The Press. — London, England, 1853-08-06 00:00:00

AUGUST 6, 1853. man, Don Gabriel Alguacil, but, as usual, give no satisfactory account of the numbers killed or wounded. CANADA. The first train on the new line of railroad be tween Montreal and Portland arrived at the latter place on the 16th ult., and was welcomed by a salute of 30 guns. The coroner's inquest on the ten men killed during the (lavazzi riot at Montreal has ended as everybody expected, the jury not having been able to agree on a verdict. This inquest lasted nearly a month, and a large mass of evidence was taken and published ; Rome of it of a most conflicting character, and reveal ing undeniable perjury, not on mere details but on the main facts of the case. This inquest had almost absorbed public attention for some time past. The crops in Upper Canada are not likely to be very full this year; but the quality promises to be very good. Prices were very variable, being much affected by the news from Europe. CHINA. The following letter, which is dated Shanghae, May 31, gives some interesting particulars respecting the progress of the rebellion in China : " Everything lately has been going on quietly at Nankin, but there is no doubt that the rebels are gaining ground daily ; the more I hear of them the more I am led to be lieve they are an earnest, determined people. The prospect, however, of their settlement as the Government of the country must be very uncertain, and is rendered the more so as in the south of China two other rebellions have sprung up ; one at Amoy, which place they have taken, and there set a guard for the protection of foreigners— that is, English and Americans, &c. How it will end the wisest cannot say, but there can be no doubt that the empire under the Tartar rule and the mandarins is draw ing to a close. " We are on the eve of startling changes in China, I am sure : they will not be long in coming. Let us hope that good will result, as I hope it will. The rebels at Nankin requested us to go up and trade with them ; they are anxious we should do so, and provided we would go they promised us protection. " The mandarins are making some efforts by buying English ships and giving the command to English and Americans, with as many English for crews as they can collect; but these men are hired at enormous pay, and do not expose themselves to more risks than they can help ; as to fighting, they intend to do nothing of the kind ; they go merely for their pay, and take care and do little or nothing. "The Emperor's army is diminishing daily, for they bolt as their pay ceases, which is the case with many ; their expenses are enormous, with a decreasing revenue, for the people plainly refuse to pay their taxes, and the man darins in such times have not the power to make them. In fact, the Tartar rule is dropping to pieces, from their weak ness and natural causes, the result of imbecility, dishonesty, lying, and cruelty. Under proper rule the Chinese would become one of the first, most enterprising, and most suc cessful nations upon earth. Many differ from me, but I consider Chinamen, as a body, the most talented people have ever seen, and are very far superior to my own countrymen in many qualifications. All they want is education, good government, and protection of the law in that which is rightfully their own ; give them this and they will rise rapidly into an important and civilised nation. They are not a fighting people, but commercial, persevering, and enterprising. The more I see of them, the more I admire their ability ; but I must admit them to be the most unexceptionable liars I have ever seen ; beyond pilfering in accounts ( what we call at home a per-centage), they are honest as a nation—very much so—but in all accounts they will strive and squeeze when they can." Court an ataskiou. HER MAJESTY returned to town on Tuesday from the Isle of Wight. On Wednesday and Thursday the Queen had dinner parties at the Palace, and on the latter day visited the camp at Chobham. THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS or WURTEM BERG (Grand Duchess Olga of Russia), who left Stuttgard on the 30th ult., reached London on Tues day, and were received by the Queen in the course of the following evening at a Court held specially for that purpose in Buckingham Palace. HER MAJESTY was pleased to stand sponsor to the infant son of the Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, who was christened on Wednesday in the private chapel in Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty named the infant " Victor Alexander." The other sponsors were the Duke of Sutherland and the Marquis of Westminster. The baptismal service was performed by the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell. Two PRINCES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF PRUSSIA are expected shortly to visit England—namely, Prince Frederick William, heir apparent to the throne, and the Prince Adelbert, Lord High Admiral of the Prussian navy, who will visit Portsmouth to inspect a small squadron of that nation about to refit at that port. It is rumoured that at no distant period the preliminaries of a matrimonial alliance will be arranged between the Royal Families of Great Britain and Prussia. THE PRESS. HER IMPERIAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS OF LEITIITENBERG, eldest daughter of the Emperor of Russia, has returned to Torquay from a short visit to London. THE ROYAL. EPIDEMIC of the season, the measles, has attacked the King of Hanover and two of the young Princesses. The Princess Royal of Belgium is also said to be suffering from the complaint. WE regret to state that the Countess of Minto died on the Ilnd ult. near Piedmont. Her ladyship was the mother of Viscount Melgund, Lady John Russell. and Lady Elizabeth Romilly. LADY HOLLAND gave her third and last reception for this season at Holland-house on Monday evening. Atm! anb titntral. THE MINISTERIAL WHITEBAIT DINNER IS fixed for the 13th instant. THE HON. HENRY GEOROE Ett.toT, brother to Lady John Russell, has been accredited as charge d'affaires at the Hague during the absence of the Hon. Ralph Abercromby. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. SHEIL, her Majesty's Minis ter in Persia, has arrived in this country on leave of absence. A QUEEN'S MESSENGER left town on Wednesday evening for St. Petersburg, conveying the instruc tions to Sir Hamilton Seymour alluded to by Lord Clarendon in his speech on Tuesday. THE HEAD COMMISSIONEIt of the Statute Law Consolidation Board is to have 1,000?. for one year certain, and four other commissioners 000/. a year each. GOVERNMENT PROPONF. TO VOTE 3,5001. this year for the purpose of providing a portion of the salary of the Governor of Jamaica. The entire salary is 5,0001., of which 3,500/. will be voted annually for three years, on certain conditions, the colony pro viding the balance of 1,5(M)?. Mn. Lons HENRY BIEVRANT is appointed Resident Magistrate of Stockenstrom District, in the division of Fort Beaufort, Cape of Good Hope.—Mr. J. Macleroy is appointed Registrar of Deeds at Natal, in South Africa.—Mr. John Bird is appointed Chief Clerk in the Office of the Colonial Secretary, and Clerk of the Council at Natal, in South Africa. THE ArPoINTMENT of Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the " Scarlet Letter " and other works, United States Consul in Liverpool, has received her Majesty's approbation, as duly announced in Tues day's Gazette. THE MEMBER FOR SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE, the Hon. General Anson, has issued an address resigning his seat and taking leave of his constituents. A new writ for that division of the county was moved for on Thursday in the House of Commons. Boum - Its of General Cathcart's early return to England were prevalent at the Cape when the last advices were despatched. _ . THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY having adver tised for tenders for carrying out the drainage, form ing roads, tic., on the estate purchased for the members at Ealing, Mr. E. Murray, the successful competitor for that contract, celebrated that event by a dinner on Monday last. l'rior to the festivity, the first sod of the draining works was turned, with due ceremony, by Dr. Nicholas. The Woodbury-park estate, near Tunbridge Wells, has just been pur chased by the society, and will shortly be divided among the shareholders. THE IRREGULARITY AND INEFFICIENCY OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH between London and Paris has given rise to much complaint. To such an extent has the inconvenience gone, that it has become a matter of importance to the shareholders that their interests should not be endangered. As an example it is stated that two messages of similar import, but addressed to different parties in Paris, were left at the London office at the same time ; one reached in due course at about half-past eleven a.m., but the other did not arrive at its destination until about two hours after. Such irregularities are constantly oc curring, and there is no redress, the English officials referring to the French office for explanation, and vice versO. A CHARTER OF INCORPORATION has been granted to the Australian Direct Steam Navigation Company, the prospectus of which was issued some months ago. The route proposed to be adopted is that by the Isthmus of Panama, by which it is anticipated that communications with our Australian colonies will be effected in fifty five days. THE DEATHS IN LONDON, as reported by the Regis trar-General, for the week ending Saturday last, amounted to 1,004, a result which, though not un favourable as compared with the usual mortality of the season, gives indication of that increase which is characteristic of the summer mortality of towns as distinguished from that iu the country. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1943-52 the cor rected average number of deaths was 1,175. 821 AT THE INDIA Housic, on Wednesday. an ad journed meeting of proprietors took place, and gave occasion for a long discussion respecting the motion of the directors that no further opposition be given to the Government bill. Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. H. Mackenzie, Mr. Wigrani, Mr. Ayrtou, Sir J. W. Hogg, Bart., and a number of other proprietors addressed the meeting, when the resolution of the court was withdrawn, in favour of a petition to the House of Lords, founded on the resolution of Mr. H. Mackenzie, the principal features of which were for preserving the present number of directors, and for opposing the system of nomination proposed by the Government. AN ACCELERATION 1168 jUSI, been male iu the night mails to and from the north, by which the interval for replying to letters will be increased at Manches ter and Liverpool by about half an hour. at Carlisle by two hours and a quarter, and at Folitibugh, tila.s gow, Perth, and Aberdeen, by about four hours. AN OFFER of 280,000/. has, it is said, been made by a large capitalist for the assets of the estate of Mr. Thomas Attwood, and which will probably be accepted, thus affording Ain satisfaction to the ere. ditors, and leaving an acceptable surplus for Mr. Attwotsl himself. THE LoNI N ►N COFFEE AND KATINO HOUSE KEEPERS' AsBot'►ATluN held their annual meeting on Monday evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. Mr. B. U. Statham presided. The report stated that the asso ciation was in a prospemus condition, the accounts for the year show►ng a balance in the hands of the treasurer amounting to $2l. is. Od., being an increase of is/. 2s. 3d. on the half year. The net profit de rived from the ball and ►nncert on the 20th of January amounted to 321._ us. 10,1 THE LONISIN *Nu Nourn-WEsrEms RAILwAv dividend ter the halt' year ending 30th of June last will be at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. THE 6ENERAI. IRON SCREW CoLLIER COMPANY held their meeting on Monday, when the dividend declared for the quarter ending the 30th of June was at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. The ',regress of the undertaking had been extremely satisfaetory, and with the exception of the hiss of one of their vessels during the late gale—which, however, was fully insured—nothing had (wound to interfere with their general prosperity. With regard to the results of working, it was found that one steamer could con• vey as large a quantity of coal in the course of a year AS seven ordinary colliers, and that the expenses were proportionately moderate. AT THE HALF-YEARLY MEETINO Or THE NORTH of EUItoPE STEAM COMPANY, on Tuesday, it, was stated that the results of the new trade opened by the company's vessels had realised the best expectations, and that at the next meeting in January the directors would be able to recommend the declaration of a dividend. The earnings already received exhibited a good amount of profit on the capital invested, and additional vessels were alone required to enable it. to be considerably increased. No attempt, will be made to enter into competition with other companies, the directors feeling persuaded that the route they possess requires only steady development to yield a permanent and satisfactory return. The vessels of the company will be brought to Harwich imme diately the railway shall have been completed and opened for traffic. THE ASTLEY COOPER PRIZE of 300/., for the cur rent your, has been awarded by the surgeons of Guy's Hospital to Mr. Henry Gray, F.R.S., for his essay on the" Structure and Functions of the Human Spleen." THE MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES, voted or to be voted for the present financial year, amount to a total of 2213,0411. They comprise :—New Houses of Parliament (supplemental), 70,000/. ; Windsor Castle (supplemental), 4,000/. ; Buckingham Palace (sup• plemental),2o,ooo/.; Battersea-park, 32,841/. ; sea-bridge, 15,500/.; Chelsea embankment, &e., 35,0001. ; Ardglams Harbour, 211,0110/. ; Archer's per forating-machine, 4,0(0/.; Sir W. Snow Harris (compensation), 5,0111)I. ; electric telegraph (conti nental), 30,0001.; Royal Dublin Society (museum), 2,5001. THE YORKSHIRE AORICELTERAI. SOCIETY have cele brated their sixteenth anniversary at York during the present week, under the presidency of Lord liotham. The awards of the prizes were issued on Thursday. CERTAIN Berriso-ovricr. lieerees attended in deputation on Lord Palmerston on Mond a y, an d were received with great courtesy. Their object was to direct his lordship's attention to the stringent clauses of the bill which is in progress for the sup• pression of betting-houses. They represented the necessity of some revision, but whether any would be made his lordship could not undertake to say. An opinion, however, prevails that the bill will not come into operation before the end of the year. A tiVZRTISEMENTS disseminated by means of stamped impressions on the current coin of the realm are pro hibited by a bill brought in by the Government. Such impressions are counted among the "deface ments" which are classed in the statute-book as mis demeanours, and punished by fine or imprisonment, at the discretion of the Grown.