The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-15 00:00:00

In the House of Representatives, on the 28th ult.,
Mr. Lyon, of New York, gave notice that he should
move an amendment to the General Appropriation
Bill, to increase the United States navy by building
twelve first-class steam-frigates.
The New York Sun states that the naval expedition
to Japan has been recalled, the fleet being wanted for
service nearer home.
John Mitchel has issued an harangue to the Irish
inhabitants of New York, calling upon them to take
advantage of England being involved in war to
annex Canada; and the New York Herald says there
is a conspiracy for that purpose Latched in New
York.
A terrible fire had occurred at Birmingham, Pitts-
burg ; 20.) families were burnt out. Several stores
and extensive glassworks were also destroyed.
From Havannah we learn that the British war-
steamer Devastation was at that port on the 10th ult.
Six hundred slaves, landed at Trinidad, had been
seized by order of the Cuban Government.
Letters from New Orleans state that Santa Anna
left the capital on the 12th ult. to take the field in
person against General Alvarez, who had proclaimed
against the Mexican Government, and who is said
to be surrounded in his mountainous retreat, desti-
tute of money and provisions, and nearly deserted by
his adherents.
The House of Assembly of Nova Scotia, on the 29th
ult., unanimously adopted an address to the Queen,
expressive of their sympathy with her Majesty in the
war with Russia. Mr. Howe, the Provincial Secretary,
delivered an enthusiastic speech on the address amid
loud cheers.
INDIA AND CHINA.
An overland mail has arrived, but leaving the
mad behind at Malta, on account of the breakdown
of the Indus steamer. Some Indian journals and
newspaper correspondence have, however, been for.
warded with dates from Calcutta to the oth March;
Madras, 11th March ; Shanghai, 15th February ;
Hong-Kong, 25th February; Singapore, 14th Match;
Penang, sth March: Bombay, 14th March.
The electric telegraph had been nearly eftbcted
between Calcutta and Agra. Nearly 120 miles of the
East Indian Railway, from Calcutta to Raneegunge,
were almost completed. The carriages, •&c., for the
line are not, however, expected to arrive from home
before June. The other works on the line beyond
Hooghly are said to be progressing favourably. The
station of Umballa is, it is said, likely speedily to be
abandoned, and LoCidhiatia occupied ha its stead,
there being a great scarcity of water at the former
place.
A cases of trim. con., in which the Rev. Mr. Bellew
was plaintiff, and the on. Mr. Eden defendant, has
terminated in damages to the extent of 5001. being
awarded. Mrs. Bellew was twenty-right years old,
her seducer (or, as his counsel said, the seduced gen-
tleman) being only twenty three.
Another case of similar complexion is to come
before the Bombay Supreme Court in Jnne, in which
Mr. J. R. Harlow, one of the leading merchants, is
plaintiff, and Captain J. W. Henry, military secretary
to the late and present Governor, is the defendant.
Damages have been laid at 10,0001.
The trial of Quartermaster Gillespie, of her Ma-
jesty's 98th Regiment, for the wilful murder of his
native servant, had commenced in Calcutta.
Several seizures of goods being imported into Cal-
cutta under false manifests. have been made. One
German house thereby lost goods to the value of
5,000/.
The accounts from Burmah are of the 15th of
February. The dacoits were still active and trouble-
some, and a Burmese army was said to be marching
towards Pegu. A party sent out under Major Allen
to mark out the boundary near Tonghoo was attacked
by the Burmese, and a detachment of the Ist Madras
Fusiliers was despatched to punish the marauders,
when Captain Geils and Lieutenant Grant, of that
regiment, were wounded ; but the enemy were re-
pulsed with great slaughter.
The most important news contained in the Chinese
papers is the opening of Japan to the trade of the
world within the present year. Orders, it is said,
have already been forwarded to Manchester for goods
suited to the Japan markets. Shanghai remained in
possession of the anti-Imperialists, and was likely to
continue so. Amoy was in the hands of the Em-
peror's troops ; but it was believed that they would
be driven from it before long. The import trade of
Hong-Kong and Shanghai was dull. The exports
in tea were considerable. 'IU j

THE Commissioners for the Affairs of India have
appointed the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, M.P., the
Right Hon. Lord Ashburton, John Shaw Lefevre,
Esq., C. 8., the Rev. Henry Melvin, 8.D., principal of
Haileybury College, and the Rev. Benjamin Jotted,
fellow► and tutor of Balliol College, Oxford, to be a
committee for the purpose of considering the best
means of carrying out the clauses of the Government
of India Act of last session under which admission
to the College of Haileybury will hereafter be open to
competition.