The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-26 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The Augsburg Gazette publishes a letter from Eit.
Petersburg, giving more precise details relative to the
discovery of the embezzlement of the funds of the
invalids in that capital :
In declaring that the general officers end the aidse-de-
camp, who have undergone ensmination, are perfectly in-
nocent, these initials chew how the director-in-chief of Mese
Lunde, Councillor de Politkowski, succeeded in committing
embeszletseata for fifteen years without discovery. Polk-
kovreki kept up a large establishment. He received at
his belle and parties men belonging to all the higher
ranks of society. The generals, those even who had to
control the accounts of Politkowski, appeared some-
times at the fan which he gave. His extraordinary ex-
penses were attributed to the sums he wen at pie,. At
every revision of the accounts Politkewski managed so that
the general officers should perform their task after rising
from the dinner table, and the affair was got through with-
out any difficulty, and Politkowski every year received a
regular reosipt. The deficit is his accounts insensibly rose
to more than one million of silver roubles. It then became
impossible for Politkowski to conceal his conduct any longer,
and he died soddenly, but without any one knowing of
what complaint. A more attentive examination of the as
!nought the embezzlement, and, at the same time,
the negligence of the generals who acted as controllers, to
light. This discovery produced such an impression on the
Emperor that it affected his health.

THE UNITED STATES.
ARRIVAL OF THE HUMBOLDT.

The following items of news are extracted from
the New York papers received by this ship :
The steam-slup Isabel, Captain Rollins, from Ha-
vannah and Key West, Bth instant, has arrived at
this port.
The following is an extract from a letter from T. M.
Rodney, United States Vice-Consul at Matanzas,
dated 6th instant :

We changed the residence of our esteemed Tice-President
on Tuesday last, from the Cumbri to the sugar estate of
Col. Jan. Chartraud, leaving the Cumbri at half•past
twelve. and dining at the delightful Ariadne at about tour.
The Vice-President was considerably fatigued with the
journey, but slept that night better. Retold me that since
be hail been on the island he felt delighted with the change,
and is more hopeful ant of better heart than slate he
reached Matanzas, and at present unquestionably better
then when he came here. Do not be surprised if the Co-
lonel sends him home a tolerably well man.
I'rivate letters dated Havannab, March ith, say
that up to the present it is not known what will be
the fate of the political prisoners, as the government
is either undecided, or desirous to keep its intentions
a profound secret up to the last. Much anxiety is
felt by the Cubans, and the worst is feared. At
Matanzas the crop of sugar was good. All the
molasses fur March had been purchased by Eastern
into. Ilavannah was quiet when the Isabel left.
The Virginia legislature visited the caloric ship
Ericsson yesterday, at Acquia creek, sixty miles be-
low Washington, pursuant to invitation. A hand-
some collation was provided them, and Captain

Ericsson explained the principle and working. of the
engines. There was speech making and toasting, in
which Captains Ericsson and Lowbar, and Mr.
Xitching, were enthusiastically remembered. They
acknowledged tho compliment in suitable terms.
The Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, Hon. Mr.

Strother, and State Senator Campbell made short
speeches, expressing- admiration and confidence in
the great discovery. Ambrose W. Thompson, who
formerly proposed a line of steamships between Nor-
folk and Antwerp, made a speech, in which he con-
sidered the success of caloric beyond a doubt. He
also stated incidentally, that, since Virginia had
shown a disposition to complete tho great lines of
railway connecting with the Memphis-road, foreign
capitalists had offered, through him, the means for
that purpose. Virginia, through her legislature, has
invited Captains Ericsson and Lowber to become the
especial guests of the state, to which they have
assented.

A tornado visited the vicinity of Clarksville, Ten-
nessee, on Sunday night, levelling dwellings, stables,
barns, and trees, to the ground, but, as far as heard
from, no lives were boat. The track of the storm was
half a mile wide, and so terrific was it that the roads
were filled with fallen timber.

All doubts concerning the cabinet have been put
to rest by the Senate's confirmation of the appoint-
ments. We repent the list :—Secretary of State,
William L. Marcy, of N. Y.; Secretary of the Trea-
sury, James Guthrie, Ky. ; Secretary of the Interior,
Robert Mc Clelland, Mich. ; Secretary at War, Jef-
ferson Davis, Miss.; Secretary of the Navy, James
C. Dobbin, N.C. ; Postmaster General, James Camp-
bell, Penn.; Attorney-General, Caleb Cushing, Mass.
The St. Louis Intelligeneer publishes a letter from
an overland emigrant to California, which gives a
fearful account of a tremendous snowstorm in the
mountains near Carson valley. On what is called
the Second Summit, the writer says he caught hold
of the tops of pine trees, and was confident they were
one hundred feet in height.
A comet was discovered at Harvard Observatory,
last evening, by C. W. Tuttle. It is situated about
five degrees south of the bright star Rigel.
On the Bth of March. about half the hands in the
employ of the Lowell Machine Shop Company struck
for the ten hour rule of labour, and marched in pro-
cession, to the number of two or three hundred,
through the city.
The more northerly ice bound channels of naviga-
lion have already been broken up. Winter's crystal
fetters are dissolving under the influence of the re-
cent warm and moist weather, and it will not be long
ere the packets upon our state canals will be found
regularly performing their vocation. By a despatch
from Cleveland we are informed that the Lake Erie
steamers have resumed their trips between that place
and Toledo and Detroit. These circumstances ac-
count for the great number of strange, but exceed-
ingly busy, personages to be met in every thorough-
fare. They belong to the numerous class of traders
from the interior of the country, who have thus
early made their appearance among us for the purpose
of selecting their spring and summer supplies of
goods, being now quite sure that their purchases can
be speedily transported to their destination, without
fear of detention by winter's icy grasp. One striking
feature observable among these temporary sojourners
is the fact that, instead of spending many hours in a
fruitless search over half the city for such articles as
they may require, they now turn to those indis-
pensable sources of information, the tinily newspa-
papers, almost momentarily ascerLin where the
necessaries may be obtained, and thus save time,
money, fatigue, and vexation of spirit.
Advices from Tainpico to the 26th ult. announce
that the citizens and soldiers at that place had de-
clared in favour of the return of Santa Anna.
According to the last accounts from Mexico, Gene-
ral Caravajal had abandoned his followers. The
movements of this extraordinary adventurer within
the last few years would form a most curious and
entertaining chapter in Mexican history.
It certainly appears as _though there is to be no
end to the discoveries of gold on this continent. A
despatch from Louisville announces that the inhabi-
tants in the vicinity of the Cherokee nation have
been thrown into great perturbation by the finding of
gold in that region.
As near as can be ascertained, about 18,000 bales
of cotton were destroyed by fire at New Orleans, on
the 2nd last. Two days after the conflagration, the
agent of the Mutual Insurance Company of this city
telegraphed to the directors that their loss would not
exceed 40,000 dole., although it is put down at
60,000 dole. in our despatch of the 4th. The Liver-
pool and London Insurance Company will not lose
over 11,000 dole. _ _

The British ship Belmont, with 3,000 bales of
cotton on board, was entirely destroyed by fire at
New Orleans on March 7.

The Bangor Mercury of March 2 says :
We are informed of the following particulars of a shoot-
ing case which occurred at Orey's Tavern, at Pea Cove, in
Oldtown, last evening. The company had assembled for a
dance, and had gone through several dances, when, as one
William Bowman, of Upper Stillwater, was dancing down
the side of the hall where a young lady of Upper Stiliwatcr
(who name we suppress), and bey brother, were sitting,
she rose and discharged both barrels of a double-barrelled
pistol at him, the ball of one of which took effect in the
back of his shoulder, and the other entered the wall. The
young lady who was dancing with him was somewhat
burnt in the face by the powder. A great excitement en-
sued. The young lady was perfectly calm, and stated she
intended to kill hint—that she came for that purpose. She
said the reason she did not shoot him in the drawing room
was because she could not get near enough to him. The
reasons for the act, she said, were well known to all presebt.
If she could only have killed him, she said, she should have
been perfectly satisfied. We are informed that the impel-
ling cause of this desperate attempt to take life and wreak
vengeance is well known in the vicinity where the parties
reside, and is the one which almost always lies at the bottom
of such eels. We understand be was arrested the day before
for breach of promise, and obtained bail. The young lady
is said to be reputable, sod the sympathy of those who know
her is decidedly in her favour. After the act she went away
with her brother, and no odinnpt was made to arrest her.
How seriously the man is graded we cannot tell. The
ball was broken up in consequence.
The following correspondence,' embodying a tri-
bute to President Fillmore from his cabinet, is taken
from the Nations: Intelligemer :
Letter to President Fillmore._ _

Washington, March 3, 1853.
Sir,—As our connexion with you is about to terminate,
we cannot forbear to give utterance to the feelings of un-
mingled satisfaction with which we look back upon our
official and personal intercourse. We have witnessed wi h
admiration your tuatiring devotion to the public aerviiie,
and your patience and assiduity in the discharge of the
incessant and laborious ditties of your office. Near obser-
vation has afforded no innumerable croon of the en-
lightened and compreheasive regard for the beat interests
of the whole Union, which you have brought to the exe-
cution of the high trust which devolved upon you under
circumstances of peculiar embarrassment. For the fidelity
to its best interests which you have thus manifested, the
country, we believe, will yet with one voice do you
ample justice. We have the greatest pleasure in adding,
that the unbroken harmony which has prevailed in your
i cabinet, and between yourself and all its members, has
greatly facilitated the performance of our arduous labours.
With our united best wishes that your health may he
preserved, and that the country may long have the bene-
ilt:of your patriotism, experience, and high Intelligence,
we remain, dear sir, your aincere friends.
EDWARD EVERITT. J. I'. KENNEDY.
TRUMAS Colter's. J. J. CRITTENDEN.
A. H. H. STuaitr. 8. D. HUBBARD.
C. M. CONRAD.
To his Excellency Millard Fillmore, President of
the United States.
Reply of President Fillmore.
Washington, March 4, 18.53.
Oeatlemen,—Your kind note, which was handed me last
evening, was se unexpected as it was gratifying. While I
cannot flatter myself with the idea that I ant justly entitled
to all the praise which your friendship has so generously
bestowed, I am frank to confess that I do feel a conscious-
ness that I have spared no pains to merit it. Of this, how-
ever, you are the beet judges. You have been my daily
companions, and can best appreciate the motives with which
I have discharged my official duties. But it is due to you,
and to those who preceded some of you, as my official ad-
' visers, to say that the success of my administration is chiefly
owing to the wisdom, harmony, fidelity, and ability of my
counsellors, and that the country, as well as myself, owes
then a debt of gratitude, which I doubt not it will frecog-
nine in due time, and cheerfully discharge.
No President was ever more fortunate than I have been
in the *election of his cabinet. No manifestation of unkind
feeling, or even a hard word, has ever disturbed the har-
monious action of the Council Board. This cordial unani-
mity has not only advanced the public service, but has been
at all times to me a source of unalloyed satisfaction. I shall
ever reflect upon our social and official intercourse with
great pleasure, and cherish, to my latest breath, the disin-
terested friendship with which it has been marked.
Please to accept my sincere thanks for the faithful, able,
and satisfactory manner in which you have respectivily
discharged the arduous and responsible duties of your
several offices, and also my beat wishes for your health and
prosperity ; and believe me,
_

•
Gentlemen, your sincere friend,
MILLARD FILLMORE.
Hon. Edward Everett, Thomas Corwin, Alex. 11, 11.
Stuart, Chart"; M. Conrad, J. I'. Kennedy, John J.
Crittenden, S. I) Hubbard.
(For Cominercuri intedience, see par 4.)

Cte court.
WINDSOR, MARCH 25.
There wee no addition to the royal dinner party
yesterday.
The Queen and Print.) atttroled an early service this
atoning in the private chapel of the Castle, and took the
Sacrament of the Slott' Communion. The Duchem of
Kent, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the
Princess Adelaide of Hohenbite, with the Ladies and
Gentlemen of the Court, also the Dunestic Household, at-
tended the usual morning service. Toe Hon. and Rev.
G. Wellesley officiated at both services.

Despatches from the Governors of Bermuda and Gib-
raltar were received ye.terday at the Colonial-ntii,e,
Despatches were sent last evening from the Colonial-
-1 office for the Governor of Canada.

71103 i LAST NIGHT'S GAMMA.
WAR-OFFICE, MARCH a
4th Regiment of Dragoon Guards.—William Bruce Arm.
strong, gent., to be assiatant-surgeon, vice Firer, dec.
12th Light Dragoons.—Cornet Henry Fullerton Richmond,
from the 11th Light Dragoons, to be cornet, vice Glyn,
appointed to the Ist Dragoons.
Scots Fusilier Guards.—Brevet-Colonel and Major Henry
Colville to be lieutenant-colonel, by purchase, vice Brevet
Colonel William Thomas Knoilys, who retina upon half-
pay, as a lieutenant-colonel, unattached ; Captain and
Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet. Colonel Gorge Dixon to
he major, by pur., vies Culvile ; Brev.-Col. E. Duodecimos
Wigrans, from halt-piy,unattached, to be call. and lieut .
tensint.Celenel, vice Dixon; Lieutenant and Captain J.
Hamilton Elphinstonc Dalrymple to he captain and
lieutenant-colonel, by purchase, vice Wigrum, who re.
tires; Ensign and Lieutenant the lion. Wellman Clarence
Walpole Coke to be lieutenant and captain, by purchase,
vice Dalrymple; James Rase Famish irson, gent., to he
ensign and lieutenant, by purchase, vice Cuke.
7th Foot. —Lieutenant Frederick John George Whitehead
to be captain, by purchase, vice Jenner, who retires;
Ensign Ramsay Wardlaw, from the 19th Foot, to be
lieutenant, by purchase, vice Whitehrid.
23rd Foot.—Lieutenant-Colonel William Pottinger, frem
half-pay unattached, to be lieutenant.co unel, vice Bre-
vet-Colonel Arthur Wellesley Turrets*, who exchanges;
Major Harry George Chester to be lieutenant-colonel, b
purchase, vice Pottinger, who retires; Captain Frederick
J. Phillott to be major, by purchase, vice Chester; First-
Lieutenant Robert Taylor Reynes to be captain, by pur-
chase, vice Phillut..; Si cond-Lieutenant dailies Carnegie
to be first-lieutenant, by purchase, vice ltayi,es.
31st Foot.—Ensign Richard We Id Litton to be lieutenant,
by purchase, vice Scarmau, who retires.
33rd Fouts—Lieutenant Thomas Wickham to be captain,
by purchase, vice Parker, who retires; Ensign William
Minchin Harnett, to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Wickham.
44th Fout.—Brevet-Lieutenant.Colonel Edward Caulfield
Ascher, from halt-pay unattached, to he major, vice
Nathan Smith Gardiner, who each antes; Captain Robert
Feilden to be major, by purchaar, vice Archer, who re-
tires; Lieutenant Honourable C. W. Herbert Agar to be
captain, by purchase, vice Feildeu ; Ensign Frederick
'William Gregory to have the rack of lieutenant; Ensign
George Ingham to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Ho-
nourable C. W. H. Agar.
52nd Foot.—Ensign Jahn liainbrigge Story, from the 26th
Foot, to be ensign, vice Stopford, promoted.
64th Foot.—Ensign Alfred John 'Puke to be lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Cotton, deceased.
70th Foot.—Lieutenaut John Mockler, on half.pay, an pay-
master of the 82ud Foot, to he paymaster, vice Hugh
Heidi. Mackenzie, who retires upon hails-pay.
95th boot.—Lieutenant George Courtenay Vialls to be cap.
fain, by purchase, vice Master, w: :o retires ; Ensign God-
frey Clerk to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Vialls.
Gold Coast Corps.—John Everard Deane, gent., to be en-
sign, without purchase vice Hales, deceased.
UNATTACIISIL—BreTet-LientenasTeuluael John Enoch,
half-pay Unattached, to be lieutenant-colonel, without
purchase; Lieutenant Plomer J. Young, from the 7th
Foot, to be captain, without purchase.

ROYAL AGRICI7LTITHAL SOCIETY OF
ENGLAND.

_ .
The great country meeting of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society for 1853 will be held at Gloucester, in the
month of July, and judging from the extent of the prepa-
rations which are being made in that city, the meeting wall
be one of the largest ever held. The situati,n of Glouces-
ter is peculiarly adapted for a large gathering of this kind,
as it forms an important railway centre, the South Wales,
Great Western, and Midland lines all meeting in that city,
and the break of gauge occurring at this spot, so that no
change of carriage will be necessary, whether the animals to
be sent comb north, south, east, or west. The meeting this
year is fur the South Wales district, with tne counties of
Hereford, Worcester, and Gloueester, and there was
a hard struggle between Gloucester end Worcester
for the honour of having the meeting, both cities
having provided the requisite funds.and being prepared with
proper sites. The peculiar position of Gloucester, however,
with regard to railway cuinmunication, and it being more-
-1 over a seaport, gave it the palm. Gloucester had moreover
another advantage, in being within ten minutes' ride by
railway of Cheltenham, which town will afford great ac-
commodation to strangers during the sisit of the Royal
Society. The County Agricultural Society has suspended
its annual meeting until the year 1854, in order that its
members may concentrate their energies in the great un-
dertaking. The site chosen for the exhibition is a very
convenient one, being close adjacent to the city and the
railway stations on the Bristol road. A number of work-
men have been engaged in draining and levelling the
ground, but, in consequence of the expected large entries,
an addLional piece of ground has been required, and is
now in course of preparation. Extra prises are to be awarded
for the breed of Cotteswold sheep, and a great poultry and
horticultural show is to be added to the exhibition.

WSSTNIINSTER FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.
Last evening a public meeting of the above society
was held at the Mhtatshesf T , Vert-street, Clare.
het . Mr. Churchwarden Beet:situ in the chair.
The Cit in introducing the object of the meet-
ing, stated that he had been a member of the society almost
ppasa the beginniag. Ile, like those present might feel. felt
"are datrianisnias as to soccer, and how the s-cir y was
eaarWted. Ile manacle a committee-man, and soon found
that be might very safely leave both his own and his friends'
property in the committee's care: if anything, they were too
ttaeonneal. The smarty first commenced in 1349 ; t
now hey
numher d 901 members, with 1,606 shares, 400 of which
bare been already allotted. He not only fouoil the poli-
tical advantage• of it, bet the commercial value also. He
ha two shares, OS which be had made a very handsome
rat, hasing ,old fur 601. what only cost him 481. The
steiety bad received about 20,0001.. and expended 17,0001.
la vane in.tarcvs, from 101. to 201. premium had been
received in .ingle lute, and he should not think of intrud-
bi, caneelf cochairmen, if he did not feel convinced that
by rag so he. should be assisting in the advancement of
b„ nilevitsen. Ile would not detain them longer, but
would in-roihre Mr. Haggett, the secretary, who would
sore file explain its principles and advantag.s.
Mr. lit 1...E1T then came forward and stated the origin
of Inehohl Lend Mocietiee, from their commencement at
where they were established for a political
party purpose, And referred the meeting to the difficulty
which twerp man felt in endeavouring to obtaiu the fran-
chise Mabee boroughs, but in the counties with the Land
Society's freehold, a.i each dillkultias exited. The mode
01' attainiag it Rai even much speedier and easier
than the p:an of the Anti Corn-law League, in
eas4 it be a rent charge. A man wanted
Mldattliia; ra,qt tangible than • rent-charge could
egad —le fact, a hit of land of his nen—which could
hel far chteper by the society's operations than the
Asti Corn-law League could possibly give, the lowest pries
with whom Ica lag 501. ; and then it was in the pmperty of
wormr; but the Westminster Freehold Land Society
weld give him the same thing for about 231., which would
be his and Li. helm' for ever. (Hear, hear.) For th it sum
• pea of land worth 40e. • year, giving a vote for the
comity. could be had. At the last election large numbers
were pieced en the franchise through b ing members of the
• ty ; and it was his firm opinion that the greatest
changes wouhl toke 'dice in consequence of its operations,
owl that Sir Itobert Peel saw these great changes which
"said tale place in consequence of the increase of the
flirty shilling tresholden, and that it bad a greet power
fa causing the repeal of the corn laws much sooner
tba it would otherwise have taken place. The Free-
hold Land Society's members had succeeded • in re-
manias there!. for several counties, South Lancashire and
part of S•efferilehire, pliers which bad formerly only
Mimed the mere nominees of the great landed proprietors.
Tie Art estate which bad been purchased was at East
11..elesy. costuming 212 allotment', held by 150 members.
Hog.tett then stated that they bad succeeded in piet-
ies, lity voter. ion the register fur West Surrey ; some of
them hail been objected to by the Tories, but through the
metics§ of Mr. Dennis', many of those objections had been
enemas. Tnea, there were • large number of members at
saiselfoni, who were never on the register it all at the last
abettlen, but they would be on it for • future time, and all
euuid be done by any frugal man fur one
Maiag and Ili:peace a week, and the km of his
does so, to benefit himself and family by such fril-
led', clearly indicated his fitness for the use of
Se elective franchise—(hrar, hear)—no matter what were
his political opinions, fur this society, be it remembered, in.
lettered with no man's politics. They had 21 acre, at liti-
gate, is East Surrey, in addition to a small plot of five
acres in Beikehire. )fr. Ihregett then proceeded to detail
the advantages to mechanics in large towns earning weekly
wages, sad whose superior intelligence amply fitted them
more than any other clam for the use of the elective fran-
chise. If any class were fitted for it it was the skilled ma-
cho:des of this country. They were far above tie usual
influences of bribery and corruption which the recent die
closures before the House of Commons had ie batty ex-
posed to ii.. In a commercial point, Mr. Cobden had said
that of all the banks and other investment. there
was no security like the land itself. The speaker then
stated the cost of the various estates which the society had
puttered, clearly giving in all the eases an actual profit to
the subscribing members of never lees than 10 per cent,
and frequently double that sum. The estate at East
Moelvey had been bought by them at 150 guineas an acre,
kt 30 acres; there were 170 acres to choose from; that was
two Jeers ago, and now the same land could not be bought
for Mi. an acre, and he had seen an engagement to give
1,1001. an acre. A man only gave in reality about 13?. 10s.
fee his allotment, although nominally he appeared to give
SU. 10s., es it often happened that he was receiving 31. 10e.
a year ground rent for an early allotment, being greater
than his annual subscription, which might be going on
for twelve or thirteen years in his favour. Mr. Hag-
gett then explained the principle of the allotments, and
bow they were conducted, each MAD having his lot in
his turn, which was far better than by lottery, a the
latter excited hopes which might not be realised. In urging
the meeting to make themselves masters of such an
im-
portant privilege as a piece of freehold land, which would
be for ever their own, he answered several questions, show-
ing plans of the various estates, with a portion as a tavern
plot, which would not be allotted until the land was built
upon, when, from being only worth about 601., it would,
probably, fetch from 5001. t, 6001., the profits of which
would be equally divided among the members of the society.
Shops would he confined to particular portions of the es-
tate., and private residencies by themselves. This plan had
the effect of raising the value of the property, as a man
knew who were to be his neighbours, and nut, as at the first
Birmingham Society, a caravan on one side, and a pigsty'
on the other.

A resolution, proposed by Mr. Satatae, and seconded by
Mr. Coteau., was unanimously pained, pledging the
meting to support the society, and a vote of thanks having
been given to the chairman, the promedings terminated.
Several shares were immediately taken up and sub-
scribed for by the parties present.