The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-11 00:00:00

erortoo. 1.0 COR::Y.SPONDENTS. y,:ton The 1.:1;c7e•o," eretalsim the tarn, eecuiriei e • to rib'.1.! . .e , 1 el.:, Tuevday and Enday %two , The Li . ream," Leet:es E , t. Q:l4 piper, a• • we•IX,C, 3cuverlt.Arcert, SJ tW ieioek OD the • • • a! a Pu tut •1 AVAV-::: AT 11.1NIION BRIDUR tri , „ . r. Ms- Afterion, sk 43. Va. 1344r43..w.-Mu; 7 Mi. JZI.. 4; J. Afiirooo . l. 3a. Mr.-DWI, FRIDAY, MARCIE 11. A evaract body of educated, business-like, and influential pr...`es&tonal men, last night, forced upon ih,eata.ideration of tl:e llouse of Commons the goes ticn —why they should pay a special tax for leave to e n e rki‘e !heir culling. A debate ensued, and those aka a dvocated the catt;•: of the legal profession, put forth the arguments which hid been carefully pre pard to , the occasion . Tho fact that five several i alvs4its in t'ae House of Commons hid affirmed the pr.ueip:.• of the unfairness of the yearly tax upon . at„ritt:, 1,11%.5, of course, not forgotten. lu the words of tae...i,ocates of the repeul of this impost it was urge. that . .• ISe to which attorneys are subjected are, first, a rt7Tai , of upon the articles of ..;:erkship and this 05 rn tr,:Age p.odurrs annually 72,000/. ; a tax of 2sl. producin/ annually 12,0001. ; and thirdly, t h e • tax a which they complain its an intolerable grievance, g lv, 121. I'i:eel for a certificate, if practising in Lim a... I : 4 ., t h arg h, ar DaLlia, aka SI. yearly if premisiug iu s ay -Ma psi; of the Un'ted Kin7.tiorn ; this producing • iy ormaidA of llt4oof. This treble taxation, amount i„ th e whole to opwar , l , of 200,,0001. per annum, the sttnacy• i.ies !Mae fur a long series of years. No other peg.main or trade is bunlosml with a treble personal tax fur t e prisileec of exercising the callin, whether levied b y arta ' of a stamp or a lie, nee, g whilst no other .is suidect to a prescribed scale of charges, rigidly • el Vn taxation, which no special contract is allowed to er sup. ;sedc. The licences of auctioneers, hankers, pot nbr o:erf . , producing to the revenue 103,9371., are the un.y , f duties charged upon the permission to „ tre k ; my ,e;;;ng that bear the slightest resemblance to the aatitlil e. ttiliette tea on attorneys, proctors, and no taris—all *dams Deism charged not un the person but on articles luta to excise and other duties, and therefore pal! is rixt iy IA: &movie, rs. Bet the repeal of the cer %dices las gone of the three personal taxes, and the most piteous to which attorneys, proctors, and notarize are ifighle) cannot in ar.y way affect the continuance of the revalue deriecd from licences. Two of the three personal tar ti. producing upwards of 81,0001. per annum, will flt:litn. 111,se points are carefully and cleverly put, and have much truth behind them ; anti on the other side it can eel; he urged that the Governmentmustraise revenue, and teat the lawyers are very well able to bear di , it quota of the country's burthens. This is, how cser, a poor reply; and no one was last night sue prind e..cn the Government was beaten ou a died- Asia Ly.a rii.joritv of .7,2. The truth is that our whole system of taxation requires revision, and if Mr. GLADSTONE has the ouirage to grapple with the broad necessities of the cut, lte may gain a name in the social and govern = at4l history of his country such as few Ministers have the chance of winning. We have been accus tomed to deal with the question of national needs and national taxation upon the reckless and spend thrift maim of stopping the present gap in the easiest way, and leaving to-morrow to take care of itself. After nearly forty years of peace and an unparalleled growth of national resources, this short-sighted and ignorant mode of finance is becoming too disgraceful to be much longer tole rated. It has again and again been shown that by the proper adjustment of a few wisely-levied taxes we might get rid of all such galling and mischievous imposts as those which interfere with the grov-th of manufactures or the extension of trade, cr which cripple personal exertion. Half our present fiscal impositions are perfectly suicidal. We order our • Custom-houses to levy unwise dative on certain products, and those products in con sequence reach us in such small quantities that the tax un them barely pays the cost of collec tion ; we seed excisemen into paler mills and into soap boileries, and other seats of industry, to gain an amount of revenue miserably deficient, when Com pared with the sum total of mischief done to com mercial progress ; and whilst continuing these barba rous and unprofitable modes of getting the money wanted for the State, we neglect those large anti simple sources whence, by wise and equitable legislation, all that should, or need be, asked might be liberally, cheerfully, and easily obtained. By a fairly reformed and carefully adjusted Property and Income Tax, by an evenly dis tributed duty on all Probates, by a reform of the House Duties, we might in this country obtain a very large proportion of the money requisite for supporting the Government, and be enabled to re move such taxes as this one on the solicitors,—as the shameful eighteen-pence levied on each advertise ment of people asking work and of traders seeking customers,—as the tax on soap and on paper: we might sweep from our tariff many scores of duties still standing there, mere proofs of former unwise legisla tion—fossil relics as it were of by-gone fiscal stupi dity, ugly, obstructive, and unprofitable. All that is needed to do this is a Chancellor of the Exche qt..r equal to the opportunities of his time. After Easter we are to have the Budget—the Budget of the Coalition, in which we hope to have all the manifestations of all the genius for finance of Whigs, Radicals, and Peelites. Under Lord ABER DEEN we have certainly gained some steps in advance. Our ships arc to get an instalment of fair play ; oar letters are to go to the colonies on wiser and more generous terms; the old grudge with Canada about the clergy lands is to be settled on a basis of liberality and wisdom, and fiscal im provements thus be possible by rendering a less costly military establishment needful for our North American dependencies. These are instal ments, we say, if but small ones. It is still open for the CIIANCELLOR of the BECTIEQUER to follow such early indications by a broad and judi cious measure of financial improvement; by a reform of the Income Taxwhich shall make the people look upon that tuede of raising revenue not only as philosophi cally wise, but as practically expedient and accept able. England is rich enough to pay all that can be needed to support her in the pre-eminence she has now long enjoyed. She has millions enough in stored up capital, and hundreds of millions enough in the skilled and willing labour of her industrious People. to pay everything that may be proper for a generous Court, a gallant army, and a navy to be unequalled on the oceans of the world. She can afford to be as great, as liberal, as generous, as she claims to be free. But, whilst ready to supply all that can be fairly asked, she may not unreasonably. in return demand that her industry shall be unfettered ; thal the race of commerce shall be on a fair field, favour ing none, or all alike ; that the taxes to be levied for national safety and for the redemption of national faith shall be soadjusted thatthey press with the least possible inconvenience on those who are to bear them, and that the principle of their imposition shall be one tending to the abolition of paltry licences, mischievous excise duties, and obstructive customs—in favour of a few wisely-arranged imposts which men shall acknowledge to be as just as they are needful. THE second reading of the Bill for the Removal of Jewish Disabilities is fixed for this evening. The disemsion of a question so often debated is not likely, Primps, to Mat beyond a single night, for there are few who h ave a vote to g i ve u p on it w h ose minds am not long since made up its to the course which they will take. It is of some importance, however, that the fullest muster should be made of the friends of religions toleration on the present occasion. By 6 'n!e fatality, or some combination of accidents, the majority on the first reading of the Bill was less turacious this session than in previous ones. In a House containing two-thirds of the United Com mons of Great Britain and Ireland there appeared to be but • preponderance of twenty-nine in favour of the admission of the Jews. The seeming falling off was indeed accounted for at the hale, by the absence of many stanch friends of the principle who from various casualties had been precluded from being present. And it has always been understood that the division of chief importance an any Bill is that upon the second reading, the ini tlakry stage being in point of fact rarely disputed at ah . Properly speaking, therefore, the present is the irst opportunity fur testing the disimition of the new House of Commons on the principle of re moving Jewish Disabilities. For the honour of the country and of the age, it is to be hoped that no tendency towards retrogression will be manifested on the subject. Having said thus much with regard to the general object of the measare and the duty of promoting it, we must be permitted to express our regret as to the form which it now for the first time assumes. In- stead of a Bill for the simplification of the oaths to be taken by members of Parliament, and for the sub stitution of one uniform teat of loyalty which men of all persuasions might conscientiously comply with, the Legislature is now, for the first time, call, d upon to relieve the Jews from a particular disability ; while at the same time it is asked to protest against the concession being drawn in precedent with regard to the removal of other disqualifications to which the Hebrew race are likewise subject. Out of six sec tions, five are devoted to reservations and exceptions to which the principle of the Bill is not to apply. In so far as these relate to the Church, nobody would of course dispute their propriety, were they really necessary, which we may be per mitted to doubt. But with respect to civil offices, and to the holding of professorships, or the taking of degrees at the Universities, we cannot d;sguise our disappointment and dissatisfac tion that the present Government should seek a re enactment by implication of such unworthy and un wise restrictions. There is a peevish particularity is their enumeration, and a grudging spirit betrayed throughout the whole which is calculated to deprive the measure of much of the grace which usually belongs to measures ofreligious concession. In point of argument, moreover, the latter class of reserva tions to which we have referred arc wholly indis =le. If a Jew is not fit to be admitted to a of A.M. at Oxford, he surely cannot be worthy to occupy a seat in the Legislature. And if the Jew be not fit to teach the prosody or syntax of his own ancient language, it is something very like a farce to entrust him ' with the power of deciding on what manner of education shall be pursued throughout the kingdom. It is of no use to argue that the specific grievance the Bill proposes to remedy is an exclusion from Parlia ment ; not from offices of state or collegiate dis tinctions, and that whatever disability new exists with regard to the latter is only left as before. It this be so, the reservation clauses aro mere surplus age, and therefore may, and we hope will, be struck out in committee. No one who rotes for the second reading can of coarse be ' a bound to vote seriatim for the constructive exceptions and negations to which we have adverted. All that is good or sound is contained in the first section, and the remainder is, to say the least of it, ungracious and unnecessary. There is, we are aware, another view which may possibly bo taken of the pious lumber in question. It may be intended as a peace offering to the House of Lords by bigotry and exclusiveness, all former propositions for the relief of Jewish disabilities having unfortunately been resisted. Aod your very knowing politicians are apt to intimate, with a nod and a shrug, that the five objectionable claims are but five pennyworth of salt intended to be flung on the tails of certain episcopal birds, whereby it is cun ningly hoped they may be caught. We cannot say that we share in these astute anticipations, and we greatly distrust the esoteric system of those who, cal the phrase is, undertake to manage the Church. We shrewdly suspect that intolerance in high places will ever bo found incapable of being thus " mar l naged," and we should be in no way surprised if the sole result of the attempt to propitiate its enmity by these equivocal concessions should prove to be an attempt to torture and twist them into additional ar guments against any change whatsoever. While we caunot help thus expressing our regret that Lord ABERDEEN'S Cabinet should have de parted front the statesmanlike simplicity of form adopted bylLord Joust Busse-Lt.'s Administration, we do not wish to be misunderstood as desiring to weaken in any degree the zeal of those whose duty it certainly now is to endeavour to carry the Bill. With all its blemishes it will undoubtedly be a de cided step in the right direction; and it may, as we have already observed, be disencumbered of some of its useful clauses during its progress through com mittee. One of the reservations, for example, to be found in the Bill as it now stands is obviously directed against the claim of Baron ROTHSCHILD to take the oath of abjuration without the contested words "on the true faith of a Christian," unless he goes through the form of being re-elected for the City of London after the Act shall pass. This is to repeat the same pettifogging blunder in point of policy which was committed in 1829, with regard to O'CONNELL. When the Catholic Relief Bill pawed O'CONNELL woe member for Clam, hay- i ing been duly elected by a vast preponderance of votes. But having refused to take the oaths as then prescribed for all persons without distinction who claimed to sit in Parliament, he was not permitted to take his seat. The return for Clare, however having been duly made, the seat could not be dot I 1 11010 t, and no new writ could be issued. A lipseial clause was inserted in tho Ministerial measure of emancipation disabling any person who had been elected previously from availing himself of the benefits of the Act. And as it was notorious that O'Corneett. was the only individual to whom the exception would apply, the invidious and foolish limitation was justly objected to at the time by the liberal party in the legislature. Baron ROTHSCHILD'S position is in every respect identical, and we sin cerely hope thaj the Parliament of 1833 will show itself to be animated by • more generous and com prehensive spirit than that which swayed its preds moor a quarter of a century ego. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY. FRANCE. THV&IDAT EVINING. Lord F3tratford dolled°liffe was yesterday admitted to a private audience of their Majesties, in the apart ments of the Empress at the Tuileries. A Cabinet Council was held at the Tuileries yes terday, the only result of which yet kuown was the communication of the following note to the Petrie, relative to Marshal St. Arnaud : The Marshal St. Arnaud, Minister at War, has been for come days past. We arc WILLI, d that his physicians, to prevent his Macs from inereuina, have ordered hug to abstain from all occupation for same time. M. de Saint Arnaud will Ito, it is said, to Ilyerce, and it is hood the climate of Provence, and the absolute repose ha is shout to take there, will speedily restore the illustrious marshal to health, and enable him before long to resume the administration of the ministerial department which he directs, and in which he has already rewlered so many bril liant service to •be country. Marshal St. Arnaud has left Paris today, and the general impression is that he will not return in the capacity of Minister at War. The rumours of his approaching retirement, current some weeks ago, although contradicted, were, it is well known, not without foundation. Whatever may be the nature of his illness it is not probable that the Paine would be instructed to dwell so emphatically upon his pre sent unfitness for business if there were any intention that he should return to his post. When Mar shal, then General St. Arnaud, was at the Pyrenees last year, he continued to act as Minister at War, and couriers daily brought him despatches from Paris. On the present occasion M. Duces, Minister of Marine, will assume the War portfolio provisionally, and thus, for the first time since De cember, 1031, the famous War Miuistcr of the coup (Taal is without actual power. On the Bourse to-day a good dual of activity was displayed, both in Rentes and railway securities; but the former did not maintain the quotations of yester day, though the latter generally improved a shade. The Three per Cents. closed at 81f. 10e. for the account, being se. lower, and tho Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 104 f. 50c-, being a fall of 40c. Bank Stock remained at 2,750 francs, being the former quo tation, after the heavy decline of the previous two days. The market for raila ay shares was Rrm, with a good demand for Northerns at 901 f. 25c. for cash, and 906 f. for account; Strasbourg and Bale, at 306 f. 30e. for cash, and 368 f. for account ; and Caen and Cherbourg, at 627 f. 30c. cash, and 625 f. for account. The following are the latest prices of other Conti nental Bourses, received by telegraph to-day :—Ant werp—Fives, 99; Four-and-a-Half, 98; ; Two-and a.-Half, 56;; Metalliquce, 85. Frankfort—Fives, 861; Four-and-a-Half, 77! ; Fours, 69; ; Threes, 524; Two-and-a-Half, 431; Bank, 1,329. PARIS, WZDNUDAY EVINING. The expose des motifs of the bill presented to the Corps Legislatif for calling out 80,000 men from the lists of 1852 for recruiting the army and navy, states that the bill is in the precise terms of that passed in the last session, and that the number of 80,000 re cruits per year has never varied since 1830, cape deuce having shown that annual contingent to be ne esseary to keep up an army of 390,000 men at the bast, which effective force 1B considered normally re quisite in France. Tho Debuts says of the decree permitting China Grape to be imported from England for consump tion : The derogation now made from the treaty . of 1826, although limited to a single article, is a first step in the way et enfranchisement :coin the r-strictire system, and we can not but applaud it as an act calculated to favour our inter course with the United Kingdom, our most important one menial ally. A highly important question, as affecting English residents in Paris, was yesterday decided by the Court of Appeal. Mr. L—, an Englishman, for merly a captain in the Guards, was lately arrested by aM. Godchaux, for bills of exchange put into circulation by him in England, amounting to 39,466 f., and was consigned to the prison of the Rue de Clicby. His advomte stated that some time ago Mr. L—'s mother paid 6,0001. for him on bills held by usurers in England, though he had only received on them 1,2001. or 1,6001., and that he had subsequently put his name to bills for 12,0001., on which also he only received a small portion. Being unable to pay these latter bills, he was obliged to sell his commission and come to Paris. But the holder of one of them, a Mr. Calisher, passed it to M. Godchaux, at Paris, and that person instituted proceedings on it. The learned gentleman con tended that M. Godchaux could not be considered a serious holder, and that he had merely lent his name to Calisher, a foreigner. He therefore demanded that the judgment should be set aside, and his client be released. The court, reversing a judgment of the Tribunal of Commerce, held that Godchaux was not the bona fide owner of the bills, and released Mr. L---. The Minister of Public Works has just appropriated a sum of 330,000 f. for the termination of the canal from Caen to the sea. A telegraphic despatch from Marseilles, Bth, states that the Osiris, which was two days behindhand, had entered the harbour with the Marquis de Lavalette on board. The Leonidas, which was also expected I from Constantinople since the 26th of February, had left Malta on the 3rd. She was passed by the Osiris, which had more speed, and was expected at Mar seilles from one moment to another. A telegraphic despatch from Toulon announces that the Colbert, steam corvette of 300 horse power,has just left that port for the Indian and Chinese seas. This vessel, which is commanded by Captain de Bauddon, will touch successively at Madeira, Rio Janeiro, the Cape, and the Isle de la Reunion. After snaking a short stay at that colony, the Colbert will proceed to Singapore anti Macao, where she wilt relieve the Cassini steamer, which is to return to France. Last evening the 79th anniversary of this society was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, Line*ln's-inn-fields. The Earl of Pown in the chair; supported by Lord Keane, Captain Saumares, ILN., Mr. Oliveira, M.P Captain Scoheil, M.P., Mr. Whalley, M.P., Sir Charles Fes, Mr. W. Hawes, the Rev. E. Repton, the Rev. Dr. Vivian, ske. Amongst the tows ! was that of Prosperity to the Royal Humane Society ;" and in bringing this under the notice of the company, The CHAIRMAN enlarged at 901110 length upon the int- • of the society and upon the great benefits which M ils aXen, and still continued to arise, from its operation. The velem of the institution was every day becoming more and it was a great gratification to him to think =lire ' public seemed desirous of giving it their en gellellelMent. It NNW not be supposed that the society was amens msdym to 'metropolitan skatinzelub,ks the mode et prestiplee by its agents contributed as much to restage enereded animation and to advance the study of medical science as any of the great hospitals in which this wintry abounds . Such an institution was deserving el the sympathy and support of every Englishman, and in proof of this he need only say that in the last year 273,000 persons had bathed in the Serpentine, and of these 20 were respeed from drowning by the efforts of this society. Dur ing ear late nine days' wonder—for he might so call the reseed frost—no less than 110,000 had been on the ice in the Mersa parks, ann of this number 229 were saved by the silken of the sOciety, whilst only one fatal *eddied had esearriet. In making eib statement he was anxious to offer a • to the esesaatee, vis.: that, encouraged by el do eablbleisa is Louisa of their apparatus, Inaisbessid farward Nava te the Great Exhibition. at mad New York, where, there :could be no doubt, they wadi be most warmly appreciated. A period of almost eighty year' had now elapsed since the institution et tide saisty. The number of lives saved end restored in Mlle mseetsy alone within that space, and mostly in or near the asusphs, has been nearly 30,000, which might con elm the mat prejudiced observer, not only of the sateen, bet of the uncommon earnestness and unwearied activity wherewith the managers have prosecuted tho philanthropic views fof its founders.—Various other toasts were pro ' posed during the evening, and ;amongst them The memory . of the founder of the institution, the late Mr. Hawes,' who it appeased had bequeathed his interest in the society, as a legacy to his descendants. A long list of subscriptions was read, the total amount being about 7001. One of the most interesting features of the evening was the ceremony of presenting medals to the various per- DOW who had been the means of rescuing human lives from drowning. According to the usual custom the individuals whose lives had been saved, passed in procession round the room, followed by the various persons to whom they owed their preservation ; and as the medals were distributed, an opportunity was offered of testing the advantages of the in stitution, and observing the gratifying effect it produces upon the recipients of its favours. Letters from Berne and Geneva represent the po litical condition of Switzerland to be one of great excitement. Petitions for the convocation of the Federal Council are in circulation. Great discontent is felt with the federal executive because it has not published the Austrian notes and its own replies,and then thrown itself upon the nation. LETTERS FOR MELBOURNE AND HOBART TOWN. — The Post-alike authorities have advertised that ship-letter bags will be despatched fur Hobart Town and Melbourne by the steamer Tasmania, which leaves this country for those ports on the 3lst ins!. THE SCREW STEAMER CLEOPATRA.—A private letter has been received at Liverpool from Valparaiso, dated January 11, stating that the screw steam-ship Cleo patra was hourly expert'd at that port from Sydney, and ' would tail in a few days after arrival for this port, rig THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING MARCH 11, 1853. GERMANY. A Berlin letter, of the 7th, states that the Prus siangovernment had resolved to re-open the Zoll verein conferences, which had been broken off through the separated spirit of the southern states. With this view, it would address direct invitations to Hanover, Brunswick, and the Thuringian states, which had remained faithful to the Prussian alliance, and inform the other Zollverein states of its resolu tion in the ordinary way, leaving it to the discretion of each government to send, or not send, delegates. The Attorney-General of the Elector of Hesse has on hand, at this moment, a prosecution for high treason, in which there are '")1:/0 defendants. All the accused belong to the town of Hansa, the corporation of which was lately arraigned en-bloc. A Vienna journal states that in commemoration of the happy escape of the Emperor from assassina tion, the National Austrian Bank has placed 20,000 florins at the disposal of the Ministers of the Interior and War for charitable purposes. Oa the same oc- I easion the Archbishop of &lan (in Hungary) gave 5,000 florins, the interest of which is to be employed in the education of an orphan daughter of an officer who has fought to uphold the supremacy of Austria in Italy or in Hungary in a Hungarian regiment. SENTENCE OF CIERVINUS. There is reason to believe that, when the ordinary despatches arrive from Mannheim, it will appear that the period of imprisonment to which Glervinns has been sen tenced is two months. Considerable contusion appears to have been introduced into the telegraphic despatch in the mares of its passage from line to line and from tongue to tongue. The Di'bois of yesterday printed " ten months" in its despatch, probably a substitution of dix for deux, as the public prosecutor only demanded a sentence of four months' imprisonment. well knowing that had he asked more the accused could have clsimei to be tried by a jury. An appeal lies from the court at Mannheim. SPAIN. In the Spanish Senate, on the 3rd, just as the drawing for the sections was about to take place, Oeneral O'Donnell rose to demand that a communi cation should be read which had been handed to the president from Marshal Names, in which, after complaining of the conduct of the government in preventing his taking his seat in the senate, he de manded that an inquiry should be made into his conduct, he having a right to be tried by his peers. The president objected to this course, which, he said, was contrary to the regulations ; but it was overruled, and with the consent of the Minister of War, who was the only member of the cabinet pre seat, the communication was read. The question was then started, whether tho senate should or should not take the communication into considera tion, and after some discussion the matter was ad journed to the following day. A communication by express of tie sth states that the proposition for taking the communication into consideration was opposed by the ministry on that day, and after sonic warm discussion rejected. ITALY. ROME, Ern. 28. The diffidence of the Papa! government has hcen not a little increased by the recent events at Milan and Vienna. Nardoni, the chief of the sbirri, is stated to have been questioned by the government regarding the number of republicans in the city. Ile was re quested to state whether be could engage to have them all arrested in one night, an undertaking he energetically declined, on account of the great num ber of the disaffected, but engaged to make sure of a good batch of the most hotheaded partisans of liberty in the time requited. Hitherto his services have not been culled into play, but several of the religious confraternities, and especially the Jesuits, have de clared that they shall consider their lives in danger so long as any of their sworn enemies are at large in the present moment of excitement, and have there fore requested the government to provide for their safety, by stationing a guard of gendarmes within their convents, a request which has been complied with by the authorities. Meanwhile the suspicions of the police have proved very inconvenient to several individuals, and amongst others to Captain Gaisford, an officer in her Majesty's service, who was going on foot to a party, at about 11 o'clock on the night of the 24th, w hen he was stopped by four gendarmes on the Piazza de Santi Apostoli, and minutely investigated by them. Although nothing whatever was found on his per eon to excite the slightest suspicion, he was taken into custody by the gendarmes and conducted to the guard-house in Via Rasella, under pretext of his not having a carts di sicarezza, which is the paper with which foreigners staying in R fime are furnished on depositing their passports at the police office. At the guard-house ho had to wait some time, the officer being at that moment asleep, but on that functionary's being aroused to consciousness, Captain Gaisford succeeded in regaining his liberty,unaccom ponied, however, by a word of apology for so gra tuitous an outrage. Captain Oaistord laid his com plaint personally before the Assessor Dandini, who received him politely, and addressed a remonstrance, through the medium of the British Consul, to the Director-General of Police, Monsignor Matteneci. These molestations having occurred more than once, it has become necessary to inquire officially whether every foreigner in Rome is obliged, under pain of imprisonment, io have his carte, di sicurersa about him night and day, an obligation which has never hitherto been intimated to foreigners, and which, if insisted upon, ought to be printed on the paper it self, as a warning calculated to prevent the bearer's occasional sdjour in prison, "amongst pickpockets," and " drunk and disorderlies." Since the Milanese outbreak, all has been beetle amongst the Austrians is th e legations, as if their turn was to come next. A variety of precautionary measures have been resorted to, but the disarming of the Papal troops at Bologna, a rumour current here for several days, appears to have been a premature piece of intelltErence. The position of the authori ties at Ancona is anxious, between the apprehension of popular disturbances and the little reliance to be placed on the troops in garrison, who are Hunga rians. The soldiers desert whenever they can find an opportunity, although nearly certain to be re captured and shot. Two more deserters were shot lut week. The Tuscan and Piedmontese loans, and the rail way operations in Tuscany, have brought a great deal of English paper on the money market here, which has reduced the Exchange on London to 482 Roman Consols, 95. Tho trial of the Duke of Cesarini for homicide commenced this morning. You may recollect that about a couple of months ago the duke fired upon a mob of people who were making a tumult under the windows of his palace at Gensano, and unfortunately killed his own cook, who was coming across the square at that moment. The duke, in consideration of his rank, obtained permission to defend himself a piede libero, and will probably escape condemnation unless some political feeling bo dragged into the questior, the inhabitants of Gensano being generally neri, whilst the duke is suspected of an opposite tendency. The Papal government, having failed in the rail way negotiations hitherto undertaken with various tors, recently resolved to have the line from through Ancona to Bologna surveyed at its l ows expense, in order to have some data for further I gostracts. A new company, comprising the Duke of lauchtemberg, Fould, and other capitalists, then re quested to be allowed to undertake the survey, mi -1 mite eastwards to present a project for the exeow, Osier the line. If their plan is approved of, the ex. wee of the survey will be defrayed by the company, but if not it will be repaid by the government. These preliminaries being e stablished the French engineer, N. Michel, and the Roman, Signor Bettocchi, made calculations, from which it resulted that the whole line would cost rather more than 148,000,0001. The subsequent propositions of the company turn upon two principal conditions—firstly, the duiation of their privilege for 50 years; and secondly, an interest of 6 per cent. to be guaranteed upon the presumed capital to be employed, 150,000,000 f. It is not likely that these conditions will be accepted by the govern ment, as similar ones offered by other contractors have already been refused ; meanwhile the financial consults has deputed five of its members, inhabitants of the provinces to be traversed by the line, to make a report on the subject. AUSTRALIA. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY. A copy of the Panama Daily Star, of the 4th ult., has been received by Thomas Court, Esq., secretary to the Underwriters' Association, Liverpool, which contains news from Sydney to the 10th December, brought from that port to Callao in the British barque Irene, in 30 days, and thence by British mail steamer to Panama. The John Gray, from hence, had arrived at Syd ney, and the Slllthrades Marie, Hope, and'El Dorado, also from hence, had arrived at Melbourne. The Sydney (55), sailed from Sydney on the 7th December, with tho mails for England, as well as the Alert, Falcon, Emigrant, and Cadet, all for this country. The Meteor, which sailed for London on the 24th November, had taken 44,700 ounces of gold dust on freight. The Great Britain steam-ship was to sail from Sydney for Ltverpool on the 20th December, via the Cape of Good Hope. The gold mania, instead of decreasing, was spread ing with greater intensity, and there appeared no cure for the madness. The yield of gold amounted to about ono million sterling per month. Gold was selling at V. 9s. 6d. per oz. Two government escorts had arrived at Sydney, bringing 15,000 ounces of gold from Bendigo, and 24,000 from Bcllarat. Three emigration companies had been established, with a capital of 100,0001. each, with a view to as sisting emigrants. The accounts of the harvest were most favourable. Tux IMPORT tTION OF SPECIE will be very large eis wok at Southampton. 800,000 dollars were landed on Ileaday from the West India steamer Thames; 80,0001. slarllng was landed on Tuesday from the Alexandrian SAILING OF THE GREENLAND } LEET.—The whole packet ; a million and a-half of dollars were landed fleet from Peterhead, excepting one ship not quite ready 4111 Wednesday from the West India steamer Orinoco ; and for sea, left the North Harbour on Sunday and Monday 00.0001. sterling is expected hourly by the Constantinople week. The mailing on then days of ships bound for the Meaner the City of Norwich. The whole amount of specie Greenland fisheries amounted to as many as twenty-six yid& will he landed at Southampton this week will be niony of them vessels of large tontege.--AiJerd about 600,000/. sterlasa. Jour/tat. ZDe Court. The Queen will hold a privy council this (Friday) afternoon, at Buekingha n Palace. Her Majesty had a dinner party, on Wednesday, at Buckingham Palace. The company included the Duchess' of Kent, the Duke of Cambridge, the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Duchess of Inverness, his Excellency the Swedish and Norwegian Miri4tar. his Excellency the Greek Minister and Madame Tri.'aupi, Lady Fanny Howard, Baronets de Speth. Lard and Lady Foley, Lord Redeedale end the Hon. Miss Mitford, the Eight Hon. Sir Henry and Lady Buiwer, Lord James Murray, Major the Hon. James Macdonald, and Mr. tai be. The Quees's plicate band attended in the palace after dinner, and played the following compositions : Overture (op. 143) Seleedon, “Postillon" Her Majesty and Prince Albert took a drive, yesterday afternoon, in an open landau and four. The equerries in waiting, Colonel butts% rie ..ud Captain the Hon. Dudley de Hos, attended on horseback. Prince Albert rode ixat en horseback, yesterday morning, attended by Captain the Dudley de Roe. The Right Hon. Sir William Moles north was present at the Levee held by Prince Albert en the part of her Majesty, on Wednesday, at St. James's Palace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the , Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, and the Princess Alice. awl ate. ailed by the Countess of Char lemont, the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, the Hon. Beatrice Ilyng, the Marquis of Ormunde, Colonel Bouverie, Captain the Hon. Dudley de Rol, and Mr. Gibbs, honoured the Prin cess'. Theatre with Vick presence last evening. The Countess de Neuilly and the Due de Nemours visited toe Duchess of Kent, yesterday, at her residence Clarence-house, St. James's. A deputation on the subject of the application of the Public Health Act to Worcester, had an interview with Sir William Molesworth, yesterday, at the office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall•place. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Edward Evan., J. W. Lea, and Peter Hardy, and Aldermen Lewis, Helm, Eigie, and Webb. The deputation were introduced by Mr. Oman hicardo, M.P., and Mr. Williom La lett, M.P. Coldnel My ddleton Bidd aph had on interview with the Duke of Newcastle, yesterday, at the Colonial-office. A deputation from Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the sub ject of Parish Vestries, consisting of Mr. Alderman Martineau and Mr. Arthur Hyland, accompanied by Mr. Mums, M.P., and Mr. Seholetield, M.P., had an inter view alai Viscount Palin.rstun yesterday. Dieptaches were received at the Colonial-office yester• day trona the Governors of Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast. THE EARL OF FORTESCCE ie, we are happy to state, convslcscent. We regret to state that the lion. Hemp Matthew Fortescue, brother of the Earl of Forteecue, is now seriously ill at Botwor.oe, from inflammation of the lungs. Thu hoe. gentleman is now in the 62ud year et his age. DEATH OF GENERAL SIR E. KERRISON, BART., O.Q.H. Sir Edward Kerrison, the Colonel of the 14th Light Dragoons, died on the 9th inst., aged 79. He entered the army in 1790, as a cornet in the 6th Dragoons; became a lieutenant in 1798, a captain the same year, a major in 1803, a lieutenant-colonel in 1805, acetone' in 1813, a major general in 1319, a lieut.-general in 1837, and a general in 1851. He served at the fielder in 1799, including the battles in September and October of that year. In 1808-9 he served in Spain under Sir John Moore, and was present at the battle of Coruna. In 1313, 14 and 10, then Colonel 'Unison, he commanded the 7th Hussars, and was present at the battles of Orthes and Waterloo. Ile was severely wounded at Orthes, and slightly at Waterloo, where he had a horse shot under him. lie received the gold medal for Orthes, uhd the silver medal with two clasps for Sahagun, Benevente, and Toulouse. Sir Edward Kerrisen has for nearly 40 years a member of parliament, and from 1824 to 18j2 sat for Eye, Suffolk. He was crested a baronet in 1821, nominated a K.C.B. in 1840, and a G.C.H. in 1831. In 1830 he was appointed Colonel of the 14th Light Dragoons, which coloneley is thus vacant by his Amuse. Ho is succeeded in his title and large estates by Ma son, now Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, who was first returned for Eye in July, 1852, and was a supporter generally of the late Derby Ministry. In 1844 the present Sir Edward Kerrison married the youngest daughter of the Earl of Debater. Viscount Mahon mar. ried a daughter of the deceased. THE ROBBERY OF OLLIVANT'S SHOP AT NiANCIIESTEB. We described in the Erpreta of yesterday the robbery of Mr. 011ivant's slop, in Exchange-street, Man cheater, when jewellery was carried off valued at upwards of 2,0001. Information of the robbery reached Mr. Bits wick, chief superintendent of the detective police, by a little before 8 o'clock, and by 9 o'clock on the 11:1113C (Wednesday) morning, Inspector Buckley, one of Mr. Bcswick's detec tives, was on the burglar's (or at lout the principal bur glar's) track. Mr. Ben wick discovered that a man whom he suspected had taken a cab at the Ardwick-green stand early in mor i e L t a ing tl r a d y gone t.rain in at itiliaTi.dpiureteriioannzfw went after him. He found on reaching Guide-bridge station that a man named John Maxwell, answering the description of the man of whom he was in search, had come from Gorton to Guide Bridge by nil, and had there lett for lijde. Taking with him Mktlen ' a Cheshire policeman, Beckley proceeded to Hyde, and traced Maxwell to the house of James Stronnach, his brother-in-law, in Lewis-street. He found Maxwell in bed, and asked for the key of a box in the room, which Maxwell said was left at his own house in Manchester. Buckley broke open the box, and found in it a quantity of gold coin and other articles, forming the less valuable portion of the property stolen. Another box was then broken open, which Stronnach said belonged to him, and there the gold watches and nearly the whole of the remaining property were discovered. It is a singular fact, that within twenty minutes of the time of Buckley's arrival, Superintendents Sawley and Saynor, of the Manchester preventive force, arrived at Stronnach'e house, basing also traced the burglar, but on separate information. The burglar was then taken into custody, and conveyed, with his sister and brother-in law, to Manchester. The officers were loudly cheered as they passed through the streets in Manchester with their prisoner. Yesterday morning, John Maxwell, the burglar, and James Stronnach and Lucy Stronnach, his brother-in-law and sister, were brought before the borough magistrates for examination. Maxwell and his sister were remanded, and Stronnach, the sister's husband, was discharged. . A plate cleaner, in the employment of Mean. 011ivant, was apprehended yesterday afternoon, on suspicion of having been concerned In the robbery. THE FATAL RAILWAY ENGINE The adjourned inquest on the men who were killed by the explosion of a locomotive engine at the London and North-Western Railway Company's Works, at Longsight, near Manchester, lon Tuesday, took place yesterday after noon, at three o'clock. Sums additional evidence was adduced, and was not con cluded when our report was despatched. SCHOOL FOR TILE INDIGENT BLlND.—Yesterday this charity, instituted in 1799, for the purpose of impart ing to the indigent blind a sound moral and religious educa tion and instructing them in a trade by which they may pro vide wholly or partially for their future subsistence, held its annual general meeting at the London Coffee-house, Lud gate-hill ; Lora Radstock took the chair. The report stated that the present number of pupils in the school was 75 males and 69 females. There were 27 candidates for admis sion. The receipts for the year amounted to 4,2171. 11., and the disbursements to 2,5441. 9s. 3d., leaving a balance of 1,6721. lls. 9 1 . in favour of the institution. An announcement was made by the secretary that a donation of a grand pianoforte had been made to the school by John Melhuish, Esq., of Tooting. It was resolved unanimously that the subjoined be made a bye-law :—" That in considera tion of an application on behalf of hie Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and a donation of 300 guineas to the corporation, he be entitled to the privilege of having one tn nominee always in the school, such nominee to be subject equally with other pupils to the rules and regulations of this school. Same business of a routine character having been disposed of, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the noble lord for his courtesy in the chair, and the meeting , dissolved. SERIOUS GUN ACCIDENT AT TURNHAM-GREEN.— _Yesterday afternoon a man named James Harrington, aged 28, was brought to St. George's Hospital under the follow ing circumstances :—Harrington is a garden labourer in the service of Dr. Lindley, the well-known botanical author, and with his wife, resides as care-taker at a cottage in the occupation of his muter at Turnham-green. On the pre vious afternoon, a little before 6 o'clock, the doctor was amusing himself in the presence of his family by firing with a rifle and the new conical shot at a target abut 120 yards distant. After having fired several shots, the Doctor sent his daughter with a small square piece of board to place near the target, and when she returned he levelled his rifle to fire. Just at that instant, Harrington, who was standing on one side to mark the hits, suddenly sprang up to rectify the position of the small board just as the discharge took place. The shot struck him and passed through the back of his right hand, thin through the left thigh, afterwarls per forating a thick board, and has net since been discovered. The distresing scene which followed may be imagined. Surgical aid was instantly obtained, and yesterday it was thought safe to remove the wounded man to the hospital. Happily the ball missed the femoral artery, and there is ' reason to hope the su ff erer is doing well. It is a remark able fact, that last year another eminent botanical writer, Professor Schleidon, of Berlin, had the misfortune seriously to wound an assistant while rifle shooting. TELEGRAPHIC IMPROVEMENT.—The direct trans minion of messages by the electric telegraph between Paris ' and Lonffin commenced on Monday. A singular circum r stance took place on the occasion ; a dispatch of forty words sent from Paris at nine in the morning arrived in London ; at two minutes before nine. This is explained by the t difforenee of time existing between the clocks cf Paris and of London. ELECTION EXPOSURES. SELECT COMMITTEE ,ON THE WITH DRAWAL OF THE NORWICH ELECTION PETITIONS. i t n tel u t il , ~ M intoe d why ur.y ELECTIONEERING AGENT REVELkTIONS. clock, Yesterday, this committee, consisti ng o f M r . Tho adlie m il es Dur Zil a e , t ch l mn 2 lonch, M tor. and because of the withdrawal of these petition*. The hon. Chairman commenced the proceedings by re. questing Mr. Eales, the committee's clerk, to read the petitions referred to the einnutitter, complaining of the withdrawal of the original petitions preseued .in Novem ber last, 41 the committee would then uederstand nure completely what was the nature of the allegattens. The petitions set forth in substance that the petitioners. Mews. Phillip*, Abel, Eludes, Scott, and Markley, electors of Norwich, originally presented a petition against the return of Mr. Pete and Mr. Warner, on the ground of bribery and corruption, and complaining that by these and other means the electors were deterred from recording their Yetis ter the llsrquis of Deere (now the Duke of WeLington) and Colonel Dickson, the conservative causlidates. That the recognisance, for this petition were duly catered into and referred to the general gem:dates of elections. rhe petitioners Lad since been engaged in the preparetioa of their CAW, and were ready at the pro, yr time to substantiate it before the committee, believing that the cheeps would have resulted in the unseating of one or both of the liberal members. Much to their niertineetion and surprise, however. they learned from the pupae prints that the petitien had been withdrawn without their con sent. That they (the petitioneri) had never girc.l M ann. Thompson, Debeuham, mid dross n any teutbority to en:m -(l,m ties petition, end submitted that justice could not be doae witeeett the pstitionere were re-instated on the lee of election petitioners, and that the order of the horse dis charging the petition shoal be rescinded. The petition of Colonel Dickson, of 10, Stanhope-terrace, Ilydespark-gartien., was next read. It stated th it he (Cul. Dickson) felt much aggrieved by the withdrawal of the eeti lion, and that it had been done without the knowledge and consent of Ur. Netten. the local agent of the petitioners ; that it was a great injustice to the petitioners and to hen (Colonel Dickson), who was surety tor its clue end proper prosecution, and outman:el thet Mr. 11. L. Drown, the par liamentary agent employed by the local agent, had com mitted a breach of the privileges of the house, and had every reason to believe that the grid IL E. Brown had acted in au uojust manner for the sake of party purposes, thereby seer:dr:Mg the interests of the pet:water. tie petitioner prayed thet the wetter might be inquired into. The Chairman then said the committee, on tee application of Mr. Brown, had resolved that all witnesses should with draw from the room, and that the only parties consented with the proceeding allowed to remain should be the peti tioner or the scents. It is a very peculiar inquiry, but we have no feeling otherwise than that it cannot be too public- The letter of Messrs. Thompson, Debenharn, and Brown to the Speaker, withdrawing tho Norwich petition, having been read and put in evidence, Mr. H. E. Brown, of the firm of Thompson, Debenhsm, and Brown, parliamentary Agents, 31, Peelimment-street, was thou celled, and said, of course it is not for me to dis obey or dictate to the committee, but I beg to submit that they should first of all allow the accusation to be made mutest me. The Chairman—The charge is contained in the letter to the Speaker, who reported to the bode that he had re ceived notice from Messrs. Thompson, Debenham, and Brown, agents fur the petitioects in the cases of Gloucester, Middlesex, Norwich, and Kidderiniuster, that it was not intended to proceed with them. Is it in your handwriting t The Witness—Yes. Tho letter e s" was subsequently added to the word petition, so that the letter dated 14th of February, related to the withdrawal of two petitions. I are an atterwy and solicitor. I wrote the letter by the cu therity of Mr. Kitten. lie gave see the authority on several occasions, but particularly the last time I saw him before the letter was Written. The lion. Chairman—What were the instructions Mr. Kitten gave you ? Witness—With submission, I think we should begin at the beginning. Again I submit it is very hard to put me in the box before you have heard the accusation against me. 1 ant personally as respectable as any man in the towel, and I causot help submitting that to put me in the box with out first having the accusation preferred against me made, is an unparalleled thing in the history of Englund. It is perfectly (with emphasis) unparalleled. I throw myself on the mercy of the committee. The lion. Chairman—Toss have beard the charge in the Speaker's letter. It may be unparalleled, bat we want the truth and nothing more, and if it is possiole to extract the truth we will have it. Witness—lf you are determined that that is the proper course to pursue, I throw myself out your mercy, hut I think it is a hard and unprecedented way of dealing with a petition, alleging a breadi;of privilege or etiquette. Sucha thing against a professional man was never heard of that he should be the first witness called without accusation made. It is unparalleled—unparalleled. The Hon. Chairman—No one lees doubted your respect ability, Mr. Brown, or said a word about it ; but the ques tion was, when did you see Mr. Kitten, and what were the instructions he gave you ? I require an answer. Witness-1 saw him on the Saturday previous; but be fore I answer further, I again appeal to the committee. After a pause the committee cleared the room, and, on re-admission, The Chairman slid—Mr. Brown, we postpone your evi dence, and proceed to examine Mr. Kitten. Mr. W. M. Kitten, solicitor, of Norwich, examined by the Chairman—Had seen the petitian of the five electors of Norwich, complaining that the petition against Mt srs. Pe to and Warner had been withdrawn without their consent. Was the local agent for that petition, and employed Mr. Brown as parliamentary agcut, but had never given him any authority whatever far its withdrawal. First knew of the petition being withdrawn on Monday, the 14th of Fe- • binary, by taking up the Times of the following day. Had seen Lrown at his office on the Saturday previous. Hed conversation with him there, and Brown asked witness if he would withdraw the Norwich petition, as a set off for the West Norfolk. 'Witness replied, it was so thoroughly understood, however, that tho West Norfolk petition was " a sham," that he would have nothing to do with it. During the day of polling at Norwich, it seemed to the con servative party to which witness telouged, that something extraordinary must have been done. The Marquis of Douro, in his farewell address to the conservative elector*, said—" Although the political connexion which has existed between us, for 15 years, is severed, I cannot but suppose that the personal honour of the successful candidates re mains unsullied, although it is impassible to reprobate too strongly the means that have been unsparingly used to throw obstacles in the way of the constitutional action of Conser vative principles, and to overbear the consciences of the I voters." The Marquis and Coiontl Dickson were defeated, and subsequently, on being applied to by some of the lead ing conservatives of Norwich, witneu took charge of the petition, and with his clerk investigated the matter. Witness then saw a gentleman in town who recommended Mr. Brown to him as a parliamentary agent, to conduct the petition. The Chairman—Who was that gentleman? Witness (reluctantly)—Colonel Forester. The Chairman—Whore did you see Col. Forester ? Witness—At the Carlton. I subsequently saw Mr. Brown on 15th September, at Salter's-hall, City. They had a conversation, and witness said be did not feel himself instilled in going into a petition that would incur any heavy parliamentary agents' bill, and that was the reason he had seen Colonel Forester. Brown said the expense would be trifling—not worth talking e out. Witness told him the local expenses would be provided for, and Brown said, "In ease we go into committee, from 5001. to 1,0001. would be required." It was understood that if on further investigation the facts did not justify the prosecution of the petition or any heavy expense, or if the Norwich conservatives did not to raise sufficient means, that then the petition would bo withdrawn. Witness, Colonel Forester, and Colonel Dick son, then met at Mr. Brown's office, in Parliaments street, to arrange the matter, and subsequent'sy witness received a letter from Thompson, De benhatu, and Brown, stating " we have gone through the evidence, and can have no hesitation in stating that if the facts can be proved there will be no difficulty in unseat ing the present members. If it be determined to prosecute your present petition you will have the goodness to send the names of two persona who are trustworthy, and with a surety who is well worth 1,0001. There may be two sure ties for 5001., or four for 2501. each, but we infiaitely prefer one with 1,0001. The petition and reeognisances can be presented and taken any day between the 11th and 24th November." Witness enclosed this letter to Mr. Samuel Bignoli, one of the leading conservatives at Norwich, and tho result was a meeting_ of the " of the leading conservative party" of Norwich on the Bth Nov., and they passed a resolution appointing a committee to consider and report upon the subject matter of the petition. The reso lution produced was in the handwriting of Mr. Kerrison, agent of the Marquis of Dante. Lord lianelagli, though not au elector, but holding considerable property in the neighbourhood, was present at the meeting, which was held at Mr. Bignold's house. In con.sequence of that meet ing witness went further into the case. Saw Brown again, and Captain Ives and Colonel Dickson became sureties, and the objections by Coppoek to the recognisance' were overruled before the examiner. Saw Brown again on the ISth of January, and Brown asked Jahn if he would set off the Norwich petition as against the West Norfolk. Wit ness said, " It is quite impossible." I understood Colonel Dickson that Mr. Oliveira, the member for Pontefract, had made some application with regard to the petition, which Colonel Dickson had declined to listen to. I told Brown it would be quite out of the question that the petition could bo withdrawn, after the sureties had been given, without the concurrence of Col. Dickson. Brown, in reply to witness, said the mat ter was likely to come on in March, or after Easter, before the committee, and I must proceed with the case. On the Saturday before the petition was withdrawn, Brown again asked witness if he would withdraw the Norwich for the West Norfolk, and witness again declined. This was at Brown's office, in Parliament street, at about three o'clock, and Brown went over to Coppook's, laying, " Your petition will nut come on before Easter ; the matter does not press." These were Brown's last words on the subject. NS itness, seeing the paper on the table, said, "I will look at it while you are gone to Coppock's," but did not wait till Brown returned, and left, saying he should be in town on Tuesday. Subsequently witness was surprised at seeing the withdrawal of the petition announced, and w witness wrote thereon to Col. Dickson, and also to Brown, stating he had to authority from his (witness's) clients for the withdrawal of the petitions, and requesting him immesh tte/y to restore them to the lists, sad asking for a reply. Witness, however, had