The Press. — London, England, 1857-08-08 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we recehe, Their insertion is often delayed owing to a press of matter. and when omitted, It is frequently from reasons quite inde pendent of the merits of the communication. - itt -l)rtAig+ LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1857 POSTSCRIPT. A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Constitution nel, states that Russia has made an application to the Porte, with a view to such a modification of the Treaty of Paris as woul.l enable her to employ a larger number of vessels of war to carry on her present operations on the coast of Circassia. THE PRINCIPALITIES. A letter from Vienna of the 2tiih Mt. says:— It is generally supposed io our official circles that the Porte will cede to the exigencies of France with respect to Moldavia, and that in conspqaence the recent elections will be declared null and void; that new lists of electors will be drawn up, and, in a word, that everything that has taken place' in l'iloltlavia will have to be recommenced. New instructions have this day been transmitted by our Cabinet to M. de Prukesch, sen., our internuncio at Con. stantinople, to the effect that he shall moderate his attitude in the question of the union of the Principalities, which since the peace of Paris has caused so much anxiety to the Austrian Government. Paris, Friday. The Moniteur an/minces that on the 14th inst., at two p.m., the Emperor in person will inaugurate the new buildings of the Palace of the Louvre, begun in 1852 and finished in l 857. It is believed that General Cortelbajac will succeed M. de Morny as Ambassador to the Court of St. Petersburg, and, in the event of the resumption of diplomatic relations between France and Naples, that Prince Carini will represent King Ferdinand at the Court of the Tuileries. The Persian Ambassador, Ferouk Khan, returned to Paris from Brussels on Thursday. GERMANY. Paris, Aug. 6. The Cabinet of Carlsruhe has just submit - ted to the Courts of Vienna and Berlin a project for the institution of a Federal Court, to be charged with all Federal questions of litigation. No question to be referred to such court until after having been com municated to the Diet. _ _ The project has been favourably received at Vienna and by the 6econdary States. Lord John Russell's committee on the Oaths Bill met on Thutsday, and again yesterday, to consider the sth and tfth Wm. IV., in relation to the oaths taken by members. The public were excluded, but we understand the committee was well and nume rously attended. Lord John Russell occupied the chair. Two questions were propounded for conside ration : the fir:t, whether the act is applicable to a body constituted like the House of Commons ; the second, whether, supposing it to be applicable, it would be competent for the House of Commons, in substituting a declaration for an oath, to omit the words "on the true faith of a Christian ?" The fact that such words have been declared by the courts of law to be of the substance and not of the farm of the oath increases the difficulty of the case. The com mittee was addressed, we understand, by the Attor ney General, in support of the argument that the law is applicable to the House of Commons, and by Mr. Rolt, Mr. Wigram, Mr. Napier, Mr. Whiteside, and Mr. Hardy, against this view. The discussion is said to have been interesting and well conducted. The committee adjourned till this day. CABINET Coracles were held on Saturday last and on Wednesday, all the Ministers attending. THE ELECTION CowatirrEEs have concluded their labours with determining the result of the Drogheda and Dublin inquiries. In both cases have the sitting members been declared " duly elected." JAMES COPPOCH, Esq., has been appointed to the Treasurership of the Kent County Courts, vacant by the death of the late W. F. A. Delane, Esq. THE REPORT of the appointment of Mr. Phinn, late Secretary to the Admiralty, to an office in the colonies, is stated by the Globe to be without " the Slightest possible foundation." Mr. J. H. Stocqueler delivers a lecture upon the Government of India with reference to the recent mutinies, upon Monday evening next, at Wilhs's• rooms. E_ PRESS, AUGUST 8, 1857. LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE. HOUSE OF LORDS. LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS. The Burial Acts Amendment Bill was read a second time after some remarks from the Bishop of LONDON touching recent controversies respecting cemeteries in the diocese of St. David's. The Militia Bill, the Charitable Trusts Act Con- tinuance Bill, and various other measures, were passed through committee. The General Board of Health Continuance Bill was read a second time. The Married Women's Reversionary Interest Bill was also read a second time, on the motio❑ of Lord NIONTEAOLE. and after some comments from Lord St. LEONARDS, the LORD CHANCELLOR, and Lord CAMP BELL. _ _ . A long list of other bilk having been gone through, their lordships adjourned shortly before seven o'clock. HOUSE OF OMMONS. NEW ZEALAND. At the early sitting, the three hills relating to New Zealand, the New Zealand Loan Guarantee Bill, thr Sale of Waste Lands New Zealand Bill, and the New Zealand Government Act Amendment Bill, were carried through the remaining stages, and passed. Other hills were disposed of before the sitting was suspended. DUBLIN ELECTICIN. On resuming at six o'clock, the report from the Dublin Election Committee was presented, to the effect that Messrs. Grogan and Vance were duly elected. 'vile consideration in committee of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill was then resumed, and occupied the house with a miscellaneous discussion on the details of the measur3, protracted during several hours. Mr. DRUMMOND proposed an amendment to the 25th clause, designed to give to women an equal right to the relief obtained by divorce a vinculo to that awarded to husbands. Mr. GLADSTONE supported the amendment, con tending at considerable length for the perfect equality of the sexes, and vindicating the right of the weaker sex to a full participation in every privi lege granted by the law. After a prolonged discussion, in which a great number of members took part, the committee divided. For the amendment .. 65 Against .. .. 126 —6l The CHAIRMAN was then ordered to report progress, leaving the clause still unfinished. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at half-past one o'clock. eitttin nttiligentr, BIRMINGHAM.—The nomination is fixed for Mon day, and the polling for Tuesday next. The split in the Liberal camp threatens to be carried to the poll, the friends of Mr. Bright and Mr. Watson both being confident of success. Meantime Mr. W. Geachey is canvassing vigorously. GREAT YARMOUTH.—The representation of this borough is likely to be hotly contested. Sir Edmund Lacon has issued an address in the Conservative interest, and it is expected that another gentleman of the same politics will stand with him. Two Liberal candidates, Mr. Adolphus William Young and Mr. John Mellor, Q.C., of the midland circuit, have issued a joint address. label not glilitarg ntalligentt. THE EMBARKATION OF TROOPS FOR INDIA continues to be pushed on apparently with vigour at the prin cipal naval ports. Four additional regiments of in- fantry, two of cavalry, and a powerful artillery force, under the immediate command of Major-General llnpuis, are under orders. Her Majesty this week visited the ships James Baines and Lady Jocelin, and inspected the troops under orders at Ports mouth. VICE-ADMIRAL SIR PHIPPS HORNBY is to have the good-service pension at the disposal of the First Lord of the Admiralty by the demise of Admiral Sir Hugh Pigott, K.C.B. CAPTAIN CHARLES FREDERICK iS to have the good service pension vacant b 3 the promotion of Captain the lion. Henry Keppel to flag rank by the death of Admiral Sir Hugh Pigott, K.C.B. MAJOR•GENERAL THE HOS. SIR JAMES YORKE SCARLET?, K.C.8., the newly-appointed Lieutenant- Governor of Portsmouth Garrison, and Commander• in-Chief of the South-West District, has assumed the command of the fortress, relieving Major. General Henry Breton, who goes to the Mauritius as Major- General on the Staff of the Governor and Com mander•in-Chief of the Mauritius. CHINA, THE Government despatches upon the recent ope. rations in the Fatshan Creek have this week been published. The details given in our second edition last week comprised everything which has taken place. It appears that Admiral Seymour, upon the arrival of the gunboats at Hong Kong, determined to attack the naval forces of Canton, so as to open up the river for ulterior operations. Upon the 25th of May, intelligence having been received that a fleet of war-junks was at anchor in Escape Creek, one of the numerous creeks at the mouth of the Canton River, Commodore Elliot, with a small squadron of gunboats, proceeded in search. In his despatch, the commodore details his proceedings as follows : The fleet of junks, which formerly remained near the main branch of the river, had moved to a position about five or six miles up the creek. As it was very doubtful whether our small steamers could get up to them, it was necessary to have a sufficient boat force to follow up the creek, independent of gunboat support. . At da3light, on the 26th, our force was in the creek, and soon afterwards a mandarin fleet of about forty junks was moored in good order across the stream. The tide was a strong ebb, which rendered it less easy for the junks to escape, and, although it made our progress slow, it enabled us the better to thread the way among the shoals. A heavy fire from the junks opened upon the leading steamers as they approached, but at too great a distance to tell with effect. Shortly afterwards, as the Hongkong got within good range, she opened fire, and was soon sup ported by the Bullard and Starling, the others being at distant range. The fire from the junks then slackened, and they got under way. Some were soon afterwards abandoned, and the rest, plying their oars, endeavoured to escape up the creek. The steamers followed, though very slowly, on account of the shoal water. The Sir Charles Forbes and Stanch grounded early, then the Starling, and eventually the Hongkong ran ashore. The signal was immediately made for the boats to go ahead, and a general chase took place. The junk force divided; the main body of about fifteen continuing up the main channel were followed by the boats, led by Captain Edgell, who detached four pinnaces up a creek to the left to follow the smaller division. Com mander Forsyth accompanied these pinnaces, which suc ceeded in capturing them all (ten in number). Com mander Forsyth speaks highly of the gallant way th;. Hor net's pinnace, under Mr. R A. Brown, acting mate, dashed in, unsupported by the other boats, which she had dis tanced, against three of these heavy-armed junks, which struck to her. The main body, followed by Captain Edgell, were soon beyond range of all except the Hornet's rocket boat and Sybille's pinnace, which kept within reach of them for a long time; and Captain Edgell brings to my notice the behaviour and most accurate fire kept up by Lieut. Brock in the former bcat, and by Mr. Hudson, acting mate, in the latter. The chase was continued by this division, which I accompanied for about twelve or fourteen miles above the place where the steamers had grounded, when the work for the men at the oars having been excessive, I determined to turn back, but with the view of getting at the junks, which we still had in sight, at a future time, by another passage. Near the point at which we turned, at the village of Tseen Twe, we found the lorcha Anonyma, which was captured last December, whilst in tow of the steamer Thistle. I burnt her. On getting back to the gunboats at night, I found that Commander Corbett, who had very properly remained with the Stanch on her grounding—the other commanders having gone on—had sent the Inflexible's paddle•box boat after a junk that tried to escape down a creek to the right and captured her. Commander Forsyth had returned with his party, and Lieut. Dent, assisted by the officers of the other gunboats, had secured or destroyed all the prizes. The Chinese having returned to one of the junks below, she was recaptured by Mr. Molley, second master, with the Starling's and Hong Kong's boats. Lieut. Dent brought to my notice the conduct of that officer. In all, twenty•seven beavilyarmed snake boats (belong ing to the Admiral Su Hoy) were capturr d or destroyed. Their armament consist of one heavy gun in the bow, generally a long 32 or 34 pounder, with from four to six lighter guns ; each vessel pulls about forty ears. This service was fortunately accomplished with the loss of two men only wounied. The day was excessively hot, and I cannot speak too highly of the spirit with which the men stuck to their oars • through a harder day's work than I have ever before witnessed under a tropical sun. One or two cases (but not severe) of sunstroke occurred in the gun boats. The next morning at daylight the chase was con tinued after the missing junks. Proceeding up the Sawshee Channel for twenty-one miles, the squadron at length rounding a point came abreast of a large and populous city, close to which were anchored the missing junks The boats now gave way with a will, and though the junks wire in sight fully two miles off, they succeeded in taking them completely by surprise; the boats, as they dashed in, firing into a small battery which commanded the river, and into the war junks, caused them to be immediately abandoned. The junks lay scattered along the whole length of the town, through which the river runs, mid preparations are now made to destroy them,