The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

THIS DAY 1400 po Layer Muscatel RAISINS, ex Trinidad Prime , :a, from Malaga ; 58 I.Do. 36 7 1 -Do. 20 Cases Eleme Tut FIGS, ex Thessalia, from Smyrr 5 Bales French `";hell ALMONDS, ' l as es Fob...Joh PLUMS, in Botti:., and Boxes. FLErcuEB, & FIRTU, Brokers, Apply to 4, Temple court On account of whom it may concern Tit is DAY the 28th instant, at -Tw at 19, North John-street, 100 Tierces Carolina RICE e o'clock, ia, from Charleston ; in Stanley Dock warehouses MARQUIS, BAXTER & CO kpply to Brokers, TO-MORROW, TO-MORROW, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, 38 Bales Ceylon COIR YARN, 60 Do. Bombay HEMP, 3000 Pieces COIR JUNK. BROWNE, HUNTER & CO., Brokers Apply to TO-MORROW he 29th instant, at One o'clock, at the Brokers' office, Lancaster•buildings, 130 Tons BONE ASH, landing in King's Dock, ex Emilia Julia:from Rio Grande —Apply to Messrs. Rowe, Scribner & Co., Merchants, or to JAMES GORDON & CO., Brokers. On account of whom it may concern TO-MORROW, the 29th instant, at Half-past One o'elock, at the Brokers' office, 14, Fenwick-street, About 100 Bags FLOUR, tx Milan (a.), from Genoa.—For particulars apply to J. & M. HARNETT, Brokers. THi ANNUAL ►SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NORTHERIS DAILY TIMES Is TWO GUINEAS PER ANNUM. EARLY DELIVERY OF THE "NORTHERN TIMES.", '—Any subscriber within four miles of the Liverpool Exchange, or at Rock-ferry, Tratrnere, Birkenhead, Woodside, Oxton, Claughton, Seacombe, Egremont, or New Brighton, who does not receive his copy of the "NORTHERN TIM S," by ightn 'clock will oblige the publisher by addressing a note to him at the office notifying the fact, in order that the Cause of complaint may be 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 uu, and causes delay and some houses is very great at present disappointment to other subscribers 'EVENING EDITION fternoa , RTHERN DAILY at Three o'clock ther with all the News of the tr An Brening MI TIMES is n Published ev .ontaising the Markets, Day, up to the hour of going to Press FFIRST EXHIBITION of the FRENCH SCHOOL of the FINE ARTS in Liverpool, including MAD'LLE ROSA BONHETTR'S GREAT CTURE OP "THE HORSE FAIR," Is NOW OPEN at the Liverpool Academy Rooms, Old Post-office place, Church-street. Admission ls. Catalogues, me►en's Season Tickets,;ss. Ladles' Ditto, 3s 6d.—Open from Ten Fire &clock. 6d. Gentle- B. FRODSHALM, Secretary. E4e ilotern final TMCRSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1866 TN the late Mr. JOHN SADLEIR'S poisoning case as in that recent. brought to light at ldebte the r to the cress and impartiali y of a coroner and a Jury• In SADLEra's case, the Coroner could find nothing which to ground a belief that the deceased was of unsound mind when he destroyed his life ; and with the unfortunate man's own confession of having committed several acts of felony, we cannot understand why there should be any delicacy whatever in carrying on the investigation, and giving the utmost publicity to the actions of a man against whom the crime of forgery has been dis tinctly alleged. JonN SADLEIR, in his letter dated the 16th of February —" To what infamy have " I come step by step—heaping crime " crime—and now I find myself the author of " numberless crimes of a diabolical character, and " the cause of ruin and disgrace to thousands— " aye tens of thousands. Oh how I feel for those " upon whom all this ruin must fall—l could bear all punishments but I could never bear to witness " the sufferings of those upon whom I have brought " such ruin. It must be better that I should not " live—No one has been privy to my crimes— " they sprung from my own cursed brain alone—l " have swindled and deceived without the know " ledge of any one—STEVENS and NORRIS are both " innocent, and have no knowledge of the fabri- " cation of Deeds and forgeries by me and by " which I have sought to go on in the horrid hope " of retrieving." There is no insanity in all this. It merely betrays a natural recoil of mind, when awakened to the infamies of a long career of crime. The gentlemen who appeared on behalf of the deceased and his family, declared that they were unable to prove that he was not in a sound state of mind at the moment he committed suicide. The Coroner said the failure of the Tipperary Bank was a reality, " as was also the forged deed.' We are therefore to infer that the deceased's crimes have ruined " thousands--aye, tens of " thousands." And yet the London Times, in speaking of this particular case, says—" If words "of ours would avail, we would deprecate all further ` and unnecessary prying into the secrets of the family —even by the Coroner and his jury. It " is surely proved that JOHN SADLEIR died by his " own hand, being unable to bear the shame of " exposure, and the consequences of his crimes " What has the public to do with the distracted " letters addressed by the suicide to his relations, "in the last moments of his career ?" What marvellous change has come over the spirit of the dreams of London scribes? There was none of this maudlin consideration in the Rugeley inquiry. Our cotemporary, to give intensity to the " picturesque" in that instance, ventured to publish material evidence, on which the life of a fellow creature was at stake, before it had been brought before the Coroner and his jury, and before the accused had an opportunity given him of rebutting it. So much for the " leading "journal's" sense of justice, and regard for the feelings of the relations of supposed criminals ! In the case of PALMER the crimes imputed were such as one fiendish mind might be capable of conceiving, and one demon hand equal to their execution. But in Span.tra's it appears to be almost impossible that forged deed s , s h ares, and other documents, could have bee n prepared an d negoci _ ated, an " thousands, a ye , tens o f t h ousands, d " swindled and r uin3d, " b y any ono man. It is quite true that SADLEIR had b een a junior Lord of the Treasury, an- 3at the time of hi s death, a was, 1 member memory, and th timbered Estat ditors, itnessc NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28,1856. Commercial c‘artcs. THIS DAY 28th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the rcial saleroom, Temple-court, - - - things to screen his Parliar a ban' searching inv lemands alnent . " Dublin 501 stigati tnd railway I gs of his unfortunate r€ said tha Messrs HAL. Mr. ARTHUR tWE'S and HAMILTON ) together with BUSHE, declare that the deeds relating to the Coolna IA estate are f orgeries Nov, it would be very important to know whether those deeds , ut in in the Coroner for granted that the document alluded to in this letter are all genuir a ii Who c Dufess much whici be denied, confined ;Tries to one estate ? One of the s examined, Mr. JOSHUA WILKINSON, said he had had several of Mr. SADLEIR'P deeds passed through his hands from time to time, but had no reason to believe that any one f those deeds was not genuine." Here it is admitted that there are several deeds in existence upon which SADLEIR raised money, and, after all that has transpired, the public have a right to suspect, with all regard for Mr. WHAKINsoN's t one of ther. is gentlin And as espeet to property in such cases, mites the power of the Court of Chancery with that of the courts of common law, it is hoped that the deceased's transactions will be fully investi gated, that those innocent partie's with whose substance he has been dealing may know the position in which they stand. g Cabinet have shelved Mr. LOWE, staved off his Town Dues' Bill, and vir tually abandoned spoliation! And, as the glories of triumph are measured by hatfuls in these days, we may be pardoned if we claim for Liver- . pool in this instance a bushel s or any other larger measure of honour ! Union and common sense have triumphed in this case, as they must in all others. 'the Burgesses have been fairly repiesented, and their success is proportionably complete. Lord PAL MERSTON se'e's no cause to flinch in prosecuting a foreign war in the interest of humanity ; but he shrinks from a charge of innovation, and finds, in an attempt to violate the compacts existing between the State and the people, with regard to the rights of property, ground upon which he and his supporters cannot tread with impunity. The PREMIER has discovered that the rights of self- government are held in as high veneration in these times as they Wet() in the earliest periods of our Constitutional history ; that centralisation cannot be accomplished without running into dangers which no sane man would face ; and that that which is purely German will be rejected as wholly un-English. Looking at these convictions as the results of the discussion of the Town Dues and Police Bills, the importance of the triumph we have just gained may be seen in its full significance. It shows us that where Ministers are more than usually adventurous the-sacred rights of property cannot be infringed, and the fundamental principles of equitable legislation and Constitutional govern ment violated at will. To have accomplished such ends by moral means is one of the greatest efforts of which the expresssion of popular opi nion is capable. And to have changed the course of Cabinet rendered, by the peculiar circumstances of our times, more powerful than any other who have held the reins of office within the memory of the present generation by soft words, which never presented more than the f reason, is indeed a victory of which lay well be proud. Where a Cabinet )r an anchor required weight to sink it, Mr. LOW} would be the gentleman, of all others, we should call in The right honourable member is all right enough as au ordinary citizen ; but he has too much official craft for a statesman, and has not yet studied the art of doing a trifling act of justice an indelible injury. Mr. LOWE without inflicting has, however, been sent "up stairs," as it is tech. nically termed, together with his Bill, where it is to be considered, and where, we trust. Liverpool will be fairly and fully represented. When a Select Committee is appointed to inquire into our right to property which we have enjoyed for years, the battle must again be fought. We must repeat before that conclave that simple and straightfor ward story which the Legislature cannot disregard without openly subverting the whole of that security on which the fundholder, landed proprie tors, parishes, corporate bodies, and the holders of Bank of England notes rely with well-tried confi dence. That Lord PALMERSTON did not see the danger of Mr. LOWE'S centralisation schemes, and interpose before, has been a source of as much surprise as regret to the whole community. f r T thheePremier has , session s w, t , a e v t e r d off ust t t hh at t questionlittle cool reflection will convince him of the propriety of adhering strictly to the long-established policy that where property is interfered with for the pub lic good, full remuneration should be given to its owners. All the Anglo-Polynesian logic that can be employed will never induce the people of this country to sanction any other mode of dealing with the substance of its c iti zens ; and to this' hallowed instinct let us hope the present Govern ment will subscribe before they bring Mr. LowE's bill " down stairs," and attempt to thrust it a second time on the attention of the British House of Com_ Let us have any territorial changes abroad, mons and political reforms at home that may contribute to the common weal, but let us respect the bit of land that belongs to the cottage, that domain which is attached to the ancient mansion, those commons which belong to the people, that estate and those manorial rights which the inhabitants of corporate towns have obtained by grant or purchase, and those ephemeral securities of the widow and or phan, who have nothing to sustain them beyond the political rectitude of our rulers and the high morality of the community. The people ask for no spoliation, and the public voice protests against interference with the rights of property for Govern ment or political purposes. If we had a more extended Corporate franchise, and less of the monopolising spirit which, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade was candid enough to admit, existed before the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, the Corporate towns of England would not be found complaining more bitterly now than they did when Old Sarum had reached the zenith of its corrup tion. If we are to have municipal changes of any kind, commence the work of Reform at the right end, and do not, under a hideous mask, lay hands on property, and enrich the Exchequer of Patronage by acts of cruel injustice. Once more, we congratulate Liverpool on her triumph, and having succeeded in sending Mr. LOWE'S bill aloft, we need only, for the present, reiterate the propriety of the ratepayers looking closely after it to ensure its being consigned to an ignominious oblivion. ...,.11) COMMERCIAL MONETARY LtYtRl , OOl., WEDNESDAY t'FUN!Tqci e Cotton Market continues steady, with a supply at full prices, The sales to-day amount to 10,000 bales, and include 3,00 Q taken for speculation and ekport. The Liverpool Share Market has been e4sier to day upon the decline in Consols, and the very heavy rates of continilation oil shares.. The specu lation having been very considerable for the Dividends, and the prospects Of peace, the account turn* out a largely over-bought one, and, generally speaking, in rather weak hands. Prices close flat ! Aberdeen, 12113. Chester and Ilirkebhead, 14 14. Caledotlian, 28, 2t t. Cheater abet toly head, l 2 13. Eastern Counties, V A t 91. East Lanca shire, 18 181. Great Northern, 231 241. Ditto A. Shares, 10 101. Great Western, 594 60. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 82 82/. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport,, 15 15k. London and North Western Stock, 1011 102. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 241. Ditto Preferdiide, 11. M. Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., p. Midland Stock, 701 71. North British, 7,1 711.. North Staffordshire, 6.1 61d. South Eastern, 191 198. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 191 19f. York and North Midland, 26f 26a. Leeds Capital Stock, 151 151. Dutch Rhenish, 11-16 p. Ditto New Shares, 2 3-16 2 5-16 p. Great Western of Canada, 26 24. Ditto New Shares, 83 3a p. Great Luxembourg, 94- 9 d. If anything were needed to show the utter care lessness of the ministry at.present in power, and their supreme disregard of investigating the neces sity for, or bearing of the measures they intro duce into Parliament, the ,conduct of the Govern- Ment with respect to the " Local hues on Shipping Bill," has filled up the hiatus. The Vice-Presi dent of the Board of Trade had so clearly made a mistake in drawing up his bill that it was quite evident that the attempt to force it through Parliament would not succeed, and Lord Palmerston has once more shown the discretion of the well-bred dog, and saved himself from being positively beaten by the vote of the House of Commons by withdrawing the bill. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the time of Parlia itient will not be frittered away in useless discus sions of the crude and ill-digested measures intro , - duced by the junior members of the Government, AS in the present instance. Accounts from St. Petersburg state that the Em peror of Russia has authorised the Minister of Finance to issue seven new series of Treasury bills for the sum of 21 millions of roubles, equivalent to 1-'3,150,000 sterling, valuing the rouble at 3s. These several issues are to be numbered from 37 to 43 inclusive. The four first to replenish the Imperial- Treasury, and the three last to be exchanged for the series numbered 12, 13, and 14, circulated in 1848. The current interest for the series No 87 to commence from the Ist February ; 31 on the Ist March ; 39 and 40, Ist April ; and for 41, 42, and 43, on the Ist May, 1816. Other accounts from Russia, by way of Hamburg, mention that the Emperor has given his sanction to a law for the purpose of establish ing new maritime tribunals in the ports and other towns on the shores of the Baltic, the White Sea, and the Caspian Sea. No mention is made of similar reforms in the ports of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azoff. mode . ' The Special Commission appointed by the Spanish Cortes to examine the new measure of Senor Santa Crut, the Minister of Finance, for levying an indirect tax, instead of the octri duties, appear to agree on the several points of the question, according to the last accounts from Madrid. The prospectus of a new joint-stock bank has been just issued. The title is the "West Metro politan Bank." The capital is fixed at 300,0001., with power to increase it to 1,000,0001. The board of directors is highly respectable, and is headed by the names of Viscount Torrington and Sir Herbert Maddock, M.P. The Board of Trade returns for the month ended on the 31st January last have been published to-day. It appears that the total declared value of the exports during the month was 7,974,7861., against 6,464,7961. in the month ended the sth of February, 1855- The increase has been chiefly in the exports of alkali, coals, cotton yarn, earthen ware, haberdashery and millinery, linen manu factures, machinery, iron (bar, bolt, and rod), silk manufactures, wool, and woollen manufactures. Cotton manufactures entered by the yard show a decrease, which is a rather unusual feature in these returns. On the stock Exchange yesterday Consols closed The following were the closing quotations : Caledonian, 57. N 571. Eastern Counties, 0 0-16 9 11-16. East Lancashire, 72 73. Great Northern, 051 Nil. Ditto A., 801, 81k. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 82 821. London and North Western, 1011 1021. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire, 2-11 25. Midland Stock, 7q-, 70k. North British, 20 30. South Eastern and Dover, 64} 0-4. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 77 78. York and North Midland, 521 53k. The Queen has been pleased to order a conge d'elire to pass the Great Seal, empowering the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Carlisle to elect a Bishop of that See, the same being void by the death of Doctor Hugh Percy, late Bishop thereof ; and her Majesty has also been pleased to recommend the Honourable and Reverend Henry Mon tagu Villiers, M.A., to be elected by the said Dean and Chapter, Bishop of the said See of Carlisle. FIRE AT STOCK PO RT.—Between twelve and one o'clock on Tuesday morning a fire broke out in the works of Messrs. R. Gordon and Co., iron founders and engine builders, Stock port, A building of great length and three stories high, containing valuable lathes, tools, and patterns, was con siderably damaged, the roof and pattern room being des troyed, and the machinery generally much injured. The loss is estimated at upwards of £5,000. The property is insured. THE EMPRESS EUGENIE AND THE STAR CROM—YOU Will doubtless before this have learned that the Empress of the French has received the order of the Star Cross (Stern-Kreuz Orden) and a letter from the Empress- Mother, Carolina Augusta, but the official organ will hardly publish the imperial epistle, although it must have made an extremely agreeable impression on the Emperor Napoleon. You have frequently been told that the rela tions between France and Aust r i a were f ar mo re inti mate than was generally supposed, and the information which will now be given is well calculated to remove all doubt on the subject. When it was settled that Count Buol should go to Paris, his Majesty the Emperor wished . to give his brother Monarch some striking proof of the hi g h consideration in which he held hi m , a nd it was thought that this could not be better done than by treat ing his consort as if she had been of imperial or royal descent. The Stern-Kreur is Only worn by those ladies whose pedigree has, during a :Jng series of years, been without spot or blemish, and it was resolved that this high order should be presented to the Empress of the 'Trench. In order that the impression produced on the imperial pair might be the more agreeable, the badga of the order in brilliants was accompanied by a letter from the Empress Carolina Augusta, who is a Protectress and Superior of th e I nst i tution. in which it is said that the attention has been shown "in order to consolidate the intimate relations already subsisting between the two families." The other parts of the letter were of little moment, but the passage quot e d appears most significant, when it is considered that it was wr i tten at the express desire of the Emper or F ranc i s Joseph.—Letter from Vienna. DARING ROBBERT.—One of the most daring robberies that has taken place in Glasgow for a considerable time was perpetrated on Wednesday in the head office of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Bank. About th ree o ' clock in . the afternoon, a young man, employed in the counting.. house of a respectable firm in the city, entered the bank to "retire" a bill due by his employers for 251/ odds. He proceeded to the teller's table and commenced counting the money in the usual way. 2501 of the money was in notes, which, being counted and found correct, was laid upon the table. The balance was in silver, to count a pound of which he, without the slightest necessity on his part for so doing, retired about a yard's length from the table. He had just done so, when a man, who had no doubt been watching all his movements, stepped between him and the counter, and, accosting him, very innocently asked him " What bank is this ? " The young man politely answered the question, which was no sooner done than the interrogator pulled from his top-coat pocket, a pocketbook, which con tained what appeared to be a small parcel of 1/. notes. Drawing one of the notes from the parcel, he showed it to the young man, at the same time asking him what bank he should take it to. He was told that it was a Commercial Bank note, and he might take it there if he chose to do so. He then put the note in the pocket book, and coolly walked to the door. Turning to the table with the pound of silver the young man missed his notes. Thinking the teller might have lifted them, he asked him if he had got them, and being answered in the negative, suspicion that he had been robbed by an accom plice of the party who had asked him the questions at once crossed his mind. He asked several of the by standers if they had seen any one lift the money, and, receiving answers in the negative, he immediately ran to the door, but of course neither thief nor accomplice could be seen. Informati on was i mmed i ately given at the various police stations, but nothing as yet has been learned as to the perpetrators of this daring theft. FRANCE. (FROM 01:131 OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, TuEsbAls The AeCtet of the Vonferences was eO well kept yesterday that, even at a late hour at night, very feW people, indeed, knew that an armistice (of Which it ha+c 'cent you news by telegraph, and which, I presume, must have been dnnounced in parliament last night) had been concluded in the course of the day. The fact was made public in the Moniteur of this morning, in these terms The first meeting of the Congress took filao4 !tlresterday, nt the Hotel of the Ministry of Foreig - ti Affairs at one o'clock, and the sitting lasted to half-past four. It wan agreed that the armistice shall be concluded between the belligerent armies, and that it shall formally cease on the 31st March next. This ar mistice be without effect on the blockade established, of to tie, establi6hed, "It will be ob served that the 'official journal does not say that the armistice has been concluded between the belligerent fleets; but no doubt, as the French say cela va sans dire." From the delight which the bulk of the Parisian population manifested at the prospect of peace, it might have been expected that the Bigning of au armistice would have been hailed with acclamations of joy; but nothing of the kind has been observed anywhere. Indeed to speak truth the conviction in peace is not quite so firm to-day as it was yesterday. This may seem strange, and almost incredible, in presence of the signing of an armistrice ; but so it is; though no reason can be given for it, except the proterbial fickleness of the French. Even on the Bourse, where siti itiitnense multitude flocked, expecting an enormous rise, there has been a general fall in all securities. Not only are the plenipotentiaries pledged to solemn secrecy on all that may take place in the Conferences, but most extraordinary precautions have been taken at the Hotel of the Ministry of Affairs, to prevent any one even the highest dignitaries from knowing what takes place. It is therefore with some hesitation that I communicate to you what .t hate heard of the proceedings yesterday, because, naturally, I am unable to guaraiitee ita truth j but it comes to me from a quarter to which, on °Hi_ nary occasions, I should attach the highest im portance. It is this :—When the question of the armistice was brought forward—but with the express condition that the blockade in the Baltic and the Black Sea should not be raised—Count Orloff insisted that it would be grossly unjust to impose any such condition on an armistice; for, said he, Russia has little or no need of an armistice by land, but she has need to have her ports relieved from the blockade ; and he argued that the Allies had no right to take just what suited them, and to reftse What happened to suit Russia. Lord Clarendon firmly insisted that the armistice should be accepted with the proposed condition, or that none at all should be granted. Count Orloff replied, and after an argu ment in which some heat was displayed on both sides, the Count yielded. If this be true, it is, it must be confessed, an awkward commencement of the Conferences. Squabbling at the outset does not augur unani mity at the end, unless it be " unanimity to differ.' The Conferences, or as the Moniteur (erroneously) calls them the Congress, have not held a sitting to-day, and Lord Clarendon has profited by the day's holiday to take a long ride on horseback. According to the Journal des Debats, the Plenipo tentiaries are not seated at the Conference table in the alphabetical order of their respective countries but (in that in which they were presented to the Emperor : thus, Lord Clarendon is on the right hand of the President (Count Walewski), Count Buol next to him, Count Cavour next, Count Orloff next, and Aali Pacha next; whilst Lord Cowley is on the left of the President, Baron Hub ner next to him, Marquis de Villamarina next, Baron Brunow, next, and Mehemet Djemil Bey next. The Constitutionnel says that Count Walewski opened the proceedings with a speech ; that the plenipotentiaries then decided the form in which their proceedings should be recorded, and that then the respective powers of the plenipotentiaries were examined. I am credibly informed that the Emperor, per sonally, has determined on not allowing the affair of the Constitutionnel and the Moniteur to rest where it is. It was, I am assured, his Majesty himself who ordered the article of the Siecle to be repro duced in the Moniteur, and that the story of a mistake having been committed, by taking one article for another, is, it is added, quite unfounded. The article the Emperor ordered to be printed in the Moniteur was printed, and no other. Hence his Majesty is in huge indignation at the Consti tutionnel presuming to say, that the reprint of the article had taken place "by error," and he insists that some more severe punish ment shall be inflicted on it than the dismissal of an editor. The Constitutionnel, however, has powerful friends, and it is not known how the matter will end. _ _ All the accounts from Sweden say that the probability of peace is looked on with alarm and indignation in that country. P.S. All the political salons favourable to Russia are ringing with complaints of the " severity" of the armistice. This, as far as it goes, is a sort of confirmation of what is said above of the discussion in the Conferences yesterday. A dejeuner was given to the Plenipotentaries last evening, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he proposed a toast—" May the negotiations be brought to a happy conclusion." THE CRIMEAN COMMISSIONERS The Warrant by which a board of general officers is appointed to investigate the charges against Lord Cardigan and others, contained in the reports of Sir John M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch was on Tuesday laid on the table of the [louse of Commons by Lord Palmerston. The general officers named in the Warrant are—Lord Seaton, General M'Mahon, Sir John Bell, General Rowan, Earl Beauchamp, General Peel, and General linollys. All the officers are well known as men of experience and judgment. Of Lord Seaton it is needless to speak. Sir John Bell is an officer of great experience and sagacity, who obtained very considerable reputation in the Quartermaster-General's Department under the Duke of Wellington. Under the direction of Lord Seaton, who is to act as President, there is every reason to expect that the inquiries of the board will b e conducted with skill and impartiality, and the whole case ably summed up and clearly stated. The advisers of the crown have judiciously counselled her Majesty to name no officer to act under the warrant who has served in the Crimea. Any officer who has at any time formed part of the expeditionary army might have been liable on the one band to suspicions that he might be conscious of shortcomings of his own, and therefore disinclined to press hard upon the accused ; on the other, that be belonged to a minority disappointed at not having been consulted, and therefore disposed to regard what has been done with a jaundiced eye. The course pursued by the board of investigation will be nearly as follows. The letters of Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan, which have already been published, will be laid before the board. Statements from Sir Richard Airey and Colonel Gordon will next be read. The board will then proceed to the examination of evidence. Sir Richard Airey and Colonel Gordon have indicated the witnesses they wish to have examined. These have already been telegraphed for, and will arrive in this country in the course of a fortnight—before the board can be ready to .examine them. It is to be presumed that any officers, or others, now in the Crimea, whose evidence the board may deem calculated to throw additional light on the subject of investigation, will b e mad e forthcoming with equal promptitude. We have authority to state that the Military Court of Inquiry about to be held in reference to the Crimean report will be perfectly open and public,. and that it will be invested with ever y form which can give solemnity and value to its proceedings. The object (of the Government is simply to ascertain the truth of certain grave accusations against officers of high rank contained in the evidence taken by Sir John M'Neill and . Colonel Tulloch, and by them submitted to the War Minister.—Globs of last night. ABSCONDING OF A BANKRUPT CHARGED WITII FRAUD AND PERJURY.—On Tuesday information was forwarded to the different metropolitan and city police stations, that a merchant named John Claus, of Liverpool, had absconded, being charred with e mbezzling part of his estate and effects, and also with the offence of perjury, in wilfully and cor ruptly giving false evidence upon his examination before the court of bankruptcy. A reward of £5O will be paid to any person or persons who shall apprehend the said bankrupt. He is supposed to be secreted in the neighbourhood of ths Strand or Fleet-street. LATES 1 1 INTELLIGENCE. --40-- THE CONFERENCES, PARIS, WEDNtgVAY There has tech no Congress held to-day, and the sitting will not be held until to-morrow (Thursday), in consequence of some arrangern`ents which were required to be made for the comfort and conveni ence of the plenipotentiaries in the interior of the building 111 C 7 c h they assemble. It is understood that in future the Confer ences will assemble three days' a week, namely, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; the intervening days being required for the arrange• meet and drawing up the minutes of the proceed- _ y ~ _ -~~ PRUSSIA Despatches dated Berlin, the 26th instant, state that the intelligence announcing the brief duration of time for which the armistice has been concluded at the Paris Conferences, had been p'raductive of a discouraging effect in the Prussian capital. SARDINIA A despatch from thitini dated the 26th mentions the departure on that day of General de la Marmora. SWEDEN STOCKHOLM, FEB. 27 A commission, consisting cf officers of engineers, with the Crown Prince fir its head, has been appointed to devise plans for the fortification of Stockholm, and Mallear, and to consider proposals for the defence of the kingdom. THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The only quotation Nve have to record to-day is the following :—Three per Cents., 7M. sc. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. ,p...-- (FROM OLTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SOUTHAMPTON. FEB. 27 The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamship Tagus, Captain Weeks, with the usual Peninsular Mails, arrived here this morning at twelve o'clock. Her dates of sailing are Gibraltar, Feb. 18; Cadiz. Feb. 20; Lisbon, Feb. 21; and Oporto and Vigo, Feb. 23. The Tagus brings 36 passengers and i 5 pack ages of specie, ♦alued at £5,874 She also brings on freight 80 packages eggs ; 6 casks wine ; 324 boxes oranges; 30 boxes dates; 291 bags chesnuts ; 2 casks brandy; 2 cases plants; 172 Elephants' teeth ; 4 cases indigo , and 25 packages sundries. Of miscellaneous intelligence, the Tagus brings nothing of importance. During her voyage she experienced variable winds, and serong gales from the N. and W., and from the E S.E. On the 26th instant, off Ushant, at 2 p.m., she passed the screw steamer Charity, steering up channel ; and on the 22nd, off Belem Castle in the Tagus, she passed the Peninsular and Oriental steam-ship Sultan, steering up. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE GIBRALTAR, Feb 14.—Schooner Hero, H. M. Clanahan, 38 days from Liverpool, with bale goods and iron. Feb 15, —Steam transport Kangaroo, 4i days from Malta, in bal. last, for Liverpool. Feb 16—Schooner Galleovidian, F. M'Clachrie, 33 days from Liverpool, in ballast. Portuguese brigantine Milagro, J. A. Rodrigues, 30 days from Liver pool, with coals. Feb 17—Steamer Karnak, H. Dubbins, 12 days from Alexandria, and 6 from Malta, general cargo for Liverpool. HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS AT GIBRALTAR.-The Ariel, and transports Nos. 240, 140, 209, and 215. The steam trans port Ripon arrived, and sailed again on the 18th for Malta, Sce.; and No. 140 (the steamship Charity) sailed for Eng land on the same day. AT LISBON.—The St. Genrge, floating battery Glatton, and the steamship Europa, No. 55. THE COURT The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and attended by the Hon. Mary Bulteel, Major-General Bouverie, and Captain Du Plat, visited the Z3ological Gardens in the Regent's-park on Tuesday morning. Her Majesty and the Prince, with the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice, honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence in the evening. In attendance were Lady Churchill, Lord Waterpark, Major-General Bouverie, and Captain Du Plat. APPROACHING ROYAL VISIT.—MS Majesty the King of the Belgians intends to leave Brussels the week after next, in order to visit her Majesty and his Royal High ness Prince Albert. It is said that his Majesty's sojourn will not exc?ed six days. The Queen and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort have signified their intention to dine with his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge on Friday next, at the royal duke's residence at St. James's Palace. REPRESENTATION OF SLIGO.—Mr. Knox, the conservative candidate, has withdrawn his pretensions for the representa tion of Sligo in favour of Mr. Huddlestone, the eminent barrister, who first became known to the electors from hav ing been professionally engaged in connection with the petitions complaining of former returns for that borough. DESTRUCTION OF A CHURCH BY Flux.---During the night of Saturday. the church of St. Paul, Over Tabley, near Knutsford, was completely destroyed by fire. The fire was first discovered about twelve o'clock, at which time the roof of the chancel end had fallen in, and by one the whole fabric was a mass of flames. Nothing but the bare walls are now standing. The origin of the fire is supposed to have been in connexion with the heating apparatus. The church, which had been open about a twelvemonth, was not insured. SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL.—WEEILLY REPORT, FEB. 27, 1856. —ln patients :—Discharged : cured, 14 ; relieved, 1; at own request, 2 ; irregular, 0. Dead, 2 ; entered, 18 ; under treatment, 71. Out patients : cured, 49 ; entered, 45 ; under treatment, 50. Treasurer, James Houghton, Esq. Visitors, Rev. J. Robberds, and S. Martin, Esq. Honorary chaplain, Rev. D. T. Barry, B.A. Physicians and surgeons for the week, Dr. Cameron, and Mr. Minshull. House surgeons, Mr. Charles Royston and Mr. R. C. Garland. LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT.— (Before Mr. Com missioner Perry.)—lN RE J. CRIPPIN.—The bankrupt applied this day for his certificate. He was supported by Mr. Dodge, and Mr. Evans appeared for the assignees. His Honour said that there were two circumstances in the case which called not only for censure but some punishment at the hands of the court. The first of these was, the making by the bankrupt of a settlement on his wife at a time when he knew that his affairs were not in a position to justify him in doing so, and the second, the fabrication of two vouchers for the receipts of the Rock-ferry, of which he was one of the lessees, within a certain time. There was no proof, it was true, that those vouchers did not represent the correct amount of the receipts, but nevertheless the circumstance could not be overlooked. On these grounds, the certificate should be suspended for twelve months, without protection for the present, and should be of the third class. DISSOLUTIONS OF PARTNERSHIP.—P. Morgan and I Marsden, Macclesfield, Cheshire, machine makers. J. H. Blakenay and S. Owen, Huyton, Lancashire, chemists. J. Lee and W. Lee, Great Bolton, Lancashire, cloggers. J. Bolton and E. Bolton, Yeadon, Yorkshire, cloth manufac turers. B. Smith and Jane Smith, Manchester, licensed victuallers. John Lund, L. Lund, E. Lund, G. T. Lund, and Jonathan Lund, Heywood, Laecsshiro, cotton spinners, so far as regards G. T. Lund. H. Taylor and A. Webster, Manchester, manufacturers of laces. W. Barton, E, Barton, a n d J. ll:Scott, Sheffield, Yorkshire, merchants. R. M. Bouch and A. Bouch, Liverpool, general warehouse man. T. H. Barker and J. Purchon, Leeds, Yorkshire, auctioneers. J. Kelly and T. W. Waters, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, 'bookbinders. H. S. Butterfield, J. Butterfield, W. Butterfielu, H. I. Butterfield, and F. Butterfield, Keighley and Bradford, Yorkshire, and New York and Philadelphia, United States, worsted manufacturers, so far as regards H. I. Butterfield and F. Butterfield. M. Stephenson, sen., G. Stephenson, T. Stephenson, M. Stephenson, jun., and E. Stephenson, Ossett, Yorkshire, manufacturers, so far as regards M. Stephenson, jun. ••• I IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY The SYEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock. PRIVATE BILLS. The following private bills were read a second time:—' The Pournemouth Improvement and Pier : Mid-Sent Direct Railway (Bromley to St. Mary's Cray) ; and Ludo Diocesan Church Building Society Bills. PETITIONS. Several petitions were presented against the Borough II County Police Bill. Mr. MOWBRAY presented a petition from the corporation of Purham in favour of the Police Bill. Mr. O. STANLEY gave notice that to-morrow he would:, ask the government whether the board of officers appoint ed , to inquire into Sir J. 31‘.1•Tei11's report would be an open or closed court COUNTY AND BOROUGH POLICE BILL. Sir J. WALMSLEY asked the Secretary of State for the; Horto Department, on what day the government scalp proceed with the Police (Counties and Boroughs) Bill. Sir G. GREY said, that he intended taking it on Monday provided the army estimates progressed sufficiently on Fridal to allow him that day; if not, he would then name a day °>l ' wh;ch he would proceed with it. CONTRACTORB' DISQUALIFICATION REMOVAL BILL. Mr. MniiiiELL, on moving the discharge of this order, dwelt upon the unfairness of excluding members of the house from the fair field of competition in contract ; offered by the Government. At th e same t i me he found that there were so many objections to the bill that be begge d to withdraw it, more especially as Mr. Ricardo had gived . notice for a committee for a full i nqu i r y i n th e w h o le WO' of contracts. Mr. T. DuNcomna said that if this bill had beet' persisted in he ehould have moved that it b e r ead iw sacond time this day six months. He had now much mo re pleasure in seconding the motion for discharging the order., So long as the bill was got rid of he was not ve ry particular about the means by which it was accomplish e d ' Slaughter.) Mr. WALPOLE said it was necessary for the house to keep itself clear not only trom corruption but from th e appearance of corruption. He approved of the e Ollll l adopted in withdrawing the bill, and d rew a dietiocue between simple contracts entered into with the Governmelt departments, and contracts thrown open to public cogr petition. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thought Mr. Mitc • heU had exercised a sound discretion in withdrawing the It wag not desirable to make any alteration in the existiq law relative to contractors, and if the bill had been persie th in he should have toted against the second reading. thought the Parliament of 1783 acted wisely in passing t" .. : act which it was now propos e d t o re p ea l. Th a t law ig'w certainly open to two objections : Ist, that the 11 was sometimes inoperative in conseq uence o f evas i o n ; 2ndly, that sometimes a member entered into a contracio and forfeited his seat unknowingly. There was some fore!: in each of these objections. but they would apply to eui . penal laws; and he did not see that they were importan enough to warrant any alteration in the law. Clear, bearir The right hon. gentleman pointed out the manner in whie loan contractors were not liable to the act of 1783, , 311 expressed an opinion that the decision of the co mn3ltte r appointed last session to inquire into the matter was a Or° red one. Arer some remarks from Mr. WALrov, Mr. Mr. HADF.ELD, Mr. Efaxint, and Mr. NEWDEGATE, the bill was withdrawn. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE QVAL/FICATEON RIM Mr. COLVILLE, in moving the second reading of this o't said he wished to extend the qualification of justices Of tp: peace to persons possessing £3OO a year in personal prorti: or who were in receipt of pensions to that amount from tow" government or the East India company. He would all , enable county court judges to act as magistrates in virtue e r their office. He was aware that persons not possessed o ;'' . landed property could by a sort of hocus pocus arranger: oll . 4 become 'notices of the peace, namely, by obtaining fr°,7. some friend a rent charge to the extent of £lOO a year, tu" amount required by law. Mr. DEEOES thought the hon. member had failed to giL l an adequate reason for so important change—that Of 613 : e stituting personal instead of property qualification for IP magisterial office. At present, it was not necessary that property of a magistrate should be in the county in whi ch he acted, but it was clear that a magistrate who had a P r „7; perty qualification would be much better acquainted w", the matters with which he would have to deal than gentleman having £3OO a year, or a pension, who wen, down into the country to enjoy himself, and who had 0° real interest in the county. The bill would greatly increal the difficulties of lord lieutenants, who were greatly presse by gentlemen desirous of being placed in the commission 0 ' .the peace. Sir G. GREY thought there were many cases in whic h iG would be advantageous to extend the qualifications of gistrates. At present it was not necessary that a gentler:o; should have property in the county for which he acted a! _ magistrate, and lord lieutenants in malting their selec tion looked for residents. He did not pledge himself to the details of the bill, but believing that there should be e li a extension of the qualification, he should not o pp ose the scale reading. g i ve lord Mr. b EVELYN objected to the bill, which would lieutenants a power which they might exercise very rrd i ti i: dicially towards the counties, more especially when a 1 3 ' ° tical pressure was put upon them. Mr. KEIL SEVMER said there were many persons 103(f had £lOO a year in land whom he should be very sorry t,°, l see acting as county magistrates. Ile thought the bil l absolutely necessary, for we were a locomotive people, 5 ' 3 4 it frequently happened that no magistrates were to be fa% to conduct the petty. sessions. Some persons objected t_ clerical magistrates, b u t h e could assure th e h ouse that IP many districts they were the only persons who could be found capable of acting. Mr. BASS approved of the bill, and saw no objectio°l respectable solicitors being admitted to the commission by the peace. He would not admit as magistrates persons Wer e practised at petty sessions as so li c it or s, but there A , many conveyancing solicitors who were eminently q ualid; Mr. RICE said he should support the bill under s° ll3 modifications. Mr. Hth ADFIELD did not see why so li c it ors Bho- ba excluded from the magistracy ; but he would not Per 93 o them to practise in the Courts in whi c h th e y a do' ly magistrates. The profession of a solicitor ernine rlt fi a qualified him for the discharge of judici a l dirties ° " be he could see no valid reason why they should excluded. Mr. BANBES thought the bill would require much CO 1 "; sideration in committee. The duties of the magist i r tiel o , could not be too often discussed i n th a t h ouse , and ;iv one who acted in that capacity would be jealous of st l i e . investigation. If attorneys and solicitors were to o f excluded, it must be don e i n a manner w hi c h wou ld 0 cast any reflection upon th a t i m p or t an t body. (ue-4r, hear.) Mr. T. DIINCOMBH thought solicitors would be emiue nfli g qualified for the magistracy, more partic u l ar ly in seal% disputes between masters and men. Whenever work went before stipendiary magistrates they were satisfied with the decision, which was not always the e' with county magistrates. Again, in p oac hi ng cases, tbt, county magistrates decided in their own favour, a tempta tion that ought to be removed. rto Mr. W. EWART said, that in Scotland there wa 9 , e r property qualification for the magisterial office, and he i i _ n e. o r found that it occasioned any difficulties. He was in fa m e, of the admission of solicitors to the discharge of such (NY - t o If such an office as sheriff in Scotland could be extended England, he believed it would be of great advantage• imu se Mr. LASLETT thought th e on ly ohject of the - 1 "; be should be to obtain efficient county magistrates, an u oo thought solicitors well qualified, especially those e cl merely practised in Chancery su it s , an d w h o were pesge-„s he of large fortunes. With regard to clerical ma 2 istrate g h o was enabled to say, that i n the di s t r i c t s with °f e re he was most intimately acquainted, if clergym2o ; oft disfranchised, there would be no magistrates at all. (' hear.) Mr. MuNTz agreed that when matt ers were br°l4l o vi before stipendilry magistrat es th e i r decisions jti genera-1v satisfactiry, but at the same time he Iv a g ee favour of an unpaid m a g i s t racy , an d he would rat her the county magistr a cy ex t en d ed than have recourse stipendiary magistrates. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to committed on April 16. ANNUITIES BILL. ria The CHAN CELLOR o f the EXCHEQUER moved the s e -,enc'es6 reading of this bill. Ile had no doubt as to the c trree7be, of the decision o f th e committee of last session ; lleverti;rlo- less he could no t s h ut his eyes to the fact that g—vrere men of great weight and authority in that house o vlf subject to the present state of the 'law, and it was viae right that they should be cleared. /I° „ the unwilling to press the house to an y d ec i s ion ° n .elf principle of the liability of loan contractors prelliruc.To'secl or without duo consideration. Th e course he P rn i r ev ing to take was to introduce in com m itt ee a c l aus e r, ei ' the subscribers to the existin g l oan, s i mply declar'vr; tbio eou they should not be liable to any penalties under the o r tractor's Act. That course could not be held to thr" vi f lot reasonable doubt upon the decision of the committe e Zture' session, while it would p rov id e sat i s f actor il y for mouldpro- If the house was prepared to take that course he t pose the clau se i n committee. The bill w as t h en read a second be time, and orde red ° committed. CONSOLIDATFD FUND BILL. wag read The Con so lid ate d F und (£1,631,005 ls. 5d.) Bi ll - a second time. EXCHEQUER BILLS FUNDING BILL This bill was read a second time. COURT OP CHANCERY (IRELAND) EMT , _ 0 4 . 1; 1 1 On the motion of th e S OLICITOR G ENERAL for I" 00' it was agreed that th e comm i ttee on th i s bill shall l c )a pd of seventeen membe rs (i nstea d of f i fteen as suggeste's:r 1. that Sir Fitzroy Kelly and the Solicitor General Bethel]) be added to the committee. the This being th e w h o l e of the business o n the par"' &cue adjourned at ten minutes before two o'clock.