The Press. — London, England, 1857-09-19 00:00:00

But if he should possibly mean that all the eight militia captains should go with the battalion, but only four receive her Majesty's commission, what is to be the ultimate desti nation of the other four ? To be turned adrift when the crisis is over, and others to be put in their places? or is one-half of the second battalion to be disbanded and its officers with it? Either way this is very small encouragement to either men or officers. The latter especially would much prefer re n►aining as simple militiamen to joining a regiment of the Line on an inferior footing to their brother officers. We do not believe as a rule that militia officers are men of less social position than officers in the regular infantry. The latter consist 'hiefly of the sons of professional men and of the poorer country gentry, and the former are very much the same—nay, in many instances the militiaman is the higher of the two. Many a young country gentleman who never thought of any profession at all, and who is now too old for the Line, looks to a year or two's service in the Militia as an agree able change. Such a man, if he had entered the army in the regular way, would have been iu the Guards or the Cavalry. If we take these and the old linesmen and the sons of profes sional men together, we shall leave but a small margin for the entrance of objectionable cha racters, whoever these may be supposed to consist of. It is well known that Government finds more difficulty than was anticipated in pro curing recruits. Stormy discussions are alleged to have taken place in the Cabinet upon this subject. All, however, that we can pre tend to say is simply this—that while the country is as prosperous as it is at present, Government must. act with liberality if they mean to enlist soldiers. As a means of liveli hood the musket cannot compete at present with the loom and the plough. Vengeance, even though we do not for a moment doubt that our mechanics and peasantry sympathise with their ill-fated countrymen, will not lure the well to-do Englishman from his pleasant home to the thousand perils of India. "A fair day's wage for a fair day's work " must be the rule in the army as it is beginning to be else where ; and if the Militia is to be regarded as the mainstay of that army, it must be treated with both justice and generosity. THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 19,1857, Notwithstanding a semi•offieial denial, the general belief is that the Emperor of Russia will visit Paris, and there meet the Queen of England. The Empress of Russia reached Mayence on the 14th, and left on the 15th for Cologne. She was expected at Darmstadt to meet the Emperor, who was to arrive in that city on the 17th. So much has been said within the last few days as to the stability of' the Crklit Mobilier that I think you will not find the subject uninteresting. Without in any way wishing to justify either its origin or all its pecu. niary transactions, still it cannot be denied that in some moments of great difficulty it has rendered many important services, and it would be unjust to condemn the company for the isolated acts of some of its late directors. The Credit Mobilier has many powerful enemies, particularly amongst capitalists of high reputation. With some of these moneyed men jealousy is the mainspring for their opposition. One of them, bearing a European name, made use of the following expression when he first learnt that Mr. Isaac Pereire was at the head of this gigantic enter prise :—" La vipere que j'ai chauffee dans mon sein." The reports so industriously circulated as to the stability of the company have brought:about a decided erise in the money market more injurious to the holders of shares than to the company itself, which continues its operations as if it possessed the fall confidence of its shareholders. The victims are not only the holders:of shares in the Credit Mobilier, but in almost every other company, many paying very handsome dividends. I am inclined to believe that unless some most stringent measures be adopted to prevent the circulation of calumnious reports the result will be most serious. The measures already taken by the Government have had a most salutary effect in checking improvident speculation, without in any way injuring the loyal financial mr vements of the Stock Exchange. It cannot be denied that the Stock Exchange is literally inundated with shares of all descriptions, the most wild schemes having at one time found f rest favour with the gamblers who infest the Place de la Bourse; but in my opinion the present crise is only momentary, and ere long perfect confidence will be restored, but that will be only after many a struggle and many a disaster. Out of the Exchange the mass of the people look quietly on, certain that no real danger awaits them. They see that the country is more prosperous than ever it was before, that the harvest is excellent, that the peace of Europe is assured, and that France is surrounded by powerful and faithful allies. Be assured, then, that although France is now under going a serious financial crisis it will not last long, and that confidence will be soon restored, reposing on a more solid basis than it ever did before. We are once more, owing to the heavy rains, threatened with inundations. The rivers Volane and Ardeche, in the Loire, have overflown their banks, and done considerable damage, carrying away many manufactories for the rolling of silk, itc. The most majestic mulberry-trees, the riches of the department, have been rooted up ; immense blocks of rock have been undermined, and falling on the high road have stopped all passenger and carriage traffic. several per sons have lost their lives, and many families have been ruined. At St. Martin de Valamas and Largentiere, in the department of the DrOme, the heavy rains have done incalculable damage to property of every description. A letter from Largentiere says . Owing to the overflowing 'of the ArdOche, the whole of the country is under water, houses have been carried away, the crops destroyed, and many persons drowned. The misery this terrible disaster s has already occasioned cannot be described. A letter from Genoa of the 14th speaks of a terrible fire, which had broken out in the workhouses of the military arsenal. The damage and loss of material was said to be very considerable. The vintage in the south is nearly finished. It is now certain that the Beaujolais of 1857 will be most excellent. The Ministerof War has presented to the Academy of Science a packet of cartridges, in which the balls have been pierced from one end to the other during the Crimean campaign. The holes were formed by an insect. The Minister showed several of these insects, which he called " Mouche Hymenoptere." A few days since a piece of cannon was brought to the Government foundry at Cherbourg, having been found at the bottom of the sea, in the roads of La Hogue. It is supposed to have belonged to one of the ships of the squadron commanded by Admiral Tourville, and which was burnt in the memorable battle of 1092. The piece, which was loaded with ball, was in a state of high preservation, notwith standing its having been nearly a century and a half under the water. The powder had completely lost its strength. We have once more magnificent weather, and our Boulevards are lined with strangers. TILE ELECTORS OF DUNOANNON have considered and approved of the Address of the Hon. Major KTIOX in reference to his approaching departure for India. jortign durrtspoittentt. PARIS, September 17th. DREARY and neglected Paris has been partially re covered from its dulness by a visit of her loyal High ness the Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Princess Mary, and attended by Lady Geraldine Somerset. Rumour is busy as to the object of this visit, which, singularly enough, has not yet been announced either by the Paris or London journals. It is freely asked what, at such a moment, with the Court absent, Paris in brown holland, and not an amusement to be found, could induce these illus trious personages to honour the good city of Paris with their presence. His Imperial Highness Prince Napoleon, who is at present in Paris, leaves in a day or two for Chalons. The news received this morning from the Danu. bian provinces shows that the elections continue to be conducted with great order and legality, and it is now certain that whatever may be the result of the vote it a ill express the true feelings of the people. The final settlement of this important question is left for the decision of the Congress of Paris. M. De Thouvenel is in high favour with the Empe:or ; the greatest confidence is reposed in his presence and firmness of character. His instructions are to maintain the influence of France at Constantinople without pression on the Ottoman Cabinet. The reports as to his being recalled are absurd. The Emperor will arrive at Stuttgardt on the 24th He will reach Strasbourg on the 22nd, and remain in that city several hours. I cannot but repeat that tha result of the meeting at Stuttgardt, in the opinion of the ablest diplomatists of all nations, will be to insure a permanent peace and a strict European alliance. ptinuE BELFAST still continues very much disturbed. Continual riots took place at the latter end of last week and on Sunday, although Mr. Hanna resolved upon abstaining from out-door preaching until a more prudent period. Another preacher, Mr. Mateir, preached during the day, the earlier part of which passed off quietly, but towards evening some disgraceful rioting took place. Several volleys were fired between the mobs, the lamps were put out, and it was only after the Riot Act had been read, and a powerful body of troops brought up, that the blob dispers d. Mr. David Lynch, Q.C. ( Roman Catholic and Whig), and Mr. Hamilton Smythe, Q.C. (Pro testant and Conservative), the commissioners appointed by the Lord Lieutenant to inquire into the recent disgraceful outrages, arrived on Monday morning and formally opened the sittings of the com mission at three o'clock in the County Court-house. Among those present as listeners were the Protestant and Roman Catholic bishops, the Mayor of Belfast, and several of the local civil authorities. Mr. Alex ander O'Rourke appeared for the Rcman Catholic inhabitants who had suffered by the riots ; Mr. John Rea for some others, and also to lay his own views on the subject before the commissioners ; Mr. M‘Meehan represented the ultra-Protestant party. The pro tracted nature of the inquiry may be learnt from the fact that Mr. O'Rourke stated that there were no fewer than seventy-six witnesses to be brought for ward on the Roman Catholic side, while those to bs produced for the Protestant party were pretty nearly equal. As AN INSTANCE OF AN IRISH INQUEST, the Drog heda Conservative reports that in a case on the body of a baby whose birth had been concealed the follow ing extraordinary verdict was returned : We find that Rose Meredyth, mother of the infant, is not only not guilty, but perfectly free from any blame whatever; and we further add, that she was justified in burying her offspring, dead born, even in a privy, dung-heap, or sink, or where it suited her convenience. A more regular inquest has resulted in a warrant for the apprehension of the girl. THE RETURNS OF THE IRISH BANKS for the four weeks ending the 29th of August show a falling off in the circulation, as compared with the preceding return, of 208,0001., which makes a total decrease, within four months, of very nearly 1,000,0001. The diminution on the month extends to all the banks, with the excepti in of the Ulster, which has in creased its issues by 3,0001. In the coin held there is a decrease on the month of 20,0001. The banks in which there has been a diminution of specie are the Provincial and Northern Banks and the Bank of Ireland. In the Belfast, Ulster, and National Banks there has been an increase. From the returns made it appears that the Irish banks are now 129,68-1/. below their fixed issue, and taking into account the coin they hold, the amount is 2,375,0991. below that allowed by law. Bahl an Dilitarg THE EXAMINATION to fill up the vacancies in the Royal Artillery will take place in January next. THE eOLONELCY OF THE 11TH FOOT, vacant by the death of Lieut.-General Cochrane, is to be conferred on Major-General Sir Richard Doherty. AN AMERICAN LETTER states that, on the return from the attempt to lay out the Atlantic telegraph, a race took place between H.M.S. Agamemnon and the American steam•frigate Niagara. The Niagara is said to have beaten the Agamemnon with ease. The Agamemnon is reported to be one of our fastest liners. THE EMDODLMENT OF THE MILITIA proceeds slowly : The King's Own, Staffordshire, commanded by the Hon. E. R. Littleton, is to assemble for embodied service at the Militia Store Barracks, Stafford, on the 28th init. It is supposed that the regiment will go to the garrison at Devonport.—The Royal South Gloucestershire is to as semble in the course of the present month. Any of the men wishing to re•enrol will be accepted.—The Royal Berks is to assemble in the Forbury at Reading, Oct. I. The Duke of Lancaster's Royal are ordered to assemble for embodiment on the 22nd inst.—The Royal Wiltshire will assemble at Devizes on the Ist Oct.—The sth and tith West Yorkshire will assemble at Halifax and Knares borough, for training, on the Ist Oct.—The Royal Sherwood Foresters (Notts Militia) it, is expected will assemble at Newark before the end of the month.—The Cardiganshire Militia assembled for training on Thursday last.—The Flintshire Royal Militia are under orders to assemble at Mold on the 25th of this month.—The Merionethshire Militia have received orders from Lord Mostyn, Lord• Lieutenant of the county, to assemble for training at Bala, on Tuesday, the 22nd inst.—The East Kent will meet for embodiment at Canterbury on the 15th of October, and is expected to consist of about 800 men. The regiment will be commanded by Colonel Brockman.—The adjutants and sergeants of the perma nent staff of the artillery battalion of the Royal Sussex Militia have received instructions to proceed forthwith to raise recruits at Brighton, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Wadhurst, and the neighbouring towns and villages la that division of the county.