The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-05 00:00:00

LORD PANMURE was installed on the 27th ult. into
the office of Provincial Grand Master of the Masonic
Order, to which he was appointed by the Grand
Lodge of Scotland on the death of his father.
THE ROYAL FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY OF IRE-
LAND has just issued a circular to landed proprietors
and farmers in that country, containing advice by
which similar parties in England and Scotland may
profit. It is as follows :—" Farmers are earnestly
requested to observe, that, so long as the war conti-
nues, Riga seed cannot be had in sufficient quantity
for the Irish sowing. Unless they take care to save
seed for themselves, from the crop that is now grow-
ing, they will not be able to sow the usual quantity
next spring. This would be very unfortunate, as the
high price at which flax must keep, during the war,
should induce them to sow largely."
AN ESTATE, of about 132 acres, of arable, meadow,
orchard, and pasture land, in he parish of Stoke
Fleming, in Devonshire, was sold last week by auc-
tion, in pursuance of a decree of the Court of Chan.
eery, for 6,1001., being nearly thirty-eight years'
purchase upon present rental.
A BEAUTIFULLY-PAINTED WINDOW has been erected
in the parish church of Elvastone, near Derby, to
the memory of the late Earl of Harrington, by the
dowager countess.
THE following are the names of the five members
who supported Lord Dudley Stuart's motion, on
Tuesday, for the repudiation of the Russo-Dutch
loan :—W. F. Hume, H. G. Langton, D. Morris, J.
P. Murrough, A. Wise.
AN ANTI-SLAVERY CONFERENCE was held on
Tuesday, at the Manchester Athenaeum, at which re-
solutions strongly enforcing the necessity of the im•
mediate and total emancipation of all slaves were
agreed to. Mr. Absolom Watkin presided.
THE MEMBERS OF LLOYD'S have resolved to cur-
tail the hours of business on Saturdays to two o'clock,
the proposition having been carried on Wednesday,
by ballot, by 280 against 35. The new arrangement
will commence this day week, the 12th instant; and
iv is understood that the maritime insurance compa-
nies of London will adopt the same course. There
appears every probability of the movement for cur-
tailing business hours on Saturday being very gene-
rally adopted.
FOR THE BELLOT TESTIMONIAL, according to a
statement published by Sir R. Murchison, a sum of
2,0001. has already been subscribed. Of this sum
5001. will be applied to the erection of a granite
obelisk on the wharf of the Royal Hospital at Green-
wich, the commissioners of that establishment., and
the Lords of the Admiralty, having given their
unqualified sanction to the request of the subscribers
to have the monument so placed. The remainder of
the money will be equally divided among the five
sisters of the gallant French officer. The position of
the obelisk, on the right bank of the Thames, imme-
diately to the east of the Greenwich steam-boat pier,
will be such that it must be well seen by every
passer-by, whether he be on the river or on the chief
quay of the Royal Hospital. Mr. P. Hardwick, R.A.,
the architect, of that establishment, has undertaken
to superintend the erection of the monument, the
granite of which is in the course of preparation by
Messrs. Macdonald, of Aberdeen.
THE NEW ACT for the suppression of gambling-
houses came into operation on Tuesday last.
THE WAR•OFFICE having notified that a body of
police wore required to proceed immediately to
Constantinople, numerous volunteers from all the
divisions speedily offered themselves for the service,
and the needed compliment was selected. Fifty of
the number it was decided should be mounted and
armed, for the purpose of acting in the rear of the
army for the protection of stores. The others,
numbering thirty four, were to be employed in the
commissariat department, the best readers, writers,
and acountants being chosen for this purose. The
ay ofc the former was to be 2/. 2s. perp week and
rations, and the latter 21. ss. Od. with rations. Upon
attending, however, at the Foreign-office for the pur-
pose of having the arrangements completed, although
everything was satisfactory as regarded those to be
employed in the commissariat department, the men
who were to act in the rear of the army for the first
time learnt that they would be under the same regu-
lations as the soldier, and subjected to the articles
of war, flogging, of course, included. Many of ;hem
expressed their disapprobation, and declined the
appointment. The number remains accordingly
incomplete; and it remains to be seen whether the
authorities at the War-office will take such steps as
will make the service more in consonance with the
views of the men offering to engage in it.
A NUMEROUS DEPUTATION of metropolitan grocers,
attended by Sir James Duke, M.P., Mr. Williams,
M.P., Mr. Apsley Pellatt, M.P., and Mr. Moffat,
M.P., had an interview on Wednesday with the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, at his official residence in
Downing-street. The deputation was introduced by
Sir James Duke, and the grievances of the grocers,
in reard to the late prosecutions for the sale of coffee
and c ghicory, were stated to the Chancellor by Mr.

Moffat.

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