The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Tax RIGA MERCHANTS had applied to the Foreign-
office to learn what respect would be paid by British
cruisers, in the event of war, to bond fide British
properly, the produce of Russia, if shipped on board
neutral vessels. Lord Clarendon has caused the ap-
plicants to be informed that property of the descrip-
tion in question—the produce of Russia, and exported
therefrom by and on account of a British merchant
domiciled and trading there—although purchased
before the war, and exported to England, would not
be respected by her Mikjesty's cruisers, unless in
pursuance of a licence, or some special instructions
from her Majesty to the officers of her navy.
LIBERATED AFRICANS.—By a parliamentary paper
lately published it appears that the numbers of
liberated Africans brought by Government into the
West Indies for the last six years were—in 1848,
8,448 ; 1849, 4,707; 1850, 5,292 ; 1851, 3,719 ; 1852,
5,465; 1853, 9,112. The importations to the Mauri-
tius during the same period were—in 1848, 5,303;
1849, 7,282 ; 1850, 9,823 ; 1851, 9,334 ; 1852, 16,796 ;
1850 (up to Sept. 30), 8,937.
MR. GLADSTONE'S Buz for revolutionising the
University has been sent to4ome of his own especial
partisans in Oxford, but with restriction as to their
powers of divulging the particulars of the proposed
measure. Sufficient, however, has reached us to
warrant our designation of the bill as a revolutionary
measure. A considerable portion of the present Heb-
domadal Board is to be abolished, and the numbers
recruited from the ranks of professors and the liberal
members of the Convocation. It is also said that in
dividual masters of arts are to be allowed to open
houses for the reception of students in no way con-
nected with any college or hall in t6e university ; and
it is even affirmed that a regular account of the receipts
and expenditure of the different societies is to be
rendered at stated periods, to be fixed upon by the
Government.—Herald.

A PAPER containing returns of the stocks and
annuities redeemed, paid off, or commuted under Mr.
Gladstone's act of last session has just been printed
by order of the House of Lords. It appears that the
amount of capital stock directed to be redeemed or
commuted was 11,133,2101. 12s. The amount com-
muted was 3,063,9061. 18s. Bd. ; the capital stock re-
deemed was 8,009,9031. 13s. 4d.; the amount paid off
on the sth of January last was 0,048,7551. 4s. Vd.; and
the amount to be paid off on the sth of April next is
2,020,5451. Bs. 7d. The annual interest on the stock
before commutation was 91,917/. 3s. 10d., and after coin.
mutation 84,658/. 13s. 4d. The amountof Exchequer
Bills exchanged for Exchequer Bonds wag 408,000/.
From the sth of January, 1843, to the sth of January
last, the amount of Exchequer Bills paid off in money
was 3,128,0001. ; amount purchased by the National
Debt Commissioners on account of the Sinking Fund,
1,557,0001. ; and on account of the savings-banks fund,
1,247,0001.
THE THAMES TUNNEL COMPANY held their annual
meeting on Tuesday. The receipts for the past
year were stated to have been 5,6571. 14s. 6d., and
the expenditure 3,4861. Bs. 6d., leaving a balance of—
paid to Government, 1,490/. 3s. 3d.; and cash in
band, 6811. 2s. 9d. The amount of tolls had been
4,1171. 16s. Id., being an increase over the previous
year of 3831. 12s. 9d., or 92,074 passengers. The
tunnel was perfectly dry and clean and becoming
much more in use as a thoroughfare, the number of
passengers per week, since the Ist of January,
averaging 21,000, showing an increase of 3,(1W each
week over last year. The total amount paid to the
Government off the debt had been 23,4491. 13s. 6d.
THE CHOLERA has broken out at Leeds. It com-
menced in the flax-spinning mill of Messrs. Williamson,
and fourteen cases, with six deaths, have been already
reported. The outbreak has been communicated to the
General Board of Health. On Tuesday Dr. Gavins,
deputed by the board, arrived in Leeds, and is at pre-
sent prosecuting inquiries.
CERTAIN CIVIL APPOINTMENTS IN CHINA have been
placed by the Government atthe disposal of the council
of King's College. The students to be selected for
this service are to form a school of interpreters for the
use of the British authorities at Hong-Kong ; and, if
not needed there, are to proceed, under the direction
of the Government, to other stations.
THE NUMBER OF LICENSED VICTUALLERS in England
and Wales in 1853 was 61,040, and of personslicensed
to sell beer to be drunk on the premises 40,913. The
number of licensed victuallers in Scotland was 14,812;
and in Ireland, 15,280.
THE number of British subjects resident or
travelling in Russia on the night of the recent census
of Great Britain was two thousand seven hundred and
eighty-three.
SOME extraordinary specimens of gold ore have
been exhibited in the City, said to be obtained from
a place in Merionethshire, about five miles from
Dolgelly, and to exist in great abundance.
A SEVERE CONTEST for the office of assistant
physician to the London Hospital, Mile-end, has
terminated in favour of Dr. Andrew Clark, who has
been elected to that post, vacant by the elevation of
Dr. H. Davies to the office of physician to the
hospital.

225

GOVERNMENT have instructed the General Board
of Health to prepare suggestions for a Buildings
Bill, to serve for the country as well as for the
metropolis.
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR H. SEYMOUR, family, and
suite, arrived at Dover on Sunday last, on their return
from St. Petersburg. A thick fog prevailed at the
time, during which her Majesty's packet Onyx
got ashore, and the party were rowed four miles in
a boat.

THE COMMISSIONERS appointed to inquire into the
promotion in the army have appointed Mr. George
D. Ramsay to be their secretary. The oommission
meets at the office for military boards, 0, Whitehall.
yard.
THE NEW REFORM BILL was again discussed in
Manchester on Monday night last, but, although
called by advertisements and circulars, and graced
by the presence of Mr. Bright, the meeting was but
thinly attended. Mr. Bright, nevertheless, made
another long speech against the bill, winding up by
declaring that the measure was calculated to " hand
over the rights of the people to the possession of the
territorial class," and he would be no party to it.
This declaration was loudly cheered by the few who
were in attendance.
THE ASSOCIATION FOR AIDING THE WIVES AND
FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS ORDERED TO THE EAST was
formally organised at a public meeting held in
Willis's Rooms on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Sir
P. Maitland presided, and on the platform were Lord
St. Leonard's, the Earl of Shaftesbury. Lord Ingestre,
Lord R. Grosvenor, Lord Mandeville, Mr. flume, the
Rev. Dr. Cumming, ..tc. &c. Several speeches were
made, expressing and invoking sympathy on behalf
of the objects of the association, and a resolution
was moved by Lord Ingestre :
" That., with a view to give practical effect to the sympathy for
the distress of the sufferers which was so generally felt by the
public, en association be formed, to be called 'The Association
in Aid of the Wives and Families of Soldiers ordered to the
East,' and that a body of gentlemen be requested to act as a
committee, with power to add to their number."
Among the various addresses, however, that of Lord
St. Leonard's was the only one that contained any
suggestion for a plan of action. " It. was," he said,
" a very simple one, and was this :—He thought if they
assisted the wives of soldiers by maintaining their children
they would leave the former at liberty to earn their own
livelihood, instead of depending upon charity for support.
It was not charity in the ordinary sense that they were
about to bestow—it was the protection which they owed to
the children ; and this might be so administered that oh •
jects of it would not be aware that they were the recipients
of charity. He proposed that in every parish the inhabi-
tants should subscribe for the purpose of securing a home
to a certain number of children, giving them the benefit of
schools, dispensaries, and other institutions which were
necessary to their cultivation. His plan was to make the
children feel themselves at home, and form a part of the
population of the place to which they were taken—to place
them under the care of some respectable elderly woman in
the village who would act as a mother to them, and so to
treat and watch over them that when the soldier returned
from the war he would find them an honour to the country.
This was a plan which ought to be adopted in every parish
throughout the country. The only difficulty was, how the
children were to be maintained. lie had spoken to the
Commander-in-Chief upon the subject, and he felt very
strongly in favour of the suggestion. lie then put him in
communication with Deputy Commander Pack, and ob•
served that should the plan be matured a committee had
only to write to him and he would inform them how the
children were to be provided for. The directors of the
railways would doubtless convey the children without
charge ; and the value of the plan would be found in the
fact that it would secure to the children of soldiers a home,
without having the slightest tinge or appearance of de-
grading them to the condition of paupers. The mothers
might have free access to them ; and, whilst they were
earning their own livelihood, they would have the satisfac-
tion of seeing that their children were not neglected. Local
funds might be established, and these might apply to a
central or metropolitan fund for any assistance they might
require. (Hear, hear.)"