The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF COMMONS--Last Evening. The SPEAXER took the chair at 4 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Iristel Port Extension Railways, East Norfolk Railway, Midland Railway (New Lines, &c.), Oswestry and New town, London and North Western, and other railway com panies. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr BILAND, a writ was ordered to issue for the election of a member to serve for the city of Glouces ter, in the room of J. J. Powell, Esq., who had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. APPEARANCE OF LORD PALMERSTON IN THE 'HOUSE. At half-past 4 o'clock Lord Palmerston entered the house, on the formal business was immediately suspended in order to give effect to the feeling of both sides of the house, which was developed by cheers which lasted for some minutes. His lordship acknowledged this testi mony to his popularity in the most courteous manner, and appeared to be entirely restored to health. ENLISTMENT OF SOLDIERS. In reply to Colonel NORTH, Mr. CHILDERS said that the subject of the re-enlist • went of soldiers upon the expiration of their term of ser vice, was under the consideration of the proper authorities. THE SERVICES OF THE GERMAN TROOPS. Mr WHITESIDE asked the noble lord at the head of the Government if there had been any communication of an official character received as to whether the forced levies for provisions would be continued in Jutland, now that the Conference was sitting. Lord PALMERSTON said that it was understood that those levies would be now discontinued ; but a question might arise as to whether levies that had been made prior to the armistice were to be regarded as legal. SMOOTH BORE GUNS. Colonel LESLIE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it was true that the Royal Sovereign, cupola ship, was to be armed with smooth-bore guns ; and, if so, what reason there was, after the decided superiority of rifled g uns had been recognised, that a smooth-bore armament should have been decided upon. Lord C. PAGET repeated in substance the statement he had made on a previous occasion, which was to the effect that the subject was under consideration, and from its im portance it would be inadvisable to come to any hasty con clusion in reference to it. CLAIMS OF CAPTAIN GRANT. Colonel NORTH moved that this house would, upon Monday next, resolve itself into a committee to consider of an humble address to be presented to her Majesty, praying that she would be graciously pleased to consider the ser vices of Captain Grant, and order him some suitable reward for his services in improving the system of cooking in the army, and effecting a considerable saving in the public expenditure for fuel. The Marquis of HARTINGT ON said that the committee which had been appointed to inquire into this subject had, after careful consideration, come to the conclusion that the saving which Captain Grant alleged to have effected in regard to the fuel consumed in the cooking for the army was not justified by facts. The committee had offered Captain Grant the amount he claimed, namely, £4,000, although it was their opinion that circumstances did not justify their paying him that claim. However, Captain Grant claimed more than he originally required. The house then divided, and the numbers were— For the motion of Captain North 7O Against Majority —3l THE AFFAIRS IN CHINA. Mr. BANTER drew the attention of the house to the present position of affairs in China, and condemned the policy which the Government of this country had pursued in reference to interference with the domestic hostilities in China. He considered the instructions sent out by Earl Russell to the British representatives in China as not being justified by the circumstances of the times, and he accused the Government of having departed from the professions of neutrality by endeavouring to maintain the Tartar dynasty, which was obnoxious to the Chinese people generally. The hon. member cited the authority of Sir Frederick Bruce in order to show that our policy was merely calculated to promote in reality the designs of Rus sia. The hon. member concluded by asking the noble lord at the head of the Government if he proposed to adopt such a course of policy as would protect the commerce of this country in China, and to extend it without interfering in the domestic difference of the people of that country. Lord PALMERSTON said that his hon. friend who had asked him the question had stated that he had read all the Blue Books having reference to this subject, but he must say that he did not consider that his hon. friend had derived any great information from his studies. (Laughter.) There were many mistakes into which people even of enlarged minds were betrayed by confining themselves to general and unqualified principles. Such was the ease of his hon. friend, who, in his anxiety to main tain inviolable the principle, seemed to forget there were such things as treaty rights, which the Govern ment of any country were bound to maintain. He referred to the intervention of this country in the affairs of Greece, Belgium, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and the war in the Crimea. We interfered in those events which led to the Crimean war, and 1 do not thick any man will say we were unsuccessful. We interfered in the affairs of China. And why ? Because our treaty rights were in danger, and our national interests were at stake. How in consistent is the beginning of my hon. friend's speech with the conclusion. He said he would never consent to be a party to throwing on the taxpayers of this country any burden for the sake of protecting the trade of China. Mr. BAXTER—I beg the noble lord's pardon. I said for the purpose of upholding the Mantchoo Government in China. Lord PALMERSTON—I beg pardon. The hcn. mem ber said, " If I have property in China I do not think it right that the taxpayers of this country should be put to the expense of maintainer g my property in China." , Mr. BAXTER —I said that was an open question. Lord PALMERSTON—Ah " That is an open ques tion." (A laugh.) Now, the concluding question he puts to me is no question at all, because he asks me whether the Government will confine themselves to maintaining the treaty ports, and intimates that he would be in favour of the maintaining of the British interests in those ports. But, sir, what has been the history of our interference in China ? See the inconsistency of those commercial gentlemen ? They are constantly urging the Government to make tree , . ties with foreign countries, and to extend the range of our commercial intercourse, It was only the other day I re ceived a deputation from the manufacturing districts urging upon the Government the institution of a different organisation in the Foreign-office and the Board of Trade, for the purpose of enabling the Government more widely to extend the commercial relations of this country. And very rightly that feeling is entertained, because everybody must know that on the extension of our commerce depend in a ver y great measure the welfare of the country, the abun dance of the revenue, and the strength and prosperity of the nation. Therefore, so far from meriting the censure which ley hon. friend, as a commercial man, has passed upon us, we are deserving of praise, because w e ac t i n accord ance with the wish es and desires of the country. (Hear,) it was long felt th at China would open up a vast field of commercial enterprise. It has done so, and it is this, among other shi ne s, which has enabled us to meet that, obstruction in our commerce and manufacture which the unfortunate struggle in America has occasioned. (Hear, hear,) My hon. friend says the Chinese are a cruel people. I have myself eaii in this house, that the nature of the Chinese people is characterised by cruelty and perfidy. I quite admit that, but these qualities are not confined to the Imperialists, but are shared by the Taepings. My hon. friend alludes to the rnaesicre at Soochow. There was no massacre at Soochow; it was, however, a treacherous proceeding, and I will net not justify what they did, but will only state the explanation they put forward. What happened the other day ? We have fresh evidence of the cruelty of the Taepings in the capture of a steamer called the Firefly, which they seized and carried off; and it was stated that four or five of the crew were roast ed by the Taepings, [Col. STY:ES -No.] I believe their bodies were found in a c h arre d s t a t e with the Taepings. But in China those people who take to making profit by supplying ar ms and ammuniti on sen d home in high-flown terms the merits of the Taeping s . All other persons bore witness to th e atrocities of the Taepe ic rebellion. Villages were laid waste and the people re duced to a state of starvation. Only the other day it was stated that they were obliged to eat human flesh as a last resource for sustaining life. Is that a state of things con ducive to the interests of British commerce ? Is that a state of things which we ought to allow to exist in our treaty ports? My hon. friend admits that, as far as the radius of the treaty ports extends—a distance of 30 miles — we are justified, and it i s our duty to keep those Taep in g s from violating the treaty. However much my hon. friend has studied the blue books, he has not studied with equal ardour the history of China. He talks of the Imperial dynasty as one recently established in the country, and therefore not having any hold on th e p o pul a tion of the cou ntry. If lam not misinformed, I think it has existed about 500 years ._ Colonel S YK - ES --- 250. Lord PALM ERSTON—WeII, I think when a dynasty exists in a country 250 years, 'England, at least, ought to admit that that dynasty has a good hold on the popular in terest, and ought not to be called a foreign dynasty. (Laughter.) To come to the point, I say it is greatly to the interest of this country to maintain this treaty, and to exer cise such powers as that treaty with China gives us. Ati,,ar the war with China began, Sir James Graham, a sagacious man, warned this house of the danger that must arise from entering into warfare with one-third of the human race. But I say what must be the advantage to this country if we can enter into commercial relations with one-third of the human race? Therefore I say it is to the interest of this country to establish such intercourse with China. My hon. friend says the dynasty is tottering to its fall ; I would say the rebellion is more likely to end than the dynasty. No doubt there are in different parts of China rebellions more or lel, for that, I regret to say, is the normal condition of more tlaan one Oriental Government, which have not at- --- _--- nen. tanned sound organisation, and which do not possess the capital necessary to uphold strength sufficient to maintain order throughout the country. However, I can a- sure my hon. friend that the rebellion has been narrowed into a far smaller space during the last two years; and if we are to speculate on the future it is more probable that the rebellion is tending to its end than that the Imperial Government will be overthrown. (Hear, hear.) But if the Imperial Go vernment was overthrown, what wou'd you have ? You would have nothing but anarchy. Those Taepings are per fectly incapable of forming a government, and there would be rebellion against them. Our direct interference has been limited to treaty powers. We have given the Chinese Govern ment the assistance of British agents for the purpose of col lecting and improving their customs duties, and improv ing their revenue, and great benefit has accrued to the Government of China from that arrangement. We know that last year two orders of Council were issued, one authorising Capt. Osborn and some others, under Mr. Lay, to raise a squadron for the purpose of restoring order in the waters of China, and for suppressing the piracy which in jures navigation. I regret very much that the expedition of Capt. Sherard Osborn did not succeed, because I believe that if it had gone on, and if Capt. Osborn had been allowed to direct it according to his views, it would have put an end to that piracy which is now desolating all the coasts of China. That order in Council, however, has been revoked, and there is no intention on the part of her Majesty's Go vernment to issue such an order in Council again. Then there was another order in Council, authorising British subjects to enter into the service of China. Major Gordon was one of those who took advantage of that order. That order in Council has been revoked, and there is no inten tion to renew it, (Hear.) Major Gordon, I am sorry to hear by the last accounts, has sustained a check, and has been wounded—l hope not severely. He is a most able and distinguished officer, and one who has performed great service to the Imperial Government; and I must say that my conviction is, that if the Imperial Government could by his means or any other means put an end to the rebellion, not only would they gain a great advantage themselves, bat they would confer an immense advantage on the com mercial interests of this country. (Hear.) All I can say is, that it is not our intention to authorise any direct interfe rence in the military and naval service of China as between the Imperial Government and the Taepings, beyond the protection to be afforded within the radius of our treaty ports. I think that it is a duty which the Government owes to the commercial interests of this country, and I am quite convinced that, if the commercial interests were assembled, and asked their opinion, they would say, "For Heaven's sake, protect our commerce in China in the treaty ports, because that commerce is daily growing more and more important, and is one of the means by which this country has weathered the diffi culty arising out of the want of cotton from America." I hope my hon. friend will be satisfied with what I have stated, though, unfortunately, I cannot agree with him in the conclusions which he draws, and in the objects he seeks to have accomplished. My opinion is that the country at large will be of opinion that the Government are doing their duty in protecting the commercial interests of this country in China, as derived from the treaty concluded with China—(hear)—that, so far from its being desirable that the Tartar Government should be overthrown, and that those ragamuffin Taepings—(laughter)—should get the advantage, I am convinced that those who know anything about China will feel that it is an object of the must immense importance that order and tranquillity should be restored in a country where our commercial relations aro already so ex tensive. (Hear, hear.) Mr. LIDDELL thought the answer they had just heard the most unsatisfactory that had ever fallen from a respone sible Minister. The noble lord had referred with pride to the extension of our commercial relations, and said that it was due to the Government policy ; but in the very next sentence he had spoken of the desolation which had taken place, owing to what he called the inroads of the rebels. He (Mr. Liddell) would ask, in whose hands for years past the silk-producing districts had been ? Why, they had been in the hands of the rebels during the period in which this increase of trade had been taking place. The noble lord said that the rebellion was waning ; but recent accounts had shown that the material successes of the rebels had fol lowed each other in rapid succession. The noble lord had defended the policy of the Government, and stated that he intended to continue it. But did he study the advice of his own envoy? Because, if he did, he would find that the Government policy, in every one of its most material points, was not only disputed, but absolutely contradicted, by their own envoy on the spot. That being the case, the Government ought either to disown his despatches and recall him, or to follow his advice. He thought the house had a right to expect from the Government a more complete enunciation of their policy than they had given, in the interests of that trade which they professed to pro tect. It was known that the Government policy was disap proved by the commercial bodies in China, as being preju dicial to trade. His belief was that, unless the Government confined themselves simply to maintaining their treaty rights in China, they would materially prejudice English interests in China. The noble lord said he had interfered because our treaty rights had been endangered. He (Mr. Liddell) would again ask in what single instance ont;treaty rights had been endangered, or in which British property and life had been endangered, except in the case of the murders on board the Firefly, which were in the nature of reprisals for the murders at Soochow. These were the sort of acts to which the civil war led, which had been pushed beyond its natural limits by our unhappy interference. Lord N_e.AS said that, as a discussion on Chinese affairs would shortly come off on the motion of the hon. member for Rochdale (Mr. Cobden), he should confine his observa tions to expressing the regret he felt that the noble lord had not informed the house that the new policy he inaugurated had been a failure, and that he intended to return to the policy which had been laid down after the treaty of Tien 'rein. The present policy of the Government in China went far beyond maintaining our treaty rights, for we had inter fered to assist the Imperial Government in the internal affairs of the country, and on a future occasion those who opposed that course would be able to show that the interests of our trade had been thereby very much endangered, and that our merchants believed that the policy of the Govern ment had been in direct opposition to their interests, and were most anxious that we should go back as soon as pos sible to the principles which had been laid down by Earl Russell after the treaty of Tien-Tsin. Colonel SYKES said the noble lord had justified inter ference in the affairs of China, because we had inter fered in the affairs of cenutries in Europe. But the noble lord had not considered that the motives of our inter • Terence in Europe had been to protect the rights of the people against their despotic Government. But what had we done in China ? We had not there interfered to sup port the people against a despotic Government. On the contrary, we had interfered in support of a Government which was admitted and declared by our own envoy, Sir F. Bruce, and by the whole of our representatives in China, to be the most corrupt, treacherous, perfidious, and oppressive Government on the face of the earth. The hon. member proceeded to quote from a despatch from Mr. Burlingham, the American Minister in China, which had been laid before Congress, to show that the policy upon which the repre sentatives of England, France, Russia, and the United States had agreed to act in China was that of the simple maintenance of our treaty rights in the treaty ports, and non-interference in the internal affairs of the Chinese em pire. He showed in what respect recent Government policy had been in violation of this principle of non-inter ference. In May, 1860, the Taepings took possession of Soochow and the neighbouring silk districts. From that time to the present the export of silk from those districts had increased continuously, which proved that the Taepiugs did not devastate the country in the manner which had been asserted. Mr. GREG SON expressed himself satisfied with the declaration made by Lord Palmerston that the policy of the Government was directed simply to the maintenance of our treaty rights in China, and to the defence of the persons and property of British subjects. He regretted the failure of Ca a pterl nOsborn' s expe diti on , w hi c h h e thought was directed to noble and useful purpose. He believed the Taeping rebellion to be on th e d ec li ne. Mr. A. KINNAiRD adduced the testimony of Admiral Sir James Hope to show the bad faith of the Taepings, ASRANTEE. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked what causes had led to the war with the King of Ashant ee ; an d w h e th er there was any prospect of her Majesty's troops being relieved from the destructive effects of that climate by a peaceful solution of the question. lie wanted to know, he said, not only what were the causes, but what were the objects of the war. He described the destructive effects of the climate upon the negro as well as the European troops, and expressed a hope that the policy in which the war originated would be pert a stop to. Mr CARDWELL explained very fully the origin o f th e war, the preparations made for it, and the precautions taken for securing, the health of the troops; the Vi€WIS of the Go vernment in engaging in it, the stateof affairs me to the date of the last mail, and the determination of the Government upon the receipt of these advises. A few remarks were made by Sir J. HAY, and the house then went into committee of supply on the Civil Ser vices Estimates; soon after which the house was counted out at half-past 7 o'clock. ADVERTISEMENT.: I ,- -Avoid medicines: they always aggra vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, invariably cures them, restoring perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, of a liver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad dig estion, constant sleeplessness, the most intolerable nervous so - Ration, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decics, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. "Fifty years' indescribable agony , vr OM dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flat:dennY, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty ye:rs' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange ment, and poxtial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jaoobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gathering s, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. Jas, T. Campbell, Pake2Thana, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity of the liver, whirl had resisted all medical treatment." In tins, 1 lb., 2s. 9d. ; 218., ls. 6d ; 51b., lls. ; 121 b., 225. ; 241 b 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., N 0.77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Gr ocers an d Chemists is every town of the 'United I~in tom. TEE CIRCASSIAN EXODUS, (From the limes Correspondent.) CONSTANTINOPLE, May 11. The Circassians continue to pour into the country in vast numbers. Wasted by horrible privations and disease, they flock in utter destitution in such localities as have been temporarily awarded to them. The hard fate of these unfortunate creatures has not in any way deterred others from running the same risks rather than endure the cruel domina nation of the Russians. Indeed, there can now be no reason for doubting that Russia is determined to drive these tribes out of their native mountains, and is pursuing the most inhuman system to secure this end They are literally driven into the sea by their conquerors, and the full extent of the cruelties to which they are subjected will never be known, nor can the fearful loss of life which has thinned their ranks be ever faithfully recorded. The Turkish Government is giving such assistance as it can ; but unless a proper system be adopted for disposing of the emigrants the movement must inevitably result in ruin and disaster. In order to establish such a system a considerable sum of money—estimated at £l,soo,ooo—should be set aside for the purpose, and this the Turks, with the limited resources at the command of the Treasury, cannot provide, unless, indeed, they have recourse to a loan for this special object. The subject is attracting consider able attention. I understand that the English and French Ambassadors have sent full reports to their respective Governments, and have pointed out the necessity under which the Turks will be compelled to obtain financial assistance in the matter. They have urged that Circassia, being now lost, some thing should be done to save the Circassians. It is true that the Turkish Government has come rather prominently before the public of late years as an eager borrower, and it is a question how far capitalists will be disposed to humour and encourage a client so insatiable in his thirst for pecuniary accommodation ; . but with a special object of this nature in view, with a satisfactory guarantee, and with a distinct pledge secured by proper super• vision that this money will be used for the purposes for which it is raised, and no others, it is not im • probable that the Turks, who up to the present time have kept their engagements with the public faithfully, may be able to obtain the needful amount. In this or in some other manner something must be done to relieve the misery of this suffering multi tude, and save them from impending destruction. It would not be creditable to humanity that 300,000 human beings should be allowed to suffer and perish without an attempt being made to extricate them from their cruel position. It has been said before, and it is perfectly obvious, that if proper measures be adopted to direct this movement into a good channel the advantages which will accrue to the Turkish Empire will be consider. able. In the construction of roads, in the develop ment of agriculture, more particularly in reference to the growth of cotton, in supplying a new resource for the recruitment of the army—in these and other ways it is the opinion of competent persons that the Government might make good capital of this movement. I do not know in what precise form the Porte will present this question to the public, but if it should be in the nature of a loan contracted with European capitalists such stipula tions should be made as will secure a proper use for the fund, and it would be wise and prudent that the commission which is to dispense it should com prise some practical Europeans experienced in matters of emigration and colonisation. Indeed, the advice and assistance which we were enabled to afford to the Turks in matters of finance through the medium of Mr. Foster has proved so ad vantageous, there is no reason why, under the same conditions, some :English officials should not be placed at the disposal of the Turkish Government to advise them in a matter in which they are com paratively ignorant. I have had occasion frequently to allude to the short loans which the Treasury has been obliged to contract from time to time to meet such pressing de mands as cannot wait the slow process of realisa tion of the revenue. The time was when these loans, contracted on usurious rates, contributed to swell to a great bulk the floating debt. They are now raised upon terms more proportionate to the rate of their foreign debt; and as there is not only willingness but eagerness on the part of capitalists to take them upon those terms, it must be taken as an indication that Tuikish credit is established on a better basis than when the rate of interest for these short loans varied between 30 and 50 per cent. ; but still, after the measures which were adopted for creating a reserve fund, and which were believed to be suffi cient to enable the Government to tide over the time of trial which immediately precedes the col lection of the revenue, some disappointment is felt that the Treasury should so constantly have re course to this system of borrowing. Within the last three weeks two loans of this nature have been concluded; the cue may be looked upon as a Euro pean loan, although it is not to be issued to the public, being in a few hands, comprising some European bankers, and also a portion of the local financial element. The Imperial Ottoman Bank has also taken a share in it. The amount if £BOO,OOO, at 10 per cent. interest, and 2 per cent. commission, which makes it a little higher than their foreign 6 per cent. loans, quoted at about 70. It is to be repaid in six months, and is guaranteed upon certain unappropriated portions of the Cus toms' revenue. The contractors of this loan have undertaken to liquidate the coupons and the sink ing fund of the Consolides which have just fallen due. The other loan, for £250,000, is of a purely local nature, and upon terms nearly identical with the first. The Turkish Government represent these temporary arrangements as supplying the place of Exchequer-bills, and not interfering in any way with the provisions of the Budget. The system, however, is objectionable, and it shows either that they have greater difficulty than they admit in the collection of the revenue, or that their estimated requirements are exceeded. Turkish credit will never be safely and durably established until it can be shown that the resources of the revenue are suf ficient for current expenditure. It is affirmed by the Government that this desirable balance actually exists; the public, however, are rather sceptical on the subject ; but an opportunity will occur in a few days to test the accuracy of these statements by the publication of the Budget, which is now in preparation. Kiprisli Mehemet Pasha, ex-Grand Vizier under the late reign, and late Governor-General of Adria nople, has been dismissed from his post, and has received a pension, indicating official disgrace. He had often been mentioned as a likely successor of Fuad Pasha in case the influence of the latter de clined. He has always been reputed honest and energetic, and his disgrace is said to be consequent upon some arbitrary and unjust proceedings for which his entourage more than himself seem to have been guilty. Frequent complaints were made to the Sultan, who himself ordered his immediate recall. His dismissal removes one mere eager com petitor for the leadership of the Government from the path of Fuad Pasha, who is believed, if outward indications are to be trusted, to possess at this moment the Sultan's entire confidence. The first meeting of the Conference on the sub ject of the Danubian Principalities was held yester day at the residence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Aali Pasha. The representatives of Eng land, France, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Italy were present, and it was decided to pronounce the Act of Secularization of the " dedicated convents' , passed by the Rouman Chamber as opposed to the spirit of the Paris Convention, and consequently z c a n t n i o f e n r , n a p e o e w t e a r s m r s e e t e o g n b i e z e hereafter n de next illegal. At th e same time t h e pr i nc i p l e o f seculari i w troublesome takeplace the and C w o h n e f n ere t n h c is e (l a e s o t i n n n Saturday is d d me i s de p e o bt ynn e d ge t neat, t the the Plenipotentiaries w ill take i n t o cons id era ti o n the affairs of Syria and the selection of an Impe ril Commissioner for the Lebanon, either by the reappointment of Daoud Pasha, whose term of office is shout to expire, or by the nomination of some other official. In the meanwhile the intelligence received from Syria is far from satisfactory, and is not calculated to inspire confidence in the arrange ments which have been adopted by the Powers, in concert with the Porte, for the better government of this imperial province. Notwithstanding a link is still wanting between Diwanieh and Bussorah in the te!egraphic commu nication with Indio, through Asiatic Turkey and the Persian Gaif, several messages have been re ceived here from India which give hope of a speedy and uninterrupted me ens of direct communication. Some difficulties erne in consequence of the op position of tribes of the Scbat-EI-Arab, who de manded a subsidy for the protection of the line. The Turkish Government, who have failed to bring these tribes under subjection or control, are rather sore on the subject, and have not been over eager to listen to these overtures. Under our advice, however, and with the prospect of a considerable revenue consequent upon the establishment of a through traffic, they have been induced to put their pride and petty susceptibility on one side, and a pro posal is now made by the Sheiks of these tribes which I have no doubt will be accepted. If the Turkish authorities keep their engagements in good faith it may safely be predicted that the Arabs will observe their own part of the agreement, and a permanent traffic may thus be relied upon. Too much credit cannot be given to Col. Kemball, our Consul-General Bagdad, who has been indefati gableiathepe atreenalessi stance and supervision he has afforded to the line, and in the negotiations he has carried on respecting it with the Arab Sheiks, and which have mainly contributed in bringing about the present satisfactory arrangement. Col. the line in Meso potamia on behalf of the English Government, and Patrick Stewart 13 now inspecting is expected at Constantinople in a month, to termi nate all arrangements with the Turkish Govern ment in the interest of the English traffic. Infor mation has also reached me from Teheran that the land lines, which will make the communication com paratively independent of the Persian Gulf cables, are rapidly. The same letter informs me Government of the Shah is considering that the progressing a variety of proposals from Europeans for the esta blishment of a bank and the construction of railways. In the interest of the Indian traffic and in order to connect the two shores of the Bosphorus, between which there is now constant interruption, in conse quence of the frequent destruction of the cables which have been laid down, the Turkish Govern ment are considering, and will probably adopt, a proposal for stretching wires across by means of two iron towers raised on the two points on the Bosphorus known as Roumeli Hissar and Anatoli Hisser. The Engagement off Heligoland, COPENHAGEN, May 17. The following report of the naval engagement of the Danish North Sea squadron with the Austro- Prussians on the 9th inst., off Heligoland, has just been issued by the Ministry of Marino : " After the frigate Jylland had joined the frigate Niels Juel and the corvette Heimdal, on the 6th inst., off Christiansand, the united squadron stood southwards, under command of Capt. E . Sue nson, who hoisted his pendant. 0.!? the Niels Jul, to cruise off Heligoland, by order .of ; the Ministry. " At 10 a.m. on the Bth, while standing towards Red Cliff, a steam frigate came in sight. The Jyl land received orders to look after her, and returned at 12 with intelligence that she was the English frigate Aurora, Capt. M'Clintock, who had been in company with the combined Austro-Prussian squa dron the preceding day. Oar ships got up steam and stood southwards in search of the enemy. " At 3 30 a.m. on the 9th the squadron brought to off the Smaldyb, where we received a confirma tion from Capt. Hammer of the news that the united German squadron put to sea from Cuxhaven on the evening of the 6th, and was cruising between the Elbe and Heligoland. After making arrangements with Capt, Hammer for laying out buoys and masks in the Smaldyb, in case we should be compelled to put in there, the squadron stood off for the south west under canvass for Heligoland. At 11 a.m. smoke was discovered to the south-south-west, and at 12 30 we had the hostile squadron in view, con sisting of Austrian frigates and three small Prussian steamers, bearing down towards us, the frigates with their topgallants lowered and colours flying from the mast head. Our ships received the signals, Steam up," Furl sails,' and ' Prepare for action.' " The enemy's ships wore in the meantime within about a mile and a half, the Schwarzenburg leading, the Radetsky a little behind, end the Prussian gun boats bringing up the rear. The scene of action was southswest of Heligoland, some 10 miles cif the island ; the weather fine, with a slight breeze from the east. "The Schwarzenberg now opened fire with her rifled guns, and, shortly after, porting her helm, tried to cross our bows, but cur ships keeping to port frustrated the intention. "The squadron had now come nearer, steeling opposite courses, north and south. The Schwarzen berg received our first fire at about five or six cables' lengths; speed was lessened, and at a quarter to 2 the engagement became general. " The Prussian gunboats had not followed the manoeuvre of the Austrians, but running before them in a south-westerly direction, endeavoured to fire into our ships' bows. The distance, about two miles, was, however, too great for their fire to have any effect. Our lice having passed the Austrian frigates, we now turned to the starboard so as to separate the Austrian from the Prussian vessels; To pre vent this the latter pushed forward, while the Au strians tried to re-establish the line, giving US the opportunity of delivering several full broad sides into the hostile frigates. After this last manoeuvre the Austrians and our squadron ran some distance abreast, steering gradually south south-west and west, our vessels ah ead, and the g unboats more towards the centre. Th e Niels Juel engaged the Schwarzenberg, while the J y lland and Heimdai took the Radetzky. Our line was well kept, and our vessels able to ge t excellent aim, especially as the distance was gradually reduced to two or three cables' lengths. The fire of the Aus trians was particularly good and evenly main tained, in spite of the broadsides the y had to sus tain. The gunboats were at this time, as in fact during the whole engagement, at too groat a dis tance for their fire to produce any e ffect. " Towards half-past 3, after the fight had lasted nearly two hours, the foretopsail of the Schwarzen bergsmoke was ob. was seen to be on fire , an d served issuing from her gun ports, while her fire perceptibly slackened. Oar efforts hereupon in creased, and our fire was delivered with excellent effect. " By 4 p.m. the Schwarzenberg's w war hole was i foren - I rigging from below the top and. upwards flames, and she seemed to abandon the engagement. She rounded at full speed for the Southern Roads, off Heligoland, followed b y the Radetzky, which tried to cover her consor t with great dexterity. During as rapidly as p sible, os. this part of the e ffiir we succeeded in de livering a raking broadsid e at rather close quarters. Oar vessels pursued the enemy , of f ast 4, htheayndwewres making good use of their bo within until hales lf were co mpelled to abandon c l o se upon four mi Heligoland, whe the pursuit in order not to run into neutral waters. " Our squadron lay over to the north-east for some time, observing the enemy. The Austrian fri gates and the gunboats anchored at the southern point of Heligoland, an d let off their steam. The fore-rigging of the Schwarzenberg was shortly afterwards cut away. " ga gement the English fri. During the entire en gate Aurora was riding at anchor off the south of Heligoland. Our squadron stood east towards the evening, and left for the north at 3.30 next morn ing, in consequence of a despatch from the Ministry of Marine, "As previously stated, our loss in this engage. ment, so honourable to our ships, was 14 killed and 5t wounded, w hile we aro informed, upon the authority of an eye-witness who was at Heligoland, that the Schwarzenberg alone had 150 killed and wounded. Neither during nor sinus the engage ment have our ships been unfit for service." [ADVERTISMIENIA—HoIIoway'sPiIIs,—Bad Health made Good.—Thousands have died during the last two mcnths in excess of the a verage because . they had neglected to purify the blood after the l ate long .winter. Every in valid should be acquainted with the virtue? of Holloway's inestimable Pills ; their purifying, regiilating, strengthen ing, and aperient qualitie s sho u ld be tried by all persons in a delicate or precarious state of health. These Pills expel all noxious hnmours from th e system, improve the appetite, amend the digestion, promote the secretion of healthy bile, and regulate the bowels. Holloway's Pills act admirably as a tonic to frames whose nerves have been shaken by pro tracted indisposition, or whose brains have been over wrought by study, or depressed by excessive indulgence. RAILWAY INTEL LIGENCE. LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOU PH-COAST. A special general meeting of the proprietors was hold at 1 o'clock yesterday, under the Wharncliffe order, Mr Scott, deputy-chairman, in the chair, to consider the following bills now pending in Parliament :-1. A bill to authorise the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company to make certain lines of railway and other works in and near the parish of Battersea, county of Surrey, and for other pur poses. 2. A bill to enable the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company to make new lines of railway in the county of Surrey and Sussex, to acquire additional lands, and to acquire the undertakings of certain other companies, and for other purposes. 3. A bill co authorise the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company to run steam vessels between Littleharapton and places on the Coast of France and in the Channel Islands. 4. A bill for authorising the London and South Western Railway Company to make and maintain a line of railway from Kensington to Richmond, and junction lines communicat ing with the Hammersmith and City Railway and the North and South Western Junction Railway respectively, and to raise further moneys, and for authorising arrange ments with divers railway companies, and for other pur poses. 5. A bill for the amalgamation of divers railway companies with the London and South Western Railway Company, for authorising that company to make and main tain additional lines of railway, and to raise further moneys, and for other purposes. 6. An act for the incorporation of the West Grinstead, Cuckfield, and Hayward's Heath Junc tion Railway Company, and the making and maintaining of the West Grinstead, Cuckfield, and Hayward's Heath Junction Railway, and for other purposes. 7. An act for enabling the Haylings Railway Company to make and maintain railways in extension of their authorised railways, and to make and maintain docks, and to raise moneys for the purpose, and to make arrangements with other com panies, and for other purposes. 8. An act for authorising the West London Docks and Warehou se Company to exe cute further works, and to make arrangements with other companies to raise moneys, and for other purposes. 9. A bill for making a railway from the Mid Sussex Railway in the parish of Hardham, to the Shoreham, Steyning, and Henfield Railway, near the town of Steyning, and for other purposes. 10, A bill for the construction of railways to connect by means of the Thames Tunnel certain railways on the Surrey side of the river Thames, with certain rail ways on the Middlesex side of the river, to be called The East London Railway,' and for other purposes. 11. A bill for making and maintaining the Tooting, Merton, and Wimbledon Extension Railway, and for other purposes." The CHAIRMAN in opening the proceedings observed that only three of the foregoing bills were promoted by the Brighton Company, the others being bills authorising work ing arrangements with the Brighton Company. The first bill was, he observed, for improving the accommodation in connexion with the Victoria Station, and the utility of it was generally admitted. No. 1 bill having been approved, No. 2 was passed over, because it was not ready for consideration. Bills No. 3 to No. 8 inclusive were severally agreed to. The CHAIRMAN said that the other bills not being ready for consideration, he would move that the meeting stand adjourned till Friday, the 3d of June. This motion having been agreed to, the meeting ad ottrned to that day fortnight. TRAFFIC RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK. Niles Opened. Receipts. lwayi 1864. 1863. 1864. 1863. A Belfast and N, Counties ..... 136 136 Belfast and Comity Down 49 49 Blyth and Tyne 2B 28 Bristol and Exeter 1215 121 i Caledonian 252 :i . .344 Cockermouth & Workington 8,5 81 Cork and Bandon 2O 20 Cork, Blackrock, &Passage 65 65 Cork and Youghal .... 325 321 Cornwall 654 531 Deeside l7 17 Dublin & Belfast Junction 63 63 Dublin and Drogheda 75 63 Dublin and Meath Dub. &Wicklow and Wextd 915 485 Edinburgh and Glasgow 173 1695 Furness, &c 5O 5 , .) Glasgow & South-Western Gt. Eastern,Nrfk.,&E.Union Great Northern 353 351 Great North of Scotland 5B 58 (it. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 7ll 711 rit.Soutlin. &Westn.(lrind.) 37 3 3 /4 329 G re at Western 105 6 3 /4 10565 Inverness & Aberdeen June 8 6 3 /4 BGi Inverness & Perth Junction 1195 Irish North-Western 145 145 Lancashire & Yorkshire 402 3955 Limerick and Ennis.. 241 241 Limerick and Foynes 26k 261 Llanelly 465 46/ London & North-Western London and Blackwall 54 51 - London & South-Western Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast London, Chatham, & Dever 725 *124 Do. Metropolitan Extension 101 65 Han.,Sheffield.& Lincolnsh blanch. S.Jun.&Altrincham 95 95 Ilaryport and Carlisle 2B 28 Metropolitan Midland (incl. N.-Western). • 641 6so Midland Gt.Westn. of Irind... 2e2 2594 Monkland 714 714 sionmouthsh. ltail. & Canal 4l 44 i North British, Edin., Perth and Dundee 420 4101 N-Eastern and Stock. & Darl 1095 10791 North London 9 9 North Staffordshire 254 254 Oswestry and Newton...— 5O 42 Ithymney 195 195 St. Helen's Canal & Railway 52 52 Scottish Central Scottish North-Eastern l3B 138 Somerset and Dorset G6 395 South Devon .. . 755 751 South-Eastern 306 303 Tail Vale 57 57 Ulster Vale of Clwyd Vale of Leath 431 36 Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 Waterford and Limerick 77 77 West Cornwall 275 271 W.llaAlepool Harbr.&ltail 52 52 W'haven,Cleator,& Egrmnt lO 7 Whitehaven Junction l3 13 Whitehaven & Furnes s Jun 35 35 • FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. Antwerp and Rotterdam 52 Austrian B2B Bahia and San Francisco Belgian Eastern.) unction 26. Bombay, Baroda, & cen. India 185 P.uffalo and Lake Huron l6l laetroit and Milwankie lB9 Dutch Rhenish East e rn Bengal Eastern of France 1135 East Indian Grand Trunk of Canada lO9O Great Indian Peninsula Gc , Great Luxembourg 134 Great Southern of 'lndia Great Western of Canada 315 Madras 2,10 2,131 761 7uo 2,110 2,237 7,039 6,331 18,365 16,283 32k 283 379 333 151 16) 183 820 2,011 1,433 356 317 1,439 1,130 1,678 1.711 248 164 2,723 1,961 8,079 7,863 3,581 3,049 8,901 8,408 33,011 26,827 34,040 26,987 2; 41 2,0 t 9 535 471 8, V 09 8,201 69,472 18,953 1,189 1,174 1,367 1,719 1,881 40,390 32,913 265 231 131 140 706 6 3 t 7,613 93,127 1,929 1,709 26,422 21,047 18,412 16,608 5,351 4 411 1,45•) 510 16,88 14,681 1,426 1,203 1,714 1,184 2,142 1,9 8 47,6!1 38,881 5.261 4.872 1,714 1.184 2,112 1,918 13,126 12,370 61,852 54,795 3,534 3,, 88 9,330 8,291 1,172 1,003 1,239 929 2,024 1,904 5,733 5,134 5,315 5,2:1 705 373 4.463 3,511 21,261 10,522 5,732 5 , 363 2,410 2.168 183 214 3,005 2,012 439 321 1,159 1,087 972 7 72 4,590 4,752 875 7 57 1,122 850 1,t39 895 1,277 1,257 05,322 60,491 333 278 2,110 2,337 2,124 2,146 5,315 4,431 5,368 426 1,562 1,389 61,741 55,153 33,'464 26,689 22,651 16,413 17,671 7,410 4,313 4,925 424 510 12,181 11,162 5,168 3,445 18,221 14,7 A. 1,741 1,288 54,924 51,936 70 752 Madrid, Saragossa &Aiicant (53 Northern of Canada 9l Northern of France 697 Norwegian Trunk Ottoman . . 4Bi Paris, Lyons, & liediterrn lBO5 parts and Orleans 1614 l'Crl3lolll.me.o 771 Royal Danish 69 Sambre and Meuse 6B South Austrian • .. 1527 Sciade i3outhern of France .... 770 Victorian 196 Wellar.d IWO. 25 West Flanders 75 W. and N.W. of France 132,842 128,970 0,7,280 61,t20 1,259 1,219 1471 105 680 196 1,514 1,470 61,139 49,03= 25,109 23,116 9,081 9,939 1,312 0 05 49.615 46,510 A Word on the Thames Embankment, The centre of London liesbetweenWaterloo and Hunger ford-Bridges, wherd the aneuriemal swelling of the river at high tide is full a third as wide again as it is either at London or Vauxhall bridges. If the shore is shabby the warehouses that line it are miserable in the extreme. In the vicinity of London-bridge the giant proportions of British commerce aro stamped upon the noble warehouses that flank the stream ; but from Blackfriars-bridge westward the river is lined by nothing better than a succession of tumble-down wharfs and petty boat-houses, and these, in all probability, would have held their ground for another century had it not been for the necessity of making the low-level sewer, and for the revolution the railways have worked in every depart ment of metropolitan traffic. The value of water-side pre mises would have been too great 20 years ago to have per mitted the embankment of the river ; the coal trade would have been irretrievably injured. Now, however, there are a thousand inland wharfs springing up in consequence of the new and economical method of carriage steam has given us, and the riverside premises have, in a great meaenre, lost their trade. By a commercial revolution, in short, which could not have been foreseen, the poets' and the painters' dream has become a necessity. Poor Martin should have lived to have seen the mud-banks give place to the long-drawn terraces, the long flights of steps, the gardens, and the sculptured establishments which will shortly arise there. If we shall not be able to match Paris and other Continental cities in the architectural beauty of our streets, we shall be at least able to show a river worthy, by its magnilude and embellishments, of the first city in the civilised world. Although the portion of the embankment between Westminster and Waterloo bridges will be the most picturesque and varied of the whole line, that portion between Waterloo and Blackfriars will by no means be wanting in interest or architectural effect. For the first time we shall have a land view of Chamber's beautiful building, Somerset House. It would really seem as though the genius of the architect, as ex pressed in:the river fae ade, had only waited its time, feel ing assured that the full tide of metropolitan life would some day sweep past it, both on the bosom of Old Father Thames and, still closer, on its noble shores,. Further on, the beautiful Gothic library of the Middle Temple will most agreeably meet the eye; and, in its immediate neighbour hood, the Temple Gardens, blooming in the midst of the nest of lawyers, will come in view. These gardens will gain pretty nearly 200 feet in depth, which will snake the whole a really handsome pleasure ground.—Oilee a Wed" The Moniteur tic; l'Alyerie states that the boring of Artesian wells is actively pursued in that country. The workmen of the 3d Regiment of 4oua7esl after finding at Zamdat Ribab, in the Oued Rir, a spring yielding H2O litres of water pa. minute, have found another at Sidi-Yohin, which throws up no less than 1,230 litres in the same space of time. Persons in debt may obtain instant protection agains imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release from all debts and liabilities without publicity, by application to Messrs. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy, Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices— (established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden. City branch-7G, Igor gate-street, Bank,—ADTT. SPERIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, TIMES.—As the month of suspended hostilities, which it required so much negotiation to obtain, prospects of a satisfactory result passes away, the of the Conference do not improve. It is ira possible to resist the conviction that the German Powers attended the Conference with a predeter mination to elude all terms and conditions, even those to which they gave the mockery of their assent. It appears that the Austrian eqnadron in the North Sea has been reinforced, though Denmark has raised its blockade of the German ports, To the Prussian land force the armistice b.as been merely a suspension of operations in the field, an interval of battle, like the truce of a few hours to bury the dead. To the Danes it has been much more, since raising a lelockade may fairly be accepted as a preparation for peace. In this stage of the war, as in the first, it is evident that the fulfilment of every condition or promise Denmark has made is to be rigorously exacted, while the most formal en gagements of the two German States arc repudiated with almost a cynical contempt for the opinion of the world, What Denmark has lost and yielded of course leaves her less capable of resistance, but every hour since the commencement of the armis tice has been employed by Prussia in increasing her means of carrying on the war, In fact, she has never really ceased from acts of hostility, and has shown how possible it is to wage very effective war even with the sword in the scabbard. Day by day the work of destroying the Danish forts and works has continued. With regularity equally un sparing the Prussian army has continued to raise enormous war contributions in the province of Jut land. The last accounts from this portion of the Danish territory, into which Germany has no more right to carry its Federal Execution than to ravage a department of France, road precisely like as many chapters in the history of the Thirty Years War. Though every State of Europe seems compelled to keep large masses of its population ready for battle, mankind hoped that civilised nations had advanced beyond the period when war was mere brigandage on the most extensive scale. But we have been destined to see the worst and oldest bar barisms reproduced. In Jutland there has been no resistance to the German arms. The two provinces the alleged rights of which were alone to be asserted by the war are in full possession of four German Powers. More than enough has been seized for any " material guarantee" that can possibly be required. With both Schleswig and Holstein under the shadow of German bayonets, and all the Danish authorities displaced, it is only insulting the common sense of Europe to assert that Germany has not gained a sufficient "security" as against Denmark. The Prussians have not the plea of necessity, for the means of supporting a German army engaged in such a war are ample. The slightest appeal to the " nationality" of forty millions in whose name the invasion is made, would produce money and sup• plies in profusion. From the Eider southwards to the Rhine, and eastwards to the Danube, we are told of the burning enthusiasm that pervades Ger many for the cause of which Prussia is the cham pion. That spirit should find some solid form of expressing itself that would at least save the mili tary renown of the nation from the stigma of vulgar robbery. It can be called by no softer name. What the Prussians demand are not contributions and re quisitions in the real meaning of those terms. Their demands are not only for corn, cattle, or things necessary for the subsistence of the army ; there is a general seizure and confiscation of property of every kind. Money comes first, and the refusal to pay sums which it is impossible for the towns and villages of a country far from wealthy to raise is punished by the arrest and imprisonment of the authorities. The contents worth taking of every establishment are then confiscated and become the property of the State of Prussia. The goods of manufacturers, retail dealers, tailors, dyers, goldsmiths, turners, are all included in the sweep. The houses are sealed up ; and a military guard placed at the doors. Wallen stein, when he supported armies for a bankrupt Emperor of Austria by open plunder, could hardly have done the work more completely. In the Schleswig - Holstein campaign of 1848Fieid-Marshal Wrangel was the Commander-in-Chief. He then, as now, demanded a heavy contribution in money from the inhabitants of Jutland. But it was not levied. The proceeding was disclaimed at Berlin, and shortly afterwards General Wrangel was re called. Now, just as the reports of similar but greater oppression of the invaded country are dis crediting the Prussian name throughout Europe, General Wrangel " gains a step" in the Prussian Peerage—that is, from a Baron he is made a Count. We fear, therefore, his exactions in Jutland are fully approve& From the brief statement made last night by Lord Palmerstonlit is clear that as far as the inhabitants of this portion of Danmark are concerned the Conference has effected nothing. We still trust it may be more successful in what remains of the political portion of its task. It is with no surprise we learn that Prussia finally and openly repudiates the Treaty of 1852. M. Bismark asserts that his Government is completely released " from all the obligations that may be deduced" from it. He only repeats what was often urged on the eve of the hostilities, that the war will annul the treaty altogether. This is the point at which the negoti ations have arrived, and all the Conference has to do, according to the Prussian Minister, is to discuss " any other combinations that may be entirely ie. dependent of the treaty." Prussia has made a tabula rasa of this passage of its history, and concedes to the other Powers of Europe the right of discussing what shall be inscribed on the blank page laid before them. Practically, the Treaty of London has, by the declaration of Prussia, ceased to be a subject of discussion. What the Conference can effect, assuming the old engagements are set aside, is now the only question. It seems rather into to hope, but it may still foe too early for despair. The great object in any settlement of this long dispute should be to leave nothing that may hereafter raise fresh controversies to be em bittered into war. This necessity brings us back to the suggestion made some years ago by Lord Palmerston, that the Duchies should be divided so as to separate the Danish and German nationalities completely. What German subjects have done for the Monarchy of Denmark we now see too dis tinctly ; and it should be the last wish of Germany to have Danes under its political control. The division of the races, when first proposed, would in all probability have prevented the present miser able conflict. Whether the German population is more likely to be handed over to the Federation, with a new Prince added to the Band, or held by the strong hands now rpon it, are different ques tions. Having shattered the old diplomatic fabric, we presume the Prussian Government has deter mined on what is to be the process of reconstruction. May it be partly divined with the assistance of a small indication from Berlin ? Commercial enter prise, at least, has begun to consider the soil of the Duchies as Prussian territory. A company, pro moted by M. von der Heydt, is to be forthwith established to construct a Schleswig-Holstein canal "to connect the North Sea with the Baltic." The Prussian Treasury offers to defray the expense of the preliminary works, and a Prussian Privy Coun cillor is " intrusted with the execution of the un dertaking!' This may prove a gleam of light to guide the Conference when it meets from its long adjournment to consider the new combinations that 'must be quite independent of Treaties. HERALD.—We heartily congratulate Lord Pal merston upon his convalescence. From a merely partisan stand-point we might have looked with complacency upon a prolongation of that absence from Parliament which has exhibited his col leagues in such a sorry light. But the public interest, which must always suffer when the Pre mier is prevented from taking his proper part in public business, was sustaining the most serious injury from the illness of a Minister who is the sole bond of union of his Cabinet, and who alone commands any popular esteem and con fidence. We should receive with no regret the announcement that the Ministry had re signed. They have neglected the interests, sacrificed the allies, broken the faith, and tar nished the honour of the country; but if they will cling to place, and, in spite of all the defeats and rebuffs they sustain, persist in holding office, we should be extremely sorry to have the chances of mischief increased by the inability of the only Minister who can be suspected of caring for the honour and power of the country to join in their deliberations and take the leading part in the con duct of public business. Lord Palmerston will need all the strength he has regained to preserve his Administration from a disgraceful fall. His per sonal popularity, the confidence felt in him by some members of the Opposition, will no longer suffice to protect the Cabinet. A storm of indi gna ti on i s gathering throughout the land which can euly be conjured. by the adoption of a policy diametrically opposite to that which the Ministry have pursued during the last few months. The country feels that it has been betrayed by the tiovernmeiat, it writhes under the insults of Europe. All the generous in stincts of Englishmen are profoundly wounded by the outrageous conduct of Prussia in Denmark. They feel that their true interests would be sited, ficed in the destruction of the integrity of the Danish monarchy, and they are irritated beyond endurance by the low cunning and the insolent brutality of Germany. They see that the cowardice and vacillation of the Government have beep mainly Instrumental in brieging aefairs to this shameful pass. Hitherto the general expression of indigna• tion has been restrained by the hope that the Con. ference would bring a satisfactory peace, oe at least by a desire to give the Ministry, which promised so much from the Conference; the chance that it dee minded. Now it is becoming but too evident that the Conference can bring about no settlement ; that the German Powers are bent upon the spoliation of Denmark, and, confident in the cowardice of Eng land, intend to effect their designs in the manner most galling to her; and, having acquired that conzelouoness, the nation has lest all patience. Lox 'd Palmerston's prestige will not induce it to submit tamely to the loss of its own. The pleasure it may take in listening to his denunciations of Prussia and - Austria will not suffice to compensate it for the abandonment of Denmark to the tender mercies of these Powers. It is true that many people suppose Lord Palmerston to be himself in favour of a policy more worthy of the nation ; credit Earl Russell with the blustering dispatches which have brought us so much discredit; and charge upon Lord Granville, MrOladstone, and the Bright section of the Cabinet, the pusillanimous and ruinous evasion of the mea sures which our interests and our duties called upon us to take. But if Lord Palmerston allows a minority of the Cabinet to direct its policy, if he adopts their views, he must accept the responsibility of them, and the country will not allow him or his friends to plead that he is in favour of better measures. If he allows Earl 'Us sell and Mr. Gladstone to do as they please he be comes responsible for their acts, and the country , which is now in no mood to be trifled with, will make no distinction, except perhaps to treat him as the greatest sinner, because its confidence in him has been the chief cause of the disaster into which it has been betrayed, Straws will show how the wind blows, and the singular, unprecedented cir cumstance, that Earl Russell was received at the dinner of t he Royal Literary Fund with hisses is a very strong proof of the intensity of the public dis satisfaction with the conduct of the Government. Only an overpowering feeling of indignation would have betrayed the gentlemen present at that festival into a manifestation which they must have felt themselves, as soon as they had made it, to be mast indecorous and unjustifiable. Even the inhabitants of Tiverton, who are so proud of their represents. tive, indulged in some very uncomplimentary ex pressions about him the other day. The country will not find in such a perilous emergency any com pensation for the triumph of the un-English degrading policy of which Mr. Gladstone is the champion, in the fact that it has for its Prime Minister an old man, who once was a great man, who once knew how to make himself the exponent and the agent of English feeling, and who retains his mental and physical powers at an age when most men are in,their second childhood. Whatever sup port the Administration enjoys is due to the con fidence which the Premier has succeeded in inspir ing ; the country is beginning to see that Lord Palmerston is but nominally at the head of the Cabinet, and lends his support to views which he has resisted in vain. That conviction once general, and the Administration will fall without the slightest effort on the part of its opponents to over throw it. Lord Palmerston must at once vindicate his position as Prime Minister, as the directing leading spirit of the Cabinet—vindicate at once, too, the care for English honour and interests with which he has been credited—or his political career will end like a burnt-out candle and another will be addedito the list of men of parts who have lived too long for their reputation. The House of Com mons, which saluted him with a cheer on his re appearance last night,will have no cheers for him if he continues to address it in the vague, uncertain, and almost timid language in which he replied to the questions of Mr. Whiteside ; and it will give no cheers to the most decided, emphatic language unless it has some assurance that this time the words have been weighed and are all meant, and that the Ministry have at last resolved to take a course which shall accord with the interests, satisfy the obligations, and redeem the lost honour of the country. _ COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL-FRIDAY. There was an exceedingly small attendance of the toWII and country trade to-day, and both wheat and flour were again the turn lower, reducing value as compared with. last Friday fully 2d per cental and 9d per sack and barrel- Oats and oatmeal against sellers. Beane. barley, and peas unchanged. Indian corn very dull, at a decline of fully per qr. STAMFORD-FRIDAY. White wheat, 40s to 425; red, 36s to 40s per 36 stone• Barley, malting, 30s to 345:; grinding, 27s to 30a per Clr• Oats, 17s to 22s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to ---s Pe r qr. ; new, 36s to —a. LINCOLN-FRIDAY. The wheat plant around here looks very satisfactory. A fair business to .clay at the following prices : White wheat new, 39s:to 43s ' Barley, grinding.. 28s to 32 8 Red do. 37s to 41s } Oats, old, .. 24s to 2 64 Old white Red do. —s to —s I Beans 38s to 400 Barley, malting.... 34s to 36s 1 Beans, new.. 34s to 370 WAKEFIELD-FRIDAY. The wheat trade was inactive to-day, and prices were is lower. Beans rather dearer. In other articles there was no change. Averages for the week : Wheat ..2,079 qrs., at 4ls G l a d Rye — —s 8ar1ey......... —s Od Beans Peas . .. Oats CORK—THURSDAY. The following were the quotations this morning -rt pd wheat, Ss Od to 8s 10d ; white, 8s Od to Os 3d ; barley, ld to Os Od ; oats ) 5s 8d to 6s 4d ; black do., 58 3 d to 55 6d. BRISTOL SUGAR—FRIDAY. Our market has opened after the holidays with a better feeling. Our stocks are too low to admit of anything lik e business, but a cargo of Barbadoes is preparing for offer : and we are in expectation of some early supplies of Dom e. rara. Prices are nominally is higher. Of refined goo ds everything offering is taken at an improvement of 6d to 1 , 11 . per cwt. For rums holders are firmly demanding hig„," rates. This has checked sales, which have been confine" to some parcels of Demerara at is lid per proof gallon P.e r puncheon. An impression seems to prevail that choice spirits will be dearer. COAL MARKET. Prima of Coal per Ton ai 8. d. Bates'slVest Hartley 14 9 liolywell 17 0 Buddle'sWest Hartley 15 6 Lambert's West Hart- the close of the market. s. ad ley ___ _____. 15 3 Tamleld Moor l4 0 Tanfield. Moor Butes l4 0 Wylam 17 0 West Wylaal l7 0 Ships at mark 4 Walls End. Hartlepool l7 D K dice Braddyll's Hetton ..... 16 ,v Riddell ,.,,., 15 v f 4 East Hartlepool ...... 17 - Hetton ......17 Reugh Hall 16 2 South Kelloe l6 South Hartlepool 16 ' :et, 53 . ; sold. 33. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DOE. Australia and Mauritiu s , v i a S ou th am pt on ....... Ju no 15, via Marseilles ..... June. 4. Brazil and Cape Verds, b y B r i t i s h pac k et. June 5• Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.. l43 Y 2, China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton.Jun e 2 7, via Marseilles Falkland Islands •••. Gibraltar, via Southampton .... Mal 2 1' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, vi a S ou th am pt on Jul :16,/ via Marseilles May ',/ India (Bombay), via Southampton May 2 via Marseilles MaY 21 Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton May 1 via Marseilles May 21 M ay 20 Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... May 2j by U.S. packet.... by Canadianpaciet.May W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .. June 1 ` Bahamas, via New York June Mexico All parts of West Indies, includin g Chili, Per . 14 . t .14 1% ;: Y y 3 3 ° C California. and Tiritish Columbia. —.O. Births. BRACE.—At 43, Queen's-gardens, W,, the wife of Allan Bruce, of a daughter. FALCONER,—On the 18th i ns t,, a t B oot h am H ou se, • y ol the Hon. Mrs. Keith Falconer, of a daughter. MORGAN—On the 16th insti, at Norwich, the wife of P I B. Morgan, Esq., of a son. m i tt O'GRADY.—O n th e 19 th inst , at Crowburst-park, the wife of th e l a t e Captain' O'Grady, Royal 800 1 of a daughter. Marriages. HAWARD—WILLii—On the 19th inst. at at t °lll Langhatn-place, Letitia Mary, only daughter. of -LA; Reward, Esq., M.D., of Harley-street, to C r ,u h t tit, youngest son of the late Thomas Wills, Esq., of Pi" bury. KIRKE—LUSIIINGTON.—On the 19th inst., at Greeciiti Henry Kirke, Esq., of The Eaves, Chapel-ell -le- 1w Derbyshire. to Agnes, the younger dau7bter of Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington, Governor of Greenwich Hospital. Deaths. BARNETT—On the 16th inst., a ft er a f e w der' orris Benjamin Barnett, Esq., b ro th er o f th e l a te l'a° rl. nett, Esq. CourE—Oa the 18th inst., a t hi s res id ence , Claph am- ,,, r e ° ‘ place, Clapham -road , Surrey, Rob er t Coote, $2. CHAMBERLAIN--On the 18th inst, tames Hardy Cela° berlam, E s q., so li c it or , o f 36, University-stre et, ag TuLLocli--On. the 16th inst., Major-Gen. Sir Ale d l . Murray Tulloch, K C. 8., 63, Eaton-square, 14°13,°,,-, STILLWELL—On the 19th inst. Edward Edward Stillwell, P'`,l Sion House, Lewisham, and 2a , Barbican, Cith ag e WAL*.—On the 18th inst.. Thomas Tabor Wall, eldest son of the late `V. wall, Esq , of Grosvenor '— Highgate, aged 45.. London: Print,ed and Pvt.:Jailed by WILLIA. 3I of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SUN ()Me e 4 Lil Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, A the 0 01 "` DLlddleeex.—Saturday, Alay 21, Isol, - - THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 21, 1864 315 447 400 91 697 48} 17i3 1494