The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

PETITION OF FRENCH WORKMEN TO THE

QUEEN.

Our Perim correspondent writes:
_ . .

I lately seat to you a Somewhat lengthened detail of
the trial and condemnation of the browse moulders, who
struck work because their masters insisted on their acing
charcoal dust instead of Aide. (See Repress of Tuesday
last.) The case seemed to me one of great public interest,
as baring epos the general question of the relations between
master and workman, but I little thought that I should bare
to recur to the subject in direct connexion with the Queen's
viait. Thee* men, in whom favour, as you may have ga-
thered from my report of their trial, the sympathise, net
only of the public, but also of the public prosecutor and of
the judges who tried them were enlisted, were sentenced on
the very day of her
„Neje/tea triumphal entry
late Paris. The eloquent Creaks:, who defended
some of them, said that no new truth is ever forced
upon the world bat at the pries of Inflates. He (mild not
deny but that as the law stood these men were guilty of the
misdemeanour termed a "coalition,' bat they Ilk their
humble sphere were martyrs to progress. They, confessedly,
among the most respectable and intelligent workmen In
Paris, might go to prison; and their wives and children,
who wore depeadest on them, might be redacted to piwa-
le= ; but the sufferings of these men and of their families
would be the death-blow to the charcoal faction in the bronze
manufacturing trade. Ho stated that not only was the
use of charcoal unhealthy, but that the bronzes made with
find* were bettor. In proof of this, it was said that out of
fourteen brans*. which had obtained prises in the Great
Exhibition, thirteen came out of factories where Mule was
employed. M. Bob, who is the leader of the charcoal fac-
tion, bad indeed obtained more prises than anybody, but it
was positively averred that, although he habitually used
charcoal, the particular bronzes exhibited by him were
made with fertile. The masters who battled for charcoal
were now in a great minority in the trade, and, although
the comparative cheapness of the substance Ins one
mum why they preferred it, the great reason
was that they could not shake off the spirit of
routine. After the trial, it occurred to M. Crensienz
and M. Tripet (one of the other counsel for the prisoners)
that the case of these workmen was so exemptions' that it
might not be impoedble to induce the Queen of England to
think that it would not be an undue interference with the
prerogative if another Sovereign, if she were to my a good
wore for them to the Emperor. A petition to her Majesty
was:accordingly drawn up on their behalf, and taken to Lord
Cowley, through whom alone, according to the regulations
laid down, any petition to the Queen while she is in Paris
on be:presented. Lord Cowley felt a great deal of difficulty on
the subject, which it must be admitted is a very delicate one,
but lam given to understand that, under the very peculiar
eirestastenoss of the case, his Ezmileeey consented to
receive the petition sad lay it before the Queen. The idea
of the originators of the petition was that an appropriate
occasion ter its presentation would be the moment when the
Queen was inspecting the beautiful French bronzes in the
great Exhibition. I have not learned whether this was dose,
or what was the result of the unprecedented step taken. Of
coarse the Queen could not accept anything which the
Emperor would refuse, sad, therefore, U the workmen are
to be pardoned at her Majesty's suit, it can only be by a

The Haytian Minister had an interview with
Viscount Palsnerstos yesterday. M. Trieoupi, the Greek
Kiniater, had also an interview with the noble Viaooant.

A deputation from the Niatley Local Board of
Health had an interview yeaterday with the Right Hoe.
William Cowper, IILP., President of the General Board of
Health, at his °Mee, Whitehall. The deputation consisted
of Mr. Charles Samuel Basta'', Mr. Henry Bigsley, and
Mr. David Mustard.

Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial•
office to the Governors of the North American provinces._

Lady John Russell is still indisposed at Pembroke
Lodge, in Btehmaad•psrk. Lord John received visite yes
torday from Viaeauntese Palmerston, Lady George Grey,
Mrs. L. Fox, the Right Ron. Charles Villiers, Mr.
Bulkeley, tto.

The Hon. Mrs. G. Villiers (mother to the Earl of
Clarendon) hive' LOWS this week for Hertfordshire.

Mr. Alfred Montgomery hat arrived in town to
attend his office at the Custom house.

Mr. Beaumont, M.P., has left London for the
Crimes. His bsautifid yacht waits for him at Marseilles.
The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, with the
Marquis of Worcester and family, have arrived at Liao-
(attach, Monmouthshire, and will shortly visit Troy House,
one of the ancient family seats, for the first tiros since the
noble duke's 10P1114011 to the dukedom.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland hare
left Ainwick Castle for Kitlder Castle, to remain there for
the shooting same, when the dolts and duchess return to
Alowick, to rosette company.

The Lake of Argyll will leave town next week
for Inures, Code, N. 8., and to attend the meeting of the
British Aseoclation at Glasgow.

-----
The Marchioness (Dowager) of Londonderry, pre-
vious to leaving Wynyard Park for her seat In Inland, laid
the foundation-atone of a new church at New &ahem, In

affectionate remembrance of the late gallant lairqiis, her
hatband.

Lieatenant•General Sir George Brown is still re.
aiding, with Lady Brown and family, at Leamington Spa.
Captain William Peel, third son of the late Sir
Robert Peel, lets in the command of the Diamond, and of
the Leander, in the Black See, hu arrived in London from
Malta, having bun compelled to 'stun to his native wan•
try from ill health.
Lord and Lady Monteagle are on a visit with
Robert O'Brien, Lily., at his villa, near Limerick.

_
It is now confidently stated (Herold) that the
Mantels of Chaska:de will be the new Posunaster.Osseral.
In addition to the annual opening of the Arundel
Cutle gardens and grounds to the inhabitants of the tows
and their fends, the Doke of Norfolk has kindly granted
this emson another privilege of a novel character, viz , the
Illumination of the lower gardens, now is great perfection.
Nearly 3,000 lamp were in use ea the eseasion, esti
Wag disposed in straight and drapery lianas the terraces
with festmes, wreaths, and arches oa the arcades and walls,
together with a liberal sdasiztere in the inset beds and by
the fountain, the effect of the whole was very striking. Up-
wards of 3,000 visitors promenaded in the gardens from
half past Bto haltpastlO o'clock. The Deke's brass head
was stationed as the tension. It is gratifying to add that
cot the slightest injury was done.

•_ .. z ,

LATEST FROM ABROAD.

DESPATCH FROM OF,;;ERAL pmsslEß.

The Monikow of tktis morning states that the
Minister of War has received the following despatch
from General PePaler :

"CRIMEA, Ave. 23, 10 P.Y.
" Closely ineased by our miners in front of the
battery to:sabered 63, the enemy decided to fire lut
night flu mines against that battery.
"They did not produce any effect against our
battery, and did us no harm."

LETTER FROM ST.

The Press. of yesterday evening contains a very
interesting letter from its correspondent at St. Peters-
burg, dated Aug. 16, describing the effects of the
recent events in the Baltic and the Crimes. We
quote a portion :

- Two ibises of news, one from the Baltic and the other
Item the Crimes, are at this moment disturbing and alarm-

log our population. I rater to the ternbardm;nt of Seas-
hore, and the battle near the Tchernays, in the Crimea.
The bombardment of fieeaborg has not by itself pro-
duced a very lively impression, for it is well
known that all the exterior works ;of defense are carved in
the rock, sad that it is impossible to annihilate them, but
we hear that the allied fleets have destroyed all that it was
possible to destroy, and Seashore is the key to the pass
which leads to Helaingfors, the capital or, at least, the most
important city of Fial►nd. It is to Helsingfors that the
Remise aristocracy go for sea bathing ; and, this year, in
spite of the war, the baths have preserved their usual popu-
larity. The noblesse were there in as great crowds al ever
at the moment when the firs commenced at Sweaters.
Hence you may well understand the uneasiness produced by
the attack. At St. Petersburg we have seen nothing bat
people hurrying to the poet to lean the news from Helaine-
fors, sad trembling every inetaat to learn that the enemy's
vessels bad been brought to bear upon that city, and were
prepared to open Are.

. .
Thu it is the consequences which might have followed
the attack upon Sweaborg which have caused anxiety, bat
in the case of the Crimea it is very different. There Prince
Gortchakoff does not seek to conceal the extent of the defeat
which a aumerous corps of the Russian army his ;expe
rienced, aid to which news the death of General Read
is added.

The bombardment of Sweaborg, and the success upon the
Tehernaya, show to every one beyond the possibility of
doubt, the obstinacy with which the Western Powers intend'
to push the war against Ramie, cud they commence at
lest to undentand at Bt. Petersburg the necessity of
bringing together the troops and ceacentreting them in
mimes upon the points most menaced, and this gives rise to
another necessity—that of moving the troops which form

the principal garrisons. Thu., to prepare the army in
Poland, it Yea been decided that it shall be replaced in the
service of the garrisons by some mobile militia, and. already
the militia of the governments of Koursk, Tanta, and Pol-
tava have received orders to move towards Poland, where
they will replace a number of troops bound for Bessarabia.
The situation of Runde to-day may be summed up in two
words—misery and general discontent. ,
Sugar, tea, and coffee are very dear even at St. Patera
burg. I can well uaderstand the dearness of tea and coffee
from the blockade in the Baltic and the occupation of the
Black Sea, and as to the high price of sugar there
are, it is true, numerous manufactories of beet-
root sugar in Russia, but the manufacturers are shoo-

lately without hands. The discontent of the nobles
has reached an extreme point in every province.
The war hat struck a fatal blow to commerce, to produc-
tion, and to industry. There has, in fact, been raised, by
successive recruitments, more than a quarter of the able-
bodied labouren, and it is impossible to find a sufficient
number for tilling the ground, or for working in the
factory.

PANIC OF THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

ROME, Auo. 20.

Tho significant observations of Lord Palmerston
and Lord John Russell in Parliament, with respect
to the despotic misrule which pervades a great part
of Italy, and especially the Roman States, have pro-
duced a sort of political ague in the minds of his
Holiness's ministers, who are now in a continual
tremble lest the threatened interference of France
and England should place some limit to their hitherto
unbounded power, or the encouragement of some
Republican conspiracy menace the ecclesiastical do-
minions with total annihilation.

This latter source of alarm hu been the bugbear
of the restored government ever since 1849, and
levery year has furnished, in greater or less numbers,
ootspirators against the Papal throne, and victims on
the Papal scaffold. The discontent of its subjects is,
in fact, the sword of Damocles which hangs over the
olerical government.
The police authorities just now fancy that they
(have got hold of the clue to a fresh conspiracy, for
Ithe correctness of which they trust to their numerous

spies in London, Paris, and bar" whose duty it is
to keep the movements of Italian refugees in surveil-
lance, and report their plans to head-quarters. The
peril is apprehended from abroad, and perhaps the
circumstance of Claribeldes navigating the Mediter-
ranean once more, in command of a ves-
sel bearing the Sardinian flag, is not uncon-
nected with the anxiety displayed by the Papal go-
vernment to place the sea coast from Civita Vecchia
to Terracina in a state of defence. For this purpose
a strong foroe of gendarmes, in whom the government
places more reliance than in the troops of the line,
was despatched last night, partly by land and partly
on board the Tiber steamer, to occupy the coast sta-
tions of Palo, Fiumicino, Ostia, Castel Pagano,
and the neigbourhood, and keep a bright look out
for any suspicious sail that may be observed approach-
ing too near the sacred shores of St. Peter's patri-
mony. At the present season of the year, when
these localities are proverbially unwholesome, it is
only in consequence of information which the govern-
ment deems quite positive, that it has resolved to
expose four or five hundred picked men to the
ravages of ague and malaria, probably deeming the
health of the State a paramount consideration.

A great number of active young men are con-
tinually applying at the British Consulate to be
forwarded to the dep6t in Piedmont, for the forma-
tion of the Italian Legion in the British service. It
is much to be regretted that instructions are not sent
to the Consul here to pay the passages of recruits
from Civita Vecchia to Genoa, as, in the present
disposition of the inhabitants of the Roman States, a
valuable addition might thus be made to the effici-
iency of the Legion.
The French general having given permission, ac-
cording to instructions received from the Minister of
War, to the troops under his command here to vo-
lunteer for service in the Crimea, so many men stepped
out of the ranks, on the invitation of their several
commanding officers, that the chief difficulty was
which to select, the number of volunteers to be ac-
cepted being limited to fifteen men per company.
About 500 men thus chosen, left Rome for the neat
of war last week, and their places will be filled up by
recruits from France.

MURATIST PROCLAMATION IN SICILY.

A Mnratist proclamation is said to be extensively
circulating in Sicily. It is added that one phrase
used in it by Prince Murat is, "The hoer is come for
the people to rise. I will not impose myself upon
them, but I declare myself ready to answer their
cag,"