The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-24 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY. APRIL 24, 1857.

It will probably have been remarked by several
of our readers that we recorded, in our impression
of Tuesday, a meeting which had taken place on
the previous evening, at the Cowper-street School-
room, City-road. A meeting expressive of sym-
pathy with the Unsuccessful Parliamentary Can-
didates at Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, and
Huddersfield. And a meeting further indicative,
it should be observed at once, of the views enter-
tained by the working men of London as to what
Reforms ought to be demanded from the now
Parliament. Altogether there were present about
a thousand individuals. The room, which was
of considerable dimensions, being crowded, as the
saying is, to suffocation—meaning, to something
approaching it. Resolutions (cut and dried) were
proposed—speeches (also cut and dried) were de-
livered. Amendments (impromptu) were intro-
duced—and one of them (an amiable extension of
the " sympathy " to Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY)
carried " almost " nernine contradiceide ! And
the upshot of all this--What, let us ask, was
about the English of it? Why, that a meeting
originated,
convened, and organised by the
thick-and-thin Supporters of the Defeated—con-
tained, after all, about equal numbers of the op-
ponents to, and the supporters of, the regularly pre-
pared, and, as we have said, " cut and dried" Filet
Resolution. That Resolution constituted the very
backbone of the whole proceeding, It expressed
" sympathy" for the Unsuccessful Parliamentary
Candidates—for Mr. COBDEN, for Mr. Fox, for Mr.
BRIGHT, for Mr. MIALL, and for Mr. CresoN, as
ultimately also (hy an after thought) for Sir JOSHUA
WALMSLEY. And against this resolution (upon the
spur of the moment)there started up abruptly a sort
of a snake-in-the-grass Amendment. An Amend_
-ment absolutely giving the ge-by altogether to the
notion of anything like sympathy with the Crest-
fallen Candidates—and, in direct opposition to
to that, pronouncing the exoulsion of Messrs.
COBDEN, BRIGHT, GIBSON, (4.7 C., to bc—"a just
retribution !" Sabmitting the resolution and
the amendment successively to a Show of Hands,
the Chairman (a Sympathiser remember) declared
the majority to be in favour of Ole former, meaning
in favour of the Resolution. The Reporter add -
log, however—" the uumisers appeared to be
pretty nearv,i— equal! " Six of one_ate half-a

dozen of the other. 500 pitying the sorrows," in
the present inclement season, of the Poor Frozen-

I Court as a body be sincere in their professions,
the trifling difficulties might easily be overcome,
and private intelligence rendered comparatively
valueless, or, at all events, the leading features
given, so as to afford elements sufficient to enable
every man to judge for himself. If "the evil be
incurable, under the present system," as asserted
by the Times, why should not a better one
be resorted to, that would reduce it to a minimum,
amount.
This acknowledged grievance is, however, only
a portion of what must be submitted to under our
Monetary Code. With a sounder system of cur-
rency, which would at the same time secure a
more equal supply of the circulating medium, and
retard, if it could not altogether prevent, the ex-
traordinary fluctuations in the rate of discount to
which we have been subjected of late years—the
nation would not be dependent on such casualties
as the early or late arrival of a specie-
bearing vessel. The reduction of bullion, valued
at half a million sterling, could, as we have re-
peatedly stated, have no greater effect than the
loss of half a sovereign to a man worth some seven
or eight thousand pounds. It is indeed an
anomaly, that " the wealthiest nation in the
world," as the Times confesses England to be,
should suffer so severely from petty casualties—
that the industry of the country should be para-
lysed because a vessel has been delayed by contrary
winds, or an accident to her machinery. In truth
it is " currency," not "capital" that is wanting.
We can easily bear the_loss of a hundred millions
by war, when we are driven to our wits' end by
the delay of less than a twentieth part of that
amount.
What the nation requires is a code
that will render our domestic trade comparatively
independent of extraneous influences. It is uni-
versally admitted that a deposit of Consols—with
an adequate margin, or the fact of the notes being
receivable in payment of taxes and duties,
would render a deposit of gold unnecessry,
so far as the internal trade of the country
was concerned. Why, then, can we not obtain
really national notes of small and convenient de-
nominations, that would possess a " purchasing
power" in the transactions of every-day life ?
Mr. JAMES WILSON long since declared that the
issue of 20,000,0001. worth of 11. notes would im-
mediately add to the effective capital of the
country, to our stock of commodities, or, which is
the same thing, to our command over them, to the
extent of 20,000,0001., just as much as if we dreg
the same amount of bullion out of the centre of
England." Why, then, do we abstain from using
the mine of wealth deposited at our very thres-
holds ? Why do we tantalise the people by permit-
ting them to suffer destitution in the sight of
plenty ? Simply that the moneyocracy may obtain
larger returns for their accumulated capital, we
are made slaves—compelled to work for unsparing
taskmasters ! That they may revel in luxury,
myriads of our fellow-subjects are debarred from
obtaining an adequate supply of the common
necessaries of life. A fitting measure and repre-
sentative of value, suited to the wants and exi-
gencies of the working population, is all that is
wanting ; but from that we are debarred by the
artful contrivances of an insignificant minority,
and by the extraordinary apathy and indifference
of " the many" on a question wherein their own
welfare and happiness depend more than on any
ether that could be named ! They permit them-
selves to be mystified, and when the all-important
topic is mooted, ninety-nine out of every hundred
remain indifferent, declaring that it is something
altogether beyond their capacity, that they do not
profess to understand the " currency question."
It is this knowledge of " common things" that is
so urgently required. A few energetic
members, who would not allow them-
selves to be coughed down, and who
were alike insensible to sneers or threats, would
speedily accomplish the object. The Corn Laws
were repealed through the indefatigable exertions
of a few energetic men—and if equal devotion
were again exhibited—the monetary code
would at all events be greatly ameliorated.
This would be even a more important
change, for " cheap bread" is but of slight
utility if the means of purchasing it at the reduced
price be wanting. Let Monetary Reformers only
be true to themselves, and their success is certain.
Matters have occurred that prove beyond the pos-
sibility of doubt the imperative necessity of a
change in our currency laws, and if the golden
opportunity be now neglected or misapplied, that
change must take place even within the rapidly
approaching session.

out Reformers ! 500 regarding their rejection
by Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, and Hudders-
field, as after all, nothing less than a just retri-
bution ! Recollecting that they themselves got
up that meeting—we don't think the Sympathis-
ers have gained very much by their Movement.
Nor can we wonder at it, for the working classes
have, to all practical intents and purposes, during
the last few years, been fairly bamboozled by the
Manchester School of Politicians. Let any work-
ing man in his sober senses ask himself what it is
precisely that those Manchester men (erroneously
so called, now that Messrs. BRIGHT and GIBSON
have been ignominiously shaken off by their long-
slumbering, but at last awakened constituents)
what it is, we repeat, precisely, that those
se-called Manchester Men have been about
during the last ten years—ever since the
Anti-Corn Law League Triumphed over Mo-
nopoly ! What ? Why for the most part they
have been all this while running wide of the mark
in regard to really practical and comprehensive
improvements. They have been chasing all kinds
of absurd crotchets, and whimsies, and will-of-the-
wisps of political hallucination. They have been
careering on their hobbies against all sorts of
Quixotic Windmills in Parliament and out of it.
They have been going clean daft about some pre-
posterous notion of reviving of an Arcadian age
nowadays—in the midst of the smoke and dust of
mines and factories--in the midst of the roar of
the steam-engine, and the flash of the electric
telegraph. And of accomplishing this miracle of
regeneration—how ? By meats of the mono-
maniacal Peace-at-any-Price Principles—by the
disastrous Principles that only two years since
led the nations of the North and of the
West by such a horrible and sanguinary Dance of
Death to those wholesale graveyards, the Crimean
battlefields ! And it is men who have been
wasting their own energies, and the public time,
and the nation's blood, and their country's trea-
sures thus—that the working people of England
are expected to lanient now, forsooth, now that
they have at length fallen " by a just retribution"
under the scorn of the patriotic constituencies of
Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, and Huddersfield !

By how much have these Defeated Delinquents
brought the working men of England nearer to
the attainment of any one single point out of the
six points of the Charter ? Tiy how much, during
the last ten years, have they even striven to
bring them nearer to any one of those six com-
prehensive Improvements ? Why it has by this
time become notorious that the Chiefs of these
Discomfited Politicians are, practically speaking,
men of One Reform and that Reform ten
years old ! Men of One Reform, and of a
Hundred Crotchets. Had they been really
earnest and energetio Reformers, instead of being
mere Political Dreamers of Dreams, and Mock-
Humanity-mongers, they must during these ten
years past (with their undoubted ability)
they must, as by necessity, have accomplished
" something " fuither in the way of practical
and actual improvement. Ini.tead of which they
have done no such thing. They' have attempted
no such thing. They have been babbling about
Arbitration while Russia has been mustering her
barbaric legions to devastate Christendom through
Constantinople. They have been maundering
about " Peace, Peace," when there has been no
Peace, but, on the contrary, War as bloody as any
recorded in the pages of History. So that, after
all—their One Reform accomplished in 1846, and
they themselves at last rejected as worthless in
1857--tha interim may be marked as nit in regard
to " any " comprehensive supplementary improve-
ment accomplished subsequently by themselves.
Insomuch that there still remain every one of the
Six Points of the Charter up to this very moment
intact. The whole series has to be taken in hand
de novo by the True Reformers ! Let men, like
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, look well to it. He, at
least—his public career proves it—has not been,
by any means, merely a man of One Reform.
Rather than that a man of Many Reforms, and i
those Reforms, for the most part, great and com-
prehensive. Now is his opportunity—peculiarly
his opportunity. Can he once more be relied
upon? Candidly—he has disappoint-id us so often
(in spite of all his many, and some of them, glori-
ous achievements) that we hardly dare to
hope it. At any rate there is the oppor-
tunity—there is his opportunity. Let him
—again, we say—look well to it. It may
never present itself—it probably will never
present itself—again t) his grasp so temptingly.
We are well rid at last of many of the Weightier
Clogs of Reform. We have got a " clear stage"
once more. We have -"no favour" to hamper
the Good Cause in the shape of any impeding
Predilection. It matters nothing whether the
Reformer of the New Era is to be my Lord JOHN,
Or my Lord PALIIERSTON, or anybody else, patri-
cian or commoner. All that the country does
want, and that it does incontestibly, is—A Re-
former !

HEALTH OF THE DUCHESS OF GLOU-

CESTER.

The following bulletin was issued this morning :
"Gloucester House, April 24, 9 a.m.
" Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
has passed a quiet night, and has not been so
much oppressed in her breathing.
(Signed) " FRANCIS HAWKINS, M. D.
" ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D."

Many complaints have been put forward in the
City respecting the dilatory character of the Bank
Returns. Without entering into the vexed ques-
tion respecting any publication thereof, it must be
admitted that if it is to take place it should bemade
at the earliest possible period, so as to prevent
"the initiated few" from obt tiniug extraordinary
advantages over their less favoured competit
It is more than hinted that the general nature
of the Returns are permitted to leak out at the
commencement of the week, and tiat those who
have received authentic, albeit secret information,
are thereby enabled to enter into engageweuls
under the most favourable circumstances—thatH
they are, in fact, playing " the game of specula-
tion" with marked cards, or loaded dice, by means
whereof they must win largely in the long run.
The Times declares that " the evil under the pre-
sent system is incurable, since the Governor, and
leading Directors, and also the Court, as a body,
have in vain made the most strenuous
efforts t r trace it to its source." It therefore
earnestly advocates the propriety of publishing
the Returns up to the end of each week in the
Gazette of the Tuesday, instead of that of the Fri-
day. This might in some degree alleviate, al-
though it could nut alt )get her prevent, the mis-
chief. It would limit the time for operations to
the " enlightened few," to three in place of to
six days ! But much may be effected within a
few days, or even a few hours I And the unfair
advantage will still be obtainable by unscrupulous
operators. It is simply ridiculous to speak of the
difficulty of making up the Returns before the
Tuesday. The quarterly financial accounts are
made up to the very evening on which they are
published, and they give at least approximate de-
tails of the Scotch and Irish accGunta. Early
preparation is all that could be required, and the
Directors of the Bank of England have no possible
excuse for refwiing to take a little aiditional
trouble in order to accomplish so great a desi-
deratum.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

STATE OF THE POLL.
LEITRIM-(FIRST DAT.)

Montgomery
Brady
Tenison

1,110
616
407

A Cabinet C nincil was held yesterday afternoon a

the official residence of the First lord of the Treasury,
in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Vis-
count Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville,

the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, the Earl
of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Pan-
inure, the Chancelkr of the Exchequer, Sir Charles
Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley
of Altierley, the Duke of Argyll, and the Right Hon.
M. T. Baines.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited
the Duchess of Kent yesterday, at Clarence House, St.
James's.

The Duchess (Dowager) of Hamilton has left Port-
man-square for East Hall, Suffolk, to pass three weeks
or a month.

The Duke and Daohes; of Northumberland intend to
leave Sion House, Isleworth, on the 4th proximo, for
Northumberland House.

The Duke and Duchess of Grafton are expected in
town early next week, from Wakefield Lodge, North.
amptonibire, for the season.

The Marquis of Lansdowne left town yesterday for
his seat, Bowood, Wilts.

The Earl of Derby, after attending the recent race
meeting at Newmarket, rejoined the Countess and fa-
mily at Knowsley, Lancashire. The noble Earl and
Countess and Lady Emma Stanley come to town for the
season, about the 10th of next month.
The Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementina Villiers
close their visit to Lord and Lady William Powlett, a
Bath, to-day, and go into Devonshire to pay severa,
visits.

_
The Earl and Countess Craven are staying at Ash
down Park, Berks, and will return to town the latter
e❑d of next week.

Why, we ask, might it not be made out and
published on the very day, including matters re-
lating to the provincial branches to the previous
day If the Governor, leading Directors, and

The Countess (Dowager) of Glasgow and Miss Cathe-
sreinaseoSni.nclair have arrived at 18, Chesham-place, for the

The Eall and Countess of Zetland arrived at their
residence in Arlington street, last evening, from Aske
Hall, Yorkshire.

The Earl de Grey has arrived in town from Dover.
Mr. and Lady Mary Vyner have arrived in town for
the geagon.

The Earl and Countess of Yarborough are expected
in town in a few days from Paris.

rilE SUN, LONDON, F.RID Y 14_:V ENING, APRIL 24, 1857

LATEST NEWS.

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING.
The Alhambra, steamer, with the Peninsular
mails, is telegraphed passing Hurst at 9.20 a.m.
She will be up here about half-past 11.

THE DANISH MINISTRY.
COPENHAGEN, APRIL 23.

The Cabinet is being reconstituted slowly. The
cause is the difficulty of bestowing the portfolio of
Foreign Affairs and that of Holstein, left vacant
by the retirement of M. Scheele.

M. Andrae, Minister of Finance will carry off
the Presidency of the Council over M. Hall, Mi-
nister of Public Worshfp.

Still, with the exception of M. Scheele, the
retention of the former Cabinet is no longer

doubtful,

BERLIN, THURSDAY.

The Upper House has rejected paragraph 1 of
a bill imposing an additional duty on salt, by a
majority of 95 to 21. The Government there-
upon abandoned the bill, the first paragraph con-
taining the entire measure.

AUSTRALIA.

ATHENS, Aran 20.

eLYMOUTH, THURSDAY.
Theclipn2~-ehcpAnglesea, Captain Thorn, be-
lowing to Messrs. Green, from Melbourne, Feb.
2, from London, was off Pl!,mout4 this morning,
and has landed about 40 passengers here.
She is laden with 600 tons of copper ore and 1,266
bales of wool, and brings on freight 52,600 oz. of
gold, besides what may be in the hands of her pas-
sengers (170), among whom are some successful co-
lonists and Lieut.-Colonel Thomas James Valiant,
40th Reat. and Lieut. W. Henry Paul, of the 12Th.
The Anglesea. rounded Cape Horn in two days,
crossed the line on the Ist of April (28 days), and
in 18 days more made the Scilly Islands, on ap
proaching which she was becalmed two days.
Her mils were left at Penzance on Wednesday.
The news is anticipated by the Simla.
The barque Alexandria, which sailed from Algoa
Bay with wool and p.ssengers Feb. 24, St. Helena
March 12, and Ascension March 19, passed up
Channel this morning, and landed a small mail
here,

The Government has determined to oppose the
French proposition for the establishment of credit

Viscount and Vi4conntess Palmerston have arrived in
town from BroaUtnds. Her ladyship leave in a
few days for St. Leonards-on-Sea

institutions in Greece.

FRANCE.
Our usual Paris letter, dated Thursday evening,
had not arrived when we went to press.

AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, APRIL 21.
There bas been a considerable decline in all kinds
of industriel stock during the last two or three days,
and it is said to have been caused by the endeavours
made by some of the concessionaries of the Russian
railroads to palm upon the leading Vienna houses a
part of their shares. The Vienna men of business
are ready enough to take a share in a speculation
when they see a fair chance of profit, but most
unwilling to do so if they fancy that nothing is to be
gained. In short, the Aus rian bankers and mer-
chants would fain have nothing whatever to do with
the Russian railroads, but the French Credit Mobi-
lier has given some of them many shares iu several
very good speculations, and they are therefore unable
to t efuse to take a few in a very bad one. The Ost-
Deutsche Post to-day mourns over those unfortunate
speculators who have so deliberately walked
into the trap laid for them by the Russians. The
paper in question maliciously observes, that in the
prospectus which has been issued no meution is
made of the probable profit arising from the feathers
of those birds which fall to the earth as victims to
the mephitic exhalations of the Putrid Sea, between
Geuitschi and Arabat, on the road from. Now Russia
to the Crimea. If any person who is in possession
of his five senses will take the trouble to look
at the plans of the projected Russian railroads, be
will clearly see that they are for strategic rather
than for commercial purposes, and consequently
cannot possibly pay.
The Austrian Government is trying hard to per-
suade the French to make some change in their
postal arrangements, which are totally unworthy
of such a highly civilised nation. A letter goes
from Cronstadt, in Transylvania, to Cologne, in
Prussia, for 9 kreuzers (3id. English), but the post-
age of a letter from Vienna to Paris costs 29 kreuzers
(11i d. English). Letters are frequently addressed
to me from various parts of France, but it rarely
happens that the proper stamps are on them. If
the stamps are one halfpenny less ems the pre-
scribed postage, the letters are here treated as if
no stamp at all was on them. Since the cheap
postage system has been introduced into Austria
she revenue of the Post-office Department has
increased rather than diminished. The General
Committee of the Agricultural Exhibition officially
announces that the murrain has not spread iu
Moravia and Silesia. The complaint is sporadic,
and has only affected cattle which have been driven
into those provinces. However, to tranquillife the
exhibitors, a promise has been given that their
cattle shall be brought to Vienna on the Northern
Railroad in new waggons constructed for the pur-
pose.

There was a complete panic on 'Change to-day,

Lord Broughton arrived in Berkeley-square yesterday
from Erlestnke Park, Colonel the Hon. Strange
and the Hon. Mrs. Jocelyn are still on the Continent,
and are not expected to return before the end of the

ensuing month.
Lady De Ros returned to town a few days since from
visiting Sir John and Lady Walsh at Werkeid Park,
Berks. His lordship will return to town to-morrow
from Portsmouth.
Lord and Lady Walsingham will arrive in town to•
morrow from Merton Hall, Norfolk, for the season.
Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood leave town to-day
on a visit to Rear-Admiral Sir Augustus Clifford and
Lady Elizabeth Clifford, at their villa at Ryde, Isle of
Wight, and will stay tell after the launch to-morrow at
Portsmouth.
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.—At the meeting on
Moaday next, the 27th inst., the following papers will
be read :-1. "On China and the Chinese," by Sir J. F.
Davis, K C. 8., F.R G.S. 2. " Completion of the North
Australian Expedition," by CornrnandEr A. C. Gregory,
SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—At a meeting of
the Board of Directors-, held on Wednesday, Mr.
Francis Le Breton, of London, was elected a director
of this company, in the place of the late Mr. James
Hartley.
SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday.—The Belgian Transatlantic
Royal Mail Company's steamship Leopol 1 the Firer.,
Capt. Michel, sailed this afternoon for New York, with
the Belgian mails, about 500 passengers (chiefly steerage),
and a very full cargo of miscellaneous goods.
MONEY ORDER OFFICES —On the Ist May money-
order offices will be opened at the following places :
Snettisharn, in Norfolk; Woolpit, Suffolk; Me'bourn,
Cambridgeshire; Stainland, Yorkshire; Canonbie, Dum-
friesshire ; Newbliss, Mooaghan ; and Borris-o Leigh,
Tipperary.
LETTERS FOR SOPHIA, IN TURKEY.—Letters addressed
to Sophia (Sofia), in Turkey, forwarded through the
Austrian Post-office; via Belgium and Prussia, may in
future be sent, either paid or unpaid, at the option of
the sender. The postage on letters for Sophia is is. id.
when not exceeding half-ounce in weight ; 2s. 2d. when
above half-ounce and not exceeding one ounce ; and so
on, according to the scale for charging inland letters.
The above rates comprise the entire postage, British and
foreign, to the place of destination. Letters for Sophia
are forwarded rid Belgium and Prussia, unless otherwise
specially addressed.
LIVERPOOL, April 22.—This morning the Montreal
Ocean mad steamship Indian sailed hence for Quebec
and Montreal, with 218 steerage and 107 cabin passen-
gers, and the Canadian mails. The Kangaroo, belong-
ing to the Liverpool and Philadelphia S'earnship CJlH-
pany, also sailed to-day for New York, having on
board a large number of passengers, including 65 in the
cabins. The Royal Mail steamship Ear ipa will sail on
Saturday for Halifax and Boston, and letters and news-
papers will be received until 8 a.m., with late fees until
9 a.m., and at the landing-stage till 10 a.m.
COURT or COMMON COUNCIL—At a court held yester-
day the officers of the corporation of London, have given
it as their opinion that a conviction by a foreign court
is not within the meaning of the statute, and that Alder-
man Sir William Maguey is not disqualified from holding
the office of alderman by reason of the jndgment of the
Appeal Court of Brussels of the 27th of February last.
PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT TO MANCHESTER. —lt is
understood that the Corporation of Salford will present
an address to his Royal Highness at the Peel Park
Library, on the day following the opening of toe Art
Treasures Exhibition. On the same occasion, an address
will be presented by a deputation from the Institutional
Association of Lancashire and Cheshire, of which his
Royal Highness is the president. His Royal Highness
is to be the guest of James Watts, Esq., Mayor '.l
Manch titer, at Abney-hall, Cheshire.
LIST OF DIETARIES FOR CONVICTS.—Returns of the
dietaries sanctioned by the Government for convicts at.
Gibraltar, Bermuda, and the different convict establish-
ments of every class in Et,gland and Wales, and the
dietaries in the military prisons, and the county gaols of
England and Wales, have been printed by order of Par-
liament, and occupy a paper of 140 pages. The infor-
mation is interesting, but the very nature of it precludes
any detailed reference.
DESPATCH OF MILITARY STORES TO CHINA.—IrtS•
terday very great activity prevailed in the Ordnance
Storekeeper's Department, Tower, an order having been
received for the immediate despatch of a large quantity
of munitions of war. In addition to the ordinary
labourers, a strong fatigue party, furnished by the gar-
rison, were busily engaged in delivering stores, consist-
ing of arms, accoutrements, tent, &c , which were
shipped on board of lighters, for couveyance to Wcol wich,
where they will be transshipped to vessels about to sail
for China. A large quantity of commissariat stores,
blankets, and clothing, was forwarded by railway to
Portsmouth, for the same destination.
THE FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT WOLVERHAMPTON.
—Five persons have been killed by the boiler explosion
at Wolverhampton, noticed in Tire Sun of yesterday.
Benjamin Mason, the proprietor of the fire-iron polishing
machinery, to whom the boiler belonged, had always
managed the engine, employing as his stoker a man
named Jo eph Cornfield. They were both killed instan-
taneously, and were frightfully mutilated. Another
workman was killed, and two children, upon whom a
portion of the malt-house fll in the street. It is sup-
posed that the explosion was occasioned by the sudden
admission of cold water into the boiler, parts of which
bad become red hot. An inquest has been commenced
and adjourned before Mr. W. H. Plaine B.
REFORMATION OF FEMALE PP.ISONERS.—The 20th

RUSSIA.

BERLIN, APRIL 22.-1 n the articles which
appear now in considerable abundance in the
Russian'
.press on politico-economical subjects,
the vaz ous journalist profit by the un-
usual degree of liberty allowed them to ex-
press their sentiments on the various topics of
the clay with a degree of candour which, consider-
ing that these expressions can also be read in
foreign countries, is, to say the least of it, very naif.
In the Russian press "for home consumption" we
have hitherto the best antidotes against all the se-
ductive statements put forth in the continental
organs of " la haute finance" in favourof the grand
railway network scheme of MM. Pereira and Co.
We find also that, while the shares of the Rus-
sian Commercial and Navigation Company have
been subscribed for rapidly and exclusively by
Russian capital, and other smaller undertakings,
such as that of the " Hydrostat," for
rasing sunken vessels, meet with considerable
favour, nevertheless the number of shares in the
much-vaunted railway scheme permitted to be of-
fered for subscription in Russia is confined to
150,000, being only one-quarter of the first issue of
600,005 shares at 500 f. each, and representing little
rnoe:e than 1-15th of the entire capital contemplated,
viz., 1,100,000,000 francs. The cause of this re-
striction in the amount of shares to be offered
for subscription in Russia appears, however, not
to be solely the very questionable nature of the
investment itself, nor even the twofold desirable-
ness of attracting foreign capital to the country,
and not enhancing the value of the capital that is
already available there, but may be traced in very
considerable decree to the necessity the Govern-
ment is under of withholding a tempting opportu-
nity to the proprietors of dormant capital in Russia
to withdraw their deposits from the Government
banks, where they get only 4 per cent, for their
money, and embark it in undertakings where the
same Government guarantees 5 per cent. asa mini-
mum. If this explanation be correct, the enigma
is at once solved why the Government should permit
the prospects of this undertaking, one of such vital
importance to the country, to be pourtrayed so
darkly by the home press; and the liberal pur-
chases made by the Imperial family out of the
limited number of shares allotted to Russia will
be understood at once as the mere endeavour to put
so many shares out of reach of their subjects.
The most recent advises from St. Petersburg
speak of the publication of the new tariff as still to
be confidently expected this spring ; the delibera-
tions on this subject are being carded ou in the
capital with great assiduity and energy.
One of the suspicious points of the grand rail•
road project, which professes to have for its object
the development of the productive resources of the
country, is the circumstance that, while lines are
planned to Nishni-Novgorod on the east and Thee-
dosia on the south, two important points in mili
tary matters, no line is proposed to connect Odessa
with the general network. To remedy this great
commercial omission a company, composed of
Odessa merchants and great landed proprietors iu
Podolia and Cherson, proposes to connect Odessa
by a line of railroad with Kiew, where the line is to
branch off westwards to Austria, crossing the fron-
tier near Brody, and northwards to Mohilev, where
it would join the general network. These gentle-
men propose to raise the necessary capital without
the aid of foreign funds, and they contemplate, after
obtaining a guarantee from the Government of 4i
per cent. dividend, to raise the capital by a loan
made them by a local bank on the security of their
lands and serfs ; the amount to be lent on these
latter is spoken of as being 30 silver roubles per
" soul," and five silver roubles per dessatine of
land.

annual meeting of the Devon a'id Exeter Refuge for Di;-
charged Prisoners was held a ;ex days ago at Exeter; the
High Sheriff, Sir M. Lvel, in the chair The report
state] some gra;ifying fact; relative to the reforoation of
female pri,oners through the instrumentality of this in-
stitution. During the 20 years it has been in operation,
190 discharged prisoners "have founrl at lea,t a temp r-
rary refuge beneath its roof. Of these 173 have gone
away, of whom 88 have either been placed in respectable
services or have been restored to their friends." The

meeting was addressed by the Hon. W. W. Addington,

S,r J:tick worth, Sir J. Kennaway, Mr. R. S. Gard,
and other gentlensen ; and it was stated that the
Devon and Exeter Refuge was about to be unit :d to the

new Female Reformatory which is now being built in
Exeter, by which arrangement much advantage to the
cause of criminal reformation in the county of Devon is
expected to accrue.
A deputation from the General Association for the
Australian Colonies had an interview with Mr Secre-
tary Labouchere yesterday, at the Colonial-office, to pre-
sent a memorial, requesting him to bring a b'll into
Parliament giving the Australian Colonies power to lona
a Federal Assembly. The deputation comprised Messrs.
W. C. Wentworth (late member of Council for the city
of Sydney, chairman of the arsociation), James A. Youl
(honorary secretary), Sir Watiana M'Arthur, Dr. Dobie,
R.N., and Messrs. G. F. Le-lie (late members of Coun-
cil for New South Wales), Wrn. Nicholson (late M.L C.
for Victoria), John Dunn (late M L C. for Tasmania),
Edward Stephens arrd A. L. Elder (late M.L.C.'e for
South Australia), 11. G. Ashhurst, Robert Brooks, D.
Benjamin, S. Benjamn, J. G4christ, G. R. Griffiths,
Dr. Learmontb, D. Lareach, F. A. Du Cruz, R Dry,
(late Speaker of Council, Tasmania), and A. R. Cruik-
shank (member of House of Assembly, Victoria).
MURDER OP A GAMEKEEPER.—The adjourned inquest
respecting the death of John Bebbington, head game-
keeper to Mr. Corbett, of Tilstone, near Chester, was
held on Thursday, at the Tollernache Arms, Beeston,
before Mr. Henry Churton, corner for that district. It '
will be recollected that Bebbington was found dead in a
field near Beeston on Friday morning last, with a gua•
shot wound in his loin. Suspicion pointed to a well-
known poacher named John Blagg, who was appre-
hended. Evidence was given, from which it appeared
that tracts of a person beating for game were seen in the
field, an that the tracks corresponded exactly with a
pair of hoots found in Blagg's house. The marks Lai
been made on the Thursday morning when the deceased
was shot. It was also proved that on one occasion
Blagg had said that he would shoot Bebbington thefirst
time he got a chance. The jury returned a verdict of
" Wilful murder" against John Blagg, and be was corn
!nutted for trial at the next assizes. On Wednesday the
prisoner was committed on a similar charge by the magis-
trates at Four-lane-ends.

SCHOOLS OF ART.—The amount granted to schools of
art for the year 1655 56 was 25,5001., against 25,8651.
and 20,9331. in the year- 1854-55 and 1853-54. In the
first-mentioned year the sum of 4,500/. was given for aid
to school., 2,0001. to the guarantee fund for salaries,
12,0001. for salaries and aid to masters, and 2,4001. for
prizes and examinations, 2,000/. for travelling and inci-
dental expenses, 5001. for normal lace school in Ireland,
and 2.1001. for salaries for inspection.
CLICQUOT'S LAST.—At Berlin, a few evenings since,
the King of Prussia attended the theatre to witness the
production of a new tragedy. The piece proved wretch-
edly dull, and his Majesty after the second act deter-
mined to quit the house. On entering the saloon lead-
ing to his box he saw a lacquey sitting on a chair, with
his chin resting on his breast, and in a profound slumber..
Turning to one of his attendants, the King remarked—
" I'm sure that fellow has been listening at the door 1"

THE FRENCIi IMPERIAL PRINCE. besides going al("t
afternoons in state, escorted by Guiths, to the Buis de
Boulogne, is now taken out at eight or nine every morn-
ing on the reserved terrace of the Tuileries gardens over-
looking the Seine. Sometimes he may be seen in his ',in-
put an goat carriage, the goats led by two little footnEm,
a nurse walking on each side, and a tall lacquey behind.
This morning, I happened to be passing through the gar-
dens when the imperial infant was returning to the palace
from his promenade. On this occasion he was not in the car-
riage, but in the arms of one of his nurses, the other be-
ing in attendance, and the tall footman close at band. The
passers-by on the quay, near the Pont "Loyal, rushed to
the railing which separates the quay from the private
garden to see the hope of the Napoleon dynasty. At
the moment the Emperor, without his hat, and smoking
a cigar, was enjoying the fine morning, walking up and
down the gravel walk in front of the little private stair.
case leading into his apartments. SlT,en he saw the
nursery cortege approaching, he advanced a few steps,
graciously bowed to the nurses, and, with a playful ex-
pression of his countenance, kissed his babe, to the
great delight of a considerable assemblage who behold
the scene at the distance of only a few yards. The ;
child looks remarkably plump and well.--Lettcr from
Paris,