The Press. — London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

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Ativertibetneuui sent from the country must be accompanied by a remittance or a reference for payment in town. - 7471* Tog. rip LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1855. POSTSCRIPT. HOTJSE OF LOAM-FF.IIAL The Loan Bill was read a third time. After some lengthened comments from Lord MONTEAOLF. on the impolicy of sinking funds, and their utter failure whenever tried, and some comments on the same subject by Earl Grey, the Earls of Stradbrook and Malmesbury, and a reply from Lori Stanley, of Alderley.— ['heir lordships adjourned at a quarter past seven o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FaIDAY. Mr. DISRAELI rose to complain of the delay in laying the Etate papers on the table relative to the negotiations at Vienna. if due care had been taken, the papers might have been ready when the envoy returned. This was the usual eourse; and, as it had not been followed, he wished to know the reason of the irregularity. He cited, as a precedent, the rupture of the negotiation of 1796, when the papers relating to the negotiation, though very voluminous, were produced the day before Lord Malmesbury's return, preceded by a royal message, and accompanied by a Ministerial paper, containing a statement of all that had taken place. He contrasted this willingness to impart information to the liglessness now shown. Up to this moment they were in ignorance of the real basis on which the negotiations were going on. Why bad not her Majesty been advised to deign a corn munieation with Parliament under such momentous circumstances! Lord PALMERSTON said that the precedent of 1796 referred to a Iran-action in which peace was hopeless. The present negotiations had been conducted ender the friendly auspices of Austria. The late confer ences were not broken off—they ME re adjourned, and the elements of a conference still existed at Vienna. The course recommended would be a good one, if it was intended to shut the door on peace, but there might yet occur opportunities, and through the inter vention of Austria the differences might yet be accommodated. In 1796, the basis of negotiation had been refused, but the basis is now accepted by Russia. The difference is in the details. The Government would not have done its duty if by fol lowing a fancied analogy it had declared that all hopes had terminated of a peaceful issue. He was anxious to grant every information to the country consistent with its interests, but. would not be a party to quenching all hopes of accommodation. In answerto Mr. FRENCH, who prefaced a question as to what the Government intended to do with Lord Dundonald's proposal by an eulogy on his lordship's merits, and said that Sir C. Napier had expressed his .belief that he could take the Russian fortresses, Lord PALMERSTON said that his plans had been submitted to a scientific commission last year, which had reported unfavorably. Lord Dundonald had again brought forward his plans, which were far from being free from doubt, but were at the moment under attentive consideration. Mr. H. BAIIA.IE called attention to the state of the militia, advocating its recruitment by ballot as the only means of making it efficient- Mr. F. PEEL repeated the explanation of the con duct of the Government towards the militia, and said that voluntary enlistment should be exhausted before recourse was had to the ballot. THE PRESS. The discussion was continued on this subject by several members, mingled with observations on the negligence of the Government with respect to the Foreign Legion. Sir G. Gum( read a statement proving the improve. ment of late in recruiting for the militia, and denied that any inattention was shown by the War-office to militia representations or accommodation, and re peated the statement that observations in Parliament had proved the most serious obstacle to foreign en listment. Recently the prospects had become better, and the Government had taken steps accordingly. Mr. ADDERLEY proposed sending to the army select volunteers from the prisons. Mr. J. O . OONNEII. repiobated a statement which had been made in the debate, that the militiamen in the north and south of Ireland would not coalesce. The adjourned debate on the Tenants' Compen sation Bill was resumed by dlr. GEORGE, WhD disap proved of the measure, especially as to its retrospec tive clauses. The SOLICITOR GENERAL contended that the measure was a fair one, prospectively and retro spectively. Mr. MALINS opposed the bill, as involvirg prin ciples equally new and dangerous. Mr. DE VLRE supported it, saying that a time of social peace was the fittest to correct social evils. Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE protested against the retrospective clauses, which went back to an inde finite time. Mr. BENTINCK said that the simple effect of the bill would be to rob both landlord and tenant for the benefit of the country attorney. Mr. HORSMAN said that the bill was almost the same as one passed by that house two years ago, and introduced by the Government of Lord Derby. The present Government, approving the preamble, could not do otherwise than support it. Still he thought some of the compensatory clauses, as they stood, lead to litigation, and he suggested several limitations. Mr. DUFFY said that such limitations would so completely destroy the bill, that he would rather have none at all. The debate was continued by Mr. Sadleir, Lord C. Hamilton, Sir J. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Kennedy, when Lord PALuzuszoN rose and asked the house, as it seemed generally to approve of the bill, to proceed at once to the second reading. The time was favorabl.• for the settlement of the question ; it was a remedy for evils which existed when the causes had passed away. Mr. GBOGAN moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. After some further discussion, the house divided, and the bill passed the second reading by a majority of 163 to 50-113. The Customs Duties (or the Sugar and Coffee) Bill passed through committee. Adjourned at half-past one o'clock. THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ordered the dis tribution of 8,000 silver roubles to the poor of St. Petersbu g, in order that they may pray for the soul of the late Czar. A Hones GUARD " MEMORANDUM " has been issued, announcing, that in order to remove any doubt AS to the rank and precedence of the officers of the Company's service, it is her Majesty's pleasure that officers of the H.E.I.C. service, whose commis sions may be signed by authorities duly deputed, shall have rank and precedence with officers of her Majesty's regular army, according to the dates of their commissions, in all parts of her Majesty's dominions, or elsewhere. Tux RISIDAP OF GIBRALTAR has left Malta by the City of London transport for Bulaklava, for the pur• pose of consecrating the ground in which so many of our brave troops lie interred. His lordship will also consecrate the ground at Constantinople on his return. A MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE has occurred at East Clyth, a little fishing-station situated about nine miles southward from Wick, caused by the swamping of a boat, which resulted in the death of thirteen youths, of ages varying from twelve to nineteen years. On Tuesday the 24th ult., early in the morning, the thirteen lads in question left East Clyth in a haddock boat, to proceed to Skerriemore, an out-lying rock on the coast, about two and a half miles to the south of the station, for the purpose of collecting bait. After the party had accomplished their object, and when off Mabray Head, a projection of the land about one mile distant from East Clyth, a sudden squall caught the sails of the boat, and she instantly filled and sank in deep water, every one of toe fated thirteen going down with her, there being no human aid within reach. AT the village of Wheelock, near Sandhacb, in Cheshire, on the morning of yesterday week, Mr. James Sproston, a joiner and cabinetmaker, mur dered his wife with a sword, and afterwards blew out his own brains with a pistol. The cause of these rash acts appears to have been jealousy on the part of the husband, for which there was not the slightest foun dation. SATURDAY, FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, May 1. BANKRUPTS.— WIL WILALEY, Charles-street, Caatberwal New road, builder—WM. BAKER, Cumberland-market, licensed victualler —GRORCIE EDWARD N ‘L, Yembury.Bent , innkeeper —Joao KENNEDY, Ahlersgate-street, priuter—Joszrm SALT Lougton, Staffordshire, timber merchant—EDWAßD WESTON: Dudley, hosier—JOSEPH MARSDEN, lialsall-heath, Worcester shire, licensed victualler—Clacton ISAAC Wain, Leicester, fish monger—floc:mot Ricaoßos, Aller, near Laugport, Somerset. share, innkeeper—FßED. Wm. Houma, Leeds, wine and spirit merchant—Wu. Jasaisaoa, Ecclestield and Sheffield, piper manufacturer—Susi:lst, MAXAMT, Bonfield, Lancashire, cotton spiuuer—JAMßS Houma, Lancaster, builder. Iridoy, May 4. BANKRUPTCY AN!..IULLE G.—Wm. HOLLADAY and JAMES CLEW - ISOR. Watling-street, City, :nettle manufacturers. B.tNKRUPTS.—JASES VERITI, Leicestar.etreet, Regent. street, boot and shoemaker—CATHERINE Duos, Lytuington, Southampton, tailor sad memoir— WIL HARDIRO, Holborn, baker —HENRY OPPEINHEIM, Hantsgate, ship chandler—Jour FLATT, Saimundhan, Sussex, draper—SAMUEL Horioson, Great May. 'abate-street, atattonar — GEonos EDWARD NEIL, Pambery, Kea, innkeeper HAD( akar) JACKSON HEIDOES, Vauxhall Bream v, Waiulsworth-road, brewer Wm. Hos, Bishopitgate street Without. stationer-OEO'mA PIED. LILLICRAP, Bishops gate-street Without, grocer HENRY ROBINSON, brewuod, Stafford, 'lmitator—HENßY HARDEN, Kialersuurster, licensed victualler—JOSE RICHARD. Bocastle, Cornwall. draper—RICHARD HORGAN, Dowlais, grocer SAMUEL Lows, Derby, silk !bantam. turstr—TmomAs Mannitins, Caldwell-court Mill, Staffordshire, WiIIer —EDMUND STEVENS, Walsall, draper Jottnall Little Bolton, Lancaster, cotton spinner- JOHN BURTON and honor EDWARD itmEit, South Daudet, Gloucestershire, barge and boat builders JOHN Boasts, Blackburn, Lancashire, curr.er and leather cutter—HENßY HAWKER DYER, Boscastle, Cornwall, grocer and draper. SCOTCH SE.QUESTHATIONS.—Bavrix NicoL, Linlithgow, merchant—RlCHAßD HATTB/W PRASE, Glasgow, steam - puke' agent—JOHN CIL.IO WYLIE, Glasgow, commission merchant—. Jamas caxPasm. mod Co., Glasgow, mrobine makers. DESTRUCTION OF A FLOATING BATTERY.—The Etna, one of the new floating batteries designed for ser vice in the Baltic, and which was to have been launched this day, was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday evening, in Messrs. Scott and Russell's yard at Mil!wall, together with much other property. The total loss is estimated at upwards of 120,0001. The fire was first discovered about nine o'clock, raging in the newly-built floating battery, whidi was ad joined on one side by another vessel, to be termed the Wave Queen, and on the other by r screw collier. The three occupied an immense space of ground in the jard, and were in close proximity. The most strenuous exertions were made to collect the various hands together, but before any one could render the least assistance the flames rushed between the iron plates of the battery, firing every foot of timber from the front to the stern, and e►entually the heat be came so great that the iron plates, 44 inches thick, started in many places, when the flames rose up war.le of 100 feet high. The floating engine from her Majesty's dockyard was soon in attendance, together with other engines, and tons of water were poured into the vessel, yet the conflagration con tinued its ravages ; and about eleven o'clock a fright ful scene took place, as the ponderous battery, in a thorough state pf ignition, glided of the stocks into the river, amidst the shrieks of some thousand per sons who were in boats at the mouth of the dock. Several persons were so terrified that eight jumped into the water, fearing that the blazing vessel would fall upon them, and crush them to death. Fortu nately the whole were rescued by the Thames police and watermen. The battery may be said to be a total wreck, and both the other vessels were seriously injured. ON Tuesday week a young gentleman, named Reginald Henry Whitworth, son of the Rev. W. H. Whitworth, master of St. Mary's College, Winder mere, was drowned in Windermere Lake. The de ceased and some youths of the college bad been amusing themselves with a sailing yacht and punt. The punt was a leaky boat, and foundered as the deceased, who had left the shore in her alone, was endeavouring to reach the yacht. THE London and Portsmouth excursion-train on Sunday last was so heavy that it was necessary to leave several of the carriages behind, near Basing stoke. The carriages so left were run into by the London and Southampton excursion-train, and about a dozen of the Portsmouth passengers were seriously injured. THE loss of the Crcesus is thus reported on by the Corriere Mercantile of Genoa :—She left Genoa at ten a.m., and in about an hour atter her provision of coal was found to be on tire, and after several vain efforts to get the conflagration under, the steamer was brought back to Fruchioso, which she reached about noun. Everybody who remained on besrd was saved ; but three or four soldiers who threw them selves into the sea have not been heard of since. The captain and crew did their duty manfully, and were aided as much as possible by the soldiers on board, 287 in number, belonging to the engineer corps and the commissariat. The Pedestrian, a largo sailing transport, was in tow of the Crass., but she returned safe to Genoa, being afterwards taken in tow by the Nubia steamer. Three months' provi sions for the Sardinian expedition were lost in the Crams on the 24th ult.