The Express. — London, England, 1853-09-29 00:00:00

Ut4t OnorgA. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A ltee , nd Re - tton of the same evpainit's "Usieetee,” is publvhed every Tunalay and Friday riled, in tuna for port. Ada , rtiwtnente Med for "The Expreve," Landon Irveairo parer, mud be rt the 1111,e, 10, Bouvetie , treet, by Two o'clock ors the de 01 publication. man WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tula Dair Aftrngroo, Oh. I'ol. 74.11101110 W-11•111.111. I. ....Afteremn. Ob. 29a. LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29• SCOTLAND has become for the nonce a kind of rural \Vest-end. The Court is at Balmoral; the only Ministers who show signs of sitality and make themselves heard of are holding levees and dispensing information in Greenock, Perth, and Glasgow. In the tint-mentioned town Lord Jolts Itt•ssEtt came off with a good deal of hit, but the PALMERSTON displays in the two latter app. ar to have been still more successful. Ilia Lordship condescended to play off before the eyes of the admiring burgesses of the good towns of St. John and St. Mungo all that elegant addrees, all that pleasant mixture of playful fraukuetoi arid good-nature which has made him so successful in the House°, Commons. lie has hit the Scotch electors between wind and water; they have fairly struck their Hags to him ; and last night he re turned to London from his northern progress crowned with the laurels of a successful speechmaker. Perhaps Lord PAL3IERSTON felt that it would have been indelicate in him to expatiate too much upon the affairs of a department he no longer fills. But for this we might have been disposed to complain that, while taking credit to himself for hie steady, unvarying attachment to the cause of constitutional government on the Continent, his detailed expositions referred to the past, not the present. True, he more then hinted that now, as ever, he felt that it was the duty of an English Government to show sympathy with the friends of constitutional government abroad, and that he would be a true friend of peace even when showing he was not afraid of war. But on these topics he was, as he and his colleagues have all been since the commencement of the pre- sent troubles, studiously vague and general. His language was unexceptionable, but the time has passed when words only—vague gene ralities, however cleverly expressed can satisfy the public, who wish to know what has been, or is being, done. Had this been hinted to Lord AtsTUV, probably he would have said—and fairly enough—that it would be improper for him to take the words out of Lord CLARENDON'S month. The course contemplated by the Western Powers, and especially by our own Government, in the affairs of Russia and Turkey, still remains shrouded in ob scurity. Two English and two French frigates are sow in the Bosphorus—so much is certain. A well informed correspondent in Constantinople enures us that the order which summoned them thither was conveyed by the First Secretary of -the Freud; Embassy. From the same source we learn that at a diplomatic dinner on the 14th Lord STRATICTD DE RELCLIFFE said much and in strong terms to the effect that peace was certain to be maintained. We may add to these items of Stamboul news -that Admiral Dvatits hiss received instructions to rltsais: to Constantinople. On the facts which we have now recapitulated scarcely the shadow of a doubt rests; but as indications of the intention of the French and English Governments they are still equivocal. It is also impossible to predict with any thing like confidence to what those move ments may lead. What service are the French and English frigates sent to perform in the waters of Stamboul? It is said by some that they were called up simply to protect the French and English residents in the event of any popular outburst under appeals to Mahometan fanaticism during the feast of Bairam. It may be so, but we confess our scepticism as to any fears of such commotion■ being seriously entertained at Constantinople. All our correspon dence from that quarter concurs in represent ing the accounts of popular excitement there, which have been current with us in the West, as grossly exaggerated. Indeed the slightest reflection must convince any one that this is the case. We have been told of crowds assembling before the houses of the Turkish Ministers, though any one who has been at Constantinople, or had fully petalled the reports of travellers, must be aware that from the position of those houses such assemblages are literally impossible. Again we are gravely told that the SULTAN'S police have detected "a monster peti tion in the course of signature by all classes of the population." If so, education must have made won derful progress in Constantinople within these few weeks. These exaggerations look very like inventions to account for the sending of the French and English frigates to the Bosphorus ; and that Admiral DUNDAS should receive instruc tions to proceed to Constantinople. from the Ad miralty—rather than from Lord STRATIOILD—must increase the suspicion. And what are to be the con sequences of this step? The Constantinople corre spondent, to whom we have already alluded, says— "lt is impossible but that Russia must have been informed of this step beforehand." Now, looking to the past conduct of the Western Powers in the Vienna negotiations, the impos sibility does not appear quite so indubitable. They neglected to ascertain whether the Porte would sign their note before they offered it to Russia as an ultinsalum. May they not have for gotten to ask Ruda whether the appearance of French and English men of war in the Bosphorus would or would not be considered u a cases Ulu, or, at the least, as a pretext for continuing the occupa tion of the Danubian Provinces? If Russia his not been consulted beforehand, the anchoring of the French and English frigates may be made by Rus sia a pretext for indefinitely prolonging a cavilling inte, change of diplomatic notes, or it may lead to active belligerent operations against Turkey. On the other hand, if " Russia has been informed of this step beforehand," and if it has been taken with the consent of Russia—it is ominous of still more fatal consequences. It would seem in that case only sus ceptible of being interpreted in one way—as a me nacing demonstration to intimidate the SULTAN and his people into acquiescence in the arbitrary will of the Cz.tn. Peace may be purchased in this way, but what a peace ? Of ephemeral duration, and certain to be followed by a war to which a greater complica tion of interests and passions would impart a more ruthless and enduring character. Again we repeat, that it is high time Ministers should speak out, in order to quiet the national ap prehensions. Lord JOHN Husszu and Lord PAZ, meitsto• apparently decline the task as not belong. ing to their departments. Precedent certainly is in favour of its being undertaken by Lord CLARENDON. When a general uneasiness pervaded the public mind as to the course which the Ministry of that day in tended to pursue with reference to the pretensions of the Holy Alliance, and the recognition of the new American republics, Mr. CANNING availed himself of the opportunity of a meeting at Plymouth to ex plain his policy during the Parliamentary recess. This precedent should have weight with the present occupant of the Feceigweffiech The cholera% prevalent nail heid atOdess. Ten vowels from that port had, at tba die d bitadvioni, arrived off Constantinople, mks* Ow *A pit into quarantine. TILE LAWSON OBSERVATORY. Let us not lose the Lawson Observatory, when the sacrifice required is so small. The committee have been unremitting in their exertions, and ap to Tuesday they had received as much as 7,700/. toward the 10,0001. required by Mr. Lawson to be raised before conferring his magnificent gift. Thereremsined,there fore, only 2,3001. to be collected in the last four days, —the donor having specified Oct. 1 as the last day iu which the offer would remain open. Prince Albert has forwarded the liberal donation of 100 guineas,l and there is little doubt that other contributors will follow his example. We are glad to see even at the last hour so much energy displayed in a matter of ! such importance to the nation. It is still more ! cheering to see that the subscriptions come from a large number of contributors. It shows that a time is approaching—too slowly indeed—when public opinion alone will be sufficiently powerful to prevent an opportunity like the present from being bat. It is much more decisive of the improvement of a nation that n great public benefit should be the re sult of united popular action than that it should be a gift proceeding from an isolated , individual. Let science and art be no longer limited in its selection of patrons to the great—let national cultivation exact all those improvements and exten sion in these two directions which were formerly the isolated achievements of government, and the ground of progress is secured. What ono government does another may undo, but what results from the cultivation and civilisation of a nation it self seldom perishes, but remains as a seed plot for the improvement of future generations. When science and art become, as in some measure they surely will, the possession of the masses, then their development will be secured. They will then be Identified with the progress of the nation itself. We call on all the promoters of the extension of science as a means of the elevation of the nation to make use of the short remaining interval to place whatever means they have at their disposal in the hands of the committee who have laboured so well in this good cause. ADMIRAL Dr:tries—we are confidently informed— has received orders from Lie Admiralty to move with the English fleet from Boas Bay to Constantinople. LATEST FROM THE CONTINENT. PARIS, WEDNESDAY. The Bourse to-day, although not closing at its lowest point, shows a further fall of per cent., making 1 per cent. in two days. Closing prices: Three per Cent. Rages, 74.70; ditto Four-and-a- Half per Cents., 100.50. Bank Shares, 2,800. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sirr. 15. The following steamers arrived yesterday from the squadron at Baas Bay : French, Mogador and Mageyan; English, Niger and Tiger. The French =humidor, in his apprehensions of disturbances during the Bairam, ordered that the officers should be eonsigne with their crews. The ceremony, how ever, passed off in the greatest order, and nothing in the appearance of the population could explain the need of these precautions. The question of a partial reconstruction of the Cabinet is still on hand, but the bureaux of the Porte are closed for four days during Bairam, and no change has as yet been made. CONST, Slp?. 14. Retribution, Furious, and Niger, at Constantinople. The Comer, French war steamer, with rear admi ral's flag, and another war steamer, arrived at Buyuk dere to-day. Tke cause of their presence was appre hensions of disturbances at the Bairam after what had taken place in the mosques. Placards were exhibited calling upon the Sultan to dismiss his present ministers, who were enemies to their coun try, and to draw his sword, which was stainless when entrusted to him, or he would soon have no throne to defend. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Szrr. 23. Just before leaving for Olmuts Count Buol met the representatives of France and England in confer ence. He stated to the Earl of Westmoreland and M. Latour that after the declaration of the Western cabinets, that they could not press the Vienna note on the Porte for acceptance, it was impossible to draw up a collective declaration in the form of a protocol. The semi-official Correspondence states that the most perfect understanding subsists between Austria and Russia, especially concerning the Eastern queer Lion. " Nothing is more likely than that the two Emperors, when met at 01muts, will occupy them_ selves very seriously with the condition of the Chris. bans of Turkey, as it is their duty so to do." ATHENS, Si,?. 17. The Hellenic government expresses, in the Mier vateur, its astonishment and painful regret that the Porte should have withdrawn the ezeguatur from the Greek consnl-general in Wallachia. The Hellenic government will first complain to Turkey, and after wards do justice to itself, should this become ne °emery. THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 29, 1853. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Our correspondent says: CONt3TANTINOPLE, Barr. 16. " I am assured that pesos will be maintained, and it was only yesterday that Lord de Redeliffe spoke at a diplomatic dinner to the same effect. To us these assurances seem to be confirmed by the pre. sence of two French and two English frigates, now in the Bosphorus. Were there no peace, it is ar gued, the fad of itself would be a corm belli as viola ting existing treaties. Perhaps you are in a position to arrive at a more accurate conclusion. It was the firstsecretary to the French ambassador who took the order to Besika Bay after the mutual agreement of all the powers. GenerallT it is said that this step was taken to prevent any evil consequences from the fanatic enthusiasm of the people upon the official proclamation of peace, which many expect here day by day. But possibly you in London may hear it as soon as ourselves." The Journal de Constantinople of the 14th says : " The Ajaccio, French packet boat, of this station, left on Satu.rday night for Besika, having on board M. Benedetti, First Secretary of the French Em bassy, and Captain Higault. This steamer returned on the morning of the 13th, and cast anchor at Therabia. This morning two French steam frigates,' the Mogadore and the Magellan, arrived from Besika. The Magellan went on towards Theralia. The Mogadore cast anchor at Dolma-Bagtche. This morning (14th) an English screw steam cor vette, the Niger, Captain Heath, arrived from Besika, and yesterday the Tiger." On the 13th inst. the Kourban Baimm—the festi val which succeeds the seasonof fasting—was ushered in by salvos of artillery from every Turkish man-of war, and from the different forts in the Bosphorus. At a very early hour in the morning the Sultan issued from his palace of Top Kapou, clothed in his imperial costume, having on his head a fez richly ornamented with diamonds, and surmounted by the white plumes of the egret. He was surrounded by all the dignitaries of the empire, and followed by every grade of officer, civil and military, in their official uniforms, The cortege between files of soldiers to the sound of miriTr e y d music, and en tered the mosque of Sultan Ahmet. After certain religious ceremonies the Sultan and his suite re turned to the palace, where his Majesty took his seat on the throne. Each officer of the empire within a certain rank prostrated himself to the earth, and kissed the foot of his Sovereign, this homage being due to him as the Caliph and head of Islam. A European staff officer writes from Schumla on the 11th that the Turkish army is now making the last preparations usual before entering on a cain paign. The different bodies of troops are all pro videj with the necessary means of transport. Great magaolnee are being formed for the maiutenanoe of the army during six months ; and in Ronmeiia an army of reserve, composed of Redifs, is being orga nised. The marching army now numbers upwards of 80,000 men of regular infantry (troops of the line), and 10,000 irregular foot soldiers, about 10,000 cavalry, and upwards of 180 pieces of field artillery, of different sizes. Three lines have been fortified— the Danube, the lino stretching from Varna to Schumla, and another line situated further back, commencing at the river Kamesick, which is pro ' longed towards the east, and embraces every pass of the Balkan to beyond the city of Sofia. Upwards of 44 points are fortified, and altogether 120 different fortified works have been constructed. Works of colossal proportions hare been undertaken and exe cuted, and the greatest energy has been displayed. Accounts from official persons that reached Schumla on the 10th, are to the effect that the Russians con tinue to fortify themselves in the principalities. The Trieste Gazette has the following from Con stantinople, dated the 12th : "It is stated that Russia demands as the sole indemnity for the expenses of the occupation of the Danubian principalities the small province of Laristan. This small country would be more valuable to Russia than Moldavia and Wallachia together, for in addition to the mines of lead and copper which it contains, it would give to Russia extensive forests of oak. It is well known that a French company has sought to obtain the working of these mines and forests. Russia would find in these forests the wood necessary for the con struction of her fleets. Once in possession of Lois tan, the submission of Daghestan and of Circassia would be infallible. All the roads conducting into Persia and Asia Minor would be in the hands of Rua sia, and no one could disturb her on that side." A letter from Vienna of the 23rd, in the Cologne Cia:ette,:coatains the following significant statement: —" The complaints which reach the Austrian em , bossy at Constantinople, relative to the various attacks , on property, are becoming,more and more numerous, and the indemnities claimed by the Austrian subjects amount to a considerable sum. The instructions which M. de Brack has received are so energetic, that the Divan will not be less surprised by them than it was formerly by those given to Count de Leiningen." In other worde, the ci decant mediating power is going to cover its tergiversation with a quarrel of its own. A discovery has been made in Turkey in the course of the railway survey, which will probably increase the Czar's avidity for that fine country. Messrs. Leahy, the engineers of the contemplated railway, have returned to Constantinople, bringing with them large quantities of almost every sort of metalliferous ore, viz., gold, ulcer, mercury, (topper, lead, anti mony, arsenic, and iron ; and also coal, alum, salt, saltpetre, and sulphur. It is calculated that the annual produce of the fields may be four millions ster ling. The gold has been found near Adrianople, in the plains formed by the earthy deposits, and in the' ferruginous sands of the river Arda, and also on the slopes of Mount Pelion and Mount Ossa in Theesaly, intermixed with extensive deposits of lignite. The silver and lead mines appear to be of most value, and of immense extent, particularly those of Mount Pe lion, where more than two hundred different galleries have been already opened, showing an amount of richness in mineral deposits almost fabulous. The lead mines of Mount Pelion are only three or four miles from the harbours of Zaora and Volo, and have an abundance of water power and fuel. THE FLEET IN THE MEDI BESIKA BAY, SErr. 15. The Fury left Constantinople on the morning of the 14th, with Mr. Stafford on board, who returned to England, or rather left the Fury, in the Peninsular and Orien tal steamer Douro. __ The Inflexible has been to Rhodes with the sur geon of the Britannia to offer assistance to Lord Car lisle, who has had small pox, but was convalescent. Inflexible returned to Besiks. Bay on the 15th, took Fury in tow (which vessel had just returned from Constantinople). Both vessels are now at Killeen coaling. Niger is expected here to coal from Stam boul The fever intermittent is raging fearfully, Vengeance having 120 cases, the rest in proportion less, the admiral, for change of air, having shifted several of the ships. Report says that the Russians have lost 15,000 men by sickness. We have had a deal of sickness in the fleet. The Bellerophon is said to have been the worst. The French ships are in a fine, healthy state. They beat us hollow in paint, polish, and discipline. There has been a great deal of diver-giving between the ii - and captains of the two fleets ; but all the junior offioere are prevented from holding commanica- tion. Strange that men of mature age are not sup posed to have discretion, because they do not happen to be decorated with stripes and stars. We are all most heartily sick and tired of the state of inaction in which we are kept. Some of the officers have not left their ship for full three months. It is a miser able place—no animation of any sort, and from what we can hear the settlement of the Russian question I seems as far off as ever. MALTA, SEPT. 22. I enclose you a letter from the Fleet, which con firms the rumours at this place brought from Constanti nople, that, should the Sultan agree to the terms offered him, there is every chance of a revolution in Constantinople. Report says that Lord George Pullet resigns the command of her Majesty's ship Bellerophon, and Captain Sones, of the Sampson, is likely to obtain the vacancy for the time. Triton arrived on the 21st, with the despatch from Lon don, about 11 cm., and wu out again by a quarter past one is route for the fleet. The Board of Health have taken off quarantine on arrivals with clean bills of health from Turkey and Egypt; in fact, it is done away with. Freights keep up, and few vessels to be obtained. ♦ gentleman who leaves by the French steamer for Mar lollies this day, informs me that the fears of the Turks of • revolution are much exaggerated. FRANCE. PARIS, TVZBDAT EVENING. The short paragraph in the Moniteur of this morn ing, being the first official announcement of the im portant fact that French and English ships of war are anchored before Constantinople, is the subject of much discussion. Every word isscrupulously weighed, the discrepancies between this and the numerous more or leis apocryphal versions of the intelligence from the East lately circulated by "private tele graph," are carefully noted, and the omission to as sign a motive for the serious step admitted to have been takes by the ambassadors, is variously accounted for. You scarcely meet with two persons agreed as to the true import of the events that have occurred. The Iluniteur, which, as it speaks officially and after long deliberation, we must assume to bo accurate, states that only two ships from each squa dron have entered the Dardanelles. The latest private telegraphic despatch, confirming in this respect earlier reports, spoke of three from each, and added that they were under the command of the French admiral, Le Barbier de Tinan. Whether the detachment from the united fleets consisted of four or six vessels is a matter of detail of no importance whatever. The error is merely an additional proof that these telegraphic despatches, retailed by dealers in foreign correspondence, cannot be depended upon_; but the Manikur states the important fact, to which no reference has been made in any former news, that the ships were sent for " with the concurrence of the Sultan." Of course the Sultan must have argned the finnan, without which any foreign vessel of war entering the straits, would, according to ' existing regulations, be fired upon from the forts. It is also remarkable that the Montleur adopts none of the reasons that have been assigned by the optimists for a demonstration which the united fleets of France and England have for the last four months hesitated to make. It does not say that the frigates were sent to protect French and English subjects, nor to support the Sultan against any portion of his own people. Neither dues it take the middle course of announcing vaguely that their mission is a precautionary one, in case of eventualities that may arise. The official Ijournal, which, whoa circumstances will admit, is not in the habit of giving news calculated to alarm the public mind, unaccompanied by some re-assuring explanation, contents itself with proclaiming the dry fact that France and England have concurred in a mum* which ipso facie recognises that a state of wale:lsta in Europe. It may, however, be that the French and English ambassadors sent for tha ships ender the influence of different feelings from those which now actuate their governments. It is possible that the fear of en 4naeute in Constantinople might have operated on their minds at the moment when they gave the order. It is also possible, nay probable, that this fear may have been merely alleged as a' pretext far a step which on other accounts could not longer be delayed. The ambassadors were not, it is true, aware on the 14th of September of the insolent Nesselrode note which has, or ought to have, given a new direction to the policy of the cabinets of St. James and the Tuileries. But they did then, and not sooner, know that the Turkish modifications had been rejected at St. Petersburg. This event, foreseen as inevitable by people not initiated in the refine ments of diplomacy, must at all events have been provided for as a possible contingency by the mediating powers. Nothing is more likely than that the ambassadors had instructions in such a cue to hasten a demonstration on the part of the fleets. It is, moreover, too probable that the same hesitating spirit which has led to such a miserable result in the Conference of Vienna may have deprived this demonstration of its energetic character. It would be quite consistent if the men who thought them selves so clever in proposing that the same set of words should mean one thing at St. Petersburg and another at Constantinople, should again "palter in a double sense," and tell the Czar, and perhaps per suade the Sultan to countenance the fiction, that the ships are in the Dardanelles to protect Christians against Mussulman fanaticism, while they assure the Ottoman government that they are there to prove the determinat n of his allies to support him against the northern None of the latest aggressor. intelligence justifies the supposition that French or English subjects at Constantinople are in the slight est danger, and the affair of the Ulemas, of which so much was nade, is satisfactorily explain ed. I am told that Lord Cowley had a long interview to-day with M. Drouyn de Lhuys, and that he set out for London immediately afterwards. A letter from Moscow of the 17th, mentioned by the Patrie, announces that, when the Emperor of Russia leaves Olmutz, he will go to Odessa. There has been a serious fall at the bourse. The Threes closed at 74f. 85c., being 90c. lower than yes terday. Credit Mobilier fell 20f., Bank of France Bf., and most of the railways were considerably lower. BOULOGNE, WZDNESDAT EVIRSING. Their Majesties arrived here yesterday, and were received in a most enthusiastic manner. After the usual ceremonies, they visited the column of the grande armee, and in the evening there was a mag nificent ball, which was kept up till 4 this morning. Shortly after one their Majesties left Boulogne amid the booming of 101 guns for Amiens. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 22nd contains a royal decree enacting that henceforth employees shall only be chosen from amongst men of known capacity, or from those who have experience in public business, but are without places. The Clamor Publico an nounces that M. Benavides, Civil Governor of Ma drid, has resigned. A letter says that the total num ber of resignations offered by high functionaries is only five, and that only three of them have been accepted. A Spanish man of war, called the King Don Francisco, has just been launched in the port of Ferrol. A telegraphic despatch from Madrid of the 24th says :—" The Madrid Gazette announces that the question of Marshal Narvacz has been solved ; the marshal may return to Spain when he thlnks pro per. The new military organisation will comprise, it is said, the nomination of several generals which had formed part of the Moderate Opposition." ITALY. The King of the Two Sicilies has directed that all arrivals from Denmark, Sweden, and the town of Stettin shall be subjected to a 10 days' quarantine, as well for merchandise as persons, to be passed only in lazarettos of the first class. Arrivals from Norway, the other Prussian ports, and Mecklenburg are to be subjected to 10 days' quarantine for persons only, the goods being disinfected. Vessels having had cases of cholera on board during their voyage are to be excluded altogether. Similar measures are prescribed for arrivals from Archangel, Hamburg, Altona, tho White Sea, and the Baltic. Those from New Or leans are to be excluded altogether. Arrivals from other ports of the United States are to be subjected to 10 days' quarantine. GERMANY. The Archduke-Governor of Hungary, in comme moration of the fortunate discovery of the Regalia of Hungary, has granted a pardon to thirty persons condemned to different terms of imprisonment, and has ordered the suppression of the proceedings against forty other persons, accused of slight offences, before the court-martiaL EGYPT. A letter from Alexandria of the 20th instant fur nishes particulars respecting the late prohibition to export wheat, maize, barley, and beans from that port. The step was communicated to the European Consuls at Alexandria by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who came from Cairo for the purpose on the 16th, and was to take effect on the 28th ; the scan tiness of the crops being alleged as its ground. Mr. J. Green, Consul and acting Consul-General of Great Britain, immediately on the receipt of the intelligence convened a meeting of the British mer chants, to advise as to the best steps to be taken under the circumstances, and the next day at a meet ing of the Consuls it was determined to address the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with a request to defer the prohibition until the 30th November at least, in order that they may have some time to prepare to meet their engagements. The minister gave them to understand that they might consider this request as granted, although the Viceroy had left Cairo, and he could not just now communicate with him. THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. In addition to the telegraphic despatch published yesterday, we have the following: Her Majesty's steamer Grecian left Table Bay for China on the Cith of August. On the - 20th the fol lowing were in Table Bay : Meander, Commodore Talbot, Dart, Lieutenant Deane ; and Hydra, Com mander Morris. The Dee, Commander Smith, had left for the Mauritius. The Indian news by this arrival have all been an ticipated. The Onnmercial Advertiser of August 20 states : The Indiana will carry little intelligence of a public nature from the Cape, except what may possibly be con tained in despatches from the Governor. The haiku and Kreli have fulfilled the stipulations and orders imposed upon them at the end of the war. The whole of the native tribes are reported to be quiet and submissive. Sir George Cathcart speaks with satisfaction of the progress made in' the new settlements within the conquered or forfeited ter ritory. The rumour, however, that the forces in British Caffrsria, or the army of occupation, were about to be reduced, has caused some disquiet, as no one can doubt that a sadden or great reduction would quickly be followed by some attempt on the part of the Kaffir. to re gain their lost position in the Amatels. The governor must be aware of this danger, and will probably press it on the attention of the home government, lest the fatal error of 1848 mould be repeated. Within the colony everything prosper.. All sorts of pro duce sell readily at highly remunerating prises. Commerce, both in imports and exports, is steadily enlarging. At public sales land and fixed property sell at not extravagant, but unprecedented prices. The constitution has diffused a sense of security amongst all classes in proportion to its being understool. The local government manifests a sincere desire to place the privi leges it canton within the reach of every colonist by mak ing registration easy, and by pressing the duty of registra tion frequmtly on public attention. For the 15 seats in the Legislative Council already •.18 qualified candidates have accepted requisitions. The " qualification " is the ownership of fixed (real) property within one or other of the two great divisions of the colony, to the value of not Ices than 2,0001. unencumbered, or ownership of such property, but encumbered, and posses sion of moveable and immovable property to the value of not less than four thousand pounds. The general views and principles of most of these candidates are pretty well known. • In their replies to the requisitints, only two of the candi dates have as yet entered into any specific declaration of their views and opinions on particular points of general policy—Mr. Reitz and Sir Amities Stockenstrom. Mr. Reitz says: —'• I am for equal laws and even• banded justice to all classes, colours, creed., and races. I am for education on a sound practical basis, and such as can be made available to the peculiar circumstances of this colony—and for this purpose I would not scruple to vote large sums of the public money. lam for the abolition of all sinecures, or semi sinecure places, and for encouraging colonial youth, by placing o ffi ces of honour and emolument within their reach.. I believe, with Lord John Russell, that England will ever consider it her sacred duty to defend, with the whole power she can command, the meanest subject of her Queen, and the poorest colony under her dominion ; but 1 also admit that it is our own bounden duty, as far as in us lies, to aid her Majesty's troops, in defending our boundaries, by such means as a legislature of our own election may devise. I profess, as I always have dose, loyalty to the British Throne, by which I mean that our present connexion with the British government should be looked upon by us as a great blessing, for which we cannot be too grateful. And I firmly believe, that without the Constitution which hos now been panted, discontent and disaffection would have gradually alienated the people of this colony from the best of step-mothers. Sir Andries Stockenstrom in his reply says :—." The ques tion now is, what we are to make of the constitution, now that we have it t If, instead of a steady resistance to mis rule, favouritism, and jobbing, we exhibit our appreciation of liberty by factious opposition to authority, the proof of our unripeness will be complete, and the progress of the colony will depend upon the caprice of any demagogue. It will, therefore, be one of my chiefest studies, if you elect me, to maintain in the fullest vigour all that is honest, useful, and wise iu the government; to keep its member. above dependence; to respect what is respectable, and honour whet his honourable, but to cut town and root up all that may be found of an opposite character. What I feel on our connection with, and reliance on, the mother country, I hav e already strongly expressed, and need not here repeat. " MAURITIUS. The Commercial Gazette of August 6 says: "The banks have reduced the rate of interest; the Com mercial Bank has not accepted the proposal to amal gamate with the Branch of the Oriental Bank, and the real position of the former is now before the public; back passages are no longer to be a condition with immigrants coming to this colony; ameliora tions are proposed in the position of immigrants and their employers by extending engagements; the new bankruptcy law is nearly passed through coun cil ; the export duty on sugar is to be reduced ; the revenue continues to exceed expectations, and trade continues active and healthy. Looking at the state of the markets of Europe and at the different sugar producing countries, we see no reason for the present to expect any alteration in prices beyond the fluctuations of a shilling up or a shilling down. With regard to the supply of ton nage we are far less confident. Without, at least, 50,000 tons of shipping between this time and De cember, the shipment of the crop will be delayed, and those who cannot wait will be obliged to sell their produce at a decline. Even if the shipping re quired is to be had, high rates must be expected. 31. 3s. is now paid to the United Kingdom. The difference paid for all kinds of provisions is very heavy compared with last year, and is greatly owing to the scarcity of shipping. COMMERC lAL. CAPE TOWN, Avo. 19. FREIONTB:—TO London and Liverpool : Wine, 451. Wool, Id. per lb. ; do. per steamer, lid. and 10 per cent. Skins,6l. 6s. per 1,000. Hides, 50s. per ton. Dead weight, 603. per ton. Measurement, 70s. per ton ; do. per steamer, 41. and 10 per cent. To St. Helena, 305.; to 355. per ton. To India, 40s. per ton ; do. per ateamer, 61. SWARM—Cape of Good Hope Bank. 96/. ; South Afri can Bank, 661. 10s. ; Colonial Bank, 501. ; Union Bank, 81.; Eastern Province Bank. 351. ; Frontier Commercial and Agricultural, 33/. ; Port Elisabeth Bank, 201. ; Oraaff-Iteinet Bank, 141.105. ; Purl Bank, 61.55. INDIA AND CHINA. THE OVERLAND MAIL. A summary of the following appeared in our im pression of yesterday : We have received our journals and despatches in anticipation of the Overland Mail. The dates are : Bombay, August 30; Calcutta, August 20; Hong Kong, August 5. The letter of our Bombay correspondent is na l follows : BOMBAY, Avousr 30. Lord Falkland has been suffering slightly from in disposition. His lordship . and family, and staff, pro ceed to Mahabuleshwar in October, where they will probably remain till December. The commander in-chief continues to enjoy tolerably good health, and may be seen daily witnessing the drilling of the detachments on the plain at Poona. His lordship has prohibited regimental balls being given, as he justly considers them the fruitful source of indebted ness to the officers, the cost of these often amounting to from 151. to 201. to each gentleman present with the corps. Lord Frederick secs no objection to sub scription and station balls, the cost of which falls light on each subscriber, and is said to have headed one list himself for a ball, shortly to come off. The commander-in-chief will, it is reported, make a grand tour of inspection after the close of the rains; if he does, he will rather astonish some of the folks at the stations he visits —or, perhaps, it is more correct to say, he will be astonished by them. The official rank of lieutenant has been conferred on Mr. Scri vener, the superintendent of European schools in this presidency. The news of the loss of the mail of 24th June will have reached you long ere this does ; the badness of the arrangements for the transmission of our mails has at length aroused the good people of Bombay, and a public meeting has been called for Saturday next, to see and have matters mended by some means or other. The way in which we have been used by the honourable company in mail matters has been disgraceful in the extreme, and it is high time their conveyance should be taken out of their hands and given to some other oompany not honourable, but which will honestly perform the work for which they are paid. The vessels of the Indian navy fit to carry mails have dwindled down to two—the Feroze and the Acbar, and the former is away on service in Butmah. Mr. Robertson, assistant collector of customs, and Major &obi ,e 29th Native Infantry, proceed to Men by this day's steamer, to inquire into the cause of a very large deficiency said to exist in the Treasury under the charge of the political agent there. The Penin snlar and Oriental Company has been allowed 1,6001. for the conveyance of two mails from Aden to Bom bay and once vice versa. 2,4001. - had been claimed. Captain Rudd, sth Native Infantry, has retired from the service; as also has Captain Treasure, of the 11th Native Infantry, and Captain Belleau, of the 24th. Mr. W. Brookfield was on the Ist inst. sworn into office as clerk of the Insolvent Court, and Mr. A. Remington as puisne judge sadder adawlut, in ' which he had for some time been acting. During the month of July 1,154 deaths took place in Bom bay, of which 17 were from amongst the European community. Dr. Ramsay died at Poona on the 13th inst. Mr. Henry Young, collector of customs, now on sick leave at the Cape, has quite recovered, and intends returning to his duty by the ship Owen Glendower. The ltajah of Dhoar quitted Poona for Ahmednuggar on the 30th July, under a salute : his Highness does not, after all, it seems, intend paying a visit to the presidency—at ell events not for the present. A weekly newspaper, to be called the Oriental News, is to be commenced on the 4th inst. Dr. Green, who arrived at Bombay on the 31st July, sent out to superintend the construction of the electric telegraph, has opened an office in the fort, and taken a number of boys from the Byculla School into training. Sir G. R. Clerk is again set down as oar future governor. Nearly all the secretaries are at present at Dapoorio with the governor, and something very mysterious and important appears Ito be engaging the attention of the government. Mr. Luars has not been restored to the service as every one believes he was ordered to be, the reason why my Lord Falkland alone can tell. The founda tion stone of a steam engine for the Colaba Press Company was laid on the 4th August, in the pre sence of John Parsons, Esq., the chairman, and the directors of the company; Mr. D. Campbell, the engineer, delivered a neat and appropriate speech on the occasion. Surgeon Nicholson, of the 6th Native Infantry, who was tried at Hyderabad on a charge of having been drunk when called to visit a sick child, has been honourably acquitted of the charge, and those who preferred it been virtually repre mended by the Commander-in-Chief. Capt. 'Murray, 83rd foot, is to command the Queen's depot atat Ker. rachee till the arrival of Colonel Wellesley at that station. The 64th foot is to go to Be!gain. their place in Scinde to be taken by the 2nd Europea n Light Infantry. The wings of the let Fusiliers at Aden and Bombay are to change station.. Lisa. tenant G. L. Mille, 14th Native l o wa n - , is about to be posted to the Mulwa Contiligent. The court which tried Major Ottley at the Neil gherries has, I observe, been ordered to re-assemble, most probably to revise finding or sentence. Then) has been much squabbling of late betwixt the bench of justices, and the Board of Conservancy, as to the advisability of allowing newspaper reporters to be present at the meetings, and have access to ail the records of these bodies. Mr. John Connors, the pro. prietor of the Gazette, stood up manfully, and in true English style, for the right* of his cloth, and has gained the day, it being ruled by the bench that re. presentative* of the press were entitled to ho pr esent at all meetings of public bodies, &c. The Bombay Steam Navigation Company has declared a dividend of 5 per cent. ow its reduced capitaL The young man Ballaram Gunput, whose conversion and bap. tism by the Rev. Mr. Price, a few months back, caused such a stir amongst the native community, a fortnight since, took it into his head to join the ranks of the Faithful, and was accordingly publicly admitted as a follower of Mahomed. A few days afterwards he committed suicide by swallowing a large quantity of arsenic. Surgeon Gillundere ha s been appointed to medical charge, Ist Grena diers, and Assistant-Surgeon Gilbert to that of 2lth Native Infantry. Up to date we have only had about 573 inches of rain, and fears are entertained of a defective monsoon. Business has partially re. opened since 18th inet., and the port is in some mea sure open, as boats are beginning to quit the barbour for the coast. Money continues ahead ott. Freights have fluctuated greatly: to London they are now quoted at 31., to Liverpool 2s. 6d. higher; wbile for Australia 5/. to 71. a ton is obtainable. MADItAS. The total loss of the ship Charlotte, Capt. Bourne, on the 20th June, at the Mauritius, is reported in the Madras papers: the chief mate and two of the crew had died of inju lea received in landing from the wreck. Sir Do Lacy Evans is mentioned as likely to succeed to the commander-in-chiefship, andoSir J. W. Hogg to the governorship of Madras. The dis trict of Guntoor has suffered severely front inunda tion, and it was feared that great destruction both of life and property would result therefrom. The Athenauna of the 29th July says: Accounts from the northward mention that the Kietna bad risen 36 feet, and the latest dawk from Rajahmundry is that of the 19th July. Letters from Samulcottah dated 16th, only arrived yesterday. The expedition up the Gods very had reached SO miles above Budrachellum, and were in hopes of getting to Chinnoor, as there had been a 231 feet fresh in the Godavery. )1:jor Cotton was in hopes of getting over all the shoals with this fresh, sail no doubt the navigation of that noble ricer will be completed in the steamer Pottinger, Captain G. P. Take. This indeed is an event worth recording, and may lead to great results, ewe chilly as government have taken the matter up so warmly. Mr. Rolnick, of Madras, has published the follow ing letter under date Ist of August : The electric telegraph is from this day at work between Capt. Biden's office and the Observatory. The exact dis tance has not been ascertained by measurement, but I do not think it can be under five miles, the earth, or return circuit, making it double. The uses to which this telegraph will be applied cannot at present be determined. Its utility will increase with its age, and every day will bring with it some novel application. With a branch at the Polytechnic, which I purpose establishing as soon as possible (the instru ment having to be made), the value of the line will be considerably enhanced. The first instal ment of the undertaking on which I had entered being thus satisfactorily disposed of, I shall new have leisure to turn my attention to the completion of the arrangements for the Time ball. There will in the mean while be some means in operation of communicating the true noon time to captains of ships resorting to Captain Biden's office, which it is hoped will compensate for the short absence of the other more popular method. When the ball has had its first fall, I shall bequeath the whole system to the community of Madras, (provided the gift be considered worthy of acceptance) in token of the esteem in which I hold measures contributing to public cmvenience and advantage. I have already alluded to the kindness of Captain Jacob in giving me a room in the Observatory. I must now record the nattering attentions of Captain Biden, who has evinced the warmest interest in the success of my experiment. In my last I mentioned, on the authority of the Madras papers, the wreck of the Mountstuart stone in Torres Straits. It appears that this vessel providentially got off the Cockburn Reef with loss of rudder only, which was speedily replaced by the captain, and the good ship reached Madras on the 2nd inst. all right. BENGAL AND THE NORTH-WEST PROVLNCES. It is now reported that the Governor-General has at present no intention of resigning his post. The Hon. Sir J. W. Colville, puisne judge of the Supreme Court, has been on a visit to the Madras presidency. The opium sale held at Calcutta on 20th of July realised upwards of 315,0001. It is authoritatively stated by the Agra Messenger that Agra is in future to be tho seat of the supremo government, but we have so often before been told the same story, that we are loth to pay any heed now to it. Mr. Robert Fulton, of the Sultangunge factory, was drowned on the 12th ult. by the upsetting of his boat, when returning from Baugulpore. Cholera has been com mitting fearful ravages at Benares and Cawapore, where several officers and a large number of men of her Majesty's 70th had been cut off by it. Dr. Spilsbury had left the latter station for Calcutta to take his seat at the medical board. The Rev. D. Jones, of the Tallygunge mission, died at Calcutta on the 10th of July. Government has contributed 1,0001. towards a fund for building a new Sailor's Homo at Calcutta, and intend continuing its yearly allowance of 1201. to the institution, but decline giving a piece of ground on which to build, though more than one could be so without inconvenience. A monster meeting of the natives of Calcutta took place in the Town Hall on the evening of the 29th July : at least ten thousand people are said to have been present. The following are the resolutions passed on the occasion 1. That while this meeting considers it the duty as well as interest of the native British subjects of India to remain faithfully attached to the British government, it is at the same tints of opinion that on an occasion like the present every legitimate and constitutional means ought to be em ployed for the redress of the grievances. 2. That this meet ing having deliberately considered the ministerial scheme as developed in the speech delivered by the Presid. nt of the Board of Control in the House of Commons on 3rd June last, is of opinion that that scheme is not satistactory, and will greatly disappoint the just and reasonable expectations of the native community. 3 That while this meeting acknow ledges with thankfulness that some improvements have been introduced into his scheme by the President of the Board of Control, it deeply laments to notice more espe cially among other defects the absence of any provision for the extension of public works, the admission of even a single native into the legislative council, and the virtual exclusion of the educated natives from the civil service by the contin uance of the Haileybury College as the exclusive medium into that service. 4. That the following petition to parlia ment embodying the sentiments contained in the above re solutions be adopted. 6. That the chsirman be requested to sign the petition on behalf of the meeting, the interval between this day and that one of the next mail not admit ting of its being signed by the community at large. The Rev. W. 0. Ruspini died at Calcutta on the let instant, after a period of twenty-four •years' service. The Lieutenant-Governor North West Provinces and staff intend passing next hot weather at NaMee Tal. A slight shock of an earthquake was felt at Peshawur, Lahore, and over the greater portion of Northern India, on the 30th July. Heavy rain fell all over the north-west about the same time, and many portions of the Punjaub were inundated. Mr. - William Coates Blaquiere, an honorary magistrate, and the oldest European inhabitant, died at Calcutta on the 15th of August in his ninety-fifth year. Sir Wm. Gomm is to proceed on a tour in November via ltoopur, Loodhiana, Ferozepore, &c., to Delhi, from thence to Itohilkund, and so ong—retuniing in time to wit , nen the opening of the Ganges Canal. The Jeypore Rajah is on a visit to the Lieutenant-Governor at I Agra. The North-Western Bank of India has de dared a dividend of seven per cent. for the first six months of the present year. The Saugor and Itier buddah territories are hereafter to be under the ja risdiction of the Agra presidency ; the measure wag contemplated long ago, and only defcrrtd till the Commissioner, Mr. Bushby, could bequict ilit.posed of in some other berth. The Resident at !adore is to have charge of Scindialis dominions and Bundle khund, and is to be styled Governor-Genera :6 Agent for Central India. IIUItMAH. The chief item of interest to be transmitted by the present mail from tho newly acquired provin ce of llurmah is the total lose of the H.C. steam frigate