The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-03 00:00:00

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, FEB. 3, Will be performed THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie, Linden, Harwood Coope:, and Vincent ; Miss P. Horton, and Miss Wyndham. After which, THE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by MesQrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie, and F. Robson ; and.ors. A. Wigan. To conclude with THE LOTTERY TICKET. Characters by Messrs. Emery, Vincent, and F. Robson; and Miss E. Turner. THE PROVIDENT Lam ASSURANCE ASS Friendly Societies Act) and BE x• CLERKS' MUTUAL >OCIATI' ) N (enrolled under the EV FUND. TRCSTEES Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. IW, G, Prescott, Esq. Thomsonilaniey,jim.,Esq.,M.P. Baron L. N. de Rothschild, M.P. TREASURER OF THE BENEVOLENT FUND. John Abel Smith, Esq , M.P. This association, although originally formed more especially for clerks, yet embraces life assurance on the mutual principle in all its branches, and offers to all classes of society most important advan tages at equitable rates of premium. One of the peculiar advantages enjoyed almost exclusively by this association is that of securing absolutely to the widow, widower, or children, the amount assured, free from probate or legacy duty, or any other charges whatever. Nine-tenths iriftheprotit];are divided every five years to assurers of three years' standing, and upwards of 15,0001. has already been appropriated in reversionary bonuses. Policies indisputable. Loans on policies to their full vane. Prospectuses and full particulars may be had on application at the ()face of the *Association. By order of the Board, - P. H. BYRNE, Secretary . 42, Moorgate-streat, London, Jan. 28, 1854. THEATRE ROYAL DRIIRT-LANE. Lessee, Mr.E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, Fla. a. Will be performed the Tragedy of BRUTUS. Characters by Messrs" G. V. Brooke, G. Bennett, Lee, Belton, and Pearson ; Miss Fanny Cathcart, Mesdames Lewis and Vickery. To conclude with KING HITMMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. THEATRE ROYAL. HAYMARKET. Ender the management of Mr. BnektitOne. THIS EVERING• FEE. 3, Will be performed THE STRANGER. Principal characters by Mr. G. VandenhoS, Chipp en d a le, Howe, Farren, Room, and Comp ton ; Miss Cushman, Mrs. L. S . Buckingham, and Miss E. Ch ap li n. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PAI "MME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEAR S; 04 Littl e Si lverhair and the Fairies. Columbine. Miss M. Brown; Harlequin, M r. J. Marshall : Pantaloon , Mr. W. A. Barnes; c lown, mr. U. Mars hall. ROY AL P RINCESS'S THEATRE, OX FORD -STREET. Under t he Management of Mr. Ca Kr. All. THIS EVENING, Fes. 3, will b e performed THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, Principal charac ter by Mr. C. Kean. After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamander and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Ilnline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborongh. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Ye stris. THIS EVENING, FEB. 3, Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker ; Miss F. Hughes. After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KINGS. Principal cha racters by Mr. Wright and Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Fr.e. 3, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama in live tableaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, called THE THIRST OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, 0. Selby, Parselle, Marsden, &c. ; Madame Celeste, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss F. Xaskell, To be followed by the popular and entirely New Grand Specta cular legendary Christmas piece, in two acts, with new scenery, dresses, machinery, and appointments, called NUMBER NIP, or THE SPIRIT BRIDE. Principal characters by Madame Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Woolgar, Miss M. Keeley, Miss Cuthbert, Miss C. Harding ; Messrs. Paul Bedford, J. Rogers, Romer, G. Lee, &c. STRAND TIIEATRE. Aole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alicroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, FEB. 3, Will be performed THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. Principal charac ter by Miss Rebecca Isaacs. To be followed by THE OMNIBUS. After which, a new grand Comic Christmas Pantomime. entitled HARLEQUIN AND KING NUTCRACKER; or, The World of Toys. Clown, by he himitable Fiexmore ; Harlequin, Mr. Bologna ; Pantaloon, Mr. Griffiths; Columbine, Mis's Goward. Stalls, 58.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, 11. 6d ; Gallery, 6d. ; Private Boxes, 1/. 119. 6d., to be nad of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLETS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Eleventh Appearance of Miss K. COOKE since her return from the Continent. The Theatre nightly crowded to overflowing attests Its matchless attractions. THIS EVENING, FEB. 3, To commence with the Grand Chinese Spectacle, THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST, or THE MAGIC GONG, in which Mr. William Cooke's extraordinary Trained Elephants appear. Followed by a Recherche Routine of Scenes of Equestrianism in THE ARENA, supported by the Elite of Europe's Equestrian Artistes. Concluding with Mr. W. Cootea immensely successful COMIC PANTOMIME, written expressly fbr this Theatre, by Mr. NELsoN LEE, entitled BILLY BUTTON'S JOURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. New scenery, dresses, decorations, and appointments, magnificent Car of Industry, Btc. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings; Columbine, Mdlle. Christine; Pantaloon, Mr. Lehman; and Two Clowns, Mr. 0 1 Adams and Mr. Croueste ; Sprites, Masters Gee and Bradbury. Bot-oftlee open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Turn DAY —Morning 48 min.after 5 Evening 8 min.aft. 6 To-Moaaow—Morning 26 mil:Latter 6 Evening 47 min.aft. 6 THE WEATHER.—Sust OFFICE, FEB. 3. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 46 —highest since noon yesterday. 36 —lowest this morning and during the night. 38—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.42. WIND, Northerly—Hoar frost, and heavy fog all the morning. ttbg _ ~ ,/ `~~~~, Sun, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1854. M. DB KISSBLEFF took his departure from Paris yesterday evening, and M. DT Baurrow his from London this morning. Instructions are known to have been already forwarded by their re spective Governments to M. DE CASTELBAJAC and Sir G. H. SEYMOUR, recalling them from St. Petersburg. Beyond all which, it is now posi tively asserted that the proposals entrusted by the CZAR to Count ORLOFF, with a view to open ing up fresh negotiations, have been at once re cognised as inadmissable by the French and British Administrators. Wherefore, a decisive rupture has at last taken place between the Western Allies of Turkey and his Imperial Majesty the Russian AUTOCRAT. No more positive indication of this rupture could be given than by the withdrawal of tb'e diplomatic Representatives of the Emperor NICHOLAS from the Courts of St. James's and the Tuileries almost simultaneously with the retirement, from St. Petersburg, of the French and English Ambassadors. War, under these circumstances, cannot any longe,r be consi dered as probable, but as having actually com menced—. War, that is to say, between England and France, on the one side, and Russia as their antagonist, It is no longer a matter of rumour, but of fact. We are not left merely to anticipate, but simply to observe_ to observe the course taken by sea and by land by the belligerents. The struggle is no more one of the closet, but of the battle-field—no more one of paper-pellets, but of bomb-shells—no more one of diplomacy, but of ordnance. It cannot any longer be audible in the Ministerial clamour of notes, and sends, an d ultimatums, and similar documents, but in the roar of a cannonade. Our expectations h ave thus been, unhappily, to the full realised. Our predictions have been deplorably verified. Eleven months of culpable weakness and hesitation followed, not, as w as have been promised, by a pacification, but by a deadly strife between the chief Powers of Christendom—by a strife no longer restricted to Moldo-Wallachia, but extended far beyond the frontiers of those ill-fated Principalities, until it has at last involved in a great European war the arch-representatives of Despotism and of Constitutional Govermient — of Barbarism and of li Civilisation. It is worthy of observation, meanwhile, that materials have at last been given to the world, from the scrutiny of which a correct estimate may be formed of the policy hitherto pur sued in this Eastern Question by the Coalition. A ponderous blue-book, containing all the various documents relating to it, has at length been laid, by command of her MAJESTY, upon the tables of both Houses of the Legislature. Therefore, before long we may now confidently look forward to the discussion of the whole of this complicated and most important subject open to them the path to a higher standing in society. It has been shown also, indeed all of us within the walls of the Imperial Parliament. Censure may be' given as to the Past, but support, we rest satisfied, will be readily accorded as to the Future. Censure from the Opposition—but support from the majority of the whole House in the shape of acceptable votes in answer to that passage of her MAJESTY'S gracious Speech from the Throne—" I think it requisite to make a further augmentation of my naval and military forces, with the view of supporting my representations." That further augmentation of the military and mari time resources of Great Britain will, as a matter of absolute certainty, be at once most readily and even eagerly accorded by the national representa tives. For, however much we may differ with Ministers as to the nature of their bygone policy —that policy has, at length, been formally abandoned, abandoned, unwillingly, it may be, and in spite of themselves, but still abandoned. An energetic course is even now being adven tured upon simultaneously by the French and English Governments. A resolute attitude is being assumed. There is no longer the prospect of the continuance of anymore craven negotiations. England and France are forraally pledged to the pro tection of the Turkish territory. Russia has no fur ther likelihood of being in a position to repeat such acts of unparalleled barbarity as the ferocious bombarding of Sinope and the massacre of its un fortunate population. The combined fleets now in the Black Sea are still reported to have had a collision with the maritime forces of the Russian AUTOCRAT. Whether or not there be any truth at all in that statement—it is indisputable that Admirals DUNDAS and HAMELIN are in a position to deal a crushing blow at the power of the CZAR whenever they may deem it advisable, and that they are empowered so to do at the earliest rea sonable opportunity. Confident, therefore, as to the ultimate result of this dread struggle between the navies (a struggle before long, no doubt, to be extended also to the armies) of the great races representing, as we have said,' on the one hand Barbarism, and on the other Civilisation— we await, with comprehensible and allowable so licitude, intelligence of the first contest between the belligerents. It yet remains to be seen whether Austria and Prussia will take any active part in that contest, and, if so, on which side, the side of the Western Defenders of Turkey, or the side of its daring assailant —or whether, in stead of this, they cautiously resolve upon main taining henceforth a strict course of neutrality throughout. Fortunately for Turkey, fortunately for Europe, fortunately for Christendom, fortu nately for Civilisation, one thing at any rate does not remain yet to be resolved upon, one thing at any rate has, by this time, been definitively de cided—the cordial and complete alliance of the Cabinets of VICTORIA and NAPOLEON, the cordial and complete alliance of the French and English Governments. are fully aware of it, that the rich and the middle classes send their children to school, not to be taught religion, but secular knowledge from the alphabet and the numeration-table upwards. Most of us would suspect the schoolmaster who made his assiduity in teaching, not to say the Church or Assembly's Catechism, but the Bible itself, the prominent feature in his prospectus. We should think that between ourselves and our minister we could do that most to our own satisfaction, and request him rather to concen trate his attention on writing, reading, and arithmetic, or on the classics s and mathematics, as the case might be. Rich and poor seem to perceive intuitively that, in a good school, secular knowledge must not be the secondary but the principal object. It is, indeed, but carry out the principal of division of labour. It was a really noble sight, at Edinburgh, to witness persons and ministers of all denominations coming forward to ask the State for leave to tax themselves to any extent needful, only making one condition, that the State should know nothing of their religious differences, and should prevent any sect which happened in any place to be in a majority from depriving the minority of any school advantages on that account. Members of the Established Church, and of the Free Church, 'United Presbyterians, Baptists, and Independents, all were strenuous in support of the one request, for power of self-tax ation, in support of strictly unsectarian education. It appears to be indispensable that the salaries of the Scottish parish schoolmasters should be raised, and the occasion is seized for demanding that the Established Presbyterian Church, now, of course, but a minority, should no longer have the parish schools immediately in connection with its Pres. byteries. We sincerely hope that the same spirit which has driven the tests of bigotry out of the lay chairs in the Universities of Scotland will drive them also out of her parish schools. Mr. CHAMBERS, the well-known publisher, bore testimony to the working in America of the system advocated by the meeting. In Nova Scotia and Western Canada, in the states of Mas sachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Penn sylvania, the plans, though slightly differing, agreed in these leading principles. Ist, the schools are open to all sects, and no denominational senti ments are allowed to be taught. 2dly, the school masters are selected for their qualifications with out regard to sect or party. 3dly, the schools are under the charge of local trustees, who levy assessments for their support under statutory re gulations. 4th, there are head boards and gene ral superintendents, through whose exertions the system is kept up to a . certain standard of effi ciency. sthly, the education is free, or the fees very small. 6thly, the clergy, as such, have no power to interfere, and it is only as elected trustees that they can exert any influ ence. In the New England States ' education is the birthright of every child. The rule is, that the common highway shall not be more free than the common school. Nor is this liberality confined to mere elementary teaching. The child of the poorest man may get the best college edu cation for nothing ; if they can pass an examina tion, nothing hinders their rising through the dif ferent schools ; and in a school at New York, pa rallel with the High School at Edinburgh, out of 700 boys, Mr. CHAMBERS found 34 who were the sons of carters, and whose aim was, of course, the higher professions. He saw the same thing at Philadelphia ; and especially observed that their habits of good order were worthy of a drawing room. It islittle to be wondered at that the poor in America prize the public seminaries there as much as the same class neglects them here. Education is now asserting equal claims with Russia and Reform to public and Parliamentary attention. Hereford and Edinburgh have fol lowed the example of Manchester, and have each, and on the same day, had their public meeting. The programme of each was in perfect keeping with the habits of a cathedral and agricultural city in the one case, and with those of the head-quarters of Scotch Presbyterianism and intellectual enlightenment in the other. At Hereford it was a public meeting of the Diocesan Board of Edu cation, the Lord Bishop of the diocese presiding ; at Edinburgh, a meeting of the National School Association, a lay Lord, Lord PANMIIRE, in the chair. In deference to religion, as an essential part of school instruction, there was con siderable agreement between the speakers of the Cathedral and Presbyterian cities, but be yond this very general harmony there was all the difference possible. Dr. HAMPDEN, at the head of his clergy, thought that the question "to them was of no great difficulty." Certainly not ; the clergyman is the proper master of the parish mind, the Bishop of the clergyman's, and if all would but listen to him and his, the children might all be easily drilled in the Church Catechism, and in proper attendance 'on the Church itself. Lord PANMIIRE, on the other hand, asserted most strenuously for himself and for the majority of the community, " that to the ex clusive charge of the clergy he would not deliver the education of the people." The Bishop would put the clergyman at the head of the school ; Lord PANMIIRE and his friends would only allow the clergyman to be elected like another parishioner to a place in the local board if the ratepayers thought him a fitting persOn. To do justice to the numerous, influential, and intelligent clergymen of all denominations present at the Edinburgh Meeting, this was the utmost extent of their wishes. The difference is, how ever, a very serious one, and in our opinion every way in favour of our intelligent Northern friends. The temper of the age refuses a priestly drill and training ; the clergy now do not enjoy a monopoly of knowledge, nor, in the opinion of the vast majority, any divine right to prune and train the branching minds of youth, and nail them to the walls of church, kirk, or conventicle. trnsectarian education is the great desideratum of all but Churchmen, and the daily diminishing minority yet in clerical leading strings, and such is the education which, though deemed godless in Cathedral precincts, is loudly demanded by large meetings at Man chester and Edinburgh. Mr. HORACE MANN'S Report comes most opportunely in sanction of the justice of the demand. Another husband has been oondemned to per petual banishment for a murderous and unpro voked assault on his wife. The name of WILLIAM ENTWISLE Wumis has been inscribed on the black catalogue of unmanly miscreants, who, in the indulgence of their demoniacal passions, in flicted the most dangerous wounds on their unfor tunate partners. It was not the fault of the cowardly scoundrel who on Wednesday was called on to answer for his offence at the bar of the Cen tral Criminal Court that there had not been a fatal termination to the sanguinary outrage. He took his measures coolly and deliberately with that end and object. He waited till the contem plated victim had divested herself of her wearing apparel and retired to bed, so that she would be unprepared and unable to offer any decisive re sistance to the would-be assassin. She had been two hours asleep, when awakened by the man who, after twenty-two years of wedded life, had made up his mind to take her life, and surrender his own to the public executioner as the price of his dearly-purchased vengeance. It was on Christmas Eve that the wretch determined on put- I ting his diabolical purpose into execution. He got into the bed which for some time he had voluntarily abandoned. But it was not to effect a reconciliation, to abandon the causeless animo sities in which he had indulged, or to seek the forgiveness of his injured partner. The time, the season, the associations connected with the ap proaching festival might have diverted an ordi nary villain from his atrocious resolution. The prisoner was not, however, to be diverted from his sanguinary purpose. At the very moment he got into bed he commenced his attack. As the sufferer declared, " almost at the same - moment she found herself cut upon the ear and neck with some sharp instrument, and on putting up her hand to save herself from further injury, one of her fingers was nearly cut off." The providential protection , afforded by that fing er save d h er lif e . The intensity of the blow was diminished, and although her life was for some time seriously en dangered, she ultimately recovered. Her screams brought assistance. Her not courageous assailant fled on the first alarm. He went into his own room, and there made what was merely a plau .ible pretext against himself, or if he were really serious in his attempt at suicide his want of courage prevented the carrying his intention into effect. On being arrested he de clared to one witness that "if his wife was not dead his hand must have been nervous." In another he said, " I am only sorry that I did not do it effectually !" The instrument, or rather instruments, with which he attempted to achieve his purpose were also discovered. The Police constable found a razor covered with blood in the bed, and the daughter of the prisoner also got " a carving knife very bloody " in the same place. And yet a Jury, who had solemnly sworn to return a true verdict according to the evidence, declared that the murderous determination was not proved. They only found him guilty of an assault, with intent t o d o so me grievous bodily harm ! We are not often disposed to censure a mistake on the side of mercy ; but surely if ever there was a case where from the acts and the declarations of the accused the intention could be safely inferred, where, in fact, it was established beyond the possibility of any reasonable doubt, it was the one under notice. Every 'circumstance proved it clearly and distinctly. Even the unsupported allegation of the prisoner, as to her infidelity, de monstrated the fearful nature of the vengeance which he imagined he had obtained. But the Jury thought otherwise. Disregarding their true function, they endeavoured to prevent the capital punishment of the prisoner. They quailed in the discharge of their painful but most important duty. Now, such conduct, though it may be regarded as "an amiable weakness," is pregnant witb very dangerous consequences to society. Juries are not law makers, nor is it any portion of their privilege to decide on the penalty which is to follow a conviction. They are only to speak to the fact, and, in so doing, they must altogether disregard the consequences of their decision. Sympathy, or pity, should not exercise any influence ; and it is impossible to over-esti mate the dangerous consequences of such a yield ing to a morbid feeling of compassion. So far as the wretched criminal at the bar was concerned it made little practical difference in the result. He was sentenced to transportation for life. And if sentence of death had been recorded, as it would have been if he had been found guilty on the capital charge, the same punishment would have followed. But the moral effect of such a verdict is to be deprecated. Nothing has so great an effect in the prevention of crime as the know ledge that juries will firmly perform their parts, without favour, or affection, fear, or prejudice. The escape of JAMES HAYES through the weakness of one Jury hasalready led to serious consequences ; we trust that the more recent verdict may prove less prejudicial to the best interests of society. It, however, affords additional corroboration to the arguments we have so frequently and so strenuously urged as to the imperative necessity of affording powers for the suppression of the cowardly assaults, which, by being 'a.ttended with comparative impunity, too often occur, or at least lead to more formidable offences, calling for the extreme penalties of the law. When cowardly wretches who maltreat their wives, are rendered liable to corporal punishment, when the first unprovoked and wanton assault is followed by a well-merited castigation, then, but not till then, may we hope to be no longer shocked by atrocious murders, or equally brutal attempts at murder, when the culprit, if not legally, is at least as morally guilty as if his vindictive attempt had been more successful. Let these things receive due consideration in Parliament, and some effi cient remedy be devised to check the horrible practice that is casting a heavy stigma, a sangui nary blot on the national escutcheon. We have remarked that both Edinburgh and Hereford asserted the importance of Religion being a part of School instruction ; Edinburgh, however, almost, if not quite, shakes hands with Manchester on this question, while Hereford quotes Manchester but to de nounce it. The two great cities agree in wishing , Government to let the religious part of the instruc tion alone, and in desiring to confine Government support to secular education. They agree also in wishing education to be supported and extended by local rating, and managed by local boards or com mittees. The Scotchmen would leave it in the hands of the local boards to order such religious instruction as they please, but strictly forbidding the detention of any child while it is imparted, if its parents object, and also strictly forbidding the refusal of full and equal secular instruction to all, or the consideration of anything but qualifications, independent of creed in the choice of a schoolmaster. The Manchester gentle men, we believe, lay stress on the prohibition of religious instruction during the ordinary school hours, but do not object to the use of the school, especially if erected by any Christian denomina tion, for teaching religion at other hours. The difference between the two is, therefore, merely formal. Both are anxious that every pa rent shall find in the common schools a thorough good secular education, without the slightest danger of having his religious, or even his irreligious, prepossessions at all interfered with. The opposition to this most desirable object, we regret to say is very strong, but we think it must gradually, perhaps rapidly give way. The cant of godless education, is no longer a spell to charm with. It isbut tooplain that few parents, and no sober men, dream of " ignoring" religion in atr the shall be the education of their children. Th e only ques tion is whether, by teaching the religi ous v i ews of a sect in i nse p ara ble intermixture with know ledge requ i s i te f or d a ily life, the latter made unpalatable to those who most need it. Education by and through the religious denomi nations has failed extensively. The poor do not like it ; they want, not a theological education, but such a one as Lord ASHBURTON would give them they value the schools but little, because , they neither fit their children for cottage life, nor THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1854. ( MONEY MARKET AND COMMEICCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 500 America' and 500 Surat, taken on speculation. The market dosed heavily, with prices of American rather easier. The sales comprised 4,250 American, 530 Pernam and Maranham at 6gd. to 'ad., 160 Bahia at 60., 250 Egyptian at 61d. to 100., 800 Surat 3gd. to 40., and 20 Sea Island at lid, to is. 4d. per!lb. Railway Shares were firmer. Colonial produce meets with a fair inquiry, but awing to the large quantities offered there is no advance in prices. Sugar, coffee, spices, &c., com mand about previous curren c i es . T a ll ow an hemp have again become in favour at firmer quotations. Holders of saltpetre ask higher prices. Rum is duller after the late activity. Tea is steady, and cotton quiet. Of the silk market, Mr. H. W. Eaton reports that during January it has been quiet, compared with December, and then states as follows : " In China we have to report further large arrivals, the deliveries however it will be seen have continued most satisfactory. Best Tsatlee silk again forms a very small proportion of the recent imports, and has been all taken off from 19s. to 20s. 6d. In other sorts but little has been sold. The Taysaams are mostly of a middling to inferior quality, and have been selling from 14s. to 15s. ; about 700 bales have also been sold, to arrive, from 13s. 6d. to 15s. In Cantons 700 bales have changed hands, chiefly of the middle and coarse sizes, from lls. to 13s. Chinese throwns have again receded to 18s. to 18s. 3d. The ac counts received this week from China, report the total settlements of the season (C an t on included) to be 34,000 bales, of which 22,000 b a l es h ave a l rea d y arr i ve d . I n Bonilals there is no new feature, the very low qualities, especially the Beanleah, called Commercolly, recently im ported, being entirely neglected. In Brutias, a few Mestoops have been sold from 15s. 6d. to 165., and Sele from 16s. 6d. to 17e. 6d. Of PerPians 350 ballots have been taken, partly for exportation, from 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. The uncleared stock of the former consists of 60 bales, and the latter of 1,400 ballots. In Italians a fair current bus i ness has been doing." Of the wool market, at Liverpool, Messrs. Jo seph Robinson and Co. report that it was brisker towards the close of last month. Oils advanced, the accounts from abroad continuing bad as to the crop. Dyewoods have been in animated request. In a letter from Messrs. Walton and Bushell, dated Cape Town, Dec. 23, it is stated— " A very rich copper mine had been discovered at Clan william to the north, and quantities on the way to Cape Town. The copper is said to be exceedingly pure. Several companies had been formed for working the mines and Cape Town was in a state of great excitement when the steamer left. A report had also arrived, stating that coal, fit for steam purposes and in quantities, also gold, silver, copper ore, iron, and quicksilver, had been positively dis covered at Port Natal." The accounts by the Orinoco, from the West Indies, mention that the cane-fields in many por tion§ of Jamaica exhibited great promise - of large yieldings. In the provinces the weather had been very windy, so much so as to prevent the fishermen following their avocations. The coolies were leav ing, which was a matter of great inconvenience to the planters. In Demerara there was a great scarcity of ship ping, and freights had considerably advanced. This was attributed by many to the presence of yellow fever. To the planters this was a severe loss, as produce there was almost unsaleable at anything like reasonable values. Accounts from New York state that money was slowly but steadily becoming easier, and all parties engaged in trade or speculation were much relieved. Stocks were dull. At the fourth annual meeting of the Proprietors of the Royal British Bank, a very favourable re port has been made by the directors. A dividend is declared at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. The reserve fund amounts to 10,7661. The follow ing are extracts:— " But the most remarkable feature of their accounts for the year is the sum which they have paid and allowed for interest on balances, deposits, &c., and which has amounted to the comparatively large sum of 19,4851. 9s. 11d. or six and a half times as much as the dividend to the proprie tors. To the public this should be a satisfactory proof of the fulfilment of the early promise of the directors, that their customers should most largely participate in the benefits of the establishment, and be an incentive to those who still have no banker, or who cannot more profitably use their unemployed m one y s , t o place them on drawing or deposit accounts with the Royal British Bank. " Its open accounts, which, at the end of the first, se cond, and third year, were 2,989, 3,994 and 4,411, were, at the end of last year, 5,150, and has been noticed above, the sums of interest paid by it, which were, during the first three years, 4,4561. 145., 9,6011. 10s. Bd., and 13,3941. Bs. 6d., were last y ear 19,485/. 9 s . Ild. The number of operations Dr. and Cr. for the year 1852 was 431,370, amounting to 24,673,9181. 12s. 2d., and for the year 1853, 523,665 amounting to 33,348,9231. 4s. 5d., being an in crease of 21 per cent. on the number, and 35 per cent, on the amount. The capital of the Bank has been doubled. Eight Directors are stated to be sufficient for the future. Mr. MacGregor and Mr. Owen retire, and Mr. Macleod and Mr. Valiant offerpthemselves, and are recommended by the Board; The English funds have been extremely buoyant again, the scarcity of Stock, and the belief that the German Powers will drawi closer to England and France, having a decided effect. Co n s o l s h ave b een 94 since 91, and are now about 99i. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have realised 92 to 92a. There is less business doing. Bank Stock is at 215. Exchequer, Bills are 11. s. to 14s. premium. The foreign securities have been generally well maintained. Mexican have been supported at 24-g to 25. Equador Stock is worth 4i- to 4i. Brazil lian. Bonds have been marked 98 for the Small. Spanish Deferred Stock is at 18i to 19k. Russian 44 per Cents. have been done at 90, and Dutch 4 per Cents. at 91k. BRITISH MINES.—A fair demand sprung up for shares this day, and the following prices were current :—Afred Consols, 26 26k ; Great Alfred, 32 33 ; Sortridge Consols, 1; Poltimores, dis., par ; Great Crinnis, 325. 6d., 355. ; Senpeire, g; Silver Brooks, 305., 32 5 . 6d. ; A run d e l s, 1 a ;'East Broom, 4s. 6d., ss. 6d., 7s. 6d.; Cwm Darens, 16s. 6d. ; Molland, k; Pencorse, 305., 355.; Great Tre guile, 3 / ; Porkellis, 10k ; Wheal Zion, 2i 3 ; Wheal Wrey, 305., 325. 6d.; Borington, Bs. 6d. to ' • Britannia, The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted, are as follows : Jamaica, premium ; Metcalfe, g to g premium; Sue River, I discount to par ; Port Royal, to A premium. The Railway Share Market has been buoyant, but the transactions are not large. The French Shares also are better. The Laud Companies' have risen slightly. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. (.Prom the Offeial List. Business done Bank Stock .. .. .. ............. .. ....... 215 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9l i 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities,,.,. 9O/ 1 90i 1 90,3- 1 tow 31 per Cent. Annuities 921 2 fili long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 -16 / India Bonds, £lOOO . Ditto, ender £lOOO 2 p Consols for Account 15th Feb.... 901 1 90i 1 901 18 g i Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO ll 14 p Small ll 14 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. 13razilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. — Ditto Small Equador Bonds . 4l i Mexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St lO6l Ditto 4/ per Cent ' 90 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 4O 39 404 Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent lBl 19% 1 Venezuela Bonds, 3/ per Cent. Dividends on the above payable in London. - Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent. 12 Gull Ditto 4 per Cent. Certifieates .... THREE O'CLOCK. 918 918 Consols i Ditto February Account THE APPROACHING WAR.--Yesterday the principal military contractors and accoutrement makers had an interview with the Master of the Ordnance, and received orders for the supply of military stores, &c., which were to be executed in the shortest possible time. MANSION-HOUSE ENTERTAINMENTS.—The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress have issued cards of invitation for a series of banquets in the present month—namely, Tues day, the 7th of February ; Thursday, the 9th ; Thurs day, the 16th ; and Tuesday, the 21st. The entertain ments will be given in the Egyptian Hall, with the same magnificence as those lately given to the aldermen and their ladies. PRESENT TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS.—Three large cases have been brought by a vessel from Dunkirk, con taining presents to the House of Lords by the President of the French Senate, and intended for the library of the house ; and the Lords Commissioners of her Ma jesty's Treasury have given directions for their free ad mission for that purpose. SIR JOHN STRACHAN, BART.---The death of this ba ronet took place at Teignmouth, in Devonshire, at the advanced age of 76. This title, which was created in 1635, is now extinct. The first holder of the title was a distinguished financier, and the sixth holder was the celebrated admiral who rendered such distinguished services at Trafalgar. The family estates lay in Stir lingshire, N.B. ARRIVAL OF 498 COAL -LADEN VESSELS IN THE THAMES.—Within the last four days the unprecedented number of 498 colliers from the northern ports of Eng land were entered inwards at the Custom-house—viz., on Monday, 188 vessels ; Tuesday, 51 vessels ; Wed nesday, 118 vessels ; and on Thursday, 141 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 109,500, and this quantity is exclusive of a large number of vessels that have arrived with Welsh coal, which is only used for particular pur poses, and is not fit for household consumption. The arrival of such an immense fleet will, it is expected, cause another reduction in the price of coals at this day's market to the extent of at least 4s. a ton. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, F. 2. A dramatic performance took place this evening in the Castle. The Queen had a dinner party, and the following illustrious circle had the honour of receiving invitations : Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis of Granby, Earl Spencer, the Earl and Co un t ess o f H ar d w i c k e, an d L a d y ,Elizabeth Yorke, the Earl and Countess Grey, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right Hon.! Pemberton Leigh, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, Sir James Clark, Sir Edwin Landseer, Baron de Knesebeck, and Captain Hamilton. Her Majesty had also an evening party. The follow ing had the honour of receiving invitations to witness the dramatic representation :—The Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, Lady Francei Bruce, Lady Caroline and Miss Barrington, Colonel the Hon. Chas. and Mrs. Grey, the Hon. and Rev. F. Grey, Col. the Hon. C. B. and Miss Phipps, Captain the Hon. D. and Lady Elizabeth de Ros, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon.N. and Lady Mary Hood, Major-General the Hon. Sir E. Cust, Sir Charles and Lady Hotham ' Major-Gener a l and Mrs. Pow er , Colonel and Mrs. DesVceux, Miss D es Vomit, Mr. and Mrs. flarford, .Colonel Hall, command. ing officer, Captain Walsh, and Lieutenant Levett, of the Ist Life Guards, Colonel Dixon, commanding officer, Captain Neville, and Lieutenant Thistlethwayte, of the 2d Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards, Mr. ,Glover, and Mr. Gibbs. Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert entered the Rubens Room, where the temporary stage was erected, at 8 o'clock, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, Princess Helena, and Princess Louisa ; also, the Royal dinner circle and the evening company, together with the ladies and gen tlemen in attendance. The performance immediately commenced. The piece selected upon this occasion was Shakspere's play of The Tempest, and the parts were filled according to the fol lowing programme : THE TEMPEST. Alonzo—(King of Naples) Mr. Cooper. Sebastian—(His Brother) Mr. J. F. Cathcart. Prospero— (the rightful Duke of Milan) M. Charles, Kean. Antonio— (His Brother, the ursurping Duke of Milan) Mr. Ryder. Ferdinand—(Son to the King of Naples) Mr. A. Wigan. Gonzalo—(An honest old Counsellor of Naples) Mr. Graham. Adrian 1 Lords f Mr. Brazier. Francisco I Mr. Raymond. Caliban—(A savage and deformed Slave) Mr. Webster. Trinculo— (A Jester) Mr. Harley. Stephano— (A drunken Butl er ) Mr. Bartley. Boatswain Mr. G. Cooke. Miranda—(Daughter to Prospero) Miss Heath. Ariel—(An Airy Spirit) Miss Leclercq. Iris { Miss K. Terry. Ceres } (Spirits) Miss R. Leclercq. Miss M. Ternan. Harpy Mr. Terry. Scene—An Uninhabited Island. Director Mr. Charles Kean. Assistant-Director Mr. George Ellis. The theatre arranged and the scenery painted by Mr. T. Grieve. The Queen's private band attended during the per formance in an ante-room. Refreshments were served in the Throne-room. Tue Queen and Prince rode out on horseback this forenonn, attended by Major-General Buckley and Lieu tenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Earl Spencer (Lord Steward) and Viscount Drumlanrig (Controller of the Household) had audiences of the Queen, to present the addresses from both Houses of Parliament in answer to her Majesty's Speech. The Right Hon. E. Strutt had also an audience of the Queen. The Hon. Eleanor Stanley and the Hon. Beatrice Byng have succeeded the Hon. Flora Macdonald and the Hon. Caroline Cavendish as Maids of Honour in Waiting to her Majesty. The Inner party yesterday included her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis of Granby, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, Earl Spencer, the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke, and Lady Elizabeth York; Earl and Coun tess Grey, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right Hon. Pemberton Leigh, the Vice-Chancellor of the liniversity of Cambridge, and Baron Knesebeck. The band of the Ist Life Guards attended during din ner and performed the following pieces : March—" Hamburger Wallhalle" Herzog. Symphonie—No. 2in B flat ... Haydn. Walzer—"Turend Erinnerungen" Wittman. Fantasia—" Don Sebastian" Snel. Overture and Introduction Opera 1 . His Royal Highness " Casilda" f the Duke of Coburg. Walzer—" Invitation de la Danse" Weber. The Queen's private band afterwards attended in the Castle, and played the following selection : Morceaux d'Ensefnb!e et Chceur, • Overture—" Hayde e " A u b er . Herold. 2d Act—" Marie" Fackeltant The Postmaster-General had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday at his official re sidence in Downing-street. A deputation from the Severn Valley Railway Com pany, consisting of Mr. Thorp (chairman), the Hon. Colonel Forester, M.p., M r. W . H. M ac d ona ld, M r . W. Toogood (solicitor), Mr. G. R. Nicholson (engineer), and Mr. C. R. Reed ( secre t ary ) , h a d an i n t e r v iew w ith the Right Hon. E. Cardwell yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. THE COIIET.—The anniversary of the marriage of the Sovereign with Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg Gotha will be celebrated with the customary rejoicings, at Windsor, on Thursday next. HEALTH OF THE MARQUIS OF ANGLESEY.—The an nouncement of the Marquis of Anglesey's serious illness made in the papers of yesterday created an anxious sen sation among all classes of the community, to whom his gallent services, patient merit, and his advanced age had endeared him. `The dear old marquis" and "the poor old marquis" were the expressions of endearment in the mouths of all. The calls at 'Uxbridge House, Bur lington-gardens, were constant throughout the day, and included those of the mechanic and of the peer. The anbwer to all inquiries was that his lordship was much better in consequence of his cheerful disposition having prevented his falling into a state of despondency, a thing which might have been expected, considering the nature of the attack and the years of the patient. It will be pleasing to the public to learn that the attack has in no way impaired his lordship's faculties, as he is now as collected and as calm as at any previous period of his life, and his surgeon entertains, we hear, strong hopes of his recovery. THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY.—The domestic establishment of his Excellency is to be broken up forthwith in Ches ham:place. - - His Excellency Count Elweptowitch, Russian Minister, has arrived at Brussels, from a diplomatic mission to the French Court. His Highness Prince Frederick of Prussia, heir pre sumptive to the Throne, has been just promoted to the rank of Major-General of the Prussian corps d'armee. His head quarters to be Brisla. The Duke of Devonshire, who has arrived at Devon shire House from Brighton, received a few select friends at dinner last evening. The Duchess of Sutherland returns to Treutham-hall to-morrow, from visiting her Majesty at Windsor Castle. The Duchess Dowager of Beaufort and the Ladies Somerset have arrived at their new residence, in John street, Berkeley-square, for the season. The Duke and , Duchess and youthful family are still staying at Bad minton Park. The Countess Montio.o gave a brilliant fete de nu it to the ra n k, b eauty, an d fashion of the Spanish capital, on the 29th ult., to celebrate her first anniversary of her august daughter's marriage with the Emperor of the French. Lord Harry Vane, M.P., has arrived in Grosvenor.. place, from the Duke of Cleveland's, Raby Castle. SIR JOSEPH THACKWELL.—The Cork Constitution states that on Monday a telegi aphic message was re ceived in that city, summoning Sir Joseph Thackwell over to London. THE PORT OF WATERFORD.-Mr. Brunel, the en gineer of the Great Western Railway, is expected in Waterford this week for the purpose of ascertaining its eligibility for a large class of steamers. It is now all but decided that, on the opening of the South Wales line to Hobbs Point, steamers will be placed between Waterford and Milford. ST FOREIGN NEWS RUSSIA AND TURKEY. RETURN OF THE FLEETS TO CON STANTINOPLE. The following telegraphic despatch has been re ceived to-day, dated Constantinople, Jan. 23 : " Yesterday the combined fleets returned from the Black Sea to the Bosphorus, and anchored at Beycos. General astonishment at Constantinople." DEPARTURE OF THE RUSSIAN AMBAS SADOR FROM PARIS. The Assemblee Nationale of yesterday announces that M. de Kisseleff had that day an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and that the reply of the French Government to the demand for an explanation made by the Emperor of Russia was not such as to satisfy that Minister, who accordingly demanded his passports. The same paper adds, that the proposals tending towards opening new negotiations, of which Count Orloff was the bearer, have not been deemed ac ceptable either in London or in Paris. M. de Kisseleff, in fact, received his reply on Wednesday, and was to quit Paris yesterday evening or to-day. The reply was in substance the same as that al ready mentioned, namely, that the Powers do not intend to maintain in the Black Sea the neutrality as interpreted by Russia, and that they canno t place on perfect equality Russia and Turkey, see ing that they are resolved to protect the Turkish squadron and the Turkish territory from the attacks of the Russians—the weaker against the stronger. There is no necessity to convey a decision in un courteous terms, and those of the answer were, it is said, not so ; tut they were firm and determined, and such as left no room for doubt. He proceeds in the first instance to Brussels, and thence goes to St. Pet ers b urg . B aron Brunow goes to armstadt. It appears he was invited to the ball which took place at the Tuileries on Wednesday evening, but did not think proper to attend. On Tuesday even ing he was present at the debut of Mademoiselle de Petrowitch, a young lady of high origin, grand daughter of Kara Georgewitch, during his lifetime Hospodar of Servia, and who made her appearance for the first time on the Italian boards in Paris. It is said that yesterday or to-day the Moniteur will publish a declaration on the subject of the Russo-Turkish war, for the purpose of explaining the departure of the ambassadors. POLICY OF AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA. A Vienna telegraphic despatch, dated yesterday evening, says :—" Report states that the Emperor of Austria has declared to Count Orloff that if the Russians cross the Danube, he will consider the same as a declaration of war. " Austria insists on the acceptance of the pro ject of the 13th." The Trieste Gazette, which is the most impor tant organ of the commercial interest of the Aus trian empire, calls upon the government in its number of the 29th ult. to intervene against Rus sia on the Eastern question. It says :—" All our future will be at stake, and exposed to chance if we do not declare ourselves on the question of the Danube. Every true patriot will despair if our commercial interest as connected with that river be not enforced." The Ltoyd of Vienna is ironical towards Russia, which, it says, pretends to h ave no intentim of attacking the integrity of Turkey, and yet is en deavouring to crush her by exhausting her re sources. A letter from Berlin of the 30th 'ult., in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" The presence of Count Orloff at Vienna is the general topic of conversa tion here. It is not known that the Count is in structed to conclude a treaty of neutrality with Austria. There are many persons at Vienna in favour of the absolute neutrality of Austria at a moment when Russia is forwarding the execution of her schemes. On the other hand, the Western Powers insist upon Austria's declaring herself, since in case of a war the neutrality of that Power would be impossible. As for Prussia, the same proposals have probably been made to her ; but the Govern ment is determined not to swerve from a political line of conduct such as to insure her entire inde pendence." We read the following in the Weser Gazette : " A rumour is current in Berlin, that at one of the last sittings of the Council of State, the Prince of Prussia declared himself against a neutrality of selfishness and tergiversation. His Royal Highness respects the noble qualities of his illustrious bro ther-in-law the Czar ; but, as a Prussian prince and presumptive heir to the crown, his Royal High ness has not hesitated to declare that the moment has come for Prussia to assume a decisive attitude, and to notify to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg that the refusal to accept the Vienna propositions would force Prussia to side with the Western Powers, and to stand by them to the end." The P oss Gazette states that the Austrian Cabi net having added upon the States of Thuringen to make common cause with Austria in a system of neutrality, received an answer in which it was pretty clearly intimated that they will•be governed by the example of Prussia. ST. PETERSBURG. According to a letter of the 23d ult. from St. Petersburg, the Grand Duke Constantine, who has placed himself at the head of the old Russian party, has shown considerable dissatisfaction at the ex pectant attitude taken by the Government after the receipt of the communication of the maritime Powers, and, it is said, urges the Czar to reject the last propositions of the Divan. He does not con ceal his irritation against M. de Nesselrode. A play is repeated nightly at the theatre, written with a view to excite public opinion against the Turks ; the following passages' are received with most applause : The Russian naval officer, who is the principal part, exclaims,"' l / 4 If they w ill not give me a vessel to command, I will sell all the men of my village to buy a frigate and go and attack the Turks. One Russian is more than a match for three Turks." " Let us show our fidelity to our flag ; let us not understand it like the people of the West, but like brave Russians that we are." When he receives the news of the battle at Sinope he ex claims, " Behold h ow our E mperor chastises the impious for their perfidy ! Our young fleet is the finest in the world, thanks to Lazareff.' This play, which is a very mediocre affair, is in terspersed with cheering, which is taken up by the pit. It terminatea with a tableau of the roadstead of Sebastopol at the moment of the arrival of the Turkish prisoners, among whom Osman Paella, car ried on a litter, is a prominent figu re . The Grand Juke (heir apparent) and the Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas, and Michel, were present at the first representation of the drama. The Imperial box was filled with naval officers and the children of those on board the fleet in the Black Sea. At the third representation the Grand Duke Nicholas alone was present. The Emperor has is sued an order that 50 soldiers are to be admitted every night to " The Battle of Sinope." A letter from Warsaw of the 29th ult. states that it is now very doubtful whether the guards will leave St. Petersburg for the theatre of war in March, as was intended, as the Emperor does not think it prudent, in consequence of the treaties between the Scandinavian States, to leave the north of Russia without good protection. THE PRINCIPALITIES. A communication froth Bucharest of Jan. 19, says, the Turks, although abstaining f rom great o perations, give the Russians no rest. 011 the 15th and 16th a heavy firing was k e pt up from Rustchuk against Giurgevo, and an attack was made on the island there. The result is not yet known. On the same day the Turks made attacks near Oltenitza and Kalarasch. News of the same kind reaches us from Silistria and Turtukai, and fighting is again going on near Matshin. The Russian troops on their march are allowed no rest ; even yesterday, the 18th, although it is a great festival in the Greek Church they were compelled to advance. pulation of Bulgaria may be estimated at I. I y h s million; and has, up to this time, furnished 4U,u00 men. Macedonia has 4-sths of a million only, and supplied 30,000. Roumelia had but 24 millions of inhabitants, and has furnished 60,000 men up to the present date. Albania has but one million, and . yet has given 50,000 troops. In the Sultan's army—that of Asia especially—there are very many soldiers who profess the Greek Christian faith, whilst in the army of the Danube they eves exceed the whole number of Moslems." MOVEMENTS OF THE COMBINED F LEETS. We are in possession of authentic accounts re specting the movement of the combined fleets, up to the 15th instant. The expedition, with troops and munitions, had safely arrived at Batoum, touching at Sinope on the 14th, on its return. It there communicated to the combined fleets that an attack of the Russian fleet was much dreaded at Batoum ; and then it returned without delay to Constantinople, the wind being favourable, in order to take in fresh troops and ammunition. This ex pedition consisted of six Turkish and six Anglo- French vessels. On the morning of the 14th a di vision of the combined fleets weighed anchor, and set sail for •Batoum. The remainder of the fleet was left at Sinope. In the afternoon of the same day two steamers were sent to Batoum to signalise, and one steamer was despatched to Constantinople. It was not deemed impossible that on the way to Batoum the combined fleet might meet with Rus sian men-of-war. Taking into calculation, how ever, the respective distances and dates, no news of such an event could have reached Constantinople by the 16th ; and even later dates—that is, of the 19th—have come to hand. FRANCE. The preparations for war, both of a military and naval character, are proceeding with great activity. Orders have been sent to Toulon that t'he Labra dor steam-frigate shall be immediately armed and got ready for sea. She is to be victualled for seventy days, and with six months of spare stores. The Asmodee steam-frigate, the arming of which is completed, is now ready for sea. The French Government has determined to try the experiment in Paris of night policemen, similar •to our police force in England. The new police will be established in Paris in about two months. It will be simply a night police, and will, in the first instance, be on a very limited scale. If the experiment succeed, the systeth will be gradually extended. The Courrier de Champagne announces that secret cipbs have been discov ere d a t Rh e i ms, an d th a t srveral of the members have been arrested. Rumours are again current with respect to a change in the French Cabinet. It appears that M. Fould, notwithstanding all that has happened, continues to maintain his ideas that France should at all sacrifices avoid war. These arguments were repudiated by all the other Ministers, with the ex ception, it is said, of M. Magne. M. de Persigny more especially opposed them, declaring that all these considerations were of secondary importance, and dwindled into nothing when brought in com parison with the national honour, the equilibrium of Europe, and civilisation itself—all of which were threatened by the grasping ambition of Russia. It is thought that M. Fould, differing so essentially as he does from the other members of the Cabinet, will retire. Indeed, the Ministers themselves feel the necessity, in the present crisis, of having a united Cabinet. It is understood that apartments are to be pre pared at the Palais Royal for the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, who will pay a visit to Paris, in return for the visit of Prince Napoleon to Brussels. The visit of Prince Napoleon to Brus sels is a sad blow to the Fusionists, who look upon it as principally directed against them. On Wednesday the police paid a domiciliary visit to an establishment called the Bureau de l'Agence Etrangere, in the Boulevart des Italiens. The authorities had received notice that the secret agents of Russia were in the habit of meeting at that place to receive at all hours of the day from their superiors the mots d'ordre, which they forth with proceeded to hawk about at the Bourse, and in the cafes and clubs. S evera l papers were seized, but no prisoners were made. Sir Stephen Lakeman, who commanded the Waterkloof Rangers at the Cape of Good Rope, where he obtained such a brilliant reputation, arrived in Paris some days ago on his way to Constantinople to take the command of a large body of troops'in Asia. He has now left for the Turkish capital, but during his stay in Paris he was for some time engaged in inspecting, with the permission of the Minister of War, the improved drill and arms of that formidable corps the Chasseurs de Vincennes. Sir Stephen speaks in the highest terms of the courtesy he experienced from the Minister of War, Marshal Magian, and all the French military authorities. The Paris journals which did not on Wednes day remark on the speech of the Queen of Eng land have article on the subject in the impressment of yesterday. They are unanimous in regarding the language of the speech as moderate, 'but they are also nearly unanimous in the expression of an opinion that no conclusion warranting a belief that war will be prevented is to be drawn from that circumstance, things having been now brought to such a point that no more concession ean be made to unreasonable demands on the part cf Rus sia, and there being as yet no indication of the abandonment by the Emperor Nicholas of pre tensions which render it difficult to arrive at a pacific solution without a sacrifice by and England of interests, honour, and dignity. The Debate says that the Queen's speech is eloquent in its simpli city, and that the answers to be given to M. de Brtmow will clearly demonstrate this eloquence. The Bourse was much crowded yesterday, Lnd a large amount of business was transacted. Sales of public securities were difficult, except at a. con siderable reduction on the prices of Wednesda3 r, the speculators regarding the arrangement of the exist ing differences between Russia and the WE 'stern Powers as nearly impossible. The Three per 0 eats. opened at 68f., fell to 67f. 25c., and closed a .1t 67f. 35e. far the end o f th e month. The Four-: Half per Cents. closed at 96f. 80c. ; Orleans Rail way Shares, 1,020 f. ; Rouen, 910 f. • Havre, , P2sf. ; Great Northern, 715 f. ; P ar i s and gtrasburg, 6;95f.; ditto, New, 550 f. ; Paris and Lyons ' 800 f. ; _Lyons to the Mediterranean, 617 f. 50c. ; Great Ce ntral, 425 f. ; Lyons and Geneva, 435 f. ; Shares cef the Bank of Credit Mobilier, 607 f. 50c. ITALY. The Parliainento of Turin quotes without: I gua ranteeing it, in a letter from Rome, in which: it is stated that the Pope intends appointing a s:p , ecial commission for the purpose of re-organisin, g ; the Government on the footing of 1816. Car, 3,inals Antonelli and Savelli and Monsignor Santucl 3i, are mentioned as likely to form part of this co Emis sion. The Imperial Lieutenant of Lombardy 1 tas is sued a notification, fixing the number of rc )(3ruits for 1854 in the Lombardo-Venetian kingd c nn at 13,373. Our letters from Turin, of the 30th ult., state that the irritation prevailing between the Civil Government and the clerical party, was da it y in creasing. The negotiations with Rome for the con( usion of a concordat were no longer spoken of sir u e the publication of the Pope's last encyclical lettt The authorities of Turin had issued th( ) most severe orders relative to masquerades durin g Car. nival. They require a permission of the police is from those w h o i n t en d t o appear disgu ed in the streets, and specially charge the agent s of public security and the corps of Royal Carabinier a with ,strict execution of those orders. SPAIN. CONSTANTINOPLE. A private letter from Constantinople, of the 16th, says :—" All the world believes in war. The ar maments are carried on at an immense rate. Omer Pacha is most urgently in need of reinforcements, and they must be of the best kind. Most of the troops at Widdin are drawn from Sophia ; for at Sophia most of the recruits are in the first instance trained to the use of arms, and from thence they are sent to Widdin, and in due time despatched still further, and into Lesser Wallachia. At Sophia there is a reserve force of 30,000 footmen (fussvolk), 3,000 horsemen, and artillerymen, or men with firearms in their hands, sharpshooters, arc., innumerable. As it was alleged that Servia was taking arms against the Sultan, a corps of 10,000 infantry, with 2,000 cavalry and eighty field-pieces, was directed to move against the Servo-Bulgarian frontier town of Nissa ; but as it has now transpired that the Servians, ers of Woods and Forests are tak i ng tenders f w WESTMINSTER BRIDGE,—The Ceram and in particular the Servian f Government, have an antipathy to the prospect Russian doming- construction of the new bridge, and the offers, as tion, this corps has been despatched to Widdin, be expected, are very numerous. engaged in combating the Rus- DECLINE IN THE PRICE OF GRAIN IN IREL whence it will be sians in Lesser Wallachia. The largest contingents Nearly all the country markets of this week sho cided tendency to a decline in the prices of grain. have as yet been supplied to the Turkish army from the districts of Macedonia and Albania—that i s , lin i ns t ances where the supplies were short, farms of course, speaking proportionally. Thus the p o . obliged to p ar t w i t h their stook4 M a comiderablf titan oa ths proTiowl a$ t. Our accounts from Madrid are of the 28th dalt was r e reported that the Q ueen had sign ed the Senate. This rumour a decree for the di sso l u ti on of the was totally unfounded, an d it appears certain that to resolution relat afire to befor that body had been submitted to the Com tc til of Ministers. There was no truth in the report that G et) eral de la Concha had asked to be struck off t/ae list of the army. The Civil Governors of Santander, Burgos, and Corunna, had tendered their resignation on ac count of ill-health. The Marquis of Viluma had left for Par 1, to resume his Ambassadorial functions. The Government had placed at the disc / sal of the Duke o f P arma the steamer Lepanto, on board of which the Prince was to embark at Bart :don% for Leghorn. Commodore Quesada had been appointed . Com mander-in-Chief of the naval station at Hay. ~nnali. A letter from Gibraltar, of the 22d, stet( ss that the Banshee steamer, which lately touched . there on her way to Constantinople, had on board three English officers of engineers, who are to jo in the Turkish army. The Three per Cents. were done at 37 ; the New Three per Cents, at Di ; the Debt c, the First Class at 71, and that of the Second at 4 3 T- N lesion or the might AND . vr a de . Even tre were 0 robe! --~~_`-` The 11 03 Capt. A. the e barge of ] The late eta Mari Tampico City of Me) Vera, Cruz Greytown vavan a yetnerara Trinidad The 014. The OH raerchantS ,$352,460 tuna ; $56: of cochine: barrels of tobacco ' • ; inerehand The d e papers an, to the me steamer 1€ days over Perien ee d to th e b : lnaioa. Rico, am J amaica N prevalence The L e vices, sto( sequently The first authorisii vernment but the E not been IP:48 expe tion were cellency 1 select his The pt alarm wa visiting ravages CkTverr a tour tl tarkly, a of the Le Governor Issued. At St. as 1,200 Deeembe It was er At Ba] fever, bi Static)] Great W on the G Main ; Spanish Conway, the Hon, (Fro • TRE stances c( branch of iterative 1 ously ; bi ral moat share in i The ini articles tariff, anc goods sal correspor With r that note staple art prietary 1 anticipat and othe the great Rion of tl Must nea crops. • more fav EXCHJ Banks : cent, pre Till The ship Si Soutlatu Peninsi Her Ca pe ' of spec . casks of dial]. co 11 ban 15 pad The Orientf on the house. steering garit same c snaptcn 20th ix From made a that sc the reE arrive Th ult., 90 ,