The Express. — London, England, 1853-01-18 00:00:00

Eta erprcsfs. TO CVRIZESPONDINTS. es.m. • 71... m 4" The Itxprow," astaistv 'le rem* or )81 fa , 1141.4 t• o " rubiabld 7111.01611 MI: 1 . :-. 4 A1, *ISM. la IW ite Plot Irestuoserste Lateaded for " Th• Expos a," 1/xx.e • Eres‘ec es es )1 at the Mee t IP, goaraeisetrosx, .7 Too o oo the efaa of peSseatios. 1!,I WATER AT LONDON DRIDOZ. DtT—M4raliug. ?a. :1... AftirSOoll. olt Ma. To,Goar ," —Zoom 93.330. LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUAT:Y 18. WI. should be very glad to know—and tens of thousands of people in England would be glad to know—what has been the actual effect of the rains of the last five months on the agriculture of our islands. There is no doubt of great mischief having been done ; but we want to know how much. As often as we a.-Ir an opinion we get a different answer. We doubt whether anybody knows, within very wide limits, how much autumn sowing was prevented by the rains. Some say a third ; some say half ; some say two-thirds. That the autumn sowing should have been hindered is a serious matter ; but it is a more serious matter that we can learn nothing about it that can be relied on. It is not so in safaris of trade and manufacture. There we have to contend with no more uncertainty than belongs to everything future. The existing facts are always accessible. But, in regard to agriculture, the state of which is at any given time more im portant, we arc always groping in vain after the facts. We cannot go on in this way. It is too hazardous to us all; and it is too hard upon the farmers, who have a right te every facility that can be a ff orded them for the wise and prosperous management of their affairs. The best thing that a new Home Secretary could do lift his own fame, and for the interests of the kingdom, would be to establish a plan for obtaining a complete periodical return of agricultural statistics. While the agitation for the repeal of the (kris Laws was going on, a few agents went about the country reporting, as everybody will remember, on the state of tillage here and there. The state of tillage was usually very bad, and tho reports were therefore not very agreeable to agricultural readers; but yet they were devoured with avidity. Such accounts as the e Whistler " gave of the farms that lay along either side of so many . miles of road—of the crops iu the fields, the waste in the hedges and ditches, the abuses in the farm-yards, the state of the cottages, the wages of the labourers, their num bers, habits, &c., were useful in their day, and within a certain range, and were extremely interest ing to a multitude of readers. Thus it was with even this meagre sample of agricultural reporting. Sir ROBERT PEEL knew this; and be saw the necessity of enabling the farmers to meet the great impending change in their affairs by giving them the means of always knowing their own position in regard to the markets, and the needs of the whole population. He said that returns of agricultural statistics would be absolutely neces sary to the farmers. Many people have said so since; but the farmers have not got them yet. The man who gives them this boon will have more right to go down to posterity as the farmer's friend than Gleoaox 111., or all investors of all scales of corn duties ; as much right, perhaps, as those who set agricultural production free. We really seem able, through Sir Mr rimer FITZUF.RDERT, the first agri cultural reporter, to give a more comprehensive account of the state of rural affairs three cen turies and a quarter ago than we could undertake to do now. To be sure, there was not so very much beyond sheep and wool to be reported of in those days; but the accounts were thorough as far as they went ; and we obtain a pretty clear view of woodland and pasture, of the yeomen with their hardworking wives and children, and of the labourers in their windy cottages. We learn a good deal about the quantity of meat salted down for win ter food, and of the large proportion of sheep that perished every winter, for want of means to keep them alive. It would be a difficult matter for a writer of our day . to give anything like so clear an idea of the condition of any district in England as Sir ANTHONY FITZHEIBERT gives of the whole. We know, or can know, everything about new methods of tillage, new manures, impeoved implements, stock, Ac.; but there is no possibility of ascertaining amounts and proportions, in any direction whatever. Here is our England, naturally divided into three stripe—the mineral district occupying the west, from the Land's End up into Scotland—the pastoral dis trict stretching along the middle, from the Doesetshire downs to the Yorkshire fells; and the great agricul tural portion which occupies the east of the island. Now, is there a man in England who can give any information as to the amount of food got out of the surface of the mineral district, or the quantity of cattle and sheep that graze the middle range ; or the production of any one kind of grain, root, or stock, in any one of the eastern counties ? By the census we learn what proportion the agricultural population tears to the rest; and by careful computation it has been ascertained to what amount that population has decreased in proportion to the manufacturing and commercial ; but we know nothing certain of the rates of wages, amount of capability, and modes of living of that put of our popWion in any district of tlielnngdoen. Who can tell how much oak we are grow ing, or what our collective woodlands are? How are we to learn the breadth of our wheat lands, and the proportion of barley, oats, and roots ? How can the farmer know whether he should give his attention most to groin or stock, unless he has more et leas idea what other people are growing ? We are now re solving fresh warnings about the failure of wool in Australia. Is there a man in Leicestershire, or out al it, who has any facts to tell about the number at sheep in our Islands—err whether it is on the increase or the contrary P We have a wonderful amount of information every season about the probable yield of American cotton : but there is none to be had about the wool that is growing on our own sheepwalks. Here is an increasing demand for milk by railway to supply our large towns, and for butter by sea, to New York and further. How can the farmer know how to speculate in this direction, unless he could learn something of what other people are doing ? By watching the shipping, we can find out what cattle, eggs, vegetables, &c. are imported, as well as worn; but once landed, there is no learning any thing more about them ; and the different orders of rural speculators must be miming many a fine oppor tunity of rupplying one another's wants. If the word speculation is objected to, and old fashioned men tell us that speculation is ruin, and that all they want is to go on in the old ways, as their fathers did before them, we must just o bse rve that, is the present day, no speculation is so dangerous as that of going on producing in the dark. No manu facturer does so, except to maintain his operatives during a short period in troubled time. No one but the farmer ever thinks of producing the same quantity .of the same commodity every year without inquiring how the market is likely to be stocked, and what will be the probable demand. The farmer may plead that food will always be wanted; and this is true; but the question which will make all the difference in his welfare is—what sort of food, grain or meat, roots or dairy produce ? Really, all this seems so plain that one is ashamed to write the fact recurs that we have no re turns of agricultural statistics. As long as our Govern ment never knows whether we have corn enough in the country for us to live on till harvest ; as long as ten thousand farmers may be all at once, and un known to each other, growing more wool and less corn, or more corn and less wool; as long as cattle and horses eat grain instead of roots and hay be cause the owner does not know in time that oats are likely to be scarce and turnips and mangold abun dant, we need not be ashamed of setting down in full what it is clear people do not know in well as they ought. We have watched, with a doleful sort of amuse ntent,the pains taken by individualsouid commonly in vain, to anaemia the proportions of labourers to an acre or other area, in different parts of the kingdom. One might almost as well ask how many birds roost in the hedges. It is a rare thing to get the same an swer twice in one week. In one place a resident is convinced that there will soon be little grass land left anywhere, because a few of his neighbours have taken a fit of stall-feeding their cattle, and are ploughing up their pastures to grow roots; and in the next county 'you may find a panic about grail, because half-a-dozen farmers are turning back their fields into pasture, and, trying experiments in irri- THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18, 1853. newspapers submitted to government inspection pre vious to publication, and forbidden to publish any thing displeasing to government. Nay, the contra diction of a scandalous story against any member of the government in a Parisian newspaper, is such strong evidence, that the rumour is widely spread, and generally credited in society, as to induce the many to whose knowledge it comes for the first time thrmigh that chainel to believe there is something in it. This combination of voluptuous splsndonr, with monetary pressure and sharp practice in bargains, ii not unnatural in a scheme of government, projected in the purlieus of Leicester-square, and established by the mitraille on the Boulevards and operations on the Bourse, after the ludicrous failures at Strasbourg and Boulogne. The decorations and festivals of the Empire uniformly call up by some strange fantastic association of ideas, tho images of Thurtell and his associates singing Diem's melodies at the piano, and hanging the gold chain filched from their victim round the neck of one of the females, while the naked corpse was submerged in their garden pond. His Imperial Majoty . has promised that an en quiry shall be instituted into the truth of the allega tions prevalent on the Bourse. It might not be inexpedient to give the commission a wider range of investigation. Under the Presidency strange stones were told of stock-jobbing operations by many of the inferior members of " the family" at the Elysee. And a natural wish exists to know how the proceeds of such portions of the confiscated Orleans property ' as have been brought to the hammer have been dis posed of. Did any of it flash in the Imperial diamond shoe-buckles, which so dazzled the eyes of the special "court newsman" kept resident at Paris by one of the papers ? To certain friends of peace who have a strange power of believing whatever they wish, or whatever chimes in with their own theories, the cordiality evinced towards England, the eagerness testified to do honour to its representatives at the first Imperial state ball, must be most gratifying and consoling. The Emperor opened the ball with the English Amssadreas for his partner, and her lord for a via ci-eis. Throughout the evening Lord Cowley fol lowed as close in the wake of the Emperor as one of King Charles's spaniels might have done in the wake of the merry monarch, and was as often and as honourably noticed for his pains. The matron dignity of Lady Cowley, hung upon the arm of the Emperor, was a kind of repose and relief after the more free and dazzling display of charms by the Princess Mathilde, when ever the duties of hostess separated the Princess for a time from her cousin. And the admission of English to the ball was unlimited ; not confined to the exclusive though tolerably longitudinal list of the Ambasssador—all were welcome who offered to come. The Emperor did not shut his doors against old enemies of his London days, provided they could afford to dress decently. The class of English society which most sympathises with the Emperor abounded at his ball ; the entente cordiale between it and him is as warm as ever. _ _ , Nevertheless, though by no means attached to war or invasion panics, we would not advise any friends of ours to rely too coufldently on these symptoms. France is no longer a living realm ; she is politically deed. Esau like, she has transferred all her right, all her power to think or act politically, to one man. The enormous social mass, " stretched out huge in length," from the Mediteranean to the North Sea, is now animated only by the vampire existence of an army and its chief. the immense physical strength of France must obey the influence of his spirit, by which it is possessed, whether it will or no. While France had a political existence—as monarchy or republic—an innumerable diversity of interests and wishes had to be won to acquiesce before it could be involved in a war. But now that one man alone possesses political power, the whims or imaginary interests of that one man may at any moment bring it to the battle-field. The manufacturers of England and the wine-growers of the Garonee may wish to remain at peace ; the scholars and men of science on both sides of the Channel may deprecate the interruption of their combined resources by war ; Jacques Bonhomme and John Bull may be moat reluctant to come to blows when they entertain no grudge to each other; all these things were guarantees for peace before the political life of France was extinguished ; but now they may all be trampled on and overruled at any moment by the military chief and his retainers, who stir up dead France to an unnatural galvanisation. In days of yore, in the vicinity of Bt. James's, Lord Noodle and Mr. Banker Doodle, might cast a main, and hob-a-nob in burgundy or imperial tokay with Captain Macheath, and if the dice run right for the gallant captain, and he left the room with full pockets, Lord Noodle and Mr. Banker Doodle might fi nd their way home in safet. But if it so ure chanced that the pockets of the gallant captain had been cleaned out—most ass yif those of Lord Noodk and Mr. Banker Doodle had theirs well lined, they might count upon meeting the gallant cap tain, pistol in hand, by the light of the moon, and being . compelled to pay tribute to him. The principles of international law, the views of policy, which prevail under the empire, have been learnt in England, in &school that is the only legitimate re presentative in these days of that of Macheath. If all things continue prosperous with their host and his understrappers, no bill will besent in to the Eng lish its of the Tuileries. But if this confounded ea the Bourse continues, some other method mint be devised of finding means to pey for chomp raand diamond shoe-buckles. And a dash at B e ank of England, with all its =sunned heels of Californian and Australian gold, will be the very l Mt resource that presents itself to the &indium I esemitiperte of the Maeheaths, Mats of Ma Mid, mad Raise of Bagahot, who have run up the im promptu Empire. France and Frenchmen have no good will in the work, but France and Frenchmen count in this matter at present only for as much as a good locomotive engine that has got into queer hands. gation, under some local impulse. All this is sad groping. How long is it to go on? Some say that the thing may be left to the agricultural interest, which ought to undertake what is for its own good. We aro told to observe how the farmers . now meet at professional festivals and other gathencas ; how much more they communicate than of old—!sow much more they read—how mach more there is foe them to read—how rapidly and widely improve ments become known—and so on. All this is true ; and it is excellent, in fact and in promise. But it cannot help us out of the sort of darkness wo com plain of. If local associations for agricultural sur vey and reporting were organised to-morrow, they might do good—great good, but not the good we want ; for the universality of the survey and report ing is the one grand necessity of the case. A perfect summary with regard to Sussex would bo of little use in Lancashire; whereas a general report would be an invaluable guide to the Sussex and Lancashire farmer alike. There arc a good many farmers in Ireland now who can pretty nearly tell how much flax was grown last year, and will be next, within certain limits round their own farms, who would be ex tremely thankful to know the same facts about all England. The thing must be done, and soon. That was virtually settled when the Corn laws were repealed. That repeal lifted up the farmers upon the platform of modern life, and gave them a place among men of business. They must have what'ver facilities are necessary for the proper transaction of business. And so must all whose destinies are bound up with those of the farmers. All talk of expense is nonsense. We might as well talk of doing without any other national stock-in-trade because it coats money. All our social machinery costs money; and there is scarcely any of it that is more important than what we are now demanding. We do not believe the ex pense would be great. A complete report of the agricultural state of the kingdom would be necessary at the outset. After that the modification would be easily managed, in reports iat I both seed times, at two months before harvest, and at the end of harvest. An earnest Minister would probably find that the machinery for the most part exists : if not, he will say that it must be created; and all sen sible men will agree with him. FRANCE. PARIS, /do:inmr ETININO. There has been considerable fluctuation today upon the Bourse in the prices of all the securities ; but at the close very little variation was observable in the chief stocks from the prices of Saturday last. The Three per Cents. rose five centimes, and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. fell ten centimes; the former closing at 80f. 40c., and the latter at 103 f. 43e. Bank Stock advanced slightly, and a rather better feeling was displayed in regard to railway stock ; but the market closed in a state that was evidently far from sound. The operators for a rise in the Itentes are very generally believed to lay their account in some indem nities on the settlement at the end of the month. The authorised statements as to the g rain trade, published to-day, show that little actual amines* has been done during the past week; and at nearly every market throughout Franco corn is reported as Me. lower on the average than last week. In the metal markets great activity prevails, and at firm prices. Copper, iron, zinc, and brass, have made great upward progress, and a large business has been done. _ _ _ The cotton market has also been very active, and prices remain firm. To-day, however, the demand has not been quite so brisk as of late. At Rouen, the number of foreigners has given a great impulse to business in the linen cloth trade, I and an active demand exists, with prices ruling full. A statement published in to-day's Moniker reports the quantities of French silk exported through the Custom-house of Lyons in the year ending December 31,1852, as 4,249 kilogrammes, as compared with 1,810 kiL in the previous year, being an increase of 2,433, or more than 250 per cent. Public notice has been given in the French government journal of the completion of a company for the salvage of ships, with a capital of 240,000 fr. The concession was originally granted by the Ras lean government, sanctioned in France bygthe Senate, in July and August, 1852, and the company has now assured the prior right of proceeding to the assis tance and rescue of all ships and derelicts in the Gulf of Finland, or on the coasts of the Baltic Sea. I am informed that the budget for 1854, just laid before the Council of State, exhibits a deficit of 52 millions. This sum, exceeding as it does by nearly 12 millions the large deficit of 1853, is, however, very far indeed from representing the real extent of the financial chasm. The revenue estimates are en ormously exaggerated, it being assumed in nearly every instance that the receipts will greatly exceed those of the unusually prosperous year 1852. I am enabled to state with confidence, upon the qty _of a well-known financier, that if the West bad boa honestly framed, if it had been I =wpm die principles that any independent t would expect to see observed, the deficit 1111da not have been leas than from 150 to 200 ngllions. There is an augmentation in the estimates Id expenditure as compared with 1853, of 57 millions. The officer selected to succeed General Gemeau as l eammander-in-chief of the army of Rome , is General Allouvean de Montreal, a general of whom very little is known. Prince Jerome Bonaparte has returned to Paris from Boulogne, in an improved state of health. A non-commissioned officer belonging to a regi ment stationed at Lille, has been arrested at Areas, upon the charge of attempting to corrupt the poli tical opinions of the non-commissioned officers in garrison there. There is too much reason to believe that the ob ject of the article in the Moniker yesterday is to get up an ants-English feeling in the population. I did not like to make this suggestion yesterday, although it occurred to me, but I lave heard the remark made by several Frenchmen to-day, and this view is con firmed by articles in the Pays and Petrie. The following paragraph, in • provincial journal, the Lorientais, has a peculiar interest at the present moment : A letter from a personage of high official rank, a loyal Beaton, announces that the council of ministers has decided, having regard to the transatlantic packets, not the term, hat the cm-talon of the railway from Ileums to Lorient and Brest. The same letter also affirms that the town of Lerient, besides the telegraphic lines to Nantes and Brest, ME have a direct line of wire. to Paris. Tbl/ appointments of M. Ills de Buttenval asFrench Nightie at Brussels, the Duke de Quiche at Turin, and Brenier at Constantinople, are said to be slimed. Out of respect to M. Levalette , who it is understood will shortly be called to the Senate, M. Brenier will in the first instance enter upon his func tions provisionally, but his appointment will soon be definitive. M. Brenier is well known to diplomatists as Secretary-General at the ministry for Foreign Affairs of Paris. This place, hitherto a very im portant one, is now, in consequence of resent modifi cations in the office, considered unnecessary, and is abolished. Great preparations are making for the ball to be given to the Emperor by the Senate on the 25th, which is intended to be the most splendid of the sea son. A sum of 80,4100 fr., including 25,000 fr. given by Prince Jerome, is allotted for the expense, and it is expected that a further amount will be called for. Balls are the rage in official quarters. It would be, however, a mistake to suppose that the fashionable world of Paris is what is called gay. the Fauburg St. Germain is exceedingly quiet, and neither receives largely nor attends the gorgeous salons where ministers, in obedience to orders, set the example of lavish expenditure. PARIS, SUNDAY ETBNING. Tim first ball at court, and the first panic on the Bourse, under the Empire, are still the subjects of con versation. By daylight the stocks were tumbling down about the ears of the jobbers, who kept muttering strange stories about the operations of the Minister of War. By candlelight, champagne corks were flying noisily, while the Emperor displayed his spotless small-clothes and diamond-studded shoe buckles in the mazy dance. The government organs in the press contradict the aspersions thrown upon the Minister of War. Of course. But here, as on some other occasions, the Emperor finds that in his dealings with the press he has been too clever for himself. Nobody heeds exculpation.s or panegyrics of the government in SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 11th contains a royal decree accepting the resignation of M. Aristabal, the Minister of Finance, and replacing him by M. Llo rente. M. Antonio Benavidee is appointed Minister of the Interior. The new Minister of Public Works is not mentioned; it was believed that the post was reserved for some one of the new members to be sent into parliament at the elections. The new members of the cabinet had taken the oaths in presence of the Queen. The Moderate Oppositioa Electoral Com mittee continue their labours. They have addressed a manifesto to the electors of the capital, requesting their votes in favour of MM. Mon, Fidel, Mendisa bel, Lnjan. The address is signed by the most influ ential members of the committee. ITALY. The Milan oorreapondent of the Augsburg Gazette writes on the 9th. Twenty persons have been appre hended at a cabaret in the Porta Cornafina, and brought before the court martial, charged u members of a democratic club. Among them were landed proprietors, merchants, artists, artisans, and two or three Austrian officials. The arrests have been fol lowed by domiciliatory visitations and seizures of books and papers. On the 11th the Sardinian Chamber of Deputies considered the ministerial proposition in favour of the alienation of two millions of routes of the public debt. In the discussion which arose, Count Cavour said : •••-- • The ministry has declared its firm resolution to proceed in the path of reform, and to apply its principles not only to the national finances, but to every department of the go remnant. It believes, however, that the finances should hare the preference in the order of time. Next session (i. e., next spring), the government will propose a new re duction of the tariffs. The Minister of the Interior has already expressed as his opinion that the communes ought to enjoy, a+ far as possilKe, the liberty of managing their own affairs; and next session be will present a bill embodying that idea. The Minister of Public Instruction will also present bills conformable to, the spirit of liberty which we are anxious to animate everywhere. The Sardinian government has sent Dr. Ghione, a learned canonist, to assist its ambassador at Rome. It is inferred from this proceeding, that the courts of Rome and Turin continue negotiations on the cede siastical affairs of Piedmont. The Council of the States of Switserland adopted in its last sitting a bill according, with certain mo difications, all the concessions of railways which were demanded. GERMANY. The Cassel Gaulle says:—" We learn that the booksellers of Heidelberg have been a second time summoned by the police to give up the names of their customers who have bought the lately pub lished work of Gorvinus." The volume, which has no peculiar reference to Baden, is sold freely in Leipsic. It was, however, seized at Munich ou the 11th. MONTENEGRO. Tho Oat Deutsch Post kas the following under date Constantinople, Dec. 30 : " Vessels are constantly leaving the Golden Horn to join the blockading flotilla on the Albanian coast. The war steamer which forms a portion of tho expe dition, carries a number of officers of the corps of engineers. The government has received intelligence of the arrival of Ower Pacha at Scutari." The Oat Deutsch Post should have stated by what route he arrived at a point so remote from his last re ported station. Another letter from Constantinople, dated January 2, and published by the New Prussian Gazette, states that a courier had arrived from Omer Pacha's head-quarters, with a despatch, in which the commander asked for reinforcements, money, and power to enter into negociationa with the rebels. The Trieste Gazette states that the blockading a n . adr on sailed for the Albanian coast on the 28th PERSECUTION OF THE MADIAL DEPUTATION TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL. - - A deputation from the Protestant Alliance had an interview yesterday with Lord John Russell, at the Foreign-office, on the subject of the persecutions now carried on in Tuscany. The deputation consisted of the Earl of Cavan, lion. A. Kinnaird, M.P., Rev. C. Kemble, Rev. Dr. Steane, CoL Alexander, Mr. Josiah Conder, Mr. R. B. Seeley, Mr. J. Cook Evans, Capt. Giberne, and Mr. John Macgregor. The Hon. A. Kinnaird briefly stated the circum stances attending the arrest and imprisonment of the Madiai, and the efforts which had been made in vain for their release. He was glad to find that the re port of the death of Francisco Medial was unfounded, but the prolonged confinement of these persons, and of some thirty others known to be imprisoned only for their religious acts, seemed to be a case in which Britain was called upon to interfere authoritatively, and in the cause of outraged humanity. Ho under stood that Sir H. Bulwer had been actively though quietly engaged in his endeavours to procure a remission of the sentences of these prisoners, and that the Prussian government were disposed to press the demands already made by a special envoy deputed for that purpose. From individuals also in I our own country of the most exalted rank representa tions had been made to the Grand Duke, but without , effect ; and although hopes of a liberation of the two prisoners were distinctly held forth to the deputation from the various European churches which lately visited Florence, yet their illegal confinement was still prolonged, new victims were daily added to the number of those in gaol, and the Tuscan government (urged, no doubt, by other powers,) now appeared determined to see how far intolerance could be car ried against religious truth. The Roman catholics in this country were, he believed, quite divided in opinion upon the rights of this case, many of them being indignant that such persecution should be re sorted to as a means of advancing their religion. The hon. gentleman having stated the leading fea tures of the Medial case, and alluded to others of which it is but a sample, expressed the earnest de sire of the deputation that some distinct ap plication should be made by the British minister at Florence for the immediate libe ration of all these prisoners, and that this should be supported, if necessary, by an intimation to the Grand Make that if by hia continent.' the rights of conscience and of humanity were thus outraged in his dominions it would become the duty of other civilised states to withdraw from diplomatic relations with Tuscany. A short statement of the foregoing facts, and a translation of several legal documents connected with the trial of the Madiai, were then put into his lordship's hands. Lord John Russell said that, with respect to the particular ease of the Medial, his sentiments were very much in accordance with those of the deputa tion. The prosecution had been instituted under the law passed in 1786, which was an enlightened time. He approved of the course pursued by the late go vernment upon the subject; and, from despatches received by the present government, it appeared that Sir H. Bulwer was still anxiously employed in the case, but with respect to any further steps which it might be considered proper to take in communicating with an independent sovereign, his lordship begged to be allowed to reserve his opinion. The deputation, having thanked his lordship, then withdrew. LATEST NEWS FROM TUSCANY. Happily there is room to hope that both the Ma diai may yet be benefited by the sympathy felt for them in our country. Letters from Tuscany, of the 10th. divest of its authenticity the announcement of Francisco Madiars death which, as stated in our columns of the 10th, appearedin the Opinion of Turin. Meanwhile the necessity for exertion rises every day. The latest reports of eye-witnesses show that, saw all the explanations that have been made. the =are treated with a severity which is rapidly ning their days, while the sovereign will. upon Which their fate in this world hangs, is under the di rection of the bitterest enemies of religious freedom. In a letter dated Florence, Jan. 8, we read : The Madiais, alai, are still in bonds, although • week ago we were told that there was no doubt they would soon be at liberty, for the Tuscan Ministers are anxious to get rid of them; but the Grand Duke, with cruel obstinacy, would not yet allow this, though he said he was prepared to grant them • commutation of their sentence, but would not state when. We saw Rosa on New Year's-day, and found her in better health and very cheerful, excepting when she spoke of her own unworthiness in not hearing better the trials she bad undergone, and rejoicing rather that she was honoured to suffer for the cause of Christ. The inspector had allowed her to give a little treat on Hew Year's-day to all the female prisoners—some " palmate and • glue of wine to each ; and this rare for the exercise of her generous and compel caused her great pleasure. I will describe t:Zbag htful costume, in which, nevertheless, she well and dignified. Her chemise is of coarse minim like sailcloth ; then she wears a knitted worsted t, over which is • brown duffle robe such u is worn =Franciscans. Over all is worn the livery of the s. a broad yellow and white striped coarse = ik. Qteriiii, the skirt tight u a sack, sad ea bee bead she wears a close skull cap of the same feeteasi b a ems under her chin, no hair being seen. She has NOM UN and great thick shoos. I am not sure that I ever told , you, when describing her cell, that her seat was • • round stool like • milking stool, chained ta tho wall in a corner of the room ; and in the opposite corner is a small footstool also chained, so that poor Rosa, when at work upon her stool of repentance, cannot make use of the second small stool to keep her feet from the cold brick floor. She told us that when she was brought from Flo rence, instead of being at once conveyed to Laces, they kept het a night and halt a day in the common prison at Piatoja, which she said was • most filthy place, and the food they gave to her was too loathsome to eat. I tell you all this, because I see some English papers speak of the kindness with which they are treated. The officials are as kind ea they dare to be. About ten days ago M. Colombe, the chaplain to the Prussian legation, obtained leave through the King of Prussia to visit once the prisoners. When we saw kim on his return he was so much affected that be could not at first speak without great emotion. He said ho had never met with any one so completely living above the world as this child of God, Francisco Media'. lie said to 11. Colombe that he felt he had done with earthly things, as he be lieved it was God's will that he should die for His cause, and he had therefore tried not to think of his dear wife and her sufferings, except when in prayer. lie said, " this blessed season (Christmas) fills my heart with love to my Saviour, my friends, and my enemies, for whom I ever pray." Persecutions are going on here. Thirty prisoners are now in the Bergen° on religious accusations. Guarducci is still there. Another case, similar to the one of last year, has taken place. A Bible reader was taken dangerously ill ; his doctor (as he was bound to do) gave notice to the priest, who hastened to the bedside of the sick man. The latter thanked him for coming, but said he had no need of his assistance ; that he hail, he hoped, made his peace with God, through the alone mediation of Jesus. The priest was furious, and Ent off for the police, who now surround the house. THE WEST INDIA MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, TVZSDAY. Arrived the Parana, bringing dates from Jamaica, December 28; Trinidad, December 29; Demerara, December 25 ; St. Thomas, January 3. There have been five deaths on board the Parana on her homeward voyage. The last death was on the 16th inst. The yellow fever still rages in the West Indies. Amongst those who perished are Lieutenants Lyster and Inglis, and Captain Matson of H. M. S. High flyer. The officers and crew of the Dauntless are still dying. 'Hie second lieutenant of the Scorpion died from yellow fever. The Parana brings about 800,000 dollars in specie. Flores was at Valparaiso. The cholera was prevailing at Lima. THE GOLD FIELDS OF AUSTRALIA. Advice, to a late date have been received from Australia by the Overland Mail. THE ECHUNGA DIGGINGS. - A correspondent of the South Australian Regis ter, under date Nov. 12, says : The experience of this week will scarcely fail to con..ince the sceptics that the South Australian Goldfield is really established. A fortnight ago the stranger felt a difficulty in choosing place where to commence digging, from having adopted the idea then prevalent that Chapman's Hill and Gully were the only places that would be likely to yield him any remuneration for his trouble, until some enterprising men began to sink upon Feltus's Flat, and having fortunately struck upon the course of the vein of gold, caused a general rush to the place, which has turned out so profitably to many parties. And so it would be again. There are doubtless many gullies and places in the neighbourhood as rich or richer in the precious metal, and enterprise in the now comers only is needed to develope them. Messrs. Hampton and Hardiman's claim in Feltus's Flat has continued to yield at the same rate as that mentioned in my previous report, while they were in the course of the vein, which they have worked as far as their ground ex tends. The washing stuff on either side of it, while not nearly so rich, still pays them well. Some of the claims near the above have yielded even more; but at present It is very difficult to procure exact particulars. A person named Baker picked out about 5 ounces in one day, but bad not washed any stuff yet. Four men procured from 2* to 3 lbs. this week, the washing stuff yielding at the rate of 4 ounces to the cart-load. Another party is stated to have got 3 lbs. weight of gold in two days from the same locality. I have heard of as high as Bor 9 ounces to the load being washed; but am unable to verify the fact. It must not be supposed from the above instances of good fortune that all the holes in the Flat are productive in the same degree. Many, however, not in the line of the rich vein are apparently doing well, as they are being under mined, and there are comparatively few abandoned. From an ounce to an ounce and a half to a dray-load is considered to pay pretty fair, and there are, I am assured, very few holes in the Flat but what are as much. Windless Hill has sur passed all other places here that I have heard of in productiveness. Mr. Brooks and another person, both from Yankalilla procured from a hole near the top of the hill, in the for tnight ended on Thursday week, 91bs. weight of gold, the washing-stuff having pro duced at the rate of 8 os. to the load. I got this informa tion from Messrs. George Harvey and George Wilkie, who had the hole given to them in payment for carting three loads of washing stuff. Them two men and a boy im mediately went to work at the old hole, and out of about a load and three quarters of washing-stuff they got what I took to be, from weight and bulk, at least 2 Ibit. weight of gold ; and they are still working the claim with profit. Two persons working in a small hole next to this one, got a pound and a half last week. Many of the holes on the bill are said to have yielded large profits. At any rate, they appear to be carefully worked, and very much undermined. Ninety-eight licenses have been taken out during the week. A good many new tents and new faces have made their appearance on the ground the last few days. MOUNT ALEXANDER, &c. The arrivals at Melbourne by molt during the first days in November were as follows : Ounces. . . Nor. 6: 11;4; sod Yost Creek (V. Co.) 56,247 8. Ovens (Gov.) 10. Ditto (V Co.) 737 10. Ballarat (Gov.) 11. Mount Alexander (Gov.) 21,835 99,347 Exports of the week: Nov. 6. Flash, for Adelaide 11. Shamrock, Sydney 6,778 12. Bo:burgh' diode:London 162,601 The following account of the Melbourne gold market u extracted from the Argus of Nov. 16 : The quantities brought down by escort mince our list mammary hey. Man as fnllnms • By Government Escort. Ounces. September 29. From Ballarat October 4. From " " 6. From Mount Alexander " 13. From II " " From Ballarat " 23. From " " " From Mount Alexander 24,000 November 1. From Ballarat " " From Mount Alexander 16,a83 " 4. From _ " 8. From the Ovens 2,453 " 10. From Ballarat U 11. From Mount Alexander By Private Escort. -- . 1 Ounces. October 4. From Mount Alexander .. 10. From ditto 20. From ditto November 4. From ditto 6. From ditto 8. From the ovens By government escort 215;358 Total 471,339 This amount having been brought down within a period of five weeks, we find that the average still keeps up to nearly 100,000 ounces a week. The Sydney diggings were yielding well, and a fair amount of gold had been brought down to Sy.lney during the month of October. The price of labour being less in that colony, attention was being turned to quarts mining and to combined action in the production of gold. On the Turon a company had united to cut a tunnel through Lucky Point, about 70 yards long, 6 feet high, and 6 feet wide, at an estimated expense of 4201. A company had been formed at Sofala, with a capitsl of 5,0007., for the purpose of working on the co-operative principle. They have applied for a large portion of the Turon. Some trespassers bad attempted to establish themselves on the Australian Agricultural Company's lands, but had been beaten off. The price of flour at Melbourne was 471. per ton for fine, and 434 for seconds ; wheat, 12s. a bushel. The price of gold was 31.95. an ounce at Melbourne, and was not expected to rise above that quotation. If an expert dutv was imposed it would fall in proportion to the amount a the duty. The amount of specie received in Melbourne during the first fortnight of November was over 3.50,0001., and the number of persons who arrived 4,3.59. The labour market was easier, owing to the great amount of immigration, and servants were more readily obtained. The Sydney papers describe the position of that colony as extremely satisfactory. The harvest was expected to be very productive, and the farmers had contrived to sow wheat in such quantities that the yield would prove at least equal to that ot former years. The prices ot flour and wheat at Sydney were still high. LOSS OF THE ROBERT AND ELLEN, OF SHIELDS, The crew of the Robert and Ellen, of South Shields, which vessel left the Tyne the day after Christmas Day, coal laden for London, had been given up for lost, when, during last week, a little fishing craft, the Endright, of Newport, in Belgium, reached the Tyne with them, restoring them to their families, after all hope had been abandoned. The poor fellows had been picked up by the smack on the 29th of December, about 115 miles west of the Naze of Norway. They had encountered tremendous weather for three days previously, and bad endured great hardships. The brig sunk soon after they were taken off. Every kindness was shown the poor fellows in their trou bles, the crew of the fishing vessel proceeding no further with their avocation, but made for some friendly port, and the first place they reached was the Tyne. The fishermen in coming to an English port had not only relinquished their voyage, deprived themselves of the necessaries of life in administering to the comforts of the poor fellows, but had made themselves liable to harbour dues, &c. The government grovdes nothing in compensation for saving • ship's company, and the gallant and humane men might have pee home losers in everything but a sense of having done an act of Christian duty but for a spontaneous act of gratitude on the part of the seamen of the port. No sooner was the case known than • meeting of seamen belonging to South Shields was called together, and, after a hearty and thoroughly English acknowledgment of the brave and humane conducs of the fishermen, a determine ! Lion was expressed that they should not leave the port until something was done to reimburse them for the services they had so nobly performed. Down to Saturday night about 601. had been subscribed for them, with which they express themselves fully satisfied and grateful. e PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES FOR ISLING TON.—The question of the adoption or non-adoption of the Public Baths and Wuh , houses Act for the above parish, was brought on at the late vestry meeting, when the motion for the adoption of the act was rejected by a majority of 60 to St A pull was demanded, which commenced yesterday, and terminated at six o'clock, the numbers being 204 for the baths, 13d against them. But as the act requires two thirds of the voters shall be in favour of the adoption of the act, there is a majority of 72 against the establishment of baths and wash-houses. Ebe Court. WINDSOR, JAN. 17. Her Majesty and the Royal children walked in the grounds adjoining the Castle this morning. Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Leininor; went out shooting this forenoon, attended by Col. the Han. C. 11. Phipps, Lieut.-General Sir Frederic Stoein, ang Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Rev. Dr. Philpott left the Castle to-day for Cam. bridge. A deputation from the Protestant Alliance, concernin the persecutions in Tuscany, had an interview with L or i John Russell yesterday at the Foreign-office. The depute. Lion consisted of the Earl of Cavan, Ron. Arthur RM. naird, M.P., Rev. Charles liemble, Colonel ANarander, the Rev. Dr. Steanc, Mr. Josiah Conder, Mr. J. Cook Evans, Mr. R. B. Seeley, Captain Giberne, and Mr. Jolla Macgregor. Mr. W. P. Robertson, Consul-General of Ecuador. had an interview yesterday with Lord John Russell at the Fo reign-office. Baron Brunnow, the Russian Minister, transact, d business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Mr. Ingersoll, the American Minister, was present at the dinner given on Thursday by the Earl of Aberdeen to se. Taal of the corps diplomatique and members of the admi nistration. Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yesterday from the Governor-General of Canada and the Govern ri of the other North American provinces, and also from the Go vernors of Labuan and the Falkland Islands. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. The minis. ters present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, Lord John Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Mokswoith. The Council sat two hours and a half. OXFORD UNIVERSITY ELECTION. TWELFTIL Day. OXFORD, MOND/a. The poll has been opened at intervals during the day, and 33 votes have been recorded. The threatened re serve of the Carlton Club, which was to be brought to hear against Mr. Gladstone, has dwindled to 21 votes. Tits result of the day's polling has been nine in favour of Mr. Perceval. STATE OP TUB FOLL.-Fl7l O'CLOCK. Gladstone Perceval Majority for Gladstone Amongst those who polled for Mr. Gladstone to.day were: —Tho lion. 11. Courtney Forbes, Oriel; Edward Lane, D.C.L., Magdalen Hall; Henry Powell, M.D., Exe ter; John It. N. Molesworth, D.D. ; De Salts, Oriel; John Bereton, M.A., Now College. ABOMINABLE CRUELTY. THE MATCH AGAINST TIME. BURNHAM (BUCKS), JAN. 17. The magistrates acting for this district—the lion. G. T. Irby, the Rev. T. Carter, and It. R. Clayton, Esq.— were occupied to-day for several hours in the hearing of an information had at the instance of the Society for the Pre vention of Cruelty to Animate, through their secretary, Mr. Thomas, against Mr. John Pickett, the landlord of the Plough Inn, Oxford, for having, as was alleged, cruelly ill treated and over-driven a pony during the performance of a match against time between Oxford and London and back. . . . Mr. Thomas appeared in support of the information, and the defendant, who appeared in pursuance of the summons served upon him, was represented by Mr. J. J. Williams, the barrister. _ ■ Mr. Thomas briefly stated the circumstances under which the complaint was made against the defendant, and after observiug that the cruelty which was imputed to him was carried out apparently with no other object than to enable him to win his wager, and obtain profit through the suffer ing of the wretched animal that was under his control. Ile put the case to the bench as one in which they would be only doing their duty by committing the detentiunt to gaol, instead of inflicting a penalty. The following evidence was then adduced Sarah linwell deposed that she kept the toll-gate at Bed dington, about three miles on the London side of Oxford. She knew the defendant, and saw him on Sunday, the 10th December, and he told her he was going to drive his pony to London and back on the Tuesday morning following,, and he wished her to keep the gate open between one and two o'clock in the morning. He also said that he was to be back in Oxford a few minutes after nine o'clock the same evening. In consequence of what he said the gate was opened for him between one and two o'clock, and she saw the defendant come back at night, about nine minutes be t.... =fa. will, i.,0 puuy and cart. A butcher's cart was before the defendant's 'cart, and attached to it from the shafts, thus dragging the pony and cart along. About ten days after this she again saw the &tendon., who paid her the toll, and thanked her for paying attention to his request to leave the gate open. Charles Pears.) deposed that he was one of the constables of High Wycombe, and he remembered seeing the defend ant with his pony and cart about a quarter past five o'clock on the morning of the 21st December in that town, which was about twenty-five miles from Oxford. He drove up to the Falcon Inn, and the pony was taken out of the cart and put into the st able, and witness examined it, but did net observe any ma rks of ill usage, or anything particular about it at that time. Some gruel was o ff ered to the pony, but it refused to take it. Witness asked the defendant " What was up that morning ?" and he said he was going to London, to the Bank, and back to Oxford with the pony that day, and that ho had to go there and back in twenty hours, and that it was a hundred and twenty miles the pony had to go; and be added that he had left Oxford at five minutes past one that morning. The pony was then harnessed again to the cart, and the defendant drove off towards London. About six o'clock the same even ing he saw the defendant and the pony and oart again at the Falcon, and the pony ap peared to . be very much distressed, and he observed some very large weals on the off side of the pony, and this in duced him to look into the cart, and he saw a whip and a Mick, about as thick as a man's finger and a yard long, which was split up the middle, for about a loot, and a pieta of the wood was split off. When the pony was in the stable some gruel was offered him, but he would not take any, and some hay was then put in it and offered to it, but he refused this also, and witness observed this to the defendant, and he said that was the worst of it, the pony " would not take anything hardly all day." A bit of raw beef was tied round the pony's bit before it was placed in its mouth, and then defendant drove away. Before he started another horse was placed in front of the pony as a leader. This leader was attached by two cords to;the harness of the defendant's pony and he was dragged off. The cellar was pulled up more than a foot from his shoulders two or three times before the pony moved, and he would not have moved then if some persons had not laid hold of the bridle, and when he went on the defendant began whipping him. Mr. Irby—Did he whip the animal severely ? Witness—lie did. The pony did not seem inclined to move until the other horse got into a trot, and then he was obliged to follow, being dragged along. Examination continued—Witness followed the defendant for about a quarter of a mile, and he got out of Wycombe about ten minutes after six. All the time witness followed them the defendant continued whipping the pony, who seemed quite in an unfit condition to proceed. lie kept up with the defendant quite easily, as the pony appeared to be quite unable to travel with any speed. By Mr. Williams—The defendant staid at the Falcon about five minutes in the morning, and he understood the pony had been in the stable about ten minutes when he saw it again at night. Had been in the police four years, and did not know much about horses. Had never seen a horse come in after running the Beacon Course at New market. Witness did not bet upon the transaction, and he gave no information to any one, until one of the constables of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals applied to him, and he told him all he knew about it. Henry Frewen, ostler at the King's Arms, at Ux bridge, said that he had received instructions to sit up to receive a pony on the night of the 21st December, and about • quarter before seven in the morning the defendant arrived at his stable yard, and the pony was taken out and placed in the stable, and some gruel was offered to him, and also some corn, but the pony would not sat either the corn or the gruel. Me did eat a small quan tity of sweet hay and drink some water, and the defendant remained until about eight o'clock, and then drove away. Before he left witness looked into the cart and saw some traces, and also a stick like a walking-stick—a stick about as thick as his thumb. It was quite Round mid perfect at this time. The pony returned to Uxbridge about two o'clock, and when it was taken out of harness it reeled about and staggered like a drunken man. He get the pony tate the stable and took off its harness, and three men dressed him as well as they could, and the defendant stayed until three o'clock. He looked into the cart while the defendant stopped, and observed that the stick he had seen in the morning was splintered about six inches up. The defen dant left Uxbridge about 3 o'clock, and witness mounted a horse and rode after him, and overtook him about two miles from the town, and at this time a leader was attached to the cart to draw it up a hill, called lied-hill, and the leader was taken off when they got to the top. Witness rode on, and the defendant overtook him, and he saw hie' whip the pony and also beat it with the stick. lle ap peared to hit as hard as he could with both, but it seemed to make very little impression on the pony. The ribs of the pony rattled when the defendant hit him with the stick. lie continued beating and whip ping the pony all the distance witness accompanied him, which was about six miles and a half, and as they going io t h a dal along g somethe I t defendan t races in is sa c i am dh a e n w d i w sh iine wished he had would have have helped him along. The pony at this time cert ainl y seemed to require helping along. The defendant st o pp ed collar, we re as at Gerrard's Cross, and they had some half - and - h alf to gather, and the ostler told the defendant that the p on y would no more get to Oxford that night than he s hould, and that he looked " beat" then. The defendant m ade no reply to this, but drove off, and the pony appeare d to be very stiff, and the defendant very soon began to use the whip and stick. Nothing was given to the pony at w