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

tortigu ltt, gittraturt, tkr.

THE ABBE LILDIENBLIS is so seriously ill that his
life is in imminent danger. He refuses to see a
priest, and desires that his body may be conveyed
direct to a cemetery without being taken into a church.
By his will he has appointed M. Auguste Barbet, his

successor.
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY of the Oriental
Academy in Vienna, which was founded by the
Empress Maria Theresa, was celebrated on the 2nd ult.
on a scale of magnificence worthy of the occasion.
His Eminence the Cardinal Prince Chevalier de
ltauscher, Archbishop of Vienna, made a most edify-
ing speech on this occasion.
THE ARRIVAL OF MR. STEPHENSON, the engineer,
has caused the Egyptian Government to prosecute the
railway works with increased vigour, and a great
number of men have been placed on the line at each
end for this purpose. It is the will of the Paella
that the end from the Delta to Cairo should be
finished as soon as the end connecting Alexandria
with the Nile. The canal is also shortly to be
emptied of all the water it contains, in order to clean
out and deepen its bed.
M. BLANQUI, member of the Institute of France,
died on Sunday. He was one of the principal
members of the commission sent to England in 1851
to report on the Great Exhibition. He is elder brother
of the celebrated Socialist, M. Blanqui, who is now a
prisoner at Doulens.
CAPTAIN Emcssos, in a letter to the American
newspapers respecting the caloric-ship, states that
there is not the slightest cause for doubt in relation
to this enterprise. The new engines were completed
and had been at work several days, their operation
proving conclusively that the practical difficulties
which attended the first arrangement have all been
overcome. They are also much reduced in size,
while their principle of action is the same as before,
with this exception only, that condensed air is employed
in place of the ordinary atmosphere for producing
the motive power. This modification admits of an
increase of power, limited only by the capability of
resisting pressure in the machine. Much difficulty
has been experienced in this respect, and it is this
which has caused some delay recently. The obstacle
is, however, nearly removed, and the public will shortly
have an opportunity of judging by practical evidence
of the merits of the caloric-ship.
THE PROPOSAL to establish a new Federal University
has excited much interest in Switzerland. The plan
has been long talked about. A clause in the Federal
Constitution of 1818 mentioned it as a part of the
new federal organisation. Financial considerations
chiefly have postponed till this year any decided steps
for the realisation of the project; and now, when a
prosperous exchequer has determined the Council to
bring the plan under the formal consideration of the
Federal Assembly, it has called forth an immense
amount of opposition, and Switzerland is divided
into two very nearly equal parties on the subject.
After a debate which lasted live days the National
Council determined, by a majority of sixty-four to
forty three, to entertain the project ; and this division
assures its success in the National Council. But the
fate of the measure in the Council of States is doubt-
ful. The project is for the establishment of a federal
university, comprehending five faculties—philosophy,
Catholic and Protestant theologyl(separate faculties),
law, and medicine—and also of a polytechnic school.
The university is to he established in a German can
ton, and its site would be Zurich, where a university
on a smaller scale already exists.
A PLAY is repeated nightly at the St. Petersburg
Theatre, written with a view to excite public opinion
against the Turks. The following passages are re-
ceived with most applause :—A Russian naval officer,
who is the principal character, exclaims, " If they
will not give me a vessel to command, I will sell all
the men of my village to buy a frigate and go and
attack the Turks. One Russian is more than a match
for three Turks." "Let us show our fidelity to our
flag ; let us not understand it like the people of the
West, but like brave Russians that we are." When
he receives the news of the battle at Sinope, be ex-
claims, "Behold how our Emperor chastises the im-
pious for their perfidy ! Our young fleet is the finest
in the vorld, thanks to Lazereff." The play termi
_ .

SATURDAY,

prominent feature. The Grand Duke (heir apparent),
and the Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas, and
Michel, were present at the first representation of
this drama. The imperial boa was filled with naval
officers and the children of those on board the fleet
in the Black Sea. At the third representation the
Grand Duke Nicholas alone was present. The Em-
peror has issued an order that fifty soldiers are to be
admitted every night to The Battle of Sinope.
THE MACARTNEY LIBRARY AND MSS. were sold last
week by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, of Piccadilly.
The whole were collected by the late George Earl
of Macartney, whose important diplomatic engage
ments in China and at the Court of St. Petersburg
have given his name no mean place in history.
Lord Macartney died in 1800, and the external
condition of his books would seem to indicate that
his library has lain dormant from that time to the
present. There was nothing of particular note included
in the sale of printed books; but the manuscripts,
which were numerous and important, drew together a
large company, and elicited spirited competition.
Among them were a multitude of Chinese MSS.,
some of them curiously illustrated, together with a
large number of designs, drawings, &c., by Chinese
artists, and various notes, diaries and memoranda,
correspondence, dc., relating to the late earl's mis-
sion to China. Altogether the MSS. produced more
than 1,0001.

IN AN ANCIENT CHEST, long standing in a neglected
corner of an obscure tower in Lambeth Palace,
we understand, says the Atheneum, that certain
historical papers have just been found. No details as
to the particular contents of the documents now un-
earthed have yet reached us; but we hear it said that
they are valuable of their kind. They are supposed
to refer cheitly—if not exclusively—to the Cromwell
period. We have even heard that some of them bear
the signature of the Protector.
LORD DALHOUSIE is endeavouring to establish ver-
nacular schools throughout India for the instruction
of the masses of the people. His lordship has also
recommended to the Court of Directors that a
scholarship should be instituted in the Roorkee Col-
lege in honour to the late Mr. Thomason—the said
college having been brought into being by the de-
ceased gentleman.
Dn. O'SHAUOHNESSY has been appointed superiu•
tendent of electric telegraphs in India, with a salary
of 2,400/. per annum, and 301. a month travelling al-
lowances. His assistant, Mr. Sheppard, is to receive
000/. a year, and 151. a month extra when moving
about.
A NEW ASSOCIATION, entitled the "Booksellers'
Registration Society," has just been formed at Mr.
Orr's, Paternoster row. It is intended to establish
a correct register of all booksellers, printers, news
agents, (tc., throughout the country, so as to facilitate
communications and promote the interest of the trade
and the convenience of the public.
Mn. ALEXANDER SMITH has been elected secretary
of the Edinburgh University. The candidates were,
beside Mr. Smith, Mr. Robert Young, Mr. James
Grant, Mr. William Daniel, Dr. John Renton, and Mr.
Train. The final decision was between Mr. Smith
and Mr. Young, when the former obtained 18 and
the latter 15 votes.
Mn. THOMASON, late Governor of the North west
Provinces of India, has bequeathed the whole of his
valuable private library to the Government College
at Agra.

COMMERCE OF EoYrr.—According to the annua
report issued by the Custom-house of Alexandrian
the total amount of exports from Egypt in 1853 wa
3,472,0001., and of imports into Egypt from all parts,
2,070,0001. sterling. Great Britain, Austria, and
France are the three countries trading principally
with Egypt. The total value of exports to Great
Britain was 1,787,5401.; to Austria, 389,000/. ; to
France, 401,000/. The imports from Great Britain
amounted to 1,153,0001.; from Austria, 310,000/.
from France, 242,0001. Among the exports the most
important are—Wheat, XOO,OOO quarters; beans,
215,000 quarters; barley, (12,000 quarters; Indian
corn, 47,000 quarters; linseed, 20,000 quarter";
sesame-seed, 32,000 quarters; cotton, 181,000 bales;
flax, 44,000 bales; wool, '22,000 bales; henna, 5,300
hales. The exports to Great Britain comprised—
Wheat, 450,0(X) quarters ; beans, 100,000 quarters ;
barley, 50,000 quarters ; Indian corn, 40,000 quar-
ters ; linseed, 18,000 quarters, cotton, 100,000 bales ;
flax, 35,000 bales ; wool, 11,000 bales. The total
amount of manufactures imported into Egypt was
475,000/., of which 353,0001. were from England. The
total number of merchant vessels that sailed from
the port of Alexandria in 1853 was 1,101, of which
044 were with cargoes and '247 in ballast.
WHAT'S IN A NAME ? asks an American editor, after
copying from a poll-book the following patronymics of cer-
tain citi:- •ho voted at the last election of delegates for