The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

728

disparage Admiral DUNDAS, but in the name of
common sense let us ask what the fleet of 1855
has done to disprove Sir CHARLES NAPIF:R'S asser-
tions of the impregnability of the Russian positions
to large ships ? Ex nihilo nihil fit might honestly
have been the motto of the fleet for 1854, but the
constrained inactivity of the fleet now assembled
off Cronstadt, possessing as it does every advantage
denied to the fleet of 1854, induces us to ask whe-
ther Sir CHARLES NAPIER was wrong after all, and
whether he cannot fairly demand that inquiry into
his conduct which every honourable and brave man
claims as his privilege, be he unjustly or just!y
disgraced ?

There is no confirmation of the report of General
Beatson'e death. A letter from the general, dated
" July 22," says :—" The men will be easily enough
managed if we have fair play, and I doubt not in the
end we shall make first-rate corps."

The Emperor Napoleon has sent two very hand-
some diamond and pearl breastpins to Messrs.
Staples, of the Albion, Aldersgate-street, accompa-
nied by a complimentary letter, as a mark of his
satisfaction at the arrangements made by those gen-
tlemen for the late banquet at Guildhall.

Viscount Ebrington, M.P., yesterday laid the
foundation stone of the new wing of the building
belonging to the London Society for Teaching the
Blind to Read, which is situate in the Avenue-road,
Regent's-park, in the presence of a numerous and
fashionable company. A lady has provided the
whole of the sum for the new wing, which is intended
for a dining and music room, but the committee
appeal to the public for the sum of 3,0001. to
complete the redemption of the mortgage and the
purchase of their estates.

A fatal fire occurred yesterday morning at the
Coalheavers' Arms beer-shop, St. Pancras-road.
With as little delay as possible the parochial engine
was taken to the spot, but unfortunately no person
with it to fix the pipes, until two of the Royal
Society's es3ape-men undertook its management, by
which time nearly all the contents of the building
were one burning mass. Other engines were after-
wards brought into operation, and saved the ad-
joining houses. Two females were left in the ruins,
an elderly woman and a young girl. How the fire
originated could not be ascertained, or whether any
insurance had been effected. The beer-house, with
its stock, furniture, dye., were completely destroyed.

The Siiele says :—" It is known that the closing
of the Universal Exhibition is fixed for the 91st of
October. Nevertheless there is a question at present,
if not of prolonging it, at least of leaving it open for
two months longer; in other words, to allow the
exhibitors time to effect the sale of their goods. The
new entrance fees to the Paris Exhibition Palace
are :—On Monday, 20c. ; Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, lfr.; and Friday,
9fr. One hundred and eight thousand persons visited
the Paris Exhibition on Sunday last."
The members of the English Society of Arts in-
tend to ♦isit the Paris Exhibition on Monday, the
Brd of September, and several following days, for
which arrangements have been made by the English
and French railways to convey those gentlemen at
reduced fares.
The Prase says that in co'nsequence of continual
embarrassments arising out of certain contiguous
possessions in the East Indies, some belonging to
France and others to England, an arrangement is
in course of negotiation between the two nations by
which a reciprocal cession is to be made, that will
remove the present difficulties, and prove bene-
ficial to both countries.

The Russian prisoners who had resided at Evreux
during the past year have had their entire freedom
granted to them. General Bodisco (the late Governor
of Bomarsund) and family, with two aides-de-camp,
were about leaving for Paris on their return home
b Russia.

The North Star, the first of Vanderbilt's new line
of steamers, arrived at Southampton yesterday, with
seventeen passengers and a ship's letter-bag. She
brings three days' later advices, but there is no poli-
tical news.

A letter from Mexico in the Times states that some
of Santa Anna's subordinates at Magellan have broken
up a chest at the Custom-house, in which money be
longing to British bondholders was lying in deposit.

THE MEETING in favour of the restoration of
Poland, which was advertised to be held at St. Mar-
tin's•hall, Long Acre, on Wednesday evening, was
postponed sine die, in consequence of the sudden in-
disposition of Lieut.-General Sir De Lacy Evans,
who was to have presided oh the occasion.

THE PRESS.

A SCHEMI is on foot for the establishment of a
free library in Hatfield, Hertfordshire—we presume,
considering the size of the town and limited require
ments of the neighbourhood, not on large scale ; but
the experiment is watched with unusual interest, as
few such institutions exist anywhere in the rural
districts, and in the county of Hertfordshire there
are as yet none. We believe the promoters (among
whom Lord Salisbury stands foremost) do not in-
tend to urge the application of Mr. Ewart's new act,
whereby power is given, in parishes exceeding 5,000
inhabitants, to levy a rate for the purpose, on such
rate being called for by two-thirds of the inhabitants,
but will trust solely to voluntary subscriptions. Lord
Stanley, who has assisted in founding several institu-
tions of this kind, both in Lancashire and at King's
Lynn, Norfolk, has been requested to deliver a lec-
ture on the subject on an early day next week. The
undertaking has already created some local excite-
ment, and is alluded to in two leading articles of the
Herald of Wednesday and Thursday last. It is be-
lieved that the inhabitants of St. Albans will very
shortly follow the example thus set by their neigh-
bours.

IT is stated that Rear-Admiral Sir George Sartorius,
Knt., is to go to Cork, as commander-in-chief at
Queenstown, in the room of Rear-Admiral Sir William
Carroll, K.C.8., who succeeds the late Admiral Parry
as Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital.
THE excavations going on at Ostia are continually
bringing to light most interesting remains of ancient
splendour. One of the last prizes is a mosaic pave-
ment, eighteen feet long and seven broad, represent-
ing Neptune drawn by four sea horses. Fine frag-
ments of statues and bassi-relievi, silver and bronze
medals, leaden conduits, and stucco ornaments, as
well as some inscriptions of historical interest, have
also rewarded the labour of the excavators.
THE TELEGRAPHIC WIRES that are to be laid down
between Constantinople and Schumla, where they
will join those connecting that place and the Western
capitals, have advanced as far as the Balkans. The
Porte has announced the completion of the line for
the beginning of September, but it is said to be
doubtful whether all the efforts of the police can pro-
tect the telegraph ; already the posts have been
pulled down and burnt in more than one locality, and
a large quantity of the wire stolen from the depot.
The people of Bulgaria are naturally superstitious,
and believe that European witchcraft has been intro-
duced into the country. As to persuading them that
intelligence can be communicated through the me-
dium of the wires is altogether out of the question.
The Porte has published a memorandum, threatening
with severe punishment whoever is discovered in the
act of even touching the wires.
M. EDOUARD TAIRREZ, of Chamouni, writes to Mr.
Albert Smith, that the story of the discovery of the
body of Jacques Balmat is entirely a fabrication.
LOLA MosTEs, with a theatrical troop under her
charge, left San Francisco on the fith of June, in a
sailing vessel, bound for Australia. She will join the
stage there, and will afterwards go to Europe, vii
China, Calcutta, and Sebastopol.
Signor Verdi has been in London, with a view of
arranging for the production of his Lea Viyres at
the Royal Italian Opera next season, and for the
publication of its music.
Mdlle. Cruvelli's approaching retreat from the
opera stage into married life is formally announced
in the musical journals of Paris.
The Prophete has been produced for the first time
at Venice, at La Fenice, with Mdme. Sanchioli as
Fidis, and M. Negrini as Jean. The success, accord-
ing to the local journals, was greater than on any
other stage in Italy.
Letters from the East Indies mention that Miss
Catherine Hayes has departed from Calcutta for
Australia, where her popularity is described as being
almost without limit, and her gains beyond all pre-
cedent.
THE Americans in former years were accustomed to send
large quantities of wooden clocks to England, for exportation
to the British colonies ; but now the Germans in America
are able not only to beat them out of that field, but to com-
pete successfully with their own German countrymen in
the home market of their fatherland. The large and rapidly
increasing manufacture of this article in America is evident
from the following statistics of the trade :—ln Connecticut
there are seven manufactories, employing 1.300 pers ms,
and producing annually 800,000 wooden clocks ; in Bristol,
fourteen manufactories, with 400 persons, making 200,000
clocks ; Plymouth has three manufactories, with 175
workmen, turning out 75.000 clocks ; at Arsonia are two
manufactories, with 140 persons employed, who make
annually 10.2,000 clocks; at Winstrad, one manufactory,
with 40 persons, 30,000 clocks ; at Southampton are two
manufactories, with 45 workmen, producing 40,000 clocks ;
and lastly, at New Havre there are three manufactories,
employing 400 persons, and making 370,000 clocks. So
in the seven above-mentioned places there are thirty-two
manufactories, employing 2,500 workmen, and producing
annually 1,817,000 wooden clocks.
A Gsamxs SINGER, formerly of some celebrity, Mine.
Stockl-Heinefetteer, ha alust expired in a madhouse at
Vienna.

SATURDAY,

6orrtsponttutt.

TO THE EDITOR OT " THE PRESS."

Sir,—With reference to the parliamentary proceed-
ings as reported in the London papers of the 27th
instant, I shall feel much obliged if you will allow
me, through your columns, to correct the serious
misstatements made in connection with my name, both
in Mr. Roebuck's inquiry and in Lord I'almerston's
reply. Lord Palmerston is made to say, " that the
service that Major-General Chesney was appointed to
perform was not the organisation of tl.e Turkish Con-
tingent, but a different service, which was not now
intended to be proceeded with ;" adding, " that Gene-
ral Vivian was considered amore proper person (than
myself) to be appointed for the organisation of the
Turkish Contingent."
1 hops I may be allowed to observe that this reply
contains two mistakes respecting me. Employment
with the Turkish Contingent was never in any way
agitated by me, nor, as far as I am aware, by any
one else, while the gazetted appointments to the
Foreign Legion, including that of Colonel Kiuloch
as its inspector, prove that the service for which I
had been selected is now in process of being carried
out.
The circumstances are briefly these :—On the
27th of January I was most unexpectedly requested
by the Duke of Newcastle "to undertake the organi-
sation of the Foreign Legion, with such staff, position,
and assistance as would be commensurate with the
importance of the duties." I accepted this service,
and I had every hope that, with a little exertion, 1
should have been able to place 10,000 efficient men
in the field by the middle of May; when, on the 12th
of February, I was informed by Colonel Mundy,
without any other reason being assigned, that "Lord
Panmure having other views, he was unable to con-
firm the intentions of his predecessor."—l remain,sir,
your obedient servant,
F. R. CHESNEY, Major-General.
Ballyardle, Co. Down, July 30th, 1855.

CONSERVATISM AND REGISTRATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."
Sir,—Some years' study of and attention to the
registration of voters, induces me at this critical
period to solicit room for a few remarks on your
article in Tux PRESS of the 18th inst., in reference
to the duties of Conservatives in regard to this all--
important subject.
Knowing the apathy and indifference, the quieta
non movere spirit, which now unhappily appears to
rule the great Conservative party, I. fear that no-
thing short of the actual issuing of election writs
will effectually rouse the once " good man and true "
to action ; yet will I still endeavour, with your leave,
by a few plain facts, to show the urgent necessity for
great exertion in that particular department of par-
liamentary warfare to which you have called
attention.
Let noble lords and honourable gentlemen now in
Parliament ask themselves it' the present state of
parties in the house is perfectly satisfactory ? Are
the majorities of one hundred and more in favour of
our ricketty Government quite as they should be ?
Is every Conservative Representative so sure of
re-election as he could wish to feel ? Finally,
in what state are the registers, and how much is
known of them, their duplicates and dead men, and
the long list of disqualified voters who will surely
be arrayed against us, teams et corde, whenever the
polling-booths ale open ?
With a general election almost inevitable—with the
Whigs in office, and sticking there with a tenacity
passing all comprehension—with the country ear-
nestly preying for a Government of principle and
power, I presume the most apathetic will admit it to
be nearly time that something was done, unless we
wish all England to be even as Marylebone and
Southwark. Sir, I can assure our friends that the
Radical couturiers are active enough, and are
quietly crowding the lists of new claimants now
hanging from our church and chapel doors.
More of your space I dare not claim to day, but if
allowed I will continue this subject, trusting I may con-
vince those who keep watch and ward over the Conser-
vative party of the urgent necessity existing for a
thorough organisation of the whole of England as
regards the registration and constant support of
Conservative voters. The great evil is the systematic
neglect of this first political duty ; but the remedy is
simple, and I know no earthly reason why a central
board and office directing the movements and assist-
ing and advising all, the register of every consti-
tuency in England, should not have that careful and
constant attention which has already produced such
gratifying results in certain districts, and which
experience teaches me is alone almost sufficient to
insure success.—l am, sir, yours faithfully,
SECRETARY.
London, July 31, 1865.