The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-16 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCF. CITY, Two o'CLoca. ' Letters from Liverpool mention that the Cot ton Market on Saturday closed with much excite ment, at a slight advance on Friday ' s rates. The sales amounted to 20,000 bales, 3,000 of which were taken by the exporters, and 10,000 by the specu lators. The Railway Share Market manifested an active appearance and closed at an i m provemen Et - A The proposals made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his financial sta.' ement relative to the tea duties, has caused considerab le excitement , ar tiong the trade, and the meeting held this mo-n -thg, the particulars of which appear in another column, was very numerously attended. The feel ing manifested was one of indignation at the course Pursued by the Government, after the assurance given that the duty should be reduced to the extent origi nally stated immediately upon the cessation of war. It is contended that the present measure will benefit neither the merchant nor consumer. Besides Which, in the present state of China, it is contended that encouragement ought to be given to shippers. The speeches made elicited general approbation, and it is hoped that the Chancellor will reconsider his intentions upon the subject. There continues to be a very active inquiry for discounts both in Lombard-street and at the Bank of England, but the pressure is rather less severe, as the supply is ample at the current rates, and no fear is entertained of an advance. Although diffi cult to trace the source from whence this continu ous demand arises, there can be no question that it is fully explained by the immense trade which is being carried on. Contrasted with former periods, the commerce of the country was seldom_ perhaps never—in so flourishing a condition, for it is of a steady and bona fide character, and entirely free from unsafe speculation. The consequence is that although profits are diminished by the high quot miens charged for dis count the merchants and others engaged therein are doing well, and the announcement of a mercan tile failure is an affair of rare occurrence. While caution thus continues to be exercised, a healthy state of business will be preserved, but from indica tions manifested in certain quarters there is a pro spect, in the case of money becoming cheaper, of an extension of speculative engagements. The drain of silver t o th e East will no doubt remain unabated, the advices by the overland mail, telegraphed from Trieste reporting little alteration in the Indian exchanges, while the money markets at Cal cutta and Bombay are represented as being even more unfavourable than before. Large shipments of this metal, therefore, will still be made, while to China also, notwithstanding the slight decline in the exchange at Shanghai, remittances will be ef feAed, as there is, and will be a large balance of trade to be discharged by English consignees. Silk and tea are coming forward very freely, which, for the most part, must be paid in silver, although our manufactures, to a small extent, may be ex- Ported in exchange. Under these circumstances gold is likely to be sent to the Continent, and in proof of this it may be mentioned that not only has about 600,000/. of the 800,0001. recently re ceived from Australia been absorbed, but with drawals from the Bank have recommenced ; a parcel of about 32,000/. having been taken away on Saturday. In the course of a few weeks, how ever, fresh supplies will arrive from the Antipodes, and by this means the metallic reserves in the na tional establishment may be maintained at a satis factory p o i n t . The annual mee' ing of the Berlin Water Works was held to-day ; Mr. GOshen in the chair. It ap peared from the report that the works were com pleted, and that although no profit had attended this, it was expected that a surplus would remain over the expenditure of the current year in favour of the shareholders. As it was found advisable to carry the work s f ur th er , a r esolution was passed tor issuing 60,000 of the company's 101. shares, at 5 per cent, discount, to the shareholders. Some symptoms of weakness have been appa rent in the English Stock Market to-day, but they result mainly from the disposition evinced to realise profits. There is thus a heavy tone, and accom panied therewith are various remarks in reference to the drain of gold, the continued dearness of money, &Q., These adverse influences, however, previously .existed, but with a drooping market unfavourable views are generally expressed. All things considered the position of the market is firm, and there is no just cause for the establish ment of a lower range of prices, but of course this chiefly depends upon the nature of the speculative dealings. [Consols for transfer have been 93i for the account 931 ' then 931 sellers, and they are now about 931 a. The New 3 per Cents. are 94 to 94k, and the Reduced 931 Bank Stock is 216 to 2171, and India Stock 220. India Bonds are 2s. discount. Since the above was written, the market has be come heavier, owing to some large sales. The changes in the Foreign Market have not been very numerous, the quotations on the whole having been steady. Turkish Six per Cents. are now about H a I , and the 4 per Cents. 101 to 101 k, being heavy. Spanish Deterred were 24i ; Sardinian, 901 ; Russian 4i per Cents., 97 ; Peru vian 4i per Cents., 80i • Dutch 21 per Cents., 65, and do. 4 per Cents., 981 The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7 ; Mexi can, 21k 22i ; Peruvian, 80 1 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 65k 561; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 44 6 ; Russian o per Cents., 108 10 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 96 8 . Spanish 3 por Cents., 401 4 •, ditto New Deferred, 24g. ; ditto Certificates, 6/ 1 ; ditto Passive, ti 6. The Railway Share Market has been influenced by the flatness of Consols, and prices generally may be quoted at about per cent. decline upon previous prices. Caledonian have receded 10s. ; Eastern Counties, 55.; Great Northern, ss. to 10s. ; Great Western, ss. Lancashire and Yorkshire, ss. ; Brighton, ss. ; North-Western ss. ; Midland, ss. ; North Eastern Berwick, lOs. ; and Scot tish North-Eastern, ss. Bristol and Exeter - have advanced ss. • South-Western, ss. ; North British, Os. ; and South Wales about 11. Paris and Lyons have been firm, but Dutch Rhenish, Great Luxemboarg and Grand Trunk of Canada have declined ss. British, Foreign and Colonial Mining Shares rule very dull, and prices show no material alteration. Very few transactions are reported in Joint Stock Bank or Miscellaneous Shares and pricey have ruled heavy. Union of Australia advanced about 55., and London Joint Stock declined 5s Canada Land Shares declined to 21. London Gene rid Omnibus Company rule firm. BRITISH FUNDS. —CLOSING PRICES —THIS DAY. (From the Ojimal List.) &ion. , e Bank Stock 2lB 16 17 3i ,ter Cont. Reduced Annuities 9 3i 3 per Cent Console Annuities ............ 93 1 ; N ew 3 per Cent. Annuities 94h 4 31. Loag• Annuities, expire sth Jon. 1860 2 India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO 2 d Consols tor Account 9 35 Bxeheciner Bills, 2id .£lOOO . 000 ........ 3 p Small PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. lO3 Ditto 7 per Cent. (Matanza and Sabanilla) 101 Greek Bonds 6i i Mexican 3 par Cent 22 1 2 4 Peruvian Bonds 4i per Cent 80 . Ditto Account ... Russian Bonds, 1822, £ St., 5 per Cent — Ditto, 4i per Cent.. . .... 3 7 7i Ditto Small Sardinian Bonas, 5 per Cent. ......... 9 0 I SpaniFh Beads, 3 per Cent. .................. 40A Ditto Few Deferred, 3 pet ......... 24, Litt,. Passive 5l Turkish Ponds, 6 per cent Litto Account Ditto Guaranteed, 4 or Cont. ........ . Dividend, on thl above payable ir 9 Tr f. ,l6 7 ' French rates, ltee4ni per Cent. Ditto 3p r c t. 6 S 7 55nc : . . e e x x 2255fi. 225 cc.. Dutch Exchang e , 21 Ditto 4 per Cent . Certificates per Cent., 12 Guilders 65 Certificates 981 Consols, mo ue THREE O'CLOCK. y D itto, Account-at — rel . ... ............. 9937 • ' RAILWAY ACCIDENT.---A. fearful accident occurred on Friday night on th of N orth - Eastern Railway, Shields. The axletreee and in consequence the train?ne of the carriages broke, across the line •near a portion was thrown completely , knocked down, and the wholenof the paraet was t c h a e rriages narrowly escaped being precipitated ato t heund. Fortunately no one was killed, but numberof passengers were severely injured. SCURRILOUS •PUBLICATIONS. —On Saturday., the Judges' Chambers, the propriet or and publisher at of a ,enit pre penny publication, was brought bet i e ot h m i his ord i f p er , r o e n d '''''- ' , • a warran t granted upon a bill of ' against him by the Society for the Suppression of Vice for selling and uttering an obscene, indecent, and scur rilous publication. It was stated that this publication contained many gross libels on private individuals, and every person who sold it was liable to be prosecuted. The prisoner's committal was therefore asked for under heavy bail. Mr. Justice Coleridge said that, considering the nature of the publication, he should requ i re two sureties in 100/, f or the prisoner's appearance to answer the indictment. He was then removed to prison in de. fault of bail. It was intimated that the society intended to proceed against the vendors of all publications similar in character to the one in question. THE STN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, F;; 4;1 'RtJA RY 16, 1857. MAT NEWS.--(This f ay.) CORN EXCHANGE. The supplies of wheat on sale in most of the country markets held on Satyrday were only moderate, yet the demand was in a sluggish state, and prices were barely sup ported. Fins barley was somewhat firmer, but not darer. Other kinds were rather dull. In the value of other as ;;i -cies very little change took place. In the value of grain in most of the continental markets very little change has taken place of late. The A tnerican advices come flat. _ . Up to our market last week the al rivals of English grain were limited. The importi from abroad amounted to 4,140 quarters of wheat, 530 barley, 3,613 oats, 2,248 133 ans, 3 peas, 47 tare 9, 4,470 linseed, 2,910 rapeseed, 3 mustardseed, 1,030 sundry seeds, and 21,896 barrels of sour. The quantity of English wheat received fresh up this morning, coastwise and by land-carriage, was very mode rate, and, for the most part, much out of condition. The attendance of millers was rather on the increase, and there was a better feeling in the demand for good and fine par cels at prices equal to Monday last. Damp and otherwise inferior parcels moved off slowly, but we have no change to notice in the quotations. Millers, generally, hold very light stocks of wheat for the time of yea*. We were somewhat extensively supplied with most kinds of foreign wheat, in which about an average business was transacted, at last week's quotations. In floating cargoes of grain very little was doing. Fine malting barley was in steady request, at full prices. Grinding and distilling sorts moved off slowly, on former terms. We have to notice no improvements in the malt trade. The currencies rule tho same as on this day week. The show of oats was only moderate. The trade may be considered steady, on former terms. We had a dull sate for beans, at a decline in the quota tions of is per quarter. White pets were very dull, and is per quarter lower. Grey and Maple qualities ruled at full prices. There was a fair inquiry for flour at last week's currency. CURRENCY PEE IMPERIAL MEASURE. Wheat—Essex 1c Kent, Malt—Chevalier .... 763 to 793 Rod •..• new 543 to 66s ()sty Yorkshire and Ditt0........ old —s —a Lineolnsh., Feed 21s 253 Ditto, White new 57s 738 Potato Ditt0........ old —s —s Youghal aad Cork Norfolk and Lin- Black. •• •• 193 22; coin, Red, old —s —a Cork , White •• • • 21s 26s Ditto new •• •• .• 52; 63s Scotch, Feed. •• •• 26s 293 s9e—Old ............ —s —s Beans—Tick .•••• • • .. 31s 35s New ............ 38s 42s Barley—Grinding .•• •• 313 33a Malting ..• •• •• 363 383 Chevalier•.. . . 40s 483 Malt—Suffolk and Nor- Pigeons ...... •• •• 40 , 404 Peas—Grey ..•• .• .• •. 36s 39s Maple..• •• ••.• •• 39s 403 White....... -• .. 37s 393 Boilers •• •• •. ..• 38s 404 folk ... • ...... 67s 7751 Brown 633 his Kin2;stoo and Ware 76s 78s Floor—Town•mado. • • 55s 57s 8 uflolk •-.•• • • • • • 41a 448 Btocktn & Norfolk 42s 45s METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The imports of foreign stock into London last week wera but moderate—the total supply being 1,016 head. In the corresponding week in 1856 we received 621 ; in 1855, 379; in 1854, 3,8 -4 4 ; in 1853, 3,617; in 1852, 1,899; and in 1851, 2,229 head. IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WENS. Beasts. From Ostend Elarlingen 403 ... Oporto Rotterdam Schiedam Comma. Antwerp l3 Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. .•• ••• 7 ... - •.• 115 43 - - ::: - ... 160 ... T0ta1.... 651 122 ... The yearly comparison of weekly Imports is as follows : Beasts. Sheen. Lambs. Calves. Pigs 1856 433 ... 1. - 2 ... ... 176 ... 1855 214 ... ... ... 165 ... 1854 1,011 ... 2,327 ... - ... 491 ... t 1853 475 ... 2,812 ... - ... 289 ... 1852 430 ... 1,260 ... ... 200 ... E 1851 475 ... 1,484 ... ... 263 ... _7 The show of foreign calves here, to-day, was seasonably good ; but that of beasts and sheep was limited. From our own grazing districts the receipts of beasts fresh up, to-day, were only moderate; but their general quality was very prime. For the primest breeds there was a fair demand at prices quite equal to Mondv last— the best Scots selling at 5s per Slbs ; otherwise, the trade was less active, and, in some instances, prices were a shade in favour of buyers. The arrivals from Norfolk, Suffolk, E i3CX, and Cam bridgeshire, amounted to about 2,000 Scots and short horns ; from other parts of England 300 of various breeds; from Scotland. 350 Scots, and from Ireland 120 oxen. We were again very scantily supplied with sheep, but their general quality was prime. There was increased firmness in the mutton trade, and prices may be considered M per 81bs higher than on this day se'nnight. Our top quotation for Downs is now 5s 8d per 81bs ; but some my prime lots went at oven higher quotations. Calves were in moderate supply, and fair request, atlast week's currency. The highest price was 5e 61 per 81bs. In pigs only a limited bus!ness was transacted. Prices, however, were supported. Per Sibs to sink the offal*. s. d. s. d., s. d. , .• . Interior 8ea5t0....3 4to 3 61PrimeSonthdowu 5 6 5 8 Second quality.... 3 8 4 o,loarge ors°. calve. 310 5 0 Prime large oxen 4 2 4 &Prime small do 5 2 5 6 Prime Scots, dm. 4 11) 5 o;Large hogs Inferior Sheep ...4 2 4 6 Small porkers 3ocond quality ... 4 8 4 10:Suckling calves 23 41 30 0 Prime erse.-wlled.s 0 5 rQuartor old pigs 21 0 i'B 0 TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY. Saasts .. •• • • ...... • 3 .541 Mmes....—. ~........ . 450 Sheep ..........15,910 Calves •••..•• .. •• •••••• 70 Pigs .................... 180 Sheep ....... ...... ....... 200 Calves.... •. •• ......•• 30 & statement and comparison of the supplies and prices 4f Lt stock exhibited and sold in the Great Metropolitan Cattle Marl« t, on '.Monday, Feb. 18, 1856, and this day, Monday, Feb. 16, 1857. Per Slbs, to sink the olTals. Feb. 18, 1856. \ Feb.l6, 187,7 s. d. s. d. s. d. a. d. Coarse and inferior beasts 3 oto 3 2,3 4to 3 6 Second quality ditto 3 4 3 8A 8 4 0 Prime large oxen 310 4 41 2 4 8 Prime Scots, drc ... 4 6 4 8,5 10 5 0 Coarse and inferior sheep ... 0 0 3 4 4 2 4 6 Second quality ditto ... 3 6 3 lo , ' 8 410 Prime coarse woolled ditto 4 0 4 4. 5 A 5 2 Prime Southdown ditto 4 6 4 10,5 6 5 8 Lambs ... ... 10 0 00 0 i 0 Largo coarse calves 4 8 5 4,3 10 5 0 Prime small ditto 5 6 6 o's 2 5 6 Large hogs ... 3 6 4 2 3 8 4 4 Neat small porkers 4 4 410 4 6 5 2 Beasts._ 3 , 985 3,541 Sheep 19 , 670 15,910 70 180 SUPPLIES ON SALE, Feb. 19, 1855.—Beasts, 3,651; sheop, 19,110; calves, 85 ; pigs, 250. February 20, 1851.—Beasts, 4,930; sheep, 22,410 ; calves, 235; pigs, 310. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. The supplies of mea,% on sale here, slaughtered in the metropolis, aro very moderate, but we continue to nicely° extensive arriva's from the Continent. Generally speak ing, the demand is steady at, our quotations. Per 81bs by the carcase. s. d. s. d. I . N. d, s. d Beef, inferior 3 0 3 4 1 Mutton, Inferior 3 6 310 Do., middling 3 6 310 I Do., middling 4 0 4 4 Do. prime 1ar0e..4 0 4 2 i Do., prime 4 6 4 8 Do., do. 5ma 11 .... 4 * 4 4 6 i Veai Pork, large 3 8 4 4 I Pork, small 4 6 5 4 SPORTING NOTES. A NOTE OF PREPARATION. "Up and doing" is now the raPying cry of the betting fraternity. Turfites will begin their regular work with the Lin'eolli Spring Meeting, which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday next ; and, unless Jack Frost suddenly steps in again to spoil sport, they will not have a seven day,' interval of leisure until the thick fogy and short c'ays of November bring another racing season to a termination. The campaign seems likely to be opened under the most favourable auspices, and there is every prospect of its being brought to a satisfactory and a E Le cepsful conclusion. In the aggregate the nominations for the stakes which have recently clesed may be advan tageously emnpared with those of any former years, whilst the "shortcomings" exhibited at certain meetings are not sufficiently striking to excite apprehensions of a diminished supply of sport. The old-established gather ings, with the exception of those at Newmarket, mak tain their usual attractions unimpaired, whilst new items of interest have been imported into their programmes. In the different training quarters all is bustle and activity. Heath and moor, clown and wold are thronged with sheeted regiments of " terrible high-bred cattle," in active preparation for their spring engagements. The work goes on merrily, especially in the South, where the horses have not been long and frequently stopped in their work. To those animals which are the most forward in their preparation will fall most of the early spring prizes— " fitness," and not merit, invariably regulating the re sults of races during the fist three months of the year. Four races per day are set for decision at Lincoln, the Two-yrs-ell Stakes and the Steeplechase being the at tractions on Wednesday, and the "legitimate" Handi cap and the Hurdle Rae s being the most important "features" on Thursday's list. To-morrow, when I shall, doubtless, have received advices as to the arrived and intended horses, I will enter into a discussion of the probabilities. Speculation on coming events has been marked by few incidents of importance. The knocking out of Black Swan for the Liverpool Steeplechase, and the undimi oppositiun arrayed against Blink nanny for the Derby, have perhaps been the principal investments at the Corner. "Turf topics" aro scanty enough at pre sent, and nothing new has occupied the gossips in turf circles. The American horses, which have done merely walking exercise, are about to quit Newmarket tempora rily for Houghton Down, near Stockbridge. Our turfites are eagerly anticipating a taste of their quality, but the favourable impression which they made on their arrival in this country was not vary deep or lasling. Jonathan may lick our steam-engines, or beat us in a race across the Atlantic, but he will not be able to whip our thoroughbreds, and beat them across the Flat. When the English and American horses do meet, however, they will meet in the true spirit of " generous emula tion." To explain the unsteadiness of Blink Bonny in the market a report has been current, to the effect that she has been recently tried and found wanting. In fact, it is raid that she was "put through the mill" with Strath. raver and others, and that Strathnaver turned out the best of the bunch ! Some colour was given to this re port by the face of Strathnaver's being backed at an outside price at Tattersall's on Thursday last. February 16. A FRESH MAN. BOROUGH HOP. There is a steady, but by no means extensive business doing in good and fi2o hops, at full quotations. In oth kinds very little is passing. Mid and East Kent pockets, 3/ 15s to 5/ 12s ; Weald of gents, 31 5s to 51 Os ; Sussex, 3/ 33 to 41 Os ; Worcester, 4s to 51 5s ; yearlings, 1/ lOs to 31 15e. per cwt. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. Since Monday last fair supplies of potatoes have come to hand coastwise and by railway. For most kinds the demand is steady, at full quotations. The imports last week were 467 bags, from Schiedam; 40 from Belfast; 8 baskets, from Rotterdam; and 8 sacks from Limerick. York Regents, 100 s to 130 s per ton ; Kent and Essex do., 100 s to 130 s ; Scotch do., 95s to 120 a ; do. cups, 90s to 1003 ; Middlings, 65s to 755; Lincolns, 90s to 105 s ; Blues, 90s to 105 s. WOOL. As the public sales of colonial wool will be commenced on Thur s d a y wee k , there is very little business doing in our market, yet holders generally refuse to sell except at an advance of from LI to 2d per lb. Last week's imports were 674 bales from Hobart Town, 401 from Melbourne, 170 from the C a p e , 8 72 from Sydney, 83 from Dunkirk, and 177 bags from Hainbro'. The following are the current rates of English wool :- Down teas, is 7d to is 8d ; half-bred hoggets, is 6d to is 7d ; Kent fleeces, is 5d t o i s 6d ; Down ewes, 1s 5d to is 6(1 ; Leicester fleeces, is 4d to is 5d ; combing skins, is flannel w oo l , i s 2d to is 6d ; and blanket w 001,4 to is d ; lOdt s ols 2d per lb; a prices aro well sup terms, but rape cake s quotations. SEEDS. Linseed is in steady demand, si, ported. Rape an d z oilseeds realise Linseed cakes are quiet, on former 5s per ton dearer. Tarnip,White,per bush. 20s to 21s Swede ........ —20 s dotard, Brown• ••• .. 20s 22s White, new...• .. 103 12s rares,Wlnter,new....ss 69 6s Od a Canary, per quarter 703 76345 s CloYer,RedEng. (cwt.) 5u 3 00; Rye grass (new) .. ~.. 24s White ••—.. . • —65 s Foreign Bed ••.. 68s 765, White.. .• 68 s BCH Trefoil, new.......... 233 32i, Carraway •• 4Gs Coriander.... ••• • •• 22s 24s llempseed,per ciaarter 42i 44s Linseed, Eng..iowing.. 711 73s Crushing •• •• •• 713 73s Baltic •• •• •• —s Odessa •• •• •• •• • 70s 70s 6d Linseed Cake, pr. ton— English • • ...101108 10115 s Foreign, per ton 91 10- 11 10s Rape Cakes, per ton 51 15s 6' 15s Rapeseed, pr qr....• 828 84s 1.......... "..... TALLOW. The price of tallow continues steady, at al per cwt on the spot, and to the 31st March ; while there are sellers at 57 s Gd for delivery in April, May, and June. We have more inquiry for the end of the year, at 543 9d per cwt. Town Tallow 66s nett cash. Rou g h fat, 3s 7d per Blbs. 1867. 1853. Stock this day ;;•• ••1 33'335 trice of Y. C 458 "°3 • I De livery last week . , 2 ,013 Ditto from J une 1 .... I 76,746 Arrivals last week.. Ditto from Junel.— 74,417 hie° Of Town _ g e 46..1 6d 1854. 1855. 36,952 623 Od to 623.9 e 1,430 77,438 275 90,775 63, 3d 37.160 56s 6dto —s Od 2,081 60,932 - 176 62.092 584 Od 23.117 GOs Od to —s 0(1 937 83,947 10,172 68s Od to —s Od 1,839 88,502 1,489 81,694 674 Od 5R2 60,522 534 6d TERRIBLE INCIDENT AT MILAN. The following comes to us in a private letter from Milan : " MILAN, FEB. 10. "A terrible event occurred a few days since at Mantua. A young man hissed a prima donna in one of the theatres. An Austrian officer called in a commissary of police to silence the mdcont3nt. The latter, in receiving a wPrning from the formidable functionary, thought the safest thing he could do was to get out of the way, and ho quietly left the theatre. But the officer, following him, insulted him, and proposed to fight. A meeting was ar ranged for the clay after the morrow, but in the m anwhile the I elatives of the young man applied to the military commandant of Mantua, and begged him not to permit a repetition of the scandal which occurred two months age, when an Austrian officer nearly killed a Lombard citizen. The commandant in consequence of this request sent the challenger out of the town. But yesterday, an Austrian cap tain, a friend of the officer who had been sent away, happening to meet the young Italian in a cafe, rushed upon him in a paroxysm of filly, accusel him of teing the cause of his friend's banishment, and drawing his sword cut his head clean off at one blow. This news rapidly spread through the town, and caused immense agitation. Groups were speedily formed in the streets, the shops were closed, the troops were called out, and marched up and down the town all the night. A little more and the state of siege and maridal law would have bean proclaimed." ' Letters from Milan of Feb. 14 confirm the state ment of an Austrian officer having cut off a young man's head in a cafe, and say further that fight 3 took place afterwards between other officers and citizens, and that more blood was shed. SIR JOHN FR ANKLINS EXPEDITION. The following letter has been addressed to the editor of the Times : Sir,-1 lose no time in noticing the report given in the Times and other papers of to-day by Captain Sherard Osborn in reference to Sir John Franklin's expedition, and to mention that no information bearing upon this important subject has reached this house in an official or private shape, and that, in the opinion of persons acquainted with the Indian country, it is only one of those vague ru mours which have been current there fiom time to time, upon which no reliance can be placed, and probal ly arises from Indians having seen one of Anderson's own encampments on or near the Back Itivrr, but not near its mouth, because the Indians, as far as is known t) the Hudson's Bay Company, never approach within 200 or 300 miles of it, i. e. —the mouth of the liver. Sir George Simpson, whose name is particularly mentioned by Captain Osborn, will be in London next week, and will no doubt personally contradict the absurd charge made in Captain Osborn's com munication. I am, sir, your obedient servant, W. G. SMITH, Secretary. Hudson's Bay-house, Feb. 14. THE NEW PROPOSED DUTIES. The following are the duties upon sugar and tea, as proposed to be enacted : SUGAR-TAU CWT. Present There- Duty. 1857-8. 1858-9. 1859-60. after. £s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Refined 1 0 0 18 4 16 8 15 0 13 4 White Ol7 6 16 0 14 7 13 2 11 8 Yellow Brown Molasses 0 5 4 5 0 4 7 4 2 3 9 Tea TEA-TLIE LB, 17151 - 3 1 0 INCOME AND PROPERTY TAX-PER E. 01407 0 7 0 7 It is said in the green-rooms—and we imagine with good f Aindation—that Mrs. Nisbett'a return to the stage may be shortly looked for. Mr. C. Kean, it is said, intends to quit the stage in 1859. His last season at the Princess's Theatre is ex pected to realise a profit of 10,0001. In consequence of the decease of Mr. Richard Smith, brother to 11r. Albert Smith, the Egyptian Hall will be closed all this week. DINNER TO MR. ROGERS, THE COMEDIAN.—It is said to be the intention of certain theatrical gentlemen to get up a dinner to Mr. James Rogers, to be given on ash Wednesday. The tickets are to be 13s. 4d. each. Young John Henry Cooke, the talented equestrian of Astley's, has returned from America, where his won derful feat of the "Leap of the Bridge," created an un precedented sensation. He is announced for this per formance during the week. MME. GRISI IN THE PROVINCES.—Mme. Grisi is now engaged in an operatic tour In the provinces, under the direction of Mr. Beale. She has been performing at Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, &c., with almost un paralleled success. DRAMATIC COPYRIGHT.—The question of dramatic copyright of French authors is about to be submitted to the Court of Chancery. Mr. C. Reade intends pro ceeding against Mr. Payne, of the Strand Theatre , if he should produce a piece, entitled "Poverty and Pride " (which he intends to perform this evening). Several ma.• nagers have entered into a subscription to defray the expenses of the defence. The annual grand ball given by the enterprising pro. prietor of the Canterbury Hall, Mr. C. Morton, takes place on Wednesday next. Preparations for the occa sion have been going on for some time. The splendid ball has been tastefully embellished, a numerous band has been engaged, and a supper of the most recherche de scription is to be provided. The arrangements of the ball-room have been confided to Mr. Frampton. That there will be a large attendance there cannot be a doubt. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 25th ult., in the Constitutionnel, says :—Several accounts have been given relative to splendid presents made here to the Countess of Morny, but they are all completely unfounded. The Emperor aed Empress have not made any present, pro perly so called, to the young Princess Troubetskoy. The only mark of attention which has been paid to her by the Imperial family was to send her at the moment of her marriage the picture of the Empress in diamonds—an elegant decoration, which is highly valued at St. Peters burg. As for the magnificent present of diamonds from the count, there is not a word of truth in it. Everything at the marriage was conducted in the most simple man ner." THE AFFAIRS OP NAPLES. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. On Saturday the correspondence rulating to the affairs : of Napics, extendi ng f rom M a y 19 to November 15, last year, was issued as a P ai l amentary paper. The roturn embraces 47 commun i ca ti on s. Oa May 19, last year, Lord Clarendon wrote to Sir Will:am Temple, at Naples, setting forth the grounls on which her Majesty's Government recommended the Government .f the Two Sicilies to grant a general amnesty, and to adopt an improved administrative system. Sir William Temple acknowledges the receipt of this despatch, and communicates the result of his interview with the Neapo litan Minister. The report of M. Brennier, the French representative, who acted with Sir William, is also given. Then follows a memorandum received from friends of politi ca l pr i soners b y Si r William Temple, re lating their s uff er i ngs, an d commun i ca ted to the Neapo litan Governme n t. Si r Willi am Temple sends also re ports of the t r i a l s a t th e gran d cr i m i na l con/ t, and the representa'ions made f rom ti me t o time by M. Carafa to the English a n d F renc h G overnmen t ' , w ith the results. Between July 31 and Oct. 27 the correspondence from Naples to our Government is conducted by Mr. Petre. The letters of this gentleman include observations on the political state of the kingdom, the results of the trials, the sufferings of Poario and others, the facA connected with the rupture, of the diplomatic relations, and the depar ture of the French and English representatives from the capital. Mr. Petre, in a special despatch, expresses his grateful sense of the perfect cordiality and f rankness which he has m e t with from Baron Brennier, who re ceives accordingly the acknowledgment of her Ma jesty's Government. The subjoined is the despatch with which the corres pondence commences : "No. 1. " THE EARL OF CLARENDON TO SIR W. TEMPLE. "Foreign-office, May 19, 1856. " Sir,—The 221 protocol of the Conferences lately held at Paris, which has been published, will have proved to the Neapolitan Government the anxiety felt by the Congress in regard to the present state of the Italian peninsula. " This anxiety, and a orofund conviction of tne im minent danger with which Italy is threatened can alone justify her Majesty's Government in deviating from that princirle of wh ch they are the first to recognise the im portance—that no foreign power hai a right to interfere in the internal affairs of another state ; and the govern ment of the King of the Two Sicilies may be assured that, in offering advice for the regulation of its internal affairs, the Government of her Majesty is actuated by friendly feelings, and the persuasion that not only the stability of the ipilian monarchy, but the general peace of Europe; will be endangered by a perseverance in that system of internal administration which now exists in the Neapolitan dominions. " The Neapolitan Government cannot be unmindful of the threatening aspect of affairs in Sicily, where the slightest accident may at any moment rouse into action the ill suppressed feelings of the people. It must also be aware that there is a point beyond which popular feeling cannot with safety be repressed, and that a sys tem of rigour may fail to be effective-at.the very moment when the results sought to be at - aintia by it would be most essential for the security of the ex . sting dynasty. " It is, then, in a true spirit of friendship that her Majesty's Government would recommend the government of the Two Sicilies to enter upon a new course cf inter ternal policy, to endeavour by a general amnesty to rally round the throne those who have been alienated fro * na it by systematic distrust, and in too many cases by un merited persecution, and to inspire al persons, irrespec tive of their political opinions, with confidence that justice will be duly administered, and that their personal liberty and their property will be respected. "The attention of Europa is now directed towards Italy as the quarter from whence, more than from any other, the general peace now happily restored is likely again to be disturbed. _ The Powers cf Europe feel that they have a right to employ alt the means at their dis posal to avert a calamity so grievous as the renewal of war, and the means they may decide on adopting for that purpose will be just.fied by necessity. "Her Majesty's Government indulge a hope that the Neapolitan Government will take into their consideration whether it would not be prudent, frankly at once, to adopt a new system which would relieve Europe from anxiety, and improve the relations of Naples with fo reign Powers. Its present system is a barrier to the friendly relations between Great Britain and Naples which her Majesty's Government anxiously desire to re-establish ; and the Neapolitan Government may be assured that those relations would be rendered more per manent and secure by the adoption of a po li cy wh i c h would be more in harmony with the spirit of the age, and would place the King's throne on a solid founda tion by promoting the happiness and encouraging the loyalty of his pe-ple. " You will add that her Majesty's Government look with the utmost anxiety to the answer which may be re turned to the communication which, in conjunction with your French colleague, you are now instructed to make the Napolitean Minister, for Foreign Affairs. " You will read and give a copy of this despatch to the Neapolitan Minister for Forego Affairs.—l am, &c., " (Signed) CLARENDON." The following extract from a despatch from Lord Clarendon to the Admiralty, dated October 10, thus ex• plain s the object of a naval demonstration. " I am now to signify to your lordships her Majes ty's pleasure that a British naval force should be held in readiness at Malta for the protection of British interests in the Neapolitan dominions, in case those interests should suffer prf-jatlioe after the withdrawal of her Majesty's mission from Naples. " The commatder of that force should be directed to despatch a steam-vessel from time to time, so as to keep up a frequent communication with her Majesty's consuls at Naples, and the principal consular s:ations in the island of Sicily ; and if any circumstasces should prise which call for the active interposition of ber Majesty's naval forces for the protection of British interests, the earliest pc,ssille notice thereof is to be conveyed to her Majesty's Government through Marseilles ; and the com mander of the squadron will hold his ships in readiness to carry out, without loss of time, any instructions which may be sent to him by your lordships, but without such instructions he will not appear with the line-of-battle ships off the coasts of the Neapolitan dominions. " Her Majesty's Government have reason to believe that corresponding arrangements will be made by the French Government ; and I have only to add tbat the commanders of her Majesty's ships, either collectively or separately, will endeavour to azt in entire crncert with the commanders of French vessels engaged on the same service, and will look after French interests equally with those of her Majesty's subjects, in the accidental absence of a French ship of war." On the same date Earl Clarendon sent the following despatch to Mr. Petre _ " No. 27. " THE EARL QF CLARENDON TO MR. PETRE. " FOI eign Office, Oct 10, 1856. "Sir,—lt is with regret that her Maj est y 's Govern ment have arrived at the conviction that the N eapolitan Government do not intend to modify the sy st em which p reva ils throughout the dominions of the King of the Two Sicilies, and which formed the subject of my de spatch of the 19th of May last to Sir Wm. Temple. "The advice contained in that despatch was offered in a friendly spirit, and in terms that could give no offence to the Neapolitan Government. "for Majesty's Government felt themselves justified in offering that advice, upon considerations of general interest, and with a sincere desire to establish between England and Naples relations of greater cordiality than those which for some time past have existed. " The reply of the Neapolitan Government was nei ther courteous nor satisfactory, and proved that the mo tives and intentions of her Majesty's Government had been completely misunderstood ; but, as the painful im pression which it created was not unknown to the Nea politan Government, we had hoped that our abstinence from again pressing our advice upon the Neapolitan Go vernment might have induced that Government, sponta neously, to adopt measures in accordance with the puin ciples upon which the communication of her Majesty's Govereinent had been founded. Her Majesty's Govern ment would have greatly preferred that such a course of proceeding should have been pursued, for they have no wish needlessly to interfere in the affairs of Naples, and a sense of duty alone impelled them 'to suggest certain changes and improvements in the internal po licy of that Government, They accordingly waited in sileuce for several weeks, in the hope that more prudent counsels might have prevailed at Naples ; but their expectations have been disappointed. A tardy apology uwe i as wast as un for the first reply o f the Nea p olit an Government has, indeed, been receive d, not a pp are ntly suggested by a sense of propriety on the p art of the Neapolitan Go vernment, but called fort h b y reports received from Vienna satiaf andooy a r is. apology,main n ve v r i , ew is just objectsla the despatch of M. Carafa to Princ e C ar i n i of the 30th of June, and her Majesty's govern ment, therefore, in a i t r Pa corjunction with th e Government of the Emperor of the French, are of opin ion that di p lo matic relations can no longer be maintaine d with a Gove rnment which rejects all friendly warning , and is dete rmined to persevere in s to This the a course which is condemned by all civilised nations. "You will, therefore, upon the receipt of this de spatch,. prepare to quit Naples with the members of the legation, leaving the archives in the care of her Ma jesty's consul. " Similar instructions will be addressed to the French minister. " But, in order that the interests of British subjects in the Neapolitan territory may not be left without ade quate protection, a British squadron will be held in readiness at Malta, and the commander of that squad ron will be directed to despatch a steam-vessel from time to time, to communicate with her Majesty's consuls at Naples and at the ports of the Island of Sicily, in order to ascertain that British interests are not preju diced by the interruption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. A French squv.dron will be held in readiness at Toulon, the commander of which will receive correspon ding instructions for periodical visits to the ports of Naples and Sicily, with a view to the protection of French interests. "You will read and give a copy of this despatch to M. Carafa, and you will quit Naples as soon after that as you can make your arrangements for doing so.!' The following, from Mr. Metre, will give eome idea of the details communicated respecting the sufferings of the prisoners : " No 39. "MR. pETRE TO THE EARL OF CLAttENDON.-(RogriED NOV. 1.) " - Naples, Oct. 27, 1856. "My Lord, —I regret unfeignedly in this, one of my net despatches to ;you r lo rdship, to have to record the physical sufferings of Carlo Poerio. " For some time past he had been suffering from a tumour on the spine, arising in great measure, I believe, fecm long confinement and low urihealay diet, and ai,- gravatel by the friction of his chain. An opuratiun was performed very receroly upon him, and he is now, I ace toll, in a more e,•atisfacory state of health. Ba:, if thy information is correct, and I have no reason to doubt it, however revolting to humanity the frie, neither before, nor dining', nor after the operation, was Poerio's chain removed." r-Tanal aid His Royal Highness the General Conarnauling-it.-Cief will hold a levee at 1 o'clock on Thursday next. The reports of a Malta correspondent under this head come down to the 11th of Feb., between which date and the 24th preceding the Sultan, Pera, and Euxine steamers had arrived from Southampton, pin ceeded to Alexandria, and the last two returned on the 11th, when the Pera left on her r, turn to England w;th the heavy India mail, and the Eux'ne for Marseilles with the overland mail and despatches. The Thessalia and Ansles (screws), from Liverpool, had arrived, and left for Constantinople, whence, after filling up at Smyrna, the Athenian and Athens bad arrived, and left for Liverpool. The Bceotia, Aleppo, Melita, and Laconia had arrived from Alexandria, and left for Liverpool. The St. Elmo arrived from Glasgow and Gibraltar on the 80i. Beyond these ' and the ar r i va l an d d eparture of the usual French and English mail steamers, bringing at this season a greatly reduced list of passengers, the only movements reported are the following : " Her Majesty's screw steam gun-boat Wanderer re turned from Cagliari on the 27th Jan., whither she had been despatched to telegraph to Government the China and Persian news. " The Clara Louisa, hired freight-chip, arrived from Lonlon on the 31 Feb., with gunpowder and Govern- men t stores. " Her Majesty's surveying steam-sloop Medina ar rived from the Bosphorus and Cerigo on the 28th Jan., and on the same day H.M.'s steam-Aoop Shearwater, from Corfu, for which last-mentioned port the Centaur steam-frigate, which returned from Tripoli on the 29% Jan., left on the 4-h Feb., conveying Captain Piper, Lieuts. Whitten (and two sons), Surtie Morley, An drea, Southall), Buchanan (and wife), Simpson, Beare, Richards, Clerks, and Jepson. " Her Majesty's steam-frigate Gladiator arrived from Bujukdere on the Ist Feb., having on board Capt. War ren, R.N., of her Majesty's ship Cressy, on sick leave, and Commander Warren, R.N. "Her Majesty's steam transport Supply, with super numerary seamen and marines for tke fleet, left for the Bosphorus on the 7th. " Her Majesty's screw sloop Wye left fn. England on the 3d. " Her Majesty's steam frigate the Dauntless, convey ing Lieut. Palmer, 47th, and 24 military invalids, left for England on the sth, having in tow the Cracker gun- boat. Commander Frederick Holland, R.N., weutpas senger by the Dauntless. "Her Majesty's sailing transport Diligence left for England on the same day, laden chiefly with condemned prb visiOns. "Her Majesty's screw corvette S xallow left for the Bosphorus on the 31, conveying Surgeon . Si gbt, R.N., to be tried by a naval court-martial, the witnesses touch ing which are in the fleet. She also conveyed Lieutenant Carter and Mr. Bivistock, R.N. " The schooner yacht Maria, Mr. A. Waaing owner, arrived on th 4th from Palermo, Messina, and Syracuse, and left fur Tunis and Gibraltar oa the 9th. "The schooner yacht Titania. having on board the owner, Mr, Stephenson, and Mr. Lee, sailed for Gih- raltar on the sth. " The French Government ecrew transport La 13,-,r- dog, arrived from Milo on the 33, and kit on the sth for Algiers. "The Ottoman steamer David arrived from Gibraltar, Algiers, and Bona on the 3d, and left for Constantinople on the Bth. • "The Peninsular and Oriental Company's ship Pera, Capt. Soy, arrived at Malta at 4 a.m. on the 20th Ja- nuary, having made a remarkably five passage out of seven days .18 hours, giving an average speed of 12 knots. She ran from Southampton to Gibraltar in four days three hours, the quickest passage yet trade, with the exception of the Hitnaliya's, which occupied a little under three days. The Pera was detained at Gibraltar 13 hours, in consequence of having arrived just after gunfire. It would seem to be an unnecessary detention that, as in this case, a ship like the Pera, requiring neither coals nor anything else, should bri kept so many hours at Gibraltar because she happened to arrive a short time after the customary hour of visiting ships. The Pera met with thick, dirty weather on starting, but afterwards strong north and north-west winds, with a heavy north-west swell across the Bay. She brought a large number of passengers (130) and a valuable cargo of specie—say about 400,0001. "The company's new steam-ship Alen, Capt. Ber nard, made a remarkably quick passage from B unbay to Suez, with mail; and passengers, having made an average run of 320 in.les daily. . _ _ _ "The situation of the officars of the naval establish ments in Malta has been materially improved by a gene ral increase of pay. The salaries of the master ship wright and the superintending engineer have been in creased by 100/. a-year each. The other genllemen of the dock and victualling yards and hospital have been placed upon a rising scale of pay, as in E, gland, where the salaries of the lst clerks increase by 151. a•year, as far as 4501. ; those of the 2,1 class also by 151., as far as 300/. ; and those of the 3d class by 101., as tar as 150/. Besides the above emoluments, the lit clerks in each - departm.nt are allowed free quarters." On Saturday afternoon the depots of the following regiments belonging to the Provisional Battalion at Chatham—viz., 10i;t1 Foot; tinclii - the command of Cap tain J. V. H. Montague ; 29th, under the command of Capfain J. M. Lyle ' • 64th, commanded by Brevet-Major W. J. Cliads ; and the S3d, under the command of Cap tain W. Nott, together numbering about 500 pon-com- m:ssioned officers and men—lift Chatham barracks acid proceeded to Brompton barracks, where they are to be qu.irtered, their removal having been rendered necessary owing to the crowded state of the Provisional Battalion, and the large number of volunteers for the variou,, Indian depots which will arrive at Chatham garrison during the present week. The number of workmen employed in Chatham dock yard having been ordered to be reduced, 16 men received their discharge from that establishment on Saturday last, and 30 more will be discharged at the end of this week. In consequence of the order which has been issued by the Admiralty for reducing the pay of the labourers em ployed in the dockyard to 12s. a week, a public meeting has been held at Chatham, presided over by the High Constable, when it. was unanimously resolved to memo- rialise the - Lords of the Admiralty tf;rescind that order. Her Majesty's ship Winchester (50), the late flag-ship, arrived at Singapore on the 234 Dec. from Hong Kong, and sailed on the 27th for England. The Diamond, 27, Captain C. B. Hamilton, is being stripped at Chatham and her stores removed, in order to be paid off into ordinary on Wednesday 'next. The Iris, 26, Captain W. Loring, C. 8., fitting at Chatham for the Australian station, is ready fur sea, and is expected to sail from that port on the 18th inst. The iron paddle steamer Trident is ordered to be un docked at Woolwich on Monday, and the Banshee will be placed in No. 1 on the foil awing day, for thorough examination, prior to commencing service as Admiralty yacht and tender to the Fisgard. Her Majesty's screw corvette Scout, in Woolwich ba sin, has received her masts, engines, and machinery, and was on Saturday replaced under the east shears by her Majesty's ship Spitfire. The steam troop-ship Dee, Master-Commander Pullen, left Woolwich on Friday evening, laden with machinery and boilers for the Royal Sovereign and Melpomene at Portsmouth. Mr. Tandy, the chief engineer of the vessel, received instructions from the Lords of the Admirrlty to take careful notes relative to the working of the super heating steam apparatus during the voyage, and to re port officially thereon on his rett.rn. The Admiralty yacht Vivid, which has been lent fi r temporary service to the Royal Mad Steampacket Com pany, has been fitted with Mr. Jeffrees' patent smoke consumer and fuel economiser, for experiment on board that vessel. It is considered that this method will effect an economy in the consumption of fuel to the amount of at least 40 per cent. The inspecting officer of machinery afloat attached to Woolwich dockyard was ordered to take passage in the Vivid to Dover, and to report on the operation of the invention for the benefit of Government. The screw steamship Chile, Capt. Smitb, with mails and passengers for the West Coast of South America, which left Plymouth on the 'lsth Jan., put back to that port on Friday last, dismasted and disabled. She has been no .further , than 17 west, and for a considerable time was in imminent danger of drifting on the coast of Spain in the Bay of Biscay. Shortly after her departure she experienced heavy gales, which continued with so mush force as to carry away the foremast and jibboom close down, and as the rigging was of wire it was some time before the wreck - could be cleared. After this it was found necessary to cut away the topmast. While preparing for this a heavy roll of the vessel snapped the mainmast short off, and two men in the tops were thrown into the sea, but managed to get on board again. For many days after she continued drifting about, and the crew urged the necessity of abandoning her, which was energetically resisted by the officers. After many fai lures, jurymasts were rigged, and the after tanks filled to get her down by the stern, when she managed to bold her own till fine weather was experienced, when she gradually approached the Channel, from which she had never been distant more than three or four days' sail during a period of 29 days. The engines were of very little service in her distress, and great alterations will be necessary in the machinery before she can proc ee d t o sea adain. Her leakage Is not to any extent. Commander Luxmore and the surviving officers and seamen of the steamsloop Argus have erected in the public cemetery. at Plymouth a handsome cenotaph to the memory of their friends and messmates who died of yellow fever in the West Indies in the early part of the year. 1856. Her Majesty's steam frigate Arrogant, 47, Captain Lyster, is - alongside Portsmouth Dockyard dismantling, preparatory to being paid off. A shocking accident occurred on board her on Saturday. As one of the heavy pivot gnus, a 68-pounder, weighing 15 cwt, was being hoisted out the fall broke, and the gun fell upon one of the crew named James Desman, whose body was dread fully mangled, causing instantaneous death. The Ad miralty Coroner, Mr. Swainson, held an inquest on board in the afternoon, when a verdict of" Accidental death" was returned. The tackle fall was quite sound and in good order, andhad not been used more than half-a-dozen times. - The convict Johnson, who stabbed the Warder A.atin lately at Portsmouth, .was on Saturday committed for trial by the Portsmouth magistrate, and removed to Winchester Gaol the same day. Refir.Admirat of the Red Provo W. P. Wallis has been nominated to succeed to the command of the squa dron on the South-East Coast of America station on the expiration of the term of Rear-Admiral Johnstone. LITERATURE. Westminster .Review.—Under the quaint and somewhat questionable heading of " Wordline.ss and Other-Worldliness," we have a sparking, but hitter and otherwise exceptionable article en the poet Young. Much of the criticism is unimpeach able ; but the apparent motive of the onslaught, toget her with occasional bits of flagrant irreverence, mir the reader's satisfaction in the perusal. "No ram," we are told, "can be better fitted (than Young) for an Estabiished. Church: He personifies completely her nice balance of temporalities and spintualities. He is equally impressed with the momentousness of death and cf burial fees—he languishes at once for immortal life and felt " iivinga"—he has a fervid attach msnt to patrons in general, but on the whole prefers the Almighty • . . To a clay compounded chiefly of the worldling and the rhe torician there is added a real spark of Promethean fire. He will one day clothe his apostrophes and objurgations, his astronomical religion, and his charnel-house morality in lastin verse, which will stand like a Juggernaut made of gold and jewels, at once magnificent and repulsive. Towards the conclusion a contrast is presented between him and the poet Cowper—the sum of which is as follows : —" In Young we have the type of that deficient human sympathy, that impiety towards the present and visible which flies for its motives, its sanctities, and its religion to the remole, the vague, and the unknown. In Cowper we have the type of that genuine love which cherishes things in proportion to their nearness, and feels its reverence grow in proportion to Vie intimacy of its knowledge." Enough has been adduced to show the scope and tendency of the article. An able paper ou the " Capabilities and Disabilities of Women" is suc ceeded by a gloomy article on " English Lave its Oppression and Confusion." The writer offers little hope of real and substantial improvement until the people are better represented in Par liament, small and very slow reforms being, in his opinion, all that at present it is any use to, ask for. The dp , ctiption given of the existing state of the law and the progress mad• towards reform is anything but grateful to one's feeling of nationality, and, what is more, to ono's sense of justice. The " State of Parties in Italy since 1848" is the sub ject of one of the most rigorous articles in the number. The writer foresees, sooner or later, a renewal of the struggle between right and injustice in Italy ; designates indifference to the issue as " atheism," and asserting that we have never grasped the Italian question in its unity ; essays "to obtain from a brief survey of facts and docu ments, too little known, a clearer insight into it.' The profound sacredness attaching to the idea of nationality being demonstrated, it is said—" In Italy all these sacred instincts and realities of race, language, and cherished traditions were perhaps more ruthlessly violated than in any other country in Europe by the treaties of 1815, which our Govern ment has recently agreed, with the despotic Go vernments of Europe, to respect." Proof of this having been given, "the natural result, we are told, was seen first in a lat,nt, then in an open struggle on the part of the populations the Treaties of Vienna divided ln spite of Governmental maps, Lombards, Romans, Tuscans, Neapolitans, and edeilians continue to feel that they are but part of au indestructible whole—the Italian people. The prophecy of Dante, Petrarch, and Machiavelli will be fulfilled, for the idea of Dante lives in the hearts of twenty-six millions of Italians suffering under a common tyranny, and united by a common martyrdom. They seek to become, and they will not rest till they do become, a compact whole, and bear their just weight in the scale of Europe. Napoleon comprehended this, and de clared at St. Helena that " unity of man ners, of language, of literature, must at a future, more or less remote, end in bring ing her inhabitants under one government." There is an idea at work. No local remedies, no fractionary improvements or partial reforms will consequently avail. "In England, from net un derstanding this idea, we have imagined Italy di vided into a variety of parties, but, in fact, the Italians know that there are two—the Party of Action, or the National Pat ty, and the Moderate Party. . . . A glance at the late insurrections, in different parts of the Peninsula, and at the leaders who have arisen out of such insurrections will show that all have consciously or unconsciously tended to the realisation of the great idea, the unity of Italy." The National party, it is said, is eminently the party of the people, while the Mode rate party is composed of those who, despairing of the Italians being able to free themselves and vindicate their right to a national existence in the face of Europe, seek to obtain through diplomacy, from the Governments of Europe, gradual administrative reform, and a slow and partial amelioration of the tyranny under which Italy now writhes. The treachery of Charles Albert to the great Italian cause is forcibly ex hibited in a retrospect of the war of iudependence, and the fact, that after such experience of the consequences of putting their trust in princes, the moderate party in Italy should still preach to the people, that their hope is in the king of Piedmont, is said not to he surprising. "We have seen that they are men without grasp of intellect, without first principles to guide them." Another quota tion, and we are done ; it relates both to the pre sent and the future. "There is in Italy a visible progressive movement, and it is especially evident since the Crimean war, towards the national party. It counts among its ranks the working classes of the cities all over Italy, and almost all the young men who fought in Lombardi', Venice, Rome, and Sicily in 1847, 1848, and 1849. One thing is certain, that as hatred and abhorrence of A ustria is the dominant idea of every true Italian heart, whenever the National Party shall raise its' flag for action ev n the great bulk of Piedmontese will cease all talk of opportunity and diplomatic arrangements, rally round the tricolor standard, and forget all minor differences in the universal cry of " Fuori de Barbari." Among the remaining contributions maybe noticed an elaborate article on the proposed " Revision of the English Bible," and another of more immediate interest, if not of greater importance, on " Herat aid the Persian war." The writer is of opinion, and undertakes to sho.e an invasion of India by Persia is far from im practicable, and asserts that one fundamental axiom ought to regulate all our policy in Persia —to wit, that the day will come when she will combine with Russia in molesting us there. Be recommends our establishing ourselves in Candahar, the real key of India, and which, according to the best living authorities, could be reached at present by an invading army from the frontiers of Georgia with but little difficulty. Canclahar, to be_ sure, belongs to the Affg hans, but a little diplomacy m ight m i g ht put it in our possession—that fallin g , sa id we would be justified in taking it by force, the welfare of a few Affghans being as nothing to that . of the millions of India. The National Review. An excellent number—the best indeed we have seen of this newly-established review. To variety is added the positive merit of judicious selection, and a quiet power and comprehensiveness of grasp have been brought to bear on some of the subjects but too seldom met with in our periodical literature. The mo.t noticeable article is one on " William Wordsworth," which opens the number. The writer manifests a subtle and masterly apprehension of the genius of the poet, and a judicial impartiality in setting forth his defects and merits. In order to the comprehension of Wordsworth's matter, we are told " it is absolutely necessary t o understand his manner first. There is no poet who gives to his theme so perfectly new a birth as Wordsworth. Not indeed that he discerns and revivifies the natural life which is in it : but he creates a new thing altogether—namely, the life of thought which it has the power to generate in his own brooding imagination. Thus he uses human sorrow, for ex ample, as an infl uence t o s ti r u p his own me ditative 'spirit till it loses its own nature, and becomes— " ` Sorrow that is not sorrow, but delight, And miserable love, that is not pain To bear of, for the glory that redounds Therefrom to human kind and what we are.' It is this strange transmuting power which his meditative spirit exercises over all earthly and human themes, that gives to Wordsworth's poems the intense air of solitude which everywhere per vades them. He is the most solitary of poets. . . In solitude only could they have originated, and in solitude only can they be perfectly enjoyed. Natural rays of feeling are refracted the • • • moment they enter Wordsworth's imagination. It is not the theme acting on the man that you see, but the man acting on the theme." Going b c_p ac la k in a , mind.little, we ,, Ifitudwatrinksieufbadteaszeipttihoantoifafthae poet's Englishman, though steeped in the dim li g ht of co nstant meditation, a piercing though gifted with though narrow imaginati ve force." Theeaertlincleg however, is of too conti nuous a character for brief extracts to do justice to its merits, or those of its subject. A paper on " The Relations of Art to Religion" appears to have been written under Ruskinian inspiration. " Balzac in Pantoufles" is the title of a clever article, in which the peculiari ties of that eccentric author are of airooi cn t t a e n t oo_ o n f s. th no ese nne i p s ti faculty pre sented. Th e , • . graphically meat," his offs • may live, but that th _,4 bi z offspring bemg created aolin n a o "n t dinS tha etnli t nbethdive: ey may calculate. Spurgeon and his Popularity" are candidly cent dered, not however in the precise spirit or with the exact exact results his more sympathetic adreir.ersapirit likely to approve. " The Literature r Rapping" supplies an entertaining PaPer: were the result not a humiliating expose of this most extra ! vagant "bit of humbug." The remaining Prticles include "Latham and Grimm on the Ethnology of Germany," " The Credit Mobilier, and Banking Companies in France," " Striiuks and German Hellenism," and "Th e Sl ave E m pi re o f the W es t." The writar of the last holds forth but little hope of the extinction of Slavery in the United States, and in pointing out the duties of this country, expres3e3 the wish that our Indian authorities may sti , nula e to the utmost the growth of cotton in tie Es, .t, so as to relax the tension of product on, and the rush into fresh fields in the t ro pi ca l st ttss of America, and to set fre 3 tti e tnor4l sympathies of our mer cantile classes at home from an oppressive reci procity with the planters' interest. To which we add a cordial—Amen I MR. WARREN, M. P., ON THE INCOME TAX. On Saturday afternoon last, a meeting on t he subject of the income tax was held at the Tow s Hall, Midhurst, the High Bailiff in the chair, at which Mr. Warren attended, and addressed Lis constituents for upwards of an hour, in a speech which was listened to throughout with the deepest attention. He was the first person to communi cate the intelligence in the borough that the ‘• War Narepence " had fillen—lan announcement which was welcomed with great cheering. He stated that he had been in his place in the House till it rose on the preceding evening, and had listened with painful . attent'on to the elaborate and pro tracted statement of the Onancellor of the Ex chequer--who had cansumed three mortal hours before he came to the only point of interest to his eager auditory—the 'war niuepence—which was then announced to have been at last surrendered to the unanimous demand of public opinion. But that surrender had been greatly accelerated, if not occasioned, by the determined attitude assumed by the Earl of Derby, Mr. Disraeli, and Mr. Glad stone ; and Mr. Warren commented in very fer ling terms on the absence of any allusion in the Queen's Speech, to the patience and magnanimity with which the people had borne the enormous burdens of the war taxation. After explaining the nature of Mr. Gladstone's comprehensive and final se tie ment of the income tax question in 1853, iu order to extinguish that intolerable tax in 1860, and com menting sarcastically on the sudden and precipitate reduction of the estimates, which yet required to be rigorously scLutinised, with a view to its fur ther reduction ; and pointing out that by inflicting the sevenpenny tax for the next three years, Mr. Gladstone's compact had been violated—Mr. War ren proceeded to denounce the income tax with great vigour, as totally indefensible, except as a desperate remedy for a desperate disease. He spoke of its original imposition in 1842, professedly for throe years only, as very strongly savouring of misrepretentatiox and bad faith, having regard to the then declared object of simply enabling Sir Robert Peel to place the fiscal and commer cial policy of the country, by a prodigious effort on a new footing, which would admit of .1 speedy extinction of the tax. Mr. Warren paintea an affecting picture of the anxiety and privation occasioned to the earners of limited and precarious incomes—the comforts and conveniences of which they were despoiled—the opportunities and. advan tages which they were forced to undergo, while it was "in va'n to rase up early, to sit up late, and eat the bread 'of sorrow." He said that all tho e classes suffered a like —pi , oft ssional men, trades, farme s, merchants—the energies of all were cruelly cramped, and those energies all the while " pefsh ing in the using." How many of intellect, of genius, of virtuous pa ience, high princple, and resolute fortitude I,ad been palsied and driven to desperation by this cruel and unjust tax 1 " And while," said the honourable and learned member, "the Chancellor of the Exchequer looks compla cently at his sixteen millions—the produce of his income tax—l regard it, very differently, at a sick ening exponent of an immense mass of silent suf fering—of he)rt-wrung anguish on the one hand, and on the other of enormous frauds. The income tax is at once breaking the spirit end corrupting the morals of the middle classes, on whom it ope rates with so tremendous and relentless a pressure. It wounds their honest pride, it tempts into unc3n scientiousness. The exposure of private affairs which it entails is insufferable : a man's most criti cal condition is revelled, it may be, to his next-door neighbour and rival. In fact, this tax comprises every characteristic of a vicious tax—it is unjust, it is oppressive, it is inquisitorial, it is inconsistent with the free spirit of Englishmen, and the voice of the country is calling out to it—begone I" Mr. Warren then entered into a general explanation of the Budget, and. said that he had no doubt it would on Monday be subjected to a thorough and un sparing criticism, in which (as we undtrstood the honourable and learned gentleman) he might him self take part, only for his reluctance to speak too frequently in the House. At the close of his ad dress, which was received with loud demonstrations of applause, several `resolutions were passed con demnatory of the income tax ; and the meetiucr 7rhich was a very influenti a l one, and unanimousiu its condemnation of the income tax s and cordial thanks to their m em b er f or his promFtness in coming down to announce the aboli•ion of the " war Mnepence"—broke up, after a vote of thanks to the High Bailiff. THE WIDOW ALLSOP. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—l shall feel obliged, if you will, at your earliest convenience, give me a place in your paper for this letter, it concerning a matter of public in terest. On the 10th in,t. you publishei [in our report from the police court] a letter from Eliza Alhop, the consequence of wh 4 ch was thata large number of letters have been sent to me containing money f.f her. At the time 1 mentioned Mrs. Allsop's case to your reporter an officer had been sent to her resi dence, and I was much impressed in her favour ; but I have since had good reason to believe that I have been greatly deceived, and an attempt has been made in your police reports to s'op any more of these lett.zs ; but this having failed, as they continue to come from all parts of the country, I flan feel greatly obliged if you will allow me to take this mode of requesting that no more money or letters may be sent for Mrs. Allsop. 1 reserve all the money, together with the letters, for t' e present, and when the case is completed the putili-, through you, shall be informed of the result. But there is connected with the subject a matter that has pa;ned me much. I allqde to the attacks that have been made in some papers upon his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and it is belonging to truth and justice that they should be contr.).- dieted as soon as possib'e. I have reason to know a t ti itn h i gmaa his n . l r s i bi. indiscriminating llorttipaomntiihnea; petitionedt publicbi n but surely hand ifash;he were aw h n e ear w e l o t no know d nB4 l h t aatil b nst e doe that his Royal Highness distributes his charities t w d wh o i i early as that according to the directions laid down for The invariable guidance of those intrusted with the d'stribution of the charity of the Queen and the Prince, Mrs. Allsop's case appearing to be one de rerving assistance was inquired into in 1848, and her petition was reported upon by the Mendacity Society, for whose valuable aid in the recommen dation of deserving cases and the detection of im posit:on the advisers of the Prince are under great obligation. This petition was the first of a series of begging letters which has continued ever since. 'which she The Mendicity Society made a long report in 1848, which states, among other matters, " That you whether , ft she i s li v i n g in a common lodging-house, and de uce to'refuQe' srs i Ns - e z m h a er tic s a u i p ly po p r u t r e s n u t es ir . eJy f ir ro h m en b f e o g il g o in w g s , a very bad account of her habits. to a attend r te th n e d it was not she o a f pp t eal he ' :ri unfavourable result of this inquiry, im A pe n r d at n iv o e w, d sir uty , I to her many and reputed beggingl . ' e ters But I wishing to give her every chance, . very onal lowing her to prove, if she can , that - nee, am she ever had any sons under the circumstances her petition to the Prince there. she states. In is no mention of any sons killed at Cab 1 u ; nor is there any mention, in her petition to Crimea. • And I have • communicated with several Clergymen who have known her for years, but who never heard of these sons. Can there be a doubt, air, as to the line of duty_ to be purs ue d i n thi s case ? and yet his R o did 'ai . Highness is to be attacked for the course he take. Su re ly th e au th o rs of these attacks will see how untrue and unjust they are. bedour of this letter. Pray, sir, excuse the our obedient servant, I have the honour to be Y ic ..... , E. BROUGITON. e Feb. 'lir le , l 4. Police-court, ,aalbon___L____----. . has been added to the Rcyal COMMIE- Ba r " gArtin the Statute commissioners meet every Commis sion for lequiry into and Common Law c ou rts, and the Courts of Assize, in the room of Baron presidency of Chief Justice Lord campboll, to bear evidence , and to decide upon the sub saltjdrdir9:;: under deceased . t res ject of theirlabours. Though they have come to no deci szon respec.ting the number of judges in the common law courts, it is understood that the present judicial staff ca nnot be safely reduced. The business of the assize is muc h more likely to be increased than diminished. In fact we are likely to have a general gaol delivery three times a year. The law commission have examined seve ral of the judges, and are about to examine the authori ties and representatives of Leeds, Manchester, Birming ham, &c., who are anxious to have the assizes held in those places.