The Sun. — London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

make a ni North), YOU GOING TO THE HIGHLANDS. frivolled for Scenery, famous in Story and Song? If so, ote to call at (when in the Capital of the beautiful MACDOUGALL'S WAREHOUSE, HIGII-STREET, INVERNESS, Where only can the varied products of the Highlands, natural and industrial, be seen, In his extensive rooms 3 IACDOUGALL has ',gathered together all tho best productions of the Highland looms in Tweeds, Tartans, Linseys, Plaids, Shawls, Dresses, the favourite Highland Cloak, flora Macdonald ditto, &e. &c., with the beet Native Jewellery 4Cairugorrns, Pearls, &c.), the pretty products of the Skye, Lewis, and Gairloch looms and knitting needles, the home-made undyed plaids of Ord, Sutherland. and A.voch, the Snuff Boxes, Coups, Bickers of the Culloden carvers, &c. Side by side with this he has placed all the necessary Clothing of every desctiption for Deer Stalking, Grouse Shooting, and for Tourists, &c. Visitors to his rooms can at once compare the varied products of the three kingdoms D. MACDOUGALL, Inverness. ITER • MAJESTY'S THEATRE. REDUCED PRICES.—FINAL PER,FORMA NCEF. This Evening (Tuesday), August 3, IL TROVATORE (last time). Last appearance of Madlle. Titiens. Wednesday, August 4 (la.st night but three), DON PASQUALE ; and Last Scene of LA CENERENTOLI, comprising the celebrated Finale, Non piu meats," by Madame Alboni. Thursday, August 5 (last night but two), LA. ZINGARA. Friday, August 6 (last night but one), LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIMENTO, and other Entertainments. Saturday, August 7, (the last night), LA TRATIATA. (in each occasion a Divertissement, in which Madlle. Boschetti will appu'". Applic..tions to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre. TIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. - LAST WEEK.—REDUCED PRICES.—IL TROVATORE. Madlie. Titiens' Last Appearance. THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), August 3, last time, IL TROVATORE. Leonora, Madlle. Titiens (her last appearance) ; Aztleena, Madame A lboni ; Manrico, Signor Gingliri ; h'errando, Signor Vialctti ; and 11 Conte di Luna, Signor Aldighicri. And a Divertissement, in which Mesdiles. Boschetti, Annetta, Rosa, and M. Caron will appear. The Opera commences at 8 o'clock. Pit stalls : Its. 6d.; boxes : grand tier, £3 33.; one pair, £2 12s. 6d.; pit tier, £2 25.; two pair, £1 55.; three pair, 155.; gallery boxes, 10 , . 6d.; pit, 3s. 6d.; gallery stalls, 3s. 6d.; gallery, 25.; may be had at the Box-office at the Theatre. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.—NEW TIIEATBE. The nobility, gentry, subscribers, and the public are respect fti!ly informed that the Season will terminate on Saturday week.. There will he no Extra Nights. Third Night of DON GIOVANNI. THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), Aug. 3 (being most positively the last night but six of the season) will be performed Mozart's Opera, DON GIOVANNI with the following powerful cast :—Donna Anna, Madame Grisi ; Zerliva, Madame Bosio ; Elvira, Marai ; Don Giovanni, Signor M:trio (his third appearance in that character); Leporello, Signor notic , nii (his third :wee:trance in that character); Masetto, Signor i'olonini; Il Commendatore, Signor Taglidlico ; Don Ottavio, Signor Tatuberlik. Conductor, Mfr. Costa. Thu Minuet in the First -la will be danced by Madlle, Gina and M. Desplaces. The*Operii will commence at half-pmt S. Pit tickets, ma, lid.; amphitheatre stalls, 103. Gd., 7a., and as.; amphitheatre, 2s. Gd. Second tier boxes, £e2 123. tid. ROYAL PRINcESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THI3 EVENING will bo - presented Shakspere's Play of THE MEE.CLIANT OF VENICE: Shylock, Mr. C. Kean; Portia, Mrs. C. Kcan. Preceded by the Farce of DYING FOR LOVE. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. George Webster. THIS EVENING, THE LADY OF THE CAMELIAS : Violette, Mrs, Charles Young. After which, THE LADY AND GENTLEMAN, &e. Mrs. Wilkins. To be followed by the THE LA.NCASHIP.E WITCHES MISS Laura Honey. With a Grand Ballet of Broomsticks. ROYAL OLYI.II'IO THEATRE. tcr3ces, MessrA. F. Robson and W. S. Emden THIS EVENING, LEADING STRINGS : characters by Messrs. G. Vining and Addison, Mesdames Stirling, Wyndham, and Herbert. Atter which, BOOTS AT THE SWAN : Jacob Earwig, Mr. F. Robson. To coutlada with A DOUBTFUL VICTORY : characters by Messrs. G. Vining and W. Gordon, Mesdames Stirling and Miss Herbert. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborow.h. TIII3 EVENING, ASMODEUS ; or, The Little Devil's Share: sup ported by Messrs. Belford, Ray, I'oynter, W. 11. Swanborough, Mesdames Marie Wilton, M. Ternan, and Leigh Murray. After which, GOOD FOR NOTHING: by 3lessrs. Belford, Charles Young, and Miss Marie Wilton. Followed by a Dance of Alums. To con clude with LOVE IN ALL CORNERS: Messrs. Belford, C. Young, Mesdames Leigh Murray and M. Ternan. EIGH-WAIEB AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS TAY, Morning l5 min. past 7 j Afternoon 41 min. past 7 A serious fire broke out last night on a portion o f the premises in which The Stuz has for a series of years been printed and published. The alarm was given a little before 9 o'clock, and the police, under Mr. Superintendent Durkin, of the F division, and Mr. Superintendent Walker, of the A division, were speedily in attendance, and displayed the utmost zeal and efficiency in averting the dangerous conse quences that might otherwise have ensued. The Fire Brigade also displayed the energetic activity for which they have attained so high and well merited ,a reputation. To all we tender our 'sincere and earnest thanks for the exertions that prevented the calamity from being even more serious than it was, and averted the loss of life amongst either the in mates of the house or the spectators of the confia- gration. The fire broke out in the back house, and it is apprehended was not altogether accidental. We shall not, however, at present, enter into any parti culars. Our friends and the public will be glad to hear that we are fully assured. There will be but little pecuniary loss to ourselves ; but there must of course be some to several of our employes, who could not be assured against their losses. The Morning Post has predicted that, phoenix like, we shall arise from our ashes. We shall do so —thanks to our kind contemporary. Before even the flames that were destroying the property had been extinguished, we had received offers—for which we shall ever feel grateful—placing all th e resources of that establishment at our disposal for the few days requisite for the more easy continuance of the regular organisation of our own establishment. It was a truly noble act, and one which shall never depart from our memory. In consequence thereof we shall be enabled to publish our impression of this evening at the usual hour, and we trust without any derogation from the usual quality. For that we are indebted to Messrs. CROMPTON and BORTHWICK, and we believe that we may safely promise that no deterioration shall be perceptible in the columns Of The Sun. The effort now made to prevent the loss of a single number will show that we fully re cognise our responsibilities as a public journalist. We regret to say that Mr. YOUNG, the proprietor, sustained a serious injury during the time that the tire was raging. It is, however, hoped that in a few days he may be completely restored to health. To every person wh o gave such valuable assist ancein subduing the flames, and enabling us to bear t he injury with the least possible inconvenience, we tender our heartfelt thanks.' To the Police and Fire Brigade—but beyond and before all, to the Morning Post, through whose kindness our friends will sus tain no injury ; for there will not be a single num ha of The Sun missing from their files. Conspicuous among the numerous reforms for which we do confidently and hopefully look to her Majesty's- Government, is one for which, in these our columns, we have often claimed—a modification, we mean, in theannual distribution of the Civil List pensions ! Our impression of Thursday last gave to the public the latest of these yearly distributions, for which the DERBT Cabinet cannot be held in any way responsible. There are fifteen distinct channels, among which the 1,2001. are apportioned —one pen sion dating from the 14th and another from the 23d of last November, the remaining thirteen in the catalogue being all of them apportioned to the reci pients on Monday the 15th of February. Remem bering that it was not until the grey of the morning of the memorable Saturday in that same week —the fatal 20th of February—that Lord PALMERSTON'S Administration was abruptly and unexpectedly placed in a minority so unmistakeable as to necessi tate their instant resignation collectively, itstands to reason that for this latest distribution of the Civil List Pensions the ex-Ministers are wholly and solely accountable. The pensions granted under this head, it should be borne in mind, are authorised to be given to the yearly total amount of justl, 2001., between the 20th of June of one year, and the 20th of June fol lowing—this pursuant to the enactment Ist Vict. C. 2. According to the terms of that enactment, these pensions, to the tune of 1,2001. annually, arc placed at the disposal of the Prime Minister for the encouragement of those who have in any way dis tinguished themselves in art, science, or literature. To the fund thus set apart by the State from par to year—the widows and orpha ns of eminent but u ,rtunate authors, artists, and scientific professors are taught to look for aid in their direst need. Nay, during their own lifetime, supposing them to be themselves in any necessitous plight, these authors, artists, and scientific professors may reasonably hope to secure the timely and beneficent interposition in their favour of the resources to this very end placed at the disposal of the Chief of the Goverment. Had the humane act by which this generous dis tribution is authorised been earlier in existence—the author of HuntnaAs need not have died in penury —OTWAY might not have been strangled by the crust devoured too hastily in the agonies of starva tion—BoycE would not have been left to shiver in his blanket—SAVAGE, perhaps, might not have ex pired prematurely in the debtors' prison at Bristol— perchance young CHATTERTON himself might have been snatched from the despair driving him to suicide in his Brooke-street r..i . ret before attaining the mature age of eighteen. It is a narrow sum enough at the best, this annual amount of 1,2001., yet, :'7 - 1 the name of common sense and of common humanity, let us " take it at the best ;" let us, in plain words, make the best of it, as it is. Setting aside the immediate hope of making the annual sum larger, let us take it for as much as it is, namely, just one thousand two hundred pounds sterling. But, while doing so, let us be sure that it is distributable year after year in the way the act intends it to be distributed —or, in other words, for the better encouragement of the deserving culti vators of art, science, and literature. Now what we have long complained of in regard to these list pensions— the very evil in their regard to which we would first earnestly direct the attention of her Majesty's pre sent Government is this—that the civil list pensions year after year are not so distributed Look at the latest catalogue, the one recording the distribution of these twelve hundred pounds between the 20t1i June, 1857, and the 20th June, 1858—look at this example of the system by way of Illustration. There is the widow of a great wit— ,the widow of DOUGLAS JERROLD—tO whom a hun dred a-year has been awarded. There is the w;dow of the late Rev. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, who is granted 50/. per annum. There is the daughter of JAMES Huou, the Ettrick Shepherd, who--now twenty-three long yelr3 after her gifted father's death—is allowed henceforth to count upon receiving the wretched pittance of 401, a-year. There are a few other literary pensions, of no particular note. specified upon the catalogue —the most interesting among these being 401. a year to EDWARD CAPERN, the poetical postman of Devonshire. The largest amount of all fur purely literary Inn - poses in this way being the one solitary item of 1001. per annum (not quite 2/. a:week), awarded to Mrs. MARY JER ROLD as before mentioned. But—in direct contrast to all this—we find in this brief catalogue the record of two pensions,which alone of themselves swallow up at once a whole third of the entire amount set apart yearly for the encourage ment (in this way) of art, science, and literature. One whole third of the amount, 1,200/., absorbed in two pensions, not in any way tending to the en couragement of art, of science, or of literature. In effect-4001. set aside upon the Civil List Pensions for the solace of ladies who are the widows of gene ral officers. There is the pension of 2001., awarded to "Dame ISABELLA BARNARD, in consideration of the services (the military services) of her husband, the late Major-General BARNARD, K.C.8., who died in command of the army at the siege of Delhi." There is the other pension of 2001. a-year to the Hon. ELIZABETH A RABELLA ANSON, in considera tion of the services (the military services) of her husband, the late General the lion. GEORGE ANSON, Commander-in-Chief of her MAJESTY'S Forces in India, who died of disease when i 7 active service." The former of these two pensions being left in trust to Major-General CRAWFORD and L. ANTRO BUS, Esq., the latter in trust to Lord FORESTER and the Earl of CIIESTERI Now, we do not object for one single instant to the awarding of pensions of 2001. a-year each to the relicts of those brave soldiers dying nobly in the service of their country. But we do insist upon the fact of the extraordinary injustice of subtracting these 4001. from the already I I insufficiently narrow sum of 1,2001. per annum set apart for the very different purposes of the Civil List pensions —particularly when we find upon the same catalogue inscribed the names of poor Miss JESSIE HOGG, daughter of that true poet and true-hearted man, the Ettrick Shepherd—with the wretched little item of 401. a year set down after her name, as we have said, just three and twenty long years since her remarkable father breathed his last. 'We say that these things arc monstrous and cruel anomalies, and we most ardently hope that Her MAJESTY'S new Prime Minister, Lord DERBY, Will look to it generously now betimes, not only with a view to avoid its repetition for the year 1858-1859, but to the end that that repetition be rendered a matter of impossibility hereafter. The Prorogation of Parliament yesterday, by the Royal Commissioners, was rendered remarkable among events of the like kind, by the delivery of a Speech from the Throne, in the name and on the part of the Sovereign, remarkable for inasmuch as it closed a stormy and interrupted session by the commemoration of so many ministerial achieve ments. Foremost among them, of course, the elaborated measure re-organising the whole machi nery of our Anglo-Indian Government. In spite of so many obstacles to its accomplishment—in spite of so many torturing postponements that at least has been so far satisfactorily accom plished. And following rapidly in the wake of that grand innovation, how many extraordinary and hitherto almost unhoped-for changes! The abroga gation of the property qualification—literally oue of the points of the Charter ! The admission, it is true as by a wide door, and one, moreover, opened by an im promptu compromise—the ultimate admission, after such manifold ineffectual efforts to the same end, of a Hebrew M.P. to a seat in our Christian Legislature. The guarantee of some early change for the better in regard to the main-drainage of the metropolis, —though the further delay of the ultimately inevitable settlement of that long-vexed question had become, for that matter it must be admitted, almost impos sible in a Parliament, the members of which have been nearly suffocated' by the poisonous atmo sphere reeking about them from what is at once the cause and effect of our long-cherished system of Dirty Cleanliness. Together with these immediate or prospective modifications in our complex maze of political, social, and sanitary arrange ments—there has been one great and succes ful effort at construction, attributable, as it happens, to the very Minister who was, but yesterday, con spicuous amongst his colleagues as the latest ac cession to the Cabinet of Lord DERBY. Sir c E a D re W e A r ß b n y lL er Y e T a T t O in N a h a asLin lo a n u y gurated his administrative w to perpetuate the remembhraicnhce will o f of h i s t s el fColonia lserve Secretaryship. The opportune discovery ofgold upon the banks of Frazer's river has been sagaciously seized by her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies as a pretext for the introduction of what is popularly known as the small-end-of-the-wedge— inserting that magical "power" precisely at the right point, at the bony moment, and under the most propitious circumstances : and forthwith driving it home with dexterous rapidity. No wonder the Royal Speech makes particular mention of an enactment imparting unexpected lustre to the close of an otherwise fruitful and notable session of the Imperial Legislature ! Our most sanguine hopes in regard to the auspicious in fluences of this brilliant measure receive distinct and explicit encouragement from the paragraph in which Her MAJESTY, through her Commissioners, makes allusion to its accomplishment. After observing that " The act to which ller MAJESTY has assented for the establishment of the colony of British Columbia was urgently required, in consequence of the recent discoveries of gold in that district," the Royal Speech goes on to say, pointedly and deliberately— "But Her MAJEST Y hopes that this new colony on the Pacific may be but one step in the career of steady progress by which her MAJE3TY'S dominions in North America may be ultimately peopled in an unbroken chain from the Atlantic to thePascuifih subjects , e b t y s aof theloyal Britishandin dustrieus population of Crown." That is the auguryut l t (n andeieredvi hap p y cariotis augurylybythe lips of the SOVERSIC;N, the golden for the ulterior, and, surely after not very re mote realization of our long-cherished hopes in re gard to the gigantic territory of our North American dominions. Long years ago we insisted strenuously in these columns upon the advisability, upon the absolute necessity, sooner or later, of constructing a grand trunk railway between the seaboard of North America on the Pacific and on the Atlantic—chang ing a howling wilderness into a populous conenent, peopled over hundreds upon hundreds of square miles with a race endowed with the blessings of civilisation. If for nothing else, for that one augury, the Speech from the Throne on the prorogation of Par liament has this year been remarkable. If for nothing else, by reason of this one enactment the late session would have been one entitled to especial remembrance. It is but a single measure, how beit, among all the numerous measures of advancement and improvement, passed through the Imperial Legislature. It is but one sentence— but that the most interesting sentence—in a Royal Speech replete, from first to last, with allusions and records of auspicious significance. 4-;,.6' '4 , , i , -....ft,, ", ~..., • ' A 1' c4f" tiTTW' , 2 '.. . .::: '• '..?* 1,111 - . 4 - ,F406..., 7, 7:\ Vi,.,'2: - ~.` ' : 94 , - ~, - „'"•1111116 .7 ' ; ; .4..,,i'4",-.. ,Agi: ' , .-Are` ' .._.*' '.4 ;_...::',* • , ,".., - i; t:7•lnt,,fr;:-.,,,1zzet0), ~,;.,),,,, ,Qmi at, ‘,, \,., ifiv.,,,,qt x u ',, ZV ' , 4 , ,, '• • ----'''''. . ' , _ THE SUN. TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1858. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3, 1858 CANADA. TORONTO, JULY 15. Last night the Opposition took the bold step of moving " That an address be presented to his Ex cellency the Governor-General, setting forth that his Excellency's advisers in the Provincial Cabinet do not possess the confidence of the representatives of the people of Upper Canada in this house, and respectfully entreating his Excellency that, until he shall be enabled to summon to his council men on whose judgment and political principles the Upper Canadian members of the house can rely, his Ex cellency will be graciously pleased to withhold the exercise of his undoubted prerogative iu all appoint ments to places of trust and emolument, which are now vacant or may become vacant in Upper Canada, until such time as he can receive advice concerning the same from members of an Administration which shall faithfully represent the well understood wishes and interests of both Eeetions of the province." The Opposition arc somewhat unfor tunate in bringing forward their want of confidence motion at the present time, for within a very finv weeks two of this party have been lost to them—one by death, and the other having just been unseated by a committee of the house. The Government can therefore hardly entertain fears of the result, even as regards the Upper Canada section of the house, as, at the best (except in the instance of a late vote on the "Representation by Population" question, when only 10 Upper Canadian representatives were found voting against the principle, and upwards of 40 in its favour, including a Cabinet Minister, Mr. Sidney Smith, Postmaster-General), the Opposition majo rity in Upper Canada has seldom reached beyond some five or six. The loss of two of their partisans upon whose votes they could with confi dence rely, and the probability that one or two others, although generally opposed to the Govern ment, do not at present desire to see this country left without an Administration, must occasion to the Opposition great chagrin that the motion was not before brought forward, and make them exceedingly uneasy as to the fate of their grand and, perhaps, last effort to storm the Government benches. On the other hand, should the Government, indepen dently of their large Lower Canada majority, be sus tained by a majority of even one in the Upper Canada section of the house, the circumstance will have a most favourable effect as regards the Administration, and from that time it may even be anticipated with rea son that additions to their ranks will continue to be made, which will give them an undeniable majority in both sections of the province. It is quite clear the Government have no apprehensions with regard to the vote ; indeed the Attorney-General was anxious that a vote should have been taken last evening, and certainly delay can only tend to assist the object which the opponents of the Government have at heart. No doubt a great many members feel very much disposed to quarrel with the present condition of public affairs, but they do not pretend to hold the Government respon sible for them, neither do they believe that, were the Cabinet broken up to-morrow, a more capable one could be manufactured out of the materials afforded by the present house. Changes have been of late frequently alluded to, and by more than one of the Government papers; but it is generally be lieved that the present Cabinet will, unless defeatee, remain intact, at least until the close of the present long session. The names of Mr. Galt and Major Campbell have been mentioned in connection with the rumoured changes in the Government, to replace the present Inspector-General, Mr. Cayley, and the Hon. Mr. Cartier, who, it is said, is about to be pro moted to the bench of Lower Canada. In the latter case the present able and hardworking Solicitor- General, Rose, will probably become Attorney-Gene ral. As to Major Campbell, who is a retired hussar officer and formerly Civil Secretary, he has a large stake in the country, being married to a French Canadian lady, and being also the fortunate posses- ' sor of a splendid estate in the neighbourhood of Montreal, in the management of which he has shown great skill as an agriculturist, and set an adm!rable example to all around. The gallant major, who is exceedingly popular, has abilities of a high order, and he would bring a considerable accession of strength to the Government. I can hardly credit the rumour of Mr. Cayley's retirement, that gentleman having, against enormous difficulties and a fierce opposition, at length succeeded in getting this scheme for the amelioration ofthe present financial condition of the province adopted by Par liament. The resolutions embodying the new tariff were nearly all carried without much discussion ; but on one or two items parties immediately inte rested in the proposed alterations uttered their com plaints. The increased tax upon cordage, of course, found little favour in the eyes of members connected with the shipping interest, but the Inspector-General explained that it was done with a view to encourage home manufactures. Cordage for ship-building purposes he intimated was to be free, but for all other purposes there would be a duty of five per cent. The item respecting printing paper—as might be supposed, in an assembly which counts a dozen proprietors or editors of newspapers, amongst its members occasioned a lively discussion ; but Mr. Cayley told the house that the duty of 15 per cent., which he proposed to put upon the article, was intended purely as a measure of protection to the several paper manufactories throughout the pro vince. No doubt this branch of industry is well adapted to both Upper and Lower Canada ; but par ticularly the latter, where there is such splendid water power and every requisite for manufacturing enterprise, and where also the raw material in the shape of the wild flower, popularly known as the "everlasting," is found in great abundance. Paper made of this material is very good and strong, and I believe several of our provincial journals are printed upon it. It has been ascertained that there are 13 paper mills in Canada, employing 150 men and 400 women. We hope shortly to hear news of the reception of the Canadian regiment in England, which, no doubt, will:be worthy of the oc cas i on . The colon e l (B aron de Rottenburg) has long been known as an a bl e drill, and as possessing splendid soldierly qualities. No doubt he• will soon bring the Canadian raw material into fine shape, and then be proud to ex hibit his Royal Canadi ans t o t h e cr i t i c i sm of the English public. B y the way, it a pp ears s t range t h at the Canadian section of officers should have remained so long ungazetted. His Royal Highness the Com mander-in-Chief, it is said, has witten out to congra tulate Canadians and the officers of the 100th for their expedition in raising the men. Why, then, is it that the latter gentlemen, who have, as I myself well know, exerted themselves in a wonderful manner, have:not yet received their commissions, and are yet, while living in barracks or on shipboard, employed on military duties, obliged to live on their own means, having received up to the present moment not a farthing of pay ? This is a serious matter, perhaps, to some of the junior officers ; at any rate, it does not seem to be a just course of action on the part of the Depart ment of War. Red tape, perhaps, is still the fashion. But no. There must ba some mistake somewhere, which, no doubt, will be quickly remedied. As an indication of the feeling of the . house in question, per a tn g the t may Nor t h b e m re e g n a t r i d en t e o a thethat the bill Hudson'si Bncaoyr West Transportation Company has unanimously passed its second reading, after having been sub mitted to a scrutiny by the committee, and the third reading will take place in a day or two. The parties interested are already prepared to send up a brigade of canoes, to open the route into the great North `Vest;, and the recent gold discoveries in Fraser 's and Thompson's Rivers--fresh news of which we obtain nearly daily—will, has, in fact, stimulated the enter prise of hundreds of our population, who are pre paring to start across country for the diggings. Seve ral French Can a dians, m em b e rs of Parliament, have joined the direction of the North-West Transporta tion Company, and but one feeling exists throughout Canada in regard to the policy which should be adopted on the Hudson's Bay.question ; all monopoly must cease, if not by legal enactment or Govern mental arrangement, by the force of the popular will, which generally governs on this continent. gra ll p e h re ; we(louabrtes o a f ll it a s n s x u i e e e t e y ss a a b r o e u v t e t r h y e pr O ev ce a a le n nt T . ele- The weather is magnificent, and the crops gene rally are equally fine •but from one or two localities lately have come tidings o e f e t vi he l. reappearance li of that destructive insect the we vt every ndication in all parts o f an damage, it is hoped, will not be great. At presentthere es is abundant harvest. BELGIUM BRUSSELS, JULY 29. his Royal highness Frederick William Prince of Prussia, accompanied by M. de Manteuffel, head of the Prussian Cabinet, and a numerous suite, have just arrived at Ostend from Berlin. It is understood here that his Iloyal Highness will remain in the Belgian port until the arrival of Queen Victoria, who, after her visit to the Emperor at Cherbourg, will proceed to Ostend en route on a visit to her daughter the Princess William Frederick of Prussia. Prince Leopold and the royal family of Belgium will'also be in waiting to receive h e r Bri tannic Majesty on landing. It is not, however, quite certain whether Ostend or Antwerp i s t o b e h onoure d as the place of her Majesty's debarkation. The Bth of August is named as the day on w hi c h h er M a j esty will land upon the Belgian territory. The Courier de la Dyle says:—. " The tempest of Sunday !vet has committed fearfu ravage in the arrondissement of Nivelles. A vast quantity of corn has been blown down by the wind, and in many fields the damage occasioned is valued at from 100 to 130 francs the hectare. The oats especially, which are very ripe, have suffered considerably. It is calculated that the corn st:lks have been so shaken by the wind as to have shed one-brlf of the grain—in fact, that about one-half of the corn is completely lost." The discussion relative to the proposed fortifica tions in Antwerp still continues in the Chamber of Representatives. The following is a sutnmati of the proceedings yesterday : M. de Luesemans (Louvain) stated that he would vote for the adoption of the Government proposi tion, not as a question of confidence in the Ministry or of triumph to a pa-ticular party, but simply as a question of patriotism and of good government. He considered this project as one in accordance with the spirit of the resolutions taken by the Conferences of London to guarantee the nationality of Bel gium. Gen. Renard, the Government Commissioner, who made on Tuesday a brilliant speech in favour of the proposed fortifications, then proceeded to reply to the arguments used by M. Vervoort, the repre sentative of Antwetp, in opposition, on Wednesday. The general defended the scheme in a strategical point of view. Gen. Goblet, reporter of the central section, com bated the opinions expressed by Gen. Renard. M. Frere, the Minister of Finance, followed, and defended the projel de loi in a financial point of view. Having sketched the history of the question, the Minister reminded the Chamber that, in 18.56, the Government proposed to complete the works neces saty for the defences of the country for a sum of 5,400,000 france. The city of Antwerp then asked but one favour, that was—the power of constructing works in the fifth section. Subsequently, it de manded a partial extension of the northern side. To day it is said there must L 3 a general enlarge ment. The city of Antwerp had never made any serious propositions to the Government of partici pating in the expense of the completion of the works which it now appeared to desire so much. The offer of treating with the Goverement for the cession of the lands occupied by the fortifications was an illusory proposition. The Government never wanted to sell those lands away from the city of Antwerp. After M. Frere's speech, the debate was again adjourned to this day. By a telegraphic despatch received here from Hamburg, dated yesterday, we learn that the follow ing modifications have just taken place in the Danish Ministry : "The Ministry of the Interior for Ordinary Affrirs is suppressed, such affairs to be administered by the Minister of the Finances, M. Krieger. M. Unsgaard to be the Minister of the Interior for the kingdom of Denmark. The Councillor of Legation, Skrike, to be Director-General of the Colonies; Professor Wedel to be head of the depart ment for Foreign Afters." The official Gazette of Milan of the 24th inst. pub lishes the following letter addressed by the Emperor Francis Joseph to his brother the Governor-General of the kingdom of Venetian Lombardy : " Dear Brother Archduke Ferdinand IVlaxmilian, " By my mote proprio of the 28th Februr-y, 1857, I recommended you to inform yourself of the wants of the country in evelitl•ing which concerned intellectual and material development, rnd opportunity to take mlth f -m -ne:-9 the initiation, so that the effects of your measures, and the institutions themselves, shall be such as to give satis faction to the country. " In consequeree of the propositions you have turtle me, in order to :affil scrupulously your duty, I have hieslved upon the following : " Clrims having been put forward in reference to the input Fonder in the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, founded upon a comparison with those which exist in the German and Move States of the monarchy, I order that there shag be instituted a special commission for the purpose of thoroughly r-id conscientiously investigating whether, under the m3tu proprio of the 23d December, 1817, there had been established a jest proportion between the ' Lombardo-Venetian kingdom • and the arid States in the fixing of this impost, mak'ng allowance for the difference of the existing registered value of lands in the one country and the other. That special commission, of which the Lieutenant of Lombardy, Be oa de Burger, 11:11 take the presidentship, will be composed of three delegates, to be elected by each of the central congregations amongst their members, and of others who will be appointed by my Minister of Finances. " That commission will be authorised, with the view to the kithful execution of its task, to avail itself of the co operation of those experienced functionaries who are ac customed to the examinations of witnesses, and if it be necessary, they may apply to you for your authorisation so es to proceed with new va'uat!ons. The results of those labours, end the recommendations that may be made i n connection with them, to be subject tomy decision. " The fiscal privilege which, in virtue of the laws of the 17th July, 1805, and the 17th Apii, 1806, extends to all kinds of treasury property, will henceforward b 3 confined within certain limits. A law to be immediately promul gated will determine the mode of executing my present sovereign will. " Considering the special interests of the Fine Arts in Italy I approve of a plan by which the academies of Milan and of Venice would be converted into sections of institutes, of sciences, letters, and arts, which are established there. The organisation of time new sections of institutes, being subject to my sovereign decision, must be adapted to the organisation of the two institutes. They will have a president, an adequate number of effective members (half of whom to receive emoluments, the other half to be without emolument) together with honorary members and asso ciates of art. It will be the duty of those sections generally, as authorities in regard to the progress of the Fine Arts, to apply their mental energies so as to give a natural impulse to the revival of the old glories of Italy—they shall direct the programmes of the courses to be competed for for the prizes, and shall publish the works which may he presented for competition. They shall also give notice of the artis tical works to be executed, and they shall propose to you to allow certain rewards to the most deserving of the students. "The elementary studies should for the future take place in the royal schools; but as regards the superior instruc tion, the young students shall be allowed to finish it with the masters of their choice. The wants felt in regard to architectural education w:11 be satisfied by means of special organisation for instruction in that branch of art. " This reform of the academies will not occrsion any prejudice, for whosoever seeks to enjoy em o l umen t s can only obtain them by virtue of his definitive n om i na ti on t o a certa'n department of business. I intend that the saving effected by those new measures will he dedicated to the en couragement of works of art, illustrating the history of the empire and of the country, and conducive to the honour and the profit of many Lombardo-Venetian artists. " In order to improve the condition of the medical sciences I approve of the propositions which you have submitted to me, and I leave to you the task of regulating by special ordinance those measures conformably to the principles I have sanctioned. " I wish, in regard to the contingent of recruits assigned to the Lombardo-Venetian region for the year 1858, that the calling out of the remainder of the contingent still due shall he delayed—that there shall take place a reversion of the lists of the conscription for the current year, even those which had been already ordained. "Up to the promulgation of a new law of the conscrip tion, it shall be lawful to you to dispense from military ser vice the students who from year to year will have been reported to you by the rectors of the two universities of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom as the most distinguished by their talent, their zeal, their general information, and their good conduct, or those whom, in your own judgment, you you shr'l deem worthy of this exemption. " FRANCIS JOSEPH. " Laxenburg, July 16, 1858." ENLARGEMENT OF TILE BRITISH MUSEUM.—The question of an enormous enlargement of the present edifice of the Briti s h M useum, or of a scientific separation of the contents, is on e th at warm l y presses for solution. Each department is fell to bursting, and many of the choicest treesures are lost to the public for lack of space. For ex ample, not one-half of the collection of natural history is exhibited to the public, and a great deal of it is rotting in cellars. A large collection of antiquities, including coins and medals, is not shown for want of room. At the present moment both these two great departments, antiquities and natural history, require more than double the space they now occupy; and yet we are spending more public money in the Levant, in the East, and in Africal(very wisely spending it) in collecting more antiquities, plants, animals, and rocks. Then again, we have in the Museum one of the noblest col lections of prints and drawings in Europe—collections admi rably kept under lock and key in drawer and chest—but perfectly invisible to the public. Only fancy a collection of drawings that cannot be seen ? How many of our readers know where to find the print room ? Yet this obscure de partment, now scarcely used by a dozen persons a month, might be one of the most attractive in the place. Give Mr. Carpenter wall room, and in one year, we answer for it, the general public who now crowd the Grenville and King's Libraries, merely to look at the outsides of books, will show how far they can enjoy original drawings by Raphael and Rubens—old pri n t s o f London and our great seaports and Wand cities— v i ews of our abbeys and cathedra l s—portraits of our heroes, s t atesmen, and poets. The room which the de partment o ccupies should paint visibly to the eyes of eager learners the histo r y o f England, the progress o f arch i tecture, the mysteries of a r t. Yield it space, an d i t w ill en l arge from its present obscure condition into one of our national glories. We have not one word to say against dead croco diles, dried ferns, or impaled butterflies; they have their uses and their beauties; and while there is life in the world there will be sympathy for whatever has once lived. But we are not willing to see Roberts and Raphael locked in cupboards, and plans and charts hidden in drawers, in order that a stuffed giraffe may enjoy the freedom of our national library. Everything in its place; and while we feel sure that the proper place for charts and drawings is the room adjoining that which contains the book collections, we feel equally sure that, apart even from the question of space, the proper home for the preserved specimens of natural his tory is that of the living collections. Kew for plants Bloomsbury for books.—Athenaeum. FETES OF CHERBOURG. CHERBOURG, JULY 31 In passing through Dinan, Rennes, and other towns of ancient Brittany to arrive at this place, which has alone become celebrated in modern times, I was frequently reminded of the rivalry which for centuries existed between the Britons and the men of Norman race. In the times of the Richards, the Edwards, and the Henrys, there was an ever lasting feud, which found its instigators and support ers in the possessors of the French and English crowns. The feud is now at an end, but the rivalry still exists, and Brittany hopes that her fetes, com mencing in the honour of the Emperor at the great port of Brest, and continued from thence at St. Brieue, Dinan, St. Malo, Rennes, &c., will eclipse all that can be accomplished at Cherbourg, even though here is to be the commemoration of a great event, rendered still more glorious and auspicious by the presence of her Majesty of England. It certainly was curious to remark in such towrs as Dinan and Rennes how the usually inert charac ter of the Bretons had been excited by what they were told of the Norman doings at Cherbourg, and how each small hamlet and petty borough was whitewashing, painting, and decorating itself into holiday trim, so that " the eye of the master," when he should come to look upon them, would find them one and all, active, loving, and diligent subjects. Seeing the preparations that were thus making in honour of the Emperor, in the adjoining province, I must own that I arrived at Cherbourg with the expectation that the Normans would be found in ferior to their fellow-subjects in the number, great ness, and variety of their demonstrations. I have only reached Cherbourg to-day. I have had barely time to look at its magnificent harbour, to behold at a distance its great war-ship basin, and thence to glance at the town itself, and from the town to turn to the people, and see what they were doing in honour of their Emperor. I pass over as unnecessary the official announcements of what are the fetes of the town, and what is to be done by the authorities, first, as testimonies of regard for the Emperor, and then in compliment to his royal and illustrious guests. In approaching Cherbourg, one of the first spec tacles that attract attention is an immense encamp ment (erected within the precincts of the railway). Hundreds upon hundreds of tents, each decorated with a tricolour banner, and reminding one, when they know the purpose to which this encampment is devoted, and who are to be its occupants, of those grand tournaments in which the champions were lovers, and the crown to be won was the prize of beauty, to be distributed by the hands of the most lovely and most accomplished of all the princesses present at the festival of " the peacock." One, too, could not, as they stepped out of the railway carriage, and beheld themselves in the midst of this festive en campment, and thought how soon it was to be oc cupied by the young, the gay, and the great, and how it would hourly resound with music and jocund laughter, without thinking of the fervid and glow ing descriptions given by our ancient,chroniclers of " the Field of the Cloth of Gold," when Henry of England was young, blythe, and merry, and Francis of France believed himself to be a knight so honour able and veritable that he would prefer the loss of life to a failure in his truth. This festive encampment is sufficient for the ac commodation of an army of guests, and the scale upon which invitations must have been issued, and the numbers of the honoured, the great, and the rich that are certain to attend, is a consideration in itself sufficient to excite astonishment ; but as a person proceeds through the town, to the fort and to the basin, then, and only then, can alone an adequate idea be formed of the enormous multitude of feasters and sight-seers that will be in Cherbourg during the next week. The town is approached by shelving declivities—nature has given to it an amphitheatral form, and art is employed in imparting to the scene the actual resemblance to an amphitheatre— tier over tier rising from the ground up to a distance of about 200 feet. I have not calculated to what ex tent these Titanic scaffoldings have been constructed but at a rough guess I would say there cannot be accommodation for less than 300,000 persons ; and all this, it is to be observed, is outside of Cherbourg It is intended, as I conceive, for the special accom modation of those who are sure to be here before the arrival of the Queen. It is, as I suppose, to be the Cherbourg demonstration in honour of the Emperor and the Empress—the grand climax to their Norman progress, which is to commence at Caen, where his Majesty passes under a lofty and richly decorated triumphal arch, already erected. That is to be re newed at every station, even those he passes by at rapid railway speed, and that is to find its fitting termination of a spectacle of popular joy which will recall the remembrance of Roman triumphs, when the citizens honoured a Vespasian, a Titus, an Adrian, or a Constantine. All conditions in France will, as in times gone by, there tender their fealty to the Sovereign of their choice. " Tam proceres ibidem morantes quam cives, burgenses, et villani ut se homines ligeos imperatori offerent." . _ But the accommodation fur visitors at all the coming spectacles is already preparing on the same gigantic scale. Mountains in carpentry work are rising on all sides, and I am glad to perceive that they are put together in such a manner as to avoid the possibility of accident by the solidity of their structure. For all those out-door preparations there is but one; enemy to be dreaded—wet weather. In Brittany, as I quitted it, considerable apprehensions were felt as to its continuance, as it was injuring also " the poor man's harvest" in that province —the ble noir. The clouds, however, were now dispersed—the sun is shining brightly and merrily ; and the Queen, I hope, may bring with her those fine days which seem to be the invariable accompaniment of all her public festivals. CHERBOURG, AUGUST 1. An official programme, emanating from the mili tary, naval, and civil authorities, with reference to the proceedings of the week, has been published this day. It occupies a considerable space, and there fore, instead of forwarding to you a literal transla tion of the entire, I shall content myself with a pretty full abstract of its contents. On the 4th August their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will be received at the railway ter minus by the principal civil, maritime, and military authorities. The keys of the city will be presented to the Emperor by the mayor and the municipal council. The benediction and inauguration of the railway from Cherbourg to Paris will then take place in the presence of the Emperor and Empress. This ceremony is to be followed by the presentation of the leading authorities, civil, maritime, and mili tary to their Majesties in the grand saloon, which has been fitted up and decorated for this purpose at the terminus. Upon leaving the terminus, the Em peror is to be greeted by the rural delegations, with banners displayed. Upon this occasion, the pompiers, the douaniers, and all the sea and land forces, will be under arms. These will form a line from the railroad to the hotel of the Prefect. The batteries, land and sea, will announce by a triple salvo of all their buns the mo ment when thei r M a j est i es h ave entered the city. The programme having stated the names of the different localities through which the Imperial pro cession will pass from the railway to the Prefecture, then mentions that all the vessels of the French squadron will be decorated with all their flags, whilst each of the public edifices of the city, as well as the vessels put for the moment in the commercial port, will exhibit their colours. Upon the arrival of the Emperor and Empress at the Prefecture, the ladies of the families of the prin cipal officials are to be introduced to the Empress, who will at thesame time receive a deputation of young maidens, who will be permitted to offer flowers and a present of lace to her Majesty. The next regulation worthy of being mentioned is the fact that all the public establishments, on the land as in the harbour, as well as the Imperial squadron, are to be illuminated every night that the Emperor remains in Cherbourg. - It is, I perceive, from the official document issued by the mayor, and addressed to his fellow-citizens, the expectation of that functionary that the illumi nation will not be confined to the public establish ments, but that it will be general—that all who are householders in Cherbourg will adopt this mode of testifying their satisfaction at seeing the Emperor in the midst of them. I believe, from what I have ob served, that this expectation will not, in a single in stance, meet with a disappointment. Thus far we have in detail the proceedings regu lated for the first day of the visit of the Sovereign of France. Upon the next day, the sth, her Majesty the Queen of England arrives in Cherbourg harbour; end the official programme thus notifies the fact : " Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, have reserved to themselves this day for the purpose of receiving on board the ship, the Bretagne, her Majesty the Queen of England. An ulterior order will make known the regulations to be adopted if requisite to do so. There will be a regatta in the road of Cherbourg in presence of the united ships of the French and English marine and the Royal Yacht Squadron. This regatta is to take place in front of the Quay Napoleon, and a specious programme will give in detail the course of proceedings." Such is the official reference to the proceedings of the sth of August—the day of the Queen's Visit. The 6th of August is to be devoted by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to proceedings in the road of Cherbourg, to an examination of the breakwater, and visiting the vessels composing the Imperial Squadron. Whilst they are thus occupied the citizens of Cherbourg are to be amused with public sports and games, the organisation of which is confided to the Municipal Council, and the details of which are to be announced in a local advertisement. At two there is to be a gratuitous spectacle at the theatre. At three there are to be balloons, with parachutes, from which will fall flowers, standards, toys, &c. At nine o'clock the same evening there are to be fireworks upon the Place Divette, by the celebrated Ruggieri, pyrotechnist to the Emperor. On the 7th of August the Emperor and Empress will leave the house of the Prefect at an early hour in the morning, and will make a promenade in all parts of the city, and, so far as they possibly can, in the environs, so as to be back precisely at 12 o'clock, when they will enter the port by the southern gate, where they will be received by the officers and em ployees of the marine. Upon their Majesties descend ing from their carriage, there are to be three salvos of artillery. Their Majesties will then proceed to the Arsenal, through a line composed on the one side of the troops of the Arsenal, and on the other side of the workmen, banded together according to the dif ferent ateliers in which they are engaged. The floating of the fine vessel, the Ville de Nantes, will then commence. During the time that will pass be tween the first immersion of the vessel and its final launching, the Emperor and Empress will visit the different workshops of the arsenal—all the operatives will be engaged at their usual labours during this inspection—hut on the appearance of the Emperor in each department all labour is then to cease, so that each operative will have full opportunity of seeing and being seen by his Sovereign. The regulations set forth to prevent any person un connected with the arsenal, and not in military or marine uniform, from being present arc most minute. I have seldom read any regulations more strict for the purpose of excluding the possibility of an un invited stranger being a spectator of proceedings in which he could have no other interest beyond that of indulging his own curiosity. It is supposed that the immersion of the Ville de Nantes will be completed by six o'clock, when the launching and benediction of the vessel will take place. - The same evening the ball of the city of Cherbourg to the Emperor and Empress will take place, and a notification is to be published stating the route their Majesties will take both in going and returning from this entertainment, which will be on a truly magnificent scale. I now come to the last day of their Majesty's visit, the Bth of August. The climax, the grand coup of all the doings and festivities of Cherbourg, is to be the inauguration of the equestrian statue of Napo leon the First. It is to take place at half-past nine in the morning. At this ceremony is to be congre gated all the forces Row in Cherbourg. At eleven o'clock their Majesties will hear a low mass at the Church of the Trinity, and at half-past two they will leave Cherbourg ; but the precise plan on which their separation from the loyal citizens of Cherbourg is to occur has not yet been determined upon. It will be made known by a special order. It is notified that during the stay of their Majes ties in Cherbourg the officers of the marine and army are to be invariably en grande terme d'hiver. To these regulations is to be added one which does not come in an official form, namely, that the Emperor and Empress are to give a public reception to the Mayors of all the communes of the arrondisse mcnt—cach commune having a banner surmounted with the imperial eagle, and inscribed with the name of the commune to which it belongs. Each Mayor will be accompanied by the municipal adminjstra tion, and by the old soldiers of the Empire dwelling in each commune, wearing the St. Helena medal. Each parish will have at its head its rector and curates, and those clergymen appointed to assist the Bishop of Coutances in the solemnity of the bene diction of the railway from Cherbourg to Paris. A semi-official notice forbids the throwing of flowers, garlands, or bouquets into the carriage of the Emperor, as they might cause accidents ; and it is requested that petitions may not be personally pre sented, as her Majesty's Secretary will attend at the Prefecture, and receive them, Ibr the purpose of bringing all such documents under the notice of the Emperor or Empress—whichever of them may be specially addressed. Having thus given you an abstract of the official and non-official programmes, I turn to matters which are connected with the same subject—the Imperial and Royal visit—and which are at this mo ment topics of observation in Cherbourg. One in genious gentleman has, I find, calculated that there will be five thousand discharges of cannon fired in the road of Cherbourg, each time that their Majes ties will go out into the harbour, and as all the ves sels of war fire by broadside, the public is invited to calculate the force of the detonations. This is a matter on which the public has already had some experience, for on last Friday evening the fleet was practising with a few broadsides, and lam assured that the effect en some of the houses looking out on the grand war-ship basin was to smash the glass in several windows. What will happen in Cherbourg if the casements are not left open may thus be easily anticipated. None will, lam sure, be more delighted with the result than the honest glaziers of Cherbourg. A local paper of Cherbourg contains the following paragraph, on which it is necessary to make an ob servation. It is an illustration of the different way in which buyers and sellers are disposed to regard the same subject. The Cherbourg paper says :—" There arc from four to five hundred apartments, at the least, adver tised to be let in Ch er b ourg for the fetes. The price of these, which has never been so high, as has been reported, has been considerably diminished, and lowers each day as the number of lodgings increase." The writer of this paragr ah has not informed the public what he considers a high price ; but this I can say, I have been asked a scandalously high price, and have had to make my way to a distant part of the town before I could procure any suitable resi dence—and even then have had to pay by the day • treble what would be demanded for the same accom modation in the same locality for a week, and even such I could not get until I had paid in advance for the full term. All strangers of all nations are mulcted by the astute Norman, but beyond all others those who speak French with an English accent. It is a species of French patriotism to charge the English twice as much for the same article, as would be charged to a Frenchman. Ido not affirm this pecu liar development of nationality, as the result merely of my own experience. Its accuracy is recorded by a very popular French author, M. Feval, who in troduces in one of his novels a character to which he has given the name of M. Benoit, whom he de scribes as a man who lived by letting lodgings, and whose trade-principles are thus explained :—" Les Anglais devaient payer un tiers en sus parce que M. Benoit etait bon patriote. The Cherbourg letters-of-lodgings seem to be in fluenced by the same want of conscience of which the thrifty iliallieorn boasted, when reproached for his ingratitude for favours already received : " Would yeu have A citizen book those ? Thankfulness is A thing we are not sworn to in our indentures ; You may as well urge conscience." One result of the enormous prices asked in Cher bourg has been to force numbers to seek for apart ments in the neighbouring hamlets and villages— persons finding it cheaper to take up their abode in the neighbourhood of Martinast, Couville, and even so far away as Valognes, and pay for voitures daily, than to be mulcted by the remorseless charges sought to be extorted from them for dwelling in Cherbourg. THE AMERICAN MAILS.--LIVERPOOL, July 31 —The British and North American royal mail steam ship Niagara sailed from the Mersey at a few minutes before one o'clock this morning for Halifax and Boston, with the weekly mails, 103 passengers, and a full cargo of manu factured goods. THE FETES AT CHERBOURG.—LIVERPOOL, Mon day.—The Dundalk and Midland Steam Company's steamer Independence, sailed from the Mersey for Cherbourg this afternoon with 78 passengers. It is intended that the In dependence shall accompany her Majesty's fleet across the Channel to France. A supplement to the London Gazette of last Friday was issued yesterday. It contains certain orders in Council issued at a Court held at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, on the alst FRANCE. PARIS, AUG. 2. Nothing can be more liberal than the arrange ments made by the French Government for British visitors to Cherbourg. The marine authorities have received orders to permit members of Parliament, the proprietors of yachts, and gentlemen belonging to the important London journals, to occupy con venient places in order that they may be spectators of the ceremonies to take place on the meeting of the Sovereigns of England and France. lam assured Earl Cowley has so arranged with the French authorities as to secure these privileges. I am happy to be able to report that the most cordial under standing exists between the Governments of England and France concerning foreign officers generally, as well as the courtesies growing out of the files at Cherbourg. The Ministers of Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, Baden, and Sardinia, have joined in freighting a steamer at Havre to attend the fetes at Cherbourg ; the Russian Minister, M. de Kisseleff, is to go alone. M. de Hatzfeldt, the Prussian Minister, has not recovered sufficiently from his indisposition to be able to attend, and M. de Hubner, the Austrian Ambassador, though invited, has not yet received the instructions of his Court as to whether he is to go or not. No one but the British Ambassador has received an official invitation to Cherbourg. The Continental journals confirm the intelligence you have already received concerning the affairs of Montenegro. An official despatch says :—" The Sultan's Government having sent orders to remove the Turkish troops from the Montenegrin frontier, Prince Danilo on his part has withdrawn the troops charged to defend it." Imperial rescripts have been sent to the nobles of the Governments of Orenbourg and Kalouga, in Russia, granting them permission to form Emancipa tion Committees in those provinces. The Duke de Rivas is about leaving Paris for Madrid. His Excellency has taken leave of the Emperor. I have been assured that both the Em peror and Empress expressed deep regret at his de parture. Count de Cavour retured to Turin on the 31st ult. The Hanover Gazette gives the following on the subject of the vote of the Germanic Diet :—" The proceedings of the Diet, as regards the reply of Denmark, threaten to take a very deplorable turn. The commission for the affair of Holstein, which had been united to the Executive Committee, was charged to examine that reply and to present a prompt report on it. These two bodies terminated their labours on the 28th ult. Unfortunately, the propositions of this report are such that the Envoy of Hanover, who is a member of the united body refused to sign the report, and demanded a delay to draw up a different decision. Under pretence of the urgency of the affair, the committee refused to grant that delay, and on the 29th, presented to the Federal Assembly the opi nions of the majority of the committee without making any mention of the views of the dissident member. The Hanoverian Envoy, in the sitting of the Diet, protested against the refusal of the delay, and announced that his Government would appeal to the co-Federate Governments. He also protested against the proposition of the majority, according to which the Danish Envoy was to form part of the Executive Committee. The final settlement of this difference is looked for with impatience. The Go vernments, it is to be hoped, will never adhere to the conclusions of the majority, as, if they should do so, the cause of the Duchies is lost for Germany and gained by Denmark." We learn by telegraph— " NAPLES, lst.—The King has commuted the sentence of death passed on the seven men in the Sapri affair; the commutation for Nicotera and two others is the galleys for life, and for the four others twenty-five years' imprisonment in irons." "BERNE, Ist.—The Federal Assembly has been dissolved, and will again meet on the 10th January next." Mr. Sams, of St. James's-street, yesterday, was honoured by the Emperor with a reception at St. Cloud. The object of Mr. Sam's visit to Paris was that of placing before his Majesty the p ros pectus of the Dramatic College, accompanied by a letter from Mr. Webster, the chairman of the committee. The Emperor received Mr. Sams most graciously and was pleased to promise his support of an institution towards which he expressed much sympathy. PARIS BoußsE.—The market has been steady, and the settlement has been effected on favourable con ditions. Threes, after having been done at 68fr 15c. improved to 68fr. 25c.; Mobilier varied from 620 fr. to 6301 r.; Austrian, 627 fr. 50c. to 630 fr. ; Orleans, 1,267 fr. 50c. to 1,270 fr. ; Lyons, 767 f r, 50c. to 770 fr.; Southern, 515 fr. to 520 fr. ; Eastern, 648 fr. 75e. to 655 fr. • and Western, 595&. to 600 fr. The following are the last quotations:— Fr. Ct. 05 25 4 per Cents... . Do. end of month 3 per Cent. 6B 25 Do. end of month 68 45 Bank Shares .... 3,100 Credit Mobilier.. 630 Do. account..... 626 75 Fr. Ct. Credit Foncier 600 Belgian 4; — Piedmontese 5 B9 5 0 Roman..... 00:4 Austrian 9l 50 Spanish Threes Home Debt.. RAIL'S Cash. urleans . Northern New ditto Lyons & Mediterranean New ditto Geneva ... - AYS. -Fr. Ct. Account—Fr. et. ,270 .. 1,270 -- 918 75 .. 918 7 5 772 50 772 50 .. 58'2 50 ...' 768 75 38:3 50 Midi Western . 6OO .. 600 --- Eastern Grand Central — -- . • _ -- Sardinian ... Austrian .... •• 415 - 412 5 0 ..... 630 - 630 --- DISTRIBUTION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS BY . HER MAJESTY. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY NIGHT. The distribution of the Victoria Cross, which took place place yesterday efternoon, on Southsea•common, was an event of no ordinary interest, and to the inabitants of the locality it was a great patriotic festivity, numbers being attracted from the surrounding districts to witness the pro ceedings. The troops began to assemble on the common about half-past three o'clock, and formed into two brigades, the first commanded by Lieut.-Col. Cole, of the 15th Regi ment, and the second by Col. Hurdle, C. 8., of the Royal Ma rines Light Infantry. There was in all about 4,000 infantry, a very respectable gathering considering the large drafts that have recently gone out to India, and including, besides, some companies of Royal Artillery, the 15th Regiment of the line, and five regiments of militia. The officers and colours were drawn up iu front of the lice of continuous columns await ing the arrival of her Majesty. For the accommodation of the Queen an elevated dais, suitably decorated, was erected in front of the brigades, and in the rear of the platform was a royal pavilion or tent for her Majesty and the royal party. Enclosures were set apart for the officers of the garrison and their friends, among whom were of course a arge number of ladies. These enclosures flanked each ide of the platform erected for the sovereign; while a line of sentries, extending a considerable distance in front o the enclosures formed a square, in the centre of which wells stationed the brigades. The general public thronged the space immediately beyond, and obtained no very distinct view of the ceremony itself. A grand stand was provided for the use of those who chose to pay for an elevated posi tion, but the situation was more favourable for a couP &ail than for minute inspection. The esplanade was gaily decorated with party-colcured flags, and here also were erected a number of small plat forms, the property of enterprising speculators in the gratification of public curiosity. The Queen landed at the stairs in the dockyard under royal salutes shortly after four o'clock, the crews of the vessels in harbour manning yards and cheering lustily during the royal approach and disembarkation, and the ships themselves being dressed in their gayest colours Her Majesty proceeded at once to Southsea-common.. She was saluted in passing opposite the fleet at Spithead by the magnificent screw vessels at anchor, and similar homage was paid by the garrison battery. The royal carriage entered the ground by the eastern enclosure , and stopped for two or three minutes alongside the dais, while her Majesty gazed on the beautiful scene before her, the principal feature of which was the gallant band whose deeds were the occasion of the ceremony. On the right of her Majesty was his Royal Highness the Prince Con sort on horseback, in the uniform of a field-marshal; oe the left was his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. In the carriage with the Queen were the Princess Alice and the Princess Helena, and a lady in waiting. There was e numerous and brilliant staff. At a signal from her Majesty the royal cortege proceeded to tha eastern extremity of the two brigades, and traversed the whole front from end to end at a slow walking pace. It then returned amid the cheers of he multitude to the dais appointed fur the. ceremony of dis tribution, which her Majesty Immediately ascended, ac companied by the two royal Princesses, the Prince Consort , and the Duke of Cambridge, and by Gen. Peel, her Ma jesty standing in front. The officers and men selected to receive the Victoria Cross were then ordered to advance, which they did successively, and each in turn had the grati fication of having the cross fastened on his breast by O s hand of the Queen herself—an honour which seemed to bays a rather dazzling and bewildering effect on some of thew, 9° was shown by a forgetfulness of the military salute, and 8 certain amount of bashfulness in retiring. After the crosses had been presented, the troops marche d past her Majesty in open columns, in quick time, t ha bands of the several regiments pl a yi ng as t h ey approacue., the Queen. The troops afterwa r d s f orme d i n b r i ga des er , he ground which they occupied on h er M a j esty : s and the presentation of arms, &c., and the playing of 0: National Anthem by all t h e b ands simultaneously, all flounced the termination of this interesting ceremony. h It was remarked by every one who was fortunate enoi!g_ to have a good view of the Q ueen ' s f ace as s h e was preparing to depart, that it beamed with smiles of satisfaction. the The royal party left a b out h a lf- past fi ve o ' c l oc k, amid 1 ." affectionate plaudits of a vast assembly. til l 01;, t at 40 ai li r pi `Jr cr, the 1 )b t t 4 fell