The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

THE WAR. FRANCE. Apart from the intelligence sent us in regular course by our own Paris correspondent, we glean from other sources that as yet no accounts have been received in Paris as to the impression produced on the Russian Government by the communication, of the Austrian propositions of which Count Esterhazy was the bearer, and I do not believe that we can have any before Wed nesday next. M. de Nesselrode will not give his answer immediately, and some, though no very great time, will be allowed for deliberation. The best informed persons here hardly permit themselves to think that Russia will accept our conditions of peace. It is barely possible, though not probable ; and those who at one time hoped even against hope itself, would be surprised indeed if Russia yielded. We only !know as yet that Count Esterhazy has had an interview with M. de Nesselrode. The principal topic discussed was the conduct of Austria; and the Russian Minister expressed himself in plaintive terms on it. He was replied to by Count Esterhazy, and it is but just to say that his language i defence of master was pr ec i se and decided.n But of the imhis portant point of the acceptance or refusal of Russia We are as yet ignorant. The naval authorities of Cherbourc,, have been ordered to arm three screw liners and three sailing frigates, which are to be ready for the opening of the campaign in the Baltic in April next. These three ships are the Arcole, 90 guns, and 900-horse power, the armament of which is nearly completed ; the Donawerth, 90 guns, which is to be converted into a screw ship, and is transformationalready undergoing th a t transform , althOugh she only arrived from the nan 12 days ago; and the St. Louis, 90 guns, launched at Brest on the 25th of April last, which is at present on her way from Toulon. Independently of these three ships, which are to be fitted up with a ll possible expedition, Cherbourg is to arm the war screw transport Yonne, of 1,200 torts, the vessels of the Iceland station, and the five bomb vessels and the twelve steam gunboats which have returned from the last campaign in the Baltic, and to form part of the formidable expedi tion which is to operate in that sea next spring. It was stated some time since that the govern ment of the United States of America had made a treaty with the Shah of Persia, and that they pro posed to g uarantee his territory on the side of the Persian Gulf. No such treaty has been entered into, but it is certain that advances of the most friendly description have been made. Russia is also intriguing very hard with the Shah, and it is unfortunate that, at such a moment, when his favour is eagerly sought by these two powers, a suspension of diplomatic relations with England should have taken place. RUSSIA. We have advices from St. Petersburg, via rlin. to the d a t e of the sth inst. These inform ü ß s e that the nomination of Prince Menschikoff to the Governorship of Cronstadt is understood in St. Petersburg to have been the direct consequence of the untiring efforts of the Grand Duke Constan tine in every possible direction to bring forward the old Russian party into an all-absorbing promi zence. r eoeive The o nly commanders th a t h ave in this war besidd the Order of St. George, Second Class, es Mour av i e ff , (an especial favourite with party), are Bebutoff and Nachimoff, and of all three it is understood that they were strongly recommended for it by the Grand Duke C onstantine. The distinction conferred upon Prince Menschi koff, in confiding the defence of Cronstadt to him, which is virtually putting into his keeping the keys of St. Petersburg, is a conclusive refutation of the Many stories that were current at the time of his retirement, of his having fallen into disgrace with lass late master. The present Emperor has not only assigned to him Zthe splendid hotel of the Staff of the Marine for a residence, but has kept him as much as possible near him and in his con- Idence, and has sent him on an important mis aion to Finland, with - particular reference to Swee.borg. In consideration that the service of the coast batteries and fortifications for the defence of the shores of the Baltic will, this year, require a much increased number of officers, General Count Rudi ,ger, the C ommander of the Guards and Grenadier t '°rPs, calls upon all naval officers who are incapa citated from continuing to serve afloat to apply for commands at the forts and land batteries. In the files of newspapers from Finland, that reached Stockholm direct on December 24, for the first time since the establishment of the. blockade, is contained the news of a fresh Imperial order, commanding three fresh Finnish battalions of sha rpshooters t o be f ormed, together with a reserve for each battalion. Each of the new battalions is to be 000 men strong, and the reserve 160, 40 men for each company. These are the warlike incidents which have been occupying the minds . of the St. Petersburgers simultaneously with the reports of approaching peace, as conveyed to them by foreign papers. These pacific views and expectations met there with a ready echo in very extensive circles, but they are met at the same time with too striking a , contradiction in the extreme tension of every war like feeling in the nation, in the excessive ramp ancy of the old Russian party, and in the convic Con that the religious character stamped on the whole conflict precludes anything like compromise, or the widely prevalent wish for peace to become anything like a generally entertained hope or ex pectation of it. To evade the subject of the proposals or the .demands made by, the Allies, the constant subter fuge is to allege what they call the cause of the war, vii , that the Sultan has been unfaithful to his treaty ,obligations, and that all differences that have arisen 4.n consequence must be settled between him alone and Russia. Such results as have been as yet attained in a preliminary inquiry into the losses and expenses entailed by the defence of Sebastopol are of such on orruous dimensi ons that they seem to all informed of them to pass credibility. The means of arriving at any positive and accurate knowledge on this hsubject, such as archives, registries, accounts, &e., Save been for the most part destroyed by fire and vitter n the retreat from the south to the north hide. `he Grand Duke Constantine, in his capacity of Chief of the Marine, has issued a circular to all officials connected with that branch of the service, n the most binding expressions, requiring for the future that all official reports shall contain the entire and simple truth, without reservation or faise.colonring. The Cracow Paper OzaB mentions also that the Russian Government has ordered the abolition of robot (vilien socage) in Poland, by commutation into a yearly money payment. The Russian ministry of foreign affairs has just met with a serious loss in the death of Herr von Labenski, who has for many years past been the writer of the Nesselrode despatches, and who has, in addition to the works he has already published, left behind him numerous mscripts, evidences of hi s i nde fatigable literary indanuustry. AUSTRIA. Our advises from Vienna are to the date of the 3rd instant. They convey to, us the intelligence that the Austrian public is so profoundly— ignorant Count of what has been doing during the last few weeks in the Eastern question that it belie ves Nesselrode's circular of the 22nd December to be a reply to some project of peace that has recently prnanated from the Allied Powers. The circular 9r the. Russian Chancellor of State is merely a repdtitiOn of terms of peace some three weeks sinc e proposed by Prince Gortschakoff to Count Buol. The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs declined te d iscuss the merits o f th e R uss i an propos i t i on with Prince Gortschalcoff, but he lost no time in com municating what had passed between himself an d the Russi an di p l omat i st to the representatives _of the Western P owers . Th e conditions proposed by Russia were positively rejected by Aali Pacha, Lord John Russell, and M. Drouyn de Lhuys, on the 21st of April, 1855, and it is, therefore, but natural that they will not' now be taken into con sideration. It may be observed that the pertinacity displayed by Russia excites a mixed feeling of astonishment and indignation in the mostinfluential Austrian circles. Up to the present moment the very best informed persons in this city are in total ignorance of the intentions of the Russian Government, but it is believed Count Esterhazy will be able to give some little insight into them in the course of next week. The definitive reply of Russia is not, however, likely to be given until twenty-one days from the 27th of December, on which day the Austrian propositions were corn. municated to Count Nesselrode. The long expected Colonel Manteuffel arrived last night, and he has today presented an autograph letter from his Sovereign to the Emperor Francis Joseph. The exact contents of the Royal missive are not likely to transpire, but it is already well known that Prussia will refuse to give her assistance to Austria should she attempt to enforce the accept. ance of the propositions which she has just for warded to Russia. His arrival is not likely to make any change in the political situation. It is known that Prussia is resolved not to place herself on the same level with Austria, and her neutrality will be made an excuse for Austria's remaining a passive looker-on during the cam paign of 1856. - If what is called tact he the first of diplomatic qualities, M. von Stockhausen, the Hanoverian Minister, must be a very poor diplomatist. On the 31st of December he invited some acquaint ances to see the old year out and the new one in, end his guests were, the members of the Russian, English, and French embassies. The first arrival was Sir Hamilton Seymour, who chanced to be so deeply engaged in conversation when Prince Gortschakoff entered, that he did not remark his presence. The Russian Minister had hardly made himself comfortable in his chair, when M. de Bourqueney, accompanied by one or two of the members of the French embassy arrived. Whether the air of the room was oppressive, or whether Prince Gortschakoff was out of his element, is unknown to me ; but certain it is that he left the house soon after M. de Borqueney entered it. According to advices of the 26th of December from Berdiansk, in the Sea of Azoff, all the vessels belonging to M Gopcevich had left. On the day in question a very hard frost set in, and all the wheat that was to be had was bought up by government at seventeen roubles in assignats— equivalent to five silver roubles—the tschetwert. The Marquis de Ceva. the Sardinian minister, has returned to Vienna after a prolonged absence. The retreat of Omer Pacha has been announced, and bad weather is the reason given for the retrograde movement. It is related that Marshal Pelissier has been summoned to Paris. General Durando now commands the Sardinian troops. NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1856 PRUSSIA We learn from Berlin, under date of the 6th instant, that the Swedish preparations are exciting great alarm among the partisans of Russia. Norway has been called on by the Swedish War Department to organise her forces. The Swedish journals are almost unanimous in their praises of the treaty with the Western Powers. The semi-official paper appeals to it as a reply to the reproach that Sweden was under the control of Russia. Duke George of Mecklenburg Strelitz had arrived from St. Petersburg, and we expect to see some immediate indications of the decision to be expected from Russia on Count Esterhazy's pro posals. The King of Bavaria is going to send a con fidential agent to St. Petersburg, to support the representations made by Baron Seebach. It is positively stated here, that the consent of Turkey has been obtained to the neutralisation of the Black Sea, on the plan proposed by the Allies. THE MEDITERRANEAN From Iklarseilles, under the date of the 4th inst., we learn that the quay of the Joliette is at present as much crowded with bomb shells brought back from the Crimea as it was during the siege of Sebastopol when the same shells were being shipped. Equal activity is displayed in another part of the quay in shipping gun-carriages, cais sons, and materiel for field artillery to an enormous extent. Several artillery officers, moreover, have received notice to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to the Crimea. The port of the Joliette, which for some days was comparatively empty, is again being filled with ships from the East. While the war has directed the ingenuity of inventors in many instances to the discovery of more terrible instruments of destruction, an indi vidual residing near this town has been applying himself to give to steam a new and peaceable application. The idea suggested itself'to him that a steam trawling boat would prove a lucrative speculation during the frequent periods of calm weather, when the Marseilles fishermen are unable to pursue their avocations, and shoals of the finny tribe approach the coast with impunity. In order to avoid being anticipated in his speculation, the inventor constructed his boat in a field, enclosed with high walls, some distance from the sea. Great was the curiosity to discover the mystery, but the secret was well kept, and the boat (with some diffi culty) was conveyed over land to the dock, and is now afloat. She is a smack of about fifty tons, fitted with a screw. Another peculiarity is, that her mast is hollow, and will serve as a chimney. Prussia is said to be doing her best to detach the smaller German States from the policy of Austria. That task has become easier since the circular of Count Nesselrode. The Poet Ampt Gazette, in a letter from Vienna, of the 2nd, says :—Selim Pacha has arrived at Erzerourn• where troops are being collected by the Turkish govern ment. The fortifications recently constructed are only mounted with twenty-eight pieces of cannon, and the whole place is in a bad state of defence. MensicaLrs, Sunday. —The Lougsor has arrived. She brings news from Constantinople to the 27th. The Russians have increased their fortifications over Inker mann, and have unmasked the new batteries on the left of the Tchernaya. - No ship of war was lost in the storm. Omer Pacha has arrived at Batoum. His replacement was discussed, but it was decided to be impossible. The army, when near Kutais, was for two days without supplies. A letter from Frankfort mentions that additional co operation is given to Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurternburg, in the efforts made by those 'states in favour of peace. It is considered certain that the Grand Duke of Hesse gives his complete approval to the propositions trans. witted by Austria to the court of Russia. The repre sentative of the Grand Duke at St. Petersburg has been instructed to support those propositions, or at least advise their acceptance by the Russian cabinet. The Grand Duke is brother to the Empress of Russia, and he is believed to possess much influence over her. A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Hamburg News says : —General Rudiger, commanding the guards and the grenadiers, has published the following notice : Owing to the number of officers which it is certain will be wanted in the next campaign, for tile service of the coast redoubts constructed for the defence of the Baltic coast, such officers of the navy as are wounded or incapable of service afloat, are invited to take service in the above named batteries. The letter adds—We learn that the Russian government is thinking of defending the railroad from Moscow to the capital, against any operations of the enemy. It is proposed to arm the stations on the line with works and with cannon. Each of the redoubts will be occupied by a battalion of militia, charged to guarantee it, at least, from any surprise of the enemy's advanced guard. CpSTODY OF INFANT CHILDREN.-0110 of those cases which frequently excite so much interest in Ireland, viz., the custody of children where the question of childrens' religion is at stake, was decided on Friday by the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, at his lordshin's private residence, after an adjournment from a preceding day. It appeared that a Mr. Richard Story, an apothe cary at Ballinamore, in the county of Leitrim, died recently, leaving two small children, besides two grown up sons. Mr. Story was a Protestant, but his wife, who only survived him a short time, was a Roman Catholic, in which faith also it would appear that the two grown boys had been educated. The two young children came, S some way, int o th e care o f th e l oca l P ro t es t ant Orphan So ciety ; and as th e y were t a k en awa y by f orce , as i t was aLY lleged, from their care by their two elder brothers, and some relatives of their mother's, at the instigation, as it was stated, of the Roman Catholic priest, and with a view o f educating them as Catholics, th e p res ent proceed ings were brought in the shape of a habeas corpus for the restoration of the children to the custody of the Protes7 tant Orphan Society. The Chief Justice, after hearing the case and conversing in private with the children, declined-sending them back to the former custody, adding that they had not been well treated under the care of the Protestant Orphan Society, and that he was not surprised at the children's wish to remain in the care of their brothers and other friends, THE LIVERPOOL UNITED LEGAL AND' FRIENDLY, OR ROYAL OAK BURIAL SOCIETY. For the last few days the sayings and doings of this extensive society have been repeatedly before the public. First, from the memorable notoriety its officers achieved by almost forcibly ejecting the representatives of the Press from its general meeting of the subscribers, held on the 28th ultimo, though it was the wish of all the mew_ bers present that the proceedings be reported; and secondly, from the report of " the fracas" that took place at that meeting, after the reporters were ejected, which scene concluded in the police-court, when Mr. Mansfield gave his opinion on the affair. The members also feeling themselves aggrieved that they were not allowed to express their opinions on the condsct of the officers of the society in the management of the affairs, and that their opinions could not be placed before the public, determined to hold a public,meeting for the purpose of making inquiry into the application of the society's funds, and for other purposes. Last evening, therefore, a very large number of the members assembled at the Castle Hotel, Scotland-road, in order to take steps for promoting that inquiry. Mr. Joseph Shepherd, bookseller, of Scotland-road, occupied the chair. Over the chairman's head was a large handbill, on which was inscribed—" Working men of Liverpool, will you stand this : 2320/ 9s 7d of the funds of the Royal Oak Burial Society fraudulently voted away at one sweep ?" The Chairman then came forward, and was most enthusiastically received by the densely crowded meeting. He said he was pleased to see so large a meet ' ing, and it gave him greater pleasure to see so many of the females present. He would, therefore, address them as ladies and fellow working men. At the outset he wished to be allowed to make a few observations before the business of the meeting was proceeded with. He had 'no doubt but that all those then present were members of the " Royal Oak," as the society was better known by that name than any other, or of some other similar society. He therefore wished it to be understood, that they were about to enter into an inquiry of the most im portant kind, and in commencing that inquiry he wished it to be borne in mind, that they must do so free from all prejudices, and without any ill feeling towards one party or another. It must be a full, free, and fair discussion.7i (Hear, hear). This society is (he said) a most important society. It has upwards of 50,000 members, and the great majority of those members belong to the working classes, all of whom had only what they obtained by the sweat of their brows It was to that class that the money belonged, and he con: ceived that it was only right that those men should know how their hard earnings were expended. (Hear, hear). Before he sat down, he thought he should be unable to prove:;that the funds of the Royal Oak Society had not been properly appropriated, or to the purposes for which they were originally intended. (Hear, hear). The society had been in existence upwards of eighteen years ; it was founded in Liverpool by Thomas Hardwick:Taylor, and it was then agreed that it should be held at the Royal Oak Tavern, in Scotland-road. From that time it went on and prospered, but until within the ltst fourteen years, he did not know much about its management, as he was not in its early days a member. About fourteen or fifteen years since, however, he entered the society as a member, and not very long afterwards he was admitted as a member of the committee. At that time the collectors were allowed three halfpence in the shilling for collecting. Then the sub-treasurer received no salary. The committee received one shilling per night each member for sitting on committees. He would also tell them at that time the collectors were none of them ever permitted to sit on the committees, or to be present when the committees were sitting, except when they were called in to answer questions I Then the collectors had no power of influencing the committee or to take any part in the conducting or management of the business of the society. Then their chairman was Mr. Donaldson, who had since died, but he only received 5s for his services, which was to attend and see the money paid over to the treasurer once a week. From that time up to the present the salaries had been constantly increasing until they had reached the enormous amounts at which they now stood. The managers first got the wedge in by increas ing the collectors' salaries from lad to 2d, and then to 21d in the shilling. (Shame.) Let them bear in mind at the time the last increase was made, there was a law to the effect that they should only have . 2tl in the shilling. At that time, he (the chairman) was not on the committee, and, therefore, did not know what was going on. However, their salaries were increased to 3d in the shilling for col., letting, and he attended at the meeting that was then held to oppose it, but the meeting was packed with the wives, sisters, aunts, and nieces of the collectors, and the vote was carried. Well, it would appear that the salaries were not sufq.cient, so they voted the sub-treasurer 308 per week for receiving the money, and the president 25s per week, although the former had done the same work forss. They were not satisfied even then, but in the year 1851, they granted the fourteen or fifteen collectors 25/ each for Christmas boxes, and then voted themselves 101 each, for granting it. There was one man, Mr. Shaw, who would not receive it. (Hear, hear.) He had the honesty to refuse the 101, for which he was kicked out of the room. Besides this, the committee were paid for each of their attendance on the committees, and some of them got as much as 31 per week for their trouble. They would also recollect how he had exposed their expendi ture of no less a sum than 1301 for holding a meeting at West Derby. •It was in consequence of such proceedings as these that the Press was excluded from the meetings of this society. They had afterwards called a meeting, but such a vast number had attended, that the room in which it was held would not hold one half of the mem bers. What dodge did the officers resort to then ?—Why, they adjourned it, but did not name any day, therefore it was that they cou'd not hold another meeting until the following year, and no accounts were rendered to the members for two years. This he conceived to be a decided "dodge," as the members had no opportunity of ascertaining how they were plundered, for he certainly called it a decided plunder. (Hear, hear.) He would next come to the meeting held at Clayton :Hall. He (the Chairman) had attended that meeting for the purpose of exposing their nefarious doings—,he might say their plunderings. That meeting was also packed with the wives, daughters, nieces, and great-grand-children:of the collectors, but, notwithstanding, he had then:asked what had become of the 1,0001. Curry had belonging to the society. At that time Curry held 1,0001. of the funds of the members of the society. (Shame.) He was told that two sureties had been found of 5001. each, and that he was to pay 5 per cent. interest foe the money 1 That was all nonsense. The interest has never been paid—it was a dead letter, as well as was the sureties for the principal. They would never get either. Notwithstand ing this, that Curry had had the 1,0001., it was reported at the last meeting that he had 851/. 33 Hid in hand. He next passed a high eulogy on Ihe press, the representa tives of which he wished to be present at all meetings, and said that such would be the case if the business was always conducted fairly and honestly. He next alluded to the case of assault which had been tried in the Police court before Mr. Mansfield who had devoted much time and attention to it, but who, he said, could not have arrived at a different conclusion to which he had, considering the con flicting nature of the evidence adduced. He then con cluded by saying, that after the last meeting the members had decided upon employing Messrs. Fletcher and Hull, two most respectable attornies, to investigate the whole of the affairs of the society. A t the meetings which had already been held, he (Mr. Shepherd) had been ap• pointed the ChaiEman• of that investigation committee, while Mr. H. Taylor was to act as treasurer, Mr. MPhil lips as secretary, and Messrs. H. Smith, F. Burns, F. Mil ler, James Devine, and Henry Shaw, as committee- men . He hoped that the appointments would be confirmed, and that the investigation would lead to the society being purged of its abuses, and its management taken from the hands of designing men. (Great applause.) Mr. M'Phillips, after offering a few remarks as to the absurd manner in which the business had been conducted by the present president, Moses Cullen, went on to say, that besides his salary the sub-treasurer received 301. per annum as the rent of a small room at the back of his house, which was called the office, which, inclusive of the pay for attending the committee -meetings amounted to 1751 per annum. The president 78.4 and the secretary 1581, w hi le the collectors made about 2501 per annum, besides their profits on the laws, the rules, and the reports. All this, he said, was contrary to the laws of the society. He then proceeded to read the following minutes of the proceedings of the investigation committee, which had first been formed after the general meeting held ' on the 28th of December, from which it would appear that it had been : Resolved :—That we, the undersigned, (being members of the Liverpool United Legal Friendly Burial Society), most of us having been present at a general meeting of the above society, held this evening in the school room, Bevington Hill, do now form ourselves into a body, for the purpose of considering the best means to be adopted for preventing the misapplication of the funds by the officers and collectors of the said society, and for the better management thereof, as well as for the more pro per and legitimate mode of conducting the society's meetings. We consider ourse'ves justified in adopting this course, in consequence of the unjustifiable conduct pursued by the president, Mr. Moses Cullen, assisted by many of the collectors at this meeting. Firstly—ln expelling two reporters for the press, in the most uncourteous manner, against the wishes of almost the entire meeting. Secondly—ln preventing Mr. Shepherd, stationer, Scotland road, from moving as an amendment, the follow ing resolution : —That the balance-sheet do not pass until the vote of the committee of the 30th of November last be rescinded, which vote granted to the sub-treasurer, presi dent, collectors, and secretary, (collectively) the sum of 23201 9s 7d • (which was p ronounce d b y th e au dit ors, Messrs Michael Murphy and James Boal, to be illegal, frau dulent, unjust, and unwarranted, and, in consequence of which they refused to sign the balance-sheet,)—and, in addition, seized hold of him, and in the most violent manner, attempted to hurl him from the platform. Thirdly—The illegal manner in which the re-election of officers and committee was proceeded with, namely—pro posing them on the platform, declaring them carried, without being put from the chair, so that the majority of those present, could know nothing of what was taking place. To redress these grievances, and prevent their recur rence, is our sole object; and for that purpose we solicit not only the co-operation of the Members of the Society, who wish to see justice done, but of the public at large, upon whose minds we beg to impress this one fact —That by far the greatest bulk of the contributions is collected from persons in needy circumstances—persons not many degrees removed from actual want, and whose only hope of decent interment after death, is the sum to be received by their relatiiies from the society to which they have contributed during life, otherwise becoming a burden upon the parish—therefore, for these reasons, we claim the support of every right-thinking individual in the community, in exposing and punishing (if necessary) the perpetrators of this atrocious fraud, and of establishing the society on a sure and permanent basis ; and under such a system of management as will ensure the savings of the need, but provident contributors, from needless extravagance and reckless peculation. The. Chairman then stated that the committee had signed an agreement with Messrs. Fletcher & Hull, for the pur pose of retaining them to take such legal steps as might be necessary, and all they required of the members was to sign them an indemnity, and to come forth with subscrip tions to enable them to prosecute their investigation. On the motion of Mr. Francis Smith, seconded by Mr. Peter Scott, the resolutions, as read by the secretary, were unanimously confirmed. The subscription list was then circulated in the room, but it was stated that it would be announced where the document would be placed for signature. After transacting some business of a formal character, the meeting separated. THE RUGELEY POISONINGS A. London cotemporary of last night, publishes the following, under ithe astoundingh:ead, " Supposed murder of the late Lord George Bentinck: " The inquiries instituted at Rugeley and Stafford, with relation to the antecedents of William Palmer and his associates, have brought several new circumstances to light of a mysterious and appalling character. The names of other persons, either missing or known to be deceased, have been mentioned as having suddenly dis appeared from Rugeley, and it is now ascertained, upon the evidence of two or three persons, that Palmer was seen in the company of the lite George Bentinck on the day of his death. It it also said that he had had betting transactions with the noble lord, and owed him a considerable sum of money at the time of his death. This information has tended to heighten the excitement already prevailing in Stafford, Nottingham, and Lichfield, where the accused, Palmer, is well known, Additional inquiries have been set on foot to trace Palmer's move ments on the day on which Lord George Bentinck's body was found in the field, and it is stated that there are witnesses in Nottingham who can depose to having seen Palmer and Lord George Bentinck together for some time before the death of the latter." Another London evening journal of last night also refers to the rumours suggested by the preceding article : " Is it true that Palmer, the Rugeley surgeon, was seen in company with Lord George Bentinck a short time before his death ? It is so stated, with the addition that Palmer was a loser in heav3 bets with Lord George. Things of this kind are so likely to be said, if there is the shadow of a fact to rest them upon, that they must be received with something more than caution—with the presumption that of all the stories afloat much must be idle gossip. It would, however, be a caricature of judicial delicacy, to affect ignorance of some great facts that heap suspicion on suspicion. The amounts of insur ance affected by Palmer on persens who have since died, and who are not supposed to have had expectations at all commensurate with the sums insured, the successive insur ance of a brother's life, and a wife's, followed up by the pro posal, to insure the life of a servant, the fraudulent character of the last transaction, with several other cir cumstances, contribute to the darkest i nc id ents of a romance which is developing itself slowly before our aight. As it now stands, there is no English story which vies with the Rugeley poisoning case in its interest and horrors. We must go abroad, we must seek beyond tne case of Laffarge, and pass to Brinvilliers, or Borgia, to find a parallel. Should the investigation before a judge acquit the accused man, the case will excel even those of Brin villiers and Borgia, since it will add the surprise of acquittal to the suspended interest of accusal—to the drama of Borgia, modernised a la Wainwright, adding the innocence of Eliza Fenning, only with a " a happy ending." Certainly Palmer will have a fair trial. No "discussion" can injure him; to avoid allusion to his case would be the cant of forbearance ; for the suspicious facts have theniselves accumulated a weight of " prejudice " which discussion can only qnalify, not increase. As the story stands thus' far unfolded, we are forced to the shuddering suspicion that there had been a man amongst us who would, and could, sacrifice a fellow-sportsman, a brother, a wife, a visitor,—his constant or casual com panions in all ranks, from his own servant to th e h o p e o f a political party. If the story is at all as it now looks, that man would assail the highest in the laud, and would use his victims as his accomplices and instruments, and all under cover of the refinements and guarantees of our civilization. Mis certainly is a tale of mystery that ought to be explored to its last recesses, [We abstain from comment, beyond the remark that a Coroner's verdict pronounced the death of the late leader of the Protectionist party in the House of Commons to have arisen:from natural causes—no doubt from disease of the heart. In common with the whole community, we await the adjourned inquiry at Rugeley with increasing anxiety.—En. N. D. T.] CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT The January Sessions of the Central Criminal Court were opened yesterday, with the usual formalities before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and the usual civic autho rities. The Recorder, in charging the grand jury, ex pressed his regret that for several consecutive sessions the calendar had contained charges of murder of the most grave character, and that there were fire persons to be tried for that crime at the present session. In one of the man,. named Corrigan, was c h arged with the cas es , which was perhaps the m os t ser i ous one, an un happy murder of his wife, under very horrible circumstances ; but the facts ',appeared to be so clear that he was afraid they would feel that they had no alternative but to re turn the bill for wilful murder. There appeared to he no doubt that at the time the act was committed, the Prisoner was in a most excited state of mind from the effects of drink, but it was his duty to tell them that this afforded no justification or palliation in law for such a crime, and that the total deprivation of reason could alone be urged as an answer. After alluding to other cases in the calendar, which contained the names of 65 prisoners, the learned judge remitted the grand jury to the duties imposed upon them. No doubt was entertained that a true bill would be returned against Corrigan, to whose case, it will be seen, the Recorder drew - the espe cial attention of the grand jury. The trial, however, cannot take place until the latter end (at the earliest) of the present week. General Bosquet has been summoned to Paris by the Emperor, with a view, it is said, of taking part in the proposed council of war. On account of the overflowing of the rivers, 70 ships are loading at Constantinople, with supplies and muni tions of war for Soukem Kale!). The journals and correspondence from the Continent, received yesterday, are again destitute of importance. It is the news from St. Petersburg which is now ex.. petted, with the greatest interest, but several days will most likely elapse before any intelligence arrives respect, ing the mission ofCount Esterhazy. The Vienna correspondent of the Constitutionnel d wells strongly on the precedent afforded to Russia by the neutralization of the American Lakes, as arranged between Great Britain and the United States ; that was settled without the intervention of other powers, and in the same way the Russian Cabinet has proposed that the question of the neutralization of the Black Sea should be left to Russia and Turkey ! We have reason to believe that a contract has been entered into with the goverment by Messrs. Napier, of Glasgow, for the construction of the first of the great gun batteries. It i 3 intended to be of 3,000 tons, and it is to be delivered on the Thames on the 15th of April next, under penalty of one thousand pounds per diem. It is antici. pated that with the vast resources at the command of this eminent house, this extraordinary undertaking will b e completed at the time appointed.-7'i Engineer, Comm THE LOSS OF THE SHIP BLACK WATCH The shipwreck of this vessel, the property of Messrs. Andrew Stewart and Co., of Greenock, and lately launched at Pictou, Is thus graphically described in a letter from her commander, Captain W. H. Menzies, who had the misfortune to lose one of his children on the occasion : "It is my painful duty to announce to you the total loss of the Black Watch on the night of the 24th November (Saturday), during a severe snowstorm from S.E., in which the ship was thrown on her beam ends, nearly half fiilling her with water, and soon after was driven ashore in Bear St. Lawrence, Cape North, Breton island. I left Pictou on Friday morning, the 23rd instant. We had a fine strong breeze f rom th westward ; I therefore steered for the Gut of Canso. On reacting the light at the north entrance at 5.30 p.m., it fell calm (the Sebastopol, M'Ken zie, new ship, in company), we both came to anchor and furled all sail. At 8 a.m. it sprung up a breeze from S.S.W., and being anxious to get on our way, I determined to get under weigh again and go round Cape North. The breeze gradually freshened to a gale, and at 2 a.m. on Saturday we were running un d er d ou b le reefs, n and 10 knots. About 7 a.m., it moderated, but the sympiesometer kept very low (29 1 inches), notwithstanding which the weather kept fine all day. I shook out all reefs at 8-30 a.m., and was preparing to send aloft th e ma i n t op -h alyard. In the afternoon had the lifts, braces, and sheets roved, when I observed, on taking the sun at 3 p.m. to prove my chronometer, that the glass was still further and unusually depressed, standing at 28.4 inches. I called the hands from aloft, made fast the topgallant yard on deck again, and close reefed the fore and Wizen topsails, double reef ing the main one, and having the main course handed. By this time (4 p.m.) it began to thicken up cloudy in the north-west and northward, but little or no wind. At five o'clock it came on to snow, in which the land was obscured Cape North bearing east half east nearly. The wind then about south-west by west, very light ; the Cape distant fifteen or sixteen miles by cross bearings. I steered north-east on purpose to gain as much offing as possible, but the wind being very light, we made no progress. At six p.m. it burst on us in a perfect tempest. Had to close reef the maintopsail and furl the foresail, the ship lay over so much, the wind also hauling to the north-east by north. About a quarter to seven I wore ship to the north-west, fearing I could not weather Cape North, standing back into the Gulf again, the wind and sea increasing rapidly, with heavy snow. B'tween nine and ten p.m., the ship lurching to leeward heavily, and lying over very much, caused, I suppose, the ring bolts to give way on the weather side, when long-boat spars, water-casks, &c., went over to leeward with a tre mendous crash, laying the ship over nearly on her beam ends, the water on deck up to the hatches, and tearing away the lee quarter-boat, davits and all. Called all hands to try and clear away the wreck and man the pumps, as I found there was a great quantity of water in the ship, the covering board or stanchions having been started. Shortly afterwards, I saw the land to leeward through the snow • tried to wear ship, but she would not answer h er helm. Let go the main and mizen topsail sheets. She payed off a little, but then hung again. I saw that inevitable destruction was before me. Tried to clear away the anchors, but before we could get that done (the ship was lying over so much) she struck heavily on the rocks, starting the decks up the first thump, the sea running tremendously, and now breaking clear over from forward aft, the ship driving higher and higher on the cliffs every sea, and lying over with her deck to seaward. It was not long before the whole starboard side of the poop was washed away, and with it all I had, my berth being on that side. I had entrusted one of my children to one of the men, who with her was washed away. To save himself, he let my child go, and never said a word about it. My wife, myself, and our other two chil Iren, escaped to the highest side with difficulty, where we passed a most miserable night, expecting every mement the ship to go to pieces from the violent thumping, the sea washing over us countinually. Wet and freezing, I saw the whole starboard side of her begin to give way ; the rudder gone. At daybreak some of the people ashore saw us. About eight o'clock we got a line of communication floated through the surf ashore to them by one of the life buoys, and saw the crew one by one landed, till they were all on shore save three, and my wife and self, when the line broke. I thought then we were not going to get ashore, not having another buoy; however, I got an empty chest, and they finally succeeded in getting hold of it, one of the crew ashore going into the surf av:th a line fast round him for it. We then all got ashore th roug h the surf half frozen, an d h a d t o be carried up the cliffs after we came out of the water, being so much exhausted We could not stand. The people whose house we were taken to were very kind, and showed us every attention they could. On Monday, the 26th, it moderated, so that we could go off to her. I then employed a lot of men to save as much of ;her as possible. We got a good deal ashore of the stores, tic. ; but at 4 p.m. the wind began to rise again, and the wreck of the masts and spars knocking about alongside, rendered it impossible to get off to her after that. On the morning of the 27th it blew hard again, and there was a great deal of her planking, Bfe., coming ashore on the beach. I found that she would soon go to pieces, and called a survey on her."—Greenock Advertiser. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, Last night the usual monthly meeting of this society was held at seven o'clock, in the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street,, Mr. McAndrew, president, in the chair. THE LATE JOSErg BROOKS YATES, ESQ. Before the general proceedings of the meeting were entered on The Chairman brought under the notice of the society, in conformity with a resolution of the council, the loss which the society had :sustained in the death of Mr. Joseph Brooks Yates, and tho propriety of recording the sense of that loss, and of considering an address of condolence to the bereaved family. In suggesting this course, the Chairman, said that Mr. Yates would be sensibly regretted by many of the chari table institutions in the town, and his memory long cherished in the society, as one of its most accomplished and zealous its interests during a period of y ears , an d as one who had interests most at heart. The Rev, H. H. Higgins moved the following resolution : " That this society, having received from the president the account of the death of Joseph Brooks Yates, Esq , desire that an expression of their profound sorrow be recorded on their minutes, and conveyed to the bereaved family. As one of its founders the deceased claimed the respect of the society; and this became the priTate feeling of the members from those qualities which eminently distinguished him. To an untiring zeal was added the mature experienle of ripsned years, which led the society to receive his councils with attention ; while his extensive knowledge of balks lettras, and the fine arts, enabled him frequently to lay the fruits of his researches before th e society. Thus did h e d ou bl y earn t h e devottorrof the society which now mourn his loss." In moving the 6s - olution the rev. gentleman said that he was glad to have the opportunity of being present, though the duty which he was called on to perform was a melancholy one, They had last one who had been the chief support of the society, and whose extensive stores of Lmowledge had made themselves felt in nearly every discussion at' their meet i ngs, and added greatly to the interest of their proceedings. He believed that many of the society would mourn ha him not only one whom they had been delighted to meet as a member of their society, but also as a private friend : as one whose hospitality had been remarkable, and whose benevolence bad made him the bene factor of many of the charitable Institutions of the town. There had been much centered in Mr. Fates that shonld make all who knew him deeply feel his loss, and in moving the resolution which he now placed before the society, he (the Rev. Mr. Higgins) was sure that it would meet with an unanimous accord. Mr. Salt seconded the resolution, briefly observing that from a long acquaintance with Mr. Yates, he could truthfully re echo all that had peen so well expressed by the mover, The resolution was unanimously adopted, The general business of the meeting was then proceeded with. At an extraordinary meeting held previously, it was resoled, that the period during which members may compound for life membership, at £5 55., exclusive of entrance fee, be extended to the end of the present session, for members admitted prior to the end of January, 1856, The Rev. Mr. FisChall was eletecd a member of the council. Mr. Bess, of the firm of Yates and Hess,, was introduced a member of the society, and Mr. 0. E. Rawlins, junior, was elected a member Mr. T. C Archer submitted a drawing of the microscopic appearance of the siliceous spicules of the new species o f (belonging to the genus Geodea) found by the President, Robert Mae Andrew, Esq , in deep water off the coast of Nor way; and also an unusually large cluster of the palm oil palm. The Rev. Mr. Higgins exhibited an extraordinary specimen ,f veget a ble substance, thrown up in a lake near Ellesmere, in Shropshire (closely resembling a pile of felt in the shape of a hussar's cap), called, in the neighbourhood, a " Mere"s (lake's) egg." It belongs to Mr. Elljon, chemist and druzz4st. Mr. Blocam called the attention of the society to an alleged important discovery by a Belgian lady, of a process by means of which liquified ivory is employed to take the impres sion of bas reliefs, and sculpture of the largest dimensions. Reduced to a paste, the ivory is run into a mould, without any pressure, and when it has ret urned to a solid state, it renders the models in the most perfect exactness, even in the most delicate detail. Having no knowledge of the large siz e , i n a rooess confounded at seeing b as relief: , ,one was of a very p single piece of ivory, The sculptured sides of th e c h o i r o f Notre Dame, in Paris, have just beep reproduced by this new method. An interesting conversation took place on this electro-type plating, and other cognate discoveries in the arts: The subject of the evening's discussion, was a discourse by Mr, J. T. Towson, "On the Instruments used in their obser vations by th e Li verpool Compass Committee." Mr. RtrAdell, one of the members of the committee, also gave some interesting details in connection with the series of A...--ations now being conducted by the Liverpool Compass ittee. It was rumoured yes►erday that the assistant barrister ship of Wexford, vacant by the appointment of Mr. Sausse, Q. C.. to a seat on the Bombay bench, has been given to coleman (Yl 4 oghlon, Bartq TRADE REPORT. ---MONDAY. COTTON : The Cotton market has been dull to day; the demand has been moderate, the supply greatly in excess of present requirements, and prices e 1 per lh lower than on Friday last. The sales—including 200 Pernambuco, OP to 61-d ; 200 Bahia, s'd to 6d ; 200 Maranham, to 6d 200 _Egyptian, 64d to 81d; 1000 Su ra t, 3ad to 4/d—a re reported 6000 bales, of which 1000 are on speculation and for export. A RGOLS About 60 casks and cases have been sold, at prices not to transpi re . Th e quotat i ons now, are—Perupas and Bolognas 82s 6d: red Oporto's, 43s to 445. ANNArro : Small sales at 11d. ASHES BRIMSTONE for best seconds, A few casks of Pearls sold at 47s 250 tons, to arrive at this port, at X 5 5s SIIUMAC : Large arrivals of Sicily, but holders firm at lls 91 to I2s 3d for finest qualities; 123 refused for 300 bags S.D.P.'s ex quay. NITRATE or SODA : 30 tons at under 17s 6d. WAX : No less then 7* tons, or GO cases an d b r i g o f American yellow, sold at £7 ; also, a few cases of white, price not mentioned. TARTARS : A few casks of good greyish pinks sold at 965. RAPE OIL : Best pale, 61s; dubious makes, 60s. SUGAR OP LEAD : Brown is DOW 33S 6d; white unchanged. SPIRITS or TURPENTINE: 20 barrels American, at 360 and some French at a considerably lower price. Rom : No transactions. LOGWOOD : Small sales at previous rates SAL AMMONIAC in fair demand, les at 38s; 2nds, 365. TARTARIC ACID : Seyeral buyers at is 4d. CONCENTRATED LEMON JUICE : About a dozen pipes for London delivery at 1 1-16 d, retailing very slowly here at 10. MANGANESE : 20 tons brought 953 for 61 per cent. LINSEED OIL : 100 tuns sold at 442 103 to £43 ICE: there being a large demand for export. £44 is now the figure. OLIVE OIL : About 10 tuns sold at previous rates. PALM OIL keeps very dull, and £4O would purchase quantity. LARD : Small sales of American at 68s 61 to 695. TALLOW: Dull at 67s 6J to 68s. Deliveries last week, 1,040 casks. ROMAN VITRIOL : Steady at 36s 6d. OXALIC ACID is in good request at Is £ 5 78 6d FUSTIC : 5 tons Ceara, all faults, at £5 ss. bid at the sale of Ta m pi co , h e ld for £6, es quay. SODA ASH has advanced to 21d, at which there is a good. demand. FARINA retails at 235. LIMA NICARAGUA WOOD: Steady at and £lB, as in quality. SUGAR : The inquiry still continues very limited, the sales being confined to 65 hhds. Demerara at 42s ; 20 hhds. Antigua at 44s ; and 20 hhds. 35 brls. Porto Rico at 453 to 47s 6d per cwt. MOLASSES, Rum, COFFEE : Nothing has occurred in. TEA : The business has been small, and prices are without alteration.' RICE : 700 bags Bengal are reported at 13s 9d, and 60 tierces Carolina at 30s per cwt. SALTPETRE: 100 bags have been disposed of at 363 per owt. for 5 per cent. refraction. RAPESEED : 700 bags, offered by auction, with all faults found buyers, at about previous rates, It is reported that Mdlle. Cruvellrs marriage with Baron Vigier, which was to have taken place on Saturday last, has been broken off. MR. LAYARD, M.P.—We understand that M r . L ayar d , M.P. for Aylesbury, has another work in the press on the subject of Assyrian Antiquities. We (fierapath) understand that the Great Western Railway Company will pay a better dividend than is gene rally expected, and carry over a respectable balance. A letter from Vienna confirms the report that the Arch duke Albert, who has lately returned from Italy, will not resume his situation of governor of Hungary, but will hold a high military post near the Emperor. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—We understand that the half-yearly meeting of this company will be held on the 29th of February, although we believe no decision of the board has fixed the day of meeting. " It is c infidently reported that the French Corps Legit. tatif will be convoked for February 15th. Should the news be true, it is scarcely doubtful that the new loan expected for April will be brought out oa the opening of the Chamber. IRISH POTATOE CROP.—We are assured by the (Irk Examiner that the supply of potatoes in the hands of the farmers is much greater than has been estimated ; and that according as this fact becomes more apparent the trade in Indian corn is declining. The Qpikiene of Turin, of the sth, states that General La tiarmora's departure for Paris is adjourned for a few days, in consequence of a contusion received on his leg by the door of a railway carriage striking against it, and which has caused such injury as to confine him to his bed. A cabinet council was held at his house on the 3rd. DEATH OF THE MARQUIS TOWNSHEND.—lntelligence has been received of the death of the Marquis Townshend, which event took plaoe a few days since, at his lordship's villa in the vicinity of Genoa, where the marquis had lived for many years past in the strictest retirement. The late marquis is succeeded in the marquisate and ancient family honours by his cousin, Captain J. Town shend, R.N., M.P. for Tamworth, born in March, 1798, and married in 1825, Elizabeth Jane, eldest daughter of the late Lord George Stuart, son of the first Marquis of Bute. UNIVERSITY INTmtaaaENCL.—Tho mastership of Clare Hall, Cambridge, has just become vacant by the demise of the Rev. W. Webb, D.D., who held it for the lengthened period of forty years, and, at the time of hi s decease, was the Lower Master of the University. The Rev. Dr. Webb died at his vicarage at I ittlington, on Friday last, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. The appointment of his sue cessor is with the fellows of the College, nineteen in Dumber; and rumour has it that the election will fall either upon the Rev, Francis Shephard, or the Rev. Mr. Power, ;the respected librarian of the University. The election must take place within eleven days from the declaration of the vacancy. RESIARKARL,E INCIDENT.—At a medical board held yes terday at Brampton, among the number passed as unfit for further service was Robert Evans, 13th Light Dra goons, a youth who has been in hospital nearly twelve months, and received his injury in an extraordinary man ner. In the charge of Balaklava a shell entered the ohest of his horse, which :rolled completely over, falling upon Evans, when the shell burst inside the animal, tearing it open from the shoulder to the hind-quarters, the weight of the horse causing suffocation, while its death struggles inflicted sev ere contusions on the legs of Evans, who would have soon e x pi re d h a d not a man o f hi s own troop and two Lancers released him. Her Majesty evinced, great sympathy for this youth, and his photograph like• ness was taken by her special command. The Emperor Napoleon, with fine taste and delicate courtesy, has sent over to the Queen a very pretty and very precious Christmas gift. It is in the form of a Lady's Album, and the substance of it is an artistic memorial of her Majesty's visit to Paris. The drawings are in water colour, by the moat renowned French masters. The Queen at Boulogne is by M. Morel patio, and the depar ture from that port by 111. Mozin. M. Chavel contributes two illustrations to the Royal Album—the ball at Ver sailles, and the Imperial supper. The Queen's arrival in Paris is drawn by M. Guerard. M. Eugene Lami illus trates the arrival at St. Cloud. A few other drawings are by artists less known :in England. The case which contains these treasures is got up iu the most exquisite style, and with all the richness of ornamentation for which French design is renowned. The book, we believe, was produced for the Emperor at a cost of a thousand guineas. ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP A MANUFACTORY.--On ThUra. day evening a determined attempt was made to destroy a manufacturing building at Dronfield, D er b yshire, by an explosion of gunpowder. Mr. G eorge Ward carries on at th a t place the manu f acture of spindles, and a portion of h i s g rinding wheel i s let. off to persons engaged in other branches of the trade of the district. One of these is an edge-tool grinder, named Spooner, who does not belong to the trade union. Probably feelings of resentment have been excited against Mr. Ward for harbouring Spooner. During the dead of the night a tremendous explosion oceured, which awoke the sleeping inhabitants in the vicinity. An examination of the manufactory showed that a large quantity of gunpowder had been put dawn a chimney of the grinding-wheel, and exploded, the violence of the shock having entirely blown down one end of the building. Had the explosion acted in the opposite direc tion, it must have done great damage to the machinery and property within the building. MAJOR -GENERAL WINDEAM AND THE COMITY OF Windham h gallantry 1 a (who try NORPOLE.-4 0 O c t o b er l ast the mag i airo f es o f N orfolk presented a vote of th an k s to Major-generaldiinguil is a native of th e county ) . f or the st he had displayed in the Crimea. The following reply from the gallant officer was read at the sessions, haveons, betlhdeohnoFnoruidrayto: " Sebastopol, N ov . acknowledge the receipt of the congratulatory address of the magistrates of the county of No r f o lk , and I hasten to thank them for an honour as unexpected as it is unquali fied: There were many at the Redan who did their duty as well as did; few that had such providential protection; none that had such reward. I beg through you to com municate to the magistrates o f my nat i ve county my heart felt thanks-for their address, which I shall band down to my children with pride and satisfaction ; and I only regret that many are now in their graves in Norfolk who would equally thank them for their kind and s,youraffectionateobedient - t tulations. -I have th e h onour to be, ir, servant, C. A. WINDHAM, Major-general, commanding 4th Division, and Commandant.—The Clerk of the Peace for the County of Norfolk." The letter was ordered to be entered on the proceedings of the Seggi°7lel