The Press. — London, England, 1855-06-23 00:00:00

JUNE 23, 1855. jou* mth goionial (litttiligtna. FRANCE. The Emperor was ill at the close of the past week, but on Monday last had recovered from his indispo sition, and went with the Empress and the King of Portugal to the " Ambigu Comique." The Emperor and the Empress will leave Paris to-morrow (Sunday) morning for Bayonne. The Emperor returns to Paris immediately, leaving the Empress behind. • The Senate and Legislative Corps are convoked for July 2nd, in order to consider financial measures. It is stated that a further levy of 300,000 men is to be made, which will enable the Government to Station an army on the Rhine. The new loan, it is ■aid, will be for 500,000,000 f. The King of Portugal left Paris on Wednesday. The colossal American clipper, the Great Re public, left Marseilles on Tuesday for Constanti nople, having on board 1,200 soldiers, 200 tons of bombs, and a quantity of stores for the army. GERMANY. It is now said there will be no absolute reduction in the Austrian army, but that the Emperor, after having reviewed the troops in the north, will grant furloughs on an extensive scale ; a measure which, whilst it will be a great relief by the soldiery, will enable the Government to recal the men, if neces sary, within a fortnight. An Austrian circular has, it is said, been forwarded to Frankfort, in order to establish an understanding between Austria and Prussia at the Diet. Prince Gorteebakoff has been definitively appointed Russian Minister to the Court of Vienna. M. de Titoff has been also appointed Ambassador to the Court of Wurternberg. The (Esterreiehische Correspondenz says : General Count Coronini has gone from the camp in Wallachia to meet the Emperor in the Bukowina, which may be considered as a proof that his Majesty will not go to the Danubian principalities. A letter from Berlin states that, in addition to the Secretary of the English Consul at Cologne, five other persons have been arrested in Prussia for en rolling men for the English Foreign Legion, and that very severe proceedings have been commenced against them. - - DENMARK. ' In returning from Stiodsborg to Copenhagen, on Monday last, the horse on which the King was riding fell and threw him. His Majesty was not se riously hurt, and returned to Stiodsborg in a carriage. The elections for the legislative popular chamber (Volksthing) took place on Thursday. Copenhagen has returned its former members, and Fredericia has elected M. Michelsen, the Minister of Marine. M. Hall, the Minister of Worship, said in his elec tion speech that a constitution for the entire mo narchy, just in its principle and equitable in details, would soon be published. SPAIN. The Queen returned to Madrid on Monday. Riots have taken place at Santiago on account of the dearness of bread, but were immediately suppressed. The Cortes have approved of the conce railway between Barcelona and Saragossa. The faction of Navarre has entirely disappeared. The Hon. Mr. Dodge on the 15th instant presented to the Queen his letters of credence as Minister for the United States at Madrid. The committee of the Spanish Cortes have recom mended a modification of the tariffs, by which no protecting duty shall exceed forty per cent. for a TURKEY. Advices from Constantinople of the 11th affirm that five hundred prisoners had arrived in that capi tal, and that eleven thousand troops from the army of the Danube had been demanded in order to form the Anglo• Turkish Legion. Halil Pacha remains in office. At Kars an attack of the Russians was considered inevitable. The Turks have evacuated Batoum and Choronk su. Nassif Pacha has advanced with his general staff to Kars. The French Consul has quitted Batoum. The Russian forces have advanced and encamped near Redont Kale. The recruiting for the British Legion progresses slowly. An interesting ceremony took place on the 9th instant at the Seraskeriat, when three thousand medals were given to the heroes of Silistria. The Sultan has ordered Izett Bey, one of his chamber lains, to proceed to the Crimea to deliver in his name the medal intended for Omer Pacha and for the officers who were present at Silistria. RUSSIA. The Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 12th con tains an article upon the circular in which Count Walewski reviewed the late conferences and an• nounced their close. Although the official writer controverts the count's position, his tone is upon the THE PRESS. whole peaceable, and he gives it to be understood that further negotiations for peace may possibly ensue. It is reported on good authority that the Ilassian troops which were echelonedon the Austrian frontier have left for the Crimea. . Advices from Konigsberg state that an Imperial ukase orders that baptised Jews, who have hitherto been exempted, shall furnish thirty recruits for every 1,000 souls to the Russian army. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the sth, in the News of Hamburg, says : The Synod of St. Petersburg has presented an address to the Emperor, earnestly praying him to show himself more disposed towards conferences of peace, in so far as the political interests of the State would permit. It is not known how the Emperor has received this address. UNITED STATES. The royal mail steamship America has brought New York papers of the Ath inst. The Know-Nothings were losing ground : they had gained the municipal election at Washington by only a small majority, but lost at Norwich, where they were strong before. The new southern political organisation has been commenced, based upon constitutional principles, de signed to effect a union of the people of the south upon simple platform opposition to abolitionism. The cholera was raging as an epidemic in New Orleans. Sab3 anb Valict. STRAHAN, PAUL, AND CO. A meeting of the creditors was held at the Law In stitution on Tuesday, to consider the steps to be taken to secure a full investigation of the petition recently opened in bankruptcy. It was explained by Mr. Futvoye, who has adopted the initiative, that a number of the creditors who have suffered largely were desirous of a thorough inquiry into the affairs of the firm, and prepared to pursue such measures as shall insure that object. As it appeared from all that could now be ascertained that the partners had been aware of their position for the last six years, it was necessary to carry out a strict examination. Mr. Lawrence intimated that, as the representative of the petitioning creditor, he was most ready to state the course that had already been pursued and would con tinue to be pursued for the benefit of the creditors and to insure the legal distribution of the assets. Observations bad been made on the manner in which the petition in bankruptcy had been adjudicated, and the effect of friendly influence in relation to it; but he thought he should be able to show that the step had been taken with a desire to protect the estate against extents from the Crown and other claims which interfered with the interests of the general body. Having been called in and consulted, without pos sessing the slightest previous knowledge of Mr. Strahan or Sir J. D. Paul, and having only a partial acquaintance through one professional transaction with Mr. Bates, he had given the best advice in his power, and the result was that, acting for the peti tioning creditor, he had recommended the course in question. This had occurred after the house had been culpably kept open up to the Saturday, the plea of the partners being that they expected assistance. Through the run on the Friday and Saturday the funds of the establishment had been diminished between 22,000/. and 24,0001., and, notwithstanding their promptitude with the petition, the sheriff's officer entered on behalf of the Crown, and secured 2,0001., the remainder of the available cash, besides which it was necessary to give him an undertaking to pay 7001. or 8001. additional to preventhim seizing the books and closing the premises altogether. An important question would arise as to the source of the hints which may have induced many to withdraw or reduce their balances, and if it could be clearly proved that any intimation had been given the court would interpose its power and order restitution. After a long consultation, in which the deplorable condition of the estate and the heavy sums for which certain contractors stand indebted to the firm were alluded to, Mr. Barwis, an accountant and navy agent; Mr. Montagu Tatham, a proct. r; and Mr. Appleyard, of Lincoln's-inn ; were appointed assignees to the estate. It was stated that there is scarcely a trades man among the debtors under the estate, the legal profession, through themselves or their clients, being the principal sufferers. The two firms of Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Co., and Messrs. Halford and Co., are identical, but the opinion is that the latter will, as far as its separate position is concerned, be found in a much better position than the former. Some French railway concessions may, it is thought, pro duce an addition to the assets. On Wednesday Mr. Robert Meakin Bates, the third partner in the firm, was placed at the bar of Bow-street Police-court, before Mr.Jardine, to answer the charge of having, in conjunction with Messrs. Strahan and Paul, unlawfully negotiated or otherwise disposed of certain deeds or securities of the value of 6,0001., which bad been intrusted to them for safe keeping by Dr. Griffiths. Attempts had been made, it was then stated, to apprehend the other two part ners. Sir J. D. Paul was, indeed, actually taken into custody on Tuesday evening, at his residence at Nutfield, near Reigate:— The officers found Sir John at home, and succeeded In serving the warrant upon him, but, it being too late to return to London the same night, allowed their prisoner to go to bed, sitting up all night themselves within view of his room. Next morning they conducted the prisoner to the Reigate station, arriving barely in time to save the train. Tickets were procured hur riedly for the three, and, according to the statements of the officers, the train was actually in motion when Sir John took his seat in a second-class carriage. The constables were following him into the same carriage, when a railway porter pulled them bask, exclaiming, " The train is in motion, and you can't get in." The o ffi cers replied, " We are police•constables ; he is our pri soner, and we must accompany him ; resist us at your petit." To this the porters merely rejoined that they were only carrying out their orders," to prevent any one entering a carriage while the train was in motion," and having elosed the carriage-door against the officers, the train went off without them. The con stables state that they immediately rept muted the facts to ',hi superintendent and showed him their authority, but he refused to " signal" the train to stop, although consenting to seed a te• legraphic message to the London station. This was done by desire of the officers, who proceeded to town by the next up train, which reached London-bridge only ten minutes after the one they had missed. On inquiry, however, of the station master at London-bridge if their prisoner had been detained, ha replied that he did not know Sir John Paul by sight, and had taken no steps in the matter. The police-officers, who had been in some measure disarmed by Sir John's suavity of manner, had thus the mortification of finding that their prisoner had effeci tually escaped, and throughout the day no trace of him mull be found. They were also unsuccessful in their pursuit of Mr. Strahan, who was expected to keep an appointment at the bank, but who did not make his appearance, although anxiously looked for throughout the day. Some formal evidence, respecting the disappearance of certain Dutch bonds belonging to Dr. Griffiths, and intrusted to the firm, being given, the prisoner was remanded. DANIEL Mr/CHELL DAVIDSON and COSIIO WILLIAM GORDON, who carried on business as general mer chants and colonial and metal brokers at Mincing lane, and Cousin-lane, City, and as distillers at West Ham•lane, Essex, were brought up on Wednesday et the Guildhall for final examination on the several charges of not surrendering before the Commissioners in Bankruptcy, of obtaining utider false pretences large quantities of goods on credit within three months of their bankruptcy, of concealing a portion of their effects, and of feloniously uttering fictitious spelter warrants with intent to cheat and defraud their creditors. The case against the prisonerso which has been repeatedly investigated at great length, was then concluded, and they were fully com mitted for trial at the Criminal Court. THE SHERIFF OF DERRY advertises a sale of the goods and chattels of the Londonderry and Coleraine Railway, under several writs of ti. fa. The locomo tive engines, passenger carriages, vans, waggons, horses and carts, loose rails, sleepers, &c., are in cluded in the list of vendibles. gittikents and •Itntti. THE Prince of Wales steamer was passing Margate Sands during a violent gale last Sunday afternoon, when it was seen that a vessel had foundered on the shallows. Notwithstanding the violence of the storm, Captain Williams rounded, and after lunch esertion succeeded in saving every life. The vessel was the French brig Phoque, Captain Metarine, bound from Sunderland to Nantes.' WE regret to state that Mr. George Curzon, heir presumptive to the Barohy of Scarsdale, and cousin of the Earl Howe, met with an accident in Hyde park on Saturday, which tertaiaated fatally. The unfortunate gentleman was riding in the park, and when endeavouring to pass by two carriages, his horse became restive and threw him on Iris head. Re was immediately conveyed to St. Georges Hospital, when his case was at once pronounced hopeless. Mr. Curzon lingered for a few hours, but died early on Sunday morning. The deceased was eldest son of the late Hon. and Rev. Alfred Curzon, brother of Lord Scarsdale, and was born sth Octob er, 1826. THE transport Imperatrice, which sunk in the Gulls, near Margate, on the sth inst., still remains with her mastheads above water in the narrow part of the channel. The divers have saved the greater part of the Minis rifles and army clothing that were on board, and with favorable weather will save the whole, also 0,000 shells, and about 100 tons of powder; but it is a work of great labour and risk. When the cargo is out they will endeavour to weigh the vessel, which is estimated at Itt,ooo/. value, as she was quite new. About forty cases addressed to officers in the Crimea, containing uniforms and other necessaries, have also been landed. On their being opened they were found, notwithstanding they were mostly packed in tin and soldered up, to be thoroughly saturated with salt water. IT is said that certain corn-merchants of mingbam and Gloucester have lost at Berdi 50,000 quarters of wheat, on which they redone to turn a pretty penny, having bought the lot at s. per quarter, but the amount of *Welt must no be reckoned a total loss, as the *hole bee been bend or taken by the allies.