Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-26 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1859 LATEST TELEGRAMS. THE WAR IN ITALY. F RANCE AND HER FOREIGN RELATIONS. The Independence asserts that, communications, if n ot protestations, have been addressed by Russia to t he Preach governmen t, on th e occu p a ti on o f Tuscany b3 ' a French army. It also stated that, the Austrian tabinet has succeeded in establishing a better u nderstanding with the Court of St. Petersburg. The 11 °Pe of establishing a really intimate alliance between P rance and Russia is not at present very strongly e ntertained by the French cabinet. Russia does not 4 PPear disposed to disregard a traditional policy to the Fr government in tiwar of neutra since the English declaration of neutrality the drench governm t he nays ,nt have ceased to engage men for TußiN,AVednesday —The official bulletin announces the death of the King of Naples, and that Francis t he Second has ascended the throne. The proclama tion published at Naples of the ascending of the throne of Francis the Second is countersigned by Signor °rah,. BERN E, Wednesday.-2,000 Austrians are at Ca- in fore nents and artillery nierlata, waiting for Q ftribaldi is expected yesterday, his advanced post was at Malrete Como, from Varese, BERNE, May 25.—1 t is reported from Lugano, that General Garibaldi, with his 5,000 men, has barricaded himself in the town of Varese, but is anon. The Austrians .posted in the n eighbourhood of Varese are, on their side, provided , with artillery,.and a fight has commenced. Without BERNE, Wednesday May 25th.—Revolutionary movements have taken place in Lombardy, Bon temps, the Swiss general, is going to-day to Lugano With the staff of his division, and all the troops under his command are to follow him. Moniteur of Nu's, Wednesday, May 25th.—The this morning publishes the following telegram ALESSANDRIA, Tuesday, May 24.—The wounded at the battle of Montebello have been brought to t his town. The Austrian prisoners have been sent to Genoa, whence they will be forwarded to Mar- Before their departure, the Emperor distributed money ammfg them for their relief." N i. - kItSEILLES, Tuesday, May .24.—The Prisoners have arrrived here Austrian DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS . WITH NAPLES. The Post announces that England is about to send, 431.1 a mission to Naples, Sir James Hudson. Prance and Sardinia are about to send diplomatic authorities to the new Neapolitan Court. THE PRINCE OF WALES MADRID, Tuesday, May 24.—The Prince of Wales has received distinguished homage at Grenada. It 18 asserted that Queen Isabelle is enciente. THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, Wednesday,ll.ss 61.30, and are now 61.35. 12.40 p.m —Rentes commenced —The Bourse - opens flat ; Rentes, 3 .56 p.m.—A further fall of 7- has taken place in 4 entes, which are now quoted 61.10. PROGRESS OF TIIE WAR. (FROM THE " TIMES' i" CORRESPONDENT.) AUSTRIAN HEAD-QUARTERS; MORTARA, May 17. • The Austrian force south of the Po has been again diminished. Probably the great demonstration on Friday and Saturday had a three-fold object—to to a smaller body to establish themselves there, 4 , 1 " n reconnoitre, and to oblige a considerable body of the invaders to watch the movement. These are n ewin force close to Casale, and also as far east as , eghera. They have a stone bridge at Casale, so t he swollen state of the Po wi l not prevent them f rom crossing, if they wish to do so. The French a nd Austrian outposts have commenced their a cquaintance in a civilised manner. The former yesterday came down towards the Po for water, bear Cornale, where the Austrians first crossed, making signs to these to explain their peaceful ° Nect. A white cloth was waved, and they a dvanced. When they had filled their buckets t hey ~._ threw up their caps in token of thanks, and Went through a good deal more pantomime, which s eems to have been well exrcuted and sufficiently i n,xplanatory, for the Austrians are to - day talking of see 11l with great respect, and congratulating them selves on havino• one noble enemy. Of the Pied lpirl,'lentese, I must c 'acknowledge they do not so speak. T he attempts of the latter to seduce Austrian so ldiers from their allegiance are certainly not c hivalrous, nor can any cause, good or bad, gain by its a dvocates calumniating its opponents. Now, the t he do circulate reports disadvantageous to " Austrians without inquiry into their truth. For Is z tstance, they accuse them of extorting 300,000 f. [,!' Bl oni Vercelli, and an immense quantity of leather. a Siecle had this story, and I suppose the Eng -1,4 papers, yet I am assured, and I believe most 4111 Y, that not one farthing has been demanded from any town. Indeed the system of obtaining supplies ~8 so carried on that such a thing could not happen. '° individual is asked for anything. The munici 'Nay (commune) of each town or village is made answerable for all. To it are addressed all requisi tions for whatever they may be, and these are made 011 printed officially stamped paper, and must be signed by a certain appointed person. The t hings required are rations and forage and I neans of transport, the horses and carts 41 all cases being returned. The army lives on the enemy to a great extent, it is ! I , l e, and such has been the system pursued by a nything every army ; but there is no extortion of 4 7 1 ,Ything beyond the means of living. At Voghera, government store was found, and of course refl. At Cassine di Stra, a few miles . west of L ercelli, General Gablens took, from an armed party ' s ti charge of them, 50 bullocks. These were given ‘e the municipality of Vercelli, to lighten the burden ell that town. This proves that only what is neces rrY is demanded. No convoys of provisions have een sent to thee ast of the Ticino ; on the contrary, . good deal still comes from there, because the t jedtriontese took with them all they could. Of this 'ley say nothing. The Siecle has likewise printed, ig commented violently on, a proclamation said to h ave been issued by Count Gyulai to the town of Pi acenza. He has not issued any proclamation to that town. The governor of the fortress has a ",: n. ned the people inside the citade l t hat the y under martial law, and has explained what o ne i s pre tty muc h the same here as elsewhere. more canard I must expose. A gentleman Ig said to have been seized at Vercelli and threatened with death if his brother did not shut or the water from the irrigated land! The extreme absurdity of this will be appartnt when I tell you that each rice field is surrounded by a ditth at a lower . level, or else a succession of rite fields at different levels adjoin each other. The water is constant l y flowing, the requisite depth (a few inches) being maintained by a bank of earth about two feet thick round the field, so that one man with or even without a spade could drain a whole dis trict in a day. That the Austrians have spared these rice fields hitherto may be owing to several consideratiens. They may do so out of hu manity, they may want the ground to remain _ ,ble, . or they may intend to stay in the country till the rice grows. They expect the French daily, however, to come and make good their boast, and try to drive them out of Italy. The Emperor Napoleon cannot remain inactive long. He has undertaken a war of conquest, so he must advance, whether east into the neutral territory of Parma, or 'north, you will probably know from Turin sooner than I can inform you. I must not tell you the position of the Austrians more exactly than to say that the mass of the army is between this and the Po, ready to defend itself if attacked, or to move swiftly on the flank of the invader should he endeavour to pass. The French are under one decided disadvantage. They must act so as to keep up the excitement of the Parisians, often attempting. feats of more show than utilty, for mere theatrical effect They must undergo the disappointment also of finding themselves deceived as to the feeling of the population, as they most assuredly have been. The health of the Austrian troops continues excellent, but few cases of fever having occurred yet. I fear both armies will lose thousands upon thousands though, should they be here in the Lomel lina in July and August. The poor natives suffer impassa terribly, and are iii consequence pale, miserable looking creatures. They are much to be pitied, spending their lives in such a swamp, and working for bare subsistence, all the rest of the produce of their labour enriching some Milanese or Turin nobleman. Then the taxes necessary to keep up a large army, and give promotion to these noblemen's sons, are most onerous. The very beds, tables, and chairs are taxed, the consequence of which is, that the houses are almost unfurnished. The beds, by the way, are enormous, much larger than the old English four posters. This the Austrians find a great luxury, and no wonder if one thinks of the Vienna shelves, 5 feet by 2 feet 9, with the counterpane just an inch larger each way. That a people in such a state of abject poverty as this one, can wi-1 for a war is not possible. The upper thousand do, and the townspeople of Turin, and Genoa of course, as she reaps a rich harvest. There have been several skir mishes between patrols. The Hungarians utterly despise the Piedmontese. Six men of an Hussar regiment stationed here were patrolling a few days ago ; having gone as far as they wished, they were returning along a dam with inundated fields on both sides, when they found drawn up to bar their 'retreat, a party of 30 Piedmontese Lancers. They charged right through them, and got away with the loss of one horse and one man wounded. If this kind of thing is tried with the French the result will not be so agreeable. The Piedmontese have set a rumour afloat that the Austrian soldiers are kept in igno rance as to who their enemy is, and made to believe it is only Italians. How can any one believe such nonsense ? A burgher of this town has been con victed of trying to induce a Hungarian to desert. He aid this in a most stupidly compromising manner, sketching the road to Cassale in a pocket-book. The Hussar seized him and his pocket-book and map. As the Piedmontese have been systematically tam pering with the Austrian soldiery, in defiance of the usages of civilised warfare, and as this man told the Hussar that five or six others were engaged in the same dangerous occupation, it seems a necessity to make an example,, particularly as the Austrians have already pardoned one spy. Still such is the kind heartedness of Count Gyulai that I dare say the man will escape. The man shot at Biella by the Sar dinians was a native of Pavia, who had gone to Biella before the war began. He had no mission from the Austrians, but undoubtedly did mean to give them the information he was acquiring, May 19. —The head-quarters are going to be moved to Garlasco this afternoon, as that town will now be more central, the army having gradually adproached the- Po, as the French have appeared in strength on the other bank. As the Turin papers continue to assert that the Austrians levy heavy contributions of money, and of other things, to sell again, I have taken the greatest pains to discover if there is the slightest foundation for the statement, and I can positively assure you that there is not. They have lived on the enemy's country to a great extent, but beyond the merely necessary they have demanded nothing. They have not even destroyed any stores which may be useful to the invader, and, as I before informed you, they have left the rice fields inundated, wten a few hours' work would have rendered the country barren, so far as that crop is concerned. Just beyond Vercelli Count Cavour has a large farm, well stocked with cattle. The Austrians have spared this. Now, I think this one circumstance is a conclusive prof both of the moderation and the discipline of the Auitrian army. Count Cavour is so detested by the peasantry (or rather the serfs, for there is no peasan try) of this country, that many officers were urged by them to sack or destroy this farm ; and I believe that almost any other army but this would have done so in a similar case. The people of Mortara are loud in their praises of the Austrians, and some even in prayers for their success. This is much owing to he pardon of their townsman, who got into trouble for trying to induce soldiers to desert; much may be hypocrisy, too, but still some real change of feeling has taken place, and they acknowledge that they were wil fully misled as to the character of the Austrians. A person writes to the Siecle from Genoa, saying that he saw at Alessandria sixty Austrian prisoners without shoes, and scarcely clothed. As only four have as yet been taken prisnners, this statement gives rise to suspicions of a deliberate system of deception ; suspicions confirmed by the inaccuracies contained in the official bulletins published at Turin. I think, however, that the mere proneness of all Southern nations to exaggerate, explains all, or nearly all the canards that have been circulated. That the 17th and 18th Piedmontese Re g iments from Casale, thought themselves opposed to 3,000 or 4,000 Aus trians, trying to cross the Po at Frassinetto, on the 3rd instant, cannot be wondered at, because the 900 Austrians really there, did all they could to create this belief. That an imaginative person in Genoa should believe he had seen 60 half-naked German prisoners at Alessandria, is equally natural. He had probably been told the true story, viz., that one German had been taken prisoner by 60 Italians. This took place at Voghera. Three hussars had been pushed forward beyond that town, and were return ing through it, not knowing that in the meantime their friends had abandoned it, and fallen back, when they were attacked by a number of towns people in the streets, and one of the three severely wounded and taken prisoner The Siecle corres pondent forgets to mention that the other two cut their way through the whole town. That they were able to do so proves clearly, I think, that the mass of the population, even at Voghera, are not much in earnest in their warlike feelings. General Zobel's corps abandons Vercelli to-day, and destroys the bridge there over the Sesia. The Piedmontese light troops advanced step by step as he withdrew his outpost s, bu t no serious skirmish even took place, though the day before yesterday one of the General's' aides-de-camp had two horses shot under him in a few minutes. The electric telegraph is to-day finished through the head quarters of the different corps d'armb, and by two routes to Vienna. Nearly all the bread for the army is now brought from Lombardy. The out posts beyond Piacenza have been considerably rein forced, and the French driven out of Bobbio. I should not wonder if the French tried to slip across the Apennines, and enter Lombardy between Mantua and Piacenza. This would display the lightness and other qualities of the new French cannon. Mr. St. John Mildmay arrived here to-day as Commissioner from the British Government. I am exceedingly glad of this, because now there will be a person thoroughly unprejudiced who will confirm my statements about the treatment of the poor people of this country by the Austrians. PROCLAMATION OF PRINCE NAPOLEON IN TUSCANY. The following proclamation has been issued by Prince Napoleon to the Tuscan people : . Leghorn-roads, on board the Heine Hortense, May 23, 1859. Inhabitants of Tuscany,—The Emperor sends me into your country, on the demand of your representatives, to make war upon your enemies, the oppressors of Italy. My mission is exclusively military. I am not here to occupy myself, and I shall not occupy myself, with your internal organisation. Napoleon 111. has declared that he has but one ambition, the triumph of the sacred cause of the enfran chisement of a people, and that he will never be influenced by family interests. He has said that the only object of France, who is content' with her present power, is to have on her frontiers a people which shall owe her regeneration to her. If God help us, and give us the victory, Italy will freely constitute herself; and, being hereafter counted among nations, she will render the balance of power in Europe more secure, Remember that no sacrifices are too great when independence is to be the price of your efforts, and show the world, by your _ union, moderation, and energy, that you are worthy to be free. The Prince Commanding-in-Chief the fifth corps of the army of Italy, NAPOLEON, (Jerome.) The plan of the campaign about to be underta'ken by Prince Napoleon is said to be to march throng! the Duchy of Modena; and thence either to Venice or Milan, where he will meet the Emperor Napoleon. It is alleged that the invasion of Modena cannot be considered as a violation of neutrality, inasmuch as the Duke of Modena has protested against the entrance of the French into Italy. ^O.-. -- - THE BAT [LE OF MONTEBELLO. OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL FOREY. The Paris Moniteur contains an official report of General Forey, Ist division First Corps d'Armee, transmitted by Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers. The report, which relates to the battle of Montebello, is as follows : VOGITERA, May 20, 1859, Midnight.- chal,—l have the honour of giving you battle fought this Being informed, at half-p - ast twelve this afternoon, that a strong Austrian column, with artillery, had occupied Cas teggio, and driven back from Montebello the outstanding pickets of Piedmontese cavalry, I immediately hastened up to the front, by the Montebello road, with two battalions of the 74th, destined to relieve two battalions of the 84th cantoned along this road in front of Voghera, on the Madura Monsieur le Mare- account of the day by my division eminence. Meanwhile, the rest of my division took up arms, and a battery of artillery (the 6th of the Bth Regiment) marched at its head. Arriving at the bridge thrown across the brook called izzo, the extreme limit of our front posts, I caused a section of artillery to be placed in battery, supported on the right and left by two battalions of the 84th, lining the brook with their sharpshooters. • During this time the enemy had pushed on from Monte bello to Ginestrello, and having been informed that he was coming against me in two columns, one by the high road, the other along the tramway, I ordered the left battalion of the 74th to cover the causeway at Cascina Nuova, and the other battalion to advance along the right of the road, behind the 84th. This movement was hardly over when a brisk fire along the whole line was opened between our sharpshooters and those of the enemy, who was marching upon us, and sup porting his sharpshooters by the heads of the columns issuing from Ginestrello. The artillery opened fire upon them successfully; the enemy replying to it. I then ordered my right to move up to the front. The enemy retired before the ardour of our troops, but perceiv ing that I had only one battalion to the left of the road, he sent a strong column against it. Thanks to the vigour and firmness of this battallion, commanded by Colonel Cambriels, and to sonic fortunate charges of the Picdmontese cavalry, admirably led on by General de Sonnaz, the Austrians were obliged to retire. At this moment, General Blanchard, followed by the - 98th and a battalion of the 91st (the two others were at Oriolo, where they have had an engagement) rejoined me, and received orders to proceed to the relief of the battalion of the 74th, charged with the defence of the tramway, and to take up a strong position at Caseina Nuova. Reassured on this side I again threw forward my right, and took, not without serious re:istance, the position of Ginestrello. Judging, then, that by following with the bulk of the infantry the line of hill tops, and the road with my artillery protected by the Piedmontese cavalry, I should the more easily capture Montebello, I organised my columns of attack under General Beuret's command, in this way : The 17th battalion of chasseurs, supported by the 84th and 74th, disposed in echelons, moved on towards the south side of Montebello, where the enemy had intrenched himself. A hand-to-hand combat then ensued in the streets of the village, which had to be carried house after house. It was during this fight that General Beuret was mortally wounded by my side. After an obstinate resistence, the Austrians were forced to yield to the vigour of our troops, and although strongly intrenched in the churchyard, this position they saw snatched from them at the point of the bayonet, amid cries of " Vive l'Empereur," a thousand times repeated. It was then half-past six. I deemed it prudent not to push the success of the day any further, and halted my troops behind the rising ground on which the churchyard is situated, covering the brow with four guns and numerous sharpshooters, who drove back the last Austrian columns into Casteggio. Shortly after this I saw the Austrian columns evacuate Castee•gio, leaving in it a rear •guard, and they retired along the Casatisma road. I cannot adequately praise, M. le Marechal, the energy of our troops this day ; all the officers, petty officers, and soldiers have rivalled each other in ardour. Nor will I for get the officers of my staff, who have ably assisted me. I shall have the honour of addressing to you later the names of those who have particularly distinguished them selves. I do not yet know the exact amount of our loss ; it is great, especially in superior officers. I estimate it approxi matively at 600 or 700 men, killed or wounded. The loss of the enemy must have been considerable, to judge by the number of the' dead that have been found, especially in the village of Montebello. We have made about 200 prisoners, amongst whom are a colonel and several officers. Several tumbrils have also fallen into our possession. As for myself, Monsieur le Marechal. I am happy that my division has been the first engaged with the enemy. This glorious baptism, which recalls one of the great names of the Empire, will mark, I hope, one of the series signalised in the Emperor's order of the day.—l am, with respect, Monsieur le Marechal, your most humble and obedient servant, the General commanding the Ist Division of the Ist Corps. FOREY. P.S. According to information brought to me from every side, the force of the enemy cannot be below fifteen to eighteen thousand men ; and, if I were to believe the reports of the prisoners, it would far exceed this amount. • POLITICAL ITEMS. POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.—The usual full dress Parlia mentary dinner by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which take place the day before the delivery of the Queen's speech, are announced for the 6th June. Earl Granville and Lord Palmerston give political dinners to members of the opposition on the same date. The Times remarks that if, on the restoration of the Liberal pasty, they could agree upon a simple and moderate measure of reform, they might pass it, but this opportunity once neglected, there is small chance indeed of its ever recurring during the period of an European war. The Daily News, touching on the same subject, says that Eng land demands such a measure as will at least last one generation, and not a scheme adapted for the convenience of dependant counties and rotten boroughs. THE PAPER DUTY. —Measures are to be taken to bring the question effectively before the new Parliament. W e understand that since the last meeting, large accessions t o the committee have taken place, principally consisting of manufacturers and commercial consumers. Some of the great linen houses of the North, who are larger consumers of papers than many of our extensive printers, have giv en in their adhesion, and will actively co-operate to remove the last remnant of the taxation on articles of native produc tion. 14Yeman. CONFERENCE OF LIBERALS. - - A conference of Liberals was convened, in the Chtiendon rooms, yesterday, for the purpose of considering the propriety of memorialising the Queen in favour of the extension of the sphere of selection of ministers and officers of state charged with the affairs of the Government of the country. Among those present, were—Messrs. Robertson Gladstone, J. R. Jeffery, Laurence Heyworth, J. T. Danson. J. i Corbally, Richard Sheil, John Smith, James Steele, John Dignan, J. B. Aspinall, barrister; J. Ronalds, Haylock, A. C. Stewart, Hughes, Bolt, Hobbs, &c., &c. The attendance was rather thin at the commence ment of the proceedings, but grew more numerous as they advanced, and towards the close the room was nearly filled. Mr. J. R. Jeffery moved that Mr. Robertson Gladstone take the chair. Mr. Gladstone took the chair amid loud applause. The Chairman said: Gentlemen, I regret that an hour better suited to meet the convenience of others was not selected for the purpose of holding a conference upon a subject which, I think, you will all admit to be of incal culable importance, especially at the. present juncture. This meeting, I hope, will be regarded as preliminary only to a subsequeut one of a much more extended attract( (Hear, hear.) The circumstance of the probabl • tion or departure from office of Load Derby coadjutors at a very early period, forcibly to the necessity for our doing our duty, so far as we have the power, to prevent the country from being placed in the position which it has more than once occupied, when her Majesty the Queen has been lef in the midst of doubts and difficulties as to what part e resig ,eems to parties she should apply to for the purpose of appointir4 successors to those who were leaving their office. (Hear hear.) Now it appears to me to be a matter, not only o necessity, but in itself consistent with what is rim} part as good citizens, and stillbetterpatriots, provide for an emergency which is likely, I fear, to befal us under such circumstances—that of being left to the tender mercies of Lord Derby, Lord Palmerston, and Lord John Russell, as the only fit and competent parties who can undertake the responsible duties of advisers to her Majesty the Queen. (Hear, hear.) Now, as I regard this country, I take it and its people to be a nation of manufacturers and traders, because, when the corn laws were repealed, the agricultural interest, which ought never to have had an isolated position for itself, then at least ceased to possess any such claim; and when the corn laws were repealed, 1 conceive that, with that circumstance, along with that very important change, the aristocracy, as a separate body, ceased to have any claim to national dis tinction. (Hear, hear.) In point of fact, with the advent of free trade the aristocracy ought practically to have retired from pnblic life. The sources of revenue, I contend, in themselves displace them, to a certain extent, from the exercise of high political privileges. The gross revenue of the country for the year ending the 31st of March, 1858 was £66,243,293. Of that sum £41,186,357 were levied in the as on sq ar, coffee, tea shape of customs and excis beer, spirits, and other articles, all of which are of nec essentially requisite, not only for the comfort, but most o them for the preservation of the lives of t' the working people. (Hear, hear.) these individuals, again, contribute to the rE the income-tax. The expenditure, in that year, was £68,277,501. Of that sum £28,627,103 went to pay the interest and charges upon the national debt. Now, when we come to deal with this subject, as I hope we shall do )n, we shall, no doubt, look vast numb flue througi upon a future °cc back carefully to the past history of the country think, we shall be able to trace during a v period of years, the utter incompetency o time to time, have been the rulers and governors of the nation, by reason of their total ignorance of its requirements and necessities, and moreover, from a total want of sympathy with those who constitute the working classes. (Hear, hear.) Now, I have no fear that those who may upon a future occasion address you, will have any difficulty what• ever in producing instances to satisfy the minds of all men that the statements I have made are in principle correct; but upon the present occasion I would merely base my argument, as a justification for our meeting to-day, upon the single instance of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Disraeli. Gentlemen present will bear in mind that on the hustings in Buckinghamshire, Mr. Disraeli was reminded by one of his audience, who appeared to hare a much more accurate and correct idea of pounds, shillings, those w and pence than our presc amount of the national debt, which we thing about 800 or 900 millions of money remembered that, when that subject was men Disraeli, he is reported to have made somet Chancellor, of the immense may take as some- It will be , . reply : " Why, 800 millions of money, if owed by an industrious and free people, is a flea-bite." Now, I would respectfully ask practical men of business like ourselves, most of whom have either earned, or are at this moment earning, our own subsistence by the means of our own exertions, whether a Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has the manage ment and the fingering of the moneys of the country, is a fit and proper person to hold office, whilst he entertains the opinion that the sum of eight hundred millions is a mere flea-bite? (Hear, hear.) It may be said that Mr. Disraeli is not one of the aristocracy; but when we conic to discuss the question in full, I think that we shall be able to shew that, although there are some instances of individual members of the Government having originally sprung from the middle-classes, yet, so far as I can understand, it would seem that they have no sooner obtained a certain position for themselves, than the aristocracy lay violent hands upon them, and make them some of them selves in soul and in spirit; or, if they show resistance, they may rest assured, whoever the individuals may be who are so circumstanced, that the day of their prosperity is over. (Hear, hear.) Now, I entertain individually no ill feeling whatever towards any man, or class of men ; lont I say, first of all, that the aristocracy are not entitled to the monopoly they at present enjoy of Government appointments ; and, moreover, that they have, as a body, from time immemorial, opposed, more or less, all reforms—(hear, hear)—and I put it to the meeting, and respectfully enquire whether the prophecies which have from time to time gone forth as to the fallacies attaching to certain schemes and proposals subsequently (fortunately for us) . become law - whether these prophecies were false or true ? If it could be shown—as was very well and forcibly remarked in one of our local journals—that they are a superior body of men—that, although cradled in ignorance of the darkest and deepest character, their whole lives spent in thinking of themselves alone, and nobody else—if it could be shown that they are more able, more energetic than others, and better entitled to pre-eminent distinction—if they could show all this, I for one should be satisfied. (Hear, hear.) But I contend that the reverse is the case ; that we learn from them no virtue which we do not already possess; that neither morality 'nor frugality are features in their character one bit more, if so much, as they attach to other classes of society. Therefore, I require to know how it is they are put forward as pre-eminently entitled to dis tinction ? I would ask this meeting, what would this coun try not have gained if the late Mr. Hume had been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, or had had the con trol of the monies of this country ? (Hear, hear.) Was it the opinion of Mr. Hume that 800 millions of national debt are a flea-bite ? (Hear, hear.) Was that his policy ? If it was not his policy we now know that it is the policy, the opinion, and the sentiment of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Hear, hear.) We know that the interest of the national debt amounts to something like half the gross income and revenue of the country. Are we to be told— we who, by our enterprise and industry, contribute, through the articles which we as merchants and others import, to the amount of forty odd millions, that we are unfit as a class —I speak not of individuals—that we are unfit as a class to hold official appointments ? (Hear, hear.) We earn the money—we run the risk. The various articles we produce, the large amount of 'money we circulate through the country testify to our industry and energy, and I want to know by what right or reason the class of society to which we belong should be precluded from being placed in a high position ? (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I think we owe it to the middle classes especially, that we should state what our opinions are, in a manner that cannot be mistaken. The practical men of business ought not to be excluded from office. The question is undoubtedly a matter of some difficulty, because the appointment of the ministry, we all know, will be claimed as the prerogative of the crown ; and even if we agreed to a memorial, I fancy it would very likely be thrown under the table or returned to us, because the present government certainly will not allow any such document to reach her Majesty. Well, then, we may be driven to some other means, but I hope we shall not be discouraged by that circumstance ; for I think that the time has arrived when we should no longer allow, without an effort upon our part, the middle classes to labour, as at present they seetn to do. under a stigma or opprobrium—a sort of oppro brium which they do not merit; and, in point of fact, which perhaps will be best described by that passage in Holy Writ, which says, " For promotion, coming neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south." I (Hear, hear, and applauie.) Now, with these few remarks , upon 'this very important subject, as I consider it to be, I will leave the matter in the hands of other gentlemen, who, I hope, will be prepared to express their opinion so far as they are able to do at the present period of the matter. (Applause ) I Mr. Jeffery came forward, and proceeded to say that, at that hoar of the day, as the chairman had said, their time vim excessively valuable, and it was most desirable that they should not be detained longer than the time neeessary to give utterance to the objects for which they had met. The present period in the history of this country, he viewed as the most critical, more so than the country had ever had to undergo. It was, therefore, their duty not to remain si'ent, but by public meetings to express, their-opinions on the condition in which the country was placed. Peace had now bean allowed to reign for a period of forty years, and during that tim e thy had gained many advantages from peace, as it had greatly improved them as a commer cial people. It had given them more wisdom, and made them both better and wealth ier, as well as More moral men, so that in same degree they could Boast as a nation that they were worthy . of imitation. by their continental brethren During that time they had improved both socially and poll but in reference to their foreign pol'cy, they had the s me. ela , ss appointments that they had during the la:.t cen tury, and during the conduct of the long bloody war from 1793 to 1815. They they had in th same pry'. eeresy, the same 'falyrandism, Now, that these thins existed in the present day, as they did since the first I the Constitution, what were they to do to IC The choirman had spoken truly with regard to I dy them Majesty' oice of advisers. They were too limited. She had only to select from, and these were Lord Derby, Lord John 11, and Lord Palmerston. He had said, they had that ly they had advanced very considerably, but bad hey carried their commercial practice into the government f the country ? Tie asked any merchant, whether he were commerci: T, if he were in want of a clerk. b • cashier, where would they go to look for one, but into . thi open market? and when he had found one, and he did not suit did he at once send for the discarded one to come back again and allow him to take up the reins where he had left them No such thing, but he again goes into the open market, m endeavours to find one . suitable to his mind. But h liiesty did not do that, for if Lord Der send fur, was the luesti nd if be said who w WOUla Lord Derby send for Lord would Rus ell, •in inning office y rilinclt gad p altered his views, his opinions, or his policy, and in selecting his colleagues ,select the same men with whom he held office before; and when he lost the confidence of the [louse of Commons, the Queen might have to send for Lord Derby T , ain ; or circumstances might require that Lord Palmerston should be sent for, who probably had been Lord John's immediate predecessor but one, but that was all she could do. Now, he would thould she so limit herself in her choice desirable that she should do so, or was it for the of the country ? He would allow 'then lswer the question themselves, as he did not thin' interes it desirable to take up much of for he knew a one would k, why Was r time at that meetin was a meeting which called them t .vertisemen suit out of it. That drawn up a resolution. which was to th "That opinion of this meetin desirable that their opinions should `4 a memorial, to be p Majesty, and that a committee be appointed to carry out the object mentioned." He merely moved that res with the purpose of withdrawing it in ( had anything more to the purpos The end and aim which he had in view was as a subsituio for it t, of a they were not to be involved in the tumult that raging on the continent. He wou towns in the kingdom, they had the best right to be heat . . the continuation of peace. Some would - iemember the declaration of peace in 1815. What was the position of Liverpool then ? He had taken considerable trouble to make a comparison with that date and the present. He found that, at that time, the population was about 100,000 ; now the population was half-a-million. The dock revenue was then £77,000 ; now it was £348,000. Their tonnage then was 710,000 ; now the tonnage is four and a-half millions. lie took it, that such an altered state of things was to be attributed to peace ; from their hying been at peace with all the world, that they had had nothing to consume but their yearly expenditure. He feared there was a disposition on the part of the ruling powers to lean towards Austria, but what had Austria done for the freedom of mind, and the hnilrlincr of iustitu thins such as in this country, that she shoud call furl their sympathies on her side Tie wodld say, let the tongue of Po . the answer to that question .nose, and say what would be It might be said, could any- would say, nothing could be expected from him more than from Austria, but Sardinia had thought proper to say, as had been properly remarked in a pictorial publication, that Austria was about to pick her eyes out, and she had submitted her port ; but, as he understood, the negativ application of Sardinia, and she had done as England would have done, she sought an alliance elsewhere The answer was simply, that she only followed the example of Great Britain on a similar occasion. At the period of the Crimean war, England had done what Sardinia had now done. He hoped it would never be written in the history of this country, that it had taken the side of Austria in this great contest. But if the old state policy were to be con tinued, what had they a right to believe would be the result? The old policy had been maintained under a pretext, for the preservation of the balance of power, which was nothing but a phantom and a bugbear. They had to look back to the past as a matter of history and fact. It was their duty to look back to the past, to see what they should do in future, and take the lessons taught as a warning, and see that they did not adopt the same course. He agreed with the chair man, when ho bad said that, those within the aristocratic circle were not to be the exclusive parties to whom was to be committed the affairs of government. But he could not think there was any fear of an invasion, for he thought the Emperor had his hands sufficiently full to teach him that an invasion would be madness. He believed that he would do anything in his power to effect a conciliation. He concluded by expressing a hope that at a future and an, early day, a meeting would be called for the same purpose as had occasioned the calling of that one, and that it would not be without influence on the country. (Applause.) Mr. L. Heyworth in seconding the resolution, said he was given to the thought it was necessary tor tnem to nrse nave a emntuiLLee for the arrangement of their thoughts and their views on a matter of that natnre. He thought, when there was a motion for reform in the House of Parliament to get men to represent every class in the commnnity, he could not see why they should not have Ministers interested in trade. If there was one great class in the community, it was the class of merchants and manufacturers, who had spread the country's greatness from pole to pole, and from east to west, and had made themselves looked upon as the greatest people of the earth. He concluded by seconding the resolution. Mr. J. B. Aspinall said he had been requested to move the appointment of a committee, and he could not help saying that a more important movement than that was likely to be, if it were well carried out, as things originated in Liverpool generally were, it would be impossible to conceive. He entirely concurred, with a slight qualification, in the remarks which had been made by the chairman, in opening what he might call the case. (Laughter.) The chairman had, perhaps, omitted a word which he (Mr. Aspinall) might supply. He said the time had come when the aristocracy ought to retire from public life. He (Mr. Aspinall) would say that the time had unquestionably come when the aristocracy ought to retire from a monopoly of public life. (Hear, hear.) 'With that addition to the observations of the chairman he was satisfied that there would be out of doors, a very strong feeling indeed upon the subject, and a general concurrence of opinion that the time had come—indeed had come long ago, when the middle classes had a right to a share, not only in the House of Commons, but in that body which was rapidly becoming essentially legislative as well, although it had hitherto been common to call them merely the servants of the Queen—the ministers of the crown. (Hear, hear.) It was quite time that there should be a due extension of power, and of position, to that class who were most deeply interested in maintaining the prosperity of the country. (Hear, hear.) It was quite time that the aristocracy should enter into as fair a competition as could be imposed upon them —and fair competition was all the middle classes wanted — with the mass of the people and the trading classes, they would always be largely represented in the government. (Hear, hear.) It was impossible to suppose that men who, in their early life, had such advantages if they chose to use them—who had such opportunities, earlier frequently than commercial men had, of applying themselves to the study of politics—it was impossible to suppose that they would not, even if they entered into competition, occupy some place in the government of the country. (Hear, hear.) But it was a monstrous thing that they should not be con tent to rest upon the advantages they had, without arroga ting to themselves the right to be exclusive in th o e u po gh s t sess t o b n of the executive government of the country, (Hear, hear, and cheers.) That was literalilrythtehecou subjectgt of which he understood that meeting had assembled to corn ld ! plain. They did not say that the aristoc e r t a c c t y helyn pulled down from their places, but that they should ropheer enter into t t h h e e m ir p a l t a id ce i s m b e y p their them o . wn (H in e t e r r i , n h si e c er m u.)p eri o t n s ip have p oc ri e n as c i ip on le s, be to competition before the country. Let admitted that the crown ought, send for those persons to occupy the high posts of minister of state, whether they were of the aristocratic or of the middle classes, or even of the lower classes—as he trusted the day might yet come when such a thing would be possible —who w ere most competent to understand the position which they un d ertoo k . Th at was a ll th e y required,,tind all they asked f or . They wanted to l ay b e f ore h er Majesty the absolute necessity for giving to all classes of the com munity their due position, not merely in the legislative, but in the executive g overnmen t. (Ch e e r s) Th ere was point to which he wished to draw .attention: He did not know that th ere was any country in Europe, at that moment, in the hands of, \ one man more d es p o tically governed than this counti'y was with regard to the question (Cheers.) Without en t er i ng i nto any ion, without saying whether their svmpa 1, France or with .A ustria, it was of peace and wax side of the ( t to be more wi perfectly — clear that the that moment absolutely the hands of Lord Pal • infringe npQn that y which the s oestrous of preserv ) asked—they, would where they were, if Hear, bear.) That Year, hear.) Nobody would be be involved in Derby- d .ty, but of s of all led by nammou Mr. D which wa , neluded the pro, TIIE COURT. OspoRNE, May 24 included her Royal Highm his Serene Highness Prince Leiningen, Count and Countess Perponcher, Major-General the Hon. C. and Mrs and Captain the lion. J. Denman the anniversary of . her Majesty's birthday r Majesty's di part!, yeste deriek Wil Princess Fr morning,. it being: Royal Marines played Her Royal Highness t day, but has been obli of slim] every dem sty in conseq. forth merry pi ed a royal from the embers of the corpo: )ughout the ,day the 1 St. John's Church ," the bombardier )al inhabitants of the mor and at noon " Pond i the Lon -walk from the town also f 2' of variou terwards brill y 'A at they Mayor presided, surr the borough. A royal buck, preseated by her Majesty, graced the table, which displayed in elegant taste every delicacy of the season ; but, by some misundemting or other, the magnificent dessert from the royal gardens ; so gen6rously presented by her Majesty on similar occasions, did not arrive. art will return to Wind sor on the 14th proximo, for the Ascot r week, when it is expected h Majesty and the Prince Consort honour the cour ~ with their brill with their prese E MURDER AT LEDBURT Som - e sil )11 the first and third --The greatest excitement money has been found near the spot, and some of it is identified. Some circumstances, which have caused a suspicion to attach to a certain person, are being folloived up with circumspection and diligence; might probably be frustrated by the publication of wliat has been ascertained. Williamson, of the London detective force, has arrived at Ledbury, and is prosecuting his inquiries, with the assistance of the local police. AMUSEMENTS IN LIVERPOOL. Open from ten .in the morning until ten at night. Allsop's Wax-Work exhibition. All the kings and queens, from and inclnding William the Conqueror, down to Queen Victoria; also, princes and princesses, dukes, duchesses, l or d s , em i nent statesmen, warriors, poets, divines; also all the most noted personages of the past and present ages, &c. Allsop's sculpture galleries, containing upwards of 3,000 statues, selected from all parts of the world, varying from five to twenty feet in height. o -- Allsop's dioramic, panoramic, cosmoramic, and stereoscopic views of intense interest Allsop's musical promenade. The above attractions are now combined, forming one large establishment, in the immense and magnificent building known as the Teutonic-hall, next door but one: to the County Court, Lime-street, Liverpool, and nearly opposite the Adelphi Hotel, and is open to the public at Gd each; children under ten years of age, 3d each. Mr. Allsop's exhibition has been pronounced by the press of Liverpool, London, and elsewhere, to be the most perfect, superbly magnificent, and largest establishment in the world : ; a fact that cannot possibly be contradicted. Be sure to observe the name, "Allsop, ' at the entrance. Sole proprietor, Mr. Wm. Allsop. EXTRAORDINARY RECOVERY OF A PURSE FROM A THIEF. —The following is about the most extraordinary instance of the recovery of stolen nronerty from a thief that w. remember to have bear 3etween ye anc o'clock two respectable women were walking in Corporation-- street towards Market-street. One of them had in her right hand a small velvet purse and also parasol. The purse con tained £9 lOs in gold, I.os in silver, and a £5 note ; the money being partly saved, and partly borrowed, and all intended as a means of entering upon a small business. In Corporation-street, the women were met by three rough fellows wearing caps, who boggled in passing, as if they were not certain whether." to keep to the right would be right." While this was going on, the purse-bearer.(whom we may call Mrs. A-,) heard a sharp snap, as did also _ _ . her friend; but Mrs. A--- looking &N .- I , n, A3erved that her shawl brooch. was unfastened, and to its slipping she attributed the noise. After walking on for a few yards, she discovered that the handle of her parasol wasr missing, having been snapped off; but, incomprehensible as it may appear, she had forgotten that she had been carrying her purse in her hand, and she still had no suspicion of her loss. Not until two hours had passed did she ascertain that the purse, and the £l5 is contained, were no longer in her keeping. Then she was almost distracted; for not to have recovered the money, would have been ruin to - all her prospects. But, in the best sense of the words, Mrs. A. seems to be really a " strong-minded woman ;" and, rejecting the advice of a friend to go at once to the police and describe, as well as she could, the fellows whom she now supposed to have robbed her, she started rapidly for the residence of the lender of the £5 note, with a view to ascertain its number. In this she succeeded, and hurriedly she retraced her steps to the centro of the city, intending now to go to the detective office, and gain the aid of the police. In Deansgate, when near the Parsonage, she saw standing seven or eight men, looking very much of the same class as the three she had suc h stronr , _ . reasons to remember having encountered in Corporation street. She neared them ; and with a comprehensive and most keen glance in passim, she saw th a t one of the group was in the act of showing something to his comrades, that that something was of the colou r o f h er purse, and that' the fellow had hastily turned so as to hid e f rom her his act an d its object. At the same instant, she recognised this man as having been the nearest to her of the three in Corporation street and, dashing through the group, she seized what the thief held. lie and they were all but paralysed by the suddenness of the meeting and the pounce ; he strove to fling her off, and they b egan to hustle hustle her, but she maintained her grasp, and with a last wrench, when all but exhansted, she carried off—h er purse, with note, gold, and silver, as it left her hand some fo ur hours previously. During the scuffle twenty or thirty persons gathered round, but they may well be excused for not comprehending the real nature of what was going on; and Mrs. A--, in her excitement, was not likely to give them much information.. There happ en ed,, _ar not to be a policeman near, and so the thief has esca s p d f the present. A "moral " may be aypendei.A circumstances, ladies generally are not likely to be under similarr all should avoid so lucky or so daring as Mrs. .A — walking in the streets with purse in . f "uncontrollable hand,lest its exhibition pursue his should create in the breast of a impulse " (as doctors in lunacy thief it) to vocation.—.Afanchester Guar d i an . here tact , the the F r om it re', T ow is ,ces f inv Ison' r th e l Ear T Of NO S ,anal, [too f tll6