The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-24 00:00:00

CTRAND T HEAT RE.—M3nager, M c . T. Payne.—This Evening will be per;orrned a powerfnl new drama, THE PRIDE OF POVERI'Y ; or, The Real Poor of London. Affer which, THE DEATH OF EVA, in which the Howard Family will appear. Ti concludo with DON'T LEND YOUR UMBRELLA. Comm:mce at Seven. Stalls, Is. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 64. H E A.T RE ROYAL, S ADLER'S-WELLS. Under the MlorTement of Mr. Phelne. THIS EVENING, Shakespere's tragedy of MACBETH. Macb th, Mr. Phelps. To conclude with THE SENTINEL. ROY AL OLYMPIC,' THEATRE, Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, a new drama, by Tom Taylor Esq., called A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLO THING. , Followed by the new farce, by Bayle Bernard, Esq., called A SPLENDID INVESTMENT. A new Fairy EKtravazanza, by J. R. Planch6, E3q.. called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Me , lsrs. F. Robson, Rof,rers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers, Misses Scvanborough, St. Case, Castle ton, Prornley, 1111s:cell, , ed Mrs. Melfort, Commence at half-Just Seven. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooko. Continued and unabated Success. THIS EVENING, will bo presented the theme of the most flattering ouloginm from the whole of the press. the operatic drama of ROB ROY, with Equestrian Illustrations invented by Mr. Wm. Cooke, and with the original music. Rob Roy, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the Equestrian SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with the equestrian comic pantomime of PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK. Commetce at seven o'clock. Dress %Ices, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Private Boxes, from 11., no charge for booking ; it, 2s. ; Gallery, Upper Gallery, 6d. hox•ofice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBIJRY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow. biz company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popnla'• Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, die,, viz. :I#:"Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. doves, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corri, Senor Antonio M. de Solla, and E. L. Hime ; Masters Austin, Bennett, and Corn ;•Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Mackncy, and C. J. Wilkins. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, (Sze., until twelve o'clock. G, the LUTON ‘,A wiItORDON give hisCUMMIN new and popular ENTERTAINMENT descrip tive of his EXPLOIT. and ADVENTURES In SOUTH AFRICA every evening, except Saturday, at 8. MORNING REPRESENTA TION every SATURDAY, at 3 o'clock. The Lion Hunter's Bush People, from the great Kalahari Desert, will appear incidental to the Entertainment. riano by Mr. Berries Wilson. Area, Is. ; reserved seat s at the 2.. ; stalls (which may be taken d a il y b etween eleven and , ), aa.-232, Piccadilly. aioa WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS OAT—Morn. 55 min. aft. I—Evenin g 15 m i n . aft. 2 MORROW—Morn. 34 min. aft. 2—Evening 55 min.aft. 2 THE WEATHER—SUN OmOE, FEBRUARY 24. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 53—highest since noon yesterday. 43—lowest this morning and during the night. 49 —this day at noon. BAROMETrit, 3025: WIND, Easterly. —Light, with fine weather. A, 4 . . s '441 . < I MI * ? - "'s+yr-e-i'H--4- §All j ,fy ,•--- , 4--4An`l-',' ~._ •-.. it q,e „(=,- ..., - 1 , :;:: ,---,-..__`'-'•:-----, " 9 LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1857. Well, the debate has been brought to a conclui slop, the division taken, and Government has re corded a majority of eighty in favour of the pre cious Budget I A good working majority, so far as numbers aro concerned, but composed of such heterogeneous materials that no reliance whatever can be placed on the motley group in reference to any other question that may be ventilated. Never, we believe, even in the House of Commons, was such a scene witnessed. It was " con fusion worse confounded." " The shindy "in Zing Agramont's camp was nothing to it. The heaviest blows w ere a i me d b y me n of the same party against each other ; and those who, under ordinary circumstances, were bitter opponents, cast aside their animosity, and, for the time being, were firm friends and allies. Generally speaking, the merits of the case were altogether disregarded. The friends of economy and retrenchment spoke and voted in favour of extravagant e s ti ma t es . Those who professed an earnest desire for the modification of the unjust, inquisitorial, and unequal assessment, endea voured, to the best and utmost of their powers, to perpetuate the flagrant grieyance, and to pre- , T HEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.'... Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Manager; Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. It Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. The eminent Comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, every evening_ Great Success of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform thq popular Comedy, MARRIED FOR MONEY. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, A. Younge, R. Roxby, .Templeton ; Mrs. F. Matthews, Miss Mason, and Miss M. Oliver. After which will be produced SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW ; Or, Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs.; The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the house to suit every one :—Galleries, 6d. and Is. ; Second Circle of Boxes, ls. 6d. ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Dress Boxes, 3s. ' • Stalls, ss. ; Private Boxes, 108. 6d.,1 '. I s ., 1/ . 11 s. 6d., and 2/. Is. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed A GAME OF ROMPS. After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co. lumbine, Miss C. Adams. To conclude with THE CORSIZiAN BROTHERS. Fabien and Louis dei Franchi, by Mr. C. Kean. THEA.TRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, with the successful new Comedy, in three acts, entitled DOUBLE-FACED PEOPLE. Characters by Mr. Buck s t one , Mr. Chippendale, Mr. Compton, Mr. W. Farien, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Clark, Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Poynter, and Mrs. E. Fitz wil iam. After which, for this night only, " When at Home in the Ira's," by Fanny Wright. - - - Followed by (Bth time) a new drama, called A WICKED WIFE. After which (57th time) the new comic pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel 'Uncle. The scenery of the opening story painted by Mr W. Callcott, The pantomime produced under the direction of M. Milano. Harlequin, NI. Milano ; Columbine, Fanny Wright; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING, will be performed the new play, in five acts, by Westland Marston, Esq., entitled A LIFE'S RANSOM. Lord Revesdale, Mr. C. Dillon ; Bancroft, Mr. Stuart ; Felicia Revesdale, Mrs C. After which, a new farce entitled MY FRIEND FROM LEATHERHEAD, Mr. Toole, Miss Wilton, and Mrs. B. White. To be followed by 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. Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Woolgar Birharto (his lieutenant) Mr. J. L. Toole Medora Mrs. Charles Dillon Clowns Mr. H. Marshall The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super titendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties t ► the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will bo performed the popular drama of IRELAND AS IT IS. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Willianr. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Pal Bedford will appear. Followed by a new Piece de Caractere, entitled IN AND OUT OF PLACE. Mrs Barney Williams. To conclude with the new original comic drama, called BARNEY THE BARON. Barney O'Toole, Mr. Barney Williams. OYAL SURREY THEATRE, al Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswiek. THIS EVENING. an original play, in three acts, entitled A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH. Roderick Praiseworthy, Mr. Shepherd. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr F. Glover; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Hr. Bradbury; Four Sprites, the Fillis Fa. milt' ; Columbines. Me3darnea Marie and Agnes. THE siITN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 24, 1857. vent the recognition of the distinction between permanent and precarious incomes. The Derby ites took the widest range. • Every man took his own peculiar view, and, like the renowned HARRY Gow, " fought for his own hand ;" while the Aberdeen phalanx, usually so united, suffered dissension to arise in its attenuated ranks. The recently created firm of DISRAELI, GLADSTONE, RUSSELL, and Co., was dissolved, the junior part ner retiring at the first struggle. "Small JOHN" had not by any means taken the PALMERSTON Administration into favour, but he could not en dure that the fatal blow to its existence should be carried by any other hand. He had personal wrongs to avenge, personal interests to promote. If the Cabinet had been overthrown on a motion made by Mr. DISRAELI, Lord DERBY would pro bably have received the commission to furm a new Administration, and that would not by any mean shave suited the book of the Noble Lord the Member for the City of London. In fee, the only consistent parties were the waiters cm PROVIDENCE, who were actuated by the political gratitude which consists in " a lively sense of favours to come, and those who for many cogent reasons deprecate an early appeal to the country. Sir G. C. LEWIS did not, however, succeed on the strength of his own case, but rather in consequence of disunion between his oppo nents. The victory is therefore by no means a decisive on e. New contests are already "looming in the future." Even the unmodifiei Income Tax is not yet carried, and a fierce conflict must take place over the enhanced duties on tea and sugar. There was sound sense in what fell from Lord JOHN RUSSELL respecting small reductions on those articles. The public will not receive any benefit from 2d. per lb. on tea, or is. Bd. per cwt. on sugar. It will all go into the pockets of the retailers. To render an appreciable advan tage to consumers at least 4d. should be taken off tea, which would allow a reduction of Id. in the quarter lb. tea, the hightest investment of the working classes with the grocer ; and it would require 49. Bd. per cwt. on sugar to strike off a halfpenny per lb. from the charge. Under Sir G. C. LEWIS'S proposition there will be no reduc tion in price. Customers will be told that they gain it in quality, although the improve ments exist only in the vivid imaginations of the dealers. And it may be regarded as an extraordinary phenomenon that the stock of tea now sold at 4s. and of sugar at bid. should be so completely exhausted on the 6th of April, and that thenceforward tea worth exactly 2d. per lb., and sugar worth ls. Bd. per cwt., more than t'le articles previously sold should come into use. The Chancellor of the Exchequer looks at these mat ters in a single point of view. lie only takes into consideration the extant to which the revenue may be affected. A more enlightened minister would, however, so regulate the charges so that the consumers may profit to the full extent of the reduction. There will now be a temporary armistice until Friday next, when the battle will again be re newed. The time has arrived when professing fiscal reformers must "awake, arise, or be for ever fallen." There is but little use in uttering " prave Drds" out of doors, if their lips be her naetically sealed in Parliament ; or even iu giving notices of motions never intended to be brought forward, but withdrawn at the last moment to suit the convenience of Ministers. If they always find seasons completely satisfactory to themselves for voting in opposition to their former pledges---if they can never find a suitable time for performing their promises, the sooner they subside into their pristine insignifiance the better. They should not excite and disturb the publis mind without at lust endeavouring to bring about some practical result. A modern edition of " sayings and doings" would afford valuable assistance to many constituencies when called on to decide between the claims of rival candidates. We confess that we should prefer an honest, straightforward opponent to a pretended friend, who might " keep the word of promise to the ear," although he would most assuredly " break it to the hope." There is now an agreeable prospect before the country of a certain deficiency from 1858 to 1860, and a perpetual unmodified Income Tax. That we can reduce our expenditure to that of 1852 or 1853 is perfectly hopeless, considering that in each year the country will have to provide 2,000,0001. for Exchequer Bonds falling due, which cannot be renewed, lest " the whole beauty of the invention might be lost I" £1,500,000 for Sinking Fund, and 1,400,0001. for additional interest. There could be no difficulty in renew ing these Bonds, even if in the hands of the general community. But it appears that they aro almost entirely held on behalf of the Savings Banks, and it is obvious that they constitute the best description of investment for the large amounts held on behalf of these institutions. There has already been a loss of nearly 4,000,000/. sterling in consequence of Go vernment being compelled to resort to stocks which fluctuate to the extent of 10 or even 15 per cent. The largest deposits are made when quotations are high, the withdrawals take place when they are low ; consequently the nianagers are compelled to buy in the dearest and sell in the cheapest markets. But having Exchequer Bonds bearing interest at 3i per cent. there would be an ample margin beyond the 3/ per cent, allowed by Government, which would constitute a guarantee I fund that would prevent the possibility of such untoward events as occurred at Rochdale, Tralee, St. Peter's parish, Dublin, and other savings' banks ; so far, at least, as loss to the depositors resulted. Such a course would bring out the " real-beauty of the invention," and dis play it in the clearest light. But, unfortunately, it is far beyond the ken of the present Financial Minister. So comprehensive a view cannot be anticipated so long as he presides at the Exchequer. We have already shown that these bonds only partially replaced the money withdrawn from the Exchequer, in consequence of the GLADSTONE abortion, and, consequently, their renewal could not be regarded as the contracting of a new debt ; and considering that more than 40,000,0001. of the war expenses were raised by war taxes, and that the Income Tax, and tea, sugar, coffee, and spirit duties are to be partially maintained at war rates, the Sinking Fund already agreed on, by which all the war debt will be annihilated in 16 years, appears quite sufficient to extract from the pockets of the people. The entire fiscal system demands a complete and searching revision. We fear that it cannot reasonably he anticipated from the existing Par liament, but professing reformers may at least ex plain their views, so that the several constitu encies may be guided in the exercise of the frau and the pl e d ges that may fairly be de ch ma i n se Ld from the claimants for their " most sweet voices" at the next general election. Another intimation from Paris that the differ ences between Persia and England are in a fair way of being brought to a satisfactory settlement ! And, in the meantime, additional intelligence, Qom., ing to us from Constantinople, intimates that there is a talk there of a second disembarkation of Russian troops at Balfruck on the Caspian, and of certain considerable supplies of Russian muni tions of war, forwarded on direct to Teheran. Otherwise to express the situation :—Accounts from the actual Seat of War are as threatening, in their way, as from the chosen Neutral Ground of diplomacy, in regard to the quarrel, they are said to be most encouraging? It is for all the world just precisely of a piece with the rise and progress of the last war, the war with Russia herself. We were told then, in 1854, again and again, usque ad nauseam., that there was—literally as Sir CHARLES COLDSTREAM, the blasé, the used up, the exhausted, observee in regard to the crater of 'Vesuvius, and other small matters--" Nothing in it MENSCHIKOIT blustered —the CZAR threatened —Colonel ROSE entreatingly summoned the Fleet of DITNDAS to hasten to the Golden Horn. There was "nothing in it I" The Muscovite forces actually crossed the Pruth—entered Moldavia and Wallachia— seized Jassy and Bucharest. There was really "nothing in it I" We were almost as confidently assured there was "nothing in it" when the allied armaments were riding at anchor in the Greek waters—when the British and French legations had taken their departure from St. Petersburg-- when people at home were becoming accustomed to the outlandish names of towns, and cities, and rivers, and fortifications, eastward of the Bos phorus and the Dardanelles. The more credulous only believed that the belligerents were really in earnest, after all, when the disastrous news arrived that the Russians had perpetrated the in famous massacre of Sinope—when the glorious information reached England not long afterwards that that execrable crime had been terribly avenged upon the heights of the Alma—when lastly and conclusivelyit was known in tiro! end that the legions of the Allies had deliberately sat down, had sys tematically invested, and wore energetically besieging the great Muscovite stronghold of the city and fortifications of Sebastopol. Previously to all which, as we have said, everybody had been assiduously assured by the organs of the Government that—ther.S•was " nothing in it !" And so nowadays in regard to the war with Persia. Ministers and their organs, and their agents, and their creatures, and their apologists pooh-pooh the whole affair as not worthy of any serious consideration. There are but those differences are in rapid course te„ brought to a satisfactory arrangement ! Here, again, as . with the Russian War and the crater of Vesuvius, there is really, seriously, and posi tively, we are told, " nothing in it I" Notwith standing tire aggression on the part of our Persian antagonists, evidenced in their violation of ex isting treaties, by formally advancing beyond their frontiers and taking forcible possession of the fortified city of Herat ! Notwithstanding the simultaneous movement of our troops into Affgha nistan by way of the ICyber and the Bolan Passes ! Notwithstanding the Declaration of War officially promulgated at Calcutta—the despatch of a warlike expedition from Bombay —the en trance of our ships of war into the Persian Gulf —the occupation of the Island of Karrack—and the storming and capture of Bushire. In spite of all which it is insisted teat the war with Persia is hardly worthy of being called a war at all—or that, if it must needs so be designated, it is, at any rate, a war which has already been brought most satisfactorily all but to a conclusion ! Well, of course, it may be so. It may absolutely ba perfectly correct, in the present instance, that our diplomatists are effectually thrusting the sword of war back into its sheath, when it has scarcely been half drawn from the scabbard. It may be so. We admit the possibility. We acknow ledge it. But—at the same time—if we are really and truly drawing near to this happy issue : we cannot (with the experience of the Russian War still pressing heavily upon our recollection) as the phrase is, "jump at"—the conclusion. See ing is believing. We cannot swallow open-mouthed, merely—fair promises. The boon must be actually, and tangibly, and visibly within our grasp before we can believe, for one instant, in its existents. England, in fact, will believe that the differences between herself and Persia have been conducted through diplomatic agencies t) a satisfactory con: elusion when empty rumours—like those just now coming to us from the French capital—have re solved themselves into proofs positive I Not before. Not earlier. Particularly when intelli gence, as we have seen, comes to us from the direction of Constantinople simultaneously, to the effect that Russia is backing up Persia by a second disembarkation of troops at Balfruck, and by the transmission of large quantities of muni tions of war to Teheran 1 Everything still combining, as usual, to assure us that t he Secret Cause of the disturbance of the Peace of the World has been left in tact in spite of the vaunted Parisian Conferences I Diplomacy and the believers in Diplomacy deluding themselves into the belief that the peril has been permanently removed by means of a few paltry concessions on the part of the wily and astute Government of St. Petersburg ! Diplomacy and the believers in Diplomacy crying "Peace, Peace—when there is no Peace :" and (not less credulous than the peasant of Horace) counting upon the current of Muscovite ambition flowing by, leaving them-- dryshod and unharmed—to go on their way re joicingly : .. , q es Rustieus expeetat &cm defluat anznis, at ille Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis mvum. A measure of . "Savings Bank Reform" is urgently required. The necessity of comprehen, sive ameliorations are universally admitted, and Sir G. C. LEWIS has promised to bring forward a bill on the subject with all convenient speed. The simple fact that the amounts of deposits have been reduced by nearly 20 per cent. within the last 14 or 15 years, and that they are now only on a par with what they were 20 years ago, proves, beyond the possibility of doubt, that there is something rotten in the present system, and that a change is imperatively required which may bring back th e people to the provident habits which they have apparently relinquished. In 1839 the de posits amounted to 36,714,3061. Os. 3d. ; in 1840, to 38,842,653/. 16s. Bd. ; in 1841 to 40,968,160/. 4s. 2d. Here, then, was a steady augmentation of more than 2,000,000/. each year, but in 1854 the amount had fallen to 33,408,1751. 2s. 9d., a deficiency of more than seven millions and a half when compared with 1841, notwithstanding the increase of population and the increasing sav ings of the country. The terrible exposures which have taken place in reference to the deplorable defalcations at vari ous establishments, will, however, explain these untoward changes. The so-called Government has been proved to be mere "bosh." They gua rantee the amount actually invested, but that is all. And no matter how flagrant the frauds, how atrocious the negligence, the unfortunate deposi tors have no remedy against any of the trustees or managers unless wilful default can be esta blished. It is true that the trusteei and mann- i • ers are allowed to undertake a certain limited responsibility. But how has this permission been responded to ? There are voluntary gua rantees in England of 3,870/. against deposits of 28,750,4291. 11s. 10d. Nore in Wales, against nearly 800,0001. more. flov, then, can we sup pose that the people will patrolise the Government shop, when they have no real security, and where the interest is on the very :owest scale, for in many places but 21. 108. or 21. 15s. is allowed, the average of the United ringdom being but 21. 18s. Bd. This is not tle way to encourage savings, although it comesvery naturally fr om a Minister who thinks the ‘' tax on prudence" one of the last that should be remitted. The Government certainly loses Honey in consequence of the inj u di c i ous system that makes it i nves t when the fund s are high, and sell wh en th ey are very low. It reverses the economical principle, by buying in the dearest andsehingin the lowest mar- Plan nearly 4,000 , 000/ . have ket. By this r idi cu l ous already been frittered away without the slightest advantage to the depositors, or to the community at large. This arises from the Financial Minister for the time being exercising unlimited control over the savi ngs bank fund --a matter which is not only objectionable on account of the pecuniary loss sustained, but still more so from placing so enormous an amount in the hands of Ministers, to be dealt with at their discretion, at any mo ment--a power fraught with danger to thescon siitution of the country, and which may be used to bolster up the wildest financial schemes. Already there are symptoms of successful oppo sition. "The National Savings Bank Association" offers advantages far greater than can be obtained from any of the quasi national establishments. No wonder, then, that the people should flock to the quarter where they can get the best value and the best security for their money. If the Government desires to retain the business a real and efficient guarantee must be offered, coupled with better interest for the sav ings of the industrious classes. That this can be effected without loss is manifest from an admirable brochure from the pen of the Rev. J. BEAUMONT HAWKINS, just . published by Longmans and Co., which clearly explains the existing defects, and points out the required improvements. We fear that Sir G. C. LEWIS is not the man to carry the much-required ameliorations into effect. He has, however, had suggestions from Mr. HAWKINS and Mr. C. W. SIKES that will render the task com paratively easy. Should he hang back a little pressure from without will stimulate him in the right direction, and it is essential that pressure should be speedily and effectually administered LATEST N E WS. the Trans-Caucasus, but is directed against the mountaineers. It is certain that they will next spring combat with energy, while the war on the side of Persia is only a Eimple eventuality." A letter from Milan says :—" The Emperor, it may remembered, promised the deputation which waited on him from Mantua, relative to the affair of the death of Bianchi, that full jus . ice should be done, an that the sentence to be pronounced against the authors of that crime should bet given pu►licly. His Majesty on the same day sent General Seln.er, his adjutant, to Mantua, to commence the proceed ings against th e guilty parties. In addition an order of the day has been issued by the Emperor blaming severely the conduct of the officers of Mantua." Accounts from. Constantinople to the 13th an nounce the death of Rifaat Pacha. Russia has obtained the power of constructing a line of rail way from Mochediser to Teheran. Kabult Effendi has left for Jassy, and Kiamil Bey for Bucharest, with the firman relative to the divans ad hoc. ADE idP.HI TH EAT EE. Another new farce was produced here jast night with immense success. The title of the last production is "In and Out of Place," and is calculated to show the extraordinary versatility of, Mrs. Barney Williams's powers. Indeed it may be said to be wholly performed by herself, for it is a series of personations connected by a thread so slight as not to be worth mentioning, but sufficient to serve the purpose of introducing Mrs. Wil liams in five different characters—an English servant girl, an Irish rustic, a French opera dancer, a Dutch officer, and a Yankee girl, in which character she sings a new song entitled "Independence Day." The perso nations were capital, but the Yankee girl was inimitable —so richly national, so quaint and racy, so full of exu berant spirits, and so mirth provoking that the audience were quite carried away by its hilarious influence. Mrs. Barney Williams is a woman of genius, and in her line altogether unrivalled. VISIT 011' HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL TO THE ROYAL MlNT.—Yesterday (Monday) morning, a few minutes after 10 o'clock, tke Princess Royal, ac companied by Lady C. Barrington, Col. Wylde, and Lieut.-Col. Ponsonby, paid a visit of inspection to the Royal Mint, Little Tower-hill. The distinguished party were received by Messrs. Hill and Field in the front office of the building, Tay then proceeded to view the works, first visiting the press-room, where the Bal'ic medals were receiving the impress of the dies. They then proceeded to the rolling, cutting, and annealing rooms. The noble party then visited the room devoted to the purpose of lettering the names of the respective fi °ldlers and sailors on the edges of their medals. The weighing-room was then visited, where the machines for testing the weight of each single coin were at work, with which the Princess seemed particularly struck, as also with the rapidity with which the boys ringing the coin, for the purpose of detecting any flew in it, pursue'] their avocations The Princess expressed herself gratified with the result of her visit, and took her leave about half-past eleven o'cl , ck. The visit was a strictly private one, and entirely unexpected. His Royal Hi g h n ess the D u k e of Cambridge, at tended by Sir G eor ge Wether e ll and Major Clifton, inspected the w h o l e of the t roops i n the north and south camps at Aldershot yesterd a y. Hi s Royal High ness returned to town in the eveni ng . The Countess Persigny had the honour of an au dience of her Majesty, yesterday afternoon, at Buck ingham Palace, The Duke of D e vonshire conti nues a t hi s marine residence of K emp Town, Brighton, and is, we are glad to learn, in good health. The Countess of Clarendon intends shortly to enliven society by a series of soirees. Viscount and Vi s countess Ebringto n arr i ve d i n Rome, from Fl orence, a f ortn i g ht b ac k, and purpose, after a short stay in the " Eternal City," to go to Naples. The health of the noble viscount has improved. Viscountess Palmerston will have a the &want this evening at Cambridge House. The Earl and Countess Poulett have been plunged into great affliction by the death of their youngest son, the Hon. Amias Poulett, who expired on Friday lest at the family seat, Hinton St. George, Sernersetshire. The deceased only recently attained his 22d year. The Earl of Burlington is expected in town today, from Castle Howard, for a few daye. Lord Cavendish arrived in town last evening. The Countess of Caledon and family, after paying a series of visits on their way from Caledon Park, have arrived in town. • The French Government yesterday received despatches from M. Dotezac, the French Minister at Copenhagen. These despatches are supposed to have reference to the Sound Dues question. The name of the Marquis of Westminster has been brought prominently forward for the Order of the Garter in the official world, now that it is known a second blue, riband is vacant. The insignia worn by his father, the late marquis, was more splendid than that of any other knight. The jewels were of enormous value, and two of the diamonds were, by the will of the late marquis, made heir-looms. Some idea of the value of the whole may be formed from the fact that one of these diamonds cost the marquis 30,000/. ; it was worn on the pommel of the sword.—Court Journal, THE LATE EARL OF ELLESMERE.—The mortal remains of the Earl of Ellesmere were removed this morning from Bridgewater House to Worsley Hall, Lancashiee, pre paratory to the funeral, which is appointed to take place on Thursday next. In compliance with the wishes of the deceased earl the funeral will be conducted as privately as possible, the mourners being confined to the late earl's family. THE LATE EARL OF HanEwoon.—An inquest was held upon the body at the Harewood Arms, Harewood, yesterday (Monday), before Mr. Taylor, coroner, and a respectable jury. From the evidence it appeared that Lord Harewood, when the accident occurred, was rid ing a favourite old mare hunter, and not`a young horse, as has been reported, and was attempting to " brush" through a young thorn hedge, when the animal stum bled over a sheep net at the other side, and threw the noble lord over her head, and it is supposed that be was struck by the mare with her fore feet while pawing to relieve herself. The medical attendant stated that death had resulted from erysipelas in the bead. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The remains of the noble lord will be interred in the family vault at Hare wood Church on Saturday morning next, at 11 o'clock. GENERAL BEATSON.—The military authorities have acceded to General Beatson's demand for an inquiry into the conduct of those who got up secretly against him charges, which, if true, might have affected not only his honour, but his life. It seems that the investi gation is to take place at the War Department in White hall-gardens. We append the names of the officers com posing the court : President—Sir Colin Campbell. Me Cameron W. Paulet, G eneral Lawrenson, Gene- Colonel Norcott. ral Cameron, General Montgomery, General Taylor, The Swiss journals announce that quarrels having talc' n place last week at Neuchatel, in consequence of political provocations, the prefect ordered the arrest of some individuals whose conversation gave reason to fear the possibility of a fresh royalist outbreak. The civic guard patrolled the streets every night. ACCIDENT AT THE Bow ALUM WORKS.—Yesterday morning an accident occurred at the Bow Alum and Tar Works, near the Globe-bri Igo, Mile-end-road, St e p ne y, to a man named John Catey. It appears that the unfortunate man was employed in the manufactory, and while in the act of crossing a plank which had been placed over a copper of boil.ng tar, be by some means slipped and fell into the scalding liquid. He was with difficulty extricated, and conveyed to the London Hos pital, and last evening he WWI I na very precarious date, PERSIA. Le Nord of yesterday has a des.patch from Paris, stating that the Persian difficulty is at an end. An arrangement with England and Persia has been concluded, among the conditions of which is one stipulating that England shall have a Consul wherever Russia has one. We have arrivals from Constantinople to the 10th February. Lord Lyons has officially announced his depar ture from the Turkish waters. Two line-of-battle ships have already left for Malta. There has been a second disembarkation of Russian troops at Butasir, on the Southern Cas pian Sea. The Russians have also sent munitions of war to Teheran. The Turkish journals say that Austria persists in her opposition to the Union of the Principali ties ; of course, Turkey and England share her views. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post (second edition) says : "I have just received a communication from an authentic source, which says, yesterday the Persian Envoy declared that he was in a position to sign the bases of peace. The Vienna correspondent of the Times (second edition) says : " Then) is reason to believe that an important fact was communicated to you by me before it occurred. Some days since you were told that Austria had addre9sed a very energetic note to the Sardinian Government ; but, as the document did not leave Milan as soon as it was originally intended, it did not reach Turin until the 13th inst. Reliable information has to-day been given me that the bearer of the note was Count Paar, the Austrian Minister at Turin, who, before he left Milan, received information to break off his diplomatic relations with Sardinia, if the satisfac tion demanded for the insults offered by the press to the Emperor of Austria since he bad been in It sly is not given. It is whispered thtit the Minister of Finance is about to raise a loan of 160 millions of florins." Letters have been received in Paris from the China Seas. They announce that on the 3d inst. the Mard.arin Syb, Governor of Shanghai, died sud denly. The news is said to have produced great fermentation among the lower classes of the popu lation, who accused the Europeans of his death. For two days serious disturbances were appre hended, but owing to the presence of the French and English ships and the energy of the comman dant of the Tartar troops, who co-operated with them, tranquillity was maintained. According to the latest accounts the town was tranquil. The Swabian, _Mercury says that a new cause of division has arisen among- the great powers on the subject of the Danubian Principalities. " England and Austria," it says, " though in accord on the question of the union of these principalities, are not so with respect to the guarantee of their integ rity—Austria desiring that such guarantee shall only be given by tho powers whose territories join those of the Principalities; that is to say, Turkey, Russia, and herself ; whilst England thinks that it ought to be given by all the powers whicla took part 'n the conferences of Paris." Letters from Athens of filo 14th state that the Senate has rejected the arrangement relative to the financial commission of the three protecting powers. Th;s resolution has been communicated to the re presentatives of the said powers, who will delibe rate on it. PRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY EVENING. The Emperor yesterday received several foreigners of distinction, who were presented to his Majesty by the Austrian Ambassador and the Sardinian and Dutch Ministers. war. BOURSE, Feb.23.—The following were the last quotations Cash. fr. c. 4i por Cents 3 per Cents 7O 10 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,2 '0 Roman ... Credit Mobilier 1,520 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... .. 99.) Spanish Threes Piodmontese (5) 9l 25 Home D e bt RAILWAYS—FOB CASH. End of Month. -fr. - -c. 70 35 fr. c. fr c Orleans 1 ,407 50 Western ..... 825 Northern 945 Strasburg Lyons 1,430 New Ditto Mediterranean 1,825 Grand Central ...... 613 75 Lyons Geneva — Teste - Cott° A Berlin letter P RUSSlA. yquestion of Neu chatel still occupies much attention in Govern mental circles. It is certain that the Prussian Cabinet will not relax from the conditions which it has already made known. The title of Prince of Neuchatel forms one of them. It is not until Switzerland shall have accepted purely and simply the preliminary conditions laid down by the Prus sian Government that Prussia will, on her part, renounce her rights of sovereignty over Neuchatel. The period for the conferences of Paris cannot be fixed until after the satisfactory solution of those preliminary questions. With regard to the Danubian principalities, the Prussian Cabinet is decidedly in favour of their union under a prince chosen from one of the sovereign houses of Eu rope • but it wishes th a t th e people of Moldavia and Wallachia Phan freely express their opinion on the subject, through the divans ad hoc. The in structions of Baron de Richtofen, who is to leave for Bucharest about the middle of next m on th , wilt be drawn up in this sense. THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICE.—It is in the con• semplation of the Post-office authorities to place clerks on board the Australian mail packets between Alexan dria and England, in order that the mails may be sorted on board. - THE AUSTRALIAN gAILS.—SOUTHAMTTON, Monday. —The screw steam ship E na will leave here to-morrow at two o'clock with the Australian mails. She will take out a small cargo and 30 passengers. The Etna being the first vessel of this line, from Southampton to Malta and Alexandria, the route is as yet but little known, and she consequently carries but few passengers and little cargo. She is beautifully fitted up with first-rate accommodation, and her speed is said to be great. She has a pretty large mail for Australia. THE MAILS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Mondays—The United States' mail steamship Hermann, Captain Higgins, arrived this morning from Bremen, and will sail hence on Wedneslay, with the English, French, and German mails, passengers and cargo, for New York. The Spanish screw-steamer Barcelona, Captain Brunet, arrived to-day from the Spanish ports, bringing 40,000 dollars in specie (4,0001. sterling) for England, a cargo of fruit, partly for England and partly for Hamburg, and several passengers.; she into sail for Hamburg on Tues day. The Hamburg and Brazilian Company's steam ship Petropolis, Captain Gcele, arrived to-day from Hamburg, and will sail again on Wednesday, for Lisbon and the Brazils, with a very full cargo, and between 70,0001. and 80,000/, in specie. EMBROIDERY. —I Q the year ended the 31st December the value of embroidery and needlework imported was 70,3711. ; in the preceding year it wat 42,5431. THE FREEHOLD MOVEMENT IN SCOTLAND. —A move ment has been commenced in Scotland, originating with the Rev. Dr. Begg, of Edinburgh, with a view to an Act of Parliament being obtained extending the 40e, freehold qualification for voting in the English to the Scottish towns and counties. The feeling of the public has declared itself already very strongly in its favour. PROPOSED CRIMEAN MONIIMENT.—SHEFFIELD, Mon day Night. —At noon tc-day a large meeting presided over by Mr. Pye Smith, the mayor, was held at the Town-ball, to adopt measures for the erection of a monu ment to perpetuate the memories of the soldiers—na ves of Sheffield and neighbourhood—who fe 1 in the late The movement originated With a body of working men. Having obtained the approval of Miss Nightingale to the project, a deputation went to London and ob tained an audience at the Horse Guards with the Duke of Cambridge to solicit him to lay the first stone. MIDDLESEX REFoRM MEETING.—A numerous meeting of Liberal electors, from various parts of the county, was hell yesterday, owing to the very genera) feeling ex pressed that a new Reform Society should be esta blished. Resolutions were unanimously passed, to the effect that the society should be organised, and that leoal committees should be formed. The general committee was appointed, consisting of Baron Rothschild, M.P. • J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P.; Major Reed, M.P. ; P. H. Le Breton, E q., and other influential reformers. D. Nicoll. Esq., was elected treasurer; and R. Pratt, Esq., of No. 19, Es- ex•street, Strand, hon. solicitor. DEATH OF A MAN UNKNOWN FROM LAUDANUM.-- Yesterday morning, at an early hour, a man unknown was discovered by two police-constables lying on the pavement, near Shoreditch Church, in a state of insen sibility. He was removed to the station of the G divi sion, as it was supposed that he was suffering from the effects of liquor, bet it was subsequently ascertained that his condition was the result of a narcotic. Two bottles were found in his pocket, which were labelled " Lauda num, poison." He was conveyed to the London Hospi tal, where he expired from the deleterious mixture. The reporter *as unable to obtain a description of the de ceased's dress, or any other particulars relative to the mysterious case. Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, will hold an inquest on the body to-morrow. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—A daring barglary and exten sive theft were committed at Edinburgh in the course of Friday night or Saturday morning. The shop of Mrs. Lennie, jeweller and optlian, Princes-street, an attrac tive and large establishment, was entered from the ter race over she windows, and the whole frontage being exterior to the building itself, the burglars obtained ac cess by simply tearing up the'zinc, sawing through the wood, and breaking the lath and plaster. On descend ing to the shop they carries' off a large quantity of jewel lery, valued at from 1,2001. to 1,5001., and consisting of several hundred rings, guard chains, brooches, &c. On the night of the robbery there was a party in the tem perance hotel above the shop, the windows of which looked out upon the terrace, nevertheless the thieves escaped detection, and no trace has yet been obtained either of them or the property. FORTIFICATION OF SWANSEA HARBOUR.—It has been officially announced' as the intention of the Government to fortify the harbour at Swansea by mounting two heavy guns on the salient angle of the east pier. This is in accordance with the recommendation of the com mittee of inquiry, consisting of Colonel Gordon, Colonel Marryatt, Captain Westniacott, R.E., and Captain Hew lett, R.N., which sat a few months since at Swansea for the purpose of determining the best site, and who have altered the position from that originally proposed. The War -office have requested information as to the capa bility of the pier to bear heavy ordnance, as from a recent report the pier is not stable enough for a battery of guns. In reply, the authorities have been informed that there is every likelihood that thepier will be rebuilt, and that the War Department can erect any masonry that may be required for protection and the efficiency of a battery. .SEIZURE OF A SLAVER.—Some time in the month of December last a Cuban or Spaniard arrived in this city from Havannah with a wel!-fill e d purse, the contents of which he intended to invest in the purchase of a cargo of "black ivory." Before he had eaten the first meal in his hotel his presence and intentions were known to some of the detectives attached to Uncle Sam's civil ser vice, and a watch was set upon his actions. After some consultation with certain parties here, whose business mainly consists in advising adventurers .of this class, the schooner Jane P. Glover, of Harwich, Massachusetts, was purchased, and the usual quantity of water casks stowed in her hold. Having a coasting licence, she then put off for a certain place on the Connecticut River; where she was to take in water, fearing detection should she attempt it here. Atter that she was to meet a t-lsop somewhere near Saybrook or New London, and receive from her the captain, crew, and owner,, together with the usual stores of beans, rice, castor oil, and other requisites for a trip to the African coast. These proceedings were all known to the authorities, but it wafrdeemed advisable, in view of the ruling of the courts hereabout as to the amount of evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction, to give the negro-stealers a taste of Connecticut justice. B yZ e m o n out, e means the information sent by District-Att orney to his colleague in Connecticut leaked and after taking in her water the schooner got wind of the chase and suddenly hove anchor and put off into the Sound, whether the sloop followed her. F r ightened by the action of the Connecticut 'marshal, the schooner would not take her stores on board, and they were therefore sloop, surreptitiously trans brought to this port by the ferred to the bark Pampill ia, and are now probably in Havannah, or very nearly so, together with the pur chaser of the schooner. After beating about for some time the schooner returned to this part, and was last week seized by the order of Distzict-Attorney litz eon ail Player.- - Ntio glibtftie. The second report of her Majesty's Civil Service Com missioners came out. yesterday in the form of a large blue-book. The report is partly the continuation of a narrative of proceedings since May, 1855. The object of the examination is-1. To teat the candidate's actual fitness for his duties ; and, 2, to test his education and intelligence generally. The number of candidates upon whose cases the commissioners adjudicated from the 21st of May, 1855, to the 31st of December, 1856, was 3,004. Of these 60 were ex t ra cetatera, 12 physically incompe tent, 10 devoid of satisfactory evidence as to charac ter,' 99 admitted without examination (on reports from heads of departments), and 137 declined to undergo the examination or withdrew without com pleting it. Of the remaining actually examined 1,587 passed, and obtained certificates of -qualifica tion, 880 were rejected, and 219 were unsuccessful upon competition. Thus, the rejections were in the rati o o f 35.7 per cent. on th ose actually examined (not counting the unsuccessful competitor). In the seven months ended December, 1855, the ratio was 29.5 per cent. Out of the 880 candidates thus dismissed it is reported that no less than 425 were turned back for bad spelling alone, or with other subjects, except arithmetic ; 147 for arithmetic alone, or with other subjects, except orthography ; and 243 for spelling and arithmetic, with or without other subjects ; so that only 65 have been rejected since the commissioners commenced their duties for deficiencies not involving spelling or arithmetic, or botb. For four situations (three of them junior clerkships and one a senior clerkship of 2001. to NM a year) there were 46 competitors, including 28 sons of professional men and independent gentle. men ; • 26 of the candidates had already been en gaged in some definite occupation ; 25 out of the 46 had finished their education at one or other of the univer sities or colleges of London, and 16 of the remaining 21 were educated at public or grammar schools. A large proportion of the candidates gave evidence of consider able information and ability, and the four successful ones have been tried and not found wanting. Precious speci mens are given in the appendix of the orthography, or rather the cacography, of rejected candidates " Beauty " is spelt " b eaughty ; " " Blenheim, " " Bleu " ,fe dnem bowels," " b ow l s ; ' " confederacies, " "con r m isis ; " character," " charik tar ; " " cavaliers," " Faveleirs ; " " credulity," " cred Deity ; " "injure," "inureg ;'' " into," intoe ;'' " elements, ' "elliments ; losopher," " neighbour," "nabour ;" " monks," "munks ;" "phi " patriots," " pholisper •;" "panegyrics," " panageracs ; "patrotes ;" recesses, "reuse ;" "reviews" " rieveu ;'' "without," "whiout ;" warmth" "warmth •" and th e lik e. , Tin TEA TRADE, Feb. 23.—The deliveries in London € B fitoat cl for the week were 433,583 W., being a decrease of 78,0621 b. compared with the previous statement. We (Salisbury Journal) hear that Mr. W. R. Brodi has been succeuful in discovering in the Purbeck beds in Durleston. Bay, what Sir Charles Lyell states to be three new genera of the oolitic mammal?. This is a consider able reward for this gentleman's untiring aotivity in goarch of f 0,1411 um& itittaika MONTENEGRO. A letter from Vienna of the 19th, in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" The news of the violence recently committed by the Montenegrins and of the pillage of the Custom-house on the Turkish frontier has produced a disastrous impression at Constantinople, and in all probability will determine the Porte to chastise the Montenegrins in a striking manner. It is said that the Turkish Government intends to closely in►est the country, and for that purpose has sent from Constantinople a number of heavy guns to arm the Turkish fortresses which already exist, and those which are to be built. Troops, and particularly artillery, are also being sent to Bosnia. All the Turkish artillery has been re cently remounted, and it is now the most effective part of the Turkish army." SARDINIA. A letter dated Turin, the 20th inst., announces that a deputation of citizens of Modena and Reggio had the previous day presented Count Cavour a medallion offered him by their fellow-citizens. On one of its faces is stamped the effigy of the Presi dent of the Council, round which is inscribed "To Count Camille de Cavour, Modena and Reggio," and on the other a group of allegorical figures, representing the towns of Modena and Reggio, to which Piedmont, armed, is extending her band, and under which are the words, " Quod Deus conjunxit homo non, separet." The following address accompanied the medallion : "Excellency,—We offer your Excellency, on the part of our fellow-citizens of Modena and Reggio, this feeble tribute of gratitude for the truly dignified manner in which your Excellency supported the unfortunate po pulations of Italy in the Congress of Paris. The citi zens of Modena and Reggio consider Piedmont, its Ring, and its governors, as the palladium of the common coun try, and they have not forgotten that memorable period of 1848, when, by unanimous vows, they united with Piedmont by bonds, which force may burst for the pre sent, but which faith preserves i n a ll t h e i r vigour." A letter from Kalisch (Poland), of the 15th, i n the Austrian Gazette, sa y s •" All the accounts published of the concentration of Russian troops on the Caspian Sea are only variations and repeti tions of a fact which has long been known, viz. the assembling on th e A raxes of a Russian army,, which does not, however, yet amount to 30,000 men, and the commander-in-chief of which has not yet joined them. It is equally false that the Rut slam have transferred the head-quarters of the army of the Caucasus from Tiflis to Erivan. In fat, the priLicip4 forgo of t h e AtiggAllti not ill IRELAND. DUBLIN, MONDAY MORNING. Mr. Wiiliam Smith O'Brien has been summoned to attend the grand jury of the county of: Limerick at the ensuing assizes. This is the first time be has received a notification of the same character since his return from exile. The local papers say he will be in his place in the grand jury -box at the ap pointed time. MARKET NEWS.— (This Pay.) HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—XIeadow hay, 21 103 to 4/ Os ; clover do., 3/ lOs to Si ss; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 9s per load. Trade dull. CUMBERLAND. —Meadow hay, 2/ 12s to 4/ Os ; clover do., 31 lOs to Si Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 108 per load, Both hay and straw moved off slowly, at late rates. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, 21 lOs to 4/ Os ; clover do., 31 10s to 5/ 5s ; and straw, 1/ 4s to It 9s per load. A slow trade. COLONIAL. TEL—The market remains inactive, with no change in prices to'note. Common Congou is nominally is ON per lb. SUGAR.—There has been an active demand for most of the finer qualities of foreign and colonial at full prices, bat inferior descriptions have ruled rather easier. The arri v.ls have been very limited and not equal to the deliveries, and stocks show a large decrease compared with the same period last year. COFFEE. —The imports still continue very small, and the demand being active, full prices are realised for Plantation and Native Ceylon. The greater part of the present stock is in second hands, and but little is expected to be offered during the week for public competition. RlCE.—There has been a good demand for all qualities, and the parcelson offer being limited full prices are readily obtained. Rum.—A disposition has been exhibited by speculators to purchase, at lower rates, but very little business has been transacted. TALLOW.—Themarket rulas very firm, with an increased demand for fine P.Y.C., at slight advance. P.Y.C., on the spot and for March delivery, 66s to 66s 6d, and last three months, 55s 6d to Ms per cwt. ; home melted, 58s Ed. The stocks, as compared with the same period last year, are 14,000 casks ,deficient. THE RUSSIAN FORCE IN THE CASPIAN SEA. The Pays of yesterday contains the following de scription of the position occupied by Russia in the regions of the Caspian Sea. It is, however, neces sary to remark that the statistics relating to Rus sian garrisons and fleets are grossly exaggerated : " Between Europe and Asia there extends a vast inland sea, which washes the southern coast of Per sia, the west and north coasts of the Russian posses sions, and a portion of the coast of independent Turkestan. This sea was once the centre of an important navigation, and powerful fleets crossed it in every direc , ion. Now RUSE ia alone reigns there. Persia, who, under the glorious reigns of Abbas the Great and of Nadir Shah, possessed several squad rons on the Caspian Sea, consented, by the treaty of Turcoman Shah of Feb. 22, 1828, to forego the right of maintaining a single vessel of war in those waters. At this day Russia undertakes to defend coast of Per s i a f rom p i ra t es or smugglers. This position renders Russia all powerful on the coast of Talish, Gilan, Mazancleritn, Asterabad, and the Turcoman country, all rich and powerful provinces of Persia. The Russians possess, moreover, the small isle of Ashoorada, situate about mile miles from land, near Asterabad, which they cast watch without quitting their territory. • Thep moreover possess six fortresses constructed by them on Persian territory in virtue of conventions which date from 1829 and 1835. These forts possess gar risons amounting to 15,000 men. The Russian fleet in the Caspian has been reorganised and plafecl on a fooling with the new necessities of Russian policy in Asia. It consists of about fifty vessels of war, amongst which are several large transpori o and a certain number of screw steamers. This fleet is organised in a manner to be enabled to transport 30,000 men with baggage, Arc., from one point of the coast to another. The advantages enjoyed by Russia from this position are open to the dullest comprehension ; it is, m oreover , cer t a i n t h at this power could within a few days concentrate 50,000 men on the banks of the Araxes, where the 13th and 18th divisions have taken up a position, should or' cnmstances render that measure inevitable ; fron t this, point we would cover Teheran, Tabriz, the two Khorassans, and would paralyse the movements of an enemy's force. The English may obtain from Persia the cession of some isolated point on the coast of the Persian Gulf, and derive thereby consi derable advantages in favour of their Indian com merce, but they will not find there the elements of a grand political position. These elements belong exclu sively to Russia, and are derived from the posses sion of the Caspian Sea, which constitutes a vast arsenal, whence h er means o f ac ti on may b e di rected towards every vulnerable point of that part of the world. The town of Astrakan, very favour ably situated, as destined to form the centre of the operations of the military and naval forces concen" trated in those regions. The Russian Government has confided to Admiral Wassilieff, one of its most distinguished naval officers, the superior command of Astrakan, and the measures he has taken recall those of Admiral Lazsreff at Sebastopol. The per' severance of Russia is historical, and her establish ments on the Caspian have a grand destiny before them. We must allude, before concluding, to a treaty which is stated to have been recently con cluded between Russia and Persia, the mere rumour of which has excited in Europe, and pgrticularlyiu. England, a great sensation. The existence of this convention appears beyond doubt. For a long time past the Russians claimed the right of erecting 01! - their own territory a line of fortresses, a right which hitherto had been denied them ; they, more over, claimed the faculty of establishing militia"' posts on Persian territory, in order to protect the road to Khoi, and other communications leadingte the interior. They have obtained these concessions. But with respect to the cession of territory between Bayazid and N a kht sc hi van not hi ng certain 06 known. • This last circumstance, should it prove true, will possess far greater political importance than the other, but we must await moresatisfactori e information b e f ore exam i n i ng the real bearing that convention." THE UNION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES• The Official Gazette of Milan of the 18th pub' .ashes, in the form of a letter from Vienna, a cow. mentary on the article in the Moniteur relative to the union of the Danubian Principalities, but it wa, generally believed th a t th e communication had emanated from ministerial quarters. The following is the more important part of it : • "On reading this note and the interpell a tions to which it gav e rise in the Engli s h P ar li a ment, we are led to ask w h a t s h are R ussia has in this contro versy on the principalities. The Ru ss i an govern ment, according to its traditional policy, does n ot like to lose its time and breath (fiato) in pleading out of place and season. Being anxious not to compromise itself with any of the powers it is now silent, tho ug h t a ki ng a certain pleasure i n the controversy on the principalities as in a learned discussion. From the present silence of Russia" we may infer that she is not fully persuaded that she would promote her own interests by promoting the union of Moldavia and Wallachia under a new dynasty, which might not place itself under the protection of the czars. A good deal might be said on that supposition, but there not being at present any solid foundation for it, it is useless to construct an edifice of hypotheses. We will merely ob=erve en passant that Prussia and Piedmont simulta neously take part with France for the union of the principalities, and that, in so doin g , th ey ac t less from the persuasion that such a line of policy is just than from the spirit of rivalry which causes them to regard Austria as a declared enemy, who must be combated wherever she is met with. But Austria, in this matter, is powerfully supported by England, who shows herself day after day more favourable. The entente cordiale between the two powers is openly displayed not only in diplomatic: acts and relations, but in the simple inter course of society. Thus, it is generally re marked that this year the lion of diplomacy at Vienna is she English ambassador, Sir Ha milton Seymour. His balls and soirees are the • rendezvous of all the aristocracy. In addition to • the diplomatic body, one meets there the high Austrian nobility in great numbers, the Schwar zenbergs, the Licht ens t e i ns , the Windischgraetz, • &c., and even the nobles who formerly were only found in Russian drntving-rooms, and who avoided all contact with the Westerns, as they were called two years ago. The Russian Ambassador Count de Budberg, on the contrary, now lives very retired. The vast drawing-rooms of his hotel, in which a short time ago his predecessor, Prince Gortschakoff, received crowds of the most splendid society of • Vienna, are this year silent and deserted,” THE CIVIL SERVIaIi.