The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-10 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. be Last Week but Three of Mr. G. V. BROOKE'S Engagement previous to his sailing for California and Australia. THIS EVENING. }Lana 10, Will be performed THE VENDETTA ; or THE CORSICAN BROTHER & The principal characters by Messrs. G. V. Brooke sad T. Mead. be followed by the new Farce, called MY COOK AND HOUSE . EN:3. THEATRE ROYAL. HAYM kIiKET. trader the management or Mr. Rneludone. THIS EVENING. ILLsom 10, WM be perMmed GUY MANNERING. Supported by Messrs. W. Ferran, Elliott Geier, Compton, Rogers. Howe, Clark, Corri, and Cullenterd; Sibs Cashman (as Meg Mantles), Miss Julia Harland, UI Mrs. L. S. Buckingham. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEARS; or, Little Silverhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown; Harlequin, Mr. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. EL Marshall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. CRAM.= Kart• THIS EVENING, MARcu 10, Will be performed RICHARD THE THIRD. Principal charac ter by Mr. C. Kean. After wkich will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME. entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, air. CormacX ; Clown. Mr. Maine; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestria. THIS EVENING. Mezcg 10, -—— • Will be performed A NICE FIRM. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Roaby ; Mrs. F. Matthews. To be ibllowed by A CHARMING WIDOW. After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WER E TWO KINGS. Characters by Messrs. Ruxby, F. Matthews, and Bland ; Madame Vegris , Misses St. George, Eglanton, 3111.4011, Martindale, Ellis, Wadh am, and foots. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. P r i nc ip a l character by Mr. Charles Mathews. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI, P ro prietor. Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Ham 10, wilt be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Mel o- drama in Ave tableaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, 80., a 6 W dresses and appointments, called THE THIRST OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by N. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. To conclude with THE SERIOUS FAMILY. Characters by Mesas. B. Webster, Leigh Murray, Pitmen% and Keeley ; Mrs. L. Murray. MIMS Woolgar, Fanny Maskell, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, MAZCH 10, WM be performed TO OBLIGE BENSON. Supported by Messrs. Erwin Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. After which, THE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by Messrs. n Alfred Wigan, and F. Robson ; and Mrs. Wigan and Miss Marsto. To be followed by THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie, Franks, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss P. Horton, and Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Al'croft—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs . THIS EVENING, Msacs 10, Will be performed THE HE iRT OF AN' IRISHMAN. Princi pal characters by Messrs. G. Hodson, Herbert, and Miss Noel. • Followed by the ANONYMOUS LETTER. After which. THE WATERMAN'. The principal character by Miss G. Hodson. To conclude with THE CORICONIAN BROTHERS. Paddy and Tim Mulligan (the Brothers), Mr. G. Hodson. Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 31.; Pit, Is. 6d ; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes, It, 115.6 d., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEYS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, Masai 10, And during the week, will be presented the new, grand, and romantic spectacle entitled THE WOOD 11 v'S HORSE; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Hose by the pet steed, Beauty, expressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, Scenes of the ARENA. To conclude with the Domestic Drama of THE WHITE FARM. Box-office open from Eleven tail Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tan DAY —Morning 51 min.after 10 I Evening 32 min.a ft . 11 To-Moaaow—Morning 0 min.after 0 Evening 10 min.aft. 12 THE WEATHER—Sus OFFICH, MARCH 10. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 63 —highest since noon yesterday. 51—lowest this morning and during the night. 55—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'11—falling. WIND, S.W.—Light breeze, and cloudy weather, with alight rain about noon—afternoon, fine, with sunshine. ~ .... _ " v ar , „, . • - - ;A' , An", - g jrc-iy...,..;:,,,,.., ,4, Ipu , jp..ii t \--- - Z, MI 0 LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1854. In the midst of the extraordinary preparations making for war, but little attention can be given to other matters, however interesting they might be deemed under ordinary circumstances. Scarcely any one bestows more than a passing thought upon such an occurrence as the disastrous colliery explosion which, on the 18th ultimo, hurried into eternity, in one instant, no less than eighty-nine unfortunate individuals. Neither can any one glance more than cursorily at the conviction of an atrocious murderer like HATTO, at the parti culars of the inquiry now making in regard to the imputed venality of the Irish Representatives, or at the incidents which may chance to take place, as it were, at our next door neighbour's, on the occasion of some sudden and startling conflagra tion. Everybody is looking to one main subject of examination. Everybody is awaiting eagerly the accounts to be received from St. Petersburgh as to the manner in which the Czart may reply to the demand of the Western Powers for the im mediate evacuation of the Principalities. Every body is alive to the value of the different events of the hour, indicating the ardour of the popular desire, both in. England and France, for the ener getic prosecution of the war which may be said now to have been formally undertaken by their Govern ments for the vindication of Turkish independence, and for the championship of European civilisation. It is recognised that there is a significance in the promptitude with which funds have been voted for this purpose simultaneously in the Legislative Chambers in Paris and in Westminster. It is seen that there is something more than a mob's or dinary enthusiasm in the sympathy displayed in the streets of both capitals for the brave fellows passing through them on their way towards the coasts for embarkation. Amongst ourselves, more over, it is at once recognised that there is a pecu liar grace and an especial significance in the cir cumstance of the Qus in person taking a fare well glance at her Guards as they trooped by the walls of her palace in the early morning, and in the kindred circumstance which will have been welcomed this very day at Spithead when her It&JR,STY will have passed in review the noble fleet about to sail to-morrow under the command of Sir CHARLES NAPIER for active service in the Baltic, Incidents like these speak eloquently to the heart" of the English multitude. They give fair Promise that the wish expressed the other even ing by the First Lord of the Admiralty will be realised --- -that the war now on the verge of beginning win indeed be sharp, rapid, and decisive. There is left us, consequently, at this moment but one aspiration, that the Right will, in truth, be defended at this awful crisis by the Might of DrviNE PROVIDENog. One of the arguments which we have from time Q to time put forward in favour Of directfrtoaxmattihoon received very po wer ful c orroborati on Chancellor of the Exchequer in th e co urse of his Financial Statement on Monday evening. The Right Honourable Gentleman said—cc By increas ing the amount of indirec t taxat ion you generally increase the expense of co llection ; but with re spect to direct taxation the case is different —for ' as you increase the amount of the tax, you diminish the percentage cost of collection. T he reason is obvious. The assessment continues th e same, the tax-payers remain the same, and you collect the larger anwrimt at the same cost as th e smaller Thi s is au important admission from such a quarter. An admission that should be con clusive on the point, which, in common with every sincere free trader, and every consistent fiscal re former, we have at all times, and under all cir cumstances, strenuously and incessantly advocated. BY increasing direct taxation we can " collect the larger amount at the same expense as the smaller." And this is the case whether the addition be 3, 10, or 20 per cent. Every shilling—aye, every farthing—levied upon the community will, after the first expenses of the establishment and of the staff of collectors employed, find its way into the ' public Exchequer. Nothing will be wasted or misapplied, for the deduction will be the same whether the sums to be realised amount to five or to fifty millions sterling. And, as we h ave re peatedly pointed out, there would be a saving of a similarcharacter by consolidating the localvrith the general burdens, and making the Government col lectors receive, in addition to that with which they are already charged, the various rates and taxes levied on every householder. There would be very little additional trouble imposed on the imcome-tax collector if he also required the liquidation of the assessed taxes, the poor rate, police rate, highway rate, paving, lighting, and cleansing rate, grand jury rate, burial rate, sewerage rate, and the other multifarious charges that perplex and madden the unfortunate tax-pay& -.while it would be a posi tive relief to the latter') hink that he had only one applicant (albeit for a larger amount) to meet, and to solicit for the much-required indulgence. The single claimant, too, would be much better able to test the accuracy of the excuses put for ward, and to decide on the degree of indulgence he could afford, and rival collectors would have no object in unduly pressing the victim in the at tempt to obtain priority. These are unquestionably considerations which should not be lost sight of in deciding on the great question of fiscal reform. The first point to be determined, if a new impost were required, is to see how much of the amount levied from the con sumer, or party who must ultimately defray the charge, will come to the Exchequer. " What will be the expense of collection?" How much will be available for the maintenance of our na tional establishments and the liquidation of the national liabilities ? are questions to which the Financial Minister must return satisfactory an swers before he can hope to obtain the sanction of the popular representatives, the guardians of the public purse, to his propositions. Mr. GLA.DSTONE has clearly resikonded so fax as any increase of di rect taxation is concerned. He tells us that the expense of collection would be nil !—that we could " collect the larger amount at the same cost as the smaller ! " He has not, however, been quite so explicit with respect to indirect imposts. He only declares that by increasing the amount of in direct taxation, we generally increase the expense of collection. It will be sufficient for our present purpose to assume that the percentage would re main the same. The converse of the proposition then would be equally true, that we would save at least an equal percentage by striking off indi rect taxes. We thus obtain data which enable us to approximate to a decision as to the amount to be saved to the nation by the substitution of direct for indirect taxation. The iniquitous and impolitic system which so long prevailed—but which will speedily be abolished—of deducting the expense of collection before paying the proceeds of a tax into the Ex chequer, prevents us from speaking with certainty as to the actual drawback. We believe that, taking the Customs and Excise, by far the largest items in the national balance sheet, the amount will be about 6 2-3ds to 7, or even 8 per cent. We believe that there is no less than FOUR MIL LIONS STERLING stopped in transitu, which, although paid for the Government use, never becomes available for that purpose. It follows, as a matter of Course, that at least THREE MILLIONS STERLING, and in saying this we far underrate the amount, would be saved to the country by the substitu tion. Three millions sterling ! A very appre ciable item in the balance sheet even of a nation like great Britain ! THREE MILLIONS STERLING ! Why, for one half per cent. of that amount, for barely 15,0001., we suffer the families of our gallant soldiers, who have em barked, or are about to embark, for the seat of war to be cast upon the precarious resources of charity, or on the tender mercies of the Poor-law officials. -Three millions sterling a-year. Why, it is more than is obtained from the taxes on knowledge and on prudence, from the duties on paper and on in surances ; aye, and leaving a very handsome sum applicable for other purposes. THREE MILLIONS STERLING is a sum that re quires no elaborate arguments to prove the expe diency of saving, if possible ; and yet it is but a very small portion of the sum that would be gained by consumers. For the restrictions necessarily contrived to prevent the revenue from being de frauded, the forms that must be complied with, and the delays and inconveniences that must be endured, add very materially to the expenses either of manufacture or importation ; then there must be very considerable allowances also made for the profits of the intermediate parties who stand between the producers and consumers. We have, on many former occasions, proved that those various sums amounted to no less than from 30 to 40 per cent. on the total amount. The THREE MILLIONS would thus be increased to FOUR MIL LIONS sterling by the change, all of which would remain in the pockets of the people, saved by a simple alteration in the mode of collection, by being treated as rational beings, who were not to be deceived as to the amount wrung from their hands for the national expenditure. Let fiscal reformers consider these points, and press upon their representatives the propriety of adopting a system by which such extraordinary benefits may be obtained. The tables of the boroughs of England, accord ing to the New Reform Bill which we have laid before our readers in The Sun of Monday last, will give, to all interested in the subject, an accurate conception, so far as the number of electors and population go, of the approach made by the New Reform Bill to equality of Representation. The facts which may be seen at a glance in these tables are, indeed, sufficiently startling. We did not ourselves expect in commencing them, to find so little internal consistency. If our Tory friends will take the trouble to inspect our lists for a moment, we think they will understand that the less they say about the matter the better. The long list of little boroughs still honoured with one member each ; the large number re turning two members, with a population not exceeding that of more than a score of large towns, still unrepresented, leave an ample mar gin for rendering another reform bill in 1855 yet more unpalatable to them. Twenty-two towns, with a population not exceeding 10,000 ; five more with more than 9,000 inhabitants ; and six with more than 8,000: thirty-three in all, with above 8,000 inhabitants—might be found in 1855 inconveniently clamorous for the electoral honours, awarded to some forty boroughs, all with less than 500 hundred electors each, mostly under 400. The Radical Metropolitan boroughs have already evinced some displeasure at not being honoured with three members a-piece. Considering what will certainly be asked, on the score of better distribution only, we should cer tainly think ourselves prudent Tories if we al lowed the measure to pass without a division. It is, no doubt, a considerable measure of Reform, but the House to be put to rights is very old, and notwithstanding the extensive repairs of 1832, there seems quite as much left to do in 1854. The longer the workmen are kept about it, the more they will find to be done. The present bill is a great advance on that of 1852, and a bill next year must be an advance upon this. It is very striking to compare the list of the towns returning one member with that of those returning two. In the former there are twenty six boroughs, beginning with Guildford, return ing but one member each, yet having larger con stituencies than Truro, which with its 607 elec tors, and a population just over 10,000, returns two. Cheltenham, with 2,400 electors and 35,051 inhabitants, returns—like Chippenhain, with its 300 electors and 6,283 inhabitants —but one member. There are not less than fifty-four boroughs less than Cheltenham, which are to return two members each ! Indeed, there are nineteen boroughs, having each under 1,000 electors, which return two members each ; while thirty-three boroughs, with populations above eight thousand, twenty-two of them lhaving more than 10,000 each return no mem ber at all It must be presumed that the THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 10, 185 4. electors in these twenty-two, at least, would quite equal in number those of like population in the two-member list. It will strike the most cur sory reader that, looking at the very large num ber of petty boroughs still left, fifty of them below 600 electors, also at the score of small boroughs returning two members each, it would have been but reasonable to amalgamate several of the smallest, if they must be retained, and to enfranchise .'such towns as Doncaster and Gravesend, giving perhaps an additional member to Cheltenham, Huddersfield, Sr,c. London might reasonably also spare one member ; whether Fins bury or Marylebone ought to get it may well be doubted. Some of the contrasts are rather curious. Bury in Lancashire has 959 electors, and 31,262 in habitants, and returns one member ; Bury in Suffolk, rejoicing in the tutelage of St. Edmund, with 200 less electors, and about six hundred more inhabitants, returns two members ; Lan caster, with about 16,000 inhabitants, returns two members ; Huddersfield, with about the same number of electors, and almost double the popu lation, returns but one member; while Gravesend with the same population as Lancaster returns none ! Similar specimens of incongruity may be gathered at pleasure by those who wish to seek them. It is evident enough that one point of the Charter, equal electoral districts, is as yet utterly set at nought. We know Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S preference for a rustic irregularity in the distri bution of the representation ; still we can hardly think he would have preferred such glaring in consistencies. Probably his real reasons may be found partly in the intention which he avowed after the Reform Bill of 1332 was passed, to• give the predominance in the representation to the landed aristocracy, and partly in the necessity of not having to ask too many members to vote for their own political extinction. We have all along wished to remember that he has to consider not only what he ought in sound theory to propose, but also what he can carry. With the present House of Commons he probably will find it work enough to push this bill through ; for ourselves, but for the undesirableness of Cabinet changes and a general election on the eve of a war, we should have infinitely preferred a thoroughly honest bill, including the ballot and a five-pound suffrage, for the country to carry, if the House would not. DEPARTURE OF HER MAJESTY TO VIEW THE BALTIC FLEET. Shortly after 10 o'clock this morning, her Majesty, H.R H. Prince Albert, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, H.R.H. the Princess Royal, the Princess Mary, and Prince Alfred Albert, accompanied by Earl Mulgrave, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Waterpark, Colonel Grey, Captain the Hon. De Ros, Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady Frances Bruce, Lady Fanny Howard, and the Hon. Matilda Paget, left Buckingham Palace for the south- Western Railway, en route for Spithead, for the purpose of viewing the Baltic Fleet previous to its departure. The Royal party and suite occupied four carriages, and was attended by a company of Lancers. Upon arriving at the new station in the Wanesworth road, her Majesty was received under a splendid marquee, erected by Mr. Benjamin Edgington, of Duke-street, South wark, by Sir W. Heathcote, M.P., the chairman of the line, and the other officials. Mr. Lock, M.P., the engineer, having examined the engine which was at tached to the Royal carriages, and a telegraphic mes sage been passed to keep the line clear, the Royal train proceeded on its way at a quarter to eleven o'clock. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 5,000 bales, of which 500 were taken on speculation. The market closed steadily at previous rates. The sales comprised 110 Per nam and Maranham at 6R-d. to 71d. ; 50 Bahia at 6id.; 400 Egyptian at 51d. to 10d. ; 800 Surat at 30. to 4d., and the remainder nearly all Ameri can. Railway Shares were dull. Holders of colonial produce have evinced much firmness, notwithstanding a more limited demand. Sugar has been quieter, but at firm rates. Coffee has been dull and cheaper, tea in improved request, and spices rather dearer. Rice has declined, and saltpetre has been steady. Cotton dull, and tal low at a slight improvement. Russian hemp has further advanced. The following particulars of the fruit trade at Liverpool are from the circular of Messrs. Houghton and Levy : " Since our last circular of the 4th ultimo, we have have bad a recurrence of the inactivity which has been the principal characteristic of this article during the present season : the transactions in all descriptions have consequently been most limited. A few small parcels of 1851 fruit have been taken for export at prices vary ing between 80s. and 85s. per cwt. D.P. ; for 1852 and 1853 growths a better demand has sprung up for home consumption, but at a reduction on former rates, 255. to to 30s. having been accepted for middling qualities ; holders are also more pressing to realise, and unless such rates be submitted to, we see little prospect of any great reduction in the stocks this season. The improved demand for the Continent noted in London has not manifested itself here, and our usual shippers complain of having no inquiry what ever this spring. The accounts from the currant growing districts, though of the same character, do not present any new feature, but it is the general opinion that next year's crop will be considerably less than 1852 and 1853—not only on account of the disease being more destructive, but also by reason of the vines being up rooted and neglected by the cultivators in general. The clearances consist of 35 tons for home consumption, against 150 tons in the corresponding month last year ; this serious falling off cannot be attributed to any ad vance in prices, as the qualities principally taken, with the exception of 1851 fruit, show little variation at the two dates ; it is therefore evident that fruit, as one of the luxuries of life, has been chiefly influenced by the high prices of food and other necessaries, and as long as these continue we cannot anticipate much improvement. One cargo has arrived from Vostizza. Exports about 10 tons." The English Stock Market is duller even than for some time past, and the absence of any later political intelligence has added to the apathetic feeling among the speculators. The approach of settling day is, however, another cause. Consols have been 91 to 91k for transfer and account. The books for the New 31 per Cents., the 3 per Cent. Reduced Bank Stock, Long Annuities, and the an nuities for terms of years, are shut. Exchequer Bills have been steady, at 12s. to 16s. premium. East India Stock has been quiet, at 233. In foreign securities the transactions have been very limited, Mexican continue heavy at 24g. Russian 5 per Cents. have been done at 89! 1 to 914, and the Russian 41 per Cents. at 811 to 821, being well supported. Spanish 3 per Cents. have been at 361 to g, and the Deferred at 18. The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted, are as follows :—Metcalfe, g t o premium ; Sue River, 1 discount to par ; Port Royal, Ato premium. The Railway Share Market has been extremely quiescent, without any material' . change in prices. French Shares have been nominal. The Mming Share Market has been dull, the Joint-Stock Bank Shares have been steady, and in the Land and Miscellaneous Companies there has been rather more doing. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.-CLOSING PRICES. (Prom the Official List.) ilnqiness done. flank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities shut 3 per Cent Consols Annuities 9l 1 \Tow 31 per Cent. Annuities shut New 2i per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 shut _ India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO 9 4 p Bank Stock for Account 221 Consols for Account 16th, March 914 1 Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO l6 12 Small l6 12 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. lustrian Bonds, 5 per Ccut 75.} Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. vtexican 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St 89.; 90i Ditto 4A per Cent B2i 11 Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 36i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB 17 Dividends on the above payable in London. THREE O'CLOCK. Consols oq 1 Ditto March Account 9OB 1 MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - (THIS DAY.) ILLEGALLY PLEDGING.—Joseph. Holmlea was brought before Mr, Hardwick, charged with illegally pledging a diamond ring, value 7/., the property of Mr. Josias Ludwig, engineer's draughtsman, 18, Tachbrokeestreet, The prosecutor and the prisoner were fellow clerks, and it appeared that on the afternoon of the 2d of Nov. last, he and the defendant went into a tavern in Goodge street to partake of some refreshment, when the prisoner seeing that prosecutor had a ring on one of his fingers, remarked that the ring looked a very nice one, and that he had a relation who was a diamond merchant, who would test the stone and see what it was worth. Not having the least suspicion of defendant's intentions, he (prosecutor) handed him the ring. Defendant then left, saying he would be back in a quarter of an hour, but he never returned, and after waiting for him till eleven o'clock he left the house. Prosecutor subsequently re ceivod a letter from the prisoner enclosing the duplicate of the ring, which had been pledged for 2/. 10s. The mat ter was then put in the hands of the police, who suc ceeded in taking the prisoner into custody on the pre vious night. - Mr. Thomas Robinson, pawnbroker, No. 1, Morti mer-street, Cavendish-square, produced the diamond ring, which was pledged with him for 2/. 10s. on the 2d of last November. He did not know who pledged it. Police-constable 191 S, said he took the prisoner into custody about seven o'clock last night. On telling him the nature of the charge against him, he replied that prosecutor had been a long time in making his mind up, and that he (defendant) was very sorry, but he was afraid prosecutor had no sticks, else he would have them from him for false imprisonment. . _ The prisoner, in answer to the charge, denied unlaw fully pledging the ring, and said the prosecutor gave it to him, well knowing he was going to pledge it. He had no further answer to make than it was an unfounded and unjust charge. Mr. Hardwick said prisoner had most grossly miscon ducted himself on this occasion. There was not the slightest pretence for him saying the prosecutor had authorised him to pledge the ring. He should, there fore, fins him the penalty of 51., being double the amount for which the ring was pledged, and 71., the value of the ring, or three months to the House of Correction. CONTINENTAL RATES OF EXCHANGE.—The continental rates of exchange show no tendency to a favourable re action, and a further amount of gold was taken from the Bank of England yesterday for remittance to Paris to the extent of about 150,0001. AFFAIRS OF MEXICO.—The advices from the city of Mexico received by the Magdalena steamer reach to the 2d of February. Although no great event had occurred since the departure of the previous packet, the letters refer to several points of interest to the mercantile world. The trade of the city, it appears, had been greatly deranged with regard to the importation of foreign goods, owing to a series of private and partial arrangements entered into by Government for the settle ment of the import duties by the ports on the Pacific coast at a rate much lower than that paid on the car goes on the Atlantic side. This extraordinary anomaly of a double.tariff was operating injuriously on all the houses receiving their goods by Atlantic ports, and it was understood that remonstrances on the subject (which it was feared, however, would be attended with little success) had been made by the British Minister. At the latest date reports were current in the city of fresh piratical expeditions from California to the province of Sonora, but the Government were taking measures to treat them summarily. GALATZ.—Mercantile letters were received from Galatz to the 23d of February, being three days later than those vit Vienna. Shipments of wheat continued to be made, the Sulina mouth being perfectly practi cable. An increased supply of vessels had lately ar rived, causing an advance in prices of about ss. per quarter, and the stocks on band were very low. It is to be assumed, however, that by this time exportation may have been prohibited from the invaded provinces, under the order recently issued with regard to Russian ports. In relation to warlike movements, it is men tioned—" We have nothing new here, except the arrival of Prince Gortschakoff, and grand preparations making for a formidable attack upon Matschin, for which purpose the pontoon bridge now ready here is, they say, to be thrown across the Danube." LOST AND FOUND.—News a long time since reached Jersey that Peter le Maistre, a native of that i s l an d was dead, he h aving b een wrec ked on an island in the South Sea. His friends have just received a letter, dated Ton gatabo, July 28, 1853, from Peter le Maistre, stating that he is working as a carpenter on the island on which he was wrecked and was unable to get away. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. THE WAR IN THE EAST. POLICY OF AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA. The news received to-day says the Paris corre spondent of the Tines iu his letter of yesterday evening, fully confirms the news with respect to the attitude assumed by Prussia and Austria in regard to the Russian question. It was the Prus sian Cabinet which refused to join in the alliance with the Western Powers. Austria was perfectly willing to do so, and it was supposed that no diffi culty would be made on the patt of Prussia ; but when the question was put by the Austrian Min ister at that Court, he was greatly surprised to find that the Prussian Government hesitated, and at length positively refused, grounding its refusal on the fact that Prussia was not a maritime power, and had, therefore, comparatively little interest in the question. The embarrassment felt by Austria in the circumstances is obvious from her attempts to explain the matter to the French Government. These explanations are given in a despatch from M. de Buol, which reached Paris on Wednesday. The Vienna Cabinet states that in presence of the declaration made by Prussia, Aus tria requires to be very guarded, and also requires time to enable her to exercise her influence over the Germanic Diet, so as to establish a line of policy between the German Powers, in conformity with the policy of the great Western Powers, in the question of the East. This language is evidently very obscure, and has not given great satisfaction hero. Austria will sign anything that England and France ask her to sign, provided she be not called on to make direct war against Russia. It is said that Prince Lucien's mission to Italy is in con sequence of the change in the policy of the Austrian Government. The Prince left Paris two days ago. The following is the substance of an article which appeared in the Prussian Corresponden,z of Wed nesday:—Prussia has clearly shown its position re lative to the contending parties by its co-operation at the Conference of Vienna. It will continue to keep firmly that position, but will enter into no engagement for armed intervention. Prussia will maintain a neutral attitude of expectation, so as to preserve peace in Central Europe, that she may later be enabled to act towards both parties in the spirit of reconciliation. - A Berlin letter, in the Journal de Francfort of the 6th, states that Austria and Prussia are fully resolved to remain neutral as long as possible, and that " the kind of constraint contained in the in vitation of France and England, has not induced them to join the alliance." Another Berlin letter of the 6th says :—" M. de Bismark Schoenhausen is, it is reported, about to proceed to Vienna, in order to bring to a conclu sion the negotiations pending between the two Cabinets. The principal motive of his coming here is the necessity felt by our Government to come to a positive understanding as to the adhesion of the Federal Governments demanded from the Germanic Diet in the Eastern question. A third letter of the same date contains the fol lowing :—" It is stated that M. de Manteuffel, President of the Council, and M. de Bonin, Minis ter of War, offered their r es i gna ti ons t o ie King on the 4th , after a conference with his Majesty. The resignation, it is said, will not be accepted. Not only the Western Cabinets, but the Austrian Government also, have demanded explanations as to the policy Prussia means to adopt with respect to Russia and her enemies." The Cologne Gazette, under date of Vienna, 3d March, says :—" The treaty of alliance between England and France has nothing in common with the negotiations between Prussia and Austria. Last week only there was signed here a protocol between Austria and the great powers, to the effect that Austria pledges herself with France and Eng land not to seek for any increase of territory, or to allow any other power to do so, and to admit the existence of Turkey as inviolable." The Wurtzburg Gazette mentions that a conven tion has been concluded between France and Eng land on the one hand, and Austria and Prussia on the other, but says it is not a treaty o f alliance against Russia. This journal does not state exactly what the nature of the convention is, but mentions two stipulations, viz., that the four powers shall demand from the Sultan all the concessions to his Christian subjects which shall not affect his sove reign rights, and that they shall co-operate in put ting down the Greek insurrection. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Privy Council at three o'clock yes terday afternoon at Buckingham-palace. It was attended by Prince , A lbert, Earl Granville, Lord President ; the Duke of Argyle, Lord Privy Seal ; the Earl of Aberdeen, First Lord of the Treasury ; Lord J. Russell, Viscount Palmerston, Secretary for the Home Department; the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies; the Right Hon. W. E. Glad stone, Chancellor of the Exchequer ; Sir Jas. Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty ; the Right Hon. Sydney Herbert, Secretary-at-War; the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord Chamberlain; and the Marquis of Abercorn, Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert. _ _ _ At the Council a proclamation was ordered to be is sued, warning persons against infringing certain regula tions under the Foreign Enlistment Act. Mr. C. Greville was Clerk of the Council in Waiting. The Earl of Aberdeen, the Chancellor of the Exche quer, Earl Granville, and Sir James Graham, bad audi ences of her Majesty. The Queen was attended by the Earl of Mulgrave, Treasurer of the Household ; Lord Ernest Bruce, Vice- Chamberlain ; the Marquis of Anglesey, Gold Stick in Waiting ; Lord Waterpark, Lord in Waiting, and the Hon. Mortimer Sackville West, Groom in Waiting. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Helena and Louisa, and attended by the Hon. Matilda Paget, took a drive in the forenoon in an open landau and four. Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey was in attendance on horseback. Prince Albert, accompanied by Lord Raglan, and attended by Col. Wylde and Capt. the Hon. D. de Ros, went to Woolwich yesterday morning, and inspected the military force about to leave on foreign service. The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen. The Queen and Prince Albert inspected a picture of "The Lying in State of the late Duke of Wellington," which was submitted by Mr. Melville. Her Majesty, attended by the Hon. Matilda Paget and the Equerries in Waiting, visited the Duchess of Gloucester in the afternoon. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg, honoured the Lyceum Theatre with their presence last evenin g . The royal suite con sisted of Viscountess Jocelyn, Lord Waterpark, Col. the Hon. Charles Grey, and Captain the Hon. D. de Ros. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Frances Bruce, and Lord James Murray, also honoured the performance with her presence. Mr. Whatman, M.P., attended the Queen's levee on Wednesday. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred visited the Duchess of Kent yesterday. The Duke and Duchess de Nemours al o visited her Royal Highness. The Duchess of Gloucester was better yesterday. A deputation from Dundee had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence, in Downing-street. The deputation consisted of the Lord Advocate of Scotland, Colonel Maule, M.P., Mr. Hurne, M.P., Mr. Duncan, M.P., Sir John Ogilvy, and Millie John Anderson. A deputation attended at the Home-office, yesterday, on the subject of Mr. Brady's Medical Registration Bill. The deputation consisted of Dr. Webster, Dr. Young, Dr. Griffith, Dr. F. C. Jones, Dr. Ladd, Dr. Humble, Messrs. Edward Doubleday, Hugh Statham, Charles Martin, Charles Brady, Edward Evans, John W. Wakem, G .11. Watson, and Mr. John Brady, M.P. The Duke of Leeds has returned to the Clarendon from Poetsrnouth. The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk intend to remain at Arundel Castle until the third week in the ensuing month, when their Graces come to St. James's-square. Lady Edward Howard and her infant daughter are going on favourably at Rutland-gate, Hyde-park. The venerable duke has rather improved in health. _ . _ _ The Marquis and Marchioness Cholmondeley have arrived at Carlton-terrace, from Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire. Lord Henry Cholmondeley, M.P., has ar rived in town from Holly-hill, Hants. Viscountess Stratford de Redcliffe and the Hon. Misses Canning have left Grosvenor-square, to join our noble envoy at the Court of the Sultan, at the English Embassy in the Turkish capital, viti Paris and Trieste. Lord and Lady Lyttelton and family have left St. James's-square, for Brighton. The Right Hon, Thomas B. Macaulay, M.P., has arrived in the Albany, from Brighton. A. marriage will shortly take place between the Rev. Charles Ellison, rector of Edensor, and Miss Jebb, daughter of Colonel Jebb, C.B. The Bishop of Lin coln will perform the ceremony. LAW OP SETTLEMENT.—In the year ending at Lady day, 1853, no less than 10,032 persons were removed from various parishes in England and \Vales, under or ders of removal obtained by the Poor-law authorities, on the ground that their settlement was elsewhere. The expense of the orders and removal, without including the cost of relief before removal, was 13,646/. There were, besides, 383 orders made for the removal of Scotch paupers, and 4,823 for the removal of Irish. It does not appear how many persons were included in these orders. But these figures do not show the whole number of the English removals, for parishes with a population of about 2,400,000 (nearly a seventh of the kingdom) have omitted to make returns. SAILORS' HOMES.—A. meeting of the managing com mittee of the Sailors' Homes Institution was held at the office, 35, Craven-street, Strand. Present, Admiral Sir George Tyler, M.P., in the chair ; Montague Gore, Esq., Captain W. H. Hall, R.N., and Lieut.G. Read, R.N. It was resolved that Montague Gore, Esq., be chairman, and the Hon. James Byng, deputy chairman, of the managing committee. Mr. Gore stated that he had visited the Sailors' Home at Ports mouth, a few days prior to this meeting, and was in formed that 1263 men had been lodged there the previous and 750 during the preseet week. The thanks of the meeting were given to the Messrs. Somes, Brothers, for the support and liberal donations they have given to the Poplar new Sailors' Home. The managing director reported his visit to Sheerness, where he had taken a house for a Home, having given directions for its being at once properly fitted up for the reception of sea:nen. A refreshment room will be attached for the comfort and convenience of the boatmen and fishermen. Tile usual official routine of business having been gone through, the meeting rose with a vote of thanks to the chairman. THE GREEK INSURRECTION. A telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, yesterday evening, says : "Despatches brought by Turkish and English messengers, who arrived here to-day from Constan tinople, are said to contain the notification of an insurrection in Western Turkey, with the cause of the same, and the draught of a convention for securing the future position of the Christians in Turkey. " The Oest. Correspondenz states that fortifica tions are to be formed at Gallipoli, under the super intendence of English engineers. " The citadel of Arta has a garrison of 2,000 Albanians, with provisions and ammunition in plenty. " Strong reinforcements are arriving in Epirus. " 5,000 men under Zimel Pasha will enter Al bania. " Seven steamers have gone to Egypt to fetch 10,000 fresh troops for Albania. " An English steamer has gone to Prevesa, and a French one to Volo. • " A French and an English schooner were in the Piraeus. " The 'Wasp has followed the other two steamers from Corfu, and the frigate has gone to Prevesa." A letter from Vienna, of the 3d, says • "It Is now beyond all doubt that the most perfect accord exists between the Four Great Powers as far as re gards the insurrectional movement of the Greeks, and it may be announced as positive that they have resolved to put down this movement by force of arms. A copy of all the papers seized in the pos session of the conspirators arrested at Constan tinople has been sent to our Government, and it appears that a conviction is felt that the insurrec tion would not confine itself to the Epirus, but that it would extend to Servia, B ilgaria, and even Montenegro, whbre a favourable moment has only been waited for to unfurl the standard of re voit. Omer Pacha has also in his hands written proofs that ramifications of this conspiracy extended to all the Sclavonian provinces of Turkey. It is more particularly the mortal enemy of Turkey, the ex-Prince Milosch, who is said to have expended enormous sums to bring about a movement in Servia favourable to Russia, as well as to his own designs. His efforts, however, have been useless ; they have only produced some insignificant demon strations on the part of some young men at Bel grade, who had been deceived by foreign agents, and who were immediately arrested by the Servian Government. In Servia the Government and the majority of the people are opposed to Russia. They cannot bear the name of Prince Milosch, whose rule has inflicted too much misery on the country. Austria has, besides, pledged herself towards the other powers to destroy in the bud any attempt that may be made to extend the Greek insurrec tional movement into Servia, Bulgaria, or Monte negro by immediately occupying the points threat ened. On the other hand, it is said that a corps of 20,000 French and English troops will take up a position on the Turco-Grecian frontier. We learn from a source on which we can rely that a decla ration will shortly appear, drawn up by the two great German Powers, which will make known the perfect intelligence which exists between them at this critical moment. Every sincere patriot will welcome this declaration with pleasure." The Independance of Brussels says—The insur rection in Epirus appears to be decidedly arrested by the energetic measures taken not only by the Turkish Government but by the representatives of the Western Powers in the East. A letter from Malta of the 3d inst. announces that several of the chiefs of the revolt, in consequence of the measures adopted by these Powers, have begged to make their submission. CONSTANTINOPLE. The following is dated Constantinople, Feb. 25 : The accounts from Greece are very alarming. Bands of men were crossing the Turkish frontiers, and hundreds being publicly enlisted at Athens. The Turkish provinces in the Epirus and Thessaly are in full revolt. Arta is in the hands of the in surgents, and they had, according to the latest accou nts, laid siege to Janina. The ° Greek gener a l s , Theodor Gri vas, Tzavella, Chatzi Petro, Tissame nos, Cara Tassos, and others, were leading on the rebellion. The prisons in the Island of Chalchis had been opened, and all the convicts let loose. A band of 500 Greeks, in Turkish dress, had pene trated into the provinces of Janina, and laid siege to the fortress of Kalhassoul. An Austrian steam-frigate, the Novara, cast anchor at the Golden Horn yesterday. The whole of the combined British and French squadrons are at anchor in the Bosphorus. Yesterday the ceremony of betrothal was cella! brated between the Sultana Fatime and Ali Ghalib Pacha, third son of Reschid Pacha, the Minister . of Foreign Affairs. Owing to the bad weather the procession did not take place. The following is the Sultan's Imperial decree, giving away three other daughters iu marriage "TRANSLATION OF THE HATTI-HUMAYOUN OR DECREE OF THE SULTAN, ANNOUNCING THE BETROTHAL OF HIS THREE DAUGHTERS. " My trusty Vizier—By the grace of God we have thought it suitable, from this time, to promise our beloved daughters Refina Sultane to Ethen Paella, the son of our ex-Seraskier Mehemet Ali Pacha ; Gemile Sultane to Mahmoud Gelal Eddim Pacha, son of our Grand Master of Artillery, Ahmet Fethi Pacha ; and Munire Sultane to Miami Pacha, son of the Go vernor-General of Egypt, Abbas Pacha. The ceremony of betrothal and of marriage will take place later, at the proper time. We have to-day had brought into our presence Ethen and Mahmoud Paellas, and having ac quainted them with our Imperial decision, we send them to our Sublime Porte ; and we have given orders that Abbas Pacha be informed of the promise of mar riage which we have just accorded to his son Hhami Pacha. Consequently I charge you with the publica tion of the present decision. May the Almighty Lord bless these projects, and accord their happy realisa tion." THE BALTIC. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Chroni cle, writes under date of yesterday evening :—lt now appears certain that hostilities on the part both of England and France will commence almost immediately in the Baltic. A telegraphic despatch which has been received to-day from Hamburg, and dated this morning, states that the English Government has sent instructions to its agents in that place to charter and send back immediately to England all British steamers which may be dispos able in the port, for the purpoie of transporting troops and ammunition to the Baltic. Letters from Stettin, Hamburg, and Berlin con firm the statement already made that the Russian fleet is preparing to quit its winter quarters. The weather had become less severe, and the Russians had taken measures to break the ice at Cronstadt, in order that their fleet might proceed for security under the Finland citadel of S weabourg. It is wished to get the fleet in this important position before the arrival of the Anglo-French fleet in the Sound. It was understood at Berlin on the 7th that Rassia will place all her forces in the harbours of the Baltic under the chief command of General von Berg. In Riga large stores of corn are said to be collected, but they cannot be shipped on account of the critical state of affairs. THE BLACK SEA. Letters from Odessa, of the 18th ult., state that the Russian fleet was still at anchor at Sebastopol, but that from time to time, when the weather per • mated, a few ships quitted the port to cruise off the Russian coast. The admirals had given orders that if they should fall in with English and French ships of war they were not to attack, but if at tacked to resist with energy. An extraordinary supplement of the Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 3d contains au exposition of the progress of the Oriental dispute, and the con duct of the Western Powers. This document ex tends to the length of three folio pages, and is a clever piece of special pleading. It contains also the Russian answers to the circulars of the French Cabinet. 4 It is stated by the Cologne Gazette that, during the last fortnight, considerable quantities of gold, to the amount of from six to seven millions of thalers, have been sent from St. Petersburgh to bankers at Hamburgh and Berlin, and still larger sums are to follow. "We are not aware," says the Cologne Gazette, " of the object of these remit tances, but 'we think that the Russian Government wishes by purchases to raise the rate of Russian and Polish paper." Travellers from the Danubian Principalities have brought to Berlin some proclamations of the Rus• sians, in the Servian and Bulgarian languages, which are still being printed in Bucharest, and doubtless are intended for distribution, so soon as the Russians shall have crossed the Danube. As the languages are not understood, their contents remained a secret at Berlin. It is said that Prince Paskiewitch will assume the command of the Danubian army, and General Ru diger will be at the head of the administration in Poland. The Vestitor, a, Wallachian journal, which has been made a semi-official organ of Russia, publishes the names of 21 boyards who have received deco rations and rewards for their services in the Russian interest. The Lloyd of Vienna states from Montenegro : " On the 10th ult., a fresh Turkish expedition at tacked the inhabitants of the village of Vasoeva to punish them for having taken up arms against the Sultan. The Vice-President of the Senate, George Petrovich, sent 2,000 men to the assistance of the inhabitants. On the morning of the 11th, a des perate combat took place, which continued until the afternoon, when the Turks retired. The Mon tenegrins had 60 men killed and 20 wounded. The loss of the Turks is estimated at 300 men." According to a letter from Constantinople, the Ottoman Porte has proposed to England and France that a private company should advance the tribute for several years of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, under the form of a loan, and that the tribute shall go to pay the interest, and serve as a sinking fund. The Vienna Medical Newspaper contains a letter from a Russian army surgeon in Wallachia, giving some interesting details. At the date of his letter, the 27th ult., he had just returned from Bucharest having during his visit inspected the hospitals at Vancovan, golza, Pantilemon, Michai Woda, and other places, and also the field hospitals round about the capital. They were all crowded to excess, and not a bed was unoccupied, the per petual attack of the Turks supplying candidates for admission faster than the wounded became convalescent. The camp was tolerably free from _ epidemic and endemic disorders, thanks to the severe cold, but most gloomy dread was felt on prospect of the approaching spring, at all times dangerous to new corners, but this time, coupled with famine, equivalent to the doom of plague and pestilence. All the diseases likely to spring from hardships of every conceivable kind which the men have endured during their lona marches and bivouacs in a wretched country, with out roads, shelter, fire or wood, are rife. The very water which they are compelled to drink is brackish and unwholesome. The clothes in a wretched condi tion, and there was no possibility, even when quar ters could be obtained, of replacing or mending them. In short, the medical gentleman in question de scribes the country as marshy and ungenial, as a land of poverty and destitution, of filth and abomination. The Russian commissariat, he says, has done its best for the troops, but the soil and the very elements contend against them, and take part with their enemies. The pic ture that he draws is one of desolation itself, added to which is his poignant regret, that hardly any patient leaves the hospital alive, since gangrene or mortification soon put an end to his sufferings. Besides all this, he concludes, we are nowhere welcome, because we cumber the people's houses, seize their cattle for transport, and lay hands on all the little fresh provision which they possess. FRANCE. The Count Thibaudeau, Member of the Senate, died on Wednesday in Paris at an advanced age. He was the last surviving Member of the Conven tion who voted for the death of L ou i s , XVI . The Senate met yesterday (Thursday) to hear and discuss the report on the loan of 250,000,000 f. (10,000,0001.), which was voted without hesitation. The ships Hercules and Duguesclin sailed from Toulon on the 7th. A military intendant sets out immediately for Camila in order to select a spot in a healthy and commodious situation fo r an spot pital;to contain 300 beds. Strict secrecy ismainam maintained on the coming military ope ra ti ons, and littlet from is known with cer tainty except w h a t i s guessed the general ob ject of the expedition, and the points of the Turk ish territory where the services of the army would be most required . It has already been stated the entire force would probably consist of 90,000 men it is now said that should circumstances require it, it will exceed 100,000. The first corps that is, the one intended to be first on the ground at the opening of the campaign, will be from 48,000 to 50,000 men, with successive reserves, which will co m plete the amount mentioned. The re-organisation of the artillery to which we alluded to some days since is going on with great activity, and it is expected that the 17 regiments will be constituted about the 15th or 18th of the present month. The military and civil authorities are actively. engaged in preparing quarters at and near Avig noon, Marseilles, and Toulon, for concentrating a body of more than 38,000 troops, intended for the expedition of the East. The Paris Bourse varied but little yesterday, with the exception of the Four-and-a-Half per Cents., which are 70c. lower , at 93 f. The Three per Cents. declined 5c., at M. 10c. All the Bank Shares remain nearly as they were. The R uss i an Four-and-a-Half per Cents. are lower, and th e pi o d m oatese Fives lower, Splual R ome 1 Debt is higher. Railway Shares show but little alteration. Exchange on London (short), 24f. 95c., money ; ditto (90 days), 24f. 70c., money. SPAIN. M. Isturitz has been summoned by the Spanish Government, which is anxious to consult him on several important questions. His journey from London is said to have no other object. The Madrid Gazette, of the 3d, contains a tele graphic despatch from the Captain-General of Na varre, dated Vittoria, March 1, which announces the capture of Lieutenant-Colonel Salvador de is. Torre, of the regiment of Cordova. Both he and his companions were to be entrusted to the custody of the Captain-General of Arragon. Colonel Jorge Thomas was on his march to Saragossa, at the head of a battalion of the regiment of Seville. The Espana says that General Manzano has been or dered to Puerto Rico en disponibilite, and left Madrid for Cadiz on the Ist. A letter from Madrid states that the number of rebels who have entered France is considerable, and that the Captain-Gene ral of Navarre has sent a staff officer to France to come to an understanding on the matter with the French authorities. M. Manuel Bermudez de Castro has embarked at Cadiz for the Canaries. The Gazette of the 4th announces that Lieut.- Colonel de is Torre was captured on the 27th ult. by a carabineer, 'in a hut near the frontier of France. It was expected that he would be shot. The persons sent to Cadiz by the Government had been lodged in the fortress of Saint Catherine to await embarkation for the Canary Islands. The construction of electric telegraphs from Madrid to Saragossa and Madrid to Guadaljara was about to be proceeded with. The Three per Cents. were done at 3.51- ; the New Three per Cents. at 181 ; the Debt of the First Class at 8 ; and that of the Second at 41. ITALY. The Minister of Finance has presented to the Chamber at Turin the Budget of 1855, and a pro posal for a loan of 35,000,000. The Opinions of Turin, of the 6th, mentions some strange rumours afloat there, such as extraordinary armaments on the part of Sardinia, and a demand said to have been addressed by Austria to the Court of Turin, to have the fortress of Alessandria given up to her, or a portion of the Sardinian forces sent over to her as hostages. On the 28th ult. Prince William of Prussia had an audience of the Pope, and after paying a visit to Cardinal Antonelli set out for Naples. We read in the Girondale di Roma that on Ash- Wednesday the Pope received the ashes in the Sistine Chapel, and then gave them to the mem bers of the Sacred College, the Bishops, the Roman magistracy, several members of the diplomatic body, and to Prince George of Saxony. A letter from Rome says :—" The Pope, during a recent visit to the Ecclesiastical Academy, after com plimenting Mgr. Cardoni on the excellent manage ment of his establishment, and testifying his delight at seeing a certain number of young foreign ecclesi astics among them, had the names of all the pupils called over to him. Among them was one called Pace (Peace). His Holiness, after permitting him to kiss his feet, said with a smile No one will have anything more to do with you for the present, but be not discouraged, your time will again come.' The Pope afterwards added, I hope that some ad vantage for the Church will result from the war which is about to commence ; I recommend you to offer up your prayers to that effect.' " RESIGNATION BY SIR JOHN PAHINGTON OF HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF QUARTER SESSIONS.—The Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, Bart., M.P., has addressed a letter to Lord Lyttleton, Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Worcester, announcing his intention of resigning the office of chairman of quarter sessions, an office which he has held for mmy years, and with which his name has been so intimately associated. The right hon. baronet says that after the ensuing quarter sessions he shall have held the office for twenty years, and that the near ap proach of that long period has alone prevented him from sooner requesting permission to resign a position which he has found to be almost incompatible with his Parlia mentary duties. He proceeds to remark that when he accepted political office, two years ago, he intended to resign the chair, and only yielded to the persuasion of, friends whom he consulted, but since he ceased to be a member of the Government he has found his difficulties with regard to the sessions almost equally great. During the Parliamentary session, which embraces three out of the five annual meetings of the court, he is generally obliged to be absent, a very serious inconvenience, and at great personal inconvenience. Sir John concludes by stating that ,he proposes to attend the Easter sessions, and then to preside for the last time. WRECK OF THE EDINBURGH STEA.HER.- - The Edin burgh steamer, Captain Phillips, with six chief and ten fore-cabin passengers on board, struck upon the Bar kumriff, on the East Friesland, about three o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 27th ult., during a gale from the north-west, and remained in a most dangerous position with her head towards the lighthouse of Barkum Island. The catastrophe involved the loss of 12 persons—viz., four stokers, three seamen, two ap prentices, and three passengers. Loss OF THE CHIEFTAIN, AUSTRALIAN STISAMER.— Yesterday intelligence was received at Lloyd's, under date, Clyde, March the Bth, that the Chieftain steamer, bound from the Clyde to Port Philip, with a number of passengers and a valuable cargo, had gone ashore eP Coon, six miles north of Carradale, in the Sound of Kilburn. When the vessel struck, the shore was covered with rocks, against which the sea dashed furiously, and the vessel speedily began to break up. The crew and passengers were with difficulty saved. The ship became a total wreck. She is understood to be fully insured. SHIPWRECK AT HOLYHEAD.—LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY —lntelligence has reached this port of the loss of the new American ship Pantheon, of Boston, Captain Barstow, which went on shore at Rhoysmgyr, near Holyhead, last night, bilged, sunk, and abandoned. The Pantheon cleared from New York for this port on the Bth ult., with the following cargo on board, viz., 574 bales of cotton, 2,000 barrels of flour, 5,965 bushels of wheat, 15,468 bushels of Indian corn, 507 barrels of Indian meal, 365 barrels of resin, 30,115 pounds of lard, 225 dozen of brooms, and 9,000 staves. Eight of the crew are reported to have landed at Rhoscolyn in a boat, but no intelligence has been received either of the safety or loss of the remainder. FATAL ACCIDENT TO A CHEMIST. —The death of Mr. James Haywood, teacher of chemistry at the Wesleyan college, Sheffield, occurred on Thursday morning under most distressing and melancholy circumstances. On the previous evening, about six o'clock, Mr. Haywood was engaged in the laboratory at the college, preparing for his lecture to the pupils that evening, and it was neces sary for him to pour into a phial a quantity of sul phuric acid contained in a large bottle in a hamper. It appears that the hamper was getting worn out, and Mr. Haywood incautiously lifted up the bottle by itself, when the acid contained in the bottle, being much heavier thin water, broke the glass, and ran or• Mr. Haywood's clothes. A quantity of the acid also fell on the dress of a boy, a pupil at the college, who was assisting him, and burnt through his clothes ; but as the lad was rush ing out of the place to get some water, he was seized by one of the teachers, who tore off his burning c l o th es , and held him for about twenty minutes while he was pumped on with cold water. By these means, and in consequence of the fresh air which he inhaled, the boy escaped with a few burns, and is now considered out of danger. It fared differently, however, with Mr. Haywood. On finding that the bottle had broken he let it fall, and at the same time he fell forward on the floor. He inflicted a deep gash in his hand with part of the broken bottle. From this time Mr. Haywood appears to have lost his usual presence of mind, and instead of holding his breath and escaping from the room instantly, he lay for some moments in haling the deadly fumes of the poisonous liquid. After remaining some time in the laboratory, breathing an atmosphere charged with the exhalations of the acid, he was at length taken away, and conveyed in a very distressing condition to his home, where he lingered till his death, which occurred about 5 o'clock on the following morning. Mr. Haywood was an analytical chemist of great celebrity, and occupied a distinguished place as a public lecturer on chemistry as applied to agricultural science as well as to manufactures. Hi s loss will be deeply regretted in Sheffield and many other parts of the country. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT STEPNEY OF A NEWSVENDER'S. —Yesterday morning, between two and three o'clock, the neighbourhood of Old-road, Stepney, was thrown into a state of the utmost confusion, in consequence of the sudden outbreak of a most destructive fire on the premises of Mr. J. Cooper, newspaper agent and stati oner. The police on duty, perceiving the smoke issuing from the lower part of the house, instantly raised the alarm, wh'n the inmates had barely time to make their escape before the building was in one sheet of fire. The premises and contents were entirely destroyed, but the fire was confined to the house in which it broke out. The cause is unknown, and the contents of the premises are insured in the Sun Fire Office. MONEY ORDER OFFICES IN THE METROPOLIS AND VICINITY.—In addition to 32 receiving houses in the different parts of the metropolis, the City, west-end, north, and south, which includes all the principal streets and districts within the three-mile circle, at which money orders may be granted and made payable, besides the chief mo n ey order offices in Aldersgate-street, St. Martin's le-Grand, Abchurch-lane, City, Stone's-end, Borough, Charing-cross, and Old Cavendish-street, the following receiving houses in the neighbourhood of London beyond the 3-mile circle, but within the 12-mile circle, are now open for the granting and paying of money orders, either to or from any part of the United Kingdom (post towns), _England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland : Barking, Barnet, Bayswater, Bexley, Brentford, Brixton, Bromley (Kent), Brompton (Middlesex), Carshalton, Chelsea, Chislehurst, Clapham ' Croydon, Deptford, Dulwich, Edgware, Ed monton, Eltham, Enfield, Erith, Greenwich, Hammer smith, Hampstead, Hampton, Harrow, Hendon, High gate, Hounslow, Kensington, Kingston, Lewisham, Norwood, Paddington, Putney, Richmond, Romford, Shooter's-hill, Southall, St. John's-wood, Regent's-park, Stanmore ' Stoke Newington, Stratford, Sydenham, Tooting, Tottenham-cross, Turnham green, Walham green, Waltham-cross, Wandsworth, Woodford, and Woolwich. This is a facility of transmission of money which will no doubt be generally adopted by the public. To-day' Bah whoa we had little chat delivery The she realised la state. In float were notd. • The she less activ( Malt w, Oats, b The impo English .. Irish .... Foreign .. To•day beasts, fo Monday's of which stationary from 6s t, calves, at transacte, Mulch c eluding t Inferior 13 Second qr Prime lark Prime Sco Inferior SI Second qtt Prime crse Beasts .. • • Sheep . • • • Calves . • • Pigs .. • • • . rr' The ger •s followE Beef, infer Do., midd Do., prim Do., do. E Pork, lari There i prices gel are 210 h 10 ditto f Mid and of. Sent to 61. 10e - SUGAR, but with( BOngal lo Date sort dry brow per cwt. for mid for mid and at greyish to mid ye 338 6d, az per cwt. quently 1 to'36s 6d fine grey yellow fo tity havii brown ha brown, a 39s to 41i bond was low to go low and z COFFEI mid weni 59s 6d, ai 47s to 48i clean gal long ber mixed bi good ord at 63s for , 68s per ci husk. 1 RICE.- in the we 13s 6d, fi] at 12s 6c 16s, and realised I cwt, beiE Sip:3Es in at 64d at 2s 6d t to 2s 10d to 2s 7d 1 1383 for pepper b rather de COTTO: SALTP: for 14 to TEA.- Low to g TALL /pot. HEMP. GREET, In the pr sold by vanes of Sours 10s all kinds hands. LLOY. Long fresh bre PLYM( from Sin ward. ( FFI OFF is don, for PORTS 2rom Co PALM tllB, frot from Be RAMS narvon, lerky, h RYE, Odessa t morning gone, at] disoharg TRAV the Plat ELSI ship, wi and sup M. 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