The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-23 00:00:00

the clause which involved an entirely new principle and would raise an important discussion. The house then went into committee. On the question that the preamble be postponed, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, — I I shall be able to satisfy the oommittee that there is a real reason of convenience for proceeding with the bill at this moment. The course which her Majesty's present advisers—l will not say her Ma jesty's Government—are taking in asking the house to consider the measure is quite disinterested on their part, inasmuch as it does not in any way concern them at present that the bill should make progress. In quitting office, however, they are desirous not to leave such a deficiency of revenue as would create an in convenience to their successors, or render necessary a supplemental vote and an encroachment on the balances in the Exchequer, which might have to be resorted to if the East India Company are net empowered by raising money on loan to repay the advances which have been ands to them by the Exchequer during the course of the present year. The proposal is to authorise the Company, for the service of the Home Government, to raise money, either by debentures or Londe. Such a proposition in no new principle. From a very early period the East India Company have from time to time been empowered to raise money by bonds in this country, and the raising it by debentures constitutes merely a formal alteration, which makes no difference in point of principle. When they were a trading as well as a governing corporation they raised money on bonds for the purposes of their trade. At that time Parliament thought fit, as it limits the amount borrowed by other trading companies, such as railway companies, to limit the amount which this corporation could raise by their bonds. As soon as the Company ceased to be a trading company, and remained merely a governing body—a subordinate part of the Rome Government of India—their position was entirely altered. Nevertheless, the old maxim was thought to apply—namely, that they had not as unlimited power of borrowing in this country for the service of the Indian Government. It was stated by the hon, member for Guildford (Mr. Mangles), and from communications with the India-house I know it to be the fact, that the opinion of counsel has been taken on the point whether now that they have ceased to be a trading body, there is anything to restrain them from borrowing money in Eng land for the service of the Home Government ; and the opinion of counsel is that there is nothing so to prevent them, so that in fact, if thatopinion be just, there would be no necessity for passing this bill. But the Go vernment thought, and so advised the Company that inasmuch as it bad been the invariable practice for Parliament to authorise them to borrow on bonds in this country, it would not be expedient to act on the opinion expres•ed by counsel, and that it would be more respectful to Parliament to ask for their express authority. For that reason the bill has been introduced. As I said before the measure involves no new principle whatever. In point of fact the company have now a power to borrow on bonds which is net wholly, though it is nearly exhausted. Therefore, when it is argued that this is a dangerous principle, and that it would involve the British Exchequer, my answer is, that the principle is neither new nor dangerous, and that it is per:ectly un derstood with respect to loans contracted by the Com pany in the money-market. If the committee wish I will go through the items of account which has been framed by the Company, containing an estimate of the probable charges upon the home Government of India until the end of their next financial year, April 30, 1359, and the means they estimate for meeting these charges. Perhaps it is unnecessary that I should do more than mention the result, which is, that there would be a deficit of about 7,500,0001. The charges have, I think, been taken on rather a liberal scale, and the probability is, as far as we can judge at present, that the deficiency will be a sum considerably less than 7,500,0001. However, in the pre sent state of India it is difficult to form anything like a close approximation to the truth in framing an estimate, and we will therefore assume that at the end of the Com pany's financial year, cm April 30, 1859, there will pro bably be a deficiency exceeding 7,000,0001. Now, the question arises how that deficiency is to be met. The hon. baronet opposite contends that there is danger in autho rising the East India Company to borrow this money, inasmuch as the consequence of such a step may be the creation of a prospective charge upon the Imperial Exchequer. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY—I simply wished to have an assurance from the Government that there was no danger involved in the measure. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—My answer to the hen. baronet is, that there is a charge to a certain amount to be met, and that we must endeavour to meet it in one way or another. It is the duty of Par liament to see that adequate means be provided ror that purpose, and we, with that view, propose to enable the East India Company to borrow in the English market, the unlimited power of raising loans in the native market which they possess being now exhausted. The hon. baronet wishes further to know what is the exact amount of the present debt of the Government of India ? In reply to that qeestion I may state that the gross in come derivable from our Indian possessions is about 29,000,0001. per annum, and that the stock of the Com• parry—which is a portion of their debt guaranteed by Parliament, but not guaranteed upon the credit of the British Exchequer, the fund out of which the dividends are to be paid not being designated by the Legislature— amounts to 6,000,0001. Mr. WALPOLE—There is a virtual guarantee upon our part in reference to that stock. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—In the event of the failure of the Indian revenue, the faith of Parliament is no doubt pledged to provide for the pay ment of the dividends out of the English Exchequer— (hear, bear)—but there exists no necessity for making a demand upon it until that revenue becomes exhausted. I think, therefore, I am right in saying that there is no direct and prirxary charge upon the Exchequer of Erg. land in connexion with this stock. That stock, as I have just stated, amounts to 6,000,0091., and is guaranteed at 12,000,00 e—that is to say, 2001. are to be paid for every 100/., so that the whole sum may therefore be considered as equivalent to a debt of 12,000,0001. Now the guarantee fund which is to be set off against that debt amounts to about 4,500,0001., and we reckon that it will in the course et a few years be as high as 7,000,0001. Well, the India debt is 50,433,0003., and the bond debt about 6,000,000/. ; those various coins in conjunction constituting a total charge of 68,433,000/. That is the whole of the present charge upon the reve nues of India, and against that is to be set oil the gin mantes fund. The committee will therefore see that, comparing the gross debt of India with its annual reve nue—which is 29,000,000/.—the amount is not so con siderable as might have been supposed. There is, however, another way of looking at the Indian debt. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY—Are the railway guarantees included in the statement you have just made 1 The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—No. I am referring to that which is, strictly speaking, the amount of the debt, and I tray add that what seems to me to be most material with respect to it is not the nominal amount of the capital of the debt, but the annual charge which it imposes. The total annual charge for the Indian debt, according to the last accounts presented to Parliament, which relate to the year ending the 3d of April, 1858, was as follows : Interest on the India debt £2,044 318 Interest on the home bonded debt Dividends to proprietors of stock Total £2,829,024 Now the gross revenue, as I before said, is 29,000,0001., and the net income may be taken at 23,000,0001., so that the annual charge f,r the public debt of India, as it stood in 1356, amounts to about one-eighth of the net revenue, whereas the annual charge for the debt of the United Kingdom is about 23,500,000/., or nearly one half its ordinary revenue. The committee, therefore, cannot fail to perceive that the d e bt o f T u di a i s compare . tively light when taken in connection with the revenue which she yields. The statement which I have just made will, I trust, lead the committee to arrive at the conclusion that when the existing revolt in India has been quelled, and the country restored to its ordinary condition, the credit of the Indian Government will be in a position to sustain the loan which I now propose. Let us just see what is the present state of the credit of that Government. On eth Oct., 1853, the Company's Four per Cents. were worth in the Indian market 1031 or 1031. That was before the public works loan was negotiated. Upon 29;h Jan., 1857, just previous to the mutiny, the 5 per Cents, were 99, and the 4 per Cents. 80, at which price the Indian Government could borrow at the rate of 5 per cent. If, however, yuu outupuis its credit with that of most of the continental nations, 7ott will find the comparison to be not very disadvanta ge"s to the Government of India. The French Three t r . Cents., for i ns t ance , were l a t e ly as low as 69, and .-.7 many continental governments find themselves unable to borro4 2-7ths per °e w at. upon more advantageous terms than India is 10eanenet. The ordinary interest of money in can bor row 12 per cent., and if the Indian Go vernmentsible to contend hat at 5 per cent., it is, I think, impos of the soundness of t te t ir credit is bad. No better test than the value of its bonds in e can, per cent.,l think, be taken the London market. Those bonds are at 4 Exchequer - bill s a V e ld at are now at about 253. premium. per cent. , ). rate of interest which is equivalent to 31. 16a, eed are at about V. that the two scales premium. If the committee will comp are Go superiority of credit, they cannot fail to percei ve , bea r . ) of of the Imperial credit over that of the s . bein g India is nothing very remarkable. (Rear therefore entertain no reasonable doubt a s t o r i, I c an able to negotiate its bonds upon fair terms , no r, in my opinion, is there any goodground for calling upon the 1 Enitliale Exchequer the o e give a guarantee for those bonds. It hashitherto been reat en b a o b as l boast of meat, that they have be eng the Indian Govern. to def defray t all it t c h a ex penses connected with their admini stration; ennotwith justice be denied that they h ave advantage of being backed up b the resources enjoyed the country. The number of troop: sent roeustoutroTadoita this been much larger than usual, but th e pay and pro./ 'has scrn. in ing of those troops is provided for from the In dian ex chequer. It has been usual for raany years for alla military expenses, and to some extent the naval _ Exp eeee , for the defence of India, to be paid out of the revenues 0 f India. In the time of Lord N or t h t h e question was m ooted whether the British Government had not a claim to the territoria l revenues of India. The East India ta i n d their right to them , while, on the o ther hand , C°ll3l""maintained the in I mp erial Government contended, and maintained, that whatever has always com acquired by British subjects, it was territory might he to the Crown. A compromise, acquired only as tenants d by the imposition of what was however, was effecte d East India Company , series of years and fora called a tribute upon the B:itish Ex. the that tribute was paid into the arrangement was chequer. Snle,equently, however, • altered and the Company was requir ed to pay over the surplus revenues, but no surplus ever cam e , and at last held the bargain was abandoned. But it has always been that if the East India Company contributed nothing to THE SUN LONDON TUESDAY 1.44VE NI NG, FEBRUARY 23, 1858 the revenues of this country they should be independent of all aid from the Imperial Exchequer. There have been loans from the Government to the East India Company, bat I am not aware that there has been any grant of public money from the British Exchequer to the Company. I can see no ground for departing from that invariable practice, and I hope the committee will agree that this bill is founded upon a just principle, and that, should it be passed, the East India Company will have no difficulty in raising money as they may require it for the wants of India. The Company, I must observe, do not contemplate an immediate call upon the money market for so large an amount of loan as the bill men tions. If they raise two or three millions within the next six months, that is quite as much as they are likely to require, but as cacumstances arise they will takea million or so in order to defray current expenses in India, and therefore it is that so wide a margin has been taken in the bill. Every one will see that it would not be a suffi cient justification for calling Parliament together next October or November simply because a bill was necessary to enable the East India Company to borrow another million. While upon the one hand there is nothing in this bill which is likely to bring any prospective charge upon the British Exchequer, upon the other hand it provides the means for raising money at the least prac ticable cost to the taxpayers of India. It is admitted there is a real want of money. Then, what is to be done ? Has anybody anything better to propose I It is clear the current revenues of the East India Company are in the present conjuncture insufficient ti meet their expenditure, and the question which these facts raise is whether they can borrow sufficient funds in India. I understand the Indian loans do not fill as rapidly as would be necessary to enable the wants of the present year to be met by that means. What course, then, could the East India Company adopt but to borrow the money in London ? If you will not permit that there only remains the question whether the British Exche quer should supply any deficiency. Really the reason able and proper coarse to pursue appears to me to be so obvious in the present necessarily embarrassed state of the Indian finances that I cannot but believe the committee will he satisfied with the explanations I have given. Mr. T. BARING regretted that the right hon. gen tleman had thought it necessary to make such a long speech in the present state of thy house. The right hon. gentleman had challenged opinions upon three points of the state of Indian finance—on the power of the India Company to borrow money, and to what eaten', and whether there was any claim upon the honour and liberality of this nation to support the Company, in order to enable them to meet their engagements. He (Jr. Baring) was not one of those who thought so badly of Indian finance. The right hon. gentleman said the Company could always borrow money in London. If that was so he (Mr. Baring) should like to hear him and the Chairman of the East India Company state why they slid not borrow on as good terms last autumn — (hear, hear)—and why the right hon. gentleman did not raise the rate upon India Bends so as to place them on the same footing as the most favoured railway shares. He thought the reason was plain ; it was because the right hon. gentleman thought that would interfere with his own Exchequer Bills. It seemed to him (Mr. Bar ing), looking at the state of the house, and knowing the state of the Government, that it was most objectionable to give power to borrow 8,000,0001. when there was only 6,000,0001. wanted, and giving that power to they knew not whom. (Hear, hear.) They knew there was to be a council, hut that was all they knew, and therefore he repeated it was objectionable to give a power to borrow 8,000,0001., when not more than 6,000,000/. were required. ([Lear, hear.) Much had been said regarding our liability from Indian debt, but this be would remark, that hehoped so long as England retained the possession of our Indian empire it never would repudiate such obligations. He maintained we were bound to keep the Indian finances in order so long as we assumed the responsibility of administering them. The late Sir R. Peel had observed that there was no direct connection between the finances of India and of this country, but that we were bound to keep those finances in a state of regularity ; and that to say there was no connection between Indian finances and the finances of this country, was to take a merely superficial view, and that any serious disorder in Indian finance would be felt generally throughout this country. The hon. gentleman also quoted the opinion of Sir C. Wood, spoken on June 3, 1853, to the same effect. For the British Government to say that it had nothing to do with Indian finance, as the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor o' the Exchequer seemed to say, was in effect to cause the Government of India to borrow at the highest posible rate of interest. He apologised to the house for so long trespassing on them, but the Chancel• lor of the Exchequer had most unexpectedly made a long speech, much of which he felt called for his marked dissent. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER ex plained. The hon. gentleman who had just sat down had not fairly represented what he said. He did not say the British Crown might be indifferent to the pos session of India, but that he entertained serious doubts as to the value of India to this country. He repeated that the exchequer of England derived no advantage from India, but he admitted fully that we were bound to ob serve all our engagements with t the native princes Sir H. WILLOUGHBY al , o explained. He hoped the house would see what the state of the Indian revenue was before it permitted a fresh debt to be contracted. Sir F. BARING regretted that the right hon. gen tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer had brought this great subject before the committee, but he supposed his right hon. friend thought that as Chancellor of the Ex chequer he would not have another opportunity of doing so. He (Sir F. Baring) adhered to his former views regarding the responsibility of this country for Indian loans. He wished the loan to be no more than 8,000,0001. Mr. WILLIAMS did not see what connection there was between an Indian loan and the taxation of this country. He hoped never to see the views of the hon. gentleman the member for Huntingdon adopted here. Mr. V. SMITH did not desire to raise a large question concerning Indian finance, but if such a question was raised the blame was attributable to the hon. gentleman the member for Evesham. He did not see why India should not be at liberty to borrow as well as any of our colonies. Mr. CRAWFORD said the imperial revenues were answerable for the capable stock of the East India Company. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER denied that this was so. Mr. AYRTON gave his opinion of the nature of the guarantee. He trusted the right hon. gentleman would not press the bill through committee, considering that there was no responsible Government. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended the form in which the bill was drawn, and said that neither in law nor equity would the imperial revenues be made answerable for the liabilities of the Indian exchequer. After a short discussion, Mr. MANGLES said that it was necessary the Com pany should be supplied with funds to go on ; if the bill were not passed through committee that night, it would probably be delayed until after Easter, and the Company would be without the necessary funds. The committee then proceeded to the consideration of the clauses. Upon clause 1, Mr. LINDSAY said that he understood from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that only two or three millions would be required for the next six months ; he would therefore propose as an amendment to the clause that the VIM of 8,000,000/. be reduced to 2,000,0001. : ihat sum would probably be sufficient for the next three months; and after that period Parliament would pto bebly know in what situation the Company would be placed. Mr. MANGLES said that the very small sum pro• posed would be totally inadequate to meet the emer gencies of India. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hoped the amendment would not be pressed. The hon. gen tleman was confounding two things which were quite distinct—namely, the way of borrowing for the Imperial Government, and the way of borrowing for the East India Company. All that this bill would give the coin pacy was the power of borrowing to a certain extent up to April, 1859 ; but the company would probably not take up more than two or three millions immediately. The first clause was then agreed to. After a short discussion, Mr. CRAWFORD asked whether the stock to be issued ender the bill would have priority over any other Indian etaeo t The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it would have no preference. The remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the bill was reported to the house. The other orders were adjourned until Friday next. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH. Mr. COWPER obtained leave to bring in a bill to confirm a provisional order of the General Board of Health, for the application of the Public Health Act to the district of Skipton, in the West Riding of the county of York. ABSTRACTION OF INCOME TAX RETURNS. On the motion of Mr. CRAWFORD an address was agreed to, for copies of ail . correspoudence which has taken place upon the subject of the abstraction of income tax returns in the City of London. The house adjourned at half•past nine o'clock until Friday next. Mr. Colville paired in favour of Mr. M. Gibson's reAolution and against the second reading of the Con• 511 "acy Bill with the Hon. W. B. Portman. 2,3 i t a tt s s aa n t r ii v rd L a O y c i c a 7 h ß t E l T t tf i titf: n l b i o n f ou n g at h u , r i e n t w oo la k ie p h la a ce yo a u t n t g he ro v a il n lag n e am of e C d o j v o e h , n ne ß ar ura F fn ar a n; A ce TF o f a mT v l er O y it a o p ll;: i l l lost his life. It appeared that on Saturday a number of young country fellowe, of the agri cu lt ura l c l ass, a tt en ded a club meeting in Cove, after which they adjourned to the Plough Inn, to have some refreshment. About 12 o'clock a qua] rel arose between two of them, named John Rummay and 'William Goddard, and they got to blows, after fighting some little time the latter drew forth a knife, and not only stabbed, but ripped up the abdomen of hia unfortunate opponent. The bystanders were perfectly horrified on perceiving the entrails of the unfortunate Runamay protruding through the wound, and they, without delay, removed him to the Plou g h Inn, and a medical gen tl eman was at once rent for. Such, however, was the event of the frightful injuries he received that to prolong his life was beyond all human aid. of never ,g e, rallied f ; and after suff,evrisn,,g7,talase aboutmoat on —tati,4ay mot, intense H a e g,ony, the Lh u e n o h r ii t , : i na w te uu fe: ( l i o h w, „ who 1,,ate,,,,i, and conveyed to the police re h e a d o'c a l c o t e e k d as seconds intact, the fiGi2r:glid.tydeaawbrrd:sr°a:n d"itec'vrodinledenatwthho stationnri uest,at 0 ii apprehended haal, + c , await the result of the coroner's lIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, LAST NIGHTS. riocoiomini, Spezia, Sanuier, Belletti, Yialetti, Alclighieri, Luchesi, and Giuglini. THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), — Feb. 23 (Last Night but Two), LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIMENTO, and Last Act of LA FAVORITA. To conclude with the successful Divertissement, by M. Massot, entitled L'HYMENEE, by Madlles. Clavella, Mor lacchi, and Pasquale. THURSDAY, Feb. 25 (Last Night but One), LA ZINGARI, being the Italian version of the Bohemian Girl. SATURDAY, Feb. 27 (Last Night), IL TROVA.TORE. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold. four persons), pit and one pair, 2/. 2s; grand tier, 3/. 3e ; two pair, 1/. 55.; three pair, 15s; gallery boxes, 10.3; gallery stalls, 3s 6a ; pit, 3s 6cl; gallery, 2s. Doers open at half-past 7—commence at 8. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box•office at the Theatre. T HEA TRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE, Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, will be performed CLOUD AND SUNSHINE. Mr. James Anderson and Miss Elsworthy. Followed by the new grand pantomime, LITTLE JACK HORNER. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYiVIA.RKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buekstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Beatrice, '.Mee Amy Sedgwick ; Benedick, Mr. Howe. After which, a now comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD ; or, Harle quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ; Columbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; Olown, Mr. Charles Leclorcq. Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening), 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. s. d. Second price. s. d Dress Boxes 5 0 Dress Boxes 3 6 Upper Boxes ,. 3 0 Upper 80xe5.... P t 2 0 Pit 1 0 Gallery ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be performed Shah.'spere's Play of A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a now grand ,wimie Christmas Pantomime entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor -pack ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. lIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPRI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE FAIRY CIRCLE. Mr. and 3drs. Barney Williams. After which, YANKEE COURTSHIP, To conclude with LATEST FROM NEW TORK. Commence at Seven. R OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. —Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.— THIS EVENING, will be performed Leigh Hunt's now Play, LOVERS' AMAZEMENTS. Supported by Messrs. Charles Dillon, J. G. Shore ; Mesdames Charles Dillon and Woolgar. After which, a domestic tale, by Westland Marston, en titled A HARD STRUGGLE. Mr. C. Dillon, &c. To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH ROOKH, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU BADOUR ; or, Harlequin and the Cambers of the Desert. Supported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White, Eliza Webb, Maria Ternan, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ; Messrs, Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Poynter, and J. L. Toole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites, Herr Zeleski and Sons ; Columbines, Misses Malcolm and Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans formation Scene. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. 3ox.office open from 11 to 5 daily, OYAL SURREY THEATRE. CI) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswiek. THIS EVENING, will bo performed an original English Play, RIGHT AND WRONG. To conclude with PERILS BY LAND AND WAVE Messrs. Shepherd, Potter, Widdicomb, &c. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow lag company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of S elections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, 61c., viz.:—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, Miss Brunel', Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Henshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badp,•ey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard; Messrs. 1. Maclagan, W. 1. Critchileld and E. Mackney. Piano forte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, tte., until twelve o'clock. • Mr. AIIGT/S US BRAVA) will appear every Evening. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Cuts DAY—Morn., 52 min. aft. B—Even., 41 min aft. 9 TO-Ifoitnow —Morn. 32 min. aft. 10 —Even. 25 rain. aft. 11 ME WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, irnanx3e.ux 23. lIIERSIOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 42—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 41 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 22.68. WIND, Easterly; fresh, cold and dull weather. t (11 e , LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 1358. The Ministerial arrangements are yet inccm plete. Indeed complications have arisen that render the foriaation of a Cabinet a work of gloater difficulty than had been anticipated. It is said that Mr. GLADSTONE and the Aberdeenites are coy, that they have rejected all overtures from the Derbyite camp, and are determined to remain neutral—at least for the time being—until they can perceive the most beneficial terms for them selves. We confess that, in our opinion, Lord DERBY has suffered no great loss in the rejection of his offers by Mr. GLADSTONE. We fully re cognise his extraordinary eloquence and general ability, but unfortunately the obstinacy with which he maintains his own peculiar crotchets is equally notorious. He will not yield on any point, and must virtually be the dictator of any Ministry with which he is connected, although nominally filling a subordinate position. His views on the Income Tax and Bank Charter Act are alike opposed to equity and expediency, and ought to prove fatal to any Ministry by which they are promulgated. We should entertain hopes of beneficial legislation from the Dabyites, who are made of squeezable materials, but th,s, would be greatly deteriorated if Mr. GLADSTONE occupied an influential position as head of the financial department. So many rumours are in circulation that it is impossible, as yet, to speak with any degree of certainty respecting the future arrangements. Mr. DISRAELI will, of course, be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and we confess that we greatly prefer him in that department to Mr. GLADSTONE. " Protection" has been consigned to the " tomb of eat tho c.pulets r' The monster can never be resuscitated under any circumstances, and we should be glad to hear " a financial scheme" sub mitted by the Conservative Leader in the House of Commons, just to compare it with the Whig bantlings, for which Lord OVERSTONE stood spon sor, and many of which were framed under his inspection. We say this because the fate of the new Government will always remain in the hands of the people. Lord DEIC.BY will only hold office "dam se bens ge3serit," or on " good behaviour," as it is termed in the vernacular. It will be utterly useless to attempt the formation of a Cabinet unless he is prepared to accede to the reasonable requirements of the community. A. large and comprehensive measure of Re form has been promised by Lord PALMERSTON. It must be carried during the present session, and any,ttempt at evasion, or even procrastination, will be strictly scrutinised. The ex-Premier kept his secret ; not an inkling of the nature of the bili was suffered to ooze out. He can thus rise in his biddings when the proper time arrives. But this"we say, and all the competitors may accept the hint, that unless "the ballot" be included, nothing else will be acccpted. In office any of the rivals might neglect its claims ; but when sweet sweet voi ces " o f th e e l ec t ors , it i s no harm there are three can did a t e s se e king to allud e t o t h e talisman that will give success to ". the most the \ Ballc, traypa by which it is first grasped. " The will prove the Enchanter's wand on the present occasion, ensuring a triumph to its pos a eeSer. On this point of reform there can be no-delay or procrastination. A Fabian policy cannot and ' will not be tolerated. The first interrogatory to be exhibited to the new leader of the House of Commons, whoever he may be, will relate to that all-important topic, and should he refuse to re turn a clear, distinct, and unequivocal answer, a trial of strength may fairly be demanded. This rough lesson will teach the new Government that the popular will must be respected, and that it can neither be shelved nor shuffled over for an indefinite period. Lard PALMERSTON, in office, has maintained his Tory predilections. He would yield not a single point so long as he was surrounded by an obedient majority, ready to back, per pas aut nefas, any the dispenser of " the now be prepared to loaves o t a p k i n e i namnopdereofimsciOuerlrsgea: He m promulgated e b w y e of y h is situation, and to speak out more plainly than ho has hitherto done. His future position, nay more his reputation as a Statesman, will mainly depend on the course pur sued during the present week. Should ho be found wanting, Lord JOHN RUSSELL will be avail able after all, the author of the modern Magna Charts, has many claims on our sympathies. As we his speech an d vo t e on th e gone far to red eem f ormer have e avy receiving ad equa t e p l e d ges o f statederrors Conspiracyt a h n e d o B t w h ie e l l r ahr d repentance and reformation ready to condone all grievances, and to work litrmeniously with our old driver, albeit he did continue "to upitt the coach" on more than one occasion. The few days fur which the House has been adjourned aro pregnant with important results. On what may occur within that brief period will depend the future prospects of the competitors for the Pramiership; and rival parties—Whip, Tories, Radicals, and Independents—will all be weighed in the balance. The winner—whoever he may be--must make a handsome offer, and whatever it may be, it is tolerably certain that it will be exceeded. There is a time-honoured apophthegm that tells us that " When (Statesmen, we suppose, sho u ld su pply the hiatus) honest men come by their own." We hope that it will be verified on the present occa sion, and that the peopla of Great Britain will profit by the changes looming in the future, and which will rapidly succeed each other. It is surely very frightful that there should actually be found amongst us earnest, and even enthusiastic advocates of the ruffianly Sepoy 'Mud neere. It is frightful that it should be so, but it cannot be said to be unparalleled. There have been earlier, and yet more astounding instances of judgments so warped, of ardour so distraught that, in periods o f great popu l ar exc it emen t, an d i n vindication o f a b stract morality—chau s principles of political pions have appeared, ready, not merely to ext enua t e , b u t ove n to eulogi ze , an d incredible though it may sound, absolutely to deify the enormous national delinquents. Nay, not simply enormous national delinquents, but systematic outragers of all the dictates of our cons mon humanity. There was MARAT, the "Friend of the People," ono of the most atrocious monsters of all the many gigantic miscreants of the Great French Revolution. No sooner was this wretched creature dead in his bath—struck to the heart by the dagger of CIIARLOTTE CORDAY, the "Angel of Assassination "—than the squalid buffoon was raised into a Divinity. The Convention solemnly decreed him to be a God. The worship of MARAT became an organized Institution. Prayers wore offered up to his divine nature ! On the morrow of his murder the populace hung garlands at his door. His bust was inaugurated in the chamber of the popular Assembly. His miserable body was embalmed. He was buried in the Pantheon with the pumps and splendours of an apotheosis. It was proposed by some of his worshippers that his body should be carried, as a holy and conse crated relic, through the departments to the very limits of the world ; and by others that an empty tomb should be erected to him under every tree of liberty, as au altar for his adoration. These things are not of some mad p oe t scrawled upon dungeon, and th ere rea d with a shudder of pity by the tlie d w r a i l v l - s e ll o i f n g h 3 is some casual visitor of Bedlam. They are the actual records of Modern History— comparatively speaking, o f yesterday— occurrenceswith the adva nce d manhood of our Afterwards— very li ttle more than even within the rememb rance, nay, even t contemporary inonth afterwards —another violati o n o f a t iv eigrandfathers.twelvemonth e his doctrines with the execrable MAR/I.T, thmisAxt all the l aws of humanity, kindred by his acts if not simply after his dissolution, the r h a o s s ' I I a : OBESPIERR Fe but absolutely during his very TIIEOS, and Dorn GERLE, and their not ts by yreated with divine honours, paid by however, only obeyed, These, it is true, the virtual dictate of the object of their reverence. lifetime. deluded CATHERINE disciples, 1 l itne 6 3 t o Of whom M. o _ d L ....AMARTLNE once wrote—" He p u t himself in the place of GOD. He desired to be the e xterminating and creative genius of the Revolution. He forgot that if any man thus made a deity of himself, there could only remain coo man upon the globe at the end of the world, and that the last man would be the assassin of all the others 1" It can hardly be surprising, there fore, remembering these things, that there should be found a mongst us nowadays apologists, cham pions, oven eulogists, of the ruffianly Sepoy Mutineers. It lamentable, ho wever, th an th a t, to our t that ther e s h ou ld actually b e no t me rely advocates of the Sepoy s , b u t d e prsciators is and vilifiers of their heroic antagonists, our own ga llant and dauntless countrymen. Nevertheless, so A has absolutely come to pass. The bravest of our soldiers in India have had their valiant actions depreciated, have been themselves loudly vilified —vilified almost, be it said, in the language of execration. NEILL has been scouted for his deeds at Cawnpore - -though one would have thought that the daring soldier might have been permitted to lie unscoffed at in his heroic grave, if only in consideration of that awful " well" choked up with the mangled remains of English women and English child ren. W ILLOUGHBY h as b een tra duced for an act of unsurpassed audacity and self sacrifice, the ordering of the match to be applied to the magazi ne of gunpowder at Delhi—though he knew that the explosion frightfully jeopardised his own life —and the explosion in reality did so fearfully mutilate him that he died not long afterwarth. The daring captors of Delhi again hare been assailed as men dishonoured—because forsooth the princes who had been at the head of that fiendish revolt and saturnalia received at last the punishment their infamous career had so richly merited 1 Again, we ;:ay, it is very lament able that there are Englishmen who could speak thus in abhorrence of our own glorious soldiers at the same time that they extenuate the conduct of the wretches who have so notoriously and so foully outraged humanity, in the wanton ven and our innocent children. geance wreaked by them on our helpless women DUBLIN, .sloctiay.—Tne trial of Father Ryan has been postponed till next term on the application of the defen dant. A material witness is alleged to be absent. The Attorney-greneral consented. Geneva . 693 k Midi Western 6B • 1 2 Strasburg Grand Central - Sardinian i Austrian PRUSSIA. A telegraphic despatch from Berlin announces that the Prince of Prussia, in returning on foot from the theatre on Saturday night, fell and seriously sprained his left foot. A bulletin issued at midday yesterday stated that the swelling and pain had diminished, and that H.R.H. had passed a quiet night. A letter from Berlin of the 20th says—" The Princess Frederick 'William was one of the august party at a concert of sacred music given by the Prince and Princess of Prussia on the evening of Ash Wednesday, where Madame Viardot Garica gained additional laurels, but on the following day (Thursday) she was obliged to excuse herself from the dinner given by the Prince and Princess of Prussia, and also from the concert at the Sing-Aka demie performed that evening. On that day her Royal Highness was obliged to take to her bed in consequence of a severe cold, and remains still a prisoner ; but, as far as I have heard at present, therein nothing more than acold to be deplored, and the weather has been so changeable within the last few days that it is almost extraordinary to find any one not affected with catarrh in some form or other." The Prussian Mouitour publishes the following ; "From the moment of our touching the Prussian soil, after our marriage, we have received so many precious testimonies of the sincere interest taken iu our happiness that the remembrance of them will never be effaced from our memory. We have only been able to express those sentiments to a few per sons and to thank them for all the manifestations and presents which have been made to us. By thus publicly expressing those sentiments to the whole country, we do it with the following prayer. 'May God bless our dear country with his richest gifts now and for over r FREDERICK WILLIAM, 4 4 VICTORIA.. " Berliu, 19th Feb." The Neuf Prussian, Gmette says :—" Many appli cations having bsen lately sent in for commutations of punishment or for pardons, probably because the idea prevailed that a decree of amnesty would be published on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Frederick William, we are authorised to declare that no document of the kind .will be issued." ATEST NEWS. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. It is certain that the result of the division on the second reading of the " Conspiracy to Murder Bill" has been received in official quarters here with great surprise and still greater regret. On the public generally the impression is deep and pain ful, yet among the better classes may be found per sons whose attachment to the Imperial Govern ment does not prevent them from admitting that the event will not be without its use, and tint it will teach people more discretion and moderation iu future. To diminish as much as possible the effect on the public mind the Ministerial papers are recom mended to be moderate in their language, and to avoid everything which might add to the prevail ing irritation. The Emperor yesterday gave a private audience to Count de Hatzfeldt, the Prussian Envoy, who &livered a letter from his Sovereign announcing the marriage of Prince Frederick William of Prussia with the Princess Royal of England. As Prince Napoleon was going to the Tuileries two days back, his horse slipped and fell in such a way that the Prince's leg was somvwhat crushed, Fortunately, the limb was not broken, but the Prince was so injured that he is confined to his chamber. BOURSE, Feb. 22.—The market became more buoyant towards the close, from a report that Lord Palmerston's Cabinet was t - ) be re-organised, and prices left off as follows : 4A per Cents 95 50 1 Do. end month — —i 3 per Cent. ..... Do. end month 69 45 Bank Shares Credit Fonder Belgian 4t, Piedmontese (5) Roman B9 Austrian Credit Mobilier B6O Do. Account 865 Spanish Throes Home Debt RAIL' Orleans Northern'' 955 Now Ditto 795 Lyon and Mediteran. 847 i New Ditto .. 822 i 'AYS. AUSTRIA. Tho Austrian Minister of Commerce has published the following statistical return of the imports and exports of the empire during the past year. The imports were valued at 281,932,922 florins, and produced for the State 19,179,777 florins, This represented a falling off on the previous year of 7,498,380 florins in the gross value, and of 1,779,442 florins in the government receipts. The exports were 231,018,109 florins, with a customs return of 494,717 flotins, which gives a reduction of 20,417,491 florins in the exports, and 103,977 florins in the customs receipts. The decrease in the imports bears chiefly on colonial produce, metals, and leather. The exports have diminished mainly on woven goods and timber. The export of cattle, animal produce, and precious metal has increased. BELGIMA. M. de Brouckere, burgomaster of Brussels, at tended by the Town Clerk, went to the palace in that city on Saturday, and received the declaration of the Duko de Brabant that the duchess had given birth to a princess ; and he registered . the birth in the usual form. The declaration was made in presence of M. Tescb, Minister of Justice ; Baron de Gerlach, First President of tiv Court of Cassati )n ; M. Leclercq, Procureur-General of the same Court ; Count de Marnix, Grand Marshal ; and Count de Lannoy, Grand Master of the Home hold of the Duke. The King of the Belgians, in addition to the re mission of punishment accorded to civilians cn the occasion of the happy deliverance of the Duchess de Brabant, has ordered that a pardon shall be grsvuted to soldiers undergoing imprisonment for petty offences. The N6LV Zurich Gazette status that on the 16th the French Minister at Berne proce3ded in person to the palace of the Federal Couueil, and officially announced to that body that henceforth the French legation would refuse to attest any passport that was not presented by the owner in person. The Madrid journals of the 17th do not contain any political news. Th© attention of the public was absorbed by the festivities of the Carnival, The Mazziniau journal of Genoa, the Italia, e Popolo, was again seize 1 on the 17th, for au article relating to foreign affairs, OFFICIAL DESPATCHES PROM INDIA —A supp 4 uent to Friday's Gazette was published yesterday, containing copies of various despatches received at the East India house, detailing proceedings respecting Delhi, Lucknow, and other places, the particulars of which are already known. These documents included despatches from Major-General A. Wilson, Major A. Ouvry, Lieut.-Col. Grea.th,d, Major F. Turner, Capt. F. Remmington, Capt. Blunt, and other officere. Returns are also given of ordnance and ammunition captured from the enemy, a return of the killed and wounded of the moveable column under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Greathead in the affair of the 28th of Sent. at Camp Buolundshuhur, and a return of the sick and wounded in the field force under the command of Major-General N. Penny: There are also despatches from Lieutenant-Colonel Seaton, C. 8., Major-General W. R. Mansfield, Captain Caulfield, Captain W. J. Stafford, and Captain Ge ,rge Wardlaw. To these are added numerical returns of killed and wounded of the moveable column in action, under the command of Col. J. G. Gerrard, on tha 16th of November last ; and a descriptive casu alty roll of Europeans of the regiment of Artillery, from April 1 to September 30, 1357. Another return, dated Lucknow, October 1, givas a nominal list of killed, wounded, and missing in the Artillery Brigade from the 19th to the 30th of September, 1857, inclusive. LivEuroor., Feb. 20.—The Royal Mail steamship Europa took her departure hence for New York to-day with the mails, a fair cargo, and 53 passengers. The Canada will sail for Halifax and Boston on Saturday next ; and on Wednesday, the 3d of March, the rcrtw steamer Noah American take her departure kr Portland witiu cho Canadian snails, besides passengers. The cl:pper ship Americana, belonging to the White Star line, sailed to-day for Melbourne with about 120 passengers and a large cargo of manufactured goods. ' EARL COWLEY TO THE EARL OF CLARBNDON. (Received Feb. 21.) PARIS, FEB. 20, 1858. My Lord,—Having learnt by telegraph that cer tain resolutions imputing blame to her Majesty's Government for not having made any reply to Count Walewski's despatch to Count Persigny, dated the 20th of January, had been affirmed by a majority of the House of Commons, I think it a duty to your lordships to place on record, that although I have not been charged to make any official communication to the French Government in answer to that despatch, I have been enabled, by your lordship's private instructions, to place before the French Govern ment the sentiments, views, and intentions of her Majesty's Government far more fully, and I cannot but believe more satisfactorily, than would have been the case had my language been clothed in a more official garb. When Count Walewski's despatch was written, the irritation against the supposed apathy of Eng land in a matter so important to France as the pre servation of the Emperor's life was excessive. Rightly or wrongly, the idea prevailed that every conspiracy against his Majesty had been organised in England, and that the British laws gave security to the conspirators. No counter-assertions on the part of her Majesty's Government would have had any effect at that moment; and any official notice on the part of your lordship of Count Walewski's despatch would probably have involved the two Governments in a controversial discussion more likely to have increased than to have calmed the excitement which prevailed. If the object was to soothe, it was important to let time exert its usual influence, and to reserve the official answer to Count Walewski's despatch until it was known whether Parliament would answer the appeal which was to be made to it by her Majesty's Government. But it ought not to be ignored, that while taking this prudent course, your lordship lost no opportu nity of informing the French Government, confi dentially, of the true bearings of the question which had been raised. Your lordship's language has been, from the beginning of this unfortunate affair, clear and straightforward. I have now your lordship's letters before me, in which, while vindi cating in language worthy of your lordship's name, the right of asylum which Great Britain has ever afforded to strangers of all ranks and nations, and while declaring, in terms as explicit as they are de termined, the impossibility of infringing on that great principle of our constitution, you show how utterly insufficient must any enactment be, to pre vent men of desperate minds from entering upon desperate undertakings. As your lordship's true, but very inadequate organ, I have faithfully repre sented your principles, and could I call upon the Emperor or upon Count Walewski, as witnesses, neither, I feel certain, could belie my words. I know not what may be the result of last night's vote ; but, at all events, I lose no time in stating my conviction that to your lordship's judicious and prudent conduct at a very critical moment it is owing that, without the shadaw of the sacrifice of a single principle, our relations with this government have not received a shock which might have been fatal to the friendship which yet happily prevails between the two nations. —I have, (IN., (Signed) COWLEY. DESPATCH FROM HER MAJABTY'S AMBASSADOR AT PARIS. LITERATURE, Cousin Harry. By Mrs. Grey, author of " The Gambler's Wife," " The Young Husband," dec. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett. In these volumes the authoress has contrived for the reader a most exciting narrative, replete with strange events, startling incidents, and striking personages. It cannot be called a pleasing story, but it is in every respect a powerful work, from the brilliancy of its descriptions, the depth of its interest, and the intensity of its feeling. The plot of the tale is divined from the commencement., where two cousins of the same name part on the shores of India, the one to return to home and friends, the other to brave the perils of an arduous campaign, and endure the vicissitudes of a dan gerous cli trate. The varying fates exemplify the different characters, Henry D'Orville, the youngest, was the timid, indolent, self-indulgent youth, who persuaded himself that he must return because he wished to, and made the pretext of a trifling indisposition the grounds to furnish a rea son for his voyage. Harry, as he is called to d'stin tinguish him from his weak namesake, was cast in a very different mould. He had served beneath. an Eastern sun double the time, and urgent rea sons summoned him away, but he generously gave up his claim to his cousin, • as both could not be spared. This was the crisis of their lives, and it involved the fate of another. It is to be ques tioned if " Cousin Harry" was in the right in thus remaining, since more than himself was concerned in the expedition. A. friend of his father's had urged him to return some time previously, but he had been unwilling to exchange toilsome indepen dence for luxurious idleness, purchased through another's bounty. Mr. Stanley did not like him the less for this, and hinted in a subsequent communication, that when the day arrived that allowed their meeting, his daughter and heiress might happily be the means of uniting the children of friends, by a closer bond than that of friendship. To this also the stern young soldier turned a deaf ear, but just as the story opens, death had removed the generous Stanley from the sphere of worldly plans and hopes. In the epistle which conveyed , this sad intelligence, the guardians ,of the heiress delicately communicated that on the bed of death their friend had reiterated his long-cherished wisb, and that the attached daughter would be willingto see if she could comply with his hope before she irrevocably engaged herself to any of the numer ous followers who wait on fortune's favourites. This at last roused the attention of Harry d'Orville, and he was to sail when his cousin grew so despond ing that he made tie sacrifice before alluded to. He commissioned him, however, to see this heiress himself, and transmit to India the description of her mental and personal endowments. The result may be imagined, when a selfish man is the judge of a generous one. Harry d'Orville, by the wound he received in the field of fame, was compelled to follow in a short time in the path of his cousin. He reached him on his wedding eve. The false friend —by deceit, subterfuge, and misrepresentation— had installed himself in the coveted place, and the heiress was his bride. The confusion that ensued may be supposed, when both the aggrieved parties discovered they had been duped by their medium. Henry had so contrived it that they did not meet till after the ceremony, which should have insepar ably united them, had placed betweyn them an irrevocable barrier. But though thus triumphant in his subtle plans, the claims of outraged justice, the voice of injured friendship, could not thus be silenced, and the description of the deceiver's state of mind is the best proof that success is not always gain, as regards mental peace. "Harry," the baffled, defeated, and, as he felt, in jured man, was happier, though he experienced the natural sensations of a generous character at being imposed upon by one he had benefitted and trusted, than be who dealt the blow which de prived him of a fair possession and a levely bride. With a man so noble and high principled ac he who is the hero of these pages, nothing that bore the semblance of wrong could occur, although ho was in the dangerous position of knowing that Juanita Stanley saw through the whole affair, de spised and scorned her husband, and evidently felt that her father was right in su,pposing that the great qualities displayed by the son of his friend would render him a congenial spirit to her own. Henry D'Orville became infatuated, he could not bear his cousin's absence, nor endure his presence. He managed to bring him to the house, and thee, by inuendoes and insinuations, disclosed the jealous passions of his bewildered brain. Juanita was the first to discover them, and the idea of his injustice, after his guilt, roused such a storm in the breast of the maiden, in whose spirit butned the fire of her Sa,,uish mother, that for a time the weak man quailed. It is to be said that Juanita herself was to blame, for she had acted for herself, and she was free to wait till experience bad shown whether the Indian warrior's description was correct. It was mortified vanity as much as injured dignity, which she miscalled it, that induced her to accept Henry, whom she forced herself to like at first, when she believed him the real suitor, although she confessed to her aunt that he had not oue qua lification which she desired in a husband, and was not the manly ideal of her father's vision, With mixed feelings she at last resolved to show her tardy knight what ske could do without him, and rushed to the altar a sacrifice to wrong ideas. This expedient, always dangerous, became doubly so to a being like Juanita, who possessed an ill-disciplined mind) with violent passions. She had the excuse of hay ine been deceived to allow her to despise her hus band to begin with, and on this dangerous Slruu' tura she fixed her fate for life. For some years it was a very stormy one, but at last she formed some fixed principles for her guidance, which rendered herindependent of outward circumstances, and for happiness, in quest of which she had so signally failed, substituted a peace wit:eh not even her fitful fate could destroy. The succeeding passages of the story are very ably des.cribed, and the extraor dinary conduct of Henry D'Orville at the last is not so improbable as some might suppose, when we take into consideration the morbid tendency of his temperament. He went on for years in a series of mental tortures, to which bodily sufferings cannot be compared for present agony, and future consequences. Blanche, his sister, is a meek, gentle young creature who seems worthy of a better posi tion than that of being under the direction of one so perverse and vacillating as . her brother. It is well for her when she exchanges his sway for the protection of the manly " Harry D'Orville, than whom a greater contrast cannot be supposed to exist. After beholding the whirlwind of passion, which swept over the frame of the excited family iii the hour of her trial, when her husband left her, it was a relief to the straightforward and well-regu lated mind of Cousin Harry to unite himself to one so tender and true as Blanche. She was weak per baps, but that was preferable to her sister-in-law's vain strength, and mistaken in her motives, - but 1 they were not of self while many unworthy influences combined to rule the other. Those who are pleased with exciting stories will appreciate this one in question, and the excitement is not a false stimulus imparted to its course, which leaves it at last the weaker from its fatal agency. On the contrary, it is a strong argument, explained in an unvarnished manner, and illustrated by suffering monitors against deceit and treachery, against passion of every s , rt, whether of anger or jealousy, and the whole is narrated, with a talent that irresistibly attracts, and a vigour that stamps it with life and energy. History of the Life and Times of Edmund Burke. By Thomas Macknight, Author of "The Right Hon. B. Disraeli, M.P., a Literary and Political Biography," dec. 2 vols. Chapman and Hall. Tee author of this work is one who has previa ously endeavoured to distinguish himself in the literary world by a somewhat unworthy method. Works on living statesmen and politicians must of necessity be in some measure invidious, and when they assume a personal or biographical character they are decidedly objectionable. In selecting the lite of one who has pas se d i n t o hi s p l ace i n hi s tory Mr. Macknight has, therefore, shown better taste, as well as more ambition, for while the greatest of prose writers need not scorn to take for his subject the life of a great man of the past, a censure on the acts and opinions of a politician of the day sinks immediately to the level of a petty party spirit. But though we readily commend the author'.s dis cretion thus far, we are forced to admit he is totally unequal to his subject. It is a subject which, to do it justice, requires almost as great a variety of powers in the biographer as existed in the illustriouspersontreated uf. It requires the practised historian and the comprehensive philosopher to trace Burke's influence on the character and people of his time ; it needs the politician without a partyto delineate the war of parties, the rival leaders, whose names are prominent in the history of the world ; to compare them with each other, to draw their portraits, to manifest their powers, to depict their failings. It asks the sympathy of contemporaneous writ r to enter into the spirit of those troubled times, and it demands the calm judg ment of the critic of pox erity to trace their influence on the present day ; while to pourtray the personal character of the great subject of the biography, scarcely less discernment and ability are required. It needs the profound student of humap nature rightly to represent his complex character—si t requires the philosopher to appreciate his philo sophy, a benevolent heart to sympathise with ill benignant humanity, a clear and astute intellect to perceive how that great mind wen t as t ra y, a fer vent spirit to comprehend his enthusiasm, an in dependent and upright temper to enter into his hatred of oppression, an orator to do justice to 1 114 oratory, a reflectio n o f hi s fi ne an d lib era l intelki eenee to acknowled g e his noble toleration. 11 110 combination of rare qualities Mr. Macknight € l ° 64 not possess; and, though it would b 3 absurd tp suppose that no one should write the life of a gret man who was not pie -eminently fitt e d f o r the t!I S .' S 9 yet when the undertaking is great; the abilit ies should be in some degree commensurate. If I Y. I / 1 . 0 ; Macknight had restricted himself to a business, - a l rem(' of Burke's acts and opinions, his poli.tieao connections, and the chief incidents of his private life, he might have compiled a very useful volumes for he has evidently bestowed much time and labou r on his subject. Bu' when we find him taking 1113 subject 'in its broadest view, and imitating Macaulay in his style, and Alison in his extent, We lose the value of a work of reference, and ar e tempted to think of the " vaulting ambition th at o'erleaps itself and falls on t'orher side." 1116 _ reader of these two formidable volumes will P e . rhai r, be dismayed, CO! teinly surprised, to find at their c ... 0 elusion that they have not reached the French, S a o volution, the impeachment of Warren Hastluiii or any of those later events of Burke's life which the public are chiefly familiar. It le th a writer's intention shortly to complete the work, an to give us a picture o f the time when, as has e gt said, Burke "sti mu l a t e d th e p an i c of a worl dAu by the wild pictures of his inspired imagination ; „. f 0 to show us that d ar k er ti me w h en th e entbuslas— temper sunk into irritability, and the serrates Oof public and private life deepened the shadow ° the oaks of Beaconsfield. To describe the c 105 . a .; f Burke's life will require a gentle and ldndly one who will soften the harsh and jarring line.: go _ ready sympathy and full appreciation. Mr. knight, whatever his failings may be 8 , a !err en v has a just and cordi a l a d m i ra ti on of the &Tea t b ., of whom he writes, and is no doubt actua tea s ! a laudable ambition when undertaking th e ta, , The work is very unequal ; some passages writtn with force and correctness, and occasions' .1 : 6 the reader finds himself involved in a long sent which, if it has many turnings, does not cocu ll a t him to any definite goal. The author is not withl ic t ability, but he should select an easier duty, s ttos write with less ambition and more care. ElPg a to d and sirnpl city are the high roads to eloquenc e ', an . a mere selection of hard words and in volvti_co titheses will never reach their object. r- 4 : t he allowance is to be made for the difficulty .o f O . er o f Subject, but then it is scarcely wise for a vrrit ar k. mOderate abilities to select one of the most rem we able periods of EngliSh history for his task.• he trust that when we again meet Mr. Mackelg ew ht e st, will have abandoned such an ardueu g hara ° o ter and choosing au epoch of less formidable. _c erstby . hig distinguish himself in a manner that wil l r eviuent labsur and research. • • The next lndian telegram will be due in Engla tl— A 00 the lit March. It will contain news from Bc n nbai ° the 9th inst. An Australian telegram will be als o dae„, the let March. It will contain news from SydneY Zh` to the 11th ult.,' and from Melbourne up to the 111-- ultimo. A s ilk In consequence of the China news the tea un,.— markets have been exceedingly q u i e t and flat. it `7l - 1‘ appears that orders from Lyons for purchases of in our market have been countermanded, ow in g to the recent political anxieties. Pal- THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.—LIVERPO OD. in Liver i mereon has of late been exceedingly popular pool, where he was regarded as a true champion fatal upholder is.: our national greatness. His recent t.O advocacy of an obnoxious and despotic measure Pl 4; however, completely turned the tide of his grestee° --14ord and the news of his defeat on Friday, and subseel, resignation, has excited universal satisfaction. i! ,s now felt that our honour has been vindicated bel° '3 the world, and that our outraged feelings have f° 12 5 0 their true English vent. It matters not who saps t he Lord Palmerston, it is sufficient to know that I : 00 injury he would have inflicted upon us Ms we - - becomingly resented. TRIG MINISTERIAL DEFEAT. At last the c ountry b e e: come to its senses. That monstrous c himera wb i has palsied the nation's brain for some three an aged tory of the regency sc hool of torlisit wa s, querading as a preacber of progress — has var i ,: e , yes first touch of genuine liberalism. If, as the Pro" -* lst Lord Palmerston's condemnation now be factiool7lo him reverse the verdict by the means he sell?? agO. with such disingenuous ingenuity nine ont ° ,, r ,- - of " e a t s him go •to the hustings now with tbs. " o . 'oo b b sa ' ins: as he did then with the cry of„" la .orte barbarian." arian. He had Bowring then—he has •P °ll- ` years--; no w.—Lifverpool Albion. . a list Of NEW ADMINISTRATIONS . —Tho following , - 1 , Ta ho ld the Administrations, Whig and Tory, whicil, ma c i & - tos o f office in England since the year 1830, with W e , GreY o'6 their installation and dissolution, viz. :-- -ar ' 81 . ' 0 ' Administration, 1830-34 ; Viscount Melbourolieteourit 1804 ; Sir Robert Peel's (first), 1834- 35 l, i 80 ou' M , lbourne's (second), 1835-41 ; Sir R. Peel siperb/64. 1841.46 • Lord J. Russell's, 1846 . 52 ; Earl °I i ril l ooul l ,; (first), 1 ' 852 ; Earl of Aberdeen's, 1853- 55 ; — 9 be'" Palmerston's', 1855-58. The outgoing 111inistrYila the office just three years. Lord J. Russell rer i fi o bos t reins of power nearly six years, and Sir R. r e bf v 1613 five. The last Tory Ministry under Lord D er not in office a twelvemonth.• acing erie- • d Sumps-, APnday, Noon.—We are OP 0 01 0 E* rough weather on the north-east coast. This 140 ants, the George Patriot, Naples Packet, Thames. most of and Jane, coal-laden vessels, have put Wig, e lsb s4 them with loss of bulwarks. Most of these obliged to been from the Tyne a fortnight, but had been ,° l3 a 109 , seek shelter in Leith Roads, or in Holy lell. n . ‘ a bee° and in trying to make a caught in a second gale. Last night the brig Col. passage south thei r 00 009 of Whitby was wrecked on Tvnemotith Poir'_ t ' a . the siderable di ffi culty was experienced in resei!i:v°Thel crew, through the rocket lines having foul s ".., v essel were lauded, however, about three hours after tu struoll