The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

The Royal Charter arrived in the Mersey on Sun-
day night from Melbourne, after a rather protracted
voyage, having left Port Philip Heads on the 17th of
January. She had on board a heavy mail, above
200 passengers, and 128,000 ounces of gold, with
13,000 sovereigns, making in all 525,0001., iu addi-
tion to a large quantity in the hands of passengers.
The Royal Charter reports meeting nothing hut light
and contrary winds from Cape Horn to the Western
Islands, and for the remainder strong north-east
winds. One of her passengers, Mr. G. Sparrow, had
a nugget weighing 323 ounces of solid gold without
the least alloy.

THE COUNT DE MONTEHOLIN, says a private letter
from Naples, continues to reside, for the present, in
that city. "His winter apartments are in the Palace
Royal, and he passes the summer months in the
royal residence at Capo di M6nte. He expresses
great respect, and I might say attachment, for Eng-
land and English institutions. He pointed out to
us, with much perspicuity and precision, the singu-
lar analogy existing between these institutions and
the ancient constitution of Spain, which, according
to him, was the cause and foundation of that king-
dom's former prosperity. To restore that free con-
stitution, virtually abolished by the predecessors of
the house of Bourbon, would seem to be his most
ardent wish and the principal aim of his policy.
Having been asked in my presence about his family,
he answered with much apropos, ' Spain is my
family ; my children are Spaniards without distinc-
tion of party or class.' His favourite study at this
moment is, I understand, political economy, and he
appears to have a decided leaning towards the prin-
ciples of free trade. While we were conversing, we
heard the sound of a harp in the adjoining room,
and one of the visitors having involuntarily expressed
his delight at the masterly execution, the Prince,
with a smile on his countenance, immediately
opened the door, and introduced us to the presence
of the Countess de Montemolin, whose remarkable
talent we had just admired. The countess received
us with much goodness, and conversed for some time
with the utmost ease in the French language."
ROME at. this moment is crowded with royalty.
But of all the royal personages honouring the
monastic city, the Princess Olga, daughter of the
late Emperor of Russia, and wife of the Prince
Royal of Wurtemburg, attracts the most attention.
A letter from Rome says :—" The lion, or rather the
lioness, of the season is decidedly the Princess Olga,
to obtain a sight of whom, as a reigning beauty, the
Romans literally besiege the palace of the Russian
embassy, watching the out goings and in-comings of
her Imperial Highness, and gazing upon the splen-
did equipages prepared for her service with almost
childi 4h delight. The royal boxes in St. Peter's and
the Sixtine Chapel have been arranged with all fitting
regard to precedence and etiquette, to accommodate
King Maximilian 11. of Bavaria. Queen Christina of
Spain, the Prince Royal of Wurtemburg and his
wile, the Grand Duchess Olga, Prince Charles of
Prussia, and the Princess Anna of Portugal, who,
with their respective suites, occupy, as may be well
imagined, a considerable portion of the space set
apart for the convenience of such dignitaries. The
arrival of the Emp:ess of Russia is positively an-
nounced for Tuesday, the 14th instant, exactly when
the pomps and ceremonies of the Easter week will
be concluded. The royal visitors have been inde•
fatigably employed this morning in going through
the series of solemnities proper to Holy Thursday.
The grand and severe beauty of the Princess Olga,
her figure contrasting powerfully with that of Queen
Christina, is well adapted to grace an ecclesiastical
procession. On the present occasion she only ap-
peared, of course, as a spectator. Her mien, whilst
walking with her husband and court down the church,
was most dignified ; but her features, presenting a
softened resemblance to the late Emperor, her father,
showed traces either of ill health or dejection."

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS exhibit a
mortality of 1,059, a number less by 155 than the
average rate of mortality would have produced. The
births of 1,808 children were also registtred.

THE PRESS.