The Press. — London, England, 1854-04-29 00:00:00

.. • 394 . THE Alecto, Captain Crofton, arrived at Falmouth on Sunday from Ascension and Tenerife. She reports having in February taken a schooner, with slave im• plements on board, which had had a cargo of slaves, but., the crew having learnt of the approach of the Alecto's boats, she was abandoned, after being hauled high up a creek. It was deemed advisable to destroy her as the boats had not the means available to haul her off. THE following resolution for throwing open the Universities was carried by a narrow majority at the Oxford town council meeting on the 20th inst:— " That petitions be sent to both Houses of Parlia mtiiit that none of her Majesty's loyal subjects be denied the advantage of education in the national Universities," that to the House of Lords to be entrusted to Lord Brougham, and that to the Com mons to J. H. Langston, Esq., and the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, with a request that they will support it. THE funded property belonging to military savings banks amounts to 219,0451. 3s. &CCORDINO to the parliamentary returns, there are in the United Kingdom 980 post-offices and 6,012 re ceiving•houses for letters; 1,810 of these post-offices and receiving-houses are money-order offices. The number of letters which pass through the Post-office department in the course of a year is nearly 400,000,000. The number of miles which mails travel over railways in a year is about 7,000,000. The length of the English ocean mail lines is 55,000 miles, the mail-packets traversing 1,000,000 miles annually. The number of money orders issued yearly is 5,000,000. The number of applications for missing letters during twelve months is nearly 10,000. The net revenue of the Post-office is now above 1,000,0001. a year, and the cost of management 1,400,000/. ; the payment to railway companies for conveying mails is 330,0001, a year, and to steam-packet com panies 850,0001. The amount of money orders issued annually is nearly 10,000,0001., and the yearly revenue deiived from commission on money orders 80,0001. The value of property contained in missing letters during twelve months is about 200,0001. THE CHURCH EDUCATION SOCIETY held their first annual meeting on Tuesday at Willis's Rooms. Lord Calthorpe presided, and among the patrons of the association present were—Sir J. Pakington, M.P., Sir E. N. Buxton, Mr. Ross D. Mangles, M.l'., Mr. J. C. Colquhoun, the Rev. Mr. Freemantle, &c. During the past year it was stated that many influ ential friends of education, after standing aloof for a time, had enrolled themselves amongst its warm supporters, and, as the working of the society had become more thoroughly known, a cordial disposi tion had been evinced towards it, which gave every encouragement as to its future prospects. Although the society was not fairly launched until the 25th of May last, the total receipts up to the 31st of March had amounted to 4,8311. 3s. 101 The formation of associations throughout the country had been steadily progressive, Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Leeds, Cheltenham, Clifton and Bristol, Yeovil, Brighton, and other important places, being already represented by their respective associations. The grants of the society had been confined to two objects—assisting in the establishment or support of schools by a grant towards the salary of the teacher, or for the purchase of school requisites, and affording pecuniary aid towards the training of young persons satisfactorily recommended to the committee as can didates for the office of teacher. THE OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE is DOW positively announced for Saturday, the 27th of May. It has also been decided that the company should undertake the supply of refreshments in the building. Mr. Horne, of the Lord Warden, of Dover, has been appointed superintendent of the department. The parts of the building to be occupied by the refresh ment-rooms are at the end and along the sides of each wing. THE COMMITTEE entrusted with the care of the fund for the benefit of the persecuted Madiai have purchased an annuity of 03/. ss. at the National Debt Office, for which they paid 1,0781. Is. 6d. This is augmented by a sum of 401. in foreign annuities, making their yearly receipts from Christian benevo lence upwards of 1001. They are fast recruiting their strength, and intend shortly leaving Nice for some locality more congenial to their constitutions — probably Switzerland. THE FIRST OF THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON which has left for a cruise in the Baltic is the Shark schooner, William Curling, Esq. She has arrived at Ramsgate, and will be off in a few days. Other yachts will follow. THE ERECTION OF A MONUMENT tO the late Professor Wilson was resolved upon at a meeting of the leading citizens of Edinburgh held on Saturday evening. On the motion of Mr. Adam Black it was determined "that the designed tribute should be in the form of a statue in bronze or marble, and form an ornamental object in sonic prominent situation in Edinburgh." An influential com mittee was appointed to carry the determination into practical effect. Mr. It. Chambers will officiate as honorary secretary. - ___-,__---_--- -j--.-- THE PRESS. ADMIRAL SIR JOHN OMMANNEY, K.C.8., the port admiral at Devonport, retains his command in chief until the 10th of May. Sir William Parker, Bart., U.C.8., will then be his successor. THE manner in which cadets are appointed to the Royal Navy is to be brought under the attention of the House of Commons by Mr. Baillie on an early opportunity. NOTICE OF MOTION FOR A SELECT COMMITTEE to inquire how far a system of examination or other test of efficiency may be adopted, or further extended, in the case of appointments and promotion of can didates for the different departments of the public service, has been given by Mr. Ewart. A NEW COLLEGE has been founded at Lyndhurst, in the immediate vicinity of Sydney, by the exertions of the Roman Catholics of that city. The new college is called St. Mary's, and is to be affiliated to the University of Sydney, which was founded last year by an act of the Colonial Legislature, on principles nearly identical with those of the University of London. It is expected that the buildings will be finished before the close of the present year. The college itself, which at present is carried on in a temporary building, is reported to be in a flourishing condition, three of its pupils having already obtained university scholarships, each of the amount of RN., and tenable for three years. DIES FOR THREE MEDALS, designed to commemo rate Russian victories, have been sunk in London (and by an English artist). The largest of these medals, which is to be of gold, is to have a circlet of diamonds ; there is a group of figures in the fore ground, with a view of the " Holy Places " in the background, and a diamond inserted in the sky, valued at 401., to represent the " Star in the East," which, it is conjectured, is to be the name of a new order. In the larger and most valuable medal, the part representing the sky is to be formed of turquoise stones, and in the two smaller ones of a blue enamel; the design is the same for all three. The dies are now in the hands of the Russian agents in London. The order, we are told, came through the territory of our good ally Prussia. The reverse of the medals is, of course, left blank till the victories have been achieved.—United Service Gazette. sporting. YORK SPRING MEETING, TUESDAY. The CRAVEN STAKES, of 10 soya each, with 50 added. 11 subs. _ Baron Rothschild's Orestes (Charlton) 1 Sir C. Monck's Hunca Munca Betting : 3to 1 on Orestes. Won easily. The SPRING ST. LEGER, of 10 sous each, with 100 added ; for 3-year-olds. 15 subs Lord Zetland's Hospodar (J. AI arson) 1 Mr. Saxon's Barrel 10 ran. After the race 40 to 1 ;va.;i.alt en several times about Hospodar for the Derby. The Z ETLAND STAKES, of 5 sovs each, with 100 added; for .2 -year-olds. Mr. Gulliver's Bessie (Yates) 1 Mr. Saxon's Mary 2 The GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP, of 25 soya each, with 300 added by the licensed victuallers. 21U subs. Mr Howard's Virago (Wells) 1 Mr . J. J. Henderson's Lough Bawn I'anson's Balrownie The following also ran :—Kingston, Vindex, Defiance, Grapeshot, Ty - pee, Lord Fauconberg, Coisterdale, Cathe rine Parr, Guicowar, Ammonia, The Puritan, Merry Monk, and Jujube. Betting : At one time 2 to 1 was betted on Virago, but 7to 4 was the closing price. 100 to 8 each against King ston and Defiance ; 100 to 7 against Vindex ; 16 to 1 against Typee ; 25 to 1 each against Lough Bawn and Heapy ; 100 to 3 against Catherine Parr; 40 to 1 against Jujube. Nothing backed for money except the favourite. Net amount of the stakes, 2,1801. SELLING STAKES, of 25 sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of 5 soya each. _ _ _ Captain Reynard's Vinaigrette Mr. Wright's The Greek Slave THURSDAY. The CONSOLATION SCRAMBLE Of 50 soya. Mr. J. Osborne's Helena (Carroll) 1 Mr. Walker's Cimicina The FLYING DUTCHMAN'S HANDICAP of 100 soya., added to a Sweepstake of 20 soya each. Mr. Howard's Virago (Wells) 1 Lord Zetland's Ivan 2 Lord Eglinton's Vanderdecken Betting : 4 to 1 on Virago, 9 to 1 against Alonzo, 10 to 1 against Ivan, 20 to 1 against any other. The EOLINTON STAKES of 10 SOY& each, with 50 added. Lord Zetland's Hospodar (J. Marson) 1 Mr. J. Osmond's Lord Alfred 2 The race was with Hospodar and Lord Alfred throughout, the former winning by a neck. The LONDESBOROUGH Cur, value 100 soya in specie. 52 Mr. J. Osborne's Helena (h. b) (Carroll) I Lord Zetland's Comfit 2 17 ran. Won by a length and a half. A, w SATURDAY, The TYno STAKES, for 62-yeanolds. Usurer Cimicina The CITY PLATE Of BOYS. Mirabeau Bridekirk Six ran. Won easily. 3rtiants. THE petition against the return of the Hon. Chichester Fortescue, one of the Lords of the Trea sury, as representative fur the county of Louth, has been abandoned. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DECLARATION against the threatened legislation affecting conventual establish ments was published on Thursday. The names of Dr. Dixon, Roman Catholic Primate ; Dr. Cullen, Apostolic Delegate and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin; and twenty-three other prelates, are attached to the document. It has been determined to hold the aggregate meeting on Monday, the 15th of May. A MEETING to denounce the bills of Messrs. White side and Chambers was held at Castletowndelvin, in Westmeath, with Lord Valli of Harrowden in the chair. His lordship's son, the Hon. Mr. Mostyn, was also present, and took part in the proceedings. The following are the more notable of the series of resolutions agreed to : "That the vote of the Under Secretary for the Home Depart.- ment in favour of Mr. Chambers's bill, and the wilful absence of many other members of the Goverunientlprove the insincerity, the division, and the humbug of the Ministry ; and it has thereby forfeited all claims to the confidence of the Catholic body or to the support of our Liberal members. " That, while we are most grateful to Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell for their able speeches iu the house, still it is the opinion of this meeting our representatives should vote against the existence of any Ministry that would not use its in fluence with heart and unity to fling out these nefarious mea sures." ARCHBISHOP CULLEN has subscribed 10/. to the fund for Mr. John O'Connell, M.l'. THE Galway Packet states that" the London and Limerick Steam Company's vessel Brandon, 250- horse power, which is now being completed in Glasgow, will be ready for sea about the middle of June, when she will leave the Shannon for New York with goods and passengers. The same com pany have also chartered another of the steamers to the Government for the conveyance of troops, at 4001. a week. THE Great Southern Railway Company has given 2001., and the Midland Great Western an equal sum, towards the proposed Dargan Institute. Mit. G. STANDISH BARRY, who had been ono of the representatives of Cork county for some years after the passing of the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act, and whose estates had been sold in the Encum bered Court in 1849, was lately discharged as an insolvent debtor. The chairman took occasion to remark that, "if Mr. Barry's property bad been sold last year instead of in 1849, he would not only be able to pay off his debts, but be in very good cir cumstances. The property was sold for eleven and a half years' purchase, whereas, if sold last year, it would have brought twenty-five years' purchase." The learned chairman added that Mr.puTy left the court " without a stain on his character in any respect, to begin the world anew as an honourable and upright man." The case of Mr. Barry is by no means exceptional. AN EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY OF COINS was made by a labouring man in the neighbourhood of Coleraine the other day, while cleaning out a ditch. He found an urn containing 1,937 coins, together with 341 ounces of silver in pieces of various sizes. The coins are Roman, in the most perfect state of preservation, of the most antique description, and, what is very singular, no two coins appear to bear the same superscription. . The silver is composed of a large number of weighty ingots and ornamental pieces, supposed to have been used on armour for horses. There are also several battleaxes, marked with Roman characters. Satu ant Volta. Mons Mons, the eminent "receiver," was re. examined on Tuesday at the Mansion-house, and finally committed to Newgate to await his trial. He appeared to be dreadfully dejected ; and the only re quest he made to the officers was, that they would "take care of his old woman," alluding to his wife, who keeps a stall, and deals in old clothes, in Petti coat-lane. The prisoner has three or four young children ; and the cash deposited at his bankers' is stated to be but little short of 20,0001.: The stolen property already recovered remains packed in large wicker baskets, in the vaults under the Manslon•house, and from its varied character gives the place the appearance of an " Ex hibition." The prisoner rented his premises of a Jew cab proprietor, and from the peculiar construction of them they appear to have been admirably adapted for the felonious purpose to which they have, for a lengthened period, been applied. In the course of the multifarious inquiries instituted by the police, they have discovered that an organised gang of cabmen exists. ready upon all occasions to assist in the successful plundering