The Sun. — London, England, 1858-04-16 00:00:00

Ike preentation of the repo, rt., under an impenetrable veil. He wished he couldP°lift that -veil for a moment, and see how many harbours i h n this kingdom h h a a d d tdhee mended five millions. (Hear, ear. honour elf proposing the refor med system under which the Trinity-house had wdorked or ve years he had no objec lien to inquir9 , an . should support that proposition in special commission. Prterr.erEeNtllaNsCKl said there was one point in the noble lord's motion to which he must object. He could not agree to the t rans ference of the lighthouses to the control of the Admiralty. hoped the noble lord would acquiesce in the proposal of the Board of Trade, and accept a royal senimission. Lord PALMERSTON said that the house ought to be obliged to his noble friend for bringing forward a subject of so much national importance. He agreed in many points which had been stated by hi s noble friend. Since the committees referred to by his noble friend an import ant change had been made in the constitution of the Trinity.house, and he should therefore strongly recommend him to accept the proposal made by the right hon. gentle man the President of the Board of Trade, namely, that a commission should issue. He believed, notwithstanding the improvements which had been made in the arrange ments of the Trinity-house, that considerable economy might yet be effected in that department. In the abstract there was a great deal of plausibility that the expense of lighthouses should be borne by the public at large instead of calling upon the passing shipping to pay it, for the light ing of our coast was undoubtedly a duty that belonged to the nation rather than private individuals. Take the ana logy, though it was upon a smaller scale, of lightinga large town. We did not call upon the travellers o arht the ish street to pay the expense of its lighting ; n o, the paid that ; and, reasoning by analogy, the nation oug to pay the expense of lighting the coast. On the other hand, however, until the department which was respon sible to Parliament should be vested th e arrangements with full power of controlling the expense and enforci n g best adapted for the efficiency of eco nomical performance of that service, itwou to the con solidated be prema ture to make the transf er from the shipp i ng 'validated fund. Mr. WHITE thought the house . ought to have a consis tent policy, and that being his opinion he did not quite share the apprehensions of the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxford. The right hon. t hon. gentleman seemed to think it would be a g reat cala mit y t o pla ce some 200,0 0 0/. of patronage a t t h e dis p osal of the executive ; and yet how long ago was it since the h ouse arrived at the conclusion that the vast p atrona g e of India should be handed over to the ex ecutive? No later ag o than l a s t session Pa r li ament ted 1,250,000/. to the King of Denmark for extinguish ing the Sound dues. New the light dues on the coast were far more oppressive and vexatious than the Sound dues, and if it was proper and judicious to extinguish the dues in the one ease, it was equally so in the other. Let it also be remembered that in making the transfer to the conso lidated fund they would be benefiting the consumer, and carrying out the principle of direct taxation, in favour of which the house hid pronounced years ago. Mr. A. SMITH observed that the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxford was mistaken in supposing that the "United States commissioners bad reported in favour of the English system of lighting. On the contrary, they reported that, while the best English light, which was inferior to that of France, cost 5001. a year, that of France only cost 3001. Moreover, proceeding upon the French system, they reported the whole of the United States coast could be lighted for 81,000 i. a year, although the number of lights far exceeded those of England. At the same time he agreed with the right hon. gentleman when he said, that this mat ter ought not to be placed in the hands of the Government; bat nevertheless, he should like to see the 'Dimity-house thoroughly remodelled. He wished to see it made suitable for looking after not only' the lighthouses, but also many other matters connected with the mercantile marine. At present the eighteen brethren were self-elected, whereas they ought to be selected by the mercantile marine body from persons amongst themselves, connected with the shipping interest. The Trinity-house would then Lecome a useful department. Mr. L. PHILLIPS protested against the argument, that because Parliament had agreed to pay 1,230,0001. for the extinction of the Sound dues, they ought to vote another three or four millions for extinguishing the light three. If the house admitted the priuciple ul the hon. member for Plymouth, that the transfer to the consolidated fund should bo made for the simple reason that it would benefit the consumer, they could not stop at light dues ; they might have railways seeking to be released from lighting charges on the plea that they would then be able to carry passengers at a cheaper rate. It was said a short time ago by a right hon. gentleman who then filled the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the danger to the public finance arose from the useful projects of benevolent indi viduals, and unless a check was put upon their efforts to saddle their schemes upon the consolidated fund, the con solidated fund would cease to be consolidated. It would in the words of Hamlet, " Thaw and dissolve itself into a dew. (A laugh.) Mr. CO WAN said the North-rn Light Commissioners bad long given satisfaction to the commercial interest in Scotland ; but since the commissioners had been placed under the Board of Trade, their proceedings had not been so satisfactory. Their plans wer3 set aside for others in ferior, and which cost double the amount in carrying out. Mr. J. EWARF could not agree with the noble lord in asking that the whole charge should be thrown on the consolidated fund. The lighting system pressed heaviest upon the coasting trade, and he would therefore suggest that the coal dues amounting to 60/. 001. only, should be transferred from the shipping to the consolidated fund. (Hear, hear,) Lord C. PAGET said, after the assurance of the Presi dent of the Board of Trade, he would not press his motion. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. TRIBUNALS OF COMMERCE. Mr. AYRTON in moving for a select committee to in quire respecting the expediency of establishing tribunals of commerce, and otherwise improving the mode of pro cedure in actions and suits of a commercial nature—said a large body of commercial men in the city of London conceived that the present mode of administering justice in commercial cases was dilatory and unsatisfactory. In foreign countries these matters had been adjudica'ed by tribunals of commorce, and he thought it was worthy the consideration of the house whether the practice of foreign countries in this respect might not be imitated with advan tage. In important commercial cases in London they must be tried by special juries, and some months must elapse before a case can be tried. When a judge tries such a case he reserves certain points and decides others. It was no affront to judges to say that they were not as good judges of commercial documents as those who were familiar with commercial dealings. It was a very serious ques tion whether the administration of justice in commercial eases might not be improved. (Hear, hear.) Persons generally who litigated preferred having their cases tried in London instead of the country. But was that satisfac tory to those who were compelled to lit as jurors without any compensation ? He found that where there were 1,248 causes tried in the metropolis, there were 1,110 tried in the country. He found that in causes for sums above 201. and under 501., out of 4,000 there were 400 tried in the metropolis ; and in causes for sums above 501. more than half the number ware tried in London. The hon. and learned member referred to cases fur the purpose of showing the increased expense to which a suitor who lived in the country was put by the trial taking place in London . Arbitration was generally a compulsory course, I the beginning of a new suit, when, to be of valu a v n . ( d w arbitra tionas should be resorted to in the first instance. had been given to prove that merchants sometmes ' gave Evidence ne p e accounts for the purpose of closing their books ratherthu wait the delay of a trial or have a trial at all. Ip France an a tribunal such as he contended for had juris diction in all cases such as those to which he was alluding. In Eng land, with the exception of Liverpool, th ere was no such tribunal, and he saw no reason why other towns should not have such tribunals as well as Liverpool. The hon. member concluded by moving for a select committee to inquire respecting the expediency of establishing tribunals of commerce, or for otherwise improving the administra tion of justice in commercial disputes. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL admitted the great im portsace of the question brought forward by the hon. and learned gentleman, and desired briefly to state his reasons for offering no opposition to the motion, and generally his views of the case, especially with reference to the estab lishment in this country of Tribunals of Commerce. The title was, no doubt, an attractive one, and they probably might suppose that benefits would be conferred upon the commercial worl 1 by institutions of the kind ; but they must not b e l e d away by names however attractive. It should not be forgotten that they had established in this country a most succes s f u l i m p ro v e ments in their courts. Th ey had iutrodueed county courts , g iving them consider able jurisdictio n . Th at they were ' successful no man could for one moment doubt, and that they had established a speedy and cheap mode of administering justice was equally indisputable. They had modified the courts of common law, and made their proceedings as speedyas he thought could well be done, c o n s i s t en tl y w i t h doing justice to the parties engaged. L a tt er ly th ey passed an act on t he sub ject of bills of exchange. All these three different classes of measures had occupied the attention of the Legislature with the view of reducing delay in judicial proceedings art.l he believed that delay had been reduced to the smallest possible amount ; but if it could be shown that the period could lea further lessened, he should gladly ren der all the assistance in his power to accomplish that ob ject. Was the Tribunal of Commerce proposed to be in stituted to be a court of appeal, or a court without appeal ? If it was to be a court without appeal, when, as the hon. and learned gentleman suggested, causes would be decided in 24 hours, then in his (the Solicitor-General's) opinion it would not enjoy the confidence of the pub le or of the persons involved in the cause under its judicial cognisance, but if it were to be a court of appeal, where execution would be suspended, and the case brought to other courts for final judgment, then why not go to the higher courts In the first instance ? The hon. and learned gentle man had objected to the mode in which mercantile eases were handled in this country. He was dissatisfied, that while the facts were left to the jury, the judge should take the question of law and place his construction upon the bearing of some document which had been made evi dence in the course of the hearing, while the Tribunals of Commerce, they were told, decided questions of fact and law. But why should a document, springing out of a com- Mereial case be treated differently to any document arising out of, or connected with any other description of case. Any innovation of that kind on their system of jurispru dence must be eminently unsatisfactory; and he felt quite satisfied that the house would not for one moment enter- Isin any proposition of the sort. Tribunals of Commerce, he might be permitted to say, sprang out of a state of things much less enlightened than that existing at present. They were institutions of the remote state of the barbarian sees, and very far inferior to those we enjoyed. He ad mitted the justice of the complaint made by the hon. and learned member, and he admitted it was a most unsatis factory state of affairs that when suitors went in' o one court le rred they f rom were frequently handed over to another trans no doubt, se riousew to equity and f rom equ ity t o l aw . It was , but h e was hint on -our system of jurisprudence, happy to stat e th a t h e i n t en d e d as ki ng f or leave, th a t evening, to introduce a bill which would go to remedy some of the evils and mischiefs of the system. An other complaint which th e hon. a n d leaned member made was, that an unfair amou nt to of work was th rown on th e London jurymen, who ha d investigat e no t on l y L on d on but country cases. Thi s happened p artly because the courts were opened a greater number oyfP were than a° assize or ided over by local courts, partly because the judges eminent for their skill and the sati sfactory:al'n manner partly from in which they administered the law , the skill, intelligence, and competency jurymen themselves brought to bear on the the jurymen of their duties. They could not expect greate r speed in the hearing of commercial causes un'eas they h a d tidal:dished a greater number of courts in the country. Were the proposed Tribunals of Commerce to b e paid or unpaid ? Did the hon. and learned gentleman think that Parliament would sanction the appointment of a new staff throughout the length and breadth of the country ? For the proposal was that those tribunals should be established wherever commerce was carried on. Such an organisation would entail a serious amon it of expense. If the tribunals were not paid, how could they expect that persons would discharge the duties appertaining to the tribunals with THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL _l6, 1858. willingness, and satisfaction to the country? His belief the employment of a ebort-han m d whrteber fa to ed ta , k a a nd no h t e es tru of s t t h ed e was that Tribunals of Commerce would never prove satis - trials, and for whom a salary factory in this country, but he was quite free to admit tha t he would consider the suggestion as deserving of considers factory the subject had been so ventilated in commercial circles, tionr. MALINS entire l y a pp roved of the objects of the . he thought it desirable there should be a committee ap pointed to look into the entire question. For their in- , proposed tbaytehitshaletatrhneedcofuriretnodichlalneetehryoutandt atit ri pr g e h s t e , n h t o t w he - , vestigation he did not anticipate any useful result, but it , ever, to s was only right that the subject should be investigated. rower o f cross-examining the witnesses viva voce. They Lord JOHN RUSSELL expressed his satisfaction that I were so exami ne d b u y e t s h ti e on Lo ; r b ds ut J s us om ti e ce o s f t w li h e cntere the Government had given its assent to the modified pro- dispute poin t q Vice-Chancellors wany w th o e uldbe position of the hon. and learned gentleman. He though ma de didnoitnatchteubpilolnfotrheeropsosw-eexra.miHnienghotpheedwiptrnoevssiseisonin some good might arise from investigating the complain t man of those who were engaged in the commerce of the coun- nor suggested. ae oral, d t wo p u e ld n o doubt e see hof th e give h t great sat e f n s t a l try, at the same time that he agreed with the learned Mr.thMetsMotellitOoNr.Gs Solicitor-General in his view of the e ffi cacy of the pro- rnan, m mh posed Tribunals of Commerce. It appeared t o him that in ton ; and he (Mr. ' a on) hoped he w p o th ul uet d ec m boy a u k trth e e p oti r ri o c v hh i n s an io na n -1 England commercial men had been toolongthuesedsutpoertihoer ofin haisjubryill,fnorotdneceieseisosnasri,liyneamll privilege of bringing their causes be f or e p e a a n se e s lle o d f d ia ls courts of common law, where they found the judges eery, sitting at Lincoln's Inn, but in the countries wherein ge . The hon. and learned which they might be direeted by the Court of Chancery as highly instructed and administering a code of laws which the disputed questions respecting property arose, and to had grown up during n t o h t a p t e w rm as it t t h ed e issues, gentleman J. D. FITZGERALD was happy to find that the hon. to dictate the law to juries. nou y gentleman had said th m a a t n dhe a- j u te s dgdes were case, and the rule had been laid down in consequence of and learned gentleman bad moved for leave to introduce t he political considera tions being often times mixed up with proposed bill; and he hoped the hon. and learned gentleman out byhon. and to questions which came before juries. B . u t . with regard would act upon the suggestion thro wn m cial questions, he believed that juries could not learned friend Mr. Serjeant Deasy, and provide that a short tdociel?ettraererthan accept the opinion of the judge trying the hand writer should be employed to take notes of the proceed cause. He could not think the specfic remedy proposed ings. Such a course would very much relieve the judge, who was one likely to be adopted, but undoubtedly complaints could, by being relieved from taking notes as at present, pay were not unnaturally made that in a country like England more attention to the case. so much delay was experienced in the trial of commercial Mr. MELLOR was sorry to say he could not agree in the causes. He must also consider it to be a great grievance views of his right hon. friend who had just addressed the that London jurors should be so frequently called upon to house, with respect to the employment of a short-hand try country causes. Probably, however, by extending and wri er to take notes solely ; and he did hope that the neces improving the jurisdiction of the county courts much of sity which existed for a judge taking a full note of the evi the evils complained of would be removed. dente in trials would not be dispensed with. He had no Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD believed that the state of the objection to the supplementary notes of a short-hand writer ; present law admitted of great improvement, and that the but be hoped, whether one be employed or not, that the hon. proposed committee would, in a great measure, effect that and learned gentleman, the Solicitor-General, would resist the object. It was said 30 years age that their laws were the proposal , to relieve the judge from the necessity of his taking perfection of human wisdom, but any one who witnessed a note of the evidence. the reforms that since took place, must be surprised they The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the bill would not be were allowed to continue so long. He was one of a corn- compulsory in summoning all witnesses in cases to London, mittee that sat a few years ago on the bill which passed and should it be found to work well, provision would be made respecting bills of exchange, and was delighted at the im- hereafter for having parties examined in the counties wherein provements made on that occasion. Bat why should not they resided. With respect to the suggestion to employ a the same principle be extended to all written contracts ? short-band writer to take notes, he did not think it would And why should not many material changes required be act well, inasmuch as after he had been all day taking notes effected in the Court of Bankruptcy ? With respect to tri - th e y could not be read until he transcribed them. (Laughte.) bunals of commerce, he had heard that they were originally Leave was given to bring in the bill, which was read a first adopted in Spain, from whence they spread themselves to time. France and all over Europe. The whole question would, he believed, be advantageously sifted by the proposed com mittee, and on that account he gave the motion his cordial approbation. Col. SYKES wished to say a few words on the subject, and they would be but a few, as the motion was acceded to. The hon. and learned gentleman (the Solicitor-General) said that tribunals of commerce were the offspring of the ages of barbarism ; but he had in his baud a document, describing such tribunal established in Calcutta. It com prised the whole of the details of such a tribunal, thecases which would come before it, and the judges to preside, who were to be elected by the commercial community. He believed that such tribunals were absolutely necessary in this country, and should support the motion. Mr. M`MAHON agreed with the hon. and learned gen tleman (the Solicitor-General) that tribunals of commerce were the relics of barbarous ages, and not at all suited to this country. Such tribunals in the case of insurances existed from the time of Elizabeth, but such was the par tiality evinced by the judges that they fell into disuse, and were at last discontinued. He believed it was utterly impossible they could give satisfaction to the people of this country. In Franco, the judges of these courts were selected by the Crown, but such a proceeding would not for a moment be tolerated, for not only would their lives, but their property, be placed at its disposal. He com plained of the great delays in the country in the adminis tration of justice, as compared with that of London ; and certainly he thought the number of assizes ought to be considered also before that committee. He, however, cor dially concurred in the appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole subject. Mr. BLAKE said it was a great satisfaction to him, as representing a commercial community, that such a motion was acceded to, and he had no doubt whatever but that the greatest possible amount of good would be effected by its appointment. Mr. COLLIER did not believe tribunals of commerce harmonised with the institutions of the country, but he was of opinion that, instead of creating new courts, they would do better to extend the jurisdiction of those now in existence. lie thought that if they improved the juris diction of the Courts of Assize and the County Courts, it would confer immense benefit ' • but as an inquiry would do a great deal of good on all these subjects, and throw light upon many things requiring reform, he should sup port the motion. Mr. BUCHANAN denied that tribunals of commerce were the relics of barbarous times, and from bis know ledge of the working of one in Hamburg, he could say that they were of the greatest value. The greatest benefit de rived from such tribunals was a speedy decision, ami be cause they prevented serious and mischievous litigation He would suggest, if they were to be adopted in this country, that merchants should be associated with the judges, in order to give them the benefit of their mercan tile experience. Mr. HORSFALL thanked the hon. member fcr the Tower Hamlets for the manner in which he had brought forward this motion ; for although he was personally not vary sanguine as to the advantages to arise from the Mali ' lishine of tribunals, many of his constituents took a dif ferent view of the matter; and as an inquiry by. a select committee could not fail to be of advantage, he was glad to fled that the hon. and learned Solicitor-General ha I agreed to the appointment of a committee on the question. There wore many things which appeared very beautiful in theory which turned out very different in practice, and this might be one of them. There was one point that had not been clearly stated—viz., whether the members of these tribunals were to be paid or not, and the answer to that would have a very natural influence on the whole question. It was said that these tribunals were necessary for the speedy settlement of differences ; but there was now in existence a mode of obtaining such a speedy settle ment, where the parties wished it, by referring the matt, r in dispute to arbitration instead of going into court. In the course of the discussion Liverpool had been alluded to as an example of the evils arising from the delay in the admiuistratiop of justice, but ho must state that they had four courts in the year, in which justice was as speedily administered as could be well desired, and he agreed with the bon. and learned member for Plymouth that if this kind of business could be engrafted on the present juris diction of the County Courts, it would meet all the re quirements of the country. Mr. AYRTON briefly replied, and The motion for the appointment of a select committee was then agreed to. COURT OF CHANCERY PROCEDURE. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he would endeavour in a very few words to explain the object of a bill which he asked the leave of the house to introduce, entitled the Court of Chancery Procedure Bill. In the course of the debate which had just terminated he had been struck with the remark of his hon. and learned friend, the member for Ennis, as to the serious evils arising from the present de fective state of the law of bankruptcy, and the manner in which suitors, after having gone to one court for redress, were afterwards compelled to go to another fur a supple mentary remedy. (Cheers.) He trusted that in the count) of a few days a bill would be presented in one of the Houses of Parliament by which the defective bankrupt law would be amended—(cheers)—and he hoped the bill he now asked leave to introduce would be found to go far to prevent these double suits in order to obtain supple mental remedies. The main object of the bill was to enable the suitor to obtain in one court all the relief to which he was entitled. The Court of Chancery at present gave re lief in the case of breach of contract by restraining any future breach ; but it could not now give any remedy for breaches in times p as t, arid to obtain that remedy the suitor wa obliged respect t t o t r o e sort actionsto a for Courtthe e o f performanceC e m monie of . specific ecispecificalso wnsh re e agreements. The Court of Chancery could decree that these specific agreements should be carried out in fature, but could not give damages for past breaches up to the time at which it decreed relief. The Courts of Common Law ha I now in these cases complete jurisdiction, and what he proposed by the present bill was that the Court of Chan cery should in future have similar complete jurisdiction— (to ar, hear) —and that suitors might be left free in all cases to choose whether they would go to the courts of common law or to the Court of Chancery, with the knowledge that in both cases they would be able to obtain complete relief. That was the first obj set of the bill. The second was a cor responding, though somewhat di ff erent one, namely, to ob viate the dfects now existing in the practice of the Court of Chancery in trying questions of fact. It would be remem bered that in 1852 the mode of taking evidence in the Court of Chancery was very materially alters Previous to that time the practice was to take all the evidence by means of depositions, and all the parties were examined in private, and without being confronted with their opponents. That had been altered, and at present there was a system of viva voce examination, not before the judge who had to try the case, and who would therefore be able to form an opinion as to the character and the demeanour of the wit nesses, but before an examiner. That was no doubt, so far as it went, an improvement upon the previous system, but there were numerous and grave complaints as to the very serious evils to which it gave rise. In the first place, the judge who had to try the case never saw the witnesses, and had still to rely on written depositions. In the next, the examiner had no- discretionary power as to the evidence he must receive. Parties might come forward and say what they pleased, relevant or irrelevant, and the consequence was, that when the depositions came into court, they had to go through piles upon piles of paper, which he was sure would frighten any hon. member who had never seen them --(hear, hear)—and to wale through page after page in order to get at a simple fact, which might have been stated in a tenth of the time, and at a tenth of the ex pense. (Hear, hear.) The Court of Chancery, under th e existing system, could not check this prolixity and unneces sary expense ; nor could it, without seeing the witnesses personally, judge as to whether they were speaking truth or falsehood. Now, in cases of action for breach of contract, or the performance of specific agreements, pe cuniary damages were almost always at issue, and in the common law courts it was found that the most effective methol of settling any such questions was to refer them to a jury. He proposed that the Court of Chancery should in such cases have the power of calling in a jury, and thus at once speedily, satisfactorily, economically, and completely settle all the questions of fact at issue. (Hear, hear.) He did not propose, in the first instance, that this measure should be compulsory. He would leave it, in the first instance, to the discretion of the court ; and if it should be found in the course of time—as he hoped it would be--a successful experiment, he trusted it would encourage them to make still further improvements in the practice and procedure of the Court of Chancery, and to ena ble the judge to see the demeanour of the witnesses. Mr. HEAD LAM had no hesitation in saying that the bill would give a very va luable j urisdiction to the Court of Chan eery, and greatly imp rove the adiniuistrati= of justice i one ct. was impossible to over-estimate te advantage jury to suiwato: It h our rs th o e having a complete remedy nf best means of deciding . in easy, there w as no reason wh y to a court of com mon law . that tribunal should be confine d lie wished that in all eases in the Court of Chancery the exa minations of the witnesses should be taken viva voce, before tbo judge in the same manner that they were now aken be fore a jury in courts of common law. It was qui t te certain that the decisions in the Court of Chancery were not, in all c sacs satisfactory; and he hoped his hon. and learned friend the Solicitor-General would extend his bill, and make a provision for the examination of wituesses by the judges in the Court of Chancery. Mr. Se r j can t DEASY h oped th i bill would net be confined to En g l a y n_cl e, , eua and that. Ireland, hen. and learned gentleman, or the r. d Atterne would introduce it, or a similar bill, for that count ry. At Chancerypresent, of the Irelandsy s system m was o f m e o x s a t mining witnesses i n the Cott defec tive and unsatisfactory, and he hoped th e power of examin ing them by th e jud e and before a jury w ou ld b e exten d e d to the judge s of the thought it would b e a C ourt of Chancery i n I re l an d . Ho lion. and learned great improvement in the bill, if the gentleman would make provi • non in it for CHELSEA HOSPITAL. Lord J. MANNERS obtained leave to bring in a bill to confirm a contract for a sale by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Works of certain lands to the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, which was read a first time. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH THE EAST. Sir H. RAWLINSON moved an address for copies or ex tracts of correspondence that may have passed between her Britannic Majesty's embassy at Constantinople and the Fo reign-office, during the last six months, on the subject of the es t a blishment of a line of telegraph between Constantinople and Bassorab. The hon. member said he bad intended, in moving for papers on the subject of telegraphic communica ticn between England and India, to make a few observations on the general character of the arrangements, more particu larly with regard to the line of communication tbrongh Tur key, but at that late hour of the evening he would not tres pass on the patience of the house ; and as he found that the subject was to be brought before the house on another mo tion, he would reserve his observations for that occasion. He would only observe at present that the object of his remarks would be to show that the telegraphic communication be tween England and India, via Egypt and the Red Sea would be very difficult, not to say impracticable, while on the other hand telegraphic communication with India via Asiatic Tur key and the Persian Coast, might with the exercise of tole rable skill and care, be carried through successfully within a very short time. The motion was then agreed to. FIRE INSURANCE. On the motion of Mr. GREER, a return was ordered of all sums paid into the Inland Rcvenne Office in Great Britain and Ireland, for duty on insurances against fire, for the quarters ending severally the 25th flay of March, the 24th day of June, the 29th day of September, and the 25th day of December, 1857 (in ioutian tion of Parliara_ntary Pager, No. 142, of session 2, 1857). IRISH BILLS. Lord NA AS proposed to adjourn the committee on the Clerks of Petty Sessions (Ireland) Bill until the 26th of this month. He could not agree to the Medical Charities (Ire land) Act Amendment Bill, and would not, thercfo e, pledge the Government to it. The same observation applied to the Grand Julies (Ireland) Bill, he thought it was a good mea sure, and hoped it would go into committee to be amended. Mr. J. D. FITZGERALD said that, under these circum stances, he would move that the orders of the day in refer once to the Medical Charities (Ireland) Bill and the Grand Juries (Ireland) Bill, be discharged. Lord NAAS intended to bring in a bill, in a few days, in rdennee to the clerk of petty sessions. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at eleven o'clock. ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Third appearance, of Madlle. Titiens. SECOND APPEARANCE OF MADLLE. POCCHINI. LES HUGUENOTS. TO-MORROW (THURSDAY), April 17, will be repeated Meyerbeer's Grand Opera, GLI UGONOTTT. DRAMATIS PERSONA. II Conte di San Bris (Governor of the Louvre) It Conte di Nevers. . De Cosse Signor MERCURIAL'. Tavannes De Retz Meru Head of Night Watch Raul di Nangis (a Huguenot Gentleman) Signor GIUGLINI. Marcell° (his Servant) Margaritta di Valois (betrothed to Henry IV.) Urbane (her Page) Mdme. LUCIONI LANDI. Dams d'Onore . Madame GHIONI. Valentina (d tughter of San Brie) Madlle. TITIENS. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, Pages, Citizens, Soldiers, Students, Night Watch, Monks, Musicians, &c. Conductor, Signor ADRITI. With scenery, entirely new and original, by Mr. Marshall ; dresses, entirely new and taken from the best authorities, by Madame Copore, and executed by M. Laureys and Mrs. Mastorman ; principal machinist, Mr. Sloman ; head of the property department Mr. Bradwell ; the miso-en-scone and incidental ballet, by M. Massot. To conclude with a new Ballet Divertiisement, by M. Massot, entitled CALIST i; OU, LE RENVOI DE L'AMOUR. The principal parts by Madllee. Pocchini, Annetta, Pas quale, Morlacehi, Bioletti, F. Brown, La Petite Philips, and M. On TUESDAY, April 20, MdIIe.PICCOLOMINI will mike her first appearance this season as Norina, in Donizetti's Opera of DON PASQUALE, and shortly aftei wards in LUISA MILLER. A limited number of Boxes have been secured to tho public. Price 21s and 31s 6d each. The full prospectus of the season arran/ements may be had at the Box Office. To commence at half-past 7 o'clock. 'I7HEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, April IG, will be performed AN UNEQUAL MATCH. Characters by Messrs. 13uckstone, Chipendale, Compton, W. Farren, Rogers, Clark, and Miss A. Sedgwick, Mrs. B. White, Miss Lavine, and Mrs. J. Fitz wilham. Alter which a Cassical Ectravaganaa, entitled PLUTO AND PROSERPINE. Conchading with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Jrchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d• Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes .. 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit ... 2 0 Pit Gallery 1 0 Gallery Commence at Seven. R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kern. THIS EVENING will be presented the new farc3 entitled THE STOCK EXCHANGE ; or, The Green Business. After which, will be revived FAUST AND MARGUE RITE. Me pliistophiles, Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with the now farce, entitle.! SAMUEL IN SEARCH OF HIMSELF. r7IIHEATRE ROYAL, ADELPH Lessee--Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING will be presented the drama of THE POOR STROLLERS, in which Madame Celeste, Mr. B. Web3ter, Paul Bedford, and Mr. Wright will perform. After which, a new operatic spectacle, THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD. The characters by Mr. Rolfe, Paul Bedford, J. Bland, and Misses Rod3n, Keeley, and Arden. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.-- OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of S Ilections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, ‘liss Bruaell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, and Miss Montague; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Renshaw, S. Jones. J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badzey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard : Messrs. T. Maclagan, W. T. Critchfield, John G. Forde, and E. Mackuoy. Piauworte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, &e., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAHAM will appear every Evening. Mr. WOODHOUSE (by permission of Chirles Kean, Esq ) will have the honour of introducing, every evening. his highly successful Performance on the new REGULATION DRUM. THE WEATHER—SUN 071(10E, APRIL 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 66—highest since noon yesterday. 53---lowest this morning and during the night, 6J—this day at noon—the highest this season. BAROMETER, 29.98. WIND, S.W. ; light, with fine warm sunshiny weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. who saved the Derbyite Government. But for his unexpected appearance) they would have been past praying for. If we are to believe the asser tion of the Post, that tile Government depends " not upon the favoural)le opinion of the public out of doors—not upon the possession of a ma- lority within the walls of Parliament—but upon the success of a very clever and artful trick, which Lord Josue ltussnra, in concert with the small section of extreme Radicals, has had the ingenuity to devise anal the temerity to attempt of to theWe can understand the extent that has betrayed these journals fury pla y ." into such indecent and ridicwlous demonstrations. It was intended that the Indian question should be made the pretext for a faertious vote, and that all parties calling themselves Liberals, without reference to the interests either of Great Britain or Hindostan should combine, in order to deprive Lord DERBY of office, in order to place Lord PALMERSTON therein. Now, 'we may ask, what proof is there respecting the state of public feeling, either amongst the community at large, or the in dependent members of the Legislature? Whatever may be the opinions of the Post, it may be as_ sumed that Lord PALMERSTON does not command the undivided allegiance of the Liberal party. Nor are they by any means dis,posed to obey the orders of the quondam. Tory Minister—the col league of SIDMOUTM, PERCIVAL, LIVERPOOL, and CASTLEREAGH 1 I ! As we recently explained, there are many sections of the Liberal party. Lord JOHN RUSSELL is the recognised leader of the pure Whigs, and he would perhaps command as large a following as Lord PALMERSTON himself, more especially were he disposed to tender a large and comprehensive measure of Parliamentary Reform for general acceptance. The Radicals are ranged under the respective banners of Messrs. ROEBUCK and BRIGHT, and most unquestionably the member for Birmingham would prefer Lord DERBY to Lord PALMERSTON. Indeed he has openly avowed the fact, and spoken of the latter as the " worst possible Minister for the country." Nor is Mr. ROEBUCK that thick and thin adherent who would per fas aut nefas vote for Lord PAL mERsTort whether sight or wrong or attempt to e,tablish a political dictatorship perhaps where, then, we repeat, is the majority ? The Derbyites outnumber the Palmerston ions two to one. And if the Premiership rested between these two noblemen we venture to assert that the present Premier would receive the larger number of votes in the House, and a still greater proportion of the cl . 2ctors of the United Kingdom. The Post expresses its surprise that "a man like Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who is par excellence a Constitutional Statesman, and a Constitutional writer, proposes a course of proceeding which would, in express terms, deposit the entire govern ment of the country in the House of Commons !" Why, it is because he is a Constitutional Statesman that he has acknowledged that " the people is the oily legitimate source of power." Why should not the proposer of the modern Magna Charts— the Reform Bill—recognise the democratic ele ment ? Why should he connive at the various en croachments that have recently been made against its legitimate authority, or reduce its power to a mere veto, without allowing it to initiate anything unsanctione.l by the Crown or its advisers ? The blatant bellowings of the Post only prove that the shaft has struck home—that the "galled beast winces" under the unexpected blow. HTS DAY—Morn., 13 min. aft. 3—Even., 32 min. aft. 3 To-Moßnow —Morn., 51 min. aft. 3—Even., 13 mm aft 4 Lord JOHN has produced in 1858 a ROLAND for the OLIVER of 1852. If Lard PALMERSTON caused the overthrow of his Administration in the former year, he has prevented, or retarded the accession to office of his rival six years later. It is a fair quid pro quo, and every unprejudicld and disinterested person will acknowledge the poetical justice of the retaliation. But were the Government so entirely dependent on this intervention—was Lord JOHN RUSSELL, indeed, their protector and guardian ? We be lieve not. We are satisfied that the Government of India Bill, incomparably superior as it is to that previously before the house, would, with some slight variation in the details, which could not at all affect the stability of the Cabinet, have been carried by a decisive majority. If Mr. D ISR AELI promptlyacceded to the recom men d at i on of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, it was because he r ec )g -nised its propriety—because he wou ld have acted in that very manner but for the course previously adopted by his predecessor, and his knowledge of the character of the opposition, to which he might be subjected. He did not wi s h t o ignore the popular supremacy, 0r to deprive the majority of the chosen representativ es o f t h e weight to which they are fairly en ti t l e d . He does not seek to establish a virtual despotism, or to insist on the initiative, in every inst ance, b e i ng vested in her MAJESTY'S Ministers. B u t w hil e he gives them fitting weight in both H ouses, h e will maintain the dignity of his offi ce un i mpa i red, and be no more a Minister on suff erance than any of his predecessors for the last twelve years. On to say to both advised h er MAJESTY was the 3d byL D o e r c a em p be A r ii , m l Eß Bs BT ; o , N Houses of Parliament -- " Your attention toill be coiled to the laws which regulate the representa tion of the people in Parliament, with a view to consider what amendments may be safely and beneficially made therein." The pr om i se was dis tinct and unequivocal—why has it not been ful filled ? There have been two opportunities ; it might have been done during the short indemnity session, just as Mr. DISRiELT, in a manly way at least, laid his India Bill before the House for con sideration during the-recess. It might have bean done again, and ought to have been, on the very first day of the re-assembling of Parliament for a session. Why was it net ? Why was it put off till after Easter ? Why was a QUEEN'S advised pro mise, deliberately made to the kingdom through its representatives, not fulfilled at Christmas —not fulfilled before Easter ? and therefore an oppor tunity left for a new Ministry to say, " We were no parties to the promise, and therefore we must leave her MAJESTY and Lord PA.LMERSTON to settle the matter as best they can." Mr. T. DIM:IO3SSE, it seems, is naturally a little jealous for the honour of her MAJESTY and her ex Premier. He wishes to give the Noble Lord an opportunity of showing what the strange business of a Queen's Christmas promise to be fulfilled after Easter referred to. He will ask the Noble L - Ird to-night " whether he would have any objection, in the present position of Parliamentary Reform, to lay upon the table of the House a copy of the Bill for the amendment of the laws relating to the re presentation, referred to in the s peech from the Throne at the commencement of the present er ) 4 , - 2 „ t e LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1858. session ?" " Whether he has any oblation I" Why, what objection in the world should he have ? He will of course, thank the Hon. Member for Finsbury for giving him the opportunity ; he will be but too glad to favour the House with his own views on Reform. At his advanced age, his experience is too good to be thrown away. He is a Reform NESTOR for us. Re has seen three generations of Reform-propo u ndi ng men , and now livbs with the fourth. Oh, yes ; he will gladly tell to the youths The l'almeratonian organs are becoming per fectly rabid on the subject of Lord JOHN Itnssues interference respecting the Government of India Bills. If we are to believe either the Times or Post, the IsTc6le Lord Was the Deus ex machin4 of fifty, and the lads below that age, what three- legal or even morally equitable " finding " is score years and fourteen can teach them on Reform. also quite satisfactory ; and it appears incontro " Any objection ?" Certainly not. What he vertible that an English gentleman, without any had promised by the lips of Royalty was worthy court-martial, or any inquiry in which he has had to be a Royal promise. No German silver—no the opportunity to answer his accusers face to electrotype—no plated article. No, but some- face, has been deprived of his commission, and thing altogether genuine—something which the after ton years' service sentenced to 70/. a year, nation would hail as an obvious improvement in and to the stigma of a sentence of death against the method of creating faithful Commons for her I him remaining on the records without the publi- MAJEST Y'S and the people's service—something so cation of its being null and void. Unless the precious that it has been carefully locked up in East India Company can publicly justify their impenetrable secresy—a treasure too valuable to proceedings in the case of Lieut. TORCKLER, they be vulgarised by every one's knowledge o f it ; c annot do an act of more imperative justice than especially not to be irreverently handled by th e to restore him to the position he ought to occupy, Hon. Member for Bucks during the six weeks' and to reimburse him to the extent of his losses. Christmas holidays. He appears to have had but one thing against him There be, indeed, in these evil times, seeptics i —" he had no interest." whose faith is limited by sight. They have seen no Bill, and so they believe there is none ! They pretend that we had nothing before Christmas because there was nothing—nothing before Easter because there was nothing. They deny not only the existence of reforming intentions, but even of a paper draft which should pass for them. They will have it that Lord PALMERSTON would have given us his Reform Bill first of all things if he had had ono ready in his desk. They (sceptic like) insinuate that it was intended after Easter, but for the unlucky French and CLANRICARDE blunders, to have substituted India for Reform, and to have renewed the promise for 1859 A faithless generation it is, indeed I Just so, there were some who at the electiops last year laughed at the idea of "PALMERSTON and Reform"— laughed over our " joking premier" and reform, as if Reformers must needs be sour faced monks or Puritans, and have nothing to do but to chant litanies. Why can't wo reform in fun without making fun of Reform ? What is there so melan choly in shuffling the electoral carda a little ? However, to-night will, doubtless, put all to rights. Lord PALMERSTON will not, as some prediot, be out of the House when the question should be put ; nor will he evade it, or joke about it. He will be most happy to oblige the House, if the House wishes to see his long-ready Reform Bill, and loud cheers will almost overcome the feelings of the veteran Refor'mer, PALMERSTON. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Our expectation that the grand opera of Les Huguenots would be more perfectly given on the second representation, was thoroughly realised last evening ; when a full and enthusiastic house con firmed the brilliant success of the opening night. Madlle. Titiens had lost all the slight trace of ner vousness which even the greatest artiste experiences as a debut before a London audience, and poured forth her gushing tone of song in rich freedom. The qua lity of her voice is superb, and its power completely under control. The upper register of her notes is singularly broad in intonation, and capable of yielding the extreme of the range without impress ing the listener with the slightest notion of strain ing or effort. The way in which Madlle. Titiens holds on C in alt, the precision and distinctness of her chromatic passages, and the infallible clearness of her transitions, remind us somewhat of the glories of Malibran and Pasta. The extent of her capabilities is vast, for her dra matic claims as an actress demand commensurate appreciation with her rank as a vocalist. We be lieve that her Fidelio and Lucretia Borgia will fully equal—if not excel—her Valentina, and we earnestly hope that opportunity will be afforded of testing the validity of our faith. A new ballet divertissement was produced, entitled Calisto ; ou le Renvoi de l'Amour, in which Madlle. Pucchini appeared as the nymph Calisto, and fas cinated those who are susceptible of the influence exerted by Terpsichore. The dancing of this lady is florid and sparkling in its character, and her action elegant and graceful. Some of her steps are wonderful, and calculated to astonish where they may fail to de light. Madlle. Annetta made her debut as Venus, and elicited a fair share of admiration and applause. The rest of the " fantastic toed" agents were supported by M. Caron, who is great in the twist ing and twirling style of choregraphy ; Madlles. Pasquale, Morlacchi, and Bioletti. Her Majesty again honoured the performance with her presence, appearing much gratified with the singing of the prima donna. Lieut. TORCHLER, late of the Ben&W army, has forwarded to us, as he has done to some of our ' contemporaries, a pamphlet detailing the wrongs to which he has been subjected, and urging his claim for redress on the East India Compary, while it still exists. His statements are, of course, entirely ex parte, yet they are so completely sus tained by documentary evidence, that it is not easy to disbelieve their substantial, perhaps their entire, correctness, We think it only fair, there fore, as journalists, to advert to his pamphlet, and ask those to whom he appeals, to explain, or to do him justice. The Lieutenant's name was wrong fully, as he has shown, unless his statements be refuted, erased from the Army List of the East India Company in 1832, not for any crime, but on account of certain disputes, which lord Com- BERMERE, who examined into them, declared to be so trivial that he merely ordered him to join and do duty with another regiment ; whib the Board of Control declared " that he was the victim of a gross conspiracy in his regiment, and more sinned against than sinning," or words to that effect. ST. MARTIN'S HALL. MR. CHARLES DICKENS. Our great and truly vernacular writer read, last even ing, in this hall, his " Christmas Carol." He gave hi:; gratuitous services in aid of the funds of the Childrens' Hospital. The combined attraction of the transcendant merits of Mr. Dickens, and of the chime of the charity, resulted in an audience literally packed as close as her rings. And what an intellectual treat awaited the audience . Mr. Dickens enters so completely into the lights and shades of his characters, to whom he has given "a local habitation and a name"—is such a consummate master of the various inflictions of the voice—does so abound in that geniality which literally radiates from him as from a centre, and possesses such a hold en our sympa thies, that his audience is perforce spell-bound. His style is therefore the antipodes of the mannerist, and yet he never degenerates into caricature. Mr. Dickens indeed commands at once our sunniest laughter, and our least selfish tears. No words can describe the effect of Mr. Dickens' away over an audience; to be appreciated it must 133 felt, and we congratulate the crminunity at large on the fact that Mr. Dickens intends to instruct and charm the public—his public—which is the whole empire, by giving a series of three readings at St. Martin's Hal, commenoing with his "Cricket on the Hearth," on Thursday evening, the 29th inst. That there was some such conspiracy, seems, prima facie, almost certain from the proceedings at a Court-martial held on the Lieutenant in an other case. The facts which gave rise to it we give in his own words 2 " Five officers of the regiment (whom I now re frain from naming, the grave having closed over nearly all of them), conspired to ruin and stigma tise me. , I was provoke I to send them a challenge. They referred my challenge to the commanding officer, who openly encouraged their schemes on account of my having preferred very serious charges against him for a breach of the regulations of the service in several instances. My friend was compelled at his peril to withdraw the challenge. Being then ordered to join and do duty with the 48th Regiment, and feeling that I could not do so without first clearing myself of the dishonourable imputations unjustly cast upon my character by these officers, I put loaded pistols in my pocket, and went to the house of the principal (my junior officer), for the purpose of obtaining, if possible, his signature to a paper which I took with m exonerating me from those imputations. That officer refused to receive or peruse the paper, but ordered me to leave his house, and called upon his servants to turn me out, employing the most in sulting and opprobrious terms in English and Hin dustani. All this did not provoke me to produce my pistols, or commit any acs of violence. I calmly persisted in demanding his signature to the to to q sh u o it ot th m e h e ou w s i e h wi a tho p t i t s t to it l: m nful i s t te t ed e d d on the trial, he had kept d several days expecting a hostile loaded several days eipocling a hostile visit from me. He admitted, too, that, up to that which, tp H v p riamseipi primed r e t ; h rlo e a n aa n hh n nae d d a d t l atonre admitted not touched, assaulted, threatened, or that I ha I not produced my pistols, and that he provoked to qiit hi sh housei m b y w w i o t V o u o t r t hgesturefabeyond requiredref sing ; did not know that I was armed and able to dsLnd myself. His pistol missed firs. Some irregular firing then took place, but there was no blood shed. He made two more attempts to shoot me, once kis pistol again missed fire, ani once it flashed in the pan . I fired two sho t s at random, as the direction they took proved. It was proved on the trial that I was an expert marksman, and yet, at six paces (only half the usual duelling distance) I did not kill or even wound the man whom I was falsely charged with firing at with intent to murder him. He acknowledged, too, that he knew that the only lawful mode of protecting himself when he appre hended his life to be endangered, was to exhibit articles of peace against me, but he preferred to taking the law into his own hands, and was at least as criminal as I, if not more so. He was not, how ever, brought to trial in consequence of my supposed conviction. He continued in the service and rose to the rank of Colonel : but although he thus escaped the hands of human justice, and. did not scruple to perjure himself on the trial in order to insure my conviction, divine vengeance overtook him at last. He was murdered by some mutinous sepoys in June last, at Begum Gunge, within a short distance of Sultanpore, in Oude, the very spot where, eight and twenty years before, he at tempted to murder me." The Court-martial on this case is proved by documentary evidence to ne h trh a es v ke tecnoroobe knowing l e i ynt n ,hg e s a infamouslyo nwwdhriet conducted, that its proceedings were declared null ea ehp enemyro:fls present and yoid ab initio. The Deputy - Judge-Advocate t correctly represented personal any votes one n et h e whether r declared, and s v f w wo o i al ttdgehehodui wass or not, that it was against the prisoner. The same secresy was practised in regard to the sentence ; and the possibility —nay, even the probability of foul play was so strong, that the whole transaction was de clared, as we have stated, null and void. Never theless, Lieut. TORCKLER, though he could not in this way be " hanged," was put out of the way as if a guilty person, and Lord DALHOUSIE refused to publish his opinion of the nullity of the proceed ings. He also refused the Lieu'enant a copy of the proceedings of the court-martial, refused a court-martial to investigate his charges against the Deputy-Judge-Advocate, and refused to restore him to his commission, which had been suspended by his order, although the proceedings against bin had been by himself declared null and void. The pretext was that the whole case should be " laid before the King," but this promise was never fulfilled. But for the injustice donehim, Lieu t . TORCKT.XR [night now have held the rank of a reg imental CAonel : he only enjoys an annuity of 70/. a y ear after t en years' service in India ! The proofs of the corrupt proceedings at the court•martial are cowl:Plate ; the evidence that there was no ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF MALAKHOPE. The arrival yesterday at Dover of Marshal Pelis airy, Duke of Malakboff, the newly accredited Ambas sador from his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Fiance to the Court of St James's, was distinguished with every mark of respect and attention which it was possible to evince. His Excellency arrived shortly after one o'clock, in the French Government steamer, Le Corse, Captain Garnault—Capt• Luke Smithett, of the Royal and Impe rial Mail Packet Mail Company, having been specially engaged to pilot the vessel across the Channel. Oa the arrival of his excellency at the Lord Warden Hotel, the Mayor, Mr. Toomas Birch, and the corpora tion prevented an address of congratulation. Tne Duke of Malakboff baying received from the mayor the address, replied in French to the following effect : " Nlr. Mayor and Gentlemen —I thank you with every feeling of gratification for the reception you have accorded me upon my arrival here. Nothing could have afforded me greater pleasure than my appointment as ambassador to this country, and it will always be my earnest desire to preserve those cordial relations which have hitherto existed between France an d England. If this pleasure could have been enhanced, it has been by my meeting on landing here several, in whom I recog nise as old comrades." After the presentation, his Excellency and suite im mediately proceeded to the railway station, where a large number of persons assembled to witness his depar ture. The train left for London amid lend cheers. The Marshal arrived in town at five o'clock, and im med'a.ely proceeded to the residence of the French Em lassy—Albert gate House. The Queen honoured the performance of her Maje:ty's Theatre with her presence in the evening. The Royal suite consisted of Lady Churchill, Hon. Lucy Ktrr, Hon. Mary Bulteel, the Earl of Sheffield, Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood, and Captain Du Plat. Her Imperial Highness the Priocesi of Salerno and the Duchess d'Autnale visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, at her residence, Cla rence-house, St. James's. Lady Ernest Bruce has returned to town, from Brigh ton, for the season. Su. E award and Lady Caroline Kerrison have returned to town, from Broom Hall, Norf•)lk, for the season. L I Abercromby has arrived in London, from a tour in the Bat. The name of Lord Chewton was substituted for tl at of Lord Clinton in a paragraph announcing the arrival of the latter nobleman at the Pavilion Hotel, Folke stone, in our impressionof yesterday. The Duke of Rutland arrived atlis residence a few dap since, from Belvoir Castle. The Earl and Countegs Stanhope have returned to town, from Chevening Park, Kent, for the season. Highne.s the Prince Soltykoff has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, St. James's, from S. Petersburg. His Excellency the Duke de Terceira, accompanied by the Marquis de L' zi and suite, has left Claridge's Hotel for Berlin. The Earl and Countess Talbot have returned to town The noble earl has taken a residence in Lowndes-stree for the season. The Countess Dowager of Meath has lift Claridge's Hotel, for Sennicott's, near Chichester. In the Insolvent Debtors Court, yesterday, Thomas George Buckland obtained bis discharge. Viscount and Viscountess Corcberoaere are at Lea• mingtom, and will not come to town until Wednesday next. The announcement of their arrival in Be!grave square, from Combermere Abbey, was made in error yesterday. - LETTERS, &C , FOR VANCOUVER'S ISLAND.—Ae oppor tunities for transmitting letters from this country to Vancouver's Island by private ships, direct, are found to occer very rarely, in future all letters and newspapers fit that colony (unless otherwise specially addressed) will be forwarded in the mails via the United States to San Francisco, California, between which place and Vancouver's Island the communication is understood to be frequent. The combined British and United States postage on letters aad newspapers thus for warded will be :—Letters not exceeding half an ounce, Is. 2d.; above half an ounce, and not exceeding an ounce, 2.. 5d.; above one ounce, and not exceeding two ounces, 4s, 10d.; newspapers, 2d. each. The postage upon both letters and newspapers must in all cases be paid in advance. MAILS FOR SWEDEN —lnformation having been re ceived that the steam-ship London, under contract with the Swedish Government for the conveyance of mails between London and Gottenburg, is about t ) recom mence running, - mails will to made up at the General Past-office for transmission by this vessel, on each ccca sion of her departure fit L mdon. Letters forwarded by this route will be liable to the tame rate of postage as letters sent sic Ostend, viz.:-1:. 2J. for a letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight.; 2e. 4-i for a letter above halm ounce, tut not exceeding an ounce; and co on, according to the scale for charging inland letters. This postage may be paid in advance, or the letters may be sent unpaid, at the option cf the senders. Upon newspapers a rate of one p enn y must be paid in ad vance. Tbe Landon is appointed to sa 1 every three weeks, the first departure being on the morning of Sue day, the 18th inst., and letters in London up to the usual hour on the Saturday previous will be in time. All letters and newspapers addres-ed to Gottenburg and Uddesvalla, which are in the l'ost-oflice at the time of making up the mail, and are not addressed to be sent otherwise, will be forwarded by the London ; but letters and newspapers for other parts of Sweden, intended to be forwarded by this vessel, must be specially addressed, "Per steamer London." LATEST NEWS. FRANCE. • PARIS, THURSDAY. The Emperor left Paris yesterday afternoon for his estate of Mothe-Beuvron, in the S,logne, and arrived there at five o'clock, having been every where received along his journey with the loudest acclamations. his Majesty is accompanied by M. Fould, Minister of State ; General Baron de Be ville, aide de-camp • Colonel the Marquis de Tou longeon, orderly officer; and M. Vicaire, director general of the Domains and Forests of the Crown. The Moniteur publishes a return of the re venue for the first quarter of 1858, as com pared with the corresponding period of 1857, and which shows an increase in favour of the for mer period of 4,713,000 fr. As compared with the corresponding quarter of 1856, the augmentation amounts to 18,915,000 fr. The items of revenue which show an improvement during the first three months of the present year, as compared with those of 1857, are registration dues, 1,321,000 fr. ; cus toms duties on French colonial sugar, 1,022,000 fr.; export duties, 288,000 fr. ; duty on potable liquors, 2,348,000 fr. ; beetroot sugar, 4,676,000 fr. ; sale of tobacco, ,215,000 fr. ; Post-office, 65,000 fr. The heads which show a falling off are : Cus toms, 3,616,000 fr. ; sundry duties and receipts, 674,0001 r.; stamp duty, 579,000 fr.; corn, 351,000 fr.; foreign sugar, 454,0001 r.; sundry customs duties, 131,0001 r.; duty on salt, 71,000 fr; gun powder, 301,000 fr. If the suppression of the second decime on the registration dues, which ceased to be received in 1858, were taken into account, the in crease on the first quarter of the present year as compared with 1857 would be 9,687,000 fr.; and with 1856, 23,685,000 fr. The London journals have committed an error in announcing the arrival of Lord Cowley in the English capital. His lordship has not left Paris, but intends, we understand, proceeding to England on Monday or Tuesday next, with the intention of making a very short stay there. The following telegraphic despatch has been re ceived here : "Christiana, April 14.—A fire last night de. stroyed three-quarters of the town. The Bank was burned down, but all the papers were saved. The damage is estimated at nine or ten million francs. BOURSE, April 15.—The following were the closing quotations : 4A per Cents 93 20 Do. end month — 3 per Cent. ..... Do. end month 69 45 Bank Shares ...." Credit Mobilier 730 Do. Account 726 25 Credit Foncier Belgian 4z Piedmontese (5) 9O Roman Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt --Fon CAM. RAILWAY S.• Orleans Northern . . Midi Westerns 622k Strasburg Grand Central Sardinian Austrian New Ditto 775 Lyon and Mediteran. 810 New Ditto 7BO Geneva PRUSSIA. In the Second Chamber of Prussia on the 12th, on the vote of the budget of the police of Berlin, M. de Patow, ex-Minister of Public Works, stated that seat dissatisfaction existed in Berlin, in con sequence of the police department of the city having openly taken under its protection a certain adver tising sheet in preference to a rival journal, and had not only made constables collect advertisements for it, but had threatened several keepers of coffee and public-houses with the withdrawal of their licences if they did not advertise in it. He said that the sheet thus patronised by the police was a new one, and that their reason for encouraging it was that its proprietor had under taken to pay the administration 10,000 thals. an nually, and even 12,000 or 15,000 thaLs., according to its circulation ; whereas the rival sheet had only given 1,000 thalers to the police and its owner was besides a noted and very active member of the con servative party. He concluded by denouncing the police for such interference. The Government commissioner replied that there was exagger ation in M. de Patow's complaint. An animated debate ensued on the matter, and eventually the Chamber adopted an order of the day, in which it declared that " the affair of the adver tising journal ought to be regulated in a different manner." A. committee of the Chamber of Nobles of Prussia has recommended the adoption of the proposition of M. d'l zenplitz, that the Government should be requested to use its influence in the Diet to obtain the suppression of gambling-houses in Germany. RUSSIA. A St. Petersburg letter states that the nobles of the governments of Orel and Twer had, at their own request, been allowed to form committees for the emancipation of the serfs. The nobles of Orel who signed the request were 970 in number. Another letter from St. Petersburg 'of the 6th says :—" The representative of the Porte had a conference yesterday with the Minister of Foreign Aff iirs, and entered into some long explanations on the affairs of Bosnia, which had be , n applied for by the Russian Government. According to what has transpired, the declaration made by the Turkish Minister was not very satisfactory to the Russian Cabinet, as many of the most important points were passed over in silence. Prince Gortechakoff having observed that the Government of the Emperor would be obliged to insist that the abuses complained of by the Christians should be remedied, in conformity with the engagements en tered into by Turkey in the treaty of Paris, the representative of the Porte replied that his Govern ment had already explaiued itself on that point, and that be should add nothing to the declaration already made. The Turkish Minister attached particular importance to the nomination of the new governor of Bosnia, Kiamil Paella, who is repro s3nted as the real interpreter of the intentions of the Sultan with regard to his subjects." SARDINIA. In the Chamber of Deputies of Sardinia on Mon day, M. Crotti requested the president of the coun cil to fix a day for a question he wished to put re specting a strange pamphlet published in England by Mazzini, ou the policy of the Piedmontese Cabinet. Count C.ivour, in reply, expressed his astonishment that a deputy should want to question the Cabinet about a pamphlet by Mazzini, and declared that ha would not reply to any such question. "I am ready," h•• added, to give the fullest explanations as to the Conspiracy Bill, and any question M. Crotti may wish to put in his own name on that matter shall receive an answer. But if he intends to call a•tention to the attacks against the Sardinian government M. Mazzini has thought proper to make, my only reply will be a con temptuous silence." This della' ation was received with loud and prolonged cheering from the chamber and the galleries. M. Crotti declared himself per fectly satisfied, only remarking that as the British press enjoyed a wide circulation, he had thought it might be expedient to enter into some explanations on the policy of the government. The deputies of the Piedmontese Chamber who have inscribed their names for the debate on the bill concerning the press are :—for the bill, MM. Mamiani ' Bulfa, Ratazzi, P esea t ore , an d M arco ; against, MM. Solaro della Margherita, Pareto, Brofferio, Cotta, Ramusino, Bertazzi, Farina, and Casalis ; against certain articles, MM. Boggio, Parini, Alfieri, Costa di Beauregard, Teccbio, Calori, Michelini, Robecchi, Correnti, and Gari baldi. NAPLES. The following is the rescript for the liberation of Park : " RESCRIPT. "His Majesty our Lot d having been informed that the English engineer, Mr. Park, is in the Eng lish hospital in the capital, and that up to this time no sure and certain opinion has been given regard ing his health, the medical men having given cer tificates of his general good state ; having been informed, too, that the Grand Special Court of Salerno has deliberated that the case in which park is implicated should be continued for all the others whose cause was admitted independently of the said engineer, who for the present has been nated' from the proces now iu course, which delibera tion is already put in execution ; his Majesty wish ing to give a new proof of deference towards A subject of her Britannic Majesty, has deigned to permit that Park should return to England. When in his own country, in case of need, he may not be without that care and assistance of his friends which the actual condition of his health may render necessary. In the Royal name I communi cate to you this Sovereign determination f or y o ur u3e and guidance, and for its necessary accomplish ment. " PIONATI. Naples April 8." A letter from Vienna,. in the Cologne Gazette, says ; _—" Russian troops have of late advanCed to wards the Pulish frontier. They are replaced as they advance by others from the interior. The first corps d'arinee, 60,000 strong, has marched into the goverrinaen fs of L u bli n an d Randone, and been replaced in the garrisons which it had occu pied by the second corps, if equal strength, which had advanced from Lithunania. Although these movements of troops excite attention, the Austrian Government has not thought proper t 9 a4sk for any explanations on the subject from the Russian cal Anet," th th sii St( Tu 4p It, It, I X, li L - L It