The Sun. — London, England, 1854-02-20 00:00:00

THEATRE ItuTAL DRURY t..ANE Lessee, Mr. E. T. Sm th. ( THIS EVENING, FEB 20, Will be presented OTHELLO. Characters by Messrs. G. V. Brooke, T. Mead, Beaton, G. Bennett, and Kinloch ; Mesdames Cathcart and Vickery. To conclude w:tJa KING HIJMIUDIGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the Land of Toys. THEATRE ROYAL, HA.YMARKET. Under the management of Mr. Rackstone THIS EVENING, FEB. 20, Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Characters by Messrs.- Elliott Galer, W. Farren, Compton, Rogers, Howe, Clark, Corti, and Cnllenford ; Miss Cushman, Miss Jalia Harland, and Mrs. L. S. Backinham. After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEAR 4; or, Little Silverhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall• ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Camass KLAN. THIS EVENING, FEB. 20, Will be performed RICHARD THE THIRD. Principal charac ter by Mr. C. Kean. After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. twine ; Pantaloon, Kr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Testes. THIS EVENING, Fin. 20, Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes. After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCR UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO SINGS. prin c i pa l chm. raiders by Mr. Boxby and Madame Vestris. To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame celeste. THIS EVENING, FRB. 20, Will b e prese nted the highly Popular New Nautical Meld-drama. is flue tableaus , with new scenery, the S ea of Ice, &c., sew dresses and appo intments, called THE T IIRST OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. After which, TRIO CAMP AT CHORFIAY. To conclude with, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CAMBERWELL? ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, FEB. 20, Will be perfornied THE FIRST NIGHT. Characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie, Franks, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss p, Horton, and Miss Wyedham. To conclude with THE LOTTERY TICKET. Characters by Messrs' Emery, Vincent, and F. Robson; and Mrs. Chattcrley. vollowed by THE WANDERING MINSTREL STRAND THEATRE. So'e Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alleroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. THIS EVENING, FEB ,O, Will be presented (first time) "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." After which, SKETCHES IN INDIA ; or, Stage Struck. To be followed by STATE SECRETS; or, The Irish Ambassador. Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, Is. 6d; Gallery, Gd.; Private Boxes,. 11. I Is. 6d., obe had of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Positively the LAST EIGHT NIGHTS of the Performing Ele phants previn.s to their departure for Paris. Increased novelty and combination of Attractions. In addition to the Wonders of the present age—the Performing Elephants—first time, a new grand Equestrian Spectacle, entire change in the Scenes of the Arena, and the successful Pantomime. THIS EVENING, Fats. 20, (And during the week) Will be presented, with new scenery, and costumes and appoint ments, an entirely new grand and romantic Hippo-drama, written expressly to introduce Mr. W Cooke's pet steed, Beauty, (pur posely trained by him) and entitled THE WOODMAN'S HORSE; or, The False Knight. To be succeeded by THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST. or THE MAGIC GONG. Followed by Mr. W. Cooke's Matchless Scenes of the CIRCLE. To conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of BILLY 14.UT TON'S jOURNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladles' Favourite. N.8.--Th3 final MORNING PERFORMA.NCE on THURSDAY NEXT, FEB. 23, commencing at Two o'clock. 113 x-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.. West. lIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THI3 DAY —Morning 32 min.after 6 I Evening 55 min.aft. To-Moaaow—Morning 20 min.after 7 I Evening 50 min.aft. 7 THE WEATHER.--Sus OFFICE, F. 19. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 44—highest since noon yesterday. 34—lowest this morning and during the night. 42—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30 . 01—a rise of nearly half an inch since yesterday morning. WIND, N. to N.N.W.—Fresh breeze, with bitter cold, but fine, sunshiny weather. FEBRUARY 20. 43—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 49—this day, at noon. BAILOMIETZR, 30. WIND, S.W. to W.S.W.—Light breeze, with cloudy weather, and slight mild rain. ; --s & ZI) g 7,#.049019:14' ,%•7 (T. LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1854. War is no longer inevitable—it may be said to have already commenced. England and France are, however, respectively prepared for the strug gle—the enormous power of each being at this juncture almost incalculably enhanced by the cordial alliance of their Governments. That al liance is, happily, complete. Notes pledging the two countries to co-operate in the defence of Tur key have been already exchanged between them, according to the announcement made to the House of Commons on Friday evening by Lord JOHN RUSSELL. Those Notes will doubtless before long be followed up by a solemn Treaty engaging France and England yet more formally to aid each other, not only in maintaining the in dependence of the Ottoman Empire, and in re pelling the aggressions of the Russian AUTOCRAT, but in establishing upon a firmer basis the peace of Christendom, and in furthering yet more the threatened, and to a certain extent also, at this moment, the retarded, interests of civilisation. The importance of this memorable alliance of France and England need not assuredly be indi cated. It is obvious on the instant to the glance of the most superficial. It constitutes the most solid of all guarantees to the Sublime Porte that the lawless assailant of its dominions will be repulsed in the end effectually. It does more. It intimates to the rest of Europe that its tran quillity—at the close of the contest now begin ning—shall no more be endangered by the pride of that one arrogant and ambitious potentate who has come to regard himself at last as the un doubted arbiter of the destinies of the whole world, of both the eastern and the western hemisphere. Already, we cannot help thinking, the dim shadow of the phintom of a doubt must have fallen across the golden faith of the CZAR in. his own supremacy. Already his Imperial Majesty must have begun to question the reasonableness o f this belief in the predominance of his authority now that he has listened to the candid and chival rous words of his " good friend " the Emperor NAP° law lll.—those words which, through all th • elr studied courtesy and ingenious compliment, breathe the tones of defiance to the destroyer of the peace of Christendom. How i ever this may be , the Russian AUTOCRAT is now known to have answered the autograph letter by a negative, conveyed, we may presume, through the medium of the French A mbassador, now on his way back to Paris from his va ca t e d position at the Court of St. Petersburgh. The Moniteur of Saturday anno unced the fact of this refusal by the Em peror NICHOLAS of the last pacific proposals con through the t emperate but resolute veye 1 to him and dignified communication pen ne d b y the hand of the Emperor NA POLE ON. Therefore, the last straw for the grasp of the drowning Hope o f the Cabinet has floated away at length, even we may presume now to Lord ABERDEEN'S u nw il l i ng acknowledgment. There is at last, actually, an end of negotiation. The necessity of the oc casion is at last looked fairly in the face by the Coalition. The absurdity of further delay i s at length perceived by the most cautious and dilatory -hut when driven, as now, to an extremity, let us be lieve alsoaresolute and energetic—Administration. Germany, if not actually on the side of Turkey, is, at any rate, neutral. France is with us—thanks to the w i sdom and t h e magnan imity of the Emperor NAPoutosr 111. and his Government. Our own Chwermin tat, as we have seen, is now formally pledged to the adoption of active measures against the aggressor—and the Cabinet thus pledged to a course worthy of the Crown, and of the glory of the Empire, has received assurance of the unani mous support of the whole body of the national representatives. bored with _abhorrence, when SOllle instructor of youth teaches the rising generation respecting matters that cannot be considered as placing " the wisdom of their ancestors" in a very striking light. They will indeed only be regarded as " the reproach of the times in which we lived, and a disgrace to the civilisation of that age." It is true that the measure which Lord CRAN WORTH introduced on Friday night in the House of Lords, only dealt with the testamentary jurisdic tion, which it transfers in toto to the Court of Chancery. There would still remain the power in matrimonial disputes, in suits for jactitation of marriage, restitution of conjugal rights, and di vorce a mensa et thoro matters relating to Church rates and churchwardens, defamation, Admiralty cases, and matters relating to Church discipline. All these remain, for the time being, untouched, and constitute matters for future legislation. But, as was well remarked by the Hon ourable and Learned Gentleman the Member for Plymouth, the testamentary jurisdiction was their great source of nutriment, and if they were de prived of that all the rest of their functions in course of time would cease. When that lucrative branch of business was removed they would speedily perish from pure inanition. They could no longer support the idle and drowsy staff that gathered a rich subsistence from the accumulated abuses. They may exclaim, with SHYLOCK-- What can be said for the minority crotchet? That it is but a miserable substitute for the ballot. With an obvious deduction or two on either side, it is to give forty-six counties a Liberal member a piece, and nine boroughs a Conservative one. We have not given in our adhesion to the representation of minorities in stating this. It is, indeed, a plau sible allegation that minorities of thousands hardly beaten by majorities of tens, or of a hundred perhaps, have some claim to be heard ; but it seems fairly balanced by the counter allegation that the cause must be a bad one indeed, or one on which public opinion is but imperfectly ma tured, if it cannot find a majority anywhere among the varied constituencies of Great Britain. We think it clear that Lord JOHN has adopted this novelty because he felt the claims of the counties to increased representation, whether viewed numerically or in point of property, un answerable ; while he yet felt that it never would be endured by the country that forty-six landlord nominees should be added to the long and weary list. We beg, however, to remind his Lordship that minority representation is an infinitely greater novelty than the ballot—infinitely more un- English. If we remember right his Lordship has been amongst the foremost to cast that epithet in the teeth of the advocates of the ballot ; we may now retort it with a witness ! If the members of our Courts-martial, of our literary or other clubs, or even of our universities, be Englishmen, it is either falsity or folly to call the ballot un-English. But where, we would ask, do Englishmen settle their business by minorities ? It was tried on the Church-rate question, but, though bolstered up to the uttermost by legal ecclesiastical ingenuity, it would not do. It was unanimously rejected by the Law Lords as unconstitutional trash. Lord JOHN, indeed, seems to hope to save the un- English principle by help of vulgar fractions. Two-fifths is to be the Golden Fraction ; or, as we are soon to calculate only in decimals, 0.4 is, we suppose, to be the Golden Decimal. Might he not compromise the Jew Bill, too, by the help of fractions. The Hebrews will be propitiated if their sacred number be introduced ; and perhaps the Lords would cease to vex them " on the true faith of a Christian,' if the Hebrew minority lad der to Parliament were made a little harder to climb than that of Christians. Lord SHAFTESBURY and the Bishops might think the equation a fair one—a Christian + two-fifths of the poll = a Jew + three-sevenths of the same. Seriously, how ever, we shall not allow Lord John to play fast and loose with his " un-English" argument. We shall hold that he has recanted that for ever. " You take my house, when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house ; you take my life, When you do take the means whereby I live." The Ecclesiastical Courts, being without re sources and without employment, will speedily die a natural death, or linger on nominally to en force the observance of discipline and morality among the inferior clergy, but more for show than any other purpose, just " As fond fathers, Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, Only to stick it in their ohildren's sight, For terror, not to use." It is, indeed, a rod that would verify the pater nal assurances so frequently added to the castiga tion, that the parent felt more pain that he was inflicting, as the Bishops of EXETER and GLOUCES TER might testify, whose zeal occasioned some heavy drafts upon their purse strings. After the unequivocal condemnation heaped on these tribunals, not only by the reports of the several committees appointed to investigate the abuses incidental thereto, but by the exposures of several earnest and powerful writers, it was ma nifest that the tree that brought forth such fruits could no longer be suffered to cumber the earth. The only difficulty was as to the court to which the jurisdiction should be transferred—whether a new tribunal should be formed for the purpose, as pro posed by a majority of the commissioners ap pointed by Lord ST. LEONARDS, or whether the jurisdiction should be entirely transferred to the Court of Chancery, as suggested by the minority; but that minority, consisting of such men as Sirs JOHN ROMILLY, RICHARD BETHEL, and JAMES ' GRAHAM. Lord CRANWORTH has wisely and ju diciously adopted the latter course, and, in doing so, has obtained the approval of the leading Law Lords and the most zealous legal reformers in the house, or perhaps in the world. Lords BROUGHAM, ST. LEONARDS, and CAMPBELL have cordially concurred in approving the course adopted by the Noble and Learned occupant of the Woolsack. Indeed, it would be impossible for any unpreju diced person, after hearing the cogent ar guments adduced by the Lord Chancellor, to assent to the creation of a New Court, which would speedily prove itself to be merely an offshoot of the decayed trunk—a true " chip of the old block." If the proposed Court of Pro bates were established—if the testamentary juris diction were still confided exclusively to the same hands as heretofore, we would find the designa tion only was changed, and that the old abuses would be, at least to a great extent, speedily restored. We could hardly say that There will have to be, we imagine, if Lord JOHN carry this point, a new Parliamentary style and title introduced. We shall hear of the mino rity members, or the two-fifth members, as a class ; the Hon. Member for East Suffolk will appeal to his honourable two-fifth colleague for the same division, or to the Honourable Minority Member for Manchester ; and in scrutinising the Division Lists we shall be inquiring, amongst other classes, how the minority members voted. DOD, too, in future accounts of each member's political fates will have to record, "sat, in such a year, as minority member for --- ;" perhaps, as variety is pleasing, he may style them members third on the poll. Brevity, however, except in Germany, is the soul of nomenclature, and we think " minority members" will have it. At the I hustings we have little doubt the designation will be back-door members. But, supposing, as we hope the measure as a whole will be proceeded with, can Lord JOHN get the Sir ROBERTS and Sir HARRYS to brook these minority colleagues ? There is one argument which he will probably whisper to them, through Mr. HATTER or some other functionary, for it must not be " said in his place in the House of Commons," that it may stave off the awful ballot for years to come, and, per haps, by the grace of accidents, for this genera tion. It will run thus. The ten-pound county franchise, 'tis at your peril to refuse. Well, if you accept it, be assured, all the new voters will not stand being swamped for ever by your tenants at will; surrender one member out of three, and you will save the other two. Moreover, no Radical will ever get in for an ordinary county while the poll-book is published; and we Whigs are, as you have seen, as good aristocrats at the bot tom as any of you. Now, there is much to be hoped for from this hob-nobbing in the lobby, and it may be successful. "The rose by any other name would smell as sweet." There would be no fragrant odours arising. The " vultures would. still batten on the garbage," making a prey of dead. men's estates, and still feeding on the substance of the widow and the orphan. There might not, indeed, be the necessity of proving a will some three or four times, and pay ing exorbitant fees on each occasion. No man might be required (as occasionally happened in the olden time) to take out probate in Canterbury and in York, in Scotland and in Ireland ; but he would still have to appeal to a limited jurisdiction, to that which had not powers sufficiently exten sive to adjudicate on the entire subject. This would unquestionably have been the case with the contemplated Court of Probates—for, although it might pronounce in favour of the validity of a will, it could say nothing as to its interpretation, nor give any decree for its due administration. Its decision would be but the preliminary step, which would not prevent the necessity, or per ceptibly diminish the costs, of a Chancery suit. It was, therefore, far the better course to vest the whole, or at least, every litigated matter, or what Lord CRAM WORTH termed the " conten tious jurisdiction," in the House of Lords. The other matters, or what might be called the "non contentious jurisdiction," was clearly a mere mat ter of form, requiring only secure registration, and this has been provided for by the proposed appointment of local registrars. The details on this part of the case are not, as yet, before the public, and, therefore, at present we can only ex press an approval of the principle of the mea sure. No less important is another matter which was not received with such perfect unanimity— viz., the extension of the testamentary jurisdic tion to all kinds of property, real or personal. It is, indeed, one of the most valuable features of the bill, and we unfeignedly thank Lord CHAN WORTH for adopting a principle which will not only lead to a great diminution of expense in all controverted cases, but which by removing an absurd distinction between land and money, or securities for money, impeded and obstructed many im portant reforms, which, we hope and believe, will ere long be brought into practical operation. We should much like to have the issue fairly tried by the country which it held to be most un-English, minority representation or the Ballot. We believe the universal verdict would be that the former was utterly so ; and, we be lieve, that far more than " two-fifths"—full four-fifths at least, would pronounce the Ballot the most gentlemanly, the most fair, the most straightforward, and, therefore, the most English thing in the world. If the question were, Which will you have, minority representation or the bal lot ? Lord JOHN knows that not a single public meeting could be called in which his crochet would not be repudiated, and the ballot de manded. He will do well to cast his eyes on the county election just come off, the election of a Lord, too. The questions and answers read thus— Mr. WRIGHT.—WiII you vote for the five-pound franchise or the ballot ? Lord INGESTRE. —Certainly not. (Hisses and uproar.) Mr. WILLIAMS.—Is Lord PAGET in favour of vote by ballot. _ Lod PAQET.—I am. (Cheers.) Mr. Wrnums.—Are you in favour of the five-pound franchise in boroughs ? Lord PAGET.—If any proposition to that effect is brought forward by her MAJESTY'S Ministers, shall give it my support. At the poll, the verdict was, Lord PAGET, 4,328 ; Lord INGESTRE, 2,769. It was a few days too soon to ask will you vote for minority representation, or the ballot ? The answer essential to success cannot, however, be doubted. It must be owned that Lord JOHN is rather a man of make-shifts ; he tried hard at one time to en dow the Catholic priests in order to save the Irish Church, but the bait, to the honour of the priests, did not take. He tried an eight shilling duty ou corn to dam out Free Trade for a time, but that too was a dead failure ; and now he would con tent the county Liberals by a minority member. Will that fare any better ? We should be inclined as Liberal county voters to reply, We are not really a minority ; let us vote as we please, and we will soon prove that we are the majority. W e do not want our representatives to slink into Par liament at the back of those whom they ought to precede. Our soreness is not so much that we are unrepresented, as that we are forced to mis represent ourselves as a minority when we are not so. Leave our landlords all the fair influence you like, but leave us our own votes ; give us none of your back-door members, but—THE BALLOT. Her Majesty will hold her first levee or reception on Wednesday next, at St. James's Palace. It is expected to be very numerously attended, as many of the field and other officers ordered with their regiments to the seat of war in the East will pay their respects to the Sove reign ere their embarkation. The Duke of Leeds has returned to the Clarendon Hotel from Hornby Castle. The Marquis of Lansdowne entertained a large party at dinner on Saturday evening, at Lansdowne House. The Viscount and Viscountess Canning entertained the Marchioness of Ailesbury, Mr. Dundas, and a select party at dinner on Saturday evening, in Grosvenor square. _ THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY. —The Baroness Brunow leaves London to-day for the Continent. The Count Walhorski and the other secretaries of the late embassy will also accompany the baroness. The splendid man sion in Chesham-place, which Baron Brunow has not yet occupied more than six months, will remain for the present in the possession of the Russian Government, under the care of the consul general. DEATH OF SIR THOMAS JAMES PILKINUTON, BART.— This young baronet expired at Madeira on the 7th ult., in his 25th year, where he had been staying for the bene fit of his health. He was the ninth baronet (Scottish creation, 1635). Succeeded his father, the late Sir William, and was descended from the Rev. Dr. Edward Pilkington, who was Bishop of Durham in 1560. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.--It is rumoured On good authority that Signor Lablache has at last joined the company at the Royal Italian Opera, and that the sea son there will possibly be opened by Madame Alboni. THE AMERICAN MINISTER AND THE ENGLISH COURT. —lt gives us much pleasure to be able to state that the Queen has most graciously intimated to Mr. Buchanan, the American Ambassador, that it will in future be left to his Excellency to appear at State balls and her Ma je-ty's dinner-parties, in whatever costume is most agreeable to himself. The Lord Chamberlain has also made a similar communication to his Excellency, rela tive to his costume on the opening or closing of the ses sions of Parliament. —A dvertiser. Most heartily and sincerely do we congratulate the country on the promised abatement of an in tolerable nuisance. The Lord Chancellor has pursued a straightforward and judicious course with respect to the Ecclesiastical Courts. He does not prescribe petty remedies for an incurable disease. He does not attempt to restore the limb in which mortification has set in, but boldly strikes at the root of the evil by the excision of the decayed member. Yes ; the Ecclesiastical Courts are to be abolished root and branch. The monstrous excrescence that had its origin in the dark ages, and grew during successive generations to its present monstrous proportions, is to be era dicated !from the body politic. Henceforward, the leviathan s i necures , the sham e o f th e B r i t i sh nation, will be ab o lished. The 386 disti nc t tri bunals, th e Archi e pi sco p a l, Episcopal, Ma nor i a l , Peculiar, Di ocesan, Diaconal, and a host of other Courts of unintelligible denominations, and even the Prerogative Court itself, will be numbered with the past, or will only be remem- EAST INDIAN IRON COMPANY.—The report of the East Indian Iron Company, presented at their first an nual meeting to-day, states that of the 20,000 preference shares of 101. each, originally issued as scrip, 8,115 have been registered and the rest forfeited and re-allotted ; that a proprietory of 16,000 shares has thus been created, the remaining 4,000 being reserved for India ; and that the call of 21. 10s. on the 16th of January has been met to the extent of 12,255 shares. A. second call of like amount is to be made in April, and the works of the company are meanwhile being carried on by the old pro prietors, represented by 20,000 shares on which no divi dends are to be paid until the others receive 7 per cent. In a short time the management is to be assumed by the preference shareholders with new machinery, part of which has already arrived out, when steps will be taken for supplying the wants of the Madras Railway Com pany. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1854. A it AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. e 1' CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at from 7,000 to 8,000 bales, of which 1,000 American and 500 Surat were taken on speculation. The market closed firmly at pre vious rates. The sales comprised 420 Pernam and Maranham, at 6d. to Ind. ; 300 Egyptian, at 70. to aid. ;1,000 Surat, at 3d. to 44d. ; and the remainder American. Railway Shares were quiet. The Birmingham iron trade continues brisk, and firm prices are current for all descriptions. Coal and ironstone are scarce, and this, together with the limited supply of labour, checks production. The ship Plantagenet has arrived from Sydney. Her advices are not later than November 4, and the amount of gold is not yet ascertained. The steamer Asia has arrived off Liverpool, but we have no telegraphic outline of her news. The negative answer of the Emperor of Russia, although partly anticipated, has had an unfavour able effect upon the funds, Consols being 94, and since 90k K. They have been as low as 90k for ac count, and rallied afterwards to 91, the bears being anxious to buy back. The New 31 per Cents. have realised 92k to 93, and the 3 per Cents. 91i to Exchequer Bills have been 19s. to 225. premium, being very firm. East India Bonds are at Bs. premium. Foreign Securities likewise are flatter. Mexican Bonds have been 241 to 241, a decline of about 1 per cent. Spanish 3 per Cents. have been at 391 to 40, being Ito i per cent. worse. The Commit tee's Certificate is at 4 per cent. Russian 5 per Cents. have fallen 11 to 2 per cent., being at 103. French 3 per Cents. have been done at 68, with the exchange at 25. Dutch 4 per Cents. have been at 91k, and the 2-i per Cents. at 60-i. _ _ BRITISH MlNES.—There are a few inquiries for the favourite shares, but the market generally is quiet, without any particular variation in prices. The Gold Mine Shares are dull at the previous rates. The Joint Stock Bank Shares are merely nominal, and the Land Companies' are neglected. Railway Shares have been comparatively well maintained, and have not been very much affected by the decline in the funds. Great Northern are still in especial favour, and the A Stock has reached 78 and 79. Lancashire and Yorkshire, Brighton, Great Western, and York and Berwick are cheaper. French Shares have receded to Y. The railway meetings announced are the fol lowing : FIIE UAL hi) ofA iEb. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 20. This morning, at eight o'clock, the royal mail steam-ship Asia, Captain Scott, which was to leave New York for this port on the Bth inst., with the usual mails from the United States and British North America, was off Holyhead, inward bound, and will arrive in the course of the afternoon in the river. Her mails will be despatched to London by the evening train, and will form a portion of the first Post-office delivery to-morrow morning. NOTTINGHAM RACES. Company. Date. Place, &c. Ambergate, &c Feb. 28, London Tavern. Belfast and County Down Feb. 28, Belfast. Birk., Lane., and Chesh. Jn Feb. 25, Birkenhead. Bristol and Exeter Buckinghamshire Feb. 22, Euston Station. Cork and Waterford Feb. 28, London Tavern. Direct London and Portsm Feb. 24, London Tavern. Eastern Counties East Kent East Lancashire Feb. 22, Bury. East Lincolnshire Edinburgh and Glasgow Mar. 7, Glasgow. Furness , Feb. 23, Office. Glasgow and South-Western Mar. 8, Glasgow. Graissessac and Beziers Mar. 14, Paris. Great Northern Feb. 25, London Tavern. Gt. South. and West. Ireland Feb. 25, Dublin. Great Western Hampstead Junction Feb. 28, Euston Station Lancaster and Carlisle Mar. 3, Liverpool. Leeds Northern Feb. 23, Liverpool. Liverpool, Crosby, and South Feb. 28, Liverpool. Llynvi Valley Feb. 27, Paddington. London and Blackwall Feb. 21, London Tavern. London and North-Western Feb. 22, Euston Station. Loughar Feb. 28. Lowestoft Madras Manchester and Southport Feb. 23, Liverpool. Manch., Buxton, and Matlock Mar. 2, Derby. Manch., Sheffield, and Linc Feb. 22, Manchester. Maria Antonia Mar. 22, Florence. Maryport and Carlisle Feb. 22, Maryport. Midland Blackburn Feb. 27, Blackburn. Dublin and Drogheda Mar. 2, Dublin. Dublin and Wicklow Whitehaven and Furness Jn Feb. 27, Guildhall-chambers Monkland Feb. 24, Glasgow. Newmarket Feb. 27, London Tavern. Newp., Aberg., and Hereford Feb. 23, London Tavern. Newry and Enniskillen Feb. 28, Guildhall Coffeeho. Norfolk Feb. 24, Guildhall-buildings Northern Counties Union Feb. 24, London Tavern. North and S. Watrn June._ Feb. 28, Easton Station. North Devon Feb. 27, London Tavern. North Metropolitan Feb. 28, Office. North-Western Feb. 27, Leeds. Oxford, Worcester, & Wolv, Feb. 22, London Tavern. Royston and Hitchin St. Andrew's & Quebec (Cl. A) Feb. 2, 26, Parliament-st. Severn Valley South Devon Feb. 28, Plymouth. South Eastern Mar. 16, Bridgehouse Hotel. South Wales Feb. 28, Paddington. South Yorkshire Staines, Wokingham & Wok Feb. 27, London Tavein. Thames Haven Feb. 27, London Tavern. Vale of Neath Feb. 25, Cardiff. Waterford and Kilkenny Mar. 2, London Tavern. Waterford and Limerick Feb. 22, Waterford. West Cornwall Feb. 28, 28,Throgmorton-st. W. End of Lon. & Crys. Pal Feb. 27, London Tavern. Wharfdale Feb. 27, Skipton. Worcester and Hereford Feb. 28, Euston Station. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. ( From the Official List.; 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9 ll 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9l soi 11 New 31 per Cent. Annuities 92 3 21 3 21 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £ lOOO 8 p Consols for Account 16th March Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO l9 Small l9 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. %fexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account 24A Russian Bowls, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St lO3 Spanish Bords, 3 per Cent 4O 39A Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4 p c Dividends on the above payable in London. French Rentes, 3 per Cent... Butch Exchange, 2A per Cent. 12 Gull GOA Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates .. Ditto for the Account (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRA PH. ) ARRIVALS.—Jack Looming, Florist, Alp, Victress, Squire of Malton, Salopian, Galileo. The ground is very hard. HALF-PAST TWO. Consols 9G 1 Ditto March Account 9oi 1 METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.—The Commissioners of City Improvements have obtained possession of the the last portion of the buildings in St. Paul's-churchyard, Carter-lane, Doctors'-commons , and Old Change, re quired for the formation of the new street from ing William-street, London-bridge, to St. Pauls-churchyard, and the demolition of these houses will forthwith com mence. It is intended to open this important line of street for public traffic about the 15th March. Consider able progress has been made in the extension of Farring don-street for the opening to Islington, and a vast num ber of houses in Clerkenwell, Saffron-hill, Brook-hill, tic., have been demolished, and this new street is ex pected to be opened for traffic as far as Clerkenwell-green during the ensuing summer. On the Surrey side of the Thames a new street, extending from the end of Stam ford-street, Blackfriars-road, through the borough of Southwark to High-street, near the London-bridge rail way terminus, is, about to be constructed. WELLINGTON I)OCKS.—The Admiralty report on the proposed Wellington Docks, to be constructed at Rother hithe on the marsh lands adjoining the Greenwich Rail way, has been printed, and is of a favourable character. No objection is made to the bill as regards its effect on the navigation of the river, and it is pointed out that, as the site selected is low and unwholesome for houses, the conversion of such a district into docks and quays, be sides the facility it would afford to maritime commerce, must prove a salutary measure to the metropolis. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The only appointments actually sanctioned up to this tune, on the Staff of the Expeditionary Force, ordered for active service in the East, are Lord Raglan, General-in-chief ; Sir George Browne and the Duke of Cambridge, Generals-of-Divi sion ; Col. Bentinck, Str Colin Campbell, Col. Airey, and Col. Eyre, Brigadiers ; Col. Cator, Commander-in- Chief of the Artillery ; Col. Steele, Coldstream Guards, Military Secretary ; Mr. Baptist Smith, Mr. Gore Jones and Mr. Moore Eyre, have been appointed Collectors of Income-tax for Dublin. The Rev. Wm. Baxter is ap pointed Colonial Chaplain at Hong Kong.—Observer, ARRIVALS OF SPECIE.— The specie arrivals of the week have amounted to nearly 800,0001., chiefly in gold from Australia. The shipments have been proportion. ably large, the existing rate of exchange with Paris pre venting any gold from remaining. Henceforth, also, th e Government remittances to the East on account of the army must exercise an influence. THE ADELAIDE LAND AND GOLD COMPANY.—The Adelaide Land and Gold Company, one of the numerous English undertakings carried on nominally at Paris as a societe en commandite to avoid the obstacles of the law of partnership, have issued a report of theiriproceedings up to the present date. Of the available capital of 66,0001., 30,0001. has been remitted to the colony, and the lands thus purchased amount to 9,219 acres, at a cost of 13,2411. CRYSTAL PALACE ORGAN.—Mr. Jas. Rock, jun., writ ing to the secretary, says :—" Has it ever occurred to the directors of the company to inquire what would be the effect of placing the pipes horizontally, with their open ends in the direction of the length of the building ? It seems natural to suppose that they would be more effec tive as to sound, if placed in that position than in the vertical one, which, for the sake of convenience as to space, is generally adopted. Whether or not the musical result would be equally good, is another question."— Journal of the Society of Arts. 1,A:,;„.L, I ii'ulti . 2'. - 1N IN E . 4 : :6: RUSSIA AND TURKEY. ANSWER OF THE CZAR TO THE LETTER OF LOUIS NAPOLEON. The Moniteur of yesterday (Sunday) makes the following important announcement : " The answer expected from St. Petersburg arrived yesterday evening. The Emperor Nicho las does not accept the proposals for an arrange ment which were addressed to him." This intelligence will give the final impetus to the preparations for war : everything will now be pushed forward with the greatest rapidity. In Paris yesterday the strongest excitement prevailed, not only in the army, but throughout society gene rally. The last accounts from St. Petersburg state that all the Turkish consuls in Russia were about to give in their resignation. Turkish subjects were placed under the protection of Austrian agents, but only for six months, dating from the declaration of; war by the Porte. The English and French ambassadors were still in the capital, but it was daily expected that they would demand their passports and leave. There did not appear to be the slightest appear ance of more pacific intentions on the part of the Emperor, and all idea of a settlement of the East ern question *had been abandoned by those who had hitherto looked upon war as next to impossible. The Czar Nicholas was considered as fully deter mined to maintain his present attitude, and to look upon himself as sufficiently powerful to carry out his projects of dominion against all Europe. The warlike preparations were incessant, and the return of Count Orloff from Vienna was looked for ward to with great anxiety. The war was far from being popular in the capital. Foreigners were leaving St. Petersburg and Moscow in numbers. A financial crisis was at hand, and the Government was about to raise a forced loan. Money had become extremely scarce, and most of the transactions had been adjourned. Trade was completely paralysed. Nothing but paper was seen, and the principal houses avoided engaging in any important operation. The best troops had been marched to the sea ports, where immense quantities of munitions of war were being accumulated. If a collision takes place, it will be terrible and decisive, for Russia is displaying all her resources. In Moscow the war party is predominant, not among the upper classes, but among the people. The Czar is greatly esteemed by the multitude, who have been persuaded that the Anglo-French are determined to destroy the Greek religion and the maritime prosperity of the empire. Enlist ments are easily effected ; provisions are everywhere abundant, but arms and uniforms will soon be ex hausted in the Government stores. The Journal de St. Petersburg of the Bth con tains a long list of promotions in the Imperial navy. The journal of the 10th informs us that the new Austrian ambassador, Count Esterhazy, had, in a private audience, presented his credentials to the Emperor of Russia. Some of the Berlin journals, of the 15th, mention a rumour that the Emperor of Russia had had an attack of apoplexy, which had left him in such a state as to compel him to keep his bed. This rumour, however, does not agree with the account in the St. Petersburg journal of the Emperor hav ing given official audience to Count Esterhazy, the Austrian ambassador. The Wanderer of Vienna announces that the Emperor of Russia, in order to revive the courage of his soldiers, who are completely disheartened, is about to go in person to the army of the Danube. A telegraphic despatch from Berlin mentions the arrival yesterday (Sunday) in that city of Sir Ha milton Seymour, the British Minister at the Court of St. Petersburg. The French Minister, M. Castelbajac, also arrived at the same time in the Prussian capital. The authorities of Warsaw, says the Cologne Gazette, lately arrested a tailor and several other persons, who had in their possession English and French journals containing the diplomatic docu ments on the Eastern question. They had been introduced as packing paper. Letters from Vienna say, that in political circles iu that city nothing was spoken of but the pro positions about to be laid before the Diet of Frankfort, on the part of Prussia and Aus tria, in reference to the approaching war. If the account given of these propositions be cor rect, the rumours for some time past in circulation with reference to the hostile answer given by Austria to the propositions made by Count Orloff would appear, to say the least of them, to be exag gerated. It would appear that the Austrian and Prussian Governments continue to declare their firm intention to remain strietly and perfectly neutral in the approaching struggle, and that they have laid down a plan for their system of neutra= lity, founded on the alliance of Austria and Prussia with all the States of the German Confederation, and with a view to the whole of the contracting Powers guaranteeing their respective states against all attack from without, from whichever side it may come. For the purpose of enforcing this neutrality an army of 300,000 men is to be raised, of which Austria will furnish 100,000 men, Prussia 50,000, men, and the other states of the Confederation 150,000 men among them. Allowing that it is probable that such a treaty may be effected, it seems impossible to believe th a t the object of it is ultimately to remain neutral. It may be true, indeed, it is most likely to be so, that the German Powers will, in the first instance, assume a neutral position ; but there cannot be a doubt that their real object in arming Germany is to enable them on the first opportunity to throw their weight into the scale, and to force the belligerent Powers to conclude a just and honourable peace. If such be the case, the Western Powers, it is said, ought to have little to fear from Germany, for, in the face of the disapprobation, shown by all Germany of the conduct of the Czar, and especially in the face of the protocol signed by Austria and Prussia, as well as by England and France, it is impossible to suppose that those Powers will take up arms in favour of Russia. Emperor of Russia to excite an insurrection among the Greek subjects of Turkey is fully confirmed. Letters received from Servia state that Russian in trigue is extending itself in an extraordinary de gree in that country. It is believed that Austria cannot look with indifference on those proceedings. The opinions of the liovernment of Austria during the late insurrection in that country were com pletely opposed to those of the Emperor Nicholas. Letters from Malta, of the 15th, state that the greatest activity reigns in that port. Transports laden with military stores of all kinds were con stantly arriving. Magazines are established to contain stores requisite for an army of 25,000 or 30,000 men. Measures were taken to establish a , vast military hospital. Letters from Constantinople of the 3d, announce that the fortifications of the city are progressing. A supply of tools, &c., was expected from Europe. The enthusiasm of the people was great. The greatest activity prevails in the arsenals. BULGARIA. The following is extracted from a letter from a special correspondent of the Times, dated " Tur tukai, opposite Oltenitza, January 12 :" I am now. at this celebrated spot, having left everything quiet at Rustchuk, although I learn that demonstrations just enough to distract and confuse the Russians in this quarter have been made both there and at Silistria. All along my road I have found that people have nothing but the most vague ideas of what is passing 30 miles off. From Matschin and Isaktchi to Widdin the local despatches go direct to the head-quarters of Omar Pasha, and if people have not the good for tune to be on the very spot at the time of an affair they first learn its details through the Constanti nople journals. I, therefore, in this letter can offer you nothi ng i n th e way of fresh news ; but I confess to having felt a strong interest in examin ing the environs of this place, even in its present peaceful aspect. I have seldom seen on my route hither a more commanding position than that of Turtukai ; while the opposite part of Wallachia is a dead fiat, the Bulgarian shore rises precipitously to a high ridge, from which one sees the whole of the field of the recent fight spread out as on a map. Snow having entirely disappeared during the thaw, everything is green and bright, and although all the regular troops have been withdrawn, except a battalion of infantry, the place is full of bustle, from the field works that are going on, and from this being the head-quarters of the irregular troops under the command of Giafer Pash a , head of the Moslem Arnauts, and Ahmed Pasha, who watches the Danube line from Rustchuk to Silistria. The town itself, lying ou the last steep slopes of the hill next the Danube, is small, and every house packed as full as it can hold of troops, mostly Tosk Cham and Queque Arnauts, 'in their drab clothes and kilts of Manchester cotton, which has now universally superseded the native linen fustanella, and, as it is rather a cold costume for winter weather, I see a great many with the Russian great coats furnished by Oltenitza from the bodies of poor fellows who will never march across the Pruth again. lam happy to say that Giafer Pasha keeps as good order among them as is possible, for per fect discipline is unattainable with a nation that has still to serve an apprenticeship to meum and tuum. A very few years ago Giafer Pasha was, as the renowned Giafer Deen, one of those of the old families who rose in revolt against the suppres sion of the feudal system ; now he has just been promoted from Bey to Pasha, for his brav e con d uc t in holding the isl an d of Mokanna against a far superior Russian force operating from Giurgevo • after the affair of Oltenitza. It is thus curious to remark how the Pashalics of Janina and Egypt, which in this century have given so much trouble to the Porte, are now furnishing most valuable and effective troops, and from being cancers are become limbs of strength. Giafer Pasha now unites intel ligence and bravery with loyalty to the Sultan, and I anticipate a brilliant career for him. A telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, the 15th, sags :—" The question of peace or war cannot re main long undecided. If Russia does not adopt a pacific policy, the Western Powers will terminate all uncertainty by their measures.. The neutrality of the other States is scarcely possible. Russia cannot calculate upon the possible number of its adversaries ; attacking the general interests, it must look forward to a general resistance, and re main isolated, exposed to all the consequences of its temerity. Prince Wassiltschikoff, Ai d e-de camp General of the Emperor of Russia, has ar rived at Vienna." Another telegraphic despatch from Munich on he 15th, states that Aust cia has declined to accede to the project of a treaty put forth by Saxony and Bavaria, in reference to a declaration of neutrality in the Russian war. The treaty of the Germanic Confederation has not, therefore, been ratified ; and, moreover, Austria will cross the Danube with its army, if Russia should cross it. This step will not be taken to support the Russians, but to put down the Servo-Russ movement, which threatens to make the Austrian possessions the theatre of war. The town itself is anything but inviting, with six inches of black liquid mud in the streets, as if all the reserve stores of Day and Martin had been poured out on them. To the east a battery is in course of construction, which commands the whole breadth of the Danube, just below the island p o i n t near which the Argi s h has its confluence witk the main stream ; and on the plateau above Turtukai is a large redoubt, which secures the town from a force attacking it either from the east or west Danubian approach. This battery did nothing for the Turks on the day of Oltenitza, and is useful only as an aid to the naturally strong po sition of Turtukai itself. Balls directed from it on the Russian columns across the river fell short and struck the Turkish position in the quarantine on the further Danube shore. Looking across with the glass, I saw that th e quaran ti ne i s a complete ruin, and that the Turkish intrenchments have been carefully destroyed by the Russians, the want of a similar precaution by the Turks after the first siege of Silistria having most materially contri buted to the success of the second years' siege. The Cossacks are visible, cantering on the green sward on the other side of the river, but no signs of war are visible here at present, except on occa sional conical ball aimed at the lodgings of Ahmed Pasha or Giafer Pasha, and the bark of a tree fresh peeled by one was pointed out to me by the latter. The Russian force on the other side of the river, between Giurgevo and Kalarasch, is estimated at 24,000 men, of which 18,000 or 20,000 are in and around Giurgevo under General Semenoff, and between 4,000 and 5,000 men under General Aurep at Kalarasch. Turtukai is therefore well watched, not only on account of its formidable natural po sition, but fromthe circumstance of its being the mid dle of the base of the triangle formed by Shumla, Silistria, and Rustchuk, a considerable force may be suddenly moved on it, and of this Omer Pasha took full advantage in order to give elbow room to Ismail Pasha at the critical period of the beginning of the occupation of Kalafat. The latest accounts from the Danubian provinces state that General Schilder and Prince Gortscha koff had made three reconnaissances at Kalafat, two at night and one in the day time, and had as certained that it could not be attacked in front without great danger to the assailants. It was re ported that these generals were of opinion that the position must be turned by passing, with or with out consent, by Servialt was not beli eve d th a t the attack on Kalafat would take place for a month. According to a telegraph despatch from Odessa of Feb. 2, the first and last divisions of the Rus sian navy were th en cru i s i ng i n t h e ne i g hb our h oo d of li affa, observi ng B a t oum . Th e t hi r d di v i s i on it was supposed was probably observing Varna. The Press of Vienna has the followin g from Con stantinople, 2d "The weather is still very bad in the Black Sea, and for some days past there have been very heavy gales. The Turkish convoy which left on the 25th ult. for Batoum and Gunieh only reached Jorospuii on the Ist. Great importance is attached here to the revolt which has broken out among the Samiots. The Ottoman Porte has sent a commi.sion to the spot to institute an inquiry ; the authorities of the island have demanded a reinforce ment of 5,000 men to protect the Turks against the Greeks. The Government seeks to keep the affair secret, fearing that other Greeks may follow the example. Prince Vogorides, who is suspected of being connected with this revolt, was arrested, but a, there was no proof of complicity against him he was set at liberty ; but a strict surveillance will be kept over him. The day before yesterday two French and two English line of-battle ships arrived to reinforce the combined squadrons." A letter from Bagdad announces the capture of Khiva by the Russians. A letter from Berlin of the 15th inst. states that a report current relative to the intrigues of the • Prom Silistria, January Bth, he writes :—" I have arrived here through a country which is beau tiful in summer, every hill being wooded, but every valley a marsh after the thaw. The first' aspect of Silistria shows it to be a place of the first military importance, every embrasure and pali sade being fresh, tidy, and fit for work ; while the heights are covered with forts that sweep every approach to this place, which is renowned beyond every other in the annals of Danubian warfare. The loss of Silistria would, in the event of a serious pro secution of the present war, be a great blow t o th e Ottoman arms, for it br ea k s down an angle of the triangle which it forms with Rustchuk and Shumla. It places all the Turkish troops in the Dobrudja, or tongue of land between Silistria and Sulina, in a very disadvantageous position, and in danger of having their retreat cut bff, while at the same time Silistria becomes a tete de pont for opera tions on Shumla and Varna, which latter im portant post is the extreme right wing of the second line of Turkish defence ; but even with the rupture of the Danubian chain the heavy work of the invader has still to come, for on the Balkan line from Varna to the Servian frontier, the five great passes near Varna Pranada, Osman Bazar, Ternova, and Sumugh have been fortified so as to be all but impassible. Adrianople being as I stated in one of my letters, placed as it were created on purpose as a con venient camp of reserve for supporting the whole line from Varna to the mountainous environs of Sophia. Silistria is situate on the full breadth of the Danube, just before it makes a little bend to the south, and divides so as to form several islands. It contains above 20,000 inhabitants, the houses being mostly one storey high, built of wood. The principal edifice is a large Greek church and con vent, begun during the years of the Russian occupa tion, Silistria being the chief pledge for the fulfil ment of the treaty of Adrianople. The Emperor Nicholas twice furnished considerable sums for its construction, but having learned that that his liberality conduced rather to the fortunes of th e managers than of the church, it remain a new ruin. • The present !garrison consists of 11,000 men, and. includes an Egyptian regiment of infantry, an in fantry regimentoftheln:capvearilray, an Imperial Guadrd,al,f2uooll artil lerymen, 300 irregular regi mental corps, or " alai, of Sappers and Miners, under the direction of the Colonel of Engineers, Mehemet Bey, a Mulatto of Herculean frame. The Egyptian troops are all tried soldiers of 30 or 40 years of age, such having been demanded of Abbas Pasha. Their spirit is excellent, which certainly was not the case in 1840, when engaged in a war against the Sultan. The command-in-chief of the place is held by . Moussa Pasha, Director- General of the Turkish ar tillery of the Ottoman Empire--one of the most distinguished men of the Ottoman Empire, the great reformer of this arm, and the man whose persever ing and energetic support of the Prussian officers for a number of years has made the Turkish artillery what t is. Like every superior man, the range of his knowledge is not confined to artillery and fortification, and he has besides a most un- Turkish industry and capacity for exact knowledge. Silistria i s nearly of a semi-circular form, with five bastions on the river base and five on the land side, or seven if the corner ones be included. All the scarps and counterscarps are of solid stone masonry. There is no contregarde or other com plicated extension of the Vauban system. The renovated strength of Silistria lies in the detached forts, the chief of which is that of Abd-ul-Medjid, on the hill of Akbar, the eminence from which the Russians made themselves masters of the place in the last war. It is situate at the back of Silistria assuming the river to be the front, and is supported on each side by other forts to the right and left, the whol e enc l os i ng an oval apace:— Fcsitliabikula _ INSPECTION OF TEE GUARDS BY H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT. This morning the 3d battalion of the Grenadier Guards, and Ist battalion of the Scots Fusilier Guards, were inspected by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, preparatory to their embarkation for the seat of war in the East. At ten o'clock the troops were paraded in service marching order on the extensive parade ground on the west side of Wellington Barracks, St. James's park, and their arms, accoutrements, and clothing in spected by the captains of companies, and subsequently in line, by their respective colonels and field-officers. The battalions then formed line in open order, to await the coming of the Prince Consort. Shortly before 11 o'clock his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by Lord Hardinge, Lord Raglan, the veteran Lord Gough, his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and attended by a numerous and brilliant staff, arrived on the ground by the Western entrance, and was received by the troops presenting arms, the bands playing the national anthem. Their Royal High. nesses the Duchess and the Princes Mary of Cambridge were present, and the portion of the ground near the General was occupied by several of the elite of society. His Royal Highness and staff having made a most minute inspection of the men, who had the appearance and of being eager for the fray, subdivisions were formed, the column marched past in slow and quick time ; the latter pace was enlivened by the air of the " British Grenadiers." Line having been again formed, the troops were marched four deep into square, enclosing the staff, and were addressed by his Royal Highness, who expressed unbounded satisfaction at their orderly and soldier-like appearance. The troops fell back again into line, when a general salute was given, and the inspection termi nated. THE WAGNER CASE. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.—THIS DAY. (Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.) LUMLEY V. 4YE. This case, which has for a long time past been familiar to the public in the proceedings which were taken by Mr Lumley in the Court of Chancery, came on in the form of an action by the plaintiff against Mr. Gye for damages, for inducing Mdlle. Wagner to break her en gagement with Mr. Lumley. Sir Frederick Thesiger, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, and Mr. Huddlestone appeared for the plaintiff; and the Attor ney-General and Mr. Bramwell for the defendant. Sir Frederick The-iger, in opening the case, entered into a lengthened statement of the circumstances under which the action had been brought It was through the agency, he said, of a Mr. Barker Mr. Lumley succeeded in entering into an engagement with Madlle. Wagner to appear at her Majesty's Theatre, a contract being signed between the parties, by which Mr. Lumley un dertook to pay at least 4001. a month to Madlle. Wagner, 1001. a week ;for two performances, and 501. a night for every extra performance. The contract was signed on the 9th of November, 1851. In December, 1851, it turned out that Mr. Gye had induced Madlle. Wagner to enter into an engagement to appear at the Italian Opera at the rate of 2,0001. for twelve performances, more than three times the amount Mr. Lumley was to have paid, and that with a full knowledge on the part of Mr. Gye that Madlle. Wagner was under a contract with Mr. Lumley to appear at her Majesty's Theatre. Madlle. Wagner's name was placed in the bill of Mr. Lumley to appear at her Majesty's Theatre, and the consequence was that Mr. Mitchell, the librarian, of Bond-street, increased his subscriptions from 5,0001. to 15,4001., on the full and express supposition that Hadlle. Wagner would appear there. It would be found that Mr. Gye was one of the inducements to Madlle. Wagner to break her 'contract, he having stated that Mr. Lumley would be unable to perform his con tract, he having already been arrested for debt. There could be no doubt whatever, and he felt confident that the jury would come to the conclusion that Mr. Gye had induced Mdlle. Wagner to break her engage ment with Mr. Lumley, and that being the case, the real question was what extent of damages Mr. Luinley had sustained ; and although it was almost impossible that any fixed amount could be arrived at in any other way than to compare the loss of that season of 1852 as compared with other seasons when Jenny Lind ap peared, when the proceeds amounted to 1,1771. a night, and upwards of 40,0001. for 30 nights ; whereas, on the occasion of 1852, in consequence of Mdlle. Wagner not appearing, the proceeds fell as low as 451. a night. Dr. Barker, examined by Sir Fitzroy Kelly, deposed to the circumstances under which he had entered into an engagement with Mdlle. Wagner on behalf of Mr. Lumley. THE BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY FO f? 1854. Though the present is only the second year of the publication of this work, it is by far the hest and most comprehensive medical guide yet offered to the public. It contains an alphabetical list of all the qualified prac titioners of medicine and surgery in the three kingdoms, with the dates of their admission, the appointments they hold, and the titles of works proceeding from their pens, and a very large amount of general information interest ing to the profession. A considerable space is devoted to the regulations for the examination of medical students at the different universities and hospitals, and to ac counts of the various medical societies throughout the country. We should mention that, in addition to the alphabetical list, there is a street list of medical practi tioners in London and the suburbs, as well as a country list, arranged under the heads of towns, cities, &c. It is altogether a very creditable production, and from its moderate price deserves the support of the whole pro fession. SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—The report of the Southampton Dock Company for the past half-year states that, in consequence of 124 feet of wall having given way on the 3d of January last, expenses of recon struction must be incurred to the extent of 11,5001., which it is proposed to raise by new 5 per cent. pre ference stock. As regards revenue, the accounts are satisfactory, the earnings for the six months ending the 31st of December having been 4,226/. in excess of those for the corresponding period of 1852. A dividend of 15s. per share, clear of income tax, being at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum, is therefore recommended. SEIZURE OF TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS WEIGHT OF GUNPOWDER TN THE ClTY.—Yesterday a discovery of 1,200 lbs. weight of gunpowder was made on the pre mises of Mr. Clemmitt, the extensive carrier, of the Old Bailey, and seized by the police under the statute. It appears that the Messrs. Pigou, the gunpowder ma nufacturers, have some large orders to forward powder to Winchester, Southampton, and other places, and Mr. Clemmitt was selected to convey it to the various rail way stations. Not having the opportunity, from the pressure of business, to effect the immediate transit of the powder, he had it carefully deposited in an ice-well on his premises, and Messrs. Pigou's carts having been seen there several times by the police, the circumstance was reported, and that led to the discovery and seizure. The powder, on being seized, was in the first instance taken to the Artillery Ground, hut the authtiri'ies there refused to receive it. It was then conveyed to the Tower, where it was ultimately deposited. Mr. Clemmitt has received a summons from Guildhall, to attend there to-morrow to explain the reasons why he had lodged so large a quantity of gunpowder on his premises in oppo sition to the statute. KHAN'S MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. ---The anatomical models of Dr. Kahn, doubtless the most celebrated of their class, have been removed from the Portland Gal lery, in Regent-street, to the more commodious Salle Robin, in Piccadilly, which has been fitted up at consi derable cost for their reception, and where they are now submitted d a ily t o th e pu bli c. Th e na t ure of this exhi bition we have already described, the object of Dr. Khan being to inculcate a knowledge of the human body by delineations of the mechanical structure of the several parts, whereby the wondrous organisation by which we live may he studied, and the physiological facts apper taining to it understood. The collection was always a very large one, but several new and beautiful subjects have just been added. The lectures, which take place at intervals during the day, are essays On the ana tomical phenomena of the body, comprehensive in plan, and constructed with a view to the uninitiated ear ; D r. Khan having, we may add, at. exceeedingly able l ec t urer in Dr. Leach, whose extemporaneous facility, great prac tical acquirement, and uniform cleverness of illustration, eminently fit him to undertake the take. The patholo gical models are confined to a separate chamber, as was the case at the Portland Gallery. ECCLESIASTICAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ARCHDEACON DENISON.—The Somerset County G azette states that a fund is now being raised to i n d emn if y the Bishop of Bath and Wells in the proceedi ngs a b out to be instituted by his lordship agai▪ nst Archdeacon D en i son • i t already i amoun ts to about 500/. It s, therefore, confidently ex pected that the means required for correcting by eccle siastical censures the dangerous and heretical views pro pounded by the archdeacon on the Lord's Supper, will be very soon realised. Until th ese preliminaries are guaranteed: the bishop will not move i n t h e matter. In the meantime, it i▪ s rumoured th a t th e archdeacon, a larmed at his position, is on th e po i nt of evading the probableissue of an inquiry by joining the Church of Rome. can des apy pan org All of it tc