The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-16 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE Lew. Mr. E. T. Sm tb, TIES F.VEVING, Fks. 16, Will be presented THE HUNcHBACK. Characters by G. V. Brooke, T. Mead, Belton, and Youngs; Miss Fanny Cathcart, and YIN Featherstone. To conclude with KING HITHMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. THEATRE ROYAL. HAYMARKET . Under the management of Mr. Ruekstone. THIS EVENnt. Fes. 16, Will be performed a new comic drama, called R kNELAGia. Characters by Messrs. Vanlenhoff, W. Farren, and Backstone ; Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, &c. After wh!ch. the Grand CIIRT4TMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEARS; or, Little Silverhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M Brown; ll•Arlegten, Mr. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. 11. Marihall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CHABLIS KEAN. THIS EVENING, FEB. 16, Will be performed TIE ' LS. Characters by Messrs. W. Laey, Harley, Meadows, J. Vining, Mellon, and Addison ; Mrs. Wlnstanley, Mrs. W. Lacy, Miss Heath, and Miss C. Leclercn• After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN'; or, King Salarnaudar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown. Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, Fall. 16. Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARCS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. 3fatthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes. After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, canal ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO RINGS. Principal cha racters by Mr.Roxby and Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Web.ter.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, FEB. 16, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama In live tanleaux. with new ecelery. the ie &C., new . callel r [Mir OF Wt..); or, dresses and apps ND THE La4T AMP AND ram wirm FLowe.,a AF:xico: Principal diameters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley. Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste. &c. To be followed by the popular and entirely New Grand Specta cular legendary Christmas piece, in two act=, with new scenery , dresses, machinery, and appoint nent4, called WARE:t NIP, or oneIRI BRIDE. Principal characters by Mr. Paul Bedford, Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, Miga wooigar, &c. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Warager. Mr. A. Wigan. TUN EVENING, Faa. 16. WIU be Perform^d THE FIRS r NIIIIIT. Characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan. L,lte, Frank; II trwood Cooper, au I Vincent ; Miss 7. Horton, and Miss Wymilham. After which, THE BENTi; kL MIER. Principal ctilractera by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Lesli, an I V. Itob.on ; and Mrs A. Wigan. Followed by THE WiNDERING MINSTREL. STR.tND THEATRE. ' So'. Uwe, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Dtreetress, Silas Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING. FEB. 16. WM be performel THE ROBRER'i WIFE. To be followed by ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA. . _ Age' which, the new grand COmicChristrao Pantomime entitled HUtLEQIIIN ANI) KIN,* NUCCRACKPIR; or, The World of Toys. Clown, by he lAmitable Flexmore ; Harlequin, Mr. Bologna ; Pantaloon, Mr. Griflltha ; Colo nbine, Miss Cloward. To conclude with THE TWO GREGORIES. Stuns, 55.; Boxes, 3..; Pit. 1.. 6d; gallery, 64.; Private Boxes, It. 1 Is. 6d., to be had of Mr. Allcroft. 15, New Bond-street. ASTLErs EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Extraordinary co tabination of attraction—The Performing Ele phants, whose wondrous feats ant hitherto unheatd of incredible performances now share their nightly trinniphs with their tetite rival LE AI , ;(4 S tNr ; or, Nimble Warmoz , t. Ile is Inleep another wonler, for his tricks a i 1 exercises are achieved with such human-like action, that the bel .Ider can reality itn4gitte he is watching In a inirr n• the refl-ct , va itcVons of a man. In adlition to these " Zoological 4tars," the Grand Spectacle (which has reached Its 56th ni;ht). The inimitable Acmes of the .'rent, an I the successful a id 7, trteons Pthtornim!, for nin; the most novel an unparalleled entertain neat ever off:red to the public. THIS EVENING, FEB. 16, and during the week, THE tVI.;;F. ELEPHAN N OF THF, EAST, or THE NIA.'IIC (}O4(1, to which AI% Wlllii.n Cooke's Mat dile.. Scenes of the CIRCLE, and the Grand Comic Pantnntine o BILLY BUT rovA JoURNEY TO BREN rFottn ; Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. Wm-orflce open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Wegt. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIM DAY —Morning 5 min.after 4 1 Evening 21 min.aft. 4 To•Mogtow—Morning 33 min.after 4 Evenin:4 55 min.aft. 4 TEIE WEA NEEL—Sus Orcs, FEB. 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE 43—highest since noon yesterday. 36—lowest this morning and during the night. 40—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30•C9—rising. WIND, N.W.—Light breeze, with fine, 'cold, sunshiny weather. Thz ~~~ THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16. 1854. LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1854. According to the Moniteur, no answer has yet been received, or can even for some few days more be expected, from the Emperor NICHOLAS, in reply to the admirable and dignified letter addressed to his MAJESTY by the Emperor NAPOLEON 111. According to the Patrie, that letter had already produced in Paris a "prodigious impression"—it being added by that organ of public opinion in France, that the country recognises that its senti ments have been therein described by its SovE REION "in language which reaches• the highest elevation." It is true. In those words of eulo gium there is no extravagance. Compare the letter of the Emperor NAPOLEON to the CZAR with the last proposals emanating from the Sublime Porte, for the acceptance or refusal of the Rus sian Government. It will then be at once per ceived that the latter is less resolute in tone, and less bold in exacting from Russia those conditions which have come at last to be recognised even by the Aberdeenites to be the essential preliminaries to a pacification. Let it be observed especially that the French EMPEROR is as explicit as possible in his definition of those preliminaries. Hi s MAJESTY is, above all, particular in insisting that, prior to the resignation of the command of the Black Sea by the combined squadrons of France and England, tile Russian troops shall have abandoned the Principalities. Having put this significant query to the AUTOCRAT—" Should your MAJESTY be as desirous as myself of a pacific conclusion, what would be more simple than to declare that an armistice shall , now be signed, that things shall resume their diplomatic course, that all hostilities shall cease, and that the belligerent Powers shall retire from the places to which by the motives of war they have been sum moned ?" —NAPOLEON 111. adds, " Thus the the Russian troops would abandon the Principa lities, and our squadrons the Black Sea"—" Ainsi les troupes rums abandonneraient les Principautes, et nos escadres la Mer-Noire." Implying, by the former sentence the stoppage of bloodshed both in Asia and Europe, on the Danube and in the Cau easus--the revival (possibly) of the.two or three times disrupted Vienna Conference—the with drawal of the Muscovite armaments into Bessa rabia, and of the combined fleets through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles—the return of 731 Baratow to London, of • M.. pg ICisszLErr to Pari s , of Sir HAMILTON SEYMOUR and of Gene' al DE CASTELBAJAC to St. Petersburg. Implying by the latter sentence the necessityof Moldu- Wallachia bein g eva cuated by the Russian army before the combined maritime armaments of France and Eng land retire across the Sea of Marmora into the waters of the Mediterranean. Atnther passage in this remarkable letter from the French EMPEROR to the Russian AUTOCRAT —the passage immedi ately following that last quoted—is especially de serving our attention. N Ap oLsort 111. therein o bserves to the Czan—cc .our MAJEST Y , prefer ring to treat directly with Turkey, might appoint an Ambassador, who would negotiate with a Pleni potentiary of the SU LT AN , 3 convention which might be submitted to a conference of the Four Powers-- [mark that !]—une convention qui serait sounuise a la conference des quatre Puissances." An important supplementary condition to thelast Turk ishpropositions. Those propositions only stipul a t e d in reference to these suggested negotiation s directly and exclusively between Russian and Turkish Plenipotentiaries, that they should be con ducted in the presence of the Four Powers, that is to say, to the cognisance of their representa tives. NAPOLEON'S letter goes further than this as we have seen—requiring the Convention such as might have been thus arranged between Russia 4114 1 -- 431 4 e 7) to aga_qugutly sulga:VA to Go Four Powers for their approval in solemn Confer ence. Finally—let the last paragraph in that notable document be particularly borne just now in the popular remembrance : the paragraph fol lowing that remarkable assurance—" Let your MAJESTY adopt this plan upon which the QUEEN of England and myself are perfectly agreed, and tranquillity will be established and the world satisfied"—adding--" But if from a motive difficult to understand, your MAJESTY should refuse this proposal, then France as well a s England will be compelled to leave to the fate of arms and ,the chances of war _that which might now be decided by reason and justice." What is that paragraph ? It is conceived in the dignified words subjoined—" Let not your MA JESTY think that the least animosity can enter my heart ; it experiences no other sentiments than those expressed by your MAJESTY yourself in your letter of the 17th of January, 1853, in which you addressed me thus—' Our relations ought to be sincerely amicable, based, as they are, upon the same intentions—those intentions, the mainte nance of order, the love of peace, respect for treaties, and reciprocal good feeling.' This ' programme," adds the Emperor NAPOLEON, "is worthy of the Sovereign who traced it, and I do not hesitate to affirm that I remain faithful to it —et je n'hesite pas raffirmer, suis reste fidele." An assertion the truth of which is indisputable, and in the dignified utterance of which NAPOLEON may at heart exult—constituting, as it does, the verification of his own memorable programme in that one epigrammati3 sentence delivered on a notable occasion at Bordeaux—" l'Empire c'est la Paix"—a declaration once so derided and re viled, but of which at this moment all Europe recognises the fulfilment. For, if war should now actually ensue, it will be a war precipitated by Russia, and not by France or by Engla,ud, a war brought about in spite of the cordially allied councils of Vlcroßre. and NAPOLEON,- the result of one man's evil ambition, the fruit of the hereditary policy of the House of Romanoff since the days of PETER THE GREAT, the consequence of that passion for yet more extended dominions which, ever since his accession to the throne of all the Russias, has concentrated the hopes of the Emperor NICHOLAS upon his one grand and absorb ing project, that of the gradual dismemberment of Turkey, leading to the ultimate seizure of Constantinople. A subject of the utmost importance to the community, and closely connected with the duo administration of justice, was on Tuesday evening brought under the consideration of the House of °minions by Mr. J. G. PHILLIMORE, who obtained leave to introduce a bill for the appointment of a public prosecutor. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman clearly and distinctly pointed out the itnpolicy and injustice of allowing the machinery of justice to be put into motion by private individuals, and permitting the punishment of malefactors to depend in a great degree on the feelings of the party injured, or, in other words, on the " animosity, caprice, or re venge of the individual." In some instances persons, although deeply and seriously injured, were unwilling, and in others unable, to carry on efficiently the necessary. proceedings. In others again there was an exhibition of spite and vindic tiveness, that clearly indicated that the prosecutor was actuated by private malice rather than a zeal for public justice. Here offenders escaped with impunity—there again innocent persons were persecuted with the most unrelenting animosity, and subjected to the most serious injury. Accord ing to the theory of the law, the offence against the individual was merged in that against the community. The prosecution was carried on in the name of the SOVEREIGN for the breach of the public peace, but it was not conducted by the SOVEREIGN thr,_ugh her responsible officers. No —the QUEEN disregarded one of her most im portant functions, by delegating to a person, pos sibly of slender means and great inexperience, the vindication of the majesty of the law. To the loss previously sustained, tl'e injury previ ously inflicted on purse or person, was added the expense of bringing the offender to justice. The fees for counsel and other money must be advanced, in the first instance, by the party at any amount of inconvenience, unless he contrived to find a speculative attorney willing to take it up on the chance of eventually obtaining payment to the country. In such cases, it is not the most effi cient man that is selected. The prosecutor natu rally chooses his own solicitor, who, although well skilled in ordinarylaw suits, and perfectly com petent to conduct any matter in the Civil Courts, may have had no experience whatever before the criminal tribunals. The solicitor, in turn, bestows the brief on his favourite at the bar, who is re tained, possibly, because he is a good special pleader, or what is termed a " black-letter lawyer," or, not improbably, because he is connected by blood or marriage with some member of the firm to which the prosecution is entrusted. Any thing, in fact, is looked to rather than the quali fications of the counsel. Thus, we too frequently find a prosecution of vast importance, involving. the nicest legal questions, conducted by an incom petent counsel, instructed by an incompetent attorney. Need we wonder that, with "the blind thus le tding the blind," the proceedings should terminate in the acquittal of prisoners, respecting whose guilt no rational doubt could be entertained, and the law being brought into contempt and dis repute. It is true that prosecutions are often conducted very efficiently, but it is a perfect lot tery whether it will be so or not ; and the doubt ful chance operates as the greatest incentive to crime. Besides, the employment of private prose cutors opens a door for compromises very preju dicial to the best interests of society. It is more agreeable to the person to whom the QUEEN has delegated her privilege and her duty to obtain ample compensation for the injury sustained', and the expenses incurred than to punish the offender. Thus, then, there may be (and too often is) a failure of justice ; and even when everything has been efficiently and honestly conducted, the punish ment of thecriminal is looked upon as an act of pri vate vengeance, rather than of public justice, and, in place of feeling detestation for the crime, men only smile at the folly of the criminal for not making all straight with the prosecutor. Why, again we ask, should the expense, or any part of the expense, of the prosecution be suffered to fall on the party injured? In return for his contributions to the national exchequer, and the surrender of a portion of his liberty, the State undertakes to protect him in the enjoyment of his remaining rights. If he be injured in person or property, the State should act as the avenger, and should bear the entire cost. What he gives up should be regarded as the premium of assurance, and should cover the entire loss. But this is not so. We all recollect how a highly respectable tradesman, who was plundered to a large amount by a gang of swindlers, had his losses increased by many hundreds of pounds in bringing the criminals to justice, and honourably and patrioti cally refusing to receive the full restitution and ample compensation that was tendered. The case of that deeply injured, though deserving indi vidual, should alone be sufficient to insure the appointment so urgently required and loudly demanded. Again, we should get rid of the malicious pro secutions which are occasionally brought forward, and which lead to subsequent actions in the Common Law Courts. There should be no such thing as a malicious prosecution possible. Nor would there, if every accusation should be closely sifted and thoroughly investigated, in the first instance, by a public functionary of skill and ex perience, who would ascertain the chances of a conviction, and also whether the public interests required that the law should be put in motion. We should not then see bills sent before a grand jury, not for a bona fide purpose, but with the iutQut of u4tortillg cr unfair advantage from the defendant. All these nefarious transactions would be for ever abolished under a judicious and well-devised system of ' public prosecutions. Mr. PHILLIMORE'S measure possesses another incalculable advantage. It does justice in every particular to the accused. It enables prisoners to obtain witnesses at the public expense, where they are themselves unable to pay for their at tendance. It was dreadful to hear prisoners when called on for their defence declaring that there were persons who could establish their innocence had they the means of procuring their presence. Although this excuse was frequently- untenable, it might be true, and an unpleasant feeling was ex cited in the mind of every listener. To prevent the possibility of a job, or of uselessly and unne cessarily calling persons whose evidence was of no real importance, Mr. PHILLIMORE suggests that the allowance or disallowance of these expenses should remain optional with the presiding Judge— a precaution that will render any abuse absolutely impossible. The Attorney-General accepted the measure in an excellent spirit ; announcing that the Govern ment felt that the principle of appointing a public prosecutor ought to be adopted. This acknow ledgment insures the success of the bill, or some similar measure. Of course it will now remain with the law officers of the Crown to carry out the principle. We cannot conclude without con gratulating Mr. PHILLIMORE on his success, by which he has entitled himself to the thanks and gratitude of the community ; removing the re proach that "England is the only country in the civilised world without a public prosecutor," and carrying out an important change in the law—a change which we ourselves, in common with all earnest legal reformers, have urgently demanded for many bygone years. For two things, at least, we, as Reformers, thank Lord JOHN RUSSELL—first, and perhaps first in importance, because he proclaimed before all Europe, to the semi-barbarian monarch of its Eastern serfs, that a war with him was by no means so alarming a thing as to , hinder our atten tion to any domestic business whatever. We have never been less pleased with Mr. DISRAELI, and his noble chief in the other house, than when they wished the British Government to pause, as if •in . fear of Russia, in the work they were so deeply pledged to. Nor have we of late ever been better pleased with Lord JOHN than when, like an old Roman, or why should we not say like a true-hearted member of the English aristocracy, he said before all Europe—We can attend to Russia as fully as she richly deserves, but feel quite at ease in proceeding with our gravest domestic business also. The opening of his Lordship's Reform speech is really the most dignified mani festo which can follow Baron Baurrow to Darm stadt ; and we have no doubt he will very promptly transmit it to his half-demented master. We repeat emphatically, that on this occasion we were proud of our member for London, and the Leader of our B ouse of Commons. And next, we thank Lord JOHN for all and every extension of the franchise, and, for what is indeed the very condition of its possibility, for all the disfranchise ment on which he has ventured. The disfranchisement of boroughs is, as in 1832, both total and partial. Nineteen boroughs, hav ing less than 300 voters, are to lose their single member ; but 33 other boroughs, having less than 500 voters, being bimembral, will retain one member after the amputation of the other. Sixty two seats are thus left for re-distribution, making, with those at present vacant, 66 in all. The re-distribution is as follows :—Counties or divi sions of counties having .a population of more than 100,000, are to have three instead of two mem- 4 bars. The West Riding of Yorkshire and South Lancashire are to be subdivided ; and each divi sion being on the three member scale, and 38 of the counties on the same scale also, there will be in all 46 new county members. Nine towns of above 100,000 inhabitants will also have oue member each added to their present two members. The Inns of Law are to have two ; London Uni versity one ; Kensington and Chelsea one ; three new borough constituencies one each, and the Scotch Universities three—making, in all, the 66. Of the franchise there are several extensions. All persons are to vote in the place in which they reside, whether in the county or is a borough, who are 101. householders ; also all persons re ceiving a salary (not weekly wages) of 1001. a-year ; all who have had 501. for three years in a Savings-bank, or who receive 10/. a-year from dividends in the Funds, Bank Stock, or India Stock,' and all who pay 40s. a-year Income Tax ; we may add, all persons whom the rate-paying clauses have disfranchised hitherto, since these odious clauses are to be utterly abolished. The Bo rough Franchise is to be lowered to a 61. rateable value, with the municipal requisition of three years' residence, which will require that the as sessment throughout the kingdom be made on a uniform principle. A person residing in a 101. house is to be able to claim a vote after one year's residence. The old Freemen are to be suffered to die out ; none are to acquire qualification on that ground after the lapse of two years. These pro posals, with the anti-bribery measures already brought forward, and a second bill on Monday night to render vacating a seat on taking office under the Crown unnecessary, are the programme of Ministerial Reform. Our readers will know how much it falls short of our wishes ; but our wishes were not the mea sure of our expectations, and we feel bound to advise all Reformers to take what is offered them, and to take it in good part too. Though the extension of the suffrage is not all we could ask, though the towns get but 14 of the members which the towns have lost, and though free voting is not yet made the sequel of Free Trade, the Bill contains far too much good to be classed even in thought with the last offer of Lord JOHN, and is much more worthy to be called a second Re form Bill. In 1832 it would have aroused almost as much enthusiasm as that measure did ; and it is only because we have learned so much from that measure itself that we do not look upon it as a very liberal offer. The disfranchise ment, and even the rpartial disfranchisement, of the small boroughs is worth accepting for its own sake. It is of the highest importance to confirm by a second decision the principle that pocket boroughs are alien to the British Constitution. We defer further remarks for the present— though we cannot but add here, 'at once, that so enormous a change in our whole system of repre sentation as that which would accompany the accordance of one member out of three to the minority among the larger proposed constituen cies, requires on all hands the most-serious and deliberate, though, at the same time, of course, the most impartial consideration. SUDDEN DEATH OP CAPTAIN OLWEE. OP THE 30TH REGIMENT.—By intelligence received yesterday from Gibraltar, we hear of the death of Captain C. D. Oliver, of the 30th Regiment, who died suddenly of disease of the heart at Tangier, whence he had gone for a few days on leave of absence. It is hoped that Lieut. Bayly, the adjutant of the regiment, will at last succeed to the vacant company, more particularly as he has been pur chased over so often. Captain Oliver was held in the highest esteem by his brother officers, and his sudden decease is sincerely deplored by the whole regiment. PURCHASE OF BULLION.-It is stated, in a Parliamen• tary paper just issued, that the aggregate of the sums advanced from the Consolidated Fund in each year since 1837, for the purchase of bullion for coinage, has been 4,518,0291. 19s. 4d. The amount in each varies very much without any apparent reasons to be assigned. Dur ing the year just passed the amount was 508,0291. 19s. 4d. ; the largest amount, with the exception of the years 1844 and 1845, in which the amounts were respectively 550,000/. and 850,0001., in 1851 the amount was 150,000/., and in 1852 100,0001. MEDICAL APPOINTHENTS.-Mr. Henry Thompson, of Wimpole-street, Cavendish-street, has just been elected surgeon to the St. Marylebone Infirmary, in the vacancy occasioned by the decease of Mr. Stafford. Mr. J. L. Lizars has been appointed student in human and com parative anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons. So severe was the competition for this appointment that the council awarded to Mr. R. H. Silvester a copy of the valuable catalogue of the Hunterian Collection, with the following inscription in each volume :—" Presented to Henry Robert Silvester, M.R.C.S., of Clapham, by the president and council urt'ie Royal College of Surgeons of England, in consideration o. the merit of his dissec tions when a candidate for the appointment of student in human and comparative =away atilt) colloge.—.Bigued : J. LITro, Prebideve." MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at from 7,000 to 8,000 bales, of which 2,000 American were taken on speculation. The market closed firmly. Surat / t per lb., and American 1-16th per lb. higher. Brazil and Egyp tian unchanged. The sales comprised 100 Pernam and Maranham, at bid. to 7d. ; 150 Egyptian, at 6d. to 94d. ; 500 Surat, at 3d. to 41d. ; 50 Sea Island at 2s. 5d., and the remainder all American. Railway Shares were. dull. The St. John, New Brunswick, and Liverpool line of packet ships, consisting of eight vessels, have landed thirteen cargoes of goods at St. John since February last. The proprietors of the line have now made arrangements for the construction of two first-class iron screw steam-ships, of 1,600 tons each, one to be launched in April, and the other in May next, and to be placed on the Liverpool line. These steamers are to be barque rigged, worked by engines of from 350 to 400 horse power, and will cost 250,000 dollars. They will each cross the Atlantic once a month, touch ing at St. John's, Newfoundland, on every trip. It is supposed that the Legislature of New Bruns wick will make the proprietors a grant of 50,000 dollars per annum for ten years, to aid in the esta blishment of this line of steamers, and compensate them for carrying the mails. The following is the report of the directors of the Northern and Eastern Railway Company, pre sented to the half-yearly meeting of this day " The directors have to report t• the proprietors, that the dividend on the respective shares of this company for the half-year ending the 31st of December last, will be come payable on and after Saturday, the 25th inst., and will be as follows, viz.:—On shares guaranteed 5 per cent. per annum, It. ss. Od. each ; on shares guaranteed 6 per cent. per annuls, 1/. 10s. Od. each, less property tax." The report was passed unanimously. The demand for American Securities has been steady this week, as we are informed by Messrs. Bell, Son, and Co. United States Sixes are quoted 109 to 110 ; Pennsylvania. Fives, 841 to 851 ; Maryland Sterling Bonds, 94 to 96 ; Michigan Central 8 per Cents., 101 to 103, and New York and Erie Third Mortgage, 88 to 89. The Stock Market has undergone but little varia tion, and business is comparatively quiet, as far as speculation is concerned. Consols have been 91i ft for transfer, but not higher than 911 g for March 16, establishing a " baccadation" of per cent. The scarcity of stock is therefore still the feature. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been 92i to 931, and the Three per Cents. 91i to 92k. Bank Stock has been 216, and since 2171. East India Stock is at 232 to 235. Exchequer Bills have been at 18s. to 215., and India Bonds at 7s. premium. The payment of the "diffe rences" is proceeding satisfactorily. Foreign securities have been very dull. Mexican Bonds are quoted 24 for the account, after having been done at 25 and 251 for money ; Spanish New Deferred Stock is at 191 ; Venezuela Bonds are 28i ; Dutch 21 per Cents. are at 61 to A. The English Railways are steady for the most part, with moderate transactions. Great Northern have been 10s. to V. better. York and North Midland are scarcely so good. Midland and Lan cashire and Yorkshire are dull. French shares are merely nominal. Luxemburgh have not altered. The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to this day are in round figures as under : Great Western YACHTSMEN FOR THE NAVY. As many able-bodied seamen as can be procured are wanted for the service of the navy at the pre sent crisis, and we are endeavouring, as well as we can, to make up the deficiency by parading our pensioners for coast-guard duty, and by inviting the assistance of as many landsmen as are willing to join, and try the event of a brush with the Rus sians. We think, however, we can point out a source which seems to have been overlooked, from which a large body of prime seamen may be readily procured. The men of whom we speak are among the smartest and ablest seamen afloat—we speak of our yachtsmen. Supposing the owners of yachts were either to determine upon layin; up their yachts for this summer, or, better still, were to retain but a small portion of their crews, as many for each yacht as might serve for the nucleus of a fresh crew, they would be rendering essential service to the State. Nothing would be a simpler matter, if we may judge from what we know to be passing at the present moment in the public service, than to train up inexperienced seamen to a point which would render them fully competent for performing any service that yachtowners might require of them. If this counsel should be found adapted to the circumstances of the time, we can have no doubt that the Queen will be the first to set an example to her subjects by the sacrifice of her pleasure to the public good. Every yacht owner will be eager to follow the example of the Sovereign in so patriotic a course, or, at least, all will be ashamed not to follow it. We be lieve we are not overstating the case when we say that some thousand seamen would be rendered available for the navy, who will have a strong in ducement to keep aloof from the service if they see a prospect before them of obtaining an engagement with a yachtowner two months hence. The point may fairly be left to the consideration of those who are accustomed to go down to the sea in yachts. We are very confident that it is only neces.ary the point should be brought under their notice, in order that they themselves may reflect if they cannot by act or sacrifice promote the public service. The mere butterflies of the Yacht Club may, perhaps, manage to do without their regattas for one year-- those gentlemen who engage in such pursuits in a more energetic spirit may yet contrive to have their annual cruise, with positive benefit to the public service.—Times. AMERICA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII.) ARRIVAL OF THE ATLANTIC. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, 5 A.M. By the steamer Atlantic we have advices from New York to the 4th inst. She has brought 55 passengers, and 1,000 dollars in specie on freight. The news by this arrival is almost entirely devoid of interest. From Washington we learn that no business of importance had been transacted in either House of Assembly. The Nebraska Bill was still under dis cussion. The New York Herald states that no less than 11 vessels were fitting out in d ifnrent parts of Cuba for the coast of Africa for slavers ; also that seven ves sels bad sailod within six weeks from Baltimore, Boston, and New York with the direct „intention of being employed as slavers. The New York Stock-market was a little firmer. Erie Railroad shares range from 79 to 79A- ; Hud son River, 68 to 681 ; Stounington, 66 to 661 ; and Reading, 73i to 73g. Money without change. • Foreign exchange inactive. Bills on London, 1081 to 109 k ; Paris, 5 17i to 520 ; Amsterdam, 411 to 41i ; Hamburg, 36 to 3G/. Cotton in fair demand, and prices well sustained. Flour had declined 10c. to 12c. per barrel. Very little doing in wheat, both holders and buyers waiting the Arabia's advices. Indian corn had declined from 3c. to sc. per bushel. Provisions unchanged. 3,000 tons Scotch pig iron bad been sold at $37 to $3B for six months. Freight to London.—Wheat, 151 d. per bushel ; flour, 4s. 9d. per barrel. Naval stures, 55. per 2801bs. ; measurement, 30s. to 355. ; and heavy goods, 455. to 555. per ton. _ __L. TEE NAVY OF HOLLAND. A work published recently at the Hague gives the following as the state of the navy of Holland, up to January :- 2 ships of the line, first class 3 ditto, second class 74 „ 2 frigates, first class 2 do., do. % „ 1 steam frigate, d 0... 5l „ 6 frigates, second class 44 „ 2 do., do. 1 do., do.. 3 corvettes... 2B „ 5 do. 2 steam do 2 do. (transports) 22 „ 1 do., do. 11 do., do. 1 do., do. 1 schooner brig (steam) And seven schooners of from 1 to 10 guns each, besides steamers, kc. His Royal Highness Prince Frederick is Admiral of the fleet, and his Royal Highness Prince Henry (brother of the King) Commander-in-Chief. DRURY LANE TIIEATRE. Yesterday the morning performance of the popular pantomime was introduced by a little one-act piece, en titled The Four ill owbrays. It has been produced to give the Eraser children an opportunity of displaying their histrionic talents before a London audience. The chief of the little family is Master David Ersser, who enacts four different youths, thus representing the whole of hi■ family. The versatility of hiq characterisation and the rapidity of his changes excited applause. He is an undoubtedly clever youth. The pantomime followed, and was received by a full house with as much enthu siasm as ever. The boys of the Marine School, Green wich, ocopied nearly half the pit, the lessee having, with his well-known liberality, enabled them to have what was evidently to them a most glorious treat. They themselves added to the amusement, their own' bog-band being in attendance. Notwithstanding the apparently undiminished popularity of these morning performancep, next Friday is announced as the last that will be given this season. WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS. The first part of the programme of last night's concert was entirely of an operatic character, comprising a se lection of the best airs from favourite operas. Another feature was the appearance of Mr. Sims Reeves, who sang " Oh, I can bear my fate no longer," from Der Preischutz, and "La donna e mobile, rom Verdi's last opera, Rigoletto. He was in excellent voice, and was very warmly received by the audience. The second part was principally composed of well-known pieces by English composers, the only novelty being Hatton's song, " Good bye, sweetheart," in which Mr. Sims Reeves was unanimously encored. The others were such familiar friends as " Sweet home," " Tom Bowl ing," "The deep, deep sea," " The meeting of the waters," and the like. The vocal artists were Miss Re becca Imes, Miss Stabbach, Miss Ransford, Miss Thirlwall, Miss Hemming, Miss Laurie Baxter, Mr. Sling Reeves,, Mr. Leffler, and Mr. Donald Bing. Mdlle, Graver executed Mendelssohn's pianoforte con- certo in D minor ; and Mr. Viotti Collins and Mr. George Collins played a duet on vioiin and violoncello, " Rule Britannia," in such a brilliant style as to elicit an encore. Herr Meyer Lutz condurted. The audience filled the hall in every part. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, FEB. 15. The result of the Vice-Chancellor's visit to London be- came known this morning. Lord Derby entirely accepts the scheme for a new constitution proposed by the Heads, and wishes every effort to be made to bring up persons from the country to vote for it. The Government have granted a postponement of their_Uniyertiity, measure from Monday next to the Friday following, in order to allow time for Convocation to express an opinion upon the scheme of the Heads. It is supposed that the form of a petition to the Queen will be promulgated to-morrow, and that the assent of Convocation to it will be asked on Tuesday or Wed nesday next. The exact nature of the new constitution has not yet transpired. It has undergone constant alterations from day to day, and little more is known of it with any certainty than that it aims at maintaining the separate existence and supreme authority of the existing Hebdomadal Board. Sir William Heathcote has been engaged during the greater part of the day in calling and leaving cards at the common rooms, and on the Heads of the different colleges. He dines this evening with the Vice-Chan cellor. To-morrow he will be entertained at breakfast in Trinity College, and will dine with the Warden of All Souls', On Friday he will breakfast in Balliol. GENERAL POST-OFFICE.—The Lords of the Treasury have consented to appropriate the fund arising from un claimed money orders and from unclaimed property in dead letters to the payment of part of the premium on the policies of such of the officers of the Post-office, in any part of the united kingdom, as may insure their lives. This fund now amounts to about 1,6001. a-year, and th-re is an accumulation from past years of about 15,0001. which is also to be applied to this pur pose. MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN DOVER AND CALAIS AND OSTEND.--A tender has been accepted for the perform ance of the mail service between Dover and Calais, and Dover and Ostend, by a private company. The contract is concluded for a space of four years, commencing from the Ist of October next, at the rate of 15,0001. per annum, after which it may be determined by either of the contracting parties giving twelve months' notice.— Dow , r Chronicle. BEERSHOP-KEEPERS AND PUBLICANS.—A return has lately been printed, by order of the House of Lords, of the number of beershop-keepers and publicans on the electoral list. The return is incomplete from the want of information on the subject. THE GREAT DIAMOND.—The extraordinary diamond alluded to in the daily papers as having lately been re ceived at the Bank of England, from Rio de Janeiro, was yesterday submitted to the inspection of her Majesty the Queen by the consignees, Messrs. Dovey and Ben jamin. The diamond weighs 254} carat., and we un derstand it is of the purest water, and likely, when polished, to exceed in size and brilliancy the celebrated " Koh-i-noor." SERIOUS STEAM-BOAT COLLISION ON THE RIVER. — GRAVESEND, Feb. 15.—Early yesterday morning, almost at the top of high water, a very serious collision took place in the Lower Hope, some six miles below here, be , tween the Hope screw steam-ship, one of the African Steam Navigation Company's fleet, and the American ship Glenburn, Captain Springer, which was nearly cut down to the water's edge, and run ashore, in order to prevent her foundering. The Hope was on her way round from Plymouth, where she had landed the Afri can mail, and was proceeding up the river to her sta tion in the pool. The Glenburn was going d.wri in tow of a tug, bound to Newport, in the Bristol Channel, where she would take in a cargo. Both the Hope and the tug had the usual lights exhibited, and on ap proaching each other their helms, as we have been in formed, were put aport, in compliance with th e Admi ralty regulation. From some circumstance, however, as yet not correctly ascertained, they came in fearful contact, the bow of the Hope striking the Glenburn nearly amidships on the larboard side, and cutting her down considerably, to , the tent almost of th e h a t c h on deck. The steamer' ex engines had been stopped and reversed, had they have been otherwise the consequences might have been far more serious. It was qu i ckly dis covered that the ship was fast ma ki ng water, and as her sinking was apparent, it was determined to run her ashore on the Kent side. whicli wasaccomplishe 1. Captain Springer sustained i n j ury at the moment of the collision by being thrown over a spar. The Hope escaped damage,. except seine small ext en t o f i n j ury at h er b ow, and afterwards proceeded up the river. THE PACIFIC MAIL. The Royal Mail steam-ship La Plata brings news from the Pacific ports. The dates from Panama are to the 22d. ult. The Pacific Steam Navigation Company's steamer Lima arrived at that port on the 19th, with the mails from the southern ports; and dates from Valparaiso, Dec. 31 ; Callao, Jan. 12 ; and Guayaquil, Jan.l4. By the Panama route we have also received accounts from Port Philip to the 15th of Nov., but the intelligence is anticipated by the arrival of the Great Britain at Liverpool. The Lima brought up $240,000 i❑ silver and specie fur transmission to England across the Isthmus, and $14,000 in gold dust for New York from Austraiia. From Valparaiso our accounts are to the 31st of December. The Republic was perfectly tranquil, and extensive measures of internal improvement were being carried out. Mr. Griffin had completed his contract with the Government for estatilishing a line of auxiliary screw steamers between Great Britain and Valparaiso, via the Straits of Magellan, touching at Rio de Janeiro and Monte Video. An edict issued by the Archbishop of Santiago against heretics had been publicly burnt amid great popular excitement at Copiapo and in some other towns. Her Majesty's ship Dido arrived at Valparaiso on the 15th of December from the Gambier Islands. The Valparaiso markets were dull. Heavy ship ments of flour had been made to California and Australia. In Bolivia General Belzu was augmenting his army, and preparing for another and more serious inroad into the Peruvian territory. Letters from Lima of the 12th ult, state that business was very dull in that city, and the inac tivity was aggravated by the uncertainty of politi cal affairs. The people seemed to be growing more and more discontented with the Government. Don Domingo Elias, the insurgent chief, had suffered another defeat near Yca ; General Torrico, with the Government troops, encountered him on the 7th of January, and, after half an hour's fighting, com pletely routed the militia and slaves who had rallied around him. Elias escaped. The Government troops afterwards returned to Lima, and it was supposed that active measures to close the war with Bolivia would continue. . Sailors were becoming very scarce at Callao in consequence of so many vessels coming from Australia and San Francisco short-handed. Two severe shocks of au earthquake were felt at Lima on the 12th of January, at 10 a.m. The Panama Herald, of January 17, gives the following particulars of the massacre of three of the crew of her Majesty's ship Virago by the Darien Indians, while that ship was engaged in the ex ploring expedition : "Yesterday morning despatches were received in town from Commander Prevost, of her Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Virag,, dated January 7, giving an account of the proceedings of the exploring party, and the me lancholy intelligence of the murder of three of the crew by the Indians. From a letter received at the same time we are enabled to lay before our readers the following particulars : The expedition consisted of Commander Prevost, with 20 offi,_•ers and men. After proceeding for some distance, without experiencing any molestation, a party of four men were left, on the 2d inst., in charge of a provision depot, while the rest of the patty proceeded to explore the Cordillera of the northern coast. After penetrating as far as time permitted, they returned to the depot on the sth, when they found it plundered, and all the men missing. After a careful search, the bodies of three of the men were found at a short distance from the station, having evidently been shot while in the act of retreating towards the Savannah River. Of the fourth man no trace was found, and it is supposed he is a pri soner in the hands of the Indians. Commander Pre vost was obliged to return, after having reached the Cordillera, and when within a few miles of the Atlantic. He had to cut a road through the forest, and has left a good road and 12 stations, 'so well marked as to be easily followed up by any future parties.' The name of the missing man is Henry Robins, 21, ruddy com plexion, with reddish hair and whiskers. On receipt of the intelligence a despatch was immediately forwarded to the expedition on the Atlantic side to inform them of the fact, so that no means may be left untried to recover the missing man. The Virago was to sail immediately for Valparaiso." The Panama Star says :—This information is sad indeed, and shows the necessity, in any mea sures that may be taken for the survey of the Da rien Canal route, that the different expeditions should be sufficiently numerous and properly armed to resist any attack a the savage inhabitants of the country. The - British ship Cambodia, of 1,140 tons' bur den, which left Callao, ou the 31st of December, for England, with guano, sunk during the night of the 7th of January, about 600 miles from Cal lao. The crew saved themselves in the boats, and reached, Callao after being exposed for four days and nights. LAW INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY). SHERIFFS' COURT. (Before R. Gurney, Esq.) SMITH V. YOUNGHIISBAND AND ANOTHER. This was an application for a new trial. The plaintiff is a poultry saleman in Newgate-market, and defend ants are the well-known public carriers, and the action was originally brought to recover the sum of 71. 75., the alleged value of certain poultry, &c., which had been consigned to plaintiff, but not delivered through the neglect of defendants' servants. On the trial it was proved that the goods had been duly directed to the ptiintiff, who had carried on business in the market for several years. It was endeavoured to be proved, on the part of the defendants, that every exertion had be 'n made to discover the plaintiff without effect, and the package was broken open and the contents sold for 3/. His Honour gave judgment for 71. 7s. _ Mr. Ripton now appeared in support of the applica tion for a new trial, and Mr. W. R. Buchanan to op po-43. After a long discussion, his Honour said he did not see any ground for questioning the correctness of the judgment, and refused to grant a new trial. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Evans.) IN RE CROFTS.- - FAILURE OF A MINING AGENT. This bankrupt was dexeribed as of Threadneedle -street, mining agent, and to-day was appointed for choice of a,signees, After the usual business, Mr. Cooke, of Crown-court, Throg'uorton•street, and Mr. Offord, coach-buiider, Wells-street, Oxford-street, were chosen assignees. From the preliminary statement prepared by Messrs. Harding, Mullein, and Co., Guildhall-chambers, it ap pears that the debts are about 8,0001., and the assets will probably be above 6001. IN RE REA This bank ru pt was d escri b ed as D. of Hart street, Blooms bury, licensed victualler, and to-day was appointed for his last examination. The balance sheet prepared by Mr. Maynard, Bread street, commencing Jan. 7, 1852, and ending Jan 7, 1854, shows deficiency at former date of 9441. 6s 2d. Debtor to creditors, 1,5441. To ditto holding , security, 1,1261. 2s. ; liabilities, 751. ; profits, 1,1501. 6s. 3d. Creditor, by property, to realize nett, 871. 10s. Ditto (3 per Cent. Consols) in hinds of creditors, 1,3501. Losses, 851. 15s. 6d. ; trade expenses, 862/. ; house hold expenses, 4901. The bankrupt passed without opposition. LOSS OF THE OSMANLI STEAM-Slim — The Osmanli screw steamer, Captain Corbett, which left England, with the mails for Melbourne and Sydney, a few months since, struck on a reef of rocks at Cape Linois, In d'Es• trees Bay, on the coast of Australia, in the month of November last. Happily, the crew and all the passen- gers were saved, but, at the last accounts from the spot, the vessel was fast breaking up. The Osmanli was a fine vessel, of 1,000 tons burden, and was Insured for 3;000L_ 1854. 1853. £19,961 £15,828 North-Western 42,647 South-Western 10,620 9,127 Brighton Midland 9,431 8,187 25,316 21,821 South-Eastern.... 12,190 10,827 Caledonian, and Edin. and Glasgow 13,585 12,558 Great Northern Lancashire and Yorkshire BRITISH MINES.—No - • runterial alteration is apparent this day. Shares still firm, and closed at yesterday's quotations. The Gold Mine Shares have been in moderate request, at previous rates. The Banks are rather lower, and the Land Companies about the same. The current prices- for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted are as folloivi :,'--Jamaica, par to premium ; Metcalfe, to I premium; Sue River, f discount to par ; Port Royal, to premium. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. (From the O f ficial List.) Itußinegs stank Stock ......... ......... . ...... .............. 216 174 18 1; per Cent. Reduced Annuities 92 # 1i 21 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9ltaiaii New 31 per Cent. Annuities 921 at 2/ 31 1 India Stock 232 5 India Bonds, Xlooo Ditto, under £lOOO 7 p South Sea Stock Consols for Account 16th' March Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO 2l 18 Small 2l 18 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Mexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account 24i Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 4O. Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. I9A Venezuela Bonds, 3i per Cent. Dividends onithe above payableiln London. Austrian Bonds 5 per Cent. 10 Cu. £. 69 Hutch Exchange, 2j per Cent. 12 Gull 6l A 1 THREE O'CLOCK. Consols 9IR II Ditto March Account 9li i COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen, attended by the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, Major-General Buckley, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, visited the Duchess of Cambridge yes terday afternoon at her residence in St. James's Palace. Prince Albert, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, went yesterday morning to the new Palace of Westminster. His Royal Highness afterwards visited the Duchess of Cambridge at St. James's Palace. Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold, attended by Lady Caroline Barrington, visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday at her residence, Gloucester House. Her Majesty had a dinner party last evening at Buck ingham Palace. The company included Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Countess of Dornburg, the Duchess of Hamilton, the Turkish Minister and Ma dame Musurus, the American Minister, the Earl of Mulgrave, Lord and Lady Wodehouse, Lord and Lady Raglan, and Col. Wylde. The Marquis of Ormonde has succeeded Lord Camoys, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. N. Hood, has succeeded Mr. F. Cavendish, as Lord and Groom in Waiting. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a dinner to the Cabinet Ministers last evening at his official residence in Downing-street. Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yester day from the Governors of the Austra:ian Colonies, the Governors of the West India Islands. and the Governor of Gibraltar. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday at the Council-office. Judgment was given in the appeal from Bombay, " Masadee Cazum Sherazee v. Meerza Mahomed Shoostry ;" and the hearing of the appeal from Bengal, " Ramohurn Mullick v. Luchmee chund Radhakissen," was resumed. The Lords present were Baron Parke, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Corn wall, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Sir Ed ward Ryan. BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. The following were yesterday declared to have com plied with the standing orders .--Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (Chipping Norton Branch); London and North-Western (so.oon-square Branch) ; Tralee and Killarney Railway ; Portsmouth Railway ; Islington Market (to repeal the act of William IV., establishing this market; ”. the...sale. of live cattle hav ing, according to the recital in the preamble, been dis continued, as unprofitable") ; National Assurance and Investment Association (for incorporation) ; the Com missioners for the Exhibition of 1851 ; Deptford Gas Light Company ; Newport Dock ; Kensington Improve ment ; Bradford Waterworks; Nottingham Park Estate. BAGONALSTOWN, NRWROSS, AND WEXFORD RAILWAY. —After three days inquiry, and a long examination of Mr. Hughes, the engineer, against the bill, which pro poses a capital of 270,0001., the examiners declared the standing orders " not" to have been complied with. ARRIVAL OF GOLD, &O.—There are several arrivals to day of the precious metals. The Cambria steamer, from America, brings 138,000 dollars, value about 7,6001. The Plata steamer, from the West Indies and the Pacific, brings 23,9171. The Iberia steamer, from Lisbon, &c., brings 4,4461.; and the Thames steamer, from the Brazils, 1,000/.; making, however, in all, only 36,9631. THE LATE R. H. GURNEY, ESQ.—The personal estate of this gentleman—formerly member for Norwich and East Norfolk, in the Liberal interest—has been sworn at 500,000/. in the province of Canterbury, and 25,0001. in the province of York. THE IRON TRADE OF SOUTH WALES.—At the pre sent moment the whole of the ironworks in the southern part of the principality are in full work, and, now that the Ebbw-vale strike has ceased, the whole of the fur naces are in full blast. In fact, it is stated that the tirade war never in a more healthy condition than at present. A firmer tone has been given to the pig trade ; and the make of pigs and their conversion into manu factured iron seem to have been better and more evenly adjusted. It is expected that prices will be fully main tained ; indeed, from the scarcity and high price of fuel, there is not any chance of a retrograde movement in the prices. TELEGRAPHS IN AUSTRIA.—The telegraphic commu nication between Piedmont and Lombardy, Trieste, Venice, and all the other countries formingpart o f the Austxo:Geria3ao iiaae, was opwhi, oa the Bth. .~ -. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The following is from Constantinople, dated Feb. 2 : " Mehemet Ali Pacha has been deposed, and Riza Pacha appointed Seraskier. Achmed Pacha is made Kapurlan Pacha. " The combined fleets are still in the Bosphorus. a Five English and four French steamers have gone into the Euxine. " The negative reply of Russia to the last pro positions has arrived. A new project by Austria is spoken of. "On the 19th Jan. the Russians attacked Chek vetil for the sixth time. The Turks made a sortie and completely defeated them. " Exchange on London, 129. "Au official despa,teh states that the Banshee brought an order to Constantinople for the com bined fleets to remain at Beycos. When necessary, six steamers are to be employed convoying the Turkish ships to and from Turkish ports. Four steamers are- to reconnoitre in the Euxine, to be relieved every fourth day by the Turks." A letter from the Piraeus, of the 6th, states that an American war-corvette had just anchored in that port. It was rumoured that she preceded a divis'on of five vessels of war of the United States, which were shortly to anchor in the waters of Con stantinople. The following private telegraphic despatch, dated Trieste, Feb. 15, has been received in Paris : " According to letters from Sebastopol, the Eng lish steamer Haydee, having run aground, had been taken by the Russians, because she had Turks on board." THE LETTER OF THE FRENCH EMPEROR. The Siecle expresses an opinion that the letter of the French Emperor to the Czar would not have been published so soon if the Government had not received an intimation that the overture for conci liation which it contains had been or would be re jected. This Opinion was generally entertained in Paris on Tuesday, and the Patrie of that evening, as we stated in our impression of yesterday, went so far as to say it had received information that the reply to the letter had been received, and that it was not favourable to the hopes of the main tenance of peace. The Moniteur of yesterday, however, formally contradicts this statement, and says that the an swer is not expected for some'days. The Moniteur adds that the publication of the letter has been hastened by the indiscretion of French and foreign journa:s which had spoken of it. As regards the opinion that the answer of the Emperor of Russia had been received when the let ter appeared in the Moniteur, it is only necessary to calculate dates to be convinced that the opinion is erroneous. The letter of the Emperor is dated the 29th ult., and it could not, we imagine, have arrived at St. Petersburg, considering the season of the year, before the 6th inst. Two or three days is the least that could be allowed for drawing up the answer, and it could not reach Paris before the 16th or 17th. What is possible, however, is that the French ambassador, who must still have been in St. Pet ors burg, may have ascertained that the letter had not been favourably received, and that there was a strong probability of the offer of the French Em peror being rejected. In that case, he may have sent a special courier with this intelligence to the French ambassador at Vienna, who would forward it to Paris by telegraph, so that it would have ar rived at Paris on the 13th. This, however, is mere conjecture. THE DANUBE. From Krajova, Feb. 3, we learn that an order of the day forbids the Russians in Lesser Wallachia► to absent themselves more than 1,000 paces from the camp, and to keep up relations with the " per fidious" inhabitants. On January 29 Prince Gort schakoff directed in person a grand reconnoissance on the side of KalPiat ; the advanced posts of the Turks withdrew into their entrenchments : both at Kalafat and at Widdin every one was on the qui vive. A later despatch from Krajova, dated Feb. 11, says there are, as yet, no preparations indicating an immediate attack upon Kalafat. A letter from Giurgevo, of the 6th Feb., states that the Russians are keeping up their fire from Rustchuk against that place. General Schilders is inspecting the whole line of the Danube up to ualatz and Reni. Since the 28th of January the Russian line be tween Giurgevo and Kalarache has been reinforced, but it is generally believed that no serious attack will be made on Kalafat for some time, as the Rus sian generals are of opinion that the position can hardly be taken without trenches, parallels, &c., for the construction of which some weeks are neces sary. This report has been forwarded to St. Peters burg, and instructions from th e E m p eror are ex pected. It is positively stated that the Russians have by sickness, desertion, and the sword, lost 35,000 men since they crossed the Pruth in July last, and that number must be deducted from the list of troops. The total number of troops which had crossed the Pruth up to the Ist of January was 129,188 men, with 408 guns ; and if we deduct 35,000, there are now about 94,000 men in Molda via and Wallachia. In Bessarabia there are 26,760 men, with 96 guns. Scientific officers are of opinion that if the Wes tern Powers were without loss of time to take the thing into hand the Russians might be got out of the Principalities with little difficulty. An auxi liary corps of 60,000 or 80,000 men, and a little help from the war steamers at the lower end of the Danube, where there are now 9i Venetian feet (12 feet English) of water on the bar, would do the thing. The Russians now admit, to their cost, that the Turkish army is something better than the wild undisciplined mob of fanatics they took them for, and that Omar Pasha is, at all events, not very much inferior to Prince Gortscha.koff. This con viction may explain the precaution which the various corps of the Russian army observe in their movements, and the impatience with which rein forcements indispensable to resuming hostilities are waited for. The difficulty is all the greater that the Ottoman General is keeping in a state of inces sant alarm the Russians in the direction of Oltenitza and Giurgevo ; and it is not at all improbable that he would attempt something against Bucharest if the enemy weakened that point by moving towards Kalafat. The Ottomans do not seem to repose on the laurels they have already gathered on the Danube. They have reinforced their left wing, intended to watch the movements of the Russians. The garri son of Kalafat, which considted of about 20,000 men, has been incr e ased by 10 battalions ofin fantry, a regiment of cavalry, and 12 pieces of ar tillery. It now consists of 30,000 men. Other re inforcements are expected, which are to be distri buted between Kalafat and Widdin. It is not expected that any decisive events will occur until the end of next month, when the Em. peror will probibly arrive at the seat of war. u aMiar, and thechther eisto be a gener a l 80,000 recruits, co n I s n c r t i h p e t i m o :nit! of Russia, with the invalids, will maintain tranquillity in the interior while the garrisons are fighting the battles of the Czar in the Principalities "against th e Turks and the Anglo-French auxiliary troops." The war is for the future, it is said, to be carri e d on by land alone, and the fleets are to act strictly on the defensive. As to the entente cordiale, peo plP at St. Petersburg flatter themselves that it will not last long. Since the Ist of January continual attempts have been made by the Turks to force a passage of the river at Giurgevo and Oltenitza, but up to the sth without success, though there has been considerable loss of life on either side. On the 3d 900 Turks attempted to take posses sion of the island opposite Giurgevo, but were re pulsed after a battle which lasted about five hours, during which the g uns of Rustchuk continued t o play. On the sth there was also a sharp affair at Oltenitza. 3,000 Turks crossed the river, and at tempted to regain the position which they occupied in October last, but were repulsed by the Russian corps stationed there. The " great battle" of Padlofo, an estate belong ing to Milosch, was an outpost skirmish which lasted two hours, and probably would not have lasted half that time had the Turks not resolved to rescue a superior officer who had been taken pri soner by the Russians. They succeeded in the attempt. The Russians say that on the 28th of January they totally destroyed a strongly entrenched Turkish strand battery below Galatz, between Isa.ktchi and Tultcha, but no one believes it. A letter from Warsaw, of Feb. 5, states that, in the month of Aril, a map of 50,701.10 lam cam- posed of th regiments 1 orders to p Several Vienna to have beam davia, and A letter Cologne Gc in his quz and Prote is seeking as well as Principalit them. The foTh Moscow to for the Da " Childr( mother, oui and Christ church and is again pr , tinder Catl Nicholas the old hab: be decreed in front of the most pi Holy Chur against the which have eurrection benedictior who give ti tion to the the ancient gain the vi verse 13.) bid you fat of faith. Table lathe blessed the the oppress in our regi Alexander Let the in as a pledgE he is addro recollect tl Prophet I Psalm 41.. The Pr it is auth afloat of German ] )astern The 0 of Austri yesterdai Austria Western They a' We c tiations Prussia r question. Austrian make kw which tl Germany while in a menac plied, tb dissolved the guar :leg° tiati has been and Prue Budberg same spi Cabinet I tween Pi Russia a took to neutralit Russia vi 3. Russi change t treaties Timis u not aCCI any disc of the new pro so far t 1 German, her the was eqt position jected it of Vien will act may be, of Prusf peace w can aloe The 1 from B stated some 4 the Es sion ; would Bervin Severa 10( pox, nople Th Vien