The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1857,

not use the word now in its odious sense.

The

two Lords have co-operated in carrying
one Reform Bill, and there is nothing but recent
disagreements on other matters to hinder their
cu-operation in this work again. For the sake of
Reform itself, we could wish to have a Reform
auction, and the two leading Statesmen for the
bidders ; but we fear their sense of common aris-
tocratic interest. "If we try to outbid each
other, the Radicals must be the chief gainers,"
will be* their whispered opinion. " Can't
we make a bargain, and get Reform on
very easy terms." "You, Lord JOHN, have a
majority who would vote a rather stiffish Reform
Bill." " You, Lord PALMERSTON, have a majority
who would vote a great many things because Lord
PALMERSTON proposed them." "The only thing
to settle, then, is how we can be Spartan Kings or
Roman Consuls—both be first together. Now,
as you are the domestic politician by profession,
and I the foreign one, can't we arrange a kind of
double Premiership, in which we shall enjoy about
equal honours 1"

(canalised in 1817 by the Celestial Emperor
KIA-KANG) is turned into the lake of Soho-tchi,
and the waters of the lake forthwith overflow the
surrounding districts ! A proceeding altogether
effectual of course in raising an impediment in
the way of the invaders, but cruelly disastrous to
the unfortunate population.
Beyond the wholesale calamities thus scattered
broadcast among their own people, by order of the
Imperial Councilors at Pekin—the Members of
the Nuy-ko or State Cabinet—either tolerate or
directly organise a series of more restricted, but
equally inhuman, atrocities with a view to the
destruction of their antagonists by foul means
rather than chivalrously in open battle. Hence,
the arsenic despicably introduced (by somebody)
a few weeks back at Hong Kong into the bread
supplied by a Chinese baker to the English resi-
dents ! Hence, the deadly poison lately infused
through the agency of the prepared bark of some
terrible tree (some tree hardly less fatal than the
Fabled Upas) into the fresh water that British
ships have been in the habit of taking at
Whampoa from a small tributary stream
flowing into the Tchioukiang ! Hence the
daggers secreted by the native sailors on board
the Thistle—the instruments of murder with
which they slit the throats of the English pas-
sengers 1 Hence, also, every tael, every mace,
every candarin in the blood-money offered by
YEH for the heads of Englishmen ! Atrocities,
all these, quite upon a par with the stabbing of the
wounded on the field of Balaklava, with the
brutal massacre of the Turkish seamen surprised
and butchered in the bay of Sinope, or with the
dastardly ambuscade prepared at Hango trdd for
the bearers of the flag of truce, 'under the shelter.
of which symbol, a symbol hitherto regarded as
almost sacred among civilised nations, a boat's crew
of British sailors were either captured or assassi-
nated ! Like Russians—like Chinese ! Both have
proved, themsel yes, and that moreover very recently,
equally beyond the shadow of a doubt to be bar-
barians. It is the misfortune of England that
twice of late she has had to contend in arms—
not with true men, but—with savages ! With
the Chinese Savages she is still contending. Let
her deal with them as savages only are to be dealt
with ! Not with diplomacy—not with concilia-
tion. For such would prove by its results to be
only folly and cruelty, and something little short
of absolute madness; ending, as it could only end,
in a more lavish expenditure of blood and trea-
sures. Dealing with the Chinese not thus,
but with a stretched out Arm of Might,
—with a strong, a vigorous, an overwhelm-
ing warlike demonstration. A bold policy
like this, with such a people and at such a
time, is always the most humane in the end ; it
is always the most rational and the most prudent.
It is the policy, moreover, best befitting the dig-
nity of the realm, the honour of the Crown, the
glorious and historical reputation of the country.
Beyond which—simply as a means to an end—it is,
more strictly speaking, a Peaceful Policy than a
Warlike Policy. Happily for England it is the
policy resolved upon, we believe, at this time by
Lord PALMERSTON'S Government—a Government
determined, at any rate, to signalise itself before
the world by extinguishing the Chinese War
by means of some resolute demonstration.

In any case, what Lord JOHN RUSSELL Will
find himself compelled to do will be very much the
standard from which our expectations must start.
He will have to offer something obviously superior
to his last abortion of February, 1854, and yet
further no advance on his Bill of 1852 ; though
in some respects the later measure was more favour-
able to the country party than the earlier one. Per-
haps, after such stormy events as have engrossed our
attention since 1854 the greater part of our readers
may have forgotten the principal points of the
bill which Lord JOHN RUSSELL withdrew amid
many tears on the 11th of April that year. It
deprived the existing boroughs of sixty-five. seats.
Twenty-nine were taken from nineteen boroughs,
whose population did not amount to 5,000, or
their electors to 300. Thirty-three were taken
from as many other boroughs which returned two
members each, but whose electors were below
500, and their population below 10,000 ; by de-
priving them each of one member. These seats
were redistributed as follows :

EIGHT boroughs, with a population above
100,000, three Members each, iustead
of two 8
Thirty-seven counties, or divisions of court-
tie, with a population of 100,000 37
The West Riding of York and South Lan-
cashire, subdivided, each division three
Members
Three new boroughs
Kensington and Chelsea 2
Salford, one additional
The Inns of Court
London University

It is, of course, evident enough that of the mem-
bers taken from the boroughs exclusively, more
than two-thirds were handed over to the counties.
They were made stronger in a division of country
against town by NINETY VOTES !

The franchise was extended in counties to ten
poucd householders (clear yearly value of 101.)
and in ilaoroughs to persons dwelling in houses
rated to the amount of 61. to the relief of the poor,
if they had been occupiers for two full years
and seven months. Other classes of votes were
also created, most of whom would be included in
the above. Persons receiving a salary (not wages)
of 1001. a year, or 101. annually for certain kinds
of stock, &c., or paying 40s. yearly direct taxes,
or being a graduate in a University, or a depositor
three consecutive years in a savings bank to the
amount of 501. The best feature in the bill was
the abolition of the Rat3-paying clauses. How is
it they have been tolerated so long, as means of
annoyance or of unjust disfranchisement? The
most novel and ridiculed portion of the bill
was the clause which created minority members
(M.M.P.'s) by allowing persons to vote for only
two members out of three, where the constituency
returned three.

Early in the last session of the defunct Parlia-
ment
the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for
the University of Dublin proposed a resolution
for an Address to the Crown, praying that " her
MAJESTY would be graciously pleased to take into
consideration, as an, urgent measure of Adminis-
trative Reform, the formation of a separate and
responsible department for the affairs of public
justice." This proposition was unanimously car-
ried. The Attorney-General, who took exception
merely to the words we have placed in italics,
cordially assented to the spirit of tb.e resolution ;
and, on ascertaining the clearly-ez.pressed opinion
of the House, permitted the motion to be carried
in its original form without a division, while the
Premier declared that " the matter should receive
the serious attention of the Government." The
nation has, therefore, the strongest reason to ex-
pect, that this voluntary pledge, will be fully and
fairly redeemed, and that " separate and respon-
sible department of public
justice" will be consti-
tuted without any unnecessary delay.
We fear, however, that there may be a serious
obstacle to the efficirnat execution of this unanimous
resolution. Lor..,RANWORTH is by no means
disposed to relieve himself and his successors of
the labours which, from other multifarious avoca-
tions, he is unable to perform. He wishes rather
"to 1-,aild on ancient foundations" than to erect a
Ile'er edifice suitable to the emergency. The
measure which he proposes merely applies to
the mechanism of legislation. It is generally
believed that he contemplates the appointment of
"an Examiner of Public Bills, with a staff of
competent officers to superintend the construction
of Acts of Parliament." Now this would go but
a very short way in providing for the exigency.
It would, doubtless, give some additional patron-
age to the Noble Lord, but that is all. Some
of the glaring mistakes which Lord BROUGHAM
Yesterday we transferred to our columns from and many of the Judges have repeatedly deplored
those of our Gallic contemporary, the Moniteur might be avoided. But there would be no di.
de la Flotte, some very startling particulars de- reeling and responsible head, who would be bound
monstrative of the energetic course adopted by to introduce the measures so urgently required.
the Chinese in the development of their warlike It would apply to details rather than to princi-
demonstrations. It appears from these latest pies. The anomalies so clearly explained by the
ad vices from the present seat of war in the East, Attorney-General, in his speech on the motion,
that the Chinese, in their defensive operations, are would still remain without any guarantee for their
not one jot less barbarous, less savage, or less early removal.
dastardly than the Muscovites themselves ; and So long as the political and judicial functions
surely that is saying a vast deal of their savagery of the Lord Chancellor are blended, it is impos-
and rascality as antagonists ! To speak of a perfect sible that he, or indeed any single man, can
parity of this kind as discernible at a glance be- efficiently discharge all the duties. As a Cabinet
tween the Russians and the Chinese is to dub the Minister, and Speaker of the House of
latter base and villainous ! It is to designate Lords, he has ample occupation. But he
them—point blank—" Foemen unworthy of our is also bound to act as a judge both in the Court
steel !" It is to liken them at once to cut-throats of Chancery and in the appellate tribunal of the
and assassins—to men without a sense of probity, Upper House. In that capacity also he has quite
of honour, of magnanimity—in one word, to enough to do. It is therefore almost needless to
barbarians Positive proof in regard to all this say tha the cannot bestow the attention so urgently
we have had, very recently, in abundance. For requited on the defects of the law, or the modifi-
example—if the Russians, when their territories cations and changes so imperatively required to
are invaded, by reason of their own want of faith, keep up with the spirit of the age. It is not
or because of some flagrant incursion of theirs into against Lord CRANWORTH, but the system, that
theii' neighbours' territory, resort to the savage we direct these observations. We believe any
and desperate course of setting a whole city, and other
man that could be found would be incapable
that city, as in 1812, the capital of their empire, of sustasUlin the burden that now rests on his
in flames—doing this deed of infamy by torches shoulders.
placed in the hands of Thieves and Prostitutes 1 For -wise tis now demanded at his hands ? It
If such is notoriously the savage course pursued is not v aly the effectual administration of
justice in all its departments, but also the super-
by the Russians in every such emergency—the
plan adopted in a similar crisis by the Chinese is intendev ce and effectual carrying out of the pro-
not one iota less dark or lssa execrable in its cess of 4 ,;he amendment of the law, and the giving
atrocity. The Chinese effect by the removal of prompt , effectual, and complete assistance to the
the floodgates what the Russians effect by the busing 3s of current legislation. In the latter
kindling of a conflagration. They savo them- portiol i the United Kingdom is far behind every
selves by devastating a whole province, by other nation. Our Legislation, like other matters,
laying the countryside under water, by ruin- is in, .a great •legree left to " private enterprise,"
ing families, by destroying crops, bY put- and,, save
,i 1 uestions that have been what is
tine a total Stop, for the time being, to all Indus- tool ~nit mud "taken up by the Government,"
try, both commercial and agricultural. The great the re e
pi:1(31.311Y speaking, a complete failure—
Defensive Weapon of the Russian is the flambeau av r
decided
"
of an EROSTRATITS ! That of the Chinese is the IVr
ember will have quite enough to do in obtain-
break down." An independent
no less criminal hand that gives the signal for an-
ts the legislative
Inundation ! Directly an army invades the
without being obliged either
' //4 hhe advocates,
sanction to the principles
Empire—one of the three branches of the Pe; '
I to perform. the mechanical part of the operation

The inconsistent position of a large number of
totvns under the proposed Bill we illustrated by
exact tables at the time. Some twenty-six
towns were to return but one member, all
of which surpassed, in electors, many which re-
turned two members ; some of them Exceeding
not fewer than fifty-four of those deemed worthy
of two votes in the council of the nation. Up-
wards of forty boroughs, of between 7,000 and
10,000 inhabitants, had no member, and twenty-
two, with a population of between 10,000
and 16,600, were also unrepresented ; and
that while forty-five seats were taken from
towns and handed over to the counties ! Such
were some of the leading features of Lord JOHN'S
THIRD Reform Bill. It is needless to observe
that it said nothing of shortened duration of
Parliaments, of abolition of property qualification,
and of vote by ballot. How far will Lord JOHN
surpass himself to become once more the aristo-
cratic tribune of the people ? How far will ther
be rivalry or conspiracy between him and Lord
PALMERSTON ? Fiow far will he think ;:c worth
while, with his last chance before hir.a, to finish
political life 8,4 the never-to-be-forgotten Reformer
of the Howse of Commons, or the pitied repre-
sentative of antiquated Whiggism ? Questions
these which a session or two will probably decide.

himself, or to pay largely for the professional
assisance he must obtain in order to have it effi-
oienty performed. It is quite sufficient that he
should be the "architect," without also being the
" buider," and even the " bricklayer," to carry
his designs into practical exemtion
Ttey do these things better in France. There
they have a Minister of Justice, and here we want
a sinilar officer, whose attention shall be exclu-
sively directed to the department. We care not
by wiat designation he may be known, provided
the 3ecessary work be performed. Practically
what is required is the separation of the political
and judicial functions of the Lord Chancellor, and
that we hope and believe will be finally demanded
by tie new Parliament in accordance with the
resolition unanimously and unhesitatingly carried
on tle 12th of February, 1857.

LAUNCH OF THE ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

It is rumoured that on the occasion of the launch
of tle Royal Sovereign, 131, screw, his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, her Royal. Highness
the Princess Royal, and other branches of the
Royal family will be present, The launch is fixed
for the 25th at Portsmouth.

BIBTII OF A PRINCESS.

(Front the Court Circular.)

The Princess Gauromma of Coorg (attended by
Mrs. Drummond), the Belgian Minister and Ma-
dame Van de Weyer, the United States' Minister
and Mrs. Dallas, Misses and Mr. P. Dallas, the
Hanevetian Minister, the Swedish Minister and
Baroness Hoehschild, the Greek Minister and
Madame Tricoupi, the Spanish Minister, Mr. and
Madame Comyn ; the Hayden Charge d'Affaires,
the Danish Charge d'Affaires and Countess Revent-
low Criminil, the• Mexican Minister and Madame
Ahnonte, the Portuguese Charge d'Affaires, the
Brazilian Minister and Madame Moreira, and other
members of the diplomatic 'corps, called during
the day to learn the state of her Majesty's health.
Many of the nobility and gentry called to pay
their respects. Among them were the Duke and
Duchess 9f Norfolk, the Marquis of Chandos, the
Marquis of Breadalbane, Sir J. and Lady Paking-
ton, Sir James and the Misses Graham, the Attor-
ney-General and Lady Bathell, Mr. and Mrs. A.
Kiunaird, Earl and Countess f Rosebery, Lady A.
Tufne)l, Earl and Countess of Fingall, Lady Clark,
Viscount and Viscountess Torrington, Countess-
Dowager of Listowel, Duchess of St. Alban's, Ge-
neral and Lady F. Fligginson, Viscount Chelsea,
Mr. Labouchere, Mr. C. W. Dilke, Lord and Lady
Monteagle, Baron Marochetti, Sir George and Lady
Couper, Sir G. Hayter, Sir C. and Lady Trevelyan,
Sir H. and Lady Beutinck, Earl of Lucas, Earl of
Harrowby, Lord Sandon, Earl and Countess Dela-
warr, Right Hon. W. and Mrs. Cowper, Mr. and
Mrs. El. Reeve, Major-General and Lady C. Buck-
ley, Dr. R. Bright, Earl and Countess of Durham,
Duke of Leeds, Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, S;r
Fitzroy Kelly, Mrs. Pemberton Gibbs, Sir B.
Brodie, Mr. E. Ellice, Lord Justice and Lady
Turner, the Archbishop of York and the Hon.
Mrs. Musgrave, the Dowager Duchess of Hamil-
ton, the Duchess Dowager of Norfolk, the Duke
of Sutherland, the Lord Mayor and Lady
Mayoress, the Right Hon. E. P. and Hon. Mrs.
Bouverie, Lord Panmure and Hon. Miss Maule,
the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Lord and
Lady Foley, the Marchioness of Tankerville, Vice-
Chancellor and Lady Stuart, Earl St. Germans,
Mr. and Mrs. Bates, Colonel Wood, Colonel and
Mrs. Moncrieff, Mrs. Lane Fox, Earl and Coun-
tess Dundonald, Sir R. and Lady Airey, Earl of
Strafford, Colonel and Mrs. G. Upton, Lord and
and Lady Trindeston, Dowager Lady Raglan, Sir
H. Seton, Duchess Dowager of Somerset, Earl
Jermyn, Mr. Norman Macdonald, the Ladies L.
and S. Phipps, Sir J. South, the Earl and Countess
of Wilton, Mr: and Mrs. Cardwell, L;eut.-Colonel
and Mrs. Drummond, Lady Talbot de Malahide,
Sir R. and Lady Gardiner, Vice-Chancellor and
Lady Page Wood; Viscount and Viscountess Falk-
land, Colonel Hugh Baillie, Dowager -Viscount
Harding 4, Sir C. and Lady Lyell, Lord Stafford,
Sir H, and Lady Holland, Sir G. Wetherall, Sir
J. Walsh, Rear-Admiral Walcott, The Chisholm,
the Rev. Dr. Wesley, Lady Wheatley, Hon. Sophia
Wheatley, the Marchioness of Ormonde, Sir D.
'and Lady Macdougall, Lady C. Lascelles, Sir F.
and Lady Moon, General Berkeley Drummond,
Earl of Desarr, Lord and Lady E. F. Howard,
Bishop and Mrs. Malt by, Viscountess Chewton,
the Earl and' Countess of Jersey, Lord Wyuford,
Lady Alfred Paget, Lady G. Bathurst, together
with numerous others.

The following bulletin of the health of the Queen
was issued this morning :
" Buckingham Palace, April 16, 1857,
Nine a.m.
" The Queen has slept well.
" Her Majesty and the Infant Princess are going
on quite favourably.
" JAMES CLARK, M.D.
" CHARLES LOCOCK, M.D.
" ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D."

The Duke de Nemours visited her Royal
.Highness
the Duchess of Kent yesterday.
His Excellency the Belgian Minister and Madame
Van de Weyer will return to town to-day from visiting
Mr. Thomas Baring, at Norman Court, Hants.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda are ex-
pected ir, town shortly from the Continent. Lady
Wharncliffe is expected in town to-day.
The Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementina Villiers
are at present staying on a visit with the Earl Bathurst,
at his seat near Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The
Earl of Jersey will leave town to-morrow for Middleton
Park, Oxfordshire.

The Earl Fortescue is staying at his seat Castle Hill,
Devonshire, and will not come to town until the latter
end of the present month.

The Countess Frances Waldegrave will give a ball
tc-morrow evening, at her ladyship's villa, Strawberry
Hill, Twickenham.

The Countess of Cork and her infant daughter are
going on favourably.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left town yes.
terday, for Broadlands, Rants.

The Baronesa De Clifford and family have arrived at
her ladyship's residence, on Carlton-house Terrace.
It i 9 probabl• that the difficulty between Phrsia and
Turkey as regards the frontier question will be reterred
to Paris, and settled at the lintel of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. B. Webster appeared at the Theatre Royal, Edin-
burgh, on Monday night, and received a very cordial
welcome. He played the part of Tartuffe.

. -
VIENNA, April 15. —The journey of the Emperor into
Hu tgary is announced by the preparations, which are
being made on a grand scale. His Majesty's departure
is fixed for the 3d of May, and his return for the 20th of
June.

ME QUEEN OF SPAIN.—It appears that the Court
physicians have ‘ indicated the probability" that the
Queen is in an interesting situation, and that this was
the reason why the ceremonies in which she was to have
taken the principal part on Holy Thursday and Good
Friday were counter-ordered. .
Mr. Walker, Government Secretary, British Guiana,
had an interview with Mr. Secretary Labouchere yester-
iay. Mr. Lowry and the Rev. H. Venn had also inter-
views with the right hon. gentleman, at the Colonial.
office.

THE CHINA MISSION.—We understand that the Earl
of Elgin is to be accompanied In hi 4 diplomatic mission
to China by his brother, the Hon. Frederick Bruce, by
Mr. Oliphant, as his private secretary, by Mr. Fitzroy,
and by a gentleman to be selected from the Foreign-
office. —.Wane/tester Guardian.
THE BISHOP OF GLOOESTER AND BRISTOL.—The
health of this right rev. prelate, which for some time past
has caused some anxiety, has been sufficiently restored
to admit of his Lordship's removal from his residence at
Clifton to his seat, Rodborough-manor, near Stroud.
His Lordship and family took their departure on Tues-
day..

The Columbian steamer, belonging to the European
and Australian Mail Packet Company, was spoken on
the 16th of February, in latitude 33° 09' S., and longi-
14° 30' E. (off
the Cape of Good Hope), 33 days out
from Southampton. She had, therefore, made good
progress up to that date.
The Report of the North British Australlsian Com-
pany, to be submitted at the meeting on the 21st inst.,
shows a profit of 14,1921., chiefly derived from the sheep
station at Rosenthal. The Kawau mines in New Zea-
land have been abandoned, and the expenditure closed
aftsr a total loss of 78,4731. The Ban Accord mine in
South Australia is to be made over to a new company.
For the present a dividend is to be deferred to enable
sufficient working capital to be retained. Proceedings
are proposed for placing the company under limited ha-

At the half-yearly meeting of the Agra and United
Service Bank, held at Calcutta on the 14th of February,
the profits for the six months were stated at 49,3601.,
which, after payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per
cent. per annum, leaves 11,8601. to be carried to the
raberve fund, Leaking the total of that fund 149,2501.
The premises zecently purchased for the agency at
Canton have been burnt by the Chinese, but the books
and documents vere saved, and the necessary steps have
been taken to substantiate a claim for full indemnity.
This bank is henceforth to be a London establishment,
and the directors are to be the Lord Mayor, C. G.
Mansel, Lieutenant-Ca mel J. H. Macdonald, G. G.
Macpherson, Mljor-General Sim, Colonel James Hol-
land, W. Newmucb, A. Rimington, J. C. Palmer, J. S.
Stopford, and Lieutenant-Colonel Doveton.

amount of honour, and which will unite the esteem and
confidence of Europe to the sympathy with which you
have already known how to inspire her. All the mem-
bers of the commission of which I form part will,
I am persuaded, regard with attentive impartiality all
that may pass either far from or near to the capital ;
and will act in common accord, and in conformity with
their instructions, in all circumstances which may attract
their attention, and which "may appear contrary to the
spirit which has dictated their mission. For my own
part, gentlemen, you may he certain that I. will always
add good intentions to the zeal and enlightened expe-
rience of my colleagues,"

RUSSIA.
A letter from St. Petersburg, in the Debats,
says :—" The first Russian conquest of territory to
the north of Lake Aral dates from 1846. The 1
Emperor Nicholas, encouraged by the favourable
reports of officers employed iu Asia, appointed in
1848 and 1849 a scientific commission under Cap-
tain Bulakow, of the navy, to explore Lake Aral,
and afterwards take a position on the northern
„shore. The commission was provided with the
.necessary force to overcome any resistance which
might be offered. After going through incredible
fatigues, the commission discovered three. pre-
viously unknown islands iu the lake, and the
soil of which was fertile. They were taken
possession of in the name of the Emperor,
and the • Russian flag planted on them. In
the course of the ensuing year several points on
th-se islands were fortified, and a military force
established there. These islands are now protected
from any attack on the part of the princes of she
country. The fortress of Aralsk is armed With 42
pieces of artillery, and has a garrison of 1,000 men
well supplied with stores of every description. by
means of the steamers on the Caspian Sea."

PRUSSIA.
A letter from Berlin in the Elberfeld 'Gazette
says :—" Tho'confereiice of N euch.t el still rem,ins
suspended in consequence of the resistance of
Switzerland to 'the Prussian claims. Count de
Hatzfeld and Dr. Kern have both referred mitters
to their crovernmeots, and the Swiss envoy hai de-
mandede'fresh instructions. It is s tid that the
majority of the great powers have advised Switzer-
land to adopt a more conciliatory attitude towards
Prussia."

The twenty-second anniversary of the birthday
of the Duke de Brabant was celebrated on Monday
at Brussels with great rejoicing. The Royal family
arrived from Luken in the morning, and a rec p-
tion took place of all the members of the Royal
households. The officers of the garrison all met at
grand banquets in honour of the day. The duke
and the duchess attended in the evening at the
Theatre of the Monnaie, where the " Huguenots"
was given. They were received with gre A enthu-
siasm, the orchestra playing the " Brabanconne,"
amidst loud acclamations. Their Royal High-
nesses remained to the close of the performance
and were again cheered on their departure. At
night the city was illuminated.

THE SOUND DUES.
The following is the text of the Imperial order
.ately issued by the Russian. Government :

"NEW QUARANTINE REGULATIONS FOR VESSELS COMING
FROM THE SOUND, AND ENTERING RUSSIAN PORTS IN
THE BALTIC :-

"The Minister of the Interior informed the Minister
of Finance, under date of March 8, that his Majesty the
Emperor, on the, representation of the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, with regard to the necessity, in c,,nse-
quence of the abolition of the Sound Dues, of issuing
fresh quarantine regulations for vessels Coming through
the Sound to our ports in the Baltic, has been graciously
pleased, in accordance with the resolution of the Com-
mittee of Ministers, cn the 19th February, of this year,
to command :

" 1. In future neither receipts for the payment of
Sound Dues nor Danish quarantine certificates are to be
required of vessels as indispensable to their admission
into our Baltic ports.
" 2. It is to be made incumbent on all captains of
vessels entering the said ports with cargo to provide
themselves at the port where they take in their cargo
with certificates attested by our consular agents as to
the • satisfactory sanitary state of the neighbourhood
whence they come, or else procure for themselves quaran-
tine certificates in such French, English, Dutch, or Nor-
wegian ports as they may be obliged to put in to ; with
the proviso always, •that these documents be attested by
our consular agents ; and that

" 3. These regulations are to remain in force only
for the term of this year, should the state of the public
health during that period remain as satisfactory as it is
at present.'"