The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1847.

the Sheriff of Caithness and the military from the
blame which, by indirect practices, has been sought to
be fastened on them. As for the affray itself, all such
collisions are deeply to be regretted ; but in the pre-
sent case we may congratulate ourselves on the
limited amount of injury inflicted, and indulge in the
hope that its occurrence may prevent more serious
mischief.

Riotous attempts to interfere with the commerce
in grain, our readers are aware, have recently been
made at different points in the north of Scotland.
They began, to the best of our recollection, in Moray-
shire, spread thence to Inverness, and, having infected
Roes-shire to such an extent that the civil power is
actually paralysed there at this moment, they have
broken out in Caithness. _ _ _

On the 26th of last mouth we published a commu-
nication from a friend in Caithness (written on the
18th) strongly indicative of the turbulent spirit which
prevailed in the district.
"At Thurso," said oar correspondent, " a vessel is
lying, sent round from Stornoway to load meal and
grain purchased some months since on account of
/dr. MATItEsoN, for the support of the population of
the island of Lewis. The master will not be
allowed to take a single pound of grain or meal,
and instead of food for the starving Highlanders
is loading stones for pavement." Yet there was no
scarcity in Caithness. " The meal stores and granaries
are full, with a considerable stock in the farmers'
hands, for the grain crop is the finest ever seen in
Caithness. The really working population are fully
employed at high wages, and have not even the ap-
prehension of scarcity." But there is in that district
a large population of fishermen accustomed to work
by fits and starts, deeply in debt to the fish-curers,
who have been in the habit of making large advances
to them in order to get them into their power. It
was among this idle and improvident class that ap-
prehensions prevailed, exaggerated into panic, we
learn from a trustworthy source, by " parties posses-
sing substance and status, who have so interfered with ,
and intimidated the meal-dealers, that they have
failed to purchase sufficient to supply their regular
customers, and excited such a temper among the po-i
palace that we dare not ship any grain."
This lawless intimidation has therefore prevailed in
Thurso for some time. In Wick, matters were as
bad, or worse. On the 19th ult. a mob barricaded the
quay, and " ballasted" a vessel lying there to take in
grain. No efficient support was given by the local
magistrates to the sheriff and procurator-fiscal. It
was obvious that a determined spirit of resistance to
the law was at work among the populace throughout
the northern districts of Caithness, and that it was
extensively connived at, if not encouraged, by many
among the classes who ought to have known the dan-
ger of giving way to it.
We dwell upon these facts, because au attempt has
been made in a local journal to attribute the ex-
asperation which produced the late affray to the'
landing, on Tuesday week, of a party of soldiers.'
Outrages of a grave character had been perpetrated
before their arrival. The military after they
had reached Wick were kept in reserve as
long as possible. On Wednesday an attempt was
made by the authorities to have the vessel loaded
under the protection of a body of special constables,
200 of the inhabitants having been sworn in for the
occasion. No mob appeared as long as these persons
were on duty; but they soon wearied of their task,
and worried the sheriff with complaints of being taken
from their business, till he was obliged to dismiss them.
Information having been given that the vessel would
be attacked in the course of the night, a guard of sol-
diers was placed over it. The guard was surrounded
and assailed by an infuriated mob; the whole party
had to march to its relief ; the riot act was read ; the
soldiers, in dispersing the assailants, were pelted
with stones from every place of vantage, and even
from the windows of the houses. After patient
endurance of this violence for a long time—and after
the sheriff, the procurator-fiscal, and many of the
soldiers had been wounded—one party was compelled
to fire in self-defence. The only casualties were a
man wounded in the hand so severely that it will re-
quire to be amputated, and a woman slightly wounded
in the fleshy part of the arm.
The consequence has been, that the obstruction
to the loading of the vessels has been desisted
from ; that the substantial inhabitants have professed
their resolution to support the authorities; and that a
public meeting has expressed a wish to have the
soldiers withdrawn, and attempted to throw blame
upon the sheriff, instead of those parties whose cul-
pable negligence, to say the least, lent hardihood to
the rioters, and whose cowardly inaction rendered the
presence of the soldiery necessary.
It ha's uniformly been found that unreasoning panic
and turbulence aggravate the pressure of famine ten-
fold. It is well that the educated classes in Caith-
ness have been shown the inevitable consequence of
yielding to panic and turbulence, while famine
is yet at a distance from their doors. There is
plenty of food in Caithness to supply the in-
habitants, and their immediate neighbours, tor
months ; and the dealers who distribute it within
this range, if left to the free exercise of their
trade, will import more before it is exhausted.
There is work at good wages for every men
of average industry in Caithness ; and so long as they
can earn the means of paying the meal-dealers, the
meal-dealers will take care to have meal to sell them.
This is what the proprietors, the better class of shop-
keepers, and others of that rank ought to know ; and
the only way to alleviate the pressure which most
probably awaits them before harvest, and to save
themselves from the fierce violence of hungry and
frightened men, is to disseminate this knowledge
among the public, and fearlessly, yet withoat passion,
to uphold the law.
It has been remarked that, as usual, on the late oc-
casion the casualties seem to have befallen those who
were remote from and not taking part in the tumult.
We would add that, had they befallen the moat active
rioter present, still they, must have left, unscathed,
parties infinitely more culpable.

The journals and correspondence of Paris of Wed-
nesday continue to give alarming accounts of the in-
dications observable throughout the country of a
serious scarcity. The period which is looked for-
ward to with most anxiety is the months of April
and May. The rise meanwhile proceeds within
the radius which supplies Paris. It has within the
last few days varied from 50c. to 2f. the hectolitre.
Throughout Normandy the scarcity is represented
as most alarming there is no supply on the coast,
and commercial houses say that none is expected.
Unless chance should bring arrivals to Havre, every. I
thing, says one of the journals of Wednesday " is
to be feared, for the millers have no more to grind."
In many places the bakers have ceased to make
household bread, having no supply of flour of the
second quality. In the departments of the north,
according to letters of the 27th ult., the millers have
not two days' supply of grain to keep them going.
It is feared that the measures of relief adopted by
government have been too late.
The report, that it was the intention of the French
government to send a fleet to the Balearic Isles is
contradicted. The Gazeete de France says that " the
cabinet of the Tuileries, desiring to neutralise the effect
of that news in England, has ordered that no French
vessel of war shall, for some time to come, station
itself in the harbours of these islands. lastructions
have been sent to Count St. Aulaire to explain this to
the English government."
The hotel of Queen Christina in Paris is in pre-
paration for her reception. She is expected there
about the middle of the present month.
Our Paris correspondent in his private letter of
Wednesday, says that he has been authorised to con-
tradict the statement of La Freese that the Countess
St.. Aulaire had been requested to intervene in the
dissension between Lord Normanby and M. Gnixot.
Although Madame St. Aulaire attended the ball at
the British embassy, she never m. led in any mau-
-1 ner in the dispute between the Ambassador and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs. She accepted the invita-
tion as the private friend of Lady Normanby, feel-
ing that the existing personal dispute ought not to be
allowed to interrupt the private relations of life.
Information amved at the Bourse on Wednesday of
a collision between the inhabitants on the Spanish
frontier, occasioned by the seizure of a French trading
vessel on the Bidasaoa, by the Spanish. The commander
of the vessel ordered out from Bayonne two squadrons
of cavalry and a battalion of infantry, with artillery, to
recover the ship. Government, however, have sent a
telegraphic despatch to countermand all violent proceed-
ings, and have ordered communication to be made to
Madrid on the matter.
France appears about to contribute that share to
the extension of steam navigation on the large scale
which her rank and position as a maritime and com-

mercial state demand. The Chambers are seriously
occupied with an extensive project for intersecting
the Atlantic with several lines of steamers of the
first class, connecting the chief ports of France in the
Mediterranean and on the western coast with the
great centres of population and commerce of the New
World. It will be recollected that a project of this
kind was not only entertained in 1840, but the go-
vernment was authorised to carry it into effect, and
several powerful steam-ships were built for the pur-
pose. Subsequent consideration, however, convinced
the government that at that time the enterprise
could not be established and continued, without ab-
sorbing a disproportionate and inexpedient amount of
the national revenue. Although the ships were
built the enterprise was therefore left in
abeyance. The subsequent advancement of steam
' navigation, and the extension of commerce,
have more recently led to various propositions
on the part of private companies which have been
presented to the French government, to establish
such lines of communication under national patron-
age, and with a government subvention. The mea-
sures now passing through the legislature, and which
will soon be adopted, contemplate private enterprise
as the basis of the arrangements.
The principal line will communicate between
Havre and New York. Instead of paying a subven-
tion in money to the company which will undertake
this, it is proposed that the government shall give it
the use of four powerful steam ships, which were
built in accordance with the measures proposed in
1840, the company engaging to keep them in repair,
to maintain the machinery, and insure them. In re-
turn for this, the mail service between France and
New York is to be executed without charge to the
state. The contract is made for ten years. It is ex-
pected that this project will immediately pass the
chambers without opposition, and as the ships and
machinery are complete and ready for service, the
line will probably be in practical operation in the
course of the spring.

The other lines contemplated by the leFrislature are
three, directed severally upon the Antilles, Rio de
Janeiro, and the Havanna, the last having branches
to New Orleans, and other ports in the Gulf of
Mexico. From the comparative small amount of the
commerce, and more especially of the intercourse in
passengers with these ports, the establishment of the
enterprise offers much more difficulty, and its result
is more doubtful. It is not considered, therefore,
that a line of ships worked exclusively by steam, like
those of the Cunard line, and those intended to run
between Havre and New York, woald answer. It is
accordingly designed to establish on these southern
lines ships provided only with auxiliary steam-power,
and propelled by the screw, or some other subaqueous
propeller. The diminished amount of fuel to
be carried under such circumstances will leave
so large an amount of tonnage for profitable
freight as to give the enterprise fair chances of com-
mercial success. The character of the tropical navi-
gation, in which the steady atmospheric currents of
the trades are alternated with the equatorial calms,
peculiarly favour this application of steam. The ex-
pedition attainable by the complete steam-ship will,
of course, be surrendered ; but as the traffic in pas-
sengers will be comparatively small, this extreme ex-
pedition can be spared.
The ports of frranee from which these southern
lines will start have not yet been settled, but it may
be regarded as nearly certain that one of them, that
directed upon the Antilles, will be Marseilles ; and
another, that directed upon the Havanna, will be
Havre. It is probable, also, that the line commu-
eating with Rio will also start from Havre.

Advices have arrived from Constantinople to the
17th ult., by the steamer Hellespont, which made the
passage from Constantinople to Marseilles in the short
space of ten days.
We have already mentioned the offence given to the
French Consul, M. Sabstier, at Janina. We learn that,
as soon as a report of this arrived at Constantinople, the
Ottoman government took immediate measures to offer
satisfaction to the consul. The Kehaya and the Pacha
of Janina, Ziki Effendi, one of the members of the I
council, accused of having encouraged the offenders,
were dismissed, and summoned to Constantinople to
be judged by a court of justice. The Minister of
Foreign Affairs wrote an apologetic letter to M.
&abetter.

The Sultan has, by the advice of the Grand Ad-
miral, ordered sixteen young Mussulmen, pupils of
the Naval School of Terz-Hans, to be sent to England
and France, to study navigation and engineering.
They were to embark, on the 18th ult., on board the
English steamer Oriental.
1 he same advices inform us of the result of the dif-
ference between Greece and the Porte. M. Coletti
having refused to grant the satisfaction required by
the Porte, the Turkish minister embarked at Pirieus
on the 14th, and arrived at Conatantinopleon the 17th,
where this event excited the most lively sensation.

According to letters received in Paris on Wednes-
day from Switzerland, the dissension between the
ultra-montane league and the federal authorities is
beginning to assume a serious aspect. Positive in-
formation was received by the Vorort that the league
was actively prosecuting its military preparations. It
had established a council of war, which sat perma-
nently at Lucerne, and didnot confine itself merely to
register new recruits in its service, but was proceed-
ing to dispose of the staff officers of the federal army,
offering them a brevet, and requiring on their part
an oath. In consequence of these proceedings, the
Vorort has addressed a letter to the government of
Lucerne, and also a circular to the Cantons. If the
answer of Lucerne does not prove satisfactory, there
appears no doubt that an extraordinary diet will be
immediately called. The note addressed to Lucerne
was dated the 26th, and the circular to the Cantons
the 25th of February.

The journals and correspondence of Madrid of the
26th, were received in Paris on Wednesday.
The debate on the address was dragging heavily
along in the Chamber. The Duke de Sotomayor
declared that the government had no intention of
removing General Breton from the command in Cata-
lonia, acknowledging the efficiency of his services.
He also announced that it was the intention of the
government only to avail itself of the authorisation to
contract a loan, in case of urgent and absolute
necessity.
El Herald) positively states that Cabrera has not
entered Spain; that ho is in Italy, and that so far
from joining the present Montemolinist movement,
the answer which he gave to the application made to
him by the insurgents, was, that it was not consistent
with his dignity or position, to command a handful of
brigands ; but that his proper place was at the head
of an army. El Herald() adds that Cabrera, daring
his sojourn in France, gained some knowledge of
liberal doctrines.

FRANCE.—PARIS.—The (currier Francais says :
—" To celebrate their reconciliation, M. Oulzot will in •
few days give to Lord Normanby • grand dinner, to which
the whole of the corps diplomatique will be invited."
FLORENCE, FEB. 20.—" THE LAST SIDPFEB.P—The
celebrated painting of " The Last Supper," discovered last
year in the convent of St. Onopbrio, at Florence attri-
buted by some to Raphael, by others to Bigi, has been pur-
chased by the Tuscan government for the sum of 60,000
scudi (13,0001.), for the grand ducal gallery at Florence.
The Milanese engraver Jesi has been appointed to make an
engraving of this fine work of art.
- -

GERMANY.—AUSTRIA—VIENNA, FRR. 22.—The
ratification of the new loan has taken place. This loan is
of 40 millions florins, payable by instalments of 40 days, and
is concluded at 104. Since the conclusion of the loan the
Five per Cents. have undergone a continual rise. At
the expiration of the 40 months should the wants
of the state demand it, 40 million' more are to
be provided by the contracting parties. It was re-
ported that England, Austria, end France, had concluded
a treaty with the Ottoman Porte, relative to cutting through
the Isthmus of Suez, which great enterprise it was hoped
would be realised in a few years. According to this treaty,
Austria would be charged with the care of the oust, and
the regulations of the port of Alexandria, the Egyptian go-
vernment would take the Nile as far u the desert, France
would establish the route across the desert, and England
would take charge of the port of Suez, and make the necessary
works. The Austrian Lloyds and the Hid Indian Company
would have to provide the steamers requisite. M. Negretts,
and other engineers, are to proceed to Eqypt in April next.
On the other hand, it is said that a private company will
undertake this work, which would not, however, prevent
the_ governments from giving their maistance.
NETHERLANDS.—Tuz Naw Cove LAW.—The
following is a translation of the project of law which has been
submitted to the Second Chamber of the States General :
We, William IL, &c. Having taken into consideration the
necessity of replacing the oorn-law of December 29, 1836, by
othcrregulations, and revising the law of June 19, 1846, so
far as the duties on cattle for food and other kinds of suste-
nance are concerned. We have, with the advice of our council
of state, and under the common deliberation of the States
General, come to the following decision: Art. 1. The law of

Duty.

Batter, Br home enamuniption, 1
ialv.) Dutch las.
and peeled spelt (per
Barter and Mgt
(per
Rye gad Nabs (do.) ..
Buckwheat 'do.
do.
Oats sad lapelled Spelt do. .
Beano and V• 116011
Per sad Lentils do.
All peeled yr broken grains wan
as Otiteal, Betterment, Be.,
Lotrilectally mentioned in the
. . 6.4p.r 100ait
Bemoan, end Bran (per 100 lba.)
Cattle, Balls, Oxen, Cows, and
Reams
_iptr mud
O (young), and yore., (per
heed)
PIP (Per )
Sheep M. llamesi

L a
3 0
6 30
6 0
3 30
4 0
4 0
4 0
7 0

E. e.
Nor.

1 60

L e.
O 10
O 50

4 50

o 4

0 SO

0 50

o 10
O 5
o 10
O S

6 10

o to
O 5

0 4

o 2
o 1•
o 5
• 10
O 5

Art. 3. Wheat, peeled spelt, rye, maize, hurley, malt buck-
wheat, oats, and unpeeled spelt, enjoy the benefit of entrepol,
for en indeterminate time, as well in a general entrepot as in
a private or fictitious one, with maintenance of the right of
transit or re-exportation. So far as a fictitious entrepc,t for
those sorts of grain is concerned, the security demanded may
be given under private signature, according to the formula
to be fixed by the government. Any persons in business
having an account opened with the government, may be ac-
cepted as securities ; but they cannot be recipmailly securi-
ties, one fur the other. Art. 4. When the present law comes
into force, the one of Oct. 30, 1846, will be revolted, so far
as it relates to articles the duties on which arc modified by
the present law

ALGERlA.—Advices from Algiers of the 15th
ult., say that Abd-el-Kader, although compelled for the mo-
ment, by the scarcity of provisions, to disperse his followers,
is nevertheless as powerful as ever. His consideration among
the people of Morocco is shown by the respect with which
he is everywhere received, and the liberal gift of wheat and
barley sent to him daily, not only from the frontier but from
the interior. It is a matter of notoriety, that whenever he
may think fit, he has only to preach another holy war, and
at his powerful voice masses of Arabs will start up in every
quarter to combat France under his sacred &inner. It is
probable, therefore, we might indeed say certain, that the
war will be recommenced in Algeria in the spring with all
its former vigour.
INDIA.—THE KATHIE/3.—The Calcutta Christian
Observer for January gives a notice of a singular race of
people called the Kathies, who inhabit a part of Gazerat
" These people are supposed by some to be the ancient
Cathie, who in the time of Alexander's invasion occupied a
portion of the Punjaub, near the confluence of the five
rivers. Among the Kathies there ars no distinctions of
caste. Besides priests, they have an official class of persons
called bards, who poisons authority almost equal to that of
the Druids. They become security for the payment of
debts, the conduct of individuals who have misbehaved, and
the appearance of persons in pending actions' either civil or
criminal. On the same terms they conduct travellers and
caravans through districts infested with robbers, or in a state
of war. If • troop of predatory horse appear the bard com-
mands them to retire, and, brandishing his 'dagger, takes a
solemn oath, that if they plunder the persons under his pro-
tection, he will stab himself to the heart, and bring upon
their heads the guilt of shedding his blood. Such is the
veneration in which he is held as a person of celestial origin,
and such the horror at being the cause of hie death, that the
threat in almost every instance deters them from making the
meditated attack, and the party is allowed to pass on Oman-
lested. The religion of these people consists of little else
than adoration of the sun. They invoke this object of their
worship before commencing any great undertaking, and if •
plundering expedition he successful, a portion of the money
stolen is consecrated to the service of religion. The only
functions of the priests are to celebrate marriages and fune-
ral solemnities. They have but one sacred building—a
temple—situated near Thum, dedicated to the sun, and
containing an image of that luminary. The size of the
Kathies is above the average, often exceeding six feet. The
women are tall and often handsome; generally speaking,
modest, and faithful to their lords. The Kathies have no
restrictions of any sort regarding food or drink."
44 VIZIANAORIAL' JAN. 18, 1847.—1 t is currently reported
in this quarter that the major general commanding the divi-
sion proceeded from Waltair to Berhampore, Rusaulcondah,
de., on a tour of reconnoisance on the 16th inst. towards
the scene of disturbance in the Geomsoor country, in
order it is supposed to enable him to decide the num-
ber of troops likely to be required in that quarter
to force the insurgents into subjection, or for some
such cause, as well SS directing their movements
personally if requisite; it appears from a private communi-
cation recently received from that direction, that the insur-
gents have already committed great damage in burning and
destroying various villages, grains, tic. Berhampore is
nearly bereft of troops at present, the whele of the 22nd
regiment, save two companies (one of which, he grenadier,,
are left for the protection of the latter place, the other com-
pany, with three more of the 41st regimsnt, are placed under
the direction of the Collector of Ganjani, for the purpose of
protecting the villages on the borders of the disturbed dis-
trict), are with the agent, Captain McPherson, in
Goomsoor, together with five companies of the
50th regiment from Cuttack, as well L 3 local troops,
amounting in the aggregate, I am informed, to 1,200
fighting men, or thereabouts; it also appears there has
been as yet little or none of actual fighting, although the
troops are occasionally fired upon when on the march
through the jungles ; the insurgents at times appear in great
numbers at a rather respectful distance, and, on per-
ceiving the slightest inclination on the part of the troops to
attack, scamper off through hill and jungle with such
celerity of movement, that there is no coming up with
them. In one instance, however, there appears to be an
exception to the foregoing movements, viz., on the sth
inst a party of the insurgents seems to have courted
• rencontre by engaging a small detachment of the
22nd Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Dime-
dale, of that corps, on which occasion there were toss
of the insurgents killed, :and eight taken prisoners thin'
wars no casualties amongst the troops except two lemadee
bokostglag to Lieutenant Pinkney killed, who it awe is
Meshed se the agency; however, those active memos, ad-
, mail to in my last correspondence are hastening So a Was.
The 110th regiment from Samulcottab, and 29th r
from Secunderabad are expected at this station, the
towards the close of this month, and the latter about the
middle of the ensuing month, and the 18th regiment from
Seetabuldee are said to be at present en route by the short
cut through hill and jungle to the disturbed diict, as well
as the rifle company of the 36th regiment, who have recently
been sent forward to the same quarter from Samnloottah,
so that apparently a sufficient force will shortly be available
and at the disposal of the Msjor-Oemersl for service in the
field."