The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-17 00:00:00

AUSTRIAN INSOLENCE AT MANTUA.

The Risorginiento of Turin gives ihe following
more accurate, and, as regards the fate of the Italians
lees terrible, account of the affair recorded in an
exaggerated form in the daily papers of yesterday :
(
" Mantua is a most agitated state, in consequence
of an affair between a young gentleman of the
name of Bianchi and (3,z-tail) Austrian officers.
Bianchi hissed the performances some evenings ago
in the theatre. An officer desired him in a coarse
manner to desist, when an altercation ensued,
which ended in a challenge. But M. Bianchi, in
consequence of his being arrested the same even-
ing, was not able to appear the next morning on
the ground, to which the Austrian officer had pro-
ceeded. On the following day the latter and
M. Bianchi met in a coffee-house, when the officer
began to use many insulting expressions to M.
Bianchi, who answered him accordingly. Tho
officer clapped his hand on the hilt of his sword,
buc M. Bianchi did not give him time to draw, for
he knocked him down with a strong back-handed
blow. The quarrel would have ended here, with
the discomfiture of the Austrian ; but seven other
oflioas ran up and fell upon M. Bianchi, who, seiz-
ing the sabre of the officer he had prostrated, now
placed himself against the wall and defended him-
self ; W., being outnumbered, he would have been
massacred, if persons running up had not hastened
to remove and save him. The indignant people
rushed in masses to the Austrian barracks, for the
purpose of setting them on fire. It was a long
time before the authorities succeeded, with great
difficulty, in appeasing the popular mind. The
municipal officers of Mantua have commissioned
two of their colleagues, Count Castelli and M. Arri-
vabene, to repair to the Emperor, and request that
he will deign at length to put a check upon mili-
tiry insolence."

TH g ATTEMPTED MURDER AT REDHIL L.

We yesterday gave some particulars of this case. In
our report it was stated that Mr. Ovenden died on Satur-
day of the injuries he received. Happily this is a mis-
take. The following are more detailed particulars of
this terrible occurrence :—On Thursday afternoon last,
soon after 5, Mr. Ovenden, a respectable draper at War-
wick town, was returning home, in his cart, from Mr.
Diver's, Nutfield, where he had been doing some busi-
ness, when about one-third of a mile from the Philan-
thropic Farm School, he saw a man lying partly by the
side of, and partly in, the road, which is very narrow at
the spot. The man was moaning, and appeared to be
ill, and begged of Mr. Ovenden who had pulled up, to
give him a ride, as he was too ill to walk. Mr. Ovenden
got out and assisted the man up, in order to get him into
the cart. The moment, however, the fellow was on his
feet he seized Mr. Ovenden by the throat, and pushed
him on the bank by the side of the roa'l ; he theenwepdiistnehsldolueuptdto.
his money.
which n
ehe
m presentedr.
Ovenden
Mr. O
instinctivelyven d 'vs breast,
put
his
ut
demanding
haand
ptisol,
y.
out to push the pistol away, when the fellow
touching instantly
anyfire d.
of Thethe
greatbel l
venteredessetiohof eeaf tnn
neck,
crkepa,rsaot
end
,
posed to have lodged near the shoulder bone. The fel-
low then rifled his pockets of 41.
search the cart from behind. Mr. Ovenden, although
badly wounded, sprang from the bank into the cart,
whioh was close by, and the horse galloped off Mr.
Ovenden shortly after came up with labourers, One of:
whom drove him home. Mr. Peter Martin and Mr.
Holman, surgeons, Reigate, promptly attended, but
were unable to extract the ball. Information was also
sent to Mr. Coward, superintendent of the police at
Reigate, who telegraphed to Godstone Croydon, and
other places, and with the policethen: :oonnputeicedupa
vigilant search till four o'clock the next
to yesterday the ruffian had escaped the haonrdsino but
justice.

NEW BEER BILL.—Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. Hardy, Mr-
the sale of beer and cider. It repeals
W. Brown, and Mr. Headlain have drawn up a bill ):,
ofade by
under which application is made to and grantsretail, and
the Excise of licenses for the sale of beer
ryetail shall be
enacts that all licenses for sellingbeer by
session. All li-
censes only by the justices in special
bn next before the com-
censes granted within six rnopett
of
Sept.,
1857) will re-
mencement of this act (thexi special provisions m ac
session for licens-
tbe saved. In granting
be guided by the necessities of
licenses the justices
the supply of liquor by publielniuse,s.
minag,nbinutf9ortcheeorlillyicetnilsiets:tewniell
the population and. trik on the premises v, ill be recover-
No debt for beer
fOorru
within a week, and publicans taking
able unless sued
nt h t i ht
and pubic refreshme ouei kept open an g
shops
_P
m.
palms for beer will be fined 21. fcr every pawn. Coffee-
and 4 a.m.) must be licensed by two
(between 9
petty sessions, and these houses will be sub-
- tto the supervision and clntrol of the police. Keepers
of coffeeshop liquors,
s allowing ,the use of intoxicating
gambling, or the presence of thieves and prostitutes,.
or
will be find 40s. 51., and 101. for the first, houses
third offence. Drunkards refusing to
quit licensedoundguzzling
on request will be fined 405., /old
jjetiostices at pe
pers.ollnsfo
rfeit 20s. for
beer or liquor at unlawful houses
hwip" includes all tea
every offence. The word
and coffeeshops, temperance
,o
en for public re-
dancing saloons, houses, and rooms p
shell-fish shops,
• meet, not licensed for
r
freshinent, resort, and entertain
the mile of alcoholic beverages.
ecoffhoeeteslso_

prevented the possibility of such difficulties, and

more decided action on the part of the French

would have produced a more speedy and satisfac.-
tlry settlement. Again, we are told that the Neu-

chatel dispute "has lost all its warlike character,

and has enabled us soon to hope for a favourable
solution." Surely the EMPEROR should be en-
abled to speak more positively on this point. The
Swiss Confederation, confiding in his promises,
abandoned their vantage ground, and if FREDE-
RICK WILLIAM should now seek to evade the
performance of his promises, the EMPEROR will
be bound in honour to enforce their solemn
obligation. The occupation of Greece is to
be relinquished. We wish it could be said.
that the causes by which it was occasioned
had also ceased. From the commencement, King
OTIIO has been a mere puppet in the hands of the
AUTOCRAT, who could pull the governing strings at
his will and pleasure. In Naples there has been
a strange disappointment of the very natural ex-
pectations, not only of the long-suffering people,
but of all European nations. When the French
and English Ambassadors were withdrawn it was
hoped that the matter would be carried to its legi-
timate conclusions. But BOMBA laughed at the
abortive demonstrations. He hardened his already
indurated heart, and laughed to scorn the abortive
demonstration. It is useless to deny that the
Western Powers have been humiliated, when a more
decided course would have insured- a triumphant
issue, and sa►ed the afflicted people the suffering
they are still undergoing.
It is satisfactory to learn that since the resto-
ration of Peace the indirect taxes have increased
by 210,000;000 francs (8,400,000 l.). A removal
of prohibitory and protective duties would, how-
! ever, develope the national capabilities of the
country, and lead to a still further increase, as
marked as that which has attended our own

policy.
The EMPEROR makes it " a point of honour "
that in France rivers, like revolutions, shall " re-
turn to their beds." We trust that he may ob-
tain the victory over the laws of nature which he
already regards as accomplished. We should re-
joice if our own Government announced a similar
resolution for the complete and speedy purifica-
tion of that which was once " the silver winding
Thames."

may himself conduct and bring to perfection the
amelioration which he has himself inaugurated,
or, should his judicial duties and circuit engage-
ments prevent him from introducing an adequate
measure, that some other Noble Lord or Hon.
Gentleman may undertake the task, in which
they will be sustained by the almost unanimous
concurrence of Parliament and the country.

The discussion on the Budget is to be post-
poned until Friday. Mr. DISRAELI will then
bring for ward his promised amendment, and the
entire scheme will be strictly examined, and, so
far as we can judge, unsparingly criticised. It is
manifest that the new firm of RUSSELL, GLADSTONE,
DISRAELI, and Co., will spare no pains to upset the
project. From what has already appeared, the
struggle will be to compel the observance of the
GLADSTONE arrangement of 1853, so far as the
final abolition of the Income Tax in 1860 is con-
cerned. But that was only a portion of the so-
called compact. To be consistent they should
carry it out in its integrity, and enforce an imme-
diate reduction to sd. in the pound. We have already
pointed out that this may be effected with perfect
ease by providing for the renewal of the Exchequer
Bonds, falling due in each year up to 1860. And
this would be but justice to the people, as par-
tially replacing the 8,000,0001. of debt paid off
in 1854, in consequence of the complete failure
of the project for the conversion of a certain por-
tion of the national debt. Parliament only
assented to the substitution of one class of
securities for another. .1 But in place of
that understanding being fairly carried
out more than eight millions of debt was
extinguished, and the balances in the National
Exchequer pro Canto reduced. The Exchequer
Bonds were created, not for the purposes of the
war, but of replacing the sum thus improperly ab-
stracted. If there was a compact in 1853, Par-
liament should insist on that sum being
replaced, and that seven millions should not be
taken from the overburdened and impoverished
people within the next three years. If the 7d.
in the pound be granted until 1860, the compact
will be doubly violated. Under the provisions
for sinking funds every war burden will be anni-
hilated within 16 years ; and surely `that is all
that could reasonably be expected in any quarter.
There was but a single vote taken last night ;
but unfortunately that was one involving the
whole question, being for the payment of the two
millions of bonds falling due in May. We do
not anticipate any allusion to the renewal
of these bonds from any member of the newly-
formed coalition. It will therefore be essential
that some independent member should take up
the point, and bring the question of the GLAD-
STONE abortion fairly before Parliament. If that
money be replaced, and the Income Tax imme-
diately reduced to sd. in the pound, there may be
some foundation for insisting on the abolition of
the Income Tax in 1860. If not, the considera-
tion will altogether fail, and the claims of certain
indirect burdens must also be taken into consi-
deration.

The expenditure for Public Works is to be
reduced, without compromising what has already
been achieved. The produce of the loans will
suffice, it is said, to pay all war expenses,
and there will be no further appeal to public
credit. The annual contingent is to be reduced
to 100,000 men,a tolerably high peace complement
by the way, and there will be some improvement
in the pay of the lower grades, and of the rank
and file, as well as of the civil employes, and a new
trans-atlantic steam company. The war tax, pro-
ducing 19,000,000 francs (760,000/.) is to be
abandoned, but (at least) an equivalent will be
obtained from a new tax on movable property.
France also has its convict question. Exiles
are to be removed from the Coast of Guinea to
Algeria. The Landes of Gascony are to be fer-
tilised, and a complete military penal code is to
he enacted. Such are the leading topics of the
I Address. We may regret that the EMPEROR was
not more explicit on many point 4, and will only
hope that the measures for the benefit of the
people will fulfil the expectations that may be
entertaied in reference thereto.
As to the liberty of the press, the Emperor
thinks that one opinion is quite enough in France.
The echoes of truth are rather startling sounds
to troubled minds. But truth is a bitter reformer,
however much power may attempt to keep off the
day of reckoning. Louis NAroLEoN has tasted
adversity, and ought, as a wise man, to profit by
its lessons.

The unanimous condemnation of the existing
law of libel, as developed in the recent case of
"DAVISON v. DUNCAN," has already produced
salutary effects. Lord CAMPBELL, in presenting
a petition in reference thereto, vindicated him-
self and his learned brethren from the re-
sponsibility of that unfortunate decision, and
clearly and distinctly pointed out the propriety
of further extending the principle recognised by
what are termed " CAMPBELL'S Acts," the foun-
dation whereof is that fair and bona fide reports
of proceedings inserted in public journals, without
malice, and being for the benefit of the community
at large, should not expose the printers or pub-
lishers to any legal liability. Any abuse of the
privilege would, of course, withdraw the protec-
tion, and render the parties responsible for any
damage occasioned by their misconduct ; but it is
indeed hard that, when discharging an imperative
duty, the neglect whereof would he tantamount
to an abdication of their functions, they should
be subjected to serious annoyance and heavy
expense.

" The Fourth Estate" is already greatly indebted
to Lord CAMPBELL. We trust that ho will complete
the good work which he commenced in a manner
so satisfactory to the Press and the People of the
United Kingdom. The blot has been hit in the
recent case, and the necessity for further progress
in the same direction manifested. The anxiety
displayed by the Noble and Learned Lprd, to
show that no other decision could have been
arrived at, indicates in the strongest manner that
"Law" and " Justice" did not go hand in hand
on that occasion, and that, if possible, a different
judgment would have been pronounced. But the
Judges are merely the interpreters, not the
framers, of the law. Their duty is to declare
what it is, not what it ought to be. However
they may deplore the necessity of giving a
judgment contrary to the sense of what is
right and proper, their course is plain. They
have no alternative. They may point out,
and the Legislature should b 3 prepared without
unnecessary procrastination or delay to give effect
to, their well-considered suggestions and recommen-
dations. They expose the evil—Parliament pro-
vides a suitable remedy.

There was also a compact respecting the duties
on tea, sugar, and coffee, on the faith whereof
extensive purchases have been made. If the
argument relic 3 on by Mr. DISRAELI be good for
anything, it must be pushed to its legitimate con-
clusions. It will be for the independent members
to see that this duty be effectually dis3harged.
If not, the people may fairly exclaim, both of the
Government and of the Opposition, " A plague of
both your Houses," for whichever triumphs, they
will be left in•the lurch.

"I confess that I can 'see no ground whatever
for acceding to the demand which has been made
for the reduction of the duty on fire assurance ;
and, so far as I am able to judge, I believe it to
be one of the last duties which ought to undergo
revision !"

Accustomed as we may have been to look for
any amount of scepticism and hardihood of asser-
tion in an Edinburgh Reviewer, we were utterly
unprepared for this. It took us completely by
surprise ; and though several days have elapsed
since the words were spoken, and the evidence of
their having been uttered is indisputable, we are
still loth to believe that the Chancellor of the
Exchequer was accurately reported. Why, such
language is an insult to common sense, and may
readily be construed into an outrage on social
morality and one of the cardinal principles of
our common faith. "No ground for the reduc-
tion of the duty on fire assurance ?" Where are
the eyes of this extraordinary financier ? " One
of the last duties that should undergo revision !"
Is it a case of monomania ?

Of all social duties, that of making provision for
the future is, by common consent, one of the
most imperative. To deny the obligation is not
only to deny an authority most of us revere, but
also to set at nought every day's development of
what may be called an instinct of civilised beings.
We cannot but think of the morrow, and we are
taught and more or less accustomed to provide
against its necessities and hazards. Fire assurance
is the best known means by which provision can
be made against the ruinous effects of a hazard of
hourly occurrence. To tax fire assurance is to add
to the cost of such provision, and strengthen the
temptation to trust to chance, which assails with
peculiar force individuals of limited means. A
duty OM fire assurance is, therefore, in effect, a duty
against fire assurance, and a premium on impro•
vidence. That the existing tax has such an effect
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of course, denies.
Facts, however, are too many for him. How
comes it to pass that in countries where there is
no such tax on fire assurance so many more assur-
ances are effected than in England 7 While only
one-third of the property in this country h in-
sured against fire not less than seven-eighths, we
are told, of the property in France is so ! Who
will say the French people are more providently
disposed than the English—the gay and mercurial
Gaul more thoughtful of the morrow than the
careful and industrious Anglo-Saxon 7 The infer-
ence is obvious, and that is a protest against the
duty imposed by Government on fire assurance.
To tell us the proceeds of the tax are annually on
the increase is only to add to its force. The fact
speaks volumes for the providence of a people
which makes itself conspicuous under such mani-
fest disadvantage.

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 17.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
55 —highest sinse noon yes erday:
43 —lowest this morning and during the nigl
51—this day at noon.

'P, 30 07.
WIND. S.S.E. -Light, with mild weather and sligh
sprinkling of rain.

f t) §Tti

No person can be injured by the publication of
bona fide reports. The accusation, -whatever it
may be, is not that of the journal, but of the in-
dividual by whom it, has been preferred. The
proprietor, editor, printer, or publisher, and all—
even the messenger who delivers copies of the
journal—arelegallyresponsible, but do not indorse
the charge. It has not the sanction of "the mighty
We," but is merely the bt ttoment of the JOHN
NOICES or PETER STYLES, by whom it has been
made, and as such it is taken quantum, valeat
by the community. It is one thing
for the Times, or any other journal, to
make a direct and positive titcrnent from itself
---and another to declare, that at a meeting of the
Common Council of the Board of Health, or any
other public body, Mr. So-and-So made such a
statement. In the former case it is supposed that
the managers of the journal have satisfied them-
selves of the truth and accuracy of the charge, and
put it forward on their own authority. In the
latter the gravamen is transferred to an individual,
and, if he was fairly and accurately reported, on
his shoulders the responsibility should rest.
Public opinion is altogether in favour of this
view of the case, and it is rare indeed, even for
persons who feel themselves to be aggrieved, to

LON')ON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1857

The French Legislative session was duly opened
Imperial yesterday at Paris: The
Speecb, a re-
port whereof appear 3 in another part of this day's
impression, was naturally looked for with extreme
anxiety. It is usually far more explicit
than the
vague announcements delivered at the Palace at
Westminister, and is regarded rather as the ex-
pression of the Imperial will, which must be
implicitly obeyed, than as a recommendation of
matters to be taken into consideration by the
Cha.mbers t, The EMPEROR is, however, begir-
fling to iinlate more closely the English Royal
style, and to leave matters mare in suspense than
was formerly the case.

Wo have seen that the tendency of the tax is to
deter persons of limited means from effecting po-
licies of assurance, and we are enabled by the ex-
ample of France and our own returns to guess to
what extent. We will now take a glance at a few
of the results of non-assurance. A shopkeeper,
doing a promising stroke of business, and whose
limited capital is invested in his stock, has his
shop burned down in the night. All is gone,
and with it his prospects of competence and his
means of provision for tho wants of his wife and
children. The chances are many against his ever
occupying a similar position win, and in favour

The earlier statements refer to foreign affairs.
Weare told that " the difficulties which obstructed
the execution of the Treaty of Paris have been for-
tunately surmounted." Butnurdy such difficulties
should never have arisen. A little more care on the
part of the negotiators, a more accurate conception of
the pettifogging disposition of Russia would have

THE STN, LON DON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1857.

LATEST ,YEWS.

proceed against the journals in which the re- of his sinking lower and lower in the social scale.
port appeared. But there are exceptions The widow of, say, a shopkeeper or clerk, whose
to the general rule, which operate very scanty pittance is derived from a little house pro-
injuriously to the interests of individual perty, finds that property some morning destroyed
journalists, and therefore it is essential to remove by fire, and being uninsured, nothing but the
the grievance. We trust that Lord CAMPBELL workhouse, with its insults and privations, stares
her in the face. The workman who by little and
little has scraped together, from his boyhood up-
ward, a set of tools on which he prides himself
and which enables hint to pursue kis calling with
credit and moderate success, leaves them behind
him in the factory when work is over, goes home,
and retires to rest—to be awakened by the fire-
engine, whose wheels herald the sad intelligence
that the factory is on fire, and his tools, his bread-
earners, his means of living, are consumed. It is
very easy to say these persons ought to have insured.
Of course they ought ; and here is our objection to
the tax. It prevented them. Had the cost of
assurance been one-half its existing amount there
can be little doubt they would have insured ; but
the extra money represented by the tax could only,
have been paid by the sacrifice of some comfort or
positive necessary of life, and the consequence was
the insurance of their property was postponed.
What but injury to society and to the individual
can reasonably be looked for from a tax like this ?
Is not the ratepayer burdened enough—does not
poverty corrupt enough—is there not human
misery in abundance already—without offering
this premium on im providenee ?
The operation of the tax, however, is not only
prejudicial to the small trader, the widow, the
workman, and all dependent on them for sup-
port. It is injurious to others. The farmer,
with his nicely-ba lanced income and expenditure,
finds the cost of assurance heavy, and recognises
in the fact an additional and very powerful mo-
tive to trust to chance. Even when he does in-
' sure, the cost prevents him in most cases from
covering more than one-half the loss he is liable
to by fire. It is much the same with a struggling-
merchant, while those who do insure, and their
number is great, find the cost a serious drawback.
The tax, it will be seen, is immoral, in what it
prevents and what it occasions, both in the indi-
vidual and to society. Immoral in one way
which is toe often overlooked, but b which we
must here advert. A policy of assurance is a horn-
book to the ignorant, and a stimulus to industry
and economical habits to the more reflecting. A
man fights best in the field when his home is
guarded. The effects of the system of assurance
are of an elevating nature, as will the more clearly
appear the longer the subject is considered. The
tax which retards its spread must in the very na-.
ture of things be one of those stumbling-blocks it
is the duty of every honest man to aid in kicking
bodily away. The tax which Sir G. C. LEWIS
sees no grounds to remit, with which he is so
enamoured that he will part with it at no price,
is the tax whos3 operation we have been cursorily
examining. Is it not surprising ! And what is
his reason, h's exquisite reason, for being thus
enamoured of the tax, and holding it with so con-
vulsive a grasp ? Because---Disum teneatis—" it
falls exclushely on realised property!" To be sure
the workmai's tools are realised property ; most
people, however, will see the impropriety of tax-
ing them. But are the stock of the shopkeeper
and the warehoused goods of the merchant
realised property ? Why, one-half, or more, of
them is hal on credit. Yet how heavily the tax
presses on such property will appear from the
fact that the relative proportion of assurance on
factories and warehouses and their contents is
often as one to three—one thousand on the fac-
tory and three thousand on the goods. The tax,
in short, as it exists, is defensible on no grounds
whatever ; and, in the teeth of assurances of
English property being effected in French offices,
it required no little hardihood to defend it and
predicate its continuance., The utmost stretch
of charity can only find an excuse for the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, and that a very lame one,
in a profound ignorance, on his part, of the sub-
ject.

MARSEILLES, TUESDAY.
We have arrivals from Constantinople to the
9th.

The Commission for marking out the Bessa-
rabian frontier will conclude its labours in the last
week of February.
Thirty thousand Russians are concentrated on
the frontier of Armenia. The Russians are dis-
embarking troops on the Circassian coast, with the
view of resuming operations in the spring.
Eight ships, with munitions of war, have left
Astrakhan (mouths of the Volga), and arrived at
Woozenderan, on the coast of the Caspian.
TEHERAN, Jan 'T.—The proclamation of the holy
war excites much enthusiasm. Thousands are
offering themselves for enlistment. Generals and
troops are daily marching against the English and
Affghans. '7,000 English have embarked from
Bombay for the Persian Gulf. 4,000 English
and 1,000 Sopoys have entered Cabool.

FRANCE.
PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.

The Emperor and Empress yesterday received
several foreigners of distinction, who were presented
to their Majesties by the English and Spanish
Ambassadors, the Belgian, Prussian, American,
and Dutch Ministers, and at the request of the
Russian Charge d'Affaires. The presentations by
his Excellency Lord Cowley were :—Mrs. Dennis-
toun and Miss Lewis, Mr. Hodgson, Lady Gomm,
Mr. Boyle, Capt. Tower, Lieut.-Col. Baring, Mr.
Augustus Paget, Capt., Mrs., and Miss Kennett.
Those by the Hon. r. Mason were :—Mr. and
Mrs. Train, Mr. Haseltine, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner,
mMris.sFSrmiantchis, a,
Mr. anndd
Mrs.MM.
parip P.
B.
HII.I. debmuitrhn,
Litchfield, Mr. and iirs: Bacon, Mr. Graff, Mrs.
Trevor.

A rumour. circulated to the effect that the French
troops were about to quit the Roman States. This
is not the case ; on the contrary, it would appear
that the Corps of Occupation is about to be aug-
mented.

The Commission for the settlement of the ac-
counts of the army of the East has closed its labours,
and the report will soon b 3 ready.
Marshal Randon, Governor-General of Algeria;
who is here on leave of absence, is spoken of as
likely to succeed Marshal Vaillant as Minister of
War.

M de Bourqueney, French Ambassador, at
Vienna, is expected at Paris ou leave of absence.
• Feruk Khan is expected to leave Paris for Lon-
don in a few days. The French Government is
most anxious that the affair should be settled be-
tween England and Persia, and to facilitate it
would, it is said, abandon whatever claims it may
have to the Isle of Karrack.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter are still at
Burghley House, entertaining company, The family do
not come to town until after Easter.
Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury has arrived at
Claridge's Hotel.
The marriage of the Countess Helene Kielmansegge,
daughter 9f his Excellency the Hanoverian Minister, with
Lient.-Colouel Lord Arthur Hay, brother of the Duchess
of Wellington, will take place this morning at St.
George's Church, Hanover-square.
The Earl of Westmoreland left town a few days since,.
for Apethorpe House, Northamptonshire.
The Earl and Countess of Lichfield are expected in
town to-day.
Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards for a ball on
Thursday next.
Sir Robert and Lady Emily Peel have arrived at
their re.ideuce in Princes.gate, from Drayton Maner,
for the season.
Sir Charles Henry Coote and Lady Coote have arrived
at their residence in Connaught-place, from Ballyfin
House, Ireland, for the season.
Madame Ida Pfeiffer has arrived in Cape Town, on
her way to the Mauritius and Madagascar.
Lord Feversham bas consented to preside at the next
anniversary festival of the Royal Orthopedic Hospital,
to be held on the 20th of May.

It is thought that the N eapolitan affair is in way
of settlement, through the (non-official) instrumen-
tality of M. Hatzfeld, the Prussian Ambassador in
Paris.

The marriage of Colonel -13iddulpb, Master of the
Queen's Household, with the Hon. Mary Frederica Sey-
mour, daughter of the late Mr. Frederick and Lady
Mary Seymour, and late one of her Majesty's maids of
honour, was celebrated yesterday aft3rnoon, is the pre-
sence of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness
the Prince, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the
Princess Alice, and the immediate relatives of the par-
ties. The ceremony was performed in the private chapel
of the Palace, by the Hon. and Rev. Reginald Sackville
West, chaplain in ordinary to the Queen.
The Scotia bas arrived from Sydney, but is not known

_
to have any geld on freight.
It is nom estimated that the remittances of silver to
India by the Colombo on the 2lth inst. will exceed
500,0001. The amount already engaged is above
400,0001., and shipments can be effected as late as Wed-
nesday evening next.

The amount of specie engaged up to noon yesterday
for transmission to the West Indies by the steamer La
Plata, which is to leave Southampton to-morrow (Tues-
day), is only 6,2001. in silver.
THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.-Mr. Bacon, Q.C., was
to have made a motion this morning, before the Lords
Justices, on behalf of Mr. Marcus, for leave to appeal
to the House of Lords from the decision of their lord-
ships against his (Mr. Marcus's) petition to annul the
adjudication in bankruptcy against the Royal British
Bank ; but, in consequence of certain steps not baying
been taken, the' application was postponed until to-
morrow.

THE GREAT GLOBE.—The following of the nobility
and gentry have lately visited the Great Globe :
Prince of Onde and suite, Countess De Torre Diaz,
Sir R. Peel, Lady Russell and family, Hon. Mrs.
Morton and friends, Admiral Cator and. family, Gen.
Cannon and family, Sir Mordaunt and Lady Peto, Sir
J. Davis, Sir J. A. Carew, Dunbar, Esq., M.P.,
Lady Abingdon, Dr. Kent and family, Wilcox,
Esq., M.P.

An Imperial decree, dated 24th December, but
only now inserted iu the Bulletin, des Lois, autho-
rises the Minister of Finance to increase of
350,000,000 f. the amount of Treasury bills for
1847.

A letter from Bushire of the 28th Dec., in the
Moniteur de l'Armee, gives details of the occupation
of that place aad neighbourhood by the English :

" The part of the army remaining outside the town
are in wooden huts, exactly like those used in the
Crimea. The head-quarters:are on an eminence, to which
the name of Balaklava has been given ; and the inner
bay has been designated the harbour of Sebastopol.
Three days after the place was taken, two Protestant
churches were established ; they are in a new quarter of
the town, called Victoria City. A. racecourse has
also been established, and the first day's running was to
take place on Jan. 1, the horses of the =Entry being
admitted to contest for the prizes. A few days after
the installation of the troops, a proposition was made
to the general-in-chief to establish a railway across
the town and the English lines, a distance of about
two miles. The proposition was accepted, and the line
is to be made without delay. A cemetery has been
marked out, and surrounded by a dry wall. In the
centre has been erected a monument to General Stop.
ford, killed at the taking of the town. It is formed
of a pyramid of red marble, on the base of which have
been inscribed the General's name and titles, and the
date of his death. Near this monument are the tombs
of Lieut.-Col Mallet, Captain Wood, and Lieutenant
Uttersen, all killed on the same occasion • and those of
three other ' officers. who were carried off by illness since
the occupation."

ROYAL FREE iIoSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD.—TIIO
number of patients relieved at this hospital, during the
week ending 14th February, is 2,351, of which 830
%ere new cases.

BOURSE, Feb. 16.—The following were the las.
quotations

The twentieth annual meeting of the Liverpool and
London Assurance Company was held in Liverpool on
Thursday last. It was stated that the fire receipts for
the year 1856 exceed 220,0001., and that the premiums
upon new life business transacted in the year amounted
to more than 12,0001. A dividend was declared of 12s.
per share—upon 21. paid.
Notice is given that a petition for the winding up of
the General Indemnity Insurance Company
expected
to be heard before Vice-Chancellor Wood on the 21st

We understand that the forthcoming dividend of the
Eastern Counties Railway Company is to be at the rate
of ss, per share, and that of the South-Eastern Railway
Company 15'. per share, or at the rate of 5 per cent.
per annum.

- Cash. fr. c.
44 per Cents

End of Month.
-fr. -c.
68 60

3 per Cents 6B 45
New Loan —
Bank Shares 4,150 Roman ....
Credit Mobilier 1,335 Austrian
Belgian Fives .. 99i— Spanish Threes
Piedmontese (5) 9O 50 Home Debt

RAILWAYS-FOB CASH

tr. c. it c
Orleans 1,370 Western
Northern 9lB 75 Strasburg
Lyons 1,370 New Ditto 752 50
Mediterranean — Grand Central ......601
Lyons Geneva
Cette 770 Austrian Cum. ...,.. 773 75

OPENING

OF THE

FRENCH LEGISLATURE.