The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-09
daughter during her approaching period of

| so inclement season OF the year. the cold
weather generally setting in here early in January.
just now after the frost we had last month,
| it is mild enough, and according to the experience
of former winters, it is likely to remain so till after
Christmas. The Prince of Wales left yesterday for
| London, after stay OF several weeks at Berlin,
which he spent chiefly in the society of his sister
| and brother-nlaw, and in inspecting the museums,
libraries colleges and other objects worthy Of at
tention cannot tell whether there is any truth in
the assertion that he intends joining his godfather,
the King of Prussia at Rome in the course of the
winter; but think | may contradict the raaor
spread by the English newspapers, that the latter
is proceeding to the Eternal City for the purpose
of abjuring Professionalism and entering into the
bosom of the Holy Catholic Church This is one
OF the many fables that have been and are still pro-
pasated at the expense Of that unfortunate mo-
narch, who, whatever may be his faults and foibes
should be saved by the affection he now labors
under from the sneers and ISLANDERS of his enemies
Even the Church of Rome, one would think
could hardly. condescend to make a proseyte of
man in such state Of mind, and whose con-
version would rather be a scandal than triumph;
and although the Queen of Prussia, who is OF
Roman Catholic family, and only confirmed to Pro-
testantism on her marriage, is undoubtedly attached
to the church in the bosom of which she
brought up, she is well aware that her husband,
when in full possession of his faculties was sin
cere Protestant twith strong Pnseyite tendencies,
certainly and IL seems cruel therefore, to suppose
her capable of abusing the influence she possesses
| over him in his present condition, to seduce him
into taking step that would give him the coup de
grace in the eyes of his people and of the world.
| No little CONSERVATION was excited the other day
at Court by the discovery that splendid piece Of
| plate presented by the city of Cologne to the
| Prince and Princess Frederick William, and valued
at 5000 fhalers, was missing. IL had been depo-
sited in of the apartments of the Schloss or
Royal Palace and as there is always strong guard
Of soldiers about the premises and a sentinel sta
toned at every door, it evident that the theft
could not have been committed without the cogni-
zance OF the latter, of the attendants entrusted
Immediately set to work and it was soon asceraned
that one of the servants of the palace, by Ru-
dolph, had been seen day or two before in posses
sion OF large sum of money, and had paid some
debts Of long standing, for which his creditors had
become very pressing. He was arrested forthwith,
and, AFTER faint attempt at denial confessed his
guilt, stating that he had been assisted by jour
neyman silversaith named Bartels in breaking up
the plate and carrying it down stairs and out of the
palace. Bartels was taken up on this information;
but the receiver, Jew broker, by the name of
Walter, had absconded, and was not to be found.
As for the plate, very little of it will be recovered
the greater part having been melted down and
made away with by the three confederates. 1t is
said to have been most superb piece of workman
ship, and its loss is more regretted on that account
than for its intrinsic value, which, though consider
able is, of course, object to its royal owners.
may observe, by the way, that such unt0ward Incl
dents are by no means of unfrequent occurrence at
the Prussian Court. The purOining Of the secret
dispatches during the late war; the disappearance of
the Queens travelling desk on her journey to Meran,
and other cases of a similar nature, would seem to
throw no very favorable light on the reputation of
the Germans for honesty or at least to demonstrate
that The royal family Of this country surrounded
by very Enthusiastically set of attendants The
culprit Rudolph, is a man of 65, and has been for
nearly half century in the service of the present
king and his father.
Trade has been quite dull here for some time
especially in the wholesale branches Of dry goods
At Frankfort Fair, which commenced early last
month, and continued nominally for two weeks,
business done.
both Of the manufactures of the IOllverein and of
British goods remained on hand Since then hume
rous failures of retail merchants in the provinces
have been announced, who did not attend the fair,
being in want of the needful' and unable to meet
their engagements. These failures affect many
firms iii this city, and the consequences may be
ruinOus to some, confidence, which had begun to
revive after the disasters of last year. will again be
shaken. When such bankruptcies mentioned
above take place in the provinces, and it is found
that the nsovents have been rotten for years, and
some only kept on their legs by artificial means, the
merchants and manufacturers of Berlin are naturally
induced to act with the utmost caution, and not to
sell on credit unless they are convinced of the un
questionable solvency of the purchasers. Taking
all this into considerations the prevailing dulncss in
the dry goods business Is easily accounted for The
bankrupt laws of this country were revised several
years since, and clause introduced by which, if
compromise is offered by the bankrupt and ac
cepted by majority Of the creditors, the Judge IS
empowered to set aside the bankruptcy, and allow
an arrangement to be entered into between the
parties out OF court 1T appears now that ma
j0rty is often obtained through the friends of the
bankrupt, or by placing fictitious debts upon the
schedue-the Representatives of which give their
vote in favor of q composition at n low fgure--to
which the bona foe creditors are forced or per
suaded to agree, i'll order To save the expense Of
legal proceedings, which frequently absorb the
greatest part of the assets. and reduce the dividend
to a mere trife, besides the delay occasioaed
by winding mp the estate. Thus heard lately
of large failure, where an offer Of twenty per
cent was made and accepted by fictitious majority,
although it was notorious that considerably more
might have been Outlined if the real creditors had
not been outyotcd by the sham ones. in conse-
quence Of suth fraudulent proceedings, which are
gradually undermining all mercantile confidence,
association has been formed by several firms OF
this city, under the appeaton Of Union for thc
Protection of Merchants, the object of which is
to investigate the affairs OF bankfupts who offer
composition, and to ascertain that everything j.
fair and above board before agreeing to it. For
this purpose committee has been named, whose
duty il is 10 examine the books and concerns OF the
bankrupt, and to report the upshot to the associa
ton As very few OF the provincial dealers are
able TO carry business without getting credit Of
the Berlin merchants and manufacturers, about
40 firms of this class have already joined the assoc
ciati0n and it is hoped that fraudulent settlements
and compositions will be prevented by the strict
inquiry to which they are determined to subject
all such offers in future
Some considerable bill GorCerics have inst come
to light at konigsberg, which have crcatsd quite
a sensation on Change. The signatures were so
skilfuly countereited that both the City Bank and
the Konigsberg branch the Bank Of Prussia were
deceived by them, and discounted to the amount
Of about 10000 thalers. This swindng concern
has been carried for some time; the acceptances
are said to be mostly in the name Of landholders of
the province of East Prussia made payable at kD-
nigsberg'and by being regularly taken up at ma
turity, all suspicion was avoided until at length
the funds were not forthcoming, and the bubble
burst. Bes des the banks above mentioned, seve-
raj private mercantile firms have been victmized
though il is not stated to what amount.
Our st. Petersburg Correspondence.
ST.. PETERSBURG, Nov. %, 1853
Massacre o The Russians by The Chinese in ne Border Tya