The Sun. — London, England, 1853-03-26 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE. Accounts have been received yesterday by tele graphic dispatch from Constantinople, of the 14th. The Sultan has yielded on every point, and the triumph of Russia is complete. The French Go vernment has not published the news to its full extent, but there is no doubt of the fact. The Emperor and Empress, on Thursday, hoboured the promenade of Longchamps with their presence for some time. The Emperor, accom panied by General Canrobert, proceeded on Wed nesday, about half-past three, into the garden of the Tuileries, and walked there for some time. A telegraphic dispatch has been received, an nouncing that a sensible improvement has taken Place in the health of Marshal St. Arnaud. M. de Place, chef d'escadron of the etat-major, and aide-de-camp of the Minister of War, has left Paris to join him at Hyeres. The funeral obsequies of the Duke de Padoue, ate governor of the Invalides, will be performed to-morrow, at half-past eleven, at the chapel of the hotel. M. de Menneval, French Charge d'Affaires at the Court of Bavaria, arrived on Wednesday in Paris. The Moniteur publishes another list of 41 per- Bons, who had been sentenced to various degrees of punishment for the part they took in the events of December, 1851, and who are now pardoned by the Emperor. The Erigone frigate has just arrived at Brest from Guadaloure, which island she left on the 23d of February last. She brings 545 military passen gers. At her departure the sanitary state of the French West India islands was greatly ameliorated, By the last accounts received from Sydney, a number of Frenchmen had returned from the gold diggings, and had demanded from the French con- Nil to be sent home to their native country. Perichaud, who was sent for trial before a coun cil -of-war for the assassination of the Archbishop of Paris, has been found not guilty, but has been sentenced to transportation for having taken part in the insurrection of June, 1848. The last news from Constantinople has produced a favourable impression, and all_ descriptions of Securities have again risen. The Three per Cents. Closed at 79f. 85c. for the end of the month ; and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. at 103 f. 75c. The market was again firm yesterday, and the Itente has improved. - The Four-and-a-Half per Cents, have advanced 25c., and the Three per Cents. 35e., the former closing at 103 f. 75c., and the latter at 79f. 85c. Bank of France shares are 1 0f. lower, those of the Mortgage Bank 15f. higher, and, those of the Societe Mobiliere s f. higher. Roman is higher. Railway Shares are also a shade higher, but the difference is not very great. ''change on London (short), 25f. The. ; ditto, (90 days), 24f. 90e. SPAIN. The Madrid journals oiiie 20th are totally des titute of interest. We learn by express that, in the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on the 21st, the Ministry presented a bill demanding authority to continue to collect the taxes. M. de Salamanca, who had returned from London, had brought ac counts favourable to the negotiations for a loan. This announcement had caused a rise at the llourse. The Diario de Sevilla states that on the 12th the Duke and Duchess de Montpensier narrowly escaped a serious accident. On turning a corner Of one of the streets, the hind wheel of the carriage earue with such violence rgainst a post that the Pole was broken, and the six horses being released ey the breaking of the traces, ran off. Fortunately ..., 11 0 other mischief was done, and the Duke and -Duchess returned on foot to their palace. DENMARK. The Opposition in the Danish Chambers received a defeat at the opening. The two Chambers de cided to make the question of the order of succes sion their first business, and accordingly, on 'the 1 7th the Premier declared it to be the policy of Denmark definitively to abandon the claim to the orders of the Eider. The minority represents the Principle of the integrity of the monarchy, and of the exclusion of the female line from the throne, as inscribed in the London Convention. GERMANY. The Trieste Gazette says it has received from Constantinople a letter, stating that considerable sensation has been produced there in the diplo- Lnatic circles, by the absence of the Sardinian Minister and all the members of the Embassy from the Te Deum for the recovery of the Emperor of Austria. The prisons of Vienna have been found insuffi cient for the number of prisoners, and the barracks and warehouses are being used as auxiliaries. The number of political prisoners at Pestle is 800, at eoniorn 1,800, and at Arad 1,600. The question of the preservation of the federal fortresses was to occupy the attention of the Diet en the 24th. The report of the Military Commie- Sion w hich extends to a volume folio, urges the com pletion of the works. -Although no formal proposal has been communi cated to the Diet, yet it is known that Austria is negotiating to have a federal army of observation sent to the frontiers of Switzerland. Saxe Meningen has refused its sanction to the Political emancipation of the Jews , as decided upon 3' the Diet. The Mountaineers of the principalities of Reiss,. and especially of Ebersdorf, cebbrated the anm versary of the 6th and 7th March, 1848, by fires on the hills, and the discharge of guns and cannon. Troops were sent out, and many arrests made. Prussia and Hanover have agreed to propose t o the Customs Conference, at Berlin, a reduction in the duties on raw iron imported into the Zollverein Of 74 to 10 silvergros, on bars of Ito l ths. ; and ° l l manufactured of 2 to 3 ths. This has caused ,great consternation amongst the ironmasters in both the north and south of Germany. Those of the south, however, expect support from their go verments in opposing the contemplated reductions, and they are strongly urged by the proprietors of the north to make energetic representations on the subject. The Prussian Wehr Zeitung (Military Gazette) Of Sunday contains an article on railways, as regards their adaptation to military transport on a large scale in case of war, which may probably lead to beneficial effects. The journal says that in the !ages above mentioned it would be important for the military force to have control over the trains, machines, &c., so as to be independent of the direc tors and their servants, and consequently in order to effect this that a certain number of officers, non commissioned officers, and privates, should be de tached on the different lines, to study the art of driving, stoking, and tending engines and waggons, so that each battalion or field-battery, on reaching a station would burovided, in case of need, with the requisite number of men required for working trains and engines. A Berlin journal states that the average dividend of the German railroads for the last year was 5 3 -10ths per cent. In consequence of the heavy fall of snow on the Austrian lines, the trains have been unable to pass, and communications have been interrupted for two Or three days with Vienna. The same inconve nience has arisen on the Dantzic and Konigsberg lines, where the snow has been from seven to eight feet deep. The wind has veered to the south, how ever, and thaw has commenced. ITALY. We published the other day a telegraphic dis patch from Vienna, stating that at Mantua a pro 9lamation had been made for annulling all proceed ligs for high treason. It might have been inferred that this proclamation had a general application, but it appears by the following proclamation, in the Milan Gazette of the 20th, that it was merely Loc a l The prosecutions which have been carried on at Mantua on charges of high treason have again p roved that the party of disorder in foreign countrie s is indefatig able in its efforts to prevent the consolidation of public order in this kingdom, whether by enrol lin g individuals for the purpose of making them instrume nts for its views, or by the concoction of plots tending to the overthrow of the state, or other criminal machinations, thus pro voking the enactment of severe measures. " Nevertheless, His I. and R. Ap. Majesty, consider ing that the persons most compromised as chiefs in this trial for High Treason, have already suffered the pun ishment they deserved • considering moreover that the other persons implicated in these revolutionary plots as accomplices, now under prosecution, have mostly con fessed their crime with repentance, and implored mercy for themselves and their families ; and lastly considering that a continuation of this trial threatens to hurl many other families into misfortune, on account of the great /min ber of those who have been seduced by the criminal activity of the chiefs, " Has been graciously pleased in his sovereign cle mency to stop this trial for high treason, and to remit entirely to those persons who in any way are or have bee n implicated in the facts constituting the foundation ; 5 f the prosecution now in progress at Mantua the pun 18bment they have deserved, as well as every other re aponaility, without any distinction as to whether or not they be at present under ti ial and arrested ; only excepting those who have taken to flight, and under Prosecution by default. "The Military and Civil Governor-General of the Lombardo Venetian Kingdom. "Count RADETZKY, I. and R. Field-Marshal. "Verona, March 19." In consequence of this measure Mantua was illu -I,llinated in the evening, and the municipality of fl'au applied for permission to illuminate the theatre of La Scala. The Giornale di Roma states that the Pope has just given from his private purse a considerable sum towards the erection of the monument to the memory of Tasso. TURKEY. We read in the Constitutionnel--" Intelligence has been received in Paris from St. Petersburg, and letters arrived from Constantinople, of the 10th, being the day after Prince Menschikoff had his first audience of the Sultan. These various sources of information confirm our previsions. The difficulties which may exist in the East are less grave and less extensive than was at first asserted. According to what is written at the same time from Constantinople and from St. Petersburg, hopes may be seriously entertained that these difficulties will not go • beyond the circle of diplomatic negotiations, and that they will soon re ceive a pacific solution. M. de Lacour leaves Mar seilles this day. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe has left Vienna for Constantinople, and the internuncio of Austria is about to return to his post, so that the negotiators will find themselves assembled at Constantinople, furnished with recent instructions. As to the resolution come to, according to some of the English journals, by the Cabinet of St. James's, to keep the Mediterranean squadron temporarily in the port of Malta, it could have in present circum stances only a middling importance. Were the integ rity of the Ottoman empire menaced, England, which is a contracting party to the treaties of 1840, would certainly be the first to defend them. But if, as it appears, the matter relates merely to the question of the holy places, it is natural that the English Go vernment should not see in that matter either a sufficiently direct interest or a difficulty sufficiently grave, to call for the displacement of her squadron in the Levant, which, in the position which it occupies at Malta, is already sufficiently near the theatre of the negotiations. In addition, the Mar seilles journals which we received last evening, announce, under the date of the 22d, that the Caradoc was still waiting in that port for orders from the British Government. It may, conse quently, be concluded that whatever may be the decision of the Cabinet of St. James's, it has not yet been forwarded to Admiral Dundas. At all events, it is this day, Good Friday, that the Egyptus is expected at Marseilles. That vessel was to leave Constantinople on the 15th, so that we must soon receive such information concerning the affairs of the East, as will allow the real state of things to be exactly judged of." The Ministerial Zeit, of Berlin, has an article on the Oriental question, which merits attention :-- "The Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung had some time past (Feb. 2 and 3) an article calling to mind a memo rial, written without doubt by an Austrian pen in 1850, albeit probably not by a diplomatist of eminence, the object of which was to show that should the inevitable progress of inward decay in the Turkish empire, lead to its partition, it was the palpable interest of Austria and of all Germany to come to an understanding thereon with Russia, to the effect that the portion of Turkey east of Widdin, to the bay of Karvala, with Constanti nople and the Dardanelles, should be made over to Rus sia ; that Servia, Bosnia, the Herzegowina, North Alba nia, to Durazzo and Macedonia—in short all to the west excepting South Albania and Thessaly, should become the property of Austria. Nothing was said in the memoir relation to the disposal of the two-last-mentioned por tions, but it was evident that these were intended to be made over to Greece, which would thereby certainly receive a most respectable addition. The memoir says nothing either of the Porte's Asiatic possessions, but it is to be presumed that the author intends that the Turks, after being driven out of Europe, shall be allowed to remain in quiet possession for the time being of their Asiatic and African territory, unless England and France should think proper to claim them as compensation for the aug mentation of power obtained by Russia and Austria. We attach little importance to this partition plan (con tinues the Zeit), notwithstanding the high tone assumed by the Allgemeine Zeitung. The silence of the memoir as to the conduct likely to be pursued by the other Euro pean Powers in regard to such a monstrous change of possessions guaranteed by treaties—and this in favour only of two of these Powers—makes us regard the plan as a mere play of imagination, without any practical meaning. As regards Prussia, the omission of the me moir has been in part filled up by a recent article in a Warsaw journal, which, in setting forth the probability of an approaching partition of Turkey, generously offers to us a portion of Russian-Poland as a compensation. If conclusions be drawn, from the fact of this latter article being published in a journal under Russian censorship, that the Russian Go vernment approved or authorised the same, we are of opinion that such conclusions would be erroneous. We rather see in the freedom with which the Polish-Russian journal has treated the subject a proof that the Russian authorities consider the article as completely harmless, and the less worthy of suppression in proportion as the point was the further removed from fact. We do not pretend to be initiated in the secrets of Russian policy, but we think we may say with confidence that nothing can be more opposed to the consistent march of the same than any immediate plan for Oriental conquest. That which Russia seeks for in the East is an extension of its influence, but not of its territory, because it is well un derstood at St. Petersburg that the latter would be a source of incalculable embarrassments, and, in point of fact, anything but a real increase of power. As regards tho rot of tho Austrian partitive plan, we must remark that it is as little suited to benefit the real interests of Austria as would be the compensation so generously accorded to us by the Warsaw journal. The idea put forth in the memoir, of connecting the Danube with Salonica by a railway, and thus obviating the necessity of re-shipping goods on the Lower Danube, and of thence drawing the traffic with India to this route, is so chime rical as to show an utter ignorance of the conditions re quisite for the opening of all new commercial channels. Nevertheless, the greatest advantage which the memoir awards to Austria from its portion of the projected aggrandisement, seems to be this very railway project from Belgrade to Salonica." All that can be added at the present moment to the above, is that, albeit the Prussian Government may be resolved to maintain strict neutrality and diplomatic silence during the present momentous crisis, it nevertheless is utterly averse, and would under no conditions give its assent, to any measures tending to realise any plan approaching that put in the memoir above alluded to. e t t n e fromrtshe preceding Constantinople da y pri Prince them In4etchhiMenschikoff f announce ha d that on e th h at all passed his first audience of the Sultan, ster, R off in the most friendly mannera.nd T e ne e w n favourablePac a,s u c t c n e s Russia.or toFua cl E ff d pears to ifa' b l e t Lord Stratford left Vienna for Constantinople on the 24th. on s frthome 2th2ed,EsutiglluswhaGitoinvgernat maTrshoeillCeasrfaodrodic s w p as atChe ment. o Th e Egyptian, which is due at Marseilclesntsota-dnatyil w ill bring the ma il of the 15th from nople. TOTAL Loss OF THE BRITISH SHIP GOVERNOR HIG GINSON, BY FlRE.—This unfor tunate calamity, involving a loss of upwards of 36,0001., took place on the night of the 27th of Jan. last, in the Madras road, under circum stances which have led to a supposition that it was the a ct of an incen diar y among the crew. The ship wa within 12 hours of her departure from London, her er cargo comprising cott on and other merchandise, andmas ter, Captain Anwyle, was ashore, at the Clarendon Hotel, completing his arrangements for sailing, when a boat containing the chief officer arrived with the sad intelligence that his ship was on fire. Soon afterwards the sentries at the forts observed flames asc endin g hi g h above the deck of the vessel. Capt. Anwyle lost no time in repairing to the ship, and calling his men, made a des perate effort to confine the ravages of the fire to the fore part of the vessel. This was soon found to be impossible; for it was evident the flames bad extended throughout the cargo, both fore and aft, and the destruction of the ship was perceived to be inevitable. The boats and rafts having arrived from the shore, th e crew, after saving all they possibly could, got on to them, and abandoned the burning vessel, which was speedily burned to the water's edge. It has been clearly ascertained that the fire ori ginated in the hold, immediately under the forecastle, and suspicion points to a part of the crew who are not t ar being Europeans , Bg shippedh and d c no. beard. fLondon, y a t n and who, iti o s said, o ndisplayeddTnho ,evessel and someas664 belonged ill feeling to nt o Messrs. ies burthen. THE ROYAL GENERAL DISPENSARY. PEESENTA TION OF PLATE TO MR. S. B. STOTT. On Thurs d ay dinner of the friends of the above charity was i a M r i a •. n .T d a , m fo e r s th S e to p n u e r 's p , o t s h e e of Q p u re e s e e n n 's ti H ng ea a d p , u S bl t. i Martin's-le- Grand testimonial public held at l u - Gs to Mr. S. B. Stott, the resident apothecary, of the esteem in which he is held by several aofs mark tesa sub scribers to the institution. The inscription upon the teapot was then read as follows : "PresentedtoMi. S. B. Stott by a few friend s, as a memorial of their respect for his private worth and public virtues. March, 1853." Several other toasts were drank, and the meet ing separated. MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A LADY.—Yester day information was forwarded to the various metro politan police stations, of the following sudden and mys terious disappearance of a lady, who is said to be very hi g hly connected. It appears that about the commencer merit of the present month the lady left her residence, but was traced to a house in the vicinity of Bond street, from which, however, she disappeared on the morning of th e 9th instant ; and although every effort has been made by her friends and the police, yet no clue has been obtained as to her whereabouts. GOVERNMENT ORDER FOR THE CLOSING OF THE GRAVE YARDSIN MARY LEBONE.—A letter has been received from Lord Palmerston, by the parochial authorities of Mary lebone, stating that his lordship would recommend to her Majesty to issue an order in Council for the immediate closing of the burial grounds north and south of Padding ton-street and around the parish chapel, and for the clos ing gof M on ths, onhe St. John condition that o's-wood burial -g nly r oundone , wicorpsethin eigbe h teen m interred there in each grave during that interval. STEPS TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. Some French savans have resolved to assemble in Paris in the course of the present month a congress of philologists from the different countries of Europe, to discuss questions rel a ti v e to different languages, and to prep way for establi s hing, if possible, a universal alphabet, as the first step towards the creation of a universal language. The presence of foreign linguists is requested. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 25. The Highflyer, 21, screw-frigate, Captain Heathcote, arrived at Spithead last night, from Bermuda, with the dispatches of the Commander-in-Chief and the mails of that island, the steamer from Halifax having injured her machinery. This vessel left England in September last, at the same time as the ill-fated Dauntless, and, like her, had the ill-fortune to touch at St. Thomas's in December last, where she also received the seeds of yellow fever, which soon after carried off her captain (H. J. Matson), a valuable officer, most deeply regretted by all on board, and a loss of no small consequence to the country gene rally, as he was acknowledged to be a first-rate sailor, a good officer, and equally able with his pen as his sword to improve and uphold the naval service. The same fatal disease also carried off Mr. Hay, assistant-surgeon ; Mr. Mickerr, clerk ; Mr. Mills gunner ; two seamen and one marine ; all in the month of December. The Highflyer left Port Royal on the 3d of February, and on the 7th received the Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir George Seymour, K.C.8., and took him to Bermuda. The West India squadron was stationed as follows on her departure ;—The Cum berland, 72, Captain Seymour (flag), at Bermuda, with the Persian, 12, Commander T. Mitchell, which latter vessel it was thought would have the officers and crew of the steam-sloop Geyser (except her commander) turned over and remain out for some time longer to as sist in the strict slave blockade to be established against slavers round Cuba. The Geyser was at Grey Town, and was expected at Bermuda, en route to England, un der sail, her boilers being unserviceable. The Calypso, 18, Capt. Forbes, was on the Barbadoes division of the station. The Vestal, 26, Capt. C. B. Hamilton ; Buz zard, steam-sloop, 6, Commander Dobbie ; and the Dar ing, 12, sloop, Commander G. Napier, were cruising around Cuba. The Devastation, 6, paddle steam-frigate, Capt. C. Y. Campbell, was at Belize ; and the Bermuda, 4, schooner, Lieutenant Jolly, at Port Royal, with the receiving depot ship Imaum, 72, Commodore M`Quhae. The last intelligence received of the Dauntless, 28, Capt. Halsted, was that she was preparing at length to leave Barbadoes, and would touch at Bermuda on her way to England, On the 6th inst., the Highflyer passed an English merchant ship, standing apparently towards Ireland, or St. George's Channel, second distinguishing pendant No. 7,348, in lat. 43.22, long. 24.38. The High -flyer only brought about 50 of the 56th Regiment from Bermuda, not 500, as erroneously represented by the telegraph. PORTSMOUTH STEAM RESERVE.—The Blenheim (screw), 60, Captain W. H. Henderson, C. 8., remains at tempo rary moorings in this harbour, but will move during the ensuing week. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief, visited and inspected her this week, minutely examining every part, and, we are informed, found her in excellent order—clean, well regulated, and perfectly ready for immediate service. The Admiral was accompanied by Captain Henderson and the inspector of steam machinery afloat, whose report on the condition of the engines was equally satis factory. The Admiral's inspection included the paddle frigates Bulldog, 6, and Vesuvius, 6. Nothing can exceed the order and cleanliness of these vessels after being a short time at their moorings. The Gorgon, G, paddle-frigate, is in the basin, has her lower rigging over, and coals in, under Lieutenant L. Peyton, of the Blenheim, who is to complete her for service in the first class of the steam reserve. The Vesuvius, Stromboli, Bulldog, and Hecla, all paddle-wheel sloops, of six guns each, are perfectly ready, and are reported to be at Spit head, if required, within, we believe, five or six hours after being commissioned, with two months' provisions on board. The Conflict, 9, screw-sloop, is nearly rigged in the steam basin ; her equipment is under the superin tendence of Lieutenant Close, of the Blenheim. THE ROYAL SCREW-YACHT FAIRY AND THE SCREW PROPELLER.—Her Majesty's yacht Fairy, Master Com mander D. Welsh, went out of harbour on Thursday, to Stokes Bay, to make another trial with Griffiths' patent propeller. Two new blades were employed, but they were so much more strikingly at variance with the usu:l screws that it was considered before going out that Messrs. Swayne and Bovill, in their desire to demon strate more conclusively the new theory, had on this occasion carried the principle too far, and certainly the propeller had an extraordinary appearance as compared with the Fairy's usual screw, beinc , only one-sixth of the width of the latter at the periphery. The runs made over the measured knots and the results, to the astonish ment of everybody, proved superior to any of the former trials with Griffiths' propeller, and will no doubt estab lish conclusively the correctness of this description of propeller, and must therefore speedily lead to a change in screws for our war steamers. No less than 124 knots were obtained, which is an extraordinary result, and must be highly gratifying to Captain Crispin, R.N., through whose foresight and zeal for improvement this valuable invention has been prominently brought under the immediate attention of the Admiralty. To obtain a variety of valuable engineering data, we understand Captain Crispin will make some further experiments next week with the new propeller, in that beautiful vessel. ROYAL MARINES.—CoIoneI Menzies, K.H., aide-de camp to the Queen, Commandant of the Portsmouth division, is in temporary command of Portsmouth garri son and district, Major-General Simpson, the Lieutenant- Governor, being absent on ler ye. Major James Rives lore, on the retired list, died a few days since. He was a gallant and distinguished officer, fought under Lord Cochrane (the Earl of Dundonald), and had a pen sion of 1001. per annum for wounds received in the ser vice. First Lieutenant Lewis relieves First Lieutenant J. C. Symonds, in her Majesty's ship Odin. The Cruiser, 14, screw-sloop, Commander the Hon. G. 11. Douglas, returned to Spithead this morning from a cruise, and saluted the Commander-in-Chief. There are ships of war at Spithead of sufficient power to satisfy the most nervous—Sidon, 22, paddle ; Leo pard, 16, paddle ; Odin, 16, paddle ; Highflyer, 25, screw ; Encounter, 14, screw ; Cruiser, 14, screw ; Prince Regent, 90 ; London, 90 ; Espibgle, 12, brig; Megiera, 6, troop-frigate, In Harbour.--Duke of Wellington, 131 (screw) ; Agamemnon, 90 (screw) ' • Blenheim, 58 (screw) ; Con flict, 8 (screw) ; Gorgon, 6 (paddle) ; Growler, 6 (paddle) ; Dragon, 6 (paddle) ; Bull Dog, 6 (paddle) ; Vesuvius, 6 (paddle) ; Stromboli, 6 (paddle) ; Hecla, 6 (paddle). The above ships could be manned by the guard-ships, Excellent and Victory, and with the coast-guard service and marines, and could put to sea at 24 hours' notice, with the exception of the Duke of Wellington, and she could go as a sailing ship, if occasion required. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 25. The Vulture 6 (paddle), Captain Glasse, returned from the Chops of the Channel on Tuesday night. There is some defect in the valve of her steam pipe. She came into harbour this mornirg, and the diver is going down to see if he can discover the defect. It is very probable she will have to come into dock. Everything respecting the launch of the St. Jean d'Acre went off remarkably well, and gave general sa tisfaction to an immense concourse of people. Her draft of water, when clear of everything, and water still, was —forward, 11. feet 10 inches ; aft, 20 feet 8 inches. She will be taken into No. 5 Dock on Saturday morning. Mr. Duprezne Laren and Captain Bourgis, officers of the French navy, visited the dockyard by Admiralty permission yesterday. The former is said to be the master shipwright who built the Napoleon. They took a great interest in the launch and ship, and appear gentlemen of superior ability, and have been shown every civility and attention. They took lunch with Commodore Seymour to-day, and after that they went to the Breakwater in his boat. WOOLWICH, MAucH_2s, Rear-Admiral Armar Lowry Corry, Commander-in- Chief of the Channel Squadron, has had his furniture re moved from the Prince Regent, 90, his flag-ship, at Portsmouth, and sent to Plymouth, to be put on board one of the ships there preparing for departure to the Mediterranean station, the gallant Rear-Admiral being about to succeed Rear-Admiral Edward Harvey as Ad mind Superintendent at Malta. It is still the general belief in well-informed naval circles that there will be two Channel squadrons formed during the approaching summer. Although this is Good Friday, and a close holiday in the dockyards, Messrs. Maudslay, Sons, and Field's workmen are employed, as on week days, in fitting the engines of the Tribune, 30, screw steam-frigate, in the dock at Woolwich, making ready for commission with all possible dispatch. A few hands have also been employed in shipping stores on board the Isabel, Lady Franklin's screw steam vessel, her departure having been postponed until Mon day next. GREENWICH SCHOOL AND THE OFFICERS OF THE NAVY AND MARINES. —We deem it our duty to inform our naval friends that at the present time there are nume rous vacancies in that portion of the upper school of Greenwich Hospital, which is reserved for the sons of com missioned an ad ward-room d n noya Marines. w warrant officers in vacanciesin the re. RmoayinaluNnfialvleyd merely because no applications for them are made by qualified persons. The excellence of the education given at Greenwich has been placed beyond a doubt by the annual reports presented to Parliament by the Privy Council, and printed every year. Professor Moseley, the Government inspector of schools, has re peatedly described it as the best school in England of its kind. All the expenses are defrayed by the institution, and the cleverest boys have always the best chance for appointments in the navy. We are quite sure that it only requires to be known that there are numerous vacan cies, for those parents whose sons are eligible for admis sion to the school to make applications at once to the First Lord of the Admiralty for nominations: Some of the best officers at present in the navy are the sons of officers educated at Greenwich in the school.—Herald. Our Marseilles correspondent confirms the fact of the French fleet having left Toulon for the Dardanelles ; and our Paris correspondent states that three more sail of the line are ordered to be got ready at Toulon to reinforce the fleet in the Archipelago. Her Majesty's steam packet Caradoc, Lieutenant-Commander Derriman, was waiting at Marseilles on the 21st, but by this time she has probably proceeded to Vice-Admiral Dundas with dispatches from the Admiralty. It appears she dragged her anchors on the night of the 20th, and was obliged to get up steam to ease herself. We presume her anchors were the " Admiralty anchors," which have been proved to be 40 per cent. inferior to Trotman's in the late trials.--. .Herald. SUDDEN DEATH AT THE PORTSMOUTH TERMINUS.—On Thursday night last Mr. William Smith, manager of the Portsmouth Gas Works, and well known in the northern coal districts, whilst on the platform of the Portsmouth Railway terminus, was suddenly teized with a fit of apoplexy, and in the course of a few minutes was a corpse. Deceased was a councillor of the borough, and highly Jespected. RAMWAYS. St. 20 Aberdeen Ambg. Nottng. Bost & Eastn. Junct Birmg. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct. Do. Chesh. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £2O Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon Cork, Blackrock and Passage Dubliu&Belfast June Dundee Perth &Aber deeu Junction Do. New East Aeolian (£25 L and E. & L. & D.) Do. Do. (181. E.& H.) Eastern Counties.. Eastern Union, Class A. (late E. U. Sh.) Do., do Do., B. and East Lancashire East & West Ind. Dk & Binning. June 100 'Edinburgh & Glasgo w 18i 100 100 all all all 'Ellin. and Peebles..,, 100 iEdin. Prth. & Dundee wo Glasgow &S. Western 100 Great Northern Stk 100 Do., A. Stock 100 Do., B. Stock 100 Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Great Western Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Lancash.& Yorkshire Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv. Crsby. &Southpt London & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Loud. Brigt. & S. Cat. London & N. Western Do., Fifths Do. , £lO Sh. M. &B. C London & S. Western Do., £5O Do., £.lO Londerry. &Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Mauch. Shef. &Lincln I Do., Man.& Lin. Un Midland Do. Birming. & Derby , Midland G. West. (Ir.) Do. Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do. Bury Extension Newp. Aberg. &Hftd Newry & Enniskillen Newry, Warreupoint, and Restrevor..., Norfolk Do., New Northn. Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 Do., No. 2 Do., A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire Nortk Western N. & S. Westrr. June Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Scottish Central Scottish Midland Slirowsbui7 & Birmg Do., L. & N. Westu Guaranteed Stock Shrewsby.& Hereford Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor. W. Min.) Do. Halves do Do Do. Oswesti y Shropshire Union South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yorksh . River Dun Do. Stockton & Hartlepl Thames Haven Dock and Railway' Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford& Limerick West Cornwall W imbledon&Croydn Woodford York Newctl.&Benv Do. Extensions Do. G. N. E. Purchase York & N. Midland all 1 111 1100 I 111 all all all 100 34 all all 103 100 - 100 474 17A' all 1.00 'lOO all 3 10 100 100 100 100 11.1.81 100 20 114 100' Aberdeen . Do., No. 2, 7 p. c Bris. & Es. 4 p. c. St, Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5. per cent. Cork&Bandonq P.C. Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction E. Aug. (705.) 6 p. C. Do. (X 5), 7 per cent. Do. (X 7 17s), 7. p et. Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. e. No.l Do., No. 2 Do., New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union Scrip Guar. 6 per cent East lanca.sh. 6 p. cts Edinb. Prth.& Dund Glasgow & S. Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Northn. 5 p. a Do. 5 p. e., Redeem at 10 p. o. prem , Gt.S outhn. & Westn-1 (Ireland) Eights Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c.) Great Western, fixed 4. per cent Lan. & York. F. .£2O Do., 6 p. c., Stock London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref. 5 p. e., St Do. Convertible, 5 p c., 1852 'Do. New Guar. 6 p. c. London & S. Western, Con. Third 5.........! Londonderry & Coler. Shares La:duchy. & Ennisk i Shares Manch., Shef.,&Lin., I Shares, No. 1.... 'DO., New, £lO . ..... !Do., £6 . Marypt. & Carl. 4 p. c, Do. 4i per cent Do Mid. Consol. 6 p. s. St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent.... Do. Pref. 4i percent. Norfolk Extension... Do. Guar. 5i per et. Do. Waveney Valley 5 per cent........ ... North British North Staffordshire.. Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £15,6p. c. Do. Shrewsbury & Birm. New Guaranteed Shrcwsby. & Chester Nor. W. (Min), 3 p.c. Do. 5 per cent. South Devon Do. New S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) f Os. 6d. S. Yorksh. 4p. 0. Guar. Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p.c. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 4 p. c. Pref Do York & N. Midland, H. & S. Purchaso... THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EtkSTINGI-, MARCH 26, 18'5 3. THE SIIA.RE MARKETS. BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices Thursday. 29 - 30 6/ • 63 9 - 101 73 —63dxd 21 22 d 33 —23dxd 101 105 614 6 21 2 2 183 193 8 -- 9 104 21i 5 - 12/- 13 10 - 11 - - 8 72 - 73 57 73 75xdi 32 61 63 80A 81 45 47 1 12 2 —l24xd 107 —lOB xd.l 908 9111 6i 74! 92 94xd 13 75i —7 6132 p, I 5 4l 16 di 1 di 1 3 1 —x 84 1-1 9.d , 1 1); 103 1044 1 118. i 119 119 2 —3p xd 1 —x& 90 — 1 p al 5 — 4 1 d 4 301 11 12 ii 19 21 291 34 301 3 3 ill 7C 75 75 41 43 45 ••• •.. 53 4 50 3 3 1 3f 9 51 7i 35 2 36 R d 1 16 i 4f 4 d i S - S 4p 48 - 49 100 - 102 63 - 65 64 - 66 19 1i 2il 15 -15 A I 9 -- 9i 29 -- 31 91 9i d p 6A - 69. - 74 -- 7i d! 2$ -- 2sd 58 -- 59 Business done this day. xd xd BREAD. The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from 7d to 8d; of household ditto, 5d to 6id per 41b loaf. NEWPORT. Beef, from 2s 8d to 3s B,i; Mutton, 3s 8d to 4s 8d; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s &I; Pork, 3a 4d to 4s Od per 81bs. WHITECHAPEL. Beef from 28 6d to 3s 6d ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; Veal, 38 4d to 4s 6d ; Pork, 2s 8d to 4s Od per 81bs. by the carcase. BILLINGSGATE. Turbots, 7sod to 12s6( 7 1;iiill;:l;T1 to 5s Od; Cod Fish, Od to 8s Od each; Salmon, is 6d to 2s per lb.; Soles, 8d to 2s 3d per pair ; Eels, 6d to is per lb ; Lobsters, 8d to 2s Od ; Crabs, 6d to is 10d ; Whitings, 3s Ckl to 6s per doz.; Doreys, Os Od to 6s Od; Mullets, Od to Os each; Common Oysters, 7s Od to 16s Od; Natives, 30s Od to 36s Od per bushel; Mackerel, 4d to 8d each; Smelts, Os Od per dozen; Scats, 4d to 7d per lb; Shrimps, is 6d to 2s 3d per gallon; Bloaters, is ld to 2s 3d per dozen; Fresh Herrings, is Od' to is Gd per dozen ; Haddocks, Gd to is Od each ; Salt Fish, 2d to 5d per lb. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 3/ 5s to 4/ 12s ; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ Gs to 1/ 13s per load. Supply but moderate, and trade firm. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 3/ 58 to 4/ 15s ; clover d;tto, 4/ Os to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 8s to 1/ 16s per load. A limited supply, and a steady demand. WIIITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 3/ Os to 4/ 12s ; clover ditto, 4/ Os to 5/ 5s ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 1/ 13s per load. Trade firm. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DA Y.) LONDON, March 26.—Wind this day at Noon, N., light breeze, and fine clear weather. DEAL, March 25.—Wind E.N.E., fresh. Arrived from the River, and sailed—Maronon, for Calcutta ' • Lavinia, Madras ; Mentor, Cape Coast Castle • Gem, Grenada ; Pearl, Montreal ; Bona Fide, do. • Chanticleer, Newfound land ; Asia, Sydney, N.S.W. ; 131-em, Geelong ; Thames, Adelaide, S.A. ; Medora, Port Philip ; Pasha, do. ; Cairn gorm, Hong Kong ; Matilda Luckie, Demerara.—March 26.—(Per Elec. Tel.)--The Febro (Bremen brig), with Dutch emigrants, is on the Goodwin Sands, but is likely to be got off in the flood. COWES, March 25.—Arrived—Humboldt (s), New York, left on the 13th inst.—on freight, 65,000 dollars 63.1 Havre. SOUTHAMPTON, March 25.—The wreck of a large ship, supposed to be English, with mainmast gone, stump of fore and mizenmasts standing, bulwarks carried away, and decks swept, and apparently waterlogged, was passed on the 20th of March, in lat. 49 long. 39.—The Belmont (Bri tish), loaded with cotton, took fire at New Orleans, on the 7th inst., was scuttled, and sunk ; cargo all burnt, or badly ' damaged. PLYMOUTH, March 25.—Wind, E.N.E. Arrived—Gua daloupe, Havannah, for Antwerp. Sailed—Forerunner (s), Coast of Africa. FALMOUTH, March 25.—The Lady Eglintoun (s) took the ground, and is very leaky, and bilged on the fore side; cargo supposed to be damaged. OFF YTHE, March 25.—Isabella, Callao. PORTSMOUTH, March 25.—Wind, E. by S. Arrived = MM. steamer Highflyer, Bermuda. POOLE, March 25.—Wind, E.N.E. Sailed—Hearts of Oak, New York. DARTMOUTH. —Sailed Ganges, Port Philip ; John Panter, Cadiz and Swan River. LIVERPOOL, March 25.—Wind, E.N.E. Arrived— Liverpocil, New York. Sailed—lda, Melbourne ; Ginghes Khan ' Port Philip ; Neptune, Monte Video ; 'reehandel, Barbadoes ; Harma and Fanny, La Gumpa, Cornelia, Boston ; Montreal, Montreal. Off Port—Jas. Wright, New Orleans ; Antilla, New York ; Mearns, Chrysolite, Emulous, Jessie, Affiance, British King, and Paragon. QUEENSTOWN, March 24.—Wind, E. to N.E., a gale. Arrived—C. F. Bennett, St. John's, Newfouneland ; Cen turion, Matanzas. Sailed—Trident, Port Philip. BELFAST.—A rrived—Ruby, Ardrossan, for Marseilles, leaky, and will discharge ; Allan Brown, St. John's, N.B, Sailed—Elbe, New York. WARRENPOINT, March 24.—Arrived—Agar, New Or leans. GUERNSEY, March 24.—Sailed—Lydia, Adelaide, S.A. CUXHAVEN, March 22.—The Matilda, Priesto Ca• hello, and the Washington, from New Orleans, have been put on shore. HAMBURGH, March 22.—The Trident (s) has received damage from the ice, and the Jupiter (s) is discharging to repair. OPORTO, March 18.—The King William, hence for Leith, struck on a rock going over the bar this morning, started stern post, and is very leaky ; assistance has been sent to her; she will either return here, or make for the nearest practicable port. NEW YORK, March 10.-- The Atalanta, of Baltimore, is on shore near Sandy Hook, with seven feet of water in her hold, but is expected off. HAVANNAH, March 4.—The Victoria, from Viego, was wrecked on the North Coast, on the sth u lt. ; crew say. ed. THE RAILWAYS OF THE UNITED STATES. The following report has been presented to the United States' Senate : "The subject of legislation, with a view to prevent the recurrence of casualties, is necessarily so connected with that of state supervision over all the departments of rail road management, and involves so many important consi derations in reference to the greatest benefit and safety to the public, that the committee have deemed it their duty to give to it a somewhat detailed consideration. The right of a people to have free access to each other, for the various purposes required by the conditions of so ciety, is an inherent right, and the power of improving, or in any way altering the means adopted for these ends, can not be taken from the public, except with their consent. The roads or means of intercommunication of a country are, therefore, a part of the general interest, and from the earliest periods the sovereign power, under whatever form ' it may have existed, has ever held the right of controlling them for the general good. The practice which grew up of intimating their construction and management to associa tions formed for that purpose was only a delegation of its powers, in order to secure in a greater degree the welfare of the community. An irrevocable transfer of its powers was never designed. " In retracing the legislation of •ur State in reference to such associations, it will be seen that the inherent powers of the State have been distinctly asserted and carefully guarded. _ " The Legislature, acting for the general welfare, in granting to them such privileges as might best meet the public wants, has invariably reserved the right of modify ing and controlling their privileges in any way or manner best calculated to secure those objects. When the projec tors of railroad enterprises first began to ask the necessary privileges and immunities from the State, it will be seen that those have been granted with well-defined limits and conditions, reserving the right of altering or modifying them from time to time, and of limiting the periods of their corporate existence. " The last general enactment (the Railroad Law of 1850) in addition to reserving the right of annulling or dissolving any corporation formed under it, and of reducing the rates of fare under certain conditions, has compelled all com panies to make, annually, a detailed statement under oath of all their operations, both with regard to finance and manage ment, for the purpose of furnishing the State with reliable statistical information for its guidance, whenever the public welfare said safety should require additional legislation with regard to them. In no sense can railroad corpora tions be considered as placed beyond the control and super vision of the State. In granting them their corporate pri vileges, it was intended and designed that they should be used with a view to the welfare and greatest possible benefit to the community, and the sovereign power neglects its duty if it does not guard against their being made subser vient to other purposes, or if it fails so to modify and control them as to secure to the public the greatest possible amount of benefit compatible with the full development of so great an element of industrial progress. " It is also worthy of remark, that, independently of the right expressly reserved by the Legislature to modify, alter, or repeal the railroad charters, their proprietors, as the grantees of a public franchise to be exercised for the public benefit, are liable to a liberal control, when necessary to the public interest, by any future Legislature, whose power over them is not to be limited by implication. (` Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge,' 11 Peters' Reports, 420). " Is it expedient to place railroads under the supervision of the State, to insure greater safety to the travelling com munity, as well as to secure the greatest amount of public benefit from them ? " A long and persistive course of legislative interference with the various pursuits of commercial and industrial en terprise, and with the complex relations of supply , and de mand, for the purpose of protecting the public interest, has abundantly proved the fallacy of the principle upon which it was based. Enlightened public sentiment now justly condemns any restrictions, by legal enactments, upon the free operations of traffic, and, in all that relates to cheapness and facility of accommodation, the best security for the public welfare will, as a general rule, be found in the untrammelled and free competition of individual enter prise and capital. " It therefore only remains to inquire whether this gene ral rule of competition, when applied to railroads, will secure to the greatest possible extent, the safety of the travelling public and the general welfare, and whether, with these objects in view, the State has done its whole duty in granting to them the exclusive rights and privileges required for their successful operation. As regards intercommunication by railroads, as com pared with any other mode at present known, it requires no argument to show that there can be no competition, and that, until human ingenuity shall have developed some new element applicable to such purposes, they are in pos session of an unapproachable monopoly, exclusive just in proportion to their superiority. The same may be said with regard to competition upon any single road or series of roads under one control or management. At one time it was supposed that the traffic upon them would be open to competition, and that by this means the greatest pos sible benefit to the public would ultimately be secured ; but it has long since become apparent that their indis criminate use by the community is impossible. The ac cidents that now so often occur from want of due regard to time .and minute regulations clearly demonstrate how impracticable it would be to allow the running of trains by rival parties, at various rates of speed, on the same road, like competing stage-coaches on a public high way. The safe working of a railroad requires a unity of action and perfect combination of arrangement, which cannot be obtained without confining the management of its carrying traffic within the limits of its general control. Hence all companies have the exclusive manage ment of the entire business upon their roads ; and this arrangement seems an absolute necessity, without which the whole railroad system would soon become impractica ble, showing conclusively that the principle of competi tion is inapplicable, and can never be calculated upon as a means of securing any additional safety or benefit to the community. - - - " May not these advantages be secured from the compe tition between rival lines running in similar directions, or having the same termination ? " The principal lines of road in this State passing, as most of them do, through portions of country sparsely populated, the resources of which are as yet but partially developed, cannot be expected at this time to furnish in their operations any statistics or reliable facts from which to estimate the probable advantages the public are likely to de rive from their competion. It would seem, however, at pre sent, in reference to reduced rates of traffic or accomoda tion along their route, or regard for the safety of passengers, that little, if any, increased amount of public benefit has been attained; and it seems doubtful, even when these shall have received their full capacity for business (many of them being yet unfinished) and perfected in all their various departments, whether the principle of compe tition will apply to them. It undoubtedly will not, except in very populous districts, where the business is likely to be enough to afford adequate incomes to rival lines ; but even in such case it may be questioned whether the public interest is enhanced by competition. Our large cities, which may be the common termini of a great number of roads, may, perhaps, derive additional benefit from compe tition for the traffic that passes over the whole extent of their routes, but the community along the intermediate portions, where there is no competition for the way-busi ness, receive none of its benefits, but are, on the contrary, often disproportionally taxed, and deprived of many of the facilities which are their due, to enable the companies to secure the through traffic. . " Taking it for granted that a large portion of the cost of transportation consists of the amount of capital expended, it is evident that an equal amount of business could be done much cheaper with the same profit on one line than if the same were divided between two, with an outlay of twice the amount of capital : consequently, the general welfare would be more effectually promoted by a single road, properly restricted, than by competition between rival companies. " The Ultimate effects of competition would be diminn- tion of revenue, embarrassments in meeting current ex penses, inability to maintain the roadway and materiel in an efficient and safe condition, and a proportionate dimi nution of the facilities of traffic and of the adequate means of safety to the travelling public.* " But, admitting the benefits of competition, there can be no guarantee to the public that it will be continued. The adventages to be derived from combination between rival companies, having no competition to fear from any other known mode of intercommunication, are so obvious as to leave little doubt that an amalgama tion: of their in terests in some manner would be the ultimate result. In England, where the great number of railroads running through a comparatively limited space of territory would sooner test the question of competition than here, experi ence has abundantly proved the correctness of these views. Close competition has been maintained in reducing rates of traffic and furnishing additional means of preventing casualties ; and the community have for a time enjoyed the consequent benefits. These contests, however, have always ended, as they inevitably must, by combina tion, or some other arrangement, which has deprived the community of all the advantages to be expected from com petition. "As early as 1846, a select committee appointed by Par liament to inquire whether conditions might not be em bodied in railway acts, better fitted than those hitherto in them, to promote and secure the interests of the pub lic,' expres'ed their opinion very decidedly as to the hopelessness of looking to competition for the means of securing the interests of the public ; stating the fact that the more powerful companies had not only obtained the control of railway lines from which com petition might be apprehended, but had also suc ceeded, by various means, in obtaining a control over the canals, which, for a time, maintained competition with them in the carriage of heavy freight, and had thus deprived the public of all the protection at one time anti cipated from this source. Nearly all the witnesses that appeared before the committee, comprising gentlemen of the highest character connected with railroads, gave it as their opinion, that the public can never be benefited by the competition of companies.' Mr. R. Stephenson was of opinion that the power of supervision should extend to vetoing the construction of competing lines, to protect the public against the increased rates of traffic that would be necessary to remunerate the additional capital employed for that purpose. " It would appear, therefore, that the principle of com petition cannot, as a general r ule, apply to railroad corpo rations, and that the interests of the community should not be left to its operation, as in ordinary business enterprises ' • that they must, from their peculiar elements, be, in a greater or less degree, monopolies, and necessarily liable to the evils of monopoly. These evils are not, probably, as great at this time as they may be hereafter, when the system becomes more perfectly developed, and placed under the management of persons less disposed to show deference to public sentiment ; nor are they - as yet very perceptible to the public, from the fact that they a e it Invoortuiatdh orpeptarhineenrwi apparent in any direct loss to the community, for r ailroads , under an y de riving s p y em , it mustof the b e a additionalgr ea t benefit, bu t advantagesconsist obtain. It is nevertheless due to the community that th e e the above tendency of co these recz evils i l s s shouldincum and, b b e e n c t h u e p ck on edtheState to if th 3 the whole system under such control and supervision as may be deemed necessary to secure the greatest amount of public benefit compatible with a due regard to the pecu niary interests involved in the operations of railroads. " It may be urged that it would be unjust to subject rail road corporations, which have done_. so much for social ad vancement, to an interference which is not applied to other to this , that industrial tmu s a t s associations. i r a s t p i n e . or companies coinmercial mercantile, mechanical, private in upon r b a u li t y li P t ri ti v e charac ter, and their operations formed for the community bepyluLstehseiarreingdeinvele ---------_____ " * Mr. William Read, who was at the time extensively connected with railroads in France, stated in his testimony before a committee of the British Parliament, that the lament able disaster which occurred between Paris and Versailles, by which upwards of 100 lives were sacrificed, might be traced in its first causes to the competition b e tween the two rival roads then in opera ti on, the com pany being 8 ° crippled r esources thereby that it was unable t o keep its machinery in its and other materials.in a proper condition." R ._, ~~. ~' i: dual stockholders. On the other hand, - railroad corp .- tions by means of the great powers gr a nt e d to th em , are building up a system of intercommunication so superior to all others as to compel its exclusive use by the community. There were 2,500,000 tons of freight and 10,000,000 pas sengers carried upon our railroads in the past year, and there is already invested in them the enormous sum of 100,000,000 dollars. This amount must be greatly augmen ted for some years to come, in laying down double track' in completing roads already commenced, and in construct ing others that now are, or may be hereafter, projected. They will soon monopolise the entire passenger and a portion of the freight transportation of the State. They must move our troops and munitions in time of war, and perform the mail service. ' Their management, therefore, involves public and social interests of vast magnitude;' and although much praise is due to the individual enterprise that has so rapitly developed this great element of social progress, it must be borne in mind that these associations owe their origin to the Legislative will, and the great public interests affected by their operations make it the duty of the State to exercise a careful supervision over them ; and, if re quired, to mo dif y their powers from time to time. "If these views show the necessity of 'supervision, we are next to inquire in what manner it should be exercised. Should authority be given to interfere with the details of railroad management, to regulate the running of trains, to arrange time-tables, to appoint and remove, or otherwise punish employes, for neglect or violation of duty, &c., it is possible that instances may incur where interference of this kind might be necessary; but the committee can see many reasons why recourse should not be had to it, at least until it shall become apparent that the object in view cannot be attained by other means. The working of a railroad FP' quired the accurate arrangement of a great variety of de tAils, and a prompt discharge of all the duties assigned to the several departments of its management. To divide the authority from which the regulations necessary to effect these objects must emanate would give rc,‘Le to confusion and embarrassments, engender bad feelings aAd hostility on th 3 part of companies, take from the officers emir respon sibility, and might result disastrously for the safety of the public. " The committee, therefore, entertains doubt as to the beneficial results of any legislation at this time having- for its object direct interference. They are, however, of opinion that the public safety and welfare would be eo hanced by placing railroads Under the rigid supervision of the State, giving the authority created for that purpose such powers as will enable it. to, obtain - full information in regard to the management of all corporations formed for such purposes; to see that their corporate powers are not exceeded, to the injury of the public, and that the legal raquirements in relation to them are fully complied with ; to call for the most accurate returns and statistics ; and to give the most ample and unreserved publicity to all the details of their operations, for the purpose of enabling the community to judge from the representations of re sponsible and disinterested authority of the skill and fidelity of their management. Power should also be given to inves tigate and ascertain all the facts and circumstances in rela tion to casualties, with a view to suggesting the best means of pre venting their recurrence, as well as to protect com panies upon whose lines they occur against false statements and misrepresentations in relation thereto. Such authority, properly constituted„ with ample powers of supervision, would, in the opinion of the committee, be enabled to cor rect many of the abuses of railroad management, merely by investigating them thoroughly, and bringing them before the community. Their publicity would of itself suggest the remedy, and public sentiment would soon compel its Should this, however, prove insufficient, the infornitt don and facts thus carefully obtained and reported annually to the Legislature would form a reliable basis for any fur ther enactments that might from time to time be deemed necessary for the public safety and welfare, care being taken to impose no unjust re3traints upon the individual energy and enterprise to which so much is due for the rapid growth of our railroad system; to lay no obstruction in the way of this mighty engine of industrial progress, but rather to g aide it in such a manner that the whole people may enjoy, to the fullest possible extent, the countless benefits developed in its ownward careeer. "All of which is respectfully submitted. " W. J. APALPINE, State Engineer and Surveyor. " HENRY E. BARTLETT, Chairman of Committee on Railroads in the Senate." • THE RECENT STRIKE Or RAILWAY PORTERS AT LIVER POOL.—The operatives employed on the London and North-Western Railway at Liverpool, whose strike for higher wages was noticed yesterday, held several meet ings during Thursday, upon the King's Pierhead, Liver pool, where speeches were delivered, and deputations formed to wait upon the managers of the railway, to settle matters amicably. In this they were unsuccessful, as Mr. Cochrane and Mr. B. Poole refused to accede to their demands. We understand that Mr. Poole, who advertised for 500 hands on Thursday, received applica tions from nearly double that number. The men have conducted themselves since their turn-out very peace ably and quietly, and are to hold another meeting on the King's Pierhead this (Saturday) morning. _ _ _ A MAN GORED TO DEATH BY AN Ox.—A fatal occur rence took place on the Gloucester-road, four or five miles from Bath, on Thursday. On the previous night two beasts belonging to Messrs. Chalker and Singer, butchers, of Bath, were being driven towards that city, when one of them became too tired to proceed, and was placed in a field, the other being driven on to Bath. On Thursday morning a lad was sent out after the other ox, and his father, George Hurford, accompanied him. They succeeded in getting the animal out of the field, and it proceeded some distance quietly, but suddenly it turned upon the drovers, and running at the poor man Hurford, fixed him against a wall, where the beast continued to gore him until he fell a corpse. The boy fortunately effected his escape, and the ox having expended its rage upon the father, burst into a field and roamed about till the afternoon in an infuriated state, when it was shot. EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE Or A LADY.--On Thursday evening, Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, held an inquest at the Duke of Clarence Tavern, Orchard-road, Hackney, on view of the body of Miss Elizabeth Barron, aged 47 years, a lady of independent property, who committed suicide under the following circumstances :—Ann Bar ron, of Grove cottage, Orchard-road, Hackney, said that deceased was her sister. She was single, and had been rather depressed for some tune past. Witness could tot account for her low state of mind, as she was very reli gious, and never threatened to commit any violence. On Sunday evening last the deceased and witness re tnrued from chapel, and after they had sat together in conversation, the dece ase d w i s h e d t o s l eep with witness, which was unusual. They subsequently retired to rest, and on the following morning (Monday) witness rose at seven o'clock, leaving the deceased asleep ; but, some time afterwards, when witness returned to call her for breakfast, she discovered the deceased suspended by a piece of rope to the iron rail of the bedstead. Deceased was in her night-dress, and witness ran out for assist ance, when a Mrs. Snow and one of the servants cut the deceased down, but they said she was dead. The de ceased was in the habit of reading a great deal, and was to have been married on Good Friday to a gentleman of fortune, residing at Islington. They had parted on the last meeting in a very friendly manner, and were always on the most amicable terms. Mr. Henry Tolman, sur geon, of Hackney, said he was called to the deceased, but on his arrival at the house he found her quite dead and cold. She had died from suffocation by hanging, and there was a deep mark or indentation round the deceased's neck, as if she had been suspended by a rope. Isaac Chapman, the gardener to the family, having given confirmatory evidence ; the Coroner remarked on the principal points of the case ; after which the jury-re turned a verdict of temporary insanity. SHOCKING Loss Op LIFE.—DEAL, THURSDAY NIGHT. —A most melancholy occurrence was made known here this evening, which has created much regret. Three brave and hardy men, who have often distinguished themselves by saving human life from wrecks on the Goodwin, having met with a lamentable death by their craft capsizing in a snow squall in the Gull stream. Their boat was the hovelling lugger, the Victoria, and the names of the men were Thomas Bowbegres, George Thompson, and another, with Thomas Thompson (father of George Thompson, about 50 years of age, and an ex perienced boatman), and Edward Greigs. They pushed off in the lugger from the beach about nine o'clock in morning. About eleven o'clock they were cruising in the Gull stream, when a brig was observed to heave to and hoist her colours. At the moment, another boat, belonging to Deal, happened to be close on Thompson's boat, and the Fawn requiring a hand Edward Greigs jumped in, and the Fawn immediately bore up for the brig. On approaching within hail of the brig, the cap tain beckoned to something that had befell the Victoria, and on looking astern they saw that the lugger was foundering. They bore round and made all haste to the spot, but only arrived in time to save the elder Thomp son, who was swimming • the others had disappeared, with their lugger, and had perished. Thompson was found to be in a very exhausted statl in w i h li e e n s. P c l k t i d s u s in- ' He was taken to Ramsgate. The sufferers were all married men, and have left large f cerely hoped that those who have the means will attempt in some measure to provide for the helpless widows and orphans. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—At th e W estern Iron Mine, aturda Daniel Palmer, was a t work in y te mine , preparing some morning, theeo ft hem . cartridges for firing thiieeoi re, near Luxborough, on S a man, named when by some accident he away, but had only ng aware of his danger he ran l m hted and on poor containing 10 lb s . of proceeded a few f ee t b e fore a barrel,owder, exploded, the fire caught h ig i of flame.' His p w came out of the level one sheet burning clothes w er e torn from him as quickly as possible ; notwithstanding, all his hair was burnt fro m his head, the skin from the tops of the fingers to the elbows Was quite g one , and he is now lying in a very precari ous state had been at . Fortu na tely, the other men wh o work with him had just gone to dinner ; otherwise, no doubt, so me of them would have been killed o n the spot.—Sh,e r borne Journal. THE WEATHER IN IRELAND. —The harsh and unsea sonable Weather is still the principal theme of conversa tion, and occupies every one's attention ; and the ac counts from all parts of the country show that there are no local exceptions to its prevalence. The Limerick Chronicle says : " C o l d north-east winds and severe frost indicate the hard complexion of this month. Rude health can brave with impunity the parching dry atmos phere that reigns out of doors, but to the aged and inva lid this inclement season is most distressing. One of the 4- and most protracted winters on record has no severes., cessarily retarded all agricultural operations, and we must be content to expect a very late, though we may hope a good and sufficient, harvest in all green and cereal cr ops, excepting wheat." A Mayo paper thus complains on the some subject :—" We never recollect so unpro pitious a spring as the present. Farming operations are at a stand-still, and up to the present we believe there has not been a fractional portion of the corn sown as has been usual at this period of the year. Potato planting is also much retarded by the severe frosts and heavy showers of snow. The wheat crop looks exceedingly delicate, notwithstanding that every advantage is taken of fine days ; still we fear that there will be a consider able deficiency in the average area of land cultiv a ted . Monday we had heavy showers of snow , w ith easterly wind." Similar statements appear in all the provincial journals. PREFERENCE SHIRES. 166 - IOS 106 -- 108 18 193 par 61 63 3 a _ 3k 4, 1 4 1 1 4)' la 1H p' -- p 141— 15 , 19 xd IFi -- 19 3 i - 34 xd 26 - 128 109 - 111 N 6 1 105 )07 Ad ipzd 150 —152 1150 - 1531 12i 124 12i St. St. 8)1 1 100 ,100 25 10 106 Si 3 ;P 10 131 -1 3 i 8 -- 9 10i -- --had 148 -- 149 211 I:, 23 ip li -2! 109 -- 111 25 -- 26 1 - 161 11 - 17i -18 i -- li 15 -- 1 6 p par 3 p 261 2G 20 21 - i d par 101 - 103 1 6 -- 51 par -- 106 x(1 101 3i x d FOREIGN. 10 3 A.ntwrp.S4Rotterdam ?,d 5 3 Belgian Eastn. Junct. 1 11 20 all Charleroi 4z Erquelin 14 15 20 8 Dijon and Besaugon 2 2ip 20 8 Dutch Rhenish 2 2 d 53. 20 all East Indian — p 20 1 Do. Extension 1 — l g p 5 all Gt. Indian Peninsula 1/ 2 p 20 7 Gd. Junct. of France 1 1 4 p 204 153 Gt. Westn. of Canada - Shares P 5 1 Lucca and Pistoja, 5 per cent. pref 20 15 Luxembourg 7i 8 7i 10 10 Do. (Railway) 4 5 2Do —ll 5 3 Do. (Canal) 1 2 10 2 Do. 6p. cent. pref. d IP 20 7 Lyons & MedOterran. 9 11. p 20 44 Madras 2 —24 p 334 29 Maria Antonia — 10 10 Do. New — 20 all Namur & Liege (with interest 7i 74 20 all Do. (ex interest) 6 .-7 16 all Northern of France 35/ —3G 36i 4 I 20 all Do. 201. 3p. c. Bds (fmy.B.&Ams.Shs.] 14 15 10 all Norwegian Trnk. Pref 8/ 20 10 Paris and Lyons l7 —lB p 28a 20 all Paris and Orleans 4IA 42.) 424 20 all Paris and Rouen 4l 42 20 all Paris and S:,ra s b ourg 33.1 332 334 20 4 ParisCaen&Cherbr7. 4 5 p 101 51 Quebec & Rie'lmo;d P 20 all Rouen and Ha vre 2O —21 p 20 all Sambre and Meuse 9 9i 1.0 4 Do. 5} per cent. pref. 20 4 Southern of France 44 5' p 20 2s. Upp el India Scrip — pm gi a ll West Flanders 4 - 10 6 Do. 5i per c. Pref 4d par 20 9 Western of France 94 —10 p 10 2 West. of Switzerland id par 20 3 New .. MINES. 1 all Agna Fria lOs all Anglo Californian p 10 2 Australasian l. d— 16 p 3 . } 20 $ Australiaa 1 all Australian Cordillera p 1 1 all Australian Freehold, par— # p 1 all Ave Maria - - p 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of) par h 6 p 1 all British Austrin. Gold 4 6 p 20 13.5 British Iron 7 9 35 246 Brazilian Imp. (issued at X 5 pm.) 5 5? 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiaba 4 - 41 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 29 —3O 1 6 Carson's Creek par 4 p 40 all Cobre Copper 47 —49 1 Colonial Gold 2A 2i p 3] . . 14 Copiapo , 51 —66 Si. all CopperMinersof Eng. 75 85 25 all Do. Preference 76 —B4 p 334 5 all English and Austin Copper Smeltg. Co l4 1 d 20 all General l7 —l9 2 all Great Nugget Vein 26 —2i p 3 all Great Polgooth l4 1 p 1 all 'fake Bathurst 4 die— par 1 all Liberty — g p 14 1 all Lond. &Cali forn. Gold Quartz Crush. Co a 4 d 1 all Mariquita 4d par 10 9 Mexican &S. Americ B4 9 1 all New Granada — A p 1 all Nouveau Mondo l6 —la p 5 1 Port Philip - p 1 g I 1 all Quarts Rock , par p 50 all Rhymney Iron 24 —26 15 Do. New 7 8 30 10-i Santiago do Cuba 1 all South Australian 4 3 p 10 7 Tin Croft ll —l3 284 all United Mexican 66, 7 1 all Waller . par p 1 all West Granada 1 all West Mariposa idio p 1 all Yuba Par JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 92 - - 93 50 all British N. Americani 20 2 Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, &- China 2 —24 p 100 25 Colonial. — 100 20 Commercial of Lon don — 4 English Scottish and Australian 2B 20 76 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia 44 5 p 17# ISO 20 London and County 50 10 London Joint Stock 100 20 Lond. &Westminster 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia, and India 50 224 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank of Corporation 5B 60 594 25 $ Do. Ne 100 25 Provincial of Ireland ... 10 all Do. New — G 1 Royal Australn.Bkg & Gold Imp. Co i t die— up 25 25 South Australia 5O 52 51 25 all Union of Australia 76 77 26 Do. New 50 10 Union of London — 40 all Union of Madrid • MISCELLANEOUS. IC3 35 Australian Agricult 1 101 104 20 6 Austrlasn.Pcific•Ma'l 10 $ Australn. Royal Mail' 38A Brit. Americu. Land' - 100 32 6 Canada 6 Crystal Palace I 4 2 Crystal Pal, of France— -20 1 Eastern Steam — 1 1 Electric. Teleg. of Ir — 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — 100 50 General Screw Steam — 20 26;Irish Beetroot Sugar 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 2 Netherlands Land — 20 26iN rth. of Europe Steam „. 50 all Peninsular &Oriental 84 50 25 Do. Do. 100 60 Royal Mail Steam.. .. . 25 25 South Austral. La nd 53 55 54 1 1 Submar. Telegraph — 5 2 Universal Emigration 10 and Colonisation.• • ••• ••• 100 284 Van Diemen's Land,.! 24 25 g MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) COVENT GARDEN. The supplies of both fruit and vegetables on sale to-day were very moderate. Generally speaking the demand ruled steady, at fully last week's prices. FlilllT.—Pine apples, Os Od to 10s Od ; hot-house grapes, 20s to 255; Hambro ditto, is to is 6d per lb ; apples, dessert, 8s Od to 10s Od ; cooking ditto, 5s to 9s per bushel ; pears, is 6d to 4s per dozen ; lemons, is to 2s Od ; oranges, 4s to 9s per 100 ; pomegranates, 4d to 6d each ; almonds, 6s per peck ; Barcelona nuts, 20s per bushel ; cob-nuts, 110 s per 1001bs. ; chesnuts, 8s to 20s per bushel ; straw berries, 3s per dozen. VEGETABLES.—Cabbages, is to 1s 6d ; Brussels sprouts, 2s Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; brocoli, 3s to 4s ; greens, Is Od to 2s per dozen bunches ; French beans, 2s to 3s per 100 ; asparagus, 5s to 9s per bundle ; sea-kail, 2s Od to 3s Od per basket ; rhubarb, 9d to is 6d per bundle ; cauli flowers, Od to Os per dozen ; potatoes, 85s to 150 s per ton ; turnips, 2s Od. to 3s Od ' • carrots, 4s Od to Os OJ per dozen bunches ; cucumbers, is Od to 3s Od each ; celery, ld to 2s Od per bundle ; spinach, 2s Od to 2s 6d per half sieve ; onions, 2s Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; beet, is Od to )s Gd per dozen ; leeks, 2d to 3d per bunch ; shallots, Gd to Bd. ; garlic, Gd to 8d per lb ; endive, is Od to is Gd per score ; small salad, Od per punnet ; horse-raddish, is Oil to 3s Od per bundle ; mushrooms, is Gd to 2s Od per bottle ; parsley, 2s Od to 3s Od per dozen bunches ; turnip greens, is 3d per bushel. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Geese, 4s Od. to 6s 6(1 ; Turkeys, 5s to 10s each ; Ducks, 1s 9d to 2s 9d; tame Rabbits, is 3d to is 9d; wild ditto, fid to ls; Pigeons, Gd to 10(1 each; roasting Pigs, 4s Gd to 7s 6d each; Surrey Fowls, 6s Od to 9s Od; ditto Chickens, 4s Od to 6s Od; barn-door Fowls, 3s 3d to 5s 0(1 per couple; Pheasants, 4s Od to 6s Od; Partridges, is 3d to is 9d; Hares, 2s Od to 3s Od; Leverets, Os Od to Os Od; Woodcocks, 3s Od to 4s Od; Grouse, 2s Od to 3s Od; Snipes, 6d to is; Teal, 9d to is; wild Ducks, is 3d to 2s Od ; Widgeons, 15 to is 6d; and Plovers, 6d to is each. English Eggs, 105 Od to lls Gd; French ditto; 8s 6d. to 9s Od per 120; fresh Butter, is Od to is 2d per lb. 13AI 20 20 50 St. 5 St. 20 1007 all 100 5 100 all 48 ',loli