The Press. — London, England, 1857-11-07 00:00:00

Curt Atte ,fagion. Her Majesty the Queen and Royal Family continue at Windsor Castle. Lord and Lady Palmerston and Earl Granville have been among the guests of the week. The Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, we are happy to hear, is convalescent. The Earl of Malmesbury will arrive in town this day. Lord Henry Lennox, M.P., has arrived in town from Gordon Castle. The Bishop of London has returned to town, and will receive the clergy as usual at London-house from eleven to two o'clock on Tuesdays. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have left Hughenden Manor for Torquay. IT is with regret that we hear that Mr. R. C. Hildyard, M.P. for Whitehaven, lies seriously indis posed at his house in town. Dr. Budd is in constant attendance upon the hon. member. THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 7, 1857. 1082 'easing principles of vitality. These principles were only to be found in the union of the two Principalities into one State, and the hereditary succession of the throne. He further declared that hereditary succession was only possi ble under the accession to the throne of a branch of was of the ruling families of Europe. Thus the itounnuis were unanimous in their wish fur, and adhesion to, the four following points: — I. La garantie de l'autonornie du pays et reconnaissance de sea droits selon sea traites anciens avec la S. Porte, aiusi qu' la tieutralite du territoire Roumains. 2. L'anion des Principautes en un seul Etat. 3. Un prince beteditaire etranger, male en exprirnant le desk que sea enfants soient eleves daus la religion du pays. 4. Gouvernement representatif, avec une seule Chant bre, constituee sur les bases les plus larger de la repre sentation. He concluded by proposing : That the Assembly declare these four points to be their unanimous wish. That, in reply to the question referred to the country by the '2lth Article of the Treaty of Paris, this declaration be submitted to the European Commis sion as the most exact expression of the wants of all classes of the society, and as a condition to which all the other wishes that the various classes are called upon to express are subordinate ; and that, lastly, the Assembly express the lively sense of gratitude felt by every Rottman towards those powers that have undertaken the defence of their rights. - On the demand of the President as to whether the motion was supported, the whole Assembly rose to second it. A committee of nine was then elected to decide upon the urgency of the proposition as well as its matter, and on the following day they delivered in a report unanimously in favour of the project set forth. The question as to whether the sovereign prince elected should be of foreign or native origin was decided by the Wallachian Divan in favour of the former. Letters from Vienna of Nov. 1 state that the Porte has approved, subject to some modifications in matters of detail, the treaty prepared by the European Commission for the navigation of the Danube. The report, which was accredited some time ago, that Austria sought to put the absurd con struction upon the expression " liberty cf the Danube " in the Treaty of Paris, that it meant only the mouths of the river, appears to have arisen from a mistake. their inquiries, but they recommend the publication of the evidence for the information of the house and the public. The motion for the reappointment of the committee for 1858 was carried by a majority of to 3. Among the notable witnesses were Colonel Sir T. Tronbridge, C. 8., Sir C. A. Wetherall, K.C.8., Mr. G. D. Ramsey, Captain Coffin, C. 8., R.N., Colonel Stransham, Colonel Brown, Lieut.- Colonel Hopkins, Lieutenant-Colonel Lungley, Capt. Milne, R.N., Colonel C. Wetherall, Colonel M'Murdo, and others. THE SOCIETY FOR TIIE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL has determined to bold a public meeting (as soon as arrangements can be made) to promote the extension and strengthening of its missions in India. T le SANITARY COMMISSION on the scat of war in the East blue book is published. The repurt is of great practical importance, showing that the neglect of military hygiene is always the cause of the lar gest amount of loss to armies. which I occupy, but because, in various ways arid through the advantages which I have derived, I have been enabled to obtain the esteem, the affection, and the regard of my fellow•countrymen. The proceedings terminated with the presentation of the sword of honour, a most superb weapon, rich in design, yet finished with such good taste and care as to be in all respects within the limits assigned to regulation swords of general officers. The handle was of carved ivory, studded with carbuncle--the hilt of gold, richly chased, and set with uncut emeralds and brilliants. On the cross of the hilt were the insignia of a field marshal in brilliants, surrounded with a wreath of oak leaves and acorns, formed by emeralds and brilliants, beautifully set. On the scabbard was the Duke's cipher in brilliants, and the City arms carved in carbuncle, and set with rubies. On the blade was inscribed : The freedom of the city of London, together with this sword, was presented to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, K.G., Commander•in-Chief of the British army, by the Corporation of London, in testimony of their high estimation of his distinguished character and services. A.D. 1837. On the scabbard, amid elaborate chasings, which showed such finished workmanship as only comes from Hancock's of Bruton-street, were inscribed the words—" Alma, Balaklava, Inkerroann,. and Sevas topol." AMERICA. Intelligence from New York up to the 24th brings no news of much political importance. Commercial affairs were still in a most unsettled and unsatis factory state. Volitltal. PARLIAMENT WAS PROROGUED at the House of Lords ,esterday with the usual formalities. The following was the Order in Council :—" At the the Court at Windsor, held on the 4th day of Novem ber, 1857—Present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty iu Council—lt is this day ordered by her Majesty in Council that the Parliament, which stands prorogued to Friday, the 6th day of November inst., be further prorogued to Thursday, the 17th day of December next." EARL DUCIE has been appointed to fill the office of Lord Lieutenant of the county of Gloucester, rendered vacant by the death of Earl Fitzbardinge. MR. JUSTICE CRESSWELL will be the Judge Of the Court of Probate and Divorce ; but, inasmuch as the acts by which the new court is created do not come into operation before the commencement of the next )ear, no actual appointment can take place imme diately. Mr. Justice Cresswell has appointed his cousin, 11r. R. Cresswell, to be his secretary. THE CONTRACTS (PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS) BLUE BOoK is issued. It contains the report of the select committee of the Commons' House appointed, in May last, to inquire into the principle adopted for making contracts for the public departments, and the effect of the present system on the expenditure of the public money. rho report is to the effect that the committee have not yet been able to conclude glttropalitan. PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY TO THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE. THE freedom of the city of Landon, together with a superb ssord of honour, was presented on Wed nesday, at a Special Court of Common Council, to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The presentation took place at five o'clock in the after noon at the Guildhall. An hour before the arrival of his Royal Highness the hall was crowded with visitors, and its appearance when lighted was very beautiful and brilliant. His Royal Highness arrived soon after five p.m., and on entering the hall was loudly cheered. The Duke immediately seated himself on the left of the Lord Mayor, and receiving the freedom of the City, signed the declaration presented to him. Sir John Key, the City Chamberlain, then advanced and ad dressed his Royal Highness in eloquent terms, re calling the Crimean campaign, and recording tilt courage and devotion to his duty of his Royal High ness. "It seems; therefore, needless to say," con tinued Sir John Key, " how entirely our gracious Sovereign carried with her the suffrages of her loving subjects when in the selection of a fitting person to occupy the highest military position in the country she was led to the nomination of your Royal High ness ": How little hereditary preferences would be permitted to influence this choice, how little the prestige accorded as of right to one in your Royal Highness's position, how little any consideration save a desire to promote the honour, the happiness, the efficiency of her beloved army, let any man tell who has ever heard of the deep emotion of the Monarch at the story of her soldiers' sufferings, or who has ever listened to the loud outburst of grateful and loving loyalty when soldiers are gathered round their Queen. Yes, sir, you were designated by your Royal mistress to your exalted office because she would that lie who was to bear rule in military affairs should be one who could sympathise with bravery, had had experience of hardship, who could lend a helping hand to struggling merit, could remember past services and reward them ; and already are both the army and the country reaping the first fruits of this wise selection. We see in our military councils a vigour of purpose, a discrimination of character, a breadth of plan and object in the educational arrange ment*, and a considerate regard for the circumstances of the lowest suba!tern, which, if permitted to be carried ' out, will cause the British soldier to be as much respected for his high-toned moral deportment in the barracks as for his fearless and undaunted spirit in the field. The Duke in modest terms disclaimed the high praises of Sir John Key : Gentlemen, it will hardly be expected on your part, and it would ill become me if I ventured in any respect to allude to the very limited and bumble services which If have performed on various occasions in different parts of the world. The worthy Chamberlain has alluded to those services in terms which I really think go beyond the merit which they deserve—(cries of " No, no !" )—for after all what I have done is that which would be done by, I think, any one who had the feelings of a man and who had the interests and the honour of his country at heart. I therefore pass over these events, which have now become matters of history, and which will, no doubt. be recorded in their proper light for ages to come. That I should have had the advantage—the honour of participating in these great events, I certainly now look back upon as one of the greatest pleasures and one of the greatest satisfactions that I can poeiibly experience. His Royal Highness expressed a hope that in other ways, in his endeavour to promote the interest and welfare" of his fellow citizens, he had obtained their esteem and approbation, for he trusted that from being a soldier a man was not the less a " good citizen." " Gentlemen," concluded his Royal High ness, I repeat that the honour that has been conferred upon me is one of which any man may be justly proud whatever his station or position in life ; that I am justly proud of that honour; that I am confident from the kind expressions which I have rece►ved from all quarters that that honour is conferred upon me not because of the official position THE BANQUET. In the evening the Lord Mayor entertained his Royal Highness at a magnificent banquet at the Mansion-house. Upwards of 300 guests were in vited, including the foreign ambassadors now in town, several gallant and distinguished officers of the army, Lord Granville, the Chief Baron, and the principal City dignitaries. After the usual loyal toasts, the Lord Mayor rose to propose the toast of the evening, and in a brief speech, coupling with it the " Army and Navy," gave " The Health of_his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge." The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, who was received with loud and long-continued cheering, said that, born and bred a soldier, any compliment paid to the army he accepted as a compliment to himself; " and I think we have a right," added the Duke, " if I may venture to say so, to be satisfied with ourselves." His Royal Highness, then briefly noting in high terms the conduct of the army in India, referred to the position generally of the British army : We are not an aggressive country. We do not wish to be an aggressive country. Our army is not an aggressive army, and therefore I have no hesitation i❑ speaking of the efficiency of that army in the presence of many dis tinguished foreigners who might otherwise think that thy observations implied a feeling inimical to other powers. Nothing of the sort. I only wish to impress upon the country the necessity of keeping up an efficient army for the necessary and legitimate service of the State,—such an army as a great empire like England ought always to maintain. See, my Lord Mayor and gentlemen, in what a position our army has been placed ! See what has occurred in India! What certainly we had no reason to expect. No human being could have anticipated the events which have taken place in that quarter of the world ; but when I look at the number of European troops in India it is a marvel to me—it must be a marvel to everybody—how so small a proportion of European soldiers could have held their own as they have done, and could have carried on the extensive warlike operations in which they have been engaged. Now, are we doing justice to our army or to ourselves if we place our troops in so important and at the same time so dangerous a position? Surely as an act of humanity to the troops we employ it is only right they should be maintained in sufficient force and efficiency to uphold the interests of the empire. I ask whether the events which have recently occurred in India ought not to induce us to open our eyes and to look a little ahead, and never again to allow the interests of the empire to be so seriously endangered ? Returning to the position of the troops in India, the Duke said the question was how should the mutiny be put down : I hope no one would suggest that we should mow in discriminately right and left ; that we should burn villages; and that we should destroy their inhabitants. Such a proceeding would be suicidal. But, on the other hand, I conceive that no man, whatever may be his views of humanity, can maintain that a body of mutinous soldier 4 is to he permitted to stroll from one end of the vast empire of India to the other, and that when the mutiny is sup pressed they are to be treated as if they had dune no wrung. In conclusion, his Royal Highness contradicted the statement that Sir Colin Campbell and Lord Canning " are not on good terms," paid a high tribute to the conduct of the English officers in the Company's service, advocated the re-formation of the native army as "an auxiliary army," and concluded with an eloquent eulogism on the military spirit of the country as evinced in the recent recruiting. Sir S. Lushington returned thanks for " The Navy." The Turkish Minister and the American Minister each returned thanks for "The Foreign Ambassadors." The American Minister observed : You will perceive, therefore, that circumstances con nected with my uniform republican rearing and education have in a measure unfitted me for what at first appeared the interesting and appropriate ceremony of today