The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-23 00:00:00

ment in a general measure, he (Lord Palmerston) would guarantee that these Irish tolls should be included in that measure. Mr. Lowi:, in reply to Mr. Disraeli, explained that Government had prepared a comprehensive bill upon the subject, and would introduce it as soon as tho state of public business would permit. After a short discussion the house divided, when the motion was negatived by 253 to 133. lAYNOOTH. Mr. SPOONER made his annual motion upon May. nooth. It General Tuompsox, Mr. C. Git.rix, and Mr. HAD FIELD having made a few brief remarks, the house divided, when tho motion was rejected by 125 to 91. Mr. NEWDEGATE moved the adjournment of the house. Mr. WHITESIDE rose to ask what course the Government intended to take in reference to the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into Maynooth College, in which not one single branch of education in the college had been ap. proved. Lord PALM ERSTON With regard to the question just addressed to me, the report of the commissioners did recommend certain alterations, not of a very material character, in the course of education at Maynooth, and I believe those alterations are now in course of being carried into eGct. I am not able to say whether they have all been carried out or not, but as far as I am informed they aro in train. The motion for the adjournment was ultimately withdrawn. FRAUDULENT BREACHES OF TRUST. The ATTORNEY GENERAL, ill moving for leave to bring in a bill to make fraudulent breaches of trust criminally liable, remarked upon the anomaly peculiar to English law, which divested theft and robbery when accompanied by breach of trust—that was, when the act was rendered most odious and abominable—of their criminal character. Sir It. Bethell then adverted to the various definitions of felony known to our law, and gave an outline of the clauses by which he proposed to bring the frauds committed by trustees within the reach of punish ment as criminal offences. Among other forms of trusteeship which he thus hoped to repress was that exercised by the directors or other managers of joint stock companies, fur whose behoof he intended to provide that the promulgation of false accounts, the making falso entries, ike., should be treated as criminal frauds. Incidentally, the Attorney-General mentioned that he had now perused the evidence given respecting the case of the British Bank, and had determined to institute a prosecution against the directors of that establishment. The motion was agreed to, and leave given to bring in the bill. JOINT-ETOCK COMPANIES. The ATTORNEY GENERAL then moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the Act 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 111, facilitating the winding up the affairs of joint-stock companies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements, and also the Joint-Stock Companies Winding-up Acts, 1848 and' 1819. Leave was obtained to introduce the bill. A motion by Mr. MARJORIBANKS, that the Com mittee on Contracts ( Public Departments) do consist of seventeen members, instead of fifteen, was opposed by Colonel Boldero, and supported by Lord Pal merston. After a short conversation the house divided, when the motion was carried by 130 to 83. NOTICE OF MOTION. THURSDAY. Mr. J. B. Sxtrtt•—that early 4fter Whitsuntide he should call the attention of the house to the causes which impede the ap plication of British capital and skill to the development of the troductiva powers of India, and should move that it was expe dient that the house should direct its attention to the best mode of effecting that object. THE NEW HEADING-ROOM AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM was closed to publics view on Saturday last. The number of visitors during the seven days of public access was extraordinary. On Saturday, May 9, 8,713 ; Monday, 11th, 18,605; Tuesday, 12th, 13,611 Wednesday, 13th, 30,169 ; Thursday, 14:1i, 16,218 ; Friday, 15th, 37,380; Saturday, 16th, 27,694. The gross number of visitors during the seven days' ex. hibition was 162,489. We can only add to our former account of this remarkable structure and in comparable reading-room that the further arrange ments and facilities for the accommodation of the readers are equally good. The general management of the great room is placed under a superior officer of the Museum, charged with the special duty of assisting the readers in their researches. In a central situation, all will have easy access to him and to the catalogue tables. The booklresses under the galleries within the public room are filled with a large library of reference for the use of the readers, comprising most of the standard works in the various branches of learning, and an extensive collection of dictionaries of all languages, biogra phical works, encyclopaedias, parliamentary histories, typographical works, &c, THE PRESS. lortign and Colonial 3nittligentr. FRANCE. The departure of the Grand Duke Constantine from Paris to the south of France, and the arrival from Naples of his Majesty the King of Bavaria, are the most important events connected with the French Court during the week. His Majesty will remain in Paris till the close of next week. Colonel Bertrand, who accompanied Prince Napo leon to Berlin, arrived in Paris on Sunday with despatches for the Emperor. According to a Berlin letter in the Augsburg Gazette, hi was decided during the visit of Prince Napoleon to the Prussian Court that the Emperor of the French should be invited to visit Berlin at the end of the simmer. The Moniteur of Sunday last published a despatch from Constantinople of the 16th inst., announcing that the Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and Persia was ratified at Teheran on the 14th of April, and despatched to Bagdad on the 17th of the same month. . Baron Gros, it was expected, would leave Paris yesterday on his mission to China after an audience of the Emperor. The Cour Imperiale, after a long deliberation, has delivered judgment in the affair of the Docks Napo leon. The sentence of imprisonment against MM. Cusin, Legendre, Duchesne de Vere, and Berryer, as pronounced by the Tribunal of Premiere Instance, is maintained ; but the fines to which they were con demned are reduced. AUSTRIA. The constant assertions of the German papers that Sardinia is ready to take the initiative in a recon ciliation with Austria are incorrect. The represen tatives of the French and English Government at Vienna and at Turin are using their best endeavours to gpromote an arrangement, but at present affairs remain much in statu quo. In the third week in June the Emperor returns for a few days to be present on the 18th at the fete of Maria Theresa held in commemoration of the battle of Kollin, in which the Austrian!), under Count Daun, defeated the Prussians under Frederick the Great. The Prussian Minister, Gaunt I)'Arnim, and the military attache, Colonel Kameke, have both left Vienna on leave. An intimation of the probable presence of the Grand Duke Constantine at this fête is mentioned in letters from Vienna. The temporary illness of the infant Archduchess has interrupted the tour of the Emperor and Empress through Hungary, and induced certain modifications. Their Majesties will not finally return to Vienna until the 10th of July. A letter from Vienna, given in the Union, says : It appears positive that the Emperor will not confine his measures of clemency in favour of Hungarians to the amnesty granted to political prisoners and refugees, but will also restore them their landed property, confiscated after the revolution, and administered since that period by a special commission. It is stated that the tables are being drawn up in the Ministries of the Interior, Finance, and Justice, of the property situated in Hungary and other parts of the empire belonging to persons condemned for political offences. According to statistics worthy of faith, the value of the landed property sequestrated in Hungary amounted in MO to nearly forty tuition francs. Since that time the value of land has increased. PRUSSIA. The following is the announcement of the be trothal of the Princess Royal made in the Prussian Staats Auzerger : His Majesty the King having been pleased to-day to inform the Royal Family and the Court that, with his own approbation and the consent of her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the betrothal of his Royal Highness Princo Frederick William of Prussia with Princess Victoria Adelaide Marie Louise, Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland and Duchess of Saxony, has taken place. A similar announcement has been made on the part of her Wiest , ' the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland to her Majesty's Privy Council. This joyful event, so gratifying to the royal house and to the entire monarchy, is hereby made public by command of his Majesty the King. The High Chamberlain of his Majesty the King, General Field• Marshal Count DOIINA. Berlin, May 16, ltt37. NEUFCHATEL. Count de Ilatzfeldt has received instructions from his Cabinet with reference to the Neufchatel ques tion, and the final sitting of the Conference will take place in a few days, when the signature of the contracting powers will be affixed to the defini tive act. "It is further expected (adds the Paris Presse) that when all is concluded his Prussian Majesty will declare that he renounces the minion offered as an indemnity." It is anticipated that the next Conference for signing the convention will be held on Monday. RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg of the 12th states that tho birth of an Imperial Prince (already SATURDAY, announced by telegraph) was madejknown to the inhabitants of that city by the tiring of 301 guns from the ramparts of the fortress. The newly-born Prince has received the title of Grand Duke and Imperial Highness. Count Esterhazy, Minister of Austria, having obtained leave of absence, had his final audience of the Emperor, and has left St. Petersburg. The Emperor has conferred the Grand Cross of St. Alexander Nevski, in diamonds, on Count Cavour, the Sardinian Minister; the same order, without diamonds, on General de la Marrnora ; the Order of St. Anne, first class, upon M. Paleocapa, the Minis. ter of Public Works; and the Order of the White Eagle on Count Nigra. SPAIN. The Government has presented the law relating to the press. Caution money to the amount of 15,000 duros is required. The jury for the trial of press offences is to consist of primary judges; newspaper articles are to bear the signatures of their writers. A letter from Madrid of the 16th mentions that, after several conferences between M. Lafragua and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the basis of an arrangement had been agreed to. When the con vention between the two Governments is signed, M. Lafragua will remain at Madrid as Minister of the Mexican Republic. The squadron which has been fitting out for the last three months at Cadiz, h6s set sail, it is said, for the West Indies. It is composed of six ships. They carry 2,450 troops thoroughly equipped. This force is commanded by Generals Mendimata, San tiago, and I'arrido. THE PRINCIPALITIES. A letter from Odessa in the Siècle states that a circular has been communicated to the resident Wallachians, containing the orinciples of the con st►tution, which, after its adoption by the Divans, will be submitted to the approbation of the foreign commissioners. This circular contains the following : Chap. 1., Art. 1. The sovereignty of the Porte is recog nised in virtue of treaties contracted with it. Art. t 2. The government is independent both at home and abroad in virtue of laws and their guarantees. Art. 3. The union of the riloldo-Wallachiaa Principalities under an hereditary prince chosen from a reigning family of Europe. llis successor must be brought up in the principles of the Greco•Oriental faith. Art. 4. The form of government will be representative; the person of the head of the State is sacred. Ministers alone are responsible. Art. 5. Abro gation of all intervention of foreign powers in the home affairs of the Principalities. Art. 6. All foreigners are subjected to the laws of the country. Art. 7. The pro. perty and revenues reserved for foreign churches, will be administered by the Principalities.—Chap. 11., Art. I. Wallachians of all ranks and positions are subjected to the same laws, and contribute equally to the expenditure of the State. Art 2. All Wallachians may aspire to places in the Administration, according to their capacity. Art. 3. Liberty is given to all to express and publish their opinicns, provided the laws are respected. Art. 4. The liberty and independence of taxpayers are guaranteed. All these articles are founded on treaties, the texts of which are joined to the circular. M. Lesourd, secretary of the mission of Baron de Talleyrand in the Principalities, arrived at Constan tinople on the 10th, from Jassy, being the bearer, it was said, of very important despatches on the state of things in Moldavia. The Revue Contemporaine asserts that the Porte has demanded permission to occupy the Pr;nci• palities, but that the request had been refused by the allied powers. It is not certain when the elections will take place. INDIA. The statement that General Stalker and Com modore Ethersey had each committed suicide is confirmed. Full reports of the coroner's inquest in each case have reached us. These melancholy events occurred within two days of each other. For some days prior to the 14th of March, on which General Stalker destroyed himself, it was observed that he was depressed, and it is generally believed that recent heavy pecuniary losses, added to the responsibilities of his position, and his great anxiety for the health and care of the troops, induced this lowness of spirits. It was determined that he should command at Bushire, in the absence of General Outram, who would conduct the operations against Mohammerah. There is no suspicion that any unpleasant feeling existed between him and General Outram. "He always," said one witness, Capt. Felix Jones," spoke with satisfaction of being associated tri " the service with Sir James Outram, not only from his long-standing friendship for him, but because his arrival had relieved him from all political responsi bility." General Stalker and Sir J. Outram break fasted together, in the company of the staff, on the morning of the 14th, and no one observed any alteration in General Stalker's manner. He rose from the table, and having called upon several of his staff, all of whom unhappily were out, proceeded to his own tent, where a pistol•ahot was heard ten