The Sun. — London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

••- , THEAiItE . ICOYAL DRURY LANE. Lame, Mr. E. T. Smith. • TEN EVENING, Mair WM be ,perforMed DER FREI-CHU rZ, Characters by Madame Oareort.'s.kid aldile. Sedlazek; Uerr Reichsrdt, Herr Fumes, and Bert uoizoi. F' ""owed by (4th time) a new R ILLET DIVERTISSEMENT', entitled UNE FETE EN OLYSIFE, Pricea—Rtalls, 7s; Dress CI ele, bat Rexes, as ; Pit, 2e- ; nanarY• la. ; and Private Boxes, One, Two. Three aid Four Guineas. The Box-office ooe i Sally trout rein till glx, where places may be assured. Private Boxes and Stalls to be hal of Messrs. Leader and Cock, 63, New Bond-streot. THEITRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. nuckatone. THIS EVENING. MAT 20, Will be per ormed THE - MILITARY KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABU;. Characters by Messrs Chippendale, Howe, Vandenhoff, W. Farrell, Compton, and Buckstone ; Misa Reynolds, Miss E. urey, and Mrs. Fitz vi Liam. AI terlaridcb. the stitlrsly new an I original extravaganza, enti'led MIL BUCK STOVE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI CESTELSQUARE), written by J. FL Planche, Esq. nine pa] cLaracters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. W. Farren, Hr. Clark, sir. J. Marshall, fir H. Marshall; Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Cattle Laid, %this E. Grey, Miss .Lydia inoinpson, Miss Laura Morris, and Miss Featly rstone. /tar L P ICE:44'3 TEMA OXIORD-.TREEr. Under the Manlom.nt of Mr. CaAat.s.s SEAN. • VHS EVENIMG, MAT 21, Will be performed THF. Nf VR'tifth AAIIIIIED. Characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, Ryder, and Cathcart; and Misses Heath and Mu ray. E')'lowed by F.4,173r MAEVIITERIrE. Characters by :Vessrs. C. Kean and Day.d f tabu* ; Mrs. Winstar ley and ,vl. lea C. Lac e cit. After...which. AWAY WITH MELUICTIOLY. Characters 1 y M•asrs. Meadows, D. Fisher. and Saker ; and 31isses Murray and Daly. THEATRE ROYAL ADIMPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Mrectress, Madame Ce'Cate. THI9 EVENING; MAY 0. - WM be performed TW) LOVE 4 ANTI) A LIFE. Supported by Mews. C. 6 0 v. Le i, h qarray, denjnown Webster. Keeley, sad 0. 8m to ; u Woo'gar ant Na 'a ea Celeste. Followed by THE st )u4r tcete %.)vewerr. Principal cha racters by Sf.gars O. Smith, Kee.l4. and ramelle; ors. and Alas Mary Keeley. Aftor whtch, THE OVERT. .15n JOrYRNIv.Y TO CO.VITANrI• NOPLE, Ai UNDER CAKE:N PIY LOW B I rElfAg, WiTlt CERE4TINU PAR TICULARII OF I:4E FAIR mopiiia, ROYAL OLYMPIC TEIKttkE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. wi n! , THIS EVENING. MAT 20. Will b e performed rr(irfalG PY PRJXY. Characters by Robson and Wigan; ani Miss E. Turner. After which, THE Li %A I MS? DAY OF MY LIFE. Chg• meters by Messrs. F. Robs )n, J. fl Wnite, Leslie, and Vincent ; Mrs. Chatterley, Miss P. Horton, and Miss Nlarston. To be followel by TO ORLI 1E BE VSOI. supported by Messrs. Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling an I Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Luau. THIS EVENING, Max2o, Will be performed THE GARDENER Or VER3AITZE3. To be followed by BOX AND COX I g KAFIR LAND. After which, a BAL r,E r DIVER rISSEXENT. To be followed by SUMMER FLOWERS. To conclude with MR. AND MR3. WHITE. 55.; Boxes, 34.; Pit, 14. 6d; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes, 3;1 I Is. ful., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. Asnagrs ECIEOi'E'S NATIONAL A. APHITH EA.TitE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, MAY :0, Will be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec tacle, embodying n ,vel and extraordinary effects (wri•ten by Mr. 3.7‘150n Lea), entitled A TALE OF THE SPA.NISII WAR; or, The Horse of the Wreck. Th 3 horses expressly trained by Mr. W. Cooke. Followed by an entire change of the scenes of the CIRCLE. To conclude with a Grand Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE RHINE. Bo:-oftice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau DAY —Morning n min.after 8 I Evening 52 min.'s& 8 To.?dotgow--Morning 31 min.after 9 Evening 7 min.aft. 10 14:11C WEATHER.—Sus Onion, MAY 20. THIERMOILICTIII9, IN THE SHAM:. 62 —highest since noon yesterday. 46 --lowest this morning and during the night. 66 —this day at noon. BAROKETEB. WIND, S.W.-Light airs, and beautiful summer weather. - c-e:"` - AZ 414 , Cy % - rbt =Alm LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1854. Cannot an united army of French and English soldiers be despatched even now with considerable effect into the Baltic, to be there landed on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, so as effectually to co-operate with the combined fleets in their pro posed attack upon St. Petersburg ? It is earnestly to be hoped that the advisability of this move ment may be deliberated upon betimes by the 'allied Governments. There has been a general feeling for a long while past that measures of this kind.should have been adopted, and that Russia should have been assailed from the north simul taneously by a maritime and military armament. It is 'by no means too late even now to repair the apparent error of omission, if any such blunder still actually continues at this moment to admit of reparation. According to the latest accounts received from the distant waters approached by way of the Skagerrack and the Ca tegat, dated on the 16th instant from Stockholm, it appears that even then the united fleets of France and England had not penetrated the Gulf of Finland further than Hango, near Helsingfors. The ice has not yet broken up sufficiently to admit of free navigation. Nay, we know perfectly well, from, those well acquainted with those waters, that. the long-desired melting away of the ice so as to open up a clear passage beyond Cronstadt cannot, under ordinary circumstances, be expected much before the close of May—the severity of the wintry season extending some times even to the first two or three days of June. However this may be just now, it is by no means too late for a considerable body of French soldiers to be conveyed northward—time enough to admit of their aiding Admirals NAPIER and DzsCHENES in their onslaught upon the Russian capital—time enough even for the Gallic army to be strengthened by the timely arrival of a British contingent. A calculation the reason ableness of which must be quite apparent, when it is remembered that, as before observed, the combined fleets had not, up to the close of the first fortnight of the present month, advanced further up the Gulf of Finland than Hango, near Ile'aingfors. Examine, moreover, yet more close the last advioes received from Stockholm, and it will be still more clearly manifest that there is force in our argument, to the effect that Russia should be assailed from the north, not merely by a maritime, but also, and simultaneously, by a military armament. It will be observed from this intelligence that there is a hatred against Russia rife among the Swedes and Norwegians. It will be perceived that this , cordial symp a th y w i t h the Western Allies of Tut- Ke y • has already had its sufficiently-significant manifestation —i nsomuch that the King of SWE rished was male aware of the animosity the , his subjects in regard to the Mus c"ite rovenlment, while reviewing his fleet on the occasi on of Elfsnnbben. Advanta ge thefeel in ought surely to be t a k en ing on the part s Prance opportune Ara allied arm sent debarkation on by the by of a the n ceand En land for the sßaltic, or rather of that important branch of Gulf of Finland, would tend altic called the events satisfactorily towards the precipitation of in the North so that the open declaration of Sweden and Nor way against Russia might come simultaneously with au attack by sea and by land against St, p eters _ burg. The attack by sea, we have already ob served often enough, cannot possibly be made directly by the fleets themselves. It can only be made by the fleets acting through gun-boats, and this simply because of the shallow water extending beyond the insular fortifications of Cronstadt to the extremity of the Gulf of Finland, ?nd so on, up the river Neva, to the very walls of the Russian metropolis. So shallow is it, in deed, that it is altogether inaccessible to vessels drawing more than eight feet of water—a diffi culty, however, by no means insurmountable, as Flay be recognised en a glance at English-buill teara-gunboat s suc h as t h e N i x and the Salaman der. V essels —these two just mentioned-- drawing only five feet of water, even when fully armed and equipped, being 160 feet in len g th, 24 feet in breadth, and 11 feet in depth, with engin es of 160-horse power, giving a speed of 15 miles, and carrying on board 4 32- pounders and 4 68- p ou nders —projectiles adequate for.any emergency in which it might be d eeme d inuisite or advisable for thorn to b e engaged. Supply the fleet under NAPIER with a proper number of gun-boats of some such capacity and character, and at the same time let a military ar mament of sufficient strength be despatched betime4 by France and England to co-operate wits, their maritime armament, now up the Gulf of Finland as far as Helsingfors-..-and the success of the attack made by the allies upon the Russian capi tal must be assured, and a crushing blow will have to be stricken at the outset at the heart, or rather at the head, of the Northern Colossus, the first trophies won by the swords of the French and English, under the union-jack and the tricolor, being the ravaged batteries of Cronstadt and the capital of St. Petersburg. The Honourable Gentleman the Member foi Lambeth last night adduced many cogent reasons for the extension of the Probate Duties to real estate. The voice of public opinion has long since proclaimed the injustice and impolicy of undue distinctions between different descriptions of pro perty. There was a general feeling that the Legacy Duties should be altogether abolished, or made universal in their application—that it was very unfair to charge sums varying from one to ten per cent. on unsettled personalty, while the same description of property, if placed in settlement, and real estate, whethersettled or unsettled, escaped without any charge whatsoever. In his Budget last year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer recog nised the weight and validity of the arguments put furward. The Right Hon. Gentleman, how ever, declared that he could not afford to sur render the revenue obtained from the Legacy Duties, and that, therefore, he was obliged to render the other descriptions of property, previ ously exempted, liable to the charge. The Suc cession Duties Ant was the consequence of this admission—a statute which, although it has not as yet brought much money to the Exchequer, will speedily become a very productive source of revenue. It was but a half-and-half measure after all —a mere instalment of justice. It did not place the full amount even of Legacy Duty on the land, and the payment was spread over a series of years (five years), and the first claim on account thereof not falling due until the whole of the Legacy Duty in respect of personalty should be liquidated. So great, in fact, were the advantages bestowed on landed property, that (without even taking the Probate Duty into consideration) the inheritor of real estate was practically liable to but little more than one-third of the devisee of chattel interests of a similar degree of consanguinity. This was a grievance no less striking than the total exemption, and one which required early consideration. But this was by no means the full extent of the advantages still retained by the favoured classes. The Probate Duties, which on the average pressed with equal weight on the families of the industrious, were not overlooked, but designedly omitted from the bill. We do not censure Mr. GLADSTONE for that omission. The Right Honourable Gentleman had a task of no ordinary difficulty in attempting to over come the honest prejudices of some, and the inte rested opposition of others. It is only simple justice to say—and we are even more willing to praise, when it is really merited, than to censure—that the Right Hon. Gentleman succeeded to the full extent of his arduous undertaking. He intro duced the sharp end of the wedge, and rendered further progress in the same direction perfectly facile—the impediments thereto being, if not wholly removed, at least smoothed away, and rendered easily surmountable, whenever the fit ting opportunity should occur. That opportunity has now arisen. When we are compelled to look to all our resources for meeting the additional expenses of the war—when we are obliged to consent to the doubling of the Income Tax, and the increase of the Sugar, Spirit, and Malt Duties—it is surely time to resort to every fair expedient to replenish the Exchequer. Mr. WILLIAMS has shown that 200,0001, sterling —and the Honourable Gentleman is certainly below rather than above the mark—might be realised by extending the Probate Duties to real property. These duties, it will be iu the recollection of our readers, are fixed and certain. They do not vary accord ing to the degree of relationship of the suc cessors to the deceased. The only distinctions are-Ist, Whether the property is disposed of by will, or by operatio❑ of law. The charge in the latter instance being one-third, or 50 per cent. higher than in the former, or, in other words, whether the stamp be imprt ssed on a Probate or on Letters of Administration. 2dly, It varies according to the amount, the average being about 21 on small, and 11 on large successions. Taking the mean, 2 per cent. might fairly be added for these charges under an equalised duty. The tax, too, is payable in the.first instance, before any st , T is taken to realise the estate, or the exercise of any act of ownership in reference thereto. It is therefore scarcely necessary to say that it becomes much more available for meeting immediate expenses than a charge of a similar character which may be liquidated by instalments spread over five years. It is, therefore, just what is required by Mr. GLADSTONE. It exactly suits his book—and may therefore be deemed worthy of adoption when he is able to be in attendance to speak for himseif. Mr. WILSON, who in his absence (occasioned by a domestic calamity) appeared as his substitute, ac knowledged " the importance of the subject, and in a great degree the justice of the proposition," We may therefore hope that something will be done even before the termination of the p re sent session to cause the good seed thus sown to bring forth suitable fruits, and that the candid admission may lead to practical results. A consoddation of the Succession and Probate Duties may, therefore, be regarded as inevitable, and that at no very distant day. The motives which induced Mr. GLADSTONE to accept payment by instalments spread over so many years, would be fully satisfied by accepting mortgages at a mo derate rate of intarest,.which should have priority over all other charges affecting the prospects created by the will or the inheritor, and against which Exchequer Bills might at once be issued. The charge would thus be at once realised with out any hardship to the inheritor. He would be at liberty to pay up at once if he thought pro per, and if he could not conveniently do so, he might demand reasonable indulgence at a reason able rate of interest, and could nut be driven into the hands of the " money lender" to meet the demand. Mr. PACKE's " Bill to relieve Dissenters from the payment of Church Rates in certain cases" will neither please Dissenters nor Churchmen. The former v. ill spurn it as unsatisfactory and in sulting, the latter as a gross injustice to the most generous members of the Establishment. It pro poses to make two distinct rates, one for the re pair of the fabric, of the church, the other for its services and furniture. The repairing rate is to be enforced universally, and by a comparatively summary process. From the other rate a Dis senter may obtain exemption by a declaration before two magistrates that he is a member of a dissenting congregation-..a declaration which must be attested ou oath by the minister or two members of the congregation ! Mr. PACKE must know but littl e of the spirit of Dissenters if he thinks they will either continue to repair churches in which they dgo not worship, or consent to a cum b rous ineminious charge which they process of " swearing o ff* a p be re e f n e rpto resented continue to justly f ee l oug ht never to h ave ttillieer.am.rarfaVreerwy which h ich th will they BRAIN TREE case has opened to them, and in which they are so frequently victorious. We certainly should respect their anti-church -rate zeal but little if it could be quashed by such a paltry proposition as this. So much the less could we respect it, if they tolerated such a mis era bl e offer after the frank and manly aid tendered them by Lord STANLEY, the Member for Lynn, whose consti tuents, we were happy to see, in a vigorous battle, fought, too, in the best spirit, carried out the views of their Noble Member by refusing a rate for the first time. The day is quite gone by for Legislation in the PACKE style. A much higher one, o f w hich Lord STANLEY may fairly TFIE.SUN, LONDON. SATURDAY EVENING. MAY v.o, 3P34. be regarded as the type, is arisen even in the Conservative ranks. We observed that it was unjust to all the more generous and liberal Churchmen also. Why, it was but the other night in the House of Lords, that the Bishop of OXFORD himself, following the Earl of ABERDEEN and Earl NELSON, opposed the Earl of WlNonmsze's resolution about the defi ciency of church accommodation, on the ground of the wonderful liberality of Churchmen since the Government grants have ceased in the erection of new churches ! The Bishop had the fullest con fidence in the efficiency of the voluntary principle for the erection of new churches, and most com pletely does the report of Mr. HORACE MANN, which was of course appealed to, justify that con fidence. But what, then, can be more unrighteous than that one old parish church in a district, which certainly never cost the worshippers a penny for building, which was probably taken from the Roman Catholics by their forefathers, should be repaired by rates levied upon Church men who have contributed large sums to erect their own district church, and iiiust still contri bute to its repair. Besides, worshippers in the district churches are not, like Dissenters, to be exempted from paying the second rate for the furniture and worship of the old parish church, having at the same time to pay by voluntary sub smiption their own current expenses ! We trikst so unworthy a proposal-will- share the fate of the " innocents" of the session, many of which were worthy of a better fate ; but as the debate is ,at hand on Sir W. CLAY'S motion for the entire abolition of Church Rates, we refrain at present from further remarks. A morning journal, 'which has often been charged with being in the interest of Russia, pro pounds a plan for treating Turkey like the Pun jaub. The effect of this is manifestly to serve Russia, by strengthening the hands of the party in Turkey who are opposed to European alliance. A hundred thousand men would not be so effec tive. There is no help for a thing like this ; it was one of the dangers which ought to have been met by augmented activity and energy. The most fortunate circumstance in the way of coun teraction is the presence of both an English and a French army. Before they can occupy Turkey like the Punjaub, they must agree on the division ; and when villains proceed to a division of this kind, they often fall out, and the almost certainty of the fact is a security to honest men. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL IIV T ELLTag NCR CITY, TWO o'C LOCK There was a fair demand for cotton at Liver pool yesterday, but the market continued without animation. Sales 6,000 bales, including 1,000 on speculation. Railway shares were firm. Some interesting particulars of the tallow mar ket are supplied in the following communication from Messrs. Smith and Charles : "The Petersburg advices to-day are to the 29th April (11th May). Since the last mail from 4to 500 casks had been taken on the spot, at 130 and 131, and 400 in the interior at 125 and 126. It is mentioned that the cost of land carri ige was likely to increase, and that in consequence of the heat it would soon be difficult to carry tallow on wheels. There were buyers of tallow delivered at Koona at 165 Rs., higher prices being de manded. " The chief point of interest in relation to future sup plies of Russian produce is, of course, the prospects of carriage overland to the neutral ports. On this subject there is no further information to-day, beyond the opi nion expressed in the letters from Petersburg quoted above. It seems, however, highly probable that the difficulties have been underated in many quarters ; and as one proof of this, it is maintained that they must be great, inasmuch as tallow which left Petersburg six weeks ago has not yet arrived at Memel." The effect of the Australian bullion arrivals in supplying the means of remittan e to the Continent is observable in the weekly return of the Bank of England, made up-te -gaturday last, for although the discounts largely increased, and the private balances were drawn upon, the diminution of specie was but trifling. The Bank, however, in order to contract its circulation, and encounter the demand upon it, sold Government securities very largely, and was assisted in some measure by the increase of public deposits. Compared with the previous return, the alterations are as follow : Active circulation.., £21,143,990 Decrease ...... 830 310 Bullion 12,589,366 Decrease Rest Increase 10,035 Public Deposits - 2,748,437 Increase . 409,615 Other DDepositscrlncreaseease 10,587.010 Decrease Seven-Day and o th er Bill s 53,068 Government Securiti es 1 1 ,62 5 ,492 De crease 941,115 Other Securities 1 5 ,1 44 , 0 39 394.579 Notes unemployed 4,713,280 Increase The steamer Colombo, of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, takes out 122,6311. to-day from Southampton, of which all but 18,4061. is in silver, and the bulk for China. There was an improvement yesterday afternoon in the rates of exchange upon all the principal continental cities except Paris, which was taken at 25 25 to 27i for 90 clays' paper ; Amsterdam was at 11 151 to 16,} ; Hamburgh at 13 51 to 6 ; and Trieste at 13 50 to 55. The treaty between her Majesty and the Argen tine Confederation for the free navigation of the rivers Parna and Uruguay was ratified at Parana on the 11th of March, and seems clearly to define the purpose intended. The number of gallons of proof spirits on which duty was paid for home consumption in Ireland during the year ending the sth January last was 8,136,632. The number of persons detected in offences against the laws for suppressing illicit dis tillation was 2,740, while in the year 1853 it was 2,904. The number of persons confined in the several jails for the same causes was 293 last year, or not much more than half the number in 1853. The ship Kangaroo has-arrived oft the coast from Port Philip with 10,111 ounces of gold on board. She does not bring► later dates. The United States Mail Steamer, Union, has arrived with dates of May 6 from New York, and 1,500,000 dollars in specie, principally for the Continent. Her letters are just delivered. Public Securities were rather unsteady. Flour was steady. Ord. to choice state 8 to 8i dollars. Cotton drooped. Freights were dull. Cotton to Liverpool 5-16 d. Continental and British fabrics were languid. The transfer books at the Bank of England close as follows :—Consols, 3/ per Cents., 2 per Cents., New 5 per Cents., and the Annui t i es o f 1863 an d 1880, on the 7th June. India Stock, the Bth. The re-opening will take place July 19, except for India Stock, in which transfers will be resumed July 13. _ _ _ Business in the Stock Markets is extremely dull this morning, most parties being absent, and having taken advantage of the fineness of the day. Con sols have re:Ala.:ld -89A,t0 i-for transfer, but have gone back to 89 aud.BBl for account. Exchequer hills are 2s. discount to ls. premium, and East India Bonds 12s. discount. The New 3/ per Cents. have been 83 to 89. The intelligence from the seat of a war is not of a nature to produce material fluctuation. Although the market for English Railways not very brisk, the quotations are well maintained. Great Northern have been a shade better, and als. South Eastern York and North Midland, North Western, and South-Western. Caledonian are about the same. The French lines are much quieter, and not quite so buoyant. Luxembourg Constituted Shares have improved. The Gold Mine shares are neglected, but Agua Fria have been dealt iu at the previous rates. Forei g n Stocks have been as d u ll as our own. A few bargains have been entered into in Spanish, at 384 to 391, for the 3 per Cents., 18Z- to 19/ for the Deferred, and 31: for the Committee's Certifi cate. The idea of making 4 forced loan is stated to be still entertained at Madrid. Dutch 4 per Cents. have realised 871 to 881, and the 21 per Cents 591. Nothing has been done in Russian. The Shares of the Joint-Stock Banking Com panies are generally higher again, Australasian having risen about 21., and Oriental 11. to 21. The Australian Agricultural Land Shares are a shade lower, but South Australian are at full rates. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ( From the Official List.) Rumness don.. per Cent. Reduced Annuities .............. . 88 74 3 per Cent Consols Annuities ............. ... 89f 4 New 34 per Cent. Annuities .................. 884 9 India Bonds, £IOOO Ditto, under 21000 ~. 12 d ~ .ionsole for Account ctli Juno ..... .. ....... 89,i 8/ Exchequer Bills, 2d. tIOOO 2500 .......................................... 2 d 1 p Small PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 38.4 94 Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB6 19A Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 3i Dividends on the *hove Davahte in Loudon. Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Gull 594 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieatee..... TWO O'CLOCK. Console BBi 9 Ditto June A ccou , . 8i 9 LA FEST FOREI(IN NE \VS.. THE WAR. RENEWAL OF THE ATTACK ON SEBASTOPOL. The Fremden, Blatt, which is generally well in formed, has news from Gala,tz to the 11th instant, which states that a Government messenger had brought reliable intelligenoe that Sebastopol had been bombarded during four days. Another telegraphic despatch from Bucharest, says that the bombardment of Odessa has been re newed. The damage done is already considerable. The main body of the combined fleets, under Admiral Lyons, has been attempting the bombard ment since the 10th. THE QUEEN'S BIRTB-DAY. This day being kept as the anniversary of her Majesty's birth, the morning was ushered in with the usual demon strations of loyalty. The Royal standard was hoisted at the Tower, St. Margaret's, Westminster, St. Martin-in the-Fields, St. Mary Abotts, Kensington, and the churches of the other Royal parishes ; the bells of which rang merry peals during the day. At 10 o'clock, according to annual custom, the inspection of the Household Brigade took place on the Grand Parade, St. James's-park, opposite the Horse Guards, in the presence of a very numerous assem blage of the aristocracy and crowds of all classes. The tops of the houses in the neighbourhood, as well as the Horse Guards, were o)vered with spectators, anxious to witness the inspection. Shortly after the time named, H.R.H. Prince Albert, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Lord Hailing°, Lord Seaton, and a brilliant staff, accom p tnied by Lord Rokeby, Colonel Eden, Captain Wil kinson, Colonel St whope, Colonel Angerstein, &c., entered the ground and took up a position in the centre. The troops formed in a line, presented' arms, and the united bands played "God save the Queen." At the conclusion of the inspection, the different corps were highly compli mented by his Royal Highness on their general efficiency. At one o'clock a grand feu de joie was fired in St. Jam...s's park, at Woolwich, the Tower, and Tilbury Fort, as well as at the various wharves up and down the Thames. The vessels in the river were gaily decorated with flags. The club-houses at the West-and, and many public buildings and shops, will be brilliantly illuminated in the evening. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert; accompanied by the Prin cesses Helena and Louisa, took a drive in an open landau and four yesterday afteruoon. Colonel Bouverie and Captain Du Plat attended on hors back. Prince Albert went yesterday morning to Sutton, accom panied by the Earl of Derby, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and the Hon. W. P. Talbot, and attend d by Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, and Captain 4.41 Plat, for the purpose of inspect ing the site offered in that neighbourhood for the Wellington College. The Prince and party travelled in tw i royal car riages and four, and returned to Buckingham Palace at two o'clock in the afternoon P.inee Albert afterwardapresided at a meeting of the com mission for promoting anit encouraging the fine arts in the rebuilding the Palace of Westminster. His Royal Highness, attended by his equerry in waiting, arrived at the Palace at Westminster, soon after three o'clock. The commissioners present were Viscount Canning, the Righn Hon. the Speaker, Viscount Mahon, and Sir Robert H. Inglis, Bart. The Secretary, Sir Charles L. Eastlake, attended. The meeting broke up at five o'clock. Prince Arthur a•id the Princesses Helena and Louisa took a di ive in an open carriage and four. The Queen had a dinner party in the evening. The com pany included the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Suther la .d, the Duke and Duchess of Athol!, Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Baroness de Speth, and Lord James Murray. Lord Lansdowu was prevented i y indisposition from hav ing the honour of diu•ng with her Majesty. The band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the Palace during the dinner, and played the following selection : Overture, " Die Meerstille " Meudelssohn. Waltz, " Prince Arthur " ....... Fant isia. " Souvenir de St. Sebastien " (Fandango) Po,ka, " Sehnsuchts" The Society of the C .logne Choral Union attended in the Palace after dinner, and had the honour of -ingiug before her Majesty and the Royal circle. The performance took place in the Picture Gallery. The DuJhess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary arrived at Buckingham Palace at half-past 9 o'clock, attended by Lady Caroline Cust and Baron Inesebeck. TIIE CRYSTAL PALACE. Her Majesty having announced her intention of honouring with her presence the opening of the Crystal-palace at Wen ham, on the 10th June, we understand that preparations are in progress for celebrating the event by an inaugural ceremony worthy of th , occasion. The Governments of Franco, Bel gium, and Prussia, and the other principal foreign powers, have intimated their intention of sending commissioners. The mayors of the different towns of England, the presidents of the principal scientific societies, and other distinguished repre sent itives of art, science,, and industry, are also expected to take a part in the ceremonial, which, from all we have heard, will be of the most imposing description. As an instance of the magnitude of the seal eon which preparations are making, we may ment,on that 1,000 performers of the Sacred Harmonic and New Philharmonic Societies have volunteered their gratuitous services. The directors have prudently limited the admission of the public on the opening day to the holders of season tickets, in order to avoid the risk of accidents and in convenience which might re- ult from the rush of an over whelming number of visitors on the first day. ROYAL YACIIT SQUADRON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, May 19. The regatta has been fixed for the following days : AUG. 15—Prince Albert's Cup. Fireworks in the evening 16 —Royal Yacht Squadron's annual dinner. 17—Her Majesty's Cup of 100 guineas, by schooners of 140 tons and upwards. 18 Royal Yacht Squadron's ball. 19—The Squadron Cup, value 1001., open to all yachts of the squadron. The Earl of Wilton airived at the Squaclion•house last evening. TAE COURT.—PORTEMOUTII, FRIDAY.—Het Majesty the Queen will be down op Monday, awl in all proba- bility will view the departure of the 4241 Highlanders. Her Majesty's birthday will 14e kept at Osb mne Palace, in the enjoyment of the socieity of the Royal domestic fain iy circle. The Duke of Newcastle's grand official banquet, in honour of her Majesty's birthday will be given to-day in Portman-squar e to a party of thirty, including the go vernors and lieutenant-governors of colonies at present on leave in England. The Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane have issued cards of invitation for a grand ball on the 7th of June, in honour of her Majesty, who has intimated her intei.tioo of honouring the n able marquis with her pre sence on that occasion. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and .thei r Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and t he Princess Mary, are also expected to honour his lordsl tip with their presence. His Excellency Lord Com /ley has left Lord Robert Grosvenor's in Park-street, Grosvenor-square, for the Briti- h embassy in Paris. General Viscount and Viscsountess Combermere enter tained a distinguished party at dinner last evening in Belgra,ve-square. DEATH OF THE DOWAGI IE LADY DACRE.—This noble and venerable lady ( expired at her residence in Chesterfield-street, on Wed aesday, in her 82d year. Her ladyship was daughter of ' the late Admiral Sir Chal loner Ogle, and relict of Va' entine Wilmot, and by her marriage with the late Thom as, 19th Baron Dacre, had no issue. In consequence of the derr rise of the late Bishop of Bath and Wells, Colonel Ed% yard Bagot, formerly of the Rifles, and now commandin g the Royal South Middle sex Militia, becomes the next heir to the magnificent property of Aslistead, in tilt& county of Surrey. This property, long a part of the hero ditary domain of the Suffolk family, is of Brea t extent and value, and the late bishop had a life interest in the est Ate. THE ENSUING BREVET.--It is generally expected in military circles that, on the occasion of the ensuing brevet, a field-marshal's baton will be conferred upon General Viscount Combernere, the oldest survivor ot Wellington's compeers. The gallant and noble offic t lr has been Colonel of the Ist Life Guards since 1829, hi. predecessor having been Charles Earl of Harrington, who had been colonel from 1792 down to 1829. 4 THE CHEVALIER BU!IS&Y. (From the Press of this day.) The recal of the Prussian Minister at the Court of St. James's (his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen) has bee; involved in considerable mystery, which, as it arises from circumstances which may affect the future relations ot the two countries as well as the European settlement, may deserve some elucidation. We have reason to be lieve that the startling and very unexpected event in question was occasionitd in this manner :—His Excel lency Chevalier Bunsen, some little time ago, addressed a secret and confidentuil deep ,tch to his Court, in which he sketched out a new territorial disposition of Europe, and indicated the pri ,vinees now belonging to Russia which it was proposed •to apportion to his own Sovereign. The King of Prussia was very indignant and greatly alarmed when Baron Matiteuffel submitted this despatch to his Majesty. The King ordered the instant recal of his plenipotentiary, and commanded General Groeben to proceed immediately to England on a special mission, and obtain from the British Government distinct expla nations whether the proposals of M. Bunsen had re ceived their sanction. The Ministry of Lard Aberdeen replied that the Bunsen project was in nowised autho rised by them, and th at they recognised the integrity of the Russian empire as . necessary to the political equili brium which they wished to maintain. The Chevalier Bunsen subsequently .addressed a long expla n atory letter to his Sovereign, but w ithout effect on his Excellency's altered position. Th. e King of Prussia expre-sed the anxiety of the Germai i Powers to restore and securee peace on the footing of the status quo, which was a sin qua non. EXCHEQUER-BILLS.—Tbe notice for the payment or renewal of the Exchequer-bills dated in June, which is usually published about the 17th of this month, has not yet been issued. The delay is attributed to the unavoid able absence of the Marcellor of the Exchequer from town, which has also caused the financial discussion in tended for Monday evening last to be postponed till Monday next, ST. PETERSIMIG.—The-dates from St. Petersburg are to the 11th of I vlay, but they contain nothing new. The only remark of interest with regard to business is that 250 casks of tallow had just been bought to be sent to Memel, whitth.v., it is said, a good supply will find its way. The weather was very warm. The rate of ex change remained at 350. to id. From Odessa there has been no later. intelligence. Ram OF EXOSIANGE.- -Exchange at Paris continues firm, and at 'Hamburg there has been a further improve ment. At the lattur city money is abundant at 2 per cent., and in Nome transactions has been obtained below that rate. At Amsterdam the quotations of exchange are nominally without alteration, but the tendency there also is toward.% a rise. THE LOSS OF THE TIGER. If the telegraphic despatch received via Vienna can be believed, it would seem to confirm the re ported loss of the Tiger :--- BUCHAREST, May 15.—An English steamer of 32 guns has been stranded close to Odessa, and obliged to surrender to the Russians. Two other steamers went to her assistance and bombarded the Russian works, but without effect. Ocher advices from Bucht,rest, of the 16th, say that the steam-frigate . Tiger, which was wr e cked near Odessa, has been...burnt. The crew of 300 are made prisoners. - It should be remembered, however, that the above comes direct from the head-quarters of the Russians, who are not over-scrupulous in turning the slightest mishap that befalls an enemy to the greatest possible advantage, while they even con vert defeats into positive victories. ST. PETERSBURGH. On the 18th of April the Poltava, of 84 guns, lying in the roadstead of Sweaborg, hoisted her flag under the command.of Captain Karakul. The crew musters 712 men. Toere are provisions on board for six months. On the 21st another ship of the line, the Russia, hoisted her flag ; her com mander is Rear-Admiral Kuasiev. Letters received yesterday from St. Petersburg prove that the writers knew of the presence of the hostile fleet off Cronstadt, but they communicate no new fact, and it would appear that even parties who are usually well informed, and have good channels of correspondence, are quite ignorant of the real position of affairs, and only hear such dis torted statements as it suits the purposes of the Government to furnish. It is a remarkable illus tration of this that several merchants in St. Peters burg whose letters have just reached London, are evidently impressed with a belief that the at tack of the allies on Odessa was unsuccessful, and that the fleet was beaten off, as the Russian offl cial documents an -I journals so impudently assert. So all-pervading is the influence of the Government that scarcely any of the commercial letters written from Odessa to western Europe since the bombard ment have dared to allude in .the slightest degree to the attack on that town. Cronstadt, it appears, is at present virtually sealed up, no one being al lowed to app-oach it unless by special permission of the Government. The appearance of mystery thus maintained seems to have led to tie conjec ture that some extraordinary means of defence is in course of preparation. Letters from Hamburg state that the Russian authorities at Revel had been in full expectation of being attacked, and had completed all their prepa rations. In fact, state the writers, Revel, Helsing fors, and Cronstadt, are so fully provided with every means of defence and offence, that doubts are en tertained if any success can be obtained against them unless a diversion can be effected by the simultaneous landing of a large body of troops. The Russian Government has just reduced the import duties on several foreign articles—on re lined sugars, for instance, and on molasses. They can also be now imported by land at Polangen, Taurrogen, Warsaw, and other localities. In.this way he hopes to lighten the burden of the blockade. The prohibition of the Czar on the exportation of corn is giving rise to every kind of complaint and dispute among the buyers and sellers. Corn is generally bought by contract, and is required to be delivered in the spring, when the navigation is open, and generally too the buyers make pecuniary advances to the sellers. These advances have been larger this season than heretofore, in consequence of the scarcity of grain felt over nearly all Europe. 'Pile Russian sellers now find themselves, in conse quence of recent events, totally unable to deliver the corn due, and hence the buyers are sadly dis tressed ; because they in their turn had received payments in advance, on similar conditions, at home.—Hamburg, May 15. THE BALTIC. STOCKHOLM, May 16.—Tue combined Swedish ind Norwegian fleets, comprising two line of battle ships, four frigates, and one corvette, ar ayed yesterday at Elfsnabben. The King went tboard, when he; witnessed great manifestation of ammstile feelings on the part of the crews against Russia. Fresh orders were given for repairs of 4un-boats and large numbers of new ones were or lered to be made ready in the dockyards. The British fleet at Hango, near Helsiugtors. HAMBURG, May 16.—The English fleet has en oouutered in the Baltic some terrible storms, bum it has manfully weathered them all. We hear of no casualties having happened to it. But the Swedish steamer, the Swiuska Lejonet, was lost in the port of Ystadt. The English cruisers now search every ship leaving the tort of Lubeck. CONSTANTINOPLE. LORD RAGLAN AND HIS ARMY. The following is the General Order issued by Lord Raglan on his arrival at Constantinople "The Queen having been graciously Reased to ap point General Lord Raglan to be commander of thr forces to be employed in Turkey iu support 4,f her ally, .us Imperial Maj!.sty the Su tan, and his Lordship lavirg arrived, all reports, & ~ will be made to hiu. ~ iirough the channels prescribed by her Majesty's regu The Commander of the Forces avails himself of tilt. earliest opportunity to impress upon the army the neces ,ity of maintaining the strictest discipline, of respecting :iersons and property, 'acrd the laws and usages of the country they have been bent to aid and defend, and par ticularly of avoiding to enter mosques, churches, and the private dwellings of a people whose habits are pecu iar, and unlike those of the other nations of Europe. " Lord Raglan fully relies upon the general and other .fficers of his army t) afford him their support in the repression of disorder ; and he confidently hopes that the troops themselves, anxious to maintain the character they have acquired elsewhere, will endeavour to become the example of obedience to order and of attention to discipline, without which success is impossible, and their presence would be an evil instead of an advantage to those whose cause their Sovereign had deemed it proper to espouse. << The army will be for the fir,t time with an ally to whom it has been the lot of the British nation to be op posed in the field for many centuries. The gallantry and high military qualities of the French army are 'natters of history, and the alliance which has now been formed will, the Commander •( the forces trusts ,be of long duration, as well as productive of the most im portant consequences. " Lord Raglan is aware, from personalcommunication with the distine.uished officer who is appointed to cow 'nand the French army, Marshal St. Arnaud, and many if the superior officers, that every disposition exists throughout their ranks to cultivate the best under standing w ith the British army, and to co-operate most warmly with it ; and he entertains no doubt that her Majesty's troops are actuated by the same spirit, and that the first ambition of each army will be to acquire the confidence and good opinion of the other.' A letter, dated Scutari Barracks, May 6, says : —" As yet our men have behaved uniformly well, and are daily becoming more and more friendly with the natives. It is necessary, once again, to warn the public at home against believing reports from Constantinople. R uss i an an d G ree k emis saries are constantly putting forth the must atro cious falsehoods. Lately it was stated that the French authorities and Turkish commission at Gallipoli had had serious differences, whereas the fact is, that Cabouli Effendi and Molina Pasha, who speak the French lanivage fluently, have throughout arranged so wisely, that the greatest unanimity exists among all parties. Again, it has been set forh that the Greek population is ready, at any given moment, to rise in favour of Russia. Nothing can be more untrue. Tile subjects of the Sultan who are of the Eastern Church know well what that faith has already suffered at the hands of Russia; and they feel that, politically speaking, they are better off under the Sultan, especially now that Euglandand Fiance have bound themselves to pro tect them against oppression ' and to secure to them a just admini s t ra ti on of the laws of the laud. At the outset some portion of the Greeks were carried away by a momentary excitement. They knew ' little of the matter in question, and thought that a new Byzantine empire was about to be theirs ; but a little quiet examination has taught them better things, and the vow of .I`.llcliolos that, with the consent of Russia Greece shall never be ex tended, has convinced them that a merciful and honest Sultan is a far better friend even to Chris tians that; a cruel and double-dealing Czar. The following extract from a letter dated Adrianople, 24th April, will show how little inclination there is on the part of the Greeks to rise against the Sultan : "The Greek Archbishop Cyril, during a pastorll visit 4 hich he has just completed through a portion of his diocese, has never cea.4ed exhorting ail Clliri,,tinos to ob serve obedience and submission to the 'mighty Sul an Abd-ul Medjid,' who watches over then proclanns) as over his own children, and whoQe every mcment is engaged in planning for them greater happiness. D'iritiLr the great c , remonies of Satarday eve , ing and Su day the most fervent prayers were offered by the worthy prelate for the preserv4tion of the Sultan, the success or ins arms, and for God's blessing upon all his works ; and the vast crowd of worshippers wh;ch filled the spa cious cathedral responded to the prayer with a pro longed and hearty Amen." It cannot be said that great sickness exists in our army, but the influence of adulterated wines and spirits is beginning to show itself by an increase of patients in the hospitals. A soldier landed in Turkey is to the Government a useful article, and his health ought to be carefully guarded. Why, then, is not something done to keep him from the deadly effects of poisonous wines and spirits, which, in spite of present precautions, find their way into the canteens ? A little energy on the part of the authorities would soon produce a change for the better. Give a good income to some man of cha racter and capacity, whose, duty it shall be, under the directi:'n of a military commission, to superin tend supplies for the army of a good quality at the lowest fy:ssible price, and a blessing of incalculable value will result to the soldier, and thousands of pounds would be gained by the Government by the diminution of sickness. A small profit upon each article sold would speedily pay all expenses. • The experiment has been tried in India with every suc cess, and surely it must be practicable when we are within 15 days of England. . .~ +.+w.a.. ".~. ' . THE DANUBE. From Vienna,under date of yesterday, we learn that the vanguard of Luders' left wing was at Kalniga on the 13th. The Russians, turning the position at Rassova, suffered immensely. The Wanderer of the 15th has the following : " KALAFAT, MAY 6.—The day before yesterday six squadrons of Turkish Cossacks and five of Turkish Hussars had an engagement with the Russian Cos sacks near Radovan. The affair lasted three hours, and ended with the total defeat of the latter. After ,the second charge the Russians were in complete disorder, and quitting their horses took refuge in a large thicket.- Sixty horses fell into the hands of the Turks. As I learn from a major who is lying ill here, the Russians had 138 kill , xl and 12 wounded. The latter, with two guns, were brought in here. The Turksliad ten killed and two wounded. At present the Russians are beyond the Schyl, about two English miles and a half from Kr ,jova, and news of fresh rencontrei is daily expecte. 1." Ad vices from Bucharest, dated May 8, state that Prince Paskiewitsch has again left fur the Danube. An attack by water and by laud is about to be made, under his direction, on Silistria. For some days past transports of sick and wounded from Little Wallachia have passed through that city. Many of these men are conveyed in pea sants' waggons drawn by oxen, as the Russians have not ambulances enough. After resting one flay here, these sick and wounded are sent on to Bused, Plojetchti, Rimnik, and Tekutch. The Hospodar has placed Servia in a kind of state of siege. On the 4th and sth there were very serious affairs at Giurgevo, with great loss on both sides. No particulars are known. A German officer, who wrote on the 30th of April from Odessa, states that the damage done by the allied fleets was tremendous, and probably far surpasses the reports which have been sent i❑ by the assailants. It is reported that on the 4th of May the strand batteries at the Salina mouth of the Danube were completely destroyed. GREECE. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TURKS BURNED ALIVE. The Al oniteur publishes the following : " SYRA.—Piracy is making fresh progress in the Greek -eas. The new impu se which the loudly a owed com plicity of the Greek Government has given to the in-ur rection only encourages acts of brigandage. Bands, recruited amongst the dregs .of the population, ann pro vided with papers perfectly regular delivered by the Greek Government itself, infest the Archipelago in fish ing vessels, attacking indistinctly vessels of all nations. Toe commercial people of Smyrna are in great alarm at this state of things, and it is announced that special and energetic measures are about to be taken to re-establish the security of navigation in the Arch pelago. " ATHENS.—The three Gsnerals appointed to reor ganise the Greek insurrection have left, taking with them not 200,000 drachmas (the drachma is 90 centime , ), as we at first mentioned, but 600,000. The piratical policy followed by the Greek Government with regard to Turkey has already cost two millions. The volun tary subscriptions have only amounted to 180,000 drachmas, and the receipts of the Treasury for the month of March only produced throughout the whole kingdom 600,000 drachmas. Nevertheless all the services are duly paid up. It, is useless to - seek to establish what the Emperor of Russia so clearly avows in his circular of the 2d March. It may be considered as certain that that Prince furnishes a military subsidy to the Greek Government. This subsidy appears to be one million of drachmas." " FRONTIERS OF MACEDONIA.—This province is said to have been invaded by a band of Greek adventurers to the number of 2,000, having at their head ShAnii-Kara tasso, ex-aide-de-camp of the King of Greece. Accanling to the same information, 500 Greeks are said to have landed at Sigga, while the remainder of tr.e expedition oroceeded to Saint Nicolo. Tne Greeks have marked their presence in Macedonia, as they have done in Epi rus and Thesbaiy, by unheard-of acts of briganda4e. ['hey are said to have burnt alive 150 Turks, men,• wo •uer:, and children, who at their approach had taken re fuge in a church." GREEK VERACITY. The following is a translation of an article from the Greek newspaper Union : " SYRA, April 22 (May 4), 1954 —The passengers who arrived to-day from Constantinople and Suyrna„ by the Austrian steamer, as also various letters from those places, positively assure us that the English and French fleets which attacked Odessa were not able to enter the port, and that they only destroyed 30 or 40 houses situated above the castle. The Russian guns sunk two .f the E 'Ash and French vessels, and rendered entirely , useless f ,ur others, which have been brought to Con stantinople for repair. The captairs themselves of these vessels admit that 800 sailors of the fleet were killed, but if we are to believe others, the number of killed and wounded surpasses 2000. We are, moreover, assured that English and French admirals have announced to their i; i rovernments, that, according to information they have received front their spies, it will be impossible to attack Sebastopol with success. We have no difficulty in be leving the above, because we are well acquainted with Russian history, and we know the gigantic progress of that great nation ; for this reason we do not doubt that the trivial and superficial English and French, and especially the latter, will shortly confess, by their defeat, the worth, power, and progress of the re nowned nation of Russia. In the meanwhile, we rejoice in the discomfiture of our co-religionists, the friends of the English and French, who related with confidence, and actually believed, that the allied fleet would doubtlessly destroy Odessa in 10 hours and Sebastopol in 24 ! This article was published alter the official account of the bombardment of Odessa had appeared in the Journal de Constantinople and the Impartial of Smyrna, and is a deliberate falsehood, for the purpose of circulation amongst the lower orders of Greeks and the insurgents on the frontiers, as also to please the Hellenic Government and the Russian patty. The mendacity of the Greeks is, however, proverbial, and only recoils upon themselves, as not the sligotest reliance is placed on statements emanating from them." THE BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA. The following is a letter from Mr. James T. Hart who had charge of the rocket boat off Odessa. It is given/rom the Hastiiegs Bews :--- "Sunday Evening, off Odessa, April 23. --I now with great pleasure communicate to you the news of the action. We left the ship at daylight yesterday (Satur day), and were towed in by the Tiger. The action com menced about 6.45 a.m. We in the rocket boats imme diately cast off, and pulled it towards the beach, to keep clear of the shot from the forts. When about 400 yards from the shore we instantly opened fire on the Russian ships lying at anchor inside the mole, also on the bar racks, which the merchant masters told us contained six hundred soldiers. About the third rocket set fire to some government stores, which were soon in a blaze. We kept up a constant fire on the barracks and ships, which quickly shared the same fete. About 11.50 a.m. the first division steamed out, and the second came in and opened a fire, which was kept up with great Tirit until about 12.30 p.m., when the first division came in again and commence I afresh. Ou the Samp son's nearing us we were ordered oil board to get tit me thing to eat, not having had anything that day, as we left the ship so very early and suduenly. There being a strong breeze and a heavy swell, we were all very wet and uncomfortable. Wh en we arrived on board the Sampson's men behaved vet) , well to us, giving each man a glass of grag and a biscuit. I fared very well, knowing some of the officers on board. They give me ail they hail, namely, some "salt horse," as Jack calls it, and a tuinhier full of good port wine, which I soon demolished. We did not remain more than ten minutes, and left the ship to fire at the fort and shippir g, being in better spirits. We pulled in boldly for the beach to set fire to some slips in course of build ing. When about 400 yards distant some heavy horse artillery opened a very heavy fire on the rocket boats of shell, shot, grape, and canister, Tile first shot went over the boats ; the second, a shell, burst close to us, breaking six oars, and wounding a few men. Had we been ten yards nearer, I do not think a man would have been left to tell the tale. One shell burst close along side my boat, and a part of it very nearly hit the cox swa'lland myself on the head. We immediately pulled sharp round to get under cover of the SampeJn, which I am happy to say we accomplished, having sustained but little damage. On the Sampson seeing the horse artillery open fire on us, she immediately opened shell and shot on them. The first shell burst amongst them, and no doubt must have caused great loss of life. They quickly retreated, and we stood in towards the mole, and fired away at the fort and ship. pint; About a quarter befor , one p.m., the imperial tort and mo'e, i.lew up, no doubt kitting some hundreds of the artil!ery. We gave three hearty cheerm, which were returned from the steliners. 'I he guns were et course tile. silenced ; the in closer, and """ ineneed firing. on another fort and the hips inside, which were total,y destroyed. When the fort blew up, it was a most trihtful sight., some of the pieces fell very nearly on board my boa.t, also a sponge belonging t ► one of the Russian suns." FRAN CE. The Minister of Marine has addressed the fol lowing circular to the different maritime authori ties relative to the interpretation of the measure which grants to Russian merchant vessels a delay of six weeks to leave the French ports : " Gentlemen —1 notified to you, on the 28th of Marco last, the declaration of the 27th of the same month, which granted a delay of six weeks from the latter date fur Russian vessels to quit French ports. By my circular, of the 26th ult., I made known to you that Russian vessels laden on French account in Russian ports of the Baltic and White Sea would have until the 15th of the present month to quit these ports for the destination of France and Algeria, and might afterwards return to a neutral port. Similar in structions were, as I have inforino you, sent to the commanders-in-chief of the British squadrons. But the officers of the English Baltic squadron have raised the question whether the delays granted to Russian vessels to leave English ports was to be extended to the Rus sian vessels leaving neutral ports. The answer can only he in the negative, and the English Admiralty has made this known to its cruisers. I know not, gentlemen, whether similar doubts may have arisen in your minds ; but, in order to prevent any hesitation on the subject, I must here repeat that the free return is only secured. to Russian vessels leaving a port in France, England, or Algeria, within the required delays.—Accept, &c., ‘ Ducos." On Thursday afternoon the Emperor, accom panied by the Minister of the Interior and the Mi nister of State, and one of his aides-de-camp, went to the Hotel de Ville to examine the execution in relict of the new project for the Central Halles, which had been previously submitted to his appro bation. His Majesty on alighting from his car riage was received by the Prefect of the Seine, M. Deiangle, the president of the municipal council, and the secretary-general of the Prefecture, and conducted into the Salle du Trune, where MM. Baltard and Callet, the architects of the Halles, were in attendance. His Majesty, after examining the plans in all their details, and particularly in quiring into the opinions given by the 15,000 or 20,000 persons who had been admitted to visit them, expressed his entire satisfaction at all their arrangements, and gave orders fur their being promptly carried into execution. The Three per Cents. opened yesterday, at 6Sf. 30c. fe!l to 67f. 60c., and closed at 6Sf. 10c. for the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-Halt per Cents. closed at 941. 10c. ; and the New Loan at 67f. 75e. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,107 f. 50c.; Rouen, 9161. 25c. ; Havre, 470 f. ; Great Northern, 807 f. 50c. ; Strasburg, 750 f. ; New Shares, 585 f. ; Paris and Lyons, 9101. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 75Jf. ; Western of France, 625 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 562 f. 50c. ; Great Central of France, 482 f. 50c. ; Lyons to Geneva, 4671.50 c. ; Bank of Credit Mubilier, 625 f. AUSTRIA. THE NEW LEVY OE' 95,000 MEN. The Vienna Gazette publishes the following autograph letter of the Emperor of Austria to the Minister of the Interior : " My dear Baron de Buch—The menacing turn which political circumstances in general have tiken. the large bodies of troops which in consequence of the troubles in the East have been put in motion on the frontiers of my Empire, arid in particular the fact that concentra tions of troops have taken place on the front;ers of the East and North, have rendered necessary the adoption of measures with a view to protect the monarchy against all eventualities, and offering at the same time all gua rantees for the preservation of the interests of my Empire, gravely menaced by this regretable con flict, and securing the position which becomes it as a European power. From this consideration I have given orders to have the military forces in the Sout-East and North-East provinces increased, and to that effect I have ordered a levy of 95,000 men. In charging you to place yourself in relation with the general in command of my army to arrange every thing which concerns this order, I feel it necessary to express my conviction that my faithful subjects will give, in the execution of this mea sure and of every other tending to the safety of my Em pire, fresh proofs of their devotedness and their readiness to make every sacrifice that can be inspired by a patriotic feeli , g. as they have done at all previous conjunctures. " Vienna, May 15. "FRANCIS JOSEPH." The Lloyd of Vienna of the 16th says :—" It is now certain that a project of revolutionising the Selavonians, in the vicinity of Montenegro, was on. foot, but the firm attitude of th e A us t r i an Cabinet has defeated it. This is a proof that Austria is re solved to follow up the protocol of Vienna. With out tiring a single shot she-has deprived Russia of an entire army." The Emperor of Austria, has given orders for seven - regiments of infantry and two of cavalry to he immediately placed on the war footing in Hungary. T Ciologne Gazette states that a postal treaty has 'just been concluded between Austria and Russia. ITALY. A letter from Turin, iu the Honiteur, says " Sixty Italian refugees have landed at Sarzana, and marched towards the frontier of Tuscany. They were armed, and call themselves the ad vanced guard of a more numerous assemblage. A war steamer has left Genoa with troops for Sarzana, in order to capture these men, whose mad expedi tion cannot be attended with any serious conse quences. It is stated that the concealed action of Russian agents is not unconnected with this de monstration, and that the same Government that pays the Grcek insurrection would not hesitate to assist the Italian deipagogues." The (orriere ,:tiercaittile, of Genoa, of the 15th quotes a letter fro►n La Spezia, whence it would appear that another attempt had simultaneously been made there, for the distance between Le Spezia and Sarzana, is too great to admit of the supposition of both accounts relating to the same fact. The letter says : " Yesterday (13th), at daybreak, a vessel approached the eastern shore of our gulf, between Ler►ci and Punta del Corvo. From 50 to 70 armed men landed, bringing a number of packages on shore, probably arms and ammunition. Carabineers and sharp hooters were in stantly despatched from here to the spot. The men that landed fled in the direction of the mountain. Some were arrested, and about 150 muskets, ammunition, and a mould for bullets was seized. The vessel had put to sea. A. rumour was current that the people who had landed expected to be joined by a party of refugees and others already in the country ; but no movement of any kind has been observed." Lord Minto arrived at Turin on the sth from Florence. Cardinal Lambruschini, Bishop of Porto San Rufino and Civita Vecchia, the oldest member but one of the Sacred College, and Secretary of the Pontifical Briefs, died at Rome on the 12th. He was born at Genoa on the 16th of May, 1776, and was Prime Minister under Pope Gregory XVI. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 14th contain no political information of interest. There are long accounts of the reviews, rejoicings, and illumina tions, which had taken place in honour of the an niversaryof the birtlidayof the K;ng. The H eraldo states that MM. Avecilla, Riego, Villasarte, Ber cera, and other persons, who were arrested some months ago on a charge of conspiracy, have been set at liberty on bail. M. Rivera alone has been kept in prison. M. Sisto Canard, who was recently arrested on SOCOO political charge, has been re leased. It is stated from a Barcelona journal that a privilege has been granted to M. Debergue for the construction of a railroad from Granollero to the French frontier. The 14th being Sunday, the Stock Exchange was not open. THE CIVIL SERVICE.—Deputy-Commissary-General Weir has been appointed to take charge of the expedi tion to the Archipelago, and will hand over his pre-ent charge at Gibraltar to Assistant-Cornrnissary-Gen era l Davenport, to be held by him until the arrival of Deputy-Commissary-General Dinwiddie from England at that station. Mr. Weir will take with him two of the clerks now serving at Gibralt ar . A ss i stan t- Commissary-General crake will proceed from Eng land on board the Orinoco, accompanied by tem porary clerk Servantes, to , serve und e r M r . W e ir ; and A s -i4 an t-Cominis:::try-CTe era' Archer will leave Corfu for the same purpose. Mr. Francis Robert Berto lacci, of the Ordnance Department, Pall-mall, who has been eng,ged on special duties at the Treasury, has.been appointed Auditor of the Duchy of Lancaster. A vacancy of third-class clerk in the Payment Account-office at the Admiralty, Somerset-house, is caused b.. the resignation of Mr. Percy Stanhope. A clerkship in the Inland De partineet of the General Post-office is vacant, caused by the resignation of Mr. Morgan ; salary 801. There will shortly be a vacancy of Assistant Examiner in the Audit-office, Somerset-house, caused by the superannua tion of Mr. Nantes Tupper, Senior Examiner, second class. Mr. E. Simpson has been appointed foreman of shipwrklits at Malta Dockyard, at a salary of 1601. a year. There is a vacancy of a landing-surveyorship at Liverpoool, c ause d b y the death of Mr. Andrew H. Bul teel ; salary 4001. There are land ing- waiterships vacant at Liverpool, 7,;ce IVlessiN J. H. Magrath and C. G. Say, superanuated ; salary 1501. The appointment of con trol,ership of customs at Grimsby is vacant, caused by the dismissal of S. Mayer. A landing surveyorship at Grimsby is vacant, caused by the dismissal of Mr. CAPP ter,-70tivil Scrvice Gado. 1 '~.- I -__~~ The leave 13( 12th, ar Buoy. Mersey despat el Daornini At tl forced 1 on the royal t] import after th deman.. thority protooc cont the