The Express. — London, England, 1854-01-14 00:00:00

Zne enwelso. TO CORRKSPONMINTIL illeled mu. .11be obiapil eb, bblia ~WI .Ciasetbs." is seliimd rem Zweig w ma Trieg siglit, is time kg pod. advertirsiestelstriell far " The Firtese Loudon Efrain paw. swig be bi tb• Ma, lbousrbbauelt, by Tiro Vila* en Os eq SIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tuts Dve—llaming, ...Afticsace, 21. 31g. taatasitew—lionft, !. 11 ... LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 14. We never joined in the cry of those who repre sented the Corporation of London u a den of thieves, and sce therefore have nothing to retract in refer ence to the observations we made during the pogrom of the examinations before the City Coundookos of Inquiry. Our objections to the state of the London Corporation have been confined to the warabereeme and complicated machinery by which the sookipal functions in the City are worked, to the Wisdom of the City from the rest of the metrop olis, to the robotism of . the AblllESWbilkallMindk MOO under a system which preserves so many regulations and restrictions utterly averse from the spirit of modern freedom. We have pointed out defects, and very great defects in the Corporation, but we have Dever cried out for its abolition. We have called for its thorough reform, bat never fur its destruction. We consider every separate municipality as a living p r otest against the system of absorpt ion and centralise tion which would deliver us bound han mineralt into the hands of a bureaucracy. As a rule, the municipality of a town will do its work far better than any Government can do it for them, while the other advantages arising from independent °ogees bons are too great to need enumeration. It is chiefly by the operation of local government that the spirit of freedom, and aptitude for public business, ham been generated and preserved in the nation, and we should be the last to desire that one single local corporation should be destroyed. But any argument that is valid for the preservation of municipalities, involves the supposition that they are well regulated, and no ewe aim has read the pro ceedings before the Cananite= sea maintain that the government of the Cityte eel dell to preimi is this score. If any further eclipse teem amid ea this point than that which appemieillehee WSW% that of Mr. Scum the valialikig awaits of the Corporation, would settle the meter. Thit a groat public corporation should sanction the inheidisins a newspaper to bolster up its interests, or to act it its expositor and defender before the world, is of itself sufficient to excite suspicion that its proem& logs are not of such • character as to challenge sia• amination. The remaining portion of Mr. Scan% evidence is of a similar nature. In his evidence as Thursday that gentleman acknowledged that be was employed by the Market Improvement Com mittee—nut in his official capacity—but se ast dividual in whom the Committee had trust, in gdtlaig up and furthering the opposition against the removal of Smithfield Market. A sum of 2,7501. was ex pended for this purpose, and the committee, " dr parting from their usual mode of procedure," regal:id no details of expenditure to be laid before them, bat were content with his (Mr. SCOTT'S) check ups it. 2,6301. was expended in canvassing, agencies, pro curing petitions, printing, and law stationery charges. The remaining 1004 was expended in payments to gentlemen for " literary ser vices." When asked the meaning of this expression all that Mr. ScoTT would say was, that the gentle men in question drew up papers and assisted the Remembrancer in " a general literary way." The expenditure was confidential. Of course the natural conclusion as to • secret expenditure of this nature, the items of which were not revealed to the auditors of the accounts, would be that it would open a door to abuse. When Mr. SCOTT was asked if such was not likely to be the case, he answered that it did' open a door to abuse; but he did not think that ] the power had been aimed. What possessor of irresponsible power ever did think that he had abused it ? The world will scarcely agree with Mr. SCOTT, and will continue to believe that the expendi ture of secret service money by a body corporate, is prima facie evidence against the justice of the cause which the Corporation is endeavouring to defend. The suspicious taint of secrecy clings to other pro. eeedinge of the Corporation. Why should the City re fuse an inspection of its charters as in the riessiDati field and Co.? The official Serjeant is reported to have said in the course of his STAN% " I should feel it my duty to refuse an imperil* if the charters in the case of a suit brought maid lb City. An individual would not show his tide-dsede, and I don't think there is any difference in such ones between an individual and a corporation." Surely there is this difference at least, that an individual holds his property as a personal right, while a err poration retake its privileges as a public trust. Ike charters of a corporation confer privileges which were intended for the equitablebenefit of the borough orcity to which they refer, not to create barriers by which the community is general can be defrauded of their just rights. The Commission therefore was jailed in asking Serpent Mnaxwrraen—" Doss ft net seem right and reasonable, that whim a or tain claim is founded upon charter, the person on whom this claim is made should have the liberty of inspecting the document on which the claim is said to be founded ?" And the answer to the question —" I hesitate, as a lawyer, to answer a question which is now pending before the coerts"—is simply an evasion. He was asked sot a question of law, but one of equity: not whether snob a practice was in conformity with the letter of the law, but whether it was " right and reasonable." Any honest man who knew nothing of law would have answered the question at once. And in taking shelter behind law, and refusing to notice an appeal to " right and reason," the learned Serjeant virtually ignores the purpose of the Com mission, which is not so much to find out the nature of the laws which regulate the management of the Corporation as the tendency of those laws, and the Whence which they exert on civic and national prosperity, or for Corporation abuses and disgrace. It is of the utmost importance to the right admi nistration of the business of the Corporation that 'eerily should be abolished, and that the accounts and records of Corporation transactions should be open to the light of day. This applies to one divi sion of City affairs which has not as yet been taken in hand by the Commission, bat 'which mast not be neglected if the inquiry is to be complete. The royal hospitals require nein' ate investigation. The fonds arising from the original estates has. et late years, increased enormously in vela*, awl it is matter of the greatest importance that the pulls should have a full account of the manner in whisk they are administered. That the management of these institutions is susceptible of much alteration for the better is generally known, and in the ease of Bethlehem, has been proved sufficiently in the columns of the Deity Ness. The commissioners should turn their attention in this direction at once. EMIGRANTS FROM Mawr:RT.—The number of cougreete, chiefly Genius, hoes the 'bone port daring 18S3 was 15,282, being ea increase over the mending yea of Ih. Of the 15,282, 2,847 left in Belgian mode. L THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1854. LATEST FROM ABROAD. TUE WAR ON THE DANUBE.-DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS. (ST 11113111411X1 AND nosorakx Imassargl PARIS, flaeoartr. The Monitesor of this morning contains the follow ing confirmation of the accuracy of the despatches which we published yesterday, conveying intelligence of a most important victory gained by the Turkish army in Wallachia. The Moniieur mays :—" A despatch from Vienna announces that on Jan. 8, a Turkish divison of 15,090 men with 15 pieces of artillery, attacked the forti fied position of (State, near Kalafat, and took it by storm, with a loss to the Russians of 2,000 men. A reinforcement of 13,000 Russians from Ramat was forced to retreat, after losing 250 men. On the ith the action was renewed with fury, without a decided advantage on either side. On the morning of the Bth the fighting had recommenced." FRANCE. PARIS, FZIDAT EYZNINO. At the bourse to-day the Three per Cent. Relates closed for money at 70.75, and the Fonr-and-a•Halt per Cents. at 99, and Bank Shares at 2,720. The Three per Cents. have rallied per cent. since yester day, whilst the Four-and-Ralf per Cents. remain stationary. FRANCE. . Win, TKOS/DAT EVIINIXO The Momlaw alliebes the following letter, ad ] finned by the Basparar to M. Dana, Minister of eta Marine, dated the 9th: Meaelssr Is lllsMre,—Tbe report, which at say order you bare addressed to se, shows is so favourable a usaaaer the assidevable resoaress el ear navy, that I bastes to testify t o yea my eatlsfaetlee, and to give you so aaegatva eal proof of it, I appoint yea Grad Odom of as Legilm ir i of Honour. I know not bew to tbssk yea eaMeisear baying with a budget so redaesd provided resources, wadi l am allow me from one dey to another to double or triple oa r equadroas. I prey Clod to bays you in bb l hey keep- I tag. Neroutors. The Courrier du Havre states that orders have just been sent to all the maritime ports to put additional vessels in commission. At Lorient, four gam frigates are to be commissioned immediately. The Minister of Marine is organising a third squadron of simsrve, to be composed of seven ships of the line and dm steam frigates. The expense of this extra arma ment is estimated at 10 millions of francs. A new argimisstion of the artillery corps is spoken of as abed to be shortly effected. In place of reckoning, as at present, 14 mixed regiments, comprising at the same time mounted and foot corps of 16 batteries Oath, there are to be 18 regiments—four mounted of batteries, eight mounted of 12 batteries, and four toot of 8 batteries. I mentioned yesterday that the Minister at War had instraoted the generals com pending divisions to take immediate measures for the organisation of the tea new battalions of Masseurs 1 1 104 decreed. By another circular , the prefects and r, military authorities are directed to embody the r second half of the recruits of 1852, called out by the decree of the 6th instant. The Bourse opened rather heavily, owing to the publication of a dispatch stating that the Prussian and Austrian ambassadors at Constantinople had pro htested against the entry of the fleets into the Black I Bea. The news, however, was not generally credited. The first telegraphic quotation of Consols repadag a rise of ith produced no effect upon the market, ami the rente remained for some time dull, at the opening price of 70.25, being 30c. lower than yesterday. Bet when the two o'clock price of Consols was posted at a further rise of per cent., there was a sudden upward movement, during which the Three per Cents. touched 70.65 c. This rise was not, however, long maintained. It was reported that the London market was influenced by a redaction of discount made this day by the Bank of England, and not, according to all probability. by any political news. It was even said confidently that a reduction to the extent of per cent. had been made, and many people thought the Bank would not have taken such a measure at present if any serious uneasiness . ..es felt concerning the Eastern question. The ne,- was, however, I must observe, circulated here before the hour at which the Court of Directors usually breaks up. The Three per Cents. closed at 70.50, with a fall of Sc. The railway market was in a very uncertain state : St. Germain and Lyons rose 10f. each. In the other lines there was but little varia tion. Bank of France was weak, at yesterday's price, 2,690. In consequence of continual complaints of delay in telegraphic communication between Paris and Lon don, an inquiry has recently been set on foot by the government, from which it results that the submarine telegraph between Calais and Dover is as perfect as on the day when it was laid down, and that the wires between Dover and London are also in perfect order. The fault has been discovered to be on the French side. There are but five wires on the northern line for all the telegraphic communication with Bel gium, Amiens, Boulogne, Calais, and London. Two of these wires are habitually used for the London service, but it has frequently happened when the other wires have been deranged, that the London ones have been used instead. Delays of upwards of two hours have sometimes resulted from this prac tice. It appears also to have been ascertained that the action of the telegraph is subject to be impeded by snow, and that icicles serve as conductors from one wire to another. Orders have now been given that two lines of wire shall immediately be laid down underground to Calais, to be used exclusively for correspondence with London. The Eurotas, one of the French packets belonging to the Menageries Nationales, was wrecked on Ja-1 nuary Ist, upon some rocks near the entrance of the port of Alexandria, although she had two pilots ea board. The passengers and crew were saved, and were taken on board the Lougeor, another boat be longing to the same company. A part of the cargo was also preserved. This news was brought to Mar seilles by the Vectia from Malta. The city of Strasbourg, following the example of Paris, has decided that from the 15th of this month bread shall be sold at a reduced price, the bakers beigesesepesesaid by the municip a lity. ,Tsurusl is Villefranche Rhone) states that delof the severe weather been to restore vines, which were supposed to be dying of the epidemic that has devastated so many wine °Dun trks, to a healthy condition. A striking instance is mentioned of a vineyard which has produced nothing tor three years. The proprietor was about to grub up the but stayed his hand on finding them Ffull of sap. amethe says—" The current prices of corn and Writ grain have been steady this week at Paris and k lost of the dDartments. If the demand has been Water in amen markets, the natural cause of it sismato be the difficulty of communication, which in mmil planes amounted to a complete interruption, he ay canal and railway, occasioned by the enor- Neil quantity of snow that has fallen of late. The Wed market supply has been thus completely cut off. Advice. from New York and Odessa announce that ships were still taking freights of oorn and other pun for France." gis Court. WINDSOR. Imr. 13. The Qihtes aid Prises walked in the Homo Park mad slew Ma sosseleg. 110. lam Clinsollir sad Lady Craw/Mk the Marquis liaidirers halkibeey, the SW sad Csas InsW sad Let= e llsrabry, dim Barl Thomas sad dad Loh sa a l l Ei3 Blemisar ha sts Ourre- 7 ‘• et Beath arm w eriAseealla lesssied es tie of ismasay who Mood with her MOW remain, ~Me sod who wire as the thastrksi iereismalsolses. The Daskint wit paesswied, by elbibt kayelAtim, Dow SO/ r te, Rio D•veger Marchisases of Dowatbirs ebb &bumble Metwai. Lbnitnsat-Cionibor •-• the Dater' abortioad, of Tobago. had en inter efew with the Newearele yesterday at the Colonial ..fteeennt Pangaea Mowed to his seat, Broadlands, Safi. on Thunder swiesig. Italltlght Has. filifirry Herbert left town on Thereday dtBllflee WOW Hesse, Salisbury. 10nftellithers for inquiring Into the etate of the of dr shy of London sat yesterday in the Present, the Sight Hon. H. Won t*/ J . Pamiels. sad 0. Carnelian Lewis, Esq. Despetelne be the Governor of Canada were sent yester day mass rent the Osinsial-elles. Tho Bel at Durham has bosons a lessabsr of tha Nawarde, wklda, and 008511mol ellimberat Oen- OVITOe. Mr. lisadlan. ILP., is recovering hell WII poled amides% dad with a pow* el nark* se pa umanot inesassa hes tessives. Mae Dashes' Do. st Cievelsat has arrived at Baby Cud*, awls* w Dsbs awl Deem at Cloralead. TM Menai' sad liarabkmar et Lisisaisny, 11110 him arrived at Wyayasil Citada, as vesides a kw saint friends. The Duchess d'Aumale was confined ea Tbanday week of a wood sea, which received (how when ?) the title of Duke de Bair.—Frond paper. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. The following circular wee yesterday sued to the members of the Liberal party : " Chesham-place, Jan. 9, 1834. " Sir,—The meeting of Parliament having been fixed for Tuesday, the 31st inst., and the present situation of public affairs rendering a full attendance peculiarly desirable, I take the liberty of earnestly requesting_ your presence on that day. " have the honour to be Sir, " Your faithful and obedientRUSSELL servant, "J. ." We are told by the authorities that they want more Mali& Why not send recruiting parties to the Isle of Man and to the Scotch ports? The Manzmen know very well what saltwater is, and would perhaps just now enlist in considerable num bers. There are also good seamen to be had at this season of the year on the shares of Scotland. We have received a letter from Mr. J. A. Roe busk, M.P. for She Meld, in which he states that the current repent, which said he intended to bring before the House of Coss/Gas the question of mule alleged unconstitutional in tortoise's la the govonmaist of this *matey, is unfounded. THE ANNUAL POLITICAL GATHERING AT JIA.VCRESTER. - The tonal political gathering of the free trade and liberal representatives of the two divisions of Lancashire and the boroughs of that county, previous to the meeting of parliament, is this year filed for the evening of Tuesday, the 24th January. The meeting would have been held in the Fres trade Hall, but for the dilapidated state of that building, whisk is about to be taken dew& sad rebuilt. The nessmitp of holding it at the Albion Hotel will con fine the invitations to the were leaden of the party, and it will partake of the character of the "social soiree," held at the same place in January, 1851, when about 250 or 300 of the principal liberals of the county, including most of the election committees for the divisions and boroughs of Lancashire, were present. The topic princi pally dwelt upon was the letter of Lord John Russell, to the Bishop of Durham. A gatheriog of a similar character took place last January at the Tewn Hall, when the prin. dpil subject for consideration was the necessity of a further reform in parliament. The gathering of 1632 was at a Free Trade banquet in November. Reform will probably be the principal object of the present demonstration ; and amongst the members who have steady promised to be present are : Kr. Cobden, M.P., Mr. T. M. Gibson, M.P., Mr. John Bright, M.P., Mr. Jame* Heywood, M.P., Mr. John Cheet r ham, M.P., Hr. Geo. Hadfield, ALP., Mr. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. Crooke, M.P., and Hr. Busse, M.P. Mr. Montague r Field's, M.P., and Mr. Goodman, M.P., have also pro ' raised to be present, if possible. THE LARGEST SHIP IN THE WORLD. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw t elemper Himalaya arrived at Southampton yesterday fore- Mad Seem Landon. She left London oa Thanday morn fig, and avenged during her voyage about 14 miles an I bear. The Himalaya la the largest chip in the world, and h intended for the eonveyanee of the mails between South ampton and Alesandria. A large party, nasisting of many of the dinners and other able( penons eosneoted with the Peninsular and Orissa's' Company, with their friends, came round to Southampton is the Himalaya. It was thick weather isotonic/ over Southampton water, bat about mid day a huge mountainous mw emerged from the fog near the dock•bsoy, which was immediately made out on ahem w ha the Himalaya. She hoisted a signal for the i dab, end steaming up the Itches river, entered the lesiva pod's* sass and soma same alearside, occupying eml Mg a berth wash ussally ossupled by two large Menmses. • Imp crowd of perms assembled ia the docks lis lassie her arrival. While la the centre of the desk hos Imp **beautiful peoportioos meld be Nee Is advestage. MORO ileathamptea people are aeoustomed tense um- Mar slemmere. the amides leagth mad balked the Maui kya etre* every IMO with surprise. She is ship rigged, not heavily so, sad she bow 16 fat of water forward, sad 18 foss aft. Of memo die le light now, bet whim she is heavily Miss sad Lm la the water, the Gasseee of her Snow& be mere etaplaintlethes at peeseLOssleggleg on builloreestassmingslasillot Ibilmeefthaulheed Na peens welkin ipaedie et is eel dews Ileelher Weals ever bar woes ems irk he walk' • saw OM II sees* as hiiim saieSsidirelest, a well-knows deed is issimeglem. will les am see sib of it 23 tbsee•esuied hewn weft "dm *eye. is is se gnat as many it hrge vsebigilken street Sis al* s essenees. The teasel is 86 Ow Is eissnustiONCejei Is remedy noticed oa the desk. • per at envoi la the desk hailoolag ever es lead amid sot be bassi dblemely at the other cad. jig; einiOns will menutunieste the Orden of the ma under le dam end of the ship. On the platform when the eameriOnit is stationed there ars a sides of bells te esmosimie with the sorrow departsesmt. Oa the 111weinfa eaterkeg imalimergeem Water awl male, the saint whir of that wisame, met Os lielemelesked gibe a miehill whim emelembel with the sammer, and email law bees NOMA ass—www, ertflay, .ea, sad ▪ bee hail. Ewan 200 pewesgoe blahs ere es bend of her, 1. et which ere fret Masora wows as large as these it beads; 700 perms sea dime hweelsoly in the slow TM iltherup of theateswer ere wpm* sad the upholstery work k west saps s. All the awleins cost three guineas a yard, mad the dessuk Ave saimaa. The nine' salmis Is a large, elegmet, mad owswitoss apartment, with 'mann' rem eel bath room MOWakag.. The Himalaya is tut ins dip, built by Man, art wet about 150,0001. fats wadi have met meek more had she bees built of weed. The elegises are by Pees, sad us the direst man husk eishme, soh se were fitted late owe of the mew lies-e&leitle ship, the Agumemses for MINSIIIA They week beautifully, sad will gin immense swot. The Eisselays will bring Gibraltar within three abissee, Melte six days, sad Egypt alas daps. She wield take 2,000 seldka a distance as fer as the Caps of Geed Hope is sheet three weeks, sod 2,000 emigrants to Amines is a week: This magnitieent vessel is se yet the crowning effort of a prison enterprise. The appesranos I and means of web • aslossel steamier has bees foretold bat sever Were realised. Vine ears bs se doubt now that the Brat mem will be bridged over by steamers like the Himalaya before keg; at most, however, thee vessel is one of tie wanders of the wield. THE LOW 01 TM EVA 1312A3111.—Urlittli of 401 IL hoe bees naive& Ines& a teat he 1•111111 NO her kn. &hernia, hie WOW WO. Maeda lebe beet, she se seas* eiesaid Nebula K Urn Imam GEILNIANY ! _ VIENNA, FILIDAY. After the late prolonged panic the bourse exhibits a feeble reaction. Closing prioes yesterday : Austrian Five per Cent. Metallic', 911. Exchange on Lon don, 12. Bank Shares, 1,30. The Four-and-a- Half per Cents., 811. Gold, 271 per cent. prem. Silver, 221 per cent. prem. FRANKFORT, TIIIIRBILI.Y. Prices are again rather lower. Austrian Five per Cent. Metallies, 731. Spanish Deferred Three per Cents., 20 1-16. BRAZILS. ••••- LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY NOREING. The South American and General Steam Naviga tion Company's screw steam-ship, Lady Eglintoe, Captain Downward, arrived is the Mersey late last evening from the Brazils. She has brought 6,000 dollars in specie. Her dates are Monte Video, Nov. 22 ; Rio Janeiro, Dec. 10; Bahia, 16; Pernambuco, 19; St. Vincent, 28 ; end Lisbon, Isnuary 8. A rupture had taken place in the Monte Videan Ministry, which led to various resignations. In the Interior, Blanco's party took up arms against the government, atd seized the village of Calonia. The authorities were obliged to retire to Buenos Ayres for safety. At Buenos Ayres business had assumed a satisfac tory aspect. A new commercial tariff was to come nto operation on the Ist of January. The duty oa articles of import was to be modified by the provi sions of the measure. Exchange at Monte Video on London was quoted at 411, and at Rio Janeiro 2%. The next mails for the Brazils and River Plate will be carried out by the Olinda screw steam ship, Capt. Harem, belonging to the same company, which sails from Liverpool on the 24th inst. THE WAR. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. Much doubt still pads respecting the terms . which the Porte bee Nesmated to treat fur peace. The announcement of tin Moo si teur that the Ports had "adhered to all the prepositions of the Four Powers" is far from satisfactory, since the public was informed a week before by the same authority that the Divan and the Ambassadors were at one respect ing the terms on which peace should be made. Had the Ifonaeur stated that the propositions referred to were precisely those inscribed in the published collec tive note, all uncertainty would have been removed. But it is doubted in some quarters and positively denied in others that the Porte has accepted either the renewal of the treaties or the armistice. A very her days must clear up this winery, and also Cus substantially in possession of the s *newer to the entrance of the fleets labs the Black Sea. On this latter point inhresess have been drawn from the language of the semi-ollielal organ of the Austrian government, which are, perhaps, open to correction. The Oest. Corres pondent has once or twice assured the German radio that the explanations of the British and French governments on one aide, and the pacific disposition of the Cur on the other, divested the entrance of the fleets into the Black Sea of all danger u a provocative to war. But events have shown that, however well qualified the Austrian organ mar be to speak for the designs and spirit of the English cabinet, it is not competent to predict with certainty the some of the Cur. When Reechid Paella gave intelligibility and meaning to the first Vienna note the Austrian government, through the Correspotidess, assured the public that the modifications were of so trivial a character that no exemption would be taken to them at St. Petersburg. Other errors, the results of exaggerated optimism, might be quoted. The transports for conveying coal to the English squadron have set sail from Malta for the Black Sea. They are bound for Trebisond. The Correspondence of Berlin of the Bth states that Count de Reiset had passed through that city with &apaches for St. Petersburg. He remained 24 hoses In the Prussian capital, and was presented to Y. de Mastoids' by the Ambassador of Prance. The OnvegoseidenCe states that the 4E: of If. de Relit amnesia the ultbsetem le or or re. t=el erbish detonable dm of the sad liag will lisk govermanite. 1 1: potato whisk it ceeteies is, sagetbe 6=l cos direszing the neutrality at Os Black 11111% TM °awe Gessaa is Mimed frees Berlin tbel the Airdrie* oddest hes meied M ommemanhate is Resole the Masai the segeolellems Sewn ibal have boa meioses& at Ormemotangis Abe mime. takes this, beams she is more beleemlal la the Fastme gelation than Prank is, std boar the is est es toms et hostility with Be,ond es lbs Western Powers are, by their acoupatime of the black Bea. The military operations will matioas, in conformity with the desire of the Porte and Bemis, during the segeoistisam ler pesos. It is set believed that them aegoeistime will be of say sliest, seeing that the =se lasholes will her assent to revise the hawses Rada sad Turkey with the arege= al the gismigoesetlasies of the ether powers. Itis est bolieml that Ramis will declare war whoa ties 'sited Mesta shall have entered the Black Sea, bet it is those& that the Russian troops will aces the Danube as soon as the season may allow of it. The Swiss Federal Diet resumed its sittings on the 9th inst. in both assemblies. M. Plods, the Presi dent of the National Council, remarked in his opening address that the conflict between Ticino and Austria, which is of ten mouths' duration, was still pending, and the sufferings of the Ticinese required that some steps should be taken without delay for their relief. The Federal (executive) Council would shortly make a report on the affair. M. Labbardt is appointed to mode over the Federal Court before which Contini, the Austrian spy, is to be arraigned. DEATH OF M. ARMAND BERTIN. IL Armand Berlin, the principal editor of the Jammed dos Data, and one of the most eminent, expe rienced, and respected members of the Parisian press, died oa Thursd morning of a quinsy. The event is thus no ticed by ) L. Silvestro de Sag, in the columns of the Detests : We have at this moment been cruelly stricken in ens dearest and oldest affections. lie whom we all loved to ma upoller, hu been carried away this moraine/ a 'lamb same eaddea. His friends deplore his lose Ist bitteraelsoad Mis ant for them alone to whom his death is at irrefeirrii• y. Wo have neither the power nor the heart le asp *da We will only add that those who Mee se lees shwa his labours and received his direction sad asssea, will lad in the remembrance of him an im palas which will enable the to continue his work, and nes render the ben homage to his cherished and respected asmory." SPAIN. Aomeding to medical bulletins inserted in the Kafiri! &netts, the newly-bras child of the Queen, whom &MI has beta amaouseal by telegraph, had a washes* is the ammo system which prevented her knee lolchag thobrout. The Queen had no ides, boorover, of her bike is a dangerous state. On amount of the 'We InMepodtion, the baptism was set tweeseded to. A's Deem was sung, on the 6th, ifischurch of Bela *irla, for the delivery of the QUOIN sad it was Mamba by the municipal counciL The Qom was goliag ea well. M. d'Arjoson, attach. of the Free* embus', bad arrived from Paris with fhe olleial ratification of the treaty on literary progarly. None of theeppos'don journals made allusion to the Queen's ent, a line of conduct which was thought so scandalous that the ministry had, it was said, resolved to suppress the whole. The Heraldo seems to invoke each a measure when it declares its confidence that "the government will know how to fulfil its duties with a firm and vigor ous hand, and punish an act which has filled all true Spaniards with horror." AU the government papers appear to be indignant at these and other demonstra tions which with signal disloyalty they pretend are 1 .1 direc ted &Oast the Queen, when in reality the un constitutional and arbitrary system of government which the present cabinet, like its predecessors, is carrying out, is the real object of hatred. GERMANY. The Alusgrioa Correspondens, of the 9th instant, publishes a very important article on the Eutern question. Having confirmed the fears inspired by tLe circular that appeared in the Moniteur, it repeats anew, that Austria will resolutely insist on the pro mise given by the Czar to respect the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. For the rest, this integrity is guaranteed in an absolute manner, whatever the chanties of war may be. The general tendency of the article is to show that Austria's best line of con duct is to persevere in her strict neutrality, with reservation of further reflection, in case there should be a violation of the integrity of Turkey. The Cologne Gaulle publishes a letter from Ber lin. dated Jan. 9, which states that the conspiracy of the secret society of Posen not appearing to be of any great magnitude, nor calculated to excite serious alarm, there will be no conoentration of troop in the province of Posen. ITALY. CONDITION OF SICILY. Oar correspondent writes: PALERMO, DEC. 11. I am now able to give you some information on the state of Sicily; which it is impossible to do whilst at Naples. The Neapolitan official journal rarely men tions the island dominions, and by any chance records what is taking place here. Sicilians gene rally are not allowed to visit Naples, nor are the Neapolitans permitted to go to Sicily. Post-office communications are narrowly watched, and every difficulty is thrown in the way of intercommu- nication. You have not been half an hour in Palermo before you are aware that the government of Sicily is essen tially military. Round about the Vice-Royal Palace cannon are placed ready pointed on the town. A strong military guard is always ready, the town is full of soldiers, many of which are Swiss. Your arrival is of course known to the police ; you are therefore honoured with spies, who are sometimes, i however, pointed out to you by those who have a sympathy for England and the English, which forms the majority of the people. News from the East is now eagerly demanded. I was surprised to find so teeny persons quite " up" in the Russian question ; and knowing everything that has taken place, although not a newspaper is allowed by law to come into the island—that is for Sicilians. Indeed, lam told if a Sicilian were to subscribe only to a foreign journal, it would immediately cause him to be sus pected by the police. There is an appearance of poverty and discontent in all classes. The guaran i tine has added greatly to the existing misery. Those who have money spend as little as possible, and it is generally believed that large sums are hidden away. The Sicilian public funds are not in favour, and beyond what the government trades with, and tries to put in circulation, there is little doing in public securities, particularly the loan, which is illegal, and was created by a decree of the King. The Lord-Lieutenant, Prince Satriano, stands in higher favour with the public than I had expected to find him. All agree in saying they are sure the King could send them a better governor, although he might favour them with a worse. A great number (some say hundreds) have been shot since 1849 for concealing arms. Some of the un happy men were, no doubt, perfectly innocent of revolutionary intentions, but it appears to be the policy of the governor to intimidate by making every now and then a public example. I have heard some very cruel stories about these executions. Men have been arrested in the streets at night, and shot the next morning, on very slight grounds. One poor man died from fright who was to have been shot , a few hours after his arrest. Beyond this unpardonable exercise of force Prince ' Satriano appears to be really anxious to improve the condition of the island. But his Excellency meets with no encouragement from Naples; on the contrary, he is continually thwarted whenever he pro- 1 poses material improvements, such as the con struction of new roads, 8:c. On a late occur rence he threatened to retire from the difficulties he met with at Naples. On such occasions the King comes in and patches Pp the affair; bat I suspect his Sicilian Majesty does not want the prince to become too popular, who is inspired to be more severe than he really is. There is a Sicilian minister in Naples who is supposed to be a sort of ambassador to the governor ; but, in fact, Prince Satriano communicates with the King directly. He has suggested, on several occasions, I am assured, agricultural improve ments and public works, calculated to advance the prosperity of the island, but with no effect. The present government 'of Naples is a government of priests and policemen, alike opposed to reason and humanity. The Sicilians ' are highly taxed; as far as lean learn each man pays labout 20 per cent. of his income to the state. There are from 12,000 to 15,000 soldiers in the island, in , chiding two regiments of Swiss. The police machi nery is very extensive ; there are spies for all classes. Many of the most important and intelligent Sicilians are still in exile ; nor do they desire to return under the present system of rule. Many of the nobles, from prudence, hold some trifling office under go vernment. The King is detested by all classes. I have not heard one Sicilian speak favourably of his Majesty. On the other hand I do not trace any sympathy for republicanism. The Sicilians appear to me to un derstand the blessings of constitutional government, and speak with an intelligence about the same not to be met with in Naples. Nor is this perhaps re markable. Their history is identified with represen tative rule, and no one will deny the modera tion and progress which characterised the par liament of 1848. A Sicilian said the other day, "We want an open government, because we know that under the present system we cannot work the endless natural riches of our country. To this day we have no good roads even to connect the capital. of Palermo, Messina, and Catania. We cannot work oar mines from government difficulties. The resources of taxation are spent on an idle army —we are a weight rather than a benefit to the conti nental dominions." Five years of the present government system, dating from the triumph of the royal troops in 1848-9, In Sicily, find the people as discontented as they were before the revolution of 1848. The King is more unpopular than ever the country is poorer ; the desire for change the same. An European movement would again light up revolution in Sicily, and the army would spin run away no doubt. But no one hopes for a timely antication of such evils whilst Ferdinand IL reigns. It seems to be the fate of the Bourbons to sleep on their thrones until they fall to pieces. Those who approach his Sicilian Majesty with wholesome advice are ill received—those who whis per falsehoods with the tongue of hypocrisy are lis tened to with an approving smile. The Cologne Gazette contains &letter from Berlin, which says : The Russian government has the project of developing the commerce of Siberia, particularly on the frontier of China. A commercial company is to be formed consisting of the Cossacks of Siberia, and composed of 200 members, with power to add to their number, should the minister of war approve of such augmentation. Every Cossack on en tering the company is to pay 67 silver roubles and 50 ko pecks (about 26010 to forma capital for the troops of the line in Siberia, but he is himself to be e exempt from service. The Cossacks are to remota thirty yars in the company, and each one is to pay 80 roubles and 60 kopecks (about 3501 r.) every year. When that period has elapsed, they will not have to pay any further sum. The company is to be administered militarily, and will have the same attribu tions as the commercial courts of the Cossacks of the Don. There are already among the Cossacks of the Don commer cial companies, organised on the same principles. Itis known that the commission for Siberia is charged with the task of paying attention to the commerce of Asia, and par ticularly to that of Chios. COALS.—• There were only nine cargoes for sale at Wednesday's market, and as the few loaded ships which have escaped wreck, are either locked in the harbours or driven to Leith Roads, still higher prices were obtained. Best coals were 38c, at which price a large gas company bought. Steam and manufacturing sorts were 30s. As every ton of coal, large and small, that could be raised in 1853 has been got rid of, and nowhere are there any stocks ea hand, we do not see how the produce can be increased till more pitmen are formed and more collieries won.— Newcastle Chronicle. Jan. 13. CITY CORPORATION INQUIRY. Yesterday the commissioners met in the Privy Council Chamber, Mr. Labiuchere in the chair. Mr. fierjeant Itereweather, in continuation of his evi dence yesterday, said the quorum necessary to constitute a committee of the Common Council is forty, and I have known less than that number to be present at the first meeting of the committee. I stated yesterday that there was a charter which would enable the corporation to modify the customs of the City. I have now brought with me the extract of the charter which enables them to That charter is dated May 28, 1341 [lsth Edward 111 j • (The witness read the extract.) I think under that charte r the corporation could make changes within their own hod, but they could not interfere with an act of parliament. }'o r instance, the corporation could augment the number of aldermen if they thought it czpedieat, but they could not create a new ward. They tried to do that but foiled. It by been said that Southwark constitutes what is called the ward without. But that Is a total misapprehension of the fact. It is not a ward at all. At one time as alderman (Sir J. Ayliffe) was elected for a ward of that name, and there was an attempt to elect common councilmen, but it proved quite abortive. I em not aware that of the 120 charters of the city of London there is a single one which is not in force. None of them has been surrendered. They were seized under the celebrated Quo Warranto of Charles 11., hut were subsequently restored. Tee City have property in Southwark ; they derive that under charter of Edward VI. The gift of the property was coincident with the larger jurisdiction then given to the City in Southwark. I don't think any distinction can be drawn between the tenure on which the corporation hold this property, and that which they hold is the city of Lon don. The citizens of London undoubtedly paid a money coasideration to the crown for that property end the juris diction which went with it. The charter of William the Conqueror made the citizens of London " law-worthy;" the effect of that was to recognise their freedom and to enable the sons to inherit the property of the father. That charter was written in Saxon and translated as follows: " William the King greets William the Bishop, and God frey the Portreeve, and all the burgesses within Landon, French and Eaglish, friendly. And I make-known to you that I will that ye be lawworthy as ye were in the days of Ming Edward. And I will that each child be his father's heir after his father dye. And I will not suffer that man eommand you any wrong. God keep you." The witness referred to several subsequent charters granted by the Kings of England to the corporation of London, all of which recognised and confirmed the rights and moms of the City. With regard to the Common Hell elections, a man must be a member of the livery of a company as well as a freewill of the City to entitle him to vote. In ward elections an elector need only be free of the City. I see no objection to the establishment of one uniform fran chise for the whole city ; and in saying that I speak the voice of the corporation itself. Indeed they promoted a bill in 1852 for that purpose. I conceive that the different existing franchises in the City arose Irom circumstances. The poll for the Common Hall elections is kept open for seven days by a strange misconception of the act of parliament in my opinion, which merely says that the poll may be aept op. n for seven days. That has been deemed to mean that it shall be kept open for seven day". My opinion is that the sheriffs and secondaries could close tho poll before the end of seven days, if they had reason to believe that no other voters were coming up, and if they gave due notice of their intention. There eau be no doubt that it would be desirable to shorten the time of polling. The Chairman—lt has been stated that corruetim to a great West prevails at the Common Hall election', and that this is owing to a great extent to the fact that the acts of parliament against bribery are confined to parliamentary elections. Witness—l believe that is a true view of the case ; but bribery is still punishable at common law. There can be no doubt that the keeping open of the poll inert ascii the expense of elections. When a man came to poll at the Common Hall, the polling clerks had no list of the livery men by which they could identify him. If the bill of 184 were carried there would, in point of fact, be but one fran chise for the city—a 10/. household franchise. tinder that bill occupation would not be necessary. That clause was drawn to meet the peculiar nature of the holding in Lon don. The object of the bill was to extend the franchise. It was vigorously opposed by the livery. I wee present • during the evidence given in support of the preamble. I certainly thought the preamble had been proved, but when the committee of the house opened their doors we were told, to my surprise certainly, and I be lieve that of all who were present, that the preamble was not proved. This was before a committee of the House of Commons. Mr. Bramston was the chairman. Mr. Smollett, a Scotch member, and Mr. Cottony, an Irish member, were members of that committee. When that bill was lost notices were sent from the chamberlain's office to compel the inhabiunts to take up their freedom. These notices were seat in great number. The object was not to make money by this proceeding, but to increase the constituency, which had been decreasing for some time to a great extent. The Chairman—When these threats were cent from the chamberlain's office, was any distinction made as to persons. Witnees—They were not threats. The Chairman—Well, hints then. Witness—l apprehend not. They were sent to those who were supposed to be in a position to take up their freedom. The Chairman—Would it not seem somewhat arbitrary to assume the power of judging who were end who were not able to take up their freedom ? Witness—But, as I said, the real object was to increase the number of electors, and not to raise money. A consi derable number of the livery would be disfranchised if the bill passed. The non-resident liver; men, and those who had not kept up their connexion with the City, would be disfranchised. If that bill passed, the bye laws which now affected noa•freemen would be abolished. No butcher or other tradesman could then be harassed for the non-em ployornt of freemen. With regard to the metage dues charged by the City of London, they were levied by pre scriptive right confirmed by charter and act of parliament. Mr. Lewis—Arethe dues so levied reasonable in amount? Witness—The question of amount is now under con sideration between the corporation on the one hand and the corn factors on the other. They . are now of very different amount on different articles; and the desire of the corporation is, that they should be simplified, and, if possible, one uniform duty charged, to be paid by the seller, and not partly by the setter and partly by the buyer, as is now the case. I have no doubt that primarily these dues were given, not for the purpose of meow a revenue, but for purposes of convenience, for which the corporation, who were the instrument', were to be moderately remunerated for the trouble. Mr. Lewis—How can it be reconciled with that view of the case that the corporation insist on the right of meting the corn of persons who bring their own corn to London, and wish to have it measured by their own tempts ? Witness—That is a question now before a court of law, on which I ought perhaps not to express an opinion. This trade is a new one in its present form, and the fifth* of the corporation is derived from ancient times. I ought to say that the matter is now under the consideration of the cor poration, and I have no doubt that they will be disposed to meet modern wants. The Chairman—But the maintenance of these rights has already led to considerable expense. Witness—No doubt. The maintenance of rights, when resisted, always leads to considerable expense. The Chairman—But as these rights were given, not for the purpose of raising a revenue, but for the general inte rests of trade, and the public, should not the corporation be ready to " make provisions" and alterations from time to time, to meet the wants of modern times ? Witness—l am sure the corporation, when a fair case is made out, will be ready to listen to it. But when the cor poration are possessed of a right, and have continued to en emies it, I think they are justified in not allowing any par healer individual to set those rights at nought. The cor poration have a right to look for compensation in cases where they are called on to abandon rights which they have exercised up to the present time. The Chairman—But would you place the cave of a cor poration who exercise rights for the public benefit on the same footing as that of a private individual, as regards compensation ? Witness—l confess I can see no distinction. I sever looked upon the corporation in the light of trustees. With regard to the metago on corn, I believe the corn merchants desired that it should be still obligatory on foreign corn,. and that it should be optional in such cases as that of Combs and Delafield. As I have said, the subject is ander consideration. A great deal of evidence has been taken by a committee of the Common Council , They took evidence 24 days. and examined 67 witnesses in terested in the trade. The result, I believe, will be that a bill will be introduced into parliament with the consent of all parties for the settlement of this question. The duties of the meters were very prejudicial to health, and I believe that their remuneration, if anything, ought to be increased rather than diminished. Tee right of porterage is also a prescriptive right, and is traced back las far as the City documents extend. It is a prescriptive MOO depending upon usage. Mr. Lewis—Then ought it not to be confined within the )its of the City proper ? Witness—That would also depend on usage. I believe thrigehrigt of ft metage, which w ra h g i e ch is ex te n ld ds to fr b o e m eog iu st i r e s . iv t e o I I believe it is very important for a considerable part of the I trade of London that there should be persons under . regu lation and oath, who would be ready at all times for the unloading of ships. The Chairman—Don't you think that there would be at all titres in the port of London a sufficient number of men to discharge the duty of porters ? Witness—l believe there a considerable difference of opinion on Oast point amongst the corn merchants. I don't know precisely hoW this is managed in other lugs ports of the kingdom ; but I don't think you can draw any analogy between any of these ports and the port of London. an ith tle th tt e . In the port of London there are three classes of porters: those who go with the meters, the tackle porters, and the ticket porters. The metage is in proportion to the size of the ship. Generally one meter and four porters are em ployed; but in the case of large ships one meter and sit porters are employed. Mr. Lewis—lt is quite conceivable that there may by a classof services which should be performed in connexion with the meters, 'out it does not follow that the corpor ation should have t: o s monopoly. Witnet.:a—The fellowship of porters are a distinct bo d y. and . .orm no part of the corporation. 1 apprehend it e Mt Corn Pan 7 the I dray mak rem'