The New York Herald Newspaper, April 14, 1858, Page 2

2 NEWS FROM EUROPE. ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, THE WAn IN ENDIA. Qavestment of Lucknow by Colin Campbell. ADDITIONAL FROM CHINA. NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA, JHE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH. Seme Mistake about Spanish Emancipation. Bur London, Plymouth St. Petersburg and Hong Kong Correspondence, a, &e., &o. ‘The steamship City of Washington, which sailed from ‘Liverpool at 11 o’cleck on the morning of the 31st of March, arrived at this port yesterday afternoon. ‘The news is four days Jater than that brought by the America, but is not of special importance. ‘The English papers were generally engaged in criticis- Sng the bill amending the government of India; and the ‘mew project was, in a majority of cases, regarded as im- Fracticable. The story taken out by the America, that the Spanish @evernment had presented a project of law abolishing ‘lavery in all the Spanish territories, is not confirmeil, and Gs supposed to be unfounded. It appeared as a telegraphic sespatch in the Brussels Nord. Parliament was not in session, having adjourned for the Baster holidays. ‘Fee London News of the Slet of March says:-— ‘The partisans of the late Ministry are proclaiming the Z rejection of Lord Ellenborough’s Jadia bil! ‘und the return to offize of Lord Palmerston, conseqnent op ‘Me subsequent resignation of the authors of bill No. 2 for Judia. Both bills have their good and bad points. The Paily News recommends that they should be Femitted to" a ‘rclect committee, with insteactions ‘eo retain that part of lord Palmersten’s oill which delegates the Governors of India to a President and @real Council, to enlarge the Counci! to the number pro- in Lord Fllenborough’s bil!; to adopt the elective ‘iple embodied in Lord Elienborough’s bill, with an ved constituency to retain the provisions in Lord Palmerston’s bill for ensuring the presence of an official representation of the Council of India in the House of Sommons, to make whatever amendments on this com- ‘ination of the vest parts of both measures may appear to Abe said committee advisable. Mezzini had published a lengthy manifesto in the Lon. @on Advertiser, He addresses his remarks to tae Hmpe- ror Napoleon. Another lengthy address by Mezzini to the Genoeee Judges bad also found its way into priat. ‘Me Atlantic Telegraph Company had received a letter from the Acmrraity announcing that in conformity with Ane Feguesi4s Oo sompany the Agamempon would be im- MewMery commiss:zaed and commanded by a capiain, RBA Al8O Lhatiwootis Teseels wonld be attached to the samempon ‘or sue special eervice on Which she is to be empoyer ~beLondor » mes of Sist of March epitomises a finan- rym article which bas appeared in the Loadon Fsonsmist: Breview of the facts dissipates at once the idea of a pre- Bent deficiency in the imperial exebequer. The customs for the year are not likely to fail short of the estimate; they may porribly exceed it. The exsiee is expected to ex Seed the estimate by balf a million. the other beads there isthe same cheerful prospect, but there does arise & very grave question—what is to be doue for the next Bo Apri), 1859, we are threatened with a detisiency—a @iferevce between venues and expenditure w the amount of £6,000,000. How will Mr. Disraeli propose to wake a)! ends meet on April 5, 18597 It was he who, as- fisted by all the obstructive and destructive politicians in the House, compelied the late Chancellor of the Exchequer 0 withdraw bie budget last year and coutine his calcula faons to the year which ends next week. It's rather re markabie be ebould pow have to encounter the ditliculty azioing from out this manwuvre ALondon journal of the Sst ultimo displays in hige type ap announcement heated * Porsidle concentration of the French fleet in the English Channel.”” The statement originates in Brussels paper. The squadron of Brest ‘wil} unite with that of Towton at Cherbourg, \n honor of the Supperor's vieit on the inauguration of the railway next July. The Belgian paper is careful to state that the neva! cisplay will not take place unless the good feeling Detween France and Fogland is completely re estab! ished The appes! of the owners of the American ship @ariyle against the verdict of the Court of Admiralty, for having caused the lows of the bark Grazia a Dio, By collision of Holyhead in July last, had been 1 Defore the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and the finding of the Lower Court was reversed, judgmont Deing pronounced in favor of the Carlyle. A fire bad occurred in Gilbert street, London, entailing the lows of fifteen lives. The partes wore asleep in the hhoune ai the time, and their ezcape was cut off by the rapid progress of the flames. Al the Liverpool Police Court, eighteen mea of color, eomporing the crew of the sbip Gertrude, were brougut ap charged with mutinous acd disobedient conduct during the voyage from New (rieaus to Liverpool. Right of the mon were sentenced to twelve months imprisonment. ‘The cotton mil! of Messrs. Lewis & Edward Williams, at Manchester, had been destroyed by fire, entailing loss Of £100,000 and throwing 500 hands out of employment. The government of Basie had refused to admit the vew Usnsulate which the French government desires t estab fish there. The federal government transmitied the re fusal ins despatch to Paris ‘The Danieh Minivtry baving made 4 cabinet question of Bhe measure respecting the fortification of Copenhagen, the Supreme Council had definitively accepted the project by 36 voter againet 15, ‘The Vienna correspondent of the London Timer says the ancient animosity between the French and Austrians is reviving, and the latter ecem to be impressed with the wonviction that they will soon be called on to maintain Mhoir position in Italy at the point of the eword. Queen Victoria and the Prince Consert wi'l probably Wish Berlin before the prorogation of Parliament, Genera! Duval, aide de-camp of bis Excellency the Dake” Of Malakoff, arrived in London evening of 20th of March. We bave dates from the Cape of Good Hope to the 9th @f February, but the news is unimportant. An American ‘man of. war, name hot mentioned, was at the Cape ‘The Foropa arrived out at Liverpool at 845 an the morning of the 20th ult. ‘The ecrew steamer Now York arrived at Ginsgow on the 27th wit Two new rcrew steamers, to ran in the line between Ramborg and New York, bad arrived at Hamburg from the Clyde, The service of this line is to be a fortaightiy ove. The Hamburg correspondent of the Mavchester Guardian, writing on 24th of March, sayes— The Hamburg and New York Steam jon Com anys two extra and most splendidly built and arranged , the Austria and Saxons, have arrived in port from the Clyde, some days age, and are being prepared om. their turn for the trips to New York every ive fourteen days, t call, as usual, at pion. The Company have made ao’ ar rangement with the government of the States te wey the regutar & to and fro, and ‘will prove, it is thought, of great sdvantage to the Future prosperity of the concern, siwoe the Bremen line appears to have been given up lo present, not having turned out « profitabic affair to the company. Those yee peje, which Lave been Wuilt expressly for the Hamburg and New York compan; among the very bee! ean be bossted of in the transatiantic trade, ihenrands of persone have visited them since their ar rival, expressing genera) satisfaction and pleaser: at their superb appearance THE GREAT OCEAN TELEGRAPH. Special Correspondence of the Herald. Piyvovrn, England, March 25, 1858 Arrival of the United States Frigate Niagara in Plymouth, England—Her Reception There —Hos- pitality of the People—Preparations for the Lay- ing of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable Next Summer —Condition of the Enterprise and Prospects of Buccess—One Word Sent Through Twenty-two Hundred Miles of Cable ina Minute—The Coit. ing Commenced on the Agamemnon—The Work on the Niagara to Begin in a Few Days, &., & ‘The United States frigate Niagara arrived at this port on the 23d inst., after a passage of a little over irteen days, She left New York on Tuesday, the Agel, plows ious 9 oly Wa We RiierRyyD, aud py. 1 NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1858.—TRIPLE SHEET. . rived in the channel opposite Plymouth between 10 and 11 o'clock on the night of the 22d, but was una- ble toenter till the following morning, on account of the difficulty of procuring a pilot. She experienced very heavy weather during the greater part ef the passage, and never did she display her splendid qualities to better ship. From the 9th inst, to the 16th it was unpleasantly rough, and on the 15th, 14th and 15th it blew a perfect gale. There is no doubt that this was the equinoctial, and it did fall justice to itself so far as heavy blowing is concerned. Those who have crossed the Atlantic in the months of March and September can form some idea of the nature of equinoctial gales and of the terrific force with which they sweep over that ocean. Under the heaviest stress of weather, however, the Niagara behaved magnificently, and went through the storm at the rate of ten and cleven knots an hour, and this, too, while other ships were hoveto. Her quickest day's run was 304 miles, and there is no doubt that she would have accomplished the passage in ten days but for the head winds which prevailed from the 17th to the 22d. During the gale she had the wind from the south and southeast, irom which it changed to the east and stuck there with the most dogged obstinacy. While blowing from this quarter we had, however, tio complaints to make in regard to the quality of the wea- ther, which, with one exception, was as fine as could be desired. But there was another diffi- culty besides the head wind which it would be un- just to the vessel not to mention. For the last two or three days the Engineer was obliged, by an order from the Chief Naval Constructor, to burn some seventy-five tons of coal which the ship had brought with her from England on ber return home last No- vember. This was not the coal which had been pro- cured for her, but was a portion of the stuff that had been shipped to and re-shipped from the Cri- mea during the siege of Sebastopol, and was taken simply becanse no better could be procured at the time of her departure. The kind that was intended for her, and which was best adapted to her farnaces from its resemblance to the American anthracite, was the Welsh coal, several hundred tons of which had been purchased for her consumption. Unfor- tunately, however, the vessel which was employed to convey this coal to Plymouth foundered at sea, and so, as has been stated, the Crimean stuff had to be used in lien of anything better at the time. New this coal was ordered to be put on board the ship at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, although I understand it had been condemned by the engineers some time before. The result of all this was a marked dimi- nution in the speed of the ship, which never exceed- ed five miles an hour, or about one-half the distance accomplished by burning the anthracite. Had it not been for what, under other circumstances, might have been a commendable spirit of economy, there is no doubt that the ship would have reached her destination at least a day and a half sooner. A rather melancholy circumstance occurred while the ship was three days ont from port. A sailor, named William Wilson, fell from the maintop and was instantly killed. It is supposed that he was struck on the bead with a boom, and was thus thrown from the yard. He was engaged at the timo in clewing the yard down. And a death took place later in the passage, but it was from a protracted tickness. The name of the deceased was Samuel Scudder, and the disease of which he died pleurisy. They were both buried in a seaman’s grave, and had the funeral service read over their remains, Poor fellows, whatever pleasing prospects they may have had when they entered on this special service were doomed to a fearful disappoint- ment. One man fell over the foretopsail yard, but fortunately was canght by another who was on the same yard, and held there till he was relieved from his perilous positior.. The Niagara, as I have said, arrived in the channel opposite Plymouth on the night of the 224 inst., and entered the Sound the following morning. Hardly had she anchored before a number of the officials of , the place made their appearance on board, and among these, strange to say, two revenue officers. What their ohject could have been in thus thrusting themselves on a national vessel of another country and outraging the rales of international courtesy it is impossible to say, but it is to be presumed that their conduct in this instance is attributable to ignorance—certainly the only reasonable ex- planation that can be given for such a breach of all the rules of international eti,uette. After making their abede on the ship for about two days they took their departure, and that is the last that has been seen of them. The Ningara lay inthe Sound till the 24th inst., when she weighed anchor and proceeded up the harbor, preparatory to going into dock for the reception of the cable. Since her arrival the numerous friends which the officers made during their stay here last ear paid a welcome visit, and again tendered their Rospitalities. Invitations have already been ten dered by nearly all the regiments stationed at this port to the officers of the Niagara rE them to dinner, and if they accept one-half of them they will have enongh on their hands for the next two or three weeks. | should state here that as an evidence i ye been manifested |, all, or nearly all, the Renn in the harbor cheered them as the ship pi up to her anchorage. The rig- ging of the Impregnable and other vessele were manned by th crews, who e three cheers that wal all the slumbering echoes of the surrounding hills. I need hardly add that the welcome was responded to with an enthu- siasm on the part of the Niagara's men which proved that they were determined not to be outdone in this demonstration of friend, a The coiling of the cable on the Agamemnon has commenced, and about one hundred miles of it have already been placed on board of that ship. They have abandoned the idea of putting the whole 1,456 miles which are to constitute her half of the o- sea line in one coil, and for good reasons. On the last expe- dition 1,250 miles were placed in one part of the hold, and this weight, although it did not seriously injure the ship, strained her so that it was feared at one time she would be hogged, and some apprehen- sions were entertained in regard to her sea worthi ness. The division of the cable into three coils this time will prevent the possibility of any accident arising from such a cause, and will make the vessel much steadier in a seaway than she was before. The importance of steadiness in the laying of the cable can hardly be over estimated, and the change in this respect will go far to secure the success of the under- taking. It is not known who will be appointed to the command of the Agamemnon, in place of master Commander W oddall, who went on the last expedition, and who it is to. be regretted has not been detailed for the same work this year. Rumor says that Lieut. Dayman, of the surveying steamer Cyclops, will be assicned the position; and his knowledge of the oceanic telegraph route would certainly be a — recommendation in favor of his appointment. This is the gentleman who surveyed the great plateau on which the cable is to rest, and whose soundings cor- roborated thore made by Lieut. Berryman under the order of the United Statgs government. Then it is also said that Captain Wainwright, of the British war steamer Leopard, will have command of the Agamemnon, but these are, after all, merely specu- lations. It is to be hoped, however, that some one of these gentlemen will be appointed, on accom the experience which they have had in the great work. The Leopard, you may remember, acted last year as the escort of the Agamemnon, while the United States steam frigate Susqnebanna, or as she is called here, the Suskewhanna, acted as the escort of the Niaga’ It is a singular coincidence that both of these < chould have «ubsequently met at San Jnan, where they were looking after the | movements of the fill ers, and where, | believe, they are still stationed. The Susquehanna is ex- pected over here in the course of four or five weeks, to take her old place in the telegraphic squadron, as it is presumed she will be detailed by oar government for the purpose. There was a re port that the squadron would be accompanied to mid ocean, from which the laying of the cable is to be commenced this time, by the Channel fleet, but it is exceedingly problematical whether the British government will in the — threaten- ing aspect of affairs in France leave the English coast in such a defenceless condition. A squadron of some five or six vessels may, however, be de: | tached to go out with the telegraph ships, but I doubt if even this will be done. The machinery is not quite finished, that is, all the details are not completed yet. Every attention has been bestowed upon it, and as the sticcess of the ed terprise largely depends upon its adaptability to the work it will be subjected to the most rigid tests he- fore it is finally adopted. A great deal of the heavy and cumbrous work which was put on board the Ni agara last year, and which lambered up the deck to no porpore, has been dispensed with, and the whole will be as simple in its operation and as free from complication as it may be possible to make it. All the attention of Mr. Everett and the other io think bas Leow given to this important point, aud re will be no reason to complain of any defects in this important particular. In the meantime the electricians have been hard at work in their particu- lar department, and have succeed in telegraphing a word a minute through a length of twenty-two hun- dred miles of cable. This is a great advance, when compared with the comparatively slow transmission of signals previous to the departure of the expedition last August. In fact, the rate of transmission has been so far improved that it will more than double the receipts of the Atlantic Tele- graph Company. This is one of the most important features of the enterprise, not merely as a matter of pecuniary interest for the company, but for the in- creased working value which it wil give to the line when laid. Considering these points, the public at- tention will be more earnestly enlisted in the success of the next expedition than it was in that of the last. Everything that human for@ight can provide for has been done to secure the accomplishment of the great work, and never were the prospects of a triumphant pocom pinnate more cheering and promising. Both the Agamemnon and Niagara will make a trial of the machinery in the Channel before their final departure for mid ocean, which will not Footehly take place previous to the first week in june next. The whole length ot wire to be coiled on board both ships is about twenty-nine hundred miles, which will allow a surplus of between twelve and thirteen hundred over and above the actual dis- tance between the two points of connection—that is between Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, and Valencia Bay, ireland. This will not only be sufficient for the purpose, but will leave a large excess after the com- pletion of the work, and I should not be surprised if there were some seven or eight handred miles moro than the actual length requires. This, however, is a matter that can only be settled by trial, and it must therefore remain undetermined till the close of the next expedition, ‘The coiling of the cable will be commenced in the Niagara next Monday, the 29th inst., and will, oc- cupy altogether five or six weeks. Everything is in readiness for its reception—the circles ere ready, and nothing remains to be done but tc place it on board at once. There will be six circles this time, on account of the increased length of the cable, of which there will be'two hundred miles more on board of each ship. It is not yet decided which end of the line the Niagara is to take, but there is some talk of her running to the coast of Ireland, as she had the shore line there last year, and there is some doubt as to the justice of requiring her to go to Newfoundland, and of being obliged to lay the shore end there also. This is a matter, however, of little moment, and will be settled satisfactorily. Perhaps the best way would be to send the shore end over in asmall stediter, as there is but ten miles of it, and have it laid before the arrival of the ship in Trinit; Bay, and thus the work would be greatly expedited, and any difficulty in approaching the coast, should there be rough weather, prevented. However, as I have said, this is a matter of but little moment any way. The calculations at present are that the cable will be laid about the middle of June next, so that it will be in perfect working order by the 4th of July. Our London Correspondence. Lonpon, March 23, 1858. Return of Baron Brunow to the British Embassy— The Changes in the French Legation—Compli- ment from the London Times to Barney Williams — The Bernard and Truclove Prosecutions—Lon- don Concert Hails and Night Saloons— American Curcular Pianos—Elopement in High Life—The Newly Discovered Disease, §c. The Russian Ambassador, Baron Brunow, has not only arrived, but bias been, most cordially, indeed, most enthusiastically received. So much for his pri- vate worth. Mons. Le Comte de Persigny is, we are now assured, certain to quit the Court of St. James, It is said that he is the only sensible French diplo, matist at present, being much annoyed at the blind- ness of the Emperor and M. de Morney as to the real state of France, ‘‘déhors et dedans!” Two Greek seamen were hanged last week, and we have now two men awaiting a dangling apotheo- sis, and in addition reports of three more murders in the provinces. We have had lovely summer weather these past few days, and the town is filling fast, though busi- ness East and West is stagnant. The Times of to-day, in its fourth leader (for it is more than usually loaded) on the subject of the Galway election, pays a well merited compliment to your highly meritorions actor, Mr. Barney Williams, which, if it does not make him an inch or two taller, will at all events prove his popu. Jarity as a matter of history. The written letter remains, and we are sure that Barney has sufficient good sense to know that— Fortone a goddess is to fools alone. The wise are always masters of their own The Times might have dragged in a line or two about Mrs. Barney Williams, bat then her spécialite is Yankee cals. We beg her pardon, for the limita- tion, for she is nightly drawing crowds to the little Adelphi theatre to see her play ten different parts, male and female, French, Spanish, English, Italian and American, in Mr. Charles Selby’s new and suc- cessful sketch “An Hour in Seville.” ‘here is in the theatrical world here a talk of an | entente cordiale between Mr. Dion Bourcicault and | Mr. Charles Kean, which, if not brought about by | the Scotch lassie, the heroine of the Indian muti- nies, will perhaps be effected by the engagement of Miss Agnes Robertson at the Princesses. Mr. Charles Dillon, actor and butcher, has been | hacking Mr. W. R. T. Martwell’s version of Cassimer Deleingue's Deautiful tragedy “Louis XI," at the Lyceum theatre. He has at least credit for not having exposed the mutilated re- mains on any part of Waterloo bridge. Talking of that span of the river, the Mam-in-the-Streets | says privately that although they wouldn't guillo- tine Rudio in Paris, that we must hang him in Lon- don. We have already told that the victim of this mystery was one of the conspirators (before the at- tempt) connected with the Rue Lepelletier atroci- ties. The swells of London, principaily the juvenile bloods, are evidently taking great interest in the Bernard and Truclove prosecutions. As regards the former they are more disgusted than are the mob with the Franco one sided conduct of imperial Mr, Jardine. We are told that a £5 supscription is on the tapis, to be placed for signature at Limmer’s Ho- tel, Conduit street. Notwithstanding its literary in. significance, the pamphlet entitled “Tyrannicide, or is it Justifiable,” would readily fetch £5 5s. a copy-— none are to be bad. The eminent Queen's Counsel, Mr. Calvin James, is engaged for the defence in both cases. The officers of your fine government ship Niagara | will be sure to meet with another hearty reception on their arrival here. Lord Panmure and Miss Smith Swanborough open the Strand theatre on Easter Monday. ‘Ten years ago and such a place as a music hall was in England a myth, a chatean in nubilus. In fact, there was not a single room of tolerable dimen sions, except Madame Tassand's exhibition room, the room for building and the long room at the Cus tom House. Buton a sudden there sprang up a mania for eating very bad suppers in very bad com pany, the while you listened to very bad singing in a bad atmosphere, and accordingly Boniface of Evans’, in Covent Garden, cleared out the coals from the cellar, let ina gas burner or two through the ceiling, stuck an insolent waiter at the door to | charge double prices, and having secured the invalu- able services of several distinguished performers, previously unknown to fame, called the den a grand saloon and made a heap of money. But as “ the ancient philosopher” has observed, nothing is done now without its being over done; and soon the cider ell Gwy avern and the coal hole vied the pat of a dranken and ignoble Boniface © be ont done, got the choris- oring chapel and announced Herr Von Soa, the talented gentleman who does the farm yard ona stick, was forever retained on the staff. The rush was tremendous. The butcher who supplied the kid neys made his fortone and died with joy. The result of all this was that Boniface took away the ceiling and let in some dozen bedrooms, and now Evans’ is one of the finest halls in the kingdom Strange to say. the custom, since the improvements alarmingly. The fact is, men about | ixury staring them in the face all day long, and many like to pig it jonally. They like when sated with all that refinement can imagine, or wealth purchase. to assume the garb of the Spartan for a while, and feed on lentils. Why is it Limmers’ Ho- tel is so well favored—a nasty, ricketty, uncomforta ble dirty house, with a sanded floor, and spittoons, and the chops a cooking before your very eyes, and the waiters looking as if their feet were very dirty, if you could only see ther, and as though they had forgotten to go to bed; the charges awfully heavy; the owner ghost-like and retiring. All for what? Mere affectation of simplicity. Why does the Cock grow eo thyivingly im Fleet streety Its a perfect to his supporters t stye. There are Simpsons and the London within a stone’s throw, but men will go to the Cock? Why have the Shades shadowed three brilliant fortanes to their successive owners? It’s allwhim. So poor Green Boniface is not making joney, and the cho- rister boys are looking sick'y. In vain does the German Professor whistle on ‘/his stick; in vain the short man yells “ tollolderalitie!” The kidneys hang on the hands of the butcher, and the insolent waiter ia thinking of starting elsewhere, on his own hook. However, since Evans’ was built hosts of splendid halls have sprang up. There’s Canterbury Hall, there's Weston’s, there’s the Raglan, and others, too numerous to mention; most of them will go or have ene to grief; instance the Surrey Gardens Music fat ‘opping them all, however, is the St. James’ Hall, which opened last night, a structure which, if we except the Redoubten Salle, at Vienna, and the St. George’s Hall, at Liverpool, is the finest concert hall in Europe. The proportions are so admirabl, observed that the impression produced at first on a spectator standing in the centre of the body is one a smallness. The dimensions are, however, these: height €0 feet, breadth 60 feet, length 139 feet. ‘The novel features of the building are however those of the lighting and the decorations. The vaulted roof supports scores of rods, each mee ing astar of gas ‘ys horizontal plain. When atl these stars are lit the effect is singularly beautiful. The orchestra stage projects forward forty feet into the body of the hall, thus securing that advantage pos- sessed so pre-eminently by Her Majesty's theatre: the placing the Bird nearly in the middle of the audience. e ceiling is decorated by Mr. Owen Jones, the architect, in the Moorish style, profusely with gold and many colors. The arched form of this colin NEN expands over the orchestra so as to simulate the form of one or more shells, from which Venus, in poetic imagery, is seen rising out of the sea. The hall cannot fail to be a success, and Exeter Hall, the Hanover Square Rooms and Willis’ will, we expect, come off now but second best. The hall itself is pee but the restaurant, as it is called in the polished language of the Cas- serole, is as execrable as it well can be. You go, for instance, out of Regent street into a narrow passage lined with a row of dusty evergreens, and suddenly you find Somer gazing into an abyss, hot and Steamy. For all the world you feel like Martius Curtius about to jump in the ‘gulf. It is more like the Café des Avengies, in the Palais Royal, than anythingelse we know, except it is the engine room of Beill’s baths at Brighton. You think to find the knives and forks chained to the table, and when you ask for the carté, auticipate the perusal of “Prison regulations.” Donald is the “esse.” That is to say, he has promised to pay £2,800 a year for the rent, on condition that he may charge any one any price for an; ming Last night. 1 told you, was the opening of t! |. It was, I should say, a pri- vate view. On this auspicious occasion, it being eight o'clock inthe evening, everybody was sup- posed by the directors to be hungry. In fact nothing seems ‘to open in London now but what all the ess are asked to feed. ‘The inferenee is plain that he judgment ot the press is in its stomach. In the St. James’ Hall was exhibited a most curious American cireular piano, in which all the ham- mers are made to play round a perfect cylinder. It is to be tested there. Doubtless you know more about this invention than we do. I believe that the idea of the hall first originated with Mr. W. Beale, son of Mr. Beale of the firm of Cramer, Beale & Co.,and that the site was chosen and obtained by Mr. F. Chap- pell, the solicitor to the com ¢ chiet pro- moters are Messrs. Cramer, and Chappell, of Regent street, and Messrs. Chappell & Co., of Bond street, and to these geutlemen the public are prinei- lly indebted for the pecuniary assistance which Ess ‘at last set the concern in working order. Old fools have been from time immemorial consid- ered the worst of fools, but when their folly, like the freg stoning in Zsop’s fables, is injurious to others, they should he deemed the worst of antiquated vil- lains. The Right Honorable the Earl of Cardigan, the first in and the first out of the Balaklava charge, the General Inspector of oar cavalry, has for a se- cond time betrayed friendship’s hospitality, and eloped and sloped to the Continent with Miss De Horsey, the only daughter of a wealthy commoner, and the niece of an earl. ‘The medical profession finding, we suppose, that all it does do is not much, has made a remarkable grab at public credulity to enhance its kodos. They are busy in elaborating the details of the origin, growth and secession of a supposed new disease— diphtheritis. The evidence of there being such a disease is very poor, and the best informed patho- logists agree that the affection is but a severer form of angina. All the mucous membranes are liable to take on exagerated function, to assume morbid functions or to lose fuhetional power, and so are all vital tissues. Mucous membranes, however, being the most vascular tissues of the body are [the most subject to take on perverted action from the dissemination of a materies morbi in the blood or the propagation by continuity of inflammatory states of this fluid. Heuce any disordered state of the blood, whether hypersthenic or spasmodic, affects Mucous membranes primarily and immediately. ‘That is how diarrhaa or inordinate fluxes occur so frequently from ihe intestinal mucous mem- brane from the simplest causes, such as vicissitudes in temperature. Function is in excess, and consequently secretion is in excess. Now the reverse of this obtains in diphtheritis. ‘The mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx loses functional power, whether this be from a loss of nourishment in the blood which feeds it, or an absence of selecting power in the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane, for the elements of nutrition from the blood, is not kuown. This, however, takes place. The disturbing force, whether it be local in the system or genera! in the atmosphere or food, acts suddenly, potently and certainly. The mem- brane loses function and becomes dry. The super ficial capillaries having no longer anything to nou- rish, become emptied of their contents and wither. The membrane whitens and falls offin shreds. In- flammation from thi jormal condition is set up in the subjacent tissues. Exudations of seram take lace into the areolar tissue, with infiltration, swell- ing is consentaneous. The air passages become gradually obliterated from the tumefaction, and the patient dies asphyxiated, But such indeed is the course and character of all diseases of the respiratory mucous membranes pre- ceded by or sequentia! to inflammation of a low type. Inflammation once set up ina tissue of de- praved vitality opposes no barriers to its progress. ence the march of the disease is rapid. it with the exception that it affects alike the ill nourished and the sturdy, the poor and thesieh, the infant and the aged; it presents in iteelf no features sufficiently distinctive to entitle it to the appellation of a new and distinct disease. The best remedy, and that which is now always administered in our hospitals, is the chlorate of potash, with or without compounds of chlorine, such as chlorie ether and hydrochloric acid. Our St. Pet reburg Correspondence. . Prerensnure, March 19, 1858. Progress of the Emancipation Agitation—An impe- rial Committee Organized—A Consul sent to Ja- pon— Trade of the Amoor—A New Commercial Company— Communication with California—Mar- riage Fites— Death in High Circles. ‘The verf question has entered a new phasis which will tend to accelerate its final settlement. Seeing that the adhesion of the nobility to the proposals made them come in much slower than was antici- pated, and that the whole nation was kept in a state of suspense that might lead to dangerous agitation, government has determined to take the matter in hand itself, and to exchange the passive part it had played hitherto for an active one. A special com- mittee has been appointed, presided over by the Em- peror in person,and in his absence by Prince Orloff, President of the Council of the Empire, to deliberate upon the measures necessary to accomplish the con- templated reform without farther delay. It is com- poved of twelve members, viz:—Grand Duke Con- stantine, Count Bloudoff, Prince Gogarin, Count Ad- lerberg, Lanskoy (Minister of the Interior), Count Panin (Minister of Justice), Baron Korff, Gen. Tcheft- kin (Director General of Public Works), General Mi- chael Moarovieff (Minister of the Imperial Domains), Prince Dolgorouky, Brock (Minister of Finance) and General Rostootsof, with M. Boutkoff as secretary, ‘Thus the affair is entrusted to the leading statesmen of the empire, including the first originators of the scheme of emancipation, particularly Grand Duke Constantine, who is considered by some people as | the real Emperor of Russia, under the name of his brother. It ie evident from this that the idea of leaving it entirely to the good feeling and self-abne: gation of the serf owners has been virtually aban- doned, and that a gentle pressure will be employed against them if they should hesitate any longer to comply with the wishes of the government. No dowht a great deal @ heart burning will be excited among them by this course, and it cer- tainly converts what would have appeared a grace- ful act of patriotiem on the part of the nobility into a concession extorted from them by the immediate and unmistakeable interference of imperial anthori- ty, to which, however, in this instance, must be add ed the force of public opinion. To make up for it a loan of fifty million roubles is talked of, which wi.l be contracted by government, partly to indemnify the more indigent portion of the proprietors for the loss they sustain by the emancipation of their bonds- men, and partly toenable the latter to purchase the and allotted to them, without passing throvgh the intermediate state of probation they were to under- go until they had made their payments. Here in St. Petersburg, where the nobility, who belong mostly to the wealthier class, were among the first to ac- cede to the proposals of government after the initia- tive taken by the Lithuanian provinces, the meeting | of delegates called for the purpose of carrying them into effect has been sitting for. some time, and rather stormy debates are said to have taken place; but an agreement has at length been come to, and will be published as soon as it receives the im- perial sanction, unless it be thought advisable that the forms and conditions to which the enfranchise- ment of the peasantry is subject should be promul- simultaneously for the whole empire. At loscow the first number of a new monthly has just been issued, which treats exclusively of the emanci- vation question, and endeavors to show that the in- terests of the rural popalatian will continue bound up with those of their former masters; that the lat- ter will gain quite as much as the former by their mutual relations Peing planed on amore satisfactory footing, and that in the end they will find * more advantageous, even in a pecuniary point of view, to have their estates cultivated by free laborers than by sullen and indolent serfs. In-consequence of the treaty concluded with the Japanese government by Count Putiatin, a consul has been appointed to Japan in the person of M. Goshkevitch, who proceeded thither a few dayssince, via Siberia and the Amoor. He will reside at Hakodadi, in the island of Yeso or Matsmai, which has been selected as being contiguous to the Konriles and the other Russian possessions in East- ern Asia. M.,Goshkevitch is a distinguished lin- guist, who spent ten years at Pekin with the Russian ecclesiastical mission, and afterwards accompanied Putiatin on bis first expedition to Jay in the capa- city of sagt eyes After the wreck of the frigate Diana in the great earthquake at Simoda, he em- barked for Kamschatka on board of 2 German mer- chantman, but was captured in transitu by a British cruiser and conveyed to Hong Kong, from whence he returned to Russia on the conclusion of peace with the Western Powers. He brought with him a _Japauese, named Tatsibova-va-Koosai, who has been converted to Christianity, and with whose assistance he compiled a Japanese agpentn which has lately been published here by the Asiatic Department of the Ministry of Foreign’ Affairs, and is declared by our critics to be the best work of the kind extant. M.Goshkeviteh is accompanied to Ja- pan by his wife, who will be the first European fe- male ‘that has ever resided in that consis: The Dutch, who for the last two centuries were the only foreigners admitted to trade with the subjects of the Seogoon, and had a footing on the island of Desiva, were never allowed to bring their wives with them, though they were liberally supplied with native con- cubines. What arrangements Commodore Perry may have made on this head you will know better than I can tell you, The attention of enterprising men con- tinues to be aa directed to the new colonies on the Amoor, which are destined at no remote date | to figure among the great emporiums of trade, con- necting Siberia and Central Asia with China, Japan, California and the whole Pacific. A company has recently been formed with a capital of one million roubles to carry on commercial operations between the Amoor and the adjoining regions, to run a line of steamers on that river and its tributaries, and to work the rich coal and other mines that exist in various parts of the country. Considering the vici- nity of the great Siberian placers, there can be no doubt but that gold will be found too, although the immense fields of anthracite on the island of Seg- talin aud elsewhere will turn out eventually to be more prolific sources of wealth than what is usually termed the “ preeious” metals—the same as the black diamonds of England have proved infinitel; more valuable than the real diamonds of Brazil. ‘The chiet drawback on the future prosperit: of the Amoor is the climate, which, thoug! much milder than other parts of astern Siberia, is still excessively severe, the river being frozen up at its mouth for nearly eight months in the year. This necessarily contines the maritime intercourse of Nicolaievsk with the rest of the world to a very brief riod, and it is inserious contemplation, therefore, to ransfer the seat of government of the new Territory to Castries Bay, or some other point on the Gulf of Tartary, where the navigation is but rarely impeded by floating ice. According to our last accounts from Nicolaievsk, the whole place was completely snowed up. and the inhabitants were suffering greatly from the want of fresh provisions, their diet being limited almost exclusively to fish, immense quantities of which are brought from the Gulf of Tartary. They were looking anxiously to the approach of sprin, and the arriv@ of ships from California, whic however, could not be expected before the beginning of June. From Admiral Putiatin we had despatches net long since dated from Macao, and giving an ac- count ot the taking of Canton by the allies, which is represented as a mere farce, the Chinese “ braves” having bolted atthe first shot. I understand he has arranged all the difficulties between Russia and China; at any rate, the manner in which he has conducted the negotiations must have given entire satisfaction here, as he has just been decerated with | the grand cordon of St. Alexander Neosky. This has been quite a brilliant season for our beau monde. At court marrying and giving in marriage is the order of the day. The Empress’ maids of honor have been particularly fortunate in this respect; the young Countess Panin, daughter to the Minister of Justice, was married the other day to Count Levashoff, one of the Emperor's aides-de- | ay and now Mile. Pashkoff is affianced to Prince Viadimir Gallitzin, colonel of the regiment of gardes & cheval, and Mile. Offenburg, a sister of the re- nowned Princess Kotchenbey, to Baron Konveatz, Saxon Charge d’Afairs. A general gloom, however, was spread in eur aristocratic circles by the death of Count Alsonfriff, Grand Steward of the Household, and an especial favorite of the Emperor, who expired rather sud- denly at Rome, where he had goue for the beuetit of his health. The Alleged Lai the Emperor of the French tn London, From the London Times, sfareh 26,) ‘The Polish bookseller, named Stanislaus Tehor- zewskwski, who stands charged with publishing the pamphlet entited ‘Lettre au Parlement et a la Presse,’ inciting to the assassination of the Emperor of the French, was brought up yesterday at the Police Court, Bow street, before Mr. Jardive, for final exa- mination and committal. Mr. Bodkin, on the part of the Crown, intimated that at the close of the proceedings a correct trans- | lation of the entire epoed would be sroduced, in order that it should be added to the depositions. Mr. Leverson, the prisoner's attorney, said that one of the authors of the pamphlet, M. Talandier, had expressly requested him to state that he (the author) had no desire to ecreen himself behind the mere set- ler, but was willing and even desirous to take hia lace as defendant in the case. He was new present for that pur 5 Mr. Bodkin said that any ench application must be made to the Solicitor for the Treasury. Mr. Leverson then said that he hoped to be able to convince the magistrate that the ease should end here, and that this was not a “scandalous and mali- cious libel.” In inquiring what was a ‘false, mali- cious, scandalous and seditious libel” a curious difi- culty arove, that nowhere could it be found that the Jaw defined “what a libel is.” It was said to be, and ought to be, a principle of law that no one should be condemned on ex-post facto laws, yet that was con- stantly done by the judges, who, on the pretence of declaring the existing laws, really established new ones. It was said that this was not written law bat common law, which meant just what the judge chose to call law for the occasion. So long as common law continued to di ce our jurispradence its basis should be the consideration of what rule of con- duct will promote the well being of society. In the case of Mr. William Seriving, in Scotland, the following words were held to be libellous: —The time is now come when we are to assemble round the flag of liberty to support it; that we are plunged into a war x a wicked Ministry and a com Hant Parliament.” Yet few persons would now doubt the troth of these words as applied to the war with the French republic. These examples proved that the law was manufactured by judges for each occasion as it occurred, and that is was in the sume position as the law of witchcraft. Mr. Jardine—Do you mean to maintain that it is fair discussion to say that a man is an assassin, and ought, therefore, to be assassinated? Mr. Leverson—If he is aruler | am justified in ing that he is an assassin if I can prove it. But me to establish a principle against which [ find ] am stumbling. Tt is said that discussion is to be free, but to be decent. According to English law what the judges please to blame is indecent. What is indecent? Is it to blame the ruler? You will not venture to suy that. Bat is it great blame that is indecent’ Why, the greater blame is to say that he is more unfit to govern. Then you will al- low the lesser evil to be discussed and not the greater, ak 4 ‘i Mr. Bodkin said there was a passage commencing, “Did he not as President of the republic-—* Mr. Jardine said it was reasonable to suppose that it meant the Emperor. His course was clear; he must send the ease before a jury. He was not going to pune he had no snch power. t. Leverson said the committal was a punish: ment. But, he hee oe ask, was it possible that an, jury-——that any twelve weal convic 4 the prisoner except of the and publiching only? the writings of Disraeli and of ‘men off the Treasury Benc' printing Mr. Leverson then referred to Junius, of Lord Denman, of Mr. Nir. Gladstone, and to the lothers of “in the Times, which he said advo- and laquired wate prosecutions against the publishers of Lord inst Mr. i, Mr. Glad- abel 5. shamefi be Ee. or of the Times, purchased a jul impa- Phy at the cost of a baee subseryiency’ In every Greek and Roman history the slayers of tyrants were extolled, and the magistrate’s own children might at that moment be reciting, with the glow ot admiration on their youthful countenances, such lines as those of Lord Denman’s, commencing—* | wreathe my sword,” &e. Mr. Leverson proceeded to recite several pieces of this description. He next peta tiny if he hie prepared to risk the cl committal wor and the riots that might follow. | °° THE Mr. Jardine—That t i BD ih ga all argument is one which cannot, i Thave nothing to do with the question, Whether the prosecution in a ae 4 one, and all those consequences to which you have re: ig soe not So sper into my consideration, ir. Leverson—They are part of the qu bei a fa fie cae - nponion whee 'r. Jardine—Whether a jury will be influen popular opinion is a question with which I pee 3) thing todo. Iam bound to suppose that they will do their duty, and give their verdict according to the facts Bepred in evidence and the law laid down by the judge. Mr. Leverson continued at some length to restate his principal arguments, and concluded by reminding, the magistrate that he was not only the servant of the Crown, but also the guardian of the people’y liberties, which could only be maintained by the ut- most freedom of the pre: Mr. Bodkin—Sir: it is for those who instruct Mr Leverson to consider whether his course is calewlated to promote the interests of the defendant, but if any justification were wanted for the course the govern ment have taken in instituting this prosecution it would be that a gentleman who is on the roll of attorneys of this country should stand uy and defend the doctrines that are promulgatec in ths infamous pampblet. Mr. Leverson, whi has referred to some parts of the pam) pict, seen to have wholly forgotten—what he ot not—tha’ in some parts the writers refer to the late attemp on the life of the Emperor, and express their regre that they cannot claim a share inthe honor. If tha is not a direct incitement to murder [ don’t know what the English or any other language meane There cannot be a dearer privilege than the liberty of the press, and T believe it is enjoyed in Fnglani to the utmost extent. No one wishes to interfer with it: but when I see pamphlets directly incitin; to murder, I my that they are abhorrent to the com mon feclings of every civilized nation, and peculiar ly abhorrent to the “English. The learned counse went on to say that Mr, Leverson’s argument amount | ed to this—that the law was all wrong, and every de cision that had been made was erroneous. The lay was not to be frittered or talked away in that mar ner. The only duty of the oe was to cow mit the prisoner, unless he could find sureties for hi supecrnne to take his trial. 3 ureties were now in attendance, the proper notic having been given. The sureties having been accepted, the recogn pie: ee entered into and the defendant was s+ a 3 The translation of the pamphlet mentioned by M Bodkin was afterwards attached to the deposition The Supply of Specte in Russia, [St. Petersburg (March 12) euphas of the Lond rt. For some time specie has been extraordinari’ scarce in this country, so much so that a caricatay has appeared representing an antiquary keeping silver rouble among his rare coins. What becom of all the coin puzzles political economists; some sa | that the money changers melt it down for export tion; others that the people hoard it. Yet the mir here produces coin amounting to twelve thonsar roubles a day. In the fortress, where the mint established, there are large quanties of the precior | metals. In one room, at a recent visit, I saw lor piles of silver ingots, of a square form, ea: number weighing eighty pounds, others of a conical form of The first came from the Russi were purchased at Hamburg. I also e' number of ingots of gold placed on iren sheives, | to the time of Peter the Great there was less of s ver and gold than of pearls and precious stones Russia: but ke caused the mountains of his empi to be examined, and the result was the discovery silver mines in the Altai, and of gold mines in t Oural. In the production of the precious met. Russia is now the third country in the world, Ai tralia and America being the {irst two; she produc annually about 2,500 killegrammes of gold, of t value of 82,000,000fr., and 17,140 of silver, of t value of 3,900,000fr. In my visit to the fortres: saw a medal struck to show how the machine works. It bore on one side the likeness of Count Kisseleff, now Russian Ambassador at Paris, and h on the other the phrase, “Whatever good you do them you do to me,” alluding to the count’s most } ternal administration of the crown ser!s during * seventeen years that he was placed over the depo ment of the imperial domains, and a France. OTHER CABINET CHANGES SPOKEN OF —NEWSPAP_ SUPPRESSION—FINANCIAL CKBDIT AND TRADE. ANOTHER IMPERIAL VISIT TO ENGLAND RUMOR IN PARIS. It is stated that Count de Porsigny, late ambageador England, is to become Minister of Stato and head of Cabinet and household of the Emperor. M. Fould «+ pected to take the department of the Minister of Fi Pelissier was not expected to leave Paris tor 1 vntil after Faster, The Experance of Nantes was to be suspended on count Of its politica! views. Several persons had been sentenced to flae acd prisonment at Ruifec for attending an evangelical m+ ing, Which was held contrary to law. A meeting of several influential bankers, railway dir tors and others had been beld atthe suggestion Mi r of Finance. to consider the bert mode of public credit. Their recommendations involved fome changes in the conduct of the Bourse. It was rumored that the Emperor would agaia ps visit to Queer Victoria, at Osborne, this summer The persons lately arrested and sent to Lambesea vn the new penal code are, it is maid, divided foto us classee, and thoee of the third clase are to be porm! to return to France after two months mia | penitentiary at Lambexsa, ‘The trade accounts received from the departments still unfavorable, and the shipping interesia are suft severely, Some commercia! orders had been rece from the United States, but ia = much smaller propo: than in former yeara. The weather continued most favorable for the cr ond hows had « dectining eadenez. [0' denies that ersigny bad been ed Minister of Stato. ni ged tag says se a tary praparajiens were b uw ly preseed in all the great ports of France. fae Pate Bourse had exhibited much Grmness, aad f had reached the highest point attained for © ime. Cabinet councils were being held daily at the Tule: resided over by the eee, to consider the preva epressicn, and a doubtful report waa current that an proach to {ree trade was to be made forthwith. The trial of the rioters at Chalona was to to some serious disclosures relative to secret societies AFF Our Hong Kong Correspondence. Usirep Starrs Sreamsmre Mississirri, Hone Kona, Jan. 18, 1858. Arrival at Hong Kong—The Capture of Cant: Amount of the British Force in the Chinese Se. Probable Departure of Mr. Reed for Shangh Naval Court Martials—American Shippin Hong Kong, §., §¢. Our staunch old ship reached here on the inst. After emerging from the latitudes of ete summer it was anything but pleasant to feel « blood chilled by the cold fogs which fall from | colder looking mountains that surround us d) the first three days after our arrival. The first news that greeted us was that Ca had been taken, with a large amount of treasure the unlucky Governor Yeh made prisoner by “Western barbarians.” Canton was not taken, ever, without considerable loss, whatever ma stated to the contrary. Among the killed was f the bodies of Captain Wm. Thornton Bate and tenant Hackett, two of the most meritoriow effective officers of the roval navy. The sury are suffering greatly from the effects.of diarrher. few days ago one of the British gunboats «team: ne with her foremast shot away. They have »: sent twenty of these boats on the Canton ) mounting forty-four guns, and along the entire they have. stationed thirty four vessels of a)! cl: carrying five hundred and seventy-nine, maki all six hundred and twenty-three British guns i China waters. What of the Celestial Br the terrible paws of the British lion will « next is difficult to conjecture, but with such a mense force at his disposal it is not presumed Lord Elgin will stop at trifles, It is reported throughont the squadron th soon as the weather becomes warmer we proceed with our Minister northward, proba! Ehanghae: and this is my opinion too; for Canton has been taken his occupation is that quarter. The spar deck of the Mississippt ie crowde day in consequence of the trial by court mart one of the best naval lientenants ® the servier ease of Owen McNolly, seaman, charged with ing the sergeant of the guard and other im: conduct, will also be brought before the same of which Captain Du Pont is President. 1 pass this case without expressing my opiniow as long as the gee is carried out of appo® foreigners to the position of noncommics officers such things will always occur. Amy will not submit to be tyram over hy fpre unable to speak their language intelligihry. health of our grew js excellent; there has ber