The Express. — London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

CH•P PUI 8' P•TENTIL—' mails(' DATLIGHT 2.117LK10111 dewy paribis dear idea, tad at ail pike'. II apostles at tin Patastaa's Warabaam. IS, litaaalwast. Notautaattay.l4l. M. Ittermaa rye expreoo. TO CORPJUIPONDINTIL Atvertiseenta Weeded kr "TM tairamanarisa &lain piper. sad la astir Mak 141. ilaavaily Tar egad ea the ft a palladia NIGH WATER AT LONDON BRUM. = l : ol rissirsa•s. les....Afliesese. IL He. 71. Slir LONAOII. ,11,ATUBDAY, DECEMBER 15. The eismatien. smi "nine days' wonder" occa sioned by the esnekdon and sentenos of the three beakers, Sir J. D. PAUL, and Moors. SLIUHAN and BATED, are rapidly sanding. In those drys;, hew. ever, when a perilously lax teas of temiseelel ate. malty seems to be insidiously creeping Into the allemb and even insinuating itself into high circles, it sham us that there are still sone points in the history ef this ill-fated banking hoses from which a valuable moral may be gathered. Oa Tuesday last the pro ceedings in the Coat et Bankruptcy were of emu sun interest, the antecedent and meat position of the defunct firm being subjected to an elaborate die motion. When we manioc that the aggregate lia bilities of the bank meant to the enormous sum of 8.52,6931., and the estimated assets to only 127,6701., leering a deficiency of no lees than 624,9224, it will be acknowledged that this failure is lifted oat of the catalogue of ordinary mum- Mal casualties, and the question at ones arises, How amid a bank, if conducted upon anything li k e sound principles, sink funds to this frightful extent P The question is one of general interest, and to supply an answer we may usefully draw upon the researches made by Mr. Tuannamn, the accountant to the an signets. According to the popular idea, a Bank is understood to signify an inatitutioa with considerable available capital, conducted and owned by respon sible parties, and aimed in a attain well-defined description of business. The idea of a bank alto gether without capital,-in a stets of virtual insol vency, and yet propped up for years solely by making an undue use of the deposits confided to it by cas taway, would probably be hastily seated by most persons u too monstrously absurd to be entertained for a moment. Yet this was in reality the position of LINE bank of Messrs. STRAHAN, PAUL, and Co. More than this : the partners were actu ally debtors to the bank to a very considerable extent for money borrowed. In 1813, the partners in the bank consisted of Rosen Sxow, WILLIAM BANDBT, and JOHN DIAN PAUL. These three gentlemen, at the death of Mr. liannv in 1818, owed the bank a sum of 29,0001. The debt of Mr. SANDDY, amounting to 8,9801., was paid oQ by his arecators by the end of the year 1828; but at that period the eau due by the remaining partners hid Mermen to 63,8004, which was apportioned thus—via., RODUT SNOW, 36,3191. 10c. 9d., and the late Sir J. D. PAUL, 17,2801.95. 3d. This debt, it is explained, was re presented by a joint note of the two—by aa arrange ment between themselves, and acquiesced in by sae ending partners. The amount was to be considered as a debt due to the bank, to be gradually liquidated by a certain portion being carried every year to profit and loss. By this means, at the death of the late Bir J. D. Pant, the amount had been reduced to 28,6004, and at the date of the bankruptcy bad been further reduced to the um of 23,6001. The balsam-sheet now filed commeuessea the 31st Dec., 1861, at which time there was an acted defi ciency of assets compared with liabilities of no lees than 86,6424 Of this sum, 28,5001. sonsisted of the balance due to the bank on the partners' joint note, and 23,3921. formed the alum of debt due to the institution by the late Sir J. D. PAOL. A very re makable state of things is certainly here develops& A bank, one of the oldest on record, is shown to be carrying on bonuses, and maintaining a fair name before the world, although it was not merely desti tute of capital, but had permanently made advances to this heavy extent to the partners. In other words, the partners had been living upon the deposits. Bat even this does not represent in naked truth the also pidated financial state of the macaw In theideese• sheet to the 31st Dec., 1851, exhibilks dile 16101061* cieney of 66,8421., there is one um lasieded la the ' waste at its full amount, the alba value of which was very problematical. This ilea mists of a sum of 92,0011, taken as due free Lodi Naarrx. Be tween the years 1848 and 1860 large advances had been made to Lord MosTTN; and in January, 1860, • leas of the property known as the Mostya Colliery wee panted by his lordship to the bank, to sense a sum of 67,5411. then due by him. Apart from the inherent aasonadness of the bank's position, as already indicated, its connexion with this colliery scheme seems to have occasioned its BEM serious involvement. The colliery required very cow& &treble outlay to bring it into a productive condition, and a further sum of upwards of 45,0001. was thee ow pended by the bank. With this expenditure, and arrears of interest, the amount to the debit of the meant at the time of the bankruptcy had rises le 139,9401. At this date the colliery had just bees brought into a productive state, yielding, how ever, only sufficient to cover ertpurneo and to pay interest on a sum of 46,0001 4 white the bank had been compelled to borrow en the mesa rity of the less*, to meet the necessary outlay. The accountant to the assignees observes: " Tokio, the amount thus borrowed as an indication of the value of the asset, the deficiency of the bank woad be he- creased to ant 110,0001.' It is tree that at this period the private property of the partners, which wee of course liable for the debt. of the bank, may be regarded as virtually maintaining the firm in a solvent position, Mr. STURM! being pommel of unencumbered private property to the extent or upwards of 100,0001., Sir J. D. PAUL et &bent 30.0001., and Mr. Balm of sufficient to wee bb debt of 3,0001. to the beak. We will not asap this fact, however, lean excuse for the monstrously aoseend system pursued by the bank in carrying ea illegiti mate business of this nature ander a heavy deficit, which we must presume it was only able to conceal during a long miss of years by anwarrentalli , availing itself of depositors' funds. But for the real explanation of the rain brought upon the bank, and, through it, upon hundreds of innocent families, we must look to its digestives eon -11•11011 with the abases of Messrs. J. H. and B. T. (UNWELL, commencing in 1852. It might be ima gined that the loss sustained by the partners on their Mostyn Colliery transactions would have deterred them from again stepping oat of the sphere of legiti mate banking operations to dabble, or enable others to dabble, in the field of @wahines. But the warning was unbend. Money snesgh may be poet, as the firm had already experienced to their cost, fa an English colliery. But the purpose foe which them beakers next made heavy advances to the Messrs. GAM nett wan Still MOM improper, being the drainage of the Lake Capestang, situate in the leak of France, in conjunction with the pressentiso certain French railway projects. When we bear in mad the atter inability cd potties ia Ragland to *ow piss any salient eentrol over a foreign expenditure of this kind, we can sanely feel surprised at the rapidity with which the advances do Messrs. ()AN- D= increased, however mush we may winder at the credulity displayed by timmetners if Mak progress towards rain le Mil sketched osoornatant's report : " Its th, white no tangible 'id, oth iatunesd sal gigantic di sales were found to be in - &at condition, Stet Messrs. gramme imagined they had no alternative left bat to matinee their advances for the purpose of maintaining Meseta MODELL in a position to carry on the various bombast% the oompistion of which was looked to as the source from whence the vast some advanced were to be recovered." The profit to be derived by Main. STILIMAN is these transactions was limited to 6 per cent. interest on money ad vanced,* per cent. commission on all payments made by them, and the psyneset of a debt of 1,8001., con sidered bad, due by Mr. J. H. CIANDELL to the bank in 1860. In face of such moderate terms as these, we are at a lose to ootmeive what temptation Masers. Sraswato and Co. weld have had to embark in the speculation to so miaow an extent. It would be serious to inquire how fax the hope of recovering the " bad " debt of 1,8001. led them originally to pro mote the views of the MOM% GANDELL. the same weak motive inducing them afterwards to persevere is their reckless course after their pecuniary involve ment had beonne more serious. The firm sum to have lacked the moral courage implied in at once writing off a" bad* debt, and adopting the business lilts course of declining any further dealings with the defaulter. At the date of the bankruptcy Messrs. STRATUM sad Co. bad insanely committed themselves to ad vances to the Messrs. OANDELL to the extent of no lees than 288,3821., besides having in addition made themselves responsible for liabilities oa their account to the further amount of 103,8701., making a total liability of no leas than 373,2621., arising oat of this connexion. This, be it remembered, was in addition to the heavy withdrawal of capital—i. s., partial loss—in aspect of Lord MATTA debt and of the ?deo:lye Colliery. As a matter of course, the time arrived when the resources of the bank were no Mager odds On meat this constant drain upon it. haeptanens wean Om given, and other heavy gesitlisal iYlttiea barred, for the purpose of pro tditdeg the secaired toads. Almost the whole of the pi** of the bank had been pledged, and Mr. Ilwaluaes private estate was resorted to for the same papoose; the large sums so raised had disappeared, Lard there was no alternative but the payment of the aeesptanoss and other liabilities as they fell doe, or bankruptcy. In the vain hope that the anticipated funds would yet be forthcoming in time to avert the impending rain, Sir J. D. PAUL and his ea partners bad recourse to those Mesas of raising money which have brought them to Newole. Is perusing these details we are tempted to seiner ea oar condemnation of the criminals' waded inns feeling of sympathy for the mental distress whit* they mast have endured during the growth ef theses:mbar rassenentok Bat when we recollect the period during which these men preserved a b L ' os il :t- d ward show, even whilst arranging their ashsiens practices into a perfect system of deception, lenisasy towards their offence becomes a crime spinet the non weal. We are desirous of drawing attention to a striking anomaly presented by the state of the law, as illus trated in this remarkable case. The partners knew well that to meet their original debt to the bask, coupled with the loss in respect of the Meaty. Colliery, the whole of their private fortunes would soareely have been adequate. Well aware of this fact, they nevertheless employed their els touters' deposits to this enormous extent in foreign speculation. Yet had they stopped at this point, the law could not have touched them criminally, so large are the powers accorded to beaten ; but the moment the partners adopted the fatal step of raising money by means of the bonds and other securities deposited with them, they became amenable to criminal penal ties. Wham arises so great a distinction P Had these faithless bankers left their customers' securities intact, announced the failure of the bank, and in formed their defrauded depositors that the funds with whisk they had been entrusted had been sunk in colliery or foreign drainage and railway schemes, the Bankruptcy Court would have stepped in to their relief, and shortly enabled them to walk forth amongst their fellows absolved from all legal liability. Whatever the law may my upon this point, we feel bound to record our conviction that such wrongful disposal of the funds of depositors forms as great a moral crime as that for which the three con federates have been sentenced. The whole details of Messrs. STIAII/1101 ease tend to excite a feeling of surprise that men, virtually insolvent, should be en abled for so lengthened a period to impose upon society by maintaining the semblance of high credit. Are there any more firms, we ask—whether engaged in banking or other business—whose foundation is equally rotten ? Is this form of impostors more pre valent than most people imagine ? And is the boasted solidity of many old-established houses la' reality undermined by defalcations and abuses which have grown all the ranker and more dangerous from their very antiquity ? We trust the history of this unfortunate banking firm will convey a wide-spread warning. It ought to impress the public with wholesome caution in their transactions with homes which, however reverend in years, uni formly keep their financial position enshrouded in duknms. At the same time, commends! firms, and especially bankers, will, if they are wise, more freely court all fair inquiries into the position of their drain. Complete publicity in banking matters we h►ve a right to demand, the trust reposed in these institutions being so complete; and if the public will refuge to place confidence in banks which decline to face such publicity, we shall be spared from again beholding such a spectacle of extended ruin as hes resulted from the collapse of the firm of Messrs. Braaten, Pew., and BAUD). VACANCIES, Taa CIVIL —War AND PRONOTIO r.Riah hs;l;;;;>pristoel clerk in eh: Storekeeper's Departures% des Forbes; Mr. Charles D'Oyley Forbes has be ap pointed dirk in the Storekeeper's De es at Gibraltar. —The Board of Trade—Mr. Maluku Steam ban lama sp ectated • 'calor supplementary clerk. Customs —Mr. Henry S. Perm his been appointed • clerk is the la perts and Exports Ofilee in Loados. Mr. Jabs B. Bsysrd has Imes oppolated as extra clerk I. the lambi sari Export Ocoee is Leaden. Mr. Hoary Jams has bra oppaimed an extra oink la the Imports and Exports Oast la Londe.. Mr. James Smethurst has ben appelated aa extra sleek la the Imports and Exports Mee in London. —assumed —k vacancy btu been crested la the oEce of Professor of Mili tary Surgery in the Usiversity of Edinburgh by the death of Sir George Belling.% M.D.—belted—lL has bees tamed is the omce of Vice Preridoet of tM eyat Cork Institution by the death of Dr. Esiass.—Tmoomfa— Canials Baskin - has born appointed isrveynOosoral, sad Mr. Covent, Deputy Serveyer•Ontorel of no Colony, is lief of Mr Robert Power, raked ton MN. sine pew sin, an of Mr. H. C. Costa', either poftiamedw anemia provided for.—Can of Good Hopo--16. Aradrow Wylsy bait bees oppoiated Omioreal Sonem tor tbo Casey of the Cope —lust ladles—Kr. C. D. Mason boo boo ap paloosa allator of San. Mr. G. L Mania boo Isom ap. panted Master of Perna. Mr. N. F. Listen bee boss &prated solleolie of Taken—auks—Mr. P. W. Way. breaks boo boos masted panoW Asdain Calosial fiemettay, sad dirk tone an& Mr. J. Saes boo on appoistod mend natant is timagesislinistooybolloo, Is lbo mew of Mr. J. Fraser, dame& Mr. IL M. Pesos boo bees amain Oarsman* Aden dor no Oestral Pavan via Mr. C. R. Della, fonpood.—Vieil Sasses THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 15, 1855. gip Court. OSBORNE, Dn. 14. Major-Clausal His Colin csa fi kbell strived rater dit op • vbit to her Mei*, aid Monte& is Leib. ° ear We meanie& rsr Drs: ott , , llapieur Ddahand as Nantesil, Slops B , sad the Oes. Gems Min dies, hid isterviews with Mr. Secretary Labosshere yesterday st the Colosial• awes. A deputed.s from the Liseseed Vieteallen of the City sad Comity el Bristol, wassieting of ltr. I. C. Kitchell (pre eldest), Mr. George Wedge (tresearer), sad Mears. 11. B. Allen and B. Williams (ceassiitte•), int:eased by the Hes. Hoary Berkeley, M.P., had sa iaterview with Lord Pansitre yesterday, es the abject of the billeting system. Vissount Sandoz, whoa has bees appointed Private Se cretary to Ms. Lebosehere, will souses.* his duties at the Colosial.ofase ea the Ist of Lowy asst. Despatches from the Severest of Ceylon, sad also from the Lord High Cossaiwieser of the leeks Wm* were ?rostra' yesterday at the Colonial-dies. Despatches were sent last mains from the Columba-Mies to the Cieverair of Canada. Her Majesty has wassissioned Mr. B. M. Ward, 8.A., to pent a samosa (the mast @Me of which is sot yet Sired) repressotiog the iastallatiee of the Emperor Napo leon as a Knight of the Order of the Garter. The seem is, of seam, at Wisdeor Castle, mad the Onus will imbeds portraits of the Oases the Empress, the Priories Royal, Vinmatem Cassiag, :ad other ladles of the Court, besides those of the Emperor, Priam Albert, sad the several Kalghts sad *Seen of the Order. The Duchess of St. Albans, with the youthful Dohs sad Lady Diem Beamink, is proleagiog her stay at Greened Imdge, Wrexham, North Wales. The Marchioness of Hastings has left Kensington Pales Gardens IN Reathesa, with Cassia Taverns, R.N. The Earl of Cardigan in entertaining a sabot circle of ftioada at Dealt Park. Northamptonshire. . Mr. and Lady Chrlette Portal have been enter taining a select drake at Laveretoke Home daring Oa put weak, tadadiag the Bari of Mato, the Bail of Carurvon, Lord and Lady John Rumen, Mr. Hoary Drummond, M.P., Mr Wallas' Illeatheeto, M.P., dm. TER W PLAY. The Queen's Scholars of Bt. Peter's, Westminster, gave. ce Thursday sight, the wend representation of the Phornao,ead,as is cratosessy is the media eta wend re prinstatice,it was preceded by a preiograe,epokan by )Lr.W. W. Follett, the senora of the wheel. It referred to the &eras of Dr. Mainers sad Cenral Mukhaa, Coon% scholars, and to that of Lied Raglan, who was on of Um widget of the allege. Than manna were reesived with load applause by the sodium, as was glee a medal %lattice to the Rev. Dr. Liddell, late Mad-mute; now Dean of Christchurch, sad to Mrs. Liddell, who it appease was 'inanely popular with the boys ; both were precast on this ounion, Dr. Liddell oecupying the teak. The Bev. Mr. Scott, the protest head -neater, Viscoaat Barrington, the Bev. IL Berton end Bev. Temple Fran, Canon of West nitrate; the Bev. Arcadians Fran, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Mare, Mr. Page, cad Mr. Blade, were also present anoaget a naserou audience, which Wed every port of the theatre. After the appluse, which was Judy du sad liberally I warded to the recital of the pelage% bad .eased, the fennel business of the ~..tat eountenesd. The different parte were distributed as follows: Phomio W. W. Follett Oita W. T. G. Heat. _ ... Dar it to •••• As Dais I. N. Hods. Clomp G. C. Nobinsa. !Wails V. _ll l. Brims Davao lispiooso T. X. dub& Novaisrostst C. B. Nam. Welk Cratiaos Crito NOTA., Poor .1. S. Battaglia. nom& sad Gets being the prlndpal characters, the harden of the sating fell epos then, sad was fairly gestated• The parts were well oesamitted,the emaciation slur and dig. Nast, but it Gota had put a 11We more knavery in his impel soutioa,sad rhumb more life sad spirit into his, the parts would hare been still more effective. There was more histri onic ability in the Chromes than la any other member of the "grit," but unfortunately the pesos of Mr. Robison was not well suited for the hero of the eras moue. The Demipho was a sensible sad level pine of &Wag. The sophraa sad Nausistrata wen judiciously selected, sad looked their parts esseediagly well, bet ia these as well se in most oldie others then wee too much languor. The rising of the curtain oa the epilogue discovers a suoophages and urn, in which repose the females of " these pledges to prosecute " Jobs Doe sad Richard Roe. Hutto and Crito here sustain the shame. ter they ►are in the play, that el lawysts ; Dori* is • mused casuist sod ticket-otleau man, who picks the pockets of all pretest on the stage, and is takes iato custody by Gets, now a policeman. Chromes laments the situation of the law In cases of wife beadily as Wave'''. able to the husband and tempting to the wife, and Numb. Vats bureau it oa him by a hearty bestial". We need hardly say that the Mu rit esprit was well reosivedted heartily applauded. The next and last Npressatatioa takes place a IlLoaday night. WELLS ELECTION. This act, one of Lord John RawWs last attempts to stare off the ballot, was recently tried at the eleciloa for Wells, with what success will be soon from what follows. The tommittoe of the Society foe promoting the Adoption of the Ballot made inquiry into the working of the act, and bare obtained information from a trustworthy soars, which we here publish. The answers to the questions throw con siderable light on the " oombination of secret Influences" to which Ks. Berjsest Kinetics, in his farewell address to the electors, attributes his defeat. 3211111 AND Am 1854. Q. 1. Is there any ruses to White that stoney bribery, treating, or say other corrupt NNW were word at the late eieetion for Wells, sad if so, to what latest ? A. To a coneidarablo 'latest. Q. 2. Haws say tenants, indents., or other pities whose votes at former anthems have boa entrolisil by their laadlords, customers, Its., voted spawn them at the late ebonies for Wells ? A. Nese that I um aware et. Q. 3. If so, do you think the new Bribery and Intbaida on Aot enabled them to vote more independently ? A. I believe not. Q. 4. Was the election sesew toed at usual le the mums A. Yee. METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT. The following have been sleeted members of the Central Board of Works, for the district. specified : AND Darraoan.—Mann. Bristow and Tlwaitoo. PLITAISTNAD, CZARLTON, AND L Atkins, of Lowisbasi. Woormicx.-11r. Lswis Davis. As an illustration of the waste of good historical portraits for lack of a publie gallery ia which shay might be preserved, Mr. Geo. Roberta intones us (Atitamiama) that • lady who ham charge of the ladle.' waitiaproom at the Portsmouth Railway atatioa whammed, not keg ago, the the deetnattioa of as original portrait of Ridley the Martyr. The platers was is the pommies of two aged ladles of the Mame, family. What eery old, lbws ladies ware Imitated with a fear that the perssalt of their great asessaw would come to eltame—would fall into the leads et mum paws . breksr—sad to myna this diagram tag at it istsstrips ad burst it i At a Geaeral Meeting of the Royal Aeademy, the following Assamaidase have bees eluded ea President aad Comma ha Me wain year :—Prosideat : the Chutes Ica Eaarlskie ; Council: S. K. Ward, 8. Osaidas, C. W. Cope, W. Dyer, P. Iga•Dearall, P. B. Loa. J.H. Herbars, Zags., WI BM H. Woodsman; Acediims : file R. Wamamett, W. Malready, Req., and Ur C. Deny. NEWS FROM BARS• SAL OF THE TERMS OF THE BESIEGED, SORTIE OF THE GARRISON. (PT ZLIIOIIIO TZLIOZAPI.) (now °vs owx VIENNA, SATURDAY. The /1-enuks Blatt contains a letter from a British offioer at Kars, dated Nov. 11, informing us that the state of the besieged gamboge was hopeless. They had offered to surrender the plate if perraitted to retreat to EfiKo9lll, but these terms were refused by General Mosravieff. On the 10th the garrison made a sortie, bat were repulsed. JOURNAL. The Invalid* Busse of Deo. 7 publishes the follow ing extracts hoot Prince Gortehakoff's Journal of military operations, extending from Nov. 14 to Nov. 22: Since Nov. 14 the enemy has sestinas& to labour with great activity on the south Nide of Sebeatepel. whither some 5,000 workmen are daily east. He has thickened and heightanod the parapet of our old mortar battery, eoramencod new works at Cape Chersonese, and a sew mortar bat tery, us the border of the bay, opposite Fort Constautim He has also continued cutting a mesa upon Mount Ba pun, and has completed and Welled his appeeacies and batteries against the bastions Noe. 4 and 6. Oa account el this increased activity on the part of the enemy, the gam of ,the sorthumforta have kept up a very smart dm against the eity sad its environs. The adversary bee responded bet feebly, and we have sustained no loss. ♦t half-put throe o'clock on the afternoon of Nov. 15, a gnat powder 'Nagaoka* of Ike enemy blew up, and this az plosioa was followed by a mend, less severe. The mash of the bunting projectiles lasted snore than a quarter of an hour, and, judging by the violence of the explosion, we may suppose that the quantity of powder was very great. At noon on the 22d them was a third, bat a leas important explosion, on Bulks No. 5. I Upon oar left flank the essay has made reconnoissances from time to dam At ten eiNilook ea the cosmos of No vember 16 the Allis., timbering four battalions and two equadrens, left Bahama along the pass of the hills. The skirmish which maned at this point between the advanced lines lasted until three Wolock in the afternoon, and on our side a Casa& sad a foot soldier of the Black Bea were wounded. At halt put four the enemy withdrew, and *guts ofeesseeketook up their seensiomml poets. Oe Nov. 19 the Comet outposts of the regiment No. 22 Vslosieff took prisanus. d; Brayer sad Capt. Frahm', both of the French army. The regiment lath a the Lae, in whirl► these two Moors served, wade part of tin ChaseelospLaabat division, which salved from Yana about a math gam At Began:trig the enemy shows himself from time to time is emaiderable fens, bat without leaving the city more shim half a day's merc►. The object of them movements is to devastate the neatest villages. Daring an day ea Nov. 19 ws remarked as actin nova neat is the roadstead of Espaterle. Seventy lighten were _ _ passing backwards and forwards from the verse's to the leading•place. Two Manua took some mem oa board, bot they have sot pt left the roadstead. THE WAR. The Augsburg Gasetts publishes the following VIENNA, Mc. 7. ljp to Ws tine so gonad he Wee getout epos which negotiations for pees sea be eolasoatood. The story of an . . Atietriatt sitlinsinnt is a pars invention. The St. Petersburg correspondent of La Press* writes under date Dec. 3: If yen would form a conception of the loam sustained by the Remiss army in the Crimea, read the /awn& Mare. The canal Journal contains as order of the day by the Emperor, Mend after his inspection of the 4th and 6th infantry divines, is whin ft is said that of eight regiments seven only *mid show as antis, of more than two battalions. We are meeting the arrival, within a few days, o several miasma Bastian diplomatists aecretitsd to fordo courts, smear; thus Priem Gortehakoff, Barest de Badbers, Baron de Knauer, K. &weds, sad M. de Foams. The Austektry Gautta announces that the entire army of the Austrian monarchy, the army corps occu pying tioWo- Wallachia alone excepted, is to be reduced to a peace footing, as the 4th army corps standing in Gallica& hes already been. The next corps for reduction is that commanded by the Arch duke Albert, stationed in Hungary and Transylvania. The diminution is effected not only by granting leave to a large number of individual soldiers, but by the disbanding of certain battalions. The civil corps attached to the army, reinforced when this time last year its eventual activity was contemplated, are also reduced to their former footing. The Emperor of Austria's order of the day dated Nov. 2,1854, allowed two months for placing the army on the war footing, and this tens was found too short. This fact will help us to judge how far the Emperor still preserves the intention of becoming our active ally. MALTA, Dee. 9. The Culloden, transport, came in on the bth with 400 men sad 80 officers on board, 14 days from England. On the same day the Wye left with drafts for the Crimea. The Niger returned from Tripoli on the Bth ; she landed the consul-general and lady there. She found that the rebel Chourns, far from having been subdued, was fortifying the mountain pease, and was well supplied with artillery and am munition, which he had mewed from the Tunisian troops. The new packs was very popular, and had succeeded, by hie just and impartial measures, in bringing several of the tribes over to his side. The Niger, am soon as she had coaled, went off to Tunis to render assistance, if possible, to the ships sunk in the late water spout. On the Bth the Caradoo tome in from Marseilles with Lord and Lady Can ning on board. His Excellency Sir W. Reid and our worthy General Sir J. Pennyfather went on board to welcome them. They left for Alexandria the same evening. The Weep, Rodney. and London are under orders to leave for England this morning. The Algiers is just coming into the port. She was in sight at daybreak. Malta never was so attractive to visitors as at present. On Wednesday the new prima donna, Madame Lionti, is to have her benefit, and already heavy premiums are offered on the prices of the tickets. It is thought it will, if possible, exceed her debut, and then officers in uniform were glad to go in the gallery ; certainly never since the English had Malta was so full a hones seen. On Friday the °M oors of the Third Division give a large ball to tbe Elite of Malta; 700 tickets have already been issued. Oranges are a failure this year. Green peas have just come in. The price of provisloas is very high, although we are so sloes to Africa, where poultry and meat is to be had for almost nothing. SPAIN. MADRID. Du. 12. The raison of the re-apnea:sacs of the Cabecilla Herne is the province of Burgos is not oostirmed. The tovernasent has declared to the Cates that the existing trustily dorm& is Mildest both for ow sataption sad exportation. Is the Coates the debate on the artfales of the etastitatioa teetistees. TURKEY. ORO= OVR OWN OosisorONDNay.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. S. I have at length reached my old quarters, and in resuming to-day my correspondence, after an inter ruption of several months, I only regret that there is so little to eonamaaicate. The Ministry I am happy to find in full vigour, firmly installed, to all appearance, and, u a rare ex ception to the role, uniting in itself the favour and confidence of the Sultan with the suffrages of public opinion. "The right men," I really believe, are in the right places "—as far, at least, as it is possible in Turkey to carry out this great and fundamental maxim of administrative wisdom. The Grand Vizier, Ali Packs, whose statesmanlike skill and sagacity had attracted so much attention during the memorable interval of the Vienna con ferences, is here deservedly in high repute among all classes, and considered the best selection the Sultan could have made for the arduous past of Prime Minister, not only as a tribute to his long experience, varied acquirements, and political knowledge, but as a distinction due to a man of strict honour and pro bity, the integer Vii®, &0., I may say, in its widest sense. The &trashier Mehemet Rushti also resembles him in this and many other respects, and is, besides, the grand vizier's faithful adherent and ally in all the laborious duties incident to the present juncture. Another circumstance of the highest important* is, that this functionary, having risen from the ranks to his present high dignity, is necessarily well versed in all relating to the details and necessities of the Turkish service; and it is thus anticipated that Omer Paeha will no longer be exposed to the difficulties and perphixities which beset him on all sides, and paralysed for so long a term the ardour of his gallant Flied Pasha, the chief of the Foreign Department. is another rare and remarkable instance of true merit meeting an adequate reward in this country, without Mends, influence, or court favour. Some five-end twenty years ago, this functionary commenced life by matriculating at Tip-Hand as a medical student e and having obtained distinctions in that edtablish mantis *linguist and Oriental scholar, he was trans bared at length to the interpreter department at the 1 Pests, before the expiration of his academic course. Moe also his talents and acquirements soon attracted sties; and having passed through a aeries of inter- Initiate grades, he was finally promoted to the rank d Monstishar, and attached for several years to the sinwke of Reechid Puha in his various offices, as those if Grand Vizier, President of the Council, and Minister he Foreign Affairs. Subsequently Fuad was en trusted with some special missions, and despatched to Spain, Portugal, and I rather think to Sweden ; and having executed this diplomatic charge to the entire satisfaction of his sovereign, he was raised, on returning to Constantinople, for the first time to his present post, in consequence of some ministerial evolutions, which were then of too fre quent recurrence. . This dignitary speaks the French language with great fluency, and presque sans accent. In dress, manners;and general appearance, he has quite the air of a European; and although much younger, resembles excessively, some think, Lord Palmerston. As a man of business, he is active and indefatigable; and with regard to his political tendencies, the beet I an say *that he fell heavily the very first victim in this tremendous struggle; for Mentchikoff, in the atti tude of Jupiter Tonane, having deolared distinctly , that he would "have none of him," Fuad necessarily was overthrown without more ado, and forced to re sign the seals of office into the bands of Rifaat Paoha, a more congenial functionary, and at that time pre ofeely the man of the situation. Mehemet Ali Packs, the Sultan's brother-in-law, I is, you are aware, at the Admiralty, his post of pre dilesdea, and pursuing smoothly enough" the noise- Les tuner of his way," having learned, no doubt, at lasi" wisdom and more skill in navigation from hieleog series of reverses. Without at all presuming to enter into the merits of his long and me ma cable issue with Lord Redcliffe, I have only to imprimis • hope that the result may prove a instal lesson to both; if not, I fancy it will not be Mehemet Ali's fault, for I am credibly informed that no other is more friendly to the British residents and more devoted to the British alliance. With regard to the Minister of Finances, Mouchtar Bey, it will no doubt be a satisfaction to all capitalists interested in the Turkish loan to learn that he is actively and indefatigably labouriog to perform the arduous duties of his department; and under his I direction it is confidently and generally anticipated that many important and salutary reforms will be introduced, and the " sinews of war" acquire ere long some degree of vigour and consistence. A portion of the allied fleets, for the most part ships of the line, has returned to this station. Some are moored in the Golden Horn and along the Bos phorus, and others have proceeded homewards. The cavalry also of the Turkish Contingent, under the command of General Shirley, has also been forced to return from the seat of war, owing to the difficulty of procuring forage, and is about to take up winter quarters at Tchekenedgeh. This selection for an en campment is much to be regretted : there is not per haps in the environs of Constantinople a less suitable locality, and paludian fevers, it is well known, prevail more or less the whole year round at Makrikioy, St. Stephen°, and other districts bordering the southern shore of the Propontis. It is not of course to be expected that the medical authorities, who are all =to this climate and its peculiar exigencies, aware of this circumstance, but they might at least have made some inquiry on this subject of 1 those who would have afforded them cheerfully all the requisite information. In respect to the general condition of the Anglo- Ottoman force, a variety of statements have appeared, I see, in the columns of the Express and other Loudon journals. According to some versions, which I well recollect, although they are not at this moment within reach, the troops, it would appear, are " ill disciplined," " the officers in utter ignorance of the vernacular idiom," " the dragomans a set of scamps," "and much insubordination and discontent pervades the whole corps." Ido not profess by any means to know much about drilling, manoeuvres, tactics, and military matters in general ; but I am in a posi tion to state, nevertheless, that when this force was reviewed, previous to its embarkation for the sat of war, the British ambassador and many other high functionaries were present, and will attest, I fancy, that the general appearance of these troops, their equipments, martial air, precision of movements, and high state of discipline, considering the compara tively short space in which all this had been effected, excited universal applause. On that occasion, more over, all the officers gave the word of command in Turkish ; and I am besides informed that, in this respect, since thee a very considerable progress has been made, and that most of them express themselves on common subjects tolerably in that language. Respecting the luckless corps of dragomans—ex ceptisg three, with whom I have the honour of being acquainted—l am unfortunately unable to give you much information. The one is a native of Syria, a very respectable man, a tolerably good linguist, and was employed for some years at the British consulate in Beyrout or Damascus. The other two are our countrymen, and both, I believe, have given the highest satisfaction in their respective posts. The one, however, is a young gentleman of a highly respectable family, and who has had all the advantages of a liberal education. Besides his knowledge of the ancient languages and his own, he is well versed in French, Italian, Modern Greek, and Turkish, which latter he speaks with great fluency and a good accent, and reads and writes it also with tolerable facility. This, then, is a speci men, and all I know on this subject—and you will , be probably led to surmise that it is merely the bright side of the medal. Perhaps so—l can only vouch for facts within my own knowledge. Lastly, with regard to " discontent" and " insubor dination," which, as well as I recollect, have been stated to exist in the Turkish Contingent, I have had many opportunities of conversing with boatmen, arti sans, and others of the working classes whose friends and relatives are enrolled in that force, and learned with the highest satisfaction that they were all well led, well paid, well clad, and well oared Ihr—in sheet, esolent and happy in every respect. If, however, don be still any defects or shortcomings in the 'military organisation of this legion, I do really think that groat allowance meat be ma de, sad that it le dabber judo nor fair play to visit thu s y es with all the severity of censure. Moreover, all who are the least acquainted with the usages sod dilutions of Islam consider the formation ce 4 band not merely in a military sense, and with 4. roses to any importance it may possess in the pe a " struggle, but far more as a great political f ast , sii ., salutary innovation, whereby old sectari an i n t u i t ; have been cast to the winds, and the cross and the crescent united on the banner of of progress, and of civilisation. All f A il lS therefore due to our government, I a k sh i s s l i for havin g inaugurated this great and benegeig;' form in this country—and it is the only im am . the Ottoman annals, I believe, of a Turki s h for l : within the Sultan's dominions, having been entruas to the direction and exclusive command of B r officers—nay, more, the heroes of Hare, and 44 alas! now no more, who mainly contributed to tla memorable defence of Silistria, although a s dm , leaders, were never, I am convinced, isgazy s ag officially recognised as such. Not many years since the position of an Europ a , officer in the Turkish service was really bumilisra s and most intolerable. Whatever hie merits a n d a votion to their cause, he was in perpetual hot weis s —the man of all work, the foremost in t1e... 4 ... i i difficulty, in council,and in the field ; and still, dim. thing went wrong, the whole blame was on hialW. while if success crowned his efforts, others were ea; le reap all the fruits. How often European mem mints, and most especially our own, have mk s veered to reverse this pernicious order of sod break down a fanatical barrier which effect s ag thui eluded the Ottoman empire from all chance Ic a grew as a military or maritime power. How mai officers of distinction in both services have Me not out at different periods by our own govuni sm i at our own expense, with a view of her s , dueing a better system into the Turk* army and navy. Bat all to no purpose w ad Oesaitline, for tartaooo, an officer of rut m i , ft came out here after the last Russian war, u r r ; mained for two years or more without the Cor o t result, although backed by all the inflame d tor government and our embassy. Again, the ho od Ears, then Captain Williams, remained with lira tenant Dixon some four or five years mpg p at the village of Orta Bioy, and both win sok I believe, with the same, orAsretty nearly the en, , nooses. Sir Baldwin Walker wu hare ak a as is well known, for many years in the receipt d lia monthly , pay, and living comfortably enough at-to rapia ; but that gallant officer will also attest, I fess that he was sub umbra for the most part, sad it ti utterly false position : and further, perhaps, thet a was unable to render on any occasion the osellet service to the Turkish government, with the moo of his gallant deeds at Acre,and which were no more dm to be expected from any British officer. His tredir and perplexities were such at last that hem feed to give up his position as a bad job; or still sum perhaps, some think, in consequence of a oat ii toreille from a certain foreign diplomatist to his *ad Halil Pasha, who was then at the head of the Mai. 1 salty. Admiral Slade, also a most distingeilhal Am, has replaced Sir Baldwin at the Areal; bet I cannot say whether his skill and ingenuity, as will as his knowledge of the Turkish language, may sot have borne better fruits than the labours of his pre. decease?. Captain Boris°e has also quitted his pot et the Arsenal, and rejoined the British navy--alihmli it is generally admitted on all sides that Turkish raid gunnery is signally indebted for many imposition to that most excellent officer—" Sic vole non robin" General Jocksum, a German, after the campsite is Syria, remained here eight or ten years, also is tEs regular receipt of a high monthly salary, sadlivisg at the Hotel de Byajnee—but was never, if I am nightly informed, consulted on any matters coanseted with the organisation or improvement of the Tarkishaysy. But more of this another time. DENMARK. We have received the indictment just presets:l against the members of the late Danish Cab:n.4ll:4 are about to be tried by the High Court of the ling. dom. This document is remarkable for the new (sob which it brings to light relative to the policy followed by the Oersted Ministry; for the public, promicator named by the Diet, M. Brock, was empowered is consult every register and document relative to the administration of the fallen ministry, including era the minutes of the sittings of the Cabinet Councils. It must, however, be stated that it was at the request of the accused ministers themselves that this authorises tion was accorded to M. Brock. The document in question is of extraordinary length, but the following are the principal facts set forth in it : In the month of December, 1813, when a replan wee imminent 'mime's the Western rowers and Buds, the Danish government manifested its iatentioa of remaisiag strictly neutral. However, towards the end of Jewry, 1864, or about three months before the declaration of we, the Ousted Cabinet prepared to make certain amines% First, Rear• Admiral Steen Bills proposed to have as ass ordinary levy of sailors to men vessels to defend theses& A bill wee presented for the purpose to the Dist, OA evinced a strong opposition to the 11011/11re. However, tin 'Riskier at last overcame its repugnance by Uderbg 8, 8 the levy in question would not require soy additioaelhaes Some days after, on Feb:uary 8, General de Hama, mister of "far, proposed to the cabinet to increase *sow, alleging as a reason for the step, that if Denmark ems art well defanded,England would adopt violent swam Woe her to declare for the Western Alliance. Motet the opposed the plan, being of opinion that the mesa 24,000, was quite sufficient. M. Mumma, Muster Foreign Affairs, declared that he had no doubt as to the intention of foreign powers to respect strictly the sehlfhlq of Denmark, and Count de Spooned', Minister of foam affirmed that the state of the exchequer would not wrest any lacrosse of expense. General de lames, Doerr, di not give way. He merely made some slight mistimes • his original plan, and then obtained from the Huse all' dosimeters authorising en augmentation in the iskalrb cavalry, artillery, and engineers. In like mune, thi Minister of Marine acted irrespectively of the Diet, ft levied sailors, defraying the expense of their Kilt meat and of that of the vessels which they wee II serve in from brads intended for other eliell• The Diet soon began to suspect that some unanthessi acts were in course of execution ; and at be there appeared the well-known ordonnence of Jai/ A 1851, which, by creating a legislative body for the !Ws ref the Danish territory, tended to deprive the Diet of its WS important t rivileges. It may be remembered that Nil after the Diet sent in an address to the King, in obeli declared that the councillors of his Majesty had test tY confidence of the national representatives. West "NA; conduct of the ministers at that conjuncture t Thal DM • conference, at which they placid at the disponi of the. Minister of Marine, who had inc &&&&& d his ongicil P armament, all the funds that he require& As to the cre41 . 1,1 . called for by the Minister of War, they at lint thcolik,e demands too considerable, but at lest Wm!' t° . notwithstanding the certain opposition of the Dot sro while the war commenced, and the Ministereofrolma ns ordered the fortress of Christiania) to be in • state of perfect defence, and ie garrison. He alga sent the Hat into the DIA but with orders not to go beyond Gothissd. .. , after the Ministers of War and Marine proposed ecellsew to establish a line of defence on the coast of Zesissdi e further levy of 14,080 men, and the constrectioe of Orel fortifications. The Minister of Foreign Affairs opposed that step at quite unnecessary ; and the Kisitii.^ War renounced part of his plait, hut tee Minister el l persisted in his fortifications. Before, however, distr. could be carried into effect, the Diet met anew On Oltif. 1. 1864, and the Oersted ministry was overthrows' first act of the new cabinet was to present to the OPP._ Ike badger, on which was set down all the eztsmrhTg, posses incurred by their predeteeClTS The mom osem pointed by the Diet had the former ministers boo M d 1 them, and after interrogating them strictly, &oor; there was no good reason for the said usenet. 1114,,', adopted that decision, and, in addition, ord ered that ministers should be brought to trial for iroproPerin; when in the exercise ot their funct i on' . It is m which is now about to come os, and which lot a greatest Interest in Denmark. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY Nierr... The Madrid has arrived, with the Nowa' mails. She left Lisbon on the 9th. It is believed at Lisbon that the Portse h Finance Minister Ins obtained a loan from tb 411 7; capitalists, through the agency of the Barr. Pam. Arrangements are making for tint of a bank at Lisbon, and one at Oporto. Provisions have been sent by the government to some of the Cape do Verdmr emir the inhabitants who are starving there. .„.„ The vines in Portugal look much healthier they have done hitherto. H.M.S. Neptune has been ordered Mg. fr. Lisbon. The ships Nile, Ceylon, Secret, and Recolol l° put into Lisbon much dama h ged. kit) Exchange on London as fallen from 64 . days, and to 641 for 30 days. nib ▪ til Is the ▪ beCit WSW Sir WWI a sato, ThL Ur. B Tb• 6 rt " 3M beim a pet. 4 01 womb allow VI ewe' were Th ad& liala 113 sad 1 sus of to Pen bit' Awl allfr 741