The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

THE PEACE DEPUTATION AT ST.
PETERSBURG.

A letter was yesterday received by Mr. Pease, of Dar-
lington, from his brother, from St. Petersburg.
Mr. Pease states that the deputation was admitted to an
audience of the Emperor, which lasted nearly half-
an-hour. The Emperor received them most gra-
ciously, and expressed himself much pleased with
the object of their visit, and the motives which had
induced them to make so long a journey. The
Emperor afforded them every opportunity to express
their views, and stated to them at great length what he
thought of the present state of affairs. He said that
they should not leave without being introduced to the
Empress, and on the Empress entering the room the
Emperor explained the object of their journey. On
taking their leave the Emperor shook them heartily by
the hand ; and on quitting the palace they were much
struck by the reception given to three plain, humble,
simple men of peace.
Mr. Joseph Sturge, another of the deputation, states
that the Czar received himself and colleagues in the
most courteous manner, and listened with the greatest
attention to the address which they were deputed to pre-
sent to him from the pacific bodies which they represented.
They were induced to hope from the tone and manner
of the Emperor twat he was not insensible to the ap•
peal, although the deputation were not equally confi-
dent that it would have the effect of staying the warlike
preparations which were going on all around them. At
the conclusion of what may be termed the official audi-
ence, the Autocrat introduced the deputation to the
Empress, by whom they were most graciously received.
Although it was the wish of "the Friends" to be as
quiet as possible during their stay in St. Petersburg, it
appears that their presence in the capital of Russia
creates no inconsiderable degree of interest among the
inhabitants, and that when they are observed in the
streets they are not unfrequently followed by crowds of
persons who take a favourable interest in the object of
their mission.

Mr. Sturge had intended to be in Birmingham on
Monday next, but at the request of the Emperor.the
deputation have determined to rimain in St. Petersburg
a day or two longer than it was originally purposed to
continue.

BEETHOVEN ROOMS. Signor Noronha's concert
took place last night, when a small, but very well-
selected choice of pieces were performed. The vocalists
were Miss Stabbach and Mr. Bolton, who sung several
times with much artistic taste. Miss Stabbach being
honoured with an encore in a pretty ballad entitled
" Sweet Summer Gales." A solo on the flute was per-
formed by Signor Paggi with considerable skill. The
conductor was Signor Li Calsi, who accompanied the
vocal pieces with much judgment, and performed a
charming solo on the grand pianoforte, of hie own com-
position, with the skill of a true professor. Signor
Noronha performed three times upon the celebrated
Guarnarius violin, which formerly belonged to- Spagno-
letti ; Ist, a fantasia on themes, from the opera Torquato
Tasso ; 2d, a fantasia on an original theme ; and idly,
an introduction and variations upon an air from Le
Domino Noir ; all these pieces were Signor Noronha's
own composition, which displayed much originality and
creative genius fur the divine science of music, and were
executed with the most intense feeling, taste, and bril-
liancy.

ANNIVERSARY OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.-011
Tuesday, the 21st inst., the eve of Waishington'e birth-
day, George N. Sanders, the American consul, gave an
international dinner, at his residence, 45, Weymouth-
street, Portland-place, to a distinguished party. The
American Minister, Mr. Buchanan, Kossuth, Mazzini,
Ledru Rollin, Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P., Garibaldi,
Worcell, Orsini, Pulsky, Hertzen, and Mr. Welsh, at-
tach 6 and private secretary to the American legation,
Were present. _

Mr: W. A. WILKINSON, M.P., ON WAGES.--YeSter,
day evening a very interesting lecture to the working
classes of Lambeth, on the subject of " wages," was de-
livered by Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for the borough,
at the Vestry-hall, Kennington-green. The hon. gen-
tleman accompanied the argumentative parts of his
lecture with admirable illustrations, and it was received
with great attention by a large audience, and at 'times
much applauded. A vote of thanks was given to him
by those assembled.
CHARITIES OE ENGLAND AND WALES. —The COM.
missioners appointed in October last to inquire into the
charities of England and Wales have issued a first re-
employed in organising their establish-
port,m to the effect that up to the end of the year they
w
and mode
ief3Y
of action. They have issued, however,
15,000eerneteh circulars, with the view of making the require-
ments of the act extensively known, and before the end
of next month they expect to receive returns of the re-
ceipts and expenditures of the body of charities in Eng-
land and Wales, probably amounting to not less than
40,000 in number. The commissioners intend in the first
place to devote their attention to cases brought under
their notice by particular application, and before the 31st
~f December last they had been appealed for assistance
and advice in 340 instances. These applications are
daily becoming more numerous, and involve a large
correspondence.

CONFLAGRATION AT CllELSEA.—Yesterday morning
between 12 and 1 o'clock, a destructive fire broke out in
the premises of Mrs. Hinton, laundress, 29, Lawrence-
ftreet, Chelsea. As the policeman on duty was going
his rounds he discovered a dense smoke issuing from the
chimney, and without a moment's delay he sprang his
rattle and aroused the inmates, who fortunately succeeded
in effecting their escape. In the meantime police were
despatched in cabs for the London Fire Brigade enginee,
who promptly arrived, followed as usual by the West of
England, when on their arrival the flames were raging
most furiously. A plentiful supply of water being ob-
tained, the engines got to work in first-rate style, yet
notwithstanding their strenuous exertions the fire was
not extinguished until the house was burnt down, and
the adjoining houses severely injured. The origin of
the fir; is at and the premises are in.
cured in the Monarch Firo•office.

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