The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

irtv Tog+

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1857.

POSTSCRIPT.

HERAT.
A telegraphic despatch from Trieste, Aug. 20,
announces that Mr. Murray has demanded
from Persia the immediate evacuation of
Herat.

Despatches from Monte Video state that, on the
reiterated demand of France and England, the
Government of Uruguay has just authorised the
nomination of a mixed commission to arrange the
claims of the subjects of those two nations.

General Windham bas arrived in Patis on his
way to Marseilles to embark for India, where, as
already announced, be has been appointed to a high
military command.

THE INDIAN NAVY.

We learn that a circular was addressed yesterday
from the East India Company to all the officers of
this efficient body, at present on furlough, ordering
them to India immediately. It has been a matter of
general surprise that this order has been so long
delayed.

The official report on the purchase and sale of
army commissions has been published, the com-
missioners Mating as a preliminary that their recom-
mendations are purely experimental, and, after
examining the question most minutely and at great
length, suggest that the principle of selection be
applied to the highest ranks of the service ; that here-
after the lieut.-colortelcy of a regiment should cease to
be purchaseable, and that the Commanderin•Chief
should make the appointment from the majors; and,
finally, that the lient.•colonelcy of a regiment should
not be held for more than eight or ten years. Sir
De Lacy Evans, in signing the report, added a
codicil to the effect that be intends to hand in some
suggestions for a speedier termination of the pur-
chase system than is at present contemplated.

LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
APPROPRIATION DILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed, on the
motion of Lord GRANVILLE; and after some remarks
upon the financial system of the country from Lord
MONTEAOLE.

The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill having
been brought up as amended in the Commons,
Lord REDESDALE moved that the amendments
should be considered that day six months.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, with much warmth of ex-
pression, denounced this proceeding as irregular and
unfair. It was, he said, altogether unprecedented to
move the rejection of a bill without proper notice,
and he accused the noble lord of attempting to defeat
the me sure by surprise.
Lord REDESDALE repudiated the charge of irregu-
larity or unfairness. The course he pursued was
customary. On the previous evening he had given
public notice of his intention to take the step he had
now done.

Earl GRANYILLE believed the motion to be irre-
gular, and was sure it took the house generally by
surprise. Himself and other peers had believed that
the notice given by Lord Redesdale referred to the
day when the amendments really came up for consi-
deration. _

Lord ST. LEONARDS, without considering the motion
irregular, recommended that it should be withdrawn,
some misunderstanding baying evidently arisen.
He trusted, however, that the session would not be
hurried to a close without affording time for ample
deliberation upon the very important changes
effected in the bill by the House of Commons.
The Marquis of Winchilsea, Lord Wynford, the
Marquis of Westmeath, Lord Dungannon, the Mar-
quis of Bath, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord
Campbell, and some other peers baying spoken on

P R E S S,l AUG 1

the question whether the motion was or was not
irregular,
Lord REDESDALE consented to withdraw it, and the
amendments were ordered to stand for consideration
on Monday next.
Their lordships adjourned at half-past seven
o 'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The house met at twelve o'clock.
RETIRING DISHOPS.
In reply to Mr. Griffiths,
Lord PALMERSTON stated that a bill would be
brought in next session to provide pensions for such
bishops as might resign their sees from age or in-
firmity.

SAVINGS BANKS.

In answer to Mr. Hamilton,
The Ciiascemon of the EXCHEQUER said that be
proposed next session to move for a select com-
mittee to inquire into the management and working
of savings banks.
THE DIVORCE BILL.
On the motion that this bill be read a third time,
Mr. HENLEY proceeded to offer some remarks
upon the measure, and as to the way in which it was
passed through the House of Commons. When on
the 24th of July the bill was first proposed, the Go-
vernment said it was a perfect measure, and in con-
sequence the Opposition had had, both in the house
and out of it, " the dogs of war" let slip on them for
opposing the measure and attempting to discuss it.
On its introduction the Opposition stated that there
was no time to fully consider the measure, and he
thought be should be able to show, from the result,
how correct was their prophecy. It was said that
the bill made no change in the law, but merely
altered the proceedings relative to divorce, and got
rid of a great blot on the institutions of the country
and the scandal attaching to actions of crim. con. ;
and it was further alleged that the bill would bring
home to the doors of all classes of her Majesty's
subjects those privileges in reference to divorce which
were only now within the reach of the rich.
Sir G. GREY congratulated the house on the pro-
spect of the bill being read a third time without a
division, from the right hon. gentleman having con-
cluded his review of the measure without a motion.
He said that he considered the statements of the
right hon. gentleman showed that the bill had been
maturely considered, and was a sufficient answer to
the charge of undue haste made against the Govern-
ment.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE said the Opposition were by no
means satisded with the state of the bill, and their
declining then to go to a division which would not
test the real opinion of the house was not to be taken
as consenting on their part to the bill passing.
Mr. ATRTON thought the house hiri done its duty
in making the bill as perfect as possible.
Mr. NEWDEGATE MRS glad that the Government
had bowed to a largely expressed wish on the part of
the house, and had to some extent consulted the
conscientious scruples of the clergy with regard, to
the obligation to remarry divorced persons. The
measure as at first introduced was a most incom-
plete one, but it had been improved by the
untiring exertions of that side o: the house.
Lord J. MANNERS entered a last protest against the
bill. He objected to its principle; which affirmed the
dissolubility of marriage, and he objected to the
manner in which it was proposed to carry out the
principles of the bill, but, more than all, he denounced
the precipitancy with which a measure of such mag-
nitude and importance had been hurried through a
jaded House of Commons.
Lord PALMERSTON thought that the course taken
by hoc gentlemen opposite with regard to this stage
of the bill was most creditable to them and to
the house. The noble lord had preferred a
bill of indictment against him (Lord Palmerston)
for the manner in which he had conducted pub-
lic business, but the whole charge, to his great
relief, seemed to be confirmed in the manner in
which this bill had been pressed forward. It had never
been the wish of the Government that the house
should adopt this bill without discussion as it came
down honk the House of Lords. On the eve of the
bill coming down to the House of Commons, hon.
members who were opposed to legislation on the
subject, said they would thwart it in every manner
in their power—that the bill should not pass, and
that every obstruction should be thrown in its way.
One hon. member had said to him, "You shall not
pass this bill." He (Lord Palmerston', replied,
" Wont we," and had expressed his readiness to sit
on and on in order to get rid of objections.
The bill was then read a third time and passed.
SALE OF OBSCENE BOOKS.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The house at half-past nine adjourned to three on
Monday next.

GEORGE Cox, the prisoner charged with stabbing
his wife in St. Martin's-le-Grand, on 20th July last,
was tried and found guilty.

THE ATLANTIC TECEGRAPH.
THE failure of the first attempt to connect England
and America by telegraph is to he attributed, accord-
ing to the official report, neither to the faulty struc-
ture nor comparative lightness of the cable employed,
but to a mere mechanical accident. The man
attending the paying-out machine, not being suffi-
ciently expert or experienced to manage it in a sea-
way, blundered with the break, turned the handle
the wrong way, and, instead of easing it at the right
moment, tightened the retarding strain too abruptly,
and snapped the cable like a packthread. Mr.
Bright has made a lengthened report to the directors
of the expedition, and thus details the unfortunate
accident. They sailed from Valentia on the 7th of
August, and on the 10th the ship had reached a
depth of two thousand fathoms. There was a heavy
swell on, with a strong breeze ; the retarding strain
upon the cable was raised to about 20 cwt., in order to
check the egress of the cable to a speed not exceed-
ing the rate of the ship's progress, and up to sunset
on the 10th all went well

Shortly after this, the speed of the cable gained consi-
derably upon that of the ship, and up to nine o'clock,
while the rate of the latter was about 3 knots by the log,
the cable was running out from 5} to 5f knots per hour.
The strain was then raised to 25 cwt.; but, the wind and
sea increasing, and a current at the same Vine carrying
the cable at an angle from the direct line of the ship's
course, it was not found sufficient to check the cable,
which was at midnight making 2i knots above the speed
of the ship, and sometimes imperilling the safe uncoiling
in the hold. The retarding force was therefore increased
at two o'clock to an amount equivalent to 30 cwt., and
then again, in consequence of the speed continuing to be
more than it would have been prudent to permit, to 35
cwt. By this, the rate of the cable was brought to a little
short of 5 knots, at which it continued steadily until 3.45,
when it parted, the length paid out at that time being 335
miles.
I had up to this time attended personally to the regal*.
tion of the breakers; but, finding that all was going on
well, and that it being necessary that I should be tempo-
rarily away from the machine to ascertain the rate of the
ship and to see how the cable was coming out of the hold,
and also to visit the electrician, the machine was for the
moment left in charge of a mechenic who had been en-
gaged from the first in its construction rid fitting, and
was acquainted with its operation.
I was proceeding to the fore part of the ship when I
heard the machine stop. I immediately called out to ease
the break and reverse the engine of the ship, but when I
reached the spot the cable was broken.
On examining the machine, which was otherwise in
perfect order, I found that the breaks had not been re.
leased, and to this, or to the keindwheel of the break being
turned the wrong way, may be attributed the stoppage and
the consequent fracture of the cable. When the rate of
the wheels grew slower, as the ship dropped her stern in
the swell, the break should have been eased ; this had
been done regularly before whenever an unusually sudden
descent of the ship temporarily withdrew the pressure from
the cable in the sea; but, owing to our entering the deep
water the previous morning, and having all hands ready
for any emergency that might occur there, the chief part
of my staff had been compelled to give in at night through
sheer exhaustion, and hence, being shorthanded, I was
obliged for the time to leave the machine without, as it
proves, sufficient intelligence to control it.

The origin of the accident, adds Mr. Bright, arose
no doubt from " the amount of retarding strain put
upon the cable, but had the machine been properly
manipulated at the time, it could not possibly have
taken place." In conclusion, he suggests some
trifling alterations in the machinery, and eApresses
full confidence in overcoming every d;fficulty in the
next attempt. The directors also express their full
confidence in the ultimate success of the undertaking ,
and will continue to sit until their plans are dis-
cussed and determined on. Three hundred and
thirty.five miles of cable have been lost by this un-
toward accident, and the cost to the company of
the failure altogether may be estimated at about
25,0001.

YESTERDAY morning 'neat sensation was created in
the metropolis in consequence of the apprehension
of a man, answering the description of Jonathan
Geydon, charged with the murder of Mrs. Mary
White, at Chingford Hatch, Essex. it appears that
Sergeant Smith, of the fifth City division of police,
took a man into custody near Tower-hill, answering
the description of the suspected mrrderer, who re-
fused to give any account of himself. He appeared
to be in a most destitute condition.

A CURIOUS TRIAL FOR LIBEL is about to take place,
in which a Mr. Evans, of 15, Bush-lane, and Captain
Thorne, of 11, Pall-mall, a,-e charged with having
addressed a letter to the Times libelling the Hon.
W. F. Cadogon, and for attempting to extort money
from the bon. gentleman by offering to suppress the
libel for a consideration. Mr. Beadon beard the
case (at Marlborough-street Police •court, on Thurs-
day, and bound over the parties for trial.

Two CONVICTS, Fox and Edwards, aged 23 and 18,
the one condemned for shooting his sweetheart at
Canterbury, and the other for murdering his brother,
were both hanged at Maidstone on Thursday.

jortign nnb Colonial Intelligente.

FRANCE.
THE PARIS FETES.

The inauguration of the new buildings that now
connect the ancient palace of the Louvre with the
Tuileries was, in every sense of the word, an im-
posing solemnity. It had the air of a " fete de
famille " as much as that of a national demonstra-
tion, for all distinction e rank was at the moment
obliterated, and the Minister and the workman sat
side by side at the same table. The Emperor
correctly described the completion of the Louvre to
be " &truly national undertaking ardently desired by all
classes of Frenchmen for a period of three centuries ;"
and the admixture of court costumes,covered with stars,
with the simple blouses of the workmen, was in just
character with the intention of the Emperor. This
was further made manifest by the decorations to the
directors and the workmen having being bestowed
by the Emperor himself.
This festival, perfectly " sui generis," immediately
preceding the annual one of the 15th of August,
drew together a large number of foreigners. Paris
was full to overflowing. Nothing could exceed the
anxiety of the crowd of spectators to get a close view
of the troops of workmen in their marshalled array
to and from the Louvre ; and they gave evident
signs of surprise and satisfaction at having become
on a sudden objects of such flattering attention and
importance. The weather unhappily was not pro-
pitious ; yet the fetes were carried out, and an
immense crowd of persons wended their way to
the Tuileries, the Champs Elysies, and the Champ
de Mars. In the latter place there were unfolded at
one time no less than 100,000 umbrellas, of every
shade and colour, affording a most curious and pic-
turesque effect.

The fete commenced at six o'clock in the morning
by a salvo of artillery from the Invalides. Soon
afterwards provisions were liberally distributed to
the poor of Paris ; and towards eight the churches
were filled, as the day was also the fete of the
Assumption. The theatres were freely thrown open
to the public, who were admitted gratuitously, and
the conduct of the various audiences was marked
with a propriety that so thoroughly distinguishes LC
French audience of the lower orders from that of any
other nation.

Out of doors the chief attraction was the military
pantomime representing an episode in the late cam-
paign of the French against the Kabyles. There
was an Arab village, with its appropriate tents and
other appurtenances of desert life; whilst the inhabi-
tants, in lazy and unmiliwy postures, listlessly
awaited events with the singular apathy of their
race. Presently horsemen, galloping to the en-
campment from the hills, brought intelligence of the
approach of a hostile force, and with due Oriental
gravity the Arab tribes gathered together their
soldiers and prepared to descend to the plain. And
here these wild warriors gave proof of a certain pro-
gress in social civilisation, for, in defiance of the
strict injunction of their prophet, and before under-
taking serious operations, they emptied with alacrity
the various " petites verres" that were offered them
by a body of irregular suttlers. Reinforced by this
prohibited refreshment, the Arabs shouted defiance,
and the plain became animated with a mass of white
bournous. The horsemen fired in the air, hurled
their long carbines above their heads, catching them
skilfully when they fell, and performed the several
evolutions that are the usual accompaniments of
coming strife among the Arab hordes. Then a
squadron of French Chasseurs d'Afrique made its
appearance ; and the Arabs, having been taken by sur-
prise, retreated to their village, rallied, and succeeded
in checking the advancing cavalry. After a moment
the French gallantly dashed at the village, but were
driven back by a cloud of mounted Arabs charging
with wild fury. Then came a hand-to-band fight,
which resulted in no advantage to the French
beyond the blockade of the village. Suddenly in the
distance a bugle is beard, and a platoon of
Chasseurs de Vincennes debouch on the plain at full
speed and advance on the village. After a partial
success they are driven back by the Arabs, and
charged furiously and successfully by their wild
cavalry. But a battery of French artillery coming
up at this critical juncture turns the scale against
the defenders of the village—resistance is unavailing
—the artillery decides the fortune of the day—and
the French flag floats on the Arab position. The
whole affair was most enthusiastically received by
the people, and altogether was most successful.
A balloon ascent and a concert completed the amuse-
ments till nightfall, when the loud report of bombs
and other fireworks signalled the commencement of
the fireworks on the height of Chaillot. The Champ
de Mars became, as it were, the pit or parterre of
this magnificent spectacle. The Emperor and
Empress witnessed the display from the balcony of
the Ecole Militaire. Nothing could ex,!eed the
brilliancy of this varied illumination and fireworks.

THE PRESS, AUGUST 22, 1857.

The whole firmament appeared to be one blaze
of fire.

The Moniteur has published the list of persons
decorated with the Legion of Honour; and, with
some few exceptions, the choice seems to have been
made with judgment. But nothing could have been
more happily conceived to captivate the imagination
of the French than the distribution of the military
medal for the campaigns from 1792 to 1815. It
was a just and noble recompense for long and
meritorious service during an epoch that will be ever
famous in French annals. The thought, the sym-
pathy, and the gratitude combined were worthy of
the nephew of the great Emperor ; and if the sur-
vivors of Marengo and Austerlitz were few, the
memory of those who had departed to the long hume
was as fresh as the acknowledgment of the long and
immortal services of the " old army of Napoleon "
was grateful.
The Emperor and Empress left St. Cloud on
Monday, at four p.m., for Biarritz. At Bayonne,
en route, on Tuesday, their Imperial Majesties were
most enthusiastically received.
The French journals generally express consider-
able satisfaction at the result of the Osborne Con•
ferences. The Patrie remarks :

Everything has, therefore, been regulated in the spirit
of the treaty. The attitude of France, so well represented
at Constantinople by M. Thouvenel, has had all the results
that could have been expected; it has dissipated all ex•
elusive pretensions which could not agree with the general
interest of Europe, and has strengthened more than ever
the sincerity of our alliances and the blessings of peace.
The Dibats, referring to Lords Palmerston's
nations, observes :

The interests of England are so deeply engaged at this
moment in China and India that she does nut wish to lay
the way for farther difficulties. England permitted the
incident to attain development at Constantinople with the
firm determination not to push matter* to extremities.

M. Thouvenel comprehended this with an intelligence
which does him credit; the French Government, being
well informed, supported its representative with its instruc-
tions. The conference at Osborne completed the work.

The Moniteur states that the following diplomatic
changes will shortly take place :—Count Rayneval is
to be the French Ambassador at St. Petersburg.
The Doke de Grammont removes from the Court of
Sardinia to that of Rome ; Prince de la Tour d'Au-
vergne leaves the Courts of Tuscany and Parma,
and replaces the Duke de Grammont. The Marquis
de Ferriere-le-Vayer, Minister at Wurtemburg, re
moves to Tuscany and Parma, and is succeeded by
the Count de Reculot, now Minister at the Courts
of Hanover and Brunswick.

AUSTRIA AND TURKEY.
THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.

The Austrian Government has consented to join
the European powers in recommending the Molda-
vian elections to be annulled. The Austrian Gazette
states that this concession is a mere form, as the
new elections will only terminate in a similar way.
A letter from Vienna, in the Hamburg Newsy con-
firms the above. It says :
In order to pat an end to the crisis at Constantinople,
Lord Palmerston obtained by telegraph the consent of
the Austrian Government to the revocation of the Mol-
davian elections, and then promised the Emperor of the
French to endeavour, in concert with the Cabinet of
Vienna, to obtain the adhesion of the Porte to that course
of proceeding.
In point of fact, the Austrian Government will agree
to anything short of the political union of the pro-
vinces.