The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-04 00:00:00

MARCH 4, 1854. urged that the details proposed to be given appet • tamed to the domain of private interests, and should not be asked for by the house. Mr. CRAUFL•RD persevered in his motion, where upon Mr. BROTHERTON interposed by moving the adjournment of the house (at half-past twelve). On a division, this motion was negatived, by 66 noes against 25 ayes, and the discussion on the motion for returns was resumed. Mr. DisitAim! thought it unwise to oppose the motion, and he could not understand on what ground it was refused. The newspapers were the organs of pulslic opinion, and it was only by ascertaining their circulation that they could judge how far they influenced public opinion. Ile could not recognise the analogy between newspapers and other property. Newspapers were a peculiar description of property to which the ordinary rules as to publicity did not apply. But there was another reason why the return should be produced. They had certain information on the subject, but it was imperfect, and it was expedient that that information, if it was before the public at all, should be complete. _ . The CHANCET.LOII of the EXCHEQUEIt stated that the objection the Government had to produce the information required was a fair regard to private interests. He ad mitted that it was a matter of interest to know, so far as the stamps would give it, what was the circulation of each newspaper, but so it would be a matter of interest to know what was the amount paid by each individual trade to the income tax. (Oh.) [he house had already decided not to produce this return, and it was now sought to reverse that decision. The case appeared to be, that there were certain traders in this particular trade who desired to have this information made public, in order that it might exer cise au influence on public opinion for their benefit, and to the prejudice of others who were less successful. He could not admit that the house had no right to call for this return, but what he contended for was, that it was not necessary for the public interest ; and, acting upon the principle which the house had hitherto followed in similar cases, the house would, he believed, show forbearance, and refuse to inflict upon parties engaged in private trade the injury which such an exposure of their affairs was calcu lated to inflict. Mr. M. GIBSON supported the motion ; and a divi sion was called, but stayed by the surrender of the Government, Mr. GLADSTONE declining to encounter a second vote on a question when the sense of the house was manifestly against him. The returns were 'then ordered. TIIE MILITIA IN IRELAND. The Earl of WICKLOW having innnired if it was the intention of the Government to propose in the present session any mea sure for embodying the Irish militia? The Earl of ABERDEEN said : In answer to my noble friend, 1 have to inform that a bill will be introduced this session in the other house of Parliament, by which a power will ho taken to modify the existing law respecting the militia in England, in which, at present, I believe a power exists to extend the 80.000 men who have been raised to 120,000. It is intended to very that, and extend to Ireland the power of raising and embodying 30,000 men find 10,000 men iu Scotland, but it is not intended to embody the Mali militia this year. IRISH PAUPERS. In reply to a question from the Earl ut ponoughtuore, The Earl of ABERDDEEN said the law whit respect to the re moval of Irish paupers was hi an unsatisfactory state. There had been a good deal of correspondence upon the fpubJeet, and it was possible that before dealing with it a committee would have to be appointed. A discussion took place on this subjeet, in the course of which The Earl of ABERDEEN stated that it was intended to proceed with the measure now before the oth3r house previously to em barking in this inquiry. THE NAVY LIST To a question by the Earl of Hardw•icke, The Lori of ABERDEEN 1.4)11(A that the commissioners ap pointed to inquire into the state of the army list would not be iustrucled to include the navy Bet in their investigations. tortigit anb . Coionig antelligtatc. FRANCE. The duties which the pending war may assign to the officers an I agents of France in relation to the interests of their faithful allies, the British, are laid down in the following circular note addressed by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs to all the diplo matic and consular representatives of that country : " Paris, Feb. 23.—Sir,—Obliged to admit the possibility of hostilities between them and Russia, the Government of his imperial Majesty and her Britannic Majesty haveAon sidered that the alliance which they have contractelf in presence of a common danger should be directed to protect such of their interests as may be menaced by the conse quences of a state of war. Whatever be tbs. extent of the resources at their disposal, particularly by sea, they have also to take into consideration the fact of sudden and un foreseen emergencies. Shonld war break out, cases may occur in places where the naval force of each power may not l e constantly present, and where their subjects and their mercantile flag may not have at the necessary moment the support indispensable to their safety. The two Go vernments, actiag in the spirit which inspires their present relations, seek the means of providing for such emergen cies ; and they find it in the adoption of a system of reci procal protection, embracing interests which are dissemi nated in every !Mande. The diplomatic and commercial spit :s, as well as the commandants of the naval tomes, of each ( f the two countries on all points of the globe are therefore to afford their aid to the subjects and the com- . meree of the oth .r in all cases where they may be menaced by the common enemy. Yon are consequently to c.n.sider in similar circa ustances English vessels and English sub• :ects, within t le sphere of your action, as having the THE PRESS. same right as French ships and French subjects to all the assistance within your attributions ; and you will commu. nicate the fact to such of the naval officers of his Imperial Majesty as may be in a position to co-operate iu the mea sures which the circumstances resulting from a state of war appear to you to require. The agents and naval officers of her Britannic Majesty will receive identical instructions, and thus the subjects and the commerce of both nations will be authorised to count on the reciprocal protection of the consuls and of the navy of both powers. " You will understand, sir, that I do not undertake to specify beforehand all the cases which may necessitate your intervention. Your own judgment must guide you in the application of the principle intended as your rule of conduct. The two Governments have been less anxious to specify the circumstances and forms in which that pro tection is to be exercised, than to mark the character it ought to take. But, while giving to the world this new testimony of the unity of their views and the sin cerity of their alliance, they are persuaded that, in order to secure for that common measure all the effect desirable, their agents have only to thoroughly feel the spirit of that community of action which has suggested it to both Cabinets. " BIiOUYN DE LHUYS." The Moniteur announces the equipment of a third naval squadron of ten ships-of-the-line, fourteen frigates, fifteen corvettes, sailing vessels and steamers, under the aiders of Admiral Parseval- Duchdsnes. It also publishes a decree prohibiting the exportation of arms, ammunition, machinery, warlike stores, &c. Marshal de St. Arnaud is to be the commander in-chief of the French expeditionary army to Turkey.. This army is to consist of fcur divisions, commanded by Generals Canrobert, Bousquet, Forey, and Prince Napoleon. The latter is to command the reserve. Colonel Bertin-Duchateau is to command the Zouaves and the infantry of the marine. A division of cavalry is to be commanded by General Morris. The division of reserve, under the command of Prince Napoleon,. will, it is said, remain at Con stantin cple. Orders. have been issued that all sailors of less than forty five years of age, who have not completed six years of service, are to be at once directed to serve in the Imperial Navy. In consequence, the crews of merchant vessels have been obliged to break their engagements and present themselves for the service of the State. _ _ _ The Artmodke steam-frigate, Captain de la Garde de Chambouds, left Toulon on the 25th ult. for Constantinople, carrying out a large quantity of tools and other nuithriel for the construction of a camp near that capital. Steamers are being prepared at that port for taking on board several regiments of cavalry. The workmen at the arsenal are employed night and day. The following are the principal results of an account just published by the Minister of War on the recruit ing of the army in 1852. The effective strength of the army in 1852 was, on an average, 389,500 men, officers, sergeants, corporals, and privates; in 1851 it was 400,532. On the Ist Janurry, 1853, after 55,943 men of the class of 1815 had been sent home, the army in active service had an effective strength of 370,101 men, namely, 304,8(14 at home, and 71,237 in Africa. The reserve at the same period consisted of 126,889 men, making the general effective strength on the Ist January, 1853, 502,000. The Governor-General of Algiers visited Lagbottat last month, when the vast territory lately an• nexed to the French possessions in Africa was in great part placed under the direction of Si-Zoubir ould-bou-Beker, who was solemnly installed into office in presence of an immense concourse of spec tators. A marriage is announced between Prince Joachim Murat, the eldest son of Prince Lucien Murat, and the young Princess of Wagram. The bridegroom is in his nineteenth year, and the bride twenty-two. The young lady is very beautiful, and possesses one of the largest fortunes in France. The interment of the Abbe Lamennais took place on Wednesday without the least disorder. In accord ance with the wishes of the deceased, his body was carried straight to the cemetery, without being taken to any church. The funeral of Admiral Roussin was celebrated on the same day with great pomp: twelve battalions of infantry, two squadrons of Gerdes de Paris, one of Chasseurs, and a battery of artillery, escorted the remains of the admiral from the Made leine to Pere la Chaise. The Moniteur publishes a report from M. de Persigny, Minister of the Interior, relative to the propriety of again giving assistance to such com• munes as appeared from their state of destitution in want of aid and encouragement. Nearly 15,000 communes have already subscribed money to assist their more indigent inhabitants. The sums so ad vanced, with 6,000,000 f. already given by the State, had made up a total of nearly 24,00000 f. ; but that sum being found still insuff_cient, the Minister recommends that a fresh credit or 2,000,000 f. shall be opened to afford further assistance to the poorer communes. A decree from the Emperor follows, carrying out the suggestions of the report. GERMANY. The accounts from Vienna refer to an arrangement between the Government and the Bank, by which, apparently, the former mortgage for a series of years a portion of the national revenue to the Bank, on condition of the latter taking upon itself the burden of the immense amount of fluating paper money, to which a forced value has been given by State decrees. The Government, it would appear, propose then to make a further addition to the paper debt. The military preparations of Austria must at present draw heavily on the already impoverished treasury. This convention with the Bank has produced a favourable effect on the Vienna public. . _ . It is stated that Crown lands to the amount of six millions of florins are forthwith to be sold towards the redemption of the public debt. The Austrian General Coronini has, it is said, in formed the Prince of Servia and Izzet l'acha that Austria will respect the neutrality of Scrvia, utilehs an insurrection should break out. Numerous arrests of political emissaries have been made in Hungary and Transylvania. The prisoners have been brought to Vienna. Baron Aleyendortf has complained to Count Buol of the anti-Russian articles in the Lloyd. A Frankfort paper says that the Austrian Govern ment had obtained the liberty of four Austrian sailors and a Tuscan subject who were on board the Medjari Tidjarelt when that vessel was captured by the Russians, but the two English engineers were still in confinement The Prussian budget for 1864, which has just been communicated to the Chambers, figures at 107,090,069 dollars. The ordinary receipts aro calculated at 103,925,069 dollars ; tho extraordinary at 4,065,000 dollars ; the ordinary expenses are estimated at 108,00k,422 dollars ; and the extraordinary at 4,921,647 dollars. The navy estimates only figure at 031,000 dollars, of which 190,000 are for the oon • struction of ships-of-war. An increased tax upon the fabrication of brandy has been adopted by the Berlin Second Chamber, despite the opposition of the Conservative party, consisting chiefly of landed proprietors. The Cob Lentz Gazette states that orders have been received for calling out the war reserves of the army. Considerable purchases have been made for the armament of the Prussian fortresses. A Berlin letter states : " It is well known that several persons who occupy high positions receive regular salaries front Russia, though they have never been in her service. In reference to the re• cent communication to Russia of the secret plan fur the mobili3ation of the Prussian army, it is said that in 181.2 the Minister Tschernitscheff was able to procure the plan for the invasion of Russia by the French army fur a sum of 300,000 francs." It is stated that a Russian army will take up a position in Courland, upon the frontier of Prussia. It is believed that this measure on the part of Rus sia is taken in order to guard against the disembarka tion of Pius-ian continental troops on the shores of the Baltic. SPAIN. Several disturbances broke out in Saragossa on the 20th ult., in which a section of the military took part. Brigadier Hone, Colonel of the Cordova Regiment, whose fidelity had been for some time suspected, seems to have been the prime mover of the outbreak. He had been ordered to march his regiment to Pampeluna. Instead of obeying he pro claimed an insurrection in Saragossa ; and, leaving a portion of one battalion (mostly recruits) in the castle, where they were joined by groups of civilians, to whom they distrilr'ted arms from the magazines, proceeded with the rest of the regiment to take pos , session of various positions within the city, extend ing from the castle to the stone bridge over the Ebro, and including the square of the cathedral, off which they made a plaza de craws, and occupied most of the buildings which surrounded it. They were joined by various groups of armed civilians, the whole nuthber who took part being computed at 500. They also occupied the houses situated at the Puerta del Angel, and the stone bridge, where they made a barricade of carts. Several regiments were speedily at hand to quell the revolt, and an attack was roade on the Plaza that same day. Brigadier Hone was killed at, the first fire, and the position carried after some fighting. The troops then proceeded to dis lodge the insurrectionists from other quarters, an operation which was only delayed by the approach of night. Next day the attack was renewed. Many of the posts were found to have been abandoned during the night, the insurgents appearing tho roughly dispirited by the loss of their leader, and the military operation came to a close upon the sur render of the t astle, in which a garrison of seventy men alone remained. The loss of life during this insurrection is said to have been very great, but prin cipally on the sid. of the insurgents. Saragossa was at once declared in a state of siege—all arms ordered to be given up, Ize.; but a much more stringent mea sure followed when the intelligence of the outbreak reached Madrid. Military law was ordered to be I 1 199 # ii.