The Press. — London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

296 THE ROUMANIANS RESIDENT IN PARIS have ad dressed a memorial to Count Walew•ski pointing out the present unhappy state of Moldavia and Wal lachia, and praying for the union of the two princi palities under one sovereign independent State, coupled with the Ottoman empire. A REFORM OF ABUSES IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY is being seriously carried out by the Emperor. We learn from the columns of the Invulide Rune of the 15th that some battalions of the 6th Corps d'Armee, lately sent from their depot to the Crimea, were de fectively equipped, and broke down en route from ill-health and want of stores. The matter came to the Emperor's ears, and a most severe order of the day has been published, reprimanding the general in command and the chief of the staff, whose duty it was to inspect the troops previous to their departure, and finally handing over to a court•martial the . _ officers in command of the depot, to be punished according to law. This order of the day has pro duced no little sensation in St. l'etersburg, as evincing the determination of the Emperor to root out all abuses. Great changes, it is said, are being made in the personnel of the Russian army, whichlis hence forward to be organised on the Napoleon system. THE MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS OF THE PLENI POTENTIARIES AT PARIS, according to the Inclepen dance Beige, are lithographed, twenty-five copies being taken of each report. The process takes place at the Foreign Ministry, the two printers employed being under the ngid surveillance of a trustworthy and venerable employe. THE ANNUAL CEREMONY of washing the feet of twelve old men and twelve old women, by the Em peror and Empress of Austria, took place last week at the Palace of Hofburg, Vienna. The Emperor and Empress performed the ablution in the presence of the whole Court, and afterwards entertained the old people at a dinner in the palace. A CHARITABLE CONGRESS OF ALL NATIONS, to meet at Brussels, in September this year, to discuss the means of ameliorating the condition of the working classes throughout Eurone, has been invited by the members of the Societe Internationale de Cbarite, established in Paris. Kum, l'Acris, who lately died at Constantinople, leaving some two or three millions sterling to the Sultan, was originally a Georgian slave, purchased by Khosrew Pacha (who died last year at the great age of 103), by whom he was educated, and through whose interest the young slave was gradually ad vanced from rank to rank till he became a paella, and married one of the Sultan's sisters. Halil was a man of varied abilities, and had filled the highest posts in the empire. THE YOUNG PRINCE IMPERIAL OF FRANCE WBS first mounted guard over on Monday by the dragoons of the guard. The post is commanded by a captain, who takes his orders from Mme. Bruat, the gouvernante. The Cent Gardes remain in special attendance upon the Emperor and Empress. AUSTRIA has not been favorable to the admission of Prussia to the conference-table, if we may place reliance upon a curious incident related by the Times Berlin correspondent. Colonel Manteuffel, who for some months has been on a mission to Vienna, returned to Berlin on the 12th, the day on which the Walewski despatch was presented inviting Prussia to join. The first visit the colonel made was to his cousin, the Minister-President, to acquaint him with the result of his mission to Vienna. He reported that, in a final audience he had had with the Emperor of Austria, on Monday, the 10th, the latter had assured him, with great expressions of re gret, that "there was no chance at all of Prussia being invited." The Minister-President's answer was—the despatch. The news of this written invita• tion, adds the correspondent, being on the road was received by this Government by telegraph on the 10th, and yet the Emperor of Austria, the indefati gable advocate of his rival being admitted together with himself, did not know anything of the matter at that date. THE ELEVATIONS OF GENERALS CANROBERT AND BOSQUET to the rank of Marshal wax first made known to them at a dinner at the Tuileries. On Tues day last, after the reception on the occasion of the birth of the Prince Imperial, a grand dinner was given at the Tuileries. At the dessert, the Emperor caused the glasses to be filled, and then said " Gentlemen, I propose the health of two men whom I esteem and love, Marshal Canrobert and Marshal Busquet!" The surprise and gratification of the two marshals is said to have been evinced in a very marked manner. AN AUSTRIAN SURVEY OF THE PRINCIPALITIES is announced from Vienna as about to be shortly undertaken by some of their best engineer officers. The object is to develop internal communication throughout the principalities, by completing the two main roads of the country to Hermanstadt and Cronstadt. A direct line of rail also between Hun gary and Galatz, which would open up a vast event of country, is also under consideration, Tranayl• vania, through which this line would pass, abounds In iron and coal, THE PRESS. A NEW CONCORDAT WITH FLORENCE AND NAPLES, similar to that which is now giving so much trouble to the Austrian Government, is reported at present to be under negotiation. THE COUNT CANITZ, who was stated in our news papers a fortnight back first to have shot himself, and then to have been shot in a duel at Potsdam, according to a late letter from Berlin, walked into the casino at Berlin a few days back:looking very well indeed, considering what extremities he was considered to have gone through. There are several Counts Canitz. THE CLERGY IN FRANCE have been remarkably backward in their felicitations to the Emperor upon the birth of the Prince. This is said to arise from the late compulsory removal by the Government of the Bishop of Lucon, an act which has produced the greatest excitement among the clergy, as it virtually brings them under the law as public functionaries, an assimilation which they are determined to vigorously contest. THE ORDERLY OFFICER OF THE EMPEROR NAPO LEON who first officially announced the birth of the Imperial Prince to the Municipality of Paris has been gratified with a pension for life of 10,000 f. a year. A NEW DRAMA, called Paradise Lost is now nightly played to crowded houses at the Ambigue, in Paris. The whole thing is said to be an outrageous piece of blasphemy from beginning to end. " The curse," says a letter from Paris, " pronounced ou man after his fall is made to issue from the mouth of a supernumerary with tinsel wings and a dirty face; the rebellious angels are driven from the heavens to the sound of a tremulous crescendo on the big drum. This piece of burlesque blasphemy reaches its climax by the defeat of Satan, which might have shocked the feelings of propriety of even a Parisian audience ; but who could contain a laugh when the Prince of Darkness, irritated by the close ness of the house and the unwashed portion of the auditory, indulged in a most mortal sneeze !" Court an laskion. Her Majesty and the Court have remained at Windsor during the week. His Majesty King Leopold came to town on Tuesday, and visited the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Cambridge. In the afternoon his Ma jesty drove over to Twickenham and visited the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale. The King returned to the Castle in the afternoon. His Majesty will take leave of the Queen and Prince Albeit this morning at half past nine, on his return to Brussels. The Court returns to town on Monday. Her Ma jesty remains at Buckingham Palace for a week or ten days, after which her Majesty will visit the Isle of Wight.. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary will remain at Cam bridge Cottage, Kew, until the close of the ensuing week, and then return to SL James's Palace for the season. Mr. Albert Smith had the honour of performing on Tuesday evening before her Majesty, the King of the Belgians, and the party assembled at the Castle. The Earl of Eglinton has left town on a visit to Lord and Lady Southampton, at Whittlebury-lodge, Northampton. Lord Stanley, M.P., is at present at Knowsley. The Marquis of Northampton is at Castle AThby. The noble marquis comes to town for the season the week after next. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have passed the week at Hughenden Manor, Bucks. Sir James Graham, accompanie d by Lady and Miss Graham, has gone to Netherby, his seat in Cumberland, and does not return to town for a fortnight. The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk have left Carlton-house-terrace for Arundel Castle, Sussex. Admire! Sir Edmund Lyons is staying with the noble duke and duchess. The Duke of Newcastle has left Portman square for Clumber park, Norte, where his grace will re main until the reaAsembling of Parliament. The Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry are expected home from their tour in Italy towards the close of the ensuing month. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., and Lady Emily Peel, passed through Turin on the 21st, and are expected to arrive in town immediately. The Earl and Countess Spencer, who have re turned to Althorpe-hall from town for the recess, are entertaining a distinguished circle at their country seat.. Earl Grosvenor has taken the late residence of Viscount Canning, in Grosvenor-square, fot the season. MATIIRDAY, Lord and Lady George Manners have joined the family circle visiting the Duke of Rutland at llelvoir Castle, Leicestershire. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Countess Persigny have arrived in town from Warwick. Sir John and Lady Lister Kaye and family have arrived at their residence in Portland-place, from their seat, Denby Grange, Yorkshire. Mr. Ormsby Gore, M.P., is not suffering from con. gestion of the brain. Mr. Gore was very ill for a few hours, but is now rapidly regaining strength. Viscount Palmerston has left town with 'Vis countess Palmerston for his seat, Broadlands, Hants. Mr. Secretary Labouchere returned to town on Monday evening. _ _ _ The Chancellor of the Exchequer has left town for his seat, Harpton Court, Kington, Hereford. The Marquis of Exeter arrived in town on Thr.rs day afternoon, from Burghley, near Stamford. Frances Countess Waldegrave, and Mr. Harcourt, M.P., are expected in town today from Nuneliam. Mr. Osborne, M.P. Se.:retary to the Ad m i ra l ty, accompanied by Mr. Lowe, M.P., is at his residence, Newtown Anner, Ireland. Volitital. THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMERS held a public meeting on Tuesday evening "T o cons id er t h e necessity of a vigorous effort to counteract existing abuses in the administration of the affairs of the country, to expose corrupt influence and favoritism in Government appointments, the consequent ineffi ciency of the public service, and the enormous in crease of taxation." Mr. Smedley, the High Bailiff of Westminster, was in the chair; and amongst the gentlemen on the platform were Sir J. V. Shelley, M.P., Mr. Jacob Bell, Mr. Buckton, Mr. H. G. Robinson, Mr. Whitehurst, and others ; but the hall was not half filled. Mr. Jacob Bell moved the first resolution, condemning the corrupt political influence used in obtaining appointments to respon sible situations under Government, and adduced as an instance of the effects of the present vicious system the case of an exciseman detected in receiving bribes, and discharged from his post, but, "nominated by some great nobleman, be was appointed, within a week after he had been discharged for the offence, to a better place, with a higher salary, in a distant part of the country ; nevertheless, his character followed him thither, until the place became too hot to hold him, and he finally was driven to jump off a cliff into the sea, and so he VMS drowned." Mr. Bell then touched upon the board of inquiry on the conduct of officers in the Crimea, as well as to the impending inquiry into the circumstances of the fall of Kars, and the investigation which must soon be made into the system of' Government contracts, as matters to which the Reform Association should direct Its attention. Sir J. V. Shelley, M. P., said that, although en Administrative Reformer, he was not a member of the Administrative Reform Association. Still, he had nothing to say against that association, and if they had done nothing more than originate that admir able phrase, " The right man in the right place," they had not lived for nothing. It appeared to him, however, that they had always omitted in their ad dresses the primary and most important reform which should be aimed at, and that was Parliament ary Reform. He thought they had put the cart be fore the horse. To carry out administrative reform it should begin by reforming the House of Commons, and with a view to setting forth this principle he should move the following addition to Mr. Bell's resolution : That, inasmuch as the Commons House of Parliament does not, except in name, represent the people, no appeal for redress to that house as at present constituted is likely to be attended with a satisfactory result, and that a com plete and permanent removal of existing abases can only he expected as the result of a reform of the House of Com mons, including the vote by ballot. It was two years since Lord John Russell introduced his Reform Bill, and, now the war was at an end, be hoped the Liberal electors would decle.re in favour of a reform in Parliament. This ought to be made the primary matter. The clause was then added to the resolution. In reply to certain questions, Mr. Bell explained that the first object of the Reform Associa tion was to obtain the recognition of merit as the first condition of employment under Government. Mr. Finlen, a Chartist, thought that this was not definite. What the country wanted was something palpable—something which could be seen, felt, and valtieJ : The chairman had toll them that there was a " spicy" bill of fare before them, but the Administrative Reform Association had failed to give to the people that which they really wanted, and which they had so often in vain demanded. (Cheers.) The Administrative Reform As sooiation could scarcely be considered a popular ascot• tion, when on snob an occasion it was only able to muster some 200 or SOO persona. But he did not think that was sarpriring, when theT remembered that i 4 objeote wets -, .1.4