The Express. — London, England, 1853-05-21 00:00:00

Blr. FITZROY thought this was a matter which should be lett Hies reenistion. , t i It. l'Ala insisted that vehielts of all to be compelled to pull up near the pavement when t y were required to stop, It ton frequently ap p se,l great obstrattions were caused to the traffic by i t em:buses stepping the in the middle of the street. clause was then itzreed to, as was also clause 16. 17, wLich related to the power of a magistrate or imprison an ',deader sgsinst the bill, it was pr r , l to o osslie the fiae 10s., or au default of payment an ipprisoemest of one math. ale . AGLION BY objected to the proposed amendment. 0„.;t to be Lett opeienal with the magistrate whether the oh ester elioull be lined or imprisoned. INN also objected to tho amendment, as it too hApptnell t h e' omnibus and cab drivers clubbed nin Pro ber for the purpose of paying the fines inflicted un any tii it body. blr. FRADY again pressed the government to insert a vi wed at the bill, but the proposal was resisted 'The ATTORNEY•GENERAL, who argued that there eas sosee ssity tot it whatever. 1 its one elment was then withdrawn, and the clause uss M i. the other clau e a es of the ed to in its originl shape, bill. es wcre also douses 18, s The house tbea resumed, and the bill was ordered to be motel on Thareday next. LUNACY REGULATIONS BILL. This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com sat( LUNATICS' CURE AND TREATMENT BILL. This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be coin sotted. LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL. This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be Ml cr.4:trd. ELECTION PETITIONS. . - . sa. W. JOELIFEE moved that the minutes of the eerie ' here take n before , the select committee on the Berwick. 5; , 0a . 1 w.ed Election be printe.l. He wished to know r e vs th • hors, member opposite (Mr. Mitchell), when he intend , d to neminate his commit:te on the eutject of the si d,ttswal of eleztion prtiticns. Would it not be better to lave it to the committee of selection ? Mr. !IITCHELL said he bad intended to propese that the ro,r.u , tcc should eonsist of Mr. Rinke, Mr. Mullins Nu 11. Denison, Sir J. Hanmer, and bium If: but Le had no objection that the nomination should be lett to the com suttee et selection. The mottoes was then spreed to. Tns other orders were disposed of, and the house ad pissed at half-pest 2 o'clock. rifle OM 11111.8roosza's AIIZZIDX=2 ox run MAT ORAMT.—LOrti Mandeville for, with Mr. Dieett ; Mr. L. Bland for, with Bir E. Bulwer against ; tassel North for, with Mr. Ferguson agaiaat ; Sir A. caapbeil with Mr. Benbow against. Mr. J. West wee abut out from the division. Sir Jalia Duckworth has paired to the end of this week watt Mr. Leis'. .he erpreoo. TO COARZSPONIANTB. ~ + ..eA Waal " Tb. —.ids Use Nam tweving's w►::.tad elm? Thisibiy sag Friday •teht„ iL :Lae tst A. l rmemmtabibmided tar " Tb* Exprose," Larks I: aft paper, sot It .0 Oa I.lltie s 10, Canertreargst, by No Vox!' Go th. tai of Aitisitios. HIGH WATER, AT LONDON BILIDOI. Tu. Dat—lionlas. OS. 13 a... —.....Aftemaa. 3S R. T.imarw—illavin. LIU Ihs ....—Alisrassa. 10. C. LONDON, SATURDAY MAY 21. Ir it were risible to believe the journals which have hitherto in England advocated the views of Russia, we might throw up our hands, and cry Alas, poor Turkey ! But those journals, happily, are not to be relied upon. They have: spoken with a prejudice, and have then striven to bend the news to the shape best suited to their purposes. Ignoring the relations of Turkey to the rest of Europe, they de:lared that tho Ottoman Empiro was in a state of commercial, social, and political decay so complete, that to desire its continuance was mere folly—and that the interference of Russia was a necessity of the hour. Met at once on this point by those who objected to the spread of northern despotism, it was shown that the trade of England with Turkey amounted, in round numbers, to twice as much as our trade with Russia, and thrice as much as our trade with Austria. These fees, shown in a parliamentary paper obtained by Lord DUDLEY STUART, were at once an answer to the im pudent allegation, that our commercial relations with the Ottoman Porte were less valuable than those with the Cz.ta. Driven from this point, the advocates of the extension of Russian power to the Dardanelles fell back on the equally shame less excuse, that both Christian and commercial freedom required the expulsion of the SULTAN'S rule from Europe. The contradiction to this was amply supplied by a few facts of late thrown broadcast over the world. Turkey is tolerant in religion—Austria and Russia are intolerant; Tur key has a liberal tariff—Austria and Russia are protectionists • Austria and Russia sought to strangle constitutio nal: liberty in Hungary as they had before strangled it in Poland, whilst Turkey sympa thised with it by sheltering its champions. No sophistry could upset, no falsehoods could ignore these facts. When compared with Russia and Austria, Turkey was seen to be an eminently liberal and free nation. Com pared with St. Petersburg or Vienna, Constantinople was a very centre of free-trade policy. Beaten on these false statements, the friends of the Autocrat fell back on the assertion that all which the Court of Bt. Petersburg asked of Turkey was a settlement of the question of the Holy Places —or, in other words equal treatment of the representatives of the Pops of Rome and of St. Petersburg at Jerusalem. The men of the true Greek Church question the right of the Czna to claim the headship of their communion to the exclusion of the Patriarch of CONSTANTINOPLE; but, putting this aside, a doubt arose as to the truth of this last BRUNNOW plea. It seemed clear that much more was meant by MENCLUKOTT than a squabble about which set of pugnacious priests should first make their obeisants at the shrine of the Holy Sepulchre. Every traveller in Syria has told how mean and wretched are the squabbles—how truly disgraceful the frays— which characterise the meeting of adverse sects out the spot sanctified by the very presence on earth of the founder .of Christianity, and to suppose that an arbitrary and aggressive court would put In notion its ambassadors and its forces, merely to settle the squabbles of the Greek and Latin churches in Syria, was to estimate far too lowly the aims of the Russian court. To say that the question of the Holy Places was the sole anxiety of the CZAR was too clearly a blind. No man was deceived by it ; even though an English journal of large circula tion condescended to do the work of the northers t. It was evident that the plea about the Sepulchre was a slum. It was equally clear de ode object of the Czaa was to extend kb bade towards the East. It was pleb that the 't a r down by PETER TILE Gain wee ha seem d "eked oat by his modem sapemealedea s d i f e se s quir i ni g l u tr i edi shr•l mu latent in ly . 1111 =kb, his own pukka a stalluarheree far planting vides lb. dominions of the SULTAN a is beim lamest which should in effect divide low, and =de beeeetter , the power of ABDUL Henna. &lei denied, now seems to be avowed, Imam Met, which in this country under took to ' n ine do sliateatents of Turkish ruin and of Russian didebuseledness, now on both points di.. 'Mite itsel4 sieeowe ilia in its columns a state meat that the Cult had really claimed what we have all aloog seem he aimed at, and that the Turk, under the pressure of M zscn !ROWS audacious impor tunities, has given way to Russian demands. H is ap pily, there more than a likelihood that the affirmation of the Times is again a mere prelude to the explosion of a falsity. Of course the Ci had been exacting, but by no means does it follow that the SULTAN has been intimidated. At least we may affirm that no official news has arrived in England which justifies the assertioss of our contemPerary, and should even the worst aspect of politics in th e East be presented, it must yet be remembered that the settlement of the national re lations of Europe is a thing not to be decided by any two countries to the injury of all the rest. If Basis, like some huge bully, should be even able to extort, under terror, from Turkey any mischievous promise, the rest :of Europe cannot stand idly by to see the i n t en d e d ev il fully consummated. The Govarnments of England and of France—to name no others —have at least a word to say on the upsetting of a national compact to which they have both tees Parties Even if the SULTAN has been weak—which a not yet proved—he is not with all his power ale to do more than injure his personal pad tion. He cannot individually break all the vital cords of European national arrangements. The in- • tegrity of Turkey has been guaranteed—that inte grity has the effect of keeping an avowedly ambitious and warlike naval power beyond the Dardanelles—it is desirable for the peaceful arrangements of Europe that no violent changes should be permitted, and hence, if ABDUL MEDJUI has been bullied into any impro per concession, it remains yet to be area whether the rest of Europe will patiently endorse the folly. Foe ourselves we cannot believe in the weakness of the SULTAN, and have every faith in the honour, cou rage, and loyalty of the pawers that have guaran teed the integrity of the Turkish Empire. Taorca standing on the Orders of the Day for yesterday, the House of Commons did not find time last night for the discussion in committee of tie Government measure on Pilotage. This " Pilotage Amendment Act" is, it seems, not to be considered as an act for the direct and immediate amendment of pilotage, but rather as a sort of bill of discovery. In spite of numerous parliamentary committees, the Trinity-house and the Cinque Ports have contrived to keep certain accounts and secrets of their Corporation to themselves; and the real in tent of Mr. CARDWELL is to bring these bodies into direct connexion with the Board of Trade, and imme diate responsibility to Parliament, with the view of discovering the several abuses from which their income is derived, its extent, and the manner in which it is collected. It seems that at present no one can tell how much the Cinque Ports and Trinity Pilots really receive. The act compelling them to render an annual account, through the Board of Trade, to Parliament, will solve the mystery. Mr. CARDWELL admits that our system of pilotage is at present imperfect. He does not deny that the right of piloting ships through the Downs and the river is a close monopoly. He admits the absurdity of compelling vessels in the short foreign voyage trade to take pilots by the south channel, whilst they are exempt from them by the north. Ho does not deny that vessels bound for Rotterdam or Hamburg are compelled to take pilots outwards, though they carry but ballast, whilst inward, with a valuable cargo, the captain is allowed to pilot the ship himself. tie admits that Rotterdam and 'Lemberg are the only northern ports of Europe to which vessels are re quired to sail with pllots. He does not deny the absurdity of compelling a coasting vessel, be cause she has been on a foreign trip, to take a pilot to show her the way through the river and the Downs to her native port, nor the absurdity of forcing a regular collier, bound for Newcastle, to have a pilot because at Newcastle she is about to ship coals for France. Neither does he pretend that the masters and mates of those short voyage vessels are not perfectly qualified, from their own practical and incessant experience, to take care of their ships without pilots. Nor does he contend that a vessel towed by a steamer needs a pilot to keep her in the wake of the tug. It is ad mitted that in his hundred voyages the captain may have acquired knowledge enough to do that of him self even without answering a thousand questions as to the angles of the buoys, beacons, and land marks on the way. It is admitted, too, that it would be much more to the advantage of shipowners to employ tugs than pilots, and that the steamer, which would save valuable time, and might save damage besides, would not cost more than the pilot. Neither is it denied that the pilotage of the port of London is greatly in excess of every other port in the kingdom, and operates to the disad vantage of the port. But the Pilotage Amendment Act leaves all these abuses unamended, because it is understood at the Board of Trade that the Trinity house and the Cinque Ports are themselves about to abolish the abuses. It is true the shipowners are very doubtful of any real reform coming from those bodies, and urge that the most direct course would be to let the Pilotage Amendment Act amend the pilotage, and leave the authorities of the Trinity-house and the Cinque Ports to work out the amended law. Mr. CARDWELL, how ever assures the shipowners, that if the pilotage anomalies of the port of London are not removed, and the rates reduced, another amendment act will be brought forward, and that the Board of Trade will then take upon itself those powers that are for the present left, by way of experiment, a little longer to the hands of the Brethren of the Trinity-house, and the Master Warden and Lies tenants of the Cinque Ports. To say the least of it, this is a rather curious, and a very circuitous mode of reforming proved abuses. It may be quite true that we do not know everything about the pilots of the Trinity-house, and the Cinque Ports, but we do know that the Cinque Ports pilots levy a tax upon shipping frequenting the port of London, amounting to some where about 36,0001. a year, and that the Trinity Pilots receive, probably, not less than 23,0001. or 30,0001. a year more, making an annual tax upon the shipping of this port alone of not less than 60,0001., full two-thirds of which is taken from ves sels engaged in the " short foreign" voyage trade, and upon which the tax of these united pilots amounts at present to not less than 301. per cent. upon their net earnings. It may be that the Trinity-house and the Cinque Ports will reduce the pilot charges by some 201. per cent. If so, the tax will be re duced to 70/. per cent., or thereabouts but still the question will remain in full force—Why are these ships to pay at all for a service which they never want? Their own captains are more competent to pilot the ships than the pilots who are permitted to levy this exorbitant tax ; and why is this proved in justice to be allowed to remain over a year or two, whilst the Trinity-house and Cinque Ports are set tling their accounts and their relations with the Board of Trade ? There is no doubt much to be learned about the Trinity-house and tho Cinque Ports. The returns to Parliament under the new bill may possibly make known what the income- or emoluments of the Master Warden and Lieutenants may be, and what the shipping interest and the public receive in re turn. They may disclose something, too, of the old gatherings, surplus funds, purchased light-house debts, and feasts and comfortable charities of the Trinity house. But itisdifficult to understand why, meanwhile, the river watermen, the fishermen of the Downs, and the masters, mates, and seamen of our coasters should be refused the privilege of proving their fitness to act as pilots. It is no unusual thing for an Indianian, proceeding to a northern port for coals for India, to take the master of a collier as • pilot the entire way to the coal port and back to London. The man probably receives 101. for his trouble, and is glad to have it. No sea-going man—no elder brother of the Trinity-house—no Master Warden, or Lieutenant of the Cinque Port denies the capacity of them men to act as pilots of the waters upon which they have been bred and born, but unless they have interest to push them before the Trinity-house they have no chance of being passed as river pilots ; and able as they undoubtedly are, but few of them would be able to cram for such a book examination as the candidates for a pilot's license are obliged to stand. Take them at any moment of wind or tide, night or day, foul weather or fair, they will never Gil--their courage and presence of mind will never leave them ; they will bring the ship safe, if she can be brought. In their own calling as masters of colliers and other coasters, they earn perhaps 801. a year; as pilots they might make 1001. It would be a distinction and condition of comparative ease sod comfort for them to rise to, but they are shut out from it. The pilotage is a monopoly and matter of patronage; the way to it is not that of intricate and difficult navigation, bat through the mud of elections and political subserviency. The Trinity-house and Cinque Ports may have some light let in upon them by their connexion with the Board of Trade, the audit of accounts, and their responsibility to Parliament, but we do not see why the act to bring them into this improved condition should meantime continue the pilot monopoly and the gross injustice of a tax upon ships for services which their customary hands can perform without that help. No doubt the Trinity-house has power to change tho mode of examination of masters in the short-voyage trade, and to substitute a practical testing of capacityby, railing with the captain, for the present wordy and useless book examination; but it would surely be the simpler plan that the bill should at once define what kind of examination is to be passed, and so set the matter upon a sound footing at once, than leave it to be made an obstruction to men of proved capacity for the next year or two. Nor would there be any difficulty as to the simple than that the shipowner or agent, as THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING MAY 21, 1853. the case might be, should send a list of names of those to be examined, stating when their vessels would sail or be in the Downs. The examiner could be put on board as the pilot for the trip, and the full pilot fees for the occasion should be paid t o th e pil o t age exam i na ti on f un d. ' The shipowner would thus lose nothing, as he must in any case pay for a pilot, unless the captain were licensed, and the fund so created would be ; ample to meet tho expenses of a proper corps of examiners, who would have ample occupation. One advantage of licensing captains as pilots, would be the making owners of ships responsible for damage by collision, &c. As it is the moment the pilot steps on board, the responsibility of the owner and all on board is at an end. The pilot is not a servant , of the owner, and if the next moment he runs down' a ship worth 10,000!., there is no claim against the owner; the pilot being according to law responsi ble to no greater amount thsu 100!., whilst if the like accident were to happen with a captain, he being the servant of the owner, the owner would be liable for the whole damage. Mr. CARUWELL probably balances:the interests of the Trinity-house and the Cinque Ports against the interests of mariners and shipowners, and has therefore made up his mind to have his Pilotage Amendment Act as it is, and to leave the amend ment of pilotage to be fought out amongst the ship owners, watermen, mariners, fishermen, Trinity house, Cinque Ports, and Board of Trade. Mean while shipping must be exorbitantly taxed. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY EVIINING. The rumour of the Porte having accepted the Rus sian ultimatum is without foundation. The government bill sticker has placarded the Emperor's promise to find everybody in cheap lodg ing upon every wall in Paris, and hawkers, em ployed by the prefect of police, are crying in every quarter of the city, a full, true, and particular account of the decree of the Emperor relatirement an loger 4 bon march& The government journals pour vials of wrath upon the heads of those who hesitate a doubt as to the practicability of the scheme an nounced, and leaping at one bound over the gulf that separates promise from performance, proclaim the utter abolition, at the bidding of a benign sovereign, of all those dark, confined, ill-arranged, ill con structed, ill-ventilated, dirty dwellings which have hitherto been the haunts of crime and fever. Besides this, the junior clerk, tho retired officer, the small fnndholder, all people, in short, of slender income, are suddenly, and as if by magic, to enjoy their "decent cupboard little plate" in a modest fifth floor, with a balcony for flower-pots, at a rent below the market price to be fixed by the Minister of the interior. People arc asking, and many with feelings far other than those of mere curiosity, what all this really means ? The ouvriers, suffering as they are from the immense rise in house rent, occasioned by the recent extensive demolitions, are delighted in proportion to their ignorance, to learn that the Emperor has determined to interfere on their behalf. They have no notion of being garrisoned in cites one rieres. They desire nothing better than to remain where they ure, paying little or nothing ; and the practical view they take of the decree is that it is meant to prohibit landlords from raising rents or from ejecting tenants for non-payment. This, absurd as it may appear, is the very general belief of the faubourgs. But men of property, who have so often heard it said that the empire would crush the bourgeoisie between the army and the masses, are anxiously inquiring whether the threat is now about to be filfilled. Model lodging houses, according to English experience, may be excellent investments, and if it were merely intended to set an example with a view to stimulate private enterprise, to show experimentally how an improved system of building might bring within the reach of the working classes domestic comforts to which they have hitherto been strangers, no objec • I tem could be made to the expenditure of any reason able sum of public money for so laudable a purpose. But the promises of the Mondeur, as interpreted by the government prints, are confined to no such sober limits. To bring down rents in any appreciable de gree by competition, it would not suffice to cover every available space in Paris with new construc tions, but it would be necessary to buy up an im mense quantity of house property. The expense of such an operation would be enormous, and the filen ite ur tells us that, according to the scheme, the rents are to be fixedat such a rate snot to tempt speculation—in other words at suck a Late as not to pay—and that the deficiency is to be made up by the state. This would be to make war upon proprietors with their own money, it would be to force the taxpayer to contribute not merely his fair quota to the neces sities of the state, but in addition to pay to wards the maintenance of a favoured class of society. In short, it would be scarcely disguised confiscation. It is wholly inconceivable that such a plan could be carried out upon any large scale, but it quite possible that it may be acted upon to au unjust and dangerous extent. Assuming that all the working and all the straightened classes cannot be lodged at the state's charge, the question arises upon what principle a selection could be made, and here it is evident that a wide door would be opened for every species of jobbery and corruption. The dwellers in thelgovernment houses, w hether operatives or treasury clerks, would be alike pro tant4ensioners of state living upon the industry or capital of their fellow citizens. There is, however, one consideration well calculated to allay undue alarm. The project is in all probability a hollow ad captanium appeal to popularity, never intended to be realised. la spit. of all that the Pays and the Petrie may say, then is a wide difference between a thing decreed to be done, even by an imperial decree, and a thing really accomplished. Of this fact a st riking insane has just been brought to notice. A great fuss was made in 1851 about the "generous initiative" of the Presi dent in establishing public baths and wash-housek and a credit of 600,000 fr. was opened with the Minister of the Interior, for aiding their construction. It has just been announced that the conditions annexed to the government grant were so little attractive, that only about 57,000 fr. of the credit was celled far, and the remainder of the sum is stillli s iz idle, waiting the effect of a new measure . just passed by the Corps Legislatif to amend the original plan. As regards the new lodging-houses, all that has been as yet done is this: The Emperor has given M. Pa. teaux, the builder, 100,000 fr., with which sum he undertakes to build four model houses on the Bunk ' yard Mazes within 3 months, and it is intended that they shall be tenanted before next winter. his more than probable that these four houses, to be built for a sum not exceeding what a benevolent lady in Man chester might unostentatiously expend in charity, will be the only tangible result during the present year of the grand imperial decree for reducing house seat throughout France, which has produced such a pie among the Paris proprietors. The day before yesterday, the Emperor visited the Louvre, and went through all the cellars, and had an account rendered to him of the progress of the works. His Majesty expressed to M. Visconti, the architect, his satisfaction at the activity displayed, and on leav ing gave a sum of 2,000 fr. to be distributed among the workmen. On this being announced, the cry of "Vivo I'Empereur," Vive le pore des ouvriers," was raised. The Moniteur says that his Imperial Highness Prince Jerome, guardian of the tomb of his brother, has, conformably to the desire of the Emperor, given orders that the public shall be admitted to see the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon I. at the Inva lides, on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, between the hours of twelve and three o'clock in the after noon. The Pattie of last night announced by mis take that the public days would be Tuesday, Thurs day, and Saturday. The threatened dock monopoly continues to excite great uneasiness in the ports. We read in the Courtier du Havre: _ _ We learn that M Ansel, Mayor of Havre, and M. Viel, a Municipal Councillor, were received a few days since by the Minister of the Interior, to whom they pointed out the rights of the town, and the wants of the commercial world in the question of the docks. The minister assured them that no decision should be come to without the most careful examinatiun of the subject, and said that he would give orders to the directors of the different branches of hie department to meet together, and to n ceive the observations and remarks of the parties inte rested. M. Ancel and M. Clete, who had been delegated by the Chamber of Commerce, have since been received by these gentlemen, and, we hope, succeeded in convincing them of the danger which would arise (rum the concentra tion of the enterprise of the docks in the same hands. M. rereire deposited a few days sines a tender to obtain the privilege of the docks of Havre, Paris, and Marseilles, and since that MM. Pereire have given in a tender for the dock of Havre only. We are not aware of the exact condition', but it we are well informed, they are of a amine to satisfy fully the interests of the town and of commerce. The 31;mileur publishes decree's for interdicting the sale in France of reprints or reproductions of works the property of which is established in Hanover and in the Duchy of Brunswick; for assi milating in French ports the tonnage, pilot, and port dues on vessels belonging to the Dominican ltepublio ' to those paid by French vessels,and also for admitting hides tanned in Corsica into France free of duty, and returning the duty paid on raw hides on entering Corsica when exported in a dressed state. A decree is read to be in contemplation for or ganizing, at the different commercial ports, officers and harbour-masters whose duties will be to inspect the roadsteads, /sorts, docks, and quays; they will also, it is said, harm the surveillance and control of the light-houses, and the day and night signals, &c. At the Bourse yesterday's closing prices were generally maintained throughout the day. The closing prices were—For cash, Three per Cents., 81f. 20c.; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 70e. For the account, Threl, per Cents., 81f. 23c.; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 103 f. 730. Bank Stock, 2,705 f.; Northerns, 927 f. .50c.; Paris and Orleans 1,103 f. ; Paris and Strasbourg', 930 L ; Paris and Lyorm, 9681.50 e. ; Paris and Rouen, 1,140 f.; Lyons to tho Mediterranean, 813 f.; Western of France, 782 f. 50c.; Rouen and Havre, 640 f. PARIS, TUVE/DAY EVENING. The Corps Legislatit has commenced the geneisl ' discussion of the budget of 1834. Yesterday M. Taillefer introduced the subject, declaring his confi dence in the financial position of the couutry, and then eulogising the Bonapartist dynasty and its sys tem of government. M. Morin de la Dix'sme, who followed, congratulated the government on the adoption of a measure which, he said, enabled the min.sters to transfer from one service to another the unemployed credits, and which had the effect of pre venting the repeated calls for supplementary credits, and greatly simplifying the operations of the budget. M. de Flavigny condemned the position assigned to the Corps Legislatif in the discussion of the budget. It was permitted to say very little, and when it ventured to speak no attention was paid to its words. It was obliged to accept the bills submitted to its deliberations, for it had no right to modify . them, and if it rejected them it was an act of opposition, which was often badly interpreted. M. Baroche replied that the best proof that the Corps Le gislatif could speak freely was afforded by the speech delivered by M. de Flavigny. M. d'Uzes next stated that in 1817, when the first budget presented by the Restoration came under discussion, Count Roy, the reporter, observed that the finest prerogative of the Chamber of Deputies was the right it had to control the expenses, and to watch over the me made of the receipts. The Corps Legislatif had been completely deprived of that prerogative, since it was denied the power of modifying the laws upon which it was called to deliberate. When M. d'Uzes had con cluded, the general discussion was closed and the house adjourned. The Corps Legislatif resumed today the discussion of the budget. M. Dcvinck presented, on the first article, some observations relative to the balance of expenses and receipts and the financial situation of the country. The expenses at first sight, he said, appeared to exceed those of 1853 by 33,000,000f.,but that augmentation was not real, for there were 13,000,0001. inscribed both in the budgets of re ceipts and expenses, and 17,000,000 f. for extraordi nary works. Notwithstanding that apparent increase the budget still offered a saving of 67,000,000 f. as compared with that of 1847, tho last budget of the monarchy. The receipts, on the other hand, of fered a surplus of 69,000,000 f., which amply compensated the augmentation in the expenses. When he hid concluded, the Assembly voted with out discussion the following items:—Consolidated debt and sinking fund, 190,318,812 f.; special loans for canals and various works, 10,306,627 f.; interest on capital vested in the Treasury, 29,000,00 f. ; an nuities, 68,878,000 f.; dotation and expenses of the legislative powers, 36,604,180!. The discussion next opened on the estimates of the ministry of state and the household of the Emperor, amounting to 6,801,750 f. After a short discussion on incidental topics, the credit of the ministry of state was voted. The estimates of the Department of Justice, 26,640,780 f., were next granted without opposition. Those required for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were similarly voted. The remain ing chapters of the budget were subsequently adopted without discussion, viz. :—Public Instruction and Religious Worship, 65,629,700 f.• ' Ministry of the Interior, 139,313,726 f.; ditto of General Police, 4,928,620 f.; ditto of Public Works, 39,170,442 f.; ditto of War, 307,686,046 f. ; ditto of Marine, 116,476,000 f.; ditto of Finance, 20,193,153 f.; extra ordinary works of the Emperor's household, 5,000,0001.; dittto of the Ministry of Public Works, 82,155,000 f.; ditto of the Marine, 2,405,000 f. The house afterwards adjourned. SPAIN. The Clamor Publico of the 14th announces that Gen. Cabrera has sent 2001. from London for the sufferers from famine in the province of Galicia. The Com mittee of the Royal Council charged to examine the conditions on which railways are conceded, was dis playing great activity. The Epoca had been again seized. A letter says :—" Notwithstanding the ramours in circulation, we believe we can affirm that the government does not intend, at least for the pre sent, to assemb:e the Cortes." BELGIUM. Two Belgian journals, the Journal de Bruxelles and the Emancipation, announce almost officially the approaching marriage of the Duke of Brabant with an Archduchess of Austria. The Journal de Bruxelles says: We hasten to announce that oar prints information enables u now to affirm that the hopes of the Belgians will be milieu). The Emancipation says: Private correspondence from Vienna, received at the mo ment of our going to press, SWIM us that the marriage of the Duke sf Brabant with her Imperial and Royal High ness Marie Henrietta Anne, daughter of the late Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary, is formally resolved upon, and will take place at the beginning of next winter. For our own part we cannot guarantee this important news, but we can assert that our correspondent is in a position to be well informed. ITALY. Letters from Savoy state that when the vote of the chamber oh the Savoy Railway was proclaimed at Chambry the joy of the population led thorn to abandon their avocations and parade the streets with shouts of " Vive le Roi," "Viva is Parlement." In the evening the houses were illuminated. In the de bates on the till M. Valerio, of tber opposition, al luded to the concession of a railway by Grenoble, Briancon, and Montgenevre, said to have been granted by the French government to the Duo de Valmy. If the French government had made such a grant it could not extend to the Piedmontese terri tory. The cabinet of Turi ; niointing out Lyons as a desirable point, had exp ressed a wish that France might continue the line to that city. Now, a govern ment that had conceded the line of Cbambery to St. Genii as being the most beautiful and most direct line between France and Italy, as well as the most useful to Savoy, could not, he said, give up its system in order to join M. de Valmy on the top of Montge nilvre. The Piedmontese government could not take M. de Valmy's proposal into consideration. _(lnter ruption by M. alerio, " But France will.") rance, the minister continued, had not spoken—the papers alone had. But even supposing France were not to prolong the Piedmontese line of St. Genii to Lyons, it would still be the best line possible. But it had been said that France would tako it amiss. Ile would not insult France by believing any such thing. France could not feel hurt at Piedmont's constructing a line to St. Genii over its own terri tory. The bill before the house engaged the govern ment not to enter into any negotiation with France for another point of communication during a period of 14 years. Such a proviso was necessary, particu larly in case France were not to grant the Lyons and St. Genii line. But he (M. Palcocapa) was sure the line would be prolonged, for there was no resisting the evidence of general interest. The line, he re peated, would be prolonged. HOLLAND. At the Hague, the results as yet known of the voting for the nomination of the Chamber of Depu ties show the triumph of the ultrn-protestants. The liberals have the advantage at the Hague itself, where M. Van ZuTlen, ex-Miniater of Foretgn Affairs, hu obtained the greatest number of votes. At Delft and Dordrecht, the heads of the ultra-protestants have triumphed. The two candidates elected on the first ballot at Amsterdam were supported by both parties. M. Thorbecke, the late Premier, has been elected at Maestricht by the large majority of 808 of 1,043 votes. GERMANY. King Leopold ' with the ' r uin and his eon dined on Wednesday last the Austrian Emperor en fiznalle.. In the evening they were at Count Iluol's ball. The Belgian King and his son proceed to I):cs den to-day or Monday, and are to occupy apartments at the pa la ce. M. de Kcenneritz, a Saxon diploma tist, wilt go u far as Prague to meet the royal tra vellers. An importeat change has just been made in the general direction of the Austrian consulates, which up to this time have been under the management of the minister of commerce at Vienna. For the future the consuls will receive their instructions from the department of foreign affairs, and will only corres pond with the minister of commerce on commercial affairs. HUNGARY. M. Jiggelmessy, who held an Important charge in the Hungarian army during the campaign of 1849, and afterwards took refuge with M. Kossuth in Turkey, has been captured by the Austrian gen darmes at Hatvan, near GyCogos, in Hungary. DENMARK. The primary electors of have chosen the secondary electors entirely from the ranks of tho opposition. AUSTRALIA. NEWS FROM THE GOLD REGIONS. By the Southampton overland mail news Melbourne up to the 7th of February last has reached us, from which wo glean the following par ticulars: Gold bad an upward tendency. On the 2nd of February it advanced 3d. an ounce, the price then being 31. 13s. 9d. An invoice of watches and jewellery had realised 100 per cent. on London prices. Landed property in Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, bad sold at 400 per cent. advance on prices a few weeks pre viously. Schools were being established at the diggings. Five auctioneers bad commenced busineu at Forest Creek. The prices of some articles at this place we quote :—Flour, 31. 105. to 41. 10s. ; butter, 2s. Gd. to 35.; sugar, 41 to Gil. ; salt, 6d. to 6d. ; tea, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; soap, Bd. to 9d. ; coffer, 25. to 2s. 3d. ; cheese, 2s. to 2s. Gd.; bacon, is. 9d. to 25. 61 ; tobacco, .ss. ; gold, 70s. to 70s. Gd. ; freight from Melbourne, 91. to 141. Government were taking evidence u to new gold regu lations. Under the heading" Largest Mass of Gold in the World," the Geelong Advertiser announces the discovery of a mass of gold weighing at least 1201 b., and almost pure, being slightly veined with quartz. The fortunate finders were a party of four. It was their intention to proceed to Eng land with the gold. After finding the mass, glutted with gold fortune, they offered to sell the hole for 3001., but there was some hesitation, and they went down and got a nugget weighing 78 oz. A purchaser stepped forward, and the men retired with their fortunes made. The editor remarks :—" The value of such a mass of gold is incalculable—for it is unique —the last and greatest wonder of the world. The news from the western diggings ' generally is exceedingly favourable. A new life seems to have been infused into operations, and at the time when our informant left the commissioner's tent was crowded with persons depositing gold—too late, however ' for the present week's escort. The mam•noth mass will be brought down it is supposed by next Tuesday's escort, end already there is a talk of getting up a triumphal arch, or something of that sort, to celebrate the event. Canadian Gully, where the gold was found, is situate about four miles north west from Buninyong, and about two miles on this side of Ballarat." The Mount Alexander semi-weekly escort had brought down 10,803 ounces. The previous numbers were 11,189 from Bendigo, and 7,430 from the Mount ; Ballarat 3,126. The Mebounse Argus has taken a step which we believe its proprietors are correct in supposing to be unexampled in the history of newspapers. With all the appliances that could be mustered in the colony, no more than 10,000 copies per day could be struck off; and as the demand exceeded this number, and was constantly increasing, it was deemed necessary to announce that for the present, and until the arrival of new steam presses, no new subscribers were wanted. To the subscribers already on the list the piper would be supplied at the old price of 21. per annum ; to all °then the price was to be 41., and this was to continue until the fast-printing engines were received. The exact we.ght of the monster nugget had been ascer tained, and it was no lees than 134 lbs. Boz. The fortunate enders were to take their departure for England in the Sarah Sands steamer, which was to start, loaded with gold and passengers, on the 10th of February. Gold was still rising in price. On the 4th of February the price at Mel bourne was 31. 13s. 9d, while 31. 14s. was given for large parcels. At Sidney it will be seen the price was driven up by the competition of two banks whose agents were in the market as purchasers. As Australian gold is far above the standard fineness, those who purchased originally at 31.65. per oz. must have made large fortunes. At Sydney ' trade was exceedingly brisk, discount was favourable, the prices of colonial produce high, and the out-turn large. Amongst the articles urgently wanted in the Sydney mar ket was coffee. The steamer Melbourne under her new commander had had en excellent voyage, reaching Melbourne on the 4th of February. On the same day the 'hip Northumberland had cleared out taking home, on leave, Chief Justice A'Beckett of Victoria, a brother we believe of the celebrated contri butor to Punch, for which he wrote "The Comic Black• stone," de. Previous to his departure the Chief Justice received an address from the bar. The panne in the Queen's speech on transportation to the Australian colonies was correctly regarded as a virtual abolition of the system, and was hailed at Melbourne as " glorious new.." On the 4th of February, in the Legislative Council of Victoria, Dr. Thomson gave notice that tomorrow he would move that an address be presented to his Excellency the Lieut.-Governor praying that his Excellency would guaran tee to the Melbourne and Geelong Railway the amount of 6 per cent. interest on the paid up capital of 300,0001. From, a return of immigration which we shall quote, it appears that the arrivals at Port Phillip were, in December, 1852, vessels, 152; tonnage, 60,335; statute adults, 11,699. In January, 1863, vessels, 139; tons, 43,054; statute adults, 8,1014. The return is given to show what may be expected from a capitation tax of 61. which is already in operation as regards arrivals from the neighbouring colonic' ' and which after a few months will be levied from all arriv als indiscri minately. We do not understand the object of such a tax. A large and influential meeting of the independents had taken *es, repudiating in the strongest possible term. the doctzla broached by a Mr. Morrison that it was no infrac- Mee ag Ibair principles to receive grants of I and for chapels sot simmis. All true congregationalist& refuse state aid ta . Imp dep. We notice that a son of the lion. and Itev. Baptist Noel had arrived in the colony, and had been ap pointed a magistrate of Victoria. Several cases of death ham destitution and exhaustion are recorded as having occurred at Melbourne. At the end of 1862 it is calculated that the value of the precious metal exported from Victoria was no leas than 16,000,0001., from Sydney 3,500,0001. ; total, 19,500,0001. — or, in round numbers, 20 millions sterling. The yield in the beginning of 1853 was quite in proportion, if not larger. The population of the Australian colonies is now probably close on 700,000, and from them it is anticipated that in 1853 will be collected the enormous revenue of three mil lions sterling. That of Victoria will reach two millions; that of Sydney 600,0001; that of Van Diemen's Land about 200,0001; that of New Zealand, now that large gold fields have been discovered, will doubtless make up the differ ence. Here we may say, almost without a metaphor, that a nation is born in a day. We have notices of Horns the poet, and Swainson the naturalist, as denizens of the Golden Land ; while the Tas manian papers announce the escape of O'Donoghue " the last of the State prisoners." We have seen no account of the escape of Smith O'Brien. Western Australia does not seem to have benefitted to the extent that wu expected from being made a convict TIIIRSK AND MALTON AN!) HALTON AND colony. :6 - 1 - 1114:1 - 11:1) .161 1 L IVA Is. CELEBRATION OF TUE OFENING.—After encoun tering, during a period of nearly seven years, an array of difficulties and obstacles as numerous as they at times have appeared to be almost inauperable, the promoters of the above undertaking have at length succeeded, and that, too, in the most triumphant and satisfactory manner, in accom plishing the completion of these two important lines of railway, and in obtaining the sanction of government to their being opened for public traffic. Tits OPENINO TRIP took place on Thursday last, under circumstances peculiarly favourable. The opening train, which consisted of twelve carriages, drawn by a powerful engine, suitably decorated, and driven by T. Cabey, the engineer-in -chief of the York and North Midland Railway Company, left Melton between ten and eleven o'clock, and arrived at the Pihnoor Junction at a quart-r to twelve. At twelve o'clock the opening train was put iu motion, and made an entire trip of the whole distance be tween the Thirek Junction and Driffield. Oa the return of the traia at Melton a large party of gentlemen, number ing nearly a hundred, repaired to the Talbot Hotel, where the opening was further celebrated by a dinner. IrDe Court. OSI3ORNE, Fain Av. The Queen and Prince, with the I'rinceas Royal, accompanii d by the Duchess of Keat and Princtss Adelaide of flohenlohe, end attended by the Zilarelnosicia of Ely, drove over to Ryde yesterday afternoon and rvturced to Osborne at 7 o'clock. Lieut.• Col. the lion. A. Gordon attended on horseback. M. Mustang, the Turkish Mi n i s t er , t ransacte d b us i ness yesterday at the Forcign.office. M. Drouet hes returned from the continent to tyke charge of the Belgian legation, in the absence of M. Vra De Weyer. The Lord President of the Council and the Countess Granville returned to their residence, in Bruton-street, on Thursday night, from Dublin. Viscount Palmerston returned to his residence, in Carlton gardens, on Thursday night, from his seat, Bremner& Hants. The Lord Chancellor had an interview w i t h t h e noble Viscount yesterday at the Hoare-office. Mrs. Gladstone returned to town yesterday from Edin bridge. Lord Mulgrave transacted business yesterday at the Board of Trade. Despatches were sent from the C to the GON erner-General of Canada. yesterday COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday, pursuant to a requisition signed by a majority of its members, a special Court of Common Coun cil was convened by the Lord Mayor for the purple) of re ceiving petitions in favour of the City Railway Terminus, and for the consideration of such measures as might be proposed subsequently upon the subject. The court was convened for one o'clock, at which hour there was an unusually full attendance of members, and the galleries and passages were inconveniently crowded by the public. The proceedings lasted above three hours, during which there were presented 25 petitions from the 25 wards of the City, each of them signed by large numbers of the municipal electors and by banking, commercial, end trading firms of the respective localities ; a petition from 1,006 barristers and solicitors of the inns of court ; another from 3,400 of the inhabitants of Clerkenwell ; one from the rector, churchwardens, and vestry of St Andrew, Holborn ; one from the incumbent, churchwardens, and vestry of St. Peter, Saffron-hill ; one from the inhabitants of the liberty of Hatton-garden ; one from the salesmen of Newgate market ; erne from 1,000 butchers of the metropolis ; and lastly a memorial from the directors of the company. Mr. Lowrey and several gentlemen appeared at the bar in support of the petition from the banking and commercial interests of the City, and that gentleman was examined at considerable length upon the merits of the project and its importance to the City. Finally, all the petitions being presented, Mr. Deputy Harrison handed to the Town Clerk a resolution he ic ' tended to move, which was read, and the discussiun was ' adjourned until this day (Saturday), when it is expected there will be a full attendance of the public as well as the I member' of the court. Mr. H. L. TAVLOIL moved the following, which was carried, and ordered to be referred to the Officers and Clerks Committee :—" That it be referred to a committee to inquire into the nature, duties, and emoluments of the office of Chamberlain of the City; to reconsider the terms and conditions of the appointment, and forthwith to report to this court as to any and what alteration it is desirable should be made in reference thereto, or to the office gene rally." Adjourned. RYE ELECTION. -THE NOMINATION. RYE, FIUDAY. The nomination of the candidates fur the repre sentation of this borough in parliament took place to-day at the Town The candidates, as our readers arc aware, are Mr. R. C. Pomfrett, a banker in the town of Rye, and Mr. J. A. Mackinnon, the father of the late member, who it will be remembered upon a petition being presented against his return declined to defend his seat. The subsequent pro teeth, ga and the endeavour made by the motion of Mr. Bass to suspend the issuing of the writ on the ground of the bribery and corruption that had prevailed Co turn-er occasions in the borough will be fresh in the recollection of our readers. Mr. Pomfrett is a gentleman of considerable influence in the borough, and who avows free trade princi ples, and the chief point of the opposition to his return is the fact of his having signed with sixty-two other gentle men the petition to the House of Commons praying for some legislative enactment with reference to the borough before anew writ was issued, which it is urged was tanta mount to an endeavour to obtain the disfranchisement of the borough. The precept for the election, the writ, and the other formal documents baying been read, Mt. I'. S. Pi.taxxv, the mayor of the borough, ad dressed the electors upon the important nature of the duty they were called upon to perform, observing at the soma time that there was no doubt that after what had occurred before tne committee of the Rouse of Commons the eyes of the country would be upon them during the present eke tion, and he trusted they would show by their conduct that they were deserving of the important privilege of the elec tivd franchise. (Hear, hear.) Mr. TituMill Lsoo then proposed Mr. Pomfrett as a fit and proper person to represent this ancient borough in parliament ; and Mr. T.S. PIN seconded the nomination. Mr. H. M. CUIITIEB proposed IT Mackinnon. He characterised the proceedings of the parties who had pe titioned the House of Commons, and who had, he said, ruked up inquiries [extending so far back as a period of twenty year:, as most dishonourable and disgraceful. He said that the parties had failed in proving anything against the borough, but he called upon the electors not to support • gentleman who bad sanctioned such proceedings by sign ing the petition, and thus endeavoured to deprive them of their rights. Mr. HOLLOWAY seconded the nomination. I'uNIFILETT addressed the electors at considerable length, and in the course or his speech he denied that he was actuated by any intention to disfranchise the borough. (Cries of "ON oh," and groans.) He had nothing whatever to do with the first petition that was signed by seventeen persons, and the subsequent inquiry that was instituted was under the authority of the House of Commons itself. It was true that the committee bad re ported that there was no evidence of bribery having been practised in the borough, but the system of making loans for the purpose of obtaining influence over the electors which was proved before them to have existed in the borough, they at the time expressed their opinion to be worse than direct bribery, and he said he had under these circumstances certainly signed a petition praying that the writ might not issue until some legislative enactment bad been passed to put an end to that system, which he consi dered gave an undue and improper influence to certain par ties in the town. Mr. DIACICINNON also addressed the electors at some length, his speech, however, being almost entirely confined to the local matters connected with the .borough and the proceedings before the committee of the Houle of Commons. lie also said that, although his honourable of ponent bad told them that there was very little difference between their political opinions, he felt called upon to express his opinion that there was • very great difference between them, fur he declared himself to be a liberal and a free-trader to the very fullest extent, while there could be very little doubt that, although his honourable opponent felt compelled to avow himself a free tr►der on the present occasion, that he was in reality a tory, and flint if he had the opportunity be would assist Lord DerMPln obtaining what was called protection. Upon the show of hands being taken, ft was declared in favour of Mr. Mackinnon. A poll was demanded on behulf of Mr. Pomfrett, which was fixed to commute at sight 'clock this (Saturday) morniiig, and will finally cloae at four. A NOVELTY AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS--alwnya ono of the attractive places of outdoor amusement in London—afforded yesterday the first view of a novelty likely to be most popular. Heretofore we have had lions, tigers, elephants, and other heroes of the eastern foresta—eamels of the desert, the hippopotamus of the Upper Nile, giraffes from the interior of Africa, blanderin ducks from China, bears Iron the Arctic seas, and divers other cu rious and rare importations to gratify our curio sity and enlarge our knowledge of the animal world. Another region altogether has now been hid under contribution. A glass-house has been set up in the gardens, around which large glsaasided tanks are ranged, in which, surrounded by sea-plants and floating in genuine sea water, we now have specimens of the most curious inhabitants of the depths of the ocean. The secrets hitherto known only to fishes and mermaids are laid open to all who choose to know them; for there, ranged round about this kind of aquatic conservatory, are now to be seen the strange looking star-fish, alive and flourishing, "sea-urchins,' sea ansmoncs, rare actineas, mollusci, ssicelians, rare fish, and other creatures hitherto beyond ordinary ken in any other way than by plates is books or natutal Listory. The novelty is certainly complete and the interest very great, and those who formerly ran after the hippopotamus may now pt rhaps find equal amusement in the more remote but not lets curious living novelties of mthoismandeuwm we e las ha a ve hou t sc he . fu l l n low a ing ser ro t ug o h f o li tti st sia o l f me morne Viva andumanimals C . t t u d s Z oolog ic a l presenth e e ri a S n o e Tank. — Crustaceans—Crabs, yo r ' Yb a 4 , severalr: d p d ei species.dur'n t crabs,R eg en t 's 2 . n ‘ Mh Tank.—Star fish nrami — lst s e fish and Sea Urchins—Common starfish, brittle star, pal mipes, unster, &c. 3rd Tank . — Sea Anemones—Aetineas of several species, including some of the rarest upliroditc, &c. 4th Tank.—Hollusca, Aseidians, and Fish—Trochus, and several other genera of British shells ; barnacles, and several species of ascidians. The fish are the blenny, fifteen-soincd stickleback, urasse, and cottus bubalis. sth and 6th Tank contain, in addition to aetinias and ascidians of large size, several of the nudibrauck mollusca, such as molls and &iris, ashen°, and other interesting animals. The fresh water tanks contain pike, chub, perch, minnows, gud geon, and blue roach, or atherine, a rare British fish, con fined originally to Lancashire. The specimens in possession of the society are from Lincolnshire, and were presented by Sir Robin Heron, who received his stock from the late Lord Derby.