The Express. — London, England, 1855-03-06 00:00:00

in due meson ; but in order the sooner to memo mob a pssoe, and to avert all peril of farther dia gram and diaoonifitnre, it is necessary to see our danger clearly, and to prepare to most it like brave and determined men,--Daily Nnes. Ine Court. The Berl of Clarendon bad an audience of the Quinn yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. Priam Albert, accompanied by Prises Ernest of Lsinin pis, and attended by Captain Da Plat, rode ea horseback is the forenoon, and visited the Crystal Palace at Sydenhass. Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena a•d Louisa took a drive is an open carriage end four, and the Princess Royal and Princes• Aiice took equestrian exercise in the riding schwa. Her Majesty had • dinner party in the evening. The conapeny iseluded the Duchess of Lest, Prince Ernest of Leiningen, the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, Lady Fanny 'beard, the Baroness de Bpetb, Viscount Canning, Viscount and Viscountese Emile, Lady ••d Min Peel, Sir Robert 11. Inglis, Sir Hamilton and Lady Beynsour, Lieut.-Genteel Sir Hew D. Hose, Colonel Stephens, and Mr. Frederick Peel. The band of the Ist Life Gaud' attended is the Palate and played chain dinar. A Cabinet Council was held at half-past twelve o'clock yesterday morning at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, and the Right Hog. Vernon Smith, were not present, .being absent from town ; bat the 'teasel' was attended by the rest of the Ministers. Shortly before three o'clock the Bari of Clarendon left his colleagues and proceeded to Buckingham Palace to have an audience of her Majesty. The council broke up at a quarter to four o'clock. A deputation of Members of Parliament had an interview with Lord Stanley of Alderley yesterday, at the Board of Trade, for the purpose of obtaining authority for the forma tion of as Art Union in the county of York. The deputa tion eonsisted of Sir 0. Goodman, Mr. Milligan, Mr. Basil Woodd, Mr. Oliveira, and Mr. Cayley. Despatches were received from the Governor of Canada yesterday at the Colonial•of:ce. Prince Charles of Prussia left Berlin on Sunday, to attend the funeral of the late Coat. _ Correspoeden: contains an article praising the high qualities of the late Emperor Nicholas, and ezpreseing a confident hope that the Era perm Alexander will complete the work of peace birth by his lather. ELECTION. MONDAT, MARCH 5. The aom;nation of candidates to represent our bonnet took plate today. At 10 a.m. the nteraing officer wended the hustmge, where he was speedily joined by the Hight Hon. K. V. Smith and friends, and Mr. J. I. Lock hart and his friends. There was no oonsertative in the field, so that the opposition that was threatened lay be tween Mr. V. Smith, the whig, and the advanced liberal, Mr. Lockhart. The mud formalities having been observed, E. H. Bsawitu., Req., proposed the Right Hon. R. V. Smith Gl' re4dettion. The Rev. J. Baxxsrr seconded the nossinat;on. Mr. GURNIT proposed Mr. Lockhart as a fit person to represent the borough. Mr. RTMILL tacondedthe nomination. No other candidate being proposed, The Right Mon. R. Vstra . Lx`Suritt cams forward, and was received with a perfect storm of hisses ai.cl groans. On esaayiag to speak, the yelling was redoubled, and it was only after Mr. Lockhart had besought his adherents to give the right hon. gentleman a quiet hearing that he was per mitted to proceed. He said tee experience of the past few weeks had informed them that the difficulties in the way of . . the formation of an had become shaosCia• supersble. Altar the retirement of Lord Aberdeen, Lord Derby was applied to, and failed ; Lord John Rumen was applied to, end failed, end the whole of England was pressing fur the appointment of one man as indispensable. That one man was Lord Palmerston. Upon his appoint ment, it was hoped and bells ved that the war would be carried ten in ouch a satisfactory manner, that the whole of Europe would be abashed and entire England would exult. Upon taking office, Lord Palmerston resented to some of the most eminent statesmen or toe day. (N., no.) He resolved the adhesion of Sir James Graham , Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. Sidney Herbert, who, before a fortnight had elapsed, left him, because they found that he would no longer resist the inquiry which the house, by a prepon derating vote, had required. Rather than yield they withdrew. Under these circumstances Lord Palm erston applied to others, and to himself amongst the number. Ile was not, however, so vain as nut te be aware that he should not have been asked to accept office if they could have got anybody else. He made no secret of saying that he was the last man asked. Referring to his vote on Mr. Roebuck's motion, the right boo. gentleman &aid he had opposed the appointment et a committee, although strongly in favour of inquiry, because he was satisfied that a com mittee of the Houle of Commons was not the best agency for accomplishing the object. With regard to the war, he told them in his address that with the origin of the war he had nothing to do He was not in office at the time, sag therefore was not responsible for the conduct of the guverse ment. lie might say, however, that as parliament and she government were at present constituted, it was a most dia. cult matter to ascertain wh. ther the government was going to war or t 3 interfere with diplomatic relations. No maths/ at what stage of proceedings a member asked questions, the invariable reply was, Hush, hush, hush." lie was told at one time to be quiet, lest his question might lead be war ; an another, lest it might embartass negotiations, and so on. To a great extent be admitted that for a repels sentative government to carry on war was a difficult teak. Representative government, however, was now upon its triek and it was for the country to show that it was, at the sine time, able to maintain its free institutions and to wage SO& ceufsl war. If there was a state of society—anarchy, he would rather cell it—that he truly abhorred, it was war. He was an ardent lover of peace, but he bed no terror of war. He wished to make that distinction, believing it was the notion that England would seek peace at any price, whisk had brought upon us much of that war in which the Ems peter of Russia had involved us. And what was the ob ject of the war ? They did net ge to war so much with the view to keeping the Turks er here they are, as top t tho Russians from getting there. Englishmen had nn wish that the Csar should tarry the conqueror's palm over Eu rope. The band of Providence had, however, arrested the Emperor of Russia, and be bad died in the midst of his craving ambition. (Hear, hear) God alone knew what might happen now—whether his successor would be a man of peace, or whether he would be displaced by one of a more warlike diapositive, was in the womb of time. EarneAly did be pray shit the cause in which our arms were em barked Welt epeedily mutt in the establishment of a just sad beememsble passe. The right hon. gentleman having referred N hi Mai isemaexion with the borough, concluded by expressing lb esnillibinee that his friends would support him trin es thoregh the poll. Mr. Locations this addressed the electors atoms length. Oa a show el hese being taken, The MAY 01,111144 a tumult of applause, declared if Is be in favour of Mr. Lockhart. Mr. Bxzwat.t. demanded a poll oa behalf of M. V. Smith; and a vete of thank* having bees given to the Mayer the proceedings were thought to have terminated, wbes Mr. 001t1111, the proposer of Mr. LOCKHART, withdreof that genii man, not being prepared, MI he stated, to go IP the poll with • prospect (Amami& Toe MAYOR than declared the Right Hon. R. V. Ude duly elected. (be elector. were subsequently addressed from the balcony of the Peace& Hotel by Mr V. Smith gad Mr. Raikes Currie, the latter gentleman labouring bard to reverse the unfavourable impression that had been created in the minds of Mr. Smith's supporters, by his refusal to support Mr. Roebuck's motion for inquiry. Mr. Hon; the conservative candidate= the last election, also addressed his friends at the Hotel, at 8 p.m., to explain thermions that had isthmoid not to offer say opposition to the astern of Mr. V. OW* oa the present co caaioo. DAVIES V. PRATT.—TUE ARSITILATOR 8 AWARD.— Tao Patrice of yesterday says : The award of Mr. Whitely, Q.C., the arbitrator in this Important "libel" caw, is now known. The übitrator finds in favour of the defendant, sad awards and detirminos that the plaintiff shall pay to the defendant the costs of the reference and of the sward. CONVICTS AT LARGE IN ENGLAND.—A return or dared by the Hoeft of lends, and whisk has just been printed, shows that cm the 81st January there were 6,686 convicts ander materna of tramps/tali.* is oratleenseat in Engl and, sad that UN mains were at large with tickets of leave. Tea LaTs Carrels NoLax.—A neat tablet is about to be erected fa Maidstone Chateh to the memory of Captain Nola. whist' bears the followlag appropriate In scription :—" He fell at the head of the light cavalry brigade, is the charge at Balaklava, ea the 26th October, 1851, aged 36. Gland Sir George Berkeley, es whose staff he served is ladis, Bowel Aim, his betakes Aeon aa4 Meads, have *hiked this i - sliglit Whale M I Shelf ~teem lad 1 1094695ete IMO ter the 10407 of ow of the met gellsat, fate llgs t , and words alma is her Majesty's untie." The tablet, is the kite of a skartia siren, is essested by T. NM& THE WAR. One of the first effects of the death of Nicholas L has been to suspend the action of the negotiators who had repaired to Vienna to attend the Congress appointed to open there. M. de Titoff, coadjutor of Prince Gortehakoff, reached Vienna on Saturday, simultaneously with Baron Brock, who will, doubtless, exercise an important influence over the policy of Austria at the present crisis. On Sun day evening Lord John Russell arrived on the scene, and thus the diplomatic party was completed. But the powers of the Russian negotiators have expired with the sovereign by whom they were given. To renew them would require time, but the disap pearance of the late Csar has changed the general European situation to an extent which will at least demand a new political reconnaissance. and this involves delay. From Warsaw we learn, that Prince Paskiewitch, who had summoned a great council of generals to meet him in the Polish capital, had himself been sud denly recalled to St. Petersburg. _ _ M. de Neeselrode's circular, containing the decla ration of war against Sardinia, was officially com municated to the Germanic Diet on the let instant. A day before the Cur Nicholas died the Austrian government published in its recognised organ of the press a statement expressing its views of the general position of affairs, and by which its action in the Congress would probably be guided. In the article referred to it is said: Enough has been done for the military honour of all par ties. A general basis has been gained for the settlement of carious important points, claims. and relations, which, 1 : during a aeries of years, have either actually been disputed. or have menaced to Mad to conflicts; a general basis his been found, which will ensure the independence and integ- I city of Turkey, and the privileges of all 'be Christian sub jects of the Porte, without interfering with the sovereignty of the Sultan, and will prevent any future encroachments on the part of simile powers. We acknowledge that the final lune of the approaching negotiations—as is the case with everything undertaken by man—lies in the band of God alone, but the negotiations for the restoration of peace begin under favourable citcumstancee, and this will *aeon- mire the statesmen concerned in thget to set about their Meat work with earnestness and candour, so that they may, with the blessing of Almighty Clod, bring matte re to a happy conclusion in the way intended by their illustrious Sove reigns, and for the welfare of all the European nation,. This is hardly the language of a power ready to insis► on a real diminution of Russian power in the Black Sea. RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, Fss. 2S. Four suburbs of the city will next month be de clared in a state of war. The batteries erected on the island of Vassilevski hare been armed with cannon mounted on eau t-iron earrings.. Them latter were midi in a Russian iron foundry, near Kiew. The new militia will receive, ge nerally speaking, percussion muskets, but are allowed to use their own. °dicers and non commissioned cM. are are to weer cuffs and Gringo- The Robles of this government are to meet to-day for hearing the manifesto of the Emperor, decreeing the formation of a militia, read to them. The meeting will be held at their club, in St. Michael-street. The nobles of the circle will meet within • week. The principal assembly will be called upon to equip men for the national de fence, entirely at their own • penes. Macy of the noble members in question have declared already their readiness to do sr. The following fact is mentioned, to show the prevalent feeling about the present war. The artist Zacharoff, living here, has, either from patriotism or on speculation, made a picture, which repre sents Peter I. in his workshop, where he is making a cross. In order to connect the rude Emperor with the reigning monarch, • clever motto was written at the foot of the picture, which was then submitted to the Emperor for his approbation, previous to its being engraved and distributed in prints. The Imperial sanction runs as follows: "The words may be used beneath the print, ' Print of Peter I. engaged in erecting • cross, dedicated to the Emperor Nicholas I. fighting for the cross.' The sum of 50 silver copecks from the sale of each print may be set apart for the succour of those wounded in the present war." We Dave received through private letters from the Russian Baltic provinces the following detaile respecting the loca tion of troops in Courland and Estbonia, as decreed about the mi4rlle of February last. The Pahlen Regiment of Hussars, consisting of eight squadrons and 1,200 strong, commanded by Col. Gottschalk, occupied the district be tween Mitau and P tlangcn,vith ifs head-quarters at Mitau. The Black hussar Regiment of the same strength, and com manded by General Palaiolog, occupies the ground between Telschrn and Korean, he himself being with his staff at the former town. Two regiments of Chiang, each of the same strength also, are stationed between Roulettes and Tan roggen, and even beyond the latter place. There is also a regiment of Cossacks between Tauroggen and Libsu, under the command of 0 I Grekoff, whose head quarters are in Libau. This regiment consists of 6 squad rons, and their duty is to guard the frontier between the two towns abov,mentioned. These 5 cavalry regiments belong to the Baltic Army Corps, commanded by General von Sievers. No infantryor artillery bu appeared as set in the districts named above, bat it is reported that strong garrisons of them two arms are in the towns of Mitsu, Rigs, Revel, and Nerve. Then letters inform us that the Prince of Prnsaia's regiment, 1,400 strong, is stationed at Kites. There are two regiments of reserve, under the command of General von Schwabe, at Revd and Nerve. THE FRENCH ARMY OF THE EAST. The army of Paris has maamed, sines the lit inst., 1 the rum of the Army of the East, and is composed as 1 follows: INFANTRY, let Division.—OenertatO;;4, Commander. Ist Brigade. —General R 4 d, tad battalion of Champlin de Vin canoes, Bth and 36th Regiments of Infantry. 2nd Brigade. —Genenl Goyon de Sc. Loyal, 17th and 66th Regiments of Infantry. 2nd Divisien.—Osnersl Bongo's, Commander. let Bri gade.—General Ripen, 20th battalion of Chassaun. 83rd and 88th Regiments of Infantry. 2nd Brigade.—General Marone, 63rd and 67th Regiments of Infantry. 3rd Division.—Tbe former Division of Bomanund. let Brigade.—General dliagnes, 12th battalion of Chanwars, 3rd and 77th Regiments of Infantry. 2nd Brigade.—Osaaral Ginty, 48;b and 61st Regiments of Infantry. 4th Divisisa.—let Brigsde.-11th and Sl it Regiments of Infantry. 2nd Brigane.-64th and 911 h Regiments. 6th Division.-Ist Brigade.—The lit and 2nd Regiments of Voltiguars. 2nd Brigade.—The let and 2nd Regiments of Grenadiers. Those regiments it. formed of the picked companies of the third battalions of a certain number of infantry regiments of the army. TM commanders of those two last divisions are not yet appointed, bat it is believed that General Dechaussoy will take the oommand of the 4th, and General hi'Mahon of the 6th division. CATALIT. let Division.—let Brigadg.-2a and 7th Regiments of Chaeseure. tad Brigade.-8:h and 10th Regiments of Chairmen. 2nd Division —let Brigade.-3rd and Bth Regiments of Chanute'. 2nd Brigade.-9th and 10th Regiments of Dra go3 ns. al rd Division.—let B ' it-3rd and 4th Regiments of Cuiramiers. 2nd B .-Bth and 10th Regiments of Cuirassier,. This remains under the orders of General Kerte, who nemmande likewise the entire cavalry of the army of Part e. Then eight divisions me to he stationed as follows .—Thii Ist, tad, 3rd, and 6th divides@ of infantry, at Paris ; the 4th division of infantry, at Men and Strasburg; the let division of cavalry, in the degostnninte of the Masse and Moselle; the 2nd division of sawdry t ommembei by Gene ral de Goyon, at Lomond!' ; and its_ lei *shim of cavalry, in the departments of the Upper mod LOWer Rh inee. Marshal Magmas is to reemommed In i Ratters army, and to retain the government of the Int military division. The Buten env will assist of 60,000 infantry, 7,000 or 8,000 cavalry, 16 batteries of artillery, two for each divi sion, sad a carpe of engineers. FRENCH REINFORCEME CRIMEA. FOR THE ' The first division of die sway of Lyons, oomposed pf tbo 47'1, 62nd, Mad, 714 set • 11th regiment of ia -1:11 two betterise Si artillery, and a ossepany of 'has bemoaned to Os the slaty la the Crime. 27hisint is to Ism the Roth division. The division of Goma& UM Misr" sow seestayed at lizthossy, near ai is to imam As Utb division of that army. Two 111 . 111 kf 148.11141 to the km of Paris , the kb on In be sailiest in that division. The of Combos's owl ii to lis reinforced by tii .l 33 hod lid lieldeledid de Menem trifriges, whisk sre to be frogiosd la Wilds by two regissrals of Chewers frost how THE EXP: PRUSSIA. BERLIN. Mszon, 2. The news of the death of the Czar—for such is the general interpretation of the " sudden and alarming illness" where "medical men entertain no hopes"—has spread like wildfire throughout Berlin, and caused, of course, the deepest sensation. Most peo ple believe that he has been poisoned, but I have reason to think that it may be ascribed to another cause, from the following facts which have come to my knowledge, and for the authenticity of which I can vouch, although it is such a delicate subject that I thought it more prudent not to communicate it at the moment I heard it, which was several days ago. When the Czar received the intelligence that Sardinia had thrown off her neutrality and openly joined the Western Alliance, he was so overcome with passion that he raved with impotent rage. His first idea was to imprison all Sardinian subjects residing in Russia, and seize their property and ships. The Empress, in her delicate state of health, received such a shock trom seeing the fit of passion that the Czar exhibited, that she was obliged to take to her bed, from which she has not yet risen. Nobody at tempted to offer opposition, or to place him under restraint, and it was entirely owing to the sensible representations of the venerable Count Nes selrode that he was ultimately induced to give ex pression to his irritated feelings in the circular despatch of the 17th February, which bears evident internal signs of having been penned in a hurry and under great excitement, quite at variance with the usual care and skill which generally distinguish Rus sian diplomatic despatches. How long the paroxysm lasted I am not able to say, but I can assert that it was so exceedingly severe that it was scarcely ex pected he would recover his reason. Under these circumqtances I think I am warranted in expressing the opinion that poison was a superfluous agent in causing the alarming symptoms mentioned in the despatch—or death, according to the general belief— but that they may be ascribed to a brain fever, or another attack depriving him of his reason, and per haps life. We must of course wait for further news from Bt. Petersburg before any speculations can be hazarded on the effect this tragical episode may have on the march of public evente, although it may be safely expected that it cannot fail to produce an important and decisive influence on the weal or woe of Russia's futurity, coming as it does at this present critical moment of European affairs. In the meantime it may be well to inform your readers that there are in Rebels two pretty nearly balanced parties—viz., the old Russian party and the modern German one. The former is headed by the Grand Duke Constantine, and is as fanatic and bigoted in regard to the supre macy and sole existence of the " orthodox church ' as the other (under the heir apparent, Grand Duke Alexander) is moderate and tolerant respecting reli gion, and advanced in polite education and civilisa tion. Should the death of the Czar be confirmed, it is not unlikely that internal dissensions may break out in Russia—ay, even in the imperial family—for the succession, about which, as is well known, considerable doubts are entertained by legal men well acquainted with the rights of succession. These doubts arise from the dubious expression contained in the will of Peter the Great, in which the succession is vested in "the eldest son born to the Czar." Now, it is well known that when Alexander was born the Emperor Nicholas was not the reigning Czar, but that he had ascended the throne when the Grand Duke Constan tine was born. Each party of course puts its own construction on these word,. The Kiog received Lord John Russell yesterday in a private audience, but invited the Russian privy councillor, Baron von Titoff, who is passing through Berlin, and charged with a special mission to Vienna, to dinner. I must, however, add that Baron von Manteuffel gave a magnificent banquet, at his official residence in the Foreign-office, to Lord J. Russell, Mr. Hammond, and the gentlemen who accompany him, to which Lord Bloomfield, Lord W. Loftus, and most of the other members of the corps diploniatique were also invited. Yesterday the following resolution was brought before the First Chamber for discussion and ap proval : The First Chamber acknowledges and deeply re grets the baneful influence of the Sound Dues on the trade and navigation of Prussia, and expresses its confidence that the Prussian government will take every step in its power for the abolishment of the said Sound Dues. "Reasons assigned—the undoubted burden, inter. roption, and disadvantages imposed on the Prussian trade in the Baltic, and so heavily falling on Prussian merchants and shipowners. "(Signed) Hering, Dr. Briiggemann, Baron von Baidenbrock, Fabricins, Groddeck, Von Franken berg-Ludwipdorf, Count von Hardenberg, Count von Hoverden, Count von Itzenplitz, Romer, Krausnick, Piper, R. von Maltzahn, Von Ploetz, Count von Ho dern, Baron von Rothkirch-Trach, Count von Schlieffen-Sandow, Prince von Schimaich-Carolath, Senfft von Pils ach, Baron Von Sobeck, Voigt, Wegmann, Count York von Wartenburg, Von Zander." _ (PROW THZ Upwards of 800 petitions have been sent in to the government by persons who, in spite of the repeated advertisements in all the continental papers, neg lected to present their banknotes of 183.5, which are called in, and were to be exchanged for new ones before the end of January. The amount of notes held by the petitioners is more than 100,000 dollars. It is not yet decided whether the petitions for an exten sion of the term will be admitted. How difficult it is to teach people addicted from their youth upwards to the fallacies of protective duties the practical benefits of free trade may be seen from the fact that it is now under the consulerstion of the Prussian government to lay before the cham bers a bill to raise the consumption duty on salt from 1 silver groachen to 13—equal to 25 per cent. When the reduction took place there was, of course, a deficit in the receipts (amounting to two millions of dollars) in the first year ; but two years later that deficit was covered, and ever since there has been a surplus. In spits of these favourable results it is now proposed to raise the duty ; and should the measure be carried, it is easy to foresee that it will lead to a renewed defi ciency in the receipts, and materially interfere with the consumption of one of the first necessaries of life. Our central free-trade association are keeping an active watch, and will not fail to make the needful representations to the government on the subject. ICAMINITZ-PODOLSKI, PE.. 20. Although, from the vigilance kept by the Russian authorities on the transmission of private correspon dence, it is excessively difficult to smuggle a letter out of Poland, yet from the precautions I have taken— which, however, I am afraid here to communicate—l have great hopes that this may reach you in safety, and if so, it will serve to gip your readers some insight into the present state of Poland. As a matter of course, we are systematically kept in the dark as regards the march of events in Europe generally. Very few foreign journals are permitted to enter the kingdom, and then only in such a muti lated state as to defy even the most ingenious per sons from making "head or tail" of the real state of affairs and public opinion. Formerly the objection able parts of foreign newspapers were blackened over by printing ink, but u some clever people were found eapable of washing out the blackened parts, end rendering the original printed matter again legible, the board of censorship now adopts the more safe method of cutting out the forbidden article, by which means the article on the other side is also ren dered totally unintelligible. But in vice of Vi e vigilant precautions taken by the authorities w i t. regard to foreign journals—for, of course the Polish and Russian newspapers are so cooked as not to give any insight into the real state of affairs—they cannot so completely keep us in the dark as they wooed wish, and people put their heads together and whisper that a change far the better in the slate of unhappy Poland may result from the war, whit& we are taught to believe was = on without any provocation whatever on the part Brimile, merely out of jealonky of the Sourish lag elleidenet theempire, :ea t h e Ka t e of D illennighl befria ooo Viliek. the tahabitante enjoy mist the Lid laws an d Phrnal government of the Cur ' Ulf Tkipsr4l ripest, thit a motion In firm •rln . I i TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 1855. at the re-eistalelfahmeat of Poised as an independent kingdom is going on in E.., and that oar former champion and ally, Fraaoe, is going to mareb an army of 100,000 men to enforee oar independence. We have been so often deceived by promises of sup port from abroad, that it cannot be wondered at if we are rather distrustful of the intelligence, which' perhaps is more in accordance with oar patriotic wishes than the dictates of reason. Still we are fain to entertain hopes of &change taking place, and any change will be for the better. Our little fortress is probably destined to play a conspicuous part in the events of the present war. Measures were taken in the autumn to repair the ramparts and bastions, though in a hurried and in adequate manner; but now orders are given to resume the works in a more efficient way, u soon as the state of the weather will permit, and from the magnitude of the preparations and the proposed ex tension of the fortifications, it would seem to be in tended to raise this place to the rank of a first-rate fortress. In a strategical point of view, the situation of Kaminita, so near to the great fortress of Chotin and the Austrian frontiers, makes it admirably adapted for the establishment of great depots of ammunition and provisions, which have been already formed here. Ever since the beginning of the war we have had an almost uninterrupted suite of marching' and counter-marchings of troops, the exact object of which it is difficult, if not impossible, to understand; whilst I need hardly add that the standing garrison of the place has been raised to as many as it can pos sibly contain, and if you could only see the miserable huts and sheds in which the troops are quartered, and the patriarchal way in which they are clothed and fed, you would readily understand why the Russian soldiers brave death so steadily. Lite offers so few enjoyments to them that they look upon death as a relief. Both the inhabitants of this fortress and the poor serfs on the surrounding estates lead a life that is scarcely bearable. The latter in particular, after being deprived of their waggons and horses, which were required by government to convey the forced contributions of corn and hay to the ,magazines formed here, were actually obliged to become beasts of burthen themselves, and carry the baggage and forage, and drag the artillery and ammunition waggons of the army through sloughs up to their knees in mud, and in the midst of a pelting rain. Of course, all idea of a recompense for this heavy work was out of the question. It is not the system here to give or pay—only to take ! The consequence was, that these poor serfs, deprived of their oxen, horses, and waggons—in which, *generally speaking, con-, sisted the wbole;of their little property—were seen , staggering under loads above their physical powers, till they fell down from sheer exhaustion, and strewed the line of march with hundreds of their miserable dead caresses. I must, however, here add, that since the winter has set in, this state of things is much ameliorated, and the transport of baggage and artillery greatly facilitated by placing them on sledges, which do not require so great an amount of physical power to move. As regards our nobles, I may mention that they maintain a sort of sullen neutrality. Of course they cannot be expected to take any active part in wee. sures only tending to the greater humiliation of this unhappy country, and they look on with a degree of apathy which shows how little hope they entertain of the future. Commerce is completely annihilated, money scarce, provisions dear. Nothing but com plete ruin, desolation, and famine, stare us in the face. Ii Europe could only see us, she could not resist coming to our assistance. FRANCE. DENT or Tlllll DAILY NEWS.) PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Emperor, accompanied by Lord Cowley and M. Drouyn de Mays, arrived in Paris yesterday, precisely at the hour anticipated, half-past six. The Empress went to the Boulogne railway station, in the Place Lafayette, to meet his Majesty, and threw herself into his arms u he alighted from the train. Their Majesties then proceeded, without any escort, to the Tuileries, where they arrived about seven o'clock. There can be no doubt that at the Boulogne confe rence, convened on the sudden is consequence of the Czar's death, matters of the gravest import, requiring instant decision, were treated of. So solemn an in ternational meeting was never before, since the world began, held at so short a notice. The news that Nicholas was no more, reached the two governments on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday, in the day time, Napoleon 111., Lord Cowley Irepresenting Queen Victoria), and the French and English Minis ters for Foreign Affairs, met together to consider what course was to be taken under circumstances wholly unexpected. I have received no revelations of what poised at this great consultation, but 1 can mention ens Important question which mast necessarily have been discussed, and can offer a not very hazardous conjecture of the solution it met with. Immediately after the death of the Emperor Nicholas, the Austrian and Prussian Ambassadors in Paris and London being instructed by telegraph represented that the situation being now so completely changed it was highly desirable not to press on the war, but to Five the new Emperor of Russia time to establish himself firmly on the throne, and to encourage by conciliatory con ,duct the development of his presumed peaceable in clinations. I cannot say whether or not an armistice was in terms asked for, but this much is not doubtful, that the German Powers recommend that the Stait4 gra should be preserved as neszlas possible, and deprecate any assault upon Se bastopol until the Emperor Alexander shall have bad an opportunity of negotiating. Very pressing representations in this spirit were made repeatedly on Saturday morn ing both in Paris and London. I hope and believe that I am not mistaken in expressing a de cided opinion that this attempt of the German courts to persuade the Western powers to lose pre cious time on the specious pretext of an unlocked for opportunity to make peace has not succeeded. I repeat that I have no precise information on a subject, which in all .probability is yet a secret con fined to the two governments, but from the general tone of conversation in official circles to-day, I have no doubt that the real mot d'ordre is that given in the Emperor's private letter, to which I alluded yes terday, " Nothing is changed," and that the °ourse dictated by the manifest duty and interest of the two countries, namely to push on the war with redoubled vigour, and so take advantage of any confusion in the enemy's councils which the recent event may perchance produce, is the course decided upon by the Boulogne conference. The room at Boulogne in which the above impor tant conference was held, was not, it appears, protected by those close shutting double doors which guard the ' secrets of the Council Chamber in the Tuileries. A part of the discussion was so animated as to excite, and partly to gratify the curiosity of persons in the ante room. No entire sentences were indeed heard, but some stray words, pronounced in a tone of con siderable excitement, reached ears for which they were not intended, and conveyed the impression that Lord Clarendon was remonstrating unsuccessfully against the Emperor's proposed voyage to the Crimea. Some doubts are entertained at the Tuileries to-day whether this voyage will after all come off. The Empress is said to be less enthusiastic about it than she was, and the party at court which has always been opposed to the project hopes that the altered circumstances may furnish a pretext to the Emperor for revoking a determination which he would not revoke in apparent deference to advice. It was to be expected that there would be a re action at the Bourse to-day from the extraordinary rise of Saturday. An immense crowd amembled, and many parsecs found it impossible to obtain seam to their agents. The Rents opened. at 70fr. 600., and, after many oscillations with no very wide range, closed at 70fr. 86c., with a fall of lfr. 60a. Rumours of sinister news from St. Petersburg circulated towards the close of business. All the railways fell, several line as mush as 106" lafr., and 206. The affair of gunk. Doudet will corn before the tribunal of Correctional Polio, on Friday nexi. I More than twenty wittier(' far the remand= have already received samisonses. XIITIS.) AMERICAN AFFAIR& (PROs T lIPSOLAIL Mt DAILY NEW YORK, Pas. 21. The steam-ship Black Warrior, which arrived at the port of New Orleans the day before yesterday, brought news from Havannah op to the 15th inst. The whole island bad been declared in a state of siege, and all the porta in a state of blockade. A prc elaniation had been issued, ordering the enlistment of all volunteers between the ages of eighteen and fifty capable of bearing arms. A military commis sion had been created for the eastern portion of the island, and General Concha was said to have sent to Porto Rico for more troops. The British rear-admiral reviewed the troops with General Concha on the 12th instant. A decree was being enforced, prohibiting the sale of firearms and ammunition. From these l and other reports and rumours which reach us, it is evident that the authorities of Cuba have become eariously alarmed in reference to the apprehended Insurrection in the island, or the landing of filibus tering expeditions from the United States. We can hardly believe that the captain-general is deliberately attempting to hoax the world. He has arrested some of the most illustrious, opulent, and hitherto unsuspected men in Cuba, and all his measures indi cate the extremest alarm. He evidently believes that the Kinney expedition, which has been got up ostensibly tor the purpose of colonising a portion of the Mosquito coast, to which claim is laid by Nicaragua and Costa Rica, is on the point of making a descent upon Cuba, in connection with one or more secret filibustering expeditions. 'the common belief, however, is that the captain-ge neral has been successfully duped by parties in the United States or in Cuba, who have resorted to this new trick for inflaming agitation in that island. There is a manifest and growing disfavour of all fili bustering schemes among the American people. We have something more reliable and positive, and far more interesting, in regard to the present state of Mexico. There, things are coming to a crisis. It is reported and believed that Santa Anna's reign is about over—that Alvarez has possession of nearly or quite all the Mexican coast on the Pacific— that Santa Anna's funds are exhausted, and that in his poverty and desperation he is resorting to the last expedient at hand, and has proposed to the Ame rican Minister to sell another portion of Mexico to the United States. But there is no probability that even Gen. Pierce's administration would entertain the idea of purchasing another province from Mexico. None but speculators and those who had an immediate interest in the purchase of the Mullis, Valley, now look with any lavour upon the Gadsden treaty of 1854; and it is everywhere alleged in the clearest language, that we have done quite enough to sustain a despot in the usurpation of abso lute power, and that we have extended our territory in that direction far enough, at least for the present. Mexico is in a distracted, revolutionary, and perhaps • hopeless state. Nearly all the social and political ties which bind men, communities, and states to gether, are there dismembered. There are but three powers in Mexico that are respected or feared. The first is the power of the bayonets of a military chief tain. The second is the terror inspired by lawless revolutionists, thieves, and plunderers. The third, and incontestibly the greatest authority, is that of the priesthood ; and it is safe to say that the catholic priests of Mexico are the most ignorant, degraded, and unprincipled body of ecclesias.ica to be found in the world. So great, however, is the sway they bear, that Santa Anna himself, during the emergencies of his dictatorship, has not dared to provoke the indig nation of the church by laying his hand upon its treasures. He has from the beginning been obliged to court the favour of the priesthood, he hu had the Jesuits on his side, and his sister has just entered a convent for life. There is something exceedingly lamentable in contemplating the condition of the old Spanish provinces in North and South America. They are for the most part, and have long been, in a state of revolution and decay. Never endowed with those vital energies which sustain the Norman and Saxon race, oppressed by the mighty incubus of priestly domination and religion bigotry, robbed and impoverished by viceroys, governors, and captain-generals—rendered impatient and discon tented by the perpetual contrast which they offer to our own republic—subjected to constant incursions and barbarities on the part of the injured savage tribes—destitute of popular education, and iosensible to motives of probity, honour, or truth, these ancient provinces of Spain are fast going to decay, The process of decadence seems to be hastened by the electric movements and elements of our times Mexico especially has lost the little nationality which she once possessed; and Providence seems to have reserved for her no fate except utter ruin or ultimate annexation to the United States. It is not doubted that, at the present hour, the best and most intelli gent pottions of the population of Mexico and the live states of Central America would decide almost unanimously for immediate annexation to our re public. That this will be their ultimate destiny can hardly admit of a doubt ; but it is believed on all hands that such au event should not be precipitated, but be allowed to transpire in the ordinary course of human affairs. To glance at our own affairs. This country has witnessed no such winter for many years. Towards the close of January, a great snowstorm struck our coast from the north east, and whitened the conti nent almost to the isthmus. Before that terrible ,storm had passed, it had covered the United States, through the northern and central regions, with a winding-sheet of frost and snow, from the coast of Maine to the shores of the Pacific. The intensest, the most wide-spread, and protracted cold was every where experienced. The railroads of the west were snowed in. All regular channels of communication were broken up. Railroad trains were stopped in crossing the prairies, and hundreds of passengers so completely blockaded from all intercourse with the rest of mankind, that they were reduced to the verge of starvation, with nothing but dogs to eat; while thiy were obliged, in some instances, to break the ods to pieces to get fuel to keep shivering women and children from freezing. During this terrific season it would have touched the sensibilities of Englishmen to hear the universal expression of sym pathy for the English army in the Crimea. It is the commonly-received opinion that each extreme severity of weather does not often come upon Europe and America together; but, daring those ice-bound days, the American people, in conversations and through their newspapers, were continually speaking of the sufferings of the English army before Sebastopol; and in the places of worship, where religious assem blies gathered on the Sabbath, it was by no means unexpected when they heard the soldiers of England remembered in the prayers of the preachers of the Gospel that, in addition to pestilence and other suf ferings, the British army might not be visited by the desolations of our polar winter. Serious apprehensions have for some time been felt in reference to the fate of Dr. Kane, and his companions in the American exploring expedi tion that was sent out in search of Sir John Franklin. A law has been passed by the United States Con gress authorising another expedition to be despatched in search of Dr. Kane, and the Secretary of the Navy has been instructed forthwith to despatch steam vessels for this purpose. A commission has been ap pointed to select the steam propellers to be used, and they will get under way with all possible despatch. It is cheering to the friends of humanity to see the noble services of such men as Franklin and Bane ap preciated by their countrymen, and by mankind; but has not the time arrived when England and America can well afford to give over this fruitless battle with eternal frost? Are not the objects which have thus been accomplished, secured by too enormous a sacrifice P The day before yesterday the Pacific Railroad Bill passed the Senate of the United States. This bill provides for the construction of three roads across the continent, and grants twelve sections of land per mile in aid thereof. But there is no probability that three railroads to the Pacific will ever be built. The expedition we have had during the - present winter dasonstestes the utter folly of atteniptnig te construct ' any Minted w h atever across this continent an a I higher Minis than 32 dogma. The government has esadessveral thorough surveys for rest's, and theme germs have resulted a obtaining . a vast mount d useful information. But they all go to 'how that it is utterly out of the question to think of building a road north of the central portico of Texas. This is by far the shortest, the easiest, and the beet route. It has already been begun by a com pany working under chartered privileges from the state of Texu; and it will not probably be five years before a great road is constructed from the Missis sippi river, through Texas, to its western boundary, at El Parso. In the Senate of the United States yesterday Gen. Cass delivered his promised commentary upon the declaration of Lord Clarendon in the House of Lords respecting the entire accord of Francs sad England, not only on the matter of the Eastern question, but upon all matters of policy in either hemisphere. As Lord Clarendon had subsequently explained that speech, the remarks of Gen. Cass in the Senate may be considered uncalled for; but Gen. Cass is afflicted occasionally with a species of Anglophobis, which renders it necessary for him to make a long speech against England. THE LIGHTHOUSE QUESTION IN THE 'UNITED STATES. The following passage in a recent letter from our New York correspondent has en interesting bearing on the question of Colonial lighthouses, to which attention has been drawn in our paper by Mr. Alexander Gordon. A new is is being felt in lighthouses, and their mo dern improvements in tbis country. Recently, nor New York Geographical Society listened with deep in terest to an able lecture on this subject by Lieutenant Bart lett, of the United States navy. The chief object of the lecture was to explain the nature and operations of the Fresnel lens, es adapted to the use of lighthouses, compared with other systems. The following brief account of the lecture was carefully prepared: Light•bouses are of two classes. Those of the first class are designed to occupy the headlands of the coast, to aid the mariner in avoiding the dangers which he is liable to en counter when in their vicinity, and ie determining hie course from point to point. The light exhibited by these light-houses should be of the most intense description which human skill is capable of constructing. A series of light houses of this class is in course of erection on our Pacific coast, which is anticipated will be equal to any in existence. The second class is for harbour use, and are so constructed that they cannot be mistaken for lights of the first clue. The first light-houses were constructed on the crest of the Mediterranean Sea, and consisted of large wood fires on high towers. The lights now generally in use in this country are formed en the plan of reflecting, by means of mirrors of different d. seriptions, the light of a large Lumber of oil lamps. This plan has been found very expensive, end far from perfect. The principles of refraction are now applied to lights, under a system perfected by Mr. Fresnel, of the French Light-house Board. To suck perfection Ins this plan been brought, that lamps are now in course of con struction which will render the light of four oue•inch burners equal to 6,600 burners, which could be seen at the distance of fifty miles. The light exhibited at the Crytail Palace, in 1853, and now erected on Cape Hatteras, is coa -1 structed on this plan. There is a similar light on Moro Castle, Havana. Both these, when first seen, present the appearance of a revolving light ; on a nearer approach they look like dim fixed lights, varied thy flashes, and finally throw a bright steady light, with brilliant flashes. A ma i rifler can thus judge his distance from them. Tie light on . Cape Hatteras was originally designed for Sands Key, , Florida, and is constructed so that the flashes are repeated three times a minute, in order that it might not be milt ' taken for the light on the Moro, seventy miles distant. The Fennel lights are very etranomical. They do net l require the same number of burners as the reflecting apps • value, and require no repair, eseept to the revolving ma , chinery. The refracting lenses do not depreciate in value, , like mirrors, which require constant polishing. ' Pretensions have been made by scientific gentlemen in Great Britain, to the honour of making the discovery of s M. ' , Trend, but these Lieutenant Bartlett thought were , easily exploded, and to this business he devoted a few re marks, in which he stated that the improvements in light : houses commenced in France in 1822, and continued down ' to 1847, when they seemed to have reached a perfection not to be surpassed. But improvement; have been made since the latter date, and lights have been constructed which, in , intensity, brilliancy, and duration, are absolutely fabulous. For one of them a ring of glass was required over ten feet in diameter. THE RIOTS AT BALLARAT-GREAT LOSS • OF LIFE. We have advice. from Melbourne bringing further sod important intelligence of the fatal disorders at the gold fields. The following is from the Melbourne Morning Nereid, of Dec. i : A Government Gazette Extraordinary wu issued yester day morning, in which hie Eacellency the Lieutenant- Governor proclaims martial law within the district of Buninyoug, to be in full force from and after 12 at noun on Wednesday, the 6th of December instant ; but it is cape oially des ared that no sentence of death shall be carried into execution without hie Excellency'a express consent. It is further proclaimed that no arms, ammunition, munitions of war, food or supplies, shall be brought within the district of Buninyonir, after the said 6th of December, without his Excellency's consent. A second Gazette Extraordinary wu issued in the after noon. as under: NOTICS —Recent events at the mines at Ballarat ren der it necessary for ad true subjects of the Queen, and all strangers who have received hospitality and protection under her flog, to assist in preserving social order and maintaining the supremacy of the law. The question now agitated by the disaffected is not whether an enactment can be amended or ought to be repealed, but whether the law is or is not to be administered in the name of her Majesty. Anarchy and confusion must ensue unless those who cling to the institutions and the soil of their adopted country step prominently forward. His Excellency relies upon the loyalty and sound feeling of the colonists. All faithful sub jects and all strangers who have had equal rights extended to them are therefore called upon to enrol themselves, and be prepared to assemble at such places u may be appointed by the civic authorities in Melbourne and Geelong, and by the maristrates in the several towns of the colony. " Melbourne, Dec. 4, 1854." "CHAS. Homan. (From our Special Correspondent.) Ahout four o'clock on Sunday morning the military sur rounded the camp formed by the armed diggers at Eureka, in which there were about 200 men. A body of mounted troopers fired over the beads of the diggers, and then the troops poured in repeated volleys, "flitch were returned by the diggers. After firing for about tea minutes the insur gence pulled down their banner—the Southern Cress—and surrendered. The troops ionneoiately ceased firing, and took their prisoners. 123 prisoners were taken, and about 26 killed. I, myself, counted 21 dead hodies, all dead from gunshot wounds. A large number of tents in the vicinity of the battle-field were burned. The casualties on the part of the camp are :-1 private of the 12th ; 2 ditto, 40th killed ; Captain Wise, dangerously wounded • Lieutenant Paul, severely ditto ; about thirty rank and file wounded. At the time of my leaving (2 p.m. yesterday) a large number of persons had been arrested; among others, Mr. Seekamp, of the Ballarat Times. _ . . The correspondent of the Argus writes: " Ballarat, Dec. 3. " At 4 a.m. this morning (Sunday) the troopers advanced on the right of the Warraneep Gully, and another division on the left of the Eureka line, encompassing the camp of the digsen. A shout was raised, and after a sharp firing of about twenty minutes the troopers called to the soldiers, who were advancing, that it was all over. The camp of the diggers was constructed of piles of slabs collected from the neighbouring holes. " I enclose the official return, as known at 9 a.m. To morrow you shall have the real truth. Ido not believe but tint the loss of the military, to say nothing of the wounded, is considerably more than acknowledged. I;ALLARAT, Die. 3,1854.-1 have the honour to inform you that the casualties on the part of the military are, one private of 12th regiment killed, two privates of 40th killed. Captain Wise, 40th, is dangerously wounded; Lieutenant Paul,l2th, seriously wounded. Several privates of 40th and 12th more or less wounded. No official return has yet been made, but the correspondent et the Argus can have it to morrow, by applying at the camp. 126 prisoners made, but the casualties on the part of the insurgents are not known. —I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, ROST. REDS, Resident Commissioner.' "In the case of Captain Wise, amputation is con sidered nectessry, he having received two wounds la the leg. Nearly all the ringleaders are taken. Fifteen an lying dead in the Eureka Camp. Siatesa are danger ously wounded. A German has received five different wounds. The Eureka Camp, as well as the stores and tents in the neighbourhood, have been burnt to the ground. The London Hotel is the chief repository ter the dead and wounded. The troopers swept the diggings, and are making several captures now at the moment of suiting. confiscated property have pawed on the way to the camp. " 10 co.—Several waggons containing wounded and be seen about. The flag_ of the diggers ,' The Southern At present every one is as if stunned, and but few are to Cron; sa well as the ' Union Jack,' which they had to hoist underneath, were captured by the foot police." SARDINIA AND AUSTRIA.—The Rankfort Post Gamete states that the King of Sardinia will shortly aco credit a minister to the Emperor of Austria. Her Majesty's screw steam-ship, Colossus, 80, in Ca p yria rso lto oth bert sound B. Re o :gessa, snaday frele vadag lb• W . ;et ladies. mimed FNENCH FOREIGN EN 4 —The Lauanans Groats states that the second F tt oes reica of France, had already its f %double the number required ha, AMOOg the *Soon ate wt 7 ' *otiose distia- gabihed famiflee. r• 1 1 - sr THE FIFE BRIGADE emizt—Th e tet rgad Ediaa ortu refFiV ougi o t ire rar a ines t zt iatc ydow: re r r.. d ori b fee thit :l 7± 30143441 12 :a . &uteri. BHLGIU Ilel M.—The Bing of charged on Sunday I foe M. H. de Broackere, and him to form a ministry. .% :;: 1