The Press. — London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

1 last, being New Year's-day, the band lorse Guards assembled on the East en o'clock in the morning, and played favourite airs. Her Majesty's annual • were afterwards distributed in the the castle. The recipients con , 600 poor persons residing in Windsor parishes. The Queen and Prince, ac v the royal children, witnessed the dis the gallery of the riding school. and Prince Albert, accompanied by Royal and the Prince of Wales, left yesterday (Friday) morning, for the Wight. It is understood that her Majesty will return to Windsor on Monday. There will be no theatrical performances or balls at Windsor Castle this seism), the rooms usually occupied for that• purpose havigg bean fitted up in the most splendid manner for the reception of the Emperor and Empress of the French, whose visit is expected immediately after the war assumes a more favourable aspect. Letters on Saturday, brought by the Queen's messenger s was received from Constantinople, from tale Dtgto of Cambridge, which give a favourable account tifjbe health of his Royal Highness. The Duke has been staying at Therapia, and his health has gradually improved, mainly from retirement and change of Atone. The Duke is most anxious to re join his diAsion, but his medical attendants insist on his thorough restoration to health before he quits for the Crimea. It was thought his Royal Highness would leave towards the close of December. The health of the Earl of Westmoreland, which for some days had occasioned much anxiety, is described by recent letters from Vienna as having undergone a favourable change. The most lively anxiety has been manifested among all classes resident in the Austrian capital for the recovery of his Excellency, whose honourable and amiable character has won for him the universal respect and esteem of the Viennese people. His Excellency the Chevalier von Usedom, having closed his diplomatic business, has left London on his return to Berlin. His Excellency Lord Cowley, our ambassador at the French Court, returned to town on Wednesday, from a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. Cabinet Councils were held at the Foreign-office CM Saturday and Tuesday last. Lord Charles Lennox Fitzroy is convalescent from the wounds received at Balaklava, and is shortly expected to be able to resume his duties as Equerry. in-Waiting on the Queen. Thel last accounts from Alexandria announce but slight improvement in the health of Lord Haddo, M.P. His lordship is not expected to return to England before April. We regret to announce the death of the Earl of Leitrim, which occurred at Killadoon, in the county Kildare, on Wednesday last. rfi c . S i ' ''lr 10 .I' s tart ant On Monday last, being Is of the Royal Horse Guards terrace, at seven o'clock in a selection of favourite air gifts to the poor were after riding school of the castle tiered of about 000 poor pe and Clewer parishes. Tho oompanied by the royal et tribution from the gallery ( The Queen and Prince the Princess Royal and tl Windsor Castle yesterday Isle of Wight. It Is uncl .411 ratiarn tn Windsor nn giettion anttiligtittt. ~}:,: ~,'`. FERMANAGH.—The Hon. Colonel Cole, brother to Lord Enniskillen, was declared elected yesterday week for the seat vacant by the death of Sir Arthur Brooke. The gallant colonel was proposed by the Rev. J. G. Porter, and seconded by the Hon. Major Crichton ; and, there being no other candidate, he was declared the sitting member. SUNDERLAND.—The election commenced on Mon day, when Mr. W. D. Seymour, the late member and Mew Recorder for Newcastle, comes before the con stituency, seeking re-election, with Mr. A Fenwick, a resident gentlemen, for his competitor. The nomi nation took place amidst a good deal of confusion, which also prevailed next day during the period of polling. In the end Mr. Seymour was defeated, and his rival returned by a large majority. The final numbers were—Fenwick, 930; Seymour, 640—majo• rity, 31C. Ax entirely new and very extensive factory is forthwith to be erected at Enfield for the manufac ture in large quantities of the rifle musket ; and the Board of Ordnance has now entered into the neces- Mery contracts for the buildings and machinery. 1 'Messrs. Fairbaing of Manchester, have contracted tolicornplete in six months the whole of the buildings, otive-power, and mill shafting, &c., and other con ctors will within the same period complete and fix e tools and machines used in the various processes of rifle making. The engines are to be capable of exerting a force of upwards of 200 horse power, and Machines of tip newest and most impioved character will be employed in every department of the manu facture, so as to insure both perfect accuracy in the weapon. and economy in the cost of its production. THE MA,. ^ OF HOBART TOWN has just paid into the Colonial - --v 2,0001., to be remitted to Eng kud for " THE MAYOR OF HOBART To the Colonial Treasury 2,0001., had for the Patriotic Fund, , .• • • ' t' Ai:Lai AMMOMaiI THE PRESS. AUTOGRI.PH LETTER FROM THE QUEEN. (From the Morning Post.) Perhaps, since the commencement of the cam paign, no document has found its way to the public so gratifying in its nature as that which we here sub join. The earnestexpression of her Majesty's anxiety for the brave men who have been wounded in the service of the country will have the best effect in the army ; it will console the unfortunate who have al ready suffered, and animate to increased exertion their comrades who have hitherto escaped the acci dents of war. The letter was addressed by her Most Gracious Majesty to Mr. Sidney Herbert, and through him to Mrs. Herbert, by whom it was transmitted to Miss Nightingale: — WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 6, 1854. Would you tell Mrs. Herbert that I begged she would let me see frequently the accounts she receives from Miss Nightingale or Mrs. Bracebridge, as I hear no details of the wounded, tho' I see so many from officers, &c., about the battle-field, and naturally the former must interest me more than any one. Let Mrs. Herbert also know that I wish Miss Nightingale and the ladies would tell these poor noble wounded and sick men that NO ONE takes a warmer interest, or feels more for their sufferings, or admires their courage and heroism MORE, than their Queen. Day and night she thinks of her be• loved troops. So does the Prince. Beg Mrs. Herbert to communicate these my words to those ladies, as I know that our sympathy is much valued by these noble fellows. (Signed) VICTORIA. THE CRIMEAN ARMY FUND. THERE was a public meeting of the inhabitants of Marylebone held on Thursday evening, for the pur pose of aiding the fund now raising for the supply of provisions, clothing, and comforts to the army in the Crimea. Mr. Jacob Bell, as chairman of the district committee in aid of the fund, presided. He re ferred to an opinion, which lie acknowledged had been frequently expressed, that such meetings as the present were practical censures on the Government, but begged the assembly to dismiss all unpleasant considerations, and abstain from political controversy. Whatever might be their opinions on the conduct of the Government, they were assembled rather to aid the Government than otherwise. Already large contributions had been received, and were on their way to the Crimea. A noble example had that day been set by the Duke of Portland, who had sent 350 cases of preserved goods, and 1,000 gallons of ale. Other speakers having addresaed the meeting in support of a resolution setting forth " the necessity of immediate efforts on the part of the people of England to forward provisions and clothing to alle viate the sufferings of our brave soldiers and sailors now engaged in the war, in addition to the ordinary Government rations," Mr. LEWIS proposed the following amendment to the resolution:— That this meeting urgently calls upon the inhabitants of Mary labone to contribute liberally to the Crimean Army Fund, as a means of counteracting the evils to which the brave army of England is subjected, through the wilful delays and mismanage ment of the English Ministry. He was astonished (he said) to-find the want of spirit in those who pretended to be the representatives of the people, in not having denounced the conduct of a base govern ment, through whose disgraceful neglect so many thou sands of our brave soldiers and sailors were absolutely rotting in the Crimea. The time had come when the people of England should denounce the conduct of the present guilty and incompetent Government, in reference to the war. au& whilst he called upon them to do as he in tended to do—to subscribe liberally, in accordance with his means, towards the Crimean Army Fund—to do so as a vote of censure upon the Government. After charging the Government with insincerity, and with an attempt to get out of their mess by at tempting to blast the character of Lord Raglan, Mr. Lewis concluded by moving his amendment. Mr. Wardwr seconded the amendment, which was carried with but three dissentients, amidst great applause. Some further resolutions were adopted, and the meeting separated. THE BoAnn OF TRADE RETURNS for the month ending the sth of December present unfavourable results, the declared value of exportations showing a falling off as compared with the corresponding month of 1853 of 1,856,988/. The diminution is observable in almost every article, and has been particularly heavy in cotton, woollen, and linen manufactures, but it is to be attributed almost entirely to the com mercial distress in the United States and the com plete check which has at length been given to the mad shipments to Australia. The war thus far has had little effect than that of awakening prudence, and causing the speculation to these regions to cease before it had extended to a point at which a general crisis w9iild have been inevitable. The fact of the reaction having been attended with few instances of individual disaster is considered a matter for special emigre tulatiort. SATURDAY, plitual anb Otrieral. THE NEW NORTH FORT constructed at Liverpool is nearly complete, and the whole of the guns will be mounted in a few days. It is stated that a detach ment of the Lancashire militia, artillery and rifles, will be garrisoned there. MR. Dot:oLAs, of the Stratheden Foundry, Cupar, has received a Government order for 35,000 cannon•• balls, to be furnished as speedily as possible. THERE are now in course of preparation at the Naval Arsenal, at Malta, a number of shells to be used in blowing up the Russian ships sunk at the mouth of the port of Sebastopol. The shell is of the usual spherical shape, and is divided into two sec tions, each having an outer rim, by which when charged the two parts are firmly screwed tt,gether. These shells are of different sizes, some constructed to contain 250 lb., others 500 lb., and others even I,ooolb. of gunpowder. When required for opera tion a copper wire will be attached to each, in con nection with a galvanic battery, and the shell dropped into the hold of the vessel. THE ship Sumroo lett Southampton on Saturday with 300 wooden huts for the French troops in the Crimea. She was accompanied by the French impe• rial steam-yacht, La Reine Hortense, which will assist the Sumroo in getting to her destination by occasion ally towing her. The huts will house 9,000 men. THE SUBSCRIPTION AT BORDEAUX for the purchase of tobacco, cigars, and other articles for the allied armies in the Crimea, has exceeded 40,000 f., and in addition the committee have received from different • persons 4,0(X) bottles of old Bordeaux wine for the military hospitals. Mr. Scott, the British consul at Bordeaux, having communicated to his Government the fact of the Bordeaux subscription being applied equally w the English and French armies, has re ceived a letter from Lord Clarendon, in which he states that the British Government appreciate, in the strongest possible manner, this fresh testimony of sympathy and friendship. The Moniteur de la Flotte states : During the last twelve months nine ships-of-the-line, one brig, and tour steamers have been launched. During the same period three ships-of-the-line, six steam-frigates, thir teen screw-transports of the largest size, twenty steam gun-boats, five floating batteries, and five sailing bomb vessels were placed on the stocks. The first result of the labours of our arsenals during the year has consequently been the launching of fourteen ships and the laying on the stocks of fifty-two more. On the other hand the naval department purchased in 185-1, for the use of the fleet, 11,300,000 kilogrammes of wheat, 7,520,0(k) kilogrammes of flour, 1,605,000 litres of spirits, 13,300,000 litres of wine, 1,790,000 kilogrammes of salt provisions, 528,000 kilo grammes of coffee, 397,000 kilogrammes of cheese, 553,000 kilogrammes of sugar, and 3,492,400 kilogrammes of dried vegetables, which articles cost the State 22,800,000 f. MR. WILLIAM OWEN (son of Professor Owen) is appointed to a junior clerkship in the Foreign-office, Downing-street. . . . CAPTAIN JOHN FRASER is appointed captain of the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers. MR. W. CARLETON, the celebrated Irish writer of fiction, announces, through the columns of the Nation, that he is about to leave Ireland for ever, and to close the remainder of his days in Canada. This information he embodies in the following stanza:— Ungrateful country, I resign The debt you owe to me anti mine ; My sore neglect—your gilt and shamt— And ding you back your curse of fame. Mr. Carleton has been for many years in his " un grateful country" receiving a Government pension, amounting to 2001. per annum, as an acknowledgment of his literaty merits. TUE Scottish Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures connected with architecture was opened yesterday week in the Exhibition-hall, Glasgow, with an im posing inaugural ceremony, in presence of the Hon. the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., Sheriff Bell, the ex-Lord Provost, magis trates, and council, a full representation of the architectural profession in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and a large assemblage of the most influential class of the citizens. THE DUKE OF BITCCLEUCH'S MANSION, opposite Downing-street, is shortly to be pulled down, and a handsome new edifice erected on its site. The noble duke has taken the late Earl of l3rownlow's house, in Belgrave•square, until his family residence is rebuilt. SOME months since Government despatched Mr. Nicklin, photographic artist, with two sappers and miners as assistants, with a valuable set of appa ratus, for the purpose of taking views of the fortifi cations about Sebastopol. We regret to learn that the whole perished with the Rip van Winkle, which foundered in the late hurricane, off Balaklava. THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH has granted a gold medal of honour of the second class to Captain John Jones, commander of the English brig Enterprise, for having saved at sea the crew of the French mer ebent-ship Louise, of Abbeville. 1 •04