The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-14 00:00:00

THE HANGO MASSACRE. The Earl of MALMESBURY on Tuesday asked the Government what progress it had made in its inqui ries into this unhappy affair. The Earl of CLARENDON replied that Admiral Dundas had been instructed to demand the release of the prisoners, that their testimony might be ob tained as to the facts of the case. Without this, or free communication from the officers to their friends, he could not decide on the course he should ulti mately pursue. He argued that the Russians must have seen the flag of truce, that they could not have seen the muskets, which were at the bottom of the boat covered by a tarpaulin ; and the assumption by British cruisers of the Russian flag—a practice ob jected to by the enemy—was a stratagem sanctioned by the usages of all nations. THE ALLEGED IRISH BARGAIN WITH MIN ISTERS. On going into committee on the Tenants' Compensa tion Bill, on Thursday, Mr. MAIINs called attention to a very general rumour that a deputation of Irish mem bers had waited on Lord Palmerston, requesting his support to the reenactment of the clause giving to tenants retrospective compensation, and therein using the actual crisis to make a pressure upon the Government—a bargain so discreditable that he could not believe it. Lord PALMERSTON admitted the deputation, but denied the bargain ; lie had before supported the clause, and should support it again. He had, he confessed, remarked on the absence of Irish members from recent Ministerial divisions. This announcement was received with loud cheers of derision from the Opposition, and a vain recrimi native debate followed on the propriety of deputa tions in general, and of this deputation in particular, with some remarks, defensive and offensive, on the conduct of Irish members, all which led to no result. THE SUNDAY RIOTS. Sir G. GREY, when questioned on this subject on Monday, said that the police on Sunday had orders to have a large reserve force in readiness, but that the movements of the mob towards Grosvenor and Belgrave Squares were so sudden and unexpected that only the ordinary police was on the beat, which was quite unable to cope with so large a number. Yet more unexpected was the rush towards Totten ham-court•road, where the greatest amount of damage was done, and where no person obnoxious to the mob resided. The spectators, by obstructing the passage, materially interfered with the proceed ings of the police. One gentleman, indeed, had captured a rioter, and if other gentlemen had ex erted themselves many more of the rioters might have been taken. The proper steps would be taken in future to put down such disturbances, and the authorities would be happy to concur with the inha bitants of the threatened districts, and to receive their assistance. SCOTTISH EDUCATION BILL. The third reading of this bill, opposed in every stage, was carried on Thursday by a majority of three, and the passing by a majority of fifteen. Curiously enough, the third reading would have been lost but for a mistake of two members, who went into the wrong lobby. JEWISH DISABILITIES. Lord Lyndhurst has introduced an Oaths and Affirmations Bill for the removal of these disabilities, which now stands for its second reading on Tuesday next. On Monday Lord DERBY complained of the late time at which the bill was brought in, and said that the learned lord might just as well have intro duced it three months ago. Lord LYNDHURST replied that he then had no ex pectation of success, but, in consequence of informs. tion which he mceived, he believed that there was some chance now. Earl GRANVILLE, denying that there was any secret understanding with Lord Lyndhurst, promised the bill the best support from her Majesty's Ministers. PARTNERSHIP AMENDMENT BILL. The committal of this bill was somewhat warmly opposed on Monday in the Commons, chiefly by the merchants and capitalists—Mr. Hastie, Mr. Mitchell, Mr.W. Brown, and others. These urged that there was already ample capital in the market, that the repeal of the usury laws gave sufficient facilities for loans, and that when the chances of profit were unlimited— on principles of abstract justice—the chances of loss should not be limited. Reckless speculations would be encouraged by the bill, some of the clauses of which opened the door to gross frauds. As for other countries, they were in different positions—they were either deficient in capital or credit—neither had they succeeded in placing their commercial character on the same high standard which it had reached here. On the other hand, the bill was supported by Mr. JOHN MACGREGOR, on the ground that it facilitated the exertions of the poor ; by Mr. WILKINSON, who thought that it furnished an outlet for superabundant capital; and hy . ,Mr. MALINS , who opposed the argu ment that the bill would facilitate fraud, by pointing out that it only restrained the risks of partnership THE PRESS. where the partners were not ostensible, and who, therefore, in no way contributed to the credit of the firm. A rational system of dormant partnership was, he contended, greatly needed, for the purpose of affording means to those without money at the commencement of their career, feu• whom capital in the market was anything but abundant. The bill was allowed to go into committee without a division, and some progress was made in IL VICTORIA GOVERNMENT BILL. This bill was read a second time in the Lords on Tuesday, after some observations from Lord MoN TEAOLE, who complained that the colonies suffered from the frequent changes in the head of the Colo nial-office, and that the colonists had appropriated to themselves the whole proceeds of the sale of waste lands, instead of appropriating a part of them, as heretofore, to the purposes of emigration from this country. CALL OF THE HOUSE. Mr. ROEBUCK on Tuesday moved for a call of the house on the 17th, previous to his motion, alleging that efforts had been made to induce members to leave town before that day, in order to avoid their pronouncing an opinion. The call was, however, re fused by 133 to 108. In reply to questions, Mr. PEEL stated on Tuesday that no successor had been appointed as yet to Dr. A. Smith, as head of the medical board in the East, and that the Government had no reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of Dr. Hall. Referring to the letter in the Times, reflecting on that officer, he said that the editor had refused to give up the writer's name. THE NEW TURKISH Losis is to be under the conjoint guarantee of France and England, the convention to that effect being signed on the 27th ult. The interest is fixed at four per cent., with a sinking fund of one per cent. additional. The interest is to be provided for out of all or any of the Turkish revenues, but more particularly from the annual sum remaining disposable of the Egyptian tribute, and from the cus toms receipts of Smyrna and Syria. The amount of the loan is to be appropriated exclusively to the ne cessities of the war; and a mixed commission, composed of French, English, and Turks, are to watch over the manner in which it is employed so as to prevent any portion being diverted from it. legitimate destination. Lastly, in order to prevent any confusion in the Paris money market, from a French and a Turkish loan being brought forward about the same time, the Turkish one is to be raised solely in England. THE SHIPMENTS OF SPECIE from England to India, China, Egypt, and Malta, for the half-year ended on the Ist inst. have been 2,514,0061., of which 390,8471. consisted of gold, and 2,117,159/. of silver. As compared with the corresponding half of 1854 this shows an increase of 140,9921., although the total export was then unusually large. The propor tion of gold, however, is smaller in the present return. The sum included in the aggregate total as having been sent to China this half-year is 833,400/, of which all but-140,524/. was silver. In the first six months of 1854 the total sent to China was 1,289,548/. The recent augmentation in the shipments to the East has, therefore, been caused exclusively by the Indian demand. ON the occasion of the truce on the 9th of June, for the burying of the slain, a Pole, holding an • officer's commission in the Russian service, whilst in conversation with a French military officer, was re cognised by the latter as one who had three nights previously visited the French camp in a British uni form, and been invited by the French officer to his tent, where he was regaled with a glass of absynthe— a fact which the Pole did not for a moment deny, but boasted of it as a feat of daring. THE BODY OF JAQUES BALMAT, the celebrated guide of Chamouni, who was lost about twenty years ago, was found a few days ago, according to the Gazette de Lausanne, in the broken-up ice which forms the arch of the Arveiron. To the astonish ment of parties passing that way, the body of a man was discovered, the upper portion being still buried in its frozen tomb. After cautious efforts with pick axes and other instruments, they succeeded in dis engaging the remains of the old and popular guide, Jaques Balmat, in a state of tho most perfect preservation. The body was conveyed to Chamouni, where it received every mark of honour and respect. GENERAL SIMPSON is a native of Roxburghshire, and was, untill lately, the proprietor of the pretty little estate of Teviotbank, near Hawick, as also was his father. His grandfather was minister of the parish of Wilton; and many will remember his uncle, the colleague of the late Dr. Brunton, of the Tron church, Edinburgh. He is married to a daughter of the late Sir Robert Dundas, of Duneira ; and our member of Parliament, A. Elliott Lockhart, of Borthwickbrae, Esq., is married to another. Two other sisters were married, one to the late R. Wigham, Esq., advocate, and another to Mr. Davidson, Sheriff of Aberdeen shire.—Border Advertiser. SATURDAY, Original Ntitas front ttt o:rintta. CRIMEA, June 23rd, 1855. The weather has become so dreadfully hot as to be almost unbearable. Fever and cholera we have had raging here for some time. Tho Guards, poor fellows, have had their share of its horrors—upwards of ninety have died from cholera alone. So sudden were some of the cases that a man in health this eve has been hurried the next morning. Latterly, how ever, it has abated. The Guards have now moved up to the front, which is by far the more healthy ; the locality of Balaklava, shut up as it is between two mountains, with the raging sun pouring down upon its festering earth and stinking waters, is alone suffi cient to breed the most horrible diseases. Much has been done to cleanse the town, but the accumulations of last winter cannot be swept away. The graveyards of men and the mounds of earth barely covering dead animals still visible to to the eye meet you at every step. In the bay itself the sea-breeze daily drives every particle of rubbish or filth thrown overboard up on the beach close to the entrance of the town; there it must re main unless gathered and buried —food for millions of green-bottled flies. When the Sanitary Commission first arrived they suggested that the filth and rubbish of ships should be gathered twice a day, and then taken out to sea and thrown over board, but this was found at times quite impossible, since the strong winds prevented even large vessels from entering the narrow entrance to the harbour. That the neighbourhood of Balaklava is the most unhealthy of all the spots in our position is known from the number of deaths there, exclusive of the General Hospital, being more than the whole encampment besides. The decline of summer, the natives tell us, is the most unhealthy of all seasons. The principal cases of cholera have been found among two classes of men—one amongst the young recruits just joined and in no way inured to the climate—the second among those who, having put Nature at defiance during winter and the spring by hard drink ing, have fallen victims to a disease of their own creating. The first division has marched to the front, and since that time (now a week) have not had above three or four cases. We are now beginning to feel the effects of' the want of water, but not as yet to anything like an alarming extent; but should the present dry weather continue I don't know how matters will stand. The occupation of the heights along the Black River liaa relieved the pressure on the springs on the heights. As regards the movements of the army it would be very difficult to say much. The successes et Kertch and in the Sea of Azoff far exceed those itt front of Sebastopol. The taking of the Mantel= Redoubt by the French, and the Quarries by the English, on the night of the 7th of June, so enlivened every one's hopes here that they thought if tl • town were stormed it would be certain to fall. On tie night of the 18th how different were the opinions! Such a repulse, with a loss of some 1,400 men, caused much discouragement and dissatisfaction. But why should the troops be so enraged all at once because they have met with a defeat, not because their enemies were better than themselves, but simply because their works were strong, which gave them more heart and something to contend tor? Look to Alma and Inkermann as an in stanee of what Russian troops really are. Why did they not at the latter place, when they had thousands against the few Guards and second division, drive them off the heights of Inkermann ? There, even when the am munition of the Guards was exhausted, we kept the enemy at bay with the bayonet and stones. And now simply one repulse has turned our men's heads, they forget that it was not a defeat in the field, but in front of a pile of tremendous fortifica tions. It certainly saddens the heart for a time—but a time will yet come when all that happened on that day will be avenged by success. At any rate, the circum stances of that day gave us the opportunity of ob taining possession of a piece of ground called the Ceme tery, on which we are now constructing a new battery which will command the harbour in the direction of the dockyard. But the enemy—ever our equal—has traced and commenced, two nights ago, a work which will enfilade ours; but still ours progresses. To take this new piece of work of the enemy's will be the next startling affair, for it would be impossible to main tain the spot we have selected if we allow them to finish theirs. The French on the right (our right) of the Round Tower have commenced a very large battery intended to command the Careening Bay and the passage across the harbour from the north to the south side. This battery will, it is said, completely master the har bour and shipping, but the French will be exposed to heavy fire during the time they are constructing IL But it will be some time ere these can open ; and in the meantime the summer is waning fast—now at i I 658