The Express. — London, England, 1853-08-24 00:00:00

ght 45VVreOiS. TO ct)KRESPONDICNTS. • •0u., , e ea .f " The tapreos." cOMOlLlitif . the male Swain% Cetetto.".. pubaohod Teseday sal Pride, .idle, to tine tM 1 , 4 t. Stow. meet, Intended foe TM [apnea," Leedom twain pew. ow' et the Ogee. le, Bosoede•eereel, W Two Vilest as tlai day of pabilivAias. MOH WATIR AT LONDON BRIDON. Tato Dar—IISWIM 14.118‘,........Ah0me5. $1.4 olio ii - . mei. iL:imi: LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24. WE are now in posourion of the facts of the case of the African Stare Trade as carried on up to the present date. Most of us hare had, for Dome time past, an uneasy sense that matters were going wrong, though Brazil was acting honourabl3, and that we had much reason to complain of the conduct of Spain, and perhaps Portugal, in regard to their engagements with us, as well as their sin in regard to the negroes. But we had certainly no conception of the badness of the case till we saw it complete in the New Report of the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the subject. There are three parties to be complained of, in the presence of whose faults the conduct of Brazil shines forth a bright example of honour and wisdom. In four years the importation of slaves into Brasil has sunk from 60,000 to 700; and of these 700 the greater number have been recovered by the Oovern . . . went. Four years ago, the trade yielded a profit of 800 per cent., and yet it has hien extinguished, be- cause the Government is sincere. The laws that have been passed are stringent ; and others are being passed which will destroy any remaining possible impunity. Moreover, some Portu7ueve merchants, being suspected of an intention to renew the traffic in slaves, have been seized and banished. Here is a case in which the Government is sincere, and in which it is found very easy to suppress a profitable species of trade by sign ur at head-cnarters. The of in Africa is, that along the West Coast, south of the line, whence slaves for Brazil were exported, the trade in men has all but ceased; and in one single port, whence the main exportation took place, fourteen vessels hare been seta at one time busily engaged in legitimate commerce. As Captain OITMOVR reports, " wherever the Slave Trade Ma ceased, commerce is beginning." On the Eastern Coast of Africa, the Brazilian interdict was no sooner received than the Portuguese along that coast desisted from the Slave Trade, which was thenceforward carried on by the Spanish shipping on behalf of Cuba. Such is the Brazilian case. Great Haiti kee gniiPerbegial seedy 8,000,0001. sores misconduct had humbled the tone of railway for her esseorresee is the abolition 1 the Slave boards to their constituents, the reply to this Trade, besides 226,000 i. as indemoiliondes to indi- then urgent shareholders requirement was—" How vidaals he the Wenn of their vessels and cargoes can we close capital accounts when works are in pro by British ersisn. Yet the Slave Trade goes on grew and subscriptions not fully paid up? wait until along the 1,800 miles of territory colonised by Por- we have spent all the money we have power to raise, tugal on the East Comet of Africa ; and though the and then we will cheerfully, then we will only be ships employed ere Spanish, it is understood that too glad to, terminate our capital expenditure the Portuguese authorities are not only cognisant of and close the capital account." Well, shareholders the traffic, but favourable to it, and even participa- have waited ; and not a company of any magnitude ton in it. This is the Portuguese case, and it must in the kingdom but has since far exceeded the esti he amended. mate it then gave of its required capital ; not a railway Next comes the Spanish. The Slave Trade has constituency in the Empire can yet say whether or not varied in Cuba exactly in accordance with the its liabilities are at an end. But the language cf qualities of the Captains General ruling there, even boards has, now that prices have risen again, entirely after Spain wee bound by treaty with Great Britain, changed; and if there be one point of railway policy and had taken the money she was to receive on eon- in which even Mr. GLYN and Mr. Russels agree, it dition of abolishing the trade entirely. We have is, that railway capital accounts cannot be closed, paid considerably more than 1,000,0001. to Spain, and for all that they can tell never will. "We can't without reckoning the cost of oar ships of war, sent spend money we have not" is at present their out for purposes which would not exist if our allies language to shareholders, "and when we want k ept t h e i r engagemen t s . If S pa i n an d P or t uga l more we must come to you for it; you may refuse it; would simply perform their share of the contract, we but we won't draw a line and promise you never to , ne e d sen d no more s hip s t o Af r i ca t h an are no- ask you for additional capitaL" This, as we under usury to protect our large and growing commerce, stand it from the language of the recent meetings, is As it is, we first pay down our millions, then main- the present state of the question. There is, at all tan oar shipping, and finally lose the object of the events , no deception in whole arrangement, through the profligacy of the Nevertheless the prospect this continuation of an Peninsular Governments. In 1848 we were assured open capital account and of annual additions to it— that the Slave Trade had ceased in Cubs, and so and when it is open the additions to it will be an it had for the time : sad so it had at some nual—is not a pleasant one. Whed the capital of former times, when the existing ruler enforced his a Joint Stock Company is uncertain, when it is prohibition of the traffic by refusing fees from liable at any moment to be increased and largely in the traders ; but there have been few Captains-Gene- creased, and when its managers boldly state it cannot ral who did refuse fees; and the last who did so was in the nature of things be closed, the true market re-celled from his government after a few months,— of such a property cannot be ascertained. A stock undoubtedly for that reason. One took half a dub- of ten millions sterling paying 4 per cent. which less per b on d for the slave. lauded ; anot h er t h ree may suddenly be augmented to twelve millions to doubloon.; en d th e t ra d e fl our i s h es i n proport i on pay only 8 per cent. most, it is obvious, be of less Under nth ruins, subordinates take fees also, espi. value in the market than a fixed, closed, and certain talists invest their funds in the trade, and personages ten millions. And the great advantage of closing capi of the highest rank in the empire are understood to tal accounts is to give • fixed value to the property be partners in the concern. This being the case, it involved, and to assure investers that their invest is no wonder that the Spanish ships which guard merits shall not be disturbed at least by bringing in Cuba are no hindrance to the traffic, and that Govern- new capital to participate In or have a preference meat steamers land the negro captives, and trans- claim on the profits of the concern. When men port them to the abodes of new owners. Atrocious subscribe to a p urchase int° a railwa y cm ' as this state of things would be, in the existing con- Pony they buy part of a stock which ditioo of the world, if Spain were bound by at the time W Sued;t he, d° not invest . no treaties,ee, what can be said of it in the face of int° a steel to be indefinitely increased Their inch treaties as exist ? and what meet become of liability is limited, the stook ie limited, and the the national reputation of Spain when all the world Power of dividing profits is limited; the principle knows that she has taken our roomy to p u t d own of legal limitation surrounds their investment; th e t ra d e , en d now d r i es , th e t ra d e teeter than ever, and it amounts to a breach of faith for railway ender Goveramset sanction P She cannot plead any boards Plainly to say, " this limitation is all sort &exams. Th. Governor of Cuba is appointed fudge; the *to* is indefinite is amount f You f rom Madrid. When he atoms to s hare in th e must run the risk of its increase, if we augment it Slave Trade, it increases. When he refuels to by an issue of preference stook; the preferential share in it, it d ec li ne s. When he exerts hi mse lf claim will bayous, though it may lower the value of against it, it onus. Thu the authorities who send your original; if we raise more ordinary capital, you out Captains-General are the responsible par- must take your chance without any rash advaltage.' ties, and tremendous is the guilt with which It was on the assurance of these boards, and en their they are chargeable at this moment They evidence, that the capital previously deemed seam will oat even duelers the Slave Trade to be piracy, vary was fixed, and it was upon its fixation purchasers while looking to is to pruerve Cuba for them. mad* their investments. They appeal to us to guard this colony for them, It is, no doubt, correct id words to my, that while they we continuing the Blare Trade struggle shareholders must assent to and'approse of an la in that very colony. Aar all the rest of the world crease of capital; and thee - the Legislature mast has become manageable enough pocketing our authorise it. But, in the het plass, for railway money, and putting us to endless expense for ships boards, after fixing the capital, to ask for more, for to watch and punish the transgressors. We may purposes other than those he which the company well ask, if a more flagrant case of profligacy and of was first incorporated, is not. in itself a strict adher impudent mockery was ever known. And such is sacs to good faith. In the next, all the world the case of Spain. I knows how boards can en such points bamboozle The United States do not co-operate as they shareholders and wheelie Parliament out of ought. The encase probably is the usual one in powers to increase oag;.tal. So certain, indeed, their can—that the nature of their Government does are they of getting, parliamentary authority not admit of their controlling their citizens as other that, shareholders use citing, they proceed to raise Governments can. But the fact is, that we are pee- the mousy even bawl., the bill to give them powers seated with the curious spectacle of the general Go- to rain it is draws. So that there is clearly as vernment pointing out the Cuban Slave Trade as adequate sense of me eel obligation not to exceed fixed an objection to Cuba remaining a Spanish coney, capital prevailing et railway boards; and as for Par- while it is the abundant presence of the American liament being any restraint or imposing any rapes flag in the sarrosoding seas, the abuse of that flag. aibility on them, they have generally got and men and the apathy of the American Government, which than half spent the money before the Legislature hes is one of our chief difficulties in doing anything I granted them any authority to procure it. It ie effectual in suppressing the Cuban Slave Trade. The facilities such as these that have encouraged railway United States decline joining England and France boards to advance the bold position, that capital in guaranteeing the preservation of Cuba to Spain accounts cannot be closed. for the reason thus expressed by Mr. EvEarrr, so Railway administration is of course a tentative lately as last December, and yet, such American science; it is a matter of experience; but if this is action as there is, is on the wrong side. " I will but the result of all experience, there would appear allude," says Mi. Even err, "to an evil of the first ito be quite as great danger a-head of railway pro magnitude. I mean the African Slave Trade, in the I party assay that has been passed. We can understand suppression of which England and France take a a prosperous bank, wishing to increase, its business, lively interest; an evil which still forms a great re- calling up more capital ; but what is so incompre preach upon the civilisation of Christendom, henstble in railway management is that the more un and perpetuates the barbarism of Africa; prosperous they are the more capital they want; the but for which, it is to be feared, there additional capital they raise is laid out on lines and is no hope of a complete remedy, while branches that don't pay tit is expended, not because Cuba remains a Spanish colony." The signi- it is ever likely to yield a goodreturn,but in defence THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY of the "system," the " territory," and the " policy," as prepared by law,yers and engioecrsi and it is ea' !granted Teem ilkerekettlers pee* sin4er • 'the ,ihreatutler huge imperilling dingersi if they lOotrb, ,assent. 44t is yodr! • business; not mine," say Directors&dj do as pir,chompor decide as yon think 4t; buitron't blame ns hereattet, ityour dividends are diminished—thatk all." And ib to this style of reasoning that shareholders yield; and ethan.thsy- _ assent how can Parliament refuse its sanction to an increase of capital? Another excuse ls that of a margin for increasing rolling stock to carry on increasing traffic, for new warehouses to hold it, for new sidings, for better accommodation, for more bricks and mortar. "We must have more money for these things; our traffic estimates have been largely exceeded ; enable as to meet what we never expected." This may be called the theory of railway development ; and it will be found to have this especial peculiarity that the credit is generally sought long before the money is wanted, and that sometimes the money is spent for very different purposes than those it was asked for. But this theory raises another question ; is increase of traffic to be for ever a charge on ca pital ? If so, capital can never in all probability be closed. Or, if it has some time or other to fall on revenue, at what per center of dividend has it to descend thereon ? These are points which neither boards nor shareholders ever think of ; yet their set tlement is a matter all essential to railway prosperity and to the public interests also, for the less capital the public has to find profit for, of course the lower will tolls and charges be. We cannot, then, accept the directorial dictum that capital accounts cannot be closed. On the con trary, we say that both the prosperity of railways and the interests of the country require that they should be closed, even if it be but temporarily. For what the groat Railway Companies need now is, a pause, a rest in their expenditure. And though oases might rise for hereafter adding to capital, to draw a line now in the books of any one great company would do more to inspire public confidence in its soundness than increased traffic, when, with in creased outlay, it does not produce increase of dividends. Seance of the last clause is evident enough. But the suggestion will not take effect s if the insti tution of American slavery, and thellistclry of eidia,- are duly understood. There is np.cease why the Slave Trade should not cease in g 0..., Ithas eaparak whenever a good ruler hatchets:lt ,tit it should; and it is well known that the Creeiiiinhabittitie earnestly desire its suppression. It is the Govern ment at Madrid alone that has to be dealt with, as its agents and subordinate partners must follow its actioa in this matter. And nothing would be gained to humanity by the transference of Cube to the United States, which would be merely granting a new lease to the tenure of Slavery in the western world. To strengthen the Slavery interest in the Celled States is to do the deadliest injury, not only to the interests of the African race, but to those of every kind of liberty in any part of the world. When we look at the declining fortunes of the Slave States of America—fortunes declining so as to occa sion the most mournful complaints on the part of the slaveholders, and to impel them to grasp at new ter ritory in all directions, for the extension of their sys• tem beyond their own deteriorating or exhausted lands; when we observe the bondage of the pees and of speech in thaw states, the restricted quality of education and amount of literature, the corrupt action of religious bodies in relation to human liber ties—the evils, in short, material, intellectual, poli tical, and moral, which necessarily attend the insti tution of Slavery in the 19th century—we cannot but see that it would be no kindness to anybody to the transference of Cabe to the United States. Nor is there any occasion to contem plate such a transference. Spain desires to retain Cuba. Spain will be aided by England and France in the retention of Cabs, if she stops the Slave Trade: and she can stop the Slave Trade whenever she wills. It is our business to see that she does so: and the facts detailed in the Report before us will assuredly secure to the British Government, in the prosecution of its task, the hearty support of the British nation. The abolition of the Slave Trade is no new subject to our people. They have shown what they can do and sacrifice in the cause; and they will not become suddenly apathetic now, when the united testimony of all well-informed parties is, in the words of the Report, that " if the demand for slaves at Cube were to cease, the Slave Trade in Africa would also cease." THE question—ls it possible to close Railway Capital Aceareis?—seems farther off decision than ever. Perhaps we might more correctly say it now appears far more likely to be decided negatively than affirmatively. Some four years ago, when Mr. Hun- RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Oa the 20th of July there was a meeting at St. Petersburg of the council which has the control of the Credit Institutions of the Empire, to re ceive the report of the Minister of Finance for 1852. The Loan Bank, the Bank of Commerce, and the Imperial Lombard (Anglice, pawnshop), &c., had made advances in the course of the year ending Ist January, 1863, to different individuals to the amount of 893,132,960 silver roubles, and the various pledges entrusted to them by the borrowers I were valued at 806,083,233. The Loan Bank had registered in its books, to cover its advances, va rious noble landed properties, with 634,651 peasants, 968 homes, and 79 factories, fisheries, &c. Its profits daring the year amounted to 2,694,222 silver roubles. The Bank of Commerce had in circulation letters of credit to the amount of 311,375,581 silver roubles, tomeet the falling due of which it had on hand 139;461,660 silver roubles. Its deposits amounted to 213,588,972 silver roubles; its profits during the year, to 1,330,962. The Lombard (pawn shop) had itatiawn noble landed estates inhabited by 202,114 peasants, with 372 stone houses; upon these it had advanced 463,573,192 silver roubles. The state debt on the Ist (13th) of January amounted to 401,552,111 silver roubles. These indications of the extent to which the government has liens on the pro perties of the nobtes tor loans corroborate the opinion expressed in a leader of the Express of yesterday res pecting the financial condition of that elan : they must be still more largely indebted to private usurers. According to accounts from Galles the Russian government hss ordered surveys to be made with a view to the construction of an electric telegraph be tween St. Petersburg and the ports of the Black Sea. The Austrian Lloyd anticipates a connexion between this line when completed and the Austrian, either by way of Czernowitz or through Bessarabia and Wal lachia- The Erna Zeitung of Berlin, of the 21st inst., in dulges in an eulogistical prose ode on the moderation of the Emperor Nicholas. The occasion is the eva cuation of the Danubian provinces, which the pro phetic eye of the writer, "in a fine frensy rolling," sees in the future. First comes a demonstration that Russia could keep these provinces in despite of banded Europe. 1 hen comes the (rather premature) announcement—" Russia has voluntarily, and on higher grounds, resigned the comfortable seat [Ottoman] which first an over-wise policy and then an exaggerated timidity had pr epa red for it." The writer goes on:—" So long as Russia perseveres in being a feared and hated antagonist of revolution, without pretending to mix wrongfully in the domestic concerns of foreign states—and there is no reasonable ground to attribute such an intention to Russian politicians—this state has nothing to fear, but may proceed to consolidate itself with a view to the establishment of the balance of power in Europe. And when the time may come that Russia, 114 obe dience to a call from the Great Ruler of the universe shall extend its possessions in -its natural inheritance the Bast, the expansion of Russia on the Black Sea would probably Prussia from an extension of Russia on the istula." This looks very like trying to per wade Russia to be a good child, by praising tt for having done what it is feared it will not do. The writer in the Kresge Zeitung is prompt to acknowledge the merit of kindred spirits. He is liberal in his praise of Mr. Cobden's last speech on the Turkish question, winding up his laudatory . criticism with— " He [Cobden] is quite right : he is not more short sighted, but on the contrary more far-seeing than others." - 7correspondent of the Colors, Gazette writes from Constantinople cm the Bth inst.:—" Aooording to the Prussianofficers who have just returned fives the Danube, Bilistria and Ruatehek have been placed in a complete state of defense by the fortifications erected dare; Shand& reqaired scarce any repairs Varna will be in perfect condition by the end of a month. These officers speak is the highest tense of the Turkish soldiers, especially of the artillerists from the Dardanelles." . _ . iti.;aeserted in Tariom quarters that the Russians with their usual oontempt of treaty stipulations are constructing a bridge from Limed to the island in front of that town. _ _ _ _ _ A letter from Bucharest of the 10th, in the Pro's of Vienna, says:—" A groat agitation prevailed here I lately amongst the Boyards, on the occasion of the Sultan's Orman dismissing the Prince Rospodar, for having favourably received the Russian troops. On the 9th, this Armen having been 'read in an assembly of the Bayard', the latter requested the prince not to abandon the government in the present critical circumstances, and the prince consented to their request. M. Mans, the Secretary of State, and M. Yoandee, the Director of the Ministry of the In terior, were requested to proceed to Constantinople, but, as they have no confidenoe in the maintenance of tranquillity and order, they . will not go. In con sequence of this determination of the prince, the consul of France took down his flag and placed his countrymen under the protection of Greece. The consul of England declared to his countrymen that he could not protect them any longer, since the prince had resisted the orders of his sovereign ; be would, he said, ask for instructions. The scarcity of provisions is so great in the fortresses of Bulgaria that the troops suffer exceedingly. The Ilospodar of Moldavia intends contracting a Loan to meet extraor dinary expenses. It is supposed that he will apply to the Russian banks. The Cbloyne Gazelle has the following from Vienna, dated the 19th :—" A courier arrived to-day with despatches from Constantinople, dated the 13111. They were immediately sent off to the Turkish Am bassador, who is now at Baden. It is rumoured that after deliberating for three days the Porte accepted the propositions of the conference, but will only ratify them after the evacuation of the Principa lities." The Press of Vienna states from Constantinople that the Russian Consul at Adrianople who had left his post, has received orders from the Russian Cot• sal-General to return to it forthwith. ING. AUGUST 24, I -- • • ,FRANCE. - r , . I• PARIS, TrZeD4V We Imre but utpagre news from The Emperor and Empress did not go to chi' ti on Sunday evening, to the grievous disappoh. 'meat of a crowded audience. Yesterday at one o'ci . : oo k their Majesties assisted at the launch of a merchs‘i man to which the Empress will give a name of het A uga:thoice_ea-w Uttar* day. —The-Petrie recounts that two young Irishmen of large fortune stood near the steps of the stand, erected for the imperial vi- afters to view the launch, and that, as their Majesties passed near them to regain their carriage, the young est of the two, overcome with emotion, exclaimed, " God bless the Emperor and Empress." the words were uttered in a low tone, the Burnt board them, and extended his hand to the yew* ttSkathalthy Hibernian, who, thereupon, says the thieNder, burst into team In an hour after the launch was over, their Majesties set out on an ex cursion to the Ailly lighthouse. The Emperor, at tended by Colonel Fleury and General Montebello, was on horseback, and the Empress, with Mesdames Montebello and Essling, and M. Teacher de la Pagerie, went in an open carriage with postillions. The party halted several times by the way, to receive the homage of the cures and mayors of the villages through which they weekend to scatter " largesse" to the peasantry and school children who strewed flowers in the path. Lord and Lady Cowley and Count Builewski, Chamberlain to the Emperor of Russia, are among the visitors at Dieppe. The Princess Mathilde is expected. I understand, that although the municipality of Dieppe voted a carte blase. for the Emperor's re ception, they at the same time caused it to be respect fully intimated that the funds of the town were ill able to bear any extra expense, and tho Emperor is consequence considerately paid for the illuminations lf. Prince Jerome Bonaparte has, with the officers of his household, left Paris for Havre, where he in tends to remain for some days. The Rehm Hortense, which has been placed at his disposal by the Em peror, is at Havre, and will convey Prince Jerome to visit the Emperor, his nephew, at Dieppe. It is said that Prince Napoleon will join Prince Jerome at Havre at the end of the week. The Havre journals announce the the arrival of Prince Jerome at Frascati's yesterday afternoon. The Prince and Princess Murat left Paris this morning for Marseilles en route for Switzerland. Mr. P. Soule, the ambassador from the United States to the court of Madrid, has arrived here, and purposes to stay some days before proceeding to his Nat. He is accompAnied by Mrs. Soule, Mr. Nelvil Soule, his son and private secretary, and the suite attached to his embassy. General de Montholon, the well known memorialist of Napoleon and his companion at St. Helena, hes just died in Paris. The Moniteur contains a decree approving of various regulations submitted to the Emperor for the operations of the " Caine de Retraites" for old people, and also a decree permitting several persons to wear foreign orders. Among the names in the latter decree are those of M. Ducos, the Minister of Marine, a grand dignitary of the Order of theßoee of the Brazils ; General Allonveau de Montreal, a Grand Cross of the Order of Pius of Rome ; Generals Brunet and Cotte, Grand Crosses of the Order of St. Gregory the Great of Rome ; M. Dronyn de Lhuys, Minister for Fo reign Affairs, Grand Cross of the Order of our Lady of the Conception of Villa Vicosa of Portugal; Marshal Valliant, Grand Marshal of the Palace, a Grand Crone of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Sardinia; M. de Persigny, Minister of the Interior, Grand Cross of the Constantinian Order of the Two Sicilies ; and Dr. Philippe Ricord, Surgeon-in-Chief of the HApital du Midi, a Chevalier of the Order of Charles 111. of ,1 Spain, a Chevalier of the Second Class of the Russian Order of St. Anne, a Chevalier of the Orders of Saints Maurice and Lazarus of Sardinia, and a Chevalier of the Order of Wasa of Sweden. PARIS Bouasz.—Closing Prices: Four-and•a-Half per Cents., 105 f. 30c. ; Three per Cents., 801. 25e. ; Bank Shares, 2,840 E BELGIUM. EVEN ,Ve to-day. theatre .. todal bridal past y had re-entered the palace amid the iselsanations of the assembled crowds ; the troops re- Mitered their barescks, and the spectators contir ued Ito parade the street gossiping over the spectacle they hid witnessed. 'There seems to be • determinat ion in certain quarters its Belgium to make this event an occasion for covertly taunting the present French government. Some of the journals are incessantly harping upon the fact that ,a ;mon of the hoer* of Hapsburg has been united to a p r im.* in whose veins the bloof Cobourg is blended with that of the Bourbons—that one of the new married couple descends from Maria Theresa and the other from Louis XIV. They expatiate on the pro priety of celebrating with kingly state the nuptials of such a high born pair. And the Burgomaster of Brussels, it will be seen, hailed their union as a goa -1 rantee of the independence of Belgium. There is something infinitely little in this ; it is sneering at the self-proclaimed " parvenu" Sovereign of the French and his non•royal bride ; it is proclaiming a belief of the legitimacy and indestructible royal rights of the Bourbons, under the tegis of Austria. It betrays personal spite and fear quite as much as pride. Europe has • deep interest in the preservation of Belgian independence as long as the Belgians choose to preserve a separate nationality ; but Europe has marvellously little interest in uphold ing a Cobonrg dynasty in Belgium, nor will this interest be augmented by that dynasty's having identified itself with the Austrian dynasty. The Belgian throne based on the revolution of September may appear a tottering seat, but it is steadiness itself compared with a ricketty throne propped up by the legitimist despots if Europe. SPAIN. The Madrid Oautte of the 17th contains a cir cular addressed by the Minister of Public Works to the Directors General of his department, in which he announces that the provisional concession of the railway from Barcelona to Tarragona is to be consi dered valid; that that of the line from Martorell to Valley Rens requires some docum, nti to be produced and some formalities to be accomplished before it can receive the royal manotion ; that of the line from Xeres to Matagorda is declared valid, but that the Cortes are to decide (as also with respect to the other lines), whether materiel imported from abroad is to be exempt from duty; that the concession of the line from Mataro to Areno de Mot shall be put in conformity with the laws in vigour; and that the provisional concession of the lines from Barcelona and Mataro, and from Barcelona to Granollers are declared valid. The royal resolution relative to the Northern Railway is said to have afforded the greatest satisfaction in the provinces through which the line is to pass. The French Minister, the Marquis of Turgot, gave a grand dinner, on the 15th, in honour of the fete of the Emperor Napoleon. It was attended by 32 per sonages of distinction—eighteen of whom were Spaniards—and the remainder belonged to the Corps Diplomatique. The only Spanish Minister present was General Lersundi, President of the Council ; the others being in attendance on the Queen at La Granja. The Duke de Montpeneier had left Seville for San Lucas. A letter states that the Minister of Interior has di rected the prosecution commenced against the Nove dadee, the Epoca, the Clamor Publteo, and the Na cion to be abandoned ; but that against the Voice of the People, a socialist journal, which had attacked military discipline, is to be proceeded with. ITALY. ROMAN STATES. Oar Roman correspondent, wrilizig on the 18th of August, mentions the discovery of the republican conspiracy, and the arrest of a number of indivi duals on the 14th, amongst whom is the advocate Petroni, Mazzini's chief agent, with all his papers and correspondence. The projected outbreak was thus prevented, and the Emperor's fete passed off quietly. GERMANY. AUSTRIA. The Emperor of Austria will proceed to the camp of Olmutz on the lath September, and remain there for a week, immediately atter which the Federal Mi litary Commission will inspect the Austrian contin gent. The invitation given by the French govern ment to send Austrian officers to the camp of Satory has been followed by a polite reply, accompanied by a similar invitation for French officers to be present at the camp of Olmatz. Elizabeth Amelia Eugenia, Duchess of Bavaria. who has been affianced to the Emperor of Austria, was born on the 24th December, 1837. Her Royal Highness is the second daughter of Maximilian Joseph Duke of Bavaria and of Ludovics Wilhemira Princess of Bavaria ; she has three brothers and tont sisters. She is grand-daughter of the late King Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, cousin of the Em peror of Austria, and nearly related to the Queen of Prussia. NUPTIALS OF THE DUCHESS OF BRABANT. The indisposition of the Duchess of Brabant caused the celebration of the civil marriage ceremony to be postponed till Monday, instead of a later hour on Sunday, as at first announced. Her extreme pale ness, when she appeared in public on Monday, as well as the postponement of the banquet announced for that day, showed her iUness to be real nor is it to be wondered at, that a tenderly brought up girl of seventeen, after a rapid journey of many days, and leaving all old familiar haunts and faces for new and remote scenes and friends, should feel herself out of order. There is, however, no apprehension of any serious illness—nothing beyond the cure of time and repose. Precisely at half-past 10 a.m., the royal family, with its new member, entered the grand ball of the palace, where were already assembled the Burgo master of Brunel. (ready to discharge his functions); the eight witnesses (four for the Austrian and four for the Belgian court) of the ceremony; Colonel Sey mour, envoy extraordinary of Queen Victoria; and Baron Lowenfels, marshal of the Court of Saxe- Cobourg and Gotha; with a few Belgian notables. Th. selection of the persons invited to be present save the meeting the air of a family party. The preliminary ceremonies at an end, the Burge mister of Brussels asked the Duke of Brabant the seed question, " Do you agree to take for wife, &c. His Royal Highness bowed to the King, as if asking his consent, and then in a subdued though audible tone answered, "Yes, Master Burgomaster." To the similar question addressed to the Duchess, she replied, with a slight blush crossing her pale countenance, " Yes, Sir. The worthy Burgomaster then addressed the newly married pair as follows: Measeignear—Madasas,—lt is custissasey with civil ah em of Vote to offer a filimeret to those whose he celebrates. Your l Higlusesses wtY pN t ; s te al = to Mamie on this mama. si to wish asst jay ginning beets the organ of the law es NOY • alma eddies es 160 present. It would be pessumplisa ea say pad es wdtil your Royal Highnesses of the duties of year dads& Thu virtues if princes Ulm the Bight of heaves Iladiesis di the earth, beaming and rele sing Ussmasives ea the steels of wady. I coulee taped Is disks the seise of err people. This union, whisk Invelesee dem the ekes* w bless sad consecrate, strengths= mei esesslidates our lads pendeace for ever. It will las confident, se happy for yourselves as useful for a ass. at once attached to its imdtutions sad deeded to its Kier-a nation which free this soesseot regards the Duke lad Duchess of Brabant as merged into one istsieet of its love. The entry is the register and other formalities having been completed, the King gave his arm to the Duchess of itritbaat, who retired to take a few mo ments' repose ,before proceeding to the religious ceremony. The night had been stormy, bat at daybreak it cleared up, and from that moment the crowds began to gather in the streets of Brtunels. By 10 a.m. tke peiseipal streets had become too crowded for foot =lito force their way. About that time the EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISONING.—On Wed of September took up a place assigned to nesday of last, four boys, named Edward 14 yeaCartoey, aged rs ; Cornelius Cartney, 12 ; James Leery, 11 ; them Dear the colonnade on the Place du Palau r ia d taa P aa atrg a k aa Lev,4), greathen the bead . Austsiim and Belgian fiags waved in harmonious hedge a wine bottle about thre rystal e w parts ful li7bta uatom in all quarters. Precisely at noon the royal megr reached the grand entry of the cathedral. coloured liquid, and. supposing the contents to be gin, they A temporary Gothic altar was erected in this mag- drank it off. In about an hour after all became so fright fully ill that they were obliged to lie on the grass, and here siikent building, which was brilliantly illuminated, to thel he s mot have ve di n ed ait ha ar d a po i l l icemas fortunately come mimson and gold prie-dieus, &c., being placed for writhing in the greatest " Ile age o f n oun an d d th a e tar forr i laden the illustrious actors in the ceremony, and Belgian end Austrian flags waving from every pillar. Places tibia. The oSoer promptly procarel sasistance, ' and re were reserved for the corps cliplomatelue, the Chain- moved the sufferers to Camberwell workhouse. By the her of Representatives, &c. The ladies appeared in time the lads had reached the latter place they were quite fall court dress, and all the public characters, civil insensible, and in apparently a dying state ; and Mr. fimithers, the master of the workhouse, ob and military, en grandeknee. serving their very sericus condition, at once sent for The grand nave, from the threshold to the Mr. King, the parish surgeon, and that gentleman and his transept, was kept open by a double row of grena- assistants promptly attended. On examnaing the sufferers, the effects of some powerful poison, and lost no time diers. The Cardinal Archbishop of Moline*, Primate Mr. King at ono. discyrored that they were labouring of Belgium, presided over the clergy. On the under arrival of the royal party, the deep voice of the adm i n i ster ing equally strong antidotes • but so serious 4 n as tteeect of the original poison, that •up to Saturday organ gave them a solemn greeting, the clamour o f not the slightest hopes were entertained of the recovery of the bells chiming in. The Cardinal-Archbishop re- either of them. From that day, however, under the kind ceived the royal party on the threshold ; his Emi- attention and judicious treatment of Mr. King, they began repi a dlj e t a o improve, and were so far nence preceded them, to point out to the young mar- recovered on Sunday i who e the Edward P rind couple tile places they were to occupy. The t g bl i e ven w u ith p excep tion to th theie Shard's- Duchess Was pale and excited, and walked with a square, Old Kent-road. The boys state that after drink tottering gait. As soon as she and her spouse had ing the contents of the bottle they smashed the bottle it placed themselves, the Cardinal pronounced the self, so that no opinion could be formed of the nature of nuptial benediction. The organ then intoned the first the poison. It is conjectured, however, by Mr. King otherss io n i d c t h at co aa ns i lt i oL e notes of the marriage mass. At the elevation of the somein j u o tl e ui rfill rreplir in al . ; i n e Host, all the soldiers in the church presented arms. hedge where it h g a'd been found by the boys who have so The ceremony Ito liciehed by hilt-put 1; by 2 the narrowly escaped from its effect., RUSSIA. TAGANROG, Ago. 3. The result of the harvest is most favourable. tze purchases of grain and breadstuff. have been here and at itostoff for exportation, and the transactions would have been still more extensive but for the want of vessels. NAVAL. PORTSMOUTH, WIDNISDLY MOANING. Commodore Martin's screw squadron, consisting of the Duke of Wellington, 131; Agamemnon 91 • Imperi al's, 60; Arrogant, 4 8; sad Desperate, 8; has ;ailed this morning on a miss. MILITARY. REPORTED DEATH OP SIR C. J. NAPIER..—The statement that the coloneley of the 22nd Regiment had on Saturdey last beeoase vacant by the decease of the above named gallant soldier, we an happy to announce, is pre mature. The gallant retina has been exceedingly unwell for the last two or three monde, and daring nearly the whole of that period wee confined to his bed in Hobart llace, Raton-square ; whence, however, he was conveyed, ast &tardily week, is an easy eaniage, to his country =noise at Oaklands, Rants, near Portsmouth. Although the report of hia &seam is without foundation, we under stand that his ultimate recovery is despaired of by his friends, and medical attendants, who indeed almost hourly expect his dissolution. CLERICAL. The Rev. Haab Gwynne Rvane to the curacy of Hemp- BMW, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. The Rev. Christopher Tennant Taylor, A.M., to the curacy of Paisswick, in the sense diocese. The Bur. Wm. Darks Stanton, A.M., to the curacy of Stratton, in the cams diocese. zi)e court. Doc. D. de Ras nied by les Lyell arrived on a Count Alex ender 511.11.410 4 . Her Majesty and Prince . ; A :, ? , he ta S etr i r t :t7 . , n, i d a t t S f ce : E ( r tfil Lyon A p ta l ; and gentlemen in wai•ing , drove to Ventuor efttrd mitten om. The Es of Aberdeen left the Earl of Clarendon and Sir Cha: visit T h to her A Majesty. Gordon has succeeded the es Equerry in Waiting to the Prince. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left town yester , : l 7 fur Melbourne, Derbyshire. The Earl of Aberdeen arrived in town on Monday eren• ing from a visit to her Majesty at Osborne. CLITHEROE ELECTION. The poll commenced yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and went L et but languidly, or the 4GO voters might soon have decide(.' the contest. The borough had been unusual') quiet during the night, and we heard of no attempts at " bottling," or .other of the more bold and strategic pro. I zecdings which ay.' usually resorted to in plac es lik e these on the eventful nig ht p eceding the poll. Th e p resence of the police was no dotbt calculated to prevent any course which might be likely 0 3 endanger the peace, and as l arge bodies of either party we.'e posted about the streets keepiog watch, proceedings of this ,kind would have been very lik e l y to have called forth resist:lnca% The first return issu e d wsa at 9 o'clock, when Mr. Peel w,... 5 declared to have only 45 voters to 57 for Mr. Stollen. At a quarter past 10 the numbers stood—Starkie 118, and Peel 89. At 11 o ' clock, .. . ... .. .... _ Starkie 157, Peel 148; at 12 o'clock, S'tarkia 204, Peel 170: CLOSE OF THE POLL. (By ELSA:TIM TELIGRAPIL.) Starkie Peel MANSLAUGHTER OF AN OFFICER IN liElt MAJESTY'S CUSTOMS. Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. Carter, coroner for East Surrey, held a long inquiry at the Rising Sun Tavern, Bermondsey, relative to the circumstances attending the death of Mr. William Stone Gampton, an officer in her Majesty's Customs, aged 13. Mrs. Elizabeth Gampton, the widow of the dectwd deposed that on the 11th of April last the deceased left home about 8 o'clock in the morning to go on duty, being at that time in exceedingly good health. lie returned home in the evening, and appeared extremely ill, his face being dreadfully cut and bruised. He also had a large lamp at the back of his head, which he said caused him great pain. Although deceased continued to complain of the back of his head, he refused to leave otf attending to his duty until the 29th day of May, when he was obliged to apply to Hr. dl' Williams, the Medical Inspector of Customs, who at- tended him until the Ist of July, when, having become perfectly insane, he was removed to St. Luke's Hospital, • where he expired on Wednesday last. By the Coroner—Witness had heard how the injuries were inflicted on the head and face of deceased, but was not with him when he received them. Dr. M' Williams, Medical Inspector of Customs, deposed that when he was called in to attend the deceased on t►e 29th of May, he examined his (deceased's) head, and bound traces of effusion or eecnymoais behind the left ear, but there was no wound. He (deceased) complained of violent head- ache, giddiness, impaired vision, and weakness. Frogs these appearances he (witness) was of opinion that deceased had received a blow on the back part of the bead, and wis suffering from compression on the brain. Had no doubt that the state he found the deceased in was the result of violence. Ms. William Taylour, Acting Surveyor of Customs, of 88, Princes-road, Bermonasey, stated that on the I Ith of April last, about five o'clock in the evening, the deceased came to his house, accompanied by a man named Patrick Sullivan, who stated that he was &detective officer, and said that the deceased had stolen a boat cloak he was carrying, and also that he knew the de ceased bad taken a man named Jesse for smuggling, and that he would be revenged, and would not leave him until he had examined the cloak. Witness told Sullivan that if he were an officer they had better go to the police-station, where he (Sullivan) could examine the cloak, and they accordingly started to do so, but nad not gone above 100 yards when Sullivan stopped and said, " Oh you mean to go to the police-office, do you ? " and immediately after wards struck the officer on the face and head, knocked him down, and afterwards kicked and fell upon him. Witness then dragged Sullivan off deceased but he made his escape, and was ultimately taken into custody by Inspector Bowlai, of the Thames police, while endeavouring to get into a bAt en the river Thames. A charge was preferred at the Southwark Police Court against Sullivan, )10 admitted the assault. By the Coroner—When the deceased got up from the pavement be staggered about a great deal and complained of a ♦iolent pain in the back of his head. The cloak which Sullivan accused the detested of stealing belonged to witness. By Mr. Cumberland—Sullivan was not a detective officer. Mr. Henry Stevens, the resident medical officer of St. Luke's Hospital, deposed th►t when the deceased was ad• mitted into that establishment he was decidedly insane. When walking he staggered about • good deal, and had consideriale difficulty of speech, indicating pressure on the brain. Deceased progressed favourably for some time, but gradually sank and expired on tbe 17th inst. Witness made • post mortems examination of the body, and found the viscera of the chest and abdomen healthy. On examining the skull could not discover any fracture, but there was a large shot embedded in the forehead above the right eye, which, however, had nothing to do with the cause of death. On removing the skull he found an enormous clot of partially coagulated blood occupying almost the whole of the left side of the brain, the quantity being fully two ounces, pressing upon the brain. The effu sion arose from the rupture of one of the vessels of the brain, and was the immediate cause of death, and bad evi dently existed some considerable time. There was also another clot of blood at the base of the brain partially ab sorbed, and which, from pressing on the brain, caused him to stagger about. He had no doubt the effusion was the result of concussion by a blow or fall. Dr. Id.Williama, on being recalled, said that the death of deceased had arisen from the violence inflicted. Mr. Robert Brown, a superannuated officer of the CU. toms, stated that the deceased received the shot found in his forehead about twenty-two years ago, when in the coast guard. . . . - Several ether witnesses having been examined, The Coroner summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of "Manslaughter against Patrick Sullivan," and a war. rant was placed in the hands of Mr. Inspector Bowles for his apprehension. CMAIRMANSILIP OF THE LONDON AND NORTEK WISTEIII.—The chairmanship declined by Lord Lonsdale has been accepted by Mr. Benson, who occupies it in lieu of General Anson, resigned. TESTIMONIAL TO A WORKING CLEROYMAN.-A public meeting of the congregation of St. Mary, Rigger , stone, was held at the National School Rooms, on Friday, the 12th of August, for the purpose of expressing the es teem they felt for their late curate, the Rev. John H. Knox, Theological Associate of King's College, London, when en appropriate address was presented to him, accom panied with an elegant silver tea and coffee service. In scription : " This service is presented to the Rev. John H. Knox, T. A. of King's College, by the congregation of St. Mary, Haggentone, as a token of their affectionate esteem for the unwearied zeal and ability he at all times displayed in performing the arduous duties of that extensive district parish.—August, 1853." DISTRESSING SUlClDE.—Yesterday forenoon an inquest was holden at the Eel Pie House Tavern, Peck ham-footpath, Peckham, before Mr. Carter, one of the coroners for the county of Surrey, on the remains of Mr. Thomas Atkinson, a respectable tradesman, whose body had been found in the Surrey Canal, on Saturday morning, under what at first were considered suspitious circum stances. On Friday, the deceased, a gas fitter in an exten sive way of business, accompanied a friend named Evans to Camberwell-fair, and remained there until 11 o'clock. He then went with his friend to the residence of the latter to Kennington•cress, and from thence they went to the en trance of Vauxhall-gardens. He subsequently accompanied his friend to hie house, and remained there until a quarter to lour o'clock on Saturday morning, when he left, and at eight o'clock on the same morning his body was found in the Surrey Canal, near Buck's-bridge, with all his dress on except his hat, and this was found on the bank at a short distance off. In reply to the questions of the coroner and jury, Mr. Evans admitted that the deceased appeared mach depressed in spirits during the evening and night of Friday, and when le►ving him on Saturday morning, said he doubted whether he should go home, but on his (Mr. &vane!) recommendation, said he should do so. The cause of his depression arose in a great measure . from the circum stance of his bringing two actions against a person, and his apprehension that he should lose both. It was further stated that the place where the hat and body of the de ceased were found was at least a mile from his direct home, and the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the de ceased had committed suicide while labouring under tempo rary insanity. The deceased had left a widow and family to deplore his loss.