The Express. — London, England, 1853-02-02 00:00:00

ervrtoo. T 4) CURI,ESPONDENTS. ♦ assass i mks ta• Ea t reds," mm ataissag the moo !NW, g's newt. puo'asimil smog Trails, awl rrkilay CO; is wiss Our mi• litwouss...ossotatesitsd fee "The Ispress..Lmodso paw, Nast dim IllsasiOnswest, V Tire Volosk M tbs M et p Ll' ua WATS/ AT LONDON BRILOP. Ina na *WWI 811 . SILL.---" " 816. IL 3511. LONIPLY. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 2. CEUTA'S Ministerial journals affect to believe that Farthing ut upon its re-assembling will be asked to sauctita, an increase of the army, and rumour vari ously interprets this semi-utticial intimation as im plying .in augmentation of the regular troops to the extent of twenty or thirty thousand men. We shall he stun in yielding any credit to a supposed inten tion on the part of Lord ABERDEEN'S Government DO 11111113%ourable to its character for practical sagacity and rction. Any measure of the kind above in dicated would, in the present state of our relations with tuceign powers, be both a great crime and a great blunder. For purposes strictly defensive a coast fencible force may be excellent, but the additional enrolment of twenty regiments of the line ought not and cannot bo necessary. Our true and legitimate means of national self-pre servation consists in an efficient fleet in our own waters, with such a reserve of ships ready to be put into commission, and of competent seamen and gun ners ready to man them, as would in a few hours make short work of it with any hostile armament that could possibly put to sea. For this purpose such a force as that suggested, under the name of coast fencibles, would be certain to find acceptance and approval from the great majority .of reasonable persons of all shades of opinion. A marine police, inexpensive in times of tranquillity, and ready to act at the shortest possible notice, should any exigency require, could scarcely be over ruled. Suitable additions to the strength of the Ordnance department would be likely to provoke as little objection as wise re-organization with a view to strengthening the Navy. But •to talk about more regiments of soldiers after the enrols mint of a Militia is another matter altogether. An addition of 20,000 men to the regular would in every sense be infinitely objectionable7li France it would be very like the raising of a Bag of defiance. France does not complain, aid can never have any right to complain, of the perfection of our fleet, or the establishment of ass lencibles. With an Empire scattered over every peel of the globe, no moderate addition to eau anal equipments can fairly give offence to our Mind,* neighbours. But a standing army in England Nee siderably greater than that which fur 33 yam IN have been contented to maintain, will natty* be taken as a menace, and be resented as sand If wain. been hitherto satisfied to keep one soldier vase ems in the United Kingdom for every six siebdebsed fa prince, who can wonder, or how can we complain if the law of proportion is applied by NAPOLEON 111, to oar new levies? And if ones this international Ogee et Bug begins, who will venture to foretel hi vim* kinu ut ruin it may end? Let us imagine fbr a moment the nature of the diplomatic interrogations and replies which are likely to ensue should any pro. position of the kind we are queationif g be delibe rately.laid before Parliament. The Cabinet of the Tuileries has every right to ask for what purpose are new regiments to be raised in England. And the British Minister cannot reply that they are seeded for garrison duty. With irresistible cogency the French Minister would urge that the creation of a fore not requisite for real defence must be he:il to imply designs of a very different kind. We know, to oar cost, how often during the last hundred years an adventurous minister has been tempted to make pee of troops abroad which might be spared at home. Hundreds of millions of debt are the muuument of these achievements. The military glory ws i salacity, but, on behalf of the tax payers of these realms, we are bound to say that we have bad quite enough of them. It was specially, moreover, on the round that public opinion would not endure the maintenance of a supernumerary force of regular troops at home, that Parliament was in duced last session to pass the Militia Bill. The advecites of that measure repeatedly urged the in noxious character of a purely domestic and therefore strictly defensive force, as contrasted with a leas nunietous addition to the troops of the line. But is he country now to be told that, having got the militia, it must likewise submit to the other alterna tive, and augment the standing army ? We have said enough of late to show how widely we dissent from the theory of National Non-Resist ance, and how little disposed we are to push the spirit of disarmament to a hazardous extreme. For purposes of adequate defence there is no expedient we should not think justifiable, and no ne c essary expense at which we should murmur. Bat with an efficient fleet and a suitable body of sea fers eibles, with an improved Ordnance aprIIIIIIS and a national militia, with the troops *ow wasted in useless Colonial detachments called hook we cannot regard the idea of a permanent augments". tion of the regular army as warrantable by any leeri emergency than that of actual war. But in a time like this of general peace, a measure of the kind on the part of this country would be taken as a signal of distrust and alarm by . every civilised nation, and would re-echo as a tocsin of war throughout the world. Counter manifestations and counter arms- ments on an infinitely greater male would doubtless follow. And new weights would thus everywhere be added to the fetters wherewith the captive liberty of nations is held down. Ova remarks on the ill-treatment which emigrants often receive at sea, and on the difficulty ofenforeing contracts made on land when the contractors and eontractess are thousands of miles apart, with an osean between them, have not given satisfaction to shipowners. It was not likely they should. No man is a safe judge in his own cause. A parliament of soldiers would mike expensive work of " the na tional defences." Bishops have never been found very active church reformers. Until suitors took the work in hand lawyers got on but slowly in the task of mending the Court of Chancery, and substituting common sense for common law. Was there ever a farmer who thought wheat could be too dear, or a gamekeeper who objected to unlimited increase of hares and pheasants ? Shipowners, however respectable, wealthy, and pious, are still men. The worship of " the almighty dollar" is cultivated with seal by the traders in emi grants on both aides of the Atlantic. All know that the three things which the emigrant most re quires—provisions, water, and spsoe—cost money. If on the food of five hundred passengers during a thirteen weeks' voyage two shillings a head per week can be saved, that will be 13.101. in the charterer's pocket. If ten per cent. be deducted from the space in which, according to law, emigrants may be heked, and five hundred only be sent, instead of five undred and fifty, there is a discount of one thousand pounds in the money, calcu lated at the moderate rate ort ai wTy pounds a head. Au extra number of water-closets over and above the minimum required by law, wash-houses, and baths, and ventilating tubes, encroach on space, which during the emigration fever can be sold for a round sum. However much ten per cent. of the space and other conveniences may be needed—and they are needed for the health and comfort of passengers—they will not be conceded by the general run of shipowners any more than covered carnages would be conceded to third-class passengers by railway companies, without the pressure of an Act of Parliament. We cannot rely upon the influence of competition alone to make emigrant ships what they ought to be; for emigrants are a class of customers whom the re cipients of their money only see once and never ex pect to see again. When thousands are bidding against each other, ship-room and berths are en gaged months in advance, it is sot likely that ship owners will voluntarily give up the space for air which they can sell for gold. nothing less than a second Parliamentary Inquiry and a second Amended Passengers Act will protect from the devastation of fever, begotten by foul air, the armies who are now wildly cramming themselves into Australian ships. Under the present system, as long as all passengers are in good health and the weather fair, all may go THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EV3IFING, FEBRUARY 2, 1853. well ; but a few days of hurricanes, the hatchet , bat teued down, and one sick lividly will infect the wilds ship. The case of the Africa, reported in our irnpri - a-, .ion yesterday, is a fair specimen of the kind of com plaints now coning home by every packet. No doubt many are unreasonable and unfounded. A num ber of persons very sea sick, very much cramped, with nothing to do but eat and sleep, are sure to be grum blers ; but taking a large discount off, enough prima facie evidence remains to justify a searching inquiry. Some of the defects of the last Passenger Act are patent. Besides, we have a large masa of good Liverpool evidence, proving how completely emi grants are in the power of those who live upon them on hind. After what Mr. BRADLEY MOORE, the Rev. Mr. WELcII, and other witnesses before Mr. Siusev HERBERT's committee of 1831, stated of the doings on land under the eyes of the police, the magistrates, and other eminently respectable people, we can be surprised at nothing that takes place at sea, where there is neither law nor public opinion to enforce the rights of the passengers, or punish over-reaching owners or tyrannical ship officers. Mr. BRADLEY MOORE, ex-mayor and for many years chairman of the Liverpool Docks, says in his evidence, "The frauds and impositions now practised on.the emigrant from the moment he arrives in Liverpool to the time of his embarkation, are per fectly incredible, except to those who have witnessed them. There is scarcely an emigrant who arrives who is not plundered of his mouey, plundered at every stage and every step." In reference to the establishment of a Home, Mr. MOORE added: "Emigrants are live merchandise which require more looking after and more care taken of them, than any description of merchandise that comes into port. Lord GREY, it appears, thought that it was the duty of the corporation to take the management of the proposed institution (a Home for the protection of emigrants) rather than of the go vernment. I say that the corporation have no such interest whatever. They are the representatives of those parties whose object and business it is to live upon the emigrants by plun dering them. The Dock Committee were personally willing to undertake the management of a Home, but such a storm was raised by the parties named (the crimping interest) and their representa tives in the Town Council, that the Dock Committee was not allowed to do it." In New York precisely the same abuses prevail. There is an organised system of fraud carried on often in correspondence with the Liverpool crimps. In both ports emigrants are seized upon by force, carried off to lodging-houaes, often cajoled out of their baggage, compelled to pay extravagant prices for board, cheated into exchang ing their cash for coin of inferior value, into pur chasing outfits of no value at extravagant rates, and sometimes deluded with forged tickets for the sea voyage or inland transit. In both ports the re spectable inhabitants are desirous of putting au end to the system of plunder, but the crimps' interest is too strong for them. What the American emigrant trade is—in numbers and importance—the Australian emigrant trade will soon become. Within the last few days freights and passages have risen greatly. The shipping interest, notwithstanding the repeal of the navigation laws and the influx of foreign shipping, have been, never theless, able to improve their charter parties since that event from 21. 10s. to 64 a ton, and to raise passages from 101. ani 151. to 301. It is better that passages should be dear, than cheap and destructive to health, decency, and morals. Shipowners wko don't go to sea do not know what passengers require. One of the first men in the City of London consi dered himself, u he loudly termed it, "robbed," by a contract, under which, after a good hospital and other conveniences had been secured, the passengers fell short by forty of the number allowed by act of parliament—forty souls, for each of whom he would, if sent, have been entitled to 61. Yet all experienced pawns who saw that ship pronounced her to be t• 11. The space question is the first emigrant question which ought to be brought before Parliameut. It is no answer that suck and such skips have been " packed," and have yet escaped. The sea is healthy, and with a live freight in robust health, the hatches open, the voyage may be made again and again with impunity. But we cannot count on such perpetual good fortune,—therefore more space must be granted toemigrants, even if at an increased price. And furthermore that apace must be more equally divided. At present there are ships with the following divisions—" cabin passengers," who have the quar ter-deck ; " second cabin," " intermediate," and " steerage." The set gives among them as many feet as amouut to the total of 15 cubic feet multi plied by the number of passengers, and one passen ger to two tons register. But it does not say how that space may be divided—so that it sometimes happens that when the quarter-deck has been given to the cabin passengers, and a large space has been filled up with the second cabins built on deck, and an extra space to the intermediates, there really is very little left for the steerage, except a berth 18 inches wide, 6 feet long, and 3 feet high. Unless this system be checked we shall have ships going packed like the inside of an old French diligence, without windows. With the question of space the question of ventilation is intimately connected. On that point the directions of the act are by far too vague. There is nothing to ensure a permanent and scientific system of ventilation. Some think a wind sail sufficient, others a large hole here or there, which must be stopped up in bad weather. Plans and sys tems for forcing fresh air below the decks and bringing the foul air out, ought to be the subject of scientific and practical investigation by order of the Govern ment. And passenger ships . should be compelled to adopt some definite system instead of make-shifts cobbled ap by the carpenter at the last moment. The defect of vagueness equally applies to the clause about water-closets. These conveniences can not be made perfect unless the ship is cut, and every shipowner objects to having his ship cut. An inspecting officer, with all his work, cannot at the last moment go about to teach the captain or the carpenter how water-closets are to be built. A fixed plan should be devised and enforced. The clause relating to the hospital requires a certain !pace for that purpose, but does not specify where it ' is to be situated. The consequence is that the darkest and most inconvenient corner is chosen— hence the death of so many infants. To criticise and expose the whole defects of this Act in one article would be impossible ; but we may add there is needed an increase of space in emigrant ships for each passenger—better arrangements for ventilation and the supply of cooked food—and above all there is wanted a tribunal in the colonies before which the officers and owners of the ship shall be responsible for breach of contract and for infraction of the provisions of the Passengers Act. GERMANY. On the 28th ult. Professor Oervinus presented himself, according to summons, before the penal tribunal at Heidelberg, to answer the charges re ferred against him by the public prosecutor. The proceedings were merely formal, and consisted in the drawing up of eertain octets or documents, which may serve as the ground-work of the proceedings before the Hofgericht, at Maunheim, where the deci sion of the case will lie. By the abstention of the public accuser, Oervinus is deprived of trial by jury, as the law leaves offences of the press to the cogni sance of the judges in novas where leas than six months' imprisonment is called for by the prosecutor. The Frankfort Post Gazette states that the A OD trian Minister of Commerce is at present occupied with a plan for promoting and extending commercial communications between Austria and the African coast, as fir as from Algiers to Egypt, and into the ' interior of Africa. For this purpose, especial pains are being taken to revive and extend trade with Tunis. The passage from Trieste to Tunis is so easy, that it is said to be practicable in coasting vessels. On the night of January 21st, a fire broke out at Friedland, in Bohemia, which, favoured by a south wind, extended rapidly over the town, and destroyed ono hundred and three houses and ten barns. Most of the inmates of the dwelling-houses saved nothing but their lives. Collections are making in Vienna and Trieste, for the relief of the sufferers. It was from this town of Friedland that Wallenstein took his ducal title. LoNoevat IN ES3EX.—There in now living at Tolleshunt Major, a labourer, named Joseph Bateman, who has reached the awe of Bit years. lits wife has been dead many years, but ho bar • eon living 80 pan old, and tha veteran is often solaced by dm boy calling upon him for • little chat. —Essen herald. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVINII6I. 'it is announced on high authority that her Majesty the Queen of Spain is about to present the Empress Eugenia with a costly coronet, richly and mviiiticetitly adorned with diamonds. The crowd of visitors to the cathedral of Notre Dame to-day has been immense. At noon there was a line of people waiting for admission extending at least a quarter of a mile, arranged in line, tour deep. The magnificent decorations of the Hotel de Ville also attracted thousands of visitors. Among the most conspicuous and brilliant of the Illuminations on Sunday night woe that of the Baron Rothschild. Simultaneously with the celebration of the Impe rial nuptials in Notre Dame, the Te Dram was chanted at most of the provincial churches through out France. The register which was used at the Tuileries on the occasion of the civil marriage of the Emperor is that of the former Imperial House, which has been preserved in the archives of the Secretary of State. The first entry in it is dated March 2, 1806, and records Napoleon's adoption of the Prince Eugene as son of the Emperor, and as Viceroy of Italy. The record immediately preceding that of the marriage of Napoleon 111. is that of the birth of the King of Rome, bearing date March 20, 1811. The Emperor will come to town from St. Cloud to-morrow (Wednesday), to preside over the minis terial council; but the imperial court will remain at St. Cloud for eight days. Baron Bremer, secretary general of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been nominated envoy ex traordinary to Constantinople. The impulse given to the trade of Paris by the late imperial fetes is said to have proved highly satisfac tory to the bouryeuisie. The etiquette at official balls l and receptions requiring gentlemen to wear em broidered coats and vests, has caused the ladies to I enter upon a rivalry in their toilettes, and already I an enormous demand has been created for all kinds of the most costly articles of attire for both sexes. The following is a copy of one of the telegraphic despatches sent on Sunday evening by the govern ment authorities to all parts of France, as stated in our account of the religious ceremonies: "The cere monies of the religious marriage of the Emperor have taken place at Notre Dame, with an order, a pomp, and a solemnity worthy of the empire. Their Majesties, in going to Notre Dame and in returning to the Tuileries, have passed through the crowds of an immense population, in the midst of which waved numberless banners of workmen's associations. Everywhere on her passage our young and beautiful Empress has received from the people, from the Na tional Guard, and from the army, the most touching and enthusiastic reception. Paris will preserve the memory of this national solemnity for a long time." General Aupick, the French Ambassador at the Court of Madrid, has received numerous congratula tions on the union of his Imperial master with a young, noble, and beautifuLSpaniard. A grand en tertainment was given by the Ambassador in honour of the event, which was attended by the elite of the foreigners at present attacked to the Spanish court. There were no less than five French Cardinals assisting at the marriage of the Emperor, namely, their eminences the Archbishops of Lyons, Bourges, Besancon, Rheims, and Bourdeaux. The average number of daily arrests by the Pari sian police for disorderly and criminal acts is from 60 to 70. On Sunday last, however, the number was only 17. The Paine says, "It should be borne in mind that on such occasions the police are not only lenient to others, but not a little indulgent to them selves." --- --- On the Bourse to-day business was a little bettor and prices were somewhat firmer. The Three per Cent. Rentes closed within a fraction of the quota tions of yesterday, being last called at 78f. 80c. for the account. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents., how ever, recovered considerably from the previous depres sion, the closing figure being 104 f. 750. I here was little doing in either Bank btock or railway shares, and no material variation in any of the quotations. The Mon iteur contains a decree reestablishing the second section of the general staff of the navy (the reserve), which was suppressed in April, 1848—a similar measure having already been carried into effect in the army. The decree enacts that the law of 19th May, 1834, on officers, shall be applicable to those of the second section, and that they shall re ceive three-fifths of the pay of their grade; also that they may in time of war be appointed to com mands at sea, or in the interior--and, if senators, to commands in the interior in time of peace likewise. In pursuance of the above decree, two vice admirals and nine rear-admirals have been already removed from the retired and placed upon the active list on the second section. Their names are—Vice- Admirals Bergeret, Drivel, and Baron Lentarant ; Rear-Admirals Cavalier, Gautier, Kerdrain, Rigodit, Bazoche, Cosmao-Dumanoir, Legarant de Tromelin, Deloffre, and Delassanz. _ _ _ It is sal d that Boulogne-sur-Mer is shortly about to be made a maritime prefecture. The appointment which I some time since informed you was decided upon of Baron Brenier, Secretary- General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as En voy-Extraordinary of France at Constantinople, is now o ffi cially announced. He is about to proceed to Toulon, to embark on board the Eclaireur steamer fur his post. Although the amnesty is, numerically speaking, more extensive than was expected, it has produced a feeling of disappointment. Among the victims of the coup 'Fiat were a large number of distinguished men of irreproachable character, who, without re gard to the forms of law, were banished or transported upon the plea of political necessity. These men, Laving committed no offence, acorn to accept a " pardon." They and their friends feel thatinsultis added to injury, when the restoration of the civic rights of which they were deprived by lawless violence is offered upon the terms of "con trition and repentance." It was very generally expected that the amnesty intended to grace the im perial marriage would specify by name the exiles best known to the public, and announce the unconditional removal of the impediments to their enjoyment of the full rights of free citizens. Such a course would have been • practical proof that the government now feels strong enough to rule France by ordinary law, and a redemption of the pledge necessarilyimplied at the time when exceptional penal measures were decreed, that with the necessity of the occasion the penalties also should cease. In stead of this, however, the Moniker merely gives a round number of pardons about to be granted, and says that the names will be published hereafter, and a government paper, the Colutitutionnel, says ex pressly this morning that the " leaders" will not be pardoned, but only the men that they have misled. It is now 14 months 211102 the generals were banished. It is surely time that they should be allowed to return without submitting to conditions. The off hand way in which men are spoken of in the lump by the korefteur is felt to be supercilious in the extreme. Only 1,200 men now remaining of those transported or banished without trial or specified offence ! A trifle not worth talking about. 3,000, it is said, are now to be " pardoned." " 1693" or commutations were announced up to a pardons weeks ago, and 1,200 remain. It is admitted by these figures that nearly 6,000 people have passed the lest year in exile or in penal colonies, without having been legally or publicly found guilty of any offence. 'Phis does not include the thousands who passed more or less time in dun geons, and it does not include the hundereds that have died from grief, privation, and the effects of un healthy climates. The Emperor will come to Paris from St. Cloud to-morrow to attend a council of ministers. Yester day the Emperor and Empress visited the palace of Versailles, and it is said that they will dine there to-day. PARIS, hiOIIDAT Some of the more moderate Bonapartista, such as MM. de Morny, Ney, Delamarre (Creuse), and other members of the Jockey Club, are beginning to be seriously uneasy at the unmistakeable and uncom promising disaffection of the salons. At the legiti mist club, the Union, M. de Crouseilhes, whose legitimist principle,. are considered tainted from the fact of his having once been a minister of Louis Napoleon, has just been blackballed by 91 votes against 21. At ,this moment the annual elec tion for the president of the Jockey Club is going on, and I understand it to be highly probable that the present president, U. Delaraarre, whale re oketion under ordinary eireumetanses would be almost a r „ , atter of course, will be rejected on account of h i, k now ,' political connexion with M. Pould. I m „ t i ona , yesterday that many ladies went to eight o'clock in the morn ollseeuring their places. Thi s pre caution was by n.' means unnecessary, for many ladies of the highest .rank who came later found it impossible to approach the seats promi se d th em , an d were either obliged to be contented with worse places, or, as happened in some instances, to go away altogether. Even the Diu. hem of liamilton was on the point of leaving the Cathedral for want of a seat. On her arrival, finding it impassible, owing to the confusion, to make her way to the place destined for her, she attempted to find one on the platform de voted to the ladies of ministers. Not one was vacant, and she was about to . go to her carriage, when a master of the ceremonies ran after her, and con ducted her to one of the reserved seats of the corps diplometique. It suffices to bear in mind the archi ttctural construction of the interior of Notre Dame to be convinced that only a very small proportion of the visitors could get so much as the slightest glimpse of the ceremony. Many of the ladies of the corps diplomatique were so disappointed with their places that they left them, and ap pealed to the gallantry of some members of the corps legislatif, who, probably by accident, were more advantageously situated, to make room for them. Some haughty dames, all heated with the excitement of clambering over benches, in search of a quarter of a front place, were heard to express much aristocratic indignation at seeing several of the ! most celebrated actresses of Paris, and among them , Mesdames Ozy, Brohan, Judith, Esther, and Con stance, comfortably installed in the very best places. I hear a great deal of talk about bitter disappoint mints caused by a treacherous notice of the Duke de Cambacdres. It was announced that members of the corps legislatif wishing places for their families were to apply to him. Very many did apply to him, but only to receive a polite expression of regret that he had not a single place to dispose of, and numbers of estimable young ladies, brought up from the coun try at a great expense, were yesterday au desespoir. The Municipal Commission of Lyons having de cided on offering to the Empress on the occasion of her marriage some dresses of the production of the ' Lyonese looms, has appointed a committee which has received full powers to act in a manner worthy , at the same time of the Empress and of the city of Lyons. The banished generals are not recalled. At least one cannot suppose their names can be included in the following limners' announcement of an amnesty which appears in the Moniteur On the occasion of his marriage, the Emperor has par- i doped upwards of 3,000 persons, amongst those who had I been the object of measures of general safety taken after I the disturbances of December, 1851. In consequence of these pardons and of those previously accorded, there re• main not more than about 1,200 persons subject to expulsion or transportation. Public opinion will not take alarm at to many pardons, as the decree of March 5, 1852, gives to the government the right to have recourse to measures of pre. caution against any individuals who should abuse the cle mency exercised towards them. The names of the persona thus pardoned will shortly be published. SPAIN. The .Espana learns that Narvaer has replied to the communication made to him by the Minister of War, on the 17th ult., that the malady to which he is constitutionally subject has returned with so much violence that it is at present impossible for him to comply with the royal injunction to proceed to Vienna without further delay, but that he will do so as soon as he finds himself sufficiently recovered. SWITZERLAND. The government of Ticino has i nst ituted proceed ings against the persons who assaulted the Austrian customs officers on the night of December 24, 1852. Radetsky has demanded of the Confederation that a Swiss frontier guard shall be appointed, in con formity with the treaty of 1815. MONTENEGRO. The latest telegraphic despatches from Trieste state that the Turks, having again attacked Grahovo, had captured the chief of - that district, who was in alliance with the Montenegrins, and with him 40 of his adherents. A battle had also taken glace in the Czernizza-nahia between 2,000 Montenegrins, com manded by Prince Daniel in person, and 10,000 Turks, under Reis Pacha. The Trieste Gazette asserts that in this engagement the Montenegrins had the advantage. A German letter from Vienna, of the 28th, states as follows the tenor of the instructions to General Count Leiningen, on special mission to Constanti nople:—Austria offers her good offices and her in tervention to re-establish the status quo ante. In her quality of protectress of the Christian populations subject to Turkey, she demands the cessation of the persecutions and arbitrary acts to which the poor rayahs of Bosnia and other provinces are subject. In the event of a refusal of these demands, Count Lein ingen is to inform the Porte of the fixed resolution of Austria to intervene for the protection of the Chris tians against all oppression and persecution. Abe court. WINDSOR, Faa. 1. The following had the honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday : The Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Nemours, the Princess Adelaide of Hokenlohe, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Bpetb, Viscount and Visoounteas Stratford de Redcliffe, and Colonel the Hon C. B. and Mrs. Phipps. The Band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the Castle, and played during dinner.. Her Majesty's Private Band attended afterwards In the evening, and performed the following compositions : Oeerten. "Le Serment ". . Selection. "Le Premix Nice* Herold. Merike a It Ronialae - —..-... “Martha " ROIOW. The neen and Prince, with the Duke and Duane of Nemours, drove out in an open carriage yesterday after noon. Lord Charles Fitzroy and Lieut.-Colonel F. H. 8771:were in attendance on horseback. : Albert, with the Duke of Nemours and Prince , Edward of Saxe Weimar, accompanied by Mr. Henry Sey mour, Mr. Challoner, and Captain Tottenham, went out shooting this forenoon, attended by Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Duke and Duchess of Nemours, with the Comte d'Eu, the Due d'Alencon, and the Princess Marguerite of Orleans, left the Castle chic afternoon for Claremont; and the Viscount and Viscountess Stratford de &deli& left for Loudon. _ lielluehesa of Norfolk has succeeded the Viscountess Canning as Lady in Waiting to the Queen. Earl Somers has arrived as Lord in Waiting in plate of Lord Elphinstone ; and Captain the Hoe. AVest has re lieved L ie ut.-Colonel the Hon. N. Hood as broom in Wait- ing to Wrii.j.; 7 7" Lord Alfred Paget has succeeded Lord Charles Fits Boy and Lient-Coloncl the Hon. A. Gordon, Licut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour, as Equerries in Waiting to the Queen and the Prince. The Committee on Education of her Majesty's Moat Honourable Privy Council had a meeting yesterday, at the Privy Council Office, Whitehall. The lords present were the Lord President, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Argyll, Lord John Russell, the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert. A deputation from the Steam-ship Owners' Association of London,consisting of Mr. Moffatt, M.P. ; Mr. W. J. Hall, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Robinson. and Mr. Morgan (Secretary), and accompanied by Me. Duncan, M.P., Mr. M'Gregor, M.P., (Glasgow), and Mr. Clay, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell and Lord Stanley of Al derley, yesterday, at the Board of Trade. A deputation from the Town Commissioners of Brighton had an interview with the General Board of Health, yes terday, at their office, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Dr. King and Mr. Cornford, and wero attended by Mr. Slight, Clerk to the Commissioners. Lord and Lady John Russell arrived at their residence in Chesham-place, yesterday, from Richmond. Despatches were sent, yesterday, from the Colonial-office to the Governors of the West India Islands. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. The lords present were :—The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, Sir E. Ryan, and Sir J. Patteson. Heath's Petition for Exten sion of Patent was heard and adjourned. It is intended to make two additional companies to each regiment of infantry of the Queen's troops m the East Indies. (MOM LAB? GIII/111.) FOREIGN-OFFICE, JAN. 31.—The Queen has been plea :d to approve of Mr. Charles Palgrave as Consul at Dublin, and of Mr. George Moss as Vice-Consul at St. He lens, for hie Majesty the King of tho Belgiene. COMMISSION OF SEWERS. A special Coact of Sewers was held at the Court house, Soho, yesterday. The earnmissionete prceent were Mr. RICHD JY1313 (chairman), Sir Chas. Faience, M.jor Dawson, Mr. G. S. Smith, Mr. S. Baker, Mr. W. Hoskin', Mr. H. A. Hunt, Mr. T. F. Gibson, and Mr. J. Hawkshaw. The SECRSTARY reported that the funds in the bands of the tressuro., on Jar. 29, amounted to 22,1251., and that after the necessary payment., there would remain an avail able balance of 21,539/. Rates were then ordered to he advertised in the follow ing districts : Surrey and Kent, Tower Ilamiets Level, Limehouse Level, Upper Limehouse Level, Wondie Dis trict, Fulham and Hammersmith District, and Counter's Creek District. In all ti.wse cues the c-timates for works required, and present lia `slimes, exceeded the amount which would be raised by the rates to be levied. Upon the recommendation of the general committee, the court ordered pipe sewers to th.e extent of 2,124 feet, and brick sewers to the extent of 12, 431 feet, to be laid down in carious localities throughout the Finsbury Sewers Divi• 'ion, at an aggregate cost of 6,452,'. 164. 7d. The court also ordered 2,810 feet of pipe sewer, and 10,84 teet of brick sewer, at various diameters, to e laid down in the Spitalfields Level, and in the Holborn D.''fistont in streets s specified, at an aggregate cost of 6,3701. Total cost of works ordered, 12,822/. 16s. 7d. h •eneral drain- A conversation arose with reference to the age scheme so often referred to. Speaking of k • case befere the court, in which it was determined that the sroprietors of houses in Cheyne-walk, Chelsea, should be req cored to open separate sewers from their property into the riser, which was directly in front, Major Daw.on said tho the set would not allow of an order to have a common at 'wet' for all constructed ; and that, in fact, nothing could be eh me in the way of common drainage until the general drainas scheme of the court was carried out. Thereupon, Mr. }Liking, in strong language, said that to talk in that man • nor was to attempt to impose upon the public ; inasmuch as the scheme in question was in quite an immature state, and, as all who considered the matter would see, was, at all events, utterly impracticable. The Chairman interfered to prevent se irregular a discussion, but he obstrved that he could not let what had passed go to the public without his saying that there were no grounds for asserting that the court had not already very fully considered a scheme for the main drainage of London. No doubt that scheme • was not complete; but it should be properly understood that it had been laid before the commissioners, after an investigation of 200 different plans; and that among the commissioners were included some of the first engineers in , the world:; and that it had obtained the approbation of a large number of that body. In all its' details it had not • been pronounced perfect ; but to its general scope and character a decided approbation had been extended. There was, therefore, a distinct plan arrived at, and a tangible I scheme under discussion; and when it was remembered that the consulting engineers to the court were Sir William Cubitt and Mr. Stephenson, he thought the public , might rely upon completeness and perfection in the end. The , conversation then dropped, but subsequently Mr. Hocking gave notice be would move, at the next meeting of the court, that the secretary be requested to read the resolu tions of which Mr. Booking gave notice in the general committee on the 7th October ult., and the resolutions I passed by the committee on the 12th October ult.; and, thereupon, to inquire on how many occasions since the latter date the general committee have had the drawings of the scheme of arterial drainge prepared by the late engi neer to the court under consideration, and with what re sults, if any. No other business of importance was transacted. CITY COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS. Yeetcrday, a court was held for the general des patch of business ; Mr. Deputy PEACOCK in the chair. LODGING HOUSES. The Clerk drew the attention of the court to the sluggish manner in which the owners of Willis rents, Bishopsgate, were proceeding to execute the orders in relation to mend ing their lodging-houses; and it was finally determined that the work should be done by the commission, and the owners sued for the costs. Sundry official complaints made by Mr. Porter, the medi cal officer of the East London Union, as to the bad condi tion, in sanitary respects, of houses in Thompson's-reats, Bishopsgate, were ordered to be referred to the inspector, with directions that the works required should be forthwith completed. Messrs. Powell attended to object to the filling up of u portion of Whitefriars-dock, that insufferable nuisance, on the ground of interference with their right of landing on the spot. The consideration of the questioa was postponed. The scavenging contractors, W. Sinnott and E. Reddin, were fined, the former 121., the latter forty shillings, for neglect of their duty as to the cleansing of certain streets. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY. The following report upon the important question re specting the Electric Telegraph Companies' right to take ap pavement in the public streets, without being subjected to the control of the comm i ss i oners, wu read : . - Gentlemeo,—l beg to lay before you a notice I have re ceived from the European and American Electric Tele graph Company, of their intention to open the pavements, and lay down pipes beneath the public ways of Cornhill, Poultry, Princes-street, Muorgato-street, Finsbury-place, and Finsbury Pavement." " The route intended for the wires of this company appears to me to be objectionable, inasmuch as ' the line is already occupied on one side of the way by the wires of another company, and the other side is pro posed to be occupied by the wires of the Magnetic Tele graph Company. Two sets of wires in the same street, or the same aide of a street, may lead at a future day to con fusion, and may cause an undue amount of opening of the pavements in one particular line of thoroughfare. I beg to submit, therefore, as a convenient line, the north side of Cornhill, the western side of Princes-street, and the eastern side of Coleman-street and Little Moorfields, and the south side of Ropemaker-street to the City boundary. I think' that in all cases the wires should be laid beneath the foot way, that the paying. should be laid by your contractor, ' and charged to the company in the usual manner ; and that upon those conditions only should you consent to the wires being laid beneath the parings of your jurisdiction. I beg now to call your attention to the fact, that this company gives notice of their intention to open the pavements and lay down wires, instead of asking the consent of the commis sioners, as the other companies do. The contractor fee the wire laying, whom I have seen, states that the powers of their act render application unnecessary. He also states his willin?ness to employ the masons and parlors of the oommissioners to relay the parings, provided they will do the work at prices which he consents to, otherwise that it is his intention to relay the parings himself. I sub mit that it is imnortant that your honourable court should at once ascertain the precise powers of this company, and whether or not it is enabled to depart from the usual form and rules by which the other companies are bound.—W. HAYWOOD, StineyOr." Another report from the surveyor to the commission, In reference to an application made by the Magnetic Telegraph Company to lay down wires in the carriage way of Fins bury-place, South Moergate-street, Lothbury, and Throg morton-street, to No. 10, Broad street, was also read. Mr. Deputy Lorr complained of the perpetual disturb ance of the streets, and it was eventually agreed that the court did not approve of the line proposed by the European and - American Telegraph Company, and required the com pany to adopt the line recommended by the surveyor. Several works of improvement in widening streets were ordered to be carried into execution. The court having received a copy of rules for the control of cow-houses in the city, adjourned. WAGES OP IN BEE MAnrry's - - DOCKYARD, DEVONPORT.—A meeting of the working shipwrights in her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, was held at the Temperance Hall, in that town, on Monday evening. The chair was taken by Mr. Cripps, and the hall was crowded with artisans. The object of the meeting was to petition the Lords of the Admiralty for an increase of wages, and the following is a copy of the petition agreed to To the Hon. Lords Commissioners of the Admi ralty, the humble petition of the shipwrights employed in her Majesty's dockyard at Devonport most humbly sheweth : That your petitioners are labouring under disad vantages which, if brought under your lordships' notice, would , they believe, lead your lordships to take them into most favourable consideration. Your petitioners would beg to show that they are now in receipt of wages at 4s. per day, whilst shipwrights in the merchant service arc in receipt of from 64. to 7s. per day. Your petitioners believe that they are called on to be equally responsible far the performance of their work, and are in all cases to be as arduous in their engagements, and as respectable in life as those of their fellow mechanics who are working in the merchant service. Your petitioners would, therefore, humbly beg your lord ships' kind consideration of their statements, and humbly pray that your lordships may see fit to increase the wages of your petitioners, to place them on an equal footing with mechanics of the same calling out of govern ment employ.—And your petitioners will ever pray, &e." After the above petition had been received, a discussion arose as to the mode of transmitting it to the Admiralty board ; a few argued that it should be presented through the master shipwright, Mr. W. Edye, and the commodore superintendent ; but the majority were in favour of sending the petition direct to their lordships, through the repre sentatives of the borough, H. Tufnell, Esq., and Sir 0. Berkeley, which it was determined to do. A committee was appointed, which the chairman said would remain in office, until either the prayer of the petition was granted, or their grievances were laid on the table of the House of Commons. Tkree cheers were given for the petition, three more for the Queen, and the meeting separated. BRITISH PERMANENT BUILDING AND BRITISH PIikKANANT LAND COMPANIES.—The inauguration dinner of these new companies took place on Monday, at the Belvidere Tavern, Pentonville ; George Thompson, Esq., one of the trustees, presided. Seieral speeches were made by Mr. Thompson, Mr. Farmer (chairman of the board of directors), Mr. J. K. Dow, and Mr. Henry Brooke (the secretary), from which it appeared that the above companies are just now commencing operations, upon the principles of the previous British Building and Investment Companies, which, during a period of seven years, enrolled more than 3,000 members, receiving upwards of 90,0001., and pur chased 300 houses in different parts of the kingdom, for their shareholders, at whose desire the above new companies have been established, with improvements suggested by the experience of the previous societies. The health' of the various officers were drunk with goodwill and suitably ac knowledged. PROPOSED RAILWAYS THROUGH KILBURN. A public meeting of the inhabitants and owners of property in Kilburn and its vicinity was held on Mot day evening, at the Red Lion Inn, Kiiburn, to take into won denition the intended application to parliament for the for- I mation of certain lines .4 railway to pass throuh the above locality, and to adopt means for protecting the in terests of the inhabitants, lauded and house proprietors. THOMAS PAUL, Esq., presided. Mr. Saes moved the following resolution : " That &com mittee be formed to watch the progress of the hills now be lure parliament, for power to make railroads Wrung' Kil burn and its vicinity, and, if necessary, to oppose the same for the protection of the interests of the inhabitants, land and house owners, with power to add to the number." The scheme which it was most necessary for them to watch was the Great Western and City Junction, which took in forty-two houses; if this number of dwellings were removed, the tradespeople of the district would be great sufferers. There could be no doubt of the necessity of this line, as it would be a direct communication to the city and , docks, and thus be a saving to many of the London parishes through which all the heavy traffic had passed. He had advocated the station at Kilburn, and they had got one, , but very few trains stopped at it, and ho trusted that u; is the proposed line greater convenience ana of tran sit would be afforded to the inhabitants of Kilburn. (Hear, bear. It should be at once ascertained from the directors whether it wee their intention to place a station at Kil burn, and also the exact number of houses it would be ne cessary to remove, in order that the interests of the inhab itants might be protected. (Hear, hear.) It was to be hoped that the viaduct would be of an ornamental charac ter. It was must desirable that all those ends should be attained by amicable means, but if ne cessary for the proper protection of the inhabitants further measures would be had recourse to. (Hiar, hear.) The resolution was seconded by Mr. Haddington, and c.vried unanimously, and the following gentlemen were na.med on the committee--Mr. Paul, Mr. Skeet, Dr. Carter, and Mr. Hadkinson. Dr. CARTE@ said the several points which he wished to urge u i 'mn the attention of the meeting as connected with the inteivats of the inhabitants and owners of property in Kilburn, were embodied in the following resolution, which he begged !erre to move " That such committee do endea vour to obtain compensation for those parties in the village that will be iinjured by the construction of the proposed witl:out, if possible, resorting to opposition in parliament, and also to get the viaducts over the roads so designed and placro as to be of the least possible injury or inconvenience to those residing in the village or its vicinity who may not be strictly entitled to compensation under the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act." Mr. J. llootEr seconded ilaTresolutkin, which wu car ried unanimously. It was then moved by Mr. GOODCIiAP and seconded by Mr. HADKINSON, swil carried unanimously—.• fhat the commi•tee be authorised to get inserted in the proposed act of the Great Western and Eact and West India Dock Junc tion scheme a clause making it compulsory for that company to have a passenger station at Kilburn, for the accommoda tion of the public to and from Paddington, and also to and from the East and West India Dock line, and to approve of the proposed bite for such station." _ ' . A . voie of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro ceedings. WESTMINSTER FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY. Llst evening a public meeting for extending a knowledge of the objects and eregreu of this society was held at the Assembly Rooms, Portniati Arms, Milton -street, Dorset-square J A. NICUULAY, Esq , in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the mectiug, said lie had cheerfully accepted the levitation to preside from a desire to promote the interest of freehold land societies generally, Approving as he did of the principles on which this so ciety was founded, and the character of its management and the committee, he commended it to the confidence of the meeting. He believed Mar while the attainment of the county franchise by skilled inechanf s in large towns was of great political and national importance, these gave to the saving and industrious man a greater amount of interest and better security than any benefit societies or savings banks could offer. They were not restricted to an sect, but its benefits were open to all parties. lie conc l u d e d by urging on those present the importance and advantage of joining these societies. Mr. kitiOtlETT, the Secretary, entered at length into the history and progress of these societies and the principles upon which the IVestminster Society was conducted. Five estates had been purchased, all of which bad yielded great advantages to the members, and showed an average profit of nearly one huedred per cent. on the capital invested, viz. :—Kent Town Estate (previous to allotment) from 31. to 51; Holuisdale Estate (ditto) from 31. to 71.; Long Ditton Estate (ditto) from 31. to 51.; Kilburn Estate (ditto) from 71. to 201. The plots them selves, after allotment, have obtained the following premiums : Kent Town estate, front 71. to 211. premium ; Holmadale estate, from 61. to 101. ditto ; Long Dittos estate, from 311. to 641. ditto. Tho number of voters, in resptct of property, obtained through this society, was in creasing, and must continue annually to increase. In addi tion to the fifty-two members who have had the opportunity of voting at the late West Surrey election, there are, this year, placed on the list of voters, and unobjected to, four teen more members for the Kent Town property, and ele ven for the Dolmsdale estate. The result of the purchase of this latter estate would be the political emancipation of the borough of Reigate. One feature of this society as distinguished from some others, was, that a separate fund was kept for the expense of management, and every member's pass-book showed what amount he contributed to that fund, and how much he had paid towards the purchase of his land. The society had resisted the temptation of adopting the plan of advancing shares by lottery, and still continued to make advances in the order of rotation. He denounced the lottery system as baneful in its tendency, and believed that a man who won his allot ment by chance might dispose of it for much less than its value not having previously possessed himself of a know ledge of its real worth, while by the rotation system be was enabled to ascertain the time at which he would be entitled to an allotment—make himself acquainted with its situa tion and value, and by such knowledge make arrangements for the most profitable use of it, either by preparing to build thereon, to let it advantageously or other wise dispose of it. He then illustrated the work ing of the Society by the following statement:— He had been paying on four shares 12s. a fortnight since September, 1849, which shares would be advanced in re spect of four plots at Kilburn this month, paying upon these shares previously to allotment fur three and a half years. The plots would, upon a reasonable calculation, let within one year and a half, or five years from the time of commencing to pay for them. The payment on the four shares, including expenses, was 181.8 s. a year, or 821. in the fire years. The average cost of the plots being 501., the four plots would cost 2001. Twelve and a half years' sub scription would produce 2051., being the cost of the land and law expenses. If in five years from the commencement of payment each plot lets at a ground rent of 64. a year, it will produce 241. a year during seven and a half years of the time of subscribing, or 1801. more than the payments during that time. At the period of the subscriptions being completed the land will have cost only 251. more than had been received in ground rents, and would leave him in polemics of an income of 241, a year in perpetuity. Some questions intense( been answered and members en rolled, the thank* of the meeting were voted to the chair man, and the meeting separated. VOTES FOR FREEHOLDS. TO THE EDITOR OP TEE EXPRESS. Sru,—Can you find space to inform your readers that those of them who have previously to yesterday, Jan. 31, become possessed of freehold property, or in the receipt of rents or profits thereof, will be entitled to be placed on the register for the county, if they make a legal claim be fore the 20th of July.—Yours, obediently, OEO. lIUGGETT. 1 4, Beaufort-buildiege, Strand, Feb. 1, 1833. A FAMILY SUFFOCATED.—On Friday morning great excitement prevailed in Springburn, a village to the north of Glasgow, by the intelligence that • family, con sisting of the mother and four children, were found suf focated in bed. The father, John Burns, a labourer, em ployed on the night shift of the Springburn Colliery, left his dwelling house in Fyfe's land, about halt past five o'clock on Thursday evening, to follow his nightly occupation, at which time his wife and children were in their ordinary state of health. On his return from his employment, be tween eight and nine o'clock on Friday morning, he en deavoured to enter his house as usual, but was astonished to find the door fastened., and to bear no noise of any person within. He knocked at the door repeatedly, but re ceiving no answer, he became alarmed as to something being wrong. He than proceeded to look in at the window, and, in doing so he heard the low moanings of his wife. He then quickly forced an entrance by the window, and the poor man had the misery of finding his wife and four children lying in a state of insensibility. He communicated the painful intelligence to some of his neighbours, who came to his assistance, and were not long in discovering that one of the children, • boy about eight years of age, was quite dead. Dr. Walker, of Castle-street, was as soon after as possible in attendance on the living and pronounced that the boy died froth suffocation, caused by noxious air. The woman was too ill to be able to give any account which might lead to an idea of the manner in which the fatal effluvia had been generated. The fire was completely extinguished in the morning, but it is suppostd that a large fire composed of impure coal had been left burning when the family retired to bed, and the house not being well ventilated, led to the melancholy catastrophe.— North Brigid' Mai'. KINGSTON-By-SEA.—A "JOSE!" AND In END.— On Friday night, the 21st inst., between eleven and twelve o'clock, when the servant maid at the Kingston Inn wentto one of the bedrooms she discovered that two men, named John Benson and Thomas Ambridger, had secreted them selves there, one under the bed and the other behind the door. Upon giving the alarm, assistance was immediately at hand, and the intruders secured. They were the next morning taken before the magistrate at Steyning, and remanded till Monday, the 24th, when they were com mitted to Petworth Gaol, Benson for one week, and Am bridger, who was very abusive, for three weeks. Their ' defence was that they only did it for a joke. We hope they will not look upon their punishment as a joke, and be in clined to practice such jokes again when set at liberty.— Susses /Stress.