The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-30 00:00:00

POSTSCRIPT.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition) alluding to the presence of Prince Murat at
Aiz-les-Barns, refers to the report of a Aluratist-
Neapolitan Congress, and writes:—

The Prince arrived at Aix some days ago, acoompanied
by Messrs. Aurelio Saliceti and Lizabe Rufoni. He has
since been joined by his sister, the Countess Pepoli, and
by his nephews, Counts Pepoli and Tadini. M. Monte-
nelli was expected from Paris. It is known that he took
out a passport the other day. The three gentlemen above
named—Messrs. Saliceti, Rufoni, and Montanelli—for-
merly Republicans, are said to be the most active and in-
fluential agents of the Muralist intrigue. There are small
grounds for believing that the Mnratitts have any chance
of success. All the most respectable and influential Nea-
politan emigrants have already protested agamst their
views, and have signed and published iu the newspapers
formal declarations to that effect. None of the letters we
receive from Naples speak of the Murat party as of any
portance.

The mission of Baron de Bach to Milan, says the
Coast itutionnel,
Appears to be twofold, first, to ascertain whether the
state of public opinion is sufficiently satisfactory for the
establishment of the representative system, called the. Pro-
vincial Congre:mtions, and at the same time to satisfy
himself as to whether the effect of that measure on the
people will be snch that the Emperor Francis Joseph
would be well received in the Lombardo-Venetian king-
dom, which he has au idea of visiting.

The Pays asserts as a positive fact that Reni,
Ismail, and Kills., are to be declared free ports.
Should this statement prove true great commercial
advantages will doubtless arise therefrom, as was
the case before they were subjected to the rule of
Russia.

Intelligence from Spain, of the 270, announces
the resignation of General San Miguel, Commandant
of the Halberdiers.

The Epoca states that the Government would
shortly notify to the Duke of Valencia, M. Gonzales
Bravo, and other personages abroad, that they were
at liberty to return to Spain.

Baron Von Scheel Plessen, ex-Minister of Holstein,
and President of the Holstein Assembly, has been
impeached by the Holstein Diet, on the ground of
unconstitutional acts. The trial was brought to a
close on the 26th. The result will not be made
puolic for some days.

The Mediterranean electric cable while being laid
down between Sardinia and the roisq of Africa, in
connection with the submarine line now in service,
was lost last week in a tremendous gale off the
Galata Wands. The cable was insured at Lloyd's
for nearly 30,000/.

Colonel Woodford, it is said, has resigned the chief
oont4tableship of Lancashire. No successor has been
appointed.
__

the Rev. Mr. Cnreton, rector of St. Margaret's,
Westminster, will it is said succeed the late, Dr.
Bucklaud as Dean of Westminster.

THE PRESS.

THE CORONATION OF TILE EMPEROR OF

RUSSIA.
THE ambassadors since their reception by the
Emperor left for Moscow on the 22nd. The Imperial
regalia has also taken its departure under the escort
of the Chevalier Garde; and St. Petersburg by this
time—for the Emperor and Court left early this
week—is quite deserted. Some amusing gossip is
given in a letter this week of the rivalry between
the foreign ambassadors. Speaking of the effect
_ _ _

produced in St. Petersburg, the writer says of the
English Embassy :

Their presence has not caused as much stir and excite-
ment as that of their French allies, who have been seen

everywhere in their splendid equipages, and doing the
thing in grand style at their magnificent hotel. The

English residents here, howe%er, console themselves with
the reflection that it is the French manner to make a
splendid burst at first, either in war or parade, and after-
wards suddenly to subside after the manner of their own
delightful champagne. The British Embassy, it is thought,
will come out strongest at Moscow, whither all the plate
and state carnages have been sent, and where a salon has
actually been built, as I understand, in order that our
Ambassador may have ample scope and verge to do justice
to our proverbial insular hospitality. The rivalry between
the special embassies will, 1 believe, be considerable, and
a rather humorous indication of it has already got into
circulation. It is said that Prince Esterhazy's agent 1t
Moscow, from having been early in the field. was able to
obtain a suitable house for his serene highness at the
moderate charge of 17,000 roubles the month, but that the
prince subsequently hearing that the British and French
Ambassadors were respectively payirg 40.000, he indig-
nantly cancelled his contract, and insisted on having a
house at the same price. The serene ambition was easily
gratified. A new coat of paint, a new name, and a new
rate of rental, soon brought the original house up to the
prince's notion of what was suitable for the representative
of the Emperor.
The two important religious ceremonies, the
blessing of the "water " and the " apples" used in
the ceremony of coronation, took place last week :

The first was solemnised at Peterhoff, in the presence of
the Emperor, on a small piece of ornamental water, con-
secrated for the purpose. The Greek prelates and priests
walked in procession. dressed in their most gorgeous vest-
ments, followed by the Imperial family, also walking, and
when they came to the waterside the Cross was plunged in,
the choristers singing a solemn chaunt as the officiating
prelate performed the rite. The distance from town pre-
vented the presence of many strangers, but I recognised
some English faces amongst the crowd. The second,
" The blessing of the apples," a ceremony which forms an
indispensable preliminary to the mastication of that re-
freshing fruit, took place yesterday in every church through-
out St. Petersburg, but with peculiar pomp in the Kazan
Cathedral, by the metropolitan and fifteen officiating
priests. The costumes were most gorgeous, and the arch-
bishop, who was robed in the middle of the church, was one
blaze of gold and jewels. The ceremonies, which seemed
exceedingly complex, consisted of numerous genuflexions,
and symbolic groupings on the part of the priests, who
formed themselves into squares, triangles, and other
figures typical of the Trinity, the Tabernacle, and the
various doctrinal data of Eastern Christianity. The con-
gregation, amongst whom there was no classification, and
who stood the whole time of service, was of the most
varied appearance and character. Russian princes, and
generals covered with decorations, prayed side by side with
the poor mujik, and both seemed equally impressed with
the solemnity of the occasion; while the Russian countess,
in the most fashionable Parisian toilette. did not feel her
dignity ruffled by the vicinity of the poor Livonien or Fin.
land woman, whose quaint national costume gave wonder-
ful variety to the scene. In the churches here there are
no carefully stuffed pews or separation of ranks—all pray
together, and perform their genuflexions, which are ex-
ceedingly numerous, in the same earnest and profoundly
devout manner —D. News eor , Aug. 19.
The Russian choral singing is highly impres-
sive :

They have on one side the trebles, on the other the

basses, the latter of peculiar dt pth and force, being selected
front the whole population of the empire, without any con•
si leration of expense. The boys, who have beautiful
voices, sing, for instance, " The Lord have mercy on us,"
and hardly has the lutelike sweetness of their tones tired
the ear, then, from the other side, the tremendous basses
thunder torth the same burden in reply. This music.
which is without instrumental accompaniment. sounds
strangely at first, but soon begins to attract by its strange
and unearthly solemnity.
The Emperor's personal appearance is not so
striking as that of his father, and his expression is
described as peznliarly thoughtful and German.
He appears to be readily accessible on certain occa-
sions to all petitioners :
Alexander the Second is a slight well•made man above
the middle size, but nothing approaching the Jove•like pro-
portions of the late Emperor. His face is quite German,
with a mild, almost saddened, expression, but full of
thoughtfulness and intelligence. His Majesty's close appli-
cation to business, which is well known, may affect his
looks, but certainly he has by no means the appearance of
robust health. He drove up to the palace in an open car-
riage without the slightest parade, and received into his own
hand the petitions of a number of poor women who were
permitted thus to approach the tountain•head of authority.
This custom, which puts one in wind of the Arabian Nights,
is only followed in certain e ef,es, as it must be obvious that,
if general, it would occupy the entite time of the Emperor.
As his Majesty received them there was not the slightest

SATURDAY,

appearance of hauteur on his part, nor of undue servility on
that of his fair petitioners, who simply curtseyed in a busi-
ness-like offhand way. and retired much more composedly
than I have seen municipal dignitaries (loin England when
they were permitted to approin h the throne.
The Empress is a tall, ladylike woman, hut beyond that
nothing remarkable. Her toilette was in excellent taste,
very similar to that of the Empress Eugenie, whose figure
is not unlike that of the Czarina. The young archdukes
are all fine hearty little fellows, give the salute with true
military precision, and look quite smart in their tiny
uniforms, each being of course colonel of a regiment. The
Czar himself wore the dress of the Gardes 1 Cheval, one of
the plainest in the service. After church came the court,
the presentations, and the decoration (the presentation of
the Legion of Honour), and all the while the grand forms
tains played, and the people on the terrace could divide
their attention between the glittering crowds that filled the
windows of the palace, the grim gigantic Cossack footmen,
in full national costume, the splendidly dressed negroes,
the relics of more barbaric times and courts, and the mur-
muring cascades on the other side, through whose long
vista of diamond spray they could see the gulf of Find.nd,
fit terminus to the perspective, as seen from Peterhoff
palace—lb.
The diplomatic corps left on the 22nd, and the
Imperial family on the 20th instant. Yesterday the
Emperor was to make his solemn entry into the an-
cient capital of the Czars. The preparations for this
event have engrossed all available labour. Scaffolding
has been erected for spectators all the way from the
Petrowski Palace into the town—the road by which
the Emperor was to make his entry. On the Cho-
dynski fields, also, where there are to be tab:es laid
for the entertainment of several hundred thousand
persons, immense scaffoldings and stands have been
erected for spectators who prefer to look from a dis-
tance on the motley throng that may be expected to
take part in the diversions prepared for them there.
All the church steeples are decorated or sutrounded
with framework for the illumination, innumerable
triumphal arches are erected, and all the houses
have been renovated and have put the best face upon
matters. In the environs the troops are encamped,
and when the large surface covered with tents is
looked down upon from an eminence, says a corre-
spondent, " the country thereabouts looks as though
covered with snow, with patches of black composed
of the uncovered earth showing through. The price
for a single window to see the coronation procession
pass by seems to vary from 150 to 200 silver roubles."

The late King Louis Philippe's MSS., lost in 1848,
have at length been recovered by the Orleans
family. The history of their discovery is curious.
Some time last month the Duc d'Aumale, while at
Claremont, received a letter signed " Vallete, Rue du
Cherche -Midi, 58, Passage St. Maur," stating that
he was charged to negotiate the sale of tho manu-
scripts, and offering them to the Prince. In this
letter Vallete gave this description of them :
They are divided into three puts, and form three folio
volumes, the first and second containing notes in the
King's handwriting on the general plan for continuing the
historical work of Father An-elme from the time of Louis
XV. to our days. with the history ofthe Royal brwnehes of the
house of Bourbon. The third volume consists of various docu-
menus and confidential autograph letters and biographies.
It is neither the least curious nor the least interesting of
the collection ; it is the autographic and entirely un•
published continuation of the opinions, souveni•s. &c., of
Count Stanislas de Girardin, el-general, ex president of the
legislative body, &c , of which only four volumes were
printed in Hatt, and it refers specially to the reign of
Napoleon I. to the political events and principal per.
*images of the Imperial Court in the years lt4ll and
18I'2. It contains secret letters on the life and conduct of
several of these personages, and on the elections of 1815
and 1823.

To this letter the Duc d'Aumale returned no reply.
At the beginning of the presen. month the Duc re-
ceived another letter signed "Vallete," and announc-
ing the sale by auction of the MSS. In consequence
of these communications the agent of the Orleans
family at Paris requested M. Vallete to let him ha'e
one of the volumes, in order that it might
be examined by the ex-Queen of the French,
and, at the same time, he called on him to
state how the manuscripts came into his pos-
session. M. Vallete refused to let a volume
leave his bands, and he also refused to give
any explanation on the second point. Under these
circumstances, the Orleans family, King Leopold of
Belgium, and the Duke of Wurtemburg, applied on
the 7th to the President of the Civil Ttibunal for an
authorisation to seize the manuscripts in question as
their property, either at the residence of M. Valletr.
or wherever they might happen to be. The Presi-
dent granted the authorisation, subject to the con-
dition that the manuscripts should be deposited in
the care of the clerk of the Tribunal. On the oth
the manuscripts were seized by a commissary of
police at Vallete's residence, and were deposited le
directed. M. Vallete protested: a trial took place
last week, but M. Vallete did not dare to appear, and
the Tribunal in consequence declared that tl e
volumes in question were the property of the heirs of
the late King, and ordered the clerk of the Tribunal
to give them up to their agent, M. Bother ; at the
same time oonbeem* Valleteto pry the costs.

AUGUST 30, 1856.

Nitcraturt.

The resubmit of the Insane without Mechanical
Restraints. By John Conolly, M.D., Edin.,
Consulting Physician to -the Middlesex

Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell. London :

Smith and Elder.
THE greatest revolutions in society are often
accomplished without noise or violence of any
kind. They seem to progress by natural
agencies, and to realise that fine image in
Burke's " Reflections " where he compares
the orderly progress of States to the changes
of Nature, for ever repairing what is decayed
and renewing what is old, by almost imper-
ceptible gradations. In a note to Hume's
reign of Elizabeth there is a passage which
always struck us as one of the most remark-
able in the history. It is that in which he
says that in her reign the last traces of vil-
lenage ceased. But by what means the change
was effected, or how it was that the great body
of the English people grew from serfhood into
freedom, no express record exists. In this
age of historical research the inquiry would
not be without interest, as the change is the
greatest that can possibly be made in the con-
dition of a people, and it is doubtful whether
any social revolution has ever been so noise-
less, so beneficial, and so complete.
In modern day, when all arrangements of
society are precise, and the Legislature or
executive pOwer is so vigilant, it is not possible
for any great social change to progress un-
marked ; yet perhaps the most important
changes are those which are accomplished
without statutes, or without more important
aid • from them than is required to legalise
arrangements society has itself originated
Indeed, a little reflection is sufficient to show
that considerable social changes, of whatever
kind they be, must proceed from society itself.
The reformation of juvenile offenders is an
instance in point. Little more is asked of' the
Legislature than to sanction the exertions of
voluntary effort. The attention of Christian
people cannot be fixed too earnestly on all
such movements. Very often—most usually,
indeed—they spring from the humblest com-
mencements; and it is when they are strug-
gling with prejudice or indifference, when
both patronage and funds are wanting, that
the earnest support of one or two individuals
is sufficient to turn the scale, and to convert
what was but a philanthropic thought into a
vital and beneficent institution.

When the French Revolution was beginning
to convulse the world, and turbulence and
cruelty without parallel broke loose from all
restraint, a social reform had its birth iu
France which humanity can now contemplate
with sentiments of the purest satisfaction
M. Pinel, a physician in Paris, was struck
with horror at the state of insane patients in
the hospitals of that city ; and in the year of
the September massacres, when Marat, Robes-
pierre, and Denton commenced their reign of
terror, Pinel became physician of the Bicetre,
the lunatic asylum in Paris for males, and with
him entered, says his biographer, " pity, good-
ness, and justice." The state in which those
lunatics who were reported to be incurable
were kept would seem incredible, if we did not
know how easily use deadens the moral sense
to the perception of enormities. The incurable,
says' Dr. Couolly,—
Were lodged at the Bicitre and the Salpktiere ; and, in
both places, in cells either attached on one side to higher
terraces, or formed below the level of the surrounding
earth; and in both cases damp and dreadful. These cells
(at the Bicetre) were only six feet square. Air and
light were admitted by the door alone. Food was intro-
duced through a sort of wicket: The only furniture con-
sisted of narrow planks fastened into the moist walla, and
covered with straw. At the Salpetriere, where the cells
were below the surface, and. level with the drains, large
rats found their way into them, often attached and severely
wounded the unhappylunatics, and sometimes occasioned
their death.•

Of the two large asylums of Paris, the Bicetre (for men)
was still the worst. • In an Eloge of the famous Pinel, Dr.
Pariset-paints its character with his usual eloquence. The
insane, the, vieions, and the criminal, were mingled
together, and treated alike. Wretched beings, covered
with'dirt, were seen crouched down in the narrow, cold,
and damp cells ; where scarcely air or light found way,
and where the-s was neither table nor chair nor bench to
tat upon, but only a bed of straw, very rarely renewed.