The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

- THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. be Last Week but Three of Mr. G. V. BROOKE'S Engs ement Vreviotts to his sailing for California and Australia. THIS EVENING, M&aou 1 1, In o xiseqUence of the great enthusiasm evinced at the i s astinly peribrinance of the eminent Actor Mr. G. V. Brooke, the Play 'of VIRGINIU3 will be repeated. Principal charac tern by Messrs. G. V. Brooke, G. Bennett, Kinlock, Younge, and T. M cad; and Miss Cathcart and Mrs. Vickery. To be followed by the new Farce, called MY COOK AND I ICI USE KEEPER. THEATRE ROYAL, HAUL MEET. Under the management of Mr. Bucketone. THIS EYENDTG, Maaon 11, Will be performed a new comic drama, called BANE 1 AGM. Characters by Messrs. Vanienhoff, W. Farren, Backstone, ' tilbury, and Rogers; Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Fitzvrilliam, &c. To be followed by A PRETTY PIECE OF BUSINESS.: Alter which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME„ called HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEARS; or, Little 8 awerhair and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M. Brown; Harlequin , Air. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. :Ka rshall. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STRE;E:T. Under the Management of Mr. Cassias REAR. THIS EVENING, Miami 11, Will be performed THE LANCERS; or, The Gentlema a's Son. Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon, and D. Fisher; Mrs. Winstanley, Miss Daly,-and Miss C. Leclereq. After wkich will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMA3 PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER. AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamander and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; utaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborengh• LYCEUM TIIEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestria. THIS EVENING, Msacm 11, . . Will be performed A NICE FIRM. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Roxby ; Mrs. F. 31:ava iews. To be followed by A CHARMING WIDOW. After which, NUMBER ONE ROUND THE CORNF.R, Concluding with the popular Fairy Extravaganza, calked ONCE b UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO ICINGi. Ch- tractors ' Messrs. Roxby, F. Matthew s, and Bland ; Madame yes tris Misses y Bt. George, Eglanton , Ma son, Martind ale , Ellis, W:Adha'm, and Foote. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor. Mr. B. Webster.Dlrectr ess, M adame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Itasca 11, Will be presented the highly popular New Nautical Melo-drama in five tableaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, eallei THE THIRST OF COLD; or, TEE LOST SHIP AND THE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, madame Celeste, &c. To conclnde with THFI SErtIOIN FAMILY. Characters by Messrs- B. We Oster, Leigh Murray, Parselle, and Keeley ; Mrs. L. Marrsh Mtss es Woolgar, Fanay Maskell, and Laidlaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan. THIS EVENING, Maacit 11, Will be performel TO O[lr,l lE 1117, , T50N. Supported by:Messrs. ler7, Rob ion, and Leslie; Mr's. Stirling and Misi Wyndha at. After which, THE BENGAL; TIG ft. Principal chrirac.ters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, aril r. Robfoli; and i►tre. Wigan and Miss Marston. To be followed by TUE FM NIGEIT. Characters br Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslie. Franks, II trwood Cooper, and Vinci'', t ; Miss Horton, al:l'l_24les Wyndham. &MIND TFIE AT RE. Bole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alicroft.—Directress, Miss Beb ecca Isaacs. . THIS EVENING, Mlscia 11, Will be perforated THE HEX% OF AN IRTSFIIITAN. Princi pal characters oy Moisrs. G Herbert, ant. Miss Nool. Followed by the ANONYMOUS LETTER. After which, TETE WATER AIIN. The principal character by Miss G. Hodson. To conclude with THE CORKO3I.4.'S BROTHERS. Paddy and Tim Mulligan (the Brothers), Mr. G. Uodiou, SWLs, 58.; Bosei, 35.; Pit, ls. 6d; Gallery, 64. ; Private Boxes, lis. 6d., to ba bad of Mr. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. A STLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, Mama 11 , And during the week, will he presented thi new, grand, and romantic spectacle entitled 'THE WOO!) XI HORSE; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Ho:se by the p3t, steed, Beauty, expressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, Scenes of the ARENA. To conclude with the Domestic Drama of THE WHITE FARM• Box-on:tee open from Eieyeu till Four. Stage M itrt;er, Mr. W. West. II WEI WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tara Dar —Morning 0 min.after 0 Evening 10 rain.aft. 12 I To•Mosztow—Morning 39 min. after 12 Evening 2 min. aft. 1 THE WEA.THER.--Stnt OFFICE, MARCH 11. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 56—highest since noon vosterday. 47 —lowest this morning and during the night. 60—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30'22. WIND, S.W.—Light breeze, and cloudy weather. ,- 4 4 , s .204 ,cr,,, S C'Z .:k.4 ' ''' ..„1:* '.,wsif, plp-iplp, ~ ~,—, _:‘,. .--, , J LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1854. Never has a British Fleet taken its departure under more encouraging or more exhilarating auspices than that which leaves our shores this day on the Baltic Expedition. It goes forth to the encounter with the foe, not of Eng land alone, but of all the civilised races of Christendom, leaving behind it in the hearts of the people an implicit confidence in its crew, its officers, and its gallant Commander. It advances northwards, moreover, only after having as recently as yesterday received the farewell and the Godspeed of the SOVEREIGN. Auguries of suc cess never before accumulated in greater abundance round the leader of a maritime armament than those which have recently gathered about Sir CHA.RLES NA.PIER in anticipation of what the nation counts upon—his speedy and complete victory over his Russian antagonists. It is under the influence of these propitious cireumstances that the brave Admiral is now leading on his tars towards the scene of an inevitable encounter—prepared to fight to the death, if requisite, under that heroic banner which CHARLES MACKAY has this very day apostrophised with a lyrical elo quence worthy of Tllo)rss CAMPBELL, as the— " Friend of the Brave, Hope of the Slave, And Guardian of the Free." The eve of a great struggle is, of course, by no means the appropriate time for boast ing, or for exultation. Yet, in regard to this Baltic Fleet, conducted by NAPIER, it may be permitted to us even now to assert, that, whatever the odds opposed to it, we have an entire reliance upon its capability of sustaining to the full our national reputation, or, in other words, of vindicat ing to the very uttermost what Englishmen have come to regard as the inalienable right of their mari time supremacy. Confiding thus entirely in the bravery of our sailors, and in the capacity of their commander, we would here, at their going forth, recall to the memory of the Baltic Fleet that glorious and inspiriting signal with which Sir WILLIAM HOSTE led his ships into action at the Battle of Lissa—that brief but sufficient signal—" Remember NELSON !" Mr. BRIGHT must forgive us, but we certainly (11 ( 1 not read his oration to the Manchester Elec tion rareattee till we saw it rather vehemently atta c k C oed by the Ministerial and Tory journals. Curiosity t pother was then led us to inquire what all the about. We find his unpardonable sin to be that h e a and ees certain pretty obvious errors shortcomings, which we ourselves have already pointed out in so strong a light that he would, reject on this account, the Bill entirely ; while we, on the otherhand, acknowledge more good to lse than we should like Should it be sunk by the Black Sea and Baltic fleets, or be missing among more painful. losses on the Danube, we shall not, it is true, shed many tears over it ; still, for our part, w, would give a good deal for the abolition of those vile ratoe-pay ing clauses, long so i doggedly adhered forto, Schedule A, short as t is compared with what t ought to be, and for Schedule B, although defec tive in the same way. Then the 101. suffrag e for counties, highly approved by Mr. BRIGHT, is a large enfranchisement, and so far valuable, al though, as we have carefully shown, an enfran chisement of but comparatively few indepen dent voters. To set against this, we have the redistribution, chiefly among the counties, of the seats taken from the boroughs, an d that most un-English of novelties, Minority Representation. We agree that these are two great delinquencies. A very large number of petty boroughs are, as we have lately shown, still left enfranchised ; a great many left with two re presentatives which ought, in all consistency, to have but one, and several with but one deserving of two ; while some twenty or thirty, larger than many which return two members, are still alto gether unrepresented. The member for a large borough may naturally complain of this allotment of borough representatives to counties, while so many boroughs have a fair claim to consideration. But the minority clause, which is, as the Thile3 truly asserted, the pivot of the bill, is specially offensive to Mr. BRIGHT. "It will give Manchester but one voice in Parliament," and that, too,, while it gives forty-six more voices to the lords of the soil—whether Whig or Tory voices a Manchester member cares not. Now, we believe that there is in Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S mind a very strong repugnance to strengthening the Manchester party, He holds in most aristocratic scorn their views on Imperial questions. We remember he once told Mr. BRIGHT himself, in a colonial debate, that while he listened with pleasure and advantage to his instructions in matters of trade and commerce, he deemed hisviews on all great Imperial questions exceedingly crude and narrow. Lord JOHN thinks the untitled JOHN has taught him all that is needful in his own department ; that British com mercial legislation is fairly got out of agricultural ruts and on to the Manchester rails ; that it can not now go wrong ; and that, to use the phrase of the day, Manchester has fulfilled its mission. This Mr. BRIGHT thinks excessively ungrateful. The eight or nine boroughs which have abolished the Corn Laws, emancipated trade and commerce, given us the ships and the prosperity which now enable us to attack the northern madman without fear, these boroughs are to be deprived of one half of their HoUse of Commons' power. The lag-behind party in them, which would have joined the counties to prevent all they have done, is to neutralise the vote of one of their pre sent members. It would really seem that Mr. BRIGHT may be allowed to complain a little, the more so since he can demonstrate, by an appeal to overwhelming figures, that the great commer cial districts are, and will be, comparatively, much under represented. We think Lord JOHN'S fears of Manchester influence quite groundless. These gentlemen will never trouble themselves much on Imperial questions, and their number, under any equal system of representation, will always be much smaller than those returned by ter ritorial influence ; while their commercial know ledge and zeal is essential to the prosperity of the country interest. The value of English farms will now, through all generations, depend on the success of our commerce. But this, again, should console Mr. BRIGHT. His party have now clrried out their views to the point that no Mi nister, even of the party most opposed to them, would ever wish to reverse their policy. It has become the common interest of town and country alike to buy everything in the cheapest market and sell it in the dearest. Almost every bond and fetter has been removed from trade, and the springs of industry will soon be as free as the pressure of our national debt permits. If the mino rity scheme be insisted on, we shall examine its principle very carefully. Meantime we once for all record our conviction, that to mix it up as now with the other actual modes by which the minority, for almost twenty years, has been too strong either way, is to produce a jumble of chances, forbidding all calculation of the result. Some weeks before his Bill appeared, we warned Lord JOHN of the consequences of renouncing his 51. franchise, and in all Mr. BRIGHT'S remarks on that franchise we go heartily with him. Work ing men, we have heard, denounce it as an insult. The 101. franchise is a rent fran chise. Why is the workman's to be a rating one ? The former may vote after a year's resi dence ; the operative must wait nearly three years before he can do it. Then the rating is not paid at 61., but exceeding that sum ; i.e., not less than 61. 10s. practically, or fully an 81. rental ; one which very few workmen indeed pay. Equally ungrateful to the feelings of an intelligent mecha nic earning 2/. a week must it be, to find that the clerk behind a desk, no way his superior in shrewdness and good sense, may vote on his quar terly salary, while he is denied a vote on his wages to the same amount. These are not the propo sals to conciliate the " splendid democracy" about whom LordJoux flourished his declamma tion at the Perth dinner when out of office. On the whole, though we dissent from Mr. BRIGHT'S conclusion, we must own that he has but dilated on objections which we anticipated. Very probably, however, we shall hear no more of minority members. The pertinent interrogatories addressed by Lord TORRINGTON to the shareholders in the South- Eastern Railway Company, and which appeared in our impression of Thursday, are worthy of con sideration by every person in any degree connected with the Company, before he decides on the part which he shall take in the approaching contest. If he investigate the facts of the case, and rea son calmly and dispassionately thereon, he will at once perceive the imperative necessity of en tering boldly and resolutely into the matter, and discountenancing the factious opposition that has been offered to the acts of men eminently deserving of the confidence of every shareholder. In such a case neutrality is impossible —ono man of high and generous spirit could consent to re main inactive, or abstain from enlisting on one side or the other— "tinder which king, Bezonian, speak, or die ?" will practically be addressed to every proprietor who has not before the " trysting time" unequi vocally explained his views. None can refuse to respond to the urgent demand. It was on that account, and, also, that no shareholder might be disfranchised from ignorance of the necessary for malities, that the Board very judiciously resolved on issuing proxies which might be used on either side, according to the wish of the proprietor, and which practically occasion no loss to the company, the only distinction being whether the trifling ex pense comes out of the assets of the company or the pockets of the individual—whether, in short, it can be considered an act of extravagance to save each shareholder a present payment, which is to be deducted from his future dividend. " Income tax" is saved by the course adopted, had it no other recommendation. But it is scarcely necessary to vindicate the conduct of the majority of the Board on a matter which nothing but faction, prejudice, or fatuity could pretend to censure. We come then to the sub stantial issues raised between the parties. " What are the causes of dispute ?" " What are the errors or mismanagement of which the minority of the Board complain ?" " Has any alleged inefficiency or neglect of the Board of Directors tended to injure and depreciate the pro perty of the Company ?" These interrogatories may properly be grouped together, for the same answers must be re turned to each question. If it were " Par liamentary to impute motives " if it we re possible to dive into the secret recesses of the human mind, and to drag to light the hidden springs by which it is influenced, we might per chance be compelled to keep them separate, on discovering that the only " cause of dispute" was the possession of office by the majority, and the desire of a certain clique to obtain a transfer of the honour and emolument to themselves. For that purpose, they might be desirous of raising a specious outcry, sufficient to excite distrust and apprehension in the general mind, and to lead to such confusion that the coveted position might fall to the lot of their own party during the melee. So far, however, as can openly be avowed, the chief cause alleged is the support of the porposed exten sion, or rather connecting link, from Bromley to Lewisham. That is the chief act of commission. As to those of omission, their name is "legion." No oppor tunity of impeaching the conduct, or traducing the character of the majority is neglected. Not only have we direct accusations because the same divi dend is not now paid and the same prices for shares obtainable as in 1845, but every species of in sinuation is indulged in. There is " The whisper'd hint, the shrug, the hum, or ha, These petty brands that Calumny doth use"— everything, in fact, that can lead to distrust, or induce ignorant men to bestow their suffrages in favour of an unknown policy, administered by men involved in almost equal mystery. Is there a higher mileage rate from London to Ashford than to Reading, the parties fixing the tariff must THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 11, 1854. have been actuated by some sinister views. They apparently forget that the passenger to Reading is conveyed by a very circuitous route, and that the only chance of obtaining traffic is by extraor dinary cheapness, which may induce persons whose places of business are in the neigh bourhood of the London-bridge terminus to prefer the longer journey by rail, if they can thereby save the conveyance per omnibus from Padding ton to the City, and also, that the Reading traffic is subjected to the competition of another power ful Company, while that to Ashford is a pure monopoly, without opposition by rail, by river, or by turnpike. If the directors were to increase the rates to Reading or Margate (where steam boats are daily plying), how loud and fluent would be the indignant vituperation hurled against their devoted heads for that which would indeed be grievous mismanagement. The shareholders may, from the frivolity and fallacy of that charge, form some conception of the objects of the accusers. When we find plausible but wholly untenable charges urgently pressed, we may safely assume that there is no real serious cause of complaint that can be resorted to. As to the depreciation of price and dividends, there might be some weight attached to it, if the South- Eastern Company were the only one that had met with such misfortune ; but when we con sider that companies which were paying eight or even ten per cent. when the South-Eastern was only paying 5 1-3 per cent., are now paying little if anything more than that which has been so bitterly attacked ; and when we also find that few, if any, have made greater progress towards perfect recovery, aye, and eventual prosperity, than that now under notice, the absurdity of the accusation is at once discovered. Indeed, the mere comparison of 1854 with 1844 or 1845 is alone sufficient to exhibit the detractor in no very favourable' point of view, and to enable the animus by which he is actuated to be fully appreciated. The same may be said of the comparison of the traffic charges in 1848 and 1853. During the former period these charges had reached their minimum. They were unquestion ably very low, but so likewise were the earnings ; and if the latter have increased in even a still larger ratio than the former, the unfairness, and, what is still worse, the " malignity" of the charge, is exhibited in its true colours. Why did not the party who ventured on these frivolous and un warranted accusations, compare the dividends And quotations as well as the cost of traffic in 1853 and 1848 ? Simply because his object was not to elicit or advocate the truth—to obtain judgment in accordance with the substantial merits of the case, but merely to gain a party triumph, to excite prejudice against those who could not other wise be inculpated. But " revenons a nous moutons," we come to the direct alleged cause—the contemplated line not " from a swamp to a gravel pit," but from Lewisham to Bromley. Lord TORRINGTON has pointed out the imperative necessity of that link in the grand chain, or, as he appropriately terms it, " the wedge in the Mid Kent," which enables the company to enter into further operations " when time and circumstances permit," and which make future opposition "next to impossible !" We all recognise the accuracy of the adage that tells us that " if we desire to preserve peace we should be prepared for war." We smile at the fatuity that advocates a general disarmament ; and yet the very men who do so seriously listen to the twad dling that tells them that it is an act of true economy to avoid the construction of a line six miles long, though by making it they secure the tranquil enjoyment of their territory, and render aggression " next to impossible." And be it re membered that this is at a time when two other companies are promoting bills before Parliament, the object whereof is the construction of a line or lines to and beyond Bromley ! Surely, then, the rejection of the Lewisham branch would, as Lord TORRINGTON declares, " be an act little short of suicide !" And as this is the only tangible "cause of dispute," the teterrima causa belli, the share holders may easily decide on the first group of questions submitted by the Noble Viscount for , their consideration. DEATH OF MR. ALDERMAN THOMPSON. We regret to have to announce the death of Mr. Alder. man Thompson, M.P., which took place at half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased gentleman had enjoyed a seat in Parliament from the year 1820 until his death, having successively sat for Callington, London, Sunderland, and Westmoreland. In politics he was a conservative and a protectionist, voting against free trade even in November, 1852, when the Derbyites had abandoned protection. In the City his connexions were numerous and extensive. Besides being an exten sive ironmaster and shipowner, he was a director of the Bank of England, and for some time chairman of Lloyd's. In 1828 he served the office of Lord Mayor of London, and afterwards became president of Christ's Hospital, colonel of the London Militia, and vice-president of the Honourable Artillery Company. Mr. Thompson was also chairman of the St. Katharine Docks, and a direc tor of the Globe Insurance Company, the Marine Insu sance Company, the Blackwall Railway, and other im portant undertakings. He . was also chairman of the Society of Merchants Trading to the Continent, and senior alderman of London. The mortal remains of the late gallant general, Charles William,, Marquis of Londonderry, K.G., will be removed from Holdernesse•house on Monday next, for interment in the family mausoleum. The present Marquis, Earl Vane, late Lord Seaham, and other members of the family will attend the obsequies. The Earl of Morley is recovering from his late severe indisposition. His Excellency Don Xavier Isturitz, Spanish Minister at our Court has Mansfield-street, for Paris, en route to Madrid, en eonge. Lady Laura Meyrick had a soiree dansante on Thurs day evening, in Curzon-street, which was numerously and fashionably attended. We are :sorry to announce the death of Lady Blay ney, who expired on the 4th inst., at Kingstown, near Dublin. Her ladyship was wife of the late Lord Blayney, and the daughter of the first Earl of Caledon. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AT EXETER.—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived at Exeter'on Thursday evening, by the express train, for the pur pose of inspecting the Bth Hussars, now under orders to embark for the East. CABINET COUNCIL.—A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-offiee, Downing-street, yesterday afternoon. The Ministers present were—the Earl of Aberdeen, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Gran ville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Council sat two hours. DIORAMAS FOR THE MILLION, KING WILLIAM-STREET, TRAFALGAR -SQUARE.— Last night there was a very pleasing exhibition of various scenes from Canada and Canadian life, which were ably explained by the pro prietor. The additional novelty was a lecture on Canada by a black gentleman, named Ward (born in slavery). The object of the lecturer was to show that Canada was the home for the working man in preference to any other colony in existence. Mr. Ward commenced with the history and progress of Canada from its first discovery, and very ably described its peculiarities of soil, climate, its laws, and government. The lecture was replete with vast stores of information on many practical points, and Mr. Ward is indeed a very able and eloquent advocate in the cause which he pleads with so much earnestness. On Tuesday evening the proprietor of these pictures proposes to give an entertainment, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the benefit of the wives and children of the soldiers who have left and are leaving for the East of Europe. FIRE IN OXFORD-STREET.—A most mysterious fire broke out just before midnight on the premises of Mr. Thomas Brown, artist's colourman, No. 260, Oxford street, whose daughter, Miss Brown, is so seriously burnt that little hopes are entertained that she can live the day out. The fire was discovered by Miss Brown and her mother, who saw dense bodies of smoke issuing from the cellar, and they instantly raised an alarm. The engines from King-street, Wells-street, and Chandos street quickly arrived, and got to work under the direc tion of G. Staples, district foreman of the C section, who found two separate fires--one in a vault, the other on the basement, and they were 40 feet from each other. Mr. Brown was out on business at the time. TICE QUEEN V. BERESFORD.—A petition has been printed, which Mr. Heyworth presented to the House of Commons on Tuesday, from a meeting of Liberals at Derby, complaining of the case of the " Queen v. Beres ford and others" having been compromised. The peti tioners represent that a statement is current in the bo rough that "an agreement was signed by an agent of the defendants, admitting the whole of the allegations con tained in the indictment." The petition prays for in quiry into the matter, and states " that the compromise has produced upon the minds of her Majesty's subjects the unfavourable impression that the laws of the coun try, at least in such cases, are so administered as to allow rich offenders to evade punishment while the poor are exposed to their full penalty." RUSSIAN PRODUCE. — TiIe London market for Russian produce continues active, and hemp is now 521. to 531. per ton, being an advance of from 51. to 61. since this day week. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 6,000 bales, including 1,000 for export and on speculation. The market closed without spirit, but there was no pressure to sell. Railway Shares were very dull, at to per cent. decline. Considerable importance in respect to the pro bable future supply of Russian produce may be fairly attached to the consideration that even neutral ships will not be permitted, under any cir cumstances, to convey it. It is fortunate that the quantity on hand will meet our wants for some months to come, and the next matter for considera tion is where we are to seek it in future. A long period is required to develope any new branch of commerce, and although it has been known in South America and Australia that we were involved in a dispute with Russia, it is probable that most per sons believed is would be settled, and accordingly that there has been some reluctance to embark capital in the trade, the main item of expense being in the bringing of supplies from the interior. Should the war last even twelve months, we have some hope that a new trade will have been fostered with distant countries, and have acquired sufficient strength to compete with Russian industry, even when the restoration of peace shall have caused, as it probably may, a temporary glut of some staples. In the reply of Lord Clarendon to the British Con sul at Riga, concerning the liability of Russian goods to seizure, one point is not considered to be very clearly laid down, viz.—whether produce shipped before war is declared, and being the pro perty of British subjects, would be liable to seizure. There would, perhaps, be a little inconvenience in at first drawing distinctions, but the ships which sailed prior to the declaration, would soon arrive at their destinations, and might produce consular certificates in proof of the time of their departure. In the contingency of war, our law courts are already resorted to by parties who have entered into contracts that seem to involve risk. A char terer, two days since, was sued for the per formance of his a g reement. He pleads the dan ger of war ; but as this may be avoided even at the last moment, the question arises, Can that exonerate him ? An actual declaration of war would undoubtedly have the effect, because the voyage to an enemy's port would be contrary to national law. In this instance, moreover, the ship bore the Russian flag. We shall have plenty of similar cases ere long, it is to be feared, and our merchants and shipowners may usefully resort to arbitration, or by reasonable and mutual conces sions save an appeal to the law, with its concomi tant vexation and outlays. The French Government is understood to be taking up vessels in England for the conveyance of troops. The effect of the gold shipments to the Continent becomes more palpable in the absence of any im ports of the metal. Tile weekly statement of the Bank of England, made up to the 4th of March inst., shows a material falling off in the amount of the precious metal, and in proof of the greater demand for money, we must look at the withdrawal of deposits and the decrease in the re serve of notes. The very trifling addition to the, Government deposit account will explain the ne cessity for a prompt collection of the taxes. Com pared with the previous return, the changes are as follows : Active circulation £21,557,950 Decrease 141,555 Bullion Decrease 377,262 Rest Increase Public Deposits 2,741,851 Increase 19,506 Other Deposits Decrease Seven-Day and other Bills Decrease Government Securities 11,751,555 Decrease 6,149 Other Securities 13,241,821 Decrease Notes unemployed Decrease 5,621. 7,599,720 215,235 There was no general decline in the quotations for bills of exchange negotiated yesterday after noon, but the rates were tending downwards, and llambur ir receded to 13 3 to 31 2 ; Paris, 90 days, was 25 22& to 25 ; Amsterdam, 11 141 to 15 ; and Frankfort, 118 k to 1. The amount of gold exported direct from London during the week to Thursday last was 14,450 ounces, and of silver 104,800 ounces. The English Funds have been heavier, and the _attitude of Prussia excites still some incertitude. Consols have been 904 to 91k for Transfer, but not higher than 904 to 94 for Account. Exchequer Bills have been quoted 12s. to 16s. premium. East India Stock has been marked 233. Foreign Securities have been neglected. Mexi can realise 24/, ane, Brazilian Small 99. Russian 41 2 - per Cents. are heavy at 84, and Sardinian at 79. The value of the Dutch 21 per - Cents. is 551. Spanish Deferred Stock is at 184. The Gold and other Mine Shares have been rather more in request. "United Mexican are firmer. The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not officially quoted, are as follows :—Metcalfe, i to f premium ; Sue River, i discount to par ; Port Royal, 5 to 1 premium. The Joint Stock Bank Shares are rather firmer, and also the Land Companies. The Railway Share Market has been well sup ported, with a moderate business. French Shares have been firm, and Great Western of Canada rather higher. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. (From the Official List.) Business done. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities shut 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9l 90i 11 New 3/ per Cent. Annuities shut 921 with div. New 21 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Dittc. 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 shut India Stock 233 Consols for Account 16th March 9Ol 11 1 Exchequer Bills, ld. £IOOO £5OO l2 16 - p Small l2 16 p PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Erazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto Small Mexican 3 per Cent. Ditto for the Account 241 Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St Ditto 4. per Cent Bll Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent... 79 1 Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB.l Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 21 per Cent. 12 Guil Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates TWO O'CLOCK. Consols 904 Ditto March Account 9Ol 1 CONTINENTAL RATES OF EXCHANGE.—The closing quo tations from the Paris Bourse last evening exhibited a moderate improvement. The last telegraphic accounts from gllamburgh also show greater firmness, and at Vienna within the last few days there has been a consi derable rally, the funds having experienced an improve ment of between one and two per cent., while the ex change on London has receded one and a-half per cent., the last quotation being 12.44. The advices from the continent with regard to the general appearance of the exchanges are again all unfavourable, and, unless some considerable arrivals shall take place from Australia, Russia, or elsewhere, the diminution of the bullion in the Bank, which has been going on during the last few days, will be likely to continue. In relation to the French loan the Paris letters again express an opinion that it will be raised by public subscription, instead of being contracted with any special establishment. NEUTRAL VESSELS.-- The answer contained in the despatch inserted yesterday from Lord Clarendon to the British Consul at Riga, on the question as to what re spect would be paid by British cruisers,in the event of war, to bona fide British property, the produce of Rus sia, if shipped on board neutral vessels, was strictly in accordance with the known precedents for such cases. One of the first consequences of a declaration of war is the complete interruption of commercial intercourse, "even to the extent of holding it unlawful, after war has begun, except under special license from the Government, to send a vessel to the enemy's country to bring home with their permission one's own property." Lord Clarendon has, therefore, simply stated the law as it is generally held. He has not made any intimation that there will be hesi tation in authorizing, under proper circumstances, such exceptions as are fairly allowable, since he particularly refers to the possibility of such exceptions "in pursu ance of a license or some special instructions from her Majesty to the officers of her navy." SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COPPER COMPANY.—A meeting of the South Australian Copper Company was held yester day, when the report of the committee of manage ment was unanimously adopted. It was stated that the mining staff and machinery have arrived safely in the colony, and that active operations have been commenced. The property consists of about 650 acres of mineral land at Strathalhyn, about 28 miles from Adelaide, and 8 miles from Port Elliot. The opening of the navigation of the river Murray will, it is presumed, greatly increase the facilities of transport, while the ad vantages from this communication are also likely to en hance the general position of the estate, the agricultural portion of which is described as valuable. In addition to mining, smelting operations will be carried out, the supply of ore in the neighbourhood being considerable. At the termination of the proceedings the committee were authorised to prosecute the undertaking with vigour, and to raise, if necessary, a loan upon the 9,000 unissued shares. THE MEDITERRANEAN. ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS AT MALTA. MALTA, MARCH 3. The reports circulated from Constantinople corre spondents to the English press, of an encounter between the English and Russian ships, as also of a furious dis aster at Kalafat, do not seem founded on any good au thority, or at least none such has reached this island. Our island, by the great increase of military force that has already arrived, and is daily expected, has assumed an appearance of unusual activity. Detachments of artillery arrived on the 28th ult, by the Cyclops, and on the same day the Sir John Pollock anchored in port, with a division of the 62d. The re mainder may be hourly expected, since by the ar rival of the Sultan this morning the arrival of the Orient at Gibraltar, in four and a half days from Cork, was reported. This morning the 2d division of the 9th Regiment arrived in the Canterbury. To make room for the troops, the most energetic measures have been taken by the Commissariat. The Fort Manoel has been vacated by the Buffs, and the Lazaretto has been got ready. These will be occupied by the Grenadier, Coldstream, and Fusilier Guards on their arrival. The Rifles and the 44th will be camped, and I believe also some of the battalion regiments will be similarly disposed of. • In a word, every disposable place in the island has been converted into barracks or quarters for men and officers. Two of our frigates arrived yesterday, the Arethusa and Leander. They will fill up as speedily as possible with stores, and return to the fleet. The Banshee despatch boat arrived here yesterday, aftera very severe passage, and, being in want of some trifling repairs, will not proceed till to-morrow aft e r n o on to the East ; she will then leave with despatches and the English mail for the Admirals and the officers and men of the fleets. Captain Hallewell, aide-de-camp to the Governor, has resigned his staff appointment, to join his corps (28th) on its arrival ; Captain Goodenough, Royal Artillery, is appointed to the staff vacancy. Captain Whitmore, aide-de-camp to General Fer gusson, will proceed to the seat of war on the staff of Lieut.-General Sir George Brown. Sir James Stirling, Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, and Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong Kong, as also General Fane, en route to India, have respectively arrived by the Vectis and Sultan, from Marseilles and Southampton, and proceeded this after noon to their posts by the Sultan to Alexandria. The arrival of the troops has increased the price of provisions to a hitherto unknown point. Contractors are suffering severely, and of late the weather has been so bad that no vessels with live stock have come in. Yesterday the Vectis was sent to Tunis, to tow up some of the small vessels laden with cattle, and she will also take on board what she is able ; whilst the Research, a small boat, is being got ready to proceed to Tunis with a gentleman, whose mission will be to enter into con tracts for the supply of bullocks from Africa. MARCH 4. The following will be the disposition of the troops on their arrival : Guards, three battalions of 850 men each, or 2,500 men in all, at Forts Manoel and Tigne, and in the Laz zaretto. 28th regiment, 850 men, detached to Big'ui, Salvadore, Zubbar, and Verdalah. Rifles, 900 men, under canvass, on the hornwork of Porta BumbA.. 23d and 50th regiments, 1,700, at the Dockyard. 98th regiment, 850, under canvass, on the Ravelin St. Francisco and Notre Dame. 4th and 77th regiments, 1,700, under canvass, at St. Clement's. 44th Regiment, under canvas, behind Fort Manoel. The 41st, 47th, and 49th will receive volunteers from the 9th, 39th, 62d, and 68th, to bring their strength to 850. The strength of the garrison is as follows : The 3d and 62d, with one company of 9th, Lower St. Elmo ; one company 9th, Upper St. Elmo ; and the remainder will be quartered in the Grain Stores, St. Elrno, the Female School adjoining, and the Castel lenia. The 39th, in the Cottonera district. 10 A.M. The steam-ship Orinoco, with the Ist battalion of Coldstream Guards, has just come into port. On passing the fortresses they were loudly cheered by their brethren in arms, who welcomed them with the greatest enthusiasm. They are to be quartered at Fort Manoel, but will not be disembarked until late in the afternoon. CHARGE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST IRISH MEMBER,.-(TBIS DAY.) The committee met this day at 11 o'clock. Dr. Giflard, the editor of the Etandard, was the first witness examined, and stated that the anonymous letter referring to Mr. Roche was inserted by his direc tion ; but he did not know who the writer was. Mr. Napier; M.P., was next examined, but his evi dence did not bear upon the case of Mr. Roche, and re lated principally to the system of Government patronage in Ireland. The room was then ordered to be cleared. Mr. E. B. Roche then rose and said—Before you clear the room, I wish to make an application to the committee. The charge, or accusation, or insinuation, whichever it may be, with which my name has been connected, being now traced to an anonymous letter published in a newspaper in London, without the publisher having had any knowledge or means of proving the truth of the accusation, I wish to put it through you to the committee, and to say that lam now "prepared, if the committee think fit to give to that insinuation, or accusation, a posi tive and particular contradiction, and to state, as I state here, that it is a villanous and unfounded slan der. (Cries of hear, hear.) The room was then cleared, and on strangers being again admitted. _The Chairman said—Mr. Roche, I am directed by the committee to inform you that in their judgment there is no imputation on your character, in any way, in consequence of anything that has occurred. The statement you have just made can be put on record, or if you wish to make any other statement the com mittee will hear it. Mr. Roche expressed his thanks to the committee, and particularly to their having met to-day, for his personal convenience, and repeated the statement he had just made, concluding by saying—" I declare most positively and solemnly that the insinuation is un founded, and, moreover, I say it is a cowardly and base calumny." The committee then adjourned till 12 o'clock on Tues day next. SHERIFFS' COURT.-(THIS DAY.) (Before R. Gurney.) Avis v. JONES. A DOUBTFUL CASE-LOOK AT YOUR CHANGE. The plaintiff in this case is a servant in the City, and defendant is a coal-dealer, and the plaint was to recover 10s., alleged to have been paid by the plaintiff by mis take. The plaintiff stated that on the 16th Feb. she paid the defendant for some coals, and took the money out of her box, in which there had been a half-sovereign and some silver. The next evening, on looking at her money, she missed half a sovereign, but there was a surplus sixpence which convinced her that she had given the defendant the half sovereign in mistake for a sixpence. The defendant asserted that it was impossible that he could have received it without knowing it, and if he had discovered the mistake he would at once have made it known to the plaintiff. His Honour took considerable trouble to reconcile the two statements, the plaintiff, on the one hand, per sisting that the cash-box was continually locked, and she was positive that the lock, although not one of Chubb's or Hobb's, had not been picked, and she was also certain that the half sovereign could not have crept out through the keyhole. The defendant, would swear he did not have any gold that day, he knew it by his accounts. His Honour—What is the average of your takings per day 1 Defendant—l make an average on a "floating capital." His Honour—Well, what is that floating capital, and how to make your average ? Defendant—My floating capital is what I pay and what I receive. When I get so much, I put by so much ; when I get silver, I put it in one pocket ; when I get gold, I put it in another. When I get so many half crowns, or crowns, I give it my " missis ;" and when I get gold I put it in a " safe." His Honour (to plaintiff)—You ought to be very careful in paying away your money, because if you pay away half-a-sovereign for a sixpence, the party you pay it to may do the same by mistake. It is quite certain that there was carelessness on your part. The verdict must be for the defendant. I do not impute any dishonesty on either side, and I am sorry you should suffer, but you must be now careful in future. His Honour kindly directed a return of the hearing fees. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.) WINDING UP OLD INSOLVENCY CASES. IN RE JACKSON. This was a dividend meeting under an insolvency case so far back as 1843. The insolvent had been in the coastguard service, and applied to this Court, then having jurisdiction over insolvency cases, when he was ordered to set aside a portion of his pay and half-pay as a lieutenant in the navy. Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. W. R. Buchanan. who was the solicitor to the petition, appeared and said that this was the final instalment, and that all the credi tors were desirous that their dividends should be handed over to the insolvent. His Honour said the creditors could make any arrangement they chose in that respect. IN RE MARTIN. This was also a case of olden date, and neither cre ditors nor attorney appeared. His Honour suggested that Mr. Beard should act in the absence of the attorney, in order to complete the proceedings ; the costs to be paid out of the estate. Among a further numbJr of vessels ordered for survey previously to entering the transport service are the Diadem, the Sultana, the Pride of the Ocean, and the Alfred the Great, LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. THE WAR IN THE EAST. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated yesterday, says " Semi-official accounts from Galatz, of the 27th, announce that disturbances have taken place i n Servia. " There are highly improbable reports current of the Czar's abdication." Another telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, March 9, says : " Advices from Constantinople of the 27th Feb. state that fortifications are being erected at Galli poli, on the isthmus, under the direction of English officers. " The news from the citadel of Arta is contradic tory. 5,000 Ottoman troops had left for Albania ; 10,000 troops were expected from Alexandria. " The Sultan has fully acceded to the proposi tions respecting the emancipation of the Christians. " The citadel near Odessa is being fortified." The following is from the letter of the Paris cor - respondent of the Times, dated yesterday, 6 p:m. : " It is rumoured in the diplomatic circles here that news has been received from St. Petersburg to the effect that the Emperor Nicholas has signed the order for the army to pass the Danube forthwith. The particular point at which the passage is to take place is not stated. lam not in a position to vouch for the accuracy of the fact, but it seems to be be lieved in the quarter to which I refer. Should it be correct, the Emperor by that measure intends, no doubt, to strike a blow before the allied forces can come to the assistance of the Turks. It is true that the accounts we have had for some time past from the Principalities represent the state of the country as bad, and the roads almost impracticable owing to the rains. Nevertheless, some desperate act has been long anticipated on the part of the Russians, and the movements of the auxiliary forces would probably hasten its execution, if it be at all possible. If the intelligence which I have just noticed respecting the resolve of the Emperor of Russia be confirmed, it will give an opportunity to the Powers to - test the truth of Austria beyond the pos sibility of doubt. The question of the proposed occupation of Servia and Herzegovine was, it is stated, discussed at the Cabinet Council held yes terday at the Tuileries, and it was agreed that re ference must be made in the first instance to the Porte, and her assent obtained to such occupation, which is alleged to be a precautionary measure in the event of insurrectionary movements there or in Servia, before it can be permitted. Should Austria proceed to such occupation previously to such assent being obtained, or in opposition to the will of the Porte, France would consider it as an act of hostility, and act accordingly. It is even promised that that state of things may retard the departure of the troops for some days, as it might become necessary, in consequence of the attitude of Russia to concentrate an army on the Rhenish frontier • and, on account of Austria, on the Alps ; It would, in fact, necessitate a modification of the present distribution of the French army." From St. Petersburgh, of March 3, we learn that a circular letter has been issued by the Rus sian Government, to its diplomatic agents abroad, in explanation of Russian policy. A letter from Jassy, of the 27th ult. says : " Fifteen thousand vehicles, drawn by bullocks, have been placed at the disposal of the Russian army, to convey beams and other materials, and. ammunition. It is believed that the Russians in tend to fortify Toksahni." " Intelligence from Krajowa and Orsova of March 2," says the Cologne Gazette, " announces that the arrangements of the Russians lead to the belief that they have the intention of abandoning their operations before Kalafat. Should that be the case, we must suppose that either the Russians look on it as impregnable, or that the position taken up by the 25,000 men belonging to the Aus trian corps of observation has decided them to quit Krajowa." A letter from Samos 14th ult. states that an ad dress had been presented on the part of the As sembly to M. Couemenos, Caimacan of the island, expressing sentiments of gratitude towards the Im perial Government, and the inhabitants towards the Porte, at the equitable manner in which they are governed. Samos was in a state of the most perfect tranquillity. A letter from Vienna of the 6th says :—" In accordance with the declaration which it is about to publish, the Austrian Government will only cause Servia to be occupied in case of insurrection. The Servians, however, threaten to send 80,000 men against any force that may enter their terri i tort', whether Russian or Austrian." A:letter from Berlin, of the 7th; says :—" Most of the troops which leave St. Petersburg are being sent to the coasts of the Baltic, which it is intended to fortify. Riga, in particular, is to be surrounded with new fortifications. The commerce between Russia and Prussia is singularly embarrassed. Letters are subjected to special control." A letter from Hamburgh, 6th, says:--" There is an Austrian subject here named Gross Hoffinger, who has published some articles very favourable to Ttirkey' in a paper called the Morning Gazette. M. de trtuve, the Russian envoy to the Hanseatic towns, having made a complaint to the Senate and to the police on the subject, M. Hoffinger has been expelled. Nine Russian deserters arrived here yesterday under escort of some Prussian police agents ; they are about to embark for America. The Prussian Government has, it is said, taken on itself the expense of their passage rather than de liver them into the hands of the Russian autho rities. Our latest dates from Constantinople are to the 26th of February, brought by the Banshee, which arrived here on the 2d March from Beycos Bay, where she left the combined fleets at anchor. The Furious and Magellan returned from Varna on the 14th February, but brought no tidings of particular importance. The former was again despatched to Varna on the 20th, to land a special commissioner from the Sultan to Omer Pacha, after which she will proceed to Odessa and Sebastopol, to deliver despatches from the English and French admirals. On the 21st, Sir Edmund Lyons, in the Agamem non, with the English and French steam squadrons, returned from the Black Sea, bringing back the unladen Ottoman steam and other transports, which they had convoyed to several ports of the Asiatic shores, having safely landed the troops, stores, and ammunition for the Turkish army in that quarter, without having seen any RUssian ship of war during the cruise. The weather had been somewhat boisterous, and the Terrible, from towing the 'slow Sanspareil, had got some what strained ; one of the Turkish steamers lost her rudder, and is said to stand indebted to Captain Slade for her safety, through the means adopted by him for steering her by la temporary apparatus. The British fleet has suffered a heavy loss in the shipwreck of the Austrian barque Celeste, laden with provisions and stores by the victualling department at Malta, whence she took her departure on the Bth of Feb., in tow of the Ardent steamer, Lieut. Pritchard. The particulars are not given, beyond her having , struck on a shoal, near Svereige Point in the Myte lene Channel, on the 13th, when the Ardent left her, making all speed to the Dardanelles to procure assistance, and met the Leander frigate, which she conveyed to the scene of the disaster, when a portion of the stores were saved, but in a damaged state, especially the biscuit, which was rendered thereby utterly useless. The Fury was subsequently despatched from the Bosphorus, but the transport had become a total wreck, though all hands were saved. The Ardent reached Beycos on the 21st, and on the 25th Lieutenant Pritchard, the other officers and crew, were placed upon their trial for this disaster. The case for the prosecution closed at six p.m., when the court adjourned to Monday, the 2 . 7th, for the d e f ence. There was an Archipelago pilot on board. Lieutenant Pritchard was on deck personally superintending- the naviga tion of the two vessels when the accident occurred. He and the second master had good reason to con sider the vessels in a safe course, as there was no place in the track indicated in the Admiralty chart as having less than three fathoms of water, whilst the Ard en t d rew 13 feet and the trans port 16 feet, and all hands on board were unani mous as to the distance they computed them selves to be f rom t h e shore. Still, under all the circumstances of the case, a full acquittal is not looked for, but hopes are entertained that the sen tence will not extend beyond a reprimand, and a caution to be m ore care f u l i n f u t ure. Th e A r d en t is by no means an efficient vessel, and some doubts were entertained of her strength for towing pur poses. Li eu t . P r i tc h ar d has, during the present Oriental question, seen hard service in conveying throughout the winter despatches between Malta and Const an tinople, at times without any pilot on board, and hi s position is much to be pitied. The following is from the Times correspondent, dated Berlin, March " Denmark and Sweden have within the last few months attained a prominent interest in European politics, and the present moment more particularly shows both nations on the brink of a decisive crisis. The former has been for more t han a y ear stru gg l ing with internal difficulties imposed by . the . task of re constructing the fundamental c . oustitution . of the realm, .in conformity with . the sp , irit . and dictates of European political necessity, only in opposition to the feelings and wishes not of the Duchies but also of Denmark Proper. The Ministry, that has long. been in an almost unfailing minorit y and h a s been compel led to parley, if not to come to terms with th e Opposi tion (admitting them to private . conferences), h ave at last attained the climax of P rhamentary weakness by finding themselves in a minority of Ito 98. Th e course of events is driving the King either to a amp d'etat or to concessions to the opposition. The resoi,ution of this alternative will depend mainly on the covrse the approaching naval campaign in the Baltic takes. Sweden and Norway, that have hitherto endeavoured. to maintain a neutral position, will find themselves com pelled very shortly, within almost a few days, to take part with one side or the other. Russia is already driving at them by diplomatic means to induce them to close still more ports against the Western fleets than are already proclaimed as closed in the treaty of neutrality with Denmark, and generally to refuse the ships of the combined fleets the permission to provision and water in any of her harbours. This latter demand has also been made of Denmark and requested of Prussia.. In a word, whatever the existing treaty may be between Sweden and Denmark, with whom Russia reckons on having a tolerably easy task, Sweden and Norivay are called upon virtually to give up their neutrality. The destinies of these three Scandinavian Powers depend on the issue of the present nautical race between the Western Powers and Russia, who shall get first into the Baltic. Whilst all the reports from England and France betokens energy and rapid preparation, the Russians are not beizind on their part. The last advices mention that great efforts are being made to cut a passage through the ice in the Gulf of Finland to enable the Cronstadt fleet to get• out at once without waiting for the spring thaw, and thus effect a junction• with the R eval divi: ion off Sweaborg. Should they effect this before , Sir Charles Napier enters those waters, the island of Gothland will be taken possession of, and form an admirable point d'appui and naval station for the Russians. A Russian courier (Lieutenant Muller) arrived from St. Petersburg at Stockholm on the 20th February, tearing, as is believed, the positive refusal of the Russian Cabinet to acknowledge the neutrality of Sweden and Norway. The despatches, whatever they contained, were delivered the follow ing day to the King by the Russian Minister, Herr von Da.schkoff ; in consequence five Swedish regiments have been forthwith despatched, under command of Major- General Dalstrom, to strengthen the garrison of Goth land, consisting of 10,000 landwehr. These will, it is hoped, hold out till the combined fleets arrive, and them they will gladly throw up their treaty with Denmark, and strike a blow for the recovery of their independence and the Aland Isles. However ill-disposed the Swedes may be exposed to a Russian attack on Stockholm, against which the English may possibly come too late to assist them, the Norwegians are still more averse to having their whole coast exposed to be ravaged by the English fleets, against which no Russian can at any time help them." FRANCE. The Moniteur of this day publishes a decree nominating Marshal Vaillant Minister of War, in. the place of Marshal St. Arnaud, appointed Com mander-in-Chief of the army in the East. The Moniteur announces that the New Loan will be open for public subscription from the 14th March to the 25th March. Subscribers will have the choice between Four-and -a-Half per Gent. Rente, and Three per Cent Rente. The Four and-a-Half per Cent. Rente will be given at 92f. 50c., with enjoyment from 20th March, 1854; the Three per Cent. Rente at 65f. 25c., from the 22d Dec., 1853. One-tenth to be paid down on: subscribing, and the remainder in fixed periods. Discount of 4 per cent. allowed for payment in anticipation. The preparations for the Eastern expedition are being continued with activity. Marshal St. Arnaud is expected at Avignon on the 14th, and on the 21st at Toulon. By that day 36,000 men will be assembled ready for embarkation, and it is expected that further arrivals from Algeria will raise the total number to 50,000 men. On Thursday the Senate unanimously passed the' • bill authorising the Government to borrow 250,000,000 f. towards the expenses of the war. Their Majesties visited on Thursday the new hospital for poor children, lately established in the old Hospice Ste. Marguerite, in the Faubourg St. Antoine. Nearly the whole population of the Faubourg seemed to come out of doors on the oc casion, and their Majesties were received most warmly. The Emperor has named M. de la Cour his, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-. tiary at the Court of Naples ; and Baron de Tal leyrand-Perigord and the Marquis de Ferriere-- le-Veysr in the same capacity at the Courts of the, reigning Prince of Baden and of the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar. This last named diplo matist has also been promoted to the rank of officer of the Legion of Honour. The Moniteur contains a numerous list of pro motions in the French navy. • Ten officers have been raised to the rank of captain of a line-of-bat tle-ship, and 40 to that of captain of a, frigate. M. Darnis, editor of the Moniteur Industriet, has received a warning from the Minister of the Interior for the publication of an article insulting and calumnious to a public functionary. The funeral of Count Thibaudeau took place yes terday at the church of the Madeleine. The Emperor was represented at the ceremony by Viscount d'Ornano, one of his Chamberlains. The Bourse experienced yesterday a slight im provement, in consequence of a report that the loan was concluded. The terms, however, were not known. The Three per Cents. closed at 66f. 40c. for the end of the month. The Four-and-a- Half per Cents. closed at 93f. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,090 f. ; Rouen, 865 f. ; Havre, 447 f. 50c. ; Great Northern, 735 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 720 f. ; ditto, New Shares, 562 f. 50c. ; Paris and Lyons, 815 f. ; Lyons to the Mediterranean, 673 f. 75c. ; Western of France, 577 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 535 f. ; Great Central, 435 f. ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobilier, 577 f. 50c. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the sth announce that Lieutenant Colonel Salvador de la Torre, of the in surgent regiment of Cordova, was shot on the pre vious day at Villaneva, a village within a few miles of Saragossa. Four newspaper editors of Madrid, M. Rances, M. Roberts, M. Galilea, and M. Bus tamenta, had arrived in custody at Cadiz, and had been lodged in a fort ; but M. Galilea, who is prin cipal editor and proprietor of the Tribuno, was to be allowed to go abroad to any country he might please. The responsible editor of that journal had. been condemned to seven months' imprisonment, 6,000 reals fine, and two-thirds of the costs of the prosecution, for the publication of a seditious article ; and the editor of the Epoca to six months' imprisonment, 5,000 reals, and the remaining third of the costs for having reproduced the said article. Accounts from Cuba to the Bth had been received ; they represent that perfect tranquillity prevailed in the island. The sth being Sunday, the Stock Exchange was not open. A letter from Perigueux,. of the 7th, states that the insurgents of Saragossa, and a certain number of the soldiers and officers of the regiment of Cor dova who had arrived in that place, were in the most wretched plight, having suffered dreadfully in crossing the mountains on the frontier, which are covered with snow. It is said that the colonel of the regiment, who took the command after the death of Hore, had died of cold and fatigue. On reaching Perigueux, they were taken to the Pre fecture, where assistance in money was distributed to them. The officers of the regiment are to remain at Perigueux, and the sub-officers and soldiers have been sent to Tulle, Albi, and Montauban. GREECE. Letters from Syra to the 28th of February, an nounce that the Greeks are recruiting to attack the Ottomans on the frontier, most openly, and that the Greek Government is not only fully aware of the fact, but takes no measures to prevent it. Russian emissaries are busily engaged throughout continental Greece, and a person near the King, whose influence is paramount, encourages these proceedings in every possible manner. Committees have been appointed to encourage recruits, and sub scriptions in money, arms, ammunition, &c. There is more of plunder than patriotism in this move ment. Already the brigands and prisoners who were in confinement at Chalcis, in Negropont, and who were released by the very guards appointed by the Government to watch over their security, and who have since joined them, have plundered three Greek village; and are now some 400 strong, awaiting milder weather in the vicinity of Lamia, to invade Thessaly. Meanwhile the Turks are on the alert. An expedition has left Constantinople to reinforce the garrisons on the Greek frontier, and it is hoped that the bandit s an d b r i gan d s will get such a reception as will dissuade them from attempting a second invasion. The Triton steamer and the . Niger steam-corv e tt e h ave b een d espatc h e d by Admiral Dundas to the Piraeus of Athens. BANK BUSINESS HOURS.-At a general meeting of the Society of Merchants Trading to the Continent, held at the London Tavern yesterday—Mr. Grant, of the firm o Bell and Grant, in the chair—the expediency of adopting the measure recently contemplated by the Bank of Eng land of altering th e i r h ours of commenc i ng b us i ness was takeuinto consideration, as well as the question of the admission of joint-stock banks to the clearing house, and the following resolutions were adopted : " That the altered habits of the merchants and traders of London render the presentation of bills for payment be fore ten o'clock very inconvenient. "That the London j, int-stock banks having become firmly established, and a large proportion of the backing business being now transacted through their medium, the want of a general clearance among the bankers in London is attended with much inconvenience and great risk. "That a committee of five members be now named to confer with the committee of bankers, with a view to ob taining the bankers' assent to the proposal of the Bank of England not to commence payments over the counter earlier than 10 o'clock, and to the establishment of a gene ral clearance between the private and joint-stock bankers of London." it is stated that the Great Britain, the Victoria, and the Melbourne steamers are to be employed in the Mediterranean. 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