The Press. — London, England, 1854-04-22 00:00:00

= T . nr APRIL 22, 1854. wooden trough ; the ends of the wires are formed of an elastic coil, and provided with ingeniously-formed hooks, which admit of ready attachment and detach ment at either end of the carriage. The expense of fitting up each carriage is stated to be 175., and the cost of the battery and bell apparatus for each train 21. 10s. The cost of maintaining the battery is merely nominal, sulphate of copper being the only substance used to generate the electricity. By a slight alteration of the arrangement the signal could be made to be given by breaking as well as making the communication, and thus the breaking away of a carriage, or any other interruption of the circuit, would cause the ringing to commence, and .it would continue until the communication was com pleted. This electric signal has been at work continually for the last two months upon the North-Western line between London and Birmingham. It is favourably regarded by the officials of that line, and is now applied by the great Northern Company on the 10 a.m. train from London to Hitchin. RAW MATERIALS OF TEXTILE FABRICS FROM INDIA. AN interestirg paper " On the Indian Fibres Suitable for Textile I abrics " was read before the Society of Arts, at their meeting on Wednesday last, by Dr. Forbes Royal : " India (said the author) was a country of such vast extent, so diversified iu soil and climate, that we might believe it capable of producing every variety of natural produce, and, among these, almost every kind of fibre that was known elsewhere. Among the plants cultivated in India, both the true hemp and flax were extensively culti vated in almost every part of the wide-spread territories of the empire; but in few places were they valued for their fibres, the hemp being esteemed for the intoxicating pro perties secreted by its leaves, and the flax or linseed plant for the oil stored up in its seeds ; the stems of both were thrown away or burnt. Countless loads of valuable fibres were thus yearly destroyed, in consequence of the iguo ranee, carelessness, or prejudices of the cultivators. It was now well known that India possessed various fibres from several fast-growing plants; but of these fibres some were deficient in strength, others were coarse and harsh in texture, and therefore it had been inferred that the heat aid moisture of the climates in which they grew were quite unsuited to the production of good fibres. But this con clusion was hasty, for no distinction was made between what is due to the nature of the plant itself and what to its mode or place of growth. India grew plants in some of its dry and barren plains which were as strong in fibre as any produced in other parts of the world, and, indeed, equalled only in such properties by others growing in some of its moistest and warmest valleys, and all in sufficient quanti ties to be of commercial value. At the beginning of the present century Dr. Roxburgh, then superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, made many experiments on the fibres of India, wrote letters and reports, and sent home numerous specimens. Considerable quantities of linen and jute were also about that time imported by the East India Company. These were at times discontinued and again resumed. Iu the year 1850.51 there were exported from Calcutta, of linen hemp, 7,635 ruaunds ; of jute, 793;299 maunds ; 8,759,185 gunny bags ; besides canvas twine and log-line ; with 518,683 gunny and 3,371 cwt. of hemp and rope from Bombay. Many other fibres which were tried at the same time still remained unknown, though possessed of very valuable properties. Dr. Royal then proceeded to describe in detail the character istics of the various Indian fibres, and their greater or less capability for being manufactured into textile fabrics, rope, and paper ; exhibiting specimens of each, both in the raw and manufactured state. He also gave the. following as the result of a test to which different fibres, in equal lengths and equal weights, from the East India Company's military stores, had been subjected :—Petersburg hemp broke with 160 lbs. weight; Jubhulpore hemp, with 190 lbs.; Wuckoo-nar fibre, from Travaucore, with 175 lbs.; Muda ron Yeretun fibre, common all over India, with 190 lbs. ; China grass, with 250 lbs; rheea fibre, from Assam, with 3.201bs ; wild rheea, from Assam, with 343 lbs.; while Kate Kongra hemp did not break even with 400 lbs. THE IRISH IN THE STATES. THE late American journals appear to attach much importance to what they term a "military organisa tion of Irishmen " in the States, of which the declared purpose is to stir up and aid a rebellion in Canada. The New York Times states that it has received de tailed information of the extent of the organisation, the numbers concerned, and the names of the agents, but refrains from making such information public ; and adds that a " similar scheme is on foot in Ireland." The Times then refers to the "undying and unap peasable hatred of the Irish here to Great Britain," and also to an address just issued by John Mitchel, the text of which is that "England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity." The writer hints that if a public meeting were called in the Park in favour of Russia it would be largely attended by the Irish. This sounds very formidable; but the very fact of thus publishing their intentions on the part of the would-be invaders of Canada and revolutionists of Ireland is the surest method that could have been taken to defeat their schemes. It is more than doubtful whether, under any circumstances, there would be an Irish invasion of Canada ; but there is no doubt that the organisation referred to, after THE PRESS. perhaps making some noise with public meetings, clubs, collections, Sc., will terminate, as did the Irish revolutionary movement of 1848, in mere noise, speech-making, and bluster. The influence of the Irish in the United States is very great, and the offices they hold under the Government are very numerous, to the exclusion of native-born Americans; and this condition of things has called a new power into existence, which will be potential in its influence on all future elections, especially in cities. This new power is a secret association called the " Know- Nothings," entirely composed of Americans by birth, and recognising each other by signs and passwords. Their objects are twofold—political and religious ; one, the exclusion of foreigners from office—the other, war upon the Homan Catholic religion. In a word, the operations of affiliated societies of " Know- Nothings" will be mainly directed against the Irish and Catholic influence. In theory they are equally hostile to adopted citizens of all nations, but the hostility is comparatively unfelt except by the Irish, as very few other Europeans obtrude themselves upon the American public for office. Their American political leaders flatter and court the Irish and Catholic vote in their speeches at public meetings, owing to its great weight in the scale of elections. It is, in fact, the balance of power. It is feared by many people that these secret associations and hostile factions will lead to trouble at no distant day, for the Ameri cans seem very determined in their claims for the public offices, or most of them, under the national and state Governments. latign an &lonia! ittelligentc. FRANCE. The English military visitors lingered on in Paris for several days after that which had been originally indicated for their departure. The interval was occupied in various fetes and shows, some of a mili tary but more of a merely holiday character, in which the Parisian public appears to have taken great interest, while the Emperor Napoleon dis played a sincere desire to perform the duties of friend and host. On last Saturday afternoon his Majesty, accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge, went to Joinville-le-Pont to witness some experiments with a newly-invented pontooning apparatus. AM. Janvier is the contriver, and his bridge of boats was thrown aercss the river Marne. The bridge is some twenty five yards long, composed of forty-five boats made fast to one another, and formed of very slight wood work, covered with waterproof cloth. Its appearance VMS so extremely light that people fancied it unequal to the weight it was destined to sustain; but any doubt on this point was completely set at rest when, without any visible oscillation, or the most trifling accident, it bore a battalion of infantry-chssseurs, a squadron of cavalry, and a battery of artillery con sisting of twelve guns completely equipped. As the troops passed over in succession they shouted "Five l'Empereur I" with an enthusiasm which spread to the crowds who lined the banks of the river. After the passage, the Emperor and his party minutely examined all the details of the construction of the bndge, and made many inquiries on the subject of the inventor. On Monday the Duke of Cambridge and his party visited the picture galleries at the Louvre, and after wards dined with M. Drouyn d'Lbuys, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the evening they went to the Elysee, where a grand ball and concert had been prepared entirely in their honour. The descriptions given of this fete are wonderfully gor geous. 200,000 f. are stated to have been spent solely in fitting up the temporary ball-room. The guests comprised the Ministers of State, the foreign ambas sadots, and the principal nobility—English, French, and foreign—then in Paris. The view of the t,arden from the ball-room on the ground floor, the lofty illuminated trees in the distance forming an immense amphitheatre, with a grotto in the centre, composed of pink and green Chinese lights, presented a coup tteeil of which none but an eyewitness could form an idea, whilst the varied groups tended not a little to enhance the scene. Of the palace itself, the apart ments, all newly restored and gilt with profusion, the furniture of the most splendid description, with the various decorations, together with the brilliancy of the scene, illuminated by thousands of wax tapers from the splendid candelabras in every direction, together with the brilliancy of the various military costumes, and the variety and elegance of the dresses of the fair sex, must have given his Royal Highness and the visitors who accompanied bim an idea that they were present at a " housewarming " unequalled in the annals of France, so celebrated for its national fites. Their Majesties retired about one o'clock, after which the remainder of the company began to retire gradually, but it was not until daylight began to dawn that the whole of the company had left. Dancing, which at the commencement had been almost an "impossibility," was kept up with spirit to the last. 367 Lord Raglan, Lord De Ros, and their staffs left Paris on Tuesday by the Lyons Railway for Mar seilles. The Duke of Cambridge, with the rest of the officers, remained for another day,but finally left on Wednesday—nut, however, for the seat of war, but for another capital, the route being changed at the last moment. Marseilles had been appointed for the port of departure. Telegraphic messages were even transmitted to the authorities there to expect the arrival of his Royal Highness on the 18th, and had made preparations accordingly. A grand banquet was projected and a state box at the theatre magnificently fitted up in the hope that the Prince would honour it with his presence. But it was labour in vain. The Duke of Cambridge selected Trieste for embarkation, finding, it is said, that the alteration would occasion a loss of only a day or two in the time of arriving in the East, while it allowed him to pass through Vienna at the moment when the fifes attending the marriage of the Emperor of Austria were in course of celebration. lie accord iegly quitted Paris on Wednesday, and had reached Strasbourg by Thursday morning, on his way to the Austrian capital. This visit to Vienna was attributed in Paris to political motives, and even occasioned a considerable rise on the Bourse, as it was supposed to show the leaning of the Austrian Emperor to the Western alliance, and to offer the means of further strength ening that inclination. The ratifications of an offensive and defensive treaty with England were exchanged in Paris on Suuoay. This treaty consists of five articles. It has reference solely to the Turkish question, and makes no allusion to any further eventualities which may arise in eonsequence of the war which has now broken out. The Austrian Ambassador at l'aris has left for Vienna, to be present at the marriage of the Em peror : he will be absent ten days. Prince Napoleon left Toulon on the 17th in the Rolland for the East. The Memorial of Amiens affirms that a sixth squadron is about to be added to all the French cavalry regiments, which will make an addition to that force of sixty squadrons. Niue companies of the Ist Regiment of Marines, amounting to about OW men, embarked at Brest on the 11th in different ships of the Baltic squadron. The companies from the 2nd Regiment, destined to complete the expeditionary corps, had arrived, as well as three batteries of artillery eighteen guns strong, from L'Orient. It was not known when this squadron would set sail. The l'urenne, 00-gun ship, was launched on Mon nay last at Rochefort. GERMANY. Great preparations are being made in Vienna for the nuptials of the Emperor Francis Joseph with the Duchess Elizabeth Eugenia of Bavaria. The solem nisation remains fixed for Sunday next, the 23rd inst. The ratifications of the marriage settlements were signed on the 4th, and in due lorm exchanged on the 7th. In honour of these nuptials the Em peror has issued orders that the state of siege in Hungary, in the Seivian Woiwodate, the Temes- Banat, in Galicia, Lodomeria, Kracow, and Buko vina, shall be raised from the Ist of May. Baron Hess returned from Berlin on Tuesday night; the result of his mission is not yet divulged. It is rumoured that the point on which the Aus trian and Prussian Governments cannot agree is the occupation of the frontiers touching on Russian Poland. The semi-official Correspondent states that the objections made by Austria to the draft of the treaty will not have the effect of breaking off the negotia tions, but that the latter will be brought to a satisfac tory termination in a few days. DENMARK. A despatch from Copenhagen of the 18th an nounces that the Ministerial crisis is over; the Cabinet remains. The parliamentary leaders will Le dismissed. SWEDEN. At Stockholm, on the 7th inst., the Commission of Constitution of the Diet decided by a majority of 12 to 11 that the Ministers should be impeached before the High Court of the Kingdom for their con duct in the affair of the simplification of the taxes, which has lately Leen under consideration. SPAIN. A very remarkable decree has appeared in the Madrid Gazette, procured by the unremitting zeal and activity of Lord Howden, and which announces the intention of the Spanish Government to put an end to the slave trade, and to give satisfaction to Great Britain. According to the terms of the decree, all slaves in Cuba are to be immediately registered, after which time any slave found in the island without a copy of the register, containing date, domicile, and description, will be looked upon as fraudulently imported, and declared ipso facto free; and, secondly, the introduction of white labourers is to be provided for and organised. It only now remains for the p