The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 4, 1854.

earliest date is 20th May, 1850 ; the latest 21th Ja-
nuary, 1854. The first despatch relates to squabbles
between the Greek and Latin monks at Jerusalem ;
the last is a brief letter of approval from Lord Cla-
rendon to Sir G. H. Seymour. The papers are num-
bered up to 417.
THE SEWER RATE IN THE CITY OF LONDON, just
authorised by the commissioners, for the ensuing
year, will be ld. in the pound only. Last year it was
2d. ; the year before, 3d.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF WOODS AND FORESTS are
taking tenders for the construction of the new bridge
at Westminster, and the offers, as might be expected,
are very numerous.
THREE LARGE CASES have been brought by a ves-
sel from Dunkirk, containing presents to the House
of Lords by the President of the French Senate, and
intended for the library of the house.
THE Sot:Ili-WESTERN RAILWAY DIVIDEND for
the half year ending 31st December, 1853, as recom-
mended by the directors at the general meeting on
the 16th ult., will be at the rate of five per cent. per
annum on the capital.
THE ARMY ESTIMATES for the current year will
provide for an increase to the forces of 10,000 men.
The navy will be augmented by 10,000 seamen and
3,000 marines.
A MEETING OF THE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS took place at noon on
Tuesday, at the Earl of Derby's house in St. James's-
square. The attendance was very numerous, and
the noble earl addressed the assembly in a speech of
considerable length, which was received with great
anlause. His lordship dwelt on the necessity for a
cordial union amongst the members of the party—a
sentiment which was warmly greeted. For many
years a more positively unanimous meeting of Con-
servatives has not taken place.
A PLAN is said to be in contemplation for establish
ing a Minister of War in this country, who should be
charged with the affairs of army, navy, and ordnance.
ALEXANDER DE BODISCO, who for the past fifteen
years has filled the post of Russian Envoy at Wash-
ington, has died, after a painful illness of some
weeks. He was a Wallachian noble by birth, and
first entered the public service in Russia about fifty
years ago, without fortune, but endowed with some
knowledge of the French language and a clear hand-
writing. He began in the bureau of the Minister
of Foreign Affairs at St. Petersburg, in the lowest of
twelfth class of the tschin, or official hierarchy, and
died of the third class, as a Privy Councillor, or in
military valuation as a lieutenant-general. M.
Bodisco owed his good fortune principally to having
been attached in the quality of secretary to Count
Suchtelen, who, after the secret interview at Abo, in
1812, between the Emperor Alexander and Berna-
dotte, the elected hereditary Prince of Sweden,
resided in the quality of an imperial commissioner
at the bead-quarters of the Prince during the cam
paign of 1812 13. With Count Suchtelen M. Bodisco
went to Paris, and thence to Vienna during the
famous Congress which settled the affairs of the
Continent. The count was appointed Russian
Envoy at the Court of Stockholm, and M. Bodisco
first Secretary of Legation. Count Suchtelen enjoyed
great favour with the Emperors Alexander and
Nicholas ; and on his death-bed, some eighteen
years ago, recommended his secretary to the Sove-
reign. After the decease of his patron, M. Bodisco
was for some time chargé d'affaires at Stockholm,
whence he was sent in the capacity of minister to
Washington. A few years after his arrival there he
married Miss Williams, of Georgetown, a young
American lady of remarkable beauty. By her he
leaves seven children. The deceased was distin-
guished by remarkable financial abilities. Through
the liberality of Count Suchtelen and of the Russian
Government he accumulated a considerable capital
during his long service in Europe, which, joined to an
intelligent economy on his large salary at Washington
—more than twenty thousand dollars yearly—enabled
him to carry on speculations on a large scale in lands
and stocks, and especially in the loans for the Mexican
war. The property left by him is said to exceed half
a million of dollars.
TILE COLONIAL EXPENDITURE for the year 1851-2
was 3,555,579/. The items were--military, 3,009,2821.;
civil, 499,3501.; naval, 55,7171. A deduction of
2,7761. is made under the head of post-office.
A NEW SCREW TWO-DECKER, the Hannibal, of 91
guns, has been launched at Deptford this week. She
will be taken to Sheerness and fitted with her
machinery, and for commission, with all possible
despatch.
THE STRIKES FUND AT PRESTON amounted last
week to 2,2501. Mr. Charles Dickens and Mr. Wills,
editor of the Household Wards, arrived in the town
on Saturday, and attended the delegates' and open-
air meetings of the operatives.
THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BERLIN
WATER-WORKS COMPANY was held on Monday, when
a highly favourable report was read and adopted. It
appears that the entire works can be constructed for
307,0001., and the first stone was laid on the 21st of
October last by the Crown Prince of Prussia. The