The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-17 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TuEcoAY

Mr. Ni:lLLlAll3moved. pursuant to notice, for an ad-
dress forinepriry to be made into the state of education in
the principality of Wales, especially into the means afforded
to tlr labouring classes of etecoiring a knowledge of the
English language. He adverted to the impoverished state
of the clergy, which rendered it impossible Clr them to
remedy the defect, owing to the extraordinary va:mner in
which the church property of Wales had been despoiled
by Henry V 111.., Edoard VI., and Queen Elisabeth. He
gave' several instances of verdicts recorded contrary to
evidence, and mentioned the case of a prisoner, who was
sentenced to death avithout understanding a syllable of the
evidence given against him, or of the sentenceunder which
be was condemned to die, until they were subsequently
explained to him 1)7 an individual in court, whom he had
asked why the judge was looking so grave and speakirq so
solemnly.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said government were now en-
gaged in a comprehensive plan for improving the social
condition of the working classes of Great Britain. He
despaired of establishidg a general system of education,
but hoped to establish a separate scheme of education for
all sects of Christens among the labouring classes in
Wales. The moti,n was withdrawn.
Mr. DUNCOMBe moved an address to the Queen to
consider the petitions of the people in favour of Frost,
Williams, and Jones. The motion was negatived by a ma-
jority of 166 to 31.
NEWbRGATO obtained the appointment of a select
eomrrdttee to inquire into alleged fraudulent and vexatious
objections and claims afforded by the present system of
registration of county and borough votes.

1847 ; .bit power would be given to the Lord Lieutenant .
to suspend its operation at any time in those districts in
which the fever would be reported to have ceased.
Mr. WAKIXIS reminded the house that Ireland was in
want of food rather than of physic, and that a timely
supply of the one might obviate any necessity for the
other.
Mr. W. SMITE! O'BRIEN suggested the propriety of
taxing the absentee lauded proprietors of Ireland, and
said that Ireland only asked for a proper application of
her own resources. If she obtained that she would scorn
the generosity of England.
Sir R. PEisL regretted that those hon. members from
Ireland who had only appeared in the house within the
last few evenings, and during whose absence several mea-
sures had been adopted with the sole view of conferring
benefits on their country, should now, when they did at
length make their appearance, taunt them as if they hail
been negligent, and declare that the generosity of England
was scorned by the people of Ireland.
A desultory debate ensued, in the course of which Mr.
J. O'CoNN aw. and other Irish gentlemen bore testimony
to the feelings of sympathy apparent in the measures
hitherto adopted towards Ireland during the present
session.
Mr. SMITII O'BnIEN took occasion to qualify his ob-
servations. and to say that his meaning was that Ireland
was drained of four or five millions annually by absentee
proprietors, and they could not view a sum of £lOO,OOO
voted for their relief as any equivalent to this.
Ultimately leave was given to bring in the bill.
Sir J. GRAHAM then obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the law of settlement in England.
On the motion for bringing up the report on the Cus-
toms resolutions,
Mr. SPOONER moved as an amendment that the report
be received that .e.ay six months. The hon. gentleman
strongly advocated the principle of protection, and attri-
buted the greater portion of the evils of the country to the
Currency Bill of nl9.
Sir G. CLERK Was surprised that in the present uncer-
tain state of the commercial and mercantile feeling of the
country, which was l•cc asi otiing so much mischief, the
hon. member should seek to prolong that uncertainty by
moving its continuance for at least six months longer.
After some observations from Mr. Newdegate,
Mr. SPOON ER withdrew his amendment. . .

The consideration ot the duties in Lie various articles
in the tariff was then proceeded with. On the proposition
for the reduction of the duty on butter,
Mr. GROGAN proposed as an emendrr ent, that the ar-
ticle be excluded altogether from the tariff'.
Tois was opposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
and Sir G. Clerk, and supported by Lord George Ben-
tinck and other hon. members. On a division, however,
the amendment was defeated by a majority of 213 to 111.
The article of cotton hosiery also led to considerable dis-
cussion ; and
Sir HENRY HALFORD moved, as an amendment, its
omission from the tariff. A division ensued, and the
amendment was defeated by a majority of 190 to 102. •
Mr. BANKES then moved the adjournment, and was
supported in so doing by Mr. MILES and other hon.
gentlemen.
Mr. LABOUCHERE suggested that they might go on
with the articles unobjected to, in order that there might
be no derangement in the commercial concerns of the
country by the delay of this measure.
A discussion ensued, which was terminated by
Sir R. PEEL declining to press the further progress of
the tariff that night. He also suggested that he should
propose that the tariff should be proceeded with on Mon-
day. provided that the corn bill, as contraeistinguished
from the tariff, could be taken on Tuesday, if honourable
gentlemen who had motions for that day would give it
precedence.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY.
The following 'Lilts were read a second time:—Coven-
try, Nuneaton, Birmingham, and Leicester Railway ;
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, and Eastern Junc-
tion Railways ; Leicester and Bedford Railway ' • Shrop-
shire u nion it ail ways and Canal (Shrewsbury and Staffor d
Railway); Stamford and Spalding Railway.
Colonel ROLLESTON presented a petition, praying the
House to legislate so as to prevent the operatives in lace
manufactories working more than sixteen hours a day.
The Frieodiy Societies Bill' went through Committee
pro forma. it having been arranged between Sir James
Graham, Mr. Buncombe, and other hon. members most
immediatelyzoncerned in its prcgress, that with a view to
the consolidation of certain clauses the further considera-
tion of the bill should be postponed fot a fortnight.
The Salmon Fisheries Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed on the 6th of May.
Mr. B ESCOTT moved the second reading of the Roman
Catholic Relief Bill. A measure of a similar nature had
already been introduced into the House of Lords by the
Lord Chancellor; the provisions of his lordship's bill,
however. did not entirely correspond with the provisions
of the before the House ; but as the character of the
two were identical, it might be preferable to consolidate
them, and form out of them one measure, lie detailed,
at some length, the grievances still suffered by persons
professing the Roman Catholic faith within the United
Kingdom; such, for instance, as inability to practise in
the ecclesiastical courts, or to teach, unless upon each
taking an cat'', wit was repulsive to many consciention;
individuals. These inconveniences were acutely felt by
numbers upon whom they pressed, and it was due to the
Roman Catholic population, no less than to the interests
of the Established Church, to remit at once this unjust
and disgraceful stigma.
Sir R. INGLIS was anxious to return toile practice of
the Augustan age in England in reference to religious
natters. That practice was whory irreconci!eable with
the contents of the bill before the house, which appeared
to be based upon the legislation of 1829, and succeeding
years, the dark ages, as they might he called, in this
country. No practical grievance had been substantiated
by Mr. Escott ; for as for what he had stated abcut the
obstructions in the way of Roman Catholics teaching,
they were notoriously unreal, as any person might have
a licence granted upon application to the bishop of his di-
ocese. Our colonial legislation might be regulated in re-
ligious matters by the doctrines of the Established
Church, and then no valid complaint could be made, be-
cause the Roman Catholic BisLo of Malta was precluded
taking his seat in the Legislative Council of that Island
by the imposition of a religious test. The present mea-
sure would in effect repeal the Act of Supremacy, as well
as the law for the expulsion of the Jesuits, and would af-
ford encouragement to various public processions adopted
in the ceremonial of the Rorni4h Church. He moved
that the bill be read that day six months.
Lord MORPETH referred to various provisions in the
existing law which the Bill before the House would annul
as practically inoperative, though not on that account un-
deserving legislative notice. The statute against preach-
ing, for instance, was notoriously ioeffective, the obno-
xious doctrines being promulgated without let or hindrance
in all
,parts of the land. Still that enactment, while it re-
mained upon the statute•book, might be appl'ed to a ma-
licious purpose, and so of others of a like kind. Sir R.
Inglis had anticipated, from the passing of this measure,
the prevalence of various public ceremonies, such as the
Procession of Co-pus Christi, and the Procession of the
Host. But what was the fact in America, where the ut-
most toleration was afforded ? There these ceremonies
were never known. So, likewise, be believed the threa-
tened inundation of the Jesuits would he found to be a
mere chimera when this measure became law. He urged
upon the House to abolish all such restrictions as those
against which this Bill was directed ; and as England was
the asylum of political refugees, F o let it be also the haven
for persons of every variety of religious belief.
Mr. FINCH would subscribe to that part of the bill
which repealed the law against Roman Catholics exercising
the office of teachers; but to other portions there were
grave objections. He feared, for instance, the danger
that young and indiscreet persons might be prematurely
conmmitted to religious vows from which they would have
no subsequent means of escape. There was also great in-
convenience to be apprehended from the license which
would be afforded to Roman Catholic bishops, to assume
the titles of prelates of the Established Church. He ex-
pressed himself particularly solicitous, respecting the zeal
of the Sisters of Mercy. He should oppose the bill.
Mr. CoLconouisr, though approving of that portion of
the bill which related to the means of Roman. Catholic
education, yet disapproving of other parts of a more im-
portant character, should give the bill his opposition.
He reprobated the principle of persecution, and would
not recognise its aid in support of the Established Church.
But he feared so much the evils which would result from
any recognition of the Pope's authority in temporal mat-
ters, that he would never consent to repeal the Act of
Elizabeth, which vindicated the sovereign's right in these
dominions. He also dreaded the influence of the Jesuits,
and in conseq':ence of that dread, would have all legal
means enforced tor restraining their power. Believing
the present measure would interfere with their safeguards,
be intended to gise the second reading his opposition.
Oit a division the second reading of the bill was carried
by a majority of 66 to 43. _

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL.

UNITED STATES.

The news which came to hand on Thursday by the Ro-
chester, Captain Britton, which sailed from New York on
the 21st, is more pacific than the previous accounts. Sir
Robert Peel's financial scheme had arrived out by the
Cambria. The commercial class's were highly elated by
it. and it had gone far to allay the war fever about Oregon.
Most of the papers express their gratification at its " li-
beral and comprehensive features."
Li the Senate the chairman of the committee on foreign
relations had introduced the joint resolution from the
House of Representatives, abrogating the convention of
1827, but it was very doubtful, even before the arrival of
the Cambria, whether these res-dutiorss would pass, On
the 19th ult. the question was further adjourned to the
23d.

A dreadful snow storm and gale had swept along the
American coast, which destroyed a great number of ves.
sels, and upwards of sixty lives. The amount of property
sacrificed was likely to exceed a million of dollars.
We have the following rich scene in the reports of the
senatorial proceedings of the state of New York. It is
truly characteristic. It is a correct report :
" Mr. Clark.—Yon dodged on the Convention Bill.
" Mr. Young.—You lie, sir.
" Mr. Clark.—You owned stock in thirteen banks.

" Mr. Young.—You lie, sir.
" Mr. Clark.—Yuu have a princely fortune from the
country.
" Mr. Young (with bis foot on the desk).—You lie—
you lie—you he, you old hypocrite.
" All the Senatcra.—Hooray hit him again, Buck, he
hain't got no friends."

By the Cambria steam-ship, which arrived here on Sa-
turday, we have received New York papers to the Ist
instant, and the news, though unimportant, is of a more
peaceful nature.
The discussion in the senate on the question of notice
as to the Oregon territory, was resumed on the 24th ult.,
and carried on for several days. Two resolutions had
been brought forward by Mr. Colquitt, and it is said they
met the views of Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Crittenden, and
others of both parties. They were to the effect, " that the
notice be given at the cloze of the present session of con-
gress, unless the president, in his discretion, consider it
expedient to defer it ; and that it was earnestly des'red
that the long standing controversy be speedily settled by
negotiation and compromise, in order to preserve the
friendly relations of the two countries." After several dis-
cussions, the senate adjourned to the 2d March, without
coming to any decision, but the sveeches, generally speak-
ing, are of a pacific character. The I'Vere York Herald,
of the 28,h February, states, upon the authority of its
Washington correspondent, that, on the 25th, Mr. Pa-
kenham bad submitted the ultimatum of our Govern-
ment, in reference to Oregon, to Mr. Buchanan, and that
the Cabinet at Washington met the same evening and
rejected it. Considerable doubt, however', is expressed
in Liverpool as to the correctness of the Herald's cor-
respondent. The Washington correspondent of the
New York Advertiser says that a rumour was cur-
rent at the former town, that " ivlr. Crampton
brought out instructions to Mr. Parkenbam to re-open
negociations by an offer of the 49th parallel, the whole of
Vancouver's Island, and the navigation of the Columbia
for twenty ye Ira. It is said that Mr. Polk will not take
the responsibility of accepting the offer, but will submit it
to the senr.te for advice."
The news of the Government commercial scheme bad
been received out at Canada, and had caused a great sen-
sation. "mingled with no little consternation and alarm."
The Board of Montreal had determined to memorialize
the home Government to admit Canadian corn and flour
duty free, without a certificate of origin, and other ad-
vantages.

HOUSE OF COMM ONS.—FRIDAY.
The following hills were read a second time:—Wear
Dock Railway ; Bath Waterworks ; Royal Asylum of
St. Anne's Society ; Trent Valley Railway (Alrewas
Branch ); London and South. Western Railway Acts
(Amendment); Manchester and Birmingham Continua-
tion and Welsh Junction Railway ; Liverpool and Pres-
ton and Manchester and Southport Railway; Lancashire
and North Yorkshire Railway ; Willingham Inclosure
and Drainage; Leeds, Wakefield, and Midland Junction
Railway ; Norfolk Railway Extension (Stowmarket,Wy-
Inondbam, and Attleborough Branch) ; Manchester and
Leeds Railway Extensions ; Exeter, Yeovil, and Dor-
chester Railway ; Birmingham Cemetery ; Shrewsbury,
Oswestry, and Chester Junction, and North Wales Mine-
ral Railway Amalgamation, North Staffordshire Railway
(Pottery Line); Dundee and Arbroath Railway Exten-
sions (by order); Southport Improvement (by order.)
Sir J. GRAHAM took an opportunity of stating to the
house that he bad yesterday received a communication
from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, respecting the ex-
tent of the failure of the potato crop, and consequent dis-
tress and fever in that country, which rendered it impe-
rative upon him to move at once for leave
.to bring in a
bill to make temporary provision for destitute persons la-
bouring under fever in Ireland. He regretted to say that
not only in all the provinces, but almost in every county
in Ireland, this melancholy state of things prevailed ;
and it therefore became necessary to make temporary
provision tor the difficulty. By the bill which he was
about to move, power would he given to the Lord Lieu-
tenant to establish a board of health in Dublin, consisting
of not more than five commissioners, who were already in
the public service, and to whom, therefore, no additional
salaries would be paid. To these a medical officer would
be added, and on the report of this board the Lord Lieu-
tenant would have power to appoint a medical officer to
each union at the public expense. He would also be
given power, on the report of the medical officer of any
union, to direct the building of temporary fever hospitals,
or taking houses suitable for the purpose, at the exiense
of the union ; and also to have provided the necessary
mAlieal assistance and attendants, &c. The bill would
be of temporary duration, being to exp i ire n September,

The Paris papers of Monday are almost exclusively ne-
copied with the insurrection in Poland. Their contents,
corroborated by private letters, show that this movement
.Of despair was virtually at an end. The insurgents could
not stand against the combined troops sent to oppose
them ; and we fear these unfortunate men will ere long
fall victims to their patriotic enthusiasm. Letters reach-
ing Paris from Warsaw on Monday state that the most
perfect tranquility reigned there, aid that the Russian
authorities had no fear of an outbreak in that city.
CIIARITAALE BEQUESTS.—Feb. I.—Among °therein-
ritable bequests made by the town council, Jonas Frankel,
a Jewish philanthropist, who died on the 27th ultimo, and
left upwards of a million and a half dols. about £230,050),
are 15,000-dollars to the Jewish Hospital and Orphan As-
ylum erected by the Brothers Frankel, 25;000 dollars to
be applied by the authorities to the erection of a chari-
table institution for his Christian brethren, 150 dollars to
every charity existing in the town, besides many legacies
of 10,000 dollars each to the. Jewish and Christian friends
of the deceased —Allegemeisze Zeitung des.ludenthurns.
NEW ZEALAND.—Letters from Wellington. in New
Zealand, to the 12th September last, mention the warlike
condition of that colony, but with strong hopes that the
demonstrations of military force on the part of the settlers
will prove an effectual check upon the natives. The in-
habitants of Wellington are anxious to live on amicable
terms with the New Zealanders, bat find it necessary to
stand prepared for hostilities if provoked. They have
formed a body of militia, horse and foot, and have re-
views weekly. Governor Fitzroy appears to be very un-
popular, and is charged with great want of tact in the ex-
ercise of his functions.

The dissatisfaction felt by the Duke of Wellington and
the other heads of the army at Sir John Littler's report
of the retreat of the 62d Regiment in front of the bat-
teries of Ferozeshah, is likely to accelerate the long-ru-
moured amalgamation of the British and East Indian ar-
mies. It is thought that the jealousy between the two
services is injurious, and would be diminished by placing
the officers both of the Queen's troops and the Company's
entirely. under the same control. The intervention of the
Company, although nearly nominal, is still considered
calculated to separate the two services more than is de-
sirable.
SHIPWRECK.—On the 28th ult., a dreadful shipwreck
occurred at the Bugio lighthouse, on the bar of Lisbon. A
French brig, laden with salt, sailed out of the river, in
defiance, we a.-e assured, of the advice of the pilot, itethe
teeth of a stiff westerly breeze, and of a heavy surf lashing
the bar. The captain is said to have been too daring, and
notwithstanding all the exertions of the pilot and crew,
the brig struck on the sandbank under the lighthouse,
and was dashed to pieces. Unfortunately the very nature
of her cargo immediately waterlogged her. The pilot and
six of the crew were lost ; the captain, a seaman, and two
boys saved.
THE AMERICAN ARMY.—The standing army of the
United States consists of one regiment of dragoons, one
regiment of riflemen, four companies of artillery, and
eight regiments of infantry. The whole number of troops
now in the service is 9,847, exclusive of 781 commissioned
officers. An act of Congress of 1842 reduced the rank
and file of the army to 3.920 men ; this reduction is now
proceeding, and when it is completed the standing army
will consist of 7,590 non-commissioned officers, musicians,
artificers. and privates. if the standing army, however,
is not overwhelming, the deficiency is made up by the
militia. The Army Register for 1843 contains the appal-
ling announcement, that this multitudinous host is com-
manded by 627 generals, 2,670 gen.-ral staff officers,
13,813 field officers, 44,938 company officers, being in all
C 2,205 officers; nor are these numbers at all excessive,
when we learn that the forces under their command con-
sist of 1,385,645 men I
PRIESTS, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES.—A trial took place
at the last assizes of the Herault which created great sen-
sation. The following are the circumstances of the case,
as stated in the indictment. Emilie Vidal, the daughter
of a man of large property at St. Pons, was married to
Corbiere, a physician, and in due time had a cittld, of
which she became so fond as to neglect all her other defies.
To divert her mind into the right channel, she was placed
particularly under the direction of M. Dousset, the cure
of the village of Felines d'Hantpool, near St. Pons, in
which the Corbieres lived, with the hope of exciting in
her the religious sentiments in which she was deficient.
Soon afterwards the child died, and the priest took the
opportunity for turning the affections, or rather the pas-
sions, of the mother towards himself, and ultimately suc-
ceeded in seducing her. Availing himself of the influence
he had thus acquired over her, he got her to sign notes of
hand in his favour, and at last to make a will, leaving him
a large part of her fortune, over which she had the con-
trol. under the pretence of saying perpetual masses for her
soul. The husband was at last made acquainted with
these infamous proceedings, and went to the house of the
priest to reproach him with them. During the altercation
which ensued, Dousset made an attempt to stab M. Cor-
bierre with a knife, but he escaped unhurt out of the
house. As he was going away, the enraged priest took up
a gun and fired at him. Again he escaped, the charge
having only touched his coat. Another violent scene
took place between them some short time after, and the
paramour struck the husband a violent blow on the breast
with an iron bar. M. Corbiere was immediately seized
with phthisis, which he attributed to this injury, and soon
after died. Dousset then conceived the following strata-
gem for securing to himself the whole of Madame Cor-
biere's fortune. He prevailed on her to consent to marry',
his own father, a very aged man, to whom her property
was to be made over, and which he, the priest, would in-
herit on his father's death. But this plan could not be I
carried into execution until the legal term of her widow-
hood was expired. To overcome this difficulty, and the
consequences which delay niieht produce, he made the
two parties sign a mutual contract of marriage, under
very heavy penalties. This was on the sth of March in
last year, only a month after the death of M. Corbiere.
He at the same time made each of them sign a bond for a
sum, left in blank, to be paid to him in case the marriage
should not be solemnized. This he afterwards filled up
himself with a very large penalty. These transactions, on
being made known, excited suspicion that M. Corbiere,
the husband, had been poisoned, and the magistrates or-
dered an exhumation and an autopsy of his body. No
traces of poison could be discovered ; but Dousset was
indicted for an attempt to murder the deceased by the
blow with the iron bar, and also for endeavouring by frau-
dulent means to deprive M. Vidal, the brother and heir
of Madame Corbiere, of the property to which he would
succeed on her death. After a long hearing, in which all
the facts stated were fully investigated, the jury delivered
a verdict drclating the prisoner guilty of fraud, but ac-
quitting him of the charge of attempting murder. The
Court condemned him to close confinement, with labour,
for eight years, and to be exposed on the pillory in the
market-place of Montpellier. When this judgment was
pronounced, Dousset spoke not a word, nor did he show
the slightest emotion.—Golignoni's Messenger.

ALLEGED PERSECUTION OF ROMAN CATHO-
LICS IN RUSSIA.

M. de Bontenieff, the Russian Ambassador at Rome.
has presented a note to the Pope relative to the alleged
depositions of the Abbess Mieczislawska. lately published
by the Univera. He first gives an outline of the story :
" According to this journal, the nuns in question, to
the number of forty-seven, were seized in the night-time,
by cossacks, forced to walk to Vitebsk (a town which it is
pretended is twenty miles from Kowno), shut up in an or-
thodox convent, reduced to act as servants to the Russian
nuns, who every Friday administered to each fifty blows
of a cane. It is next declared that the Archbishop threw
them into irons, condemning them to such hard labour as
There are 48,981 dogs in Paris. is assigned to felons ; they were made to suffer hunger and
Earl Cathcart has been gazetted as Governor-general thirst; and to render the privation of drink more severe,
of Canada. they were fed on salt herrings. It is added that some
The regiments selected for Indian service are the 10th were obliged to take part in the construction of the Epis-
Ilussars. and the Bth, 24th, and 32nd Foot. The 18th copal palace, often remaining in the water up to their
and 28th Regiments are also under orders to move from neck ; that others were employed in the mines ; that:eight
China to Bengal. I had their eyes forced out ; that thirty fell victims to this
A tremendous fire has taken place at Philippopoli I odious persecution, and that only three had succeeded in
(Syria), and besides the destruction of about 2500 houses. I effecting their escape into Austria ; as to the superior, she
numerous stores filled with rice, produced there in large had arrived in Paris. In the recitals of this woman, the
quantities, were consumed. number of nuns is no longer confined to forty-seven ; they
The French Government has established a school at are at once quintupled, reaching the number of two hun-
Athens, for the purpose of enabling a certain number of I dred and forty, of whom one hundred and twenty are
young Frenchmen to stedy the monuments which still stated to have been exiled to Siberia; out of that num-
render that capital ao interesting. A professor will be ber, upwards of one-half are alleged to have miserably pe- 1
sent from Paris to preside over this establishment. rished on the road, and the rest are represented as about,
Attempts have been made to take advantage of the pe- in all probability, to speedily share the same fate. The
culiar wording of the firman for the erection of the Eng- names of Wawrzecha, Konarska, and Pomawnocka are
lish Church at Jerusalem for rendering it unavailing. those by which the three nuns who took refuge in Austria
These difficulties, however, have been overcome by the t are designated.
vigour end decision with which they have been met by Sir " Now," continues the Ambassador—
Stratford Canning. " No convent of Basilian nuns ever existed in the town
MOODKEE.—Moodkee is a large village, sixteen miles of Kowno, nor in the whole extent of the province of that
from Bhooga Poorana, belonging to the Lahore Raj, con- name. The present Bishop of Lithuania, Joseph Si6MBS-
tains about 600 houses (many of brick) and 4,000 inhabi- zko, has never been confessor of any convent of Basilian
tang, Sikhs, Mal-n:sedans, and liindoos. There are 30 nuns. No prelate in Russia, whatever may be his grade
shops in the village, and 100 Lahore sepoys are on duty in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, has cossacks at his orders
at the place. or disposal. Kowno happens to be net twenty miles
The French Government has at last come to the deter- from Vitebsk, but double that distance, about three hun-
mination of reducing the exorbitant charge upon the dred verats. No Basilian nun has been transferred to a
postage of letters, which has so long been complained of Russian monastery ; they have all remained in their own
by the public at large. The Minister has presented his convents, except such as, having a desire to go and live
projet de loi sur la reforms ?postale to the Chamber of with their relations of the Roman Catholic religion, ob-
Deputies, and will, no doubt, be carried by a large majority. tained permission from the Archbishop alluded to above.
We hear from Italy that a tumult took place at Pia- The means of existence of the Basilian nuns have not been
cenza on the 25th February, owing to the raised price of reduced, but, on the contrary, have been augmented by
corn, and that the populace went to such evcesses, that new grants, which convents of this order have of late years
the Austrian troops found themselves at the necessity of been accorded in Russia. The Archbishop of Lithuania
using their arms. Four persons are said to have been has never exercised any authority over the converts in Vi-
killed, and twelve or fifteen wounded. tebsk and Polotzk, inasmuch as they belong to another
A RICH JOKE.—We are informed by the Paris papers diocese. Throughout the whole extent of the empire of
that two works on galvanism were seized the other day Russia, the criminal jurisdiction and the infliction of cor-
by the blind and bigoted Pontifical Government at Rome. poreal punishment fall to the lot, not of the ecclesiastical
The Government actually imagined, in its besotted igno- authorities, but exclusively of the secular power. Never
ranee, that the works had something to do, not with gal- are women employed in Russia in works relating to build-
vanic electricity, but—credal .114cm:1—with Calvinism. ing, and never has the Archbishop, Joseph Siemaszko,
This beats the seizure of Plato's works in Russia. erected a palace. He, for the most part, lives at St. Pe-
On the 29th ult., the damming of the Sig, 12 leagues tersburg, and possesses uo house of his own. The archi-
from Oran, was completed in the presence of General episcopal palace at Wilna, destined to his use, was pur-
Lamoriciere, his staff, and a numerous assemblage of the chased by the Crown in 1843 from Count Mostowski,
natives. At six o'clock the flood-gates were let down, Marshal of the nobility of that government. No person,
and a salute of ten canons was fired. By means of this in modern times, has heard of any criminal whatever, and
work more than 15,000 acres of land maybe irrigated, and still less of any poor women, being forced to undergo the
rendered fertile. torture of hunger and thirst; of their being wetted with
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA.—The Journal iced water, or plunged into it; or of having their eyes put
des Debate publishes aI, tter from St. Petersburgh of the out. There are no mines in Russia. except in Siberia and
22d ult., which states that the Emperor bad commanded in the government of Olodetz. No Basilian nun could
that all foreign Jews, even those of Poland, who are at have been employed in the mines, inasmuch as none were
present in- Russia, should quit the Russian territory within transported from the western provinces- of the empire,
three months, should they even be established and pos. where there are no mines. Previously to 1839 there were
MIS landed property in the country-. In future no foreign in Russia nine convents of Basilian nuns. inhabited not
Israelite is to be per►ritted to reside in Russia without a by two hundred and forty women, but by only flay-five,
special permission from the Government. i of whom thirty-five belonged to the diocese of Lithuania.
PRESIDENT POLK ..PIIISONFR OF WAIL" TO ENG- No one of these ever fled from the cloister, and no men-
LAND.—It is a curious feet that the President of the tion has been as yet made in any report of any of those
United States, the wariike and pugnacious Polk, was a i who went to live with their relations having fled to a fo•
prisoner of wr in the year 1812 to the "Britishers." Mr. reign country. It is an indisputable fact that in Russia
Polk was then a subaltern in the United Stews' army, there have never been Basilian nuns known by the names
and was captured on the ice near Detroit, by a party of of Mieczislawska, Wawrzecha, Konarska, and Pornaw.
the 41st Regiment of Foot, tinder the command of Capt. nocka, attributed by the periodical press to these pre-
Bultock. Gen. Cass, the bellicose military orator in the I tended martyrs. As to the pretended Abbess Mieczis-
American lee;slature. also fell by the fortune of war into ; law aka, the Russian Government is ignorant of
the bands of the English forces in the same year. ' who she is."