The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-20 00:00:00

encumbered. On the Austrian side there are stated
to be 100,000 men already concentrated in Galicia,
together with 150,000 men in South Hungary, part
of whom are directed on Transylvania.
Vienna despatches of the 18th state that a general
rising was expected in Montenegro in favour of
Russia, but that Austria was fully prepared to op-
pose it.
Six hundred of the Montenegrins had made a
foray into the Herzegovina, and killed several of the
Turkish inhabitants.

A report was yesterday circulated in Liverpool
that the long-missing City of Glasgow steamer had
foundered at sea, but that the crew and passengers
were saved, and bad been conveyed to the coast of
Africa.

It is expected that, on the occasion of the cele-
bration of Queen Victoria's birthday in Paris, the
Emperor and Empress will accept au invitation from
Lord and Lady Cowley to a ball at the British Em-
bassy, by way of returning the Queen's condescension
in visiting Count Walewski.
The Chelsea out pensioners will shortly be called
into active home service. On the 30th inst. they
will be reviewed in Hyde-park by his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, the Commander of the Forces, the
Secretary at War, Scc. The division will include all
the out-pensioners in the metropolitan district.

THE MALT TAX.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."
Sir,—The Chancellor of the Exchequer will find
himself as much mistaken in bib calculations about
the malt tax as he has been in all his other financial

measures. Instead of allowing " five per cent. for
loss on diminished consumption,' I believe it would
be nearer the mark to say five-and twenty per cent.
In consequence of the high rate of wages, farmers
will be unable to give beer to their labourers at its
increased price, during hay time and harvest, as
usual. They must save somewhere to meet the
double income tax.—l am, sir, your obediently,
FAIR PLAY.

May 16, 1854.
Sir,—l am a plain man, drinking malt liejuor—
and a poor one, living in lodgings—and find it con-
venient to send for it as I want it. I will suppose
the quality usually called old ale to be brewed at the
rate of ten strikes of malt to the hogshead, which I
know to be above the mark ; the additional duty
on the hogshead, therefore, at Is. 3d. per bushel, is
12s. 6d. But an additional price of 4d. per gallon,
or 11. 4s. on the hogshead, is now charged to the
consumer, of which Ils. 6d. never reaches the Ex-
chequer, but remains in the shape of additional
profit to the maltstzr, brewer, or publican. In short,
to the consumer the duty is raised, not 50, but
nearly 100 per cent. Perhaps, according to Mr.
Gladstone's somewhat eccentric financial ideas, this
may be a further motive for imposing the extra
duty. To judge from the complaints, which are
general, the consumption will be diminished con-
siderably, and the additional tax prove compara-
tively unproductive.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
P.

THE DANISH SUCCESSION.
Tar. importance of Denmark in a geographical point of
view during the pending war, and the singular mode in
which the future destinies of that country have been bound
up with the fortunes of the Russian Emperor, render the
question of the Danish succession not a little interesting at
the present moment. That question is one on which di-
plomacy has long revelled in the exercise of its ingenuity,
and from which the astute negotiators on behalf of Rus-
sian interests appear to have obtained a memorable ad-
vantage. It is for the Western powers to provide that this
advantage shall not add another serious embroilment
to the dispute with which Europe is now rife.
The kingdom of Denmark consists of Denmark, Sleswig,
and Holstein. To the Duchy of Holstein the succession
is confined strictly to males. To Denmark and Sleswig,
until the 81st of July, 1853, females were not debarred the
succession. The present King has no children. The He-
reditary Prince, who is his heir and his uncle, is also child-
less. The next heir to Denmark and Sleswig is the
l'rincess Charlotte, who cannot inherit Holstein. There
appeared such imminent danger that the kingdom of Den-
mark would he dismembered and divided—the succession
to Holsteinbeing claimed by the Emperor of Russia, and
Denmark and Sleswig being the inheritance of the Princess
Charlotte—that the great powers endeavoured to meet the
political difficulty by the treaty of London of May 8, 1852.
By this treaty, to which Denmark was a subscribing and
consenting party, it was declared that Denmark, Sleswig,
and Holstein should not be disunited, hut should be trans-
mitted as one inheritance to the male heirs of the Princess
Louise and Prince Christian of Glucksberg. The Em-
peror of Russia, the Princess Charlotte, the Princess Marie,
and the Prince Frederick, all severally renounced their
claim to any part of Sleswig, Denmark, and Holstein in
favour of the heirs male of this couple. The failure of
issue mail by this marriage was an eventuality to be met
as soon as it should seem likely to occur, by the considera-
tion of the great powers. Stich is the treaty of London of
May, 1852, which does not preclude the great powers from
selecting, as successor to the throne of Denmark, any one