The Sun. — London, England, 1859-05-19 00:00:00

HOUSEHOLD WORDS.—Messrs. BRADBURY and EVANS beg to state that their connection with HOUSEHOLD WORDS will cease from and after the 28th Inst., and that on Saturday, the 2d July they will commence a new Weekly Illustrated Periodical, to be called "ONCE A WEEK." All communications for the Editor to be addressed to No. 11, Bouverie-street, London, E.C. ROYAL -PRINCESS'S THEATRE. 'Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspeare's fiat orical play of KING HENRY V. King Henry V., Mr. C. Kean; Chorus, Mrs. C. Kean. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING will be performed the new and original Comedy, entitled THE WOItLD AND THE STAGE. The characters by Messrs. Compton, Buckstone, Howe, W. Far ten, Rogers; Miss Amy Sedgwick, &o. After which, a new Classical Extravaganza, entitled ELECTRA IN A NEW ELECTR'IC LIGHT. Messrs Compton, Braid, Clark, Mrs. Wilkins, Misses Fanny Wright, Eliza Weekes, and Louisa Leclercq. And 'TWAS I. Commence at 7. NEWW THEATRE - ROYAL, AD ELPHI. THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Reappearance of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING. the performances will commence with ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Chas. Selby, Billington ; Misses Keeley, Arden, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Billington. Followed by (fourth time), by Tom Taylor, Est, THE HOUSE ? or, THE HOME ? Sir. Alfred Wigan, , Selby, Billington ; Mrs. Alfred Wigan, Miss H. Simms. Miss Laid- Jaw. After which, THE DEVIL ON TWO STICKS. Mr. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Misses Woolgar, Seeley, Arden, and Kate Kelly. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. Doors open at a quarter-past six—Commence at seven. Box Office open from 10 to 5 --no charge for booking. No fees to servants permitted. A registry kept of all articles found. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborongh THIS EVENING will be produced a new Comedietta, by 3. M. Morton, Esq., entitled WHICH OF THE TWO ? supported by the company. After which, THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. To conclude with VANDYKE BROWN. Mr. J. Clark. Commence at 7o'clock. A sTLETS ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Lessee and Manager Mr. William Cooke. Continued Success of THANHOE.—Overflowing Houses Nightly. THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with a new grand spectacle, founded on Sir Walter Scott's popular work, entitled IVANHOE; or, The Lists of Ashby, intro ducing among the vast resources of this great Hippodramatic Temple,Tournaments, Processions, Banners, Combats, Tilts, Victories, and Achievemer is in extraordinary magnificence. Ivanhoe, Mr. R. Phillips ; Isaac of York. Mr. Jas. Holloway; Richard of England, Mr. Herbert ; Robin Hood, Mr. Wm. Cooke, jun. ; Rebecca, Miss Bathurst; Lady Rowena, Miss Dowton. After which, the matchless and unrivalled SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, introducing Mr. John Henry Cooke, the greatest rider in the world ; Mr. A. Cooke, Mr. W. Cooke, jun., and Miss Emily Cooke, supported by the unequalled male and female artistes of the establishment. To conclude with the Farce of RAISING THE WIND. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 35.; Pit, 2s, ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Private Boxes, £4 4s, £2 2s, and £1 Is. To commence at 7 ; Carriages at 11. CANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS GALLERY, Westminster-road.—Open at Seven. EVERY EVENING during the week will appear THE DELEPIERRE FAMILY, Consisting of three Juvenile Violinists, viz., Jules, Juliette, and Julia Delepierre, aged, respectively, FOUR, SIX, and EIGHT years. The perfect execution by these Lilliputian Artistes of some of the most difficult and brilliant Solos, Duets, and Trios ever written for the violin, has excited mingled wonder and admi ration in Continental Musical Circles, and drawn forth enthu siastic tributes of praise from the Public Journals of France and Belgium. They will perform EVERY EVENING, at NINE and ELEVEN o'clock, in addition to the usual Entertainments. THE WEATHER.—SuN OFFICE, MAY 19. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 60—highest since noon yesterday. 59—lowest this morning and during the night. 63—this day at noon. BAROMETER-2916. WIND, North-easterly; rather fresh, with rainy weather, and heavy clouds. 4-?1 i''` • ,w , ALLyA,. .:"•,, .r.- - .:_•zw`:-,0 'l. .k • . ` 4. ,, ,, to, ~ 7- r -,,1,5 \ A •,‘ , ' knorr ' F• - - , .-----„, THE SUN. THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1859. The war still remains in statu quo. France and Austria are watching each other, but neither party seems desirous of firing the first shot. It is said that the Austrians are waiting for the arrival of their EMPEROR and Baron HESS. Louis NAPOLEON is already at the scene of action, but he is doubtless desirous of obtainin g the aid of the troops now march • ing into Piedmont before he engages in a heavy contest. Of course, as might easily have been anti cipated, the reports from the different camps are of a very conflicting character. Each party regards matters in the point of view most favourable to themselves, and the statements are accordingly coloured to suit the prevailing tint. Before, there fore, any confidence can be placed in telegrams, it must be seen - whether they proceed from Turin or Vienna, and ample allowance must be made for great exaggeration. Even persons inclined to act impartially will be influenced by those with whom they come in contact, and who will, of course, entertain very natural prejudices on each subject that arises. The resignation of Count BuoL does not afford much assurance to Europe. Although there has been a pretext of illness, it was manifestly in obedience to Russian dictation that he was got rid of. His conduct during the late war in the Crimea was as unsatisfactory to Russia as it was to Eng land ; and the first opportunity was therefore seized in order to substitute a more yielding Minister, one who would lend himself more readily to the views of the CZAR, with respect to the Danubian Provinces, and possibly as to Turkey itself. Hence, the "failing health" of the ex- Minister, and " the gracious acceptance" of his resignation by his Imperial Master. It is possible too that he might have differed in some respects with regard to the war which FRANCIS JOSEPH was resolved to force on. The Austrians have taken up a strong position at Vercelli, occupying the only bridge over the Sesia ; and thus commanding the road from Turin to Novara and - Milan. It will be difficult to dis lodge them from this position, or to carry the war into their own country. The head-quarters are at Mortara, and it is by no means impossible that the first serious conflict will take place in its vicinity. The Austrians are clearly acting on the defensive, but they will not resign the strong position which they have taken so much pains to fortify without a sharp conflict. NAPOLEON, having pro ceeded to the place, must take some step in advance. It will not do to continue " playing at soldiers " at Alessandria, or seeking " the pomp and circum stance of glorious war" without encountering also its stern realities. To remain quiescent would be to cover himself with ridicule—a subject on which the French are peculiarly sensitive, and which would be fatal to himself and to his dynasty. From Turin we hear that the Austrians occupy the right bank of the Po as far as Castel San Giovanni, 12,000 strong, and that they are still fortifying the bridge of Stella, for the purpose of protecting their retreat. There will, however, be seine fighting in the first instance before the war can be carried into the Austrian territories, or even the " protected" States, whose quasi neutrality will not be much respected by the allied forces. Indeed, it is very likel y that insurrections may take place whenever the approach of the French or Sardinian troops may render such a proceeding safe. The Grand Duke of TUSCANY w ill not be the only Italian potentate who may find a change of air b e neficial; or indeed necessary, for secur i ty. It cannot be supposed that the state of inaction will long be continued. The Austrians and Sar dinians are actuated by too strong feelings o f hatred to allow them long to remain face to face, with arms in their hands, without making some moTemontj and, as we have already stated, Lovzs NAPOLEON cannot for his own sake remain idle. The onslaught will be made by the French and Sardinians, for their opponents let slip the golden opportunity of marching on Turin, and inflicting a heavy blow on Piedmont before the arrival of the French auxiliaries. We are aware that it is asserted that it would have been imprudent to do so, with such fortresses as Alessandria and Casale in their rear. But it would be well if these matters had been thought of before the declaration of hostilities, and forcing a war, the consequences whereof must fall most heavily on themselves. They have however unnecessarily placed themselves in the wrong, and forfeited the sympathies and support they might otherwise have obtained. They must now submit to the inevitable results. They have brought them on themselves and cannot complain of any evils that may follow. At all events England will maintain its neutrality, and pot interfere either with men or money, or any of the materiel of war, to assist any of the parties concerned in such transactions. Positively for the last time the doom of the present Government has been pronounced by the wiseacre prophets of the Opposition. How often the same prediction has been uttered before, we took occasion to remark only on Saturday. This time, however, we are distinctly assured, there is to be" no mistake." If there be any uncertainty at all yet remaining in regard to the transaction, it is an uncertainty not in regard to the fact, which is de clared to be inevitable, but simply in regard to the manner of its accomplishment. The more sanguine in these vaticinators fix as the fatal turning point for Ministers—the Address in answer to the Speech from the Throne—if not even the election to the chair of the Speaker. The less factious, however, while hesitating as to whether the last Speaker will be re-elected with out any division, or the Government nominee pitted against the nominee of the Opposition—de precate the notion of rendering either the choice of Speaker, or the Address to her MAJESTY, the weapon of attack against her MAJESTY'S advisers. And certainly, under the circumstances, the selection of either of those imminent opportunities by the Chiefs of Party on the Opposition side of the House would afford the most flagrant instance of the total subor dination to the mere instincts of petty, personal, ambition of all the nobler incentives of patriotism and of high political principle. Without any such indecorously precipitate scramble for power, upon the very threshold of the new Parliament, the leaders of "her MAJESTY'S Opposition" will have abundant and early opportunities for measuring weapons with the leaders of her MAJESTY'S Government. At an ordinary juncture, the tarrying awhile for the advent of one of those honourable opportunities would be the course unquestionably most worthy of being taken by our statesmen. At an extraordinary epoch such as the present—with a great European war but just kindled upon the plains of Lombardy between the embattled arrays of France and Austria, the two most formidable military Powers of Christendom—anything like this projected instant and insensate struggle on the part of those who are Out, at no matter what cost or sacrifice to those who are In, would be about the most melancholy spectacle that could well be afforded by our assembled representatives. The victory required to be won over the existing Government would be a victory that would only be won by an enormous sacrifice of principle on the part of the Opposition. Examine for a moment the proportions of parties in the new House of Commons. There are, according to the organ of the Opposition, 300 Conservatives returned to the new Parliament, in other words, 300 Derbyites re turned in a compact and organised phalanx, to take their seats around and at the back of Mr. DISRAELI on the Government side of the House— there to confront by their united mass the scattered and heterogeneous body of 354 Liberals of all shades of Liberalism, making up the aggregate concourse on the side of the Opposition. Those 300 Derbyites act together strongly, unitedly, powerfully. Those 354 Liberals act together scarcelyat all. Theycan only he brought together just once in a way upon some extraordinary emergency, and then only just for that emergency. They include among them all sorts of divisions and subdivisions. They are marshalled under the banners of too many chiefs ever to be a permanently united phalanx, or in any way very formidable. Confronting the Treasury bench there is Lord PALMERSTON with his followers. Below the gangway, upon the front bench there, upon that same Opposition side, sits Lord JOHN RUSSELL with his select supporters, the Whigs of the old school, the Bedford-house party, the Whigs pur sang look ing to Woburn Abbey as to the fane of the political Delphos. Seated upon a back bench behind Lord PAL3IERSTON above the gangway of the Opposition is an independent Liberal like the Right Hon. EDWARD HORSMAN. While below the gangway of the Opposition, seated upon the back bench im mediately behind Lord JOHN RUSSELL, is another independent Liberal (another right hon. that is to be), JOHN BRIGHT, M.P. for Birmingham. Be tween these conspicuous members and leaders of the Opposition there is the difference as of the poles asunder. For example, Lord PALMERSTON is distinctly against any sweeping measure of re form. Mr. BRIGHT is, on the contrary, for a mea sure of reform so sweeping that the more timorous opponents of his bold scheme look forward, as to its inevitable consequence, to the even tual triumph of Democratic over Monarchical institutions. Mr. HORSMAN is decidedly for the Ballot—Lord JOHN RUSSELL is as decidedly against the Ballot. Mr. BRIGHT is opposed upon principle to all war—L or d JOHN"gent in," for example, upon the occasion of the last war, the war against Russia in the Crimean peninsula, with the p ugnac it y o f a game-cock, the closing words of his bellicose speech being the well known battle cry of " G OD defend the right" s 1 There is, we rep ea t, t h e difference as of the poe asunder between the s o -d eemed united, l but in reality most disunited body of 354 Lib era l s on the side of the Opposition—led on by such con spicuous members as Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. HORS MAN, or by such rival chiefs as Lord PALMERSTON a n d Lord JOHN RUSSELL. An organised and united party, who have the additional advantage of being in, and who number altogether no less than a solid three hundred, have their own fate, if they act but wisely, in their own hands so firmly grasped—that if they lose it now by paltering with what is of far greater worth than the interests of party—tile in terests of the nation at large —they will have only to I thank themselves. The bullion, on which the welfare of the com- munity so greatly depends, is rapidly leaving the country. It could not be otherwise under the existing monetary code, while we must sell gold at a fixed price. When any nation can purchase it at £3 17s. 100. per ounce, it must flow from us in case of any extraordinary demand. A serious war has commenced, and, although we may observe a perfect neutrality, any of the parties concerned may come on us and take away that which is of vital importance to our own industrial community. If ever there was a period when the Bank Charter Act required to be repealed, or modified, it is the present. We find many European nations THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1859. demanding loans; and although they may not be granted in this country, still they will find their way on the Stock Exchange, and millions of money will be drawn off in consequence. There is but one way of preventing this calamity. Let gold be sold at its market value, and then speculators would not be inclined to enter into engagements which would probably prove unprofitable. So long as they knew that they must get it at a stipulated rate, and that the scarcer it became the more valuable it would be, they are deterred by no patriotic feelings from making the largest profits that can be procured. This system should be forthwith stopped, and a more judicious one adopted. There is nothing to prevent immediate legislation ; and the Government that would introduce a wise and equitable measure of monetary reform would earn for itself the thanks and gratitude of the commu nity. An adequate issue of small notes—say twenty or thirty millions sterling—receivable in payment of taxes and of every public liability, would liberate nearly an equal amount of bullion, which might be rendered available for any purpose, and which, in the event of unfavourable exchanges, might be sold at a premium. It is but a short time since that the Bank of France purchased bullion in our own market for a erifling premium, and was, at the cost of a few thousand pounds, enabled to deprive British industry of its very life-blood. Can we afford a repetition of such operations? The terrible calamities of 1847 and 1857 give a conclusive answer to the interrogatory. We saw our mills and factories closed, the process of pro duction suspended, while those able and willing to work were unable to obtain employment, I driven with their :helpless families to the union workhouses, and reduced from being crea tors and producers of national wealth to be unprofitable consumers. It is needless to mention the amount of misery and suffering which they must have sustained during the period of transition. It was deeply painful to see the savings of years, and still more so the comforts they had accumulated in their cherished homes, all forfeited without any fault on their part—all lost through a vicious system of currency, the object whereof was to make the rich man more wealthy, and the poor man poorer than he was before. Already,in consequence of this war, in which we are in no degree concerned, the minimum rate of discount has been nearly doubled. It has been raised from 2 1 - ; to 41 per cent. in Threadneedle street, and in a still higher ratio among the money dealers. This evil will not be ar rested, unless by legislative interference, and it is only from the present administration that it can be hoped for. The views of Sir CIIARLES WOOD and Sir G. C. LEWIS are too well known to permit the slightest anticipation of relief from either party. LATEST NEWS. THE WAR IN ITALY. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, MAY 19. The Moniteur of to-day contains a decree, pro roguing the session of the Corps Louislatff to the 28th May. The Monitezo• also publishes the following telegram :- ALESSANDRIA, May 18.—The organisation of the army is going on actively. The repair of the damage done by the enemy to the bridges, roads, and railways is approaching completion. The Austrians continue their exactions. The population of Vercelli are filled with consternation, and quite out of condition to satisfy such demands. During the night of the 17th a body of Austrians, 100 strong, escaladed the bridge of Valenza through a breach, and made a fruitless attempt to take a position, guarded by a small detachment of eight men. This morning the enemy opened a somewhat vigorous cannonade, which lasted from 3 till 6 o'clock, on the boats moored on the right bank of the Po, near the railway from Alessandria to Mortara. Our side made no response to the can nonade, the result of which proved to be insigni ficant. TRIESTE, MAY 18. A merchant vessel from Bremen, laden with cargo, has arrived off Venice, but was prevented by the French squadron from entering, th© town being now in a state of blockade. The captain of the vessel was told that he might go to Trieste or to one of the ports in Istria, which are not blockaded. The merchantman subsequently cast anchor at Pirano. VIENNA, MAY 19. The official Wiener Zeitnng contains an Imperial decree increasing the direct and the indirect taxes of the empire. The monopoly of tobacco and the Customs' duties are not included. It then goes on to explain that the extent of such financial mea sures is now completed. TURIN, MAY 17. The official bulletin of to-day is as follows : " Yesterday the Emperor visited the King of Sardinia at Occimiamo. The Austrians occupy the right bank of the Po as far as Castel San Giovanni, 12,000 strong. The fortifications of the bridge of Stella, for the purpose of protecting the retreat of the Austrians, still continue. " An order of the King has been published, men tioning the names of those who have signalised themselves in the first military operations." BERNE, MAY 18. The inclination manifested by the Italian re fugees on the frontiers of Switzerland to stir up a revolution in Lombardy has been put down by our troops, who have also seized several chests of guns and barrels of gunpowder. VIENNA, MAY 18. The official Austrian Correspondence says that failing health was the only cause of Count Buol's request to be relieved from the office of Foreign Minister. His resignation occasions no change in the principles of Austrian policy, the aim and object of which is to maintain Austria's rights, and to recognise the rights 'of others. PARIS, MAY 18. The Patrie of this evening contains the follow ing :—" Count Pourtales, the Prussian Ambassador, has left to-day for Berlin, on family matters." MADRID, TUESDAY. The official Correspondancia Autographic says that the Portuguese Government has proposed to Spain a treaty of alliance offensive and defensive, but that the Spanish Government has refused to fall in with this proposal, alleging that the treaty be- tween Portugal and England might compromise that liberty of action which Spain intends to pre- serve. This line, which crosses the Appenines, and has cost ' 135 millions, reflects the higheSt honour on the Sar dinian Government, and attests the resources and activity of that energetic country, which has car ried on the construction of it in spite of the most difficult circumstances. The train only stopped for a few minutes at the principal stations of Ponte Decimo, Busalla, Arquata, Serravalle, and Novi. During the whole line, the inhabitants and the troops on their march collected at the points whence they could catch a view of the Emperor, and hailed him with shouts of delight. At a few minutes before four, the train crossed the river Bormida, leaving on the left the plain where the immortal battle of Marengo was fought, and at four o'clo3k entered the terminus of Alessandria. The Emperor was received by the civil and military authorities, who conducted him into a salon fitted up with the greatest magnificence. After remaining there for a few minutes, the Emperor mounted on horseback, and, escorted by several squadrons of cavalry, proceeded to the royal palace through a double line formed by the national guard and the French and Sardinian troops. The road followed by the Emperor, which ran along the fortifications, was bordered by Venetian masts surmounted by the eagles of France and Savoy, and from which floated the tricoloured flags of the two nations. All the windows in the streets through which the cortege passed were filled with ladies who scattered bou quets and flowers before the Emperor. On columns erected at the railway station were inscribed extracts in French from the proclamation of the Emperor, and others in Italian from that of the King of Sardinia. At the entrance of the Strada della Pierra was a triumphal arch, on one side of which was the inscription To the heir of the conqueror of Marengo,' and on the other, 'To the ally of Victor Emmanuel ll.' On the Piazetta was placed a marble bust of Napoleon 1., sur rounded by vases of flowers, and on either side the Piazza were military trophies of the two nations. A short time after the Emperor's arrival at the Palace, he was joined by the King of Piedmont, and their Majesties dined together. In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated. Although it was known that the Emperor would not visit the theatre the house was crowded, and between the pieces one of the actors recited an ode written for the occasion, in honour of the Emperor. At noon on the following day, the Emperor, accom panied by Marshals Vaillant and Canrobert, and some of the officers of his household, walked to the cathedral dedicated to St. Peter, the national guard being drawn up on either side of the streets through which his Majesty passed. The Emperor was received at the entrance of the church by the clergy with great ceremony. The service was performed by the Abbe Laine, chaplain of the Emperor. Both in going to and returning from the cathedral, the Emperor was greeted with the loudest acclamations by the people." COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty the Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. Count de Persigny, Ambassador from his Imperial Ma jesty the Emperor of the French, had an audience of the Queen, and delivered his credentials. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess George of Saxony and his Royal Highness the Duke of Oporto arrived at Buckingham Palace at twenty-five minutes before five o'clock yesterday afternoon on a visit to the Queen. The Queen had a dinner p arty last evening. The com pany included their Royal Highnesses the Princess Alice, the Duke of Oporto, the Prince and Princess George of Saxony, and the Duke of Cambridge ; the Duchess of Manchester, Comtesse de Holzendorff, Mademoiselle de Zedlitz, the Duke of Beaufort, the Saxon Minister, the Marquis of Exeter, the Marquis of Abercorn, Earl Dela warr, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Malmesbury, Cheva lier d'Oliveira Silva, M. de Koennetitz, M. de Helldorf, Colonel F. H. Seymour, Lieutenant-General Viscount de Campanha, Captain Sergio, M. Sampayo, and the Equerry in Waiting to the Duke of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Ronald Leveson Gower have returned to Stafford House, from Cliefden. Hall, near Maidenhead. The Duchess of Norfolk and family have left town for the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. The Duke of Cleveland and Lady Augusta Poulett are daily expected home from Paris. The Duke of Buccleuch and the Earl of Dalkeith have joined the Duchess and Ladies Scott in Belgrave square, from Dalkeith Palace, N.B. _ _ The Marchioness of Salisbury and her youthful family will leave town to-morrow for Hatfield. The Marchioness of Ely and family have left town for Loftus Hall, Wexford. The Countess de Persigny, who arrived in London two days ago with his Excellency the Count, has returned to Paris for a few days. The Countess of Derby will give a ball on the 3d of June, at the official residence of the Premier in Down ing-street. The Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury and Talbot are expected in town in a few days, for the season. The noble earl has taken a residence in Chesham-place. The Earl of Coventry has arrived in town from Worcestershire. His lordship has taken a residence in Chesterfield-street, Mayfair. The announcement that the Earl and Countess of Fife had suffered the loss of a daughter, after a few hours' illness, was made on Monday last in error. It was the Countess of Erroll, sister-in-law of the Countess of Fife, who had the misfortune to lose her daughter, and not Lady Fife. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston arrived at Cambridge House yesterday, from Brocket Hall, Herts. Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for India, will give an entertainment this evening, at the Clarendon, to celebrate her Majesty's birth-day, to which the following invitations have been issued :—His Highness the Maharaja •Dhuleep Singh, his Highness Prince Gholam Mahomed, his Highness Prince Feroze Shah, his Highness Prince Ferukt Bukht, Sir F. Currie, Bart., Mr. C. Mills, Sir J. W. Hogg, Bart.,Mr. Macnaghten, Mr. Mangles, Capt. Eastwick, Mr. Prinsep, Mr. Willoughby, Sir R. Vivian, K.C.8., Sir H. Montgomery, Bart., Sir P. Cautley, Sir H. hawlinson, Colonel Durand, Mr. Arbuthnot, Right Hon. Sir J. Lawrence, Bart., Sir George R. Clerk, Mr. J. C. Melvill, Mr. C. 11. C. Plowden, Mr. T. C. Robertson, Mr. D. Eliott, Mr. J. M. Macleod, Mr. It. L. Reid, Mr. Raikes, Sir P. Abbott, Sir A. Wilson, Sir G. Pollock, Sir J. Shiel, Colonel Tombs, Major-General Montgomerie, Major-General Hancock, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilde, Rev. W. Whiting, Ranald Martin, Esq., H. Wake, Esq. Major Bowie, Sir John Jones, Sir C. Rawlinson, Mr. Howard Russell, Mr. Lynch, Major Probyn, Dr. Forbes Watson, the Right Hon. Sir E. Ryan, Mr. F. Prideaux, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. I.3urdillon, Mr. Kaye, Mr. J. Dan vers, Mr. W. T. Thornton, Mr. J. C. Mason, Mr. T. N. Waterfield, Mr. Baillie, M.P., Professor Wilson, Sir James Melvin, K.C.8., tho Hon. C. A. Murray, C. 8., Right Hon. Holt Mackenzie, Dr. Lechie, Mr. Leach, and the Hon. G. Talbot. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER HALL.— Handers great choral oratorio, " Israel in Egypt," will be performed on Friday, the 27th of May. Principal vocalists, Madame Clara Novello (her first appearance this season), Miss Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Thomas, and Signor Belletti. ST. JAMES'S HALL.—Mr. Sims Reeves and Miss Arabella G o dd ar d w ill appear at th e performance of the Vocal A ssoc i a ti on on W e d nes d ay even i ng nex t , M ay 25th , when Handers " Ads and Galatea" (with Mozart's addi tional accetnpaniments) and Mozart's "Concerto" in C major will be performed. The band and choir, under the direction of M. Benedict, will number 400 performers. THE NEW K.C.B.'s.—Col. Robt. Walpole, C. 8., of the Rifle Brigade : Col. George Robert Barker, C. 8., of the Royal Artillery ; and Col. John Douglas, C. 8., of the 79th Foot, whose elevation to the dignity of Knights Com manders of the Bath (Military Division) we chronicled yes terday in our columns are all of them office rs w ith whose names the public are familiar in connection with the Indian mutiny. Sir Robert Walpole is a brother of the Right and late Secretasryurroefy State e f t o i r me th E e Department, n H vo o y me Extra Hon. Spencer H. Walp o l e, M .P. for Cambridge University, (som ' Plenipotentiary f rom G reat Britain to the being the third son of th e l ate Thomas Walpole, Esq., of ordinary an C S o tagd urt bAur o rYi f n i sP l t tmi aerrk eh), by Margaret, eighth daughter of John, second Earl of Egmont. He was born December Ist, 1808, and received his first commission in the army in May, 1825. He became lieutenant in 1826, captain in 1834, major in 1844, and went on half-pay as lieutenant colonel in 1847. He has recently attained the rank of colonel, and was for some time deputy quartermaster-gene ral in the lonian Islands. Sir Robert married in 1846 Ger trude, dauotter of the late General Ford,bywhom he has a youthful' Barker family. Sir George Ro bert is a much younger man, his earliest commission as second lieutenant brevet major in dating from June, 1834 ; he was promoted to the rank of army as ensign in 1833, captain sir o ! 1845,n poug1 a Douglas nendtetoretdhatht the army lieutenant-colonel . in 1857. 1812, major in 1852, and colonel i . be came lieutenant in 1836, captain sent from France to Frankfort, in return for French and Large amounts of gold and silver have lately been other securities transmitted to Paris for sale, and hoarding, it is said, is being practised to a considerable extent, *ninlBlsBB4.l, SARDINIA. The Indepenclance Beige publishes the following letter from Alessandria ALESSANDRIA, MAY 13. "Alessandria is almost entirely in the hands of the French. The only Piedmontese here belong to General Fanti's division ; the others are at Tortona and the neighbourhood. A few days since there were no less than 70,000 men in Alessandria ; 15,000 left the day before yesterday for Valenza and Casale. An attack upon the fortresses was not expected, consequently troops were sent where it was thought their services might be required. A concentration of troops can easily take place by railway. " Doubtless Alessandria will be intrusted to a strong French garrison. It will be the general depot of the army and hospitals. There is a tele graphic wire to Monte Castello, an elevation at the other side of the Tanaro, where an observatory has been erected which commands the whole valley of the Po. From this point the movements of the Austrians are carefully watched. " Troops continue to pour in. In the - same train by which I came were two squadrens of French cavalry which had crossed Mont Cenis. Marshal Canrobert has his head-quarters here. General Niel left for Valenza the day before yesterday. " There is a continual movement here. The King has visited Alessandria three times within the last few clays. He left the other night only accompanied by two aides-de-camp. Marshal Canrobeit is con tinually visiting him at his head-quarters at San Salvatore. " I need not describe the fortifications. All for tresses bear a resemblance to each other. The only change recently made is a curtain which connects all the detached forts with each other and with the Citadel. Some of the streets have been closed at each end and covered in with canvas to make stables for the cavalry. Huts and tents have been erected on every available spot. The officers are quartered in private:houses ; all the public establish ments have been turned into barracks or store houses. The Cathedral has been made the phar macy of the army. The streets swarm with uni forms. " As yet not a gun has been fired from the walls of Alessandria; but we have heard firing in the direction of Valenza. "No civilian is allowed to remain here more than 24 hours without permission. The railway between Alessandria and Casale is chiefly occupied by the transport of troops. " Great preparations are being made to receive the Emperor. " A court-martial is now sitting on the Chev flier Prasca di Casale, accused of having given informa tion to the Austrians. He is a cousin of the Minis ter Cadorna. An Austrian officer was arrested last night in one of the hotels as a spy. An actress who had known him at Milan recognised him and pointed him out to the authorities, while he was conversing with a French officer. "I have just visited the Citadel. I need not say that lam bound not to give any information re• specting it. The King has just passed through with his staff, coming from Genoa." The Moniteur gives the following account of the Emperor Napoleon's departure from Genoa and of his reception at Alessanclria. His Majesty's enthusiastic reception at Genoa has been already narrated :—" The Emperor, accompanied by the Ministers of the King of Piedmont, Count Ae Chasseloup-Laubat, Minister of Algeria, and the French Envoy at Turin, left Genoa on the 14th in the midst of the same manifestations of enthusiasm which - have never ceased since the arrival of his Majesty in Italy. The imperial train left at two o'clock precisely by the railway for Alessalldria• THE ZOUAVES. The correspondent of the Skck writes as follows from Genoa, under date of the 14th : " The 3d regiment of Zouaves starts for Bobbio, and will probably arrive there in the evening of the day after to-morrow, after halting the first night at Toriglia and the second at Ottona. Bobbio, on the frontier of the Duchy of Parma, is occupied at present by the Austrians, -and the Zouaves are sent to give them notice to quit. The latter are delighted with their mission, and hope to be the first French soldiers having a shot at the enemy. The colonel said this morning in my presence : If the Austrians do us :the honour to wait, we hope to be masters of the position the day after our arrival.' The colonel's only fear is that he shall not be able to restrain the ardour of his men, and you must know that all the officers entertain the same apprehension. At seven o'clock, Prince Napoleon, followed by his staff, arrived at the Pila gate, received the regiment in question, which forms part of his division, and at half-past seven the column began its march to the sound of the bugle and the soldiers' songs. All the reports confirm the news that the Austrians are retreating, but preparations are being made to attack them, and the general opinion is that an important en gagement will take place in a few days. As to the soldiers, they are firmly convinced that they shall lodge in Milan before the end of the month." A letter in the Debats, referring to the same corps, says : " One fact will give an idea of the incomparable African troops, with whom the Austrians are not yet acquainted. For six months the 3d Regiment of Zouaves has been on campaign ; since the 15th October the men have not slept fifteen nights in barracks ; three or four weeks ago they were at Tuggurt ; they were embarked at almost a moment's notice, and since their arrival in Piedmont have been encamped in the midst of rain ; and yet the regiment has not 10 men sick." The hopes of this fine corps to meet the Austrians at Bobbio must have been disappointed, as the ac counts received state that these latter abandoned the town the very day the Zouaves set out to drive them from it. The same letter in the Debats says : "If a battle should take place, it will probably be somewhere in the neighbourhood of Pavia, for it does not appear at all likely that the Austrians would await an attack in the square formed by the Sesia, the Po, and the Ticino. In the event of defeat they would have to effect their retreat by crossing the last named river, an operation of a very difficult character, and one which would expose them to serious loss. Although they now occupy that ground, and are throwing up fortified field works, it is probably only for the purpose of rendering more difficult any aggressive movement on the part of the Franco-Sardinian army." A letter from Turin iu the Independence of Brussels says : " The damage already caused by the Austrians is estimated at more than 100 millions. They have not only made enormous requisitions, but have cut down trees, principally mulberries, burnt and blown up bridges, destroyed railways, and sacked country houses and farm-buildings. Count de Cavour, who has a great part of his property in the provinces where those ravages have been com mitted, will be a severe sufferer. The Piedmontese people have conducted themselves with much dig nity and firmness, not excepting the clergy, to wards whom the Liberal party felt a certain degree of mistrust. The Austrians could neither find a spy, assistance, nor information among the Pied m ontc se." The Genoa Gazette mentions an engagement which took place on the 12th at Carrara, between the Modenese troops and the National Guards. The latter, aided by a few regular Piedmontese troops, were stationed in an advantageous position outside the town, under the orders of Commandant Ribotti. After a brisk attack, which was successfully re 'pulsed, the Modenese retired, but it was believed they had sent for reinforcements. The commandant of Alessandria, Count Giannotti, has issued a notification, ordering all strangers who have not a special permission, or do not belong to the allied armies, to quit the town within 24 hours. The Messaggere of Modena contains a ducal decree, ordering the arrest under the police regula tions of all persons inventing or spreading false news. THE AUSTRIAN ARMY IN PIEDMONT. (From the Second Edition of the Times.) AUSTRIAN HEADQUARTERS, MORTARA, MAY 13. - - i The Paris papers of the Bth arrived here to-day. They contain some criticisms on the Austrian mili tary movements here. One writer blames them for not marching on Novi; another for not walking over the prepared defences on the Dora Baltea straight to Turin. Now Novi is within a few hours of both Turin and Genoa by railroad, and at all events six days' march from Pavia for an army of 80,000 men, even supposing these to have three or four bridges and roads to move by. As the Fren c h bad five days' start in entering Sardinia , they had, therefore, fully 10 days' start in reaching Novi. 1. - A lie original plan of the Austrians was to attack there ; but it was definitely giv en up when they tpone their adyctnee agreed to England'a re . • r quest. When they did cross the frontier it was too late also to march on Turin, and all thoughts of an offensive movement was abandoned. The massing of the troops here, with corps of observation north, west, and south, was entirely a defensive men. sure. This should be borne in mind in England. Austria did not attack Piedmont. She threatened to do so, but at one word from England she totally gave up the project. France began the war by sending her troops to Genoa. Can any person really argue that the Austrians should after that have waited behind the Ticino, allowed the allies to mass their troops here at Novara, and choose their own time for attacking ? Had they acted so, a single battle might have decided the fate of all the north-west of Lombardy, whereas, by taking up this position, they prevent the allies from advancing by the northern route, unless they can first draw off the Austrians by a feint towards Stradella and Piacenza. Clearly the Austrians could not act otherwise, in self-defence, than cross the Ticino when they did. It would have been better, per haps, had they not before threatened to do so as an offensive movement. Some French were seen from Vercelli yesterday, at least some brick-coloured inexpressibles were ob served, but at the Dora Baltea some Piedmontese clothed their nether halves in that colour to mis lead the opposite party, and the same trick may have been repeated. To-day and yesterday there seems to have been an eastward movement on the part of the allies south of the Po. They can hardly be serious in an intention to penetrate Lombardy in that direction. The Po above Piacenza is very difficult to cross, and they cannot leave that fortress in their rear. They may wish either to raise the Parmesans again, or to effect a junction with the Tuscans, or the whole may be a feint. Were they quite sure of England's neutrality, a corps d'arnzee, landing at Spezzia and marching by Parma on Mantua, would be very troublesome, or they might leave just troops enough in Piedmont to keep the Austrians in check, and land the rest at Chioggia, near Venice. I need hardly say, therefore, that every expression of Minis terial or public opinion in England is received with extreme interest here. I cannot help thinking that public opinion is mistaken in respect to Austrian dominion in Italy. When I hear a statesman like Lord Palmerston express a hope that this war may result in the Germans being entirely driven out of the country, I naturally hesitate in forming an op posite opinion, and re-examine the evidence which has been gradually convincing me. I confess, how ever, that the more I consider the question, and the more I compare statements with facts, the more settled does my opinion become. Under the French, Piedmont, Lombardy, Parma, Modena, and part of the States of the Church, formed one province. In 1815 these all had a fair start under different Go vernments. Look at them now. Lombardy is the richest province under the sun, but the upper one thousand are discontented; in the others the material prosperity is certainly less, and the upper one thousand of Piedmont are contented, all the rest are discontented ; all wish for change of some sort, from the Pope's legate downwards. This magnificent plain of Piedmont, which I now see before me, is inferior in no physical respect to Lombardy, yet no man would hesitate if allowed to choose between one acre of land cast of the Ticino and two west. Surely the English must have prejudged this case, deceived by the name of " con stitutional" given to the Piedmontese Government. Is a Constitution a blessing or a curse to a Latin nation ? How has it proved in France, how in Mexico, how in S pain ? In Sardinia, 20 years ago, the revenue derived from ordinary taxes exceeded the expenditure. The people was happy, though some few ambitious lawyers and others were anxious for change. Now the national debt is increased year by year in spite of taxation of the most oppressive kind, and the people is ripe for Red Republicanism. The fact seems to be that absolutism and constitutional forms arc equally capable of being used for bad purposes. If discontent exist in Lombardy, as alleged, we can easily account for it by considering the conduct of Sardinia towards Parma and Tuscany. It is not denied that in these provinces the late revolutions were effected by Piedmontese agents. Now, in Lombardy, I can state from personal observation, that the further from Piedmont the less is the dis content. The claptrap phrases, so often used b - persons who do not know their meaning, are just the same in Milan and in Turin, and in both places are the same false statements made. The Lombards are said to be subject to a more exacting conscrip tion than the other nations composing the Austrian empire. What is the fact ? Until 1848, the Lom bard only served eight years, the others 14 ! Now this has been equalised, but who is to blame ? Who is to blame—l beg pardon, I mean to say, to whose disinterested friendship does Lombardy owe the heavy conscription of this year ? As to Venice, France reduced it to absolute ruin. In 1815 it was given to Austria as a possession without importance, its trade having disappeared, and its population diminished. Austria made it a free port, gave it a railway, bridged the Lagune, which separated it from the main land, and 15 days ago it was a happy, prosperous town, with every prospect of a still further and more rapid advance. Yet, because there once lived at this place a great Italian nation, there are people in England who think that Sardinia has a right to ruin the present inhabitants, not one-third of whom are of Venetian origin, and annex the territory. This is what they wish to do ; whether France will lightly give up her hold on'ltaly if she can obtain one, is another ques tion, and must evidently depend on the permission of Russia, for Italy, France, and Austria crippled, England and Germany dare not interfere. Poor Venice ! You cannot conceiv e how desolate she looks. Venice in May, without 10 visitors. The state of stagnation is complete, all the military pre parations being already made. These are of a most formidable nature, and, considering the difficulty of access to vessels of any size, I do not hesitate to state that a merely naval attack on that place would have no chance of success. Every channel has either already been quite blockaded up by sunken ships, and vessels laden with stones are moored close by, ready to close the small remaining passage at a few minutes' notice, and guns of large calibre (mostly 9 1 ,--* inch shell guns, but longer than the English 10-inch guns) command all these obstacles. The natives certainly looked to me happier in 1850, when the Austrians had just returned, than they do now. I suppose some few are ready to make great sacrifices to get rid of the Tedeschi, but the shopkeepers think much more of the total stoppage of trade than of anything else. Trieste presented an equally melancholy appear ance, more so, perhaps, for the ruin is greater. There, at all events, there is but one feeling, that of the most intense hatred of the French and Sar dinians, or rather of the Emperor Napoleon and Count Cavour. A strong force is out to-day to reconnoitre beyond the Sesia, and the Austrian left has been reinforced to watch the French o n th at s i de. Should anything be discovered to cause a general movement I will write to-morrow, but I think this unlikely. They cannot be prepared yet for an ad vance in force. AUSTRIA. The Austrian governor of Venice has published a notification that from the firing of the evening gun until the firing of the morning, no vessel of any kind shall be allowed to enter or leave that port; and that persons violating the regulation shall be arrested and punished according to military law. A Vienna letter says :-- "We are only just at the beginning of a war of which the misfortunes and the end cannot even be foreseen, and already the financial abyss threatens toswallow up not only all the present resources of the State, but, frightful to relate, all those of which it can dispose in the future. The Viennese public, scarcely recovered from the astonishment (not to use a stronger word) occasioned by the Im perial decree of the 30th April last, ordering the issue under form of a loan of a new series of bonds to the amount of 200,000,000 florins, with interest of 5 per cent., of which the National Bank was forced, in return for the right to issue 150,000,000 florin of new notes of Rye &rine each, to take three parts ; the public, I say, hoped that with this sum, which in normal times would have been equal to 500,000,000f1., the Minister of Finance would have been able to provide for all the ex penses which the war in Italy occasions. But this has unfortunately not been the case. Persons in a position to know the state of the Treasury affirm that so far back as the 10th it was completely empty, and that the 200,000,000 florins of the loan decreed on the 30th April are completely disbursed in the enormous purchases of military stores and war material indispensable for the army in Italy. It has been announced to-day at the Bourse, that, on the proposition of the Minister of Finance, the Emperor has decreed a new loan of 75,000,000 florins, to be payable in specie—a condition which will, on account of the ruinous depreciation of paper-money in Austria, double the amount of it. These 75,000,000 florins, which make 150,000,000 fr., are to be placed to the charge of the Lombardo-Venetian provinces ; that is to say, those provinces are to pay the amount in gold and silver coin in the same way as the Go vernment has thought right to make them do on previous occasions. The Minister of Finance at Vienna will be charged after the war to pay off the bonds to be created for this loan ; the payment to be effected by annual instalments of sums taken from the direct and indirect taxes levied in the said provinces. The whole system is a ruinous one for all the parties concerned." FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY. BOURSE, May 18.—An escompte of 307,500 f. of Three per Cent. Rente and of 9,000 f. of 41 per Cents. was posted up, but it has had no great effect on the market, speculators feeling uneasiness rela tive to the attitude of Germany. Threes varied from GOf. 70e. to GOf. 85c.; Mobilier, 550 f. to 567 f. 50c.; Austrian, 348 f. 75c. to 351 f. 25c. ; Orleans, 1,140 f, to 1,150 f. ; Lyons, 762 f. 50c. to 767 f. 50c. ; Northern, 862 f. 50c. to 872 f. 50c. The following were the closing quotations 4} per Cents. .... 89 Credit Fonder 635 Do. end month .. 89 Belgian 41 — 3 per Cents Do. end month 6l Roman BO Bank Shares 2750 Austrian CrMit Mobilier .. 572 50 Spanish Threes — Do. Account ..... 572 50 Home Debt 35 50 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 767 50 .. 767 60 Geneva 442 50 .. 435 Southern - Western 487 50 .. 485 Eastern Sardinian 340 .. 330 75 Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 71e, ; money, 25f. 21c.; three months, paper, 24f. 90c. ; money, 24f. 871 c. RUSSIA. " The Russian forces which are to protect the provinces bordering on Austria," says the Inde pendance of Brussels, "are becoming very consider able. Our correspondent at St. Petersburg has mentioned the mobilisation of two corps d'armee— the 3d and 4th—presenting an effective strength of 70,000 men, and afterwards of the sth, in Bessarabia, amounting to 26,000, and he now states that similar orders have been given for the corps which occupies Lithuania, and another in Poland. These particulars, the exactness of which we think we can guarantee, complete and rectify a telegraphic despatch published in the Russian journal the Nord, and dated from Berlin. The mobilisation must, according to that despatch, comprise all the corps d'armee from the Ist to the 6th. That is an error. The 3d and 4th corps ought not to have been mentioned, because they had been previously mobilised. As to the 6th corpse that of the central army, the headquarters of which are at Moscow, it is very rarely, if ever, mobilised. The five corps which have been, or are about to be, mobilised, constitute together a force of more than 200,000 men. This measure, although it cannot fail to produce some sensation in Germany, has nothing but what is perfectly natural, and is only what is being done both by England and Prussia." THE BOMBAY MAILS. INDIA OFFICE, MAY 19. Thb following telegram has been received, via Marseilles, from the Secretary to the Government of Bombay, dated the 26th of April : TO J As. COSMO MELVILL, ESQ., INDIA-OFFICE, LONDON. CENTRAL INDIA. Tantia Topee was tried by court martial on the 15th instant at Seepree, sentenced to death, and hanged on the 18th. A body of rebels under Adil Mahomed Khan was surprised near Futtehpore on the 19th, and routed with a loss of several killed and wounded. SCINDE DIVISION. Intelligence has been received by telegraph of the occurrence on the 15th inst. of an outbreak at Nuggur Parkur, north of Cutch. Troops have been despatched from Deesa for the reduction of the insurgents. No particulars are given. With this exception the Bombay Presidency is quiet. MARSEILLES, MAY 18. The Panther arrived at seven this morning with the mails from Bombay, and left for London at 10. No quarantine. MALTA, MAY 15. The Bombay mail of the 26th of April leaves to-day. A small body of rebels had appeared in the Shahabad districts, but are believed to have been dispersed. There is Not any news of importance from Nepaul. Tantia Topee was hanged at Seepree on the 18th of April. The Bombay import market was rather quiet. Large transactions had taken place in cotton. Oil seed was steady. Exchange, 2s. ncl., to 5-IG. MALTA. Admiral Fanshawe is in the offing with four liners ; two others are in port. We find the following in the 3lalta Times of the 10th We learn from England that a hundied heavy guns and a hundred thousand shot and shell are coming out for the further armament of thug island. Great changes in the works are expected to be made by the commissioners Colonel Owen , Royal Engineers, and Colonel Lefroy, Royal Aral' lery, who are at present here examining the fortiii cations. We understand that whatever improve ments they suggest are to be carried out immediately without reference to home. Floriana is already being armed with heavy guns, with the exception of the Crown and Horn works, which are both considered as entirely useless, being commanded by the sur rounding heights. The report which has found circulation and publication here, regarding th e projected arming of Civitta Vecchia with ordnance is unfounded, But we believe there is some truth in the rumour that it is in contemplation to send a regiment there, owing to the want of acconunc" dation in Valetta and its neighbourhood for the four regiments on their way here. It is said that a regiment is likely to be sent to Gozo." CHATTERS OF SHIPS.--It has transpired t his afternoon that shipowners have been warned upon the authority of the highest legal officers o f the Crown that all charters of ships t o th e F rench Governmen t as 1` trans" ports" or " storeships" are in contravention of the 59tb. of George 111., cap. 69, and if attempted to be carried out will involve confiscation of ship, and prosecution and inn' prisonment for misdemeanour on information being give n of the existence of an such contract. This decis ion ap plies equally to ves se l s y chartered before or subsequently to the issue of the recent proclamation. The Mauri steamer lately chartered, and now lying at Southamptopt will therefore be unable to clear. The provisions of the contract in that instance include a penalty of £lO,OO O non -fulfilment ; but this, of course, cannot be enforced, since the contract itself is pronounced illegal. There nra several other cases of charters for similar purposes, vatic"' LA like manner will have to be abancloneds tab ?Jae be ( )9il are Sal du]