The Sun. — London, England, 1855-04-02 00:00:00

fRURY-LANE.—Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.— Reduced Prices as usual. THIS EVENING, Will be presented a GRLND PROME v ADE CONCERT. The Mn ical arrangements w.ll Include the whole of the Popular Mu Ic frt.m Meyerbeer's Opera L'Etoile du Nord, executed by the Opera Band of 100 Performers and 60 Chorus. ROYAL PRINCESS'S TEIEATRE, OXFORD-ST REET. Under the Management of Mr. Cmiat.r.s KEAN. ON EASTER MONDAY Will be performed LIVING TOO FAST. To be folowed by THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal character by Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with (first tame) a Romance, in two acts. entitled THE MULETEER OF TOLEDO ; cr, King, Queen, and Knave. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke. Mr. William Ccoke begs to acknowledge one of the most successful seasons of the Royal Amphitheatre, and announces that on EASTER MONDAY there will be produced an original Equidrama, to be called, THE FIELD AGAINST IIIE FAVOURITE ; developing events of reculiar character and general interest Novel SCENES in the CIRCLE, and a variety of amusements, will 1 end their aid t) the evening's entertainmt nt. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Acting Mar a:;er, r. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director, Xr. W. Cooke, jun. item. ICATIONAL STANDARD• THIS EVENING, Mr. G. HODSON, the celebrated Irish Comedian, will give his popular Musical Entertainment, cllled MY IRISH PORTFOLIO; or, Gems from the Emerald Isle ; with Imitations of Henry Russell, M. Robins, &c. The wonder of the wol Id, Well,ngton Young, her Majesty's Royal Conjurer, will appear in hid Grand Soirees NI agiques. Madame Miter, the greatest Tight-Rope Dancer in the world. M. Delevenlle and Pup, Is' Grand Drawing -loom Entertainment. Lapong and Son in La Perche. Morgan's Disselving Views, &c. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, lbe WIZARD of the WORLD will appear in his Magic Salon, with a variety of amusements. To be follovred by THE BARBER OF CADIZ, Introducing the Drury-lane Ballet Com; ary. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam UST —Vorning 4 niin.aftar 2 I Evening 19 min.aft. 2 To-Ulm* -13orning 36 caln.after 2 Evening 49 min.s't• 2 TUZ WEATHER.—pus Orila, April. 1. TSICUMOIIINTIEB, IN TIM SF ADS. 48—highest since neon yesterday. 32—:ewest this morning and during the night. 46—this day, at 1100 n. BIROWATEF, 30.33. WIND, N.E.—Light breeze. In the morning there was a slight fall of snow: APRIL 2. 47—Lighest since nocu —lowcst this morning az d iurirg the night. 43 -this day at noon. iAROI itTE? , 3)•13. WIND, E.—Light breeze, with fine cold wea her. engaged. • "'„ LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1855. The new style financial year, which, according to the Act of last session, terminated on the 31st March, instead of on the sth of April, having been brought to a conclusion, we once more have the Revenue Returns to inspect and criticise. In the present instance both terms have been abridged by five days. The account for the re duced term of 85 days show that 15,021,276/. had actually been received, lacing an average of 176,720/. 18s. per diem, so that but for the change there would have been an addition of 883,6041. 10s. to the returns for the year and quarter. Due allowance has, however, been made for this alteration, inasmuch as the receipts of the corresponding year and quarter were only made up to the 31st of March in last year. Al though some confusion has for the time being been occasioned by the alteration, it may be re garded as a valuable improvement in bringing the accounts of incomings and outgoings to the same period. Previously, the expenditure was only reckoned to the end of the month—that is, 31st March, 30th June, 30th „September, and 31st December, while, on the other hand, the receipts were taken to the sth April, sth July, 10th October, and sth January, by means whereof, a gross de lusion was practised on the community, there be ing a deficiency of five days in each of three quarters, and ten days in the fourth, the Sep tember quarter. Henceforward the national balance sheet will be correctly balanced to the same day, and one of the many fallacies, put forth on official authority, will be removed. The receipts for the year, of 360 days, and the quarter of 85 days, exceed those of the corres ponding periods last year by 6,312,6241. and 4,384,3081. respectively. These might be, and have, by many of our contemporaries, been re garded as eminently satisfactory results. Looking, however, to the increased taxation that has taken place during the past year, we cannot take quite so favourable a view thereof. We know that in the first budget—that of the 6th of March—the then Chancellor of the Exchequer estimated the revenue—with the doubled income tax for half a year —at 56,800,060/. sterling. Two months afterwards—on Bth of May—when asking for the continued duplication of the Income Tax, during the War, and increased duties on malt and spirits, and the cessation of the gradual reduction on tea and sugar, he calculated on obtaining from these various sources 6,850,0001. additional, making a grand total for the year of 63,450,0001, The actual receipts have, however, been but 59,469,1541., or 3,954,8461. less than the esti mate. Considerable allowance must, however, be made for taxes as yet in arrear, and which the Right Hon. Gentleman declared might probably be the case to the extent of nearly four millions. It is, therefore, but justice to say that the pre vious calculation has been pretty nearly realised i n the gross amounts, although there have b een considerable variations in some of the details. Looking to the particular items, we find that in the Customs there has been an improvement in the year and quarter of 295,725/. and 221,0601. respectively. Mr. GLADSTONE'S estimate was at n nu m, b ut, ate the rate of l'oo,ooo/. per a changes which he proposed did not come s into operation until the July quarter, we could not reasonably anticipate the full extent thereof already--the improvement for which more than realises his hopes is in sugar and tea. Now, these are the very articles where there had been gra dual reductions which were arrested by the Right Honourable Gentleman ; and in these the revenue obtained the benefit of there reductions in conse quence of an increased demand—a striking proof that it is not the heaviest duties which are most productive t o th e revenue. The Excise Returns afford additional corrobora tion to the same principle. The improvement on the year and quarter has been 1 077 5'7A/ / - -.• a n d 211,284/. The estimated improvement for the year in the May budget was 2,450,0001., so that the deficiency is nearly 1,377,500/. How ha s this occurred ? From the diminished consumption of malt and spirits, or at least of that which J paid duty, owing to the additional tax. It has been well ascertained that any addition to the tax is invariably attended with increased activity in contraband articles. Mr. GLADSTONE was warned of this probability by ourselves, as well as by others. He disregarded the salutary warn ing, and behold the result ! The consumption of malt in the term eliding sth January, 1854, arise. was 41,992,178 bushels ; in that ending sth S L ifinuary, 1855, 36,812,727 bushels only. These -, , , -. 21 - 711-fi - gtres speak for themselves, and require no argil iwaents to deduce the inevitable conclusion. 1 - ... 44 . 1.: , 4c ~' 4 , -' - ,-. « .4" Ain Stamps the increase on the year is 176,1311., 2 , -'.• .7; sf -- . "): :2, -:' , .• macron the quarter 54,9441., while in taxes then ~, 1 0 _ . • , • ( Z",./-1 : Is -it decrease on the year of 105. r," - 07 ''( I . 1 aN.,-.7,' -these variations may be -- - _ s•ob. 130t11 ...cribed to the stringency atner than to any alteration in the which the chief amounts are received—in that of 1854 only 99,302/. was realised ; while, pro bably in consequence of arrears from the previous quarter, 194,897/. was obtained. There is, therefore, nothing to boast of in the quarter's increase. The Property Tax is that in which the great change took place, the improvement for the year being no less than 5,137,3341., and that for the quarter being 3,798,6121. As we have already stated, however, it was estimated to produce for the year 12,889,0001. ; whereas 10,515,369/. only has been rea lised. As we cannot judge of the amount of outstanding arrears, it is manifest that we are still in the Sark respecting this all-important In the Post-office, thanks to the efficiency of One of our best public servants-,-Mr. ROWLAND HlLL—there is an improvement on the year of 230,1561., and on the quarter of 45,9221. The outlay in adding to the postal facilities being-- like money spent in advertising—more than re turned, by enhanced profits. Tn Crown Lands there is a deficiency on the year of 123,3161., in consequence of the large receipts in the July quarter of last Sear, but an improvement on the quarter of 1;000/. ; while in Miscellaneous there is a decrease c.f 375,4261. on the year, and of 44,1091. on the quarter. Such is the state of the ordinary revenue, on which we have something yet to say—and all we can say is, that while it gives no occasion for any extraordinary exulta- I, tion, there is none for depression of spirits. The people feel these increased burdens ; there is less cinsumption of the comforts of the million, but our resources are still elastic, and we can do far more if necessity should arise, and that extra funds be required for the vigorous maintenance of the just and necessary War in which we are Various and conflicting reasons have been as signed for the journey of M. DROEYN DE L' HEYS to Vienna. It is epsitively asserted in sonic qaarters that the participation of the French Mi nister in the Conferences is likely to tend to a pacific solution of the existing difficuties ; that M. DE BOURQIIENEY has not exhibited a suffi ciently conciliatory manner ; but from too ri gorous au adhesion to his instructions had given offence to the Russian and Austrian Diplo matists. Should these statements, unfortunately, prove well founded—should greater concessions be contemplated, and a discreditable and tempo rary " truce"—se shall not term it " peace"— be patched up, we shudder to think of the results, which will be fully as injurious to France as to Eflgland. We, however, hope better things from our mag nanimous and chivalrous Allies. We are there. f )re disposed rather to credit the opposite version, also in circulation, and to believe that the im portant step may be occasioned by a desire to keep the English Plenipotentiary up to the mark, and to counteract the symptoms of yielding already displayed by Lord "JOHN RUSSELL. This view of the case is strengthened by the hasty journey to England of M. DROUYN DE L'FlUYS—his prolonged conference with Lords PALMERSTON, LANSDOWNE, and CLARENDON, and subsequent audience by her Most Gracious MAJESTY. If the necessity had arisen from any deficiency on the part of M. DE BOURQUENEY, that would have been under his own control, he could himself have supplied an ade quate remedy. He would have required no com munication with the English Government to do so. It is therefore more than probable that the neces sity has arisen from the too complying disposition of Lord J. RUSSELL, who has so frequently yielded to pressure at home that he is quite accustomed to the operation. Something also may be attrl , buted to the already ascertained duplicity of Aus tria, and the propriety of having the very highest French authority, save that of the EMPEROR, ready to pronounce on any alternative that may The second view of the case receives additional corroboration from the very significant report that recently appeared in the books of the Viennese Police—" Lord JOHN RUSSELL has walked arm in arm on the Glacis with Prince GORTSCHAIKOFF." Now, while repudiating the feeling which induced ,he illustrious PICKWICK to dilate with great ab -torrence on the cold-blooded villany with which ,Nlr. Sergeant 131:JZFUZ, the counsel for Mrs, BARDELL, presumed to tell Sergeant SNIIBBIN, liis own advocate, that it was a fine morning —we cannot help thinking that such dis plays should have been avoided. In all such matters :appearances should be kept up. A very powerful effect might, and very probably has been produced' on Austria by the announce ment. The probable conclusion would be that there was some underhand or secret negotiation going on, in which the Representatives of Eng land and Russia were trying to arrive at a conclu sion without consulting the other parties to the Diplomatic Conference. We have no doubt that Lord J. RUSSELL was very innocently betrayed into the indiscretion, but still it was an indiscre tion, and one of a very grave character, which a Plenipotentiary entrusted with such important and responsible duties should carefully have avoided—n o t, an we h ave s t a t e d, f or its results so far as he himself was concerned, but for its pro bable effects on Austria. We must again, then, repeat the warnings which we have so frequently uttered against any undue dependence on the co-operation of that slippery Government. As we have already pointed out, we have only sayings, but no doings, to rely on. It. is notorious that the German policy—that at least of Austria not and Prussia has in terested, been strictly selfish — and now that th e points in whichA have, ustria to a is s chiefly,if certain extent, been conceded by Russia, we can look for no further assistance at her hands. We do not believe that Russia eve r centemplated a bona fide or lasting peace. Th e navel interpretation given to the Third Point proves this almost beyond the possibility of doubt. It was, however, desirable to supply a plausible excuse for Austria, and this has been afforded by the pending Conference. Should the treachery of Austria become apparent, the presence of the French Minister may terminate the diplomatic farce. To his Imperial Master the destruction or cession of Sebastopol is even more important than to ourselves. He should, therefore, firmly L d e i j ffi ec can t ulel e t v e e p ry substit u t e , an d press f or th a t w hi c h can r b o e bl d e e m e ra. ed s a hould satisfactory tbisn s t ol b u e t i opnr promptly of the tly achieved a fifth point establishment o f Poland be h ence f ort h regar d e d 'nay be added, and the re as an indispensabl e con di t i on to any treaty nego tiated by the Western Powers. The hints of the British Premier have excited hop es which 11 . 0 fervently trust may yet be realised, awl xe should willingly subm" ,or which tices. to any further sled- A striking instance of the folly, or worse, of which our rulers are clpable, and of signal impu, 'Nice and want of honour on the part of a Pils, of collectior _ La- THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 2, 1855 pottering at the head of affairs, and Prussia was playing catspaw to Russia, the Prince VON RAD zivrt, armed with a Ministerial introduction, presented himself to the Hero of Aliwal, and was permitted to accompany Sir HARRY in his review of a number of militia regiments—Sir HARRY embracing the opportunity to pay a most flatter ing compliment to the Prussian army, somewhat at the expense of the French. The presence of the Prince occasioned surprise at the time, con sidering the position occupied by Prussia, and the fact that our raw militia was then almost our only military defence ; but the expression of that feel ing was stayed by the indignation felt at the want of good taste displayed by Sir HARRY. Time passed on ; and where and how should the nonchalant PrinceV ON RADZITIL turn up? Why, actually before Eupatoria as the Russian General-in-Command ! So, from these and other circumstances, it would appear this princely Prussian rascal deliberately threw himself on our hospitality in order to be tray us ; and having closely inspected, as we have no doubt he did, all our defences, and ascer tained our weak points, posted off with his infor mation to the enemy ! There is no difficulty in stating what the Prince is, but really we are puzzled to determine whether the Minister who gave him access to that information—threw open our citadel, in fact, to an enemy's spy—is a traitor, a :001, or both. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Privy Council at three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. It was at tended by Prince Albert, Rai Granville, Lord Presi dent ; the Duke of Argyll, Lord Privy Seal ; the Mar quis of Lansdowne ; Viscount Palmerston, First Lord of the Treasury ; Sir Ge3rge Grey, Secretary of State for the Home Department ; the E. of Clarendon, Sc• cretary of State for Foreign Adairs ; Sir Charles Wood, First L, - Jr.l of the Admiralty ; the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smi;li, President of the Board of Control ; Earl Spencer, Lord Steward ; the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lori ainl - erlain ; an the Duke of Wellington, Master of the florAe. The Right Hon. Dudley Earl of Harrowhy and Hnn. F.dxa, d Pieydell Bouverie were by command of the Qqeen sworn of Iv r Majesty Mo•t am. Privy Council, and took thoir pact-s at the Beard ace,rdingly. tier MjeAty in C,nur,il was pleased t) appoint the iti7l , t Hon. E. P. Bouverie VL.e-Peesid,nt of the Ctin mitt(); of Guinea for the consideration of all naatter: rela lag to) Tr.ide and Foreign Plantations. Mr. C. Greville was the Clerk of the Council in W &tin g. Ear Granville ha - I an audience of the Queen, and re signed his seals of office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan caster. The Earl of Harrowby hal an audience of the Queen, and was swore in Chancellor of the Duchy ani Count) Palatine of Lancaster. Her Majesty delivered to th< nob'e earl the seals of the Duchy and C•iunty Palatine. Mr. Frederick Dawes Danvers, Clerk of the Council to the Duchy, assisted et the ceremony. The Earl of Clarendon, Viscount Palmerston, Sir G. Grey, a.,il Sir Charles Wood had audiences of the Queen. Her Majesty was attended by Lord Ernest Bruce, Vice-Chamberlain ; Viscount Drumlanrig, Comptroller of the Household ; Earl Somers, Lord in-Waiting ; and tie Hon. Mortimer Sackville West, Groom-imWaitiniz. Her Majesty and Prince Albert rent to the Crystal Palace at Sydenhain on Saturday morning, accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge ar.cl the Prince of Leiningen. and attended by the Duchess of Atholl, the Hon. Flora Macdonald, Major-General Bouverie, and Capt. Du Plat. The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen at Bucking ham Palace. Her Majesty had a dinner party in the evening at Buckingham Palace. The company included the Duchess of Kent and the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Lein ingen' the Maharajah Dsleep Sing, the Earl of Harrow by, Lady Fanny Howard, Madame Tricoupi, the Earl and Countess St. Germans, Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Right Hon. Sjdney and Mrs. Herbert, Sir John Login, Col. Ridley (Scots Fusilier Guards), Major Oliphant (Chairman of the East India Company), and the Gentleman in Waiting on the Duke of Cam bridge. The band of the 2d Life Guards was in attendance in the Palace, and performed during dinner. Yesterday the Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Prince of Leiningen, attended Divine service in the private chapel in Buckingham Palace. The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Wind sor officiated. The Duchess of Kent visited the Duchess of Glou cester on Saturday, at Gloucester House. Prince Ernest of Leiningen arrived at Clarence 119118 C, St. James's, yesterday, from Portsmouth, on a visit to the Duchess of Kent. CABINET COUNCIL—A Cabinet Council was held cn Satur lay afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing street. The Minihters present were Viscount Palmer ston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Marqui , of Lansdowne, the Duke of Argyll, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Vernon Smith, Sir W. Molesworth, and Viscount Canning. The Council sat two hours, _ _ _ A deputation from the Burial Boards of St, Maryle hone, St. Pancras, and Islington, had an interview with Sir G. Grey on Saturday, at the Home-office. The de putation consisted of Sir B. Hall, M.P. (Marylebone). Mr. Alderman Challis, M.P. (Finsbury), the Rev. Thos. Dale of St. Pancras (vicar), Messrs. John Flather and Henry Farrar (churchwardens of St. Pancras), Messrs. Robert Furness and William Durant Cooper (St. Pan cras Burial Board), Mr. William Anderson (Islington Burial Board), Mr. John Layton (clerk to the Burial Board, Islington), Dr. Sayer, Messrs, J. H. Ilarlowe, and F. H. Bridgman and Mr. W. E. Greenwell, clerk to the Burial Board (deputation from St. Marylebone). A deputation consisting of Mr. Forster, Mr. Swanzy, Mr. Sewell, and Mr. Blanksom, had an interview with Sir G. Grey on Saturday. Despatches were sent from the Colonial-Ace, on Sa tur,'ay, to the Governors of the West India Islands. CRYSTAL PALACE.—Her Majesty and his Royal I Higness Prince Albert, accompanied by the nuke of Cambridge and the Prince of Leiningen, visited the Crystal Palace on Saturday mornin g . Her Majesty was attended by the Duchess of Athol and the Hon. Miss Macdonald, and General Bouverie and Captain Du Plat were in attendance on the Prince. The Royal party were received by Mr, Laing, the chairman, and other directors, and were conducted through the palace, with the improved appearance of which her Majesty expressed herself greatly pleased, In the course of the visit the Queen made some purchases of jewelery and bronzes from the stalls of Messrs. Itudolphi and Barbedienne, in the Foreign Court, tiller the departure of her Al*: ty, Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge were con duete.d by Sir Joseph Paxton into the grounds, where they remained until half-past 1 o'clock, Lord Aired Paget, Equerry to her Majesty, has been selected by the Queen, to be Lord in Waiting to the Emperor of the French during his visit to England. Lady Hart3pp end Miss Anna Maria Hartopp have left the ClArt-ndon Hotel for Four Oaks, Birmingham. Sir tobert and Lady Gerrard have left the eleven de.'n for Roehampton. The Right Hon. B. and Mrs. Disraeli left town on Saturday for Hughenden Manor, Bucks, where they will remain during the recess. THE MARQUIS OF DONEGAL.—It is, says a Belfast paper, the intention of the Marquis of Donegal to take up his residence, if not permanently, at least for a time, at Ormean, TUE VIENNA, CONFERENCE.—It is confidently as serted that the purport of M. Drouyn di visit to England was to protest against the course Lord John Russell was pursuing at the Conference, as yielding too much ; and that he was proceeding to Vienna with a strong assurance that the English Plenipotentiary should receive 'instructions not to assent to any propositions unless they were fully in accordance witk the views of our ally, and likely to be productive of a lasting peace.— Morning Herald. turnsr . t o T rs h e. made following tjh e oe n h t \tu r y iße a nu p cs p sae e l a pl r ch e l d in ai police walked kene of the c agents atrom .ti r hn e e-ai e rr : B t u r po e• en. t na h co ig n i p. a t c zl i nT s ch w ies it o h f Prince Gortschakoff.” :a .F .r if ro a:HEß er M :sva lN nit l dh STEßlAL AITOINTIIENTEI,—The Earl of of Lancaster, y st has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy will t i r . b 1 o a u w v o c r r n i c ,into appointmentoffi ce thi s t c a ft t e h r e - leaves but one . the cei Junior Lordship or the Treasury)' o f the Board of Trade, and Mn trand's v lee-rreeta "LoY undertake e the Mr. George as l 'Under-Steretait- . Ship —vacant in Monck succeeding — ry Clerk at Ih ri elT ir r ii . e c a n r s d u ra . ry ll , d L w or i d ll T e e rt Z'oung has been ap poAinrtei'doTc7mminENiTsssa. promoted from Second Clerk to Chief. Mn Cler .r k oahtn 'Thames Police-office. Mn B. F Bowdier, from Assistant-clerk at Buw-street, is to be Second Clerk at Thames Police °TcE G 13 —°l l; 36 l;D u s er FOß THE CRIMEA.—This week 1,200 of seatofwa r battalions r.rhoew will b th e e co G m ua p r o d s s ed wi c ll f e 3 m oo bar fr k o mforeach of the four the three regiments. NEW YOTIK.—The commercial advices from New York on Friday give very satisfactory accounts of th e stuck and money markets ; but much of the iMp ovg" meet having been caused by the nova of +l- u - .- _ ~o death of the Emperor Nicholas. g^" - ' which took .0- ....o reaction, analogous to that ▪ Lu tore packets. rail way bonds, several of whi ch had advanced 2 or 3 per h ' - ~ ,ac e 0 11, ' i t ah i e s side,grea t e w s will l rise probably hadb e b e e n reported i n rai l. c fip e or n a ir. f t . ec , rd . b . u tTThahelerr There had c ao r nb i p em t e i na o r n nk s oc t o d f iil ma S ai e n c ul n i tk r i i co t In i v e isicnewtbeheree w e na abundance rendered n l sup da nc of money, as the banks were still increasing their loans and discounts. The heavy amount of specie shipped by this packet, 320,000/., and the fact of the rate of ex , change having gone up to a point to indicate the proba- Ihility of further large remittances, were calculated, how ever, to excite caution. Letters from Panama received au _thi_s.occasior. state that her Majesty's steamer Virago - • •• .ipan case, on the 2.,kth LATEST NEWS. THE CRIMEA. MARSEILLES, SATURDAY, M iRCH 31. The Sinai, which left Constantinople en the 22d of March, has arrived. Despatches for the Government left at 2 p.m. BALAKLAVA, 111Ancii 20. The Russians still occupy the ambuscades, which the French attacked on. the 17th and 18th without success and with loss. Reinforcements of 15,000 Russians arrived ai Sebastopol on the 18th. On the same evening 15,000 Russians crossed he Tchernaya, and advanced on BaidAr. For the last three days the Russians have ceased firing. The Russians and the ..41lies are occupied in n strengthening their positions. The morale of the army is excellent. Sickness is on the decrease. Provisions are abundAnk. KAMIESH, MARCH 20. Advises from Perekop of the 17th announce ;he deat'A of Prince Menschikoir. ST. PETERSBURG, SATURDAY. General Dsten-Saelc3n writes from the Crimea that in the night of the 23d, and early morning of the 24ib, the garrison of Sebastopol made a mwerful sortie for the purpose of patting a stop :o the works of approach made by the Allies near he Kaaischatka luuettr'. This operation, adds General Oseu-Sacken, resulted to our advantage. Our men sueecyeded in destn,ying the works executed by the French luring the last few days. The loss on both sides was considerable. Two French officrs, one a colonel and the other a clptain, fell into our hands, together with an English captain. VIENNA, SUNDAY. To-morrow the Conference meets again. M. Drouyn de Lhuy3 is expected to anive on WednesdAy next. The Dowager-Archduchess Maria Dorothea ied. at Buda yesterday. ELSINORE, SUNDAY. The first four ships of the British Ratio fleet arrived here this afternoon. KIEL HARBOUR, SUNDAY. Nothing but ice is in sight. Letters from Bessarabia, received by private persons at Galatz, confirm the intelligence that orders have been given by the Commander-in- Chief of the Russian army of the South that, in the event of an invasion by the enemy, all the inhabitants are to retire beyond the Daeister, After setting fire to all their produce as well as all the towns and villages. THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL, (From a Second Edition of the Morning Herald.) ENGLISH CAMP, SEBASTOPOL, Mallen 18. At about half-past eight last night the whole of the allied camp was alarmed by a tremendous firing of musketry in the direction of the French trenches. The firing, wh.-1 was caused by an attack made by our Allies on the enemy's infantry pits, mentioned in my letter of yeeterdety, con tinued for upwards of two hours, and was at one time so hot that all expected a general action was about to take place. Even after the real nature of the fight was ascertained, both English and French troops remained under arms for some time, since, as the trench were again detected in their atta ck, a strong sortie was anticipated upon their works. I stated yesterday how continually the French were galled by the fire from these rifle pits. This annoyance increased to such an extent during yes terday that the French engineers determined to attack them forthwith. For this purpose, soon after it was dark, 300 volunteers from the French sharpshooters, with about 200 from the Infantry of the line, and seven officers, were selected. They remained under covet till eight o'clock, When the night being windy and pitchy dark, they cauti ously advanged to the attack. The rifle pits are be tween 00 and yatds from the French parallel, yet the French had scarcely advanced ten paces when a Russian shouted out something, and in a minute afterwards a smart fire was opened from the pits. The French instantly threw themselves down, and availing themselves of the inequalities of the ground began their ad vance until within a sutlkient distance to make a dart at the enemy. The sudden discovery of their plan appears, howeVer, to have disconcerted the French, who straggled far in the darkness, opening their line so Wide that some part of them wore advancing upon points where there were no riflemen, and only deep ditches and stockades. This error, with the i epeatecl Words of command which were given in order to rectify it, enabled the enemy to fire with ninth accu racy in the direction of every sound. The French, consequently, suffered smartly in their ad vance, while the enemy were enabled to concen trate their strength upon the threatened points. The French, notwithstanding these difficulties, managed, to come within twenty yards of their antagonists, and the firing was hot on both sidee, when the order was given to our allies to rise and. charge. All instantly rose and made a dash in the darkness, at where the flash of rifles was thickest, and in spite of a heavy volley continued their ad vance. The officers gallantly led the way, followed by the volunteers, and closed with the first line of pits. From these some of the Russian riflemen sprung out to take shelter behind the second line, while others remained at their posts and defended themselves with their swords to the last. This resistance, however, was in vain. In a few minutes the French had completely captured the first row of pits, and were engaged with the second and third, when some unaccountable confusion arose among them, and by the time it was rectified the enemy's ire was so steady and so hot that they were com pelled to give ground before it. Their officers in vain tried to rally their men, who had fallen into dis order ; before such a fire it was almost impossible, especially as it was evident that the numbers of the enemy were momentarily increasing. A retreat, therefore, beeame necessary, and the French accord ingly retired in the same manner in which they acivauced— , •skirrnishing and lighting from Acme to stones They did not ; however, fall back upon their advanced tienCii, a;!; tho first symptoms of their having experienced a repulse a strong reinforce ment of 800 men was despatched to their assis tance. This additional force Joined the first attack while retreating from the rifle pits, ate a renewal of the attempt tO Capture the position was instantly determined on. The French accordingly made a stand, and began a steady continuous file fire upon the line of pits, which the enemy returned as hotly. So close and incessant was the rattle of .the mus ketry, that it aroused even the troops at Balaklava. The assemble° blew in the English and French aafiao, ott th 4 divisions rapidly got under arms, as, g to e- - to frontlts wha: t t h erx e sv continued the i rattle,2sod as D vt general s e i n ob e ne r a n l re e aN n , de g yd a 11, support the French and the Inkerman batternd to The Light Division advanced , and took grou the left, so as to support the new 21-gun battery, and cover the Woronzow road, up which it has been lately expected that a powerful attack would be made. The Third and Fourth Divisions were also under arms, and remained in readiness to support any threatened paint with their field batteries. The other divisional batteries acted with the Se cond and Light Divisions. Lord Raglan and staff turned out with their horses, but only remained at head-quarters in readiness for whatever might arise. In the French camp there was the same activity. • " m---;--Airisitnaa.turnea cut L ,and ) closing u to. their batteries, formed, with the English, a perfect i line round the south of the town. The musketry had now lasted nearly an hour and a half. Very few heavy guns were fired by the enemy, as the French and Russians were much too close to permit of its being done with safety to their own troops. Our allies had meanwhile con tinued their advance until close upon the pits. The flashes of musketry, extending over nearly a mile, were incessant, and every five or ten minutes the explosion of a long gua in the batteries dimly lit up the whole scene, and showed the heavy masses of smoke which hung over the place of contest. All this time the English troops were quietly waiting for their turn to begin, as of course they were un acquainted with the nature of the French attack, and were looking forward with confidence to an other night battle of Inkerman. Suddenly the French musketry ceased, and, with loud vivas they advanced to the charge. In another second broad heavy streaks of flame, followed by a stunning crash, showed that the enemy were then in overwhelming numbers, and had drawn up re serves of infantry under their batteries, and in rear of the pits. The time which the contest had lasted had thoroughly alarmed the whole Russian garrison of Sebastopol, and much of its strength was- con centrated round the threatened point. The French, as I have said, dashed in upon the pits, but, before they had moved ten paces, received a heavy volley from the troops in the rear of them. Still they pressed forward to where the holes were occupied by the tifle men, engaging in bayonet contests with their occu pants, while the Russians behind were discharging deadly volleys into their ranks. Nevertheless, so impetuous was the French onset, that within a minute they again captured the first line and the greater part of the second line of pits, and bap). netted their occupants. But by the time that this was effected the heavy volleys of the Russian in: fantry were telling severely, and the officers saw that, with the small force at their command, it was in vain to persevere any longer. After a brief but desperatestruggle, therefore, they again commenced their retreat. As they did so, the enemy yelled and shouted like demons, and the shouts were taken up and echoed and re-echoed along the whole extent of the Russian lines, while, emboldened by the success of numbers, the enemy's infantry advanced in pur suit of the French. • However, this last was a step for which our gallant allies were by no means pre pared. Of themselves, from prudential motives, they bad retired before superior numbers, but toll be driven in by the enemy was another affair. As I the Russians advanced, therefore, the French I quietly retired, firing a little into the enemy and gradually closing up until their would-be pursuers were close. upon them, then instantly facing round, fired ens heavy volley, and charged with the bayonet. By this coup the enemy's infantry was driven back with severe loss, though not sufficient to deter them from again attempting to close with our Allies, who- still were falling back upon their advanced parallel. Into this the Russians, who were about 2,009 etreng,made a serious attempt to enter also, be such a close and continued fusillade was kept up by the defenders, that the enemy were thrown into disorder, and rapidly retreated to the cover of their own batteries, which opened fire heavily. The French then discontinued their at tempts, and the cannonade gradually ceased at about half-past eleven. According to general report the French lost in, these attacks, no less than 2 officers and 29 men killed, and 3 officers and 133 men wounded. Of course, there is no means of ascertaining the loss of the enemy, but it must have been little short of that of the French. Had the same amour:t of skirmishing taken place in the day, the loss would have been a thousand killed and wounded on both sides, but skirmishing in the dark not oue shot in ten tells. The French officers behaved on this occasion with the most daring courage ; and it is generally said, that had some of the troop supported them properly, the forts might have been captured on the first attack. Ono French officer received a sword cut from a Russian, which cut through his shoulder slantwise almost down to the spine, so that he died in a few minutes. Our division remained under arms until past eleven, when, all being quiet again, they returned to quarters. Early this morning the Russians commenced the day by throwing bombs into the French advanced parallel, from which the attack of last night was made. The Frenct returned the fire smartly for about half-an-hour or so, when the cannonade on both sides slowly slackened down and ceased en tirely. From Gordon's Battery we threw a few shells among the Russian infantry pits in front of the enemy's advanced work on Gordon's Hill, but they appeared to be deserted. Emboldened by the success which has attended the formation of this advanced work on Gordon's Hill, the enemy are again attempting to throw up another in advance of the Barrack Battery and flank ing our left attack, and some of the new French works on that side. Very few traces of broken ground are yet to be seen, though there is still quite enough to show the intentions of the Rus sians. If they succeed in carrying out this battery an mounting it with ordnance, it will not only give considerable trouble, but he a most extraor dinary feature in this most extraordinary siege, for then the enemy will have turned the tables and be literally advancing their parallels and batteries against our works. MARCH 19. Again last night the 'camp was kept rather on the qui vive,by a heavy bombardment, which the French maintained upon the suspected advanced work to which I alluded at the close of my letter of yesterday. It now appears that the Russians are fully bent on establishing an advanced bat tery on this spot, and from the commanding and importarit nature of the position, the French spare no efforts to hinder its completion. Last night their out picquets and volunteers discovered the party hard at work, and a strong mortar battery was immediately opened upon the intended posi tion. In the course of two or three hours up wdrds of 200 10 and 13-inch bombs were dropped upon the place, and the enemy, after suffering se verely, were compelled to fall back. After the working party, had retired the French still con tinued their practice, and threw shell the whole of the night. At daylight this morning all the para pets (which were only partially finished) were com pletely destroyed, and the ground ploughed up all around the spot. When the working party retreated the enemy's batteries opened upon the French mortar battery, but without effecting any damage worth speaking of, and after maintaining an irre gular cannonade for nearly an hour, discontinued, and left the field to the French. Our Allies arc much nettled at the repulse which they met with on the night before last at the rifle pits, but still speak with determined confidoneence can al to the result of their next attack. No surmise when this next attack will be made, but from the harassing fire which the enem bey's sharp ehootere keep up night and day, it cannot long deferred, and the sooner it is made the less the French are likely to suffer. Another 13-incli mortar was mounted on our right attack yesterday. It is placed in a peculiar potation, apart from the other mortars, as it is in tended for immediate use. This morning it opened fire, and commenced throwing shells among the Russian rifle pits round Malakhoff -Tower. Soon after it had begun the Russian soldiers swarmed about the earthworks opposed to un, and wherever they were thickest shells were dropped until not, a man would show. The guns in Malakheff earth works occasionally throw a few shells, but without producing any results calculated to hinder our fare. For the first hour or so after the mortar opened the Russian riflemen laid close in their pits, but after some 30 or 40 of them bad been blown up, pits and all, they commenced run. ning back to their batteries in twos and threes, so that all their holes were evacuated before two in the day. After accomplishing this, the mortar was employed in throwing occasional shells into the town and earthworks until near dark, when the firing ceased. Yesterday evening a long train of waggon!, about 450 in number, entered Sebastopol from the north side. These are presumed to contain ammu nition, of which, beyond all doubt, the Russians must now be getting short. It would seem quite incredible to your readers if I was to state the enormous amount of powder, shot, and shell, which the Russians are computed to have fired away sincethe commencement of the siege. During the last few days that the enemy have been firing, not more than one shell out of three has exploded. Many of the others have been picked up, and in stead of the usual metal fuse used all over Europe, they have fasces made of pieces of alder wood bored out and roughly fitted into the shell. The shells also have been found to contain very little more than one half of their proper burst ing charge. With such examples as these therefore, before our eyes it would not be thought credulous to believe that at last - the enem y are getting short of ammunition. At the same time it must be re membered that if the waggons which entered yes terday were really laden with powder it would give the garrison an ample supply for the next month to come. All to-day the enemy have been extremely busy in the advanced earthwork on Gordon's Hill, and it is evident from the bustle going.forward the ireth each night that they are eithe r mounting it w guns or sapping down towards our trenches —per haps both. But no matter what the object wwhich the Russians may have in view ; both English an French engineers are decidedly of opinion that the work must be taken immediately, and at any risk. This time the-French will not form the attacking party exclusively ;in rut, only t wo battalions of . , Zouaves will assist the English division .of infantry idiers are very anxious which may be selected for the wo rk. ' According genera) openly express to some the Light Division is to have the honour of capturing it, and according to others the 3d. The latter is most probable, as up to the present the 3d division has not been seriously engaged in any great exploit. Of course, no day is fixed for the attack, and the time will be kept a profound secret until the moment of attack. From the strength of the work and the care which the enemy seems to take about its preservation, the attempt to storm it is likely to be one of the most severe and bloody episodes of the siege, and may even bring about a general action. - But taken the work must be, and the English are determined to do it or perish in the attempt. All the divisions claim the honour of having been selected for the task, but up to the present there is uo ground for believing that any has been named. The same uncertainty prevails as to the time of the attack, but it is improbable that it will be deferred longer than. four or five days, or so. As regards Balaklava, it is rumoured that the Russians intend making regular approaches, and besieging our heights, as they would a regular fortress: This, of course, is a mere on dit, an very unlikely to be true. Our troops on the Balaklava heights are in splendid condition, and beyond all description anxious for a brtish with the enemy. The usual Cossack picquets remain about the plains, but there is no appearance of more than 200 or 300 men being in the neighbourhood, or even towards Tchurgoum. The Marines and Rifles on the heights on the extreme right are in splendid order, and each hut and tent has its own little garden of crocuses and snowdrops around it. The camp is quitha model in its way. Some tremendous earth works have lately been added to the defencei on this point, and to-day, by means of the buffaloes, a long 56 cwt. 32-pounder was drawn up the ascent and mounted in a most commanding position. Two more will be placed to-morrow and the day after. These long heavy guns are all which Were required to mako this part of our defences perfectly impregnable. Balaklava itself is lately much im proved. Nearly all the houses in the village have been pullial down, and the rubbish and stones heaped over the filthier parts of the town. Iu place of these houses our neat huts have been erected on the heights over the harbour. The railway is progressing with truly railway speed. The stationary engines are neayet at work, but, by means of the trucks and horses, immense supplies of shot and shell, with provisions of all ki n d have been collected at a depot half way bs tween this and-head -quarters. In the course of another month the whole line will be completed. The harbour of Balaklava As, if prssitoe, in a state ten times worse than ever. E Leh ship moors and remains where she can or where she likes. Seven days age there were upwards of 190 sail of steamers acrd sailing vessels, public and private, in this little harbour. At pres:nt there are about 150. The precautions lately taken against the Out break of fire are now entirely relaxed, asd the fate of the whole expedition is, as it were, abandoned to mere chance. The Medina arrived at Balaklava this afternoon. Among other news, she brought intelligence of the gunboat S wallow and two others having been hotly engaged with the enemy's batte ries off Kertch, in whico coatest the Russian town is reported to have suffered to some extent. The Cormorant and Albatross, of the Cork Steam-ship Company, have been ordered home, and, according to our ordinary method of working, it will require nearly half-a dozen vessels to do the work of these two, as they were beyond all doubt the hardest-worked and most useful vessels which ever entered the transport service. Mr. Filder, in particular, is likely to miss much the services of the Cormorant, which was the best cattle-ship on the station. The Jason has gone to Genoa for Piedmontese troops, and the Medway follows her to-morrow on the same errand. The Manilla has gone to Eupa toria with shot, shell, and wooden huts, and will re ceive in exchange a portion of the surplus Tartar population of that town, who are to be brought down here and employed in scavenging and road making. sense MARCH 20. All last night the French batteries fired heavily upon the spot which the enemy have selected as the site for a new earthwork. Last night two French soldiers deserted from Balaklava to the Cossack picquets. They were seen passing the plain, and were fired upon, but escaped without injury. An hour afterwards a Russian deserter crossed to us, and was pursued to within 600 yards of our lines by the Cossacks, who escaped again in the ilarkness. No movements of importance are stirring, though very possibly before next mail the attempt upon the Russian.advanced work will have been by our men. FRANCE. (FROM •OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING. M. Drouyn de Lhuys returned to Paris at tet o'clock ye'sterday morning. He will probably start for Vienna to-morrow bat the exact time of his departure is not yet fixed. The Prussian envoy Baron de Wedell had a pri vate audience of the Emperor yesterday, to take leave. He left Paris for Berlin last evening, to obtain fresh instructions from the King of Prussia, and expects to return in a few days. I am infermed that the Russians have establiShed two fortified camps, each of 30,000 men—the one between Mittau and Riga, and the other between Revel and Narva, to defend the Baltic provinces. The leading departments of the Paris journals, as if by common accord, are one and all vacant of poli tical dismission, and are occupied, so far as polti cal matters are concerned, solely with the custo mary references to the events and reports of ti_e day, with but slight comment. The Moniteur contains the following despatch from Admiral Bruat MARIE 20. " ON BOARD THE MONTEBELLO, KAMM% " Various nocturnal engagemen ts have taken place on the left and on the right of our troops. On all points our soldiers have maintained their incontestable superiority over the Russian troops." The Terite of Lille states that the military admi nistration has determined on not continuing to purchase in the interior of thcountry h The weat required for the army, b u t has e • • entered into con- tracts for supplies f rom Al g eria, Portugal, and Spain. This measure will, it is expected, cause a reduction of prices in the provincial markets. The Russian General, Baron do Budberg, who was charged with the mission of announcing the Kiwi of the d ea th of the Empe ror Nicholas to the Belgians, left Brussels on Thursday for Hanover, where he is also charged to fulfil a similar mission. The following private telegraphic despatch has been received here cc MADRID, 30th.---The Government will make the bill for restraining the national guard a Cabinet question. The committee is favourable to the bill. M. Pacheco's gracious reception as Aretmesador from Spain by the Pope has produced an excellent effect here." BOURSE, MARCH 31:—CLOSING PRICES. Cash. fr. C. End of Month. I 4i per Cents 95 —91 f. 55c. 3 per Cents 7O G9f. 750. Credit Mobilior BlO Roman Credit Fonder — Austrian Belgian Fives — Spanish Throes 36 Piedmontese ...... "„ 85 75 Rome Debt — RAILWAYS -2'OR CASH. . , tr. c. fr. c .. - Orleans Rouen ............... 1023 75 Western Cone ............ , 617 50 Strasburg . - 11‘l e diterranean 992 50 Havre 570 —I Northern _ _ for war ; and the soldiers, in their sentiments in the same PRUSSIA. A letter from Berlin, in the .Hanover gazette, says :—" The missions of MM. Wedell and Usedom were closed by the death of the Emperor Nicholas, and that event caused, the former to return imme diately to Berlin to seek for new instructiohs. As it was at that moment difficult to know the effect which the death would produce, it was decided to let the negotiations drop for a moment, and M. de Wedell only returned to Paris to take leave of the Emperor Napoleon a 3 required by etiquette. The negotiations between Paris and Berlin were, how ever, not broken off, but only adjourned—the ac quired results being maintained, and the Prussian Government consenting to sign the protocol of December, but the question of participation of Prussia in the Conferences remaining is suspense. Since then, the affair has entered into a new phase, which appears to be that of indefinite adjournment. Less importance is now attached to the negotiations from the fact that the hesitation caused by the death of 'the Emperor Nicholas has been increased by the Pacific hopes given by the Conference at Vienna." THE MEDITERRAN E AN. SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY, MIDNIGHT. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamer Tagus, Captain Joy, has just arrived here with the heavy portion of the East India mails, in charge of Lieutenant Bolton, RN., Admiralty agent.. _ _ -- The Tagus left Alexandria on the 10th, Malta the 16th, and Gibraltar the 23d of March. Owing to excessively bad weather, she put into Lisbon on the 26th for coals. The Tagus brings 103 pas sengers, and 'on freight 40 chests of oranges, 92 boxes of lemons, 214 Oaks of silk, 30 cases of Cash mere shawls, 104 barrels of currants, and 230 packages of general merchandise. Among the passengers by the Tagus is Captain Dacres, who comes home to assume the superin tendence of the Admiralty packet department at Southampton, in the place of . Captain Craigie, R.N., who is chairman of the Transport Bt,ard. Her Majesty's ships Ceylon, C% clops, and Triton were at Malta ; the Vengeance and Hecla at Gib raltar. Oa the 15th ult. the Tagus spoke the steamers Valetta and Euxine ; and on the 29th . Cie M:idrid, off Ushant. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Iberia arrived at Lis bon on the 2611 tilt. Accounts from Gibraltar are to the 23d of March. The weather had been most tempestuous. The wind, which continued to biow strongly for two or three days, increased to a tremendous gale from W.S.W. on the night of the 21st ult., accompanied with a very, heavy sea, which caused a very great deal of alarm among the shippi n i g in the bay. In - consequence of the viplence of the gale no assist ance could be rendered to tho - se vessels requiring it. Great exertions were made from the shore by launches putting off with anchors and chain cables, het with little success. Mr Perrin, owner of the B. itish barque Emma Godwin, one of the vessels which received serious damage during the gale, fell overboard and was drowned. Two of the crew of the Portuguese barque Progressista—one man and a boy—received severe injuries, and were taken to the hospital at Gibraltar. The following is a list of the casualties which occurred during the after ncon and night : The British barque Economist, Thomas master, With a cargo of coals from Cardiff for Constanti nople, dragged from her anchorage, and touched the ground off the Jettee. The British barque Hopewell, Campbell master, from Malta, in ballast for Newcastle, was wrecked off the Old Mole Head, and is full of water. The master and crew succeeded in getting on shore safely. Toe British brig Zephyr, Patterson master, bound from Gibraltar to Barbadoes, in ballast, on shore off the bathing-place, behind the Devil's Tongue. The Portuguese barque Progressista, J. F. Cayado master, from Rio Janeiro, with a cargo of . coffee, on shore off the Watering Place. The American brig R. Patterson (Ambrosio Durante, in charge), laden, with coal, on shore likewise at the Watering Place. The French schooner Napoleon, from Marseilles, lost an anchor and chain. The American barque Velocity, from New Orleans, lost an anch or with JO fathoms of chain. The Prussian brig Stad B arthe, f rom Ivica, with salt, dismasted.' The Oldenburg brigantine Senior, from Genoa, dismasted. The British barque Edward Nilson, from Car thagena, has been iu contact with the Spanish brig Comercio, and sustained damages. - The Spanish brig Comercio lost an anchor and chain, and was supplied with others from the shore. The' British brig Robert and George, Foreman master, lost boat. • The British barque Endymion, J. Pearson mas ter, lost two anchors durine.the night. An an chor and chain were supplied from the shore. The British barque Emma Godwin, Richard Keates master, having run foul of her Majesty's ship Vengeance, had her mizmmast carried away, n n r damages. Her m ta a i jy ts shipo Vengeance, which was lying anal ueesd ot h -at anchor in the bay, was compelled to strike her topgallantreasts in consequence of the severity of the gale.. In addition to the above list of casual ties, the British brigs Dove and Petrel and brigan tine Robina had each lost' an aTachor. The Hano verian schooner Diederich lost her stern bOat and otherwise sustained damage. The barque Hope well and brig Zephyr 'were both being dismantled of their rigging, &c., as there seemed no probability of getting them afloat again. Exchanges at Gibraltar were quoted for bills on London at 90 days at 51 to 5.1 i • Paris ditto, Of. 36c. ; Marseilles, sf. 37c. ; Venoa, Of. 45c. ; Spanish pillared dollars, 5 per cent. premium. PORTUGAL. SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 1. By the steamer Tagus we have dates from Lisbon to the 27th ult. The letter of our corre spondent contains the following :-- " The Tagus, with the Alexandria mails, put into this port for coals yesterday, and is advertised to leave at six o'clock this morning„ so that mercan tile letters had to be put into the British post-office mail bags last nig'it at nine o'clock. , 4 We have bad a renewal of storms and heavy rains, which have been very prejudicial to farmers generally ; 15 vessels have put into the Tagus dur ing the last five days. Anion°. them I find the Agnes Jermyn, from St. Lucia for Cork ; the An gelina, from Naples fur Liverpool ; the lonia, from Zante for Hull ; the Sarah King, from Mogador for London : the Allegro, from Seville for Liver pool.; all more or less damaged. The French steamer Newton is the only foreign vessel of war Bow in this port. " There has been a little excitement in Portu guese politics since last - packet, and it -sippeara likely to end in the Duke de Saldauha's retiring from the War Department in favour of the Viscount de Luz, the Duke remaining President of the Cou ncil and Commandez-in-Chief, although it is difficult to conceive how he can properly fulfil those func tions when his state of health is said to disable him from continuing to act as Minister of War. " I am told the electric telegraph is now really to be established between Lisbon and Oporto, as well as to the Spanish frontier. "This not being a regular packet, only few ex change operations took place, at 54i for three months, on London." IRREGULAR, MARRIAGES IN SCOTLAND.—On Satur day an inporlant bill, brought forward by Mr. Head lam, M.P., was printed by order of the House of Cora- • . mons, to impose further restrictions upon irregular marriages in Scotland. It declares that great evils have arisen from the practice of petsens resorting ta that part of the United Kingdgm called Scotland for the purpose of there contracting irregular marriages, and such marriages though valid are prohibited by the laW of Scotland, and render the parties contracting them liable to penalties, but the penalties have not been found sufficient to prevent the recurrence of such prao tices.. It is therefore proposed to enact, that from and after the passing of the act if any man and woman shall in Scotland make any dec'aration or promise in te, ded by them to constitute an immediate actual mar riage, or shall go thr)ugh any . form or do any act with the like intent, not being a public regular marriage ac cording to the law of Scotland, thereupon they shall each of them be liable to forfeit 10/. upon conviction , and in default of payment to imprisonment not exceedleg one calendar month. If any persoit shall receive moue or any valuable consideration for a c tin g as a witness bti such irregular marriages, or give a certificate, he Fhel be liable to forfeit 101. for the first offence, and in de: fault, one month's imprisonment, and for any subsequent offence to a penalty of 501 , and in default to six months ialprisonment, '' with hard _labour." THE LATE FEARFUL EXPLOSION AT THE PORTS3IO IO DOCKYARD.—Poor Inspector Stroud breathed his last or Friday morning, at seven o'clock , at Haslar Hos p ite'„ Another man, named Sydenham , is in a most dan g eroe° state • and it is not unlikely that three or four otbel i; now lying with broken arms and legs, maybe cut off I, the prime of life, because a report of art escape of P e cannot be received by the clerk of the works, unless. 1 ,, receives the r,ftnle .thrur.y,ll no clia , ncl, I would take hours to acJouvii6h, and during which 1 , 1 4 ' excusable delay a second accident might occur eq113,114 frightful in effect, RUSSIA. A ukase of the Emperor Alexander, just pub lished, grants fresh pyivileges to the tradesmen and manufacturers established at Sebastopol, Eupato ria, and Yalta. It permits them to exercise their' callings in all the other towns of the Crialea, and releases them from the payment of certain corpora tion dues during the continuance of the war. The last accounts received from Finland are to the 16th. The young heir presumptive to the throne of Russia, the Grand Duke Nicholas, has been named Chancellor of the University of Hel singfors. At Abo, Helsingfors, and all the measurestwns on the coast, from `'Viborg to Torne, . have been taken to render the navigation in their neighbourhood impossible to the allied fleets. .The inhabitants have also formed thelaselves into rifle corps, armed with double-barreled weapons. POLAND. - A letter from Warsaw of the 25th ult., in the Danube, says : "The n umber of men obtained in the kingdom of Poland by the four levies made since the commencement of the war is estimated at 60,000. The levy in the eastern part of the empire, which was terminated on the 15th, took ten men out of every 1,000 inhabitants. In times of peace—for example, in 1850—only two men in 1,000 were called on to serve, and Poland only gave 4,980 recruits, 514 of them being Jews. But in the annual levies of 1852 . and 1853, as many as seven men iu 1,000 were taken. This proVes that the Russian armies do not exist only on paper, as some persons pretend ; and, besides, the period of service is very long in Russia: It is not doubted that when the militia shall be organ- iced—that is to say, in the month of May—Russia will have 2,600,000 men under arms. As was to be fore seen, the death of the Emperor Nicholas has atrength ened the nftt!onal sentiment and increased the religious fanaticism of the Rue,sian people. The proof of this is, that very warlike addresses are sent from every quarter to the Emperor, The corps - of the Guards and Grew.-