The Sun. — London, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

THL►ATRE ROYAL, DRCRY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. For the BENEFIT of HARRY BOLERO. THIS FVEND/G, DELICATE GROUND. Followed by COOL AS A CUCUMBER. I o e , trlade vc-tth SET DrDDLE =DU; ; or, Harlequin King Nonseasa and the SeTeu Ages of Man. THEATRE ROYAL, HA.TMARKET. Moder the Management of Mr. Bactstelle. THIS EVENING, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Followed by TkIE LITTLE TREAURE. After which, LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS. After which the New Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled n s rs ILST ; BUTTERFLY'S BALL AND THE GRA.SSHOPPER'S or, Harlequin and the Genius of the Soring. ROYAL. ParNCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. 17ada the Management of Mr. CRAW.= HELY. THIS EVENING, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE 3i.klD AND THE MAGPIE ; or, th e Fair, Paraiisa anti Hanky Peaky, the Enchanter. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown. Mr. Hahne ; Pantaloon, XI% NM° ; and Columbine, Bliss Caroline Adams. ROYAL LYCEITM THEATRE. FLEXMORE'S BENEFIT. Ia conamnence of Covent Garden Theatre being required for the It a lian Opera. Flexes ore bedto inform his patron—the Public— that kis Benefit will take place at the above Theatre en WEDNES- Dky, March 12, and that cards of admission, price ls., 25., as., 41., and hs., may be had at 61, Hercules-Buildings, Lamb,:th. TURATRE PAUL ADELPIII. proprtster, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Medina. Celesta. THIS EVENLNIG. BETSY BAKER. • To be followed by THAT BLESSED BABY. To conclude with JACK An) VIE BEAN' STALK; or, ITarlequta and Mother Goon at Home Agala. in which News. .1. Bland, P. Bedford. Madam Celesta, Miss Wyndham, •nd Miss E. Arden will ap>ear. ROYAL OLYVPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING. STILL WATERS RUN DEEP. After which will be produced a New and doubly-moral. though excessively old, Melodramatic Fairy Extravaganza, entitled Tll INSCREET PRIKCERSI; or, the Three Gime Distaire. In which Masan. Emery, F. Robson, H. Cooper, Mlse Stanton, and Maas Haskell will appear. ROYAL SITaRBY THELITRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING JASPER LANGTON; or, A Duel to the Death. .~-. re he follewed by THE SAILOR OF MINCE. To conclude with WAITER AT CREMORNE. ROYAL STRAND TFIEA.TIII4. "(leder the direction of Mr: Payne. THI: EVENING. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. After which, A Ballet DiverVmement, Followed by WAY D')N'T SUE MARRY? After which. A Petite Divcrthiteraent. To condMe with MATE; JACKETS. Awn.zrs ROYAL AMPHITHEA.TRX. Uwe and Manner. Mr. Wm. Cooks. Last Week of the Pantomime ! TWIN EVENING, THE ARAB OF THE DESERT AND TITS FAITHFUL STEED ; In which the rati'mallty of the hone, ta'ight and tralnel by Mr William Cooke, tills the audience w th delight and wonder. After which. the EQUF.STRIAN EVOLUTIONS in the ARENA. The miraculous ascent of the hue Elephants from the ring to the stage. To candid+, with (the last week) RA.R.LEQUIN ANT) ST. ( - IF.ORGF: AND TIM DRAOON; or, the Seven Champions of Chrtstendorn. Rox-oalce open fl'ona Eleven till Foar. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director. Sfr. W. Cooke, lan. EMMA STAYLErS SEVEST AGES OF 1901fAN, Reappearance of 311 , 13 Emma Stanley (after her recent !milepost don) This Evening, Wednesday, the 5.. b. Inst., positively. Stalls, 35.; Reserved Seats, 2s. ; Back Seats, Is. SAINT MARTIN'S HILL, Long-acre. HIGH WATER. AT LONDON MUDGE. T 7115 DAY—Morn. 32 min. aft. 12—Evening 0 min. aft. 1 TA-Winnow—Morn. ?A min. aft. I—Evening 50 rain. aft. 1 THE WEATIIER.-SIIN OFFICE, MARCH 5. THERMOMETER, IV THE SHAD& 44-highest since noon yesterday. 41 -:west this morning and during the night. 4•i -this day at noon. BAROMBTIOR-30 . 32—falling. - Morning, S.W., now E.N.E. to E., with dull, kszy weather. MI A c _..*" • • - ,4* LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1858. 1 large and comprehensive measure of military reform is "looming in the future." There is at length a reasonable foundation for hoping that the iniquitous system of promotion by purchase will be ultimately abolished, and more judicious and equitable regulations adopted. After what fell from Lord PALMERSTON last night, it is mani fest that there must be a complete alteration, and that the ameliorations, although they may be gra dually introduced, will be of such a character as to satisfy the just demands of the country. All that was required by Sir DE LACY EVANS was a stringent and searching investigation into the system by competent and impartial judges, who should express their opinions as to the ex pediency of abolishing the sale and purchase of commissions in the army, and on the means by which that all-important object may be accom plished. It is of little consequence whether that investigation be conducted before a Committee of the House of Commons or a Royal Commission, fairly and properly constituted. The gallant General, therefore, acted very judiciously in at once closing with the proposition of the PREMIER, and allowing the matter to remain in the hands of Government. The uudertaking that a mixed commission of military men and civi lians should be appointed was all that could be desired, especially when the First Lori had candidly admitted that his opinion in the abstract was against a system of purchase. The most zealous and enthusiastic opponent of the objectionabl e system could not ask for an imme diate change, without full and mature considera tion as to the nature and extent of the substitute t o be offered. There are, unquestionably, diffi culties to be overcome, and evils of a different character to be avoided. The reformers must take care, that like him who f e ll into Scylla while shunning Charybdis, they do not suffer the remedy to degenerate into something almost as bad as the original disease. The improved tone of the discussion, when contrasted with that formerly adopted on the same subject, was indeed a cheering and auspicious augury for the friends of military reform. The glaring fallacies usually resorted to, were carefully excluded. The gross abuses that had sprung up during a long succession of years were universally admitted, and every dis position was manifested to meet the heavy pecuniary expenses necessarily required for their removal. National faith required that those who have purchased on the faith of being allowed to sell at any time should be permitted to get back their money, if they think fit so to do, and it has been stated that this would cost no less than eight millions sterling to the exchequer. Be it ! Even for that we should be prepared. No price could be high to remove that which has alone rendered the charge of being a nation of shop keepers a, term of bitter reproach, and to add to the efficiency of our Army, It is not pleasing to hear the criticisms of those who have spoken of oe troops as a body of lions, led by donlr ,eys. The Crimean Commissioners have expl wined the enormous losses, not merely of is laney, but of the lives of thousands of our gall; mat brethren. occasioned by the incapacity of men; holding high positions in the service ; and we b - 31ieve that there is not a single true-hearted Englishman throughout the length and breadth of the land who would not think eight, or even ten 111 illions, well expended in removing evils such as the se exposed in the Report of Sir J. 111'NEIL and 001. TIILLOCII. It may be said that these evils were the fault of the system rather than of the individuals. If so, it materially strengthens the argument, and shows that a tree capable of prodlacing such deleterious fruit should be eradi cated with all possible speed. But it would not cost anything like the amount stated,. Five or six millions, at the outside, would be much nearer the mark. The eight mil lions include not merely all who have purchased their commissions, but many whe have received them gratuitously. It is quite clear that the nation could recognise no sums beyond the regu lation prices, the payment of which, although constantly made, are quite opposed to the rules of the service. Nor can any man have a just right to sell that which he has not purchased. All that need be provided will, therefore, be the regula tion prices for the steps actually paid for by the holders. Many, too, of the number will hold on to the last. In such cases the money will be saved to the country, and it will constitute by no means an insignificant portion of the entire claim. The cost will, therefore, be by no means so great as has been calculated ; and although we consider no price too high for the practical improvement, it is well to see that the burden will be less than has been calculated, and that it will be spread over several years, so as to press with less severity on the tax-paying com munity. There may be a fund by which it could most properly be liquidated. If Russia be compelled to render pecuniary compensation for the expenses of the war, the indemnity could not be applied to a better or more appropriate object, or one that would be more cordially assented to by every un prejudiced and disinterested person. The sug gestion, at all events, is worthy of consideration, and may possibly induce our Plenipotentiaries to stand firm on that important point at the Con ferences. But, however the money is to bo obtained, it shall be forthcoming when required. Lot no new interests be created. When an officer desires to sell his commission, and has obtained the neces sary leave of the Horse Guards, by no means a matter of course, he may receive an order on the Treasury for the amount, in place of procuring it from his successor. The sum required during the present year would not be very large, and we have no doubt that it would be willingly voted by the House of Commons. The best test of the sincerity of the Government will bo the abstaining from creating any further claim, and letting those that may now be regarded as "vested interests" be gradually eliminated by the payment of some by the nation, and by the mortality which will not spare even the wealthy, who have paid for their commissions, and are practically rendering their services with but little, if any, remuneration therefor. The individual who can contemplate the present aspect of Poland without experiencing a feeling of regret can have no sympathy with the loftier aspirations of our common nature, and no claims to the confidence of a free people. Never in the history of the world was there a more melancholy spectacle, not to be devoid of hope. A gallant, civilised people, possessing all the elements of greatness, and panting to escape from the brutal oppression by which they have so long been en thralled—the sport of diplomatists and the tool of pretended friends. The noblest scattered throughout France and England in undying pro test against their oppressors, and the meanest compelled to swell the ranks of the most powerful of their tyrants, alike let down, without scruple and without remorse, after being buoyed up with prospects the most alluring and best calculated to deceive ! Is not this a sight at which both "gods and men " should weep ? If ever the truth of the proverb, "Put not your trust in princes" or Governments, had a convincing and disastrous illustration, it is here. If ever self-reliance was inculcated in groans and blood, it is here. If ever a people had occasion to doubt all friendship not manifested in deeds as well as words, it is the Poles. And if over a people were entitled to vindicate their rightful claims without consideration for the interests of others, the Poles aro that people. They have no friends in high places, and will never have effectual aid until the democracy of Europe is roused in it& lair by the clash of their sabres and the thunder of their guns. Opportunity will never come to Poland----her only policy is to make it. For, thank HEAVEN, there is a Polish people yet—oppression has not erased them from the category of nations. There are living Poles, in whom the chivalrous blocd of Kosciusxo races with patriotic ardour--living Poles, who need only the appliances of war to break asunder their yoke, and confront in em battled might the legions of their oppressors. Blotted out of the map of kingdoms, Poland is still a name which blanches the cheek of the des pot, and carries a deadly chill to his heart. The "infernal fire" of Sebastopol, splitting the ear with its volleying thunders, could not overpower the whispered word. Bomarsund in the posses sion of the Allies, Sweaborg in flames, the mighty naval armaments of England and France in sight of Cronstadt, none of these "causes of anxiety and dread could cast her for a moment from the recol lection of her oppressors. The ablest marshal of all the Russias was troubled on his bed of death with the anxieties she occasioned him. The brave prince, worthy a better master, who quailed not before a cataract of shot and flame to which hell itself could alone furnish a parallel, was hurried from the spectacle of the captured and ruined city he had so desperately defended to supply the place of the deceased PASKIEWITCII, and keep whollyeepdown that eruption w hi c h oppress i on smother -- the inextinguishable hatred and revolt of au oppressed nation that de serves to be free. Prato of our diplomacy (!) as we will, vaunt of the strength of our arms and the overpowering might of our fleets as we may more than our diplomacy, more than the strength of our arms, more than the might of our fleets, is the little word ct Poland." Or rather it is the dread of Poland rising in revolt that lends to the prepara tions of the Allies their chief terror. It is the apprehension of this event, this assault from within, and of Sweden aiding the assault from without, that has stirred Austria to her insidious mediations, and brought the CZAR and his crack brained brother to their senses, and is but too likely to lead to a pernicious peace. It was the fear of Poland in arms, and the revolutions to which that °vela would lead.the dpiastOs :r: • • Ps: , ; *— ? 4:: • 1 - • '.:= - THE SU 14, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN LNG, MARCH 5, 1856. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF COVENT GARDEN THEATRE BY FIRE. (This Morning.) One of the most destructive and exten:iva fires that has happened in the metropolis for some years past oc• curred this morning at Covent-Garden Theatre, and which has resulted in the total destruction of this na tional place of amusement. Since Christmas this esta blishment has been in the hands of Professor Anderson, who has spared neither time nor expense in producing a series of entertainments alike worthy of the reputation of this place of amusement, and commensurate with the patronage which he has been favoured with by the public. On Monday last the Professor's great carnival bene fit commenced, which was to embrace dramatic and other representations, and to extend, with slight intervals between, from that day to Tuesday night ; when the long list of operas, melodramas, and farces which had begun the festival was to be crowned with a " ball masque," on a scale of great magnificence. At the ap pointed hour last night for the commencement of the bal there was a considerable assemblage in the salle. The cavaliers and nymphs who " dressed" for the occa sion resorted to the usual diversities of costume, those of a "fancy" character prevailing over the "historical." The whole passed off satisfactorily till about five o'clock this morning, when the company were preparing to de part, and whilst the last stanza of the National Anthem was being performed, the first intimation occurred of that dreadful calamity, which, in a comparatively short space of time, enveloped the building in flames, and ended in its entire destruction. Whilst the maskers were grouped about on the stage, and presenting a most incongruous scene of costume and character, congratulating each other on the satisfactory result of the entertainment, a large burning beam fell from the ceiling on to the stage, striking a gentleman on the foot, an scattering the embers about in every direction amongst the company. The greatest consternation ensued from this unmis takeable evidence of the building being on fire. The ladies commenced shrieking and rushing about in wild confusion, and gentlemen were to be seen endeavouring to find their partners, which from the great similarity of many of the ladies costumes made it a task of great difficulty, in order to make a safe retreat. However, after a short delay the company rushed to the doors and made their escape, and fled into the neighbouring streets for means of conveyance to their respective residences, the grotesqueness of their dreeues:contrasting strangely with the scene which the neighbourhood presented from AO fearful a calamity oc• curring at that hour of the morning. In a very short time after the alarm was given every person employed on the premises endeavoured to save some part of the property, but owing to the immense quantity in the building a small portion only, compara tively speaking, was preserved. Mr. Ilingston, the Wizard's secretary, was engaged in the treasury when the alarm of fire was given, and rendered great service in saving life and property. He was the last person to leave the theatre, after having ascertained that the whole of the visitors and persons employed bad made their escape. A. large number of fire-engines from the various stations were very speedily in attendance, and water front the numerous mains around the theatre hav ing been obtaineli, the firemen, with the aid of an im mense body of assistants, set to work under the superin tendence of Mr. Braidwood. After a very short time it was discovered that all attempts to save the theatre would prove fruitless, and accordingly the exertions of the fire-brigade were directed to the preservation of the surrounding property. The hou4es extending from the cor ner of Hart-street in Bow-street, to Jatnes-street, Covent garden, from their close proximity to the burning building stood in the most immediate danger from a slight breeze wafting the immense sheets of flame towards them, and it was with the greatest difficulty their total destruction was prevented. The Feathers public-house, notwith standing the immense body of water that was being► poured upon it repeatedly, caught fire, and fortunately for the occupant the house was eventually preserved from sharing the fate of the theatre. The houses ad joining the Feathers, for the length of the street we have mentioned, have suffered severely. In Bow-street the scene presented by the tremendous conflagration was extr tordmary, and the same precau tion had to be taken of the houses facing the grand en trance of the theatre, as in Hart-street. During the time the engines were throwing water upon the adjacent I property the fire seemed every moment to increase in intensity, and the flames rose to an immense height and spread so vivid a reflation upon all ar - iuncl that the Surrey hills could plainly be di-cnned by any person standing at the top of Lhw-street and looking in that direction. The scene presented at the moment the roof fell nearly defied description. In a moment, and only for a ►u went, the flames that had been pouring from every window of the theatre seemed to be in some degree extinguished, and large clouds of black and dark brown smoke took their place. Millions and millions of bril liant sparks fell upon all around, and then again rose theflames with redoubled intensity, and the fate of every part of the building was from that moment sealed. Still the firemen kept steadily at work, aild as the flames which appeared to have strong hold in cer tain parts .of the theatre were extinguished, a loud cheer arose from the thousairls of per sons who stood gazing at the scene. At short intervals loud reports continually occurred, and many were the conj , !ctnres hazarded as the cause, but the true one was that they arose from the falling of the walls in different parts of the house. Towards nine o'clock the fire seemed to have ()m -eowed everything except the extensive walls of the theatre, but the engines continued throwing an immense body of water upon the burning ruins. At half-past ten o'clock the scene of destruction wal painfully interesting. In ow-street could be seen, through the window openings, a portion of the interior of what was, till this morning, one of the most splendid theatres in Europe. Large rafters could be distinguished resting against the walls which bad so short a time ago formed a portion of the roof. The doors and windows of the grand entrance having been destroyed the vesti bule presented a aomplete scene of ruin, and the oniy things that remained standing were the eight Doric colames, what from their charred state presented the appearance of white marble, and formed a strong con trait to the blackened and smoking mass that sur rounded each of them. The four large columns and the architrave are all that is left of the grand portico. In viewing the remains of the theatre from Hart-street, and looking towards the eoutb, an idea can be formed of the immense extent of the conflagration. There is nothing but a few pieces of projecting wall to impede a view completely through the theatre, and the windows that, it will be recollected, were at the back of the amphi theatre, can be plainly seen from the point we have men tioned. This fact will be quite sufficient to convey an idea of how total leas been the destruction of the building. With respect to the properties of the theatre, very little, if any, has been saved, and owing to the confusion at present prevailing, we have beam unable to ascertain whether Mr. Gye is (which we hope is the caie) insured. Mr. Anderson, we understand, is insured in the Sun Office to the extent of 2,0001., but this will not near cover his loss. We understaiad 'that 110 liras were lest. This is en tirely owing to the admirable management of the police in keeping back the curious crowd, who, after the alarm had been given, would have rushed into the theatre to the imminent risk of their own destruction. The loss of property by this calamity cannot be less han 25p,000/. The theatre which 'preceded the one burnt down this morning was opened by Rich about 1732, but after undergoing several alterations was destroyed by fird Sept. 20, 1808. The first stone of the structure just destroyed was laid by the Duke of Sussex, Dec. 31, 1808, and it was opened on the 18th of Sept., 1809, with "Macbeth." At the time we write, half•past two o'clock, the en gines are still playing upon the smoking debris. THE GREAT FIRE AT COVENT. GARDEN THEATRE.--The L'Empereur, powerful prize fire-engine, belonging to Mr. Merryweatber, lately exhibited iu the Paris Exbibi• tion, was brought into play by upwards of thirty men, and rendered great service in the preservation of the houses in Bow•atreet. The Bishop of London has not had a relapse, as erro neously stated. The right rev, prelate is, if anything, better, being able to take occasional carriage airings. It is feared that his lordship will be unable again to attend to the active duties of his episcopate. MAOAuLAY BURNT IN EFFIGY.—The North, British. .Daily Mail says :—The Highlanders of Glenmore, in Inverness-shire, feeling aggrieved and indignant at the slanderous charges brought by Mr. Macaulay against their preOecessors, in his last volume of the " History of EnglaAd," assembled together, and, headed by a piper playing the "Rogue's March," proceeded to the Black Rock, near Genmore House, and there burnt in effigy the distinguished historian. The assembled crowd gave three shouts of execration as the effigy Was oonsuraing. Macaulay, when in the Highlands, re3ided for a considerable time at Glamor. How). _~~, __. and the princely interests it would topple headlong to the dust—that occasioned our " drifting into war," and has stamped the conduct of hostilities tbronghont with feebleness and indecision. But let not our aristocratic rulers and our august ally, the Emperor of the FRENCH, deceive themselves. The revolutions that impend over Europe will not be averted, but will be ren dered all the more thorough by a mean and patched-up peace. It was, and still is, in their power to guide the " fierce democracy" in the career of freedom, and contribute to the establishment of liberal institutions througho*t Europe ; but, once lost, the opportunity may never recur again. Peace at any price with Russia, or peace on easy terms, may imply with them tranquillity for Europe ; gut, unless the signs of the times be given for a delusion and a snare, it will bring with it such a mustering of the nations, and such disorganisation and dynastic ruin, as probably the world has not yet seen. They will do well to interpret correctly the eagerness of Austria and the CZAR for peace, and be wise in time. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode on horseback, attended by Captain the Hon. Dudley de Roe. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper, ar rived in town yesterday morning, from her residence, Frogmore, near Windsor. Her Royal Highness paid a visit in the afternoon to the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, Piccadilly, and afterwards left her residence, Clarence House, St. James's, on her return t 3 Frogmore. Adeputation from the Beer Trade Society, consisting of Mr. Bishop (Secretary), Mr. J. Berwick, Mr. H. Mason, and Mr. S. Dawes, had an interview with Sic George Grey yesterday at the Home Office. A deputation from inhabitants of Islington had an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., President of the General Board of Health, at his office, Whitehall. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Geenee, G. S. S. Williams, Fred. D. Edwards, Madgin, Atwell, and Layton. A deputation from Smethwick also had an interview with the President of the General Board of Health yesterday. The deputation consisted of Mr. Downing and Mr. Chance. VISIT OF TIE KING OF TEE BELGIANS WINDSOR, Tuesday.--Her Majesty will entertain the King of the Belgians during his stay in England at Windsor Castle. The king, it is expected, will land in this country on the 17th instant, at which time the Court will arrive here front Buckingham Palace for the Easter vacation. Shortly after his Majesty's arrival the Princess Royal will be confirmed in the Chapel Royal of St. George. Apartnahnts have been prepared for his Majesty on the south side of the Castle. It is said that Claremont will become one of the roya' resitiences attached to this Court. The King of thy Belgians will remain at the Castle until Monday, the 24th inst. Her Royal highness the Duchess of Kent will con tinue to reside at Frogrnore-lodge until the Cou:t re to rns to Windsor. LIFE PEERAGES.. The following protest has been recorded : DISSENTIENT,- 1. Because the order of reference not having directed any inquiry whether a writ of summons would entitle Lord Wensleydale to sit and vote in this House, the report of the Committee for Privileges purports to decide a question not submitted to them. 2. Because, according to the uniform opinions of the highest legal authorities for above two centuries and a half, the Crown has the prerogative of creating a peer for life, with all the privileges of the hereditary peerage, except that of transmitting his honours to his descen dants. 3. Because the creation of a peerage for life with a limitation in the patent to collateral relatives has been common even in modern times, and no such patent would have been valid if the prerogative contended for did not exist. 4. Because any subject of the Crown who has received a writ of summons to this house is entitled to take his seat according to the exigency of his writ, and there is no principle or precedent warranting the house in refus ing to admit him. CRANWORTH, C., HIRROWBY, SUNDRIDGE, PANAIURE, GRANVILLE. GLENELG, STANLEY Or ALDERLAY, BREADALBINE, LANSDOWNE, SYDNEY. Die Venerie, Feb. 22. THE HEALTH OF MR. BRIGHT, M.P. (Front the Manchester Timm) We are glad to publish the following letter from Mr, Bright, M.P., to the chairman of his election committee: " Rochdale, Marc 3. "My dear Wilson —The writers of newspaper graphs seem prone to exaggeration, and . in that para speaks of my h ea lth, or want of health, I am represented as very mach w,,rse than I really am. " The truth of the matter is this :—For fifteen years I have worked chiefly in public affairs, with very little relaxation, and now I discover that the brain has had too much exercise, and the body too little. I have been to London twice since the opening of the session, but have found myself quite unable to attend tke Rouse of Commons. My nu:dical advisers strongly urge me to give up all attention to business for three months, and to spend the time in seeking relief in a Continental journey. "I need not tell you how unwilling I am to abandon, even for a short time, the performance of my duties in Parliament ; but necessity has no law, and so I submit to what I cannot avoid. My constituents, who, for nearly nine years past, have keen so tolerant of my short-comings, will, I trust, believe that I have not quitted my post without &sufficient cause. I ;lope, when peace is made, and men's minds return to matters of home interest, I may yet be able to rer.J er some slight service to the public. If I cannot trndertake to sustain, by force of arms, the indep eu d e the liberties of Europ e , I ma j work Lee of the Sulta n an d in a humbler sphere to strengthen the liberties and promote the welfare of m y own countrymen. "Yours very sincerely, " JOLIN BRIGET. Geo. Wilson, Esq., Manchester." Count Orloff, encountering Marshal Baraguay liars in the talons of the Tuileries, is said to have ob served haiilingly, "Ah! lL le Marshal it is you, I think, who lately visited our country." "Yes, Count," replied the Marshal, "it is I who had the pleasure of leaving a card at Bomarhund." EASTERN COUNTIRS.—IIe numbers polled for the respective candidates for the directorship will be officially decided to-morrow, but in the meantime we have the best authority for communicating to the public the fact that the result of this contest, which has been carried on with extraordinary zeal on both sides, is a majority in favour of Messes. Waddington, Packs, and Goodson the " shareholdErs'" candidates, Messrs. Helps, Orr, and Walters being left in a minority. THE MAILS, —LIVERPOOL, March 4.—The Quaker City, which arrived here on Sunday in place of the Pacific, the non-arrival of which at New York continues to be the cause of serious alarm, will take her departure hence fer New York to-morrow morning, letters and papers being received at the landing stage up to 7 a.m. The next Australian mail will be taken hence on Fri day by Messrs. Baines and Co.'s file vessel the Champion of the Seas, letters and papers being received up to 3 a.m, TUE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, March 4.—The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Euxine, Cap tain Joy, sailed this afternoon for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria, with the semi-monthly India, China, and Mediterranean mails, 70 passengers, 472, 415 f. In specie, 471,605/, of which is for India, and the remainder for Alexandria, and a full general cargo. Among the pas sengers are the Hon. F. North, Captain Champion, Lieutenant Wanchope ' Captain Anson, Admiral Si r Michael S e y m o ur , a n d Lieutenant G. C. Fowler. The Ave, Captain Field, with the homeward portion of the India, China, and Mediterranean mails, is expected about the 6th inst. The Tagus, Captain Wicks, will con• vey the mails to Vigo, Oporto, Liehon, Cadiz, and Gib raltar, on the 7th l us t, Th e S u l tan, C apta i n E vans, w i th the homeward mails from these ports, is expected to morrow. The Royal Mail Company's steamer Parana, Capt. Baynton, which was due atthis port with the West India, Mexican, and Pacific mails on the Ist Inst. is nut expected for a day or two, in consequence of the delay she experienced on the outward voyage by being com pelled from heavy weather to put into Madeira for coals, which place she did not leave for St. Thomas until the 28th ult., being 11 days from Southampton. RUTLAND ELECTION.—The on. G. H. lleathcote, son of the retiring member, now a peer, was yesterday elected at Oak ham, without opposition, to represent the county of Rutland. He was nominated by Mr.Esgleton, and seconded by Mr. C. 0. Eaton, The new member, in returning thanks, said he wag anxious to promote moderate reforms and retrenchment in the public expen• ditnre. He was a friend to popelar education. As to the ballot, he should oppose it, because he believed it to be un-English in its character. He should always take an interest in the prosperity of agriculture. Mr. Heath cote added that he desired peace, but, considering the magnitude of our preparations for war s he thought we should be foolish to conclude is peace 'which might tot be real and lasting. supposing peace to be delayed, be should not wish to see too great a reduction of onr army, and especially of the A rtillery, which could not be trained in a day. He Neal of opinion that the army had been too ranch reduced before the war. Although he was not so straightlaced as to object to innocent recreation on the Sabbath, yet he was opposed to the opening of museums and other e4hibitions on that day. Three seers were given for theliew member at the conclusion Di ail 131 . - - ' .- ~, -" LATEST NE WS. BERLIN, MARCH 4. On the receipt of a mesage from Count Orloff, that Preliminaries of Peace had been signed, a declaration of approval was this day transmitted, through the telegragh, by the Czar. The Russian Arnba3sador of the Court of Berlin has been informed of this circumstance. The New Prussian, Gazette announces that Rus• sia will allow consulates to all the Powers in the ports of the Black Sea ; that she gives up the idea of the reconstruction of Bornarsund, and that the Western Powers abandon their demand on the subject of Nicolaieff. It also says that France, Austria, and Russia aro agraed on the sth poin MARSEILLES, MARCH 4. The preparations for the embarkation of French troops destined for the East are on a larger scale than has been stated. They contemplate the despatch of 20,000 men. FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. This day there has been a fourth sitting of th Congress. The Legislative Body met to-day at two o'clock, when, after the installation of the bureau, Count de Morny, its President, rose and thus addressed the Assembly : " Gentlemen,—The simple and dignified account of the exalted position of France which you heard yesterday must have flattered your patriotism. Your feeling= of national pride and affection for your country must have been highly gratified. In no virtue has the ;French nation been deficient. It has proved a firm and loyal ally ; it has carried on the war with vigour, patience, di.interestedness, and humanity. It has been at the PBlll9 time calm, industrious, hospitable, and gene. row:. Thus has Franca obtained a moral triumph wioro valuable than that acquired by convests, and gained for herself the sympathies and confidence of the entire world. The result, it must be admitteA, is par ticularly attributable to the union on the Tl:rone of the two most opposite qualities —energy and moderation. Those short and glorious years which have restored France to the first rank among nations will fill an important place in histwy. Yru mainly contributed to that result, vent lemen, for you granted the Emperor an unreserved co-operiton under the most cri• tical circumstances. Let us now hope that the sound judgment and humane feelings of the eminent men charged with the negotia'ions will succeed in removing ajl the difficulties and putting a period to the evils of Europe. Neverthele, , s, confining implicitly on the affec tion and solicitude of ihe Emper-r for his people, and in his care of its dignity ar.d interests, we promise him beforehand, conic what will, that he ma, rein upon usi." The budget laid before the Corps Legislatif shows receipts exceeding by 19,220,000 francs and ex penditure exceeded by 96,770,636 francs the same items in the budget of last year. The excess of receipts i; estimated at 15,417,348 francs. In the expose, it is said that it does not become strong governments or wise financiers to bu 1 l their hopes of the future too high. The surplus may appear small in view of the credits constantly demanded, but the Government hopes to be able to restrict the supplementary credits in future. The Emperor and Empress yesterday received Musurus Bey, the Turkish atnhassagior in L who was presented by Meheined Djarnil Bey, the ambassador of the Ottoman Porte at the Court of the Tuileries. Their Majesties also received the following persons presented by his Excellency L .rd Cowley:—Earl of Warwick, Sir W., Lady, and Miss Curtis, Captain Baillie and Lady Mafia Glendworth, Hon. Mrs. Vesey Dawson, Captain Yelverton, Captain Johnstone, Captain Mulloek, Captain and Mrs. Drummond, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Dennistoun, Mr. Handworth Williamson, Mr. Butler. The Sardinian and Spanish ministers also made several presentations. The Emperor has just given his sanction to the draft of a bill for advancing 100,000,000 francs to agriculturists, to be employed in ; and it has been sent to the Council of State to be exa . mined in order to be submitted to the Legislative body. BOURSE, March 3, Two o'Clock.—Stock was de manded at the opening of the market, but when the Imperial Speech fur the opening of the Legis lative Session was posted up, the Threes declined from 73f. 80c. to 73t. 20c. ; they, however, have since rallied to 73f. 70e. It is said that the Credit Mobilier has employed 72 millions of francs in re ports for the liquidating of the Rento and Railway Shares. Half-past Three,—Prices again declined at the close of the Bourse, T:Lrees being offered at 73f. 20c. The report has boon Very high on railway shares. BounsE, March 4.—The following were the lass quotations : Cash. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents fr. a. 97 - 72 - End of Month -f. -c. 73 45 New Loan Bank Shares 3,450 Roman Credit Mobilior — &ustri:4ll Belgian Fives Spanish 'Mmes..... Piedmoutes,(s) . B9 50 Home Dobt RAILWAYB-/011 CASE( fr. c Orleans ...............1,275 Western—. ........ 870 :qorthezn Lyons . 1,250 New Ditt0......... - Ilediterranoan 1,523 Granl. Central 642 50 Lyons Geneva 755 Testa ..... •A . Cott° BLOCKADE OF THE BALTIC. KIEL, March I.—The linperiense, Capt. It. B. Watson, C. 8., . arrived here about 1 o'clock this morning, the Pylades and Falcon having gone to Elsinore, where they will be followed by the Hai rier and Dragon, while the Euryal us, it is expected, will come here and join the Imperieuse. It is most probable, however, that the Imperieuse will proceed almost immediately towards the Russian coast, that the messures adopted for the main. tenance of the blockade may be carried on under the personal orders of Captain Watson, who has the command of the squadron, and with this view they are now loading the requisite supply of coals, so that no detention may occur. AUSTRIA. The Post Ampt Gazette, under date of Vi enna, says :—" The announcement is confirmed that Count Buol has come to an understand ing with the French Government relative to the Principalities. It is certain that, under any circumstance, an agreement has been come to to continue the occupation of the Principalities by Austrian troops, while those of the Western Powers weal only, after the signature of the treaty of peace, occupy Turkey properly so called. This latter point is not, however, completely settled between the Porte and the Western Powers. The Porte thinks itself able to carry into effect all its pro posed reforms without assistance, and therefore demands that the occupation shall be only for a limited period, say six months, instead of for such an indeterminate period as would result from the expression ' until the reforms shall have beef,. con solidated.' It is doubtful whether the Western Powers will accede to this demand, as they have already, on a former occasion, declared that •their troops should remain for one year from the signing of the treaty of peace." A letter from Vienna, in the German Journal of Frankfort, states that Baron de Mandestrom, who had been the Swedish ambassador at the Court of Austria, is to be replaced there by M. de Mansbach, who formerly held that post. In Voss's Gazette we find a lette; from Vienna, of the 28th ult., which says :—The recruitment of the present year was preceded by a long discussion between the Central Military Chancellorship and the Ministry of the Interior. The first desired that the recruitment should comprise 120,000 men, instead of 60,000, for the reason that in the past year no levy had taken place, whilst the 3d and 4th army had sustained a heavy, loss during their stay in Galicia and in the Bukowina—a less repre senting 2,000 men per month, and which has not yet been replaced. The Minister of the Interior replied that in 1854 two recruitments had taken place, and he proved by statistic tables that a levy of 120,000 men would be very prejudicial to agri culture. The Emperor has approved of the Minis ter of the Interior, and has established the con tingent at 60,000 only. RUSSIA. Now that the information can be of little ad vantage or disadvantage to any one, the Russian journals publish a variety of data connected with the lately raised militia. It will be recollected that the ukases directing the levies of militia re quired that the complement of every druschine should amount to 1,039 men ; it appears that there have been 337 druschines organised in all. If these druschines have all their full complement, they must represent a force of 347,000 men, besides the =rine force organised by the Grand Duke Constantine, The Government of Witepsk rail t d 3 dru , chine,i, \Vladimir, 11, Wologda 9, Woronesch 17, Wrarka 18 (the hugest num ber), Kaltiga 11, Kostroma. 10, Kursk 17, Mo hileff 3, Moscow 12, Nischegorod 11, Novgorod 8, Olonetz 2 (the smallest number), Orenburg 7, Orel 15, Pensa 11, Perm 16, Pultowa 9, Pskoff 6, Riazan 14, Samara 12, St. Petersburg 5, Sara toff 14, Simbirsk 11, Smolensk 11, Tatnboff 17, Tver 14, Tula 11, Tchernigoff 9, Kliarlroff 14, anti- Jar °staff 9. In addition to thf.se the Governments of Tchernigoff, Pultowa, arid Kharkoff had to raise six regiments of militia Cossacks. As the ukases required from 22 to 27 men to be levied for every thousand registered " souls," we can form an ap proxirnative idea of the number of ra,n in Russia capable of bearing arms. A letter from rSt. Petersburg of the 23d ult., in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" Prince Paskiewitch, who has left a fortune of 70 millions of Polish florins (the florin is 60 centimes), has bequeathed it as follows :-30 millions, principally lauded property, to his son Theodore, and 20 millions to each of his daughters, the Princess Wolkonska and the Prin cess Labanon Rotowoska. He has left nothing to his widow, as, in addition to her own private for tune, she will enjoy a pension for her life of 30,000 ,silver roubles as the widow of a governor of Poland." A. letter from Alexandria states that a new negro Emperor has sprung up. Kasa, the brother-in-law of one of the petty kings of Abyssinia, has de throned his relative, and assumed the rank of Em peror with the name of Theodore I. He has offered his friendship and alliance to the Viceroy of Egypt. The Queen of Bavaria is so unwell that the New Prussian Gazette publishes daily bulletins on the state of her health. WEST INDIA MAILS. SOUT II AMPT ON, WEDNESDAY MORNING. By the Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Parana, Captain Bayntum, with the West India and Pacific Mails, we have dates from Jamaica, 7th February ; Demerara, 9th ; Trinidad, 10th ; Barbados,. 12th ; St. Thomas, 17th. The Parana brings 25 passengers, $1,100,000 in specie, and the usual cargo. The Queen, 35 days from Liverpool, arrived at Barbados on the 9th ult. THE GEtrMAN LEGION. HAMBURG, March 2.—lt now appears that our saltpetre and sulphur merchants were needles ly thrown into a state of alarm by the appearance of her Majesty's steamer Prometheus in the Elbe. The panic subsided when it became generally known that she was not sent over to look out for contraband of war, but to carry over recruits for the German Legion to Heligoland. The arrival of the commander and the purser of the ship at Hamburg was connected with the receiving of a large sum of money in specie, the amount of bills _drawn by the commissariat at Heligoland on the Government at home, for the payment of the Ger man Legion, whose pay was in arrear. The de• wand for bills on London is still very great, and the exchange continues to rise. On her first trip to Heligoland the Prometheus took over more than 80 recruits, and as many on her second voyage. A. great many of these have been brought up to different - trades, and a great want of artisans is beginning to be seriously felt in the coast district of Hanover, particularly for the trades of tailors and shoemakers. Last autumn the authorities here gave them selves a deal of trouble to catch some one in the act of recruiting for England, in order to make an example of him. Great suspicion was entertained that the stewards of the steamer Heligoland, which plies regularly between that island and this port, were engaged in enlisting recruits, and their papers were accordingly seized and examined, but without the expected result. The Senate has now pub lished its decrees in, this matter. Messrs. Diesel d.orf and Co., the shipbrokers of the steamers, are fined 200 dollars, "nut from their implication being proved, but because there is reason to sup pose that they must have reaped some pecuniary advantage from it." Mr. Sieger, the chief steward, is fined 150 dollars for the same reason, and the second steward 100 dollars, besides which several other persons connected with the steamer, or in employ of the owners, Messrs. Godeffroy, are fined in different sums of from 25 to 100 dollars each. ARRIVAL OF THE JA TES BAIiVES. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. The Black Ball Royal mail-ship Jams Baines, Capt. Chas. M•Donnell, arrived in the Mersey at an early hear this morning-. She left Melbourne on the 28th of Nov. Tier news has already appearvd. She had on board 26 saloon and 210 second cabin and intermediate pas sengers' and 90,617 ounces of g old. bi er cargo consisted of 2,123 bales of wool, 3,703 bags of cop per ore, 24 bags of tin ore, 64 casks of t a ll ow , an d 198 packages of mer4iandise. She encountered on her voyage a perpetual suc cession of calms and head winds throughout. On the 25th of I)._c. she passed the Mokarch, from Melbourne to COrk, lat. 57 S, long. 71 W. ; Jan. 31, the Lord Althorp, Callao to Liverpool, 90 day's our, lat. 3S, long, 39 W. ; Feb. 11, tho French barque Eagle, Guayaquil to Birdeaux, lat. 24 13 N., long. 46 20 W., 105 day:. out ; and Feb. 12, the Brazilian barque Etrielle, Rio Janeir) to Lis bon, 33 days out, lat. 24 34 N., long. 47 10 W. MARKET NE WS.—(This Day.) CORN EXCHANGE. The snpply of English wheat in t•-day's market was chiefly the refuse of I'llouday, and in but middling condi tion. The trade was in a most inactive state, at that day's decline in the quotations. In foreign wheat so little was doing that prices were almost nominal. Inferior samples might have been pur chased on lower terms. Barley was held at late rates. Malt was exceedingly depre:sed. The oat trade was heavy, and prices were with difficulty supported. Beans, peas, and flour were exceedingly heavy. ARKIVAIA nits WHills. Wheat, Barley. I 41alt. Oata. 1 ow L n eish .. • . 1,480 2,390 3.167 1 te 24 - • 1 1,120 Irish •• •• 6 ,53) ) Foreign 1 1 , 6,240 i 1,050 1 4850 , r1% 1 60 : t, BOROUGH HOP. There is only a moderate business doing in our market Prices, however, rule the same as on Monday. WHITECUAPEL. The trade generally ruled v inactive, as follows :—Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s 2d ; mutton, 3s to 4s td ; veal, 4s Od to bs Oki ; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 8d per Blbs by the carcase. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) borrpoN, March 4.--Wind this :fay at noon, Westerly; light airs and dull hazy weather. PORTSMOUTH, March 4.—Wind N.E. PLYMOUTH, March 3.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Victoria (5..), from Southampton, for Melbourne. • SCILLY, March 3.—Wind E.—Arrived—Charles Ward, from New Orleans, for Havre ; Gravina, Batavia, for Am sterdam. OFF PILL, March 4.—Maria, .from Demerara. DUNGLOW, March 3.—The City of Worcester (i.e.), of Glasgow, from Westport., for Liverpool, went ashore on the 28th Feb., during foggy weather; crew saved. (PER ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH., SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday Morning. Arrived—Ondine (s.) , fr om Londo n; Bello, HaAle pool ; Leader, Jersey. Sailed—Norden, for Constantinople; South-Western, ), Jersey ; Candle tpt ), Black Sea. LIVERPOOL, Wednesday Morning. Wind N.N.E. • Arrived —Ayrshire Lass and Falcon, from Alexandria ; Agenoria, St. John's, N,B. Sailed—Governor Baron de Vriere, for Ostend ; Wood cock, Hambu g ; Rival, Ceylon ; John €karrow, New Or leans ; Josephine, Malta. QUE ENS TOWN, MARCH 3. Wind E.S.E. Arrived—Tiberias, from Mauritius. WATERFORD, March 3. Wind E.S.E. Arrived—Hannah, from Rotterdam. BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISII TELEGRAt'4.t DEAL, Wednesday, 9.25 a.m. Wind N.W., light airs. Passed—Reliance, from London, for Algoa Bay. Sailed—Hydaspes, for Invergorclon ; Achilles, Aber deen ; Olive, for Leith ; Lucy, Elsinore, with most of the homeward bound. SUICIDE.-,-Dixon, the officer in whose hands the war. rant obtained by the South-Western Railway Company, en the application of Mr. Ballantine, against Mr. Wm. Dunn, of Staines, for fraud in riding by their carriages with an exhausted ticket, was placed, reported to Mr Elliott, at Lambeth police-office, that he went to the Old Royal Baths, in Newgate-street, and there found the body of the defendant. From what he learned there it appeared that the unfortunate roan called at the baths about 9 o'clock on Saturday night, and requested that a private bath might be propEred fur him. This was dune, and nothing more was beard or seen of him until ten o'clock at night when he was found lying in a reclining position in the bath, with his head and chest out of the water, and life perfectly extinct. His gold watch, gold spectacles, two rings, and a small sum of money were found on the table, and, from documents found in his pockets, there could be but very little doubt that the unfortunate gentleman committed suicide. Ono letter from a legal firm threatened that unless a sum exceeding 3,0001. was immediately paid proceedings would be taken against him. He bad further learnt that the de ceased had left eight children, one of whom is in the Bluecoat School. Spiril of the Public Journals. ( From the Times of this day.) An old proverb says, with more force than ele gance, than you cannot make a silk purse out of A sow's ear. No doubt, that is no easy task, but it would be still more difficult, in our opinion, to make a sow's ear out of a silk purse. We shall not say which 'of the materials thus compared applies most to the question before us, but it is evident the great difficulty that stares us reformers con tinually in the face is the utter intractability of the natural material. Whatever it is you have to make in this country you always have certain articles put into your baud to make up as well as you can. Mr. Bull deals with his lawmakers much as his econo mical spouse does with her dressmaker. She goes to half-a-dozen shops, and buys a piece of silk and the requisite quantities of trimming, lining, braid ing, sewing silk, buttons, and the rest, and takes them to her dressmaker, whom she expects to assi milate the discordant elements into an effective dress, in spite of her protest that there is not enough of this, or of that, that the colours do not match, or the whole will be a failure. The task is much the same in the manufacture of any one of our institutions. Passing by the rest, we will go at once to the army. In this instance you have your man of wealth, your man of rank, your cour tier, your favourite at the Horse Guards, a nd here and there a man w ith a gen i us f or hi s profess i on -- you have you r c l o dh opper, your mechanic, your snobb, all to be worked up into a good army. NO' thing is to be done but to make them all keep their places as well as you can, to keep the ploughman always worshipping the gentleman, to give the rich man something for his money, to make the upstart know his place, and to go into action, if not a g ood army, in the scientific sense of the word, at least perfect specimen of the British community. Yes' They were no vulgar hirelings, no mere professional infantry and cavalry, that the Russians saw in the Crimea ; they were rather portions of English society—a piece of Norfolk, or Dorsetshire, or Yorkshire, as it might be. Nor is it at all certain that anything else could be made out of them than is now made. It is a Chinese puzzle, in which the parts remain respectively unchanged, though com bined into some sort of unity. How far the pre sence of discordant materials, their obstinate in congruity, the perpetual by-play of the parts, and the episode which every class of the army expects to perform during the drama of war, contribute to the efficiency of the weapon, considered as a whole, may reasonably he doubted ; but it is not owl combatant that has the choice of his weapon, and we certainly have not the choice of ours. That, indeed, aas the prevailing sentiment last night. In the House of Commons all the materials of the British commonweal are duly represented, and full justice was done to all. Even though the speakers argued pro and con. in the old approved fashion, yet they met one another half-way, in the spirit of mutual accommodation. They are all agreed in admiring a theoretical army, in which merit should be the rule of promotion ; but even the theorists only asked for inquiry, and the defen ders of things as they are prefaced their speeches uniformly with the confession of Ovid's frail beautY —that they saw the better course and preferred it, but actually followed the worse. There was always the sane reply—that, talk as men might of French equality, Prussian science, and Austrian discipliner you could not do it in this country, and there was an end of it. In Fran ce every b o d y f anc i es hi ms ell , an embryo Marshal, everybody is jealous of every body else, everybody lights his cigar from every body else's cigar, everybody flirts with the regi mental cantiniere, and takes his turn at her eau de vie ' • so, of course, th ere it i s no great shoc k to anybody's feelings when the private finds himself the fellow-officer of his lieutenant. He was familiar enough before the change, and he is not much more familiar now. They neither of them possess much fortune, and if one of them has money and the other has not, the capitalist is content to save' and does not quarrel with a general rate of living which permits him to do so. To be sure, promo: tion is mighty slow. The officers of the Grano' Army hug their pay unto death, be it five frank a day or five-and-twenty ; an d th e i r j un i ors , it they chance to have money, cast an envious eye on,, the rapid promotion of tbeyoung British " milord& Not but what this envy has its revenge when some French colonel at 30 meets a British celebrity oil an important service, and, to his surprise, finds haul a mere captain, or less, at 40 or more. On these occasions the explantion is that the officer is 014 in the Engineers, ur the Artillery, which, of course, is satisfactory to the intelligence and justice of a Frenchman. He sees the matter with French eyes, and we with English eyes. Even among our selves there is some diversity of vision on the SOY' ject. A man with neither money, nor friends, n or anything, except a lit tie professional knowledge, is not always content to see his youngers leap over his head, without the opportunity of taking hi s turn over theirs. It is a perpetual game of leap frog, without its rotation. But, then, says that most exemplary defender of all established institu tions, good, bad, and indifferent, Mr. F. Peel, even the poor man g e t s his indirect benefit. The wealthy ones buy and sell. As soon as they are tired of the army, or want some ready money, they sell out, and there is a general move upwards, in which even the poor man may possibly get a step. You have thus, too, a perpetual succession of young officers. On a former occasion we have observe' that this recommendation unfortunately fails jus t at the point where it would be most important., There is no great harm i n having our regimental officers men of ma ure years, or, at all events, A little above the av erage age dours. Nay, it is rather absurd to find in a whole mess not an office! who has smelt powder, except at a review. It is in the higher ranks, in the command, that we occa sionally want a little youthful energy, enterprise , invention, and fire. But that is just the plac e where purchase, with its rapid promotion, leaves us in the lurch, and the leaden rule of seniority comes in. So there, at the very point, falls to the ground the chief argument for the present systeni• But it has occasionally happened that a jealous rule of exclusion has lost all its force, not by as sault from without, but by the very number of its defenders. In these days money is a test o f con tinually decreasing; severity. Fo r one man Wile could pay a round sum for his commission twenty years ago three can do it now. Even twenty yeats ago the eons of wealthy tradesmen found their will into the army, and even into crack regiments' Men whose fathers had trades of a rather grotesque, character, and whom it was impossible to divest 0 1 ridiculous associations, if they bad tolerable names, and had gone through the ordeal of a public sc hool and college, were admitted into the Guards, and by force of money jumped over the heads of needy lords. This is an increasing class, for there is scarcely a man with his 5,0001. a-year who w ould riot like to have at least one son in the army. What is to be done, then, when the class becomes nu merous ? The only course is that which Sir De Lacy- Evans spoke of in his reply last night. We want a competition among the young millionaires themselves. When the wealthy cotton-spinner, and the wealthy tobaccanist, and the wealthy rail way speculator, and the wealthy shipowner, and the wealthy upholsterer have all asked for commis' sions for their sons, with money in their hands, let the preference be given to the one who shows some knowledge of the profession he professes to choose. We have no objection to wealthy officers, still less to young lords. But of the class, cceteris paribus, as they say at the Universities, we prefer a wealth,' soldier to a wealthy fool. Cannot we have some security that, even without the extinction of the system of purchase, and without having to buy for the nation every bought commission in the artnYt the best man will still step into the vacancy, in whatever rank ? We will not do so great a &Is' honour to our country as to suppose that this in wholly out of the question. 73 - FASTING IN THE AUSTRIAN ARMY• Voss's Gazette publishes a remarkable document —a general order by the Commander-in-Chief 01 the Austrian army, giving directions for the obser vance of the fasts of the church by the troops of the empire. This innovation is another result of the Concordat. The Commander-in-Chief says that the rules are promulgated at the instance of the Victor Apostolic. The first regulation forbids the generals, superior officers, and members of the gene ral staff to eat meat on Fridays, and the last three days of the Holy Week. The second extends the same prohibition to the men from the serjeant major downwards ; the third bids officers and men observe the ordinances of the church as to their diet on saints' days ; the fourth enjoins attendance on the Easter confession. In the fifth it is int!' mated that the venerable bishop expects the grati tude of the faithful for the indulgence he has shown in these Lenten regulations, and hopes it will be rewarded by their frequent attendance at divine service and confession. Voss says that this order has produced the greatest sensation in the arniY, which has never before received orders respecting the observance of Lent in this form. It is said to be the intention of the Austrian Government to introduce the use of certificate of confession in i ° the army, and each officer will have to show that he has confessed at least once in six weeks. UNITY 13ANK.—Tha subscribers to the Unity Bank have completed the requisite payment of 50 per cent. 0 its capital of 300,0001., and it is stated that immediately on the receipt of the cbarter from the Baard of Trade, whi , .th is expected in the course of the present month, the bank will commence operations. ..._ v tim e . the 1 OIViD unsot Cot faYoul The ani for thr ou , their 1 ture a keetir tures. It h th e Pr konop For th W as ap tePort Itbandc For( Per C Wan I 43k, AYres Ilend a the De The r itoeks Cents. 3 ,ler ( k;ertifi VOr the q i Latica! *r at 4 4,0 t Affin The 4 PPoin the Ei ISaiT a yak 6 . Pe r tiler 3 Long A 7 ' bltti hitt, India, 1 Ditty elns4,l DI zixthei Zac - i NW, 41, 0 ,; %yak Gu n , and 25, 3