The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-25 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 25 1856.

Spirit of the Public Journals.

elusion against' his 'measure, forgetting that pre-
cisely the same reasoning would warrant a conclu-
sion against, all pnnishnien-ts in the case- of any
offence, no matter what: Since you grant, they say,
that your new penal process cannot eradicate the
evil dispositions which are the cause of the crime, •
and since you also grant that it is better to prevent
it than to punish it, why not prevent it at once ?
In the name of philanthropy, why not ? Let it be
done. No punishment ever yet in use among men
has been able to uproot the badness which caused
the act it punished.; and, what is more, neither
have any other means yet succeeded in quite re-
moving from the face of . the earth the moral seeds
out of which offences spring. But two truths re-
main truths for all this; first, the existence of a
punishing machinery -for crimes actually 'perpe-
trated, does not prevent the simultaneous existence
of reformatory processes for their prevention to the
greatest extent possible,
.nor the introduction of as
many new agencies of. the kind as you please, nor
their indefinite Multiplication afterwards and per-
petually. Every instrument to its properyvork ;
and, though the work of one may be far better than
the work of another, yet the instruments are not,
if interchanged. theaecond place,' pnnisburent
does act, in- its sphere, fur the prevention of some
crimes, and especially on, the part -of him who is
under the penal restraie.t, whatever it may be.
Those who urge the Most appropriate chastise-
ment of offences have, of course, in their mind only
offences already perpetrated and done. If none be
perpetrated, it little matters what the punishment
reserved , for such acts-that punishment cannot
apply. Prevent them altogether, and their punish-
ment will neveecome iiktoforce. Meantime, per-
mit us to speak of whoetnest,elyarilLclaims
attention—Ne mean the occurrence of positive
actual facts contrary to law. We engage to occupy
ourselves with peual-enactments only until there
be nothing to punish—not one moment- longer.
Therefore, by all means, prevent crime. It is a
most excellent work. So it is to prevent a fire in
your house far better than to extinguish a fire in
it. But because the precautions whiCh keep your
premises from igniting are much more valuable
than any processes for subduing their conflagra-
tion, would you forbid these last ? Cannot both
be attended to without incompatibility ? He who
keeps a valuable dog from goitrg, mad does a better
thing than he who shoots him when mad, but the
last will continue to be a prudent measure until
dogs cease altogether to be' liable to rabid frenzy.
Not one of the various chastisements awarded
for murder (or for any other offence) ever yet deli-
vered the community where they were in fcrce
from the occasional occurrence of the deed. There-
fore, such deeds, we suppose; must not be punished
at all. What the penalties do not hinder malefac-
tors from'venturing we behold ; what the penal-
ties deter them from doing we can but calculate—
surely calculate in the gross average, but never
with precision in the positive number of cases, for
the nature of these is not to come to light. This
is the very advantage gained, and it is forgotten by
our mawkish sentimentalists, and by the whole
tribe of these philosophic progress-preachers who
disdain lucidity of argument, and everything like'
carefulness in their reasonings.
As to the " degradation" of a whipping for child-
beaters and wife-beaters, we advise Mr. Dillwyn to
say plainly that degrading it is, and that this is
precisely one of the reasons why he recommends its
adoption. A person is powerfully restrained from
doing, or incurring, what is deemed, in his own
circle, a degradation. To strike to the earth a preg-
nant wife, to kick her, to jump on her, to drag her
by the hair of the head around her garret, alt this
is not'considered by the persons in question to de-
grade them ; but to be whipped for it, we are now
told, will be so considered by them. Then whip
them for it. It will " hurt their conscience' to
treat them tiles ; then hurt their conscience. The
very argument most used and pressed against the
proposal is an unspeakably powerful argument in
its favour. Meantime, " moralist?' these persons as
much as you please. If you moralise these men
sufficiently, there will bo none to whip. Let it be
remembered that no one asks punishment for the
crimes that are, but only fur those that still unhap-
pily may continue not to be "prevented."

(From the Times of this day.)

It has always been.considered a sign of the.ap-
proaching • downfall. of Governments or political
'systems when scandal after scandal has come to
light among those highest placed in a country, and
men have seen with astonishment and something
like terror the corruption of those who rule their
destinies. The fall of the Roman commonwealth
was presaged by portents far more significant than
comets or showers of blood, and within the last few
years adynasty of France seemed fore-doomed to
destruction in the terrible histories which cast a
gloom over its latter days. Recent events in Berlin
may well cause observers of political times and
changes to reflect. Seldom have a few clays brought
into view so much that is fouls strange, and unna-
tural. Men had scarcely recovered from the sur-
prise- occasioned by the death of Hinkeldey, the
Minister of Police, when it was announced that
Herr von Canitz, another well-known member of
Berlin society, had committed suicide. The report
'prevailed for two or three days when it was an-
nounced that he too had lost hit life in-a duel of
mysterious origin. Scarcely are these two men in
thegrave, scarcely has the indecent address of the
President of the Upper House in the case of Herr
von Roehow been uttered, • than a new and larger
scandal appears. The circumstances, as far as they
are known, were detailed in our Prussian corre-
spondence a day or two ago. It can well be
imagined that even in the midst -of spiels and
alleged suicides, even when Peace Conferences are
-at their crisis, and Frederick Williamis accrediting
a representative to them, such an incident as the'
theft of important --aod oomptomit6trex 4-icon-rents
from the portfolios'of two men high in Court favour
must move the world of Berlin. The facts are as
follows :—ln the course of last summer two men,
one in the service of the Finns Private Secretary,
Niebuhr, and the other of General Gerlach, were
arrested on suspicion of having betrayed the corre-
spondence of their masters to several persons both
at home and abroad. It appears that the Cabinet
of St. Petersburg fancied that certain communica-
tions made to the Court of Berlin had 'become
known to the French Embassy, and even that the
operations of the allies in the Crimea had been in-
fluenced by revelations surreptitiously made. The
. matter appears to have been little inquired into at
the finie, but subsequently it was found that a
much larger mass of correspondence had been pur-
loined, and, from what has escaped into notoriety,
it szkeins evident that two sets of men high in the
Stale have been intriguing, against each other, and
that one has had recourse to the most dishonourable
means to learn the secrets and to baffle the plans of
the other:

The relation of the King to his Ministers is
singular. The responsible instruments of his ad-
ministration are by no means those in closest
connection with him. Behind, and almost above
the Ministry, is a small knot of men who, under

the names of Chamberlains and Adjutants, report
on the measures of the ac6redited advisers, have
sight of all documents, and are said to sway the
Royal purpose according to their owls views.
Among thus() are M.M. Niebuhr and Gerlach,
whose correspondence has been lately purloined.
Though much that is asserted may be incorrect,
we yet must give the accusation as we find it. It
is said that one of the King's Ministers has had
some share in employing or rewarding the
men who liave violated the sanctity of their mas-

ters' correspondence. Last autumn a man named
Techen was arrested as an abettor of the men ser-
vants in robbing their masters. This person, an old
man, was-formerly a police spy, and well he seems
to have understood his nefarious craft. Having
been for some unemployed and penniless, he was
accustomed to solicit alms of a gentleman occupy-
ing a high office under the Minister of Finance at
Potd im, but who had been himself a '' confiden-
tial official of secret police," and as so connected in
old times with Techen. At last he began to he less
importunate for money, and confessed that be we:s
regularly engaged at a fair salary in a most delicate
service. To prove his words he showed papers of high
importance, which it was eviden t could only have been
obtained in some improper way. His benefactor was
staggered, but was too much a man
.of the world

to make a noise about it. Old Techen was well
paid, and had managed to get hold of important
documents. It must therefore be evident, thought
the finance official, that he was acting under high
authority. He behaved, therefore, as a good
Prussian official ought, and contented himself with
intimating the fact "in a high quarter." One of
the papers was especially interesting. It was the
copy of a i eport sent to General Gerlach by a spy
who had been employed to observe and record
-" all the Prince of Prussia's sayings and doings
while on a tour of military inspection, and was
full of the most odious incriminations of his Royal
Highness." There were also private communica-
tions from Count Munster, at St. Petersburg, to
General Gorlach, and it was probably these on
Which the Czar's Government founded its repre-
sentations. Some time after Techen disappears,
and on returning deposits papers and money with
his friend. Tho money he afterwards asks for by
letter, and the answer he allows to be discovered
in his own house, thus making it appear to the
world that his old friend had employed him in his
scandalous proceedings and sent him money for
his trouble. This is the transaction as understood
at present in Berlin, and in which it is whispered
that one of the Ministers has borne a principal
part. If it be correct, it appears that some of the
King's advisers have thought right to employ the
vilest of mankind in discovering the secrets of
persons who may in some sense be called their
colleagues.
The whole of this strange story throws a strong
light on the mysteries of Prussian official life, and
helps us to understand a story which was current
sonic time since—that thl King, conscious of the
system of espionage under which he lived, when
on a visit to the Rhine last year had the greatest
difficulty in communicating confidentially with an
ex-Minister, who was at the same time one of his
Majesty's oldest and dearest friends, and at last
thought it necessary to appoint a meeting at a
railway station, where the two could converse with-
out fear of intrusion on their privacy. But what
is most interesting to Englishmen is to find that

DEATH OR TB l; RIGHT IRON. SIR H.
POT \ GER, 0.0.13.

the spy system on the continent is no exaggeration
of Liberal orators, no dream of popular suscepti-
bility, no usage of the past which is gone, never
to return. In Prussia, educated, enlightened, and
artistic, we see men of the highest rank accused on
no slight grounds of p►actices not only unknown
to this country, but abhorrent to the feelings of
every man among us. When we consider that no
official of even the loweist rank in England would
dare to be concerned in such enormities, it gives
us some notion of the difference between our own
country and the continent to find that statesmen
and nobles can look on such things as the legiti-
mate means of political success.

(From the Morning Post of this day.)

With respect to wife-beating, we have heard it
asked whether the punishment of whipping (which
Mr. Dill wyti, immediately after the re-assembly
of Parliament, will propose to place it in the dis-
cretionary power of magistrates to inflict), whether
this punishment would not " degrade" the brutes
who should suffer it ? We have seen this question,
and several like it, put in various respectable organs
of opinion, and answered by them affirmatively,
and then made the basis of vehement objections to
the experimental alteration proposed. We wish our
readers to, examine with us what this reasoning
really means, and what it is worth. The few words
we shall have to say about it will necessarily cast
some incidental light, as we pass, on certain other
equally valuable, equally profound, equally philo-
sophic, and thought-evincing inquiries continually
heard in the discussion of this subject, such as—
would it (whipping) " go to the root of the mat-
' ter ?" Would it change our ruffian class into orna-
ments of society ? Would it " reform" their bar-
barous hearts and their degrading habits—would it
turn child-kickers and wife-beaters intofond parents
and gentle husbands ? All such queries, in cases like
the one under consideration, constitute that rub-
bish of argument —that pretence of reasoning—that
embarrassing heap of extraneous, irrelevant twad-
dle, with which every proposition of importance—
the instant it becomes the theme of wide-spread..
and miscellaneous debate—is certain to be overlaid.
These solemn admonitory appeals are the well-
known product of strong but vague wishes, in per-
sons of a weak understanding, highly cultivated—
persons who do the largest habitual quantity of
meditation with the smallest proportional quan-
tity of thought. Persons of that kind ask
—would this particular species of
, punishment
eradicate the vicious propensities and bad disposi-
tions from which has proceeded the delinquency
punished ? Well, we think not. They next ask—
which- is better, to punish a delinquency, or to pre-
vent it ? No one can hesitate how to answer this :
to prevent the crime is better. Obtaining these
• "concessions," the objectors to Mr. Dillwyn's pro-
posed experiment, and, inieed, to every similar
suggestion, proceed to draw their triumphant cou-

be ascribed to the :kill and forethought of Sir Henry
Vottinger. As s,on as the news of this treaty reached
.England Sir Henry was rewarded for his services with
the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ; he was sub-
sequently appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief
of the is'and of Hong-kong, which post he held from
April, 1843, to the spring of the following year, when
lie returned to England. In May, 1814, he was sworn.
a member of the Privy Council, and a pension of 1,600/.
n-year was settled upon him by a vote of the House of
Commons. 'ln September, 1846, he was again chosen
ler active service, being appointed to the Governorship
of the Cape of Good Hope, in succession to Sir Peregrine
MP.itland, and discharged that office with great address
and energy through a very troubled period, until Sep-
tember, 1847, when he was relieved by the present Gen.
-Sir Harry G. W. G.O B. In 1847-he went again
to India, the scene of his -early services, 'and held the
post of Governor and .Commander-in-Chief of the
Presidency of Madras until the year 1854, when he
finally returned 'to -England. In Nov., 1851, he was
promoted to the local rank of Lieutenant-Genera! in
India. In every relation of publiC and private hid the
name of Sir Henty.Pottinger has long commanded the
respect and esteem of all who have been brooght into
Connection with him. His administration of public
affairs in India, China, and Africa has been uniformly
excellent, and- we only re-echo public opinion when we
say that we seldom have had occasion to regret an offi-
cer who has rendered greater service to the Crown and
the country.

, .
THE EASTER BARQUET AT THE
MANSION-I-LOUSE.

Yesterday evening, pursuant to annual custom, the
Right lion. the Lord Mayer entertained a large and
'distinguished paitY at dinner in the Egyptian
where covers were laid for 200.
The fact that' not a single Cabinet Minister was pre-
sent was a subject of general conversation amongst the

gueats.
Oh the removal of the cloth,
The LORD MAYOR gave in succession " The Queen,"
" Prince Albert," &c., and then proceeded to the toast
of `4 The other Members of the Royal Family," in giving
which ho congratulated himself on the presence of so
distinguished a member of the Royal family as his Royal
highness the Linke of Cambridge, who sat upon his
right hand. His lordship concluded by giving "The
Health of the Duke of Cambridge and the other Mem-
bers of the Royal Family." (Cheers.)
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE returned thanks.
The LORD MAYOR gave, with an appropriate eulo-
gium, "The Army and Navy." (Toe Eirl of Lucan's
name was placed opposite to this toast in the list, but
the duty of responding to it was ultimately allotted to
the'Duke of Cambridge.)
The Duke of CAMBRIDG!, in returning thanks, ex-
pressed his conviction that no man could speak with
greater sincerity or greater knowledge of the merits of
the army than the individual who then had the honour
of addressing them. AS a soldier he felt that he owed
everything to the army of which he was a member, and
that no words of his could do that army justice. What-
ever might be the difference of public opinion as to cer-
tain points in the conduct of the war, he believed there
was no difference as to the merits of the soldiers and
sailors concerned. He hoped and trusted and believed
—although on that matter he knew as much, and no
more, than the company around him—perhaps less than
some of them—but, speaking without any authority, he
hoped and trusted that they were on the eve, he might
say, of peace, and if that peace should arrive, and be
satisfactory, it would he to our soldiers and sailors we
should owe the advantage. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR said that the next toast he bad to
propose involved a compliment to the Government which
had been called to office for the purpose of carrying out
the altaost unanimous wish of the people. The Govern-
went had carried on the war vigorously, and with vigour
would demand proper conditions of peace. He had,
therefore, great pleasure in proposing the healths of her
Majesty's 111 iiiisters. (Cheers.)
Lord WpmmousE returned thanks, and apologised for
the absence of the Earl of Clarendon—absent upon the
most responsible of public duties ; f,,r if the responsibi-
lity of going to war was great, the responsibility of con-
eluding a peace was not less so. He trusted that the
Paris negotiations would have such a result as should
win the approbation of the country.
The next toast was " The House of Lords."

Lord MONTEAGLE returned thanks.
Sir J. PAKINGTON gave the health of the Lord Mayor,
w►th a warm compliment upon the manner in which his
lordship discharged the duties of his office.
The LORD mAton, in returning thanks, observed that
he could hardly complain of reform, being himself, as it
were, t:,e very emblem of innovation. In the corpora-
tion they did not dread nor oppose the reform of proved
abuses, an 3 while he held office he should endeavour to
render its functions as efficient and pure as possible.
After one or two further observations his lordship con-
ended by giving " Mr. Gladstone and the House of
Commons."
Mr. GLADSTONE said that his lordship bad done him
an honour of which ho was not worthy in selecting him
to return thanks for the toast which had just been pro-
posed ; for in his opinion, it was an honour in which any
man, however eminent, might take delight to be called
on in such an assemblage a, he saw around him, to return
thanks for such an institution as the House of Commons.
(Hear.) Whatever faults or whatever virtues that house•
might have they were pre-eminently English, and repre-
sented the greatnesses and defects of the national charac-
ter, while at the same time they wera inseparably coil-
nected with the strength and progress of the country.
During the last two years the House of Commons had
to discharge a painful function in adding to the burthens
of the country ; but he trusted that the people were of
opinion that the house had been jastified in voting fr:ely
and liberally the large sums for a war undertaken for no
purpose of agjandisement, but solely in the cause ,f
honesty, humanity, and justice.
The health of the Lady Mayoress followed ; and after
one or two other toasts, the company returned to the

leree portion of our readers, especially those who
are connected with he Eaerby personal or profeesienal
ties, will learn with regret the news of the death of so
experienced teed able a servant of the Crown as S;r
Henry Pottirrrer, van eaent which occurred at Malta'
early on the morning of the 18th lust., in the 67th year
of his age. Sir Henry, who was born about the year
1739, represented, like the Dake of Weliineton, an an-
cient English family which bad been settted fur Bowe
generations in Ireland. So aecieut, indeed, is the
stock of ;vhich he came, that according to the records of
the Herald's College, the deceased baronet is sal I to
have been 31:4 in decent from Eggert, the first Saxon
King of Eng'ancl, and grendfaeler of Alfred. Be this,
o as it may, one brerch of the fernily has been
settled in Berkshire -ince th conga-est, :tea during tee
17th century sent several of its rneeitelre to repreeent
the good town of Readingi 11 Parliament. Tile other
branch, iron which the late S:r ILeory wee descended,
settled in Ireland about the reidWe of t'As 16th century,
aied in 1661 we find one Thomas Pettinekr. of Mount
Pottingtr, county of Down, elected.hetire "Sovereign"
or Mayor of Belfast, on theincarporation of that town by
lii,,sonerniveyed King Willie in 111. to Ireland
but was !ost at sea in an attempt to intercept a convoy ot
French vessels 1 iden, as was .euppeseele with supplies for
Ring James's army. Fourth in descent from the above
Thomas was the father of the subject of our memoir,
Eldred Curwen Pottinger, E,q., of Mount Pottinger,
who married, in 1779, Anne, daughter of the late Rut*t.
Gordon, Eeq., of Florida, county of Down, and died in
1814, leaving three daughters- and eight sone. Nearly
all the sons who survived infancy devoted themselves to
the service of their country, either in the navy, the
army. or in the East India C mipstny's army. The filth
Foe, Henry, the subject of our present remarks, went to
India as a cadet in 1801, and at an early age attracted
the attention of the civil and military authorities there
by his energy, information, and ready administrative
powers. During his long sojeuro in that country he was
employed in almost every branch of the public service.
He was for more than-seven years Judge and Collector
at Ahmednugger, in the Demme and for 15 years more
he filled the post of Political Resident at Cutch and
Sciede ; dining part of the latter period he Was also
President of the Regency in the former province.
So high was the opinion at that time formed of his
talents by Lord Auckland, the Governor-General of
India, that when that nobleman was raised to the
EalLiom, and General Keane to a Barony, in D 3.
cember, 1839, after the Affghanistan campaign,
Major-General Pottinger was raised to the Biro-
netige, as a token of the appreciation felt in Baghdad
of the services which he had nucleus I in the discharge
of his difficult duties. Sir H. Pottinger returned to
England in 1840, having established a deserve sly high
reputation ; and it cannot be a matter of surprise that
be found no difficulty in obtaining further employment.
In the year 1840, as is generally known, differences-con-
nected for the most part with the opium trade broke
out between this country and the Emperor of Cniva.
Accerdingly, early in 1841 Sir Henry was selected by
her Majesty's Goveinm.ant to discharge the office of a
mediator, and was ordered to proceed to China as En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, for the
purpose of adjusting the matters iu dispute. He joined
Admiral Sir William Parker at Bombay about the cad
of June in that year, immediately after the surrender of
the city of Canton to the British forces uedee General,
now lend Gough, supported by the feet under the late
Sir H. de Fleming &itwits° and Sir Gordon Bremer ;
and Le arrived off Canton in the Sesostris towards the
end of the following month. At the came time he was
gazetted Superintendent of the British Trade in China.
Whatever may be the opinion entertained as to the
policy of our war with China, it is certain that China
became the field on which the diplomatic abiiity of the
late Sir Henry Pottinger was most fully and fairly
exhibited. On his arrival at Macao, August 12,
be issued a spirited proclamation, notifying that while
he would do his best to consult the wishes and prosperity
of all her Majesty's subjects and other foreigners resident
in Chira, "at the same time it became his first duty
disttnct'y to intimate that it was his intention to devote
his undivided energies and thoughts 'to the • primary
object of setliOng a speedy and satisfactory close of the
war, and thatstheref ire be could allow err consideration
of mercantile or other interests to interfere with the
strong measures which he might it necessary to
authorise and adopt towards the Government and subs
jects of China in order to compel an honourable and
lasting peace." At the same time, with great wisdom,
be warned the British residents on no account to rely
upon the existing truce, but -to stand upon their guard
against the perfidy and bad faith of the Chinese officials.
The sequel of our war with China is too well known to ST. PANCRAS.—Yeat?rday the vestry of St. Pancras
need recording here ;it is enough to' say that the milt- assembled at- the Vestry-hall, Camden Town, for the
tary and naval operations of the British forces at Amc y, purpose of electing churchwardens and directors of the
which was ceptured in the same month, were well su p- poor for the year ensuing.
ported by the arts of diplomacy, and that the genie's ST. ANNE, WESTILINSTER.—Yesterday forenoon, at
and far-seglitedne:Es of Sir Henry Pottinger contribute ten o'clock, a meeting of the vestry took pace, when
in no slight degree to bring to a successful issue ou.'• Mr. W. Addis and Mr. C. Jeffreys were elected without
protracted hostilities with the -crafty Chinese. The re‘- opposition.
snit of these operations, as all our readers are aware, ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS.—Mr. Latchford having
was to throw open a commerce with 330,000,000 na- been elected by a show of hands, the friends of Mr.
tives, and the terms of the treaty with which the war Rose demanded a poll, which will commence this morn-
was concluded in 1842 " were such as to give uni- ing.
versa' satisfaction, :Jot merely on account of the palpable S. ANDREW, HOLBORN.—Mr. Alfred Sweeting, was
and self evident benefits arising from free trade with appointed churchwarden for the year ensuing.
such an extended popu!atidn, but also !rein the strong. . ST. -MARY, WHITECHAPEL.—Mr. IT. Strand, Mr. J.
precetitions that have been taken ,to -prevent uhuses.' Powell, and Mr. J. Perkins, were chosen churchwardens
It is not too much to say that, if the " benefits". under -ter the ensuing year. - •
the fernier category are mainly due to Lord Gough and MILE-END OLD TOWN.--Mr. Stephenson and Mr.
Sir W. Parker, those under the latter are principally to —4 Kners were re-elected churchwardens.

drawl rg-room.

THE BLOCKADE IN THE BALTIC.

On the 14,h inst. the steam-frigate Sampson, 6, Capt.
Brock, left Faro Sound with despatches for the senior
Ale r (Capt. Watson, C. 8., of her Msjesty'a ship Ito-
psrieuse, 51) and letters from the aivanced squadron,
and at 2 p.m. of the next day the Imperieuse and Py-
lades, 21, Capt. D'Eyncourt, got under way for a cruise
in the Gulf of Finland. The das was beautifully fine,
with a gentle breeze from the north-west ; thermometer
at 26 deg. Fahrenheit. Faro Sound was completely
fr z-n over, but the two vessels made their wee throu sh
it without any difficulty. On getting outside they found
the sea perfectly smooth and the weather most agree-
able, but towards sunset it became very cold ; sail was
shortened and furled, and the two ships went on towards
the old cruising ground, where one of them had weathered
so many storms during this war. About 9 a.m. detached
pieces of ice were seen floating about, and two or three
large floes passed (furl, g the night.. The main body of
the ice was not, however, fallen in with until about 5.30
a.m. of Sueday, when from that time to 10 a.m. the
ships passed through about 30 miles of it ; the morning
was ushered in by a magnificent sunrise. To one look-
ing from the island of Dago perhaps the most interesting
part of the scene would have been the solitary ships
moving through a sea of ice, and spurning the obstacles
which came in their way. At 7 a.tn. the Imperieuse
encountered two small vessels from Lubeck so
imbedded in ice that it was impossible for
them to proceed to their destination or return
whence they came. The history of their move-
ments for the previous six weeks is somewhat curious,
and proves that, instead of a brisk trade having been car-
ried on between Russia and other countries (as was so
confidently asserted in England), the Russian ports have
positively been inaccessible.to auy sort of vessel what-
ever. These brigs left Lubeck on the Ist of February,
and on the 18th, when 15 miles from Port Baltic, were
compelled to return in consequemce of a firm barrier of
ice, through which it was impossible for them to pene-
trate. On the 7th of March they again started, but, in-
stead of getting within 15 miles of their poet, they are
now frozen in at least 170 miles from it, with no pros-
pect of getting liberated for the next three weeks. After
communicating wtti these vessels a light breeze sprang
up from the N.W., and, taking advantage of the channel
which the Imperieuse and Pylades had made in the ice,
the Lubeckers followed in their wake, vainly hoping for
a way to be made for them out of their "fix ;" but they
had not gone many miles when, from the firm and com-
pact state of the ice, and not being able from the mast-
head to see any open water, the senior officer most judi-
ciously determined on not penetrating further, which
the brigs perceiving, rounded to again, and in all pro-
bability will have to wait till a general break up takes
place. Sail was now made, and, passing Dago at about
eight miles' distance, the Imperieuse stood down the
Baltic, passed Oesel about sunset, and was off the coast
of Courland at 8 a.m. on Monday, the 17th inst.; passed
within 10 miles of Windau, and, sailing along parallel to
the coast, was off Libau at sunset and arrived at Dantzic
at 11.30 p.m. of the 18th, and left for Faro alter corn-
sleting coal.

TEE EASTER VESTRIES.

[ PRICE 4D. STAMPED 513.

PAUSSIA AND TUE CONEAPENCES.

The Nord, of Saturday, has tlie following
article :

" The participation of Prussia in the Paris Congress
is a fact of great political- impurtance and a high moral
result (d'une haute moralite). It assures and guaran-
tees the re-establishment of peace, indicates once again
the rank to which that Power is entitled in the council
of nations, and sanctions the honourable and straight-
forward policy it has followed since the origin of the re-
grettable conflict which now approaches its termination.
" When one or more individuals cone to blows to
settle a quarrel it is not an uncommon thing to see them
fall upon him who refeses to throw a new element of dis-
cord between them, and who confines him. elf to addres-
sing them in words of peace, and to exhort them to
make mutual concessions. Bat when theiree.enciliation
does take place distrust and prejudice vanish, and make
place in their minds for a just appreciation of their rights
and of their, reciprocal duties. They then thank him
for his moderation, and they only esteem him the more
if he can prove to them that it was not without diffio'ilty
or danger that he-wais enabled to maintain to. the end a
strict impartiality and equal good-wil to e4ch. Such
is, we believe, the feeling with which PriisSia is now
admitted tathe Paris Conferences.

" Since the commencement of the war the Prussian
Government found itself placed in a most difficult and
delicate position. On the one hand it had to resist the
current of public opinion, the entreaties of France, and
the treats of England ; and, on the otter hand, it had
to avoid the reefs which a skilful policy continually put
in its way in the German Confederation. It had,
finally, to resist the opposed tendencies
.of its own
parties, one of which urged it to act against Russia,
and another against the Westein Powers. The Prus-
sian Government only succeeded in surmounting all,
these obsticles by the greatest frankness And straight-4
rTerNiarrinese. It did net promise to any party what it
never intended to fulfil, but it fulfilled towards each more
than it ever promised. Its action was not noisy, but
effective, and despite the insults heaped upon it daily by
the English press, it laboured with as much dignity as
perseverance towards the work which is now being ac
complished at Paris. As long as the chances of war
still hovered over this work the exclusion of Prussia, so
peremptorily demanded by England, was in some degree
natural and logical, but from the moment the chapter of
the blessings of peace was to be discussed her place at
the Congress was marked out.
" Russia was the first to ask that she should be in-
vited to join, and it appears that it was in the most
flattering terms for Prussia, and for the Minister who'
knew so well how to execute the orders of his sagacious
Sovereign, that Count Walewaki sent the invitation to
Baron von Manteuffel in the name of the Congress. We
never doubted the result, but still it is satisfactory to be
able to state it. France and Russia, who had shown
themselves the most powerful, as they were the most
noble champions on the battle-field, could not evidently
shake hands after the struggle except on one gionnd—
thi,t of good faith, on which ground they necessarily
met Prussia, who, as we have seen, had thereon main-
tained herself since the commencement of hostilities
with unshaken firmness.

"This, we repeat it, is a most highly moral result, as
it proves that States, like individuals, never lose by suit-
leg the action to the word, and that in our days a true
policy consists less in turning more or legs skilful or
ready means, honest or not, to advantage, than by speak-
ing out one's thoughts honestly and frankly.
" In its superannuated traditions diplomacy is but the
faithful reflection of the epoch which gave it birth. Hos-
tility being then the normal state of the relations of na-
tions with each other, as well as of individuals, every man,
sure to find in his neighbour an enemy or a rival, neces-
sarily placed between his thoughts and his words the dis-
tance which separates falsehood from truth, and waaso
distrustful that he never let his left band know what
his right hand did. But, in our days, when men and
nations live in a community of interest,, of ideas, and of
sentiments, Heaven be praised, such principles are Do
longer possible. Diplomacy was then a weapon ;it is
now a means. It was formerly used to conquer an
enemy ; henceforth it will be used to increase the flute-
her of ono's friends. New wants have created new prin-
ciples, but if the ace; has proclaimed them, no public act
has as yet given them that moral sanction, that power
of a decided question, which roust render its application
universal among all civilised nations, and which the
Congress of Paris is perhaps called upon to give them.
" What is most satisfactory, therefore, in this result
which Prus-sia has just obtained, and which mu-t gladden
every honest heart, is that it proves that a straightfor-
ward and sincere policy is net only the most honour-
able,
but also the most profitable. In fact, Prussia
has just achieved two great successes with one blow, of
which one is the complement of the other. She has
proved to Europe that her strength as a European
Power is derived chiefly from her being essen-
tially a German Power ; and Germany must be con-
vinced that the interests which Prussia represents
abroad are - esae,%tially Gerznatk interestA,. and. that,
as well on acc,;us.t of her armed power as by her
upright and energetic policy, shades more capable
than any other of shielding and defending them as well
in the moments of crisis and general perturbation as in
the pacific councils of Europe. Prussia has obtain( d
this result without offending Russia, without quarrelling
with France and England, and this simply by following
an honest and disinterested policy. Taus, when, after
the conclusion of peace, international relations will have
resumed their natural course, her friendship will be
eagerly sought fur, because her word can be trusted.%
" Prussia has not, therefore, whatever may have been
said to the contrary, fallen from her estate as a great
Power."

The following letter has been addressed to a contem-
porary Sir,—l have no right, and, in truth, but
little hope, to expect that I may induce you to advocate
the caui-e of Kossuth. Politically, I know you are ad.
verse to him ; morally, lam confident you ate not. I
now appeal to your candour, impartiality, and genero-
sity. It is only this morning I hear that the illustr loon
exile is in straightened circumstances. Trusted by all
the highest, braves, most virtuous of his countrymen,
appoint', them to the first station, and holding their
wealth at his disposal, 'he lived among them, and de-
paned from them, poor. The jewels of the Ilungarian
crown lay at his feet ; he spurned them, as be spume f the
usurper and perjurer who had worn them. Military trea-
son necessitated his flight ; the valour of Bern and Guyon
was insufficient against the enemy. The repre-
sentative of Maliomet saved the follower of Christ from
the se igeance of the Apostolic ; the Caliph ca-t his
mantle over the wood led, and defied the uplifted sword.
Kossuth at last took retuge in England. Here he was
.wel ;crled in every city by the magistrates and the
people, and even by those of ttro nobility who were not
Germanised by the Court. A mong us there are some
reasainin,r who-ie affections are not torpified nor chilled
by conduct with adversity. Let us see how many
there are of them. I will not close my eyes until I
make this appeal to you, declaring most so emoly
that I nava had no conver=ation or correspondence
on the subject with the exile of Hungary ; I have
not asked, directly or indirectly, bis t ermission to
make the appeal, and I tear I may want his coun-
tenance; hut. wont lam now doing I feel is to be
a duty. Let me hope, however, and trust that the
mos,. eloquent of SI tatemnen since Demosthenes will
not reftse that public tribute which another of much ce-
lebrity accepted. Mr. Fox had squandered a large for-
tune in tire most pernicious of vices—in gambling. Kos-
suth had no riches and no vices ; he left a lucrative and
honourable profession to rescue his outraged country.
Mr. Fox committed an act of treason, or very similar,
ter sending an agent to the Empress Katharine, assuring
her that she might safely take possession of Noetka Sound,
against the just claims of England. The speeches of Mr.
Fox never-elevated the soul, never enlarged the intellect,
never touched the heart. He upheld the cause of France
against England throughout the war, even while her best
citizens were bleeding on the scaffold. Kossuth upheld
the cause of Hungary, not only throughout the war,
but throughout years more disastrous. Only one
orator and statesman ever acted with so much
ability, consistency; and energy ; he, too, was an exile.
Demesithenes, a victim crowned with imperishable glory,
walked calmly forth from the temple of Poseidon and
shook hands with Death, sparing hie enemy the guilt of
his murder. May we Englishmen be exempted from a
guilt almost as heinous —the guilt of seeing die among
us, without onr sympathy and without our help, a man
as virtuous, as ardent an orator, and as pure a patriot—
the one Pan-Hellenic, the other Pan-European.
WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR.
P.S.—I forgot to say that my subscription of 101. is
ready.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gem
tlemen, bsving undergone the necessary examination.
for the, diploma, were admitted members of the College
at the meeting of tee Court of Examiners ( n the 24th
inst. : Messrs. .Tames Dalton Prythereli, army ; Ed-
mund William Valentine, Somerton, Somersetshire ;
James Black, Holbeach, Lincolnshire ; Thomas Pickop,
Blackburn, Lane,tsbire ; Jelin Wilcox Elliott, Theber-
ton-street, Isiingtan ; Hannibal Henry Sheppard,
Guernsey ; E lain Charles Langford, Liskelrd, Corn-
wall ; Charles Robert \Vimond Bentley, Calcutta ; G.
Webb, Birmingham, ; and John S. Roberto, Sheffield.
APOTHECARIE.S HALL —The following a 1..: tl e names
of gentlemen vi ho passed their examination in the science
and practice of medicine, and received certificates to
practise, en Thursday, March 20 :--7James Sedgwick,
Baroughbridge, York ; Charles Jekin Elwin, Dover,
Kent ; John Cooke, Stamford ; Samuel Daniel Hine,
Nottingham ; and R. D. Harris, Stroud water.
ESCAPE OF A PRISONER FROM THE SOUTEIAMP3N NEW
GAOL —oo Mod day last a man named Andersen, one of
the prisoners confined in the new .gaol, made a daring
awl successful attempt to escape by means almost rival-
ling those recorded of Caleb Williams. Anderson, who
arpearea to be a travelling thief, was about two months
since committed for trial at the quarter nessions for pick-
ing pockets. Since his confinement he has been suffering
from rheumatism, which renders his a:cape the more ex-
traordinary. it :top :ears that the prisoner succeeded
about neon on M )nday in opening the cell door
means of the plate used to denote his gaol number, hav-
ing previously by some clever method prevented the,
lock from catching, various marks on the door bearing
witness to the violent exertions which he must have
used. Gaining access to the corridor, he we.. enabled
unobserved to pass through the door leading iqt ) the
yard used for the exorcise of the prisoners. Here a num-
ber of werkmen had been employed in the erection of a
building intended t ) contain a treadmill and crank wheel
for the prisoners sentenced to hard labour, and the pri•
sneer was lucky enough to arrive here just as the whole
of there had gone to dinner. Having procured from this
building a shovel, he heaped up a quantity of earth, and
having placed upon it a mortar-board to secure a good
foundation, he placed upon it a scaffold board, which,
when in nearly an upright position, reached to within a
few feet of the top of the wall. A. short ladder enabled
him without difficulty to ascend to a distance of about
two-thirds of the scaffold board, the remainder of which
he climbed in an exceedingly clever manner, balancing
himself with the greatest skill until he reached a suffi•
cient height to enable him to gain the top of the wall,
having attained which, he dropped himself down on the
other side asd escaped. The time occupied in all the.e
operations was exceedingly short, and the prisorrer could
not have been at any great distance when his
exertion has
been used to disoovenhis whereabouts, not the slightest
trace of him has yet been discovered.—Barapshere Inde-
pendent.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION AS THE CAUSE OF FIRE
AT COVENT•GARDEN THEATRE.--ft was stated by Mr.
Thomas Grieve, the scene painter, that he had always
considered the little property-room a clangorous place.
Oil was used by the property-men. It was not so much
used by scene-painters. He once returned to Covent
garden Theatre, after a long absence, and found in one
spot a heap of rubbish, chiefly of sweepings from the
painting-room. When the property-man war, about to
remove it, it began to smoulder and emit heat. Had such
rubbish been allowed to lie in any part of the "shop,"
it would be quite sufficient to lead to the fire, under the
circumstances which hail been detailed. To understand
uldasdetionaaneduariloounsgssutba
jteeemt ewn thiocfhmraequ
the importance of this theory of the cause of the fire.
factswu yuiwreeslle-aysecnerfutaritnheedr
investigation. Incendiarism is too diabolical an act to
be credited as the cause of fires in every instance ; and
enough may be stated in a few words here to show the
importance of the general question, and its application
to the present case. Cotton waste, oily rags, tow, and
saw-dust may all be placed in such positions, or near
such other substances as may cause them to ignite. The
result dots not occur invariably, as ill the better known
instances of chemical action ; but it occurs positively,
in certain cases, which are the source of greater
danger because of the uncertainty. Tow is constantly
used in theatres for stuffing figures and various other
purpoies, especially about the pantomime season.
Saw-dust, Mr. Braidwood states that he has seen
catch fire from the' .breakage of one of the flasks of
Florence oil in the ,packages used, just ,at the time
when the sun was shining in that direction. It is
worth remarking, though perhaps net applying to the
present case, that a carpenters' shop is lighted by sky-
lights.-27t4 Builder.