The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-27 00:00:00

Commtrrial cc.altt. THIS DAY On account of whom it may concern. THIS DAY, the 27th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Cotton saleroom, Exchange-buildings, About 500 Bags RAPESEED all faults,' just landed from the Clangregor, stranded on Crosby beach, and now lying in the Wreck Shed, north end Prince's Dock, For further particulars apply to Messrs. Bothlingk & Co.. merchants, or to J. H. RAYNER & CO., Brokers. THIS DAY, the 27th instant, at One o'clock, at the Cotton saleroom, Exchange-buildings, 78 Bales COTTON, all faults, ship damaged, ex Ocean Rover, from Charleston; lying inuth-west side Kenworthy's Wharf.—Apply to WM. BRIGHT & SON, Brokers, 11, Covent-garden. T O-M 0 R R 0 W. On account of aom it may con 28th instant, at-Tw o'clock, at 19, North John-street 100 Tierces Carolina RICE, all faults, ex Sylvia, from Charleston ; in Stanley Dock warehouses. — Apply to MARQUIS, BAXTER & CO., Brokers. To-moaßow, 7 "W. the the 28th instant, at the Broker's office . zschange-chambers, Tithebarn-street, 1496 Bandies PIASSAVA, now landing ex Maria Helena, from Lisbon.—For fort] particulars apply to FRANCIS J. EATON, Broker TO-MORROW, the 28tt ex Baronet, houses, Nos . 4 and s.—Apply to GLADSTONE & SERJEANTSON, Brokers FRIDAY. On account of whom it may concern. On FRIDAT next, the 29th instant, at Half-past One o'clock, _ . • at the Brokers' office, 14, Fenwiek-street, About 100 Bags FLOUR, ex Milan (s.), from Genoa.—For particulars apply to .T. & M. HARNETT, Brokers SiOn FRIDAY next, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 16, Exchange-buildings, 60 Tons Town-made } LINSEED CAKE. 120 Do. American Apply to J. H. RAYNER & CO., Brokers. On FRIDAY next, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, 38 Bales Ceylon COIR YARN. BROWNE, HUNTER & CO., Brokers. Apply to On FRIDAY next, the 29th instant, at Twelve o'clock, on the Quay, east side llnskisson Dock,' 2'7 Pieces : measuring 493 cubic feet, GREENHEART, 40 Do. „ 853 „ PURPLEHEART, 10 Do; l) 165 „ SABICU, 16 Do. ~ 301 „ LOCITSTWOOD, II Do. „ 1932 superficial feet, CEDAR. now ianding ex Margrietha, from Surinam.—Apply to lasers Henry Moore & Co., Merchants. 1037 Pieces LARCH FIR, measuring 1001 loads, fresh and of good quality, now landing ex Sunshine, from Aberdeen.—Apply to Messrs T. Harrison & Co., Merchants. 101 Legs St. John BIRCH, averaging 16 inches string. To which will be added other American and Baltic WHITEWOODS, particulars of which can be had on appli cation to EDWARD CHALONER, Broker, 6, East Side Queen's Dock. THH ANNUAL St DAILY TIMES TEAS p RN TIMES." —Any ,rnoll Ex - .:hange, or ie, Oxton, gremont, or New Brighton, who addressing a note at the , mplaint may b stigated a order nd removed our messengers comm( each morning, it would greatly facilitate its completion if subscribers would have letter-boxes in their doors through which the papers might be dropped, as the detention at some houses is very great at present, and causes delay and disappointment to other subscribers. EVENING EDITION ar An Evening Edition of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES is now Published every Afternoon, at Three o'clock, containing the Markets, together with all the News of the Day, up to the hour of going to .Press. ILIIIRST EXHIBITION of the FRENCH JU SCHOOL of the FINE ARTS in Liverpool, including MAD'LLE ROSA BONHEUR'S TREAT PICTURE 0 "THE II TORSI 0 NOW OPEN a place, Church-stree. Five o'clock Admissic FAIR,' ms, Old Post-office gues, 6d. Gentle B. FRODSHAM, Secretary, WEDNESDAY, FEBRU_IRY 27, 1856 THE Town Dues Confiscation Bill has been abandoned by the Government, and Liverpool is much indebted to Sir F. BARING for the manner in which they conciliated the opposition on Monday night last. The Vice President of the Board of Trade, worried by truth, goaded by sound reasoning, and crushed by facts, made only a lame an 3 wandering defence. He talked as incoherently as he did on introducing his measure to Parlia meat, and pleaded the immensity of the subject with which his bill dealt, in extenuation of his childish assertions, admissions, and duplicity. While confirming all that his opponents said, still had the effrontery to ask Parlia ment to entertain his nostrums. He com menced fiist by legislating for all boroughs which levied pissing tolls and town dues. But he found that in the cases of the Hull Dock Company and the city of Bristol there were " special contracts, and exceptional incidents: , which would have made his bill difficult of applica tion to those places. And he said, " We propose, " therefore, to deal with those cases by special " clauses, and if it can be shown that there are any " other places so circumstanced as to require " exceptional legislation, we shall bo most desirous to make in their regard such arrange )mpletely satisfy the justice of eviously decided that Liver- F. TH R, and ments as w each case." Having pr pool had neit a poli legal title to either of the sources of revenue a matter of course, scouted the idea of compensa_ tion ; and said to his opponents, " You have no " right to take the money of the whole State and " give it to a part ; or, if you make the attempt, " surely you should seek to justify it on some " higker ground than the fact that such "things have been done before now." This logic we will ac cept w i thout a murmur, provided that Mr. LowE will allow us to reverse his reasoning and ask if the Legislature has a rig ht to take a property from th e i n h a b itants of a ofseaport town who have exp en d e d every farthing income, and created millions o f d e b t to increase their the trade of the most populou s port i ons of the realm, and plunder a few fo r th at " greatest of a ll corporations—the community at large?" " expended, asJr. HOR SFALL very Li ver pool has M c l ear ly proved, 1; 300 , 090/. in increasi ng th e facili ties of trade which extends its benefits to the remotest parish and hamlet in the country. This sum represents an amount greater than the Town Dues would have been worth had they been capitalised twenty years a go. Where we could prove that tho income arising from them has been strictly applied to extending the facilities of com merce, was it reasonable—was it honest—to ask us to forego them without receiving a fraction in the s hape of compensation? Mr.LowE even admits that, s. as long as there was in special and particular cases 0 , an i n fringement of a general policy, so long there "was in .such cases an equitable claim to com but when there is no longer a general pensatidla subscri Tranmere Seacombe, E at Rock-fern Claughton does not receive his Eight o'clock will o to him at tt cause of meant, at Twelve o'clock, at the Brokers' office, 17, Old 10 Bales Madras COTTON A Quantity COTTON PIC from Madras ; lying in 11 faults, and [NGS, e Albert Dock Ware- TA TWO NORTHERN TIMES.--LIVERPOOL, WEDNISDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1866. policy to infringe there is no longer any occasion we think Liverpool can make aut a special and particular case, for compensation." Now would justify the infringement of a national policy, short of that general 0: violation of the rights of property, which Mr. LowE's Bill directly aimed at. Our special case is simply this :—We have one of the finest rivers in Europe, and by unremitting care, foresight, and toil, a few hundred thousand people have succeeded in more than doubling the trade of the realm. They purchased a right to levy tolls and dues as they would a bale of cotton, a log of timber, or any other commodity which is legally saleable; and as the income derived from the dues did not increase fast enough to meet the grow ing wants of a trade in which the world par ticipated, we borrowed money on those revenues, and expended every shilling on works which benefit the shipowner, the mariner and the merchant, more than any other classes of the community. Those who doubt this can visit our harbour, docks, and their approaches. And, having looked carefully at all that is to be seen, we think that even Mr. LOWE would admit that our " particular case is established, by the let that there is not a second Liverpool in the British Empir If the tolls and dues were to be abolished, and every city and corporate town dealt with alike, there would have been something of con• sistency in the Government Bill. But London, Bristol, Hull, and Manchester, were to enjoy their tolls and dues, and Liverpool alone was to be mulcted ! We have always been led to believe that the "general policy" of England was to deal fairly and impartially with the rights of property, and where any peculiar locality was required to give up a certain description of income that all its recipients were treated alike. Mr. HORSFALL reminded the House of Commons that the Corporation of Man chester now levy dues to the extent of 10,3721 a-year in the shape of market tolls And though the right of that Corporation to levy a tax upon every house wife who goes to market, and on every man who buys of the manufacturer, is not questioned, still our neighbours petitioned Parliament to transfer our Town Dues to the Government, and complained of the bitter injustice they are obliged to submit to at our hands ! We are always ready to give every man credit for the service he renders to the public, and we now beg to thank Mr. HORSFALL most cordially for his timely exposure of the unmanly and dishonest course pursued by the Manchester Town Dues agitators, whowere the first to forget the adages and pour forth the volley of stones on our devoted heads, But we shall not be going too far into lebt, when we state that we owe Manchester one MN Cabinet would ster shippers from Ind have left Liverpool buyers to This cannot be the " general OWE would recommend. It " by I would certainly not need its " infringement "to for her dui The PALM cd Manch Liverpool du anchester policy " vhich Mr. I establish a right to compensation Such a principle of legislation would have exposed its authors to much greater popular thatof which the Vice-Pre- moquy Board of Trade complained Monday r. Passing by altogether the with which every class of the sacredness English people view the rights of property, it would have been held up to universal contempt as a perversion of legislative influence to promote private ends by affording aid to certain localities. But the right honourable member for Kidder minster is beginning to show us that he has little in him beyond good lungs, and a .ew stereotyped ideas which have brought him thus far before the public, and which he Ipes, ' stand by him until the en , ] of! y heard what tile orders of the Home Office, and to act on the instructions received from magistrates and police authorities in the remotest districts of the three kingdoms. And, considering the amount of crime committed, the wonder is that so few offenders escape. But then there is the handling of money, and the distribution of patronage to be gained, by the Government transferring to the Home Office the control of the entire police force of the realm And there is yet another end to be attained, which the London Times discloses in a few words :—" If " the police forces are to be local in their origin, we do not see why they should not be under a " central authority, that would make their " movements more economical, more harmonious, " and more effective. Our regiments are named " after certain counties ; we might as well confine " their functions to their respective shires, as " limit the powers and duties of the police to the " boundaries of their respective boroughs." Now, we deny entirely that the police force should be moved about as regiments are, or that such a system would work more economically, harmoni ously, or effectively, than the present. A police force should be purely local, or else how is it to become acquainted with the seats of crime, and the persons of thieves, and other bad characters ? Keep it moving about, and just as it would become effective, we should have it sent away to some place, where it would be wholly useless for the detection of offenders, for fully one or two months. If the object of such a change be to secure the concentration of a large body of policemen on any given direction, it implies the apprehensiori of tumults, where the military should be called in, and life and property not left to the defence of constables armed only with staves. Not being a military force, they do not lie under the imputation of having " neglected the " means of pursuing POMPEY." For all police purposes the present system is found to be perfect wherever discipline and becoming vigilance are enforced. All attempts at the prevention of crime by such means have signally failed, and will ever prove abortive. The utmost we can do is to secure detection; and this, we believe, is now reduced to the greatest certainty. What need is there, then, for altering or tampering with this branch of the civil service? If we are to have a perfect gendarmerie, and to become all at once as much French, or rather BONAPARTIST, as possible, then, indeed, centralisation may be advisable, in order that the Government may take upon itself the risks and responsibility of institutions so un-English and unconstitutional. Crime dates from a far deeper source than that which can be reached by the staff or the bayonet. It is a social scourge inherent in our neglected condition ; and its increase or diminution may be traced from a climax of prosperity to the close of a period of national prostration, with as much ease and accuracy as the rise and fall of consols. Compare the crime of the present day, both in the upper and lower walks of society, with that of any seasons of industrial and commercial activity, and the most sceptical will be amazed at the result. Reformatories are required to bring the neglected youth of the nation into proper training to obtain an honest livelihood; but when they are launched into society with a trade at their finger ends, they go forth to share the fate of the honest artisan, whose independent existence by his toil is any thing but certain. Our whole social system is based upon false and dangerous principles, and nothing short of a despotism can sustain it intact; and it may bo we have already arrived at the advent of that tyranny, which a blind adherence to senseless political dogmas has brought about through all time. The hurried grappling together by our rulers, first of this source of patronage, and that means of bestowing emoluments upon its partisans and favourites, are sure indications of a coming struggle, by which alone they can hope to uphold a system, to which may be attributed nine• tenths of the people's misery, should its evil workings be discovered, and its further continuance be determinedly opposed. In such a crisis, however, we must mainly rely on the moderation of the Crown, and the Constitu tional spirit which actuates both branches of the Legislature. The House of Peers may, at the last moment, be found exercising its high function— standing once more on the side of the Throne and the people, and protecting both agains t the designs of a Ministry who have made, within ono month of the session of 1856, no less than two direct and gigantic attacks on the rights of self-government. The sole political object of these ministerial move ments must have been, to get into the Executive's hands an inordinate amount of patronage with which to coerce the SOVEREIGN and both branches of the Legislature. The ostensible objects of Sir GEORGE GREY'S Police Bill, and Mr. LowE's attempted interference with the rights of municipal property, may appear reasonable enough to the uninitiated ; but the historical reader, and educated poli tician, can see by analogy the point to which we would be drifting by tamely surrendering those Constitutional privileges we have contended for and enjoyed for centuries. There is nothing in our normal state which purely English and enlight ened legislation cannot remove or correct, without demolishing the landmarks of our civil liberties and local independence. Whatever may be wrong in our police system can be set right without cen tralisation. The growth of crime can be arrested by moral means if Parliament think proper to resort to them ; and those concessions, shipping and trade may require for their further develope ment, may be carried out without trampling on the rights of property, and laying aside the equitable principle so long acted upon by the legislature, of granting compensation to those likely to be injured by changes made to promote the national weal. In resisting any departure from the beaten track of Constitutional Government, we cannot be saying too much when we repeat that the people of the North look to the moderation of the Crown, and the lofty national spirit which still lingers in the Peers of the Realm, for deliverance from politicians who can boast of no hereditary fame, and some who can only point to a season of painful pro bation at the Antipodes. If Lord DERBY be a true Englishman, and Mr. DISRAELI an unswerving political Christian, there is a gap opening before them which they may yet fill, with great credit to themselves and universal acclamation, as adminis trative morality is at a premium, ca use d b y an alarming scarcity. Ecc LE4TASTICA PREFERMENTS.-The followin g c l ergymen have just been appointed to curacies in this district :—The Rev. A. T. Attwood, of Brasenose, Oxford, co Halsall near Ormskirk ; the Rev. T. H. Pain, of B rasenose, Oxford,' to St. Thomas's, Liverpool ; the Rev. E. G ) l es, of St. John's, Cambridge, to St. Barnabas, Liverpool ; th e R ey. W. E. Newton, of Caius, Cambridge, to St. Bride's, Liver pool ; th e Rev. 11. Pizou, of Pembroke, C am b r id e, to Halton ; the Rev. J. Whiteside, of St. Catherine Nall Cambridge, to Rainhill ; the Rev. W J. Friel, o f T r i n i ty ' Dublin, to St. Stephen's, Liverpool ; the Rev. W. II: Harke, of Trinity, Dublin, to St. Mary's, Liverpool ; the Rev. C• Hughes, of Trinity, Dublin, to Wootton ; the Rev. R. Armstrong, of St. Bee's, to Bollinr;ton ; the Rev. J. E. Davies, of St. I3e.e's, to Hale ; the Rev. C. P. M.`Carthy, of St. Aidan's, to St. Mary's, Birkenhead ; th e Rev. N. Postance, of St. Aidan's, to St. James's, Liverpool; the Rev. S. G. Cochrane, of Trinity, Dublin, to St. Stephen's, Liverpool ; the Rev. W. H. Denny, to the parish church of Liverpool. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY EVENING, There has been no change in the tone of the Liverpool Cotton Market, and with steady prices a fair amount of business has been done, the sales reaching 8,000 bales, 4,000 of which were for specu lation and export. The Liverpool Share Market has further im proved to-day, upon advance in consols, but does not close quite at the best. The Contango rates have been generally high, and the account carried over considerable. Quotations closed as follows : Aberdeen, 121 13. Chester and Birkenhead, 13k 14. Caledonian,2B 0-16 28 11-16. Chester and Holy head, 12113. EaStern Counties, 9-a 91. East Lanca shire, 18 181. • Great. Northern, 231 241. Ditto A Shares, 10 101 Great! Western, 591 60. Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 821 82/. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, 15 15k. London and North Western Stock, 101. 102. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, 241 248. Ditto Preference, 11 110 Ditto New 6 per cent. Pref., I e p. Midland Stock, 71{ 71?- i . North British, 7/ 71. North Staffordshire, 61 60. South Eastern, 19 13-16 198. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 191 191. York and North Midland, 261269. Leeds Capital Stock, 151 151. Dutch Rhenish, I 11-16 p. Ditto New Shares, 2 3-16 2 5-16 p. Great Western of Canada, 26 26k. Ditto New Shares, 31 3a p. Great Luxembourg, 9 9d. In the Manchester Goods Market to-day there has been a quiet tone and only a small amount of business has been done, at prices about the same as on Tuesday last. The following is a statement of traffic receipts of the Great Western Railway of Canada by pas senger and goods trains for the week ending Bth February, 1856, and for the corresponding period last year:-Bth February, 1856—Total receipts, 83421.115. 2d.; per mile per week, 291. 19s. Bth February, 1855—Total receipts, 36021. Bs. 6d. ; per mile per week, 161. 19s. Increase—Total receipts, 47401. 2s Bd. ; per mile per week, 141. 1 ls.—sterling. Letters from Madrid mention that the establish.. ment of new banks of credit throughout Spain has caused a complete revolution in financial circles there. The State Bank of San Fernando hitherto has been the chief monetary assistant in develop ing the different branches of industry in the king dom, but the capital advanced by this bank was done at such a high rate of interest that it left very small profits to individual enterprise. It is stated that the bank was in the habit of charging from 12 to 20 per cent for money advanced upon good secu rity; and instances have been known of 3 per cent per month having been received for accommoda tion. The first effect of the founding of the new financial institutions has been to lower the rate of discount amongst all the old banks, and that of San Fernando now negotiates paper at the rate of per cent per annum. The Committee of the Stock Exchange have given notice that they will not recognise any deal ings in Royal Swedish Railway Shares until the particulars and the amount of the recent fraudu lent issue are published. The recklessness displayed by Mr. Lowe in introducing into Parliament a bill for the purpose of dealing with local dues upon shipping seems to bid fair to meet with that punishment which it most justly deserves. On all sides of the house last night the arguments were against the Govern ment, and we shall not in any way be surprised to find that ministers have consented to abandon the measure in its present unscrupulous form. Mr. Lowe will do well to bear in mind that he is as yet very young in office, and he can afford to follow the courtly example of his courtly chief, who, finding himself certain of defeat in another quarter, has quietly, if not gracefully, bowed to the storm, and has withdrawn au obnoxious and unconstitu tional measure. The news of a temporary armistice received this morning gave a slight impetus to the Consol market, and at the commencement of business prices bore a firm appearance, but this did not last long, as, on consideration, it was not in any way apparent that peace would follow as a matter of course, as the armistice will only apply to hostile attacks on either side, and will not interfere with the vast preparations still going on to enable us to prosecute the war with effect, if unfortunately we should again be compelled to have recourse to arms. Neither will any indulgence be shown by the blockading squadron now on its way to the shores of the Baltic. In short, the armistice is nothing more than a brief armed truce, unaccompanied by any particular condition Mercantile advices from Belgium continue to state that the solution of political complications now pending causes great reserve in commercial operations. The animation in the import market at Antwerp has subsided, excepting in cotton, for which the demand has been considerable, and holders of supplies are demanding, higher prices, which, for the time, paralyses the dealings of the manufacturers. About 1,200 bales of American have changed hands at the following rates :—Good ordinary, 301 to 311 cents per 1 kilogramme ; 33/c to 34ic ; and good middling, from 343 c to 35c. In coffee 2,389 bags of Brazilian, sold for 483 , c to 661 e per 1 kilogramme ; and 636 bales of St. Domingo at 59c to 70e. Batavia, ordinary to good ordinary, 3510 to 361 c ; and Cheribon white and green, 37c to 38/c. The market for sugar is quiet. At a sale by auction, 3,500 cases of Havanna, of good quality, brought 324 f to 391 f per 50 kilogrammes. Sales by private contract are limited, and vices nominal. For refined sugars the market is weak, and the demand is limited. The addition to the stock on hand during last week was 190,000 kilogrammes. The funds rose a per cent. this morning, upon the announcement that an armistice has been decided upon. Sellers coining forward, however, a re-action took place, and the closing quotations were only k per cent. higher, than those of yester day, the figure being 92. The general character of the market was good. In the Stock Exchange money is easier, at 5 per cent. In the discount market thereisan entire subsidence of the pressure. owing to the release,of the surplus deposits, on the new loan the discount houses this afternoon were abundantly supplied with money. The check given to the upward tendency of the stock interests seems to have been occasioned by the deeline on the Paris Bourse. The slight fall at Paris, how ever, is attributed partly to the preparation for the settlement of the monthly account. At Paris to-day the three per cents Rentes closed 3to per cent lower than yesterday. The following were the closing quotations of Foreign Exchanges : Amsterdam short,ll 183 to 11 19. Do., 3 months, 12 13 to 12 13. Rotterdam, do. 12 11 to 12 13. Antwerp do., 25 623 to 25 673. Brus sels, do., 25 623 to 25 673. Hamburg do, 13 113 to 13 113. Paris, short, 25 40 to 25 50. Do , 3 months, 25 82} to 25 873. Marseilles, do, 25 823 to 25 873. Frankfort, do., 120 to 1203. Vienna, do., 10 38 to 10 45. Trieste, do., 10 40 to 10 45. Peters burg, do., 36 to 363. Madrid, do., 491 to 493. The wind having changed to the westward, it is hoped that some arrivals of gold from Australia will be shortly announced. The Railway Share market this morning participated in the buoyancy of the funds, and prices generally ruled higher. The final quotations (closed as follows ; Caledonian, 573 571, Eastern Counties, 91 93. East Lancashire, 72 73. Great Northern, 953 96. Ditto; A., 803 813. Great Western, 591 60. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 821 823. London and North Western, 1013 1023. Manchester Shef field, and Lincolnshire, 243 251. Midland Stock, 713. North British, 29 30. South Eastern and Dover, •653 66. York, Newcastle, and Ber wick, 77 78. York and North Midland, 521 523. LONDON GAZETTE BANKRUPTS. —SimoN COHEN and Jos. LUBLINER, Hatton-garden, manufacturing goldsmiths and jewellers. JOHN TRAVIS SHAW, Crompton, Lancashire, cotton spinner. LEWIS BIRNSTRINGL, Broad-street-buildings and Sydrev, New South Wales, merchant. SAMUEL HARVEY, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, outfitter and shopkeeper, THOMAS KNOWLES, Seymour-street, Euston-sonare, chemist and druggist and stationer. GEORGE GOODRICH, Wensley, Gloucestershire, chemist and druggist. JOHN KING GURNEY Uxbridge, Cook and confectioner. JOHN OWEN, Salford, ' Lancashire, baker and provision dealer. HENRY HENTON, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, straw hat manufacturer. SARAH BREAVIN, Wisbeach, St. Peter's, Cambridgeshire, miller, brewer, and confectioner. GEORGE CLARK E MEDD, Leeds, grocer. WILLIAM SMITH SLATE; Birkenhead, timber merchant. GEouoE UswrN, Shetileld, steel presser and umbrella manufacturer. JOHN SMITH, Rochdale, grocer. HENRY Coor and WILLIAM Coop, Chowbent, West Houghton, Lancashire, silk manufacturers. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCES. _____._ FROM 01JR OWN CORRESPONDENT) PARIS, MONDAY EVENING The Conferences to treat of peace were opened to-day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Quai, near the old Chamber of Deputies. The Ministry is an entirely new building of palatical dimensions and architecture. A very considerable crowd assembled to see the Plenipotentiaries arrive. The one who excited most attention was Count Orloff, because his carriage and horses were decked in Russian style. One o'clock was fixed for the commencement of business. The plenipotentiaries assembled at that hour in what is called the " Salon des Ambassadeurs"—the most splendid in the edifice. It is hung with crimson silk, and is decked with gold. In the centre is a table with twelve places for the plenipo. tentiaries of the six powers—Austria, France, Great Britain, Sardinia, Turkey, and Russia. The table is covered with a thick green cloth ; and can be lengthened in case it should become necessary to admit Prussia. There is a separate table for M. Benedetti, as secretary, and another for another secretary, who is an English man. There is also a table bearing a huge inkstand in massive gold and silver of the value of £450 ; this table and inkstand are destined for the plenipotentiaries who may wish to write or read anything " aside." Count Walewski, as is known, presides, and the plenipotentiaries, as is also known, are placed around the table in the alphabetical order of the states they represent, so as to prevent any disputes about precedency. Although the names of the plenipotentiaries have been given it may be well to repeat them :—France, Count Walewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Baron de Bourqueney, Ambassador at Vienna ; Russia, Count Orloff, Envoy Extraordi nary, and Baron Brunow, Russian Minister at Frankfort; Great Britain, Lord Clarendon, Secre tary for Foreign Affairs, and Lord Cowley, Ambas sador at Paris; Turkey, Aali Pacha, Grand Vizier, and Mehemet Bey, Ambassador at Paris; Sardinia, Count Cavour. Prime Afinister, and the Mar quis Pes de Villamarinea, Ambassador at Paris ; Austria, Count Buol Sohaunstein, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Baron Hubner, Ambassador at Paris. The plenipotentiaries have, it appears. bound themselves mutually to solemn secrecy. You will not, therefore, expect me to give you any account of what took place at the Conferences. I leave that to such of your cotemporaries as profess cor respondents, who are accustomed to draw their imagination for facts. But, as in Paris, the most solemn obligations to secrecy are not long respected, I am not without hopes that in a day or two I may learn something, not probably the exact details but the substance of what has been done and said. In the mean time, I can inform you with tolerable confidence, the fact at least, comes to me from good authority, that the plenipotentiaries on dispersing, seemed rather satisfied than otherwise with their delibe rations : and I believe I am not far wrong in stating that the Russians spoke in a tone, and dis played a spirit, which warrant the belief that they will consent to almost anything to obtain peace. In fact, I am told, that Austria has made known to them that if peace be not concluded, she will certainly make war on them ; and that Prussia has signified that if Austria goes to war, she also will be obliged by regard for her own position in Germany. to oppose Russia. Such declarations are naturally calculated to make them yielding. A despatch from Berlin says that a courier for the Russian Plenipotentiaries in Paris bad passed through that capital with despatches, informing them that Russia consents to what the Allies require about Aland and Kars. This has naturally increased the confidence in peace which is fait here. The financial circles continue to think that peace will be-established, and the Bourso had risen. The well-known Independance of Brussels has changed hands, and the consequence of the change will be that the French Government will obtain a more complete control over it. From the import ance of this journal on the Continent, the change is not devoid of political interest. The publication of a pamphlet attacking Russia for her conduct towards France in the Congress of Vienna in 1815 is spoken of, and it is said that the government, or at least some personages very highly placed, are concerned in it. According to ja despatch from Berlin, Russia has authorised the importation of salt on payment of a moderate duty via the Austrian and Molda vian frontiers, and by Odessa and the ports of the Danube. The despatch says, also, that M. de Fonton, the well-known Russian diplomatist, is to be nominated Russian Ambassador at Vienna, in the room of Prince Gortschakoff, who retires. Irrespective of the intelligence which has reached us from our own correspondents, we were yesterday enabled to announce that an armistice up to the 31st March had been signed by the Pleni potentaries. Beyond this intimation, we can only draw attention to the admirable letter of our espe cial Parisian friend and energetic correspondent From other sources we learn that though many a wistful eye has turned for the last six hours to that stately edifice, the Hotel of Foreign Affairs, where the deliberation of that momentous subject has already opened, asif it would fain penetrate its mas sive walls for one glimpse of what is going on within, the garcons du bureau, usually so good-natured, so alert, and so bustling, now steal stealthily along. The very sentinels at the external doors stand motionless like armed statues ; and even the barges on the river which flows before the walls of that fair Palace glide noiselessly up and down, for fear a ripple should disturb the silence. The Russians were at their work early this morn ing. Baron Brunow was stirring betimes, and M. Seebach was seen to issue from his house some time after three o'clock, and accompany his friend to the residence of the chief Plenipotentiary, Count Orloff. The Emperor was very gracious. He chatted in an animated manner with his guests, smiled gracefully with Count Buol and Baron Brunow, and the sterner Orloff was heard to declare that nothing could be more satisfactory than the Emperor's reception of him ; and his Majesty is said to have looked the very picture of peace ! FlRE.—About eight o'clock, yesterday morning, a fire was discovered in the shop of Mr. Farley, tobacconist, Renshaw-street, which destroyed almost all therein. The fire is supposed to have been caused by gas. The stock, tice., was insured in the Westminster Fire Office, for £400; damage will he about £2OO, including the building. The West of England Fire Brigade, assisted by the police in the neighbourhood, extinguished the fire in a short time. MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE.—Letters were received in Dublin yesterday, announcing the death, under truly lamentable circumstances, of Captain Aquilla Hone Kent, of the 4th Lancashire Militia, stationed at Newry. It appeared that a prescription, written by the celebrated physician, Sir Henry Marsh, Bart, had been sent by Capt. l‘ent to the establishment of an apothecary in Newry, to be made up, and that, by mistake, the drug known as "Deadly Nightshade" had been' sent in place of the medicine prescribed. The unfortunate gentleman expired in about twenty minutes after taking the deadly draught. CORONER'S INciussys.---The coroner held the following inquests yesterday ---011 the body of a child, named Heskith, daughter of a carter, residing in Cumberland • street. About a week since, the mother left the child alone in a room, and the clothes having caught fire, the child sustained such injuries that she died. Verdict, accidental death.—On the body of George Rogers, aged 37, a marble mason, who kept a beer-house at 1, Anson-place, London road. The deceased, according to the evidence of his wife, was much addicted to drink, and had a severe cough. He was sober and cheerful on Saturday night, but was seized with a fit and died. Verdict, died from natural causes. NATIONAL SHIPWRIGHTS' Socinty.—On Monday evening, the National Shipwrights' Benefit Society held their annual supper at Mr. Robert Heatley's, North Atlantic-inn, Sea brow. A .most magnificent repast was served by the worthy host, comprising everything calculated to make the members of the society comfortable in a real " good old English style." The health of her Majesty, Prince Albert, the other branches of the Royal Family, the Emperor of France, and the Allied Army ant Navy, were toasted with three times three. All enjoyed themselves in a manner that proved friendship and 'union ware the order of the day. A vote or thanks was unanimously carried to Mr. Heat.ley, for the comfort afforded the guests. The meeting was well attended, and the fair sex joined in the evening's pleasure until a late hour, when the company departed for their homes, much gratified with the evening's amusements. LATEST INTELLIGENCE• THE CONFERENCES, PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING' To-day the Plenipotentiaries met, but after a temporary sitting, will meet again to-morrow at one o'clock. -.--,..--___. RUSSIA Under date of the 23rd inst., we learn that st St. Petersburg an Imperial Ukase had been Pro mulgated to the effect, that under G o vernme n t order an im me di a t e i ssue of a second ser ies of Treasury Bills to the amount of 21,000,000 rouble° has been agreed to, It is reported at Berlin that Russia con 13 s e t° Aland what is de man d e d re l at i ve to Kars and the Islands. The Russian artificers employed 1p building the one hundred and thirty-one gunship at Nieolaieff, have not suspended their labours THE CRIMEA, Letters from the camp before Sebastopol, dated Feb. 12, states that there was some talk of one division of the army moving down shortly to Balaklava, for the purpose of putting on Nor ship, shot, shell, and other stores, preparat ol to evacuating the heights above Sebastopol' Great sickness still prevailed amongst the oe/3 and animals of the L an d Transport_ Corps THE FRENCH FUNDS PARIS, TUESDAY EVENII4°. The only quotations we have to make are the following :—Four and a Half per Cents., 76f. HO C. Three per Cents., 73f. 40c. OXFORD, WORCESTER AND WOLVSg - HAMPTON RAILWAY. The ordinary half-y ear l y meet i ng of the OX -° rd , Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway Company i held yesterday, Lieut.-colonel Rushout, M.P., i n the ell" „ ; The Chairman congrat u l a t e d th e company that they we re now working the line th emse l ves . I t might appear to a loss to do so, and it was so in some degree, but it Wit : considered better to ad o pt thi s course than work the Ow through contractors. He had frequently drawn attenti L4 to their heavy legal a n d eng i neering expenses. The leB A , expenses in various q u a r t ers were 19,339/ 19 4d, an d tP engineering costs chiefly for promoting other bills were 7,534/ 17s 10d. He alluded to the report of the share' holders committee, and remarked that accordilie' to the evidence which had been given by the ; engineer in chief of the Great Western Con 3 013 1: the total amount required for the broad guage works iv% estimated at 150,00 W. The directors (he said), pr opose' to pay the holder s o f fi rs t pre f erence stock a dividen d at the rate of five and a-half per cent. per annum, but not to pay such dividend un til th ey could do so without d e tr'; meet to the interests of th e company. He admitte d tba the published accounts of liabilities and assets was rath er vague, as they did not show the sum total of the liabilitlea- He showed the necessity of carrying the two bille before parliament giving them the power to raise mewl la ' seven different modes, and concluded by moving that t tle report be received and adopted. The motion having been seconded, . _ Mr. Tamlyn, one of au dit ors, entered largely in matters of account. By his representation it appear s that in many cases am oun t s w hi c h appeared as asse'',. were only estimated assets. Mr. J. M. Parsons solemnly protested against t he bills before parliament, which carried with them breach of faith, in reference to preferential and oth" shareholders. Mr. Maxwell moved an amendment, that a commit tee of shareholders be app o i n t e d to examine into the state °f the company's aff a i rs , an d as to the necessity of rals'l* further capital, and that they be empowered to emP le r others to assist at th e C on f erences, and that the 0011.. t , s ' deration of the report o f th e di rectors be adjourne d t° the aforesaid committ ee s h ou ld h ave made their repor t aG a future meeting. Mr. Sergeant Gaselee called the proposed bills repoc Thi ; tins bills, whi c h wen t to destroy the vested rights. Il desired to ha ve a clean sweep of the wholo lot, of th e board of directors. Mr. Parsons, the deputy chairman, entered into explanations, which were well received, and the res il ' t was that the original motion as far as that the report n; received was agreed to, and the amendment was cam e as a separate and distinct resolution. The Chairman PI( a resolution that a di v id end at the rate of five and a 'it, per cent per ann um b e pa i d to the holders of the 0r.% preference stock, which l e d t o a tedious discussion. 51'fri resolution was passed an d was followed by another On, for the payment of thi s di v i dend deferred notes bea ring interest at five per cent per annum, from the date of Ist be given. The resolution was carried unanimously. committee of investigation was then appointed o n nominated, and the meeting adjourned. probably, will lie evid opinion they had formed of him as a leg islator Apart from all selfisliconsiderations, they could not be induced to look upcn him as the " right man in the right place." The Vice-President of the Board of Trade avered that we have no general policy in this country, and Mr. HILDYARD told us that Mr, LowE scarcely condescended to notice the way in which the corporations had acquired their property, and he added— " What were the "rights of that vast mass of property with which they had to deal ? Why, those rights were based upon four distinct tenures—on prescription, "on grants and charters, on purchase for money " consideration, and on the good faith of Par " liament itself. There was no analogy between " this case and that of the corn laws, because " Parliament had never guaranteed that the price "of corn should be kept up to a certain The right honourable gentleman said, that Parliament, which passed laws, had " the right to repeal laws ; but he (Mr. Hildyard) " contended that it was a doctrine which must be " received with limitation, and that whenever an " Act of Parliament amounted to a contract, " Parliament could not without flagrant dishonesty " repeal that Act. What was the 800,000,0001. " debt of this country, but property held by taxa " tion alone? And if the doctrine were maintained " that Parliament was at liberty to withdraw its " guarantee to the fundholder, what would be the " consequence to this mighty empire ?" Mr LOWE need not now answer these queries, and since the Government with which he is connected are alive to the full magnitude of the dange r into which he would have plunged them, we shall have nothing to fear from that barefaced spoliation which none but Parliamentary maniacs would have attempted, or infuriated statesmen have " amount thought of tolerating. Tint centralisation of the police management of counties and municipalities is encountering a most strenuous opposition. The question is one involving a principle we have been called upon to discuss repeatedly within the last fortnight, namely, self-government. It is a question of taxation for purely local purposes. Each shire, city, and borough, is required to protect the lives and property of its own inhabitants ; and right well the work is done at present, if we may judge from the criminal returns published throughout the country. The public feel no uneasiness whatever as to the means we possess of bringing offenders to justice. The paramount question of the day is —how are we to dispose of the thousands of criminals already in custody? The London Times, which seems determined to make itself the organ of centralisation, would have it appear that there was no spirit of co - operation, or, much less, a possibility of getting the local police forces throughout the country to unite, for the detection of offenders. Our c3temporary would h ave th e public believe, th a t a felon or an wh o escapes from y T O to rehedrtaoa of wnofbLeiang n- Y ap o p rk re s i l l te d , edneiendthbise, cashire ! Such statements are palpibly untrue, and y very little for thei r aut h or ' s l ove of veracity. Thesa- local police forces are always ready to obey the THE COURT .00 The Queen held a Privy Council at eAree o ' c lock - Monday afternoon at Buckingham, Palace. it /1 „t s attended by P r i nce Alb ert, Ea;cl Granville, Viscrot Palmerston, Si r G eorge Grey, Lord Panmure, the Rig Pt Hon. R. Vernon Smith, the Right Hon. M. T. Bain es' the Duke of Ar g yll, t h e Marquis of Breadalbane, and :4 Duke of Wellin g t on, T he Hon. Win. Bathurst was Clerk of the Council in Waiting. Th e Q u een audiences to Viscount Palmerston, Earl Granville, a n ford Panmure. Prince Albert ro d e on horsebac k with the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred in the foreo° 1 ,:(1. attended by Captain D u Pl at and Mr. Gibbs. Queen had a dinner party in the evening. The con l P 3l :4 included the Princess Royal, the Lord Chancellor 3 Lady Cranworth, the Archbishop of York and Hon. ° ls :, Musgrave, the Netherlands Minister (Baron Bentinc"' the Prussian Minister (Count Bernstorff), Lord GO*: Lennox, Lord B urg h ersh, Lord West, the Right 11° W. B. and M rs . Gl a d stone, Lady Peel, Captain Willia m Peel, R.N., and Sir Charles Eastlake. „,4134 Mrs. Sarah Payson Eldridge (Fanny F ern) was ni.,o%ric. on the sth Jan uary to M r. James Parton, of Nosr i , O. Horace reeley. Mr. Parton is the author of a recently published ” - 1 ' - G" tv .,,, Arai' THE RECTORSH IP OP MARISCHAL COLLEGE.— T' - Arai' that letters have been received from the Duke of . 1- rn ie castle and from the Lord Advocate declining to be n° , 04 0) nated for the Rectorship of Marischal College.—Aber Herald. ___ DAR LATE DUPE OF NORPOLK.—In a commtinioaLor addressed to the Cork Examiner, the hon. member 10C n a , garvan states that the Duke of Norfolk 't was regtor e h u ieu his deathbed, and in his last moments, to that fold Vi t'i j 0 he scandalised by his temporary apostacy." And . , l h - Ae further stated that, from the Rev. Mr. Tierney, the e a ,`," - t of pastor of Arundel, the Duke received the Sacral n g t - ref extreme unction, in the presence of the Earl of '''';'i l is and Lord Edward Howard. The mortal remains °f de l, lordship were consigned to the family vault, at AO" yesterday morning, with heraldic hononts. in fore LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT—YESTERDAY—M—rei Er Mr. Commissioner Perry) : In re Deane, Youle, and —:elf pany.—The bankrupts were general merchants, and latoolit engaged in the South American trade, having a b p r t il ieg t ,' house in Pernambuco. This was a dividend w e " ow Mr. Bardswell, Mr. Hull, Mr. Anderson, Mr. nyraer,riop other professional gentlemen, sought to prove for /ti n for creditors for large amounts, but as the proofs were swo rn or nearly twelve months since, and, as in the winding_ debo the branch house at Pernambuco, some portions of the _ de s, now sought to be proved were probably paid, Mr. LoI th e , on behalf of the assignees, opposed the reception ° w ent; proofs for the full amount. After a lengthened arg il „ T rak his Honour adjourned the meeting, to give the s ;.„ of gentlemen seeking to make the proofs, the opportuel ' l ire communicating with their principals, most of 10°112 abroad.