The Press. — London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

An ordinance was published in St. Petersburg on the 10th, with the signature of the Finance Minister, declaring all merchant vessels laden with or carrying munitions of war to be lawful prizes, although sail ing under a neutral flag. In the principalities, Mr. Gardner, the British Consul at Jassy, has received Lord Redcliffe's in struction to leave. M. .Pouillade, French Consul in Wallachia, left Galax on the 4th, on board a Lloyd steamer, for Constantinople. M. de lonian, late Russian Consul-General in Servia, ham gone to St. Petersburg. Ile will pro bably be sent on a special mission to Persia. According to the Jmsr►ual de Constantinople, se veral Turkish merchants have been compelled to leave Ibraila without being permitted to convey their property with them. Only twenty-four hours were given them to leave Wallachia, and they wore com pelled to leave behind several million piastres worth of property. The extended delay accorded by the Porte to Rus sian commercial ships is forty-five days for the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and three mouths for the ocean. The commandants of the Russian forces in the Black Sea have given orders that the foreign mer chant vessels going to ports of the Ottoman empire shall be subjected to search. A great many Russian ships are cruising off Varna. The Turkish vessels find great difficulties on their passage from Constatinople to Varna. Two Russian steamers are stationed ow Galati, and watch the movements of the Turkish ships. The Russian cruisers advance almost daily to the mouth of the Bosphorus. Ali Kiza Pacha, whose corps is in the vicinity of the fortress of Akiska, has occupied six districts in those parts—viz., Kupban, Abastoman, Ashour, ls venda, ichetcheziket, and Kahirtz. T he inhabitants of these districts have readily and with the greatest enthusiasm submitted to the authority of the Sultan. Turkish governors have been appointed, and the new subjects of Turkey display the greatest eagerness in supplying victuals and stores to the Paeha's army. A Hebrew journal of Adrianople says :—" In all the mosques, churches, and synagogues of this city public prayers are offered up for the success of the troops of the Sultan, who combat for the defence of a just right, and in the most noble cause. In addi tion lathe voluntary gifts made by the Mussulmans, the bishops and primates of the different Christian communities have offered to our Governor-General their own horses for the service of the army. A magnificent pair of horses was offered by the Jewish rabbi of this city." The Journal de Francfort, in a letter from Con stantinople, states :—" M. IBaltazzi, who some time since made an advance to the Porte of thirty-five millions of piastres on the tribute to be received from Egypt, has also furnished ten thousand pieces of cloth, and all the wives of the employes in the war department have been set to work to convert it into cloaks for the troops. A large building has been converted into a workshop for the purpose. The fe males of the harem are similarly occupied, although they are not very expert at needlework. Letters from Constantinople of the tith instant, say that the Porte has refused to accede to an armistice, but was willing to join the conference. The Constantinople correspondent of the Dtbats says that the rupture of diplomatic relations between Persia and England is officially confirmed, and that. Persia has concluded a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive with Russia against Turkey. Advises received in Vienna from Bucharest of the lith state that Persia has offered, through Prince Woronzoff, 30,000 troops to Russia, and demanded a Russian general. The Hamburg News, under date of St. Petersburg, oth, says : " Accounts from the Buisian squadron in the l'ltina seas state that on the 6th of August all the vessels of which it Is composed (the Palma, frigate, Oliwara corvette, Westok schooner, and the Prince de 3fensehikojr, belonging to the Russo. American Company) assembled in the port of Loid, and sailed on the 16th of August for Nangazaki. On the 22nd they anchored there, and the crews were re• ceived by the Japanese with cordiality. On the Ist of September the commanding officer of the squadron sent the Niece a Mensehilete to Shanghae, to obtain inform. don as to the state of affairs in China. She arrived there on the Nth September, the day after the place had been taken by the rebels. On the 15th the .I(easeitikt(9 sailed to rejoin the squadron at Nangazaki." The Agamemnon arrived at Malta on the 14th inst. Two British merchantmen, the property of a Maltese house, which sailed with cargoes of coals to the Black Sea, were very roughly dealt with in the battle of Sinope. UNITED STATES. TILE PRESIDENT'S stEssmte. - - - The session of Congress opened on the sth inst., when the President delivered an address of the voluminous character usual to such manifestoes. The followinidis a brief summary of the document, the text of which eitende over five closely-I►riutod eolwuus:—. THE PRESS. " The President opens his message with a thanksgiving for the general prosperity the country enjoys. "The diplomatic relations of the United States with foreign powers are stated to be essentially unchanged since the last assemblage of Congress. The pending questions still under arrangement with some of these states are in course of amicable adjustment. " Negotiations are in progress with England respecting the fishery question, and there are Mir prospects that a mettlement of a favourable character for American fisher. men will he c • to. " The President next refers to questions of au em• hamming nature that have arisen between the United states and England respecting ('antral America. England propottes arninements calculated to ptoduce an amicable adjustment of the matters to be arranged, and the American Minister now in London is at present engaged in the pend ing negotiations. "'Tae President recommends that the boundary line between the United States and the British North American provinces in the nortlewest should be traced Kiel marked. " The message reports that some progress has been made in negotiating a treaty of commerce and navigation with France. " In reference to the piratierd expeditions against the island of Cuba, the message declares that since the last Congress no nttempta have been made by an unauthorised expedition within the United States against the Spanish colonies, and that, should any movement be made with such an object in view, all the means which the President has at his command s h all be vigorously exerted to repress the attempt at any such organisation. " Congress is recommended to make prompt payment of the Spanish claims in the case of the schooner Antialad. " With respect to the Koszta affair, the President declares that, after a careful consideration of the matter, he has arrived at the conclusion that Kozata was illegally seized at Smyrna, and that he was wrongfully detained on hoar.! the Austrian ship of war, and that at the time of his seizure he was clothed with the American nationality. The acts of the American officers under the circumstances are also declared to have been justifiable, and they are fully approved. The compliance with the subsequent de mands of Austria is declined, while the principles maintained by the United States Secretary of State, in his correspondence with the Austrian Minister, Baron Ifalseniann, will on all similar occasions be applied and enforced. _ . " A brief reference follows with regard to the expeditions despatched to China and 'Japan. " The dispute between the United States and Mexico regarding the Mesilla Valley is stated to be unsettled. " The message reports that the United States Minister at the Court of the Brazils has been instructed to negotiate a treaty with that empire by which the navigation of the Amazon may be opened up. " The recent dispute with Pent, arising out of the oc currences that took place at the Chinches Islands, is repre sented to be in a fair way of settlement, Peru agreeing to grant indemnity to the parties outraged. "The Treasury report shows a surplus for the fiscal year of thirty-two millions of dollars ' out of which sonic thirteen mill* of dollars of the public debt has been paid, leaving the present debt of the United Sates at fifty six millions of dollars. The President recommends that further progress be made towards extinguishing the debt of the Union. lie also recommends a reduction of the tariff'. _ _ _ " The navy is declared to be in an inefficient state, and measures fur its improvement are recommendd. " An increase in the army is also considered as neces sary, especially on the frontiers. " The Postotlice revenue is reported to be deficient to the extent of two millions of dollars. "The President declares himself to be in favour of aid. ing the Pacific railroads by all constitutional means; and the message concludes with a brief allusion to the death of the late Viee•President King." Fresh outbreaks of epidemic disease have visited New Orleans. Scarcely had the yellow fever ceased its ravages and permitted the terrified citizens to re turn to their homes than cholera appeared among. and at the date of the last advices had already carried off 114 persons. Kozsta, the Hungarian, has arrived in New Pork, but his presence created no sensation. Mitchell, the Irish refugee, continued in high popular favour, and was running a course of receptions, dinners, public meetings, and speechmakings. His friend T. Francis Meagher is going to California. Melancholy news had arrived from the Salt Lake region. The United States surveying party, com manded by Captain Gunnison, and Captain Kern, chief engineer, had been attacked by the savage Utah Indians. The two above-named officers were killed, together with six of their companions, and only four persons escaped to tell the sad story. The Government was much blamed for not send ing strong military escorts with these surveying ex peditions. Cord anb lastion. That MAJESTY, Prince Albert, and the royal chil dren left Osborne-house on Thursday, at ten o'clock, on their return to Windsor, which they reached be fore two p.m. It is expected that the Court will remain at the Castle until the first week in February next. PRINCE LEOPOLD OF S. Cairn° arrived yesterday on e visit to her Nniesty. The Prince will shortly SATIJIIDAy I leave England for Lisbon on a visit of condolence to his brother, the King• Regent of Portugal. SIR JAMES GRAHAM went to Osborne on ➢fonday evening, and remained on a visit to her Majesty uatil Wednesday. Long DE TABIXY and Colonel Wylde arrived at Osborne on Saturday last, on their return from Lis bon, with letters from the King-Regent of Portugal to the Queen and Prince, and had the honour of dining with her Majesty. IlEn 111.►.IISTY's ROYAL BOUNTIES to a limited number of aged and meritorious poor in vation s parishes and districts of the metropolis have been distributed during the past week, under the special direction of the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner to the Queen, assisted by the Rev. 1)r. J elf, Sub-Almoner, and Mr. Joseph Hanby, Secretary and Yeoman of the Almonry in Ordinary. THE DuciiEss or KENT arrived in town on Tuesday morning from Emgmore. lier Royal Highness visited the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester. house, Piccadilly, and afterwards left London on her return to Emgmore. The Royal Duchess travelled by the Great Western Railway. ViscouNT ANn ViscormrEsti PALMERSTON,. and his Excellency Count Walewski (the French Amba.i_ sador), arrived in town on Saturday from Bowood. Count Walewski has since returned, to remain some days longer with the distinguished party staying with the Marquis of Lansdowne. LoIID ADoLilitlB FITZeLARENcE has arrived in town. THE DrxE OF NMWeAbTLE left London ou Thurs. day for the Christmas vacation. SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH and Lady Molesworth have left town for North Yorkshire, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Zetland. THE MARQUIS AM) MARCHIONESS OF LONDONDERRY have arrived at Wynyard-park from Ireland. THE DUKE AM) DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND will entertain a numerous family circle during the ap proaching holidays at Trentham Hall. Miss BURDETT Conn's, who has been staying at Chantilly, has returned to Paris, where she intends to pass the winter. TIIE DUKE AND DUCHES S OF WELLINGTON have been on a visit with Lord Brougham at Cannes, and purpose proceeding from thence to Italy for the winter. THE New York papers announce that the Earl of Mountcashel had arrived in New York from a long tour through Canada and the Southern States of America. THE DUKE OF HAMILTON has purchased Beaufort house, in Arlington-street, for 60,0(X)/. Iln. 13ANKES, M.P. for Dorset, is about to receive a testimonial in " acknowledgment of his long and dis tinguished services as the Chairman of the Dorset Quarter Sessions." - THE MARRIAGE of William Lowther, Esq., nephew to the Earl of Lonsdale, with Miss Parke, daughter of the Right Hon. Sir James Parke, Knight, was celebrated at St. George's, Hanover-square, on Satur day last. MR. FREDERICK PEEL, M.P., has resumed his duties as Under Secretary for the Colonies, at the Colonial-office, in Downing street. Volitual anb Omni. TIIE REV. A. iiPCAtm, D.D., is elected to fill the chair of Ecclesiastical History at King's College, lately held by the Rev. F. D. Maurice, in addition to that of Hebrew and the Old Testament, which he has hitherto held. Mr. G. W. Dasent, of Magdalene Hall, Oxford, D.C.L., has been elected to the chair of English Literature and Modern History. THE Pster. OF CORN continues to advance in the various French markets, although the supplies re ceived in the different ports are very considerable. This is the case in particular at Havre, where not only a large quantity has arrived, but not less than 30 vessels are expected from the United States, with 240,000 bushels of wheat and 125,000 barrels of flour on board. At Marseilles also large arrivals are expected. The account which for some time back encumbered that market has been lately a Food deal reduced by the purchase of 250,000 hectohtres of corn for Paris. Freights are exceedingly high, andithe charge for carrying the 250,000 hectolitres from Marseilles to Havre is to be at the rate of from 50f. to 55f. the 1,000 hectolitres. The high price of brandies and alcohol has induced the sugar-refiners of the north of France to turn their attention to the subject; and they have been for some time extracting spirits from potatoes, barley, and beetroot, and realising large profits. In fact, it may be affirmed that every kind of merchandise is on the advance in France, and that the present is rather an unfavour able moment for business in general. MR. WILLIA3IS . CONsTITFENTS IN 1...\3113F.TH met their representative in a numerous party at the Horns, in Kennington, on Monday night. The member, in a long speech, gave an account of his parliamentary conduct during the last session, and received in return a vote of confidence for the future.