Ziortilanran

GENERAL THANZSGIVING.—Two proclamations were issued simulta- neously with the " proclamation of peace" ; one enjoining a day of thanksgiving in England, the other in Scotland, to be celebrated tomor- row. The form of prayer, issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, is in the following terms.

" Almighty and merciful Father, who by Thine overruling Providence dost govern the nations upon earth : we Thine unworthy servants desire to approach Thee this day with the voice of praise and thanksgiving. We bless Thy holy name for the success with which thou bast crowned the arms of our Sovereign and her allies in a perilous and destructive warfare ; for inspiring our forces, both by sea and land, with a courage and en- durance which neither the numbers nor the bravery of those opposed to them could overcome. But chiefly we acknowledge it to be of Thy great goodness that thou hast caused strife and contention to cease, and host restored the blessings of peace to Europe. Praised be Thy name for this and all Thy mercies. Grant that every renewal of Thy loving kindness towards our country may lead us to unfeigned thankfulness and dispose us to walk more humbly and devoutly before Thee, by follow- ing Thy holy will and commandments, and by promoting whatever may tend to the increase of true religion and virtue throughout the land. Unite all ranks of men among us in the bonds of brotherly love and Christian charity ; endue them with a spirit of piety and justice, of industry and temperance, that the blessings which we have long enjoyed may be con- tinued to us and our posterity. "We further beseech Thee, 0 Lord, that the nations who have been en- gaged in the late contest, and are now relieved from the dangers and cala- mities of war, may seek and pursue those things which make for a people's happiness and welfare, by the maintenance of righteous laws by the fur- therance of kindly intercourse one with another, and, above ad, by the cul- tivation of true and undefiled religion ; to the end that, through the tran- quillity now happily, restored, the Redeemer's kingdom may be enlarged, and the nations of the world united in striving to exalt and magnify 'Thy glorious name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Proper Psalms and _Lessons. Morning—Proper Psalms, Psalms xxxiii., xxinv. ; First Lesson Isaiah xii. ; Second Lesson, Romans, xii. Evening —Proper Psalms, Psalms cxlv. to exlvii.; First Lesson, Deuteronomy viii.; Second Lesson, Romans xiii.

THE FLEer.—The great fleet at Spithead has begun to disperse. The Colossus, 81, Captain Heppe], and the White division of gun-boats, is at Sheerness ; the Brunswick, 81, Captain Yelverton, and the Blue di- vision of gun-boats, the Sanspareil, 81, Captain Rey, and the Light di- vision, have gone to Plymouth ; the Red division, under Captain Cod- rington, will remain at Portsmouth. Many of the ships of the line and frigates are bound for various destinations. Some of the large troop- ships have sailed for the Crimea.

New MILITARY Hosprrai.—The Queen will lay the foundation of a new military hospital, near Southampton, on the 12th instant. The site of the building adjoins New Barn Clife and is forty feet above the level of the sea. Her Majesty will land from her yacht at a jetty now in pro- cess of construction near the site of the hospital.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.—IL was arranged that the Queen should lay- the foundation-stone of the Wellington College this day ; but it is now announced "on authority," that in consequence of the unfavourable state of the weather," and the little prospect of a change, the ceremony will be postponed until a day, to be hereafter named, in the first week of June.

Tux CHLKEAN Ixotrrev.—This investigation slowly proceeds ; having reached on Thursday the fifteenth sitting. The Earl of Lucan closed his case on Monday, by a long address in reply, full of argumentation, and not sparing in invective. He maintained that all his statements were now truths established by the evidence ; and he characterized the Com- missioners Report as "not worth the paper it was written on." He fur- ther described it as the "joint production of Lord Panmure and Colonel Tulloch," and, as such, not entitled to any reverence or respect what- ever." The Commissioners had thrown the whole blame upon the un- happy officers in the Crimea, and had shielded Lord Raglan and the Go- vernment. Speaking of Mr. Rawlinson, Lord Lucan described him as a " geneologist" as well as an engineer. This new word excited great laughter ; and, after a whispering conference with his friends, Lord Lu- can amended the description—he meant a "geologist" as well as an en- gineer. On the whole, Lord Lumen repeated what he said at first, that he was not open to any charge of anything like neglect. Tuesday was occupied with the defence of the Earl of Cardigan. This was very simple. The Light Brigade was posted at Inkerman by the orders of Lord Raglan. When it was perceived by Assistant-Commis- sary CrookRhank that the transport would break up, he suggested that the horses should be sent down to Balaklava for forage. Lord Cardigan declined the suggestion, but directed Mr. Crookshank to apply to Lord Lucan, the divisional commander, for permission. Mr. Crookshank did so, and Lord Lucan declined to allow the horses to be sent down. In explanation of this, Lord Lucan stated that he made it a rule never to interfere with the foraging of any part of his division stationed at a dis- tance. Further, he made this statement— He was specially recommended by Lord Raglan not to interfere with the duties of the Light Brigade. On one occasion when he received from Ge- neral Campbell an intimation of an expected attack, he wished to move the cavalry, but was informed by Lord Raglan that he was not to exercise any authority over the light cavalry.

The Earl of Cardigan observed, that that order of Lord Raglan clearly re- ferred only to the turning out of the brigade in the event of any real or threatened attack, and did not extend to the command of the brigade, which was exercised by Lord Lucan.

On Thursday, Lord Lucan illustrated his peculiar mode of dealing with his case. Assistant-Commissary-General Crookshank had given evidence on Tuesday that Lord Lucan refused his assent to a proposition to allow the horses of the Light Brigade to go to Balaklava for forage. Lord Lu- can informed the Board, apparently with the view of throwing discredit on Mr. C!rookshank's testimony, that he had been once obliged to put that officer under arrest for disobedience of orders, and for stating what was not the fact. Mr. Crookshank contended that he did not disobey orders, and that the statement Lord Lucan called "a he" was founded on fact. Mr. Civokabank represented himself as having in vain at- tempted to have his ease inquired into by a court-martial ; and "he could not but think that some reparation was due, and ought to have been afforded to a gentleman, even by the General commanding the Cavalry, for the unwarrantable charge of lying which had been pre- ferred against him." Sir Richard Airey began his statement in defence, and had not con- cluded when the Board rose.

Major-General Robert John Hussey Vivian, who held at Madras the office of Adjutant-General of the Army, and has since been in command of the Turkish Contingent Force, has been appointed by the Queen to the vacancy among the Directors of the East India Company, caused by the death of the Honourable William Leslie Melvin.

The Globe announces with regret "the death of Mr. John Burgoyne Blackett, of W3-lam, and late M.P. for Newcastle-on-Tyne. At the last general election he was returned by a large majority. for Newcastle-on- Tyne; with the representation in Parliament of which locality his family had been for a long period connected. In the House of Commons, Mr. Blackett amply sustained the expectations of his friends, and increased in the estimation of his constituents; a career of high promise had been com- menced, when, about a year since, a paralytic attack prostrated him ; obliged him subsequently to resign his seat in Parliament, and eventually caused his death on Friday last, at Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, to the deep regret of all who knew him. Mr. Blackett was in his thirty-fifth year."

The journals record the death of Mr. G. J. Guthrie, the eminent army surgeon, on the 1st instant, at the age of seventy-one. Mr. Guthrie was the only son of a chiropodist celebrated in his day. At the age of fifteen young Guthrie was appointed hospital-assistant at the York Military Hos- pital: but as the regulations required that these appointments should be conferred on qualified practitioners, he was compelled to become a member of the College of Surgeons ; which he did at the age of sixteen. He was soon afterwards appointed assistant-surgeon to the Twenty-ninth Regi- ment; and, after serving with them in North America, he accompanied them to the Peninsula in 1808. He was not only conspicuous in his pro- fession, but at Oporto he captured a gun himself. He served through the Peninsular campaign, and afterwards obtained a distinguished position and practice at home.

A Montreal correspondent calls our attention to certain letters written by Mr: Brassey respecting the position of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, and the comments of the Montreal Herald upon them. It would seem that Messrs. Jackson, Pete, Brassey, and Co. contracted to construct the line of railway, receiving in part payment shares at par ; but while the work is going on the shares haitfallen in value, and if large numbers were pressed on the market a still greater decline would occur. Mr. Brassey states that the contractors have suffered great losses by the line-250,000l.; he seems to intimate that it cannot be completed unless something be done to improve the position of the shares, and urges that the Provincial Legislature should grant a guarantee of 5 per cent on the capital. He complains that the contractors were misled in the beginning, and says that if assist- ance be not granted them as he proposes a great shock will be given to the employment of British capital in Canada—a "fatal blow" will be inflicted on the rising prosperity of the province. The Herald is indignant at the tone and statements of these letters. The railway, it says, was mainly projected by these contractors; they have lost where they expected to gam money, and now hesitate to fulfil their engagements, on the strength of which the Provincial Government has advanced large sums by way of mortgage ; the reproaches iind threats of Mr. Brassey are unwarrantable and offensive, and he and the other contractors have no right to ask the Province to preserve them from pecuniary loss. The "fatal blow" and so forth are "bunkum" and bombast. Putting aside Mr. Bressey's threats and complaints, the journalist does not oppose any reason- able concessions to the company to enable them to complete the line.

Lady Panmure, widow of the late Lord Panmure, who died in 1852, was married on Saturday last to Mr. Power, one of the Queen's foreign service messengers. The marriage, which was solemnized at Fulham Church, was quite private.

Lady Canning met with an accident at Delhi on the 15th March. Her carriage came into contact with a hackery, and was completely overturned ; but she sustained no serious hurt.

The hopes of Mr. Bright's speedy restoration to health were not well founded : it is now expected that a lengthened period will elapse before he can resume his public duties.

Cardinal Fransoni, First Priest of the Sacred College, and Prefect of the Propaganda Congregation died recently at Rome ; aged eighty-one. The Pope attended his funeral. Fraru3oni was considered a just man, severe almost to bigotry.

M.1. F. Chaponniere, a literary veteran, born in 1769, died at his native city of Geneva on the 14th of April. His poetry, which was published at Paris, acquired some degree of fame especially a satirical piece, entitled Lc Barbiere Optimiste, which appeared in 1849, and in which all the "best possible" French Governments that had succeeded each other since the out- break of the fast Revolution were described.

The Queen's yacht Victoria and Albert, left Portsmouth on Saturday, on a cruisejt is reportedt to Lisbon and Madeira. There is a rumour that her Majesty intends to visit Lisbon in the summer.

Letters to the United States can now be registered in this country : the fee will be 6d. Letters for Great Britain can also be registered in the States.

The trial of Dr. Church's monster breech-loading gun, at Saltley near Birmingham, proved very successful. The gun will be removed to Wool- wich.

It is expected that but small supplies of grain will be obtained by mer- chants who seek it at Odessa—the price at present is higher than at Mar- es; but in the Sea of Azoff it is probable that large quantities can be had.

Tens of thousands of applications are said to have been made by Russians to the Government for passports to visit foreign countries, especially Franee.

Numbers of foreigners—merchants, traders, and artisans—are pouring into St. Petersburg; the Russian Ministers at foreign courts granting every facility as regards passports.

Twelve English merchants settled in St. Petersburg have sent a letter to the Minister of Finance expressing their gratitude for the liberal manner in which the Russian Government treated them during the war—for the per- sonal security, the inviolability of property, and the right to trade winch they enjoyed.

The permission to export grain from Naples has been prolonged to the 15th June, said the duties reduced one-half. Mr. Forbes, master of the Schomberg, was committed for trial in January last by the Melbourne Magistrates on a charge of losing the ship by his negligence.

The public library of Melbourne has been opened by the acting Governor. It is expected that in the course of a few years this will be the best colonial library in existence. It is supported by grants from the revenue.

The principal religious bodies in Victoria, as ascertained by the census of 18.54, numbered 108,002 Church of England, 42,317 Presbyterians, 15,284 Wesleyan. Methodists, 18,234 other Protestants, 45 176 Roman and Greek Catholics. The residue of 7785 was made up of Jews, Mormons, Maho- metana, Pagans, &c.

Philadelphia has suffered from a terrific hurricane, which greatly damaged churches, factories, and houses ; but no lives were lost. The Gerrish Market at Boston has been burnt ; the loss is estimated at 200,000 dollars.

The Maine Liquor Law has been condemned in the State that gave it birth : the Maine Legislature have passed an act repealing its prohibitory provisions.

Celestine Sommer and Elizabeth Harris, who murdered their illegitimate children, are to be transported for life.

The Times correspondent at Constantinople tells an amusing story from Teheran. The Governor of Mazinderan, uncle of the Shah, complained that his post impoverished instead of enriched him ; he begged to be released from his command. The Shah made private inquiries, and this was the re- suit. "One evening, when a great party was assembled at the Palace, the Shah came in with the 'wrinkles of thoughtfulness obscuring his lightful countenance.' When asked for the reason of this 'world-distressing' state, he answered that he had had a serious dream, in which his guardian angel appeared to him, all resplendent with light and glory, and told him that he had good news for him, and that if he searched a certain spot in a certain garden of Teheran which belonged to his beloved uncle, the poor and dis- tressed Governor of Mazinderan, he would find a treasure which, like all under-ground treasures, belonged to the Shah. The courtiers naturally suggested that the guardian angel's valuable information ought to be turned to account, and trusty officials were sent to act on his advice. The result was that 300,000 gold pieces were found in the spot which had been desig- nated in the Shah's dream. Curiously enough, and unfortunately for the Governor of Mazinderan, the gold pieces were all of new date, which upset the Shah's original idea that it was a treasure hidden by infidel guebn3s in olden times ; and he had his uncle thrown into prison for not having given information of the treasure, and in order to force him to tell where there were other such treasures to be found."

The Rhine Fall, near Schaffhausen, will be soon arched over, a short dis- tance above the cataract, by a stone bridge, for the passing of the railway trains ; and the cellars of the castle of Leiden, which tower above the left bank of the Rhine, have been evacuated for a tunnel, through which the trains will pass after having crossed the river.—.Bni/der.

CRYSTAL PALALs.—Friday next has been fixed as the day for inaugu- rating the Monument in honour of the Crimean heroes, and the Peace trophy by the Baron Marochetti, The Queen and Prince Albert will be present on the occasion, with a guard of honour composed of soldiers who, have served in the war.