The Sun. — London, England, 1854-05-16 00:00:00

r, , .i ?.-' ellt LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1854. The National Guard of England—the Militia —to be called out for the military service of the country, in consequence of so large a portion of her MAJESTY'S regular forces having been sent abroad, to take part in the war against Russia, and landed on the shores of the Bosphorus and of the Dardanelles. A message from the QUEEN to that effect was read last evening to the House of Peers by the Lord CHANCELLOR. It was after wards moved by the noble Duke the Colonial Secretary, moved by his Grace, of course, in his ca pacity as Minister of War, that the thanks of the Legislature should be tendered to the Sovereign for the gracious declaration by which her MAJESTY had again evidenced her solicitude for the safety of the State and the well-being of the population. It is scarcely necessary to add, of course, that the proposal made to the House of Peers by the Duke of NEWCASTLE was acceded to by their Lordships with loyal unanimity. As unnecessary as it would be to insist at any length, upon the probability of this timely calling out of the militia being wel comed by the community with cordial enthusiasm. As a wise and judicious measure it cannot but be regarded. Especially must this be the case, when it is remembered that, not only have so many of our troops already taken their departure for the East, but that it will be necessary for them to be followed, as speedily as possible, by those not yet embarked, in order that the allied armaments collected together on the borders of the seat of war may be adequate in number as well as in valour and general efficiency for the exigencies of that arduous struggle upon which England, and France, and Turkey, and Egypt have together adventured. Her MAJESTY'S Message in regard to the Militia is to be taken into consideration this evening by the House of Commons, and it cannot, of course, be doubted for an instant that its reception there will be no less distinguished by the loyal ardour of the popular representatives than it was yester day by that of the hereditary legislators of the United Kingdom in the Upper House of the Im perial Parliament. It may be that the Honourable Gentleman the Member for West Surrey—whose homely taunts, uttered in a stage whisper from the floor of the • House on the Ministerial side, just below the gangw a y, and couched in the oddest language imaginable, are generally received by the Com mons precisely as an .Adelphi Screamer is greeted by the p it, according to the play-bills, namely, with " shouts of laughter"—it may be that the Hon. when h e sa i d 1 t ht Member f or W est Surrey was not so far nh wrong, as • nig , "At present a partnership there is existing between th e EM PEROR of the Prench am sure and I thed her MAJESTY'S Minis ters,while we are to find th e and withtl.t first finds the brains, is the head, and we are tulli mo e ney, The EMPEROR on from first to last, He has led us comparisons, which, as DOGEERRllywthing to make odor ous, I must say, I wish we had a 1-18' are• a little ß i l t a u t m e; Minis ter who could write despatches a s well well as DROUYN DE L'Huits." Afterwards, forroation of a on in the course of his remarks, when M r . MOND referred to the proposed camp of 100,000 men, near Boulogne, "to watch Prussia," the colloquial humorist exclaimed, "Tell that to the marines !" with an aptness o f implied incredulity that provoked no small amount of merriment. " You may tell that to the ma rines" said the lion. member the rival jester of the gallant colonel of militia opposite—" you may tell that to the marines, or, as we are in the middle of a university debate, to the Gentlemen Commoners : for nobody else will believe it." However this maybe, it is tolerably evident that the member for West Surrey was not so far wrong when he observed, as we have seen already, that France has pointed out the way to us in almost every instance, from first to last, throughout the whole of these transactions. We have declared as much -. ourselves in these columns before now, again and N again, repeatedly. And as it was months ago in . - \ regard to the sending of a Mediterranean fleet to Mika Day, so is it now in reference to the orga- ~• % '~i:~i ', SS T: 11 M . :I V , I i....,11 L. i.' • . K-.. -- . '-,- .., ~.... 4 4 p • 4 1 •14 t. •: ,?..,...:‘,. i .. 1..i. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1854. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, MAT 16, Will be performed DER FREFCHUPZ. Characters by Madame Csraciori, and Mdlle. Sedlazek ; llerr Reichardt, Herr Formes, and Herr Holzel. Followed by a BILLET DIVERTISSEMENT. Prices—Stalls, 78; Dress Circle, 55.; Boxes, 3s ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, Is. ; and Private Boxes, One, Two, Three and Four Guineas. The Box-office open daily from Ten till Six, where places may be secured. Private Boxes and Stalls to be had of Messrs. Leader and Cock, 63, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL H.AYMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Itnekatone. THIS EVENING, MAT 16, To be followed by THE HOPE OF THE FAMILY. Characters b y Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, and Backstone ; Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Miss E. Grey, &c. After which, the entirely new and original extravaganza, entitled BUCKSTO NTE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE (IN LEI CESTER-SQUARE), written by J. R. Planche, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. Buckatone, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Clark. Mr. J. Marshall, Mr. H. Marshall ; Mrs. Fitzwilliarn, Mrs. Caulfield, Miss E. Grey, Miss Lydia 'lhompscn, Miss Laura Morris, and Miss Featherstone. Folowed by WILLIKIND AND RFS DINAH. Supported by Messrs. Buck,tone and Corri ; Miss Louisa Howard, Mrs. Fitawil liam, and Mrs. Caulfield. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Managem,nt of Mr. CneaLzs E.EAN. Till% EVENING, MAT 16. Will be performed THE MARRIE hart;ARRIE Characters by Siessrs. W. Lacy, Ryder, and Ca and Misses Heath and Murray. Fallowed by Flusr AND MARGUERITE. Characters by Messrs. C. Kean and Day.d eisher ; Mrs. Winstanley and Miss C. aclereq. After which, AWAY WI TH MELANCHOLY. Characters by MPsers. Meadows, D. F isher, and baker ; and Misses Murray and Daly. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. 13. Welaster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. TUB EVENING, MAT 16, Will be perfcrmed TWO LOVES AND A LIFE. Supported by Messrs C Selby, Leigh Murray, Benjamin Webster, K ee l ey , an d 0 . . . , rnith ; miss Woolgar and Madame Celeste. Followed by THE 110USTAC FIE MOVEMENT. Principal cha racters by Messrs. 0. Smith, Keeley, and Parselie; Mrs. Keeley, and Miss Mary Keeley. After which, TfIE OVERLIND JOURNEY TO CONSTANTI• NOPLE, AS UNDERTAKEN BY LORD BATEIIAN, WITH ii.TTERESTING PARFICULARS OF THE FAIR SOPHIA, ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, MAY 16. Will be performed FIGHTING BY PROXY. Characters by Robson and Wigan ; and Miss E. Turner. After which, THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. Cha racters by Messrs. F. Robson, J. H. While, Leslie, and Vincent; Mrs. Chatterley, Miss P. Horton, and Miss Marston. To be followed by TO OBLIGE BENSON. Supported by Messrs. Emery, Robson, and Leslie; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. STRAND THEATRE. Elle Lessee Mr. F. W. Alicroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, 3fAy 16, Will be performed THE GARDENER OF VERSAILLES. To be followed by BOX AND COX IN KAFIR LAND. After which, a BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. To be followed by SUMMER FLOWERS. To conclude with MR. AND MRS. WHITE. Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 3g.; Pit, lc 6d ; Gallery, Gd. ; Private Boxes ££l I is. 6d., to be had of Mr. Allcroft. IS, New Bond-street. AtEITLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, MAT 16, Will be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec• tacle, embodying novel and extraordinary elects (written by Mr. Nelson Lee), entitled A TALE OF THE SPANISH WAR; or, The Horse of the Wreck. The horses expressly trained by Mr. W. Cooke. Followed by an entire change of the Scenes of the CIRCLE. To conclude with a Grand Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Ten DAY —Morning 11 min.after 4 1 Evening 35 min.aft. 4 To•Moaaow—Morning 59 min.after 4 1 Evening 27 min.aft. 5 THE WEATHER.—SUI °Fries, MAY 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 66—highest since noon yesterday. 48—lowest this morning and during the night. 58—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'22. WIND, N.E. to E.—Blowing fresh, with plenty of scud and sunshine. '~~ ~1~ 4fl nisation of additional forces for the military service of the country, now that a considerable part of the regular troops have been shipped off for debarkation on the shores cf the invaded Ottoman territory. A supplementary army of 100,000 men is to be assembled almost immediately in the neighbour. hood of St. Omer and Boulogne. Directly after we have learnt this, we are informed by the Royal Message to the Lords and Commons that the Crown is about to avail itself of the power accorded in pursuance of the Act of Parliament enabling her MAJESTY to call out the militia of the United King dom. It is well. The country will think so, as the Legislature has already intimated. Be it the levy ing of 10,000,0001. per annum additional taxation, the calling out of the whole or a part of the militia, the people of England are prepared to do anything within reason, to make any sacrifices in order that they may effectually support her MAJESTY in the just war adventured upon by her MAJESTY'S Government. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member for Sunderland deserves much credit for his laud able attempt to redress an enormous evil. It has long been but too painfully notorious that a system of bill-stealing has been extensively organised, by which not only many "fast" young men have been victimised, but persons who, striving to pre serve their position, have been irretrievably ruined through the fraud and treachery of infamous swindlers. It is impossible to know the specious pretext under which the attack may be made. PROTLITS himself was not more versatile than one of these amiable characters. The bait is skilfully prepared to suit the habits and disposition of the intended victim ; and as the tempter angles with a golden hook, he seldom fails in capturing his prey, and making clear off with the booty. At one time he assumes the garb of religion, and is thus enabled to secure clergymen of all denomina tions, as well among the badly-paid curates and incumbents of small benefices in the Established Church, as Wesleyan and Independent ministers, who, thinking of the good that they may be enabled to effect by means of the pecuniary accommoda tion offered by the liberal capitalist, readily fall into his clutches, and are only awakened from the delusive dream by inquiries as to what amount they will be prepared to pay for the restoration of the stolen property. Then comes the bitter repentance, followed by the convulsive efforts at extrication, and, generally speaking, the com promise which completes the ruin of the victim, breaks up his home, and too frequently ends in the dispersal and misery of a once happy and united family. As the forms of attack are various, so are the results. It is seldom, however, that the dupe has the manliness to appear in open court to resist the attempted plunder and extortion. Many considerations deter him from such a step. He naturally shrinks from the exposure of his folly. He knows, too, that the law in its wisdom gives enormous advantages to the plaintiff, who, although guilty of the most culpable negligence, will yet, if he can prove that he or any of the endorsers gave valuable consideration without distinct knowledge of the fraud, be entitled to a verdict ; and, finally, the certainty that, even under the most favourable circum stances, he must be a heavy sufferer in his pocket from the difference of costs between party and party and solicitor and client, and the disallowal of the expenses of the inquiries neces sary to elucidate the nature of the plot. There is, besides, the great probability that he may not be able to recover even what the law allows and the taxing officer sanctions, inasmuch as the " capitalist" too frequently turns out a mere man of straw, unable to satisfy a single shilling of his liabilities. The question very frequently is, which party shall be driven to insolvency, and it frequently ends in both being compelled to seek relief from the Court. No wonder, then, that the victim is not sucked completely dry, and that the fraud usually ends in a com promise. Now this is all very wrong, and, what is still worse, the mischief is altogether occasioned by the law itself. Bills of Exchange are, to some extent, looked upon as valueless, and the party can only be indicted for stealing the stamp or the paper on which it was written. The well-known case of JOHN MINTER HART (6 CARRINGTON and RAYNE, 106) showed this, where the prisoner obtained ten blank acceptances on stamps, pro duced by himself and his own property, which he filled up for 5001. each, and escaped the Wnal consequence of his moral cr -, affording a power ful illustration of this deficit -in the law. And another case, ejusdem generi •curred so lately as Friday last, where a party as tried before Mr. RUSSELL GURNEY at the ntral Criminal Court, for fraudulently obtaining a bill of ex change for 451., with intent to defraud, &0., and was acquitted on the point, " that the stamped paper on which the bill was drawn was provided by the prisoner ; and that, therefore, all he had obtained from the prosecutor was his signature." That signature it was which gave validity and currency to the document. Without it it would have been valueless, but by the rule of law there was no offence, and he escaped with impunity, although there could be no doubt of his moral guilt ! The enactment which encourages the bill swindlers in their nefarious trade is the 7th and Bth GEO. 4, c. 29, s. 49, which requires that there should be " a direction, in, writing, to apply the proceeds, or part of the proceeds of the secu rity, in the manner specified in such direction." Under this provision, it is not even sufficient if the dupe receives a written acknowledgment of the purpose to which the bill is to be applied. Ho must give it himself, to render it binding, a point of which the swindlers are fully aware, although they are, generally speaking, ignorant. We believe that such " written directions" are not given in one case out of a hundred. If suggested by the acceptor, it is treated as an imputation on the "honour" of the party ; and the poor dupe, fear ing that his " kind friend" may be offended, omits the necessary precaution. Thus it is that bill swindlers flourish, and that the most infamous frauds are matters of almost daily occurrence. From the preceding illustrations the nature of the remedy will be clearly perceptible. Obtaining " a signature," or any thing that may render a party responsible for the payment of money, should be regarded in the same light as if money or valuable securities had actually been ob tained. A person intrusted with a bill, or any other document binding in law, should also be bound, under severe penalties, to act fairly and bona fide towards his employer ; and any fraudu lent disposition thereof, or of any part of the pro ceeds, should be made punishable as felony. It is very properly proposed to afford more summary remedies for the recovery of bills of exchange; but adequate means should at the same time be pro vided to check and punish frauds in respect thereof. We have no doubt that Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR'S Bill will meet the difficulty, that it will greatly diminish, if not wholly prevent, such frauds, and preserve many unsuspecting men from serious losses. For this he will be not only en titled to the thanks and gratitude of the commer cial community, but of all right-minded persons who desire to repress an evil that has sprung up to the most formidable dimensions. A remarkable pamphlet, entitled simply " Eng land, France, Russia, Turkey," was published in 1834, by Mr. Ridgway, of Piccadilly. It was given to the world anonymously. Observe—we are speaking of a pamphlet published not in 1854, but in 1834 —twenty years ago, nearly a quarter of a ce n t ury b efore the countries named on its title-pag e b ecame actually embroiled with each other as they are at this moment—Russia on one side opposed by the collective might of Turkey, France, and England. It will be necessary to bear the date of publication particularly in mind during the perusal of the following extracts from this extraordinary brochure, otherwise the reader might naturally suppose he was reading something just written, with a foreknowledge of all that has recently occurred in the East, to the amazement of entire Christendom. Remembering the date, re membering that it was in 1834, as far back as twenty years from the present period, that the pamphlet appeared, we believe that there is scarcely any one but will stand amazed at its pro phetic character. Everything is prefigured in these wizard-like vaticinations: The advance of the Russian AUTO CRAT upon the Turkish territories. The valiant stand taken by the Mussulmen in defence of their empire. The union of France and England in support of the cause of Ottoman independence. The appearance of their united armaments in the Levant. The entrance of the Anglo-French fleets through the Dardanelles into the sea of Marmora —through the Bosphorus into the Black Sea—on towards the stronghold of the Crimea, the port, and arsenal, and dockyards of Sebastopol. Not only are these things foreshown, but others still more marvellous in the display of prescience on the part of their unknown writer. The hesitating atti tude assumed by the German Powers at the commencement of the misunderstanding. Fol lowed ultimately by the defection of Prussia from the cause of the Western allies of Turkey, and the subordination of her councils to those of the autocratic Northern Government. Whereas, Aus tria is described as ultimately breaking away from the Russian alliance and co-operating with the Anglo-French supporters of the SULTAN, ac cording to the daring previsions published twenty years ago, namely, in 1834, by this anonymous pamphleteer. Listen, now, in proof of the accuracy of our foregoing assertions. Hear how the writer of this curious prophecy speaks, at page 105, of the Anglo-French alliance " England and France, in assuming the defence of Turkey, stand forth in the majesty of their united power and of obliged moderation, as advocates of the pubiic interests of the European community." What does he observe as to the decoys thrown eut to the Cabinet of Vienna by the wilier Councils of St. Petersburg.? Why, he speaks of the pos sibility of an Austrian occupation of Bosnia, Servia, and Montenegro being tolerated by the Muscovite ruler—referring to which bait, at page 102, he adds— " But what Austrian statesman can be blind to the consequences, if Russia takes possession of Con stantinople ? If Russia occupy Constantinople, what pretence of equivalent will Austria find in the half-Russian provinces of Servia, Bosnia, and Monte negro ? It will be more profitable, even for Russia, that they may be apparently possessed by Austria. She looks to maintain acquaintance, and will gladly purchase by so magnificent a cession the prolongeil subserviency of the Austrian Government." Later on, however, this far-seeing writer re marks—the passage subjoined occurs, by the way, between pages 105 and 107 inclusively—remarks, we cannot but think, in the tones of a Booth- sayer : " Let the squadron of England and France appear in the Black Sea, and the decision of Austria cannot be doubtful. The union of England with France is a gua rantee of the disinterestedness of the intentions of both. Their power when combined on this arena is irresistible. Their object not a war of propagandism, of revolutions, but one of conservatism, of protection ; assuring not only the independence of Austria against the north, but elevating a power in the south to balance the influence she dreads in the Mediterranean and in Italy. But the first necessity of Austria is peace. If she cannot stand between the belligerents and prevent a collision, her next necessity is the prompt cessation of hostilities— which side, it forced to interfere, will she choose ? Un doubtedly, inevitably that of the allies ; her combination with the allies, and the quick decision of the contest, can alone save for her Gallicia, can alone prevent the spreading to other of her states of the spirit of revolu tion, to which she is exposed by any struggle in Europe. "It is on the strength of these considerations that _ _ we conclude, that if Russia is attacked in the Black Sea, the alliance of France and England is established by the combination of their action on a common field-- that the northern coalition is instantaneously di'solved, its positions and defences turned, the materially and really powerful members of that coalition brought over to our side, and the whole chances and dangers of war consecrated on the head of that single power, which, always aggressive, because nowhere assailable, has com plicated and embroiled the affairs of Europe, to open to herself in the midst of the confusion a road to Con stantinople. " This is a mere contest of dates. If Russia is first at Constantinople, she combines necessarily all the re sources of the northern Governments ; she developes a naval power to which there can be no possible balance in the Mediterranean ; Greece and Egypt become de pendencies ; no State can partake in the eastern com merce, save by her sufferance ; the possibility of all use ful union against her on the part of England and France vanishes, and civilisation itself is threatened with a more dangerous eclipse than it suffered from the oYerflow of the barbarians in 604. "II England anticipates Russia, she has with her France—Prussia is left aside - Austria enters to hasten the termination of the struggle, if necessary—the whole Ottoman empire is called to arms, the troops and fleet of Mehemet Ali united to them ; and the only result that will then be worth accepting will be the retreat of Russia behind the Dnieper, which moderate prudence and sequence in the policy of the Cabinets of France and England would never have permittee to traverse." Speaking of the entrance of the allied fleets into the Euxine the pamphleteer, at page 114, thus continues ' "With the impulse given to Turkey, with the Black Sea occupied by the allied squadrons, every point of Russia is exposed. The destruction alone of her arsenal of Sebastopol sends her back fifty years. How could she suffice for such a defence, when the menacing body may in a few days, or even hours, be transported from place to place, while it would require weeks or months for the defending corps to reach by land ? " But when we consider that the whole of the Geor gian provinces await but a signal to throw off the yoke— that many hundred thousand arm-bearing and brave in habitants of the Caucasus, either in a state of actual but disunited independence, or in only seeming subjugation, would instantaneously fall on whatever Russian troops are within their reach—when we look at the state of the Crimea, and even the provinces of Moldavia and Wal lachia, on the universal hatred that animates and unites all races, all creeds, against Russia—it may be imagined what difficulty she would have to maintain her position, even without being attacked. The only movement she could make would be against Roumelia. And what im pression would she be able to make on Turkey under these new circumstances ? And what are her means of transport ? The famine of two years has drain Zia; treasury ; provisions are scarce, provender more so ; all communication become of extreme difficulty, because the beasts of burthen have been in a great measure destroyed in the southern provinces. Besides, would she dare by such a movement, and with Engla n d and France com mitted, venture to expose her flank to Austria ? Even suppose she did push a couple of corps d'armee into Bul garia,, supposing even it crossed the Balkans, would not the rear he exposed ? Would not the allies dispose of fifty or sixty sail of Turkish men-of-war, besides their own, and of as many men as they c h ose , t o e ff ec t a de barkation on any point to occupy Bessarabia, to carry the Crimea, or to combine the tribes of the Caucasus from the Euxine to the Caspian ?" After which, at page 117, thus writes this won derfully prescient and sagacious pamphleteer :-- "Russia, supposing even she had the power, that she had consistency, that she had money, goods, troops, and serviceable vessels, which she has not, to cope with a European power would still necessarily be overwhelmed if attacked ; for if circumstances favoured her, if she had strength, she would not wait to be attacked. She would attack, surprise, occupy. The chances are actually against her for war—famine, poverty, weakness of defences at Sebastapol and elsewhere, contests in the Caucasus, the union of France and England, irritation against her in these nations, general discredit in Europe, power of resistance in Turkey, unfitness of her navy, bad state of her army, necessary loss of her aliies, and peace in Europe. All chances equally work for her i n th e main- . _ tenauce of peace—gradual disorganisation of Turkey, prolonged and exhausting mis-intelligence between Mehe met Ali and the Sultan, calming of the irritation in Tur key, of the irritation in Europe—slumbering of the Tarkish Question, and restored confidence on that su'e ject—probabilities of confusion and conflict in various places, of internal troubles in France and in England, of dissention between them, even of general war in Europe, cessation of famine at home, improvement of finances, progress in preparatives, great and rapid im provement of her navy, levies on a scale beyond a war establishment, active progress in defensive works—sub jugation of the coasts of the Caucasus render disposable great numbers of men. These are the chances or the progress offered her by every hour of nominal peace, while she is permitted to keep a curb in the mouth of Turkey, and place a load on its back, a spur in its flank. If on Turkey the salvation of the whole European Ques tion depends, can this be endured ? If not promptly succoured, it must sink. The last few months have hastened its exhaustion. Months, not years, if aban doned, will number its remaining career. And what will this succour cost the two first nations of the globe, whose colossal rivalry have for thirty years shaken and over thrown every institution, every throne, of Europe ? United now happily in their objects, their interests, their principles, and their might, it will cost them even yet but to say, Let Turkey live.' While the Bosphorus is still open, will they not say the word ? Their squadrons anchored in the Bosphorus, they dictate their own terms to Turkey. To Russia they proclaim, that from that day they entered to arbitrate supremely between the nations of the earth—their power is only limited by their indecision." Mark that, my Lord ABERDEEN ! Mark that, people of England ! " Their power is only limited by their indecision." There is no exaggeration in these words—they were written twenty years ago, as far back as 1834—and yet are strictly true, and literally applicable nowadays, with the allied fleets in the Black Sea, with Russia threat ened in the Euxine and in the Baltic, with France and England strengthened to irresistible might by a cordial alliance between their Score reigns, between their peoples, between their Governments. " Their power is only limited by their indecision." But—the anonymous pamph leteer wrote in 1834, when his argument ap peared— " But in England, it may be said, even though our Government feels its position, that of France may not. We answer, it is wholly impossible for the French Go vernment not to follow the impulse of that of England . The Administrations in France, that suffered England alone to bridle Russia, would not exist an hour. Besides, the Government of France holds by many ties to that of England. France, if we act, must and will support us." And so—literally almost—it has come to pass. France and England are united in defence of the SULTAN, and in opposition to the AUTOCRAT. Only France, instead of waiting for England to set her the example, has acted somewhat more chival rously than could have been well anticipated in 1834. She has been one step in advance of her ally throughout. She may be said in a great measure to have taken the initiative in this bold policy aggressive to barbarism, defensive of civi lisation. Enough, however, has been remarked, we conceive, to justify our reference in this man ner to the startling pages penned by this pro vokingly anonymous and marvellously prophetic pamphleteer. It will be seen that the second reading of the Excise Duties Bill was carried last night by a majority of 108, the numbers being 303 to 195. This settles the question of the Malt Tax. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO o'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, including 1,000 Ame rican taken for export and on speculation. The market closed heavily at previous rates. The sales comprised 5,000 American, 220 Pernam and Maranham at 60. to 74-d., 100 Bahia at 6&d., 300 Egyptian at 6td. to 'ad., and 500 Surat at 24d. to 4gd. per lb. Railway shares were firm. The advices received from the Australian colonies relative to trading affairs rare not so favourabl e as could be desired, but the causes are such as justify the hope of early improvement, under the stimulus of new gold discoveries more especially. Our shippers have long been ex orcising caution, and the large arrivals last October were the result of protracted voyages. The follow ing extract from the proceedings of the Legislature at Melbourne will show how the gold digging had progressed up to the close of 1853 "Captain Dane, pursuant to notice, asked what was (1.) The number of gold-diggers' licenses issued for the month of December, 1353, distinguishing the number taken for the month, quarter, half-year, and year. (2 ) The total amount received for diggers' licenses in De cember, 1853. (3.) The total amount received for storekeep?rs' licenses for December, 1853. (4.) The same information for the month of January, 1854. Che Auditor-General, in answer to the first question, stated that the number of monthly licenses issued for December, 1853, had been 5,893, quarterly 23,993, half yearly nil, annual nil. In answer to the second question, that the amount received for those licenses was 63,8791. 10s. In reply to the third question, that. the amount was 73/. for storekeepers' licenses. In an swer to the fourth question, he begged to state that for January, 1854, the number of monthly licenses issued aad been 2,314, quarterly, 4,289, half-yearly 5, yearly nil ; amount received 10,9121. For storekeepers' li ..:enses the number issued was, monthly nil, quarterly 8, half-yearly 3 ; amount 1951. The discovery of a new port at the head of Spencer's Gulf, is recorded in the following state ment : " Poet Augusta on the one side, and the Murray on the other, will be of great importance in developing the resources of the new country between . Speneer's Gulf and the Darling, extending to 60,000 square miles, recently found available for sheep pasture, and now in course of 4ettlernent Captain Matson, of the schooner Daphne, whose return from Port Augusta is elsewhere announced, reports as follows :—‘ I am of opinion that the channel of Port Augusta is navigable for ves sels of 300 tons. That which may be called the en trance of the creek or river is abreast of Point Lowly, and about thirty miles below Port Augusta. I found the creek, at its narrowest part, about half-a-mile wide, and, although there are sand banks, the channel between them is sufficient for vessels of the tonnage I have men tioned, all the way up from Point Lowly. Port Augusta has the great advantage of deep water close to the shore (say, three fathoms), so that the Daphne was hauled to the edge of the bank, discharged, and loaded without the use of the boat. lam not thoroughly informed as to how Port Augustalis circumstanced with reference to the requisite supply of fresh water ; but from what I could learn, it will be necessary to go some little distance for it. The banks of the creek resemble those of Port Ade laide, but the land rises gradually as you proceed in shore. The narrowest portion of the creek is about four miles in length." English Stocks have been heavy, but there has been no decided decline in prices. Consols have been quoted 88i to i for transfer and account. The New 31 per Cents. are 881 to 1 1 , and the 3 per Cents. 871 to I. Bank Stock is firm at 202 to 205. Exchequer Bills are at par to 2s. prem., and India Bonds at ss. to 9s. discount. Exchequer Bonds have been at prem. again, and from this we may conclude that if the rate of discount had not been advanced they would have commanded a higher price. In the Foreign Market there has not been much speculation, but prices are steady. Russian 5 per Cents. have been done as high as 96, and the 4i per Cents. bring 814. Mexican 3 per Cents. have been quoted 241 to 241 2 . Grenada Bonds are at 17, Sardinian 5 per Cents. realise 811- to 82, and Spanish New Deferred 181 The English share market has not been so well supported, except in the case of one or two lines. Caledonian have been better, and Great Northerns are buoyant. South Western not so good. Foreign shares have receded as regards the French lines, owing to the decline at Paris. The Mining market has been rather more active, at about the previous quotations. The Joint Stock Bank shares have been dull. The Land Companies' shares are steady. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCE, ( From the Official List. ) Villainess done. sank Stock ............ ........................ 202 5 per Cent. Reduced Annuities B7 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities BBl Sew 3i per Cent. Annuities BB4 4 ong Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 4 9-16 I , ittc., 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 4 Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1850 4 15-16 udia Bowls, £lOOO ... Ditto, under £lOOO 9 d '.7onsols for Account tth June BB4 Exchequer Bills, 2d. 11000 Small 1 d 2p Exchequer Bonds Scrip PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Grenada Bonds, 11 per Cent . , texiean 3 per Cent. thissian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St Did.) 4A per Cent Bl Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent Bl4 2 _ - Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 3B Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lBg i Dividends on the above payable in London. French Rentes, 3 per Cent.... 63f.75c. 67f.50c. Ex. 24.f.90e Dutch Exchange, 2 per Cent. 12 Guil Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ..... HALF•PAST TIVO. Consols BB Ditto June Account BB4 A A LATEST FOREIGN NEWS THE WAR. IMPORTANT FROM THE DANUBE. The following telegraphic despatch was received in Paris yesterday " VIENNA, May 14.—Prince Paskiewitch and General Gortschakoff have arrived at Kalarasch. " The bombardment of Silistrio. with 80 pieces of cannon has commenced. " The evacuation of Lesser Wallachia is sus pended." ~~ THE MEDITERRANEAN. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) ' SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY, 8.30 A.M. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Iberia, Capt. Bradshaw, has arrived, with dates from Gibraltar, sth; Cadiz, 6th; Lisbon, 9th; Oporto, 11th; and Vigo, 12th inst. She brings on freight four packages specie, 486 half chests oranges, and sundry cargo. The Bth company of Royal Sappers and Miners, under the command of Capt. Bourchier, embarked from Gibraltar on board the screw steamer Albatross on the 29th ultimo, for the seat of war. The 30th Regiment embarked, on the Ist of May, on board the Royal mail steamer Cambria, for conveyance to Constantinople. DEATH OF CAPT. W. H. TAYLOR, OF HER MAJESTY'S CORPS OF GENTLEMEN-AT-ARMS.—Some excitement has prevailed during the past few days in the neighbourhood of Jermyn-street, St. James's, in consequence of the death of Captain William Henry Taylor, aged 30, for merly of the 87th Foot, but recently of the Tower Ham lets Militia, and her Majesty's honourable corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, whose body was discovered under such singular circumstances as t• give rise to the im pression that he terminated his existence by immersing his head in a bath. It would seem that Captain Taylor resided at No. 7, Great Ryder-street. On Friday morn ing last, about six o'clock, the landlord of the house saw him in his room apparently in his usual health. Some time afterwards, on going to the room with the breakfast tray, he found the door locked inside ; not being able to obtain admittance, he procured the assist ance of a police-constable, who broke open the door, and discovered Captain Taylor lying flat on his stomach, with his hands under him, and his head in a bath, in which was about six inches of water. The washhand-basin was broken, and one of deceased's hands was evidently cut with a portion of the fragments. Medical assistance was promptly procured, but it was found that life was extinct. At the coroner's inquest held yesterday even ing, Mr. John Bagshaw Taylor, a brother of deceased, residing near Nottingham, stated that Captain Taylor had served some time in India, and since his return had been subject to epilepsy, but that his general health was good. Mr. T. G. French, surgeon, gave it as his opinion that death had arisen from a sudden attack of epilepsy, and not from drowning, although the immersion might have probably prevented recovery from the attack. The case lasted a considerable time, and a verdict of death from natural causes was ultimately recorded. FALL OF Two HOUSES IN ANGEL-COURT, LONG-ACRE. —Between twelve and one o'clock to-day two houses fell with a tremendous crash in Angel-court, Long-acre. A few minutes previously several persons had observed that the party walls gave tokens of insecurity, and ran away with all speed. When the wall fell it dragged with it the roof and floors. Several passers by narrowly escaped being crushed to death by the falling bricks. Men were set to work to prop up the remaining portion of the building, and in removing the debris. Some fears were expressed that some persons were buried in the ruins. The district surveyor immediately gave orders that the alley and approaches should be closed. MALTA.--Twenty transport-ships, with cavalry and the 38th Regiment, have arrived since the 6th of May. MONETARY REFORM IN PORTUGAL.— -A letter of Lisbon of the 3d, via Madrid, states that the Government had presented to the Chambers a bill for effecting a monetary reform, and for causing as in England gold to be the standard. DIVIDENDS.—The following diidends have been ad vertised for payment : -Sardinian Five per Cent. Loan of 1851, Brazilian Four-and-a-Half per Cent. of 1852, and Brazilian Five per Cent. of 1843. DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.—The departures from the port of London for the Australian colonies during the past week show a slight decrease. They have com prised altogether 12 vesels—four to Sydney, with an aggregate burden of 1,433 tons ; two to Hobart Town, with an aggregate burden of 1,183 tons ; two to Adelaide, with an aggregate burden of 1,003 tons; one to Laun ceston, of 481 tons ; one to Portland Bay, of 458 tons ; one to New Zealand, of 378 tons ; and one to Swan River, of 270 tons. Their total capacity was conse quently 5,256 tons. The rates of freight exhibit a de cline, which the advices yesterday tended in a measure to increase. GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE PORT OF LONDON.—In the general business of the port of London during the past week the number of vessels reported inward was 185, being 170 less than in the previous week. The quantity of grain reported was 42,375 quarters, including 21,742 quarters of wheat, in addition to 3,132 barrels' and 2,080 sacks of flour. Of tea there were reported 53,858 packages ; of sugar, 8,489 hhds., 3,690 casks, 1,840 cases, 12,558 loaves, and 44,640 bags ; of coffee, 303 boxes, 211 casks, and 2,028 bags; of wool, 4,927 bales ; and of tallow. 141 casks and 359 boxes. The number of ships cleared outward was 104, bein g 5 less than in the previous week. Of these, 17 were in ballast, and 12 for the Australian colonies. FOREIGN RATES OF EXCHANGE.—The closing accounts from the Paris Bourse yesterday show a reaction of about a half per cent, from the recent rapid rise. At Vienna .he money market during the past few days has been comparatively steady. The Bank of Prussia has reduced its rate of discount from 5 per cent., at w hi c h it had stood since October last, to 4 per cent. In Holland the rate of discount remains at 3 per cent., and in Hamburg money is plentiful at 2 per cent. With regard to the new Austrian loan for 3,500,0001., the amounts subscribed are said to have been 2,000,0001. at Amsterdam, and 500,0001. at Frankfort. The French rate of exchange remains without further alteration ; and, although gold cannot now be taken trom the Bank of England for remittance at a profit, it is probable the amount just arrived from Australia will be sent away. CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA, AND CHINA.—The directors of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China have given temporary notice of the forfeiture of all shares upon which the recent cal shall not have been paid on the 19th inst. The signing of the deed of settlement is also demanded under the same penalty. This summons is issued in face of the fact that out of 32,000 shares constituting the company the representatives of more than two-thirds desire its dissolution. Although the endeavours of this large majority to obtain an injunction have thus far failed, they intend, it is believed, during the short interval, to take fresh and urgent steps for that object. Whatever may be their success, there can be no question their case is one that should operate as a caution to all per sons against investing in new schemes without an un derstanding as to the extent to which they intend to place their interests beyond future control. UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.—A bill has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr. Bell and Mr. Thorneley, for the purpose of extending the rights en joyed by the graduates of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in respect to the practice of physic, to the graduates of the University of London. The bill pro vides that graduates in medicine of the University of London are to be entitled to practise physic in the same manner as graduates of the Universities of Oxford an d Cambridge. Graduates in medicine of the University of London are to be indemnified for having acted with out having obtained authority from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. THE YORKSHIREMA.N. — This fine steamer, which our readers will recollect struck on a rock of Donaghadee, and shortly afterwards settled down into deep water, has been at length raised after difficulties of a very grave character, which have been surmounted by the builders of the vessel, Messrs. Tulloch and Denny, of Dumbarton, who purchased her lately, when the project of raising her to the surface was regarded by many as wholly impossible. Divers had been employed for some time, and the ma chinery and engines were by them so freed, and where possible so detached, that they have all been recovered without any material damage to them. Now we have the satisfaction of stating the hull of the vessel itself has been raised, and it is intended to tow it to Dumbarton, where it will be docked and repaired. Air-tight tanks will be introduced into it to keep it afloat in going across the channel ; and as the engines are comparatively un injured, and the hull not much damaged, a moderate expenditure will refit the vessel and render her as good almost as when she was taken out of the hands of Messrs. Tulloch and Denny.—Belfast Mercury. GREAT AGGREGATE MEETING OF THE CATHOLICS AT DUBLIN.—DUBLIN, Monday Evening.—There was an immense attendance at the Roman Catholic aggregate meeting held this day. The Lord Mayor of Dublin presided. Resolutions founded upon the " Catholic de claration" were adopted. A stormy scene occurred, in consequence of an allusion by the Rev. Dr. Marshall to the recent speech of Prince Albert at the Festival of the Sons of the Clergy. Dr. Marshall was called to order by the chairman, and for fifteen minutes the meeting was in a state of indescribable confusion. The "Pro testant Association of Dublin " threatened to attend, to protest, but they did not make their appearance. Large bodies of police were patrolling the streete. y~_~ _~ COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.-MAY 16. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON. At the general meeting of the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, held at the Thatched House Tavern, London, on Friday the 12th of May, at one o'clock, for the purpose of general business relating to the squadron, the following candidates were elected . As Members—Lord Macdonald, Plover, cutter, 35 tons; Lord Colville, Sultana, cutter, 140 tons; Viscount Hill, Skylark, cutter, 45 tons; Matthew Edward Hoare, Esq., Derwent, schooner, 117 tons ; Lord Dufferin, Foam, schooner, 85 tons ; Sir Percy F. Shelley, Bart., Genevra, schooner, 142 tons. . , As Honorary Members—Commander Algernon F. R. De Horsey, R.N. ; Captain Hon. Henry Murray, R.N. COWES CASTLE.-It is reported that the application of the members of the Royal Yacht Squadron for Cowes Castle for a club-house has not been attended with suc cess. It is to be reserved for the residence of one of England's heroes—some hardy old veteran, who has risked life and limb in his country's cause another Anglesey. SEVEN PERSONS DROWNED.—On Sunday morning, as a party, consisting of two women and fifteen men were returning from Lymington to the Government works at Sconce, in a small half decked boat (formerly the pleasure boat of J. P. Mew, Esq., of Newport), they by some means upset it, and the two women and five the men were drowned ; toe rest were saved by a boat from a brig lying off " Jack in the Basket," the captain of which noticed the boat pass, but sown afterwards missed her, and remarked how fast she must have ran to be out of sight so soon. The day was fine, and there was but little wind. Directly afterwards he noticed something in the water, and, with the assistance of his glass, disco vered that it was the men. He pushed off the boat, and succeeded in picking up twelve of the men and one woman, but the latter and two of the men were dead. MAKt(ET .NEWS-(THIS DAY.) COLONIAL SUGAR.—The market has been quiet for most descrip tions, and there is a large quantity of West India on show. The quantity of British plantation landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 5,411 hhds, 507 tierces, 1,377 barrels; there were taken for home consumption 632 hhds, 47 tierces, 366 barrels. The stock in the same places is 8,211 hhds ' 1,278 tierces, 1,279 barrels. COFFEE.—This article has been flat. Native Ceylon it 44s to 45s per cwt. Rtat.—The quantity landed last week at the East and West India Docks was 916 puns 279 hhds ; there were taken for home consumption 244 puns 33 hhds, and ex ported 33 puns 193 hads. The stock in the same places is 9,691 puns 998 hhds. PI3IE,NTO.-305 bags, offered by auction, only partly found buyers at sid to 5d per lb for ord and mid. TEA.—The deliveries have been fair. TALLOW.—We have had general buyers, with scarcely any disposition to sell. Our concluding prices are :—On the spot, 63s to 63s 6d • all this month, 623 9d to 63s ; June, 63s to 63s 3d ; July, 63s 9d to 64s ; August, 64s 9d to 65s ; September, 65s Gd • October and December, none offering; Austr a li an b ee f, g7s to 56s 3d; sheep, 62s to 55s 6d ; South American 58s to 57s 9d; French tallow , 60 s. OlLS.—Tallow 0i1 ; 39s ; palm oil, 46s to 46s 6d; cocoa nut oil, Cochin 50s, Ceylon 495. ST. PETERSBURG, 24th April.—Exchange, 311 to 35i. 100 casks Ukr. tallow done at 131 ou the spot at St. Petersburg, and 300 casks for May delivery at 120 at Liver pool. The nominal price for August was 110 rs. INDIGO.—B catalogue commenced and. finished, and nearly all bought iu or withdrawn. A catalogue was re sumed, no alteration has taken place iu prices, and the sale went off flatly. 2,320 chests passed, of which 1,185 were withdrawn, 760 bought in, leaving 373 chests sold. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to '5l 5s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 2s per load. Supply moderate, and trade firm. UUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 51 ss; clover ditto, 31 15s to 61 Os; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 4s per load. A full average supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2115 s to 51 Os; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 616 s ; and straw, 11163 to 2? 23 per load. Trade rather dull. LATEST FROM VIENNA. VIENNA, MONDAY EVENING.—The day before yesterday an order was signed for the occupation of the Galician frontier by two army corps. A state of siege has been introduced by the Hospodar of Servia. The Prince of Montenegro has issued an inflam matory address to the Christians in the Herze. gowina. The insurrection in Greece has spread to Salonica, in Thessaly. On the 4th or sth a serious affair took place at Gienerowitch, with great loss on both sides. The particulars are wanting. CONSTAN TINOPLE. GREAT FIRE.—The Indian Mail, which arrived at Marseilles yesterday, brings news from Con stantinople to the effect that a great fire has occurred there, in which it is estimated that more than 1,000 wooden houses have been burnt. CONSTANTINOPLE, MAY I.—lt appears that the Turkish fleet, commanded by Muchaver Pacha (Slade), is all in readiness to join in a couple of days the allied squadrons in the Euxine. An im perial ordinance has been published, enacting the severest penalties against the Bashi-buzuks in case of the smallest irregularity or breach of dis cipline. This corps consists of a set of lawless bandits, bent solely on violence and rapine, and totally useless for all the purposes of war. Omer Pacha has already sent up some two or three thousand, who at present are quartered at Ramis djiftlik, and under a course severe and regular military discipline. The project is to entrap by de grees the whole set, and transform them, if possible, into regulars. Reschid Pacha yesterday visited the French Ambassador ; and during an interview which lasted a couple of hours, assurances of esteem and friendship were exchanged on both sides, as well as satisfaction at the happy issue of this mo mentary difference. In this the public fully parti cipates : and you can have no conception of the depression and confusion produced by this unto ward incident during an anxious interval of three long days. Nothing has further occurred which can interest readers at a distance. Constantinople is indeed the capital of the empire whose existence is at stake ; but yet it is almost as vain to look for in formation from here as to have expected re ports on the Oregon question from Astoria. New arrivals of troops, and their establish ment in barracks under canvas, form the only events of the day ; while the principal subjects of interest are the supply of the new comers with food and sleeping room, and the preservation of their health while they remain idle by the Bosphorus. There is no fear that Scutari will become a Capua to either officers or men—plain fare and hard beds are the lot of all equally, and their stay here will form a wholesome state of transition between the comforts of home quarters and the privations of the Danube. The affairs of the commissariat are ad vancing favourably. A regula r p os t h as b een esta blished between Adrianople and Shumla. The com. munication between the latter place and the capital has hitherto been slow and irregular , but by the new system they will no doubt more satisfactory. The hospital of Nagara is to be given up to the French for their use during the war, as well as another large house in the neighbourhood. Pre parations have been made for the reception of the sick in the French army ; they are by no means numerous, considering the change of climate, the hardships of a voyage in vessels so much less commodious than our own giant steam-ships, and the privations the men underwent during the first days of their residence. The rubbers who infested the neighbourhood of Smyrna are being rapidly hunted down. Michali, a companion of Stellio, has just been taken at Karabournou, a lofty hill, where the ruffians a year ago, thought themselves secure. Some arms stolen from Europeans who were attacked while out shooting last autumn were found in the prisoner's hut. He has denounced his companions, in the hope of obtainin g some mercy himself. The numbe r o f Greeks expellPd from the capital during the month amounts to 14,000, and 2,000 have become Otto man subjects to escape the operation of the decree. The Easter ceremonies have passed off without the slightest disturbance. Even the discharge of fire arms usual at break of day on Easter morning was omitted, in obedience to the exhortations of the priests. The recommencement of piracy in th e lE gean is a matter of grave importance. The south-western shores of Asia Minor and the islands in its neigh bourhood are the head-quarters of these outlaws, who, if not checked immediately, may do much harm to the commerce of the Levant. A Constantinople letter of the Ist inst., in a Trieste journal, says :—" A Russian agent, very elegantly dressed, was lately arrested at Pena. He was the bearer of au English passport. Papers of importance were found on his person. A Turkish frigate has arrived at Athens with an ultimatum from the Turkish Government, and giving only 5 days for the answer." THE BALTIC. ARMY OF SWEDEN. The following letter appeared in the Moniteur of yesterday " SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM, May s.—Our situation is as suming here a more warlike aspect every day. Public opinion desires that we should attach ourselves to the Western Powers. The opportunity is too favourable forsquaring our accounts with Russia. The government shares this view of seeing the case. It continues its ar maments. There is a wish to conclude an offensive and de fensive alliance with France and England. Ourinfantry is composed of 85,000 men, the cavalry of 5, 569, and the artillery of 4,916 ;in all 94,980 regular troops. Goth land and the other provinces could furnish 21,000 men. Thus the entire army would present a total of 116,000 men. The ambassadors of the foreign powers do not leave the king. The English ambassador had a private audience of his Majesty on the 3d inst., the Prussian had one yesterday, and to-day the ambassadors of France and England were received by his Majesty." The reserve is not included in the above, nor is the army of Norway. Of the above force, 60,000 men could easily be landed in Finland, join an equal number of the allies, and march upon St. Peters burg, thus turning both Helsingfors and Cron stadt. POLICY OF SWEDEN. The following is from a letter, dated Stockholm, May 6 : "Now that Sir Charles Napier's squadron has left Elfsnabben Bay, as well as the friendly inhabitants of the adjacent group of Swedish Tolands—a significant and eventful departure—the people of this kingdom, influ enced by alternate hopes and fears, are anxiously and eagerly inquiring what their King will do ? That mo narch is still a popular one, for the Swedes are attached to the new dynasty of their choice, and his present Ma jesty is deserving of their esteem and affection. He is a man of deep reflection, of much amiability of disposition, of generous purposes, and even of high literary attainments. The important reforms which he effected in the beginning of his reign, notwithstanding the opposition of a power ful and long sustained absolutist Camirilla, will never be forgotten. It was he who mitigated the unreason able severity of some penal laws--his work on prison reform is a master one, both in argument and style, who abolished the oppressive privileged tribunals, and who introduced a beneficial change into the law regulating the distribution of family property. He was, moreover, a zealous advocate of parliamentary reform, and of a liberal system of commercial policy. On the whole, King Oscar is a distinguished and enlightened sovereign, arid, unlike his father, who never could abandon his French habits, customs, and opinions, he is a thorough Swede. " Unfortunately, the old advisers of Bernadotte (King Charles XIV.) were allowed to regain by degrees a portion of their former influence, an influ ence of which they were f or a t i me totally deprived on the accession of King Oscar, in 1844. It is no secret that the Russian court bad succeeded in moderating the reforming ardour of the Swedish monarch, and the events of 1848, which led to some popular excesses even in this capital, were converted by the wily Cza r i n t o so many lessons for his Swedish neighbour and distant relative. All this implies that King Oscar has not been able or willing to fulfil many of his promises of further reforms, and at the same time shows how necessary it is for Sweden to shake off, once and for ever, the deadening influence of Russia, if the former desire to be, as it deserves to be, a truly indepen dent country. And shortly will the opportunity be afforded—one which Sweden did not create—and which, if neglected, may never return. Already are the future political and social destinies of this country in the hands of its own people—of its King and his subjects. Sweden has been ere now a great and a glorious state, and its vital powers are still sound. A noble future awaits it as one of the bulwarks of European civilisation and liberty against Muscovite barbarism and despotism ; but, to remain long such a bulwark, it is essential for Sweden to aid in defeating and chastising the great enemy of mankind. " That the court still hesitates may be for the moment excused, at least interpreted in no unfriendly manner. The time for Sweden to not may not, in the opinion of that court, have yet arrived. It may think that, under present circumsta nces , all that can be expected from I is to be s till ac ti ve i n i ts military and naval preparatio ns —to be still ready to concentrate, when needed, troops in any menaced or exposed portion of the Swedish tern' tory, and t o remain on terms of friendship with Eng' land and England's representative in the Baltic. CI; tain it is th a t if t h e day far Sweden to declare itsei openly for the Western Powers should shortly arrive, the King would very soon have appropriate councillors at his side, an d a ga ll ant and well - disc i p l ine d army to execute his and their resolutions. " Englishmen must not attach any great importa n ! e to the maint a i n i ng o f t h e present Swedish Cabinet 1: power. Ministers here are scarcely anything head-clerks of their respective departments, and this 1 _ particularly the case with reference to the Minister f!. 1 : Foreign Affairs, the 11th and 12th articles of the COns.° ee ti ss rs tution virtually intrusting to the Sovereign the management of those affairs. It is King Oscar wh°,o old Louis Philippe wished to do, regne gouverne• t word, it is to King Oscar, and to him alone, we mus more thns look for the solution of the great question for Swede n Shall it form an alliance offensive and defensive with the Western Powers ? I believe, too, we may confidenq look to him. Public opinion is clearly and resolutely!! favour of England ; the grea t ma j or ity o f th e public icT r „ nals both of Sweden and Norway are openly denounl i s t , the present neutrality as untenable ; th ree o ut of the O tes orders composing the Swedi s h Di e t wou ld record 0 . 0 for an alliance with the fo e s o f R uss i a , an d the inaP ri u ' r (if the Norwegi a n St or thi ng are en th us i as ti ca lly on e side. Under all these circumstances, we m ay well PP e and certain facts have arisen of late to render that PP; loubly sure, to see his Swedish Majesty at the head Da his people in close union with those of Great Britain France." The following is from Copenhagen, dit 'a May 9 : " Calskrona harbour now offers a picturesque Idg b ti t ; Not less than eleven armed ships are lying there-4.,„ Norwegian and seven Swedish. The former are co inanded by Rear-Admiral Hesselberg, the latter by W . : l ', / Admiral Krusenstjerna. Prince Oscar is on board Swedish frigate, CarI.XIII. " The Prussian vessels Gefion and Mercur have pas s the Sound, were saluted from Kronborg, and have P ceeded up the Baltic. It is rumoured that Wendes' artillery regiment vitt immediately marchto Stockholm, a n d th a t a considerf‘ x force will be stationed along th e F inn i s h b or der, e` - Haparanda. " A well-known Swedish author, John F. Lundt has just expired. Hi s hi s t or i es o f Ch ar l es X., °!,l'. vus, and Charles XII. are well-known, and have g's" merit. "According to the last accounts, the English ge et ' strengthened by the Au,terlitz, an d now number i l nearly thirty sail, left Elfsnabben on the sth, it is ° g o in search of the Helsingfors fleet, which will try to I: over to Cronstadt. " Efforts are being made to expedite the F1en5,,, b ,,1 1 . Railway along the whole line, from Rendsborg and laj ning, so that it may be opened by th e Ki ng 's birth to (October 6). There are some hopes of continuing* line northwards, notwithstanding the unfavotiraw aspect of political affairs. bill " The English fleet is still at Elfsn a bb en , a nd is Joined by a vessel or two. Vi s it s by s t ran gers C " tinue. The other day a steamer brought a whole P ar is from Nykoping. Among the passengers was a Cal' Vi et, H., who had formerly served und e r Ad mi ral Nal' t y Sir Charles received them most ki n dly, a nd, le h air course of conversation, it came out that one of the laul visitors, a Countess Hamilton, was a distant relative the Admiral. " Mr. Freeland, an officer of the Royal George , o b re , P suddenly expired of apoplexy. He was buried on e i hy, the Swedish population showing the noblest symln to e This has led to the following paragraph in the ly t he bladet, of the sth ; An Englishman begs, froei. o h . bottom of his heart, and in the name of the whole 1 311 0 1 fleet, to express his g ra tit u d e f or t h e warm syelPeLie which dictated, and the ac com pli s h e d h an d w hi c h r - 01 the beautiful inscription over Freeland's grave. „ to course I cannot explain the parti cu l ar e i rcuins tane" which reference is here made. 1 (18 " Helsingfors is now quite open. Lieut.-Gene ra ' Junker will command the troop s s t a ti one d i n 1ri , " „,4 ,7' The export from Finland of corn, fl our , Sec., is forbi due 4 Courier posts are now daily expedited from Abo to Petersburg, calling at KaHs, Helsingfors, Borgi 3 ,e'r n ; visa, Fredriksha mn , an d Vib org . M . B rass i er de Simon, Prussian Minister at Stockholm, has been called, and will probably succeed Baron von Werther Copenhagen, who goes to St. P e t ers b urg. Th e 80,,. 5 1 Society of Northern Antiquities has just held its ari n : t yr meeting at th e P a l ace o f Ch r i st i ansborg, his Ma.le", the King in th e c h a i r. A n English screw-liner I',. passed the Belt, goi ng sout h . A l arge quantity of 0°51',1 it is said from 20,000 to 30 ,000 b arrels, is stored a t -or, for the use of the fleet ; whether it will also proviel p there is uncertain. Meantime, speculation is e etive; g this direction, and pric es are rising. The calcula t t machine invented by the Swedish mechanician 50 1 11 . 6. has been tried in the presence o f a great num b er ° cial people, and found to answer admirably." de A few days back some experiments were 1: 613 0 on the Hazenheide here of fi r i ng s i x mines ti c distance of 3,000 feet by m eans o f an eleo' o t battery and wire. A number of military officers re high rank were present, and the ex p er i me nts w e e pronounced to have been e m i nent l y se eeese 4 n; The method here observed by Herr Siemens, e ' ig ex-artillery officer, and now teleg ra ph eng i ne er :ho described to be the same as that adopted by Emperor of Russia, at the suggestion of P e efeS s°- Jacobi in St. Petersburg, for the defence of Cr °ll' stadt. It is affirmed that there is positive inforillr tion here of these metal caissons havino• been P l. ‘ e a4 ' Revel, pared for the roads of Sweab org an d Rev, as wel l of Cronstadt; the caissons are kept ready c harge e with powder, and will only be lowered into t il channel when an attack on the part 0; of the fleets 4 seems certain. The wires ins er t e d in these cai will be brought into connexion with battetieg: he land, and two telescopes will b e so adjusted ill " o f fortress as that the bisecti on o f th e i r two liae% o sight will correspond with the spot where the r a m l ie is sunk. The m om e n t w h en a s hi p becomes vis'"„t to both observ e r s w ill correspon d w i th the more e :" is. when the vessel is ju s t over t h e combustible ca'-' sons. t i j o Among other quiet prep ara ti ons f or war that are ir being made at Berlin i s th e manu f acture o f a nu ber of red la n t erns , w hi c h are to be used oil evening and night of a battl e t o i n di cate t h e siti r tion of hospital s an d am b u l ances, b y suspells'oll on long poles over those spots. RUSSIA. 'de So little does the Russian Government cons', itg St. Petersburg secure from a tt ac k, i n despite °Jibe almost impregnable bulwark at the mouth of to Neva, that extraordinary p recau ti ons are tab 010 almost as if an enemy m enace d th e place. °°oo4 of the great barracks are so filled with t r oops itt , to necessitate the neighbou r i ng houses being c A t ployed for the purpose of billting soldiers. be Revel, where a bombardment i s apprehended, deg governor, General Berg, has placed the fire brig 3 ji, under the command of General Vogt, and hag t i vided the city into seven districts, each furni Bup 7 be with a fire brigade and requisite engines ; whilst " ts , attention of these brigad es , an d of the inlia,bitao,o6 is specially called to eighteen different spots wh, are regarded as most exposed to danger from tile shot. There is no lack of patriotic dens ti r r%e for war purpose s , or t o, t h e i nvalid funds. The celebrated convent of the Holy Trinity,in diocese of M oscow , h as sent 50,000 silver rono'v et . through the M e t ropo li tan, f or the pgrpose of erto ing Christia n t emp l es w i t hi n t h e conquere d Turijill territory ; and Count Scheremetieff, Cliambere' e r to the Emp eror , h as h an d e d over 150,000 oi,l'vto roubles, the interest of which is to be d ev oted the support of invalid soldiers. The Russian journals announce that the R u ssia n Government has decided that all the stor e hons e t % magazines, and works of defence which had b ee o . destroyed by the combined fleets, sh a ll be re c° lo .. strutted at the expense of the to wn . Th es e P, o f nals add, hypocritically, that th e GovernreeTntio the Czar yields in this ma tt er to the pat'''. wishes of the inhabitants of Odessa. og' Several German j ourna l s announce that the—the lish corvette, the Amphion, had been taken Ui nt a Russians near R eve l , and that all the ere ( TV been sent prisoners of war to St. Petersburg.. to last news from the Baltic allows a contradicti on be given to this report. • 0 5 A letter from Cracow of the 9th, in the in Deutsche Post, of Vi enna , says :—" It i s eery that a Russian corps, ab ou t 2,000 s t ron g, ac' dg panied by artillery and s t ores , i s marc hi ng tow_ to our frontier, and is on th e roa d f rom Warsavl iie li Kielic. The vacancy in th e see o f C ra cow, 1 " 1 ,0 has existed since the death of the last bishoP , fre e , not yet been filled up. Wh en C racow was n town, the three protecting Po wers h a d the 'igl ht o o° nominating and confirming the bishop ; but, :or, Cracow has been a fort of the Austrian EulP tie n. Austria claims the sole ri g ht o f notilin a o si- Russia, however, protests ag a i ns t thi s , as a c, ar e derable part of the estates of the bishopric situated in Poland." t he le The Moniteur of yest er d a y pu bli s hes a t he from the Russian frontier, which says that ex levies of troops have cease d th roug hout th c oza r pire ; they amount to 200,000 men." Th e T he seems to have done all he can in this waY . .. a ie writer goes on to say :—" The principal arinie,.' t he stationed in colu mns a l ong t h e f ron tiers e ' e ye south and the n or th- wes t. Th e diff er ent r, es • yr. corps are concent ra t e d aroun d M osco w and -11 ' 1e There are 50,000 men now in Poland." BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA. ii , A ODESSA, April 30.—The damage done by 1'; bombard men t t o t h e G overnmen t property is 1.61 greater than is enerll d y suppose . The Invalide g Buss a e, of May 3, publishes t sce new report s f rom G enera l Osten-Stickers, relativ: to the bombardment of Odessa. They are 5 follow : " No. 1. REPORT OF Apart 25.—To -clay the Egl.ijj and French fleets have not only undertaken anY thl against Odessa, but continue to look on at the sv emil q s 1712icla we mode on en ntOlakiTO Oftle. and 4 9- 1-1°.1.7- -- ,<~ - -_ ...' ..l k l ‘ `~~ t to Cor wh