The Express. — London, England, 1852-01-07 00:00:00

Int erprtgA. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • deeoud YelTas el .11i• Zama; euitsladdi Ae e., ne gees. , leo tiaaette,"l.l published miry Tesalay aa. Friday ssyt.:, t wad for pos. aftwes usearne, Isisaisia 4r" isprer." Lorin E, se payer, met the 0111.14 10. Ilsevedirdlzsd, ))y Tiro es !be dsy saddemdss. 111611 WATIUR AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tem I)..—llundas. lk 31.. rummies. 21. law ss....mr—Slemslas. k 3ka. Alkiessek. 31. la. LONDO.V, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7. YESTERDAY—as a report in another column explains—the Prime Minister received very blandly a deputation on the Education question. Education is, as we take it, a matter that con cerns the whole country. And yet Lord Jolts Hes /ELL, nu farther gone than yesterday, admits a depu tation trim Leeds, and listens to what they have to say on the subject,—the principle laid down in his recent letter to Mr. MILS La GlimoN notwithstanding. Far be it from us to complain that Lord JOIIN has so' soon violated his own very strange resolution not to receive deputations from particular districts on Main that concern the whole country. The next best thing to nut having laid down such a rule is to break it as soon as possible. Whether or not we should congratulate the educationist deputation from Leeds on their having been Livoured with an audience by Lord JollN, we scarcely know. His lordship is bound by • voluntary pledge to introduce next erasion a measure of parliamentary reform. Thus circum stanced his n•fusel to receive the deputation from the !gam hester Iteform Conference may have etriginated,—very probably did originate,—in • fear that whilst conversing with them be might, in. advertently, make premature revelations respecting what he intends to do. if this view of his conduct be correct, then the probability is that his readiness to admit educational deputations to his presence im plies thqt he has no fears of being led to reveal his intentions respecting education to them,—inasmuch rr he does not intend to do anything. We say this, not for the purpose of discouraging such advocates and promoters of education ns may be disposed to seek interviews with the Pet:mint :--quite the contrary. The more sluggish and lazy ministers are, the more necessary it is to keep pushing them on. We arc glad to see the educationists moving at Manchester, at Leeds. and elsewhere. It is a symptom that the faith in,—the eagerness to obtain,—general education, is on the increase. And these deputations serve at once to bring this conviction home to the government, and rouse tho emulation of other dis tricts. 'flu rumours which have of late been flying about respiTting further impending changes of the cabinet ought to put the friends of education on the alert at present. With or without good grounds the name of the Marquis of L.►rsuowcE has been mentioned among those of cabinet ministers who are understood to wish to make way for younger and more robust men. Now the Marquis, as President of the Coun cil. is er ijieio chairman of the education committee. The hest guarantee that the PREMIER can give the public of his intentions to promote good go vernment and necessary reforms is to appoint compe tent and energetic men to any seats in the cabinet that may fall vacant. The President of the Council being all that we have in England in the shape of a minister of education,—and the ap pointment being in all other respects little better than a sinecure,—it ought to be conferred on none but a man sincerely devoted to the cause of educa tion ; extensively acquainted with the best methods of promoting education ; and capable of persevering effort. The fact is that the Committee of the Council on Education may at present, for all practical purposes, be considered as in abeyance. It has de /into no re sponsible. woi king head. The venerable President of the Council—one of the most liberal, benevolent, and enlightened of his party—has, for some time, been disqualified by his increasing years and infirmi ties from taking an active part in the labours of the committee. l,oder him there is no one whose official position entitles him to take the lead; and what is worse, no one who possesses the moral courage, and freedom from prejudice, and superiority to red. tape etiquette and official routine, that would enable him to supply the place of his chef. The business of the committee is conducted languidly and with half a heart. " The sluggard says there is • lion in the path." The pneu-euranti head clerks or secretaries of the education committee find—or fancy—all kinds of dangers and impediments in every path they are invited to enter upon. This is lamentable. The yearly parliamentary g rant for educational purposes s, from its niggardli ness, unworthy of so great a nation. The field of action, the powers attributed to the committee, fall far short of what is required for its important ob jects. Nevertheless, a good deal has been done in course of the last eight or nine years. An offi cial staff of superintendents of schools has been formed, whose members are certainly characterisod by intelligence, tact, and zeal in their soca bon. The normal schools established by go vernment have trained a considsenble number of industrious, efficient teachers, end are actually bringing forward every year • greater number of such teachers than government ea provide work for. Lastly, the regulations_ adopted by the com mittee with reference to the distribution of grants in aid to schools, have now been so matured and recti fied, that preasetees of listeindinal schools—of all sects except the Banaralsiag high eiturchmen—can co-operate, and de meoperate modially, with the Committee of Ifiesadem Leahy Mk to the utter want of goverment eassarameent to general edu catioa mom tea sr tweedy years ago, it will not be denied that this state of maks maitests a decided improvement. It cannot be Wiwi matiseal WOW bon, but it is • fair po r mathe it While** Manchester and other amiatims have beta pa pering the publie maul kr a el retinal se/ loots. originated, seppresd, mmaged by the people themselves, the Csaimittas of the Oaanadi en Education has been training a body of public servants qualified for the ha of embalm, over, en lightening, easeoregint s er em dpec=lesal efforts ; —has been edissatiag te set an example and awaken a gamut emaistisa in their whole class ;—end has bee miming tits voluntary efforts of the hinds steamed= Ia ell of the kingdom. The aid need the tisaallial efforts, tending to a edemas ente Irma_ smelts Oats of origin,lam materielly saMed fie wheat el a sound and mile spasm of asthma N. assidsa. Hut tMs, ia so ihr es the Committee of Osman ea Educed.. b meseraid, iof the poet. At meeM, !en the sans elm abided to the sems is, in a groat meson, ia a Mateo, swimedialanisastiom Its mica is partially paralysed ; its heat is inert ; its "prior aims lukewarm ; __and 1W state of affairs bra eassommi intenamiMini en the part of Wahiawa' balm so oseseibis er responsi ble appointments mdse the essemittas, that has complicated its prosee end asutraliaed to a still greater sate its A more sincerely smaset, er atmssnlightsned head for the committee it would net be easy is find ; but a younger and more active man is needed to discharge his novel and iesa datiss. Aad one of the first and most dudes sea a ere will be required to disebargs, will be that of sternly reminding his sub ordinates that if they are to vermin in office, they must work,—and that in the sense that the legislature has prescribed and the people desire,—not merely to gratify their own personal crotchets and pmpossea. scions. The importance of the end to he attained ought of itself to be sufficient to ensure the Premier's atten tion to considerations such as these. But there is one upon which we have not yet touched that has not unfrequently been found more powerful with aristocratic politicians. The Committee of Educa tion has done so much that there is danger in stop ping. MALLET DC PAN mentions a conversation la which D urrox attributed the first French revolution in great part to the fact that the state allowed ple beians like himself to be educated in the high offices of the law, and to acquire the habits and ambitious of the class that tilled them, and then excluded all but patricians from these offices. An able and aspiring body of men was thus called into existence in every province, who,—finding no legitimate fleld of action for their acquired abilities,—made for themselves an illegitimate one; who—denied the privilege deo-ope rating to support the state, set themselves to subvert it. The Lortual schools of the Committee of Education, in its presen t paralysed coedit ion, a re every year throwing upon moiety thousands of active and accomplished teachers, for whom no safe and profitable field of uetian is provided in our civil and social system, and who have therefore every temptation to busy them selves fur its subversion. _ _ _ —. The government make teachers and neglect pupils; and if the people were as indolent as the government, there would be but sorry hopes for the future. Happily such immeiations as the one that waited yesterday on the ['rime Minister with their demands, 84.1111 determined to persevere till the great question on which its members are engaged is settled on a basis worthy of a great and prosperous nation. Draisc. the last few days the Times has been using the Kullir war as a peg on which to hang a number of remarks upon the state of our army and detentes. Are these articles in a ministerial paper to be the forerunner of a ministerial demand fur more money for soldiers? Our military system is deficient enough—as every practical military officer knows too well —but the way to mend it is by a proper reform of what troops we have, before the people arc asked to put their hands in their pockets to pay for more. The large sum of money annually voted for army and ordnance expenditure would, if properly applied, be amply sufficient for national requirements. If our contemporary asks only for army reform, there can be no good objection to the request; if the growl is preparatory to a suggestion for making our present system more un wieldy and expensive, then the country and parlia ment must be on their guard. When the Emperor NAPOLEON, in the deserted halls of the imbue of Fontainebleau, received intel ligence of M MMONT'S capitulation of Paris, he was forcibly struck by the disastrous consequences arising from the dispersion of his armies. To oppose the allies flushed with success, he had but a few batta lions of his guard, whilst the flower of his troops were in garrison at hamburg, Mantua, Antwerp, and Barcelona, in fact, anywhere but where they were wanted. A hundred thousand men, besides Soutr's veterans of the Peninsula, were still in existence, and he who had led an innumera ble host to Moscow, found himself, through neglect of those serf- principles of warfare of which he has been the chief master, unable even to contend for an honourable surrender. That abdication of Fon tainebleau is a lesson to every state, but to us it is a practical one which comes straight home. We have our hundred regiments of the line, and a score of cavalry, with thousands of artillerymen, but sonic are in the Keliat-pass, others on an exploring expe dition to t'ae centre of Africa, and to guard our own shores fur which that army was originally instituted, we have, besides the Guards, but eleven regiments of cavalry and seventeen of infantry scattered from John o'Groat's to the Land's-end. We arc not speaking of the force in Ireland, be cause if in time of . peace we are unable not only to dispense with a single regiment from that country, but have even been obliged to form a fresh military district, it is not probable that in time of difficulty we should be justified in calculating upon reinforcements from it. But if the turbulency of the inhabitants requires to be kept down by main force, would it not be as well that they should pay for their amusement, which could easily be done by increasing the corps of constabulary, instead of occupying the attention of an expensive body of men raised for the defence 'of the nation at large? The actual force which England can at this mo ment command, without greatly inconveniencing the present arrangements, are 3,000 horse and foot guards. 3,000 cavalry, 12,000 infantry, including the depots, and about 4,000 artillery, making a to al of 240/110 regulars; but out of this Devonport, Portsmouth, Dover. Sheerneat, Woolwich, &c., have to be garri soned ; and we therefore cannot calculate upon more than h alf that number as available for field service. Keeping in mind—whatever alarmists who de sire army extension may declare—that the only actual danger which England is susceptible of is from piratical raisins of some five thousand men, landed suddenly on the coast, we may as wise and prudent men ask the question—cannot we without adding to our already enormous army expenditure, be given some system of armament, by which—should necessity arise—this small force of regular troops could be given full scope for acting in the field without in any way being weakened by detachments and garrisons? We possess an ex cellent force of sixteen thousand pensioners who could just as well do the garrison duty as the line, a flue body of police who if proper ly drilled would make able auxiliaries, and a yeomanry which every general officer who inspects them states to be most praiseworthy. It were well, therefore, that these several bodies be so organised as to be fit fur service at any moment required. At present we have the pensioners exercised for eight days a year on some heath or common, where they look uncommonly well, but they are utterly incapable of undergoing the fatigue, hurry, and anxiety to which they would be subjected in the field. Besides, being nearly all married men with large families, they would have no great desire to expose themselves, if that could be helped ; it is, therefore, essential that they be kept behind stone walls, and no doubt they would be as efficient in such a position as any others. The police, as a body of heavy infantry, would be invaluable. Steady in their habits, ac customed to obedience and order, well clothed, all they want to take the field is a knapsack and a musket. In our large towns, where they number some thousands, they might be organised much in the same manner as the French gendarmerie, divided into foot and horse, and though adding • strong force to our army, would not add one penny to our expenses. As to the yeomanry, we have no doubt that if duly encouraged, we should obtain • body of horse from which the cavalry might obtain men who would require but little further instruction. Of the militia we say nothing, because the experience of the last " calling out" of that knee would scarcely justify its being tried a&n. It is recruited from that body of the nation whose time is its bread, and for the protection of whom we have raised a standing army. " No militia," says Marshal MAJUIONT, " even supposing them to be the bravest men on earth, will at first be worth anything. The value and courage of each can only be tested by experience; and as their first efforts will be made without the powerful succour which confi dence affords, in all probability, they will produce greet and irreparable disasters." Besides, the clothing and arming of so enormous a body is by no means a small matter, so much so, that an addition to our army of some five thousand men, would be far more economical. But there is a force for which England possesses peculiar resources, and that is a lady of irregulars, armed with the new long-range rifles, and who from behind hedges or copses could cause great havoc in an enemy's lines. Such a body could soon be formed with the gamekeepers of the gentry, and volunteer corps of young men in country towns. Each county could have its own regiment of these, officered under the lord lieutenants. Never with an army, but always near it, the operations of a defensive force would never be impeded in the same manner as if a regular militia were attached to it. whilst an enemy could not send out foraging parties or small detachments without suffering the greatest loss. Were these precautionary measures to be taken, our regular army could then be divided between De , vonport, Portsmouth, Dover, and the south-west coast, in detachments of five thousand men each which would be ample to meet any enemy that could be landed without England obtaining due notice of a serious war, to meet which we have nu doubt the nation would rise as one man. What we have, at present, of infantry and cavalry, though ' ; few in number, is complete and in the best condi tion ; but, unfortunately, we cannot say the same of If our artillery. We drew the public attention some time back to the inefficient state of the garrison ar- I tillery, but we have now to state that the field is, if anything, worse. We are too apt to be misled by the accounts of Woolwich reviews, and the shining gold coats of the horse artillery as it gallops out of a cloud of smoke on Woolwich Common is a very pretty night, but we are too apt to gild the de ficiencies of the army. A battery of horse ar tillery to take the field requires DM horses and 172 men. At present, a troop has ii:i horsiss and 86 men ; that is to say, that if required t i act, the whole of those three gay troops which are kept for show would have to be broken up to form one efficient troop. Six horse artillery guns com plete is all we could muster at Woolwich, at a time when our neighbours can bring one hundred 1 into the field without' ineonsenienee. if low money was spent on gold lase , coats, which make as many tasgets for the enemy, and more on liar- am, it would be more to the purpose. We by no mesas wish to disparage the corps itself; for it is' as essential to en army as light cavalry is ; bat we hive sr right to complain that what ought to be kept as an efficient body for the service of i the public is kept as a puppet show for the amuse ment of "distinguished parties." Could anything be more ridiculous than such a body, all heron plumed, marching on a drizzly day over Salisbury pain? Hut the foot artillery is but little better; a battery requires 162 horses; it has 63, and of those a third are old stagers, who could make their way over Woolwich Common blindfold. At Woolwich there are five batteries "in course of instruction ;" that is to say, there is not ono efficient for service. Out of these five, not two could be formed. Yet we want a battery with each division. That is to say, three on the south coast, one on the west, and a re servo at Woolwich,—not to oppose a landing, but to meet an enemy, supposing one had landed. And, indeed, why cannot field artillery be just us well in the south as at Woolwich. "It will not be so handy for reviews." So much the better; it will have less review practice ; more of field manmuvres. We pay rather dear for these little amusements, and like other people would wish to get the most for our money. Before wo are asked to spend one penny more on soldiers, let those wo have be put on a proper footing. FRANCE. THIS DAY'S NEWS. BY SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.) (►IOY Oct OWN CORRJUIPONGINT.) PARIS, WIDNRIDAT MORNING. The device " Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," is abo/ishod, and tho former names of streets bearing the word " royal" Cr. restored. PARIS, TUESDAY MORNIXO. I informed you yesterday that the appearance of the constitution had been delayed in consequence of the incomplete state of the organic decrees, with which it is proposed to accompany the promulgation of the fundamental charter. These decrees are appended for the sake of comprising the constitution in as few articles as possible. It is said that France will be divided into electoral districts. The return of Count Flahaut from England is waited for, before the new diplomatic arrangements are completed. Singularly enough not a word about the great dinner, given yesterday at the Tuileries by the Presi dent to the mayors-delegate of Prance, appears in any paper. The court of the Tuileries was illumi nated, and for the first time since 1848 the apart ments inside blazed with hght. 'With regard to the fete at the Opera, to which the President has invited the same Mayors, the " Pro phete" has been chosen for representation. No per son will be admitted without an express invitation ; all the offices are closed. The Moniteur contains the decree of concession of the Paris and Lyons Railway. The Minister of Public Works, in his report to the President of the Republic, shows how much more advantageous to the State the conditions now obtained by the go vernment are than those which accompanied the last bill. The sum to be paid by the company to the Treasury is 114 millions, including the four millions expended by virtue of the last credit. This payment is to be effected in four years. The section from Chalons to Micon is to be opened in two years; that from Macon to Vaise in three years; the portion traversing Lyons is to be completed in the course of the succceaing year. Thus in four years at the latest the great line from Calais to Marseilles will be open to the public. A special train for the trans mission of despatches is to be furnished gratuitously. An article of the cahier des charges will facilitate the concession of the branch from Dijon to Mulhouse, by placing the advance of the materiel and of the expenses of working the line, at the charge of the Paris and Lyons Company. The company will also bo obliged to furnish the Treasury with another mil lion as its share of expenses in the railway-zone at Paris. This sum will complete the 113 millions which I mentioned in my letter of yesterday as engaged to be paid by the company. The administration is to remain independent of that of every other line which has been actually convert ed . Tho council of administra tion will not be allowed to include the presidents, nor more than two members of each of the councils of the administration of the other lines conceded. Thus the public will be protected against the dangers of a monopoly. Of the sum to be paid by the com pany, 49 millions will go to meet the subvention promised to the grantees of the Avignon Railway. The remaining 8.5 millions may be consecrated to the relief of the floating debt, or to the execution of other great works. General Castellano has extended the operation of his edict dissolving all fraternal associations to the whole department of the Rhone, and to the depart ments of the Ain and here. By a decree of M. Vincent, Prefect of the Rhone, dated Lyons, Jan. 3, all political inscriptions, and in particular the words liberty, equality, and fraternity, are to be immediately effaced from all public edifices and private houses of the department. The trees of liberty are to be cut down or uprooted. Two thousand five hundred prisoners in the deparment of the Var are now awaiting their trial by court-martial. PARIS, TULIIDAT EVININO. It is now decided, I am told, to adjourn the pub lication of the constitution until the 16th. Besides the lengthening process of framing those organic decrees whieh the proclamation of Dec. 2 expressly assigned to the legislature, another serious cause of delay has arisen from the difficulty of finding senators. In fact, notwithstanding the eight mil lions of votes which seemed to sanction the coup efetat, the most eminent men in France continue, to their honour, to hold aloof from a government which preaches through all its organs the destruction of those only legitimate sources of liberty, the parliament and press. Up to the present hour only four names of importance are put in circulation as having accepted a seat in the Senate. These are, MM. de Monts lembert, de Bourgoing, de Bauvean, and do Mtrode. MM. de Mouchy and de Mortemart are also mentioned ; but I understand that the consent of the latter two has not yet been obtained. In the nex ten days it is hoped that the negotiations now set on foot to hook a few stars of the first magnitude into the Upper Chamber will have been co eluded successfully. Probably the number of senators will not exceed the number of departments. lam given to understand that it will be 80. As soon as a certain number of respectable names are secured, the remainder will be filled up with generals, a sort of houcke-trou, of which there is at present no lack. The prisoners of Ham, I hear, are to be set at liberty the day before the promulgation of the constitution. A good deal of difference is still said to prevail between Louis Napoleon and his advisers as to the policy of paying fixed salaries to the members of the legislative bodies. Montalembert is favourable to the salary system. It is reported this afternoon that the Consultative Commission will meet to-morrow at one, in the Palace of the Quai D'Orsay, to hear the new consti tution read. This appears not strictly reconcileable with what is stated above with regard to the adjournment of the publication of the constitution. But where all is but hearsay I can only report to you the rumours which reach me from different quarters without attempting to explain them. I may add to the last statement, the most important, news that I can hear of to-day is the in creased probability of M. Fould's retirement from the ministry, where, it is said, ho will be succeeded in the financial department by M. Theodore Duces, present minister of marine. You are already aware that negotiations were set on foot with M. Duces, with a view to his assuming the portfolio of Finance in a Billault ministry,so long ago as the end of October. Although the financial abilities of M. I Duces are unquestioned in plain matters of basi -1 ness, the dexterity of M. Fould in managing the Bourse would be very much missed at the present mo meet, were the latter to resign. The President's ' crotchets for effecting a revolution in the present system of taxation are still steadfastly resisted by Fou!d. Hence the retreat of the latter from the cabinet' THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1852. would produce general dismay among the wealthy proprietors and monied men. Apropos of the disagreement with Fould, I may state that the President is still determined against the conversion of the Five per Cent. Itente. It is even said that an official communication is about to appear in the Monitrur stating that there is no dan ger of any conversion of the Rent° so long u Louis Napoleon is at the head of the realm. The shares of the Paris and Lyons Railway, with the exception of some Ave thousand, have been shared equally between the three companies com bined in one. Promises of shares in the railway were negotiated to-day at the Bourse at 75fr. At 100 they found no takers. At the Bourse the Five per Cents. moo Me., and closed at 105.05; and the Threes rose 75c., and closed at 71.85. Bank of France shares experienced the extraordinary rise of :120fr. Most of the rail ways rose. Orleans, 15fr.; Rouen, 10fr.; Havre, 12fr. 50e. ITALY. PIEDMONT. The Sardinian chamber terminated on the let the ' discussion of the budget, rejecting the motions of Brotfcrio and Bastian for reducing the strength of the army. The Piedmonerse Gazelle publishes a decree, di recting that the treaty of commerce concluded between Sardinia and Portugal, and signed at Turin on the ult., shall receive full execution. A second decree authorises the execution of the treaty of navigation and commerce just concluded between Greece and Sardinia. LOMBARDO-VENETIAN PROVINCES. A new glass manufactory has just been esta blished at Venice, in which those peculiar processes which once rendered tho glass of that city so crle• brated are to be revived and combined with the im provements suggested by modern science. The number of workmen it employs at present is 200. The Terviso and Udino Railway is to, be corn mencedin the month of March. It is to passby Facile instead of Motta. Another great improvement is con templated at Udine—viz., the lighting of the town by gas. The coal for the purpose is to be imported from Dalmatia. TUSCANY. The Grand flake of Tuscany has sent to Count Felix Swim-chi, orderly officer to Prince Louis Napoleon, tho cross of commander of the Order of St. Joseph. MODENA. The Messawere of Modena states that a new tele graphic line has been established, connecting the imperial frontier town Luzara with Guastalla, Reggio, and Modena. GERMANY. The Lloyd of Jan. 2nd asp : Mr. lonbianque, the British consul at Belgrade, is oppo sition to the usual custom, did not alight from his carriage to pay a visit of ceremony to the Russian ambassador on the occasion of the birth-day of the Czar, but merely sent up his card. The Russian representative sent back the card by his servant, with a message that on this occasion, being the anniversary of the Emperor, he would receive none but personal visits. Mr. Foablanque, highly incensed, tore up the card, and sent a note to the Russian represen tative demanding satisfaction. BERLIN, JAN. 2. M. von Manteuffel has sent a circular to the governments belonging to the Zollverein, declaring that, though he can have no intention of restricting their freedom of taking part in the conference at Vienna, nevertheless the Prussian government will not negotiate on the renewalof the Zollverein with any government which shall have entered into obligations with third parties regarding its commercial policy. The official Bavarian Gazette brings articles in favour of adhesion to Prussia in the Zollverein ques tion. There is no doubt that the southern states, if they find the Prussian government resolute in fol lowing its own course, will not dare to risk their free commerce with the north, which commands the ports and rivers. They would make demands if they thought that Prussia feared to break with them ; but as soon as Prussia flatly gave them the option of following in its wake, or being turned adrift, they would accept any terms offered rather than en danger the loss of the solid financial and industrial advantages . which they have hitherto reaped from their association with Prussia. A story circulates about an altercation at the diet between the plenipotentiaries of Austria and Prus sia, who grew so violent and loud that their voices were heard by passers in the street. Considerable attention has been attracted by an article published in a Vienna paper, and reprinted by the organ of the Frankfort Diet, plainly stating that in case the shadow of an emperor should make its appearance in France, a real emperor of Germany would issue from Vienna, " for it is obvious that the rightful heir of Charlemagne's occidental empire is to be sought, not on the Seine or the Spree, but on the I tanube ; and Austria cannot be expected to protect Germany from a warlike French emperor for the paltry reward of a contested presidency in a cavilling diet." If we consider the abject dependence of the Austrian press, which dares not utter anything without permission or order from above, there can be no doubt that the article in question is expressly intended to inflate the high-flying notions with which Prince Schwarzen berg draws off the attention of the Austrian public from financial difficulties, and other disagreeable fea tures of their domestic condition. DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES. 7 _ - M. Bille, the Danish envoy, embarked at Kiel on the 2nd instant fur Copenhagen, de retour from his mission to Berlin and Vienna. He has failed in the principal object of his mission, the withdrawal of the Austrian army of occupation from Holstein. The cause of this failure, according to a letter dated Alton, Dec. 30, is that the Danish government has given evasive, or rather negative, answers to the propositions of the Germanic Confederation, and de mands the federal troops to be withdrawn from Holstein, previously to its ageing Into any final arrangements. LATEST FOREIGN EXCHANGES. PARIS. Jul. IL PAILIS BOURSE. roe Mowry. ►or Asiosat. al Chahar. 3 par CM% II 30 7 I 0 71 BO 76 40 71 63 ;mow IN 00 103 DO 103 111 101 0 103 93 No ... ... ... ... or Nob. %par Orr Embargo as Loathe : at * 9 4 13 :. ; 90 dar t 211 2 9. . rehlaa. S. 1619 Maw 1 Carlos Raab llowq. Do. 3, 1643 Da 16 riedaxat 3 p.. 61:: la . Bark 8k.,,. PARIS, JAN. 6. St. Germain, 630; Versailles (right Mak), ago; (left Irk), 918; Part mad Orbaw, 1,118; Paris and Know, 120; Sem sod Ham, 1111330 ; Awlease. 331 23 , 81z.bacirg 312 noire, 616; Isaiegasemi Anise.. 301 21; Odom sal 430; Swaim IN; Perim and atneboors, M o d Ti... sad este& SU; and Troyes, ISO; Dieppe sPUY% 113 33; &atom NMI AstlialL VIENNA, JAN. 6.—Five per Cent. 961; Four-and-a Half per Cent. ditto, 86 k . Shares, 1,270. Exchange on London, 11.61. REPRESENTATION or Eirreit.—Already there aro signs of • stiff contest for the city representation, at the next general election. The conservative party, it is fully understood, intead bringing forward Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who has lately been here to reconnoitre the field before entering the lists against Mr. Divett. The announcement has brought out the friends of Mr. Divan, who have issued an address to the electors to the effect that as it is an nonnord Sir F. Kelly intends to come forward asa represent.. tire, and it having been industriously circulated that Mr. Diet:ado... not mean to come forward again, the friends of that gentleman are assured that he has no idea of retiring from the seat; and that the story is an invention of the enemy. The electors aro cautioned against promising their support to any other party. Sir John Duckworth, Dart., has also issued an address in which he states his in tention of again coming forward as a candidate for the re presentation when the time comes. There are rumours that two or three other gentlemen—one an eminent banker of Loudon—intend to contest the seat; but this has not yet as awned any definitive form. Some of the conservative eke tors are dissatisfied with their candidate, Sir John Duck worth, because he is not " so accessible" as some former conservative representatives for the city ; and a portion of the liberal electors complain that Mr. Divett does not " go fast enough for them." There is some talk of a chartist candidate, but the advocates of the "points " are " few and far between" in this city. MERCIES Or Tur. CZAR.—Karaninski, who had been condemned to 20 years' hard labour in Siberia for a political offence, has had his sentence commuted on the intercessim of the Prince of Warsaw, but he is to remain all his life in that country. BURNING OF THE AMAZON ROYAL WEST INDIA MAIL STEAMER. LOSS OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED IA VES. PLYMOUTH, Teatn.►T. The brig Marsden, Evans, from Newport for Wilmington, South Carolina, came in here ut mid night, and landed Mr. Vincent, midshipman, two passengers, the steward, and 17 of the crew (21 in all), of the Royal Mull Steam Packet Company's ship Amazon, which took fire about 1 a.m. on Sunday last, about 60 miles west of Stilly, on her first outward voyage to the West Indies, and was totally consumed, with all the mails, Captain Symons, passengers, and crew, with the exception of the 21 above, who escaped in one of the boats, and were picked up 12 hours after by the Marsden, losing ever• thing hut their lives. The total Pant her on board is said to have been 135. The fire is supposed to have originated in the spontaneous cam ' bastion of the coals. The Amazon left Southampton at half-past 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon, and in the Channel ex perienced strong head winds and ruin. At a quarter before 1 on Sunday morning, when the ship was about 110 miles west-south-west of Scilly, a fire broke out suddenly, forward on the starboard side, between the steam chest and the under part of the galley, and shortly after the flames rushed up the gangway which is in front of the foremost funnel. The alarm bell was rung, and Captain Symons rushed on deck in his shirt and trousers. Wet swabs and other loose things were placed on the gratings of the spar-deck hatch, and a hose was brought to pl.ty on the main deck, but quickly abandoned in consequence of the excessive heat. The deck pump was also kept at work until the men were forced to retire. The wind was blow- ing half a gale from south-west, and the vessel was going M knots, which was her average rate from the time of departure. Captain Symons ordered some hay, between the engine-room crank gratings, to be thrown overboard; two trusses were hove over tho ship's side, but tho fire soon ignited the main body, the hencoops on each side, and the paddleboxea, the men were obliged to abandon the deck, and those who could leave were all finally driven from the ship. Many were burnt in their births, others suf focated, and a great number were drowned in the lowering of the boats. The Marsden picked up from tho lifeboat the fol lowing persons, vit. :—Mr. It. Neilson, for Demerara ; Mr. T. Sisely, for Chagres; John Ilawke, second class passenger, Vera Cruz ; Mr. Vincent, jun., mid shipman; James Williamson, chief steward; Mr. John Dunford, Quarter-master ; W. Foster, A.B. ; Thomas Carney, AB. ; James May lin, AB. ; James .Nlowatt, AB. ; William Steam, A.B. J. H. l'assmore, A. 8.; H. Williams, A. 8.; William Stevenson, A. 8.; John Nerink, A. 8.; William Nutman, water tender; James White, fire man; John Shearing, fireman; Charles Thorn, fire man ; W. Hummer, George King, Coulterman. Mr. Neilson and Mr. Vincent proceed by train to day to London, and the crew will be forwarded to the Sailors' Home, Well-street, by the Ship-wrecked Mariners Society. The secretary of the company states that the crew and engine people on board the Amazon were about 112 in number, and that there were 50 passengers on board. He has also supplied the following list of the ship's officers, who are missing :—Captain Symons: Mr. Roberts, chief officer; Mr. Treweeke, second officer; Mr. Lewis, third officer; Mr. Good ridge, fourth officer; Mr. Stuart, midshipman: Mr. Stamforth, midshipman ; Mr. Angus, chief engineer ; Mr. Angus, jun., second engineer. Mr. Vincent (son of Capt. Vincent of the Severn), the midshipman in the Amazon, who was saved, gives the following narrative : We left Southampton with the West Indian and Mexican mails on board on Friday, the 2nd inst. On the 3rd, at noon, we were in latitude 49.12 north, longitude 4.57 west, steering west by south half-south, with an increasing fresh breeze. At 9.30 p.m. we stopped with half bearings. At 11.20 we proceeded, wind still increasing. About twenty minutes to 1 on Sunday morning fire was observed burst ing through the hatchway fireside of the fore funnel. Every possible exertion was made to put out the fire, but all was ineffectual. The mail boat was lowered with 20 or 26 persons in it, but was immediately swamped and went astern, the people clinging to one another. 'They were ill lost. The pinnace was next lowered, but she hung by the fore tackle, and, being swamped, the people were all washed out of her. In lowering the second cutter, the sea raised her, and unhooked the fore tackle, so that she fell down perpendicularly, and all but two of the persons in her were washed out. Captain Symons was all this time using his utmost exertions to save his passengers and crew. Sixteen men, including two passengers, succeeded in lowering the lite-boat, and about the same time I (Mr. Vincent), with two men, the steward, and • passenger, got into and lowered the dingy. In about half an hour the • lifeboat took the dingy's people into her, and bore down for the ship with the dingy in tow, but the sea increasing, and being nearly swamped, they were obliged to cast the dingy off and bring the boat head to sea. The masts went —first the foremost, and then the mizenmut. About this time a bark passed astern of the lifeboat; we hailed her with our united 21 voices and thought she answered us, but she wore and stood under the stern of the burning vessel, and immediately hauled her wind and stood away again. The gig with five hands was at this time some little way from us, but the sea was running so high we could render her no assistance, and shortly afterwards lost sight of her. About 4 a.m. (Sunday) it was raining heavily, and the wind shifted to the northward ; sea confused, but decreas ing ; put the boat before the sea. At 5 o'clock the ship's magazine exploded, and about half an hour afterwards the funnels went over the sides and she sunk. At noon we were picked up by the Marsden, of London, Captain Evans, by whom we were treated in the kindest manner possible. We were picked up in latitude 48.5 north, longi• tude 6.30 west; wind north to north-east. The captain stood in to the coast of France, but the wind shifting to the southward, he bore up for Plymouth, where we arnved at 10.50 p.m. on the sth, and were most hospitably and kindly received by the landlord of the Olobe Hotel. Mr. Neilson, one of the only two passengers saved, says: I have to report the total loss of the West Indian Mail steam-packet Ammon on Saturday night, the 3rd inst., off the Bay of Biscay. At 12.40 the fire broke out. In less than 10 minutes it was bursting up the fore and main hatch ways. Out of the 166 people on board only 21 are, I be lieve, saved, for I was on the last boat that left the ship, and one of the two last men who got in after lowering her, ' by springing from the ship's side and eliding down the tackle fell. The fire caught the other man and burnt the hair off his face before he sprang off. We were picked up the next day by the brig Menden, Capt. Evans, who treated us with the greatest kindness and attention, and landed us about 1 this morning. We were received at the Globe by Mr. Redman with the greatest kindness. The Amazon carried a large and valuable cargo, specie value 20,3004. sterling, and 600 bottles of quicksilver, value 5,1601. sterling, for mining operations in Mexico. The sailing of the Amason on her first voyage to the West, Indies as the pioneer of the new series of steam-ships in tended for this important mail service, excited considerable interest. Several directors of the company went dawn to witness the , and there were present; Capt. Mangles, Mr. Masterman, M.P., Captain Nelson (one of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Board), directors of the company ; Captain Chappell, R.N., the secretary and joint manager; Captain Barton, KN., the superintendent at Southampton ; Mr. Genre Mills, the company's engineer-in -chief; Lieu tenant A. Austen, R.N., and other gentlemen interested in steam navigation. Precisely at three o'clock (the mails having been put on board) the unfortunate vessel got under weigh, and majestically moved down the river amid hearty cheers from the party who had proceeded from the shore in a small steam tender to witness her departure. The draught of water of the Amazon was 21 ft. 7 in. both forward and aft. She started, therefore, although deeply laden, Set in good trim and with an even keel. She had on board 1,133 tons of coals, besides a full cargo and • full complement of water, stores, and provisions of every kind. It was hoped she would make a run out to St. Thomas's of under 14 days. The Amazon was to commence the new direct line of steam ships intended to run fortnightly between South ampton and Chartres, touching at St. Thomas's, while se veral lines of branch packets for the accommodation of the West India Islands, the Ou,ph of Mexico, &c., were to run from the island of St. Thomas to the various ports and islands embraced in the new scheme of the West lnd,a Mail Packet Company, and sanctioned by the Lords of the Ad miralty. EAST KENT AND MAIDSTONE stated that prudential motives have influenced the com mittee of management to postpone their application to par liament far another year. The uncertain position of the government, soil the all but certain prospect of en early dis solution of parliament, are among the causes assigned for this decision. toiler the circumstance., the committee are considered to have exercised a wise discretion in avoiding a west* ful expenditure of their resources upon any doubt ful parliamentary contingency ; and, although the necessity for the postponement must be a matter of deep regret to all who are interested in the success of the project, they may still he consoled by the reflection that the delay of another year will enable the managing committee to gather fresh strength, and otherwise to improve their present favorable position. THE CAPE MAIL. THE KAFFIR wait—DISASTRoUS NE S. The General Screw Steam Shipping Company's vessel, the Harbinger, Capt. Lane, arrived at l'ly mouth yesterday morning from the ('ape of Good Hope, which she left on the 2nd of December, with mails and passengers and freight front the Cape of Good Hope and Sierra Leone. She left th e Cape on Dee. 2 ; Sierra Leone, Dee. 17; St. Vincent, Dec. 23. She has experienced much foul weather between St. Vincent and Plymouth. She brings the f o llowing passengers front the Cape of Good Hope: Mrs. Full wick, Colonel Cole and Mrs. Cole, Mr. Miller, Mr. Prince and eon, Mr. Roberts, Mr. WMatiter nod servants; and Miss Audley and Mrs. Itothery from St. Vincent's. Her mail, in charge of Com. Robert son, is a heavy one. We learn that the state of affairs in Katfirland had in no way improved at the departure of the Harbinger. The Kaffir* continued their depreda tions in the lifting of the cattle and burning houses, and occasionally killing the colonists, and in this they were generally assisted by the rebel Hottentots. As yet no cheek had been given to them by Sir Harry Smith. More troops were required. In one engagement, Lieut.-Col. Fordyce and Lieut. Carey were killed; Gordon was severely wounded, and Cupt. Devenish mortally wounded. The public feeling at the Cape was still greatly excited. 'Hwy think there should be a local militia, and that could not be effected without a local government which the colonists should themselves elect. The following in from tho firalsm's Twos Jump. MI I of Nov. 11: An express reached Graham's Town early this morning from Major-General Somerset's camp, by which we are put in pot...it/II of intelligence of the moat gloomy char acter, showing that the lot Division has again sustained very heavy loss, both in ufibers and men. A movement wax made against the united forces of the enemy in Water kloof on Thursday last, in which it appears that a portion of Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce's brigade became hotly en gaged with the enemy, and on which occasion a fearful struggle took place, resulting in the has of that officer, who was shot from a tree h li l ,a ttbel Hottentot, and es pired in a few minutes. Su uentlyu t Lieut mutt Carey., of the same regiment, fell, and eutenant Gordon was at the same moment severely wounded. Captain Dcvenish of the Beaufort (West) Levy, wax shot in the heal, it is feared mortally. Casualties in the ranks to the extent of ten killed and nine wounded are reported. From what we have been enabled to collect on this mourn ful subject, the 71th Regiment, led by their gallant colonel, had gained the heights, and were proceeding to dislodge a body of rebels from a belt of bush ; in advancing to this service they were most determinedly met by the enemy, who, sheltered by hush and rocks, sustained a murderous fire almost with impunity, and inflicted the severe loss which the colony has this day to deplore. Lt.-Col. Fordyce entered the army as ensign in the 74th, in Dec. 1104, and by succeuive purchases advanced to the command of his n. 4 1- went in July, 1840. A division order, which we publi s h to-day, most deservedly eulogies% this reliant tinker, whose death at this moment cannot be regarded as other than a serious public calamity. The Highlanders, from the day they first took the field in Kafir warfare up to the present time, have always been placed in the van, and have participated in some of the severest struggles that this war has given rise to. Cul. Fordyce was first introduced to the stronghold of Macoruo in July, and since that period has been almost continually engaged in the fatiguing duty that operations against an enemy in such a country call forth. This officer's official aceaunts were always perused by a dis cerning public with great confidence and avidity, as a strict appreciation of the duty of making a plain and unvarnished statement was perceptible in them, whilst the independence at once of his military and private position gave warranty that the plain facts of every movement he was engaged in would be faithfully portrayed. Col. Forayer, was a strict disciplinarian, but the comfort of his men war always to him au object of the greatest solicitude. This regiment has on many occasions suffered severely, front the storming of the Amatola downwards, and we now find it deprived of its brave leader at the hands of an ignoble foe, whose utter extermination can alone palliate the fearful atrocities he continues to perpetrate. The death of these officers, under such circumstances, and at the hand of such an enemy, has filled the public mind with an indescribable feeling of horror and resentment. The movement extended over three days, the 6th, ith, and Bth; and though the enemy were driven from every position, it is feared that it is but a temporary retreat, and the dense natural fortresses will shortly hi, if not already, re-occupied. The troops are said to be in a moat hammed condition, and many of them perfectly ragged, the Gth ltegt. especially. To maintain a struggle, mouth by mouth, under such adverse circumstances, re quires the moat indomitable energy; but it points to the necessity of an universal invasion of the enemy's country, in front, flank, and rear; to an enforcement of en enrol ment of burghers from the dozing west, which should push on to the front, and receiving there the co-operation of tho border colonists, form a living line on the colonial side, whilst a movement of regular troops landed at the Kei and marched to the enemy's rear, there to pounce upon and strip him of his now immense droves of plundered cattle. This policy, and this alone, will give any effectual check to the barbarous revolt that now threatens either to engulph the colony at once, or to starve it by slow degrees, by draining its supplies. The best informed in Kaffir politics btreuuously advocate this measure of depriving the foe of his boasted commissariat, as that alone will humble and place him in subjection to Bri tish rule. lie cares not for the lives of a few tens, or even hundreds, of his clansmen—their decease only tends to en rich the survivors; but when forcible hands are laid upon his flocks and herds, he feels himself thoroughly mastered and outdone. We may be charged with stepping beyond our depth into a difficult military question, but we intend oar remarks, founded upon the best of information as to Kaffir diplomacy, to point to the end to be achieved, allow ing the proper authorities to detail the means. But seeing that so many valuable lives have been sacrificed by fruitless assaults upon " bush," it appears to be high time to adopt other tactics. When officers and men are shot down day by day, when the corpses of the dead are dragged from their graves and mutilated, it is high time fur all to raise their voices, and all to raise their arms in one com mon effort, en Inane, to chastise the slayer; and it is high time, too, to cry, " away with " maudlin leniency and pu sillanimous pardons, and to remove out of reach a class of men and women, whom our columns to-day, and on pre vious occasions, have openly declared minister at our ex pense and from our resources to the enemy's wants and to our discomfiture. Some accounts rate the casualties on the side of the colony at sixty or seventy. Artillery played upon the enemy with vigour, and his loss is supposed to have been considerable. The following are some additional particulars of the affair : Our movement was made on Thursday. Colonel For dyce with his force moving on the top, and Colonel Sutton to act up Waterkloof, and in this unfortunate affair Colonel Fordyce received a mortal wound, from which he died a quarter of an hour afterwards. Lieutenant Carey, of the 74th, killed, Lieutenant Gordon, 74th, wounded, Lieut. l)evenish, of Beaufort (West) Levy, dan gerously wounded; and I am not certain how many privates and levies killed and wounded, but you will learn from other sources, though the proportion of officers to the num ber of men is large. Ou Friday we were more fortunate, and only had some men wounded. Col. Michel, with some of his division escorted Rogge and Owen up to the position on Waterkloof, and I fancy they advised to move out of it; it is a fearful country. On Saturday the whole camp was shifted to the Illinkwater. It puzzles me to know what is to be done, for it is very evident the Kafiri are only to be expelled fromWaterkloof at the cost of a great deal of valu able life. Now, is the General justified in sacrificing so much life in clearing it of a few Kafir*, who are located there merely as a predatory band? I question. lily plan would be by late and early patrols on their fires, and way laying the paths at night, try to cut off all communication with liafirland and the colony, and thus prevent their get ting any supplies for their sustenance. I venture this could be dune with the desired effect. It is really butchery —the chances are nine of ten against you, the ground so favours the Kafiri. The following order was issued from head-quarters on the melancholy occasion : Camp,Blinkwater, Nov. 9,18.11. _ . . . . It is with the deepest regret that Major-General Somerset announces to the division the death of Lieut.-Colonel For dyce, commanding the 74th Highlanders. Lieut.-Colonel kordyce fell mortally wounded in action with the enemy nn the morning of the Gth, and died on the field. From the period of the 74th Highlanders having joined the let Division, their high state of discipline and efficiency at once showed to the Major-General the value of Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce as a commanding officer ; the subsequent period, during which the Major-General had been in daily intercourse with Lieut.. Colonel Fonlver, so constantly . engaged against the enemy in the ticla, had tended to increase, in the highest degree, the opinion which the Major-General had formed of Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce, as a Commander of the highest order, and one of her Ma jesty's ablest officers, and whom he now so deeply laments (while he truly symrthises with the itth Highlanders in irreparable loss as an esteemed their med brother soldier. The reports of the Nth lighlanders will be made to Captain Monkland, the senior o ffi cer. Captain Monkland, being detained at Fort Beaufort from the effects of a severe acci dent, the command in the field will devolve on Captain Pat ton.—By command, C. MILL, Lieutenant Field Adjutant I , t Division. (From as E4ra to the Grahons's Town Journal of Tars. day, Noir. 2.5, Mil.) LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM HEAD QUARTERS. _ The intended movement, referred to in our last issue. we now learn is to be across the Kei, for the purpose of re taking some of the colonial cattle which have been driven thither by the marauders from time totime during the pre sent contest. The force will consist of 3,000 men under Major. General Somerset, Lieutenant-Colonel Mackinnon having a brigade under that officer. It is expected that the contemplated operations will occupy a month. The news beyond the Kei indicates great restlessness among tho tribes in those parts, more especially the Amag of I to' of I oe tea