The Sun. — London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

- - ARCH. SCOTT, Traffic Manager. Waterloo-bridge Station, March 31st, 1855. TH.EITRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the manag•ement of Mr. Buckstona. THIS EVENING, EIYAL OLYMPIC, O 111EATIZE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING. _ROYAL 3TRAND THEATRE. Unac: tho direct:on of MISS Rebecca Isaacs. TIM EVENING. Will bo performed THE VILLAGE •NIGIITING ALE. To to followed Ly a Grand C. et. To which will Lc aJded TIIE QUAKER. To conclude with ALONZO. LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1855. , • • • L4') SAILING of the BALTIC FLEET from SPITHEAD. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. In order to afford an opportunity for witnessing the departure of the most powerful fleet that ever left the shores of England, which is expected to sail at midday on Tuesday week, a SPECIAL TRAIN will leave the Waterloo-bridge Station at 8.30 a.m. for Portsmouth, returning in the evening at 6 o'clock. FARES : —THERE AND BACK. First C1a55...... • • • . 20s. I Second Class.: 15s. Passengers with luggage will not be conveyed by this train, except on payment of the ordinary fares. Will be presented THE SECRET AGENT. Principal characters by Mr. Bactstcne and Miss E. Chaplin. To be followed by the new Ballet. UNA NOCIIE DE FIESTA EN SEVILLA. To which *Ube added A PRETTY PIECE OF BUSINESS. Cha racters by Messrs. Howe and Buckstone ; Mrs. Caroline Mlle, and }limes Ellen Chaplin and Reynolds._ _ To which will be added the new Ballet by the Spanish Dancers, called THE GALICIA.N FETE. To conclude with SHOCKING EVENTS. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES KEAN. THIS EVENING, Will be perfcrmed the original adaptation of Casimir Delavigne's Historical Play, entitled LOUIS THE ELEVENTH. Principal character by Mr. C. Kean. To conclude si ith the popular new Farce, entitled A CAME OF ROMPS. Principal characters by Messrs. Harley and Chester; Mrs. Winstanley, Misses Heath, Murray, C. Leclereq, Daly, and Ternan. To conclude with AWAY WITH :MELANCHOLY. THEA.TiLE ROYAL ADELPHI. Pmprleter, Mr. B. Weblter.--Dlrectress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENnTG. WPII,e performed a nn, and czigdnal Drama, preceded by a Pro, legtv. , , and called .I.I:SET PRIDE. Alter which, I'LL TELL YOUR WIFE. To conclade with BETTY MARTIN. Will be presented the new Comedietta, called TIT FOR TAT, in %Mai Messrs. F. Robson, A. Wigan, and Miss Maskell will appear. Followed by the Face entitled A BLIGHTED BEING, in which Mr. F. Robson will appear. A ler which, a new Fairy Estravaganza, entitled THE YELLOW DWAL , F AND THE ICING OF THE GOLD MINES. Characters by Mr. F. Robson, Miss Julia et. George, Miss E. Oimonde, Miss Mar•_to:), Mias Bromley, and Mrs. Fitzallan. ASTLET'S ROYAL .AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. THIS EVENING, The Grant Romantic Equestrian Spectacle called TIMOUR THE TARTAR. After which, the incomparable SCENES in the CIRCLE, ard the astounding evolutions of the ►'cur Performing Elephants, with Ilcrr Endersehn's age onplished Performance cri the Slack Wile, Au Equestrian. 9 pectac'e of peculiar construction is in act'ie pre paration tor Easter Monday. tox..ofnee open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. newt. Acting Mara;er, Ir.W. H. Cooke. Eqtt.astrian Director. r. W. Cooke, jun. NATIONAL STANDARD. TUTS EVENING, Will be performed, TIIE DUCHESS OF MAUI. After which QUARTER DAY. To conclude with THE SCAPEGRACE OF PARIS. Yrs. Homer. HIGH WATZR AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tfrm DAY —Men ia; 57 mtD.e.fter 12 Evening 16 niln.et. 1 To--iosaow Itoruit E 33 tut natter 1 1 Enning 50 min.nft. 1 THE WEA'THR.R.—Suys Onto% March. 3L MEEKOMETER, IN THE SNADE. 47—highest since noon yesteraay. 39—iowtst this morning and during the night. 46 —this day, at noon. BAEOILETEIt, 30 . 44. WIND, N.E.—Light breeze, with very fine, mild, sun shiny weather. 4, =K-- , -7 • (-.-1.,577„,k„, , §lint , • fkis : ,-.--,. j )_, ."—, , c, ' ,-- vt.„ s. It is perfectly clear that matters are all at " sixes and sevens" at Vienna—that there is " a pretty kettle of fish" cooking in the Austrian capital. The hurried visit of M. DROUYN DE L'HUYs to London--his interview with her most gracious MAJESTY—his protracted discussion with the English Minister, and intended visit to Vienna in order to participate in the pending Conferences —prove, beyond the possibility of doubt, that a serious crisis is impending, if it has not already arrived, and that it is of the utmost importance that France and England should exert all their power and - influence to extricate themselves credit ably from the emergency. Nor are these the only ominous symptoms. The wily NESSELEODE has also announced his determination to attend, and to take part in the discussion of the Third Point, which has been passed over ostensibly until fresh instructions have been received, but really until the arrival of the new' actors at the arena in which their abilities are to be subjected to such strin gent tests. These events lend additional corroboration to the rumours in circulation respecting the vacilla tion of FRANCIS JOSEPH. If the representatives of England, France, and Austria were completely en accord—if they were perfectly decided as to the inevitable conditions to be demanded and finally insisted on, there could be no necessity for the journey of the French statesman ; nor would NESSELRODS consider that his presence was re quired unless the difficulty was one of no ordinary character, and that he entertained at least a rea sonable hope of a successful issue. "Nec Deus intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus" Statesmen occupying such elevated positions would not interfere save on a question of deep and almost vital importance. There is another very significant point, which I casts additional light on the objects and motives of the parties to the discussion. Prince GORT SCIIAKOFF and M. DE TITOFF deny that, by the acceptance of the Third Point as the basis of negotiations, their Government has recognised the principle of a diminution of the power of Russia in the Euxine, and this notwithstanding the ex planatory memorandum of the 28th December, which it was supposed would have removed any doubt that could have arisen on the very plain and intelligible language of the point previously agreed to. Not satisfied with the retention of Sebastopol, not only with unabated but even ad ditional strength, they insist on the maintenance of a powerful navy in the Euxine, asserting that " the demand for a reduction of the Russian fleet is contrary to the dignity and sovereign rights of the Nimpire.',' It is fortunate for the Western Powers and their injured Ally, Turkey, that Russia should thus early exhibit this perverse obstinacy, as well 9 , 8 palpable duplicity, and that she should not avail herself of the absurdly lenient conditions to w hi c h the opposing Powers are said to have assented. A s w e hav e repeatedly pointed out, any peace which permitted th e R ussian cannon to bristle on the walls of Sebastopol and its uumer 0113 fortifications to remain standing, m ust be a lik e dishonourable and precarious. Should she com pel the armaments of France and England to re turn without accomplishing the object on which they had set their hearts, her own prestige would be increased, while ours would be diminished in an inverse ratio. Nor, while an impregnable po sition was available, could any reliance be placed on unguaranteed promises, however stringent, or oaths, however sacred. They would only be kept until the convenience which led to their being made—the only matter that would have weight with Russia—permitted their violation. We can only, then, rejoice at the difficulty that has thus fortunately occurred, and which may prevent a peace so disgraceful and 'prejudicial to France and England as their representatives would.,have sanctioned. Why, the ; it may be asked ; if ouch were the ‘it u. ~ ~~ ~i~ THE SUN; LONDON, SATURDAY EVEMNG, MARCH 31, 1855. in pilfering. Law ought to be a sacred thing ;in the case of Church Rates it is regarded as the selfish instrument of sectarianism, bigotry, and aristo cratic pride. Let Mr. W IGRAM remember, too, that Dissenting worshippers, quite equal in num ber to Church worshippers, may turn his own argument, if it were worth turning, against him. They might tell him that Dissenters and Catho lics built their chapels and supported their ser vices for the " good of the whole community," that they educated 3,000,000 children with the same object in view, and that, therefore, Mr. WronAm should cheerfully consent to be rated to the support of the worship of Methodists, Baptists, Independents, &c., and to the repair of their chapels. We are almost ashamed, however, to waste our space upon argu ments replete with such dull and hardened bigotry. The discussion, moreover, is deferred till the second reading. The grand thing now is for real Liberals, both in the House and out of it, to unite to settle this question. Au able circular, which has been sent us on this subject, shows that the House of Commons is really quite ripe for decided action. Last year, despite the Torified opposition of Lord J. RUSSELL, the second reading of the bill was lost by a mino rity of 27 only, while on that occasion one hun dred and forty Liberals were absent ! They feared, in all probability, embarrassing the Government, yet could not prevail on themselves to vote against the bill. There aro also many known conversions since. in such a state of things nothing is needed but public meetings and petitions, and especially that the abolitionists amongst the electors should personally write to the members fur whom they have hitherto voted, informing them that the time for action is now decidedly cane ; and that they now must demand the fulfilment of their Liberal pledges. They may especially re mind them that they can no longer put up with paltry excuses when a member in Lord STANLEY'S position declares that abolition of Church Rates is " a rinc3tion not merely of policy, not ;nerdy of expediency, but of justice and right," and that " the change is doubly important, as it will afford the first trial of that principle of self support in religious matters which is likely, per hap certain, to be the principle of the next gene ration." Abolitionist electors cannot do better than to remind professed Liberals of the speech delivered, to his constituency at Lynn, by the heir of Lord DERBY. ARRIVAL OF SICK A AND WOUNDED FROM ThE EAST. (Ey Electric Telcgrapk.) PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY MORNING: Her Majesty's screw steam-ship Sanspareil, 70, Commander Gordon, arrived this morning. She left Sebastopol February 4, Constantinople February 10, Malta March 3, and Gibraltar, March 18. She has on bcard from different ships in the fleet 34 seamen and marines, and from Gibraltar six in valided and wounded soldiersoriz.—one each 11th Hussars, 30th, 33d, 47th, 63d, and 9.5 th Regiments. She conveyed from Constantinople 100 sick sea men and marines to Maltato recruit their health ; all the marines of the Sanspareil, 125, in command of Captain Simpson, who have been on the heights since September, were left there ' • 120 of her crew were turned ever to th e Royal Albert and other Spoke the Trafalgar, 120, off Cape Fiuisterre, March 22, steaming N. ; and the Bellerophon, 78, in Mt. 46.8 N., long. 10.24 W., March 27, homc ward bound. LATEST NEWS. Count Nesselrode will not fail to attend la Vienna Conference, and take part in the is cussiou of the third point. The Russian pleniptentaries refuse to amit that, in accepting the third point as interpted in the aide-memoire of Dec. 28, they have ackoir ledged the principle of a diminution of Rusin power in the Black Sea. They assert tha the demand for a reduction of the Russian ket is contrary to the dignity and sovereign rigts of the Empire. The fourth point is under disc3sion. The question of the expenses of the war is not been mooted. THE VIENNA CON FERF2CE. VIENNA, March 26.—Up to yesterday Leming the Allied Powers had not been able to acre as to the means to be employed for putting anend to the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sa, but in the afternoon they conferred together fr some hours at the Foreign-office. Naturally nching is known of what took place, but it is much fared in Austrian official circles that France, if not hgland, will consider the razing of Sebastopol a ine qua non. Not quite a year ago the signature ofPrussia was affixed to a document, in which the fur great Powers pledged themselves to maintain thentegrity of Turkey, and yesterday Count Arnim was seen walking backwards and forwards for a full hour near the palace in which the representatves of the Western Powers were then closeted iith Count Buol and Baron Prokesch. Direct] , after the English and French Ministers had left be Foreign office Prince Gortschakoff and M. dc Titoff ap peared, and, after conversing a couple of minutes with their disconsolate Prussian colleague, they ascended the great staircase leading tothe Austrian Minister's apartments. "What twk place between the statesmen no one but themselves can positively say, but it is presumed that Count Buol made known to them - ,ho conditions which the Western PoWers wil -day propose. FRANCE: FROM i)t.TR • OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. The departure of M. Drouyn do I'Huys for Lon don, and the antouncement that he will afterwards visit Vienna to ;alio part in fle Conference?, has inspired some little hope in tFe minds of specull t )rs that such an event woud not have taken place unless the Government entethined favourable ex pectations with regud to the resrdt of the Confer ence. Under this iimesrion the market has been rather buoyant, and a fair amount of business has been done at nnproval quotations, although the advance which marked the op3ning was not main tained to the close. The Moniteur publisies the following letter from Copenhagen, dated Ilfreh 21 : " A thew has set in. fhe ice has broken up between the Swedish coast and to island of Seciand, and the sea is clear. The port ofeopenbagen is only frozen as far as the Three Crown :lattery. The passage of the Great Belt is improved. The mails are, nevertheless, bebind•hand." The Journal des Rafts of yesterday publishes a leading article on the Vienna Conferences. We extract the followin,g " The official discussior of the third point commenced in the sitting of the 26th rf March ; but it was known beforehand that different combinations would be pro posed to the Conferoncs to solve this difficulty ; and perhaps we may be allowtd to observe that we were en abled to indicate some cfthem more than a month since, from information we received from Vienna. " One of those combiretions consists in demanding a considerable diminutionof the naval forces of Russia ; it is proposed to retitle) those forces t.) a limit which Russia, under no preext, should exceed, while the Western Powers shouk not be allowed to introduce or _maintain in the Black Sea a naval force superior to that of Russia. In another hypothesis the Powers might, with the consent of Vurkey, erect .Dn the southern coast of the B'ack Set—for instance, at Sinope and Bourgas, maritime establishments, capable of keep ing in check those possessed by Russia on the coast of the Crivne-. Eussia would have to submit to the natural consequences of the abolition of the conven tion of the Dardanelles (treaty of the 13th of July, 1841), and, as the Black Sea would be thrown open to men of war of all nations, those vessels would be received in all Russian ports without distinction. The port of Bala klava would become a free port, and all the Powers would be authorised to have Consuls at Sebastopol. In other words, every precaution authorised by the law of nations would be taken against Russia. Hitherto Russia, thanks to her exceptional position, was We to evade the obligations of that law. She would have to submit to them. The great Powers would thus, obtain ali the guarantees of common law, and the power of Russia in the Black Sea would be honourably reduced to the just proportions which the tranquillity and security of Europe demand. " The opinion prevails at Vienna that the Conference will not depart fro►n this order of ideas, except to de velope it more or less, according to circumstances, and that the Plenipotentiaries will succeed in conciliating the interest of all parties. Good will is not wanting, and that is, we think, an important point. If all adhere to it, the peace of Europe will be reestablished." On the intended visit of their Imperial Majesties to London, the Pays remarks : "No more signal testimony could be given of the cordial friendship which now unites France and Eng land. In this point of view the visit of their Imperial Majesties is an event of high significance, and the satis faction which public opinion will derive from it cannot but be increased if, as it is permitted to hope, her gra cious Majesty the Queen of England shall come in her turn to visit France, where she will be received with the most lively sentiments of respectfal esteem and sym pathy." M. Guibert, the shipbuilder of Nantes, who is charged with the construction of the French gun boats for the Baltic, was three days back summoned to Paris by telegraph, and yesterday had an inter view with the Minister of Marine. Some changes, it is believed, are to l - ..e effected in the build of those vessels, for the purpose of rendering thorn still more effective. The steam-frigate Orenoque and the steam-cor vette Chaptal left Toulon on the 28th for Kamiesch, the former with 500, and the latter with 300 sol diers on board. Both of these vessels have also horses on board. "Of the four regiments cf the Chasseurs d'Afrique in the;French army,' says the Salta " two are already in tie East. We have just seen a letter from an officerof rank, which an nounces that the two others ha - re received orders to' sot out there also without de:ay. They will be replaced in Africa by two Hnsnr regiments." BOURSE, KvacH 30.—Q,091NG PRICES. Cash. fr. c. En , ' of Month. 4i per Cents 92) 9lf. 55.3. 3 per Cents 69 65 69f. 75c. Credit Mobilier BO7 50 Ronan Credit Foncier 540 AuFtrian Belgian Fives. ..... .. 91 Spnaiah Throes 36 Piedmontese B5 75 Hone Debt — RAILWAYS—ICE CASH. fr. c. ir. c. Orleans Western 660 Rouen Cette 620 Strasburg Mediterranean 9SO Havre 570 Northern demand of the Government a modification of the Ministry favourable to the democratic party. Mar shal EApartero gave them no eneouragenict, but dis played great Firmness. A bill forbidding the national militia to deliberate on politics was presented last evening to the Cortes. Madrid i 5 tranquil. On the 24th great disorder was manifested iu the Cortes upon the question whether M. Heros, intendant of the palace, should be required to produce the will of Ferdinand VII. before the committee to inquire into the conduct of Queen Christina. Deputies in sulted ono another. The President made several attempts to establish order, but the tumult con tinued to increase. At length he ordered the pub lic to be removed from the tribunes, and suspended the sitting. The public resisted the officers, but were finally removed. The Queen left Madrid yes terday for Aranjuez. The Archduke William of Austria arrived at Vienna in the morning of the 26th on his return from St. Petersburg, and was immediately after received by the Eaipror. It is stated in a letter from Vienna of the 26th, that the Archduchess Mary Dorothy, the mother of the Duchess of Brabant, who had been getting better, has had a relapse, and that, in obedience to a telegraphic summons, the Archduke Joseph had left for Pesth to see her. A letter in the Independence of Brussels an nounces that the new Grand Council of Ticino has decided that all political trials and those for high treason, now pending, shall be abandoned. This decision is equivalent to a general amnesty. The Giornale di Roma states that, on the 23d, the Pope held a secret consistory, in which he announced the death of the Patriarch of the Maro nitcs of Syria, and the election of Mgr. Massad, archbishop of Tharsus "in partibus intidelium," in his stead. The Genoa Gazette states from Modena, that the fresh recurrence of premeditated murders and in fliction of wounds in the district of Cariara has obliged the Government again to declare it in a state of siege ; for which purpose Lieut.-Colonel Casoni has been invested with full powers. From the 22d all public places are closed an hour after sunset, and nobody is allowed to be out in the streets after that hour. THE OVERLAND MAIL. INDIA. We have received our de;Tatches in anticipation of the Overland Mail, a summary of which appeared in our edition of Thur,day. The dates are :—Cialcuttn, Feb. 24 ; Madrap, 2S ; Galle, March 3 ; 13:pnbay, March 5 ; Shanghai, Feb. V ; it Kong, 15 ; Singapore, 2:3 ; Sydney, Jan. 27 ; Melbourne, 31 ; Adelaide, Feb. 3 ; MaurltinF, 13. _ _ _ The following is from the summary of the Bon Cay. cf March 5 :-- India continues tranquil throughout, with the excep tion of some slight ,:e.i.lrauding on our frintier. On the 9th ultimo a robtery was committed by about 200 hill men near Peshawur, on a cauln close by a police station, where some thirty people lost their 1ive...," the rubLeri ezcapine•.—Oade and the N:zam's dominians continue filled with disorder.—The education despatch arrangements ari beginning to be put in force, and forty thousand a year will, it is said, henceforth be allowed for the sup3rvision of an educational system which has never hitherto cost more than eighty thousand altogether.— The Calcutta Military Board has been extinguished, and those of the oe her Presidencies are about to encounter time same fate ; a sepat ate department for public works is to be brought into exi'.-t ;nee in their room. The Secre taryship in the Revenue Department is about to be abo lished, and the department itself is to be conducted by three commissioners. Mr. Henry Young, the late Com missioner of Customs, has been appointed for the pre sent revenue secretary, in succession to the late Mr. Go!dsmid, with a view to his becoming Commissioner. A large body of reforms are in process or in contempla tion in the rural police, of which there is a force of 70,000 in the Bombay .Presidency, in the Land Re venue, and the Customs and other departments. The first of the transports with troops from Bombay for the Crimea left us on the 10th of January, "and reached Suez en the Bth of February, occupying 29 days on the way. The last of the 10th Hussars having been de spatched, steamers and transpoits left Bombay on the 24th to carry the 12th Lancers from Mangalore, and as they have no such conveniences for shipment there as we have here, they can scarcely well have got embarked and be ready for sea earlier than the 10th inst., reach ing Suez on the 14th proximo, and Constantinople, at the rate assigned, about the 7th of May, or about a month later than by the Cape. The orders for troops through Egypt reached India early in November, and considering the immense amount of tonnage at this sea son always at our command, every man that could have been spared might have been embarked by New Year's day, and 90 days on the voyage to Gibraltar would have greatly exceeded the average of time taken. With steamers in readiness to receive them on the Ist of March, the whole of the troops might have been in the Crimea by the Ist of April. The horses just despa,telisd Egypt are undersized for home service, they are unfitted for the climate of the Crimea, and will have cost the country 2001. a piece by the time they reach their destination. No blame attaches to any one in India for these blunders ; the orders from home were peremptory.—The nomination of Sir Henry Somerset to the Commander-in-Chiefship of Bombay, now daily expected, is a popular one. The Governor-General has left Calcutta for the Neilg berry Hills, and is said to have asked permission to return to Eoglarid next year from this Sanitarium with out revisiting Bengal. Lords Harris and Elphinstone are at their respective seats - ot Government, both in the enjoyment of good health. Mr. P. W. Le Geyt left Bombay yesterday for Calcutta, to take up the appoint ment of Bombay Member of the Legislative Council in succession to Mr. A. Malet, who goes into the Bombay Council in place of Mr. Warden, Trade dull, and freights low. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. CASUALTY BY DEATH IN INDIA SINCE THE DEPABTUE OF THE MAIL ON THE 16TH FEB., 1855. HER MAJESTY'S noors.—Captain and Paymaster E. Lee, 10th Foot, of apoplexy, on the river near Seram pore. _ _ _ MADRAS.—Major (Bt. Lieut.-Col.) G. J. Richardson, 31st Regt. Light Infantry, at Madras, on the 11th Feb. BENGAL.—Lieut. Glasgow, 53 , 1 Native Infantry, shot by one of his own men while on detachment duty, on the 7th Feb,, near Cuttack. intentions of Russia, should she have assented to treat on the basis of the Four Points ? Cui bono f:e pacific protestations so liberally made ? The answer is plain, the reasons easily to be detected. Partly that time was an object, and she hoped to have obtained an armistice preceding the negotia tions, as suggested by her good friends King CLICQUOT and Mr. JOHN BRIGHT, but chiefly be cause she placed great reliance on Austria. NI CHOLAS could not believe that his brother despot really intended either to humiliate his pride or .41iininish his power. It is, then, we believe, the duplicity or vacillation of Austria that has in duced M. DROITYN DE L'HUYS to hasten in person to the scene of action, and that, on the other hand, has made NESSELRODE disregard his age and infirmity in order to be present at the diplomatic contest. The one hopes to prevail on the youth ful Emperor to continue in the course which he professed his intention of pursuing—the other of drawing him through devious bye-paths, until he becomes inextricably involved in Russian snares. There must, as we have already said, be some foundation for these anticipations. What has been the conduct of Austria up to this time ? She has not as yet drawn a single sword or fired a shot in anger, and thus has avoided committing herself to the contest. But that is not all: her neutrality has been almost as serviceable to Russia as that of Prussia. From the very commencement. she delayed the proceed. ings of the Allies, inducing them to consent to the most injudicious procrastination, in order to obtain the favours which with almost feminine coquetry she half granted and half withheld. When occupying the Principalities she obstructed the advance of the Turkish troops, and thus en abled the Russian forces to be withdrawn from Bessarabia and assume the offensive at Balaklava and Inkerman. When the valour of the English and French troops foiled these attacks, when she said that she must take some part, she cajoled us in to accepting a perfectly valueless Treaty. What, we ask, has been the utility of that Treaty of the 2d I December? How has Austria assisted us although nearly four months have elapsed ? She has done nothing—literally nothing for us, although she has succeeded in obtaining concessions on the first Two Points where her interests are chiefly cene.erned. Not only have we this powerful evidence of her hollowness and treachery, but we see Russia withdrawing her veteran troops from .'oland and replacing them by Asiatics. This would not have been attempted if any doubts were entertained as to the future conduct et Austria. Once more we repeat what we havo so fre quently asserted, that the open enmity of Aus tria would be far better than her pretended friendship. The one could easily be met—the other occasions greater embarrassment and diffi culty. The time may not be very distant when . the taunt addressed to an Austrian potentate may again become applicable—when every • voice ix France and England, if not in Europe, may ad dress FRANCIS JOSEPH in these words-- "Thou wear a lion's hide ! Doff it, for shame, And bang a calf skin on those recreant limbs." The abolition of Church Rates is now entirely in the hands of those whom they most oppress. In a much larger House than last year Sir W. (FLAY has again obtained leave to bring in his bill, and by a majority of more than one-third. Last year, however, the then Leader of the House ot• Commons resisted its introduction with every argument of the ELDON school ; this time the new Leader of the House argued for its introduction. Lord PALMERSTON'S assent to the first reading of . ;Sir W. Ciax's bill is certainly another and a great step gained in the Church-rate struggle. We Allow the versatility of the Nohia Lord, And we know how- easy it is for a Minister, if so minded, to shelve the bill of an independent member on the second reading or in 6Dmmittee; still the sanction of a Prime Minister to the introduction of a bill, entirely abolishing Church Rates, shows that Government is seriously pressed by the advocates of religious freedom. We are, moreover, confident, from several politi cal reasons, that neither Government itself nor - the House of Commons can resist on this ques tion a decided pressure from without. If consti tuencies, if Liberal Churchmen, and if Dissen ters do their duty during the • Easter recess, the second reading will be triumphantly carried. The abolition of Church Rates and of the com pulsory Newspaper Stamp ought certainly to go together—the main arguments for and against .each are identical. The law, for instance, in re gard to the former is in a far worse state than that in the other. It is so bad that the highest legal authority informs us that, were it thoroughly worked by opponents, not one Church Rate in a hundred would be found a legal one. The cost of proceedings in those doomed nuisances Ecclesiastical Courts being the only thing which deters from litigation, Mr. CLAY might plead as Sir C. LEWIS did, you ;dare not make the law more summary and strin sent, that would raise a perfect storm in the country ; on the other hand, it cannot be enforced on either side on account of the uncertainty, de lay, and expense. Then, again, the main ar gumen t aga i nst t h e ‘ r Stamp, and what we have always acknowledged to be a practical unfairness, is, that, by compelling all copies of a journal to be stamped, those who do not use the Post-office are compelled to pay for those who do. The repeaters ask, with an air of triumph, "Why tax a man for a postal . , service of which he never avails himself ?"—which is, of course, the case whenever papers are pur chased with no intention to post them. Still more triumphantly may the Church-rate repealer ask, " Why tax a man for a religious service which he never uses ?" More triumphantly, we say, for the hardship is incalculably greater on the vast numbers who, while- taxed for the Churchman's worship, sacramental wine, costly buildings, surplice washing, and all the et ceteras of the Episcopalian service, not merely do not use the Church service, but have a strong repugnance to it, or who at least pay the entire expense of their own religious services and their own houses for worship. No man pretends a like repugnance to the postal service, or is at the oost of an expensive arrangement in its place. Mr. WIGRAM and others, indeed, could be so intolerably stupid, or worse than stupid, as to pretend :that the Church, meaning by that expres sion his own Church, being instituted for the good of Dissenters as well as others, Dissenters ought cheerfully to pay Church-rates ! If Mr" l A r mitAm goes into the every-day world he will find these perverse Dissenters paying for Mr. WIGRA UN worship llllortlrasite;t:llVllPean pay s. h e o fi r n d t s h 1 h is e tics purs e wi o n r , his handkerchi e f. i n p s o t c i Tk t : el. about as c h eer f u ll y as Mr. in spite of all his arguments,totissoenligpheortfevieirerecsiceeolifiveihrneigs, confound his Church, in this resfedcet,v:ith the pickpo c k e t s of the City streets. Indeed they angrily avow against law. And that the only difference they know is ; that one ' k that a taw to does it by law, many of them nth what they can _ the other take money - vf and cunning employed not use ; is worse than skill them for COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa, and the Prince of Leiningen, attended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald, the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Major-General - Bouverie, Captain Du Plat aria Gabbs, visited the Exhlblcl ou of th,4 Art-Contribution by Amateurs in aid of the Pa triotic Fund, at the Gallery in Pall-mall, yesterday morning, attended by the Equerry in Waiting. The Princess of Salerno and the Duke and Duchess d'Ai.inale visited the Queen yesterday. M. Druuyn de l'Huys, accompanied by the French Ambassador, had an audience of her Majesty, to whica he was introduced by the Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Queen and' Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Princo of Leiningen, honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence in the evening. The royal suite consisted of the Duchess of Athol', Earl Somers, Major-General Bouverie, and Captain Du Plat. The Hon. Caroline Cavendish and the Hon. Flora Macdonald have succeeded the Hon. Lucy Kerr and the Hon. Mary Bulteel as the Maids of Honour in Waiting to the Queen. The Princess of Salerno and the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale visited the Duchess of Kent yesterday at Clarence House, St. James's. DEPARTURE OF M. DROUYI\T DE L'HUYS. M. Drouyn de l'Huys, who had arrived in London, as we yesterday announced, for the purpose of conferring with the Ambassador of France, and, in conjunction with him, with the English Government, yesterday at two o'clock went with Count Walewski to the residence of the Prime Minister, where they met the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Earl of Clarendon. With these noblemen, and with Lord Palmerston, a conference wa,s held which lasted until five o'clock. The French Amhassailer and M. Drouyn de 1 ; 11uys then proceeded to Buckingham Palace, when the Minis ter of Foreign Affairs was presented to her MajeAy by his Excellency, and was honoured with an audience of some duration. M. Driuyn de I'Huys left Albert•gate House in the c nuts° of the evening for the South-Eastern Railway station, on ►,is return to Paris via Dover. VISIT OF NAPOLEON AND TEE EMPRESS. WINDSOR, Friday.—Preparati•ns are being made here for the reception of the Emperor and Empress of the French, on Easter Tuesday, the 10th of April. The aparttnsnts now under the process of decoration, and on which no less then 40 gliders, besides upholsterers, are employed, are the ball or grand reception -room?, the throne-room, the Ileubens-rkioin (where the theatrical entertainments have usually taken place), the King's council chamber, the King's closet, the Queen's closet, the Zuccarrelli room, the Vandyek room, and, indeed, all the apartments on the North Terrace. That the whole suite will be finished in a style of unprecedented magnificence cannot be doubted. It is understood that the Emperor and Empress of the French will remain in England for about a fortnight, vNting 'Lout:Ton, Osborne, Woolwich. Portsmouth, Greenwich, and other places, but residing principally at Windsor Castle. The York and Lancaster Towers are being fitted up for that purpose, and the whole of the apartments in the Round Tower will be placed at the disposal of the attendants of the Emperor Napoleon. The Queen held a privy council this afternoon at Buckingham Palace. THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO THE ART CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PATRIOTIC FUND.—Yesterday morning her Majesty, Prince Albert, and six of the Royal children, and suite, paid a visit to this exhibition and sale of works of art. Her Majesty showed her taste by at once pur chasing the best work in the room—vi z , a f rame o f six illustrations in outline, by Miss Frazer, of the poem of " The Wreath." These illustrations are most happily conceived, and evince much poetical feeling, and are ex pressed in an original and very artist-like manner. We believe this graceful production of the pencil was already purchased, and was loyally yielded, on her Majesty inti mating a desire to possess it. The Queen made other tasteful selections. Five of the Royal children have contributed drawings of their own ; they are all clever productions—Oat of the Princess Royal, entitled "The Battle-field," is a masterly work for one so young. It is a very encouraging sign for the arts to see such unmistakeable taste for art so. widely diffused amongst the youthful members of the Royal family. The drawings which cover the walls and fill the portfolios hi the gallery are contributed by amateurs ; and although we gladly admit they reveal taste and talent, it is impossible not to feel, at the firtt glance, the difference there is between such works and the productions of the professed artist—of works produced in play and those that are the result of hard study. The latter invariably possess a vigorous,llively, fresh look, as if they were produced • in the midst of frolic ; the latter, it must be confessed, have a dull inani mate air, as if they were the offspring of severe, unpalat able labour. Nevertheless, those who have the will and the power to discern artistic talent may discover it in this mass of drawings, and this circumstance, combined with the praiseworthy object for which this exhibition and sale have been instituted, is doubtless the cause of the great ii , tErest which the sub . l,ct Lord Stratford de Radcliffe was so far_ recoveredion the 19th inst. as to be able to attend, as usual, to bush AM. • _ THE CRIMEA. A letter in the Courrier de Marseilles, dated Ka miesh, 17th of March, says "The Russians are throwing up new works of defence opposite the Victoria redoubt, which is now occupied by the 9th French division. From this redoubt rockets are every evening fired into the town and must do consider able dalmage. , During the last armistice for burying the dead a Russian officer said to one of our staff officers, You fire rockets ; those fireworks amuse us.' Well,' replied the offic er , it is an amusement we can procure often and gratis.' We keep our promise ; the rockets we send differ certainly in some respects from those used as fireworks, as each rocket carries 201 b. of powder with it, which explodes and sets fire to everything it comes in contact with. "The army receives reinforcements every day. Since the commencement of the month more than 5,000 horses or mules have been landed. The artillery and baggage waggons are completely remounted. " The English army is also in a much better condi tion ; its Light Division consists of 10 regiments, each of 500 effective men. Its NaVel Brigade works at the redoubts. Its sanitary condition is excellent. " This change must be attributed not to the weather alone, which is less severe, but to all the hygienic mea sures taken in their camp, as also in the Turkish camp. The carcases of the horses which Hoed the road from Balakiava to the camp have disappeared. The dead are also buried with great care, and to prevent the dan ger from putrid miasma quicklime has been thrown over the bodies. This is an excellent measure, and it is a pity it was not thought of before, as the ground is very rich in chalk. "The enemy have not resumed their night sorties, which never succeeded. They are making their defences bristle with cannon at all the vulnerable points, and fire immense masses of projectiles, which fly over our para pets and do us very little harm. The day upon which the signal is given we shall reply to them with the music of 400 cannon, each provided with 900 rounds. All the eohoes of the Black Sea will resound to it." ~ltJ.~lli~` . MADRID, March - 29.—The evening before last several superior officers of the militia assembled to COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, BOMBAY, MARCH 4. We have no change to report in the Money Market dur ing the fortnight. All business has been dull in conse quence of the intervention of the Melia holiday, and we quote securities generally about the same as last Mail. The value of piece goods has seen its lowest point; wo are glad to notice a little improvement on grey shirtings, from 5 to 71b. of 1 anna, on 61b. 2 to 3 :mime, and on grey madapollains of 31b. 3 an anna, while other descriptions remain much the same as last reported. A little more firmness on the part of importers will, we expect, cause a further advance. The clearances from the Bazaar are pretty fair for the interior, and money is beComing easier. The extraordinary depression in the ,Bombay ,market, particularly for Manchester goods; need not surprise any one who looks at the memorandum of imports here from England of cotton, silk, linen, and woollen istanufactures for the month of December last, and far the year 1854, compared with each of the 'previous yearei, the increase being very great en every item of the least consequence, and excessive on the principal of them. We wonder when people in England will give up sending goods to a losing market ? From past observations we should say, never. EXPORTS.—Cotton--The transactions in this staple have bean very limited ; of Surat and Broach none to be had ; some fair quality of Dhollera was bought previous to the arrival of the last English mail at Rs. 68 per cawly ; but subsequently, owing to favourable accounts from England, it has advanced from two to three Rupees per candy. The new crop of cotton is later this season than usual, and is expected to arrive in ail this- month. Linseed has declined 2 to 4 annas per candy, and can now be had at Rupees 41 to Rs. 4i per cent. Exchange has slightly advanced this mail. Previous to the arrival of the English mail of the 25th of January sales to a moderate extent had taken place at 2s Old to 2s ld for local credits and document bills, but latterly rates have given way in the absence of demand for remit tance on mercantile account, and we now quote the rates at 2s Obl to 2s ld for bank bills, and 2s lid to 2s lid for documents. CALCUTTA, FEB. 22. The commercial advices aro again very discouraging for most of the principal articles of exports from India. In digo continued firm at previous rates. Raw silk was dull. Corahs had commenced assuming a downward tendency, and inferior goods had suffered a heavy decline. Sugar— The low qualities were sold at a decline of 6d. to ls., while the goods remained firm. Saltpetre had also suffered in value. Rice was difficult of sale at previous rates, and lower prices would have to be effected to accept sales. Jute had fallen about 21. per ton. Linseed without quo tations, no sales having been effected after the receipt of news from Vienna that the Czar of Russia had agreed to negotiate for peace. Safflower was firm at last quotations. Both lac dye and shell lac continued inactive. Catch had farther given way 1 to 2 shillings per cwt. Since our last issue, our produce market has continued in an active state, shipping having entirely withdrawn owing to the uncertainty as to the result of the negotia tions for pe ice. Indigo, however, has within the last few days attracted more attention, and holders of some fine marks have succeeded in obtaining slightly higher prices, say about 5 Rs a maund. Our import market has again been characterised during the past fortnight by great inactivity. The tightness of the money market, combined with heavy stocks of many descriptions of piece goods, has checked dealers very con siderably. Our money market is in the same position as last week, and it is expected that in a short time the present tight• mess will gradually disappear. EXCHANGE—Has ruled about an eighth higher on Europe for the outgoing mail. Bank Bills at 0 months sight have been left off at 2s Ogrl. to 2s. ld. ; first class cre dits at 6 months' sight at 2s. 04d. to 21. id. ; Document . Bills at 2s. 10. to 2s. lid. Treasury drafts at 30 days' sight have - been negotiated at ls. 111 d. to 25., and Post Bills at is. llid. to is. Ind. per rupee. On China Bills with Opium Documents at 60 days' sight have sold to some extent at 222 rupees per 100 dols., and some small amounts on Singsplo. , 3 r 1 :r s ' si2lit at rrtpees 225 in 225. , FEtwilf6—Utu• rates to England gra..(4o.liy__declintid Nate the arrival of the mail steamer Bothbay, but since the receipt of her letteri confirming the unfavourable ad vice', a turther fall has been the consequence of the last two days. Rice has been engaged at s'. to 51. Jute as low as 41. Seeds at 61: to Cl. 10s. per ton to London, while the rates for other de sci iptions of produce likewise have comparatively declined. In country freights a moderate business only has been done at slieatly lower rates. For Mauritius rs. 2-1 a bag cf Rice have been accepted. The arrivals during the past fortnight have been rather numerous, and tonnage is abundant at this moment. Future changes will depend almost upon the nature of advices expected by the next mail. INDIGO. —Our market has assumed a more favourable appearance, a bettor feeling being observed amongst the bidders at the last public sales, and fine marks especially attracting better attention. sammitsimiama CHINA The Overland Friend of China of Feb. 15th pub lishes in a supplement two communications regarding the repulse of the French from the city of Shanghai. In one of them the loss is said to be 1,000 Imperial ists in killed and wounded, and the French between 40 and 50 men, including two officers killed and four wounded. Among the former was the Ist lieutenant of the frigate Jeanne d'Acre, who was shot dead while leading a storming party in an endeavour to scale the walls. One of the letters concludes in tile following terms :—"The French admiral has driven every native off the French settlement, pulled down their houses, and cleared a space for 6,000 Imperialists to come and encamp ; but whether the French will succeed in pre vailing, on their brave Allies to accompany them on a se cond trip into the city, I am somewhat doubtful ; from the fact that the Canton and Fo-kien men in the service of the Imperialists reface to go into the city again on any account, and the Ningpo men aro much disgnsted and disheartened at losing so •many of their countrymen in addition to their leader. The reports you may hear of the determination of the insurgents to resist all French ag gression, to the last, may be relied on ; for never was a body of men more ea rnes t i n a cause t h an the present holders of the city of Shanghai . Their feelings t swards t he French may be judged, by the chiefs having sent letters to the English a n d A mer i can aut h or i t i es o ff er i ng . to surrender the city to them, but never to the French —sooner will they die to a man, and this, I firmly be lieve, to be no empty boast. The whole country round Canton is in the hands of the rebels. But fn. the presence of foreign men-of-war the city would probably stand but for a very short time before the bloCkading fleet of insurgent junks. The rebels have been endeavouring' to create some trade at Whampon, but - beyond small sales of teas- and plundered silks we learn no particulars. The feeling at present is that the rebels are rather losing ground. Enclosed is a copy of a proclamation issued by the rebel chief to the repref.entatives of the three Treaty Powers, which protests against the transport of rice, &e., by the river steamers and craft, and, goes on to notify* that. all foreigners must quit the city of Canton, and trade must be stopped till the place is in possession of his party. ,We cannot say it hat notice will be Liken of the document, but it calls fer immediate interference, or the little trade that exists may be annihilated :-- (Translation.) . " NOTICE. ' "All the Generalissimos commanding sea and land forces, troops, and cavalry, send this leti er to their Excel lencies the Commissioners of each of the great nations for their information : " When on a former occasion the Manche() nation en tered and plundered China they agreed at the expiration of 200 years to deliver back the rivers and hills, i.e. ' the etnpiro, to our Ming Sovereign. Now two centuries have pissed and they are unwilling to deliver back the empire. Therefore we have raised troops to exterminate and ,blot Out the Manchoo nation, and restore the country to the sovereign of the Ming Dynasty. " Hoo Nan, Hoo Pik, Keangso, Gan Hwny, Nan King, and Kwangso have all returned, and . Show Hingfoo in Kuang Tung, Hum Hun, - different departments and dis tricts, al have heard the report, and have reverted to the Ming Dynasty, and only the provincial 'city, Canton, has not yet submitted. Just now we are entering it with our troops to fight and exterminate it, but the merchants of the great nations have again employed lorchas and other vessels to bring rice to cover up powder being conveyed to the provincial city; and their cannons they pretend are to guard against pirates, in truth are sold to the traitorous officers, which is most unreasonable. " We wish each of the great nations from this time for ward to prohibit the use of lorchas and other versals trans porting cannon, powder, grain, &c., to sell for the use of the traitorous officers, and not allow steamers to trans port traitorous troops to Canton. "Wait till we have obtained the city, and afterwards is will be proper to carry on trade. "We now limit the time to the end of the year, when all goods belonging to the three countries, America, Great Britain, and France, at Canton must be entirely removed; after the new year no vessels cah. come and go carrying freight. "As requisite we give this notice. The newly-eitab lished regulations are as above. The three nations, Ame rica, Great Britain, and France, are limited to the end of the year to remove all their goods from Canton. The other different nations are restricted to three days, within which they are required to make a clear sweep of their goods. "Kan Ying Year, 12th Month„, 24th Day." , EXCHANGE AND BULLION. CANTON, 13th Feb.—On London 4 7.--On Bombay, 224 Rs.—On Calcutta, 226 Rs. 13th Feb.—Carolus Dollars 27 per cent. premium. SHANGHAI, 23d Jan.—On London 6.6.—0 n India, 325 EA.—Drafts on Canton 27 discount. OPIUM. CANTON, 13th Feb.—Patna, 3581 dols.--Benares, 35'31 dols.—Malwa, 440 dole.—Turkey, 3SO dais. - SHANGHAI, 23:4 Jan.—Malwa, 345- (1431.84-4410tesit 210 , FREIGHTS AND TONNAGE:. CANTON.—To London nominal 51. ss. for tea. SHANGHAI.--To Loudon 61. to 61. 103. for tea. EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, MARCH 23 The festivities at the barrage of the Nile on the occa sion of the laying of the foundation stone of a citadel and town to be called Saideeyeh. after Said Pasha, took place on the 12th inst., the, annivvr.: , ary of the Viceroy's birthday. Lord Eladdo, eldest son' of the Earl of Aberdeen, is still-in the Upper Country. His health has improved. Mons. Lo.ssepF, the projector of the canal. aCIOS3 the Isthmus of Suez, has returned from Constantinople, and it appears that the Sultan refuses to give his sanction to the plan. This mail will convey to the Bank of England bills to the extent of about 20,0001. sterling, on account of the tribute due by the Pacba of Egypt to the Sultan, and which is to be appropriated to the Turkish Loan, in virtue of the Imperial firman of October, 1854. One half of the yearly tribute, or 142,5001. sterling, was to have been deposited in the Bank of England by the 10th of April, but it will require some months before this sum be remitted. The Hindostan, from Caleutta,.arrived at Suez on the 19th of March. AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, JAN. 27. In even ordinary times I should say that an antipo dean correspondent has a difficult task before him, so to write of colonial matters) that mere local events should not be protruded upon the English public as of rational importance, nor that affairs which have a world-wide in fluence should be over:ooked. 'ln the dear old country warlike news now engross all attention, and it is a query with me if two or three columns of Australian intelligence would receive-Viet notice the a riter thereof might desire. Our Legislative Council is prorogued— the Squattee mem bers are busy up country tending their shearing—the phi losophical members are pondering upon the Reports of Committees on Education, Intemperance, and, the Con dition of the "Working Classes—the practical members aro gauging the water question, the sewerage, the pav ing, and the lighting of this neglected city ; whilst the Government sit with folded arms waiting the advent of a new order of things when Sir William Denison arrives. Thus, nothing is stirring of any great interest ; rumours are heard about the candidates offering for Sydney (a seat being vacant by the retirement of Mr. Thurlow, who goes to England). There is a slight expression of feeling about a testimonial to Sir Charles Fitzroy, which is adverse to him ; and as far as the public are concerned, they seem prostrated by the overwhelming hot weather—thermometer at 90 degrees in the shade. This summer has been rather a disastrous one, so great a draught not having occurred since 1839, bush fires extending for miles around have been numerous, and much property has been destroyed. The town of Para matte; with 7,000. inhabitants was exposed to immi nent danger for some days, and as the spiritless people there have no fire-engine, and no authorities of any kind, they may thank Heaven for their escape from total destruction. The palings surrounding the church-yard were burnt, and as the church is in the centre of the town,, Paramatta narrowly escaped a frightful conflagration. Owing to the want of rain the various teamsters, who conduct the inte rior traffic, have lost many cattle. The cost of car riage has increased very much, and everybody has suffered. We of the city feel the drought in the gradually ascending price of vegetables and meat. Cabbages of moderate solidity easily fetch ls. 6d. each ; and carrots that may properly be termed " limpy," 2d. and 3d. each. Meat is not very dear yet, but as the stock have no water and no food the butchers predicate increased prices. , With all this wages are also corning down, but rents maintain high rates ; building is going on very vigorously, but landlords are as stiff-necked as ever they were.. The results will be that numbers who cannot afford high rents will go into the rural diStricts—houses will become tenantless, and then the household Pharaohs have their choice—empty tenements, or moderate rents. The return of the revenue for the concluding quarter of 1854 hasj ust been published, and in the words of the Empire " it has a very decided tendency to confirm public con fidence in the stability of our commercial and industrial interests, and we cannot help congratulating the colony upon it?' The revenue exceeds that of the correspond ing quarter of the preceding year by 175,8241. The land sales exceed those of the same quarter of the former year by 107,8711. In the gold revenue there is a decrease of not less than 25,3981., the actual receipts for licenses, &c.,- being 24,5021. The expenses of the syateen, and the collections being balanced, no profit seems to arise from gold com missioners, camps, troopers, aed man-hunters—the gold fields should be thrown open to all comers, when proba bly some new diggings might be found, and the revenue would benefit by the consumption of goods subject to the tariff. There is a likelihood Victoria will abolish the hateful and vexatious licence fee before us. The Great Nugget Vein Gold Mining Company held their half -yearly meeting Jan. 15—a dividend of 21 per cent. for the half year was declared, but dissatisfaction was einrc , sed at the manner in which work wag carfied Oil. iv WaS ' ::;VE:.) _ tls c:nuot be allowed to the shareholderz of th© United Kingdom, but that the,interest accruing on the amount of the unpaid dividends, which him been inTested by the Lendon agents, should be paid them. There vtm also some lengthy discussion about the manner in which the claims of the company were at present worked by the Colonial Gold Company. It appears that, where the claims yield only a small proportion of gold to the ton, the gold company are allowed by their contract to take four-fifths of the receipts, allowing the Great Nugget Company the remaining fifth. Where the yield is more prolific a large proportion is given to the company, in order to equalise profits. But it was contended that by this arrangement the interests of the Colonial Gold Company would induce them to work he poor soils only because from them they would get the largest proportion of profit. Ultimately a resolution was adopted that the sliding scale should be changed. to a fixed one. The Australian , Joint Stock Bank have also held their usual meeting, and declared a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum. The net profits of the six months ending December 31, were 12,841/. Mr. T. W. Smart, the inspecting director, goes home in the Madras. The Bank gave him 5001. as a testimonial : gifts to the the wealthy—the old plan ! Great dissatisfaction has been felt here at the an nouncement that the Generia Screw Steam Shipping Company would send no ship with the mails of Dec. 4. We are tending to the old course of things, and seem likely to have to trust to such mail packets as the Strat ford, the Vimeira, and the Matilda Wattenbach. Despite this, however, there is not the remotest probability that the various colonies will unite and subsidise a mail com pany themselves—Melbourne is jealous of Sydney, SY& ney of Melbourne, Adelaide of botb, and New Zealand wishes to be the first port of arrival. Amidst all the conflicting claims for priority action is lost sight of, and at the most exciting period of the century, we are dependent upon mere sailing ships. The route vice Panama would give us the quickest news, but the Golden Age (s) lost by her trips, and is now sold for the passenger traffic between Panama and California. We are the slow coaches of the South Pacific. The Sydney railway company have acquiesced in the views of the Government respecting the transfer of their property. On January 22d-the shareholders met, and atuongst others passe d the following resolution—" That the directors of-the company be authorised to make and complete such sale, and to transfer the whole of the said p imrorty to the Government, for su ch price (not bring le s than the full amount of capital actually paid up, with the addition of 7 per cent. thereon), as shall be agreed upon between the Government and the directors with the guaranteed int.rest up tohe day of payment." Thus the affair is settled, and the railw AllStra• ay cf the colon will be in Government hands. The lien Steam y Navigation Company met Jan. 24, and de clared a dividend of 31 per cent. for the half - yea r endin g Dee. 31, 1354. Their last, was at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, bdt the new steamers th e y have lately. purchased account for the smaller su m. Australian General Assurance Company have declared a dividend of 7 per cent. fir the past half-year ; the balance remaining at the credit of profit and loss account: is 10,4621. The affairs of the company are iv a satisfactory state. The following is a review nf the prospects of . tea har ve. t of 1854 : The harvest season in the Australian colonies is now ap proaching, and prices at this period vary reports respecting the crops. From Van Diemen's Land the accounts , are decidedly favourable, and there is the prospect of a fair crop in New South Wales and .itt colony. In South Australia. there is a failure on tile e according to the Adelaide plains, where a large proportion of the grain ( 7 that country is grown. As, however, the produce ° that colony, even in bad t ten sea sons has for the l years been greatly in . excess of the' requ irements of t h e.: population, and as a great additional bre adth was t year sown, we still lock for a considerable supply Adelaide. Then the wheat crop in Europe is far bcy?.. an average, and there is a fair cro p in the Statas. Filially, California is now, it is said, supplied by her own agriculturists, and the whole of the large Childe surplus is available for the- Australian colonies. On the whole, we find that - those best acquainted with tees,htract! here do riot expect any material advance this y antd they anticipate a lower average price of flour, possibly the extent of 101. per tonedurinee the year 1655. --, Tract?, is slightly reviving, and the coun tr y has been favoured by plentiful rain. There is some iniprovement j'n the bra•idy market, but it does not realise borne prices. Several parcels have been reshipped per s fully Maid of Judah for London. In soft good s tha market i stocked for the next two years. The wool of the present clip is not s, - ) well got up a 3 that of last year. 4,000 bales are to be exported direct to Fran ce, b y which 20 per cent. is saved to the French market. The Ellenborough, which sails Jan. 28, has 1 ; 874 bales of wool for London, 139 of which were shipped at Newcastle. I am sorry to say that the Dry of is not yet open, owing to the capsizing of the caiso - Damag e when the first. P vessel was reparing to enter. wails of done; about 1001., and delay a month. The Nov. 9, by Mdras (0.), were six days over due. AMOUNT OF a GOLD DUST AND SPECIE SEIIPPED.---D391- stone, 195 on. 12 dwts-3 040/. Hannah, 1,600 055. — 26 1 0 ,2(2 . 1. C A hi r n g a o , ( 2 . 5 t. 9 ) 4 0 , z 1 ..„ 0 . _31,0376,0401.d w ts. O li v er Lang, 13 dwts.-5001. Vimeirs, 17.8 or. THE,ROYAL lIUMANE SOCIETY. The eighty-first anniversary festival of this most vale' able institution was celebrated by an elegant dinner, at the Freemasons' Tavern, last evening. In consequ ence of the indisposition of his Grace the Duke of Welling - ton, who was to have presided, the chair was taken by - Sir Samuel Morton Peto, Barb., who was suppoythe rted by t:4vo sheriffs for the City, Sir IVl,lttr Stirling, Sir .B. Cqtram, Col. Stephen s , Mr. Benjamin Hawes, Mr. fiawes, sen., Mr. S. Turner, the Rev. R. Mont gomery, the Rev. Jcs. Brown, the Rev. Ed. Scobell, M.A., the Rev. M. Lusignan, and about 150 other The healthy of her Majesty, the patroness of the in stitution, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Duke of Cambridge, and the rest of the royal family, having , been drunk with- the usual loyal honours, the-chairman _ gave the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the Royal. Humane Society," stating that during last winter there had been . 1,045,000 skaters and sliders in the three , parks, of which number 97 were immersed and 690 ex perienced fractures and falls, while in the Serpentine 193,000 had bathed, and 14 persons were saved from drowning. A very interesting procession of persons whoSe lives had been saved then perambulated the room ; after which a variety of toasts were proposed and re ceived with applause. _The dinner was served up in the well-known style of the Freemasons' Tavern. Mr. Harker performed the duties with his usual efficiency. The vocal corps , n u der the direction of Mr. Hobbs, including Mr. li. Ph illi P 4 Mr. Lockey, Mr. Cumming, Mr. Young, a nd ma ster Cooke, greatly enlivened the proceedings of the eren in t which were wound up by the announcemen t Of a egi scription of 500/. TEE CHAR GE"OF &HOPI IFTINGIVAIOT TSB WIFE OF DR. BAMSBOTHAM. • Mr. Broughton came down to the Marylebone police court on Thursday, and Mr. Long at the time being engaged in the investigation of the night and othen er charges, he went into his private room up stairgt Dr. Itamsbotham, whose wife had been charged "'lt stealing handkerchiefs from a shop in Baker - streetemen , Wan present. 116 came up in his carriage , and sl. pail. were a!so present for the purpose of putt in g in bai Mr. Herring and Mr. Lewis — the latter of whcra .rat said he was a personal friend of Dr. Ramsbotha,mtended on behalf the prisoner. Mr. Broughton of caused it to be intimated to the re porter that he was at full liberty to be present in i t hB room during the proceedings which might be gen° nw to r. ference 'to , Mr. Broughton bail (to Mr. Franklin, the chief usher; w ard ° was duly sworn)—You have :natio inquiries witb ad for to the parties whose names were given in as Mrs. Rams! .them ? inquiredFmrra.nßklrinou—ghltboanveSir. cer A tifi c c 6 a r t t e ia o c r at ia ,, et ? to Mr. Broughton ihi ticohn t a e s t o following whether is a thereeopy 7: as handed * 4C Tr ,- we have this day visited Mrs. Mary Ramsbotham, a u u nder remand in the House of Detention, Clerkensvell, , er d o. from th o re p or t o f the matron of her condition since. bv n woee tu. d e m st i . s ro s . i n o g n ;y an o t f l oouprinoibosiaertvhaattiohnero f the state o f her ners Deus system, indicated by almost total unconsciousnes._, longer detention _wig mental most injurious to her health, and rosy probably iad aberration. (Sign") "A. TW2EDIE, M.D. " HENRYWAKEFIEL, Surgeon. "House of Detention Clerkonwell, Ma Mon rch 29." —Mr. Herri ng and Mr. ' Lewis bo th stated that on day next there wou ld no doubt be a complete and satin answer t o the charge. —Bail was then g Mrs. iven, a nd Ramsbothara left the court with friends. --ff-'—__------:-.--'----____ ded uei nrp T osna h niero e rtnu FLe ntcoh.4ex-RoyalFsatin. ilLyeaor:a expected to c.):eask. e ton Wednesday the Prince de Joinvill', with a ui7 e Fe u f party, wtnt on board a steamer, and proceed (1 to; fishing .ground about twenty miles off on a fish in g e Thursday, Lord andLadY AtenctesiklesLewceniel,eEdaartl . , in Park-street, the Marquis n ' and Countess of Clarendon, Earl and Countess of Effing ir,the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Ther e° 4 ewis , Sir Franbis, Lad Arabella, and Miss Baring, Count Strezlecki, Mr. and Hersman the Solicitor- General for Ireland, Mr. Ord, and the 'Non. Charles Spring Wee. • . STRAND THEATRE,—The performances open ing the Rebeccaio e i r ne H. on ft . r eDisa t ,a, b ;y e catsl:a b ix e lt y n h e eiv( ii i, hi t .: of us ethe will doubtlesstalented : , ea g ear riA;;lrss; c f h, o eso r il: , :inn n uneNt o t ioesf r vß e i.orrini ly uNbe in jm g ts,,:i:: solely fi n finished li n e her v. justly- s a , c t h n e o wled g ed Cod for I t rak. eed;c ;l: urt e aVo attentionLUN T E li c S a mreoontltTliaEt theCa 4 .„, 2/ ( 3 ) the ; e c r o e in tt p ,( l , e:ey it a , s The sitting yn.abszt.ougJamu;sfoCrlasroem, eatrpifiriivnag;ftfap..t. t ng magistrates were much struck with the_ .1, ss if .he it n l h itt e d st b a e t r i shaved. ed h . e Il e was ask pearance of the man's head, which was shorn of its ha o l d 8 entertainment it 'a' , n sl eanyLt e,:lerre, h including ii at e ts.Big o e ll eg . ale Vr : le. i lfe.n: : . volunteered from the some days since, lying at GuernFey, into the 66th, which were us der orders for the Crimea. The colonel of the 6 7114 sli t being informed of this, demanded to know w hat fal i. they had to find with his regiment that they, s hould w ig " 6w6htl h ehr(t)denegseen'rlyGn g to leave it, and. declared that "he would brighten their buttons fix them." ii" —e at once sent for the barber, and had the hair of all of them cropped as closely as 67ainhi regot3heed; if o it of the been taken off with a razor. Mr. LuPt e ,„ l3 : ' t;ac,e' t.he Sitth'l Trrigi,triteq.,-Fftid it Bras a. mnst a "- ..." a....t Crl, tl,:: prt of t.„: c: Lninan:ing offieer 1.1.0.13.4:0 di-lig:in men for voluntecrin., for the Crimea, a thing which they had a perfect right to do, and for which as " 540 , nstead of censuring, would praise them. ON e ° l (t2r j; h i4 kereas E - 41 . c. r . * ea . s . ** ,11;erea,9 * Posit b e er Is Poalts i) e ere " 1 ., 4 3" and 4 Jecreas i ii h eIIt SE kit.11:44 iltpinereas, I tt eraplo I ncrease k te ‘ Si,WaS, ye 1,441:e rate \ m ere 111 } , ; /Is‘: ,, v t i ! s': v 4 r i f: . h:1 It ci ciet. 1 11 . ae re - c9 i rl . l e'. eslt i ai-' e e s't. vI, ~ , 12 2Q l it Bhi Pnae u l IA he Wee] Lonat uotyvi 4t Alaiec English lore bu able Bax Cons to 9 : . !en at C , en mar] !ga Stoc ,2q, ar ' 41 :1 it 6r , °a 81. N 1111 to 20 4t4 ., 491 4, 12 to 44 our -an, ew aqi t l, l 4lsive, g ailw a y i s e4 are ktavCs 4,N y be h esterr s have be, tp; 4 4l are ` 4 g Sim ' L e4 R l ' l , have are up 141 13-0] ant • -onsc "el . Cent 4,.L' r .keeeu er Bill 14 r‘ 4 -1F pc kt, t cc !,i tti or the 41 1 b i londs, 4 'o f '°ll(l S, o or the fall i 1 / 1 11 01 t end 6 401 . 5., '11)itio„ • 4.' ‘ltc, • - llN's• • r 1.4 4 14;a5. N 11 , 1 711, 'ocltt °1.17: E, wAr-st N V'bß, tt a %aairog qwkalx (1 0 , 1 lqewfc EGg h h liere y( 4it 01 11.1 .ck 13, ,(1 1 , 1 `", -iv ed • ' t r k t , —EI ; Aug ' gllee 4 4. 1) i d, tc q—C; w. (Ly s t.. 30 tOo V, 31 elgii f ail O tl e t ! 3l- A R i Lii - 1 / 4 4 4e a IN - t /4; i l cotton r tr ,..Pland bil e qa• p en l a Ite lst r ) iirk e t, 4 P . ec tation t A lent la cor Nil e . . ,k 41114 clic 1; . cg ach ,id.ce3 n o li evbev .N;:il‘r.. ‘ ) :l t1 4, '; ,. 1' tt14,5 tithet . t. 70 til 111 , t 1 I ,' 1 e .°411.4 ,,,c.ru i I . P: t ° , .ce ir , t It :e otei l ? rt ,it.ti g e ere arl t i l i t lie i rot el il o l4 , '' i le tr eici l iv ° ll 'b' t. i. mu c y t r i le. 1:18:11:111111rttcite-ia.iibiet.lti;'',1' ' , d e4r e n ° „ l T e 'till therefor, ti ti ) . a 411— ! t PIP °I. A A •Senr a. , . N ,1 V '4 l h:' Lia l e the , 1 4 , t1 erB ezel 4 1:" With 'ii' In 3 ito tl y th, e k, !ti lt : ,kivicc V. II of th 1 1:1 i k e4 43 inin z '4kti4ets are quri ng 1 g." titi l a't 1 Ir a , t ° l3 ci a i' c an 13; 'i t P y reei ous i 4 , ilnt Iv , new l' th. , (rr gki. oliec 7 11 4 b e ' 41th the- and 1 •• Itill bey ~,t v. attivit , J 2 '-' tra r.cstiit i t o f ino il l. , sl :ptil t i ller 14 11 1 th e w , l , 4 inst. i; s''t.t t Iva Zeral ti ria; With ....... i4ond!