The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-06 00:00:00

The Correspondence Sheet informs its readers that the Austrian Government has determined to contract a loan in London, to the amount of 150 million florins, or somewhere about fourteen millions sterling, at the present rate of exchange. It adds that all the Austrian Government railways are to be offered as securities, and that English capitalists have already made favourable offers to M. de Czornig. Divine service was performed in Berlin on the fast day by the Rev. Mr. Belson at the English chapel, and the solemnity was strictly attended to by her Majesty's subjects residing in that capital. Baron Manteuffel, in his speech at the closing of the Berlin Chamber, said that the credit voted had enabled the Government to proceed on the course which it had hitherto pursued. In perfect unity with Austria, and in unison with the Western powers, the King would direct all his endeavours to restore peace, and to obtain security for the future, DENMARK. The Ministry has been partially reconstructed, M. Fislisch being appointed Minister of the Interior, and M. Versted ad interim Minister of Justice. BELGIUM. A ratification has been issued in the Brussels Moniteur forbidding the entrance of privateer ves sels under any flag or any pretence into the ports of Belgium, except only when driven in by stress of weather. Letter of marque are also not to be issued, and Belgian subjects are warned that if they engage in privateering they will incur the risk of being treated as pirates abroad, and will be rigorously prosecuted at home. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. Subscription lists are circulating in Sweden for the formation of a volunteer corps to defend the frontier against Russia, in case of war. Accounts from pri vate sources state that Sweden and Norway are making warlike preparations. The Czar is not blind to the danger, and is sending masses of Russian and Polish troops to Finland, while he has withdrawn the militia of the country and its rifle men into the heart of Russia. The Russian troops now in Finland are estimated at 50,000. The quarantine laws are suspended at the different Swedish ports likely to be tquched at by the united fleets, The harbour dues levied on foreign ships are also abolished, in so far as men-of-war are con cerned. SPAIN. The affair of the Black Warrior, the American vessel seized in Cuba, is still causing much excite ment in Madrid. On the 26th ult. another special messenger arrived at the American legation in that capital. It is said that the pecuniary demand will be considerably reduced, the sum first spoken of (300,000 dollars) having been demanded before it was known that the vessel and cargo had been given up ; but that the demand for the dismissal of the different authorities who took part in the seizure of the Black Warrior will be persisted in. ;is ax ,isit PORTUGAL. Russian intrigues are stated by the Paris Pays to be rife in Portugal. According to its information Russian agents in great numbers are travelling about the country, spreading the report that the Czar's object in provoking the great powers is the general re-establishment of legitimate thrones and legitimist principles, and suggesting that now, when there is no English force in the Tagus, is a favourable time for shaking off English influence. Within the last six weeks mom Russians have arrived at Lisbon than have been seen there for six years. Abundant rains have removed the serious appre hensions felt for the crops, which now promise to be abundant. The grape disease has, however, re appeavd and continues to spread. The Committee of Deputies in Lisbon have made a report approving the new coinage, and the regula tion of the relative value of gold and silver currency upon the same basis as in England. The young King, having received the sanction of the Cortes to absent himself from the country, will, it is said, set out on his tour in the course of next month. His first visit will be to the British Court. RUSSIA. MANIFESTO OF THE CZAR.—Another manifesto from the Emperor Nicholas to his subjects was pnblished in a Supplement Extraordinary of the .Teurnat de St. Peter:homy, dated the 11th (23rd) tdtitnot— " By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Emperor and• Autocrat of all the Buggies ; King of Poland. &c. &c., tO all one seltjecessaake known : Since the commencement of our difference with the Turkish Government, we have solemnly announced to our faithful subjects that a Rend went of justice had alone induced us to reestablish the violated rights of the orthiitdox Christians subjects of the Ottoman Porte. " We have not smelt; we do not seek, to make con- quests, nor to exercise in Turkey any supremacy whatever that might be likely to exceed that influence which belongs to Atlanta by virtue of existing treaties. " At that period we already encountered distrust, then soon a covert hostility on the part. of the Governments of ItIRES S. War taxes are now being levied in SL Petersburg . On the tradesmen and merchants of the first guild, 300 silver roubles ; on those of the second guild, 160 ; and on those of the third guild, 106. All house keepers without distinction are assessed 10 per c ent. on the actual rent they pay or receive. The prohibition of the export of gold is represented as not having produced so great a fall in its value as expected, for the secretion of specie, in connection with the war, had had the effect of keeping up the prices. On the 18th ult. the ice was still quite firm in the Neva and the neighbouring sea: there was no pro bability of any traffic being open there till towards the middle of May. Travellers returning from St. Petersburg to Warsaw report that the Guards are now leaving St. Peters burg, and marching to the Baltic provinces, while the reserves of the Grenadiers are being drawn into the capital. On the road to the frontier there were bodies of troops met on the march at every mile. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Wanderer, writing on the 16th ult., says,—" The fate of Cronstadt is causing a great deal of anxiety here, however much the Russians may pretend before foreigners to believe in its impregnability. It is perfectly true that the granite casing has become a good deal in jured, but the greatest exertions are being made to render the forts as capable of resistance as possible. It is the Alexander fort that is most feared for, but it is certain that it will cost the enemy very dear to take them. The two detachments of the fleet now lying in Cronstadt are already fit for putting out to sea, but are not very likely to leave their present station." TURKEY. A correspondent from Constantinople writes to the Preen that a judicial investigation at Constantinople has brought to light some important particulars rela tive to the Russian plot which was set on foot there long ago. Baron (Elsner, the better to deceive the Turkish Government, ha d offered his services as a member of the secret police, and had actually been engaged at a salary of 1,(/00 piastres per month. But his duplicity was betrayed by a Doctor Asks, a phy sician in the Turkish service, to whom he had con fided his secret. According to CElsner's statement Russia hoped to recruit an army of 60,000 conspirators ready to rise at the first signal among the Greeks and Sclavonians. GREECE. Pete, the principal centre of the Greek insurrec • Lion, was taken on the 23rd ult. by the Ottoman forces under the command of Osman Pacha, after fifty minutes' fighting. The insurgents mustered about 3,000 men, led by Tzavellas and Karaischakis, and had about 150 killed. The number of wounded is not known. The loss of the Turks was five killed and twelve wounded. Amongst the killed is the secretary of Tzavellas. It was expected that this victory will go far towards procuring the submission of the country. Affairs in Albania are very favourable. A battle had taken place at Armiro, and the results were in favour of the Turks. The roads between Arta and Janina were free. The insurgents have been de feated between Janina and Prevesa, with the loss of 100 killed, 120 prisoners, four guns, and sixty I barrels of powder. Grivas bas been defeated near , Ntetzovo, and has fled to Thessaly with sixteen men. The last accounts from Athens confirm th'state ment that the Ambassadors of France and England had presented an ultimatum to the Government of King Otho. An English mercantile brig, name unknown, had been found aground on the isle of Andros. There was no one in it, hut there were large pools of blood in the interior. It had evidently been captured by pirates, and two steamers had been sent in pursuit of them. SATURDAY, AMERICA. The Europa has brought New York news to the 10th ult. The Gadsden treaty with Mexico had been re jected in the Senate, but would probably be again presented. A very influential convention of all the Southern States was in session at Charleston, having for its objects :-1. To establish a southern continental depot for cotton, for its direct exportation by plan ters. 2. To build up a southern importing market, in opposition to New York, Philadelphia, &c. 3. To increase the southern railroads. 4. To stimulate southern manufactures and industry. 5. To estab lish colleges. 0. To contend that the eastern ter minus of the Great Pacific Railway shall be in the south. The Irish movement in the States has assumed something like a tangible shape, and the nucleus of a new society has been formed in New York. The association is to be called the " Irishmen's Universal Civil and Military Republican Union," and it pro fesses three objects:— " 1. The organisation of all Irishmen in the United States into clubs, and the abolition of all civil, religious, and factious disputes among them. " 2. To correspond with Irishmen in other parts of the world. "3. To instruct Ireland and the Irish in the history and principles of American republicanism." Besides the above, they are to " cultivate the theory and practice of the military arts," &c. The Liverpool packet Underwriter had gone ashore near New York, and was expected to be a total wreck. The advices from Mexico concerning the revolu tion continue contradictory. Some papers announce that an arrangement of existing difficulties had been made between Santa Anna and Alvarez, and that the revolution was thus at an end. Other authorities represent Alvarez as being very closely pressed, and state that his followers were rapidly making their submission to Santa Anna. And a third version runs to the effect that the forces of Santa Anna were rapidly falling off, and a decisive battle was to be fought very soon, at a position which Alvarez had strongly fortified. It is stated that fifty Americans had been arrested at San Bias, having landed without passports. They were ordered to be shot at once. AFRICA. Cape papers to the 4th ult. have arrived. They confirm the fact of gold having been found in the Orange River sovereignty. Numbers were employed in "prospecting," but all were not alike successful. Some, however, found their search highly remune rative. The metal had been pronounced by compe tent parties to be superior in purity even to Mel bourne gold; but it had been discovered as yet principally in small quantities. From the west coast we learn that a: Lagos on the 30th of March trade was completely restored, and thirteen British vessels were there loading palm oil, &c. Her Majesty's steamer Myrmidon was to leave for England on the 18th of May. The vine disease had reappeared in Madeira. JAMAICA. A West India mail has arrived with Jamaica advices of the 11th ult. The Council had passed the Responsible Govern ment Bill, as amended by the Huuse of Assembly, by a mtkjority of one. Sir Henry Barkly assented to the bill within half an hour after it had passed the Council. It was, however, thought possible that the provision it included of a judicial establishment under the civil list might be rejected by the home Government. A railway extension bill, carrying the terminus to Old Harbour, a distance of twelve miles from Spanish Town, bad passed the House of Assembly : it was expected that the Council would sanction, and the Governor approve, of the measure. ZON ACCOUNT OF CIVIL CONTINGENCIES the following sums were expended during the last three years : Special missions, foreign and colonial, in 1851, 17,2811.; in 1852, 10,9671.; in 1863, 9,866/. Outfit and equipage of foreign ministers, in 1861, 8,6501.; in 1852, 11,3351.; in 1853, 4,9001, Expenses of entertaining and conveying persons of distinction, ambassadors, governors, &c., in 1851, 6,323/. ; in 1862, 4,530/. ;in 1853, 4,340/. Expenses defrayed by officers of the household, in 1851, 1,6471.; in 1852, 918/. ; in 1853, 2,2111. Various public ser vices, in 1851, 49,799/. ; in 1852, 43,238/. ; in 1853, 88,4801. Ditto, payments in Ireland, in 1861, 5,9751. ; in 1852, 8,8351.; in 1853, 10,504/. ; showing a de crease, as compared with 1851, of 19,314/. ; and, as compared with 1852, of 9,462/. Mn. GEORGE FERGUSON Bownli, Fellow of Brase nose College,,Oxford, has been appointed Secretary to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, in the room of Sir John Fraser, 1t.C.M.0., who is about to retire on his pension after Meal years' service in that post. France and England, who endeavoured to lead the Porte astray by misrepresenting our intentions. Lastly, at this moment, England and France throw off the mask, regard our difference with Turkey as a mere secondary question, and no longer dissemble that their joint object is to weaken Russia, to tear from her a part of her posses sions, and to bring down our country from the powerful position to which the hand of the Supreme Being had exalted it. " Is it for orthodox Russia to fear such threats ? " Ready to confound the audacity of the enemy, shall she swerve from the sacred purpose that has been assigned to herby Divine Providence ? No ! Russia has notforgotten God ! It is not for worldly interests that she has taken up arms : she combats for the Christian faith, for the defetnie of her co-religionists oppressed by implacable enemies. " Let all Christendom know, then, that the thought of the Sovereign of Russia is also the thought that animates and inspires all the great family of the Russian people—this orthodox people, faithful to God and to his only Son Jesus Christ our Redeemer. "It is for the faith and for Christendom that we combat ! ' God with us—who aaatast usto " Given at St. Petersburg, on the 11th day of the month of April, in the year of grace 18)4, and the twenty-nitith of our reign." (Signed) " NICHOLAS."