3tiortilautratt

At its rising on Saturday afternoon, Parliament adjourned until the 23a of January.

The Commissioners (Mr. Marimlay, Lira AsIbutton, Mr. H. Melvill, Mr. B. Jowett, and 111r. Join Shaw Lefevre, appointed to consider and report upon; the best means of carrying out the clauses in the India Act of 1853, relating to the admission of candidates to writerships in the East India 'Company, have sent in their report -to Sir Charles Wood. The re- port enters into an elaborate consideration of the subject, following the arrangement of the 39th and 40th clauses of the India Act.

In the first 'plane, it is proposed to admit students to Haileybury Col- lege up to the age of twenty-three ; fixing eighteen as the lowest age at which candidates can be admitted, and twenty-five as the latest age at which they can go out to India in the civil service. It is desirable that the civil servant should have the most finished education that his native country affords; and that a considerable number should be men Who have taken first degrees in• arts at Oxford and Cambridge—a class hitherto nearly excluded; and it is believed that nine-tenths who enter the Col- lege under `the new system will be older than nine-tenths of those who quit it under the present system. Every candidate must notify to the Board of Control his intention to be a candidate six weeks before the ex- amination, and lay testimonials to his moral character before the Board.

With regard to the branches of knowledge in which the candidates are to be examined, it is broadly laid down that they ought to be confined to those branches to which it is desirable that English gentlemen who mean to remain at home should pay some attention. Every educated youth in the United Kingdom is invited to engage in a competition in which an average of forty prizes will be gained every year ; but as there will pro- bably be three or four hundred competitors, it is desirable that the ex- amination should be of such a nature that candidates who fail will not be necessarily unfitted for other callings. It is preposed that there shall be two examinations, one before a candidate is admitted to the College, an- other before be becomes a civil servant. In the first, it is proposed to include a wide range of subjects,—Arabic and Sanscrit, Greek and Latin, French, Italian, German ; pure and mixed mathematics, embracing a wider range of questions than is usual at Oxford, Cambridge, or Dublin; a paper of questions relating to chemistry, geology, mineralogy, botany, and zoology ; and the moral sciences, as a test of the candidate's powers of mind rather than to the extent of his reading. It will not be expected that each candidate shall be a proficient in all the subjects ; and in order to determine the place of a candidate, a system of marks has been de- vised, so distributed that no class of schools shall exclusively furnish ser- vants to the East India Company.

"English language and literature—

Composition

... 500 General literature

1500 Greek

Latin , ..................

.

French .... . ,„ 375 German „ .

375

Italian

Mathematics, pure and mixed

1000

Natural sciences.. . . ..

500

Moral sciences

500

fianscrit

375 Arabic

, . 375

6875

4‘ It seems to us probable that of the 6875 marks, which are the maximum, no candidate will ever obtain half. A candidate who is at once a dis- tinguished classical scholar and aistinguished mathematician will be,las he ought to be, certain of success. A classical scholar who is no mathematician, or a mathematician who is no classical scholar, will be certain of Gummi if he is well read in-the history and literature of hia own country. A young man who has scarcely any knowledge of mathematics, little Latin, and no Greek, may pass sueh an examination in English, French, Italian, German, geology, and chemistry, that-he may stand at the head of the list." After the first examination, theasuocessful candidates will become pro- bationers, and their future education will be.in the duties of their new position. Such special knowledge as they can acquire in England—for example, Indian history in the largest sense of the word, jurisprudence, commercial and financial mienoe, and the Oriental tongues—will form the subjects of the second examination. Having passed this, the proba- tioner will become a civil servant, and proceed to his •destination. It is recommended that the law remain as it is; but that there should be a complete change in the discipline of Haileybury Collage, in the system of study, and in the bailaings.

- The corps of railway labourers intrusted with the construction of the Balaklava railway will consist of one engineer' three assistants, and 500 men ; besides an accountant, store-keeper' clerks, foremen, and time-keep- ers. The material of the line consists of 1800 tons of rails and fastenings, 6000 sleepers, 600 loads of timber, and 31100 tons of other matters per- taifing to a railway. 'Each man is supplied with clothing suitable for the voyage and for the service he will have to perform on .arrival, as follows : one painted bag, one painted suit, three coloured cotton shirts, one flannel shirt (red), one flannel shirt (white), one flannel 'belt, one pair moleskin trousers, one moleskin vest, hued with serge, one fearnought slop, one pair lindsey drawers, one blue cravat, one blue worsted cravat, one pair of leggings, one pair of boots, one strap and battle, one bed and pillow, one pair of mitts, one portable stove for every ten men, one rug and blanket, one pair of blankets, one woollen coat, one -pair long waterproof boots, one pair fishermen's boots, one pair grey stockings, and two pounds of tobacco for present nee. By the above list it will be observed that each man is provided with a painted Waterproof bag, capable of containing his kit and also three days' provisions ; boxes or lumber of any kind being allowed. The fishermen's boots, reaching to the knee, are for their use on board, as well as in wet weather in the Crimea. But, besides, there are a pair of strongly nailed boots, commonly called 'Navvies' boots,' to be served out to each men on arrival in the country ; 100 pairs of long: boots, reaching to the hip, are also provided for the use of pr-requiring to work in the water. Betides ten huts, each capable of flouting-forty men,-there are 100 railway sheets or covers, generally used to -wear gootis-waggons, a large quantity of boards and scantlings, and temporary tents and huts impervious to wet, and not easily inflammable, which can in a few heart be erected and are easily removed. The sheets will also afford temporary :covering to provisions or fuel likely to be injurtal or destroyed by water. Coals, coke, and firewood are also furnished in large quantities.; To each party of ten a cooking-stove, of a very portable but efficient character, is provided, which will boil, bake, and fry in the open air. The staff consists of one chief engineer and three assistants, one eMef agent and three assistants, one accountant and clerk, one storekeeper and clerk, besides foremen and time-keepers. While everything is provided to render their -work efficient, the sanitary condition of the men has not been forgotten. The medical staff consists of a surgeon, four assistant-surgeons, and four nurses, selected from the first hospitals in London. An ample stock of medical stores and comforts is provided, with a large number of Dean and Adams' revolvers, in case any of the workmen should need them. Two Railway Missionaries will likewise accompany the men, and a selection of books is provided for their -use."

This expedition, by the great exertions, liberality, and industrial esprit de corps which exist among contractors and shipowners, has been pre- pared in three weeks; and it will be conveyed to the Crimea in seven steam and two sailing ships.

It is intended that the whole of the Scotch regiments of Militia and fifteen additional English regiments shall be immediately embodied for permanent duty. There will then be, in all, seventy-six out of the hun- dred regiments of England and Wales on service.

The total amount of reinforcements to the British army in the Crimea, since the battle of Inkerman, should be, assuming no untoward accident to have occurred, as nearly as possible 11,450 men.

The Government has entered into contracts for 50,000 Annie rifles and rifle carbines; the contracts have been taken by manufacturers at Liege, Birmingham, and London. The most extensive contracts have been taken by Belgian houses, and it is stated that_the supply from all places will extend over 3000 per week.

On the 10th instant the Times published a letter from St. Petersburg containing this passage—" Colonel Colt has been or is still here with his machinery to make revolvers." Colonel Colt has written to the Times de- nying that he has either furnished or contracted to furnish arms or ma- chinery to the Russian Government. The only truth in the passage is that he has been in Russia, as he has been in other great states, during the last two months.

"Ever since my armoury has been established in London, both it and my own skill have always been at the service of the Government, and it rests with them to employ either or both to their fullest extent. My offers to the Government to manufacture any description of arms at prices much lets than are paid to others have been sufficiently public already, and should afford a complete answer to all complaints against me of the sort referred to. It is not my fault if all my facilities are not now devoted to the British Govern- ment."

Brigadier-General George Gustavus Du Plat, K.H., her Majesty's Mi- litary Commissioner at the head-quarters of the Austrian army, died at_, Vienna, of dropsy, on the 21st instant. The deceased entered the Royal Engineers in 1814, and at the time of his death held the rank of Brevet Co1onel in that corps. His son, Captain Du Plat, of the Royal Artillery, is Equerry to Prince Albert.

It appears that Count Zichy did not go on a mission to St. Petersburg, as reported—" he only went to visit his estates" ; and that Prince Paskiewitch did not accompany him, for be has never left Warsaw.

Dr. Routh, the late President of Magdalen College, Oxford, lived to be nearly a hundred years old, and he governed his College-nearly sixty-four out of that number. Ile was born on the 15th September 1755, at South Elmham, near Beeeles ; and entered Queen's College in 1770. When George the Third and Queen Charlotte visited Oxford in 1784, he was Senior Proctor. In April 1791 he was elected President of Magdalen College. He was a friend of Dr. Parr, of Sir Francis Burdett, and of Mr. Windham. He had known Dr. Theophilus Leigh, Master of Balliol, the contemporary of Addison, who pointed out to him the situation of Addison'a rooms; had seen Dr. Johnson in his brown wig scrambling up the steps of University College ; had been told by a lady of her aunt, who had seen Charles the Second walking round the parks at Oxford (when the Parliament was held there during the Plague of London) with his dogs, and turning by the cross-path to the other side when he saw the Heads of Houses coming.

Dr. Routh enjoyed the reputation of a great scholar ; he possessed a capacious and retentive memory; and all reports speak well of his con- versational powers. His chief contributions to literature are three vo- lumes entitled " Reliquire Sawn ; sive auctorum jam perditorum secundi tertiique small post Chriatum natum gum supersunt,"—of which Dr. Parr said, in 1814, "no such work has appeared in England for a cen- tury " ; an edition of Bishop Burnet's "History of his Own Times"; and, in a single volume' " Burnet's Reign of James II."

In politics Dr. Routh took no part, but his leanings were Jacobite; and beloved to talk at his own table of the times of the Stuarts. But to the last, we are told, he kept up his information on the great eveats going on around him.

Last week, the mortality of the Metropolis was below the average as calculated according to the increased population. There were 1201 deaths ; the average is 1374, but it is increased by the influenza which prevailed in 1847.

After the Cabinet Council on Saturday, most of the Ministers left town for a few days' holiday ; but the exigencies of the time compelled the Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Newcastle, and Sir James Graham, to remain in London.

Lord Elgin was to leave the United States for England about this time.

Miss Kirkpatrick, a very aged lady, grand-aunt to the Empress of the French, died at Dumfries on the 21st instant.

The coronation of the Emperor of Austria will take place at the end of March.

The King of Bavaria was recovering from an apoplectic Mack from which he had lately suffered, when' on the 21st instant, he had a relapse endan-

gering his : he afterwards rallied a little.

The Duke and Duchess of Brabant arrived at Vienna on Christmas Day : the Emperor of Austria received them at the railway terminus.

The order for the non-entry of landsmen having again been rescinded by warrant of the Lords Commissioners, a very large number of Sae, athietie

young men, from eighteen to twenty-one years of age, and not less than 6 feet 6 inches in height, Save attended at the naval rendezvous, Tower Hill, and volunteered for general service for any of her Majesty's ships and vessels. The majority of the number were approved, and sent on board her Majesty's ship Crocodile, to be borne on her books until sent on board the various guard-ships.

At the battle of Inkerman, when the fire was the hottest, a pony with a pair of panniers, led by Lord Raglan's German servant, was seen advancing towards the position of the Commander-in-chief. Every officer whom the man passed on his way desired him to go back, as the balls were falling thickly around, and the chances were that he would be killed. The cool German merely replied, "My master is not so young as he was, he is always ill if he does not have luncheon, and his luncheon be shall have." The man reached his Lordship's post through the fiery storm and returned in safety.- South-Eastern Gazette.

A committee has been engaged at Bordeaux in collecting tobacco, pipes, and cigars, for the troops in the Crimea. They are intended not for distri- bution to the French army alone, but equally for the English. "The people of Bordeaux make no distinction between the brave men fighting in the' same cause."

A volunteer force for the defence of New South Wales was enrolled at the beginning of September,—an infantry or rifle brigade, an artillery bri- gade, and 200 sailors for the Acheron steam sloop-of-war, to be paid out of the Colonial revenues. The volunteering was satisfactory.

Nine merchants of Nantes have been tried for a combination to raise the price of salt meat required by the Government. When the Minister of the Interior advertised for tenders' the offers were at an exorbitant price ; a second and a third trial Lad but little better result. The Minister then sent persons to the locality to buy up meat : it quickly rose in price up to the point predicted by the merchants ; but this was by their contrivance. The case was fully made out against eight of them, and each was sentenced to a month's imprisonment and a fine of 2000 francs. A Paris paper indignantly contrasts the conduct of the Nantes merchants with the general alacrity of the English merchants to assist rather than victimize the Government during the war.

The Russian Minister at Berlin has inserted an advertisement in the New Prussian Gazette, thanking some unknown donor for gifts of lint for the Russian army in the Crimea.

announced for Christmas Eye.

The collection of books, manuscripts, and antiquities, made by the late Hr. Crofton Croker, was recently sold by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, sun' realized good prices. A collection of historical tracts relative to the civil wars in Ireland in the seventeenth century, 721.; the Ormonde letters and papers, 130/. ; some gold ornaments brought, according to weight, from 101. to 504 an ounce; an ancient Irish war trumpet, bronze, of curved form, with studded ornaments, the mouth-hole on the side, as with the modern flute, a most rare, object, 251.; a charter-horn, or ancient drinking-horn, upon a stand of cloven feet, with brass mounting and hoops, the horn that of is species of Highland buffalo extinct these three hundred years, 17/. 10s.

A Scotch "character" has lately fallen a victim to cholera—Sandy If‘Callum, the fossil-collector in the valley of the Girvan. Without -book- learning, and though by trade a weaver, he became thoroughly acquainted with the geology of the district, and was constantly engaged in searching for fossils or acting as guide to scientific visitors, who have acknowledged his services in their writings. Sir Roderick Murchison named one of the fossils discovered by Sandy, " Orthoceratites M'Callumi." Sandy was also a zealous collector of antiquities and curiosities in general.

The shipment of wine and brandy from Portugal, at the last advises, was very slack, owing to the high prices of good liquors.

Indian corn and all other kinds of food continue to increase in price in Portugal.

A single fact will show the depression in the value of shares in the United States. In October 1853, the earnings of the New York Central Railway were 555,945 dollars, and the price of the shares 113; in October this year, the earnings had increased to 628,768 dollars, yet the quotation of the shares had fallen to 80.

Several new failures are reported by the last American mail : one, that of Messrs. Blodgett and Co., of Boston, was for no less than two million dollars.

For these gold-producing times, a very small amount of the preoious metal arrived in England last week—less than 100,0001.

A new postal treaty has been entered into with France ; the principal effect of which will be the reduction of the postage upon prepaid letters weighing not more than tea., a weight which includes the great majority, to 4,11., Instead of 8d. or 10d., as heretofore. This reduced postage of 4d. will carry the letter from any part of the United Kingdom to any part of France or Algeria. If the letter be posted unpaid, the charge will be double. Under the provisions of this treaty the postage on letters passing through England or France will also in many cases be reduced. The new treaty will come into operation on the 1st of January.

A credit of five million francs has been placed at the disposal of the French Minister of the Interior, for the employment of labourers and the succour of charitable institutions during the winter.

The old French copper money, made of bell-metal, is being withdrawn from circulation and sold for metal : no period has yet been named for its ceasing to be a legal tender.

The North-Western and the Great Western Railway Companies have come to an agreement to cease their ruinous competition on those portions of their lines which run to the same places in the North. On the 1st of Jarmary the fares for passengers and the charges for goods will be the same by both lines, and will be generally increased. In some instances the advent* on the present fares will be enormous, as the Companies have been cazry4ig people for the merest trifle.

It has been determined by the bar on the Oxford circuit to place the bust of Mr. Justice Talfourd in the Crown Court of Stafford.

The Duke of Saxe Weimar is restoring the castle of Wartzburg, the building in which Luther sojourned for a time, working at his translation of the Bible.

Lelibon, a journeyman potter of Moussarole, in the Basses PyrEnees, modelled some groups in baked earth ; they gave promise of future excellence; when at Bayonne the Emperor heard of the matter; and he is now paying for the young man's education in art at Paris.

The French artists are working hard for the exhibition of next year. M. Jerome has an "Apotheosis of Augustus" in hand • Yvon, a "Retreat from Moscow" - Couture, a "Carnival Supper Scene"; 'Scheffer, a "Christ tempted by Satan."

"The Flight into Egypt," the new Oratorio by M. Berlioz, was produeed the other day, with so much success that a second performance,of it was Cholera still prevails at Vienna. The Archduke William was attacked after visiting a groom who was suffering from the disease the Archduke's nurse has died of cholera. The Archduke Joseph has also Buffered from cholerine.

CRYSTAL PALACE—Return of admissions for five days ending 29th De- cember, including season-ticket-holders, 29,017.