The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATU RDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1857. T EIFIATRE ROYAL, DRUM LANE.— ' ficulties of the RUSSELL Administration were occa- or. other Government securities deposited by them Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. sioned by the gross mismanagement of the finan- with the Commissioners. Acting Manager, Mr. C. Math . ews. Stage Manager, Mr. R cial department. Now what has Sir G. C. LEWIS "And, lastly, the Committee would observe that Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. The eminent Comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, every evening, effected during the two years that have elapsed it might be a matter of after consideration, whe- Great Success of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the since he was pitchforked into an office for which then, at the expiration of t heSankCharter, the Corn most m agnificent ever p roduced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform an he was by no means qualified ? During the first missioners might not act as bankers to the public entirely new three-act Drama, entitled session he was excused from doing anything. departments, whereby• a saving would he effected, THE BLACK BOOK. characters by Mr. C. Mathews, A. Younge, G. Honey, Mr. Ample allowance was made for this recent ap- or that the management both of this business and Vincent, Mr. Tilbury, Mr. Lingham ; Misses Cleveland and M. Oliver , an d Mrs . Selby. . pointment, and it was hoped that by giving full of the National Debt should be undertaken by After which will be produced time for consideration he might at length effi- any of the principal banking firms?" SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW ; ciently discharge the important duties that de- Does Sir G. C. LEWIS consider that this was Or, Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the volved upon him. It was clear that he was not not " recommending any alteration of the Act I" house to suit every one :—Galleries, 6d. and ls. • Second a brilliant orator—that his financial statements Whether his mistake proceeded from a suppressio Circle of Boxes, is. 6d. ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Dress Boxes, 39.; Stalls, s s. ; Priv ate Boxes, would afford a very deplorable contrast to those neri, or, what is far more probable, gross and cupl 10e. 6d., U. ls., ii. lls. 6d., and 2 /. 2 s. of Mr. DISRAELI or Mr. GLADSTONE ; but still helable ignorance, it is perfectly clear that he is A Morning Performance of the Great Pantomime every might make up by soundness of principles and perfectly incompetent to discharge the duties of Wednesday, at Two o'clock. comprehensiveness of plan for his painful defici- the arduous and important situation which he oc ency in that particular. In 1855 he added 2d. I cupies. We shall on a future occasion expose to the Income Tax, but suggested no modification the fallacies to which he has resorted, and which of the unjust and impolitic assessment. He also are merely a reeltauffee of the sophisms of Mena increased certain indirect duties on malt, tea, tor and his leading disciples. The battle of the coffee, and spirits, materially enhancing the cost currency must now be fought in the Committee ; to the consumer of articles, which, in the three and we earnestly hope that the Lords may re-ap first cases, were of almost primary necessity, and point their Committee, from which the country in the latter giving great encouragement to the can alone hope for fair and impartial justice. demoralising traffic in illicit spirits and occasion ing a loss to the Revenue. Last year his finan cial scheme was an entire blank. No change of any kind was proposed. It is impossible at present to say what will be his plat daring the present Session. But from the indications already supplied by the lucubrations of his Fidus Achates of the Fourth Estate, it requires no extraordinary powers of vaticination to declare that, but for the indignant excitement that pre vailed throughout the length and breadth of the land, it would only be signalised by the attempt to carry the " pettifogging quibble" into prac tical execution. According to the Times the pee -1 ple should submit to destiny. It was useless to struggle against what was inevitable, or, at all events, was a question of expenditure rather than of taxation ; but now that he has been compelled to witness the demolition of " that slight con venient entrenchment in the distance," it is an nounced that " the most that can be expected is ,to be rid of the extra Income Tax." And tho echo from Downing-street exhorts the nation " to let the Chancellor of the Exchequer concentrate his-mind on this one achievement." Consequently there is nothing else to be expected at his hands ! So much for his fiscal performances, or rather non-performances, in which he has displayed as strong a development of the vis inertice, as power ful even as Sir CHARLES WOOD himself—now as to the great monetary problem, on the due solu tion whereof tho future welfare and prosperity of the country so greatly depends. All he proposes is to renew the Charter for ten years, and to get a trifling sum, in addition to what he at present receives, from the Bank, for the removal of its privileges—a demand with which the Directors will only be too happy to comply. It is true that he has asked for a Select Committee in order to shirk the responsibility of the mischievous mea sure. But after the announcement of his views and intentions last night, it is manifest that he contemplates that its Report will be a foregone conclusion, and that he may discharge his formid able missile against the trade, commerce, and manufacture of this country, under the protection of its shield, without being held answerable for the more than probable results. In this, however, he may possibly "reckon without his host." If a fair and im partial committee be selected, if a searching in vestigation be instituted into the operation of the Act, something yet may be effected. But yester day we deprecated the reference to a committee., as calculated to shelve the all-important question for the entire session. Now, we hail it with joy, as affording the only chance of obtaining any amelioration of the impolitic restrictions. There were unquestionably ample materials for legislation. The Report of the Lords' Committee in 1848 sup plied ample data, but Sir G. C. LEWIS seemed to be completely ignorant of the nature of that Report. He said the Committee (the Lords') " did not, he believed, recommend any alteration of the Acts." Now, that Committee declared that, " the recent panic was materially aggra vated by the operation of the statute ;" adding, " this effect may be traced directly to the Act of 1844 in the legislative restriction imposed on the means of accommodation ; and it may be traced to the same cause indirectly, a% a consequence of great fluctuations in the rate of discount, and of capital previously advanced, at an unusually low rata of interest." But it may be said, this is not a re commendation for any alteration in the Act. It certainly unequivocally condemns it, but that is all. Now, at the end of the report the following THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. 1 THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, with (first time) a new Comedy, in three acts, entitled DOUBLE-FACED PEOPLE. Characters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Chippendale, Mr. Compton, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Clark, Miss Reynold s, Mrs. Poynter, and Mrs. E. Fitz wil iam. After which (44th time) the new comic pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. The scenery the opening story painted by Mr W. Callcott. The pantomime produced under the direction of M. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano; Columbine, Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed _kV A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a now grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Holino ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co. lumbine, Miss C. Adams. Although the Royal Speech had reference almost exclusively to our Foreign Relations, it is remarkable to observe how entirely these topics have been overruled by others of a more home character in the preliminary discussions at once of the Upper and of the Lower Chamber of the Legislature. It is, nevertheless,f e of the utmost im portance that public attention should not be alto gether absorbed in the vigilant observation of the Parliamentary " Sayings and Doings " during the earlier part of the present session, in reference even to subjects of the imminent value of the Income Tax, of the Bank Charter, of Law Reform generally, and of particular notions of improve. ment, or modification, in the rigid schemes of our Criminal Jurisprudence. Something—quite ob viously—must be done at once in regard to the diminution of the Income Tax of 16d. in the pound, in regard to the abolition of the War Tax of 9d., in regard to the generally iniquitous man ner of its as4essment. Something—as evidently —ought to be done in regard to the reconsidera- R OYAL LYCEUM TELEA.TRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. • THIS EVENING will be produced an entirely new and original combination of burlesque and pantomime, entitled CONRAD AND MEDORA; or, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Brough, Esq., founded upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as produced at Her Majesty's Theatre. The harlequinade upon things in gene ral. The new and magnificent scenery painted by Mr. F. Fenton „Miss Woolgar _Mr. J. L. Toole ~.Mrs. Charles Dillon _Mr. Tom Matthews and Mr. H. Marshall To be preceded by THE KING'S MUSKETEERS. D'Ar tagnan, Mr. C. Dillon. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super• ratendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties to the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. Conrad (the Corsair) ... Birbarto (his lieutenant) Medora ... Clowns T HEATRE ROYAL, ADEL PH Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. tion of the working of the 7th and Bth VICT., C. 32, as well as in reference to that of the Bth and 9th VICT., C. 37 and 38. Something, too, it is perfectly clear, is imperatively required at the hands of Peers and Commons, by way of realising some at least of the rational hopes awakened by the Law Amendment Society, as well as in fulfilment of the expressed promises of legal reform given to the country by the Lord High Chancellor. Something instant and vigorous in the revision of the Criminal Code of England being no less urgently demanded with a view to the immediate avoidance henceforth of the many frightful consequences of the Ticket-of-Leave Sys tem by the adoption of some more rational system of secondary punishments. All these matters are undeniably forced at the present moment upon the prompt and conscientious consideration of the Legislature. We deny it not. We—on the ceutrary—insist upon the really extraordinary urgency of each one of these remarkable themes for discussion ; doing so, in fact, by a reiteration the most sustained and pertinacious. Yet, are we, at the same time, most solicitous also that public attention should not be allowed to slacken in its vigilance in regard to the Foreign Relations subsisting at this moment between our own and many an European and Asiatic Go vernment. A Parliamentary investigation must, sooner or later, as a matter of course, take place in reference to the origin and progress of the Chinese war, inau- THIS EVENING, will be performed BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy O'Rafferty, Mr. Barney Williams. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Pant Bedford will appear. Followed by OUR GAL. Caroline Morton, Mrs. Barney Williams. To conclude with gu rated by the born bard men tof Canton, and in refer ence likewise to those of the Persian war, already signalised by the seizure of Bushire and the pro bable occupation soon afterwards of Bender Ali and Mohammrad. The proximate settlement at last of the tedious Neuchatel difficulty must ne cessitate, moreover (when it comes), a Ministerial explanation as to the precise nature of the policy pursued by the Allies in their diplomatic endea vours to bring about a reconciliation of the con flicting claims advanced in regard to that princi pality by Prussia and by Switzerland. Besides which, Her MAJESTY'S Opposition will infallibly " have it all out"—or if not "all," at any rate as much as possible—in reference to our bungling at Naples, in reference to our blundering at Wash • ington, in reference to the Outline at least of what occurred at the Paris Conferences, and in refer ence, among other things, to the withdrawal from the Piraeus by the Allies of their little Greek Army of Occupation. The last mentioned incident, and with it the consideration of the whole political situation of things at Athens, it will be observed, has been hitherto of late altogether overlooked. Not a whisper of it in the Royal Address at the opening of Parlia ment ! Not an allusion to it as yet—good or bad, vague or explicit—in either branch of the Legislature ! A little while longer, however, and we doubt not the whole Greek Question will in due course be properly ventilated in the Lords and Commons. A consummation devoutedly wished for, we do not hesitate to believe, by Her Bri tannic MAJESTY'S Ambassador at the Court of OTHO-a diplomatist placed during the last three or four years in a situation of surpassing difficul ty, and one of all but overwhelming responsibility. There can be no question at all about it, that it is the bounden duty of Ministers to make a clean breast of it upon these and other scarcely less important particulars. It behoves the commu nity at large, at the same time, to be no less (on their part) alive to the necessity and importance of these eminently requisite explanations being extorted, at as early a date as possible, from her MAJESTY'S Govei nment. passages occur : " The following is an outline of the arrange ment which the Committee would recommend— "They would propose to establish the issue department on an entirely separate footing, and to place it under the management of Commissioners to be appointed by the Government ; but not ti be removable from their office, except upon an address to the CROWN by one or both Houses of Parliament. " It should be a fundamental condition that no species of money transaction should pass between the Commissioners and the Government, and that the Commissioners should on no account lend money to the Government, nor should they be in any way under its control or influence. "The Committee would propose that five such Commissioners should be appointed, and that they should have the power of issuing notes payable in specie on demand, as the Bank has at present. "The Commisiioners should le always obliged to purchase any quantity of gold that may be offered to thou, of standard fineness, and exceed ing 100 ounces in amount, at a price of 3/. 17s. 6d. per ounce, so as to provide against too great a limitation of the amount of paper circulation ; and the Committee incline to the opinion that it would also be desirable to make it obligatory on them to sell gold, if demanded, at a fixed price, say at 3/. 17s. 9d. per ounce, keeping the price below the Mint price, so as to prevent the exportation of coin. By thus regulating their issues according to the market price of gold, the Commissioners could never err in the manage ment of this part of their business. Her Majesty held a Privy Council this afternoon at Windsor Castle. The Marquis and Marohioness of Stafford arrived at their mansion in Hamilton-place, a few days since, from Lilleshall, Salop. We regret to announce the demise of the Marquis Fer dinando Incontri, who married a few years since Miss D'Arcy Irvine, sister of the Viscountess Dungannon. The marquis expired at Florence on the 24th tilt. The Countess of Caledon and youthful family are ex pected in town in a few days, from Gorhambury, Herts. Viscount and Viscountess Sydney left town yesterday for their seat, Frognall, near Footscray. The noble vis count and her ladyship will return to town in about ten days. " The Committee would propose that the Commissioners should, in the first instance, pro ceed to issue eleven millions of notes to pay the debt due by the Government to the Bank, and three millions in addition for the purchase of Government Securitiev. Thus making a total issu e of fourteen millions as at present, founded on the credit of the Government. They should further issue such an additional amount as might be necessary to purchase a sufficient store of gold. By the a d opt i on of this plan the Committ-e conceive that the mercantile community would receive an equal amount of accommodation as-at present, the plan being int en d e d to keep the same amount of paper in circulation, leaving th e R ink the same amount of capital to lend to merchants and others. Viscount and Viscountess Bury have arrived in town from Quiddenham Hall, Norfolk. Lord Stanley of Alderley arrived in town yesterday, from a visit to her Majesty, at Windsor Castle. Lord Overstone leaves town this day, to join the family circle•at Wickham Park, Surrey. Mr. G. W. and Lady Jane Repton are expected in town in a few days from Dorset.hre. THE CHINESE AND PERSIAN A/VS—Norwicb, Friday Evening.—At a public meeting held here this evening, a very decided feeling was manifested against the Chinese and Persian wars. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. J. Taylor, Haw kins, Verrey, Heath, Abbess, Tozer, Donne, Woodward, Crane, Faitty, and G. Singer, guardians of the City of London Union ; Mr. Baylis, solicitor to the guardians ; and Mr. H. L. Morgan, accountant, had an interview with the Right Hon. E. P. Bonverie yesterday at the office of the Poor Law Board, on the subject of the frauds committed by officers of the union. Dr. Slattery, titular archbishop of Cashel, died at Thntles on Thursday last ADMISSION OF ATToIiNEYS.—In the late term out o' 110 persons who tendered themselves for examination as many as 30 were not allowed to pass. In the Bankruptcy Court yesterday the certificate of Mr. Simonds, of the firm of Cuylits and Simonds, was ordered to be suspended for five years, without pre ‘ection for twelve months. "TheComrnittee are also of opinion that it might be proper to allow the Commissioners to i s ,, e notes to batiks, not only in exchange for gold, b ut further, in some proportion to the funded propertv MOTHER SIIIPTON ; or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle. Harlequin and Columbine (h la Watteau), Madame Celeste and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr. Moreland ; Searamoueh, Mr. Le Barr. Characters in the bur lesque by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, MiFs Kate Kelly, Miss Arden, &c. ROYAL SURREY THEATR E, Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Crsswiek. THIS EVENING, an original play, in three acts, entitled A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUS[I. Roderick Praiseworthy, Mr. Shepherd. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. Glover ; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Ur. Bradbury; the Four Sprites, the Fillis Fa. mily; Columbines, Meidames Maria and Agnes. THEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE STRANGER. Characters by Messrs. H. .I . ariton, Robinson, Ray, Belford, Rayner, Lewis Ball, and Harris ; and Mesdames Ebnrne, J. Marston, and C. Parkes. To conclude with the pantomime, THE GENIE AND THE FISHERMAN. TRA.ND MC. T. r 7 Payne.—This Evening will I,n per brined DON'T 'LEND YOUR UMBRELLA. Followed by (sixth time) THE ANTI-GAROTTE. After which, the immensely successful novel Burlesque Pantomime of THE MAGIC MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin I Inmbug and the Shams of London. The Fairy Christmas, Niiss E. Wilton ; Good Humour, Miss Norbury; Mercury, Slim Cameron ; Humbug, Mr. Herbert; Cant, Mr. Bolton ; flame, Mr J. B. Johnstone ; Sir Roland, Mr. Clarke; Lord Love)., Miss Craven ; AddelpAe, Miss Cuthbert ; Crambo, Master W. Edouin ; Lady Agnes, Miss E. Jacobs ; Baroness, .)fr. G. Lee ; Furbilosa, Mr. J. Howard. Navel Marie quinade :":;Clown, Miss Cuthbert ; Little Clown, Master W Edouin ; Pantaloon, Mr. .7. Clarke ; Harlequin, Miss Craven ; Columbines, Miss E, Jacobs and Mdle. Collison ; Premier Dauseuse, Mdle. Marie Charles. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s, ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, ed. A morning performance of the Pantomime every Monday at two o'clock ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, DELICATE GROUND. Q. Vining and Leslie ; Mrs. Stirling. A new Fairy Extravaganza, by J. R. Plancbe, Esq.. called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs. F. Robson, Rogers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers. Misses Swanborough, Thirlwall, St. Casse, Castleton, Bromley, Maskell, and Mrs. Melfort. After which, CRINOLINE. Commence at half-past Seven. Messrs A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. THIS EVENING the equestrian comic pantomime, PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK, which (this Week being devoted to the Juveniles and Country Visitors) will each night be played first. The comic vagaries of the Grimaldi Horse are indescribable. After which, the SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with KATHERINE AND PETEUCHIO Petruchio, Mr. James Holloway. Commence at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ;. Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Private Boxes, from 1/., no charge for booking ; Pit, 2s ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Box office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jtm. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow lac company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Sloes, Duets, &c., viz. :—Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Coalfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, H. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corri, Senor Antonio M. de Solla, and E. L. lime ; Masters Austin, Bennett, and Corti ; Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Mackney, and C. J. Wilkins. Piano forte, J. II arroway, R. A.; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun ; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, size., until twelve o'clock. Mr. C. Morton's Annual Full Dress Ball will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Gentleman's th3ket, 7s ; lady's ditto, 5s ; double ti ck et (lady and gentleman or two ladies), 10s. WATET, Al' LONDON BRIDCig. DAY—Morn. 37 min. aft. 12—Evening 8 milt. aft. 1 TA-MORROW—Morn. 35 min. aft. I—Evening 0 2 1 . 114 WEATHER—Sum Omer, FEBRUARY 7. THERMOMETER, IN THE 34A.DX. 47—h1ghest singe noon yesterday. 45 -lowest this morning knd during the night. 47 —this day at neon. PABOHMER, 29'84. WIND, S.W.—Light, with mild, cloudy weather. . 44 :;;;:,..7. , LONDON, SA .TIIRDA. I 7, FEBRUARY 7, Pl 7 last knows Well, the country at what it has t, expect in reference to -the i3 ows k the Chancellor Act. Aft e r two years' consideration,tie noth :lcellor N of the Exchequer has decided to even a ridiculous mouse s p rin gs from the . labour; ut of his great win d. He has ado p ted all th e mis chievous theories of the Mercator school, a n d wi plaudits of the current course, receive the quacks for his adhesion to what they are pleage4l to term "sound principles.'' Ho has manifestly followed the system of Sir CHARLw WooD, to maintain the stafui quo, in every possible case. The utterance of pompous platitudes, delivered with portentous gravity, and occasionally set off rimy i rn p re by a "Lord Btrauloyr nod," some persons with an opinion of his pre found wisdom. But something more is required under iho existing circumstance . of the country. Sir CHARLES WOOD was not (1 , ,- tooted until a surplus compelled him to depart in some degree from the beaten track. There lis inoompetency became too palpable for further coL - cook/lent, and it was notorious that the main dif LATEST NEWS. PERSIA. A despatch received in Trieste states that the Shah of Persia is in no way disposed to make the concessions demanded from him by England. He will offer a vigorous resistance, and defend himself to the last extremity. He has appealed to his subjects, and proclaimed a Holy War. A secret treaty for Russian support is generally spoken of. VIENNA, FEB. 5. • The representatives of Prussia and Austria at the conferences relative to the Mouths of the Danube have arrived this day at Trieste. MADRID, FRB. 5. The sums kept back from the salaries of the government functionaries will be suppressed in the next budget. The municipal election com menced this day ; the Conservative party appears to have a certainty of success. Everything is tranquil in the provinces. A Vienna letter of the 2d says :—" The secre tary of the Austrian legation in Switzerland has arrived here with very important despatches from Baron de Menshengen. They give details on the preliminary negotiations which have taken place at Paris between Dr. Kern, the Swiss envoy, and Count de Hatzfeld the Prussian Minister at Paris. It appears that, to the great regret of the Federal Council, no direct conclusion can be come to on ac count of the pertinacity with w hich each part y main tains its pretensions. Switzerland might easily have come to a direct understanding with Prussia, had she been willing to give way on the ques- tions of the domains. If Switzerland insists on rejecting the Prussian demands, it will be neces sary to have recourse to the arbitrary decision of a conference." Letters from Constantinople of the 30th ult. announce that the capture of Herat has excited great enthusiasm amongst the Turcomans in favour of Persia. The Khan of Khiva has sent an ambassador extraordinary to the Shah. Omer Bey, governor of Sulina for Turkey, has left for the Mouths of the Danube, taking with him a garrison for Sulina and for the Isle of Serpents. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jar. 28. On Saturday last, the 24th inst., the Commission for the Principalities had its audience of leave from the Sultan. It was entirely a private interview, resembling more an amicable reception than a State ceremony. No guards were under arms, as is usually the case on such occasions, and all the habitual display of attendants was dispensed with ; the only person present, besides the Commissioners beingEthem Pasha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who acted as interpreter. The reception took place not in the State apart ments but in one of the private rooms of the Sul tan, who himself, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in plain clothes, and without any decoration. The customary compliments having been gone through, the Sultan drew a paper from his pocket, and read a kind of farewell address and last words to the Commission in Turkish, which were trans lated to them by Ethem Pasha. In this address, which was of considerable length, the Sultan &- pressed a hope that the Commission would success fully terminate its labours, and that it would take care to keep the sovereign rights of the Sultan in violate. To this address appropriate answers were returned by every member of the Commission, to the effect that they would endeavour to accomplish their task so as to maintain the sovereign rights of his Majesty, to give satisfaction to their respective Governments, and a due consideration to the wishes of the Principalities. Thus the Commission may be considered to have closed the first and certainly most ungrateful part of its duty. In consequence of the evacuation of the Isle of Serpents by the Russians Admiral Lyons has re called the whole of the English ships that were in the Black Sea. They have joined the squadron which was at anchor at Bujukdere. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY, Feruk Khan had an interview with Lord Cowley this afternoon. It is reported to have been of an amicable character. Baron Hubner has asked explanations from Count Walewski of the note in the Moniteur. The Moniteur announces the appointment of Monsignor Guibert, bishop of Viviers, to be Arch bishop of Tours, in the place of Cardinal Morlot, named to the Archbishopric of Paris ; and of Mon signor Chelandon, Bishop of Belley, to the Arch bishopric of Aix, vacant by the death of M. Darri 3- soles. Monsignor Desprez, Bishop of St. Denis, is also named Bishop of Limoges, in place of Mon signor Buissons, deceased. Th e Moniteur also says :—" Numerous com plaints have been addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, re specting the early date fixed for the Universal Agricultural Exposition ; a date necessitated by the Exhibition of Fine Arts, and by the short interval which will intervene between it and the meeting of 1856. The Government, while admitting the justice of these com plaints, has decided that the Universal Agrioultural Exposition, the opening of which stood appointed for the Ist of June next, shall not take place at all this year." The orations of M. Biot and of M. Guizot, on the occasion of the installation of the former as a member of the Academy, fill the greater part of the official journal. A private letter from Bombay, dated the begin nbywrofelashatvme o h n a t d h , h s e t r a e te f s o a's r e f i o g li hr d s a : y — s the French frigate the Sibylle, which has left to proceed to the Persian Gulf. " The Sibylle appears to have a double mission to fulfil in the Persian Gulf ;—first of all, to watch the events which may arise from the present war with Persia, and on this point M. de Maisonneuve has received particular instructions ; and to ex actly ascertain the disposition of the Imaum of Muscat, who, about ten years ago, concluded with France a treaty of commerce, which can hardly be said to have been executed. The com mander of the Sibylle has also orders to explore carefully the whole of the Persian Gulf, with a view to ascertain what are the advantages French commerce may derive from the friendly relations which have been just established with the Shah of Persia. We are assured that the French Govern ment is desirous of giving all the extension in its power to its trade in those parts." BOURSE, Feb. 6.—The following were the last quotations End of Month. —fr. —c. 68 5 Cash. tr. c. 4i per Cents ... 94 40 3 per Cents 68 New Loan Bank Shares 4,100 Roman Credit Mobilier ...... 1,330 Austrian Belgian Five 5......... 99i Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) ...... 90 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS-FOR CABS. fr. C. Tr .3 Orleans 1,355 Western B2O Northern 920 Strasburg Lyons 1,365 New Ditto Mediterranean' ...... 1' 745 Grand Central Lyons Geneva ...... Teste Cette - Austrian Com. ....., 753 23 PRUSSIA. The Ministerial journal, the Zeit, doubts the news of the Bund, relative to a proximate Con ference at Paris on the affairs of Neuchatel. It declares that no negotiations have yet taken place between Prassia and Switzerland. The King of Prussia intends, it is said, confer ring the order of Hohenzollern on fourteen of ti e principal Royalists of Neuchatel, lately set at liberty. The National Gazette of Berlin says :—" The Government, a short time back, presented to the Chamber of Deputies two bills tend in g to modify the constitution. According to one of them, the session of the Chambers would only commence in January instead of November; whilst the oth-r abridged the delay imposed for the -vote on the modification introduced into the constitution. The Committee on the Constitution has now proposed, by a majority of 15 votes against 6, the rejection of the two bills. A rumour is current that the Government intends to dissolve the Chambers, on account of their opposition to the financial pro. jects. It is also said that Col. Manteuffel will shortly be chArged with an extraordinary mission to Paris. He has arrived here." AUSTRIA. VIENNA, FEB. 4.—The Vienna Presse of this morning contains a brief, well written, and digni fied reply to the violent attack made by the Con stitutionnel, in its number of the Ist February, on the Austrian political papers. Instead of defend ing itself and its colleagues against the charges made by the Paris paper, the Presse acknowledges that it was never a great admirer of the acts and policy of the present Emperor of the French. "No one," says the Vienna paper, "has ever been able te influence our opinions on questions of general importance, because we have always when requisite made use of our rights to remain silent. The innuendoes of the Constitutionnel cannot, therefore, apply to us, and such being the case we are not obliged to take notice of their coarseness. We must, however, remark, that if we subject the inconstant and co quettish policy of France to dispassionate, though plain-spoken, criticism, it is because we feel, and feel deeply, that such policy is most pernicious to the whole of Central Germany, and that it is a duty which we owe to our native country freely to express our opinions on a point of such extreme importance. We shall continue in the path which we have so long trodden ; and if ever we should attend to a mot d'ordre, it will be to one coming from a voice which, unfortunately, is no longer heard in France—we mean, the voice of public opinion." ITALY. A letter from Naples of the 23d ult., in the Piedniontese Gazette, gives some fuller particulars concerning the attempt upon the life of the Arch bishop of Matera. It says : " While Monsignor Rossini, after saying mass in the cathedral, was kneeling efore the high altar together with a canon of the name of Bonsanto, a priest named Ancona rushed upon the prelate with a dagger to murder him. Bonsanto warded off the blow • upon which Ancona drew a pistol from his pocket, tired at the canon, and killed him on the spot. The assassin then ran after the archbishop, who was endeavouring to escape; both fell, and fortunately the fall prevented the miscreant from using his poniard, and enabled the persons who were on the spot to disarm and secure him. The motives which induced the assassin to attempt this odious crime are still unknown." A letter from Naples, of the 26th of January, informs us of a new device of the police authorities of that city to persuade the people that the King's Government is generally approved throughout Europe. They have permitted the circulation of a pamphlet entitled " Political situation of England, and her machiavelical conduct with regard to the European Powers, and particularly towards France, her ally in the war in the East." It purpor's to be printed at Genoa, by John Fassi Como. This pamphlet is a gross and stupid lampoon against the British nation. The following is a specimen " If poor Paris knew what use is made of her name, and the object to be marked under it, she would be the first torepelso hypocritical an interest. Naples is Italy, and Italy is in our days, thanks to Austria, the point most menacing for the repose of Europe. The vulture is attracted by the dead body. The instinct of England tells her that there is something to be done there, and she is at work, acting, threatening, and not knowing to-day what she will do to-morrow, but most decided to take every advantage of the situation of Italy. Some persona are astonished that France would not follow England to the end—they ought rather be asto nished that she did not interpose her veto at the first step." The words "thanks to Austria" were effaced with ink by the police agents, who circulated the pamphlet by thousands. GREECE. In consequence of the friendly relations which now exist between the court of Greece and the Russian Government, the latter has decided on accrediting an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Athens, instead of the Charge d'Affaires whom it has hitherto bad there. M. Be row, Councillor of State, has been nominated to the post. M. de Persiani is named envoy extraor dinary at Hanover and Oldenburg, in the room of M. de Fonton, who is to represent Russia at the Germanic Diet. A letter from Alexandria of the 24th ult. states that intelligence has been received there of the death of King Theodore, who not long since pro claimed himself independent in the districts to the south of Egypt. He is said to have succumbed to an attack of cholera. A letter from Genoa of the 2d says :—" The Russian squadron is increasing here. After the Polkan came the Wiborg, bearing the flag of Vice- Admiral Behren. The arrival of the Polkan caused considerable agitation in this city for several days, typhus fever having broken out very violently on board ber." AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 6, The screw steamship Emeu, Moodie cymmander, from New York on the 25th, has arrived with ad vices to the 24th ult. and $263,319 in specie on freight. The United States Mail steam-ship Atlantic, hence, arrived at New York on the 23d ult. The advices are entirely devoid of general interest. In the New York market money was easy with rates in favour of the borrower on good security, being 8 to 8i per cent, for prime 60 to 90 days' bills, 84 to 9 for four and six months bills, and 9 to 10 for longer dates : and good single names second class paper, not exceeding four months, passed readily at about 12 per cent. In exchange nothing done. Cotton had maintained a hardening tendency, although freights had advanced, and the receipts at the ports continued large and Lad advanced one quarter of a cent. The America and the Atlantic's advices were calculated to sustain the buoyancy of the market for a period. In State and Western flour, compared with the previous Tuesday, a de cline of five cents had taken place, but the busi ness had been light. The snow having prevented arrivals, Canada flour, with light stocks, had advanced five to ten cents ; Southern flour in favour of the buyers. The stock in store large for the season. Rye flour in firm request at full prices. Corn meal without important change. Prime wheat, in consequence of the ice, about two cents better, but the business was restricted, from it being impossible to execute foreign orders. Rye, in reduced supply, held at one dollar without sales. Cotton dull, and stocks inaccessible. Oats about one cent better, with a good demand. Pork unchanged. Beef in increased demand, and an advance of 25 to 50 cents. had been obtained for most kinds, the supply being moderate and receipts trifling. Prime mess in good request and firm. Beef hams in small supply, and well held, but meats better, with a good demand. Bacon firm, with a good demand. Dressed hogs more plenty, and declined three eighths per cent., with a brisk business. Butter selling freely, cheese firm. Turpentine held firmly at $4 ; common resin held firmly at full prices ; white resin in request, at $3 25c. to $5, and a few at $6 ; tar quiet ; Scotch pig iron in rather better supply, but the market firm, and full prices realised. Bars very quiet. Freights firm, but dull, on account of the small supply of available tonnage. To Liverpool—Flour, 2s. 3d. to 2s. ; corn in bulk, 7d. ; cotton 5- 16 d. to to d London flour, 3s. NEW ORLEANS, JAN. 22. Cotton lc. lower ; middling quoted at 12Ac. to 12ic. ; white wheat at $1 68c. ; mess pork, $2l 50c. Other articles un changed. CHARLESTON, JAN. 22. The cotton market closed at a decline of ie. to lc. on the week ; middling fair, 121 c. The Canadian Company's screw steamship North America, Grange commander, arrived this morning from Portland, with dates from that port to the 24th, and Now York and Boston to the 23d ult. She had 30 passengers, but no specie. The Royal Mail steamship Persia, hence, arrived at New York on the 24th ult. In the Senate, upon the bill granting aid to the Atlantic Telegraph Company having been taken up, Mr. Pugh moved as a proviso that no money should be paid under the authority of the act until a convention should have been concluded between the United States and Britain, whereby such por tions of the British possessions in North America as con mind the western terminus of the telegraph should have been subjected to the principle of neu tralisation as adopted in the Central American treaty of 1850. He said he would not vote a cent until the safety and the lives of the people of the United States, perilled by the exclusive use of the line by the British Government in war time, were secured. Mr. Benjamin rebuked Mr. Pugh, and asked if the matter was of such importance to Great Britain Was it not extraordinary that she proposed to them a full and equal participation in the control and benefit of the line, and consented to allow their Government and citizens equal pri vileges with herself and citizens for the mere sum named ? He said, if they rejected the offer they • would never have such en opportunity again ; and he advised the senators not always to be thinking of war, , but to use all means for preserving peace. Ultimately the bill was passed. THE CURREiCY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —The whole controversy between the advocates for convertibility and non-convertibility hangs upon the wording of the Bank note issued. If the note is to run " I promise to pay," of course, unless a fraud is covertly intended, gold must be retained in sufficient quantities to honour every note. In this case let us adhere to Peel's Bill, for it carries out this intention as far as is practicable, with the very f xistence of the nation, and to the utter prostration of trade every five years. But if the note is to be inconvertible into gold, let it say so on the face, and let it run as follows :—" Know, a'•l men, that this note is legal tender for all debts and taxes." As for the middle men, who wish to issue more paper promising to pay gold, their logic is only equalled by their honesty. JAMES HARVEY. NATIONAL DISCOUNT COMPANY. Yesterday afternoon the first annual meeting of the above company was held at the London Tavern; Mr. F. W. Russell, M.P., chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The following were the principal heads of the report, viz. : " The directors have the pleasure of submitting to the shareholders a statement of the affairs of the company, on the 31st of December last, together with an abstract of the profit and loss account, which shows a net profit of 7,766/. 14s. 10d., after the payment of current expenses, and providing for bad and doubtful debts. The directors recommend that a dividend of 3s. per share on the original shares, with a proportionate dividend of 3d. per share on the deposit upon the new shares, together amounting to 6,376/, 55, 3d., be declared, and the balance, 1,3901. 9s. 7d., be carried forward to next account. It is suggested that the liquidation of the preliminary expenses shall be spread over a series of years ; no appropriation towards them is proposed at this early period, but they have been held in view in the amount of the balance to be carried over. The directors have to express to the shareholders their satisfactio a with the progress of the business, the bills discounted to 31st December having amounted to 5, 926,413/. 16s. id., and the number of accounts opened being 845. The results would have been still more favourable but for the sudden advance in the rate of interest in October, and the great scarcity of money which has since prevailed. It mist also be kept in mind that the growth of every business is gra dual, and the forming a connection a work of time, while the expenses of an efficient establishment are immediate yet indispensable, The capabilities of the office have been necessarily adapted to transactions of a much greater ex tent, but as the business increases the expenses will each year become a comparatively lighter burden on the profits. The offices at present occupied by the company, though sufficiently central, are most inconvenient, and the access to them has been much complained of ; but the directors are happy in being able to announce that after several protracted_ and ineffectual negotiations they hate at length secured a most eligible site in Cornhill, ou which they propose to erect a building which will afford suitable accommodation fer the business of the company." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, ob served that if the directors had so desired, they could have put the company forward in a more favourable light had they delayed the meeting, for, in point of fact, their business ope rations extended over seven months only. Under those cir cumstances, the results were most satisfactory; when the company commenced business, interest upon money stood at 4 per cent. ; but later, in the month of October, that rate suddenly rose, and continued high, and thereby the profits of the undertaking had been diminished. It . . would be seen, therefore, that the business had been steady and progressive ; and, considering the prejudices that first prevailed on the subject of limited liability, he thought the shareholders had good reason to congratulate themselves upon their early operations. With respect to the assets of the company, the auditors bad gong fully through them, and found them to be perfectly safe and correct, while the stare registers had also undergone an equally searching examina tion, and they also were found to be perfectly straightfor ward. _ _ _ _ _ Some discussion took place upon the subject of the preli minary expenses set down in the capital account at 5,6141. 10s. 2d., the item in the profit and loss account of 8,0321. 15s. for current expenses, directors' remuneration, and re serve fund to meet losses on unpaid bills, and the cost of the proposed new offices in Cornhill, but ultimately the report was adopted and the dividend declared. The retiring directors were re-elected, and thanks having been voted to the officials, directors, and the chairman, the proceedings terminated. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, FEB. 6. The market continues inactive, such sales as arc effected being chiefly of a very limited character. The rather higher prices of Mobile and Orleans cotton hayed led to more in quiry in some kinds of cloth, but it has not resulted in much business. For India and China goods the sales that have taken place have been at rather lower prices, and sellers are unable to obtain remunerative sales. At Oldham and some other towns a movement is taking place among producers to go upon short time, as the only means of protection against high rates of cotton on the one hand, and lower rates for goods on the other. Yarns are not quite so easy to buy as on Tuesday, but the market is dull. LEEDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TRADE REPORT. LEEDS, FEB. 6, WOOLLEN TRADE. —During the mouth of January a very large and satisfactory amount of business has been transacted, and the demand still continues good. In the hands of the manufacturers stocks are low. The workpeople in this dis. trist have been in good employment all the winter, and the present state of the cloth trade is on the whole encouraging: WooL. Since our last report a steady business has been done in colonial wools, and the stocks, which were then moderate, are now very small. Prices, as may be expected from these circumstances, are on the advance. East India and other low foreign wools are in tolerable demand at an ad vance on the previous sales, and prices firm. English wools of all descriptions have been extremely buoyant. Flax TRADE. —Generally speaking the flax trade in Leeds is in an active state, but stocks in the hands of the merchants and spinners are low. An advance in price has been estab lished on all counts of linen and tow yarns. The high price of cotton has likewise an indirect influence on the flax trade, and tends to strengthen the spinners in maintaining the pre sent rates. Some improvement has taken place in the de mand from the Barnsley linen manufacturers. MacurNs-MAKING.--The improvement noticed in our last report of this branch of trade still continues. A considerable drawback on the profits of the machine-makers arises from the fact of the present high price of copper, which has again advanced ld. per lb. within a short time, that metal enter ing largely into the construction of flax machinery. HAYMARIET THEATRE.—Mr. Murdoch's benefit and final appe4rance took place last nigiit at this theatre in the part of Claude Melnotte. Let Es hope that he will soon return to rejoice . tbe lovers of genius comedy with representation of character 3 which be alone can give. The house was fully and fashionably attended. ST. LEONARD'S, SNOREDITCH.-11lias Burdett Coutts regaled the children of the five schools belonging to the parish church—the two parochial, the two National, and the infant (numbering nearly 500) —with an ample and ex, el ! ent suply of tea, bread and butter, a large slice of cake, and an orange eacb, on Tuesday evening. HARTLEPOOL BAY AS A HARBOUR OF REFUGE.—At the instance of the Hartlepool Pier and Port Commis sioners, a memorial is about to be got up for•presenta tion to the proper quarter, impressing the great neces sity which exists—as was more especially evident during the recent gale—for the formation of a refuge harbour. A committee has been appointed for preparing the memorial.—Durham Chronicle. CrnraiG.—This almost exclusively Scottish game, which to the eye of an Englishman appears like bowls on the ice, has been for the last few days indulged in by a number of Scotch gentlemen on the lake in the Royal Surrey Gardens ; the excitement of the game, the picturesque scene around, the many skaters flitting about in every direction, altogether present a most ani mating sight. We understand it is in contemplation to form a club here for the enjoyme%t of curling. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.—tit a meeting of the board yesterday a deputation presented a plan for converting Charing-cross foot-bridge into one for general traffic, so as to establish a carriage traffic between the Middlesex and Surrey sides of the river. The docu ment was referred to the Works Committee. The Com mittee of Improvements have recommended the removal of the blocks of houses known as Middle-row ' Holborn. Estimates of the proposed new thoroughfare from Old street, Sr.. Luke's, to Liquorpond-street, and thence along King's-road, Theobald's-road, and Hart-street, to New Oxford-street, were ordered to be prepared. THE CIVIL SERVICE.— General Post-office—Mr. W. L. Baines has been appointed postmaster of Bantry, in the room of Mr. W. Adams, retired ;, Mr. Richard Hobson has been promoted from the second to the first class of Surveyors' clerks. Bank of England --A va cancy has been caused in the New Three-per-Cent. office by the death of Mr. Robert Hyatt. Customs—Mr. C. J. Cox, landing-waiter, has been appointed a landing surveyor in London ; Mr. John Courroux, extra clerk, has been appointed a clerk in the Secretary's office, London ; Mr. T. W. R Chaplin, cl , rk in the Long Room, has been appointed a clerk in the Secretary's office, London ; Mr. W. H. Hinton, clerk in the Soli citor's office, has been appointed a clerk in the Secretary's office, London ; Mr. Joseph Felder, extra clerk, has been appointed a clerk in the London Docks ; Mr. B. Scanlan, lauding-waiter, has been appointed a landing. surueyor iu London. Inland Revenue Departmiint (Stamps and Taxes Branch) --Mr. George Chew has been promoted to the second clerkship in the Special C , mtuissioner's office, Somerset-house, vice Mr. William Bolton, resigned.—Cavil Service Gazette. BUCKS COUNTY POLICE.—The election of a chief con stableyester- for tbo eount3 of Buckin gham day at an adjourned quarte r The Lord-Lieutenant of okar at Aylesbury. 0 place a r ng t n the session cou nt y h e t ( o l L o i pre .ided. There was a very fo il attendance o fie p jrirsotceceB, and censiderable interest was manifested in t ice H. ay- Lames having been read over so e b a tat, ings. There were 35 candida.t.est fermtrheito ffi eße. Clay he for Ayles u . ry, ncminated, and Captain WilloughLy Carter, t L o o n r ' d f ß or o e s n t e e r n i y e e M e o . n P ie d, Cap for merly of the 64th regim r en_t e , or a g n e d a late re v e Captain po t i t n p t r h o e_ ,at M hew . G Knapp s econded , Captain pro posed, a d I B a u n e d k Militia. m Bernerd Pigott, formerly of the 99th Regiment and late commanding a detachment of mounted police in the Bathurst district of Australia. The pen was then taken b e h a lf of Captain Carter and Captain Pigott, when the former was elected by a mkjori yof 16. Te e sa l ary of the chief constable Is fixed at 3001. per annum, with au alloaance of 1001. for the purchase and keep of horses and all other expenses incidental to the dace. THE GROWTH OF CoTTON. The magnitude and urgency of the question touching our supplies of cotton may be inferred pretty plainly from the fact that, even among the exciting topics of an Address, the subject emerged successively to the surface on the first two nights of the session. Few indeed are the questions which concern us more vitally. At the bottom of our power and prosperity lies our manufacturing industry, and how vast a proportion of this in dustry is fed with cotton we need not stop to explain. More than half of the entire exports of the United Kingdom was despatched last year from the port of Liverpool, and of this total a very large amount consisted of manufactured cotton. The whole consumption of the country is at the rate of 43,000 bales a week—more than 2,250,600 bales a year. Nor is there any likeli hood of a decline in this respect, except from a failure in the raw material. The demand is both a wholesome and a natural one, created by the spread of civilisation and the extension of navi gation and commerce. Its steadiness only implies that millions upon millions appreciate the most convenient description of raiment, while an incre ase in its rate means that millions more are learning the same lesson. There is nothing factitious about the matter, marvellous as it is. In the necessities of life clothing comes next to food, and this clothing it is our vocation to furnish to the world. We possess coal, iron, labour, skill—all the energy, re quired for toil, and all the science required tomake that toil effective. We want from others nothing but the material to work with, and the simple question is, how to insure a supply on which such enormous interests depend. Stating the facts broadly, we actually use more than half the world's produce of cotton, and could use a good deal more. Of this produce five-sixths are raised in America lone, nor is there any doubt that America will always grow as much cotton as it can, and always supply as much as it can to its best customers. But the productiveness of Ame rica, as Americans themselves confess, is limited, and, moreover, its own manufacturers make their demands upon the crop. Inasmuch, therefore, as cotton can undoubtedly be grown in many other countries, and, what is still more to the purpose, in many dependencies of our own, it becowesof extreme importance to take up in good time a matter at once so important and so practicable. It is all very well to reflect, as we can with entire complacency, on the fact that we support without exhaustion whatever taxes may be required for the public ser vice, but this strength itself arises from successful and remunerative industry, while the chief aliment of this industry is contained in the wool of the cotton plant. At the annual meeting, the other day, of the Liverpool Chamber of ommerce the subject," of course, received the prominence which might have been anticipated, and one of the members of the Chamber enlarged to some extent upon the re sources furnished in this respect by our colony of Demerara. The facts alleged were exceedingly per• tinent, and striking. In Demerara there are, he said, now fewer than 490 cotton estates thrown out of cul tivation and abandoned. These estates, if in good work, would of themselves yield 150,000 bales of cotton a-year, while the virgin land of the colony, yet untilled, and adapted to the growth of this precious material, is sufficient in extent to furnish our entire supply. Such was the purport of the communication—a communication made by a gen tleman who had spent a considerable part of .his life in the colony in question. Why, then, is the cotton not produced, and why, when the a rticle is so sure of a sale in British markets, is it not raised and exported by British colonists ? The answer to this query involves a very serious topic. The truth is this :—Cotton is not grown in Demerara as it might be, because there is no labour procurable ; and labour is not procurable, because slavery has been abolished, because there is no incentive to toil operating on the native population, and because great impediments have been opposed to the importation of free labourers. The first of these points requires no comment slavery has been destroyed, and it is not a thing t ° be revived again. The second and third will 1 better comprehended after a little explanation. In our own country, as in most countries of Europe, labour is an obligation imposed upon the great mar of mankind by the very conditions of their &WY life. Food, clothing, fuel, and shelter are nature's own requisitions; after these come the calls of the taxgatherer, and it is as much as unskilled industry can do to meet the aggregate demand by sturdy and unceasing toil. But in the tropics these conditions almost vanish. What with the nature of the climate, the fertility of the soil, and the habits of the black, most of the necessities of negro life can be obtained through a large per • tion of the year with little or no exertion. The. apparel of the dark-skinned race, when not selected as an expression of vanity, is scanty in the "" treme, and the rest of their wants can be satisfied without any more trouble than is involved in squatting upon some corner of an abandoned es tate. The result is no more than natural. Where subsistence is easily compatible with vagrancy and sloth there is little inducement to labour, and lit tle labour to be obtained. But why not import free labourers ? or why, al any rate, object to their importation ? Even 1 they dd no good, and followed the example of the native blacks, that could hurt nobody but thos e who invited them, and who might be left to take care of their own interests. Here, also, there are special consid era ti ons i nvo l ve d. By a suPPIY labour is meant, in the eyes of the planters, such an aggregation of labourers as shall render work , practically speaking, a matter of compulsion. Either free labourers must be imported in such number s to assimilate the conditions of daily existence to those prevailing among ourselves, or they must be landed on such terms as would invest the emploYel of tabour with the po we r o f exac ti ng it in fill measure. Now, to these terms the philanthropis ts who had been most active in procuring the sur pression of slavery entertained strong objection s. They held that any arrangements communicating such a character to the labour market would equi valent to the re-introduction of slavery in disguis e ' so the end of it was that labour was not forthconr in,,e that the Demerara estates were not cultivate d and that no cotton is sent from those parts to Eeir land. But these arguments only place in a stronger light than ever the value of the cotton-fields of India. There, at any rate, we escape all the em barrassments of the labour question ; for there, owi,eb to the peculiar character and density of the pop tion, labourers ca'i be procured in any numbers with out any talk of slavery. The aspect of this matt er at present is very far from satisfactory. When luri Vernon Smith claimed for Government, as he all , on Tuesday and Wednesd a y l as t, th e credit ' ° L : sympathising with thos e w h o desired to pronto'''. the cultivation of c o tt on i n I n di a, hi s • a ll e gation s were doubtless well f oun d e d , for it is absurd t c c i suppose that any Ad m i n i s t ra tion could be Win to the true beari ngs o f suc h a ques ti on . But tb ° actual progress o f th e wor k i s no t what 3 36 1 should h ave b een, cons id er i ng h ow long 2, importance has b een ac k now l e dge. Very possib l y e Sea Island co tt on may no t th r i ve we ll in the 1)% can, but that cotton of very good quality can °, 6 produced there, and to an unbounded extent, beyond a doubt. Mr. Vernon Smith acknowledg e° too, that the article produced was capable of 01 , 1 :i siderable improvement by the expenditure greater pains upon the production. Why, the n, should not so good a work be carried vigorouslY o forward ! The committee which sat nine years eg t to consider this question reported that the gre a , obstacle consisted in the defect of the co romunir, ° o tions, and the absence of proper facilities in it way of transport. This obstacle, however, is n° o in a fair way of disappearing, and there can be n a ~u 0 reason why India and England should not speedily brought into a new connexion of infi n '' advantage to both countries alike. —Times. RUSbIAN INFLUENCE IN ITALY• A letter from St. Petersburg, of Jan. 27, < O a The Russian Cabinet is now actively occuP i t t with the question of Naple s . W e are as sured to' o news has arrived from that country which is by means favourable. M. d e K a k osc hi ne h as con o quently received ord ers aga i n to call the attention 19 0 1 the King of Naples t o th e poss ibl e conaequenclir persisting in the political system which he now P r y sues, in oppositio n to üblic opinion, and cont ra il; to the formally expressed wishes of the Well te , r . Powers. It is well known that Russia exerts a 1 always Naples a l taro amount of i n fl uence at Naples, and that she e w m il P l l :3 e red it in the cause of order and P e° " - Np It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Governme nt eL9 , disposed to time, listen Cmmt chr t e o her pto o wi t c z ull s has reit; ceived orders to make renewed representati° nB London, with. respect to the affairs of Naple,_ s, o 6/ 0 accordance w ith th e s pi r it o f P r i n c e Gortsch"' te a cit cular of the 2d of December. It has been sta oro here th a t E ng l an d was a b ou t t o sen d some m ate vessels into the Bay of Naples, in addition t° e nt frigate whi c h i s there at present. Our gover'lr..44t could not but regard such a measure, under ing circums. antes, as a very perilous (Urn onstrat,l_ to and the object of its intervention in London ,!:_ct. prevent tha me a sure from being carried into on _'. og We are a. , hured, indeed, that a squadron forw'__ to part - of the British fleet at Malta, which viw nter . have proceeded to Naples, has received„o9ll orders."