The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1854.

Sir Frrzxo KELLY ought to know all about
election contests. He has tried them in every
form for a quarter of a century. Five times he
has been unsuccessful at the poll, and nearly as
many times successful ; once he was unseated,
upon petition, for bribery, and once, by petition,
he placed himself in his rival's seat. He has ex-
perimented. on the varied constituencies of Hythe,
Ipswich, Cambridge, Lyme Regis, Harwich, and
East Suffolk, and has defended his own seat, to
lose it, however, before an Election Committee.
Not many men can bring to a bill against bribery
and intimidation more experience combined with
acknowledged legal ability; and no one could have
more accurately daguerreotyped the mode in which
a member of Parliament may be legally and some-
times morally innocent when his election has been
secured by gross bribery. He appears also to have
really aimed straight at his object ; and perhaps
his Bill may be regarded partly as showing what
his skill could do, and partly in the same light as
certain 51. and 101. notes acknowledged from time
to time by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The prescription of such a physician is at least
worth looking at. It consists, in the main, of
two, perhaps we may say three, elements—elec-
tion officers, oaths, and voting papers. The officers
are to be the sole medium of election payments ;
the candidate is to swear on the day of nomina-
tion that he has paid and will pay no money in
connection with the election but through him, and
all his agents are to be declared and sworn also to
the same effect. The officer is to be, therefore,
responsible that none but legal payments are made.
Lest, however, certain well-known central clubs,
and other local ones, should set their good and
safe men to work, the officer is to be armed with
power to compel all persons suspected as agents of
bribery to take the same oath as that taken by
the declared agents and the candidate. These
officers and the oaths are the first part of the bill.
Voting papers signed before a magistrate or some
appointed officers for three or four days previous
to the open poll, or iu the polling-booth, at the
voter's discretion, are the second part. The paper
signed is to contain a declaration as solemn as an
oath, that the vote is not influenced by any "bribe,
reward, or consideration," or by undue influence,
but " gives his vote freely and willingly accord-
ing to the best of his judgment and conscience."
Now, without reverting to the Charter, we
must think that Mr. Hr's old plan of all legal
expenses being paid by the county or borough,
and, we presume, it being made penal for the
member to incur additional expenses, would be a
much simpler, and, taking the whole country, a not
seriously more costly plan, than Sir FITZROY KFILLY'S
army of election officers. Lord JOHN RUSSELL has
already informed us that the cost of living as an
M.P. is quite sufficient guarantee without the
property qualification ; moreover, a requisition,
signed by a certain proportion of the electors,
Would be a perfect protection against expense
arising from mere sham nominations. Then the
oaths--the fewer of them the better. We want
to go on diminishing, not increasing, the number
of our oaths ; but in no case are oaths more ob-
jectionable than when they bind to a duty too
Tag" to be accurately defined. Men of high in-
tegrity are not the persons to take gross bribes
even now, and the lower class would regard their
oath as kept, if
only clever evasive arrangements
were provided. Oaths, and declarations " ha •
ving
the sanctity h h
not the form of an oath,"
would, ere lton7,g merely
lower the value of an
oath without purifying one constituency. As to
the voting papers, even
striking out the three or
four days' poll, which no one would now endure,
they would not prevent the state of the poll from
being known, and consequently leave the great
temptation to bribery of the last two or three
hours just
where it was ; and so obviously is it
no protection against intimidation that Sir FITZ-
pp
ir an z
R oyROY KELLY proposes to prevent that
Sir atb
en-
snaring declaration. We put it to
and to the House of Commons whether the in-
ducement presented by the ballot to false pro-
mising, is to be compared with the temptation to a
false declaration " with all the sanctity of an
oath." How many trembling voters dare
tell a landlord or a creditor, " to vote
as you wish would be to falsify my de-
claration ?" How many would hesitate to tam-
per with their convictions when to act upon them
would be ruin ? Indeed, the most foolish, and
the most ungenerous act in the world towards
dependent men, would be to compel them to all
but swear that they are not afraid, and not un-
duly influenced. Their inward ,groaaa would say

—bad enough to be so, but as bad as being in the
inquisition itself to be made to sign a document
that we are not so.
We are confident Sir FITZROY KELLY is
thoroughly acquainted with PILGRIM'S Progress.
We advise him and all the proposed advocates of
electoral purity to take a lesson from the world-
renowned allegory. There is one little wicket-
gate which, though but a "mechanical device," is
the sure entrance on the perfectly straight road
to the celestial city. It is of no use to quit the
Slough of Despond merely to hearken to Mr.
Worldly Wiseman. Mr. Legality, though of first-
rate standing, will ease no electoral purist of his
burden. The Little Wicket-gate of the ballot-
box is not more mechanical than the voting papers;
has no such miserable racks for conscience as de-
clarations with the sanctity of an oath ; does not
force the dependent to belie their convictions, and
is certainly the only possible entrance to the path
of Electoral Independence.

The entire tendency of recent legislation has
been towards the assimilation of the laws relating
to real and personal property. In the olden time,
when land was looked upon as almost the only
valuable possession, a wide distinction was taken
between it and the mere goods and chattels, which
constituted the only personal property. The
transfer of land was attended with numerous for-
malities, actual " seisin " was required, and other
matters, to which it is unnecessary at present to
make further allusion. Anything, however, was
sufficient to dispose of and change the ownership
in mere chattels. There was no necessity for a
will to be witnessed, or even signed. A dying
man might dispose of his effects even verbally, by
answers drawn from him during his last moments.
But as to real estate, no less than three credible
witnesses were required, and everything should
be selon les regles. If the owner died intestate,
the estate devolved upon the heir at law, generally
speaking the eldest son (except where there was
some peculiar custom of the district where the
land was situate.) The ties of nature were totally
disregarded. All went to one ; while the others,
although equally near to the deceased, were left
totally destitute, being merely the dependents,
scarcely better than the serfs of the more favoured
individual, who, as " first born," grasped the
entire substance for his own use. They were
scarcely better off as to the chattels, for there
" the Church" stepped in, and the bishop of the
diocese assumed the administration, or at least
the right of granting the administration, of the
personal effects, which, being of insignificant value,
were devoted to " pious uses," the unfortunate
younger children being deprived of any right or
title v,hatever to any description of property.
This asserted privilege of the Church was pro-
bably an usurpation in the first instance, but long,
before the time of "legal memory," it was recog-
nised by Parliament. Indeed, as Lord CRA.N-
WORTH stated last week, it was declared in a sta-
tute passed during the reign of EDWARD 1., to be
" an admitted fact that cognisance of all matters
testamentary belonged to the Holy Church." No
accounts were then rendered. The bishop was
accountable to no personwhatsoever for the manner
in which he thought proper to exercise his " un-
doubted prerogative." It was not until the " Sta-
tute of Distributions" (22 and 23 CAR. IL, c. 10)
provided for the rights of the next of kin of the
intestate that any adequate remedy was afforded.
Then, indeed, the status of the younger children
was recognised. The administrator was thereby
compelled to distribute the surplusage of the
effects according to certain specified propor-
tions. The amount thus snatched from the
wreck was, however, subjected to heavy sal-
vage charges. The officials of the Ecclesiastical
Courts took several heavy pulls out of the pro-
perty during its passage through the tribunal,
and it, because belonging to the neglected and
uncared-for class—the minimi natu—was also
subjected to exorbitant stamps on probates, or
letters of administration, from all of which the
devisee or inheritor of real estate was exempted.
It was not until the accession of our present
most gracious Qtrszet that the " sharp end of the
wedge" was introduced, and the first step taken
in the right direction. By the Ist Vic., cap. 26,
(commonly called the Statute of Wills), the dis-
tribution between realty and personalty was done
away with, so far as the formalities attendant on
the execution of wills were concerned. Verbal,
or nuncupative wills, were abolished (except in
cases of soldiers on actual service, and of sailors
at sea), and two witnesses were rendered indis-
pensable in every instance. who should attest the
will in the presence of the testators and of each
other.

This, as we have stated, was the first step.
No less than sixteen years was suffered to elapse
before the next proceeding. The Succession
Duties Act of 1853, which extended the legacy
duty to real estate, whether settled or unsettled,
and on settled personalty, followed, sed Longo in-
tervallo. That, however, made the further course
to be traversed perfectly clear. We now have
introduced to Parliament by Lord CRANWORTH
measures for transferring the jurisdiction from
the Ecclesiastical Courts, and making the new
probates extend to all property, real or personal.
It needs no extraordinary powers of vaticination
to predict that such an extensive change is but the
preliminary step to putting the probate duty on
real estate—a proposition which we put forward
and strenuously urged on the consideration of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer last session, and
which will give him at least 1,200,000/. per an-
num—equivalent to a capital of 40,000,000/.
towards carrying on the war ; or, what will be
more agreeable, to enable him to remit other and
more onerous taxes when a just and honourable
peace has been established.
The measure of the hon. gentleman the mem-
ber for East Surrey followed in due course. It
was, indeed, a necessary sequence from the others.
When real estate was subjected to legacy duty,
and there was every prospect of its being made
the subject not only of probate law, but of pro-
bate duty, the exclusive right of the elder son
could not be expected long to continue. Mr.
LOCKE KLNG has therefore commenced his on-
slaught against the so-called law of primogeniture
under peculiarly auspicious omens. The rule is
opposed to the law of nature, and cannot, there.
fore, prevail much longer. It must be changed.
Everything proves not merely the propriety, but
the necessity of the change. " The right divine"
of the elder born will no longer be recognised.
Indeed, since the removal of the " safety valve"
which enabled the pauper scions of the aristocracy
to be quartered on the public purse, it was mani-
fest that a more equitable distribution of the
assets was indispensable. When the rewards of
Naval, Military, and Civil Services are to be
thrown open to the most meritorious candidates
without reference to their origin—when promo-
tion will depend on talent, not on rank—on the
acquirements of the individual rather than the
influence of his relations and friends, the law of
primogeniture must be abolished, and real estates,
as well as personal, be distributed fairly among
the legitimate candidates.
Let not our readers be startled. There is no-
thing very startling or wonderful in the proposi-
tion. The volition of any man is not to be inter-
fered with. If he chooses to bestow all his pro-
perty ou the eldest son, or on the youngest son,
or eldest daughter, he will still be authorised to
do so ; and if the ambition to found or maintain
a family be sufficiently great to supersede the
natural law, and induce the individual to commit
a grievous act of injustice against his youngest
children, he may still do so. All that is contem-
plated is that he should do so by his own act and
deed, not that the law should inflict the unwar-
ranted injury. The matter is slight—but its results
will be more important ; for it will make men
think more correctly, and not in their dying mo-
raents imagine that the eldest born are to barter
their votes to the Minister for the time being, in
order to obtain a living for their younger brethren.
The demoralising system will be abolished, and a
grievous rep
roach removed from the British nation.

MONEY MARKE

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 5,000 bales, of which 500 American
and 500 Surat were taken on speculation. The mar-
ket closed heavily, and prices of all kinds were
much the same as on Friday last. The sales com-
prised 4,000 American, 150 Egyptian, at 6id. to
11d., and 700 Surat, at 3d. to 41d. per lb. Rail-
way Shares were dull.
A very important statement is given in a com-
munication from the Hague, forwarded to the
Cologne Gazette, and dated the 17th inst. In this
we are informed that by the last Overland Mail,
advices were received from Decima in Japan, to
the 16th Nov. At that time there lay in the har-
bour of Nangasaki, a Russian war frigate, a cor-
vette, a screw-steamer, and a transport-ship, under
the orders of Vice-Admiral Portianin, who arrived
there on the 20 Aug., bearing a letter from the Em-
peror of Russia to the Emperor of Japan. On the 21st
September, the Russian admiral, with a numerous
staff of officers, was received with great ceremony
and distinction by the Governor of Nangasaki.
The letter of the Emperor Nicholas was then pre-
sented, and sent to the capital, Jeddo. The an-
swer however, had not been received when the
Dutch vessel which brings these advices left, and
the Russians were expecting it not without mani-
festations of impatience.
The steamer Sultan, from Southampton, takes
out in specie 170,8651., of which 58,2301. are for
Malta and Alexandria, and the rest for India and
China.

The whole amount of the gold brought by the
Great Britain steamer, except about 8,000 ounces,
has been taken for exportation. Messrs. Haggard
and Pixley inform us that the price of silver is
merely nominal, owing to the small quantity in
the market, and the non-arrival of that which
La Plata should have brought. Bar silver is about
ss. lid. per ounce.
The tendency of the Foreign Exchanges has
been slightly to advance, Paris and Antwerp being
yesterday the chief exceptions. This may arise,
however, from the report that the French Govern-
ment is negotiating a loan through the great firm
of Rothschild. Should the amount, as stated, be

six or eight millions sterling, it is very likely that
with the existing strict relations between England
and France, there would be an excellent reception
given to a portion in the London market. The
price is stated at 62 to 63 for a 3 per cent. stock,
but upon this there is no definite information at
present. A week or ten days ago it is probable
that better terms might have been obtained by the
Minister of Finance, because even up to that date
the possibility of peace being maintained was be-
lieved in many quarters. The Turkish Govern-
ment also are hoping for pecuniary assistance,
without which they can scarcely keep their
armies efficiently in the field, and it is supposed
there will be no means of raising money unless
England and France at least guarantee the interest.
The rate of exchange at New York having sunk
below par, we shall not be likely to receive more
bullion, and may indeed have to export it ere long.
At St. Petersburgh the exchange is all in our
favour, but circumstances will prevent remittances
in bullion to England, because, if necessary, there
would be an official interdict.

The market for public securities has been well
supported, and is again looking up. Consols have
been done at 901, and since at 91 and 91k, for
Transfer ' • while for Account they are 94. The
increased probability of Austria cordially co-oper-
ating with England and France has a good effect.
The New 31 per Cents. have been 92 to and
the 3 per Cents. 914 to Bank Stock has been
steady at 217. South Sea Old Annuities are at
1011. Exchequer Bills have been firmer at 18s.
to 21s. premium. _ _ _

The Foreign Securities have been very quiet.
Mexican have improved, however, to 24. Rus-
sian 5 per Cents. are steadier at par, and the 44
per Cents. at 86k, and Chilian are 13. per cent.
better, being 1023-. Spanish Deferred have been
supported at 18g. Dutch 23- per Cents. are 59 to
3, being flat. There has been a bargain in Austrian
Bonds at 78-3-

BRITISH klivEs.—The market continues quiet,
without much variation in prices. Mollands, East
Russells, Poltimores, Great Crinnis, and Arundells
are in demand at yesterday's rates.
The current prices for the Jamaica Mines, not
officially quoted, are as follows :—Metcalfe, par to
A premium ; Sue River, I discount to par ; Port
Royal, 4 to / premium.
The Gold Mine Shares are generally quiet at the
previous rates. _ _ .

The Union Bank of Australia Shares have been
10s. to 15s. lower. London Joint Stock and
chartered of Australia are about the same. The
Land Companies' Shares have been firm but quiet.
Theßailway Share markethas been very buoyant,
and prices have improved, although there is very
little doing. Caledonian have advanced 10s. to
15s. Great Ncrthern A stock is up 1/. to 1/. 10s.
Lancashire and Yorkshire, about 10s., and Mid-
land York and North Midland, and most of the
others in about the same proportion. French
shares have been N. to 7s. 6d. better, and with
more inquiry.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
( Prom the Official List. )

_
llnsinesx done
Bank Stock
i per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9li 4 i
3 per Cent Consols Annuities 9l 901 14 1 4
New 34 per Cent. Annuities 924 i 3
New 5 per Cent. Annuities ll6l
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860
Dittc. 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859 5
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 5
South Sea Old Annuities lOl4
Consols for Account 16th, March 904 11 1 4
Exchequer Bills, ld.
£IOOO
£5OO lB 21 p
Small lB 21 p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
A ustrian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 7Bi
Chilian Bonds, 6 per eel* lo2i
Grenada Bonds, Deferred
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account.
Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent.
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent. 3B
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St lOO
Ditt) 44 per Cent 864 4
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. lB,l B

Dividends on thelabove payablelin London. -
Dutch Exchange, 2A per Cent. 12 Guil....* 59 11 8A
Ditto for the Account 59,
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols 9IA i
Ditto March Account 9lh

THE WAGNER CASE.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH-(THIS DAY),

LUMLEY V. GTE.

This case was resumed again this morning.
After the examination of two or three more witnesses,
the case for the defence was closed,

Sir F. Thesiger then addressed the jury for the plain-
tiff. He said—ln the course of the inquiry many things
had occurred which he very much regretted, and none
more so than the unfounded and illiberal attack which
had been made upon Mr. Lumley and Dr. Becher.
With regard to Mr. Lumley, that gentleman was con-
fessed to be in difficulties ; but his learned friend had
said that was the fate of all persons who entered into
theatrical speculations ; and perhaps Mr. Gye was not
an exception. The learned counsel then proceeded to
go into the facts of the whole case, and was proceeding
when we went to press.

The Earl and Countess of Jersey and Lady Clemen-
tina Villiers, who are at present staying at Middleton-
park, will not return to Berkeley-square before the 28th
instant.

THE SCOTS FUSILIER GUARDS. -- The Hon. Geo.
Dalrymple, son of the Earl of Stair, who sold out of the
Scots Fusilier Guards on Friday, was, we understand,
compelled to take this step in consequence of an accident
he met with a short time since while hunting, by which
his collar-bone was fractured.

The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton are shortly ex-
pected to leave town for Paris, where their Graces' ma-
ternal parent, the Grand Dowager Duchess of Baden, is
staying on a visit to her relations the Emperor Louis
Napoleon and his consort.
A REMARKABLE MEETlNG.—Yesterday a dinner took
place at the house of the American consul, Mr. Saunders,
`Weymouth-street, Portland•place, at which, amongst
other guests, there were :—His Excellency the American
Ambassador to this country ; the American Vice-
Consul ; Mazzini, Kossuth, Ledru Rollin, Arnold Ruge,
Herzen (the wealthy Russian emigre),Worcell (the Pole),
Garibaldi, and Orsini.
THE PRESTON STRIKE.—It is with much concern we
have to notice that so little progress is made towards a
reconciliation between the associated masters and their
late workpeople. The former are as determined as ever
in their resistance to what they consider the unreason-
able requirements of the operatives ; and a large propor
tion of the latter yet remain firm in their demand of an
unconditional ten per cent. Both receive the hearty
pecuniary support of their class ; so that the dispute,
which is now nearly of six months' duration, appears as
far off a settlement as ever. A new feature in the dis-
pute is that the operatives, or at least the delegates for
them, have formed a fund to pay the expenses of work-
people emigrating from the district, and the manufac-
turers are about to make arrangements for importing
from the agricultural districts of England, from Ireland,
and from various parts of the continent, people already
accustomed to some branch of our textile manufacture,
who may be willing to accept work here at the prices
offered by the masters.—Preston Chronicle.

WILLIAM Slim( O'BRIEN. —This gentleman is about
to return to his family and home by order of the Govern-
ment, on condition that he will never again take a lead
or part in Politics. He may ha expected about the end
of Juge.—Live:•pccd Courier.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1854.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(THIS DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following private bills were read a second time
and ordered to be committed :—Birmingham Canal Na-
vigations ; Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway and Car-
ligan Harbour ; Dublin and Wicklow, and Dublin and
Kingstown Railways ; Ennis and Shannon Navigation
and Reclamation of Land ; Exhibition of 1851 Commis-
sioners ; Great Western Railway kOxford,Worcester, and
Wolverhampton); Great Western Railway (S cratford, &c.);
Hilgay Great West Fen Drainage ; Horncastle and
Kirkstead Junction Railway ; Leeds Northern Rail-
way ; Leominster and Kington Railway ; National As-
surance and Investment Association ; Newport and
Pillgwenlly Waterworks ; Newport Dock ; Rhymney
Railway ; Rossendale Waterworks ; Perth and Dunkeld
Railway ; and Traethbach Bridge and Road.

to the lessons of history, which taught him that the
faith of continental Emperors who enjoyed despotic power
was not always to be relied on, and he trembled for the fate
of these 20,000 gallant men, if in the last moment France
should think fit to retrace her steps. (Hear, hear.)
Far better, then, would it be for us to employ a more
numerous army of our own, and he hoped, now that we
had virtually declared war with Russia, the Government
would be prepared to take the lead in the coming contest.
Lord R. GROSVENOR thanked the Government
for the strenuous efforts they had made to preserve
peace, and now, that war was inevitable, he could pro-
mise them the hearty support of his constituents in pro-
secuting hostilities with vigour. (Hear, hear.)
The report was then received, and the vote of the
number of men agreed to.

SAYINGS' BANKS.

Mr. H. A. BRUCE moved for a return of the num-
ber of persons, being males, and of 21 years of age, who
have had sums of 501. and upwards invested on their
account, for the three preceding years, in the savings'
banks of the United Kingdom ; distinguishing England,
Scotland, and Ireland.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY remarked that several other
returns of an important nature connected with savings
banks had already been ordered, and he should be glad
to know why they were not forthcoming. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. WILSON said the returns referred to were some-
what extensive, but they were in a forward state of
preparation, and the whole of them would be shortly
laid on the table.
The return was then agreed to.
The other orders were afterwards disposed of, and the
house adjourned at half-past one o'clock.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE GUARDS.

Last evening orders were issued from the Adjutant-
General's office, Horse Guards, for the 3d battalion of the
Grenadier Guards to parade in service marching order
in the square of St. George's Barracks, Charing-cross, at
three o'clock this morning, and march from thence to
the Waterloo terminus of the South-Western Railway,
for conveyance by special train to Southampton. Yes-
terday the men comprising the battalion was relieved from
garrison duty, and were engaged in arranging their ac-
coutrements and packing up the regimental stores, in
which service they were assisted by fatigue parties from the
other battalions of Guards. The horses belonging to field
officers and the adjutant, with the heavy baggage,
were forwarded by train last evening. A fact which
speaks volumes of the general good conduct of this corps
occurred yesterday. It is customary, when a regiment
is under orders for foreign service, to confine the men
to barracks the day preceding their march. In the case
of the 3d battalion of Grenadier Guards this species of
imprisonment was not resorted to, except in a few in-
stances where men were known to be confirmed tipplers
The commanding officer has had no cause to regret hav-
ing placed reliance in the honour of the men, not one of
whom was absent at roll call.
Some thousands of persons of all classes had assembled
in the vicinity of the barracks at two o'clock this morn-
ing, anxious to ♦iew the imposing sight of such a large
body of men, fully equipped to meet the foe, on the
march. They were, however, doomed to wait in suspense
for three hours.

At half-past 4 o'clock the battalion, mustering nearly
1,000 rank and file, fell into close column of companies,
in service marching order, and were again mustered and
minutely inspected by the captains of companies, and
subsequently by the colonel commandant and field offi-
cers. At five o'clock the companies formed extended
column in sections, and all being in readiness for the
march, the barrack gates were thrown opon, when a
simultaneous cheer arose from the assembled multitude
outside, which was echoed from the ranks within. At
this moment the band struck up the "British
Grenadiers," and the march commenced. The men
were in good spirits, and had every appearance
of being eager for the fray. In passing along
the Strand they were cheered by the inhabitants, who
had been awakened by the "sounds of martial strains,"
the females bidding the brave fellows adieu by waving
handkerchiefs from the windows. As the march pro-
gressed, the band played alternately " Cheer, boys,
cheer," " Pop goes the weazle," " You are going far
away," "The girl I left behind me," and the "British
Grenadiers." The battalion arrived at the terminus of
the South-Western Railway at a quarter before six
o'clock, and a parting cheer was given by the thousands
who had accompanied them from the barracks. The
arrangements having been completed, and the trains in
readiness, a general hearty cheer at leaving the metro-
polis issued from the carriages, and at a quarter before
seven o'clock the trains were set in motion, and were
soon lost to sight.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

We learn by intelligence from St. Petersburg of
the date of the 11th inst, that at that time Sir H.
Seymour had not yet communicated his recall to
the Russian Government. His instructions to quit
the Empire had probably not then reached the
British minister.

The Emperor Nicholas had been suffering from
erysipelas, and was said to be in a state of great
irritation and excitement, which rendered him in-
accessible to the advice of his oldest Ministers.

The utmost activity prevailed in every depart-
ment of Government, and preparations for war are
made on the most extensive scale. An answer had
been despatched to the letter addressed by Louis
Napoleon to the Emperor Nicholas, which is framed
in unsatisfactory, arrogant, and discourteous lan-
guage. _ _

The Journal de St. Petersburg of the 12th con-
tains the benediction of the metropolitan Bishop of
Moscow on the departure of the 16th division of
the army. This has already been published in The
Sun. Nothing can be more false than the language
of this sanguinary priest, when he says, " This
enemy, vanquished under Catherine, under Alex-
ander, under Nicholas, again provokes Russia."
If ever war was made without provocation, it is
that which Russia is waging against Turkey.
In the same journal there is a leading article
announcing the publication at St. Petersburg of
the translation of a pamphlet published in England
by Mr. Moseley, in defence of what he calls tue
rights of Russia. The Journal de St. Petersbourg
says :—" In the midst of the injustice propagated
by the English press on the subject of the Russian
policy, it is consolatory to find that in this same
England there are men who do not hesitate to
raise their voices, and cause to be heard the im-
partial language of truth on the Eastern question."
A telegraphic despatch from Berlin, dated yes-
terday evening, says the Czar is extremely enraged
at the answer returned by Prussia, and that Prince
Paskiewitsch is summoned from Warsaw to St.
Petersburgh. A Russian manifesto has appeared,
announcing that between the Ist of March and the
15th of April a further levy of nine men in the
thousand will be made. It also mobilizes the whole
army and fleet.

The Greek insurgent army in European Turkey
amounts to 6,000 men. Russian troops are to be
stationed between Riga and Memel.
The latest accounts from Vienna state that the
Austrian Government shows a stronger resolution
to take an active part in the present crisis, especi-
ally since the failure of the last overtures for peace
made by the Courts of Vienna and Paris to that of
St. Petersburg.
The Emperor of Austria has distinctly intimated
his determination not to assent to the arrange-
ments for the neutrality of Germgny projected by
the Saxon and Bavarian Governments at the insti-
gation of Russia.
It is rumoured at Vienna that a squadron is to
sail from Corfu to protect the Albanian coast.
Three Russian ships of war are lying in the Aus-
trian harbours.

The Prussian Correspondence mentions a rumour
that M. de Kisseleff has received orders to proceed
to Vienna to join Baron de Meyendorff.
The Trieste Gazette continues to urge the Aus-
trian Cabinet to adopt energetic measures against
Russia.

The Breslau, Gazette of the 17th states that the
Governments of France and England have an-
nounced to the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin that
an expeditionary corps of French and English
troops is about to occupy Constantinople. The
above journal says that the notification was given
on the 11th, and adds that a copy of the instruc-
tions to the Ambassadors of the Western Powers
accompanied the notification, and that they are of
an exceedingly strict character.
The Correspondence of Vienna, 17th, says :
" Large quantities of supplies continue to be sent
off to the army of observation stationed on the
Turkish frontier. A corps of pontooniers, with all
their bridge equipage, left to-day."
The Gazette of the German Empire, under the
head of Berlin, February 17, says :
" The attitude of the great powers of Germany with
respect to Russia is characterised by the tone with which
the propositions of the Cabinet of St. Petersburg have
been rejected. In the reply of Prussia, it is said that
that reply will be considered as a rupture in Russia, and
that, at all events, it implies a schism. The refusal of
Austria, on the contrary, contains assurances of friend-
ship, and a request that the Emperor would be pleased
to renew his promise not to aim at an increase of terri-
tory in Turkey, at least in Turkey in Europe. It is
said that Russia, in reply to the cabinet of Berlin,
is about to concentrate a corps of 20,000 men on the
frontier of Poland, but it is not known if that step
is intended as a demonstration against Prussia, or as
a simple measure of precaution with respect to Poland.
If Prussia placed on a war footing an army of 100,000
men, she could paralyse the whole of the Russian army
in Poland. At the present moment the Russian army
in the principalities is only 80,000 men, and that of the
Turks 100,000. It is true that Russia is going to in-
'crease her army on the Danube to 200,000, but, in
order to do that, she must direct towards the south a
part of the army of Poland. It is affirmed that the
Bavarian Ambassador has replied to the question put
to him, as to which of the two great powers of Germany
Bavaria would join, that 'it was that which would be
for France.'"

The German Journal of Frankfort states from
Berlin that there is a strong feeling in the Prussian
army against Russia, and that several of the supe-
rior officers have declared that they will give in
their resignation if the Prussian Government
should declare in favour of the Czar.

The Moniteur publishes a letter from Trebizond
of the 12th ult., giving the following account of
the attack on Chefketil by the Russians, and dif-
ferent versions of which have been given by the
other journals :

" On the 30th December, five Russian war steamers
made their appeal ante off Chefketil, coming from Re-
dout Kale. One of them remained in the offing while
the four others ran in and fired about 30 cannon shot
at a battery recently erected by the Turks, between
Chefketil and Tchouroukson. The Turks replied by
about double the number of shot from some heavy guns,
and the Russian vessels hauled off very much damaged ;
one of them is said to have had her engine completely
knocked to pieces."
Another letter of the 11th ult., in the Moniteur,
from the same place, says :
" About-noon, the day before yesterday. the French
and Etiglish frigates Mogador and Samson arrived in the
roadstead, preceding by some hours the Gomer, Des-
cartes, and Charlemagne, under the command of Rear-
Admiral Lebardier de Tinan, and the Terrible, Sans-
pared, and Agamemnon, under Rear-Admiral Lyons.
These vessels convoyed five Turl, ish steam-frigates,
having on board troops and military stores for Batoum.
It would be difficult to express the effect produced on
the inhabitants of this place by the appearance of this
squadron ; all the people assembled on the shore to
witness their arrival in the harbour, and the town had
all the appearance of a holiday. Public prayers were
offered up in the mosques for France and England."
The last accounts from Constantinople say that
" the combined fleets are still at Bey cos, where they
await an order from their Governments explanatory
of the instructions forwarded to the Ambassadors,
who differ from the Admirals as to the purport of
those instructions. #
" There is a probability that Redschid Pasha
will be elevated to the rank of Grand Vizier, and
that he will be replaced in the Foreign-office by
Ali Pasha, who has already filled that office.
" The Russians are concentrating troops and
forming magazines at Kaffa, in the Crimea.
" The Russians lately attempted a landing at
Czernowoda, in the Dobrudscha, at the mouth of
the Danube, but wore repulsed with loss.
" The Caradoc reached Constantinople on the Bth
with despatches for the Ambassador and Admiral.
General Burgoyne was on board."

-- -
The last number of the Wallachian, Monitcur,
published by the Russian Generals, states that
army
there are but 11,000 sick in the Russian a
We read in a letter from a French gentlem. an,
dated from the Turkish head-quarters at Shumla,
the 28th ult.:--
" Omer Pasha shows great respect for human life,
and for the forms of justice. Seven Greek and Bulga-
rian spies were some time ago arrested for having given
information to the Russians. They were tried by a sort
of jury of ten persons, amongst whom was the agent of
the Greek patriarch, the Chief Rabbi, and the chief of
theAemenians. They were unanimously convicted and
condemned to death ; but Omer Pasha only caused the
two chiefs, one of whom is named Andronicos, to be put
to death. They were shot yesterday beyond the fortifi-
cations, and died with a good deal of resolution. At
Widdin, which the Marshal considers one of the most
important points of Bulgaria, there are several foreign
officers; amongst them some English officers from India.
Nothing is stirring here at present. The cold is not
very severe, and the snow not very deep. The Marshal
superintends personally, as if he were an engineer, the
execution of the fortifications of Shumla.
In another letter from the same place of the 30th
ult., the same writer says :
"The General-in-Chief has just received a detailed
account of the loss sustained by the Russians in the
affair of Citat4, near Kalafat :—the killed were 1 general
(Orloff), 5 colonels, 4 majors, 3,000 officers, subalterns,
and privates :—the wounded were 2 colonels, 8 majors,
and 200 waggons full of soldiers, who were cony eyed to
Krajowa ; 1 colonel has disappeared and cannot be
heard of. The loss of the Turks in killed and wounded
did not exceed 1,300. Widdin, the extreme point of
the Danubian line, appears destined to become shortly
the theatre 'of grave events. Omer Pacha has sent
Ismail Pacha, the beet of his generals, to command
there, though as chief of the staff he ought to remain
with 2him. Every day detachments are being sent in
that direction. The streets of Shumla, were yester-
day encumbered with soldiers making their prepara-
tions, and their belief was that a lyittle was about
to take place. As by the entrance of the fleets into
the Black cies, the Turks no longer fear an hive,-

sion of their coasts, they have directed all their efforts
towards the western extremity of Bulgaria, in order to
check the hostile dispositions of the Servians, and en-
courage the sympathies of the populations of Lesser
Wallachia. An engagement may consequently shortly
be expected similar to that of Citate. Some engage-
ments have taken place in the Dobrodja—an immense
plain of about 1,200 square leagues, extending between
the Danube and the Bla,-k Sea. Ha canal were out
through this plain from Rassova to Custendje, it would
save eighty leagues of navigation to vessels in the
Danube, and would enable theta to avoid the bar of
Sulina. A project of making a canal is on foot, but
like that of a railway from Constantinople to Belgrade,
it can only be acted on when peace shall be re-esta-
blished. Immense preparations are now making to
defend the territory.:
_ _ _

A letter from Belgrade of Feb. 11, says The
mission of Edein Pacha has failed. The Imperial
commissioner will return the day after to-morrow
to Constantinople. The Senate has given its
opinion relative to the firman. It declares that it
will accept most gratefully the confirmation of the
privileges of Servia ; but adds, that it cannot
forget that the Russo-Turkish treaties of Bucha-
rest, Akjermann, and Adrianople, are still in force.
The document declares that the Senate desires
Servia, to maintain her positive relations, as esta-
blished by treaties with Russia and• Turkey. The
document, which is signed by Prince Alexander,
was delivered in due form to Edein Pacha, who
was greatly irritated at it. The order given to
withdraw the Turkish troops stationed on the fron-
tier of Servia has been revoked."

Accordihg to a letter from Bucharest, it appears
that, on the Bth and 9th, 6,000 Turks, under the
command of Terek Oglu Pacha, crossed the Danube
near Kirsova, and marching to Arosch, drove away
the Russians, who were fortifying it, and, after
destroying the entrenchments, returned to Kirsova.
A letter from Bucharest, of the 10th, says :
" Nothing is now talked of but the movement of
troops. A report is current that the Hereditary
Grand Duke of Russia has arrived. On the 3d the
Turks passed the Danube at Rustjuck, in order to
attempt to carry the fortress of Giurgevo by as-
sault, and to establish themselves there, so as to
be able to threaten Bucharest. In order to cover
this attack, the Turks at the same time sent a body
of men to land in the island of Mokani whilst the
others landed above the town. The attention of
the Russians was directed towards the island, and
the advanced posts of Giurgevo were driven in by
the Turks, who then formed their columns for the
assault, intending to attack the town near the old
barracks. The Russians had in the meantime re-
inforcements, and the combat became very warm,
and lasted hand to hand for five hours. The
Russian artillery decided the affair, and the Turks
recrossed the Danube. Many were killed and
wounded on both sides ; the Russians lost a dis-
tinguished colonel."

FRANCE.

The Moniteur of to-day (Wednesday) contains
an article in which it says, that it is the imperative
duty of the Government to declare frankly to all
who aim at profiting by the present position of af-
fairs to excite disturbances either in Greece or Italy
that they will place themselves by such a step in
direct opposition to the interests of France.

France, while, in alliance with England, she de-
fends the integrity of Turkey, cannot allow that
integrity to be violated by aggressions having their
origin iu Greece ; nor, if the flags of France and
Austria float together in the East, can France per-
mit any attempt to separate them on the other side
of the Alps.

It is said that on Monday M. Drouyn de Lhuys
sent off to London the text of the treaty of alliance
offensive and defensive between England, France,
and Turkey. Besides the articles already known,
which stipulate that Turkey shall not conclude any
treaty with Russia without the consent of England
and France, and that neither of these two Powers
is in any case to derive any territorial advantages
from the present war, the treaty contains other
articles, which stipulate for the liberty of the Black
Sea, and the sending of an army of occupation of
100,000 men to Constantinople. Of this number,
France is to furnish 70,000 men, and England
30,000. The 100,000 men are all to be assembled
at Constantinople about the middle of April.
It appears that the number of English and
French troops to be immediately sent out will not
exceed 10,000 of the former, and 15,000 of the
latter. I understand that the idea of forming an
army of observation on the Alps is abandoned, or
at all events postponed for the present, as calcu-
lated to give umbrage to Austria. The formation
of that army will no doubt depend on the attitude
which Austria may assume.
Something has been already said about the at-
tempts made to get up a Republican manifestation
for the 24th inst., the anniversary of the Revolu-
tion of 1848. It appears that arrests have been
made by the police at Batignolles and the Fau-
bourg. St. Antoine. In one quarter these arrests
are said to be numerous, and as causing some un-
easiness to the Government, particularly under
present circumstances, when the appearance of
internal embarrassment would no doubt be an
encouragement to the common enemy, and of which
his partisans in Paris and elsewhere would not fail
to take advantage. What has been said here about
the affair is greatly exaggerated. From 40 to 50
persons have been arrested, it is true, on its being
shown that they intended to make a "manifesta-
tion," in what particular fashion is not exactly
stated, but that it was in favour of what is termed
" nationalities," and of course decidedly anti-Rus-
sian. The persons concerned in it are of the De-
mocratic party, and the day fixed was the 24th, as
already stated. Those who are in a state of arrest
will be detained till the close of the month, and
will be taken before the Prefect of Police ; but
there is no intention of taking any other proceed-
ings against them.
It is reported that a loan of 200 millions of francs,
in Three per Cent. stock, at 64f. 10c., has been
concluded between the French Government and
Baron de Rothschild, the Bank of France and the
Receivers-General.

It is expected that the Moniteur will contain
before long another important document in the
form of a manifesto, the terms of which will have
been previously agreed upon by the two Govern-
ments, and which will have all the force, if not the
form, of a declaration of war.

Two documents are said to have been brought
by the courier from St. Petersburg—one the laconic
answer of the Czar to the Emperor Napoleon ; and
the other a despatch of greater length, addressed
by M. de Nesselrode to M. Drouyn de Lhuys, and
in which the words about the Russian soldiers fol-
lowing the example of their fathers in 1812 are
expressed. _

It is said that the Minister of the Interior threa-
tens to suppress the Assembles Nationale, whose
Russian tendencies have excited so much remark
of late.

General de Castelbajac, it is stated, has been
coldly received at the Tuileries. It appears that
before leaving St. Petersburg the Czar conferred
upon him the Cross of St. Alexander Newsky, and
that the French Emperor declares he will not per-
mit him to wear the decoration.
It would appear that one of the most warlike of
the political personages iniParis is the Papal Nuncio.
His Eminence, it appears, is of opinion that the
Czar has been too tenderly treated all through ;
that war should have been declared long since, and
that the allies must not only drive him out of the
Principalities but destroy Sebastopol and take from
him the Crimea.

It is stated that the project of an alliance, de-
fensive and offensive, between France and Switzer-
land, is not merely on the tapis, but on the point
of conclusion.
It is believed the long talked-of nomination of
Prince Jerome to the command-in-chief of the ex-
peditionary army to Turkey is definitively set aside.
At least so it is said in well-informed quarters,
and the absence of the Prince and his father from
the fancy ball at the Tuileries on Saturday night,
under the pretext of a dinner party at the Palais
Royal the same evening, would indicate a sullen-
ness traceable to disappointment.
It was reported that in all probability the Moni-
teur would this day announce the nomination of
Marshal Vaillant to the chief command. Besides
the divisions commanded by Generals Canrobert,
Bosquet, and Macmahon, there will be a division
of cavalry, to be commanded by General Maurice.
A report is current that General Baraguay
d'Hilliers is to be recalled, in order to remove any
difficulty that might arise between that diplomatist
and the generals commanding the expeditionary
army. _

The Bourse was more firm yesterday. The Three
per Cents, were first quoted at 65f. 95c., but
on a report that a change had taken place in
the Cabinet of Vienna favourable to the Western.
Powers they rose to 66f. 50c., and closed at 66f.
35c. for the end of the mouth. The Four-and-a-
Half per Cents. at 95f. 40c. ; Orleans Railway
shares, 1,050 f. ; Rouen, 850 f. ; Havre, 430 f. ;
Great Northern, 715 f. ; Paris and Strasburg, 700 f. ;
ditto, New, 555 f. ; Western of France, 557 f. 50c. ;
Bordeaux and Cette, 520 f. ; Great Central, 427 f.