The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-30 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1857.

mated. A very brief int.:rval now must bring us
face to face with the realty. Is will then be
manifest whether this most popular of all the
Statesmen of Lis ago is s..t heart worthy of his
popularity. We are sanguine that it may
eventually prove so. LA us still trust that our
expectations in this matter may not be doo:ced to
disappointment. Nevertheless, even supposing
that they are after all deplorably falsified—the
remedy of that mel tncholy evil will be, upon the
instant, within the grasp of the new Parliament.
An immediate change in the Premiership would
in that contingency become inevitable. A more
vigorous Reformer would have to replace even
the popular PALMERSTON. It is not conceivable,
however, that a statesman so eminently sagacious
can wantonly scatter to the winds the brilliant
hopes and aspirations. which have latterly accumu-
lated about his unrivalled reputation. It is not
probable that an administrator of such rare dis-
cretion will wilfully leave this "fair field" of
Reform to " batton on this moor" of ultra-a,n-
servatism ! It will not be consistent with his own
hitherto certainly vague, but still, at the same

time unmistakeable promises of Progressive Im-
provement ! It will not be in keeping with the
very recent programme of " Change" put forward
within the last week by the great morning, and
afterwards by the great quarterly, organ of his Go-
vernment. The Times has more than "hinted"
Reform. The Edinburgh has more than " hesi-
tated" Progressive Improvement. _ Both as the
recognised organs of the Prime Minister.
Both officially. Both authoritatively. The
former notoriously inspired by Lori PALMER-
STON'S —Vice-President of the Board of Trade,
The latter by Lord PALMERSTON'S—ChanceIIor of
the Exchequer. There cannot in reason be any

Tells to bridges, etc., will be enhAnced in a simi
hr ratio, and every retailer will require five mils
where the penny now answers, or the cent. or
2d. 2.sths, where he is now satisfieil with 2d.
The working man, who changes his shilling will
thus practically lose 2,1. in every shilling, or
3s. 4d. in 11. sterling—a very serious injury,
and far too high a price to pay for the crotchet
of the moneyocracy.

longer the smallest doubt that Reforms are really
Intended by the PALMERSTON Government. It
now only remains to be seen whether those Re-
forms will be, in themselves, Sufficient.
At any rat;—as one positive and indubitable
step towards that long and anxiously looked-for
disclosure—we have now arrived at the actual
day of the first assemblage of Queen VICTORIA'S
Fifth Parlianuent,—A day already rendered me-
morable in the annals of the British Legislature
by the election of the Right Hon. EVELYN
DENISON to the distinguished dignity of the
Speakership.

All who experienced the effects of the cbange
of currency in Ireland in the y ear 182 G, must
remember the complaints of the labouring classes,
when they received but 12d. in place of 13d. for
the shilling. Many intelligent persons declared
that in consequence of the abolition of the ten-
penny, they found in all small transactions, the
shilling only went as far as the tenpenny had pre-
viously gone. The results will be of a very similar
character if the pound unit be adopted at present ;
whereas by taking the franc or florin of 20d. (not
of 25.), they will, if anything, gain by the tran-
saction, and our currency systom will be more
closely assimilated to that of other countries, and
have a much better chance of being adopted at
any "Congress of Nations" that may be held for
the purpose of introducing a uniformity of
coinage, or rather of denominations of money,
throughout the civilised world.

A desperate Forlorn Hope is now in active
course of preparation. A last Arctic Expedition

in search of the brave Sir JOHN FRANKLIN and
his heroic companions. This final enterprise
being courageously adventured upon at the per-
sonal instigation of that dauntless lady with whose
name the memories of the missing navigators have
become long since indissolubly associated. GOD
speed this last daring project set on foot by Lady
FRANKLIN—and aided, our heart rejoices to know,
by the aotive sympathy of so many competent
" men of mark"—professional men, navigators,
and philosophers.
It will be remembered that the smallest ad-
ditional assistance has been positively and
peremptorily reused to Lady FRANKLIN by the
Government. Mistakenly and deplorably refused
we cannot but think—refused most cruelly and
most ungenerously Refused, however, so expli-
citly and so definitively, that it were only waste
of time, and words, and energy, to complain one
moment longer of the course pursued in this mat-
ter by the Administration. We have, at least,
to thank Ministers foe letting us know the worst
at once, unmistakeably. The Admiralty not
merely decline sending out any supplement try
expedition to the Arctic Seas in quest of the Erebus
and Terror—but absolutely (in addition to
this) return the most decided negative t )
Lady FRANKLIN'S two final requests. First
of all, for the Gift of such stores from her MA-
JE,TY'S Dockyard as are available for this special
service only—gifts hitherto granted to her in all
her former private expeditions. Secondly, for
the Loan of the Arctic ship Resolute, recently
restored in perfect order to our QUEEN by the Ame-
rican Government. It matters nothing that the
dt tires asked for must—now that they are decline 1
to be given up—remain idle and useless in her
MAJESTY'S Dockyard. Neither does it matter
anything that the Resolute, now grudged to the
(presumed) widow of FRANKLIN by the Admiralty,
has been restored to the possession of her
MAJESTY by the unexampled magnanimity of a
friendly Government. The Gift and the Loan
are alike refused to the sorrowing but still heroine-
hearted petitioner.
Lady FR iNKLIN, left thus entirely to herself
in this last afflicting emergency, resolves, like a
true wife as she is, to dedicate the last remains of
her own all but shattered fortune to the fitting
out of A Forlorn Bops of R-,seareh for her
long-lost husband and his missing companions.
Will England permit this ? Can Englishmen
remain unmoved spectators of any proceeding such
as that ? We cannot believe it. We cannot re-
gard any public apathy so base, any national in-
difference so degenerate, as in the smallest
degree probable. There is " golden" proof
already, thank GOD, that the mere notion of an
apathy so base, and of an indifference so degene-
rate cannot be entertained for one moment
among right-minded Englishmen. Elsewhere,
in our advertising columns, will be found
a preliminary list of subscriptions towards
defraying the expense of th's las; heroic
expedition. A screw-yacht (the Fex) has
been already purchased, and is now lying in pre-
paration at Aberdeen. The command of .this
vessel has even now been awarded to the gallant
Captain M‘CLINTOCK, an experienced sailor,
already distinguished among our Arctic Navi-
gators. The Programme of the whole expedition
is epigrammatically sketched in a single sentence
of this persuasive Appeal to the candour and mag-
nanimity of the population, where it is said—
" We hold to the opinion that it is the duty of
Englishmen to examine that limited area whence
the traces of their missing countrymen were de-
rived, which, though it lies to the south of well-
searched tracts, and has been approached by vessels
that returned without loss, has never yet been
explored." Observe—those few words thrill with
Hope—" never yet explored." And they are words
confirmed by the appended signatures of such men
as Admiral BEAUFORT, and General SABENE, and
Sir RODERICK MustemrsoN. The second of these
three giving twenty-five pounds, the first fifty
pounds, the third one hundred pounds towards
this noble aggregate of subscriptions. There is
another single gift of 1001. upon the list, and one
of even 1501. I May the donations spread and
multiply. The project has our warmest sym-
pathy, and again we wish it "Gon—speed I"
Remember—there still is, Hope. The likeliest
spot of all in those Arctic regions has
" never yet been explored." Captain Aus-
TIN, of the Royal Navy, would not per-
mit Captain PENNY, not of the Royal Navy,
to penetrate further in that direction, as he desired.
Captain M'CLINTOCK may now (being himself so
far untramelled) be enabled to realise at last the
baulked intentions of his adventurous predeces-
eor. More fortunate than Captain COLLINSON,
may he yet bring us news of the long lost naviga-
tors. Sir E. BELCHER returned homewards from
those Arctic seas virtually empty-handed. Sir R.
111‘CLunE brought back with him the barren glory
of having at last demonstrated the existence of a
North-West Passage. May a yet happier fate
than even the memorable one last mentioned, com-
pensate, sooner or later,-for all his terrible respon-
sibilities, the heroic Leader of the Forlorn Hope
in search of the FRANKLIN Expedition !

Lord OVERSTONE, as one of the three cora•
missioners appointed to report on the decima:
currency, has issued an elaborate series of inquiries
to draw forth an exposition of the difficulties and
objections that may be considered to stand in the
way of an alteration in the existing system. We
cannot conceive why t'ae Noble Lord Lord has
thought proper to act separately from his fellow
commissioners, Lord MONTEAGLE and Mr.
HUBBARD, who were selected as his asso-
ciates by the Government. It would cer-
tainly seem more courteous if he hall in-
vited the participation of his associates before
putting forward a series of interrogatories that
seem to indicate that the mind of ono of the
Judges is already made up, and that so far as he
is concerned the result may be regarded as " a
foregone conclusion." We have already had bitter
experience of the practical operation of some of
Lord OYERSTONE'S monetary theories, and are
certainly by no means disposed to follow blind-
fold in the path on which he has entered. Ho
has already, in one matter of vast importance, ex-
hibited an unflinching resolution " to stick by his
order," and to promote the interests of
" the few at the expense of the many."
Any project emanating from that quarter must
therefore be strictly scrutinised in all its details,
and Ps probable, and even possible, effects on the
interests of the less wealthy classes accurately cal-
culated, .before it can receive public support. Tho
great merchan!s and bankers are those who would
chiefly profit by the introduction of the decimal
coinaEto ; and if any inconvenience is to be sus-
tained in the process, it is only fair that they
should sustain it, and not transfer it to
those who have but little interest in the
matter, beyond that of seeing that they are not
victimised by the means adopted.
There can be no dispute as to the advantages of
a well devised decimal currency, but as the Right
Hon. GeLtleman, the Member for Kidderminster,
declared, the question at issue is the modus deci-
aaaudi, so that the greatest good may be achieved
at the minimum inconvenience. The whole mat-
ter in fact turns on the selection of " the unit of
account," and, as we have repeatedly explained,
that should not be such as to affect the daily ope-
rations of the less wealthy classes, whose
dealings are conducted in " terms of pence."
The fact of getting bt.t ten pence in
place of twelve, in change for a shilling, would
practically deprive the working men of 20-per
cent., or one-fifth of their income, and ho pro-
ductive of great aquoyance and lom in all their
trimsactions. We have, therefore, felt it essen-
tial that the copper coinage should remain un-
altered, and that the inconvenience which must
necessarily be encountered during a period of
transition, should be sustained by those who de-
mand the change, and for whose exclusive benefit
it is to be inaugurated. The working classes can
carry on their business very efficiently with the
existing system—and it is for those who believe
that they can economise time and labour by the
required alterations to defray the expense thereof.
Ono unanswerable objection to the "pound
uniL" is, that it is far too-high. It will require
four places of figures, while two, or at most three,
would answer every purpose with the franc or

florin. The fact that our smallest coin is a far•

thing, materially affects the interests of small con-
sumers. The fair proportion of cost cannot be
properly estimated therein, and the retailer inva-
riably takes advantage where fractional parts of a
penny are concerned.
" They manage these things better in France."

The New Parliament has this day actually as-
sembled. Even the tardy Leitrim Election hav-
ing now been completed, the six-hundred.and-
fifty-four popular representatives recently chosen
by the constituencies have at length been formally
convened for their first aggregate assemblage on
this 30th of April, 1857, in the legislative palace
at Westminster. The decisive Answer given by
the country to the frank and manly Appeal marie
to its judgment by Viscount PALMERSTON is now
visible in the. New House of Commons. It will
soon be audible in the discussions. And soon
after that, be clearly and distinctly legible in divi-
sion reiterated upon division. There has long
been no doubt whatever about this : for the new
House of Commons, assembled for the first time
this day at Westminster, is obviously, notoriously
undeniably, to all intents and purposes, Palmer-
stonian. That is to say, If--not otherwise but
—lf to be A Palmerstonian means to be " A
Reformer." That the words may really, in a
broad sense, be regarded as synonymous is now
very generally understood and recognized. The
fact has been recently foreshadowed
plainly enough, through 'the Times, and almost
simultaneously through the Edinburgh,. Whether
the meaning attached to the phrase of " A Re-
former" by the Premier be really and truly ider,-
tical with that attached to it by the People, is a
problem to the solution of which we have fortu_
nately by this time very nearly indeed approxi-

There the cent. or one hundredth part of a franc
answers every object that can be devised, and is
alike useful to vendors and purchasers. Here,
however, in many instances, the fractions of a
penny are disregarded, and the consumer in-
variably bears the loss. With the pound unit
many changes will be required. With the florin
or franc but one is essential, and that is in the
pound itself, which should be made equal to 25
francs, 250 pence, or 1,000 farthings, in place of
240 pence and 960 farthings, as in the present
scale. By this means the people would not suffer.
Pence or farthings would not change. The pound
would be increased to 20s. 10d., but the calculations
during the transition stage would easily be made b,
adding 1-25th, or in decimal notation .04. Tolls
and taxes would thus be satisfied without lossto the
payers, the receivers would lose 4 per cent., but
surely that would be far better than that they
should gain 20 per cent. at the expense of those
who are already too heavily burdened, and are
compelled to strain every nerve to make both
ends meet.
If the present pound or florin be retained, the
next coin of account will be equivalent to 2
2-5 pence, and the half of it to 1

His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the Coun-
tess Bernstorff, have left the Bedford Hotel, Brighton,
for Steephill Castle, near Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight.

His Excellency the Belgian Minister entertained a
party of friends at the Brunswick • Hotel, Black wall,
yesterday afternoon.
Lord and Lady de Tabley and family have arrived in
town from Tabley House, Cheshire, for the season. His
lordship has taken a residence in Upper Brook-street.
Lord and Lady Olivia Ossulston, and Lord George
and Lady Adeliz t Manners, are among the recent arrivLk
at the Bedford Hotel, Brighton.
Giant DAthyany arrived in Own on Tut.si,lay from
Leamington.
Mrs, and Miss Longueville Clarke have arrived hr
the season at their residence in Eaton-square.

1 5 of our present p: uny. IL is clearly
perceptible that the penny receipt stamp and
postage stamp will be increased by 20 per cant.

rn SUN, i3ONI)ON) THURSDAY 1-4-‘'v gt-, I. NU A IntlLi 80, I 5;

OPENING

OF THE

The opening of the new Parliament, which has!
been looked forward to with a) much intereit:
during the latt six weeks, took place to-day. The:
weather was exceedingly fine, and Palace-yard wa:7l
consequently ranch crowded. The neighhour-
hood of the new Houses of Parliament presented
Beene of unusual bustle and excitement.

Lord PALATE RSTON congratulated the Speaker;
on the distinguished honour that day conferred onl
him. He hoped he would equal the ability'
of Mr. S. Lefevre in that chair. It wouldi,
lbe flattery to Any man to say he couldll.
!exceed him. (Cheers.) He (the Speaker) wouldl
l'o.. supported in the discharge of his duties by the
Icordial co-operation of all the members of the housel
(hear, hear)—without which no Speaker would'
1)o able to effectually carry them out.
1 Mr. WALPOLE also congratulated the election
,(o. Mr. ami,on, and regret ed the absence of Mr.]
4-T-:---acl; which arose from a mistake of the
'
"t•lne of the meeting of the house. He (Mr.
'.:Valpalc) assured the hon. gentleman that the':i
,111,2mbers on his side of the house would afford him
tlll the assistance possible. (Cheers.)
The house adjourned at five minutes to 3 o'clock.

DEATH OF H.R.H. THE DUCHESS
OF GLOUCESTER.

GLOUCESTER HOUSE, APRIL 30.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
spired, without suffering, at a quarter after five

1?XlIIBITION OF DeSIGNS FOR THE NEW'
OFFICES FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF'
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND IV AR.

The following Notice was posted this day in thel
.obbies of the two Houses of Parliament :
" Peers and Members of Parliament will be admitted
o view the Exhibition in Westminster Hall en Friday
Ind Saturday, the Ist and 2d of May, between the hourt
f twelve and one.

"The Exhibition will be open to the public on Mon-
lays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, from ten till six ; and
In Saturdays from twelve till six, until farther notice.
" Office of Works, April 30, 1857."

NOTIIER MURPHY !-THE 'FEATHER,

l'f,--red ol hini snd ca,id t!'at he 01( uld on tiro
i _
~ , ,L. LL .•. ~, . rely
7.4._
WS
c.,.i.p.1 eJ-operation and general support of tl!e ATFST Ic
t, i..-ie in giving effect to its rues and orders, ,4:1--1'-'1 -4 L
,a,,d in promoting the various duties which the
1i n.Qe had that day imposed on Hai (Cheers).
T
4
he Mace having been taken from the fl_or of
NEW' PARLIAMENT, tho
Lowe and Ogee(' on the table.

SWITZERLAND AND PRUSSIA.
A. letter from Berne, thted 27th April, has the

following :

" I can guarantee to you the exactitude of the infor-
'mation I now send you respecting the proposed arrange
Inicint with Prussia, as I have it from a person who has
!read the project.
" The document is drawn up in the form of a treaty
!between. Prussia and Switzerland, under the express
1
guarantee of Austria, England, France, and 'Russia, and
1'
'the object of which is to prefect a disturbance of the
peace of Europe. .
" The let Article of the project is very categorical,
' and is couched in these terms :
" 'His Majesty the King of Prussia renounces for
,
himself and for his successors for ever, all claim to the
Sovereignty which Art. 23 of the Treaty of Vienna of
11315 assured to him over the Principality of Neuchatel.'
1 " This stipulation is formal; and does not stipulate

lany reserve or restriction.
"The 2d Article qualifies the position of Neuchatel
towards S sitzerland and towards foreign States. Neu-
chatel is recognised a sovereign and independent Sate ;
it will continue to enjoy the same rights and guarantees
as any other sovereign State of the S miss Confederation,
,as was stipulated in the declaration made at Vienna on
the 20th of March, 1815.
"This article, therefore, confirms the fall independ-
ence of the canton of Neuchatel, and its right of cs)nsti-

[ration.
"The 3d article is thus conceived :—The Confedera-
tion will pay to the King of Prussia the sum of
1,000 000f.'
."Nothing is said way this sum is paid ; and it is
worthy of observation that the word indemnity is not
mentioned, probably purposely, in the treaty.
"The other articles may be summed up as follows :
Ilhe Confederation will proclaim a general amnesty for
al political and military offences, and offences of the
press relating to the events of September 3, 1856.
This amnesty will comprise all militiamen, as well na-
ives of the canton as foreigners, who left the country to
elude joining the last Federal call to arms. No proze-
. eution can be commenced in the civil or criminal courts
against persona for being implicated in the events of
'eptember. The Confederation itself will pr wide for
the expenses caused by the recent events, and the State
~ of Neuchatel will only have to pay its proportional share
of the money contingent. No special tax is to be im-
posed upon any c'ass of individuals for this purpose.
The church property, which in 1848 was incorporated
'1
',with the fortune of the State, cannot be employed for any,
, other object, and the revenues are to be applied for those
particular objects. The funds of charitable institutions,
J arising from private donations, such as those of Baron
de Pury and the Pourtales Hospital, cannot be employed
, for other purposes, and shall continue to be employed
henceforth according to the intention of the donors.
"Such is the faithful tenour of the project."

FRANCE.
PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING
A letter from Marseilles of the 27th says
"The change in the plans of the Grand Duke Con
stantine, who had at first intended to come to this
city from Toulon by sea, was caused by the unfa-
vourable state of the weather, the mistral having
been blowing rather violently for some days. As
'soon as it became known by telegraph that the
Prince was coming by land suitable arrangements
were made. About 4 o'clock, the authorities went
Pout to meet him, and the moment he appeared the
event was announced by a discharge of cannon.
The Grand Duke, as soon as he had been received
by the awhorities, left his travelling carriage, and
entered that of General Rostolan, accompanied by
that officer, the Marquis de Belmont, Chamberlain
`o the Emperor, and the Prefect of the Bouches du
'Rhone. The carriage was preceded by several out-
!lidera in the livery of the Emperor of the French,
and by a detachment of Lancers. Several other
carriages followed, conveying the Russian officers
in the suite of the Grand Duke, the May or of
Marseilles, and other civil and military authorities.
General Totleben was the object of general notice.
The 58th regiment formed a line from the Place de
Rome to the Place Castellaue. Immediately after
the arrival of the Prince at the Prefecture he re-
ceived the civil and military authorities, and the
different constituted bodies ; and, as soon as'the-20
receptions *ere over, went to the Hotel d'Orient,
where apartments had been prepared for him. The
' Marquis de Belmont, General Rostolan, the Pre-
tbe Bishop, and the Mayor of Marseilles,
fiGeneral Carondelet, the Procureur-General, and
Mthe Greek Archimandritc, dined with his.lmperial
• Highness in the evening."
A Paris letter in the Nord of Brussels says :-
3" The following are some particulars of what has
R been done relative to the government plan for levy-
ing a duty on transferable securitie4. The come
.
unttee on the budget has proposed an amend-
naent, which allows the stamp duty, fixed by the
decree of 1850, to subsist, but establishes in addi-
tion a transfer-duty of 10c. for every 100 fr. of capi-
tal, which is to apply to all industrial shares not to
r, bearer. The reason why these latter are excluded
is the vast difficulty, or rather the impossibility of
levying a tax on then. In their case, the duty in
• question: is to be replaced by a regular subscription
(abonnement). When this amendment was brought
before the Council of State, that body, after a first
examination, requested the committee to send three
`of its members to support its views. This faculty,
' for the committees of the Legislative Body` to defend
their amendments before the Council of State, is set
down in the constitution, but it is rarely acted on.
Several times the committees have even refused to
comply with the request made to them by the Conn-
cil of State to send some of their members to explain
the motives of their propositions. But on this oc-
casion the committee charged three of its members
to support its project. For that purpose it selected
M. Lequien, its president and MAI. Fauguier and Bus-
.e.
son. These gentlemen were heard before the Coun-
cil of State ; and the latter body, in its turn, sent
1 three of its members to the committee to oppose
the amendment and maintain the government area-
i. sure. The observations developed by the Council-
iX of State nei her modified nor shook the resolu-
t tines of the committee. Without sending any
e. official cornmunicat:on, it let the Council of State
t know in the most positive manner that it was una-
' ntmously decided on rejecting the article of the
`"budget of receipts referring to the new tax, unless
rt: the amendment it proposed was accepted. Such is
the state of the affair at the present moment. The
.Igovernment, it is said, is not very anxious about
this new tax."

BOT/USE, April 29.—The following were the last
qubtations

1 Casb. fr. c.
Hli per Cents
3 per Cents 63 GO
Bank Shares 4,350
Oredit Mobilier 1,260 Roman
Do. Account 1,260, Austrian
Belgian 4,4
l'iedmonte.se (5)
90 Supotesh ThreesDa
Debt

End of Month.
91fr.
68 65

i• /
.RAILWAYS—FOR CABS.
Ix. C.
tr C.
Orleans 1,455 Western i—
Northern -
Lyons 1,490 New Ditto 740 ~---
liaditerranean 2,050 Grand Central
Geneva -
liidi - Austrian Cum....... 700

will not, it is supposed, be conclu
three months."

PRUSSIA.

The Prussia❑ Chamber is hurryingon the business
before it, in order to get finished before the close of
the session, which wi l take place in three weeks.
The committees Of the Upper Hou,sehave c3ncluded
in favour Of the adoption of tl_e bills relative to
the railways in the ..eaAtern provinces which are to
jo.nthe Russian lines, and for the interdiction of
f ;reign bank-notes. The Chamber of Deputies
has just adopted art 1 of the bill on pateutes, or
licenses to trade, which is the essential part of
the measure. This change in the law will open
freh sources of revenue to the treasury, and is also
a very necessay ainelieration on the former law on
the subject.

ROME.

A letter from Rome of the 23d says :--•" The
Empress-Dowager of Russia arrived here to-day, at
half past three in the afternoon, apparently in excel-
lent health. She proceeded at once to the hotel of
iheßussian legetion, and entered th e chapel to return
thanks for her safe arrival. Oncoming or., she had
all the members of the legation presented to her.
She afterwards received. Mgs. Borroineo A rese,
master of ceremonies to the Pope, but requestei the
visit of Cardinal Antonelli to be postponed to the
next day, as she felt laigued. The Grand Duchess
Olga and the Prince Royal of Wurtemberg were at
the emba-sy to welcome her Majesty. On the ar-
rival of the Empress at Civita Veechia being an-
nounced at Rome, a battalion of French infantry
was posted at the Russian embassy, in order to pay
her Majesty due military honours. General de
Goyon had applied for a fortnight's leave • of ab-
sence to proceed to Paris, to be present at the mar-
riage of his eldest daughter with Count Henri de
Courcy, captain of the Cbassetirs of Vincennes, but
he. gave up his intention on learning that the Pope
intended leaving Rome, the general not wishing to
he absent from the capital at the same time as his
Holiness."
Another letter from Rome of the same date
says :—" The great illumination of the cupola and
front of St. Peter's generally takes place on Easter
Sunday ; but this year the threatening aspect of,
the weather caused it to be posponed until the
18th. As usual, the immense facade was lighted
up before sunset, so that the lamps at first emitted
but a feeble light, which kept gradually increasing
as the shades of night gathered around. The cross
on the top of the cupola was alone left in darkness,
as a symbol of the difficulty with which man
arrives at Truth through obscurity. But sud•
denly, when the clock sounded the un'ora di
srotte, or first hour of, er sunset, the gazinob
ncul-
titude was dazzled by an outburst of brilliant
' fire, and the cross was seen on high blazing
in glory, as a symbol of the triumph of Chris-
tianity. On the- following day, the celebrated
, giraudole was let off on Mount Pincio, where the
illumination represented a splendid church, repre-
senting Christianity, while the obelisk of the Piazza
del Popolo, representing Paganism, was surrounded
with fiery serpents. The general effect was beauti-
ful.'

The general diet of Gotha in its sitting of the
24th decided, on the proposition of several of its
members, to request the government to bring in a
bill for the complete union of the Duchies of Co-
bourg and Gotha. The .National Gazette of Berlin
expressed an opinion that the special diet of Gotha
will be favourable to this union, but that the diet
of Cobourg will oppose the measure by every means
in its power.

The Madrid papers of the 25th aro devoid of in-
terest The Gazette publishes the royal decree,
already mentioned by telegraph, appointing M.
Manuel de la Pezuela, Marius de Viluma, to be
President of the Senate, and the Dukes do Veragua
and de Ahumada, the Marquis de Santa Cruz, and
Don Joaquim Casane, fiscal of the Supreme Tribu-
nal of Justice, to be vice-presidents. By a second
decree the orderly officers created on the 16th of
December last, for -the service of the King Consort,
Are henceforth to bear the title of aides-de-camp.