The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

LINES WRITTEN AT SEA DURING A SERIOI7S ILLNESS. THE sun declining still doth cast its glare O'er wide expanse of calmly-motioned sea : Some mystic power commingles with the air, Sadd'ning the soul amid tranquillity. 'Twere hard to die,—to die on this•lone•deck; A stranger even to the uncouth few That share with me a solitary speck 'Midst the vast ocean I so faintly view. 0, friends and kindred, ties and scenes endeared By dreary absence and its untold ill ! The heart cannot disown you—still unseared, It owns you bind it to earth firmly still. And must I know no more your fond embrace ? No more my eager hand by yours be prest ? Ne'er view again scenes mem'ry well can trace Through hours of fever'd sickness and unrest. Was it for me decreed—so sad a fate ! That deep 'mid ocean's bed should be my grave ? Here the stray sea-bird wildly seeks its mate, And all seems loneliness, and sky, and wave. But greedy sharks now follow in our wake, And precognite, maybe, my coming end : My shuddering soul! look upward and forsake Distempered fancies—Heaven may yet befriend! 0, God! avert the dread impending doom.; Restore my feeble frame, and let me live; — Or, if this may not be, dispel this gloom, And resignation calm and holy give. Alas ! I have too seldom from this sought That peace which, aicken'd now, I fain were giv'n : 0, great Creator! purify my thought, Too earthly yet to fit my soul for Heaven. South of the Equator. HENRY POWELL PRIEST-. LITERATURE. Nodes Ambrosiana. By Professor Wilson. In Four Volumes. Vol. 111. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons. The third volume of this wonderful repertory of worth and wit, of wisdom, fun, and badinage, is now before us, radiant with its many-hued glories, and rich as ever in its thousand fascinations. The expan sive range and freedom of its mirth, mingled with the sharp sagacity of its satire, and both combined with the lofty tone of its morality, confer upon the work, as a whole, a value rarely conceded to periodical literature. The strong admixture of these ingredients have contributed to sustain it in that high literary, political, and moral position which it at first assumed, as, like the pure and sparkling cascade of a mountain stream, it dashed into the sunny valley of public approbation, through which its fertilising waters have ever since continued to flow with refreshing sweetness. Envy, petty jealousy, and other opponents of the truth, have from time to time endeavoured to dissi pate and weaken the current, or to throw blackening and corrupting rottenness upon its bosom, but the pure and noble stream has rejected their admixture, and still rolls on in pellucid and majestic beauty, as it wins its way through the verdant vale, gladdening all around. In the present as in the preceding volumes, we have lively disquisitions on what were then passing events, though now in numerous instances chronicled with the past, yet in every case so skilfully analysed, so lucidly exposed, or so tastefully adorned as to retain all the freshness of interest and all the useful beauty for which they were at first conspicuous and admir able. The war and many of its sad concomitants have recently brought prominently into notice the alleged physical deficiency of our countrymen, induced, as that is said to have been, by too exclusive an attention to the fostering of manufactures, and most ungratefully as well as unpatriotically and wickedly gloried in by Messrs. Cobden and Bright, the luminaries of the manufacturing school. Those gentlemen, not content with having aided in bringing about the deterioration they remark, are boastful of it, and use it as a power ful argument in favour of their country submitting to accept degrading terms of peace ! The evils of that system whose perfection would consist in reducing man to the condition of an animated though unreasoning machine, did not escape the eagle glance and mental perspicacity of Wilson ; but, unlike the oracles referred to, hi s vo i ce was ra i se d i n warn i ng against, not in glorying over, those fatal consequences. Strongly and sympathisingly he felt that "A bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed, can never be supplied ;" and at Midsummer of 1830, he delivered his opinion as follows, on TUE FACTORY SYSTEM AND ITS TENDENCIES. Tickler.—Besides, in a country urging on like ours so impetu. ously in commercial enterprise, there is another consideration. Is there not a sort of sacrifice of the labouring people to the insatiable appetite for wealth of their employers ? A most in ordinate demand for labour has thus been created; for, observe, gents, that I consider not this present juncture of affairs at all. But what is the commercial spirit of the age and country ? Thus sex and age have been swept into the work with no dis crimination. Thus the wife and mother of the family has been called from her own place of duty, to be made an instru ment of work; girls of the tenderest age have been called into the manufactory, and grow up to the age of wives and mothers, with no knowledge of their duties, as instruments of work; and boys that should become the Men of the Community, immersed from their early years in noxious employments, and oppressed with interminable labour, rise up a deteriorated race—susceptible of the appetites of men, but bereft of that vigorous spirit which ought to mark the manhood of a people; and which, if it contains the violence of passion, con tains also its generosity; contains, too, the principle of stub born endurance, and of hardy contention with any severer fortune. And how hung upon that trade, and trembling with every breath that shakes it, is a family which only subsists, while father, and wife, and children, are all racked with em ployment ! What sort of population will that country pos sess to meet the vicissitudes of trade itself,—and those far greater vicissitudes which the political changes of the world throw into it ? English Opium Eater.—Say,—what is the bulwark of a people—the foundation of its greatness, and the substance of its power? The virtue of the people; their courage, their independence, the severe fortitude of their souls, their hearts filled with just and strong loves, the power of their happiness. This is the conception we form of the people of this island, from north to south. This is the character which all tongues have spoken—which has been avouched from age to age—the traditionary faith received by our childhood : and now we look around, and tremble to discover that the dream has passed away from the land. The overflow of wealth has run through it, unsettling all ancient conditions—breaking up the bonds of life, casting, even upon the husbandman amidst his fields, the restless, ungoverned, aspiring spirit of commerce— dazzling and blinding the imaginations of the people, and scattering among them the vices of prosperity, if it has not brought them its enjoyments. Shepherd.—Dinna mak me despond o' the kintra, Mr. De qainchy. Hoo aften, when a's black in nature, outbursts the and the warld's filled wi' Licht ! Oh, man ! but there's a majestic meaning in thae twa words.--GREAT BRITAIN ! Think ye it 'ill ever bae a Decline and Fa' like the Roman Empire ? _English Opium Eater.—lt seemeth alike to my reason and my imagination immortal. Shepherd.—And then think, sir, o' the march o' intelleck. That strengthens a state. English Opium Eater.—lt does. But not without the flow of feeling. Shepherd.—Capital! I was just ann' to hae said that, when you took the words out o' my mouth. English Opium Eater.—We want not, Mr. Hogg, a quan tity of reasonable, contented, steady, sober, industrious in habitants—mere Chineses, and nothing more; but we want men, who, if invaded, will spring up as one man—loving their ancestors, who cannot feel their gratitude. Shepherd.—lt would be unreasonable to expeck it. English Opium Eaten—and doing everything for their posterity, who have done and can do nothing for them. Shepherd.—Gie them first time to get intil existence—and then they'll— English Opium Eaten—Men among whom crime is restrained, not by a vigilant police, but by an awful sense of right and wrong—who love their soil, and not only see it to be rich, but feel it to be sacred. Yea! to whom poverty and Its scanty, hard-wrung pittances are the gift of God. Shepherd.—That's roosin ! You're an eloquent-- English Opium Eater.—Who are sustained and animated in this life by the operation on their minds of their convic tions of another—a people in whose vigorous spirit joy is strong, under all external pressure ; and who, stooping out of *he low doors of their huts—clay-built, perhaps, yet flower covered—hold up smiling faces in the sunshine, and from their bold foreheads fling back the blue beauty of their native skies. Such are the people Wilson claimed as his country men—such the warning, which more than a quarter of a century ago, with burning eloquence, he poured into the ears of his countr. The warning, alas ! has been unheeded. The highest authority tells us in emphatic language, if w e " sow the wind, we shall reap the whirlwind." The grinding spi r it of " com mercial enterprise" has had full domination —Messrs. Cobden and Bright, the great apostles of the move ment, like the demons of romance, point with hideous glee to the ruin and degradation which their system has wrought, and glory in proclaiming that our men are imbecile and spiritless—degenerate in physical frame, and " who, if invaded, will not spring up as one man" in defence of their hearths and homes—men who have not virtue, courage, independence, and severe fortitude in their souls. Events of recent occurrence have tested the accuracy of those malign grounds of joy, and proved their falsehood. The bold sons of Britain have proved themselves indomitable, and worthy of their sires ; but such evidence does not invalidat e th e importance of Wilson's warning, while the unfounded chuckling of the Cobden crew strongly inculcates its propriety and value. Every page of these fruitful miscellanies is laden with maxims or illustrations of practical wisdom, and in all of them love of truth, magnanimity of purpose, and greatness of soul are inculcated in " Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn." Even in the wildest and seemingly most idle sallies, images of moral beauty and gems of mental purity are sown broadcast with an extent of liberality which, to an intellect less richly stored and less elastic, would have amounted to reckless prodigality. They abound in criticism the most liberal, and observations the most profound; yet each tinctured with the kindliest feel ing of appreciation of merit, encouragement of genius, and of sympathy with.worth. "In this age," says the sage and eloquent author, in one of his beautiful reveries contained in the pre <sent volume, " genius often lives the life and dies the death of a slave. True devotion is lost in idol Iworship—a shepherd has no chance against a lord— :his sweet solitary pipe is drowned in the clangour of many trumpets." The work, which is ably and judi ciously edited, is printed with an accuracy and beauty which sustain the well-earned reputation of Edinburgh typography, and do ample credit to the printing estab lishment of the Messrs. Blackwood. I The Poetical Works of Robert Burns. With Memoir, Critical Dissertation, and Explanatory Notes, by the Rev. G eorge Gilfill an . Vol. I. Edinburgh : James Nichol. This, the first volume of the 'fourth yearly series of Mr. Nichol's beautiful library edition of the British Poets, is also the first volume of Burns' Poetical Works—a. noble opening for the year. The volume is rich in the fervid strains of the great Ayrshire bard, and contains not a few of his most admired pieces, including, inter alia," The Cottar's Saturday Night," " Man was made to Mourn," the lines " To a Moun tain Daisy," the " Epistle to a Young Friend," and, though last not least, the racy, rollicking, and charm ing tale of " Tam o' Shanter, besides :host of minor pieces, and such a profusien of impassioned lyrics as would have made fortune and secured fame to half a score of ordinary bards ; though, in addition to these, there still remain a sufficient number of the Ayrshire poet's effusions to fill two coming volumes, the work being to consist of three. A newspaper criticism on the poetry of Burns must now be looked on as a needless labour. His golden numbers have sounded their happy notes, or pealed their plaintive accents in every clime and country of the world—the broad truthfulness of his hilarious humour has awakened the echoes of the Orinoco—his pathos has mingled ' with the murmurs of the Nile—his warm-hearted patriotism has braced the air that floated o'er the Ganges' wave—while every strath and valley, ravine and glen of his native land have rung with wild de light, burned with enthusiasm, or melted into tender ness, obedient to his magic lyre. A power so varied yet so strong, a renown so wide-spread yet so vivid, can receive no benefit, and need fear no injury, from anything we could say or do respecting it. In Liver pool, however, some lingerins , fondness for the " strong sweet singer." still prevails,' and the " Queen of the Mersey " yet reflects in conscious pride, that to the literary taste and friendly industry of one of her denizens, the world owes the first collected edition of Burns' Poems and Letters. The friendly tenderness and judicious care of Dr. Currie laid the foundation of all that has been editorially good in the numberless editions of these poems and letters which have since issued from the press : these invaluable attributes of the doctor did more than that, they formed the ground on which was reared the structure of compe tency to the widow, and they cleared the way to for tune for the sons of Burns. With such gratifying reminiscences, it is not to be wondered at that in Liverpool the memory of Burns is cherished ; and less so, considering the universality of his genius, to hear his effusions quoted to admiring assemblies. It is but a night or two ago since our ears tingled with delight, to hear the rapturous applause which fol lowed the quotation of a few stanzas by the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, from the " Epistle to a Young Friend," which the doctor recited with all the graces of his accomplished elocution. He could not have given them better than he did, indeed, unless a more scru pulous adherence to the text might be considered an improvement. We are wandering from the volume before us, how ever, which we are happy to welcome and to recom mend as one of a pure text, unloaded by commentary and unencumbered by notes, few of the latter being introduced beyond those given by Burns himself in explanation of peculiarities. The typography is bold and beautiful, and all, so far as the poems go, appears to be faultless. The volume, too, is furnished with a copious glossary ; and so far the Rev. Mr. Gilfillan, confining himself to the duties of an editor, has done well. When casting off the habiliments of a literary watchman, however, he assumes the toga of the author, and seizes the pen of the biographer, he is less easy and less fortunate. With a desperate effort to appear impartial though severe, Mr. Gilfillan conveys a picture of the moral character of Burns, in which the deep and sombre shadows overpower and obliterate the lights. Having in his brief biography introduced and exhausted numerous antitheses, he concludes by casting a doubt on the sincerity of Burns' Christian belief—an insinuation which, if well founded, would be a subject of deep regret ; but, supported in the loose fashion adopted by Mr. Gilfillan, it deserves severe reprobation. " He," says his biographer, " had no leading principle or guiding star :—not conscience, for that was often asleep; not benevolence, for his humane feelings, though sincere, were fluctuating and uncer tain ; not religion, for although not an infidel, neither was he a firm believer." How does Mr. Gilfillan know that, though not an infidel, he was not a firm believer ? This species of vile insinuation as to the religions views of others seems a besetting sin of Mr. Gilfillan. After giving a string of what they might or might not have been or done, he generally throws in a crude mass of detractive matter, and sours the unhappy leaven with a doubt about their Christianity. Thus he says of Professor Wilson, after a good deal of the same kind of wordy conflict of qualities : " He was not, we think, satisfied with any of the present forms of the Christian religion ; yet there was something in him far beyond nature-worship." How came Mr. Gil fillan to know this want of satisfaction ? He thinks it, and that with him is sufficient ground to justify his endeavour to make others think with him. We think such a course as dangerous and uncharitable as it is unnecessary and unjustifiable, and in protesting against it have at least the advantage of Mr. Gilfillan, in so far as following an opposite course can lead to no evil consequences. The Train. A First-class Magazine. London : Groombridge and Sons. The second number of " The Train" supports the character for vivacity, variety, and smart effect so con vincingly set up by the first. Its contents are multi form and pleasing, and they are characteristically illustrated by wood engravings. The Idler : Magazine of Fiction, essay, Belles Lettres, and Comedy. London : B. Hardwicke. The second number of this periodical is the first which has reached us ; and, judging from that, we should say " The Idler" has more family connexion with the gadfly than the butterfly. If a drone, it is, nevertheless, possessed of a venomous sting, used with more alacrity than beseems its title. The Governess, and Educational Review, is a periodical devoted to gossip about education. RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN TRADERS IN RUSSIA.—No Englishman or any other foreigner can commence business in Russia without binding himself to pay annually in advance £165, and bringing guarantees for the continuance of the pay ment for three years beyond any period at which he may relin quish his occupation. He is then allowed only to carry on transactions within the walls of any single seaport city he may previously select for his residence, and his operations must be confined to the export of Russian produce on the one hand, and the sale of foreign produce on the other, in wholesale quantities. He is not permitted to sell in Russia any Russian produce whatever; and if, therefore, he should happen to have an order from his correspondents countermanded after execu tion, he has no legal alternative but to ship his purchase away at any sacrifice. One result of this system is to preclude the pos sibility of his having any transactions with his own countrymen. At the same time, in his dealings with Russian subjects, he is limited to merchants to the first guild, of whom there are not 150 in St. Petersburg. Moreover, no English merchant, after having paid the dues required from him, is permitted to em ploy any of his own countrymen, without paying similar dues for them. The result is that there are believed not to be more than 10 or 15 English establishments in all Russia. All foreigners are subjected to like prohibitions, but they fall with especial severity on the English, because our people are less ready to escape them by parting with their nationality and taking an oath of allegiance to the Czar. The system has existed ever since 1807. RAILWAY STATISTICE3.—In England and Wales there were 6,166 miles of railway open for traffic on the 30th June last, against 6,112 in 1854. The total number of passengers con veyed by these railroads amounted to 43,286,1431, of whom 5,995,1391 were first-class, 15,035,7681 second-class, 8,123,0961 third-class, and 14,122,814 "parliamentary" passengers, besides 9,325 season ticket-holders. The total receipts from horses, carriages, luggage, parcels, and mails amounted to £450,026, and the tot a l rece ipt s f rom genera l merc h an di se , ca ttl e , an d minerals to £4,436,914, making a grand total receipt, from all sources of traffic, of £8,450,394. In Scotland there were 1,051 miles of line open on the 30th of June, 1855. On these lines 5,465,422 passengers were conveyed,—namely, 667,4431 first classers, 833,529/ second-classers, 719,200 third-classers, and 3,243,289 parliamentarians. Of season ticketholders there were 1,940. The receipts from horses, carriages, luggage, &c., amounted to £46,859, and the receipts from general mer chandise to £625,649. The grand total receipts from all sources amounted to £997,856. In Ireland there were 897 miles of road open on the 3 0th June. On the se ra il roa d s tra velled 3,0 of the63,584p coassseengned.as passengers, including 379,228 o f th e fi rs t -c l ass, 1,231,8652 658,702 of th e t hi r d -class, 791,663 parliamentarians, and 2,125 k season ticketholders. The receipts from horses, carriages, luggage, and mails amounted to £45,558, and those from general goods and cattle to £150,301; making a grand total revenue, from a ll . sources of traffic, of £445,698. A comparative summary s h ows that in the whole of the United Kingdom there were, on the 30th of last June, 8,115 miles of line open for traffic, against 7,803 miles on the 30th of June, 1854; that 51,815,149/ pas sengers were conveyed thereon, against 50,367,404 in 1854; that the receipts from passengers amounted £4,125,487, ( ex clusive of extra fares,) against £4,081,792 in 1854; and that the receipts from goods and cattle amounted to £5,212,865, against £4,826,825 in 1854. The grand total revenue of all railroads for the half-year was £9,894,049, against £9,424,603 111 the corresponding half-year of 1854. THE LIVERPOOL 'STANDARD. THE WAR. INTELLIGENCE from the Crimea reaches to the 26th ult., in correspondence with the London journals, and up to that period the news (communicated varies but little from the information conveyed during the preceding two months. Occasional alarms appear to keep alive the vigilance of the Allies, without.calling for exertion sufficient to exhaust their energies ; and the details furnished of the duties performed are still more those of an army keeping watch over the move. meats of an enemy than of one engaged in actual war. Dis cussions on the subject, and the terms, and the probabilities of peace, occupy the thoughts of both officers and men. The destruction of the Docks having now been completed a fertile source of speculation and curiosity has been removed.; and amusements, gossip, and other means of beguiling time are eagerly seized on by the soldiery, whose position and con dition, in all respects, continue to offer a marked and favourable contrast to those of last winter. The Times' correspondent, writing from the camp before Sebastopol, on the 21st January, gives the following account of a circumstance which gave rise to the rumour of A VICTORY ON THE TCHERNAYA. At about half-past nine last night, some heavy firing was heard beyond the Tchernaya. In certain states of the atmo sphere, and at a distance, the sound of cannon seems deadened and prolonged, and persons in the English camp thought they distinguished volleys of musketry. The firing did not last long. This morning it was confidently related that the Rus sians had made a sudden attack on the Sardinians, and had been repulsed with the loss of 200 prisoners. The tale was most circumstantially told, but, on inquiry, proved to be de void of truth. The fact was, that at the above-mentioned hour, Gringalet and all that line of Russian batteries suddenly opened fire upon Traktir Bridge and the adjacent plain. About 60 or 80 rounds were fired without doing any damage that I have been able to learn, and the batteries relapsed into silence. The motive of this sudden burst is to us a mystery. At an early hour this morning there was an alarm of fire in Kadikoi, and flames were seen issuing from one of the stores. The Sardinian head-quarters are close at hand, and were quickly roused. Sardinian troops and English artillerymen were active in their endeavours to subdue the conflagration: Two Sardinian engines were brought up, and by four o'clock in the morning the fire was got under. Two stores were de stroyed by the flames, and two others were pulled down, or nearly so, to isolate the burning buildings. The health of the army is still represented as good, although, as must be expected, sickness prevails to a con siderable extent. On this subject, the same correspondent s writing on the date above-mentioned, says :—The Great Tas. mania left on Saturday, with between 400 and 500 sick. She was in tow of the Andes, which, I hear, will take her as far as Gibraltar. The Alps is the next ship for sick to the Bospho• rus, and should leave in a day or two; but it seems doubtful whether she will, for there will hardly be enough sick to make it worth while sending her down. I understand that from the general hospital there are only eight or nine to go by her. In the Castle hospital there are 130 patients left: at least half of these are convalescents, who will return to their duty this week. Under date of the 22d, the correspondent of the Daily News gives the following account of the DESTRUCTION OF THE DOCKS AT SEBASTOPOL. On Friday afternoon, at about five o'clock, our engineers blew up most successfully the bottom of the west dock, which was one foot under water, by means of eight charges of 1611bs. of powder each. Unfortunately they were not so successful the following day, for out of the seven charges placed in the east pier, between the entrances to the east and centre docks, only four went off; Mr. Deane's electric wires having got disarranged by the French explosion of half the entrance or lock just pre viously. The seven charges in the pier consisted of three on each side of 4001bs. of powder each, and one at the knob of 8001bs. The three charges that missed were the last-men tioned, and two on the right side of the pier. The French demolition of one half the entrance, both sides and bottom, was most complete and perfect. In the sides were twelve charges of 5001bs. of powder, and at bottom, under 18 feet of water, one charge of 2,0001b5. When this last exploded, it cast a volume of water 30 feet up into the air. To-morrow our allies are to complete the demolition of their half portion of the docks, by blowing up the front half of the entrance and the right half side of the basin. The English are going to have two more explosions, if everything is successful, to complete their half portion. The first is to consist of the right side of the east dock and basin as far as the sheers to meet the French, and the second to be made up of the two sides of the west dock, with entrance, pier, and the left side of centre dock. The 8001bs. charge and two 4001bs. charges that missed fire on Saturday may be fired at any moment; I don't, therefore, include them in the two great explosions to come. The Com mander-in-Chief was present on Saturday, but was too late on Friday to witness the destruction. There can be no doubt that we run the powder much more fine for masonry than the French. Our head engineers consider no science is displayed if a single stone is hurled to any slight distance. The French engineers appear to be of opinion, that as the old Russian powder is not of much value, it may just as well be used as not. The consequence is, that their demolitions are much more violent, and appear to the ignorant much more complete. It may be a fault on their part, but it is a good fault. The whole of our three docks are 40 feet wide at bottom and 29 feet deep. The west dock is the shortest of the three, being only 233 feet long at top, whilst the centre dock is 236 feet, and the east dock 238 feet. The entrance gate to this last dock, which with immense labour was taken to pieces, still lies in side the dockyard wall. If England is proud of this trophy, which happens to have been the only gate of our three not riddled by our round shot or shell, no time should be lost in getting it conveyed to Balaklava and shipped home, for its weight is about 60 tons. The French have at last succeeded in getting up their dock gate, and they will, of course, convey it, like their portion of the shot and guns, to within the strong lines of Kamiesch. The Daily News' correspondent gives the following, of the same date, as to the WITHDRAWAL OP OUR ARTILLERY : Sir Richard Dacres, who commands the artillery, has re ceived positive orders to send home 17 of the 29 or 27 siege train companies. Report says that his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief is shortly going to review the whole army, which certainly could not be in finer order than at present, whether as regards discipline, nourishment, clothing, health, or drill. Lectures in the different divisions are now being given weekly ; and in the brigade' chapels there is always an afternoon Sunday voluntary service, besides an evening service once a week, and in some brigades a daily morning service. The 4th Division will have its new theatre on Cathcart's Hill completed in five days. Yesterday after noon another paper hunt came off at head-quarters. A per manent guard is from day to day to be placed over the shores at Kazatch. It has been determined to blow in the handsome quays along the Dockyard Creek. The 22nd was a day of almost unceasing rain, which was succeeded by fine weather on the following day, to the great relief of the camp grumblers, and the no small delectation of the " correspondents" who, thus relieved from pluvial durance, were privileged to go about in quest of "morsels of intelligence," now difficult of acquisition. Great complaint had prevailed in consequence of the non-arrival of the mails, which cause of grief was fortunately removed on the 24th, as we are informed by the Times' correspondent, who, on the 25th, gives the following intimation as to the RECEPTION OP THE PEACE NEWS : Yesterday afternoon brought us the two due mails, and the confirmation of the report that Russia had accepted the ulti matum sent by Austria through Count Esterhazy. There is a great deal of doubt and uncertainty and speculation in camp, and conjectures as to how long we shall remain here if peace be proclaimed, and what we shall do with our horses, and what will become of our huts, and shall; we have transports for our heavy baggage (this meaning, in some cases, the entire household furniture, goods, chattels, and Penates of a single gentleman), and in short people are anxious and unsettled, and longing for the next news ; but the day is fine, and there has been no rain for the last 24 hours ; the wind is from some point of north, and, although the camp is still a morass, the mud has a little diminished, admitting of a ride to Balaklava, to gather the last " shave," or of a ramble over to Kamiesch for a dinner at the restaurant, and I am not sure whether the H. Q. P. hunt has not a meet this afternoon, to chase the paper fox or some unhappy Tartar dog. One of the most interesting features of the English camp is its cemeteries, unhappily too populous. In the early days of the siege, when the living were hardly sufficient to bury their dead, the mode of interment was irregular, and men and beasts were put under ground much at random. Within twenty paces of the but in which I now write, lies what little corruption may have left of two human bodies, the spot unmarked save by the memory of a few survivors ; a little way on the other side the huge carcase of a dromedary was buried, and last summer we used to fancy that a stench proceeded from the spot. The practice of burying in the vicinity of tents and huts had to be checked by the authorities ; and, as misery diminished, and fine weather came, regularity was introduced, and divisions and even regiments had burial-grounds of their own. A. flag of truce went across in a boat, a few days ago, to within a short•distance of Fort Constantine, to give up a Greek colo nel in the Russian service, named Mento, who commanded a battalion at Balaklava when the allies arrived in the Crimea, and has been a prisoner ever since. He is a man of advanced age, and it was resolved to let him rejoin his family, which was sent over to the Russian lines some time ago. On the occasion of his liberation a touching incident occurred. Con versing with the English officers who accompanied him, the old colonel expressed his hope that he should find the greater part of his family alive and well, though he had heard from them but once since their separation. His son, he said, he had no expectation of seeing again. He was a naval officer serving in Sebastopol during the siege, and he knew too well how dreadfully the Russian navy had suffered to cherish a hope that his child had been spared. The British flag of truce approached the shore, and was met by a Russian boat, when those with whom the colonel had just been conversing were surprised and affected to see him clasped in the arms of the lieutenant commanding. The son, already mourned as dead, had been sent, either accidentally, or, more probably, by deli cate kindness on the part of our brave antagonists, to receive his father from captivity. The Russians were seen by the persons who went with the flag riding and walking about the north side of the harbour. As we do not take the trouble to reply to their fire, they can do so with perfect impunity. Jan. 26.—Heavy rain again last night. A bright morning and a blue sky, with a high wind from the south. TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES. BERLIN, Thursday. The anxiety is still that Prussia might be thrown over by all parties. Prussia is willing that the Frankfort Diet should adhere to the Austrian propositions, if she is allowed to represent that body at the Conferences. The Secondary States desire to have neither Austria nor Prussia as a representative, but one of themselves. If Austria should consent to this, Prussia will be completely put on one side. The British agents have received instructions to continue their enlistments for the Anglo• German Legion as actively as ever. The government of Hesse Cassel has commenced a prosecu tion against some officers, its subjects, for accepting commands in the Legion. TRIESTE, Wednesday. Accounts from Constantinople of the 28th state that the Anglo-German Legion and other troops are to be sent into As. BERLIN, Friday. The Austrian communication on the subject of the Five Points accepted by Russia was yesterday presented to the Diet of Frankfort, and was referred to the respective corn mittees without discussion. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The Moniteur of Tuesday publishes the following notifica tion : " The Plenipotentiaries called upon to take part in the nego tiations which are about to open at Paris are:— " FOR FRANCE. _ _ " Count Colonna Walewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Emperor, and Baron de Bourquency, his Envoy Extraor dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Vienna. " FOR AUSTRIA. _ "Count Buol Schanenstein, Minister of `Foreign Affairs of the Emperor of Austria, and Baron de Hubner, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris. " FOR GREAT BRITAIN. " The Earl of Clarendon, Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ; and Lord Cowley, Ambassador of England at Paris. "Fon RUSSIA. "Count Orloff, member of the Council of the Empire, and Aide-de-Camp•General of the Emperor of Russia ; and Baron de Brunow, his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo tentiary to the Germanic Confederation. "FoR SARDINIA. "The Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio, Senator of the King dom of Sardinia. "FOR TURKEY. " Aali Pasha, Grand Vizier of his Majesty the Sultan; and Mehemed Djemil Bey, his Ambassador at Paris." THE PEACE CONFERENCE. IN consequence of severe illness, the Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio will be prevented from taking part in the approach ing congress. The two representatives of Sardinia will now be the Count Cavour and the Marquis de Villamarina. King Victor Emmanuel will thus be represented, like the Emperor of Austria, by the chief ministers of his Cabinet and his resident minister in Paris. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon will leave London for Paris at the end of the week, and will reside during the con ference at the Hotel Bristol, which has been engaged for the accommodation of our Foreign Secretary of State and suite. His lordship will be accompanied by his private secretary, the Hon. S. Ponsonby, and by Messrs. C. Spring Rice, John Bid well, J. C. Vivian, and Villiers Lister, all of the foreign office, and by the Hon. Julian Fane, who is attached to Her Majesty's mission at Vienna. Mr. E. Hammond and Lord Wodehouse, the under secretary of state, will remain in London, and superintend the business of the foreign office during the absence of Lord Clarendon. The Press says—" We have reason to believe that the con stitution of the congress about to assemble at Paris is not yet fixed. The point in debate is whether Prussia shall be ad mitted to the congress ; on this head some difference of opinion exists among the leading pOwers. The question has never been fairly discussed in this country ; ,but it has now assumed such practical shake and prominence that it can no longer be overlooked. Had Prussia openly sided with Russia, this question of her admissibility would never have been raised. She would have been a party to the congress as a matter of course. Can it be a valid ground for her exclusion that she did not do so ? Leaving aside all views of European states manship, regard for Protestant interests, and for the estab lished policy of this country, should induce us to advocate the admission of a Prussian plenipotentiary to the Paris congress." The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post says :—" A telegraphic dispatch has arrived from Vienna this evening which says that Prussia will not countenance the fifth point of the Austrian ultimatum. As Prussia is entirely guided by the policy of St. Petersburg, this assertion, if correct, may have some meaning ; and points at the difficulties which the Western Envoys will have to meet at the congress." RUSSIA'S DESIRE FOR PEACE. The DAats has the following :—" The despatch, in which M. Nesselrode made known the resolutions of acceptance to Prince Gortschakoff, arrived at Vienna on the 24th of January; the delay between that time and the Ist of February was required to make the formal communications to the Cabinets of Paris and London, and to give those Cabinets time to transmit new instructions to their representa tives. Some accounts have reached us relative to the contents of Count Nesselrode's last despatch. This dispatch, we are informed, is not less moderate and pacific than that of the sth of January. It bears such evidence of sincerity that no one can doubt any longer the good faith of the Cabinet of St. Petersburg; nor can they continue to attri bute to it arriere pensees, or reticences contrary to an early conclusion of peace. M. Nesselrode, insists, however, upon the gravity of the conditions admitted by the Emperor. He insinuates that the Emperor cannot go any further; that it must not be attempted to take advantage of the reserves contained in the Fifth Article, to demand of Russia the abandonment of any other territories than that which results from the rectification of the frontiers separating Mol davia from Bessarabia; nor to demand of Russia an indemnity for the expenses of the war. This dispatch having been communicated to M. de Buol by Prince Gortschakoff, the Austrian minister asked if the declaration of M. Nessel rode were to be understood in the sense that Russia peremp torily refused to engage not to fortify the Aland Isles, nor to rebuild the fortifications of Bomarsund. To this Prince Gortschakoff replied that, not wishing to run the risk of going beyond the Emperor's intentions, he would refer back on the subject to M. Nesselrode. The exchange of these observations presented no obstacle to the signature of the protocol." TIIE GUNBOAT FLEET.—The gunboat flotilla at Portsmouth has commenced forming at the Motherbank. Each boat, instead of one gun, as in the last campaign, is armed with two heavy long-range guns and two howitzers. There are 26 at Portmouth already fitted and in commission. • A letter from the Crimea, dated January Bth, states that Mar shal Pelissier had received a plum pudding from Her Majesty Queen Victoria, of which the veteran was not only intensely proud, but so gastronomically carefully, that he specially sent an aide-de-camp to Mrs. Seacole, at Spring-hill stores, to be initiated into the art and mystery of properly warming it up for table ! THE EARL OF CLARENDON'S DEPARTURE FOR PARIS. — The Earl of Clarendon will leave London on the 15th or 17th instant for Paris, in order to take part in the peace conferences about to be held in that capital. The noble Secretary of State will be accompanied by Mr. Edmund Hammond, the present Under-Secretary of State (who, it will be recollected, assisted Lord John Russell on his mission to Vienna last year,) and by the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby and Mr. Thomas Villiers Lis ter, private and assistant secretaries to the noble Earl; and by Mr. Francis W. H. Cavendish, precis writer. Lord Wode house will discharge the duties of the Foreign-office during the temporary absence of the Earl of Clarendon in Paris. ' NARROW ESCAPE OP GENERAL CODRINGTON.—The latest news from the Crimea conveys the account of an escape of General Sir W. Codrington and his staff on the 19th ultimo, when another portion of the docks of Sebastopol was blown up, in the presence of the general and his staff. The Russians soon discovered, by the number of horses present, that some great men were among the spectators of what was to be done. They, therefore, just as the explosion took place, began to throw shot and shell in great quantity across the harbour; and one shell, in particular, was so well directed, that it burst in the very centre of the gentlemen of the staff, but neither they nor the general were hurt. THE NAVY, ckc., ESTIMATES. TICE estimates for the ensuing financial year are out. The sum total that will be required for the service of the ensuing year, 1856.57, amounts to £12,148,641, being a net increase of £291,135 over the year 1855-56. The items areas - follow, viz.:— Wages to seamen and marines, £3,237,893 ; victuals for the same, £1,434,730 ; the Admiralty office, £138,399; the royal naval coast volunteers, £20,000; the scientific branch, £58,982; her Majesty's home establish ments, £153,795, and those abroad, £36,494; wages to arti ficers employed in the establishments at home, £1,190,309, and to those employed abroad, £109,913; naval stores, &c., for the building and repairs of ships, £3,447,351; new works and improvements in the yards, £864,334; medicines and medical stores, £70,000 ; miscellaneous services, £88,972 ; half-pay, £655,421 ; military pensions and allowances, £494,363 ; and civil pensions and allowances, £147,685. Thus it will be seen that the effective service requires a sum of £10,851,172, and the non-effective, one of £1,297,469. The above may be called the Navy Estimates "Proper." Next follows the estimate for the " Transport service and pri soners of war," which will entail a total charge of £6,971,537 —a formidable addition to the sum required for the general navy estimates. The greater part of this estimate (£6,829,922) is for " freight, &c., for the Army and Ordnance Departments ; the sum total required for prisoners of war amounting to £125,800 only. The Post-office Department (packet service) will entail a charge on the nation for the ensuing financial year of £756,487, against £755,239 last year. Of this sum £25,000 is required for the Irish mails, £4,009 for the Channel Islands, £15,500 for the French, £20,500 for the Peninsular, £172,840 for the American, £240,000 for the West Indian, £25,000 for the Western American mails, £21,500 for the West Coast of Africa, and £154,414 for the Overland Indian, &c. These three branches of the Naval Estimates make, to gether, a grand total of £19,876,675. The Army and Ordnance Estimates have yet to appear. PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. TnE official accounts just published show that, in the year ended the 31st of December, 1855, the public income of the united kingdom amounted to £63,364,605, and the public expenditure to £84,505,788, leaving the somewhat alarming deficiency of £21,141,183. Of the revenue, the customs yielded £20,987,752; the ex cise, £16,389,486 ; the stamps, £6,805,604 ; the taxes (land and assessed), £2,945,784; the property-tax (income tax), £13,718,185; the post-office, £1,137,219; the crown lands, £280,515 ; the sale of old stores, &c., £522,138 ; moneys re ceived from the East India Company, eso,ooo ; miscellaneous receipts, £402,768 ; and unclaimed dividends, £115,149. Of the expenditure, the interest and management of the permanent debt cost £22,792,594; terminable annuities, £173,240 ; the interest of exchequer-bonds (1854), £217,000; the interest of exchequer-bills (supply), £560,635 ; deficiency, £9,386 ; and ways and means, £26,749 ; making a grand total, for the public debt, of £27,647,899. The civil list en tailed a charge of £396,570 ; annuities and pensions, £344,991; salaries, &c., £162;697; diplomatic salaries and pensions, £149,244 ; and courts of justice, £493,082. Of the " supply" services, the army cost £14,545,059 ; the navy, £19,014,708 : and the ordnance, £9,632,290. The vote of credit (additional expenses of the war with Russia), £5,200,000; and miscella neous civil services, £6,741,126. The balances of public money remaining in the exchequer on the 31st of December last amounted to the sum of £3,688,600 against £6,015,612 on the 6th of January, 1855. In an earlier account, made up to the 30th of September, 1855, the revenue is made to amount to £62,990,680, and the expenditure to £78,605,563 — leaving a deficiency of £15,614,973. PARLIAHENTARY INTELLIGENCE. HOUSE OF LORDS. TUESDAY. On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Bill was read a second time. POOR-LAW.—In answer to a question, Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY said a bill had been prepared carrying into effect the recommendations of the committee of inquiry relating to the removal of Scotch and Irish poor, but that no change in the English law of settlement and removal was contemplated. CRIMINAL TRIALS.—The LORD CHANCELLOR laid on the table a bill to enable the Court of Queen's Bench to send for trial to the Central Criminal Court persons charged with offences that could more suitably be tried in that court than in the court at Westminster. There was no doubt the Court of Queen's Bench had the power of removing the process from an assize town where there was likely to be a prejudice against the accused, but whether it had the power of ordering the trial in the Central Criminal Court was doubtful. - The object of the bill was to settle this difficulty. Their lordships adjourned at six o'clock. THURSDAY. The space below the throne and the galleries were com pletely crowded by members of the House of Commons and strangers, in anticipation of an interestine , debate on the important question of the prerogative of the Crown on the one hand, and the privileges of the House of Peers on the other. THE WENSLEYDALE LIFE PEERAGE. Lord LYNDHURST moved 7 ' That the copy of the letters patent purporting to create the Right Hon. Sir James Parke, Knight, a baron of the united kingdom for life, which has been laid upon the table, be referred to the Committee of Privileges, with directions to examine and consider the same, and report thereon to the house." The subject, he said, was of great importance, as it referred to the constitution of the peerage. In bringing it forwand he had no personal objection to Sir J. Parke, whom he had himself recommended for pro motion to the judicial bench, and whose abilities and impar tiality as a judge he warmly eulogised. The position he laid down was, that no instance had occurred in the history of this country for 400 years of any commoner being raised to a seat in the House-of Peers by letters patent creating only an estate for life: There had been a few cases of the creation of barons for life, but they were marked by peculiar circum stances' aqd to make them tbe foundation of a chan g e i n the charaFter of the house and the custom of parlia ment was a gross violation of the constitution. He cited several of these cases, showing that they differed essentially from the present creation. One was that of a foreigner, who could not sit in Parliament ; others were baronies without the right of sitting. He urged, also, as an objection to these cases as precedents, that they occurred in times of civil war and confusion, before the constitution of England had been formed and settled. Coming to a later period, he referred to the peerages for life created by Charles 11. some of them in favour of his mistresses, and others by James 11., and the first kings of the House of Hanover, argu ing that the circumstances under which these dignities were bestowed were not such as to render them precedents for the creation of a peer of Parliament. Quitting the more strictly legal view of the question, Lord Lyndhurst proceeded to show its impolicy. It would divide the House of Peers into two parts—the peer by descent, and the peer for life, without suc cession—and remove the great check to an arbitrary creation of peers for any purpose of the Crown, which was provided by the hereditary principle of the upper house. He denied the necessity for increasing the numbers of the law-lords, on which the elevation of Sir J. Parke had been advocated. Writs of error were of rare occurrence, and on important points of com mon law the house had the power of summoning the twelve judges to assist it when sitting as the supreme court. He contended that no class of men had done more to build up and defend the constitution of the, country than members of the legal profession, and it was invidious to place them below those who were rewarded for other kinds of public services. Earl GRANVILLE quoted several authorities of recent date to prove the perfect legality of the creation of peerages for life — amongst them an admission by Lord Campbell. In fact, the legality of such peerages had never been disputed; and, being in this case expedient also, it became constitutional. Some accession of strength to the judicial portion of the house was absolutely required to maintain its efficiency, and there were grave objections to creating hereditary peerages, without ample means of supporting them. The proposal to refer this patent to the committee of privileges was unusual ; and, feeling as strongly as any one the wish to uphold the honour and dignity of the house, he would advise it to reject the motion. Lord ST. LEONARD'S supported the motion, because, by a creation of peerages for life, the character of the house would be totally altered, and he strongly urged the peers to maintain inviolate the hereditary principle. He cited a great number of cases, through a long period of history, to show that a patent of creation for life is illegal. The LORD CHANCELLOR thought the house, in referring this question to the committee of privileges, might inad vertently destroy another principle, and trench on the preroga tive of the crown. It was a matter on which the house had no power or jurisdiction. The question could not come regu larly I;,efore it, unless some heir of Lord Wensleydale hereafter claimed a right to a writ of summons to parliament. It would then be for the house to examine the patent of creation, arid decide whether he was so entitled to be summoned or not. He declared confidently that a patent for life was perfectly legal, quoting Lord Coke in support of his opinion, and that authority had been endorsed by Sir Matthew Hale and every great lawyer of more recent time. He strongly objected to the legality and the expediency of the creation being mixed up in one motion for reference to a committee. Lord CAMBFELL said the change about to be introduced in the constitution of the peerage was greater than that effected in the House of Commons by the Reform Bill, and it was to be made without the knowledge and assent of the peers, by a simple act of the Crown. He did not think any addition-to the law lords was called for; on any point of difficulty or im portance it had the power of summoning the judges to assist it fiy advice. He protested against a step that would be un just to lawyers as a class, unless the principle were extended to other professions. It would be a precedent for depriving future Lord Chancellors and Chief Justices of peerage for life, and to that he could not consent. Earl GREY thought the question had been unduly exag gerated; it was not a total change of the constitution of the house ; he believed the character and influence of the house would not be lowered by a more frequent creation of peerages for life. The Earl of DERBY contended that the patent for life in volved an organic change in th 6 whole constitution of the house, and that in referring it'to the committee of privileges they were taking the most moderate and practical course. Any change in the constitution of the house should be made by a distinct law, not by a mere act of the Crown. If this pre cedent be allowed, he said, why should not men who have served with distinction in the army and navy, men of science, too, for aught I know, who labour under the impediment of poverty, be placed in this house to exercise co-ordinate juris diction with your lordships ? If you admit this claim of Baron Parke, you admit the power of the Crown to grant a patent similarly limited in all cases. The Lord Chancellor said that the danger of a minister swamping the house was perfectly visionary. But although the house consists, as he said, of 450 members, of what does a majority of the house consist ? Will he tell me that no influence might be exer cised by the introduction, not of 100, not of 20, but of nine members ? Might not 12 or 14 peers introduced with the pe culiar qualification of poverty, and therefore the more under the influence of a minister, with peerages held during the good pleasure of the Crown (because if they are admitted for life, they may also be admitted upon those terms), altogether alter a decision of this house ? Would a minister obtain no undue influence by being able, as one of those peerages dropped off, or as an hereditary peerage became extinct, to supply its place with another peerage for life ? You say there is no danger, because every minister must be guided by public opinion. But that is the greatest of all dangers if, by public opinion, you mean the opinion of the other house of parliament. Suppose the Lords oppose a measure which a minister desires to carry, and which the Commons have passed by a large majority— what more easy than to create a sufficient number of peers to carry the measure through the Lords ? The minister would run no greater danger of impeachment, for he would have acted in deference to public opinion, and the consequence would be that this house would become an absolute cipher in the legislature. My lords, if you admit the power of a minister to introduce even one life peerage at his discretion, and to keep that peerage dangling from father to son as a bait for further services, I tell you that the hereditary character of this house is gone—its usefulness in legislation is gone—its independence is gone—and you had better abdicate your functions and intimate your readiness to assent to anything the House of Commons may please to dictate. This is not a visionary apprehension. I am putting a case which must arise, in the struggle of parties, whenever we have an unscru pulous minister, or a weak minister, who being dependent upon a narrow majority, and wishing to stengthen it, chooses to court the worse feelings of the lowest class in the other house, in order to obtain for himself a temporary renewal of power. _ _ The Duke of ARGYLL alluded to the plan for swamping the House of Peers in 1832, to prove that there was as much danger from the undisputed power of the Crown to create hereditary peerages as from the right of creating them for life. Lord BROUGHAM explained the part he took in the trans actions of 1832, and declared that life peerages were inexpe dient and incompatible with the safety of the constitution. The house then divided : PRESENT. Contents Non-contents Majority —26 PROXIES. Contents Non-contents Majority —7 The motion therefore was carried. The house then adjourned, at a quarter to three o'clock. FRIDAY. NEW MINISTER OF EDUCATION.—EarI GRANVILLE laid on the table a bill for appointing a Vice-President of the Com mittee of Council on Education. The bill would provide that the Minister should have a seat in the other house; and upon the second reading of the bill he would take the opportunity of explaining the nature of the changes to be made by an order in Council, transferring certain departments at present con nected with other offices to the Vice-Presidency of the Council. Irma REPRESENTATIVE PEERAGE.—The Earl of Do - NOUGHMORE gave notice that, when the subject of the Fer moy patent of peerage came under discussion, he should call attention to the grievances under which the Irish Peers la boured in voting for members of their body to represent them in that house. THE WENSLEYDALE LIFE PEERAGE.—EarI GREY asked Lord CAMPBELL what course it was intended to take with regard to the Committee of Privileges to which the house had decided the patent of the Wensleydale peerage shall be re ferred, and when it was supposed the house 'should go into committee.—Lord CAMPBELL could not answer the question, but expressed a hope the government would render the com mittee unnecessary by recommending Her Majesty to grant to Sir J. Parke a new patent of creation, with remainder to his heirs male. This would put an end to all agitation on the subject.—The Earl of DERBY concurred in the suggestion, and trusted it would be adopted, in order to avoid a conflict on such a question as the prerogative of the Crown. The house adjourned at half-past five o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS. TUESDAY. Petitions were presented by Mr: T. PARKER, from the minister and congregation of St. James's, Preston, against any alteration of the laws for the observance of the Lord's day; and by Mr. HORSPALL, from certain inhabitants of Liverpool assembled at a public meeting at St. George's-hall, against the opening of the British Museum and other institu tions on the Lord's-day. [FEBRUARY 12, 1856. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.—In reply to Mr. R. P lvll Lord PALMERSTON said it was the intention of her , 3 1 / 4 no government to introduce during the present session a ta for the reform of the Ecclesiastical Courts. w betb b e r e THE BANK CHARTER.—To a question by Mr. Glyn, any steps had been taken for giving stat u t or y no tice to t r , Bank of England preparatory to the revision of their chartet,, and whether it was the intention of the government to in 3 o f tute any inquiry into the working and effect of the SP 3 1814, the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that was not the intention of the government, for the presentt, w . take any steps for putting an end to th e p r i v il eg es of bank ; that if it should appear to be the g e nera l w ish of ,1. house that there should be at present a p ar li amen t a ry incl of into the circumstances of the bank, and into the operatio ej the existing Bank Act, the government wou ld no t be justt• tr in opposing the general wish; at the same time it was tli", decided opinion that the present s tate of th e coun t r y, of .4' relations of the bank and of the curren c y, b e i ng ex t ra ordins" and exceptional, was not favourable for an examination of t? 08 affairs of the bank, and it was n o t, th ere f ore , th e i r intentlo to move for such an inquiry. ARMISTICE WITH RUSSIA.—In reply to a question whetil l ; it was true that an armistice had b een agree d on b e t w een' allied Powers and Russia, Lord PALMERSTON said the Pre o i liminaries of peace had not yet b een s i gne d , an d it wa s until they were signed that the que s tio n o f an arm i s tice wo come under consideration. COUNTY AND BOROUGH POLICE.—Sir G. GREY obtain leave to bring in a bill to render more efficient the pal l counties and boroughs in England and W a l es , u p on a plan , h ° compatible with the exi s tin g s y s t ems o f l oca l man"' , went. Having stated the nature o f th e l aw upon th e subjet 4l . as regarded counties and boroughs respectively, and that l a 20 counties no rural police had yet been established, while l ie several populous boroughs the force was w h o ll y inadequate, f proceeded to explain the provision s i n th e bill. ' Th ese were°, a compulsory character, altho ug h th e managemen t a th e police would be left in the hand s o f th e 10 - 2al authorities, P°scor being given to the Secretary of State to make rules, and t spectors appointed by the Crown to v i s it coun ti es an d b o roug hs and report the conditi o n and managemen t o f th e cons t a bular y ' , He proposed to authorise the T reasur y, on th e repor t s 01 d inspectors as to the efficiency of the police in counties boroughs, to issue sums not exceeding one-fourth of the Pa: be and clothing of the police in any county or boiough, not to charged upon the consolidated fund, but to be annually vo,t7 by Parliament. With respect to the smaller boroughs, he not propose to compel their consolidation with the countiei but by way of encouraging such amalgamation be proposed, t d ° issue no grant to any borough with a population %Moll °I A not exceed 5,000. The sum of £200,000, he believed, wok more than cover the charge under the bill. A measure forthe same object, he said, would be introduced by the Lord .4(1 0 ' cate for Scotland. EARLYCLOSING.—A motion by lir. BROTHEETON to t ile' effect that no opposed busine ss b e p rocee d e d w i t h after I •j, night, was, after some discussion, negatived by 113 to 52. CHIIECII RATES.—Mr. PAMIR obtained leave to bring In a bill to abolish church-rates for other than certain purposest" make provision for the mainte nance o f th e f a b r i cs o f pall° churches in certain cases, and to enable certain persons redeem their liability to chur c h- ra t es , an d o th erw i se to anlen, the law relating to church-rates. After referring to vario' attempts which had been made to adjust this vexed quest l he proceeded to develope the scheme contained in the bin 1 r wished to introduce. He propo se d, h e sa id , t o a b o li s h th e rate for the performance of divine serv i ce ; t o re li eve occup i er s ° rateable property from the r a t e , by au th or i s i ng th e re d uc tion of it from the rent ; to allow owners of rateable property redeem the rate by a moderate payment, and to enact that the making and levying the church-rate shall follow in all respect a the poor-rate. Mr. WILSON obtained leave to introduce a bill to regula te certain offices in the House of Commons. Mr. KEOGII obtained leave to bring in two bills—to consoli . date and amend the laws relating to juries in Ireland; and further amend the procedure in and to enlarge the jurisdie' tion of superior courts of common law in Ireland. SUPPLY.—The House having resolved itself into a CO' mittee of Supply, the Clerk read the following passage fro_, ol Her Majesty's Speech :—" The e s ti ma t es f or th e ensuing Yew will be laid before you. You will find them framed in such! manner as to provide for the exigencies , of war, if peace should' unfortunately, not be concluded. ' Mr. WiLsO;( moved,—" That a vote of supply be granted to Her Majesty."—The resolution was agreed to, and the HouS e resumed. The House adjourned at half-past 8 o'clock. WEDNESDAY. The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. Mr. Laboucher e took his seat upon his re-election for Taunton. The, second reading of the Local Dues on Shipping, Sx., was postponed till Monday, the 25th instant. The Metropolitan Police Bill was read a second time. Upon the motion of Mr. W ILSON , th e army, navy, Ou Ordnance estimates for the year ending March, 1857. wer e ordered to be laid upon the table. The House adjourned at a quarter to three o'clock. THURSDAY. Mr. Baines took the oaths and his seat upon his re-eleetiol l for Leeds. TER CRIMEAN ARMY.—MT. LAYARD gave notice that on this day fortnight he should call the attention of the house to, the report of Sir J. M'Neill and Colonel Tullo c h u pon the state of the army in the Crimea during the last winter. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS.—Mr. H. BERK said, seeing that the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act expire° this session, and that a strong and general opinion prevails W / to its inefficiency, is it the intention of her majesty's govern' ment to bring in a bill to renew that act, or to submit its operation to the inquiry of a select committee ?—Lord PO' MERSTON said, the question was still under the consideration of the government. They had nOt yet made up their minds whether it was best to bring in a bill to continue or amend , if necessary, the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, or to pro' pose to refer the subject to the consideration of a select cow' mittee. When they had made up their minds he would inform the house what course they would adopt. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.—Mr. COLLIER moved for leave, to introduce a bill to tran s f er th e t es t amen t ary j ur i s di c ti o n 0' the Ecclesiastical Courts to the superior courts of common law and to the County Courts.—The SoLiciron-GENEDO said the government had determined to bring in a m easure this session, not to pull down one branch of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction alone, but for its entire and utter abolition. -- f After some discussion leave was given to bring in the bill. NAVAL ADMINISTRATION.—Captain SCOBELL moved for a select committee to inquire into the administration, patron' age, promotions, and retirements, and the efficiency of the service in all the grades.—Sir C. WOOD resisted the motion , on the ground that, unless good and substantial reasons were assigned for such an inquiry, it would be highly inexpedient , since it would interfere with the different departments and with public business ; and he contended that no such reasons bad been produced.—ln the course of the discussion which_ ensued, Sir C. NAPIER took occasion, in a s o m e w h a t d esu ltory, speech, to advert to the condition of the British fleet sent to the Baltic in 1854, which, he said, was not equal to contend with that of the enemy, though he never saw more zeal in any fleet. intimately the motion was negatived by a majority of 173 to 8g: TEE BALTIC CAMPAIGN OP 1854.—Sir C. NAPIER POO: poned his motion for the production of papers referring to the campaign in the Baltic in the year 1854, until Thursday neat• Mr. ATHERTON obtained leave to bring in a bill to amen° the law relating to the conveyance of lands for charitable uses• Mr. PELLATT had leave to introduce a bill to amend the provisions of the Marriage Acts relating to Dissenters. The House of Commons' Offices Bill was read a second tin3e. The Metropolitan Police Bill passed through committee. The House adjourned at a quarter past twelve o'clock. FRIDAY. Lord RAYNIIAM took his seat for Tamworth, and Mr. S• WARREN for Midhurst. In reply to Mr. Horsfall, Mr. LOWE stated that the Local Dues on Shipping &c., Bill would not be ready before Wed' nesday. _ _ The second reading of the Police Bill was postponed from Monday till Wednesday. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.—In reply to a question Sir a WOOD said that the Queen had signified her intention tp, confer a medal on the officers and men engaged i n th e Arctic,. expeditions, and measures were bein g t a k en t o carry tbio intention into effect. DIFFERENCES WITH THE UNITED STATBS.—Mr. COBDIart in seeking for explanations from the government for the non' production of the correspondence respecting our relations with America, observed that there were, it was well known' two subjects of dispute—one with reference to the Central American (the Bulwer and Clayton) convention of 186 0 2 the correspondence respecting which, though declared 14 Lord Palmerston not to be complete, had been laid upon the table of the Senate of the United States ; and from these doew ments, which had been published in London, it would appear' he said, that Lord Clarendon himself had considered it eon; plete. The other subject regarded enlistment in the United States ; and in that transaction, which he characterised as absurd and foolish, it was admitted that we were in the wrongs and with respect to that matter he thought it would be better that the house should have the correspondence before it, even if it were not complete. He hoped, therefore, that the paper° would be no longer withheld, in order that the house and the country might understand what we were quarrelling about.—Lord PALMERSTON said that with reference to the first question, regarding the interpretation of the treaty of 1850, an offer had been made by the British governmen t to refer it to arbitration, which had not been accepted, upon looking over the correspondence he was ready to lay thab portion of the papers before the house. With respect to the other question, concessions had been made by her Majesty O Government than which, he should have thought, as between gentleman and gentleman, nothing could be more satisfactory' and when made to the American minister here, he had eV pressed himself satisfied, and felt assured that his government would be equally content. The question, however, had bee°, re-opened, the correspondence had been going on, and jun before the meeting of parliament a voluminous despatch bad been received from the American government, to which there, had been no time to reply. He hoped that no long perie“ would elapse before an answer would be sent to this despat and then the government would be most anxious to lay whole matter before parliament. Nothing, he added, viota be wanting on the part of her Majesty's Government, with a due regard to the honour and character of the nation, to av_ , ..osd a collision which would be a reproach to both count r ies. Aft a f ew w ords from Sir DE LACY Eveivs, the motion was agree d to. The Metropolitan Police Bill was read a third time and passed. LAW OF PARTNE RSHIP .—Th e mo ti on f or th e secon d read ing of the Partnership Amendment Bill led to a brief discus sion, in which several members took part. Ultimately the b. i „' 4 was read a second time, as well as the Joint-Stock Compall l '" Bill. The Burial of the Dead (Ireland) Bill was also read a seee sd time. The Youthful Offenders (Ireland) Bill was read a secon d time. The House of Commons' Offices Bill passed through Coale raittee. Sir W. CLAY obtained leave to bring in a bill for the 0 0 ' tion of church-rates. Mr. HEADLAM obtained' leave to bring in a bill to ame t i e the laws relating to the medical profession. He detailed , material provisions of the bill, which, he said, did not I . ` e terfere with the right to obtain medical advice and assistai, from any person whatever ; but it sought to insure, Crete equality of education throughout Great Britain and Irelan d second, reciprocity of practice; and, third, a general regiS r ; tion of legally-qualified medical practitioners. He then !,4 plained the machinery by which the different provisions 1,v0u',,, be carried out, a prominent feature in the plan being the 0 14 pointment of a medical eouncil.—Lord PALMERSTON profeni, his readiness to give every assistance to the progress of the The House adjourned at half-past nine o'c.ock. F ~_._ A tele; ti ted u t Russia s B u 7inisters nstria bor 'ere Intelli, ititr o d ti 4 relit e I'lll cont.' 4114 will We stern A fres] Eder Co The arm V3' 40 : i nc en ia tustnr ' l ee of Letter ‘° Part l'otained The el set out c with By o ti 11 2 34 u er 'ter fail t at fp or ilts( rlia her 4 4 4 c)f t