The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-16 00:00:00

try, particularly at the commencement of the season for entering on fresh operations, feel the greatest anxiety to know to what a point the Government of his Ma jefe y remains in that good accord with the Cabinets of Vienna, London, and Paris, of which the note of the conference of Vienna is an evident proof. It appears that the Government of his Majesty must not less than the country itself have at heart not to allow any doubt to exist on its policy at a moment when it may perhaps be compelled to make an urgent appeal to the energy and devotedness of the nation. Confidence alone can produce and maintain confidence, and a candid explana tion given to the representatives of the country will give to the Government the possibility of securing their support, and resisting an egotistical party, who wishes to set itself up as the expression of the national will. The undersigne<?, therefore, venture to inquire of the Government of his Majesty what explanations it would be disposed to give as to the attitude which it will assume in the war which is in preparation." The egotistical party to whic;ll Count de Schwerin alludes consists, says the ( ologne Gazette, of forty clodhoppers, who, in an address, offered the King their blood or their treasure if ho would march tui the side of Russia. It appears from the Cologne Gazette that the Russians have passed the Danube between Braila and Galatz ; but no confirmation of the fact has been received here, and great doubts are enter tained respecting it. The Russian Government is said to be making at this moment extraordinary levies of seamen. A recent ukase obliges all the sons of free sailors that are employed in the merchant navy to serve 15 years in the Imperial navy, from the date of said ukase. Boys 15 old are to enter the service im mediately, and those only eight years of age are to be placed at the disposal of the Governor-General 'of Cronstadt, who is to send them to nautical schools lately established. A letter from Jassy of the 24th ult., says : " The hordes of volunteers are committing dread ful excesses in this neighbourhood. If the pagans acted in such a manner it might be comprehended. But the defenders of the Cross do things from which an unbeliever would recoil. In going to Gayeschti, they ill-treated the wife of a Boyard to such a de gree that she died shortly after." According to a letter from Posen, the 7th and Bth corps d'armee have received orders to call out their reserves, in case concentrations of troops should take place on the Rhine and on the eastern frontier. The sth corps d'armee has received simi lar orders, in the case that hostile movements should burst out in the province. The fortresses of the Baltic are perfectly armed and provisioned." The Wurtemburg Moniteur states that a new corps of the Austrian army, 30,000 strong, is to be shortly placed under General Schlick. It was ru moured also, it mentions, that there was some idea of placing on a war footing 50 batteries. The Journal de Frankfort cons ders this last piece of news to be premature. FRANCE. The following is from the Paris correspondent of the Times, dated yesterday, 6 p.m.:— " I am in a position to confirm the fact I yester day announced of the failure of the mission of Prince Bohenzollern-Sigmaringen. That mission had for its principal object to remove the unfavourable im pression caused by the weakness and vacillation of the Berlin Cabinet in the matter of the alliance of the Western Powers ; to assure this Government that the neutrality proclaimed by Prussia, and forced upon her by the peculiarity of her position - with reference to Russia, and the comparatively slight interest she possessed in the East, meant nothing whatever hostile to France or England, nor favourable to Russia ; and that even in this late stage of the affair Prussia was still animated by the desire, and did not entirely give up the hope, of being in some measure useful in preventing the peace of the world from being disturbed. To these and other arguments of a similar kind the reply was, that it was impossible to interpret the declaration of the neurtality of Prussia in the sense which Prince Hohenzollern gave to it, namely, that it implied no favour and no leaning to Russia. It was known that on two important occasions Rus sia had demanded from Prussia a declaration of neutrality, and Prussia having made that declara tion it could not now be said that no concession had been granted to that Power, and that nothing hostile to the allied Powers had been done. Prussia was not asked by France and England to put their army in movement, or to send any portion of it to co-operate with the allied forces. All that had been required was, that as she had joined hitherto in the conference she should now do nothing which would have the appearance of making a concession to Russia. This Prussia had not done, and no explanation can do away with the facts which were before the world. With respect to the anxiety of Prussia to preserve peace, the best proof would be to give the same adherence she had hitherto done to the policy of the allies. I alluded yesterday to what was said respecting another part of the mission of the Prince, relating to certain propositions to which the Emperor of Russia might be disposed to accede. According to this account, the Prince was to represent to the Emperor Napoleon that, as England and France were resolved to require from Turkey a treaty which would guarantee the rights and immunities of the Christian subjects of the Porte, and place them on a footing of equality with the Turks, there existed no further cause of war ; that the Emperor of Russia never had anyother preten sions than to secure those who professed his creed, what England and France were to demand for all the Christians; and that Russia would be prepared to sign a collective treaty with the two great Western Powers in that sense, and which should, moreover, include a stipulation for ships of war belonging to all nations to enter and navigate the Black Sea. I cannot affirm that such propositions were put for ward by the Russian Envoy ; I mentioned yes terday that the fact was, if nut absolutely denied, at least much doubted in a quarter that ought to be well informed. But there is reason to believe that, independent of the explanations of Prussian neutrality, already adverted to, a project of mediation on the part of Prussia formed part of that mission. But it is certain that neither the pro ject, of whatever kind it may be, ncr the explana tions were found satisfactory ; and while Prince Hohenzollern was proceeding to urge them, the Emperor took hold of his hand, shook it in a very friendly manner, and said, Prince, lam most happy to see you as a friend, but, as respects the object of your mission, I have only to say, it is too late.' From this it may be inferred that the pro ject of mediation was as little satisfactory as th►e rest." A private despatch from Ostend announces that the English fleet had been s ee n at some dis tance proceeding to the north. In mentioning the departure of General Caurobert for Toulon, we should have added that he was accompanied by General Bosquet. Those two Generals, commanders of the two first divisions of the expeditionary army, have already passed through Lyons, on their way to Marseilles, where they embark for Constantino ple. On the same day, the 3d battalion of Chaseurs de Vincennes belonging to the army of Lyons, and ;a company of 150 engineers, embarked on'the - Rhone for Marseilles. Generals Canrobert and Bosquet arrived on the 13th at Lyons. A letter which has been received from Toulon states that the vessels for the trans port of the troops to embark at Toulon will not be ready for ten or twelve days. It is also stated that - the third squadron is not so near ready for sea as was first imagined. The number of subscribers to the loan was so great yesterday (Wednesday), at the central office of the Treasury that 14 additional " bureaux" had to be opened in various parts of Paris. An Imperial Decree nominates to the post of Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Marine, in the place of Admiral Penaud, named second in command of the third squadron, Admiral Guillois, Prefect of the Port Maritime, arrondissement of Cherbourg. Admiral Odet-Pellion, Major. General of Marine at Brest, takes the place thus left vacant; and Admiral Fourichon succeeds Admiral Odet- Pellion. The Turkish Ambassador left yesterday for Brussels, to present his letters of credence to Ki ng Leopold. The Univers publishes a letter from the R. C. Archbishop of Dublin, in which that prelate an nounces that he has remitted to the editor the sum of 2,000 fr., for the benefit of the Archbishop of Friburg and his clergy. Half of the sum is from the Bishop of Ferns and the c le rg y of his diocese, the other half from the clergy of Dublin. The Havre journals state that the applications there of persons to subscribe towards the national loan are so numerous that the clerks employed to receive them are, notwithstanding their utmost' exertions, almost unable to perform their task. The Three per Cents. opened yesterday at 67f., fell to 66f. 60c., and closed at 66f. 70c. for the end of the month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 92f. 50c. ; Orleans Railway Shares, I,loof. ; Rouen, 871 f. 25c. ; Havre, 450 f. ; Great Northern, 742 f. 50c. ; Strasburg, 7 2 5 f. ; New shares, 562 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 817 f. 50c. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 682 f. 50e. ; Western of France, 580 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 532 f. 50c. ; Great Central of France, 430 f. ; Lyons to Geneva, 445 f. ; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 577 f. 50c. DENMARK AND SWEDEN. The subjoined is from Cop nbagen, March 13 : — In the sitting. of the 9th of March, Bishop Mourad asked the Ministry if they intended to grant the constitution without the co-operation of the Diet ? The Prime Minister declined to give an answer. In the evening, the Deputieo, having.agen usera bled, presented an address to the King, demanding the maintenance of the existing constitution and the dismissal of the Ministry. On the 13th, the two Chambers, united, adopted the address almost unanimously. A despatch from Stockholm, of March 7, an nounces that the Swedish Govirmalent has ordered the fitting out of seven line-of-battle ships, with crews amounting to 2,807 men. Prince Oscar had gone to Carlskroon to visit the fleet. Two camps are to be formed, one at Carlskroon and the other to the north of the capital. The garrison of the island of Gothland, inclusive of the local militia, is to amount to 16,000 men. SPAIN. The officers of the Cordova regiment, who refused to take part iu the recent revolt, had been admitted to other regiments. The li eraldo of the 15th says that the Govern ment had received no confirmation of a report that was current that the Marquis de Turgot, French Ambassador, was about to leave for Paris. Another journal states that no fears need be en tertained that the departure of M. Isturitz, the Spanish Ambassador, from London, will lead to any coolness between Spain and England, as it has been caused solely by private motives. The Espana says it is not true, as asserted by a Paris journal, that a Spanish fleet is to be sent to the East. The same journal states, on authority o f a Barcelona paper, that Marsal, a noted insur gent chief, and some other Carlist officers have en tered the service of the Emperor of Russia. The Duke de Rianzares had returned from his visit to T . arancon. M. de Cueto, the new Spanish Minister in Mexico, was about to leave for his destination. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY NIGHT. By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Iberia, Meehan commander, we have dates from Gibraltar, the Bth ; Cadiz, the 9th ; Lisbon the 11th ; and Oporto and Vigo, the 12th instant. The Iberia brings on freight specie value 1,0621., 50 half chests of oranges, and a general cargo of rum, tapioca, eggs, beeswax, dzc. Among the passengers is the Infanta Donna Anna de Jesus, of Portugal. On the 10th the Iberia spoke the English brig Levant and the schooner City of the Sultan. The Iberia brings Lisbon intelligence of the 11th inst. The Board of Health has at last declared Great Britain to be free from cholera, and vessels which left any of our ports after the 28th of February have are to have free pratique in Portugal. The House of Peers had approved the new bill of endowment for the King and Royal Family ; and the Paris Loan Bill had been read a second time, and was likely to pass both Houses. The Coimbra students, who had become insub ordinate, tad been persuaded to abandon the plan of proceeding to Lisbon in a body, and the greater number had returned to their studies. Exchanges at three months were quoted this mail at 54g- to in London, bills being rather scarce, and in demand. Pans was quoted 529 ; Amsterdam, 42i ; Hamburg, 48 ; and Genoa, 528. New Three per Cents. 37k to ; Bank of Portugal shaves, 115 to 110 milreis discount per share, and in demand since the adjustment of differences with the Government ; Oporto Bank share, 51 to 6 per cent. p.m. in metal ; and Lis bon Bank-note 4 were convertible at 21- per cent. discount. The screw sham-ship Rhone left Gibraltar on the 28th ult. ; tl. e Sardinian frigate Eurydice left on the same day f or the eastward. The screw steamer Danube, six days from Liverpool, arrived on the Ist inst. The French war steamer Euminide, six days from Roeltefort, arrived on the sth. The screw steamer Teneriffe, 17 days from Constantinople 13 from Smyrna, and 4i from Malta, touched at Gibraltar on the sth inst., on her way to Liver pool. The screw steamer Baalbec, 17 days from Smyrna, arrived on the 6th, and left the bay the following day for Liverpool. The French war steamer Coligny sailed, on the 6th for Toulon. The British steamer Ituna, 10 days from London ; the Dutch war steamer Soemmering, five days from Genoa ; and the screw steamer Ebro, seven days from Liverpool, bound to Barcelona, arrived at Gibraltar on the 7th inst. The screw steamer Arno, six days and a half from Liverpool, bound to Genoa, arrived on the Bth. The Spanish brig San Antonio, from Charleston, bound to Barce lona, had been lost on' the coast near Gibraltar. Exchange on London was quoted 52 to 52i ; Spanish pillared dollars, 21 per cent. premium. COLOSSEUM.—An engagement has been entered into with several talented artistes, and Herr Brandau, as conductor, for a series of vocal concerts, every evening for the next four weeks of Lent, without extra charge. GRAIN FROM THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.—A. telegraphic despatch from Bucharest has been received, stating that the exportation of grain from the Danubian principalities is prohibited after the 19th inst. This order was fully expected, as it was presumed the ports of the invaded provinces would be put on the same foot ing as Od,ssa. PARIS BOURSE.—The report from the Paris Bourse yesterday showed firmness at the opening of the market, and a reaction at the close of about a quarter per cent. At Vienna and Amsterdam there has again been a sligh', tendency to improvement. The quotation of the rate of exchange at Paris exhibits no material varia tion, but bills on London were becoming less abundant, and an improvement must be looked for from the large remittance; of specie lately made from this side. For the pre,ent, however, these remittances continue, and a further Rom of more than 150,0001. is understood to have been taken yester lay from the Bank of England. MILITARY LAW AT ST. PETERSBURG.—A variety of reports were manufactured in the city yesterday out of a statement in some letters from St. Petersburg of the 7th inst., which is also said to have appeared in the Cologne Gazette. It seems that the Emperor of Russia, upon his becoming acquainted with the final summons about to be addressed to him by the Allied Powers, and in the consevent expectation of immediate hostilities against hiiii in the north, has placed St. Petersburg and the Baltic provinces under militaey law, giving the coM wand to his eldest son. This step is similar to that adopted some time back with reference to the provinces on the Black Sea, Bessarabia, Kherson, &c , and is such as was to have been expected the moment France and England threatened the Baltic ; but, its effect being analogous to that of placing the respective localities in a state of siege, it immediately led to rumours of an in surrection at St. Petersburg. MAsosic BALL.—The members of the "St. Andrew's Lodge" gave their annual ball last evening, at the Free mason's-hall, which was numerously attended. The ex celle.it arrangements refl ct much credit on those gen tlemen who so kindly acted as stewards, and who were most assiduous in obtaining the talent of Mr. Guinness and his very efficient hand, whose inspiring strains con tributed to prolong the stay of the votaries of Terpsichore till a late hour. COALING THE FLEET.--NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, March 14.—As the greater portion of the vessels in the Baltic fleet are propel'el by steam, it will be necessary to have an ample supply of fuel for them. The Tyne is famous for its steam coal, and several collier vessels have been engaged to take out cargoes to the Baltic for the use of the fleet. The French Government have also sent down six transports for the same purpose. SARDINIAN ESTIMATES.—According to the statement of the Finance Minister, the Sardinian estimates for 1855 show a deficit of about 400,000/. For the current year the deficit is about 1,000,0001., and it is to supply the wants thus created that the proposed loan of about a million and a half sterling seems to be contemplated. ST. PETERSBURG.—Private advices from St.-Peters burg mention that a deputation of merchants interested in the corn trade had waited !pion the Minister of Com merce to petition against the export of grain being pro hibited. They urged that a prohibition from the Russian Government would leave them answerable for the carry ing out of the contracts they have made in England, while no responsibility would attach to them from the non-fulfilment of their engagements if the export were simply stopped by an English blockade. To this petition no reply had yet been received. ATTEMPTED MURDER AT WESTMINSTER.-0 11 Tues day evening the police were attracted by cries of mur der, near Earl-street, Westminster. The constables im mediately proceeded to the spot, and found two youths engaged in a desperate struggle, one of whom suddenly staggered and fell to the ground, exclaiming, " Oh, . 1 am stabbed." The policemen secured his antagonist, and the wounded youth was taken to Mr. Pearce's sur gery, Regent-street, Westminster. It was found that lie bad sustained a severe wound in the stomach about two inches deep. The wound - is such a severe one that there are not the slightest hopes of his recovery. The instrument which had been used was a large pocket knife. The two youths were in the employment of a marble factory in the neighbourhood. COUNTY COURT EXTENSION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. —This bill, which has passed the House of Lords, and been sent down to the Commons, is the shortest we re member to have seen. It has no recital, and it merely provides, " that the right of appeal given by the 14th section of the 13th and 14th of Vi toria, chap. 61, shall extend to all cases decided after the passing of this bill in which jurisdiction is given by the section 17 of the sail act, in consequence of the agreement of parties." The 14th section of the act of 1850. which was an act to extend and amend two previous acts, gave a right of appeal to the superior courts to a party dissatisfied with the determination of the County Court in point of law, or upon the admission or rejection of any evi dence ; and that right is to be extended to all cases in which jurisdiction is given, with the consent of the par ties under the 17th section. But, in stating what those cases are, we prefer introducing the reader to the language of the law itself, as law is " the per fection of reason." This 17th section, then, gives the County Court jurisdiction, by consent of the parties, " to try any of the actions hereinbefore respectively men tioned, in which the sum sought to be recovered shall exceed the sum of 51., by the said recited act (there are two acts mentioned in the recital), or 50/. by this act limited in the case of such actions respectively," or any action in which the title to land, tithe, &c., shall be in question. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING-, MARCH 16, 1854. SHARE MARKETS. NAVIGATION OF THE - NORTH SEAS. (THIS DAY.) The following particulars relative to the Baltic navi gation will not be uninteresting at a time when our men-of-war are proceeding to the spot : The Kattegat may be considered as consisting of two different channels, one to the eastward and one to tha westward of the range of island and sandbanks which divide the Kattegat longitudinally from north to south, and are named accordingly the East and the West Channels. Each of these channels has a sufficient depth of water for ships of any burden, but until of late the western channel has only been used by ships bound to the Belts or to the harbours in Jutland, the great ma jority of vessels always passing through the eastern channel. Although the navigation of the eastern chan nel has of late been rendered much more safe, owing to the light-vessels at Trindelen and Knoben (the eastern end of the Anholt reef), by which these two dangers are changed into directing points, still it would be ad visable under certain circumstances to take the western channel. The current in this channel usually runs with greater strength than in the eastern channel, and as it sets to the northward for three-quarters of the year, it is obviously the most advantageous one for ships bound to the northward. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Being caught on a lee shore on this part of the Swedish coast no refuge is to be found, in case of its being impos sible to weather the land, than the fiord of Konsbacka, behind Nidingen or Hallands Waders, the channel hav ing too great a depth of water to bring up. With west erly gales ships ought rather to take the Skagen pretty close, and then beat up in smooth water, until they can fetch the Hirtsholm light, where a pilot may be had for the La3SO or western channel, and from whence, hugging the windward shore if required, a fair course may be shaped for the Sound. This track has the further ad vantage that with a westerly wind there is compara tively smooth water all along the coast of Jutland ; so that vessels provided with good anchors and chains may safely ride out a gale there, the holding ground every where consisting of sand with clay underneath, and in a moderate depth of from five to nine fathoms water. In deed, the whole western side of the Kattegat may be considered as a capacious roadstead, in which, from the shoal water and extensive flats in the bay of Aalborg, no high sea can arise, even with easterly winds, although short rippling waves may occur when the current sets strongly to the northward. In the long channel between LmsO and Jutland, fromlthe North Milner to Sild the island and surrounding banks afford shelter from easterly winds, and it is only northerly and southerly winds that can produce any sea in this channel. Anchorage for the fleet may be found in the neigh bourhood of Vinga, a rock near the entrance to Gothe borg and at Rik; Fiord. Vinga Sound, between Buskar and Biitto, has good holding-ground, in 15 or 16 fathoms water ; as a stop ping place, this roadstead is very commodious, partly for vessels outward bound„ with N.W. or W. winds, and partly for those going to Gotheborg and meeting con trary winds in the narrows between the rocks. A heavy sea, however, sets in there with a S.W. gale. But in the fiord of RifO, four miles to the eastward of Buskar, in the inlet to Gotheborg, ships may ride sheltered in all winds, and this roadstead is spacious enough for the largest fleet, in 8 fathoms water, and in good hold ing-ground. The depth decreases farther in, towards the fortress of Elfsborg, to 4 fathoms, but ships of any size will find sufficient water, until abreast of the newly-esta blishel navy-yard. two miles from Gotheborg, where they may run aground in the mud, if they are to unload. Further up there is a bank named Spanbanken lying across the inlet, and carrying only 14 feet water, and with this draught ships may proceed to the old navy-yard. Vessels drawing less than 14 feet may go up alongside the quays of Gotheborg; and those drawing less than 8 feet may proceed into the canals cut through the town, as also farther up the Gotha Elf. If not .too large to be admitted into the locks, they may even proceed, past Trollettan, through the lakes and canals of Sweden, and so into the Baltic. These locks are spacious enough to admit vessels 120 feet long, 24 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and the least depth of water in the river and canals is 9 feet. The city of Gotheborg, owing to this communication with the interior, is a considerable mercantile place, where ships may find every kind of assistance. In the S.W. corner of Kiel Bay, the fiord of that name stretching to the westward forms a harbour nearly without a parallel. In coming from the northward, the most conspicuous object will be the high land of Nienhof, but when coming from the eastward, the yet higher land at Hohwacht, and in either case, on a nearer approach, the wood, the point, and the lighthouse of,Bulk will ap pear as the fiord opens. The flat of the Stoller Ground may be crossed on its eastern side by the lead, as well as the Colberger Flat, which gradually shoals until abreast of the village of Stein, where it is too steep to be safely approached by soundings. Between these two banks there is a wide open passage with a depth of 9 to 10 fathoms, and sleek bottom. The Fixed light of Bulk stands on a tower of 33 feet in height, and 55 feet above the sea, and serves to lead into the mouth of the fiord at night. To the eastward of the light, the shallow is gra dual, and therefore it ought to be a general rule, in making this fiord at night, to keep on the western, or the Bulk side, for the bank between Stein and Labo is steep-to, with a white sandy bottom. In daylight you may stand in by keeping Biel church steeple in one with the eastern edge of Dusternbrook Wood, which is some distance to the N.E. of the town of Kiel ; and by keeping the steeple in one with the tower in Friedrichsort you will pass along the edge of the western shallow in 31 fathoms. Ships of the line ought not to bring the steeple inside of the south angle of the ramparts of Friedrichsort before Nienhof is run behind the low point of Bulk, when you may stand nearer the western shore. The peculiarities of the navigation in the neighbour hood of Kronstat are as follows : The channel to Kronstat, leads at two miles south of Tolboukin Lighthouse E,S.E. to Kron Castle, leaving on the port hand a red flag. marking a shoal in 13 or 14 feet water, 1 mile S. by E. from the lighthouse ; and on the starboard a light vessel, from which are shown three lights, placed triangularly, viz., one at the mast head, and one at each yard arm, and lies at the northern extremity of the London Shoals, 2 miles S.S.W., from the Tolboukin Light, and 24 miles from the south coast, i. e., the mainland. There are flags on either side of the channel all the way up to the anchorage in Kronstat, Great Road ; and in mid-channel the depth is 6to 5 fathoms. At the Risbank Battery, abreast of, and to the southward of the anchorage in the Great Road three lights placed horizontally are suspended from a yard 47 feet above the sea, and which are visible at the distance of 6 miles. The island of Kronstat must not be approached within a mile, or into a less depth than 4 fathoms, until past the red flag, 6 or 7 cables' length west of Peter I. Fort. After that there is a clear channel all the way up to the Little Road. At the N.W. corner of Kron Castle there are flags on a small reef, to which, in passing, you must give rather a wide berth, leaving it to the starboard. The channel has a depth of 22 to 27 feet all the way up the Man-of- war Harbour. __ _ _ _ There is a lighthouse, 28 feet in height, on the S.E. angle of Man-of-war Harbour, from which, at an eleva tion of 38 feet above the sea, a fixed light is exhibited, visible at the distance of 6 miles. A bell is sounded during foggy weather. The following lights are also places between the entrance of the .Kronstat Channel and St. Petersburg. 1. At Oranienbaum, on the western pier, a fixed light, placed on a staff 45 feet above the sea, visible 6 miles, and serves as a mark into the canal. 2. At Peterhof, on the extremity of the pier, two fixed lights on two pillars, 34 feet above the sea, visible ti miles, which shows the roadstead and leads into the entrance of the Galley Canal. 3. From the Yelaiuin Light Vessel, at the entrance of the North Channel to St. Petersburgh, 175 fathoms outside its mouth, a lantern is shown from the gaff and 16 feet above the sea, visible 5 miles. 4. From the Neve Light Vessel, at the entrance of the Ship Channel to St. Petersburgh, 150 fathoms from its mouth, a lantern is carried at the masthead, 57 feet above the sea, visible 6 miles. labours in sending to sea, in so short a space of time, the most perfect fleet of ships that ever sailed from our ports. In regard to the efficiency of the crews I had not an op portunity of judging. In getting under way they displayed great activity, and I was certainly surprised at the rapi dity with which the topsails and courses were unfurled and spread. That they sailed in the best of spirits and were most enthusiastic in the cause there could hardly be a doubt. I saw nothing to make me feel that the courage of John Bull was not as great as it had ever been, or that the British Lion had in any way degenerated, as some people would have us to suppose. I did not like, how ever, to hear that in every ship there were men ranked as able seamen on different scales of pay ; that the Coast guardmen received somewhat more than 41. per month ; that the dockyard men and riggers had 31. 102. or 31.155. ; and that the finest seamen from the Lisbon squadron had only 2/. 9s. per month. If such be the case, it must lead to dissatisfaction. Men rated alike should be paid alike. Jack, at 2/. 9s. per month, and an able sea man in every sense of the word, will not rest content when he comes to know that his messmate, perhaps not so good a man, has nearly double wages, simply because lie happened to be a guardman on shore or a rigger in the yard. It is our duty to see that there is no cause for discontent on board ; for, with a dissatisfied crew, our finest ships may become an easy prey to the enemy. I was also informed that there were very few officers on board who understood anything about the navigation of the Baltic. If it is so, let us despatch at once in a steamer after the fleet, for distribution among the ships, some 20 or 30 north country skippers. Abundance of volunteers can be found, who have traded all their lives in these seas ; who know every inch of the ground, and every bay and headland along the coast. The Admiralty may rate them as they please, either as pilots or as as sistant-masters, and the expense is not worthy of a mo ment's thought when the intricacy and shallowness of the navigation is considered, and the size and value of our fleet, with the objects it has in view. Though our fleet is exceedingly powerful, yet in num ber it is very far short of the Russian squadrons which await its arrival. It is said that Sir Charles told some one on the night of the Reform dinner that in 3 weeks from that date he " would either be in St. Petersburg or in Heaven." I cannot vouch for the truth of that say ing, and I do not for one moment question the courage of its alleged author, or, if he said it, that he was sin cere. Nor do I doubt his qualifications for the very important office he now holds ; but, as I fear he may be too brave, I do trust he will not make the attempt till he is joined by the French and the second division of the English fleets ; for I should like when he goes to a happier land, to hear that he has taken with him his Imperial Majesty Nicholas, Emperor of All the Russias. The civilsed world would be well quit of him, and it would tend to alleviate our sorrow at the exit of our brave Charley. I also hope that his zeal and great bravery may not prompt him to carry his magnificent screw ships into close quarters with the sailing ships of Russia—for then the quantity of metal and numbers would decide the struggle—but that, on the contrary, he will be always sufficiently cool to remember that a screw ship, by manoeuvring, may destroy four sailing vessels of equal size, whereas, if boarded by two, she would have little chance. I likewise trust that he will confine himself to a blockade, or prevent the junction of the Russian fleets till he is reinforced, and not declare war with a broad side when he " gets into the Baltic," even though the First Lord of the Admiralty (who, by the way, did not display his usual great discretion that evening) " gave him leave so to do." One word more, and lam done. All men of business must have admired the unwearied exertions of Lord Aberdeen to maintain peace. They were in vain. Now that we have been taxed for war, now that our armies have embarked and our fleets departed, very few will rest content with a peace the groundwork of which is to be the simple evacuation of the Principalities. That might have done once ;—it will not do now. RAILWAYS. Aberdeen .mbg Nottng. Bost and Eastn. Jnnct Belfast & Ballymena Binning. Wolverh. & Stour Valley ...... Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £2O. Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter... Ca1ed0nian............ Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, & Pass Cornwall Crieff Junction Dublin&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth&Aber deen Junction Do. New East Anglian Do., (XlB E Eastern Counties Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock Do.; New A East Lancashire Edinburgh& Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth . di Dundee Forth & Clyde June. Glasgow &S. Western Great Northern Stk. Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West. (Ire ) Great Western Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Laneash.andYorksh Do., Fifths D 3., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv. Crsby.& Soutlipt London & Blaekwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Lond. Bright & S.Cst. Lond. and N. Westn. Do. Fifths Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths London and S. Westn. Do., £5O Do., £4O Lndudrry& Coleraine Lududrry. & Ennisk. Aanch.Shef. & Lineln Do., Man. & Lin. Un 4idland )o. Birumg. & Derby vfidld. G. West. (Ira.) Do. Half Shares. Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do., Bury Extension Nwpt.Aberg. & Hrfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warreupoint and Rostrevor. Norfolk . . Northn.Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 )0., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North London 'Do. New £lO. it f'. N. &S. Wstrn. , Hamp stead, and City in , North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Nuneaton, Hinckley, and Leicester 10 261 13A 20 20 St. 10 St. 25 20 20 50 20 2125, 100 100 100 100 21251 16i 100 8 100 20 Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central, Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Bi i mg Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed St &bk Shrcwsby. & Berefd Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. Min ; Do. Halvesd. e. Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do - Staines, Wok. &v., W ok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & Hartlepl. Taff Vale . Do. £lO shares. Do. Pref., No. 1 Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny) Waterford&Lirneriek West Cornwall. West End of Loud* and Crystal Palace \Vest London 63i 2i Wimbledn & Croydon, York Newctl.&Berw., Do. Extensions Do. G.N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland FOREIGN. 10 7 Antwerp&Rotterdann 3r— 3 d 4i 5 3 Belgian Eastu. June. 11 20 8 Beziers to Graissessac 45 —35 d 20 2s. Bombay, Baroda, and Central India,Scrip 5d 5 p pm -- ..entral of Italy 20 all Jharleroi & Erquelin 17i all Demerara 20 14 Dijon and Besancon — p 20 8 I)uteh Rhenish 35 3 d 20 all East Indian 25 — 3 . p 20 2 Do Extension 1 -- 5 5 all A. Indian Peninsula • p 20 10 3d. Junet. of France • 23 10 jrd. Trunk of Canada . ...d 1.00 3 Do. Debentures .45 35 100 all Do. do 6 4 d 20 10 Ch. Central of France 25 —2l d 204 all .It. Western of Canada Shares 22 23 225 Do. Bands (Ist is.)'s7 9 llp 20. , 15: Hamilton & Toronto 15 —2 p 100 all Do. 6 per cent. 20 5 Lake Coust. & Bask 5 all Lucca & Pis toj a 5 p.c. prof dis 20 15 Luxembourg 6t 7 7 10 10 Do. (Railway) 4l 4 45 5 2 Do. Pref. 1 15 5 3 Do. (Canal) 1 10 5 Do. 6p. ct. pref 1 5d 41 20 8 Lyons and Geneva 20 12 Lyons & Mediterran. 20 10 Madras ld id 33A 33A 4aria Antonia - ••• 10 all Do. do. New 20 2 'Melbourne Dk. &By. 20 all Namur & Liege (with interest) 7 75 71 20 all Do. (ex interest) — 16 all Northern of France 295 291 Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds 20 all (finy.B.& Ams. Shs.) 10 all NorwegianTrunkPref 7. 20 10 Paris and Lyons 125 12' p 40 all Ditto Bonds 10 all Paris and Orleans 43 —45 20 all Paris and Rouen 34 36 20 all Paris and Strasbourg 28i - 281 20 10 ParisCaen &Cherbrg. —pm 104 101 Quebec & Richmond ...d 20 all Ronen and Havre 20 9 Royal Danish ld par 5 2 Royal Swedish — d 20 all Sambre and Meuse 8 85 81 . . 6 Do. 55 p. cent. Pref. ~, 20 6 Southern of France —pm 20 6 St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) Bit all West Flanders 3 - 10 all Do 54 per c. Pref ... 41 20 10 Western of France 3 —35 p 10 7 West. of Switzerland d 20 2 Wiesbaden 20 15 Zealand MISCELLANEOUS 5 all tinbin Coal and Iron ... • • 25 17. A•ustralian Agricult. 39 41 405 20 14 Australsn.Pcific.Mail ... 13 1 10 8 kustraln. Royal Mail ... 10 4 Berlin Water Works ... —••- 50 323 ! Brit. American Land 75 77 5 1 Grit. d; Coln. Smeltg. and Reduction Co.. ••• 100 322, Canada 75 80 5 5 Crystal Palace 65 65xn 61 ad 5 '4 Do. New 4 2 .Irystal Pal.of France ... 20 3 Eastern Steam 25 20 ElectritTelograph(A) 175 —18 t 25 all Do. (B) ..• 1 1 21ectric Teleg. of Ir. 15 14 ;en. Steam Navigat. 20 18 Jeneral Screw Steam ... 20 7 Irish Beet:oot Sugar 20 10 Hagdalena at. Navig. 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 3 Netherlands Land 1 3 2 1 N. S. W. Coal & Inter. Steam Navigat. Co. . . ••• 1 all N. B. Australasian... 1 had 15 1 1 Do. New •• • 20 10 Nrth.ofEuropeSteam . — 5 all Peel Rr. Ld. & Minrl. 5 4 d 4B 50 a n Peninsular& Oriental • 50 11 Do. 2 a ll Portland Iron Co iP t o o 60 `loyal Mail Steam . . •.. 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 11 Isp 25 25 3outh Auatral.Land 36 38 35i 7 all 3ubmar. Telegraph all Do. stered. 1003 t Yea Diemee's Lod ,12 a 135 1111 Closing Prices this day. LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS, closing Prices Business Shr. Paid. Riavw.in. Leasing this day. tbis day. Company. 50 all Bedford and London & Bletchley.. N. West ... St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&N.W. 93 96 50 all Clydesdale Jc. Caledon 48 50 St. 100 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Gt.Nrthn. ... 139 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct ••• ••• 25 all Do. New. Do ••• 25 all Glstr.& Dn.Fr Gt. Westn 28 30xd 100 all llrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Berw. 50 all Hull & Selby Y. & /said 102 104 25 all Do. 1 Shares. Do 5O —52 124 all Do. 4 Shares. Do 25 —26 134 all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern 13 134 20 all Do. Preference Do 24, —2sg 20 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Norfolk — d 20 LOO Do. 6 per ct. 54 all Manch. Bxtn. L.& N. W and Matlock & Midld 2l 24 50 all aiddlesbro' & itekton & Redcar 100 all Midld.Bradfd liidland.. 95 —971 d d 50 all Northern and Easternsp.c. E. Count. 56 58xd x d 50 .q Do. 6 per et. D 0... ...... - - xd x d 50 all Do. Fixeds pe Do 25 all Prest. & Wyre L. & N.W &Ln&Yk 124 12 Do. 4 Shares. Do St. 100 Roystn.& Hit. GtNorthn ...xd St. 100 Do.Shepth.St D 0... — 25 181 Shef.Roth.and Laneash & Goole g. 5 p.c. Yorksh. „. 12 94 S. Staffordsh. 11./LiClean 24 —l4lxd 50 all Wear Valleygr Stockt. & 6 per cent... Darlingt. xd 25 all Do Do. 30 294 St. 100 Wilts&Somrst fitWestn. 94 -- 96 MINES. 1 all Agua. Fria 1 all Anglo Austria. Gold id 10s. 11 Anglo Californian • p 10 2 Australasian 1 d 20 6 Australian 1 all Australian Cordillera 1 all Australian Freehold 1 all Ave Maria — 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) 50 all Blaenarvou Ir. & Coal 9 —ll 1 all aritish Austria. Gold 4 d 20 13.5 British Iron 35 244 Brazilianlmp.(issued at £5 pm 4 5 30 all Do. Coeaes & Cuiada 1/ 24 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 31 —33 1 Carson's Creek 43 1 Clarendon Con. Min. 4 d 41 2 Co. of Jamaica ... 40 all Cobre Copper — 5 1 Colonial Gold — l4l) 1 15 Copiapo St. all Copper Min. of Eng 55 65 25 all Do. Pref. 74 p. cent 3 5 p 5 all English and Austria. Copper Smeltg.Co. 11 —24 20 all General 2 all Great Nugget Vein . . • . 2 all Do. Registered - 3 all Great Polgooth 1 all Liberty 3 all Linares 1 all Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co. ••• 1 all Mariquita - 10 9 Mexican&S.Amerien 6 6 1 all New Granada — 1 all New Linares Mining and Smelting Co . • • • 1 all Nouveau Monde 4 1 20 all Pontgibaud Silver Lead Min. & Smelt. 15 17 154 16 5 1 Port Philip 1 d 1 all Quartz Rock 50 all llhymney Iron 15 15 Do. New 8 —lO 30 104 Santiago do Cuba 3 4 34 1 1 all outh Australian —# d 10 7 Tin Croft 3i 4i 284 all United Mexican 24 1 all Waller 4 I d 1 all West Granada d 1 all West Mariposa 1 12s. Worthing Mining of Australia 1 all Yuba - 1 MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN For the week ended March 16,1854, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wider, poi* Imperial Quarter. WHIAT. I ISAILLTY. I OATS. EYE. I BEANS. I PEAS. 79s 6d 38s 7d 27s 21 49s bd 45s 21 45s 2d THE SIX WEEKS' AVEIIAGE. BARLICY. OATS. I ITS. I WINANS. ' I PEAS. 803 33 39s 7d 27s 2d 483 lOd 46s Sd 49s lid DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. WY EAT. BARLEY. I OATS. ATE. I BEAM. NUS. 18 Od 18 04 is 04 I is 04 is 04 Is 04 QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, .65,753; Batley, 62,760; Oats, 21,124; Rye, 221 ; Beans, 6,213; Peas, 1,528 quarters. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 5/ Os ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 16s to 2/ 4s per load. A fair average supply, and a sluggish demand. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 5/ 5s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 6/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 17s to 2/ 5s per load. Supply good, and trade dull. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 2/ 16s to 51 Os; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 6/ 6s ; and straw, 11 16s to 2/ 4s per load. Trade rather dull. MEAT MARKETS. NEWOATE AND LEADENHALL.—The demand for each kind of meat ruled heavy, at the following quotations : Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 2d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 5s Od. ; Pork, 3s Id to 4s 8d per 81bs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, MARCH 15.—The supplies of each kind of stock were tolerably good. Generally speaking, the demand was heavy :—Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 4d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 43 81 ; Veal, 4s Od to 4s 10d; Pork, 3s 4(1 to 4s 6d per 81bs, to sink the offals. ROMFORD, MARCH 15.—Our market is dull, at drooping prices. Beef, from 3s 2d to 4s 4d ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 10d ; Veal, 4s Od to 5s Od ; Pork, 3s 6d to 4s 6d per 81bs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 22s to 27a each. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) QUARANTINE NOTICE. LISBON, March 10.—The Board of Health declares all the ports of England free from disease from the 25th Wt. All the ports of Sweden and Norway are declared free from disease from the 4th inst. LONDON, March 16.—Wind this day at Noon, S. ; light breeze, and cloudy. PORTSMOUTH, March 15 . —Wind, W.S. W.. Arrived— Oriental, from London, for Port Philip, leaky. PLYMOUTH, March 1 5.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Odin, from Maulmain. TORBAY, March 15.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Maria Borough, from London, for the Mauritius. SUNDERLAND, March 15 .; —Wind, S.S.W. Sailed— Jaco bstadt, for Demerara. HULL, March 15.—Wind, S.W. Sailed—Ulverstone, for Boston, U.S. SWANSEA, March 15.—Wind, S.S.W. Sailed—Maria, for Barbadoes. STRANRAER, March 14.—The Janet, of Ayr, from Liverpool to the Clyde, sprung a leak, and was run on shore yesterday in Clanyard Bay, and has become a total wreck ; crew saved. MEMEL, March 11.—The first change of the current is likely to clear the harbour beyond the entrance to the creek, as the whole of the ice is in motion. LisnoN, March 10.—The Spanish vessel Etelninee, from Marseilles to Lisbon, put in here 2d inst., with damage to her upper works, and h as p ar tly discharged. • CARLSHAVEN, March 17.—As all the Russian, and most of the German and Swedish ports, are yet closed by ice, the navigation cannot yet be considered open in the Baltic. This port has not been c losed t hroughout the winter. CUxHA.VEN, March 13.—The Friendschaft, from Ham burg to Goole, has put in with damage and leaky ; must discharge. The Conendia, of Hamburg, bound to the Clyde, and the City of Limerick (British schooner), bound to Dublin, put in 11th inst., le aky, &c., and are discharg ing their cargoes in a damaged state. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Thursday, 9.43 a.m. Wind, W.S.W. ; moderate, and fi ne . Arrived—Sir John Beresford, from Fernando Po ; Laurel, from Charente. Off the Port —Ticonderoga, from Philadelphia, and Samuel S. Lewis, ship. QuEEsszowN, March 14. Wind S., strong. Arrived—Transit and Conhance, from Callao ; Fanny, from Benin. Put In.—Flora, for Melbourne, and Elizabeth Ann, for Teneriffe, both from Liverpool. SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning. The Royal mail steam-ship Great Western, with the River Plate and Brazil mails, is just signalled. Her news is about five clays later than that received by the Braziliera at Liverpool. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH•) GRAVEBEND, Thursday, 10.45 a.m. Wind, S. ; tide, half-hour flood, fresh and cloudy. Arrived, 15th—St. Michael, from St. Kitt's ; Eclipse, Mauritius ; Dublin Lass, Guernsey ; Arbutus, Guernsey ; Williams Thombron, Guernsey ; lantina Zekina, from Santander ; Rapid, Terceira ; Ebenezer, Attrhuus ; Esco cesa, Bilboa ; Alodie Amee, Santander; Phillip Laing, Manilla ; Vesta, Oporto. March 16—Arrived —Prince Albert, from Guernsey ; Admiral .Nelson, do. ; Hanover (s), R o tt er d am ; B aron Osy (s), Antwerp; Soho (8), Havre; Earl of Auckland, Rotterdam. DEAL, Thursday, 10.9 a.m. Passed—Governor, from Valparaiso, for London ; Betsy, Mauritius, for London ; Equator, do., for London, 92 days ; James Stewart, from London, for St. John's. Anchored— Penelope, from London, for Malta ; Cen taur, for Gibraltar ; Sylph, Barbadoes ; Domitia, Cape of Good Hope ; Giffrard, San Francisco—all from London ; Preusse, from Grimsby, for Honduras. At Anchor—H.M.S. Monarch 'and Vulture (s), from Sheerness. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The up•goods train on the South Devon line, on Monday evening last, ran against one of the uprights of a shed at Newton station, carrying away a great portion of the building. Fortanately no personal injury was sustained. The communication be- tween this place and the towns east was closed for seve ral hours yesterday, in consequence of injury sustained by the wires at Newton, the result of the accident to the goods train on the preceding evening.—P/ymoutA Mati of yesterday. THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS. The following is from the special correspondent of the Morning Chronicle " WIDDIN, Feb. 2G.—ln the dearth of news that exists in the neighbourhood of Kalafat, where a reconnais sance on the part of the Russians is no longer imagined to be a prelude to an attack, and those on the part of the Turks are confined to little expeditions to Czupertzin and back, no more interesting matter is procurable than some scraps of information as to the condition, &c., of the Russian soldier. All agree that his life is one of the hardest and dreariest in the world. In garrison or cantonments he is harassed with the most incessant drills, parades, and inspections. He is cuffed and beaten by his officers. He is robbed by all his superiors, from the corporal to the general. He is ill-fed and wretchedly paid. He has no prospect of advancement beyond the grade of sergeant or sergeant-major. His very thoughts are under control. He dare not express them even to a comrade on the prospect of a campaign or a residence in garrison, lest they should be repeated to his officers, and thus bring down most terrible punishment on him self. Anything of a public nature, the success or other wise of an expedition, the conduct of a regiment or other force, are subjects upon which he must not presume to think. His social position is one of abject slavery. " The regiments of infantry are divided into four bat talions (active), one reserve battalion, and a depot bat talion. The latter remains always at one of the large head-quarter stations ; and here the recruits are in structed. The other five battalions move with the army, the sth supplying the other four with men to replace casualties. Four battalions are thus brought into the battle-field. Each is divided into four companies, which are twice as strong as those of an English regiment, viz., 200 men and 21 non-commissioned officers. The regiment parades by subdivisions—that is, half com panies—and it is in this order that they appeared at Oltenitza and Csitate. Each regiment has two bat talions of jagers and two of fusiliers. They are all equipped in the same way, with the exception of some distinguishing ornaments about their accroutrements. For instance, the cartridge-pouches of the former regi ments have a single grenade on them ; those of the latter, a grenade having three flames—what an artilleryman would call a " carcass." The leading and last subdivi sions of each battalion furnish the tirailleurs. In the jagers the leading subdivision is called carbineers—for about the same locus a non lucendo reason that one of our heavy cavalry regiments is called by that name, par excellence, though they carry carbines in common with the rest of our cavalry. The leading subdivision of the fusiliers is called grenadiers. The rear subdivisions are called " streuki," or light infantry. " Each soldier carries 60 rounds of ball ammunition in pouch, which weighs, with the pouch and belt, about 81bs. His pack, with kit, weighs about 231bs. or 241bs. He likewise carries ilbs. of bread in a cylin, drical bag, and J lb. of salt. His firelock weighs, with bayonet, 11 lbs. ; the sword and its belt, 3 lbs. ; total 5311b5. His dress is a green coatee, with short tails and red facings. The buttons carry the number of the regiment. On each shoulder is a shoulder-strap, some three inches wide, which bears the number of his division in Roman characters. The pantaloons are black or invisible green, with a red piping down the seam. His head-dress, en grande tenuc, is a varnished leather helmet, with a grenade and flames on the top. It is ornamented with the Russian eagle in brass, with the number of the regiment in silver, and a Russian word on a scroll above it, signifying " For my country." Two brass side-straps and one back-strap serve to strengthen the helmet. A chin-strap of brass scales completes the head-dress. " The great coat, over which the belts are frequently worn, as at Oltenitza, is light brown, and made appa rently of undyed wool. It is like a blanket in texture, but closer. It likewise bears the shoulder-strap, with the divisional number. The firelock, manufactured at Tula, is made on a French model ; it was altered from flint to percussion in 184 S, the alteration being effected precisely in a similar manner to that adopted in France, viz., closing the vent with a screw with a flat head, welding on to the breach a small round mass of metal sufficiently large to carry the nipple, adding a nipple and percussion hammer, closing up the necessary holes in the lock-plate. Taking off the feather spring, the pan still remains, the head oft he screw above mentioned just fitting it. The firelock further has this difference from the old French model, namely, that the sight is brazed ou to the barrel, and not on to the capueine, the advantage of this being that in the former case it is immoveable, in the latter that it is subject to getting moved to one side by accident. This improvement has been adopted in all the new French muskets manufactured during the past few years. The calibre is the same as the French firelock, smaller than the English. The cartridges are made with the greatest neatness ; the weight of the powder, from want of means of weighing, it has been impossible to as certain. The cartridge-box has no internal divisions, the cartridges being packed into a stout cardboard case with cover, which fits the pouch accurately. This is an excel lent system. The cartridges can be got at with equal fa cility—they can be alltaken out at once without injuring them from the pouch, which may be necessary in wading across a deep ford, or for placing them temporarily in store. " The system of corporal punishment is one utterly abo minable. A court-martial may sentence a man to suffer 2,000 blows with a stick. The method of it is in this wise :—The prisoner is dressed in a pair of short drawers, boots, a leather stock, and bandages on his arms. A fire lock is then tied to each arm. The battalion forms in double ranks, facing inwards, each soldier being armed with a stick. The fifes and drums play a slow march. Two non-commissioned officers, holding the firelocks, lead the prisoner within the ranks, keeping step with the music, and preventing the prisoner by means of the firelocks from marching quicker. The soldiers each deliver a blow, those on the right backhanded, those on the left forwards. As soon as he has passed through the battalion, the surgeon feels his pulse , and pronounces whether he is capable of under going the rest of his punishment. " The condition of the officer, as regards discipline , bears the most ma r k e d contrast to that of the soldier. He is seldom if ever punished ; an extra guard is ad ministered ; or, if the offence be of a more grave cast than could be expiated by passing twenty-four hours on extra duty, his name is published in the public papers as having incurred the displeasure of his commanding officer. If this be not sufficient he is imprisoned ; but usually the opposite door to that at which he enters is left open, in order that he may solace his idle hours by making visits to the cafe, &c. On the other hand, a general who does not carry out the orders of his master the Emperor of all the Russias, or is unfortunate enough to lose a battle or gain a doubtful victory, has a fair chance of seeing Siberia. And, by the way, it does not say much for his Majesty's belief in Prince Gortschakoff's bulletins, that an officer of gendarmie arrived at the head-quarters of the Russian troops ob serving Kalafit, and made a prisoner of Ge ner al Aurep, the officer who commanded the force that fought in the action (Csitate) which his excellency pronounced to hate been a gloriou victory. THE BALTIC FLEET. Mr. W. S. Lindsay, the shipowner, says in a letter addressed to and published in the Times to-day :—The first division of the Baltic fleet has sailed. The sight was grand, and, as our good Queen, in her Fairy yacht led forth her magnificent fleet, she never assumed a position more becoming the Sovereign of a great mari time nation, lam a cool man of business, and as such I look upon war as a dire necessity—a horrible thing. But there was a something which made me feel that that fleet was departing on a just and righteous cause. I felt that every effort had been made to maintain peace —that we were at last driven to the fearful resort o: bringing about a more sure and lasting peace by force of arms—and I wished it God speed. I saw, at last, that any other course would only have delayed the evil hour, and made its consequences still more dreadful when it came. The main cause, however, which made me spend a few hours this morning in a cutter cruising among the ships at Spithead was to see and judge for myself, as far as I could, in regard to the efficiency of the fleet about to sail for the Baltic. This was natural enough, as I have so long taken a deep interest in maritime mat ters. But I had, perhaps, another reason. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer has doubled the income tax, and men of business like to examine what they are getting for their money. I know a little about the machinery of the Admiralty, and, front the unwearied exertions of the practical mainspring there, aided by the great poli tical knowledge and energy of the First Lord, I expected to find something superior to anything I had ever seen before. I was not disappointed. The ships fully sus tain the character we have long held for maritime supre macy ; there was about them no display—nothing un necessary—but there was a silent majesty of strength which spoke volumes. We have improved to a most surprising extent in our merchant vessels during the last thirty years, but I certainly was not prepared to find an improvement nearly as great in our men-of-war. I did so. Those who have only inspected a line-of-battle ship of Nel son's day will form a very imperfect idea of the Duke of Wellington by any comparison they may make in their own minds ; they must see her before they can under stand the real strength of Napier's flag-ship. She is, indeed, a magnificent specimen of naval architecture— a thorough peace-maker ; for one broadside of her tremendous artillery must tend materially to create silence. Everything seemed in its place, ready for action. As a whole, the fleet surpassed my expectations. Great credit is due to the Admiralty, and the thanks of the country are due in an especial manner to Captain Milne for lila untiring zeal and indefatigable 13 281 25 50 20 'Paid. 100 81 all 51s. 100 20 13s 100 21 - 23 4i - 4i 8 9 12 —lO dis 16 18 6i -54 d 91 - 93 51f - 55 15 - 16 9 • 11 42 - 44 7i - 8 16 - 174 36 - 40 24 - 26 61 - 63 58 - 60 iii = ii& 904 91i 79 81 124 - 126 92 - 94 77t - 78 90 -- 93 12 -13 11i -12 b, 63f -63 i, 7i -- 601 124 134 1 8 8i Par - 4P 98 —99 1004-101 ( I '7' iP par y 4 d 78 80 11 10 a 10 9d 21 -- 22 594 - 60 33 - 34 4 d par 51 2-24 qd 6 - 8 46 - 48 3# 3A 33 ... 34 8 10 Li - ii 6A - 74 52 - 55 #- - iP 6i - 501 74 - 7t 31 - 33 88 90 51 - 56 58 - 60 55 60 3 2d 115. 17 8 841 12 -- 13 i 3i -- 3id 13 - 15 62 - 63 34 - 35 3 - 1(.1 1 - 5 29 - ii 2a.-- 2i 15 15i 4i l - • 5 24 26 5 -- 6 6 -- 7 686 6711 8 8 dl 4k 4d i 47 -- 48 158 11 68 74 7 i „ !I 471_1PP 100 176 114 all all 100 100 100 . " 41'2 100 100 474 17 100 3 100 Business done this day. 91i ft 54 5 15i 121 i ad 62 PI 91 90i 1i 80 1 „ 921 2 3 , 77i 63i I xcl 8i 98 9 101 1001 a li . 78 9 59i 1 60 341 3i 13 i 47i 6 I INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. We regret to find that the hopes which have been of late entertained, that we should now have a just treaty on international copyright between this country and the United States, are about to be disappointed. The claims of writers, in this country, to the protection of their in tellectual property, from the piracy to which it has been subjected, are too just to be denied, and we had hoped that " the great; pirate party" were about to sustain a singular defeat. It is a gross outrage on all justice between man and man that authors should be robbed of the proper rewards of their intellectual toil by men who can turn the intellectual commodities of writers into the mer chandise on which they trade to their great advantage, and for which they have never given any consideration. The American Union, for all literary purposes, is like Great Britain ; both countries are members of the same Anglo-Saxon family, and the reading people, whether under the British Crown or the President of the Union, not only speak the same language, but read the same books. It would be the interest of writers, on both sides of the Atlantic, that they should regard the Anglo-Saxons and the Anglo-Americans as the one pub lic for whom they write, and to whom they could look for their common support. Nothing less than this would meet the requirements of justice, and nothing less, come when it may, will meet the demands of those who are labouring in the fields of literature, and producing, by sweat of the brain, the intellectual food by which minds are entertained and nourished. It was feared that Mr. Everett would be the instru ment made use of for the purpose of rendering the in ternational copyright treaty a mockery and a delusion ; and we think he must have done his work to the perfect contentment of the piratical party whose bidding he seems willing to execute. Mr. Everett proposes, as an amendment, that the right of property, or copyright, shall be enjoyed in the United States, only in case of such works of British authors as shall be stereotyped or printed and published in the United States ; and that it shall be enjoyed in Great Britain only in case of such works of United States authors as shall be stereotyped, or printed and published in Great Britain. According to this plan, when a work is first published in the country of the author, no right of property in the same is to be enjoyed in the other country, unless the re-publication takes place within three months from the time of the first publication. The design of this arrangement is obviously to play into the hands of pira tical booksellers, to render the treaty the means of con veying the least possible advantage to authors, and to deprive of their gains to the smallest possible extent those who have been accustomed to prey on the literary toils of other people. It is very easy to see that the object of the amend ment is to shut out from any benefit of the treaty all those writers who are not already independent of that treaty. All rising authors—the many who are de serving of name and fame, for which they are toiling, but whose names have not yet acquired a commercial value—are to be left without any benefit whatever by the concessions which are to be made. Every on e knows, that among the multitude of English writers, there are very few who would undertake to publish in America a book within three months of its publication in this country, or at that early period venture to have a work stereotyped. All these persons are to be com pletely shut out from any benefit which is to be given by the contemptible thing which is called an International Copyright Treaty. We wonder that a man of Mr. Eve rett's standing as a literary man, should have consented to act as he is doing in favour of the system which he ought to be the foremost to denounce and bring to nought. . _ _ The only portion of our authors on whom the treaty as modified professes to confer any advantage, are those who are altogether independent of it. Our po pular writers, it is well known, can assign their works to American publishers on their own terms, and secure for themselves the substantial rewards to which they are entitled, without having recourse to the treaty with which it is proposed to favour them. It is to the credit of those gentlemen, that if they take any trouble in this matter, it is purely for the purpose of establishing a just principle, and securing some ad vantages for others, their fellow-labourers, who do not enjoy the honours to which they have attained. We suppose that writers of this stamp will spurn with becoming indignation the hollow pretence which it is now attempted to palm on this country, and that, rather than be hoodwinked by Mr. Everett, and the privateers for whom he is acting, they will employ their influence to let matters remain as they were in all their patent injustice. We earnestly hope, that if the treaty is sent to this country in the shape it is likely to assume, it will be sent back by our Govern ment as it came ; and that the great pirate party on the other side will find that, however successful they may be in living on the brains of other people, they cannot succeed in concealing from us their true character, or in throwing over their practices the shield of inter-national lea. To illustrate the absurdity of the tendering Mr. Eve rett's amendment as a measure of justice to the authors either of this country or of the United States, it is quite enough, as has been suggested, to refer to the case of Mrs. Stowe. No bookseller would have given Mrs. Stowe a price for her unrivalled " Uncle Tom" within the first three months of its completion ; and the treaty which is under consideration would have been entirely useless to that most popular writer, until she had acquired the fame which would make her completely independent of such a treaty. We perfectly agree with the statement, that "America will no longer rob a Macaulay, a Dicke - is, a Jerrold, and a Thackeray, be cause it cannot, but that it will continue to appropriate the labours of younger men, because it can." It would have been most gratifying if this great ques tion had been treated with an honest purpose, and if a a measure had been framed which would have properly adjusted the claims of the literary men of the two coun tries. Such a measure we should have hailed with satisfaction, and we should have done all honour to the men by whom it was carried. We are now satisfied that the intellectual men of the United States are to be left in a state of bondage to the buccaneers who are growing rich on the pillage of other men's labours, and we hope that this country will, with one loud voice of honest indignation, resent to the effort made to impose on its credulity by a most dishonest and con temptible sham.—Morning Advertiser. MARCH EDITION OF THE LONDON POST-OFFICE DIRECTORY. Formerly the March edition of this elaborate and use ful work differed from the Christmas one only in the addition of supplemental names, and in the reprinting of the " Postal" and " Parliamentary" directories, with corrections up to the end of February. This year, how ever, a different course has been pursued by M essrs . Kelly, the proprietors. The whole copies of the first edition, although greater in number than those of any preceding year, having been disposed of, it became necessary to reprint the entire book, and in doing this advantage has been taken of the opportunity afforded of recompiling and correcting a considerable portion of the contents. Of course the time was too limited to allow all to undergo the same operation, but we may mention that the revision extends over some of the most impor tant departments of the Directory. The preface states:— " As compared with the March edition for 1853 the Street Directory,' in the present volume, has been in creased by upwards of SIXTEEN THOUSAND names, all carried into the various classifications—Commercial Direc tory—Trades' Directory—Law Dii 3ctory and Court Direc tory—all of which have been proportionately increased. The effect of this great addition to the number of names, and of the other improvements introduced, is to increase the work by nu less than TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT of its imperial octavo rages." A novel and very excellent improvement has been intro duced into the present issue, which will no doubt be duly appreciated, by the commercial community. Each division of the book is distinguished by a different co lour on the outer surface of the pages, and on these co lours is printed the name applying to such division. An arrangement of this kind will considerably assist refer ence to the pages of this monstrous tome, for you have only to place it on its back, and at a glance you 0211 . pick out any one of th e numerous gu id es o f which . is made up. As regards typography, the March edition is infinitely superior to any of its predecessors. PROVISION FOR THE WIVES AND FaIfILIES OP TIM COAST-GUARD VOLUNTEERS.—The Lords of the Trea sury having been pleased to approve of arrangements made by the Lords of the Admiralty to enable the men lately belonging to the Coast-guard, who have been re quired to s erve on b oar d h e r Majesty's ships t o ma k e one month's a ll o t men t o f pa y in advance to their w i ves and families, the Commissioners of Customs have directed the collectors and comptrollers of the revenue at the several ports throughout the United Kingdom to and families of th e men w h o pay to th e i ns p ec ting commander of the Coast -guard, at their resp ec ti ve ports, such su ms as will enable him to distribute amongst the wives withdrawn from toro themstatniootusezwceetdhiinngthtweior ports, the th a n one shilli n g may have been amountallotted shillings or less and sixpence per day, for one m onth, from the date of each man's discharge, observing that the respective sums demanded are to be treated as advances, to be afterwards accounted for by the inspecting commander of the district. THE NAVY ORDNANCE. —A somewhat invidious com parison between the comforts provided for the army at sea , and those of " Jack" who has to live thereon, appeared last week. If, however, Jack in the absence of marine soap finds a difficulty to keep his muzzle clean, it would seem that the guns are better cared for, the deck and other guns of the flag-ships St. Jean D'Acre, the Amphion, aud the hfl g yer having the appearance of highly -wrought burnished steel, this being effected by a patent black-lead, the discovery of a Mr. Nizey, of Soho, and which has been found impervious to all weathers. Who knows but that there may arise some association in the mind of the British tar between the great exploits to be won by these highly polished " fire irona" on board, and his sweetheart's brilliant deeds with the same black-lead upon the grate at home. THE ELECTRIC POWER LIGHT AND COLOUR COMPANY. —This company held their first general meeting of share holders on the Bth instant, at the offices of the company, Bucklersbury, at which a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent. per annum was declared and paid out of the profits arising from the working of Dr. Watson's patents for elec. tric colours, dunng the two months prior to the present constitution of the company under the Joint-stock Act. It was announced that in consequence of the success now attending the operations of the company, especially in the sale of colours, and the arrangements now completed for illuminating some of the principal metropolitan railway tatious with the electric light, a further dividend of a higher rate per cent. per annum would be paid in June. 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