The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-17 00:00:00

1 ' HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DOWAGER

We can now positively contradict the rumour which for
some months past has been current, asserting that it was the
Queen Dowager's intention to pass the forthcoming winter
in Italy.
It is the intention of that illustrious lady4o remain in this
country this year, and arrangements have within the last few
days been made, which are as follows :
Her Majesty, accompanied by her august relatives, their
Serene Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Meinin-
gen, will leave Marlborough House this morning for South-
ampton by the railroad, a special train having been engaged
for the accommodation of the illustrious party. Earl Howe,
the Earl of Denbigh, and several other members of the royal
household will attend in the royal suite.
On her Majesty's arrival at Southampton a Government
steamer will be in readiness to convey the Dowager Queen
and party to Ryde, at which place the august visitors make
a brief sojourn.
The object of the royal visit to the Isle of Wight is for the
selection of a suitable resh!ence for her Majesty and the
limited circle of her household ; and as several plans of
houses both at Hyde and Cowes have been submitted for the
royal favour, it is at present uncertain which of those marine
resorts will be selected by her Majesty.
Her Majesty returns to Marlborough House on Friday or
Saturday, the latter day we hear, and will then go to Bushy
for a fortnight or three weeks.
It is said her Majesty does not intend to reside beyond
three months at the Isle of Wight, and it is fully believed
will pass the winter in the metropolis.—lVedneeday's paper.

TRAGICAL STORY.—On the morning of the 29th of April,
the city of Mexico was thrown into the highest excitement
by a report that Mr. Egerton, a landscape painter of great
talents, had been inhumanly murdered at Tacuhaya, together
with a woman with whom he lived as his wife, of rare per-
sonal attractions, and who also possessed high endowments as
a landscape painter. Tacuhaya is a small village some three
miles from the city of Mexico, and is a place where many
families of distinction reside, especially in summer. The
palace of the Archbishop is also in Tacuhava, as well as the
summer palace of Santa Anna. It seems that on the even-
ing of the murder, Egerton and the unfortunate woman were
walking in a large garden attached to their residence, as was
their custom. While walking they were attacked by some
person or persons unknown, and both of them murdered.
The body of Egerton was found some distance from that of
the woman, run through apparently with a sword. Near
him was found his walking-stick much hacked, from which it
is evident he made a stout resistance. That of the woman
was found, also stabbed and otherwise horribly mangled, and
this induces to the belief that she also resisted to the last.
She was enciente at the time, and within a short period of
her delivery, and the perpetrator abused her in the most
shameful manner before taking her life. Her face was
scratched and otherwise much disfigured, and a large piece
was bitten from her breast ; and the perpetrator, probably
fearing that she might not be recognised, wrote 'her name
upon a piece of paper, and pinned it to a fragment of her
dress, the most of it having been torn off in the struggle
which ended in her death. The formation of the letters of
her name were plainly English, and this circumstance ren-
ders it certain that the murder was neither planned nor ma-
tured by Mexicans. Mr. Pakenbam, the British Minister,
had exerted himself to the utmost to arrest the perpetrators
of these horrible murders, and he had also been assisted
by General Valencia and the Mexican authorities ; but
up to the latest dates no clue to the authors had
been discovered. As no robbery was committed, as
the watch and money in the pockets of Egerton, to-
gether with the jewellery of the unfortunate woman
were left untouched, it is almost certain that the act, by
whomsoever committed, was one of revenge. Egerton had a
wife and family in England, and some two years since eloped
with the murdered woman. He has since lived with her as
his wife. Rumour also has it that this female was engaged
to a young man in England at the time of the elopement.
Whenever Egerton left his residence at Tacuhaya, he locked
her up, and never permitted her to go out except in his com-
pany. This circumstance was undoubtedly well known to
the perpetrator of the murder. The whole affair is shrouded
in mystery, and thousands of speculations are afloat in Mexico
in relation to it. The one that receives most credence is,
that the murder was planned in England, and carried out by
some acquaintance of the woman as a matter of revenge.
Another story is, that Egerton had been involved in an armour
with some fair Mexican; but this receives but little credit.
'rime only will solve the mystery.—New Orleans Picayune.

- -
THE Oen STAGE COACH,-At a late dinner given by the
Shrewsbury coachmen and guards to the Hon. Thomas Ken-
yon, that gentleman, in proposing the health of Mr. R.
Taylor, coach proprietor, made some interesting statements
on the subject of stage coach travelling Among other things
he said—" As a coach proprietor, Mr. Taylor was one of the
most spirited in the Kingdom. He had at one time two of
the very best coaches that ever ran in England, the Hirondelle
and Wonder. No coach in England established for itself a
higher reputation than the former. On one first of May,
(the precise year he could not recollect) it accomplished its
journey of 123 miles in eight hours and twenty minutes—
a speed few coaches could ever boast of. He (Mr. Kenyon)
was in Shrewsbury that day, and saw a team of four greys
belonging to Mr. Taylor enter the town, which had done
their nine miles in thirty five minutes. He recollected
that there were two ladies inside the coach, who were infor-
formed that, as that day was appointed for a trial of strength
they might, if they were frightened at the speed, choose any
other conveyance they pleased, and should be forwarded on
their journey immediately; but their answer showed good
blood—they said they were not aware that they had come at
the great speed they had, and that they preferred going fast.
With regard to the Wonder, he himself left the Lion Yard,
Shrewsbury, one morning at six o'clock, and was at Islington
at seven the same evening—being only thirteen hours on the
road. On that occasion, he was driven by four of the best
coachmen he ever saw. Another instance of the reputation
the Wonder had acquired was given him by his friend Sir
Henry Peyton, who had informed him that he had frequently
seen persons at St. Alban's regulating their watches by the
Wonder coach as it came into town. This was the only
instance he had ever heard of a coach regulating the time.
It was clear that the coach could not have gained such a
name for regularity without good cattle and good coachmen ;
and it was to the proprietors that they were indebted for
them."

THE PUBLIC PRESS.—To a close observer of the occur-
rences of the last fifty years, the almost imperceptible, yet
certain advance of the press of Great Britain cannot fail to
awaken astonishment and conjecture. Gradually increasing
in height and strength, nourished by adversity, strengthened
and fostered by tempests and storms, it has indeed become a
mighty and a giant tree, " whose height reaches unto heaven,
and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth." Recog-
nising no law but its own will—now yielding to the blast—
now guiding the lightning of wrath to the prou, the tyranni-
cal, and the vile—claiming to protect beneath its broad sha-
dow the rights and liberties of the people, the dominion of
the laws, and the integrity of the state—making its strength
to be known in the very inmost conclaves of councillors and
kings—never was there in any age or clime aught that might
be made productive of so much good or evil as that mighty,
wide-reaching, penetrating energy concentrated in the exist-
ing public press of the civilised world. And in no country
is this more true than in Great Britain. The immense in-
tellect continually augmenting its resources—rendering avail-
able the wealth and information of the merchant, the subtlety
of the philosopher, the stores of science, and the loveliness
of art—with the increasing demand for knowledge and the
numberless opportunities for mental championship to exhibit
its strength, have combined to render the press as a body,
the most influential and respected for its talent and integrity
of any that have ever divided the public attention, or de-
manded the public applause. From the mere chronicler and
gazetteer of court balls and of battles, it has become the
monitor of kings and the counsellor of senates. It would be
hard to point out any advance in popular knowledge or
liberality to which it has not most materially contributed—
any cause involving the interests of liberty or truth in the
van of which it has not fought. Small and distant is the
first cloud on the political horizon : a humble individual
has been punished for a resistance insignificant, though
meritorious, if it involved some great principle; tidings of
persecution and suffering roll hurrying onward, until the
overcharged heavens, lowering with indignation, burst in
vengeance upon the oppressor ; and in times of public inert-
ness or agitation—now lashing the ocean into wrath, now
calming the waters into peace and serenity—its efforts have
been as beneficial as its power is unprecedented and im-
mense.—Australian and New Zealand Magazine.
THE SIBERIAN EXILES.—The following interesting de-
tails respecting the treatment of offenders against the criminal
laws of Russia, who are sent to Siberia, are given by the
Gazette des Tribunaux, on the authority of a correspondent
at St. Petersburg :—" Although the government banishes to
Siberia criminals condemned by the tribunals, it provides for
them in that part of the empire the means of employment,
which are often preferable to what they could obtain in their
native places. Each excile receives, on setting out, two
shirts, a long surtout, called a zipoun, and a pair of boots.
These articles are for his use during, six summer months.
For those of winter, he is provided in addition with two
other shirts, a long cloth great-coat made of sheep-skin, a
cap of the same material, woollen gloves and stockings, a
pair of common boots, and another pair lined with fur. All
these articles are new, solid, and of good quality. When_
ever a caravan with convicts passes through a principal town,
these articles are examined in presence of the governor and
his superior officers ; and, if any of them are in bad con-
dition, they are immedia_tyeslyciarner
sirpeptalloyr exchanged
appointed for
others entirely new. A ph, ex -
amines into the health of each person in the caravan. If any
f
of the prisoners are found to be too enfeebled to proceed ouoot, they are placed in cars, or remain in the hospitals of
the town. During the journey, each exile receives daily
igthhe
t,
small sum of money necessary for his food. Such exiles as
are.destined to the colonization of Siberia journey by
and rest during the day. They march by stations, Placed at
certain distances. The dearsstation-ho re solid buildings,
surrounded by strong palisades, a(
(about five
each
generallydit erected
at the extremity of a village. Their
out five French
nboete‘nbe too great, parti-
other is about twenty-five verstres
lceualgaurleys 1
n;
winter,
butiil
ttehr a, tr
e thisst resting
jgopulranceeys m
haveas,
ra establishedodi ou s
way. The station-house is a clean and commodious
build-
ing, almost comfortable, composed of four large rooms
bands,
and
a fifth for women who may have followed their hunds,
brothers, or near relations. These
e are accompany the
and storehouses,
women are permitted to
travelt o
each-house
a c hi n
stthaet i
oc cars which
owuhsieh the caravan. Attached
every 100 or 125 vestres, that is, every 4th or sth station, an establishment of steam-oaths. When the exiles have
arrived in Siberia, each receives anicslrdertthoe phriogceh ercolatdos, t hi:
ofh eTiosb intended.oisk,
theee government
leeyferwhiehYenisseysk, and
. Ird. 11.....416°4:he
fine colonies of this nature may be seen, &stain Livou
other about five or six vestres, which present a"tt'—on the
appearance. They are usually established in vsuae
midst of
banks of rivers where fish is abundant, and in
forests, which colonists find of great service.
In
elegancecleanli-
and solidity of construction, regularity of plan,
ness, these colonies may be by four exiles,
Western Europe. Each house is inhabitedr on, on account of
houses are
or families of exiles of whom some PeLer of the house,
elt villages of
his good conduct, islookedcoo
and has under his orders his com
Pane facade, well enclosed ,
nmapsa pared
itoornntsh. etim e
of wood, ornamented with a handsoarie
pious court, two stables,
each containing four chambers,
a scPentre of each village is
and two store-houses. In the
on all sides. Amongst
them buildings
the
placed a large square, wipublicth buildings
offices, and habitations
them are the church, the
laid
employes. Storehouses ate
belonging to the overseers
laced agricultural instruments,
stores erected, in which are
_„
as
an
apparatus for • '
extin-
guishing of seeds and corn,
le well
,p who colony is surrounded by an ex-
tremelyguishing fires. ,T"-de. baying but one outlet atwhich ', is
high palisade, Each exile receives,
on
his .
arrivalm
placed the sentry-e,
a plough, agricultural instruments, and
the colony, an
axe, necessary for his use, a Cowhousehol articles
for two years, seed , a horse, and
He also gets,for sowing and
a sheet.
, for his garden ; and it is not until the third year
begins to pay to the public treasury.
that he
to the
The instructions givent heads of districts and govern-
ments enjoin them
to
encourage continually,•
possi-
ble way, the colonists, and give them
in every
assistance, and do all
they can to bring them back to sentiments
good feeling. Banishment, in the of propriety and
gone, ceases to be considered a • place where it is under-
aeeply depraved, can only
see in disgrace ; and he who is not
The ties of relationship or it a step to social happiness.
p, or even friendship, are religiously
respected. The wife is not separated from her husband, the
children from the father, nor the female from her betrothed.
Every thing is, in fact,
cial sentiments in the mind
encouraged, which can inculcate so-
remarkable improvement
the on the penitentiary system jades-
no diminution of Russian government as regards criminals,
severity has yet been
. permitted towards po-
litical offenders. The ri
our h 1 ch has hitherto aillacted
continued."
them is still ti g w