The Press. — London, England, 1856-04-26 00:00:00

APRIL 26, 1856. AUSTRIAN OCCUPATION OF PARMA. The Earl of CIANRICARDE moved for copies of re ports and c orrespondence relating to the occupation o f Parma by Austrian troops and the assumption of the Government of the Duchy by Austrian autho rities. The Earl of CLARENDON was unable to lay on the table any correspondence calculated to throw light on the recent occurrences at Parma. By a convention between the Governments of Parma and Modena and Austria, the Duchies were entitled to call in the aid of Austria in case of need. After the assassina tion of the late Duke of Parma and during the sub sequent disorders the Duchess declared the province in a state of siege, and, according to the convention, called in the aid of Austria; there had been no special intervention by that power in consequence of recent events4a; an Austrian battalion had been kept i I Parma since 1849. CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE ENLISTMENT CWESTION. The Earl of CLARENDON, in reply to a question by the Earl of Derby, stated that the papers on the questions pending with America would be laid on the table daring the next week. THE AMERICAN QUESTION. Lord PALMERSTON brought up, by command of her Majesty, some correspondence respecting Central America, and it was ordered to be laid upon the t tble. Mr. BAILLIE asked when the papers relating to the enlistment question would be ready ? Lord PALMERSTON was not able to state the exact day. His noble friend (the Earl of Clarendon) had not returned to this country so early as he had ex pected; but the papers would be laid on the table as speedily as possible. Sir E. B. LYTTON said he would take an early op portunity of stating the terms of his motion on the subject of Central America. THE PEACE FIREWORKS. In the Commons, on Monday, several questions were addressed to the Government by Lord John Manners, Colonel Knox, Mr. Duncombe, and Mr. Brady, with reference to the display of fireworks in the parks. The sum total of the replies of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir G. Grey, and Mr. Monsell amounted to this,—that they had been guided by precedent, that the cost of the fireworks would not exceed 8,000/., and that they did not think it necessary to submit previously to the house a formal estimate for the outlay. THE DEFECTIVE MORTARS. Mr. MAuse, on Monday, called the attention of the house to the case of Messrs. Grissell, the con tractors charged by Mr. Monsell with having inserted pieces of iron in the mortars made by them, in order that the flaws in the material they had used might escape observation. Mr. Malins complained that Mr. Monsell had declined, in his place, to acquit Messrs. Grissell of the charges he made against them, every charge having been disproved to the satisfaction of the Ordnance. The charges ought never to have been made, but having been made, fairness and justice required that acquittal ought to have been pronounced at the earliest moment. Mr. MOSSELL said it was impossible for him, under the circumstances, to have taken any other course. Mr. Dundas, Captain Boldero, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Alderman Cubitt, and Sir J. Pakington bore testi mony to the high character of the firm, and ex aerated them from any wilful fraud. FIRE INSURANCE BILL. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, on Monday, in moving the second reading of the Fire Insurance Bill, stated that its object was to remedy a defect in the existing law, by which the duty was charged only when the in-urance was effected in this country. It provided that insurances on property here should pay the duty whether the policy were issued here or in another country. Mr. iihurnisom considered this to be an unwise measure; that it would not affect the object in view, while it would drive business from this country. The better course would be to reduce the duty. He moved to defer tho second reading for six months. Mr. E. DENISON believed that the bill would be inoperative, except that it might produce the effects predicted by Mr. Wilkinson. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, the re duction or tho duty to ls. would cause a sacrifice of revenue of between 600,000/. and 700,000/. a year, and be did not think the burden of the tax was severely felt. Mr. HENLEY remarked that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not shown that the bill would save the revenue. He thought it would prove mere waste paper, and that the revenue would gradually 8 IP away. On the motion of Mr. KINNAIIID, the debate was a ljournee. THE STATE OF ITALY. Lord LvxmluusT, cn Thursday, gave notice that he should shortly bring under the consideration of their lordships the subject of the occupation of Parma and of Italy in general by foreign troops. THE PRESS. LOSS OF KARS. The Earl of MALMESBURY, on Thursday, gave notice that on Friday, May 2, be should move the following resolution : That while this house feels it to be its duty to express its admiration of the gallantry of the Turkish garrison, and the self-denying devotion of Sir W. Williams and the British officers at the siege of Kars, it feels it equally a duty to declare its conviction that the surrender of that fortress, and that of the army it contained, which has en dangered the safety of Asiatic Turkey, and affected the in fluence of this country in the negotiations for the peace, are in a great degree owing to the want of foresight and ability of her Majesty's Government. ECCLESIASTICAL JUDGES AND CHANCELLORS. Mr. J. G. l'inuAmoitE, on Thursday, gave notice that on the 21st of May, unless some more compre hensive measure were introduced by the Government, he should move for leave to bring in a bill to take away from all archbishops, bishops, and other eccle siastical persons in England and Wales, the power of appointing judges and chancellors, and to vest such power in the Lord Chancellor. INDIAN CURRENCY. a The Earl of ALBEMARLE, on Monday, presented and supported a petition from the merchants of Singapore, remonstrating against the introduction by the Government of India of the rupee as the currency of that settlement instead of the Spanish dollar, which had been long established, and was found convenient and satisfactory. Lord Albemarle further pointed out that the old currency was a decimal one, which the present was not, that the coin was always at a discount, and the Government in paying its officers in that coin inflicted upon them a heavy loss. He hoped the act would be repealed. Earl GRANVILLE admitted that the Home Govern ment had doubted the expediency of the measure. Instructions had been given to narrowly watch its effect. TORTURE IN nmu Mr. Otw.►Y intimated that on the 20th of May he should call attention to the report of the Commissioners on Tor. tore in India, and submit a series of resolutions founded thereon. COUNTY COURTS. Sir G. GRF.T, on Monday, in reply to a question from Mr. Roebuck, stated that it was the intention of the Lord Chancellor to proceed with the bill which he had intro duced into the other house with respect to County Courts, but it was impossible to say whether it would be passed daring the present session. AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, on Monday, in reply to Mr. Henley, stated that the second reading of the Agricultural Statistics Bill would not be taken before Friday next week. FIREWORKS IN DUBLIN AND Mr. GROGAN moved an address to the Crown, asking that the pyrotechnic displays in celebration of the peace should be extended to Dublin and Edinburgh as well as the English metropolis, which was agreed to. The following arrangements have taken place during the week : MONDAY. Captain HANDCOCK took the oaths and his seat for the borough of Athlone . The Bankruptcy ( Scotland) Bill was read a third time, some clauses were added, and further proceedings in it were then postponed to Thursday. Mr. BRADY obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the sale of spirits, beer, and cider in Ire land. The bill was su b sequen tl y read a first time. Mr. HORSMAN obtained leave to introduce the following bills, which were brought in and read a first time :—Bill to abolish the court of the manor of St. Sepulchre, in and near Dublin ; bill to amend and ameliorate the act relating to the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force ; bill to amend the act relating to Grand Jury Assessments (Ireland). The Trustees of the National Gallery Bill was brought in and read a first time. Mr. J. D. FITZGERU.D (the Attorney General for Ire land) was re-appointed a member of the Public Prosecu tion and Court of Chancery (Ireland) Committees. THURSDAY. Sir DENHAM NORREYS obtained leave to bring in a bill to relieve grand juries in Ireland from fiscal duties, and to of local duties in the hands of place the elected councils. Mr. KENDALL obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the law relating to the assessment of certain mines to the poor rate. The Draughts on Bankers Bill was read a third time and passed. Tile report of the Committee of Supply was received. The Bankruptcy ( Scotland) Bill, after .some furthur amendments, was passed. The Commissioners of Supply (Scotland) Bill passed through committee. THE FORMATION BY THE LOMBARD BISHOPS of the new community, the Sacconi, persons wearing sack cloth hoods, with power to enter kitchens on Fridays and examine dishes and saucepans, to see that the regulations for fasting are not violated ; to inspect letters and papers to see they contain no trace of impiety or revolution ; and, lastly, to take down the names of those persons who do not kneel in the streets on hearing bells rung for the "Angelus," is denied by the Univers. 391 THE CAMP IN THE CRIMEA. INTELLIGENCE from the camp up to the 11th brings news of hurried preparations for the evacuation of the Crimea. Stores, shot, shell, and guns are being rapidly collected and carried to Balaklava and Kamiesch. The railway is to be utilised at Heraclea, and pntoons are being constructed so as to enable 7,000 men a day to embark. The Guards and Rifle Brigade, it is anticipated, will be tho.first to leave for England ; but it is believed that 0,000 Sardinian troops will embark first. The health of the armies was excellent. Grand reviews of the French and English armies took place in the presence of the Russian generals on the 18th. On the 14th the allied generals had visited the Russian camp, and witnessed a review of the 11th Russian division. The Moniteur of Tuesday contained the following despatch from Marshal Pelissier : Sebastopol, April 18. Yesterday I reviewed the troops of all arms forming the army of the Crimea. General Luders, and a considerable number of Russian officers, with Generals Codrington and lle la Marmora, were present at this military festival. The troops, having their right at the redoubt of the Col, their centre on the eminence of St. George's Monastery, and their left in the direction of Kazatch, formed an im mense and magnificent line of battle, more than twelve thousand metres in extent. The Emperor would have been charmed, as I was my self, at the fine order and martial air of the soldiers, to whom I made known on the same day the rewards which his Majesty has deigned to authorise me to grant them in his name. After a short rest at General Codrington's, who had in vited together the officers of the four armies, the English troops presented themselves in their turn, under the most favorable aspect, occasioning a second and superb review. Our sanitary state is becoming excellent. MARSHAL PELISSIER. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. Lord Panmure received on Tuesday two despatches and inclosures from General Sir William Codrington, K.C.B.:— Sebastopol, April 7. The Stromboli returned this morning with Dr. Mel Urea from Redout•Kaleh. The letter from Prince Bebutoff, at Tiflis, of which a copy is herewith transmitted, shows that General Williams had recovered his health, and had been forwarded to Riazan, near Moscow ; and that, consequently, it was not necessary for Dr. Mclllree to go to Tiflis, nor do the Russians seem to have wished that he should pass their lines. Your lordship will see that the armistice had been established in Asia. Dr. Mclllree accordingly returned, bringing me letters front Abdil Pacha, who was in temporary command of the Turkish troops during the absence of Omer Pacha. The service for which Dr. Mclllree was selected, would probably have exposed him to a difficult if not dangerous journey at this time of the year, across mountain passes, and amongst such a population ; his mission would have required circumspection and activity, and I beg to bring his name to your lordship's notice from his service at Scu tari, and his selection by Sir J. Hall for the duty on which he had been ordered. W.J. CODIUNOTON, General Commanding. (Inclosure.) Tiflis, le 16-28 Mara, 1856. Monsieur le Commandant-en-Chef,—Le Commandant des troupes imperiales sur le littoral du Gour el m'a fait parvenir, le 15-27 de co mois, la lettre de votre Excellence, l'adresse de M. le Commandant-en-Chef de l'armee du Cancase, en date du 16 Mars, x s., transmise par les officiers rnedecins Mclllree et Buckley, pie vows avez juge necessaire d'envover pour soigner la sante du General Williams. En l'absence de M. l'Aide-de-Camp General Monravieff, j'ai Phonneur d'informer votre Excellence que M. le General Williams, retablie de la maladie qu'il a faite jet, et s'etant trouve en parfait kat de poursuivre son voyage pour l'interieur de la Ruasie, a quitte Tiflis le 13-2.5 de ce mois, se rendant, avec le Capitaine Teesdale, I sa destination. La presence des susdits officiers de sante devenant desormais inutile, ils sont charges de remettre a votre Excellence la presente, qui Bert aussi u la prevenir que les formalites de l'armistire, stipule par la Conference de Paris, out ete egalement accomplies entre les armees bell gerantes dans ces contrees. Recevez, M. le Command parfaite zonsideration. (Signe ) PRINCE BEavvorr, Lieutenant-Gel M. le General Codrington, Commandant-en-Chef l'Artnee Anglaise en Crimee. The second despatch contained the weekly medical report from Dr. Hall. The health of the army con tinues highly satisfactory. l'assurance de ma MARSHAL I'ELISSIER'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF PEACE. Marshal Pelissier announced the conclusion o f peace to the army under his command in the follow ing Ordre du Jour : Soldiers !—The Emperor said but lately to your com rades, " You have deserved well of your country ; " you, I am certain, will hear in your turn the same words from that august mouth.