The Express. — London, England, 1851-12-18 00:00:00

ghe erprefiss. TO CORKESPONDEWITI. • Pee 4&Wm' v tw rarer e." astaiatat •he NMI ire Bette, te pebliebed every Teueiay arm Miley e4kit, it time ler pod. • A.l•ff ...erstatiser•Jed ker Espies." beaks Zwer'.oe pier mow Mlt the flabf, Ileuevei•sereet, Tiro o'e.osh Ile 111011 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE Tuns a,—Loeb. Ob. M. Alters:es, 36a. terviissew—lietailig. n.. ..... ..Aftineses. ur. 395. LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER is. Lord Dstnoesut's ungenerous and insolent demand, are now as conveniently fresh in the recollection of our contemporary's cheats—when the money has been found. Instabilities of opinion such as these might be safely left to the discernment of a public quick to detect in consistencies were ii 'not that then: is still reason to apprehend that,—under this semblance of juster views and a better appreciation of the question, — still lies concealed the old animus the animus which has for twenty years been hostile to the continued existence of the Deccan as a native state, with a native court, with a native trade, with a native society, with native institutions, with a na tive army, and with a native population unaccus tomed to our dominion. Let us not, then, be quite sure that this amusing change of opinion in the co lumns of the Times, —thougeapparently for the better, —involves any real change of policy. For what, after all, it practically amounts to is an alternative sug gestion of a very suspicious character. " Either the contingent should be placed more at the disposal of the NIZA3I, or it should be brought more to the charge of the Company." The notion first of' keeping up a great subsidiary force in the Deccan which has nothing on earth to do except to consume and eat up, unprofitably, the reve nues of the ceded districts,—which has not smelt any powder but its own for the last thirty years,—and which exists to protect the NIzAM against foreign foes, who themselves have no existence; — and then, instead of allowing that Prince to have te use in his internal affairs of this army, for which he surrendered the ceded districts, to force another great army on him on that pretence and then to deny him its use—and lastly to drive hint into the neces sity of c,uploying a third army of his own, which, because it in sonic degree is available by him, the British government hates and detests and slanders— this is sufficiently absurd. But this state of things, the alternative suggestion meets or remedies most im perfectly. For if " the contingent be placed more at the dis posal of the himin; then, of course, he will be re quired to disband his native army; and, having dis banded it, he will be at the entire ne:rcy of the East India Company. For, try and disguise it as we please, it is quite as much the existence, the ardour, and the temper of his native troops that have saved the Deccan, as payment of Lord DAtitoustes demand. And what is really aimed ut now, as the next step in the destruction of the SIZAId, is to place him mili tarily within our power, by getting rid in the Deccan of all troops not entirely under our control. The alternative is that the contingent "should be brought more to the charge of the Company." This is perfectly just and proper in itself: for the , Company now have the revenue oldie ceded districts without any corresponding advuntage to the NIZ.tM ; and if they will keep up troops in the Deccan for their own, and not for his or his subjects' purposes, the Company ought to pay for them. To bring the , contingent more to the charge of the Company would greatly relieve the Nrz.in's finances. But he would , still require troops of his own to carryon his govern , merit. TUE first want of France,—the grand thing to be desired by those who look to a dehaitive settlement and pacification of that country,—is, or rather was, a reconciliation between the upper and lower classes of I society. It was the total breach, the wide schism, between those classes, created by, or at least termi nating in, the communistic tendeucies of the one class and the ultra-conservative tendencies of the other, that has ruined France, and laid its liberties and its existence at the feet of an usurper. We have often said, and we again repeat, that no one will suc ceed in lwcaming permanent head of the French nation unless he succeeds in effecting this great com promise, this vital reconciliation. there was, perhaps, no person better placed to effect this compromise than Louts NAPOLI:ON, previous to his late COllll or when he first assumed the office of President. lie was sufficiently strong in conserva• tive support, and in the necessary adhesion of the wealthier classes, to bare addressed the people in sonic other language than that of bayonet and re pression. By allowing full scope and play to discus sion and association, and to the ventilation of ideas, he might, whilst putting down conspiracy, have soon convinced the communists of the folly of their schemes, or at least exposed them to the ridicule of all. 'fbe demands of the more rational of the popular party could easily have been reduced to some standard conioatible with society and with government. And the Notional Assembly, instead of being an arena Mr the conflicting . passions and mutual challenges of the two classes, m ight have been made the scene and the means of their common understanding. After all, kid Lolls Nll'ol.eoSl the true sense of ' his own interests and position, it is with the people he would have identified himself. Ilia birth, his name, and the respect borne to both by the working classes, mid by no other, suggested such a policy. But th e dandy of the west end of London could not stoop to be anything less than the heir of an Emperor; and so tic trusted Ms fortunes and his political guidance to the representatives of the wealthier classes, all of whom placed their hopes and reposed their fealty in a very different dynasty from his. thie might have thought that when Louts NAP°. Eros had made full discovery ut this; when lie had seen that the other monarchic parties would never more tolerate him, and would never let pass an op portunity for conspiring meting him, or against the republic ; one would think such a conviction would have prompted the PierAtiesr to ad dress himself sincerely to the lk °plc. It was, perhaps, nut tea late on the second of December. If there ever lurked a really generous and liberal ten dency in Lours NAPOLEON, it must have displayed its. It then. It could :tut be then said that he stood in awe of the Aseemblv, or that he was compelled to bow to its majority. Ile was master of his actions, and free to profess any doctrine. And yet he ehooeos this very moment to profess in the face of the world the most retrograde principles of government of the two most retrograde schools. All that is bigoted in legitininer. with all that is violent and arbitrary in a purely military . government, unite to form the ChM. tit tee and political creed of LOU us Nerott.os. We call conceive such a policy, if representative or parliamentary government was to be continued, and if it were necessary to win over some hundred mem bers of a hostile majority. But parliaments are at an end, and the word majority . a delusion. The question is, of what use legitim ist adhesion will be to Louts Naeotros: throughout the country. We may answer at MICe, that it will do as much harm as guod, aid produce as much weakness as strength. Fur every pirtisan who may be won from the high noblesse and the ultra-montane clergy to last us NAPOLI:IIN, an hundred liberal Mull will be disgusted. Besides, all the charlotanerie of the PRI:SIDI:NT will never win over the more respectable and moderate of either the legitimists or of the churchmen. That Pitthhrierrs of France,—the Bishop of Cif Uintr-4,—ulay write circular lsistora!s in Nara atria's favour; and Count MON T.l LEM ItlitT nay intercede for him, by alleging that people may sup port him without becoming approvers of all his acts. I But this will not affect such met, as the Due de No or the Archbishop of PAU'S. It is but the very ultra section of the legitimists that will go with him and the more ultra-montane of the clergy. And And that requirementdiseloses the real question at issue. The Niz.tw is a sovereign prince, whom the East India Company is afraid of allowing to have the means, the freedom, and the power of governing the Deccan. By the Company's restrictions, impo sitions, treaties, and constant interference the. Nusst's power for good is paralysed. Ile is placed a position false to the Company and falser to his own people; he is under more than Egyptian bondage ; bricks are required from, though straw is denied, him ; he is surrounded by overwhelming strength, the object of perpetual hostile criticism, the aim of constant in trigues. All India regards him as doomed; the annexation of his immense country would yield a rich harvest of patronage at home; his destruction would be in conformity with our general policy of aggression. !lard, and difficult, and heroic is the struggle of this unfortunate Prince to preserve his state and to prolong his dynasty. And if we take a deep interest in his fate, it is rather to use it as an instructive warning to ourselves, than in the ex pectation of averting it ; —even though we have by the discussion succeeded in teaching the Times at least one lesson in the history of British India. sine effect of this will be to create or to widen the schism which =hits both in the legitimist party and in the Frendt ehurch—a schism that, far from diminishing the enemies or opponents of LOUIS NA POLEON, will %try seriously and widely increase them. Should, however, even the apparent result be that the legitimists., as a body, lend a silent and passive support to Louts NAPtILF:ON, whilst the constitution alists abstain altogether, and hold aloof alike from the hustings and front political discussion, then it will become trident to the people that their cause, as well as that of liberty of all and of every• kind, has been abandoned by the upper classes, and that the only hope of recovering those blessings without whit h life has neither dignity nor security rests with the working classes. Of all the convic tions that could ezpond through France, we own that this is the tuost serious. For the abdication of the wealthy, the high-born, and the highly educated, —listing the post of danger and of duty to those beneath them,—gives a new force to those doctrines which represent the people as alone possessed of cou rage and of virtue, and which depict wealth and rank as the great corrupter and degrader of the citizen. This doctrine, with the state of things and of opinion on which it is founded, prevails not inertly in France, but extends over Germany and Italy, through a great portion of Europe. And it is such confessions and admissions as these which give new force and vitality to _parties and to causes that are led by such men as ?Junto. It is such an universal bowing of the head and prostra timi of the spirit which compels such spirits as Kos strit—men who never rest, and who cannot despair —it is this which drives them to look and to cry for help no longer to the cowed upper classes or effemi nate educated ones, but to the broad, untutored, and uncompromising popular masses. THE 7Vine3,— the organ, it is to be hoped, of what is far more important, the directors of the East India Company. has, in the affairs of the Deccan, veered round to the point whence we long ago started in the discussion. The Times now admits that the WHAM is a Sovereign Prince, who, though in subor dinate alliance with the English government, has nevertheless well defined rights, which arc not to be disregarded and set at naught, whenever a °overflew- General is far enough from constitutional advisers, to think of " annexing" the NtrAn's dominions. A few months ago, It was, we were told, mere senti ment to talk of the continued existence of the Niz.su ; now our proposition is repeated for such a revision of the existing relations with his Highness as shall give him further securities for the prolonga tion of his dynasty. Then Lord DALHOUSIE was urged to deprive him of every inch of the Deccan ; now he is recommended to give him greater power ' therein over the Hyderabad contingent commanded by British officers. Then the NIZASI was describ‘d as a Prince utterly regardless of his duties to the British government; now the obligations imposed on him by that government are found out to be too weighty for him to bear. Then the whole course of anterior history—how we, after the downfall of TH.rno SULTAN, first rewarded the Nir.a3s with the ceded districts, and then took them from him; how we forced on him a great subsidiary force to protect hint against the 'Mahrattas, and then kept it up for our own purposes after the Muhrattas were de 'trot vd ; how we deluded him into the payment of a Hyderabad contingent to carry on his internal affairs, and then won't allow him to have the use of it ; how he was consequently obliged to raise for himself on Arab army of his own ; and how the finances of the Deccan broke down under this accumulation of wrong and injustice. All these things, conveniently forgotten whilst it was supposed the NIZAM could not pay THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18. PH. FRANCE. rARIs, Will:FL/11MT EVIISING. el announces that General Ca• reigna; was set at liberty . yesterday morning. Anxious to ascertain if this important news were worthier of credit than some other statements emanating from the same source, I called at No. 17, Rue de Helder, the house of General csvaig nac, and learned from his servant that he was cer tainly at liberty although he had not reached home. He was expected to-night. I am told that the gene ral's marriage with Mademoiselle Odier was solemnised in the fort at Ham, and that the newly-married pair are about to take their departure for Holland, where the family of Madame Odier reside. It appears pro bable that the expectation of the general's house hold with regard to his visit to Paris will not be realised. _ _ The Public, a new Bonapartist journal, now sold in the streets for the price of the stamp, only one sous--and consequently at a loss to somebody— published a letter purporting to be an adhe sion of General Cavaignoc to the Presi dent. M. de Morny has written to the journal to say that the government does not wish to surprise the fa ith of any one, and that it is certain that the letter quoted by them was not written by General Cavaignac. The Minister of the Interior has addressed the fol lowing letter to the Prefect of Police : _ . Paris, Dee. 16, 1851. Monsieur le Prefet,—You have taken cognizance of the decree passed on Dec. 8 against former convicted persons, who have broken their ban, and against persons convicted of affiliation to secret societies. This decree is not to be a dead letter, but must be executed with persevering energy. I beg you to take with this view the promptest measures. The capital must he absolutely cleared of all the im pure and dangerous elements upon which the decision of the government can be brought to bear. Those agitators who mislead weak men and prepare revolutions, must be sent out of Paris, and if need be, out of France. Paris must cease to be the refuge of outlaws of all countries, and the rendezvous of men whose business is to imperil society. I rely on your zeal, and I ant convinced that you think as I do, that it is time to impress on these men who have plagued the country for thirty years past a salutary terror, invader to re-assure good citizens, and to Five to honest work security and good prospects.—The Minister of the Interior, A. DE MOREY. - • The Minister of the Interior has addressed a circu lar to the Prefects, ordering the dissolution of all corps of National Guards which cannot be trusted at the present moment; and the provisional supply of vacant commands, election being now out of the question, by citizens who can be relied upon. The arms not used arc to be carefully removed to the arsenals._ _ The representation of the drama of "Richard Dar lington has been prohibited, on account of the ti redo against ambitious persons. The law which is about to regulate the press will, I am assured, subject each ;grant of a journal to a tort of license, which will be withdrawn from him without any previous ceremony, after two warnings from the government on the nature of the polemics followed by the journal. I hear that M. Emile de Oirardin has sold his shares in the Pram to the Elysee for a million of francs. Besides the felicitations that the President has re ceived from the courts of the North, I hear that a splendid carriage and four first-rate hones have been presented to bum by the Emperor of Austria. The creation of a ministry of police is spoken of, and M. Carlier is mentioned as the personage who is to be installed in this new office. But the talkative disposition of the ex-prefect of police is regarded with distrust by the taciturn occupant of the Elysee. The extraordinary commissioners proved, on ac count of their dictatorial powers, a great source of embarrassment. For clashing orders sometimes came from head-quarters which threw the arrange ments of the commissioners into confusion. Thus, two prefects arrived at Bermes at the same moment, to take possession of the command of the department of Ile-et•Vilaine—one appointed by M. Maurice Duval, and another by the government. The regiments of Africa, I hear to-day, have voted against the President, and throughout Algeria there prevails a hostile feeling to his policy. Several regiments have voted in the negative, and others abstained. On this account the votes of the army are no longer published. The Elysee is greatly piqued also at the hostile votes of the Ecolo Polytechnique, the Ecolo de St. Cyr, the Ecole d'Application at Metz, and the pupils of the military hospital of the Val de Grace. The gratification given to the troops during the days of the I , liaelite was some francs daily to each soldier, of 501 r. paid at once to each non-commis sioned officer, of 110 fr. for the captains, 1201 r. for the lieutenantF, and of 150 fr. for the sub-lieutenants. It will excite your surprise to hear that the latter officers received a higher remuneration than the ' lieutenants; but such is the case 1 am assured from a spume which cannot be doubted. . . The adjudication of the Avignon Railway has been postponed to January 3, in consequence of the fol lowing alterations made by decree in the law on the Lyons and Avignon Railway : Art. 1. The text of the second paragraph of Article 1 of the law of Der. 1, 15,51, is modified and replaced by the following provision : The ratios (difference of offers) shall apply to the amount of the fixed convention at the charge of the state. The Minister of Public Works shall determine in a scaled letter the maximum above wtich the adjudication cannot take place. This maximum shall not exceed 60 millions. Art. 2, Articles 3 and 4 of the crthierdes changes annexed to the said law are modified at lollowa : Art. 3. The Minister of Public orks engages to pay, by way of suliveution, a sum, which shall in no case ere •ed 130,000,000 fr. The company is to submit to the approbation of the administration the detailed plans and estimates of the gores (termini), stations, and ateliers, as well as the acqui sitions of grounds necessary fur their establishment. Art. 4. The subvention at the charge of the state shallb; delivered in3o equal payments, the company being charged to prove the realisation and employment ; for the first 1.5, of a sum exceeding by 50 per cent. the amount of each pay ment ; for the last 15, of a sum calculated so that the com pany shall have paid 50 millions when the state shall have paid the whole amount of the subvention at its charge. The decree of the President of the Republic, min ting to the matters to be submitted to the " Section d'Adminiatration" of the consultative commission directs that the projects of regulations of public ad ministmt;on, and of decrees on the registration of bulls and other nets of the Holy Sec; proceedings against ecclesiastical authorities for abuse of power; authorisation of religious congregations, and the verification of their statutes ; authorisation of proceedings against agents of the government; natu ralisations; maritime captures; tae creation of tei bunaba of commerce, or of conseils de prud'hommes ; concession of portions of the domain of the state and concessions of mines; the authorisation of societes It is really nauseating to hear the boastful manner in which the soldiers narrate their exploits in shoot ing down and bayonetting harmless people during the days of the e,ne+tte. At the Tuileries I am assured that some of the soldiers were seen loading their muskets with balls cut in quarters. This was said to be done by order. Count Bcugnot, not content with having printed some thousands of cards to inform the people that he is not a member of the consultative commission, has written a letter to the President, in which he pro tests against the dishonour conferred upon him in the following terms After your perjury of the 2nd of Dec. you thought fit to appoint me member of the consultative commission, without having consulted me. I think it my duty to in form you that I should deem myself dishonoured by ac cepting such omission. The following letter, addressed by M. de Monte lembcrt to the Constitatiound, w ill confirm to you my statement with regard to the intentions and statements of M. de Falloux : Paris, 10th litlitor,—ln your number of yester day, you inform me that a provincial journal has declared, on the faith of a letter written by me, that M. de 1•'allou= advised all the legitimists to vote in favour of Louis Napoleon. I never wrote or said anything of the kind. 1 confined myself to repeating, accord lug to the wish of M. de Fallen: himself. that be and his best authorised friends had counselled their party not to deposit a single negative vote in the ballot of the 20th December. 1 beg of you to be kind enough, sir, to insert, as soon as possible, this correction, which fairness demands, and which the absence of M. de Falloux renders the more obligatory. At the Bourse the Five per Cents. rose 75e., and closed at 101.23. The Threes rose 1.30, and closed at 64.240. Bunk of France shares fell 20fr. Railways were generally well supported. (1110 M AN °CC/MA/NAL CORREi4PONDENT.) PARIS, DEC. 16. Crowds of people, in many instances obstructing the street, are seen from day to day at all the twelve mairics of Paris, eager to inscribe themselves as electors. To do this, it is necessary to present a certificate of birth, proving the bearer to be in the first place a Frenchman, and in the next place 21 years of age, and then to give satisfactory evidence that he has resided in Pans for the previous six mouths. anonymes, and tontines; the cNtablisbment of depart mental roads, canals, branch railways; and other mutters heretofore in the department of the council of state, arc to be submitted to committees. These formalities complied with, the applicant's name is taken, and if, on examination, it is found that he has never been a convict, and that he is in the enjoyment of his other political rights, he is then inscribed on the electoral list, and entitled to his electoral card, which will be delivered to him on either of the three days immediately preceding the election. The ilys(!e is at this moment besieged by the de mands of the military,who follow the rule of striking while the iron is hot. I hear that the colonel of a regiment was telling, at mess, in high-flown style, the brilliant reception he had met with from the President, and encouraging the officers with hopes of rich rewards. " Yes,' replied a captain, " but there is another regiment still higher in favour at the Elysee than ours." "Which is that ?" The captain then mentioned the regiment which invaded the As sembly; and added that the President, as a token of his great contentment, had embraced the colonel who had captured the questors. You will have seen, by my letter of yesterday, by what breach of confidence this was done. and infer the degree of honour to be attached to personal distinction lavished for such services. Dupin has excited general disgust by having re tained his place of procureur-general to the Court of Cessation. It is evident that the government counted on his poltroonery, or he would have been arrested. The announcement of the Convtitutionnel that the decrees for appointing a parliamentary ge neral, found in the apartment of M. Baze, were stamped with the seal of the presidency without the knowledge of Duple, is a painful indication of the tergiversation of the head of the Assembly against his colleagues ; and a general belief is expressed that the questors could not possibly have been guilty of using the seal of the president surreptitiously. There appears in the Coistitationnei an apology for the coup detat, said to be written by an eminent lawyer, and generally attributed, from its style, to the pro cureur-generul of the Court of Caseation. The results of an inquiry instituted into the cir cumstances which attended the cannonding of the houses on the south side of the Boulevard l'oisson niere have been communicated to me from a private source, and are such as to deserve attention. AI. Bil lecocq, the proprietor of the house which has suffered most, I mean the shawl-magazine next to the house of M. Sallandrouze, was out on business when the boulevard was invested with troops. The firing had not yet commenced when he returned, and found, to his amazement and horror, a battery of heavy guns pointed against his house, with gunners match in hand. He made his way to the colonel in command of the artillery, and inquired the meaning of this extraordinary measure for the destruction of the ha bitation, property, and family of a peaceable and nnoffending citizen. The colonel replied that the prefect of police had signalised the house to him as one where secret seditious meetings were held. lie added that insurgents were evidently there, as a shot had been fired from the windows on the troops. In vain M. Billecocq protested that he knew every soul in the house, which was inhabited only by beings of the most harmless description. Orders were given to diseharie the cannon. A breach was soon effected in the entresol. In this part of the house there lodged a bill-broker, who was engaged with his clerk in removing his effects as speedily as possible out of shot-range. A fragment of the shattered wall knocked the old man down, while the clerk fell from fright. Thus they both lay, fortunately without receiving further hurt, until the entrance of the troops, when they were extricated from the ruins of the battered walls. These peaceful operations are going on very quietly. To-morrow the curds will be flying about in every direction. No operation could be more peaceful or pleasant: so much more agreeable are ballots than bullets. And yet some one has said that " too often the ballot is the threat of which the bul let is the execution." May it not prove so in this instance ! At the President's reception last evening, all the ambassadors were present except the American, who has not presented himself at the Elysee since the coup traut. I have this last fact on authority. The United States being a constitutional republic, and the people of that country having iin almost super stitious reverence for their constitution, the course of Mr. Rives, towards a President who has deliberately violated his constitutional oath, is perfectly The insurrection in the Basses Alpes is now said to be completely repressed, except at Bareelonette, which still holds out. The prefect has gone thither with troops. _ . . A pamphlet entitled ‘. Des Principes en matier• de coups crkat," and supposed to be written by Louis Napoleon, has just been published. The documents seized in the apartments of MM. Bare and LAO have been placed in the hands of the legal authorities, and the questors and thcir accom plices in the alleged plot for the usurpation of the ex, cutive power are to be subjected to a formal trial. To-day the Siecle reappears, and is even sold upon the boulevards, whence, us you are aware, all liberal journals were, as long as they escaped the censure, banished by the prefect of police. But now, their 'eeth are knocked out, and their clams are pared, all liberty is granted to the poor mutilated things to get sold anywhere they can. "How cruel are the mercies of the 14 ielLti ." natural and justifiable. The general rule, hoWever, of American diplomacy kas been to accept at once the government de facto. In 1830, when Charles X. was deposed, Mr. Rush, then the American minis ter, was the first to recognise Louis-Philippe; and in 181$ he was equally prompt to recognise the pro visional government. The present care, however, is exceptional. It is understood, however, of course, that if the people ratify the course of Louis Napo leon by electing him as their " chief;' Mr. Rives will then feel bound to acknowledge his authority. Another significant fact is that the Archbishop of Paris has not yet acknowledged the usurper. This will have some effect on the vote of Paris ; but not enough, it is feared, to affect materially the result. It is reported that Leon Faucher regrets the course he has taken. He was not weather-wise. That he is allowed to remain in Paris after his decided and manly letter to the President, refusing to serve on his packed council, is proof enough that the govern ment has nothing to fear from him. The Presidents of the Court of Caseation, and the Court of Appeal, have given in their adhesion ; and other notabilities are "coming round" from every quarter. Indeed it is plain enough that, for the present, Louis Napoleon will have his own way. I have no other news. The reign of terror and tranquillity continues, and Paris is rejoicing over au armed peace. The streets are no longer patrolled by troops; but the soldiers are lounging about the wine shops and eating their " laurels. Patches of white paper on innumerable shop windows continue to in dicate to the passer-by the panes which were perfo rated during the recent battles; while groups of curious people dotted about here and there, show plainly enough the locations of the 50 barricades. Business still lags, though the Exchange answers to the official wires and works to a charm; people say the Bourse is Fould. It is rumoured today that the late Prefect, M. Cartier, is to be appointed Minister of Police. ILIMMIEK Irbe (Court. OSBORNE, WEDNESDAY. The Queen and Prince, with tiw royul children, walked and rode yesterday as usual. The Marchioness of Ely arrived from Loudon, to succeed the Marchiosess of Douro as Lady-in-suiting to her Majesty. Lady Douro remains at Osborne on aYi it. The party at diner included the Marchioness of Douro and the lion. Colonel Phipps. Mr.W. 11. Simms had an interview with Earl Grey yester day at the Colonial-office. Mr. Kennedy had also an hater view with the roffile Earl. Sir George Grey left town yesterday, for Osborne, Isle of Wight, on u visit to her Majesty. The Oxford University Commission hod a meeting yester day, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Tree s:Wu Downing-street. Present: The Bishop of Nor the Dees of Carlisle, the Master of Pembroke, the Rev. 11. G. Liddell, J. L. Dampier, Esq., the Rev. Pro ' fewer rowel!, the Rev. G. 11. S. Johnson, and the ltev. A. P. Stinky (secretary.) The Cansbiidge University Commission had • meeting yesterday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. Present: The Bishop of Chester, the Dean of Ely. Sir John Herschel, the Rev. Professor Sedgwick, and the Rev. W. H. llateson (secre- The ) Marquis of Lansdowne left the seat of Earl For teseue. in Devonshire, yesterday, for The Orange, Aires ford, Hants, on • visit to Lord Ashburton. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office from the Governor of the Manikins. WYATT INDIA STGASIER9. The Medway, which left Southampton yesterday, with the West India and Pacific mails, took out above 120 passengers. Nearly half of them were booked for Chartres, on their way to Cali fornia, and consisted of miners sent out by the new Califor nian Ovid Mining Companies. Many of the miners are from Cornwall. The West India steamer, Amazon, ar rived in Southampton Uuck on Tuesday afternoon, from London : she left London on Saturday last, but was obliged to heave-too beyond Gravesend on account of a dense fog, The Ammon is the first completed of the new Beet of gigantic steamen which will shortly belong to the West India Company. The Amazon is the largest steam-packet afloat; she will, it is expected, take out the West India and Mexican mail of the 2nd proximo, and in that case will re am to Southampton about the Sth of March. She will be commanded by Captain Chapman, of the Brazilian packet Tay. The Orinoco, another of the gigantic packets, will be ready for sea in about a month's time. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN LIVERPOOL: yesterday morning (Wednesday), about three o'clock, a fire was dis covered in the extensive warehouses of Messrs. Verdun and Cullen, general merchants, St. James's-street, Liverpool, and before assistance could be rendered the whole of the buildings with their contents, and a considerable portion of the adjacent property, were enveloped in flames. Messrs. V. and C. are also extensive cattle salesmen and corn mer , chants ; and the previous night no less than 1,000 barrels of I Sour were taken into the upper warehouse. We have made ' inquiries on the spot, but are unable to ascertain any au thentic particulars as to the origin of the disaster. The premiss s and merchandise were only partly insured. NATIONAL PROVIDENT INSTIITTION.—A special meeting of the members was held yesterday at the Louden Tavern, Mr. Lucas in the chair. It was called in conserpience of the passing of the act of parliament, 13th and lith N ic., c. 115. by which the members were deprived of the power of appointing nominees in respect of any new investments, in lieu of which the society acquired the power of granting annuities, which it had not previously possessed. The object was to bring the rules and regulations of the society into conformity with the act. On tl.e motion of Mr. P. O. Dodd, the rules were altered in the manner proposed by the directors. A COW IN A PASTRTCooo.—Yesterday morning much alarm was created in the vicinity of Middlesex 110 a. pital by the following mischievous career of a cow belong log to Mr. Shaw, of Wells-street, who had sent a man with a horse and cart to his farm at Hendon to fetch up the 1 I animal, which being young and very lively, he gave three- tiaras should be brought by a halter to its neck and faa tamed to the tail board. This was done, and the cow hay ing behaved quietly throughout the journey, the rope was untied on reaching the cow-shed door in Wells-street, when, finding its head loose, it immediately scampered off the same way it had come, butting at every out who at tempted to stop it. Having knocked down a boy and a whet were thrown some yards, it went along Mortimer street at the same speed, till coming to Cheat Portland street, it turned sharply therein. A lady and gentleman, wha were on the pavement a yard or two off, sought shelter in the chop of Mr. James,astrecook, No. 13. The animal holted in after them, s od before they could mska good their retreat, the cousat,r-flsp being down, butt cl enel so violently as to tear their dirsees to rihands, besides hiflict ing much personal injury. In Pa plunging it broke do* n the counter, destroying the pastry and Rhin dishes, Wilt% it saudenly slipped down, falling on its side. Some napes were then thrown over its head, and being f incited, tie,i to one of the hind ler, in which position, he the aid of a per-ons, it was dragged into the stre e t an I t Diu ato a shed. LATEST FOREIGN EXCHANGES. Fm Account. l ie Lower Clnging . • - - G 330 B{lo . 100 40 101 23 ... ... • 6624.25 ' rya.. U. at I PP iti°ll i Righmt 3 per Ceuta. 64 0 twr Canta. per Cents. I t do. New Loan per IN.ws. ifielwags as tendon; at algal, 22 171 ; 0 . Beduin, S. 1610 LW. 3, 14.2 — Roma L o an, 1 9 . 0 07 Do. 4 Do. 2 1 1whannt n. Nuts 9l ... Bank Shores .....2310 ... PAkII, DEC. 17.—St. Germain, 450; Versailles (right bank). 251; do. (left bank). 22130 ; Parr. and 1711 ans, 1,002 SO ; Paris and mum 650 ; Rouen and Mane, 240 • Mar/lento and Avignon. .17 30, iitraebourg and Bale, 173 73 ; Cents., 490 ; Boulogne and Malmo, 290; Orleans and Bordeaux, 392 30; Northern, 306 25; Pao a':.' Okra-Anura, 411 23; Tours and Nantvs, .1 7 3 73; llionterean and 1 royee. 113 ; Dieppe and Feesrup, 230. MADRID, DEC. 12.—Three per Cents., 37; ; after Boise, 371. Four per Cents., Five per Cents., 161 ; after Boles, 161. Coupons, —; after Bolos, 8. Passives, 5;; after Bolsa, 5 7-16 to t c . Bank of St. Ferdinand, 98 c. Exchange on London, 50.50 p. 30 f i 67 no 100 70 I lot 60 SPAIN, SETTLEMENT OF THE CUBAN AFFAIR. MADRID, DEc. 12. It is very doubtful whether the session of the Cortes will be resumed after the Queen's confine. ment. 'I here is a talk of approaching changes in the corps diplomatique. The following is the note of the Hon. Daniel Webster (referred to in yesterday's Express):— " The undersigned, &c., has the houour of acknowledging the cote which Don Angel Calderon de la blares, Minister Plenipotentiary of her Must Catholic Majesty, did him the honour to send him on the 14th of October, with reference to the exces-es committed in New Orleans. M. Calderon de la Bares has written and acted on that occasion with his customary zeal and fidelity to his government, and has found, and will find, the government of the United States disposed and ready to listen, with the greatest respect, to all his representations, and to do everything that the honour, good faith, and friendly relations that exist between the two countries appear to require. The first rumour of the outrage committed in New Orleans induced the govern ment of the United States to adopt means to learn all the details. l'ursuant to this determination the district attorney of Louisiana inquired into and reported upon the subject. His report, and that of the Mayor of New Orleans, are sent herewith, in order that M. Calderon may take cognizance of the same. From three reports it appears that on the morning of the 21st of August, the steam-boat Crescent City arrived at New Orleans from Ilavannah, with the news of the execution of the .ii/ men captured near the coast of Cuba. On board of this vessel came M. Mimic., the secretary of the Spanish consulate, and it was assured that the captain-general of Cuba had delivered to him the letters which the men executed had addressed to their friends in the United States. Instead of putting these letters in the post immediately, he detained them as was supposed. From that originated the idea th it his con duct was improper, and it soon became reported that the consul had refused the letters of those who called for them. After detailing the outrages committed, Mr. Webster goes on to any that the outrage was committed by a crowd of persons entirely unknown many of the authorities or agents of the authorities in New Orleans, that none of the agents of the government were concerned in the outrage, but on the contrary did all they could to prevent it, that public faith and national honour require that such outrage be condemned, and their authors punished whenever it is possible to submit them to the action of public justice, and that a complete satisfaction be given. The government of the United States would be steeply sorry for any offence made in tune of peace against the ft ig of a nation so ancient and so renowned as that of Spain, Cie flag of Castile, which in former Cantu was raised as, high, and which has waved in fields of recognised and distinguished exploits, which has streamed unstained in every sea. The governint lit of the United States admits that the conduct of the crowd in in , suiting this flag does not admit of any justification. However, M. Calderon and his government know that recent news had just been received from Devon ' nab, news of a nature to create a popular excitement, 1 in a great city, and to produce popular excesses. And if these be unjustifiable, yet it may tie remarked, in exteuua -1 tion, that the outrage was committed in a moment of' popu lar ferment, and not in consequence of any plan, or with ' intention of injury or insult. The people or the United I States arc accustomed in all eases of supposed crime to a • slow and minute investigation, and to a deliberate trial, be fore sentence of condemnation, however great the crime may be. It is not therefore to be wondered at that the t news of this execution, so immealiate upon the taking of these men, many of whom were known in New Orleans, and who were taken, not in Cuba, but at sea, in attempting to escape from the island, ' should have produced the belief that they hail been exe cuted without form of trial, and should have produced an ' agitation in the city, which the authorities could not foresee l nor at first prevent. The congress will be called upon to l pass a bill according an indemnity to the Spanish consul ; the Spanish subjects who have suffered losses will have jus ri t : isb i administered cal e tl. e iueant:i i ,iwfpo,iNew iienoebotnwesduliblrrsol.derreadittnenuh: orders w ill i according wirtotiin ,;:ov,ibeiihimi flag, vats , t c,a_ o in,t obtirhft courtesy, :: law. tthl l ee r a l'. f it ° a t h ia lh o e - 1 he come e an in d a a Spanish vessel, as a mark of respect to let him and his go , %eminent know that the government of the United States , reprobate the enormous injustice made to his predecessor by , tau unbridled multitude. _ __ (Signed) '. DANIEL WEBSTER." GEILIIANY. It is officially announced that Lord Westmoreland had nn 'interview with the Emperor of Austria ou the 13th to present his credentials. FLORENCE, DEC. 11. The Count and Countess do Mouton°lin have ar rived at Bologna. TILE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS BEARING OF LOUIS NAPOLEON'S COUP-D'ETAT. Political religionists and rabid sectarians have not at times been particularly straight-laced in judging the characters of their leaders. Henry VIII. was a " defender of the faith ;" Charles IL was a " nursing father of the church of England;" Luther and the whole Sanhedrim of Wurtemberg connived in the Landgraf of Ilesse's having two wives ut once ; and the Huguenots affected not to sec (a belie Gabrielle or any other of the thousand and one mistresses of Henn IV., so long as he remained a Huguenot. So we need not wonder that Louis Napoleon has been pro claimed a leader of the faithful as well as his betters. The Horning Post vows that he is an "instru ment of Providence ;"—and, as a matter of course, all that numerous class of professing pietists whose no tions of providence closely resemble those which courtiers entertain of a king,—are eager to pay their court to its new vice-gerent. The l'airers and the Tablet have done their best to win him for the ultra montane party of the Runtish church, while the Standard and Herald have been putting in a good word for Orange protestantism—reminding him that " mon oncle," on his death-bed, bitterly regretted that he had not made France protestant. Louis Napoleon stands between these rival aspirants to his favourable regards, like Macheath between his two =stresses. The modern Macheath, flushed with his late high way robbery of French liberty, obviously inclines more to the ultra-montancs than to the Orangists ; like his prototype he whispers, in an audible aside, to his Polly that he is her " partner fur life, because they are legally married," though he does not abso lutely turn his back on the vixen Lucy. His recent good luck on the road puts it in his power to be liberal, and he heaps presents upon the reigning favourite. He has given the church of' St. Genevieve to the Jesuits, and he has promulgated an edict for the better observance not only of the Sabbath, but of saints days. In this, as in all his proceedings, Napoleon 11. treads with servile imitation in the footsteps of Na polcon I. " Mon oncle," when he put an end (pro tempore) to the revolution, abolished the observance of the decade, and reinstated that of Sunday. But Napoleon the Little aspires to be called, like Napoleon the Great, the restorer of religion and morality in France. There remains some- thing more for him to do. "Mon oncle" was a married man ; and one of his first steps was to banish Madame Tallien from his court circle, and oblige Talleyrand to marry Madame Grant. It is in the power of "le neveu demon oncle" to make a still greater sacrifice to social and domestic decorum. Ho need not be merely a vicarious penitent like his pre decessor; instead of merely compelling his prime minister to marry his kept mistress, he can in propria persona marry his own. After the splendid demonstration of entire sub mission to the new sovereign of France by the Bishop of Chartres, there is no alternative but to make that prelate the prince's confessor. And in this capacity, he of course will not omit to remind his penitent that he has now reached a time of life when he ought to have done sowing his wild oats. In this pious endeavour he will no doubt receive the strenu ous support of M. de Muntalembert. When we think of the more than equivocal repu tation of the Elysec—when we recollect that the wife of a prime minister who resigned not much more than a month ago declined to be presented on ac count of that reputation —we cannot hope to see the Tuileries quite such a model of domestic decorum and morality as Windsor and St. James's were in the days of George 111. But Louis Napoleon may at least come up to the mark of Pope's Sir &damn— Seldom at church, was such a busy life. . But duly tent his family and wife. PROPOSED DINNER TO THE HON. MR, WALKER, AT SOV7II•3IIPTON.—Tho following requisition to the Mayor of Southampton is in course of signature in that town:—" We, the undersigned merchants, traders, and others connected with the port of Southampton, hereby request the favour of your i nv iti ng the Hon. obert J. Walker, late Secretary of the United States Treasury, to a public dinner on such day as may suit his convenience. We do this, in order to show our appreciation of the advan tages which have accrued to the port of Southampton by the establishment of a line of American steamers between this port and New York, and which was in a great measure broueht about by the support given by the cabinet at Washington, of which Mr. Walker was a valuable and in fluential member; as well as further to evince our most cor dial feelings of kindness towards that crest nation of which he is so distinguished a eitisen." AMERICA KOSSUTH AT NEW YORK. At half-past eight last evening the Unitc.ll States mail steam-ship Atlantic, Capt. West, arrived in the Mersey, from N ew York direct, with the usual mail,, 21 passengers, and upwards of 800,000 dull. in ..„,i 0 on freight. She left New York on the afternoon of the Gth inst., having been detained for a short ii(::od in order to take oil board despatches from the vernment at Washington, to Mr. Lawretoe, t h e American minister at the court of St. James's, r e l y , five to the recent firing into the steamer Prometheus by the British brig-of-war Express, at the mouth of the harbour of San J uan d o Nicaragua. The United States mail steam-ship I I =bold!, with Kossuth and his suite on board, arrives! at N, York on the morning of the ,ith inst., about t-vo o'clock ; and the New York papers are almost ex-In sively occupied with the details of his reception and speeches. The preparations were most extensive and magnificent, and the reception of the illust64, Magyar most enthusiastic. The following the principal speech reported, being i n reply to ta e Staten island address: Ladies and Gentlemen.—The twelve hours that I late the honour and happiness to stand on your gioriou% ..•, r . ; gives me a happy augury of the circumstances that, my stay here in the United States, I will have the pl. • • duty to answer many manifestations of the gen-rou. ,• spirit of the people of the United States. (Applause.) therefore, you will be so kind, I hope, to take int., ;.,;. &ration the circumstances that I am in the lien 1119111.... .1 s.s. ........ a hard task—hard to me, beessuso I wi❑ have to sp address your people in a foreign tongue to ow; nod s r,. fore, you will not desire from mu long and ,• , . ~ speeches, but a few warmly told words of thaukfutio 1 gratitude—(elietr.)—fereent thanks for your generou. Come to my arrival to your happy shores, to th.0.'...z.1 bless you for the sanction of my hopes, which you 1..,e pressed. You have truly expressed what are me t. • when you tell me that I consider the destiny of y...ir rioue country to be what it is, that hence the .1.11.... f liberty will go forth to achieve the liberty of the a..ria. Great applause.) Yes, citizens, these are the !rims infused into me, in the most important period—when movement was a turning point in European until I crossed the Atlantic, to hasten tuck to C. field of duty sooner than I expreted, nr nerliaps hlatl, I confidently hope that as you have anticipated by the expression of your generous sentiments, that you will .ogee with me in saheti ' g that spirit of liberty—not only spi- ritually but actually, to go forth front this maim's country, in order that it might achieve the free aotii of the worfil. (Cheers.) That spirit 14 the umpiring itowcr ts dt is no deed itself, for do you know that tlime who will he free must, besides beam inspire I. strike the Wusr. blause.) Despotism and oppre.den never yet were ut with heroic resolution and much haltering. '1%.• necessity, but a necessity it is. I hares 1 kat-m.41 it the great hook• of life, history. I hope the people United States will remember that in the hour ut the liaustiestiny . they Tiny received trout Europe m ire than wishes and friendly sympathy. received 11l and they will readily impart its own to Europe in it. I have the assurance given to me before 1 ' , Nice a q entreaty to that effect. Be assured that the indepei: of Hungary is not only a benefit to Hungary itse, an indisputable condition to the independence European continent. I thank you that you spoken by your speaker, not the lati4uage of part! the language of liberty, and, therefore, the language people of the United States—(hurnense cheering); Is as I told in England, it is my desire to see nspect solemn right of mitioni to divose of their own de.to. and, therefore, I myself must feel resolved, in every 1,1, in every country, to respect their 1 ' 'plea. Then i; I am not here in the United StAtes to mix with into affairs. That is your concern. You are ' , over...l.p' mat of your fate. I come in the name of a clostu.troadt but not broken I/NOpie. (Citron and waving ..1 handk, chiefs). I come here humbly to intercede, in the limn Hungary, the generous protection of the peopl.• and all parties of the Unitcd States. (Appleune). lam to mention, citizens, that having the cruseiousitev. of M., I have never spoken in my life a single word l have felt from the bottom of my heart. 1 ant sorry to that these declarations, which I so often and so 'colo' professed in Europe, and on which declarations I happy to say you bestowed generous attention, wen• suflictent to prevent me, before my arrival, of being chart to meddle with your domestic coneeras, and to mix the question of the presidential election Ohm ge for the Conrier and Inquirer, three cheers tiir the A Fork Herald, were here proposed and trie.m) ; bee.. it so happened in one of my addresses in England I un tioned one of your able fellow citizens, Mr. Walker, as of the candidates to the presidency. Now, gentlemen. feel quite at home in your midst, and therefore, I ,p, (Applause). I confess, with the must ss.r feelings of gratitude, that Mr. Walker has prononne.l England sentiments such, that if it shall be toy luck to see these sentiments to be the sentiments a feelings of the people of the United States, then 1 u.. 1 with fervent joy declare, Hungary and Europe as fr (Tremendous applau-a, and cries of " Good, goo t.") At therefore, I feel highly indebted to him, and to you, sentiments which were quite entirely like those 1 heard in Walker in England. But all this has nothing to do wi the question of my mixing with the presitlensial electi question in the United States. A matter simply, that t gentleman front the United States in an offkia! capaei , y, I Introduced me to Mr. Walker, whom I had not the hone to know before, as one of the candidates prop's.' by 0 party in the United States; and the information I got I mentioned the fact, as I got it, without having t slightest idea in my mind to mix with wv party pt tion whatever in the United States, us I declare that consider no man to be an honest man who is not wfilii to respect the principles towards other men which he is e willing to be respected in other. I recognise the sore:, i right of any country to dispose of her destiny as sic pleas , and I would not bo an honest man not to respect this pis, ciple towards other men. (Loud applause.) Allow me ret'ct on an expression of your kind address, width rather a delicate matter to me ; hut 1 confidently hope th you will not misunderstand me. You hare named ne. the beginning or your address " Kossuth, Gseernor of I I u gary." (Cheers.) Now, citizens, my lite is a curious Never was there a man in the world more fund of Mugu lily and retired life than myself. I was not able to enj..y because I considered always the duty of a patriot to Is' lie , and then afterwards to get his individual wish. s and iudlt dual conceptions. My nomination to the high station of Go vernor of Hungary was not satisfactory to any ambitions use, because I know no other ambition than th , only ow., not to be ambitious. (Cheers.) I declare, perhaps, ni sir in my lite I felt more sad than the moment 1 was Willltta those nor of Hungary, because I considered the feeble faculties of none, and high duties laid on feeble shoulders, and felt the rane ty of responsibility of that great station. It is not, thcrefilre, , st of ambition I thank you for your words naming me Gover nor of Hungary ; but I thank you for it, because it is a no mination from the heart of the people of the United State., whom I have the honour to address, as a declaration of the rightful existence of the declaration of the independent* , of Hungary. (Loud cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I fro ly declare that I believe the people of the laid States are bound iu honour and duty to recognise this der's, ration of independence as a righteous, existing fact, bemuse your existence reposes on a similar declaration. (Vociferous applause.) The declaration of the independence of Ilea gory is the only existing recognition among nations. It was not the pronouncement of a party, but of the whole people lawfully assembled in et arress—as your forefathers were assembled when they put torah their glorious &aera tion of independence—and sanctioned by every village and municipality of the whole country. And to the declara tion of, the independence of Hungary there is nu contrary declaration from any people, and, therefore, I have the right to say, that the declaration of the independence of Hungary exists rightfully, in the whole power of right and lawful existence. What is contrary to its es istence ? Contrary to it is the Czar of Russia, as yeti know, a foreign power who had no right to intermeddle with Hungarian affaifs, who had ambitious views to thrust upon us his legions, and found a traitor for an ally in our ranks to trample on the liberty and the national existence of Hungary. (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, from what time has violence the power to annihilate right? Violence can establish a fact contrary to law, contrary to tight, but violence never can destroy the right source of this declaration of independence. (Loud applause.) Take an instance: You had, nut long ago, a glorious struggle with Mexico. (general Scott drove the president of Mexico out of his residence. Now, suppose the contrary— , that Santa Anna had come to Washington, and driven away from Washington General Taylor, would General Taylor cease to be rightly-elected president of the united States, because a foreign power canto and forced him for moment to leave his post ? (Loud applause, and cries of " No, no.") 1 believe there is not a man in the United States who would answer me that. And if this be so, there fore, I have the right to say that it is the duty of consistency and logic for the people of the United States to nrcooniw the declaration of independence of Hungary as the only CO. iating public law of my poor down-trodden country.(Chors . ) That is what I expect to find here ; and whatever may h e , the declaration of your government in that respect, I kno w( have the honour to be in a country where the sovereign isnot the government, but the people. (Loud burst of apnlaw . ). And where the government must be the representative of that direction of the public spirit of the people. (1411°. d applause.) And it is, therefore, I thank you once more tar your kindness of having named me Governor of Hungary, because it is but a tribute of acknowledgment of the inde pendence, of the declaration of independence of my faun land—(cheers)—as an honour which you art au kind tIN to dare I am conscious to have no merit at alt, but only to, bestow on me. It is no affectation of modesty, when I des be a plain, straight-forward man, and a faithful friende!. freedom, and a good patriot ; and these qualitie s, g, 1 1,1`,. men, are so natural to every honest man , that it scarcely worth while to speak of it ; because I cannot col , ceive hew an honest man, with understanding and heart, can be any thing else than a lover of freedom, and an honest man. Gut this 5!. , / humble capacity as not preserved me from calunimo_ I can almost tell what poor O'Connell once told, that orld, I am the most calumniated man in the w now. (Laughter, and cries of " Ne, no.") Well. 'i l '', tlemcn, I don't care muck about it. (More As long as exists in the world despotism, we wi ll fin'l ca lunmiaton to calumniat those opposed to despoaall good patriot al