The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-15 00:00:00

Vie erpregso. To CORRESPONDENTS. • Snow st.tPre of .Tile Laps.," mamma, the mew twang's "Goertte," le othltsbed erery Toseday sad Pettey sigh:, us time Ike poet. ggeoelbeehrote intaidal Par "170 Express." London reesteg paper. wee le at the lad% N. lieneevie4treet, by Two o'eleelt ea the dog OS yelLicati.a. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. taws DAV—llkandag. Ufa... Afternoon. lb. 4 .111. 794"48" SY. tomTftiwooi. fl. sta. LONDON. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15. AMONG the vague reports from the scat et erne on the Danube by which the restless electrie tell graph supplies the lack of detailed informatics ' there ate some that speak of a reverse sus tained by the Turks. Indeed a story of this kind, although it still lacks the precision and definite character which specific statements of time and plate can alone impart, has been repeated so often, with in creasing confidence, that intelligent and impartial judges begin to lean to a belief in it. Nor is the tale impossible or improbable in itself. All war is as altercation of success and defeat ; a war extending over so long a line of operations as that between the Turks and Russians is peculiarly liable, especially at the first outbreak of hostilities, to such vicissitudes. It is possible that the Turks may have been beaten on some point or points along their line. The Russians are not sheep, to be driven back and dispersed without the risk of an occasional bite from them. They who augur from the relative positions and conditions of the two hostile forces that victory must ultimately rest with the Turks, do not expect that it is to be achieved without an arduous struggle. Meanwhile, it is not undeserving of remark that the Wet and his Ministers have sadly miscalculated in their last attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the Western Governments and their subjects. They have left out of account the fact that unbroken lines of by electric telegraph have for some time been established from London and Paris as far east as Vienna and Berlin. To this oversight alarm can be attributed the shocking blonder of allowing only one day to intervene between the completion of the NESSELRODE circular to the Rus e= diplomatic scents at foreign courts, in which it is affirmed that the Porte 's declaration of war "has made no change in the pacific dispositions of the Emperor," and the Manifesto in which the Russians are informed that their Emperor is at war with the Turks, and the God of battles appealed to with mendacious profanity. The smooth, fawning circular of NESSELRODE is dated the 19th (31st) October. The Manifesto of the Emperor is dated the 21st October (2nd November). The former is calculated for the meridians of London and Paris—meant to impress the good easy folks of those capitals with the idea that the CZAR is a just and pacific sove reign ; the latter is calculated for the meridians of St. Petersburg and Moscow—meant to stimulate Russian fanaticism and cupidity to go forth and fulfil the stern behests of a ruthless despot. Both may have left St. Petersburg by the same post or courier, and reached Berlin simultaneously. But from Berlin westward the telegraphic wires conveyed the printed Manifesto (at least its substance) with lightning speed, while the unprinted communication for the Ministers could only be dragged on by locomotives. Before the Russian envoys at Paris and London could communicate to the Governments in those capitals the pacific sentiments of their master, the newspapers had put those Ministers in possession of his warlike Manifesto. Even Russian diplomatic impudence must have been taken aback by such a Contretemps. Even without this awkward miscalculation, how ever, the NESSILRODE circular was but indifferently qualified for purposes of deception. It is too meek, too honeyed by halE It is an emanation from a political Ifriah Ilev—so very "'amble" that nobody can be deceived by him. On the 20th of June (2nd July), according to Count NESSELRODE, the CZAR " declared that in temporarily occupying the Princi palities as a material guarantee destined to ensure him the satisfaction which he demands, he did not wish to push further the measures of coercion, and would avoid an offensive war as long as his dignity and his interests would permit him." Does the smooth-spoken Muscovite imagine that the Governments and peo ples of Western Europe have forgotten the mean ing attached to words in their own languages? What are " measures of coercion " adopted by one Government towards another but " war" ? And does not the Government whose " coercive mea sures" consist in an invasion of the other's territory take the initiative or offensive? To address such a shallow play upon words to independent Govern meets is in itself a deliberate insult. Nor is this all. Count NESSZLRODE promises on behalf of his master that he would avoid an offensive war "as long as his dignity and interests would permit him." Other Governments when they speak of going to war deem it necessary, or at least decent, to allege that their rights have been in fringed upon ; but the Russian Government avows, in this circular of its Chancellor, that its Sovereign holds himself warranted to go to war with any other state whenever "his dignity or his interests" are concerned. Russia, it is clear from this, does not re gard the moral code recognised by the civilised Go vernments of Europe as binding upon it. Russia avows that it will attack any neighbour for the mere purpose of promoting its own interest, or augment ing its own dignity. By thus renouncing the great principles upon which European international law is based, Russia has renounced the protection of that system, and has warned every na tion which regulates its conduct by that system to be constantly on its guard against so lawless a nation. The principles avowed by Rus sia, as (from its position) a member of the system of European States, are precisely those upon which a highwayman or burglar sets as a member of society. Russia's "coercive measure" of invading the Danu bian Provinces, to obtain " a material guarantee " for its claims upon Turkey, can only be paralleled by BLOOD'S attempt to steal the crown, in the reign of CHARLES 11., on the plea of distnicing for a debt he alleged to be due to him by Government. Count NESSELRODE asserts that his Government is l , ready to evacuate the Danubian Provinces " from the moment reparation shall have been made to as." Reparation for what? No Russian subject has been injured by the Porte or any of its subjects. No Christian subject of Turkey complains of any wrong being done to himself or any of his co-religionists. Russia, indeed, was refused when she called upon the SULTAN to bind himself by a treaty not to alter in any respect the existing relations of his Christian subjects to his Government without the previous knowledge and consent of Russia. By concluding such a treaty the SULTAN would have tied up his hands, not only from altering these ;elation' for the worse but for the better. He would have pledged himself not to concede greater pol.tical immu nities to his Christian subjects wehout the consent of the CZAIL This is no ;ontempla tion of a fanciful or extreme case. It is more than probable that the object of the MENCIIIKOFF mission was to arrest the Turkish Goverm.nt in its career of liberal improvements. For a time Russia had paused in its machinations against the peace and isdepondeneo of the Ottoman empire. The reimaci tation of a spirit of active hostility againi4 Turkey t the Russian councils dates from the period at whiljb the Porte refused to deliver up ihe patriot from Hungary and other olktrestled esaatries e = despots from whoa they had escaped. The real offence given by the Ottoman Government to Russia is no imaginary affront to the superstitions of the degraded Greek Church ; it is the assertion by the Porte of the humane principle that political exiles who take refuge within the territory of an indepen dent state are not to be molested or betrayed so long as they abstain from conduct that might compromis e the protecting Government with other powers. And this consideration it is that renders it so necessary at present to watch with scrutinising, jealous attention the conduct of the Jesuitical Au& trian Government. Austria, it is understood, has intimated that its sense of what is due to the cha racter of neutrality compels it to withdraw from the Conference of the Great Powers. According to this novel interpretation of the duties of Neutrals, they can only mediate while hostilities are impending, not between belligerents engaged in active warfare. This prudish over-anxiety to escape any suspicion that might result from communications with a power at war and its allies contrasts singularly with its conduct in some other respects. Austria, it is stated, is drawing together an army of "observation" upon the Servian frontier. Now it only needs to give a very hurried glance at a map to see that such an army, in the position mos favourable to regular communications with Vienna, must be so placed as to be able to move with equal promptitude in the direction of Servia or Montenegro. The very sus picious hints given not long ago by the Austrian Government of the possibility of events occurring that might render it advisable to take military occu pation of Servia are not yet forgotten; and Austria has not yet explained, much less contradicted, the averments that Russian agents are being allowed to convey arms into Montenegro across the Austrian territory. These circumstances have the appearance of throwing a light upon the late interchange of courtesies at Olmutz—where each Emperor assumed the other's uniform—anything but favourable to Austria's character for sincerity in its neutral professions. SLAVERY IN CUBA. - Our own Correspondent writes u follows: HAVANA, Ocrossa 22. The new system of apprenticeship, or voluntary labour, which it is generally understood will be adopted for Cuba, will be a legalised slavery, which, once established, neither the philanthropy of England and France, nor the combined civilisation of the world, will be able to soften or control. The restric tions which were brought to bear upon the planters of the British West Indies will not be practicable or effective in Cube. The violence, the fraud, the murders which now reign, will be contined, and pro bably be a thousand times multiplied; for there will asatainly be no "voluntary" emigration for the pri vilege of toil without hope and without reward. The same offers have heretofore been made to Asiatic emigrants. They are to come to an Australia or California—a land of gold, lowing " with milk and honey," and to have cabins and land of their own. They come and find the fulfilment of the promise in being sold like other chattels without any guarantee of protection after the lapse of seven years' servitude. The desire to get their " money's worth" for the limited period causes the master to make but scant provision for the wants of the labourer, while his task is increased to the utmost extent of possible human endurance, and if not performed, stripes and blows are administered ad libitum. If death ensues in consequence of this treatment, u has been the ease already in several instances, the charge of mu• tinous conduct against the dead covers the sin of the living murderer. Slavery as it exists here now can be mitigated and restricted by energetic British ac tion at Madrid—but with slavery as it will be, under the new name, there will be no power to reach and check the abuse of the system. It is said this secret convention between England, France, and Spain, for the freedom of Cuban negroes and other concur rent interests, is to be approved and in operation in the month of February next. Already large prepa rations are making for bringing natives from Africa. One individual has obtained a license from Madrid, which has been approved by France and Englund, to bring 30,000 " voluntary apprentices " from the coast of Africa. Smaller operators for, in all, 38,000 more. are at work, not waiting for the formal an nouncement of the governments. And this is but as a drop to the ocean, in proportion to the anticipated action of the speculators. Facts will speak for themselves, and it is well now to see what has been done in slavery here since 1849, and compare with that what is to mature in the few coming months, according to present indications and present pledges : Arriveckia Cabs In . Negroes known. 1849 by 20 vowels - 6,575 18.10 „ 7 ditto l&il „ 7 ditto 1852 and 1853 to August 1, 1853 Omitted in previous report by the brig Ilan over at Sierra Morena 6.50 At Samosa 4OO At Enseasdade Brea, south side seer Trini dad, is dept., per brig Annum (Spanish) At Esseasis de Cochleas, Oct., per schooner Maria Arm (Spanish), subsequently burned 180 At Ramada de Carmelo (Dun of vessel not given), is October 260 At Ls Palogoa, Oct. 15 Total 20,497 Add one-third more, which not cover the _ _ -- nQ.;.l,..ti;t ;.ili., iiiilidiii;,;;tliii;ft 7: 9,832 Add also for lows in pursuit, and kidnap ping; for deaths on the pump; for want of air, food, sad aster 4,200 And Mere will be • grand total of 43,529 human beings that have been dragged from their African homes during a period somewhat less than five years. The number of apprentices already in tended to be brought to Cuba is 66,000. To this must also be added for loss of life in pursuit, capture, and transportation an estimated number of 6,966, making in all 71,966 persons, and representing an aggregate of human misery, un equalled in the history of the past, to be consum mated under British and French protection! Such are my views,justified by long and familiar acquaint ance with the subject, and by association with the Spanish and Creole planters for many years. The three American seamen who were taken in May last off Cape San Antonio in a small boat, and sent to Havana, have had a trial, and I am credibly informed were condemned to four years in chains. They stated that they had shipped on board the American barque limper in the port of New York, under representations mule to them that she was ' bound on a voyage for palin oil, &e.; that after they ascertained the character of the vessel, they were I kept on board by force, and that they took advan- 1 tage of the first opportunity to escape, which only occurred after discharging of a cargo of negroes at Bailen, south side. This landing has been denied by the Captain General Canedo, and by four commis sioners that were appointed by him to investigate the circumstances, compelled by representations of the British cansudgeneral, Mr. Crawford, and, I believe, l ' to this moment remains without o ffi cial acknowledg ! I merit before the Spanish aml British governments, "on the part of the supreme authority here. Yet these men are condemned, under the sanction of the 'same authority, upon their acknowledgments, for an offence which had not been committed, and of which there ia no recorded testimony against them. IRE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1853; /his, too, when their own subjects, after a life spent in the aims, and with abundance of testimony, go " unwhipt ',justice." It has been suggested by parties somewhat learned • in the mysteries of Spanish justice, that there may be an intention to exercise the pardoning power, while the necessity exists to show a clean band for General Canedo, as be is about retiring from office. A cue of purposed landing, by a vessel looked for every day in the vicinity of Bahia Honda, is resolving the vigilant attention of the governor, the facts having been communicated in a personal interview by Mr. Crawford, with a witness, by whom the in telligence was brought. On this occasion, in very bad taste, General Canedo endeavoured to treat the British consul with indignity, but it was a failure, as the latter gentleman coolly and unswervingly pur sued the even course of his duty. Oar Spanish war vessels have full complements of provisions and munitions for active service, but are short of men, so great has been the loss during the summer. The cholera also upon the estates has done much injury to planters, but it is now materially diminish ing, and the health of Havana was never better. LATEST FROM ABROAD. A telegraphic despatch was received in Lyndon last night, announcing that the Turks had advanced on Bucharest, between the sth and 11th inst., and were fighting there last Friday. The main body of the Turks had crossed the Danube. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. VIENNA, Nov. 13. The telegraph announces from Czernowits that Prince Gortachakoff has ordered all " subjects of Turkey" to leave the Principalities. Several thousand Turks have crossed the Danube at Tartokan, to reinforce the corps at Oltenitsa. Prince Clortschakoff was in the vicinity of Olte nitsa on Tuesday last. The rate of exchange on London is still rising, being yesterday 11.16 Austrian Fire per Cent. Metal lice, 91i. Bank shares 1.306. BRUSSELS, Mownsy. On the sth inst. the Russian government, with knowledge of commenced hostilities, fixed the 22nd inst. as the date until which Turkish ships should have free exit from its harbours. Turkish vowels loaded before but taken by Russian cruisers after that date will be set at liberty, if their papers show that their cargo is the property of subjects of friendly powers. After the 22nd they will be dealt with according to the ordinary practice of war, irrespec tive of ownership of cargo. Neutral vessels will enjoy full liberty during the war. The Austrian Lloyd's steamers may carry letters, passengers, and goods between Odessa and Constantinople during the war. BUCHAREST, Nov. 2. The Boyars follow the example of the Hospodar, and emigrate. Austria, Transylvania, Hungary, and the Bukovina are receiving the principal familia. Recruiting depots for Wallachians are opened here; a conscription is feared. BELGRADE, Ocr. 31. The national arming proceeds with astonishing rapidity. District inspectors go from village to village examining every man's rifle. The prince and people are of one mind, and parties have disap peared. Plans have been drawn for a system of fortifications for the frontier. THE NEW NESSELRODE NOTE. The following is a full translation of the circular note transmitted by Count Nesselrode to the diplo matic agents of Russia, an analysis of which has already appeared. The passage of the Danube by the Turks was not known at St. Petersburg at the date of this document, as some of its expressions suf fice to show. ST. PETERSBURG, Ocr. 19 (Oct. 31 is s.) " Sir,—The efforts which we have not ceased to make for the last eight months for the arrangement of our differences with the Ottoman Porte have, un fortunately, been without effect to the present day. Nay more, the situation seems to become more ag gravated each day. Whilst the Emperor offered during his interview with his intimate friend and ally, tie Emperor Francis Joseph, fresh facilities to the Austrian Cabinet to explain the misunderstand ing which attaches to the motives stated by us for rejecting the modifications which the Porte desired to introduce in the note drawn up at Vienna, the Porte, yielding, notwithstanding the counsels of the European representatives at Constantinople, to the warlike ideas and the fanaticism of the Muasul mans, has, as you will have learned, formally de clared war against us. That rash step has, however, in nowise changed the pacific disposition of the Em peror. We still do not abandon, on that amount, the resolutions announced from the beginning in our cir cular of the 20th of June. At that period his Im perial Majesty , declared that in occupying provision ally the Principalities as a material security for the satisfaction he demands, he was unwilling to carry any further the measures of coercion, but rather to avoid an offensive war, so long as his dignity and his interests permitted him to do so. At the present moment, and notwithstanding the fresh provocation offered to him, the intentions of my august master remain the same. In possession of the material pledge which the occupation of the Principalities gives us, though still ready, in fulfil ment of our promise, to evacuate them the moment that we obtain satisfaction,we shall content ourselves with maintaining our position there, remaining on the defensive so long as we are not forced to abandon the limits within which we desire to confine our action. We will await the attack of the Turks with out taking the initiative of hostilities. It will then entirely depend on other powers not to widen the limits of the war, if the Turks persist in waging it against us, and not to give to it any other character than that which we mean to leave to it. That situation of expectancy does not place any obstacle to the carrying on of negotiations. After the declaration of war it is not to Russia that it belongs to seek for new expedients, nor to take the initiative in overtures of conciliation. But if, when better enlightened as to its interests, the Porte will manifest a disposition to propose or to receive similar overtures, it is not the Emperor who will place any obstacles to their being taken into consi deration. Such, Monsieur, is all that, for the mo ment, it is permitted me to inform you of, in the uncertainty we are as to whether the Ottoman Porte will give immediate effect to the warlike project it hasjust adopted. Inform the Cabinet to which_you are accredited of our eventual intentions. They furnish an additional proof of the desire of our august master to limit as much as possible tke circle of hostilities, if they should, unhappily, take place, and to spare the consequences of them to the rest of Europe. " Receive, &c., " NESS ELROD E." ITALY. MILAN, Nov. 7. Arrests continue at Brescia; several persons have been imprisoned. The rigour of the police increases since the state of siege has been mitigated. The getesof the city arc now closed at 10 o'clock, p.m. Passports are strictly required. The troops, so far from being reduced, are increased, particularly along tke frontiers of Switzerland and Piedmont. DENMARK. In its secret sitting on the 7th inst., the Volk'. thing resolved not to entertain the government bill, for changing the special constitution of Denmark Proper, before a fundamental law for the whole monarchy should have been enacted. CURFEW AT SANDWICH. —Some time back it WU stated that the curfew at Sandwich had been discontinued. It has been resumed in consequence of the opposition made by the inhabitants. The sane maned about twenty yaws ago.—Nate and (Mr*. FRANCE. - 41.-- PARIS, MONDAY EVIINING. The followieg is the Moniteur's account of the battle of Oltenitza: The government has received the following details of the rencontre of the 4th between the Turks and Russians at Oltenitea. It is In the triangle formed by the Argil, the Danube, and the village of Oltenites, that the sangsinary combat of the 4th took place. The Turks were only 9,000 strong, they occupied the quarantine building situated in the plain near the Danube and the village. This budding and au old redoubt were fortified with materials brought from Tourtukai. The Turks made use of the batteries of that forum with great suedes ; they threw acmes the Danube, which is about 260 wises in width, shot and shells which reached the Russians at the foot of the village situated on an elevation. General Dannenherg, who directed the operations, was at a short distance from the village with his staff. The loss of the Russians is estimated at 1,200 men killed or wounded. Almost all the chefs-de-bataillon were wounded, as well as several colonels; the great majority of the wounds were made with conical bans. Prince Gortschakoff has left for Oltenius. It is intended to attack the Turks with 24,000 men to-day or to-morrow. I understand the despatch, as received by the go vernment, contained a which, fn obvious reasons, has been omitte d f r om the official journal. It was stated—and, indeed, the fact is still plainly to be inferred from the above paragraph—that the Turks picked off the Russian officers with the Millie rifle. It is known that several months ago a considerable number of these arms were supplied to Turkey by the French govern ment. It is satisfactory to find that the Turks know how to make such good use of this terrible weapon. The concluding statement of the note in the Monacan shows that the reports of the Turks having entered Bucharest were premature. We may expect from one hour to another to hear the result of the pitched battle alluded to as on the point of taking place. In the mean time Paris is deluged with false reports on the subject. I am given to understand that government has received a despatch this morning, according to which the Russian force about to attack the Turks in their positions was 35,000 strong. The Turks were very strongly en trenched. They amounted to only 24,000, but were expecting reinforcements. It is, I believe, calculated that had the Russians obtained the victory the news would have arrived ere this, sinoe the earliest intelli pace must necessarilypass through Russian hands. M. Kiaseleff, it is said, will not go to Fontaine bleau, owing to "indisposition." The only answer I have heard to the inquiry, " What is his illness P" is, " The article in the Moniteur." Vely Pacha has received a special invitation from the 20th to the 30th of the month. It is thought the Emperor will sot return to Paris till the anniversary of the coup dritat, Dec. 2. Nothing whatever is said about the Empress's fete day, which was fixed for to-morrow. It will doubtless he celebrated at Fontainebleau, but I do not hear of any preparations in Paris. A special correspondent of the Press., writing from Trebizond on the 22nd October, says that Abdhi- Pacha left Erzeroum for Kars on the 12th October, at the head of 12,000 regular troops of all arms. 10,000 regulars had already arrived at head-quarters from Kurdistan and Diarbekir. 16,000 redifs were also encamped in the neighbourhood of Kars. The government has called the bachi-bozong into active service, and they were distributed along the whole frontier. These are irregular volunteers, armed with muskets without bayonets, pistols, and a kama (a kind of poignard with a large blade). There are nearly 30,000 of these troops between Batoum and Kars. A Russian army of 30,000 men had been encamped for the last twenty days at the foot of the mountain which commands the town of Alexandropol, situated 12 hours' march from Kan, on the Georgian territory. Another corps of 15,000 was at Akhalzikh, whose destination was to take Batoum, marching over the mountains which command it, while Russian ships would bombard the town by sea. On the 21st four Turkish steam-frigates ' , disembarked at Trebizoad 1,500 riflemen, armed as the Chassenrs de Vincennes, and 6,000 infantry. All these are excellent troops, well armed and equipped. Twenty-two more steamers, with troops for Erie num and Kars, were expected. It was thought that the Turkish government would in the next week send four or five thousand good troops from Con stantinople to Batoum. This evening's Patric says : If we may believe the Gazette de Trieste an English courier arrived at Bagdad on the 27th of September brought intelligence from Teheran that the Shah of Persia was dis posed to declare against Turkey, and would send an army to the Turkish frontier. This news coincides with the rumours mentioned in the journals and correspondence from India brought by the last mail. However this mil be, the danger to the Ottoman empire does not lie in this direction, and the Russian machinations in Turkey are of a nature to give more uneasiness to England than to Turkey. The Bourse continues in the same position. There is an evident tendency to rise which nothing but very decided bad news can resist The confident feeling was encouraged to-day by a rise of I, in Consols;posted at the commencement of business. The Threes began at 73fr. 50c., rose to 73f. 70c., and closed at 73fr. 550., being the last price of yesterday. The Four-and-a-Halfs rose 23c. The Orleans railway rose 7L 50c.; Lyons, 5f.; and Rouen and Havre, SL; Paris and Rouen fell 5f., and in the other lines there was little variation. Bank of France shares, owing to the late increase in the discount business, were in extra ordinary demand, and rose 50f. A telegraphic despatch was spoken of, according to which a battle had been fought in Russia between Schamy l'e army and 15,000 Russians, in which the Russians had been completely worsted. SOUTH AMERICAN MAILS. (11T ZLZCTILIC TZLIORAPIL.) (PION OUR OWN COREZIPONDINT.) SOUTHAMPTON, TUZBDAT. The Severn has arrived. Her dates are ;—Buenos Apes, Oct. 2 ; Monte Video, Ook 6 ; Rio de Janeiro, Oct. 16. There had been an outrage upon British subjects at Rio de Janeiro. Two Englishmen, one a mate of a merchant ship, and the other a labourer at the gas works at that place, were pressed as they were walking is the streets on the morning of the 21st September, and sent on board the Cariacu, Bra zilian government transport. As the sailor was dis abled by an abscess and the labourer was useless they were landed, without a word of explanation or a shilling of wages, at Pernambuco on the 7th October. The sailor's name is Thomas Willis. He went to Rio as second mate of the Midas. The other, Thomas Stephens, arrived at Rio as passenger in the ship Calcutta, from Australia, and was employed in the gas works. At Buenos Ayres trade was brisk, and balls and parties were the order of the day. It is expected from the march of events at Monte Video, that Urquiza will disappear from the public scene. The internal state of Buenos Ayres is satisfactory. It is expected that, after the constitution of the pro vince and the appointment of the permanent go vernment have been attended to, commercial re forms will be adopted. At Monte Video, President Giro bee returned, but not resigned; he has been influenced by tho French Legation. The capital of Monte Video is in an afflicted state. _ The latest news from Uruguay was that all wai Quiet in the capital, WEST COAST OF AFRICA. (BY SLECTILIC TELEGRAPH.) ARRIVAL OF THE FAITH. FALMOUTH, TUESDAY. Arrived, the Faith, Captain Parsons, with the mails from the west coast of Africa. Her dates are : Sierra Leone, Oct. 23 ; Teneriffe, Nov. 1; Madeira, Nov. 3. The mails were landed and posted here under the charge of Lieutenant Oak. Among the passengers are the Don. David Fitzpatrick, Captains Orotson and Brunell ; Messrs. Quill, Stubbs, Phy thian, and, Cheetham, and Mrs. Band. The Faith brings gold-dust valued at 6,0001. After coaling she will proceed to London. ' Her Majesty's ships at Lagos were the Alecto, Polyphemus, and Waterwitch, At Sierra Leone : The Myrmidon, Volcano, ar.d Britomart. DEATH FROM EATING YEW BERRIES.--A few days since Mr. Whitmarsh held an ingoe4 at tievenhampton, on the body of a child, who had been poisoned by eating some yew berries, which it had picked up in the churchyard while playing there with some other children. The jury found that the deceased had been nocidentally poisoned.— ' Salisbury Jame. CAPT. INOLEFIELD ON THE ARCTIC SEARCH. --•-- Last evening the Royal Geographical Society held its ant meeting fee the session of 1853.54, at the rooms of the Horticultural Society, 21, Regent•street. The an- oouncement that Captain Ingleflel4 would upon this occa sion lay before the society the results of the late Arctic ez• peditions, including the discovery of the north•weat pas' sage by Captain 31'Clure, drew together en unusually lugs audience. . . The room was densely filled, amongst the company being a considerable number of gentlemen connected with the royal and mercantile nary, and also a large number of ladies were present. Amongst the company were observed Sir H. Holland, Sir R. H. Dukinfield, Bart. Colonel Campbell, General Sandwich , Lieutenant-General Sir Chas. Pasley, Colonel Pollock, Colonel Steele, Sir B. ()minim, Sir \V. Parish, Sir Frederick Nicholson. Bart., Sir E. N. Bux ton, the Earl of Sheffield, Mr. B. Oliveira, M.P., Admiral Bowles. Captain Bennett, Captain Fitzroy. . _ Sir RODIRICIL J. Mnauntsow presided, in the absence of the Earl of Ellesmere, who was unable to attend. After the usual preliMinary business of electing new members, of whom the CHAIMWAN amid a larger number were to be beliotted for at that than at any previous meeting, Sir Roderick remarked that it was a pleasing coincidence that, in having to introduce to them the distinguished Arctic navig.ater, Captain Inglefield, he did se while occupying a choir which had once been the property of one of the earliest of the Arctic voyagers, viz., Sir Martin Frobisher, who had attempted the discovery of the North-west Passage in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The chair had been presented to the society by Mt. C. R. Weld, of Somerset house, and bore the name of Sir Martin Frobisher, and the date 1580. The Presi dent having read the letter of Mr. Weld in presenting the chair, called upon Captain INOLZFILLD, R. N., who read the following paper : " Sir,—The honour your society has done me during my absence, in awarding the Victoria gold medal for my dis coveries in the Polar Seas, has made me eager to be the first medium through which that society shall receive the intelligence of the discovery of the North West Passage, the news of which it has been my lot to bring to England in ' her Majesty's steam vessel Phoenix. The thousands that have been lavished by the B • • h nation, with unsparing hand, for the last two centuries and a half, to solve this great geographical problem, were destined to be of little avail to that immediate end, though large has doubtless bees the addition to our knowledge of people and countries that would otherwise have remained unknown. The last, and it is too much to be feared, fatal effort of this country, which Ins been the subject of general interest, and I may my national anxiety, has called forth, in behalf ter the safety of that expedition, squadrons of ships to the rescue, some privately employed ; and whilst all hay* proved equally unsuccessful in throwing light upon the great subject of the fate of our missing cow trymea, still it has been the lot of one vessel of the search ing fleet (and one for which considerable anxiety had been felt) to penetrate from the westward to a spot within 170 miles of the winter quarters of the first expedition that spent a long Polar night at Melville Island, in 1821. The Investigator, Captain M'Clure, reached that position in the spring of 1830, and, after hopefully waiting two years to complete the remainder of that distance, luckily deposited, by means of a travelling party, a paper that was found at Winter Harbour, by Captain Kellett's people, last year. Early in the season a hardy few were despatched from the Resolute, with the ther mometer at 30 to give to the ice-bound mariners hope of rescue, and you, sir, will easily understand how words must fail to convey one tithe the sentiments of joy felt by the worn-out crew on beholding a stranger, their fellow eountrymea, approaching them on the desert waste of ice which surrounded the ship. Captain ?Minn describes it as a moment to be telt but once in a man's life. The sick crawled from their hammocks on deck to behold the stranger, and looks, not words, could alone convey their welcome and transports of joy at the knowledge that succour was at hand. A few days later, and the crew of the Investigator would have been dispersed to seek retreat by the Mackenzie River and Leopold Harbour. Few would probably have ever reached their destination, enervated and emaciated as they were. It was soon determined to send a sarty of invalids, under Lieut. Cresswell, to the Resolute (Captain Kellett), and that officer loot no time in forwarding the lieutenant on to Beechey Island with the despatches of Captain M'Clure. On my arrival there I appointed him to the Phenols, and he has been the bearer to this country of those despatches, with the journals, charts, rte., of the Captain of the Investigator, Lieutenant Cresswell and Lieutenant Wyniatt being the first individuals wko have ever passed round the great continent of America. The journal of Captain M'Clure, which as senior officer at Beschey Island I had the privilege of perusing be fore it was despatched to the Admiralty, is deeply interesting, and contains such full and minute ac counts of their adventures and discoveries that I feel I have little right to interfere with what has already ap peared in the public prints. A description that carries with it truthfulness and grandeur, illustrating as it does the perils and hardships of this lengthened voyage, cannot be more entirely appreciated than it is by all those whose experience in the Arctic Seas has given them the ability to judge of the hair-breadth escapes Captain M'Clure and his brave comrades have gone through. So much has been written, and charts in thousands (illustrating the marvellous voyage of the Investigator) have been so widely circulated that It would be presumptuous in me to do more at this late period than briefly to show upon the large chart which hs before you (and which has been so ably prepared by Mr. Arrowsniith), the route by which the North West Passage may yet be accomplished, and the track by which Lieut. Cresswell and Li• ut. Wyniatt completed the short interval between the discoveries of the veteran Arctic navi gator, Parry, and those of the gallant M'Clure. Lieu tenant Cresswell has with mach inconvenience to himself come to London for the purpose of attending here this evening, and I therefore feel sure that you will hold me excused in passing over the details of Captain M'Clure's voyage, which will be so much more ably and effectively detailed by one of that gallant band who shared in the dangers and was witness Wall the perils that assailed them. Without, therefore, encroaching on the interest of the communication which you will receive from that officer, I will only remind you that on the 6th of August, 1850, the Investigator was seen entering the ice off Point Barrow, with studding-sails set, stand ing to the N.E., and until the return of the Phoenix, nothiag had been heard of her from that date. Point Barrow was rounded with mach difficulty, and at the River Colville, in 150 degrees west longitude, the Investi gator was detained by the ice some days. A succession of strong easterly winds and fogs obliged them then to beat to windward. This, however, ally proved an advan tage, as the shallow water on the American coast, and the broken ice off the Pack-edge, gave them warning of the dangers they were approaching, whilst they had time to pet about, which they were frequently obliged to do every ten minutes. The mouth of the Mackenzie was reached on the 23rd of August, and oddly enough, on that very same day the boats of the Plover, under Lieut. (now commander) Pullen, passed the Palley Islands, which lay off its entrance, and thus the two expeditions crossed each ether not far asunder, but unseen by either. On the 30th the Investigator reached Cape Bathurst, having failed in the attempt to stretch to the northward, which Captain Maclure had tried on finding the ice so distant from the land, as it appeared, off the River Mackenzie. Coasting along, they reached Cape Parry, in 123 deg. west, on the 6th of September. Open water again tempted them to push to the northward, in the direction of the land seen by Parry in 1821, and named Bank's Land. On the 6th of September, about 60 miles in a N.E. direction from Cape Bathurst, they first fell in with au unknown coast. f he headland then sighted was called Nelson Head, and which eventually proved to be the southern extremity of an island, which was called Baring Wand, and whose northern shores had been seen and named by Parry after Sir Joseph B inks. Keeping to the eastward of this, they passed up a narrow strait, formed by the shores of this island and a coast that was named after his Royal Highness Prince Albert ; and reaching lat. 73 deg., were suddenly beset in the pack, and, drifting to the southward, were finally frozen up in lat. 72.40 and lon. 117.30 West. In the spring, travelling parties were sent out, but they discovered no trans of the musing expedition, though much new land was traversed, and previously unknown coasts explored. On the 14th July, 1851, the ice broke up, and when the ship got clear, an endeavour was made to push again to the north-eastward, as the travelling parties had discovered that in this direction a north-west passage could be effected when the ice permitted. They could, however, only suc ceed in reaching a position 33 miles further to the north ward than they had attained on the preceding year; and now an impenetrable pack defying their further progress, an attempt was made, by rounding the island to the southward, to pass up the western side, and thus reach Melville Strait by the shores of Bank's Land. A latitude of 74.6 and long. 117.12 was the farthest point they could reach ere the chilling frosts of another winter set in, and again froze them up on the 94th September, 1851, in a small bight on the northern part of Bank's Land, and which was named the Harbour of Mercy, barely 70 miles distant from Melville Island, and little over 160 from the winter quarters of Captain Kellett last year. As they had experienced on the other side, so they found this also hampered with heavy ice, which totally p d their gaining the shores of Melville Island in the vessel, and in Mercy Bay they were destined to remain, until discovered by Lieutenant Pies, of the Rem- lute. This o ffi cer (whose name will be familiar to this 1 society as one who planned the Siberian overland expedi tion) reached the Investigator on the 11th of April lasi, and on the 15th Lieutenant Cresswell was despatched with Lieutenant Wyniatt and a party of invalids to the I winter quarters of the Resolute. From thenes the officers were despatched by Captain Kellett to Beechey Island, where they joined my ship, end I thus completed the circuit of the great continent of Ame rica. It was fortunate that abundance of game was to be found on the coasts near which the Investigator wintered, otherwise the three years' provisions with which the vessel was stored would have proved inadequate to support them ; nevertheless, energy and strength for the chase were requi site; and when discovered by Captain Kellett's party, the bald and enterprising hunter, who the first year would go to seek for game, trusting to his success to allay the cravings of hunger, was then found spiritless and unequal i to the labour, which had been his former sport. 'thus it was that Capt. M'Clure resolved to abandon hie ship in the summer of 18-53, and which project was to Lave been partly carried out on the 15th of April, • few days later than the • opportune arrival of the o ffi cer from Capt. Kellett's vessel. • Whether it will be now decided to forsake the ship it may be laid is left in the hands of the crew to decide, as Captain Kellett, very wisely (notwithstandine Captsie M'Clurs's desire to get the sh i p t h rough) had ordered that unless 20 volunteers could be found smo,,ot the crew to remain by the vessel, she was t o be inimidi. ately deserted, sod the people were to joie hi e pendant. Thus, sir, has been so.ved the problem o f centuries; s north-west passage to Cathie has been di scovered, but sin, to Haw avail, as that way has been fo un d so bl ocked with ice, so beset with dangers, and through such inclement es. gions, as to leave no doubt as to is perfect inutility for tracinqgu Wellington sinting y on the purposes of navigation. I will not encroach on the matter Lieut. Cresawell may have to lay before you, but now brifly state in connexion with the subjec t f ir t h is ee 0. tog's oonsiderstion, what have been the discoveries made by Captain Sir Edward Belcher's expediti on . L ast year I informed your society from this place of the progress of that i r ty en o t f e with the search mde by the Assista nce an d Pioneer in that direction, and the result of their exploring out". squadron Chsnoer. upl have to the no w time a u opp of o r t t h u e n i With considerable difficulty Sir Edward Belcher reached a spot inlet. 76.52 and lon. 97 W., which he called Northum berland Sound, and here he passed the winter of '52.3, ex ploring the adjacent coasts and islands to the notthvrard and eastward, determining the continuation of a coast liae trending towards Jones's Sound. About 30 miles to the northward of his winter quarters, be discovered landoshieh was named North Cornwall, and further still to the northward a group of islands, named by bias the Victoria Islands. With reference to the search fur the missing expedition, nothing has beets discovered to throw any light upon their track ; nothing that could be at all said to convey the slightest hope of leading to their dis covery ; if we except some Esquimau' huts found on a point to the northward of Northumberland Sound, and which Sir Edward Belcher speaks of as hearing g certain appearance of more civilised workmanship than that of the untutored Esquimau:. Many bone' of walrus, deer, and seals were found, and coal seen. You will observe, sir, that the position of Wellington Chan nel is rather altered, as by Sir Edward Belcher's observe -401111 be makes it to run in a more northerly direction than Captain Penny had supposed, the whole of the coast lint having been laid down too much to the westward. The western branch of the searching squadron, under Captain Kellett, had reached Dealy Island, where they:wintered, but as the extended travelling parties had not returned at the time that the officers left the dissolute for Beechy Island, we have no means of learning what they may have accomplished. On the subject of geographical discovery, I have nothing to add, and as my own voyage, with the full particulars of the loss of one of the vessels of my squadron, has already appeared before the public, I will not take up more of your time, which will be more inte restingly occupied in the remarks of Lieuteusnt Cresswell, and the discussion on this subject." A vote of thanks was then passed to Capt. Inglefteld for his raper. .. - .. . . .. SOme conversation followed, and the meeting then broke up. PROPOSED ECCLESIASTICAL CHANGES IN THE PARISH OF ST. PANCRAS. Yesterday a special and crowded meetin g o f t h e elected vestry of St. Pancras was held at the Parochial Court House, Camden-town, for the purpose of considering the proposal of the vicar to introduce a bill into p ar li ament in the ensuing session to subdivide the parish into separate ecclesiastical districts. The VICAR (the Rev. Thos. Dale) having taken the chair, addressed the vestry in support of his plan, which, he said, so far from having for its ohject a reimposition of church-rates, would carry out a pledge he bad given in 1847—that so long as he was vicar of St. Pancras be would be a party to any act which would lead to a reimposi tion of church•rates. (Hear, hear) The objects sought to he carried out by the proposed bill were, first, to popu !seise and reform the board of church trustees, and make them a body elected by the pew-renters of the various churches, instead of!, self - elected body as they were at present. The second object was to secure pastoral efficiency in cam of the districts, which they did not now possess; and an other object was to enable the prebendal revenues and in comes derivable from the church lands in the parish to be appropriated to the repairs and other requirements of the church in the parish. The Rev. Vicar showed that in con sequence of the (misting church acts prohibiting marriages at the various district churches, they had to be performed at the mother church of St. Pancras, to the great impedi ment of Divine service. They had sometimes as many as 120 banns published on a Sunday, and as many as 30 mar riages at a time, thus preventing the due solemnity from being observed. No less than 423 marriages had taken place between Midsummer and Michaelmas la-t, or upwards of 1,600 per annum. The bill would not in the slightest degree interfere with the local or municipal rights of the vestry ; it would not permit the clergy, as was apprehended, to come and take their seats as e.r officio members of that vestry, neither would it interfere with the rights or the pockets of any dissenting body whatsoever. The Rev. Chairman then explained the anomalies which existed in the different constitutions of the present districts, and assured the vestry that he would consent to such alterations and ameudmente as the committee should propose, with a view to secure to the churchwardens and vestry ail existing rights, and protect the parish from the reimposition of church rates. (Loud cheers.) Mr. SMEETEN, as one of the requisitionists, moved a re solution, recommending the appointment of a committee to consider the details of the bill, and repirt to the vestry if any and what alterations are desirable therein, particularly in order to secure the existing jurisdiction rights and prim leges of the churchwardens and parishioners in vestry as sembled. Mr. T. E. BAKER seconded the resolution. Mr. COOPER moved that it be an imperative instruction that provisions be made that no compulsory church rate should be made fur any district or ether church, unless the same be signed by the two churchwardens elected by the vestry, and that the vicar and said churchwardens shall alone be ex officio members of the vestry. This was seconded, and having been appended to the original resolution, was unanimously carried as an amend ment. The vestry then separated. AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY. Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of this company took place at the London Tavern, Bishops gate-street, for the purpose of resolving the time required for the tenure of shares by a director previous to hii elec tion, from the period of six consecutive months now re quired by the deed of settlement to the period of ten consecutive days next preceding his election, as agreed to at the last general meeting, and since sanctioned by the Board of Trade ; and so far as may be requisite in relation thereto, annulling, altering, or varying the existing provi sions of the deed of settlement. Also for the purpose of appointing new directors, appointing an auditor, and filing the remuneration of directors and auditors. Mr. FRITH in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN announced that an application had been made to the Board of Trade, and that the result was a concession of the proposed altera tion in the deed of settlement. It was now their duty to proceed to the election of directors—five gentlemen had altogether retired from the direction, and they were therefore called upon to elect seven gentlemen in lieu of those who had tendered their resignations, but who were eligible for re-election. In the first instance, however, he would propose a resolution to the effect that so much of the provisions of the company's deed of settlement, and pad calmly of its 44th clause as provides that no shareholder shall be eligible to the office of director unless for six con secutive months next previously to the time of his election he shall have been registered as the proprietor of the num ber of shares prescribed as forming the necessary qualifica tion for a director—shag, with the consent end approval of the Board of Trade, be so far altered as to dispense with the necessity of any tenure of shares by any person who may be hereafter elected a director, for a longer period than ten days next preceding the time of his election. Mr. WALTON seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then observed that it was now competent for any gentleman to propose the names of seven candi dates to occupy the direction. Mr. MALINS was of opinion that their interests would be best consulted by retaining on their board a certain number of gentlemen who had already gone through the ordeal of the management of this company. He thought it would be highly inexpedient that the directors should retire in a body, and on this ground he proposed that Mr. East be requested to retain his position as a director. A long and irregular discussion then took place, in the course of which various opinions were expressed respecting the course which it was advisable for the minting to adopt; and it was suggested that the directors should consist of gentlemen who were acquainted with shipping, and whose practical experience was of such a nature as to qualify them for the management of a great steam company. Mr. AMBROSE MOORE said the shareholders ought not to be content to receive the name of Mr. East, or that of any other gentleman unconnected with the general body of directors. lie therefore proposed that the following gentle men be appointed directors : Mr. East, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Shepherd (from the members of the direction who had I tendered their resignation), and Mr. Matins, Mr. Tootle, Mr. Davis, and Mr. Jackson (from the body of proprietors.) A discuasiJn ensued upon the propriety of electing these , gentlemen under the circumsta n ces, an d th e proposition was Irejected. Mr. MOORE then moved a resolution to the effect that a , committee of shareholders be appointed to prepare a list of directors ; that the meeting be adjourned for three weeks, in order that time might be allowed for the purpose ; that any shareholder willing to serve should send in his name on or before the 26th inst. ; and that the list be prepared six days before the day of election. Various opinions were expressed for and against this re solution—some gentlemen contending that it was advisable for them to be guided by the old maxim, that " delays are dangerous " (as they had been proved to be in reference to the affairs of this company), and others urging that it was better that they should be influenced by another trite Malign, which said "look before you leap." The waver% Illetion at length assumed somewhat of an angry tone. and, ' iu the midst of much confusion and misunderstanding , a number of .zentlemen were proposed seriatim as directors, and their election agreed to by a majority. Mr. ?doom, seconded by Mr. Gens Elf, demanded a ballot upon each election, and, as he refused to relax Ills determination in this respect, notwithstanding that he re• ceived repeated entreaties to do so, it was ultimately rip cd that the polling should be proceeded with during the next three days, and that the meeting be adjourned till Friday to ascertain the result. The meeting was accordingly ad' loaned.