The Sun. — London, England, 1856-02-14 00:00:00

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. NOTICE of ALTERATIONS of TRAINS, from the 13th February. until further notice. The Parliamentary Trains now leaving King's-cross for the North at 6.30 and 7.30 a.m. will be discontinued, and in their stead a Train will be despatched at 7 a.m at the same Stations. The Train leaving Peterborough at 1.13 p.m. for London will lee discontinued. For farther changes see the altered Time Tables of the Company, dated from the 15th instant. By Order. SE YIKOUR CLARKE, General Manager. King's Cross Station, Feb. 14, 1836. CLERICAL, MEDICAL, and GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of PROPRIETORS will be held at the Office of the Society, on THURSDAY, the Sixth day of March next, at 1 o'clock precisely, at which meeting Six Direc tors will be elected. Any nroprietor desirous of proposing a candidate for the office of director, must send the name of such candidate to the secretary, at least fourteen days before the day of meeting. The ballot will commence at Eleven and close at Two o'clock. An election of an Auditor (on the part of the Assured) will also take place on WEDNESDAY, the sth day of March, between the hours of Eleven and Two o'clock. BONUS. The Sixth Division of Profits will be made in JanuarY. 1857 Those who complete Policies before the end of June next will par. ticipate. GEORGE H. PINCKARD, Resident Secretary. 99, (teat Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London, 11th Feb., 1856. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. Lessee, Mr. J. 11. Anderson, T 313 EVENING ROB ROY. Principal character by Professor Anderson. To conclude with the gorgeous Pantomime Of YE BELLE ALLIANCE. C own, Mr. Flesmoro ; Pantaloon, Mr. Barnes; Harlequin, Mr. C. Brown ; anti Columbine, Miss E. Horne. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, THE GREAT GUN TRICK. After which, fin' DIDDLE DIDDLE; or, fraricquln Zing Nonsense and the Seven Azes of Man. THEATRE ROYAL, TIA.YMARKET. Uaier the Management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING. THE BE 117X' ST AT AG E Followed by ONLY A HALFPENNY. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE GRAiIITOPPER'S FEAST; or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Spring. ROYAL PRINCESS'S TEMATRFI, OXFORD-STREET. MUT the Management of Mr. Cnaer.ss Kzan. THI4 EVENING. The comedy of EVERY ONE HIS HIS FAULT. After which, HARLEQUIN AND VIE MAID AND THE MAGPIE ; or, th Fairy Paraffin and Hanky Panky, the Enohanter. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hahne; Pantaloon, Mr. Pielo; and Columhine, Miss Caroline Adams. TEIEATRE ROYAL ADELPIIT. P:oprietor, Mr. E. Wehgter.—Directreas, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENLNG. THE BOOTS OF TUE HOLLY TREE INS. A ftcr which. BETSY BAKER. To !ze f Wowed by TFI kT BLESSED BABY. To conclude with ACK MID TTI BE VN STALK ; or, Harlequin and Mothe: Goose at How Agaia. n which .T. BUM, P. P.ertforl, 3(failanle Celnate, Miss Wyn4ham, and Mlsa E. Arlen will apaear. R.)TAL OLYIiNC TIIEA.TRE. Lessee and Mina7er. Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, ST tli AT HOME. After which will K . ' prodiac,! a dew and dArnhly-moral, though exceasively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled TIM P(ltN A:AS ; o the Threo Gala ilistatft. I n which Stesgrg. Emery, F. Hobson, H. Cooper, Mtn Santo'', And SU' Maskell will appear. ROY Ai, SIETRIIEY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. S'Aepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING THE SHADOWS OF CRIME. Tr. conclude with A P RINCE OF r ?III:. ; or, tlarle lain and Jane Shore. ROYAL 3TEASD THEATRE. Under the (Itrectlon of :lir: Payne. TI4 EVI,,NING, TELE R >MAN' rrc WIDOW. Fpl~aei by THE PRISONER OF ROC 'IELLE ; or, inns anl Outs. After which, PE.'CEAT ANY PRICE. • T , conclude with BLUE JACKETS. AATLETS I:oYki, Lessoe and Mann:;er. Mr. Wm. Cooke. TIIII EVENENG, ROCKWOOD: or. ;o YORK. The last week of that copular Spectac7e. After which the SCENES In the CIRCLE and the performance of the itimiciong and Stupendous Eleah.•tnts, one of which wands from the centre of the stage to an elevation high wove the stage, on a narrow ridge net the width of his foot! To conalnde with a grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime called HARLEQUIN AND GE.011(1E AND THE DRAION; or, the Seven Champions of Christendom. Box-office open from Eteve•t till Four. ttage Manager, Mr. ►Wi. West. Equestrian J)troetor. It • o'. Cooke. Inn. ESIA.t. t'gr,EY',4 S7 , ,VEN* .I.IIFA.OF Every Evening at 8, and on Sturdays at 3. Pronounced by the unaninm•n voice of the Dress, and by nichfiv in7reasing audiences, to be the Greatest Artistical Triumph of the day. -- • ----- SAINT MARTIN'A HiLI,, Lon;-acre. Area, la. P.siervehl Chairs, 2., 6(1. HIGH WATER, AT LONDON BRIDGE. pre ant the introduction of " contraband of war " has 'become nearly useless through the quantities intr nduced ! The reader will ask, perhaps, with surf )rise, where are our cruisers ? We must re fer him to Sir CHAS. Wool) for an answer, who will perhaps remind him of the loss of the Poly phe: cans, and tell him that the Royal Navy is not to verdure for the honours or necessities of war, where - the merchant navy sails fearlessly for sordid gain. The Russians have really behaved very badly o our naval men both in the Baltic and the Black Sea. The gallant fellows set out flushed with the expectation of bringing the enemy's fleets in these seas to action, and towing what was left of them home ; instead of which, to their grievous disap pointment, they were compelled to play the part of gaolers—the enemy, as from malice afore thought, declining to contribute to any such illus tration of British valour and enterprise ; nay, going so far in the Black Sea as to read them the most remarkable lesson of practical bathos pro bably ever administered, by deliberately sinking her own ships before their very eyes ! Under such circumstances, nothing was left them by way of alternative but to sweep the Russian coasts, take a turn at bombarding, and lend what aid they could to the land forces of the Allies. It certainly was too bad ; and we can therefore heartily sympathise with such men as Admiral LYONS in their disappointment. The nation, however, is hardly less indebted to them than it would have been if they bad met with better for tune ; for, though defeated by to fault of theirs in their chief aim, they did all they were permitted to do, if not all that re mained for them, and . did it well, demonstrating, beyond dispute, what the fate of the enemy's fleets would have been had they come out and hazarded an engagement. Entertaining these views, we have much pleasure in drawing attention to the report, which will be found else where, of the Grand Banquet given yesterday, in the Mansion-house, to Admiral Sir EDMUND LYONS, the present commander of our Black Sea Fleet. The Lord Mayor, it will be seen, did his best to make the gallant admiral amends, waxing positively eloquent in his description of the dis tinguished services of his guest, since the commencement of the War, and of what might be expected from him should it be continued. Elo quent, however, as he was, and warm as were his eulogiums, he by no means over- Bt*Pped the modesty of truth, and but few will be found indisposed to agree with hint in thinking the gallant admiral de serving of the honours of citizenship, or to entertain th e hope to whi c h hi s L or d s hi p gave ex pression, that Si r EDMUND " may be preserved for many years to serve his country in that capa lS SO we ll fitted. " It is not city for which h e every admiral who has given proof of equal capa city and daring. The speech of the evening was well wor th y of the oc cas i on , b e i ng mo d es t , h earty, and generouß —just th e sor t o f speec h , i n d eed, that might have been exp ec t e d f rom such an Admiral. Disfigured by no braggadocio, it affords convincing testimony to his anxiety for his country's welfare, and for the due appreciation of the claims of others. The gallant Admiral has a good word for Admiral DUNDAS in the Baltic, and suffers his verynatural pleasure at the present efficiency of her MAJIATY'S fleet to be damped by the reflection that it should not have had, nor be likely to have, the opportunity of meeting the enemy face to face. "It is very and, indeed,' he liege ; and who, reading hi 4 THIR DAY—lforn. 33 mi n. at`t. 7—Erming 7 min. aft. S Tr)-110BROtV—Moro. 47 ruin. aft. S —l4:lvening 29 win. aft. 9 It may be, therefore, that Sweaborg, having been made doubly strong now they have learned its weak points—saltpetre, sulphur, and American firearms having been largely disembogued from traders who feared not a Baltic winter, and Po land having been strengthened in the military sense, Russia may become hard at a bargain, and too hard for Lord CLARENDON. Add to all this the supplies she will certainly obtain should she get more than a three weeks' armistice, or even that, from the Allies. We have no doubt that her secret agents are already making pur chases of supplies, and perhaps loading ships with them, ready to sail for her ports the day the armis tice begins. Why does not Mr. ROEBUCK or Lord LYNDHURST move an address to her MAJESTY on the duration and necessary commercial restrictions of an armistice ? Even Mr. BRIGHT ought to do it. Nothing will so much endanger a resumption of hostilities as a long and unrestricted armistice ; or, if the negotiations result in peace, nothing will so mar its turns as feeding our enemy. MOURAVIEFF might as well have sent a convoy with provisions for Kars, as we give to Russia a long and unfettered armistice. Our Negotiators must remember that this war will, even if they do their very best, furnish but a very discreditable chapter in English history. The English will figure in it as hewers of wad and drawers of water to the conquerors of the Malakhoff. It will be recorded that the sheer incompetency and indolence of aristocratic officers destroyed one-third of the men, and almost all the horses, while an able railway contractor alone saved them from destruction. It will be told that the War-office garnished the returned incapables with honours and promoted them in the service, to huddle up the fatal blunders ; and that the campaign closed by starving to capitulation the General and garrison who had immortalised themselves at Kars. We cannot wish to pen an indictment against our country's fame, but we cannot refuse to foresee the inevitable verdict of posterity—and that will be that the War was ignobly shrunk fron, perfunctorily carried on, the enemy spared, our own troops sacrificed, and the odious Austria alone rewarded—that even our navy, with the exception of the first attack on Sebastopol, ventured next to nothing ! Nothing but a peace better managed than the War can save the Administrators of these three years from the contempt of posterity. Above all, posterity will condemn our governors for paltry, peddling counsels when a great issue lay before them. How ashamed are we now of the men who tolerated the amalgamation of Poland in 1831, and the invasion of Hungary in 1849. We blush - for such miserable successors to a CROMWELL and his MILTON, whose letters alone could make continental despots let go the op pressed. We have now had before us an opportunity to restore Poland to nationality and Germany to freedom. We shall leave the former still ab sorbed, the latter still enslaved. Even the Northern. Bee says—" Spend twenty or thirty mil lions on railways, and thus prepare to move our troops irk' five years more in any direction !" The most commercial of Russian journals still points to future war. Conquest is the only and barba rous idea of the Russian Court. It wants to ex tend its Asiatic despotism and slavery to free countries, not to teach its own people to be free. The despots just now help one another. Tli.y will do so till the grand struggle in which one or two shall eat up all the lesser ones, and all to end, possibly, in a grand attempt at European empire. The negotiators who are now engaged in squaring among themselves a despot peace are bequeathing this legacy to possibly a near po sterity. TIE wavrilEa-STIN OFFICE, FEB 14. TIMAIIOIIETER, IJT THE SHADS. hicthest since noon yesterday. 50 —lowest this morning and during the night. 5i --this day a noon. DABOITETER, 29 . 85. WIND, S.W.—Frosb, with showers of rain and sunshine. It has rained for about three days, more or less, but now promises to be fine. r. ; • 'kV Alin- LONDON, THURSD kY, FEBRUARY 14, 185 g. Consols rise. Austria continues to disarm ou the Russian frontier, withdrawing pontoons and siege trains, and selling cavalry horses. Prince CONSTANTINE has added his vote for peace. The Northern Bee, the Court journal of Russia, pre mises tenfold wealth to her io five year: time, through peace and new railroads. Ie Nord proves, biographically, that the plenipotentiaries of Russia are the men to make peace. The 1110- niteur and M. BILLAULT set the Senate of France to the long and pacific task of studying the annual volumes of -reports from the provinces as - the basis of suggestion s for works of public utility. The English Cabinet keeps our Parliament to its work, giving them valuable measures at once, and, so pressing them on that it will be hard to interpolate a war debate or any importance. From Vienna, lastly, we are told R that • ussia is far more exhausted than is generally supposed, and that after a third campaign the Allies would certainly have made very different conditions of peace. Surely the political atmosphere is rosy with the coming peace. One little cloud is visible i n th e Baltic offing—the unwillingness of corn merchants to insert in agreements for a spring d e li ver y of corn a provi so cance lli ng th e agreement should the War be renewed. Far more pregnant, however, with uncertainty is the ineradicable knavery of the nation we have to 'do with. Russia is a nation of TALLETRANDS in , Posse, and is served by a staff of diplomatic TALLEYRANDS in es3e. Distressed as we believe her to be, her cunning, as at Vienna last year, may overreach itself. She may expiet to gain more than ew es h er " inaltnan;110118 " opponents will conce de' ; and, intending only to over'reac'h, she may be forced again into the tight. We do not think this likely, but we are confident it is quite possible. Two facts are unquestionable— one, that she is vigorously strengthenine. her Baltic and Polish defence s , notwithstanding the withdrawal of the Austrian troops from that quar ter ; another, that she has so availed herself of the open weather in the Baltic that already at Libau imports begin to be a drug, and that a blockade to 4 speech, will be disposed to say it is not ? Very sad, indeed ! our ships " being as near perfection as can well be imagined," their " captains and officers equal to any who ever adorned the British Navy in its brightest day," well manned iu point of numbers, and manned by volunteers ! He is and may be proud of that. The mercantile marine, too—at least that portion employed in the war—comes in for a share of his well-merited praise. "It reflects," be tells us, " the highest credit on the country," and he cannot but express his admiration of those beautiful transports which were commanded by men of such zeal, ability, and gentlemanly bearing, "of whose services to the country the proofs are endless." Those he has given warrant the omission of others, being, as the reader will perceive, highly satis factory. It is the Naval Brigade, however, that elicits his warmest approval. "It behaved nobly—most nobly ; and he doubts if the annals of chivalry record anything finer than the conduct of Captain PEEL and his two gallant aides-de-camp, when they were wounded in leading the scaling party at the Redan." Gratifying, doubtless, to the individuals, but certainly deserved. Almost, nay, quite as warm is his tribute of gratitude and admiration to Miss NIGHTINGALE, the speech alto gether leaving the unintended impression, not only that " our soldiers and sailors will always be ready to serve their country," but that they haie only to be led by such commanders as Sir ED MUND LYONS to serve it effectively. - THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING FEBRUA RY 14. 1856. CIVIL SERVICE ESTLII ATE& Yesterday the estimates of the Revenue Departments for the year 1856-57 were issued. The salaries and ex penses of the Customs are estimated at 840,0017., as compared with 835,1821., showing an increase of 4,8191. The cost of the coast guard is set down at 486,0281. ; last year it was 483,2381. ; making the increase 2,7901. The salaries and expenses of the Inland Revenue are estimated at 1,459,2071. as compared with 1,365,9501. in 1855, showing an increase of 93,2571. The Revenue Police of Ireland will cost this year 63,0251., as against 62,7201., the increase being 3051. The salaries and ex penses of the Post-office are estimated at 1,740,483/. as compared with 1,638,8611. in 1855, showing an increase of 101,6221. The total estimate exhibits an increase of 202,793/.; the estitnate last year having been 4,385,9511., while this year it is 4 ,588,744/. To these items must be added the superannuation allowances to obtain the total charge of each department. The superannuations of the Customs amount to 241,5011., making the total charge of collection for the year 1,567,5301. The Inland Revenue figures for superannuations at 219,9584., making the total charge 1,742,190/. ; and the superannuations of the Post-office are put down at 32,724/., making the total charge of that department amount to 1,773,207/. The superannuations of'all the departments together amount to 494,1831. for the year, and the total charge of the whole civil service to 5,082,927/. AGRICULTURAL SPATISTICS OF IRELAND. Yesterday returns were issued of the live stock in Ireland in the year 1855, and of the extent of land in statute acres under crops for each county and province. The total value of the live stock in Ireland in each of the years 1852, 1853, 1854, and 1855, calculated accord ing to the rates assumed by the census commissioners of 1841, viz., for horses, 81. each ; cattle, 61. 101. ; sheep, 225. ; and pigs, .255. each, s h ows an i ncrease i n va lue from 1852 to 1855, in horses, of 243,5841. ; cattle, 3,000,0691. ; sheep, 1,082,9811. ; pigs, 126,957/. ; mak ing a total increase of 4,453,5911. The increase in 111102• bers in 1853 over 1852 was—in horses, 30,448 ; cattle, 461,549 ; sheep, 984,528 ; pigs, 101,566. The total increase in the extent cf land under crops in, 1855 over 1854, is 1 12,382 statute acres. In 1855 there were of acres under wheat crop in Ireland, 445,509, being an increase over the previous year of 34,225 acres; of oats 2,117,955, being an increase of 72,657; of barley, Isere, rye, &c., 267,565, being a decrease of 19,589; po tatoes, 981,429, being a, decrease of 8,131 ; turnips, 366,497, being an increase of 37,327; other green crops, 95,094, being a decrease of 8,683. The total number of acres under cereal crops was in 1855, 2,831,029 ; in 1854, 2,743,736, showing an increase last year of 87,293 acres; of green crops there were 1,417,607 acres in 1854, and 1,443,120 in 1855, being an increase last year of 25,513 acres. In meadow and clover there was an increase of 53,873 acres, but in flax a decrease of 51,297. PUNCH. Our facetious contemporary is even better than usual (and that is no ordinary praise)- this week. The cartoon, in reference to the recent proceedings in the Upper House, of " bonnetting the new boy Parke," is inimitable. The neophyte appears with his coronet beaten down over his forehead, unable to see anything, while four of the old boys are busily engaged in tormenting him. Amongst them we recognise Lords Campbell, Derby, Lyndhurst, and Brougham, who is rushing forward in order to have his full share in the mischief. The lovers of fuu will have a treat in the present number. A Cabinet Council was held yesterlay afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing -street. The Ministers pre sent were :—Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey. the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alder ley, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll. The council sat two hours and a half. The Duchess of Sutherland has arrived at Stafford House from Trentham, where the Duke and the younger branches of their Graces' family are still staying. The Earl of Cheeterfield has left the St. George's Hotel for Bretby Park, near Burton-on-Trent. Lord and Lady Huntingfield have left the St. George's Hotel for their seat, Reveningharn Hall, Suffolk. Sir Fitzroy Kelly entertained at dinner, on Tuesday evening, at hie mansion in Piccadilly, his Excellency the Turkish Ambassador and Madame Musurus, the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, the Earl of Strad broke, Lord and Lady William Powlett, Vice . Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Lord Stanley, M.P., Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell and Lady Stratheden, the askop of Exeter and Miss Philpotts, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Warren, M.P., (te- Sir Charles Tempest, Captain Cracroft and Mrs. Cra croft, and Mr. and Mrs. Stansfield, are among the latest arrivals at the St. George's Hotel. Ml'4. Moore, and her sister, Miss Goodden have re• turned to Moore Hill, T a ll ow, county Waterford, from the Sout i of France. Mr. Drury, and Mr. and Mrs. Watson, have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. Lord Adolphus Fitzclarenee is gradually regaining streng h, and has been able during the last few days to t ike o,ca zonal carriage drives. Prince Czaatoryeki and General Count Zamnyski had a 1 audience of the E:nperer Napoleon the day before yesterday to take leave. The General is about to pro ceed to Constautieople to place himself at the head of the regiments of Polish Cossacks. FamuitE or SCOTT RUSSELL Alk.7D CO.—lt results from the disclosures made at the meeting of Messrs, Scott Russell and Co.'s creditors yesterday that there is a tolerable certainty of their obtaining a dividen4,ot 10s. in the pound, and a possibility that, when the affairs of the estate shall be wound up, it may reach 151. in the pound. PURCHASE OP EIGHT tor THE SCREW COMPANY'S SHIPS BY A FRENCH COMPANT.—With reference to a paragraph to the above effect, which originated with a morning contemporary, and. has gone the round of the press, the statement is extreonely premature. We learn from good authority that, a letter has been received from the secre tiy y of the company, giving a direct denial to such a on cunastance. ELECTION OP A COMMON COUNCILMAN, IN THE ROOM OP THE LATE DEPUTY BEDFORD.—Yesterday a ward mote, presided over by Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., was held at the Sessions-house, in the Old Bailey, " for the pureose of electing a Common Councilman, for the rear:J..4er of the year 18f6, in the room and stead of Joshua Bedford, Esq., deceased." Tne son of the de ceased gentleman, Mr. William Bedford, was unani mously elected. BRORERS.—A. Court of Aldermen was held yestc-- day, at whizh the following resolution was referred to the Committee of General Purposes of the Court, to be carried into effect :—" That it be recommended to the Court of Aldermen to adopt such measures as ihey may deem expedient for removing from the office of sworn brokers all brokers who refuse to pay their rents, and also all broker` whose rents are more than one year in arnar." CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.— Alderman Farebrother, at the Court of Aldermen held yesterday, requested the at tendance of his brethren at Christ's Hospital on Mon day next, when a special court would be held for the purpose of considering a motion to rescind a resolu tion in direct opposition to the rights and privileges of the citizens of London. There will, we understand, be a motion for the exclusion of the members of the press. THE SERGEANTS. —The r o s f .— ti T ie he be c a er t e t m o o t n h y at o o f f s t w he ea m tin a g n in the tur ee sergeants who have been recently called to the degree o f th e co i f—viz., Mr. Sergeant Pigott, of the Ox ford Circuit ; M r. S ergeant Hayes, of the Midland Cir cuit ; and M r . S ergeant Wells, of the Norfolk Circuit-- took pl ace b e f ore the Lard Chancellor in his lordship's private room, at W estm i nster, on Tuesday afternoon. At the app o i n t e d h our the three learned sergeants, ac companied by th e i r res p ect i ve " colts, "_ as the nsernbers of the bar officiating, on this oc cai i on are somewhat fan tastically design a t e d— v i z , Mr. Kyffin Lenthall, on be half of Mr. S ergeant Pigott ; Mr. Pitt Manson, on the part of Mr. S ergeant Hayes ; and 21r. Granvill e S quer set, for Mr. Sergeant Wells —were received by hi s lord ship, a n d th e oaths usual on taking the coif duly ad ministered. The ti me h onoured custom of presenting the Lord Cha nce ll or w i t h gold rings of the date of thel3th century, by each " co l t, " i n order of seniority, and a brief add ress f rom t h e L ord Chancellor terminated the proceedings. MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A L ICENSED V ICTUALLER.— Yesterday so me degree of. agitation was cause d i n Ol d Ford, Bow, i n consequence of the discovery of the body of Mr. Geor ge H owar d ( a ret i red licensed victualler of No. 33, B anner - stre , f, S t. Luke ' s, Old-street), floating itt the wa t er of t . .ir George Duck e tt' s cana l , which passes along th e eas t ern b oundary of Victoria.park. The case is in vo l ve d i n cons id era b le mystery, as the de ceased had been mis s i ng upwar d s o f three weeks from his residence. O n th e body were- foutid two 'severe wounds on the h ea d. Th ere was also a bruise on the chest and va r i ous a b ras i ons of the skin from violence, but how caused r ema i ns a mystery. The pockets of the deceased had bee n ransac k e d, an d on l y a l i ttle handker chief and a card of hi s a dd ress were f oun d upon him, although it is alleged th a t h e h a d money an d other pro perty about him w h en h e l e f t h ome. T he cause of death, and a full i nves ti ga ti on i n t o t h e myster i ous case, will be gone into b e f ore M r . W . B a k er, the coroner for East Middlesex. The deceased had b een man y years a li cense d victualler, and had been leadi ng a re ti re d lif e . NEW METHOD OF LOWER ING AND D ISENGAGING BOATS FROM Sum —On Monday a new method of lowerin g s hi ps ' b oats was successfully tried on board of Messrs. J as . B a i nes and Co. ' s ship, the Commodore Perry, at p resent l y i ng in the Mersey, bound for Syd ney. This me th o d, t h e i nvention of Mr. Clifford, may be thus de scr ib e d : —Th e unlashing, lowering, and disengaging are d one b y one man only is the boat, whose simple w e i g ht, i rrespective of any additional assistance whatever, i s ma d e to hold in equilibrium the weight or descendi ng momentum of the boat with its entire crew, which h e h as t h us the power to check or control at will. Each sep ara t e operation is the natural consequence of one act—slacki ng o ff a rope ; and they are also necessary sequents, one of the o th er . Th e means of reducing NEW SE thew ß e a ib lowering, is made the m e a ns f or preventing the boat canting in its descent, and the passage of the ropes by which the boat descends, through a block of an en tirely novel character and action, accomplishes this end. The entire process is as follows :—One man in the boat unhitches) a rope from a cleet (on the boat's seat), over which he sla.ekens it off. The boat descends levelly, both laterally and longitudinally, frees it self from the gripes, by which it was firmly lashed to the ship's side (if there is net time to unfasten them), and letting go the rope disengages the boat from the ship. The lowering may be effected as well from one as two daeite, or from a yard or spar, and with any degree of velocity, which can be checked at any part of its dewdent, and w ith th e vesse l go i ng at any spee d . A hol rotatory plug fixed at the bottom of the boat allows the free ingress or egress of water, which a half turn stop% ; the plug i 3 consequently never out of it s p l ace- Th e were repeated thre e experiments yesterday times in succession, to the entire satisfaction of nu merous critical spectators, including Admiral Free-, ,mantle, Cap ta i n . schomberg, RN ,- Captain Newland e , Mr. T. M. M ackay, Mr. James Baines, and other nauti cal and commercial gentlemens—MmAater Guardian. ____ LONDON JOINT-STOCK BANKS. The half-yearly meetings of the several joint-stock banks in London being how complete I, the subjoined table has been made up, exhibiting their relative capitals and extent of transactions, as well as the respective periods at which they were opened. The growth wf business indicated by these returns continues to be re markable, the aggregate deposits held still showing an increase, notwithstanding the contraction of the currency and the competition during the last few months of the City Bank and the Bank of London : Banks. Pail-up Deposits. Guarantee l Rate of p vidend for half-year Capital. Farad. just endesl. ' --- ---•— - X X £ 6 per cent. rer an num and bonus London&West- • 1 of 5 per cent. minster,esta- J 1 for half- year, 1,000, 1 09 8,744,09' 144,169 5 hli'hed 1334,! mouse dlstribu -6 branches .. I j tion at rate of 1 . 1 16 per cent. per • •. , i annum. r 12% per dent per annum, and ho• London Joint- ,81 nul of 148. 3d. Stock, era!). 600,009 6,241,594 1603 per share, being 1836,1 branch equivalent tot! j s 1 per cent. per a.; Unionof Lond„ 'estab. 1ne.... 1 l, annum. ennum. 600,000 8,363,480 120,000[ 20- per, cent. per , • 3 branches • • • ' 10 per dent per an. . .. • . num, and bonus' Lonlon& 7nty., , . of 5 per cent, tor . . estab. 1839 -- i 487;805 4,4:3,35p 100,000, half year, being. 51 branches . - ' : • • eunivalent to 'l5 ' . . i per cent. per an . .. , num. - " Commercial, estab. 1840— 300,600 1,317,554 67,453 [i 10 per cent. per 'annum. ~ • '• ' I branch.:.. • - ' Royal British, t 6 • per cent. per estab. 1849 1 150,090 9133,052' 16,332 •annum, leaying , 6 branches— £2,34l to be ear rled forward. The City Bank and the Bask of London have not yet held any meetings. In the case of the Union and the Cernmernial Banks the meetings are not half.yearly, hut annual, and the above figures are therefore those .which were submitted in July last. BUENOS AY REAY BONDHOLDERS, The despatches received from Buenos Ayres convey no novelty of consequence. The contention of party seems to have been proceeding much the same as usual, and with as little effect or result. Some of the anta gonistic spirits of the day were disposed to espouse the cause of Urquisa, while there were others who professed to be in favour of the recall of Rosas. The r e sp ec tiV e disputants are described as being weak and contee p:ible, while the Ministry are scarcely less do. The bondholders will be gratified to learn that Mr. Parish was still con tinuing his urgent remonstrances under the in tractions of the Earl of Clarendon, but in a tone very different from that which he had previously used, and inti mating that they were the last he should conde scend to make. Senor Alsina, in reply, refers to the doubling of the remittance for the payment of divi dends, and grandiloquent promises are made that the "land question "—the lands being mortgaged to the bondholders tinder the original bonds— , hall be recon sidered, and arrangements made and p ositively carri d out accordingly. This case of neglected claim s is row one of about 33 years' duration, and therefore, should Lord Clarendon eventaally ma k e his authority felt by coercive means, the men in power at Bu en os Ayr e s will have but themselves to thank far their gross non observance of public engagements. Whilst the unfortunate Buenos Ayrean bondholders are vainly petitioning for the redress of their just grievances, and can obtain no more than a small increase of the meanest dribbles, Mr. Thornton, the Engiish Consul at Monte Video, has cffected something more valuable as regards the Anglo-Monte Videan debt. It seems that 6 per cent. per annum will in future be paid to the ill-used creditors ; and that a sinking fund of 2 per cent. will be appropriated to its liquidation. This debt was originally very small, but, like that of Buenos Ayres, bag been la•g-ly increased by the accumulation of arrears. It may oe hoped that such an example, so near at hand, will not be lost upon the defaulters at Buenos Ayres.—Morning Post. IRON SHIPBUILDING ON THE TYNE.—Iron shipbuild ing is making rapid progress on the Tyne and other rivers in the north of England, and promises in a few years to produce quite a revo!ution in the c trrying trade of the country. During the past year Messrs. Palmer Brothers, of Jarrow, have laun c h e d 18 i ron s t e am-ships, most of them of large tonnage ; Mr. Marshall, of South Shields, 15 Men vessels ; and other, firms proportionate numbers. Messrs. Palmer are now finishing a :arge vessel. for the St. Petersburg Company, and three other vessels for foreign trades —one for Constantinople. Tin y have likewise a vessel in frame for the London and French goods trade, and another steamship intended fir the Hamburg trade. This firm have also a considerable number of workmen employed day and night, under shed, building a powerful 2,000 tons floating battery for the Government. Two other vessels of the same dimen sions and description are building, one on the Thames and the other on the Clyde, for the Government. Mr, Marshall is finishing a large steam-ship of 1.400 tons for a Liverpool home," is-also building al - ,000 tons steamer for a Greek house, and has a number of smaller vessels of the same materials in hand. Messrs. T. and W. Smith, of St. Peter's, besides building four timber gun-boats for the Government, are busy with iron steam-ships for com mercial firms; and Messrs. Mitchell, Mr, Vernon, and other shipbuilders are likewise employed in the trade. A handsome steam -ship, intended to trade between Syria and England, was launched from West Hartlepool last week for Mr, Spertalli, a London merchant ; and an iron screw collier, and a large steam-ship for the West Hartlepool and Hamburg trade, were likewise launched' at Stockton. There are nearly 40 sail of iron screw col liers engaged at the present time in the transport servioe alone. In the event of a speedy peace thesudden influx of these vessels into the coal trade for London, Ham burg, and other markets, will subject sailing vesse!s to a competition not heretofore experienced.' ADULTERATION OF FLOUR.—A charge of adulterating wheat flour with alum was preferred at the Wakefield Court-house, on Monday last, against Mr. , Abraham Ginn, who carries on the hasiness of maltster and flour dealer on a large scale at that town. It appears that on the 31st ultimo the Mayor of Wakefield (Mr. J. Holds worth) caused printed notices to be posted on the walls cf the town, cautioning persons against adulterating flour. Ginn had been susPected of this practice by the police for some time past, and early on Friday morning a constable named Slack observed a waggon loaded with flour near Ginn's warehouse, which led to a search warrant being obtained from the magistrates. A large quantity of wheat and flour was found on the premises, and 84 sacks of the latter were seized. The contents were tested with litmus paper- In 57 of the sacks alum was found mixed with the flour, and in 17 of them it was present in highly deleterious proportions. After a lengthened hearing the magistrates ordered the 17 bags to be forfeited, and inflicted a penalty of 101., the condemned flour to be sold for cattle and the proceeds to be applied in equal proportions to the Wakefield Soup Kitchen, the Wakefield Dispensary, and the Clayton Hospital. They also ordered the other 40 bags to be detained for a fortnight for further analysis of the contents, previous to its dis posal, but in th e meant i me inflicted a penalty of 51, on the defendant ; 27 out of the 84 bags seized were ad judged to be: restored to the defendant. The Mayor strongly animadverted upon the culpability of persons selling adulterated articles of food, and expressed his hope :that the present case would act as a caution to dealers generally. The copo was crowded to excess, during the heari ng of the' case. The pro cee di n gs we re taken under the oth and 7th of William IV., c. 37, s. 9 mad X 2. THE CREW OF THE POLYPHEMUS. We have received from the Admiralty the following the crew of the Polyphemus, ind corrected nominal list of t now on their way to Englai Mr. Warrington, paymanter Mr. Tracey, midshipman mr. Burnett, inaster•assist. Mr. Morris, engineer Mr. Chambers, engineer Mr. Jones, engineer H. Harrison, bombardier J. Case, gunner H. Torrington, drummer J. Bevistock, private J. Vincent, private John Byrnes, private Geo. Arthur, gunnor John Well, A.B. Win. Davis, boy, 2,1 Wm. Martin, boy, 2d - John Crosby, boy, 2d Chas. Foster, boy, 2d Chas. Cook, boy, 2d Benj. Green, boy, 2(1 Henry Stephens, boy, Ist John Healey, boy, let Chas. Praguell, boy, let John Holdbury, boy, Ist Charles Ryon, boy, lst John Marks, stoker John,Barnes, stoker Wm. Martin, stouter Wen. Francis, stoker John Donahen, stoker Wm. Coombs, stokor Chas. Wilson, stoker Edward Aveny, stoker Thos. Elderton, stoker Wm. Gammon, A.B. .1). Roach, ordinary Thos. Walker, sailor Edward Luke, cook Thos. Biddlesomb, carpenter .Tno. Dutton, carpenter Jno. Hunt, stoker Sam. Carter, stoker Robt. Harris, Captain M. T. Thos Kirby, ropomaker Thos. Tiverton, Captain F T. Jno. Etherage, ordinary Jas. Robinson, A.B. Wm. James, a. cook H. Reynard, cap. cox. .T. Chisholm, ord J. Moore, ord J. Bragg, boy E. Gilley, boy R. Hance, ord J. Faundell, Cap. A. G. M. Cunningham, stoker T. H Lrbert, stoker J. RU43. stoker It. Smith, steward E. Goodwin, private J. Causidy, musician C. Balls, steward R. Tiviney, serjeant J. Barnett, private T. Bassett, private H. Salter, private P. Jennings, private T. Jones, private D. Newman, private J. Cook, private E. Hayward, private J. Fawkes, private J. Wheeler, private J. Askel, A.B. G. Riley, ord Total-6 officers, 71men. FOUND DEAD. Thomaa Maunder, boat- I Samuel Pearce, boy, l e t a wai 'mate John Reynolds,CaptainA.G. men. Note.—Another body nob identified. ON THEIR WAY HOME. John Tootle, private LEFT WITH CA Wm. Ford, private. ?TAIN WARREN. Ecl ward Malone, sick boy ; Charles Howes, stoker ;James Cooper, A.B. Josh, Woodford, marine Wm. Puttick, boy Nm. Mitchell, boy Leers, S mon. Goo. Everest, surgeon Mr. Wood, engineer Mr. Hay, clerk Mr. Parsons, gunner Mr. Lollan, capt. stew. Pat. Keith, ord. Total-4 ofl Mir Mr. Herbert, Master SING. Ni`Lacklan, C. M. T. Jno. Ford, boy, Ist Chas. Persoy, A.B. Geo. Briggs, ord. Jas. 0. Connor, ord. Ely. Dowling, carpenter Thos. Johnston, blacksmith Wm. Axford, cooper Edwd. SCantiebUry, Sail maker Ino. Richards, boy, Ist , ffleer, 20 men. Giles Wilkes, B. M ate Sam.,Fleteber, C.F.C. Hy. Forbes, C.F.C. Wm. Jordan, ord. Jas. Hardy, ord. Jas. Jenkins, A.B. Step. Longhurst, boy, Ist Wm. Martin, boy, Ist Alex. Sutherland, oril. Jas. Robinson, boy, Ist. Total-1 0; THE LOSS OF THE POLYPHEMUS. PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 12.—This afternoon 8 officers and ' 66 men of her Majesty's paddle-sloop Polyphemus, 6 guns, Commander. Warren, lost on the north-west coast of Jutland on the 29th of January, arrived at this port, by rail, to await their trial by court-martial, with the remainder of the officers and crew. The fol lowing are the officers that have arrived to day :—Lieut. Frederick Pvne (first lieutenant); Lieut. England ; Mr. H. W. Y. Warrington, paymaster ; Mr. Stracey, mid shipman ; Mr. Burnett, master's assistant ; and Messrs. Morris, Jones, and Chambers, engineers. Commander Warren awaits for orders from the Admiralty as to his future movements, ,and-in order to secure any portion of the ship, or her engines, or other stores if possible. It appears that the officers and crew of the ship had to reach the coast of Jutland from the wreck by means of the masts, which were cut away, all the boats being either swamped when lowered, stove in, or separated from the ship. The fog was very heavy and thick, and a strong current added in getting the ship on a sandbank, south of Hansholmen Light. Although only about a quarter of a mile from the shore, no land could be seen. Mr. Herbert, in one of the paddle-box boats, with 10 men bad left the ship for the purpose of laying out an anchor to warp the vessel off by, and having RIC. deeded in this duty, on returning, the beat was swamped, and all hands were lost. The second gig and the cut ters endeavoured to reach the shore to get aid, but the surf was too great to allow them to land, and they pulled out to a vessel in the offing, about (apparently) seven miles off. On reaching the shore the officers and men were very hospitably treated by the natives, mostly fishermen, who • placed their huts.'at thejservice of the shipwrecked 'reariues, supplying them with bed, or anything aloe they were in need oft From Thisted, the nearest toiv[f to where the wreck'fook place, the'efficers and men who have come here to-day travelled to Flensburg in country carte, each farmer being require] by the authorities.to supply a certain number. These vehicles being open, the cold was found very severe. From Flensburg they went by tail to Hamburg, and from thence to London, by the steamer Trident, arriving at St. Ka therine's Duck Wharf at 9 o'clock last night. They ar rived here this afternoon at five o'clock, and were at once placed un' beard the Victory, flag-ship, pending the court martial. The bodies of four of the drowned had been washed on shore prior to Lieutenant Fyne leaving the coast. It is only fair to state that all the officers speak in the highest terms of the coolness and judgment displayed by Commander Warren under the trying circumstances of the wreck. It is, however, stated that had the wreck taken plac at night, iusteal of by day, all bands must have been lost. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) Lo: wolf, Feb. 14.—Wind this day at noon, S. ; fresh breeze and squally at times, with alternate rain and sunshine. PORTSnOUTII, Feb. 13.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Here fordshire, Eliza (tpt.), and H.M.S. Algiers, from Malta. FOWEY, Feb. 13.—Arrived.—Amelia Primeira, from Paraiba.. very leaky, &c. NEwronr, Feb. 13.—Wind W., strong.—Sailed—St. Brieux, for Rio .Janeiro. CowEs, Feb. 13.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived—Atlantic and Argentina, from Rio Janeiro. CARDIFF, Feb. 12.—Wind S.—Sailed—Kensington, for Singapore ; Tsar and Addition Grant, New Orleans. The Wolfe, hence to Milo, put in yesterday, leaky, ha s been docked for repairs. LLANELLI, Feb. 12.—The Polonaise, from Brest to Swansea, came ashore this morning, on Longharne Sands, and will probably become a wreck ; crew saved. PILL, !Feb. 13.—Wind S.W., strong.--Arrived—Che valier, from Cardiff, for Havana. • SWANSEA., Feb. 13.—Wind S.E.-- Arrived—lndustri. ous, from Riva da Sella. QUEHNSTOWN, Feb. 12.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived— Clarinda, from Callao. (MI ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON. Thursday Mot ning. Arrived—Despatch, steamer, from Jersey; Argyll, steamer, Carentan. S tiled — Wonder, steamer, for Jersey; Atlantic, steamer, Havre. LIVERPOOL, Thursday Morning. Wind W.S.W. Arrived—Milan, stnlmer, from Marseilles; Daring and Florist, St. Michael's. Sailed—Mary Hardy, for Barbadocs. Off—Cambria (s), from Havre. The Enniskillen' (s a), hence to Londonderry, struck ou Kirk blanshold•head, Isle of Alan, on the Ilth of February. Was got off, with fore hold full of water, and taken into Ramsey. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 12. Wind S.W. Arrived—Arrived—Lady Cecilia, from Alexandria ; Clarinda, BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GIIAVES,END, Thursday, 10.3 a.m. Wind S.W. ; tide, three hours' ebb, fine. Arrived—Eliza, from Alexandria ; Berkshire, Pondi cherry. Sailed—Edwin, Fox, for St. Philip ; Oriental, Rangoon. DEAL, Thursday, 9.10 a. m. Wind S.W. ; fresh. Passed—Mary Bayley, from Leghorn, for London ; Alice Lambton, screw-steamer, (99 transport), Black Sea, London ; Imperial, screw-steamer, (138 transport), Black Sea, London. Sailed—London Packet, for London. • The City Bank have notified the issue of 1,500 new shares of 100/. each to their proprietary, at 8/. premium, the rate of allotment being one new share to every two old shares. The amount realised by the premium will be applied 'to the commencement of a guarantee fund. The Ceylon Government Gazette of the 29th of Decenl• ber notifies that the Government issue of notes has been withdrawn from the-lst ult., and that the notes of the Oriental Bank Corporation are made receivable at all the Government Cutcherries in their stead. Notwithstanding the animation in the Consol market there was a general relapse yesterday afternoon in the premiums on the shares of the new banking companies. Tnis will be regarded with satisfaction by all persons in terested in the resnectability of English en ter p rises, since it may check the flood of imitative projects which are understood to be ready to bd poured upon the public. HOTEL AND TAVERN-KEEPERS' INSTITUTION. —The third annual ball in aid of the funds of this excellent institution, established for the purpose of affording relief to its aged and necessitous members, is announced to take place at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, on Tuesday next, the 19th instant. When we consider the vast benefits that have already been conferred by this young but flourishing institution, we cannot but congratulate the c smmittee upon their great success. We sincerely hope that the assembly on Tuesday next will outrival all its predecessors, and thereby largely benefit the funds of this benevolent and charitable institution. LORD MAYOR'S TRUMPATER.—Yesterday, at a Court of Aldermen, it Wf49 announced that the Lord Mayor's trumpeter was dead, and a question arose as to the ap- pointment of a successor. Alderman Wire submitted a motion to the effect that the office was unnecessary. Alderman. Carter said he - looked upon the office as one which made the civic procession more conspicuously and n oisily ridiculous. (Laughter.) Alderman Far ebrother having remarked thit, insignificant as was the office, it might be advisable not to throw it up without due COE• sideration, it was resolved that the situation should not be filled up fex the present, LATEST NEWS. MARSEILLES, WEDNESDAY. The Messageries packet the Vatican brings news from Constantinople of the sth. Kebresh Mehemed Pacha has been appointed Grand Vizier ad interim during the absence of Ali Pacha. The Sultan honoured the fancy balls of Lord de Red cliffe and of 111. de Thouvenel with his presence. The Presse d'Orient announces that the Tysiphone has left with . tussian prisoners for Odessa, then to be exchanged against Allied prisoners. The news from the Crimea, which is to the 31st January, announces that the Allies have under mined Fort St. Nicholas. The Allies had blown up the last of the docks at Sebastopol. Five English regiments are preparing to return to England. 3,000 infantry, with two batteries of artillery, have bees sent to Kertch. The Egyptians have left Eupatoria for Varna. Accounts from Varna up to the 30th January state that a fire had broken out there, but had been extinguished by the French troops. General Coronini had returned to Bucharest. The thaw had commenced is the Danube, and the breaking up of the ice was shortly expected. Newt from Kinbourn state that the thaw had begun, that reinforcements had arrived, and that all was quiet. Naves from Athens states that the Order of the Saviour had been conferred on the French Rear- Admiral Jacquinot. TRIESTE, FEB. 12. Accounts have been received here from Con- stantinople to the 4th, which announce that the Ottoman Government has added 2,000 men to the Anglo-Turkish Contingent. According to letters from Trebizond of th© 9th ult., the English were seeking on, the coast for a point where 25,000 men could be landed. There are 1,000 French i❑ camp at Maslak, and two English battalions, with a small cavalry de. tachment, at Pera and Scutari. The Russians have evacuated part of Turkish Armenia and retired to Erivan. FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, The Moreiteur, and other continental journals of yesterday, have come to hand. The official French journal has a decree, conferring the military medal on 39 soldiers and seamen. _ _ _ A. letter from Copenhagen, of the Gth, antici pates that it will be a fortnight or more before the Court appointed to examine the charges against M. Scheele, the Minister for Holstein, will close its inquiry. The Debats has a money article on the recent report of E the Bank of France. It is as buoyant and anticipative as might be expected. It tells us, "So s oon as that g l or i ous peace, on which France now reckons, shall be signed, so soon as the living strength of French society,a moment diverted to war, shall return on masse to the fruitful fields of labour, 01/13 : of the first' problems which will be presented by the force of events will be that of an extension of our in§ . titutions of credit in general,and .especially of the Bank of France. The Bank must ..be prepared for this ;-for what is this, after all, but .an increase of her influence, and an increase of her profits ?" The commission of which M. Stourm, Councillor 'of State, is president, appointed by Government to consider the propoSitions for the establishment of transatlantic lines 'of packets, has drawn up a seties of questions to be answered by the companies. It will be a work of some time to prepare the answers, and it is not expected that any decision can be come to for the next three months. It has been intimated that the following rates of speed will be stipulated for as a minimum :—For the New York.line, 111 knots an hour; for the Brazils, ; and for the French. Antilles, 104. Bornsu - , -- Feb. 13.—The following were the clos ing quotations' Cash. ft. e. 4i per Cents 96 End of Month —f. —O. 3 - per Cents 73 5 73 70 New Loan - Bank Shares 3,475 Roman Credit Mobilier 1,51 1 0 Austrian Belgian Five 5........ 97 Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) B9 Home Dobt RAILWAYS-708 CASH. 87, 8. 41: 37: fr. c. fr. c Orleans ..............1,257 50 Western B5O Northern Lyons ...... 1,222 50 New Ditto B2O Mediterranean 1,38 ► Grand. Central 6lO Lyons Geneva 740 Teste Cette 712 50 Austrian Com. ...... 885 RUSSIA. A letter from St. Petersburg of the 3d, in the Constitutionncl, says : "The Invalide Busse, in its number of the Ist, published letters of thanks addressed to General Komantoff, the hettman of the Cossacks, by the Emperor, and the Empresses Fedorowna and Maria, on the occasion of the congratulations sent to their Imp.rial Majesties, by the Cossacks of the Don, on New-Year':. day. These rescripts are repeated every year, and I therefore abstain from sending you the text of them. General Gortschakoff in his turn has become one of the familiars of the Grand Duke Constantine. lam assured that it is owing to the influence of the Crimean generalissimo that such a change has been produced in a few days in the ideas of the young Grand Duke. General Gortschakoff has pointed out to him so clearly the dangers of the present war that the brother of the Emperor in the end saw that he had been hitherto pursuing a wrong course. It is said that he is now more in favour of peace than even the hi Czarm• A m e d a l o f h onour i s about to be distributed to the sisters of charity who, during the siege of Sebastopol, gave proofs of such courageaud huma nity. These excellent women, in whose devotedness such an extraor dinary abnegation were displayed dinary manner, well merit this distinction. Ge neral Gortschakoff related to the two Empresses and to the Grand Duchesse s the admirable con duct of these ladies, and urged the. Government to send them a striking mark of its satisfac tion. The Emperor, in consequence, decided that a com memorative medal should be awarded to each of them ; and th e Em p ress an d the Grand Duchess Helen addressed autograph letters to the superior of the sisterhood. Adjutant-General Bei bikoff, ex-Minister of the Interior, has just re signed his rank in the army and re ti re d to his eitates. An Imperial ukase has been published, stating that the time passed by soldiers of the army of the South in hospital shall be counted in their period of active service. The Chancellor of the Empire has addressed anoth er man i festo to the Russian plenipotentiary at Vienna on the occasion of t h e signature of the preliminaries of peace, which, as we learn by telegraph, took place on the Ist in the capital of Austria. This document, like those of the 23d Dec. and sth Jan., bears the stamp of the paeific feelings of the Russian Go vernment. As far as regards Art. 5, it declares that Russia cannot concede more than the rec tification of the frontiers of Bessarabia. As this is all that_the.:Western Powers demand, it is pro bable that no difficulty will arise on that point." Another letter from St. Petersburg of the same date says :—" The regiment of light dragoons of Prince Paskie witch is to retain his name, but the other regiments which also bear his name are to take their previous denomination. The son of the Prince has been nominated Adjutant-General of the. Emperor. The Emperor has ordered that, in consequence of the bravery displayed by General Khrouleff at Sebastopol, his name shall be inscribed with those of other generals in letters of gold on a marble tablet, which is to be placed in the military school in which he studied. According to pri vate letters from Simpheropol to the 24th ult., the fire of the batteries on the north of Sebastopol was very vigorous. These letters express great astonishment at the rapid construction of the new French town of Katniesh. Formerly the site occupied by the town was a z public prom en ade, known by the , name of Novaia emba (Newfound land)." AUSTRIA. A letter from Yier?a of the 9th, in the Post Ampt Gazette, says :—" We learn that imme,di ately after th© news of peace reached the Crimea, several of the advanced posts were removed ) in - • order to prevent any chance of collision, while waiting for a regular armistice. The news of the acceptance by-R uss i a h as di sagreea b ly surprised the tradesmen at liamiesh) who will scarcely have time to get rid of their merchandise. It ix, how ever, said that a part of the supplies will be re moved to Batoum on account of the English Troops continue to assemble at Trebizond, and reinforce ments are being regularly sent off4o Erzeroutn. Omer Pacha displays great activity in 'reorganising the Turkish army of Asia, and is rene*ing rela tions with the mountaineers. Sugdidi, the resi dence of the Princess Dadian, in Mingrelia, has just been totally destroyed by fire. The Russians and the Turks accuse each other of having been the cause of the conflagration." The following are the terms in which the mi nutes of the Germanic Diet speak of the late pre sentation by Austria of the documents concerning the peace propositions :—" In the sitting of the Diet on the 7th, Austria presented to the Assem bly the protocol of acceptance, which was signed at Vienna on the Ist, and a statement of the nego tiations which preceded it. These documents' Will follow the usual course of affairs." SPAIN. • The Madrid journals of the Bth have arrived: The Minister of Justice had addressed a circular to the archbishops and bishops of the kingdom. holding out to them a hope of an early arrangement of the differences between Spain and the Holy See. The Gazette says that, two days before, the autho rities had takes. some precautions', not that they were particularly called for, but to tranquilise the persons who feared that order might be disturbed. The new Minister of Finance was certainly' de termined, it was said, to propose the conversiba of the, floating debt, but not to make it com pulsory ; also to take measures for making up the deficit in the budget ; be had, besides, made known that be is favourable to a liberal reform of the tariffs. The Cortes had rejected, by 77 votes to 50, A motion for giving the right of voting curates and holders of ecclesiastical benefices. The state ment that the French Credit Mobilier and grand railway companies intended to establish a French newspaper at Madrid to support their interest is contradicted. The Comercio of Cadiz announces the discovery of very abundant veins of coral in the district of San Lucar de Barroneda. A letter from Warsaw, in the Boersenhalle of Hamburg, says :—" After the funeral service, the body of Prince Paskiewitch will be conveyed, agreeably to the request of the deceased, to the village of Iwanowka, near the fortress of Ivan gorod, where it will be interred on his estate. As a compliment to the ukase of the 12th February last concerning the amnesty, four years of their punishment have been remitted to such persons as had been condemned to 8 and 12 years' hard labour in a fortress.' A brilliant ball was given at the Hague on the Bth, by Prince Frederick of Holland.. Their Majesties, the Prince and Princess Henry,. tit! Duke of Saxe Weimar, and the diplomatic NAY were present. Baron Tecco, the Piedmentese ambassador to the Sublime Porte, arrived at Turin on the 10th, on a short absence from hia post. The Grand Duke of Tuscany has accepted the resignation of Prince Andrea Corsini as .Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has provisionally entrusted M. Baldasseroni with is duties. The Opinione, of Turin, quotes two letters—ouo from Parma, and another from Verona—announc ing that the Emperor of Austria is about to sur press all proceedings against persons implicated in political offences committed within the period of 1848 and 1851. THE UNITED STATES. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY* The United States mail steam-ship Baltic, Capt. James Comstock, arrived this afternoon from New York, with advice to the 2d instant, 83 passevgerst and 35,000 dollars in specie. The United. States mail steam-ship Union, from Havre and Soutltampton„put into Halifax on the Ist instant, short of coals. She had been out 1 5 days. • The news'of the acceptance of the ,Peace propo sitionabY Russia was known in New York by tele graph from Halifax: The opinions expressed.by the United States press are• generally doubtful as 're v gards the result of Russia's acceptance. There was still no Speaker elected. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Mr. Clingman brought forward his resolution to adopt the plurality rule in the election of Speaker. An intense excitement prevailed throughout the Chamber, as it was regarded as certain that the proposition would command a majority of Abe votes, and thereby enable the house to organise. Upon taking the question, however, it resulted in the rejection of the resolUtion. It is nvideet , theref )re, that Mr. Banks must be withdrawn before the house cau - organise. In the United States Senate, on Thursday, Mr. Seward delivered his, speech upon the Central American question ; General Wilson will also speak upon Central American affairs ; he is in favour of abrogating the Clay ton-Bulwer treaty, and the immediate recognition and colonisation of Nicaragua. The proceedings of the House of Representatives justify the opinion that the struggle for the Speakership is rapidly drawing to a close. The plurality rule was again offered and again rejected. Tan vote stood 108 for to 110 against. A motion declaring Mr. Banks Speaker was promptly nega tived-102 against 115. Mr. Aiken, of South Carolina, was then proposed, and he received 103 votes against 110. A reicontre took place in the streets of Wash ington, between Horace Greeley and Mr. Rust, Member of the House, from Arkansas. 'Mr. Rust was impelled by certain offensive personal remarks published in tbe Tribune. COMMERCIAL. NEW YORK, 'Feb. 2.—The - cotton market Wag ev cited yesterday, after the receipt of the foreign newp,and the sales reached about 3,000 bales, part of which vras in transitu. The prices closed at an advance. of about -c. per lb. Flour was depressed, and the market unset tled. Wheat was quiet, and quotations nominal. Corn heavy. Freights were unchanged, while engagements were moderate. _ TheTtrl;a; - been a fair business in sterling for the steamer to-morrow, and in consequence of the delay of Southern mails the supply of outside bills was litnited. The leading bankers accordingly put up thtir rates to 8i to B,i per cent., with but small sales above 81 per cent The bulk of the business was done at Si for good signatures. THE PENINSULAR, MAIDS. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Madrid, Captain George Bradshaw, with the usual Peninsular mails, in charge of Lieut. Brydgess R.N., Admiralty Agent, arrived this afternoon. During the homeward voyage, the Madrid expe rienced variable light winds, and strong S.W. winds, with hazy weather. She left Gibraltar, Feb sth ; Cadiz , 6th ; LiA bon, 9th ; Oporto, 10th ; Vigo, 120th. The Madrid brought 19 passengers and 14 dis tressed seamen ; and her. freight consisted of 8 packages of specie, valne 3,U831. ; 140 boxes of eggs, 12 casks of wine, 3814 chests ororanges, 5 cases of marble, 303 boxes of tangerines ) and 10 packages of sundries. Her Majesty's ships Urgent and Algiers were at Gibraltar ; at Cadiz, the French Government war steamer Duranee, bound to the Crimea with artil lery and ammunition ; at Lisbon, her Majesty's steamer St. George, and English merchant steamer Milan ; at Oporto, Rattler, steamer, for Liverpool, waited four days to cross the bar ; Douro, steamer, for Liverpool ; Vesta, steamer, for London ; and Queen and Butjadingen, steamers, for South ampton. Ships observed on the voyage :—Feb. 7, brig Silistria, steering to Northw ar d ; 9th, screw steamer Cleator, bound to Lisbon ; 11th, Peninsu lar and Oriental, steam-ship Tagus, lat. 44 37 N., long. 8 21 W., hull down to westward ; 12th, brig Silistria, lat. 48 46 N., long. 5 27 W. TILE PROPOSED ARMISTICE: It is a good deal doubted in the City whether the allies should conclude an armistice with Russia in anticipation of a peace, because, although the Russian army is at home, it is in want of every thing, while the allies, who are far from their re sources, want nothing ; and, during an armistice Russia would recruit her means in proportion as the allies would be eihausting theirs. It is argued that this ought not to be allowed, so as to give the aggressive power a renewed opportunity of bring ing her diplomatic treachery to bear upon the question at issue, to the detriment of the ellieta. HEALTH OF MR. JOHN 13BIGHT.—General surprise has been expressed, and great disappointment' felt, at the non-appearance of Mr. Jahn Bright's name is the public journals eit'ice the re-assembling ,of Parliament. The reason, we regret to say, is that the hon. gentlem/P2 has been suffering somewhat severely from bronchitis, , He fa now, however, in a ,faird.Way of recovery, and may be expected betom Aqw y. idays have • elapsed t 4..;: make himself once more heard in the s ou 60 of CgElj 0101211.--Konting Arivrtior. _ . to ti; a pe Lon! , 1 tiA Boni t up % Atlr