The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-21 00:00:00

THE PEACE PROPOSITIONS. A. letter, dated Paris, Friday night, publishes th e following commentary on the present position o f European affairs . The writer says the news of the acceptance by Rdssia of the Austrian propo sitions certainly justifies the satisfaction, the enthusiasm with which it was received, and which Still continues; and it may be considered ungra cious to say anything which would diminish so Pleasing an effect. We must not, however, forget, in the exultation of the moment, that we have to deal with a Power whose perfidy is on a par with her ability. This great culprit must be watched with incessant and untiring vigilance. The modification to the propositions will doubtless be considered as superseded, by the " pure and simple " acceptance of Russia, but it is not impro bable that she will do her best to obtain these, or similar, modifications during the conferences. Th despatch informs us that Russia accepts O.- p os itions as "p re li m i naries of peace. ing preliminaries a difference of opinion may arise Which could not in the propositions themselves In one of the modifications of Russia, or as they have been termed, counter propositions, respecting the engagement not to create nor maintain military arsenals, &c., she adds—" on the banks or coasts of the Black Sea." It may become a matter for dis cussion whether Nicholaieff, where her naval docks are, Should be considered as on the coast of the 13l ack Sea. This will perhaps be considered too critic al, and would be so if we had any other power to d eal with than Russia; but it ought not to be -or g et ten that Russia also accepted, without reserve, this ti me t we l vemont h, th e four guaran tees proposed by the Powers, and then flung them back our faces at the C on f erences o f Vi enna . On the other hand, it is but right to say that mat ters have changed much with us, as with Russia, since the Vienna Conference ; and that, under ordinary circumstances, we are justified in con sidering that the definitive conclusion of peace is not far distant. In the first months of 1855 Cen tral Europe was in a state of hesitation, and was rather hostile, than friendly, to the policy of the Western Powers. At the present moment Russia finds it, if not entirely arrayed against her, at least seriously divided, and perhaps ready to declare its refusal to persist in a degrading neutrality. The attitude recently assumed by Austria, I still believe to have done much, and I am this day again assured that Austria has given assurances that she would be with us in the field, and will be, in case of necessity. It has been stated that the Vienna Cabinet expressed her in tention on account of the mild and conciliatory tone of the reply of Count Nesselrode, not to with draw her ambassador from St. Petersburg in con sequence of the non-acceptance of the propositions; but it is, on the other hand, affirmed that M. de Buol declared positively to Prince Gortschakoff that he need not take the trouble even of transmit ting the propositions Of the Czar, for that on the 18th the whole of the Austrian Legation had orders to quit the Russian capital. It was on the receipt of this announcement, that the Russian Govern meat found that nothing less than an unconditional acceptance would be received by Austria, that M. de n -selrode resolved, without awaiting the expiration of the period granted him, to adhere, at once purely and simply, to the conditions of the ulti matum. It remains to be seen whether Russia will -I,trritthe-details as unconditionally as she has done the principle. It is undeniable, then, that the situa tion of parties respectively has undergone a con siderable change since last year. But while it is ' ce rtain that the chances of a complete understand ing are greater than before, it would still be foolish to give way to an inconsiderate enthusiasm, and to consider pea ce as in fact re-established ' from the day Russia announces her acceptance. We mus' still be on the watch ; and until the treaty of peac is actually Signed, sealed, and delivered, we should In CIISCUSS- mot relax in our, preparations for all contingencies COUNT ESTERIIAZTS INSTRUCTIONS Ze Nord publishes the text of Count Buol's despatch to Count Valentine Esterhazy, serving as Lis instructions when conveying the Austrian pro positions to St. Petersburg. Th e f o ll ow i ng i s the tote VIENNA, Dec. 16, 1855. The words which your Excellency has had the honour of hearing from the Emperor's own lips, must have again confirmed to you the intentions that have invariably guided the policy of his Majesty during the different phases of the contest tow weighing so heavily on Europe. Unswervingly constant to these same principles, the Emperor vould have deemed himself unmindful of what is due to his own people, and the nations of Europe, had he allowed the present moment to escape, when a superior power imposes a virtual truce upon the combatants, without making one last effort to Open new paths towards that peace which is evi dently a most urgent necessity for Europe. Convinced, on the one hand, of the sincerity of the declarations so repeatedly made by the Em peror Alexander, that he was willing to assist in arriving at any peace not repugnant to his own dignity and the honour of his country, his Imperial Majesty has felt himself called upon to employ his beat efforts, in. order to ascertain what degree of r eciprocity might await those inclinations at the Courts of France and Great Britain. His Majesty designed, in consequence, to entrust to me the duty of sounding the cabinets of Paris and London .on this subject. But while we found them most 'firmly resolved not to initiate any pacific overtures, we, nevertheless, have, to our great satisfaction, found in those Cabinets a disposition, such as to inspire us with the hope that they will not refuse to examine, and accept, conditions of a nature to present all the guarantees requisite for a serious and lastin peace, and t o adjust satisfactorily the g ..v.„ l - cave rise to the war. 4luestio nerely this ; we believe we are authorised in expressi . ng the hope that these Powers, while Mai n _ taing in its. full force the right of presenting such conditions of peace as mai would be no less disposed at this present time not to deviate from the principle they laid down at the to them, commencement or the contest, which was, not to prosecute any private advantages, and to limit their demands to the sacrifices necessary for re- assuring Europe against the return of a state of things so deplorable and involved as the present Encouraged by these signs, the Imperial Cabinet has not shrunk from the task of conscientiously taking the present state of affairs i to serious account, and of stating the bases on which, in its opinion, the structure of a solid peace might be reared. The four principles already accepted by Russia have always appeared to us to be the best initial point. Only for the sake of warranting the work of peace, and especially of avoiding the rocks ' 3ll which the last conferences were wrecked, we have deemed it indispensable to develop the four principles in such a manner as to render them eclits unaut with the general interests of Europe and facilitate the final agreement by a morc precise definition, The fruit of this labouris contained in the docu- ment subjoined, which, from the fact of its accep tance by the belligerent Powers, will acquire a value tantamount to the preliminaries of peace. The signature to these preliminaries would be immediately followed by a general armistice, and definitive negociations This labour proposit ilaving been honoured with the the Emperor, your Excellency is charged with its presentation, for acceptance by the Court of Russia ; adding, approbat n. of his while the most pressing entreaties that it weigh well its contents, and communicate to us its determination, which we consider of the greatest importance to knew as soon as possible. If, as we hope, our propositions meet with a favourable reception, we shall lose no time in warm recommending their acceptance at the Courts of - Paris, nd London, expressing at the that they will not use ting special condi- ditions at the n Eurone ons, save in the interest of ) an ( such as will not rais€ peace re establishment of mine ti CJurt of Russia calmly to exa not enlarge on the )ns we submit to it. We shall be produced by for it a second t ave Consequences that ivould al to enter the path we open order that an honourable reconciliation may be effected—a refusal that would entail upon it the weight of an immense respons bility. We prefer relying on its wisdom to weigh well the opportunity now offered. iterpreting the wishes and true requirements of Europe. It remains for us to appeal to the exalted sentiments of the We believe we are no Emperor Alexander, whose supreme determination will decide the fate of so many millions of beings. His Imperial Majesty will, we are firmly per. suaded, choose the part which appears to us to be the only one consistent with - the real interests of his own people, and with the wants of humanity. Receive, &c, COUNT BUOL. --,--- TH E WAR. FRAN CI We read in a communication from Paris of Friday's date, that doubts and hesitations regard ing Russia's acceptance of the Austrian proposi tions, had been strengthened by subsequent dispatches which speak of modifications, which Russia reserves to herself, and which may mean exactly what she pleases, and are, at all events, inconsistent with the acceptance "pure and simple' which alone gave value to the communication made yesterday. Prince Jerome gave a grand dinner the day be fore yesterday, at which were present the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Napoleon, Lord ,Cowley, Sir E. Lyons, Admiral Dundas, General Count de la Marmora, Marshal Vailant, Count Walewski, Gen. Canrobert, General Bosquet, General Neil; General de Martiniprey, Admiral Hamelin; Admiral Jurien de la Graviere, Admiral Penaud, the Turkish Ambassador, the Sardinian Minister, Lord Holland, M. Abbatucci, M. Billault, M. Troplong,. M. de. Morny; Colonel Claremont, Colonel Tyrwhitt, Major Clifton, Captain Brady, and M. de Gram mont. M. Fould, the Minister of State, gave a grand dinner the day before yesterday. A concert was given in the evening, and was honoured by the eke of Cambridge. Mdmes. Borghi Abel and M. Mario were among Mauro and Marie C • the principal artists on the occasion. M. d'Olozaga, Minister of Spain - in France, has arrived in Paris. The following incident marked the review of Tuesday: --At the moment when the Emperor was passing in front of the Zouaves of the Uuard, the son of the eantiniere of the regiment, a boy of about seven years of age, and already wearing the Zouave uniform, drew near. the Emperor and pl . ( tsented to him a fine bo uquet o f v i o l ets 1 ) and bouquet to t pointing to the balcony Ited with her ladies, and then pro now am I to. get. to messe show you the wa ith his inspection. "But Empress ?" said the huh I barrassmen " I will man," said a deep voice near him; and the boy, looking up, perceived that it was the tall drum-major of the Zouaves who had volunteered to serve him as guide. The tall _ ively by the hand, an d i u a few minutes, thanks Co the imperturbable repeti tion of " By order of the Emperor, a bouquet for the Empress," they soon arrived near her Majesty. The Empress accepted the flowers, embraced the little boy on each cheek, and asked him his name and those of his parents, and appeared de lighted with his present. At last the child, after having been carressed and kissed by the ladies, re turned with his tall comrade to the court below. It may be imagined that he was asked a thousand questions when he came down, but all his faculties seemed to be concentrated in the one fact of his interview, as his constant reply was :—" The Em press ernbraced me." man then took t RUSSIA The St. Petersburg papers, to the date of the 31st Dec. (January 11) have reached us. • The Invalide liusse publishes the following extracts &Obi Prince Gortschakoff's journal of the military operations from the 4th to the 14th (16th to the 26th) of December. During this period of time the operations have been confined, on both sides, to outpost skirmishes. On the 9th (21st) of December, Colonel Oklobjio commander of the detachment of the advanced guard on the left flank of our position, made an excursion towards the village of Urkusta. With this object in view a detachment of men, -armed with carbines, and a portion of the 72d cohort of the militia of Kalouga, left the lighthouse in the direction of that village. This movement spread an alarm hi the whole of the neighbouring enemy's camp. Three battalions of infantry assembled on the heights where the Zouaves are encamped, with the object o turning the right flank o Colonel Oklobjio's detachment ; but he had, meantime, effected his retreat, without having attained his object. On the 14th! (26th) of Dec., at five in the morn ing, a party of Frenchmen covered With white cloaks, shod with list, and with cotton caps on, turned secretly the left flank of our advanced line in . the pass leading to the Baidar valley, attacked the nearest post at the point of the ti b ayonet without fi r i ng a • shot, and at the same me blew a trumpet signal, upon which a battalion andi two squadrons, with, led hares, came down to take the men who had made the attack, command; iodf Colonelappearance o k olofbuiu r o n reserves, th e side under ico n t t i l e l the l'Fot-Sala, compelled the e r n j e i m ° 'y to retreat. Two Cossacks and one soldier 'and Smolensk l t o i o e t d hr e e Cossacksb th of infantry were regiment w e were wounded, The traces in his retreat, and th e left ° ` v y e enemy picked up by the battalions which left the heights, prove that our loss cost the French dear. On ue otner points of the Crimea nothing of _Glenlar importance hasoccurred; ot woriis of cue enemy on the south side of Sebastopol have been discontinued, on account of the severe frost ; in general, according to the information gathered, the Alli es sti ff er f romlthe want of warm Clothing, -- sitals have received many and, latterly, their patients with frozen From Genitehi it is r (18th) of be.eernber the • Sea) has been frozen Azar is froz-- ed that since the Gth of the Sivash (Putrid ', add thdt tk Sea of en to a et Table distance from the The Gazette thus announces the appointment of General Luders : Aide-de-Camp General de Ludo rs, charged with the command of the army of the south, and of the marine service at Nicolaieff, is appointed Com mander-iii-Chief of the army of the south, and of the land and sea forces in the Crimea, with all the rights, powers, and prerogatives enjoyed by the Commander-in-Chief of an army in time of war, retaining his rank of Aide-de Camp General. He replaces Aide-de-Camp-General Prince Gortschakeff 11., who receives another appointment. General Soukhozanet II: succeeds General Luders at Nicolaieff, under the order of General Luders. Aide-de-Camp-General de Kotzebue 11., chief of the staff of the army of the south, and of the troops in the Crimea, is appointed Commander of the sth corps of Infantry, retaining the dignity Of Aide d& Camp-Genet al. Lieutenant-General Nepokitchit sky succeeds him as Chief of the Staff of the troops in the Crimea. The Gazette publishes a long list of promotions and appointments. AUSTRIA Our advices from Vienna are to the 15th instant, and though they are silent on the subject of the acceptance by Russia of the propositions last made by the Cabiaet of Vienna, they announce that Count Stackelberg was expected in that city on the following day. We learn that all the Chambers of Trade have received orders to send in their opinions on the subject of free competition in trade. The official Milan Gazette contains the following article : In the Concordat it was said th of the Roman Catholic religion she hut nothing more. Besides, now-a-days, the Popes could not, if they would, endanger the independence of States. Let us, however, suppose the worst ! Let us suppose that the clergy, by means of book and ban, should endeavour to over come the bayonet and the administrative organiza tion, would the attempt succeed? We doubt it ! For ecclesiastical authority can effect little if justice is not with it, and the people behind it ! The times are past in which a clerical ordinance or the stake, could annihilate a book, or an idea. The press can produce thousands and thousands of copies of a work, and if it is suppressed in one place it is sure to appear in another. As the dungeon and the rack cannot now be weapons in the hands of-the Church, thoughts must in future be combated by thoughts, and arguments by arguments. ,t the privileges ild be inviolate. The foregoing extract will suffice to prove that the arbitrary measures of the Italian bishops have given great offence in the most influential non ecclesiastical circles. The Bohemian bishops, in one and the same pasto - ral letter, assure their flocks that the conclusion of the Concordat was . a great triumph for all true Catholics, but the Bohemians are still incredulous. The " mixed marriage" question has already brought the Hungarian bishops into the field. A Catholic was about to marry a Protestant girl, and the latter wished to have the nuptial ceremony performed by a clergy man of her own Church. The Catholic priest, however, refused to give the bridegroom a certificate that the banns had been regularly published, because be had received the following instructions from his bishop : " By the recently concluded Concordat, all laws and ordinances which are opposed to the same are annulled, and therefore it cannot be doubted that a Catholic bridegroom can only be married . in the manner prescribed by the Council of Trent, that is, in a Catholic Church. Should a Catholic bride. groom be induced by love to dare enter into a matrimonial engagenient in open contempt of the canonical laws, he would be guilty of an unlawful and impious (illicitunt et implant) act, and the neces sary conditions to a legal matrimonial union would be -wanting NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1850. THE RUGELEY POISONING CASES. (FROM OUR GIVN REPORTER:) STAFFORD, SUNDAI' Palmer was taken to London this morning, in order to be in attendance as a witness, in a cause appointed to be tried to-morrow (Monday), at Westminster-hall, in which the validity of an acceptance in the name of his mother, is involved. He was apparently in good health and spirits, but complains of the many "misrepresentations " which have gone forth to his prejudice. His brother, who is a clergyman in the Midland Counties, and much esteemed, came to Stafford on Saturday to visit him, and to afford him the benefit of his advice. It is expected that Palmer will state, on the trial at Westminster-hall, that the acceptances are by the authority of his mother ; but, if he even admitted his own criminality as to them, no proceedings could be' founded on such admissions, as they are " protected" by a recent act of parliament for the administration ofjastice iu suits at law. A represen tation as to the conduct of the Coroner, has been made to the Secretary of State, and confidence is felt that he will interfere, it he has the power to do so. The deceased Walter Palmer was in business a few years since as a corn broker, and was well known at the Liver -12.0,0l and Stafford 'Changes; he was what is termed a " fast " man, mixing with some of the junior mercantile until his bankruptcy. The bail of only £5O for Cheshire, the postmaster, has excited some sus picion on account of its smallness. He argues confidently on the fact of the letter being opened when received by him. It is understood that many facts could be laid be fore the jury, if those connected with the turf would but make it a matter of duty to come forward, as they ought, to state them. The local authorities who have the exclu sive conduct of the matter, without any aid, or occasion for, the socalled London detectives, find much difficulty in getting at facts, such is the extent of the Palmer influence, and the obliviousness to their duty of those in the locality. With regard of Palmer's appearance in court to-day, the following regulations have been agreed to :—That the police assemble at ten o'clock, the hour the various courts open, and remain in attendance until the termination of the proceedings. That Palmer be brought to the court between ten and eleven o'clock, that he shall not enter by men on the ordinary way, but by the judges' private entrance ; and that he shall remain in the judges' private room until he is called to give evidence. That immediately upon the case being over, Palmer shall be conducted through the private apartments to ,a vehicle in'waiting, and that he shall be conveyed immediately to Euston-square station, to return to Stafford by the first available train. THE INS URANC ES.—The following narrative of the inter views with the prisoner and his deceased brother Walter Palmer, with reference to the policy on the life of the latter with the Gresham Insurance office, is given by Mr. Farren, the actuary and secretary of that company:—lt appears that the proposal for insuring the life of Walter Palmer for £15,000 was left at the offices of the company by a person who was not known there. It was stated in the proposal paper that Walter Palmer had suffered from one attack of delirium tremens; that he was unmarried ; that his general health was good, and that he was not then addicted to habits of intemperance. Mr. Farren, thinking the proposal for insurance a peculiar one, required that Walter Palmer should attend in London and be exa. mined by their own medical man. He also directed an inquiry to be made at Rugeley as to his habits of life. A communcation was, in consequence, made to the office by Mr. Fawke, a respectable chemist and druggist residing in Rugelev— sty was s PRUSSIA Advices dated Berlin January 17, corroborate the Pacific tidings already published, and declare that the Russian Government has, on further con sideration, decided to accept the Austrian proposals as they are, doubtless reserving to itself the patriotic task of taking off their edge,•and blunting their point, in the negotiations which will neces sarily ensue. In the temporary abeyance of the detailed news of the motives that have led to this further pliancy on the part of Russia, official men here attribute this last pacific resolution to the urgent remonstrances and representations of Prus sia, which have of late been redoubled both in number and empressement. of th 3 satisfaction that various large to bear in mind that the immediate object of Rus sia at the present moment is to prevent the Austrian Ministers in St. Petersburg from asking for .his passpOrts, and to pave the way for peace conferences to be opened. The Cabinet of St. Peters burg did this for the first time in a despatch to this Government, dated Nov. 6. 1854, for the purpose of inducing the German PoWers to adopt a strict neutrality, and exert their influence to prevent the Western Powers from subsequently .raising their terms. As this offer was rejected, by the Cabinet of Berlin, with very unmistakeable expressions of resentment at the tone assumed in the Russian despatch, and the cabinet of St Petersburg was urged to accept the four points without reservation and alteration, Prince Gorts chakoff was instructed to do so Nov. 28. That was the second acceptance, and a third one took place January the 7th of last year, at the second con ference. It remains to be seen whether Russia means her acceptance this time to be more sincere than on the former occasions ; then the point de depart showed itself (as has been already mentioned) to be a point to be departed from, not merely a point to set out from. The Prince and Princess of Prussia arrived at Berlin at the beginning of last week with their daughter, the Princess Louisa, who will hold a species of drawing roam to-morrow, at noon, to receive the congratulations of the Court on occasion of her betrothal to the Prince Regent of Baden. The bridegroom arrived yesterday, and since then, also in preparation for the approaching ceremony, the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar, the Duke of Coburg and Gotha, and the Hereditary Prince of Anhalt Dessau. On the 14th instant the House of Notables pro ceeded to the election of a President, in.the room of Prince Pless, deceased. In consequence of its having been spread abroad by the Kreuz Z. Rung, that the late President had always wished his suc cessor to be Prince Adolphe zu Hohenlohe Ingel fingen, the said nobleman was elected, but only with the exact number of votes necessary, upon, which he mounted the President's rostrum and acknowledged the distinction conferred upon him in very modest and manly terms, but—in his General's uniform. The internal discontent in Russian had risen to a fearful height. The latest news was that, a number.of students at the Finland University had been sent to prison for drinking " Success to the Allies," and " Prosperty to Sweden." It was felt at St. Petersburg that another campaign in the Baltic would have dissevered Finland from Russia. Switzerland still continues to b 3 visited by shoe ks of earthquake. On the afternoon of the sth sharp shocks were felt at Briggs, in the Upper Val iis, at Aaron, ar.d at Interlaoken ; an in the night of the 7th a shock was felt at Lode. The Journal of the Two Siciliee mentions three shocks of earthquake experienced on the 2d at Settefrati and San Donato, in the provinces of Terra di LAvoro, and at Nicastro in Calabria. No damage was done in any of those places. THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT.—The government of Portugal has at length settled its debts in this country. Senor Fontes has arranged with Mr. Thornton, (chairman of the Bondholders' Committee) the basis of a conversion per r r c c e e n n t t in bo d n e df d ; 0 6 . : of the stock held by the bondholders. The Portuguese classes of stock, as under :—On five per g eo o n v v er e n r T s n i, T, d i a n te a d d o di e t e ir 18 t , o 18 th 52 e , g te iv r e m t s he o h f o t l h d e ers d e ec f r v e a e rio fo u r s p ir e o r m c e i n B6 t , 3 i . n o d n ef f e o r u r r ed pe t r hr e e e e nt p b e o r n c d e s n , t stock, with interest do.; and with regard to the debentures, it is understood that, in a ddi tion to the terms of the decree of the 18th of ee., 185, the holders of such debentures are to receive I _ ool . Thre e per cent active stock f or ever y 1001 of such debentures; and, in addition to the above, a certificate shall be given, entitling the holder of every 100 1. Three per cent stock 'co one per cent annually, or any smaller sum that may arise from surplus profits of the railways, to be constructed out or the proposed loans, viz., such surplus to be calculated on the basis of the annual cost of interest by which capital has e construction. the b en raised for their and the same gentleman is foreman of the coro- ❑er's jury now inquiring into the de .tip of Walter Palmer presentation not being satisfactory, Mr. Farren resolved not to recommend the life for acceptance to his board, unless upon certain conditions, and after a satis- factory medical examination. An appointment was made for Walter Palmer, in London, and he attended with his brother. Mr. Alfred Smee, the medical officer of the Society, then carefully examined Walter Palmer, and reported that he could not detect any traces of organic disease. Mr. Farren inquired of Walter what his inten tions were, and whether he really meant to abandon his habits of intemperance, and lead a new life ? Walter Palmer, who appeared to be in low spirits, said that such was his desire, but that " drink was always ready -for him," and that he conid not resist the temptation. He also added that he was very unhappy, and that his brother would not allow him any money unless he insured his life. Mr. Farren told him that he had no organic disease, and that if the office was convinced that William Palmer sincerely desired ;to protect his brother from the influences which appeared to surround him, and that if he were placed in a comfortable home, where his habits would be under some control, they would not object to insure his life, on the condition that they were not to pay if he died within five years from the The office made this condition, completion of the policy, feeling assured, from the medical examination of Mr. Smee, that if Walter Palmer resisted the temptation of drink for five years, his natural constitution was so sound and good that his life might then be fairly insuraVe. William Palmer demurred to these terms, and asked whether the life would not be accepted upon some more favourable conditions, urging that his brother's life, now that he was reformed, was as good a life as could be found. Mr. Farren said that if that were so, and that Mr. William Palmer was really going to take care of his brother, and had such an excelleat opinion of his life, he could not reasonably object to be his own insurer for five years. William Palmer's reply was, " That would not suit my book at all." Both brothers then left the offic:?, and in a few days afterwards (less than a week) Walter Palmer died. THE TRANSACTIONS WITH MR. PRATT.-It will be re membered that the inquest on Walter Palmer stands adjourned to Wednesday, in order that besides Dr. Taylor and others, Mr. Pratt, of May Fair, the solicitor, may be produced as witnesses. It is stated that Mr. Pratt disclaims all knowledge of the extent of William Palmer's insurance transactions. He states that he was introduced to Palmer two years ago by a per son named Holmes; and that, as he did not altogether like the introduction, he declined to have anything to do with his new client until he had given him an account of who and what he was. Palmer described himself as a surgeon, residing at Rugeley• with large expectations from his mother, to whom his father had :eft all his pr o p erty , an d i n want of money for present emergencies. Upon this representation Mr. Pratt states that he was induced to get him loans of money from some of his clients—the loans being principally secured upon bills of exchange, drawn upon, and accepted by, Mrs. Palmer, and upon the deposit of conveyances of land, in the neighbourhood of Rugeley, which Palmer had purchased. A large proportion of the advances made by Pratt were for the purchase of race horses, Palmer having paid for Nettle and The Chicken upwards of £3,000. The bills drawn upon Mrs. Palmer were for large sums —some of them £2,000 and £1,300; and they were renewed from time to time, Palmer sending up a portion of the amount on account, and new bills for the balance. The whole amount of the advances made by Mr. Pratt's clients amount to £11,200; and of this sum be states upwards of £B,OOO was in cash. In some instances Mr. Pratt threatened Mrs. Palmer with law proceedings, and actually sent down writs to he served up,,n her; lint the letters were all stopped in the Post-office; and he declares that he never could to Mr rt reply to any of ner except through - and tha it down to Rugeley to see Mrs. Palmer, she Wa represented as too ill to be seen, and that he was compelled to return to London without the satisfaction of an interview. Mr. Pratt further states, in his own justification, and as a reason for his applications to have insurances effected on the life of 'Walter Palmer, subsequently to the issue of the Prince of Wales' policy for £13.000, that William Palmer repeatedly assured him that the first policy was not sufficient to cover the advances made by his mother and himself to Walter Palmer, and that it would be absolutely necessary to have another insurance effected to cover family advances. The only con sideration, however, which William Palmer himself admits to have passed between himself and 'Walter, for the assign ment to the former of the Prince of Wales' policy, was £ 400, and even this sum appears to have been considerably in excess of the actual debt duo by Walter Palmer at the time of his dea:h. Mrs. Palmer allowed Walter a stipend of £2 per week, which seems to have been paid to him principally by William Palmer. It should also be observed, that Mr. Pratt stases that he refused to negotiate the policy at the Prince of Wales office, until he had proof of the advances made by William Palmer, and that when the latter instructed him to ge: a further insurance effected upon Walter's life, he offered it,in the first instance, to the Prince of Wales office, who declined to increase their risk. Mr. Pratt also adds, that be never saw Bates in his life, and that he withdrew the proposal he had made to the Solicitors' and General Office, for assuring the life of that individual for £25,000, whin he found that Palmer could not satisfy him of his position in life. Mr. Pratt expresses his perfect willingness to state every circurn stare° within his knowledge, tending to throw light upon the inq airy, r URTHER PARTICULA RS.—WalkedPn, the principal witness who spok e t o the state of health of Walter Palmer for the appointedweekbefoarned paid byWilliam Palmer to live with his brother , decease, a pp e ars to have been a k eeper and supply him with immense quantities of ardent spirits. H e ' was formerly Walter P a l mer a publican in Stafford, and boarded and lodged in the house. Walkeden appears never to have left al - o'll4 except fa a few hdqrs. - Tria - proVifd that . W a it er Palmpr went nhont 117;1i, becile I might do with went to tion of His reccip stipend have bee W. from '' lot Mr. Wil trport to be receip lam Palmer. they is not yet evidence to ahOw that' William, and not Waite. was the paymaster. Walter Palmer's Small, allowance from his mother, and the trifling advances from his brother, would alone seem to negative the .supposition that he could have paid 30s, a week out of £2 a week, as wages 'to his attendant The evidence of Walkeden, that William Palmer never visited his brother from the Saturday before his death until the morning on which that event happened, is completely contradicted by the evidence of Palmer's own diary, in which he states that on Sunday, the 12th of August, he• visited his brother twice. The diary also contains entries showing that he went to Stafford every day between Sunday and the following Thursday, and that go went to Liverpool on the Friday (the 17th), to acquaint his wife of his brother's death. The evidence of Mr. Loyd, the landlord of the Junction Hotel, at Stafford, and of the " boots "'also proves that Palmer was in Stafford, and visited his brc. week, from Sunday to the Thursday, both days inclus her on - every day of the Mr. Smith. who is conducting the defence, has resm.- take the necessary steps to have the prisoner's trial either in London or some town on the circuit, on the ground that the public prejudice existing against him in Stafford is so great as to preclude the possibility of a fair trial. The Crown, we are informed, will not resist the application. Although Palmer was frequently a defaulter on the turf, he appears to have ultimately paid everybody, raising money for that purpose at ruinous rates of interest. His domestic expenses seem to have been met with great regularity, and the tradespeople of Rugeley state that in small matters he was very punctual in making his payments. The house which he occupied is the property of the Earl of Lichfield. It is an, old fashioned, comfortable dwelling, with large and beautifully kept gardens. It is now shut up, and desolate. THE BEDFORD-ROW ASSASSINATION, The prisoner Westron, since his incarceration in the House of Detention, conducts himself as if he really believed he had only committed some very trivial escapade, instead of a most cold-blooded and atrocious murder. On Friday morning he called for writing materials in his cell, and wrote the following letter to Inspector Checkley, who has charge of the case, respect ing the property found on him when searched at the police-station ' after heing taken into cus t o dy ; on t h e morning of the murder:— " should feel much Obliged by your delivering up (if not against the usual routine adopted in such cases), the keys given up by me, and give them to Mrs. Nicholls, or any person she may appoint, The watch and money I am desirous of having myself, or if the watch is not allowed, it may be given to Mrs. Nicholls to keep at present.—Sir, yours obediently, . " CHARLES WESTRON. "To the Inspector who took charge of Charles Westron yesterday morning." This is the landlady at Kensington with whom he lodged, and the letter is written in a bold firm hand, showing that he had had a respectable education. Inspector Checkley searched his lodgings the same d iy, and found a s.nall cigar•box containing twelve or four teen new bullets and a bullet-mould, all fitting exactly to the pistols which were taken from him. It appears that on the day before the murder, when he had been dodging Mr. Waugh near Notting-hill gate, the unfortu nate gentleman, being about to enter an omnibus for town with his daughter, directed the attention of the policeman at the place to the prisoner, saying that he was bound over to keep the peace towards him (the deceased), and that he would do him a mischief if an opportunity presented itself. The prisoner then went away. GAIN! THE NORTH TIMES he gas quest As to quantity, we know all about it. We are dependent on the length of a tube inside the meter, which it is illegal to open. As to price : That remains to be decided by a variety of conditions, of which the payment of a ten per cent divi dend comes first. As to waste : Shall we say forty-five per cent ? No! we have some conscience—it is only forty. As to quality : Is every consumer to have his photometer with his candelabrum of eighteen to twenty-four candles at one end, and a well constructed bat's-wing barrier, with; jet of gas, at the other—with a decimal calculation in an algebraic formula every night, which would bother Dr. Pusey himself ? As to the present system, it is doomed if you folio w it up. Its overt crow will be an advantage, as the magistrates, who are now gas directors, may return to the bench with relieved conscience , , worry, with fines, the needy shop keerers who have the same vague notions as the quantity, price, and quality, in dealing with their neighbours.--I am, sir, yours, &c., Ex Fumo DARE LUCEM. Liverpool, Jan. 19, 1856. POLICE NEGLECT TO THE EDITOR OF THB NORTHERN TIMES. Sir,—T trust you will excuse the liberty lam taking, but I am sure you will consider it palliated, when I make public the following facts. I was returning last evening from seeing the Pantomime, at the Theatre Royal, when I was rudely insulted by two ruffians in Lime-street, one of whom struck me a severe blow on the head, which almost stunned me. Pcalled loudly and, repeatedly, far the police, but not one was to be found. I went up Elliot street, Great Charlotte-street, and Ranelagh-street, but the same ill-success met my efforts. I consider it is becoming a scandalous disgrace to those who have to do with the police force, to allow the m en t o b e i n so wretched •• • a state of discipline. We pay for police a rate which ought surely to warrant protection to our persons, but I might have been robbed, and half killed, before a member of the force would have rescued me. I hope you will give this publicity, and expose the want of attention and care fulness. If any thing ridiculously trivial is taking place, then half-a-dozen police are present, but only let it be a serious matter, and you may be certain, that even a soli tary constable will be non est inventa s.—Yours, &c., A TOWNSMAN. Liverpool, January 17, 1856. EXTRAORDINARY DISAPPEARANCE OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. A great sensation has been created at the Office of Works by the disappearance of one of the principal officials tinder very distressing circumstances. It appears that the individual in question left the office on Monday evening, about six o'clock, and arrived at home at ten, and left his h ouse aga i n at two o'clo c k i n t h e morning, from which time, to the present, no trace of him has been entertained. A letter was received by his mother without date or address, merely stating that he was well, but without giving any clue to his whereabouts, or his reason for absenting himself. From the statements of his friends, it appears that he has for sometime been in a very excited and nervous state, and they aro very apprehensive that his mind has become affected. On the same day that he left, a clerk in the Office of Woods and Forests, there is every reason to believe, destroyed himself, and this painful occurrence may probably have operated prejudicially on the mind of the gentleman in question, already, perhaps, in a diseased state. As it is, the police throughout the kingdom are using every exertion to find out what has become of him. We understand t accent the offic, of as. rig decline r Pt antjudge of th eon appointed. iesex sessio v, Q C.,1 • W. E. Baiter, Esti, M.P. for the Montrose district of Burghs, has been requested by Lord Palmerston to second the address to her Majesty at the opening of Parliament, which he has consented to do.—Arorth, British Had. Tun CRAWFORD PEERAGE. —We understand a claim for this title is about to be made by an intelligent farmer in this neighbourhood, who says he possesses documentary evidence of his undoubted affinity to the noble house of Lindsay. _ An eminent Edinburgh lawyer is t o t a k e the which tit At Derry a Good and f it appea Strah wh YARN Since last reps continued ste peace, prices Itaie to-day assumed a BROWN LINENS IN COUNTRY Ballymena mar►--• '' the impr suited fir Hol lower Nos. th Supply rof cloth v d - demand cintinnes_ with wird tendencN demand Ef last week Spot , ly, a f BRITISH AND FOREIGN MARKETS. —Flax and Tow.— At Dundee there is more doing in flax, and holders are generally willing to sell, but do not press sales. Con sumers buy very cautiously, and only for immediate wants. Prices fairly supported. Riga HT, sold at £3B lOs per ton ; Petersburg, 8-heads, £37 15s to £3B lOs ; Memel Wilna Crowu, £46. At auction, a small quantity sold at £32 for RT; £36 DC ; £3B PRT, &0., not cash. Tow still without animation, aad trabsactions so trifling that prices are almost nominal. Arrivals of the week, 225 tons flax and codilla. At Hull a very trifling business is doing, and sellers are more inclined to meet buyers in prices. Arrivals of the week, 384 tons flax and tow. The total exports through Prussian ports, for 1855 were—from Memel, 47,000 tons flax, and 890 tons tow and codilla; from Konigsberg and Br'insberg, 7,800 tons flax, and 635 tons codilla. Stocks at Konigsberg, on I at 400 tons flax, and 80 the 31st I)ecemb tons cadilla Dundee, and in som the promotion Ireland, was h fast. On the ply has f being ful on Frid as been or of the preceding eight 'year n i yarn s in better request at large bus i ness has been done. ne sorts of tow yarns still dull. nd th 119,X 11:1 is, Be?- rid other re sup- to hope uns year will show a gra t:fving improvement. The report or the committee of the society contains a'highly valuable amount of information ; it shows, in the clearest manner, the numerous-advantages. of extending the culture of A. crop so peculiarly suited to our soil : and WA 1". Inn", speech devote a la 'e mad I yield :iIRMINC al ct I vv of the iro n trade . yesterday, for the r jected adyann. are now all T Western ft tion was agreed - upon:- the course adopted by t to these charges, and tl communicate with •b any time be'rnad dei)uta other officials of the North Western, at the place, In the co urse of the discussion which took place, Huish expressed an opinion to the effect tnat he had ner approved the charge of lld per ton for conveyance ; bu, with regard to the other charges he was not prepared to make any statement whatever. I upon ( JOSEPH HATDN. —This learned and excellent man, whose case we so recently noticed, expired on Thursday evening last ; and the government by this event will save the further payment of the munificent (!) pension of Is 4 i 1 ,4 per diem, which they had just granted him. UNIVERSITY OF CAAIRR,DGE ELECTION.--At an tnflucn tial meetini, held on Saturday morning, at Cambridge, of members of the Senate, it was announced that Mr. Wel, pole had consanted to be put in uominatioo as a caadidate to represent the University, to the great satisfaction of hit( friends, who entertain no doubt of his success. The Hot. George Denman has had a meeting of his friends, and he also been put in nomination for the University. The municipal authorities of Strasburg have within the last few days placed at the disposal of the inhabitants of the town, a fountain supplied with hot water coming from the steam engine of the tobacco manufactory. The water runs into a large reservoir, which is divided into two com partments, from one of which persons can take the water and carry it to their houses for domestic purposes, and the other is so arranged that a certain number of women can wash - their linen hi it. • The establishment of this' washing-place was agreed on Qnn•in • - ie tobacco 1. I rk urne4 rt simitar t generally follow.;A. ing of prop at the corn Divett. Esn tors hp loud c classe calmly (lid no Dn, she wasver by the Is sd _ ; 3 tons matter in hand.—Montrose Revietv SIR JAMES SIMPSON.—The Queen has been pleased to grant to General Sir James Simpson, G.C.8., her Majesty's royal license and permission that he may accept and wear the Imperial Order of the Medjidie of the first class, which the Sultan bath been pleased to confer on him, as a mark of his Imperial Majesty's approbation of his distinguished services before the enemy during the present war. TEE EASTERN COUNTIES DISPUTE ,_The committee of investigation of the Eastern Counties Railway have issued their statement with regard to Mr. Waddington's answer to their original report. After reviewing each of Mr. Waddincrton's pleas, the committee re-assert the validity of all the charges made in their report, and conclude by conte—ling that the following have been fully proved—namely, that the dividends declared half -yearly have been from untrue accounts; that the permanent way has been neglected so as to cause great loss awl scandal to the company; that £200,000 h .s been illegally lent to the Eastern Union Company ; that an attempt was made improperly to cancel a balance of £31,341 due from the Norfolk Company ; that X 38,264, laid out chitfly on th e N or f ti lk l i ne, has been charged to the Eastern Counties: th a t no au di t . has .. • -- - c• ca ace oT rue or locom o ti ve d epar t ment ; that the sores account has never been balanced since 1851 ; and, finally, that there has been a loss on this account of nearly £50,000, which has never appeared in the books. TRIDE R to deman prices are stew' to 6kl 2,000 Surat, 3 of which 3,000 are on sp PIG IR( was bid! übsequeutly sold at a u) about 455. The de( • PALM OM dull at .£45, SAPAN WOOD : 5 t IVN U 1 49s for 25 pipes, Convntrat tons foreign sold at delivery best qualit James Store Esq., seconded the read by the solicitor, and the resolution was passed unanimously. The meeting then terminated. re by eon f 311, and after the charter Lonn ALBEMARLE'S ADVICE TO THE WOKI NG rI Earl of Albemarle called a meeting of the' of his district on Tuesday evening, in the Nov room at East !hemp., and addressed the on the subject of benefit clubs. Tb 33,232 benefit societies in Engl,-. butors was 3,032,000 f the annual i, : t length meet at public I scale of paymen nuation alto committees governmpn and more nct remernt Lk, reas a rap on the knucktea -ATURDAIt a-dav—has been rather _ • supply ruoderme, pi: 50 Maranium, • - 0,000 biles I Only Idtion and warrant,'