30 MAY 1857, Page 7

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Two appointments that had been some time in suspense are now filled up. Mr. Henry Herbert, Member for Kerry, succeeds Mr. Horsman as Secretary for Ireland. This appointment is said to have been previously offered to Mr. Charles Villiers and Mr. Henry Fitzroy.

Mr. Henry Singer Keating, Member for Reading, has been appointed Solicitor-General, in the room of Mr. Stuart Wortley, whose impaired health has caused him to resign that office.

The Queen has directed that Mr. Andrew Buchanan, British Minister at Copenhagen, shall be appointed an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the Third Class or Companions of the Order of the Bath.

'Mr. John Bright, writing from Geneva, has replied to a letter which, in common with Mr. Gibson and Mr. Cobden, he received from the Scotch town of Hawick, expressing sympathy with those late Members of the House of Commons, now excluded, and with the cause of reform, free trade, and retrenchment. After contrasting the little progress made in free trade with the growth of military expenditure, Mr. Bright says " As to Reform, while almost everybody professes to be in favour of it in some shape, the preparation of the particular bill to be brought forward next year is left in the hands of a Minister whose hostility to every proposition for reform since the year 1832 is notorious and undeniable. Whether on these three points to which your resolution refers the country is in a satisfactory position, I must leave the friends of free trade, reform, and retrenchment, to decide. "With regard to the promised reform, let me warn you to look not more to the question of franchise than to the other arrangements of the measure. It would be easy to double the number of electors' and at the same time to increase the aristocratic influence in Parliament. To give votes without giving representatives in some fair degree in proportion to the votes, is but to cheat the people ; and to give a large increase of votes without the security of the ballot, will *subject increased numbers of our countrymen to the degrading influences which wealth and power now exercise so unscrupulously upon the existing electoral body. A. moderate measure, and an honest one so far as it goes, is far more to be desired than one of great

pretensions with some fraudulent scheme for defeating the wishes of the nation. A dishonest apportionment of Members may effectually destroy a representation ; and any trick to obstruct the free action of majorities, such as that proposed in Lord John Russell's last hill, should be strenuously resisted, as calculated to undermine the very basis of representative institutions, and designed only to cheat the people of that increased power which the bill would profess to confer upon them."

An innovation has been introduced this week into the practice of the House of Lords. Hitherto division-lists have been supplied to the journals by the "tellers." There were frequent inaccuracies, and, at the instance of Earl Stanhope, the House agreed to adopt the practice of the House of Commons. In the "Minutes of Proceedings" of Monday are published the lists of voters in several divisions which occurred in Committee of the whole House (when proxies are not admissible) on the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill. The lists are not alphabetical, as in the House of Commons, but arranged according to priority of rank and title, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor taking precedence by right.

Colonel Ellers Napier, in a letter to the Times, suggests a mode of protecting the Cape colony from the Caffres. He proposes to "grant to the Boors the territory extending from the Keiskaina to the Rye, on condition that they keep the Caffres out of our Colonial settlements at the Cape of Good Hope. If the Boers accept these terms, rely upon it there will be no mere Caffre wars, at an average coat of 3,000,0001. sterling each."

The Board of Trade returns for April show a largo increase) in the exports as compared with former years-560,9181. over 1856, and 1,899,880/. over 1855. The total for April 1857 was 9,985,844/. Most articles show an increase ; there is a considerable diminution in linens, copper and brass, tin, oil-seed, and refined sugar. Imports generally have increased, but in grain and flour there has been a decrease. Toe shows a large decrease in importation, and an immense augmentation in the quantity taken for home consumption, in consequence of the reduction of duty. In raw material, flax, hemp, silk, cotton, wool, tallow, all show an increase —the import of cotton was more than doubled, silk was nearly doubled, and wool was trebled. The imports of hides and leather were largely increased.

The change in the temperature has produced an effect on the bills of mortality. The number of deaths last week was 948; the average of the two previous weeks was 1050; and the corrected average would be 1108.

"The oldest person recorded in this week's returns is a centenarian, who is stated to have lived to the age of one-hundred-and-two years. She was a widow, and died on the 17th May, at 5 Queen Elizabeth's College, Greenwich. A carpenter died on the 16th, at 6 Golden's Place, Lambeth, at the age of seventy-nine years, who is reported to have been a great grandson of Defoe."

Mr. Robert Hall, chosen at the last general election, after a severe contest, as the colleague of Mr. Baines at Leeds, died on Tuesday. Two years ago he was severely hurt by an accident on the Great Northern Railway. Although he recovered from that sufficiently to resume his professional. labours as a barrister and Recorder of Doncaster and Deputy Recorder of Leeds, the effects of the shock permanently injured his constitution. It is also thought that the labour and excitement of the Leeds contest further impaired his constitution, and that he caught a severe cold in consequence of sitting near one of the openings for the admission of air in tho House of Commons. He died of fever, at Folkestone, in his fifty-sixth year.

The usual official banquets were given on Wednesday to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Lord Palmerston entertained a party of Peers, including the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Viscount Eversley. The Archbishop of Canterbury and sixteen Bishops dined with the Archbishop of York. The Duke of Wellington, as Master of the Horse, held a banquet at Apsley House ; Earl Spencer Lord Steward, at Spencer House ; and the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord Chamberlain, in Park Lane. The guests of the Earl of Clarendon wore chiefly the Foreign Ministers resident at this court. Sir George Grey received the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, the Speaker, a number of Judges, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London, and others. Mr. Labouchere's guests were the chief officials in the Colonial Office, and Colonial Bishops, Governors, and Judges. The repro. sentatives of the East India Company and Eastern notables assembled at Mr. Vernon Smith's table. The chief guest at Lord Panmure's dinner was the Duke of Cambridge, surrounded by generals and gentlemen connected with the administration of the Army. The party at the Chancellor of the Exchequer's consisted principally of Members of the House of Commons. The Naval officers and the officials of the Admiralty were received by Sir Charles Wood. The Lawyers rallied round the Attorney-General at the Albion in Aldersgate Street,—the most numerous assembly of the evening. The Gentlemen-at-Arms dined together at the Freemasons Tavern.

You may flatter even an Emperor too much. When the Emperor of Austria visited Waitzen, M. von Redly, the Burgornaater of the oily, assured

him " that a sea of delight had inundated the breasts of the in of the city when they received the news of the gracious intentions of his most exalted Majesty towards them." The Emperor is said to dislike servility and "humbug," and his answer to Von Rethy was a very short one.

The new-born child of the Emperor of Russia is his fifth son and sixth child. He has been christened Sergius, and has been appointed to the command of two regiments and inscribed on the rolls of several others.

According to advices from Bagdad, Mr. Murray, who had been staying there, was to leave Bagdad on the 16th of this month for Teheran, to resume his diplomatic functions.

The health of President Buchanan is reported to be "by no means good": he still suffers from the effects of the "National Hotel disease "; and he is much worried by the cares of office and the importunities of office-seekers.

Count d'Argout, who has been Governor of the Bank of Franco for threeand-twenty years, has resigned, at the moment when Government is proposing alterations in the constitution of the bank.M. Magne, Minister of Finance, is spoken of as his successor. The post is a lucrative one, the various emoluments being estimated at 100,000 francs a year.

The latest accounts from Gorce announce that the Commander-in-chief of the French settlement on the West coast of Africa has occupied, in the name of the French Government, the large tract of land called Dekker, said to be one of the most important positions in Senegal.

The Paris Honileur de la Rolle states that our East India Company, have made a new acquisition—the island of Perim, at the entrance of the lied Sea, in the middle of the Strait of Babelmandeb. Perim is absolutely devoid of everything—there in not even a drop of water ; nothing grows but a stunted and dusty briar ; there are no inhabitants ; everything for the use of man must be brought to the island : it does not appear a very inviting acquisition at first sight. But then, Perim " is situated between Arabia and Africa, on the very point at which the Red Sea commences, and it divides the strait into two channels. The passage to the East, on the side of Arabia, is only three miles wide • that to the West, on the African side, is about ten or twelve. On the South-west, towards the Widest entrance of the Straits, the island forms one of the finest ports imaginable. It is a mile in length and half a mile in breadth, and the depth varies from seven to twenty-ave fathoms. The anchorage is excellent, the entrance is perfectly sheltered, and it is no exaggeration to say that forty ships of the line might easily anchor there in smooth water a hundred yards from the shore. A few ships of war stationed there will be sufficient hermetically to close the entrance to the Red Sea."

The Turkish war-ship Peiki Zaffer, 104, has been lying at Plymouth for some months, fitting steam-machinery. The completion of the Ramazan, or great Mahometan fast-month, was celebrated on boardwith much rejoicing on Saturday. "A royal salute of twenty-one guns announced, at five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the approach of the new moon ; and at nine o'clock its appearance was greeted by the illumination of the ship, every port exhibiting a light, and fireworks of a varied character being displayed from her masts and rigging. The fast over and all restrictions removed, the crew were soon seated on the decks devouring their pilau, with other condiments. Sunday morning was the commencement of the lesser Bairam, or feast-month, when full amends are made for the previous mortification. Royal salutes were given at six o'clock in the morning, at twelve, and at five in the afternoon ; and the ship was gaily dressed in colours from yardarm to yardarm ; the crescent and the star occupying the most honoured positions. Although eating and drinking appeared to be the moat important feature of the day's proceedings, sobriety and good fellowship were strictly maintained ; and a swing by a single rope fixed to the foremast head seemed to afford the greatest amount of happiness to Bono Johnny,' especially when he could induce one or two of his shipmates to join in the innocent amusement." The demeanour of the Turkish sailors when on shore during their stay at Plymouth has been very exemplary.

The public have a new opportunity of inspecting the great reading-room at the British Museum,—it is to be opened from six to eight o'clock in the evening to the end of June. The Museum itself will also lie opened during the summer months on Saturdays, from twelve to six o'clock.

The ornamental waters in St. James's Park will in future be supplied from an old well reopened on one of the islets, which affords a large supply of pure water.

The French Horticultural Society has held an exhibition in the Palace of Industry, the grand nave of which was transformed into a garden.

On the 1st of the present month the total military force stationed in Ireland was 25,539 men.

The French Corps Legislatif has passed a bill to increase the pay of captains, lieutenants, and sub-lieutenants in the Line, by 150 francs a year.

• Travellers to Russia via Cronstadt now meet with much less obstruction on account of passports and luggage than formerly.

A" premium" has been "got up" at St. Petersburg on the Railway s1iares-4i roubles on the 125 rouble share.

According to a census taken last year, the population of New South Wales was 266,000-147,000 males and 119,000 females. The number of persons born in Australia was 113,000; there were 1800 Chinese.

The first voyage of the Great Eastern, when the leviathan has been got afloat, is to be to Portland in the State of Maine, under arrangements with the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada.

The accounts from Algeria say that the appearance of the crops is splendid, and grain is very forward : barley of this year's growth has been already converted into meal.

The proposed canal between Kostendje on the Black Sea and the Danube has been abandoned, on account of engineering difficulties ; and a railway will be constructed instead. The capital is to be 300,000/. When this railway is in operation, Kostendje is expected to become a most important place, and a great rival to Odessa.

The Austrian Government has guaranteed the Danubian Steam Navigation Company 8 per cent on its capital as compensation for the loss of its exclusive privilege to navigate that portion of the Danube which runs through the Austrian dominions. [A. very objectionable compromise.]

Intelligence was received on Monday of a painful calamity in the lonely waters of the South Atlantic, in December last. The ship Joseph Somas, bound from London to Melbourne, was totally destroyed by fire, oft the rocky island of Tristan d'Acunha. The captain, Elinston, had gone ashore in a boat, and on his way back discovered that the ship was on tire. Calling on the men to pull for their lives, he leaped on board as soon as the boat touched the ship's side. It seems that the fire had been discovered, and an effort made to quell it had been apparently successful, but this appearance was found to be a delusion. "Mr. Stokes, the chief officer, who in the captain's absence had the command of the ship, seeing the increased danger, gave orders for all hands that could be spared from the working of the ship to open the magazine and throw the gunpowder overboard. Mr. Bernal, a passenger, rushed to his cabin for an axe,which was of considerable use in tearing up the hatchway, The third officer, Mr. Pye, got to his cabin where three barrels of powder had been stowed for want of room ; and these, with the remaining 249 barrels in the magazine under the main amtchwav, were handed from hand to hand and thrown overboard. The fire had aisappeared from the store-room as soon as the main hatchway was opened : there being then a new and greater draught, the fire was making rapid strides to this deadly mine, charged with about eighteen tons of gunpowder. At last the lower tier of barrels was actually hot—almost too hot in hold. This was no fancy, every man was intent upon his work. These were minutes of agonizing suspense. The weaker sex never seemed to have lost their presence of mind and it was a remark of admiration made subsequently by the crew that not a scream was heard from any one. The steward, Alfred Marsh, acted with great bravery and devotion ; three times 'he made his way through the dense smoke into the ruddy to the cabin in the stern, and saved the captain's chronometers, desk, watch, and other valuables. Cassim, the blaek servant, also got through the caddy into the cabin to save some of his master's things ; but his retreat was cut off by the increasing smoke and flame, and he was drawn up, half-suffocated, through the quarter-gallery window on to the poop. The pinnace being lowered, the captain stood. guard, and saw all the women and children handed down before he admitted others to jump in to make up her complement. The reruainder of those on board escaped by the life-boat, in which the captain had returned from the island. The satisfaction that was felt when the last ,barrel of gunpowder went overboard gave all on board that comparative coolness, and belief that the worst was past, without which feeling in all probability many lives would have been sacrificed. After all the crew were in the boat, the captain had a struggle to get a large Newfoundland dog of his over the ship's side ; but, finding it impossible, he seized a rope and SW1111,,e off into the boat. He was the last to leave the ship." Fortunately, all the boats reached the land. The portion of the island susceptible of cultivating is very small ; the population, which is traced to a soldier Who deserted in the last war, is almost in excess of the means of subsistence. They managed, however, to furnish food for the castaways, until the Simi:mid, bound for Kurrachee, happening to arrive, her captain, Tilman, volunteered to carry the crew and passengers to the Cape. It was a piece of good fortune, for hardly any ships except whalers run in to "Tristan," as the sailors call this huge rock.

American official amenities. Mr. Murphy, Engineer of Brooklyn Navyyard, has been dismissed for " cowhiding" Om Honourable Daniel Sickles, who had declined a hostile meeting with the energetic engineer.

The Burdell murder case at New York has been tried. It occupied dx days, and the verdict was "Not Guilty." Mrs. Cunningham was at once discharged from custody ; but Mr. Eckel was held to bail in his own recognizances for 5000 dollars. No new light was thrown on the mystery. • ' The prisoners in the Penitentiary at Sing Sing, in New York State, have made a notable attempt to escape. Four ringleaders feigned illness, and, thus got into the infirmary ; there they arranged the plot. One morning, the prisoners, as they were marched from breakfast, suddenly fell upon the keepers, and a large number managed to escape from the gaol. But as long confinement had reduced their strength, they could not run fast ; and the alarm having been quickly given, every one was retaken.

The body of a young woman was found in a field near Newbury in the United States ; it was assumed that she had been murdered, probably by a, seducer. Many persons recognized the body as that of a Miss Bloom : Miss Bloom's sister was sent for, and she also identified the corpse, especially by certain personal defects. One Jenkins, a married man, was known to havetaken Miss Bloom some distance in his cart, and he was detained as the murderer. Scarcely had the body of the victim been interred when Mist Bloom appeared in life and health,—fortunately for Jenkins, as he was in danger of being hanged on the circumstantial evidence and mistaken identity.