The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-24 00:00:00

MEILNATIONAL POSTAGE.

.1 deputation from the areociation to obtain
re..l communication between all nations, by means
of tt. lowest practicable uniform charge for ship tran-
s! ot letters so I printed papers, which was formed
taros the late Great Exhibition, of the following M.
:.m.n -the Lord Ashburton, Sir P. Boileau, Bart.; Bill
J"he lltaretyne. ; William. Brown, 8.5., M.P.;
Durum Esq. ; Chevalier De Burr, Austria ; Pro-
; Hew" Cole, C.B. ' • C. W. Dilka,
. I Wentworth bake, Eq. ; Baron Charles Dupin,
Itioht lion. T. Milner Gibson, M.P. ; Professor
Ho' •./1, Ituhiin ; J.O G. Kennedy, America: J. 8. Life-
t•-•1 .1' B.; Cheva!ier Leucifa, Sardinia Lindley ;
u'rze M..ffatt, Esq., M.l'. ; Sir Roderick Murebiaon;
Nonthente, Dart. ; Dr. Lyon Mayfair, C.B. ; W. C.
Kot , America; Ccdonel Sir Wm. Reid. K.C.8.,
Ili rr son Viehahn,Zollverein ; the Hon. C. P. Va-
let.. NI P . lion M. Tsui. Spain, had an interview yester-
day a!th: Ponign (Ace with Earl Granville. The depi-
late* consists,' of Sir John Boileau. Bart. ; Sir Joba Bar-
Put*. Groove Mott at. ; the Hen. T Niihau
(own. M P. ; Henry Cole, Esq., C.B, ; C. Wentworth
Ado. rev
'or Jolie &mut introduced the deputation to Earl
Cesarille.
Mr HENRY COLE said that, aa no change could be
made in 'he 'swat arrangements of foreign countries witht
Wt the toment of those countries, it was the opinion of the
vputikepni that the toot method of initiitieg the important
thtoer which thy had in view was, that the government
eapreva as desire to act in friendly concer-
etth the foreign otovernmenta in endeavouring to
'Nu a lanes of international penny postage.
Wh.ther this should he done by a postage eon-
rte.. after the model of the unitary congress
els matter for after consideration ; but there was little
'kohl that the step, however taken, would he received,
'l'llll4 miter the example eat by England in having a
%inform rate of ird and portage had been more or less
f4;uwed by all foreign countries. With regard to the
the irnorrnraent could act without interference,
lad h week be for the heads of that department to
evo.o.oler whither it were wise to retain the trifling
r,emit now produced by ship letters in exchange for the
end. boo lON o horh a reduction °rutin postage would mo-
tif on • inutrods, and therefore. ultimately In the mother
ee,un'tr o lite oceurrenee of the Great Exhihition and
tn. mt.,n otr l
romnroiron of the noble earl with that event,
,010 !‘ I* 4 hippy opportunity fur his initiating the move-
Mr MOFFAT spoke of the very beneficial result, to
tn.!, end errtain to folluw thia step, if any ana-
Pin ran 'e Grown from the results of the peonJt"y postage.
,m peouble to overrate the effect which that change has

made on all Waukee of our commeme; they have been
quits revolotiosioed by it. The feeling of the City met-
chants as very strong in favour of this plan, though it is
thought by some that the moat practicable way of bring-
ing it about would be to set the exam* with one or two
foreign states, as the United States or Franco.
Sir JOHN BURGOI'NE thought that the lase by the
penny postage did not affect the correctness at the principle
of redaction, but arose rather from other mans which will
not act in the case of a packet meek*. and that the good
result would therefore be more iniarediMely opportion. Oa
the point of the advantage to the arionloa, sod of the tow&
bility of the reduction he wae glad to know that hie °pitapat
we. entirely the same with that of Colonel Sir Wm. Reid,
who when governor of the Bermudas and of the Leeward
Islands, had paid great attention to the question. Sir Joha
Burgoyne deprecated any partial reform which would re-
date the revenue while it did not give the public the full
bomb of the change—a penny ocean postage was the right
step. He advocated a commenecmint with the colonies,'
even if no international 111C.Iolire followed. It could not
fail to bind them more timely to the mother country.
Mr.W EN I' WORTII OILER said, that this question had
come before the British Aseucietion fur the Advancement of
Science at their last meeting. e4avially with the transmission
of scientific periodicals. The difficulty of obtaining those
published by foreign societies was at present very great. Sir
Roderick Murchison had taken great iuterest in the matter,
and if nut unavoidably prevented, would have been present
to-day.
Mr. MILNEIt GIBSON wished to eapreos the strong
and growing feeling in favour of this scheme of ocean
penny postage, of the merchant. and men of business of
Manchester. With regard to the United States and our
colonies, there appeared to be little difficulty, and there
was great probability that the decrease which must be ex-
pected at first in the reeenue would be soon made up, even
putting out of view the commercial and philan-
thropic benefits which the change would produce.
Earl GRANVILLE said in reply that it was the real in.
terest of this country to promote peace and intercourse be-
tween all nations, and that nothing can so certainly conduce
to that end as our giving all facilities to the co.nmunication
of knowledge and ithas. With this view cheap universal
postage was must desirable. 'There were matters of detail,
which must be considered by the Chancellor of the Eachc.
quer and the other members of the government; at present
these need not be gone into. On the principle, he did not he
sit de to say that he was most envious to give every support
in his power to the views of the deputation, which he should
communicate to his colleagues in the government.
The deputation then retired.

;From last Mete. o,urtre.)
WINDSOR CAsTLE, JAN. 17.—This day had au-
dience of her Majesty: His Excellency Monsieur Alexandra
Colones Walewski, Ambassador from the French Republic,
to deliver • letter from the Priam President of the French
Republic ; to which be was introduced by Earl Granville, her
Majesty's Secretary of State fur Foreign Affairs.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, JAN. 19.—The Queen has been
graciously pleased to appoint James Hudson, Esq., now her
Majesty's Envoy Extraonlinary and Minister Plenipotee-
tiary to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, to be her Majesty'e
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the
King of Sardiuia ; also to appoint Sir Henry Lytton %d-
-irer, ti.C.1.1., now her Majesty's F:nvoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to the united States of America,
to he her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to [het:rand Duke of Tuscany ; and also to
appoint John Fiennes Crampton, Esq., now Secretary to
her Majesty's Legation at Waderigton, to be her Majesty's
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to this
United States of America.

THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT FOR

RIFLES.

The public arc already made acquainted with the
feet that the Board of Ordnance has issued specifications to
the gumnakers of Birmingham and London for the imme-
theta " setting up " and supply of 23,000 rifle muskets. The
barrels, locks, and other appointments of these rifles are
supplied to the gi:makers by the Board of Ordanee, and
have been for some years in the course of manufacture in
this town and neighbourhood- The rifle required is on the
Minis principle, and provided with " sights" regulated to
carry balls of a peculiar description distances varying from
400 to 900 yards. In other respects the muskets are ex-
actly the same in quality as those supplied to the Board of
Ordnance, with which many regiments of the line have
been furnished fur the last 10 years, and commonly known
by the name of the " new-line musket."
The tenders from Birmingham were returned to the
Board of Ordnance on the 22nd instant, and yesterday
(Friday), being board-day, it is presumod that the orders to
successful competitors fur the contracts will be issued forth-
with. The specifications set forth are to the following ef-
fect What number of rifle muskets, upon the principle
stated, will you fit up in a given time, and at what price ?"
subject, of course, to the usual inspection of government
inspectors, of which there is at present a numerous unem-
emrloyed staff at the Proof-house, in Bagot-street, in this
town.

It is calculated that if Birmingham should be fortunate
enough to obtain these contracts, they will give employment
to about 2,000 workmen, who have not had living employ-
ment since March last. The operative guaniakers for the
Ordnance and Tower work constitute an entirely. different
branch from those of the birthing and fowling piece trade,
and in consequence of the inexplicable vagaries of the go-
vernment board have for a considerable period past been
subjected to the greatest destitution for want of employ-
ment.

But notwithstanding the desperate condition of the opera-
tive military gunmekers, as diatinguished in some degree
from other branches of the gun trade, there appears to be
great dismitistaction among the workmen respecting the
prices to be paid for various descriptions of work required
in the "getting up" of the new contracts. The workmen
in London during the early part of last week delivered to
their masters a list of prices, demanding the same to be
paid for the stocking, screwing, and finishing which they
were last paid ;when employed upon the ," new Tower
musket." To this list the Birmingham workmen demurred,
and have caused the metropolitan journeyman gunmeheis
to send a second list of prices at an advance of about
12i per cent. Thus, in 11319, stockers were receiving 3s. sd.
for stocking, and nerewers and finishers (which in Bir-
mingham is one branch, and in London two) 10s. 10d.
They now require, in obedience to the dictation of the
Birmingham men, 3s. 9d. for stocking, and 12a. 3d.
for screwing and finishing. This advance, although appa-
rently small, would amount in a large contract to a very
considerable sum ; but notwithstanding, the master gun-
makers of Birmingham, seeing the great extremities to
which the men fur some years past have been reduced are,
if they could without endangering; the contract, inclined to
accede to the requirements of the men. The spirit is willing.
It is, however, generally considered that the workmen are
mach to blame, in times of great competition like the pre-
sent, to demand an advance of prices on those paid for the
last guns of the same quality, and which, in 1849, both in
London and Birmingham, were deemed not only good but
highly satisfactory. There is no more work in the Minii
rifle musket than in the new line 'minket, although from
the fixing of the sight by screws instated of soldering
them, greater risk is incurred and a greater liability
to masters. The riling of the barrels has nothing
to do with the price, paid to the gunfitten, as that charge is
paid by the contractor at his own cost. If, however it
should be contended that Mine's rifle occasions more trim.
ble in the fitting than the new line musket, it should be re-
collected that in the new invention the loop of the barrels
are prepared fur the bolts, which the workmen formerly
prepared themselves, and that neither is there any sight to
affix, which they formerly had to aSs to the new line
musket. It will be seen by the above statement that, at what.
ever lower prices than lormerly the Board of Ordnance is
supplied with the Millie muskets required. the nductios
will not be obtained out of the prices paid to the workman,
but entirely from the profits of the contractors.
It is considered that the rifle muskets, for which the spe-
cifications are out, will cost the Board of Ordnance about
W. 6e. each, exclusive of the cost of viewing, inspection,
packing, &c.
Foe several months past the gun-lock makers of Darbuton,
Wednesbury. and Wolverhampton, have been very nearly
in full employ ; but it is understood there are not less than
18,000 new musket-locks in the Tower; so that an addi-
tional supply of 6,000 will he all that is required to snake up
the proposed contracts for new muskets. The bayooet
makers are also in full work. The contract for bayonets
was given by government to one manufacturer ; but to
enable him to complete the order he has been obliged to
employ several other makers.

PROTECTION To EMIGRANTS. The Liverpool
authorities have lately bestirred themselves in earnest
to defeat the various schemes of the maneatchers
and runners who have so long victimised the thou-
sands of abject emigrants that arrive at Liverpool
for the purpose of emigration. The resolution of the
deck committee to support the em te' home; esta-
blished by Mr. Sabel and Mr. Marshall, u well as to esta-
blish another at the north end of the town, has drawn forth
• rememstnnce from the small lodging-hone-keepers and
their supporters. At the usual meeting of the dock commit-
teem Thursday, this remonstrance was presented in the
shape of • memorial, in which the memorialists state that
they have "learned with regret that the dock committee
had been misled by 174 persons, chiefly consisting of ship-
owners, praying the committee to take steps to establish so
emigrant: home, at the north end, and making very grave
charges against pepons engaged in the emigration trade."
Tb. document gnu on to say that the memorialist' cannot
attribute the movement to establish and support emigrants'
boom to motives of philanthropy, but rather to a desire
to obtain the exclusive monopoly of the shipping of emi-
' grants. The memorial was Isid on the table. Popular
feeling is in favour of the proposed eingrants' home.
' PEMBERTON, TIIE ENGINE-DRIVER at the time of
' the accident on the railway near Ford Station, bee been re-
moved from the Chiehester infirmary to Petworth Gaol,
having quite recovered from the wound which he at that
time inflicted en his throat with intent to destroy himself.
lie will be tried at the neat waists—Brighton Guardian.

BLYTHE ANU TYN Y. lit LWAY.—The engineer
plates that this line is now completed, and that under the
bill to he introduced for its incorporation there are no
works contemplated involving the outlay of a further sum
of ate.
AURORA BOREALIS.—On Monday night a brilliant
aurora borealis was seen at Havre. It wee in a NN.W.
direction, and was visible for about 20 minute". It was eo
bright that it was at first feared that there was a tremendous
Ste in the neighbourhood.