The Express. — London, England, 1853-06-15 00:00:00

w oes sow sestina it, and gave as my reason, to the R „..rosis assembly which tills the Guildhall ow such OVA that I was averse to that went voting which the bon. piroplied. It was not in • speech after I had ac ot„d office, but at that time that I states! my intention of as 1 always had done, against the ballot. It ap f tll We. aud I stated ao to my constituents at the time j.i ' whi^h I refer, that the foundation upon which the truth Mt, is a toundation entirely contrary to that upon which the h. n itentlatuts the member for the West Riling (Mr. (ohdon) hoses his argument upon on this occasion. The hon. gentleman says that no man has a right to inquire how ano ther mto votes. The principle an which I rested and do riot i that this s • public trust—:cheers)—and that every man who exi reises that trust, does so subject to the opinion of t. itow countrymen. (Hear, hear.) And, he it re mark,l, that the lion. gentleman who made this motion doss not s ek to enlarge the number of voters. lam aware that this is not the case with the hon. member for tho West hiding. I have beard it said, arid I have sien it written, that to suppose that any other person could have the right o r j udging of a man's vote is to say that all have a right to vote. I hold that that argument has no force in it, i xn uee we might as well say that no one can criticise the conduct tf a judge or the verdict of a N ei unless he is qualified to sit as that judge or M give a verdict as that jury. On toe same principle we ruiglit soy that no one had a right to criticise a work who could not write such a one himself. In fees, it seems to me that the people of this country have aright to exercise their judgmeot upon the mode in which the votes of individuals arc even, and I hold that exercise of public opinion to have aar st excellent and wholesome effect. I hold also that the eocoo rog.ment of a secret mode of voting would, as my karma friend the Lord Advocate justly argued, be hostile t o the general spirit of liberty in this country. (Hear.) The spirit of liberty is nourished in this country upon, the courage with which men have stood forward and linen ready at any sacrifice to uphold their opinions. This has been the case from the day when Sir J. Elliott allowed himself to be imprisoned, until death was the constquence, to the day whin Sydney was willing, with unmoved pulse, to suffer condemnation. His lordship continued, he would not go into the question of the effect of the ballot in foreign countries. Ile would, howeve r , _ say one word upon what had been said as to the state of Idasiachusets. He (lid not wish, to say any thing against the people of the United States of America—theme were no doubt a great and free people, hut be had doubts whether this country ought to follow them to the extent which some hon ourable gentlemen indicated. It should be recol lected that the ballot was not established in Maseachueets until within about two years or so since. The former mode of voting, though dissimilar from ours, was not secret. About two years ago, the democratic party, being in power, introduced the secret ballot ; but, within a short time, • bill for repealing that system was passed by a majority of 107 trots s—the ayes being 114, and the noes only 7. The hoe. gentleman the member for Manchester (Mr. Bright) said that the present convention would repeal that law, but rids was not at present an as cured fact, and no argument could be grounded upon it. Ile would further mention that among the majo rity who voted against the ballot were the most ensinriri patriots and statesmen in Hassachussets. That old patriot of America John Randolph bad even said that, it you wished to make the inhabitants of a state a set of aeoan drils, you had only to give them secret voting. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord I. Russell) thought that, inttead of his tory proving the advantage of 'egret voting, it had done the reverse. 'fake, for instaace, the case of Venice, where it had led to tyranny and despotism. If that be the case, the house should pause until it bad some better foundation for adopting this measure. At present, the only proof which existed showed that it was hostile to all that was noble, to all that was manly, to all that was free in the institutions of this country. (Loud cheers ) Lord D. STUART moved the adjournment of the debate. The house divided: For the adjournment Against it The house then again divided on the motion for leave to bring in the bill. For the motion 172 Against it RETURNS ORDERED _ _ Mr.BOWYEti — ce;o;edforaOaailrW for further pa pers, or eatraets from papers, regarding the relation of foreign ►sites with the Court of Rome. Mr. lIASTIE moved for an account of the declared value of the various articles of British produce and manu factures exported to the British West India Colonies in each of the past seven years ending the sth day of January, 1853, with the rate of duty upon each article an the colonies, and of the quantities of the principal articles f the growth and manufactures of tho British Writ India colonies imported into the United Kingdom, and of the quantity cleared fur home consumption; the rate of duty charged on each article, with the Gazette average price of sugar for each year ; also the number of ships, din tinzuishinie British and foreign, with their tonnage, that have entered and cleared for the British West India cola nits during each year of the period; similar return for the East India Company's territories and Ceylon ; similar re turn for china; similar return for the Mauritius; similar return for the North British American colonies; similar re torn for New South Wales and the Australian colonies; similar return tor the United States of America; aimilar return for Cubs; similar return fur the Brazils; and, simi lar return for MOI/00 sad the other ports of South America. In:RH 4M ELECTION PETITION. Mr. BENTINCK moved that the following be the select committee to inquire into the Durham election petitions: Mr. Bentinek, Mr. Biddulph, Mr. Fellow's, Mr. Robert Philhmore, end Mr. Isaac Butt. Mr. BUTT objected to the committee, on the ground that, with the empties of Mr. Fellow's none of the mem bers named bad been twelve months in the House of Com mons. He moved ea an amendment, "That the General Committee of Elections be instructed to name five members to serve on the ccmaalttoe." Alter some useenaties this seggestioa wu agreed to. NEW BILLS. Sir J. YOUNG obtsl;4ll;ase to bring in bills to extend the remedies for the compensation of malicious injuries to property in Ireland, and to amend the acts regulating the salines of resident magistrates in Ireland. Two or three imimportont orden of the day having been disposed of, Mr. WILSON proposed, at half-past two o'clock, that the house ahead go into committee on the soap duties—there being then about a dozen members present. Mr. Faxwes, and one or two other members immediately moved that the house should be counted. This wea dose, and the result was of wane iv iatmetliato adjournment. GREAT LONDON DRALNAGE BlLL.—.Yesterday the preamble of this bill, on which a oornosittee, Lard &moor being chairman, has been sitting for the last seven days, declared the preamble not proved, end the bill is cense gently lost. New ELECTION COMMITTEE.—TAIINToN.—Yester day the General Committee of Election, Sir G.Trollope in the chair, appointed the following members to servo on this committee:—Mr. Hutt (chairman), Mr. Mangles, Lord Omeleten, Kr. J. IL Foley, and Hon. G. NoeL ELECTION EXPOSURES. Yesterday rotas extended evidence was taken to illustrate the " treating" that obtained at the last election. The first witness, Downs, deposed that the voters had tickets of the money value of 4d. distributed a the., and that they chiefly served as " panes" for the holden to visit the Within Teruo, whore Wee hest, Mr. Marshall, supplied then with breed sad beef and beer, and measures aging to the teas of 671 tickets on the following day. The keeper of the Via* Tavern, in Pitt.atreet, also deposed to about 400 " free and ladepeadest," breakfasting freely in the Tenaireeart there ea the election day, and then being spirited away on ears to the poll, a distance only of some 160 paces from the breakfut table. PLYMOUTH. Yesterday the select committee, whose decision last month unseated Mr. Mare, reassembled, by order of the house, to institute further inquiry into the transactions connected with the last election. At the hear of meeting, 11 o'clock, all the members, viz., Mr. Aglionby (the chair man), Mr. George Carr Glyn, Mr. Dunlop, sad Mr. S. Child, with the inception of the Marv& of Chandes, were present. In consequence of the ahem. of Lord Madre, the committee could not legally pressed to bmiesss, and after waiting an hour for his lordship, • spell meemoger was despatched to Groeveaor-square, who retuned with the information that the margins was out of town, and would not probably return until Thursday. It was suggested that his lordship might be at the Carlton, or that probably Mr. Forbes blacken:is would be able to indicate his lord ship's whereabouts, which was met with the rejoinder that Forbes Mackenzie knew nothing about it, and that that gentleman was in bed in Scotland with the gout. There being some 30 witnesses In town, and as an unprofitable prolongation of their stay was calculated to cause consi derable expense, it was suggested to telegraph" his lordship up from Wotten, or from Cornwall, where, it was thought he had gone on the duchy business. The committee, after discussing these espcdients, deter mined on adjourning until Thursday, but had scarcely risen from recording their resolution when the noble mar quis made his appearance. It was then, however, too late to go on, as the committee could not revoke their resolution of adjournment or commit the parliamentary anomaly of meeting oftener than once a day. It was stated in the COWS* of conversation incidentally that there were 23 cases of bribery to be brought forward, and before the chairman left the quietude of the committee•room was started from its propriety by a formidable irruption into it of the cloud of witnesses brought up tram Plymouth in the morning, num bering between GO and 70, and one of the foremost turning mouthpiece fur the many, and addressing the chairman, said, We wish to knew, Mr. Chairman, as we have'nt a farthing amongst us, how we're to be maintained till Thursday ? " (Laughter.) The chairman, with his usual bon /101116114tc, replied, " Wally, gentlemen, I bars no power to give you an answer on that ruhject, but I presume the Reath:men who brought you up will be kind enough to keep you alive. (Laughter.) I have no power to make any order, but I have no doubt the parliamentary agents under the particular clause in the act, wili see that your wants and wishes are attended." The deputation then withdrew, apparantly greatly gratified. Coder Fn lNfitt ST SDI , IN DIED at Vienna on the 9th Inst. of a paralytic affection, brought on by the cam- Wye anxiety and fatigue which as Minister of tie Home Department, he unit crwtnt in the year PIS. gip? ervrtisS. TO k.uftligBPONoltPlTB. a ...card Edition et "The Lames, the carne eroded's " Gatettk„" is published testy Tnestlay and Friday gif,bt, in time far rug. irettnernents intended for " Tie Rroress," London T.Tel.tne paper, oust tv at the Odle; 10, Bouneriasuest. by Two dela* on tie lay of poldheation. NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau ail—Want s& 71.34 •• ..Sternstme. 81. 27m. VI. i3.:' 9.9 m LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15. AT a time like the present, when the scales are trembling to a decision between war or peace for Europe, the best possible way of forecasting the event is toplace ourselves, free from passion or pre judice, at the point of view of the person or party with whom the decision rests. In the present case, the decision rests with NicuoLss of Russia. Or, if there be truth in the rumour that he is in the hands of tho old Russian party who let him mount the throne on sufferance, the case is, to us, practically the same. Whether the EMPEROR stands soli tary at his point of view, or is sur rounded, as ho was on ascending the throne, by a circle of bayonets, does not immediately matter to us. As long as he is there, wo had better, fur a moment, stand there with him, see with his eyes, remember with his memory, and thereby forecast his decision. And in order to see with his eyes, we must bear in mind that Autocrats have a peculiar sense, or senti ment, or persuasion of a transmigration of souls, or a transmission of qualities, whereby all the ambitions and the aims, all the glories and the mortithations of their most eminent predecessors become their own, and accumulate till the brain of the man, or the patience of the world, sinks under the burden. This is the process by which, under the great natural laws that are their instruments, the gods craze those whom they are about to destroy. There is a proclamation extant, addressed by Russia to the Circassian Chiefs in 1837, which indicates that the process had then gone pretty far in the mind of the Autocrat. " Are you not aware," said that proclamation, " that if the heavens should fall, Russia could prop them with her bayonets? The English may be good mechanics and artisans, but power dwells only with Russia. No country ever waged successful war against her. Russia is the most powerful of all nations. If you desire peace, you must be convinced that there are but two powers in existence--Gon in heaven, and the EMPEROR upon earth." The Cir. cassians are not convinced of all this yet ; but there is every reason why the EMPEROR should believe it even more now than he did sixteen years ago. He feels and remembers, as if he had been there himself, no doubt, the first war with the Porte, in 1678, when Russia, having then no port in Europe bat Archangel, made some exchanges with the Turks by which she was left in possession of the Ukraine. He feels and remembers, as if he had himself been the negotiator, the acquisition of Azof, by which Russia first obtained a port on the Black Sea. This was before the Czar Peru is known to have been struck by that idea which cannot but affect the des tinies of the world for centuries to come—the idea that the nations of Western Europe were more ad vanced than his own, and that there was no reason why he should not bring up his own people to the °sell of European civilisation. All his successors have inherited his ambition, with modifications suited to their respective characters. One may have thought more of an ostentation of :luxury, as CATHE RINE did; and another might glory, as PAUL did, in being the head of the Northern Confederacy against us; and another, as ALEXANDER, in organising a Holy Alliance; and another, as Nicaous, in subordinating the Western to the Eastern principles of government ; but all have sym pathised in the Czar PErza's first wistful gaze westward, as to a promised land. They have all feasted their retrospective imaginations with the spectacle in the Finnish marshes, when the waving bulrush and the flowering reed were ,mown to make way for the trim metropolitan gardens that Pena had planned, and when the stagnant lakes began to dimple and stir and drain off towards the Neva; and when the huts of the fowlers were palled down to make way for the granite embankments on which a new European capital was to stand. And all these Sovereigns turn, u PET= turned, to the southern extremity of his empire, and see, as he saw, that biz growth as an European Power, would be acceler ated in a vast proportion by his owning the whole of the Eastern length of Europe, from sea to sea. He had Archangel and Azof, and be wanted only Con stantinople to extend his empire from the Arctic Sea to the Mediterranean. By his will he enjoined his successors to obtain Turkey, and to foment such quarrels among the western nations as would give time and opportunity for Russian enterprises. This was the real beginning of the conflict, which has yet little more than begun, between the principles of Oriental Despotism and Representative Government in Europe; the conflict, which must come at one time or another, and on the ism of which the fats of Europe hangs. The heirs of this remarkable tes tator have accepted his advice and trust with s zeal which has proved to the world that it should "go hard with them bat they would better the instruc tion." CATHERINE cowed and beat the Turks, ex tended her empire to the Dniester, and would proba bly have set up her winter palace at Constantinople but for the fit of apoplexy which consigned her to a longer winter and a narrower house. Russian ships had now appeared in the Medi terranean, and Turkey was regarded as politically de pendent upon Russia. ALEXANDER supposed that he had nothing to do but to take possession when he pleased, when, in 1806, he was dismayed and exas perated by discovering that NAPOLEON had won the ear of Sultan Seme, and was outflanking Russia in that direction. That was, whatever may be mid to the contrary, the day of the lowest depression of Turkey—the day when the SULTAN clung to SEBAS TIANI and his French promises, and when our Mr. WELLEsixv POLE forced himself into the royal presence, in his riding dress, and, whip in hand, threatened the trembling SULTAN that if he did not obey the pleasure of Russia, an English fleet should enter the Dardanelles, and lay Constantinople in ashes. We must remember that the rage of ALEXANDER at finding that he had driven Turkey into the arms of France still vibrates in the breast of NICHOLAS. All old mortification', as well as triumphs, are taken into the account by him in forming his plans; and unless we ' I take them into our account of his character and mo tivee, we shall never understand his plans. We have good reason to bear the whole transaction in mind, l for it occasioned the peace of Tilsit. Two hours spent on that raft in the middle of the Niemen settled the business for which ALEXANDER sold his honour to his allies and his character in history. Perhaps two minutes, if we knew the truth, sufficed. ALEXANDER said he hated England, and would an noy her in any way that NAPOLEON chose; and NAPOLEON promised in return to desert Turkey, and thus both were pleased, and the pleasure sur vives in NICHOL IS to this day, for the Russian C.ESAR never dies, nor the smallest of his royal cmo- tions. Not one of the incidents of the subsequent warfare is forgotten by the 11. tn, we will answer for it. Neither the successes of the Turks, when they drove the Russians beyond the Danube, and showed what Turkish troops can do ; nor that the ultimate suc cesses of Russia were owing to revolts in various parts of the Turkish empire—some of which were caused by the reforms which, fur a while, disorganised the nation, but may prove to have a different effect at a future time. When, in 1829, the Russians swept the banks of the Danube, and poured down the southern slope el l the Balkan, Turkey might seem more helpless than ever before : and the fell of Adrianople without a shot being fired in defence, and the yielding up of every post on the Black Sea, might well make the CZAR suppose that the prey was his at last. And he did obtain concessions and privileges which con stitute the difficulty of the case at this hour. But a change came over the spirit of the warfare, in consequence of the very weak ness of Turkey, which may be the source o future strength. When nothing remained to be taken but Constantinople, and when the sacred flag failed to raise the faithful in sufficient numbers for defence, Turkey fuund she could accept Christian aid. Before, the war had been treated as a religious war. The introduction of political assistance altered at once the relations of Turkey to Runic It has not only sustained Turkey to this hour ; but, when the truth comes to be known, it may be seen to have im proved the resources of the country, and stimulated the minds of the people, and made a war with Russia something very different from what the CZAR himself may anticipate if, in adopting the traditions of his race, he overlooks the new circumstances of the age. Placing ourselves at his point of view, we think it probable that he does overlook this, and a good deal more, which'it is extremely important for him to remember. The one great point which he appears to overlook, because PETER and CATHERINE overlooked it, is that Russia is separated from Western Europe— as a Russia* nobleman was himself heard to say—by a thousand years of civilisation. It is little more than 400 years since Russia was invaded by barbarians ; whereas it is 1,400 years since Western Europe underwent that infliction. PETER and CATHERINE, not measuring the abyss thus existing, thought to bridge it over in a day. PETER imported saran/ and artisans; and CATHERINE had villages run up im promptu by the road-side; and they supposed this to be civilisation. Whatever may have been done since, the chasm has not been bridged over. Rus sia stands on the eastern side, rude, hetero geneous, ill-compacted, and only outwardly dis ciplined in her great strength; despotic, violent, on the side of physical rule ; dead, or not yet alive on the side of rational political government. Go vernment is, with her, a religious institution, upheld by arms—the EMPEROR standing before the eyes of his people as their warrior priest, and in their cate chism as a god. In Western Europe, meanwhile, where government is a purely political institution, the popular mind has become, amidst many alterna tions, more and more infused into it. There can be no possible ama:gamation between the two systems —no truce between the two principles, when once either has made aggression upon the other. If the EMrEaoR, in pursuit of the an!ique purpose of an nexing Turkey to his empire, raises a band against the Christian allies of Turkey, he should be aware what he is doing—tiring his cannon over an abyss of 1,000 years, and compelling Europe to wage the war to which there can be no truce. When the principles of freedom and the very sense of civilisa tion are put on t ;Mr defence, we, who know their strength, can have no doubt of their victory. He does not know their value, nor that they have a traditionary history much more imposing than his owo. We can stand at his point of view; but ours is inaccessible to him. We can sympathise, in a manner, with his ambition and his hereditary delusions: and it is therefore in no mood of passion or prejudice that we declare our conviction that the prospects of Russia, never so brilliant as he supposed, are affected by lapse of time; and that, whatever may be the fluctuations of war about portions of territory, he can newer suc and in intruding himself and his medieval policy into the councils and the sufferance of the peoples of Europe. SEVERAL constituencies will be called upon within the next few days to till up vacancies which have occurred in their representation. Of these vacancies some have been occasioned by death; while others have been caused by decisions of committees ap pointed to try the validity of previous elections. The decease* of Sir lons HOPE leaves a seat for Mid lothian to .be disposed of by the landlords of that popular shire—the rural commonalty having, of course, no power whatever to meddle in -the matter. The Doke of BuccLaucu, :as one of the "largest proprietors," has determined to nominate his eldest son to be the new member for Mid: lothiau ; and returned without a contest the boy Earl of HtLxErrn will accordingly bell As for fitness of any kind foe the post, nobody thinks of asking so irrelevant a question, for every one knows that his Lordship's return in no way depends upon his intellectual qualifications. It is the free hold lands of a county which are represented in Parliament, not the free hearts and hands that culti vate them. So the Presbyterian inhabitants of Mid lothian are to look oa and see the Puseyite heir of the BUCCLEITCII estates appoint himself their member in the Commons House of Parliament. Turning our eyes somewhat more to the south ward we perceive signs of electoral commotion in the cathedral city of Durham. Albeit that the place has been for centuries what the law calls a free and corpo rate town, and that its population was in 1932 consi- dered numerous, wealthy, and intelligent enough to have the choosing of two fit and suitable burgesses to serve as representatives in the Commons' House of Parliament, the said city of Durham, in point of fact, enjoys no more the power of selecting two such persons, and sending them as its legislative envoys to Westminster, than it possesses the right to make its bishop spend his superfluous revenues on works of piety or benevolence in the see whence he derives them. The political rights of the people of Durham are held as a hereditary trust for them by the Most Noble the Marquis of LONDONDERRY, in his capacity of principal owner of landed property in and around their city; just as in like manner the means of supplying their spiritual wants have escheated to the Right Rev. Father-in-God, Dr. MALTBY, Lord Bishop of Durham. Neither the lordlytrustee nor the lordly shepherd hold themselves in any respect re sponsible to the electors for the manner in which they think proper to manage the grave affairs they have undertaken to deal with. Literally, they are two of the most unaccountable personages in the realm ; for ask eitber of them what question you will, and you are certain to get nothing resembling a satisfac tory answer. Both the Prelate and the Marquis ap pear to have formed the opinion that as the law now stands they have not only a right to do what they will with their own, bat absolutely to decide moreover what they should choose to consider their own ; and one of the things which the most noble Lord of Wynyard chooses to deem as his by inde feasible right is the nomination of one, if not of both, members for the city of Durham. On the last occasion Lord LosDONDERRY took it into his head that ho would return his third son. Orders in the usual style were accordingly issued to all the vassals of the home of THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 15, 1853. VANE that they should vote for Lord ADOLPUVS. The hearts of many an honest and intelligent citizen of Durham burned within him on the promulgating of this inftlent ukase; murmurs swelled into open mutiny, and the mutineers at length resolved to set the Marquis and his minions at defiance, and to try whether among the constituency there were not a sufficient number of consistent and independent-minded men to defeat his lord ship's nominee. The details of the struggle which ensued have recently formed the subject of inquiry before an election committee, and they now form an instructive chapter in the records of corrup tion for 1853. The committee found that the return of Lord ADOLPHUS VANE had been procured by re sort to the vilest methods, and that he must conse quently be declared unseated. A new writ has con sequently issued, in order that the experiment of lordly nomination or molar election may be tried once more. Nothing has been done in the interim to curb the insolence of intimidation or to check the lawless.. ness of corruption. What will happen this time we know not ; but the valedictory address of Lord ADOLPHUS leaves no room to doubt that the here ditary pretensions of the VANE family were never less likely to be renounced or abandoned. In the West of England another vacancy has occurred regarding which we may venture to augur better things. The old manufacturing town of Stroud has never been degraded by the same sub serviency to aristocratic nomination that charac terises unfortunately so many other places. It will not have been forgotten that, when driven by landlord influence in 1833 out of the representa tion of North Devonshire, Lord JOHN RUSSELL was elected by the people of Stroud, and that he con tinued to sit for the borough until the general elec tion in 1841. At the last dissolution, Lord Monvrox, son of the respected and lamented Free-trader Earl DUCIE, was elected, after a sharp contest, as the colleague of Mr. PouLETT SCHOPE. His lordship's accession to thc earldom of DuciEhasonce more caused a vacancy in the representation of the town. Several candidates are or were in the field; but there is one whose pre-eminent claims on the ground of personal fitness we confidently hope may be recognised as they deserve by the electoral body. We need hardly say that we allude to Mr. HORS3IAN, whose exclu sion from Parliament was one of the most discredit able results connected with the last general elec.- tion. Every one in the least degree acquainted with the Parliamentary history of the last ten years must be well aware of the eminent services rendered by Mr. HoasM►N to the cause of truth and right. Corruption and intimidation achieved indeed many scandalous triumphs last July; but it accomplished none whose announcement was received by all true friends of the people with more indignation and dis gust than that which excluded Mr. HORSHAN from the House of Commons. It is for the people of Stroud to repair that injustice. TURKEY. Count Panin, Minister of Justice for the Russian empire, arrived at Paris on Saturday from St. Pc tersburgh. The Dekae states that he is charged with a special mission to the French government. Count Amedee du Roscoat, of the department of Fo reign Affairs, has left Paris for St. Petersbargh with despatches for the French embassy. The German papers, confusing all notion' of diplo matic intervention, continue to assert that Austria will mediate in the Russian and Turkish affair. Count de Leiningen has again been called from Cracow, and it is said that he is to be sent on a mission to St. Petersburg. The note delivered by the Porte to the represen tatives of the four powers, when Menchikoff left, has been published. The Porte declares that she intends to reinforce her army, and to take all the necessary measures for self-defence, and makes an appeal to the powers who signed the treaty of 1841, cherish ing the firm hope that on this occasion these powers will decide that right and justice are on her side. There is no need to contradict again the loose state ments which too easily gain currency in some quar ters respecting the advance of the British and French squadrons to Constantinople. It is well known that by the treaty of 1841 the powers reciprocally bound themselves to maintain the ancient principle of Turkish right by which all vessels of war are ex cluded from the Dardanelles and Bosphorus in time of peace. Let the Sultan notify that the Emperor of Russia has declared war against him or has com mitted some overt hostile ant, and the united squa drons may advance to the Golden Horn without violat ing treaty engagements. It takes the mail steamer 16 hours to accomplish the distance between the Dardanelles and the port of Constantinople. It is computed that a squa dro n of sailing vessels which might have to tack would be from 24 to 30 hours in traversing the same distance. A steam-boat is three hours from Constantinople through the straits of the horns into the Black Sea. If we double or treble this time for a squadron wo shall arrive at the following result :—From Bunts Bay to Constantinople, 30 hours ; from Constantinople to the Black Sea, 9 hours ; in all, less than two days. Sincethepresentation of the Ruasiannotementioned yesterday in the Ezpresa as having been deli vered to the French court, and in which the Czar an nounces the approaching occupation of the Danubian provinces, the immediate interest of the Turkish question turns upon the view likely to be taken of that act by Turkey and the western powers when it shall have been accomplished. At present the French government has not publicly declared in an official manner its views upon this subject. As far, however, as we may judge by the sentiments expressed in its best accredited organs, the government of the French Emperor would see in the occupation of the Danubian provinces a declaration of war. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY ZYZNINO. The optimist view of the eastern question is de cidedly the favourite one to-day. It is positively as serted in a German paper that, although Lord Strat ford de Redcliffe is empowered to order the British fleet to advance to Constantinople in certain contingen cies, his instructions are express that the occupation of the Danubian provinces by Russia is not to be taken as a declaration of war. The Bourse takes great comfort in believing that the only thing which Russia proposes to do for the moment will be considered by the allied powers as an act void of of fence, and, therefore, although this version of Lord de Redcliffe's instructions comes from no reliable source, it is very generally credited. This view is however at variance with the statement generally received in political circles yesterday, that France and England were agreed that the Sultan himself should be left to decide whether the invasion of those provinces, under the circumstances, was tantamount to a declaration of war upon him. It is moreover at variance with the tone of the French journal'. The Pays, as I mentioned yesterday, took it for granted that if Russia crossed the Fruth, the combined fleets would enter the Dar danelles, and this they could not rightfully do if Turkey were at peace. There is not a syllable in the Moniteur, or any of the semi-official papers to-day, to show that the question is one iota less serious than it has ever been. The Conatitutionnel, in publishing the important article—communiqué l it may . almost be called—in yesterday's Aseemblee, says, in evident allusion to the assertion of that jour nal that the occupation of the Danubian provinces would not have the character of adeclaration of war : d. We give this analysis of the Russian note, leaving the responsiblity of it to the Aseenducle, for in such matters the text is the important thing to be known. For the rest, the Russian note may be compared to the Turkish note which we give in another place. We shall continuo thus to keep our readers (yr courant, concealing nothing from them, but not seeking to deduce consequences which events may contradict." The obvious meaning of this is, that Russia may find herself mistaken in supposing that an act of decided hostility against Turkey will be treated by the allied powers, not according to the nature of the act itself, but according to the con atruction which she chooses to put upon it. It ap pears that the arrival of Count Panic which made such a sensation yesterday, is, after all. en event of no political importance whatever. His wife has lived in Paris for some time, and the Cu,,-, stitutionnel says he has merely come to take her to the baths of Vichy, and that he is not charged with any diplomatic misasion. The dissemblej confirms the latter statement, but adds that the present* of the Russian Minieter of Justice in Paris is an important fact, as showing the improbability of any rupture be tween the courts of the Tuileries and St. Petersburg. But this observation is merely in accordance with the Russian theory, which assumes with an affectation of candour that in all she pro poses to do there is nothing in any way tending to a breach of the general pence. The Brest journals announce that the steam frigates the Ponsone and the Cutrarelli, and the men of-war the Ilercule and the Duguesclin, were being armed in that port, but that their destination was not known. iAt the Bourse to day, although the amount of business transacted was not extensive, yesterday's prices were steadily supported, with a slight advance at the termination, there being an improvement to the extent of 25c. in the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. for cash, and of 30c. in the Three per Ceuta. for the account. No change occurred in the quotations of the other descriptions of stock. Bank of France shares also remained without variation. The closing prices were : For cash, Three per Cents., 78f. ; Four and-a-Half ditto, 102.25; for the account, Three per Cents., 78.20; Four-and-a Half ditto, 102.20; Baok Stock, 26.60 ; Northerns, 894 f. 30c. ; Paris and Or leans, 1065 ; Paris and Strasbourg, 903 ; Paris and Lyons, 920 ; Paris and Rouen, 1045 ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 745 ; Western of France, 735 ; Rouen and Havre, 475. SPEECH OF THE KING OF HOLLAND. DELIVERED YESTERDAY AT THE HAGUE. (BT eramAams The following report of the Speech delivered by the King of Holland, at the Hague, yesterday after noon, possesses peculiar interest, from the fact of its being the first express transmitted through the sub marine wire lately laid down between Schieveneingen and Orfordness, effecting a direct telegraphic com munication from tho Hague to London. The length of the submarine wire is 119 miles. THE HAGUE, June 14. To-day the se uion of the States General was opened by the King, who delivered the following speech : " Gentlemen,—l was much affected some time since when thousands of my beloved subjects, fearing for their rational interests, came to me and desired me to take measures to provide against the evils which they dreaded. Being deeply impressed with my ob ligations to protect all their interests and rights, I thought it better not to follow the counsel given me by the advisers of the Crown. I felt that by following it, I could not remove the great anxiety, and could not calm the excited feelings of my people. When the ministers offered me their resignations, I accepted some of them, and replaced them by men who possessed my entire confidence. I consequently felt myself bound to dissolve the chambers, and to give the electors an opportunity of expressing their feelings on the sub ject. It is with gratification I now see myself sur rounded by both Chambers of the States General. I was anxious, gentlemen, to open your assembly in person, and I am glad I can do this with satisfac tion. We are on good terms with foreign powers. The development and welfare of the country is in creasing. These are the favourable auspices under which the legislative body recommences its labours " The difficulty to which, however, I adverted in the first instance, lam sorry to say is not yet removed. I have tried to arrange it both by inviting explana tions from those parties who have originated the dissention, I suppose involuntary, and by taking measures to be carried out by ourselves. The go vernment are convinced that many of the difficulties can only be disposed of by a law. The sixth clause of the charter assures equal rights to all religions associations, but it imposes alma duties on government which cannot be fulfilled with out the power of the law. It is my in tention to request your co-operation in this matter, I shall do it with greater confidence, as I am sure that the spirit of moderation and quiet investigation so natural to our country will preside at your deliberations, and that it will be your serious desire, as it is mine, forcibly to maintain the princi ple of religions tolerance which has belonged to our nation, and to avoid all that could cause discord and schism between the sons of the same country. Act ing on these principles, it will be possible to arrange the difficulty in such a manner that the government can give equal protection to all religions associations, by which they can obtain security for their liberties and their permanent duration under the same reason able and impartial law. " I intend to bring before you in this session only those projects of law for your deliberation that re quire a speedy decision. " I now declare the Assembly to be opened, and I conclude with wishing that Heaven's wisdom may actuate and govern us, so that our efforts for the benefit of our beloved country may be characterised by order, peacefulness, and justice." DENMARK. The anniversary of the constitution was celebrated as a day of general rejoicing at Copenhagen on the 7tb. Business was suspended. Processions advanced upon the palace with deputations to congratulate the King, and at night the city was illuminated. THE WEST INDIA MAILS. (By BLICTRIO SEAGRAM) (FROM Ova OWN CORRIPIPONDINT.) SOUTHAMPTON, WZDNINIDAT MORNING. The Parana has arrived. Her data are : Jamaica, May 2ith ; Trinidad, 25th ; Demerara, 25th. Amongst the cargo is specie to the value of nearly a million of dollars. There have been four deaths on board. At Jamaica The Legislative Assembly had virtu ally ceased their functions, having refused to do any more business with the Council. The supply was stop ped and the Governor had given notice that he should liberate the prisoners from the Penitentiary and discharge the police, there being no funds in the treasury for their support. Yellow fever was very prevalent amongst the ship ping in the harbour; several vessels had lost their captains and nearly all their crews. THE PENINSULAR MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, W EDNESDAY IdORNINO. The Oriental Company's steam-packet Iberia, Captain Bowen, has arrived. Her dates are : Gibral tar, June 3rd; Cadiz, 4th; Lisbon, 9th; Oporto, 10th; Vigo, 11th. The Iberia brings 71 passengers. Her cargo consists of 943 boxes raisins, 10 half ditto, 7 barrels dates, 282 half chests oranges, 36 half chests lemons, 3 boxes tangerines, 77 boxes eggs, 34 baskets peas, 21 baskets potatoes, 13 packages sundries, and specie to the value of 1,8031. The weather in the south had been exceedingly cold and variable, so much so, as to call forth general observation. On the 13th instant squally with rain, accompanied with a heavy fall of hail. H.M. ship Furious was at Gibraltar. The Banshee arrived at Lisbon on the 6th inst., and, after coaling, left with the Odin on the evening of the 7th, leaving the Tagus without a British ship of war. The Fire brand left Lisbon for Malta on the Ist inst. Admiral Corry's squadron had not been at Lisbon. The Agamemnon and Cruizer were out on a cruise. The United States frigate Constitution and stem frigate San Jacinto were quitting Malta. The Spa nish steamers Fernando el Cstolico and Pizarro were at Cadiz. The French war-steamer Newton was at Lisbon. The Peninsular and Oriental steamer Madrid was going to the southward. AUSTRALIA. PLYMOUTH, TVEEDAY NIOILNING. Last evening, the Angloses, Captain Thorn, one of the noble merchant fleet of the 'Messrs. Green, was off this port. The Anglesea left Melbourne, Australia, March 4, and brought home 30,000 ounces of gold, ,and 50 passengers, about half of whom landed here and proceeded hence by land to their respective des tinations. The passengers landed by means of one of the Port of Plymouth pilot boats. The news from tho diggings is generally of a satisfactory descrip tion; large quantities of the precious metal still continued to be found, and the diggers were gene rally healthy, but the large number of immigrants constantly arriving from all parts of the world was a ' eintinued cause of excitement, and of many fears on the part of some of the inhabitants. Those arriving in the early part of the month not unfrequently re gard those who only come in the latter days of the same month as somewhat of intruders, and as may bo imagined, this feeling is not conducive of social unity and concord, but on the contrary, of suspicions, bickerings, and even quarrels. It is supposed that the passengers of the Anglesea have 20,000 ounces. Price of gold—New South Wales, 31. 16e.; Port Phillip, 31. 189. Rate of exchange: March 3, at par; March 4, 1 per cent. prem. Flour: Seconds, 211. per ton ; fine, 231. Carcase beef ; lid. per lb. The Melbourne (S.) was appointed to leave Sydney on 4th March. Her screw propeller had been re paired there. The Carnatic, with gold, wool, and oil, sailed on the 3rd March. The barque Templar, Captain Brown, was to sail shortly. Oa the voyage home the Anglesea, when in the latitude of Cape Horn, was exposed to considerable danger from the icebergs by which she was sur rounded; to escape these ugly and dangerous impe diments, Captain Thorn made a detour to the south to between latitudes 61 and 62, where she wail hove to to clear the ice. The Anglesea went up the Channel for London when the pilot boat left her last evening. By the Waterloo, Captain Green, which has arrived off Torbay, after a passage of 99 days from Sydney, we have received the Empire, Sydney paper, of Saturday, Match 3, by which we learn that an important meeting was to be held in that city on the following Tuesday. Our contemporary Wye: The object of the meeting is to consider the recent act for regulating the management of the gold fi , lds. Except on some great constitutional topic, hardly any meeting could be deemed of more importance than the one proposed. The prime consideration is, that if such acts as these can he so lightly passed in our local legislatures. we have very little security for public liberty and justice there. Zbe Court. THE DRAWING.ROOM. The Queen held a Dspwing-room, the second this season, yesterday afternoon, in St. James's Pala-e. Her Majesty and Prince Albert arrived from Buckingham Palace, escorted by a detachment of Life Guards. The Duke of Genoa and the Duke of Saxe Cobourg Gotha attended the Drawing-room. The Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms were on duty, under the command of the Lieutenant. The sub-ofticers Lieat.-Culanel Nevin and Major Cooke, were also on duty. The Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the Palace, under the command of the Ezon in Waiting. The Queen wore a train of blue silk moire antique, brocaded in blue and white flowers, trimmed with white tulle and blonde, blue ribbons, and bouquets of small pink roses and lilies of the valley. The petticoat was white satin, covered with white tulle, and trimmed with white tulle, blonde, and lilies of the valley. Her Majesty's head dress was diamonds and feathers. The foreign ministers were introduced, when the follow ing presentations to the Queen took place in the diplomatic circle : By the Baroness de Cetto—Baroness de Hunoldstein, wife of the Baron de Hunoldstein, Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria. By Baroness de Brennow—Mademoiselle MlZee de Sninnow, Demoiselle dlionneur de Sa Majeite L'lmpera trier. By the French Ambaraadress--Mts. Henry Johnston, wife of the Hon. H. Johnston, formerly of the United States Senate ; Miss Thompson, niece of the above lady. By the Russian Minister—General Ogareff, Aide•de• Camp Gintral de as Majestd I'Empereur de touter les Hussies; Le Comte Dmitry de Newelrode, Conseiller d'Etat et Chambellan de S.M.I. By the Prussian Minister—Le Comte L. Suminski, Chambellan de ea Mejeete le Rai de Prune. By the Sardinian Minister—M. C. Brida de Leaselo, Meier de CavaSerie dans PArmie Sardc. By the Sicilian Minister—Le Comte de San Giacomo, Le Prince Dentice, Le Marquis Cintmino de Valengano, Le Chevalier Frederic Cimmiao, Le Baron de Sterani. By the Austrian Minister . -=Baron Wydenbruck, Coun cillor of the Embassy. By the Minister of the united States—The Hon. Henry Johnston, formerly member of the Senate of the United States. The diplomatic circle was fully attended. The following ladies had the honour of being presented to her Majesty: MW Emma Armytage, by ber eister.hulaw, Mrs. Henry r nytegti Mir Athwr, by her slater, Mrs. Edward Walter. Mrs. Boyd, of Hillhonsebeld, by Mrs. Kelso, of KelsolanaL Mrs. Richard Brett, by Mrs. Watson. Mrs. Temple Brigstodse. , by Mrs Brigstoeke. Mr.. Brunel, by her sister-hulaw, Mrs. Hawes. Lady Margaret Butler. by her mo th er, the Countre of el noel. Mrs. Carter, by Lady Palmawatrg, Hoe. Mrs. Wasimoodeley, on be marriage, by Lady Sarah C la rohten, by her sneer, Mn, itleeClayton. The Clersrat, by the M ab ores tOrmond,. Mai Chshad, by lady Clifford Co m mle. Miss Orlin% bp bar deer, His. Mier. Miss Crarapee by bar soother, Lady Crampton. eta Oresaylne by ber rooter, Lady Cremates. Mrs the lion. Mrs. Harsh Mrs. Cotes*/ by Visesanter Beabess, Mrs. Dude% by Ile. Meek, Plowsha. MWsDaskA by Mr. Desle. Mir Kass Del% by Ihn. Wykalios Kerte. Lary s ho e Hoes Dmand. by ea Deems of Aeon. The Lady Dysart, by Visecareenedlaga. Mee. nag. by Lady Maw. mles Tree, by her mobs. Mrs. Farley. Mies Lney - Perley. bkher , mar, Mrs. Farley. Miss Pony Farley. bar methrr_ Hie Farley. lady Ftw , 4 by lady am* OnapbeL Miesitnyd, by her swear lady Floyd. YW Nabisiam by Ladyballain. Mrs.lthobard Owen,. sear merriage, by Lady Rivera. Mies label Mires by ha mother, Mrs. Milner. Oulu Lady ti tens, by lady V MTII. Hordes, et Mom try 7 Hiddo. Mir Gerdes, H D ry key s , Mrs. Gordon. Mir Irma by Yr mother, Mr. Orden. Mies Grist. byre' =albs it, Mrs. Insole Omni. Mrs. Henry Darby Orteth, by Lady Wiltshire. Mrs. Britian, WM/ranter Palmerston. Mir Grow, by the Han. Mrs. Herbert. Mir Ural* Greenwood, by the Marchioness of Miss Bala Hill, by Lady CliLord Constable. Mrs. Wm. H. dames, by Lady Cranworth. Mrs. Kelsis, of Kelsoland, by lady Onseley. Mrs. King, by Lady Naas. Mrs. Henry King, on her montage, b y King. Mira King by her mother, Mrs. . Miss Harriet King, by her mother, Ned. Fr!'i aPin,by M r s.a t ratt• Ketlyijarer, - ciairiretiliafrom India, by Tlecousrmsflardinge. Mir Lockett, by bee aunt, Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Mare, by the Countess of De_ rby. Miss Medlycott, by her mother, LWy Mullycett. Miss Emily St. John Mlldmay, by her =win, Lady St. John Mad. may Mims Charlotte St. John Mildmay, by her °main, Lady St. Ritin Mildway. Mn. Charles Miles, by Men Mira. Hon. Mrs. Monekton Milne", by Viecountar Galway. Mrs. Douglas Moffat, by Mrs. William Lockytr Freestun. Mrs. Edmund Feminine Morris, by Mrs. %Inman. The Countess of Newburgh, on succeeding to her title and Mateo, by the Duchess of Norfolk. Mrs. William Nicholson, by Lady Vaun of 1111/foWoen. Counter of Norbury, by the Counter &mire of Nerbiry. MissOaltea, by her mothcr, Mrs. Oalits. Mrs. Charles J. Parke, by Lady muftis. Mrs. Phillipps, by the Countess of Desert. Mrs. Francis Moreely Robinson, on her marriage, by Lady Mathias. Miss Bolt, by the Counter of Derby. Miss Angt eta Seymour, by her mother, Lady Augusta Seymour. Lady Shelley, by Viscountess Palmerston. L dy Smith, as Lady Theresa Rigby. Lady Susan Smith, on her marriage, by Mrs. Abel Smith. Mire Eirabeth Laura Smith, by her aunt, Ludy Colbert's. Lade Emma Stanley. by her mother, the Counter of Derby. Mrs. Henry Stone, by Mrs. King. Mist; lioratia Stopford, by Viscountess Hood. Lady Stuart, by the Duch's- , of Sutherland. Mrs Grant Suttie, by . Lady Fiance+ Hope. Mir Taylor, by her ander, Lady Willoughby de Drcke . Mr.. Vance, by the untees of Glengall. Mir Waddell, by Lady Maclaine. Mats Wa'alt, by L.:Ay De Ron. Mr.. Edward 'Walter, on her marriage, by Mrs. John Walter. 1 , 41 P, Watson, be Lat4y Palmerston. Mrs. Henry Whitmore, by Lady Calthorpe. ier. by Lady Spearman. The lion. Mrs. Montague Wilde, by Mrs. Walter. res. Gran ; cm Wilmsre, by Lady Cranworth. Lady Willoighbydeßruke, by baroness North. Lady daub, by Ludy Dalrymple. Iler Majesty and Prince Albert returned to Buckingham Palace after the Drawing Room. Baron Bcntinek, the Netherlands Min'sDr, was tre vented by indisposition from attending the tducei.'s Draw hsg Room yesterday. The Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Fin -ea. Ade laide of liohenlohe, visited her Majesty, and the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg Gotha, at Buckingham Palace, yesterday morning.