The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

PERSIA AS AN ALLY OF RUSSIA.

Reports which reach this country by various channels,
and which, therefore appear the more trustworthy, state
that Persia has declared war against England. The shark
might as well declare war against the eagle ; for, a bird in a
sea of deserts, Persia can make but a feeble approach towards
England. The most she can do is to subserve the treache-
ries of Russia, with whom we shall have to deal in a direct
way. But, absurd as it is, the declaration of war on the
part of Persia does not surprise us, nor is it without signifi-
cance. There have before been differences with the Court
at Teheran, and there have also been friendly relations.
During the protracted war which the Persian government
carried on against the rebellious province of Khorassan, by
an army under Abbas M:rza, brother of the late Shah, an
English officer served with that prince, whom we remember
previously as the companion of Sir John Malcolm, and who
astonished that accomplished officer by the audacity of his
riding. The Englishman who accompanied Abbas Mirza
to Khorassan was named Vernon, and was the last of the
English officers deputed to assist in the drill and improve-
ments of the Persian army. Wearied out by the insolent
inattention of the officers placed under his tuition, and by
the impossibility of getting his money, this gentleman came
away from Persia about the year 1849.
He had a successor; and that successor is rather a re-
markable man. It was Count Karaczay, a colonel in the
Austrian army. This officer was formerly employed as
Commandant de la Place at Mantua. The Commandant de
la Place is charged with the duties that pertain to the keep-
ing of the fortress, town, town-gates, keys, gaols, police, &c.
For some reason, to us unknown, the Count excited the dis
pleasure of his government; and from the language em-
ployed, we are inclined to suppose that he was suspected of
a leaning towards the patriotic party • the more probably,
since he is by birth an Hungarian. From the sequel, how-
ever, it is to be supposed that he confessed his fault, and was
pardoned; and the circumstances may account for his having
been deputed to a distant mission. He is a very agreeable
man, about sixty years of age, an excellent officer, well
acquainted especially with the scene of war in the East, and
author of the best existing map of the district of Montenegro
and Herzegovine. He was sent out about two years ago
with a staff of Austrian officers to Teheran, to renew the
services relinquished by the Englishman, Vernon. Persia,
therefore, has received into the staff of her army an Austrian
infusion, and she is now openly subserving the treacherous
advances of Russia.—The Leader.

The Blue Anchor Tavern, Whitechapel, London, was de-
stroyed by fire on Christmas morning.
The Ann Mary has arrived from Sydney, whence she
sailed Aug. 17. She brings 3,490 ounces of gold, and 3,255
dollars in gold, worth together about 14,2001.
The heavy portion of the mails from India, with those
from Australia, per Euxine steamer, were delivered on
Monday morning in London.
The ship Lord Duncan has arrived from Wellington,
New Zealand, whence she sailed Sept. 16. The intelligence
she brings is unimportant.
The Bayonne :iffessager says that Madrid is to be the
scene of another duel, in which Lord Howden and Count
Esterhazy, the Austrian ambassador, are to be the
principals; but the letters from Madrid say nothing on the
subject.
A strange circumstance, says the Journal de Frankfort,
occurred at Carlsruhe on the 17th: As the Regent was
writing in his cabinet in the Grand Ducal palace, the door
suddenly opened and a stranger appeared The Regent
asked him what he wanted, and receiving no answer, rose to
ring the bell. The man took alarm and ran out, followed
by the Regent. When in the ante-chamber, the intruder
jumped out of an open window, and effected his escape.
Mr. Charles Dickens, from a desire to aid in the establish-
ment of a popular educational institution in Birmingham,
gives three readings from his Christmas books, in the Town
Hall, Birmingham, during the Christmas week. " The
Christmas Carol" and " The Cricket on the Hearth" are
the works selected.
BRITISH MUSEUM.—On no former occasion has this im-
mense establishment been visited in so short a space of time
by such a concourse of visitors as on this day. Every room
and lobby leading to the several departments were crowded
with moving thousands of well-dressed persons, in eager
curiosity to inspect the immense collection of specimens of
the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdoms, and articles
of vertu, which abound throughout the establishment. It is
calculated that, before 'the close of the day, not less than
40,000 or 50,000 persons will have visited the Museum.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY.—The effect of the almost
universal holiday in the metropolis was manifested to an
almost incredible extent at this exhibition. Soon after the
doors were opened, and during the entire morning, thousands
upon thousands of well-dressed persons continued to crowd
every room throughout this truly national establishment,
and it was pleasing to mark the interest that was exhibited
in viewing the numerous chef d'ceuvres of Rubens, Corregio,
Murillo, N. Poussin, the Carracci, Claude, and other ancient
masters ; and notwithstanding there could not have been
less than 2,000 persons in various rooms at one time, the
strictest order and regularity were observed.
We published on Monday morning the particulars of a
shockingly murderous assault on a female servant, at the
farm of Highgate, Beith, in Scotland. The Edinburgh
Witness throws some light—a horrid light—on this affair.
We learn, it says, that the mystery which enveloped this
revolting, atrocity has been revealed. On Thursday night
last, David Finlay, the son of the occupant of Highgate
farm, where the deed was committed, went out to a field be-
hind the house and deliberately shot himself. The inference
from such an act, is, that he it was who committed the
horrid outrage upon Elizabeth Paterson. It has been ascer-
tained that she is pregnant; and it is supposed that on the
night of the outrage he had decoyed her to the outhouse,
which we now ascertain is separated from the main house by
the distance of about a quarter of a mile, and there perpe-
-trated the ninrderous assault. Yesterday the injured woman
was a little better, but there are but faint hopes of her
recovery.