people, we are bound to return our most humble end hearty thanks to Almighty God fur his gracious deal ing towards us in thus preserving our beloved Sovereign, with your Royal flighnese and the whole Royal Family and household, from all personal injury. That the same good and gracious Providence, who has so highly favoured us in this deliverance, way long continue to bless and pro tect her Majesty, your Royal Highness, and every member of the Royal Family, will over be the prayer of your Royal Highness's humble servants." The address to the Prince wss seconded by Mr. JOHN CLODS. . . . Both addresses were ordered to be engrossed, and lie for signature at the Town.hall until Saturday, when the one to her Majesty will be presented through the Muse Se cretary, and that to Prince Albert through Col. the Hen. C. B. Phipps. A STEAMER RUN ON SHORE. FALMOUTH, MAuca 24. The Lady Eglinton, a new iron screw steamer, bound from Liverpool to London, on Wednesday afternoon, got on Trefusis Shore, in going ihence. On this day she was got off ; but as she was found to leak badly, the captain determined to beach her, which having been accomplished, the passengers were safely landed. The cargo is likely to be discharged. BLACKBURN ELECTION. OFFICIAL DECLARATION, (BT ILECTRIC TZLEOSAPIL) Fie'den (Liberal) Hornbi (Conservative) 674 THE MILITARY CALLED OUT. The fearful scenes of riot and confusion our corre spondent anticipated in giving an account of the nomina tion, have occurred, and bodies of the military have had to be called in for the protection of the voters andof the peace ably disposed. On Wednesday after the nomination, the large bodies of people assembled in front of the hustings paraded the town in sections, and frequent collisions oc curred, resulting in brutal and long contested fights. The same lawless system prevailed almost throughout the night, and electors were forcibly carried off from their homes that they might not be able to record their votes on the follow ing day. Information was lodged at the police office yes terday morning, by the wife of Duncan Milner, a Unman, residing in Darwen-street, that during the night their house had been broken into, when her husband was dragged from his bed, beaten, and forced away from home. She said his head was severely lacerated by a blow from a bludgeon whilst endeavouring to resist the violence of his assailants, and produced, in much distress, a handkerchief dyed with his blood. Other voters are reported to have been simi larly treated, and to be missing, and the name of one of them given was Christopher Duxbury. Milner was a voter pledged to support the liberal candidate. Great exasperation prevailed on both sides, and large numbers of ruffians were brought into the borough from other towns upon the plea of being necessary to protect the voters. A body of 190 men were reported to have been brought from Preston on Wednesday morning, who were to be paid 51. per day, and to be liberally supplied with ' stimulants, with some of the worst chanters in that town as their leaders. These men were undoubtedly hired by the tories. There were also similar bodies of ruffians brought from Clitheroe, Darwen, Accrington, Church, and other towns ; whilst Blackburn itself is reported to supply an extensive force of native ruffianism under the leadership of a chief rejoicing in the sanguinary appellation of B—y Dick." Yesterday opened with renewed rioting, and the returns of the polling booths soon showing that Mr. Fielden, the liberal candidate, was likely to be successful, the exaspera tion of the other party became so great that it was necessary to call in the military. Attempts were made te prevent voters going to the poll, and it being currently reported that a party of Hornbyites had taken possession of the Whalley Banks Bridge, at the bottom of King-street, by which electors from the populous district of Whalley Banks would be kept from the polling booth, a large party of the friends of Mr. Fielden went to open the communica tion. A dreadful collision resulted, and great numbers of men had to be carried into the neighbouring houses with heads bruised, and in a bleeding and almost insensible state. The window, of the Bridge Inn, a conservative house, were completely smashed to atoms, and the glass and liquor casks in the bar were destroyed. Riots took place about the same time in front of the Hornby Arms, and of the Pump-house. In one of these oases a coach conveying voters to poll for Mr. Fielden was stopped in King-street, the horses' heads turned round, and the driver ordered away. Hearing of these outrages soon after ten o'clock the magistrates determined to send fer military aid; and a little before eleven o'clock a company of the 4th Infantry, under Captain Willoughby, and a squadron of the Ist Dragoons under the command of Captain Hurst, entered the town. The mayor, Mr. James Pilkington, M.P., Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Hook, and Mr. D. Thwaites, the magistrates, put themselves at the head of the military, and the riot act was read in front of the Court-house, in King•street. The military and magistrates then divided into two bodies, and went through the various districts of the borough to dis perse the mobs. Mr. Hoole repeatedly addressed the peo ple in a friendly and conciliatory style, warning them that the riot act had been read, and advising them to retire peaceably to their homes. All the shops were closed, and the town remained in a very excited state all day. The streets in every part of the town were exceedingly crowded all day, and more especially towards the centre. The following are the returns issued from Mr. Fielden's Fielden Liberal. Ifornby Conservative. O'clock 8.30 9. 0 9.30 10. 0 10.30 11. 0 11.30 19. 0 12.30 1. 0 1.30 2. 0 Placards appeared on the walls soon after twelve o'clock in the following words: "Borough of Blackburn.—The Riot Act has been read. All well-disposed persons are called upon to disperse. Theft who do not disperse will be apprehended and prosecuted. By older of the Mayor and Magistrates.—Sessions House, Thursday, March 24, 1853." Notwithstanding this notice several riots took place. Mr. Robert Rainsford Jackson. partner in business with Mr. Montague Fieides, wee attacked in Penny-street soon after one o'clock by a mob, but escaped into a house. The mili tary were sent for to several quarters about the same time, but their presence was enough to restore order. ANOTHER SNOWSTORM IN NORTH SHIELDS..-- TIRMSDAY.—We hare had another heavy fall of snow. It hu snowed nearly all night, and it is lying thick on the around this morning. All agricultural and out-door work to stopped ; and a considerable fleet of ships are detained in the Tyne by the high sea at the bar. HUDDERSFIELD ELECTION. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO CORIUM? PRACTICES. On Wednesday evening last, a crowded public meeting of elector' , and non•electors of Iludd e r st i e id was held in the Philosophical Hall, convened by placard, whi c h set forth that—" At a meeting of the friends and supportersof the petitioners against the late return of W. C. titans yfieesday, a resolution ldterE'q.umember ofparliament for the bor oug h , h eld was adopted to the following effect: That it be proposed to the friends and supporters of W. It, C. Stansfield, Eq., at the last election, to leave the choice eta candidate to represent this borough to a majerity of the electors of the borough, at a meeting to be eons coed as seen as preadble ; and that the candidate so selected shall he supported by the friends of both parties.' Such resolution Was forwarded to the friends and supporters of Mr. Stans. field, and their written reply requested." And the meet ing, it was further announced in the same phnerd, "To take into consideration the said reply ; and al., to adopt such other proceedings as may be accessary to secure the fair and honest representation of the borough:* Mr. Josern BRIBRLEY, alma a quarter past seven o'clock, was called to the chair, and having read the placard calling the meeting, said that a crisis List arrived is the electioneering affairs of the borough, and (eery nem amongst them was called upon as earnest, holiest, and honuurabla burgesses, to take their position into immediate and most serious consideration, and devise such means as they might deem best to solve their difficultioe (H ear, hear.) Ile expressed an earnest hope that the two conflict ing parties in the borough might yet In reconciled, and that soma man might arise who would unite them into one phalanx of earnest reformers; for as they were on all great questions united in sentiment, it was most linuntable to see their present position of antagonism ; and he would be mast happy if some means could be devised kr bringing about so desirable a consummation as their unity and con cord. (Applaase.) Mr. JOSEPH BOOTRUOVD proposed the first resolution, which was as fallaws That a petition to the House of Commons, praying for a commission of inquiry into the COT. rupt practices at the last and former elections fur this bo rough, be prepared and signed by the Electors and inha bitants generally of the borough." (Applause.) After re ferring to the corrupt practices at the last election fur the borough of Huddersfield, and reading the report of the House of Commons committee unseating Mr. Stansfield for having, through his agents and friends, been guilt y'eif treat ing, intimidating, and corrupting voters, Mr. Boothroya said that the allegations in the petition were, " that Mr. Stansfleld had, by himself, his agents, or friends, been guilty of bribery, treating, intimidation, personation, arid corrup tion of voters ;" and though enough had been proved before the Commons committee to unseat Mr. Stan-field, yet all who were acquainted with the extent of the corrupt prac tices at the late election were aware that the evidence bad not by any means developed these hideous practice. to the extent that was demanded by every consideration of mora lity. (Applause.) It was alma alleged by &outfield's de fenders and friends, that Mr. Winans had, at the last election, been guilty of extensive bribery, treating, corrup tion, intimidation, and personation ; and that p a rties h a d voted for Mr. Winans who had laid wagers ou the event of the election, and thus disqualified themselves—a practice against which the speaker strongly warned all voters for the future. Now, Mr. Willans's friends denied the allega tions of corrupt practices made against them, and it was therefore requisite that there should be a stringent investi gation into all the treating, corruption, and other practices resorted to at the last and preceding elections for Huddersfield. (Applause.) Originally the petition against Mr. Stansfield claimed the seat for Mr. Willans ; but that was abandoned, as it was found that it would involve a scrutiny, which would bring with it an expenditure of fully 5,0001. on each side; whereas the last contested election cost Mr. Willans's party no more than 4021. (Loud ap plause.) Therefore, as they could fight their oppuneats ten times for less money than one scrutiny would cost, they had, wisely in his opinion, abandoned that part of the petition which involved a scrutiny. (" Hear," and cheers.) The truth of the alleged bribery and treating by Mr. Willane's friends might be estimated by this one tact of the election, protracted as it was over four months, costing no more than 4021. ; for Cut of that they had to pay 1001. for printing, 601. es their quota for polling booths, besides other legal charges which were Inseparable from a contested election. (Hear, hear.) Where, then, was the money for bribery, if they bad been disposed to bribe ? (Applause.) But as regards the corrupt practices on the other side, the corruption had not been proved by any means to the ex tent they were prepared to prove it. (Hear, hear). The organ of their opponents said they had not shrunk from the contest in parliament. Let them show that they are not afraid of the whole truth coming out, by joining in the re quest to parliament to grant a commission of inquiry on the spot, when the whole of the corruption would be disclosed without reservation, and all the facts come out in their disgusting enormity. (Applause.) He hoped that all par ties would concur in taking measures for a further and more searching investigation. (Hear, bear.) If they obtained this commission they would out be put to the enormous et penee of taking witnesses to London, but the commiseioners would sit at Huddersfield, and every man who was eta• mined would be protected from prosecution for anything they might have done, whereas in the House of Commons they were liable to be prosecuted if they mado any admis sions against themselves. (Hear, hear.) Collateral evi dence, too, could be taken, and in this way they would get at facts which no parliamentary committee could elicit. (Hear, hear.) For the credit of the borough and for their own honour they were bound, one and all, to unite in the demand for this investigation. (Cheers.) Mr. JOHN itonrssox seconded the resolution. The resolution was then put from the chair, and carried, with three dissentients only, amidst great cheering. Mr. Janes HANSON congratulated the meeting upon having decided to petition parliament for a commission of inquiry, which would thoroughly lay bare the corrupt practices that had. hitherto prevailed at the elections for this borough. It was not quite certain that the House of Commons would grant that inquiry, and therefore they could not stand still. In tho House of Commons they had defeated the party they could not defeat at the poll-booth. They all knew the reason why. (Cheers.) The sentence which had been pronounced proved that the majority of those persons who voted fairly and unbiassedly were sup porters of Mr.Willans. Mr. Stansfield had only 3.5 majority, and yet among his voters were no less than 60 publicans.— (Cries of "Disfranchise them.") Mr. Willana was returned member for Iluddersfield, and should now have been sitting for it. No doubt the same was the cue in MIL but Mr. Stansfield complacently congratulated himself on sitting so long as the representative of the beer barrel. (Cheers and laughter.) It was now clear to the world that the publicans and beer sellers had carried the two last elections in Hud dersfield. (Cries of " Disfranchise them.") When Mr. Stansfield was unseated, Mr. Willans ought forthwith to have been elevated to the seat. They had not prosecuted the petition to a resenting, because they found they could carry out a dozen elections with the mosey which the Km tiny would have cost. They were justified in what they had done by showing that their candidate had the majority of honest suffrages. Other resolutions for promoting the objects of the meeting having been carried, Mr. G. BILOOKE stated that to his knowledge there were at the last election cases of direct bribery, where two 51. notes were paid for a vote, and proposed a committee, con sisting of Messrs. Heaps, Hanson, Carr, Appleton, Jackson, Beardsall, and C. H. Jones, to carry out the first resolution. This was seconded by Mr. ROUERTS, and &greed to. Mr. WILLANS proceeded at some length to address the meeting. The meeting wan subsequently addressed by other gentle men, and, after some conversation, Mr. Willans consented to become a candidate. A contest is therefore inevitable, as Mr. Starkey's friends express their determination to go to the poll. Loss OP TIIREE FISHERMEN.—A very melancholy accident happened at Blyth, a town eleven miles north of the Tyne, on Monday. The weather had been very boisterous and stormy on the Northumberland coast during the previous week, with snow showers, but on Monday morning it seemed to clear away. Two fishing boats put out from Blyth in the morning, but had not been to sea more than two hours when the storm came on again. They put back. One boat got across the bar, but the second one, in taking the bar, it is supposed in consequence of having too much sail on, upset. A tug steam-boat put out to the assistance of the men, but before it could reach them they were drowned. ROYAL SEA-BATHING INFlRMARY.—Yesterday the half-yearly court of governors was held at the Lou don - Tavern; Mr. Warre in the chair. The minutes of proceedings since the last half-yearly court were read and confirmed, including the new rules (with the ex• caption of Rule 4), which were agreed upon at the extraor dinary general court held last week. The only other busi ness transacted consisted in the appointment of the presi dent, vice-presidents, directors, and officers for the ensuing year. Mr. Pugh, the Rev. Dr. Russell, Mr. Baker, Mr. P. NV. Cobb, and Sir B. Br ea were added to the list of vice presidents. Of the old list of directors ten were unani mouslT re-elected, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Hodgson. Mr. Vi eller then proposed that Mr. Alsager, Mr. Coach man, Mr. J. Curling, Mr. Paul, and Mr. Rowsell be the re maining five; on which the Rev. Mr. Hodgson proposed the following names instead : Mr. Tidd Pratt, Mr. W. R. White, Mr. Skeene, Mr. It. A. Heath, and Mr. T. L. Do- naldson. The latter list wan elected by a majority of 33 to 14. The old auditors were reappointed. Mr. White gave notice of motion, for confirmation by the next general court, to the effect that in future the governors be allowed to veto by proxy. The Rev. Mr. Curling and Mr. J. Curl ing pretested against the proposition as a dangerous innova tion. Several of the governors having expressed a hope that the proceedings of the charity would in future be con ducted with greater harmony than was heretofore the ease, the meeting adjourned. Goon FRIDAY IN LIVERPOOL—This day, together with the next (Saturday), is intended to be kept by the cotton merchants and share brokers of Liverpool as a holi day. The produce markets will also remain closed on the above days. Owing to the usual Liverpool grain market falling on the above date, the earn merchants hold no second market this week. FOREIGN MAILS DOW arrive at the General Post once at almost all hours of the night. As soon as flew , of their approach to London reaches tbs. General Cast-office from the outporta, by electric telegraph, a staff of clerks as summoned by messengers, and the mail is got ready for dis tribution. By this arrangement the whole of the temp mails arc delivered in Loudon and despatched by the morn ing wails, instead of being left behind, as was ota. n the case when the former did not arrive in London before four er five o'clock in the morning by the regular night mails. I