The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-10 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL STATIONERY, • " SOLD BY V CiA44.LES. WILLM WHOLE AtEs''S TiTIONER ANI)-21tINTER, 19, SOUTH JOHN-STREET, LIVERPOOL.-._ TFV \ attentipn okNierchswts, trokevii \ Tt4n* men, and "other's, respeafully drawn fiT t e fol- TBt of CASH PRICES for LETTER PAPER: owing Per Ream. For 3 Reams. a. d. £ s. d. , 6 0 0 17 6 Superfine large thin Cream Laid Blue Wove 6 6 018 0 Ditto ditto Yellow Wove 6 0 017 0 Bank Post (Towgood's) for Foreign } 761 1 0 Correspondence Ditto French, extra thin 761 1 0 (FOOLSCAP OR CUSTOM HOUSE PAPER. Thin Blue Laid. Middle Yellow Wove. Per Ream. For 3 Reams, 901 6 0 961 7 6 ENVELOPES. Laid Adhesive, full letter size. Thick Yellow Wove, ditto ss. per 1000. . ..... . 6s. per 1000. NOTE PAPER. S Iperfine Large Cream Laid, is for 6 quires, or 3s 6d per ream. Ditto Ditto Blue Wove, 14 for 5 quires, or 3s 6d per ream. LETTER COPYING BOOBS, Half-bound, calf, paged and indexed, 400 leaves, 6s; 480 do, 7a; 500 do, 7s 6d; 680 do, 8s 6d ACCOUNT BOOKS, or every description, manufi bast style, on the shortest notic red on the premises, in the e, and at prices equally low. Orders from the Country receive prompt attention. WHOLESALE PAPER WAREHOUSE, 19, SOUTH JOHN-STREET, LIVERPOOL. WILLMER'S RAILWAY AND STEAMBOAT GUIDE, for APRIL—PRICE TWOPENCE. Sold by Cskarats WlLLmaz, 19, South John-street, and by all Booksellers. Commercial Salt. THIS DAY. On account of whom it may concern, THIS DAY, the 10th instant, at Tielve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 1, Exchange-alley, 6 Bales COTTON, • more or less damaged by salt water ; and A Quantity PICXINGS, &c ex Victoria, from Mobile ; lying at the Albert Dock.— Apply to DAVID PATON, Broker, 1, Exchange-alley. T O-M 0 R R 0 W. TO-MOBROW, the 11th instant, at the Brokers' office, 11, Exchange-buildings, About 80 Bales COTTON, damaged by salt water, and landed from the Henry Pratt, from Mobile ; About 100 Bales COTTON, damaged by salt water, and landed from the Wellfieet, from New Orleans,—Apply to WM. CLARE & SONS, Brokers, 11, Exchange-buildings. TO -MORROW, the lith instant, at Twelve o'clock, 983 Ba g s } LINSEED CAKE, 381 Barrels BROWNE, HUNTER & CO:, Brokers , On account of whom it may concern. Apply to TO -MORROW, the 11th instant, at Half-past One o'clock, at Golding and Nash's saleroom, Corn Exchange, Bruns wick-street, About 509 Barrels Damaged Western Canal FLOUR, on the quay, ex Ellen Austin, from New York • A Quantity Damaged INDIAN CORN, on the quay, ex RoCklizht, from Yew Orleans ;and A Quantity INDIAN CORN, in warehouse, ex Silistria, from New Orleans.—For par ticulars apply to J. & M. HARNETT, Brokers. To-mottaow, the 11th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, Colonial-buildings, Dale-street, 370 Bags LINSEED, all faults, ex Delhi, from Calcutta.—For further particulars apply to BUSHBY & CO., Brokers. On account of whom it may concern TO -MORROW, the I 1 th instant, at Half-put One o'clock, at Golding and Nash's saleroom, Corn Exchange, Brans- wick-street, 1000 Barrels Superfine FLOUR, sundry brands, and all more or less ship damaged, ex Ellen Austen, from New York.—Apply to A. F. and R. Maxwell, Merchants, or to JOHN TOMLINSON & SON. Brokers, EARLY DELIVERY OF THE " NORTHERN Thtss."—Any subscriber within four miles of the Liverpool Exchange, or at Rook-ferry, Tran-nere, Birkenhead, Woodside, Oxton, Claughton, Seacombe, Egremont, or New Brighton, who s copy of the "NORTHERN TIMES," by does not receive Eight o'clock wii he publisher by addressing a note ying the fact, in order that the to him at t cause of complaint may he investigated and removed. As our messengers commence their delivery at five o'clock on each morning, it would greatly facilitate its completion if subscribers would have letter-boxes in their doors through which the papers might be dropped, as the detention at some houses is very great at present, and causes delay and disappointment to other subscribers. EVENING EDITION tur An Evening Edition of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, containing the Markets, together with all the News of the Day, up to the hour of going to Press. Ting ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. E4e Ilart4trn fititto THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1866 THERE are few things which mark the advance of civilisation more than men turning from fire. eating to the consumption of smoke. Such transi tions are no less wonderful and necessary in the progress of science, than they are in the preserva tion of life, and that that which is so astounding in its moral and commercial results should have taken us fully a century to accomplish is not at all surprising. We know of no nuisance which renders itself more intelligible to our senses than smoke. It not only takes the most arbitary possession of our nasal organs, but it attacks furniture, clothes, and bids defiance to that cleanness of both house and person which is so essential to health and comfort. WATT, PITT, WARD, and numbers of other scientific celebrities, gave their attention not only to the removal of this nuisance, but absolutely thought of converting the smoke poured forth from large factory chimneys into mineral tar, varnish, and pitch. Tar works were erected at Dudley Wood colliery, and iron works by Lord DUNDONALD and Company, on terms which show the extraordinary value of the vapour which is now thrown away, The ironmasters furnished the tar works with coals gratis, and received in return the coke it produced, the proprietors of the tar works having the smoke only for their labour and interest of money. In the process employed in this manufacture, twenty tons of coals were used each day, and the return made each week was about twenty-eight barrels of tar, weighing 21 cwt. each, and twenty-one barrels of pitch, of equal weight, but in some cases the tar produced was equal to one•eighth of the coal. We have alluded to these facts to show the unpardonable waste of fuel which is going on this smoke is allowed to pass away through ter chimneys without heed. we all know that the bituminous properties of coal con t valuable portions of its heating power; and that the more perfect the combustion, the further it will go in generating steam, or in any other chemical process. The knowledge of these facts, coupled with the evidence obtained by the Smoke Nuisance Committees of the House of Commons, have, no doubt, induced the Legis lature to pass the Smoke Prevention Acts now in force. And to the Corporate authorities of Liver pool we are, in no mean degree, indebted for the vigorous course taken by the PALMERSTON Admin. stration, for the suppression of the public stitute th grievance, and iitikvidual blindness, complained of in tts and all towns. The first Parlia mentary in 1819, and on its report a bill was passed, 1 and 2 of GEORGE IV., cap. 41, entitled—" An act for giving greater "facility in the prosecution and abatement of " nuisances, arising from furnaces, used in the " working of steam engines." In this statute, which came in force on the Ist of September , 1821, and which has not been repealed, the infliction of penalties, and awarding costs, was left to the discretion of the court before which the indictment was brought. This law, however, was evaded by raising the height of chimneys, putting less green coal into the furnace, keeping furnace doors open, and a variety of other paltry and costly expedient, all of which, the Smoke Act of 1854 was passed to sweep away, and bring into operation some really scientific remedy. That smoke is one of the worst enemies to health, and that the perfect combustion of fuel is the best friend of the manufacturers and steam employers, has never once been denied since the subject was first taken up by WATT and his cotemporaries. The difficulty has been to procure a perfect preventive, to up-root prejudice, and convince the owners of smoke-producing furnaces that they would be gainers by the adoption of a really perfect smoke consuming furnace. These obstacles to sanitary and economical reforms are now removed. Engi neers may, and will, cavil as much as they please; boiler-makers and chimney-builders will shrug up their shoulders and mutter innumerabie doubts; steam-employers will denounce the arbitrary law which says :—" Smoke is a nuisance, let " there be no more smoke ;" and the well-paid black vapour detectors will sneer at that which is to render their vigilance unnecessary ; but there are perfect smoke consumers in practical operation in this Borough, which bid defiance to all preju diced assailants. The North Western Railway Company's engine at the Waterloo Station has been placed beyond the reach of the law. Others, with furnaces of the same description, have defied the watchfulness of smoke inspectors for upwards of two years, and with these palpable realities before us, what remains to be done? Why should our streets, landing-stage, and houses, be enveloped day and night in clouds of health and property destroying vapour? That Sir CHARLES Woon should, only a few days since, have declared in the House of Commons, that there was nothing suffi ciently satisfactory discovered to induce the Government to attempt the prevention of smoke in the Royal Navy, appears very strange. We are not surprised at the ignorance displayed by the General Board of Health, after reading their " twelve conclusions" recently published, but we are at a loss to understand how it is that heavy penal are inflicted on the subject daily, throughout the manufacturing districts, when a Cabinet Minister declares in the House of Commons that a suffi ciently satisfactory remedy for a public nuisance has not been discovered ! The General Board of Health are floundering about in oceans of " un " burnt carbon," carbonic oxide, or half-burnt carbon, little and big boilers, imperical rules, scientific principles, and mercy knows what be sides, while they emphatically declare that nothing but the force of law will induce practical men to depart from the beaten track, and obey an enact ment in a matter, which they themselves labour harder than " practical men," to show is wholly irremediable. This is a state of things which ought not to be longer tolerated by the employers of steam in these coal consuming districts. Men should not be fined for offences which our law-makers are the first to tell us cannot be avoided. Or if there is a cure for the complaint, they ought to be compelled to recognise it publicly, no matter how strong their predilections to the ccntrary may be. Sir CHARLES WOOD, and the Health Commissioners can come to Liverpool and see for themselves what has been done here. Those who chose to employ the smoke consuming furnace, can laugh at the " officers spe " cially qualified" to enforce the law, and instead of trampling on the inventive genius of the country, and telling the people to pass by the rights of patentees, we think it would be much more becoming in the officials of Somerset House to suggest to the Government the more encouraging, we may say honest, course, of purchasing the efficient invention, and throwing it open to the thousands who have paid in fines twice the sum the royalty would have cost. Liverpool, Manches ter, Leeds, York, Sheffield, and other manufacturing towns have been most unjustly persecuted under the Act of 1854, and that law must be altered, or a practical remedy for the whole country adopted, without further delay. THE COURT. The Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied by Prince Arthur and the Princess Helena, visited the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's-park on Tuesday morning. In the afternoon her Majesty and his Royal Highness, attended by the Equerries in Waiting, visited the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester Housa. Princee Albert honoured Mr. Munro with a visit, at his studio, in Upper Belgrave-place. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Mr. Gibbs, visited the establishment of Messrs. De La Rue, in Bunhill-row. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence in the evening. The Duchess of Wel lington has succeeded Lady Macdonald as the Lady in Waiting to the Queen. The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard and Sir George Couper, honoured the Olympic Theatre with her presence. Paivr COUNClL.—Yesterday afternoon her Majesty held a Privy Council at Buckingham Palace. CHIPPENHAM ELECTION.—The election for Chippenham took place yesterday, when Mr. Robert Parry Nisbett, of Sonthbroome House, Devizes, was returned in the room of the late Mr. Joseph Nee ld. ATHLONE ELECTION.—The nomination has been fixed fur this day, and the polling will take place on Saturday next. We have been informed that Mr. Reynolds is determined to go to the poll, and that he addressed a numerous meeting of the electors on Sunday. --..--- MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday :morning the marriage of Viscount Somerton, eldest son of the Earl of Normanton, with the hon. Miss Barrington, daughter of Viscount Barrington, took place at St. George's, Ban_ over-square, in the presence of a distinguished circle of friends of both noble families. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH AUSTRALIA.—The Gene ral Association for the Australian Colonies have arranged to hold a public meeting at the London Tavern on Mon day next, at which the Lord Mayor will preside, to consider the present state of the question regarding steam communication with Australia. THE BAND IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.—Orders have been issued by the authorities at the Horse Guards, that the band of the Royal Horse Guards Blue shall play on Sunday next in Kensington Gardens from four to six, weather permitting. A band will play on each succeeding Sunday, and the time of the performance will probably vary as the season advances. - - THE WEATHER.-- Yesterday was beautifully fine and warm, and for the greater part of the day the sun shone out with great brilliancy. This coming after the rain of Tues did', will prove of great advantage to the country. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The Liverpool Cotton Market has again been active, and a good business has been done, at full prices. The tatal sales amount to 12,000 bales, and include 5,000 taken for speculation and export. The course of the Liverpool Share Market is still upward. It opened this morning with a buoy ant feeling, and steadily improved during the day, closing firm at the highest point of the day, as fol lows :-Aberdeen, 131 14. Chester and Birken head, 16 16/. Caledonian, 301 xd 3011-16. Chester and Holyhead, 161 161. Eastern Counties, 108 in. East Lancashire, 194 198. Great Northern, 23i 231. Ditto A, 91 101. Great Western, 64* 65. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 889 88g. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 16 161. London and North Western Stock, 1011 1011. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 281 29. Ditto Pref., Ha 11. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., 7-16 9-16 p. Midland Stock, 748 741. North British, 81 81. North Stafford shire, 6 51d. South Eastern, 211 21 13-16. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 191 1.91. York and North Midland, 281 281. Leeds Capital Stock, 16 161. Dutch Rhenish, 1 13-16 1 15-16 p. Ditto New Shares, 34 31p. Great Western of Canada, 251 251. Ditto New Shares, 21 3p. Ditto 2nd issue, 2 11-16 2 13-16 p. Great Luxembourg, 61 62-d. Commercial advices from St. Petersburg have come to hand, dated the 28th March, which show that the export trade continues to command the attention of the merchants, and large supplies of produce are daily arriving from the interior. Tallow was in demand, and a sale of 8,000 casks realised from 138 to 1384 silver roubles per last ; and with money advanced there were buyers at 133 r. to 134 r., but holders asked 135 r., or preferred waiting for the opening of the summer trade. Hemp is less in request, and stocks are accumula ting unsold, which are offered at 244 r. to 25r. with out buyers. Linseed of middling quality sells at 7r. 90 cop., and best sorts Bkr. Cubanca wheat is firm and in demand at B,ir. to 9r. Exchange on London is 371 f. The Havre cotton market during the past week has been unusually quiet, and the importations from America are falling off. Prices are not much altered, and business is dull. Louisiana of best qualities is quoted at 89f per 50 kilos., and inferior sorts range from 80f to 87f. Georgia middling sorts are dull, at from 83f to 88f. Trade generally at this port has not improved, as was expected after the announcement of peace being concluded, and the mercantile community are waiting with anxiety the decision of the government upon the formation of the Transatlantic Steam Company. It is expected that it will be in favour of the united companies, notwithstanding the recent imperial decree, to form any new financial or commercial associations. Later commercial advices from New South Wales have come to hand. These state that the markets at Sydney, up to the Bth January, were rather dull, and no change had taken place in the quotations of leading articles of import, with the exception of sugars, which had advanced in consequence of the advices from England announcing a scarcity and dearness in this market. In breadstuffs the market was over-supplied, and imports from Valparaiso had ceased. The gold fields of the colony were yielding an average total of about 5,000 ounces weekly, or less than one-tenth of the yield of the Victorian diggings. The Sydney mint continue in full work, and issued 30,000 sovereigns weekly, the greater portion of which were coined from Victoria gold ; and much dissatisfaction existed at the sister colony refusing to take them as a legal tender. The wed market was dull, and the wools arriving were not in good condition, which caused a decline in prices. The Maid - of Judah has arrived from Sydney, whence she sailed on the Bth January, but is not known to have any gold on freight. The Cadiz has taken out 6,9001. in specie to Lisbon and Cadiz. The amount of Bills drawn by the East India Company, on their several Presidencies, from the 25th ultimo to the Bth instant (yesterday), is as follows : Rate of Exchange. Bengal —4174,160 3 5 ? Madras... 35,161 10 11 f 2s. per Company's rupee. Bombay .. 1,531 5 0 2s. Old. per ditto. T0ta1...L210,852 19 4 The Admiralty will receive tenders, on the 15th inst., for the hire of a ship, of from 700 to 800 tons, to convey convicts and stores from England to Freemantle, Western Australia. The new bill relative to the duty on fire insur ance has just been issued. All persons deemed to keep fire insurance offices, are to take out a license and give security, and persons keeping offices on behalf of foreign companies are to be chargeable with duty on the insurances effected. The duties are to be chargeable on all insurances of property within the United Kingdom, wheresoever made, whether there be any policy, instrument, note, or memorandum, or not. With the completion of the bulk of the arrange ments for adjusting the monthly account in con sols, the funds have assumed a more favourable appearance. A further rise of per cent was established to-day, and the market exhibited undiminished firmness to the close of business, when prices were quoted :—Consols for account 931 931; money 938 and 934. Althoug the divi dend payments commenced to-day, the demand for money in Lombard-street was very active, pre parations for tomorrow's instalment on the new loan exercising some influence. At Paris to day, the Three per Cent Rentes showed a rise of Ito per cent. The £402,000 in gold, ex. " Red Jacket," was in hand to-day, and a portion of it was sent into the bank. In the absence of con tinental demand, it is expected that the rest will be sent in during the week• The Railway Share Market to-day was rather firmer, though still inactive. Transactions are checke•l by next Saturday, being making up day The closing quotations stood as follows : Caledonian, 611 611 Edinburgh and Glasgow, 61 63. Eastern Counties, 108 101. East Lancashire. 76 78. Great Northern, 948 05 . Ditto A, 79 80. Great Western, 65 654. Lan cashire and Yorkshire, 881 881. London and North Western, 1011 102. Manchester Shel field, and Lincolnshire, 288 29 Midland Stock, 741 75. North British, 35 351. South Eastern and Dover, 724 73. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 788 79k. York and North Midland, 561 57k. PROFESSSOR OwEN.-Our scientific readers will be delighted to find a course of lectures, by this eminent naturalist, at the Collegiate Institution, announced in our columns. SELECT VESTAY.—The polling was resumed yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, but shortly after that hour it was announced that Mr. Flannagan had retired, consequently Mr. Syred was declared duly elected. DELICATE ENQUIRY.—It was understood that one of the borough magistrates was for some time yesterday engaged in investigating a case, in one of the private rooms attached to the police court. One of our reporters was informed of certain rumours connected with the case, but as our usual course is not to publish anything exparte, we do not insert the statement made to him. It may be mentioned, how ever, that the person who made the application (we believe for a warrant to arrest another person on a charge of a serious nature,) resides in one of our most fashionable thoroughfares. We do not say more, until the case assumes (should it do so) the tangible shape which a legal enquiry will give it. The Post states, that the number of armed vessels which Russia snd Turkey are to have in the Black Sea, for the purpose of police and defence of the coast, is not to exceed ten for each power. Turkey, of course, may have as large a fleet as she chooses in the Sea of Mar mora and the waters of Constantinople, and may exercise it in the Mediterranean. It is obvious that ten vessels for each state is the minimum number of ships required in a sea of the magnitude of the Euxine, to prevent its coast becoming the refuge of pirates, and to secure the safety of the commerce of all nations in its waters. The presence of the consuls of England and other powers, in the ports of Russia, will be the best guarantee that this slight armament will not be exceeded. __ THE BLEACH WORKS QUESTION.—On Monday a d epn tation of bleachers from Ireland, consisting of lVfr. Jona than Richardson, J.P.. Mr. William Charley, J.P., and Mr. J. Richardson, from Lisburne, and Mr. Alexander Barklie, from Coleraine; and on behalf of the bleachers of Cheshire and Lancashire, Mr. Charles Howark, from Bolton; and Mr. Hugh Fleming, from Manchester; and Mr. Coppock, had an interview with Sir George Grey at the Home-office. A depntation of operative •bleachers, dyers, and finishers, introduced by Mr. kisklutt, M.P., Mr. M. Chambers, M.P., and Mr...WHINE, barrister, also had an interview with the :rig•it hon. baronet. Th e deputation consisted of Messrs.;John Waring (Bolto n ), Alexander Bing (Glasgow), and C. W. Blatherwick and Stewart Katcher (Manchester.) THE NORTHERN TIMES.—LIVIIIRPOOL, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 18b6 LkTEST INTELLIGENCE, .-.-.......,41,,.........._..-... THE PEACE CONGRESS PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. It has been decided that the journals of the proceedings of the Congress shall be published. The grand banquet intended to be given by the Empror to all the Foreign Plenipotentiaries is appointed to take place on the 12th instant. THE EMBASSY AT CONSTANTINOPLE It is stated, on reliable authority, that there is no truth in the rumours which have lately been Current, to the effect that Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons is about to replace Lord Stratford de Red cliffe as British Ambassador at Constantinople. The gallant Admiral has returned to the Medi terranean to resume his naval command, and there is no reason to doubt but that Lord Stratford will continue at his post as British Minister. THE INDIA AND CHINA MAILS (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDINT.) SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Euxine has just arrived with the heavy portion of the India and China mails. The Euxine brings forty-four passengers and a full cargo. Her dates are Alexandria, March 24; Malta, March 28 ; Marseilles, April 1; and Gibraltar, April 4. FRANCE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING, Can you believe it? There are actually people, and in high official stations, too, who do not think that peace will be ratified after all ! The difficul. ties that have arisen about the organization of the Danubian Principalities, the more arrogant tone which Russia has thought fit to adopt since peace was signed, and the diffiJulty of the Italian ques tion are, however, the only points on which, so far as I can ascertain, this singular belief is based. The Emperor this morning passed a review in the court-yard of the Tuileries, of the division of General Forey which fought at Sebastopol. Rain poured down heavily all the time. It is again reported that measures for woodify ing or.sileneing the French Academy will soon be taken. The speech of the Duke de Broglie on his reception the other day, has given great offence. The expeditions which I told you, some time back, were in contemplation against Madagascar and Kabylia, may be considered as definitively resolved on, and preparations are actively making for them in the different government offices and dockyards. For the former the government will, it appears, demand permission to send troops through Egypt. As to the Kabylian expedition, it is said that the Emperor will not indeed com mand it in person, but make it a pretext for visiting Algeria. The Bourse has been good to-day, and there has been another marked advance in railway shares. The latter is owing to the excellent dividends which the principal companies pay. The choice of the personage who is to represent France at St. Petersburg on the renewal of diplomatic relations, is a good deal spoken of. At this moment Marshal Vaillant, Minister of War, is generally named, and Marshal Canrobert, or Bosquet, is mentioned as likely to be his successor. You will remember that I told you some time ago that Marshal Vail lant is not friendly to the English alliance. It is reported in governmental circles that the Journal des Debats is very anxious to become a government organ, If it should pass over to the Emperor, the unfortunate Orleanists would have good reason to exclaim, "And thou also, Brutus!" A letter from Turin says that the reconciliation between Sardinia and Russia, which have been on bad terms since 1848, may be considered com plete, and that General La Marmora is spoken of as likely to be sent to re-establish diplomatic relations, and to represent the King at the corona tion of the Emperor Alexander. It was, it will be remembered, the Russian Plenipotentiaries in this city who made the first advanoes to the Sardinians. According to- Vienna letters the Austrian govern ment expects to ratify the treaty of peace by the 18th, and it means afterwards to promote its Minister in this city to the dignity of Ambassa dor. We learn from St. Petersburg, by telegraph, that the maritime armistice was published there on the 7th, and that on the same evening it was announced that the Russian ports were once again opened to foreign commerce. By telegraph also we learn that the news of the signing of the treaty of peace reached Constantinople on the 30th, and that the French military authorities fired a salvo of artillery. Also, that the English fleet were expected at Malta, that the French were preparing to give up the Russian embassy, which they had occupied as an hospital, and th at t h e h ea l t h o f the troops was improving. The London and County Bank have annonncad that Messrs. Philip Patten Blyth, J. C. Ewart, M.P., and William Lee, M.P., have been elected directors of that establishment. COPPER MINING COMPANY. —At the annual meeting of the Company of Copper Miners of England, held yesterday, the dividends declared were at the rate of 7i per cent on the preference shares, and at the rate of two per cent on the original stock. APPROACHING MARRIAGES IN RIGS( LIFE.—We under stand a matrimonial alliance is arranged, and will shortly be celebrated, between the Lord Forester and Adela Viscountess Melbourne, widow of the third and last Viscount Melbourne. A matrimonial alliance will also shortly take place between the Hon. G. F. Boyle, brother of the Earl of Glasgow, and the Hon. Montagu Aber cromby, daughter of the late Lord Abercromby. The Vienna correspondent of the Times alludes to some notable changes in the state of public opinion in that capital. The Austrians have ceased to flatter the Em peror Napoleon, and left off abusing England. The apparent desire of the Emperor of the French to ingrati ate himself with Russia, has excited their jealousy and their fears. They are aggrieved also at Sardinia being allowed to take so prominent a part in the Conferences. It is believed that the Austrian Government does not consider a Russo• French alliance beyond the bounds of probability. THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE.-The - first7stonCof this institution, founded in honour of the illustrious duke whose name it bears, for the education of orphan sons of officers of the army and the East India Company's Service, will be laid early in the ensuing month of May ; and we understand her Majesty, desirous of further evincing the deep interest she takes in its success, and her sympathy with those whom it is intended to benefit, has signified her pleasure to take part in the ceremony. It may be desirable to some of our readers to know that the site of the intended building is about two miles from the Military College of Sandhurst, on the Reading and Reigate Railway. FRENCH JUDGES.-It will be remembered that some time ago a mysterious government commission was sent to Tonnerre, to enquire into the conduct of two judges of the court, of first instance there, who were accused of habitually writing anonymous letters, calumniating their neighbours. One of these judges committed suicide while the enquiry was going on. The other, aM. Bresse, was brought to trial on Monday before the Imperial Court of Paris. The trial was conducted with closed doors. No details of the case are therefore known, beyond the judg ment which was given this morning. Judge Bresse is convicted of having falsely and calumniously libelled two of his brother judges, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, a tine of 500 f, and the costs of the trial. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY, The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. Haslingden and Rawtenstall Water Bill, and Southport Water Bill, as amended, were read and passed. Numerous petitions were presented in favour and against the Oath of Abjuration Bill. Mr. KIRK presented a petition from proprietors of works on the River Barrow, complaining of the manner in which petitions were got up against the Bleaching Bill.: Several other petitions were presented against the bill. Several petitions were presented for and against the Medical Profession Bill. Mr. STRUTT presented a petition from Nottingham. praying to be exempted from the operation of the Bleach• ing Works Bill. Mr. MILNER GrnsoN presented a petition from certain firms in Manchester against the bill. Mr. HADFIELD presented petitions from various Dis senting chapels in Manchester, praying that no further grants should be made in Parliament for the purpose of religious teaching in Ireland. Mr. R. PALMER presented a petition against the May. nooth Grant. Mr. APSLEY PELLtTT presented a petition from the Congregational Union of England and Wales in favour of the Dissenters' Marriage Bill. Several petitions were presented for and against the Abolition of Church•rates Bill. ROCHESTER ELECTION, The following members were chosen to serve on the committee to enquire into the late election for Rochester, viz., Mr. Floyer, Sir H. F. Davy, Mr. J. Smyth, Mr. R. Ingham, and Mr. Byng. RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE AND NAVIGATION. In answer to a question from Mr. Thornely, Mr. WILSON said, in explanation of what fell from him on Monday, in answer to a question of the hon. member, he was enabled to say that an Order in Council would be issued this day, removing all restrictions on trade and navigation. BLEACHING BILL. On the 'motion of Mr. I. BUTT, the second reading of this bill was postponed until the Bth of May. OATH OF ABJURATION BILL, Mr. M. GussoN moved the second reading of the Oath Abjuration Bill. He thought the time: had now arrived when this question might be fairly considered, and he urged that lapse of time, and change of circum stances, had put an end to the necessity of the oath. All oaths should be suited to the time in which they were taken, and all unnecessary oaths were injurious to legis lation. The bill which he now submitted to the conside ration of the House, was in every respect similar to that introduced by Lord Lyndhurst, which had met with the approval of the other House. It was a great anomally, that because oaths could nut be enforced, Parliament was to go on year after year, to pass an act of indemnity, to protect from penalties those who could not take the oaths. In the case of members of Parliament, the oath] was tendered before a member could take his seat, and there fore he could not claim the protection of the act of indemnity, and he would ask the house how it was, that of all persons to whom the oath was administered, members of Parliament alone were subject to its penalties ? All admitted that there must be an alteration in the form of the oaths. The Oath of Abjuration had been altered after the death of the Pretender to the successors of the Pretender, and now that the successors were dead, what necessity existed for the oath at all; or, at all events, that part of the oath might be omitted. The words in the oath "on the true faith of a Christian," were not, in his opinion, intended for a religious test, but to prevent equivocati 3n or reservation, and they ought not, therefore, to be used for the purpose of excluding Jews from Parliament, which ought to be done by Act of Parliament, if it were thought necessary. He considered it unjust to exclude Jews from Parliament, but at all events, it ought not to be effected through the agency of an absolete statute. The right hon. gentleman concluded by moving the second reading of the bill. Sir;F. THESIGER said ,it was a great mistake to suppose that, because the Pretender and his successors were dead, the oath' was absolete. The hon. member who brought in the bill, had omitted to mention that important part of the oath, which had reference to the Protestant succes sion to the Crown, in the person of the Princess Sophia. He (Sir F. Thesiger) had strong objections to the oath, and he regretted that at the time of the death of the Pre tender it was not altered, but it was the only oath they now had to exclude a Jew from Parliament. There were many objections to the oath. Many objected to all promissary oaths, The Roman Catholics wished to get rid of all oaths acknowledging the Protestant faith, and the advocates of civil and religious liberty, as they called themselves, objected to the oath of abjuration, knowing it was the only oath that pre vented a Jew from sitting in that House. He believed the right hon. gentleman had been in communication with the Lord Mayor on the subject, and that the object of the measure was merely to allow Jews to sit in Parliament. The noble Lord, the member for the city of London, had taken up the subject, but in a different manner to Mr. M. Gibson, for the noble Lord had always openly - avowed his object to be to allow Jews to sit in Parliament. The oath of objuration was the only protection for the Pro testant succession to the throne, and he warned the House against making any alteration in it. The hon. and learned gentleman concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time this day six months. The LORD ADVOCATE was in favour of the second reading of the bill, because the right hon. gentleman, the mover, did not object to that part of the oath which referred to the Protestant succession, but only to the words, "on the true faith of a Jhristian," and it was never intended that those words should constitute a religious test. Lord Lyndhurst had proposed the omission of the latter part of the oath, as to the succession, and he did not see why that could not, be now done. Mr. NAPIER supported the amendment, remarking that the measure of Lord J. Russell, in 1849, expressly applied to the Jews, but if the measure of Mr. M. Gibson were to pass, it would equally admit infidels into Parliament. Lord J. RUSSELL supported the bill, because there was now no reason to maintain that portion of the oath with regard to the succession of the person calling himself James 111. He understood that the right hon. member was willing to alter the bill, and when they went into committee he (Lord J. Russell) would propose words to the same effect as those which he introduced in his bill of 1854, with regard to the Protestant succession. He referred to the circumstance of there now being a Jew Lord Mayor of London, and urged that there was no ground for excluding Jews from Parliament. The Jew was now prohibited or prevented from the exercise of his civil rights by the operation of a measure never intended to apply to him. He supported the bill of the right hon. gentleman (the member for Manchester), and hoped that it would strengthen the civil and religious liberty and wipe away the last remnant of religious prosecution. Mr. WALPOLE said he should only oppose the bill because it tended to destroy the recognition of the Protestant character of the Legislature. Lord PALMERSTON concurred in the second reading of ,he measure. Mr. DISRAELI wished the decision of the House to be taken on the question, as to whether or not the Jews should be admitted to Parliament. He should vote for the second reading of the bill, and in committee would movo a form of oath, retaining the words " on the true faith of a Christian . ;'' and subsequently he should propose a clause to meet the case of a Jew. Mr. NEWDEG ATE opposed the bill. The House divided, when the numbers appeared— For the motion . .. 232 For the amendment . 197 Majority .. 35 WAYS AND MEANS, The House having resolved itself into a committee of Ways and Means, a vote of £21,182,700 to make good the supply to her Majesty, to be raised on exchequer bills, was agreed to. The House adjourned at six o'clock. ALARMING FIRE IN LONDON.—Yesterday morning, shortly before seven o'clock, a fire broke out on the pre mises of Mr. Ellis, pie house, No. 491, Strand. Mr. Charles Ball, musician, and Mrs. Sarah Hall, were rescued by Mr. Hancock, the inspector of St. Martin's parish, most frightfully burnt, and conveyed to Charing cross Hospital, where they remain in a most precari ous state. The fire was not subdued until the' house litself, and the adjoining houses were seriously damaged. LOSS OF THE LIVERPOOL SHIPS BOONE RANG AND REINDEER. Accounts were received here yesterday of the loss of two well known clipper ships belonging to Liverpool. Th e first is the Boomerang, one of M essrs . James Baines and Co s. She was sent to Mobile a short time ago to bring home cotton, and, on her homeward voyage, she has been lost, with five hands, and a cargo of 4,600 bales on board. The only par: ticulars, at present known, are contained in the followinr, despatch, received from Falmouth yesterday morning The Boomerang, from Mobile to Liverpool, with cotton, was abandoned 27th March. Fi ve seame n lost. The remaind2r were picked up by the Helen K. Cooper, arrived from New Orleans. Captain, c a pt a i n ' s w if e , and seventeen ,_ the crew landed here." The value of the Boomerang, a ll . ' her freight money, would be about £22,000, which is understood to be nearly covered by insurance. Iler cargo would be worth about £35,000. Th e o th er vessel reported to be lost is the Chi na c li pper, R e i n d e er, belong ing to Messrs. Taylor, Potter, and Co., of this town. Fron , a letter forwarded by Captain Storey (the late corninanchrktL dated Port Curtis, Au s t ra li a , D ecem b er sth, it appears that the vessel was wreck e d on a sun k en ree f i n latitude 11 b ' 156 E. whilst on h er p assage f rom Austra li a t o China. lb : crew managed to get on to th e ree f b y mea ns cf the l on g t boat, but the ship wen t t o p i eces w i t h out t h e i r b e ing enabl ed to save anythin g , excep t a very smal l port i on o f provision!. These were soon exp e nd e d, an d th e crew h a d nothing l et but the chance of pickin g s h e ll fi s h o ff t h e ree f. For nin e days the survivors remained on the reef in toe hope t hat same passing vessel would rescue them, but no slch r elief came. On the 6th of October they left the reef in the long boat, in the hope of reaching the Australian coast. f r il l threaded their perilous way am ong th e a djacent isla uus which lay in their route, living on shell fish and Water procured occasionally from the islands. At length, on the 16th of November, they reached Port Curtis, having existed for twenty-ei g ht d ays on t h e precarious m eans subsistence we have mentioned. On landing at Port Car t.- they were so much exhausted with the severe privations which they had undergone, that th e y were scarce ly able privations which crawl along the beach. Th e R e i n d eer was o ne of t— celebrated clippers built by Messrs. Hall, of Aberdeeia. THE MISSING STEAMER PACIFIC ADMIRALTY, 9th April, 1856. The Lords of the Admiralty hava received a report from Captain Dunlop, of H.M.S. Tartar, detailing t he results of the search, undertaken by command of their lordships, for the missing steamer Pacific. Captain Dunlop's attention in performing this service was principally directed t o th e space b etween the O t d h and 65th degrees of North Latitude, and the 10th an 20th degrees of West Longitude. A In order to cover the l arges t space, i t was Lieu !fled expedient that the vessels should separately prosecute the search. The Tartar having a strong S.E. gale in her favour, proceeded as far west as 25 degrees of longitude, in the parallel of .55. When out of the track of vessels guns were fired ev er !, two hours during the night, and the most vigilant 100 out kept night and day. The search unfortunat el y proved ineffectual. Captain Dunlop reports that at 50 deg, 30 min. N '' and 19 deg. 30 W., he passed many outward and hom e : ward bound vessels, two of which he spoke, and be feels very confident that the Pacific cannot be south of the parallel of 53 north latitude, as in that case she wou ld have been fallen in with by some of the traders. No accounts have yet been received of the cruise °f the Desperate, but her arrival at Galway has been re ported by telegraph. Captain Dunlop further reports as follows :—" On the 29th ult. I fell in with the American ship Jacob Badg er ' from Calcutta, bound for London: She is supposed " have run foul of a wreck, and was in a dangerously leaky state, having nearly four feet of water in her hold. She made a signal of distress, and I sent our captain and a large party of men on board, pumped her as clear of water as possible, and as her own crew (24 in row ber) were much exhausted, at the request of the master I put a midshipman and eight men on board, to assist ill navigating her into port. ' , I have the honour to inform their Lordships tha t, according to their instracti&ns, I arrived here las t night, and finding no orders from them, I shall proceed to sea again to continue the search until the period of BIY return to Spithead, as specified in their Lordships' in ° structions." THE CONFERENCES In the memorial, in which Count Cavour brihgg before the mem b ers o f t h e C ongress the grey, , antes of Italy, th e c hi e f i mportance is given to tilt, deplorable condition of the Papal territories. The Independance Beige gives the following a s . the exact words of the portion of the protocol et the sitting of the Congress on the 10th ult., relit ing to the invitation addressed to Prussia :—" C° ll 7 sidering that it is in the European interest that Prussia, signer of the treaty of London, 184 1 : should participate in the new arrangement abou t to be made, M. C oun t W a l ewski is charged, in the name of the Congress, to invite Prussia to cause,_ herself to be rep r e sen t e d b y p l en i potentiar i es a' Paris." A letter from Turin, in the Independance Beige , asserts that the Sardinian Government is at the present moment on extremely friendly terms with Russia. It is added that General Alfonso de 13 Marmora, Commander in Chief of the army o f the East, will be sent to Russia on his return from the Crimea, in the quality of Extraordinary . Ambassador, and will represent King Vi c tor Emmanuel at the coronation of the Emper° l. Alexander. Le Nord thinks that the exchange of ratifications will be effected by the 20th. It is confidently stated that the Emperors of Russia and Austria intend visiting Paris in the course of the spring. It is surmised that their visit may be extended to England—but this I believe is far from certain. The Commission of Austrian and Russian officers charged with the rectification of tlic frontier of Moldavia are at present in Paris awaiting the orders of the Congress t o se t out on their mission. It is said that the Russian Plenipotentiarie s proposed that Count Buol, Aali Pasha, and I\j. de Bourquency should f orm t h e C ommiss i on for the definitive arrangement of the Moldo chian Government, but that proposition was n° t , accepted. It is probabl e th at th e c h o i ce w ill fall on persons who have not taken direct a part in the Conferences. THE CRIMEA_ We have news from the Crimea to the date of the 25th ultimo. From it we learn that the intel ligence of the accouehment of the Empress of the French was well known through the allied canal early on the morning of Monday, the 24th ult, and was received with great satisfaction and enthw siasm. " The races" are the only event of anY importance recorded. The racing was very good. A pony race and the grand steeplechase were won by officers of the French army—the latter by Vl s " count Talon,who is well known on the turf in France' The Russians were not present. It is said that th it absence was caused by a misu n d erstan drig; arising out of a review of the 3rd Di v i s i on h a vin, : taken place a few days previousiy so nea r tli( ;: Tchernaya that the Russian ar m y was oblrg'ec t to be kept on the alert — apprehending an attack. The state of the army is reported to be excellent. Our cavalry is in splendid condition, our artillerY, is perfect, the horses fit f or anyt hi ng, the men cld soldiers, the officers a bl e , zea l ous, and exper i enc ed,' our infantry rapidly improving, leavened by ti le remains of the noble army of 1854, and the arrange" 1 ments of the L an d T ransport C orps so we.l, organised a s t o ensure our mo bili zat i on s h ou ld ' be required to take the field. Peace has been hailed at St. Petersburg with gre at demonstrations of joy. It is generall3 - believed in Paris, that the Congress wi ll terminate its labours this week or the beginning of nel- t ' The journey of the Emperor Nap o l eon t o Al ge ria af i t e t r , the ratification of the treaty of p eace , i s very g enerapj talkeci nf.