The Sun. — London, England, 1854-06-28 00:00:00

r~r~. THE OV . B MAIL. We have received our letters from. India and China by the Overland Mail. The dates by this arrival are, f as stated in our telegraphic summ ar y on M on d ay l as t-- - Calcutta, May 16 ; Madras, 21st • Hong Kong, 6th ; - Singapore, 15th ; Penang, 18th ; G a ll e , 26th ; B om ba y , ' ' 23d b ; Burmah, 3d. The following is from the summary of the Bombay rimes :- 6 PUBLIC WORKS IN INDIA. The most important news we have to mention in connection with Bengal is the completion of the elec - trio telegraph between Bombay and Calcutta. All r a the difficulties have now been overcom e , th oug h as yet there has been little more than an exchange of com a pliments, by means of it, between Lo r d El p hi ns t onean d 1 the Governor-General. The locom o ti ves f or th e B engal e railway have arrived, by ship fro m E ng l an d a t C a l cutta, but there is no prospect of the line being ready for them before next cold season. Colonel Cautley's success in the formation of the Ganges Canal called forth a public meeting in Calcutta ; and before its close 1,250 rupees , - s bad been subscribed in or d er t o procure a b ust o f the colonel. lie has retired from the service, and, is on his return to England. The Governor-General of India has .issued an order of the day of a most complunentary cha r racter upon the occasion. The co l one l' s l a b ours a , e de clared to have brought lasting honour on the British name. In the courso of the order the Governor-General ir says:- _ ' Constructed over more than five hundred miles, within a period of eight years broken by wars anu encumbered with difficulties, the Ganges Canal already stands un equalled among works of its class and character through out the world. It is to Lieutenant-Colonel Cautley that the British Government mainly owes theaccomplishment of this gigantic enterprise. The Governor-General in Council requests that he will embark on board the Go vernor-General's yacht from Chandpal Ghaut, on Mon day, the 15th inst. at six a.m., and directs that on his way to the packet he shall receive as he passes a special salute of 13 guns from the ramparts of Fort William. FORTIFICATION OF BOMBAY. Government has issued orders requiring the fortifica tions of Bombay to be put into a state of greater effi ciency than they have been for many years. This order, together with rumours concerning the Russian fleet, has excited great alarni among the lower orders of natives ; and at Madras, Ponddicherry, and Singapore like fears 'were entertained. No certain intelligence had arrived of the whereabouts of the Russian fleet lately in the Chinese seas. Little more is known than that it had been refused shelter at Batavia. THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The first meeting of the new Legislative Council of India was to have taken place on the 20th inst. Mr. C. Allen and Mr. Cecil Beaden are mentioned as nominees of the Lieutenant-Governors of" Bengal . and the North- West Provinces ' • Madras is to send M r . D an i e l Elli ot ; and Mr. Arthur Malet has already l e ft B om b ay to ta k e his seat.. The number is completed by Sir L. Peel, the Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Peacock and Mr. Mills, ot the Calcutta Sudder Court. The Indian Law Com mission has been asked to take into consideration the question of the amalgamation of the Sudder and Supreme Courts ; and since Mr. C. H. Cameron, the original pro poser of the amalgamation scheme, is a member of the commission, there can be little doubt that the subject will receive due attention. Mr. Frederick James Halli day has assumed charge of the new office of Lieutenant- Governor of Bengal. The emoluments are to be a lakh of rupees per annum, an official residence, and an esta blishment of attendants, a t th e cost of 600 rupees monthly. The Secretary to the Government of Bengal is to draw 36,000 rupees yearly, and . each of the two under-secretaries 15,000 rupees. The Lieutenant-Go vernor will carry on his duties in direct correspondence with the government of India, but reports are to be made direct to the home government. He will have autho rity over all the territories hitherto under the authority of the Governor of Bengal, excepting the Tenasserim Provinces and Foga. Mr. John Peter Grant has suc ceeded Mr. Halliday in the council - of India, but will only draw 80,000 rupees per annum. • BIIIMAH. The report that Meeaday had been burned was alto gether incorrect. An attempt was indeed made to plunder the bazaar by a bandbf robbers, and an officer was fired at about a mile outside of the stockades, but otherwise peace had been unbroken. Mong Bo had an army of 3,000 men encamped on the'frontier not far from Meeaday, and , . the dacoits who attacked that place, and were repulsed by the.garrison, are supposed to have left his camp. On the . 23d of .Aprii a tremendous hurricane, or cyclone, broke over Rangoon and other places in Pegu, de stroying much property. Many boats were destroyed by it on the Sitang river, and not a few lives were lost, • especially of men belonging to the 36th Madras Native . Infantry, which regiment was proceeding northward to -one of the military stations. A subadar and eleven men of that regiment reached Pegu in a state of great exhaus tion saying they had been wrecked themselves, and that .• they, did not know what had become of the other boats. Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone, who was proceeding to join his regiment at Tonghoo, had seen ten boats with soldiers in them go down, overwhelmed by the bora. The Burmese, however, were of opinion that many of those missing, when accounts left, might yet turn up, from creeks in which they may have sought shelter. The troops all- over the province continued in a very healthy state, and there had been no very warm weather. Large and thriving villages are springing up, and the capabili ties of the-country are exciting great expectations. MINA AND CABUL. The correspondence of the Delhi Gazette continues to furnish our Indian contemporaries with an unfailing Supply of marvels from Central Asia. The Gazette has now a - "new correspondent," who has discovered that the Russian troops have not only reached Shiva, but have built several forts within its territories. The Khan found himself unable to resist, and deemed 'it best to close an alliance with the Emperor of Russia, the more so since in doing so he followed the example of Persia. It is also reported in Cabul that the King of Bokhara has allied himself with Russian agents, to induce Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan to enter into friendly negotiations. The Ameer, however, refuses to have any intercourse - with his Majesty of Bokhara ; but does not abso- lutely refuse to treat with the Czar through the agency of Persia. To complete the mystification we are told that Nazir - Zhairoola Khan had written to Dost Mahomed inform lig him . of persons sending news to the English papers, 'which might produce much mischief. "The consequence was that Mirza Nubbee was seized on suspicion of being the news-sender, bnt was dismissed after clearing him self by oath." The Friend of India makes the very probable suggestion that these correspondents of the -Delhi Gazette may be agents used by Dost Mahomed, in order to increase the value of his offer of amity to th e British Government. _ CASUALTIES BY DEATII IN INDIA SINCE MAY 10. Bombay.—Surgeon Gillanders, Ist Grenadier Regt. N. 1., at Baroda. Surgeon W. F. Babington, at the Presidency, on the 10th of May. Captain Wardell, sth N. 1., at Dharwar. Bengal.—Lieutenant C. C. Bean, 25th Regt. N. 1., at Chowringhee, on the 2d May. Second Lieutenant A. Tolremache, 3d company 3d battalion Artillery at Umballa, on the 28th April. Colonel C. Coventry, 70th Regt. N. 1., at Barrackpore, on the 7th May. - CHINA. HONG KONG, May 6.—lt is rumoured that the sove reign de jure of China is about to divide the kingdom with Thae-ping-Wang, the insurgent chief, but the rumour is not generally credited. At Nankin the in surgents are settling down, and assuming the character of a settled Government. Shanghai still holds out against the Imperialists, and appear likely to do so. At Aindy preparations were going forward for another en deavour on the part of the insurgents to retake the city, Which, if vigorously followed up, will probably be suc cessful. CHINESE RIOTS AT SINGAPORE. The Singapore Straits Times of May 15, gives in a special supplement the particulars of dreadful riots which prevailed in that town from the sth to the 12th ult. It appears that the Chinese community of the town and .district are divided into members of different provinces, or rival Hueys, which have now come to include -every description of inhabitant—Euro bea-ns 'excepted—the members of each Huey being ound by a solemn ol.th to aid each other with money, Ac., and, if necessary, to sacrifice their lives. These rival factions engage frequently in desperate conflicts, and a mass of miscreants avail themselves of the general consternation and local disturbance to plunder the shops of the weak or defenceless. In the present casna dis pute commenced between some Chinese about a few catties of rice, and in the course of a few hours bands of Chinese, armed with bludgeons and knives, were fighting in the streets of the town, at least four or five thousand men being engaged in the riot. The work of plunder soon commenced, and the military were called out, the police being fagged out and powerless. The, next day the riot was resumed, and the European in habitants were sworn in as special constables, the troops remaining quartered in the town. On Sunday it be came clear that stringent measures must be resorted to, and the police fired on the rioters, one of whom was shot dead. From that day to the end of the week the most desperate rioting prevailed, and the town was not quiet until Sunday, the 14th. It is next to impossible (says the Straits Times) to esti mate the number of persons killed and wounded during the disturbances. At least 100 Chinese have been shot dead or hacked to pieces : probably double that rumber have been assassinated. On one morning there were four bodies in the dead-house, next day pine more, until at length the number so increased that orders were given to inter the bodies wherever found. The Chinese rioters used 'their best exertions to carry off their killed and wounded. The hospital is crowded with inmates, wounded. Neither age nor sex have been excepted from the serial murders perpetrated chiefly in the broad noon of day. At the rear of Government hill the body of a Chinese was found on the road side, literally hacked to pieces. More than 500 persons are in custody, charged with participation in one or more of the scenes we have described, and we believe there is an intention to proceed at once with a judicial inquiry, so as to dis pose of the prisoners, and relieve the gaols, now over crowded. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. BOMBAY, MAY 23.—Money still continues very scarce, but there has been no increase on the rates of discount, and, now that the monsoon is close at hand, the market will probably become much easier. Few transactions have occurred in the goods market since the departure of the last mail, owing both to the close approach of the monsoon as well as the extreme tightness of money in the bazaar ; no goods have been forwarded during the past fortnight up country. Owing to the few arrivals since the departure of the last mail, freights have advanced to 4/, 7s. 6d, to 41, 15s. to Liverpool : and to London 51, Exchange has slightly declined since last mail, and may be quoted at 2s. 11d. to 2s. 11d. for first. class credits; for document bills, 2s. 11d. six months' sight. - CALCUTTA, May 15.—Money is abunctant, large amounts of company's bills coming to this treasury for Bombay account, and the amount of Government notes paid off being large. The Bank of Bengal has lowered discounts 1 per cent. Exchange for this mail began at last quotations, but the supply of, bills being short, rates fell to 2.0 i. Under late advices from home of antici cipated stringency in the London money market, more than ordinary caution is exercised in the selection of paper purchased for remittance,- whilst three months' sight bills have been taken from the banks 2.08, and are now at 2.01. Our piece goods market is in a generally healthy state, transactions being based upon legitimate demand for up-country marts. They have had a plenti ful supply of rain during the last fortnight in most of the indigo districts. • SHANGHAI, April 22.—The markets for all descrip. tions of goods are depressed. In teas considerable ac tivity has taken place, arrivals being quickly taken up. Exchange has again advanced, and is quoted 6s. 9d. per dollar sterling for six months' bills, and company's rupees 320. Freights still rule high, 71. to 9/., being quoted to G 1 eat Britain for teas and silk respectively. No further disturbauce has taken place. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. HONG KONG, May 6.—Arrivals from G'reat Britain. None. Departures to Great Britain—From Whampoa, Apri 21, the Catherina, for London ; April 29, the Maggie, fur Hartlepool. From Worsung, April 20, the Grange, for London. EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, June 19.—The Calcutta mails of May the 15th and passengers proceed this day to Malta and Southampton by the splendid screw-steamer Candia, which arrived here on the 17th. Three or four tribes of Bedouins, on the borders of Egypt, have been fighting among themselves, and some blood has been shed. These broils have been grossly exaggerated, while, from their nature, they do not affect the country at all. The bad feature in them is, that Abbas Pasha, having a pique against the Sheik of one of the tribes on account of his friendship with Said Pasha, is said to be inciting one party against the other, and it is well known that when these feuds are once raised among the inhabitants of the Desert their quarrels never end. Abbas Pasha's son, El Hamee Pasha, who has just paid a visit to Constantinople, intends shortly to pro ceedto England in the Viceroy's magnificent steam yacht Faid Gehaad. El Hamee Pasha is an intelligent, pleasing young man, but his prospects of succeeding to the Government of Egypt are very remote, his three uncles and a number or cousins having . the precedence from their greater age. Trade in Egypt continues dull. Great numbers of vessels keep pouring into Alexandria for homeward cargoes, and find there is but little stuff for shipment. Freights are consequently at between 3s. and 48. per quarter, and, as the Pasha does not sell any portion of his produce and the arrivals from the interior are very small, there is no prospect of freights rising for some time. Prices of wheat and beans are also falling in con sequence of the ad vices from England. Exchange on London, 991 piasters in the pound sterling. The railway in the direction of Suez has been begun by a branch line of about three miles, which is to be laid ' between the main line near Cairo and the Viceroy's re sidence at Abbaseeyeh, which is on the road to Suez. "TEN THOUSAND A YEAR." The masterly Preface to the new and popular edition of Ten Thousand a Year will be read with peculiar interest by its not easily numerable ad mivers—in other words, by a very considerable proportion of the reading population. By none, however, will it be perused with more pleasure than by those who may formerly have been disposed to quarrel with the biting severity of its pungent and acrid satire. By a few inimitable touches Mr. Warren demolishes many enormous webs of misapprehension. The " Preface" is as follows : "The author having now bestowed upon this work a rigorous and final revision, hopes he may be allowed to say a word to the reader, before it leaves his hand for ever, to take its chance of appearing before posterity. "Ten Thousand a Year is a fiction, the plot of whith was contrived with great care for the purpose of at once exerting and'sustaining, as far as possible, the reader's interest, and exhibiting in a course of natural events, and by the agency of natural characters, the aspect socially, professionally, politically, and religiously of English society in the nineteenth century. For this reason the tale travels over a great space of ground, and deals with almost every class of society. With out sharing the opinion attributed to Mr. Titmouse (vol. i., p. 9), that the only real distinction between mankind is that effected by money'—the author considers it an enormous engine .for developing and testing the character of man, individually and collectively. With this view, having called up before his mind's eye a con siderable number of widely dissimilar characters, in different positions in life, he described the sudden loss of a splendid fortune by one, and its acquisition and sub sequent loss by another, with all their agitating and vividly illustrating incidents ; his object being to teach, by the form of action and events, important moral les sons. How this is brought about, and how far the at tempt may be deemed successful, must now be deter mined by a candid and competent reader. • " Some parts of Ten Thousand a Year have been written with a pen dipped freely and deeply into satire ; but never with any other object than to discriminate be tween virtue and vice, between sincerity and hypocrisy. Every institution has its defects, every order of men its unworthy members ; and that writer deserves no serious attention, and will produce no salutary effect on his reader's mind, who confounds individuals with the class to which they belong, and exhibits derogatory views of a system or institution, instead of tracing out, as with a caustic pencil, what are deemed the faulty parts. "The author hopes that he will not be judged in too harsh and exacting a spirit in respect of anything to be found in this work, but that some licence may be allowed to one whose aim is not;alone to instruct, but to amuse. He has received, from time to time, a great number of letters, one or two of them suggesting that he has sinned in respect of some of the matters above referred to. A Peer wrote to him to complain of his having intended to ridicule the aristocracy by the character, sayings, and doings attributed to the Earl of Dredlington and Lady Cecilia ; and some months afterwards he received an extremely violent letter from a linendraper, accusing him of an intention to render that respectable calling odious. To charges such as these he is not concerned to give an answer. As reasonably might members of either House of Parliament, or of either branch of the , legal profession, deem themselves wronged and misrepresented, because certain unworthy and con temptible individuals belonging to them are placed in unfavourable contrast to those constituting the great body of worthy and honourable members of these classes. The Author lately, however, received an earnest and courteous remonstrance from an eminent Dissenting minister against the alleged tendency of Ten Thousand a Year, to exhibit disparaging views of Dissenters gene rally. The Author solemnly disclaims having ever been actuated by such unjust, and unchristian feelings and intentions. He knows much and great to the honour of the Dissenters; and would consider himself acting unworthily as a member of the Church of England, if he presumed to speak, or leave on'record, a single disre spectful word concerning any denomination whatever of professing Christians, If ' the Reverend Dismal Horror,' and the .Reverend Smirk Mudflint,' typify bad specimens of Dissenting ministers, surely the Reverend Morphine Velvet,' and the Reverend Gideon Fleshpot,' are by no means desirable representatives of the Church of England clergy. "Amongst many letters of a different character, the Author received one, a few years ago, from a town in the state of Kentucky, U.S., of which the following, with the suppression of several enthusiastic expressions, is an exact copy. The letter is subscribed with the writer's name, and found its way, addressed simply To the Author of Ten Thousand a Year, London, Eng land.' He lately discovered the writer to be a gentle man now occupying a high position in American society, and who recently tilled an important and responsible office in the State:— " Kentucky, " Sir,—Permit an humble individual, and a stranger, to express to you the gratification and delight your in structive work -Ten Thousand a Year has afforded him. Instructive it was ; for, at the time I had the pleasure of perusing it, misfortune had laid her heavy hand upon me, and sometimes when those who instead of aiding rather assisted in oppressing me, my heart would fail me ; but when I thought of Charles Aubrey, as portrayed by you, who, though born to affluence, and reared in luxury, how he bore his misfortunes, I felt ashamed that I, but a mechanic, one of the toiling millions to whom God had given health and strength, should so far forget his goodness as to despair ; so I put my shoulder to the wheel right man fully, and turned neither to the right nor ,to the left, and with a firm reliance.on His providence, determined to extricate myself from the pecuniary embarrassments I was surrounded with, and have succeeded. " 'As to glorious Kate, I cannot tell you how I appre ciate her character, more than by saying that I hope sincerely the little stranger born to me some few nights ago, whom I have taken the liberty of naming Kate Aubrey, will take her namesake as a pattern of excel lence, and follow it. " You will please accept these few lines in the spirit they are sent, from one who may never see your face, and has no motive in addressing you but the pleasure of paying homage, not to kings, or to high birth, but where it is due. Believe me, sir, I wish you happiness and prosperity, " If the writer of this letter should see these pages, he is assured that the author of this work has been per haps more gratified by the foregoing communication, than by any that have hitherto reached him with refer ence to Ten Thousand a Year. Inner Temple, London, April, 1854." ARRIVAL OF GOLD.—Three vessels have arrived with gold from Australia, bringing together 26,818 ounces, valued at 107,2001. The principal amount is 25,000 ounces by the Windermere, from Geelong, the Lord of the Isles having only 1,052, and the Marquis of Bute 766 ounces. Two other vessels are reported—viz., the Antipodes, from Van Diemen's Land, and the Royal Stuart, from Sydney, but their quantity LAS as yet to Ire ascertained, .'^:" ~-s.:. THE SUN, .L ON DO N_ WED,NE*D-kT EV_E-14 rity of neighbouring and allied States. The Emperor is too wise not to desire, even in the midst of conquest and success, to maintain inviolate that system established for the general tranquillity of Europe in which his Imperial Majesty's august predecessor took so prominent and so honourable a part. It is, therefore, with sincere satisfaction that his Majesty's Go vernment have learnt from the declaration made by Count Nesselrode to your Ex,•ellency, for the purpose of being trans, mitted tUyour GOvernment, ' that it was in contemplation not only to diminish the amount of the sum stipulated, but also to make a' different arrangement with respect to its rue: rantee.'_ It is by such, conduct that his Imperial Majesty will really manifest his generosity, and his regard, for those principles of just and enlarged •policy by which alone can be secured the confidence of his allies and the respect of Europe. ‘! Even if the Emperor was not thus to yield at once to the impulse of his own disposition, the same determination would still be recommended by considerations of prudence, as beine• essential to the success of objects which he has pro fessed to have much at heart. His Imperial Majesty has declared that a regard for the true interests of Russia induced him to feel more desirous than any other European Power of maintaining the independent existence and integrity of the Ottoman empire. He has also repeatedly avowed that the condition of the Christian subjects of the Porte demanded his constant solicitude, and the obligations both of his own con science• and of 'public treaties imposed upon him the special duty of consulting' heir welfare and providing fer'their pro tection.- These• objects, at all times difficult to reconcile, would, under the strict execution of the treaty; become alto gether incompatible with each other. The real situation of the TurkisirPower is too obvious to escape the most common observation. The Sultan is surrounded by independent States formed out of his own territories, and with the great mass of the Europern population • of his empire anxiously waiting for the moment when they may profit by this example, and shake off his dominion a'together. Defeated and reduced to the lowest degree of humiliation, he has retained his throne and political existence by the mercy of his conqueror. The dis affection ofhis Mahomedan subjects of all ranks, whether produced by repeated disgrace or the effect of a gradual change long since in operation, has become general. - In this condition, with a broken authority and exhausted resources, he is called upon to provide for the indemnity which is exacted from him. In what manner is the Sultan to relieve hiinself from this burden, and by whom must the sacrifices principally be made? If the Turkish Governm,ent bo still permitted to act at all as an independent Power, it is 'clear that the necessary sums must be raised by fresh impositions upon the people, and by such means as are authorised by the law awl - customs of the empire. It is equally certain that the Christian subjects of the Porte must largely contri bute to furnish these supplies. Compliance with the demands of the Government will be difficult, but the urgency of the case will justify severity. Resistance may be attempted ; if successful, leading to general confusion and revolt • if other wise, spoliation and oppression will follow. At all events, new scenes of calamity will be opened calculated to frustrate the admitted objects of his Imperial Majesty, and fatally de-- . structive both to the independence of the Porte and to the happiness and prosperity of the Christian subjects of the empire ' "There aro other considerations which ought to have their due weight in themind of his Imperial MaPsty. " It cannot be doubted that the result of the war has been such as to change entirely the relative position of. the belli- • gerents towards each other, as well as towards the neighbour ing states .and the rest of Europe. This change, it may be admitted, is to a - certain extent the natural consequence of an uneqUal contest ; for at the termination of hostilities, charac terised on one side by the most signal success, and , on' the other by continued disaster, it would be unreasonable to sup pose that the parties could in every respect resume their former relations. 'lt is, therefore, not exeluiv.ely to the conditions of the peace, but also to the events of the war, that we are to ascribe the change which has taken place. In whatever man ner it may have been accomplished, the fact is sufficient to justify some anxiety on the part of these rowers 'who have always felt a deep interest in the preservation of the system of the European balance established by the treaty of Paris and at the Congress of Vienna. This anxiety must be greatly increased when, in addition to the unavoidable weakness and prostration of the Turkish Power, it -is found that fresh causes are brought into action. which are obviously calculated to hasten and insure its utter dissolution. ,The evils attending upon uncertainty; expectation, and alarm must be universally felt throughout Europe. Encouragement will be afforded to projects the most adverse to the general tranquillity; and the different Powers; so far from disarming, will probably augnient their warlike preparations, already too extensive for a state of peace. " It is only by a frank and cordial desire on the part of his' Imperial Majesty to remove all reasonable grounds of suspicion and apprehension— it is only by a sincere endeavour in con junction with his allies to confirm and perpetuate the repose which has hitherto been enjoyed, and by making this the main object of European policy, that we shall be enabled to avert the threatened.dangers. In this salutary work his Imperial Majesty will assuredly call to mind the example of his illus trious predecessor; and he will recollect that, whatever may have been the glories of his reign, the last ten years of his life, devoted exclusively to the preservation of peace, eminently entitled him to the gratitude of Europe. " I am to instruct your Excellency to I,•ead.this despatch to Count Nesselrode, and, if desired, to give his Excellency a copy. The sentiments of his Majesty are exiires. , ed without reserve, but with cordial and friendly feelings. They are ex- pressed, too, without previous concert or communication with any other Power whatsoever.—l am, Sze., " ABERDEEN." SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. The West-end and Crystal Palace Railway Company's Bill, for extending that railway from the Crystal Palace to Brom ley and Farnborough, pass. d the committee of the House of Comnions, Lord Harry Vane, chairman, on Monday, the 19th instant. We report verbatim the discussion in the House of Com mous on the withdrawal of the South• Eastern Company's Bill for the construction of a branch of six miles from Lewis ham to Bromley, which had previously been passed by thq same committee, and which stood for third reading, and on the recommittal of the bill which has now passed, and of the Sydenham and Farnborough Bill, both of whici had been thrown out. !TANOPLE, THE TRE.A. The following is a copy of a despatch, which 'was the subject of the debate in the HousQof Lords . on. Monday, from the Earl of Aberdeen to, Lord Hey tesbury, respecting the treaty of peace between Russia and Turkey, concluded at Adrianople on the 14th of September, 1829. The despatch, it will be observed, is dated the 31st of. October, in stead of, as was stated by Lord Clanricarde, the 31st of December. It was, therefore, written im mediately upon the receipt of the communication of Count Nesselrode, to which it refers, instead of after a lapse of four months, as would appear from Lord Clanricarde's statement and .the arguments. which have been founded upon it :-- " Foreign-office, October 31, 1829. "My Lord, I have received from his Imperial Majesty's ambassador at this court a copy of the definitive treaty of peace between Russia and the Porte, together with the mani festo of the Russian Cabinet, and a circular despatch from Count Nesselrode, dated the 4th of October. "These papers have engaged the serious attention of his Majesty's Government. The consequences of the transaction . to which they refer are so various and important, and influ ence so powerfully the future happinesS and tranquillity of al nations, that it would be inconsistent with the station which his Majesty fills among the Sovereigns of Europe, as Well as with that frankness and sincerity which he is desirous should characterise all his relations with the Cabinet of St. Pctersburgh, if he were not- at once to communicate to his Imperial Majesty the sentiments which have been prOduced in his mind by an examination of the treaty of Adrianople. " The first desire of his Majesty is to express the satisfac tion which he bas experienced from the restoration of peace. He sincerely rejoices that a state of warfare should at length have. ceased, the existence of which he has constantly de: p!ored,, and the prolonged duration of which had only in creased his Majesty's apprehensions of the evils to which it must finally have led. " Count Nesselrode, at the conclusion of his circular de spatch, expresses au opinion that the treaty now concluded holds out to Europe a long prospect of tranquillity and repose. That this judgment may be fuily confirmed is our most anxious desire.. In the meantime, it will be an object worthy of the solicitude of his Imperial Majesty to strengthen the confidence of his allies, and to remove those causes of alarm to which, - if not discovered in the treaty of peace itself, the presant state of the Turkish empire cannot fail to give rise. " When 'his Imperial Majesty announced his intention of declaring war against the Ottoman Porte, upon grounds affect ing exclusively the interests of Russia, his Majesty's Govern , ment, without pronouncing any opinion respecting the justice of the war, expressed their conviction that the most complete success in the justest cause would not entitle the stronger party to demand from the weaker sacrifices which would affect its political existence, or would infringe upon that State of territorial possession upon which the general peace 'had rested. , They alio observed that demanda of indemnity and compensa tion might be carried to sucluan extent as to render compli ance scarcely practicable, without. reducing. the Ottoman Power to a degree of weakness which would deprive it of the character of an independent State. "His Imperial Majesty, in carrying into execution his threatened invasion of the Ottoman dominions, declared his adherence to that disinterested principle which had character ised the protocol of St. Petersburg and the treaty of London. He renounced all projects of conquest and ambition. His Imperial Majesty frequently repeated that, so far from desir ing the destruction of the Turkish Empire, he . was most anxious for its preservation. He promised that no amount of indemnity should be exacted which could affect its political existence; and he declared that this policy was not the re sult of romantic notions of generosity, or of the vain desire of glory, but that it originated in the true interests of the Rus sian Empire, in which interests, well understood, and in his own solemn promises, would be found the best pledges of his moderation. "His Imperial Majesty added that his thoughts would un-, dergo no change, even if, contrary to his intentions and his endeavours, Divine Providence had decreed that we should now behold the termination of the Ottoman Power. His Im perial Majesty was still determined not to extend the limits of his own dominions; and he only demanded from his allies the same absence of all selfish and ambitious views, of which he would himself give the first example. "Does the treaty of Adrianople place the Porte in a situa.: tion corresponding with the expectations raised by thes? as surances ? The answer must be left to the judgment of Europe ; it might be left to the dispassionate judgment of the Cabinet of St. Petersburg. " Undoubtedly . , if wo look only at the relative position of the" two belligerents, the fortune of the war might have enabled the Emperor to exact still harder terms. The Sultan, threat ened by a formidable insurrection in Constantinople, having lost his army, and having ordered the remaining Asiatic troops to retire to their homes, was unable to offer any effectual op position, and threw himself under the mercy of the Russian commander. By the persuasion of the British and French ambassadors, and of the Minister Extraordinary of the King of Prussia, the defeated monarch was induced to place entire ,confidence in the moderation of his Imperial Majesty. "It may not be easy to accuse of want of generosity the conqueror who checks the unresisted progress of success, and who spares the defencdless capital of his enemy. -Neverthe less, the,treaty in question, certainly not in conformity with the expectations held out by preceding declarations and assur ances, appears vitally to affect the interests, the strength, the dignity, the present safety, and future independence of the Ottoman empire. "The modes of domination may be various, although all equally irresistible. The independence of a State may be over thrown and its subjection effectually secured without the Pre sence of a hostile force, or the - permanent occupation of its soil. Under the present treaty the territorial acquisitions of Russia are small, it must .be admitted, in extent, although most important in their character. They are commanding positions, far more valuable than the possession of barren • provinces and depopulated towns, and better calculated to rivet the fetters by which the Sultan is bound. ' " The cession of the Asiatic fortresses, with their neighbour ing districts, not only secures to Russia the uninterrupted occupation of the eastern coast of the Black Sea, but places her in a situation so commanding as to control at pleasure the destiny of Asia Miner. " Prominently advanced into the centre of Armenia, 'in the midst of a Christian population, Russia holds the keys both of the Persian and the Turkish provinces ; and; whether she may be disposed to extend her conquests to the east or to the west, to Teheran or to Constantinople, no serious obstacle can arrest her progress. " In Europe the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia are rendered virtually independent of the Porte. A tribute is, indeed, to be paid to the Sultan, which he has no means of enforcing, except by the permission and even the assistance of Russia herself ; and a prince, elected for life, is to demand investiture which cannot be withheld. The Mussulman inhabitants are to be forcibly expelled from the territory. The ancient right of pre-emption is abolished ; and the supplies indispensable for Constantinople, for the Turkish arsenals, and for the fortresses are entirely cut off. The most important fortresses upon the Danube aro to be razed, and the frontier left exposed and unprotected against -incursions which at any future time may be attempted. " It is sufficient to observe of the stipulations respecting the islands of the Danube, that their effect must be to place the control of the navigation and commerce of that river exclusively in the hands of Russia. " Servia, by the incorporation of the six districts referred to,in the treaty, is erected into au independent and powerful State ; and when the Allied Powers shall have finally decided upon the character of the Government, and the limits to be assigned to Greece, the circle will be completed of territories nominally dependent or tributary, but which must be ani mated with the most hostile spirit; and the recognition of which by the Powers of Europe is scarcely compatible with the security, perhaps not with 'the existence, of the Turkish empire. " The commercial privileges and personal immunities which are secured by the treaty to the subjects of Russia, appear to ,be at variance with any other notion we are able to form of the authority of a sovereign and independent prince. It is true that by the capitulations with the Porte, in consequence of the defective administration of justice by the Turkish Government, rights have been obtained by European nations of such a description as would not have been conceded by the States of Christendom. These rights have not only been still further extended by the pre sent treaty, but the stipulations, so far from being drawn up in the spirit of peace, are to all appear ance calculated to invite and justify the renewal of hostilities. What reasonable prospect of eternal peace, friendship, and goOd understanding' can be afforded by an instrument which contains a special provision, making the calamities of war almost dependeut upon the capricious ex tortion of a Turkish officer, or the unauthorised arrogance of a Russian trader ? " His Majesty's Government are persuaded• that it will be impossible for his Imperial Majesty to reflect upon the terms of Article 7, of the treaty of Adrianople, without perceiving at once that they must be utterly subversive of the indepen dence of the Ottoman Power. _ " This article stipulates that merchant vessels of all nations, without any restriction of size or tonnage, shall be adinitted to pass free.y. through the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. Tile right of visit on the part of the Turkish Go vernment is expressly excluded. This provision not, only .de prives the Porte of the exercise' of a right in its own•waters, inherent in the very nature of independent sovereignty ; but it also destroys a necessary protection against the . effects of foreign hostility, or ' domestic treachery. The power of marching a Russian army, at any moment, through any part of,the Turkish territory, without the permissiOn of the Go vernment, could not be more degrading or more dangerous. • " Stich stipulations are not only destructive Of the territb , rial rights of sovereignty, and threatening to the safety of the Porte, but their obvious tendency is. to .affect the condition and the interests of all maritime States in the Mediterranean, and may demand from those States the most serious Con sideration. " How is the true character of the vessel to be ascertained? In former treaties the bulk and the amount of tonnage to be admitted had been fixed by Russia herself, and was regulated by what had been found to be most usual and most advanta geous in the navigation of those seas. The right of search, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature and value of the cargo, with a view to fix the duties to be levied on importation,. was very generally relinquished by the Porte in its practice to wards the vessels of foreign Powers; the ship's manifest trans mitted from the Consul's office being admitted as sufficient evidence of the nature of the cargo, instead of proof derived from actual inspection. But the right of visit, in order to ascertain the character of the vessel, and the object of the voyage, has never been relinquished, - and can never be relin quished by a State in any degree careful of its own independ. ence and of its safety. " The Porte is not only prohibited from exercising any in terfeience with the free passago of the Straits by Russian ships but it is also divested of this indispensable attribute of sove reignty in its relations with all other Powers, and that, too, by virtue of a treaty concluded with the Emperor of Russia. " If the Turkish Government should detain and visit a ship belonging to any foreign State, the injury would not be offered to that State, with which, perhaps, no treaty may exist, but' to the Emperor of Russia, who, according to the terms of the article in question, would at once be furnished with a justifi able cause of war against the Porte. But suppose any such State were fraudulently, to send an armed vessel, or a vessel carrying armed men, into the waters of the Turkish dominion and under the Walls of the Seraglio, with purposes the most hOstile, would his Imperial Majesty, by the treaty of Adria nople, become responsible for such an act ? In either case the Sultan would be entirely dependent upon Russia in a matter in which the dignity and security of his Government were vi tally affected. Is it too much to say that such stipulations are inconsistent with the desire of his Imperial Maj esty to preserve the independence of the Turkish empire ? " His Majesty's Government have always been persuaded that the power of imposing a pecuniary burden upon the' Ottoman Porte, as a compensation and, an indemnity for the expenses of the war, would be exercised in the promised spirit of equity and of moderation. His Imperial Majesty cannot fail to reflect that, in judging of the character of such a transaction, it is necessary to compare the sum exacted, 'not . only with the expenses of the war, but with the means of the Power upon which •the payment is imposed. The Cabinet of St. Petersburg will undoubtedly acquiesce in the principle that indemnities, whether pecuniary or territorial, ought not by their operation to crush the Power by whom they are given, or to expose by. their consequences the military atica, ~- IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—LEWISHAM TO BROMLEY, • &c., BILL. - - - - - Report of debato upon the - motion, " That the order for the third reading be discharged," Juue 9, 1854 Mr. John Forster moved "that the order for the third read ing of the South-Eastern Railway (Lewisham to Bromley, &c.) Bill be discharged—that the bill be withdrawn." The-question-laving been put, Mr. Peach said, this motion having been made, it is right the house should understand the extraordinary circumstances connected with this proceeding. They are shortly these : The landowners of Mid-Kent, being desirous for a line of rail way from Farnborough to London, promoted a line during this session from Farnborough to a junction with the Brigh ton Railway, at Sydenham. Another line was promoted with the same object by th e C rys t a l P a l ace and West-end Rai l way Company, sous t o give to the line into Mid-Kent a West-end terminus. The South-Eastern Company, after those lines appeared, promoted a line to go from their line at Lewisham to Bromley, as an opposition line to the other two. They were all referred in due course to the same committee. Un fortunately, I do not see any member of the committee now present, but I may state generally that the question before them was, whether the district of Mid-Kent was likely to be better served by the South-Eastern Company or by the land owners' line as promoted by themselves 3 The landowners were fearful that in this case, as in previous cases, the South-Eastern n h y a had ng n h o a d r e tahl aintenintimationtion to m g k v e e t n h e t h l i e n m e w b u e e t h a s s e ouarmed m mitt Compa , by Mr. Hope Scott, the counsel, that he was authorised by the South-Eo.stern directors to say that they were b ona i s l e in their intention to make the line, and that if the committee passed the bill it would bo carried out to comple tion. That was the assurance which was given, whatever might be th e:divisions—and there were great divisious in the South-Eastern board upon the question, and a new board of directors had even been elected upon it. But whatever the divisions might be, Mr. Hope Scott said emphatically that they had agreed that this line should be carried out ; and upon that qftestion there could be no doubt. Upon the strength of that undertaking, the committee, believing that the district might be better served, and thinking also of the vested interests o f ' the S ou th-E astern Company, passe d t h e bill, and rep or t ed against the two other opposing bills. With that decision I was perfectly content, because, having bad a fair consideration before the committee, I believed that they bad given th e i r b est attention to the question, and that they had come to a decision whThh they believed to be the right one. But the y tame to It upon the full faith that the South- Eastern Comp any really intended what they said, and that the line would be made as it had been given to the South- Eastern Company. That bill was passed upon the 22d of March. In May. I heard it rumoured that there was no in tention to proceed with the bill; and if there had been such an intention, they must have gone to the shareholders, under the Wharncliffe resolution, for their assent before going to the House of Lords, I thought it my duty then to write this letter to the new chairman of the South-Eastern Company. (The hon. member read the letter, which W a s to the following effect':--Although their bill' for making a railway from Lewis ham to Bromley had been passed by a committee of the House of Commons, upon the 22d of March, ha was informed that they had not held the necessary Wharncliffe meeting, and that they had not even issued the notices for such meeting. See ing that a bill in the same district, promoted by. Sir John Lubbock and others, and another by the Crystal Palace Com pany, had been set aside in favour of theirhill, he had reason to - believe that the House of Commons would accede to a pro position to have those two bilis recommitted in the event of, their not prosecuting their bill. If upon the receipt of this letter they called their Wharncliffe meeting, he should wait the decision of that - meeting ; but he should consider any further delay as conclusive' evidence that they did not in tend to proceed, and he should allow no opportunity to escape of obtaining the sanction of ParliaMent to the other bills). Upon the 18th of May I received this reply—(The hon. member , read the reply, which was - in substance as follows :--With reference to his letter of 'the 11th instant, he had th e h onour to s t a t e th a t th e b oar d h ad resolved, in con sideration of the-position of the money market and other reasons, not to proceed further with the Bromley bill during the present session)—the meaning of whicbof course is that they do not intend to proceed with it at all. As to the excuse of the money - marketiall I can say is, that the money market was in a more difficult state when the bill passed or was so licited in committee than it was when that letter was written. I assure the house that if the other bills had been passed, there would have been plenty of means to have, made those lines. There would have been no excuse of the money market upon their part, and the inhabitants of Mid-Kent would have got the advantage of a line of railway. I will not trouble the house further upon the subject, but I beg that the committee may be again asked to reconsider the other bills which were submitted to them. I believe that by the forms of the house I am entitled to make such a motion, and I hope, after what has 'occurred on the part of the South-Eastern Company, that that motion will meet with the sanction of the house; so far as to allow the committee to reconsider the bills. I hope that those interests that came here, and were willing at, once to yield to the deliberate decision of Parliament, will not be al. lowed to suffer by the South Eastern Company having come forward at 'a time when there was an object to serve, and then abandoning the ground immediately they found that that ob ject was served. • Mr, Jam es M acgre gor.—ln the last session of Parliament a bill for the s ame o bject as the one now referred to was pro moted by the South-Eastern Company, with the assent and concurren c e Of the Brighton Company. That bill was pro moted upon the unanimous vote of the then existing board of directors of the South-Eastern Company. Subsequently the Brighton C om p an y i n troduced a bill into the house for an amalgamation between that company and the South-Western Company; and in order to prevent strife with the Brighton Company, the . S ou th-Eastern withdrew their bill last session for constructing a line from Lewisham to Bromley. Upon the present occasion, in preparing for this session of Parliament, a large majority of the board of directors of the South- Eastern Company again promoted a bill for constructing a branch line from Lewisham to Bromley ; and I may say that that was done after the fullest consideration. A change took place in the board of direction, and in the chairman of the South-Eastern Company. The new board of directors consi dered this question, and as has been stated by the hon: mem ber for Coventry, they instructed their counsel Mr. H. Scott, formally to pledge themselvee to the committee, of which the noble lord the member for South Durham was the chairman, that the bill for constructing a line from Bromley to Lewisham should-be proceeded with b3na fide; and upon that assurance the committee rejected the two lines from the West-end to the. Crystal-. Palace, and' from Sydenham, and passed. the bill for constructing the South-Eastern branch. I protest against the motion which has now been submitted to the house, because I think that it is a course which is neither right nor truthful to the committee, nor protective, of the in terests of the ' company involVe'din it. I considered that the only:course_ which was left for the directors of the South- - Eastern Company after the bill went through committee, was' couvene a.ineeting of the company, to submit the circum stances at such meeting to the shareholders, and to take their .pleasure and decision.upon it. But that. has never been' done ; and in deference to the committee to whom the pledge was given, to the proprietors of the South-Eastern Company, whose interests are invo'ved, and to the public in the vici nity of Bromley, Whoare also interested, and who sought the advantage arKtuonvetritame of railway communication, I offer `thy protest against the motion which has been submitted to the house. I shall not trouble the, house by referring to for mer periods of difficulty and embarrassment in railway affairs. ThiS bill was promoted under circumstances which are noto rious to all the proprietors of the company, many of whom • approved of the.measure without its being formally put t o th e vote; think .that the only mode of properly dealing with the matter is by refusing the motion of the hon. member for Bei...wick-upon-Tweed, and leaving it to the proprietors, who, through their managing body, promoted the bill before the honse which. was, sanctioned by the committee. Bonierie,-,I apprehend with regard to the present Motion that there can be no opposition to it, because it would be altogether without precedent. when the party who. prOinOted a private bill wished to withdraw it, that the house should refUse.t.) allow it to be withdrawn. ..If it were not allowed, to be withdrawn no object would bo gaine because, even assuming them to go into another place and to get an act of Parliament; you cannot, under the present law, compel the company to make the railway, for they have the power to hold theirland or to use it any way they please. As regards, therefOre, the motion of the hon member for 'Berwick, I apPrehend that the house can have 'no objection or _difficulty in acceding to it. But there is another question of very serious, importance, which is, and I do not use the _words in an offensive sense, whether the committee who sat upon these - opposing bills have not been misled and whether they did not pass this bill in the ex pectation that it was really and bona fide to be proceeded with, and in consequence throw out the two competing bills which were offered to the committee in rivalry with it. (Hear, hear.) As,l understand the circumstances of the case, the *hole of this.has arisen from the change in the direction 'of the South-Eastern Railway Company. Just before this bill went into comidttee there was a change in the direction of the company, and the new directors were not prepared at that time to enter upon the consideration of this line. Since then they have fully considered the circumstances, and they. have resolved not to prosecute this line ; and I hold in my hand a resolutiM to that effect; which lam informed was carried by a majority in the direction of 6 to 2. This is a question which is.no doubt material to the public in the dis trict; and if thoie gentlemen - promoting the other bills were ready to go on, and were defeated because the committee un derstood that the,Sofith-Eastern Company were really prose cuting this line with the intention of completing it, it may be a serious question for the house to entertain, if a motion should be made for the , recommittal of those bills, whether that recommittal, might not under the * circumstances be granted... I express no opinion upon it, but if such a motion should bo made I hope that the house will consider it. (Hear, 'hear.) Mr. Wilkinson.-.. I should like to hear from some member of the committee whether it is not a common practice for the South-Eastern CompanY to promote bills in Parliament with out.the slightest intention of carrying them out ? Lord Harry Vane—l was not aware until I came into the house that this motion was to be made. I was not informed of it this morning,..and I was rather taken by surprise, inas much as I have not had the means of communicating with all those gentlemen who served on the committee together with myself. I have had some communication, however with one or two on the su bj ec t o f w h et h er these bills ought to be re committed. I am unable to say avhat the opinion of others may be, but so far as lam concerned, I have no objection whatever that these bills should be recommitted. It is not for me to state what were the precise grounds. upon which the committee came to the decision to pass this bill ; and it may be possiblethat the committee on considering the whole matter, should these bills be again referred to them, might find' reasons for not giving their sanction to ono or other of them. There were two other bills before the committee, and during the sittings a proposal was made that one of those bills should be amalgamated with the other. When I say "amal gamated," I should perhaps rather say that a portion of one line was to be given up, and that the two parties were ready to come to au agreement upon that point. The hon. member for Lambeth has asked - whether there were not instances before the committee of extremely bad faith on the part of the South-Eastern Company. It is true that I have heard charges of that sort made, but I certainly cannot take upon myself to make so grave a charge against the company, or to lend my apparent sanction in this house to a charge thus made. Allegations of that nature were certainly made, and it may be perfectly true that they may be ca p a bl e o f sul;stantiatiOn ; but I am not prepared to say that evidence was given that that was the case. It is perfectly true that several schemes have been promoted by the South-Eastern Company which have not been 'eventually carried out. There were great financial difficulties in the way of carrying out some of them; but whether or not there was a bona fide intention at the time of carrying them out it is utterly impossible for any member of the committee to say. At the same time the South-Eastern Company have had great difficulties to contend with, in consequence, of the obligation originally forced upon them by the opposition which they met with from the land owners, to construct a line which was not tho most direct one, and which has thrown a great expense upon them. Several schemes since then of a more direct nature have been brought forward, both by the South-Eastern Company and by independent parties, but up to this period I believe that sufficient capital has never been found to carry out any of those schemes; One of the lines submitted to the considera tion of the committee propOsed to carry a line into the inte rior of Mid-Kent, with the intention no doubt of carrying it further at some future period; but in the present state of the money market it was not possible to find money to carry out a scheme of any great magnitude. The bill, therefore, which was promoted by certain landowners, only proposed carrying the line to a certain point in Kent, with the possible intention at a future time; when money should 750 snore plentiful, of carrying it furthdr forward. The line as proposed is not a very long one, and the committee thought that the South- Eastern ; Company had the first claim. There were other reasons, 'moreover, which indUced the committee to sane- tion the South-Eastern line. It was considered very de sirable to relieve the great amount of traffic carried along the South-Eastern and Brighton lines, which might be done by this proposal; and the committee thought it right in the course of the investigation ,to throw out au opinion to this eflbct—that it would be desirable when the South-Eastern Company had carried out this scheme (which it appears has not met with the sanction of the shareholders) that they should - construct a junction with the present main line of the South-Eastern Company. For myself I have no objection to the proposed , recembsittal of these bills. At the same time I must say that tho members of the committee have come to no conclusion or opinion as to the respective merits of the two bills which it is proposed now to recommit. I see no other member of, the committee present, and I have no objec tion whatever to offer to the proposed recommittal. (Hear.) Mr. John Forster-The late board of directors of the South- Eastern Company promoted this bill against the permission of the proprietors and it was principally the opposition of the proprietors oithis scheme which led to a change of the direction in March last. Upon coming into office the new directors did so with the promise of the proprietors, given at a general meeting, that they would abide by the decision of the new board of directors upon this bill. In the meantime the new board were of course compelled to prosecute the measure pro forma until they could finally make up their minds upon the subject. They then determined that it would not be expedient to proceed with the bill iu the present state of the money market. The accommodation of a certain dis trict in Mid-Kent was not the only matter at issue ; for the remedying of the course of the unfortunate line of railway which public prejudice compelled the South-Eastern Company to adopt at the time of its first formation must long be the principal work of the board of directors. This Bromley branch., it was considered, would be followed by other mea sures for a more direct course through Kent ; but the new board think that the Bromley branch would not be the most consonant with the formation of a new line through Kent. It is, therefore; in order that they may not be committed by the adoption'of that branch to what may not prove to be the best line for Kent and for themselves that they wish to with draw this bill. It is, of course, open to the hon. member for Coventry to apply for a recommittal of the other bills, and it will be .open, I presunie, to the South-Eastern Company to represent before the committee their objections to the new proposed lino, the effect of constructing which would be, iu fact, to create an entirely new and conflicting interest in Kent. The South-Eastern Company, therefore, can have no possible objection to the proposed re-committal of these bills. ' Mr. 'James Macgregor—l merely wish to explain, lest I should not have been understood, that I stated explicitly that the present directors of the South-Eastern Company have not taken the pleasure of the proprietors upon this question. The motion for discharging the order for the third reading of the bill was then agreed to. SYDENTIAM AND FARNBOROI7GII RAILWAY. Debate on Mr. Geach's Motions, June 15, 1854.. " That the Sydenham and Farnborough Railway Bill be re committed to the former committee with leave to sit and proceed on Monday next. " That the West London and Crystal Palace Railway (Brom ley and Farnborough) Bill be re-committed to the former comniitteo, with leave to sit and proceed on Monday next." Mr. Goacti---I think• it right, sir, to offer a very few brief reasons for the motions of which I have.given notice. In the beginning of this session of Parliament the landowners of Mid-Kent, desiring to-have railway accommodation, brought before the house a bill for, making a railway froni Sydenham to ‘Farnborough,-in Mid-Kent. At the same time another lino of railway was projected, communicating with the West-end and Crystal Palace Railway Company, and also going to Farn borough. The South-Eastern Railway Company, seeing those two lines projected, themselves proposed a lino to go from Lewisham td Bromley, which was part of the way into Mid- Kent, and serving part of the pUrposes which were intended by the two lines that I have spoken of. In due course those three - lines were referred to a committee upstairs ; but in the South-Eastern RailVray Company there grew up divisions among the proprietors as to the policy of their having any further extensions, and it appeared that those who were op posed to additional extension obtained a majority, and re moved from office those directors who had promoted the Lowish= and Bromley line. It was then supposed by the landowners of Mid-Kent that the line which had been pro posed by the South-Eastern Company would be abandoned ; and when they came before the committee still to urge the passing of that bill, the circumstan ces o f th e South-Eastern Company were stated, and a doubt was expressed whether they were bona fide in their intention to accept the bill, and to carry it out.rt Upon that state of things the counsel em ployed by the South-Eastern Company, Mr. Hope Scott, stated to the committee that he was authorised by the new directors of the South-Eastern Railway Company, to state that what ever differences there might have been, they had now come to the conclusion that it was right to prosecute that bill, and that if it should be given by the committee it would be accepted, and the line would be made. Upon that the corn mittee, after , having heard the evidence upon all the schemes, determined that the right thing was to give the line to the South-Eastern Company. With that I did not quarrel ; because, being interested in one of the other lines, I felt that we had. had a - fair hearing, that the committee had come to a fair conclusion. They believed that the South-Eastern Com pany would best servo the district, and therefore they gave the line to the South-Eastern Company, and they took their bill. The bill passed upon the 22d March ; but finding upon the llth May that they had not taken the necessary proceed ings for Wiliam the meeting under the Wharncliffe order, be fore they could proceed with the bill in the House of Lords, I thought it my duty to write to the new chairman of the South-Eastern Railway Company the following letter. (First letter - read_ by Mr. Geach in the House of Commons in the debate on the 9th of June.) In reply to that I received the following from Sir* John Campbell, the chairman of the South- Eastern Company , (Second letter read by Mr. Coach on the same . occasion.) In confirmation of that determination, the hon. member for Berwick-upon-Tweed on Friday last came to the house, to move that the order for the third reading of the - J [J j. 28: -1 X 5 4, • t - . .bill/whiChwas upon the table should - be disch arge d, and so took it entirely out of their power further to proceed: Lin der these circumstances, r think that I am justified in asking the house to recommitlho two other bills, in order that the Committee may reconsider the quest* with the South-Eastern proposition 'tint of the way; for the landowners of Mid Kent ai•e Still desirous of 'having a rail Way. They are themselves able and willing to -find the means for making that railway, and they only watt the sanction of the Legislature that they may do so. Whatever the state of the money market may b e, it does*not affecttlieir means of doing what they ask the house to Permit them to 'do ; and having the consent of the 'chair man; and I believe of the other members ofthe committee, I make bold to,ask the house that it will sanction the re-com mittal of thoSe two bills. It will be butjuetiee to those who p tb r i o n m k ot t e b d at l ti two bills on illsto do . so ; and M T ore than that, public grounds should notalloW themSelves, or any committee of the houSe, to have state . meats of that sort made•to theni, which,' I will not say, were not intended to be carried out, but which certainly have not been carried out. It Must be recollected that it is no lanes. , tion now of adiffetenceamong the proprietors, for it was the. w same directors ho authorised Mr. Hope Scott to make the pledge who themselves subsequently have come and. broken that pledge: • r Will not "trouble the house at . greater length, believing that 'the 'Statement, which I -have-. made, which ie. evidently true, will induce them to accede . to the motion; - •• - Mr. Jacksim seconded the motion. Mr. James Macgregor —.-.I own, sir, that I rise with a great ti.utb l sense .of pain And some embarrassment because upon this occasion I have to ent rea t th e indulgence m I e make m be r s sa . la t e m m 'e n t in compelled m y t oOawdum i t justificationtiie of tef as u s w er f the e es statement which has been made by the hon. member for Co ventry, that in the, case of a bill promoted by the South- Eastern Company for constructing a branch railway from Lewisham to Bromley, a pledge was given to the committee, who considered that and the oth er r i va l projects, .that the company would proceed bona fide with that bill. Having - . been for many years one of the managers of that company, I hopethe house will forgive me if I ask its attention ter a Moment while I acquit myself of being in any way a party to any breach of faith or offer of any pledge which has. tot-, been maintained. My. period of offi ce , as c h a i rman of: the South-Eastern Company, terminated on the 14th of Mar .h, and it then becathe my duty to hand over the concerns ofi the .cempany to the new chairman and to a majority of the 4ard. who' might be supposed to differ from me; and I called upon the counsel who were advising the, company to place before my colleagues their view of the circumstances in which the company stood with regard to its position as applicants to this house for new, powers. As the statement which was made by counsel is very short, I hope the house will allow me to read it, particularly as it is signed by gentlemen w.:o must be well known almost to. every, member of this house-41r. Hope Scott, Mr. Noggins, Mr. Merewether, and Mr. Roclntell. " Lewisham and Bromley. • I " It appears to us of immense i m p or t ance i n i4e conduct of this case that counsel should know before the bill is submitted to the committee what course the board, as now constituted, is prepared to recommend to the shareholders respecting it. Should there be any e v id ence . b e f ore the' committee of a dis inclination to prosecute the bill, this circumstance will pro bably secure the success of one or both of the rival bills, and even the absence of a specific assurance that the bill will be bpnre fide prosecuted may have the same effect. Counsel!for the Sydenham' bill have already raised the question, and it must be answered. " HENRY ALWORTH MEREWETHER. "HUNTER RODWELL.. " JAMES R. HOPE SCOTT. " C. HOGGINS. " March 16, 1854." • That memorandum, on the part of the counsel, was sub mitted to the new board of directors of the South-Eastern Company, and various wetings and considerations took place upon it. A subsequent opinion was solicited from counsel, prior to the decision of the committee being taken, upon a statement laid before them, and drawn up at a meet ing of the rival party. This also being brief, I trust the house will indulge me by permitting me to read it : " With reference to the question submitted to us 'by Mr. Freeman this afternoon, respecting the terms of arrangement embodied in a memorandum of this forenoon, it appears to us to involve considerations which are beyond the ordinary pro vince of counsel. " This arrangement palpably tends to alter the position of the South-Eastern Company as the almost exclusive posses sor of Kent, but how far such a measure may be beneficial or otherwise to the general interests of that company is a mat ter of policy which belongs exclusively to the directors. " Passing over, therefore, this intermediate point, we must recur to the considerations which we submitted to the direc tors iu our last opinion, and request a definitive answer as to the amount of authority which we• possess for assuring the committee that-the bill (which stands for to-morrow, at 12 o'clock) will be b ona fid e p rosecu t e d , and its powers executed by the South-Eastern Company. " J. R. HOPE SCOTT, C. HOOGINS, IL A. MEREWETIIER, HUNTER "Monday afterno on , M arc h 20, 1854." RODWELL." This memorandum, like the precedi ng one, i s s i gned by Mr. Hope Scott, Mr. oggins, Mr. Merewether, and Mr. Rodwell. Now, sir, my anxiety, as a member of this house—a very humble one certainly, I feel, but still one who wishes to ob tain the favour of those hon. members who constitute this great assembly—my anxiety is that I shall not be condemned for any withdrawal from the pledge which was offered to the committee by Mr. Hope Scott in these words. I have the shorthand-writer's transcript here of his statement made to the noble lord the member for South Durham and the other members of the committee. He said : __ " Now, my lord, it is not necessary for me either to anticipate the evidence which I shall lay before you, or to go in detail into that which has been given. The main features of the case, I think, I have already laid before you, and it remains only for me to allude to one matter which has been used by my opponents. It is, 'that the South-Eastern Company are divided among themselves on this line ; and you have expressions of opinion this way, and expressions of opinion that way, and therefore there is no security at all that the bill will be proiecuted and the line made. On that subject I have specific instructions from the board to press this line on your attention, and so beg you to pass this line ; and those instructions it is my duty to fulfil, and no insinuations whatever on the part of the other side can of course bo equal to those which are given to me by the parties who are responsible for the instructions they do give me, and which I have received specific instructions to lay be fore you ou this occasion. lam speaking how of a board de- ' cision deliberately come to." Now, sq., it i s p er f ec tl y t rue that after a specific vote on the part of a new board of direc tors of the company, and after that assurance given by Mr: Hope Scott to the noble lord and other members of the com mittee, that same board of directors by a majority decided, after the noble lord and his colleagues had passed the South-: Eastern (Lewisham and Bromley) Bill, not to proceed with it ; and I have to ask the favourable consideration of the house to the statement which I now make, that I was one of the majority in promoting the prosecution of that bill, and that I was one of the minority in differing from my colleagues when they determined upon abandoning it. (Hear.) Even here I will venture to express my unqualified regret that a re solution so unjust and so impolitic should have been come to by those who are for the time iii power at the South-Eastern Railway. (Hear.) I cannot oppose the motion of the hon. member for Coventry, because I feel that if the South-Eastern Company had not promoted the Lewisham and Bromley branch before the committee, his bill would have stood in a very different position to that in which it was plated by the - assurance which was given to the noble lord by Mr. Hope Scott. (Hear.) • - Lord Harry Vane—l feel, after the statement which has: been made in this case by the hon. member for Coventry, and, the confirmation which it has received from the hon. member; who has just addressed us, that I need anticipate no opposi tion to the motion before the house ; but perhaps it may be thought right that I, as chairman of the committee, should corroborate the statements which have been made both by the hon. member for. Coventry and the hon. member for Sand wich: I think that it is of the utmost importance that good faith should be preserved before a committee—(cheers)-when a statement is alleged b e f o r e a committee with the intention of influencing their votes —I _will not say to what extent such; a statement might influence them—but when -it is offered with that intention it is of the highest importance that the house should visit with the utmost severity any disregard of a statement so made. It ni sure that the house will acquit the hon. member who has just addressed us from any participa tion iu such conduct; nothing could l e more honourable, no thing more straightforward than the statement which lie has just made in his own exculpation, and I am sure the house Will go along with me in saying, that he at least is exempt from any share of blame in this transaction. With regard to the motion itself, which has been made by the lion. member for CoventrY I think - , after what we have heard, that no op position can be offered to the preposition for the recommit ment of these bills. It is quite fair that, inasmuch as another bill stood in the way of these two bills, which might have in fluenced the members of the committee in the finding at which, they arrived, and which bill has not further been proceeded . w ith—it is quite fair, I say, that an opportunity should be, afforded to those two other bills of again being submitted to the reconsideration of the committee, on the ground that the other bill being now out of the way, they should be considered upon their owe merits. Of course, it will be a matter for se rious consideration with the committee how far it will be their duty to sanction either one proposition or the other; but however that may be, I hope that the house will accede to the Motion which has been made for the recommittal of theSe bills. (Hear, hear.) Mr, rise with no intention at all of opposing the motion which has been made, but being also connected with the' railway under discussion, I rise to give my general assent; to the accuracy of the statement., which has been made by the' hon. member for. Sandwich ; and at the same time to state, that in all those decisions which took place with regard to, 'prosecuting the bill before Parliament I voted for carrying it on, both before the declaration was made to the committee - and anbseeluently. So far, therefore, as I myself am con cerned, I endeavoured to fulfil the pledge which was given to th 6 committee, ' At: - the same time, I cannot let it be under stood that those`Who "differed ham the opinion which I enter tained have 'been' guilty of what has been harshly termed, I think, a breach of faith. There was a change ,of administra tion in the affairs of the railway—as changes of administration take place elsewhere—those who are in the minority retiring. That took place at "the very moment when this bill was under discussion before the committee. I was present when the decision was come to that we should prosecute the bill ; and the intention of myself and of others was that we should honestly and sincerely prosecute it to the last stage. Since then whatever a further insight into the affairs of the company may have impressed upon them I cannot say, but undoubtedly they have changed their views. It may be that upon subse quent consideration they may see other means of promoting the general interests of the railway and of the county of Kent, in having a railway passed through that county in connection with local interests with the Brighton Company and that which the hon. member for Coventry represents. All this, or other considerations, may have weighed with those hosan.ygtehaatlter:end:' I l am iot . g lio tl u ou n rp d do. t. upon o t b discussions e and induced them to take a step to Whichanly admesiroepthpo.pseadss. the committeeb Whilst I opposed it, however, not think that they wore at all animated by mem er h for f w r h om ich th wa eir a 7 pre ord si s d , e o d r o . t v o er cas ty t t a h n e y . South Durham. I only trust in the-future at large will operate will take place before the committee, that uo which v am sure, ae t 8 ionfdtehead' directiont hat tha ia o y will h have regard to the interests of the company t ho upo t n ho th e a as t e e , o f m oi ni . w it h te a e is been, it will. be remembered that some 8 : 000,0001., or . 9,000,000/. of the ' property of 'thecompany jeopardy, which mu s t b e considered with reference to the in terests of the sha re h o l ders, and not to any single are placed in. vo te come to, perhaps rather hastily, by •directors at the time in office. - • ' The first moti on was then put and agre ed to, a body of Upon the second motion being put, ' Mr. Greene said,—l merely r i se because some misapprehen sion exists up on th e su bj ec t out of doors. It - is my own opi nion, and I believe it is also a y o urs, sir, that when bill is recommitted to a former committee, the act o f the house Over rules all the acts of the general committee upon railways, and that the committee may be re-appointed as before, even though some of the members may have been struck off by the general committee from further serving. Mr. Rich—l beg to make one observation which, in the hurry of the Moment, I omitted to make before. It is that those directors whcse conduct is under consideration of the , house entertain a bona ti 44 desire to carry a railway through , ft . I • = the county of Kent, and that measures, for that purpose ar now maturing in connection with other interests in the coanty. Mr. Leach - I am only called upon to say one word upon this new niotion, in cousequen6e of the extraordinary state ment which has been made by the lion. men:ibex who has just sat doWn. The county of Kent have been endeay.o_nring get this railway aecommOdation fOrlearlt has been a con test/with the SOuth-Ea,stern C0m14,1 or Some six or Weft v years and upon each occasion therelatii - bee n a counter pro. ject brought forward by that company. The landowners in that neighboUrhood .not__waut to be railway makers. They would -only have been too glad ifthe South-Eastern Company wouidhavegiven theiu the accommodation which they wanted, antrit was utter despair -that theY'svould never be able to get a line unless they,,AeMselVes. Attu:A .in the bush2ess-t)at in duceil 6ein to promote the bill they have.. And stov, for. tooth; the • directors 'or the ''Sblitli-Eastern Company, Wh o pledged themselves, by their counsel—solemnly pledged them selves—that the bill before the committee was a bonafick bill, and that it was their intention to crriy it out er and who came immediately afterWardS to a deterinination not to fulfil tisat pledge, come before you and tell.yeu that - all this while they are considering the interests of the county of Kent. As there is no opposition to this motion I will hot go further into the question ; but I do feel that a statement of that sort ought not -to- weigh witlithe 1101i4d; r hope - that it . will, not at .alLeveigh with th e•committes:whuntlieVlestiOn‘ is referred to them. (Hear, hear ; ) , ' ( Mr. James Macgregor—l- have one iliquest, and one only to maks,:.'llreeimectiou with thiirrit7fiferC7lt is, that if any doubt is-entertained as to - whit - flae - cOlidilet of the South- Eastern Company has been in former years, with regard to its bona fides, or the humble part which I have acted in it, the noble lord will do me the'favour to Call nieVefore the commit tee, anti to take my testimony with respect to it. (Cheers.) Mr. Laing—As the representative of a neighbouring rail way interest I trust that in the reeemmittal of these` bills the"publia'interests involved may not be at all prejudiced, and. that there may - be no feeling on the part of the committee because the South-Eastern Company may be supposed im. properly to 'have withdrawn their' bill; that therefore the other bills 'are to be passed as a matter of. (nurse, du order, as it w ere, • to punish the Solith-ZaSterif Company. • It' may p remembered that one of the bills which was thrown out by the committee was strongly opposed by the Brighton Rail way Company On the ground of public safety., A groat deal .of evidence, .was given upon •that -point, and I may state, that the Brighten C 941 1)3 1 1.Yrefuszd..to . accept a-considerable ac cession of revenue which might have been brought in to them by that li ne , b ecause they conscientiously believed that the manner of jun c ti on proposed have been attended \vita gr ea t danger:. to the public. I oaa only express wh a t I taro kisdt w ie it t h o a th s e en ß s r e ig o h f to jus n I t i i n ce e , w w 7l th d.. out knowing anything. more of the merits ,of .the question, when I say that, actor the statements which haVe been made, it would only be fair to the majority of the South-Eastern directors, who resolved not to proceed with the bill, that tliey before should have the opportunity mmittee, In order of being heard by counsel that they rua, satisfy the committee how far th e i mputations of a breach .of faith are or are not well founded. • Lord Harry Van-,-It was not my intention to have said anything upon the present motion but for the observations -which have beeu just made. I beg to assure the house and the hon.. member . that the circumstances to which he has alluded are perfectly within the knowledge of the committee. It is perfectly true that a good doll of opposition was made to the junction on account of thegreat trate, and a Consider able athoiint of evidence was heard upon the subject. The committee went through - all those Matte* and they *b ear in mind perfectly all that passed upon the subject. I re collect full well, and I have no doubt .other.members do also, the . reasons Which were stated by the Brighton Company why the-committee • should refuse . therm Sanction to the proposi tion in question. Whether or not the committee may think it right to hear counsel upon the subject to which the hon. member has referred will be a matter for the consideration of the committee 'whets they meet. I Wish to guard myself, in the observations which I have made, from the supposition that the committee are going, as a'matter of course, to pass these bills, which are again to be referred to them, or either of them. Full attention will be given to those points of. op position which were urged by the Brighton Company, and the committee will decide upon the bills referred to them upon their respective and individual merits, and will be guided by no other consideration whatever. (Cheeks.) The motion was then agreed to. THE LAW OF PARTNERSHIP. The British law of partnership is so different from that of the world at large, so little in character with our gene ral practice, and with so little to say for it, that it would seem, to have originated in the interpretation of lawyers rather than in custom or legislation. The principal sting of that; law may be soon described. You may, forvariqus unexceptionabl e reasons, wish to lend a thousand pounds to a trader oil the condition, not quite of sharing the pro fits, but of receiving a small profit, or none, so long as the business is unproductive, and a larger profit, enough to make up fur the previous shortcoming, if the business should prosper. If you do so, and if the trader should be come bankrupt either from misfortune, indiscretion, or fraud, you find y o u rse lf d rawn i n to the whole amount, of your property, land we might almost add, of your cha iracter, for you will see your name in the Gazette. That hardly seems like English law, but English law it cer tainly is, and many a man has lost all his property land ruined his family by the merest oversight in re spect of this law. You may do many things more foolish or more mischievous. You may first settle your property beyond the control of creditors, and lend your name, and nothing besides, to a concern th e success of which depends on th e credit f its partners. You may give the prestige of your honesty and your talents to the management of a railway, which you may job or neglect as much as you please, and be only accountable to the ex tent of your shares in it, if any. Under the protection of a charter, or an act, you may commit any folly or iniquity and come off comparatively seathless. You may carry on a flourishing . business for many years, with the reputation of enormous capital, and it shall be found at your death, or disappearance, or detection, that your huge wealth was never anything else than a huge insolvency; but if you should commit the little error of not defining exactly the interest you are to receive for your assistance to' a concerti, and have not stipulated for the same interest in good years as in bad, you are Heide to utter ruin. Through that little flaw your whole substance mayfly away, and you are at the mercy of all the accidents that may happen to another per son not under your control. 'Let it be once proved in court that, from a charitable slackness of dealing, or from a conflict between prudence and kindness, you have taken more interest in one year than another upon a debt you have suffered to remain in the hands of the trader owing it, and your doom is forthwith sealed, and you pay the penalty of your whole estate. This trifling irregularity, or rather variation in your dealings, makes, for all pecu niary purposes, a much closer union and- even identity between you and the trader than the law creates between husband and wife. The wife can h ave an t enuptial settle. meats to reserve a portion of her property from her hue band a extravagance or indiscretion. There can be no such reserve in your case ; you are ingulfed whole and entire to the last sixpence of your estate, if there can be found in the books of your trading friend 3 per cent. paid to you on the money due to you in one year, and 5 per cent. in another. The presumed objects of this law, or rather the reasons alleged in its defence, are the protection of those pee sons who are supposed to be incapable of taking care of themselves from hollow credits and from bad investments. Under the present state of the law they have the secu rity that the persons they are called on to trust are liable to the whole amount of their property ; and, on commit other hand, they are i n d uce d t o pause ere they comi theinselves to a business or an undertaking thnt may cos them the whole of their fortune. Neither of the ulecti is actually attained i n thi s coun t ry to an extent at a ll oer responding to our national character for prudence and thrift. In no country in the world ler there sova4t 'an amount of 'commercial imposture, and so many great names that are nothing but names--mere bubbles, that will burst at the next crisis; and in no country are the savings of the industrious poor and the striving middle classes snore h e l e t ff i e s c terovri pretended, e t d h , o an E d ng th l t h re i l s aw eve o n t partnership presumption that it has the contrary effect. We i believe that it his. Most people, especially those who generally (i ini s pt n te t c i . have earned their money by labour or trade, are reluctant to give up all hope, of profit, and to rest content with 3, / -ler cent. They 'desire come chanc e o f improvement. They wi.h to invest-in something more promising than the funds, but have little choice. We have often enumerated the various ways in which the small English capi talist too often invests and loses his money, and need not now repeat them. Whenever he lends his money, he must trust somebody; and that somebody is either a speculative individual, or a speculative society existing by charter or by act. In either, the ordinary inveater of his few hundreds has no control over the conduct of the person or society that he makes the depository of his money, and is very apt to lose his all. Thus, by charter and act he may be lured on to his ruin. What can he know, indeed, about the prospects or the management of a railway com pany or a canal, especially when the company has twenty or thirty different acts of Parliament, four or five htuidreet miles of lino, and all sorts of complications with rival or auxiliary lines? Certainly, if people could invest eb few hundred pounds in a smaller concern more within' the scope of their experience, and not too large for examina tion, they would have at least as good a chance of seeing their money again as if they threw it into the capital of a railway or the pocket of a speculative attorney. Hr. Glyn, observed with triumph l as t n i g ht , th at neitherl indeed , t the report of the, commissioners nor yet Mr. Cobden had noticed an inipoitant' difficulty,—viz., how to prevent the frauds which would be certain to occur under a system- of registration and limited liabi lity ; but, while noticing this omission, be mad e , hi mself, the still more serious omission of not informing the house r e e x lax i st a , ti a r d l o th on e e p a re sk rie s u h t ow law the o: how a fraudulent management of railway and other joint stock companies is ever to be prevented. Whatever evils apprehendedfr a ° lre m ad a y are to be prevented. Indeed, they are assumed to be part of the English character, and there f ore conte nd partnership,a are they re valu L to against.. • At the present period of the se • 94 4 F i' lJ ia 0; 1 '4 salon, aci m two conflicting reports from the Pirliaiaiktirifilif i l t l s s, u on the subject —one from the real6iity-Otttlf at Wit other froin a not.less respectable mit - 040 15 i triV"--' ' AN hardly to be expected that 'Mr. 'Conierleku ce:ea his`carr y resolution in such a form last night as to lead to immed i ate action upon it. But the qu es tion is now settled. No law, indeed, can s t an d long that condemns itself by the number and the mode of its exceptions, that operates so much to the prejudice of one trace as compared With an i _f_ t h etr, :ang, with foreigners. that places ' our m erc h an t s at such di sa t li T 6 plP; ,. P °l PY arm Why are the means r incorporation to - care conflict or a large sum of money, besides' the preearious favo ur of a Ministerial o ffi cer ? Wh y t id' the Board of Trade to grant any appli cationis one Presiden ,and the next to refuse every applica tion, for s , opinions may dictate? Why, should the ju st as 1" - s that is of a railway company—be oon trade of a partnershipcarrter with limited liability, and not any s i gne d to a braech of manu f ac tu re ? Why are foreign houses to in crease every d a y in the metropolis, and get p ossess i on o f o ur trade, all of them supported by capital advanced up on conditions .'own trade forbidden in this country? Why is our own to be fettered, and that of our competitors free! 'We are content to press for some relaxation of the law imfA cient to enable us to compete on even terms. At all event*, we shall not suffer more scandal and loss by spurious credits and treacherous investment than we do already under the operation of a law intended to spare us the trouble of thinking for ourselves, —Times. • MESSRS. DAVIDSON AND GORDON'S SUSPENSION.— The recent suspension of Messrs. Davidson and Gordon, which is likely to prove very unfavourable as regards assets, has led to other difficulties, the bills:of ?desire. Cole, Brothers, East India merchants and i netaldealers, with whom they had extensive transactions;- having to. day been dishonoured. The liabilities of Cole, Brothers, have not transpired, but they are believed to be heavy. The firm was partly formed from that of Johnson, Cole, and Co., who failed during the crisis of 1847 for 153,000/., with assets which yielded under bankruptcy only a tractional dividend. . ~:. ~,. Y~'~-.4:.. ,ja