The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-10 00:00:00

PI►OSPECTS OF PEACE.

The mercantile letters from St. Petersburg reach to
the let of Januery, arid scarcely harmonise with the
subsequent telegraphic reports of the failure of the nego-
tiations. The arrival of Baron Seebach, which had taken
place two days previously, had been followed, it is said,
by a great stir at the Palace, after which the counting•
house of M. Stieglitz,the Court banker, was thronged
with high military personages, who were buying up the
new loan and other funds and stocks with much eager.
nese. On 'Change, it is added, nothing was talked of
but the chances of peace, and many of those who had
been among tee most despondent had become quite san-
guine. AP, the seine time a story was iu circulation that
an old ukase of the Empress Catherine had been disco-
vered, proposing to make the Black Sea a commercial
one, and that in consequence a limitation may be acceded
to without acting in opposition to her view. Finally,
it is remarked, " %V have not had such a state of excite-
ment for a long time, particularly as last week it was
reported that the propositions made by
ambassador were inadmissible." the Austrian
Annexed is an extract on the same subject, and also
on the feeling which prevails as to the course the allied
fleet.' may adopt in case the war should be continued:—
" Yesterday, on 'Change, we had a conclave of the
principal houses. All began to hope for peace ; but
none would act on the strength of such hopes. Many
are restrained hum operating on the spot who would
otherwise do so by the fear lest in the prosecution of the
war we should not be safe in this capital. For my part,
white allowing the possibility of such an event, I do not
think we should get a sight of the gun-boats here, even
supposing the port were destroyed; for unless they went
high up the river to
injury they would cause the Govern.
ment would be email. Private individuals would suffer
heavily, and particularly the English, who mostly live
on or near the banks of the iiver. It would be very dis-
agreeable to be shelled out by our own countrymen ;
and I hope, if they do intend anything so uncivil, they
will give us due warning. I think such a measure would
only aggravate the feelings between the countries, unless
they could take complete possession of the capital ; and
believing that to be excessively difficult, if not impos-
sible, I expect that in the event of War continuing the
destruction of the port (Cronstadt) will be considered
sufficient in this quarter.
" But I still think we have a fair chance of peace, for
the moral verdict of Europe must and will have a power-
ful effect, and that something is at present in the wind
no one here doubts.

THE ALLEGED MURDER AT NRWOASTLE-ON-TYNE,
The inquest on the body of Hannah Beardemore, the
wife of Joseph Henry Beardemore, of the Railway Ar-
cade Hotel, Newcastle-on-Tyne, terminated on Tuesday
evening. Robert E lwards, a sailor, residing atTester's--
court, Boston, Lincolnshire, and who slept at the hotel
on
ertobwe annigyhfhtuirctie grtieliegthiet on
e'wae examined, but failed to
the transaction. He said he
was in liquor, and did not know much that passed. He
lying
in the passage. Beards-
moredeceased said, "Take him
away ; be has alloyed me out of the windovr.” Beards-
went down into the passage after hearing the crash of
glass,
wasand standing
the deceasedby7d
aand
more made nn reply. Anthony Forster Barron, cabinet-
maker, and Wm. Howdon Lambert, cattle dealer, both
a
residing in this town, were also examined. They both
slept at the hotel on the night ix question. It will be
remembered that one of the policemen stated that when
Beardsmore was charged by his wife with having thrown
her out of the window he stated that he had caught Bar-
ron and her on the stairs together. Mr. Barron said
there was no ground. for that statement. An had never
taken any liberty with Mrs. Beardemore. Neither of
these witnesses carried the ease further. The coroner
told the jury that if to escape from her husband's vio-
lence the deceased had gone to the window, and either
thrown herself out or overbalanced herself and fallen
out, he would be held guilty of manslaughter ; but if
he had thrown her out, that of course would he murder.
The jury returned a unanimous verdict that Beardsmore
was guilty of manslaughter. He is at present out on
bail to appear before the magistrates.
THE COMMAND-IN-CHIEF OF THE MADRAS ARMY.—
Our readers have already been prepared for the an-
nouncement which we now make, that Major-General
Patrick Grant, C. 8., was last week appointed Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Madras Army, and a member 01
council at that rresidency. He is to be entertained by
the Court of Directors at a grand farewell banquet on
the 2d of February. The occasion will be one of no com-
mon interest. Now, for the first time, has a Company's
officer been appointed to the command of one of the
Company's armies. An old and vicious system of ex-
clusiveness has been broken through, and the service in
which such men as Ochterlony, Malcolm, Close, Munro,
and more recontly Pollock, Nott, and Gilbert, have
grown gray, is no longer to be under a ban. The Court
of Directors, as we have already intimated, have carried
this point not without opposition. They have fought
the battle v.ith becoming resolution, and in being true
to the etiloas have been true to themselves.—Sinia and
't .Elder's Overland