The Press.
London, England, 1853-08-06 00:00:00

Atm! anb titntral.

THE MINISTERIAL WHITEBAIT DINNER IS fixed for
the 13th instant.

THE HON. HENRY GEOROE Ett.toT, brother to
Lady John Russell, has been accredited as charge
d'affaires at the Hague during the absence of the
Hon. Ralph Abercromby.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. SHEIL, her Majesty's Minis-
ter in Persia, has arrived in this country on leave of
absence.

A QUEEN'S MESSENGER left town on Wednesday
evening for St. Petersburg, conveying the instruc-
tions to Sir Hamilton Seymour alluded to by Lord
Clarendon in his speech on Tuesday.
THE HEAD COMMISSIONEIt of the Statute Law
Consolidation Board is to have 1,000?. for one year
certain, and four other commissioners 000/. a year
each.

GOVERNMENT PROPONF. TO VOTE 3,5001. this year
for the purpose of providing a portion of the salary
of the Governor of Jamaica. The entire salary is
5,0001., of which 3,500/. will be voted annually for
three years, on certain conditions, the colony pro-
viding the balance of 1,5(M)?.
Mn. Lons HENRY BIEVRANT is appointed Resident
Magistrate of Stockenstrom District, in the division
of Fort Beaufort, Cape of Good Hope.—Mr. J.
Macleroy is appointed Registrar of Deeds at Natal,
in South Africa.—Mr. John Bird is appointed Chief
Clerk in the Office of the Colonial Secretary, and
Clerk of the Council at Natal, in South Africa.

THE ArPoINTMENT of Mr. Nathaniel Hawthorne,
author of the " Scarlet Letter " and other works,
United States Consul in Liverpool, has received her
Majesty's approbation, as duly announced in Tues-
day's Gazette.
THE MEMBER FOR SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE, the
Hon. General Anson, has issued an address resigning
his seat and taking leave of his constituents. A new
writ for that division of the county was moved for on
Thursday in the House of Commons.

Boum-Its of General Cathcart's early return to
England were prevalent at the Cape when the last
advices were despatched.
_ .

THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY having adver-
tised for tenders for carrying out the drainage, form-
ing roads, tic., on the estate purchased for the
members at Ealing, Mr. E. Murray, the successful
competitor for that contract, celebrated that event by
a dinner on Monday last. l'rior to the festivity, the
first sod of the draining works was turned, with due
ceremony, by Dr. Nicholas. The Woodbury-park
estate, near Tunbridge Wells, has just been pur-
chased by the society, and will shortly be divided
among the shareholders.

THE IRREGULARITY AND INEFFICIENCY OF THE
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH between London and Paris has
given rise to much complaint. To such an extent
has the inconvenience gone, that it has become a
matter of importance to the shareholders that their
interests should not be endangered. As an example
it is stated that two messages of similar import, but
addressed to different parties in Paris, were left at
the London office at the same time ; one reached in
due course at about half-past eleven a.m., but the
other did not arrive at its destination until about two
hours after. Such irregularities are constantly oc-
curring, and there is no redress, the English officials
referring to the French office for explanation, and
vice versO.

A CHARTER OF INCORPORATION has been granted
to the Australian Direct Steam Navigation Company,
the prospectus of which was issued some months
ago. The route proposed to be adopted is that by
the Isthmus of Panama, by which it is anticipated
that communications with our Australian colonies
will be effected in fifty five days.

THE DEATHS IN LONDON, as reported by the Regis-
trar-General, for the week ending Saturday last,
amounted to 1,004, a result which, though not un-
favourable as compared with the usual mortality of
the season, gives indication of that increase which
is characteristic of the summer mortality of towns as
distinguished from that iu the country. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1943-52 the cor-
rected average number of deaths was 1,175.

821

AT THE INDIA Housic, on Wednesday. an ad-
journed meeting of proprietors took place, and gave
occasion for a long discussion respecting the motion
of the directors that no further opposition be given
to the Government bill. Mr. Hume, M.P., Mr. H.
Mackenzie, Mr. Wigrani, Mr. Ayrtou, Sir J. W.
Hogg, Bart., and a number of other proprietors
addressed the meeting, when the resolution of the
court was withdrawn, in favour of a petition to the
House of Lords, founded on the resolution of Mr.
H. Mackenzie, the principal features of which were
for preserving the present number of directors, and
for opposing the system of nomination proposed by
the Government.

AN ACCELERATION 1168 jUSI, been male iu the night
mails to and from the north, by which the interval
for replying to letters will be increased at Manches-
ter and Liverpool by about half an hour. at Carlisle
by two hours and a quarter, and at Folitibugh, tila.s-
gow, Perth, and Aberdeen, by about four hours.
AN OFFER of 280,000/. has, it is said, been made by
a large capitalist for the assets of the estate of Mr.
Thomas Attwood, and which will probably be
accepted, thus affording Ain satisfaction to the ere.
ditors, and leaving an acceptable surplus for Mr.
Attwotsl himself.

THE LoNIN►N COFFEE AND KATINO HOUSE KEEPERS'
AsBot'►ATluN held their annual meeting on Monday
evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. Mr. B. U.
Statham presided. The report stated that the asso-
ciation was in a prospemus condition, the accounts
for the year show►ng a balance in the hands of the
treasurer amounting to $2l. is. Od., being an increase
of is/. 2s. 3d. on the half year. The net profit de-
rived from the ball and ►nncert on the 20th of
January amounted to 321._ us. 10,1

THE LONISIN *Nu Nourn-WEsrEms RAILwAv
dividend ter the halt' year ending 30th of June last
will be at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum.
THE 6ENERAI. IRON SCREW CoLLIER COMPANY
held their meeting on Monday, when the dividend
declared for the quarter ending the 30th of June was
at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum. The ',regress
of the undertaking had been extremely satisfaetory,
and with the exception of the hiss of one of their
vessels during the late gale—which, however, was
fully insured—nothing had (wound to interfere with
their general prosperity. With regard to the results
of working, it was found that one steamer could con•
vey as large a quantity of coal in the course of a year
AS seven ordinary colliers, and that the expenses were
proportionately moderate.
AT THE HALF-YEARLY MEETINO Or THE NORTH
of EUItoPE STEAM COMPANY, on Tuesday, it, was
stated that the results of the new trade opened by the
company's vessels had realised the best expectations,
and that at the next meeting in January the directors
would be able to recommend the declaration of a
dividend. The earnings already received exhibited
a good amount of profit on the capital invested, and
additional vessels were alone required to enable it. to
be considerably increased. No attempt, will be made
to enter into competition with other companies, the
directors feeling persuaded that the route they
possess requires only steady development to yield a
permanent and satisfactory return. The vessels of
the company will be brought to Harwich imme-
diately the railway shall have been completed and
opened for traffic.
THE ASTLEY COOPER PRIZE of 300/., for the cur-
rent your, has been awarded by the surgeons of Guy's
Hospital to Mr. Henry Gray, F.R.S., for his essay on
the" Structure and Functions of the Human Spleen."
THE MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES, voted or to be
voted for the present financial year, amount to a
total of 2213,0411. They comprise :—New Houses of
Parliament (supplemental), 70,000/. ; Windsor Castle
(supplemental), 4,000/. ; Buckingham Palace (sup•
plemental),2o,ooo/.; Battersea-park, 32,841/. ;
sea-bridge, 15,500/.; Chelsea embankment, &e.,
35,0001. ; Ardglams Harbour, 211,0110/. ; Archer's per-
forating-machine, 4,0(0/.; Sir W. Snow Harris
(compensation), 5,0111)I. ; electric telegraph (conti-
nental), 30,0001.; Royal Dublin Society (museum),
2,5001.

THE YORKSHIRE AORICELTERAI. SOCIETY have cele-
brated their sixteenth anniversary at York during the
present week, under the presidency of Lord liotham.
The awards of the prizes were issued on Thursday.
CERTAIN Berriso-ovricr. lieerees attended in
deputation on Lord Palmerston on Monday, and
were received with great courtesy. Their object was
to direct his lordship's attention to the stringent
clauses of the bill which is in progress for the sup•
pression of betting-houses. They represented the
necessity of some revision, but whether any would be
made his lordship could not undertake to say. An
opinion, however, prevails that the bill will not come
into operation before the end of the year.
A tiVZRTISEMENTS disseminated by means of stamped
impressions on the current coin of the realm are pro-
hibited by a bill brought in by the Government.
Such impressions are counted among the "deface-
ments" which are classed in the statute-book as mis-
demeanours, and punished by fine or imprisonment,
at the discretion of the Grown.

322

THE POTATO ROT, we regret to hear, has made its
appearance in a serious form in the neighbourhood of
Tiverton and other localities in Devonshire.

THE BRITISH BENEFICENT INSTITUTION has just
issued the fourth annual report, from which it ap-
pears that the finances of the society are in a highly
prosperous condition, and that its prospects are most
encouraging. Though only founded a few years ago,
for the purpose of affording permanent incomes to
the widows and unmarried orphan daughters of per-
sons once in affluent circumstances, or occupying a
high position in society, its operations have already
exceeded the most sanguine expectations. At the
present moment twenty-four annuitants are upon the
funds, receiving each :301. per annum ; and the in-
creasing support the institution is enjoying justifies
the hope of a speedy extension of its sphere of use•
fulness.
THE

__ _ TO THE GREAT WELLINGTON
CouIOE TESTIMONIAL have at length reached
100,0001.—that sum being the minimum contem-
plated in Lord Derby's original letter, written in
November last. A meeting of a few subscribers to
the fund has accordingly been held, under the
presidency of Prince Albert. Her Majesty has con-
sented to become visitor of the institution, and will
nominate the trustees without delay ; but the amount
now contributed, large as it is, falls considerably
short of the sum required to carry out the scheme is
its integrity, and further subscriptions are earnestly
solicited from the public.
THF: WAGES Qiar.s.rios.—The strike continues, and
spreads in London, although the cabmen are re-
turned to their duties, and the omnibus-drivers con-
sent not to abandon theirs. A large number of
dock labourers still hold out., and at many points of
the waterside a most unwonted silence and stagna-
tion testifies to the stop thus put upon metropolitan
commerce. Offers of 2s. 04. per day have been
issued by the proprietors, and many recruits are
thus tempted from the country, who it is hoped will
supply the place of the old labourers, if they persist
in their demands. In Covent-garden Market, and at
the market garden-grounds round Fulham, several
hundred labourers, of both sexes, but principally
Irish, have refused to work unless their wages are
raised 2s. per week. They earn at present 14s. on
the average. The City police have held several
meetings, with the view of obtaining an advance.
Deputations from several divisions waited on the
commissioner to present their petitions for an in-
crease of pay. They were received with courtesy,
and Mr. Harvey promised to represent their rasa in
the proper quarter. The spinners engaged at the
establishment of Messrs. Kelly and Gilmour, num-
bering 150, struck on Thursday, and will involve the
stoppage of more than 500 other operatives attached
to the concern. The wages of these men had very
recently been raised 13 per cent. by their employers.
In South Wales a strike of serious extent took place
yesterday week. The miners and colliers, nearly
5,4)00 in number, employed at the Great Dowlais
iron-works belonging to Lady Charlotte Guest, ceased
work without giving notice, but demanding 10 per
cent. addition to their wages. Nearly 15.000 workers,
men, women, and children, are thus suddenly de-
prived of employment. The great turnout of factory
operatives at Stockport is virtually at an end. The
master spinners have found that, however great the
sacrifice may be from giving an advance, which pre-
sent prices for their produce will not cover, the loss
they are sustaining from closing their establishments,
leaving capital lying waste, is likely to be much
greater; so they have capitulated. The strike had
lasted eight weeks, and the loss incurred by all par-
ties in the struggle is estimated at from 130,0001. to
150,0001.