The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17. 1855.

puties were owned, till the middle of April. The
oonfereetre which met here in November last is
composed of representatives from the following
states—Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Hanover, Parma,
Modena, and Frankfort. The reason of the adjourn-
ment is obviously the resignation of Herr von Baum-
gartner as finance minister, and the present interreg-
num in that department. .The proposals hitherto
made by Austria were confined to the discovery of a
coin of gold which should be common to all, ana thus
be used in all international money transactions. But
although the commissioners saw the advantages
likely to arias from the introduction of such • gold
coin, they appeared to be more in favour of a enter
currency as less liable to great fluctuations, and pro-
posed to adopt a silver coin answering the above de-
scription. But therein lies the difficulty. The
system of coins in the different countries run in such
eccentric courses that it will be next to impossible to
unite them ; for whilst Prussia and the north of
Germany have their thalers and grosehene, Austria
has the florins and swainigers, Bavaria and the
Rhine reckon by the light Bonne and krentsers, and
the Italians keep their accounts in lire and soldi.
Travellers know from experience the difficulty of
changing one into thoother, and will therefore readily
understand the difficulty of solving the problem of a
universal coin common to all. Indeed, it is generally
believed that the only way is to make concessions on'
all sides, throw up all existing coins, and boldly
introduce the most perfect system, theoretically and
practically, known in the world--:the French decimal
system.
The Austrian steam corvette Elisabeth, Captain
Wissiak, just arrived at Trieste, has brought a valu-
able present from the British government to ours,
consisting of eleven nautical works and eighty-six
portfolios of maps and sea charts, published by the
Hydrographio Board, for the use of the Austrian
navy. They are more particularly connected with
the intricate navigation of the Baltic, the Black Bea,
and the Sea of Awff.

THE CONVENTION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND
THE UNITED STATES.

ST. PETERSBURG, Pas. 6.
The convention between Russia and the United
States, defining the rights of neutrals in war, signed
at Washington on the 10th (22nd) July, 1864, is now
published, and runs as follows :
"Art. 1. The high contracting parties recognise
as hating and unalterable the following principles :
"a. That free ships make free goods, that is,
that goods and merchandise the property of the
citizens or subjects of one of the belligerents are free
from capture and confiscation in neutral ships, contra-
hand of N sr alone excepted.
"b. That neutral property on board an enemy's
ship is not subject to confiscation, if lawful mer-
chandise. . .

" They bind themselves to apply these principles'
to the trade and navigation of all states and nations
who may be willing on their parts to acknowledge
and recognise the same as lasting and unalterable.
" Art. 2. The high contracting Powers reserve to
themselves the coming to a nearer understanding as
to the application and extension of the principles con-
tained in Art. 1, but declare expressly that they form
the basis of the principles governing their actions in
regard to the rights of neutrals in war.
Art. 3. It is agreed that all nations who may, by
a formal declaration, express their readiness to
acknowledge these principles shall be at liberty to
join in this treaty, and enjoy all the rights and pri-
vileges resulting from it.
"Art. 4. This present convention shall be ratified
by the Emperor of all the Rosier and the President
of the United States of America, and the ratifications
exchanged at Washington within ten months from
this date, or sooner if possible.
"Done at Washington it duplicate, July 22, 1854.
(Signed) "E. STOECKL.
" W. L. idanar."

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16.
out MID

Kr. 111.. Cbaab.rs aa;l67LashSppeared for the
plaintiff; sad Kr. H. James and Kr. Hawkins were counsel
for the dohs/data.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, Captain
Aaron Smith, to recover the sum of 600/. from the defen-
dants, Masan. Chubb and Deane, solicitors, for alleged
negligence on their part, in not having properly investi-
gated certain title.deede, whereby the plaintiff bad sus-
tained pecuniary loss to the amount claimed. From the
evidence adduced on the part of the plaintiff, sup-
ported by his own testimony, it appeared that he
employed the defendant. as his solicitors to Inver
Ugric, title-deeds which created a charge on pro-
perty in the possession of a prow since bankrupt,
whereby the plaintiff had 'slide(' the loss complained of.
For the defense it wan proved that the plaintiff had not
given the deeds in question to the defendants for the par-
posel of having the title investigated, but for the express
purpose of having them engrossed. The evidence was of
the most conflieting character.
Lord Campbell, in summing up, said it was for the jury
to say whether they entertained any doubt of a sufficient
answer having been given by the defendents to this action.
It was clear that attorniee were bound to cronies reason-
able care and attention in the investigation of title deeds,
and in fact of all matters inducted to their care ; but the
question was, were the defendants employed as attorneys
to intectigate the title ? It appeared that the copies
of the deeds were drawn up before the defen-
dants were employed to investigate them. They
were merely given to them for the purpose of having them
engrossed. The plaintiff's evidence had been contradicted,
both by evidence, which was certainly entitled to weighty
consideration, and documents.
The learned judge was proceeding with his summing up,
when

The jury, who throughout the trial had shown unmis-
takeable ups of a desire to put an end to the case, said they
did not know if they. might interrupt his lordship, but they
had been long of opinion that there should be a verdict for
the defendants. _ _ _

Lord Campbell—l entirely concur in that verdict, and I
think that the plaintiff has made a most nefarious attempt
to defraud the defendants.,