The Press. — London, England, 1854-10-21 00:00:00

I OCTOBER 21, 1854. IT having been considered inexpedient to accept the proposals of the Soldiers' Friend Society for send iug scripture-readers to the army in the East, on grounds connected with military discipline, the chap lains on the spot have been instructed to select from the ranks of the different regiments with which they are connected a corps of soldiers, who are to act in the capacity of scripture-readers, and stand in the same position to them as such teachers do at home. The advantages of getting men to act in this capa city, who are comrades of those they instruct, is too obvious to need remark; nor do we think that the benevolent individuals who compose the Soldiers' Friend Society will be otherwise than thankful that their zeal has excited attention on this important subject, and that the high and laudable objects by which they are animated are likely to be more effec tively advanced by machinery other than their own. Great credit is due to the authorities for the spirit with which they have regarded this movement. WE have reason to believe that six additional chaplains are about to be despatched to the seat of war by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to be placed under the control of the authorities on the spot, and to receive the moiety of their remuneration from the Secretary at War. Apart from these, it is in contemplation to increase the regular clerical force by two chaplains, who will be sent out immediately, together with the gentleman whn is selected to fill the vacancy in their body oc casioned by the lamented death of the Rev. George Mockler. WITH reference to the announcement which has been made of the Government proposal for sending out nurses to the sick and wounded in our camps and hospitals in the East, we are enabled to state that arrangements are now complete for despatching a staff of twenty-four of them, this day, under the able and intelligent superintendence of Miss Nightin gale. This body will include a certain number of Sisters of Charity, belonging to the Homan Catholic Church, who have placed themselves entirely at Miss Nightingale's command, and who, in accompanying her, have disclaimed all intentions of a proselytising character. Dr. Smith, of the Army Medical Depart ment, has receivt•d instructions to co-operate with Miss Nightingale in her plans and preparations ; and, in order to open the way for this noble mission, the chaplains in the East have been apprised of the steps which have been taken, and strongly urged to assist the work and its ministers with their sympathy and regard. The first promotion from the ranks for gallant services performed during the war is that of Sergeant- Major Grinlinton, of the Sappers and Miners, who has been made ensign of the 65th Foot without purchase, on account of good conduct. A medal has been struck in Paris in honour of the battle of Alma. On one side it has the portrait of the Emperor, and on the other the following in scription :—" Victoire remportie sur les Busses par les Armes Alliees de France, d'Angle terre, et de Turquie, Sept. 20, 1851." It is the com position of M. Borrel. THE MALT TAX. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir,—ln consequence of the increased duty (of fifteen pence halfpenny per bushel) upon malt, a material falling off in the consumption has occurred. Last season I found it necessary to cease making operations much earlier than usual; and this season, having large stocks on hand, I shall not commence malting for three weeks later than usual. The re venue thus, as far as 1 am concerned, will be a con • siderable loser, which loss the additional duty will fail to supply ; for not only was a loss sustained upon the quantity manufactured last year, but in this year there is an absolute loss of three weeks' duty alto gether. These circumstances, I apprehend, are not confined to my neighbourhood, and, if such a defi ciency in the quantity of malt manufactured is gene ral, what will become of Mr. Gladstone's anticipated revenue? It was very easy for Mr. Gladstone to at. tempt. to create revenue in such a manner; any schoolboy in the kingdom could have done the same. "We want so many millions ; very well, there's the malt tax, 2s. 84d. a bushel, make it 4s. a bushel and you've got your millions!" For the sake of the country I hope he will be found correct in this scheme at least, but I must be excused if, front my own ex perience, I choose to doubt. However, let us wait the budget of 1855-o.—l am, sir, your obedient ser vant, A DEVONSHIRE MSLTSTER. LORD MELVILLE has accepted of the command in chief of the forces in Scotland vacated by the pro- motion of General Napier. THE PRESS. Irtlattb. No serious difficulty will, it is stated, be found in raising the entire amount of 30,0(k) men for the Irish militia force by voluntary enlistment, and with out the necessity of resorting to a ballot in any of the counties. Twelve assistant-surgeons left Ireland during the past week for the seat of war. Prayers, it is said, were offered up on Sunday last in all the Roman Catholic chapels in Dublin for the repose of the souls of the soldiers who fell at the victory of the Alma. The latest reports of the health of Dublin are more favourable, and, though indicating the continued presence of cholera, show a decided diminution of its power. The inquest on the body of the unfortunate men killed by the atrocious attempt to overset the Derry excursion train has terminated in a verdict equiva lent to wilful murder against six suspected parties. A special meeting of Protestants was held in Dublin on Monday for the purpose of expressing their opinions on the doctrines of Mormonism, as at present taught and practised in Ireland. The follow ing resolutions were adopted : - - Resolved.—That this meeting is deeply sensible that the doctrines of Mormonism are directly contradictory to the teachings of Christianity, and ita practices subversive of that morality which is established by Christianity, and recognised by the laws of this land. That we, relying on the Divine blessing, pledge ourselves to oppose the teachings and prac tices of Mormonism. That this meeting judges that Chris tians should not be present at a Mormon meeting, unless fur the purpose of, by legitimate means, opposing Mormon ism, and of teaching Christianity. The people of Wexford are about to give a banquet to their distinguished fellow•townsman, Captain M'Clure, the discoverer of the north-west passage. The costly dispute which has existed so long be tween the Great Southern and Western and the Mid land Great Western Railway Companies has been amicably arranged. Good news this for the share holders in both companies. Obituarg. MR. SAMUEL PHILLIPS, the editor of the catalogues of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, died on Satur day last at Brighton, aged thirty-nine. Mr. Phillips was a writer of much ability—the author of papers in Blackwood, in the John Bull,the Morning Herald, and other newspapers. He was a member of the University of Cambridge, although he did not take a degree there, leaving S ydney Sussex College before completing the period necessary for graduation. He devoted himself afterwards entirely to literature, and achieved a lucrative success. Persons who were well acquainted with this author and his writings were always struck with the completeness which he displayed in whatever he undertook. He always exhausted himself in whatever he wrote. He forgot nothing. and never had occasion to regret that an)- thing which proceeded from his pen was less perfect than after-consideration could have made it. His "Caleb Stukely," written for Blackwood's Magazine, was reprinted some time back ; and Messrs. Rout ledge have lately published a collection of tales he wrote at various times for the same periodical. DR. ROBERT EVANS, LL.D., D.C.L., head master to the Bristol Grammar School, fell a victim to cholera on Saturday morning. He retired to rest on the pre vious nigh; seemingly in his usual health, and on Saturday morning, at eight o'clock, awoke with cho leraic symptoms. Mr. A. Prichard, surgeon, and Dr. Mudd were summoned with all despatch, but collapse rapidly ensued, and at eleven o'clock the lamented gentleman had ceased to live. THE EARL or ABINGDON died on Monday evening, at Wytham Abbey, about three miles from Oxford. His lordship had for many years past suffered from a disease of the bladder, and bad undergone surgical operations at various times; but latterly appeared to be in tolerable health. He was taken ill on Monday morning, and his medical attendant was sent for, who found him in so dangerous a state that it was deemed expedient to call in Dr. Acland. It was soon evident, from the stage the disease had attained, that his lordship's recovery was hopeless ; and he died that same evening. The deceased peer, who was in his seventy-first year, was Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire and High Steward of the borough of Abingdon. Ile is succeeded by his son, Lord Norreys, M.P. for the borough of Abingdon. A YOUNG MAN named John Golliter, who had been until recently a clerk in the offices ot' some Bristol solicitors, was charged before the local police court with having feloniously forged and uttered a docu ment purporting to be an interim order for protec tion by Sir John Eardley Wilmot, Bart., Judge of the County Court of Gloucestershire, sitting at Bristol, with intent to defraud one William (Allard. After hearing evidence, the magistrates committed the prisoner to take his trial for forgery at the next Gloucestershire assizes. o,tribtnts 10 999 ONE of Lancaster's 68-pounder guns, oval bore, burst on the 12th instant, while practising, with the usual charge of powder and shells, at Shoeburyness. Fortunately no person was hurt, but there were several narrow escapes, one of the pieces having passed between the legs of Sergeant Watson, and a piece knocked over the timetable on which a clock was placed for counting the number of seconds of the flight of the shell, and where three persons were standing a minute before the accident. Ax EXTENSIVE ROBBERY, consisting of gold watches, gold chains, rings, pins, &c., amounting to the value of 1,5001., was committed on Sunday on the premises of Mr. Baumgart, jeweller and watch maker, 223, Regent-street. Mr. 8., it appears, neither slept on the premises, nor left any per son in care of his stock. His shop was sepa rated from the other part of the house and strongly secured. About a fortnight since three men, appa rently gentlemen, hired apartments over the shop, and took immediate possession. They are now missing, and a large aperture was found in the ceiling that communicated with their apartments, from which a knotted rope was suspended, giving access to the shop and stock below. Two SISTERS, named Ellen and Isabella Robin son, were drowned on Saturday night last at New castle. They lived with their father and another sister, the whole family being employed at ome glass works in the town. A quarrel arose that night between the girls, and the father, angry at the disturbance, ordered the eldest daughter to leave the house. This was at eleven o'clock. Another sister shortly followed her, and neither was seen again until their bodies were found in the river. It is con jectured that one committed suicide and the other was drowned in attempting to rescue her sister. MICHAEL. M'GRAGR, a labouring man, was acci. dentally suffocated in a spout in a warehouse belonging to Mr. Phillips, of Liverpool, on Saturday last. The deceased was employed in pouring brut through a spout. By some means he fell into the spout, in which he was shortly afterwards found dead from suffocation. JosEnt BERNSTEIN, a German Jew, absconded from his creditors in Australia, taking with him a very large sum of money. He left Melbourne in the Saldanha, having in his possess►on a large amount of the property with which he absconded, and arrived in Liverpool on Saturday morning. Upon Bern. stein's flight from Melbourne, one of his creditors, named Maunder, immediately started overland for England, and arrived some days prior to the Sat. danha. He obtained a warrant at the Bankruptcy Court., armed with which Mr. Gaskell, the messenger of the court, aided by two assistants, succeeded in apprehending Bernstein at Prince's Duck, where property to the amount of upwards of 2,(XX)I. was found upon him. Mr. Maunder's claim amounts to about 1,3001., and a second detainer for 3001. has since been laid upon his person. Bernstein was ac companied from Australia by a young female whom he left on board the vessel, promising to meet her at a certain place. A PRIVATE OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS, named Cumming, on hearing that his company were ordered for the East, expressed his disinclination to go abroad, and went to a retired part of the Wellington barracks, when with a hatchet he chopped off the first and second fingers of his left hand. He was conveyed to the hospital in Rochester-row, and will be tried by a court-martial as soon as he has recovered. FURTHER accounts still arrive of persons having lost their lives by the fearful explosion in Gateshead on the 6th inst. The authorities of Gateshead have information that a family of six persons are buried among the ruins. A young man of the name of Hamilton, &joiner, is also unaccounted for. A body of a man, evidently a sufferer by the conflagration, was taken out of the river at Tynemouth on Sunday. About 4,0001. have already been contributed for the sufferers, and large sums are daily added to the list. THE BRISTOL CIVIC BANQUET To LORD JOAN Rua stlJ. will take place on the 27th inst. at the ban. quetting•hall of the Society of Merchant Venturer', the master of which ancient and wealthy guild has placed it at the disposal of the civic authorities for the occasion. THE UNFORTUNATE EMIGRANTS who took passage in the Jane Green for Australia, and were exposed to so much suffering from the bankruptcy of the firm to which the veesel belonged, have all been for. warded to their destination, or otherwise provided for. This result was announced on Monday at the Mansion house by Alderman Sir It. Carden, who at the same time acknowledged the liberality with which subscriptions have been poured in from the public, and especially from several sbipowning firmer fbr the assistance of the detained passengers.