Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-04 00:00:00

AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN. The Montreal Ocean Steam-ship Company's lamer North American, arrived in the Mersey, about noon yesterday, with dates from New York to the 21st, and from Portland and Boston to the r And ultimo. She brings 18 cabin and 37 steerage Passengers. ba On the 31st Jan., 51 N. lon.—W. passed the Nue Troj an , w ith foremast sprung. The New York papers of the 21st announce that that the barque Laurens, of that port, had been seized in New London, on the previous day, on suspicion of being about to proceed on a slave voyralyge to the coast of Africa. The Laurens for raebelonged to Kennebunk, and has been einployed in the whaling business. A P ost-office despatch from Washington says the House Committee have authorised their chair man to report a bill authorising the Postmaster kieneral to contract for the performance of any mail service for the accruing postages sea and inland, or for a specific sum, not exceeding the postages realised. , Another disgraceful melee has taken place between two members of the House of Represen tatives. On the 21st ult., as Hon. George Taylor, of the House of Representatives, .was passing „ one of th e halls of the Capitol this after 100n, he ov er h ear d a hi g hly o ff ensive re mark from 'tr. Waldron, of New York, made to the latter's e ? D3 Panion. Approaching Mr. Waldron, Mr. Taylor asked whether that language was A; 44rected against him. On receiving, after h esitation, an affirmative response, Mr. wa3'lor resented the insult by hitting Mr. aldron with his fist. Mr. Waldron s truck back with an umbrella, of which Mr. Taylor obtained possess i on a f ter i t passe d f rom M r . aldron's hand, and struck him with it, and threw it at him. Other parties interposed, and prevented fu 7 4l . l ter difficulty. It is said that Mr. Taylor pre sented the charges on which Mr. Waldron was re 'wed from the office of deputy collector of the custom -house at New York. The President had sent to the Senate a message i n. reply to the resolution calling for copies of any e r „,respondence in relation to the purchase of ba, which has not yet been made public. He Sap that, no such correspondence has taken place w r ,_nich has not already been communicated to regress, and adds, "In my last annual message stated that the publicity which has been s ubject, to our former negotiations on this ,'lluject, and the large appropriat ions which ma y ue required to effect the purpose, render it expe dient, before making another attempt to renew the negotiations, that I should lay the whole subject before Congress. I still entertain the same opinion, deeming it highly important, if not indispensible to the success of any negotiations which I might institute for the purpose, that the measure should receive the previous sanction of Congress. The referred to the Committee on as Foreign Relations. message was Advices from Venezuela of January 2, stat, that General Santana had been chosen President of that Republic. 13 111 10 3 i !1 th e ore lite r [l O5 l s ti' cl b e .. 0 rre oaf' rata ,. ovria The Nev' York journals publish news from Rayti to the 4th January. According to the re ports, the Emperor was moving against the insur gents. Ho had inspected the army, and taken other preliminary measures ; but in a bulletin issued on the . 4th ult., treats the insurrection as mere temporary riot, not endangering the stability of the Empire. A party of insur gents h a d occup i e d a position on the River Mont Reins, but on learning the roach:ap of the Emperor. they precipitately fled., h aving their ammunition, The Imperial troops is e n occupied the evacuated position. The army Ex hibited no signs of disaffection. Solouque had a a a le ,, a , ll - proclamation, calling his subjects to his ar ro : ll , °l announcing his determination to lead the st at e ' person. Gonaives is believed to be in a Later blockade. news from Havannah says, that the exci tement tt in relation to the future of Cuba, l e the di scuss i ons on P res id en t Buchanan's "sage had ne ar ly died out. Havannah was very healthy, and the weather delightful ; r t lt e a number of ladies and gentlemen from the Cates were enjoying themselves in the capital of ~„1 1ba . The Danish sloop of war, Nayada, 32 ' Bll 4ls, was in port, and attracted much attention. the Presid en t had sent into the Senate a documentclaims shewing the condition of the unsettled ras against foreign governments, together with solveai6 those which have been adjusted. By.a h aste glance at the paper, it appears that Captain / 3 111 . Webster presents a bill against Great ritain for over $6,500,000 for loss and indemnity for l an d s purchased from a c hi e f o f N ew Z ea l an d, rd of which he was dispossessed by English c ers• Claims are also urged by other parties a g a inst that Government for damage done to sc. Among commerce by the seizure and sale of vessels, Among these is one for the barque Panchita, f " o uniated at $44,000. The only reparation made f or the loss and capture of this vessel on the Af rican coast is the condemnation of Capt. Morse tff',w:s conduct andhis interference with the American Against Russia there are two cases, one for 04,000 and the other for $385,000. The latter t 8 Preferred by J. W. Perkins, of Massachuset ts, Pand charges a violation of the contract for arms pished d ur i ng th e . Crimean war. Against nee too, there are unsettled claims. She has r a rejectedthe s evera l, i nc l u din g that of the owners of . 0 ship America for loss and damages in 1839, for 'violating the blockade of Buenos Ayres, and for the property therby destroyed. Robert A. Parrish t enders a bill of fifteen millions of francs in ful filment of a verbal agreement entered into by Fould and the Minister of Finance, and con firmed by the Emperor, to pay him this amount u pon his demonstration of the existence of a gold t fi eld similar to that of California, and accessible o the French arms as soon as the French flag canof the be raised in token of sovereignty in any part ' the Territory indicated. He alleges this per formancel„s, and hence seeks the payment for the ,°. Against Spain there is a long account. Two i n 'lins against her involve nearly a million of dol n;v1 for alleged violation of contracts, and a for eal,',ahle list is preferred for loss of vessels by w 7, lll re• John S. Thrasher, of Cuban notoriety, e l:Pse case was involved in political questions, 1 0 ; 11118 $350,000, while there are eighty cases for a " and damage caused by the repeal of the Cub an ordinance of 1844, admitting provisions ah', lumber free of duty from the United States. Against Mexico there is a long list of unsettled and s ettled c l a i ms. P or t uga l i s h e ld res ponsible for l os ses to shipping. Belgium has settled her ec onnts for losses on property at Antwerp. by bo mbardment ; there were twenty-one such cases. Ro lland and Denmark have not satisfied any the claims against them. Prussia is asked make explanation for the arrest and t ; l : ll sage of a na t ura li se d citizen, who returned his native country, and who was held liable for military duty due before his emigration. This is j 1 1? of a number of similar cases. Against Turkey, Olin Reeves claims for loss and damage sustained 1 1' allegation of the non-fulfilment • of his contract f or building vessels of war at Constantinople. As to A the Dixon outrage at Jaffa, reparation is promised. Against Nicaragua, there are numerous cases, Including claims for property destroyed at Grey town by the bombardment. The documents specify what claims against the above named governments have been settled and' in what inanner, and the state of those now pending. In numerous instances the amounts of damages c laimed are no t s t a t e d, therefore there can be no clearly ascertained aggregate. Many millions are Involed, and some of the cases have been p endin g t orty years. he overland mail from the Pacific had reached St. Louis. The dates from San Francisco are to the 27th u lt. Th e P res id en t's message reached San Francisco on the afternoon of the 26th, in nineteen days and twelve hours from St. Louis. Business was dull. Mining on Fraser river had entirely ceased, and there was much suffering from the cold. The news from Victoria is to the 18th There is no material ohange to notice hi the state of commercial affairs at New York. The money market was steady ; an actiyg demand 1144 COMMERCIAL. set in, and some 15,000 bales 14td been sold since the departure of the Africa, and an advance of c. per lb had been established. Middling Uplands being quoted at 12tc. Breadstuffs were steady. Freights more active. THE OPENING PARLIAMENT. NEW YORE, January 21 The third session of the present Parliament was opened yesterday, by her Majesty in person. A royal procession is always an event of interest in London, and the inau guration of a parliamentary sesssion by the Queen invariably draws together an immense multitude of people, attracted partly by curiosity, and partly by those feelings of loyalty which it is the pride of Englishmen to STOCK AND MONEY.—Stocks were lower at the Second Board. Missouri Sixes 864 ; Lacrosse Land Grants 23 ; Harlem Third Mortgage 744 ; Pacific Mail Steam-ship Company 87 ; Rock Island Railroad 594 ; Canton Company 20 ; Cumberland Coal Company, preferred, 21*, s 60 ; "New York Central Railroad 844, s 3 ; Erie Railroad 14 ; Panama Railroad 116 ; Reading Railroad 494 ; Michigan Southern Railroad 201; do guaranteed 471 ; Galena and Chicago Railroad 704 ; Cleveland and Toledo Railroad 314, s3O ; Lacrosse and Milwaukee Railroad 1 ; Harlem Railroad, pre ferred, 394. Ashes : Sales trifling. Pots firm and in demand, at $5 624 c. Pearls dull at $6. Cotton firm, at 4c advance ; sales 5,500 bales ; middling uplands at, 121 c. Bread stuffs : Flour: Receipts 4,562 brls ; sales 12,000 brls ; State and Western firmer ; unsound $3 75c to $4 35c superfine State $4 95c to $5 10c ; extra do $5 60c to $5. 85c ; round hoop Ohio $5 90c to $6 10c ; common' to good extra Western $5 60c to $6 95c ; Southern firmer ; sales 3,000 brls ; mixed to good $5 60c to $5 75c ; fancy - and extra $5 89c to $7 75c; Canada superfine nominal; extra $6 15c to $6 80c. Grain :.Wheat firm but quiet, sales 7,500 bushels ; white Michigan $1 45c to $l - 46 ; Southern red $1 30. Corn lower; sales, 26,000 bushels ; mixed Western, 85c to 86c ; new white, 84c to 85c ' • new yellow, 80c. Oats firmer ; Southern and Jersey , 50c to 66c ; Northern and Western, 56c to 65c. Pro visions : Beef unchanged ; sales, 425 brls ; country mess, $7 75c to $9 ; prime, $6 50c to $7; repacked Chicago, $8 50c to $lO 50e. Pork firmer; sales, 1,100 brls; mess, $l7 50e to $l7 62c for old, and $lB 25c for new ; prime, $l3 35c to $l3 50e. Bacon, steady; Hams, 94c to 91c; !Shoulders, 644 c to 64c. Dressed Hogs quiet, at 7c to Bc. Lard buoyant ; sales, 900 brls, at 114 c to 12c and 124, 200 kegs at 15c. Butter, steady ; Ohio, 12c to 20c ; State, 15c to 26c ; Whiskey lower ; sales 200 brls at 271 c to 28c. Rice firm ; sales 500 tierces at 3c to 4c. Sugars firm and advancing ; sales 500 brls. ; New Orleans 7c to 84c ; Muscovado 64c to 74c. Coffee active, at 1c advance; sales 5,400 bags, including 3,900 bags Santos, by auction, at 111 c to 131 c, average 11;. 2 ,c. Molasses firmer ; sales 500 brls ; New Orleans 42c. Spirits Turpentine dull ; sales 200 brls at 481 c to 49c. Rosin : Sales 1,000 brls ; common at $1 80c ; fine $2 12c to $4 50c. Tar : Sales 100 brls Washington thin at $2 55; del. Iron quiet ; Scotch Pig $25 60c to $26. Leather : Oak light and middles steady ; hemlock sole declined 4 c on the week. Oils firm; Linseed, 67 c to 69 c ; Lard, 95c to 97c ; sperm, sales 1,600 brls crude at $1 40c ; Whale, sales 300 brls crude at 55c Hides quiet ; sales 1,000 ; Orinoco 244 e. Lead steady. Tobacco unchanged; Kentucky 6c to 13c. Tallow firm ; sales 20,000 lbs at 101 c. \Vool continues very firm with an upward tendency; sales 90,000 lbs Domestic fleeces, at 424 c to 60c for one-quarter blood to Saxony ; Pulled is in demand 'at 34c to 48c for No. 1 super and extra ; for Foreign there have been sales of 136 bales at 16c for medium unwashed Mestiza, 23c to 24c for fine ditto. Freights to Liverpool unchanged ; the market is quiet, and rates are nominally unchanged. CiLUtLESTON, Jan. 20.—Cotton : Sales to-day, 4,000 balei, the market closing with an advance of Sc. to Ic. ; good middling quoted 114 c. ; sales for the week foot up 17,000 bales. display. Yesterday's proceedings formed no exception to this general rnle. Government offices, parish churches, and private residences exhibited their best flags and their newest devices, in honour of the ceremony. Even Mon tague House (the London residence of the Duke of Buc cleuch), which is not only doomed to destruction, but which is actually undergoing the process of demolition, welcomed for the last time a select party of visitors, who were anxious to catch a glimpse of the procession as it passed. St. Martin's Church, true to the enthusiastic loyalty which, in virtue of its being " the Royal Parish," it is in duty bound to exhibit, rang out its merriest peals, while St. Margaret's, the parish which has the honour of including both Houses of Parliament within its boundaries, followed the example cordially and with highly commendable energy. From St. Margaret's tower the royal standard proudly floated, and similar demonstrations were made at the Admiralty and other Government offices. Along the whole of the line of route which was available for the purpose,- balconies were erected, and these were well filled with fashionable visitors. Parlia ment-street presented a most animated appearance, every window being occupied, and seats, or rather standing places, having been erected in front of nearly every house. SAVANNAH, Jan. 20. - Cotton : Sales of the week 8,750 bales; receipts same time, 12,250 bales; increased receipts at all Southern norts, as compared with last year, 884,500 bales ; stock in port 59,000 bales. • , AUGUSTA, GA., Jan. 20.—COTTON : Sales to:day 1,000 bales. The market closes with an advanced of lc. • NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 20.—Corrom : Sales to-day 3,600 bales at unchanged prices. Sugar steady; sales 2,000 hhds. at 6,'-,e, for fully fair. Flour is advancing ; sales on speculation of 3,300 brls. at $5 50c for super, an advance of 25c. Corn firmer at $l. PASSENGERS per S.S. North-American.--Rev. William Clarke, Mr. Raiford and lady, Mr. John Roy, Captain J. L. Watts, Mr. R. Maitland, Dr. Mensor and lady, Mr. and Mrs. Barpee, Mr. Cobb, Rev. Mr. Williams and lady, Mr. Francis, Mr. 'Falconet, Mr. White, Mr. F. Parker, Mr. H. Turnbull. THE BRAZILIAN MAIL. The following telegram from Lisbon has been received : LISBON, Feb. 2. The Brazilian mail steamer. Avon has arrived here, and will leave for Southampton to-day. • She brings 68 passengers, £59,000 in silver, and £31,000 worth diamonds. At Pernambuco, the Cotton Market remained unchanged, and only a moderate amount of busi ness was doing. The Fox, Captain Smith, of Liverpool, had been burnt near Parabia. Exchange on London at Pernambuco was quoted at 261 to 261. The following vessels had arrived from Liver pool at Pernambuco :—Eleanor, Richmond, Rom lulus, Meg Merrilees, Lord Althorp, Hermione, Ophir. The expedition against Paraguay had arrived at Monte Video. The Brazilian Government has offered its mediation to the United States, which has been accepted. The Brazilian admiral left Monte Video for Paraguay, charged with the mission. A definitive treaty, between Brazil, Monte. Video, and the Argentine Confederation, has been signed at Rio de Janeiro. It relates to the convention of 1828. The Avon brings drafts to the amount of £BOO,OOO on England, 1,000,000 francs on France, and 500,000 marks banco on Hamburgh. Coffee exported since the deparrture of the Tyne, 190,675 bags ; of which, 23,177 bags for the Channel, 5,000 bags for the Mediterranean, and 2,252 for Havre. Stock only 15,000, on account of it being impossible to receive supplies by usual routes — Price for good first, 4.750 to 4.800 ' • discount, 8 p.c. The Avon brings 500 contos of gold. The fol lowing ships had arrived :----Helgesen, Schevinge, Emeral Isle, Oden, Gertruda, Sarah, Glen. Almond, Hanna Lecorapa, Alexander, Ottowa, Malvina. THE PRINCESS FREDERICK WILLIAM. OFFICIAL BULLETIN. BERLIN, Feb. 3, 11.22 a.m. The Princess Frederick William and the infant prince continue doing - well. (Signed) Dr. SCIMENELIN. Dr. WEGNER. Dr. MARTIN. ENTRY OF THE PRINCE NAPOLEON AND HIS BRIDE INTO PARIS. PARIS, Thursday Morning. The Moniteur of this morning contains the following : " Their Imperial Highnesses the Prince and Prin cess Napoleon will arrive at three p.m., at the Tuileries. A squadron of Cuirassiers of the Im perial Guard will form the escort. Four batallions of the National Guard, Cuirassiers, Voltigeurs, and Dragoons, will be ranged in double lines from the Court of the Carousel to the Tuileries. Their Imperial Highnesses will be received on their arrival by their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress." THE COURT. Shortly after five o'clock, yesterday afternoon, her Majesty and the Prince Consort left Buckingham Palace for Windsor Castle. "'"A meeting was held on Wednesday night to promote the abolition of the paper duty, Mr. Milner Gibson in the chair. Some remarks appear to have been made which have given offence to the cheap newspaper press. Although it is the month of February, 1859, most people admit we are living in hard times, hence it should be the study of every one to ask themselves the question, "How can I save my money ?" We reply, without hesitation, buy your steel pens and other sta tionery, at E. T. Hall's wholesale steel pen wa rehouse, 23, South John-street. John Gillett's, Thomas Lowe's, G. W. Hughes, and other maker's pens at is per gross. Good Pen Holders 2d per dozen. Stagnation prevailed to-day throughout the Stock Exchange, the Queen's Speech being anxiously awaited. Meanwhile the existing suspense through the inaction which it induces, prejudices some class of securities. The Funds declined kto per cent. The uncertainty as to the next Indian Loan may be expected to have some influence. English Railway Stocks, in some instances, showing a drooping tendency. The demand for money Ha s strict to-day in the Discount Market,—Daily News City Article Weeneolay Evening, THE NORTHERN TIMES, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1859 The morning was one of extreme brilliancy—real " Queen's weather "in fact; and there was a greater gathering of her Majesty's loyal subjects than has been witnessed foe many years past, especially in the Park, which appeared to be the favourite resort. Lord Willoughby D'Eresby, the Lord Chamberlain, had issued an official notice that the doors of the House of Lords would be opened for the admission of peeresses and others, who had the privilege of being present, at twelve o'clock, but some time before that hour the carriages' of peeresses and other members of the aristocracy were to be seen rolling along towards the New Palace at Westminster, so great was the anxiety to obtain places in the galleries of the House, and in the corridor through which, after robing, her Majesti would pass to meet both branches of the Imperial Legislature. -At a few minutes past twelve o'clock a Royal carriage, bearing the Imperial crown, which had been committed to the charge of the officers of the jewel office of the Tower, and escorted by a body of yeomen, passed alonc , Whitehall en route to the House of Peers. Shortly afterwards a select body of Life Guards, on foot, whose business it was to' line the Queen's gallery, entered the House, and took up the stations which had been allotted to them. About the same time a field officer's guard of honour from the Grenadier Guards, with their band and State uniforms, marched into the Palace Yard, and took up their positions for the purpose of saluting her Majesty on her arrival. Sir Richard Mayne took possession of the line of route at one o'clock, and from that time all the traffic along Whitehall and Parliament-street was suspended. Simul taneously the line along which the royal cortege was to pass was lined by Life Guardsmen, who were supported by strong bodies of the various divisions of the metropo litan police. At a few minutes past one o'clock, a royal salute of twenty-one guns announced the fact that her Majesty had entered the state carriage, and the Royal procession immediately afterwards emerged from the central gateway of Buckingham Palace, where her Majesty has been staying since her arrival in London (from Windsor) on Wednesday. As usual on such occasions, the procession consisted of eight Ifoyal carriages, conveying the Pages of Honour, the Equerries, the Maids of Honour, the Ladies of the Bed chamber, the Lord Chamberlain (Lord Willoughby D'Eresby), the Vice-Chamberlain (Vicount Newport, M.P,), the Lord Steward (the Marquis of Exeter), the Keeper of the Privy Purse. (Colonel the Hon. Sir C. P. Phipps), the Master of the Household, (Lieut.-Col. T. M. Biddulph), the Countess of Desart ; Lord Crofton, Lord in. Waiting; Col. the Hon. A. Liddell, Groom in Wait ing ; Lieut.-General Wyld, Capt. the Hon. D. de Ros, Lord George Lennox, Major-Gen. the Hon. C. Grey, and other high officers of the Royal household. Her Majesty and the Prince Consort were in the state carriage, attended by the Duchess of Manchester, the Mistress of the Robes, and the Duke of Beaufort, Master of the Horse. Her Majesty and her illustrious Consort were most enthusiastically received along the whole of their Hue of progress. At ten minutes past two her Majesty entered the House, the guns outside announcing the fact. The Prince Consort conducted the Queen to the Throne, and then took a chair on her left hand. In the immediate vicinity of the Throne stood the Ministers whose duty it was to bear the sword of state, the cap of maintenance, and the crown. Sir Augustus Clifford, the. Usher of the Black Rod, by command of the Queen, summoned the members of the House of Commons (who had meanwhile assembled) into the Royal presence. The Right Honourable the Speaker, in his state robes, accordingly appeared at the bar, followed by the members of the Government who have seats in the Lower House, and by a large number of independent members, who rushed along the corridors from one house to the other as though they were running a race—as indeed they were, the prize being a place in the very small space which is allotted to them in the House of Lords on the occasion of such ceremonies as that of yesterday. As soon as something like order was restored, The Lord Chancellor knelt, and handed to her Majesty the Royal Speech, which she read with her usual clearness and distinctness, as follows : QUEEN ' S SPEECII. MX LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, In recurring at the usual season to the advice of my Parliament, I am happy to think that in the internal state of the country there is nothing to excite disquietude, and much to call for satis faction and thankfulness. Pauperism and crime have considerably diminished during the past year, and a spirit of general contentment prevails. The blessing of the Almighty on the valour of my troops in India, and on the skill of their com manders, has enabled me to inflict signal chastise ment upon-those who are still in arms against my authority, whenever they have ventured to encounter my forces i and I trust that, at no distant period, I may be able to announce to you the complete pacification of that great Empire, and to devote my attention to the improvement of its condition, and to the obliteration of all traces of the present un happy conflict. On assuming, by your advice, the direct government of that portion of my dominions, I deemed it proper to make it known, by proclamation, the principles by which it was my intention to be guided in the clemency which I was disposed to show towards those who might have been seduced into revolt, but who might be willing to return to their allegiance. I have directed that a copy of that proclamation should be laid before you. I receive from all foreign powers, assurances of their friendly feelings. To cultivate and confirm those feelings, to maintain inviolate the faith of public treaties, and to contribute as far as my in fluence can extend to the preservation of the general peace, are the objects of my unceasing solici tude. I have concluded with the Sovereigns who were parties tl the treaty of Paris of 1856, a convention relative to the organisation of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. The Rouman provinces are now proceeding to establish, under its provisions, their new form of government. A treaty of commerce which I have concluded with the Emperor of Russia, and which will he laid before you, is a satisfactory indicatickn of the complete re-establishment of those amicable relations which, until their late unfortunate inter ruption had long subsisted between us, to the mutual advantages of our respective dominions. The measures which, in concert with my ally the Emperor of the French, I thought it necessary to take upon the coast of China, have resulted in a treaty by which further eithsion of blood has been prevented, and which holds out the prospect of greatly increased intercourse with that extensive and densely peopled empire. Another treaty into which I have entered. with the Emperat , of Japan, opens a fresh field for co mmercial enterprise, in a populous and highly civiiiaed ()wary, wh hay hitherto beenich jealously guarded against the intrusion of foreigners. As soon as the ratifications of these treaties shall have been exchanged they will be laid before you. I have great satisfaction in announcing to you that the Emperor of the French has abolished a system of Negro Emigration from the East Coast of Africa, against which, as unavoidably tending, however guarded, to the encouragement of the slave trade, my Government has never ceased to address to his Imperial Majesty its most earnest but friendly representations. This wise act on the part of his Imperial Majesty induces me to hope that negotiation, now in progress at Paris, may tend to the total abandonment of the system, and to the substitution of a duly regulated supply of substantially free labour. The state of the Republic of Mexico, distracted by civil war, has induced me to carry forbearance to its utmost limits in regard to wrongs and indignities to which British residents have been subjected, at the hands of the two contending parties. They have, at length, been carried to such an extent, that I have been compelled to give instructions to the commander of my naval forces in those seas, to demand, and, if necessary, to enforce, due reparation. GENTLEMEN OF TILE HOUSE OF COMMONS, I have directed that the estimates for the ensuing year shall be submitted to you. They have been framed with a due regard to economy, and to the efficiency of the public service. The universal intro duction of steam-power into naval warfare will render necessary a temporary increase of expendi ture, in providing for the re-construction of the British navy ; but I am persuaded that you will cheerfully vote whatever sums you may find to be requisite for an object of such vital importance as the maintenance of the maritime power of the country. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, Your labours have, in recent sessions, been usefully directed to various measures of legal and social improvement. In the belief that further measures of a similar character may be wisely and beneficially introduced, I have desired that Bills may be submitted to you without delay for assimilating and amending the laws relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency ; for bringing together into one set of statutes, in a classified form, and with such modifications as experience will suggest to you, the laws relating to crimes and offences in England and Ireland ; for enabling the owners of land in England to obtain for themselves an indefeasible title to their estates and interests, and for registering such titles with simplicity and security. Your attention will be called to the state of the laws which regulate the representation of the people in Parliament, and I cannot doubt but that you will give to this gpeat subject a degree of calm and impartial consideration proportionate to the magnitude of the interests involved in the result of your discussions. - These and other propositions, for the amendment of the laws, which will be brought under your notice as the progress of public business may permit, I commend to the exercise of your deliberate judgment, and I earnestly pray that your counsels may be so guided as to ensure the stability of the throne, the maintenance and improvement of our institutions, and the general welfare and happiness of my people. HOUSE OF LORDS-THURSDAY The House assembled at two o'clock to hear the Royal Speech. After the usual ceremony, and the delivery of the Speech, the House suspended its sitting till a quarter after four, at which hour Lords Charleston and Kingsdown took the oaths and their seats. _ _ . . The V attendance was very full, both of the Ministers being present, as well as the leading members of the Opposition. The Earl of Derby moved formally the first reading of a Bill for the better regulation of Select Vestries. The Royal Speech having again been read, The Earl of Speech having again been read, The Earl of Winchelsea moved the address in reply. He commented upon the satisfactory state of the country, and the suppression of the rebellion in India, and upon the advantages which would accrue from the treaties with Japan and China ; he augured well from the promise, proposed in the speech, of amelioration of the law, and believed that the promised measure of Reform would enfranchise a_large body of the people. Lord Ravensworth seconded the address. - - The Earl of Granville observed the absence of all allusion in the speech to colonial affairs, though he did not expect that anything woald be said after the unfor tanate lonian affair. He reprobated the course by Austria in Italian affairs. He said that he should not move any amendment to the speech, and observed that a fair measure of Reform would meet with the support of the country. The Earl of Derby con g ratulated the house on the unanimity which appeared to prevail, at a time when so much unanimity was required. He dwelt on the general prospects of the country, as evidenced by the decrease of pauperism. He explained the absence of any reference to the affair of the Charles and George, by observing that the Government abstained till the papers were ready to be laid before Parliament. Lord Brougham said that the feeling, both in France and Germany, was unanimous against war. After some observations from the Earl of Carlisle, the address was agreed to. The house then adjourned at fifty minutes past eight o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.--THURSDAY The House met at two o'clock, and proceeded to the House of Lords to hear the Queen's Speech read, after which its sitting was suspended till four o'clock. At four o'clock the House resumed with a numerous attendance in the front benches on both sides. . The Speaker read letters from Lords Canning, Clyde, and Elphinstone, and Sir J. Lawrence, acknowledging the vote that was passed by the House for their services in India. New writs were ordered for Banbury, in place of Mr. Tancred, and for Galway, in place of Mr. O'Flaherty. Sir A. Agnew gave notice that be should, to-morrow, ask whether the government sanctioned the regulations requiring the soldiers at Malta to present arms to the Host. Mr. Warren gave notice that, on an early day, he should move various resolutions for the furtherance of the Christian religion in India. ADDRESS TO THE SPEECH The. Speaker read the Royal Speech from the chair, after which Mr. Trefusis rose to move the address in reply. He referred to the present prosperity of the country, which presented a contrast so satisfactory to the commercial distress of last year, and to the gratifying prospects announced in the speech as regarded India. lie was sure that the house would join with him in congratulating her Majesty on the auspicious event in her family. The speech announced that friendly relations continued between this country and all foreign powers. Notwith standing the assurance, it would not be denied that, in many parts of Europe, serious causes for apprehension existed, but ho trusted that the clouds now hanging over Italy and the Danubian provinces would speedily pass away. He concluded by a brief allusion to the remaining topics of the speech. Mr. Beecroft seconded the address. He adverted at some length to the mutual prosperity of the mercantile and trading interests of this country. Pauperis m had decreased ; the revenue had increased ; the circumstances of the past year had resulted in a full justification of the bold dealing of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the income tax. He believed that the existing complications of European relations would pass away, and. we then should see an immense development of the trade and commerce of the country. The pacification of India, and treaties with other countries of the East, would afford immense facilities for the supply of raw material for our manufactories. Adverting to, the position of reform, he admitted that modifica tions of our constitution might he necessary, from the change of circumstances. He was confident that government would introduce a measure not unsatisfac tory, but permanent. It would be a disgrace to our con stitution, if it required to be tinkered every quarter of a century. The measure, he was sure, would be one of improvement, and not of destruction, which would not set class against class, but procure a fair representation of all. Lord Palmerston said that he had no intention of proposing any amendment to the address. The difficulties under which the House had assembled last year had, he observed, now disappeared, He expressed Ins warm con currence in the congratulations on the late event in the Royal family. The internal prospect of the country was mast gratifying, not alone as regarded the pre sent moment, but as evidencing the stability of the reso urces of the country . It was further grati ratifying to find, that the app o i n t me nts made eby the late Government in India, had resulted in the pacification of that eountry. He passed an eulogi . sm on the conduct QY Torcl Clyde, which was elAracteVlted by equal prq deuce and energy; be then reverted to the chances of war in Italy, declaring that in his belief the possessions of Austria beyond the Alps were injurious to her, but it could not be forgotton, that her possessions were guaranteed by the treaties of 1815, which were the title deeds of so many other powers to their possessions'; all the rat powers of Europe had since joined those treaties, and no single power would be justified in sating aside these stipulations ; the powers which should undertake war for the purpose of depriving Austria of her possessions would incur most serious responsibility, but Austria did not stand on ground equally strong when she went beyond those occupied territories which they did not bestow upon hi The reform of the various governments in Italy would a far better means of preserving tranquility than foreign. occupation. He deprecated the many rumours of war, and trusted in the sagacity of the Powers of Europe to preserve its peace. The commercial treaty which we had concluded with Russia was a matter for congratulation, as it put an end to a very unsatisfactory state of things. The speech congratulated the country on the termination of the Chinese war, which the Ministry had opposed, and of which they were now willing to reap the fruit ; at the same time, the country must not exact too much from the treaty. He rejoiced to find that negotiations were on foot to stop the proceedings of France, which were called free emigration', but which, in fact, was the enforcement of slavery under its. worst forms; the French government had been deceived, in the matter, and the affair of the Charles and George had at least opened its eyes. He trusted that all the' papers concerned with that affair would be produced, and that we should be found not to have desefted our old. ally (Portugal). He commented with great warmth on the conduct of the Spanish-American republic, observing that it was only by force that justice could be btained. from them. Referring to the proposed measure of reform, he' observed that the subject was one which could only be dealt with by the executive ; he trusted that it would be brought forward at 'an early time, and felt sure that it would receive the respect and commendation of the House, and was con vinced of the attachment of England to her institutions, of which the example of foreign policies enabled them to recognise the full value. The Chancellor of the Exchequer assured the House, that full information would be laid before it respecting the affair of the Charles and George as soon as possible. The garbled extracts which had appeared in the newspapers had caused much mis apprehension on that subject. No appeal for instance had been made by Portugal to this country, and it did not appear that the Cassus Friedrich had ever occurred. The Government had given the best advice in its power to its old ally, and the papers, when they were produced, would show that it had done its duty. The government treaties, and were in earnest in their intentions of bringing forward a measure of reform, but it would not be done till the urgent business of the country had been arranged. He should, at the proper_time, propose those measures, in such a way as to give opportunities for their considera tion. The noble lord had adverted to the prospect of war in Italy, and had even said that war was probable; he himself could not conceal his opinion that the state of affairs abroad were critical, but he did not believe that they were in such a state as to make the preservation of peace hopeless. No doubt serious differences existed between France and Austria, on the subject of Italy, respecting which the government had freely circulated its views to those Powers; he agreed in depre cating all interference with the treaties of 1815, but he could not see that those treaties had much connection with the actual state of Italy. The Government had urged upon France and Austria to remove the mistrusts and misapprehension now existing, by improving the condition of Italy, and to exchange a military rivalry for a generous emulation in doing good. This duty belonged to France and Austria as Roman Catholic countries. England as a Protestancy could not proffer the inter ference, though she was ready to interfere if called upon, while he admitted that the position was difficult, he conld not agree that war was probable ; while she sympathises with Sardinia as a free Government, she could not approve of that Power undertaking a task beyond its capability. He passed an eulogium; on the French Emperor, and said that his sagacity and fair dealing towards that country was a far ther guarantee of peace. The alliance between France and England was founded upon deep reasons ; not on casual caprice or particular dynasties and forms of Government. He would not believe that a war of mili tary aggression could be undertaken at the pres Lor c a ° Palmerston explained that whatever inadvertent terms he might have used, he did not mean to say that war was probable. Lord John Russell, admitting the binding character of the treaties of 1815, passed a severe censure on those Powers who, being armed occupiers, enforced bad govern ment in Italy. Austria had prevented reform in portions of Italy, but of her own dominions, Naples, Tuscany, and elsewhere, the action had been repelled by Frenchinter ference. It was not to be wondered at if the Italian people were impatient under such a system. He taunted the Government with their conduct in regard to Reform, all mention of which they had omitted till the end of the speech. Sir J. Pakin,gton defended the Government, and cited an instance when Lord John Russell had himself deferred to the end of the Royal speech a similarly important subject. The Government were perfectly sincere in their professsions respecting a measure of Reform. The address was then agreed to, and the House adjourned at ten minutes to eight o'clock. THE CRYSTAL PALACE PRIZE ODE ON BURNS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES Sir,—l have observed, with a considerable amount of surprise, that, although the Crystal Palace prize poem has been before the public almost a week, no criticism of it has been yet attempted by our local press. This may arise from two causes—first, the reluctance of most editors to speak until the Reviews and Magazines hare declared their opinions ; and, secondly, from the unwillingnes of local critics to lay themselves under the imputation of having been unsuccessful candidates. The first reason I am sure you will not respect, and I have so little regard to the second, that I am about to ask, with confidence, your assistance in setting a plain and impartial critique of it before your readers. Before entering upon it, allow me to declare most solemnly . that I am not one of the unsuccessful attempters of the prize, and to express my earnest desire that those persons who may differ from my opinions, will only look upon the following criticisms with as much forbearance and impartiality as I have done the poem. I purpose to consider the Ode, first, as to its general construction ; next, as regards its thoughts and sentiments; and lastly, with respect to its language and mode of expression. The construction is that of an irregular ode ; a description of poetry in which the metre is confined by no rules, and is subservient to no precept of measurement; 1 all is left to the caprice or discretion of the author. He is not obliged to write on any particular description of feet ; nor fo adhere to the sort he has at first chosen ; nor to contract or expand his lines to any given length ; nay, he is not even obliged to find a corresponding rhyme at any given interval, but he may supply it (as a shopkeeper does a poor customer,) at his earliest corpienience. It will at once be seen, then, that this species of composition, (a polite form of the never-dying doggerel), is at once the most easy of compass, and at the same time the most capable of varied expression of any species of verse, and that its votaries, in return for being allowed to break through the ordinary rules of poetry, must, in return- for the favour, present the reader with a poem, of particular sweetness, harmony, and propriety of language ; so that admiration may enslave the sense of correctness, and the judgment be overwhelmed in an acute sense ofpleasure-and delight. On the other hand, if a writer, after availing himself of this dangerous privilege of irregularity, should fall below, or even attain mediocrity, th fact. of his availing himself of its favouring influence must force him to give place to a writer of equal powers who has accommodated himself to the regular rules. It is obvious from this, then, that the practisers of this description of poetry, though they are exempted from some of the trammels that cramp the powers of many fiery but writers have the additional obligation thrown, upon them of making their unfettered verses move with increased harmony, grace and (i f I may say so) agility. poem under consideration has succeeded in doing this, we shall wr itten the Whither the Lady who has determine when we come fo consider. the Language ; rt i n d whichupon (ash erwseillfl for the present , in s p eaking of the general construction of the p o em, it is enoug h to indicate that in 'choosing th e i o r b r i egl t a i o r n s of a style T o e f r y tio s u h s e character hes da appear from the context) she does not appear capable with, and that while she has dispensed of grappling i with obligations of what Goldsmith calls a mere 4' Mechanical " natur e, she has invo lved herself in others, of her own fre e choice, to which her i ntellectual s h o w no evidence of being . equal. If th e case be powers shown to have succeeded, however, her with will be presumption styled by the world, the oonscio us confidence o if not, it will be called the temerity of self conceit, Genius, We will now fraraine the sentiments, determining whether they areofsucha view of an exalted character as to raise the genius of the poem to the required elevation ; or, failing this, whether they are suoh as befit a panegyrical reflective lovingly .remembered bard. Let us take them in detail — The intreduct (my verse declares that Burns brought Xo•TQ a Faule's inirao4al. dower_" (whatever tha,t , May be) to his country, " than all her kings." The highest beauty (the most essential one) of a sentiment is truth, and this one is untruthful. I question whether Burns has brought much more fame to his coantry than it before possessed, or would have possessed, had he never been barn. However this may be, it will be (I think) directly conceded that to say that Burns brought more fame to Scotland thin all her kings, is absurd and ridiculous. The deeds of but one of "all her kings" (Robert Bruce) have brought more fame and profit to his country than all the pretty amusements of Burns; and his memory, still fresh in our minds after the lapse of half a ceutury, promises endurance long after the songs of Burn.; and even the dialect in which they are written " shall be (as llassincrer says) no more re►nembered." But the same hyperbolical, strained, exaggeration pervades all the thoughts in the poem. _ _ The next thought is. certainly a very just and pretty 9, although the introduction of a lighthouse (or, as she- expresses it, a lamp High set Upon sonoe•eartblp eminent may b• tho' ght below the dignity of the poem, I am not 'us, but gladly admit that the thought is a very noble one, and does infinite credit to the authoress. I am compelled,•however, to own, that it is the only really fine and correct thought in the whole piece. What follows is either obscure, hackneyed, or puerile. The next part of the poem is takerr up by relations of his life during boyhood, and progress towards maturity; some of them whence derived I know not, as, for instance, the assertion that he knew all his father's cares, but only half his mother's heart ; if he knew half of either he must have been a man of unequalled penetration. Next comes the most absurd simile in the whole poem — the comparing him to a king. He was a "king of every living thing," we are told,. because " his great heart in love could hold them all." A singular reason, truly! According to this logic; a man who cau hold a lot of things in his heart, is king of them. Good ! then lam of my friend, for I hold him very lovingly in so tas the king my heart The authoress seems to be conscious that she is damaging herself by too plain speaking; for, acting on the sentiment of Volney, that the more people under stand the less they admire, she-involves herself, a little further on, in such a dense mist of words, that all the beams of Apollo concentrated on-it would not be capable of dispelling its obscurity. Here, having made him a king, she makes him proceed to a•symbolical battle (it seems), iu which his " regal vestments are•soiled:"— "His crown of half its jewels spoiled, This seems an obscure and vague• allusion to his suffer ings with his " worser part"— I cannot understand whether this battle he is engaged in is with the world or his own vices. If it is the world that he is fighting, for existence, what is the meaning of uptuous hearts," " triumphant," moralising stood aloof" and. Does this mean, and regretting - that he had not "arrayed himself in armour proo 4 "IVliv did he no a' 0 to the workhous —that is; stand: inp• aloof and arming proof, with a vengeance, Mid it cannot be his v Doi, those whom t' )rlcl calls wise, never wish that content with his vices, for in that case they would have won the day, and oppressed him without mercy. But we are told that in the battle Fame blows her trumpet before him, and, wrapping him in her purple state, " made him a mark for all the shafts of fate, that hence forth round him flew." Another solution presents itself. Is it the evils consequent on his fame that he is com batting ? This will not do either, for a little further on we are told (whatever Mr. Moncktou Milne 3 may say) that the regretful love of his country would fain compen sate by lavlf -0. 1. *rave, fe the neglect .stung aonours on his gra\ for —g. with which she treated him during his lifetime ; and it is the general opinion, I believe, that his love of low . society, and his pothouse propensities favoured the decline of his virtues, far more than any little p o p u l ar ity- an d . patronage he may have achieved; which seems, indeed, to have had a contrary effect. So it cannot be F a m e ' s temptations he is battling. I leave this passage, the most obscure I ever met with, t o w hi c h t h e most m i sty rhapsodies—of Cratbaw even—are perfectly transparent, in complete uncertainty (to which I see not the remotest prospect of a clue), whether there is one battle, or two, or a dozen—whether Burns is fighting, in it, with his vices, Fame's temptations, or the world—whether " his crown, of half its jewels spoiled," means injury done to his Scotch bonnet, or his feelings—whether " regal vestments" means conscience or corduroy—and whether nature's "joy-wines" is or not the celebrated dew. off Ben Nevis, in which particular liquor he is known. to have much delighted. We next have his heart compared to a lute, whose chords are swept and untuned by unskilful hands, so nut& that the Divine Maker has to withdraw it for repairs. Heart in this place seems to be mistaken for soul. This is a very appropriate and clever comparison, and, unlike the former ones, intelligible. lam afraid, however, it is not original The ma of the thoughts are trite though stilted; and hyperbolical narrations of how that "the land he- trod has now become a place of pilgrimage," " Where dearer are the daisies of the sod That could his song engage." But what they are dearer than we are not told; how the hardy sons of Scotland lighten their toils in distant lands with his songs ; and how the arch, blue-eyed maidens of Scotland (" arch but for love disguise," says one of them), soften at them, and how that sister lands have learned to love the tongue "in which such songs were sung ; " an assertion extremely questionable. In conclusion, we are asked (and this strange com position concludes with 4 suspension of the voice) : - Doth not song To the whole world belong ?" As an answer to this we niay reply—Yes, translatable songs, but not Burns's ; for they are hopelessly un translatable. And now comes the unpleasant task of considering the language; and, without going into detail, and taking up more space, it is sufficient to say that the choice of the language is the most infelicitous department of an ill considered poem. There is everywhere a doric brusque ness carried to the extreme of obscure harshness ; an employment of words in a new and. totally illegitimate sense ; a leaving out of expletives necessary to complete the sense, and a lugging in of expletives necessary to complete the metre (an expedient, in an irregular poem, quite unpardonable) ; an affected employment of obsolete, tilizabathan, words and pronunciations-in one-place, and an artificial yoking together of unsuitable words in another. In short, the language is rude without sim plicity, and artificial without elegance. Before taking my leave of this unfortunate poem, I am compelled to observe, with surprise, its almost utter want of desert, together with the perfect silence of the Press upon it; and the conviction irresistibly forces itself upon me, that, if its three judges are our best sample of critics, and if this poem really Wa s the t best the ousaiooo of n outo its return is observable. — l am, sir;b your o eimn ofha has d s p e o d e t a s a t y h , e 1.„ a n y i e n , no f ppr o o e sp r e y_ ,. , t o o t Vf r . f criticism, 6 28 servant, _ _ January 31, 1859. The Paris correspondent of the AatTreiser says the return of the Duke of Malakoff to his native land is now certain. . vv Sir John Ramsden was on Wednesday selected as caw.- didate for the West Riding. There is at present.no opposition. . . . MAIL NEws.—The mail steamer , with th e heavy portion of the India and China mails, arrived at South.- ampton on Tuesday morning. itCleaorard:ge S een, '1 and all and the D ragon " T HE GAME Chlt• THE SEASON.—Third editi on of the t c h h e ri Times . stmas m n a i o n w us r i e n a g d ycard old n b ie y of M : h ‘ -41s SL ley book sellers. s o ineo rni t n h 7 em a l m ic o le un o t n s t the Homeless £12,860, rather • more than h a lf of which is for the Thes unis Poor, on on to Field-lane Refuge, and twenty-six. other institutions have been more or less beneGtted. GREAT XOHTHEEN DIVIDEND.--The sum available for dividend fbr the half-year ending, 31st Dec. is officially stated ta be • i 14 7 ,0 36, wh i ch will admit a dividend at the rate of about £6 2s 6d pet- cent., per annum, on the original stock, and at an• equivalent rate on the A and B stocks. conjointly.. The Daily News remarks that, con siderbag the late severe competition, and the unremune zative. fares which were so long current, this result is regarded as highly satisfactory. THE MIDEROR, NAPOLEON'S PLANS.—The Times contains an article, from which it may be inferred he has changed his views. England made no secret of her disapprobation, and Prussia distinctly stated that she would consider any attack upon Austria as levelled equally at herself. This being so, the Times trusts the Emperor of the French has found it advisable to change his plans, and to limit the Rome projects, which were meant for Italy, if not for Europe. obtain the CA,NA.D.A.—lntendinsr emigrants should _, Government and other pamphlets on the o _ resourcesthe Raiway oi s Canada as a field for emigration, the Map f the several other in Canada and the United States, an through fares, dates containing full partietilaq of information, and all useful dates of sailing of vessels, a gratuitously to all which eontinne to he distribu t ed _. persons rsonally or by letter, at the offices of applying . , either pe of the Grand Trunk ltailwav Company Canada, V, CO Broad-straet, London, E.O,