The Express. — London, England, 1853-12-03 00:00:00

Ehe teritrefifi• TO CORRESPONDENTS. •iiimea Matins of sits* Ezpresh" ',misusing the maw evening's "(layette." ia puttholiad rely Tuesday ark Friday sight. is time be puma. advartsanatata intatutt,l fat " The Esprer." !Awns Earflap papa, most be at the OftLe, 10, Bsutytn.slrsst, by Tee cklisek es tla• day of pub:la:Was. iitnn WATER AT LONDON BRIDGR . Tau WT —lllenuag, lb. . Afternom. lb. Id•. To -mousy —Maniac 4k. 12. ..... .Atternoom, lb. 311 s. LONDON. SATURDA T. DECEMBER 3. THE Board of Trade Tables for the month of October, published yesterday, contain the Excise accounts for the nine months ending October 10, and they arc—like all the other returns--confirmatory of our increased prosperity. There were consumed in the nine months of 1831, 1852. 1853. 23.99 J. M 2 26,372,266 27.314,863 rapt r. I b........ 109,801,887 111,033.240 126,851,421 1 bpirita .. gallons.. 17,314,939 17,803,956 18,821,618 We here see a greatly increased consumption of these three articles—the principal taxed-articles now remaining—in 18.53 over 1832, and a still greater increase over 1831. In paper, the increase is much greater than in either malt or spirits—a circumstance which will be very gratifying to the friends of intel lectual improvement and of manufacturing activity. It is probable that the last quarter of the year, which will feel even more than the present the influence of the Strikes and of our checked trade, may not be so good as the first three quarters, but on the whole, with all these and other drawbacks, 1833 will show a much greater prosperity than 1832. The exports for the month, notwithstanding some embarrassing circumstances, are greater than were expected. The increase is 1,312,3600 above the corresponding month of 1832, and 1,536,948/. above that of 18.51. The figures are as follow : Declared value of the exports in the tenth month of _ 1311. 1852. 18 , 33. L. L. 4.621,078 .... 4,855,666 .... 6,168,026 The increase is pretty equally diffused, but is large in beer and ale, in coals and culm, in cot. ton stockings and cotton yarn, in haberdashery, millinery, and cutlery', in all linen manufactures, in most of the metals, though there is ■ decline in cop per and in tin plates, in most branches of the silk manufacture, and in refined sugar, and also in all branches of the woollen ma nufacture. In cotton manufactures the increase is not so conspicuous, though it is large in cotton yarn ; and iu wool there is a considerable decline. With the exception of cottons, we may say that every one of the great branches of our industry shows great and increasing prosperity. But we need not wonder at tho slow progress of the cotton manufactures, when we know that in consequence of the Strike the make has fallen off 357,000 pieces. By far the mast interesting portion of these re turns, however, is that which relates to our imports of food, and in one respect they are not satisfactory —but a little explanation will remove any uneasiness on the subject. The importation of wheat for the month is not 6,000 quarters more than in the corresponding month of last year; and the increase in the importation of flour is barely 17,300 cwts. more. At first this looks omi nous for our future supply. But the fact is, that our market has hitherto been so well supplied, and the apprehensions here of future supplies have been so much less than on the Continent, that prices have not jumped up here as they have jumped up elsewhere. At present, and for some time past, the price of cora here has been lower than in several parts of the Continent, as may be known by the fact that cargoes of wheat and grain of various kinds have been con tinually purchased here for different parts of the Continent. Ours, therefore, is not now, and has not been for some time, the best market; and the consequence is, that the breadstuff@ which, in the absence of any foreign competitors, would have come hither, have gone from Odessa and New York to Marseilles, Leghorn, and Havre. The great demand of France and Italy has helped to keep up freights, and we shall get our supplies at a later period on better terms when freights are lower, The terror of our neighbours has for the moment operated to divert supplies from us to them, but as those supplies are to be had—as the excellent harvests of the Crimea and the United States of 1833 are not yet threshed out, and will come forward at a later period, we shall then get larger supplies than our competitors, and on easier terms. Of provisions, which are now also of especial im portance, the imports, with the exception of bun, have increased in the month. We are now getting the butter and cheese we require, and by and by we shall get the breadstuff*. The raw material of our manufactures, by which we shall be able to purchase what we need—flax, hemp, cotton, wool—have all largely increased. They compared in the tenth month of 1852 and 1053 as follows : makers can scarcely be regarded as fortunate for Reform. The plea for a Reform Bill is that the people have, during the last 20 years' made such progress in general enlighten ment and prosperity that a larger number may be admitted to the suffrage. Yet the Ministerial jour nals say that the only extension of the suffrage will be in the counties, or—in other words--that the towns who carried the free trade measures, and whose good sense and energy upset the Protectionist folly, are to be left out of the bill altogether—because they hale not progressed as the counties have ! Is this Lord PALNIZRSTON'S view? Certain members of the Cabinet are pledged to on extension of the suffrage, which means an extension to all elegises, not simply to one class ; and unless the Cabinet are wise enough to see this, and to ant upon the fair straightforward view of the matter, they will incur just such I character for shuffling as that which was won by the Derby- Disraelites. They may be sure that the intelligent and active men allover the country will insistent fair redemption of Ministerial promises or—resignation. Scats taken from towns must he given to other town constituencies, and any extension of the suffrage must be fairly made to all classes of the population alike. To reduce the standard in Tory counties, and keep it fixed in intelligent towns, is more than any Minis try can do. This the Coalition may rely upon. The newest trick for turning the desire for Par liamentary Reform into every channel but the right, is that which advocates the propriety of representing the minority. Under the present system, say the advocates of this plan, the minority is not only beaten, but extinguished. If there are 2,001 voters in a town, and there are 1,001 who record their votes in favour of one candidate, and 1,000 in favour of another, the minority, although equal within an insignificant fraction to the majority, is unrepresented in the Legislature. Instead of having an inferior share in the imposition of taxes they have none at all, which is a robbery. This apparent anomaly it is proposed to remedy by various devices, by which the miuority may bo able to acquire their just rights. One party suggests that it would be advisable, whenever it is possible, to have three re presentatives instead of two for an electoral district, by which means a minority might often have the power of stipulating for a member for itself. Another mode of securing what are termed the rights of a minority is to give the voters one vote less than the number of representatives, by which method the minority concentrating their efforts in favour of one candidate might attain their ends. It would take little trouble to show that, even in a ge neral election, the minority would not always be able to employ this weapon successfully, and in the case of single elections it would necessarily fail. The only tolerably effective method that has been proposed is that which would allow each voter the same number of votes as there are representatives, but would at the same time give him permission to record them all in favour of one candidate. Thus if there were three candidates the voter would have three votes, all of which he might bestow upon his favourite. But, supposing the end obtained, where is the ne cessity, or the justice, or the advantage of this great scheme ? What are we to get by breaking through the principle that the ultimate decision of great pub lic questions should be settled by a majority ? Once admit that a minority is to be represented, and you inevitably fall upon the consequence, that it ought to be represented in its due proportion to the majority. If we once begin to patch up theoretical defects in the constitution, by remedies sought for, in the field of abstract emula tion, where are we to stop? We shall not be -ogle ally correct, until the representatives are accurately divided into portions mathematically proportionate to the numbers of voters in the parties into which the whole number of voters is divided. In the case mentioned above, how are we to settle the propor tion of representation to be claimed by the minority of 1,000? Anything lees than the 1000-2001 th part of a representative would, if this principle be true, be unfair to them. Anything more would be unjust to the majority. Adopt the principle of representing a minority, and Parliament would become a noisy debating club. If the minority wish for due representation they must make themselves the majority. If they are in the right they will infallibly succeed in doing this. When the Corn Law reformers were in a minority, did they pat out whining supplications that their weakness might be represented u well as their adversaries' strength ? Did they stand at the door of the House of Commons. set sok ix admission into the great practical legislative work. "shop on the strength of a few dialectical sub. tleties ? The House of Commons, they knew, did not represent accurately every shade of opinion amongst the national constituency ; it was not parcelled out in divisions with particular labels affixed to each, corresponding to the numerous divisions in the world of political thought. The House, they knew, was intended to represent the decided practical tendencies of the nation, and they knew also that, when in the course of events the national tendencies became un mistakeably manifested on their aide, the work would be done to their hands. Great political averages cannot be struck with the minute scales and balances of political theorists. For all practical purposes, majorities are the only way of arriving at such general results as are of use in politics. Minorities in the House of Commons, although they are of use in eliciting a fair discussion of op posing opinions, are so far a nuisance and a hin drance, that they always delay the progress of legit latiou. Aod when once suck a minority is thoroughly defeated inside the House and in the nation—when it is shown that the nation at large has for ever aban doned the political grourd on which this minority stands,—it is then a pest. Witness the Protectionist minority of the present day. They cannot stop use ful legislation, but they can impede its progress. Are we to increase the evil arising from divisions of parties in the House, by the addition of members representing defeated minorities is towns or coun ties out of the House Whence this sudden tenderness for minorities? Whence this apparent generosity in favour of those who are too weak to maintain their own position, or to vindicate their own convictions ? If the position is good, they will be able to fortify it. If their con victions are true, they will be able to spread them. The foundation of the policy of trusting to ma jorities for the establishment of justice and truth is the honest faith in the old doctrine— " Truth is great, and will in the end prevail." Victory in the end must be decided in favour of truth. Does not the desire to establish the right of a minority proceed from a lurking fear of the conse quences of the progress of what is just and true ? Why are the old Tories, and the heavy Whigs, and the stupid Protectionists, all hurriedly thrusting for ward various nostrums for evils in the representation, but that they are all afraid cf the only true remedy —the extension of the suffrage? Why does the Times change its coat with such desperate energy from day to day, but that it is determined A ( OMMITTEE of the Cabinet have for some time to try all methods to avoid coming to the beta busy with the details of the coming Iteform Bill. true solution of the difficulty ? Why did it, This committee includes, it is said, Lord Jolts Rus- for instance, three days ago, on Wednesday, SELL, Sir iA3tES GRAHAM, the Duke of NEwcAs- advocate the measure of swamping borough constitu- Tt.t , and Lord PALMERSTON. The presence of the encies by merging them into the county constituen latter nobleman in this knot of Ministerial law- cies, and yesterday explain the cause of the relac- Fla: ewt. 70,858 210,669 Heap , 38,817 192,017 Cotton Wool , 6,915,082 10,182,23.5 We may say the same of hides, and oil, and guano, and other articles of great utility—but not of timber, which has fallen off—the use of which con tributes both to our enjoyment and our wealth. Of manufactured articles, in gloves, in glass, there is the largest increase. Articles of consumption and enjoyment, cocoa, coffee, spirits, sugar, tea, tobacco, have all increased, showing ample payment for our large exports, and leaving us nothing to desire but a continuation of so prosperous a state of things, We cannot omit to mention that our transit trade also shows an increase. Thus the quantities of foreign or colonial coffee exported in the month—of corn and flour, of which 8,556 cwts. were exported in the month of 1863, against 6,997 cwts. in the corresponding month of 1852—0 f guano, of hides, of most metals and most oils, of silk manu facture', of moat spices, of unrefined sugar, of tea, tobacco, wine, and cotton wool, all show an increasing trade in these articles of foreign pro duction. The tonnage entered inwards in the month is 16,002 lea than in the corresponding month of 1452 ; but the tonnage cleared outwards is 81,486 more; so that no conclusion can be drawn from any one month but that our shipping, like our trade, is on the whole prosperous and increasing. The coasting trade has declined a little in the month, showing the immediate effect of that check given to foreign trade, which will only—in conse quence of previous engagements—become visible in the returns at a later period. The fact we hate referred to of comparatively small imports of corn in the last month teaches us to look for greater imports in future months, and—accompanying them —an increase in oar coasting trade. THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 3, 1853 tattoo of the county constituency to register, in the following manner ? The cause we believe to be that persons did not apply to be registered for county votes because, in most cues, the county franchise was merely romisial, and it is not worth while to obtain a right which the holder is not really per mitted to exercise. (Times.) Here is the Times suddenly, without a word of in troduction, coming round to the very reasoning by which we hese before proved that the borough franchise can only be taken away from the towns and given to the counties with the utmost danger to the constitution. We recalled a distinction I first drawn by Lord DURILUI, that if some of the boroughs were " rotten," nearly all the counties were "close." The voters in the "rotten" boroughs were corrupt because they had votes to sell ; the voters in the "close" counties could not be proved to be corrupt because they had no votes to sell. Intimidation in the counties does away with the necessity of bribery. And the Times, acknowledging this fully—confessing the feet that "the county franchise is merely nominal"—that the voters feel "it is not worth while to obtain a right which the holder is not really permitted to exer cise," still advocates measures that will result in the absorption of the boroughs into the counties. And the only goal that it desires to reach by travelling this masy road—the only advantage it seeks as the reward for all this tergiversation—the only compen sation it desires for swallowing all this dirt, is the non-extension of tho franchise, the non-admission of the fire-pound voters. Truly, after these desperate attempts to withstand this measure of reform, real Reformers will begin to think that there is more good in it than even they themselves anticipated. LATEST FROM ABROAD. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Nov. 30. Count Schwerin, the former President of the Second Chamber, has been re-elected by 136 votes spinet 123, given to Prince Hobcnlohe. PORTUGAL. MADRID, Nov. 23. The Spanish government has received a despatch from Lisbon, announcing the probability that the Portuguese government will in a few days proclaim the Prince Royal of age. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. An official telegraphic despatch from Czernovitz, dated Noy. 26, states that the Russian third army corps, under Osten-Sacken, is hastening in forced marches to the Principalities, and that preparations for its reception were being made in Bessarabia. JASSY, Nov. 21. The Russian Consnlate•General at Bucharest and the Consulate at Jassy have been dissolved, there being no longer a national government to which they can be accredited. Baron Budberg, the Russian Governor of Moldo-Wallachia, is expected here every day on his way to Bucharest. BUCHAREST, Nov. 19. All the Professors of the Gymnasiums have bean summoned before the Ephorie by order of Prince Gortschakoff, and ordered to caution their young men not to talk of politics. An infraction of this order will lead to the closing of all these institutions. Prince Gortschakoff has ordered that several thou sand bullock carts be got ready to transport the sick soldiers to Tekutich. SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, Nov. 24. The King of Sweden has declared to his Diet that "a complete system of military and naval defence is imperatively necessary to enable it to maintain its independence." His Majesty mentioned only gene rally the " state of Europe," but there is no doubt that he was thinking of the recent concentration of Russian forces on his frontier. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Letters from Paris state that on Wednesday last the French government received the answer of the Czar to the last of the pacific:propositions which have emanated from Austria. Nicholas, it is said, pro fesses that be cannot accept of any project of arrange ment that does not issue direct from Turkey, and that henceforth the fate of arms must decide the question. Private letters from St. Petersburg report that the lofty equanimity of the Czar has not been proof against the recent successes of the Turks, and in fact that his imperial majesty has quite lost his temper. Letters from Bucharest, published at Vienna, state that two young Boyards, named Gregeario and Fiotti, have been arrested on a charge of having indulged in some expressions obnoxious, or indicating dis affection at least, to Russia, Some Russian officers went to the house of Mons. Oregeario, where the other Boyard happened also to be present ; the arrest, however, could not then be effected, because both the Boyards resisted them with arms in their hands. The chief of the Wallachian police, Monsieur Ros setti, was sent for in consequence, and a Wallachian and a Russian military force required. A slight uproar took place, and the result was that the 'parties to be arrested were let off with simply a detention to their own houses, and guards were placed before their doors. Monsieur Greyed() be. longs to one of the most distinguished Boyard families. Two days later, however, they were both sent for, and conducted before the Russian board of audience; and the night before last they were sent away by special postal conveyances, and under the charge of a military escort —whither, is quite a mystery ; still people have an impression that they would be taken to Bender. A private letter from Constantinople of the 20th announces that the English, French, Turkish, and Egyptian fleets were then all in the esphorus. The Turkish squadron which had returned from the Black Set was not again to sail. Some single ships were in the Black Sea, but it is stated that the Divan had de termined that none but divisions of three or four ships-of-war should, be sent to sea so that they might contend on an equality with the Russian war-steamers, which are cruising in various direc- The Swenska-Titlningen, a semi-official journal of Stockholm, says :—" It is certain that the Emperor of Russia is preparing for war—and for a very serious and extensive war. For instance, Revel and Riga are occupied by 12,000 chosen grenadiers, 16,000 men have been sent to Finland, besides the 12,000 generally there; 10,000 sailors have arrived at lielsingfore,where there are nine ships of the line, intended doubtless to put to sea in the spring. A number of screw engines have been ordered." The Presse of I'aris says :—" Russia is making im mense preparations for the spring. Marshal Paskie witch will, it is said, then command the army of operations, and will be at the head of 200,000 men, with a reserve of 100,000. It is added that he has already selected his staff and aides-de-camp, and has appointed General Abranowitsch, commandant of the gendarmerie of Poland, major-general of his army." The following telegraphic despatch has been re ceived in Paris :—" Bucharest, Nov. 29.—The Russian war-steamer %Vladimir, when cruieTrif in the Black Sea, captured two vessels and took them into Sebas topol ; one belonging to the Ottoman government, loaded with copper, the other an Egyptian war steamer of 20 guns, which made a spirited defence. The Russians had two men killed and two wounded." The Cronslueli Gov tte of the 22nd gives accounts from Bucharest to the 20th ult. Bucharest, it says, was tranquil, and for some days the cannonade had ceased to be heard. Prince Gortschakoff had inter- I dieted any communication being kept up with the localities in which Turkish troops were to be found. On the 19th, it was still unknown whether the Turks had evacuated all the points on the left bank of the Danube except Kalafat. A large body of Russian troops was expected at Bucharest. The Satellite of Cronstadt, of the 21st ult., says : " The preparations now being made by the Russian army are on a grand scale. It is thought that the Turks will attempt the passage of the Danube be tween Widdin and Florentine, and that is the reason why the Russians have concentrated near Giurgevo a moveable column of 10,000 men. The corps d'armee of Bucharest is ready to put itself in motion." We read in the Patrie "It has been announced on the faith of despatches from Belgrade that Ser via opposed the passage across its territory of 12,000 men sent by Bosnia as a contingent to the Ottoman army. It was added that a battle bad taken place in which the Turks had been defeated by the Ser. Tian'. The latest correspondence from this country permits us to consider the news as untrue. The reigning prince of Servia has but 2,000 regular troops, and it is not to be supposed that with such a small force he could have beaten a corps of 12,000 Boenians." It appears by the latest telegraphic messages that the third Russian infantry corps, which has been several times announced as having crossed the Pruth, is not even so much as in Bessarabia, where on the 26th instant preparations were making for its re ception. FRANCE. - ~-- PARIS, F•IDAY EVENINO. It is to be inferred from an article is the Pays that France and England have no intention to stand security for the projected Turkish loan. We wish Namik Pacha: every success, says the Pays ; we have the highest opinion of Turkish probity, and think very well of Turkish resources. A loan raised entirely upon her own credit would, under present circumstances, be a wholesome sign of vitality, and a stimulus to good management of the national re venue. But for us to become sureties would be to dull the edge of her husbandry. Vice-Admiral Remain Desfossis is appointed a member of the Council of Admiralty. The Bourse opened very strong to-day. The rente was first quoted at 74fr. 35c., being sc. higher than yesterday, and it soon rose to 74fr. 80c. The news from London of the Russians attempting to cross the Danube near Ginrgevo, produced • reaction to 74fr. 60c., but this intelligence not being confirmed in Paris, and the rise in Consols to-day showing that it has had little effect upon the London market, the Threes soon rallied to 74fr. 70c. They, however, dropped to 74fr. 60c. for the close. The railway settlement like that in the rents yesterday turned out against the " Bears." Shares for delivery were very scarce. St. Germain rose 22fr. Orleans, 7fr. 50c. Rouen, 2fr. 50c. Dieppe, sfr. Southern, sfr. Strasburg and Northern fell lfr. 23e. Spanish stock was in considerable demand. Silver is now so scarce that many money changers charge 3fr. and 3fr. 30c. for change of a I,ooofr. bank note. Some of them, it is said, make silver money into lingots for exportation, and others even send out sfr. pieces to the United States, where they command a premium of 50 centimes. The Bank of France has still 130,000,000 in silver in its cellars, but every franc of this would soon disappear but for the reso lution to make payments in gold. The Minister of Public Instruction has just taken a praiseworthy step in the direction of religious tole ration. The provisor of the Lyceum of Macon had taken upon himself to insist that all members of his school belonging to the Jewish persuasion should attend mass. The Jewish consistory appealed to the minister, and he has decided that not only shall Jew ish scholars not be forced to conform to Roman catholic rites, but every facility shall be afforded them to follow their own worship. The Princess de Canino has presented &petition to the Emperor to be recognised as a member of the Imperial family, and as such to receive a dotation. Her claim is certainly not ill-founded. She is the daughter of 'Ling Joseph, who was at one time the immcdiate heir of Napoleon 1., when Jerome was, in some sort, in disgrace. The Prince de Canino, who is now in Paris, has come from Rome, it is said, to support his mother's petition. the affair of Madame de Solms—another not only not recognised, but disowned member of the Bona parte family—will come before the Council of State in a few days. This lady appeals against the decree of the Prefect of Police, expelling her from France as a foreigner. ITALY. ____ . _ MORE ARRESTS AT ROME. Our correspondent writes : ROME, Nov. 24. A fresh batch of Romans, belonging to the respect able middle class, fell into the clutches of the sbirrl two nights ago, arrested, as is supposed, on account of their political principles, they being almost entirely members of the fusionist party. It may be remembered that, after the last outbreak at Milan, a large majority of the Italian liberals protes t ed against the adoption of such measures in future, and proposed a fusion of constitutionalists, federal ists, and republicans, to the exclusion of the mare exalted friends of Young Italy, for the regulation of their future conduct. The expedition of the Genoese exiles to Rome, on the 13th August last, was earnestly opposed by the fusionists, and in cows queues they were not comprised in the arrests thee effected on the discovery of the plot. The favour then shown them, however, appears to have been like that granted by Polyphone to Ulysses, " Noman shall be the last I will devour." Fifteen individuals were dragged off to prison on the night before last, amongst whom are Signors Pie. cioni, who was nearly beaten to death by the sbirrl two years ago—Mazzoni, who was arrested on Christmas eve, 18.51, just as be was entering the British consulate to join a dinner-party—Gig% an ex-officer of dragoons—Trucci, a clerk in the salt and tobacco administration—and Berni, a poet, author of the libretto of a new opera jail bi•ought out by Renzi, The Witch qf Ender. This morning fresh arrests are spoken of, and the names of Signors Sil vestrelli and Tittoni are mentioned u being amongst the victims. They both belong to highly respectable families, and the first is one of the principal capitalists of Rome. GERMANY. AFFAIRS OF PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Nov. 29. A few explanatory remarks on the King's speech may be acceptable to English readers. The passage on the Oriental question throws no new light on Prussia's position. It has long been known that as long as M. von Manteuffel retains office he will, supported by the Prince of Prussia's influence, maintain strict neutrality, and impartially promote all efforts for the re establishment of peace. But should, in the course of the struggle, the Czar's authority—which the German rulers were fain to r. gard as their main bulwark against revolutionary movements—appear endangered, it is a question whether M. von Manteuffel would not be forced to resign his post to some leader of the Cavalier party, who would give full sway to the sympathy for Rus sian policy, predominate in the more immediate court coterie. It is worthy of note that the royal speech in a military country like Prussia should be chiefly filled with comments on matters of industry—rail roads, telegraphs, trades, commerce, shipping, coal ' mines, iron works, and prices of provisions. It is a sign that, in our times, the interests of productive labour gain everywhere a greater ascendancy. The passage on the production of iron may be understood to convey the Intimation that no reduction of the duties on foreign iron is to be hoped for. Such a re duction was urgently demanded by the interests of Prussian industry ; and Prussia proposed it to the Zollvcrein'a conference. But as Prussia, by renewing the Zollvefein for twelve years, without previously revising the tariff, has robbed itself of all power to consult its own inte rests in tariff matters, and the petty southern states, in order to make Prussia feel its powerlessness,reject what it proposes, the Prussian government now tries to make a virtue of necessity by asserting that " the production of iron enjoys such an extension as authorises the hope that within a few years the home supply will be able to cover the whole demand for pig iron in the country." It is true that of late layers of coal and iron ore have been found together on the right bank of the Rhine, and promise a con siderably increased supply. But at present the iron mines of the whole Zollverein produce less than 250,000 tons, or about one-eighth of what is produced in Great Britain. It is possible that the increased ; productiveness of German mines may, within a few years, amount to 400,000 tons, or the quantity to which the consumption of iron in the Zollverein is now restricted by the present high prices under pro- tection duties. The " total demand for iron in the country," however, is not to be understood as the; restricted demand under a protectionist tariff, but as the quantity which the country would consume, if permitted to get iron on the cheapest possible terms. And as in England the population consumes above a hundredweight of iron annually per head, we may confidently assume that under free trade the population of the Zollverein would consume at least a million tone. But the Prussian ministry certainly does not believe that the productiveness of German iron mines will be quadru pled within a few years. Highly important is the passage referring to the present high prices of provisions. Wheat costs here Ns. per quarter; rye 505., or about double the usual price; potatoes about 2s. fid. per cwt., or 50 per cent. above tke average. These prices, though high, are far lower than what we had in 1847, and cer tainly not disproportionate to the rates prevailing elsewhere, in consequence of the short harvest ; throughout the whole west of Europe, and the stop- I page of supplies from the Danube and south of ' Russia. But the ignorant multitude took into its head that the high prices were caused by the in-, trigues of avaricious speculators, so-called " corn usurers." In this dangerous delusion they were en couraged by some ignorant newspapers, though, to the credit of the north German press, it must be said, that the majority of the journals, especially the Berlin National, and the &ellen Bailie Chmette, brought some very clear and energetic articles on the subject. But the Berlin police, a couple of months ago, instead of making head against dangerous popular errors,which in case of real dearth lead directly to riots, counte nanced them by sending to the corn market, arrest ing all unlicensed brokers, and warning the merchants against time bargains. The consequence was that several respectable houses, fearing that, on accumulating stocks of corn, they would be insuffi ciently protected, countermanded extensive orders for importation, agriculturists deferred sending produce to a market exposed to police interference, while, on the other band, orders to purchase were sent by persons who expected that the police was about to enforce cheapness. Thus the diminished supply and increased demand caused by the ill-judged officiousness of the police, naturally aggravated the evil, instantly producing a further rise of prices. This result was a salutary lesson. But there ensued great popular clamour for a veto on the exportation of grain, and on the em ployment of potatoes for distilling. And as the go vernment has in former times yielded to such im politic measures, there was much apprehension that they might be again resortel to. This apprehension checked the importation of core, and incited the dis tillers to work away with all possible rapidity, instead of slackening their stills, as they would otherwise have naturally done. Both circum stances tended rather to raise than to reduce prices. The free-traders exerted all their power of argument to convince the ministry that unrestricted commerce alone could secure the obtaining of such supplies as are to be got, and, by restoring confi dence, bring prices to the level accordant with the general state of stocks and consumption. M. von Manteuffel's sound good sense easily perceived this; and he is therefore entitled to full credit for intro ducing into the King's speech so explicit a declara tion, that no tampering prohibitions will be resorted to. The landed interest is, of course, highly satis fied at this. But there exists, in all large Prussian towns, a " grinding-tax" of 21s. per quarter on wheat, and ss. 3d. on rye; so that the price of wheat for all but agricultural consumers is now at the enormous height of 795. per quarter. The agricul turists, not immediately paying this grinding tax, are unable to perceive that, inasmuch as it restricts consumption, it restricts demand, lowers prices, and, in fact, comes out of their packets; hence they never hink of agitating for its repeal. for prices to decline for the present. N ee i taken place since our last numb er . s RI: M.—A fair inquiry exults fur this article ; the receipt. at present are but small, and dealers continue to Stumm full rates. Sinc r last numb er 23 1 pipes have e ou b ee . shipped, making the exports since let November last pipes, being an excess of 3,144 pipes over crrespo.d,ag period of 1852 and 1853. FREIOHTS —We are again without sny charters to refer to. The following vessels will prohablyl9ad tur consigners' account : the ship Belli, hence or ut ask outpurt for Liver pool, and the barque Oberon, hence for Liverposl. w e derstand charters have taken place in Rio of two or th ree vessels to come up and load sugarsat this p ort at Wt. _ 620. Gd. per ton for the Chaan e l. o Liverpool, ra te , f or and sugar hides, 4:55. were at 30 per tons. per ton ; cotton, to perik ; EICLIANGE.—Since the sailing of the Tay, on the "3rd ult., no transactions have taken place. Limitations S te merely nominal—on London, 271 ; l'arts. 344 to 347; and Lisbon, 100. DISCOUNTi.—The hank rates continue without change Out of doors during the last few days money has be e . k m ' plentiful, and holders are looking for begber rces. BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, TIIVRSDAY. It is asserted in a well-informed quarter that all the preliminaries to the concluding of an alliance, offensive and defensive, between Great Britain and France, have been agreed to—the equivocal dec!ara tions and conduct of the Austrian cabinet giving rise to many suspicions, not to say well-founded appre hensions, in London and Paris. The relations between the Austrian and Prussian courts are less friendly than formerly. The following details, taken from the Observateur Beige of this evening, respecting the rejecting of the Austrian note—the last one on the tapir—will be found interesting; I have grounds for believing that they are correct : Lord Cowley was at Fontainblcau when he learned that the cabinet of London was inclined to accept the Austrian proposition (the one unfolded in the article from the Wats, given yesterday in the Daily News). The lan guage of the Emperor on learning this news betrayed great irritation, and his behaviour became cold and reserved. Lord Cowley lost no time in returning from Fontainbleau to Paris, whence he immediately expedited a courier to London, and in 48 hours afterwards Lord Cowley informed the Emperor that he had received from Lord Clarendon a de spatch intimating the intention of his government to reject the Austrian proposition, and containing the proposal to de mend of Austria explanations concerning her neutrality. From that moment the former most friendly understanding between the Emperor and the Ambassador was restored. He has been heard several times to declare, " I am still a partisan of peace; but just as resolved to make war, if this be to assist the good cause of Turkey, and deliver Europe from the tutelage of Russia." The demand of the cabinets for explanations from Austria was forwarded on the 25th. BRAZILS. - - ••• - (PROM 01:11 OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY. By the arrival this morning of the clipper barque Genevieve, Captain Cowper, wo have received ad vices from Pernambuco to the let November. On the 2nd November the Genevieve passed the Royal Mail steamer Great Western, from South ampton, with the October mails. She left the Bella and the Oberon loading for Liverpool. 'the Parkhill sailed for this port, from Pernam buco, 26th October. The English barque William Russell, Shellord, Muter, arrived at Pernambuco on the 24th October, from Bahia, leaky ; a survey has been held, and it is probable she will have to discharge her cargo. She is laden with tobacco, bound for Bremen. The following extract from M. Carneiro's circular shows the state of trade at Pernambuco : ElPuMTS.—Sugar : Our arrivals increase on a very slow Neale, and considerable disappointment is felt at the very backward state of our new crop ; advices from various of the sugar districts are far from satisfactory, and represent that the yield will not only be very late, but also much less than had been expected. Front the desire to be operating, our sugar dealers are buying at extremely high rates, but which we hope to see decline as the receipts increase. Since our last number only 78 tons have been shipped, making the total exports since Ist Nov. last to date, 65,581 tons, and which may be regarded as the result of the crop of 1852 to 1853. We do not hear of anything doing at Paraiba or Maceio in new sugar. Ccrerote.—The receipts continue to be equally limited as for some time put, being only 614 bags since the date of our last number. Since the intelligence received to 24th Sept. I APOTHECARIES' HALL—Names of gentlemen who from England, our market has assura t d, a very unsettled i passed their examination in the science and p rac tice of state; the sales have been confined to small parcels, at prices received medicine, and certificates to practise, on Thursday, varying from 5.800 to I;.200, according to quality Dec. 1, 1853:—Charles Slater Adams, Weilnesbury, Stat. and we do not look for miles of any extent to take ' fordshire ; sWilliam Roberta, Mynyddy-Guf, Angleseal place until the intelligence per mail due 31st inst. shalt j Henry Ludlow, LehrLeicestershire. have reached us. Only 84G bags have been shipped since „ FIRE AT MILE-END.—Yesterday morning, between oar last number, making the entire shipments since the Ist the hours of one and two o'clock, a lire broke out on the eif July last 11,7.51 bag., against 14,062 bags within cones- premises of Mr. R. Davis, oil and colourman ' Cambridge , pleading period last year. The stock on hand to-day for roa d, M i l e - en d. The flames were dip... Jeered by the police Into and shipment is 4,910 bags. In Paraiba prices have ion duty, who, without a moment's delay, aroused the in' undergone a decline of about roe 500 per arroba to the ; mates ; but the flames wire progressing an fiercely that they grower since receipt of the news to tre 24tn Sept. At a sale ; hail great trouble in c6ct :rig a safe rt trcat before the flames on the 28th of 1,200 bags, a great portion, of superior broke forth with terrific fury, owing to the inflammable quality, sold at 0.100 per arroba all round, with a nature of the stock, spreading their trightful havoc. The credit. fire was at length subdued, but not until considerable Iliona.—We are not aware of any transactions since our damage war done to Mr. J. Dobson's (boot and shoemaker) last number ; dealers coatinue equally firm in their do- and the adjoining houses. The cause of the tire is unknOwn• mends, and as no stock whatever is held, we scarcely look All the parties arc supposed to be insured. AUSTRALIA. Singapore advices, by the last Overland Mail, re. port the arrival of several vessels from Australi a n porn, with dates from Sydney and Melbourne to the uth Septem ber. The Lieutenant Governor of Victoria hail intimated his intention to submit a bill to the Council for abolisluag the license fee, and it was conjectured that a gold duty would take its place. It was also stated that the Governor proposed levying a duty on sugar. &one of the claim, about Ballarat were yielding enormous quantities of gold. One party at Prince Regent's Gully washed oat in six hours 90 lbs. weight or goid, and in three days had obtained 1,90 ounces. The Geelong Admirer,. states that the hole was expected by the party to yield at least 10 to 12 cwt. A. splendid nugget, waighiug 114 ounces 10 4wts., had been found in this gully, at 25 f eet d epth. The yield of gold for the week ending 21th August had beta unprecedented. In the neighbourhood of the Cansdi ve Gully, observes the local journalist, such a ql: .ntity of the metal had been taken out, that we feel a digt,:race la iiteet. ing it. From 1401bs. to 15011 m. have bets obtained at short time from claims in this quarter. In addition Male the vein at the gravel pits has been recovered, cad 6711 n. weight was taker. from one bottom without drivuig. Th e Legislative Council of Sydney had agreed to raise 100,0004 on debentures, secured on the territorial revenue, winch amount was to be expended in keeping up the stream of immigration to the colony to supply the great want of h. boor. The wharves were crowded with goods, the rate o f storage extravagantly high, and several vessels had b eet at anchor one month, with full cargoes on board, %idiom any attempt being made to discharge them. EDe Court. --* - OSBORNE, DEC. 2. The Queen and the Duchess of Brabatt walked yesterday in the grounds at Osboriw. Lord Alfred Paget has succeeded Lord Charles Fitzroy ss Equerry in Waiting. The Commissioners for inquirinf into the state of the Corporation of the City of London held n meeting yester day at the official residence of :he Fir , t Lord of tie Treasury in Downing•street. The cornriii‘ei , tners Remit were the Right Ron. H Labutschere au.l G. Cornwall Lewis, Esq. Despatches front the Governors of the West Coast of Africa were received yeeteriay ut the Ciihintal- office. Despatches were sent last evening tram at... Colonial-AM for the Governor of Cantle. The Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday, and resumed the bearing of the petition of the States of the Island of Ji rsey. The lords present were: The Lord Chancellor, Vt'count Pshnerstos, Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Chin. cellar of the Duchy of Cornwall, the Lords Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, sad Sir J. Patteson. The Hun. William Bathurst, Clerk of the Privy Council, attended. The case was adjourned. The Earl of Derby is suffering, from a severe attack of his old enemy, the gout. The effects of this latest visitation have, it is stated, been more serious upon the noble earl's general health than those of any previous attack. WITHDRAWAL OF a QUEEN'S LETTEits."—The Morning Marald of yesterday says:—" We Itarti, on what we deem to be sufficient authority, that the government has come to the determination of withholding the mad ' Queen's Letters' front the Society fruni Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and from the N ttional Society. It is not for us to impugn this dezisimi. We are aware that these two societies have for some time past been charged with Tractarian leanings." MILITARY APPOINTMENTS AT THE CAPE.—Lieut.• Colonel Cooper, 45th Regiment, has been appointed Com mandant at Natal, Cape of Good Hope, vice Colonel Bays. Lieut.-Colonel Cole, Ittlal Engineers, has been appointed Commandant at Cape 'lowa, vice Lieut.-Colonel Ingilby, Royal Artillery. Lieut.-Colonel Sutton, Cape Mounted Rifles, has been appointed Commandant at Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope. vice Maj 'r Burnaby, Royal Artillery. Major Donovan, Cape Mounted Rifles, has ceased to be Commandant of Queen's Fort, Cape of Wed Hope. Brevet-Major Tylden, Royal Artillery, is no loneer Com mandant of the Victoria district, Cape of Good Hope. Lieut-Culonel Bissett, Cape Mounted Wiles, and Lieutenant Gawler, 73rd Foot, have been appointed Brigade-Majors at Natal, vice Lieutenant Whitmore, Cap, Mounted Rides, and Lieutenant Fleming, 45th Regiment.—Brilish Army Despatch. THE CORONER FOR MANCHESTER AND TUE POOR LAW OFFICIALS. At the weekly meeting of the Manchester Board of Guardians, held on Thursday, the clerk read a letter from the Poor Law Board, requesting an explacation of the circumstances connected with the retusll of relief to a woman named Ellen Swindells, deceased, on whose body an inquest was held last week by Mr. Herron', the coroner for this city, the jury recommending that a copy of the deposi tions be sent to the Poor Law Board, in order that inquiry might be made. A letter was then read from Mr. Whitney, the relieving officer concerned, stating that the deceased bad relief from him for several months, as ordered by the guardians, but which owed in May last, owing to her removal into Mr. Barrio's district. In August last she again came into Mr. Whitney's district, and her daughter applied in her behalf. There being no order on the books ter her permanent relief, Mr. Whitney at once visited the case, and found her issiding in a small room by herself. When he entered she was stag gering across the room, apparently very ill, and he assisted her to a seat, as she appeared to be falling. lie told the daughter that her mother had better came into the workhouse, where she could have proper attendance, as he considered it waft for her to remain where she was, and he had been informed that she and her daughter did not agree when living to gether on a previous occasion. They did not accede to this proposal, and he beard tiothing more of them until Monday, the 21st ult., when the daughter came in the forenoon to have her mother's name entered to go before the guardians, stating that she had fallen in the street about ten days before, and been hurt : but she did not request immediate attention, or plead urgency, nor did Mr. Whitney knowahe was there until she came before him. There were above two hundred applications to be disposed of that morn ing, and he subsequently learnt that when the daughter returned home she found her mother dead. Ile entered the woman's name as requested, and visited the cue be tween one and two o'clock the sante day, but found her dead. The clerk then read a statement, showing the re sult of his own inquiries, which corroborated the statement of Mr. Whitney. As the woman had not been well, the guardians had considered the workhouse the most proper place for her until she recovered 51r. Whitney had celled upon those whose natural duty it was to look atter her (the daughter and her husband, who was a dealer in coals), sad they declined to do anything unless paid, as it were, to do so, although it did not appear that they were unable to support their parent. These facts, he said, might have been elicited by the coroner, if he hail been disposed to summon the relieving officer. Mr. Hodgson said the question was ea important that be thought the Poor Law Board ought to send an inspector, or direct the inspector now in this city to Inquire into the ease, as well as the other car which had lately occurred. Mr. U. 11. Rickards said there was something more than the mere satisfaction of the Poor Law Board with regard to three ewes. There appeared to be a very strong animus on the part ‘,l the coroner against the administration of the otters of the board. The board had every desire that the conduct of their officers should be fully investigated, but untortunately where their con duct was impugned they could not avoid feeling some de gree of partisanship ; and therefore, in order that justice might be fully secured, it was desirable that such matters should be investigated by the inspector.