The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 15th have arrived. The
Gazette contains, as has been already stated, the two
royal decrees by which Generals O'Donnell and Josd de
to Concha have been struck out of the army list, for not
obeying the orders of the Government to go into exile.
The reason assigned for this measure, as regards
General O'Donnell, is that he has `in a public and
official manner deserted the ranks of the army,'
and as regards General Jose de la Concha, that
having been ordered by the Government to go to
Palma, in the Island of Majorca, he has not
obeyed, hut, on the' contrary, has informed the
military authorities at Barcelona, by letter, that
he was resolved to secrete himself, and to emigrate
abroad—such conduct being an act of disobedience, and
contrary to his own honour, and to the military spirit.
General de la Concha, as has been stated, had left for
France. or was about to leave, but it was not known.
what hid become of General O'Donnell.

The Gazette states that the Governor of the province
of Barcelona had reported that the bands of insurgents
which had appeared in the mountains had been so closely
pursued that they had passed into France
The Infants Enrique had arrived at Valencia, the
place assigned for his residence by the Government, and
the Duchess de Seville, his wife, had left Madrid to join
him.

General Manuel de la. Concha has demanded to be
allowed to retire from the army, but the Government is
of opinion that retirement of general officers command-
ing the staff of the army is not allowed by the laws and
decrees relative to the army.
The Three per Cents. were done at 375 : the New
Three per Cents., at 19 ; the Debt of the first class at 8,
and that of the second at 4i.

DENMARK AND SWEDEN.
It is said that intelligence has arrived in Stockholm
of the English Government having formally acknow-
ledged the Scandinavian neutrality. The language em-
ployed has also given great satisfaction.
Stockholm has now been declared free from cholera.
Private letters from Norway and Sweden agree in
supposing that England will take energetic steps in the
Baltic. Aland and Bomarsund, they reason, must at
once be taken possession of. Finland must then be freed
from its Cossacks and restored to its northern kinsmen.
They regard it as utterly impossible for any Government
to let this opportunity go by for a deed so necessary, so
great, so merciful, so just.
The following are the most important passages in the
message of the King of Sweden and Norway which was
read at the opening of the 14th ordinary Storthing of
Norway on the Bth :

"Our relations with all the foreign powers still bear
the character of reciprocal esteem and friendship.
The political complications which appear at this mo-
ment to threaten the general peace of Europe will not
shake them, at least such is the hope we entertain.
In concert with the King of Denmark, I have decided
for the interest of the united kingdoms, in case of
possible accident, to preserve a neutral position, which
we must seek to maintain by force and union, we who
are and must remain strangers to the quarrels which have
arisen between the other powers. lam certain that the
Norwegian people will not hesitate at any sacrifice to
put me in a state to guarantee and protect that inde-
pendent position, on which our dearest interests essen-
tially depend. We must with reason. thank Providence
for the progress of material welfare which has fallen to
the share of Norway, particularly during the last year, in
consequence of the flourishing state of commerce and the
abundant harvest, refused to other countries. The wel-
fare has been increased as much as depended upon the
Government.. Convinced that amelioration in the means
of communication powerfully contributes to this, the Nor-
wegian people, with a really patriotic spirit, have warmly
met my projects for this object. The railway, although
not perfectly completed, has nevertheless since the com-
mencement of the provisional service produced the most
important and useful results."

AMERICA,

ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

This afternoon the Royal Mail steam-ship Asia,
Capt. Lott, arrived in the Mersey, with the usual
mails front the United States and British North
America. The Asia sailed from New York at 6
on the 9th inst., and has brought, besides
the mail, 40 passengers, but no specie.
By this arrival we regret to learn that a most
disastrous fire, destroying six steamers, and with a
loss of 37 lives, had occurred on the 4th inst. at
New Orleans, the details of which are given from
a New York paper as follow :

"At three o'clock this afternoon the steamer Charles
Belcher, just arrived from Nashville, caught fire, and
in a short time was totally consumed, with her valuable
cargo of cotton, tobacco, and western produce.
"Thirty-two negroes and five white men have perished
in the flames. They were persons chiefly employed on
board the boats.
"The flames spread with frightful rapidity, and in a
short while extended to the steamers lying alongside at
the Levee.
" The fire spread to the steamer Natchez, just arrived,
which, with her cargo of 2,000 bales of cotton, was
entirely destroyed.
'‘The steam-boat Cairo next caught fire, and was

burned.
"The steam-boat Sultana, with Madame Sontam on
board, caught fire, but the flames were extinguished
before much damage was done.
".A. number of barges lying at the Levee, loaded with
produce consigned to various houses, were also greatly
damaged..

" An immense amount of produce—cotton, flour,
provisions, and hemp—was on board these vessels, all
of which is destroyed.
"An immense amount of produce on the wharves
was also consumed.
" Somi of the fire-enghies have fallen over the Levee
into the water.

" SECOND -DESPATCH.

" NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 5.
" Six steam-boats were consumed in the conflagra-
tion yesterday--namely, the Charles Belcher, Natchez,
Mohegan, Saxon, Grand Turk, Leah and Luna. They
were valued at $300,000, and mostly insured in
western offices, The remainder of the property de-,
stroyed was mostly insured in this city, chiefly at the
Crescent. office.

" The total loss is variously estimated at from $700,000
to $1,000,000.
" There was another fire this morning in Charles-street,
which destroyed two valuable stores, and badly damaged
two others. Loss estimated at $100,000."
At New York the Stock Market had rallied, and
was exhibiting an upward movement.
The market for breadstuffs was firm, with an ad-
vancing tendency.
Cotton was quiet, and had not exhibited any un-
usual movement.
Au active demand existed for provisions.
Freights were inactive.

TEE BLACKWALL RAILWAY.--The new station at
Fenchurch-street is now completed, and the widening of
the viaduct across Crutched-friars, Cooper's-row, and
the Minories. The station at the Minories has been
demolished, and the space occupied by it added to the
permanent way. Considerable progress has been made
in the construction of the line to Tilbury Fort and
Gravesend, and that portion of this railway is expected
to be open for traffic about Easter ; about the same
time the booking of passengers by the North London
Railway,.for conveyance throughout to all places on the
North-Western line is expected to commence at the
Fencburch-street station.

Bygones are really, it seems, to be bygones.
Ministers, instead of being impeached as the au-
thors of the war with Russia, are to be supported
in its energetic prosecution. Whatever supplies
may be deemed requisite by the Cabinet are to
be frankly and cordially voted by the Opposition.
It is true that the Opposition could not altogether
refrain from casting a retrospective glance of re-
prehension at the diplomatic blunderings of the
Coalition—although the Right Hon. Gentleman
the First Lord of the Admiralty did protest
against the folly of pottering over blue-books.
Flesh and blood could not endure to look on at
that complication of failures as revealed in the
mass of abortive documents the copies of which had
been laid by order of her MAJESTY upon the tables
of both Houses of the Legislature—flesh and blood
could not endure to witness all this without
the utterance of some passing syllables of rebuke
or of condemnation. Some reference to the sub-
ject of, these protracted and abortive negotiations
—negotiations ending in a war not local merely
but European, not affecting alone the integrity of
the Turkish empire but the interests of entire
Christendom—would surely have been justifiable
on the part of those confronting the occupants of
the Treasury benches, whether among our here-
ditary legislators or among our popular represen-
tatives. However willing and even anxious the
Opposition might be in no way to embarrass at a
juncture of such supreme importance what has
become at last the warlike and energetic policy
of the Administration—it would have been
altogether too much to expect that they
should refrain from passing any comments upon
the course hitherto pursued by the Coalition in
reference to their diplomatic proceedings, which
twelve deplorable months now prove to have been
so idle and illusory. It must be remembered,
however, that the discussions which have at length
taken place during this present February, both in
the Lords and in the Commons, were neither of
them originated by the party recognised as that
of the political opponents of her MAJESTY'S Go-
vernment. In the Upper House the debate was
provoked by the ex-Postmaster-General of the
last Whig Administration. In the Lower House,
it arose out of the charges brought forward
against Ministers by one who was Under-Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs during the time
Earl GRANVILLE held the Seals of that depart-
ment, and, consequently, while Lord JOHN Rus-
SELL was still supreme in Downing-street as the
Leader of the Government. The discussion on
the foreign policy of the Coalition was originated
in the Commons by the Member for Aylesbury as
it had been previously originated in the Lords by
the Marquis of CLANRICARDE. It was only
reasonable, therefore, to expect that neither the
Earl of DERBY nor Mr. DISRAELI would fail to
avail themselves respectively of such exceedingly
tempting opportunities. They did so, in fact,
Precisely as might have been anticipated. But if
in doing so they neither of them shrank from
'Peaking in terms of severity as to the past, it
must be acknowledged, in simple justice, that
in reference to the future they displayed no less
patriotism. than magnanimity. They at once
pledged themselves,
as the leaders of the Opposi-
tion, to Support Ministers promptly and heartily
by acceding to
whatever supplies might be
requested in
augmentation of the military and
maritime forces of the country in fulfilment of the
instructions so to do as intimated at the opening
of the session by the lips of
ur gracious Sovereign.
Whatever the severity of
the strictures pro-
nounced by the antagonists
of the Coalition in
either of the Houses of the Legislature, it would,
therefore,
under these circumstances,
be altoge-
ther preposterous for Ministers seriously to
complain of their harshness, much
less to
talk of an ungenerous and factious opposition.
Sir JAMES GRAIIA M very disingenuously denre-
dated the notion of pottering over blue-books,
but the country will exonerate from the im lied
accusation of unfairness the decision which at ttfi-,
critical juncture has marked the proceedin 'of
the chiefs of the late Administration.
Naturally enough, Ministers could not do other-
wise than recoil from the alternative indicated last
night by Mr. DISRAELI as affording the only ex-
planation of their foreign policy during the last
twelve months—the dreadful and disgraceful alter-
native of Credulity or Connivance. Naturally

The Navy Estimates have not only the priority
in date, but in interest. It is by British seamen
that the honour and safety of the country is to be
maintained, at least in the first instance, and the
publication of the item which explained the con-
templated accession to our marine force was
therefore most anxiously looked for. We shall
endeavour to allay this very natural curiosity by
stating that au addition of 13,000 men to our
Fleet is about to be provided fur, of which
10,000 will be sailors, properly so called, and
.3,000 marines.
The general navy estimates for the forthcoming
year amount to 7,487,9481., being an increase of
1,202,455/. on last year's outlay, and it by no
means follows that a supplementary vote may not
be required, that would make that increase
amount to no less than 2,000,0001. If such
should be the case, and the exigencies of the ser-
vice should demand the additional outlay, we
venture to assert that it will be freely and wil-
lingly conceded, and that without a moment's
hesitation.

Having thus stated the general demand, we come
to the particular items, the first and most impor-
tant whereof consists of wages. The sum now
asked under this head amounts to 2,192,6711.
for the year commencing on the sth April next.
The amount sanctioned by Parliament during the
current year for the same purpose was 1,736,2361.
The increase is therefore 456,4351., for which, as
we have stated, we are to obtain the services of
ten thousand additional sailors, and three thou-
sand. additional marines—making the total effective
force afloat, fifty-eight thousand six hundred and
sixteen men and boys, which are thus arranged,

viz. :-

Seamen . . • • 41,000
Boys . . . . . 2,000
Marines afloat . . . 8,000
Marines on shore . . . 7,500
Men in packet service . . 116

Total • 58,616
Men on active service, however, want something
more than pay. They must eat and drink also ;
and when we consider the extraordinary additions
to our household expenditure, the enhanced bills
to butchers and bakers, &c., we may consider that
we get very cheaply off, when the demand for
victuals is only 870,3241. against 615,4261. dur-
ing the present year, being an increase of 254,8981.
It is, however, necessary to remark that, under
any circumstances, there would have been an ad-
ditional demand under this head, owing to the
higher prices of provisions already alluded to, so
that the whole of the above sum is not fairly
ascribable to the extra force about to be employed.
We should also remark, that 18,000/. of the in-
crease under the head of wages may be attributed
to the gratuities to petty officers and good-conduct
pay to able seamen, who, under recent regula-
tions, engage for continuous service for ten years,
an outlay that will not be complained of by the
most stringent economist.

Of the additional 1,202,4551., the larger por-
tion, or 717,333 L, is thus accounted for. The
demand for the Royal Naval Coast volunteers re-
mains the same as before, viz., 50,000/.

So far for the personnel, now for the materiel,
of the navy. The additional charge under the
head of Establishments is 433,8621., of which
the chief item consists of an addition of 200,0001.
to the wages of artificers at home, for which
883,6481. is required, against 683,6481. during
the present year. Next in magnitude are
"Naval Stores for building, repair, and outfit of
the fleet," which shows an addition of 119,7211.,
the figures being, respectively, 1,142,7321. and
1,023,011/. Closely trenching thereon comes the
only other important item for "New works, im-
provements, and repairs in the yards," in which
the increase is 115,6941., the present estimate
being 372,6421., while that for the current year
was only 256,9481.

It is unnecessary to allude to the minor
branches that make up the amount, the charges
in which are of comparatively trivial importance.
In the " Miscellaneous" the increase will be
87,331/.,' the greater portion whereof, 72,1001.,
is required for the extra conveyance of troops.
As we have already said, there will be no com-
plaint of this very judicious, and, we may say,
indispensable augmentation to our expenditure.
The nation cordially concurs in the feeling so truly
expressed by the Right Hon. Gentleman the mem-
ber for Buckinghamshire, " that there is no dif-
ference of opinion as to the number of men to be
voted, or as to anything that may be requisite to
support her MAJESTY'S Government in the prose-
cution of a just war." In accordance with this
view, and the all but perfect unanimity expressed
by the popular branch of the Legislature, the
first vote (that for the number and the
pay of the men) was last night taken, and the

Much regret will be experienced by all those who
have taken an interest in that which will ultimately
be the route to Australia, viz., via Panama, at the
postponement of operations by the Australasian
Pacific Steam Navigation Company. This arises, ,
however, from unavoidable circumstances. The
railway across the isthmus is not yet finished, and
until it is completed, no passenger line can be suc-
cessfully carried out. The service, to be properly
performed, must be undertaken bya sufficient fleet;
and the company must be prepared in the onset to
sustain a loss, because voyagers will require the route
to be tested, and to have some guarantee that their
comfort and convenience are secured. Further, the
present high price of coals, and scarcity of seamen,
impose obstacles in the way of a new maritime un-
dertaking, and great advantages may accrue from
the employment of the steamers in short voyages,
whereby their efficiency will be secured. The only
thing of which we have to be apprehensive is that
Brother Jonathan will start a Pacific line before us,
and then it will be difficult for us to make head.
Still we cannot blame the company, and should cir-
cumstances favourably alter, we trust they will not
be slow to take advantage of them.
The Funds are very quiet this morning, and
with but little change in prices. Consols have
been done at 91 for transfer, and since at 901.
Time bargains have been entered into at 901
Exchequer Bills have realised 19s. to 225. prem.
Bank Stock is steady at 217 to 218. India •Stock
is at 232. Lord Palmerston's speech has, by its
high and confident tone, given much satisfaction
in the City, and re-assured many of the timid
waverers who believe in the might of Russia, and
fear the weakness of the allies.

Foreign securities are heavy. Russian Five per
Cents. still go down, having been done at 100 and
at 99. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. have re-
ceded to 85. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents.
are 59 to 60. Danish Three per Cents. realise
80N. Spanish Deferred have been at 18-i to I.
BRITISH MINES.—A few inquiries for the folow-
ing shares took place to-day. South Caradon, 390; Al-
fred Consols, 23 24; Gill, 2/- 1; Mollands' 11s. Gd.,
13s. Gd., md. 15s. ; East Russell, 3i 4 ; Sortridge
Consols, ; North Pool, 200 ; Britannias, ;
Poltimores, par ; Great Crinnes, 30s. ; Great
Wheal Hugos, 1 ; Wheal Wreys, 325. 6d. to 355;
Kilbrickens, 30s. to 325. 6d.; Hawkmoons, 12s. 6d.
to 15s. ; Little Dukes, ; East Basoons, (1/.
paid) ; Tamar Marias, (1/. paid).
The current prices for the Jamaica Mines, not
officially quoted, are as follows :—Metcalfe, par to
premium ; Sue River, 4 discount to par ; Port
Royal, 2to premium.
The Gold Mine Shares have been steady, but not
brisk. St. John del Rey are better.
Railway shares continue about the same, and
there is a fair business doing. French shares
have been lower by about 10s., owing to the de-
cline at Paris.

The Joint Stock Bank shares are rather heavy;
as well as the Land Companies'.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(Front the Official List.)

Bank Stock

_ _
Business done.
218 17

i per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9ll j
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9oi 1 901
New 31 per Cent. Annuities 92i i
New 2. per Cent. Annuities -
_ ... _ _ _ _ _ _

Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5l i
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 5
India Stock 232
India Bonds, £lOOO . ........... .........
Ditto, under £lOOO 7 p
Consols for Account 16th) March 9Ol i
India Stock for Account
Exchequer Bills, Id.
£IOOO
£5OO l9 22
Small l9 22

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent. •••••••••••• 101
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent BO.
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account 244
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St lOO 99
1);tt ) 4i per Cent B5
Ditto Small
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent ..............••• 834
Spanish New Deferred, 3 par Cent.
Ditto Passive (Converted)
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil 6O
Ditto for the Account .
Ditto 4 per Cent. Cortifieates
HALF•PAST' TWO.

Consols 9Ol
Ditto March Account

The Baroness Brunow and daughter arrived at 10
p.m. yesterday, at Birmingham's Royal Ship Hotel,
Dover. The Count Wielhorstri was expected to join
the Baroness, be having gone to pay a visit to Earl
Clanwilliam at Deal Castle. They intended to sail by
the Vivid for Calais last night.
The venerable Field-Marshal the Marquis of An-
glesey, we are glad to state, continues to improve in
health.
The Duke and Duchess of Somerset had a dinner
party at Somerset House, Park-lane, on Saturday even-
ing. The guests included the Turkish Resident Minister
and Madame Musuras, Mr. D. Buckley, of the Foot
Guards, Mr. C. Babbage, Mr. Hay, and the Greek
Prince Vogorides. The venerable and noble Duke, we
are happy to state, for his advanced life, is in the enjoy-
ment of excellent health.

Lord Ward has left Dudley House, Park-lane, for
Wesley Court, near Worcester.
The Hon. G. Dalrymple, of the Fusilier Guards, who
sold out of the service on Friday, met, we believe, with
an accident while hunting, by which the young officer
dislocated his collar bone.

The Marchioness Dowager of Downshire has left
Grosvenor-street on a visit to Lady Mary Wood, at
Cumberland-lodge, whence her Ladyship proceeds to Sir
George and Lady Charlotte Chetwynd's Grenden Hall,
Warwickshire.

The production of the tragedy of Richard the Third
last evening was distinguished by a copious amount of
that " pride, pomp, and circumstance" of scenery dresses,
and decorations, for which this theatre has become so
renowned under the present management. As a spec-
tacle, it is thoroughly magnificent, and we doubt if even
on these boards so richly picturesque a scene has been
presented as that of the battle field, on which the cur-
tain finally descends. The distant view of Tamworth,
a triumph of the pencil, with the passage of Rich-
monds's host ; the funeral procession of King
Henry ; the Royal tent with its lurid watch-
fire, and white-cloaked solitary sentinel ; the ex-
terior of the Tower, with the issuing forth of the tyrant-
king and his gorgeous train to war ; the battle array of
his men-at-arms and archers in Bosworth field ; each
and all of these rival, if not exceed, those scenic beau-
ties which created so marked an impression on the town
in Macbeth and King John. As regards the mere act-
ing, those plays were necessarily more striking, from
their containing a greater number of prominent parts.
In the present case, there is nothing to compete with
the high tragic power of Mrs. Kean's Constance and
Lady Macbeth, or the stern grandeur, mingled with
natural pathos, of Mr. Ryder's Hubert, or Macduff.
The latter excellent actor made, indeed, the utmost of
the part of Richmond, and his impressive delivery of the
prayer on the eve of battle, merits especial mention.
Mr. Graham's King Henry, was a noble and affecting
performance, and amply merited the strong marks of
favour it elioited from the audience. But there is only
one first-rate character in the piece, and in that, Mr.
Kean may safely be pronounced excellent—better than
in either of the former tragedies. The cool villany of
Richard's satanic nature was developed by him in a most
artistic and effective style, and where vehemence
is required, he maintained his former reputation, and
won thunders of applause.
The version is that consecrated by long usage on the
stage, and in which, as we all know, the most " telling
hit is sure to be produced by the spurious line, of which
our great bard was guiltless—" Off with his head, so
much for Buckingham." (The gods last night rendered
it the usual honours with an enthusiastic fervour that
made the building shake). Mr. Kean has felt it needful to
present an apology in the form of a fly-leaf for perpetuating
the heresy of maintaining Colley Cibber's concoction in
preference to the original of Shakespeare, and has made
out a plea, plausible, if not convincing. We are not
going, however, to wax disputations about an " estab-
lished fact." The deafening plaudits that accompanied
the close of the play, and greeted the reappearance of the
manager, sufficiently attested the unmixed satisfaction of
a most crowded house ; and the vast pains and expenditure
that have evidently been bestowed on this latest triumph
at the Princess's, will doubtless be rewarded by a long
and prosperous run. It is assuredly presented, to use
the words of the playbill suppletnent, "in the most
striking and spirit-stirring form before the eyes of the
spectator." Antiquarians will rejoice in the announce-
ment, that Meyrick, Strutt, and ten other unexception-
able authorities have been consulted to insure correct-
ness of costume, and appropriate scenic and decorative
effect.