The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-10 00:00:00

STRAND THEATRE.

Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Alicroft.—Directress, Miss Bebeeca Isaacs
THIS EVENING, Mix 10,
Will be performed NELL GWYNNE.
The ZULU KAFIRS, as they appeared at St. George's Gallery.
After which, SUMMER FLOWERS, in which the French Batlet
Troupe will appear.
THE THREE TURKISH RAZOR GRINDERS.
Stalls, ss. ' • Boxes, 35.; Pit, Is. 6d; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes,
£1 Us. 6d., to be had of Mr. Allsroft, 15, New Bond-street.

ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL A SIPIIITHEA.TRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.
THIS EVENING, MAY 10,
WRY be presented the new grand Nautical and Equestrian spec.
tacle, embodying is wet and extraordinary effects (written by Mr.
Nelson Lea), entitled A TALE OF THE SPANISH WAR; or,
The Horse or the Wreck. Th ; horses expressly trained by Mr. W.
Cooke.
Followed by an entire change of the Scenes of the CIRCLE, intro-
ducing Miss Emily Cooke.
Mdlle. Blanche, the celebrated , Continental Artiste, on the
TIGHT ROPE.
To conclude with a Grand Ballet, entitled THE STAR OF THE
11. HINE.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tai DAT —Morning 2 min.after 12 I Evening 23 min.aft. 12
Ta4loaaow—Morning min.after 12 I Evening 5 min.aft. 1

THB WEATHER.—Su pt Orrm, May 10.
THEIRMOMETER, 111 THII SHAD .
56 —highest since noon yesterday.
43 —lowest this morning and during the night.
57—this day at noon.
B.s.uouvrzß, 30.09—a great rise.
WIND, N.N.W. to N.—Light breeze, with dull weather.

vt.ke
Tri rs

~~1~,.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1854.

Au energetic blow must be struck by the allies
of Turkey both in the Black Sea and in the
Baltic, and that promptly, and, as far as it is at
all practicable, simultaneously. There is no doubt
whatever that such a course of proceeding has
become at last imperatively requisite, if the
enemies of Russia really and seriously wish to
bring the war to anything approaching to a satis-
factory termination. Unless this combination of
promptitude and decision be at length displayed
by France and England, the consequences cannot
fail to be most disastrous. Further delays must
inevitably tend to magnify the perils and to mul-
tiply the difficulties in the way of anything like a
successful or decisive achievement.
As far as Russia, the aggressor, is concerned--
a continuance of this dilatory policy on the part
of her antagonists cannot but materiallystrengthen
her position along her frontiers, and enable her
to concentrate, at pleasure, her gigantic forces,
both military and maritime.
As far as Turkey, the aggressed, is concerned—
the obstinate pursuance of the policy hitherto
carried out by her Western supporters must un-
avoidably, and by necessity, militate against her
financial interests, while it cannot but tax to the
very uttermost, all the, even now, severely tried
energies of the no longer despised war department
of her administration. It is true that OMER
Riau, in a spirit of determined reliance upon
his followers worthy of that able and heroic com-
mander-in-chief, has recently intimated that Silis-
tria, for example (one of the most critically situ-
ated of all the Turkish strongholds in Bulgaria) is
capable of holding out 'for two months longer
without assistance ! Yet with all the self-sus-
taining courage of the soldiers, and all the incom-
parable abilities of the commander of the victori-
u_u.a array--conquerors Successively at Oltenitza, at
(Mate, and in the Dobrudscha—there cannot be
a doubt that the gallant attitude of defence, so
long and up to the present moment so successfully
maintained by the Ottoman Government, has re-
quired from first to last an unnatural strain upon
the capacities both, o f its financial and military
departments.
Everything, in short, combines to prove logi
i -
cally the absolute andmperative need for a
prompt, bold blow being struck at the might of
the Russian AvrocaAT—at once in the North
and in the East, in the Euxine and in the Baltic,
under the walls of bronitadt
and under those of
Sebastopol.

This twofold display of resolution, in
fact
positively necessary —on
the D' iarts
necessary—is
of France and England, if only with a Tie; --
to
shield from ignominy the reputation of their
Allied Governments.
A series of brilliant victories are eagerly expected,
are confidently looked for by the people of France
and of Great Britain. They must be achieved,
or discredit must inevitably fall upoh the exist-
ing Administrations. It is the nature of the
situation at which matters have at length arrived.
It is the difficulty which has to be encountered.
France confidingly awaits the advent of this
'triumphant close of the struggle which has now
commenced. She believes implicitly in the valour
of her troops, in the povier of her maritime arma-
ments, in the genius of her EMPEROR, in the pres-
tige of her eagles, of her tricolour, and of the
glorious name of NAPOLEON. It is the reliance
Qth"J'...hiliken upon all these surities of success
which has impelled them to come forward so readily

with their contributioni to the voluntary loan of
250,000,000 francs. It is this reliance which
will prompt them no less readily to advance
another 250,000,000 francs, whenever that sup-
plementaryloan may be demanded by the Imperial
Government. •

England, in like manner, is prepared for nothing
short of a brilliant close to the bloody contest
upon which the nations of the earth have again
adventured. Victory at all times requisite, has
become more than ever essential now than it can
alone be obtained ender an intolerable pressure
of additional taxation. With the Income Tax,
the most unpopular of all taxes, doubled so long
as the war continues—Peace must before long be
arranged on some terms, gold, bad, or indifferent.
Especially must this be the case, if, to a doubled
Income Tax, be added an enormous increase of
the duty (from 2s. 9d. to 4s. per bushel) upon
Malt, a hasty, and therefore to many an un-
avoidably injurious adjustment of the im-
posts levied upon Sugar, and a large increase
of the Spirit Duty to the amount of Bd,
per gallon in Ireland and of Is. per gallon
in Scotland. Encumbered with this additional
burthen of taxation, amounting, as Mr. GLAD-
STONE himself calculates, to an increase of the
annual revenue by upwards of 10,000,0001.—
the people of England will assuredly become vo-
ciferous for a conclusion being brought to the
war, supposing this war be allowed to " drag its
slow length along," like its prototypes, the
wounded snake or the feeble alexandrine.

Can Ministers be counting on this ? Can they
be calculating upon a release from their present
difficulties through the medium of this inevitable
impatience of the population ? Satisfied that
the doubled Income Tax (the Income Tax doubled
so long as the war continues), and the increased Malt
Tax, and the increased Spirit Duty, and the other
new war burthens proposed by Mr. GLADSTONE'S
third Budget, will render the country so restive
under the goad of these supplementary extortions
by the taxgatherer that a Peace-of any kind may
be accepted as a relief from evils otherwise threat-
ening to be almost interminable. Can it be
that my Lord ABERDEEN and his sympathisers
have this odious scheme for a disgraceful com-
promise among the number of their hidden cal-
culations ?

However this may be—if England and France
be really desirous of bringing the war to a speedy
and glorious close, they can only accomplish this,
we repeat, by striking a series of resolute and
daring blows at Russia through the medium of
their combined fleets in the Baltic and in the
Euxine, as far as possible, simultaneously.
After the bombardment of Odessa, with some
half-dozen of frigates, the combined fleets in the
Black Sea, it will be remembered, proceeded across
those waters directly to Sebastopol. It is known
with no less certainty that the combined fleets in
the Baltic have, with equally warlike intentions,
quitted Elfsnaben. The ultimate destination of
the maritime force under Admirals NAPIER and
DESCHENES may, wheresoever it shall proceed be-
forehand, be at once confidently anticipated.
That destination, obviously, is the inner part of
the Gulf of Finland, the vicinity of the island of
Cronstadt, the well-guarded channels leading to
the capital—St. Petersburg. Supposing Cronstadt
to be taken, and its batteries destroyed, have our
fleets the capacity of pushing onward to the Rus-
sian metropolis ? Inquiries virtually amounting
to this were addressed last evening to the First
Lord of the Admiralty by the hon. gentleman the
member for Louth—inquiries having reference to
the queition whether Sir CHARLES NAPIER is to
be supplied with gun-boats fit for the requisite
shoal-water navigation. We do not by auy
means quarrel with the manner in which Sir
JAMES GRAHAM objected to enter into particulars
in matters of such extreme delicacy as those in-
volved in the interrogation. Nevertheless, while
we conceive that the First Lord of the Admiralty
was more than simply justified in refusing to ex-
plain any such matters at any such crisis, we cannot
at the same time but sympathise most earnestly with
the solicitude evidently felt by Mr, KENNEDY in re-
gard to the notorious want of proper gun-boats in
the Baltic, gun-boats drawing so little water, even
when heavily armed, as to be suited to the shal-
low navigation of the Neva. The necessity in
this particular, we believe, is most urgent and
imperative. So urgent and so imperative, that
we shall not scruple to direct public attention to
the subject later on and more in detail—saving and
excepting in the event that due regard shall ap-
pear to have been paid to the matter by the mem-
bers of her MAJESTY'S Government. Upon the
proceedings taken by the Admiralty authorities in
this matter of proper gun-boats for the Baltic
fleet, we shall keep our eyes directed with vigilant
and unwinking watchfulness.

Since Mr. GLADSTONE has thought proper to
defend his capacity at the expense of his integrity
—since he has deemed it expedient to resort to
the specious fallacy put forward by the Times, a
quibble unworthy of the ,lowest' class of Old
Bailey practitioners, it becomes necessary to com-
pare his statement of the 6th of March with that
of the Bth of May, and to ascertain how far the
statements of the one are consistent with those of
the other, and whether, 'looking to the former by
the additional light we have since obtained, the
charge of the Right Honourable Gentleman the
member for Buckinghamshire, that it was a de-
luding estimate, and a deceptive Budget, has not
been fully and completely -substantiated. Nay,
more, we fear that we must now add, that the
error did not arise through mistake or misap-
prehension, but that the object was to delude the
public—to induce the people to believe that
which was not the whole truth, and to per-
suade their representatives in Parliament
to give their assent to , propositions
which they might have rejected had the real facts
of the case been candidly placed before them,
without evasion or mental reservation.

These are serious charges, very damaging to
the character of a public man, and it is therefore
necessary that they should be thoroughly proved,
on unquestionable testimony. We shall do so.
Out of his own mouth shall we gather the mate-
rials of his condemnation. We do not wish in
this censure to be understood as uttering a single
syllable against Mr. GLADSTONE apart from his
official position and his official proceedings. We
believe that in private life he is an upright, ami-
able, and honourable man, a gentleman in the
broadest sense of the designation—a title more
honourable than any that the proudest Monarch
of this world could confer. Against Mr. GLAD-
STONE, the individual, we have nothing to
say inconsistent with the highest respect.
Against the Chancellor of the Exchequer
we are reluctantly compelled to put for-
ward a charge of suppressio .veri, if not a
suggestio falsi, which proves him to be unworthy
of confidence in his official capacity—prevents any
reliance from being placed in his financial mea-
sures, and disqualifies him from discharging, with
credit to himself . or advantage to the nation, the
arduous and important duties of his high position.
Nothing could be more inconvenient—nothing
could be more impolitic, or more discreditable,
than being obliged to search for concealed or dis-
guised meanings in an elaborate statement. And
on the part of the community, we feel bound to
protest against the laxity of official morality that
tolerates such conduct. Mr. GLADSTONE himself
protests against it in others. He even denounces
the system in operation. In ico. 3 Budget, the
latest, and therefore the one which he will stand
by until it may be convenient to repudiate the
views put forward therein, he says—" The Hon.
Gentleman was
deluded, and why ? Because
we have a fictitto* us statement bf accounts--a state-
ment of accounts written
mysteryif
and made out as for the
n
purpose of mystery.. He
adds,
finance
eTeh eernee areef peo-
plethe who thinkgreatest virtues. That is noteur an opinion which
he ous that I entertain, but I am notC it m
may not
be held in some degree by the
perese
Comptroller
of the Exchequer." While, then, thus
others, he must look to his own
conduct, and
take heed lest, when condemning the mete in his
brother's eye, he disregard the beam in his own I
On Monday evening Mr. GLADSTONE spoke of
the expenditure) sanctioned on the 6th of March
as a mere imporary Roviisiop am made for the

purpose of meeting the expenses that had been incurred
by the Government in sending an expedition to the
East !" He follows the argument of the Times,
that "the financial scheme provided for the cost
of preparations, and no more !" That it was a
" temporary provision"—for the expenses of
the Eastern Expedition ! Now the largest por-
tion of the Supplemental Estimates consists of
freight and charges connected with the transport
service under this head. No less than 3,096,700/.
Was demanded and granted, all of which, as well
as other charges contained in the various esti-
mates, were included in the costs of the Expedi-
tion to the East which was under orders, and a
part of which had actually sailed at the very
time. Mr. GLADSTONE must, therefore, have
known, if not the exact accounts, at least that
very large sums would be required .on these ac-
counts. And one charge is that, with that distinct
knowledge, he not only refrained from giving the
slightest intimation of the true state of facts, but,
on the contrary, led the people to believe that the
doubling of the Income Tax for six months would
meet all the expenses that might fairly be antici-
pated, and, unless something unforeseen occurred,
provide for the vigorous "prosecution" of the war
for twelve months. He not only spoke of what
had been done, and what he was then announc-
ing as "looking like an intention to carry on
war with vigour," but he also says —we
quote from his own organ, that there may
be no dispute as to the authenticity of the pas-
sage :---".I WISH THE COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND
IT IS OUR BELIEF, THAT THE FUNDS FOR WHICH

WE NOW ASK WILL NOT SUFFICE TO CARRY ON THE
ACTIVE OPERATIONS OP WAR BEYOND TWELVE
MONTHS ! ! !"

Now, we ask any person of ordinary capacity,
what is the meaning of that passage ? What can
it be, but that the expenditure then referred to
would suffice, unless something unexpected should
happen, to carry on the active operations of war.
This was the sense in which he intended it to be
received. This' was the sense in which it was
received by the House and the country. Nay,
more, he explained the reason why he demanded
the whole increase of the Income Tax on the first six
months, instead of spreading it over the entire
year, in these words—" It is only, therefore, by
laying the increase of the Income Tax on the first
moiety of the year that we shall be able to levy it
within the year !" It is true that he also
declared that it was desirable to leave open the
question as to the augmentation of taxes, in the
event of the duration of the war rendering such a
proceeding necessary. But he permitted, nay,
more, induced the House to believe that unless
something unexpected should happen there would
be no further demand. How then, we ask, is it
possible to believe that his present statement is a
particle more binding or conclusive than either of
those by which it was preceded ? or, that if the
Income Tax be permanently doubled, and the
duties on Spirits, Malt, and Sugar increased in
accordance with his proposition, he may not again
come within a few weeks or months, and ask for
the addition of ten or twelve millions more to our
expenditure, and the restoration of the various
indirect imposts which have happily been got rid
of during the last quarter of a century. When no
reliance can be placed on the veracity of the Mi-
nister, very grave suspicions must naturally be
entertained, and the consequences may be ex-
ceedingly prejudicial to the public service.

But this is not• all. We shall not at present
refer to his opinions in March as to the impolicy
of indirect taxation, which he unhesi atingly
adopts to the extent of 3,600,000/. in the begin-
ning of May. We cannot forego the charge that
the Right Hon. Gentleman pledged himself on
the 6th of March that there should be no early
loan—a pledge virtually repeated and confirmed
on the 11th of April, and violated on the 21st of
the same month. The Right Hon. Gentleman
designates it as a charge of "a most gratuitous
and a most foolish character !" We emphatically
repeat it, however, notwithstanding his denial.
He says there was "no war on the 21st of April !"
that it was merely "a provision for the tempo-
rary raising of money !1" Why, what pitiful
,casuistry what contemptible equivocation—
what special pleading is here ! He asks to
borrow six millions for terms of four, five, and
six years. If he did not succeed in that object—
if it proved a total and very humiliating failure—
it was not the will that was wanting, but his
utter incompetence to manage the transaction.
Hear it, ye expectant heirs, who are desirous of
anticipating the period of enjoyment ! Rear it,
ye spendthrift youths, who are rapidly alienating
the provisions secured by the prudence of your
ancestors ! You may safely resort to your bill-
discounters, for the money raised on bonds or bills
for from five or six years is " not a loan at all,
but a provision for the temporary raising of
money !" This is a refinement beyond the com-
prehension of ordinary men—a refinement which
plain men of business will not sanction or tole-
rate. Mr. GLADSTONE has himself laid down the
principle, " that a period'of war is the last when
that important trust (the Ministership of Finance)
should be committed to hands that have been dis-
credited in the view of the House and the coun-
try." Acquiescing to the fullest extent in that
view, we leave our readers to draw the obvious
conclusion, asking whether he should be continued
in a station for which he is disqualified on even
graver grounds than those of financial incompe-
tence.

ROY AL,-MALIAN OPERA.

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.

We have never seen a more magnificent performance of
Barbiere than we witnessed last night at this opera. The
vocalism, acting, and instrumentation were all perfect, auc(
the cast, as it ought to be, was also perfect. It was as fol-
lows—Rosina, Mdlle. Bosio ; Bertha, Mdlle. Cotti ; Count
Almaviva, Signor Mario, mho, of course, experienced a mag-
nificent reception, as did, and rather indeed in a greater de-
gree, the old favourite, Signor Lablache. Signor Ronconi
was the barber, and Signor Tagliafico, Basilio.
, Jt. vuuld be, of course, ridiculous to enter into anything
approaching detail in au opera perhaps the most familiar to
the public of any of Rossiui's. We shall content ourselves
with pointing out the prominent features of the different per-
formers, beginning, of course, with the ladies.
Mdlle. Bosio improves every day. We never heard a more
delightful Rosina, with the exception of the queen of all
Rosinas. In everything she had to do she was perfect. Her
voice is strengthening, her vocalisation is more facile and
brilliant, and her intonation correct. She sang the exceed-
ingly difficult " Rode's Variations," originally intended for
the violin in the music lesson; with perfect facility. Her
bearing on the stage is also improving as her experience in-
creases, and she is now altogether one of the most promis-
ing of our prime donne. Mdlle. Cotti is also one of the im-•
provers. She sang the rapid air describing the hubbub iu
the house remarkably well, and she is taking a considerably
higher place than we remember her heretofore as holding.
Signor Mario's voice appeared to us at first rather husky
and restrained, but it brightened up as he advanced in his
part, and he acted capitally in the development of the charac-
tersof count, drunken officer, and music master.
Of Lablache, we have tosay that he was as young, and as
gambolsome, and as waddling in his gait, as ever. His mag-
nificent voice appears to have improved by rest, and in the
music lesson he sang the song that the Caffarelli sang with
all the vast power of his organ. Of course he was as
frolicsome as ever, keeping the house in a continued roar
when he was on the stage, as he was wont to do in the days
of yore.
Ronconi's barber is well known, and he played it to per-
fection. His powerful voice came out strongly in the con-
certed parts. Tagliafico made up in the most dismal fashion,
and sang the calumniating and hypocritical aria, in which he
instils these amiable qualities into the ear of Dr. Bartel°, in
the most masterly fashion.
Altogether, we repeat that the performance was eminently
complete in all the departments of the opera.
The house was brilliantly crowded, and her Majesty and
the Prince were present for a part of the evening.

The youthful Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, nephew to
her Majesty, and the Duchess of Kent's grandson, who
is serving in our navy as midshipman, has embarked,
via Copenhagen, to join the Cumberland ship-of-the-line,
one of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier's squadron.
Mr. Freshfieid, M.P. for Falmouth and Penryn, has
been unable to attend to his parliamentary duties since
the recess in consequence of an attack of inflammation.
The hon. gentleman is slowly recovering.
ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR FROM PARIS.

—ln consequence of bad weather Lord Cowley did not
leave Boulogne in-the Dover Royal mail service packet
Violet until yesterday morning. His lordship on arrival
at Dover, breakfasted at Birmingham's Ship Hotel, and
came up to London by the 9.15 express train.
THE AUSTRIAN FRIGATE RADETZKY.—SOUTHAMPTON,
TUESDAY.—This fine screw-ship, which was laid down
under orders received from the Austrian Government,
and built by the Messrs. Wigram, of Northam, left the
dock this evening for London, for the purpose of receiv-
ing her machinery. It will be remembered that a few
weeks since we noticed the launch, which took place at
the premises of her builders, since which time she has
been lying in the Southampton docks, where she has
been rigged, and a great portion of her interior fittings
placed on board. She is being assisted to London by
two steam-tugs, which arrived from the Thames this

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, including 1,000 American
taken for export. The market closed very steadily
at previous rates. The sales comprised 4,300
American, 1,400 Pernam and Maranham at 70. to
71d., 300 Bahia at 6jd., 200 Egyptian at 6d. to
7td., 700 Surat at 2id. to 4d., and 40 Sea Island
at ls. to ls. 4d. per lb. Railway shares were firm
at an advance of 1 per cent.
The following report is furnished by Messrs. W.
H. Jewesbury and Co. :--
"The quarterly sales of indigo commenced this day,
consisting of 11,180 chests (including 6,197 chests of old
good;, bought in at, or withdrawn from, former sales,
and 1,191 chests in second hands), comprising the fol-
lowing, viz.:—Catalogue A : 6,358 chests Bengal, Oude,
&c., 1,871 Madras, 1,336 Kurpah, 5 Bemhpatam, 39
Calcutta Fig., 83 Pondecherry, 3 samples, 173 with-
drawn and not printed, 121 lots warehouse sweepings-
-9,989 chests. Catalogue B: 1,191 chests. Various in
second hands. Total, 11,180 chests. The qualities of
Bengal are about two-thirds middling and ordinary, and
one-third good and fine ; the Madras, three-fourths or-
dinary and very ordinary, and one-fourth middling and
good, with a few chests fine ; the Kurpah, two-thirds
middling and ordinary, and one-third good and fine ;
the Oude, two-thirds ordinary and very ordinary, and
one-third middling and good ; the Bemlipatam, ordi-
nary. The sales opened with a parcel of middling
and good Ouaes, which mostly sold with moderate
spirit at a reduction of 4d. to 6d. per lb. upon last
February prices ; several parcels of ordinary to good
Madras followed, but were mostly withdrawn or bought
in at last sale's rates, a few lots only of the good finding
buyers—subsequently ordinary Madras sold at 3d. to
4d. per lb. discount. The greatest reduction has been
upon the good Bengal qualities, which were in limited
demand, at a decline of 6d. per lb., upon the finer de-
scriptions the fall was even greater, in some instances
fully 9d. to is. per lb ; for Kurpah the demand was
rather better, and good qualities realised about 3d. per
lb. below last sale's rates. The attendance of both
home and foreign buyers was small, and the sales have
opened very flatly ; we quote good and fine Bengal 4d.
to 6d. lower ; Kurpah, good, 2d. to 3d. lower ; ordinary
6d. to 9d. lower ; Madras, good, par to 2d. lower ; or-
dinary 4d. per lb. lower. 1,212 chests have passed to-
day, of which 398 were withdrawn, 347 bought in, and
460 sold."

There was an improvement yesterday afternoon
in, the rates of exchange upon some of the Conti-
nental cities. Paris, 90 days, was negotiated at
25 25 to 24, Ilambirgh at 13 41 to 41, Amster-
dam at 11 15 to 151, and Trieste at 13 50 to 55.
At Paris money is so abundant that a reduction
in the Bank of France rate' of discount to 4 per
cent. seems to be expected.
The New Austrian Loan, of which we wrote
last week, is stated to have been taken by the firm
of Rothschild, at Vienna, we presume, in conjunc-
tion with the other firms of the same name at
Frankfort, Paris, and Amsterdam. The amount
is 35,000,000 florins, of which 10,000,000 florins
are to be emitted at 751- per cent. in Zollverein
florins at Frankfort, and 25,000,000 florins at 712'
in Dutch florins at Amsterdam. The payments
are to be in 10 monthly instalments, with right of
anticipation, and the, interest is to be 5 per cent.,
payable at Frankfort, Amsterdam, and Paris, and
commencing from the Ist of July next. One per
cent. is to be set aside for the sinking fund, and
the Austrian Government takes the right of buying
in the open market, but of suspending its pur-
chases when the quotation is above par.
The India mail is not expected here until the
15th inst., as the Ripon steamer was three days
behind time at Malta.

The Government is still exceedingly active in
its preparations for the war. An immense num-
ber of guns are being made, and 32-pounders are
the favorites. Tenders are this morning invited
for a steamer of 800 to 1,000 tons, for the convey-
ance of cattle, and to be for six months certain.
The Committee of Mexican Bondholders have
issued a very interesting report, and the conclu-
sion is warranted that Mexico could pay nearly
3 per cent., even out of existing revenues.
Stocks opened very buoyantly this morning,
Consols having advanced to 88i 1, but there has
since been a sale to seine amount by an influen-
tial party which has caused a reaction for money
to 88 to The settlement of the account takes
place to-morrow, and occupies preliminarily, the
attention of the jobbers and brokers, who complain,
however, of having had very little to do recently.
Money appears to be easy, and should the Bears not
already have closed or arranged to " carry over"
their operations there will be a further rise in prices
probably. The foreign news this morning is not
of a nature particularly to influence prices. The
New 31 'per Cents. have been up to ssi' and are
now 87i. The 3 per Cents. have been 871 to
Bank Stock has been at 202 to 205, and India
Stock at 233 to 237. Exchequer-bills are ls. dis-
count to 2s. premium, and India Bonds have been
Ss. discount.

The New Exchequer Bonds have been at to
premium.

Foreign Stocks are quiet, but firm generally.
Mexican are steady at 231, Brazilian Small Bonds
at 94, and Spanish 3 per Cents. at 36. Russian
5 per Cents., after being at 93i-, rose to 944, and
the 41- per Cents. are 80. Dutch 2i per Cents.
have declined to 58.

In a few of the principal Railway Shares there
have been several transactions ; but the general
business was not large. Great Western rose ss.
to 10S. ; Lancashire and Yorkshire 10s. to 1/. ;
Midland, 10s. to 11. ; North Stafford, 5s ; and
York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 10s. to 1/. rench
Shares wet° also firmer. Paris and Lyons were
10s., and Paris and Strasbourg ss. to 10s. better.
Mining shares were dull, and rather lower.
Bank Shares remained steady.
Land Companies' shares were neglected.

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

Business done.
Bank Stock .....•••••••••••••.... 205 2
per Cent. Reduced Annuities B7l
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities BBl 1 8
New 31 per Cent. Annuities BBl 8 / 71,
India Stock •
3
India Bonds, £lOOO ......
' d
Consols for Account 11th May BB4 a
Exchequer Bills, 2d.
£l000
Small 2 p
Bonds Scrip P
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
6razilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Small

Vexican 3 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £ St 93A 4}
Ditto 4i per Cent BO

•
Spanish linuds, 3 per Cent 351
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Gull 5B
HALF-PAST TWO.
Consols BB A
Ditto May Account

AUSTRIA IN WANT OP MORE MONEY.—The Austrian
Government has opened a subscription at Frankfort and
Amsterdam for three millons and a half sterling.
THE EARL OF ELGIN.—We have reason to believe that
the Earl of Elgin is charged with a special mission to
the Government of the United States, in reference to
questions arising out of the present war. For this pur-
pose his lordship will proceed to Washington on his re-
turn to his governMent in Canada.
TENDERS FOR HEMP.—The Navy Board yesterday did
not accept any of the offers made for hemp, but simply
stated that they would write to the several parties by
Whom tenders bad been seat in.
MAURITIUS. —Advices from Mauritius to the 16th of
March had been received. The weather was favourable
for plantation operations, and the prospects of the crop
were satisfactory. The total quantity of sugar returned
for 1853-54 was 190,000,0001 b., of' which 130,038,3221 b.
had been shipped to the United Kingdom. The prices
of the finer qualities ranged from $4 50c. to $5 40c.
Tonnage having become scarce, the rates of freight had
advanced from 2/. 15s. to 3/. Treasury-bills, at 30 days'
sight, were 1 per cent. pm. ; private bills, three months'
sight, 2 to 3 per cent. dis.
THE CLEARING-HOUSE.--It has not yet been defini.
tively settled when the joint-stock banking establish.
ments of London are to be admitted to the privileges of
the Clearing-house, but it is believed that. the 24th of
June next will be the day appointed. In consequence of
the large amount of extra business which will then be
transacted, the place of business will be removed to the
Hall of Commerce.
THE CHARGE OF CORRUPTION AGAINST IRISH MEM-
BERS.—The select committee appointed to investigate
this charge re-assembled yesterday, for the purpose of
hearing further evidence. The proceedings took place
with closed doors, and we were given to understand that
the remainder of the investigation would be in private.
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN IN ONE OP
THE CARRIAGES UPON THE GREENWICH RAILWAY.—
Yesterday morning a most painful instance of the un-
certainty of human life occurred to a gentleman, about
50 years of age, named Adams, of Morden-terrace,
Lewisham-road, in one of the first-class carriages be-
longing to the above-mentioned line of railway. It
appeared that the deceased gentleman had walked some-
what sharply from his residence, which is but a short
distance from the Greenwich Railway, and had scarcely
taken his seat in the carriage when he was observed to
turn pale, and his head fall back. He was instantly
lifted from the carriage, and taken into the first-class
waiting room, and a medical gentleman living opposite,
who was at that moment just leaving home, instantly
hurried across, but found that he was dead, and that the
event must havebeen most instantaneous, and it was sup-
posed arose from disease of the heart. Later in the day,
Mr. Carter, the coroner, held an inquest at the station
upon the body, and a verdict in accordance with the
medical testimony was returned. The affair, as may be
supposed, has created a most painful sensation amongst
a large circle of gentlemen, to whom he was known by
travelling with them almost daily upon this line of
railway,
. .

AMERICA.

(BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
ARRIVAL OF THE ARCTIC.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

The United States mail steam-ship Arctic, which
was to leave New York on the 29th ult., arrived
off Holyhead at 11 o'clock this morning. She will
bring four days' later Intelligence than that con-
veyed by the America on Monday last.
It is expected she will arrive in the Mersey in
time for the evening mail, and first delivery in
London on Thursdiy morning.

CITY OF GLASGOW
STEAMER.

(BY ELECTRICTELEGRA.PB.)

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday, 10.20 a.m.—Messre.
Richardson, Brothers, of this town, have just re-
ceived the following telegraphic despatch from
Queenstown, it being thought that the steamer seen
was the missing City of Glasgow.

The Captain of the Baldaur, arrived at Queens-
town, reports as follows :—April 21, lat. 45.30,
long. 32.54, two miles distant, saw a large steamer,
hull and funnel black, inside painted drab,
paddle boxes yellow, fore and fore top mast,
sail yard and top, nothing on the mainmast ;
great beam, and strong list to port. Saw no people
nor smoke. She was headed north, but altered
course towards the Baldaur, and immediately dis-
appeared. The Baldaur steered there ; saw large
quantities of biscuits and boxes. When first ob-
served a barque was alongside the steamer, but she
steered away south.
The above description applies to the City of
Glasgow, with the exception of paddle boxes, and
it is thought that the captain of the Baldaur might
have taken the houses on deck, which are painted
yellow, for paddle boxes:

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

BY SUBMAIUXE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.

TRIESTE, Tuesday, May 9.—The steamer Calcutta
arrived here this morning, at 11.30 a.m., in 113
hours from Alexandria.

ALEXANDRIA, May 4. The Indian mail has
arrived at Alexandria, with advices from Calcutta
to the Gth April ; Madras, 10th April ; Shanghai,
15th March ; Manilla, 21st March ; Hong Kong,
27th March ; Singapore, 4th April ; and Bombay,
14th April.

Burin- ah continues in a disturbed state.
The electric telegraph between Agra and Calcutta,
a distance of 800 miles, is completed.
Business fair. Indigo neglected. Exchange at
Calcutta, 2s. ld.; Shanghai, ss. Bd.; Canton, ss. 2d.
The Russian fleet left Manilla on the 18th March
for Batavia.

The English steamer has not yet arrived at Alex.
andria.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL HIGH
LAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The usual anniversary festival of this valuable society
is fixed to take place on Saturday, May 27, at the Lon-
don Tavern ; his Grace the Duke of Montrose has con-
sented to preside. As officers are " particularly re-
quested" to appear in uniform, and Scottish gentlemen
in Highland garb, the scene at the dinner will probably
be a very brilliant one. The secretary, Mr. Mackie,
whose exertions on behalf of the society have not only
been unremitting, but eminently successful, we regret to
find retires from his office this year, being about to re-
ide in Scotland. He now appeals, and we hope not
without receiving a warm response, to his friends and
countrymen to give him their support on the occasion,
in order that his last official effort in aid of "the children
of the north" may be made with eclat. The anniversary
sermon of the society will be preached on the forenoon
of Sunday, June 25, by his Grace the Archbishop of
Canterbury, at Portman Chapel, Baker-street. It having
been stated that the Crystal Palace would be opened on
the 27th May, the managers bAhought themselves of
changing the day for the festival, but on communicating
with Sir Joseph Paxton, the secretary received a reply
to the effect that the day had not been appointed for the
opening.

THE PROPOSED POLISH LEGION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir, —Will you allow me to present a few observations
on the question, "A Polish Legion to be formed in
Turkey," and which has been spoken of at the last meet-
ing of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland?
Considering the endeavours of the Association, the
principal feeling, of course, is that of gratitude for its
efforts in behalf of Poland and the Polish exiles. One
of the most striking facts is, certainly, the journey the
President of the Society, Lord Dudley Stuart, under-
took in Turkey, and his endeavours there, now crowned
with success, that a Polish Legion might be formed.
• The members of the Association engaged the exiles to
join this Legion. Now, Sir, wherever an armed and
organised number of Poles is established, there the na-
tional cause of Poland is represented, and this was the
principal idea which had conducted them in the year
1848-49 to all the fields of battle. Considering those
feelings, a Legion in Turkey was certainly very desira-
ble, so much the more, as it is intended to struggle
against Russia. the principal enemy of Poland.
But since England and France have joined the war,
the situation has become quite different. The Black
Sea is open, and a trace of its Polish shores quite free.
The Poles have now at hand what a little time ago they
were obliged to seek for in the east. It occurs to me
that the friends of the Polish cause in this country in
general, and particularly the Literary Association,
should turn their attention towards that very important
circumstance, and that they should impress upon the
Government the necessity of sending an organised Polish
corps, under the protection cf the Allied Powers, to the
shores of Samagitia.
I perfectly understand that the united Powers are
placed in a difficult situation in regard to Austria and
Prussia, but if Turkey is allowed to organise a Polish
Legion, which will certainly march into Poland if it ap-
proaches the frontiers, I- see no reason why Eng-
land • and France being now at war with Russia,
should not send at once the Polish patriots to
Samagitia. If the Allied Powers are desirous to
put a final check to Russian encroachments, they must
at once put forward freely and openly the question of
Poland's independence, otherwise the struggle will be
found more difficult than it was anticipated. Russian
trade might be destroyed, its industry ruined ; but it
will not be so easy to subdue an empire where the sun
never sets, and the population of which is accustomed to
every privation and hardship in life.
There is still another consideration. Things are now
coming to such a point that there is but little choice left
to the Poles between degradation by becomingßussians,
and entire destruction. A known Russian general lately
said inWarsaw, "Should the French and English ever enter
Poland they shall find nothing but ruins." And in reality
they are at work. The sons of the country are driven away
by thousands to fight the battles of the foe, and those who
remain are ruined by every possible exaction. What
have the Poles, then, to lose, in attempting to throw, off
the yoke ? But it would be extremely desirable that
any possible outbreak should be guided by the Allied
Powers, which after all is very easy, the way to Sama-
gitia being shorter than that to Constantinople, The
Birnam Wood Sir Charles Napier is carrying on his
men-of-war approaches fast to St. Petersburg, re-
minding its modern Macbeth of his downfall. I hope
the Polish banner shall wave under its shade, and that ,
the Polish wsrriors will soon be carried by your fleets
to the shores of their own country, to fight the decisive
battle for liberty and independence.—l am, sir,
yours, &c.

JOSEPH REITZENHEDI,
May 9, 1854. Polish Officer.