The Press.
London, England, 1854-01-28 00:00:00

court anb lastion.

THE QUEEN has received a succession of visitors at
Windsor Castle during the past week, of whom a
large and distinguished party were honoured with
invitations to the dramatic performances given on
Thursday evening. The pieces represented con-
sisted of two modern farces—Tender Precautions,
by Mr. Serle ; and The Bengal Tiger of Mr. C.
Dance.
HER MAJESTY will come to town, as at present
arranged, on Monday next, in order to open Parlia-
ment on the day following, and will return to Wind-
sor on Wednesday. The Court is expected to come
to London for the season on Monday, Feb. 13.
PRINCE ALBERT, with the Duke of Cambridge,
accompanied by the Marquis of Exeter, the Earl of
Malmesbury, Earl Bruce, and the Right Hon. the
Speaker, went out shooting on Thursday, attended by
Viscount Torrington.
HER MAJESTY honoured Mr. J. E. Jones with a
sitting on Thursday for a bust about to be executed
by her Majesty's command for Mr. William Dargan.
Tux construction of the Windsor Castle, her Ma-
jesty's new yacht, has been commenced at Pembroke
Royal Dockyard, and will be pushed forward with all
possible despatch. She will be built of solid maho-
gany upon the diagonal planking system.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL gave a banquet on Wednes-
day, to which the French Ambassador and Countess
Walewska, the Austrian Minister and Countess
Colloredo, Count Stralytsky, the Sardinian Minister,
the Duchess of Inverness, Lord Castierosse, M.P.,
were invited. Lady Russell subsequently had an
evening party.
SIR CHARLES AND LADY MARY WOOD received at
dinner on Wednesday evening the Duke of Bedford,
the Earl of Aberdeen, Earl and Countess Grey, Earl
and Countess of Clarendon, Earl Granville, Sir
David Dundas, and Mr. C. Greville.
THE RIGHT HON. B. DISRAELI and Mrs. Disraeli
have arrived at Grosvenor-gate for the season.
THE HON. CHARLES A. MURRAY, her MAjesty's
Minister at Berne, arrived in London on Wednesday
from Switzerland.
HONOURABLE mention has been made in the Por•
t uguese Cortes of the memory of Lord Beresford by
the Duke of Terceira and other officers who served
under him, and his death has been recorded upon
the journals of both houses, with the same senti-
ments of regret as in the case of the Duke of Wel-
lington.
Tux report that the eldest son of the late Major-
General Sir Denis Pack, K.C.8., has inherited a con-
siderable estate from the late Viscount Beresford is
incorrect. It is the second son of the above distin-
guished officer, Captain Denis William Pack, of the
Royal Artillery (Lord Beresford's godson), who is
the fortunate individual. He is to assume the arms
and take the name of Beresford.
THE personnel of the embassy of the C40.4*, in
Chesharn-place, have been much engaged by the
arrival and departure of couriers from and to St. Pe-
tersburg. It is stated that, should the Russian Am-

THE PRESS.

.
bassadors in Paris and London be obliged to quit
their respective Courts, they will retire to the Hague,
where they will wait for further orders.

anb aural.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.
Viscount Ponsonby has intimated his intention of
proposing for adoption by the House of Lords the
following series of resolutions respecting the Russo-
Turkish question :
" 1. That the maintenance of the independence of the Ottoman
empire is of great importance for the security of some of the
greatest interests of the Queen's subjects.
" 2. That attacks have been lately made upon that inde-
pendence.
" 8. That those attacks were made with greet advantage to the
attsokere, derived from positions they had obtained upon the
eonfinew of the Ottawa' empire by various treaties.
" 4. That, a war having taken place between the Sultan and
the Emperor of Russia, the treaties between those Sovereigns
are thereby rendered void and null.
" 6. That, for the purpose of giving more security to the
Sultan against future attacks, it is necessary that the staid
treaties should not be renewed between the Sublime Porte and
t4e Imperial HUllitiall Sovereign.
" G. That, moved by the above stated considerations, this '
House is of opinion that her Majesty's, Ministers, who may be
engaged in any negotiations for a peace between the Imperial
Russian Government and the Government ad the Sublime Porte,
should employ aU the means in their power fur the prevention of
the renewal of the treaties which have been rendered null and
void by the existence of war between the Russian and the
Tartish Sovereigns.
" 7. That. in the opitdon of this Howe, It might be highly
advantageous to the interests of her Majesty's subjects, and fur
the future preservation of general peace, that her Majesty's
Ministers, being engaged in any negotiation that may be on foot
for the restoration of peace between the afureasid belligerents,
should use their best endeavours that, in any new treaties made
between those powers, it should be provided that the Sublime
Porte should be put in possession of the territory between the
River Prink and the River Dneistar—to the south of a line to be
drawn front —, on the Pruth, to --, on the Monster.
" 8. That the said Ministers should also support the Sublime
Porte in the due fulfilment of any engagement his Majesty the
Sultan may have entered into with the independent Caucasian
chiefs."

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL to appoint and pay
Roman Catholic priests as chaplains to the prisoners
of their faith in criminal prisons was discussed at a
public meeting held on Monday in Manchester.
The Rev. Hugh Stowell presided, and the assembly
numbered nearly 1,500. 'Various resolutions were
unanimously adopted by the meeting, whose purport
was finally embodied in the following memorial, ad-
dressed to the Home Secretary, from the Protestant
inhabitants of Manchester :

" May it please your Tordship,—We have seen with mingled
feelings of astonishment and distress that you propose to appoint
and pay Rumish priests as chaplains to the Roinish prisoners in
the Government prisons.
" We would respectfully, but most earnestly, submit to your '
lordship, that such a step would be alike unfair, inexpedient,
and unhallowed.
" It would be unfair to the National Church, as infringing on
her privileges, and setting up—initiatively at least—a rival and
most hostile establishment. It would be no less unfair to Chris-
tian communities in general, as giving a marked preference to
Romanistn, and as not only extending State endowment, but ex-
tending it in the most objectionable forts.
" The proposed measure would be no less inexpedient than
unfair; it would enforce on Romish criminals the very system
which must be held responsible for the most disproportionate
amount of crime which disgraces its adherents ; at the same
time that it would impede the course of justice, es it is an unde-
niable fact that newish culprits deem themselves, and are
deemed by their fellew.religionists, no longer guilty when once
they have confessed to a priest and received his absolution.
" Nor would the scheme which your lordship contemplates be
lees unhallowed than inequitable and impolitic; for it would
still more deeply implicate the country is the support of a system
to rescue us from which our martyred forefathers shed their
blood, and which our Queen at her coronation, sad our clergy
at their ordivation, were required to abjure as uaurpiug and
idolatrous.
" We, therefore, urgently conjure your lordship to abandon a
design which we conceive to be in every point of view inequit-
able, impolitic, and unholy."

THE ARCTIC DISCOVERY SHIPS, " EREBUS " AND
" TERROR," seem at length to be given up as lost by
the Admiralty. The Gazette of the 20th inst. contains
an official notice that the names of the officers will be
removed from the Navy List, and the crews will be
considered as " dead in her Majesty's service," if
nothing is heard of their existence before the 31st of
March next. The pay of all ranks will be issued to
their legal representatives up to that date, after which
the vessels and all belonging to them will disappear
from the roll of her Majesty's navy.

AN ERRONEOUS STATEMENT in the Times of
Jan. 17, respecting the represntation of Shrewsbury,
has called forth the following refutation :
"TO THE EDITOD OF ' THE TPAES.'
"In the Times of yesterday there is a paragraph alluding
to the election for Shrewsbury in Dttl, which may bear an
interpretation not palatable to the friends of Mr. Disraeli,
and not just to that gentleman. I ask, therefore, of year
courtesy and justice to allow me to state that the insinua-
tion respecting the cost of that election is unfounded
" Orwell-park, Jan. lx." " GEORGE TOMLINE."

THE LATE FREE TRADE MALL AT MANCHESTER,
which has been shut and silent for many months,
is now about to be reopened, for an exhibition of
poultry.
E. WODIAIOUSE, Esq., formerly of Ceylon,
and now superintendent at Honduras, is to succeed
Sir Henry Barkly in the government of British
Guiana.

SATURDAY,

THE COMPARATIVE AMOUNT OF SHIPBULLDIN 0 in Su&
derland and New York during 1853 is shown by ths
following figures :—Sunderland: ships,ls3; tonn".
68,735. New York : Ships, 88 ; tonnage, 46,47 g:
The excess of vessels built at Sunderland being q
vessels and 22,256 tons of shipping actually more
than the entire number built on the Wear in 1841.
SIR ROBERT PEEL, BART., M.P., delivered a Indus
on Monday, in the Mechanics' Hall, Derby, in aid
the funds of the Midland Counties Association a
Mechanics. The subject was, "The Progreu
Society, Social and Intellectual."
THE COMMAND OF THE INTENDED Nom Su
FLEET, it is now rumoured, will be offered to the Rai
of Dundonald, who will have under him Vice-Admiral
Sir Charles Napier and Rear-Admiral Fanshaw Mar-
tin.

THE HEALTH OF LONDON has experienced a is.
vourable change. A milder atmosphere has Ipi
the deaths from 1,492 registered in the
week to 1,195 in the week that ended on
The rise of the thermometer has been about LO
grees on the average, from 29 deg. to 4244. Nos.
heit, in the last fortnight, followed by a damns is
ltnesosrt.t;:.ylithothfsztabothute 300calc.uilate'hde
Teurretmagegifove a
for tea
targp
si
ceding years.
A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF TEX UNION
BANN or AUSTRALIA was held on Monday. ills
supplementary report of the directors was wandered
exceedingly satisfactory. It stated that the advice(
received from the branch establishments, since the
last annual report, afforded strong evidence of the
expansion of banking transactions throughout the
Australian colonies, while the profits of the bank
have fully kept pace with this enlargement of
business. The cessation of large profits in gold
purchases had been, in a great degree, compensated
by an increase in the ordinary profits of the bank;
and the establishment had not sustained any loss
the altered state of commercial affairs in the colonies.
The accounts submitted presented a profit of
164,0931. 14s. 3d. for the six months, wbich admitted
of 164,0001. being appropriated as dividend on the
paid-up capital of 820,0001., or at the rate of 20 per
cent. for the half-year. The report was unsnimousll
adopted, and a dividend at the above rate declared.
The chairman stated, with respect to the local trade,
that whilst the deposits of the establishment were
1,500,0001. on the 30th Jane, 1852, they were -
30th June, 1858, 8,700,0001., giving satisfammy
evidence of the confidence which the bank enjoyed is
the estimation of the colonial public. As a proof
also that the bank had fully participated in the ex•
tension of trade between the mother country and the
colonies, it was mentioned that whilst the amount t
bills drawn by the various colonial establishments,
and accepted by the home office of the hank, was f,
the six months ending December, 1852, 64‘1,8001., •
was 1,028,0001. for the six months ending June, 1858,
and 2,111,0001. for the six months ending 3'
December last.
Admiral Corry's squadron, which has so long ,
mained a comparative fixture in the Tagus, put 1
sea on the 19th instant, upon the receipt of Admiralty
despatches by the Banshee. The admiral was lathe
Prince Regent ; and the Duke of Wellington, imp/virtue,
iiniphion, Tribune, Valorous, and Desperate, seem
panied him in his cruise : the Odin, Captain Seen,
being the only ship of the squadron left behind
port. The destination of the fleet was unknown ta.
the spot, but we learn that the fleet may be expected
at Spithead in a few days. The Banshee accom-
plished the transit from England to Lisbon in three
days, and then proceeded to the Mediterranean.
THE NEW PLAN FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, SetOrti•
ing to the Civil Service Gazette, may be very Niel/
described. It is proposed to appoint a Boards(
Examiners, who should not only examine candidates
on their first admission into the public service, bet
should review the record of conduct kept for esti!
public servant in the several departments; ° heal lxamine the public servants after probation, in order
to pronounce upon their fitness for continuance
the service ; should again examine candidates for pa..
motion, and by a continuing series of notes should
furnish the means of estimating the character of
each functionary in his career from the subordinate
to the highest grades • thus supplying an index
secure the best men 'for staff appointments, or
apportion the pensions of those public servants wheel
age or infirmity might compel to retire. It will '
once be seen how important a department, of
public service this Board of Review would become
But by far the most important innovation on the "
sent system consists in a grand step towards
_,
consolidation of the service, not only ni the Priln,.%
examination, but subsequent promotions. 0,-
proposed that clerks should be transferred
from
department to another, thus enabling them Loam
their exPerienee, and to acquire a round of prectufi,
knowledge which would be highly useful to any sl
should ultimately reach the highset eppointolew
This would, of course, at once get over that soiree
of inefficiency in public servants wilt& 14550
the centinassent of saalt shell to .116 44101111"

Java! 28, 1854.

Tuiszia is at length beginning to
data in the advance of prices long Noce es-
tablished with regard to the foreign article. The
Nsahire Journal states that at the last " roups " an
Sibefeeasl fully 25 per cent. was obtained on all de-
'ono of sound well-seasoned timber, with every
of further enhanoement.
Tar LONDON CHAIWZABLE
dearise no less than 530 district eetat—
tiosociatioas, which may be thus chiesifted Me-
diesi Charities, having an aggregate income during
the year of 1863 of 260,925/. 12 Societies for the
Preservatioa of Life, Health, and Public Morals, in•
cease 35,717/. 17 for Reclaiming the Fallen, Peni-
tentiary and Reformatory Asylums, 39,4861. 13 for
Ike geliefoi Street Destitution and Distress, 18,320/.
14 for the Relief of Specific Distress, 27,3871. 25
Jewish Miscellaneous Charities, 10,0041. 19 for the
Benefit of the Industrious, 9,124/. 12 Benevolent
peon Societies, 23,6137/. 15 Clergy Aid Funds,
35,A01/. 32 other Professional and Trade Benevolent
Funds, 53,4071. 30 Trade Provident only, 25,0001.
um Asylums for the Reception of the Aged, 87,6301.
g for the Benefit of the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb,
240501. 1$ Asylums for the Maintenance of Orphans,
44051. 11 for the Maintenance of other Children
(exclusive of Parochial Schools), 88,2281. 21 Socie-
dee far Ike Promotion of Schools and their efficiency,
73,2471 4.3 Home Mission Societies (several com-
bining extensive operations abroad), 319,7051. 14
Foreign Mission Societies, 459,008/. The sales of
Vika and other religious publications, maims
emaICM),OOOL, not included in either of the larinnenta.
timed amounts. To this list must be added Ave nu-
Aimed societies, 3,252/. Also, an amount of
109,0001. raised during the year for special funds,
lesieding the proposed Wellington College, the New
Xidiest College, the Wellington Benevolent Fund,
ei—taiking altogether 530 Charitable Societies of
Lamle% with an aggregate amount received and dis-
till:toed daring the year of 1,805,635.
Pcpuc MEET/NOS ON TILE RUSSIAN Ilo•ORESSION
have been held dining the week at Southampton and
Derby. At both a crowded and enthusiastic audience
attended, and the unanimous opinion of the re-
opeetive assemblies was embodied in resolutions of
sheen similar tenor, the following being the form in
whieh the inhabitants of Derby expressed their
minds :
" That this meeting, in common with the great majority
of the people of this country, has viewed with feelings of in-
dignation the lawless violence manifested by the Russian
Autocrat, in his unjust and aggressive attacks upon the
rights and independence of our faithful ally, Turkey. That
we consider this country bound by every principle of
honour and of duty, no less than by an imperative sense of
what is due to our own interests, to adopt active, energetic,
sad effective measures (in conjunction with France),
to. cooperate with the Turks in destroying the fleets, sr-

at present
shments or

.1g
mies, and fortresses of the aggressor. allowing them to
reimburse themselves at his expense for the cost of the
war, and affording to those nations which have been, by
his former treachery and violence, deprived of their na-
tionality, an opportunity of recovering the same, and re-
establishing themselves in kingdoms under their own
national Governments. That any temporising policy car-
ried on by the aid of secret diplomacy will tend to disho-
maw the British nation, he destructive of her material in-
terewts, and injure the cause of liberty, justice, and humanity
throughout Europe?'
Fostetom SOAPS are to be liable to the maximum
uty of 2d. per lb. only when of such high quality
nd in such ornamental forms as to be classed with
perfumery. All other soap is henceforth to be ad•
mined at Bd. the cwt.
THE ATLANTIC has just been crossed, from New
York to Liverpool, by a sailing-vessel, in the brief
period of thirteen days and one hour. The ship was
the "clipper" Red Jacket, which left New York on
the ltth, and reached the Mersey on Tuesday. She
is described as one of the handsomest vessels ever
built, of immense strength, and great carrying capa-
city. Her best day's work during the voyage occurred
on the 19th, when the total run was 413 miles.
&we NOTES worth 2001. have been sent anony-
mously to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on ac-
sown of income tax left unpaid for three years past.
AN Rs. DIVIDEND, making, with previous payments,
11k. 4d. in the pound, has been declared on the es-
tate of Gemmel! Brothers, an extensive Glasgow firm,
rho faders occurred in September, 1847. Assets
es still realisable sufficient to fill up the slight de-
ficiency now left, and even to pay interest. It was
the suspension of this house, whose soundness and
t`elveney are thus manifested, that brought on the
eommercial panic of 1847, through the stoppage of
the numerous London houses more or less impli-
cated with it in business.
THE TEXPERENCE ADVOCATE, Mn. B. GOUGH, since
arriving in this country, has addressed more than
*9,000 Persons in London, and 100,000 in the pro-
vnces, on the subject of total abstinence from in-
t°lieeting liquors, Of these 3,000 have been in-
duced to take the pledge. This amount of progress
see stated at the annual meeting of the London
Temperance League held on Monday at the Whit
Wigton Club.