The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-19 00:00:00

go sabl.

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS.
APPOINTY ENT&
Rear-Admirals—Henry Byam Martin to Sir C. Napier's Fleet
in the Baltic; lion. Montagu Stopford to be Captain of the Fleet
on the Mediterranean station, for service iu the Black Sea.
Commander—William E. A. Gordon to the hampered.
Lieuteuanta—Hugh T. Burgoyne to the Waterloo ; James P.
Smallpage to the Boacavren; Charles A. Lodder to the Viper;
Francis W. Turton (Sag) to the Impregnable; Josiah H. Hat-
chard to the Boscawen.
Assistant-Surgeons—Theophilus 0. Haran to the Viper; James
Johnstone to the Lynx; Samuel Weaver to the Prince Regent..
Chaplain—Rev. Henry Gordon to the Meander.
Second Masters—Thomas Pounds to the Colossus; T. Ni-
cholson to the Spy; Alexander F. Baker to the Beagle; William
P. Ward to the Lynx; James Roche to the Viper.
Acting Gunners—William Lemon to the Wrangler; Ralph
Eales to the Lynx; John Hayles to the Beagle.
rloatswaina—Joshua }Whiny to the Wrangler; John Reid to
the Arrow; Alfred Vincent to the Beagle; John )•'ripe to the
Lynx.
Acting Boatswain—Edward Reilly to the Fisgard.
First Class Assistant-Engineer—William Gill to the Fleet.
Paymaster—Arthur Jones to be Secretary to ]tear-Admiral
Hon. Montagu Stopford.
Clerk-in-Charge—Sydney E. Wright to the Viper.
William P. Dixon, Francis Lousada, and Charles Alder, to be
Naval Cadets.

PROMOTIONS.
Commodore—Henry Eden, recently Superintendent of Wool-
wich Dockyard, to be Superintendent of Devouport Dockyard,
and promoted to he Commodore of the First Class.
Commander—William Houston Stuart, of the Modeste, to the
rank of Captain.
Lieutenants—Augustus Butler, of the Britannia; Charles W.
Hope, serving as Flag• Lieutenant in the Neptune--to the rank
of Commanders.
Sidinouth de Ros Hall, of the Diamond ; Henry
Davies, of the Electra; Josiah H. liatchard, of the lioticawen ;
Robert Owen Leach, appointed to the Duke of Wellington; Ed-
ward C. Chaplin, of the James Watt; Lewis Morris Croke, of
the Duke of Wellington; Samuel Henry Bahingtou (acting), of
the Gorgon; John Swinburne, of the Hoscawen—to be Lieute-
Dante.
Third Class Assistant:Engineer—John H. H. Small to be
Acting Assistant-Engineer of the Second Class.

WHEN PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF officially communicated
to Count Buol the news of the intended evacuation of the
Principalities, he was on such excellent terms with him-
self and the world that he gave vent, to his overflowing
feelings by embracing the Austrian Minister for Foreign
Affairs. As the accolade was given when the Austrian
statesman accompanied the prince to the open door, and
two or three diplomatists were in the adjoining room, the
opportune outbreak of feeling must be considered a very
good " dodge." One of the diplomatists remarked that,
after what he had just witnessed, he must suppose that he
(the prince) would soon quit the hotel and take up his
quarters in the place of the Embassy. The laughing
reply is said to have been, that M. de tiourkiuney's per-
mission must first be obtained.
THE BARON DE VITROLLES, whose name was BO celt•
brated in the affairs of 1815 and during the Restoration,
died in Paris on Tuesday night, in the eighty-first year of
his age.

AUGUST 19, 1854•

(6rtlanl3.

A MEETING was held in the Court-house of
Armagh, his Grace the Duke of Leinster in the
chair, yesterday week, to hear a paper read by Mr.
John Andrews, of Comber, on the cultivation of
gal. The lecturer chiefly referred to the flax crop as
a part of the rotation on a small farm, and dwelt
upon its suitability for admitting an after-sowing of
turnips, rape, or vetches, preferring this course to a
sowing with grass and clover seed. He objected to
the axiom that large farms only could be profitably
conducted, and produced a balance-sheet of the
management of ten Cunningham acres, showing a
profit on the produce of 110/. in one year, and 1201.
in the next, much of which be attributed to the
occurrence of flax in the rotation. He dwelt upon
the advantage of saving the seed, whether for sowing
or feeding, and adduced instances of profits derived
by him from this practice. Some discussion took
place on the views proposed by the lecturer, whose
communication was ordered to be printed in the
transactions of the Royal Flax Society.
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS have commenced in Dublin
in the case of Mr. Edmund O'Flaherty. Mr. H.
Lazarus and Mr. Salomans, of Dublin, appeared on
Saturday, with their solicitors, before the sitting
magistrate at Capel-strtset Police-office, and, producing
bills which they hold, and which are alleged to have
been issued by Mr. E. O'Flaherty, late Special Com-
missioner of Income Tax, swore informations to the
effect that Mr. Godley and Mr. Gregory, whose
names appear on the documents, have repudiated the
said bills as forgeries. Application MIS then made
for summonses to compel the attendance of Mr. God-
ley and Mr. Gregory, and accordingly the former of
these gentlemen attended in the police-court on
Monday before Dr. Kelly, and swore an information
to the effect that two bills, one at three months for
4501., and the other for the same period for 701.,
drawn on him by his late colleague, Mr. Edmund
O'Flaherty, were forgeries, and that he neither di-
rectly nor indirectly authorised Mr. O'Flaherty to
attach his name to these bills. This information
was received and registered, with a view to ulterior
proceeding. The charge of forgery was again inves-
tigated on Tuesday, when Mr. Keogh testified that
his name written on the back of one of the bills was
a forgery. It was stated in the court that Mr. O'Fla-
herty has gone to Copenhagen, having selected that
place of residence because of the non-existence I.)f
any international treaty between Denmark and Eng-
land relative to the giving up of fugitives from justice.
THE CONTINUANCE OF UNSETTLED WEATHER and
falls of heavy showers on Monday and Tuesday last
caused a rise of prices in the Irish grain markets,
and at Tuesday's Dublin Corn Exchange an advanced
currency was readily maintained, with rather more
business done in foreign wheat and Indian corn.
The reports from the country are meagre as regards
the condition of the potato crop, but do not lessen
the fears already entertained of a partial failure.
Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the at-
mosphere, the general harvest has commenced in the
county of Kilkenny; and wheat, oats, and barley are
being cut in various directions. The wheat promises
to be a fair crop, and the oats and barley to give an
abundant yield.
A BARBAROUS AGRARIAN MURDER has been Com-
mitted in the vicinity of Nenagh, in the county of
Tipperary, a young farmer, named Mullowney,
having just died from the effects of a brutal bearing
inflicted on him by seven men after the fair of Ne-
nagh on the Ist inst. Two of the ruffians who per-
petrated the outrage have been fully identified as
the principals, and four others have been arrested.
A dispute about land is believed to have bcen the
cause of the murder.
THE FAMILY OF MR. WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN
have received a letter from that gentleman, dated the
last week in May, from Van Diemen's Land, when he
was preparing to avail himself of her Majesty's gra-
cious pardon, and to leave the colony for Europe.
Mrs. Smith O'Brien and other relatives will meet the
liberated exile at Brussels, where it is probable he
will reside. Mr. O'Brien accepted with the best
feelings his Sovereign's spontaneous clemency in
remission of the penalty for his political offence.
THE LAYING DOWN OF A TELEGRAPHIC CABLE
between Holyhead and the Irish coast was com-
menced on Tuesday last.
THE Provincial Roman Catholic Synod of Con-
naught, convened by John M'Hale, of Tnam, was
opened in the Romish Cathedral of St. Jarlath's on
Tuesday. The usual ceremony of inauguration
having been gone through in all the pomp and form
of the Romish ritual, Dr. M`Hale delivered himself
of a long and eloquent address, which terminated the
ceremony.

AT a meeting of directors of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway, held on Wednesday, it was decided
to recommend a dividend for the past half year at the
rate of 31 per cent. per annum, and to add to the
surplus brought forward from the previous half year.

THE PRESS.

RAILWAY PROGRESS.
THE periodical report to the Board of Trade has just been
presented by Captain Galion, R.E., presenting an official
résumé of the progress and proceedings of the railway
system in England during the year 1853. During that
period, he states, the length of new lines of railway
sanctioned by the Legislature was 940 miles, which
amount is very considerably greater than that sanctioned
during any year since 1847. Of this amount 589 miles
was in England, 80 miles in Scotland, and 271 miles in
Ireland. The most important of the new lines appear
to be the following, viz. line from Strood to Canter-
bury, by which the communication by railway along the
south bank of the Thames will be rendered continuous
as far as the North Foreland ; the Portsmouth Railway,
by which a direct communication will be afforded be-
tween Portsmouth and the metropolis ; an extension of
the Midland Railway from Leicester to Hi chin, on the
Great Northern Railway, by which a second line of com-
munication will be afforded from the Midland districts
to the metropolis; and the Worcester and Hereford
Railway, by which a more direct route will be
opened between the midland counties and South Wales,
In Ireland the most important line would appear to be the
Londonderry and Coleraine Railway, by which a direct
route will be afforded between Belfast and Londonderry ;
and the Londonderry, Coleraine, and Sligo Railway, which
will afford a direct railway communication from Sligo to
Londonderry and to Dublin. The total length of railway
which has been authorised by Parliament to the end of
1853 is 12,688 miles ; of this number of miles 7.686 have
been opened fortraffic, leaving 5,002 miles to be completed ;
but the compulsory powers of 2.838 miles have expired
without being exercised. The length of railways for the
construction of which parliamentary powers exist is 2,164
miles. The length of railway opened previously to
December 1843 was 2,036 miles. The length opened in
the year 1844 was 201 miles ; in 1845, 296 miles ; in 1846,
006 miles ; in 1847, 803 miles ; in 1848, 1,18-2 miles ; in
1849, 889 miles ; in 1850, 625 miles ; in 18.51, 269 miles ;
in 1852, 440 miles; and in 1853, 350 miles, making the
total length then opened 7,686 miles ; of which 5,848
miles are in England, 995 in Scotland, and 843 miles in
Ireland. The length of the narrow-gauge railway, including
the Irish gauge of 5} feet, is 0,905 miles, of the broad gauge
620 miles, and of the mixed gauge 95 miles.
The amount of capital invested in railways at the end of
1852 was 263,165,6801., of which 161,400,2561. consisted of
ordinary capital, 38,700,7551. of preference capital, and
64,064,0881. of loans. The amount raised by railway com-
panies during 1E353 has not yet been returned to Parliament,
but it may be assumed not to have been less than that
raised during 1852, and it is probable that the whole sum
raised to the end of 1853 is not less than 281,000,0001., of
which about 42,000,0001. may be assumed to have been
preferential capital, and nearly 70,000,0001. borrowed on
the security of the undertakings.
The number of miles of railway in course of construc-
tion on the 30th of June, 1853, was 682 miles, and the
number of men employed on them was 37,764. The num-
ber of miles open for traffic at that date was 7,512, and the
number of men employed 80,409. The number of men
employed on railways open for traffic was 9.5 per mile in
1852, and 10.7 per mile in 1853.
The total number of passengers conveyed on railways in
the United Kingdom in the year 1853 amounted to
102,286,660 ; the number in 1852 had been 89,135,729.
The total receipts from all sources of traffic amounted in
1853 to 18,035,8791., and in 1852 to 15,710,5541.
In England the mean length of line opened during the
year has been increased from 4,355 miles in 1849 to 5,730
miles in 1853; and the total number of passengers con-
veyed has increased from 49,879,302 in 1849 to 84,212,901
in 1853, being au increase of from 11,450 per mile in 1849
to 14,695 per mile in 1853. The numbers conveyed of
each class bear very nearly the same relative proportion to
each other in each year. In 1853 the number of first-class
passengers was 12'76 per cent., the number of second-class
was 37'8 per cent., and the number of third-class 49.42 per
cent. of the whole number carried. The receipts from
passengers have increased from 5,146,5181. in 1849 to
7,326,1061. in 1853, being an increase of from 1,2551. per
mile to 1,2791. per mile (the amount received during 1851
having amounted to 1,3301. per mile). The receipts from
goods have increased from 4,750,5041. in 1849 to 8,112,4771.
in 1853, being an increase of from 1,0901. per mile in 1849
to 1,4151. per mile in 1853; and, while the receipts from pas-
sengers in 1849 were larger than the receipts from goods in
the proportion of 53'42 to 46'58, in 1853 the contrary
was the case—viz., the percentage of the passenger traffic
was 47.45, and of the goods traffic 52'55. In Scotland the
progress of traffic has been similar. The mean length of
railway in Scotland open during the year has increased
rom 793 miles, open in 1849, to 987 miles, open in 1853.
The number of passengers conveyed in 1849 amounted to
7,902,228, and in 1853 to 10,999;44, which represents
9,993 per mile in 1849, against 11,246 per mile in 1853.
The receipts from passengers increased from 640,770/. to
697,7121.; or from 680/. per mile in 1849, to 713/. per mile
in 1863, and from goods from 650,6401. in 1E449 to 1,068,0161.
in 1853. In Ireland the mean length of railway open in
the year 1849 was 428 miles, and in the year 1853 it was
771 miles. The total number of passengers conveyed in
1849 amounted to 6,0.59,947, or 14,142 per mile ; and in
1853 it amounted to 7,074,475, or 9,175 per mile. The
receipts from passengers have increased from 290,6041. in
1849 to 537,2591. in 1853 ; and from goods from 127,4621. in
1849 to 294,3101. in 1853. Since the year 1849, while the
number of miles in the United Kingdom had increased 34
per cent., the number of passengers had increased 60 per
cent., the receipts from passengers 36 per cent., from goods
71 per cent., and the total receipts had increased 53 per
cent., or from 2,115/. per mile in 1849 to 2,4081. per mile
in 1853. The proportionate increase in the number of the
lower class of passengers conveyed by railway is greater
than that of other classes, and the proportion which the
receipts from that class bear to the receipts from other

789

classes is greater for It*3 than it was for 11349. The re-
ceipts from goods are also largely increasing, and they bear
every year an increasing proportion to passenger trattic.

glisttilanta.

THE NEW BRIBERY ACT, which receive the royal
assent on Thursday week, is now printed. It is
entitled "An act to consolidate and amend the laws
relating to bribery, treating, and undue influence at
elections of members to serve in Parliament." There
are thirty-nine sections in the act and two schedules.
The preamble states that the laws in force for pre-
venting corrupt practices at elections have been found
insufficient, and that it is expedient to consolidate
and amend such laws, and to make further provision
for securing the freedom of such elections. The new
law repeals to a certain extent a long number of acts
from the reign of tie°. IL to the sth and Oth Vic.
Bribery, treating, and undue influence are defined, and
the parties offending are to be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanour. The names of offenders are to be
struck off the register by the revising barrister, and to
be inserted in a separate list. No cockades or ribbon
are to be given at elections. Voters are not to serve
as special constables during election. In cases of
private prosecutions under the act, if judgment be
given for defendant, heis to recover his costs from the
prosecutor. Within six days after the passing of the
act the returning officers are to appoint an officer, to
be called " Auditor of Election Expenses," to act at
elections. Bills of election expenses are to be sent in
within one month, and to be forwarded to the election
auditor, and no payments are to made except through
that functionary. The candidates are to pay personal
expenses and expenses of advertising. The expenses
are to be made out and published by the election
auditor. He is to have 10/. from each candidate for
his services, reasonable expenses, and two per cent. on
the payment. Candidates and agents may make
payments before the day of election. In actions for
penalties the parties are to be competent witnesses.
Candidates declared guilty of bribery to be incapable
of; being elected in the then Parliament. Refresh-
ments to voters on the day of nomination and polling
are illegal. The short title of the act is " The
Corrupt Practices Prevention Act 1864." There is
an interpretation clause, and the act is to continue in
force one year, and to the end of the then next session
of Parliament.
ON Friday the 10th inst. the Emperor and Empress of
the French visited Cambo, in the mountains, near Biarritz.
They went to the church, where they were received with
great pomp by the clergy, and where the Domene salon";
was chanted in their presence. After leaving a sum of
money for the poor, their Majesties went to the sulphu-
rous spring and tasted the water. The Emperor made
inquiries respecting the qualities of the water, the state of
the population in the district, and the yield of the crops.
He also inquired why there were such large tracts of land
left uncultivated, and was told that the reason was that too
great numbers of the population emigrated to Montevideo.
Their Majesties subsequently visited another spring and
tasted the water, and then partook of refreshments. After-
wards the Emperor and Empress spent some time in
gazing at the magnificent scenery, the Empress seated on
a bench, the Emperor on the grass. The Emperor, seeing
a boat on the Nive, jumped into it, and rowed himself and
M. Laity, one of his orderly officers, to the other side, where
he again admired the scenery. On his Majesty's return he
left with the Empress, but they frequently stopped to
admire different points of view. Their carriage was sur-
rounded by a number of young people of both sexes,
dressed in the picturesque costume of the country, and they
accompanied their Majesties to the limits of the commune.
Next day the Emperor and Empress took an excursion on
board the Assfralie. The sea was magnificent, and the sun
shone gloriously. The Audralie went towards the south
along the coasts of Spain, and examined the mouth of the
Bidassoa. She afterwards stood out to sea, and then re-
entered the Adour, where their Majesties landed.
THE OPENING AND PROROGATION OP PARLIAMENT are
always field-days at the electric telegraph stations, owing
to the general desire throughout the country to receive the
royal speech with the utmost possible despatch. All the
officials are on the qui vire; picked hands are appointed to
work the instruments communicating with the principal
stations ; and:a spirit of friendly,rivalry prevails amongst the
manipulators as to who shall transmit correctly the greatest
number of words within a given time. Upwards of 140
clerks are generally engaged in forwarding, receiving, and
transcribing her Majesty's address ; and on Saturday, for
the first time, the services of the female clerks, or " lady
telegraphers," now employed at the Electric Telegraph
Company's Central Station at Lothbury were called into
requisition. They forwarded the speech with remarkable
rapidity, in one or two instances equalling if not surpassing
the speed and correctness of their more experienced male
coadjutors. It may not be generally known that the Elec-
tric Telegraph Company have established departments for
young girls, under a matron, with a view of affording a
wider and more intellectual scope for female employment;
and the experiment promises to be highly successful. The
greatest rate of speed attained on Saturday was thirty.five
words per minute. The transmission to the Continent
rid Hague) was effected in twenty minutes.
THE ADMISSIONS TO THE SYDENHAM CRYSTAL PALACE
for the week ending Saturday, August 12, were ;—N umbers,
including season tickets, 61,594; received for admisaior,
8,4441. 108.0 d.

4

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