The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

FRANCE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING,

From the quarter from which I obtain so much
important and exclusive news, I have this day
obtained the knowledge of two facts :—The first is
that the King of Prussia has written to the
Emperor of Austria to say, that he considers the
neutralisation of the Black Sea with the conditions
proposed by Russia as perfectly satisfactory, and
as the best basis for negociations for peace that
could possibly be found ! The next is, that Russia,
anticipating that a good effect would be produced
on the German governments, by her acceptance of
the said neutralisation with the said conditions,
has shown herself in her confidential communica-
tions, more arrogantly indisposed to treat for
peace than war, and that her Emperor has let fall
the significant remark, " I care not what the
Western Powers can do , their efforts will never
equal the power of Russia in resistance."

It is currently reported that the reply which
Russia will give to the Austrian propositions,
though a decided negative at bottom, will
be couched in such vague terms; as to keep
alive during the winter the hopes of peace, which
credulous people take pleasure in entertaining.
It is officially announced to-day that the Minis-
ter of Finance has fixed the interest on treasury
bills from to-morrow at 41- per cent. for those of
from three to five months ; five per cent. for those
of from six to eleven months, and 5i for those of a
year.

In commercial circles the settlement at the end
of the year was better on the whole than had been
expected, but, nevertheless, a great number o f
bills were left unpaid. The sales, which are
generally large on New Year's Day, have been
less this year, especially in the dearer sort of
articles. A further decline has taken place in
common, owing chiefly to arrivals from the United
States. Although the fetes on the occasion of the
new year, have caused general slackness in busi-
ness transactions, the sales of cotton at Havre
during the week, amounted to 6,800 bales, and the
arrivals at 20.000. The stock is now 62,600 bales ;
last year it was 70,300. Prices have fallen lfr to 21r
according to quality. In the course of the last
year, the total imports of cotton into Havre was
418,000 bales; in the previous year it was 425,000.
The Council of State has ordered the confisca-
tion of the Hanoverian vessel Vrou Honurna and
its cargo of 973 bags of sulphur, which were cap-
tured near Lisbon, some time ago by a French
ship of war. The vessel and cargo belonged to
Messrs. Weinholt, Wener, and Co., of London, and
it appears that the cargo had been sent from Lon-
don to Lisbon, and was destined to be sent from
Lisbon to Hamburg for Russia!

Amongst other preparations making in the
French dockyards for the approaching campaign,
two screw ships of the line, the Arcola and Dona-
werth, both of ninety guns, and three sailing
frigates are ordered to be fitted out at Cherbourg
by April.

The Swiss papers state that the recruiting for
the Anglo-Swiss legion is going on very favourably.
The second batallion of the second regiment is now
complete, and Colonel Bundi has taken the com-
mand of it. The accounts which reach Switzer-
land from the Swiss troops now in Turkey are of a
cheering description.

PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING

Only two pieces of news of any interest con.
netted with the war have reached us to-day—the
first is that the Swedish government seems to be
preparing actively for war, inasmuch as it refuses
leave of absence to all officers, and has summoned
General Bloch, Minister of War in Norway to
Stockholm to, as is supposed, arrange with him
for placing the Norwegian army on a war footing.
The second is, that the Grand Duke of Hesse,
brother of the Empress of Russia, has joined
Saxony and Bavaria in pressing Russia to conclude
an early peace.

A Hamburg despatch informs us that the Con-
gress on the Sound Dues which was to have com-
menced at Copenhagen on the 2nd has been
indefinitely adjourned. The Presse of this evening
endeavours to show that the fears which have
been entertained of the United States making the
Sound Dues the pretext for a hostile demonstra-
tion against England and France, or at least a
diversion in favour of Russia, aro unfounded,
inasmuch as they only possess seventy-two vessels
of war, with 2120 guns, whilst England and France
possess upwards of 1200 with upwards of 29,000
guns. Nay, the Presse thinks that Denmark,
herself would be a match for the States.

THE HIGH SHERIFF' or LANCASTER.--`De unde.rstand
that Robert Needham Phillips, Esq., of the Park, near
Manchester, has been selected by her Majesty to fill the
office of High Sheriff of the county of Lancaster, for the
current year.

THE EARL OF EtorN.—The presentation of the freedom
of the city of Glasgow to this distinguished nobleman took
place in the City Hall, on Friday afternoon. The noble
earl delivered a long speech in returning thanks for the
honour conferred upon him. On Friday night, as a conclu-
sion to the ceremony, the Lord Provost and Corporation
gave a grand dinner in the M Lellau-rooms, to the Right
Hon. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, B.T. Covers
were laid in the central hall for two hundred guests. The
value of the gold and silver plate employed at the dinner was upwards of £lO,OOO.
COLD IN THE PRINCIPALITIES.--The Courrier de Bucharest
of the 22nd ultimo, says : " All the roads in this neigh-
bourhood have been rendered almost impassable by tbq
heavy fall of snow. The sledges, which are gene Tally used
at this season for the conveyance of passengers, do not
venture into the country without great circumspection, or}
account of the extreme cold, and several accidents have
already occurred. Two travellers have, it is said, been
found on the road from Craiova frozen to death. A French
merchant, who arrived here a few days since, in a sledge,
from Craiova, narrowly escaped being destroyed by the,
wolves, and only kept them at a distance by frightningi
them with lighting chemical matches. A Turkish soldier
in garrison here, killed a wolf at the door of the stable of
the barracks, where he was stationed as a sentinel."

. •
A MAN Wall THREE WIVES !--Yesterday morning, a,
respectable, seafaring man, George Lamb, was brougb%
before Mr. Chaloner, at the police court, 113 r Inspoctor
Horne, on a charge of higamy. Mr, Block appeared for
the prisoner. The inspector said that on Saturday evering
he arrested the prisoner on a warrant just as he arrived in
port on board of the Chariot of Fame. The charge
against the prisoner was for having on the 1 1 th of August,
1845, married Bridget McDonnell at St. John's church, and
that in February, 1848, he married one-- Mr. Bluck :
appear for the prisoner, but before the charge is gone into
I must ask for a remand, as I am not ready with my case.
Inspector Horne : There are three of his wives at present
in court.
,(Loud laughter.) Mr. Wybergh : Then the
charge is trigamy." (Renewed laughter.) Inspector :
They are all here. The prisoner was then, at the request of
his legal adviser, remanded.

CHARGE OF FORGERY.—Yesterday morning, a respect-
able looking young man, named John Hutchins, was
brought up before Mr. Chaloner, charged under the follow-
ing circumstances :—Eaton, the detective-officer, said tho
charge against the prisoner was forgery, and having
obtained money by false pretences. It appeared that in
June last, the prisoner gave a bill for £33 to Mr. 'William
Jones, a joiner, residing in Boundary-street, and the hill
purported to be signed by his step-father, who resides at
flawkston, in Salop. In reply to Mr. Bluck, who appeared
to defend the primer, the officer said that when he took
the prisoner into custody, he said his mother was aware of
what he had done, but she did not say she would pay the
bill. Mr. Gluck said it would be better to let the case
stand over for a day or two, until the mother and step-
father of the prisoner could attend ; there was no doubt an
arrangement would then be made. The prisoner was
accordingly remanded,