The Express. — London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

the entrefso. TO CORRESPON DINTS. • ...coed editlea el " Tie Ilapeeaa. aemainiai rtu make meadeVe Uasette." pabliskai .ea, Tuesday sad Mem 5404 ia time ke. !oat. • •eetueemeate intended fee faerme..Leades regalia pspit. moat be at tM Mot, It, SomereaMeme, If Tao o'elook . tM dm of rialimatioa. RIOR WATER •T LONDON BRIDGE. Tuts Dav—lirtsiaL O. 13e....—.-Lltimms. 0 1. 4 84 6 I.w. atiow—M•raieg. 11. 13a....—..A1mn0i5. 11. Ma. LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 7. Tim " Peers of England—pillars of the State " are now chafing over Lord Citaswouries scheme for reforming our land laws. The plan is small enough in its WeV, but the public have nevertheless a very considt rible interest in the decision to be arrived at. The arguments in favour of a general Register of Deeds lie in a narrow compass. They have never perhaps been more concisely or more comprehensively Mated than in the following passage, from the Report of the Real Property Commissioners of 18,10 :—" In all eii iliscd countries the title to land depends in great measure on written documents, and Me pur -1 has, r 6 oks and is empowered by the law to look for proof at the seller's right beyond the fact of his , possession. It is obvious that a documentary title cannot be complete unless the party to whom it is produced can be assured that no docu ments which may defeat or alter the effect of those which are shown to him are kept out of sight. It follows that means should be afforded by the law for the manifestation of all documents necessary to com plete the title, or fur the protection of purchasers, against the effect of any documents which, for want of use of such means, have not been brought to their knowledge ; in other words, that there should be a General Register." It would be impossible to express in fewer words the principles upon which a general Register of Deeds is grounded, or to intimate more clearly the objects it is intended to @observe. As long as the law em powers (or rather compels) s purchaser of landed property to look for proof of the seller's title beyond the mere fact of possession, and to have that proof formally set forth in written documents. there would seem to be an irresistible cogency in the reasoning which would impose on the State the correlative duty of providing for the purchaser a ready means of assuring him self that no document is in existence that can defeat or alter the title offered to him, and to afford him when he accepts a conveyance prompt and easy means of securing the title which he takes. The security, then, of the purchaser of real property, snider the existing state of the laws affecting land, is the primary object of a registration of deeds ; les sening the cost of land transfer is a secondary con sideration, although it is obvious that any measure which diminishes the expense of that investigation which is necessary for security, must incidentally cheapen the price of conveyancing. The main question, then, to be decided with regard to any scheme for establishing a centralised Registry for Deeds is this: will it so materially contribute to the security of those who purchase or deal with land as to make it worth while to run the risk of the certain expense and the probable inconvenience with which its introduction will be attended? It is on this question that Lard ST. LEONARD'S is in such strenuous opposition to the opinion of his brother law lurds, to the recommendations of the Real Pro perty Commissioners, and to the convictions of asreat majority of the advocates of law reform. This is not thi plaio for callousing in detail the arguments which on Thursday night he adduced in support of his owe views, and which, u Lord CAMPBELL with perfect truth remarked, had been for some time fami liar to all students of that celebrated text-book est the Law of Vendors and Purchasers which formed of the future CIIANCELLOVS pTo- fessional distinction. We cannot command the limits of a law treatise, nor do we wish to inflict on our readers the tedium of discussions which are a suffi ciently severe tax upon the patience of those victims to a high sense of public duty who deem it incum bent upon them to sit out a law debate. We shall therefore pass bya multiplicity of minor ob jections by which the stout ex-Chancellor assailed the object of his twenty years' animosity, and confine our remarks to two which, if well-founded, are un doubtedly too serious to be overlooked. The first and gravest is, that the establishment of a general Register of Deeds would very consider ably increase the expense of land transfers, especially in the ease of smaller properties,where the frequency of alienation is undoubtedly greater, and the propm , tion borne by the registration fee to the total ex: penes of the conve yance would, it is assumed, be much higher than in the case of more considerable estates. At first sight this objection seems plausible, but it in reality admits of two sufficiently satisfactory answers. First, it is not true that, with the present facility and consequent cheaper of communi cation existing between all parts of the coun try and the metropolis, the expenses of transmitting transfer deeds for registration would form any very considerable item of cost, even in the smallest conveyancing transactions. Secondly, even were they not so, it would not be difficult 111 committee so to regulate, on an ad valorem soak, the few payable on registration as to make them bear with extreme lightness upon the sale of small pro perties. The second objection to which we alluded is that urged against the centralisation involved in the reposed scheme. All deeds are to be re gistered in one general office in the metropolis. No doubt to those who, Wm ourselves, are the firm and unwavering advocates of local institutions as the priceless nurseries of civic virtue and social develop ment, there is much that is ad captandum in such an argument as this. But its force vanishes on closer examination. The keel institutions that alone are valuable are those which train citizens to the' , Rztli o c i ls of citizenship—freemen to the privileges of 1 . The mere ministerial function of engrossing and executing deeds in the offload country anomie@ is not one which it moms the common weal to have perpetuated in provincial localities. Whether indeed the machinery of registration shall be carried , on in different local registries, or in one centralised office in London—is a matter which it may be proper enough to moot in committee on the bill, but which must after all mainly on the question of re lative cost. The Commissioners of 18.10, after full tion of this point, re port that " the neoressey expense of one cen tral office would be less than the *Aggregate ex penes of numerous district offices.' They add, moreover, as arguments in favour of the central 'theme, he following considerations, which are by no means without their weight—viz. " The greater security which would be afforded for edfeetive super intendence, and for uniformity of practice, and the probability that the attention which would be natu rally directed to the 'Aloe embracing the business of the whole landed property of the °wintry, would ensure all the improvements, both in . prtheiple and detail, of which a system of registration is suscep tible.' The above are fair specimens of the objections urged by Lord ST. LZONAILD'S against the bill re-intro- duced by the present CIIANCELLOIL We cannot think that the moon/renown he has pointed out u likely to result from registration, are by any means suS. cleat to outweigh the strong balance of opinion re corded in its favour by the many eminent jurists and statesmen who had had the whole question repea edly brought before them and &lime with one uni form result. It seems clear that a general Re gister of Deeds would be a considerable improve ment in itself, and a step almost indispensable towards still greater and morebeneflcial changes. Whether such registration should be made by a full copy of the deed, or by an extract, or whether a purchaser should pert with the powe ion of his sheepskins, are matters of detail to be dealt with in com mittee. But while admitting this, it must not for a moment be supposed that we regarp this measure as in itself sufficient to work a cure or even any considerable amelioration of our English system of land transfer. The Register is a preli minary to other improvements. It must always be recollected that the proposed general Register of Deeds leaves the principles and even the practice of conveyancing unaltered except in as far as it may in some degree lessen the costs of search and abridge the prolixity of forms. It leaves wholly unquestioned the wisdom of the principle which compels the purchaser of land to require for his own security what the purchaser of no other commodity need trouble himself with—" proof of the seller's right beyond the mere fact of his possession." This species of proof is exacted in no other eountry. England is the only part of the world where the sale of land is encumbered with the necessity of entering into all previous dealings with it over a period of forty years. In France, Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, and 1 uscany, a registered certificate of ownership conveys as complete a title in the case of land as it does in the case of railway stock, or Government securities. Notwithstanding all the grave dubiety of our legal Bratmoits, we can, after much pains spent in the search, find no single valid reason for thinking that what is possible everywhere else, should be impossible iu England. In spite of feudalism and family settlements, and primogeniture and entails, we will not think so ill of the ingenuity of our countrymen, as hastily to come to the conclusion that a cheap transfer of land is an achievement beyond their reach. The truth is that in this matter the nation it ingenuity has never had fair play. Those who alone possessed the skill to make the experiment found it to their interest not to do so, and those who had the interest lacked the skill. It is not, however, our present purpose to enter on the consideration of this deeply important and inter esting question. Our immediate object is to point out that no mere registration of deeds, as proposed by the bill which har just been read a second time, can ever produce a material effect in diminishing the expense of land transfer, as long as the principles of our English law of real property remain what they are. It is to those principles that the studies of oar legislators must be directed. A general registry of deeds is chiefly valuable inasmuch as it helps us a step forward towards the ultimate attainment of un restricted trade in land. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY MORNING. The Monileur contains a decree authorising the Minister of Finance to return, by special agreement, to the old Fampoux and Hazebrouck Railway, the Old Lyons and Avignon Railway, and the Old Bordeaux and Cette Railway, half their respective caution monies PARIS. SUNDAY Evnismo. Yesterday, u 111. Bonhier de rEeluse was about to enter the hall where the Legislative Body held its sitting, he was stopped by a huissier, who refused him admission. The hon. legislator protested, and withdrew. Dr. Becker, we of the condemned in the late trials at Cologne, for political offences, endeavoured to escape from the fortress of Weicksehmuntle (Dantzie). He was, however. captured, and again consigned to captivity. The Moniteur of this morning contains a decree nominating a commission charged to visit every part of the empire, to inquire into the wants of the country, and to report to the Emperor. A despatch from Copenhagen, received to-day, says :—" The elections for the Danish Second Chamber took place on the 20th all over the king dom. Of the nine members elected in the capital, seven belong to the opposition, and two only to the ministerial party. The same result took place in both country districts of Copenhagen." PARIS, SATURDAY STRAIN° The suicide of Count direerata, of which I in formed you yesterday, is the absorbing topic of con versation to-day. I mentioned that an affair of the heart was the exciting cause of the act, which has thrown such a gloom over the court of the Tuileries. I am now told that unrequited love for Mademoiselle Marthe, an actress of the Varietis, who four or five years ago made her debut at the Gymnase, unhinged the young count's mind. He blew his brains out with a pistol yesterday morning, at his residence, No. 13, Rue de la Vile l'Eveque, Faubourg St. Honore. Immediately on the event being known M. de Chasseron, his colleague in the Council of State, and M. Pietri, Prefect of Police, repaired to the scene of the sad event. They were speedily followed by the ministers of state Interior and Justice. The unfortunate youth's mother, the Princess de Baciocchi, had gone to a country-house in the environs of Paris the day be fore, and Prince Jerome Bonaparte went thither to communicate to her the awful intelligence. Count Camerata, notwithstanding his extreme youth, had been appointed a maitre des requetes in the'Council of State, and a brilliant official career was before him. The official part of the Moniteur is unusually fer tile in decrees. The first and most important con tains the expected creation of a new batch of senators. Yon will observe among them several of the names that I signified to you by anticipation. The Duke de Valmy is not among the number ; and the expecta tion of his friends that he would not renounce his splendid retreat at Florence for 30,000 L • year and the livery of a senator in Paris is thus confirmed. The following is the list of the new creations : M. Ferdinand Barrett, Councillor of State and ex minister; the Marquis de Boissy, ex-peer of France; M. Bret, Prefect of the Rhone; M. Chapnys de Montlaville, Prefect of the Haute Garonne; M. Ds riste, Councillor of State • Capt. Dore, of the Navy ; M. Duca, Minister of 'Warm.; the Marquis d'Es ; the Marquis de Gabriar, ex-Minister Pleni- I potentiary • M. Larabit, .Deputy of the Legislative Body ; Ge n eral of Division De Lalaing d'Aupen arde; the Viscount &dean, Prefect of the Boucles du Rhone; M. de Thorigny, Councillor of State and ex- Minister; the Duke de Treviso and the Baron de Varennes, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni potentiary at Berlin. The next decree makes several appointments in the Council of State. The first name n that of M. dor nutlet, who is thus restored to his former position, having been dismissed last year for drawing up a report against the confiscation of the property of the Orleans princes. It is said that he owes his restora tion to his intimate connexion with the Jesuits. The third decree fulfils the expectation long enter tained that extensive changes were about to be made in the prefectures. Among the dismissed prefects is M. Ornano, of the Yonne, celebrated not only for his proclamations but for his poetry; and it does not yet appear that any compensation is provided for Fine hundred and sixty-four mote parlous of poli tical offenders are announced to-day. The Monitewr, after quoting a paragraph from a London jo urnal to the e ff ect that France had re fused to join with England in sending a fleet to the Dardanelles, on the ground that she wished to do nothing at the payment moment which might give umbrage to the northern powers, affirms the state ment to be wholly without foundation. _ _ _ _ The affair of the Countess de Urns was yesterday decided against her by the Tribunal of the First Instance. I mentioned yesterday that her husband, who the Imperial advocate stated a week ago was not to be found, had received an order to quit France. This fact was communicated to the court by the sub stitute of the Imperial advocate, who produced the following letter from M. de Solna to the Imperial Promote: At dm moment when I us about to (knit France I learn flat Madam d• Selma, my wife, has without my authori sation. applied to a nowt of law, for the purpose of estab lishing bar nationality as • Frenchwoman, • title which doss not being In bar. I have the honour to inform you that I dindesay "r a iny : wife's application. As the son and sonedo•• td• I am • brnoe we'll, and I dam to ,on tut I no intention to tak• steps to natmalim avail, in a Frenchman. It follow, that Madame de dine domand can have no useful result, since is no ease mm in dim a different nationality from mine. _ _ I as mashie to explain what influence has induced M. de So lms, against whom an a?parently hostile measure of extreme severity has just been taken, thus to play into the hands of the government for the purpose of maintaining the prima facie illegal expul sion of his wife. M. de Selma has long assumed the quality of a Frenchman, which he now repudiates, both by voting at elections, and by placing his name on the lists of persons liable to be drawn for the army. It appears, however, that although born in France his parents were foreigners, and the law in such a case enables a man to elect whether he will be a Frenchman or not. The 1 government counsel asserted that M. de Selma had never made the declaration requisite by Art. 9 of the Code Napoleon to establish the nationality of a per son born in France of foreign parents. Madame de Solms produced no proof to contradict this assertion. M. Berryer, who rose to reply for Madame de Solms, was interrupted by the court, who directed him to hand in his observations in writing. No report of his argument has been made public. The judgment of the court recites that Madame de Solna, an Eng lishwoman by birth, had not proved her husband to be a Frenchman, while he, on the contrary, asserted that he was not. It therefore &missed her applica tion with costs. It is worth noticing that the French law imposes heavy penalties upon any one not being a Frenchman who presumes to exercise the electoral is franchise, and it certain that M. de Solara has on Iseveral occasions voted for Louis Napoleon without being objected to. The Municipal Council of Paris has authorised the Prefect of the Seine to cede to the state a circular piece of ground ten metrre in diameter, at the end of the avenue of the Luxembourg, for the erection of a monument to the memory of Marshal Ney, on the spot where he was executed. PARIS. Fanut Evixrco. The Moniteur contains the following important explanations from the French government, concern ing various political questions which have lately agitated the public mind on both sides of the channel : " The ifoniteur would not suffice to contradict all the erroneous reports which are in circulation, prin cipally in foreign journals. However, there are certain errors which the government considers it a duty . not to allow to gain credence. Thus the public journals have announced that Austria had re fused the mediation of France and England in her differences with Turkey ; that Franco had joined with other powers in making representations to the British government relative to political refugees ; that she was negotiating at St. Petersburg a conven tion relative to the Holy Places ; that the Emperor of the French had himself transmitted from the tele graphic office a despatch to Vienna, on the occasion of the attempt against the life of the Emperor of Austria ; and lastly, that the Emperor had written a confidential letter to the Federal government rela tive to the complaints addressed by Austria to Switzerland. The truth is, that in the dif ferences between Austria and Turkey, the mediation of France was not offered, and con sequently could not have been refused. With regard to the refugees, France reckons on the straightforward dealing of the English government, having no doubt that it will fulfil towards her all the duties of good neighourhood. But she has not joined in any collective step, if indeed any such proceedings have taken place. With respect to the Holy Places, friendly explanations may have been exchanged at St. Petersburg, but the negotiation on that point opened with Turkey must follow its course to Constantinople. It is necessary to say that in the afflicting circum stance of the attempt on the Emperor of Austria's life, the communications between the two sovereigns have been conducted by the ordinary mode and accord ing to the ordinary forms. The Emperor of the French, penetrated with horror at so odious a crime, handed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs an auto graph letter, which was presented to the Emperor of Austria by the Minister of France at Vienna. As to Switzerland, the councils of the French govern ment to the federal power, dictated by the desire to contribute to the maintenance of good relations be tween the Helvetic government and the neighbouring powers, are marked by a sincere sentiment of kind ness, - but they have not been produced under the form supposed." In reference to the charge against foreign journals as being the originators of the reports now affirmed to be false, I may remind you that one of the most important of the above statements—namely, that Austria had refused the mediation of France and England with regard to the Turkish question was first circulated here by the Constitutionnel. GERMANY. PRUSSIA. _ BERLIN, MARCH 3. A proclamation, announcing the demise of the reigning Orand Duke Augustus of Oldenburg, and the accession of his son Peter, promises on oath, "to maintain rigidly the constitution, and to govern in conformity with constitutional principles and the laws." This voluntary declaration is worthy of ac knowledgement, because it is not unusual for Ger man princes, on succeeding to the government, to re pudiate the pledges of their predecessors. The health of the new Grand Duchess is, unfortunately, in an alarmingly precarious state. A Bremen newspaper states that in the sitting which the Federal Diet at Frankfort held on the lst inst the Plenipotentiary of Liechtenstein moved that the iumembly should support the Austrian note pro posed to be addressed to England on the subject of the refugees. This must surely be meant for a joke. The potentate who thus pretends to intermeddle with English administration governs a territory ef 63 square miles, with 6,351 subjects. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 7, 1853. SWITZERLAND. Two chests filled with Hugo's " Napoleon le Petit" have been seized by the polioe at Beale, having camped the vigilance of the German officals. General Dufour has met with a carriage accident and broken his right clavicle. The Federal Council has decided that a sum of 10,000 f. shall be furnished to the Titians expelled from Lombardy, whilst waiting for the reply of the Austrian governor to the representation sent in. Collectiooa of monm having the same object, are proceeding spiritedly throughout Switzerland. ITALY. The Opinions of Turin says of Radetsky's confis cation decree, mentioned by the Parlament° and published in the Gazetta del Popolo, that its applica tion has been provisionally suspended, on account of the serious international difficulties which might arise with respect to the emigrants who are subjects of other States. The railways in Lombardy have been at length restored to their legitimate use, and paseengers travel on them as before the Milan outbreak. The Mediterranso of Genoa states that the Tuscan treaty of commerce with France is for thirty years, but may be terminated by either party at the end of the tenth or twentieth year. ROME, Fin. 24. The official journal of the 21st contains one of those oracular replies which it occasionally puts forth when the attacks of the liberal press, especially in Piedmont, become insupportable to even ecclesias tical forbearance. The following paragraph disavows the diplomatic negociations and secret treaties recently attributed to the government of his Holiness : Although long accustomed to treat with indifference and silence certain newspaper articles which have not tenth in view, still we will mention a word of what is amerted in a Piedmontese paper, referring to secret diplomatic meetings (which would be very comic and ludicrous as they are de scribed), and even to treaties secretly concluded between our govenunent and other powers. With regard to such abeurd and ridiculous assertions, therefore. we sea ware both journalists and readers that there is no truth In them. Alter this very explicit denial, we must receive cum gran salis the accounts of the conditions stated to be offered by Napoleon 111. for the Pope's conde scension in visiting Paris to perform the coronation ceremony. The journey of his Holiness is rendered very doubtful by the determined opposition of the Sacred College ; nor is the harmony between the im perial and papal courts improved by the recal of General Gemeau, who was devoted to the Holy See, and for whose longer stay . in command of the garri son here the Pope in vain implored the Emperor. The new general is by no means a grateful offering to the priests, being an austere man, of few words, averse to visits and courtly attentions. He visited Rome last year as inspector-general of infantry, and was not complained of by the troops : but his officers are now grumbling at his severity, because he has ordered them not to appear abroad with their uni forms. The weather continuing awfully bad, crowds the streets of Rome with poor country labourers, whose distress is partly alleviated by the government allow ance of a loaf per diem for each man. jeA French regiment yesterday cultivated the goodwill of the people by giving their rations to the starling coun trymen collected upon the Piazza di Ban Pietro. Brigandage is not likely to diminish in consequence of distress, and we have had a recent proof of it in another r obbery on the Florence road, near Monte rosi. The Tiber has made some victims amongst the shepherds and sheep of the Campagna. There has been no movement in the northern pro since. of the Roman States that could be sup ed to I have a connexion with the Milanese ontbres The • Austrian butinado, which has resumed the flogging of women in Lombardy, was not inactive during the buccaneering expedition of the Crests to the town of Rimini. One et the citizens, who was found with a! forbidden publication in his possession, was bead nadoed for several days with a number of strokes, doubled each day, until he revealed the name of the person who had given him the paper, but who had been warned in time to make his escape. The execution of the monument to Pope Pius VIII., to be erected in St. Peter's, according to the will of Cardinal Albani, who left 20,000 scudi for that pur pose, has been entrusted by his Holiness to the cele brated Roman sculptor Tenerani. The eight prelates to be soon numbered :amongst the members of the Sacred College, comprise five Italians, the nuncios Vaile and Brunnelli, the under minister Santucci, the Capucin monk Guisto, and the prefect of the in quisition Casterinetti—two Frenchmen and one Hungarian fill up the list. At the moment of closing my letter I ant informed that the government has dec►ded to maintain :the system of paper money for the present. Tho deficit must be at the bottom of this rejection of an advan tageous plan generally approved of. The Cardinal Secretary of State is reported to have left Rome secretly yesterday, upon a visit of the highest importance to the King of Naples. NAPLES, FRB. 24. An error, said Voltaire, is a crime, and so, I fear, Italy will find it to be. Already is the untimely effort at Milan producing its unhappy fruits in this kingdom, as might have been predicted, for bad or weak governments are ever willing to seize on the mistakes of others to cover their crimes. Arrests are the order of the day again, and amongst people of some consideration, of whom I may mention two advocates, and the fashionable medical maa of I Naples, who was much liked by the young nobility. Other arrests are expected. Thus it would seem that the reign of terror would never cease, and that the powers that be are determined to rush upon the fete which inevitably awaits those who are resolved to reign by fear. Whilst the events of Milan are thus giving a motive for fresh suspicion and arrests, it is to be apprehended that they will be followed by the worst consequences, as regards those who are now pining in our " bagni" and gaols. But what greater injustice can be committed than that which has already been, or is being committed ? I do not allude to sentences passed con trary to all law and justice* but I speak now of the cue of those who, having undergone the punishment, having been amnestied, are yet detained in confinement. Let me mention the case of one amongst many who, after twenty-seven months of imprisonment, was put on his trial, included in the amnesty of 18th September, 1852, which remitted one-half of his sentence ; his legal punishment was expiated on the 9th December, 1852, and yet still he sighs in hopeless confinement. I say hopeless, for what redress can he have ? There is no press to call attention to the facts; if the kindness of humanity does creep abroad, no one dares to give expression to an opinion, which will involve himself in certain trouble, without bringing relief to the particular cases which called it forth. Royal decrees are of no effect, for yet higher than the royal authority would seem to be that of the police, which sets aside, or does not carry out the provisions of a royal decree. In 1822, the amnesty accorded by the King was re spected to the letter; in 1852, an amnesty much more comprehensive, nay universal, is rendered illu sory, by a power which usurps the rights of sove reignty, and makes itself superior to the monarch. "Oh Lord, how long P" is the eager aspiration of many who are panting for the liberty which seemed to be within their grasp, or who are undergoing a punishment which was assigned to them through the denunciations of the shameless spy. For some days we have been led to expect the English fleet here, though it is more probable that only a portion will visit our port. The Retribution steam-frigate was to have left Malta on the 12th inst. for Genoa, Leghorn, and Naples ; the Samson steam frigate, direct for Naples, as also the Arethusa, sailing frigate ; they have not, however, as yet made their appearance. Some of the casts ordered for the Crystal Palace have been already seat off ; others follow shortly. The rage for excavating continues as strong as ever, and important discoveries have been made recently at Herculaneum. Amongst literary notices I caa in form yna that the " White Slave" has been prohi bited here, and is, therefore, in great demand, whilst another translation of Mrs. Stowe's work has come out under the title of " Papa Tom," the first being denominated " Zio Tom." A few days since came off a steeplechase in the neighbourhood of Carerta. Several members of the royal family and many of the knowing ones were there, though as the rain came down in torrents the sport was a failure ; the race, however, was run, and men won and lost. Five-and-s-Half per Cents., 1071. Exchange on London, 663. SPAIN. M. Martinez de la Rosa has been elected Presi dent of the Chamber of Deputies. The Bordeaux mail havinic failed to reach Paris on Saturday, there are no particulars of the division. MOLDAVIA. Letters from Jassi state that the Hospador Prince Ohika is subject to frequent visitations of insanity, in one of which he lately attempted suicide. On re covering he resolved to lay down the government and retire to a convent. The ministers are considering " how the government is to be carried on." Acoord ing to the public law of the state a regency, if ap pointed, can only act for two months, during which a new Hospador must be elected. THE WEST INDIA MAILS. The Royal West India Mail packet, Thames, Cap tain Abbott, from the West Indies, &c., arrived at Southampton yesterday, and lauded her mails under the charge of Lieutenant Percival, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates of sailing are as follows :—Chagres, Jan. 23; Honduras, 18; Carthagena, 28; Jamaica, 30; Trinidad, 30; Barbados, Feb. 1 ; Antigua, Jan. 29; Martinique, 28 ; Gre nada, 31; Porto Rico, Feb. 3; St. Thomas, 7; La Guayra, Jan. 25; Grey Town, 21. The Thames brings 40 passengers, among whom are Captain and Mrs. Stewart, R.N., Mr. Pritchett, surgeon, RN., Mr. and Miss Fanheok, Mr. and Mrs. Reyre, and Miss Reyre, from the Pacific; Mr. Soto, from Honduras ; Mr. and Mrs. Lowndee and Mr. and Mrs. Basan, from Jamaica; Mr. Therion and Mr. Mathison, from St. Thomas; Mr. Haynes, from Barbadoee ; Mr. Csyrol and Mr. A. Veda', from Martinique. The freight on board consists of 800,000 dollars from the Pacific on account of merchants, 148 bales sarsaparilla, 20 boxes indigo and cochineal, and several packages of sundries. ABATEMENT OF THE YELLOW FEVER. When the Thames left Rarbadoes the fever had almost disappeared at that island. No fresh cases had been reported on shore for several days, and her Majesty's ship Dauntless had only three men in the hospital, and they were convalescent; the rest of the shipping quite healthy. At Martinique and Ouada limp, where the epidemic had made such fearful ravages, particularly among the troops it had entirely ceased. At St. Vincent the fever had broke out about the middle of January, and several deaths had occurred, there had been one death among the troops, and there were six bad oases among them when the Thames left. The late governor, Sir J. Campbell, was one of the earliest victims. Amongst others who succumbed to the epidemic were Mr. H. John Chopeu, Rev. Mr. Redyard, Wesleyan minister; Misses Hackshaw, Hanley, M'Leod, Durant, Yeats, young ladies belonging to distinguished families in the island. The disease was still raging when the Thames left, particularly amongst the Portuguese residents. The inhabitants are naturally much alarmed, but the strong trade winds just setting in, it was hoped, would have a beneficial effect, and arrest its progress. At St. Thomas, the fever had nearly disappeared, and the rest of the islands were healthy. The Thames lost since she has been out, by yellow fever, &c., John Ed. Channel, purser; Thomas Hatcher, saloon servant; James Aitkin, second en gineer; Henry Wareham, fireman; George Crouch, seaman ; William Lovatt, captain's servant ; Joseph Watson, third engineer; James Laycock, saloon ser vant; John Harlow., saloon servant. The weather had been very unsettled for some time, but latterly the usual trade winds had set in, and sugar making had commenced. The prevailing opinion appeared to be that the crop will be short of what was expected, the canes not yielding what their appearance justified. The outward ships were making long passages. The Ottawa brig, from Pernambuco to Genoa, Capt. Urquart, out 23 days, was abandoned 140 miles to the eastward of Barbadoes, having sprung a leak in lat. 5 deg. north, and long. 32 deg. 30 sec. west, the crew having with difficulty kept her afloat for 15 days, were taken off by the American schooner, J. C. Patterson, and landed at Barbadoee. PENINSULAR MAILS. The Oriental Companrs steam-packet Madrid, Captain John Weeks, arrived at Southampton yes terday, and landed her mails under the charge of Lieutenant William Persse Nowenham, R.N., Admi raltT agent. Her dates are :—Gibraltar, Feb, 25 ; Cadiz, Feb. 26 ; Lisbon, March 1; Oporto, March 2 ; Vigo, March 3. Among her passengers were the Duke of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha and suite, and the Marquis de Louie, with hie sou. Our correspondent writes: LISBON, MARCH 1. The chambers in this the second month of their session are still discussing their reply to the speech from the throne. No business of importance is trans acted, a general relaxation is visible in the condition of the government, and the worlaly wise in parlia ment are beginning to look out for the next change in the political drama. A late division exhibited two members of the royal household voters in oppo sition, and this fact has been interpreted as a sign that Saldanha is losing his ground at the court. The Minister persists in affirming that he is embarrassed with applications for railway concessions, but de clines replying explicitly to the questions which are put in the Cortes. The north of Portugal has been visited by an im mense fall of snow; several wine carriers and their mules have perished, being buried alive. The wolves have descended from the mountains in search of prey; ,and the people in many places have been barricaded in their houses, the snow being several feet deep. The weather is still unusually cold here, and much sickness. An energetic petition has been presented to the Queen from Oporto, by the tanners, against the decree which authorises the exportation of bark. Exchange, 54,1; discount of notes, It per cent. Accounts from Gibraltar report the good health of the garrison. Her Majesty's ships Furious (st.-frigate, 16) and Antelope (at.-sloop, 3) were at Gibraltar on the 25th ult. Her Majesty's ship Inflexible (st.-sloop, 6) was at Lisbon on the let inst. THE GOLD DISCOVERIES AND THE ROYAL MINT. A return, which, at the present moment, is of peculisz interest, has just been issued by the House of Com mons. It comprises an amount of ell the monies coined at • the Royal Mint in each year since 1848, the aggregate amount of which in the five years was as follows Of gold coin Of silver coin Of copper coin Total coinage £ 19,839,375 But the peculiar interest which this return possesses is, first, so far as it shows the rapid progress which the gold coinage has made; and second, in relation to the recent scarcity of silver coin, how far it can be traced to the limited operations of the Mint. For those purposes it is, however, necessary that we should examine in detail the produce of each year. In the first place, then, the coinage of gold has been as follows: GOLD COINED. 1848 £2,4.51,999 1849 2177955 1850 1 , ,491 , ,836 1851 4,400,411 1852 8,742,270 Thus we find that of the entire 19,264,4371. et gold coined in the five years, no less than 13,142,6811. was coined in the two last years. In 1848 the amount coined was consider able, being 2,451,9991. But it will be remembered that in the preceding year (1847) a very large efflux of gold took place, and left the Bank of England reduced to the mini mum point at which It could conduct its business. Early in 1848, a turn in the exchanges and the disturbances on the continent led to a very large influx of gold, and to a con. sidercble coinage, in order to supply the place of the coin ex ported the preceding year ; and there is no doubt that the coinage of that year far exceeded the avers ge of the pre ceding years. But the transactions of the Mint during the two last years have been of an entirely novel kind, and have arisen from causes totally unconnected with our internal circulation, or with the state of the exchanges between this and other countries. They have arisen chiefly, and so far is they exceed the ordinary average, entirely, from the re sent gold discoveries in California and Australia, and to supply gold in the shape of coin, as being more marketable as some purposes than it would have been as bullion. It le understood that the Bank has received in little more than two years nearly 14,000,0001. of coin into its vaults, and that at the present moment, notwith standing the great increase of bullion in the aggre gate' that which cenobite of coin is less by half a mil lion than at the commencement of the period. So that it is apparent that, is about two years, a sum equal to nearly 15,000,0001. has been exported in the shape of English coin. No doubt a considerable portion, probably not less than one-half of the whole of this large amount, has gone to Australia. But it is also certain that a very large amount, fully equal to the other half, has been ex ported to various foreign countries where English sove reigns have acquired a certain value as a circulating medium, and where therefore they have a somewhat higher price than bar gold. In many countries in Europe, English sovereigns may he considered as one of the most convenient coins for all ordinary purposes. In Egypt they have be come almost the chief circulating medium. In some of the South American States, the sovereign is the beet accredited coin ; and aimed everywhere it has so high a character for its Integrity, that it constitutes more and more • favourite mode of remittance. But it must be apparent that if this state of things in re lation to our coin and the demand upon our mint is to continue and even to extend, the character and function of that establishment will be entirely changed ; —sad in such a wa as will render it impera tive that the p rincip l es upon which its expenses are defrayed should be reconsidered. Of late the preemie upon the !dint has been great, and the expenses have been aomessariiy increased, not as we have shown with a view to me* en Internal circulating medium, but mainly in order M attach a new and additional value to gold for the purpose et exportation. Now, so long as a mint is maintained ex elasively for the convenience of the country, so long as it marks mainly to supply an internal circulating medium, it nay mitten little whether the expenses are paid by the patio beta the Exchequer, or whether they are made a wall dump upset the coin it self. In either case the country at large bossy the cost of a public instrument of groat con venience. No doubt there are many reasons, and sone- Melly when we require to rectify an adverse exchange, why it is desirable that the coin of the realm should contain the same intrinsic value that it possesses nominally ; and, there bee, that the cost of the Mint should rather be defray ed, . as at present, funs the public exchequer, than by a sewerage upon the coin. But if the Royal Mint on Tower-bill is to become a great manufactory of coins for various foreign countries, as it has been i during the last two years, it will soon become obvious that there s no good reason why the people of England should continue to defray the coot of that establishment. It will become a matter of serious consideration whether that suet should not be defrayed by a charge on the coin equiva lent at least to its amount. The silver coinage has amounted to 561,594/. in the fin years, in the fallowing proportion in each year : iiivie conuoi. 1848 _____ _______. £35,442 1849 _._ 119,592 1850 1851 1852 The large amount of the silver coinage during the last year, compared with any former year, at least shows that the great inconvenience which has been experienced from a scarcity of silver coin has not arisen from any decline in the work of the Mint, notwithstanding the great additional work which it has been called upon to perform in furnishing gold coin. It would be premature, with the short experience which we have had of the effects of the gold discoveries upon our Mint, to decide as yet upon any change in our present prac tice ; but at least we are bound narrowly to watch their operation, in order, when it becomes necessary, we may the better be prepared to act in conformity with sound prin ciples and well-ascertained facts.—Ecotsomiat. PAYMENT OF WAGES.—On Saturday wag printed a bill, before the House of Common'', "To secure the pay ment of wages without stoppages." The object of this measure is to abolish the truck system in every possible shaye, under penalties. STRIKES.—The yachtsmen at Cowes have struck for higher wages.—A large number of agricultural labourers in the neighbourhood of Andover, Musts, have just struck fur higher wages. M. MAZZINI.—The Turin correspondent of the Ihibats states that M. Martini had succeeded in embarking at Genoa on board the British frigate the Retribution just as the vessel was leaving port. true COWL The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Bouterie and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Roe, visited the Duchess of Gloucester, on Saturday afternoon, at Glouces ter-house. Prince Albert, attended by Captain the lion. Dudley d e Ros, went to Chiswick Gardena ou Saturday morning. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princesses Alice, Helens , and L ou i sa, and Prince Arthur, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington, Miss ma. yard, and Mr. Gibbs, visited the Duchess of Kent. on Saturday afternoon, at her residence, Clarence•house, St. James's. The Tyrolese ministrels h a d t h e hocour 0 at tending at Clarence-house, and sang several of their favourite national melodies for the gratification of the royal circle. Her Majesty had a dinner party on Saturday evening at Buckingham .Palace. The company included the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Adelaide of liohentohe, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke of Hamilton, his Excel lency the Sardiaian Minister, his Excellency the Nether lands Minister, the Marquis Massimo d'Axaglio, the Mar chioaess of Ormonde, Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Ellenborough, Lord James Murray, th e Right lion. Henry Goulhurn, the Right lion. Seiner and Mr.. Walpole, Colonel the Hon. Co - ales and Mrs. Grey, Mr. Frederick Peel, and Lieut.-Col. F. Seymour. The Band of the G renadier Guards was in attendance dar ing dinner, and performed the following compos i t i ons: Overture, "Pest " Lachner. Lied, .0 War ich doch des mantles Licht" Potpourri Concertante „, Barnum. Bolero Polka, P:aultler " many. Waltz, "Die Heiteren" Her Majesty's private hand afterwards attended is the Palace, and played the following pieces: Overture, "Lucretia" detection, Krona act, "Zsubedlota" )407-I,t. Cavatio.i, Frelachuta" Yesterday morning her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, the Duchess of Kent, the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, and the domestic hous,liuld, attended divine sec. vice in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. nub:ie. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley officiated. The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Gloucester on Saturday at Gloucester House. A deputation of the Board of the Atlantic and Pacific Junction Company, had an interview with the Minister of the United States, et hio official residence in Portland•plus, on Saturday. A deputation on the subject of the water supply hid set interview with the Right Hun. E. Cardwell on Saturday, it the Board of Trade. The deputation consisted of Sir Reb ta Price, Bart., M.P., Colonel Bagnold, Mr. G. H. &rill, m t .. Thomas Dakin, Mr. S. C. flomerolium, engineer to the London (Watford) Spring Water Company, and Mr. W. T. Robinson, solicitor to the company. Sir Alexander Spearman had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday at his official re sidence in Downing-street. A deputation from the British and Foreign Anti-Shivery Society had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle it the Colonial-office on Saturday. The deputation consisted of Messrs. G. W. Alexander, R. Allop, Thos. Blow, Jos. Cooper, Robert Forster ' S. Herman Fisher, th e R ev. J. Kennedy, Messrs. Jos. Sturge, Samuel Sturge, and L. A. Chameroeneow. A deputation on the subject of East Indian affairs had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen, accompanied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Saturday at his official residence in Downing street. The deputation included Mr. liibbert, Kr. Denison, Mr. Macgregor, and Mr. Cave. Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial. office from the Governor of New Zealand. Despatches were seat to the Governor of Gibraltar on Saturday. A cabinet council was held at the Foreign-office, Downing-street, oa SaturcLty afternoon. The min. isters present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, N iscouat Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The council sat three hours and a half. GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS ABOUT INDIA.- Sir Charles Wood was the Jonah of the last Whig Cabinet, and seems likely to be an unequally unfor- tunate attache of the Coalition. It is confidently said he " has made up his mind" about India. In- stead of the Charter being renewed for a short pe riod by a Continuance Act, Sir Charles Wood, as President of the Board of Control, feels quite compe tent to " settle" all Ilindostan at once. It would be wise for his colleagues to reason with him on this point, and to urge the wisdom and policy of per mitting the justice of the matter in debate to bare some weight with him. It is rumoured that a dis cussion arose on this subject in the Committee on Friday last, and it seems more than likely that, should the Government be guided by Sir Charles Wood's crotchets in this matter, they may have to be prepared for a close division in the House. The members of the Commons Committee belong to more than one section of politicians, and the public want justice done. APPOiNTMENTS.—ProIessor James Nicol is sp. pointed to the Chair of Civil and Natural History in the Marisa/11 College of Aberdeen. Mr. Hindmarsh, of the Pentonville Prison, is transferred to be Steward of the Government Prison at Dartmoor. DEPARTURE OF DR. LATARD FOR THE EAST.- Dr. Layard has just issued an address to his constituents, the electors of Aylesbury, announcing his immediate cle• parterre for Constantinople, with her Majesty's ambassador, Lord Stratford do Redcliffe. This is not the first time that Dr. La and has been associated with Lord Stratford (le Redcliß'e in eastern diplomatic service. He was attache to the embassy at Constantinople when he resolved to attempt the recovery of Assyrian remains, and accomplished the task which has made his name celebrated, under the auspices of Sir Stratford Canning. THE SPEAKER'S FIRST LEVEE was held on Satur day, and was attended by the following noblemen and gentlemen: The Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor. Vice- Chancellor Sir William Page Wood, Sir Augustus Clifford (Black Rod), the Right Hon. Lord Dynevor, Mr. John 'Wood (Inland Revenue), the Right Hon. Lord Mefferd, Mr. B. Hawes (Deputy-Secretary at War). Also the fol. lowing members of the House of Commons : Sir Thomas Ackland, Mr. Edward Ball, Mr. John Ball, the Right Hon. George Bankes, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Bass, Mr. Beamont, the Right Hon. William Beresford, Colonel Biddalph, Colonel Blair, Mr. Blackett, Mr. Bon ham Carter, Sir R. Oore Booth, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Bro. therton, Mr. William Brown, Mr. V. Brown, the Right Hon. Lord E. Bruce, Sir R. B. Buckley , Sir John Y. Bol ler, Lord Borleigh, Mr. Butler, Sir A. T. Campbell, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the Hon. C. C. Cavendish, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. J. Child, the Right Hon. R. Christopher, Colonel Clifford, Lord Robert Clinton, T. C. Cobbold. the Attorney-General, Mr. Cogan, Sir Charles Coote, Mr. Craufurd, Mr. Cubitt, Mr. R. Currie, Mr. Deedes, Sir B. Hering, Mr. G. Dodd, Mr. Drummond, Mr. G. Dud's, Mr. F. Dundas, the Hon. J. Elliot, Viscount Elmlef, Viscount Eualyn, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Ferrer, Sir Robed Ferguson, Sir B. Filmer, Mr. Fitzgerald (Horsham), Mr. C. Forster, the Right Hon. C. Forester, Colonel Free stun, Mr. French, Mr. Freshfleld, Mr. Frewen, the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, the Right Hon. W. Gladstone, Viscount Goderich, Mr. Goold, Mr. Grace, the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Colonel F. Greville, the Right ' Hon. Sir George Grey, Mr. Grogan, Lord Guernsey. Mr. Hale, Sir B. Hall, Colonel Hall, Lord Claude Hamilton, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Mr. Haus Hamilton, Hon. C. Her dirge, Mr. Alexander Hastie, Mr. Archibald Hastie, Mr. G. EL Heneage (Devises), Mr. 0. F. Heneage (Lincoln). the Right Hon. J. W. Henley, Mr. Hildyard, Sir Jams Hogg, Mr. Hostel!, Mr. Hutchins, Mr. Hutt, Mr. H. Ingham, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir William Jolliffe, Mr. David Jones, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, the Right Hon. A. F. K Mudd, Mr. Knatchbull, the Hon. Stuart Knox, Lord A. Lennox, Viset. Lewisham, Mr. Elliott Lockhart, Mr. Wm. Lockhart, Mr. Lowe, Captain Lowther, Mr. J. M'Gregor, Mr. Mar shall, Mr. Martin, Mr. Massey, Mr. Muterman, Right Hon. Colonel Maule, Sir James Matheson, Right lion. Sir W. Moleiworth, Viscount Monck, Sir G. Montgomery. Morris, Mr. Mailings, Right Hon. Lord Naas, Right Hon. J. Napier, Mr. John Neild, Mr. Joseph Neild, Viscount Newport, Colonel North, Mr. P. O'Brien, Mr. Oliveira, Mr. Osborne, Lord Ossulston, Lord George Paget, Richt Hon. Viscount Palmerston, Sir G. B. Peels% Mr. Ilia' lipps, Mr. Phinn, Mr. Pigott, Mr. Portal, Lord Witham Powlett, Sir R. Price, Mr. Prime, Mr. Repton, Mr. 050111% Ricardo, Mr. Rich, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Holt, Captain Rushout, Mr. Sawle, Mr. F. Scully, Mr. Ker Seymer, Lord Seymour, Mr. Hanby Seymour. Mr. Serjeant Sher, Sir John Shelley, Mr. Sheridan, Right Hon. Vernon Smith, Mr. Masters Smith, Colonel Strythe, Mr. &therm, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Stanhope, Mr. Stapleton, Mr. Stirling, Right Hon. Edward Strutt, Lord Dudley Stuart, Sir Thesiger, Mr. Thomely, Mr. Townley, Mr. Tudway, Right Hon. Henry Tufnell, Mr. Turner, Sir William Verner, Mr. Vernon, Colonel Howard Vyse, Mr. Spencer Waddington , Sir John Walsh, Lord Charles Wellesley, Mr. Whitbread , Mr. Whiteside, Mr. Whitmore, Mr. Wigram, Mr. James Wilson, General Wyndham, Right lion. Sir John Vault. Mr. Halsey, Lord Alfred Hervey, Mr. Headlam, Csp!sn , Jones, Earl Mulgrave,. Viscount Newark, Charles William Packe, Mr. M'Gregor, Mr. G. Start, and Mr. Wickhar L The right hon. gentleman will hold his second and lad levee on Saturday next. TIM SPEAKER'S third parliamentary dinner was held on Saturday last, when the rollowinc: gretlemen at: tended:—Right Hon. Lord &ymour, Right lion. "tong Edward Froward, Lord George Hoe. John Elliot, Right lion. T. Milner Gibson, Hon. Arthur C. Kinnard , lion. Colonel Motile, Sir John Shelley, Sir George Pechell , Sir Benjamin Hall, Mr. Brotherton. Mr. Henry Sey moor, Mr. Thornclv, Mr. Serjeant Shse, Mr. M•iiregsri Mr. I'igott, Mr. Rakes Currie, Mr. 'Masses, Mr. Bonham iCearr,temr,rM. r k . , N tdik Vb e itb u rc r a c ti vii , ti . i l ly ,;T h e l tt r : 13 3 : Headlam. I