The Sun. — London, England, 1854-05-22 00:00:00

~;TJ.~ L')NDON, MONDAY, MAY 22, 1854. Winter has not prevented Sir CILARLES NAPIER from illustrating the power of the great maritime armament under his command by one or two re markable achievements. In these preliminary undertakings he has been well aided by the gal lant French fleet, bearing the flag of Admiral PARSEVAL-DESCHENES. It may be remembered by our readers that up to a late hour on Saturday evening, we had learnt by the most recent intelli gence from Stockholm that the allied fleets under NArfEr. had contrived, in spite of the continued frost, to advance, before the close of the first fortnight of May, as far up the Gulf of Finland as a point immediately in the neigh bourhood of Helsingfors. While alluding to this important advance already made in the direction of St. Petersburgh, we availed ourselves of the opportunity to observe that the movement was the more worthy of re mark from the circumstance of the ice frequently remaining in considerable • abundance in that branch of the Baltic as far into our vernal season, as near to the limits of our earlier and more genial summers, as the second or third of Jane inclu sively. Whether in this year of grace, 1854, the Northern winter has or has not been more than usually prolonged, there cannot be much surprise that the war vessels of France and England had not, in the early part of May, penetrated further into the Gulf of Finland than the vicinity of the coast near Helsingfors. There cannot be felt much surprise at this, we mean by those who are in any way acquainted with the Baltic navigation. Intelligence, by way of Stockholm, bringing us to a somewhat later date than the one referred to on Saturday as the latest then received, ac quaints us, moreover, with the gratifying infor mation that more has been effected by the united maritime armaments under Admirals NAPIER and DESCHENES than a comparatively early ad vance to the neighbourhood of Helsingfors. Ac cording to accounts only just now received from the Swedish capital it appears tolerably certain that Aland has been taken, and it is probable also that even Revel may have been attacked. There is certainty, however, of one other rather notable success, namely, the capture of a fortress on the coast of Finland, either Hango itself, or some stronghold not very far from it, leaving on our hands "atone fell swoop," no less than one thousand five hundred additional Russian prisoners. So that our sea warriors in the Baltic have not been, by any means, as inactive as was at one time sup posed. They have pushed forward as boldly as they well could, by a ny possibility, under the circum stances. Waiting for the ice to clear away, they have been all the whil e of late quietly edging m their way in—so successfully, indee d, • defiance cf every natural obstacle and of every artificial impediment, that before May has very f ar ez . vanced they have seized the island of Aland, th ey have at least threatened the port of R evel, they have taken fifteen hundred prisoners at Hango, or at some other fortress inn". diately contiguous, and have taken up a position within. the Gulf of Finland, hardly a maritime stronghold no less important than Helsingfors. Therefore, Sir CHARLES must be allowed to have acquitted himself as bravely as the most sanguine of his numerous admirers either at Paris or London could have reasonably antici- gated. When strengthened by the union with his own mighty fleet of the whole of the French naval armament scut out to co-operate in the Baltic with the maritime forces of England, we may rest as suredly and very confidently, that the hero of Acre will show himself " ready, aye ready," to avail himself of the very earliest opportunity for a descent upon Cronstadt, and beyond Cronstadt upon St. Petersburg, hitherto he has displayed, in steadily pushing on through the still lagging win ter and its icy obstructions, a remarkable amount of earnest perseverance. More than this, he has justified by every portion of his progress since the period when he first led his fleet through the channels of the Skaggerack and the Cattegat, he has justified by every portion of his progress since then all that was said on a memorable occasion by the First Lord of the Admiralty about th e gallant veteran's Discretion. Sir CHARLES NAPIER has, we maintain, united in the command of the British fleet in the Baltic remarkable discretion with extraordinary per severance. Remembering, therefore, in what a notable and commendable manner the brave old Sea-Captain combines prudence with pluck in carrying out his present momentous adventure-- England may await the issue of the approaching maritime struggle in the North not less confi dently than the corning military contest in the East, not only sanguine as to the ultimate triumph of the Western allies of Turkey, but, relying with unshakeable belief, under the aid of GOD, upon that ulterior victory of France and England being illustrated both by sea and land by achievements not unworthy of the fame of the leaders of civi lisation, the defenders of the rights of the Moslem, the champions of the broken peace and the violated laws of Christendom. Whatever differences of opinion might exist on other parts of the Budget, there was one portion at least in which every disinterested and unpreju diced person fully concurred with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The propositions for making the duty on Bills of Exchange proportionate to the amounts thereby secured, and also for assimilating the tax on foreign and inland bills, are so mani festly just that they command immediate assent. Neither question could be contested for a moment on equitable grounds ; and unless some very serious objections could be pointed out, the ob noxious principles should be at once modified and placed upon sounder foundations. On investiga tion, however, it turned out that the gross ine quality of taxation, as well as the unfair exemp tion afforded to the foreigner, was as unwise as it was unfair—that the impediment occasioned by an exorbitant charge was placed in the very quarter it was most likely to be severely felt, and where it might even prevent a negotiation from being brought to a satisfactory conclusion. No large transactions would be prevented by a tax of Is. per 1001. on the amount for which credit was required, but is. or is. 6d. according to the date of payment on a 51. matter, or 2s. on one of 101., would become an appreciable item in the calcula tion of profits. A payment of 3s. 6d. on say 351. or 401. might be taken into consideration when it would be totally disregarded. Indeed, it is diffi cult to conceive what could have induced any financial Minister to propose, or Parliament to sanction tables constructed with such unequivocal disregard to any principle whatsoever which would charge Is. 6d. on 21. ls., and only levy 30s. on 200,0001., which made 3,0001., the maxi mum sum charged on allowing any higher amount to be perfectly free from duty. It might be thought that if a graduated scale were to be brought into operation it should have been made favourable to the less wealthy classes; but here the salutary rule was reversed. The small tradesman was made to pay very heavily, while the millionnaire, who would not mind the impost, was allowed to escape with comparative impunity. Now the first part of the present proposition—: that of equalising the duty on inland bills--will, if carried into effect, afford great relief in all transactions under 5001. And it is against the wide jumps in the table, as from 5001. to 1,0001., from 1,000/. to 2,000/., and from 2,000/. to 3,0001., and the total exemption of all above the latter sum, that the new resolutions strike a for midable blow. Everything is to be taxed accord ing to its value, and the rule is simple and uni form in its application. It will require no ela borate tables to be hung up in the office, or car ried about in the pocket-book of every com mercial man—threepence for every 251., or fractional part of 251., up to the first 1001., and Is. for every 1001., or fractional part of 1001. afterwards, can easily be remembered. The small tradesmen and shopkeepers who are obliged to pay for their purchases from the wholesale houses by bills of exchange will be the great gainers. They will nearly, if not altogether, "save their income tax " by the change. There will be no loss on any sum less than 1,5001., and our merchant princes, whose "names aro good on 'Change " for higher amounts need not scruple to pay Is. for every 100/. in a speculation which they deem sufficiently auspicious to enter into. But the reasons in favour of the extension of the duty to foreign bills are even much stronger. It is unnecessary to say that we are not the ad vocates of anything in the shape of protection-- that we do not wish to impose or to retain a single restriction on the foreigner to which our own fellow-citizens are not equally subjected. But if we require no advantage, we must not be exposed to any unfair burden from which our rivals are exempted. Now hitherto there has been such an exemptions which, like every exemption, led to many fraudulent evasions of the charge. The foreign merchant drew his bill without a stamp. It was accepted in England, and made payable in England, and competed in the money market with purely English bills bearing the regular stamps. Was this " Justice to England I" But this was not all. Bills were manufactured in the city of London purporting to be drawn abroad, but to all intents and purposes issued by English houses and cashed on their credit exclusively. The fact of the fraud, too, might be taken advantage of by the wrong-doer—to deprive " the innocent holder for valuable consideration, without notice," of the security which he thought he held. One man might thus make another suffer for the crime of which he himself was exclusively guilty. Tho mere possibility cast a shade of doubt over every foreign bill, which was very pre judicial to the parties concerned--a doubt, the removal whereof would be cheaply purchased for Is. per 1001. Mr. GLADSTONE does not, it appears, expect to realise anything from the alteration. His only object is, not to lose by the alteration. We have no doubt, however, that in this case, " virtue will be rewarded." We venture to pro- mise him, not merely that he will not be a loser by the change, but, on the contrary, that the proposition, which was only intended to do justice to those who had previously been wronged, will, like the penny receipt stamp, return more than double what was anticipated. The principle is sound—and the results will prove it to be so. It will, therefore, be seen that in financial, as in all other matters, " honesty is, indeed, the best policy." We are happy to be - - - enabled to tender our best thanks to Mr. GLAD- STONE for his judicious and equitable proposition. A comparison of the respective merits, as financiers, of Mr. DISRAELI and Mr. GLADSTONE, was inevitable, of course, from the mere circum stance of the latter having immediately succeeded the former in the responsible office of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. It is altogether absurd to argue, for an instant, that the comparison referred to is one which has been unnecessarily thrust upon the national attention by the aggressive criticisms Pronounced upon the successive Budgets of March, April, and May, by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Leade r of her MAJESTY'S Opposition. As ridiculous, indeed, as it would be to assert, on the other hand, that the comparison was originally provoked by the defensive arguments put forward i n re pl y (some times not with the b es t grace or in the best temper) by the eminent rival I and ministerial successor of the m em b er for Buckingh ams hi re. The comrison of their respective m er i ts as financiers waspaaltogether (inevitable, we repeat, under the circumstances. More than this, it must be admitted that the contrast presented as the result of this compari son is, in several respects, considerably in favour of Mr. DlSRAELl — notwithstanding the enormous reputation for statesmanship enjoyed by his suc cessor in the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Mr. GLANIONII possesses the advantage of having THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, MAT 2', Will be performed Tuber's Opera, FRI DIAVOLO. Fra Dia volo, Mr. Sims Reeves; Lord Allcaah, Mr. Weiss; Giacomo and B e ppo. Messrs. Leffler and F. Smith; Lady A llcash, Mme. Weiss; Zerlina, Mrs. Sims tteevos. Followed by (4th time) a new BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. entitled UNE FETE EN OLYMPE, in which Mdlle. Pasqualis will appear. flues—Stalls, 7s; Dress Circle, 55.; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ; and Private Boxes, One, Two, Three and Four Guineas. The Box-office open daily from Ten till Six, where places may be secured. Private Boxes and Stalls to be had of Messrs. Leader and Cock, 63, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, MAT 22, WIII be performed THE MILITARY KNIGHTS OF THE BOUND TABLE. Characters by Messrs. Chippendale, Howe, G. Vandenhoff, W. Farren, Compton, and Buckstone ; Miss Reynolds, Miss E. Grey, and Mrs. Fitz william. - - After which, the entirely new and orizlnal extravaganza, entitled MR. BUCKSTONE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI CESTER-SQUARE), written by J. R. Planche, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. Buckatone, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Clark, Mr. J. Marshall, Mr. H. Marshall; Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Caulfield, Miss E. Grey, :Wise Lydia Thompson, Miss Laura Morris, and Miss Featherstone. AOITAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under tie Matugement of Mr. Cuma.rs KZAx• THIS EVENING, MAT 22, Will be performed TaE MARRIED UNMARRIED. Characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, Ryder, and Cathcart ; and Misses Heath and Murray. Followed by FAUST AND MARGUERITE. Characters by Messrs. C. Kean and 14,'d Fisher ; Mrs. Winstanley and Miss C. Leelereq. After which, AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY. Characters by Messrs. Meadows, D. Fisher, and Baker ; and Misses Murray and Daly. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI, Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAT 22, ha p er f orm ed THE MARBLE HEART; or, The Sculpt or ' s Madame Celeste, Miss Wool gor, and Miss E. Dr W eam ill .--C'haracters by Messrs. P. Bedford, L. Murr a y, B en. Web ster, and C. Selby ; 3:larding ollowed by Ti'E MOUSTACHE MOVEMENT. Princip a l cha racters M e ssrs. O. Smith, Keeley, and Parselle; Mrs. Keeley, by and Jilss Mary Keeley. After which, THE OVERL tND JOURNEY TO CONSTANTI. 110PLE, AS UNDERTAKEN BY LORD BATEMAN. WITH IgTEREsTING PARTICULARS OF THE FAIR SOPHIA. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, MAT 22. Will be performed THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. Cha. Tacters by Messrs. F. Robson, J. H. White, Leslie, and Vincent; Mrs. Chatterley, Miss P. Horton, and Miss Marston. After which. TAE MUMMY. Characters by Messrs. H. Wigan, Robson, H. Cooper; Misses Marston and E. Turner. To be followed by TO MILD iE BENSON. Supported by Messrs, Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs THIS EVENING, 3fax 22, Will be performed THE STATUE LOVER. To be followed by A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. After which, THE GARDENER OF VERiAiLLES. To be followed by THE SEA NYMPH'S CAVE. To conclude with THE BONNET-BUILDERS' TEA PARTY. Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 3e.; Pit, le. 6d; gallery, 6d.; Private dos: s, l is. 6(1., ro be had of Mr. Aileron. 15, New Bond-street. ASTLErS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, Mat 22, • Will be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec tacle, embodying n 'vet and extraordinary effects (written by Mr. Nelson Lee), entitled A. PAL,: OF THE SPANISH WAR; or, The florae of the Wreck. Th horses expressly trained by Mr. W. Cooke. Followed by NOVEL FEATS of EQUITATION SANSPA REILLE. To conclude with a Grant Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE RHINE. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tdl9 DAY —Morning 11 min.after 8 f Evening 52 min.aft. 8 ro-Ifortßow—Morning 31 min.after 9 l Evening 7 min.aft. 10 THE WEATHER.—Sus Ornois, MAY 21. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 68 —highest since noon yesterday. b2—lowest this morning and during the night. 63 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'88—falling rapidly. WIND, W.S.W., blowing strong.—Cloudy, dull weather, with glimpses of sunshine ; rain in the morning, and a sprinkling at noon. MAT 22. 65 highest since noon yesterday. 53—lowest this morning and daring the night. 63—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29.61—a fall of more than half-an-inch since Saturday. WIND, W.S. W. , light.—Dull weather; heavy rain in the night, and some slight showers this morning. .G ~;' ~~ 14i _A 1111, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 22, 1854. figured before the House as the author of nearly half a dozen accepted financial statements, instead of, as with Mr. DISRAELI, one unsuccessful Budget. Nevertheless, if Mr. DISRAELI cannot claim the credit of carrying one after another a series of elaborate Budgets through the Commons—he can not at the same time be charged with having left• the country at the close of the financial year with empty coffers, as the evil consequences of perverse and abortive experiments. Elsewhere will be found a few sug gestions, and some of them exceedingly sagacious comments, upon the course pursued respectively by Mr. DISRAELI and by Mr. GLADSTONE, while presiding in their official capacity over the finan cial department of the Administration. The re marks alluded to, as may be observed, have been sent to us from the cotton capital of Lanca shire by a shrewd and intelligent correspondent. Mr. GLADSTONE once upon a time indulged the world with a peep at his correspondence with " A Birmingham Clerk." We may be allowed, there fore, surely to lay before the public our brief communication from " A Manchester Warehouse man." We do so the more readily, because our correspondent proves himself, by every syllable of his sententious observations, to be a thoughtful and impartial spectator of things as they are— not as they are sophistically represented to be by the partisans, and sycophants, and adulators of Government. SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE BIRMINGHAM AND NORT li - WESTERN BAIL WAY-TB IS DAY. (FROM A PASSENGER.) MAT 22.—1 was waiting at Coventry this morning for the Birmingham train, which was to arrive at one o'clock from London. At half-past one no train ap peared, and the officer, fearing an accident, worked the telegraph with inquiries to Birmingham. They worked very long, but in vain. It appeared that no one was at the Birmingham office to attend to the telegraph. Was this right ? They then gave it up. In five minutes more the train arrived, with a gentleman lying on the floor, at the foot of the guard, quite insensible, and with his two legs cut off and placed upon his body. It ap peared that the gentleman was a Birmingham merchant named Barnett, who wasalone in the last first-class car riage, returning to his private house a little on the other side of the Beechwood tunnel ; that in passing through the tunnel the guard felt the break suddenly lifted up, and instantly stopped the train and got out, and walked back to the place where the occurrence happened. In the tunnel he found a gentleman lying across the rails much mutilated, the door of the last car riage open, and the cushioned inside board of it torn off. The gentleman was put on the train and conveyed to Coventry, a distance of about four miles. On ar rivin4 there every attention was paid to him. The suffererer was carried on a tarpauling into a van and conveyed to the hospital, a messenger being sent in the meantime to the hospital. By this time he was breathing his last. We came on to town ; and at Rugby particulars were telegraphed to his family in Bir mingham. How he got out of the carriage nobody at presen knows. lIIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON. On Saturday evening a general court of this ancient society, very numerously attended, was held in the Free masons' Tavern under the presidency of the Chisholm, supported by Sir Charles Forbes, Bart., Dr. Stewart Chisholm, R.A., P. F. Robertson, Esq., M.P., W. F. Caldwell, Esq., of Mishinish, J. Tullock, Esq., F.R.S., J. Sutherland, Esq., &c., &c. The principal business of the evening, after the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been proposed by the chairmen, and heartily responded to, consisted in the presentation of a handsome service of plate to George Bain, Esq., the Honorary Secretary. Sir Charles Forbes, Bart., in presenting the plate to Mr. Bain, on the part of the numerous members of the Highland Society of London, begged of him to receive it as a small token of the deservedly high esteem in which they regarded him as a gentleman, and as their honorary secretary, who had during his long connection with the Highland Society of London, given them so many proofs of his zeal in upholding its character, and promoting, by every means in his power, the national and benevo lent objects with which it is identified. On the part of ' the members of the society, and from the bottom of his own heart he would only add,—" May God bless you, and grant you long to keep and to enjoy this testimo nial, which cannot express a thousandth part of the esteem in which we hold you." Mr. BAIN regretted that he had not language in which he could express the sense he entertained of the kind ness which had prompted his friends of the Highland Society to present him with the handsome service of plate before him, far less to respond to the flattering tefrns in which his health had been proposed, and the Highland enthusiasm with which it had been received. He could assure them he always felt so happy in the company of the members of the society that time seems to pass as if every sand in the glass turned to gold as it fell.' He heartily thanked his friends and reciprocated their kind wishes. After the health of the Chairman, and other toasts, the company separated, after spending a most agreeable evening. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. MANCHESTER, May 20, 1854. SIR,-It is a matter of conjecture among " the lower strata of the great middle class" whether or not the Chancellor of the Exchequer has convinced Mr. Phelps, of Birmingham, that he is a much more able financier than his predecessor ; if he has done so—which I very much doubt—it would, at least, be interesting to know on what grounds that intelligent gentleman has been so convinced. As a member of this numerous class, I have to ask, Why, was Mr. Disraeli expelled from office ? For making a distinction in favour of precarious incomes ! for proposing a reduction in the tea duties ! for promis ing cheap administration ! and showing, during his short tenure of office, that he meant it ! Or, was it because the Peelites said, " his estimates would prove fallacious," whereas time proved that he was eminently successful in his anticipations. But I shall be told "it was the house tax that rendered the scheme so unpopular ;" admitting that 18d. in the 1/. at that period would have been unjust, I have to inquire what can be more just and equitable than a graduated house tax down to even 6/. houses ? It would have the effect (as Mr. Gladstone stated the other night he desires), of causing " all classes to bear their due share of the bur dens," and you could have doubled your income tax at a future and more pressing period ; and Sir, it is my humble opinion that had not Mr. Disraeli known "what he had to face that night," he would have withdrawn and amended that item. But "men who judge for themselves " saw, at the time, it was not the Budget—it was Mr. Disraeli that was opposed, by personal feel ing with one party, and party feeling with the other. And now of Mr. Gladstone ! passing over his first Budget—a second edition of Mr. Disraeli's, with notes, what has he done ! Stuck to one idea, and that not his own—the Income Tax for 7 years—half as much added to ditto—ditto doubled, and, I suppose, the next move will be 14d. and 18d. In ray opinion, sir, it is most lamentable that at the present momentous period—through personal spite and party feeling- two such statesmen as Lord Palmerston and Mr. Disraeli cannot b e assoc i a t e d together for their country's welfare, while Lord Aberdeen's foreign policy is being seconded by a Clarendon, and our finances ad ministered by the casuistical Gladstone.—l am, Sir, your very obedient servant, A MANCHESTER WAREHOUSEMAN. MONEY MARKET AND COMMEBCIAL INTELLIGENCE It is stated by the Finnish captains of vessels that have been seized and brought to England by our cruisers, that there are numerous small posts or forts along the coast of Finland, similar to that taken by Admiral Napier, and that there is no chance of their holding out. It seems, indeed, very questionable if the Russians should not have evacuated them, so as to spare their forces for other purposes. The accounts brought by the Arabia from New York represent the market for breadstuffs as being dull. The home demand kept prices above the limits of foreign orders. Stocks were tending downwards. The specie shipped in the week to May 6, amounted to 1,671,012/. The last weekly City Banks return showed an increase in every department. Money was expected to get tighter. Freights were dull, and rates low for Liverpool. The grain crops had in some districts been affected by the frost. The Canadian advices are again satisfactory. The quarterly returns relating to trade show a considerable augmentation in the exports and im ports. There was an expectation at Montreal that breadstuffs would materially advance. The ships from Europe were arriving out, the St. Lawrence being open. From C a lif orn i a the mining news is highly en couraging. Business continued to improve, and it was asserted that the State was never more pros perous. Emigrants were arriving fast. The culti vation of the soil kept pace with the increased population, and sufficient breadstuffs would be raised this year to supply the entire State. Forty thousand acres of wheat we-e growing in San Coaquin country. Several rich gold discoveries had been made, and a quicksilver mine of great richness. The San Francisco Mint was in opera tion, but the new coin was not yet in circulation. The demand for money is stated to be brisk again this morning, and the fact of specie being with drawn from the Bank of England, although the arrivals were last week so considerable, is evidence that there is such a scarcity of bills, that even the nominal improvement in the rate of exchange will not prevent bullion being sent in. There is, how ever, this much in our favour that we received last week 700,000/. and sent away 300,0001., con sequently the excess will either serve to meet fur ther requirements, or replenish the amount in the Bank vaults. The steamer Arabia from New York brings 180,000 dollars, and what the Union arrived with on Saturday will go to augment the abundant supply of cash already in the principal citiesiof the Continent. The English stock market is extremely dull this morning, and has given way to per cent. Paucity of business is undoubtedly the principal cause, but there is a little suspense about the de bate that will arise upon the budget of the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. The prevailing impression seems to be that Mr. Baring will not succeed in his opposition. Another circumstance that is against Consols, and has led to sales by one or two leading brokers, is the increased demand for money, and the rumour that it will not be long before the Bank of England again puts up its minimum, rate of dis count. Without attaching too much importance to this view, we believe the speculators will influ ence the market with it. Finally, there is the prospect of an augmentation in the rate of interest upon the unfunded debt, which would thence ob tain readier currency than stock. Consols have been 891 for transfer, and since 88k. The account prices have not been higher than 89, and are now 88R- 1. - • Bank Stock is heavy at 202 f, and India Stock at 233. Exchequer Bills have been at 2s. discount to ls. premium, and India Bonds at ss. discount. Foreign Securities have been rather inactive, but without any marked change in the price. Mexican Bonds have been quoted 241, and Peruvian 62k. Grenada have been at 17, and Brazilian New at 96/. Russian Five per Cents. have been supported at 95. Sardinian Bonds realise 821 to 83. Spanish Three per Cents. have been done at 35k, and the New Deferred at 18/ The railway meetings announced are the fol lowing : Company. Date. Place, &c. Cork and Bandon May 24, 17, Gracechurch-st. Kilken. and Gt. S. and W. Ire May 29, 17, Gracechurch-st. Kill arne y Junction May 31, Dublin. Leeds Northern May 27, Leeds. Londonderry and Coleraine May 23, Coleman-at.-build. Northern of France May 24, Paris. Royal Swedish May 29, Stockholm. South Devon May 23, Plymouth. Southern of France Stirling and Dunfermline Juno 1, Glasgow. Victor Emanuel (Sardinian) May 23, Paris. Waterford and Kilkenny.,,,,, May 31, London Tavern. The Railway Market has been relatively better supported than the funds, but the amount of busi ness done is not large. Caledonian, Lancashire and Yorkshire, North-Western, and South-Eastern have been principally dealt in. French Shares have been slightly in favour of buyers. In Mines there is but little doing, Banks have gone back about 4 per cent., and the Land Com panies are nominally at previous rates. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK ( From the Official List. ) RnsineSs (lane Bank Stock ... 2024 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities BB 78 3 per Cent Consols Annuities 8 9 3 /4 8i 3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726 L nig Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Ditto 30 Years, Expire s th Jan., 1860 India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO ... , „ — Ditto, under £lOOO 5 d Consols for Account 6th June B9 83 Exchequer Bills, 2d. _ £IO6O 2500 2 d Small 1 d PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 97 New Braizilaußonds, 1829 & 39, 5 per Cent. 96} Grenada Bonds, Ex. Dec., 1849, Coupon l7 Aexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 624 Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St 95 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent....... B3 21 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 3BB Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l4 i Dividends on the above payable in London. HALF•PAST TWO. Consols 8 -E 8 Ditto June Account ... 882 THE FASHIONABLE WORLD.—The lioness of Saturday evening was Lady Ashburton, to whom Lady P a l mer . ston gave way. Her ladyship received a distinguished circle on the evening of the Queen's birthday, at Bath House, Piccadilly. All the attendants at the State dinner flocked there at a late hour—the scene in the greatrooms of the mansion forming a variation of colours most pleasing, so many were the costumes. MARRIAGES IN HIGH LIFE.—A marriage is on the tapir between Miss Graham, eldest daughter of the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty, and Lord Grey de Wilton, eldest son to the Earl of Wilton. The marriage of Lady Beatrice Hamilton, daughter to the Marquis of Abercorn, with the Earl of Durham, is expected to take place during the present week. BERLIN, MAY 17.—His patriotic Majesty, the King of Prussia, has conferred the following distinctions upon the Russian officers specified below : —The red order of the eagle, first class, to the Lieutenant. Generals Riesen kampff, Tutschkoff, and Tenner, all three holding rank and office in Russia or Russian Poland ; the red eagle, second class, to Colonel Ulrich, and the same, third class, to Colonel Maximof ; the sahie, fourth class, to Captain Bjoern, to First Lieutenants Masloff and Jegoroff, and to Second Lieutenant Renwald. KING or HOLLAND.—A. letter from the Hague, of the 16th, says : —" The King yesterday incurred some danger in consequence of the horses running away with his carriage, and galloping at a fearful rate through seve ral streets, before the coachman could pull them in. His Majesty remained quietly seated in the carriage, and in that way escaped all injury. After a short delay the coachman was able to drive on to the Maison du Bois, the palace where the king was going to when the inci dent occurred. CITY, TWO o'CLOOS. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at 5,000 bales, all to the trade. The market closed heavily, but there was no quotable change in prices. The sales comprised about 4,250 American, 150 Bahia at qd, 300 Egyptian at sd. to 11d., and 300 Surat at 3d. to 30. per lb. Rail way shares continued dull. Wheat is firm this morning, although the arrivals are large. The public sales of tea have just concluded. Of 38,005 packages offered, 9,000 only have been sold, and the auctions close flatly. Accounts from Galatz state that 8 lonian mer chant ships had been captured by the Russian authorities there, and the crews made prisoners of war. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS THE BALTIC. COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS-1,500 RUSSIANS MADE PRISONERS. A. telegraphic despatch from Stockholm, of May 18, says, tho British fleet, after eight hours' bom bardment, destroyed the Castle of Gustafsorn, south of Hang°, at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland. 1,500 Russians were taken prisoners. RUMOURED CAPTURE OF ALAND AND REVEL. Another despatch from Stockholm, of the 13th, states that it was reported there that Aland and Revel had been taken. THE FRENCH FLEET THROUGH THE BELT. KIEL, Saturday.—Eight French liners, four fri gates, and four steamers anchored to-day in Buelk Roads, and leave on Monday to join Sir Charles Napier. COPENHAGEN, May IG.—Yesterday the steam frigate, Penelope, 30 guns, arrived hero with 60 officers and 30 midshipmen, for distribution among the fleet. She passed seven vessels of the French fleet at the Island of Anholt, in the Cattegat, yes terday morning. She takes on coals for the fleet. It is rumoured that a plan of attack upon Cron stadt has been agreed upon between the English and French admirals, but it certainly will not be carried into effect before the arrival of the gun-steamer flotilla. The blockade of the Russian ports and the seizure of some Russian vessels would neither be an object worthy of the great maritime Powers, nor would it require that formidable force of vessels and guns which, before long, will be gathered toge ther in the Gulf of Finland. Want of salt will not drive Finland to rise against Russia ; and nothing short of action on a great scale will prevail upon the Scandinavian Powers to change their position of well-wishing spectators for that of active allies. The Swedish squadron, stationed lately at Cads crona, and destined to go to Elfsnabben, under the command of Rear-Admiral. Krusenstjerna consists of the following ve sse l s :—" Th e line-of battle ships Charles XIII., flagship of Prince Oscar, and the Prince Oscar, the frigates Desiree and Eugenie, the steam corvettes Thor and Gefle, and the schooner Nordenskjold. This squadron will before long be reinforced by the line-of-battle ship Gustaf the Great, and the stt - mm corvette Oradd. The Norwegian squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral Hesselberg, consists of the frigates Desideria and Freja, the corvette Nordstjern en (North Star), and the steam corvette Nidaros. Proportionately to Sweden and Norway's mari time power, this is no peace armament. WANT OF GUN-BOATS. A letter from Stockholm, of May 12, says— What Sir Charles Napier wants, is not ships of the line and large frigates, but a not inconsiderable number of small steamers and gun-boats, the latter capable of bearing cannon of large calibre. The majority of the ships in his squadron are byfar too large for operations in the Gulf of Finland, and particularly in the narrow channels of Sweaborg and Cronstadt. Such a squadron would be all well and good in the Mediterranean, or in a bay like that of Algiers, or before such towns as those which some years ago he bombarded and destroyed. It would be an admirable squadron, too, if the Rus sians were to come out and have a fair and open sea fight a few miles from the mouth of the above gulf ; but come out they will not, and all their preparations are for the defensive, trusting to the difficult and dangerous access to their forts and to the strength of those furls themselves. It would be a less Imposing one, and it would not, perhaps, excite so much admiration as it did in Kioge and Elfsnabben Bays, but ere this it would, doubtless, have tried its strength against the fortress of Swea borg. The cry, "plenty of small steam frigates, large gun-boats, and troops for the Baltic," should be raised in England as loudly and, above all, as quickly as possible. There is no time to lose ;it is a question wh e ther too much has not been lost already ; and, after all, it is a doubtful compliment to expect wonders even from a Napier, if he be not furnished with the means of carrying out his plans. Give him only the proper sinews of war, and he is the right man to turn them to good account. Therefore, " plenty of small steam frigates, large gun boats, and troops for the Baltic." The following article appears in Sondags Bladet of this city : " Our intelligence from Finland is to the effect that the inhabitants are still quite dispirited. The publicans on the Finnish coasts must provide daily from 250 to l i 300 horses for the transport of troops. The discontent in Finland has, of course, greatly iucrea"ed since the time the Russian Government commenced doing all in its power to remove the population by degrees into the interior of Russia. The Aland Isles, it is said, have been deprived of troops, weapons, and ammunition ; so they can be taken possession of ‘s ithout opposition— another proof for our Swedish pro-Russians how fortu• nate it is to be a Russian province. The Finlanders have had their mercantile navy captured, and they will soon see their coasts bombarded and laid waste solely because this country is now the bulwark of Russia. Thee will have both to pay and feed the large army the Czar is sending them ; their soldiers are sent to Poland and Turkey, never to return home ; and their sailors are torn away from their homes in order to serve in the Russian fleet—their to meet a certain death. Finally, all the Finlanders who cannot be of use in the army or navy, are compelled to emigrate to the depths of Russia. whilst their native country is devastated and plundered, in order that the enemies of Russia, who are the friends of Finland, may not find wherewithal to support them selves for a single month in the latter after they obtain possession of it." The Finland Tidning of Helsingfors, states that the police authorities of that town have warned the inhabitants against approaching any of the batteries, cannons, or ammunition waggons—a proof that in Finland the Russians are not able to distinguish between friend and foe, and that they do not trust the people. REPORTED LOSS OF THE TIGER. The second edition of the Patrie, published at seven o'clock on Saturday evening, and conse quently after the receipt of all the despatches known in London on the subject of the alleged capture of the Tiger frigate by the Russians, per sists in its assertion that the whole story is a fable. It says an English commercial brig was taken, and afterwards delivered by the combined fleets, and suggests that this circumstance gave rise to the report. APPREHENSIONS OF INVASION AT ST PETERSBURG. Mr. Frederick Bucknall, a son of Mr. W. Buck nall, of the late eminent Bristol firm of Bucknall and Spark, has just returned from St. Petersburg, where he had been for five years occupying a responsible position in connexion with one of the largest mercantile firms there, and from the accounts which Mr. Bucknall brings with him it is evident that, in high circles, the possibility of an attack by the combined forces on the capital of Russia itself is seriously entertained. Amongst the masses of the city a superstitious confi dence in the successful issue of the war generally prevails. This is founded on the widely -spread belief that the war is a religious one, undertaken for reli g ious objects ; and it l ea d s t o a conf i dence that God being with the Emperor he must prevail. The Imperial Muscovite himself does not appear to be so well at ease. It is understood that the commandant of the important fortress of Cron stadt has informed him that, although of great strength, it is not impregnable. The Em peror is obviously very anxious on the matter, for he goes himself to Cronstadt twice or thrice a week, and all conceivable efforts are being em ployed to strengthen it as far as possible. Mean while the imperial city is being crowded by troops, which are continually pouring in in large masses. The barracks being all crowded these are quartered on the inhabitants, to their very evident and great annoyance. Mr. Bucknall saw a body of 1,500 Cossacks marching towards the capital, which is of itself a significant mark of the feeling of the Government, for troops of that class are rarely if ever employed in the city. Many of the no bility and leading families are quitting their town residences and retiring into the interior, carrying with them their plate, jewels, and portable pro perty of value, and the English, French, and other foreign residents were quitting in such numbers that Mr. Bucknall had to wait for six weeks before he could get a place by the conveyance, which runs twice a week from St. Petersburg to Tukun. As a further evidence of the apprehension felt touching an invasion of the capital, Mr. Bucknall noticed that some houses on the side of the Neva were being pulled down and defences erected opposite the main part of St. Petersburg. THE BLACK SEA. The Moniteur states that the French have just received two despatches from Vice-Admiral Hame lin, respecting the movements of the combined squadrons in the Black Sea, since the bombard ment of Odessa. The following are the principal passages : " Ville de Paris, off Sebastopol, May 1, 1854.—M0 n . sieur le Ministre,—On the fourth day after the bombard: ment of the imperial city of Odessa, the winds having veered to the north, the two squadrons set sail on the morning of the 26th of April, and steered for the coast west of the Crimea, as I had agreld upon with Admiral Dundas. On the 28th, finding ourselves in sight of the lands bordering Eupatoria, I detached the steam-cor vette the Caton, accompanied by the Furious, to ex plore the bay on the south of that city. The Caton, while accomplishing its mission, captured three Russian vessels, two of which were coasters ; the Furious took a fourth. Already, in the morning, the Descartes, giving chase ahead of the squadrons, bad: fallen in with an English brig, which, captured the day before by a Rus sian frigate, had been hastily abandoned by it, when, on seeing the squadrons, it had made all sail to gain the port of Sebastopol. Of these four prizes, two have been sent to the Bosphorus; as for the two coasters, we sank them. " On the 29th, the wind permitting us to make for Sebastopol, the combined squadrons steered for the en trance of this port. They there lay to in order to see if the Russian squadron really was decided on meeting us, as the Russian authorities gave out in the Black Sea, according to the statement of the prisoners when ques tioned the day before. If such, in fact, had been the intention of the Russian fleet, never did a better oppor tunity present itself for proving to the natives of the Crimea that it wished to avenge the humiliation of the check given at Odessa, and felt in its neighbourhood. The weather was fine, a southerly breeze and quite fair, that is to say, favourable for leaving Sebastopol as well as returning to it. 1 shall add, lastly, that in order to induce the Russian admirals to come out to us, Admiral Dundas and myself had ordered two of our ships to keep out of sight of the Crimean shore -but in vain ; the Russian ships did not stir from their anchors all the time we were thus waiting for them.. " We took advantage of the time we were lying to off Sebastopol, to have the neighbouring bays again ex plored by the Caton and the Furious. Other steam. frigates presented themselves at the mouth of the port, and examined with the greatest attention the composi tion of the Russian fleet : it appeared to us to consist of 12 vessels, 3 sailing frigates, and rather a large number of steamers, most of which were of small dimensions. The Russian prisoners, being asked, pretend that the vessels are 14 in number, 2 of which they admit are not in the very best condition ; and that the steamers are 26 in number, 3 of them being large ones. " What would seem to confirm the account of the Rus sian prisoners is the circumstance that two large vessels appeared from the mast-head to be repairing in the Sebastopol docks, and they might therefore well be the two vessels in question out of repair. " Viile de Paris, off Sebastopol, May s.—Monsieur le Ministre,—Since my last letter, which I had the honour to send to your Excellency, dated May 1, the French and English squadrons have not ceased cruising a short way off Sebastopol, and in sight of it, where the Russian vessels obstinately remain motionless at anchor. This want of movement not availing to diminish in any way the operations of war which Admiral Dundas and myself have planned against the Russian coasts, an Anglo- French division will depart this evening, under the corn timid of Rear-Admiral Lyons, to attack and destroy, on • the shores of the Crimea and Circassia, the Russian establishments a^d vessels, and to open ways of com munication with the Circassians, especially with their chief Schamyl. This naval division is composed of the English steamer Agamemnon, bearing the flag of Rear. Admiral Lyons ; of the French steamer the Charlemagne; of five English steamers, and two French—namely, the Mogador and the Vauban. " - This last frigate and three of the English vessel will rejoin the squadron, when this naval division, hav ing executed wh itever can be done about the bay of Theodosia, shall sail along the Circassian coast, for which two vessels and three steam frigates will pet sail. " During the execution of these operations, the 17 vessels remaining of the two combined squadrons will cruise off Sebastopol to keep the Russian squadron there in awe. " About the 15th of May I have reason to think that we shall join our naval division, thus detached, at the anchorage of Baltshick, whence I intend sending a steamer to Constantinople, for the purpose of forward ing to you an account of the operations it will have un dertaken or executed." CONSTANTINOPLE. CONSTANTINOPLE, May 10. The camp and barracks at Scutari are objects of an interest which must increase with the number of troops posted on this convenient and picturesque site. At first the inhabitants were in much fear of acts of indecorum on the part of their newly arrived allies. The women were withdrawn from the part near the barracks, and their lords looked suspiciously at the redcoats as they passed. But now that fear is allayed, and a friendly intercourse has sprung up, carried on by signs, in which the numerals are represented by the number of fingers held up, and liquids, the chief article of commerce, are expressed by placing the closed hand to the mouth and tilting back the head, to represent the act of swallowing. Our men seemed well and cheerful, but rather too full-blooded for service in such a climate. The Guards are, many of them, of the colour of a peony from good feeding and sun burn ; they look heavy and plethoric, and contrast strongly with the alert aspect of the Oriental races. The appearance of an encampment is familiar to English sightseers from the event of last year. The camp of Scutari is not visited by such a charming array as that of Chobham, but it is not without its attractions. Nature has given it the advantages of magnificent scenery and a cloudless sky. The pano rama of Olympus and Elken-dagb, the clustering and sunlit islands of the Sea of Marmora, the deep blue Bosphorus, rippled only by the strong and never-ceasing current which rushes down its centre, the old Seraglio with its cypresses and plane trees, the great city stretching far away, with the Seven Towers just visible in the distance through the bright haze, St. Sophia, the Suleimanni, and many another mosque, with the vultures flying to and fro between their minarets, form a landscape rather different from the desolate heath which was the scene of last year's evolutions. Some of the largest steamers in the world have been lately drawn close under the tent-crowned heights ; anu it gives some idea of this magnificent harbour to find that from the European side these look like smacks which have taken shelter under the cliff from the blasts of the Euxine. To visit the camp is the daily amusement or busi• uess of the tourists now here. By the help of a few scraps of Turkish, and especially by the use of one or two strong expressions, a bargain is made with the caiqji, or boatman. At the landing place there is the confusion of Babel. Parcels and pro visions are being handed on shore, a process which the visitor's caiqji interrupts by vigorously thrust ing his boat within those of his neighbour's, so that his fare may disembark. At the encampment prevails a kind of jovial activity. Luncheons are preparing for the officers on every side, and sa voury smells announce that the men are at their early dinner. Acquaintances appear at tent doors with bottles, and shout out an invitation, which is seldom declined. As afternoon comes on, a kind of dreaminess steals over the place. The men are asleep under their tents, or in the sun ; the horses are grazing in a little valley near the sea ; a speck with a line of smoke in the distance announces that another steamer is at hand with troops, and the encampment is hushed until the close of evening. The quiet routine of daily life is almost more plea sant than the pipe-clayed pageantry of a review. Visits to the Sweet Waters of Europe are now at an end, and the fashionables of the Turkish world will soon resort to the Sweet Waters of Asia, at solve distance up the Bosphorus, nearly opposite Bebek. An amusing scene took place on Friday at the former spot. A gallant English gentleman was determined to address a few words to some fair inmate of the harem. He asked a friend to write down for him some complimentary phrases in the Turkish tongue, such as " You are very pretty," " I love you," and so on. Armed with this document, he visited the Sweet Waters, and, selecting the prettiest face he could find, he leaned in at the carriage window, and proceeded to favour the lady with the contents of the paper, which he drew from his waistcoat pocket. A shrill shriek from the eunuchs betrayed their horror at this audacity. They rushed up and attempted to drag him away. He resisted, and one of the guardians drew his sabre. Our countryman did the same, and the eunuchs fled in. dismay. The lady within highly enjoyed the scene, and seemed much pleased at the discomfiture of her tyrants. In fact, the fair creatures are much more independent than of yore ; the summary proceedings of former hus bands are now impossible, and the ladies have no longer before their eyes the traditional terrors o the sack and the Bosphorus. The merchants of the bazaars are gleaning a plen tiful harvest from the superfluity of English wealth. Every one who arrives thinks it necessary to pur chase amber mouthpieces, tablecloths, silks, and slippers. Every day articles are displayed pur chased as a great bargain at about twice what a native would give for them. The inexperienced stranger is generally beset on crossing the bridge which leads to Stamboul by a number of Jews, eager to show him the way and help him in his bargains. The character of the race is, in the main, everywhere the same, but in each country there is a different variety, and the Jews of Turkey are not the least interesting. The Jew of Eastern Europe is physi cally the finest of his race. The bearded old Hebrew who comes from Poland with a wallet at his back is often caught by admiring artists, and made to sit for portraits of Abraham or Eli. These Constantinople Jews are mostly relics of the 'tribe who fled from the fires of the Inquisition in Western Europe, and their thick Senritic Spanish is still heard in the close alleys where they congregate, outcasts lower thanthe lowest, and beings on whom the meanest Rayah may inflict in turn the insults which he receives from his Turkish master. They are a quiet race, slender and stooping, with some thing weak and idiotic in their features, which are far more delicate than those of their English coun trymen. Occasionally there is one whose coun tenance might have been intelligent if a better for tune had ever allowed any noble or elevating thoughts to be presented to the dormant mind, or the sun of hope had ever broken through the chill mist of contempt and poverty which must encircle the journey of his life. Though they are what they are a one can eat imagine that in the etho9l4 COURT CIRCULAR. Prince Albert was present on Saturday morning at the Guard mounting on the Horse Guards Parade. The Prince was accompanied by Viscount Hardinge and Lord Seaton, and attended by the Hon. Colonel Grey, Colonel Bouverie, Lieut.-General Si r E. Bowater, Col. Wylde, an d C a pt. Du Plat. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the per formance of the French plays with their presence on Saturday evening. Yesterday the Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Duchess of Kent, attended Divine Service in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace. The Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley officiated. The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court and the domestic household also attended the service. The Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary, honoured the performance of the French play on Saturday evening with their presence. The Duchess of Kent was attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Lord James Murray. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial Office from the Governors of the North American Colonies. The Duchess of Athol, who has been just appointed one of the Ladies of the bedchamber to her Majesty, vice the Countess of Charlemont, resigned through, we under stand, advanced age, was the predecessor of the Duchess of Sutherland as Mistress of the Robes under the last Administration. His Excellency the Hon. GeorgeJerningham, recently appointed to succeed Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons as Minister to King Oscar of Sweden, leaves London to enter on his diplomatic duties early in the ensuing mouth. THE COURT.—The Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied by their eight illustrious children and a limited suite, left Buckingham Palace this morning by special train on the South-western Railway, for Gosport, en route to Osborne House, Isle of Wight, for a fort night. The Duchess of Kent is expected to leave Clarence -house to-morrow to join the Royal circle, and to remain until after her Majesty's real birthday, on ea r, d4 e B daY, when the Queen will complete her 35th of Cordova and Toledo their forefathers were great in philosophy and medicine • that they were th e physicians of emper ors an d kings, and even gavl 3 , many a bishop to the c h urc h w hi c h p e rsecuted, them. However, the descendants are poor an miserable, earning a scanty meal by the sale ° 1 stationery and petty ware s ; an d th ere th e y stand at the entrance of the bazaar, whispering confiden tially to each Englishman that passes, and offering their services with that mysterious air of secrecy which characterises their race. The Turks are much pleased with political caries' tures, and a number of Punch affords them infinite delight. Lately a representation of the Sultan in a bottomless sedan-chair, seemingly supported but really hampered by the allegorical representative s of France and England, gave great amusement to. the population o f G a lli po li. T hey qu i te un d ers tood the force of the satire, and exclaimed, " Fek 4 peki ! "—very go o d. Although generally in the dark as to political occurrences, news has sometime reached them Wi th a speed almost incredible. It is said that in India the natives are often aware of the event of a battle before a single European is acquainted with the fact. In a similar manner intelligence runs along, through the countri e s o f th e E as t, an d i s w hi s pered thousands of miles off, particularly if it be anything calamitous to the Christian nations. At the tiro() of our disaster in Affghanistan the news of the great calamity was passed from mouth to mouth from the Khyber Pass al o ng the caravan-roads 0 f Affghanistan and Persia, and was the talk of the bazaars of Constantinople weeks before the even t was known in England. In the present crisis theY, are apparent apathetic, but the p rover b a b ou t stn water should prevent a too hasty judgment as to their feelings and impulses. So far as can be judged, they are chiefly anxious that the armies should quit the capital and march to the frontier. The fact that some women have accompanied the English force has somewhat disquieted them. Surely the Giaours must intend to remain in the country, since they have brought their harems with thein. They are not really sanguine as to the result of the struggle so far as regards their faith and nation. They make little distinction between friends and allies. Three of the great armies of Europe are now on Turkish soil, and a fourth may any day advance its columns. On Monday a dinner was given by the Sultan to Prince Napoleon at the Imperial palace at Beyler bey. The diplomatic body, the Ottoman Minis ters, the suite of the Prince, together with General Prim, were among the guests. After dinner the Grand Vizier proposed the health of the Emperor Napoleon, and the Prince that of the Sultan, it is to be hoped in more satisfactory terms than on the last occasion. The Prince expressed a hope " that if the Western Powers have astonished the world by the wars they have carried on against each other, they will be equally strong and admirable in their alliances. The treaty," he said, " which they had just signed, bore witness to their disin terestedness ; the future would prove their strength." He concluded by saying that since be had seen this fine country he was more than ever grateful to the Emperor who had permitted him to devote himself to its cause. Redschid Pasha than gave the health of Prince Napoleon ; the air " Partant pour la Syrie" was played, and pipes and coffee followed. On the Bth the son of Abbas Pacha, Viceroy of Egypt, arrived in the steamer Faid. Gihaad. Ilhimi Pasha—such is the young man's name--4 5 to be the husband of one of the Sultan's daugh ters ; and he has brought a num b er o f th e most valuable presents for the bride and her father ; among other things, it is said that the vessel in which he arrived, and which was built a short time since as a yacht for the Viceroy, is to be pre sented to the Sultan. Ilhimi Pasha has been se' commodated in the palace of Chemchi Pasha at Scutari. The large number of edifices at the dis posal of the Porte must surprise any one who re flects on the paucity of such structures in England. But in this poor and embarrassed country the erection of such luxurious abodes is continual ; no desire of the Sultan is restrained. At the present moment a magnificent palace is being constructed at the mouth of the Bosphorus for the Sultan's use, at a cost, it is said, sufficient to make a railway from the capital to Adrianople. As far as regards num ber of residences no monarch in Europe is better provided for than this sovereign of a decaying and insolvent State. Last night the ball at the French Embassy in honour of Prince Napoleon took place. It Was the most brilliant that has been seen here for some time, and was attended by Marshal St. Arnaud, Lord Raglan, the Turkish Ministers, and all sorts A persons of distinction. Prince Napoleon's re semblance physically to his illustrious uncle was a matter of general observation. Lord Raglan, it is said, holds out hopes of em ployment to many of the enthusiastic spirits who are eager to signalise their valour. Corps of volun teers are likely to be formed and attached to each division of the British , army. Should such a course be adopted it will be judicious for those anxious to see service to join such a corps, instead of casting in their lot with the Turkish army. After all, the Ottoman force is not one on which reliance can be placed ; the men are brave, a nd would fight well till beaten, but the army has not the morale which would enable it to recover from a defeat. Should any reverse befall it, the men would probably rush into the wildest excesses, and, in their rage, make no distinction between their enemies and their allies. The weather here is almost as changeable as in Loudon. For two days past it has poured with rain, while at present the sky is cloudless. The grass and trees are of a brilliant green, and English meadows have never produced finer crops of hay than might be cut in the valleys of Constanti nople if the exertions of man seconded the bounty of nature. Throughout a great part of this country the grass is said to be very fine. The Russians have gained in this respect a great advantage by' seizing the Dobrudscha at such a time. Great part of it is a rolling prairie, covered with the mot magnificent grass, which the enemy will just be in time to mow. Fodder for their horses will thus be obtained at an expense trifling in comparison with the outlay which must be made by us. The bands of Albanians who are committing ex cesses in the neighbourhood of Adrianople have excited the attention of Government. Of their number 95 have been captured after a long resist ance. It is said that Omer Pasha has asked for the power of inflicting the punishment of death ; and that a firman will be issued giving to him the au thority necessary for the support of discipline and the protection of the inhabitants. Very general regret was felt among the English officers at the approaching removal of Admiral Hamelin to the Baltic. During the whole time of his command he had cordially co-operated with the English Admiral, and acquired the confidence of the whole fleet. The squadrons had had some ex perience of the squalls and fogs of the Black Sea. Much difficulty had attended some of the operations, especially as English ships were sailing in company with foreigners, whom the officers, it seems, can only imperfectly understand. In cruising about on various parts of the coast the steamers have picked up some 13 or 14 prizes, principally brigs, laden with corn, coals, salt, and other stores. The crews were kept as prisoners on board the different men-of-war ; and the admirals sent in a proposition to General Osten Sacken to exchange them for the merchant captains and other prisoners detained at Odessa, or supposed to be so. Osten Sacken declined, and as these unfortunates were only eating up the provisions of the fleet, and were much in the way, the captains sent them on shore free. They had been put into the various messes on board, and were most kindly treated by the good-humoured sailors, who, however, made them wash themselves—a process which the pri soners, it is said, regarded as some new and myste rious rite. One or two of the boys were dressed up in correct sailor's costume, and .became great fa vourites. They picked up a word or two of English, but conversed chiefly by pantomimic gestures. They were all instructed by the sailors in the art of box ing. Two little children were still on board one of the steamers. They were picked up in a boat, together with a man and woman, all wounded, off Kostendje. The man and woman were put onshore at Baldschik, and the latter died. This occurred when the Russians first advanced into the Dobrud scha. The town of Kostendje was pillaged by the retiring Bashi-Bazouks and Tartars. They killed the mother ofthe youngest child, which was about 16 months old, and then stabbed the child itself; it, however, recovered. The other child about three or four years old, is also wounded. The cap tain pleaded hard to keep them, and, indeed, it would have been impossible to turn them loose upon the world during all this turmoil. So the sailors made dresses for them, and are bringing up the baby with great tenderness. Prizes were con tinually coming in, though of small value and no great gain to the captors. The fleets had ben several times close into Sebastopol, and could make Out from 12 to 14 large ships, as many good-sized frigates, and about 20 small steamers. One of the steamers ventured out on the evening of the 30th. She was immediately chased, but easily escaped, having a long start. On the whole, the chief events at present are the arrival of military or diplomatic personages. Sa lutes are almost incessant, and the equipages and personal appearance of men who have achieved greatness or had it thrust upon them are the chief objects of curiosity. To chronicle dinners, balls, and visits of ceremony is the not very elevated task of a correspondent at the present moment. Let us hope, however, that the time of action is at hand, and that the after-dinner assurances of devotion usi CitteXlXtilAtiOU will Do followed by doccbi which Th from ties 1 in ca lette RUSE man don( wou