The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-17 00:00:00

THEATRE ItOY.II, DRURY LANE Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. The Last Week but Two of Mr. G. V. BROOKE'S Engagement previous to his saUin.; for California and Australia. THIS EVENING, Itasca 17, WW be performed (3d tlme) LEONIE. Principal characters by 311119431 Lowe and Featherstone, Mr. Elliot Galer, and Ur. Henri Drayton. After which, a Grand BALLET DIVERTI93EMENT. T.) be followed by the new Farce, called MY CO AND HOUSE KEEPER. Principal characters by Messrs. Youngs and Belton; and Miss Featherstone. THEATRE ROYAL HAYNI RKET. Maier the management of Mr. Anctatone. THIS EVENING, Maxim 17, Will be performed THE STRANGER. Principal characters by Mr. G. Vandennoff, Chippendale, Howe, Farren, Rogers, and C 'mp ton ; 3dlss Cushman, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham. and M.'s E. Chaplin. After which, WILLIKIND AND HYS DINAH. Supported by Messrs. Buckstone and Core ; Miss Louisa Howard, Mrs. Fitzwil liam, and Mrs. Caulfield. To conclude with THE PORTRAIT OF CERVANTES. Prin cipal characters by Mr. Compton and Miss E. Grey. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CIZARLZB &ZAN. THIS EVENING, Miami 17, Will be performed RICHARD THE THIRD. prlngipai charac ter by Mr. C. Kean. To be followed by AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY. Characters by Meant. Meadows, D. Fisher, and Baker ; Mimes Murray and Daly. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, Mason 17, Will be performed A NICE FIRM. Principal characters by 14 e Imre .C. Mathews, F. Matthews. and Roaby ; Mrs. F. Matthews. To be followed by A CHARMING WIDOW. After which, the popular Fairy Extravaganza, entitled ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KINGS. 'haracters by Messrs. Roxby, F. Matthews , and Bland ; Madame Vestris, Misses George, Eglanton, Mason, Martindale, Ellis, W adham, an d Foote. Concluding with NUMBER ONE ROUND THE CORNER. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAaca 17, will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama in five tableaux., with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, called THE THIRS r OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley. Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. To conclude with ME SERIOU'i FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Leigh Murray, Parselle, and Keeley; Mrs L. ItitirraY. Misses Woolgar, Fanny Maskell, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, MAaca 17, Will be performed TO OBLIGE BENSON. Supported by Messrs. Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. After which, THE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, and F. Robson ; and Mrs. Wigan ant Miss Marston. To be followed by THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Messrs. Adfrsd Wigan, Leslie, Franks, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss P. Horton, and Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alicroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, MAacit 17, Will be performed LA SONNAMBULA. To be followed by THE OMNIBUS. Pat Rooney, Mr. Hodson. After which, THE BLUE JACKETS. To conclude with THE COBKONIAN BROTHERS. Paddy and Tim Mulligan (the Brothers), Mr. G. Hodson. Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, Is. lid ; c iallery, rd. ; Private Boxes 1/. 119. 6d., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, MAIICEL 17, And during the week, will be presented the new, grand, and romantic spectacle entitled THE %4'OODlIA.v'S HOWSE; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Horse by the pet steed, Beauty, expressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, the inco apardAe Scenes of the ARENA.. To conclude with the Domestic Drama of THE WHITE FARM • Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. i UGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIN DAT —Morning 39 min.after 3 I Evening 55 min.afi. 3 fo-Moaaow—Morning 14 min.after 4 1 Evening 31 miu.aft. 4 THE WEATHER.--Sus Orstos, Mecca 17. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. GO —highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 53—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'47. WIND, N.N.W.—Light breeze, and fine, clear, dry weather. 1 45 e" . 11, •••• " •'t 1 1 3% . . ,* 44 11. 7 " , ; s.^. • LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1854. This evening the discussion of the Budget will commence in good earnest, and we sincerely trust that it may not be brought to a conclusion until a distinct and unequivocal pledge be given that the impost which has been designated by persons of all parties as " unjust, inquisitorial, and oppres sive," shall be materially modified during the present session. The question is not whether a perfectly just and unexceptionable Income Tax can be levied, but whether there may not be such an approximation to justice as to render it more tolerable than at present, and to remove the most urgent complaints that have been preferred against the entire system. We repeat to Mr. GLADSTONE what we so often stated to Sir CHARLES WooD, that the people do not really object to the tax itself— that they would cheerfully meet the tax gatherer, with ten or even twenty per cent. of their entire incomes, if the national exigencies, or the full emancipation of trade and commerce, required ao great a sacrifice ; but they demand, as a matter of right and justice, that the burden shall be more equitably apportioned—that the physical or intellectual labourer shall not be taxed as highly on the hard earnings of his painful industry, as the fundholder or landed pro prietor. The former out of his earnings has not merely to provide by insurance for the support of his family when he himself has been summoned to his last account, but also to set aside a provision for a rainy day, when, by the loss of health, change of fashion, or by the competition of younger and more energetic rivals, his profits shall alto gether vanish. The latter have no such demands on their resources, and may spend every shil ling of their dividends or chief rents; while the former, if a man of ordinary prudence, must set aside, at least, half of his net profits, besides expending a considerable portion of his receipts in the mode of earning it, for which no allowance is made. Such as the purchase of books, and travelling to assizes or sessions by the barrister, and keeping horse and carriage by the medical practitioner in the country, or clergyman of an extensive district. Whether, then, we look to the sum remaining available for private expenses to the contributors under schedules A and D, or to the actual marketable value of that for which they are taxed the gross ine quality and unfairness of the present system is equally perceptible ; al though, of course, the disparity is more glaring, the unfair ness more revolting, when viewed in the latter Point of view. _ It is absurd to say that the task of amending the law i s one of ex t raor di nar y difficulty, such a 4 a person competent to fill the situation of Fi nancial Minister of the British Empire might reasonably shrink from. Why, there is not a single actuary worth a salary that would bring him withi n the tax, forwa. who could not, within a single as a great improvement scheme that wouldbe generally regard e d g t on that now in operation, and therefore acceptable to the great contributors. majority of the lt is ridiculous, therefore, for a man of m whi . GLADSTONE'S unques tionable talent, of Mr, so many proofs have been given, to proclaim his w ith the subject with a re inability to grapple m ( ) offer ing a satisfac tor y soluti on of the important pro ble hope of blem. It is the will, a nd not the ability, that is wanting. A nd the Right ii€ should be called upon either to undertake Gentleman which, in his po sition, becomes an imperative that duty, or to resig n the office he now holds, e who had greater confid ence in his own p ow ers , Many propositions have already been brou g h t forward, any of which would be far better th an the existing law. Noth in g but the " pled g e ” given for the gradual extinction of the tax would have induced the House, nine-tenths of whose members had committed themselves on the subject, to vote the renewal of the tax, without modifica tion or alteration. That pledge was as distinct and positive as anything relating to zt period seven years deferred could have been. W e never, however , for a moment believed that it would be practicable for ani Financial Minister to relinquish a fiscal instrument so potent and so productive, and we P do not regret that there has been a more speedy fulfilment of our predictions than even we our selves had contemplated. Looking on a Property and Income Tax, equitably apportioned and fairly levied, as the best possible tax for the community, considering that its extinction would not merely retard, but altogether prevent, the further develop ment of " free trade," or " unrestricted com petition," " The rose by any name will smell as sweet," and removing the burdens that unduly press o n industry, we rejoice at the early and unequivo cal evidence of the fallacy of the hopes so boldly held forth by the Minister, and so credulously indulged in by the people. Were it otherwise, we could not hope to get rid of in tote, or even ma terially reduce, the tax on prudence, in the shape of the stamps on fire, life, or marine insurances, all of which, more especially the former, have been decidedly condemned by public opinion. We could not hope to get rid of the impedi ment to knowledge, which prevents the publica tion of cheap and wholesome food for the popular mind, nor to remove the other innumerable evils incidental to the heavy duties on paper—we could not hope to adopt the judicious suggestions of Mr. OuvErRA for reducing the duties on the light wines of France, by which the habits of intemperance so deplorably prevalent in certain districts, the evil which has been styled the " English vice," may be gradually diminished and ultimately removed, while the bonds, by which we are united to our faithful and effi cient ally may be drawn closer and materially strengthened. We cannot hope to remove the stain of confiscation from our fiscal code by the removal of the hop duties, or hope to see the labourer drinking sound wholesome home-brewed beer, made of untaxed malt, in the presence of his family, and by the domestic hearth, in the place of quaffing adulterated and drugged potions in beer-shops, where bad habits may be engendered and crime concocted. None of these blessings can be hoped for if the Income and Property Tax he extinguished, and extinguished it must be unless rendered more equitable. Let fiscal reformers, then, make a determined exertion. An opportunity has very unexpectedly been offered, which should not be wasted or misapplied. If a vigorous and determined resistance be offered—if honourable gentlemen act at all up to their pro fessions, Mr. GLADSTONE must yield, and there will be unalloyed joy and gratification throughout the entire country. We are now on the eve, almost on the morning, of a war, and our brave sailors, and era long our brave soldiers, may any day be clearing or form ing for action. None can say how soon the lives of our noble fellows may hang upon the direction of a Russian shot, and the result of an important battle depend upon one of those unforeseen cir cumstances, which minds like those of CIESAR himself and the first NAPOLEON attributed to fate, but which we, with all rever ence and absolute freedom from superstition, assign to PROVIDENCE. Our sailors in this agree with us. Whatever their somewhat boisterous - vices, cold scepticism is not one of them. That is the creed of a life spent among a machi nery which fosters an unnatural reliance on human skill. JACK, who has spent all his life amid ele ments which baffle all human calculation, is a firm believer in the GOD who made him ; he likes to quit harbour with the prayers of the Church ; and OD the midnight watch he has visitations of thought fulness which those who see him rampant on shore would hardly believe. Roughly, too, as he can look upon a Russian line-of-battle-ship, and recklessly as he will dare a whole crew of knouted serfs at the command to board, he has a tender place in his JOHN BULL'S heart, and can use his weather worn sleeve to dash away a tear at some thoughts of "the land, and those in it, he left behind him." And, in the awful moments before the murderous artillery begin to play on either side, when all is ready, and the word of command alone wanting ; and still more in the moments when, wounded and fainting, perhaps, he hopes no longer to revisit the house of his heart—at these times he needs and prizes the hope that the GOD of heaven is his friend. Should he not know, then, that he goes into this most righteous war, not only with HEA VEN'S approval of his cause, but with his country's spe cial prayers to the LORD OF HOSTS, to bless him in the day of battle? We have "kept our powder dry"—we have used every means human skill, indus try, and foresight can think of ; we have provided our warriors by land and by sea with the best commissariat, and the most efficient medical aid ; but, as we observed on Saturday, " the commence ment of a great war is not the appropriate time for boasting or for exultation." No ; we have rather to invoke solemnly the aid of that AL MIGHTY PROVIDENCE which will not ultimately for sake the trustful and the brave, though it may per mit occurrences which teach us our dependence. We think we saw some question put to the Go vernment in one of the Houses of Parliament respecting a day of humiliation and prayer. Humiliation, as it is commonly understood, ap pears to us very inappropriate ; unless, indeed, we confessed our sins in conniving at the past wickedness of Russia, in Poland, Hungary, Cir cassia, indeed everywhere along a frontier built up with the murdered liberties of free countries. Otherwise, while it would ill become us to boast be fore the MOST HIGH, never before, not even when Lord EXMOUTH bombarded Algerine pirates, have we been engaged in a more righteous cause—one in which, without a tinge of cant or hypocrisy, we can take up Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S prayer, " May HEAVEN defend the right!" Would it he unbe coming for Government to give the hint that a day of prayer be appointed for the success of our arms ? Christians of every denomination throughout Great Britain would heartily and devoutly respond to it. Thousands of hearts at home would be fervent on behalf of brothers and husbands abroad, in whose risks they are anxiously concerned ; and the intelligence would rejoice the hearts of our brave men as it reached them, that their whole fatherland, by its spontaneous supplications, had invoked for them the benediction of the GOD Ok' BATTLES. We shall not have gone to heaven before having done our utmost both to preserve peace and to prepare for war. To have done so previously would have been to incur justly the rebuke which Lord PALMERSTON addressed to the Edinburgh clergymen—not to do it now, might equally argue both an overweening self-reliance, and a neglect of Drvuu PROVIDENCE, which is not right in itself, and which we might hereafter have occasion to deplore. The opposition of the Government to Mr. FAGAN'S motion on Ministers' Money may be characterised in a sentence. They defended the worst exaction, of 'the worst establishment in Europe, by the worst of arguments. After what such a statesman as MACKINTOSH, such a historian as MACAULAY, and such a poet as MOORE have said or sung, to prove the Irish Establishment, as an establishment, the most indefensible piece of reli gious tyranny in the world, is quite superfluous. After the confessions of all parties as to the odious ness of a tax, first levied under an Act passed in the godly and charitable times of CHARLES ll. levied only upon eight large and chiefly Roman Catholic towns—levied to pay the Ministers of the Church who now revel, with little or no thing to do, iu the endowments once belonging to these very Catholics—the levy amounting, more over, to only 15,0001. per annum—after this it were equally a work of supererogation to denounce the tax itself. And then again, the absurd, the childish argument by which it was defended—the inviolability of Church property !—the inviola bility of an annual and hateful tax ; of a tax the abolitou of which, even without a substitute, flu one would miss on the death of the present recipients !—if this tax be inviolable property, so is the Corporation coal tax in London, and all the other most abhorred imposts of that anti etuatecl body. As Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH long ago ouserved, Church property has none of the characteristics o f pr i va t e property ; it is pu re ly national, and has been, and can be, dealt with by the nation as it sees fit. Lik e the Annuity Ta x in Edinbur g h and. Church Rates throughout England, except that a ves t r y can refuse the lat- ~~: ~~7+,'~,,_~' t io+ '~• .;ems AY+v ..+ jf ,•~. 1 - . 2rT . THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING. MARCH 17 ter, the Ministers' Money is a tax utterly out of keeping with the intellige cc and temper of the age. Taxes like these are mete ecclesiastical blisters ; they may not seriously injure the suf ferer, but they keep up an intolerable irritation. None of us like tax-paying ; and the only miti gation of the evil is, that we believe its objects to be on the whole good, and that we receive an ample return in the general security and order ; but in these clerical taxes it is just the reverse : we receive nothing in return, but are taxed to teach doctrines we disapprove. The Roman Ca tholic or the Dissenter could live in peace and charity with his State Church neighbour, they would shake hands cordially as they returned from their respective Divine services ; but when the Churchman, in addition to his 600,000/. in Ireland, and 6,000,000/. in England, per annum of national property, demands from the man who pays for his own worship a personal payment in addition, human nature must be greatly altered if it does not provoke a quarrel. All such anti social nuisances must be cleared away. id 0 N N 1 A it ANI. COAIMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000 bales, all to the trade. The market continue,l tame but steady, with prices of all kinds in favour of buyers. The sales comprised 240 Pernam and Maranham, at 6-id. to 7id., 500 Bahia at 60., 100 Egyptian at 6d. to 71d., 400 Surat at 31d. to 4d., 40 Sea Island at is. Id. to Is. 3d. per lb., and the re mainder American. Railway Shares were dull. Colonial produce has been duller this week, and less firmness has been evinced by holders. Coffee, sugar, spices, and rice are all lower, and the supply has increased. Tea has been held at above the market prices, tallow has been firm, and hemp at full prices. The tenour of the commercial advices by the steamer Sydney, from Australia, is stated to be un satisfactory, but we have as yet no details, the only information received being obtained indirectly by the arrival of the Great Western steamer from St. Vincent. The dates from Melbourne are the 17th Dec., and from Sydney about the 7th, and it is probable these will reach us to-morrow or Monday, as the Sydney steamer was to leave St. Vincent on the 4th instant, two days after the Great Western, which called at various places after leav ing that place. It is reported that the Melbourne markets were greatly overstocked, and that sales were increasingly difficult, but that land maintained its price, because the cheapness of imports left the miner greater disposable means for its purchase. The details of the markers must, however, be awaited, ere we can state with any degree of confi dence what has occurred, although it is easy enough to understand what will probably take place, viz. pressure and failures before a healthy tone is re stored. One circumstance, however, should not be lost sight of as affording hope of the reaction being sensibly mitigated, if it be not arrested. There has been such a decided advance in the prices of many articles in Europe, since shipments of them were made to Melbourne, that they could not be replaced now upon the terms at which they were originally invoiced. Advices from Cologne state that a quantity of arms manufactured in Belgium had been received there for transmission to Russia. The police stopped them iii transitu, but appear subsequently to have allowed them to be sent away. The Van Diemen's Land Company, at their meeting just held, have declared a dividend of 10s.. per share. The English Stock Market has been rather heavy, and with scarcely a bargain on speculation. The fact of 300,000/. having been withdrawn from the Bank of England yesterday, making about a million and a half within a few days, is suffi cient to deter operations for a rise, as money is decidedly tighter, and the whole amount withdrawn has been forwarded to Paris. The arrangement by which a deposit of 10 per cent. to be made upon subscribing for the loan, is at tracting, and temporarily locking up considerably more than will ultimately be needed for the first instalment, and representations have been made to induce a relaxation of this regulation, though, we apprehend, without much chance of success. Con sols have been 90i to 91 for transfer, and 901 to 90i for April. Exchequer Bills are Bs. to 11s. prem. Bank Stock is firm, at 221. The current prices for the Jamaica mines, not officially quoted, are as follows :—Metcalfe, Y to premium ; Sue River, discount to par ; Port Royal, to premium. Foreign Securities have been very quiet. Rus sian Five per Cents. are firm at 90. Spanish Threes have been done at 37k. Dutch Four per Cents. are 86g. Austrian Bonds realise 76, and Brazi lian 98. The Railway Share Market has been duller, and prices have been about to per cent. in favour of buyers. The French lines, also, are in less de mand. Gold Mines are nominal, and Banks steady. Canada Land Shares are at very full rates. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ( Front the Official List. ) Business Inn,. 3 per Cent Consols Annuities 9Ol 1 901 1 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 180 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5 1-16 Bank Sock for Account 221 Consols for Account 18th April 9 oi Exchequer Bills, 2d. £1000 - ....2500 ..- Bll p — Small 9 8.12 p PRIOE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. &ustrian Bonds, 5 per Cent.......... ..... .... 76 rtrazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 9B Ditto New, 1852, 4A per Cent 9O Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St 9O Ditto 4} per Cent BOl Ditto Small Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 371 Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Guil Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates - 861 HALF-PAST TWO. Consols 9Ol 1 Ditto April Account 904 Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yester day from the Governor of Gibraltar. Despatches were sent yesterday to the Governors of the West India Islands. Sir Charles Wood, President of the Board of Control, and Lady Mary Wood, received the following distin guished party at dinner on Wednesday, at their resi dence in Chesham-place :—His Excellency the Danish Minister, the Archbishop of York, and the Hon. Mrs. Musgrave, the Duchess of Inverness, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl of Zetland, Viscount Goderich, M.P., Lady Dalmeny, Lord Charles Russell, the Right Hon. Sir George and Lady Grey, Mr. Harcourt, and Frances Counte-s of Waldegrave, the Hon. Mrs. Charles Grey, and Mr. Granville Vernon. ARRIVAL OF TROOPS AT MALTA.—The Himalaya, with the 93d Highlanders and two companies of Rifles ; th• Ernu, with the 33d Infantry ; the Vulcan, with the 2nd battalion of Rifle Brigade ; and the Manilla, with the Grenadier Guards, have arrived at Malta. LONDON AND COUNTY BANK. — At a special general meeting of the London County Bank yesterday the reso lution adopted in 1841 for reducing the nominal capital of the company from 2,000.000/. to 1.000.0001., and the number of shares from 40,000 to 20,000, was unani mously rescinded. ABD-EL KADER. —The Journal d' Indre- et- Loir pub lishes the following letter, addressed by Abd-el-Kader to the Mayor of Amboise, in answer to a letter from the latter, announcing the completion of the monument erected over the grave of some Arabs who died during their captivity : " Praise to the one God ! To our excellent and well beloved friend, M. Trouve, Mayor of Amboise. I salute you, as well as all my friends residing in your town. May the peace of God be with you. I received your letter, dated the 6th December last, in which you announced to me that, according to the orders given by my illustrious liberator, our august Emperor Napoleon 111., the works are terminated. I thank you for announcing this news to me, and I shall therefore be always grateful towards the august Emperor.—Salutation. " ABD-EL-KADER BEN MAHI.EDDINE. " 18th of the Dpmaz-el-Oust, 1270 (Feb. 15.) THE CHOLERA AT GLASGOW.—ChoIera is again pre valent at Glasgow. On Saturday there were 10 deaths from it in the city parish, and 5 in the barony parish ; on Sunday 16 in the former, and 11 in the latter ; on Monday 10 in the former, and 6 in the latter ; and on Tuesday 14 in the city parish. • SINGULAR INnmnuAr..—We have to record the death of a rather singular individual in Forgue, one who has lived long in the esteem of a wide circle of acquaint ances, and one whom many will lament. We refer to Janet Spence or Milne, Monelie, Forgue, who departed this life on the 12th F e bruary, aged 84. For the last 60 years she has practised as a midwife, and in the course of her practice she has, as nearly as can be known from the register she kept, ushered into the world the almost in credible number of 2,400 children. Janet was a most successful practitioner, and always a welcome guest in the halls of the great, or at the humble board of the cottar.—Aberdeen Journal. DEATHS FROM WANT. —During the week, no less than three women have died in the metropolis from want of food and consequent exhaustion. One was the wife of a tailor, living at 29, Playhouse-yard, Whitecross street ; another, the widow of a soldier, living at 6, Tash-court, Gray's Inn-lane; and the third, a woman who was taken from Holborn -buildings to the London Fever Hospital, in the belief that she had a fever. The medical authorities of that establishment, however, soon put the matter in the right light. The poor creature expired, not from fever, but poverty and want. ROBBERY AT A BONDED WAREHOUSE.—Yesterday morning a robbery was discovered to have been effected on Chester Quay, Lower Thames-street, which has re sulted in the suspension of two officers of the Customs and the private watchman employed on the premises. The police are deputed by the Board and the proprietors of the warehouse to adopt the most energetic measures for the apprehension of the thieves. On the previous evening a number of cases of brandy were landed at Chester Quay, %but in consequence of it being after hours, the stores were locked, and they were left in charge of two tidewaiters and the private watchman. Yesterday morning, on the arrival of the wharfinger, it was ascertained that one of the eases had been removed from one extremity of the quay to the other; and on further examination it was found that several bottles had been abstracted. The wharfinger having made inquiries, which were answered in an unsatisfactory manner, called in the police to investigate the affair, and gave immedi ate information of the occurrence to the Comptroller, v. - ho at once issued orders for the suspension of the officers. - - ERRATIIII. —ln our first article on Wednesday, in the las line of the first paragraph, the omission of the word "denied" made us represent the superstitious hordes of Russia as " blinded by the light of the Word of God." [lt should have read, " whom he has blinded by his priesthood and denied the light of the Ward of God."l 1854. „11:,1:11-4] STti p t) ii 14; SEWS Danske is nearly completed ;it is a l so sa id th a t - the new frigate Nacade is to be got ready for sea. Tue pilots have received orders not to take caarge of any foreign vessels of war beyond their respec tive stations.” THE WAR IN THE EAST. OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF A STATE OF SIEGE IN RUSSIA. The M oniteur of yesterday, under the date of St. Petersburg, March the 7th, gives copies of five official documents declaring various parts of the Russian dominions to be in a state of siege. Each document is in the form of an Imperial ukase, dated March the sth. COMBAT AT IBRAILA. The first states that, under present circum stances, his Majesty thinks it necessary to declare the Government of Ekatherinowsla and the arron dissement of Taganrog to be in a state of siege, and places those localities under the order of the Gene ral of cavalry M. Khomouloff, with the privileges granted by the regulations issued on the sth of December, 1846. The second ukase declares St. Petersburg to be in a state of siege, and places the Government under the authority of the Grand Duke, heir to the throne, Commander-in-Chief of the Guards and Grenadiers, with the prerogatives accorded to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. By the third ukase, the Government of Esthonia and Livonia are placed in a state of siege ; Esthonia to be under the orders of General Aide-de-Camp Berg, and Livonia under those of the Aide-de- Camp General Prince of Italy, Count Suwaroff- Kiminsky, Military Governor of Riga. The next ukase declares the Government of Archangel to be in a state of siege, under the orders of Vice-Admiral Boel, military Governor of the place. A correspondent of the Morning Chronicle writes from Ibridl on March 2d : By the sth ukase, the kingdom of Poland, and the governments of Courland, Kowno, Wilna, Grodno, Volyhnia, and Podolia are declared to be in a state of siege. The ukase also states that the Government of Bessarabia, and that part of the Government of Cherson, situated on the right bank of the Bug, which were declared to be in a state of siege by the ukase of the 19th of Novem ber, 1853, are to be now in a similar position ; and that all these places are to be under the authority of Field-Marshal General Prince of Warsaw, Count Paskew:tch d'Erivan, Commander-in-Chief of the active army. " I hasten to bring to your knowledge the details of a combat of some importance, which took place last night on the right bank of the Danube, at a short distance above Ibraila, and in the direction of Galatz, where the Turks have erected a battery to prevent the Russian flotilla coining up as far as this. " The commander of the said flotilla received yester day the order at Galatz to proceed immediately to our port with munitions of war, which he had been to fetch from Reni. " To facilitate the passage in front of the Turkish bat tery, General Engelhardt ordered it to be attacked by land, and for this purpose sent a battalion of infantry in two large kerlatchs (flat-bottomed boats), which, cross ing the Danube, landed troops a short distance beyond the said Turkish battery, which they hoped to surprise and put in the impossibility of acting against the flotilla. " The Turks, although not prepared for such an at tack, were, however, informed in time by their advance outposts to enable them to point two guns so as to bear up on the battalion which was endeavouring to make its way through the reeds and blocks of ice with which the ground it had to get over is covered. At half-past two in the morning the Turks opened their fire, to which the Rus sians replied, first by platoon firing, then, in consequence of the nature of the ground, and the intention of the Russians to surround the battery, the firing ex tended to different points. At last it came to a hand-to hand fight, with sword and bayonet ; a desperate strug gle ensued, which lasted for more than an hour, when the Russians retreated and re-embarked ; they embarked just in time to escape a small squadron of cavalry which had hurried up from Matschin to support the bat tery. Ten minutes later, and they would have all been made prisoners. During this time the two steamers and six gun-boats succeeded in reaching the interior of the port without damage. To judge by my own eyes, the loss of the Russians was considerable ; three officers killed, one captain mortally wounded ; more than 40 men were left upon the field of battle, 13 made prisoners, and some 50 wounded, who have been sent to the hospitals. "The grand attack is fixed for the Ist (13th) March. Will they he ready then ? That is the question. For although new troops arrive daily, those here will not suffice for a coup de main. The ukase, in addition, states that the Emperor ordains that the government of Podolia, the part of the government of Cherson, situated on the right bank of the Bug, and the province of Bessarabia, shall at the same time be placed under the autho rity of Aide-de-camp General Prince Gortschakoff, commander of the troops of the al, 4th, and sth corps of infantry, who is to have the prerogatives granted the commanders of detached corps by the ukase of December 5, 1846. The ukase then provides that the kingdom of Poland and the governments of Courland, Kowno, Volhynia, and Grodno, during the absence of the Field-Marshal, shall be under the authority of General Aide-de-Camp Count fludiger, and that Aide-de-Camp General Baron Osten-Sack.en shall retain in Bessarabia and in the government of Cherson the powers granted to the commanders of detached corps by the ukase of November 19, 1853. The Russian journals, of the 6th, publish an Imperial ordinance thus conceived :—" All the Bulgarians who may present themselves at our ad vanced posts shall be received in our Bulgarian colonies subject to the approbation of the Bulga rian communes, and under the responsibility of a member of the commune who may show .himself worthy of the confidence. The Bulgaria.ns who may not be received in the communes shall be sent into the interior of Russia." "Prince GoAsch....koff left the evening before last, re turning to Bucharest. Before his departure he gave orders to the local authorities to prepare quarters for his aides-de-camp. It is said that the Prince will be present at the grand a, , tack preparing ag .inst Mafschiii. " Already the public estaislishinents, as well as the best houses in the town, are converted into hosptt ila ; nevertheless, a new order for 1,400 beds has been LA letter from Constantinople, of March 5, says : The ground is still covered with snow in the Asiatic provinces. The Russians are assembling a large force there, but the Turks have been not only re-organised, but reinforced. Abd-el-Kader has contributed 6,000 francs, at Broussa, towards the expenses of the war. The combined fleets are detained at Beycos by the tempestuous weather. The Fury and the Vauban returned on the 2d, the authorities at Se bastopol having refused to receive the despatches of which they were the bearers. The following is dated Beyrouth, the 20th ult.:— " Last week a considerable number of volunteers from Palestine passed through this placa. The Emir of the Druses of the Libanus received orders to assemble 10,000 volunteers ; but as he has been able to get together only 400, the Government au thorities have refused to advance him funds until the full number is forthcoming. Orders have been received from Constantinople to send the volun teers to Erzeroum. It would seem that the Porte has no great confidence in the assurances oaf peace made by Persia." Several reserved parks of artillery have left Poland for the Danube. The frontier towns of the kingdom of Poland are completely without regular troops ; they contain only veterans and Cossacks. The troops which have marched are to take up a position in the government of Lubin, between the Vistula and the Bug. They will probably be sent towards the Danube. A letter from Vienna, of the 11th, says ::--Some journals again speak of hopes of peace. They have said that Russia has sent a new proposition of ar rangement in reply to that brought by Count Orloff, and that that proposition of arrangement has been accepted by the conference of Vienna as the basis of ulterior negotiations. The i;ruth of the affair is simply this : At a conference ltie.d on the sth, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ambassadors declared that new. negotiati,ons for peace could not be entered on except on 031.1 lawn of Russia first evacuating the Danubian Princi palities, and re-establishing the status Tao ante ()alum, ; but, that the Emperor of Russia, having refused to make that concession, the reply of his Majesty would be duly enregistered. Rumour was in circulation at Vienna, on the 11th, that troubles had broken out iu Servia, but no credence was attached to it. It is certain, how ever, that Russian officers, disguised as Greek priests, have been arrested in Servia and Albania. Austria will not, it is said, tolerate any revolu tionary attempt, but will put it down at once by force. A rumour prevailed that Austria had made a separate treaty with England and France on the Eastern question. It is not generally known that, at the moment when the Cabinets of France and England sent their ultimatum to the Emperor Nicholas, the Austrian Cabinet sent them a note inviting them to replace the sword in the scabbard, but at the same time declaring that, in case hos tilities should burst out, Austria, having in view only the point of right, would assume the attitude which her interests might suggest. No one doubts that the reply of the Czar will be unfavourable. A letter from Berlin, of the 13th, mentions that Lieutenaut-Colonel de Manteuffel was to go to Munich that evening on his mission to the Em peror of Austria. The mission to St. Petersburgh had, it was said, been abandoned. The police at Cologne seized, on the 12th, 16 waggons laden with arms coming from Liege. They are said to have been intended for Russia, and were to be followed by other supplies. The following note has been published by the Austrian Government relative to the suspension of the Lloyd of Vienna : " The Lloyd in an article signed E. W. speaks of the letter of the Emperor of Russia in ironical and con temptuous terms, which are incompatible with the maintenance of order, and it would be unworthy or the Imperial Government to suffer a public document, of a Sovereign to be discussed in that form and in so im proper a manner. The direction of the police hats in consequence received orders to suspend the said joutrnal for eight days, a previous warning not having produced any effect." LATER FROM AUSTRALIA. The Great Western brings news that the Sydney steam-ship, had arrived at St. Vincent's (Cape de Verds), from Australia, em route for England. Her dates are--Sydney, Dec. 7 ; Port Philip, Dec. 17 ; the Cape, Feb. 4. is said the markets in Australia were con siderably overstocked with English and other mer chandise sent out on speculation, and that conse quently there must he a great loss on its sale. The yield of gold still continued to increase, and several new diggings had been discovered. The Sydney has nearly 80,000 ounces on board, a great portion of which), is in the hands of the passengers. Its price in Melbourne was 755. per ounce. The Sydney brings 90 passengers. She would leave St. Vincent two days after the Great Western. The intelligence from the Cape is of no moment. Sir George Cathcart had received a notification, through the General Commanding in Chief, that her Majesty had been pleased to appoint him Ad jutant-General of the Forces--a duty which would, no doubt, call for his presence in England. The inhabitants of Graham's Town had, however, pre pared a petition, praying the Queen to continue his Excellency as Governor of the colony. HAYMARK4T THL7ATRE. An extravaganza called Willikind and hys Dinah, by Mr. Stirling Coyne, was produced at this theatre last night, and favourably received. It is hardly necessary to say that it is founded on the Cockney ballad which Mr. Robson has brought into vogue by his manner of singing it at the Olympic. Mr. Coyne has dramatised the tragical story of the loves of the City 'prentice and his master's daughter in the same ludicrous way in which it is told in the ballad ; the pair of lovers, Willikind and Dinah, being acted by Miss Louisa Howard and Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; the " parients" by Mr. Corti and Mrs. Caulfield, and the noble suitor by Mr. Buckstone. The burlesque is capital—carried on in dogrel rhymes in the style of Tom Thumb, full of happy turns, whimsical allusions, and parodies of famous speeches from trage dies, made laughable by the way in which they are tra vestied. The catastrophe is doleful enough. The damsel poisons herself by night in her father's back garden with a cup of British brandy, and lies down to die among the cabbages ; her lover kills his rival, and then follows her example ; and when the clock strikes twelve, they all get up again, like the characters in Tony Thumb, and finish with a dance. A thing of this kind is not to be de ioribed—it must be seen ; an , . they who see it will, as we have done, enjoy a hearty laugh. The piece is ad mirably put upon the stage. The dresses are in the rich fashion of James the First's time ; and the scenery is new and really beautiful. LAW INTELLIGANCE (THIS DAY). SHERIFFS COURT. (Before R. Gurney, Esq.) IN RE BOWMAN ♦. HART. IMPORTANT TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. This was a plaint to recover one week's rent from de fendant, and damages for holding over after notice to quit. Mr. W. B. Davies appeared for the defence, and the case, after discussion, resolved itself into the follow ing facts. Defendant, It appeared, had taken the pre mises previously to their coming into possession of the present pl.iintiff, and being a weekly tenant, notice was given to quit, which he refused to do for want of due notice. Mr. Davies contended in the first place that the title of the new landlord must be proved, and quoted Rennie v. Robinson, 1 Bing. 147. He also objected to the notice to quit, which ought to have been given seven days clear—the date on this occasion was on a Saturday to quit on Saturday. His Honour held both objections to he good—he said that the general notice to quit on a specific day was in , otne cases doubtful, but the plaintiff would have been ri4ht if he had said on the certain day, whatever it was supposed to be. or such day after as the tena n cy s h ou ld expire.—Plaintiff was nonsuited. SECONDARIES COURT. (Before Mr. Secondary Potter.) The cases to-day were wholly uninteresting, being on disputed accounts. A HINDRANCE OF JURORS-IMPORTANT TO LONDON AND LIVERPOOL MERCHANTS. In calling over the list of the jury, very few answered. Mr. Hudson, the Clerk of the Court, said that all the absentees were liable, not only to a fine for each day of non-attendance, but might be placed on the list of jurors for the Central Criminal Court. A gentlemen present observed that his principal did not reside in London two mouths in the year, and could not attend. Mr. Hudson said that every person carrying on busi- ness in the City was bound to serve. If they chose to reside away and not attend the court, they must abide by the legal consequences. It was then stated that the party summoned actually carried on business at Liverpool. Mr. Hudson—Then he has an agent in London, whose name must appear on the jury list, otherwise the burden will be thrown ♦cry unfairly on others. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Fane.) The cases to-day were of no interest. The only ques tion was one on an application for the distribution of some surplus property after payment of claims. The assignees had agreed to come to terms and take a share for the benefit of the creditors generally, in order to avoid au expensive suit in Chancery, but one firm stood out. His Honour said that assignees were appointed by consent of the great majority of the creditors, and their discretion ought to have great weight. They concurred with the propositions made, and as Mr. Cannau, bhe official assignee, who was a fair arbitrator between all parties, conceived the proposition beneficial to the estate, he (his Honour) would make the order. Mr. Dupree appeared for the assignees ; Mr. Fowler for the creditors. The Earl and Countess of Lucan and family have arrived in Hanover-square from Castlebar House. His lordship, who, when Lord Bingham, commanded for some years the 17th Lancers, shortly embarks for the East, in command of an expeditionary force of 2,000 cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Mundy, Assistant Quartermaster- General at Kilkenny, has been appointed Military Secretary for War and the Colonies. ABSINCE OF MR. J. H. w.A.Lso.—lt is now ascer tained that Mr. John Walsh, whose sudden disappearance has caused so much sensation in this city, sailed under a feigned name-from Southampton for Havre, and it is believed has gone from thence to America. The clue to his movements was obtained at Southampton, where he had changed English for French coins. It would seem that he was somewhat embarrassed in pecuniary mat ters, but not to any such extent as would give even a colourable reason for his abrupt departure.— Worcester t,`lam•onicle. THE PRESIDENTS OF CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.—It has been ascertained upon examination of the records in the Town Clerk's office, that since the year 1553, when Sir George Barnes, who had been elected Lord Mayor of London in the year 1552, was chosen to the office of president of Christ's Hospital, every president of that institution has been an alderman of the city of London. Sir William Curtis, who was elected president of Christ's Hospital in 1813, was succeeded in 1829 by Alderman Thompson, who was one of the most munificent and indefatigable Rm y r ur., o patronsccuiln of E t N h c e EF _ ollß establishment. lNE F BURIED BE NEATH A MASS OF FALLEN BRICKWORK.—This morning, considerable alarm was created in the vicinity of Great Tower-street, by the falling in of an arched vault at the corner of Mark-lane, beneath the debris of which it was stated that several persons had been inhumed. A simi lar accident, by which a man named Kelly lost his life, having occurred about a week since, increased the ex citement. On inquiry, it appears that the house at the corner of Mark-lane had been pulled down for the im provements in that neighbourhood, and a number of workmen were employed on the summit of an arched vault cleaning bricks, when, owing to the enormoio, weight upon it, the sides gave way, and the crown of the arch falling in, precipitated the workmen to the bottom, falling amongst a heap of bricks and rubbish. Assistance was immediately obtained, and the men were extricated, three with slight injuries, and one so seri ously wounded that he was conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital. FATAL SEWER ACCIDENT.—This morning information was received by Mr. Baker, coroner, of a disastrous accident in George yard, Whitechapel, whereby a labour ing man, named Michael Kenney, lost his life. It ap pears that he was employed in digging down to clear a drain leading to the main sewer, and whilst at work was buried in the earth, which fell upon him. It appears he had dug to the depth of 10 feet without taking the precaution of shoring up the sides. Great exertions were made to extricate lion, and after the lapse of nearly an hour his body was got out, but a medical gentleman in attend ance pronounced life to have been extinct fur some time. An inquest has been appointed. THE ELEP/lANTS IN PARIS.—Mr. William Cooke, proprietor of Astley's, arrived in Paris on Monday evening, and had the high gratification of receiving the command of the Emperor, who with a numerous suite witnessed the performance of these truly wonderful animals. The Emperor sent for Mr. W. Cooke at the conclusion, and expressed himself much pleased with their astonishing docility. A second command is to take place next week under the distinguished patronage of the Empress. The excitement is so great that the sol diers are compelled to attend the entrances each evening. Great preparations are inakii.g for the new Ea.ster piece, which is written by Mr. Nelson Lee, and introduces a must novel effect. j BULLION AT THE BANK OF ENGLAND.—Yesterday a return to the House of Commons, obtained by Mr. Hawkey, M P., was printed, from which it appears that from July, 1853, to December, the bullion purchased by the Bank of England amounted to 3,368,1511., of which 3.364,7241. was bar gold and 3,4271. foreign coin. The bullion sold in gold was 2,327,2281., of which 149,9041. was bar gold and 2,177.3241. foreign coin. The British gold coi❑ was as follows : Excess of payments, 4.212,356/. ; excess of receipts, 342,253/. ; and received from the Mint, 2,853,3311. TRADE BETWEEN ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.—A line of steamers has been advertised to run from Hull to the Prussian port of Pillau in the Baltic, taking goods for Memel, &c., with the view of carrying on the trade be tween England and Russia. It is to consist of screw propellers of about 700 tons. GREEK INSURRECTION. A letter from Athens, of the 3d March in. the Augsburg Gazette, says : The French and English ambassadors have had a private audience with his Majesty, and communicated their instructions to him. Tbey have assured the :King of the sincere sympathies of their Governments fur Greece, and have represented to him the high importance of Greece taking no part in the insurrectional movement of the Christians in Turkey. The two Governments pro wise assistance and support to the Government inn the event of the insurgents, after failing in their enterprise, seeking to foment distui bailees in Greece. The King replied that his Government, out of regard to the friendly rel ttions which exist with Turkey, had observed the strictest neutrality, but that he possessed nu legal means of preventing private individuals from flying to the as sistance of their co-religionists beyond his fr,•ntiers, and the more so as the majority of them had friends and re latives among them. The King thanked the ambassa• dors for the eagerness evinced by their Government to render him assistance in case of need, but expressed his hope that no such necessity would occur. French and English steamers are continually arriving, and some of them remain at the Pirseus at the disposal of the am bassadors." THE BALTIC FLEET. A telegraphic despatch, from Copenhagen, dated March 14, awl received via Hamburg, states, that several sail of the English fleet had been signalled. A frigate had come to anchor before the city. The Hamburg Correspondent has the following from Copenhagen :—" The English announce that their Baltic fleet has six months' provisions on board and is accompanied by 30 vessels laden with coal. The neutral powers cannot but feel pleased at this, as the fleets obtaining supplies in their ports would only give rise to collisions and re prisals. A letter from Copenha 'en of the 10th says : " The Danish flotilla will put to sea in the spring ; it is composed of 12 vessels of war, carrying to gether 250 guns and 2,182 men. The Holger' FRANCE. It appears that the object of the council held on Wednesday morning at the Tuileries was to receive a communication of despatches from the French ambassador in London, in which he intimates the opinion of the English Cabinet on the subject of the recent explanations given by Prussia on the subject of her neutrality, and the new proposition made by that power for the resumption of nego tiati ons between the Western Powers and Russia. According to one version, the English Cabinet is not disposed to look upon these propositions as serious, or as likely to lead to a pacific solution. It therefore thinks that there is no occasion for the two Cabinets to occupy themselves with the propositions, but that they should consider them as non avenues ; at the same time taking care to avoid anything that could give offence to Prussia or Austria, or to push them at the present moment to a declaration of their sentiments ; it being quite sufficient that they should be left in their present ambiguous position till the progress of events shall have forced them to declare themselves one way or other. The English Government declares that the only thing to be done at present is to hasten the embarkation of the troops for Constantinople, and the despatch of the third squadron to the Baltic. The opinions of the English Cabinet were fully approved of, and were not opposed even by the members of the Cabinet who were for a long time considered the peace party. Notwithstanding the conviction which all people must feel that matters have now gone too far for either party to recede, there are a few sanguine persons in Paris who still entertain a faint hope of a pacific solution. It is stated in ano ther quarter likely to be well-informed that the Emperor Nicholas has at length taken the alarm at finding himself deserted by all the Powers of Europe, and that he now no longer conceals his anxiety for a settlement of the affair in any way which could at all be considered honourable to him. He has even been known to express his determination not to be prevented by the commencement of hostilities from continuing to negotiate for peace, and to declare that in the midst of the roar of cannon he is willing to receive overtures. In short, he still perseveres in his pro fessions of moderation, hoping thereby to detach the German Powers from the English and French alliance, and perhaps still to create distrust be tween England and France themselves. It ippears that one of the most active agents of the Czar—a personage who has recently left Paris—has written a letter, in which a belief is expressed that since the origin of the affair there ii•ver was a better chance of the success of negotiations than now. The ob ject of such communications is evident. No one knows better than the writer that the same terms which were offered before cannot be accepted now; but still the old game will be played, of pretending that the Czar is willing to accept reasonable terms —the terms proposed by the allies themselves—but being rejected, that war is forced upon the Czar. The world has been too long the victim of these professions to be duped by them any longer. For several days past it has been stated that the question of the suppression of the existing journals in Paris and the departments, witti some excep tions, was actually discussed in the Oilmen of Ministers. Besides the Moniteur, two journals only would be allowed for Paris, and one for each of the departments. This proposition was thrown out by a small minority, and one version is, that the Emperor, who presided at the Council, gave no opinion, while another is that he opposed it. The subscriptions for the new loan are on so ex tensive a scale, that it is now calculated that instead of ten millions sterling, the amount of money ten dered will reach to fully forty millions. The French fleet, being occupied in the Mediter ranean in transporting troops to the East, will for the present be only represented in the Baltic by the Austerlitz. At a later period the squadron of Admiral Parseval Deschenes will enter that sea to join the fleet of Admiral Napier. The Gazette de Flandre has received a warning from the Prefect of the Nord, for publishing an article which is considered to have been written in a spirit evidently hostile to the great and patriotic manifestations of public opinion. The accounts from Algiers, of the 10th instant, state that the preparations for the expedition to the East were prosecuted with the utmost activity. Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of the popula tion, both native and European. Subscriptions were being organised in the city for the purpose of giving a farewell entertainment to the division of the expe ditionary army. A punch party, described as truly fabulous, was to be offered to the army and navy. The Arabs joined with much alacrity in those mani festations, which took place under the patronage of the Governor-General and the Rear-Admiral com manding the naval department. It is astonishing with what interest the different phases of the Eastern question were followed in Algeria, and with what bursts of patriotism the colonists and the army hailed the rupture with Russia. The na tives, and even the tribes most remote from the coast, were thoroughly acquainted with the thou sand incidents of the Turco-Russian difference, with the attitude of the Christian Powers, and the question debated at Constantinople. The European population of the interior was nu t so well informed in that respect as the Arabs, The conti ngen t t o be supplied by the army of Africa for the expedi tionary corps will exceed 10,000 men. Little or uo businfw4 was done on the Bourse yesterday. The Thr ee per C ents. opened at 66f. 20c., rose to 66f. 45c., and closed at 66f. 30c. for the end of the mouth. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 92f. 20c. • Orlean s R a il way Shares, 1,097 f. 50c, ; Rouen, 870 f.; Havre, 447 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 740 f. ; Paris an d S trasburg, 7221. 50c. ; ditto, New shares, 560 f. ; P ar i s and Lyons, 817 f. st)c. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 630 f. ; Western of Fran c e, 580 f. ; B or d eaux and Cette, 5301. ; Great Central of France, 4301. • Lyons to Geneva, 443 f. 75c. ; Shares of th e Bank of Credit Mobilier, 572 f. 50c. SPAIN. The H . eraldo of the 11th, s:tys that the military counnisston, under General Prim, charged to report on the war in the East, is to return to Coustanti nople at the end of th is mon th or the beginning of April, and is to proceed at once to the Danube. The same jour na l states that the Government will shortly publish in the Gazette, the measures taken for causing the productions of Spanish agri culture and industry to figure with advantage in the approaching Grand Exhibition of France. The editor of the Tribune had been condemned to six months' imprisonment for the publication of a seditious article. M. Isturitz was expected on the 20th. The Queen of Spain had presented a magnificent horse to General Prim. The Three per Cents. were done at 35 ; the N ew Three per Cents., at 184 ; the Debt of the first class, at si ; said that of the second, at 48, THE BRAZILS. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Great Western, Capt. T. A. Bevis, with the usual Bra zilian and River Plate mails in charge of Lieut. Fuge, R.N., arrived at Southampton yesterday morning at twelve o'clock. The Great Western during the voyage homewards experienced very fine weather. The Great Western brings mails from the follow ing places, with their respective dates affixed : Buenos Ayres, Feb. 2 ; Monte Video, Feb. 5 ; Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 14; Bahia; Feb. 18; Pernambuco, Feb. 21 ; St. Vincent, March 2 ; Teneriffe, March 8 ; Madeira, March 9 ; Lisbon, March 12. Landed at Lisbon 34 passengers, and brought to Southampton 31 ditto. The Great Western brings specie to the amount of 5,2001., and on freight, diamonds value 10,000/., 70 serous cochineal, 9 pipes Madeira 70 barrels tapioca, and usual numb e r o f samples from the different ports, With the exception of from Buenos Ayres, We receive four days' later news than that which came to hand last SAturday, by the arrival of the Bra ziliera, steam-ship at Liverpool from the various Brazilian ports. Taere i; nothing new from 13,1enos Ayres. At Rio (le Janeiro the amount of business trans acted had been limited as heretofore ; the several markets had offered but little of interest. The transactions in imports had been restricted ; the sales of produce unusually limited ; a fair amount of business had been done in exchange ; mo re activity had been manifested in freights. Freights were quoted to Antwerp at 85s. ; Chan nel, 85s. ; Hamburg, 82is. ; Havre, 80f. ; Lon don, 655. to 70s. ; Liverpo o l, 65 5 . t o 70 s . ; Medi terranean, 755. to 85s. ; United States, 100 cents to 120 cents. Iu the money market exchange ruled on London at 281 to 28g ; on France, &c., 340 ; on Hamburg, 640 to 642. From Pernambuco there is little additional news of interest to report. As far as regarded imports business was limited ; foreign articles of consumption commanded satis factory rates. In exports an active business had been done in sugar ; in cotton transactions had been small, owing to a falling off in the crop. In exchange business was fair at 28 ; money scarce, and discounts ruled at 11 to 12 per cent. At Bahia exchange was quoted at 28d. Her Majesty's ships at Rio—the Centaur, Mada gascar, Crescent, and Star ; at Madeira, the Pene lope, about to sail for England, and Juno. The Russian frigate Aurora sailed from Rio, on the 120 1 Feb., for the Pacific. A vessel called the Record was wrecked off St• Antonio (Cape de Verds). The transactions in exchange for the packet amount to about 400,000/. sterling upon London, 100,000 f. upon Paris, and 5u0,000 marcos de bancos upon Hamburg. TAXES ON STAGE CARRIAGES. A public meeting of stage carriage proprietors wag held yesterday afternoon, at the Whittington Club-house, Arundel -street, Strand, for the purpose of adopting.. measures to place stage carriages upon an equality ?I taxation with other pubilc conveyances—Sir John VII' Tiers Shelley, Bart., presiding. The CHAIRMAN said the object of the meeting was to place stage carriages on an equality of taxation with other public conveyances. It was urged against that object, that the present time--with a war impending-- was not the one for any remission of the burdens of taxation. The total repeal •of these taxes was not now sought for, but they thought that stage carriage proprie tors ought only to pay their fair share of the necessary burdens. Th., gentleman who conducted the financial affairs of the c pantry was anxious to do justice in every case, and when it was represented to him that during the last year 285,000/. of taxation was remitted to public conveyances. and from which the stage-carriage proprietors derived no benefit whatever, he said he would consider their case. It must be remem bered, too, that steam-boats and Parliamentary trains paid no tax whatever, nor did country waggons, and first-class and express trains paid a very small tax upon r,,,eir receipts, while the stage-carriages, the moment the wheels began to turn, paid taxes, whether they carried a fare or not. He believed that these circumstances, if urged upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, would inert with his attention, and he was quite willing to do all in his power to obtain the consent of the Government to a remission of this portion of the pu'ilic taxation. Mr. GREY, coach proprietor, moved " That the pr?' sent system of mileage duty levied on stage-carriages, 10 oppressive arid restrictive ou the supply of conveyances for the public accommodation, leads to great evasion of the duty by spring vans and other vehicles, is unjust and oppressive in i •iposing an excessive amount of taxa' Lion on the conducting of the stage-carriage trade, and such tax ought in justice to be entirely abolished, or re duced to the amount of passenger taxes on railways." This resolution 'was seconded by Mr. SEIELDoN, of Windermere, and Mr. BRADFIELD of Bristol supported it. —Carried. Mr. HARTLEY proposed the second resolution—" That a select committee of the House of Commons having reported in favour of the total abolition of taxation on private carriages. and relief from taxation being Largely granted to other carriages, the stage carriage tax otl ght to be modified." Mr. COSTELLO seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. HAXELL of Ipswich Mr. ELLIOTT moved—" That a petition, founded on the foregoing resolutions, be prepared and presented to the House of Commons ; and that the chairman, Sir J. Shelley, Bart., M.P., be respectfully requested to pre sent such petition, and support the prayer thereof ; and that Lord D. Stuart, M.P., Sir J. Duke, M.P., T. Phinn, Esq., M.P., G. Hadfield, Esq., M.P., General Wyndham, M.P., and other hon. members who have so kindly interested themselves in the welfare of the trade, be respectfully solicited to give their assistance to effect the abolition or just equalisation of the stage carriage tax." A. vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. - - SIR,—You have been pleased to allude to the fact that while the troops en route to the East were provided with our patent marine soap, the stores of the navy were totally destitute of it. From this it might be inferred that we had neglected to call the attention of the Admiralty to the necessity of its adoption for the service generally. But the fact is, that although we have been for years urging the subject upon the authorities, no notice has been taken of our efforts, further than extensive private orders from officers of the navy, who have been long acquainted with its value. Permit us to add that the want of an essential so closely concerning the sailors' comfort is the more marked, as being of much greater consequence to the sea service than to that of the army.—We are, &c., D. AND W. GLBBS. City Soap Works, Milton•street, London. MADAME TIISSALTD'S EXHIBITION. — Among the in te resting representations of distinguishEd individuals ex hibited in this museum, none at this moment exceed in popularity the po r trait model of Sir Charl es N ap i er, t h e gallant commander of our Baltic fl eet. This distin go shedofficer is represented to the uliffm or of a British Admiral, the likeness being admirably executed; indeed we under-taw' VIA Sir Charles gave frequent sittings to a s m i d n this respec t. consequently it grea tly sure the as e a s r ))) artist s ,e,fmtphleoyHedgu,re Tics LATE LORD LONDuN DEIRY.—The generous s pirit and iiiirepidity which marked the character of this gal lant soldier were v:sible at a very early agt. In an able memoir, printed for private circulation, of the late estimable J G. Children, one of the officers of the Bri tiAll Museum, and a well-know n chemist and zoologist, we find the fallowing account of his courageous disregard of self in the attempt to save a young schoolfellow :-- " In June, 1794, George, sixth Earl of Waldegrave, one of the scholars of Eton, was drowned in the Thames. He had not completed his tenth year. This event is recorded on a tablet in Eton Chapel, and must be remembered by the few now surviving who were his schoolfellow s . M t. Children, in a letter to his father, gives an affecting picture of the distressing circum stances :--` Poor little Waldegrave was buried yester day. My dear friend Stewart had nearly been drowned in attempting to save him. He dived after him till he was very much exhausted, arid came to the bank to take breath. After a little while he dived again, when he saw the body lying at the bottom. The sight was nearly too much for him, and it had nearly been fatal to him, for he was deprived of his senses instantly, and came up to the top apearently dead. He sank twice, and would inevitabl have perished had not a one armed man seiz,d his arm on the third rising, and dragged him into a punt. Old Etonians may recog nise in the one-armed man, Mr. Charles Carter, who afterwards kept boats at tun." 'Travels A recc known d the attra more um of the tr of those dissipati eluding encount , road fro sac I, the saltpetre never v( tinted g ground, aeriousl quent ui writer He this of grand rates th teristics airous o liarities, portion them it volumeE The Sta The a from thi gratify subject affords deli u eat plots, a: and mu cide u ts clusion umphan ing to t tice. 1 in susti readers the pen pleasure Walter By I ledge Th( groun Car with Prince Prince A Q.A. Mr. : don Nati Lord Advc tion the the Wo the )sec ver the der tic)! Mr Z.Y.