The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

The steamer Bombay arrived at Trieste on the
14th with the usual mails—from Bombay to the 17th
of April ; Calcutta, April 9 ; Ceylon, April 19 ; and
Hong Kong, March 29.
There was no political news of any importance.
A mutinous spirit still prevailed in the Bengal
army, especially in the 34th Native Infantry.
At Bombay the banks have again reduced their
rate of discount one per cent.
In Chiva nuthing of importance had transpired
since the departure of the previous mail.
The steamer Zenobia had arrived with troops from
Madras.

The Caradoc arrived at Alexandria on the evening
on the sth instant, with Lord Elgin and suite, who
left on the Bth for Cairo.

ARRIVAL OF THE U.S. STEAM-FRIGATE

"NIAGARA."
THIS magnificent specimen of naval architecture
dropped her anchor in the Thames, off Greenhithe,
at an early hour on Thursday morning, having made
her first trial trip from New York in eighteen days.
The Niagara is of 5,000 tons burden. She is said
to be the largest screw-steamer afloat, and the
object of her visit to our shores is to receive on
board a moiety of the telegraphic cable which is in-
tended to connect this country with the United
States. The Niagara is commanded by Captain
Hudson, and carries a crew of 500 officers and men.
She is at present without her armament, for greater
facility of shipping the cable, the second half of
which will be carried out by her Majesty's screw
steamship Agamemnon. Both vessels will proceed
to the vicinity of Nova Scotia, where they will part
company and commence paying out the cable, the
Niagara towards New York, and the Agamemnon
towards the United Kingdom. Both ships will be
attended by screw tenders, for the purpose of
rendering any assistance that may be required during
the performance of their anxious and difficult duty.
Captain Hudson, accompanied by Lieutenants Wells,
Guest, and Boyd, landed at Gravesend as soon as
the ship brought up, and came on to London for
instructions. The gallant captain dined with the
members of the Navy Club the same evening, at the
Thatched•house Tavern. The Niagara is a beauti-
ful ship, and will no doubt excite very great atten-
tion among naval men, and all who are interested in
the science of naval architecture.

Curt ana

Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family con.
tinue at Osborne.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is
making a tour through the English lakes.

The-Court will return to Windsor Castle about the
Bth of June. Her Majesty will entertain a distin-
guished circle of guests in the race week.
His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constan-
tine, it is expected, will be included in the circle of
distinguished guests on this occasion.
Her Majesty will hold Drawing Rooms at St.
James's Palace on Saturday, the 6th of Jane, and on
Tuesday, the 23d of June, and a Levee on Thursday,
the 18th of June. The ladies and gentlemen of the
household only are expected to wear mourning.

His Excellency the Russian Minister and the
Countess Chreptowich have arrived at Chesham-
house from Paris, where they have made a sijour
of some weeks since Easter.

His Excellency Count Persigny is expected at
Albert-gate in the course of next week.

Valittral.

A CABINET COUNCIL was held on Wedneslay at
Lord Palmerston's official residence. All the
Ministers were present.
THE HON. CHICHESTER FORTESCEE7 M.P. for
Louth, has been appointed to succeed Mr. John Thia
as Parliamentary Under• Secretary for Colonial Affa rs.

THE RETIREMENT OF Mn. STEA.B.T WORTLEY from
the post of Solicitor• General may be shortly expecte 1.
THE PROBABLE RESIGNATION OF LORD PANMURE,
so currently reported of late, is denied this week by
the Post, which asserts, " authoritatively," that the
rumour, in all its particulars, " is entirely devoil of
any foundation."

THE ANNUAL RETURN of the increase and dim nu-
lion in the public offices is printed for the year 1.-,)13.
The increase of persons employed in 47 departm-Dt4
enumerated is bl 6, and the decrease 5,533. In
salaries the increase is 264,0001., and the diminution
141,0004

478

THE RETIREXENT OF COLONEL OLIPHANT from the I
East India Direction is reported.
A PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS for a
reform of the existing superannuation system in the
civil service, is in course of signature among the
principal London merchants. A similar document
has proceeded from Liverpool, signed by almost
every leading merchant, broker, and shipowner.
THE ROYAL COMMISSIONERS OF INQUIRY into
military purchases iu the army, hava resumed their
meetings this week. The Duke of Somerset was
president, and the other Commissioners. present were
Lord Stanley, Mr. Sidney Herbert, M.P., General
Wynyard, General Sir Harry Jones, General Sir
Henry Bentinck, and Mr. George Carr Glyn.
THE EQUALISATION OF POOR RATES WB3 discussed
at a meeting of Hackney ratepayers on Thursday
evening. The Rev. G. H. M'Gill called the atten-
tion of the meeting to this fact, among others of a
statistical nature, that in the west unions a poor
man received assistance to the extent of 2s. Od. a
week and a loaf of bread, whereas in the eastern
districts Is. and a loaf were only given, upon which
no man could life. Mr. Ayrton, M.P., also addressed
the meeting, and complained bitterly of the traps of
the House of Commons. He had introduced a bill
upon the subject, but—
The day appointed for its discussion had been named
for keeping the birthday of her Majesty, and as the house
never sat on such an occasion, he should only have to
make the best effort in his power to get another day named
for introducing the measure.
Various resolutions in favour of such a measure were
proposed and passed, and the meeting separated.

A DEPUTATION, consisting *of Mr. Collins, M.P.,
Mr. Whately, Q.C., Mr. C. E. Lewis, Mr. Isaacson,
and other gentlemen, waited upon the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, for the purpose of stating as a serious
objection to the Chancellors' Savings•hank Bill the
extensive and undefined powers it gave to Govern-
ment, insomuch that it would deprive managers and
trustees of all power whatever over the affairs of the
bank. Finally, all that the deputation and the banks
required was that they should have the privilege of
going before a select committee of the House of
Commons; and that the restrictions intended by
claus.ts 2,3, and 12 should be expressed in the bill.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, nothing
could be further from the fact than that the Govern
ment were desirous of increasing their powers, and
they would much rather leave the matter as it was;
but the present state of things was bad both for the
Government and the people, since there was a belief
on the part of the latter in the moral obligation of
the former to make good any loss which might arise
front the defalcations of officers of savings•banks,
while the Government did not think themselves
justified in applying the public money to such a
purpose. Under such circumstances, he had thought
it his duty to propose a measure for giving a
guarantee to depositors ; but this could not be done
without a guarantee that the trust should not be
abused, and that there should be such reasonable
ions and precautions as could be taken to
the safety of the deposits. In undertaking
responsibility for so many millions of money, it
absolutely necessary to introduce restrictions and
regulations, but they would be more in the nature of
statutory provisions than 3f any interference with
OWEN : Who will appoint the paid officers.
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER: The trustees and
managers. of course.
Mr. OwEN : But if the Government object to the ap.
pointment?
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : Then the trustees
ippoint another.
OwEx : And if they objected again ?
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER : Oh, you ought
suppose anything so unreasonable. In a country
this, where all public men are so much under the
eye, anything like systematic abuse of power is
(together unlikely.
After some further conversation, in the course of
. the Chancellor of the Exchequer repeated his
~avowal of all intention of interfering with the
Independence of trustees and managers, and inti-
'►ated his opinion that it would be impossible to
ibody the necessary rules and regulations in the
the deputation retired.

Rlttropolitan.

,LL OF HOUSES IN TOTTENHAM•COURT-

ROAD.

cause of this lamentable accident, which hap-
:. la.st Saturday morning, has not yet been ex•
'mined. The facts are as follows :—Two rival uphol-
sterers, Messrs. Maple and Messrs. Hunter, owned
between them the five houses numbering 145 to 149
Tottenham-court road. A short time since a fire

out in Messrs. Hunter's premises, and injured
_ to that extent that a partial rebuilding was
necessary. While these works were progressing,
Mr. Maple thought it necessary to make certain en-
largements and improvements upon his premises.
Friday week the district surveyor examined the
premises, and at once condemned the old party-wall

restrictions and
secure the safety
the responsibility
was absolutely ne
regulations, but tl
statutory provisi(
details:—
.
Mr. OwEN : Who
The CHANCELLOI
managers. of course
Mr. OwEN : But
pointment?
The CHANCELLOI
will appoint anothe
Mr. OwEx : And
The CHANCELLOI
• not to suppose any
like this, where all
public eye, anythi
altogether unlikely
Alter some furl
which the Chanel
disavowal of all
independence of
meted his opini
• embody the nece!
bill, the deputatil
FALL OF rioi
THE cause of th
pened last Satui
• plained. The fac
aterers, Messrs.
between them tt
in Tottenham-cc
broke out in Me
them to that e
necessary. Wh
Mr. Maple thou,
largements and
On Friday week
premises, and al