The Express. — London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

THE NEW RETURN OF NEWSPAPER STAMPS. The return of norspapir stamps just issved gives ten faiiawias rendes : Pint Qumran. Snead Quarter. Daily News . . 319,191 346,044 Marais, Hasid . . 303,000 299,000 keraiag Post . . 206,000 226,000 Morning Clnalds . 162,600 186,000 Express . . 177,133 198,389 Globe . . . 175,000 195,000 San . . . 168,000 192,000 Standard . . . 103,000 104,000 'Z'ltt eVPreOIS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • Pasta Edition of “The Ysprso,"containisi the sine eeaolnp4 “Gazette," • poblialest nary Tordoy and Friday alght, to ust tor pooh Advorthwursto Intended for " The Expires" London Evor.lag paps, soot to at the USok le. BoovorSewoot. by Two o'e1o;1 as the lay otpublicsicit. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tao Dar—Yong. Ik. Ammon. 31. 11k. U.nr.sipw .-10111 b& 31. 111 a Alterman, 3k. 39m. LONDON. THURSDAY. JANUARY 4. LATEST SEWS FROM ABROAD THE CRIMEA. (BY AXD BR/TI/II TILNOZAPII.) (MOM TEX COll/111PONDINT 01 TSUI DAILY PARIS, THURSDAY, J•X. 4, 11 • X. A despatch has been received from General Can robert, who says that the Allies will soon be able to act on the offensive, and that the troops are fall of confidence. The Allies repair the batteries more quickly than the Russians. The following intelligence, under date of St. Pe- tersburg, Jan. 2, comes from a Russian source: " A despatch had been received from Prince Ment chikoff, announcing that nothing remarkable had taken place at Sebastopol between the 20th and 26th of December, with the exception of two sorties on the 21st. "In one of these sorties 11 officers and 3.3 soldiers were made prisoners, and a considerable number killed. "h consequence of the bsd weather, the siege operations were progressing slowly." HAMBURG, JAN. 2. A storm from the north-west has nosed the inundation of one-half of this city. The dykes are broken, and the losses are very cassiderable.—Doily News. BERNE, Die. 30. The Federal Council has distributed various minis terial departments as follows :—To M. Ferrer, the Presidency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs; M. Druey, Finance ; M. Naeff, Public Works; M. Frei- Heroes', War; M. Munzinger, Commerce; and M. Fnuiseim, the Interior.—Daily RUSSIA. (Ly nrraz.lra.noma. coxrANT's TILECHLAPIL) WARSAW, Disc. 30. To-day Field Marshal Prince Pukiewitch left Warsaw for Bt. Petersburg.—Daily News. SOUTH AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE IMPERADOR. (IT MAGNZTIC TILLORAPH.) (FROM THE IRXT 07 THII DAILY KIWI.) LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY. This morniog, at 9 o'clock, the South American and beneral Steam Navigation steam-ship Impe rador, arrived off Holyhead. She is expected in the Mosey about 4 p.m., and that her mails will be in time for first delivery to-morrow. COMPARATIVE CONSIDERATIONS ON THE STATE OF THE ARMY. WE see without surprise, in letters from the Crimea, that the anxiety and fatigues of some of the overwnrked officials are aggravated by "the lies in the Times." There is little use in controversy in London as to the precise state of things before Sebes- 1 topol; and time will show, better than dispute at a distance, what censure is deserved, and by whom. The great point is to avoid all unfair and unnecessary weakening of confidence in the commanders of the expedition and their administrators, and to save the feelings at once of the families of the sufferers in the Crimea, and of the friends of those officers who are arraigned in their absence. We desire no falsehood, and no concealment of the truth : bat there are different ways of looking at the same facts which make the facts themselves more or less painful, at the same time that honesty and justice require that the truest view should be taken that can be had. The state of our camp at Sebastopol is contrasted with that of the French. The French have a good road, horses and mules fit for duty, and, as a conse quence, whatever comforts can be derived from the ships. The French are better fed, better clothed, better warmed, better tended in sickness, than the British. Such is the fact; and thankful we may be that our generous Allies have been in better plight than ourselves during the fearful season of distress which seems to be now giving way to ameliora tion day by day. That the French have been more comfortable, and heartily willing to impart their comforts to us—their good road, the use of their , mules and their ambulances, and above all, their ex ample of practical army administration, is the great est of privileges to us. Hut, the more our attention is fixed upon the subject, the more clearly do we see that that skill is not heaven-born, any more than any other excellence of which co-operation is a condition. The French commanders and heads of departments had to learn, and to perfect their learning by prao tios, as our officials have ; and it is our business now to remember where and how, and at what cost they learned the lessons which are at present so valuable to themselves and to us. A dozen yeas or oo ago, there Wall a certain CAN ROB w EIT in Algeria, whose perigee... 2 uncommonly like that of our friends in the Crimea this last November. There was a Colonel Br. ARNAUD, too, in Algeria during that season Of, NM, trial; and a Commandant Boscuu, 111311 1 others whose names will henceforth be connected with the war against the CzAR. Algeria was their @drool of instructico, as the Crimea is ours. At one time, they and their Zouavea were encamped in • valley when the rains converted the moil late a viscid mud, knee deep or more, through which the EIS could scarcely make their way whim sommtmed to relieve guard. "Make hute r, ewe:lased • sergeant to a straggling soldier, " you . don't upset me to come and fetch you, I suppose." " coming u fast se I can," replied the ethe:, "but you see I am up to the knees; and a man can't walk through such a mess." " When men can't walk they should run," ,• was the facetious reply. Such was sentinel duty, under a pouring rain for days, nights, weeks toge ther. Within the tents, the fall of the rain-drops on the canvas was like an incessant rapping by a never-tired arm a sound depressing to the spirits beyond belief. A hole in the damp earth in the middle of the tent held a chafing-dish, which could do little to warm the inmates is &season when soldiers were opt to have their feet frozen, by the half-dozen in a night. The wretched horses turned their cruppers to windward, and stood to be rained or snowed upon all night, unless they broke from their tether, and fried the plan of galloping about in the dark for exercise. The hospital at Medeah made strong men shudder to look at it. The scarred old Zouaves made coverings for feet and legs out of sacks and the hides of the starved bullocks they killed, sewn with thread made out of the hemp used in grooming the horses, or out of old cannon wadding. Sometimes the wine and brandy failed, and sometimes even the tobacco ; and often one or another kind of food —the biscuit, or the coffee, or the meat. Sometimes no newts was received from the civilised world for half a winter. On one occasion 800 men were over whelmed by the snow. At another time the cholera marched faster than the column, and smote it sorely as it passed. The beasts of burden were heavily laden with the dying, and the enemy pursued, guided by the fresh graves all along the road. It was on that occasion that Colonel CamtonEaT rode out alone with his interpreter to meet the foe, and proclaimed to them that he was the bearer of the plague, and that he would cast it upon them if they interfered with his march. There were times when the troops, in their raggedness or impromptu habiliments, and with their gaunt forms and haggard faces, looked like savages. This was their schooling for the Crimea; and they got through it without the advantage of an experienced ally at hand to ad vise and teach them in their perplexities, and help them in their need. We own that we feel no jea lousy or shame in admitting and asserting the lope • riority of the French in the arts of war : and we admitted and asserted it before a blow was struck. We ought to have known more, and to have managed I I better than we have; but it is also true that the French had a ten years' discipline in Africa, while we were leaving imperfectly organised our military, and naval establishments at the request of the Peace party, who now find themselves answerable for more loss of life than any body in Europe, except only their friend the CZAR. There are antecedents in our own history, and within the memory of the existing generation, which should check the profane and lying licentiousness of talk which imputes " disorganisation" to the British forces in the Crimea—forces which are ever found at the post of duty, in the trash, on picket, or in the front of the fight. " Disorganisation !" The living CANROBERT and the dead WELLINGTON, who had both such cause to know what an army may have to endure, in a trying season, on a foreign soil, would have thought such a charge worth more than a smile of scorn (or perhaps a frown, if the calumny could reach the eye or ear of the enemy). And with such scorn should the slander be treated now. The army which redeemed Spain, and marched from the coast of Portugal to the north of the Pyre pees, marking its latter stages by victories, was repeatedly in worse straits than our troops in the Crimea, before reinforcements began to arrive. When the reinforcements sent to Spain in 1811 carried the 14 - alcheren fever with them, then were soon 25,000 of the allied troops in hospital, leaving oily 14,000 available for work of any sort; and of the 25,000 sick, 19,000 were British. The immediate and natu ral consequence was tho desertion of a multitude of Portuguese, who dropped back into their own coun try and native districts. The enemy had at that time 40,000 cavalry, and a total force of 370,000. Yet, so far were the British from "disorgani sation " on account of their vast miafortunes s that k three months more they began that glorious aw l des of victories whioh drove the invaders, who nevus gained another battle, out of Spain. If our troop and the nation that sent them forth have reason to i l complain of mismanagement at home and abroad. so had WELLLNGTON, and his troops, and his nation I yet was our army never " disorganised " nor turned back in its road to conquest. It is true—the pe► gram of science and improvement of the arts of was should have spared our army some of its recent suf ferings; but again, that improvement affords the strongest possible ground of confidence as to our future camp condition (which we see foreshadowed in that of our Allies), and as to our ultimate achieve- Imola. Some think that the late calamities was, ham our inexperience, inevitable, and others thigh n ot; but all rational and disinterested persons believe the worst to be over. If WELLINGTON got over the October and November of 1811, and won his victo ries. way from Ciudad Rodrigo to Toulouse, we may well expect to get over the November and December et 1854, and advance from Sebastopol to that point, whatever it may be, where the CZAR may at length held up the white flag, and let our gallant soldiers tern homewards. In that day there will be retribu don in store for any traitor who, in the first season of adversity from wind and weather, charges our steadfast, long-suffering soldiery with " dimorganisa dee Till the Times can show that our posts are unserved, the trenches deserted, and duty of any kind shirked, we need not give any more heed to its doleful prophecies than to its spiteful or treacherous slanders.—Daily News. EARTHQUAXES.—A letter from Nit* give. the following details of the earthquake which was felt there in the night of the 28th:—" For three quarters of a minute," says the letter, " the earth shook with violence, the houses appeared as if they were about to be torn up out of the ground, and the beds moved about the rooms. Some of the houses leant so much that the inhabi tants could scarcely stand up. In a moment half of the inhabitants left their houses. It was a sad scene, and the greatest fears were entertained for the following night. There were three distinct shooks. The first was the strongest, and if the succeeding ones had been equal to it, the whole town would have been destroyed. A number: of houses in one street have the walls cracked, and one house in the town has fallen down, and another in the neighbourLood. No other casualties are mentioned." A slight undulatory shock of earthquake, which lasted about three seconds, was felt at Alemandria on the 29th ult. A letter from Porto Maurisio, near Niee, of the 29th ult., states that a violent shock of earthquake was felt there at as early hour of the morning of that day. There were at fi rst two slight shocks followed by a frightful sub terraneannoies,and which threw the inhabitants into muster nation. The letter adds that if the oecillation,wkieh was very irregular is its movements and lasted about eight seconds, had continued a few seconds longer, it is probable that Porto Maurizio would no longer exist. THE CLIPPER GREAT REPERLIC.—BOSTON, DEC. 13.—The clipper ship Great Republic has come out of the Brooklyn dry dock. She is now 301 feet long, 43 feet 4 inches la breadth, sad will register about 3,380 teas. Her keel, Buse, _dte., remain analtarid. Sir J. Maxwell, Bart., of Pollok, pending the de• cision of government with respect to his offer of a contribu tion of 600 tons of teal for the use of our brave fellow countrymen In the Crises, has brdered 60 toes le be shipped by the Cicero, about to rail for Balaklava, to be placid at the disposal of Sir Colin Campbell, for the wbeial behoof of , the Highland Brigade.—Edinboorgh Onral4. 1* . THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY THE WAR. - HAMBIIRG. Dic. 29, TAN admlral;el the Russian Baltic fleet and the generals havinstammand in the large towns on the shores of the Oaf of Pialand have - been summoned to the Ministry of War at St. Petersburg, where a number of councils have been held. It bee been decided that the fortifications of the coast towns must bb strengthened, and that entrenched camps, each large enough to receive an infantry division, must be formed near them. A system of strongly entrenched camps, which is forthwith to be carried into execution, will extend from Croastadt to most of the strategetic points in Poland. sr. P. I, Dsc. 26. The Invalid. .Retate gives news from Sebastopol to the 16th, aid states that nothing of importance had occurred at that date. The cannonade had continued as before. During the nights the Russians had made frequent and successful sorties. The Emperor has conferred the Order of St. Vladimir of the First Class upon General Annenkoff, Governor of Odessa. The Ganges, which arrived at Toulon on Tuesday morning, left Constantinople on the 25th ult. At the last dates from the Crimea 18 Turkish battalions had already landed at Eupatoria. As soon as the 30,000 men shall have been completed the allies will resume their grand operations. The besiegers had in part re-opened their fire. The weather had become better, and the communication by sea was regular. The Saint-Louis, as well as other vessels, had arrived from France. In consequence of the ex tension of the siege lines of the allies, the com munications and the transport of provisions had become very difficult between Sebastopol and the Russian army posted near Balaklava. The Duke of Cambridge, who has received a visit from the Sultan, is, it is said, to retura to England. Lord Cardigan has already left for London. General de Montebello has delivered to General Cenrobert 20 crosses of officers and 125 chevaliers in the Legion of Honour to be distributed to the army. It was the Polish General, Jordhn, who commanded at Redoubt Kale, and who, with the English, defended the place against 10,000 Russians. Suleyman Pacha has been degraded. Mecklee Pacha has been named com mandant in chief of the Turkish army of Asia. Telegraphic despatches from Warsaw, of the 30th ult., given in the German papers, allege that the concentration of the Ist infantry corps of the Russian army, with the division of grenadiers, between the Pilika, the Warta, and the Vistula, is completed. On the authority of letters from Odessa, the same journals inform us that immense reinforcements, drawn from the god infantry corps in Volhynia, are passing by that town to the Crimes. Three divisions, the 7th, Bth, and 9th, of the 3rd infantry corps, are said to have passed by Odessa to Perekop, whence they would be con veyed in post-waggons to the scene of action. It has been computed that the divisions', in ques tion may furnish Prince Mentchikoff with a rein forcement of 32,000 bayonets. About 3,500 cavalry, 14 field batteries, and six battalions of field-train are attached to these corps. A letter from Vienna of the 28th ult., in the Augsburg Gazette, says :—" I had to-day in my hand a copy of a despatch from Prince Mentchikoff of the 17th, and it makes no mention either of the malady of the Prince or of his replacement by General Osten- Sacken. The Russian commander-in-chief only complains that the severe weather makes great ravages amongst his troops, as well as amongst his cavalry and artillery horses." The Berlin journals announce that nearly 100 German surgeons have been enlisted by Russian legations for military hospital duties, and that they are to assemble there in a few days, in order to be provided with the necessary passports and directions. The following is the outline of the contract concluded between the Russian General Benkeadorf and the enlisted surgeons: _ The medioal me& engage to serve as doctors, or army surgeons, for the duration of the war; they submit to Rus sian military jurisdiction, and take an oath of fidelity to the Emperor so long as the contract lasts ; after which, they may remain in the Russia& service if they please. Thos re crafted are to proceed to the appointed place of destination forthwith, and to swear to do their duties, whatever they may be, truly, faithfully, and submissively; the Russia. Government to appoint the place of destination and mode of employment. These engaged to enjoy the same privileges, rank, and immunities as Russian surgeons of the same claws, and are not to be submitted to examination in Russia. Journey and expenses to be paid. Contract to terminate with the termination of the war. It ,is asserted in Berlin that the Russian govern ment hues issued orders to its agents to engage as many rifle gunmakers as possible in Germany and Belgium, and to forward them to the Imperial arms factories at Tula and elsewhere. AUSTRIA. A letter from Vienna of the 30th ult., in the Silesian Gault* says.—" The plenipotentiaries of the Allies, after several conference., have come to an under standing concerning a protocol which completes the treaty of December 2 and explains folly the four points. The definitive meeting took place the day before yesterday. and immediately after Count Baol informed Prince Gortchakoff of the meaning attached to the guarantees drawn up against Rosin. The Prince was at the same time informed that, u an unreserved acceptant* would be insisted on, Russia had only to give her reply in a simple _yes or no, within the period fixed by the treaty of De cember 2. The prince the same evening despatched a courier to St. Petersburg asking for further instruc tions, which he expects to-morrow by telegraph. It is said that in the interpretation given to the four points, the idea of bringing about peace before the first of the year is not departed from, but on the other hand, the powers are determined, in cue of a refusal on the part of Russia, to conclude a treaty of offensive alliance." TURKEY. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe has addressed a circa iar to all the British consuls in the Levant, inform ing them of the important decrees issued by the Sultan for effecting various salutary reforms in the administration of the laws; doing away with a number of long existing abuses, and abolishing the trade in slaves in Georgia and Circassia; and urging on the consular agents to give every assistance by advice and exhortations to the Turkish authorities, who, in carrying into execution the said decrees, will, in all probability, have to contend with long- established prejudices and national traditions. The English steamer Arabia, haring a strong de ' tsehment of Freoch troops on board, ran aground on the 24th ult., on the Lighthouse point a t the entrance of the Strait of Messina, but was got off in a few hours after with out damage, and continued her voyage towards the Crimea. The French officers and soldiers on board speak in the highest terms of the conduct of the captain and crew of the Arabia towards them. SWAIN AND WEBBS' ESTATE.—The balance sheet of Messrs. Swale and Webbs, of Haddonfield, Sydney, and Melbourne, hu just appeared. The debtor aecount shows that they owe to creditors 127,8191., leas 9,5221. securities lle.the bands of creditors. Their liabilities on bills receiv able, considered good, are 28,5251., and liabilities on bills drawn by consignors upon Mesas. Swain and Webb' against shipments made to their branch firma at Sydney and Mel bourne, 13,2601. The creditor reprnsents that the Rudders field estate will realize 31,0301. the Sydney branch, when debts due at Sydney have bora paid, 34,0771. ; cad the Mel bourne branch, under the semis conditions, 32,8121. Sundry claims upon Sydney 12 0'zses, making a total of 8,5731., arc also printed with th'e balance sheet. The debtor's ride' lor.s a total of 118,0911, and the creditor side a total of, 97,9201. JANUARY 4, 1855. FIANCE. (ram The conauroinser 01 TEI DAILY. II1118.) PARIS, WEDXISDAY /Immo. Admiral Hamelin is coming home. You are aware that he wee lately created a full admiral, a rank in this country equal to that of a marshal of France, and one evidenced by the same Insignia—the baton. Captain Count de Lastio, an aidede-eamp of the Minister of Marine, who left Marseilles on December 7 in the Zgyptue, arrived at Admiral Hamelin's anchorage in Kamiesok Bay on December 20, and presented him with the baton. It seems that this dignity involves a recall, for it wu at once an nounced in the fleet that on the 23rd Admiral Hamelin would resign the command to Admiral Brut. The Emperor is somewhat indisposed. It is re ported that he has a slight attack of the gout. Dur ing the official receptions of Monday he leant on a stick, and he felt too fatigued in the evening to re ceive the Imperial family at the customary new year's dinner. That dinner was therefore given by Prince Jerome at the Pallas Royal. The Empress works daily at the preparation of lint for the army. Visitors to her apartments receive as a matter of course a piece of old linen, from which they are expected to make lint. The Bourse was very calm. The reports from the different mairies where the subscriptions to the loan are opened to-day, were considered satisfactory. There are not, it is true, such crowds as there were in March last, but possibly the recollection of the annoyance which many people felt from being forced to wait several hours the first day may have some thing to do with this. In some of the mania the amount subscribed at twelve o'clock had exceeded that at the same hour on the last occa sion. It was announced that several large amounts , had been subscribed by London capitalists. Upon the whole the tone of the Bourse was very good. It had been• feared that the great amount of stock for delivery would cause a continuance of the fall of yesterday, but it was found that, owing in part to the, investments of insurance companies, the sales were effected without difficulty. Very few new speculative l l accounts were opened. The Rente, which wu very' steady throughout the day, closed at 63fr. 600., with a rise of 10e. Railways were generally from 2fr. to &r. higher. The Independanee Belge takes upon itself to say that England approves of the separate treaty made between France and Austria for securing the in tegrity of the Italian possessions of the latter power. The Prase of this evening, however, ex presses an opinion that the report of such a treaty having been signed should be received with mistrust. The receipts of the Customs at Havre, during the month of December, amounted to 3,664,037 fr. 71c. This is more by 1,089,537 fr. 82c. than those of the month of December, 1833. PARIS, TUMIDLY EVIINING. The Marshal Commander-in-Chief of the army of Paris addressed the following order of the day to the troops under his orders after the review of Satur day last : The review passed by the Emperor was one of the most remarkable for the order, the precision, and the ensemble of the movements, and the regularity and good attitude of the troops under arms. His klajesty has testified his satis faction to the Marshal Commander-in-Chief, who is happy to convey the expreesion of it to the officers, sub-officers, and soldiers under his orders, and to thank them for the intelligence, the seal, and the good spirit which have pro duced these results, of which 'misting circumstances enhance the importance and the value. MAONLN. The Journal de Cherbourg gives the following de tails respecting the vessels of war in that port : Three vessels are in the roadstead; the frigate Virginie, of 62 guns, which is about to leave for India and China; the Lucifer, steam advice boat, which is about to leave for Brest, and the Aetif, steam advice boat, which is perma nently stationed in the roadstead. Nine vessels are being fitted oss-namely, the frigates, La Clorinde, La Bellonne, and Ls Poursuivante, all of 62 guns, and the latter destined fur Ls Plata ; the corvette, the Bayonnfiise, 01 30 guns, for Iceland ; the steam corvettes, the Bicheand the Phlegethoo, the latter for the Black Sea ; the Aigle, of 10 guns, for Iceland ; and the steam advice boats, the Corse, for the coasting service, and the Basilic, for Senegal. The Aus terlitz, screw ship of the line, is undergoing repair. The corvette, the Espeditive, of 16 guns, and several other vessels, are to be laid up. We have besides on the stocks the Arco]e and the Ville de Nantes, screws of 960-horse power and 90 guns ; the screw frigate the Impeteuse, 800- horse power and 60 guns; the screw transport La bleurthe, of 2,000 tons and 800-horse power ; the sailing frigate the Resole*, of 40 guns ; the floating screw battery, Devas tatios, 16 guns; the steam advice boats the Croiseur and the Rodeo:; and the gunboats the Eclair and the E tincelle. PRUSSIA AND THE WEST. The Berlin correspondent of the Independance Beige gives the following as a closer analysis than has yet appeared of the Prussian despatch of the 19th sent to Paris and London : The despatch fleet alludes to the notification of the treaty which was made on the evening of the 16th by the three envoys in separate conferences. Id. de Manteuffel commu nicated the treaty to the Kiln/. Piaui& fully appreciates the importance thereof, and in making it the object of a conscientious examination the cabinet of Berlin has been guided by the sincere wish to associate itself as much as its convictions and the interests of its country permit, to the common work of the mestablisment of peace on just and permanent bases. Prussia has seen with satisfaction that the protocols of Vienna, which still form the common basis, are mentioned in the treaty. If she did not take part in the exchange of the notes of the ,Bth of August, she at least gave her moral support thereto. _ . The diplomatic concert with the other powers, therefore, still octets. In consequence of a tranmetfon with Ans'ria, a Crouse tion motived by the menacing attitude of Russia, Prussia has even engaged herself, under certain eventualities, to military co-oper►tion. There exists, therefore, already, an analogy between the position of Prussia and that of the Powers who signed the treaty of December. Prussia is disposed to join in new stipulations and to come to an understanding, the pacific weight of which would be of a nature to exercise a salutary and decisive in fluence. As regsrds the treaty of the 2nd December, Prussia ob serves that it bears the stamp of an entente with Austria. Prussia adheres to the general tendencies of that treaty, and Is ready to conclude an analogous arrangement. With this object, and to fix with certainty eventual deci sions, it leads naturslly to the question, what would be the I interpretation of the guarantees which Russia has adopted without any reserve and in their primitive form (redaction primitive.) This interpretation of the guarantees will be the pivot of the diplomatic measures. The more Prussia appreciates the step taken by the powers who signed the treaty, and the more desirous she is of responding to the sentiments which dictated that step, the more does she hope to obtain confidential explanations on the interpretation of the guarantees. SPAIN. We have received the Madrid journals up to the 29th nit. • The Diario Espanol informs us that the ministry, in phrsuance of the promise that it had given, was endeavouring to effect economy in every department of the state. In the foreign department, the lega tions of Denmark, Parma, Tuscany, Switzerland, and Saxony are to be suppressed, and those of Mexico, Turkey, Piedmont, and Naples are to be of the second class. In the other departments there is to be a general reduction of the number of functionaries, and of the salaries of those who are to be retained. It appears also to be decided that there shall be a large redaction in the budget of the clergy. Nothing important took place in the Cortes on the 29th. The government presented a bill for a levy of 25,000 men, but there was no discussion on the subject in that sitting. Our letters from Madrid of the 28th ult., and the Madrid journals of the same date, give details ex planatory of the retirement of M. Collado, the Finance Minister of the FApartero cabinet. The fact, together with the nomination of M. Sevillano as his successor, was announced in the Cortes on the 28th, when decrees on the subject were read. The octroi question appears to have been at length regu lated by an agreement between the government and what may be distinguished as the economical opposi tion. Ia the Cortes M. Sancho Silva announced that the committee on the octroi question had come to an understanding with the government to adopt a bill on the subject to the following effect : To suppress from the Ist of January, 1855, the octroi duties payable to the state, but to continue those payable to muticipalities and provincial deputations until otherwise decided ; the committee on the I budget to propose savings which may help to make up the deficit which will be occasioned; and the go vernment to be authorised to make a loan. A bill in those tams having been brought in was immediately taken into consideration, aad the first article of it was adopted by by 209 votes to 2. The Diario states that the financial situation of Saragossa, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and other large towns is so deplor able that the municipalities have hadtto make locoed loans. The journals announce the death of Captain- General of the Army Don Pedro Villa Camps, direc tor of the asylum for invalid braises, and a distin guished soldier, and of General Lavalette, second in command of Cuba. • THE BRAZILS. By the Lady Jocelyn steamer we are in possession of advices from Bahia to the 2nd December—twelve days later than by the Great Western steamer. The commercial accounts are favourable. At an auction of sugar, of ordinary quality, sales were effected at 2.120 per arroba for whites, and 1.300 to 1.520 for browns. Picked lota could not be purchased at less than 1.600 for browns, and 2 900 for whites. The demand for cotton was merely nominal, at 5.400 to 5.600 per arroba for biopic) and Bahia. There was nothing doing for export. In con , equence of the rainy weather, the supplies of coffee from the interior had fallen off considerably. Prices of coffee afloat remained at 3 700 to 3.750 per arroba. C lb. 'sold by auction at 4 to 4 100 for unwashed; firsts, at 3.800 to 3.950 ; seconds, at 3.400 to 3.650 for ordinary, and 2 200 to 3 200 for triage. A few bags of cocoa sold at 2.100 per snobs. Hides were in improved demand, and prices ware ad venting, sales having been reported at 210 re. per lb. for dry and 170 rs. for salted. For rum the inquiry had almost ceased, and prices in consequence tended downwards—ranging from 620 rt. to 640 ra. per can. Thus was no tapioca offered In the market. A fresh demand having sprung up for Piassava, prices were higher, 13 per hundred having been granted for fair gustily. Double bundles, weighing 40 Ibis, were pur chased at 22 per hundred. Tobacco continued to be neglected. A few small sales of Wooed leaf thirds were made at 2.200 per arroba. The new crop had not made its appearance. Freights to the United Kingdom nominal at 57e. 6d. to 60s. per ton for orders ; to London, 50s. to 555. ; and to Liverpool, 40a. to 455. par ton for sugar ; and id. per lb. for cotton. Exchange on London nominal, at 27/ 1. to 28d. for 60 days ; Paris, 345 f. to 350 f. ; Hamburg, 670 c. to 680 C. SHIPPING.—The Statesman, from London for Rangoon, put into Bahia leaky. Arrivals at Bahia—Murray, and John Martin, from Liverpool ; Eliza Robson, and Parts soles. from Rio Janeiro. Sailed from Bahia—Seringapa. tam, Nov. 21, and Rubin, Nov. 28, for Liverpool ; Ranger, Nov. 29, for Macsio; and Benne, Nov. 30, forth. Channel. THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD FIELDS. The most noticeable feature in connection with gold is the increased attention given to quartz-crushing. We are inclined to think that the lodes of quartz running through the various gold fields are, in fact, the matrices of the precious metal, end that wherever there are rich alluvial deposits of gold-dust, in their neighbourhood will be found veins of auriferous quartz, which can be worked on regular mining principles, and which will probably be found inexhaustible by the present g tion. Strong move ments have already been commenced among the diggers to procure Borden's quartz crushing machines, and fortunately, just at this crisis Mr. Windsor Earl, agent for the company, who have purchased Borden's patent, has arrived in Mel bourne. Re has received orders for a number of machines, which be bee transmitted to England for execu tion. Bur, in order to save time, he has likewise given in structions to Messrs. Fulton and Smith, the local engineers, to prepare several, and it is therefore probable that we shell very soon see this wonderful machine in. operation. It is the opinion of many of our most cautious and most intelligent colonists that we ere only in the infancy of gold production. Several large nuggets have recently been discovered. One was found at Maryborough weighing 600 ounces, and • quartz specimen found at Ballarat, containing a large pro portion of gold, weighed 98 pounds. The Maryboro•gh gold field is considered extremely rich, but there is a great scar city of water. Two gentlemen of high respectability, re cently arrived from the westward, report that 309 men are digging at Mount William, and are doing well. It is also stated that many diggers at Anderson's Creek have been successful.—Australian and Nina Zealand Gazette, Vbe Court, ___•__ WINDSOR, JAN. S. The dinner party yesterday included the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Sheffield, Baroness de Speth, Earl and Countess Granville, Viscount Harding., Lord and Lady Cowley, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, Lieutenant- General Sir G. Bowles, Major General Jones, Major Par yes, and Mr. Gibbs. The band of the Royal Bucks Militia played during dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards. Mr. Patrick Park hu had the honour to submit to her Majesty the Queen and the Prince the bust of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French, which he hu executed for his Grua the Duke of Huailton. The Queen, accompanied by the Duchess and Princess Mary of Cambridge, walked in the Rome-park this morn ing. Afterwards, their royal highnesses took leave of her Majesty and left the Cutle to pay a visit to the Duchess o f Kent, at Frognaore-house ; and in the afternoon took thei r departure from Windsor for Kew. Prince Albert went ont shooting, accompanied by Earl Granville, Lord Corley, the Right lion. Sidney Herbert, and Lieut.-Oeneral Sir G. Bowles. Prince Alfred rode on horseback. Viscount Hardinge, Lord and Lady Cowley, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, left the Castle to-day. Major-General Jones arrived last evening, and left by an early train this morning. • The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday afternoon for Windsor Culls on a ♦isit to her Majesty. A deputation from the Legal Quays and Sufferance Whar fingers had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Cardwell yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. The depu tation consisted of Mr. William Williams, M.P., Mr. Apsloy Pellatt, M.P., Messrs. Scorch], Bailey, C. Curling, Hein, Dare, Curtis, Wilkinson, Parker, Phillips, ,William J. Hall, and James Fennings, and Mr. Corner (solicitor). Viscount Palmerston returned to his seat, Broadlands, Hants, after the Cabinet Council, on Tuesday afternoon. THE MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART AT MARL BOROUGH.IIOC6I.—The numbers attending. Sc., during the month of December, were u follows: 11,570 persons on the public days, and admitted free; 260 persons on the students' days, and admitted as students on the paymentof 6d. each, besides the registered students of the classes and schools. The museum is now open free on Saturdays, for the convenience of schools, &a. _ _ _ ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 15, WHITEHALL PLACZ.—Evening meeting, Monday, Jan. 8, at half-pelt 8 o'clock. Papers to be read 1. Geographical notes takes during a journey performed in Persia, by Keith E. Abbott, Esq. her Majesty's Consul at Tehran—communieated by the Earl of Clarendon. 2. Despatch from Dr. Livingston, containing his routes from Lake Ngami, through the in terior of South Africa to Angola—communicated by Sir Roderick I. Murchison ; and 3. Despatches from Colonel Herman, her Majesty's Consul at Tripoli, stating that the reports of Dr. Barth's death may still prove unfounded— communicated by the Foreign-office. The meetings of the society will be henceforth held at the society's new house, IS, Whitehall place. If a member desire to introduce more than one visitor to the meeting, he is requested to apply to the secretary for a card of admission, and visitors are re quired to remain in the library until the chair is taken. The map rooms of the society will be open to the public from 11 till 3 daily. until further notice. FOREIGN POSTAGE Now AND TWENTY YEARS AGO. —Twenty years ago the British and foreign rates of po.tage could not be paid on a foreign letter. In 1843 a oonventio• was arranged between England and Prance by which • letter going to or parsing through Franca could be paid to it, destination, and international aecoants were kept b•- tween Great Britain and the French government. The following table shows the full postage on foreign letters in 1835 and 1855, via.: Postage. Postage. Places. Ins 2 1865. France Luxembourg 4s. 4d. .... Bd. Baden Holland 35. Bd. .... Bd. Prussia Bavaria Wurtembmg Switzerland Germany Sardinia 4s. 2d. .... 10d. Sicily Tummy Papal States 4s. 2d. .... 13d. Austria Northern States Turkey The following Poet-offices have just been em powered to Mute and pay money orders, viz., Houton New Town and Peckham, in Middlesex ; Old Brampton and Barham, in Kent; Cozham, in Hants; Cogged's% in Boaz ; Droyleaden, in Lancashire ; Studley, is Warwick Eggesford and Nash Tawton, in Davos ; Stanley, in Perth ; Contorpinsie, in Edinburgh ; and Gaiston, in Ayr. N.AVAL AND MILITARY. BLICTRIC TILIONATI.) MAY Tin COILLYAPONDINT OF THI DAILY NIWII) FALMOUTH, JAN. 3. The Black Prince, screw steam traasport, No. 161, from London to the Crimea with government stores, has put into this port for fuel. FALMOUTH, THDRSDAY. The Black Prince, having received a supply a fuel, proceeded yesterday to the Crimea. ADMIRALTY, JAN. 3.—APPOINTRENTS.—MIMMI ' F. Beckett (1846), to the Coast Guard. Assistant Surgeon C. Harper (1860), to the Exmouth, 90, scram steam ship, at Dsvonport. Clerks A. J. )1. liObstts (1818), to the Esmouth, and G. J.l). Andrews (1849), to the Wellesley, 72, at Chatham. Acting Surgeon C. B. Wright, to the Bogue, 60, serv e steam guard ship, of 450 horse•power, at Spithead. Tenders are to be sent in to the Admiralty on tho 9th inst., for the conveyance of 13 officers and 231 men from tho river and Portsmouth to Bermuda, also for the conveyance of 160 tons of navy provisions to Sierra Leese, sad 12 tons of army provieions to Qambia. The screw steamer Union left Southampton yesterday with prepared timbers, stoves, and windows for 62 complete huts for the British soldiers in the Crimea. The sailing ships Saladle and Swifteuro are in Southampton Docks loading with huts for the French troops in the Crimea ; and the steamers Enniskillen and William Car mick are also there waiting to assist the two sailing ships ca their we, to Balaklava, by towing them. The steamers will take out stores and French engineering officers and soldiers to the Crimea. The Union took out some scores of boxes and packages filled with comforts for English offictrs and soldiers M the Crimea. WOOLWICH, JAN. 3. A now and powerful field battery, Captain Ward's Company. 3rd battalion Royal Artillery, joined the brigade of field batteries on Monday last, and, with Captain Smythe's Company, Gth battalion, will form a new and powerful field battery of heavy guns, which will proceed to the Crimea early in the spring. Captain Smythe's Com. pany will take the right half of the battery, and Captain Ward's Company the left half. The guns will ►e iron 32• pounders, of newt.; each drawn by 12 horses, and it is in contemplation to harness them three abreast, as in the Swedish service. Great interest is attached to the formation of this battery, as it is the first ever composed of suck heavy guns for field service, their great advantage over light guns being shown at Inkermann, when Col. Gambier brought up his two 18. pounders, which mainly contri►uted to decide that glorious victory. The companies for this field battery are to be made up to 280 non•commisioned officers, gunners, and drivers, and 230 horses are to be at. Cached to it. The companies assembled at 2 o'clock, p.m., on Wednesday, in service marching order, aed at the same time Captain Adair's company, sth battalion, and Captain Dizon's company, 9th battalion, also under orders for the Crimea; and were inspected by Major-General E. C. Whinyates, commandant of the garrison. Captain Inglefield's company, 3rd battalion, are placed under orders to proceed to Hull, Chester, and Liverpool, to relieve Captain Crawford's company, 6th battalion, ordered to head-quarters at Woolwich, to prepare for proceeding to the Crimea. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 3. The crews of the Duke of Wellington, 131, screw ship, Captain Gordon ; the Blenheim, 60, screw, Captain W. H. Hall; the Hogue, 60, screw, Captain Ram say ; the Imperieuse, 50, screw, Captain R. B. Watson ; and the Arrogant, 46, screw, Captain Yetverton, all at this port, are ordered to be paid wages. The Arro gant is to come into harbour from Spithead to make gool defects. The Princess Royal, 91, screw ship, Captain Lord Cla renre Paget, is notified to leave Plymouth on the 6th inst. for the Black Sea, conveying a mail. The crew of the Victoria and Albert, royal yacht, are to go round to Pembroke to bring to this port the new royal steam yacht, Windsor Castle, building there for her Ma jesty, and which is shortly to be launched. The Lucifer, steamer, hauled alongside the dockyard yesterday to take on board the neousary stores for jury-rigging the W indsor Castle. Today the Penelope, 16, paddle frigate, Captain Coffin, was taken out of dock into the steam basin. The Imp.- rheum, 50, was also taken into the steam basM ; and the Falcon, 16, screw sloop, Myrmidon, 3, and Oberon, 3, pad dle steamer., were taken out. The Clyde (No. 145), paddle wheel steam transport, went out of harbour yesterday to Spithead, and took on boar.l a quantity of powder, and at daylight this morning sailed for the Crimea. She ii laden with stores and pro visions. The Esk, 21, screw sloop, Captain Birch, went to the measured mile to-dey to try her engines. The Sprigbtl7, steamer, Master Commander Allen, sailed this afternoon for Plymouth, with seamen for the Ships fitting there. The Bonetta, 3, brigantine, lieutenant Commander NV eke, arrived at Spithead this morning from the \Vut Coast of Africa. She brings no news. The Himalays, screw -steamer, came into harbour from Spithead at noon to-day, to disembark the wounded and sick officers and soldiers, and women and children, she has brought home from Malta and the Crimea. The more seriously wounded (about six in number) were taken from the ship on stretchers and conveyed to the new Military Hospital, on Lion-terrace, Portsea. The invalids were con veyed to the same hospital in omnibuses. The women aid children. 530 in number, wko have been brought home by this'ship, also landed this afternoon, and were sent on to the Clarence Barracks, in Portsmouth, where they will remain till opportunity serves to remove them to their relatives and friends. Many will, however, we are afraid, have to go to the union house, in default of other provision. Their boxes and other baggage, which was in very great bulk, has also been disembarked this afternoon, and conveyed in waggons to the Clarence Barracks. .T.&N. 2. The Amphion screw eteam-frigate was taken into the fitting-basin to-day, placed under the muting sheers, and her masts were taken out for inspection. Orden arrived to-day for the crew of the Royal George to be hulked on board the Wellington, ordinary Tian&Ling depot. PLYMOUTH, JAN 2. The Odious, freight ship, is loading with a general cargo of provisions for Malta. Several other reuels ate being taken up. The St. Jean d'Acre will take out six horses for Lord Raglan's staff. JAN. 3. The frigate Arethuss, from the Mediterranean, is re ported to have arrived in the ‘ Sound during the night. THE MILITIA. The first regiment of Derbyshire Militia is to be drawn out and embodied at Derby on Thursday next. The Lord-Lieutenant of the County has addresead a letter to the Deputy-Lieutenants requesting their attend ance at a lieutenancy meeting to be held at Derby, on Wednesday, the 10th January, at 12 o'clock, to consider the propriety of taking measures for raising the 2nd Regi ment of Militia in Derbyshire. The following additional regiments of Irish militia have been embodied, viz.: — Carlow—Headquarter. at Carlow, under Colonel Sir T. Butler, Bart. ; Cavan—Headquarters Cavan, under Colonel A. Saunderson : Clare—Headquarters Clare Castle, under Colonel C. Vandeleur ; Leitrim—Head quarters Mohill, under Colonel Viscount Clements ; Lon donderry—Headquarters Derry, under Colonel Sir R. Ferguson, Bart. ; Royal Longford—Headquarters New townforbes, under Colonel Henry White ; Sligo—Head quarters Sligo, under Colonel Arthur Knox Gore • Royal Tyrone—Headquarters Caledon, under Colonel ' Earl of Caledon; and: City Dublin Artillery,•Antrim Artillery, headquarters Carrickfergus, and South Tipperary Artillery. CITY OP COAL ROYAL AILTILLERT.--In consequence of this regiment of militia having been reduced from eight companies to four, the vacancies in captaincies, which some short time ago existed, it will not be necessary to fill up. The following promotion. have, in consequence of this change, been made :—Lieut. John Longfield to be captain, vice Hon. W. H. White Hedges to be lieutenant•colonel 3rd West Cork Artillery Militia; R. 8. Morgan to be cap tain, vice W. H. Longfield, to be major 3rd West Cork Artillery ; Lieut. Sir James L. Cotter, Bart., to be captain South Cork; Lieut. Emanuel BUS, to be lieutenant North Cork Regiment; John R. Wheeler to be lieutenant South Cork Regiment. Messrs. C. Hawkes and Forrester have been appointed ensigns. The order for the embodiment has arrived, but the day is not yet named. The place of embodiment will be Charlesfort, Kinsale. The North Cork Rifles were embodied yesterday in the barracks at But tsvant. The Cork Constitution says—Recruiting for the militia is progressing rapidly. In all parts of the city recruiting ser geants are to be found, and places of rendezvous have been procured in various quarters. The number enlisted has, on some occasions, amounted to 20 per day. Large numbers of the militia, however, daily volunteer for the lane. Rucuomiee IN Nzway.—The depot of the 3d Buffs Ibis hada large accesaion to its numbers, having, since its arrival is Newry, enlisted no fewer then 108 persoes. r