The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

TURKEY AND THE SUEZ CANAL.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 27.
The Porte has rejected the demand made by the
French Ambassador, M. Thouvenel, for the authori-
sation of the cutting of the canal through the
Isthmus of Suez.

A Vienna letter in the Swabian Mercury says that
the Turkish Governmsnt is about to fortify its new
Asiatic frontiers. It intends to construct a military
road from Batoum to Ardaham ; to fortify the latter
point, to form large depots and storehouses at Baer-
bout, to augment the fortifications at Erzeronm and
at all the places on the frontier from Erzeroum to
Kereson on the Black Sea, and from Erzeronm to
Baerbout and Sumina, at two leagues to the east of
Trehizond. Macadamised roads are to be formed
between these places, and Sumina is to be fortified.
Russia is also about to fortify her frontier towns in
the same part of the world.

A case of suspected poisoning has occurred in
Sussex. A labouring man aold his wife, by the name
of Boys, have died suddenly and under the most
suspicious circumstances at Alciston, in East Sussex.
A post mortem examination has taken place, and the
contents of the stomach are to be analyzed forthwith
by Professor Taylor.

Davis, the convicted murderer of Ann Morgan at
Much Wenlock, near Shrewsbury, has been respited
upon recommendation for mercy.

Dr. Travers Twiss, Vicar-General, has delivered his
opinion upon the seizure of the Cagliari, which,
"under the circumstances stated in the log of the
seizers, was not justifiable by the law of nations;
which," adds Dr. Twiss, " is the only law by which the
cruisers of a sovereign power can be entitled to
seize ur detain on the high seas a merchant ship
sailing under the protection of the flag of another
sovereign."

The Globe of last night reports an appalling
murder and suicide as having been committed at
Lenwick in Scotland. Mr. Peter Williamson, a
gentleman of high mercantile standing, in a fit of
insanity last Thursday week rose at an early hour in
the morning and deliberately cut the throats of his
wife acd daughter; he then went up into the chit
dren's rooms, murdered his two youngest, a boy and
a girl, and after vain attempt to destroy his eldest
boy, who escaped, Mr. Williamson returned to his
wife's room and destroyed himself. No reason is
assigned for the dreadful act. Another child, a boy,
was happily away from home on a visit.

THE DUBLIN COLLEGE ELECTION terminated on
Saturday in the return of Mr. Lefroy. The num-
bers were—Lefroy, 589 ; Gayer, 350 ; majority for
Lefroy, 239. The declaration was received with
mingled applause and hisses, and the proceedings
were gen3rally uproarious. Mr. Lefroy and Dr.
Gayer addressed the crowd assembled in the E:ami-
nation•hall.

THE PRESS, APRIL 3, 1858.

foreign Qorresponbentt.

Paws, April Ist, 185 S.
THE first question now put by every Frenchman to
every Englishman in Paris, is, " What object in view
has a certain portion of your London press, in
promulgating a report of the possibility of a war
between France and England ?" The answer to be
given is very difficult ; for—and I speak with some
certaintv—as far as France is concerned, never
at any period of its history has there b een less
desire to quarrel with England than at the present
moment; and one may go further and assert, that a
desire tostrengthen the alliance between the two coun-
tries exists on the part of almost every man in France.
As to the feelings of the English Government, the
general opinion hero is that so long as the Derby
Administration remains in power, not only the best
understanding will exist between the two Cabinets,
but the peace of Europe will be preserved. So what
object can certain papers have in striving so con-
stantly to keep before the eyes of both nations the
possibility of a war?
Much has been said about the orders given in the
French naval dockyards, the increase of the number
of Bailors, &c. All this is much exaggerated ; but
independent of the necessary preparations for the
annual excursions of the fleet in the Mediterranean,
and for the reliefs for the American squadron, the
Emperor wisely hears in mind that the surest way
to preserve peace is to be prepared for war.
It is generally believed that should the Federal
Council of Switzerland continue to refuse to sanction
French Consuls in certain cities, the French Govern
went will, should all other efforts fail, withdraw the
erequaturs given to the present Swiss Consuls in
France. This is almost equivalent to the cessation
of all diplomatic intercourse.
It has been reported that a serious misunder-
standing had arisen between France and Austria.
The misunderstanding is not with France aione, but
with the majority of the powers represented in the
Paris Conference. It would appear that Austria,
beaten on the Riverain question, is endeavouring to
raise serious objections as to the power of the Com-
missioners appointed to prepare and carry into effect
the necessary works at the mouths of the Danube,
for the free navigation of that river. The French
Commissioners wished to send to the Paris Con-
ference a copy of their report; to this the Austrian
Commissioner strongly objected, observing that the
Conference had not the eower to control their labours.
The Austrian was supported by the Turkish Com
missioner. The French, English, Russian, Prussian,
and Sardinian Commissioners have appealed to their
respective Governments for further instructions.
Surely Austria cannot be serious in her present
opposition, and can only have in view the desire to
delay the meeting of the Paris Conference, for this
commission was established by virtue of Articles
15 and 16 of the Treaty of Peace. Austria will be
beaten here as she was on the Riverain question, and
no fears need be therefore entertained of a serious
quarrel between France and Austria on this subject.
Some of the French journals have fallen into an
error as to the departure of Count Persigny from
London. His Excellency will not leave London
before the return of the Queen from Windsor,
when he will present his letters of recall, which
were sent to him yesterday. The Duke de Malakoff
will not leave Paris before the I:2th; he will be accom-
panied by his two aides-de-camp, Colonel Appert,
and Major Duval: bath these gentlemen served
with distinction in the Crimea, and are well known
to several British officers. The Duke is making
preparations for a brilliant campaign in Belgrave-
square.

We are bkely to have a succession this summer
of royal visitors to Paris. The Queen of Holland,
daughter of the King of Wurtemburg, first cousin
to Prince Napoleon and the Princess Mathille, is
shortly expected. The Grand Duchess Helene,
widow of the Grand Duke Michael, will reach
us in about a month. The Grand Duchess is the
daughter of Prince Paul of Wurtemburg. She will
reside in the Palace of Fontainebleau. No infer.
million has been received at the Tuileries of the
intention of Queen Victoria to visit France this year.
The report of the Committee appointed to examine
the Budget will be laid on the table of the Corps
Legislatif the second week in April. Amongst the
articles of home consumption wl.ich has been gra-
dually improving is that of tobacco. The revenue
derived from this arti,;le in the last forty-five years
has been 112,040,0001. sterling.
The news reached Paris this morning of the death
of M. Carlier, who for many years was Prefect of
Police.

The French Government is doing all it can to
render the passport system as little obnoxious to
Englishmen as possible. II has now authorized the
local authorities in places where there are no British

consuls to grant passports to English residents
enabling them to travel in the interior of the coup.
try, anu in case of urgent necessity to give passports
for returning to England.

A letter from Alexandria, dated the 20th of March,
says that the Viceroy had appointed a Prefet de Police
in that city. The gentleman so named is a French
officer of rank. The Viceroy has also established
civil tribunals throughout the whole of Egypt.
It seems that the Bouffes Parisiens will not visit
England this year. The company leaves Paris for
Marseilles on the sth of May ; it will then pass a
month in Berlin, another in Vienna, and ultimately
visit Hamburg.
That unrivalled tenor, Tamberlik, has created an
immense sensation on his re•appearance here. He
sang at the Italian Opera on the 29th March in Roe.
sini's opera of Otello.