The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-15 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Lieutenant—Francis Peel (1848), recently returned from
the Pacific station, where he served in the Thetis, 38, Cap-
tain Augustus L. Kuper, since she was commissioned in
July, 1850, is appointed to the Edinburgh, 58, screw
steam-ship, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Henry D.
Chads, C. 8., one of the ships of the Baltic squadron now
at Portsmouth.
Paymaster—Frederick Brady (1842), to the Majestic, 81,
screw steam-ship, at Sheerness.

WOOLWICH, FEB. 14.
The Archer, 14, screw steam-sloop, recently paid off at
this port, is ordered to be made ready again for sea with
all possible despatch.
The Widgeon, steam-vessel, is to be employed as a tug
for towing the lighters that may be required to take stores
from Deptford to Sheerness, when the Baltic fleet assem-
bles at the Nore to take on board provisions and the requi-
site necessaries for service at sea.
New boilers are ordered to be made ready for the Odin,
16, paddle-wheel steam-frigate, of 560-horse power, Capt.
Francis Scott, at present at Lisbon.
Twelve of the workmen of the factory at Woolwich
dock-yard left yesterday, and six to-day, proceeded by
railway to Devonport, having been lent to that dockyard
to assist in getting the boilers and machinery on board. the
Algiers, 91, screw steam-ship, as she is ordered to be made
ready for commission as soon as possible.
An order has been sent from the Admiralty tothis dock-
yard to enter extra workmen in the factory to expedite
all the works on hand, and keep pace with the shipwrights,
as now that the latter are employed on job and task work,
they are earning about 325. per week, or one-third more
than their former wages of 24e. per week.
The Lizard, steam-tender, at Sheerness, is ordered to
Woolwich, to have new boilers put on board.
A number of packages went down by the North Kent
Railway to-day to be put on board the Heels, steam-sloop,
Master Commander Peter Wellington, to be employed on
a special service in surveying the Baltic sea coasts.
The Zephyr, steam-vessel, in charge of Master Com-
mander Henry William Allen, of the Lightning, with the
crew of that vessel, is to take the newly-raised men who
have recently joined the Fisgard, flag-ship, at this port, to
be put on board the ships at Sheerness. The newly-raised
men were exercised for several days with small arms, and
when firing vollies they were remarkably uniform. Eighteen
pensioners, hale and hearty, although not young men,
came to Woolwich to-day to be inspected previous to pro-
ceeding as youlunteera with the newly-raised men to join
the ships at Sheerness, and assist the landsmen in acquiring
a knOwledge of their duties.
The dockyard police have commenced their drills to-day
at this early period of the season, and the whole force will
have to go through a course of drill instruction and exer-
cises with swords and muskets.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 14.
The Porcupine,' paddle steam-vessel, Lieutenant Corn.
Jackson, was paid wages to-day.
The Caesar, 91, screw-ship, Captain Robb, hauled ont of
the fitting-basin to-day, having stepped her fore and main
mast. We hear she is to be ready for sea by the 6th of
March.
The Dauntless, 24, screw-frigate, Captain Ryder, com-
pleted the adjustment of her compasses to-day, and is
ready to go to Spithead.
The Vulcan, 6, steam troop-ship, Commander Von
Donop, is ordered to be undocked on Wednesday, and the
Conway will go in the vacant dock.
The Princess Royal, 90, screw-ship, Captain Paget, has
taken her crew on board from the berthing hulk, and is
ready for Spithead.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 14.
The Racehorse, 14, sloop, sailed at noon on Sunday J.
the East India station. She takes out twenty-three sure
numeraries for her Majety's ships on that station
The Bulldog and Wizard, sloops, will go out of harbour
to-day. The former vessel was only commissioned a month
ago by Commander Hall, and she is now fully manned.
Tho Jaspar, steam-tug, arrived on Sunday afternoon from
Falmouth, Fowey, and Penzance, having on board sixty
Coast-guard men. Twenty-eight of the same corps arr iced
on the previous day from the Fowey district.. They are
victualled at present on board the impregnable, 104, flag-
ship. Fifteen embarked on board the same ship yesterday
from the Plymouth district.
Four thousand sots of clews and lashings are to be de-
spatched from this dockyard forthwith for transport ser-
vice.
The St. George, 120, Captain Kingcome, flag- hi
ter
of
Commodore Seymour, was towed into the key or ou
dock at Keyhain yesterday afternoon's tide. This after-
noon she will be docked in the Queen's Dock to have her
bottom cleaned, &c., preparatory to sailing for the Downs,
where the Baltic fleet are ordered to assemble on the 6th of
next month.

SHIPWRECK AT SEA.---Captain Pecan, of the ship
'Westmorland, from Philadelphia,i at Liverpool, reports
having fallen in with the new ship Mary T. Starret,
Captain Crocket, of Roseland, from New York to Havre,
on the Ist instant, in lat. 45 N., long. 37 W., in a very
leaky state, with loss of all her sails, rudder, and fore-
mast, and with half her cargo overboard. She took the
crew off the wreck (1 S in number, captain included), and
sent the carpenter to seutLle the vessel to prevent her
causing any destruction to other ships,

BANKRUPTS.
Washington Yarroll and Thomas Hallam, tailors, High-
street, Borough, to surrender, Feb. 22 and April 5, at
eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Nicholson, official
assignee, Basinghall-street ; Linklater, Sise-lane.
Richard George Beesley, cotton spinner, Manchester,
Feb. 24, and March 17, at twelve, at the Manchester Dis-
trict Court. Pott, official assignee, Manchester ; Atkin-
sons and Last, Manchester.
Isaac Dewhirst, commission agent, Halifax, Feb. 27, and
March 28;at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope,
official assignee, Leeds ; Rudd and Kenny, Halifax ; Bond
and Barwick, Leeds.
Rowland Hill, lace merchant, Nottingham, Feb. 24 and
March 17, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court.
Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Shilton, Nottingham.
Bircham Alpe, milliner,Dukei,treet, Manchester-square,
Feb. 20 and April 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bank-
ruptcy. Nicholson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ;
Linklater, Sise-lane.
Charles Leake, grocer and draper, Crowland, Lincoln,
Feb. 24, and March 17, at ten, at Birmingham Dis-
trict Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ; Hill
and Matthews, St. Mary Axe ; Bray and Bridges, Bir-
mingham.
George Brooks, builder, Tonbridge Wong, Feb. 25, at
eleven, and March 31, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Whitmore, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Richard-
son and Talbot, Bedford-row; Foreman, Tonbridge Wells.
Alexander Stuart, grocer and cheesemonger, Chelsea,
Feb. 23, at eleven, and March 30, at twelve, at Court
of Bankruptcy. 8011, official assignee, Coleman-street-
buildings ; Fitch, Southwark.
James Heathwaite, cheesemonger King-street, Covent-
garden, Feb: 24, and March 27, at half-past eleven, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Cannan, official assignee, Alder-
manbury.; Ashurst and Son, Old Jewry.
Frederick James West, draper, 21, London-terrace,
Hackney-road, Feb. 24, and March 28, at twelve, at the
Court of Bankruptcy. Lee, official assignee, Moorgate-
street ; Jones, Sise-lane.
James Gibney, currier and leather seller, Notting-
ham, Feb. 24th and March 17, at ten, at the Birmingham
District Court. Harris, official assignee, Nottingham ;
Coope, Nottingham.
Thomas Ballinger, confectioner and baker, Birmingham,
Feb. 23, and March 22, at twelve, at Birmingham District
Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Hodg-
son, Birmingham.
Joseph Grave, warehouseman, Manchester, Feb. 28 and
March 28, at twelve o'clock, at the Manchester District
Court. Fraser, official assignee ; Norris and Allen, Lon-
don ; John and William Norris, Manchester.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS._ _ .

Whose estates and effects have been vested in the Provi-
sional Assignee.
To be heard at Portugal-street, Feb. 28.—James Hamil-
ton Browne, sen., 6, Royal Avenue-terrace, Chelsea, gen-
tleman, occasionally wine-seller on commission.
At the Same Place, March I.—Thomas Heatherly, jun.,
Guildford-place, Exmouth-street, artist.
At the Same Place, March 2.—James Johnson, River-
terrace, King's-cross, out of business.
At Chester, Feb. 28.—Thomas Hitchmough, Runcorn,
ship broker and commission agent.
At Bristol, March I.—John Pellowe, Bristol, cabinet-,
maker and commission agent—Richard John Saltren
Robins, Queen's Hotel, St. Martin's-le-Grand, out of busi-
ness.
At Maidstone, March 2.—George Wood, Ash, • Kent, out
of business - -Josiah Harris, Gravesend and Moorgate-street,
City, analytical and manufacturing chemist and commis-
sion agent—Thomas Richards, Whitstable, Kent, master
mariner—Anthony Thomas Blest, Woolwich, out of Omni-
ness.
At Lincoln, March 2.—Elijah Dixon, Stamford, carpen-
ter, joiner, and builder—Joseph Burton, Stamford, out of
business—George Thorold, Marston, schoolmaster.
DIVIDENDS.
(At Portugal-street, Feb. 28.)
John Harper, Redmarley D'Abitot, Worcestershire,
yeoman.
John Kindred, Framlingham, Suffolk, miller.
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.

H. Webster and P. Webster, East Doreham, Norfolk,
grocers—J. Boyd and J. Wilkinson, Clayton-le-Moors,
Lancashire, calico printers—J. Gott, J. Cryer, J. Gledhill,
and J. Dixon, Bingley, Yorkshire—D. Goldthorp and S.
Lee, Thornhill, Yorkshire, corn millers—C. CoHick and
J. Wyatt, Upper Thames-street, wholesale druggists—
W. Bradley and H. Bradley, Kingston-upon-Hull, corn
factors—G. Murray, J. Murray, and B. R. Murray, Man-
chester, cotton spinners (so far as regards G. Murray)—S.
S. Sweet and T. J. Gibson, Nottingham, painters —D.
Knight, W. Edwards, and Elizabeth Edwards, Maidstone,
Kent, wharfingers— G. Borwick and S. Priestly, London-
wall and Birmingham, drysalters—W. Higgings and H.
Cooke, Hawley-terrace, Hampstead-road, drapers and ha-
berdashers—F. Lloyd, B. Tomkinson, and W. Lloyd,
Shelton, Staffordshire, earthenware manufacturept—T.
Sargeson and T. Jex, Holbeach, Lincolnshite, _Rain ers,
plumbers, and glaziers—H. Pemberton and W. W. Open-
shaw, Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, manufacturing chemists
J. Clarke and W. Oates, Helston, Cornwall, wine aad
spirit merchants and mine agents—J. Taylor &W. Taylor,
Birmingham, hatters—W. J. Curt y Bet Fuller, Alders-
gate-street, City, wine mercha,nts—Ft, W. Smith, T.
Dale, and J. Rostron, Manchester, tailors and drapers—E.
Gripper, and E. Gripper, jun., Layer Breton, Essex
farmers—G. Bowen and J. Wharton, Aslacton, Norfolk,
farmers—D. Judson and J. Wilson, Scott's-yard, Bush.
lane, City, and Bermondsey, merchants and drysalters—
J. Dawson and R. Dawson, Newall, Otley, Yorkshire,
farmers—Betty Woraley, J. Duckworth, and J. Heys'
Drybank, Rochdale, Lancashire, coal proprietors—W.
Mumford. and T. W. Lovegrove, Nottingham, lacem
C. Taylor, J. Berry, and J. Barry, Lockwood, woollenen
cloth finishers.
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.
J. Longwill, innkeeper, Glasgow, to meet. Feb. 23, at
one, within the Tontine Hotel, Glla
T. Knox, Berwick, shoemaker, tlOgrnoweet Feb. 24, at one,
within the Black Bull Inn, Dunse.

COURSE, OF EXCHANGE—YESTEDDLY.
Amsterdam...... • • • • .. 11 141% Gibraltar .. . • •• • • •• ••
Ditto, three:months .. 11 16 I..eghorn ... • • • • • • • • • ;.3,? !.,1,,,
Rotterdam ... ..... .... 11 1614 Genoa .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1"' '' ' 72
Antwerp .............. 25 20 ;Milan . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Bruasels .............. 25 20 ;Venice ...... • • • • • • •
Hamburgh ........ 13 51,q Naples .... . • • • ........ 42
Altona ................ ;Palermo ....... • ...... 12g34
Paris • • • • • • • • . • .... 25 0 ;Messina .. . ...... ... 127
Ditto, three months .. 25 30 ;Lisbon .......... .. 531.
Marseilles.. • • .- .
Bourdeaux ............ ;Rio Janeiro .. • • •... .. .. ---
Frankfort-on-Maine .... 118 W Buenos A}TOS ...... , ... - -
Berlin
................ New York, 60 days' sight
--
Vienna ....„ „ „ ...... 12 50 Philadelphia ...„.....
Trieste
Petersburgh............ Foreign Gold in Bars £3 17 9
Madrid ..... . 50% Portugal Gold Coln .. 0 0 u
Cadiz
.........
.. .., 50% Mexican Dollars .. , . 0 5 0
8ar0e1cua......,...... ~ •—• . New Dollars ...... 0 0 0
sfAile ....• . r Sg
_._._ ---_____,• • Yer4llmrs ...... 0 5 1%

MANCHESTER, Feb. 14.—The overland mail has rather
increased the previous demand for, twist adapted to the
eastern trade. For Germany and the Mediterranean,
too, there has been rather more doing, very much in an-
ticipation of orders to come. The consequence is that
16's to 24's, and also 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's mule, to-
gether with mock water, and hard and twisted yarns, as
well as 24's and 28's warp, and more difficult to purchase
!to-day Doubled yarns continue at least firm, and are
very scarce. The home consumers of single yarns, how-
ever, have not been active buyers to-clay ; but they bave
found prices quite firm. The steady demand of last week
for the lower qualities of shirtings, jacconets, and mada-
nollams has been somewhat strengthened to-day by the
eastern advices ; and this gives the producers a slight
advantage in making a bargain.
ItoarDALE, Feb. 13.—The market has been very in-
. ac',ive to-day, and the amount of goods sold has been
very lihiited. The wool market has been still, and the
manufacturers purchase very sparingly for immediate
use only. The price is much the same as for some weeks
past.
HALIFAX, Feb. 11.—The langaur that has for some
time past characterised the worsted trade continues Un-
abated ; and every department, from the raw material
to the finished fabric, is in a depressed condition. Few
transactions are remunerative, and prices generally have
a dOwnward tendency.
HUDDERSFIELD, Feb. 14.—There has been a very fiat
market to-day. The only sign of animation has been
exhibited by the shipping merchants, whose purchases
of low goods have been moderate. The home trade at
present is very quiet, and the inquiries generally are for
new patterns. There is very little doing in the wool
warehouses.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING, FEB. 15,
Will be performed the Tragedy of HAMLET. Characters by
Mr. G. V. Brooke, T. Mead, G. Mead, and Belton; Mrs. Vickery,
and Miss Featherstone.
To conclude with KING HUMMINGTOP ; or, Harlequin and the
Land of Toys,

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
trader the management of Mr. Bnekstone.
THIS EVENING, Fin. 13,

Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Characters by Messrs.
Elliott Baler, W. Farren, Compton, Rogers, Howe, Clark, Core, and
Callenford ; Miss Cushman, Miss Julia liatiand, and Mrs. L. S.
Buckingham.
After which, the Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, called
HARLEQUIN A.NDe aelf lIREE BEARS ; or, Little Silverhair
and the Fairies. Columtte, Miss M. Brown ; Harlequin, Mr. J.
Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES KEAN.
THIS EVENING, Faa. 15,
Will be performed the Tragedy of HAMLET. Principal charac-
ter by Mr. C. Kean.
After which will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN-
TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE MILLER AND
HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure
Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon,
Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
THIS EVENING, Psis. 15,
Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by
Masers. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes.
After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE
UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO E.INGS. Principal cha-
racters by Mr. Roxby and Madame Vestris.
To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING, FEB. 15,
will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama
in Rye taoleaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c,, new
dresses and appointments, called THE ratair OF GOLD; or,
THE LOST gRIP AND VIE WILD FLOWER. OF 111F.XICO:
Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford,
Madame Celeste, Sc,c•
To be followed by the popular and entirely New Grand Specta-
cular legendary Christmas piece, in two act 3, with new scenery,
dresses. machinery, and appointments, called NUMBER NIP, or
THE SPIRIT BRIDE. Principal characters by Mr. Paul Bedford,
Madame Celeste, Mrs. Keeley, MISS WOOlZar, &C.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Les;eo and Manage:, Mr. A. Wigan.
THIS EVF.NING, FEB. 15,
Wlll be performed THF. FIRSV NIGHT. Characters by Messrs.
Alfred Wigan. Leslie, Franks, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; Miss
p. Horton, an,i Miss Wysidbani.
After which, THE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by
Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Le lie, and F. Robson ; and Mrs. A. Wigan.
Followed by THE WANDERING MINSTREL.

STRAND THEA.TRE.
So'a Lessee, Mr. F. W. Alleroft.—Directress, Misi Rebecca Isaacs.

THIS EVENING, F. 13,
Will be performed THE itonv,Eit's +NUE.
To be followed by STATE SECEE I'S; or, The Irish Ambassador.

After whidi, the new gratti Comic ('lirlstmai Pantomime entitled
il ARO:QUIN A\l) ; or, The World of
Toys. Clown, by he inimitable Flex:more ; llarlecoln, Mr. Bologna ;
Pantalooa, Mr. Gri fah* ; Colt uOitw, tlieB Coward.

Stalk, 51.; Iloxei. 3i.; Pit, lq. fki; Gallery, 6d. ; Private Iloxep,
1/. Ili. to be had o; Mr. .I:lcroft, 15, New Bowl-street.

AsTLErs ELIIIOPE',4 NATIONAL AMPIIITIIEATRE,
Lessee auti Manager, Mr. Wllliim Cooke.

Extraordinary cottb!na• ion of attr tction—The Performing Ele-
pilaus, whose woluirous feats an) hitherto unheard of incredible
perfirmances now share the,' tritrimits with their petite
rival IA: St !CG F: sAvANT; or, Niirfile ,Ilarcnozzt. He is indeeP
another wonder, for his tricks and exercises are achieved with such
human-like action, that the liehriller can readily imagine he is
watchj,ig in a inirvir the reflective actions of a mail. In addition to
these " Zooloi<leal Stars," the Grand Chilies) S'oectacle (which has
reached its sfith nizlit). The inimitable Seene,s of the Arena, and
the success‘til aad gorvous Pantomime, formic; the most novel and
unparalleled entertainment ever offered to the public.

TILTS EVENING, Fan. 15,
and daring the week, THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST,
or TIM MAGIC GONG, in which Mr. William Cooke's Matchless
Scenes of the CIRCLE, and the Grand Comic Pantomime or BILLY
BUT lON'S ZiOLIRNEY TO BRENTFORD ; or, harlequin and the
Ladies' Favourite.
siox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
W est.

HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE.
rn DAY —Morning 33 min.after 3 I Evening 48 min.aft. 3
To•Mon.aow-- Morning 5 min.after 4 I Evening 21 niin.aft. 4

THE WEATHER.—Suri OF?ics, FEB, 15.
THEE'AOMETET., IN THE SHADE.
46—highest since noon vz,sterday.
40—lowest this morning and during the night.
43—this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 30'03—a fall of more than half an inch
since yesterday.
WIND, N.N.E.—Light breeze, with dull weather.
Heavy fall of rain in the night.

!
gi3) •

^~~

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1854

An elaborate explanation was last evening ex
forted from her MAJESTY'S Ministers, in the House
of Peers, in reference to their foreign policy during
the last twelve months—the Prime Minister, the
Lord Privy Seal, and the Foreign Secretary speak-
ing at considerable length in vindication of the
course pursued in regard to this Russo-Turkish
difficulty by the Coalition Government. It is par-
ticularly worthy of remark, that the geavamen, of
the charges directed against the Cabinet in this
important matter was so directed by a nobleman
in no way allied by political interests or political
sympathies with the DERBY-DISRARLI Opposition.
The discussion was originated by the motion of
an ex-Member of the last Whig Administration.
Naturally enough, of course, the accusations
brought forward in this manner by the Mar-
quis of CLANRICARDE, in an harangue remark-
able for its tone of serious and dignified
reprehension, were enforced in severity by the yet
bolder disapproval avowed by the Earl of MA.LMES-
BURY, and by the searching and statesmanlike
analysis of our late foreign policy, upon which the
ex-Prime Minister of England yesterday adven-
tured—his materials for analysis, the Blue Book,
his audience, an attentive gathering in the Upper
House of the Legislature. Although, as might
have been expected, the motion which elicited
the debate was a mere formality, and was with-
drawn, as a matter of course, at the close of the
discussion, it was, nevertheless, productive of
all the advantage that could have been rea-
sonably looked for under existing circumstances.
It drew forth, as we have said, the Min-
isterial explanation. For this we are in-
debted in tile first instance to the Marquis of
CLANRICARDE, and subsequently, as already inti-
mated, to the outspoken opinions of the Earl of
DERBY and of the Noble Lord his Foreign Secre-
tary. Against these were opposed the Duke of
ARGYLL, the Earl of ABERDEEN and his Foreign
Secretary, the Earl of CLARENDON. Others par-
ticipated in the contest, as, for example, Lord
GLENELG, who appears to have regarded the con-
duct of the Coalition throughout with an all-
believing generosity and a complacent satisfaction
—the Earl of ELLESMERE, whose mingled chivalry
and sagacity lead him to deprecate the notion
of any perverse interferenee with our military
and maritime forces by diplomatic agency—and
Lord GREY, who, in regard to this Eastern Ques-
tion as in regard to almost everything else, is as
crotchetty in his views as he is dogmatical in the
manner of their enunciation. Setting these three,
however, aside,
,the onus of the debate lay, as we
have remarked, on the one side upon the Earl of
DERBY, and the Earl of MALMMBURY, and the
Marquis of CLANRICARDE —and on the other upon
the Duke of ARGYLL, and the Earl of ABERDEEN,
and the Earl of CLARENDON. Between them as
many of the arguments both " for" and "against"
Ministers were adduced as could possibly have
been desired as the result of one night's discussion
for the guidance of the councils of the Upper
Chamber of the Legislature. A companion
debate, it will be observed, is threatened for
Friday evening next in the House of Commons,
when on the question of going into a'
when
Committee of Supply, Mr. LAYARD is to
call at-
tention to the present state of our relations with
Russia and Turkey, thereby, of course, compelling
Lord JOHN- RUSSELL, as the chief organ of the
Cabinet in that division of Parliament, to enter
vindication of the fo •
upon some new reign policy
of the Coalition—possibly, moreover, interrupt-
ing the prolonged and tranquil reveries indulged
in by Lord PALMERSTON ever since the reas-
sembling of the Legislature and breaking, it
is silence hitherto main-
may be, the cautioi
tained upon the same subject of our fo-
reign relations by Lord DERBY'S Chancellor of
the Exchequer. So that, after all,
.a month will
7 T not have elapsed before Ministers will have been
driven to the unwelcome necessity of explaining
-
their foreign policy in both the Upper and the
Lower HOuse of the Imperial Parliament. Quite
a. marvel of promptitude and rapidity under the
eircumstalices—after the last ten or eleven months
deplorable experience.
Elsewhere, besides the important debate in the
House of Lords last evening, will be found a do-

cument of extraordinary interest at the present
juncture—now, when, according to the notable
expressions of the Noble Earl the Foreign Secre-
tary, although we are not actually at war,
although, at the same time we are not
strictly speaking at peace, "we are in
that intermediate state when the endeavours
to preserve peace might be as sincere as ever, but
when our hopes were gradually dwindling away,
and we are drifting towards war ! " At a junc-
ture of such imminence, the remarkable docu-
ment here referred to cannot fail to be perused
with peculiar interest—that admirable letter ad-
dressed by the French EMPEROR to the Russian
AUTOCRAT, a letter, the calmness and resolution of
which are eminently befitting one who wields the
sceptre of NAPOLEON, and wears the diadem of
CHARLE3IA.GNE. Again, let us remember—with
yesterday's discussion in the House of Lords be-
fore us, and that masterly document from the
hand of NAPOLEON 111.—that everything still de-
depends upon the will of the CZAR—that the signal
for peace or war must become audible from St.
Petersburgh. Only the faintest possibilities (not
probabilities, but possibilities) of a pacification
survive at this moment, the reiterated failure of
our diplomatic negotiations, according even
to the showing of the Prime Minister, and of
the Foreign Secretary of the Coalition Govern-
. ment. Supposing, however, that through the in-
sensate pride and arrogant ambition of the Emperor
NICHOLAS, even this faint and feebly recognised
possibility should be dissipated—it is gratifying
at last to know that France and England are
resolved upon no half-measures in defence of Tur-
key, and to remember that, according to the
patriotic intimation of Lord DERBY last evening,
the Cabinet will be supported in this energetic
course by her MAJESTY'S Opposition.

At length Parliament is about to take the Law
of Settlement into its serious consideration. Not

merely as in bygone years, by the appointmen

of a Select Committeee, or the Publication of a

bulky addition to that peculiar class of literature

denominated " Blue Books," but by a very de-
cided alteration, and au equally decided improve-
ment in the existing law. Henceforward the

entire system of "shuttlecock pauperism" wi

at once, and fur ever, be extinguished. The
" BUMBLES" of the various parishes will no longer

have opportunities afforded for making pleasure
excursions to the modern Babylon. Nor will

these " inflexible" functionaries be enabled to
gratify their amour propre by making the
" Clerkenwell Sessions find themselves in the
wrong box," or even to exhibit their calculating
powers, by showing that it would " come to two
pound cheaper to move 'em (i.e. the casuals) than
to bury 'enr ! " These felicitous operations will

be numbered with the past, nor (for every plea.

sure has its drawback—and there is said to be
" a skeleton in every Mansion") will the " poro-
chal" " beadles be aggravated by the perverse be-
haviour of the badly-fed and scantily-clothed
paupers, in shivering and complaining of cold
during the journey." No, "from and after the
passing of the bill, it shall not be lawful to re-
move bv force any poor person upon the ground
of settlement from any parish in England or
Wales."

This is unquestionably a vast amelioration, but
when we look to the arguments of Mr. BAINES,
and the evidences adduced by the Right Hon.
Gentleman in support of proposition, we only
wonder that the power that was so grievously
abused, and which had been so long and so unequi-
vocally condemned by the highest authorities,
should not have been abrogated many years ago.
It was, indeed, a law of which it was difficult to
say whether it was most unjust, most oppressive,
or most impolitic. One which made the expense
of relief fall not upon the parish where the pauper
had applied his labour while he had strength, and
could be regarded as a valuable element in the po-
pulation—a creator and producer of national wealth,
but upon that where he happened to be born, or
to have acquired a settlement by any recognised
means, which reduced him to the condition of a
" villein"—a serf—chained to the spot where he
first breathed, and which entitled the authorities,
on the first approach of poverty, to banish him from
the place where he had been accustomed to gain his
own livelihood, where all his associations and
connexions existed, and where he had the best
prospect of earning an independent subsistence
—when some temporary difficulties were encoun-
tered, and the impediments overcome, to another
and a distant locality, where lie was utterly un-
known, and where his only prospect was that of per-
petual pauperism.
But the political economist may say, What have
the sufferings or the feelings of the pauper to say
to the question ? They must be totally disre-
garded ; or, if it all thought of, it must be only to
the extent of applying them as a new and more
stringent " test of destitution." Industri-
ous, well-disposed " paupers" (if there be such
beings) cannot bear the removal. They dread
the notion of being " passed" back to their origi-
nal parish, and therefore it may be almost as
valuable an instrument for preventing applica-
tions for relief as the separation of parents and
children, and the summary form of divorces
sanctioned by the Poor-law Magnates. We cannot
deny the truth of this argument, which would be
unanswerable so far as the stony-hearted officials are
concerned. But though we cannot directly
" traverse" the assertion, we may " confess and
avoid." We may assert without fear of contra-
diction, that it is as unwise as it is unjust ! as
impolitic as it is cruel ! It is certain that not
only the general expenditure for the relief of the
poor throughout the entire kingdom, is greatly in-
creased thereby, by all the costs of litigation and
of travelling, but that even the individual parishes
suffer, and each ratepayer has to contribute more.
What would be thought of the intellect of the
merchants of England and America if payment
for each transaction were to be made by bullion
transmitted across the Atlantic, with all the outlay
for freight and insurance ? How could business
be carried on among merchants of different king-
doms without the aid of bills of exchange, or
among the metropolitan bankers without the aid
afforded by the Clearing House, and yet the
" porochal " authorities did something even
more stupid. In place of balancing paupers, or
liquidating the actual cost of their support where
they were, they sent different batches crossing
each other at a heavy outlay, and they expended
far more in litigation than would have supported
every pauper, whose chargeability was disputed,
not merely in comfort, but in luxury. So far as
to the mere £ s. d. view of the matter, but it
was also in the highest degree impolitic----for, as
Mr. BAINES declared, it frequently made a
farmer give employment to "an idle,
drunken, worthless labourer, and reject a
hard-working, temperate, and skilful man." It
compelled the workman to walk eight or ten miles
in addition to his daily toil, and thus deteriorated
his energies by so much, because, forsooth ! the
squire who required his services would not allow
him to take up his residence within the parish
where he worked, lest, when used up, he might
become chargeable—thus unfairly and dishonestly
shifting the responsibility to others less capable of
bearing it.
It surely, then, requires no argument to
show the folly and wickedness of such
a system—a system that will be regarded
by our children, and children's children,
throughout all generations, as the most astounding
instance of national weakness and turpitude ever
recorded. Let us be thankful that, after nearly
two centuries' continuance, it is at length about
to be swept away, root and branch—to be totally
and finally abrogated. We enter not into the
other details of the measure at present—we are
satisfied with the great fact, that "from the pass-
ing of the Act it shall not be lawful to remove by
force any poor person upon the ground of settle-
went front any parish in England or Wales-I"

NAVAL RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR.
—From a Parliamentary paper just issued, it appears
that the sums voted for the naval service for the year
ending "the 31st March, 1853, were 6,705,7461. The
sum expended on the effective and non-effective services
was 6,527,810 g. ss. 10d., leaving a balance on the votes
unappropriated of—including 38,6001, for the naval re-
serve, which scheme was not carried-177,8351, 14s, 2d.