The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

MARCH 3, 1855. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A SUBSCRISZI, Dolton, is luformed that the whole of the Numbers he requires can be had at the Office, with the excep tion of No. 1. -- 'lj :)U. LONDON, SITURDAYJMARCH 8, 1855. POSTSCRIPT. DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA, (BY COTINENTAL TELEGRAPH.) BERLIN, Friday, March 2. News was received here last night that the Em peror of Russia is seriously ill. It is added that the physicians despair of his recovery. The dinner at Court to-day in honour of Lord John Russell has been deferred. BERLIN, Friday, March 2, 5 p.m. I hasten to inform you that intelligence has just reached Berlin of the death, this forenoon, of the Emperor of Russia from an attack of apoplexy. The news him created a great sensation; and it is thought that the event will give a new aspect to the war. VIENNA, Thursday. The greater part of the troops in Bohemia have received orders to move to Galicia. _ . They are to be replaced by several regiments coming from Italy. The troops in the Principalities will be augmented to 75,000 men. The French Military Envoy, General Letang, had an interview with the Emperor, and assisted at a Council of War. BOULOGNE, Thurday Evening. The Emperor arrived here at five o'clock, after having visited the camp at Helfaut. The following despatch has been received from Lord Raglan:— Before Sebastopol, Feb. 17, 1855. I have the satisfaction to acquaint your grace that the weather has improved since I last addressed you, and the country is becoming drier. Two days ago the thermometer was up at 60. Tt was somewhat lower yesterday, and early this morning it was down below freezing point, and at this moment it is snowing. I mention these particulars in order to show your grace how variable this climate is. No movement has been made upon the part of the enemy. The garrison of Sebastopol is engaged in deep ening the ditches, and improving the defences of the south front, and in constructing works on the north side of the harbour. I have received information that the Russian army in the neighbourhood of Baktchi-Serai and Simferopol, is suffering much from the want of provisions, and from pri vations of all kinds. I am happy to be able to say that the railway is making considerable progress, and that every hope is entertained that in the course of a very short time it will be available for transit as far as Kadikoi, which will accelerate the con veyance of stores up to the camp. RAOLAN. The Emperor of the French has been visiting the camps at Boulogne and St. Omer. He arrived at Boulogne on Thursday evening, after spending the day in the camp, and was expected on his return to Paris in the course of yes terday. His Majesty's projected journey to the Crimea has been postponed, and will probably now be abandoned altogether. A camp of about 8,000 men is shortly to be formed at St. Maur, near Vincennes. Each of the regiments of the line which form the garrison of Paris and the surrounding districts are to send their compagnies six batteries of field - artillery; and some cavalry are also to join the camp. After long debates, and the rejection of a great number of amendments, the Chamber of Deputies of Turin has voted the first article of the bill for the Suppression of Monasteries. This article comprises in itself the whole bill. The Pope is about to give a coadjutor to Cardinal Wiseman in his ecclesiastical district of Westminster, in consequence of ill health. HOUSE OF LORDS.—FainAy. DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. The Earl of CLARENDON rose amidst profound silence, and said—My lords, I think it my duty to inform your lordships of he contents of a tele graphic despatch which I received half an hour ago from her Majesty's Minister at the Hague: — The Emperor of Russia died this morning between 12 and 1 o'clock, of apoplexy, after an attack of iuflu• enaa. THE PRESS. I have also, my lords, received a despatch from Ber lin, informing me of the death of the Emperor of Russia. An hour before this despatch arrived, I re ceived an account from Lord John Russell, who is at Berlin, stating that the Emperor of Russia was at the point of death, and that he had already taken leave of his family. I apprehend, therefore, that al though this event occurred at so late a time as between 12 and 1 this morning, there can be no doubt of the authenticity of the information. Under there circumstances, as this unexpected event must exercise an important and immediate influence on the war, and upon the negotiations for peace, and possibly upon the policy of Russia, I think that my noble and learned friend (Lord Lyndhurst) will agree with me that it might be attended with much incon venience if he persevered in bringing forward his motion, of which he had given notice. I therefore trust, upon public grounds, that my noble friend will accede to the request which I now make, namely, that he would postpone his motion. Lord LYNDHURST : My lords, after the statement of my noble friend, I feel it is my duty not to proceed with the motion of which 1 have given notice in re ference to our relations with Prussia. But I beg to state that I shall not withdraw it, but merely post pone it till a future opportunity. Lord LUCAN then stated that he had demanded a court-martial, and read some correspondence on the subject of his conduct, upon which Earl GRANVILLE said he should at present offer no comment. Adjourned at six. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. Mr. F. FRENCH : Sir, there is a rumour in cir culation that the Government have received intern- gence respecting the death of the Emperor of Russia. May I ask if the Government have received such in telligence ? Lord PALmEnsTort said that the Government had received two telegraphic messages—one through Berlin, and the other from the Hague—to the effect that the Emperor of Russia died in the course of this forenoon. This announcement was received with intense sen cation. In answer to Mr. DUNDAS, Sir G. GREY said that Lord John Russell's Education Bill had been postponed till after Easter. On the motion for adjournment till Monday, Mr. NAPIER complained of the manner in which the Irish business was neglected. Lord PALMERSTON appealed to the house whether Irish subjects had not occupied their share of the time and attention of the house; but legislative functions of Parliament had been in abeyance for the last month, and in the absence of the Irish Secre tary and law officers it was impossible to proceed with the business. Mr. WHITESIDE said that no explanation was offered as to the intention of the Government with respect to Irish affairs. Sergeant SE(Er, who had been alluded to as intro ducing a bill with retrospective clauses, retorted on Mr. Napier himself his own proceeding under the late Ministry. Mr. FRENCH and Colonel DUNNE made further complaints. After the motion for adjournment had been carried, Mr. ROEBUCK rose to propose that the Sebastopol Committee be a secret one. The forms of the house permitted them to exclude the public, but not mem bers of the house, or it might ask for power to shut out every one. This last was the advice of the majo rity of the committee. They did not intend to put an end to publicity : they would publish at the end of their labour so much of the evidence as would be conducive to the public welfare. Both as respected private questions and our public alliances, this diffi cult and delicate inquiry should be conducted in secret. Lord SEYMOUR believed that secresy would be im practicable whatever rule might be made. Mr. WILSON PATTEN spoke strongly in favour of open inquiry. Sir J. PANINOTON believed the inquiry could not be rigid as was advisable unless it were conducted in secret. Sir J. GIWIAM entreated the house to rescue the Committee from the disgrace of being a hole and corner one. Both public interest and the avoidance of public mischief would best be avoided by publi city. He warned the house against a conflict with the public press. Mr. LAYARD said that the simplest inquiry might lead them on dangerous ground, and seeresl alone would be a safegaurd from the consequences. Mr. IL HERBERT having attacked Mr. Layard on the ground of his letter on Admiral Dundas, and Mr. Layard having explained that matter. Sir B. HALL declaimed against those who voted for a Committee they did not want fur its own sake, and then turned the public out et the room, 211 Mr. G. Burr advocated open inquiry. Lord PALRERSTON had, when the secret committee was proposed, entertained adverse feelings to it, which were only increased by what he heard urged in its defence. He had opposed all instruction to that committee, deeming it best to trust to their dis cretion, and on the same gronnds he trusted to their discretion in an open inquiry. Mr. DISRAELI could not see the dangers with which the house had been threatened. He put his trust in the discretion of the committee. There might be objections to a public committee, but he thought that the balance of advantages would he iu favour of it, and that the result of the inquiry should appear before the public in a complete and impartial shape. The discussion was continued by several other hon. members, when Mr. ltoEnticK said, that as his proposal was ono that could only be justified by the unanimous opinion of the house, he felt bound to withdraw it. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and passed a series of votes belonging to the Army Estimates. Mr. MURROUGH moved for him to bring in a bill abolishing the privilege by which Members of Par liament were exempted from arrest for debt. On a division the motion was negatived by 28 to 27. Mr. WILSON announced on Thursday that it was the intention of the Government to pass the News paper Stamp Bill so that it might take effect from the 31st inst., and last night Lord Palmerston intro duced a bill to enable a third Secretary of State and Under Secretary to sit in the House of estnmons. The House then adjourned. 6tertion MINTSTEIIIIL changes and deaths have caused an un. usual number of vacancies in the House of COIIIIIIOIIB, and electioneering rumours and preparations have boen rife during the week. New writs have been moved for the following places, where the vacancies have been occasioned by accepture of office :—City of London (Lord John Rus sell), Radnor (Sir G. C. Lewis), Halifax (Sir C. Wood), Northampton ( Mr. V. Smith), Forfarshire (Lord Duncan), Stroud ( Mr. Horsman), Athlone (Mr. Keogh), and Ennis ( Mr. Fitzgerald). Montrose is vacant by the death of Mr. Hume, Dudley by the decease of Mr. Beubuw, and Stirlingshire from the decease of Mr. Forbes. Coteau has also been vacated by the retirement of Sir J. Young. In the City of London the election takes place today (Saturday). Lord John Russell sent over from Paris an address to his constituents, dated February 23, stating that lie had accepted office under Lord Palmerston, and should be prepared to assume its duties and responsibilities after his return from Vienna. A requisition was talked of to Sir C. Napier, but Lord John will be returned without opposition. The Halifax election also commences to-day Sir C. Wood issued his address on Monday. lie will be etre nuonsly opposed by Major Edwardes, and a chew contest is anticipated. In Northampton, Monday next is appointed for the nomination. Mr. Vernon Smith seeks re-election, and is opposed by Captain Napier Sturt, of the Grenadier Guards, lately returned from the Crimea, who has issued a moat spirited address to the electors, declaring he is resolved to stand in consequence of " the incapacity of the Home Government, which has suffered an army victorious in the field to be wasted and almost destroyed by want of food and shelter." No opposition is as yet indicated to the return of Sir G. C. Lewis fur Radnor, Lord Duncan for Forfarshire, Mr Keogh for Athlone, and Mr. Fitzgerald for Ennis. The elections in these places will take place in the course of the ensuing week. The election for Stirlingshire takes place on Monday next, when Mr. Blackburn (Conservative) expects to be returned. For the Montrose burghs the nomination takes place on Tuesday. Sir John Young (Conservative) and Mr. J. S. Trelawney (Liberal) are in the field, and other Liberal candidates, Mr. Burnley Hume and Mr. E. limiter, Dun dee, are:spokeu of. Sir Stafford Northcote, formerly connected with the Board of Trade, is a candidate for Dudley, the seat for which has become vacant by the death of Mr. Benbow. The Hon. Cavendish Butler has issued his address to the electors of Cavan, the retirement of Sir John Young from the representation of that county having been offi cially announced. Mr. Butler declares himself to be an adherent of Lord Derby. Captain Annesley and Mr. Anthony O'Reilly arc also in the field. The election for Swansea, to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of J. H. Vivian, Esq., took place on Tuesday, when Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, Esq., was returned without opposition. iu The election for the Cardigan burgles has terminated the return of the Conservative candidate, Mr. Lloyd Davies, who polled 29S votes, against Mr. Evans's 286. HER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALIIRT have generously forwarded to the Bishop of London a mum of :3001. as a joint contribution to the Association fur Pro moting the Relief of Destitution in the Dluuopolih. Thu newly-appointed Governor of South Australia has received the honour of knighthood lioul Ma • jesty. Sir Bichartl APDonald has been gtidEinor of the Brittbh pubscssious on the western coast of Africa, St. Lucia, and of St. Vincent. He is the son of the Provost of the Dublin University. -";