The Express. — London, England, 1855-02-01 00:00:00

two or three bemired bones iters. letters are received from head-quarters expre ll istr belief that by this time the horses are all " gone." Officials here, after angiosedeliberation, cannot make sp their minds whether " gone" refers to motion towards Scutari, or motion towards the Crimea ; *Mk that a person writing from Balaklava, and wishing things to be sent there. should say "comet" bat the syntax being nowhere alluded to in the ar ticle' of war, resolve to wait for fresh instructions. A good while elapses before these instructions arrive ; • longer still before the means of executing them can be found. A want of attention on one side, a want of will on the other, contagion everywhere, and thus the winter puses ; but in the meantime the horses die. 'the public funds expended in their purchase and their maintenance during half a year are wilfully thrown away. Bolditn die and starve in the Crimea; drugs and hay rot and are lost at Balaklave, and everybody is filled with mourning and dismay. One filthy corner may introduce pestilence into a whole town: a single screw loose derange gigantic and complicated machinery ; bad management io a single department, or a single spot, frustrate or em. berms the most extensive and best laid plan of ope rations. I have no hesitation in saying that I ba you much of the misery now endured by our troops in the Crimes is due to the horrible, neglected, scavenger-like depot at Varna. Why it was left here for a single week, it is hard to imagine ; what good end it has served it would need a very acute gentleman to point out ; how much mischief and abomination this has caused is patent to every one who has had the misfortune to a single week in this horrible place. k a h a : orders for its removal should in the beginning have been so peremptory, so precise, that neither laziness, nor procrastination, nor love of ease and shelter, should have found a loophole to creep out. The town is become, not simplya " place of skulls," but a place of skeletons and carcases within, without, and round about. One cannot walk or ride in any direction without passing carcases of horses every five yards in every stage of decomposition, and emitting odours which taint the air on the rawest day and under the coldest breeze. The bush is strewed with them, the streets, the open places. There is a slaughter house for sheep within three hundred yards or less of the General Hospital, in which the entrails and offal are left to rot, and around it, in an area of thirty square yards, I counted this morning five dead horses. The force of abomination can no further go. Varna was bad in a sanitary point of view, goodness knows, before the arrival of the allied armies; it made no sensible progress in this respect daring their stay, bat the English depot has turned it into a knacker's yard. It has out-Torked the Turks. It is unfortunate that the same bitterly cold weather which saves us from a pestilence sweeps away every night more of the wretched baggage horses, which are generally found dead at their poets in the morn ing. The survivors are so thin that objects can almost be discovered by the naked eye at moderate distances through their bodies. They wave to and fro before every blast, and their long hair bends before the breeze like heads of barley in summer time. They are the laughiog-etoek of the French soldiery. An officer OT the Hussars desig nated them tome the other day as espcce d'onabree ; and more than one have exp eased their strong sur prise that the English government could permit its property to fall into such a deplorable condition. They manage these things better. For two months back all their baggage horses of every kind—and they are very numerous—have been snugly housed in long rows of wooden sheds erected along the town wall, compactly and closely built, with fireplaces or stoves. chimneys on the top, and glass windows, and are well supplied with both straw and barley. They have also a large party constantly employed in cut ting and carrying wood to a village on the southern point of the bay, where it abounds, and from which several transports are constantly engaged in carrying it to the Crimea. I was astounded the other day on riding out in that direction to find the shore for a quarter of a mile covered with huge piles of it, boats conveying it to the ships, and the little soldiers, swarming like ants at their task, and jabbering and laughing like so many children on a holiday, though the weather was bitterly cold. I think such a thing never entered the heads of the English. Our troops here, during the intervals between the melancholy meals of these moribund posits, mope listlessly in the streets, with little else to do than imbibe brandy and porter at numerous "Alliance and Union Coifs* houses," with which Varna is filled. I cannot for the life of me imagine why stores of firewood have net been collected here. The whole country around is covered with brushwood, easy to cut, easy to be got et, and one hundred men in a single week might furnish materials for roaring fires to the whole army et Sebastopol for at least a month. To have thought de anything of this kind would, however, have been sat. ficient to throw a head of a department "into cow valoiona." Each of these gentlemen seems to be working pretty much on his own hook, and leave* his neighbours to the good providence of God. How ever, the precious depot promises ere another weak to be finally cleared our, horses and all, leaving behind as many unsightly and malodorous relics as any body of men ever left anywhere. Lord Region will be somewhat surprised when he sees, if he ever does see, the sole survivors of the 2,500 baggsge horses which were mustered here at Varna last August. Oae or two•should be stuffed as last seen alive and deposited in the British Museum, as illus trations of extraordinary prolongation of animal life under a combination of circumstances hostile in the extreme to the vital principle. The only things in Varna which seem changed for the better since I was here before, now nearly six months ago, are the doge. Instead of miserable, lank, cowardly, whining brutes with bloodshot eyes and lorg hair, they hare become fat and well-propor tioned, and stalk about with a haughty and insolent air that seems at once to bid defiance to your enmity and refuse your pity. They are no longer dependent for subsistence upon the charity of the passers by or the offal and refuse of the houses, and turn up their noses at the imaum's bread. Like their betters, in their prosperity they give themselves airs ; but I fancy—l may be mistaken—that tkeir manners to wards Englishmen have become softened of late, and that their fierce bearing towards the rest of the world is laid aside when they meet a Briton ; as dark in stinct, more than ordinarily acute ' seems to tell them that for the last six mon th s they h ave lived on carrion purchased by the money of his countrymen. Wags here go farther than this, and say that on meeting one of the chiefs of the depot, either in the commissariat or any other department, they wag their tail., and make preparations for fawn ing upon their benefactors. THE ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL (PROW TEE SPECIAL coasserowanare NEWS IN Till CRIMEA.) II DAILY BALAKLAVA, Lx. 15. The siege operations since Friday last, the 12th inst., offer hardly any features of interest. On the evening of that day, the Russians opened a new bat tery upon the French, and fired all night in defence of the town, and in honour of their New Year's-day. At all other times tranquillity reigned infra ,nuros et extra. The night, from the 11th to the 12th, was the coldest night we have had in the Crimes- The suf ferings of thew in camp were indescribable, and even we who are housed inlaklava could hardly sleep —the cold was so severe and painful. On the day following there blew a bleak, raw wind, which was worse than the frost, and which, as it passed through and through us, actually made us disbelieve in the existence of clothing. It was quite a relief to understand that some of the cavalry had in the last few days succeeded in getting up and erecting some huts, and that a few of the men of the marching regiments had been able to obtain sheepskin coats. The night from Friday to Saturday was very cold. On Siturday the cold lessened, and throughout the day rain fell in torrents. After sunset the rain ceased, And there was • heavy fall of snow, which continued an the night and part of Sunday. This day (Monday; the cold is still severe, and the ground is covered with shlW to a depth varying from one to three feet. Tin SIILTAN has just cotti.`rfed the decoration of Greed Ville ea the Bey of Teets, es a net: of hi ' gatisrse 'l ties et the prompt ateaeter is which the Taa;:laa irons, were seal to the Ent to lake pal la the war. A VOICE FROM THE CRIMEA. TO till IDIrOI OP TIP DAILY NW/. BALAHLAVA, JAN. It 81114—As a veteran soldier of the British Empire-, one who has contended against her enemies in some twelve actions, sad earned the medals of two wars (if you refer to Hart's" Army List") not ingloriously —I should not do justice to my own feelings if I did not, through you, thank the people of Eogland for their generosity and noble support towards that army, who are only too proud to die in maintaining the rights of so noble a Dation. But, sir, it is time that the people of England should interfere, and that the British soldier should _ . cease to fight tinder the dark cloud ofaristocratic influence; and that rewards for gallantry in the field should extend beyond the range of old and in competent generals and their no less incompetent relatives, who but too often form the staff of the British armies. These, sir, are the men that set the machinery going, and to them are to be attributed the bloody victories and resultless battles that form so prominent a feature in the history of the British army. The bravery of the Anglo-Saxon race, as re presented by its soldiers, triumphs in spite of defec tive organisations, incompetent generals, and ignorant staff. But these, sir, are the men who obtain the honours and rewards ; titles and orders are showered on the general and on his connexions (the staff)—their names appear in every Gazette—but no mention is made of their victims, those noble soldiers, whose courage supplies their want of skill, and whose blood achieves their victories. Our soldiers fight, they conquer, or they die ; but if they survive, " Fame" wreathes no garland to adorn their brows. Accord ing to our system, the hero and the coward, the man who has fought many actions and the man who has fought none (if he should be only present before the signing of a treaty), the man who gallantly defends his post and the man who shamefully abandons it— all, all wear the same medal. This, sir, should cease to be. The gallant soldier who first entered that terrible battery on the Heights of Alma, and siogle-haoded bayoneted three Russians, is as enti tled to hiv ribbon as the general who commanded or the staff that beheld the feat. No less so is that gallant *meant of the Guards whose stalwart arm netped tffturn the fight at Inkermann—a battle that would have been fought but through the neg lect of those who obtain those honours to which (on that occasion) he has much stronger claims. If the Order of the Bath is not to be given but to the higher ranks, create a fresh order; but do not cheat the soldier—the man who undergoes the greater amount of danger and privations—of his hard-earned laurels.—l am, &c., A SOLDIER OF THE CRIMEA. FRANCE. !MINT Or Till DAILY iciwl.) PARIS, TIFESDAT ETXIUNO. The news of the vote which must necessarily sweep away the Aberdeen Ministry produced suprisingly small effect at the Bourse. The rents at no period of the day fell more than 40c. from yesterday. It reco vered towards the close, finishing at 67.80, with a full of only 13c. Some of the railways declined 10t., bu•, upon the whole, securities were wonderfully welt sustained. The Austrian general who I informed you was coming to Paris as a military commissioner at the court of Napoleon 111.. is stated to-day in the Moniecur to be Genet al Count de Crenneville. A Russian telegraphic despatch, dated St. Peters burg this day, Jan. 30, and given of course " with all reserve," states that " Prince Mentchikoff writes from the Crimea, under date of Jan. 22: In the night of 19th to 20th we made a sortie against the left flank and centre of the French trenches, which was completely successful. The enemy (the allies) suf fered greatly. Two officers and several soldiers were made prisoners. Having need of fuel, our adversaries did not even respect the ancient temple of Cherso nestle. They took off the roof and the cupola, and burnt several of the internal ornaments." An Imperial decree nominates as ladies of the palace to the Empress the Countess de Labkdojere, Countess de la Poeze, Countess de Lourmel, Countess de Itsyneval, Mme. do Saucy, and Mine. de Smiley. Among the new ladies of honour to the Empress, appointed to-day, the army will see with pleasure the name of the Countess de Lonrmel, the widow of the young and heroio general who met his death, under the walls of Sebastopol. This appointment was made at the immediate request of the Empress. A fifth battery of artillery of the Imperial Guard is now being organised, each of the other regiments of artillery having to furnish 20 privates, one corporal, one sub-officer, and one bugleman. These are all to be picked men. The detachments of 75 men from each regiment of infantry, which had been ordered to leave on the 20th for the East, have received counter-orders. They will not now leave until the beginning of next mouth, but us they will proceed by the most rapid conveyances ' they will reach the Crimea u promptly as if they had taken their departure when first ordered. The Consist utionnel says : "Rear-Admiral Fehvrier- Despointes, who commanded the French squadron in the Pacific and in the affair at Petropauloweki, has, it is said, been reca'led. He will be replaced by M. Fourichon, lively Governor of French Guyana. The latter officer is replaced, u Major-General at Brest, by M. de Chabannes, who commanded the Charle magne in the bombardment of Sebastopol, when the allied troops made their first attack. Rear-Admiral Lugeol is, it is said, to be replaced in Greece by Com mandant Baudin." Admiral Dundee, arrived last evening in Paris, and alighted at the Hotel Mirabeau. An extraordinary assembly of literary men fol lowed the body of poor Gerard de Nerval to the grave this morning. The funeral was conducted by the Societe des Gene de Lettres with the concurrence of the Minister of State. M. Francis Wey, the president of the society, in a speech over the coffin, said that Gerard de Nerval issued to the pub lic an ill-considered page, never, even when strug gling with necessity, sacrificed his convictions or his innate good taste, and that his name would assuredly be honoured by posterity. There were at least 508 mourners present. M. de Nerval, although not rich, was not in any such desperate pecuniary position as to have committed suicide on that account. He had been more than once in a lunatic asylum, and was doubtless deranged when he destroyed himself. M. Victor Luzarche, an eminent antiquary, has just published a drama of the 12th century in Anglo- Norman lately discovered among the manuscripts in the public library at Tours, and said to be the earliest known play written in any French dialect. The Poles residing at Lyons caused a funeral mass to be celebrated on Saturday, in the cathedral of that city, to the me mory of the late Lord Dudley Stuart. Count de Germiny, having been nominated governor of the company of Credit Foncier, has resigned the post of Regent of the Bank of France; and in the recent general meeting of the Bank shareholders M. Guilhem, receiver-general of the Nord, was appointed to succeed him. In consequence of the great amount of heavy traffic on the Northern Railway for some months past, it is in contemplation to have locomotives of immense power pat on the line, capable of carrying from 600 to 600 tons. These gigantic engines would be placed on 12 wheels, in order to divide the weight more ' equally. It is also intended, should the plan of in troducing theme powerful locomotives be carried out, to employ, in future, rails of 42 kilog. whenever any part of the line requires renewal in that time. Letters from Algiers of the 25th ult. announce the arrival in that port of the Inflexible, the Breslau, and the Tone, ships of the line, of the frigates Didon and Labrador, and of the steamer the Tenger. These vessels were about to sail for the Crimea with two battalions of the 86th, detachments of the 100th, a detachment of the 4th foot chasseurs (riflemen), and some offiara, also with 25 horses and a number of mules. On the 19th the Reins Hortense, steam frigate, having in tow an English vessel freighted with wooden houses for the army in the Crimea, arrived at Algiers; but she only stayed a few minutes, to receive despatches. . 'EXPIMS, • r allitiVitrtTET4lNG, FEBRIJAtt 1 1, ii4l6. SPAIN. In the Spanish Castes, es the Roth, IL Ideate was elected president by 134 votes to 90, ekes to M. Clangs. Both the candidates were M. Infante, on taking the chair, rein for the honour done him. The debits on the bassi of the constitution we. then resumed, but it preiested no thing of interest. The Madrid journal) outline to speak of ministerial modifications as probable. We give a farther report of the speech of M. Mados in the Cortes, on the 24th. to which letter from Madrid ascribe an excellent effect. It will be allowed on all hands that the new minister enters on his office with courage, and his proclamation of a free trade policy is highly 'statutory. M. Diane said—Geotlemes, I aged net teU you how snob pain it has cost me to leave the presidential Chair, to which I had boon raised by the confidence sad sympathies of my colleagues. It was there that I hoped to remain; because there, rather than on this ministerial bench, I felt sure of being enabled to render services to my country. Bat, gentlemen, the question was presented to me as one of patriotic feeling, and, if I mut say it, ono of courage. On Sunday, at six in the evening, I was summoned by the Duke of Victory, who offered me the portfolio of Finance. My first impulse was to decline; bat when the civil governor of Madrid and the captain-general of New Castile informed me that a Carliet conspiracy had just been discovered, my resolution was overcome. I accepted most readily, being resolved to do what I have done all my life— contend against absolutism, sad give my blood Sec the cause of freedom. (These last words, uttered with great energy, (cue rise to prolonged cheering.) Oentlemen, my convic tion Is that, with resolution and probity, this country can be g d. But, gentlemen, there is another condi tion also necessary—it is, that every one here pos sess patriotism ; and hence the reason why I make an energetic appeal to all my colleagues, from the Marquis of Albaida oven to the partisans of defunct admi nistrations." Here M. Mados entered into the examination of the financial situation. Immediately on commencing the duties of his offloe, he found in the treasury only a trifle more than 400,000 reels (4,0001.) (Profound sensation.) Since the revolution all the public revenues had gone down ; the indirect taxes had yielded neat to nothing; the salt-tax and other branches of income had returned to the state only insignificant sums. The minister then read a list of several provinces, in which, during the entire month of November, the salt-tax, for instance, produced no more than 400 and some odd reale, altbovgh it ought to have produced more than 30,00,). M. Mados then proceeded :—" I wish to make you acquainted with the entire situation. . . . It is right fur you to know that the floating debt, now already surpassing 500 millions of reale, will in a month's time be increased to nearly 700 millions. The moment is not yet come to make you acquainted with my financial plans. Very shortly I shall state my intentions to you at full length, even with respect to the Customs tariff. (Here M. Madox alludes to the well-known protectionist tendencies of the Catalonians.) As deputy I am a Catalonian, but as minister I am a Spaniard. We shall examine this tariff question, and be sure that, when taking into account the state of my country, I shall go as far as any man, be that man who he may, in the path that leads to freedom of trade. (Approbation.) Bat, gentlemen, there is • question more important than that of the import duties—it is the one touching the estates in *eel tical mortusain. On that topic my opinion is unalterably taken. . . I am for the u d, the immediate sale of those es. Rates. (An immense burst of cheering here arose from all parts of the chamber and from the public galleries.) M. Made,' having intimated that he reserved further ex. planation, for .notner occuion, then sat down. Ile subsequently received the thanks of the house for his statement. Several of the Madrid journals of the 24th ult. speak of a Carlist loan of from 40 to 50 millions of francs, said to be contracted with the banking house of Hope, of Amsterdam. A part of it, the rumour goes, is to be paid at ooce, and the remainder when the Carl sts have gained possession of some important fortress in Spain. and the whole of Brunswick emeerning the salt ---i On'the whole it cannot be said that the Zollverein l is making progress, or that its finances are in a flour ishing condition. The net receipts of 1854 show a deficit of more than two millions of dollars as com pared with 1863, and eight millions of dollars against 1845, the moat favourable year they have had. The sums divided amongst the Zollverein States in the years 1843 to 1847, both inclusive, amounted to MOM than 28 silver grosehens (about 2s. 9d.) per head on the population. Since the year 1848, when the division only reached 23 4-10 silver groschens per head, it has never recovered its former height, and in 1853 was only 22 8-10 silver groschens, so that the result of last year will not produce much more than 20 silver groschens, showing a falling off of about 30 per cenr. as compared with the most flourishing years of the union. This state of things is not very encouraging for Hanover, and the worst of it is that we cannot release ourselves till the expiration of the twelve years stipulated in the treaty, the first of which has just elapsed. HANOVER AND THE ZOLLVEREIN. 07 TILI DAILY HANOVER, Jam 28. Anything connected with the subject of free trade cannot fail to interest the readers of the Daily News, which has not only always advocated that great prin ciple with the most perfect consistency, but was one of the most prominent champions in the attack on the narrow-minded policy of the antiquated naviga tion laws, now happily disposed of, again to be revived or heard of in England, except in history. I therefore make no apology for sending you a few remarks on the present mercantile position of the kingdom of Hanover, which, co your readers will remember, was juggled into the Zollverein in a man ner that has never been explained to the satisfaction of the Hanoveriaus, and the thing was dime so very suddenly that before people had time to think about the results the whole affair was irrevocably settled. A more remarkable case of political legerdemain is not to be found in the history of any nation, and we certainly may look in vain for its equal in the records of the nineteeuth century. The late King of Hanover. it will be remembered, had always,from the very day of his accession to the throne in 1837, set his face egainst the Zollverein, and bad sense enough to see the advantages his subjects would derive from their maritime position if left in undisturbed possession of the liberty they had always enjoyed to trade unre strictedly with foreign nations, selling their produce in the dearest market, and purchasing the articles they wanted for their own consumption in the cheap est. And, under this regime, Hanover flourished, the inhabitants were lightly taxed, trade extended itself, and no complaints were beard. In the summer of the year 1811, on tbe resigna tion of the Stfive ministry, the Countess Grote—the royal favourite—used her influence with the old King, then in his dotage, to make her son-in-law, Baron Miinchausen—an ominous name, and a dis tant relative of the great traveller whose exaggera tions are known to every schoolboy, and translated into every living language—the new prime minister. Miluchauseo, foreseeing the shortness of his official greatness, resolved to profit by the great leap from the obscurity of a clerk in the Woods and Forests department to the dazzling height of premier, and make hay while the sun shone, for he was well aware of the deadly animosity the Crown Prince and Princess bore towards the Countess Grote, and that on the accession of the former to the throne he had no chance of retaining his office. He was there fore easily induced to lend a favourable ear to the proposals, successively made to every new ministry in Hanover by the acute Prussian envoy at that court, General Count von Nostiz, and on the promise of the Grand Cross of the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, undertook to manage the affair as soon as cir cumstances permitted. King Ernest Augustus, then on his death bed, and little better than a corpse, was easily talked over, and signed the celebrated treaty of Sep tember, by which Hanover was engaged to join the Zollverein on the Ist of January, 1854, thus giving the inhabitants two years and a quarter to make their preparations for the change. The treaty was scarcely signed, and the ink dry, when the King died, and the Crown Prince ascended the„thtsane by the name of George V.* Considerable doubts were entertained at Hanover whether the new king would acknowledge and ratify the September treaty; but here also the clever Count Nostiz knew how to play his cards so as to secure his adhesion. He had foreseen the difficulty, and taken his measures in time. For some time before the death of the King the question had been mooted whether the Crown Prince, labouring under the affliction of total blindness, could succeed to a German throne, and it was mainly by the interest of Prussia that tho question was answered in the affirmative. Count Nostiz undertook to obtain the formal guarantee of Prussia to recognise the legality of the succession, which eased the last moments of the father, end bound over the son to ratify the September treaty. But there was still another difficulty to be over come, and that was to obtain the consent of the two parliamentary chambers of Hanover, representing to a certain extent the people, more particularly as there was a money question involved. However, here again the fertile genius of Count Noetiz did not desert him, for he bad taken care to make some appa rently very great concessions to Hanover, so as to blind the chambers; amongst which the principal were-1. an annual payment to Hanover of 500,000 dollars (about 70,0001.) out of the Zoilverein chest, before the division of the receipts amongst the states of the commercial union in proportion to the amount of their respective population; and 2, when the divi sion took place, every Hanoverian was to be counted as one-and-three quarters Prussian —or, in other words, the three millions of Hanoverians were to rt ceive as much as five millions and a quarter of subjects of the other Zollverein states. I may here observe that, though these conditions appear, at the first blush, so favourable for Hanover, they are no adequate compensation to the inhabitants for the loss of their free trade, as the rapid decline of their industry clearly shows. Prussia once offered to the late King of Hanover a much greater conces sion as the price of joining the Zollverein: this was, to construct the great northern railroad on the left bank cf the Elbe, and through the Hanoverian terri tory to Harburg, which would hive proved the coup de grace for the trade of Hamburg. If the King had accepted the roble bribe, the present Berlin and Hamburg railroad would never have In en constructed, or, if it had been, would never have paid; whereas it is now in a most flourishing condition. On the Ist of January last year, then, Hanover and Oldenburg—which latter, from its isolated position, could have no commercial plicy of its own, but necessarily followed Hanover—joined the Zollverein. and Prussia had the satisfaction of seeing it extended to the shores of the North Sea. But the result of the first year proved very dilerent from what was expected by the sanguine supporters of the extension in Prussia, and justified the fears entertained by the Hanoverian,. The deficiency in the receipts of the Zollverein during the first half ye r amoon'el to no less than 502,447 dollars, which however was re-; dnced by more than half (261,216 dollars), owing to the abolition of the differential duties on Belgian iron, thus proving practically the truth of the great free-trade axiom, that low duties increase the con sumption and improve the revenue. This is further demonstrated by a loss of receipts on the Austrian frontier amounting to 84,000 dollars, owing to the new differential duties on imports from that state. This is the more to be regretted as those differential duties are not borne by the Austrian producers, bat by the Zollverein consumers. The define in the revenue bee caused considerable sensation at Hanover, and the debates in the Second Chamber on the budget were both long and stormy; and Dr. Salve, who brought up the report of the committee, threw some interesting light on the y subject, by stating to the house that the financial ethics of the kingdom had got into a great entangle ment is consequence of their joining the Zollverein, and it required a deep study of the subject to be able to take a comprehensive view of the state of affairs. In explanation of the said entanglement, he told the house of the difficulties arising from the anomaly of there being several different systems of customs in existence at one and the same time in the Zollverein itself; that there wasone system binding on all the I states, concerning the import duties in gene ra and the intents! excise duties levied on the production of beet-root sugar and tobacco; that there was a second system in force, only in the western states, concerning the import and transit duties; that there was a special conven tion existing between Prussia and Hesse, the states of Thuringia, Brunswick, and Oldenburg, about the traosition duties on tobacco, wine, beer, and cider; a fourth with Oldenburg, Buckeburg, and a part of Brunswick, relative to the excise duties on spirits; a filth with Biickeburg and a part of Brunswick as to the beer duties; and lastly, a sixth with Buckeburg ITALY. A letter from Leghorn of the 24th announces that M. Bargagli, Charge d'Affaires of Tuscany at Naples, has been nominated civil governor of Leghorn. The Moniteur publishes the articles of the military convention lately concluded between the Piedmoutese government and those of France and England. They ran thus : Art. 1. The Kiev of Sardinia will furnish for the war • corps d'armie of 15,000 men, organised in five brigades, forming two divisions, and a brigade of reserve, under the command of a Sardinian general. Art. 2. As soon as the ratifications of the present conven Lion have been exchanged, the formation of that body and the organisation of the administrative services connected with it shall be immediately proceeded to, in order that it may be able to depart as soon as possible. Art 3 In execution of Art. lof the present convention, the corps d'ormie of the King of Sardirsia shall be com peted of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, in proper propor tions. Art. 4. The King of Sardinia undertakes to maintain the body thus sent out at the numbers of 15,000 men, by the successive and regular despatch of new:ovary reinforeemews. Art. 5. The Sardinian government is to provide for the pay and subsistence of its troops. The high contracting parties will consent together to ensure and facilitate the re quired supply of stores to the Sardinian army. Alt 6. The Emperor of the French and the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland guarantee the integrity of the states of the King of Sardinia, and undertake to protect them from every attack during the present war. Art. 7. The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications eschanged, at Turin, as promptly u possible. rART Art. 1. Her Majesty the Qaeen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland cottages herself to recommend to her Parliament to take measures to advance to his Ma. jesty the King of Sardinia, by means of a loan, the sem of 1,000,0001. sterling, of which .500,0001. shall be paid by her Majesty as soon as possible, as soon as her Parliament shall have given its consent, and the other 600,0001., six months after the payment of the first sum. Her Britannic Majesty further engages herself to recom mend her Parliament to take measures to enable her, should the war not be at an sad at the expiration of 12 months after the payment of the first term of the said loan, to advance his Majesty the King of Sardinia, in the same proportions, a similar sum of 1,000,0001. sterling. Art. 2. The interest to be paid on the said loan or loans by the Sardinian government is to be at the rate of 4 per cen•. per samara, of which 3 per cent. will be interest, and 1 per cent. will form a sinking fund. The interest to date from the day of payment of the said loan or loans, in half-yearly payments ; the first payment to be made withia one fortnight after the expiration of the, s ix months, dating from tho payment of the first term of the loan, and 03 successively. _ _ _ Art. 3. Her Majesty the Queen of the roiled Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland undertakes the gratuitous transport of the Sardinian troops. Art 4. The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Turin as possible. In faith of which the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention, and put their seals thereto. Done at Turin the 26th of January, 1865. C. CATOI7II. HUDSON. The Moniteur states that the Emperor of Austria is about to send General de Greeneville, of the Bth Imperial army corps, to Paris, to officiate there as Austrian military commissioner, in the same manner u Cie I Wang offi ciates in — Vienua as military commissioner of the Emperor Napoleon. _ _ Brigadier-General Craufurd has arrived in Vienna to replace General Du Plat as British railituy COMMillliCeet attached to the Austrian army. Both the aides-de-camp of the deceased commissioner (Captain Conyers and Lieu tenant St. Clair) remain attached to the mission of General Craufurd. 1 (mom AN 3 _ . Lab) intelligence. 'THE REV. EBENEZER DAVIES v. DANIEL PRATT. PUBLISHER OF THE "BRITISH BANNER." Mr. Whately, Q.C., the atistrator in this cause, resumed the inquiry yesterday. The ourt was again crowded throughout the day. The learned arbitrator, having upraised an opinion that the second plea was rather obscurely worded, • discus sion arose on the question of amending it; and ultimately the arbitrator slid that counsel might arrange amongst themselves, so as to leave no doubt as to its true intention, add deny application were made to him he would allow it to be amended. The Rev. Benjamin Samuel Hollis wes then called, and ezamined by Mr. Evans—l am the minister of Islington Chapel. I became acquainted with the Rev. Ebenezer Davies a few years ago. About 1819 I was more particu larly acquainted with him. I was solicited to become a member of the Caledonian-road Chapel committee, as I be lieve by Me. Davies himself. I ultimately consented to de ee, and acted upon that committee. I introduced the sub ject of the Wellingborough letter before the committee, in the presence of Mr. Davies. I think this was in November, 18.50. The minutes would show that. I recollect the Mor ley committee, in 1851. After the ordinary business of the committee, I said I hod to ietroduce the subject of a letter found in the Mission-house, said to have been addressed by Mr. Davies to Mrs. Davies. Mr. Davies asked who the authority was ? I replied, the Rev. Mr. Sherman, of Surrey Chapel. To the best of my recollection, Mr. Davies said, if he bad written it, might not a man write übe liked to his wife. I said it 1 had been thus accused, I would have gone to the Mission-bows, and demanded an investigation into the whole matter, and have it cleared up. Mr. Davies said if he knew who was his accuser be would do so, or words to that effect. lie did not deny thathe had written the letter. I cannot recollect any more that occurred on that occasion, but it wee a mat ter of discussion some time slier. I never attended the committee after that night. Previous to that night I had taken great interest is the erection of the Caledonian-road Chapel. I promised to raise 1001, fur that object. I had at that tuna relied 801. Crosi.exaraiued by Mr. Dsrnard—lt was nbout Novem ber, 1851, when ho first mentioned the Wellingborough letter to me. I ejould think that was after the Morley committee sat, which was before the opening of the Cale donian-road Chapel. I took part in the opening service of that chspel. A few days before be introduced the letter I may haven:it Mrs. Davies. I have no distinct recollection of the matter. I believe the Wellingborough letter was Iluded to yroviuusly. It is very likely Mrs. Davies told me there was no truth in the charge, but I have no distinct recollection that she did. L had not heard teem other per sons, betore he alluded to the letter, that he had denied its 'authenticity. 1 liclieve that my interview with Mr. Davies was subsequent to this. It was not in consequence of Mr. Davies's denial of the 'Wellingborough letter that I introduced the matter to the comnottee. It was because Mr. Sherman had expreised his surpr'se et my taking a part in the opening service of the Caicuonian Chapel. If the chapel opened in June. 18. M, it. it likely the conversation took place in the autumn , not 03 late as November. I hove no recollection of stating he fore the committee more than I h•ore already said. I eiterwards wrote this note. Very likely I was informed that no reso lution was passed at the lost meeting bearing on too sub ject to which this note referred, to the effect tnst it I deemed it desirable a special meeting should be called to iovests gate the matter. [The note was d iced 14th Nov., 1&51.1 I have en indistinct recollection of a conversation to that effect. There was a resolution to that t llect. I knew Mr. Allen, the minister of Islington Chapel. It was not is conse quence of what I had heard from Mr. Allen that 1 brought the subject of the letter before toe committee. lie was pre sent when Mr. Sherman mentioned it to no., but he shed no additional light en the matter. I do n.d think I told Mr. Davies that Mr. Allen told me Mr. Davies hal denied the authenticity .4 . the letter. I do not think is is li(ASlble !could have said so, because I never heard he had. The Rev. Dr. Campbell esamined—l em senior minister i l ef the emigregst:cn assembling at the Tabernot'i , Moor ' fields. I have been co for twenty-seven yo ars. I am the editor of the Brinsh Banner from itsestablishmer.t. It wee especially established to promote the in - crests of religion—particularly of Christian mis•ionsi I have known the plaintiff, Mr. Davies, RIM) ten nr twelve years, or perhaps more. I remember his coming home from Berbice. He consulted me about settling in London. I advised him to et, eta chapel for himself. 1 supported the erection of the chapel in the Banner end in two mogasines, of which I was also the editor. The foundation of the chapel was laid in October, ISSO, and it war opened in . . . June, 1851 I became a member of the Morley committee at the request of Mr. Davies, who earnestly rolicited me to become so. I concurred in the resolutions adopted by that committee. I was acquainted with Mr. Foreman's family. lie conau'ted me confidentially. Mr. Denies never in his life showed me a letter from Mr. Foreman. 1 did not hear of Mr. Foreman in eoencsion with the Greenwich letter until long after the production of that letter. 1 did not hear of it for a considerable time after the sitting of Morley's committee. lem satisfied it was not mentioned there. I was the chairman of the C in- Impatiens! Board of Ministers in June 1852. Mr. Davies did !got complain Gf fleet board until after its derision was given. Dr. Tidmon was not the author of any of the articles in the Banner. The "Di fence of the Innocent" was sent to me to review. It bad been circulated far and wide. I discoveted it was becomieg very prejudicial to the mis sionary cause. Cyst-examined by Mr. Barnard—l put down my name spontaneously for a two-guinea subscription to the Cale donian Chapel. lam glad to say I did not pay it. I would but for what happened. I have no recollection that letters from Mr. Foreman to Mr. Davies were produced brfore the Morley committee. Such letters may have been produced in my absence, perhaps, but I don't thick they wire. I nevey saw any letters tom Mr. Foreman to Mr. Davies befire Cie last trial. (The reference of " Titiman v. Ainslie.") Ferjeant Wilkins here handed the witness a receipt, and asked whose writing it was Witness—Mr Davies's. Srrjeant Wilkins—This, sir, is a receipt of Mr. Dewier far 51. from Mr. Pratt, the defendant in this action. Mr. Barnard—There is ao doubt about Mr. Pratt hzsitg subnrihed The Rev. Mr. Richardson was then mailer', ard CTO! , 1• examined by Mr. Barnard-1 wets examined as a w 't nets before the Congregational Board in J ene, 1&32.. I ,tated the conversation I had with Mr. Davise I rloWt remember that 1 stated that Mr. Davies had said to me that be spoke of the Wellingborough leVer as a le.tcr written by him to his wile. I don't remember that I (1%1. What I said was, that he had never denied that I. Lt r. 11. distinctly complained to me of the letter being c . .pied, cr how could I have dery.unced the man who had copied .t. The Rev. George Thompson was a member of th a com mittee. It is probable I said I never had any elm ersatit.n with Mr. Davies about the authorship of that letter. I stover had any conversation with him about the sutborsh.p of the letter, except that whi. h I have mentioned, and whiLti took place in my h.uae. The Arbitrator—That was after the committee had sat ? Witneu—lt was. _ Crou•examir.a:ion continued—lt is very likely I said to the committee, "I never had any cony( nation with Mr. Davics about the authorship of the letter." I thii.k I surd I had never put a question to him, or received a dtnial. I hope the time of this committee will be borne in mind. I did afterwards. The Arbitrator—l shell bear it in mind. Mr. Barnard—Oh, yte, of course; it was June, 1552. Did you state to the committee you could scarcely hay., been said to have had any conversation with Mr. Davies about the Wellingborough letter. Witriess—Very likely I did. Mr. Bernard—Was not your statement then that he com plained it was said he was the author of that letter ? Witnecs—rertaps he might. ne•examined by Berjetint Wilkins--Ire nsvrr, to me, dented the authorship of that letter. lie left the inapt( s...ion on my mind that be was, and never said anythina to aii.cr that int' melon. I think Dr. Campbell was ab•ent part of the time from the Morley committee. Three It tters from Mr. Foreman to Mr. Davies were prof:need before the com mittee. . . . . . . Strpant Wilkins—And in those three letters there was not ono word snout deputing Mr. Davies to gst bint a wife. Mr. Barnard here propueed to call a *twigs who bad taken a careful note of the proceedings before the Congre gational Board, to prove what Mr. Richardson had really stated. He would call the Rev. George Thompson to prove that Mr. Hchardson had said that Mr. Davies had scarcely had any conversation with him about the Wellir sideman letter, and that Mr. Davies had complained to him that " it was said " the letter had been written by hint to his wife. The Rev. George Thomrson was then called. and ex amined by Mr. Descried. lam minister of Pc mbury-gri,vo Coapel, Hackney, and was a member of the Congregation-I Board. I took a note of the material parts of toe evidence of each witness before that board. [Notes produced.] Mr. Richardson said "he could scarcely have been said to have bad communication with Mr. Davies ie. reference to it (the Wellingborough letter); but Mr. Davies complained of its being said that soh a letter had been written. H 9 could nut spicily the terms. Never had rry communication with Mr. Davies about authorship. Never not ore gu think h ! at question, had heard of or a received a t denial. l o s a n b o o,,, ts u u g r , t a t t er .: after the investigation committee." Mr. Barnard—Are the words, "It's being lia:t of your notes? Witness—They are. Berjeant Wilkins—Are you in the habit of rciiceting, Ur. Th.impson Witni am not. Setjeant Wilkins—And these are excerptee cf the evi dence ? Witness—l mean to say that the words 1 have read aro the lias:ma vertu of the witnets. The evident , e having closed here, Berjeant Wilkins proceeded t, sum up the evidence ad duced on behalf of the defendant, and had not terminated when tau court rose. , • - • 4 " AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED STATES. (mow ma SP2CIAL 01 THI DAILY lbws ) NEW YORK, SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. 13. The news received here from Madrid is pacific. The Spanish ministry have become satisfied that no more efforts will be made for the present by our eovernment or people to get possession of Cuba. The President of the United States paid no regard whatever topublic opi aloe during the first eighteen months of his admini stration, and when the new mysterious society, the Kaow-Nothings, made their appearance, he and all his party organs treated them with affected indif lassoes or contempt. General Pierce sent Soule, the champion of the Filibusters, to Madrid, expressly teporchase Cuba; and with instructions, oa the re fuel to sell, to involve us in a difficulty with Spain, that we might be furnished with a pretext for taking possession of the island by force. But early last autumn it became evident that the Know- Nothings were likely to sweep the country, and now, when it is fully ascertained that they will oppose all attempts to acquire foreign territory, Pierce changes his policy, and reluctantly gives up Cuba. The following despatch, received last night from Washington, can be relied on as correct : Mr. Sou% endorsed by Buchanan and Mason, urged OUT governmentto permit him to lay the whole Cub►n question, with a distinct cffer to parchase, before the Spanish Cortes, ignoring the Spanish ministry on the ground that they dare not take the responsibility of eubm Wog such a quer tion as long as under Espartero's influence. Mr. Soule argued that, as everything connected with Cuba was novel, as well as the extent of the power of the Cortes, there could of cootie be no pricedent for the course suggested, but that the emergencies and peculiarities of the case war ranted it ; and, once before the Spanish people, with the &stifle% offer of money, it would sweep away all objections. This despatch Secretary Sickles brought to Washington when here some few weeks ago. The reedy by Mr. Marcy war, that the American government would not countrnance such a course—that Soule might renew to the ministry the offer to purchase if he was well assured beforehand that it, , would be accepted ; but in no other event. This was re 2". sidered tantamount to the withdrawal of the whole question, as it is known the ministry are pledged against ir. If any , thing has been done contrary to tbe'e instructions, the go. vernment will disavow it. Some member of the Cortes, on his own reeponsibility, may have introduced the question. The Know-Nothing feeling is running so high that, so far from favouring any new territori a acqui , sitions, there is a growing disposition to discourage European emigration as tar as possible. The newly , elected Know-Nothing Governor of Massachusetts thus speaks iu his inaugural address to the Legisla . tars : The present European immigration is deeply prejudicial to the fair remuneration of American labour. The me chanic, the artisan, the agriculturist, daily surfer from its influence. There is no statemt at in poli•ical ethics more palpable or fundamental than that honest industry should receive its own ieward. Those who hourly feel the oppress ing competition of Mi. n labour, deprecistorl under the task masters of the Old NVorld, sad schooled in the self denials and modes of existence there so universal, properly believe t►at their owo, as well as the interests of the republic de mand that their elective franchise should be exereisea for the protection of American labour. All the Filibustering schemes of Pierce's adminis tration are knocked on the head. He began by buy ing the Mesilla valley of Santa Anna, and carried it through Congress. Next he proposed a treaty of ' annexation to the King of the Sandwich Islands. Then be sent General Cayman and his wile to San Domiogo, to buy a part of that island. Then he battered down Greytown, to inspire terror among our weaker neighbours. Next ho purchased the Gallipagoes Islands—all the while he was straining, wind and limb, to get hold of Cuba, and he has recently favoured the Kinney expedition to colonise Central America. But the Know-Nothiugs have risen in their might against all these atrocious schemes of robbery and wrong. Mrs. Cazanau has come back from San Domingo and brought her hus band with her, as a slight solace after her defeat. Greytown is rising from its ashes, to hate and despise the name of Frank Pierce. The bargain for the Gallipegoes will not be confirmed. Cuba goes by the board, and the Kinney expedition's stock is going down, while all other stocks are coming up. GENERAL SCREW STEAM COMPANY. Yesterday the adjourned meeting of the General Screw Steam Company was held at the London Tavern ; J. U. Ewe, Esq., chairman of the company, in the chair. The subject of discussion was a report furnished by the professional accountants, Messrs. Quilter and Ball and Mr. Begbie, upon the financial state of the company, upon a reference made to these gentlemen by the proprietors, at • public meeting held on the 22nd of 'Novel:clic r lost. This report was read at the meeting held on the 21th ult., and its further consideration was adjourned to this day. The meeting was divided as to its reception or rejection, and some of toe shareholders taking a middle course, were disposed to advocate a reception of such parts of it as were found to be sustained by the internal evidence of the ac counts. The report agreed g Ily with the state of the accounts in the company's books ' but produced results from the same figures which differed very materially from the views put forward by the directors. The latter showed by their statement a surplus applicable to a dividend, whilst the accountants produced • balance against the company. Mr. R. W. CRAWFORD, who was supported by Mr. Wigram and Mr. Hoare, proposed a series of resolutions, having for their object a general adjustment of the coati patsy's accounts up to the 30th of December la •t, and strenuously urged the meeting to adept his views, declaring his entire dissent from very many of the recommendations of Messrs. Quitter and Ball, which he contended were not Justified by the actual state of the company's affairs. On the other hand Mr. Hockey supported the report of the aces:matelots, and declared his entire reliance upon the' conclusions at which they had arrived. A long and very animated discussion followed, in which Mr. T. Chambers ntived as an amendment that the at eounrante' report be adopted, and the directors be requested to retire. The CHAIRMAN explained tbat the board bad no wish whatever to remain in office. They merely held dike, as he informed tho last meetiag, until their successors were appointed. The amendment being put, was lost, and the discussion was r.sumed upon Mr. Crawford's resolutions, upon which Mr., T. A. Monkey moved as a further amendment, " that the report of the accountants be received end adopted." Mr. Hankey omitted any allusion to the retirement of the board. This amendment being put, was also lost, end a ballot being demanded by the supporters of Mr. Hankey's amend went, the meeting odjourned to the ith of February, to learn the result of the ballot. RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS. Yesterday the examiners of the House of Com mons declared the following bills to have complied with the Standing Orden. EAST INDIAN RAILWAY AND MADItAS RAILWAY. To enable the But Indian and Madras railway companies to issue and register shares and securities in India. EAST ICaNY RAILWAY.—For smendment Dearness Valley Railway (construction) ; Bognor Railway ; Lon looderry and Coleraine Railway ; Cromford and High Peak Railway; Belfast and County Down. The bills for the Spalding, Bourn. and Stamford Junc tion Railway, and for the Middlesbrough, &c. The following other bills of a miscellanc;:us character also complied :—East and WI. lt India Dock Company (for enlargement of powers as to raising money and nt Lon. .don D .ek Company (for the same purpose.) Derby Es tension 'miaow meat; I.Jabridge Burgage Lends- Ply mouth and Stonehouse Ou Company; Renfrew Police, aad Ayr Harboar. MEMORIAL TO SIR ROBERT NEWMAN.—The friends of the law Sir Robert Newman, Bart., of the Guards, are about to erect a cenotaph in Masthead Church, Devonshire, to the memory of the gallant soldier who fell s at Alms. The Lord-Lieutenant of the county, Earl For tecne, is understood to have originated the design, and c comunieeted, by circular, with the numerous fnerrils of • P roper ! k . the ucoessed baronet, who responded to the appeal with or Honorer , -y rots tag be was only suc h li hortlity that more than sufficient moneyD estiny had placed him on 'he Bra it already tish t h rone he t oudh if d .... he would undoubtedly have been George V. or received, !ad the subscription list is now closed. England, for it must be remembered that Hanover was only George the third king MONEY Oupzits.—GENEZAL POST -OFFICE, JAN., raised to a kingdom under George 111 , their predecessors EQUITY COURTS.—JA.N. 31. 18.53.—The renni'er eta MeeDep o l der will not be required, ts fog only Elector* of Hanover. However, as both George CRYSTAL PALACE, j' A ..„( , 31,-sultlltin DAY.—Ad- moat nix roan cusacaixea AND NR. PARTICI W14111M%_.. e ceupst ,. 7l , no: the payee to furnish 111. sad George IV. assumed those numerals at ,in future, to stet* L'isUNDERWOOD tr. WING. This was an appeal from • decision of the Master of the SOME BASYLE Onus, says the Matiteur , having any information on that petit. Ade;:ve 're henceforth to it was thonght sdvieable , " on the score of expediency," as 64-434 - l ousoo d that donations wou ld b e received for r h eum , Of the be stamped with the dated gulf , of the Ipaciat'oeloor in- the c facial proclamation pult;lished at Hanover ITU worded, M. C. DE Itoinscumn has been elected Pr e sident Rolls. The facts were, that on the October, 1"3 4th of e . Bast, have forwarded to the Governor-General a a u nt Oft steed 01 being signed as At Peasent.—Bowa.."MV 11111., and to avoid all confusion .11 Astir hereafter, to assume the of the Bank of Frankfort , mission at the doors, 370 ; adm'esicn by lesson tickets, The hubsad gars all his real and personal estate upon 5,400 Wes for the relief of the troops then.' Earetary. ale and 800 of °veep V. when time of service has expired. in the place of M. P. Granelins,' John Unde rwood, and Mary , h is wi f e , made mutual wills, Pf marvies has expired. any 11111011111 M f•NO WU UM &OM MEM kmmomma 1111...0 Ulm*. I