The Sun. — London, England, 1854-08-16 00:00:00

.irrHE SUN" ON SMOKE PREVENTION. —" There really ought not to oe any excuse for the entire riddance of the smoke nuisance; oar own experience satisfying us that the system of smoke prevention and economy of fuel, invented and carried out by Mr. Lee Stevens, ie as effective as it is simple. Until we had it applied to our own steam-engine furnace, we could form no Idea of the ease and certainty of its operations, vrithoat any moveable parts, and at such very moderate expense."—San. Copies of OFFICIAL AND OTHER REPORTS, and of Testimo nials in favour of the Invention, as applied to STEAM BOILERS; BREWERY COPPERS; STILLS ; CHEMISTS, DYERS, and CONFECTIONERS' PANS ; COAL OVENS, Ike , with information respecting licenses to manufacture or use the Patent Smokeless Fur nOces, given by Mr. JOHN LEE STEVENS, the Patentee, at the Oakes, So. 1, FISH-STREET-HILL, CITY, LONDON. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE: Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, AUGUST 16, WM be produced for the? first time. with New Scenery, Dresses. and Effects, Rossines &,rand Opera ot SEMI RA3LIDE. Semiramide, Madame Caradori ; Arsace, Miss Fanny Huddart ; mar°. Signor ♦rnoldi; Idreno, Signor :Juni ; Oroe, Signor Pitrrini ; Ombra di Mono, Signor Ferrari. To conclude with a favourite BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. Prices—Gallery, 13.; Pit, 25.: Upper Boxes, Ss. ; First Circle, 43.; Dress Circle, 55.; Stalls, 75.; and Private Boxes, One, Two, Three, and Four Guineas each. THE ITRE ROYAL HAYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Rucketone. THIS EVENING, Arorxr 16, Will be performed T HE OLD CFIATE &U. Characters by Messrs. Howe, Rogers, LI. Marston, and Duckstocs; Mrs. Fitzwllliam, and Miss Reynolds. Followed by the spANlsa DANCERS in a GRAND BALLET. The new Farce AS LIKE AS TWO PEAS. LYCEUM THEATRE. Mr. and Mrs• SIMS REEVES' FAREWELL PERFORMANCES THIS EVENING, AUGUST 16, win be performed THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. Char ac t ers by Messrs. Sims Reeves, NI anvers, Farquharson, W. H. Weiss ; Mrs, Sims Reeves, and Miss Jana Harland. To conclude with LES PAYS.A.NNSS DU NORD. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Moron. THIS EVENING, AUGUST 16, will be performed HARD TIMES. Followed by FAUST AvD MARGUERITE. Mephistopheles, Mr. Salford; Faust, Miss G. Hodson; Marguerite, Miss 11. Gordon. To conclude with MR. AND MR.3. NHIIE. Stalls, 45.; Boxes, 2s. 6d.; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes Is. to be had of Mr. Allcroft. 15, New Bond-street. ROYAL•SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. "This place fills up an hiatus which the Crystal Palace leaves wanting. Vocal and instrumantal ululate of the first order, and a display of fireworks which exceeds all imagination. area fitting close to a day at the Crystal Palace." DANSON'S COLOSSAL PANORAMA of CHUSAN. Splendid and Extensive Menagerie and Marine Aquarium—Unri valled Military Band. VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT, In which Miss Poole, Miss Ransford, and Mr. Manvers sing Several National and Patriotic Sono—All the Amusing Novelties of the Gardens in succession, concluding with the " Feast of Lan terns," and a most nt tgaill3ent display of Fireworks by Southby. Admission One Shilling. A splendid Pavilion for Dancing has been erected. Full Quadrille Band, Sec. ASTLErS ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Coolie. Shortly will be produced, a Grand EQUESTRIAN BURLESQUE I THIS EVENING, THZ COSSACKS; or, Vive la France. After which, SCENES In the ARENA, invented and arranged by Mr. William Cooke. Miss Emily Cooke, the wonder of the world, will have the honour of a:Tearing. Grand Entree by 12 ladies. The Union of England and France. HERR CHRISTOFF, Premier Fnnambule on the Tight Rope. To conclude with the new Equestrian Ballet d'Action, by Mrs. S. G. Healey, called THE KNIGH r AND THE WA.IER LILY; or, Love among the Mermaids. Boa-office open from E►even till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. lIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tata DAY —Morning 12 atinoiter 7 Evening 37 min.aft. T O-350 nRow—morujug 5 ail;Lafter 8 Evening 39 ,ain.aft. 8 THE WEATHER.—Suu °mom, Aun. 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 71—highest since noon yesterday. 54—lowest this morning and during the night. 68—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'94. Tirrtm, N.N.W.—Fresh, with variable, cloudy weather. It rained heavily yesterday afternoen. ef-4_ 10 LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1854. Is England to be gladdened by news of an attack upon Sebastopol ? Are we to hear of any serious warlike adventure up the Gulf of Finland —for an onslaught upon Cronstadt, or at least upon Sweaborg—with a view to a further advance upon St. Petersburg, or at any rate upon Elel singfors ? May we expect to obtain intelligence soon of a combined military and maritime descent upon'the Crimea—whether indirectly, by way of the isthmus of Perecop, or directly, by an expe dition landed upon the shores of the peninsula, and supported by a resolute bombardment of the principal fortifications ? Are we to rest satisfied in regard to the Black Sea with the simple fact of the capture of the Salina mouth of the Danube— and, in reference to the Baltic, with the landing of some thousands of French soldiers on the Aland Islands, and the discharge of a few broadsides against the batteries of Bomarsund ? Added to all which—Haw about Sweden ? How about Denmark? How about Prussia? How about Austria ? Are we to look for neutrality, for enmity, or for co-operation from those foir Governments ? Can we with any de gree of confidence rely upon the good faith of the councils of Vienna, Berlin, Stockholm, and Copen hagen ? Still these questions are asked. Still they remain unanswered. Autumn is beginning. Winter must come in its turn very shortly. Warlike operations both in the East and in the North are peculiarly dependent upon the seasons. The best time for them this year bas gone by already. Parliament is prorogued. Everything is now left to the discretion of the Government. Altogether, we fancy, a rather pleasant predi cament ! For this country especially. Now that we have the comfortable knowledge of the Income Tax being doubled, of the annual taxation of the United Kingdom being increased by some 10,000,0001. sterling, of our armies and fleets being sent out to humble the domineering pride of the Russian AUTOCRAT, and all the while the "forty years' friend " of the Russian AUTOCRAT at the bead of her MAJESTY'S Government ! Bear ing this last-mentioned circumstance in mind— all the delays that have taken place are perfectly and glaringly comprehensible. Remembering that Lord ABERDEEN has all this while been the Prime Minister of England, it is easy enough to under stand how it is that Austria is allowed to send her forces into the Principalities, so as to interpose a large body of German troops between the victorious Turk ' end the defeated Muscovites ! How it has Win° to pan that months have flitted by with out the combined fleets in the Baltic having ven tured upon a general attack upon the defences of the Russian cap i ta or And without the of the tow n of Helrsing,fors I c ombined fleets in the Black Sea having dared to proceed vigorously against th e C r imea with a view to the ; co capture or destructio n of Sebastopol ! Everything b eco mes comprehen sible with that one deplorable b fact before us the Earl of ABERDEEN has remained all the , that while at the head of the Administration. The WM tra,natission of gun-boats to the Balt i • c ; the hesitation about sending troops, until very recently, to aid the maritime armaments up the Gulf of Finland ; the reluctance shown i n g Denmark qnd S weden, l ong ago, no t co mpelling to reveal their policy boldly, instead of cryi ng fast and loose between the interests of Russia and those of her western antagonists ; the apparent credulity in regard to Prussia ; the seeming con nivance in reference to the very questionable de signs of Austria—all are brought, with the remem brance of that one fact, within the reach of the dullest observer's comprehension. It is, therefore, wonderfully consolatory to re flect, with 10 ,000,0001. added to the amount of annual taxation, with the wintry season (when the campaign mu s t end) rapidly approaching, with nothing yet doing by sea or by land in the way of decisive or vigorous proceed ings, and with Parliament actually prorogued without any security th a t it shall be called together again earlier than next February—it is, therefore, we say, wonderfully consolatory to reflect with all this that the Earl of ABERDEEN, as Prime Minister, is still the recognised chief of her Britannic MAJEsTir's Government. Remem bering that all this while Lord ABERDEEN has been the Leader of the Administration, we can compre hend the Past : remembering that he is still the head of the Cabinet, we can only regard the Present' with regret, while we look onward into the Future with profound solicitude. The Windsor Court-martial drags its slow length along. The gallant Judges are now engaged the fourteenth day in the investigation of a matter which would have been disposed of in less than half the number of hours by " a Court of Jus tice." We still hear more and more of those pain ful revelations which have cast so much discredit on one of her MAJESTY'S regiments, and each day new (=se to bless PROVIDENCE that we are not living under military law, administered by mili tary tribunals. But painful as have been these revelations— discreditable as they have been to men whom we were accustomed to esteem and respect, they have not been altogether devoid of utility. Public at tention has at length been attracted so powerfully to the system, that it is utterly impossible to sup pose that important results will not follow, in the shape of a better and more equitable mode of ad ministering jpstice on parties who have incurred the censure of their superiors, and also of better discipline in the internal management of the various regiments, greater care being taken to make those honoured with her MAJESTY'S commis sions " Gentlemen," as well as " Officers." We shall not, however, at present enter into the constitution of the Courts, or the manifest bias exhibited by those who, in each of the three trials, discharged the functions of judges as well as of jurors—aud, we may add also, legislators. For they indignantly repudiated the notion that they were bound by any rules, and peremptorily rejected the protests of the thrice-tried prisoner against the improper reception of evidence not pertinent to the charge, and the equally unjusti fiable rejection of testimony necessary for his repudiation of the collateral charges thus unfairly brought forward against him. Such stern self reliance might, however, have been indispensable. If any rules besides the mere will and pleasure of the tribunal were to be recognised, by whom were they to be enunciated ? Who should decide a doubtful point ? There is no royal road to legal knowledge. Men cannot acquire a practical acquaintance with the law of evidence, one of the most abstruse and difficult parts of professional practice, without diligent study and mature consideration. It is not by drawing a junior officer, who has not the power of defending himself by smashing his doors, throwing his bed clothes and wearing apparel out of the window, inundating his room with water, or compelling him to perform the sword exercise in a state of nudity, that men learn to discriminate between right or wrong, or to ascertain that which pro perly and fairly affects the question at issue, and to give it legitimate weight, while they as care fully dismiss from their minds every irrelevant matter, and decide fairly and impartially, without fear, favour, or affection, between the command ing officer and the humble subaltern. A time may come when we shall feel it an imperative duty to demand a large and comprehensive reform of military tribunals, and in the proceedings of the Windsor Courts-martial we shall find abundant materials to sustain our argu ments. At present let us look to Lieut. PERRY, and consider how far his persecution, has been justified, or the charges against him sustained ! We need not now allude to Court-Martial No 1. The Royal pleasure has been expressed— the proceedings quashed—and never did our most gracious SOVEREIGN occasion greater satis faction to the great body of her subjects than by her truly equitable decision. It fell completely to the ground, and there let it rest. The Second Court-Martial, that nominally on Lieutenant GREER, followed. It was, however, virtually a new trial of Lieut. PERRY. The decision of the former Court was held over him, in terrorent, until it could be ascertained whether he would confirm on oath the statements made in his previous defence, and whether he could be broken down on cross-exami nation—it being evident from the beginning that the object of the prosecutor, Lieutenant-Colonel GARRETT, was not to convict the prisoner, but to heap discredit on his own witness. Lieutenant PERRY then found himself in the anomalous posi tion of being virtually on his trial, without being permitted to ask the questions or elicit the evi dence necessary for the vindication of his charac ter. In that capacity, and sanctioned by the statement of the Deputy Judge-Advocate on his former trial, " that he might ask him any ques tions he thought proper, forasmuch as he was his adviser as much as the adviser of the Crown," he subscribed a letter to Colonel Prrox (Deputy Judge-Advocate on the second trial), asking per mission to put certain questions, and as the groundwork therefor stating that he could estab lish certain points. If ever there was a privi leged communication that was one. As well might an action of libel be brought against a party to the suit for the technical language in which his pleader had framed the declaration—as well might he be held criminally responsible for the language used by his advocate in stating the case. But undeterred by these considerations, and de termined to crush the unfortunate boy who had ventured to resist the arbitrary order—we beg pardon, " advice"—to sell out, a new trial was ordered, not on Colonel GARRETT or those incul pated by the charge, but on the poor lad whose slender finances had already been exhausted. His evidence was thus rendered inadmissible. He could not state on his own oath what had occurred —while the very extraordinary " forgetfulness" participated in by all those who intended to con tinue in the regiment, and the suspicious move ment of some of his witnesses out of their regular routine of duty, rendered it difficult for him to substantiate his assertions. Whatever might be the result even if completely triumphant, the costs of these protracted inquiries would suf fice to crush a man, the chief objection against whom appeared to be, that his friends did not allow him to participate in expensive amusements indulged in by his brother officers, without plung ing into irretrievable debt. A system which he was so " mean spirited,"—so vulgarly honest"—as to decidedly object to. The Prosecutor--one by the war of unusual rank and standing in the ser vice —declared that the charges were prepared partly for the purpose "of giving the prisoner the opportunity of substantiating these charges by cross-examination, or other testimony ; and also of giving Colonel GARRETT, and the other officers affected by the statements, the opportunity of meeting them, by answering, on oath in open Court, any questions that might be put to them by the prosecutor, the prisoner, or the Court." How far the third trial of Lieutenant PERRY was calculated to achieve that object, or how it was consistent with the subsequent statement of Major-General WETHERALL--tbat "Recrimina tion and an attempt to criminate others, is no defence " (!)—must be discovered by those acute s o b f al till not military jurists, w h o can apprec i a t e suc h proceed ings- They are unquest i ona b ly far beyond the powe rs simple now allude to the melancholy and disgusting equivocation of some of the "offi cers and gentl emen " of the 46th, or "non. mi rieordo" Regiment of Infantry. Had they been subje c ted to the ordinary cross-ex • • arainat ion of a COCKBURN, a THESIGER, or a WILKINS, we can easi • ly conceive that the defence would never have been re • quired. It is, however, fortunate for the • prisoner, that his trial h 9 thus been prolonged, and that the testimony of Captain and Paymaster CORCORAN, and of Captain Joux H. CHAMBERS has been brought forward. These gentlemen certainly gave fair and straightforward evidence ; but it, is painful to reflect, that of the only two witnesses who gave perfect satisfaction, one had left the regi m ent in April last, and the other, after 31 y ea rs of honourable service, is about .retiring on half p a y. They are, therefore, no longer within - the control of the confederacy—they cannot be annoyed for giving honest testimony, and, we should regret to say, therefore, because we believe these to be really truthful witnesses, we can place implicit reliance on their testimony. HOW TO SUBDUE SMOKE. We propose under this head to make our readers familiarly acquainted with some of the means of subduing the smoke nuisance that oome under our observation in the metropolis ; so that without attempting to write a history of all such inventions, we may simply examine the construe- tion and effective use of those that are at this moment in the most active competition with each other ; and these we shall divide into three classes for greater facility of description, viz., machines that require unintermitting motive power to keep them in action—contrivances to which occasional motion must be given by the stoker or other person having charge of the fire— and those containing no moveable parts at all, but that are just as easy of construction as ordi nary furnaces. As a passing observation, we may say that we have ourselves adopted one of the last-mentioned class, and have no reason to regret our preference for a simple over the com plex systems, either as regards expense or effect. Of the class of machinery furnaces for which motion is usually obtained from the steam-engine, the greatest attention has been paid to those of Juckes, Hazeldine, and Hall. The first consists in an arrangement of endless chains, which, being caused to rotate upon cylinders, stretch the chains as it were from one end of the furnace space to the other, and which of course occupy its width ; such chains being formed of links a few inches long that constitute in themselves the fire-bar system of the furnace. Over the outer end is fixed a contrivance for feeding the appa ratus with small coals ; and motion being given to the machine, the fuel is carried gradually for ward, and consumed with a regularity that in sures a corresponding ignition of the carbonaceous gases which would otherwise pass off in unignit able smoke. As gradually, too, the links that for the time constituted the fire-bars of the fur nace, passing in a downward direction over the inner cylinder, return underneath to the lower side of the outermost cylinder, and are again car ried up by it to form anew the upper or fire sur face of the furnace. Hazeldine's plan differs from that of Juckes', by the substitution of fire-bars which extend from side to side of the furnace, and, instead of having motion given to them by an endless chain arrangement, are caused to rock to and fro in the direction of the length of the furnace, which motion, added to the great inclina tion of their common surface from the feeding place at the doorway down to the inner end of the ash-pit, carries the fuel onward in the process of combustion, but, of course, not with the uniform regularity of the first-described plan. And it differs also in a more important essential, for, whilst the Juckes' furnace can be worked either horizontally or inclined, it is indispensable to that of Hazeldine to have given to it very considerable inclination from the entrance to the inner extre mity of the furnace. Like that of Juckes', how ever, Hazledine's furnace is supplied with fuel by a self-feeding apparatus, called a hopper ; which is common also in principle to Hall's. As a fur nace machine Hall's is very dissimilar in construc tion to the other two, although fed much in the same manner, and requiring similarly to be kept in action by motive power. It is an inclined sys tem of longitudinal fire bars, with the centre of motion at the inner extremity. These bars are serried on their upper surfaces, and are so set in action that every other bar, say half the bars of the furnace, being alternately raised and depressed, the fuel is carried, forward with much the same kind of regularity as in the other furnaces of this class. But Hall has a provision for the admission of air simulta neously with that of fuel, which, does not occur with the others. As objections of a general character to the use of these three plans, however effective they must be admitted to be in many cases of an important nature, we should mention the first expense, which is necessarily very considerable, machines having motion given to them, under the action of fire, requiring to be very accurately and strongly manufactured ; next, the contingent cost of keeping in repair ; then the expen diture of steam engine, or other motive power, to put and continue them at work ; and, lastly, the limit placed to their applicability, by the existence of thousands of furnaces who-e pe culiarities of form, proportions, and otherwise, must inevitably prevent their conversion to any machinery fire-bar system. In our next notice we will refer to instances of this kind that have come within the scope of our own observation, and, if space will admit, pass on to the consideration of those contrivances that require to have occasional motion given to them by the stoker or engineer. COURT CIBOULA.R. OSBORNE, AUGUST 15. The Queen and Prince, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal rode on horseback yesterday after noon. The party at dinner yesterday included the Duchess of Kent, Lady Anna Maria Dawson, Sir George and Lady Coupe; the Rev. George Prothero and Mr. Gibbs. The Marquis d'Azeglio, Sardinian Minister, has left town for Germany. The Count Corti is charge d'affaires during the absence of the Minister. The Duke of Newcastle returned to town yesterday from Brighton. The Prince and Princess de Joinville, with the Duke and Duchess d'Anmale, are staying at the Victoria Hotel, St. Leonard's, for about a month or six weeks. On Wednesday last a Court of Directors was held at the East India House, when Walter Elliot, Esq., was appointed a Member of Council at Fort St. George, and Sir Henry Conyngham Montgomery, Bart., a Provi sional Member of Council at that presidency. Mr. Charles Compton and Mr. William Garner, the accountant and deputy accountant-general of her Majes ty's Post-office, have retired after the respective service of 46 and 42 years. Nine-and-twenty columns of the last night's Gazette are occupied by Orders in Council closing over -gorged graveyards. LICCEIIH THEATRIL—The indefatigable caterer for the amusement of the public, Mr. Allcroft, opens this elegant theatre this evening, in order to give the playgoing world another opportunity of hearing the delightful com positions of Balfe, Bellini, and Donizetti, sung by the great English tenor Sims Reeves, and other vocalists of great ability. The entertainment this evening will consist of Balfe's Bohemian Girl, and a ballet diver tissement. Mr. Allcroft has availed himself of the op portunity afforded by the termination of the Italian opera season, and the attractions of the ballet engage. ments bid fair to rival those of the vocal, An effort to give the best lyrical, combined with the best ballet en tertainment, at a cheap rate of admission, deserves the most extended support. THE MANCHESTER RAILWAY DEFALCATION.—LIVER POOL, Wednesday.—The trial of John Wickey Stable, the solicitor of the Manchester and Lincolnshire Rail way, formerly of 10, Whitehall, is fixed to take place this day (Wednesday) before the Baron Platt, at Liver pool assizes. Mr. Serjeant Wilkins, Mr. E. James, Q.C., and Mr. Kendal Atkinson are specially retained for the defence. FATAL FALL OF A CLIFF.—Last week a large stone, wei g hing about a ton, was suddenly displaced from the breast of one of the cliffs at Whitehaven, and falling with great violence to the beach struck two children, aged eight and four years, who were picking up caals. Both of them were killed on the spot, and the stone then rolled over on to a third child who, though seriously injured, is still alive. The fall was attributed to the cliff having mouldered away.—Carlisle Journal. Having been favoured with several enquiries respect. ing the validity of passports granted by our ambassadors journeys from consuls on the Continent, for subsequent from this country ; we beg to observe, that passports granted by British ambassadors or consuls abroad, to British subjects, enable the bearer to pass from one state to the other, or to return to England only, and cannot be used for a subsequent journey from this country to the Continent, even should any foreign authority hero vise such passport ; they are, in fact, held obsolete by all foreign governments after the bearer has left the Continent. A Foreign Office pass port may be used for repeated journeys (if duly vised) for an unlimited period ; it is, in fact, a document legalized by Act of Parliament, bearing a stamp of five shillings, and the signature of her Majesty's Minister of State for Foreign affairs, and granted only to parties of guaranteed r es p ec t a bili ty ; h ence th e res p ec t i n which these passports are held by the authorities on the Continent, two states, Prussia and Sardinia, not even requirin g the counter-signature or vise of their minister here to a Foreign OM ce passport,—Bradiyhavi Continental Quid e for 4uguit, POST OFFIOE REFORM'. The report just issued by the commissioners appointed to examine into the internal arrange ments of the Post-office is very full, and contains a great number of suggestions, which, when carried out, will have the effect placing the establish ment upon an entirely altered footing. The first point which attracted their attention—namely, the anomaly of Colonel Maberly and Mr. Rowland Hill acting as secretaries of equal rank and inde pendent authority in a public department where centralisation is peculiarly essential—has already been remedied by the retirement of the former. The commissioners saw at once that this system should be terminated, and consequently recommended the nomination of a single secretary, at a salary of 1,5001., rising in five years to 2,0001., and two assistant secretaries, at salaries risin g from 7001. to 1,0001. With regard to the generasalaries of the establishment, which are at present arranged in a manner that causes jealousy and dissatisfaction, the commissioners propose a broad, consistent, and liberal reform. They consider that, with the ex ception of the secretary's office, the salaries of all the ordinary clerks should be placed on a uniform basis, and that three classes should be formed, the lowest receiving 801 a-year, increasing annually by Si. to 150/. ; the next 1801., increasing by 7/. 10s., to 2401. ; and the highest 2601., increasing by 10/. to 3501. In the secretary's office, where superior qualifications are required, the minimum, it is thought, should be 1201., and the maximum 5001. Heads of offices in each case are to receive pro portionally larger remuneration. As respects the letter-carrying business, a consolidation is recom mended of the hitherto separate departments known as the Inland-office, the London District office, and the Dead Letter-office, the whole to be placed under a single controller, with a salary ris ing from 6001. to 800/. a-year, with a vice-controlle and a certain number of deputies. The sorters, letter-carriers, &c., are proposed to be divided into four classes, so as to afford the prospect of promo tion as a stimulus to honesty and intelligence. For the lowest class the recommendation is 19s. per week, rising annually ls. a-week to 235. ; for the next, 255., rising to 30s. ; for the next, 325., rising to 38s. ; and for the highest, 405., rising to 50s. They are also to be eligible for the appointment of inspectors of letter-carriers, whose salaries are to range from 1101. to 300/. Along with these arrange ments others are put forth for abolishing offices which are becoming obsolete, and creating new ones called for by th altered circumstances of the times. Among the latter are four inspectors, with salaries of 3001. to 5001., whose dnty it should be to maintain the authority of the Post-office in deal ing with the railway companies. The yearly sum now paid to railway companies for mail service amounts to 372,0001., and, as it is customary for the Post-office and the companies in making their respective contracts each to appoint an arbitrator, a permanent officer is also considered necessary for that duty, at a salary of 7001., rising to 1,0001. Finally, the departments of the Receiver-General and the Accountant-General are recommended to be amalgamated, and their whole system of book keeping simplified, some of the accounts being still kept in much the same form as when first esta blished, in the reign of Queen Anne. By this means the number of persons employed in the two offices might be reduced from 64 to 50. With re gard to the Money-order office, which at present employs 160 clerks, the commissioners consider that the business is conducted with method and accuracy, and that such simplifications as are ne cessary may be left with confidence in the hands of the Postmaster-General. In conclusion, the commissioners urge that all promotion should be made to depend on qualification and merit. They also state their opinion that the system of precisely limiting the hours of work and of giving extra for after services is, in most instances, objec tionable, since it induces men to labour too much for the additional advantage, and to render them selves languid or unfit for their regular duties ; but in all cases where work is required, as a general rule, at unseasonable hours it should operate as a reason for a higher salary. An annual holiday as a preservation of vigour is also recommended, an the ground of public economy, and a yearly allow ance of one month without any deduction of pay is accordingly proposed for the clerks, and a fort night for the sorters, letter-carriers and inferior officers. With re s p ec t t o the abolition of offices .and the alteration of salaries, the commissioners are careful that the change should be made in a way not to affect injuriously existing holders. The whole of their report, with some unimportant ex ceptions, was concurred in by Lord Canning, the Postmaster-General, and on the 28th ult. the Trea sury gave authority to his lordship to take imme diate steps to give effect to its recommendations. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY FRIENDLY SOCIETY. This valuable institution, of which the half-yearly meeting has recently been held, redounds very much to the credit of the employees of the South-Western way Company, and might, we think, be very appropri ately followed by other societies in connection with the different great rail ways in the United Kingd.un. Its object is to raise from time to time, by sal)scriptions amongst the members, by voluntary contributions, by donations, and by a weekly subscription paid by the London and South-Western Railway Company for each member of the society in their employ, a stock or fund for the mutual relief and maintenance of members, in cases of sickness, accident, or incapacity to exercise their ordinary calling, assurances in case of death, and pen sions or deferred annuities on attaining the age of 65. It is needless to point out the advantages which must result from such a society, for they are apparent to every one ; but we know of no class of men by whom they will be more keenly felt than the great majority of the servants of railway companies, because from the nature of their employment they are exposed to more than ordi nary dangers, and perhaps rendered more liable to sick ness. The half-yearly meeting was held at the institu tion room, Brunswick House, Nine Elms, when Mr. F. J. Macaulay took the chair, in the absence of Mr. L. Crombie, the president. In presenting their report on the affairs of the society during the half-year ending 30th June last, the directors say :—" We are happy to be able to refer on this occasion to the establishment of the society on the firm footing secured by means of the new code of rules submitted to and adapted by you on the last special general meeting. The new regulations, which have at last after so many months' delay been settled, and which came into opera tion on the Ist of July last, will we trust prove satis factory. The society, as now established, is open to the admission of new members on terms most favourable to all parties interested in its welfare. We feel confi dent that the working of the society under the present rules will shew a larger balance to the credit of the funds than has ever yet been exhibited to you. The sickness of the last half-year has not been so severe as formerly, but the mo rtality has been grea t er, s i x mem b ers hav i ng died during the six months." Among the other resolutions passed wag one, thank ing the directors of. the South-W es t ern R a il wa y Com pany for their munificent gift of 751., and for the great interest they had taken in the welfare of the society. It is to be hoped that the list of the society's members will soon embrace the whole working staff of the rail way. PRICE OF GOLD,—The quotation of gold at Paris is about 4 per "Dille discount (according to the last tariff), which,Mint price of 3/. 17s. 101 d. per ounc at ounce for h r standardgold, gives an exchange of 25. 07 ; and, the exchange at Paris on L on d on at short being 25.021, it follows that gold is about 0.18 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg, the price of gold is 4211 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 104 d. per ounce for standard gold. gives an exchange of 13.3 i ; and, the exchange at Hamburg on London at short being 13.41, it follows that gold is 0.59 per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburg. The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is 1091 per cent., and, the par of exchange between England and America be ing 109 23-40 per cent. it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.17 per cent. in favour of England ; and, after making all owance f or c h arge s of transport and difference of interest, the present rate leaves a trifling profit on the impo rtation of gold from the United States. ATTEMPTED MURDER AT BRUSSELS DT AN ENGLISH MAN.—An attempt to commit a douhle murder was made on the evening of the Bth, at Brussels, in the Rue des Gr an d s C armes. Ab ou t a quarter past ten, just as a groc er name d D e l a rocca, aged 65 , was on the point of closing his shop, a well-dressed man entered and asked f or some articles. Th e y were given him and he paid for them , but in p lac e of immediately t a ki ng - his departure he continued talking in a wondering manner. At last the grocer observed to him that it was time to shut up, and going round the cou n t er procee d e d towards the door, as if to close it after the customer. The moment he came near the stranger, thi s l atter pu lled a hammer from under his coat, and gave M. Delarocca four dreadful blows on the head. The servant of the grocer, a woman aged about 50, on hearing the noise of her master falling to the ground, hurried out, and was received by the stranger in the same manner, and fell im mediately bathed in her blood. The man then rushed round the counter to get at the money in the till ; but this dreadful drama had not passed unobserved, as the cries of the servant had attracted the atten tion of some persons on the opposite side of the way. They hurried over to the house, and with the assistance ,of a police agent, who happened to come up, arrested the man. He was immediately interro gated by the nearest commissary of police, and de clared his name to be Alexander Henderson, a native of Great Britain, and following the calling of a coachman. He declared that he was urged to the crime by want. The next morning the grocer and the servant were both alive, but scarcely any hope is entertained of their re covery. Henderson lived in the house opposite, and probably conceived the idea of the crime from seeing the grocer from his window. The prisoner is well known at Brussels as a man of bad character, who had reduced his wife and family to such distress by his misconduct as to force them to apply to the depot of mendioity, LATEST NEWS. THE WAR. THE DANUBE. A letter from Rustchuk of the 29th ult., in the Moniteur, says :—" The 15 French pontooneers, who arrived here a few days back with a lieutenant, began the day before yesterday the construction of a bridge of boats from the right bank of the Danube to the Island of Ramadan, already connected with the Wallachian bank by two small bridges. This great bridge, situated nearly in the centre of the facade of the fortress and of the isle, where the river is most narrow, will be 630 metres in length. The materials are brought with great celerity, and the bridge will, it is hoped, be rapidly finished. Otner Pacha, who has already nearly 20,000 men on the left bank, between Slobozia and Giurgevo, is urging on as quickly as possible the works of en trenchment in front of these two places, and in tends, as soon as they shall be sufficiently fortified, to remove there the rest of the garrison of Rust clink, or 2L,000 men. 40,000 are between Tur tukai and Silistria, and as many at Rasgrad as a reserve ready to proceed to Silistria or Rustchuk." MARSHAL ST. ARNAUD'S ADDRESS TO THE ALLIED ARMIES. Marshal St. Arnaud issued at Varna the follow ing address to the army on the 30th July : " Soldiers of the Allied Armies,—We shall soon ad vance into the territory of our enemy. I rely on your obedience, on your bravery, and steadiness in the fight. The task we have to complete is no light one. The enemy we have to encounter is strong and numerous. The forty years of peace passed by us in promoting com merce, industry, and the arts, have been spent by him in the study of the art of war, and in military prepara tions. From your bravery and energy France and Eng land expect a victory. The eyes of all Europe are on you. Show yourselves the worthy sons of your brave fathers. We march into the land of the enemy resolved on victory. As conquerors must we see our fatherland, or never more return." STATE OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY. A correspondent of the Cologne Gazette writes from Odessa on the Bth inst.—" We have received letters here from Jassy on the 2d, by the country post, hinting that a retreat is at hand. The troops have suffered terribly, and a third of the cavalry is hors de combat. Fatigue, privations, and the heat of the parched Dobrudscha have been almost as fatal to the horses, both artillery and cavalry, as in 1828. The infantry present a pitiable spectacle, emaciated, downhearted, and scarcely able to sup port the burden of their arms, the decimated columns steal along, and look like anything but that proud, army of occupation which last year marched for the Danube by Leowa and Jassy." THE CHOLERA IN THE BRITISH CAMP. CAMP MONASTIR, July 28.—The cholera broke in campt at Devna on Sunday morning, and by Monday at twelve c'clock there were twenty-three deaths. On the recommendation of the medical officer, and at the request of the commanding officers of regiments, Brigadier Airey, in tempo rary command, moved the camp . b this place. The change of air has decidedly done good, yet the disease is still prevalent. This is Friday, and since Sunday morning we have lost one officer, two women, and fifty men. In some cases four hours did the work. A move is hourly expected, but the destination is kept secret. Yesterday some of the French embarked at Varna—it is said about 10,000—some of whom were artillery, but they were in the dark as to where they were to go. CONSTANTINOPLE. We extract the following from a Constantinople letter of Aug. 3.—Sir Edmund Lyons came down yesterday from the Black Sea, on board the Aga memnon, which cast anchor at Therapia, near the palace of the British Embassy, on the Bosphorus. The object of this visit is generally considered to be to urge the Turkish authorities to hasten the com pletion of the preparations for the lauding of troops, &c., pontoons and other apparatus being con structed in the Turkish arsenal. The 4th Light Dragoons have arrived, or board the Simla ; also a detachment of Rifles ; and yesterday the Colombo cast anchor, with the 20th regiment on board. The cholera has also broken out in the English camp. It has, however, somewhat abated. At Varna it has been very bad—as many as seventy deaths a day ; and the accounts from Gallipoli are still worse. The war is shoved pretty well into the background ; nothing but the disease is talked of—a subject which inte rests people in common more nearly than the shots that are being exchanged on the Danube. Constan tinople has as yet been but slightly visited by the malady. A few cases have occurred amongst the lower orders of Stamboul, and on the Bosphorus, two or three at Galata, and one at Pera. We still flatter ourselves that Constantinople will not be se verely visited by it, as it never was very severe. A good many deaths have taken place at the French hospita Marshal St. Arnaud has been spending a few days here. Madame St. Arnaud and a sniall circle of French ladies are living at Yeuikoi, on the Bosphorus. A short time since the marshal's lady expressed a wish to visit the Sultan's harem, and, on its being made know to Abd-ul-Medjid, he immediately appointed a day on which he not only would open his harem to her inspec tion, but on which he would be happy to receive her and a few of her female friends in pri vate audience at the Imperial palace. On Monday last Madame de St. Arnaud, the lady of General Yussuf, and his mother, had an audience of the Sultan at his palace of Tcheragan. Abd-ul-Medjid conversed with the French ladies for upwards of a quarter of an hour, and, on their taking leave, he graciously presented each of them with a valuable set of ornaments in brilliants. They were then conducted to the Imperial harem, where an elegant collation awaited them, the daughter of Karabet Bey acting as interpreter, or female dragoman —a very rare specimen of the tribe. The Turks do not much like these visits of Giaour ladies to the Padisha—they are unprecedented. They ought, however, to reflect that so also are the circumstances under which they have taken place. All the engineer officers in the Turkish service have been ordered to the Danube at the demand of Omer Pacha , who is desirous of permanently forti fying the left banks of the Danube, and of increas ing the works already existing at Giurgevo, 01- tenitza, and other places. This by no means looks as if the Turks were at all willing to allow the Austrians an exclusive occupation of Wallachia. Dervish Pacha, who has been appo inted commis saryarell,aaclnud there a,and is not any prospect of his leaving for some time to t o re i t n o s -tjaotien the the ho sp o Austrian dar s a i r s m s y t come. inll Wallachia, Uncertainty still seems to hover about the exact time fixed upon for the expedition to the Crimea. The sth of August is mentioned as the day for the embarkation of the first troops at Varna. Persons are, however, not wanting who speak of Anapa, on the coast of Circassia, as the destination of those forces. Wherever the troops may be sent, it w ill be preferable to their remaining in their present quarters, which are most unwholesome, and will, with the increasing heat, daily become more so. Devna is well known to be the most unhealthy, swampy spot that could have been found, and yet it was fixed upon for a British encampment. THE BALTIC. At length, in the Journal de la Marine of Rus sia, we find professional candour rising above pre judice, and justice done to the skill and intrepidity of British sailors. Here is the passage. After describing the position taken up in Baro Sound, the reporter says :—" As regards the handling of the ships there obtains with the English a most admirable skill. When Admiral Napier led his ships into the waters of Baro Sound, the Welling ton took the lead in this momentous movement, and the enemy's fleet anchored in the most splendid order. Admiral Napier always keeps his steamers separate from his fleet, that they may explore the creeks and bays. The English ships make very little use of our buoys, for they do not navigate the channels marked out by our pilots. When they take a new channel, they lay down new buoys for themselves, and they have had numbers of rocks, that indicate reefs and sand banks, painted. One may affirm positively that no pilot of ours would ever venture, on his own responsibility, to take deep-going ships along the courses that have been passed in the Sheeren by large English steamers, though it must be admitted that they many a time grounded a little." The following is a verbatim translation of the despatch in the Moniteur, of which we gave a summary yesterday by telegraph :—" Despatches to the Bth inst. have been received from Admiral Parseval, commander-in-chief of the French squa dron in the Baltic. The landing of the expedi tionlry corps was effected on the Bth, at three in the raorni!.g, without resistance, on two points of the island of Lumpar, situated to the north of the Archipelago of the Aland Islands. A battery of five pieces of cannon of large calibre was rapidly destroyed by the Phlegeton steam-corvette of the Imperial navy, and the Amphion, belonging to the English squadron. The pieceswhichhad been buried under the ruins were spiked by the seamen of the two vessels. The corps d'armee were marching along the heights commanding the fortifications. Admiral Parseval was making arrangements to es tablish communications with the General-in -Chief for the purpose of, at once, providing him with the materiel of which he might have need. The troops were animated by the very best spirit. 3,000 French and English marines have landed without obstacle in the north of the island. Two or three vessels were attacking, with cannons of large calibre, the towers commanding Bomarsuud." The following interesting communications from an officer of her Majesty's ship Leopard, attached to the Baltic fleet, appear in the Dublin Evening Post : " Her Majesty's Ship Leopard, Aland Island, July 26, 1854.—My Dear --, I posted a letter to you, to go by Dantzic, on Monday evening last. We were then close to Bomarsund. We are engaged in a tiresome, irksome duty that of surveying the thousand and one channels that lie between the islands east of Aland, at least those passages close to Bomar. Our object is to enable our ships to chase vessels communicating with the garrison from Finland or elsewhere. We took two large Russian boats on Monday, and yesterday we destroyed some large beacons constructed of wood, and already laid for lighting. They were full in view of the forts of Bomar, and for what object they were there is more than I can tell. Along with us, and scattered amongst these little islets, are the Ilecla, the Zephyr, the Basilisk, the Lightning, the Gorgon, the Amphion, and the Locust. We have now hem med in Bomarsund in a semi -circle, so that nothing can go back or forward to or from the town or forts without our knowledge ; inside of us lie the Ajax, the Hogue, the Blenheim, the Edinburgh, and the French line of-battle ships. It is said that General Bodisco, the Russian Governor, will fight his guns to the last ; we are not to make any advance till the French troops arrive ; we are all longing for their coming, for it is tantalising to be here full in view of the enemy's forts and not engage them. The men remind me of terrier-dogs held in a chain in sight of a rat, straining and snapping to get a grip of him ; indeed, the im patience is not confined to the men. We haVe our boats, armed, out in all directions, cruising where the ships can not go, so that all communication with the forts is effec tually cut off. From this place to the Finnish coast is one continued Polynesia—millions of islands, small and great, with channels between them, varying in breadth from twenty yards to two miles or more, and an average of five to ten fathoms of water. The half of them are not put in our best charts. There is a report that the Russian fleet is getting ready to come out into the Gulf of Finland, now that our ships have come up here. I hope it is true—but I fear it is not; take the news cum grano salis. Yesterday we sent a boat ashore to destroy some beacons that were laid ready for lighting. I mentioned this, however; but I did not tell you that along with them, in a hut hard by, papers were found, in bad Swedish, telling the I keeper of these beacons how to light them as signals from what direction we were approaching, such as one fire for north, two for south, and so on. Hands are piped to bathe. For the present, good bye." " Friday, July 28, 1854, 10 a.m.—Yesterday, the Commander-in-Chief sent for Admiral Plumridge, who accordingly went down in the Alban, and did not return till late last night in the Pigmy. It is said that we go hence to lie at Bomar with the squadron till the troops arrive, which event is expected on Sunday next. Tt is rumoured that Admiral Plumridge is to be senior in com mand at the siege ; this, however, I do not believe, as it is very likely Sir Charles will be here in person, not in the Duke of Wellington, but in some other vessel, per haps in this. If General Bodisco does not capitulate, he is a madman. The forts mount 90 guns, with a garrison of 1,000 men, and how these are to meet 6,000 troops and some 250 guns, is more than I can tell. Ad miral Corry is gone home in a bad state of health, and it is thought that Admiral Plumridge would shift his flag to the Neptune. But this will not be. Ido most sincerely wish the troops were out, for we are all mad to level these formidable-looking stone buildings. The weather is cool, with a strong northerly wind, and to day rain." " Sunday, July 30, 1854, 10 a. m.—At anchor still, some five or six miles from Bomar. We momentarily expect the arrival of' the French troops ; we are, on their arrival, to go to the commander-in-chief, and bring 1,000 of them to such place as Sir Charles Napier shall deem fitting to land them. Ido not as yet know what other vessels besides the Leopard are intended for this service ; we every moment expect an express with word of their advent—a crowded ship she will be then, with her crew of 300, some dozen Russian prisoners, and 1.000 French soldiers. But they will be on board but for a few hours. It is said amongst other on flits that there are 30,000 troops coming; if this be the case, we have great hopes that Sir Charles will not be satisfied with taking Aland, but will push up to Cronstadt or Helsingfors before winter. There are reports of all kinds flying about the•ship, all of which I disbelieve. Don't be misled by newspaper stories at home ; except Sir Charles himself, I don't think any one in the fleet knows what is to be done. Of our going at Bomarsund there is, I believe, no doubt ; but ninny say that the place will capitu late. The natives of the surrounding islands are selling us fresh provisions, as mutton, vegetables, butter, eggs, &c., on the sly, for it seems the Emperor has threatened to visit such doers with his uttermost wrath ; at night it is they fetch us the stores. I don't think thir sym pathies tare at all with his imperial highness ! It is be lieved here that King Oscar will at length side with France and England. It is rumoured that Sir Charles Napier wished Admiral Plumridge to ship his flag to the Neptune, in lieu of Admiral Corry, gone home ; but he refused and stuck to the old craft, so as to place her, as flag-ship. in a post of honour and danger at the siege of Bomarsund and elsewhere. If this be really the reason, he is a trump, and his officers cannot be sufficiently thank ful to him for giving them such a chance of promotion. How we do long for these " blessed sogers," as their coming will be the knell of Bomar, and a signal for General Bodisco to "shut up." This time this day week we were in an awful mess, the ship on a rock, and all confusion ! stop—here is another yarn. It is said that we are going to dam up Petersburg, between Cronstadt and the south coast of the Gulf. Engineers have some plan with old I vesels filled with stones, &c., and to erect a breakwater, in fact. You must know that there exists a dam between Cronstadt and the north shore of the Gulf, so that at present the only outlet for the waters of the Neva is south of Cronstadt. Even suppose they do not accom plish this, it is hoped that when they see our movements, they will s n I out their men-of-war to interfere with our little reereations. If so, there is an end to the Em peror's navy. Mind, I only give you this as a rumour —take it as such. "9 p.m.—All is confusion—nothing bot steamers going backward and forward to and from the com mander-in-chief. The Algiers and Hannibal have arrived with troops, and the other ships are momentarily ex pected ; nay, they may be with the fleet this moment for aught we know. The Cuckoo is in sight with some message for us ; but I fear I must close this before I hear what intelligence she brings ; she may have letters for me ! The admiral was away in the Locust all day, and found a place to land the troops, north of Bomar sund. This moment, since I wrote the last word, I hear that 5,000 troops have come. Three men, Russians, were taken to-day—deserters from the garrison of Bomar. They gave us the particulars of the defences, but as yet these are only known to the admiral. General d'Hilliers is not expected here till Wednesday. lam just dotting down the news as I hear it announced around me, for as they are making signals to the Cuckoo, every new corner off deck brings the result of the last signal made. Our admiral is going down to the commander-inp-ocfphoAiselefanabdte.ftowrloe thistom odraryowwemeokrnwineg,shinalithbee Linocruosst.sesslionsu must say farewell." FR ANCE. The Moniteur of to-day (Wednesday), which is the only journal published this morning, contains a decree allowing eight millions of francs to carry out the dispositions of the will of Napoleon I. The fetes have passed over without accident. SPAIN. According to advices from Madrid of the 11th, the state of Catalonia continues to cause uneasi ness in the Government. Serious disturbances had broken out at Tortosa, where the mob burst into the Town-hall and massacred the secretary. His mutilated corpse was afterwards dragged through the streets and thrown into the river. General Dulce has departed for Barcelona to re place General Manuel Concha as Captain-General. Queen Christina still remains in the Palace. The government is buying back the arms which were in the hands of the civil population, and already 2,500 muskets have been taken to the arsenal. The government has not yet decided in what manner the elections for the Constituent Cortes shall be made. Advices from Madrid announce that the Spanish Cortes have been convoked for the Bth November, one deputy to be returned for every 35,000 souls. For the elections the law of 1837 will be followed, with a slight modification. The Journal des Debats contains a long letter on the state of affairs in Spain, and particularly in what relates to the declaration of Marshal Espar tero, that " Queen-Christina should not be allowed to leave the Spanish capital, either openly or secretly, until the Cortes should have assigned to her a place of residence." The Debats declares that in making such a declaration as that just quoted, Espartero has taken a part in a revoluntary act which nothing can either justify or excuse, and the responsibility of whi c h, un l ess redeemed by some subsequent act, he must bear in the page of history. The Debats insists that the difficult circumstances in which Espartero is placed cannot be alleged as any excuse for his conduct, as he ought to have made use of the popularity which he enjoys to ward off the blow aimed at the Queen-Mother. The "Mats goes the length of considering the coercive measures adopted towards Queen Christina as an indirect attack on the constitutional monarchy of Spain, which, it says, the new Cortes certainly will not for a moment think of overturning. " We are convinced," says the _Mats, in conclusion, " that the safety of Spain depends on the preser vation of that monarchy which is now so strongly shaken ; and we take pl easure i n persua ding our selves that the Duke do la Victoria, who has achieved his renown in the service of Queen Isabella, will be anxious to attach his name to the restoration of her throne, by surrounding it with liberal and monarchical institutions ; but we must say, at the same time, that if such are his inten tions, he is strangely mistaken in his conduct to wards Queen Christina, Let him then retrace hie footsteps ; there is still time. True emcees ; the only legitimate and honourable service is at thAt price." TIIE WEST INDIA MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, AUG. 15. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship La Plata, Capt. C. G. Weller, arrived this afternoon, at two o'clock, from the West Indies, with 73 passengers, 270,000 dollars in gold and silver, and the usual mails, in charge of Lieut. Poole, Admiralty agent. On her homeward voyage La Plata experienced fine weather and light winds. The latest dates brought by La Plata are—Santa Martha, July 26 ; Grey-town, July 22 ; Chagres, 24 ; Deme rara, 25 ; Carthagena, 26 ; Jamaica, 27 ; Grenada, 26 ; Barbad oes , 27 ; Jacmel, 28 ; Antigua, 29 ; St. Kitts, 29 ; Nevis, 29 ; Montserrat, 28 ; Porto Rico, 30 ; and St. Thomas, Aug. 2. The news from J ama i ca is to the 27th instant. The Royal Mail steamer Dee arrived at Jamaica, on the evening of the 18th ult., with despatches to the Governor, announcing the bombardment and total destruction of Grey-town, by the American sloop-of-war Cyane, 26 guns, on the 13th inst. , This intelligence h a d occasioned great sensation in Kingston ; many of the merchants being sufferers to the amount of 30,000 doilars. Great anxiety is evinced to learn the steps likely to be taken by the home Government. A subscription had been raised by the inhabitants of Kingston in aid o f the sufferers. The whole of the luggage and goods brought 1 4 the Dee, and intended to be landed at Greytowlit was taken on to Jamaica and landed at Kingston/ in consequence of the demolition of the place. It is expected that the House of Assembly Will very shortly be called together, and probably be dissolved ; it being unlikely that Sir Henry Barkly will appoint the new Ministers without an appeal to the country. The island note panic still c o n ti nues , and " red checks" are at a discount of 7i per cent. Con siderable embarrassment was experienced by the mercantile community in consequence. The ruinous emigration to Panama is unabated) and the estates are suffering much by this con tinual drain of their best labourers. • We regret to say that the cholera still prevails in the agricul tural districts. The weather is considered favour' able for the coming crops. His Excellency the Governor had recovered from his recent iudisposi tion, and had again visited Kingston ; he continues very popular. _ _ At B - trbadoes cholera was rapidly declining , deaths about 15,000. At St. Lucia, cholera had appeared. At Grenada, cholera also existed, and about 1,500 deaths had taken place. At one part of the island they burned the bodies, the living being either unable or unwilling to bury them. On soape estates all had been carried off, from manager sou family downwards. The cattle were eating the growing crops for want of people to look after the COMMERCIAL. We note no improvement in the state of trade. Pri ce ; generally are very fairly sustained, but operations sr" confined, for the most part, to retail transactions. Pr °. duce is unchanged. We have not heard of any operations in freights. The finer qualities of sugar comman d 16 s . 6d. to j B %. per 100 lb. Ordinary has been sold at 15s. EXCHANGES ON LONDON. —COLONIAL AND JA3I O/1 . BANKS.-00 days, par ;60 days, one-half per cent. Pr e mium ; 30 days, one per cent. premium. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE STEA.M-SHIP PACIFIC. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY EVENINa• The United States Mail steam-ship Pacific, Capt. Ezra Nye, arrived in the Mersey this afternoon, with advices from New York to the sth instant, 114 passengers, and 900,000 dollars on frei g ht. The Indiana, from Southampton and Hav re ' arrived at New York to the 2d inst., and the serer steamer Alps, hence on the 4th inst. The Herrmann, from Bremen, arrived at NO York on the 2d inst. The Canadian reciprocity treaty was ratified by the United States Senate on the 2d inst. Those ,two important posts, the consulships a! London and Havana, have been awarded. Generat Campbell, formerly Consul at Havana, supersede! George N. Sanders, at London. The Consulship a t Havana falls to Roger Barton, of Mississippi. Mr. Mason, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented a report on the Unite d States' relations with Spain. The report states that full reparation for past outrages, and adequat e guarantees for the future will alone satisfy the ev pectations of the country. Up to the last accounts the House of Represents' tives had refused to consider the Homestead Bill. Congress did not adjourn on the 4th, but agreed to extend the session until Monday mornino. fol lowing. • • A meeting of the stockholders of the Harlem Railroad was held on the Ist, at which a committee of thirteen was appointed, with p ower t o investi gate the books of the company, and the privileg e of suggesting some plan by which the present diffi culty may be settled. '' Pas the morning of the 2d a horrible tragedy enacted at the St. Nicholas Hotel, New York , by t which Colonel Charles Loring, of California, I ° s 6 life. It appears that an altercation took pl?,,r.e between him and a gentleman named Robert oi Graham, of New Orleans, who ran a sword can t. through the body of the form er , killing Win for on right. Mr. Graham was ex am i ne d a t tile Tc°'' s r on the 3d, and was fully comm it te d f o r trial . 1° murder. There is no dimi nu ti on i n t h e num b er of chn l i e g victims through ou t th e di seased districts genere‘r From Canada we l earn t h at the e l ec ti o ns a° rs . have resulted largely in favour of the reforraebi Mr. Hincks_ has be en re t urne d to P a rliamen t two constituencies. COMMERCIAL. 5, 7 NEW YORIC, A"'„,tho The stringency in the money market for some r°, - , - „ e ge past has produced more caution on the part ei • 1 7 - 0 ". °r u t tie r numbers of our merchants. The foreign imp are becoming less, and, consequently, the cas h PA merits at the Custom-house. gores The stock-market for the week closes heavily of few shares have advanced, but there is a Ia king operators, while there is abundant capital 56- • permanent investments. t st Exchange on L on d on , B an k ers ' Bills, is abun -l lys. 91 to 9,1 ; Commercial Bills, 8i to 91, at 60 ' These rates fo r fi rs t c l ass bill s wou ld preclude a ril 0 010 5 w necessity for shippi ng co i n t o Europe, e parties are inclined to be their own underwrite' 615; quote—London, st er tn, 4i to 4 108 to ; n t 109a a , n • IbPu:rirgibs: 5124 t ° 3§i ; An Bremen, 781 to 79 ; Frankfort, 41i to 41i. t Cotton—The market during the three days r" - : been steady. The stock unsold is reduced t° or, ' thousand bales, and as no arrivals of conseque°,eidera looked for during the next thirty or sixty days, ' are indifferent about selling, and firm in their d 8133 1,, te Good grades, ranging from " strict mid dling rad ° " middling fair," are lc. dearer, while the lower below middling are dull at our quotations. a light Flour —With a comparatively small stock 042 be tter supplies there is an active demand for all the is t t he 36/ to grades of State and Ohio, for home use, 11113 .. t are / lower descriptions not being wanted for exP lower and difficult of sale. e ct h er° Grain—The decline in England has had nn on the price of wheat, as our supplies re f , ma b l lcb °llf particularly of the better grades of white, quotations are almost nominal. There is 13° •ity th e for export, but for milli ng i n - our i m mediate vicl „ demand continues. s IoA os Freights continue to decline , and are now. been they have been for yea rs . 'To'Liverpoo, fit ir T, -As nd°, l2 : taken at Bc. to is. ; cotton 33. per bale. - 1 - ° 2"• the rates are is. 9cl. to 2s. for flour; 175. ,4• i° per hhd. for tobacco. 13E1G11131 —T — h — e National Bank of Belgi" 1 "Y e e ; t: . duced their rate of discount to 2i per cent. 1 ., 11 , 15 j'anll - a i n r g y ratelast, cen A t t j. w wh s en 3 ipterhacdenbte.,eutofuwrhsiuchmeittNiVmaSe raasita vr i a n s 2 per g p e o n si e t r i a o l n ly o . f t smA.--Telegraphic accounts from Vienna 9.Bo6trbe day . indicated . a further remarkable improvement 10 favourable movementGh73 v A e r u u s m tr e i Austrian of securitiesf u 2 n 3 / 4 ds and _ haveth e advancer n t h o n e g y ic ci ll 3 ;., :e r op 0 r e, cent., while in the rate of exchange there has m e l on per cent., e be pre' having gone back to 11.42. It may therefore bee , re sumed ere e that some satisfactory intelligence has ev of ceived either of the progress of the new loan or connected with the war. mi i rfurldßil Tan TuRKISH LOAN.—The proposals for .----, . I . Q . er loan have not yet been issued, but they are cl ai l, f to ; i ts pected. The prospects of its reception appeal vourable, the applications for it already hav ing ' I understood, been extremely numerous. burg peters s o. Sr. PETERSBURG.—The advices from St• are to the Bth inst., when the rate of exchange i t Scarcely any business was in progress, owir'g' „ i it -- 13 0 , 4 to the want of horses for land carriage. on e —e lvisb is mentioned as having above 1,000 casks of tallow -.., re a,80+ 0 0 • 0 1 at Tver, which he was unable to move for that RAILWAY LIIGGAGE.—The Judge of the Li ve i r e P pot County Court has decided that a railway nerePanLi-ger, liable uu for luggage taken into a carriage by a Pas — , - iiere a porter te r h delivered ad tworuan wrongfully yr taken eput theinto i u t g h g e ag t e ra i o n ti f t c) f :I s. carriage at a station refreshment room, V il'ere or i- a l sengers are invited to stop. There was no 1114- against that decision. says: NEWSPAPERS AT DEVNA.—In a letter from a FL. ri rit: "When a man soldier, published in the Sunderland News, the v_ su ij laugh to see the crowd gather a newspaper 91. 71110 gather round him, s 11_',1;10 were Ping to eat him, all are so anxious to her " _ newo ' ___., THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNE'SDAY EVENING, AUGUST 16, 1854.