The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-30 00:00:00

1242

The thanks voted to our army and to our fleet, as well as to
their commanders, could not but deeply affect the Government
of the Emperor. The thoughts of his Imperial Majesty are di-
rected with unceasing solicitude to the scene of the contest in
which the allied armies are engaged; it is, therefore, with the
utmost satisfaetion that he observes the esteem which the sol-
diers of the two countries mutually entertain for each other in.
creased by the courage and perseverance which they display in
the service of one and the same cause. The Government of the
Emperor especially congratulates itself at perceiving iu the vote
of the Parliament an evidence of the intimate union which, con.
fleeting together the policy of France and England, blends also
in one and the same expression the encomiums to which
glorious efforts and toilsome labours so justly entitle the two
armies and the two fleets which the two countries have sent to
share the same perils and the same fatigues.
Lady Raglan and the Hon. Misses Somerset, who
aro passing the holidays in Great Stanhope-street,
we understand, received letters on Monday from the
gallant field marshal commanding our army in the
Crimea, dated from head-quarters at Sebastopol,
when his lordship was in excellent health.

Volituat nub Oentral.

-

THE INNKEEPERS OF PORTSMOUTH are about to
hold a meeting to organise some means of redress for
the injury they are likely to sustain from the inter-
pretations of the law in the late case of Collas v.
Bascombe, with respect to the responsibility of land-
lords for luggage lost in their hotels.
COMMERCIAL ADVICES FROM NEW YORK report the
failure of J. W. Blodgett and Co., of Boston, for
400,0001.—the largest among the suspensions of the
year. The firm were importers of manufactured
goods, and are believed to owe heavy amounts
in England. Several New York houses suffer to the
extent individually of 30,0001. and 50,0001. Further
stoppages are also announced in the Western States,
among others that of Taylor and Cassilly, of Cincin-
nati and New Orleans, for a considerable sum.
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES NAPIER, Commander-
in-Chief of the Baltic Fleet, having bad an interview
with Sir James Graham, has returned to Portsmouth.
At sunset on Saturday last his flag was struck on
board the Duke of Wellington. It is reported that
this is but a temporary cessation of the gallant ad-
miral's command, the Baltic fleet being now dis-
persed, and engaged in conveying troops and other
service till the spring.
ON Saturday Sir B. Hall gave notice in the House
of Commons that, immediately upon the reassem-
bling of Parliament after the Christmas holiday,
he should move for leave to introduce three bills,
respectively designed to amend the Public Health
Act and the Nuisances Removal Act, and to provide
for the better local management of the metropolis.
ANOTHER militia regiment is to be raised in Lan
cashire.
AN ORDER has been received by the colonel and
other officers of the second regiment. of Cheshire
Militia to hold themselves in readiness, together with
the men under their command, for immediate embo-
diment.

THE DUKE OF CLEVELAND has expressed his rea-
diness to accompany the South Durham Militia to
any quarter and on any service which her Majesty
may require.
THE Opinione OF TURIN states from Berne that
orders have been received there for the manufacture
of 20,000 wooden shoes for the English troops in the
Crimea.

A VERY LARGE QUANTITY OF CH AIRS for the Bri-
tish railway in the Crimea have been manufactured
and despatched by Messrs. Butler, of Stanningley,
near Bradford.
BAYONETS have hitherto been made by hand, prin-
cipally in Birmingham, but an ingenious spindle and
flyer manufacturer of Manchester hasdevised means
for making them much more rapidly and quite as
well by machinery. He is now executing an order
from the Government for 80,000 bayonets and
130,000 ramrods to be thus fabricated.
THE TRONMASTERS held their usual preliminary
meeting at Wolverhampton on Wednesday, when a
reduction of 20s. per ton upon all descriptions of
manufactured iron was agreed upon. Upon sheets
there was a drop of 30s. Prices are, therefore, now
as follows :—Bars, 10/. ; hoops, 11/. ; and sheets,
111. 10s. Ordinary common hot blast pigs are at
41. 103. to 4/. 155., at which prices a large amount of
business has been transacted.
MR. BAGSHAWE, of the Chancery bar, has been
appointed one of her MNiesty's counsel. The learned
gentleman was sworn in on Saturday last.
A GRAND MILITARY CONCERT took place at the
Crystal Palace on Wednesday, and was attended by
7,597 persons, of whom 6,047 paid at the doors.
THE MORTALITY RETURNS FOR LONDON show the
deaths of 1,291 persons during the week ending
Saturday last. This number is very nearly the
same as has been reported by the Registrar-General
for two preceding weeks, and is slightly below the
corrected decennial average.
IT has been determined by the bar on the Oxford
circuit to place the bust of Mr. Justice Talfourd in
the Crown Court of Stafford.