The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-27 00:00:00

GREECE. (From the ,S'pecial t;erresponient.) ATHENS, Jan. 16. If the old sunerstition which considers the first day of the year as emblematic of the character of the whole year be true, the year of grace 1863 pro mises to be rather exciting, if not for all Greece, at any rate for Athens. It fell on Tuesday last (they reckon here by Old Style),a day as dull and gloomy as any I ever remember to have seen in these climes, The long spell of fine weather was broken. The outlines of Parnes,Pentelicus, and Hymettus, lately so clear and sharp, had disappeared under the heavy clouds which extended in one unbroken line all around the horizon, and threatened to come down into the plain. Nor was it long hefore the threat was fulfilled. The white vapours which had been fleeting along the sides of the mountains, like the light skirmishers of an advancing enemy, gradually descended and overran the plain until it was covered by a regular Scotch mist. In vain did the sun at tempt to resist this encroachment on his favourite abode, for in the afternoon Notus the subtle, his for midable antagonist, stole up from the sea to the south, bringing with him a succession of yelting showers, which drove the holiday-makers to their houses, and the evening closed in with a regular steady rain, which lasted all through the night. But it was not the clouds in the heavens, nor even the spoiling of one of their most favourite holidays in the year, which disturbed the minds of the Athe nians on the Greek New Year's day. It was a case of daring brigandage on the very outskirts of the capital. Half a dozen young men, among them one Bercy, the son of a rich Athenian citizen, had made an excursion on Sunday last into one of the villages in the neighbourhood. Returning after nightfall they were attacked on their way home by a band of nine armed men, who, singling out young Bercy, ordered him to follow them. His companions, having been rifled of all they had about them, were allowed to return, and told to communicate to the family of the prisoner that he would only be given up on pay ment of a ransom of 70,000 drachmas (X 2,500). Great was the consternation next morning when the news spread all over the town. It was a heavy blow to that security and confidence into which every one had been lulled for the last three months, and nothing proved better how great that security and confidence had been than the effect of this first blow. The gaols had been thrown open almost every where in the first confusion, and several hundred criminals, especially brigands, had been let loose on society, while the gendarmerie and all other means of repression and vigilance had been simultaneously impaired, it not altogether destroyed ; yet, in spite of this, only here and there an exceptional case of crime occurred—not more, indeed, than occur in quiet times and in other countries. A band of some six or seven was heard of in the mountains of Me gara ; one person was carried off from the neighbour hood of Patras, two others from Missolonghi ; now and then an open letter was received from the far South with the post-office mark showing it had passed through the hands of brigands on its way, or a case of burglary was spoken of at Athens; but the very rarity of all such stories in this storytelling country made it impossible even for Llwilled people to magnify them into any thing serious. There was besides a feature apparent in all these cases which was well calculated to inspire confidence, and that was the determination on the part of the people to resist and help themselves where the Government had neglected to do ao. As the latter has been very remiss in the organisation of the National Guard, the institution best adapted to deal with the evil, the people, not only in the towns, but in the rural districts likewise, took the matter into their own hands, and organised themselves as best they could. Being all armed, and more or less accustomed to the use of their weapons, this was not difficult. Not sa tisfied with this, the people themselves took measures to insure the security of the mountain passes. It is almost invariably in these passes, which lead from one plain into the other,that brigands establish them selves ; the guarding therefore of these passes across the mountain chains which intersect Greece is all-im portant for the security of the roads. As the block houses which exist in almost all of them have been deserted by the posts of gendarmerie since the re volution, the villages on each side have taken upon themselves to supply the guards, and they sen d reliefs in regular rotation. It is to this readiness on the part of the people, more than to anything the Government has done, that the maintenance of order is due hitherto. Indeed, so much was this felt that a cry of in dignation arose against the Government when the daring case of brigandage of Sunday last was heard of. Nor was it altogether unmerited ; ,for, besides neglecting the formation of the National Guard, the Government had concentrated a large portion of the troops in the capital, where they become daily more demoralised. Sending them out in de tachments under good officers would not only have contributed to the security of the country, but likewise effired a chance of more easily re-esta blishing discipline. It is but fair to say that since this flagrant case occurred the Government has bestirred itself. De tachments of infantry, cavalry, and gendarmerie have been sent off from herein all directions in pur suit ; while the authorities on the other side of Mount Parnes, in the woods of which the brigands and their victims are known to be, have been tele graphed to, to enclose them from the opposite side. Besides this Kaiifourna, the Minister of Marine, who has a considerable influent: on all the viligg , - , rs on the side of the :noun rtiin, has sent out agents to call upon thun to assist the Guvernment in its task, and there is no doubt, if the villagers take up 1,4 must soon give in, at this .er, t b ar so ichost able, and when the flc, , eks of sheep are in the low lands. Hitherto the researches had not been successful ; there was a rumour on Monday evening that the brigands had been surprised and shot, but it con tained only one grain of truth—namely, that the pursuers had found the place where the brigands had passed the night before, so that the direction in which they had gone is ascertained. Every one feels in the matter as if he were per sonally interested, just as you do in the garotte robberies; nay, more so, for in this case it is not merely the personal security of every one which seems threatened, but likewise the future reorga nisation of the country and its good fame abroad. How strongly every one feels on the first point was apparent enough to any one who walked about the streets in the afternoon of the last day of the year, which here is a grand fair day. The shopkeepers ferret out their most tempting wares to attract the crowd, which looks out for presents suitable for the New Year, while every open spot towards the mar met is occupied by open stands, on which sweet meats, preserves of fruits, gaudy ribands and silk handkerchiefs, toys, and above all penny trumpets, which are in t grea request—not by children and for children, but by grown-up people—find a ready sale. It is the most thing d absur • ng to hear this discordant concert of penny trumpets, in all imaginable keys, resounding through the streets, and to find men with beards, soldiers, and baggy-breeched sailors indulging in the pastime. As for the lower classes, who don't much app re h en d being carried away by brigands, they did not seem to be much affected by the news, which they nevertheless freely commented u pon ; but among the more genteel classes you could scarcely mistake the effect of the news if you looked at the big sticks which bad all at once become the fashion. The Athenian, who has a decided taste f ur dandyism, had laid by the smart little cane which lie delights in at othe.r times and had taken to one of the stout oak saplings which were dis played by the shopkeepers, who evidently under stood the signs of the times. There was, likewise, a pretty good business for all those who deal in fire arms, above all in pocket revolvers, and some of them are sending fresh orders to Europe for a new supply of the article in season. The relative merits of the different patents were the topic of the day, and few people now go out in servant. he evening u nless armed or follow e d by a But this general apprehension about pereonal se curity is only one of the effects produced by the genuage in th e very outs ki r t s o f. a ppearance of bri the capital. There is another far worse evil and of more general impritance—namely, a sort of gene- ral nervous disposition among the population, which is prone to breed phantoms, and these later in their turn are apt to become unpleasant realities. Ever since young Bercy was carried off there has been au uneasiness which it would be difficult to trace to any distinct cause, but which yesterday produced quite a panic in the town. As everything has been going on prosperously hitherto, there was a natural tendency to seek for a cause why this prosperity should be all at once dis turbed. As imaginations were considerably heated, it could not be expected that the causes which were most obvious—such ae the weakness of the Govern ment, the long interregnum, the letting out of con victs without even tickets-of-leave—would satisfy the public mind, and the cause had to be sought from afar. "Itis en attempt at reaction" was the word whispered, and it soon made the round of the town ; the suspicion by degrees creating facts, and each fact leading to another. Almost every deputy who has come up from the r provinces arreed f h o a l s . brought with him several Palikaris, or lowers, as servants ; you can see o scores uaosrgesotftinthg dawnesepic turesque figures lounging about in front of the entrance door of the Assembly, and waiting for their masters who are debating in the Assembly. One glance at them suffioes to see that not a few of them have as picturesque cut-throat faces as it is possible to meet with ; but the circumstance seemed not much remarked before. It has been re marked lately, and likewise that they are rather more numerous than they might be supposed from the number of deputies. The remark once made, did not require much to suspect that an extra supply of these Palikaris had been brought up with a view to create terror and disturbance. It was recollected that one or another adherent of the past regime rather known for his relations in the native moun tains of Palikarism was still in town, and thus the first link of reaction seemed found. One or two cases of attempts at burglary and street robbery confirmed the suspicions. Then came the rumour that Spiro Milo, the late Minister of War, had landed at Syra ; soon after that Kolokotroni, late Prime Minister, had found his way with money and ammunition to the Morea ; so that by Wednesday evening all heads were turned. It was known that an extraordinary sitting of the Council of Ministers was convoked by the President in the middle of the night for the despatch of business. This gave further play to imagination, and stories, one more wild and absurd than the other, followed in an in stant. The Assembly (which is not yet constituted) was to change the Government; this latter was to resist and dissolve the Assembly ; there was to be resistance; an emeute, a revolution; so that yester day morning everyone came to tell you that strange and portentous things are in store. Now there is nothing like foretelling and persuad ing oneself that something is going to happen in order really to produce something, and so it hap pened. The Assembly was listening to and debating the reports of the commission which is busy scru tinising the validity of the elections. Among these reports was that about the election of Pylos, which presented some irregularities, but not sufficiently important to stamp it as illegal. The commission, therefore, admitted the election, which was likewise adopted by the Assembly. A portion of the Moun tain, which seemed seized with the general nervous- , ness, insisted, nevertheless, on having the papers re lating to this election printed, and several indivi duals on both sides lost their temper to such a degree that the President, unable to control the Assembly, suspended the sitting for half an hour. But, while the row inside was et its height, there arose another outside in the court-yard. The editor of the satirical paper " dos,'' who had suffered much from the persecutions of the late Government, and to whom a few days ago the Government had al lowed 6,000 drachmas as compensation, heel pub lished in his last number a satire scurrilous and offensive to the Assembly, which caused considera ble sensation, coming as it did immediately after the Government grant. As ill luck would have it, he was just passing through the court-yard when the row was going on inside ; he was recognised, and the crowd of civilians and soldiers turned upon him, shouting that he had insulted the only legiti mate power in the country, and by that means the army, the National Guard, every one else. He was beaten and cuffed about, when fortunately Zara ' brakaki, one of the Nanplia officers and nosy Com mandant de place, who happened to be there, inter fered and got him away safely. The crowd outside, above all the Palikaris, hearing the row, and sus pecting that there was a battle royal going on, all rushed to the entrance door, to help and rescue their masters; nor would it have been possible for the small picket of Nationals on duty to prevent this rush, had it not been for the timely interference of some representatives, who came out and reassured the faithful followers of the honourable members. In order to prevent further disturbance, a company or two of soldiers were brought up to do duty, and when the sitting was resumed all the effervescence had passed away. Not so in the town, where the indistinct news of the row at the Assembly spread rapidly. Shops were closed, people rushed to their houses, the Na tional Guard ran for their arms. Strong pickets of infantry and cavalry paraded the town, nor did the excitement abate until the Commandant de Place published a proclamation, which was announced by the public crier, stating that false rumours had been propagated by evil disposed persons who wished to create disturbances, but that it was hoped every one would remain quiet, as there was not the slightest foundation for them. This morning everything has assumed its usual aspect. However unpleasant, the occurrence had one good. result, and that is to put the spur on the Government. The night patrols, who had taken matters rather easily for so me •ime pest, have re sumed their duty with greuter earnes , ness, which it persevere-d in will soon restore confidence. But it is above all to the Assembly that every one looks as the anchor of safety. Never probably has there 13 , - - -en an Assembly the power of which has been so universally recognised as the present National Assembly of Greece. It is the first legally constituted power after three months of a most extraordinary , interregnum, with the mere shadow of a Govern ment, and every thing sa uncertain and precarious as to inspire little or no confidence. Great, there fore, is the impatience to see the Assembly finally constituted. The members themselves evidently share this impatience, for they have been hard at work during all this week to get through the pre liminary stage of the verification of the powers. It was only on Saturday that the result of the election of the committees by ballot was counted up, and on Tuesday the reports on 25 elections wore ready to be presented to the Assembly. The plan universally followed is liberal and expeditious. First, all those elections have been taken in hand against which there are fewest and least founded objections. By this means there are already more than sufficient members obtained to form a house in a case of emergency, although all the elections must be submitted before the House can really work. The view taken in these reports is fair and most liberal. The principle has been steadily adhered to that no complaints which are not already sub stantiated are to be taken into account. This is already a great point gained in a country where a corrupt Government has for 30 There y neverearsfos hastered suspicions, and acted upon them. been an election known against which there have not been complaints brought forward by the de feated party, and these complaints, however un founded, led not rarely to enquiries which, managed as they were, upset the most legitimate elections. The complaints are just as numerous this time, but the commissioners are not so complaisant as they were in former times, and will not even order in quiries unless there are proofs brought forward that they are called for. AU the reports which have been presented until now were favourable, and they were adopted, most of them almost without discussion, by show of hands. Yet even this tame work has led to some interesting scenes, which throw a light on the future character of the Assembly. The first and most interesting of these was that about the report on the election of Thermia or Kythnos, and the islands around it. The election was recognised as regular and valid by the commis sion and was submitted to the Assembly, when amid the profound silence of the House, Timoleon Vsssos, one of the deputies of Lousia, ascended the Tribune. Although dressed as a civilian, his hand some, soldierlike appearance, and the earnestness of his countenance, in spite of his youth, were alone sufficient to attract attention, had not the subject he was bringing forward already monopolized the interest of the Assembly. He called on the Assembly, in impressive and deeply felt words, to set aside for once mere legality, and exclude, by its own sovereign right and in the interest of the public, a man who figured in the election of Kythnos, and whose presence would pollute the Assembly. Tais man was Stathopulos, the late Dimarch of Kythnos, who figured so prominently in what is here called the Tragedy of Kythnos. The garrison of Nauplia had risen against the late Government, but a whole month passed with out finding an echo anywhere in the country. At l.st, towards the end of February, two generous youths determined to throw themselves into the movement. They were Leutzalio and Moriatini, both of them officers in garrison at Syra, and the latter a son of the President of the Areopagus, the highest tribunal in Greece. They not only per suaded the company of soldiers who were in garri t son to join, but likewise the population, so that in a few hours they got possession of the town and established a Provisional Government. Having suc ceeded so far, they determined to liberate, as a first step, the political prisoners who were confined in the island of Kythnos. For this purpose they took possession of the steamer Carteria, belonging to the Greek Ccmpany, and embarked on it, with the sol diers and a number of volunteers from the town, having previously taken the precaution to cut the telegraph wire. But they had forgotten the Aus trian Lloyd steamer, which was in harbour, and they had scarcely left when this latter started to convey the_ news to Athens. In consequence of this news the steam frigate Amalie, having taken four companies of choice troops on board, made immediately for the island of Kythnos, where she arrived just at the moment when the young men, having liberated the political prisoners, were on the point of embarking. It was too late to escape, and the force brought against them was so great that there was little chance of resistance; nevertheless, the leaders, dividing their small force, occupied a garden to the right and left of the place where the troops from the Amelia were landing. When the troops advanced Leatzalio came out alone to meet them with a white flag, but before he had time to speak a volley was fired, and he fell pierced by several bullets. Moriatini and a young man who had joined them, Scarvelli, who tried to follow, had the same fate ; the others, seeing their chiefs fall, dispersed in the island, where they were taken up by the authorities. The three corpses, pierced with bullets and bayonet wounds, were stripped, thrown into an open boat, and paraded all round the Amalia, after which they were thrown on the beach. The Dimarch Stathopulos, in spite of the representations which were made to give these young men a decent burial, had them interred on the beach, not even allowing a priest to go through the funeral service, declaring that they did not deserve better for having polluted the island with their blood. Little was known in Europe about this tragedy when it occurred, but it has become deeply engraved in the Greek mind; the victims became the first heroes of the revolution, and their names are sacred in the opinion of the people. You may, therefore, imagine the effect produced on the assembly by Vassa's words stigmatising the late Dimarch of Kythnos. He spoke as friend and companion in arms of those who fell ; and there was the father of one of the victims, Moriatini, the respected President of the Areopagus, still wearing deep mourning for his fallen son. Yet, in spite of the deep emotion which had seized all the assembly at this late but noble tribute to generous, although perhaps misguided patriotism, sufficient self-command was left not to condemn without proofs. There was Deligorgi, one of the prisoners, and now Minister of Public Instruction, who was present, and could confirm or contradict the facts. He was called for, and confirmed every word. In vain did Deliganni, one of the clearest intellects and best debaters of the Assembly, come forward with rare courage and beg the Assembly not to be carried away by feelings, which are not always good guides, but to adhere to strict legality, which, however unsatisfactory now and then, or even repugnant, is the only safe guide for an Assembly. He was listened to with cairn, nay, intense interest, but he could not save the Deputy Stathopulos, who was excluded by a unanimous vote of the House. There was even a tendency to upset his colleagues for having entered into a combination with such a man, but when the subject was taken up next morning the emotion had subsided, reason had re gained its sway, and the other members for the island were confirmed ; nevertheless the constitu ency is debarred this time its right to send another representative instead of the one excluded. Another rather interesting scene occurred during the report on the election of young Dosios, against whom the charge was brought that he had forfeited his right of representing his country as he had taken service in the Italian array during the war of 1859-60. The Assembly ruled that instead of for feiting his right he had well deserved of his country by taking part in the struggle of a noble people to achieve its own national idea. A rather humorous scene took place about the election of the brothers Rouffo at Patras, sons of one of the members of the Provisional Government who had a considerable share in bringing about the re volution. It was a question whether they had the age required, but before the doubts were cleared up the House gave them by its sovereign power the few months which they may yet want to have the legal age. As the Assembly otherwise is most anxious to establish the sway of principle and legality, these isolated cases of playing with its sovereign powers are harmless. Nay, they are a healthy symptom in an Assembly which pretends to, and does certainly in a great measure represents the feelings of the people. CROMLECHS.—We may be as certain that crom lechs were tombs, and not altars, as we are that Sanscrit and Teutonic are kindred languages ; but when we ask who made the cromlechs, whether Cymry, Gael, or Turanian, we have got into the region of theory. Some theories indeed, are much more likely,than others; but still they are theories, and not certainties. That the cromlech was a tomb, and not an altar, is absolutely certain; for the cromlech, whole and perfect, has been disinterred from Within its tump, and the skeletons of its occupants have bean found within the cromlech. Here is demonstrative proof, which none but a madman can refuse to accept. One hardly need the subsidiary proofs, archicelogical and geolo gical, which of themselves pretty well upset the altar theory. Bnt if we go on to argue that cromlechs and various other objects are of earlier date than the Cymry, because their Welsh names simply describe their appearance, and do not express their use, we have got hold of a very ingenious and probable argument; but still one which does not lead us beyond a strong presumption. It is certain that the Welsh name cromlech or crooked stone describes the object in its present state of ruin, and neither expresses its purpose nor its original appearance. This affords a very strong presumption, but not an abso'ute certainty, that the cromlechs are due to an older people than the Cymry, and that when the Cymry entered the land, they were already broken down and their use forgotten. It affords an abso • lute certainty that the name was not given by that particu lar tribe or age of the Cymry who first reared the crom lechs; but it does not absolutely prove that the object and its name may not belong to different Ages of the same peo ple, or to diff eren t b ranches of the same race.—Saturday / I Review. A wedding card is nothing but a demand for a civil letter—a complimentary bill of exchang e noT P eYu - able at sight in congratul a ti ons. N ow a letter of at Lions, of all species of compul sor y composition, is the mos , co burdensome to the author. There is nothing on earth to say, and the creative act of making something out of nothing intolerably troublesome. People have different modes of escape from the perplexity , according to the habit of their minds. Some few have r e all y the tale n t of maundering on 0,-otrhtehrrseleiepbaogledslyo! a nd expatiate in panegyrics invented for note-paper without any meaning at a ll. the occasion. Those are most to he envied who are suffi ciently unreserved to take the matter up in a religious point of view. With the help of a few texts they get through very well. But, for all, it is an unprofitable sfilictiou which might very well be spared. It is not quite so bad as a letter of condolence; but from that there is no chance of escape. People do not send round cards when they die ; and, there fore, there i s very li ttle hope o f re li e f f ro m the existing ob 'cations. We must take what we can get, and be thankful to pass through our lives with as few disagreeable ceremo nies as the folly of • our generation will permit. —Saturday Revum on ,4 cards;' Manchester Chamber of Commerce. The annual meeting of the Chamber was held yesterday at Manchester, Mr. H. Ashworth, the president, in the chair. Among the gentlemen present were—Mr. Bazley, M.P., Mr. Penchi., M.P., Mr. J. Cheetham, Mr. M. Ross, Mr. W. Gibb, Mr. E. Ashworth, Mr. H. Mason, Mr. Cassells, Mr. Leppoc, Mr. Slagg, Mr. Rumney, and Mr. Chadwick. The report of the directors was of considerable length. It was principally devoted to a review of the proceedings of the Chamber during the past 12 months, the principal por tions of which have from time to time been reported. "Your directors," it observes, " cannot close this record of their proceedings during a year which has been rendered unutterably sad by the fratricidal conflict in America, and its ruinous consequences to the industry of this district, without expressing their profound sympathy with those members of the community who have suffered, and continue to sutler, so intensely by these unfortunate events ; and they desire alio to pay a tribute of admiration on the one hand to the patience and heroic self-reliance displayed by the operative classes under their many and grievous privations, and on the other to that noble spirit of benevolence evoked by the distress, pervading all ranks throughout the length and breadth of her Majesty's dominions." Mr. FLEMING, the secretary, read a letter from Mr. W. R. Wood, in which that gentleman stated that, had he not been prevented by illness from attending the meeting, he should have been compelled to vote against the adoption of the report, on account of passages it contained reflecting on Sir C. Wood. He believed the appearance of that portion of the report would not further the object in view, while it would tend to lower the character of the Chamber and im pair its efficiency. The PRESIDENT, in moving the adoption of the report, said,—The affairs of our mercantile and manufacturing dis tricts are invested with a degree of what I may call solemnity in the estimation of those who have taken part in the alleviation of the distress and the distribution of the funds which have found their way hither. Those who were present here two years ago will remember that, at the expi ration of the year 1861, there was a very buoyant feeling in this Chamber upon the achievement of a commercial success that was unprecedented. The cotton manufactures which we had exported, over and beyond the amount of cotton manufactures required for home consumption, had reached the enormous amount of £56,000,000. When we were con sidering the colossal proportions of our system of industry, how little could we have imagined that that commercial giant was standing upon feet of clay—that in a very short time the African blood which had become an element of its existence would become an occasion of war in the United States, cutting off our supplies to the extent of about 80 per cent. of our consumption! An affair so momentous was calculated to fill this country with a large amount of appre hension for the well-being of our people. The price of the raw material became heightened to, probably, more than fourfold its previous rate, while the manufactured article . was only about double in price. (Hear.) The consequent loss to our manufacturers was one which seriously impaired the efficiency of that description of capital usually called " floating capital ; " exhausting from year to year the amount of that capital which gives life-blood to our in dustry and commerce. And should it proceed as it has done, and continue as we may reasonably suppose it is likely to do, it will become a very weighty consideration for this country in what manner and to what extent our manufac turing industry can hereafter, for years to come, be re newed like its previou s importance. Moreover, our to anything population, previously in the enjoyment of comfort beyond that of any other population, and at the same time possessed of a degree of intelligence beyond that which or-, dinarily falls to the lot of working men, has had to sustain a most painful effect upon its general welfare. Many gen tlemen here present, no doubt, are those who have for the, time had to leave the places they have usually held upon committees for the relief of the distress. I appeal to them, on their own knowledge, as to the very becoming demeanour of the working classes under privations so severe, and so much the more sensitively felt through contrast with their, previous degree of prosperity. While we remark with gra tification the forbearance, fortitude, and the propriety of behaviour of our working classes, let us not forget how much we are indebted to all other classes for the sympathy, and the benevolence which have been manifested on every hand. I believe there has never been an occasion on which our feelings have been so largely called upon as on the pre sent. The British people has been renowned for many e s cellent qualities —we have been considered courageous, we have been deemed adventurous, we have been the authors of many wonderful systems of manufacture and commerce, together with inventions of every kind calculated to advance the civilisation of the world ; but amid the rough and hardy qualities of the British race, let us not forget that, when called upon, their feelings are in accordance, and stand forth as splendidly in front of our other qualities as any other attribute we possess. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is not charity we want, it is cotton. (Hear.) The time will come, possibly it may be nearer than we expect, when those large funds which have been contributed for the sustenance of our people will become nearly, or more nearly exhausted. It cannot be expected that we shall be able to galvanize into existence that amount of sympathy and goodwill which has previously been shown to such a degree, that county meetings headed by noble lords and landed proprietors and others will again be held to bring forward subscriptions in the manner they have been hitherto forthcoming. It is to be expected that whenever an appeal shall be required to the benevolent, they will be prepared to inquire if there is not something to be done which shall remove the occasion of distress and not leave us to continue dependent year after year upon public charity, (Hear.) It is very important that people of every locality throughout this busy district should begin to consi• der whether or not they can in any way contribute to arouse attention to the cultivation of cotton. It has been alleged that price would bring it. Possibly price has more to do with the increased amount which has been already received than anything else that has been called into action. But it we aro to wait until the effect of price has brought the quan tity of cotton we require, we must not forget that time is an element in the question. We cannot afford to wait until price has done it, without at the same time expressing in one way or another that which is our advice, that which belongs to our intelligence to understand, as to the manner in which the cultivation of cotton shall be promoted other. wise than by a large price. At the recent Exhibition in London I think there were not fewer than 48 samples of cotton exhibited from different parts of the world ; tut no doubt many of those samples were merely grown in gardens more t p h a e r t c i o c t u t l o a n r ly in to q u s a h l iotwy ratherthe c ap thanab i l i t y of in quantity. countries duce 'There have been arising out of the distress and our own want of cotton a number of cotton companies formed to operate in different parts of the world, but those cotton companies must have time to mature their operations. Among other countries that have been forward in promoting the growth of cotton it is very obvious that even the Ottoman empire --an empire which has been deemed to possess a great deal of infirmity in its political institutions—even that country has been forced to action by the temptation of a large price for cotton, and a large amount of money to be distributed over the world for the production of cotton. I hold in my hand a copy of a despatch from the Minister of Cammerce at Constantinople, notified by the Sul tan, encouraging the cultivation of cotton 1 in the Ottoman Empire. He refers to the production of the United States in the year 1859 of 41 millions of bales, which, at £lO per bale, would give £45,000,000 sterling, a sum four times greater than the value of the total export of all articles 1 from the Ottoman dominions. 'With a view to encourage the cultivation of cotton and the breaking up of uncultivated land, he offers the gratuitous possession of it—title deeds without cost except for stamp duty, and exemption from tithe for five years. " the State will undertake to procure free of cost, cotton seeds of the choicest qualities, and instruction and treatises on the most profitable methods of cultivation ; and will exempt from customs' duties the importation of im plements and machinery used for cultivating and cleaning the cotton," and, by way of stimulus, will offer "prizes for the encouragement of cultivators and exhibitors of the best grown cotton." A similar effort is shown in a report made to the Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce of the Kingdom of Italy by G. D. Vincenzi, member of the Italian Parliament, and Commissioner of the International Exhibition of 1862. He draws attention to the immense ex tent of land in Southern Italy, equal to 5,000.000 English acres, which has of great antiquity been known for its cot ton-producing capabilities and to the great abundance and cheapness of labour, He remarks also upon the example of American success, he exhibits drawings of the cotton plant, and proceeds to show that they can grow cotton equal to New Orleans at 4d. per lb.; and he illustrates the advantages of commercial activity, which by this means may connect the fortunes of England with the destinies of Italy. Following two such examples, you will naturally inquire whether or not the effect of the cotton famine has been felt elsewhere, and more particularly in the councils of India. It is true Lord Canning took the alarm, being Governor of Belk and being fully aware of the conse quence to England of the American war; and he whichap peared i oa h rt a dese d lornsfe t b ilattsa e hnosn e uel n edpey ; a e o c rr e de i e v s ro e il d nug s t iootthnn the e sale w s e o r i of fi r nw t g h a rs theet e e l y am e n a ad r ns s .nbeerfno in peered to find in some corner of h i s b ureau a despatch i from m m siraeshould roads, a b n e d o d hf i e s t p ho o re s d e me d roe s o at f, icm also mm veed f n o i ja r : ne t h t p e cahi r ra e s- - t d w o e h m i b c p e h t i t o w a n a k racter for the removal of cotton from the plantations to the seaboard. This is some indication of the readiness of that enlightened Governor to put India in motion to bring about come alleviation of our distress. You would not only sup pose that the Indian Council, at the head of which is Sir C. Wood, would have been equally alive to the emergency, but that they would in this country, as well as Lord Can ning in India, have been put in motion instantaneously, with a view, if possible, to minister to our relief. I am sorry to say, on the contrary, that what has been done by them has been the undoing of that which Lord Canning had done. By an order from Sir C. Wood, the sale of the waste lands, and the redemption of the land-tax, has been sub verted. Sir C. Wood himself will not see that it has been subverted, but it has been changed ; and the change is of that character which amounts in reality to a prohibition of the sale of land. Under Lord Canning's regulations, the applicant for the purchase of land bad three operations to undertake ) viz.,—te mark out the land he wanted, to pay ss. an acre for it, and to wait one month to see if any other. applicant or owner happened to turn up. So that in one month the buyer might be in possession, and engaged in his cultivation. That which Sir C. Wood says is not a prohibition, is a regulation which contains no fewer than 77 clauses, which a man must carefully understand before he proceeds to purchase. (Hear, hear.) When he has made himself acquainted with the 77 clauses, he may pro ceed to consider whereabouts he will make his purchase. He must then apply for a survey. It isimpossible for any one to determine what length of time might be required to obtain that survey. The surveyer comes to survey, but the applicant must first of all deposit the money to pay him with. The survey when made will, in all pro bability, have to be reported upon, and how long it may be before that report shall be understood or determined no one can undertake to say ; but should it appear that the land may be offered for sale, then it must be advertised to be sold by auction. When sold the highest bidder receives it, whether it be the applicant or not ; and, if the applicant does not himself become the purchaser, he receives back the money he has paid as deposit for the survey, and he may then go about to find some otber place that shall be more near to his expectations, more within his power to obtain. Any squatter may come and dispute a title, and no matter whether it be in India or in Ireland, we find many titles that at e not disputed. In this country we have a very ready way of dealing with that description of dispute—we have passed an Encumbered Etatea Act, and did not wait a century, as we have done in India, before coming to a de termination that good titles shall be made out of bad ones. However, Sir C. Wood having thus placed what we feel to be obstacles in the way of becoming possessed of waste lands, it is very evident that if the people of this country are to starve until cotton is grown under the arrangements laid down by that Minister, we shall have very few persons left capable of undertaking our industry at the end of that time. (Hear.) Centuries may elapse before any sensible impression has been made upon the sale of waste lands. The land-tax redemption also has been entirely overthrown. Lord Canning arranged that the land-tax should be sale able at 20 years' purchase. Though at present an occu pier in India may be said to be in the same position as a tenant at will in this country, who dares not lay out money for fear that the year afterwards he may hove to pay addi tional rent for his own investment, Sir C. Wood has quite put a st p to the redemption of land-tax; and he has assented to an agreement for thirty years, in case the parties should arrange together. It is not for us to remade upon the internal Government of India, but it is very probable that it will be a great disap pointment to the collectors if sales were made in re demption of tax, because a large number of collectors are c..- gaged year after year to obtain the rentals. I don't mean to say that we have any objection to collectors ; but I don't know where they come from ; I never missed anybody from our exchange who had been sent out to collect land-tax, and the collectors are a class in India, I believe, well provided for, and, so far as we are concerned, I don't know that we have any business to be called together here to uphold their existence any longer. If the land-tax were redeemed one fourth of the tax so redeemed would pay off every shilling of the debt now owing on Indian account. It would be per haps derogatory to the dignity of Sir C. Wood to remind him that if he were to give place to the Sultan, there would be some animation imparted to the Council for India. But. mind you, I don't want to change the men; I want the spirit to be changed. Give us the spirit which has animated the Ottoman empire and the Italian people, and not the pro tection which they offer, but the spirit of enterprise which has led them to strive for the obtaining of that 45,000,000 a year we now give to America; and I say India would then provide us with good cotton in plenty, and I think in rea sonable time. (Applause.) The contract law is all-important in any investment made in India, whether for the cultiva tion of cotton or any other article. It may seem strange to many persons that advances made for cultivation, debts, contracts, or whatever may belong to the intercourse of men of business, are placed upon the very same footing; we know very well that a high rate of interest indicates a bad security. The security is bad because the law for the re covery of debts is exceedingly slippery. If we found that we had to recover our debts, especially small debts, by an operation something like that of the Court of Chancery, or Assize Courts, we know very well that it would afford an inroad for mischief, which would be exceedingly pernicious in our manufacturing and mercantile pursuits. India can not be restored to prosperity until a more secure tenure for land and a contract law have been put in operation, which shall enable the British manufacturer or investor to em bark his money in safety in a country like that. Before leaving the subject, I beg it to be understood that in any remarks I have made touching Sir Charles Wood, and the Council for India, it is in their official capacity, and not in any private or individual capacity that I refer to them. That they are incompetent for their duties I think you will have already concluded. (Hear, hear,) For nearly 34 years this Chamber have been from time to time offering remonstrance or advice to every variety of Indian Board that has existed in that period, and you will see with what provokingly ill success. Since the present distress set in, as it seemed ob viously unavailing to approach the Indian Council, and as we were fully aware that those officials held their power, not through our representative system but from the Cabinet and the Premier, the Chamber concluded to address the Premier. Our address to him appeared so full of remon strance that Lord Palmerston declared it to be a bill of in dictment against Sir C. Wood, in whom he said he had every confidence. He promised to bring the subject under that Minister's notice, and what may be the issue we must leave to the future to unfold ; but we may depend the country is now so roused to the subject that no Indian Go vernment will have rest until something effectual is done. Mr. BAZLEY, M.P., in seconding the adoption of the re port, said t at although the directors of the Chamber in their duties had been surrounded by great difficulties, those duties had been faithfully discharged. One of the first sub jects referred to in the report arose from a suggestion of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce respecting those departments of Government which took cognizance of negotiations with foreign Governments for the extension of commerce. It had been proposed that the Manchester Chamber should co operate with Chambers of Commerce generally to obtain an addition to that department, with a view to facilitate commercial intercourse. The suggestion deserved much attention and consideration, but great caution would have to be exercised iu approaching the question. The Board of Trade, if duly organised, and supported by other de partments of Government, would be quite competent to attend to all the interests connected with the foreign commerce of the United Kingdom. The Foreign Depart ment, no doubt, had constant communication with foreign countries on subjects which the Board of Trade had not, and on many:important occasions the Foreign Depart• ment had not assisted the commercial interests of the corm ' try so much as it might have done by a better organised communication with the Board of Trade. The French treaty had been so successful that many of the other continental Powers were following that course pursued by France and England, and possibly, through the instrumentality of France, there might be a spread of that commercial freedom and liberty for which Manchester had been pre-eminently distinguished in its advocacy. He looked with some confi dence to the extension of those principles, for, as many of the European countries had declined directly to make im portant commercial concessions to Great Britain, while they were making them to France, in a spirit of equity, those concessions could not long be withheld from us. The colonial policy of the Government had deservedly attracted the attention of the Chamber. Above all things it was desi rable that the Colonial Government should not be permitted to contravene or obstruct the great and liberal commercial policy sanctioned by the Imperial Legislature. He cherished the hope that the directory of the Chamber would, if pos sible, obtain some change in the Canadian policy of high protective duties. The Chamber had the satisfaction of hear ing the other day from the representatives of the Australian Government that in that country, upon the whole, the great principles of free trade had been established, and were being acted upon; that the colonies were essentially self-support ing, and that there was being opened out to us an im mense prospect of advantage, which by an increased popu lation and enlarged intercourse with this country would tend to raise the colonies in the scale of im portance among the nations of the earth. The reso lutions adopted by the Chamber in reference to Indian affairs reflected the highest praise. It claimed for India, again and again, that there might be good means of com munication with the interior; that there might be roads, canals, and means of irrigation; that there might be a land tenure that would permit the free sale of land in India as well as in this country; that if there were incumbrances upon the land in India it might be possessed with its incumbrances; that no wrong might be done to the pos sessor of land ; and that the rights of sale and purchase with the least possible difficulties should be permitted. A law of contracts was also required for the security of en gagements. The directors had wisely referred to India as a great field for a future supply of cotton. Cotton, he be lieved, could be well and profitably grown in India, and unless it could be profitably produced it was futile to direct the attention of other countries to cultivate a material which did not pay for its own production. An abundant supply of our raw material must be looked for through reward. The large supply of cotton said to be held in. America had, no doubt, done much to stay the progress of cultivation in other parts of the world. (Hear, hear.) It had been assumed that four millions of bales were held there, but by more recent advices it appeared that the stock had been continually diminishing, and the use of cotton bales to resist bombardments would not specially fit them for the purposes of the spinners of this country. (A laugh, and " Hear, hear.") There was in America a constant tendency to diminish the stock of cotton; and the true policy of English manufacturers was to look to sources which would not fail them in their necessity. In the British colonies we had the means of supporting ourselves ; and from foreign sources large supplies of cotton could be obtained. When we thought of the vast re sources of Australia, where there were upwards of 2,000,000 acres of ground capable of producing the most excellent qualities of cotton, from New Orleans up to the best Sea Island, we need not despair of receiving supplies. Still we fell back upon India, because it was proved that it was capable of supplying us with a superior class of cotton. The success attained by Mr. Shaw in Dharwar established that ho doubled the value of the cotton by improving its cultivation, and at the same time increased its production fourfold by merely introducing arts of agriculture such Is prevailed in almost every civilised country. If a more spirited application of agricultural science were directed to other parts of India, in a few years we should receive such an augmentation of supply that the great industry in which so many were interested would be set at liberty. But unless efforts were made by the trade at home on the one hand, and encouragements given by the Government on the other, we might long be subjected to this unfortunate distress, which was oppressing both the capital and labour of the country. The consuming public of England ought to be placed in immediate contact with the producing ryot of India. There was one very important point that the public and the press could not be said to have fully appreciated. They were continually told that demand for manufactures ought to increase more than they did at present. The truth was that prices regu lated demand, and with the ruling high prices consumption was of necessity diminished. We had only a large demand for corn and calico when the prices were very low. It had been stated that in 1860, when our exports were amazingly extensive, and when all was prosperity, that we were over producing the manufactures. No doubt at that moment we were producing sufficient for the demand ; perhaps, in a trifling degree, in excess; but if our increasing production could have had corresponding reduction in value, we could with such moderately reduced prices have extended the scale of consumption. It was folly for the trade to expect that high prices and great consumption in the markets of the world had been identified with this great industry. The hon. gentleman concluded his remarks by hoping that brighter days would soon dawn upon us, and that the present distress would soon be at an end. (Applause.) The report was unanimously adopted. _ _ _ Some routine business having been disposed of, the meet ing separated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIO JOURNALS. TIMES.—For the last 30 years certainly there has never been a day when the streets of Warsaw might not have run with blood at a signal from any bold man. Conspiracy and insurrection have never been absent from the minds of the conquered. Men and women, old and young, the possibility of a struggle with the Russians at any moment has ever been before them, and without claiming for them more than for any other people unexampled hero ism it may be said that living with the prospect of a sudden outbreak continually before their eyes has endowed the Poles with a kind of reckless courage which, as has been proved by many examples, shrinks from no danger, and will rush into a struggle with the enemy against any odds. Probably in a few days this new Polish insurrec tion will be put down, and order will once more reign in the conquered cities. The silence of mili tary rule will overspread the land. All that the outer world will know will be that executions have taken place, that troops of unfortunates have been marched off eastward, and will not complete their journey until the vast tract of European Russia is in terposed between them and their homes. We cannot think that the present outbreak will fare differently from the 20 or 30 that have preceded it in the life time of the present geceration. But there is enough to show that the old hatred and the oid savageness of temper remain unchanged at the present day. This we might have expected ; but there is another feature of still greater interest—that the Polish malcontents are able, in spite of Governors and Generals, policemen and spies, to plan a most for midable rising against the Russian authority. Whether the events of which the telegraph informs us were the consequences of a regular plan for the destruction of the Russian troops, or whether the news of one outbreak spreading through the coun try excited each section to deeds of violence, the facts equally show the dangerous state of the coun try and the readiness of the people at any moment to rise in a rebellion, however desperate. We in cline to the opinion that the insurrection is the work of a central body of conspirators, for there is a suddenness in the attack and a unity in the design of it which seems to show that it was not a series of desultory outbreaks. There was indeed a barbarity in the proceedings of the insurgents which must be regretted. On the night of the 22d the scattered detachments of troops in the neighbourhood of War saw were attacked. The insurgents killed all the soldiers they found in the houses where they were billeted. If it be true that the troops were at tacked in every town throughout the province on the same night, there can be no doubt that the deed was premeditated, and that conse quently the Poles intended one of those gene ral slaughters which, whenever they have been attempted, have always in the end brought misfortune on the heads of the perpetra tors. The Russian account is that very serious fighting had taken place at many points, but that the troops had universally defeated the insur gents. The latter had burnt several villages and had destroyed the telegraph wires, so that at the present time the communication is cut off between Warsaw and the frontier. Troops have been hur ried to the scene of the disturbances, the garrison of Warsaw having been increased to 40,000 men. The neighbourhood of Plock, on the Vistula, about half way between ‘k arsaw and the Prussian fron tier, was expected to be the scene of a sharp con flict between the military and the insurgents, as the latter were in great force there. On the whole, this is a most anxious conjuncture for the Emperor, and we cannot wonder that he should have dis played some emotion when he addressed the army, as reported by telegraph to-day, and denounced the revolutionary party whose work the rising was. A few days more must elapse before we can tell whether this is to be a general insurrection or not. But in whatever manner it may end it cannot but recall the attention of Europe to this miserable country. It proves that the Pole and the Russian are as far from that fusion which has been the cherished design of the Czars as 30 years since, and that the conscience of the world must be periodi cally wounded by a nation unsuccessfully struggling to be free. MORNING POST.—It is with a sense of unspeak able relief that we hail the final settlement of the Holstein question. We do so not merely in the interests of Europe, which has from time to time been agitated by the rival pretensions of the Ger manic Diet and the Danish King, not to mention threats of Federal executions, but in the interests of the Danish monarchy itself. Denmark has always had our sympathies. We have ever consistently supported the claims of the Danish Government in respect to the disputed provinces. In the reasons ad vanced by the Germanic Powers for their interposi tion we always failed to discover aught but an empty pretext for depriving Denmark of a por tion of her dominions. Prussia is the last State in the world entitled to come for ward just now as the champion of con stitutional government. Austria, too, might without difficulty find a wider sphere for the introduction of constitutional reforms in her Hungarian and Lombardo-Venetian territories than in the Grand Duchy of Holstein. Notwithstanding, however, that the moment seems singularly inopportune for the formal recognition of the independence of Hol stein by the Danish Government, and the concession to that province of the position claimed for it by the Germanic Confederation, we are glad that a tedious and irritating discussion has at length been brought to a close. In the note addressed by the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Ambassador in London, ani dated January 5, the announcement is formally made that henceforth Holstein will be ac counted as one of the Germanic States, and that the Danish King, in his quality as duke of that pro vince, will not only be prepared, as heretofore, to fulfil his federal obligations, but will admit the au thority of the Diet to regulate the internal affairs of the State. The Danish Minister has rightly pointed out that the recognition of this control on the part of the Germanic Confederation is not the simple discharge of a duty imposed upon his Government ; it is, in truth, a sacrifice extorted by the force of circumstances, a yielding to pressure from without. It must always be borne in mind that Holstein was a province of Denmark before it became a member of the Confederation. On entering the Confedera tion, the duchy of Holstein, like the other States joined in that league, undertook certain obligations, but never transferred its sovereignty to the Diet, or bound itself in every respect to be guided by its dictates. However, any misconceptions which may have previously arisen are set at rest, and the rights of the Confederation and the obligations of Holstein are now settled upon what it is hoped will prove an unalterable basis. But whilst the Danish Go vernment have been content to admit the claims of he Germanic Diet in respect to Holstein, they have rightly i m p ose d, as t h e con dition of such recognition, that the authority of the Crown in London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Ofuce, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex,—Tuesday, January 27, 1863. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 27, 1863. Denmark should be undisputed. This is not only stated in express terms in the note of M. Hall to the Danish Minister here, but is much dwelt on in the address of the Danish Chamber to the King. In the note above referred to, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs says—" Neither public law gene rally, nor the diplomatic correspondence of 1851, authorises any intervention whatever of the Confe deration of the affairs of Schleswig, and the King's Government would betray the most sacred interests of the State if it made a compromise as to this capi, tal principle, that the authority of the Germanic Confederation can in no case be extended. beyond the frontier of Holstein!' In settling the Holstein question on a basis favourable to the Confederation, the Danish Government have a right to demand that the dispute respecting Schleswig should equally be concluded in such a manner as to pre clude the Diet from advancing any future claims to jurisdiction in that province. The consideration of the concession of Holstein by the Danish Govern ment is that their sovereignty in Schleswig should be henceforward undisputed. This is fair. Mea sured by the test of ancient custom and interna tional law, Denmark should never have been called upon to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Diet in Holstein. But if, yielding to " the force of cir cumstances," as M. Hall expresses it, Denmark has been obliged to yield to the demands of the Confe deration, then she has a right to expect that her sovereignty in the province of Schleswig shall not only be acknowledged by the Diet, but shall be practically guaranteed by those great Powers which have thought proper to interpose, and have not felt ashamed to use means little short of direct coercion to force Denmark into the concession she has now made. It can hardly be the interest of England or Russia to effect a complete disintegration of the Danish Monarchy, but unless they seek for such a consummation they will henceforth offer as stre nuous an opposition to further encroachments on the part of the German Powers as they have hitherto given to them an unqualified support. If the in tegrity and independence of the Danish Monarchy are objects dear to the statesmen of Europe, the basis upon which the concessions respecting Hol stein have been made will be adopted as final. Any further attempt at encroachment on the sovereignty of the Danish Crown by the German Powers should bring to Denmark not merely barren sym pathy, but the powerful assistance of those who have the means of preventing a small, but inde pendent and well-regulated, State from being crushed by a great Confederacy. COUNTRY MARKETS. , ~. COLCHESTER-JAN. 24. All kinds of grain about the same as last week, with a moderate amount of business doing. Wheat, white 46s 52s Beans, Mazagan .. 30s 33s red 42s 48s middle & 5ma11.358 42s Barley Oats GLOUCESTER-JAN. 24. To-day there was a goad supply of English wheat, which sold slowly, at barely late prices. Foreign was in limited request, and in favour of buyers. Barley, beans, and oats as before. CHELMSFORD-JAN. 23. At this corn exchange to-day there was a fair show of wheat for the season. Trade slow. Prices declined is per qr on last week's rates. Spring corn barely maintained late prices. Wheat, old vi1ite...378 54s rem, nulaidge 378 40s new 1 7s 518 White 39s 408 old red....42s 508 Boiling 4OB 43s WV 38s 48s Dun 35s 38s Barley 2tqi 36s Ditto new —s —8 Chevalier ..288 398 Beans, Tick, old ..34s 398 Grinding .... 228 31s new..—s —8 Malt. 6ls 67s Harrow Ticks ..358 408 Chevalier 64s 69s new..—s —8 Oats 20s 28s Mazagan ..... ..30s 388 KIRKCALDY GRAIN-JAN. 24. We had middling supplies of wheat and barley, but good of oats. Sales ready. Wheat rather cheaper than last week, Barley and oats brought the same rates. Wheat. Barley. Oats. First.... 29s Od I 22s Od 1 18s Od, Second .. 36s Od 26s Od 21s Od Od —s Od Od COAL 2 Prices of Coal per Ton al .ARKET. the close of the market. s. d. Buddle's West Hartley 16 0 Hastings Hartley l6 0 Carway and Duffryn Malting 22 6 Do. Anthracite 20 6 Wylam ..16 0 Lambert's West Hart- Walls End. B.a. ley 16 0 North Pelton Gas 15 0 Far-field Moor 14 0 Cowpen Hartley ..16 0 West Hartley ..16 0 Hartlepool West Hart ley. ...15 0 Walls End. Caradoc.... Ships at market, Tunstall Hetton K elloe South Kelloe l7 9 Reugh Hall 17 6 South Hartlepool 17 0 Hartlepool 18 0 Framwellgate l6 6 Hedley l6 6 Harton l6 3 Riddell . Haswell lB 6 South Hetton ...18 6 Casaop lB 0 134; sold, 94. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. . .Feb. 18. via Marseilles Feb. 12. brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Feb. 3. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena. Feb. 1, China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Feb. 1. via Marseilles Jan. 27. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Jan. 25. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southan9ton Feb. 1. . _ . . via Marseilles Jan. 27. India (Bombay), via Southampton Jan. 25. via Marseilles Feb..6. Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Jan. 25 ..._ via Marseilles Jan, 27. Newfoundland ..Feb. 5. Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Jan. 29. by U.S. packet.... by Canadian packet. Jan. —. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneritle .. Feb. 10. Bahamas, via New York ....Feb. 12. Mexico ....Jan. 28. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, Jan. 28. California, and British Columbia.. REDUCTION OF FEES IN THE HOUSE OF COM MONS.—Among the anticipated reforms of the ensuing session is an order of the Speaker on the reduction of fees on private bills. Since the last session a committee strongly recommended an immediate reduction, and at the commencement of the next session itis expected to take place. The annual fees on private bills amount to £10,500 or £50,000. In 1845 and 1846, during the railway mania, after the expenses of the House, there was an excess of £220,000. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1845 trans ferred the officers of the House to the Consolidated Fund, and put his hand on £170,000. Soon afterwares came a collapse, and the fees fell to £25,000 a-year. [ADVERTISEMENT.]-11olloway's Pills.—Health to the Many,—The universally harmless composition, and cheap ness of these inestimable Pills have won for them their pre sent fame. They cannot i❑jure the system; no mercurial, mineral, or other poisonous agent enters into their compo sition. Their components are the finest balsams, extracted with the greatest care and mixed together with the nicest accuracy. Holloway's PiLa are unrivalled for curing headache, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulency, consti• ration, and other disorders of the stomach and :bowels. They stimulate or otherwise regulate the liver. They so thoroughly purify the blood, that in its circuit through its vessels and capillaries it diffuses fresh life and vigour throughoutjthe whole frame, and gives tone to body and mind. Births. CUBITT.—On the 25th inst., at Denbies, Dorking, the wife of George Cubitt, Esq., M.P., of a daughter. MARSHALL.—On the 23d inst , at Burlingham House, Norfolk, the wife of Captain Harry Marshall, 9th Royal Lancers, of a son. MAPLES.—On the 26th inst., at Aner:ey-park, Norwood, the wife of Henry P. Maples , Esq., of a daughter. MAzINI.—On the 25th inst., at 53, Brompton-crescent, Mrs. V. Mazini, of a daughter. Marriages. BROWNE—IIDGGINs.—On the 22d inst., at the English Embassy, Paris, Charles Thomas Browne, Esq , of Hill drop-road, Holloway, to Harriet. eldest daughter of the late George Huggins, Esq., of The Crescent, Camden town. TUNSTALL—OGLE.—On the 22d inst., at St. Peter's, Igh tham, Kent, Edwin Tunstall, Esq., of Smethwiek, near Birmingham, to Mary, youngest dau g ht er o f t h e late R. Ogle, Esq., of Edinburgh and London. Deaths. BRERETON.—On the 25th inst., at his residence, near Vic toria-park, Richard Brereton, E,q., aged 53. COTTON.—On the 25th, inst., at his residence, Hyde-park terrace, Kensington, Sir Saint Vincent Cotton, Bart., late of Madingley, Cambridgeshire, aged 62. The title by his death becomes extinct. HARRIS.—On the 25th inst., at Greysouthen, Cumberland, John Harris, Esq., aged 33. SHINGTON.—On the 25th inSt., at 32, Montague-square, Sir Henry Lushington, Bart., aged 87. MUTTON.—On the 25th inst., Mr. John Mutton, of Queen street, Cheapside, aged 61. PIERCY.—On the 25th inst., at Belle Hatch, Henley-on- Thames, the Rev. P. Piercy, M,A., aged. 70. POLLOCK.—On the 21st inst., at Goremount, co. Antrim, Henry A. Pollock, Esq , aged 31. ~~