Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-14 00:00:00

THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES

of
following is an extract of a letter from one
tr the Neapolitan prisoners transported to New
York, dated Bay of Cadiz, on board the Neapolitan
War steamer Stromboli, Feb. 2, 1859 :
It is impossible for any one of us to land ; our im-
trisonment continues, and will end only at New York.
Not even Poerio, who is ill, has been allowed to land
for an hour. A Spanish sailing vessel has been hired,
2,P. board of which we shall soon be placed. The
eapolitan steam frigate which escorts us will
tow the Spanish ship for two days, and then
will turn back. We shall continue our voyage alone.
After having passed ten years in a sepulchral stillness it
is hard to be tossed about at sea. I am, however, cheerful
and well, and happy in thinking I shall soon be free.
On board this steamer we are well treated. From New
York I shall come to England. Forgive my incoherent
letter • the noise, the effects of a sea voyage, and,
to tell the truth, a little vexation at having
t 4 make so long a voyage without any reason,
the new life which I live, have bewildered
.111 Y poor brains, and I hardly know what I am doing.
w e are all well, Poerio excepted, who has long suffered
from bronchitis, which of late having become worse,
save us great uneasiness. He is now better,
but who knows what may happen during_ the
YoYale, which must last at least a month ? We arc
In God's hands ; we are cheerful, and bear up
manfully. Forgive my uncouth entitle ; I tell you my
head is quite confused, and I am giddy.
We are glad to learn that ample preparations
are Making at New York to give these noble men,

who, although, released from his prisons, yet fgel
the heavy hand of King Ferdinand's cruelty, a
reception that will resound throughout the.world.

THE. RIVER PLATE

The advices from Buenos Ayres are to the 27th
of December. The political events of the previous
month had been of considerable importance.
The authorities of San Juan, after entrenching the
city, and making ever preparation for an active
resistance, yielded at the first summons of the
Federal commissioners. The accounts from the
other provinces state that troops were raising in
all directions, and the rumour was, that the San
Juan affair having been_ ended, their destination
was Buenos Ayres. The Paraguay question re-
mained in statu quo. The American squadron was
rapidly assembling at Monte Video, where the
Admiral and Commissioner had already arrived.
Great preparations were making for an active and
energetic resistance at the entrance of the Para-
guay river. All circumstances pointed to an
immediate struggle. The internal condition of the
State was highly satisfactory. Heavy and regu-
lar rains kept the pastures in a state of extra-
ordinary fertility. Cattle was every where
" rolling with fat." In reference to the American
dispute, the Buenos Ayres Commercial. Times
says :
Thepapers of this city, taking their cue from a paragraph
in a leading English journal, describe the Americans as
coming out on their first attempt at arrangement with
Paraguay, with their ultimatum in one hand, and the
means to enforce it in the other: This idea is founded
on a misconception of the true state of the case. A Treaty
of Commerce for five years, apparently satisfactory to both
nations, was concluded by Mr. Pendleton, United States
'plenipotentiary, in the year 1852, the ratifications to be
exchanged within eighteen months. Early in 1854, Mr.
Buckalea arrived at Asuncion with the ratification of the
United States Government, but, in the meantime, unplea-
sant events had transpired. between the government of
Paraguay and the Americans settled at Asuncion, and
President Lopez, taking as a pretext, a change in the text,
substituting the " United States of America" for the
" United States of North America," refused to append his
signature. Now as the United States are recognised by
all civilised nations as the " United States of America,"
this change in the text can be nothing more than a pre-
text for drawing back from the fulfilment of a treaty,
which other reasons rendered, obnoxious. In. the follow-
ing year Colonel Fitzpatrick was despatched from Wash-
ington on a like errand, and also to arrange some unfor-
tunate disputes which had arisen ;" but his mission was
attended with no better success than that of the former
commissioner. The term of the treaty expired last year,
so that it is too late now. to seek ratifications, and the
secondary point of the former commissioner has become
the principal object of the mission of Judge Bowlin. , At
the same tune coming, after such an interval, with a fleet
at his back, it seems very much as if there was a wish to
bully the Paraguayans into compliance; while the natural
effect of such a display of force is to provoke resistance,
which it is likely to do in the present instance, as guns,
powder, shot, chain-cables, &c., have been sent forward
lately in large quantities to Paraguay. We can only
hope, for the sake of humanity, that force will not be
resorted to ; if it be, the result,.from all present appear-
ances, is very doubtful ; the rising commerce of Paraguay
will be annihilated, but whether the stars and stripes
float over .Asuncion, is as yet highly probmatical.

MARINE AFFAIRS

SINKING OF A LARGE SHIP AT HOLYHEAD.—Advices
from Holyhead inform us of the sinking of a large ship
on the Coal Rocks, her masts being above water The
steam-tug Resolute had gone in search of her, but re-
turned to Holyhead, without discovering the wreck.
THE STEAMER IGNEZ DE CASTRO.—We recently
noticed that this steamer, which of late has been trading
from Glasgow to Lisbon, had gone ashore near Peniche,
close to the latter port. Advices received here yester-
day state that it blew very heavy in squalls from W. to
N. on the sth instant, and that great fears were enter-
tained that steamer would become a total loss, it being
doubted whether she could stand the weather.
Loss OF ANOTHER 'LIVERPOOL VESSEL AND FIVE
LIVES.—In an extra edition of our paper of this day
week, we chronicled the loss of a vessel trading between
Liverpool and Ardrossan, the captain, his wife and child,
as well as two seamen, losing their lives. To-day,, we
learn that schooner Vixen, Captain M'Bryde, from Glas-
gow for. Liverpool, with pig iron and a general cargo,
went on shore on Bahama Bank, near the Isle of Man,
on the 9th inst., and became a total wreck. The captain,
his two mates, and two seamen were drowned. The
remainder of the crew, seven, were saved.
A SUSPICIOUS AFFAIR.—The ship Thomas H. Perkins
was lying in the river on the Ist of February ready t 9
sail for Philadelphia, when it was found that she was in a
leaky condition, and she was accordingly' docked.
Having had her cargo discharged, she was taken into
Graving-dock on Saturday, when it was discovered that
the cause of the leak was an augur hole bored thrOugh her
plank, and yellow metal sheathing from the inside of the
after peak on the port side of the ship. We understand
that a reward of $5O will be offered for the discovery of
the person who committed the ontrage. If the vessel
had gone to sea the result would probably have been
the 'loss of the vessel and all hands on board.

LOSS OF Two BRITISH VESSELS BY FIRE, AND RESCUE
OF THE CREWS. —We learn, by the Brazilian mail, that
the British barque Briseis, of Sunderland, 300 tons
register, Captain Care, which sailed on the 27th of Oct.
from London for British Columbia, was totally destroyed
by fire on the 7th of December, in lat. 2J 52 S, lon. 33 15
W. The master, crew, and five passengers left the
burning vessel in the boats, and after sailing 370 miles,
which they did in five days, were picked up on the 12th of
Dec., by the Brazilian brig Liberal, which landed them
on the 11th of January at Pernambuco. Through
the same source we learn that the barque Fox, of
Scarborough, which left Liverpool, under the command
of Captain Smith, on the 13th of November, for Pernam-
buco, took fire at sea off the coast, about 40 miles to the
North of Paraiba, on the niuht of the 30th December.
The master and crew were landed at Paraiba.' The
captain has written to Liverpool, and in his letter
says :—When the ship drew close to shore we per-
ceived a large steamer under the Brazilian flag.
hoisted the ensign union down half-mast, and dewed up
sails, fully expecting. assistance, but to our astonishment
he took no notice of it. As for the cause of the fire, lam
entirely at fault. The only plausible supposition I can
offer is, that the bales- of felt may have been chafing
against a beam, and spontaneously ignited."

DREADFUL FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE IN
LONDON.

On Saturday morning,.afearful fire broke out on the
extensive range of premises belonging to Mr.
.James
Walton, wholesale tea dealer, situate at No. 85, High-
street, Whitechapel, London - a fire attended with
the loss of two human beings, and a serious destruction
of valuable property. The fire was discovered
by police-officer No. 160 of the H division, who
immediately called out, " Sam, bring your escape,
here is a fire," alluding to Samuel Wood, the Royal
Society's conductor. The man at once ran with the
machine to the spot, only eight doors distant, when he
saw three persons at the second-floor front window. He
brought . these down his escape, then raised his upper
ladders to the third-floor, where three other parties were
getting upon the Vindow-sills, for the purpose of jump-
ing into the street. Wood called to them to remain
until he got to them. He then brought them down
the ladder to the canvas bag and passed them out in
safety. He inquired whether any one else was in the
house, and was told that the two female servants were
in the back room third-floor. He repaired to the third-
floor front again, entered the room, and reached the door
of the apartment ; but the handle of the door was then
red hot, and whilst he was endeavouring, with the aid of
his coat, to turn the lock, the door fell upon the conductor,
to some extent sheltering him from the flames. He
managed to crawl on his hands and knees to the front
window, where the flames had preceded him, and had
actually set fire to the top of the machine ; he was obliged
indeed to get out head foremost, nearly stifled with
smoke. He next unshipped the short ladder of his
escape, and by great exertions succeeded in placing it on
the roof of the next house, and managed to get to the
room where the unfortunate females were; but the room
was then in one body of flame. In the course of a few
minutes the whole of the interior of the building fell
with a crash resemblin& an explosion of gunpowder,
and the flames immediately rose so high as to
illumine the whole of the East end. The engines
went to work in an admirable manner, but the
only good they could do was to protect the adjoining
houses, the premises in which the misfortune commenced
being totally consumed. Wood, with the aid of the bri-
gade, then went in search of the two persons missing.
One was found lying across the other in the cellar, show-
ing that they had fallen with the floor when they came
down. They were placed in shells, and removed
to the dead-house to await an inquest. Their names
were Charlotte Law, aged 33, and Emily Williams, aged
dt
eathhpaietsrhsoenwnamed Watford, rushed
throughlswas.
so
o The
tbh fire,
aedly b foreman,u
rmaottlitgh:dfrtoonbtedtoaokre,nbutot
escapeas
the hospital. The conductor Wood has saved 11 lives in
nine days, and altogether 90
persons in the same parish.
The origin of the ATP is unknown.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.
A considerable number of Parliamentary papers
were issued on Saturday, and among them the

following : •
PROCEEDING TO ELECTIONS ACT.—A bill for regulat-
ing elections in the United Kingdom is now before the
House of Commons. 'Elections in Ireland are, by one of
its provisions, brought within the action of the same
laws as those which regulate them in England and Scot-
land, and these are modified to a certain extent. So
much of the Act of the 13th and 14th Vie. as authorises
the continuance of the poll at contested elections for
counties in Ireland for two days and prevents the com-
mencement of snoh polling on Saturday, is repealed ; and
in future at any such election the poll shall commence at
eight a.m., and close at five p.m., and shall continue for
one day only. Nothing contained in this bill, however,
is allowed to affect the provisions of the 13th and 14th
Vie., for closing the poll in certain cases, nor for the pro-
ceedings thereby authorised in cases of, riot. A provision
is also inserted by which the seats.of bankrupt members
must be vacated within a shorter period than that
required by the existing law.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSARIIiT COMMISSION.—AD2OIIg
the Parliamentary documents given to the public to-day

is a voluminous report from the committee appointed
last summer to inquire into the organisation of the com-
missariat department of the army. The chairman, Gen.
Sir G. Brown, was' assisted in his inquiry by Gen. Airy,
Sir C. Trevelyan, Col. Tulloch, Mr. Petrie, and other
gentlemen. - The gist of the report is that a widely
spread feeling of dissatisfaction exists among this
department, in consequence of the uncertainty of
promotion, and the embarrassment in which they find
themselves placed when in the field from a deficiency
of subordinates. The pay and retiring pensions
also are not satisfactory to the officers and men
serving her Majesty in the Commissariat, and they wish
to be brought more completely under the operation of the
rules regulating the other branches of the servico. With
a view of remedying these defects, the commission pro-
pose among the innovations, to establish an officer at the
War Office, to be called the Commissary-General-in-Chief,
holding a higher rank in relation to the rest of the army.
than is now enjoyed by any officer iu the Commissariat.
This principle of raising the relative rank of the officer is
followed out throughout this arm of the service ; Commis-
sary-Generals to rank as Major-Generals, Deputy Com-
missary-Generals of three years standing as Colonel, and so
forth. With a view to obviate the necessity of an undue

augmentation of the establishment in time. of war, and
the consequent inconvenience arising from the large
reduction that must necessarily take place on 'the ter-
_ _

mination of hostilities, the Commissariat should be allowed

to avail themselves more extensively .than they have

hitherto done of the temporary assistance that might be
afforded by officers drawn from the troops, or from the
half-pay of the army, who might act in the capacities of
Assistant and Deputy Assistant Commissaries General.

The greater number of these suggestions are , given effect
to by a Royal Warrant, dated the 28th Oct., and printed

,
together with the report. The whole of the evidence
also on which the suggestions of the. Commission have

been based are given'in— appendices, the questions num-

bering-more than '2,300.
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF IRELAND.—A substan-
tial blue book, principally composed of tables, and
published to-day, consists of the report of the Registrar

General of Ireland, to the Lord Lieutenant, for the year
1857. The total acreage under cultivation in 1857 was
5,859,117, being an increase of 105,570 over the pre-
ceeding year. Of these 33.8 per cent. were occupied
by oats, 23.3 by meadow and clover, 19.6 by potatoes,
and 9.5 by wheat. Flax only occupies 1.8 per cent.,
and other crops appear to be cultivated in large quanti-
ties. The county which has, in the year under
consideration, made the greatest advance in the
extent of its cultivated land appears to be Cork, 13,976
.acres out of the whole increase of 105,000 having
been added to the cultivated land in that county since
1856. Mayo, Roscommon, and Galway, are the counties
that have made the next greatest strides in advance, the
increase in them being respectively, 11,600, 10,800, and
10,600. The extent of cultivated land in several
counties diminished in 1857, the diminution being
greatest in Meath, where it amounted to 4,316 acres ;
and in Cavan, where it was 2,109 acres. A comparative
statement of the cultivated acreagoin Ireland and Scot-
land is also given in this report, the most noticeable fea-
ture being that the proportion which turnips in Scotland
bear to those in Ireland, approaches that which the Irish
potatoes bear to the Scotch, the numbers being in Ireland
19,5 per cent, potatoes, and 5.9 turnips, and in Scotland
13,4 turnips and 3.9 potatoes. The fluctuation in the
extent of land devoted to the cultivation of potatoes and
wheat is shown by the following interesting table :

wheat.
Acres.
743,871
687,646
604,867
504,248
353,566
326,896
411,284
445,775
529,050
659,646

Potatoes.
Acres.
284,116
718,608
875,357
868,501
876,632
898,733
98%660
982,301
1,101,704
1,146,647

The comparatively great extent devoted to wheat dur-
ing the earlier years .is of course attributable to the
failure of the other crop ; but as the potato blight
gradually decreased, the extent under potatoes increased
and under wheat diminished, until 1854, when the high
prices caused by the Russian war again stimulated its

Cultivation.
THE SUPERANNUATION CIVIL SERVICE BILL.—The
following are the provisions :—Subject to certain excep-
tions after mentioned, the superannuation allowance to be
granted in future is as follows (that is to say) : - To any
person who shall have served ten years and upwards, and •
under eleven years, an annual allowance of ten sixtieths
of the annual salary and emoluments of his office ; for
eleven years and under twelve years, an annual allowance
of eleven sixtieths of such salary and emoluments ; and in
like manner a further addition to the annual allowance of
one sixtieth in respect of each additional year of such
Service, until the completion of a period of service of
forty years, when the annual allowance of forty sixtieths
may be granted ; and no addition shall be made in
respect of any service beyond forty ears;y provided,
that where any persons serving in the civil service of the
State are especially. .excepted from this act by Minute of
the Commissioners of the Treasury, as aforesaid, such
minute, with the reasons of the exception thereby made,
shall be laid before both houses of parliament. As a
provision for professional and other special offices, it is
laid down that a number of years not exceeding twenty
shall, in computing the amount of superannuation allow-
ance, which may be added to the number of years during
which the professional officer may have actually served,
and also to direct that in respect of such office or class
of offices the period of service requiring to entitle
the holders to superannuation may be a period less
than ten. years, to be specified in the order
or warrant : provided always, that every order or war-
matt made under this enactment shall be laid before
Parliament. Judicial and other offices may be brought
under the provisions of this Act, excepting the offices of
Lord Chancellor and the- judges of the higher courts.
Allowances iii cases of bodily injury received in discharge
of duty may be made, not exceeding three months pay
for every two years of service, or a superannuation
allowance not exceedintg ten sixtieths of the annual salary
and emoluments of his office. Gratuities in case of
short service may be given by the Treasury, but
so as that no such gratuity shall exceed the amount
of one month's pay for each year of service. Allow-
ances on abolition of offices may be made specially,
but if the compensation shall exceed the amount
to which such persons would have been entitled under the
scale of superannuation provided by this Act if ten years
were added to the number of years which he may have
actually served, such allowance shall be granted by special
minute, stating the special grounds for granting such
allowance, which minute shall be laid before Parliament,
and no such allowance shall exceed two-thirds of the
salary and emoluments of the office. Provision for special
services, and deduct for demerit in individual cases, may
be made by the Treasury, to be recorded in a minute laid
before Parliament. Certificates of diligence and fidelity
from the Treasury or from the head of a department are
necessary as a condition of grant of full superannuation.
It shall not be lawful to grant any superannnation
allowance to any person who shall be under sixty years,
unless upon medical certificate to the satisfaction of the
.Commissioners of the Treasury that he is incapable, from
infirmity of mind or body, to discharge the duties of his
situation, and that such infirmity is likely to be perman-
ent. Persons superannuated under sixty may be required
to serve again. When any person holding an office not
being an office held during good behaviour, in respect of
which a superannuation allowance may be granted under
this Act shall have attained the age of sixty-five years, he
shall retire from such office, unless his continuance
therein shall be deemed advantageous to the public
service, and shall .on that ground be authorised by the
Commissioners of the Treasury ; and every persdu retir-
ing by reason of his having attained the age of sixty-five
years, shall thereupon receive such superannuation
allowance as; under the provisions hereinbefore contained,
may be awarded to No pension shall be granted under
the provisions of section six of the Act of the fifty-seventh
year of King George the Third, chapter sixty-five to any
person who shall not have had a scat in one of the houses
of Parliament during the period or a portion of the
period for which he has held office, as in the said section
is mentioned. Nothing herein contained, shall prevent,
restrict, or diminish any pension, superannuation allow-