The Sun. — London, England, 1863-04-25 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.- THIS EVENING will be i epeated LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. - With the following powerful cut : Edgard°, Signor Giuglini ; Arturo, Signor Übaldi ; NOT rowan°, Signor Casaboni ; Enrico Aston, Signor Gassier; Raimondo, Signor Boss! ; Alias, Madame Corsi ; and Lucia, Didlle. Titlens Conductor, Signor ARDITI. To conclude wish the New Ballet, LA FARFALETTA. Tuesday Next, April 28, LUCREZIA BORGIA. New Ballet. Doors open at halt-put Seven. The Opera will commence at Eight o'clock precisely. Prices :—Stalls, One Guinea; Reserved Box Seats, Hal f-a- Guinea ; Pit Tickets, Bs. (id. ; Gallery Stalls, ss. and 79. admit t hree ed. ; Private Boxes, in the Gallery Circle, to admit three persons, 21s. Notice.—lt will be necessary for those parties whb intend visiting the Reserved Box Seats (at 10s. 6d. each), to attend in Evening Costume. Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets may be had at the Box-office of the Theatre (under the Colonnade in the Haymarket\ which is open daily, under the superintendence of Mr. Nugent, from Ten till Six ; and at all the principal Libraries and Music sellers. THE A TRE-R YA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. For the Benefit of Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, April 25, NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS. Mews. Addison, Henry Lorraine, J. Morris, E. Falconer ; Mrs. E. Falconer, Miss Clara Weston. Followed by a GRAND CONCERT : Mr. Sims ReeveS, Sze. To conclude Pith THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER* Mr. J. L. Toole, Izc. Commence at 7. THEAT RE-ROYAL ; HAY MARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Rucketone. THIS EVENING, STILL WATERS RUN DEEP. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan, Mr. W . Farren, Mr. Chippen dale, and Miss Louisa Angel. After which, an apropos Dramatic Sketch, introducing a . Panorama of the Tour of the Prince of W ales in the East To conclude with BORROWING A HUSBAND. Pamela Miss Maria flares. Commence at 7. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole management of Mr. PECHTER. THIS EVE NIN Gat 7, to commence with an Original Sketch, entitled A S UDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Mss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3logue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Feval and John Brougham. The princloal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, sunperte d by Messrs. J. G. Shore, G. Jordan, J. Brongnam, iddi:ombe , F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Lecleroq, Kate Terry, N. Lavenne, and Elsworthy. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Lessees, Mess! s. Lindns and Vining, THIS EVENING the drama of AURORA FLOYD. Miss Amy Sedgwick. Miss Henderson, and Mrs. Simpson ; Messrs. R. Roxby, G. Melville, G. Belmore, C. Seyton, Wallace, and Cathcart. After which, KILLING TIME. Mr. Geo. Vining, Mr. C Seyton, and Miss Amy Sedgwick. To conclude with a new whimsical Extravaganza the entitled BEA UTIFUL HAIDEE ; or The S ea Nymph and Rovers. Misses M. Oliver, Helen Howard, Hudspeth, Hen n, and Murray ; Messrs. C. Seyton, G. Belmore, Fitz dersojames, Moreland, and CockeriTh NEW TrIFATRE-R0 YAL, ADELPHL- Sole Proprietor and Manger, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr. J. L. Toole, Miss Kate Kelly, Miss A. Seaman. and Miss Stok q. After which, at Eight o'clock, AURORA FLOYD. Miss Avonia Jones, Miss IL Simms, Mrs. Billing,ton ; Mr. Benj. Webster, Mr. Paul Bedford,Phillips, Mr. Billington, lifr. Stuart, Mr. Sefton, Mr. Romer, Mr. C. J. Smith. Commence at 7. nriHE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," 11 Containing the Latest SPORTLYG DITELLIGENCE, can be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. ,The Weather—Sun Office, April 25, 1863. THERMOMETER.. Highest since Noon yesterday .. 56 Lowest during the night This day at Noon.. ~. Wind—N.Westerly ; light, with fine weather. --- HIGH WATER AT LNON BRIDGE. Tins DA.S.—Morning, 6h. 29 0 m D ,—Afternoon, 6h. 50m. To-stonnow.-Morning, 7h. 17m.—Afternoon, 7h. 47m. , t 5 jee,q1.40,,, LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1863. The long debate on the seizure of the Alexandra is full of interest, and it is important to note that the Government seem determined to adhere to their mischievous and mistaken policy. Mr. HORSFALL spoke to the point, and with great discrimination said that he wished to bring before the house an individual case of hardship. It was the act of her Majesty's Government that he now complained of, the act which had done serious injury to the owners of the Alexandra. He had received a communica tion from Messrs. FAWCETT and Co., stating that the vessel was their property, and had been built on speculation. These gentlemen had received a notice that the Alexandra was " exchequered " for being equipped, furnished, and fitted out with the intention of being employed in the service of persons exercising, or presuming to exercise, the powers of government in a foreign state. Now he (Mr. HORSFALL) would show that this seizure was not justified under the Foreign Enlistment Act. He quoted the opinion of the Solicitor-General, who said that it was a great mistake to suppose that the act was made to prevent all commercial dealings in ships of war with belligerent countries; he also added that " the United States Government bad no right to complain of the Act in question, as it is enforced in the way in which English laws were generally enforced against English subjects— that was, on evidence, and not on suspicion; on acts, and not on presumption ; on satisfactory testimony, and not on the mere accusation of a foreign Minister or his agents." Mr. HORSFALL could not have brought forward better evidence ; and if that law, as here explained, was carried out, there would be an end to all these vexed questions, since it is on suspicious and anonymous information that all the proceedings of the Federal officers are founded. Messrs. FAWCETT and Co, forcibly put the case in a letter to Mr. HORSFALL, in which they stated that this was an anomalous state of things, " for they might, without question, supply whole bat teries of field-pieces, with carriage equipments com plete, to known agents of the Federals, whilst they were not permitted tobuila or complete an unarmed vessel, because it was supposed that she might ulti mately, by re-sale, become the Property of the Con federate States." Surely this state of things is a scandal to our Ministers, and they should be ashamed to hear it said of them in the House of Commons. The letter Mr. HORSFALL referred to contained a postscript, which alluded to an order given t o Messrs. FAWCETT to furnish shells for the equipments of field-pieces. The order was given by General FREMONT. Mr. HORSFALL emphatically said that "the people of this country liked even-banded justice, if they were to have non intervention and strict neutrality, why not stop the shipment of arms to the Federals when they stopped the building of vessels which they supposed might 'ultimately fall into the hands of the Confederates. The hon. member wound up his observations by stating that the country would not be satisfied with this course of partial proceedings, and he called upon Government to do justice to the owners o f the Alexandra. The Attorney-General endeavoured to elude the recessity of answering an awkward question by declaring that it was very inconvenient to enter on a subject while it was sub judice. Now this is exactly the line of defence that was before s uggested as likely to be adopted by the occupants of the Treasury bench; but while they may con gratulate themselves on their ingenious arrange ment, the public will call these tactics by the right name, as a paltry subterfuge, unworthy of the :Ministers of the English people: A great injury is inflicted on our merchants, and they are not per mitted to know what are the charges against them, Mr. WHITESIDE forcibly stated this great injustice to the House, and asked if the Government meant to introduce this new principle that when a crime was charged against a party, he was to be told that he would learn the nature of the accusation at a future time. The learned gentle man added that," If depositions were made against the mea nest criminal in the land, he had a right to be furnished with copies of the information ;" and. so far as matters stood now, the case was clearly for the hon. member for Liverpool, and as clearly against the Attorney , General. Mr. 'WHITESIDE has often before this distinguished himself for the clear view he takes of a compli cation question, and on this occasion he has not fallen short of the mark. Sir HUGH CAIRNS brought the question back to its starting point, and told the noble lord at the head of the Go vernment, that he had said the consequences would be serious if they attempted to alter the laws of the country at the request of a foreign Power, but they must bear in mind also what would occur "if they suspended or stretched those laws in order to please or pacify a foreign Power." In this case her Majesty's Government had been put in motion by the American Consul, and the House ought, therefore, to watch the result. Sir HUGH CAIRNS then animadverted upon the strange manner in which the whole proceedings of the seizure of the Alexandra had been conducted, and said that the House must expect to hear some thing more of this freak of the Attorney- Genera], Mr. COBDEN made one of those prejudiced and perverse orations for which he is famous. He began by strenuously sup porting the Foreign Enlistment Act, but he did not say that it should be employed to prevent the ship ping of arms to the Federals. He only insisted on the necessity of stopping such vessels as the Ala bama and the Florida from entering any British port. It would surpass even Mr. COBDEN, with all his logic to prove the truth of one assertion that he made, namely, that we were bound by all the tra ditions of the past to exhibit towards the Northern States of America a generous and forbearing policy. Mr. COBDEN is one of the last men that we should have expected to appeal to the influence of tradition, he is singularly hard and unimpressionable, but perhaps it is his want of practice in that line of argument that caused him to fail so entirely when he adopted it. He was resolved to try the effect of paradox last night, for he concluded by informing the House of a fact of which they were doubtless ignorant, that the Foreign Enlistment Act was a benign law, and if they interfered with it, they would roll back the axis of the moral world. It might be suggested that, to carry out a moral law, it is necessary to observe it strictly, and it is altered from its original purpose if it is perverted to suit particular ends. Mr. HORSMAN spoke strongly on the subject, and declared that the secession of the South was an accomplished fact. They were prepared for peace, but the North had resolved to make the South a desert sooner than acknow ledge its independence. Mr. HORSMAN exposed the fallacious conduct of those who called them selves the friends of peace, but disgraced their pro fessions by sending a laudatory address to President LINCOLN ; " adjuring him to go on as he has begun, burning and extirpating, and assuring him that the hearts of Christian England are with him in his holy work." Why, said Mr. HORSMAN, the blight that has fallen upon free America has spread its contagion, and the house should rescue the country from the stain which such misrepresentations would cast upon it. It should attest to all parties in Ame rica that these apologists for despotism were bat as units among us, and that the general voice of the country was raised against a suicidal war that is destroying a nation and disgracing the age. Mr. HORSMAN is one of the most decided speakers in the House; if he is roused by any wrong or injus tice he does not stop short by any deterring in fluences of expediency, but goes straight to the point, and states his case with force and fervour. Mr, MILNES made a speech for the Government, and said that as wise men and patriots they repressed their feelings and kept to neutrality. It is idle to bring forward such argu ments as these when they are showing their feelings only too plainly. As Sir HUGH CAIRNS truely ob served, they are stretching and suspending the laws till they answer their ends. Our merchants and shipbuilders are to undergo an ordeal similar to that experienced by those who slept on the bed of PROCRUSTES—their rights are to be sacrificed and their property destroyed, while, on the other hand, the powers of the law are to be augmented to their utmost limits against the Confederates, and to be conspicuously waived to suit the Federals. This question of seizing the Alexandra ought to be considered separately, and stand or fall by its own merits, but it needs no prophetic power to know that such is not the treat ment that Englishmen will submit to. If Lord PALMERSTON wishes to rouse the country against his Government he cannot take a speedier step for the attainment of that end than by making our fel- low-citizens suffer the penalty of the law in a most harassing form, and ref using to state the charges against them in open day. These are not the wrongs to which Englishmen will tamely submit, and the Government need not think that they will be allowed to make nameless martyrs of the gentlemen whose case was brought before the House last night. They are now the tests of the limits to which forbearance will be extended before a decided course is taken, and the nations of the world who are looking on with curious eyes must never witness such a degradation as that we can submit to being dogged by the spies and persecuted by the anon; mous charges of the emissaries of a foreign State, while our Ministers are not only too tame or too unwilling to protect ns, but offer every facility to the plans and projects of the impertinent interferers with our rights. The sooner such procetdings are summarily stopped the better, and the longer our Ministers are allowed to act in this unworthy manner the greater will be the damage inflicted on the interests of in dividuals at home, and the reproach that is occa sioned to our reputation abroad. The forbearance of the English public may be tried too far. They have been willing to trust our relations with America to the hands of the Govern ment, in common with our dealings with other foreign powers; they have forb orne from complaint or opposition, although an imp or t ant branch of trade and commerce was p aral y sed and a large body endured, the populationwit hthe r c e a d i u m c n ed ess to w p h a i u c p h e t r r i u sm e .They have dignity con fers, taunts, vituperation, and insult from the in habitants of a so-called friendly state. So long as any good or right end could be served by s ilen c e and inacti o n, so l ong as any wise or just reason could be adduced for such a H line of policy, they were content to make great and lasting sacrifices for the general good. Bat the face of affairs is gradually changing. The war, which was always deprecated among us, is no longer conducted on reasonable grounds. The advocates of Northern supremacy openly declare they would rather reduce the South to a desert than submit to acknowledge its independence. Such a feeling may sometimes be tolerated, nay even honoured, in a protracted warfare. In the case of Polish patriots fighting for their national existence, of Italians striving for the in dependence of their country, of brave Mag yars struggling vainly against the Austrian yoke, the sentiment that animates the ranks is a spirit of noble desperation. Death or victory is a glorious warcry when men are fighting pro anis et feels, and in any ordinary and allowable warfare VP) can admire the spirit of the Grecian matrons who would equip their sons for battle, and, giving them their shields, bid them return either with them or upon them. But for an invader of kindred soil to consider the ruin and desolation of countless homes preferable to his own temporary humiliation, to refuse to listen to negotiation, to tolerate no suggestions of peace, to accept as an insult every offer of friendly mediation, is to outrage the common feelings of humanity and to range justice, patriotism, and common sense at once on the side of the enemy. We have, there fore, in England long ceased to applaud the determi nation with which the North carries on the war, and have been glad to mark in its en tangled finances and failing credit signs o f approaching peace ; not suspecting that the last effort of Federal ingenuity would be the attempt to provoke a war with ourselves, with the hope of combining all Americans under one common flag against a national foe, or, if that design should fail, with the anticipation of securing a plausible pretext for suspending hostilities with their invincible neighbours. In this attempt Pre sident LINCOLN and Mr. SEWARD are likely to be disappointed, owing to the courteous subserviency of the English Government. They are ready to do all and more than all that can be asked. Does Mr. Adams, thanks to Federal spies, obtain informa tion that a ship is building for the Confederates,Earl RUSSELL will seize it at once without explanation. Does Admiral WILKES think proper to stop an English ship on what was once part of the English empire—the open ocean ? Civil expostulation is all that is likely to follow. Do our merchants ap peal to their Government for the protection they are forbidden to procure elsewhere ? Earl RUS SELL can only express his unbounded confidence in the virtuous intentions of the Federal authori ties. But above all and beyond all is the fact brought forward in the Upper House lest might, reluctantly confessed by Lord RUSSELL, and met with expressions of indignant surprise by the noble lords assembled—expressions which, how ever just and forcible, fall far short of the tumult of popular feeling that will be awakened outside the walls of Parliament when the English public learns the indignity to which English Ministers have submitted. It is scarcely to be credited, even on the written evidence of Mr. SEWARD'S letter supported by the confused admissions of Earl RUSSELL, that an American Minister should have had the effrontery to demand that the English mail bags should be opened, in order to search them for letters which a foreign Government should feel inclined to read. It is still more surprising that such an insulting proposition should have been listened to and tem porised with, instead of meeting at the outset an unhesitating and uncompromising denial. Accord ing to this new reading of international law, an Englishman is not at liberty to address a letter to an official in the Southern States, or having written such a letter and transmitted it by the ordinary chan nel, he has no security that, with the sanction of the British Government, it will not fall into the hands of Northern spies. Englishmen are very averse to having-their correspondence tampered with. The delay of a post may occasion heavy losses in a com mercial community. The interference with private letters brought down upon the late Sir J. GRAHAM a storm of indignation, that even he shrunk under. The system of epistolary espionage was found in tolerable when our own Government declared it to be desirable for their interests, how much less then should we tolerate such unwarrantable assump tion on the part of a foreign power. Lord RUSSELL having said that the letters of Mr, SEWARD came within the terms of Lord STOWELL'S decisions, the Marquis of CLANRICARDE very justly observed that the matter was one which must be considered in its bearing upon the present day and not upon the circumstances of former times. It is not a case to be measured by anti quated dogmas or the regulations of punctilious etiquette. The question whether Englishmen are able to protect their own property, whether it ba merchandise sailing to a neutral port or mail bags under the Government seal. No legal quibble, no recondite authority will reconcile the British public to such an affront. If it is to be submitted to for the sake of universal peace, why then let us close our arsenals and let us forbid the sinews of war to leave our shores for the Northern ports. If it is to be endured for fear of offending the Americans, be they Federal or Confederate, North or South, let our English Foreign Minister come down to his place in Parlia ment and tell his peers so if he dare. It is begin ning to be felt that the course we are pursuing is leading to no end, is exposing us to insult without conciliation, is irritating all parties without vindi cating our honour. We heartily coincide in the views expressed by Lord HARDWICKE when he said, " that the best way to avoid a collision was to show that we were most resolutely deter mined to support the honour of the country. It we deviated from that position, the Americans would be too ready to attribute our vacillation to fear. He should like to see the Foreign Secretary rise in his place and say at once that such a pro ceeding as that referred to was contrary to all law, and upon no pretence whatever should any of our consuls be placed in such a position." Such a bold and straightforward answer Earl RUSSELL was il; prepared to give, though the noble Earl at the head of the Opposition expressed his surprise that, he should appear to acquiesce in such pre- tensions. The Foreign Secretary was glad to postpone the awkward discussion till Monday, when he will have obtained the opinion of the law officers of the Crown. There is another opinion he will also have to take upon the subject unless he assumes an attitude at variance with his present hesitation. He will have to learn from an out raged people and an indignant Parlia ment that, while Englishmen are willing to sacrifice more than can be required of them in the interests of justice and humanity, they will not concede a fraction of their independence in favour of arrogant assumption, however insolent its threats or grandiloquent its boasting. Among the many advisers how to settle the Polish Question, one has just appeared under the title of " D.," a thirty years' resident in Russia. He was, in fact, 35 years in that country, and he heads his little pamphlet, "A Constitution for Poland and Russia, considered Politically and Commercially,"* but he propounds no constitution whatever. He merely recommends a moderato one, leaving the details to be framed by others. The pamphlet is rather crude both in idea and language, and the author apologises for this latter defect by saying that he has been so thoroughly immersed in the gn languages that he nearly for acquisition of forei got his own English tongue. Still, he is so anxious to publish his thoughts, that, for the sake of hu manity, he has done so without waiting for correc tion, trusting that their value will not suffer by abruptness or incongruity. The present combina tion of circumstances may never occur again, and if taken advantage of, a glorious work may be accomplished—the procuring a constitution for both the Polish and Russian people, numbering 73,551,942 individuals, or nearly treble the popula tion of the United States of America, and occupy ing more than three times the territory of that THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 1863. Republic. The advantage of procuring this consti tution would be the opening up a trade of mutual advantage with a people whose boundless resources, as yet but imperfectly developed, would be of far greater importance than those of America have been to us, for Russia with millions of acres of virgin soil is capable, with the aid of capital, of producing all that America has supplied us with. All this may be very true, but there are difficulties in the way—some natural, such as the defect in supplying cotton ; others artificial, such as the want of capital, for that mighty agent will not travel abroad with out an equivalent, in some shape, and our aathor does not suggest the mode of inducing it to do so. Then as to the constitution. ;No doubt Russia wants one as much as Poland, but both are in the same predicament—the one won't give it, and the other won't have it from the blood stained hands of the oppressor, whose only order is " Obey, thou conquered slave." The writer justly condemns the partition of Poland in 1772. At that period the British Government had an ambassador at Warsaw, and knew bat too well what mischief was brewing, but little heeded the matter, for an autograph Ltter of STANISLAUS AUGUSTUS to GEORGE 111. had no effect, nor had the appeal to the French King any better result. Shortly after wards both Kings had to regret their selfish indif ference to a brave people, caballed against by the three despotic robbers—Russia , Prussia, and Aus tria---for the English lost the American colonies, while France not only forfeited the Canadas, but saw Royalty herself expiate the crime of oppression on a Royal scaffold, and her people had to redeem their freedom from oceans of blood. Such is the justice which eventually overtakes the wrongdoer. But the writer of the pamphlet in question, while regretting the present position of Poland, aequits the Emperor ALEXANDER 11. as being irresponsible for the past, since he was not a party to the transactions preceding the period of his coming to the throne. This is strange logic ! He considers Poland to ba recognised by all the powers of,Europe as a conquered kingdom, and as such forming part and parcel of the Russian Empire ltke:the rest of its dominions. He overlooks the stipulations of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, and wholly ignores the broken faith and violated promises of Russia- at that period. But, in truth, the writer loses his memory in his admiration of the EMPEROR, who could not give a constitution to the Poles without giving one to the Cossacks and Little Russia, and indeed to his whole people. And why should he not do so ? his liberation of the serf, though allowed to be good in theory, will be quite the reverse in practice, for the new measure totthout a constitution will leave the serfs worse off than before, for instead of one master they will now have ten, and conse quently have so much the more to pay. Then, why not give a constitution ? Because bribery and cor ruption rule in Russia from the highest to the lowest, and the greatest robber is the most privi- leged ; but woe to the little one. Even the EMPE ROR cannot do what he would for fear of the nobles, and one-third of the public wealth is plundered by the officials. This is truly a pleasant picture of a country requiring foreign capital to develope its natural resources. Our author denounces the Poles for their pride as being the root of their misfortunes; and not only for their pride, but for their subserviency. " The low born, bending to the very ground, kisses the knees of him only a little his superior ; the educated man, the gentleman, kisses the shoulders of his superiors, and only equals dare kiss each other on the cheek." As an antidote for this, our author calls on the charming and heroic daughters of Poland to forbid the men to kiss each other any more ! He advises the men to read the Holy Scriptures, and so to emanci pate their minds, for no subterfuge will admit of disobeying the Ten Commandments. This is true, but does it not come home to the Russians es much as to the Poles, and more than all to his idol the EMPEROR, for he who abets oppression shares the crime, and if the present EMPEROR has not coveted Poland he has kept a strong hold on the robbery of his predecessors, and so breaks one of the ten com mandments, if not the better half of them. One good deed the Emperor ALEXANDER has done ; in augurating his ;reign by freeing the serf, he has emancipated both soul and body by distributing the New Testament in the common dialect all over the empire at the low price of eighteen pence—a boon which his father NICHOLAS had prohibited in any other form than that used in the churches in the old Sclavonic tongue, and understood by few be sides the priests. Our author appeals to the Russians as well as to the Poles to reform themselves—advice easier given than followed, He Commends them for their hospitality, dividing their bread and salt freely with the stranger, whi c h charit able vi r t ue co vereth a multitude of sins, —an exemption they greatly need, se e ing, as he says, that bribery and corruption are rife with them, so much so that " their whole system is rotten to the core, Their public servants plunder, their merchants sell short m easure pieces of cloth to the Chinese, silver articles with the proof mark on the rims and the body of the article of base metal, and when they cannot cheat their customers they kindly try their hands on one another." This is a pretty forcible picture, which proves that the writer has not been thirty five years practising the Russian lan guage and observing their manners for nothing. * Mann and Nephews, 39, Cornhill. Two MORE DEATHS FROM STARVATION AT BETHNAL-GREEN.—Yesterday morning Mr. John Humphreys, the coroner for Middlesex, received informa tion respecting the death of a female named Hockley, aged 35, who was found in a wretched state of destitution at 14, Nichol-street, Bethnal-green, under the following circum stances :—lt appears that the deceased was the wife of a hawker in the streets, and she had been in a weak state for some weeks past. One of the lodgers went into her room, and found her in a dying condition upon an old bedstead covered over with shavings. There was only a chair in the room, and no food or firing. A messenger ran for Mr. Massingham, the parish surgeon, who promptly attended, and found the deceased sinking from want, fever, and ex haustion• He at once ordered stimulants, and sent to the workhouse an order for food and clothing. The deceased, however, expired shortly afterwards, and the :nedical gen tleman has ascribed her death to neglect and starvation. About the same time Mr. Massingham was called to a child named Joseph Hayes, aged 4 weeks, whose widowed mother resided at 2, Old Nichol-street (in. the same over crowd, d neighbourhood), who had been found dead this morning. The father of the deceased died about three weeks since, and an inquest was held upon the body, when the jury returned a verdict of "Death from starvation and fever." The child had lived in a state of exhaustion in the same room, and the cause of death was no doubt of fever of a typhoid character, accelerated by want and destitution, Inquests will be held. THE Loss OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIP ORPHEUS.— A public meeting was held at Portsmouth on Thursday evening, under the presidency of the Mayor, Mr, W. Chambers, for the purpose of collecting a fund for the relief of widows and orphans of those who perished by the wreck of the ill-fated s hi p. A comm ittee was :ormed, and suitable resolution s p ropose d f or th e collection of subscrip tions, it being understood that the money so collected should be handed to the Orpheus Fund Committee, the result of the meeting recently held for the same purpose by naval officers and others connected with the naval and military services, under the presidency of Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, K.C.8., at the Royal Naval College, her Majesty's dock yard, Portsmouth. A strong feeling exists that the widows and orphans left by such sudden casualties as the loss of her Majesty's ships Orpheus, Birkenhead, and Avenger should receive the required assistance from some national source, AEI not be permitted to depend upon local and priyato aid, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE GREEK THRONE. PARIS, APRIL 25. The Courrier du Dimanehe of to-day says :—" It is said that the Cabinets of London, Paris, and St. Petersburg will take steps to invite the Cabinet of Munich to revoke its protest against the occupation of the Greek throne by any Prince not belonging to the Bavarian dynasty, and to surrender the Bava rian dynastic rights to the throne in question. Should the Bavarian Government refuse to do this, the Powers will pass over their protest, and recog nise the election of Prince William of Denmark. SPAIN. MADRID, APRIL 24, Evening. In to•day's sitting of Congress Senor Casaro, member of the committee on the public debt, in reply to a question put by the Marquis of San Carlos respecting the redeemable debt, declared that the Committee was actively prosecuting its labours on this question in order to prepare for the debate in Congress. Senor Casaro further expressed a hope that the Ministry would come to a speedy resolution on the subject. THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA NAILS. The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : MARSEILLES, APRIL 25. The Valetta, with the above mails arrival here at 7 a.m. this day. The mails leave for London by the 11.30 a.m . train. FRANCE. THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.-DEBATE ON THE BUDGET. PARIS, APRIL 25. The debate on the Budget of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs took place yesterday in the Chamber of Deputies. In reply to a question from M. Emile 011ivier relative to Poland, M. Billault said that " Great reserve in speaking was accessary for all the in terests engaged in the question. The Government," he said, " will give no explanation which might injure the success of negotiations." M, Billault continued : " We are all animated by a cordial feeling for the sufferings of Poland, but are convinced that the question is an European one, and that the sym pathies of all Europe must concur in settling it. " The Government regrets that people allow themselves to be so easily attracted to foolish and unreasonable oscillations and suppositions, to-day believing in a general conflagration, and to-morrow completely forgetting the difficulties of the situa tion. Affairs wisely conducted do not run into these extremes. The country should have full confidence in the wisdom, prudence, and firmness of him who, having such great interests in his hand, , , well understands all his responsibility." M. Billaut's speech was received with applause. Le Constitutionnel to-day speaks of a grand re ception as having taken place, on the evening of the 23d, at the Palace of the Tuileries. Le Pays of this morning announces under the head of its latest intelligence the arrrival just now at Paris of the Chevalier de Saint Georges, the Impe rial French Minister to the Court of Brazil. POLAND. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The Czas publishes the following report of thc banquet given by the Poles to Mr. J. P. Hennessy, M.P., at Cracow, on the 19th inst.:— " Yesterday, at five p.m., a grand dinner was given in honour of the British member of Par tiament and advocate of the Polish cause in England, Mr. Pope Hennessy, who has been staying here the last few days. Upwards of a hundred town and country gentlemen were pre sent on this occasion. The first toast was pro posed in the English language by the deputy, C. unt Leon Skorupka, in nearly the following terms : " As deputy for the town of Cracow, it is my duty, as well as my right, to be the first in express ing toyou the gratitude with which Poland is pene trated towards you. Your noble defence of our rights, so often and so eloquently undertaken in the English Parliament, has implanted in the heart of every Pole the name of Hennessy by the side of that of the most faithful friend of our cause, Lord Dudley Stuart. The object you have proposed to yourself will not be a barren one; the sympathy so universally awakened in the English nation is a guarantee that to the definite triumph of the Polish cause the powerful aid of the English Government will not be wanting. The numbers present do not represent the numbers who would wish to do honour to ouch a guest, and to give him a proof of their gratitude Circumstances compel us to refrain from noisy greet ings, and all the larger rooms are occupied by the wounded. Long live Mr. Hennessy, the defender of Poland !' " In returning thanks, Mr. Hennessy spoke as follows : " c Gentlemen, I regret that I am unable to address you in your own language, bui I do not hesitate to thank you in English, 'he language of a free country, always friendly, and now wishing well to Poland. I cannot refrain from expressing to you my cordial gratitude for this great and unexpected honour. 1 thank you for the opportunity you give me of look ing at your present position in this ancient an Famous city. You are at this moment a nation. In 1862, and for many yews before, the world hae shown towards you a barren sympathy. In 1863 feelings gave place to realities, the world awoke to the fact of your life, and Europe again hails Poland in her family circle. Poland has to thank the Poles for being now a nation, Three months ago the in surrection broke out; every day it gains strength and extends over the country, and at this moreen , the number of national soldiers fighting with Rus sia, and the regions in which the struggle takes place, are greater than ever. Let us add to this, That the winter is over, that mutual confidence noak exists between all shades of national party, and that • he Russians propose measures of conciliation and talk of concessions. Such are the results achieve() by the Poles in Poland. And how great are tht consequences of these victories which the Po es have gained beyond the boundaries of Poland ! If, three months ago, the Poles and some of their friends abroad alone did not doubt the vitality of Poland, and the Governments and a large share of European opinion thought it was crushed under the dreadful oppression of Russia, the present events have given such clear testimony of the truth, that no one now doubts the existence of Poland. This has been declared by both Houses of Parliament, by several meetings called together by the Mayor of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield, and by numerous petitions presented to Parlioment. France, the old friend of Poland,and this time faith. ful to her sentiments, Las raised her voice with en thusiasm in your cause; Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and, lastly, Switzerland, that country which has so long been accustomed to guard its freedom, have pronounced themselves for Poland. Finally, in Italy, the two existing Powers, Pius iX. and Victor Emmanuel, unfortunately diylded in their objects and interests, are yet united in sympathy for Poland. All Europe is for Poland aganst her is the Russian Government alone. But just as much as the internal strength and external position of Poland have increased, Russia's have fallen and grown weak, so that it may confidently be said that she was never so powerless. Your na tionality, gentlemen, on the other hand, was never more flourishing, and no one now doubts that it will gain a decisive victory. I have never been a man of compromises or a believer in concessions. I am now convinced, as I now stand before you and speak with yon, that the time is not far distant when Poland will recover her independence. And then, gentlemen, as I now speak to you, I wil say in Warsaw to the deputies of your own Parlia ment and the members of the Polish Government.' (Loud cheers.) " Mr. H.WoDziciii then presented to Mr. Hen nessy, as a memorial from the Poles, a goblet full of old Polish coins, and in doing so said that as free institutions in free countries qualify people to be the defenders of every worthy and rightful cause, there have always been found in the English Par liament, even in the most unquiet titres, when the development of the national prosperity of the people seemed not only the most important, but the only occupation of statesmen, men defending the cause of Poland with self sacrifice and perseverance. The mantle has now fallen on the member of Parliament whom they had the honour to receive among them. He begged Mr. Hennessy, when he would again be on the free and happy soil of his country, to express the real feelings and inextinguishable hopes of the Poles, and say how dear to them is the friendship of free countries, assuring his countrymen that they will never retreat from their national aspirations. The cause of Poland is a cause without the solution of which neither political order, nor the diminution of the military burdens crushing nations, is possible. " After some Polish verses in bunour of Mr Hennessy had been read, with much applause, by Mr. L. Siemienski, Mr. Hennessy proposed the health of the wounded and the prosperity of the Polish cause. After dinner he appeared at the window, where he was vociferously cheered by the people, who had assembled in large crowds in the street, and who afterwards accompanied him bare headed to his residence." PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF LORDS.-APRIL 24 QUALIFICATION FOR OFFIL ES ABOLITION BILL. Moved, "That tha Bill be now read a second time" (the Lord Wodehouse.) Objected to ; and an Amend ment moved, "To leave out 'now,' and insert 'this c 1, 3, six months"' (the Earl of D, rby.) On Question "That 'now' stand part of the Motion "—Content, 52; Not Content, 69. CONTENT. LORD EARLS LORDS Westbury (Lord Zetland Lytle' , on Chancel tor) VISCOUNT Lyveden DUKES Sydney Manners Newcastle LORDS. Meldrum (M. Hunt- Somerset Sutherland Belper ley) Brougham Methuen MARQUIS Carew Townshend Chesham Monson O verstone EARLS Congleton Rivers Abinwdon. Cran worth Setton (Earl Sefton) Airlie De Tabley Skene (Earl Fife) Caithness Ebury Sornerhill Marquis Camperdown Foley (Teller) Clanricarde) Cottenhayn Harris Stanley of Aldericy Cowper Hunsdon (V. Falk • Sund ridge (Duke De Grey land) Argyll) Ducie Kintore (E. Kin- Taunton Granville tore) Vaux of Harrow- Grey Lismore (V. Lis- den Russell more Vivian Saint Germans Llanover Wodehouse (Teller) Shaftesbury Londesborough NOT CONTENT. ARCHBISHOPS EARLS LORDS Canterbury Mount-Edgcumbe Colchester York Orkney Colville of Culross DUKES Pomfret (Teller) Marlborough Romney Cot. yers Richmond Shrewsbury De•amere MARQUISES Stanhope Denman Norm =nby Stradbroke De Ros Salisbury Vane Egerton EARLS 'Wilton Fevershatn _ B indon viscorYrd Glge (V. Gage) Bantry Exmouth Griustead (E, En- B-aucharnp Harding() niskillen) Belmore Hawarden (Teller) Heytesbui y Lfford Kingsdown Carnarvon (lovetrry • BISHOPS Leerinfield Dartmouth Bath and Wells Love] and Holland Derby Cashel, &a. (B Egmont) Devon Exeter North wick ~.11enborough London Raglan 14',rne Rochester Rayleigh Graham (D, Mon- Winchester Re4esdale trose) LORDS Salton Hard wicke Bernet 8 Silchester (E.Long• Lonadale Castlemaine ford) Lucan Chelmsford Sondes Malruesbury Clifton (E, Darn- Tenterden Mayo le - y) Wynford The Murderous Attack upon a Policeman This morning Police-constable Baker, of the E division, was en ibled to attend before Mr. Corrie, at Bow-street Po lice-court, to give evidence against two prisoners namod Sennett and Egan. It will be remembered that on the 4th April, a burglary was committed at No. 69, Gower-street, and that one of the constables who endeavoured to capture the prisoners was so savagely beat about the head that for some time his life was despaired of. From that time he had been under the care of the surgeons of University Hospital, and although he had recovered sufficiently to attend, the in, juries be had sustained were of such a nature as to utterly Incapacitate him for duty for the rest of his life. The evidence of to-day was as follows : Mr. Robert Edmunds said—On the 4th of April he heard a noise in the house between three and four, and shortly after he heard the street door shut. He got up, and when down stairs found everything apparently safe, and retired to rest again; but about four o'clock he was again awoke by the police, and from what they told him he went down stairs and fo':nd some property belonging to a gentleman named Riddell had been carried away. The property pro duced, a writing-desk, an album, Ike., belonged to the gen tleman. Thomas Baker, No. 127 of the E division of police, said on the 4th of April he was on duty in Store-street about four o'clock, when he met Sennett, and knowing him to be a suspected character, he watched him till he saw him go down Gower-street, and eventually he saw three men leave the door of the house 69. He ran after them, and they went down Store street and then down a mews there. After waiting a short tiufe Egan came up a mews in Chenies .street. He told him he should take him into custody, and that he should advise him to go quietly. He did so as far as Gower-street, when he ob served him drop his hand down by his Bide, and then stopping back the prisoner struck him a violent blow on the cheek with a life preserver (produced, it was made of about a foot and half of very thick cane, with a large leaden head about the size of an egg). He then closed with the prisoner, and a violent struggle ensued, when his witness's) hat fell off, and then he received a blow on the head which neatly stunned him. A second blow from the 6auie instrument followed with such force that he sunk to he ground and Egan then ran away. While on the grouitd he called oir. Stop thief 1" as loud as he could, when Egan returned, and as he (witness) was rising up, said "I'll Flo it for you now," and then he commenced beating him lbout the head until he became perfectly helpless. Witness never lost his senses, but he could not remember who took him to the hospital. He recollected a brotherofficer running after Egan when he left off l3i , ating him. He had not the slightest doubt about Egan being the man that struck him. The poor fellow was so exhausted after giving hie evidence that he had to be led from the court. Lowry, E 22, said he saw the prisoner Egan running with a life preserver in his hand. He attempted to stop him, when a struggle took place, and he received a blow oil the back of the head with the instrument. Police -constable 12g assisted him to convey Egan to the station. Wait, E 36, said he was informed that a desperate strug• gle had taken place between a policeman and anoth3r man in Gower-street. He went to the spot, and found a great quantity of blood, and all the evidences of a fearful struggle, at the corner of Chenies-street. He followed the blood spot to the University Hospital, where he found constable Baker. Mr. Corrie said he should commit both prisoners on the charge of burglary, but Egan he should also commit tor wounding with intent to murder. The evidence was then read over, and the prisoners were fully committed for trial. THE UNEMPLOYED POOR OF NOTTINGHAM.--01, Friday a large number of the unemr loy el operatives of Nottingham (upwards of 100), walking four abreast, headed by a placard, " Willing to work, but not to starve," paraded the principal streets of the town singing. On either side of the street were collectors soliciting subscriptions, and also entering shops for the same purpose. In this way a liberal sum of money was collected. The behaviour of the men was most orderly. The steamer Sea Queen is stated to have sailed yesterday morning from Ftilmouth for Matamoras. Being unable to obtain any definite promise of protection, her owners availed themselves of the suggestion of of the Foreign-office, that they should decline to carry any mails supposing this course to be adopted by subsequent vessels, it will be almost impossible for our merchants to communi cate with Matamoras, except through French or other casual Orein Ships. ffirrt 'ft? * elintakr HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, April 24. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Helena, and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, drove out yesterday afternoon. Major. General Hon. A. N. Hood attended on horseback. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales drove in the grounds. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, attended by Col. Clifton, arrived at the Castle. Captain Tarleton, C. 8., also arrived. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Stonor, Lieut. General Knollys, and Capt. Grey, went to London today and returned in the evening. Their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena and Princess Louise (attended by Lady Caroline Bar rington and Sir W. Haste), Prince Alfred (attended by Major Cowell), and Prince Louis of Hesse (at tended by Captain Westerweller), also went to London and returned in the evening. The Countess of Desart has succeeded the Mar.. ch 4 oness of Ey as Lady in Waiting. Major General Hon. A. N. Hood has succeeded Mijur General Seymour as Equerry in Waiting to the Queen. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Marlborough House at 12 o'clock yesterday. Their Rnyal Highnesses Prince Alfred and Prince Louis of Hesse visited the Prince and Princess of Wales in the afternoon. State Visit to the Royal Italian Opera. We are authorised to state that their Royal Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will visit the Royal Italian Opera House, Covent garden, on Tuesday evening, the 28th inst. This being the first appearance of their Royal Highness in public, the Queen has been pleased to command that a special festival performance shall be given in honour of the marriage of the Prince Ind Princess, on which occasion their Royal High nesses, with their attendants, will appear in full dress. The performances will consist of the opera of " Alasaniello." The National Anthem and the Danish National Hymn will be sung during the evening. The Ex-Royal Family of France. The ex• Queen Marie Amelie, who, with the Prince de Joinville, the Duke de Nemours, and other members of the Orleans family, have been staying at Starkey's Royal Victoria Hotel, at St. Leonard's on-Sea, during the last fortnight, re turned to Claremont on Wednesday last, travelling over the South• Eastern Railway to Guildford, and thence over the South-Western line to the Esher station. The ex-Queen was looking remarkably well, considering her venerable age, and ali the family have derived much benefit from their so journ on the south coast. While at Sr. Leonard's an interesting event took place—the betrothal of the Duke de Chartres, second son of the late Duke d'Orleans, to the Princess Frangoise d'Orleans, daughter of the Prince and Princess de Joinville. Earl Russell's Demand on the Americ,an. Government, (From the Press.) From the unfortunate display made by Earl Russell in the House of Lords last night, in reply to questions put to him by several Peers,it is almost impossible to imagine that he has recently com e to the determination of acting with becoming spirit in reference to one of the matters in dispute between this country and the United States. Yet we have reason to believe that, adopting the manly policy with which the Trent difficulty was encountered ? lur Foreign Secretary has forwarded a kind of ultimatum to the United States Government. Our Minister at Washington has been instructed to make certain demands, and in case of non-complt nce, to retire forthwith from his post. Although unable to publish precise details, we understand that immediate reparation, if not an ample apologYv has been demanded. Whether any attempt hag been made to induce the Emperor of the French to co-operate with our Government in dealing with the American difficulty we cannot say, though the rumour circulated in Paris to the effect that M. Mercier is about to be recalled seems to point to some such conclusion. Rumoured Resignation of Mr. Lowe. It was rumoured in well-informed circles 0 0 Thursday evening that Mr. Lowe had resigned, as tte considered his claims to a seat in the Cabinet -uperior to those of Earl De Grey and Ripon, or any other aspirant for that honour under the pre" seut Government. We know that when some such arrangement as the present was contemplated 011 the retirement of Lord Herbert, the member for Caine made a forcible remonstrance ; and the inter tion of elevating Earl De Grey and Ripon to th e post was thereupon abandoned. The news of hl e resignation is, v e fear, too good to be true, though we feel bound to mention the report, which 19 credited by well-informed persons. The Church has gained some very important triumphs of late' and the retirement of one of her most bitter assailants from an official position, which him to cau se cont i nua l vexation, and inflict ser i o no injury o n th e cause of religion and education on sound basis, would b e a re li e f w hi ch we could 11°t appreciat e t oo hi g hly. enable YANKEE ESPIONAGE IN ENGLAND; TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. SIR,—I arrived in London some time ago from the Cop' tinent. It would seem that the cab which conveyed me 611 d my luggage homewards from the London-bridge Rail o4 s Station was followed by one or more 6 ' private detectice et a paid from the secret money of President Lincoln. I 11 ; i : scarcely got into my lodgings in the \Vest-end whet , ' .. ,7; quiries were made as to the name and whereabouts of p trty whc had just arrived ," and a bribe was offered to the cook to divulge all she knew, or could learn by eavesdrop ping, or anyhow, about the n e w arr The se vile bi re: hugs made their appearance again early next m ruing, 911 , 4 actually had the impudenc e to reques t an i nterv i ew w ith tP landlady of my lodgings at an h our w h en t h at elderly deifo y was still in bed. My attenti o n h av i ng b een called at brew Pt fast time to these impertinent intrusions, the front door war by my directions, slammed i n t h e faces of these " detectives" on their next appearance. „ A t 4 What was the result? Fur several days I was d o gl j e by these mi creants wherever I went. When at 4°- I frequently observed them from my windows loiter e; on the other s id e o f the s t ree t or peer i ng i nto the a r : er or waylaying and questioning the servants and t o inmates of the house and endeavouring to 'anew there !:" le r conversation. If the postman knocked at my door to de li o a letter an attempt was made to handle it and to asee rt where it had been posted. if a friend left a c a lling-cer a 0 1 , me one of the above myrmidons would peep over his et t° r i.. der to read the name. If I despatched a telegram e 1: ; e 1V vase detective" was at my heels, a nd as soon as I ha d %,lo the t•legraph office a bribe was offered to the young t "; ice who had received my message for the commueicati' v °toe' contents. In their n e f ar i ous attempts to corrupt t ile ele' graph employee and tamper with the secrecy of tlje da blf graph office, I am happy to add th ey were inv' — i ttei unsuccessful, notwithe tending their asseverations the' t io ta were "detectives fro m th e F ore i gn Office." It 1 we li ot or a place of busin e s s i n t h e Ci ty , or a s h op in Ittfoinei. Bond streets, the myrmidons of the Bon. Chat les ' ore Adams never quitted ree, and all sorts of inquiries o ou t subsequently made respecting me, and hints thro" that I was a swindler or one of the swell mob. /l ead To such intolerable espionage was I subjected tu ,‘ a week that I. w as a b out to apply for re l i ef to ‘ 7 O 0 1 " magistrate or to the commi ss i oner o f po lice, v;, O , the. "private detectives" discovered that they had bee n t tr a& wrong scent," and they abandoned their hunt , for out that I was mistaken by these secret e missar ie9 un7 iw rebel citizen of "th e model Repu b l i c, " w hich death throes on the other side of the Atlanti." — ' 041 * A BRITISH 5179 St. James's, April 20. REINICH THEATRICAL PAINT.--The ivcora° Borchard, the tenor, who lately died on the stege,ll96 p etof menced an action against the director of the Frel'„ fi cil ti o the Plea Pgipg that tlle late tenor (tied Qg new 13``..