The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-05 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

MARSEILLES, DEC. 2.
A great proportion of the inhabitants of Mar-
seilles assembled to-day in the plains of St. Michael,
to witness a review by the General Rostolan of the
garrison and of the troops lately arrived from the
Crimea. The Tirailleurs Algeriens were the great
object of attraction. This corps, almost exclusively
composed of Arabs, distinguished itself in a re-
markable manner during the siege of Sebastopol,
particularly at the capture of the Mamelon Vert.
When they embarked at Algeria they consisted of
above 3,000 men ; they are now reduced to 1,100,
of whom not more than 20 have escaped without
wounds. Unfortunately, the public were disap-
pointed in seeing the evolutions they expected, for
when General Rostolau arrived on the ground at
12 o'clock rain began to fall heavily, and the Gene-
ral dismissed the troops after a short inspection.
There have been but few troops embarked for
the East during the last week.
A letter received from Genoa, dated Friday last,
mentions an improvement in the health of the ex-
Queen of France Marie Amelie.

THE SWEDES AND THEIR GOVERN-
MENT.

(Prom a Correspondent of the Morning Advertiser.)

The Government of Sweden has passed, after re-
peated fluctuations between absolute monarchy and
the predominance of the aristocracy, into a limited
monarchy like our own, but hereditary in the male
line of the reigning family, which failing, the King,
with the consent of the people, may nominate a
successor. The King, as well as the members of
his council, must be of the Lutheran religion, which
is also the established creed of the realm. The
civil list for the maintenance of the king avid his
household is about 50,0001. ; that of the Crown
Prince about a third. The royal prerogative ex-
tends over the foreign relations of the kingdom,
both as to peace and war ; over the administration
of justice, the command of the army and navy,
and the appointment of archbishops, bishops, and
judges, who are remarkable only for misconduct.
The King has a veto on the enactments of the Le-
gislature. The Executive, like our own, is divided
into departments, the heads of which may be sum-
moned before the Council to give their advice on
matters within their departments.
The Swedish Legislature, or Diet, answering to
our Parliament, is composed of four different orders
of society—the nobility, clergy, burghers, and
peasants. Each has a separate house of estate of
the Legislature ; and no bill can pass, even with
the Royal assent, unless it has received the sanc-
tion of three out of the four houses. The House of
Nobles is composed of the heads of each of the
noble families ; that of the Clergy consists of the
twelve Bishops, with the Archbishop of Up-
sala, at their head, and sixty deputies elected
from the various dioceses ; the deputies from the
towns are 97 in number, and those from the
country districts 144, both requiring a small pro-
perty qualification. The nobility maintain them-
selves ; the members of the other three houses are
maintained by their constituents. The civil and
military employes of Government form a large ma-
jority of the representatives. The four orders
deliberate sometimes together, sometimes sepa-
rately. In the former case, questions are carried
by a simple majority. The Diet meets every fifth
year, or oftener, if convened by the King, and sits
for three months, unless the pi essure of business
requires a longer sitting.
The national character of the people is remark-
able for simplicity in manner, dress, and feeling.
They are hospitable and industrious. Their
honesty is remarkable, as is shown by the fact that
charity-boxes are fixed up by the way side, not one of
which has ever been known to be plundered, Doors
are constantly left on the latch ; horse-stealing and
sheep-stealing are unknown. The population is be-
tween three and four millions ; it increased wonder-
fully under Bernadotte, whose wise rule had also
the effect of doubling the commerce of Sweden,
while he patronised every species of improvement,
constructed canals, erected schools, and did all
that could be done to promote the cause of educa-
tion. The naval and military force has never been
large ; the latter never amounting to more than
50,000 men. The original inhabitants were a
colony of Fins, from th banks of the Volga and
the vicinity of Mount Caucasus, who were expelled
by the hordes of Germans, three centuries before
the Christian era, or became amalgamated with
them. The present Swedes are of Teutonic or
Gothic origin, together with the Danes and Nor-
wegians. c'The revenue is small, falling on each
individual at the rate of ;nine shillings a head;
and the national debt, which at one time was
6,000,0001., was, many years ago, reduced to little
more than a million.

DISCOVERY OF IRONSTONE.—During the last few
months large excavations of ironstone have been made
in Middlesborough. Ti e material has been found in
such quantities as to lead to the establishmeut of ex•
tensive smelting works, and a superior pig-iron is
manufactured. Large orders have been received, em-
ployment has increased, and the demand for houses has
increased with it. The consequence is, that, in spite of
the general inactivity of trade in North Yorkshire, Mid-
dlesborough is in a most fl wrishing state.
THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.—On Wed-
nesday next, the 12th instant, the election by the metro-
politan vestries of members to constitute the Board of
Works will take place. The City of London will return
three, and the highest number to a single parish is two.
Several magistrates are candidates. It is not necessary
that a vestryman should be elected.
MR. H. K. SSYMER, M.P.—This gentleman spoke to
the toast of "Tne County Members," at the dinner suc-
ceeding the annual cattle show of the Sturmioster New-
ton Agricultural Society, on Thursday last. Mr. Seymer
declared himself in favour of a vigorous prosecution of
the war, and afterwards touched cn the question of agri-
cultural etatisties, expressing considerable doubts as to
! their success or importance.
LOVE AND SlllClDE.—Yesterday morning Mr. W.
Baker, the coroner, received information of the follow.
ing painful case of self-destruction committed by a
female named Elizabal Jerden, aged 21 years, whose
friends reside at No. 3, re'ingsgate-terrace, Hackney
road, Bethnal-green. It appears that the deceased, who
was a dressmaker, had formed an attachment to a young
gentleman holding a situation in a City banking-house.
During the past week the deceased had been in a low
and desponding state of mind, through a quarrel which
she had had with her sweetheart, who had discarded
her for the sake of another. On Monday morning the
deceased left home shortly before eight o'clock, and was
not seen alive afterwards, but a letter was subsequently
received by her mother, which discicsed the fact that
she bad drowned herself in the Reeent's Canal, near
Victoria-park, Bonner's-fields. The relations were sadly
affected at the sudden news, and no time was lost in
giving information to the parochial authorities, when
several men procured the drags and searched the canal,
and at a late hour the body of the unfortunate young
female was discovered. Mr. George Lane, the surgeon,
was called to examine the deceased, but his services
were of course useless. A letter was found in her pocket,
addressed to her late sweetheart, but the police took
charge of the document until the inquest.
The payments yesterday consequent upon the 4th of
the month were extremely heavy, but they were well
met in all quarters, and no sign of pressure or of want
of confidence was anywhere observable.
CRYSTAL PALACE—ONE SHILLING DAY, Dec. 4 —Ad-
missions on payment, 591 • admission by season tickets,
162. Total visitors, 76. Corresponding day last
year, 972.
A STEAMER BLOWN UP AND EIGHT LIVES LOST.—QUE
EEO, Nov. 19.—The Finley (propeller), Langley, burst
her boiler, Bth November, off Port Stanley (Canada
West). The after part of the vessel was blown out, and
she sank immediately in 10 fathoms water ; seven men
and a woman list ; 15 persons saved.
IMMENSE SHOALS OF HERRINGS have been found off
Weymouth. As many as 1,000 bushels have been caught
at one fishing. They have been selling at 2.. and 3s. a
bushel. IC.o such a November for fine weather has been
knewn in the seuth Eng!nrd frr ho ;,,r
as was experienced last month. The last time November
passed off without storms very large shoals of herrings
visited the southern shores of Engl and.