The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-02 00:00:00

ward move- Danube op raising bat ents. Con- Aed in case 4 the river. he mouth of gun-boats. la. It was r his head- nia says : 7 -- more COlll3l - to were in the r wounded• unded, and acers of the he news ap- L who cow ands he re- 3s that the 1 Wallachia ties 36 per in JanuarY 3r. expressions is offerings Thus the kre thanked horses, and offering of 0 horses as e ordinary ' , vital (the s requested d staff and imp gratui ; and for im a public ed Mir-Ali nds of the 400 silver on-commis rounded in Frontiers of invited to of Foreign rednesday), the inter- Lhuys was French Go ns required )ady, it Is of the =- lade up his passports. not take his t is under is Russian an families passports never, goes ar arrange lat capital. light. M. n in Paris ke chancel yesterday, demanding is said be will at the substance, ro Powers 3en Russia to receive co-opera isions. The f the fleets Ottoman attacks of )rs at St. Istructions d, that the be read to xpressions su Am bas acts of the fficial lan the Cara lespatch es vhich will ving taken L Parisyes nprobable, the kind he follow rt of Eng- the official L question. the Eng nderstand- ut it does speech is thing that as calm as s of teme s not eon )r govern are is, by and mill- I not allow ion of the struggle, sults from ndon as at ied. The up to the of seeing efinitively union of , a union and of he Black )e a noble .311 history political by cause eir efforts in Europe t alliance solutions peril for ach more kberdeen (pressing ent time Turkey uccessful he nego nay still Lich we at it ex :rnment. which I, would ain from lurselves in the that the no ann ..: Black a reply. sia. 4 lf be made France Russia h most )t have etween re dare it last ▪ The -unow, a, the ommu- cal ex- Et from 3s into M. de that cations there ,ve al w was let, of Le was meted f the chiefly occupied with the settlement of the last"` month's account, which has been a heavy one for 1 the 4 , bulls." The Three per Cents: opened at tkBf. 75c., fell to 68f. 20c., and closed at 68f. 30c. for the end of the month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 97f. 40c. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,030 f. ; Rouen, 927 f. 50c. ; Havre, 427 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 735 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 708 f. 75c. ; ditto, New, 560 f. ; Western of France, 565 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 532 f. 50 c. ; Gr eat Central, 435 f. ; Lyons and Geneva, 435 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobilier, 625 f. ITALY. The question of the corn supplies is exciting much attention at Turin. The reports from the provinces attest the sufferings of the population, from the scarcity induced by the succession of bad harvests, and from the unusually prolonged severity of the winter. On the other hand, the easier classes have come forward very liberally to the assistance of their poorer brethren, and charitable committees of various kinds have sprung up in all parts of the country; and hitherto their, managers have baffled the attempts of both the extreme parties to convert the scarcity into an engine against the constitu tional Government. The bill abolishing all duties on corn, which Passed the Chamber of Deputies, is, now under the consideration of the Senate, and there is no doubt of its principle being adopted by it. Professor Scialoia, the well-known political economist, has just published an excellent pamphlet intended to popularise the question of free trade, and to prove that absolute dearth is not to be apprehended in this country, and that the actual sufferings un doubtedly" experienced by the population are not to be attributed to the Government, but would, in fact, be much more severe but for the free-trade rneasures already taken. If these sufferings have been temporarily increased by the inclemency of the winter, there is every prospect of their being alleviated, if not removed, by a good harvest, which may almost be considered as secured by the long-continued snow. As the chances of war increase, the state of pub he feeling in Lombardy becomes naturally more excited, and the police more sensitive. The most simple actions are viewed by the latter as political demonstrations. But a few days ago a crowd was admiring the beauty of the young moon at the Porta Vercellina. Now, as our readers may be aware, the moon assumes at certain periods the form of a crescent ; the crescent is the Ottoman symbol ; what, then, more clear than that the collection of an adiriiring crowd was a demonstra tion of sympathy for the Porte, or more natural than that several of the gazers hould be arrested, as they were ? The Roman papers are full of the illumination of the Eternal City by gas, and quote it as a proof of the progress of civilisation under the Papal Go vernment ; but they forgot to mention that this very tardy improvement has been only effected in spite of this said Government, at the bidding of General Allouveau de Montreal, the French com blander, who declared that the safety of his troops required that the streets of Rome should be so lighted. We read in the Parlament°, of the 29th ult., that a great concentration of Austrian troops is going on in the Romagna, particularly at Bologna, Ancona, and Ferrara. SPAIN. The Clamor Public° of the 29th says that the government was thinking of permitting the impor tation of paper for newspapers and books, as the paper manufactories at present in Spain are so few that the .paOr makers impose on the public a bad Material at a high price. The government was about to send a commission to Galicia to inquire into the distress of that province, and to propose remedies for it. The Gazette announces that General Sir Robert Gardiner, Governor of Gibraltar, has given 100/, sterling to the principality of San Roque, for dis tribution amongst the labouring population of the neighbourhood. The Queen has ordered that thanks shall be presented in her name to the go vernor for his generous gift, and at the same time it shall be mentioned in the official journal. The Duke of Parma had left Madrid for Barce lona, on his return to Italy. The Queen was, on the evening of the 29th, to preside at a Council of Ministers. The choice of a new minister for grace and justice had not yet been made. General Francisco Armero was to leave on the evening of the 29th for Leon, the residence as signed him by the Government. Gen. Marquis del D'uero was to embark at Cadiz for the Canary Islands, where he has been ordered to reside. Gen. Infante and General Jose de la Concha have left Barcelona for the Balearic islands ; and General Manuel de la Concha is still at Cordova. It was rumoured that the two Generals de la Concha had sent their commissions to the Govern bleat, and had demanded to be struck out of the army list. There was talk of some changes in the personnel of the Governors of Provinces. A. decree organising the municipal guard on the plan of that of Paris and Lisbon was expected. Increasing danger menaces, if not monarchical institutions in that country, at least the authority 0 1 the lady who is the present unpopular occupant of the throne. Every account, private as well as Public, only confirms the anticipation that some important events are imminent in that country, and the approach of the peril, which had been for a lon g time looming in the distance, is now clearly observable to all. The stupid audacity with which the Ministers to whom the destinies of that country are now intrusted attempt to crush all opposition to the misdeeds of the Government, and all cen sure of the profligacy of the Court shows to what degradation this people, noble with all their defects, Will submit. Generals and statesmen, to whose valour in the field the Princess who rules the country which the first Isabella rendered famous by her talents and her virtues owes the crown she Wears, are driven into exile, according to the strict letter of military law, no doubt, and therefore legally; but, in reality, because their presence in the Legislative Chamber disturbed the luxurious re pose of a wretched favourite, or checked the wan tonness which has long thrown off all restraint— Which no longer pays the poor tribute of hypocrisy to virtue, and forgets even the prudence of the maxim, sz, non caste, caute tamen. The people, and not the lower classes exclusively, are becoming, not disgusted, for that they have long been, but impatient and irritated under the debasing Yoke of an effete favourite, who has not even the poor virtue of generosity to diminish the hatred with which he is regarded ; and they execrate alike the unworthy minion as they do the Ministry who hold office by the ignominious tenure of his protection. Symptoms of the great discontent of the Spanish people appear each day in spite of the exertions of the Government. The question of a union between the two Crowns of the Peninsula has become the great question of the day in Madrid, and in other principal towns, among the multitude. The union of Spain and Portugal under a Prince of the house of Braganza, With the title of Emperor, and the two countries assuming some corporate name in order to avoid giving offence or wounding the just susceptibilities of the Portuguese people, to whom the idea of ab sorption is justly repugnant, is seriously contem plated in Spain. The more enlightened members of the Opposition, thoroughly appreciating the difficulties of an immediate union of the two coun tries, and convinced that Eng land would oppose it, desire for the present a Portuguese Prince—that is, that the present King should be King of Spain, treviously abdicating the Crow n of Portu gal in tavour of his brother. These things are no longer Whispered in secret, or,hinted at in particular cir- Ves-or coteries; they are debated openly, and the idea is so deeply rooted, that its realisation is re garded merely as a question of time. The truth is, that the Spanish people desire to get rid of the BoUrbons. They earnestly desire to prevent French influence from being re-esta blished, and therefore are anxious that Eng -I,aud s hould give its aid in securing to them a -erince of the House of Braganza. They are aware of the unwillingness of Er gland to give any cause of offence to France, whose co-operation is so Useful in the present state of European politics, and they regret the loss of her antagonism in Spanish affairs ; and the " Liberals" imagine that there is a Prospect of Eland allowing Spain to become thus a mere French province. At the present moment none of the members of the Opposition who have taken any decided part in Public affairs venture to pass the night at their homes. They are obliged to change their residence frequently, and find shelter in the houses of their friends. The excitement and uneasiness that now exist in Madrid, not merely among the lower, but among the upper and educated classes, have at no form er period been greater. The lower classes of the capital are still, as they have been for years, almost all Esparteristas. The rural population to a considerable extent are Carlists. These do not trouble themselves much about political parties at Present, but they seem to be unanimous in their Preference of a male to a female Sovereign. It is to be feared that the habits which have been already noticed are not the only ones that disgrace the Spanish Court. Another species of excitement is by the people believed to exist, and other irregu larities are publicly spoken of. The Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, notwith- s ending their affability and the immense good they do in Seville, where, personally, they are popular, and deserve to be, do not appear to have gained a VaitY is/ that place. The Andaluaians have their r. ~. ~~ ~~~ THE SUN, L0.111:YON, TIIURSDAYmEVEINCr, FEBRUARY 2, 1854. SHARE MARKETS.-(TELS DAY), BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices yesterday. Basitteasdona this day. 194 - 20 4t 3 5 - - 48 8 - 9 13 11 di 15 - 17 6. 5..11 92 -- 91 51 -- 54 14i -- 15 14 -- 15 43 - 45 7i - 8i 4i - 4;4 14 - 33 - 42 24 - 28 61 - 63 60 62 ~ - .. 20 - 22 824 - 83 59 - 61 127 - 128 99 - 101 80 gill 89 93 1 11 —l3 p 62 62A 71 7gal 12 - 13 7f par -- 3 p 95 -- U 6 101 -- 101 3 / 4 pan! • d P . . 76 78 124 -114 d, 10 -- 9 d 21 - 22 6O -- 611 33 35 53 55 d— par 6 —5 d - 3 6 8 44 46 31 38 di 30h —31 h 8 10 1 - 24 6 - 72 50 ... 5;3 6 • 5i i 8 - 8 34 - 36 89 - 91 54 - 56 55 - 6U 55 - 60 3 -2i ii4l 13 - 15 10 - 12 -- 4:1 14 16 59 60 314 323 4 2 d 4 5 ••• - ••• 28 - 31 2i 21 14 - 25. 5i - 25 - 27 6 - 7 62 63 9} - Cid 446 45 511 i 13 i G2l i 3i 124 i 7 1 i in 96 xd 21i 60i 1i 11 a d 1 10 1 1 25 100 100 20 20 50 20 25 Agua Fria ...... Anglo Austrin. Gold 'Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd.Dßchy of) Blmnarvon Iron and Coal . , all 13.5 24i British Anstrin. Gold' British Iron Brazilianlmp.(issue - d at £5 pm _ _ Do. Cocaes & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carsons's Creek Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper Min. of Eng Do. Pref. 7} p. cent English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co General Gt.NuggetVeinSerp Do. Registered....., Great Polgooth Lake Bathurst Liberty Linares bond. &Californ. Gold Quartz Crush. C 0... Mariquita Meximn&S.Amerien. New Granada .. New Linares Mining and Smelting C 0.... Nouveau Monde Pontgiband Silye] Lead MM. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Rhymney Iron Do. New all all 15 11i all - a d ... par P Ap 4 d 2 -- 2A d d 9 11 i d - 9 5 6 29 — 31 i A d 44 46 Par — iP 1 . 4 1•4 60 79 4 6 p 2 - 21 14 -16 id. par if lf A - [0 .. 11 d 61 —6i 1 d Santiago de Cuba...., South Australian.... Tin Croft United Mexican Waller West Granada all all all all 12a.' %Vest Mariposa Worthing Mining o . Australia Yuba.. ... -- ... Par t4l) id par p 28 30xd 8 10 4 5 Ad 4i 5i 3 6 d g - di i i dl JOINT-STOO: Australasia British Colonial Rank BANKS. 75 - 77 and Loan company British N. American chrta. Bnk.of India, Austral., and China Chrtd. Bnk. of Asia Colonial Commercial of Lond English Scottish and Australian Chrtd London Chrtd. Bnk of Australia ... dis 1 idis 2 21, d 20 10 20 35 London and County' London Joint Stock Lond.andWestminst National Provincial of England Do. New 10 22. all all !National of Ireland New South Wales Oriental Bank Cor poration Provincial of Ireland Do. New 43 - 45 43 - 45 Royal Australis. Bkg. and Gold Imp. Co South Australia Union of Australia Do. New Union of London Union of Madrid 66 - 68 6i - 7 ••• "-- • A 39 ad 2i I 37 MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITIS/I CORN For the Week ended Feb. 2, 1854, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wale , per Imperial Quarter. WHEAT. BARLEY.' OATS. ITS. I BEANS. PEAS. 83s 31 43s Od I 27s Id 151 s 41 I 48s 01 52s 5d THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGE. WHEAT. 1 BARLEY. OATS. RTE. BEANS, I PEAS. 77s 3d I 4ls Id 26s Id 48s 5d 47s 6d 50s lid DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. WHEAT. I BARLEY. • I OATS. BYE. I BEANS. I PEAS. IS 04 is Od Is Od Is Od Is Od Is Od QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, 77,067; Barley, 111,927; Oats, 25,521 ; Rye, 123 ; Beans, 6,419; Peas, 2,203 quarters, HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 31 Os to 51 5s ; clover ditto, .4/ Os to 6/ 6s; and straw, 11 16s to 21 4s per load. A full average supply, and a sluggish demand. CIIMBERLAND. — Meadow hay, 31 3s to 5/ 8s ; clover ditto, 4/ N to 6/ Os; and straw, 1/ 18s to 21 5s per load. Supply moderate, and trade firm. WarrEcHAFEL. — Meadow hay, 2118 s to 5l ss; clover ditto, 410 s to 6/ lOs ; and straw, 11 16s to 213 s per load Trade dull. IRMAMENT OF MAIL STEAMERS. Tie Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and the Master-General and Board of Ordnance having decided that a mixed committee of officers, con sisting of Colonel Colquhoun, R.A., inspector of tha royal carriage department ; Commander Jer ningham, R.N., and Mr. Henry Chatfield, should assamble to consider how far it may be possible to carry into effect a plan for arming the contract mail packet steamers, and to report whether the terms of their contract have been observed by the several companies as regards the preparation of their vessels for war purposes, have reported as follows : Sir,--In pursuance of instructions received by us from the Honourable Boards of Admiralty and Ordnance to consider the question of arming mail contract steam packets, on an emergency, for purposes of war, we have the honour to report to you that our attention has been directed in the .first instance (as proposed in our letter of the Bth of June last) to the Peninsular and Oriental and the Royal West India Mail Packet Com panies. We find that the total number of vessels possessed by these companies amount to 53, whose aggregate tonnage and horse-power are as follows : Peninsular and Oriental Company.—Vessels—wood, 11 ; iron, 22 ; total, 33. Tonnage—wood, 12,800 ; iron, 26,449 ; total, 39,249. Horse power— wood, 4,086 ; iron, 7,481 ; total, 11,567. Royal West India Mail Packet Company.—Vessels— wood, 19 ; iron, 1 : total, 20. Tonnage—wood, 32,612 ; iron, 2,720 ; total, 35,332. Horse power—wood, 8,750; iron, 800 ; total, 9,550. Total.—Vessels, 53; tonnage, 74,581 ; horse power, 21,117. Net any of these vessels would, in our opinion, be come efficient substitutes for regular men•pf--war. Some of them might be made auxiliary to war pur poses ; constituting, as it were, part of a naval militia, under a very pressing necessity, for home service, but we should think them better calculated for armed packets and armed troop-ships. Out of 53 vessels, including wood and iron, only 16 are employed between Southampton and foreign ports ; 23 are employed intercolonially ; 6 are under repair ; 8 building ; and five on an average in port at a time fit for sea. Two out of the five are vessels of inferior cha racter, employed in the Peninsular service. Out of the sixteen vessels plying between Southamp ton and foreign ports five are of iron (Madrid, Ripon, Sultan, Bombay, Madras), and three (Jupiter, Iberia, and Tagus) are considered incapable of carrying an efficient armament, being much inferior in tonnage and horse-power to the vessels generally of the two com panies, and having raised poops and forecastles with other obstructions to carrying and fighting guns. There remain, therefore, only eight (wooden) vessels out of the sixteen which we consider capable of being efficiently fitted to receive an armament for- war pur poses on an emergency ; and that number would become gradually available as they return home, in succession, within periods varying from three to nine weeks. But here we would remark, that if any of these vessels were taken up by the Government, the mail packet compa nies might experience great difficulty in replacing them, more particularly since Government would be first in the market, and there would be a great demand for ships to afford the earliest means of communicating the news of hostilities, or of reinforcing the colonies with men and stores. . The remaining 37, with the exception of those building and under repair (which in the month of June amounted to 14), are employed intercolonially, or otherwise per manently employed. At this period of our report we think it right to invite attention to the fact that there are no less than 22 out of 33 vessels belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Company of iron. These 22 vessels have all been built since 1843, to the exclusion of wooden vessels, with the exception of only two, now building, of 910 tons each. Had we considered the iron vessels in other respects suitable for men-of-war, we should have hesitated to recommend them for that service, on account of the ma terials of which they are built. _ We do not consider that we are called upon to express an opinion as to the fitness of iron vessels for war pur poses ; at the same time, the question as to the propriety of using that material in the construction of armed mail steam-packets will become important when we shall have to report upon the "General Screw Steam Ship ping Company," which will shortly possess eight vessels of 1,800 tons each, the whole of which will be of iron. Our opinion of the qualities of the packets generally belonging to the two companies now under considera tion, and of their fitness to be armed for purposes of war, is derived from a personal inspection of the fol lowing vessels (twenty-one in number), as they have severally returned to the port of Southampton, which we think may be considered to afford the means by which we may fairly judge of those at present abroad : Tons. Horse Power. Parana 2,943 800 Orinoco 2,900 800 Bentinck 1,974 520 Severn Names. Jupiter 543 210 Avon l,BBO 440 Conway Teviot ___ Madras Sultan Thames . 1,889 400 Names. Tons. Horsep ower. Formosa Magdalena La Plata Tay Tagus Iberia Clyde 1,841 430 Bombay Euxine 1,165 400 Ripon Our opinion is, that the ships of these companies can never be regarded as efficient substitutes for regular men-of--war; and that opinion is based on the following considerations : First. Their sharp form of bow to promote speed, continued upwards as it is to the height of the port-sills renders it impossible to point and elevate guns in the line of keel. Secondly. Their rake of stern would render it dange rous to fire a gun when elevated, more particularly when trained from a fore and aft line. Thirdly. These vessels having been designed entirely for steam propul , - . 01 and passenger accommodation, all other purposes have been made subservient to those ends. Hence we find that they are greatly under-masted ; that they have a height between decks unnecessary for men of-war ; that they appropriate more than the space usually allowed for engine room and the stowage of coal in her Majesty's ships ; and the consumption of fuel on board these vessels, say Parna class, amounting to about 80 tons of coal per diem, would become agrave question with the Government when estimated at per gun, considering how few guns it is proposed to place on beard these vessels in relation to their tonnage in comparison with regular men-of-war. We find, too, that no attention has been paid to the importance that should be attached to the exposure of the engines, boilers, and steam chest to shot, which, though in some degree unavoidable in all paddle-wheel steamers, appears to exist in these vessels to a most dangerous extent. Further, the paddle-wheels are usually of enormous size and weight, rendering them very vulnerable, and presenting a great impediment when under sail. That none of them carry paddle-box boats, and that if these were fitted in so elevated a position it would cause the vessel to roll deeply and labour in heavy weather, and that the height and space for saloon and cabin accommo dation is quite disproportionate to the requirements of a man-of-war. We are apprehensive, from what we can learn of th e qualifications of these vessels, that the stability of some of them, after a certain consumption of coal, is already very questionable, and •that increased masts and yards, with the addition of an armament, would render them still more deficient in that important property. To correct so serious an evil it would be necessary to introduce ballast, and to diminish proportionably the stowage of coal. We may also observe that the additional weight to the armament, masts, yards, rigging, water, stores, pro visions, &c., would increase the displacement, and im merse the paddle-wheels so as to affect the speed, unless a still further reduction were made in the quantity of coal to lighten the ship. . A total change in the internal economy of the ship would result from these circumstances, and it is doubt ful, after all, whether the ship would have capacity to receive and displacement to sustain the armament, water, provisions, and stores required to be supplied to her Majesty's ship for a given period. It appears to the committee to be desirable, should the Lords Commissioners approve of a provision for armament being made, that a clause in future contracts be introduced to that effect ; and we also consider it to be important that another clause should be inserted, requiring that vessels which have been prepared for the armament under the authority of the Admiralty, with the right of pre-emption on such terms as the Lords Commissioners may think fit to agree to. To make the,whole of the necessary alterations now would incur an enormous outlay, without making those vessels after all, in our opinion, efficient men-of-war ; that is to say, we should not think them competent to cope with an enemy of equal rating or tonnage, and consequently that arming these vessels and calling them vessels of war might involve the credit of the British flag, if subjected to any reverse, by affording a pretext for superior skill on the part of an enemy where tonnage and horse-power would be taken as a comparison of force, and their inefficiencies as men-of-war would not appear to be the real cause. 10. After taking a deliberate view of the whole ques tion submitted to us, we have arrived at the conclusion that the ships referred to, provided they could be spared, would serve the purposes of armed troop ships, and might occasionally be used, in the event of war, in our colonies abroad. That for this purpose, and to enable them to perform their duty as packets, they should be prepared to be armed with guns of sufficient calibre for self defence. To provide for this, we do not think it proper that an emergency should be waited for, but would propose that they be fitted as opportunities occur while under repair for the armament hereafter mentioned, and be pierced with as many ports (including the cargo ports) as would admit of working the whole of the broadside guns on either side. Further, that a magazine and shell-room of sufficient capacity be provided, and that these be arranged so as to suit the ordinary service of the 04. Our view of an emergency is, that it would be a case of sudden and immediate effort in which time could not be spared, and that any work required to be performed would not be either so well or so economically executed as when it could be more leisurely attended to. Nor could we recommend reliance being placed on private yards to despatch, at such a time, work to which they had been accustomed, though by proper direction on the part of Government no difficulties at other times would be experienced. In considering the number and nature of guns which these vessels should carry, we have deemed it important to select ordnance of such calibre as are commonly used in her Majesty's navy, confining ourselves to one class of 8-inch and 32-pounder guns to facilitate the supplies of ammunition from her Majesty's ships and arsenals on foreign stations ; and we have adhered, as far as prac ticable, to the recommendation contained in our instruc tions, of rendering them capable of being transferred, so that the equipment may fit any ship of the same class. We consider that the armament of a packet ship should be especially directed to the object of defence, and that for this purpose it should include, if possible, a pivot gun in the stern. But we have found impracticable, in almost all cases, to fit a pivot gun, either forward or abaft, on account of the sharp form of bow and great rake of stern. The armaments which we propose as being best adapted to the packets generally are as follows : First Class Armament.-2 of 8-inch calibre, 65 cwt., and 9 feet long ; 6 of 32-pounder calibre, 42 cwt., and 8 feet long. Second Class Armament.-2 of 8-inch calibre, 65 cwt., and 9 feet long ; 4 of 32-pounder calibre, 42 cwt., and 8 feet long. The guns to be mounted on the broadside on truck carriages. The two foremost and two aftermost may be transported to fight as bow or stern guns ; and it is pro posed to pierce each vessel with a sufficient number of ports to fight the whole of the armament, if necessary, on either side of the ship. We consider that provision should be made for 40 rounds of shot per gun,; and that shells be supplied in addition, as follows, namely, if pivot guns be introduced, 20 rounds of shells per pivot gun ; but if the 8-inch guns be mounted on truck carriages, it is proposed, in that case, to supply 10 shells for each 8-inch gun so mounted, with the usual proportions of grape and case shot as supplied to her Majesty's ships. The small arms, pikes, and cutlasses should be suited to arm the crew, and average number of male passengers usually carried, in the proportion of two-thirds of what would be allowed to the same number on board her Majesty's ships, and that the small arm ammunition should be one-half that proportion. To put these vessels in a condition to carry and fire the guns assigned to them, it is estimated that the ex pense of alterations and fittings of ports, with a maga zine and shell-room, would vary from 6001. to 8001.; and it is submitted whether the fittings for receiving the packet armament should not, in equity, be at the charge of the company, but for the auxiliary armament at the cost of the Government. A great saving of expense would be effected by early attention to the arrangements necessary for receiving an armament. This remark specially applies to the two vessels building at Cowes and Blackwall ; also to the Avon, under repair at Northfleet, and the Clyde at this port (Southampton). We beg to make reference, as an example, to the ac companying drawings of the Clyde, showing proposed fitments. By permanently placing the bitts and capstan as there laid down ; by constructing the deck-house for removal altogether ; by working the tiller under the deck, and by fitting the steering-wheel in such manner that it could be shifted and placed before the mizen-mast, two pivot guns could be worked as proposed and marked upon the plan ; or, if wanted as a packet, one pivot gun only need be carried, to be transported to bow or stern as required. The ports for working these guns, as well as the broad side ports, might be temporarily caulked in when not required for use. Shackle breeching-bolts and eye-bolts should be fitted not only to the broadside, but also to the cargo ports, and by allowing the necessary space for transporting the broadside guns in common carriages, not only fore and aft, but also across the ship, the entire armament could be worked on either side. We are of opinion that this armament might consist of two pivot guns, 8-inch, 65 cwt., and four 32-pounders of 42 cwt. on common carriages ; and we suggest that measures be takent o ascertain if, during the present op portunity of her repair, the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company might we willing to consent to the alterations required to fit her for the performance of the clause in their contract so far as concerns four guns ; and on What terms two other guns might be fitted. Such a mode of procedure would tend to prepare, in turn, for self-de fence,' all the West India mail packets, without disad vantage to the interests of the company. In conclusion, we-would observe, by way of recapitu lation that the two companies have 53 vessels ; that 16 ply between Southampton and foreign ports ; that five, on an average, are always at home, and fit for sea ; that eight may be rendered available for war purposes on an emergency, if they can be spared from the mail packet service, within different periods, extending altogether over 66 days ; that they would not make efficient sub stitutes for regular men-of-war ; that they might be fitted for armed packets and armed troop-ships ; that it would be prudent in future that the fittings be executed beforehand ; that the fittings necessary to the nature of proposed armaments (including magazines and shell rooms) would cost from 6001. to 8001. for first and second-class vessels, if attended to while a vessel is in progress of building, or undergoing a large repair, and proportionably less for smaller vessels. That guns of such calibre be used as are common in the Royal Navy (viz., 8-inch guns of 65 cwt. and 32-pounders of 42 cwt.), to facilitate the supplies, and render fittings and ordnance stores transferable from ship to ship. That a store of guns be kept at the port of Southampton (or Portsmouth), with a proper proportion of ordnance and gunners' stores, laid apart ready for an immediate call. That it would be advisable to introduce a clause in the contracts, giving the Admiralty a right of pre-emption, and pos sibly to prevent . their sale, unless by permission, to a foreign Power. PARLIAMENTARY DI VISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS-FEB. 1. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Motion made, and question put, " That if any new business be brought on after twelve o'clock at night, and a mem ber rises to order, and objects to the house proceeding with the debate, a division shall, without further dis cussion, be immediately taken on the question, that the debate be now adjourned, unless the mover of the origi nal motion agrees to its being postponed." The house divided :—Ayes 54, Noes 84. AYES-54. A'Court, C. Frewen, C. Alcock, T. Gladstone, Capt. J. Arkwright, G. Green, Capt John Barnes, T. Grenfell, Chas. Barrow, W. Gwyn, H. Bass, T. Hadfield, G. Beach, Sir M. Hastie, Archd. Bell. J. Hindley, C. Bellew, T. Horsfall. T. Biggs, W. Hume, J. Brown, W. Ingham, R. Butt, I. Kershaw, J. Cecil, Lord R. Liddell, H. G. i'heetham, John Lockhart, A. E. Cowan, C. Milligan, R. Crossley, F, Mundy, W. Davie, Sir H. R. F. Oakes, J. Duncan, G. O'Brien, C. Evans, Sir D. Lacy O'Connell, J. 1• itzgerald, Lt-G.Sir J. Oliveira, B. Pellatt, A. Pollard-Urquhart, W. Richardson, J. Scohell, Capt. G. Scully, F. Shirley, E. Spooner, R. Stanley, Lord Thornhill, W. Walcott, Admiral Warner, E. Wilkinson, W. Wise. A. Wyndham, Gen. TELLERS. Brotherton, J. Williams, W. NOES-84. Aclarad, Sir T. Grey, Rt Hon Sir G. Palmer, Robert Adderley, C. Grogan, Edward Palmerston, Visct. Banes, lit. Hon. M. Grosvenor, Ld. R. Philipps, J. Berkeley, C. Hamilton, G. A. Price, W. Blackett, J. F. B. Hankey, T. Ricardo, 0. Blair, Col. J. H. Harcourt, Col. F. Rice, E. Bonham-Carter, J. Hervey, Lord A. Roebuck, J. Souverie, Hon. E. P. Jolliffe, Sir W. Russell, Lord J. Truce, Lord E. Kennedy T. Seymour, Lord Bruce, 11. A. Kirk, W. Smith, V. Buckeley, Gen. Knatchbull, W. Smyth, J. G. Butt, O. Knox, W. S. Sotheron, T. Castlerosse, Viscount Lacon, Sir E. Stafford, A. Child, Smith Langton, H. G. Stanley, W. Cholmondeley, Lord Laslett, W. - Starkie Le G. Craufurd, E. H. J. Layard, A. H. Strut', E. Denison, J. E. Lucas, F. Thornely, T. Dive' t, E. Macartney, G. Tollemache, J. Druml nrig, Vis. Mackie, J. Tufnell, H. Drummond, IL Macgregor, Jas. Tynte, Col. C. Dundas, F. Macgregor, John Vane, Lord H. Dunne, Col. Massey, W. Vernon, G. East, Sir J. Maunsell, T. Wickham, H. W. Egerton E. Milner, W. Wilson, J. Fagan, W. Milnes, R. Wood, Sir C. Forster, C. Michell, W. Young, Sir J. George, J. Napier, J. TELLERS. Gilpin, Col. H. Packe, C Greene, Thomas Pakington, Sir J. Ilayter, W. Mu'grave, _Earl of attention solely directed to Portugal, and there is every reason to believe that they will do their ut most to effect the measure they have so much at heart witb.reference to the King of Portugal. SWITZERLAND. The Zurich Gazette, of the 30th ult., contains the following telegraphic despatch from Geneva of the 29th :—" The troops yesterday occupied the farms of the hamlet of Schevrons. Quite a panic pre vails. Yet nothing has happened. In the evening the troops returned home, one company remaining in the town. At Merin, there has been a meeting of ultra-Montanes. These intrigues have a political rather than a religious character." NEWTON RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) ARRIVALS FOR THIS DAY'S RACES. - Hurdle Race.—Sir Robert, Chorister, Napoleon 11., Luck's-all, Squire of Malton, Miss Purdon, Cheroot, The Admiral, Hernandez. Steeplechase.—Minna , , Tulip, The Duchess, Laby rinth, Columbine, Friendless, Napoleon IL, Sarah, Miss Purdon, A. Y., Crabbs, Maid of the West, Royal Blue, Old Rake, Linnet. Handicap Plate.—Sir Robert, Lancashire Lass, Sir R. Trenchard, Solyman, Royal George, Voucher, Rackete, Telegraph, Sam, Friendless, My Mary, Andante, Sweeparina, Violet, Worcester. ORDER OF RUNNING. Hurdle Race Handicap Plate Steeplechase Selling Stakes . 2 0 . 2 30 . 3 15 . 4 0 BETTING AT MANCHESTER—LAST NIGHT. NEWTON STEEPLECHASE. 4 to 1 on the field. Disposition to back Labyrinth and Miss Pardon. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. Bto 1 agst Miss Mowbray (offered). 16 to 1 agst Peter (taken). 22 to 1 agst Peter Simple (taken). 40 to 1 agit Luck's All (taken.) METROPOLITAN STAKES. 15 to 1 agst Royalist (taken). GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP. 20 to 1 agst Aquila ktaken.) CHESTER CUP. 30 to 1 agst Newmiuster (offered). DERBY. sto 1 agst Autocrat (taken). LINCOLN. The following have paid forfeit for Steeplechase— Vainhope and The General; Hurdle Race—Bourton and Mire Hill. CRTMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY). OLD COURT. .(Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) Mary Chapman and Thomas Higgins, who were con victed on Wednesday of forging a will, were placed at the bar to plead to another indictment for misdemeanour arising out of the same transaction. The prisoners pleaded guilty. Another defendant, naleeßicliard Huxford, was in dicted on the charge, and he surrendered to take his trial. No evidence, however, was offered against him, and he was ordered to be discharged from custody. The other prisoners were sentenced to be imprisoned and kept to hard•labour for two years. Robert Woods, 38, was indicted for feloniously setting fire to a dwelling house, two persons named Ann Car penter and John Carpenter being therein at the time. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clark conducted the prosecution. Mr. Parry was counsel for the prisoner. This was a prosecution instituted by the direction of the Commissioners of Police, the prisoner at the time of the occurrence being one of their constables, and attached to the M division of police. The circumstances under which the charge was preferred were of a very extraor dinary character. It appeared that the prisoner had been in the force for sixteen years, and .bore the reputa tion of being an efficient officer, and on the night of the 13th January he was on duty in Bermondsey-street. Between 12 and 1 o'clock in the morning of that day a sergeant, named Squires, was passing the house of a hair dresser, named Carpenter, in that street, when he saw the door was open, and on going in he saw the prisoner in the act of endeavouring to set fire to a partition in the shop with a piece of paper, which he had lighted from his lamp. When the sergeant went in he saw that the door had been forced open, and on his' speaking to the prisoner, he put out the fire, and very slight injury was done to the partition. There did not appear to be the slightest motive for the commission of such an act by the prisoner, and the only suggestion of this character appeared to be, that a police constable was entitled to a reward of ten shillings upon discovering a fire, and a further reward of ten shillings if he prevented any persons from entering the premises until the arrival 'of the fire brigade. The case rested almost entirely upon the evidence of Squires, who spoke poaitivoly to the faote above narrated ; but in his cross examination he admitted that he had bad some dispute with a man named Mahonick, who lodged with the prisoner. He also said that since the prisoner had been committed, he had asked the clerk at the police court to give him a copy of the deposition ho had made, and he said he had obtained it merely for his own guidance, and he at first declared distinctly that this copy was at home, but he afterwards admitted that it was in his pocket at that moment. It like wise appeared that the prisoner would have been entitled to a pension of 271. a year, from the period he had been in the force ; and it appeared, there fore, very unlikely that he should have been guilty of so serious an offence for the paltry consideration of the few shillings he would have received for giving notice of the fire. Mr. Parry, in his address to the jury on behalf of the prisoner, remarked upon the extraordinary nature of the charge, and the improbability that a man of good character, and who had for so many years been in the police, should have committed such a desperate offence, without any motive except the trumpery one of obtain ing a few shillings. He also remarked upon the evi dence given by the witness, Squires, and contended that, under all circumstances, the jury would not be justified in convicting the prisoner of so, serious an offence upon such evidence as had been adduced. The learned judge summed up, and the jury imme diately returned a verdict of not guilty. ' MARLBOROUGH-STREEZ. - (THIS DAY.) UNFOUNDED CHARGE AGAINST A SOLDlER.—Charles Oxley, a private soldier belonging to the Scotch Fusilier Guards, was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with assaulting Caroline Lewis, who described herself as a dressmaker, residing at No. 11, Upper Baker-street. The complainant stated that yesterday she had been at work at No. 11, Sloane-square, and at 8 o'clock last night she left to return home, and went through Hyde park. Feeling very faint and tired, she sat down on a seat near the footpath, and had not been there long before the defendant came up and set himself down by her side, and began pulling her about in a very improper manner. She struggled with him, when he threw her on the ground and tore her clothes nearly from her back. She then screamed out as loud as she could, when the defendant ran away. She then walked on, and had got about 20 yards, when he again came up to her and made an infamous proposal to her, which she indignantly rejected. In a few minutes afterwards she met a policeman, and gave prisoner in charge. Rolfe, 539 A, proved taking defendant, who was rather the worse for liquor, into custody. Defendant denied the charge, and said the complainant accosted hinaln the Park, and asked him to give her 2s. 6d., and go home with her. He refused, as he wanted to get to his barracks. She followed him, and on meeting with a policeman she said he (defendant) had grossly assaulted her. The constable then took him into cus tody. In cross examination by Mr. Bingham, the complainer prevaricated so much that he directed the constable to take her to No. 11, Upper Baker - street, and see if she really did live there ; and after he had ascertained that fact, to go with her to 10, Sloane-square, and inquire whether she had worked there or not. If her statements turned out incorrect, he was to bring her back to the court. After an absence of more than an hour, the constable returned with the woman, and informed the magistrate that her statement as to her residence, and the place where she had been at work, was totally unfounded, He had been to both places, at neither of which was she known. . _ _ Mr. Bingham said, if one portion of the complainant's statement proved false, he must naturally conclude that the other portion was unworthy of belief ; and he should be doing wrong if he convicted the defendant on such evidence. Defendant was therefore discharged. WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERT& Last evening the fourteenth concert of the series took place at Exeter-hall, and was dedicated to the purposes of charity—the proceeds being intended for th e b enefit of the Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital. The first part comprised selections from Mozart, Don Giovanni, and miscellaneous pieces from Beethoven. The principal vocalists were Madame and Signor Lablache, Mi ss Ternan, Madame Newton Frocisham, and Mr. Augustus Braham. Much disappointment was felt at the an nouncement made in the course of the evening that Mdlle. Peita Favanti could not sing, in consequence of severe illness, which was certified by a medical gentle man. The audience were, however, consoled, in some degree, for the loss by Madame Frodsham and Signor Lablache kindly singing at a moment's notice a duet from Don Giovanni. The concert altogether afforded a rich treat for the lovers of high art, as well as for those whose tastes more accorded with a lighter class of music. The instrumentation throughout was most effective, and the whole went off admirably, owing to the able manner in which the concert was conducted by Herr Meyer Lutz. Much of the success of these concerts is to be attributed to the effective arrangements made in respect to them by Mr. Box, the musical direCtor. The room, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, was well filled ; and it is to be hoped that the charity will derive benefit from the occasion. MISCELL. Aubin w U and Iron Australian Agricult. Australsp.Pcific Mail. Australn. Royal Mail Berlin Water Works Brit. American Land Brit. & Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co Canada Company Crystal Palace Do. New Crystal Pal, of France Eastern Steam Electric Telegraph (A)1 Do. (B) Electric Tel. of Irel Gen. Steam Navigat General Screw Steam Irish Beetroot Sugar Magdalena St. Navig. Nat. Pt. Steam Fuel Netherlands Land N. S. W. Coal St Inter- Stem. Nay. Co N. B. Australasian Do. New Nrth.of Europe Steam Peel RI% Ld. & Minrl. Peninsular & Oriental Do. Portland Iron Co Royal Mail Steam.... Scot. Austral. Invest. South Austral. Land Submarine Telegraph. Van Diemon's Land .gEOUS . ig = :1.6 ... -. 6 7- ;7. 75 - 80 1 1 - 141)1 1 - lip! 16 - i.. 16 - 18 2A - is 1 Bp edi 36 8 37 lip A d 4 P 13 t 4 COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FEB. 1. There was no addition to the Royal dinner party yesterday. The Queen attended by the Marchioness of Ely, drove out in an open carriage this morning. Col. Bouverie attended on horseback. Prince Albert went out shooting, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred. Lord Camoys, Viscount Torrington, Col. the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Mr. Gibbs were in attendance. The Duchess and the Princess Mary of Cambridge areThxeeected to-da on a visit to her M. following have received invitation aj s, estanyd are also expected thi s a ft ernoon : —Th e Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis of Granby , Earl Spencer, the Earl and Countess of Hard wicke, and Lady Elizabeth Yorke, the Earl and Conn tess Grey, Lord and Lady Asburton, the Right Hon. Pemberton Leigh, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Uni versity of Cambridge. Major-General Buckley has succeeded Col. Bouverie as Equerry in Waiting to her Majesty. Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon has succeeded Viscount Torrington in attendance on the Prince. The Commissioners for Auditing the Public Accounts, with their secretary, Mr. Bromley, attended the Chancel lor of the Exchequer yesterday, on the half -yearly decla ration of accounts. A deputation from the Conference on Juvenile Delin quency, held at Birmingham Dec. 20, 1853, had an in terview with Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Horne-office. The deputation consisted of the Earls of Shaftesbury and Harrowby, Lords Lyttleton, Calthorpe, and Lovaine, M.P., the Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, .p., Mr. C. B. Adderley, M.P., Hon. Arthur Kin naird, M.P., Mr. E. G reaves, M . P .' Mr. R. Spooner, M.P., Mr. S. Childe, my., Mr. C. W. Packe, M.P., Mr. M. T. Bass, M.P., Mr. W. Brown, M.P., Lord Robert Grosvenor, M.P., Mr. R. Monckton Milnes, M.P., Mr. H. A'Court, M.P., the Mayor of Kid derminster, the Hon. H. Liddell, M.P., Mr. Sy mons, the Recorder of Plymouth, Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Mr. John Ball, M.P., Mr. Power, Recorder of Ipswich, Mr. T. B. L. Baker, Mr. Commissioner Hill, Recorder of Birmingham, Mr. M'Gleachy, Mr. Samuel Gurney, jun., the Mayor of Birmingham, the Rev. John Clay, the Rev. Sydney Turner, Mr. W. Morgan, Mr. C. Ranliff, and the Hon. and Rev. G. M. Yorke. Mr. Spencer Perceval had an interview, yesterday, with Viscount Palmerston, at the Home-office. Dispatches for the Governors of the West India Islands were sent last evening from the Colonial-office. • L RAILWAYS. raid 100 8 Aberdeen ....... Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. Belfast & BallYmena Birmng. Wolverh. Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & ' Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O & £25 Cons.— Do., £20..... , Blyth & Tyne original £25 (iss. at £45) 100 Bristol & Exeter 100 Caledonian. all Chester & Holyhead all ,Cork and Bandon all :Cork, Black. & Pass 12 Cornwall 45 Dublin&BelfastJune all Dundee Perth &Aber- deen Junction all Do. New all lEast Anglian (X 25 L dr E. &I. &D.) all Do., (£lB E. &HO all Eastern Counties.. 100 EasternUnion,A.stii 100 Do., do. B. 81 Do,New A (late Thirds) 100 'East Lancashire 100 Edinburgh & Glasgow 3i Edinb. and Peebles , 100 Edinb.Prth.&Dunde, 20 20 10 10 20 St. St. St. St. St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 .Forth and ClydeJunc. 'Glasgow & S. Western 'Great Northern Stk Do., A. Stock IDo. , B. Stock ;Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire. ) !Great Western Irish South-Eastern. Lancaster &Carlisle Do., Thirds..... . . Lancasn. &Yorkshire Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern..... Liv. Crsby. & So nb pt. London & Blackwall Lond. Tilh. & Sthend. Loud. Bright. & S. Cst. London &N. Western Do. Fifths Do. ,16/.5h.,M&8...0 171 all 10 1 2.2 10() 100 100 1100 2.2 all 16i 100 8 100 Do. Eighths London 4i S.Western Do., X5O • ..... Ludndrry.&Coleraine Ludndrry. & Ennisk. Manch . She f. &Lineln. Do., Man. &Lin. Un. Midland Do. Birming.& Derby Midland G. West. (Ir. ) Do. Shares . ..... Newcastle &Carlisle.. Newmarket Do. Bury Extensions Newpt.Aberg.&Htfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor N0rf01k.......• ........• Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No.l Do., No. 2. Dc., z A Deferred Do., a B Guaranteed North London N. &S. Wstn., Hamp 1 stead, and City Jn North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westru. June. Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central ... Scottish Midland_ Shrewsbury & Birmg Do., L. Li N. Westn Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves, do Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B,C, &D, fully paid up at per cent. South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yorksh. River Dun all 51s. 100 Staines,Wok.,&Wok. Stockton & Darling,. Stockton & Hartlepl Taff Vale Do. £lO shades Do. Pref., No. Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath... Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limerick West West End of London and Crystal Palace West London Wmble don &Croydon York Newctl. & Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland 11 100 FOREIGN. Aatwrp & Rotterdam Belgian East. Junct. Beziers to Graissessac Central of Italy Charleroi & Erqueliu Demerara Dijon and Beano n Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Gd. Trunk. of Canada Shrs. and Bonds Gt. Central of France, Gt. Westn. of Canada', Shares Do. bonds(l i55.)1857 Do. bonds (2 iss .)1862 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent Lake Const." & Basle Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref. Luexembourg ........ Do. (Railway) 204 Ito Do Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. cent. pref Lyons & Meditennn, Madras Maria Antonia Do. New Melbourne Dk. & By Namur & Liege (with interest 40 all all all Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds [fmy.B. &A.m. Shs NorwegianTruk. Pre: Paris and Lyons Do. bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen 'Paris and Strasbourg Paris Caen& Cherbrg. Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish ...... Royal Swedish , Sambre and Mouse._ Do, 5i per cent. pref, S.E. of Franco 3 - 1 - 4 - 31 2i 4d a 2,1 - id 7i - 5 - if : i - id 24 i 3 12 par g 61 - 71 29 - Southern of France St. Andrews & Quebec Upper India Scrip West Flanders 74.- 124 40 - 36 - 28,} - 7i 8 ••• 3 - ]6 - ... - ... Pna x in Do. 5i per c. Pref . Western of France West. of Switzerland , Wiesbaden .. Zealaufl. 3 = 4 d 3p d 2 - zin 5i - LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Leasing Closing Prices Business Bbr. Paid RAILWAYS. Compans yesterday, this day. 50 all Bedford and Ln.&N.W. Bletchley •.• ••• St. 100 Buckghamsh L. &N.W. 99 101 991 50 all Clydesdale Jo Caledon ... 50 52 St. 100 E.Lincoln. gr 6p. cent ... . Gt.Northn 139 141 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct. ••• 25 all Do. New Do. — 25 all Glstr.&Dn.Fr et. ;Vesta. 30 32 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Berw.. 50 all Hull & Selby Y.&N.liid. 107 109 25 all Do. Shares Do 54 55 12 all Do. Shares. Do 264 —27 i 121 all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern l3 13 20 all Do. Preference Do 244 —25 St. 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent._ Norfolk St. 100 Do. 6 per ct. Do — 5i all Manch.l3xton. Ln.&N.W and Matlock & Midld 2 - 3 50 all Middlesbro' & Stckton & Redcar 100 all Midld.Bradfd Midland... 97 99 50 all Northern and Ea.stern sp.c. E. Count.. 59 61 5 all Do. 6 per et Do 5' all Do. Fixed sp. cDo 2 , all Prest. & W yre L. &Is . W &Ln&Yk 1 12 Do. 2 Shares. Do I — ••• S 100 Roystn.dalit. Gt.Northn 138 14 ' 2 S-- 100 Do.Shepth.St. Do .... 2 18i Shef. Roth. & Lancash.4 Goole g .5. p. e Yorksh 12 91 S. Staffordsh.. Niedelean ,y) all WearValleygr Stoekt. da 6 per cent Darling . 25 all Do Do io 31 St. 100 Wilts&Somrst Gt.Weatu 95 97 8 - .__ „"'~~ mss---_ MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATN AND LEADENHALL.—The supplies being rather extensive, the demand ruled inactive, as follows : Beef, from 38 2d to 4s 2d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; Veal, 3s 10d. to 5s 4d ; Pork, 3s 4d to 5s Od per Blbs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, FEB. I.—To-dfiy's market was moderately well supplied with each kind of stock, which moved off slowly. Beef, from 38 4d to 4s 6d ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 5:4 0 1 ; Veal, 48 2d to 5s 4d ; Pork, 3s 6cl to 4s 8d per 81bs, to sink the offals. ROMFORD,. FEB. I.—On the whole the demand ruled steady and prices were well supported, at the following quotations :—Beef, from 38 Od to 48 6d; Mutton, 38 Od to 5s 2d ; Veal, 4s Od to 58 Od ; Pork 3s 6d to 4,8 d per Sibs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 21s to 27s each. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. -(THIS DAY. London, Feb. 2.--Wind this day at N oon, N . ; li g ht a i r, and fine. The d Madagascar. Janeiro, leaky, report of this v esse l ha v ing put into Rio leaky, proves, on investigation, to be without foundation. Shields, Jan. 31.—Sailed - Ada, Bombay; Margaretta, Rio Janeiro; Britannia, Kurachee. Plymouth, Feb. I.—Wind, W. Arrived Skenymore, from Buenos Ayres. Falmouth, Feb. I.—Wind, SW. Arrived—The Eliza, from Maulmain. Queenstown, Jan. 3l.—Arrived—Blanche, from Callao, leaky, and part of cargo thrown overboard ; Wapeßa, Clyde for Boston, leaky, stern started, &c. Londonderry, Jan. 31.—The Lady Octavia (brig), Pernam buco for the Clyde, has driven ashore at Malin Head, and is quite disabled ; crew saved. Dunkirk, Jan. 31.—The Tell Tale, of Penzance, Hull to Falmouth, will be surveyed, having been on shore. Sunderland, Feb. I.—Sailed —Kingfisher, for Havannah. Douglas, Jan. 31.—Large quantities of wreck, consisting of deals, planks, and battens, all new, have come on shore near here ; also, parts of empty cases, marked Tayleur, and a cask of oil, marked M.R.G. in a diamond. Swansea, Feb. I.—Sailed—David, for Cape de Verds. St. Thomas, Newfoundland, Jan. 10.—The Princella, from Philadelphia to Liverpool, was dismasted in a heavy gale, 29th Dec., sprang a leak, and the crew, being unable to keep her free, was taken off by the Peerless, arrived here from Hartlepool. Westport, Jan. 31.—The Governor, Westport to London, is on shore on Baranagh island, in Black Sod Bay, and is likely to become a wreck, the weather there being stormy. Paris, Jan. 30.—The Cecile, from Vera Cruz to Bordeaux, which was reported as lost on the 23d Jan. has gone entirely to pieces; the ingots of gold only have been saved. St. John, N. 8., Jan. 14.—The Acadian (British brig), from Windsor, U. S., for New York, was run into by another ves sel, and to prevent sinking, slipped her anchors, and was run ashore on the Lime Rocks in Newport inner harbour. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) Gravesend, Thursday, 10.15 a.m. Wind, NAT., fine; tide, three quarters ebb. Arrived—Hollander (s), from Rotterdam. Sailed—Menai (s), for Calais ; City of Rotterdam (s), for Dunkirk. Deal, Thursday, 9.35 a.m. Wind, N.N.E. ; moderate. Passed—Charles Brooke, from London, for St. Vincent ; Eliza, London, for Cardiff; Luneberg, London, for St. Übes ; Predlite, Shields, for Venice. The brig Cuba, for Porto Rico, and the barque Emerald, for Antigua, got in contact this morning ; the former vessel lost jibboom and gear ; the latter sustained no damage, and proceeded. Her Majesty's ship Boscawen, from the river,_for west ward, passing. RATES OF EXCHANGE.—The last quotation from the Paris Bourse yesterday showed a slight further fall. At Vienna there has been nu alteration. The rate of exchange at St. Petersburg continues to 'indicate the effects of the intended depreciation of the currency, and is again a shade lower. At Paris large arrivals of gold are taking place, and the Mint has extended the time of coinage to 35 days. • . 1 _ ~-, --,~/_ e,x4 4 ' z: --::::1-4,A, PRINCE ALBERT AND HIS DETRACTORS ir, •.:„ <:› - . =l,, ....,„-. - ~.. (From, the Times.) N. T . a The debate of Tuesday night must be a great blow to a numerous class of political busybodies. How many who have for weeks enjoyed a reputation for some know ledge not generally attainable, - or have become local celebrities by their mysterious hints and con fident predictions, must sink into insignificance when the mighty secrets on which their importance is founded turn out to be worthless rumours ; and it appears to the world that, instead of confidants of the great, they have been merely dupes of the unprincipled We trust those who have been so busy with the name and reputation.of Prince Albert are now satisfied. Before the session is a day old the bubble has burst ; and in a week the matter will be forgotten, except as a lesson to those who affect to laugh at the credulity of past ages, and as an additional fact to point the moral of the instability of popular favour, and to prove once more that there is always a market for calumny, and that the best spent lite is no defence against scandalous inventions, however monstrous that character, and however vile their source As both parties in Parliament have been equally anxious to express their indignation at these malicious fictions, the position of a high-minded Conservative puist be difficult indeed. Either he must own that his views have no respectable representative in the press, or his party must bear the charge of having turned to the purposes of faction rumours the most unfounded and the most absurd, and of having endorsed charges which it was impossible they could credit, in the hope that the Minister might share the odium of the Court, and fall from power through the unjust unpopu larity of the Royal couple whom they profess pre eminently to respect. For it is no defence to say that the charges of which all are so much ashamed did not originate with the Tory press. It was the Tory press, through its presumed connection with men high in sta tion, and supposed to be regardful of truth and honour, which first gave weight to the charges by adopting them. We will not name the despicable source of these fictions ; but every one must be aware that, as long as they were confined to its columns and those of congenial organs, whole months of invective and mis statement could have had no effect on the public mind. Even the frequenters of the haunts where the journal in questicn is to be found have sense enough to know that it represents no one who could possibly be acquaint ed with the matter ; and its assertions, however confidently made, would have failed to impose even on the credulity of the taproom. But the Tory press were on the look out for political capital. Their principles had been refuted and their predictions falsified. Their opponents were in power, and had given them little hold for an attack. The session was at hand, and something must be done at once. It was a good thought to represent Lord Aberdeen as a truck ler to illegitimate influence. Therefore these special representatives of the Christian and gentlemanly feel ing of the country did not hesitate to avail themselves of the most malignant of calumnies, derived from the most degraded of sources. The journal which propagated the slander became at once "our excellent contemporary;" and the statements which were unknown or despised when confined to its columns became invested with authority when corroborated by a press professing to represent some who had a few months before sat in the Councils and shared in the secrets of the Sovereign. That assertions so confident, so circumstantial, and so false can be made respecting the highest persons in the State argues a degree of freedom which men not illiberal might call license ; but there would be no danger in such freedom, if that part of the press which circulates among the educated were to refuse admission to the statements of unscrupulous writers and to scandal, pandering to the tastes of a degraded class. Such was not the course of the Conservative journals. Instead of ignoring or discrediting these groundless fables, they blazoned them to the world with additions of their own, and with all those adventitious aids of capitals, italics, and notes of admiration to which they are accustomed to resort. As nothing was too gross for public credulity, nothing was too monstrous to be asserted. Prince Albert corresponded with Ambassa dors Prince Albert sent despatches overruling those of the Foreign Office. Prince Albert was seeking the favour of Russia for dynastic reasons. For one paragraph con taining a specific charge there were 20 consisting of inu endos, and insinuations too vague to be capable of con. tradiction. No doubt a sensation was produced, and this honest delusion was sufficient to justify an authorita tive answer even to charges intrinsically absurd. But, as no such answer could be given, except by Ministers, of the Crown and before Parliament, the slanderers and their dupes had it all their own way. It was no matter that in both cases where a direct charge was brought (those of the Palmerston pamphlet and the letters to Lord Westmoreland) an immediate refutation followed ; the calumny did not receive its deathblow till Tuesday night. The matter is now at an end. The pothouse journal is doubtless vain of even the contemptuous no tice it has received ; but we think that the Tory news papers, with their pious and Protectionist readers, must by this time be heartily ashamed of themselves. A popular delusion like this is no slight matter. Here is a person of exalted station, admitted by men who have no interest in flattery to be of considerable mental attain ments, who being placed, on hardly emerging from boy hood, in a position most difficult and responsible, in a country not his own, and singularly ill-understood by foreigners, has acted for nearly 14 years in such a manner that the watchful eyes and ready tongues of a palace have been unable to find a fault - who has, in de ference to public opinion and a sense of duty, so tem pered his conduct with a gravity beyond his years, that Ids detractors are inclined to impute it to him as a fault -who has laboured with such success to advance the tas e and skill in which the country is deficient that he has excited the approval of all, and even the injudicious demonstrations of a large number—who is bound by every human tie to this country and its prosperity— whose children must sit on the Throne, and whose per sonal influence in Europe depends on the greatness of his adopted country. A few weeks ago his popularity was as general as it is said to be well deserved. But this reputation, the work of years, has been proved to be at the mercy of an anonymous slanderer in an obscure journal. More than this, professors of un bounded loyalty have striven to extract a party benefit from his injured fame ; and men who grieve over the decay of ancient reverence have not scrupled to antici pate with triumph the hisses which would greet the So vereign and her Consort on their way to the Legislative Palace. But there would be few to propagate falsehood if there were none to believe it. It is for the peo ple of England, who have received these slanders, to reflect on tde consequences of a readiness to credit all that malignity may invent or commer cial enterprise hit upon as a means of noto riety. There can be no greater discouragement to an exemplary life in those of high rank than a feeling that no good conduct of their own can protect them from the shafts of popular abuse, and that, whether they follow the traditional career of Royalty or eidea your to fulfil its higher duties, it will be all the same to the undiscerning multitude, who must compensate them selves for conventional homage by personal depreciation. A contempt for public opinion is a besetting sin of the great and powerful ; and if it has little prevailed of late it is because opinion has been found generally to be just, discerning, and reasonable. Such a display as that of the last month is an exception to its general tenour, and, we hope, a rare exception. The ready refutation which such things now meet with iusures the country against the consequences of any temporary delusion ; but the greediness with which the late absurd rumours were swallowed can only be attributed to the same mental disease which has lately turned (not the tables, but) the heads of thousands, even of educated men, and which, in one shape or another, periodically taints the moral atmosphere in which we live. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC IN FIVE DAYS.—The New York Tribune says :—" The new steamer W. Norris, which is to make the passage to Europe in five or six days, is ra pidly approaching completion. Her outside is nearly' finished, and she may be afloat in a fortnight. This vessel is simply flat and sharp, with a good model for running fast in smooth water. She is made unusually strong, by her having her timbers strapped diagonally with bars of iron, and by an iron kelson extending from the keel to the deck, exc epting in the ce ntral p art of the vessel, devoted to the engine. This kelson is composed of two parallel sheets of iron near half an inch in thick ness, less than a foot a part, and so fashioned and con nected as to form a water tank. On either side of this kelson are bilge kelsons, formed in the same manner, also connected with the deck. It is expected that these unusual supports will give such an amount of strength and s olidity to the steamer as to make her excel all other vessels of similar dimensions." PREVENTIVE AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.—•A depu tation, consisting of Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Spooner, M.P , theH rt on.Artliur Kin .p, na . ird, M.P., Mr. Pack, Lord Robe Grosvenor, m Mr. W. Brown, M.P., Mr. Kettleby, Mayor of Kidderminster ; the Earl of Har rowby, Sir John Pakington, M. P , Mr. M. D. Hill, Recorder of Bi rm i ng h am ; M r . Bass, Mr. Adderley, Mr. Power, Recorder of Ipswich ; Mr. Monckton Manes, Lord Lovaine, the Mayor of Birmingham, Mr. S. Child, the Hon. Mr. Liddell, M.P., the Marquis of Blandford, the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Calthorpe, the Hon. and Rev. G. M. Yorke, Mr. A'Court, M.P., Mr. W. Scholefield, M.P., Mr. W. Morgan, the Rev. Sidney Turner, Mr. Charles Ratcliffe , Mr. M'Geachy, &c., waited on Lord Palmerston, at the Home-office, shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday morning, with referenc to Preventive and Reformatory Schools. Sir J. Paking ton opened the proceedings by stating that they were in attendance to submit a memorial calling the attention of Government to the subject of Preventive and Reforma tory Schools, and requesting the Government to adopt such measures as would have the effect of preventing destitute children from becoming criminals, and that such children as were guilty of crime should be sent to reformatory establishments, and afterwards to be provided with employment. There was a growing feeling in the country that some measure to that effect should be adopted, and the deputation earnestly hoped that the subject would have the attention of the Govern ment. Committees had sat on the subject, and re ported favourably to the house on the matter. The de putation represented very nearly all classes of the com• munity, and they hoped his lordship would take the subject into his serious consideration, with a view to legislation. Other countries were before them in such a course, and he trusted that no further delay would take place in meeting and settling the question. The ques tion was one of great social importance, and imperatively repuired the interposition of the Legislature. Lord R. Grosvenor, the Hon. Mr. Liddell (who presented a peti tion from Liverpool), and other members of the deputa tion, expressed themselves to the same effect. Lord Palmerston said that the subject would receive his best attention, and the deputation then withdrew. ~---~ 4 .t/NAI r u ~-: ~"~' c Z . 'aris eels en t. also sion ~. - •