The Press. — London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

1244 only the rank of captain. It is, however, only provisional, and will ceaso altogether in the course of a few years. On the whole, the regulations appear to be excellent; neither do the requirements for admission or for the final examination seem to be placed too high. Apart from the more technical subjects, we would especially call attention to the .para graph which states that, "in regard to mili " tary history, the candidates will be required " to state the course and extent of their read " ing, in order that the Council of Military " Education may select for each some one or " more important campaigns, which he will be " expected to describe in detail." No one can have read the memoirs of our ablest general since 1815—we mean the late Sir CHARLES NAPlER—without perceiving the great benefit he derived from a constant study of the most remarkable campaigns of his predecessors in the art of war ; and we trust that this, with the other regulations, may at least induce young officers to study their profession. Let them remember the advice given by Sir CHARLES NAPIER to a young ensign. " Keep up," he said, " all knowledge that you have acquired, " and gain as much inure as you can. By " reading, you will be distinguished ; with " out it, abilities are of little use. A man can " not learn his profession without constant " study to prepare ; especially for the higher " ranks, because he there wants the know " ledge and experience of others improved by " his own. But when in a post of responsi " bility he has no time to read, and if he " comes to such a post with an empty skull it " is then too late to fill it, and he makes no " figure. Thus many people fail to distin " guish themselves, and say they are unfor " tunate, which is untrue—their own previous " idleness unfitted them to profit from fur " tune." The concluding par. (la) of the new regu lations states that " any candidates who " shall have proved their fitness for employ " ment in the Ordnance Survey, or in the " Topographical Department . . . . will "be named in the annual report of the " Council of Military Education to the " Secretary of State for War, as deserving em " ployment in those services." This is not an unimportant change, for the Ordnance Stir vey during the last thirty years has been intrusted solely to the corps of Royal Engineers, who receive twice and a half their regimental pay for the per formance of its duties. Now these ap pointments will be thrown open to the whole army, and are likely to form no small incen tive to exertion throughout the service. The survey was for many years undertaken by the Artillery in conjunction with the Engi neers, and there can be no doubt that the Staff College will be able to turn out officers of all arms fully competent for the most scientific operations. The Topographical De partments also of the War office and the Horse Guards have been recently amalgamated, and will offer employment to a limited number of officers chosen from the several branches of the service, who will be paid at the same rate as those engaged on the survey. It will thus be seen that the increased study prescribed for the army is not without its countervailing advantages. The effect of this important step towards the educational reform our army remains, of course, to be proved. But we have little doubt that the least it will do will be to create for the army an efficient staff. We shall watch the progress of this institution with no little interest. THE PRESS, DECEMBER 26, 1857. have entered their prolific brain ; but thus much I can state most positively, that when the article was read in Paris it was scouted by all the leading men of both parties. The refugees labour under a great delusion, if they, for a moment, suppose that they possess any political influence over the Republican party in France. The fact isj this party is now divided into different sections, each acting independently and frequently in direct opposition the one to the other; but, at the same time, I firmly believe that they would all unite in re fusing a coalition with the Orleanists. That which, perhaps, gave some hopes to the refugees that a fusion might be effected, is the present good under standing between the Siecle and the Journal des Debate; but that curious coincidence I will explain. The Siècle is not a radical republican ripper, but represents that class of society called in France "la petite bourgeoise "--that is, the small shop. keepers and small manufacturers, neither of whom are radical republicans. The Siecle advocates a Government such as that over which Cavaig nac presided, with a parliament, the liberty of the press, ctc.; but even such a state of things it would not accept, unless placed in the hands of its friends having at their command a suffi cient military force to preserve order. In one word, it advocates a monarchical government without a mo narch ! The Journal des Nbate is decidedly favour able to a representative government, but it has always adopted this line with great prudence and great cau tion, and, although attached to the Orleans family, it would never lend itself to any act having a tendency to take up a hostile position against the Imperial Government. It is there fore morally impossible that these two journals would advocate a coalition between the Orleanists and Republicans. Now, as to the Spectateur, the ex-Assentblie Nationale, an avowed Orleanist paper, it is using all its endeavours to effect a fusion with the legitimist party, and to keep on good terms with the Gazette de France and the Union. lts hatred to the Republican party is known to everyone ; and this is not to be wondered at, from the fact that M. Guizot is one of its principal writers. We will now take the two papers which represent the democratic party—the Estafette and the Presse. It will suffice to read the leading articles in these papers to be convinced that they are decidedly hostile to both branches of the Bourbon family, and, as such, would never consent to coalesce with the Orleanists. In deed, both these journals carry their hatred so far against the two fallen monarchs—Charles X. and Louis Philippe—that they frequently reproach the Imperial Government with being too lenient towards the Bourbon partisans. I think I have said suffi cient to show the impossibility of an Orleanist- Republican coalition, so far as one can judge from the tone of their journals in Paris. The notion of such a fusion is altogether ridiculous, and has emanated solely from the refugees in London and in Brussels. The Orleanists, as a body, are men of the highest respectability and character. They are the friends of order and tranquillity, and would feel seriously hurt shJuld it for a moment be supposed they were capable of forming an alliance with turbulent republicans. The great question of negro free labour has been seriously examined by the Emperor ; and, if my information is correct, his Majesty is convinced that, due precautions being taken against a revival of the slave trade, it would be most beneficial to the French colonists. The Emperor will join in any measure to prevent the traffic of slaves, whilst at the same time encduraging the experiment of free labour. Several reports have been spread as to diplomatic intercourse baying been resumed between M. de Thouvenel and Redscliid Pacha. I believe this not to be the fact. M. de Thouvenel has not changed the line of politics lately taken up by him. The two eldest sons of the Emperor of Russia, the Grand Duke Nicholas, aged fifteen years, and the Grand Duke Alexander, aged thirteen years, quitted St. Petersburg on the 14th of December for Italy, where it is probable they will pass the winter. It appears from official sources that 10,238 persons were attacked with the yellow fever during the late epidemic at Lisbon, and that the deaths were 3,040. The Medical Gazette of Lisbon gives as a fact that all those persons who inhabited houses lit up with gas were preserved from the epidemic. It has not yet been decided whether or not the Prince of Prussia will be present at the marriage of his son with the Princess Royal. This will depend on the state of the health of the King. A medical report will be made on this subject in a few days. The official Gazette of the Two Sicilies gives an account of the terrible earthquake of the 10th and 17th. It appears that the shocks were felt at Caserte, Nola, Averse, Pozzuoli, Salerne, Avelline, Eboli, and C,mpagna. At Pavia the shock was felt, but caused nn accident. Two persons were wounded at Castellarnare ; three persons were killed at Sala. At Alan% the prison, the barracks, and other public buildings, were greatly injured; half of the private houses had been destroyed. At Padula, the num- jortign 6ortrspontenct. Paris, Dec. 9.3. O.IE of the London morning papers, which interests itself in French politics, and occasionally havards a bit of news, lately had a leading article written with the view to show that a fusion between the Or leanist and Republican parties was highly pro bable. It may not be uninteresting at this moment to see if appearances justify the assertion. As regards the French refugees in England and Brussels, it is not impossible that such an improbable scheme may ber of deaths already known is more than 100. At Pella the number of victims is most considerable; the brigade of Gendarmes has greatly suffered. At Auletta, Petrosa, and Caggianu, several persons were killed, and several houses knocked down. Several houses were also destroyed at Salerno—amongst them are two churches, the hotel of the prefet, and the barracks. The shocks wore felt at Naples, but (lid no injury. The inhabitants were, however, so alarmed that they tied from, the city en masse. The exact number of persons killed is not yet known. Paris is filling fast, and great preparations are making for New Year's-day. The objects manufac tured are, as usual, most costly and very elegant. The marriage of the hereditary Prince of the Two Sicilies with a Princess of the house of Bavaria will take place in the month of August, 1858, at Naples. It is now ascertained that the deficiency in the ac counts of 111. de Campana, director of the Govern ment pawn establishment (Mont de Pike) at Rome, is nearly 100,0001. sterling. It is worth noticing the progress making in Russia in popular instruction. There are now six universi ties—at Moscow, Dospol, Karkhov, Kazan, St. Peters burg, and Kiev. The number of students in the Univetsity of Moscow was, in 1855, I,2o3—the other five had 2,571 students. In 1855 there were attached to the different schools throughout the kingdom 2,087 professors of both sexes. In the course of the same year the Department of Public Instruction caused to be printed 600,000 volumes of school books, and had 114,000 of them distributed gratis. The number of foreign works imported into Russia in 1835 was 300,000 volumes; in 1855 it had in creased to 1,191,745 volumes. Ths increase of Russian literature is equally great. In 1835 708 works were published ; and in 1855 1,148, of which only 91 were translations. It is probable that travelling on the Rhine will now be cheaper than it formerly was, a new steam company having been formed to navigate that river. The boats will shortly commence running. THE BOARD w Thum; returns for November have just been issued, and under the circumstances give exactly the results that might have been looked for. Compared with the corresponding month of last year, the declared value of our exportations, not withstanding the pressure for money, which must have caused shipments to be made to every quarter where the slightest chance of an immediate market still remained, shows a falling off of 1,986,2601. This diminution has affected every branch of busi ness, but the most prominent instances are in cotton, linen, silk, and woollen manufactures. The total of our exports for the first eleven months of the year has been 115,007,1961., showing an increase of 9,101,5651., or about eight per cent. Compared with the corresponding eleven months of 1855 the increase is 28,159,9161., or rather more than thirty. two per cent. With regard to the imports therehas been a proportionate falling off in the general con sumption. THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED DISTRESS exhibited themselves at Middlesborough on Saturday in a decided outbreak. The men in the employ of Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan, joined by several labourers out of work, after arming themselves with bludgeons, assembled that morning in the marketplace, loudly demanding bread. They then prozeeded to a pro vision•shop, at which Messrs. Bolckow aad Vaughan's men had been accustomed to expend their wages, but, after threatening the proprietor, marched towards the police-station, on their way to which they were met by a strong body of police, who cleared the streets. Later in the day the mayor addressed a considerable number of them, promising that any necessary relief should be afforded. In the evening a detachment of the 4th Dragoons arrived from York, and order has since been preserved. In general, the conduct of the unemployed has been marked by quiet and order. Meetings of sympathy have been held in several of the manufacturing district:, and although, with the exception of the Middlesborough riots, no breach of the peace has been committed, yet there is no doubt that, as want increases, discontent extends. 'The colliers in North Staffordshire, especially those working on Lord Granville's property, have assumed a menacing at titude, and, encouraged by those in the southern districts, the proposed reduction of wages has led to apprehension of a general outbreak. The men at Willenball and Bilston are extremely ill-disposed, have not returned to work since last Saturday, and it is feared that a combined movement of some sort is now organising throughout the whole of Stafford shire. A meeting of colliers with their masters was held at Wolverhampton on Monday. Both parties appeared to face each other in an amicable spirit. The state of trade is, however, so bad throughout the iron district that it is not unlikely wages may be still further reduced, and the result of such a step would, in all probability, be a general strike throughout the country.