The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-27 00:00:00

INLAND REVENUE, SOMERSET-HOUSE, London, March 27, 1854. RECEIPT STAMPS.—The Commissioners of Inland Revenue desire to remind all persons possessing RE CEIPT STAMPS, rendered useless by the Act of last Session, that the period for exchanging such Stamps for those at present in use will expire on 11th April, after which day no applications will be ad mitted under any circumstances whatsoever. The days appointed for the presentation of Stamps for exchange at this °dice are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and the hours from 12 to 2. By order of the Board. THOMAS KEOGH, Secretary. T HE MATT, STEAM-SHIP for AUSTRALIA, 4th April.—The QUEEN of the SOUTH, 1,800 tons, Com mander W. H. NORMAN, one of the fleet of the General Screw Steam shipping Company, is appointed to Leave SOUTHAMPTON on the 4th of April, with her Majesty's mails, for ADELAIDE, PORT PHILIP, and SYDNEY. The Queen of the South, which was the pioneer ship of the Indian mail steam-ship line (via the Cape of Good Hope), returned from Calcutta to Plymouth on the 26th of February last: her third voyage, punctually to an hour—a significant fact, and worthy of note, especially when it is considered that the distance is about 27,000 miles by sea, and that she had to stop at seven ports outward, and eight homeward. This feat has not been accomplished by any ships in the world but by those belonging to the General Screw Steam-shipping Company. The Queen of the South is sister ship to the Argo (also one of this Company's fleet), which reached Australia from Southampton in 64 days, and returned to England In the same time. , • The Argo was the first steam-ship that returned round Cape Horn, thus literally circumnavigating the globe in 128 days, which has yet to be equalled. It is deemed but just to the public to state these facts, that they may know what this Company's magnificent vessels have done, and thus be able to form a rational calculation as to what they are likely to do in their service to Australia. It is also essen tial to prevent these vessels being confounded with others which have not been so fortunate. The mail service to Australia will be continued by the General Screw Steam-shipping Company every alternate month until further notice. The Queen of the South is ship rigged (the Argo was barque- Tißged),.and it is not unreasonable to anticipate that, with favourable wind, she will make the passage to Australia in 60 days, or less, thus affording to passengers and shippers a most desirable opporta, pity for quick transit, that, under existing circumstances in the East, may possibly not occur again for some time. The arrange ments for passengers are unsurpassed for comfort and elegance. Rates of passage money, 59 guineas to 100 guineas. Freight. 91. per ton and 5 per cent.— Full narticuhus at the Company's Offices, No. I, Adelaide-place, London -bridge. TREATRE ItOYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee , )Ir. E. T. Smith. THI 4, EVENING, MARCH 27, Will be perf,rmed Principal characters by Mr. Elliot Galer and Mr. Henri Drayton ; Niue.; Lowe and Featherstone. After which, THE FEAST OF THE DRAGON, an I Magical Performances of the Chinese Tro u p e. To conclude with a new Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE RHINE, introducing those favourite Artistes, Mddles Thersise and Annie Cushnlo, Miss M. Charles, 3torls, Milano, and Gr nd Co: pi de Ballet. THEATRE ROYAL HAYAARKET. Under the manazerrent ')t Mr. t3nekstone. Tars i 4 .VENING, MARCH 27, Will be performed OUY 'MANNERING. Supported by Messrs. Ft. Albylt, Farren, Compton, Rogers, Rowe, Clark, Corr', and Cullenlord; Miss Cushman (as Meg Merrilies), Miss Julia Ilarland, and s . lrs. L.. 4. Buckingham. After which, WILTAKINT. ANTI Hi 3 DEN.A.II. Supported by Mettsm B:tlt.done and CO:Ti ; llis3 Louisa, Howard, Mrs. Fitzwil 11m, and Nirs. Caulfield. lrter which, the opening' Seems of the PANTOMIME, call , d HARLEQUIN AND THE; THREE BEARS; or, Little Silvcrhair and the ;Fairies. ItOY.AT. TEIEATICE, OXFORD-STKEtT. Cn , ler the .:11'arptgenvnt of Mr. CHARLES KEAN. 'THIS EVETI.NI3. MARCH 27, Wilt be pereormed IICICEIARD THE TRIED. Principal etiarac- See by Mr. C. Kean. Mier which, -AWAY WITH MEIANCIIOLY. Characters by 'Messrs. Mc*lows, D. Fisher, and Saker ; a . ul Misses Murray and Da!y. LYCEUM THEATILE Under the nanagement of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENINIG. MARCII 27. Will be performed WANTED, SHE-WOLF. Characters by Xessrs. (liarles Mathews, F. Mathews, and Baker; Miss Oliver. To be followed by A CIIARMING WIDOW. Com:Wing with NUMBER. ONE ROUND THE CORNER. After which, the popular Fairy .7,:ctravaganza, entitled ONCE I.ll' AN A TIME WF,lst,l TWO , _;baracters by Messrs. F. ,15latth , ws, and Bland ; Madame Vestris, Misses St ..4eorge, ilglanton; 3isson, Martindale, Ellis, Wadharn,' and TdEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Pro?rtetor, Mr. Si. Webster.—Dlrectress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVEN/N , I, 3 , lmicit 27, Will be p,rforrnect TW'fl LOVE 4 .tNI) .1 LIFE. Supported by 3l , ssra. C. Soloy, Leigh Iturray, zeniaTun l'ebster, Keeley, and O. Smith; Woolgar an I Madame Celeste. To conclude with TiiE SE Et [0 U 3 FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Leizh Murray, Parselle, and Keeley; Mrs. L. Murray, M:sses Woo!gar, Fanny , Maskell, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL. OLYIIPIC TIIE&TRE, Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wiv,an. TATS EVENING, MAacu 27, Will be performed ME WRONG' I . IOX. Supported by Messrs. Alfred Wigan and Robinson ; Miss P. Horton, Miss Wyndham, and Miss E. Turner., To be followed by TO OBLIGE BENSOY. Supported by Messrs. 117tery, Robson, and Leslie; Ars. Stirling and .Miss Wyndham. To be followed by TILE FIRS P Ur. Characters by Messrs. 4Lifm.t Wigan, Leslie, Franks, ilarwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss T. Horton, and Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. S..ge Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alleroft. —Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, .THIS EVENING, MAacix 27, Wlll be presented `• SO IRISH NEED APPLY." Principal characters by Messrs. U. Hodson, Warren, and Herbert; Misses H. Noel and Hammond. Followed by WilY DD 'T HE INURRY? After which, I'HE BUTE Followed by THE PET OF TEIE PURCIC. To conclude with Malone's rravegte of MACBETH. Stalls, 53.; Boxes, 34.; Pit, ; lallery, 6d.; Private Boxes, 11, I Is. 6c1., to be net of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street, ASTLErS EUROPE'S NATIONAL A.MPIIETIIEA.TRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, MAsca 27, And during the week, will be presented the new, grand, and romantic jipectacle entitled THE WOODMAN'S HORSE; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Horse by the pet steed, Beauty, expressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, the incomparable Scenes of the ARENA. To conclude with BE3S OF THE BELL. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. West. Stage Manager, Mr. W HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam DAY —Morning '3 min.after 1 1 Evening 26 min.aft. 1 To.Mounow—Morning 46 min.after 1 1 Evening 8 min.aft. 2 THE WEATHER.—SuN Orrica, 31.. tum 26. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE r)7—highest since noon yesterday. 44 —lowest this morning and during the night. 56—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'95. WIND, W.N.W. to N.W.—Fresh breeze; dull weather, with slight rain. 31ABori 27. 56 —highest since noon yesterday. 43—lowest this morning and during the night. 50—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 30'27—rising. WIND, S.W . . to W.—Light breeze, with fine, sunshiny weather. THREE O'CLOCK.—The wind has gone round to N.N.W., with cold, foggy weather. 9._'7 ti; ' V,,-. 0, ) 1.2,. t ."° I '. ''! , W. f.r.:- A 1 , ( 11, , ----t--,,,, ~,kta ,-3111 LONDON, MONDAY, MA.ItCH 27, 1854. A Declaration of War may now be confidently anticipated in the next Gazette—and a Message from her MAJESTY will, in all likelihood, as a prelimi nary to the Declaration, be presented this very-even ing to both Houses of the Imperial Parliament. It is what alone can be rationally expected after the intelligence last received from St. Petersburg. That intelligence amounted, to all intents and "Purposes, to an intimation that the final hope of any pacific arrangement between the contest ing Powers, between the assailant and the cham pions of Turkisk Independence, and through 7 nrkish lndependence of the future progress of civilisation and of the permanent tranquillity of Christendom, had, for once and for all, been dissipated by the obstinacy of the Russian Arroor.A.T • Such i pable of bein g drawn from the peremptory refusal of the I AR to give any answer whatever to the u/timatun t , through which the Allies of the SULTAN insisted up on the immediate evacuation of the Principalities. It is, in fact, quite impos sible to draw any other conclusi on th an thi s f rom the communication addr essed to the French and English Consuls at St. P etersburg, i n th e name of his Imperi al Mast er, by Count N E ss EL RODE. Having declined to repl y i n any way to the demand of the Western Powers, the Emperor NrcuoLiks has thus virtual l y decli ned complia nce with the request therein submitted hint, for the instant withdrawal of his troops from the in vaded provinces, across the Pruth, into hi s Own territory of Bessarabia. So that the last faint pro bability of a pacification has f a il e d —failed s o ut _ terly and irretrievably that the Lords and the Commons will, in all likelihood, receive this even ing a formal intimation to that effect in a Royal Message from the SOVEREIGN. p,. eckFation of War will fortunately emana te " r - -tnf , iaild under several most advantageous ciregMstances.: 'lt will occur only after the most •., cordial alliance has been established between our • , • own :and the, -French Imperial Government. It will come to 'ptii4s only after every effort, reason- able and unreasonable, has been made by the Ministers of the allies of Turkey for the preven tion of bloodshed, and for the conservation of the It will arise—this terrible peace of Christendom. and disastrous war—when both of the great Powers of Western Europe are more than ever well prepared—when their armies and their navies have arrived at their most perfect state of organisation —when they have already insured the presence of powerful maritime' armaments both in the Entine and the Baltic----the presence of these vast armaments, remember, in time for the com mencement of hostilities. It is under such a propi tious conjuncture of circumstances that France and England will have to enter boldly on the struggle with the might, and the pride, and the ambition of the Russian Autocracy. Entering upon this dread conflict, moreover, with the sinews of war already to the full guaranteed each by its respec tive population. Sending their united forces against those of their great Northern antagonist, not for the gratification of selfish passions, or with a view to rapine, or for any lawless purposes of aggrandisement, but in the cause of Right, cf Truth, and of Justice, in the name of all that is noblest, and loftiest, and holiest in Christendom. If England enters upon war with Russia only after having allied herself cordially to the same end with imperial France—it is not so, however, in the relation subsisting at this dread crisis between the Councils of St. James's and the Tuileries, and the Austrian and . Prussian Governments. England and France, at this; moment on the eve of war, know not actually in what light either Austria or Prussia should be regarded by the bel ligerents. A neutrality the thing is no torious—has been long talked of at Vienna and Berlin : an armed neutrality, affording the two Cabinets a chance of escape from the dreaded collision, and of enabling them, possibly later ou, to ally themselves safely with whichever side gives promise of proving itself victorious. A neutrality ! Better an open defiance than any such despicable evasion!! Better un grateful foes, than false, because merely nominal and pretended, friends such as those ! Absolutely, nothing could be more rash than the course thus adopted by the German Governments. Each, no doubt, imagines its policy to be eminently sagacious, all things considered. Whereas we venture to assert that an agreement with either of the belligerents, an agreement with either Russia or with France and England, would have revealed less temerity than this suici dal scheme of a neutral line of conduct—a line drawn, only for the time being, midway through all this throng and complication, maze and labyrinth of European difficulties. Does the Prussian KING, does the Austrian EMPEROR, for an instant reflect that he places his crown, by this ingenious device, in imminent jeopardy ? Have they alike forgottea the precarious balance upon which each has built up (like' an inVerted pyramid) the enormous, and elaborate, and ano malous fabric of an unpopular Government ? Have they, after the agonising suspense of 1849, elimi nated all the warning truths inscribed upon the stony tablets of history by the bayonet dipped in blood—that iron pen of the revolutionary annalists of the Confederation ? Is the Cabinet of Berlin unconscious of this—that England and France, at their pleasure, might any day give a signal for the rising of the whole Prussian population? Can the Viennese Government be blind to the fact that when ever we so please, we may sound the tocsin of the disruption of the whole of the heterogeneous A.ustri an I dominions ? That we have but to raise the national standard, under the shelter of the blended colours of the union-jack and the tri-color at Cracow, and Pesth, and Milan—and Poland, and Hungary, and Lombardy, would have once more, and this time effectually, achieved their independence ? A word to liossuT4, a hint to MAzzun, a whisper of encouragement to the Polish Confederation— and the empire of the House of RVDOLPII would have crumbled into dust, and Poles, and Mag yars, and Lombards would have gloriously won their emancipation. Holding thus completely in their grasp the fate of Central Europe, Eng land and France can laugh to scorn this babble about an Austrian and Prussian neutrality —now when, atthis supreme moment, in the Black Sea and in the Baltic their terrible fleets are about to con test with those of the Russian AUTOCRAT, for the life or death of civilisation, for the tranquillisation or for the devastation of Christendom. united in good faith and cordial alliance, had' nothing to fear from " the world in arms." Even though the Great German Powers had exchanged doubtful friendship or suspicious neutrality for open and undisguised hostility, they felt that matters having •proceeded so far it was desirable that the Northern Despot should be " bound over to keep the peace," and that he should give ample sureties for his " future" good behaviour. It was perfectly clear to every person of ordinary intel ligence and ordinary information that we have been for a considerable time past " slumbering on a volcano," the eruption being a question merely of time. The worst that could occur would be a continuance of the vacillating policy that en couraged aggression and 'led the would-be spoliator to believe that we should purchase peace at any price —and be -willing evqn to connive at robbery, if we ourselves obtained a fair proportion of the plunder. France and England have resisted the temptation. They have stood firm, side by side, and shoulder to shoulder, and it would be treason to chivalry, nay, more, im piety, to doubt that " Gop will defend the right." All that is now required is that the people should stand firm and refuse to sacrifice their property. If they hold on steadily, the parties who have over-sold themselves will have cause to rue their reckless dealing. A large amount of Stock must be obtained to liquidate the loans that have been made. Never was there a time when it was more essential that fundholders should stand firm. Patriotism demands as vigorous and decided a resistance to the unconscientious and unjustifiable proceedings of the ursce minores of Capel Court, as to the nefarious conduct of their Leviathan brother the ursa major of Muscovy. The proposed abolition of compulsory removal of paupers perplexes some intelligent members by the apparently opposed claims of justice to the ratepayer and benevolence to the poor. Very few, indeed, can successfully sustain the demands of the close parishes. They have but too long enjoyed a most unrighteous exemption ; too long visited upon others the support of the sickness and old age of those by whose labour they are enriched. The spirit of the Poor-law is, that the destitute shall be relieved by those on whom they have the most natural claim. Another class of ratepayers are, however, fully entitled to a candid hearing. The open parishes, and the large towns forming a union iu themselves, to which the adjacent close parishes, and perhaps the adjacent unions too, have contrived to shuffle off many of their poor, is it fair that they should be saddled with all the paupers for whom they have been hitherto compelled to find habitations, and all that they will continue to have thrust upon them ? Now, we beg the attention of all our readers, interested in this important matter, to two or three remarks. For one thing, it is almost impossible that selfishness should do more in this respect than it has done. All who could be driven away from close parishes, compatibly with carrying on their work at all, have been got rid of. They are already fathered upon the unfortunate unions and parishes which could not repel them. There really seems little likelihood that this evil can be much augmented. Possibly a few worthless characters may be got to migrate to towns who now will not do so, because afraid to leave their parish ; the preference for home is, however, so strong that the danger is not great from that source. But, on the other hand, the open parishes should look at the certain relief which a great part of them will be sure to gain in the course of a little time. The effect of the union rating will inevitably be to locate the labourers hitherto thrown upon them. nearer to their work. The very complaints of the proprietors of close parishes against union rating prove this. They know that their righteous share of the union burden will fall upon them, and as they will have to bear the burden, whether they denude their farms and estates of labourers or not, it is clear they will have no motive for doing it. They will, on the contrary, prefer to have their workmen more within call, and ready to commence their toil without the fatigue of a pre vious walk, frequently of several miles. As be tween parishes of the same union there will be rio motive whatever to interfere with the resi dence of workmen ; and as between unions, the, difference made by driving a few persons, likely to become paupers, into another 'union, will not be sufficient to render the practice common. Adding these considerations to the unquestionable advantage to the poor man, of not being compelled against his will to leave the place which has long become his second home, we must think that the injury will be small, if any, to the ratepayers in towns and open parishes, while the poor will be greatly benefited. At first it may seem hard to be compelled to re lieve those who have been - unfairly thrown upon us ; but the permanent tendency of the measure, and it is to permanent results a legislator must look, will be to locate the poor where they can best earn their living. The , needy will have no inducement to quarter themselves on any union but that which by birth, relationship, or employ ment, is most natural to them. There is a panic on the Stock Exchange. It is useless to attempt to disguise or mystify the fact that the steady and determined action of the Bears has for the moment been successful, and that although the large amount of speculative I l dealing was but too notorious, and the amount of " backwardation" paid on every account proved that the " ursine" fraternity were utterly incap able of supplying the stock which they contracted to deliver, if the proprietors were only true to them selves, and refused to play into the hands of their virulent assailants. For teu days past the fall has been uninterrupted. An occasional brief rally was almost immediately defeated, and the depression rendered even more decided in conse quence of the abortive attempt. The reduction within a single week has been no less than 3 per cent. for Consols, while for the railway and other shares it has been much greater. If we look to the quo tations on Friday the 17th and Friday the 24th (we prefer that day to Saturday, as many dealers make a partial, if not a complete holiday at the conclusion of the week, getting back early to their rural habitations), we find that on the former day the price of Consols were 901 to 91, while on the following Friday they were 87i to 88. London and North-Western Stock on the 17th were par to premium, or 100 to while on the 24th they were 4to discount, or 95-i to 96. These are but samples of the general depreciation, which may be stated to have been during the week from 3 to 5 per cent. on the value of every description of property, or security. But all that power would have been compara tively harmless if capitalists had not yielded to their unreasoning apprehensions, and listened to the croakings of interested alarmists—men who were prepared to inflict any amount of injury upon the community for a trifling profit for them selves. Granted that we are virtually at war, that our troops are far advanced on their way to take part in the sanguinary game, and that the combined Fleets of England and France ride proudly on the Euxine and the Baltic billows —granted that they will no longer maintain a useless inactivity, but that they will speedily display a degree of energy and determination commensurate with the popular desire—granted, that a formal message from the British SOVE REIGN to both Houses of Parliament, terminating the hollow peace and formally announcing the commencement of decided hostilities —any of these matters, taken singly, might justify the de preciation ; but, surely, they have been all long since fully discounted. There was not a single person throughout the entire country, possessing the means of speculating in stocks or shares, that was not just as well informed on all these matters on the 17th as on the 24th of March. Nay, more, there were few, if any of the number, who do net feel that it was desirable to terminate the injurious suspense that had so long: prevailed at any cost. It may be well worth considering whether it would not be possible to give legal effect to the just principle, that where a man chiefly labours he should have a claim to relief. It is the outraging of this simple and equitable rule which has brought such odium on the close parishes. There may be some practical difficulties ; but they might, we imagine, be easily overcome. A man's place of daily labour must be within walking distance of his home, and if it could be made law that the union, ten years hence, and till then the parish where the man works, must relieve him when a pauper, nearly all the unwished-for workings of the bill before Parliament would be effectually obviated. It should be remembered, too, that free trade in labour must, as in everything else, be reached at last. It is as certain that labour will distribute itself, in the long run, as accurately as prices, according to the law of supply and de mand ; that is, if it be unfettered. The whole community will be a great gainer, and the cases of real injury to ratepayers—for compelling close parishes to do their duty we hold to be no injury —will, we believe, be very few. The good is certain—the evils, we hope and believe, are chiefly imaginary. MONE Y MA RKE AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at 4,000 bales, including 1,000 American taken for export. The market closed with a downward tendency. The sales comprised 3,000 American, 200 Pernam and Maranham, at 6d., 80 Bahia at 6kd. to 6td., 200 Egyptian at bid. to 101 d., and 700 Surat at 24d. to 4.id. per lb. The share market opened dull but closed with a better feeling. The railway meetings announced are the fol lowing : Company. Date. Place, &c. East Anglian Mar. 31, London Tavern. Londonderry & Enniskillen Mar. 28, Coleman-st-build. Rouen and Havre Mar. 30, Paris. Sambre and Meuse April 7, Belgium. Shrewsbury and Birmingham Mar. 28, Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury and Chester__ Mar. 29, Chester. St. Andrew's and Quebec (Class A.) Mar. 30, Parliament-street. Toun., Jurb., Land. & Haslt Mar. 27, Brussels. Western of France Mar. 30, Paris. As the packet which brings over the United States and Canada mails is a screw steamer, and easterly winds have prevailed for several days, it is not ex pected she will arrive until about the middle of the present week. There is such regularity in the transatlantic communication, that the delay of a day or two excites remark ; but Government have taken up one or two of the finest steamers belong ing to the Cunard Company for the conveyance of troops. The overland mail is telegraphed from Trieste. The dates will be about a month later from Aus tralia, namely, to the 25th January ; and as far as the outline enables us to form an opinion, there was an , improvement in trade. This, however, refers to Sydney, where the markets have through out been better than at Melbourne. CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office, Downing-street, on Saturday after noon. The ministers present were the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Council sat three hours. From Calcutta it is stated that a fair business was doing, and that the rate of exchange was de clining. The Frendh General Orgom had been re called from Burmah, where he had been directing the military operations of the forces hostile to England. He returns to France. The ship Hanover brings letters of Dec. 21 from Port Philip. The Maitland has arrived from Syd ney, but her dates are only of October 25. We have already had intelligence as late as the above via Panama. HEALTH OF VrscouNT PALMERSTON.—We are happy to say, on inquiry at the mansion of Viscount Palmer ston on Saturday, that his lordship is much improved in health, and is fast progressing to a state of con valescence. The splendid Liverpool clipper Marco Polo, was wrecked entering Port Philip Bay, but fortunately no lives were lost. She had a valuable cargo on board, and it was doubtful whether she would be saved. TheTrivate letters from the Continent furnish many items of interest. The Prussian Govern ment had been unable to refuse the application for pilots to the English fleet, war not having yet been declared against Russia either by England or France, Once on board, we shall know how to retain their services. Sweden has marked down a very liberal policy with regard to neutrality. The ships of war of either party will be allowed to fre quent her ports and to provision there, but no ma terials of . war will be supplied, nor can prizes be taken in, except owing to stress of weather. In accounts from Weser it is remarked that no English or French subjects are now permitted to cross the Russian frontiers, and English families are quitting Russia. The commerce of Riga, Odessa, and other ports was wholly impedied by the prohibition to export gold. The corn trade is very dull to-day, and prices are lower, owing to the large supplies. Before business had gone far enough to occasion a fall, Consols were this morning quoted / per cent. lower, being 871 to as the news of Satur day is confirmed, and the announcement of the Emperor's refusal will be made to Parliament this evening, to be followed by the declaration of war. At this moment the prices are up again to 87i 1. It would appear, however, that neither capitalists nor speculators have any intention just yet to sup port the market. Exchequer Bills have been 2s. discount to 2s. premium, and East India Bonds as low as 7s. discount. Foreign Securities have been very heavy again, and them is a further decline in Russian. The 5 per Cents. have been 83, but the 4 per Cents., which opened at 711, have since improved to 73k. Portuguese 4 per Cents. have been at 33 to 34, Spanish 3 per Cents. at 31i to 35, and the Deferred at 16i to 17. Mexican have been quiet at 22i- and Peruvian flat at 54 to 55 for the 4i per Cents. Dutch 2 per Cents. have been marked 52. In the English Railway Share Market, the de cline is about to 1 per Cent., but with limited transactions. The London and North Western, South`Western and some other of the old under takings are lower than for somo years. French Shares have been depressed also, and in Luxem burgh there is a decline of 10s. to 155., All the miscellaneous shares are receding. The Mines are dull, the Banks have been offered to some extent, and the Australian Agricultural Land Company is about 1/. cheaper. _ BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.-CLOSING PRICES. (Prom the Official List.) BusinesP doi 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities B7l 7 New 5 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Yesterday was the anniversary of the natal day of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who completed his 35th year. -- - - India Stock 225 India Bonds, £lOOO ....... ..... . ..... . Consols for Account 18th April B7 . 1 1 6i Exchequer Bills, 2d. £lOOO £5OO 2 d 2 p Small 2 d 2 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Xustrian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent Ditto 5 per Cent Wexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent. 54 5 Ditto for the Account ssh Ditto 3 per Cent Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent 34 3 Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St B3 a d Ditt9 4} per Cent 7li 3t Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 74 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 34i 5 Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l6i 17 On all former stages, during the progress of events, the public supported the national credit. There was no alarm —no abject terror exhibited. The speculators for a fall were defeated, because there were parties ready to rally round the public securities and to invest their, money at reasonable prices. They felt that England and France, Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchango, 2i per Cent. 12 Gail 52 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ...... THREE O'CLOCK. Consols Ditto April Account B6i 7 The Earl of Cotteuham, we hear, is on the eve of leaving England on an extended continental tour. His lordship intends residing abroad for four or five years. The Earl of Durham, who is about to lead to the altar the Lady Beatrice Hamilton, second daughter of the Marquis of Abercorn, and niece by half-blood to the Duke of Bedford and Lord John Russell, in his 26th year. Her ladyship is in her 19th year. The ceremony will take place shortly after Easter. THE SPEAKER'S DINNER. —The Right Hon. the Speaker gave his seventh Parliamentary dinner on Sa turday. The following were present :—The Earl of Euston, Viscount Emlyn, Hon. Colonel Lindsay, Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Sir Graham Montgomery, Sir Archibald Campbell, Sir Robert Price, Sir Henry Meux, Mr. Hastings Russell, Mr. Stanhope, Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, Colonel Herbert, Colonel Hall, Mr. Smyth, Mr. Granville Vernon, Mr. Ormsby Gore, Captain Jones, Mr. Hankey, Mr. Du Pr 6, Mr. Thornhill, Mr. Heneage, Mr. Floyer, Mr. George Sandars, Mr, George Dundas, Mr. Deedes, Mr. Ingham, and the Secretary and the Rev. Mr. ander (chaplain.) Mr. Fello vies was prevented attending through the death of an uncle, and Mr. John Ball through indisposition. COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.—The sentence of death passed upon Abel Burrows, at the last Bedford assizes, for the murder of Charity Glenister, has been commuted to penal servitude for life. The prisoner had been in a state t of frenzied excitement for some time prior to the commission of the offence, and had made violent attacks upon his father and wife ; and the result of an investi gation made since the trial into the state of his mind leaves no room to doubt that when 'lie committed the murder he was an irresponsible agent—Observer. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1854. THE OVERLAND MAIL (By Submarine and European Telegraph.) The steamer Bombay arrived in Trieste on the 25th, at half-past eight a.m., in 112 hours from Alexandria, which place she left on the 20th. The Ripon was to leave that day, with advices from Calcutta, Feb. 19 ; Madras, Feb. 24 ; Shanghai, Feb. 4 ; Hong Kong, Feb. 11 ; Singapore, Feb. 18 ; Penan r.r, Feb. 21; Galle and Bombay, Feb. 28 ; Burmah, Feb. 2 ; Sydney, Jan. 25 ; Mel bourne, Jan. 30 ; Adelaide, Feb. 2. _ _ Bassein, in Burmah, is in a disturbed state. Captain d'Orgoney, the French officer in the service of the King of Ava, is on his way to France. Trade at Calcutta fair. Indigo has fallen. Fix change 2s. ld., declining. Shanghai is still in possession of the rebels, and the rebel army is wintering at Fech Liu, 100 miles from Peking. Exchange at Shanghai, ss. Old., and falling ; at Canton, 4s. 11d. The returns from the gold fields in New' South Wales are increasing, and a rich mine has been found at Tambarowa. Trade in Australia is improving, with a brisk de mand for goods at Sydney. • Price of Gold—at Sydney, 3/. 17s. ; at Mel bourne, 3/. 16s. per oz. MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA. GENERAL POST-OFFICE, March, 1854. The next mails for Australia will be forwarded by the steam-ship Queen of the South, under a contract made between the Postmaster-General and the General Screw Steam-ship ping Company.. This vessel is appointed to leave Southampton on the 4th April next, after the arrival at that port of the mail from London, despatched on the morning of that day : and all letters and newspapers for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Van Die men's Land posted in London, or reaching London, up to the morning of the 4th April, and not addressed to be sent by any other vessel, will be forwarded by the "Queen of the South." The packet rates of postage, which must be pai4 in advance, will be chargeable on letters transmitted by the Queen of the South ; but no charge will be made upon newspapers. It is understood that the creditors of Messrs. War wick, Harrison, and Warwick, shawl and silk manufac turers, who failed on the 15th inst., have agreed to accept a composition of 16s. in the pound, payable at three, six, and nine months, with security for the last instalment. The debts and liabilities constitute a larger sum than was originally anticipated, being 37,8001., while the assets are stated at 37,300/. MEETING OF DICKSON AND CO.'S CREDITORS AT GLASGOW.--The creditors of Messrs. Dickson and Co. met on Friday. Nearly 120 were present. A statement of affairs, as accurate as was possible under the circum stances, was submitted to the meeting. The liabilities were stated to be close upon 400,0001. ; viz., uncovered, 213,0981. ; covered, 185,8901. Consignments at Dick son and Co.'s credit, 330,9381. Advances at their debit, 199,8341. Assigned by them in anticipation of pro ceeds, 50,5621., leaving an apparent reversion from this source of 80,0831. Adding other sums standing at the credit of Dickson and Co., the total assets were esti mated at 118,1101. The estate is expected to yield from 7s. to 10s. per pound. The consignments appear to have been made not only to Australia, but also to Cali fornia, New York, the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, New Zealand, &c. A strong feeling was manifested, on the part of the meeting, to have the covered accounts and assignments subjected to a thorough scrutiny.— Commonwealth. THE MEDITERRANEAN.—SOUTHAMPTON, March 26. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Rajah, Captain N. Cook, arrived here this morning, with dates from Constantinople, Feb. 23 ; Smyrna, March 1 ; Malta, March 5 ; Gibraltar, March 12. On the 20th inst., while off Ushant, the Rajah lost her propeller (Griffith's patent), which broke off on the boss, the weather at the time being very rough, and blowing a gale from the eastward, with a heavy sea. The re mainder of the voyage has been performed under can vass. The Rajah brings the following valuable cargo : Eight bags of galls, 153 cases of fruit, 13 boxes of oranges, 95 bales of goats' wool, 61 bales of carpets, 764 cases, 32 drums, and 181 casks of red raisins, 350 cases of figs, 425 bags of valonia, 1,474 drums of sul tanas, 56 cases of gum, 5 cases of otto of roses, 57 cases of opium, 254 bales of silk, 6 packages of ele phants' teeth, 98 bales of sheep's wool, 15 bales of skins, 152 cases of sponge, 628 cases and 41 barrels of black fruit, 7,823 pieces of boxwood, 10 boxes of sca mony, and sundry merchandise. In consequence of the disabled state of the Rajah, the Sultan will, we are informed, be dispatched in her place, on the 31st inst., or Gibraltar, Malta, andSoustantinople. y' j THE BALTIC FLEET. A telegraphic despatch, dated Kiel, yesterday (Sunday), states that the fleet, 18 strong, entered the Great Belt early on the 25th. Six English ships of war were then already off Kiel. Anotherdespatch, dated Nyborg, yesterday, says, the fleet is passing from Romsoe : three large ships are off this place, one with Admiral Napier on board. A correspondent of the Times gives the sub joined account of the Baltic Fleet. It is dated Gothenburg, March 19 :—" The squadron • under the orders of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier weighed anchor in the Downs at 2 p.m. of the 13th inst., under steam and Canvass, with a light breeze from the southward, and proceeded through 'the Gull stream, steering E.N.E. By sunset the ships had formed three divisions or columns, sailing in open order, and according to the following pro gramme : LEE COLUMN. (Screws.) Edinburgh, 58, (bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Chads). Hogue, 60. CENTRAL COLUMN. (Screws.) Duke of Welling ton,l3l, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, Com. -in• Chief. St. Jeau d'Acre,lol Royal George, 120. Princess Royal, 91 Cressy, 80. Imperieuse, 50. Arrogant, 46. WEATHER COLUMN. (Paddle-wheels.) Leopard, 12, (hay ing the flag of Rear-Admiral Plumridge). Valorous, 16. Blenheim, 60. Ajax, 58. Amphion, 34. Tribune, 30. Dragon, 6. "Early in the following morning the fires were extinguished, the propellers and paddle-wheels disconnected, each ship making and shortening sail as requisite, to keep in station. In the forenoon the crews were exercised at general quarters ; in the afternoon the newly-raised men were put to cutlass, drill, &c. At noon the squadron was in lat. 52 deg. 50 min. N., long. 3 deg. 10 min. E., the Scaw Light bearing N. 40 deg. 47 E., 338 miles distant. The wind during thci day was abaft the beam. Towards evening it fell light, and at mid night a calm had set in, when the fires were lighted, steam got up, propellers and paddles connected, the ships steering a N.E. course. At nine a.m. of the 15th, each ship's company went to general quarters, and fired three rounds of blank cartridge. At noon the latitude was 54 deg. 24 min. N., long 4 deg. 10 min. E., the Scow Light bearing N.E. by E. by compass, 260 miles, squadron still under steam alone. A dense fog set in at sunset, and continued during the night, the flag-ships Duke of Wellington, Edinburgh, and Leopard firing a gun every half hour to denote their position to the rest of the squadron. " Up to 10 a.m. of the 16th none of the squadron were visible, most of them having parted company during the preceding night. Towards noon the atmosphere became partially clear. The weather column, comprising the Leopard, Valorous, and Dragon, the Princess Royal, Royal George, Impe rieuse, and Arrogant of the central, and the Ajax of the lee columns, having separated from the rest during the prevalence of the fog, were not in sight. The wind was blowing fresh from the southward. The ships in company closed with that of the Commander-in-Chief, and made sail to close-reefed topsails and reefed courses. At noon the lat. was 56.18 N., long. 5.40 E., the northern point of Denmark bearing E. by N., by compass 199 miles. About 4 p.m. the fires were put out, each ship spreading the canvass requisite to keep in position. The wind becoming light the next morning, the reefs were shook out, and the squad ron proceeded under all plain sail. "At ten a.m. of the 17th land was perceived, bearing N. W. %Vent to general quarters by signal. At noon got up steam, &c., the Naze, Norway, being N.W. by W. by compass, 30 miles, and Ska gen Point, Denmark, E. by S. 90 miles. None of the missings had yet rejoined the squadron. " Early in the morning of the 18th, the light on Skagen Point was made, and shortly after daylight a merchant vessel being observed to be on shore on the northern point of the coast of Norway, the Tribune was despatched to render any assistance that might be necessary. The Ajax came in sight by 8 a.m. The brig Peggy, of London, ]aden with coals for the fleet, was taken in tow by the Cressy, and the whole of the squadron, with the exception of the Royal George and Arrogant, were at anchor in Wingo Sound, in the Cattegat, by 3 p.m. The Euryalus, Captain W. Ramsay, together with the ships which parted company in the fog which prevailed during the night of the 16th, had pre viously arrived. Sir C. Napier struck his flag on board the Duke of Wellington, and proceeded on the morning of the 19th to Copenhagen, leaving Rear-Admiral Chads in command. The various ships will replenish their coal, and on return of the Commander-in-Chief, by which time it is expected Rear-Admiral Corry with the vessels under his orders, together with the French fleet, will have arrived, the allied squadron will proceed to Kiel, in Holstein, and thence to the Baltic." The following is extracted from a letter of the 20th instant from Copenhagen : " Admiral Sir C. Napier arrived here last night in the Valorous, 15, Captain Buckle, hating run over from Vingey, where a large fleet is assembled. Sir Charles immediately repaired to the English Minister. To-day he visited the ducks, &c., and was received this evening by Mr. Buchanan, toge ther with a distinguished party. He starts early in the morning. Captain Lyons has returned with fresh despatches ; and Mr. Taylor, our consul general at Elsinore, has suddenly departed for London. It is expected that a part of the fleet will be sent here, while a part will lie at Elsinore. The larger ships must, of course, go to Kiel. The Mi randa is on the look-out in the Baltic, where the navigation is still considerably impeded by drift-ice. Here, as in other ports, the Finnish and Russian vessels are in great trepidation. They cannot put to sea without fear of being snapped up by the enemy, and it is irksome for them to remain where they are. They will doubtless soon change hands and crews. "As to Danish politics, there is nothing to be said. The Ministry will not go out—so that is the long and the short of it. There was a Cabinet Council yesterday at Frederiksborg ; but the result was nil. Everybody is astounded. The King as sured the Speakers of the two houses that at least Orsted and Sponneck would be removed ; but they refuse to retire. His Majesty has reckoned with out his host, or rather without his guests. The whole malignant despotic faction (the Russian party, the Hessian party, the new Court, and the German Schleswig-Holstein league), are deter mined not to give way. Meantime, they - are spreading the report that the state of affairs abroad forbids a change, and that England, which has hitherto strongly supported them (which is true), will not act with any other Cabinet (which is a calumnious falsehood). The national papers are taking unnecessary trouble to convince the public of the monstrous untruth of the above, and that the days of the European necessity' are now over. " It is high time that Mr. Buchanan was officially , empowered to protest against all such hateful machi nations, and that he was specially requested by Lord Clarendon to inform the King that the treaty of London did not contain one word about the ab rogation of the Danish succession law, or the ille galities of Russianizing Cabinet Ministers, or the perjured destruction of the Danish Constitution, or the re-establishment of an open and flagrant Schleswig-Holstein, or the attempt to enslave the Monarchy through the Duchies, and the Duchies through the Monarchy—all for the especial benefit of Russia." A second letter dated Copenhagen, March 22, says :—" On the evening of the 16th the Swedish Government made a formal communication to the four houses of the acknowledgment of the Swedish neutrality by a. number of States. A mong th ese was Russia, under date of March 7. Thus has this long expected acknowledgm en t t a k en place— doubtless owing princ'pally to the resolution shown, and the warlike measures taken. Russia had modi fied her terms, but was still refused ; and now the consent has been unconditional. It was accom panied, it is said, by a private note from the Czar, abounding in terms of amity and compliment. " Admiral Napier lett this morning at half-past four, on board the paddle-steamer Valorous, having first been refused the honour of an inter- view with the King by his Ministers, on the absurd plea that he was too unwell to undergo so great an exertion. So Russia may be calm—her interests are in good hands. It is now commonly reported the English and French Ministers have had an audience of his Majesty, for the especial purpose of requesting that there might be no change of Ministry at this crisis, and that it is owing to this advice that his Majesty's solemn assurance to the Speakers has been forgotten. " The arrival of the English fleet at Wingosound has created quite a revolution in Gothenburg. The frigate Euryalus was the first to show herself on Thursday. On Friday the Swedish private steamer the Halland, went out to try its engines, and found another frigate at anchor ; and while out at sea it met three other steamers coming up. The Halland exchanged cheers and salutes with these vessels. On Saturday the Swedish boat made another excur sion to the fleet, with 300 or 400 passengers on board ; but by this time a ship of the line and a frigate were lying beside the other five ships. The Haland cruised about among them, and witnessed a boat exercise ; while the passengers were also allowed to go on board the liner Princess Royal. By and by four other steamers were visible. The Halland steered out to meet them, and passed close by the Duke of Wellington, on whose half-deck stood Sir Charles Napier. The gallant admiral heartily replied to the enthusiastic greetings of the Swedes. Next came the St. Jean d'Acre, Royal George, and Edinburgh. It had been proposed in Gothenburg to give a grand ball or dinner to the officers of the fleet, but it was doubtful whether this could be carried into effact, as the news of the death of the Duke of Sodermanland had just reached the town, and would probably stop all out ward acts of a festive nature. Our Consul-General, Mr. Engstrom, had communication with the Eng lish authorities on this occasion." LATEST FOREIGN SEWS. THE WAR IN THE EAST. RETURN OF_ THE QUEEN'S MESSENGER FROM ST. PETERSBURG. The Hon. Captain Blackwood, who was charged to deliver the British ultimatuth to the Czar, re turned to London on Saturday evening from St. Petersburg. He at once proceeded to the Foreign office, where he arrived at half-past 10. He was the bearer of despatches to our Government, which were immediately sent to the residence of Lord Clarendon. The result of his mission, which from the first was not doubtful, has already been announced by telegraph. The Czar has gratified his pride, and gained six days, by refusing to return any direct reply to the summons from France and England. The Czar " Has no answer to send." Captain Blackwood arrived at St. Petersburg on the 13th and delivered his message, waited until the expiration of six days, and on the 19th begun his homeward journey, reaching London, as above stated, on Saturday night. It is said he did not reach the Russian capital until three days later than had been calculated on, having met with extreme difficulty in procuring horses on his arrival at the different Russian post stations. Whether this was, mere chance or not it is impossible to say, but it is believed that impedi ments were purposely thrown in the way of the bearer of such an unwelcome message. THE GREEK INSURRECTION. The contradictory accounts which continue to be received of the Greek insurrection render it dif ficult to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the state of that movement, or the extension it has acquired. One day we are told of a corps of the Turkish army being attacked and routed, on an other we hear that the Turks have the upper hand that the Greek insurrection, which it is denied was ever extensive, is all but sup pressed. On a comparison of this conflicting intelligence, which perhaps proceeds from the exaggerated hopes of the insurgents, and the de sire of the Turkish authorities to make the world believe that the rising is only a contemptible re volt, we find that, whether from defective mea sures or from the ill conduct and negligence of the officers of the Porte, the iusurr ection is as yet far from being put down, and that it will perhaps re quire thb presence of an auxiliary force to do so. What object the Greeks can now have in thus add ing to the embarrassments of the Turkish Govern ment it is difficult to say. The Emperor of Russia made the same declarations to the Greek Minister at St. Petersburg which are to be found in the " secret correspondence," with reference to the ex tension of the territory of the Kingdom of Greece and to the re-establishment of a Byzantine Em pire. That declaration was communicated even in a more peremptory manner than in the conversa tions with Sir H. Seymour, and whatever may be the object of the Greek subjects of the Porte, or of independent Greece, it is certain that from the Emperor Nicholas they have nothing to hope. The Cabinet of Athens has disavowed all partici pation in the revolt, but has confessed its inability to prevent its subjects from openly aiding the in surgents. Whatever ground there may be for sus petting the sincerity of that disavowal, the private information that is occasionally received from Greece does not confirm it. Indeed, that informa tion is decidedly against King Otho and his agents. The following is from the Times Paris corres pondent's letter, dated yesterday, 6 p.m. :—" I mentioned some time since the intention of the French Government to call upon the Cabinet of Vienna for a categorical explanation of its policy on the Russian question, and of its position with reference to France and England in the event of war with Russia. The note which contained these demands was a collective one ; and I am informed that a similar note was presented to the Cabinet of Berlin. It invited those Governments, not pre cisely to send an army into the field, not to com mence hostilities against Russia, but to specify the case, and to indicate the circumstances, which would render it indispensable for them to quit a system of neutrality. The precise day on which that communication was made I cannot say, but it is asserted that sufficient time has elapsed for an answer ; and the delay that has taken place in the receipt of that answer explains the dissatisfac tion to which I allluded in my letter of Friday. In the meantime we have all sorts of rumours about a treaty of alliance, defensive and offensive, between Prussia and Austria, and though little credit is, I find, attached to them, it is, neverthe less, certain that a private telegraphic despatch, received this day from Berlin, speaks of it as a fait accompli. Ad.vices from Constantinople of the 16th inst., received via Vienna, state, the Grand Mufti, sup ported by the ex-Seraskier and the Ulemahs, has raised difficulties respecting his " fetwah," with out which the firman in favour of the Christians cannot be issued. There have been numerous conferences, at which the Sultan and the Grand Mufti were present, but, in consequence of the scruples of the latter, hitherto without result. Mehemet Pacha is intriguing against the military, and sides with the Mufti. The Fremdenblatt has the following, under date of Bucharest, March 21 : " Russian officers state that on the 18th March General Luders crossed the Danube, near Isatschka and stands with 45,000 men in Bulgaria." It seems now to be certain that Austria will fol low the bad example given to her by Prussia, and declare that she will remain neutral in the coming struggle. There does not, in fact, appear to be a doubt, as announced by the telegraphic despatches from Germany, that these two Powers have already concluded a treaty offensive and defensive, for the purpose of enforcing their neutrality, and also for reciprocally guaranteeing their possessions in the midst of the complications which the coming war may give rise to. The Austr i an Correspondenz says :—" General Baron Hess proceeds to Berlin with the Emperor's answer to the King of Prussia's letter, brought by Colonel Manteuffel. These missions prove that a closer alliance between Prussia and Austria is greatly desired, and the attainment of a more per fect understanding wished, respecting their mutual attitude in the Eastern question, for the protection of the common interest. The Wanderer has a letter of March 14, from St. Petersburg, which contains matter of consider able interest. The Russian papers vie with each other in abusing England and France. A. M. Wolkoff thus writes in one of them : " Proud Albion has the impudence to send her fleet into our seas, and the flag of France waves beside that of England. Well, let the invaders come on ; we are, as formerly, prepared to conquer or to perish. Let the West not complain if it again feels the weight of the hand Russia ; let it not be astonished if the Koran and theo Crescent are trodden in the dust." The Anglo-French alliance is lightly spoken of, partly because the power of England is underrated, and partly because it is supposed that the good un derstanding between the ancient rivals will be of no long duration. One of the St. Petersburg papers indulges in a violent attack on the Emperor of the French, who is reminded, that as he attained his present elevated position by the assistance of the revolution, so he may be deprived of it by the same power. " Only legitimate dynasties are firm and stable." The state of pub lic feeling in Rus s i a is represented to be so extre mel y excited, that the Government is not likely to consent to conclude peace on any terms but those of its own making. Money, cattle, biscuit, flour, &c., are continually contributed by individuals, but neither in propor tionuo to the size of the empire, nor in quan. , ...••••• tities as might reasonably be expected. The ktit tention of the public is called to the fact tha't Russia has considered .it necessary, " to put pro vinces conterminous with Prussia and Austria under military law." It seems that the possible , coalition of Europe has made more extensive pre cautionary measures necessary. The " inner guard" has commenced its duties, as is usually the case whenev9r the active army is employed beyond the frontiers, and on the 27th the Emperor was to inspect the maritime places and the reserve naval corps, which are now about to enter into active service. All the smaller vessels, about 400 in num ber, are put on a war footing, but it is not very clear, even to the Russians themselves, that they will be of any great service against the British fleet. " England will not, however, have such easy, work as she seems to expect. When the Russian fleet is destroyed, what will be done then Will troops be disembarked ?" In the Ba 'tic pro vinces there is now an army of 160,000 m en, and all the reserves are completed. An old Ger. feral, a Frenchman by birth, who has grown grey in the service of Russia, says, " Russia is able bolt ily to defy a. coalition of the whole of Europe." FRANCE. The subscription for the new loan having cle sea on the 25th, the Government has intimated that' as the subscriptions are considerably larger than t, he amount required, a diminution must be made On the larger subscriptions. It has consequently re - solved that the subscribers of 1,000 francs c'f Rents or over, will only receive 55 per cent. of tht)ir sub«-. scriptions; but that all subscriptions under a,ooof of Rente will be taken without any diminution. The closing paragraph of the article in the Moniteur of Thursday, in which it is stated that Russia, after having failed in London, came back to the French Government and made advances to it similar to those proposed to England, and h a similar result, naturally led to the inference tha t there were documents also in the hands of the, , former which would be made public. It was asserted that such was not the case, and that then advances, or rather bribes, held out to the Em-. perer of the French to induce him to join the spo ' liation of the Ottoman empire were of an indirect character, and not made in writing. It is said, however, that documents doreally exist, which in ay at some future day see the Light, and that they wore actually prepared for publication in the Moniteur, but, on further consideration, withdrawn for thepre sent. The more important are said to consist of two memorandums communicated by the late Russian Ambassador at the French Court to the Govern ment. There is little doubt that these' papers were drawn up with much care ; but it appemrs that the proposals contained in them were, if pos sible, of a still more tempting kind than thos e GOA) , veyed to Sir Hamilton Seymour. They ate, in fact, described as tres compromettants for the Em peror of Russia. It is, moreover, stated that Alters are despatches from the late French Ambassivlor in St. Petersburg to his Government, which are substantially the same as the memorandums ye ferred to. It is not said with certainty whetl ter they will be published, but that will, perhaps, &s -pend on what the Journal of St. Petersburg me '3 , again say with reference to the " secret correspol 1- dence" laid before the English Parliament. That journal made no allusion to the French Govern ment ; but should it commit the same act of folly it has already done, the Government will, no doubt, imitate the, English Government, aud com plete the exposure.. It is stated that a sum of 10,000,000 f. has been advanced by the Emperor Napoleon to the SOU= to aid the public service until such time as the .re sources of the new loan are available. It is addle d, that the money was advanced without hesitatiom. It would appear that the sort of financial panic in Paris already noticed has been exaggerated. Of the failure of one house there is no doubt, but the , two or three others—one of them long established;.• and well known—are now said not to be in the -cri— tical position that was feared. That house is a large , holder of shares in public companies, which, of course, suffer from the general depression of the ,money market ; but it is so far frow being insolvent that, on proper explanations being given, a considorible amount of its paper has been discounted on the ttisual -conditions by the Bank of France. Moreover, the fears of great scarcity are gradually vanishing, Ltot withstanding the difficulties in the corn trade, said - almost every post brings us information that the price of corn is falling, not only in France, but elsewhere. The annual ball, under the patronage of 'tie British Embassy, for the benefit of the British Charitable Fund in Paris, is fixed for the 19th of April, and will take place, as usual, in the Jars d'Hiver, which will be brilliantly illuminated for the occasion. The tickets are, even at•this early period, being rapidly disposed of. 'r h o.Exam; and Empress have subscribed, through Cowley, for 100 tickets at 20f. each. There is every reason to believe that the attendance wilt be numerous. The Monitcur publishes an article on the sub ject of the recent taking possession of New Cale donia. The remarks of the official journal derive their principal importance from its being the first time that the matter has been mentioned in the Government organ in such a prominent way. The Moniteur says :—The taking possession of New Caledonia has had for its object to secure t o France in the Pacific Ocean that position which is called for by the interests of her military and commercial marine and the views of the Government on the penitentiary regime—a position which is not given to her by the occupation of the small archipelago of the Marquesas, or the protectorate of the society Islands. The Three per Cents. opened on Saturday at 63f. 80c., rose to 64f. 25c., and closed at 63f. 950. for the end of the month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 90f. 75e. • Orleans Railway Shares, 1,070 f. ; Rouen, 845 f. ; Havre, 440 f.: Great I\Tor them, 723 f. The. ; Strasburg, 697 f. 50c. ; Nov Shares, 522 f. 50c. ; Lyons to Paris, 795 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 657 f. 50c. ; Western of France, 570 f. ; Bordeaux to Cette, 515 f. ; Great Central of France, 412 f. 50c. ; Lyons to Geneva, 430 f. ; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 520 f. ARRIVAL OF FRENCH TROOPS AT MALTA. On the 23d the French steamer Christoph Colomb, with the transport Mistral, arrived at Malta, having on board Generals Canrobert,, Bos quet, and Martimprey, 72 officers, 800 Men, and 70 horses belonging to the staff. None, of them had yet disembarked. The Kangaroo had ar rived, with the 77th Regiment. No preparations had been made for a move to the East. SPAIN. Advices of the 20th from Madrid says the Queen is to leave at the commencement of April for Aran juez, where she will pass the spring. Rumours of a Ministerial crisis have been cur rent, but they are quite unfounded. In the last Council of Ministers concessions of different lines of railway were made. Amongst them was one from Balnuz y Ezpiel to Cordova, which will be -very useful to the coal mines. The concession is made to Count de Santa Olalla, son of the Minister of Finance in 1834. This gentleman is about to leave for Paris and London, to make arrangements for commencing the works. Advices of the 21st speak of a visit of Queen Christina to Paris. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.--(THIS DAY-) (Before Mr. Commissioner Fane.) MERCANTILE FAILURE--IN RE SHIELDS• This bankrupt had carried on business as a merchant in Lime•sereet, City, and traded under the style or firm of Lavall, Shields and Co., and to-day was appointed for his last examination. The balance-sheet, prepared by Messrs. Robinson and Knowles, Basinghall-street, commencing 7th January, 1849, and extends to Nor. 1853, and shows debtors to creditors, 3,4161. 18s. 3d. ; to ditto holding security, 2,441/. 11s. 4d. ; capital, 300/. ; profits, 3,818/. ; credi tors, by good debts, 104/. ; due from Stewart and Frias; 1,221 ; property in the hands of credito r , 2 , 8391. losses, 1,2291. ; trade expenses, 6,5051. ; domestic, 6881. , personal, 1,880/. The bankrupt was examined at some length as to certain shares on Californian mines which it was alleged had not been acco unted fo r in the balance-sheet, but the entries were pointed out. Mr. Whitmore, the officiaassignee, l considered that the bankrupt had given all the information he could, an d no benefit would arise b p ya s nLf . urther adjournment. The bankrupt thereupon passed. THE SCOTS FUSILEERS.—The Simoom, with the Scots Fusileer Guards arrived on the 18th inst. at Malta, all well. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 26.—The ship Maitland, from Sydney, and steamer Ann, from New Zealand, have ar rived off Falmouth, with mails, which were sent on to London by thi s evening ' s mail train. s7;ELECTION OF AN ALDERMAN FOR THE WARD OF CHEAP. --On Saturday a wardmote was held, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, in the church of St. Law rence Jewry, for the election of an alderman in the room of the late Mr. Alderman Thompson. Mr. Cuthbert proposed Mr. Jonathan Thorpe, nephew of the late Alderman Thorpe, and his nomination was seconded by Mr. John Hall. Mr. W. H. Ashurst proposed Mr. Richard Hartley Kennedy, and he was seconded by Mr. Connell. No other person being put in nomination both the candidates addressed the wardmote. A show of hands was then taken, and the Lord Mayor decided that the majority had voted for Mr. Keuriedy.--This morning it was announced officially that Mr. Kennedy had been elected—Mr. Thorpe, the other candidate haying resigned. 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