The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

428 great difficulties in the application of the firman for the convocation of the Divans, had written to Con stautinople to demand explanations. A Council of Ministers assembled on the 19th, and it was then decided that the representatives at Constantinople of the powers who signed the Treaty of Paris should again assemble and revise the articles which have been found not to be drawn up with sufficient clear nesss. These principally consist in the fixing of the domicile of the boyards who are called on to vote, and the voting of the clergy. The first conference on the subject was to be held on the 21st, under the presidency of the Grand Vizier. Whatever diligence the representatives may use in deciding on the ques tion, it is not probable that the elections can come on at earliest until the end of Mey. Nothing new had transpired relative to the affair of the bank. AMERICA. Intelligence to the 16:h of April has arrived. Respecting the sentiments of the United States' Government towards China and the work to be done in that part of the world, the New York Courier and Enquirer, alluding to the appointment of Mr. Reed as commissioner, says : There has been no effo►t at concealment. The Govern ment has felt from the start that there are no politics involved in this question; and, cmisequently, have promptly met the public feelieg, so clearly and unanimously elicited. They adm►t the necessity of a large fleet being immediately sent to Canton, and the new commissioner will be instructed to express our friendly feelings towards the Government of China, at the same time that he will demand, in connection with France and England, that the United States be placed upon the footing of the most favoured nation. Th. Emperor of China having admitted to Pekin an ambassador or minister plenipotent►ary from Russia, it will be insisted that a similar right be conceded to the United States, Englapd, and France. In addition to this, the Chinese will be told that we agree with Eng. land and France in the necessity of the whole coast of China being thrown open to the commerce of the world; and that, although we shall not go to war with them to compel such a course, England and France will have our sympathies in their efforts to produce such a desirable, just, and neces• sary change in the policy of the Chinese empire. This course o:► the part of our Government will receive the approbation of the whole country. In addition to the fore- going, we believe it is safe to say that, in rega►d to our ioreign relations generally the policy of the Administration will be as pacific as the greatest Conservative in the land should desire. The same journal, in a previous article upon President Buchanan's policy towards Mexico and Panama, observed : It is believed that the expansive ideas of the Presi• dent are bounded by th: annexation of Cuba and Porto Rico But this is not the policy of the Cabinet, which will soon declare for the purchase of Tehuantepec on the south, for the purpose of securing a convenient inter•oceanic transit, and the annexa tion of Tamanlipas, Coahuila, New Leon, Senora, and Lower Cali:brain. Intelligence from Nicaragua states that Walker is in a deplorable condition, and that the Costa Ricans were successful at all points on the San Juan. The New York Legislature closed on the 15th. INDIA. The regimental mutinies up to the 23rd of March were not at an end, and the 19th Native Infantry .vas ordered to Barrackpore to be disbanded. There was a certain feeling of uneasiness about the result.. A correspondent writes : There are 5,00:1 Sepoys at ilarrackpore. There is a bad spirit among some of them, and it is barely possible they may refuse to obey the order, or may display their sym pathy in a manner involving a breach of discipline. In that case the fort, if not the town, would be in danger, and Government has acted wisely in providing against the possibility of resistance. With two European regiments on the spot and three batteries in reserve, the Sepoys, however excited, will obey in silence The Government is quite prepared for such a contingency, and the next instance of insubordination will, 1 doubt not, be visited by a punishment that will ring through the native army. It is greatly to he regretted that it was not inflicted at once by Colonel Mitchell. while the 19th were in open mutiny. Had the regiment been mowed down by artillery we should have beard nothing of disaffection for another decade. 1 ant not giving you a private opinion of my own ; this is the universal cry of the public, as well as of the official world. The Europeans in India are too well aware what mutiny means to have the slightest mercy for the criminals. There are men among us, men in every other relation of life of the highest charity, who almost wish that the disbanding of the 19th may be resisted. The occurrence would relieve us of mutinies for a generation. The Government has published a notification asserting that on the :11st of December the cash balances in the treasuries throughout India amounted to 12,65,96,0t►1l rupees, It is greatly to be wished (says the same correspondent), some patriotic member would compel the Indian Govern. merit to explain this statement : If they have got a reserve of nearly thirteen millions they have no bosinetta to borrow ; if they have not, what do they say so for? l believe the greater part of this sum consists of running accounts—that is, the balance exists, but is already appropriated. But Ido not THE PRESS. know this, nor, I fear, does anybody else, the financial secretary included. There is no intelligence of any importance from Central Asia. Thst Mohammed was . still at Jellalabad. On the Punjaub frontier General Chamberlayne was engaged i❑ the punishment of the Bozdar hill tribes. The extraordinary cake movement continues to traverse Central India. No explanation has been given of its origin. Mr. C. E. Boileau, Deputy-Commissioner of Gouda'', in Oude, has been murdered. Ho had displayed much energy in hunting the dacoit Frusyl Ali into Nepaul, but failed to arrest him. He VMs riding quietly through his district, attended by only four horsemen, when be was attacked by Frusyl Ali and his followers. Mr. Boileau and his horsemen were cut to pieces and his head subsequently carried into Secrora. The act has no political significance whatever. Frusyl Ali is simply a bandit, whom the police have been unable to catch. Oude remains. quiet. Major Cuthbert Davidson, now Resident of Baroda, has been appointed for the Residency of Hyderabad, as a successor to Mr. Bushby. The major is sac • ceeded at Baroda by Sir Richmond Shakespear. Sir Henry Lawrence is gazetted to Oude, and Sir James Outram to the Rabootana States, Colonel George Lawrence acting there during Sir James's absence on duty in Persia. Sir Robert Hamilton, Resident at Indore, has come home on abort furlough. Cunt ane lastian. DEATH OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER. WE deeply regret to announce that her Royal High ness the Duchess of Gloucester expired a few minutes after five o'clock on Thursday morning at Gloucester. house, Piccadilly. The following official statement was issued shortly after the melancholy event had taken place : Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester expired, without suffering, at a quarter after five o'clock this morning. FIIkNCIS April 30, 1857. Enwmin H. HILLS. Her late Royal Highness was the fourth daughter of George 111., and, consequently, aunt to her pre sent Most Gracious Majesty. Her Royal Highness was born on the 25th of April, 1776, and was there fore eighty-one years old at the time of her death. On the 22nd of July, 1816, she was married to her cousin, Prince William Frederick, second Duke of Gloucester, who died '3oth November, 1834. Her Royal Highness was Ranger and Keeper of Richmond New Park. Every day during her late illness some among the Royal Family visited the late Duchess at Gloucester-house. The Duchess was the last stir vivor of the numerous children of George 111. There were present at the last moments of the Duchess, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Mary, and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, who had remained at Gloucester-house during the night. Two of the medical advisers of the Duchess were also in attendance on her Royal Highness until the time of her death. Shortly after eight on Thursday morning her Majesty's Lord Chamberlain arrived at Gloucester house, when orders were issued for the necessary arrangements for her Royal Highness's fur eral. This, it is presumed, will take place in the royal mausoleum in St. George's Chapel, at Windsor Castle. In accordance with the desire of the illus trious deceased, the funeral proceedings will be con.. ducted in a comparatively private manner. The remains of the late Duchess will be placed by the side of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. The bells of the numerous churches in the metropolis tolled, and at the royal churches the bells rang muffled peals. The tradesmen at the West-end partially closed their shops out of respect to the memory of her late Royal Highness. We have authority to state that, in consequence of the death of the Duchess of Gloucester, the state aoartments at Windsor Castle will be closed until further orders. The theatres and opera-houses were closed on Thursday evening, and will be closed o.i the evening of the funeral of her Royal Highness. Her Majesty continues to improve in health, and will leave town shortly for a brief stay at Osborne. Prince Alfred, who left Geneva, where lie has passel the winter, on the Pith of April, arrived at Gotha on the 20th, on a cisit to his uncle and aunt, the reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg, and to his grandmother the Dowager Duchess. After a stay of a fortnight at Gotha and Coburg, his Royal Highness will continue his journey to England, where he is expected to arrive about the 20th inst. The Duke of Newcastle and family have returned to town, from Cluzuber-park, for the Season. SATURDAY, His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess Persigny are expected in town from Palk on the 16th instant. Its Excellency the Russian Minister and the Countess Citreptowitel► are expected to return to Cltesha►n-house from Paris early in the week after next. The Duke and Duchess of Bedford have arrived at Woburn Abbey from Carlon-house, Kildare, where they have been staying on a visit with the Duke and Duchess of Leinster. The Marquis and Marchioness of Tweeddale have arrived in town from Yester house, Haddingtonshire. Lady Palmerston's party for this evening is una- voidably postponed. Volittral. CABINET Couticrts were held at the official resi dence of the First Lord of the Treasury on Saturday last, and on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday in this week. All the Ministers pres9nt. THE REGULAR BUSINESS OF THE SESSION Will commence on Thursday next, the 7th of May, when the Queen's Speech will be delivered by Royal Com mission. LORD PALMERSTON (says the Daily Newt) has pro mised to take charge of a bill to remove the disabi lities under which our Jewish fellow-subjects labour. Mn. FREDERICK PEEL is repotted to have resigned his office in the War Department. Mr. Massey, it is also said, will move the army estimates. THE NEW BISHOP OF NORWICH, the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, will, it is expected, be co )sec rated at Lambeth Palace early in June, on which occasion the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate, being assisted by the Bishops of London, Winchester, and Ripon. The new bishop will not be entitled to a seat in the House of Lords until another vacancy arises on the episcopal bench, other than in tho dioceses of Canterbury, York, London, Durham, and Winchester. GENERAL WILLIAMS' ELECTION AGENT, Mr. Clark son of Caine, has written to the Times, by desire of the gallant general, to deny that he has any intention whatever of vacating his seat for Mr. Frederick Peel. THE NEW SPEAKER has appointed the Hon. George Waldegrave as his secretary, the Rev. Thomas Gamier as his chaplain, Mr. G. K. Rickards as his counsel and examiner of election recognisances, Mr. Robert Bally as his trainbearer.—Mr. Beckerson, for many years the inspector of polico attending the House of Commons, has been promoted for his efficient services to he Superintendent of the L Division, and Inspector Bray, of the A Division, is appointed in his place. THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE COCKBURN was enter tained by the local Chamber of Commerce at a public dinner at Southampton on Saturday last. Mr. Justice Williams, Mr. Baron Bramwell, the county and borough members, and the leading gentlemen of the neighbourhood were present. After the usual loyal toasts, the President of the Chamber, in a highly complimentary speech, proposed the health of the Lord Chief Justice. Sir Alexander Cockburn, in reply, alluded to his long political connection with Southampton : I cannot but feel that my political sun has set, and that, although your kindness may to some extent gild the eve ning which I see gathering round me as a political man, it cannot permit me to hope that that which was the pride and glory of my existence—the honour of representing you in Parliament—can ever again be mine. I cannot tell you, gentlemen, the inexpressible pang which that con sciousness and that conviction cause to me at this moment. To be, as I have said, your representative in Parliament, and to till the high office of Attorney-General of England, was to me the summit of ambition. 1 desired nothing further, and, if I could have had my will and way, that was the position I should have filled to this hour, and never have desired to pact with it while I had strength amid energy to fulfil its duties. But, alas, man cannot frame his own destiny as he will, and I became conscious that mans years of active life, and five of the combined efforts of official and parliamentary labour, had produced a certain amount of bodily wear and tear. I was told that certain warnings were not to he neglected, and that I should do wrong, and perhaps destroy my capacity for public use fulness altogether, if I did not accept the highly honour able office which I now fill, and which is far beyond toi. thing I could have laid claim to. Bail I followed my own will I should still be. Attorney General, and—may I add? —still representative of Southampton ; but wise and anxious friends counselled me, and to their sober wisdom I have yielded. I should have preferred still to toss on the stormy sea of political life rather than to be navigtc ting the smooth and tranquil waters in which I now float, and I can assure you from the bottom of any heart that ono of the greatest of my pangs the severance of that con nection with you which formed my greatest happiness. THE BOARD OF TRADE RETURNE for the month and the three months ending the 31st March, 1835, 1830, and 1857, have been issued this week. We subjoin a statement of the total declared value of the exports of British and Irish produce and manufactures during the month and three months, including only the "enumerated articles " 11.- 111.-