The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

1g541

Corrtsgontante.

TO TTIF. EDITOR OF "TILE PRESS:"

Sir,—An order of the Privy Council of the 10th
instant is issued to prevent the exportation of certain
descriptions of iron to the north of Europe, as it is
affirmed there is a great scarcity of iron in Russia.
This, of course, created some alarm in the iron dis-
tricts, and more especially in South Staffordshire,
where that particular quality is manufactured which
would be most required for naval and military pur-
poses. Of course inquiries and interviews were set
on foot to know how the interests Of the ironmasters
were likely to be affected, as it was an alarming sort
of business to say " that iron was to be restricted
from exportation to the north of Europe." I dare
say it was not a very weighty question with those
who sat at the Privy Council Board, who had only to
make the order and leave it to subordinates to be
carried out. But here begins the mischief—the
clerks or others under the control of the Board,
together with the Custom-house officers, really do
not know what the intention of the Board is, i.e.,
they cannot tell the specification of the order ; and
it is very natural that the practical men in the iron
district should feel extremely annoyed at the sim-
plicity of officials who ask " what is the difference
between bars of iron and iron bars?" or "strip-iron
and strips of iron V' who are just sensible enough to
retain in their memory that" rivet-iron is round," and
who for that reason declare that the order must
extend to all round iron, let the size be what it may.
It is monstrous to hear because boiler-plates are
prohibited, that the Custom-house people extend their
ideas to the belief that all plates, or, as they in their
wisdom title it, sheetplate iron, is included in the
order! Now, in a question of such magnitude, is it
not excusable that practical men should complain
of the Government not taking sufficient paws to
ascertain the position in which they place a large
and important district. They can at all times know
the real state of the case—first, by reterence to the
returns made to the orders of the House of Com-
mons ; and next, to any one who understands the iron
trade. No one is more easily approached than
Philip Williams, of Wednesbury Oak, the chairman
of the trade, a gentleman who would feel pleasure in
giving any information upon the "specification of
iron ;" and I dare say, if he were applied to, he
would recommend the employment of a stocktaker
out of his district, at a email salary, who would
instruct the clerks and others in drawing a dis-
tinction between boiler-plates and sheetplate iron.
The exportation of iron to Russia during the years
1851-2-3-4 is as follows (the quantity is insignificant,
and a great deal is such that could not be used for
war purposes) in tons weight:—

Icsl~

2,837
1,106
639

C 7 7G
- -
2,220 13:4
1,145 H 4
5,0e0 4

Now, the above is the " great question" which the
Privy Council have grappled with, and I dare say
they consider they have done the State some service
by the prohibition of iron to the north of Europe.
Would it not be well for them to consider what they
are about before taking such a step. At the present
price of iron in South Staffordshire, Wales, and
Scotland, the Belgians can command the market;
and if prices are to be advanced, which appears
most likely in the former districts, we shall be still
less likely to compete with Belgium. In the name
of common sense let such restrictions be removed
at once. We wish nothing to interfere with the
vigorous prosecution of the war, but at the satire
time we desire to see the interests of ourown country
protected to the greatest possible extent.—Yours, &t.,
A SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MAN.
West Bromwich, August 30, 1855.

FRIENDS IN NEED.
To THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

Sir,—The army before Sebastopol being at present
mainly composed of brave recruits—half-manufac-
tured articles, scarcely adapted to a war of Titans—
Sir De Lacy Evans, on two memorable Occasions
(July 18—August 15), has urged the jaunty Pre-
mier to garrison the Cape, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Mau-
ritius, and the like, with sepoys, by which arrange-
ment man, seasoned battalions of British infantty
now wasting in those colonies would be available fOr
the safferanCe of shot sea shell "in the imminent

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1,027 280 190 9 169 eot 786
855 918 227 12 141 363 44
1,499 119 234 41 59 1,247 518
9 1 1 • •

deadly breach " of Aktiar. Sagacious counsel! which,
it is feared, our pragmatical War Minister will scorn
to ponder over.
But at this tremendous juncture, when every stout
heart is of priceless value to the country, it ought
not to be forgotten that an almost unlimited supply
of the raw military material exists for our use on the
west coast of Africa. The three "West India Regi-
ments " are exclusively recruited there, and they most
certainly prove the goodness of the stuff, for whoever
has had experience of these fine corps will testify to
the fidelity, obedience, ay, and martial temper, too,
of the negro soldier. At this moment the gallant
fellow yearns to do battle for us, as the following ex-
tract from a letter just received from Colonel Whit-
field, commanding 2nd West India Regiment, bears
witness :

We are unanimously anxious (both officers and men) to
give our aid at Sebastopol, and I have just reported to the
general here my regiment (2,000 rank and file) ready
for active service in one hour after receiving the order.

Remember Nature has given to the children of
Ham copper-fastened constitutions, impervious to the
colonial maladies which so often decimate the pale-
faced troops, and an intrepid spirit which could not
fail to render the nigger warriors welcome comrades
"in the trenches " if need be.
During the last war we had a considerable force of
Africans under our colours, and at the capture of
several of the windward and leeward islands their
courage was conspicuous. In the ranks of the
"Zouaves Indigenes " of our allies are to be seen
many ebony faces whose owners fought like tigers at
Inkermann. I beheld their onset, and marvelled!
In this hour of peril we want men. If we are wise,
and despise not the " darkies," we can have plenty;
but, alas ! no warnings rouse our peddling red-
tapists.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
August 27.

A FIELD OFFICER.

THE "REVUE CONTEMPORAINE."

TRE Imperial Government have acquired a new
supporter in the French press by the transfer of the
Revue Contemporaine to other hands. This Revue,
which is on the plan of the Revue des Deal blondes,
and, like it, appears fortnightly, was chiefly of a
literary character, and whatever politics it professed
were of the Fusionist school. It has now changed
hands, and appeared for the first time on the Ist
inst. under the direction of M. de Laguerroniere and
M. Latour Dumoulin. Its.folitical programme, as
also the article commenting upon the events of the
previous fortnight, and in which remarkable notice
is taken of the visit of the Queen of England to
Paris, is the production of M. do Laguerroniere.
M. Troplong, President of the Senate, is a con-
tributor to the current number. The principal con•
tributors, besides those already mentioned, will be—
MM. de Parieu, Merimee, Nisard, Sainte-Beuve,
Pierre Clement, Amedee Thierry, Duvergier, Emile
Augier, Ponsard, &c.—all names long and favorably
know in the periodical and political literature of the
day. The programme is as follows :

The Rerue Contemporuine, which has hitherto been ex-
clusively literary, will henceforth treat of political ques-
tions, as well as those connected with social economy. A
review is rather a form through which to communicate
political and literary information than an instrument of
polemics. Irritating and personal articles will therefore
find no place in our pages. Moderation and impartiality
are the first duties of writers who employ reason to en-
lighten ant direct public opinion. Such a task is now
easy. To the regime of parties and of passions which
excited them has succeeded a Government which issued
from a great social movement to unite all the force of the
present and to develop all the progress of the future. That
Government, founded, as it is, on the most imposing
national manifestations that ever ratified the legitimacy of
authority, has, within the short space of three years, per-
formed the task of a glorious reign and of a memorable
epoch. All that it has accomplished in a moral, political,
and economical sense ought also to be produced on the
domain of thought and intelligence. The august and
powerful will which directs the destinies of the State with
the wisdom which constitutes the genius of Sovereigns has
indicated that object as one which ought especially to
etcite the emulation of all elevated and serious minds.
It is to attain that noble object within the limit of our
unpretending etertions that this review has been organised.
To effect onr object we appeal to the talents of those whom
France honours. We are convinced that such an appeal
will be met by many patriotic adhesions.

THE MCnEW TRANSPORT Great Britain, Captain
Gray, (Lieutenant Chapman Wise, R.N., Admiralty
Agent, in charge) sailed on Tuesday afternoon from
the Mersey. She had on board about 1,000 troops,
composed of detachments of various regiments,
Captain Bruce of the 04th in charge. She will call
at Gibraltar to land six officers and 214 men ; at
Malta, to land 20 officers; at Constantinople, to land
1500,0001. of the Turkish loan ; and thence to Bala-
kiava, to disembark 12 officers, 667 men, and 22
horses.

'IRE BANK OF IRELAND has agreed to lend
100,0001. to the Dundalk and Enniskillen Company at
four per cent.