The Express. — London, England, 1853-12-26 00:00:00

LATEST FROM ABROAD. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. ItESCIIIDB PACIIA'S APPLICATION FOIL RISH IT AND FRENCH AID. The subjoined is a translation of a formal and axial note transmitted on the .ith instant to Lord Stratford de ltedclitfe and General Baraguay d'Hil lin by lteschid , tt It was announced to the ambassadors some days a go, by an effieial note, that Russian ships of war M 1 been seen cruising in the vicinity of Sinope. The Tad steamer has just arrived from that locality, and l; rtsu.ts fruits the report of the captain that on Wednesday last, 29th Sepher (November 30) three R u ssian 3-deckers, two 2-deckers, and two frigates entered the port of Sinope, and attacked a division of the Otioinan fleet anchored there, and consisting of 6 frigates and 3 corvettes. "Although the result of the action is not yet known, considering the situation of our ships and the superior force of the enemy, it is presumed that a rest disaster has ensued. The English and French fleets have been sent to the Bosphorus with the sincere intention of protect ing the shores of the Ottoman empire. This recent occurrence proves sufficiently, that it is the determi nation of Russia to attack by means of her fleet those points against which operations may be best directed. The impossibility, however, of defending so vast an extent of coast without a sufficient force in the Black Sea is perfectly evident ; and although the Sultan's government has the intention of sending thither the fleet, it will be inadequate to the object in view. " Hence, the Sublime Porte considers itself under the necessity of having recourse to the effective soli citude of the two allied governments. This notifica tion is made accordingly and at the same time to the ambassadors of England and France. It bil yvvel 4." "RESCMD. BERLIN, Dec. 23. The Prussian C'urrr.pnulenrr states that the allied Heats have catered the Black Sea to protect the Otto man coast against any attacks by the Russian fleets. The Correspondence adds that already at a former period, the English government had informed the Russian Cabinet that the allied fleets would enter immediately after tho first attack of the Russians against the ports of Turkey. The Wartekrer of Vienna states that the last des patches from Constantinople announce the determi nation of the Porte to carry on the war to the last extremity. The Pres,. of Vienna has telegraphic news from Hermaaostadt confirming the reported f►ilure of the Russian attack upon Nlatitchio. Tito Russian bulletin of the bottle of Ougasti, in respect of which (kneral Bebutoff claims a ♦ictory over Abdi Pacha, has been published. The general admits that ho lost :117 killed, of whom 9 are offi cers, and 795 wounded, among whom is Prince Orbslian. TIIE OVERLAND MAIL. (Di SCIIMAIIINI AND ID:IOPDAN TILEGRAPII MARSEILLES, SATURDAY. The India and China Overland Nlnil arrived at this port at LiCIOCk this morning. THE WAR. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. fere." A correspondent of the hidelpentlasam Bilge, writing from Paris on Dec. 22, affirms that, on the news of Lord Palmerston 's resignation, Louis Napoleon caused a strong note to be written to the English government piainly stating that the Eastern question had now arrived at such a point that any hesitation, any compromise, was out of the question, and request ing to be infortred categori ally whether the English government would elect to abandon Turkey or to suppert her openly and effectually in the present struggle. Despatches, believed to be of official character, and announcing the entry of the fleets into the Black Sea, were received at Vienna and Constantinople on Friday evening. Whether this news is premature, as it was on two precious occasions, or is destined to be coofirmcd, the semi-official announcements which have been made on the subject, reduce the question to one of a day or two more or lees of delay. The assumed entrance of the French and English fleets into the Black Sea is very variously regarded both by the public and in the press. The Indjpen dance Beige says of it :—" This does not mean war, for it is very certain that on both sides a collision will be avoided. The Russian fleet at any rate will not expose itself to an unequal combat where Sinope would be acted over again to its lots. The Russian fleet will remain at Sebastopol, and whatever may be said in England there is no probability of the squadrons going to seek it there. the entrance of the squadrons into the Black Sea will not then lead to a sanguinary col lision, and if we are to accept the declarations made by the Austrian Correspondence, this move ment of the fleets is not even to be considered as a hostile demonstration made by Fence and England against Russia. At the sauce time the presence of the fleets in the Black Sea does not seem calculated to dispose Russia to show itself more willing to accept the propositions which have lately been made from Vienna. To see hie fleet virtually blockaded in the port of Sebastopol may not only shock the self-love of the Czar, he will also be exposed to see the Black Sea made navigable to his enemy's fleets, Turkey sending reinforcements, munitions, and pro visions, not only to its own troops, but also to the Cite:winos, all of which he will doubtless think very improper. We cannot suppose that the ambassadors and admirals of the two powers can have required the Porte, as a condition of the presence of the fleets in the Black Set, to renounce the sending of succours to the army of Asia, whatever may be the course of events. The state of things which might easily follow such an agreement would, perhaps, be worse for Turkey than the risks to which she would be ex in the Black Sea, when seeding succours to ra s t e ctn. The allied fleets, then, do not enter the Black Sea to make it a neutral lake, on which nei ther of the belligerent parties may navigate with warlike intent. This movement of the squadrons, therefore, without being of a nature to hinder the renewal of negotiations, seems to us still further to complicate the question." A Spanish officer of rank who was with Omer Pacha throughout the late campaign on the Danube, says that the operations at Oltenitza had for object to prevent the Russian army from concentrating and crossing the river at one point, and, at the same time, to divert their attention, in order to secure the passage of Widdin and to fortify Kalafat, a point which will be maintained by the Turks as extremely important, and as the common basis of operations. This they have succeeded in. This same gentleman states that the withdrawal to the right bank of the Danube was, in his judgment, rendered imperative by the advance of the season, and was an act of generalship. It appears by letters from Bucharest that by the new appointment to the administrative council of Wallachia, which the Czar has just made, in defiance of law and treaty, he has secured a majority of votes in that body, which will henceforth register his ukase,. Doubtless he hopes that the one illegal act will soon be forgotten, while as often as he violates the rights of the country, he will be able to nlead the votes of its native council. While such is the !mirage held in Belgium, the Juiiriiid dc Frase furl, which receives commu nications on the Eastern question directly or indi rectly from the Austrian Cabinet, takes a very diffe rent view of the event discussed by its Belgian 110atempomry Tic cusubtrad &eta, it say!, in resolving to oppose say attack against the Turkish fleets, must necessarily prevent the Turks from undertaking in the Black Sea soy naval demonstration which can lead ts reprisals, or induce the Russians to prevent any such demonstration. Any other manner of acting would be not only a ease of war, but war itself. Now, can it be possible that at the very moment at which the Cabinets of Londen aed Paris are acting by notes and projects of arrangement, force of arms will he employed in the Black Sea? We it's not- think it. We believe only that the news of the defeat sustained by the Turkish naval forces must have contributed to increase the escitennnt which prevails at Constantinople. The sending of the combined fleets into the Black Sea is an ea in then: for calming, as tar an possible, the indignation and writs:ion of the capital. It was, perhaps, necessary to re move the fleets in order to find at Constantinople a field accessible to notes. We do not desire t, pretend thereby that the situation is not a difficult one, bat the firm deter mination to maintain peace is fur us a guarantee that the combined squadrons are destined to prevent the continua. lion of the war in the Black Sea, but in nowise to take part in the hostilities against the Russian fleet. The Wanderer of Vienna says : " A letter from Bucharest of the 13th, states that the Boyards having refused to furnish lodgings to the troops, and on the other hand the officers and men having complained of not haring been properly treated, M. de Hosetti has published a notice declaring that, in case of any , further refusal being made, the police would inter- ----• The Lloyd of Vienna says: "According to a letter from Belgrade of the 1311 i, Izzet I'acha, the com mandant of the fortress, died on the previous day." The llanalatry .11'etes, under date of Warsaw 18th, says: " Some of the Russian troops quartered in Poland have received orders to march. This order applies to a part of the first corps of infantry uniftr the command of General Paniwin, which is to march through a part of the west of 'he empire. The force of the army of occupation of Poland is 4:1,000 troops of the line, and 24,000 men in garrison is the dif ferent towns and fortresses." The Silesian Gazette contains a letter from War saw of the 14th, which says: During the present mouth a levy of 86,000 mss has been effected in the kingdom, bring Bto every 1,000. Generally only one levy takes place in the m. nth of November. or in that of December. but this year three have been two, the first in the night of November 24, sad the other in the night of December 8. In the government of Warsaw the I number of men raised has been 5300, and amongst them a I, number of men who are married and fathers of families. I All these recruits are intended tor the army of the Caucasus, with the reception of a small number who are to be sent to ' the fleet tat the Black Sea. The place of reedezvous is Kiew, where the recruits are to remain until the spring. The number of troops of the line in the kingdom is nut con siderable, as at Warsaw, Modelin, Deaiblin, end Jainme, there are only 30,000 men, and iu the other governments not more than 12,000. A part of Paniutin's corps has sat out for the west. The regiments are employed a matches and counter-marches in :he governments of the I west, that being the system adopted by the cabinet of St. Petersburg to terrify the populations. 'I he troops of the ' line which have left the country have been replacad by b ittaliors of veterans, amounting in all to 24,000 men. The Patrie says positively tke Russians lost at Sinope a 91) gun vessel, the Jagondih, of which no mention is made in the St. Petersburg reports. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1853 sentinel, who immediately rushed towards the man, and was about to seize him, when ti,e ruffian fired another pistol, the ball from which weunded the sentinel in the right foot. He was obliged therefore to discontinue the pursuit. The discharge of the pistol brought out the soldiers of the post, but thoy were unable to discover the aggressor. The sentinel's wound is fortunately slight. From the returns just published by the Moniteur it appears that the receipts of the Customs' duties for the month of November amounted to 12,133,961 E, being 1,189,-164E more than in the corresponding month of 1832, and 2,942,180 f. more than in Novem ber 1831. The receipli of the first eleven months amounted to 128,533,300 E, being an increase of 2,20:.023f. over the corresponding period of 1832, and of 21,123,841 f. over 1831. The amount for im port duties this year may be therefore calculated at about 141 millions, or about one million more than last year. BELGIUM. - 40 - The Journal de Francfort says :—" Some German journals have announced that instructions hnd been given to the superior officers of the Belgian Customs to put an end from the 31st inst. to the effects of the treaty of commerce now existing be•ween Belgium and the Zollverein. We can positively state that this statement is unfounded, and that no measure of the kind has up to this time been adopted by the Belgian government." SPAIN. - M. de Turgot, tho French Ambassador, was re covering on the 20th. M. Sartorius is now quite well. A royal decree, published in the Gazelle of the ltnh, gnes the force of law to the ministerial budget, although it has not been sanctioned by the Cortes. THE PENINSULAIt MAILS. • - The Oriental Company's steam packet Tagus, Cap tain It. K. Joy, arrived at Southautpton on Saturday night, and landed her mails under the charge of Lieut. E. P. Fuge, , Admiralty agent. Her dates are: Gibraltar, December 16; Cadiz, 17; Lis bon, 19; Oporto, nut able to communicate; Vigo, 20. Amongst her cargo was 4 packages of specie, value 1,1071. On the night of the 11th lust. and on the 12th and 13th it blew one of the heaviest gales from the S.W. anal W. that has been known for many years along the west coast of Spain and Portugal. The Tagus was detained in the river of the same same from the 11th until the 14th in consequence. No lighters able to come alongside, and several sank in attempt ing to do so. At Cadiz, the American ship Emblica, which sailed on the 10th for Boston, with a cargo of salt, put back on the 12th in so leaky a condition that they were obliged to strand her in the bay to prevent her sinking. In Gibraltar Bay, a barque and a brig were on shore on the neutral ground and several vessels in the bay much damaged in lards and masts. On the 18th instant off Cape Esptcher, passed a large ship, painted black with white boats, a full-length female, painted white, fur figure-head, attempting to beat into the Tagus, under stay-sails and tore-sail, having lost her topmasts, lower mast heads and jib-boom. Passed the Lure on the 19th, as we were coming out of the Tagus, just going in and showing a white ensign, also 2nd distinguishing pendant over 8320. Also a large black brig, with only a foremast standing, showing lit distinguishing pendant over 3267. There were rumours at Lisbon that the cholera had broken out on board the British fleet. These rumours are supposed to have originated with the party in Portugal with whom the re-appearance of the British fleet in the Tagus is very . unpopular. There was not the slightest foundation for the rumours. . At anchor off Belim—The General Screw steamer Natal, having put in to the Tagus on the 17th, with loss of furs and m.,inmasts. At Gibraltar—Her Majesty's ship 'Vesuvius. In the Tagus—Rer Majesty's ships Prince Regent, Duke of We!.... Arrogant, Amphion, Imptrieuse, ILsperite, Valorous. Tribune, Cruiser, and Odin. The St. Jean d'Acre strived from Plymouth on the 18th—in qtrirantine when the Tagus left. Our correspondent writes: LISBON, Dec. 19. The Cortex met on the 15th, pursuant to adjournment, when a lung communication was read from the King Regent, informing them of the death of the Queen, his assuraptien of the re g ency, his having taken the rescribed oath, and determining to meet them on the 19th to ratify that oath. After the formalities usual on such an occasion were di'- posed of, a deputation was appointed to condole with the King and the King Regent, and proceeded to the palace for that purpose, accompanied by all the members present. The King Regent has made his first essay ; and whether well ur ill advised, time will show. Ile has made not only .a attack upon the liberty of the press, but upon the right of protest. It appears that some time age, the Chamber emitted certain opinions regarding the patronage of the church in Asia; the Nara* took up the matter, and pro tested against the opinions emitted, which the Minister of Janice el osifies as political hostility. The litoolucian was in a similar position some time ago, upon another subject, but no attempt was made to interfere with the right it then exercised, and which the Nacao has now exercised ; and although part of the opposition press was adverse to the course the Nacao took, yet it claims for., the party of which that paper is the organ the right now exer cised, but for which it is prosecuted, it being understood to have been the desire to have prosecuted 111,000 persons, the number who signed the protest, but the Attorney-General refused to cite such a number. It is also understood that daring the life of the Queen the ministers were con stantly pestering her to the course now adopted, but she said, "They are friends of my uncle Michael; let them alone." The Regent, however, has fallen into the error—if error it be—of alienating a whole party, who on a recent death, laying aside all political feeling, condoled with the head of the State. The present proceeding then, on the part of the government, can only be viewed as an unnecessary act of hostility; and this too at a time when, entering on a new era, a society or party is beginning to rear its bead which has; the talismanic word " Iberia" for its motto, and is coming into existence in a somewhat simi lar form to that known as " Die tugend Bond," in the time of Napoleon, which had for its object the deliverance of Germ a ny. There are 77 separate proceedings against the Nacao ;: it was hoped that instead of this course the Regent would have endeavoured to steer clear of all extreme parties, ant turned his attention to the improve ment of the country and the colonies. The Cortes having met, one of its first objects must be the consideration of the finances en account of the falling off of the revenue. There appears a slight prospect of a reconciliation between the gov•rnment and the Bank, it being said that proposals have been made to that end. Admiral Curry's squadron is to go to ma on a cruise on the 22nd, leaving the Odin and Valorous in the Tagus. Beetling', frl ; discount of cotes, 21 per cent. COSILY OF A Mugs PROSECUTION HETtina.a.. _ Monday last, at the Yorkshire Winter Assizes, Mr. Overend asked the judge (Mg. Justice Coleridge) it he would all iw the costs of the promotion in some cases against poachers concerned in affrays at Temple Newsom and Harewood. The learned judge replied in the negative, observing that he thought it untair to saddle the county with the expenses of cases of this description. Instead of the county being galled upon to vindinte the law, It rested more properly upon the gentlemen whose lands had been entered, as by preserving their game in such large quantities they held out a strong temptation to poachers to pursue their law less avocations. The proprietors of the preserves in Instances of this description induced poachers to enter their property, and therefore the, ought to bear the re sponsihilitits and expenses of maintaining the game laws. His lordship said he had consulted with Mr. Justice Wightman on the subject, and he had expressed a similar cipini , m. He roust, therefore, not allow the costs of the prosecution is either ease. SUICIDE ON BOARD A STEAMER. —A melancholy and disastrous occurrence, calculated to give rise to most painful feelings, occurred on board the Laurel steamer during the passage on Friday night from Glasgow to Bel fast. From the monist of the occurrence which has reached u 4, it appears that a person who has attained some notoriety for keeping a house of an abandoned character in Queen-street, engaged passages from Glasgow for six or seven unfortunate young females on the occasion referred to. During the course of the voyage the party indulged rather freely in wine, and their conductor, perhaps appre hi oiling that some accident might occur, succeeded in in ducing them all to retire for the night, with the exception of one of the femal. a, named Elizabeth Nixon, belonging, it is said, to Holywood. She had been in the cabin saloon for some time, and in consequence, it would seem, of re peered requests that she should go to rest like her corn , pinions, she went on deck between eleven and twelve I o'clock, while the vessel was off Ailsa Craig. She was foi llowed un deck by the female who had the patty in charge, and while the latter was requesting the intervention of an American gentleman who was on deck, in order to induce 1 her to go below, she suddenly caught hold of a portion of the rigging at that part of the vessel, and flung herself overboard into the sea. The vessel at the time was going at full speed, and all exertions to rescue the unfortunate creature, who thus met an untimely and premature end, were entirely leuitless.—Northerti 1111. WATERFORD AND KILKENNY RAlLWAY.—Traffin return for the week ending Dec. 17, 1843:-1561. Gs. Bd. ; (29 miles open). Corresponding week, 1842, 461.75. 741. (13 miles open). AMERICA. NEW YORK, Disc. 10. The President has deliver& his message, and it proves, as was anticipated, an ext. emely peaceful one, wholly anti-fillibuster, and highly conservative; atisfactory to the genera l p u bli c , without eliciting much excitement., The Secretary of the Treasury has propounded his new tariff measure, which is on the whole favourable to an extended free trade; though it is more protective than at first blush ap pears, inasmuch as while it abolishes the taxes on all imported raw materials of manufacture, while it only reduces the tax on imported mauutactured goods per cent., from 30 to 25, at the same time it raises ahem up to 25—such as cotton manu. factures and others whereon only a duty of 15 or 20 per cent. is now payable. On silk, the duty of 15 per cent. on the raw staple is to be taken off, while the several duties of 15 and 20 and 25 per cent. on the various stages of its manufacture drill be more uniform at 23 per cent. This certainly is not a step much in favour of free trade, but is highly protective to our growing silk industry. The change is one highly favourable however to our manufacturers, and as such will be favourably received. As the democrats are in full power M both houses of Congress, this mea- sure of the administration will doubtless be passed; especially as numerous Whigs will support it. The measure has many incidental advantages: it si ,mplifies the levying Of duties greatly, and will re duce the expenses of their collection. There arc to be only three schedulev. A free list of articles enu merated ; a list of enumerated articles, comprising brandies and other spirits, of cent, per cent.; and a list not enumerated, comprising every article not enumerated in the other two lists, of articles paying 23 per cent. duty. The following is a list of articles which have llsitberto poid a duty, but which the Secretary of the Treasury now proposes to udmit free: Amount Amt. duty Names of Articles. Imported. yielded. Dols. Dols. Anemic ,3.3 Barks wed for imdieina awl tu ning 318,000 Brimstone Backs Matiegany, and all ornamental wood mid tiri.wo•al Brazil woods, other dyewoods in ii,icks Cochineal Codislla or hemp of tow or Ilea, • t. Cream of tartar 311,000 Engraving., etching, or plate Flassetd and linseed Hatters' furs Hair 348,000 India rubber 631,000 In iv) 1,281,000 Ivory Linens 8,897,317 Oils of palm, cocoanut, and olive „ 45.5,000 Raw hides and skins of all kinds .--- and in all conditions It.tgs Salt Saltpetre and potash Raw silk 712,000 Spices of all ktr.tk Steel bars, cast shear or German Tin, in plates or sheets Tin, in pigs 721,000 Watches and parts of watches 3,217.000 Zinc, ape lter or teutenenne Wines, except champagne and adul t, rated wines 2,111.000 - Opium '316,000 Sulphate of quinine 223,000 Soda ash Wool worth los than 10 cents per pound 141'011.0 ELM 1853. Value. Dols. Woollens Cott.ons • Ilimpen goods 479,171 Iron and manufacture et 27,015,364 Sugar Kemp 329.122 Snit 100,09,432 Coal 47,720 29,000 141,700 92,600 17,000 41,000 78,000 60,000 lo;000 64,000 162,000 35:000 63,060 120,000 1,.0J0 1,700,000 80,000 201,000 Duty. 7, 5 14,530 6,658,337 95,831 8,104,609 4,49i,333 98,737 211,886 147,003 Torsi, doll►r► 193,462,609 27,337,269 The charges are to be made to take effect only from the Ist January,lBs4. On other subjects there is a great barrenness of topic. There is nothing in the political horizon indi cative of excitement. The President's message seems to operate as a sedative, and the talk of the Washington Union, and one or two other of our newspapers, respecting the Africanizing of Cuba by Great Britain is at a discount. No reply has been attempted to the statement in Lord Howden's letter to Mr. Corbin, received by the Europa. Domestic matters also are very quiet. Congress will not commence business in earnest till after New Year's day, there being nothing urgent. Business is very quiet. The Californian trade has been over done. Many clippers and other ships have been withdrawn from this line,: owing to the scarcity of cargoes. Many failures of merchants engaged in shipping to San Francisco have occurred, and Cali fornia credits are in disfavour. The market for bread stuffs exhibits no decline, in consequence of the Niagara's advices, but are sustained from the scanti ness of stocks and the high rate of sterling ex change. Our Money Market is growing quietly, but steadily easier, and rates have a downward tendency. Prime grades of bills receivable, of desirable dates, are negotiated freely at ten per cent., and other de scriptions at 12 to 13. Our stock market is steadily improving. Confi dence is growing again ; and the advances to the west for bringing forward produce are beginning to be returned to us in Wall-street. Our railway in terest continues the most depressed, being most in want of money, and being also unable, like other in terests, to contract their obligations and contracts suddenly within the altered state of the money mar ket as compared with that when they contracted their engagements. GERMANY. -4-- A letter from Freiburg (Baden), of the 18th, states that the Jesuit missionaries have been ordered by the authorities to leave the place within a week. A similar order was issued about a month ago, and withdrawn by the Regent, in the hope that the parties concerned would profit by the indulgence, which, however, they seem to have abused. FRANCE. - • - PARIS, SUNDAY ETTNINO. Up to this hour it is not known in Paris whether the fleets aro actually in the Black Sea or not. The Constitutiwinel says no uflicial account of their entry had been received last night, but that the announce ment will, doubtless, soon be made, and at the same time the part they are to play there will be stated. This is generally construed as a confirmation of the now received opinion that Louis Napoleon, after much hesitation, has at length resolved to take a decided part against Russia. A telegraphic despatch of pretentious import has been received in Paris to-day. While the Western Powers have not only withheld mate rial assistance from Turkey, but have thwarted the measures which the Divan desired to take in self-de fence, the Czar has stirred up the Shah of Persia to undertake a serious diversion, which has occasioned a counter movement ou the part of our army in India. Peace is not now a matter of choice. We must either light at once to maintain our position in the van of civilization, or we shall be reduced to light at no short delay for our hearths and our home!. Although it has been stated, with every appear ance of authenticity, that the order to the fleets to enter the Black Sea was forwarded on the 10th, the Steele now gives the 13th u the date. On this as sumption it is calculated that the order cannot have reached Constantinople before the 20th. Notwithstanding the double holiday—Sunday and Christmas Day—the little Bourse assembled in the Passage de l'Opera, though not in very great force. A little business was done at from 74f. 10e. to 74f. 20e. The closing price yesterday was 7.1 f. 40c. PARIS. SATURDAY EVENINO. The Patrie in its " latest news" calls especial at tention to an article in the Independence Belye, stating that the Emperor has distinctly called upon the English government to say whether it means to abandon Turkey or not, observing that the statement will be received with a feeling of the utmost satis faction. It has never doubted, the Patrie observes in triumphant tone of self-gratulation, that the French government—which has taken in hand in the Levant the cause of humanity and violated trete ties—would adopt at the proper time a deci sion worthy of France. The massacre of Sinope, it goes on to say, which has no precedent in the darkest pages of the Lower Empire, has had an immense effect upon all Europe. It creates a new position, and new duties for all civilised nations. Although the Patrie has very often been wrong, I cannot help attaching importance to this paragraph. However the writers of this journal may sometimes be allowed to speak at random in leading articles. I know that the " latest news" often emanate directly from ministers, and are the results of the dsy s counsel. The statement in the Independence, alluded to, is so serious, that if not true it must certainly be contradicted, and although the Patrie might lightly circulate a false report, I cannot think it would deliberately, after having had time for inquiry, hold this article up to admiration unless it had been authorised to do so. Although all the correspondence from London, Vienna, and Berlin, gives it as certain that the fleets have actually entered the Black Sea, we are still i without any positive despatch from Constantinople to that effect. The date of the alleged entry is not given in any of these despatches, and the observation still subsists that the latest known intelligence from Con- Istantinople, that of the 13th, makes no mention of the circumstance. The Bourse to-day was very undecided. At the opening there was a tendency to rise, but this was soon checked by the telegraphic despatch announ cing that Consols had fallen considerably. When later in the day Consols came with an improvement of Ith, there was a rally, and in the result the Hittite rose Vic. for the account, but fell 20c. for cash. Rail ways were very heavy, and almost all closed at lower prices, although not with any serious fall. The 3ftrniteur contains decrees nominating M. Troplong, First President of the Court of Cassation, President of the Senate for 1854; M. Nlesnard, First Vice-President of the Senate, and M. Drouyn de Lhuys. General Baragnay d'Hilliers, and General Count Itegnault de Saintlean-d'Angely, Vice-Presi dents. Other decrees nominate M. Billault, Presi ; dent of the Corps Legislatif for 1854, M. Schneider, l and M. Revell, Vice-Presidenta of the same body, and General Vest Vimeux, and M. Hebert, Questeurs. Marshal de St. Arnaud, Minister of War, is, by decree, dated yesterday, elevated to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. General Count Partunneaux has been appointed to the command of the cavalry of the army of Lyons is the room of General Morris, appointed to the cavalry committee. The Prefect of the Var has recommended the muni cipal councils in his department to diminish the taxed price of bread of second quality, and to compensate the bakers by petting an extra ratc upon first quality. At attempt to assassinate a sentry was made in Paris in the night of Thursday last. A " garde de Paris" on duty at the Corn-market saw a man ap proaching and called out " Qui vise!" The man fired a pistol, the ballot which passed near the head of the SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS ROYAL BENEroLENT SOCIETY. The committee of the above institution held their usual weekly meeting on Friday. We observed present Lord Hailtto, Capt. the lion. Francis Maude, R.N. ; Cape Chas. A. 11111011, R.N., C.D.; Capt. Lean, R.N.; Capt. West brook, It N. ; William Stuart, Esq. ; and Capt. Matthew Dixon, It N. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Fifty-five men lately belonging to various vessels shipwrecked on the coast were reported to have been relieved and forwarded to their homes during the week by the central office and honorary agents. The com mittee considered the cases of II widows and 14 orphans, 17 mariners applviog for help to restore their kit lost by ship wreck. and 5 fishermen applying fir relief on account of the wreck of their boats. Among the several eases 88/. 61. Bd. was awarded. The attention of the committee was called to the conduct of Captain Ludlow, cf the American ship Monmouth, in rescuing the survivor. of the crew and passengers of the ship Meridian, 1114 in number, from London, wrecked on the barren Island of Amsterdam, in the Indian Ocean, from whence he took them to the Mauritius. The following minute, proposed by Cautain Lean, R.N., seconded by Cap tain Barlow, C.B, R.N., was carried unanimously :— 1 That this committee view with feelings of admi ration the conduct of Captain Ludlow, of the Ame ' rican barque Monmouth, in standing off and on, for nine days, until he had rescued every sufferer, consisting of 104 persons, men and children, alive on the Island of Amsterdam, saved from the wreck of the Meridian, sod his benevolent care of them while on board hie ship, consider ing that the manner in which he exerted himself iu the cause of humanity does honour both to his character as a : sailor and a man, do, therefore, award the gold medal of this institution to him, accompanied by • copy of this minute. And as this tommittee have been given to under stand that it is proposed to move • subscription in the City to present a testimonial to Captain Ludlow, the secretary is authorised to communicate with the movers on the subject, that the award now made might be noticed at the head of the list of subscribers. GEOGRAPHICAL EXIIIIITION, LEICESTER- SQUARE. Mr. Wyld has enhanced the attractions of his practically useful exhibition of the model of the earth by adding thereto a well executed model, upon a large smile, of the Arctic regiora and a collection of t'ae costume s, arms, domestic utensils, and other articles, illustrative of the habits and social position of the Tuski, a people inha biting a point of country at the extreme north-west of As:a, between Cape Isfarth and Behring's Straits, and who are unknown almost even by name to the civilised world. Fur the several materials which compose this collection we are indebted to the expedition of the Plover, under Lieutenant Hooper, in 1848, a brother of whom, who was, we believe, himself one of the exploring party, wa- present at a private view at which we were admitted on Saturday, nod fainted some interesting explanations of the country of the Tuski, and of the people themselves. From his account it ap pears that the Tuski are an independent people—probably ut the Esquimau: family—robust, active and ingeni,us, the latter quality being sufficiently proved by many articles of dress, weapons, implements of the chase, and their dwel- hogs, in the form of one of which the room in which this portion of the exhibition takes place is fitted up. The crew of the Plover found them by no means unfriendly to Eur eptana in general, bet impressed with feelings of hued lity towards Russia, by whose territory their own is bounded. The country, it appears, abounds in reindeer, bears, foxes, and other animals usually found in those re gions, and also possesses some valuable mines of block lead, tome specimen' of which arc shown in the exhibition. Altogether the collection is extremely interesting, and proves at the present time a most appropriate addendum to the model of the great globe. GREAT FIRE AT ESHER. On Friday night one of the most extensive confla grations that have occurred in the county of Surrey for many years past, broke out in the Royal Paper Milo at Esher, the property of Mr. William McMurray. These male, which ara situated fifty or sixty yards from the South Western Railway. corer several acres of ground. The fire was first discovered at a quarter to ten o'clock on Friday night. A workman named Blake, in passing along, perceived a small body of fire in the second floor of a por tion of the premises termed the rag warehouse. This pert of the property was; only about forty feet wide ; but it ran the lull extent backwards of the whole structure, and contained several thousand tons weight of linen and other rags. Blake at once procured a pail of water, which he threw upon the fire and left the place, thinking that he had extinguished it; but almost immediately afterwards the flooring of the story over it gave way, and it became apparent that a fire of a very formidable character was burning up stairs. The man having raised an alarm, those who were at work at the time (about 12 or 14 in number) made a hasty retreat from the mills, and proceeded to call the engines, but before any assistance could arrive the flames took possession of every floor in the rag department, and as they rushed out of about 30 windows they made, noise equal to the fall of water from the adjoining mill-stream. From that part of the premise• the flames extended to an other range, red as the engine, beating houses, the hy draulic press houses, the weighing departments, the rooms in which the rags undergo the last process before being m►de into paper—in which eight steam engines were em ployed. From thence the work of destruction laid hold of the millwrights' and engineers' shops. A large number of engines speedily arrived. They were forthwith set to work from the mill-stream, and vast tor rents of water were thrown through the windows into the blazing pile in order to check tke flames. Myriads of sparks and sheets of flaming paper were carried by the high wind for miles over the surrounding gardens. At length the whole of the premises described as on fire, nearly 140 feet long, presented one tremendous sheet of flames. A build ing upwards of 150 feet, and t::ree stories higher, was also doomed to share the same fats as the other departments. This immense building contained nearly SO large windows, and the flames having entered by means of one of them, they fired the contents, consisting of many thousand tons weight of paper. Every one now looked upon the fire with fear and dismay, for so great was the heat that the men in charge of the engines could barely approach near enough to work without endangering their lives. The fire raged all night with little mitigation. The origin of the disaster is unknown. The buildings were insured in the County Fire-ofilee, but how much of the stock was insured could not be learned. SUNDAY, 6 P.Y. There still remains a vast body of flame in the ruins ; and as there are some hundred tons weight of rags and paper burning, there seems no chance of getting the coat igration entirely extinguished fur a day or so longer. The property destroyed will amount to a very serious sum ; by those bait competent to form an opinion, it is feared that the total loss will exceed 109,0001. Upwards of 20 persons will be thrown out of employment. INDICTMENT OF TWO FEMALES FOR SHOPLIFTING. At the Quarter Sessions for the Borough of Colchester, Mrs. &this Webb, of Great Bentley, and Mies Elisabeth Holby, of Thorpe, whose connexions are highly respectable, were indicted on several charges of shoplifting. The case excited the greatest interest, and during its hearing the court was crowded to an extent never equalled on any former occasion. _ _ Mr. Watford prosecuted, and Mr. Parry was specially retained for the prisoners. It appeared in evidence, that the prisoners went together to the Colchester Bazaar, on the 10th of this mouth, and made some trifling purc hases. Two pairs of stockings, two handkerchiefs, a pair of plush cuff., a quantity of velvet trimmings, and other articles, were missed by the prose cutor, having been stolen, and ware subsequently found concealed under the bed and mattress an the room kept for ladies on market days at the Sea Horse Inn. Mrs. Webb, it was proved, dined with her husband (a respectable frequenter of the market) on the same day ; but Miss Holby was not with them then. Upon the articles being found, Miss Holby exclaimed, " My sitter is innocent. I alone am guilty. I alone am responsible." She was very much affected. The articles having been produced end identified as the property of Mr. Marsden, the proprietor of the bazaar, Mr. Parry addressed the jury for the prisoners. He ob served that, with regard to one of them, he was extremely pained as to the course he was compelled to take, but, after the admi.sion she had made, it was impossible for hire to struggle against the fact, that in a moment of temptation, either der-sled by the finery of the establishment, or uncon scious for the moment of the consequences of what she was doing, she did commit an Act which must bring upon her some punishment. In a moment of agony, feeling the misery she had brought upon herself, and was likely to bring upon her sister, she confessed her guilt. The learned counsel then contended that Mrs. Webb had not committed a single set that looked like that of a guilty . woman, and het position, with t• e prospect of soots becoming a mother, was one that must cause the jury a greater anxiety to rescue her from the disgrace of having her first child born in a gaol. A number of witnesses having been called to character, The jury acquitted Mrs. Webb, and found Miss Hnlby 1 1 guilty, who wee sentenced to four months' imprisonment and hard labour in Springfield Gaol. A second indictment against the prisoners was with , drawn. THE COAL TRADE. - To such an extent has our coal industry been de veloped that at the present time not less than 37,000,000 of tons are annually raised, the value of which at the pit's mouth is little less than 10,000,0001.—at the places of con sumption, including espenses of transport and other charges, probably not less than 20,000,000!. The capital employed in the tride exceeds 10,000,0001. About 400 iron furnaces of Great Britain consume annually 10,000,000 toss of coals, and 7.000,000 tons of ironstone, in order to produce 2.500,000 tons of pig iron, of the val ue of u pw s rds of 8,000,0001. For the supply of the metropolis alone 3,600,000 tons of coal are required for manufacturing and domestic purposes ; our eosatioa vessels conveyed, in 1850, upwards of 9,360,000 tons to various ports in the United Kingdom, and 3,350,000 tens were exported to foreign countries and the British poeseesions. Add to this that about 120,000 persons are conizantly employed in extracting the coal from the mines, and that in some of the northern counties there are more persons at work under the ground than upon its surface —and some approximate idea will be fence of the import ance and extent of this branch of our industry. The extent of the a al a in the British Islands is 12,000 square miles, the annual produce 37,000,000 tuns; of Belgium, 250 miles, annual produce, 5,000.000 tons ; of Fr,nce, 2,000 mike, annual produce, 4,150,000 tons; of the United States, 113,000 miles, annual produce, 4,000,000 tons ; of Prussia, 2,200 miles, annual produce, 3,500,000 tons ; of Spain, 4,000 mile•, annual produce, 550,000 tons; of British North America, 18,000 miles, annual produce not known. Taking the British Islands alone, and dividing them into districts, we find the supposed workable area ss follows in acres:—Northumberland and Durham, 500,000; Cumberland, Wesmorel.ind, and West Riding, 99,500 ; Lancashire, Flintshire. and North Staffordshire, 550,000; Shropshire and Worcestershire, 79,950; South i Staffordshire, 65,000; Warwickshire and Leicestershire, 80,000; S ,mersetshire and Gloucestershire, 167,500; South Wales, fit 0,000 ; Scottish coal fields, 1,045,000; Irish coal fields:—Ulster, 500,000; Connaught. 200,000; Leinster, 150,000; Munster, 1,000,000. Our exports, which in 1840 amounted to 1,606.000 ton., •clued at 576,0001., had in creased in 1850 to 3,531,000 tons, of the value of 1294,0001. In 1841 nur exports to France were 451,300 tons ; to 1101- Imo, 173,378 tons : to Prussia, 116,296 tons ; and to Russia, 77,152 tons. In 1850 they were, to France, 612,515 toss; to Holland, 159,953 tons; to Prussia, 186,528 tons ; and to Resale, 215,198 tons.—Dorhans Aderrliser. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following I gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for I the diploma were admitted members of the c,,llege at the meeting of the court of examiners on the 23rd instant : Messrs. John James Trevor Lawrence, Whitehall-place ; William Taunton Plowman, Brook-street. Grosvenor , square ; Edward Waddington, Saltash, Devon; Augustus William Baylis, Frederick-street, Albany-street; Henry William Hubbard, Bury St. Edmunds; John Hopkins Willis, Plymouth, Devon ; Henry Harden, Wrington, Somerset ; William Peyton Partridge, Birmingham ; Joseph l Chadwick Festoon, Manchester. IRELAND. DUBLIN, Die. 24. A letter from Lord Palmerston, who anpears still to hold the seals and to discharge the du. ies of the Home Secretaryship. is published in the Tahiti. In ' answer to an application by Mr. lAMB, Lord Pal merston orders the transmission of a copy of the fol lowing order: Whitehall, Dm 14, 1853. Sir,—l have laid before Viscount Palmerston your letter of the 28th ultimo, reporting as to the means adopted in the several convict prisons for the religious instruction of pri sonen of the Roman catholic church. It appears to Lord Palmerston that each convict should, on his or her admis sion, be asked what is his or her religion, sod that they should be placed accordingly in in account to be kept for that purpose. His lordship iv also of opinion that there should be appointed at each prison a Roman catholic priest, to be paid by au annual sum proportioned to the average number of catholic convicts, and nut paid by each vi•it ; and also that the catholic chaplain shall have the tame facilities of access to the catholic convicts which the protestant chap lain has to the protestant convicts. I 'am, therefore, to nqueat that you will f urn i s h hi s •. lordship with a gatemen , of the average number of Roman .- . -.----- catholic convicts in confinement in the be vth 1 convict prisons and bills:, together with your opinion as to the annual amount .which it wotflrl be pr)per to award to a catholic priest at each place of coufluement.—l am, Sir, (Signed) li. WADDINUTUS. Lieut.-Colonel Jebb, C. 15 , &c., &c. EXCHEQUER NISI PRIUS. I.II.JILS TB& Clitir SAWN JoilD • FroCitL JUST. DOWLING V. LAWLER. This remarkable case was resumed yesterday morning (the fifth do)) at the sitting of the court, and after a few witnesses, +moos evidence .as nut m.terial, had been examined, Mr. J. 1). Feagerald, Q C., claimed to be heard on tl.e part of the defendant upuu the evidence, a portion of which, he argued, had the character of a rebutting case ins the part of the plaintiff. Cutwel for the plaintiff resisted the application as an unprecedented une ; hut the court ruled that the present was a case . in which ,the defendant's cuutsel might be heard. Mr. Fitzgerald then proceeded to speak to evict. nce on the part at the defendant. Mr. WI/enough then addressed the jury for the plaintiff until the court adjourned. . . At the sitting Of the court this morning Mr. 111•Denough, Q.C., rtsumed his speech to evidence on the part of the plaintiff, commenting at great length upon the evidence, and wound up with un t &mire appeal to the jury. . . . . . The Chief Baron theu proceeded, at halfillsCl o'clock, to charge the jury, when one of the jurors interrupted him by stating that they wished to spare his lordship the trouble of addressing them. The Ctiiet Baron inqu:red whether counsel for the parties wished that he should proceed with his charge ? Mr. Fitzgerald, for the defendant, said be wished his lordship should do so; and Mr. M'Donough, for the plain tiff, said they did nut ask his lordship to address the jury. The Chief Baron then went on with his charge, stating the issues which the jury bad to try, and the points in the case which chiefly required consideration. The issues sent up to the jury were as tollowa:—First, Whether there was agreement between Daniel Crotty and John Sadleir, or any person on behalf of John Sadleir, that Daniel Crotty should i e released Gum all liability on two bills of ex change fur the rispective sums of 1501. and 201, men tioned in certain affidavits in this matter; secondly, if so, whether the Carlow branch of the Tipperary Joint Stock Bask, or any person on their behalf, in pursuance of such agreement, discounted u certain bill of exchange, drawn by one Edward Lawler, on and uccepted by one Wm. Ling; 'firmly, did the bank discount the last.meutioned bill of exchange with the bona tide intention tit holding Edward Lawler liable thereon; fourthly . , whether or nut Daniel Crotty was a bona tide trustee for Edward Lawler or for the Tipperary Bank in issuing the execution under which the plaintiff was arrested. The jury retired at a few minutes past four, and in about ten minutes returned to their box with a verdict fur the plaintiff on all the four issues. The result of this trial will, it is supposed, be actions taken by the pla;citiff, Dowling, for false imprisonment, and also fur conspiracy to prevent ham from exercising the elec tive franchise. it also follows that lie leaves prison with out paying the amount of the bills, which there is no ques tion were originally due to Crotty. NAVAL. , PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 23.—The Navarin, Russian corvette, Captain Istomin, went out of harbour yesterday, and anchored at Spithead, where she tuck in her powder, shell, &1., and this morning she sailed tor her destination —the Pacific. She is still very leaky. After getting under weigh, she saluted the national flag and that 01 the corns mauder.iu-chief, which were duly returned.—The Sidon, 22, paddle-wheel steam frigate, Captain George Goldsmith, hu orders to proceed to the Mediterranean. She is at anchor at Spitbead.—The Fairy, screw tender to the Royal Yacht, went out of harbour yesterday morning to the measured mile at Stokes's Bay, to try a new screw propeller, cast in this dockyard. It was of the pitch and other dimensions of Ordlith's patent screw, but had not the ball in the centre, which is peculiar to the latter. Four runs were made et the mile, the ge of which gave a speed of 121 knots per hour, a quarter of a knot less than Griffith . * screw had ebteined in similar trials in the same vessel. The engines yesterday, however, worked at one stroke per minute less than on the occasion of Wits titit's screw being tried.—The Sprightly . , steam-vessel, Muter Commanding G. Allen, sailed last night for Sheer ness with supernumeraries ter the Roscommon, and marine artillery for the Cressy —The Tyne, store ship, sailed on Friday night for Ascension with stores for the Airican squadron. MILITARY. Colonel Menzieo, K.H., A.I).C. to the Queen, has assumed the command of the troops in the S.uth Wes tern District, Major-General Simpson having left Ports mouth on leave of absence. Second Lieutenant T. J. %V. R. Rawlings, of the Ports mouth Division of Royal Marines, has been permitted to resign his commission. Second Lieutenant Feeting, I sergeant, 1 corporal, and 2.5 gunners, of the Marino Artillery Companies, have been ordered to leave Portsmouth. M embark on board the Cressy, at Sheerness. SPORTING. STRETFORD STEEPLE CHASES, JAN. 2. WEtottcs for the MANCIIESTIa STEEPLE CILABE. Ac ceptnnces to be declared on the 27th. Age. it. lb. Melon Needwood a 11 Minna Simple Peter The Tulip 6 11 Bruce • 10 Labyrinth 6 10 Crabby Old Rake 5 10 Columbine (late Derby Dilly) 5 10 WEIOHTB for the STREI7OI ances to be declared on the 27 Age. it. lb. Theodine The Beaver _ _ 9 6 Madeline 6 9 6 Royal Blue (h b) a 9 6 Come away 6 9 4 Trout Mils Purdon (k b) 4 9 4 Komorn (b 9 0 Nelly Brown RD Sizzrut CHASE. Accept rth. Age. it. lb. 5 12 5 5 11 12 a 11 7 Countess Augeau 6 11 2 Madeline Age. st. lb. I Royal Blue lO 11 Luck'e.all a le 9 IKiss Purdon Locomotive Take Notice 5 10 4 WEST LENT AND BROMLEY STEEPLE CIIASES.—JANCARY 11. WRIGHTS for the BROMLEY STEEPLECRARIE.—Accept tines to be declared on or before January 2nd. it. lb. st. lb Ploughboy ll 2 Theodine - 10 0 Sam Hood - • It 0 Cigar . . 10 0 Needwood lO 9 1 E:eulapius lO 0 Timothy lO 4 Widow hlachree .... 9 7 Barse4 Sir Philip Two Selling Stakes elose Monday, January the 9th. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. WEATHER PERRI fTiNG. Additional fixtures receiver oince our laot publication. Baron Rothaehild'a, Tburod:y, iienim 4:re —at I I. itedale, Wednesday, Langton 't allege ; Friday, Hutton Conyers-at alf.pnat 10. Berkshire Old, Tuesday, Stecenton ; Thursday, Sandford; Friday, urbridge-$t half-past 10. Colyees, Mr., Tuesday, titanstead; Thursday, Butts Wood; Satur. ay, runt House-at half -pant 10. RUSSIA AND TURKEY.-The following is in course Sa'iurra:lar, en, O V r ed eat Shekr T d ite i t Ul a m q . ua E r a t ' e t rZtore b a ; nidaY' Icholmes; of signature at Southampton:-" To J. T. Tucker, Esq., co u.rr o e n -e., a t i ,o t ili ii We paMtfebury, Coleman Green; Friday, Studham the Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton.-We, the common - a t Mr., iriday, niinkleish Wood- at half.: art to. undersigned, inhabitants of the borough and county of the P. It., Tuesday, Calcine Cross; Friday, Bishop's Wood-at half. town of Southampton, respectfully request you will convene P te n th'e, Mr., Thursday, Clete Park; Saturday, Brick Bridge-at • public meeting to take into consideration the important half-pant 10 question of the unprovoked aprressi qi of the Emperor at 111, 1 1 ) , F r a i 'V r ":„..: at i l l , n ra la y. P t u l n a ll i : . ,!, l .r e i t a -it as h ft",l; r t r iO l . o. Russia against Turkey, and, sh, uld it be deemed expedient, New E"rert. 1. u".' ll Y, Bolton'. Bench: Wednesday, Beeman to memorialise het most gracious Majesty the Queen to :;Troi Friday, Cannata t ridge; Saturday, Hill Top-at half. immediately adopt, in conjunction with her powerful ally, south osfet....shire, Thursday, Stow Wood-at half pant 10. the Emperor of France, such prompt and energetic melt. ii, M4 if L. e'..ithp.'s, Tuesday, Wolfalale; Thursday, New Bridge, sores as will tend to pr, serve the integrity and indepen- Lord asalrt7aast-pattot,lfVeitirl:;dav, Creslow; Thurvlay, Tile house; dense of the Turkish empire, and compel the Emperor of Fcid , 4, Astsrell nlill ; Saturday,Sash-at 11. RU , IIIII to submit to such con ditions an will g uarantee the :me, Werlneralay, Silcherttr Dials; Satutday, Worling Home-at a quart. , toll. future peace and tranquillity of Europe and Asia." Jlr. Wheeble's, Tuesday, Streetley-at 11; Wednesday, The Crows, SOUTH 1 VALES R. II LWAT. - Traffic for the wr.ek Theale-at 11; Friday, Three Crowns, Pucklebury-ut 11. HALMS). I ending Dec. 18, 18-53 , 3,765 1 . 1. 5 ,4, Bd. ; corresponding •;,, ce k, Carlisle wei , hum's', Crosby Toll Bar ; Friday, Wackwell-at 10. , 13.52, 2,6011.25. 101 Ceases, Wednesday, Kappa Bar; Friday, Bradley lane End-MIL The Tulip, Labyriuth Crebbs I y