The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-26 00:00:00

the erprelio. TO CORREBI:ONDENTE lac= ;;*" Tlw hipresk” ell-MR.llft t l e WWI tasl•Qe p.,sit•.ed ',ay 'fund*, sad miry eight. is U. ter rac kr, reffreutuin' • fu: "Ifr Expries," Unties Evade. paper, ut •tm tu.ke, le, Baugerie.situst, Dp Two o'sask ea the pep J pb.Astiou. Tung WATEIt AT LONDON BRIDGE. 1, 1 . gt 4 T-11 , roma. 4a. a.. Alterman. 4i. 10m. 1,001a...4-110rmai, 4a Um.. ... J.llmrtaMa. 4k. 5040. LoNDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2G. I lERE is not, it appears, a statesman in the 110 , 4 . o f Lords, who will associate his reputation with the Burmese war. Lord ELLENBDROUGH boldly dewen.ces both its origin and its conduct ; Lord Ant RULES says• of course, he has nothing to do with it; Lord Detaiv protests that he only carried on what he found begun ; and, out of doors, the Court of 'firestone a.,sure their friends that they know no more about it than the rest of the public. The simple truth is that land DALHOUSIE began it on his own ro lonsibility ; what he commenced Lord yt we ri.itteeN I.F: GICIDED lazily sanctioned ; and the late Duke of WELLINOTON tardily justified, three %seeks before his death. And thus war after war in India is begun, without home control, without home responsibility, without home advice, without !tome sanction. The mischief is done, the honour of the British name is at stake, the credit of the 'latish U,rernment is involved, before the facts of the Mire come home, before the QUEEN'S Govern ment can be colieilted, before the public have any authentic information what it is aboct. And all that the present Pr.ssitett can do, when questioned, is' to siirug his shoulders and say that ever since he sat in the Disuse of Lords, every Governor &octal has gone out to India with peace on his lips, and immediately got into a war. A species of political philosophy, intended, we presume, to warn the people of ling.and that Indian wars will be in terminable. But Lord ABERDEEN forgets that this war with 3lurtuah is not an Indian war ; it is not a war for the defence of our frontiers, for the tranquillity of our fermium*, for the repulsion ofiggressions, or for the abatement of an ambitious and threatening power. It may be necessary to be jealous and exigeant, and peremptory and severe with provinces and states in 3adia ; to check and punish at once any insolence me their part; to nip in the bud schemes and designs foolish in reality, but dangerous in intent; to insist OD their doing just as we choose. All this may be necessary with the Rajpoots, the Mahrattas,—in the Deccan, sad in Oude. But these territories are in ladle; they are inseparably intermingled and mixed sip with our own, and no disturbances can occur therein n ithout the effects being felt throughout lades. It might further he necessary to extend our frontitrs into Seinde, to destroy the great armed con federacy in the Punjaub, and to occupy the country be !seen the Sutlej and the Alfghan chain. But all that is beside the question of this Burmese war. And when Lord Mist:La:EN lugs in former wars in India and en the north-west to help Lord DALHOUSIE out of the difficulty and discredit of a Burmese war, his lordship must be very hard pressed fur arguments and excuses. Burmah, it cannot he too often repeated, is out of Ineek—has nothing to do with India. Between it and India there are natural distinctions ; there is no connexion of language, religion, min ters, policy, or commerce; there is no danger and no intercourse. Lord DALHOUsIL'S predecessors had wisely recognised these facts ; had judiciously withdrawn front all interference in a country with which they had nothing to do ; and were under so little apprehension of the result, that eastward of Calcutta they habitually kept up fewer troops than in any other part of India. The country was known to be poor and worthless, the court to be ignorant and isolated, and the trade not worth having. Yet now we are upending 130,0001. a month on a war with Burmah ; in that war we have only gained dis credit and scandal ; we bare now one fifth of our whole force in hospital; and are losing 10 men a day by cholera. Already it has cost us much nearer two millions sterling than one. But by the last telegraphic announcement the end of hostilities seems further off than ever. When the war is ended we can never hope to repay its cost. In annexing I'egu we have laid the foundation of future wars ; and though we may very probably overthrow the Bur mese State, we shall only add to the misery of the people by that disorganisation of their country. And for what axe we doing and risking all this? To punish Burmese insolence. But are we quite certain that the Governor of Rangoon was really and intentionally offensive when he refused to receive a British deputation in the mid-day sun ? Do we know enough of the Burmese language, of Bur mese etiquette, of Burmese manners, to have no doubt ? Had we not rushed into a discussion about trifles that were certaiato beget offence ? And for any insults we received, would not the bombardment of Rangoon have been amply sufficient ? Why rush into a great war in a country where we can do no good, but where we are certain to do infinite harm ? Above all—what moral right have we to spend the revenues of the people of India in a war in which they have no concern ? We raise by Indian taxation out of the labour of the Indian population a net sum of twenty millions sterling a year. Throughout the whole of our terri tories we can only afford to spend 21 per cent. an nually on public works, which in India must be constructed by Government, for there is no one else to undertake them. The consequence is that the cultivation of India is retarded by the went of roads to convey its produce to market. But, though oar expense ander this head is so limited, here we are, in this Burmese war, spending 77i per cent. of the net India—spending it, too, in a contest in which the people of India, who furnish the means of carrying it ea, have no more interest than they have in open ingap Japan. No doubt, we are conquerors in India ; and the rights of conquest and predominance are ill-defined. But this, surely, is as great an abuse of power as can well be imagined ? To maintain ourselves in India is our duty ; and, for wars necessary to that maintenance, the people of India must pay. But the misery of Lord DAL ROCHE'S wretched war with Burnish is, that,—wholly unnecessary for any rational purpose, either Indian or Eoglish,—its cost is paid b y - the people of India, sad its discredit recoils on the people of England. It enures India by a profligate expenditure of its remits out of the sphere of its own existence; it awns England by accustoming us to unjust wars, carried on at other people's expense ; it injures both by diminishing the power of India to export what we went, and to consume what we can amply. And of this war all the Paaratit can say is, that we always have been at war in India, and, for anything be Wu, always will be! Even day now brings forth new illustrations ti the system of Electoral corruption and of the agonised efforts that are made to conceal it. To a ITeat extent the latter have hitherto been eucoessful. Many cases have suddenly and silently disappasred hem the list of inculpations. Sometimes the electors have been bamboalled,—sometimes the candidate', — tad, no in the ease of Norwich, sometimes both. ,‘WelcKso printedons of the T on Thursdayory a letter from Colonel "s, candidates at the last election (or the city of Norwich, in which he caw Plains, with soldier-like brevity and frankness, of the moaner in which his own rights, and those °[ 1 400 electors who supported him, had been korificed by a clandestine compromise. The pliant colonel does not mince matters. He woes the parties to the corrupt bargain, and the emaidenition given and received. He asserts broadly that the petitions against the sitting members for Gloucester, Middlesex, Norwich, and Kidderminster were withdrawn upon the stipulation that those for Y.onehall, Dow n C oun t y , an d t h e wes t ern di v i s i o n of Norfolk should be abandoned on the other, the ow e:stars of the bargain being Mr. Bitowm and Mr. C°l '. 7° M, the leading Parliamentary agents for the Tortes and the Whigs respectively. To what ex i!et these worthies ma have acted by autho at] of the other parties concerned, it will be tor Mr. I.(x.xe KING's committee to determine. But for himself and his support ers Colonel DICKSON tee in the strongest terms all previous know orsubsequent sanction of tho proceedings. had is no denial has yet appeared on the part of the individuals concerned, the public, however incredu lous they may have been, and however disposed to regard the statement as the ebullition of disappoint ment or vexation, would have probably come to the conclusion that four seats on the one side of the Rouse had actually been bartered for four seats upon the other, in unblushing defiance of sip decency, jus tice, and law. But the matter is not to be suffered to rest in the dim regidn of probability or conjPeture. The elec tors of Norwich seem wisely determined not to sub mit to being jockeyed in this fashion. And to do Colonel Dices()); justice, he appears to have no mind to be contented with firing a Parthion shot, and then desisting from the encounter. On Thursday list two petitions on the subject, each of them praying for redress under the peculiar circumstances of the case, were presented to the I louso of Commons. The first was from the electors who had originallv sub scribed the election petition complaining of the re turn of ono of the members for Norwich, and pray ing that a full investigation might take place before a Parliamentary committee into the means whereby that return had been procured. They alleged the prevalence of undue influence and of treating upon the occasion in question, and these Electoral sins they declared themselves in a condition to prove were the opportunity afforded them. Whilst engaged in the preparation of proofs in sup port of their case, they were startled at learning that it had been surreptitiously withdrawn by the agent fur the Carlton Club, and finding their ex postulations treated with neglect and derision, they naturally resolved upon appealing to the justice and honour of the House. Rumours have reached us of attempts made in certain quarters to smother this appeal • and, if we are not wh o lly m i s i n f orme d, th ere have been some delays in making it for which the petitioners are not answerable. Oa Thursday even ing, however, the case was brought before Parliament by Colonel BuLDeno, supported by Mr. Hesav DRUMMOND and Mr. LOCKE KING. As a pre liminary, the petition was read by the clerk at the table, and then entered to be printed with the votes. Soon afterwards Mr. BUN COMBE rose to call the attention of the House to what he conceived to be a breach of privilege committed by Mr. BROWN, the 80i-dia./ne. agent for the petitioners. He stated that he was intrusted with a separate petition from Colonel 'fret:sus himself, complaining that his rights as a candidate claiming the seat now occupied by Mr. WARNER had been unwarrantably compromi.,d without his knowledge, and in defiance of his wishes and intentions in the manner already de scribed, and praying to be heard at the bar in their vindication. A certain uneasy fluttering of the spirits became perceptible on both sides of the chair its the honourable member for Finsbury proceeded to detail what had occurred, and to comment in his characteristic style of caustic wit upon the nature of the transaction. The Chairman of Ways and Means, Mr. WILSON P.I'LLEN, endeavoured to interpose by railing aqu stion of order. But the imperturbable member for Finsbury was not to be baulked in his purpose. And, after somewhat super ciliously quizzing the member for North Lancashire for his disorderly efforts in favour of order, he con tinued to expose at some length the conduct of the parties accused; and to expatiate, with his usual clearness and point, upon the consequences which must ensue if such things could be done with impu nity. Mr. Hume suggested that, as in the former instance, the petition should first be printed, in order that the members might be put in possession of all the facts alleged before the House was called on to decide on the course which it ought to pursue ; and, some doubts having been expressed by the SPEAKER as to whether the question were one that came within the technical limits of what is called "privilege," Mr. DENCOMBE contented himself with adopting Mr. HumE's suggestion, and giving notice that he es mild bring the whole subject forward on an early day. We have endeavoured to lay the circumstances of this most extraordinary affair before our readers with a strict adher, nee to impartiality. The ques tion is not one of party, but of public and national importance, affecting the essential character of our representative system, and as such, of infinitely more weight and moment than any temporary convenience of cliques or clubs. We care not whom the shoe pinches. Our warfare is directed against the scandalous per version of all electoral right and equity which has been suffered to grow up and organise itself under the shadow of great political parties, to their dis honour, and to the detriment of the people. We are determined, as far as in us lies, to rend to shreds the veil of conventional reserve under which the re ciprocities of electioneering intrigue have hitherto been shrouded. And we care not who may find it convenient to shrink from the performance of so pal pable a duty, we shall persevere in the discharge of ours. Tho truth, and the whole truth, must come out, be the process of extracting it what it may. THE SURPLUS SCHEME. The following five members of her Majesty's go vernment have been elected ex-officio members of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1861, in pursuance of the charter giving it powers t, carry out the Surplus Scheme :—The President of the Council, the First Lord of the Treasury, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, the President of the Board of Trade, and the First Commissioner of Works. Mr. Disraeli has also been elected a member of the Commission. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY E VENING, FEBRUARY 26, 1853 [ Switzerland. The Federal Council has not yet come to any decision with regard to the affair of Ticino. To-morrow it is to hold another sitting. It is be lieved that the resolution of the Council will rezoncilo international duties with the dignity of Switzer land. The blockade is so vigorous that even the de livery of salt, stipulated by a recent treaty, is not effected. Even salt that has been paid for is retained. Provisions are becoming dear. The support of the confederation is relied upon." We have mentioned that a • seizure of arms, [ destined for the insurgents of Milan, had been [ effected at Poschiavo, in the canton of the Grisons. It is now stated, in a Swis• journal, that the parties in whose possession they were found will be tried in the ordinary course by a Federal Court of Assizes, in vir,uo of Article 101 of the Federal Constitution relative to offences against international law. TURKEY. SERIOUS RUMOURS FROM CONSTANTINOPLE. The Austrian Emperor appears to have openly broken with the Sultan, and appealed to the terror of his arms. A telegraphic despatch front Vienna has reached Paris with the important intelligence that, by accounts which had just arrived from Constantinople, Count do Lciaingen, the Austrian ambassuder extraordinary, upon receiving the Sul. tan's refusal to accept his ultwiatuna, had left Con stantinople with the wh o le o f th e A us trian legation. It is added that the Ottoman Porte immediately placed itself under the protection of England and France. Let this information be confirmed, and it would seem as if for the moment the continued existence of Turkey were dependent on the rebulution of this country and France. In this juncture, we have a new Minister of Foreign Affairs, and our ambassador to the Ottoman Porto is ab sent on leave. M. Lacour, who, as we yesterday annonneed, goes as representat:‘e of France to Con stantinople, has the advantage of rem , ing thither fresh from Vienna, and may have been selected partly on account of the acquaintance which he may be presumed to possess with the intentions of the Austrian government respecting Turkey. Just as Austria takes her most menacing attitude the Czar sends Prince Nlenschikoff, to demand a full com pliance with Russian wishes on the subject of the 1 holy places. The character of the Prince's negotia ' Lions appears in the fact, that, together with diplo matic functions, he is invested with the command in chief of the three corps clarnitlc assembled in Bcaa rabia and on the Turkish frontier. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE FRANKLIN. Yesterday, at noon, the United States mail steamer Franklin arrived at Cowes, having le:t New York on the 12th instant. She brought half a million of dollars in specie, and 80 boxes of merchandise. Her news is four days later in date than that which has , been previously received. A joint session of Congress was held on Feb. 0, in the hall of the house, for the purpose of counting tRe electoral votes for President and Vice-President of the United States from the ith of March next. The tellers .having performed their duty, the President of the Senate rose, and officially declared that Franklin Pierce and William R. King were duly elected, atter which the two bodies separated. The committee on foreign relations have reported that the encroachments of British settlers in Central America, either with or without the consent of their government, is a matter for adjudication between England and those states; but that any attempt of the former poem to extend its possessions in that region, would be a direct violation of treaty stipu lations with this country. The exercise of actual do minion by (ireat Britain in that portion of America, would also be a question to which this government can never be indifferent. Upon the whole, the commit 'tee consider it unnecessary to adopt any measures with regard to the carrying oat of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty. Here it is probable the matter will rest for the remainder of the session. Not so, how , ever, with regard to the Tehuantepec affair ; for it is believed that the decided and uncompromising opposition of certain freesoil senators against the report and resolutions of the foreign committee, has only added to their strength ; and it is therefore' probable that something more than of a merely pas sive character will shortly be decided upon. Whether the claims of the present owners of the Garay grant will be sustained at all hazards, or whether all existing treaties with Mexico will be repealed, and all means for the protection of their frontier inhabitants against the Indians be withdrawn, will doubtless soon be made manifest. Late New Orleans papers confirm the telegraphic report of the inexcusable secure, bl the Mexican authorities at Tampico, of five Californians, who were returning to the United States by the overland route through Mexico. Five dollars in gold dust were forcibly taken from the party, under the plea that they had neglected to pay export duty. 'The American consul, Mr. Chase, had protested against this official outrage. It is to be hoped that our government will promptly investigate this transac tion. The telegraph also reiterates the statement that a detachment of the National Guards, under the leadership of Colonel Rodriguez, had been captured, after a severe fight, and executed, for having con spired to take possession of the city. A despatch from New Orleans announces the arrival of the steamship Philadelphia, with advioes from California to the 16th ult.—two weeks later. The news from the gold regions is still very unfavour able ; the miners were deterred from prosecuting ' their labours by the freshets—the roads were gener ally impassable, and, in many place*, flour brought one dollar per pound. This article, however, as well as several others, had receded in price in the San Francisco market. The New York steamers, Ohio and Uncle Sam, were left at Aspinwall. The former had five hundred passengers and a million and a half in gold dust on board. This is over three hundred thousand dollars less than was brought by the Georgia, two weeks ago. The decrease is, of course, accounted for by the floods. The New York Herald of Saturday, Feb. 12, says tho Ericsson will leave her moorings either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning, and proceed to sea. She will be kept out seven days upon a general and prolonged trial, in order to test the working of her machinery and ascertain her rate of speed. A discre tionary power is given to Captain Lowber either to run her in at Washington or return to New York at the end of this period. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Raw You, FIB. 12. They. was quite an actin market this morning, but prioes were not very well sustained. The coal stocks were in demand, but the offerings were exceedingly large, and the operations much more extensive than usual. After • day or two of buoyancy, Phcanix fell off 2 per cent to-day, and closed heavy. Parker Vein meld at an advance of 5 per cent. on the lowest price yesterday. Cumberland remains about the same. It has not varied 2 per cent during the last sixty days, and the daily transactions have been large. At the lint board to-day Harlem declined 1 psr cent.; Po tomac Copper 1 ; Mora Yining , ; Hodson River Railroad, 1; . . Canton Company snot cop i Per oent.; Branewick, 1 oaken' Indiana, 1. Rail road Bonds were active, at sli ghtly improving prices. BRRADITI7I7II.-Flour was offered on easier terms, and consequently attracted more attention. The day's business amounted to 12,000 bbls. sour at 4 dole. 684e.1 to 4 dots. 811 e. . • superfine No. 2, at 4 dole. 75c to 4 dole. 871 c. • rye at 4 dole. 500. to 4 dole. 621 e. ; ordinasy to choice State, at 5 dole. 121 e. to 6 dole. 311 e. ; mixed to fancy Western, at 5 doll. 371 c. to 5 dole. 561 e, ; common to good Ohio and fancy Clans's., at 6 dela. 5610. to 6 dole. 6810. ; fancy Ohio at 5 dots. 621 e. to 6 dols. 75e. ; mixed to good Southern, at 6 dole. 621 c. to 6 dole. 8110. • sates Western and favourite Southern, at 5 dole 75c. to idols. 181 c. ; extra Genesee, at 5 dole. 76e. to 6 dole. 43/c., and fancy Southern at 6 dole. 25c. to 7 dols. 60e. About 140 bbls. Jitney meal changed bands at 3 dole. 50e. per bbl. Wheat waa not very brisk ; there were 12,000 bushels Southern white sold (part last evening) at 1 del. 27c. to 1 dol. 280. per bushel. Rye and barley continued inanimate. State and Western oats were in demand at 46c. to 40e. per bushel. Corn remained about the same, the sales reached 40,000 bushels, at 62c. to 63c. for damaged, and 64e. to 680. for new Southern white and yellow, per bushel. Corrox.-•The market continues heavy, and to effect sales holders must submit to lower prices. The transactions were supposed to reach 450 bales to day. Fazionrs wore more active, but lower for Liverpool, for which port about 30,000 to 40,000 bushels of grain were eugaged at 7d. in bulk, and 1,000 barrels flour were re ported at 2s. sd. Rates to London and Havre were quiet. To Australia 700 bbls. flour were engird at 3 dole. 50e., and 500 do. to San Francisco by en ordinary sailer, at the same figure, while rates by clippers were firm at previous rates. FRANCE• PARIS, FAIDAT Evmmto. All the prisoners arrested on Feb. 6 have now been set at liberty. The affair, which from the first, has become small by degrees and beautifully lees, is now technically known as that of the " foreign correspon dents," all hope of establishing a cue of conspiracy having been a ba ndoned. Most of the correspondents recently liberated have been called upon to find bail, but it is very unlikely that the law officers will en coenter the risk of defeat in a public prosecution. Many of the culprits being literary men of ability will perhaps some day_ turn their prison adventures to good account. M. Hartmann,the German poet, does not speak badly of Mazes. He found the gaolers polite and obliging; they gave him u much stationery as he wanted, and he bman an epic poem, which he proposes to finish on the occasion of his next im prisonmeat. He found the rations not bad, and no difficulties were interposed against sending out to bay anything. Upon the whole M. Hartmann ' who has been arrested upon a political charge in his own country, says he wield rather pus three weeks in a French than three hours in a German prison. Still he thinks the cellular vet= execrable, and though bearing no malice, does not scruple to affirm that three weeks' imprisonment when one has committed no offence is far too long. Marshal Harvest, atter having been detained at Marsan, by indisposition, on his way from Bayonne, has arrived in Paris, and, according to the Patrie, in spits of all that has been said to the contrary, he yet purposes to proceed to Vienna, in pursuance of his sovereign's orders. General Reschid, Envoy Extraordinary of the Bey of Tanis, has arrived in Paris. I understand it to be decided upon that the long talked of universal exhibition will positively be opened in 18M, in the Crystal Palace now building in the Champs Elyskee. IL Boyer, honorary President of the Court of Cas eation, died yesterday at Paris, in his 99th year. A letter from Epinal (Vosges) states that for the last four days the snow has fallen without intermis sion. Sledges were used in the streets instead of wheel-carriages, and the town presents quite a Mus covite appearance. The Commandeer Marques Lisboa, Envoy Extra teary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Em the Brazils, has had an audience of his Westy the Emperor of the French, to present his new letters of credence. He was conducted to and from the Tuileries with the usual ceremonial. On Mooday . last the Countess de Sohn', a lady long resident in Paris, received an order from the Minister of Police to gait France within five days, and to appear personally at the Prefecture of Police as soon as poestble, to receive her passport. This order proceeded upon the assumption that the coun tess was a foreigner, and, as such, liable, pursuant to a law of December 3, 1849, to be expelled by the executive power without cause as signed. The lady, however, asserts that her husband is a Frenchman, and if this fact were established it would be beyond dispute that she, although a fo reigner by birth, has all the civil rights and privi leges of a Frenchwoman. On Wednesday, M. Her rye? made an application on her behalf to the civil tribunal of tho Seine for a summons against the minister of police, in order that her marriage with a Frenchman might be judicially established. M. Moignon, the imperial advocate, opposed the appli cation, upon the tread ground that the order for expulsion was an "administrative act"—the cant term for an arbitrary act—and could not be disputed. M. Berryer said it that were the Cabe any citizen whatever might be expelled the country upon the pretext of his being a foreigner. He admitted that the order of the minister of pollee was an administra tive act, so far as the motives for it were concerned and into those he was aware he could not inquire, but he contend e d th a t the court was the natural judge of the nationality of all citizens, and when ho should have I.,:ablished the nationality of the Countess de Selma, the eider for her expulsion must necessarily fall to the ground. 'lke imperial advocate, interrupting, said the countess might sub mit the proofs of her marriage to the Minister ce Police, and if he thought them insufficient he would pay no attention to the judgment of the court. NI. Herryer energetically 'Retested against the doctrine that the Minister of Police was above the law. The court, without adopting the arguments of the impe rial advocate, gave judgment against the applicant upon technical grounes. The were of opinion that her husband, as well a s th e Minister of Police, was a necessary party to the proceedings, and as he hod not been cited in due form, the application could not be snstsidcd. It appeared from M. Bcrryer ' s state ment that the lady 's husband was absent from Paris. A trial of universal interest will be brought on in a few days before the p:rmanent court-martial of Paris. An individual baa been denounced by several workmen of the Faubourg St. Antoine as the person who shot the Archbishop of l'aris upon the barricades in June, 1848. M. Nogeus Saint-Laurent is retained for the defence. The Council of State, presided over by the Em peror in person, sat yesterday for four hours at the Tuileries. All the ministers were prevent. The de bate on all such oecadons is secret, but the subject under discussion on this and several preceding days is understood to be the budget. The government papers now miss no opportunity of discrediting the notion that France entertains hostile designs towards England. All letters and speeches of the peace party in England are carefully translated and extensively circulated. Mr. J. D. P 0.% les' letter to Lord Mount Edgecumbo appears at length in the Movviteer to-day. M. Leon Letebvre Duruth!, son of the ex-minister of public works, the sole surviving member of the scientific commission sent to South America hut year, has returned to France. Ilis colleagues, MM. Devine and Duret, died of yellow fever at Rio Janeiro. Typhus fever is now very prevalent. During the rapid alternations of hard frost and cold thaw which wn barb experienced within the last few days it has greatly increased. There are as many as 500 cases in the different hospitals. The type, however, is not of a very severe character. A pretended Greek prince, well known through out Europe, named Georges Mitakv, a native of Smyrna, has been condemned at Wiesbaden to 20 years' bard labour in the public wotks for a fraud of 19,000 francs on the banking house of Huyn, at Ems, and another of 2,000 francs on Mons. Berle, a banker of Wiesbaden. He had previously been con victed of similar crimes at Paris, Zurich, Hamburg, and Frankfort. The fall at the Bourse to-day was attributed to lower quotations from Vienna, g►ving rise to sur mises that the Emperor's wound was more serious than has been hitherto supposed, and also to an ar ticle in the Dads callin4 attention to the tone of a certain portion of the English press with regard to Turkey. GERMANY. A telegraphic despatch from Hanover announces that that government had published in the official Gazette the royal ordonnance for carrying out the commercial treaty with Prussia. As far as lianovcr is concerned this treaty will lead to an augmentation of customs duties. In making this publication, the Ilanoverian go vernment suppresses the free port of Barburg. A letter from Berths of the 21st, in rho Ind:pen dance Beige, gives some details concerning the com mercial treaty signed between Prussia and Austria on the 10th. It says: The principal treaty is followed by separate articles, and then by a final protocol. The other document.) embrace .- Ist. A detailed list of the objects which in the commerce between the two countries shall be either freed from all duty, or subjected to a small amount of duty. 2ndly. A list of articles which may be visited with export duties between the two countries. 3rdly. A customs list' (solllsartel). • And 4thly. A table of various coins, and their value (nswask.artel). As to the articles, the let declares that the contracting parties engage not to trammel the reciprocal commerce of the two countries by any prohibition of importation, exportation, or transit. To this there are these exceptions :-Ist. To bacco, salt, gunpowder, playing cards, and almanacks. 2ndly. Sanitary reasons. And 3rdly. Cases of war. Ac cording to Art. 23, commissioners are to meet in the course of 1833, to decide on the measures to be taken for carrying out the treaty. Art. 2.5 flees the duration of the treaty from Ist of January, 18.51, to December 31, 1865. In the par 1880, the commissioner named to that effect are to examine the question of the Customs Union, and in ease it cannot be effected, they are to seek out facilities of com merce of a more extensive kind than those provided for by Art. 3of the treaty. Art. 28, which is one of the most im portant of the whole, runs thus :—" The other German States forming tart of the Prussian Zollverein, on the Ist of January, 1804, will be allowed to accede to the present treaty; the same faculty is reserved to the Italian States, which are or shall be united to Austria in a customs' union." Art. 27 (the last) declares that the ratiiimition of the present treaty shall take place in the course of a month. The treaty has been communicated to the states of the coalition, and the re-opening of the customs conference will take place immediately. The Zollveretn is looked on u re. onsutnted. The Emperor of Austria has received from all the courts of Germany messages of congratulation on his escape from the knife of Lebenyi. To mark the oc casion, Baron Sins has placed at the disposal of the government 10,000 florins, in 6,per cent. metalliques, for the establishment of a hospital, aid the bonier, Stametz-Meyer, has given 5,000 florins to be dia.!, tributed to the poor of Vienna. A Dresden journal states that the events at Milan have determined the authorities in Saxony to exer cise a strict surveillance over everything, either ' nearly or distantly connected with political intrigues. Several individuals who have been in the habit of wearing hats of an eccentric shape have been ordered to lay them aside ; and the Sokvonian round hats, with or without ribbons, have been also prohibited., ITALY. Letters from Milan of the 19th state that the Austrian military authorities, who know M. Mu sini a little better than some writers on this side the Alps, were convinced that he was at Milan. Such was the surveillance exercised, that coffins were opened at the gates in order to ascertain if Marmini did not occupy the place of a corpse. A similar watch was kept along the frontier of Ticino, to arrest the dreaded chief, should he have succeeded in escaping from Milan. Finally, a telegraphic order had been forwarded to Venice and Trieste to sand ships of war to cruise along the coasts of Venetia, the lega tions, and Tuscany. A letter from Bologna of the 18th inst. announces that the civil and military government of the pro vince had repealed the authorisation to carry arms, which it had given, in 1850, to the country inhabi tants who were most exposed to the attacks of the banditti. Aooording to Turin letters of the 21st the Sardi nian government was persevering in the expulsion of refugees supposed to be dangerous. A number of i them were to be removed to Genoa, and embarked on board the British war steamer Retribution, and others in the American frigate Cumberland. It was stated that the loan of 2,000,000 Bente@ had been nego tiated with the house of Rothschild in Paris. We read in the Nouvelle Gazette de Zurich, of the 22nd :—" According to a report forwarded to the government by the federal commissary, Colonel Dour geo a , natives of Ticino, expelled from Lom bardy, had already arrived in the canton. Two thou sand more were expected. There are in tho canton of Ticino 5,800 Austrians, and 9,000 in the rest of THE AFRICAN MILS. (lIY XLICCTBIC TELEGRAPII.) PLYMOUTH, avrcaort Moasiso. The Fropontis, Captain Glover, has arrived. On her outward voyage she reached Madeira Dec. 15 ; Goree Dee. 22; Bathurst, 23; Sierra Leone, 28 ; Liberia, 31 ; Cape Coast, Jan. 3; Accra, 4 ; Lam 6; Bonny, 8; Old Calabar, 10; Fernando Po, 11, and left that port on her homeward route, Jan. 14 ; Lagos, 17 ; hydah and Accra, 18; Cap e est, 20 ; Liberia, 25 ; Sierra Leone, 31 • Bathurst, Feb. 4 ; Goree, 4 ; Ten er iff e , 12; Madeira, 14 ; Corunna, Feb. 22. She has a full cargo of palm oil, camwood, arrow root, cayenne pepper, &c., and eleven packages of bullion. 11.M.5. Britomart was at Lagos on the 4th, and the Alecto ou the sth. Tho Bloodhound arrived from Sherboro, at Sierra Leone, on the 30th January. The Forerunner passed Liberia on the 20:h January. The Propontis"spoke H.M.S. Polyphemus, January 25th, twenty-six miles south of Cape Messurade. The United States sloop of war John Adams sailed 30th January, from Sierra Leone for Liberia. The African mail packet Faith passed Teneriffe Feb. Bth. Four steamers of the French navy were at Geree on the 4th February. The Propontis yoke Jan. 19th barque Ann Watson, off Whydah, and Feb. 27th brig Azot, latitute 38, long. 12.15 west, reaching to the westward. ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMER AUSTRALIAN. (BY ELECTRIC rzLtonarir.) PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY, Etour P.M. The Royal Mail Steam Ship Australian, Captain ll.ca.oti, which sailed fir the Cape and Australia yester day afternoon, put back into the Sound the, evening, a leak ha•iug broken out in tho engine TJOIII during the night. She will probably go into duck to-morrow, and be detained • al days. fie Court. The Queen held a court yesterday afternooon at Buckingham Palace. Viscount Stratford de Role G.C.8., her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Sultan of Turkey, had en audience of the Queen to take leave, on his return to his embassy at Constantinople. The Right Hon. Sir Henry Lytton Balwer, G C. 8., had en audience of her Majesty, on his arriv a l, on t em p orary leave of absence, from his legation at the court of Fiurcnce. Tire noble viscount and Sir Henry weep respectively pre sented to the Queen by the Earl of Clakendon, K.G., her Majesty's principal Secretary of St etc foi Foreign A Gift The Queen was attended by Lril Ricers, Lord in Wait ing, and Sir Edward Bowater, Groom in Waiting. The Duchess of Kent visited her Mlijesty yesterday, at Buckingham l'alace. Prince Albert presided yesOrday afternoon at a meeti ng of the Commission for Promoting and Encouraging the Fine Arts in the re-building the Palace of Westminster. I His Royal Highness, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, arrived at the Palace of Westminster at three o'clock. The commissione-s present were the Earl of Car lisle, Lord Colborne, Sir Robert H. !ugh+, Bart., M.P., and Mr. Hallam. Sir Charles L. Eastlake, the secretary, attended. After the breaking uts of the meeting the Prince inspected some part of the building. His Royal Ili/Locos left at 2.lminutes past 3 o'clock, attended by Lteut.-Volonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Countess of Dewitt, the Hon. Caroline Cavenili.h, the Ilea. Flora Macdonald, Lord Riven, Lord Alfred Paget, and Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, honoured the performance of the French Play last evening with their presence. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Princess Adelaide of liohenlohe, and attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Lieut.-Colonel Seymour, honoured the Prin cess's Theatre with her presence last evening. The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester-house. A deputation from Salisbury, with respect to the carry ing out of the Public Health Act in that borough, had an interview, yesterday, with the General Board of Health, at their offices, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Mr. George Sutton, Mr. Alderman Smith, and Messrs. James George Coombs, Vandenhoff, and Farmnt. Captain Beauclerc had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen, yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. Despatches were salt to the Governor-General of Canada, yesterday, from the Colonial-office. Despatches were also sent to the Governor of Victoria. -PA deputation from Brighton, consisting of Admiral Sir G. B. Pechell, Bart., M.P., Lord Alfred Mewl, M.P., ' Mr. William Beedharn (high constable), Mr. Jobn Year slay, and Mr. Richard Edwards, had an interview with Sir William Molesworth yesterday, at the Office of Works and Public Buildings. A deputation from the Town Council of Wakefield, con. silting of the Mayor and Mr. Councillor Thomas Mickle thwaite, accompanied by Mr. George Sandals., M.P., on the subject of the Public Health Act being introduced into Wakefield, had an interview yesterday with Sir W. Mules worth. A deputation from Wakefield Waterworks Company, the Gas Company, tho Public Charities, and Borough Market Company, cousiqing of Dr. Wood and Mr. W. Stewart, accompanied by Mr. George Sanders, on the subject of the special clauses fur fixing amount of rating of their bodies at one-fourth of the annual vales, had yesterday an inter view with Sir W. Idolesworth. (FROM LAST NIGHT'S °STITT') Dowrasn-faulit. - r, FEB. 25.—The Queen has been pleaseii to appoint Benjamin Boothby, Esq., to be second julge of the Supreme Court of the colony of South Aus tralia. Her Majesty has also been pleased to make the following appointments for the colony of Victoria ' via.:— Claude Fairie Esq., to be Sheriff; laugh Culling Eerdley Childers, Es q., to be Auditor-General; Edward Grimes, Esq., to be immigration agent ; George William Rusden, Esq., to be clerk of the Executive Council. Her Majesty bas further been pleased to appoint Henry M'Crea Watson, Esq., to be president of sorters in the Pat - office at the Cape of Good Hope. WAR-OFFICE, Fan. 25. Ist Regiment of Dragoons.—Lieutenant Michael Stocks to be captain, by purchase, vice Bartellot Bartellot, who retires ; Comet Walter John Coney to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Stocks. 40th Foot----Ensign Arthur Marquhard Moller, from the 96th Foot, to be ensign, vice Ellis, appointed to the 22nd Foot. 46th Foot.—Ensign John William De Lisle Evans has been permitted to retire from the service by the sale of him companion. 71st Foot—Ensign Charles George Wingfield, from the 65th Foot, to be Ensign, vies Cabin, appointed to the 60th Foot. 77th Foot.—Lieutenant Thomas Harold Meade, from ha* pay 13th Foot, to be lieutenant, vice Ronald., whose supenenion was announced in the Casette of 18th Feb., 1803, Ensign Henry Edward Chawner to be lieutenant, by muchan, vice Meade, who retires. lit West India Regiment.—Lieutenant Frederick Jane Hills, from paymaster 3rd West India Regiment, to be lieutenant, vice Coen, appointed to the Royal Newfound land Companies; Ensign William Henry l'enoyre Fitz- Morris Btrachan to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Hills, who retires. _ P1.0Y18I01fAI: BATTALION AT CITATNAII.—Ensign Junta Menzies, from the 98th Foot to be quartermaster. HOSPITAL STAPlP.—lnspector-Oen. Andrew Smith, M.D., Superintendent of the Army Medical Department, to be director-general of the army and ordnance medical de partments; Charles Benjamin Masse, gent, to be assist ant surgeon to the forces, vice Alexander Robertson, M.D., who resigns. flissrrscasis.—Lieutenant Charlee John Boatelsler, from the Bth Hassan, to be eispitin, by purchase. HENONANDUII.--Captain Edward James Mi to:W, unat tached, has been permitted retire from the army by the sale of his commission, he being about to become • settler in Canada. COMMISSARIAT. Dept% Assistant Commissary-General leen Ramsay McColl Dos been permitted to resign Cis commiesion from 21st January, 1863. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Fem. 24. Royal Regiment of Artillery.—Second Lieutenant Leonard Sumner Joyce to be first lieutenant, vice Ramsay, de ceased. NEW DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS. John Eastwood, Esq., - and I.LOTInd Waterton, Esq. _ WICASTiIt. Thomas Edwards Moss, Esq. ;NEW SPECIAL DEPUTY WARDENS. The Hon. George ii;tiew FOrtascue; John Michael Williams, Esq.; Thomas Simon Bolitho, Esq.; Edwia L. 7, E.q• THE MILITIA. (From Friday's Gairetb.) The following commissions have been signed : Frederick Martin Williams, gent., to be tint lieutenant in the Royal Cornwall and Devon Miners Regiment of Militia. --- Render St. Aubyn, gent., to bo first lieutenant in ditto. Second Lieutenant Philip Sandy Torn to be first lieute nant in ditto. Franco Freeman, Esq., to be captain in Ist Regiment of West York Militia. Charles Edward Hill, gent., to bo lieutenant in ditto. Edward Orlando Vern Haldane, Esq., to be lieutenant, vice Fyne, resigned, in the 2nd Regunent of West York Militia. George John Thornton, gent., to be ensign in ditto. Valentine Hicks Labron, gent., to be ensign in ditto. William Garfortb, Esq., to be captain in the 3rd Regi ment of West York Militia. John Cranky Sutcliffe, Esq., to be captain in ditto. CONTROVERTED ELECTION COM MI r FEES. CHA. Yesterday the committe T e HA re a ssembled, Mr. flram ston in the chair. Mr. Edwin Jamer,Q C., in an eloquent and energe•ic address of three hours' duration, summ e d t.o. ease fir the petitioners, commenting on the facts elicited in evi dence, and on the conduct of Sir Frederick Smith his culpability in carrying out and encouraging in his n*ii per son a systematic course of bribery. Sir Frederie::. under the act of parliament, had been guilty, nut only ..f corria:it practices, but of mi , d, meanoura. The cue, in Pp , corrupt ness of its features nod flagrant character of its disclosures, could no: be exaggerated. As involving a question of pub lic importance it was one of the mast imporiant kind, seeing that public attention was now very mentally ad dressed to these questions as affecting the stab..ti.-y privi. leges of the House of Commons itself. It was important, moreover, as affecting the welfare of the electura' onstitu eneies of the country. It might be that Sir Frtil, reek had erred with greater men in an unguarded moment, and in tho heat of contest ; but, however th a t mig h t be, tho facts would be dealt with by the strictly impartial and stern sense of justice of the com mittee. He (Mr. [James) reign...N(l that this task was imposed upon him, and hoped it would riot bi thought he wished to wound Sir Frederick's feelings. Indeed, hu (Mr. James) could not think that the feelings of Sir F. Smith could tic more wounded than they had been already during the inquiry, at the whole of which he had been pre sent. The learned counsel proceeded to comment on the conduct of Sir F. Smith, who, during the entire canvass, took the initiative in bribing the voters, telling thew ho came before them possessed of government influoi:cc and patronage to purchase their votes, and, tapping his hand ea his breast putter, saying he had a letter front his frit nil the Duke of Northumberland. The learned counsel also put in a letter from the mother of Beck on, one of the svitnesses, asking Sir Fre.lerick fur an appointment fir her son, oho had just returned from sea. He was second mast, r, r.n.l she applied for a master's sitttati in for him. Ile further put in the reply of Sir F. Smith to M . Hutson, in which he apologised for uot sooner noticing her communication, hut appointed a meeting with her husband and son at the Sun Inn, Chatham, where Sir Frederick said he should be happy to FCC them. Mn. Ilee:sna finished the letter of application for her son to Sir Frederick by saying, " we will do all we can for you here." Mr. Merewether, Q C., then opened fur the sitting mem ber, characterising the case, as made out by the politiuners„ as one of the greatest conspiracies against a gallant Oilier and gentleman that had ever been brought before a com mittee of the house. The facts set forth were ire oporated lies, and th incorporated lies formed the conspiracy —the witnesses were people false and perjured. It was a personal attack upon the gallant officer, who had filled important commands in the service of his country for the last 47 years. The government of the day had selected hint to occupy tic important pest of inspector of railways, and bad placed him in the command of the south eastern dis trict. Wu it for a moment to be inferred that an officer who had been entrusted with such high offices, requiring the exercise of the highest integrity, fitness, and honour, could be capable of such transactions ? The horned counsel occupied the attention of the com mittee up to five o'clock with a commentary on the ease as opened by the petitioners, and will proceed this day to in dicate the course of evidence proposed to be adduced on be half of the sitting member. BRIDGNORTII. When the committee re assembled yesterday morning, at H o'clock, Mr. Bette was examined by Mr. Clark—ls articled clerk to Mr. Vickers, professional agent to Sir It. Pigot. Witness married a cousin of Mr. Head's (the last witness.) Has received assistance from Mr. Head, and knows tl.e Milnere have also. This witness spoke to the meeting at his house related by the last witness, of Mr. Vickers, Mr. Hominy, Mr. Head, and W. Milner, and the conversation that took place there. Is quite certain he (witness) never said to Milner that if ho voted for Whitmore and Pigot it would be 51. in his way. Received a letter from Mr. Head, telling him to pay the Milners 51. each. Had M. of Head's in his hands at that time, which he had received from two of his (Head's) tenants as rent. When the two Miiners brought the letter, he tried to scud them away, as it was so closo upon the election, and it might be thought it was a bribe. Ito could not get rid of them without giving them a sove reign each, and he rave the remaining 81. to Mr. Jones, of the bank, to give the Mllucre, as he (witness) did not like to give it himself so near the election. Knows Tipton. le I sure he made Tinton no promise that " his bill would be made all right if he would stick to them." Witness sent for W. Milner to his house on the day he met Itir. Vickers and Mr. Homfrey. He never told Milner he wanted him nod his brother fhomas to be of the same story, or they would be iu a inns. Cross-examined by Mr. Power—At the last election was in constant communication with Mr. Homfrey. About three weeks before the election Mr. Homfrry gave hint 501. Homfrey didn't say who it was from. lie desired Iwitneis to go and pay some bills. Believes they were balances of some old innkeepers' bills. Homfrey said so at the time, and witness made a list of them from his dicta tion. (The list was hanied in.) There was 101. Bs. Gd. to Edward Pinner, son of an innkeeper. lie a voter, and keeps an inn now. Pinner's father is dead two or three years. Witness had no particulars from Pinner. That was before Sir It. Pigot came down. Homfrey told witness the bill was due by Mr. Whitmore. Took no re ceipt for the money: Pinner voted for Whitmore and Pigot. George Edwards u another innkeeper. Paid him a bill. Took no receipt from any of them. Paid William Brown also a bill, 4/. Gs. Gd. Ile's a voter. Paid also So loman Rutter 51. 5.., and Joseph Mason. Paid Masoa's wife IW. though the bill was only 91. 10s. Never asked her for the 10s. Sees her every day. Those bills were all paid at least a week before Sir It. Pigot issued his address. The account now produced was made out yester day by witness and Mr. Homfrey from memory. Thera is a balance of 71. 11s. Gd. in the account for the last munici pal election at Bridgnorth. Got the .‘ I Is. 6d." from me mory. In the account he has put down 91. 10s. as paid to Mason. Considers the 103. as due to himself. Only charged Mr. Homfrey 91. 10s. Witness paid George Brown 11. 10s. for assisting at the chairing at the election of 1817. Paid him a few days before the last election. When he gave him the 11. 10s. it was in the hope that he would vote for Pigot and Cadogan, as he wanted him to split his vote. Did not ask him to vote. Sir E. Pigot's name was net mentioned at the time. Paid him the 11. 10s. out of his own pocket. Has not been repaid; nor has he asked it. Made one other payment out of his own pocket to a man named Juckes. Ile is a voter. In reply to Mr. Locke King, witness said be expected that the money ho had paid out of his own pocket to Juckes and Brown would be repaid to him by Mr. Vickers. Mr. Frederick Homfrey was next examined by Mr. Clark—Resides near Bridgnorth ; used to lived in the town. Knows a man named Tipton. Tipton told witness he had a bill unpaid dne by Pigot and Whitmore. Witness never told Tipton if he voted for Sir R. Pigot he would be paid. Never told Tipton his bill would be made " all right, ' or anything like it. Don't remember seeing Tipton at Mr. Vickers' the Monday before the election. Made no appoint ment with him to pay him a bill. Never gave Tipton a shilling. Gave Tom Brown three sovereigns, and after , wards, on the nomination day, gavo him six pounds. That was for his (Brown's) owa use, on account of what he was to have. That money was not given to Brown to bribe anybody. Never gave any authority to Brown to settle Tipton's bill. Never gave Hickman, or Jukes, or Head, any money. Gave Mr. Batte 601. a few weeks before the election, to pay portions of bills due since 1847. Sir R. Pigot's share of those bills was paid in 1848. Mr. Whit mare always refused to pay any such bills. Four hundred pounds had been given him by Sir R. Pigot, and be paid Mr. Vickers 3101. oat of it—that left a balance of 601. in his (witness's) hands. He has paid 391. 16s. since out of that balance, part for registration at the municipal elections, and has the balance still in his hands for Sir R. Pigot. In cross-examination by Mr. Power, the witness said he had never yet rendered any account of that money to Sir R. Pigot. The payments of the old publicans' bills witness paid out of his own pocket. Means to swear that. Paid 1701. or 1801. for refreshments at the election of 1847. Re ceived about 4001. from Sir R. Pigot for the expenses of the election of 1847. Mr. Whitmore would not pay this money, and witness promised to get it for them. u reason for paying thou bills was not because the election was com ing on. Thought it would be " better" to pay them before the election, lest it might "do harm to the cause," if those bills were not paid. By the Chairman—My income is 6001. a year. I have no This closed the case on behalf of the sitting members, and Mr. Clark then summed up, on the put of Sir R. Pigot, the evidence they had brought forward to rebut the allegations in the petition. When Mr. Clark concluded, Mr. Power requested the @committee would adjourn to one o'clock to-morrow (this day), when Mr. James would be prepared to reply upon the whole case. The committee accordingly adjourned till one o'clock to morrow (this day). CLITHEROE. The evidence in support of the allegations in the petition from Clitheroe wu resumed yesterday morning before the select committee. _ _ Joseph Sharpe said he saw money offered by a man at Wilson's public house for some ale that he had had, when Myers stopped him, and returned the money, saying there was so occasion to pay, there was drink for all. Richard Wilson, who was examined in part on Thunday, was re-called, and gave his evidence with great reluctance. He stated he could not remember seeing Bacon about elec tion time at all. Did not know the bill was made out for the cheese by Walker, and given to Bacon. Could not re ' member any conversation about "long credits" with Walker, but there might have been. The book containing the account was made up about two months after the election. It had been kept on a slate up to that time. Serjeant Kinglake submitted that it would be a waste of time to goon with case after case,where:nothing but an offer to bribery bribe m r.vi c ue o cb u ls l ft cl ,e nr b e d( fptorhroevr therefore re petitioners)T couldhi sc could never ne n oa fd v o e r r ct eh ea s a m ee o yv n iid n de t eancc ti might develsoe more of the general system. The Chairman thought the committee had heard enough of that. -...._.. Mr. Webster said, that being the case, he would call evi dence to prove a fresh class of cases. He then called Richard Connor, landlord of the Commercial Inn, Cli theme, who deposed to a meeting being 46 Nat his house of Mr. Wilson's party. On a subseq u iht ' WHynahm's orders, he supplied drill* tp T 60 do, for which the bill amounted to 21. !VW yibich iii tuts -7' • • •• . --.-- ,T.