Monmouthshire Merlin

THE BALTIC. CRONSTADT, JULY 9.—The season for active operations in the Baltic Sea is of short duration it is now far ad- vanced, and will rapidly glide away. Up to the present date, nothing else than the annihilation of the maritime commerce of the enemy has been accomplished, and it is very probable that the fleet will again return to England without having effected the all-important object—that of greatly diminishing, if not of effectually crushing, the power of Russia in her northern territories. The mortar vessels which have recently arrived in the Baltic, are un- questionably valuable reinforcements, but their numbers must be considerably augmented ere they can be produc- tive of any important results. They may harrass and annoy the foe by throwing shells into Cronstadt and Hel- singfors, but are quite inadequate, from their present limited number, to destroy the large batteries and earth- works by which these strongholds are defended, to effect the downfall of which a flotilla comprising 100 gun- boats, 50 mortar vessels, and as many floating batteries, constructed on sound principles, are necessary. The great advantage of a large force of these vessels of war was manifest during the campaign of 1854; it was strongly recommended to the serious consideration of the Home Government by the then Commander-in-Chief, yet during the long interval which has elapsed, with all the I resources which the naval authorities have at their com- mand, a mere fraction of this valuable and indispensable auxiliary to the fleet has been furnished. There has been more than ample time to have built and equipped such a squadron of this description as would have achieved a decisive victory in the Baltic. No Comman- der-in-Chief. however well-conceived may be his plans of operation; however gifted he may be with the energy and decision requisite to carry them out to a successful issue, could hope to vanquish the foe, prepared as he is to resist most strenuously an attack in any quarter, with the present means and appliances afforded him. Daily are seen large numbers of the Russians busily emploped in still further increasing the defences of Cronstadt. On every available plot of ground facing the sea, batteries are in course of construction; even the last resting- places of the dead, are now included in the line of forti- fications of that island. Thus has a want of foresight on the part of those intrusted with the conduct of the war, enabled Russia to assume so strong a defensive position as almost to bid defiance to the combined fleets of the two great nations whose hostility she has provoked. According to the latest advices, the Russian military authorities encourage as much as possible the immigra- tion into the interior of the inhabitants of the Baltic ports, especially those residing at Abbo and Helsingfors. The artisans and the poorer classes are compelled to re- gain to obtain the means of subsistence. Throughout he entire length of the Gulf of Finland, especially on the main road from Helsingfors towards St. Petersburg, enemy's troops are constantly receiving reinforce-' men s.^ A Cossack sergeant, who had been seventeen years in the Russian army, and who had deserted a few nights since from the garrison of Cronstadt, states that there are 60,000 well-disciplined soldiers on that island, 10,000 of them being Poles, who would rejoice at having an opportunity of joining the allied forces, and at being liberated from the dominion of their present taskmasters. Military preparations are still going on in Sweden, but not with the view of an active part being taken in favour of either of the belligerent parlies. The troops encamped at Stockholm have been augmented by 12,000 infantry and three regiments of cavalry. They have been supplied with 32 pieces of artillery for field practice, and are commanded by the Prince Royal, who is not to quit his post until the encampment is broken up. Two divisions of gun-boats, under the orders of Prince Oscar, are to proceed to Stockholm to join the fleet, which during the summer is put to sea for the purpose of exer- cising the crews in nautical evolutions. The English mortar vessels intended for service in the Baltic during the present campaign, are 15 in number, four of which have arrived off Cronstadt. They are to be attached as tenders to the larger ships, one to each. Their complement cf 20, comprises one warrant officer, three able and five ordinary seamen, two first and one second-class boys, one sergeant, one corporal, and six marines of the Royal Marine Artillery corps. For every six mortar vessels a subaltern of the Royal Marine Ar- tillery is to be borne on board the Duke of Wellington, Exmouth, and Royal George respectively as supernu- meraries. When engaging the enemy or exercising, they are to bo under the direction of the senior captain of the Royal Marine Artillery, at whose disposal a boat is to be placed for the purpose of enabling him to visit the dif- ferent vessels, in order that the charges of powder and lengths of fuses may be under his immediate superiu- tendence. The first of the French steam gunboats joined the fleet to-day. This vessel has a complement of 50 men and four officers—the lieutenant in command, two sub-lieutenants, and one midshipman. Her internal arrangements are of a superior description. She is rigged as a schooner, mounts two large guns, and is of 250 tons burden. She is longer and of greater beam than the English gunboats, and superior to them in all respects. FRANCE. The returns of the Bank of France for the past month are again extremely unfavourable, the stock of bullion showing a diminution to the remarkable extent of £3,340,000, making a total falling oft within the last three or four months of more than 5,000,000-a drain which fully accounts for the recent tendency to depression in the rate of exchange, and the call for remittances from this side. Its natural effects, however, have, in a great degree, been prevented from manifesting themselves by a further increase of Sl,000,000 in the note circulation. The other items of the account comprise an increase of £ 2,850,000 in the discounts, and of £360,000 in private deposits. On the whole, the statement is greatly cal- culated to depress the terms on which the new loan is likely to be contracted. TURKEY. The Turkish Government have granted an exclusive concession for a submarine telegraph from the Dardanelles to Alexandria. The cost will be X120,000, and the line could be completed in twelve months. An annual sub- sidy of j64,500 for twenty years is to be paid by Turkey for the transmission of official messages; and, as the communications from India will'be accelerated from five to six days when this and the general system of telegraphs now constructing throughEuropean Turkeyshall have been completed, an additional revenue of £ 10,000 is calculated upon by the promoters, from that source. At the same time, proposals are on foot for extending the project to India, by carrying the communication via Suez and Aden to Kurachee, at the mouth of the Indus, where it would connect with the lines already in operation, or in course of construction, by the East India Company throughout the various presidencies. The total length from the Dar- danelles to Kurachee is about 4,000 miles, and the sum required for the whole (including the submarine line to Alexandria) would be £ 860,000. Application has been made to the India-house for support, in the shape of an annual allowance of £30,000 a-year, subject to reduction in proportion to the ultimate success of the undertaking. The entire line to India may, it is estimated, be completed in two years. SPAIN. "PARIS, TUESDAY, JULY 17, 8 P.M. "A private telegraphic despatch from Madrid, dated 0 the 16th inst., announces that the Charge d'Affaires of the Holy See had demanded his passports, and that the Spanish Government immediately complied with his request."

THE FUNERAL OF LORD RAGLAN. (From a Supplement to the Londm Gazelle, of Tuesday, July 17.—Wednesday, July 18.) WAR DEPARTMENT, JULY 18. Lord Panmure has this day received a despatch and its enclosures, of which the following are copies, addressed to his Lordship by Lieuteuant-General Simpson, Command- ing Her Majesty's Forces in the East:- BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, JULY 7. MY LORD,—I have the honour to acquaint your Lord- ship that the remains of our late lamented Commander-in- Chief, Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, were removed from head-quarters to Kazatch Bay, on Tuesday, the 3rd inst., and placed on board her Majesty's ship Caradoc, which departed for England that same evening. Nothing could be more imposing than the whole line of this melancholy procession. The day was fine, and the appearance of the allied troops splendid. As many as could be spared from duty in the trenches, and with safety to their camp, were collected, and the procession moved from the door of this house exactly at four o'clock, p.m., in the following order :— In the court-yard of the house was stationed a. guard of honour of 100 men of the Grenadier Guards, with their drums and regimental colours 50 men, with one field officer, one captain, and one subaltern, from the Royal Sappers and Miners and from each regiment, lined the road from the British to the French head-quarters a dis- tance of about a mile a squadron of cavalry was stationed on the right of the line, two batteries of artillery and a squadron of cavalry on the left of it; the infantry were commanded by Major-General Eyre, C.B. The road from the French head-quarters to Kazatch Bay was lined throughout the whole way by the infantry of the French Imperial Guard and of the 1st Corps bands were stationed at intervals, and played as the procession passed, and field batteries (French) at intervals, on the high grounds right and left of the road, fired minute guns. The procession to escort the body was as follows Two squadrons of British Cavalry (12th Lancers). Two squadrons of Piedmontese Light Cavalry. Your squadrons of French Chasseurs d'Afrique (1st and 4th Regiments). Four squadrons of French Cuirassiers (2nd and 9th Regiments). Two troops of French Horse Artillery. Major Brandling's troop of Horse Artillery. The coffin, covered with a black pall, fringed with white silk, and the union jack, and surmounted by the late Field-Marshal's cocked hat and sword, and a garland of "Immortels," placed there by General Pelissier, was carried on a platform, fixed upon a 9-pounder gun, drawn by horses of Captain Thomas's troop of Royal Horse Artillery. At the wheels of the gun-carriage rode General Pelissier, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army his Highness Omar Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of the Ottoman army General Delia Marmora, Commander-in-Chief of the Sardinian army and Lieuteuant-General Simpson, Com- mander-in-Chief of the English army. Charger of tho late Field-Marshal, led by two mounted orderlies. Relations and personal Staff of the late Field-Marshal. Generals and other officers of the French, Sardinian, and Turkish armies, a large number of whom attended. British Commissioners to foreign armies. British General-officers and their Staffs. Staff of Head-quarters. One officer of each regiment of Cavalry and Infantry, Royal Sappers and Miners, and Land Transport Corps two from the Naval Brigade, Royal Marines, Medical and Commis-iariat Staff; and three from the Royal Artillery. Personal escorts of the allied Commanders-in-Chief. The personal escort of the late Field-Marshal, (Captain Chetwode's troop of the 8th Hussars). A field battery of the Royal Artillery. Two squadrons of British Cavalry (4th Dragoon Guards). Detachment of Mounted Staff Corps. 0 The escort was under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Dupuis, Royal Horse Artillery. Two field batteries of the Royal Artillery, stationed on the hill opposite the house, fired a salute of 19 guns when the procession moved off. The united bands of the 3rd, 9th, and 62nd Regiments, stationed in the vineyard that surrounds the house, played the Dead March." The band of the Sardinian Grenadiers was stationed half-way to the French head-quarters, and the band of the 10th Hussars on the left of the line. The approach to the wharf at Kazatch Bay was lined by detachments of the Royal Marines and Sailors. The body was received on the wharf by Admiral Bruat and Rear-Admiral Stewart, C.B and a large number of officers of the combined fleets. The launch of the British flagship, towed by men-of-war boats, conveyed the coffin to the Caradoc, the boats of the combined fleets forming an escort; and the troop and battery of the Royal Artillery included in the escort, formed upon the rising ground above the bay, and fired a salute of 19 guns as the coffin left the shore. Everything was well conducted, and no accident occurred. Thus terminated the last honours that could be paid by his troops to their beloved commander. His loss to us here is inexpressible, and will, I am sure, be equally felt by his country at home. The sympathy of our allies is universal and sincere. His name and memory are all that remain to animate us in the difficulties and dangers to which we may be called. b I have, &c, JAMES SIMPSON, Lieut.-General Commanding. The Lord Panmure, &c.

THE VIENNA CONFERENCES. The papers which have just been laid before Parlia- ment, for the purpose of elucidating the communications of the Western Powers with the Austrian Government, are by far the most curious and important documents published in the whole series of these transactions. They demonstrate with precision what the views of the British Cabinet were on the fulfilment of the Third Point, as explained by Lord Clarendon. They show that from an early period in the negotiation, Austria was endeavouring to evade the obligation created by the Treaty of the 2nd of December. They reveal the dis- cussions which took place at Vienna in Count Buol" apartments, for the purpose of arranging the course of proceeding in the formal meetings of the Conference, and, lastly, they indicate the exact moment of Lord John Russell's apostacy from the principles he was sent to Vienna especially to advocate and to defend. We shall endeavour to present our readers with a succinct analysis of the leading occurrences thus brought before us, though the papers themselves will be found in another part of our impression. As early as the 3rd of April an Austrian communica- tion was made to Lord Clarendon to the effect, that although the Cabinet of Vienna preferred the expedient of the limitation of the Russian naval forces in the Black Sea, yet, in the event of Russia rejecting that proposi- tion altogether, Austria, not being at present engaged in hostilities, would have no sufficient motive to declare war against Russia, if this were the sole obstacle to peace. To meet this contingency, Count Buol was of opinion that recourse must be had to the system of counterpoise and it may here be observed that the whole of this dis- cussion might be summed up in two words-viz., whether the cessation of the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sea was to be effected on the principal of limitation or on that of counterpoise. Upon this important point, the British Government, as represented by Lord Clarendon, has never had the slightest hesitation; and we are happy to add that nothing can be more clear and peremptory than the des- patches of the Foreign Minister throughout this corres- pondence. Lord Clarendon instantly told Count Colloredo that he "had heard the Austrian despatch with equal surprise and concern, as it was nothing short of a declara- tion that Austria would not adhere to the Treaty of the 2nd of December if the Western Powers persisted in carrying the third basis into effect, for Count Buol must be aware that his proposed system of counterpoise was both ixADEQUATE and IMPRACTICABLE. He then exposes with great force of argument the absurdity of such conditions, and concludes in the following language Yet such were the terms, I said, upon which Count Buol seemed desirous to conclude a peace that was to be honourable and just,—that was to maintain the indepen- dence and integrity of Turkey, and that was to furnish solid guarantees for the future tranquillity of Europe but I need hardly say that in such arrangements Her Majesty's Government could take no part. If the war went on, it would be for Austria to consider her own posi- tion, not only during its continuance, after the prepara-. tions she bad made, the language she had held, and the engagements she had entered into, but also at its conclu- sion, when peace was made between the four belligerent Powers." The instructions sent to Lord John Russell on the same day were, that he should explain to Austria the system of neutralization, which meant that all vessels of war should be excluded form the Black Sea, and also that of the limitation of the naval force; and he was also instructed that, in the event of Austria refusing to bind herself to co-operate in war with France and Eng- land upon Russia's rejecting beth propositions, the negotiation must be broken off. The Austrian Government, in the confidential conver- sations which are here reported by Lord John Russell, admitted the value of these expedients, and promised them her support in the Conference but it declared that Austria was not prepared to go to war on account of the refusal of Russia to limit her naval force in the Black Sea, and thought that the same end might be accom- plished by other means. M. Drouyn de Lhuys and Lord John energetically opposed and refuted these Austrian suggestions and Lord John, in particular, declared that the project of counterpoise was ineffectual, as we could not always have a large fleet at hand; humiliating to Turkey, if she were always to lean on France and Eng- land unsafe for Europe, which would be kept in the perpetual ferment of preparation for war." Count Boul seemed shaken by these arguments, and Lord John re- ported that this was, in his opinion, an attempt on the part of Austria to induce the Western Powers to relin- quish their proposals on the third point; as such it had entirely failed." This was on the 9th of April, and a fortnight later he received the approval of Her Majesty's Government for the ability with which he had held his ground. But in the interval a singular change had oc- curred. I On the 16th Lord JOHN himself put forward a plan by which, so long as the Russian naval force in the Black Sea should not exceed four sail of the line, four frigates, and six smaller vessels, other Powers in amity with the Sultan should have the right of sending half that force respectively into the Euxine; and that, if the Russian force was increased beyond that limit, a larger number of ships of war of the Sultan's allies should be admitted. So that we have here the first system of the British Plenipotentiary coming round to that very system of counterpoise which Lord Clarendon held to be inade- quate and impracticable," and Lord John himself five days before declared to be ineffectual." We shall not attempt to follow the diplomatic conclave into the nice and subtle elaboration to which these pro- positions were subjected. The substance of them may be summed up in a very few words :—Austria would not consent to the direct limitation of her naval forces, and was endeavouring to obtain the assent of the Western Powers to propositions of a totally different character, more es- pecially calculated to throw over to an indefinite period the casus belli in ,vhich she herself is involved. The last scheme was, that Austria would make it a casus belli by treaty if Russia should hereafter increase her naval force in the Black Sea beyond the number maintained by her in 1853-that is to say, beyond the armament she had prepared to support Prince MenschikofPs mission, and to execute the massacre of Sinope; and this was the pro- posal which Lord John Russell, on the 18th of April, thought deserving of his assent. To quote his own words on so important a point:— I confess it appears to me, that if this third system can be made an ultimatum, by Austria, it ought to be accepted by the Western Powers. In saying this, I may appear to contradict my former opinions but, in fact, I do not retract those opinions. The system of limitation I believe to be far better than that of counterpoise- But the question is between an imperfect security for Turkey and for Europe and the continuance of the war." This imperfect security," then, was precisely what Lord John Russell was, on his own showing, prepared to accept. He even begged that he might be allowed to be heard personally by his colleagues in support of it, before a final decision was made. But the question was not only between an imperfect security and the continuance of the war." The real question lay between honour and disgrace, between success and defeat. Within three days of this very date, and while this shameful despatch was still on the road to London, Lord Clarendon told Count Colloredo, in very different language, that a France were not prepared to sacrifice to the alliance of Austria, their honour and the future security of Europe, and that peace upon the terms proposed by Count Buol would be as dishonourable as it would be hollow and unsafe." Such was the Plenipotentiary, such was the Minister; the one already crouching in imperfect security, the other repelling, almost as an insult, the proposals his colleague had accepted. But one touch is wanting to complete the picture. Before Lord John Russell could know the impression produced in London by his defec- tion, he makes Count Buol the depository of his recanta- tion, and pledges himself to mat Minister to support the proposition of the Austrian Cabinet against the policy of his own country and its allies, and against the recorded instructions and declarations of his own official superior. We doubt if the annals of diplomacy or of official life can furnish another example of an important mission performed with such wilful indifference to the first principles of consistency and duty. It is unnecessary to pursue in this place, tho subsequent incidents in this transaction, so far as they concern Lord John Russell— his ambiguous demeanour on his return, his w,ar sPCG°h in the House of Commons, which was a practical fraud on Parliament, and his fresh attempt to dislocate the Government upon a reverse having befallen the British army; but, if ever a severe condemnation fell UP?Q, a Minister, Lord John Russell is that Minister; and the Government shares his fault in not having instantly punished him by dismissal. It is proved, however, by these despatches, that the language of Lord John Russell to his colleagues, in no degree affected the tone or conduct of the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary. We refer more particularly to the despatches of the 8th of May, the 29th of May, and the 2nd of June, written after Lord John had returned to this country, and we are convinced they will be read by men of all parties with pride and satisfaction. The propositions which Austria wished to substitute for those of the Western Powers, and for the interpretation she had herself before adopted, are literally pulverised by argument. The position of Austria, with the estern Powers alienated, Prussia triumphingoverherinGermany, and Russia bent on her humiliation, is shown to be almost intolerable; yet these stern truths are conveyed to our timorous ally with so much courtesy of language, that she could not resent their application. But, above all, the great end of the war the diminution of the power of Russia, as a State which had become menacing to the peace and security of the world, is steadily kept in view. This is the end to which Lord Clarendon has throughout steadily adhered, even against the defection of colleagues and of friends, pledging himself that England and France will not abandon that cause, but will use every means at their command, and will shrink from no sacrifice to obtain their demands, which are founded on justice, and have the safety of Europe for their object. This principle we believe to have the united support of the Government as it will now be constituted, and we are confident that this principle alone will obtain the suffrages of the Parliament and the people of England.— Timet.

GENERAL NEWS. The Queen has given apartments in Hampton Court to the widows of General Strangways and Admiral Boxer. It is now definitely arranged that the 'Queen's visit to Paris (originally fixed for the 2nd of August), will take place on the 17th of that month. Parliament will, doubt- less, be prorogued previously to the departure of her Ma- jesty.-A programme has been issued by command of the Emperor of the French, defining a series of brilliant fetes which will take place daily, from the arrival of the Queen of England in the French capital, until the end of the month. The Gazette of Friday night announces the appoint- ment of Miss Fanny Cathcart (daughter of the heroic Gen. Cathcart, who fell at Inkermann,) to be one of the Maids of Honour to her Majesty. This appointment affords an additional instance of the gracious feeling of her Majesty for those brave men who have fallen in the righteous cause against the barbarians of Europe. The Mayor of Waterford has received from the Hon. Colonel C. B. Phipps, a communication written by order of the Prince Albert, expressive of his Royal Highness's approval of the intended erection of model lodging-houses for the poorest classes in that city and also intimating his Royal Highness's desire to contribute a donation of £100 towards the fund now being subscribed for that o purpose. Her Majesty has been pleased to approve of the appoint- ment of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge as Generalissimo of the Foreign Legion. The appointment will not only be advantageous to the service, as calculated to ensure a high degree of discipline, but will likewise prove exceedingly popular with the man and officers, by whom his Royal Highness, from his long residence in Hanover, is almost considered a German. The Commission (comprising the Recorders of London, Manchester, and Liverpool) appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Metropolitan police, in connection with the recent Sunday riots, commenced their inquiries at ten o'clock on Tuesday. The Commissioners sit in the Court of Exchequer at Westminster, and will continue their investigation daily, until sufficient evidence has been collected upon which to found their report. The United Service Gazette states that Sir Chas. Napier was offered, but declined the dignity, a G.C.B., feeling that he could not accept a reward from the Minister for services in respect of which he had been censured. We have the gratification to announce that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve the reso- lution passed by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, on the 4th inst., appointing the Right Hon. Viscount Canning Governor General of India. THE THUNDERSTORM OF SATURDAY.—Shortly after six o'clock on Sunday morning the metropolis was visited by a violent thunderstorm, which continued for nearly an hour. The lightning was of a vivid character. The rain fell in torrents, and many of the small streets at tho east end of London were flooded for several hours. The market gardeners' grounds were also inundated, and con- siderable damage was done by the great fall of rain. At Bristol the storm took place an hour or two previously. It commenced about half-past three o'clock, and exceeded in violence anything of the kind that has occurred in that city for the last 30 years. The thunder was very violent, and the lightning so vivid that the captains of African and Indian ships in the port described it as being the nearest approach to a tropical tornado that they ever witnessed in this country. Considerable damage was done by the hail, which beat the wheat down in all the sur- rounding country, and broke thousands of panes of glass; and at St. George's, Gloucestershire, the electric fluid struck a house near the Don John's-cro'ss, destroyed the chimneys, and split the house from the roof to the basement story. An action was tried before Mr. Baron Martin and a London jury, at the Guildhall, in which the widow of the late Mr. Latham, who was murdered in January last by Buranelli, sought to recover from Mary Ann Jeanes, commonly called Mrs. Lambert," certain moneys which she had received for the use of the deceased. The defen- dant pleaded never indebted, and not guilty. It was proved that the deceased had about his person on the Thursday and Friday prior to the murder, upwards of £ 1000 in Bank of England notes. These there was rea- son to believe he had placed in a cigar-box, which he put under his pillow. In the cigar-box the policeman had seen a large roll of bank-notes, but he had neither seen their number nor amount, but the roll of notes he saw. While the policeman was there on the Sunday, a woman of the name of Martini was called in, and in her pre- sence, by the instructions of the defendant, the policeman gave the box containing the notes to Mrs. Williamson, to lockup and, as be had said, when the box was subse- quently produced on the Monday, the notes and the other money had vanished. The number of the notes had been taken by the Bank clerk who paid them to Mr. Latham, and several of them were traced as having been paid to different persons by the defendant. The case ended by the following arrangement between counsel.-A verdict for the plaintiff for £ 200 in lieu of all demands, all fur- ther legal proceedings on either side to be stayed. If the damages are not paid within a week then the verdict to be for the plaintiff for d6200, with costs. THE IRISH CORN TRADE.—The Cork Constitution states that during the past few days enormous arrivals of bread- stuffs have entered that port from the principal foreign markets:—" On Saturday, no fewer than 27 vessels ar- rived in Queenstown, laden with maize, wheat, and flour from Alexandria, Constantinople, Genoa, Marseilles, Leghorn, Mazagan, Saffi, Salonica, and Trieste. These were followed on Sunday by the arrival of fifteen vessels, laden with similar cargoes and on Monday, three more were added. The effect produced on the market by these large supplies has been augmented by the unusually fine weather with which we have been visited, and which en- courages the prospect of early and abundant crops. The result has been a decline in prices in the city, and a dis- position to avoid purchases, except in small quantities. An auction was advertised to take place yesterday of 500 barrels of prepared red Irish wheat, 250 white ditto, 800 barley, and 150 tons of Mazagan maize but it is under- stood that the property had to be withdrawn for want of purchasers. Reports from all parts of the country speak of the crops as in excellent condition, and the prospects of the farmer were never better than at present. At Cork market on Friday, red wheat was sold at from 32s. 6d. to 36s., while on Saturday the same description of corn produced from 36s. 6d. to 38s. per barrel." EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF THE CREW OF A STEAM- TUG AT SHIELDS.—An occurrence that has just hap- pened, is causing a great deal of talk among sea-faring men, and adds another to the list of those accidents where men have been saved from immediate destruction by the skin of the teeth." The Welsh, a tug-steamer belonging t0 Sunderland, brought a foreign schooner in from sea, and, after seeing her moored, the master of the steamer went on board the schooner to get his towage. He had not been on board the schooner above a minute, and the other two men belonging to her were standing forward in the steamer, when her boiler exploded with fearful violence. In an instant it blew everything in the cabin to pieces, and forced out the stern and after- deck. The boat immediately sank, but, strange to say, the two men were rescued without having sustained the least injury. The steamer has since been raised, and it is found that her engine is all twisted and destroyed. MILITARY DISTURBANCES.—The town of Chatham on Thursday evening exhibited another scene of military not, \vhich turned out more seriously than those of Tues- day and Wednesday evenings. The disturbance arose at at the Trumpet public house, Cbatcham, between the marines and sailors, against the 27th regiment. About 200 men from the barracks arrived in the town as picket?, under non-commissioned officers. Some of the pickets assisted in the disturbance by rushing into the house with their bayonets drawn, marines as well as the 27th, each party taking the part of their comrades. The town presented one scone of confusion, and tho soldiers appeared highly exasperated one against the other, Another strong force arrived from the barracks headed by superior officers, and owing to their praiseworthy con- duct, restored order about 9 o'clock. The disturbance commenced about 8 o'clock. Several of the soldiers and sailors were wounded in the affray, and one man was so seriously injured that he was taken to the hospital, hav- ing received three bayonet wounds. He belonged to the 8lst, and got mixed up in the crowd. The 27th only ar- rived in Chatham on Tuesday last, from Canterbury. It seems that some old animosity existed between the marines and the 27th. The 60th rifles took part with the marines In this affair. A. military inquiry is to take place into the cause of this affray. A NARROW ESCAPE.—A traveller from Birmingham to this city, a day or two since, was nearly being made a vIctim to a stale trick. As the train was proceeding, three gentlemen," who were in the same carriage, commenced playing at cards, when the traveller foolishly bet £ 10 upon a certain card, and of course lost. He told the party his money was in his carpet bag, and he would pay the amount of the bet if they would ride to his hotel with him. Two of them did so, and on reach- ing the Ram Hotel, the one who rode inside the omnibus with our traveller went into the llOstelrie with him, the other remaining on the outside of the omnibus, the driver of which, however, knowing the suspicious cha- acter of his two customers, immediately went into the house and told the barmaid who they were; she imme- diately went into the room, and told the traveller he was wanted immediately. He said he had a little business to transact with the gentlemen," and he would be out directly; the barmaid said he must come out at once,— and as he was in the act of handing the rogue the £10 from a bundle of notes, forcible removed him to another apartment. The sharpers very soon made off, doubtless greatly disappointed at the loss of their booty. GRAIN TRADE IN THE DANUBE. Letters from Constantinople to the 28th of June report the arrival there, during the preceding five days, from Brailow and Galatz, of as many as 91 cargoes of grain, and the departure for those and other Danubian ports, to load similar cargoes, of no less than 53 other vessels.

ACCIDENTS AND CRIMES. FRIGHTFUL EXPLOSIOx.-On Friday evening the in- habitants in the neighbourhood of Camden-town were startled by a loud report caused by the bursting of a loco- motive engine on the North London Railway, upon the arrival of one of the down trains at the Hampstead-road station. It appears that the locomotive was detached from the train and taken to tho end of the platform'; the stoker was in the act of clearing the bars, and the driver was also engaged underneath examining some part of the machinery, when the boiler burst, blowing the fore part 2A. ?n°*ne pieces, and carrying away some ten or fifteen feet length of the railway platform and fencing. v,°r^l°at t^'e Passcnoers wero at some distance, and the driver and fireman both escaped without serious acci- dent but the peculiar construction of the engine and the appearance of the wreck lead us to hope that a rigid in- quiry will be instituted into the cause of this accident. \V e have reason to suppose it was owing to the inade- quate supply of water in the tanks suspended to the frame of the engine, as a substitute for the tenders in or- dinary use. A FEELING iNclDENT.-One day last week, as the closing sad offices of domestic affection were being per- formed in Harbiedown churchyard, over the remains of a deceased lady, a carriage containing a gentleman and his family came up the hill, and out of curiosity-or per- haps attracted by a higher impulse-he alighted and repaired to the church, whither the deceased was borne, and wiis afterwards the first at the grave. His demea- nour, though respectful, was such as to command the at- tention of the mourners, and when hanging on the brink. of the grave to take a farewell look of the departed rela- tive, he too was there, and discovered that it was his own parent-his mother-who had paid the debt of nature, and had just been consigned to her last resting place on earth! The fountains of his sorrow at once gushed forth, and in the sunburnt, weather beaten visitor, was identified a long absent, if not forgotten, son He had entered the navy 18 years before, and traversed the ocean to many a distant clime; but was now returning to his fatherland to see his only surviving parent, who was no more! The premises of Deane, Dray and Co., the eminent Furnishing Ironmongers, :of King William street, Lon- don, were again broken into on Thursday night last. the 7th inst., and property to the amount of more than JE1000 extractod, consisting of gold and silver watches, gold and silver pencil cases, brooches, rings, spectacles, chains, cash, &c. The burglars entered by means of an empty house on Fish-street Hill; and from the difficulties they encountered and overcame, were evidently well ac- quainted with the construction of the whole of the sur- rounding premises. They were in the house the whole of Sunday, and regaled themselves on the day in the midst of their spoils. Messrs. Deane, Dray, and Co. have determined to spare no expense to bring the culprits to justice and the services of the most efficient detective officers have been retained. I hey have also offered £ 200 for the apprehension of the offenders. MURDER AT EAST KETFORD.—A man of depraved character, named Elijah Bradley, has been committed for trial by the magistrates, in county petty sessions at Ret- ford, for the murder of a single man of a quiet harmless disposition, named Thomas Black, aged 56. The coro- ner's jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter;" but at a subsequent investigation of the case before the justices, additional evidence was produced, which led to the com- mittal of Bradley on the capital charge. It appears that at about 20 minutes past 12 on the morning of the 30th ult., Black was returning home from a public-house in Moorgate, just outside the Borough of Retford, when he was overtaken by Bradley, who demanded of him some money he alleged Black owed him. Black said he could not pay him then, but would as soon as be could. Brad- ley replied, "If you don't pay me now, I'll huve it out of you." He immediately struck Black a violent blow which dashed him against the wall. Black rose slowly and threatened he would "fetch law for BradleTT upon which the latter struck another blow, which"felled him and killed him. In proof that the fatal result was wilful and premeditated on the part of Bradley, the evi- dence of a man named Richard Hall was adduced, and was to the effect that at about last Christmas time he, in company with Bradley, on the road to Babworth, heard him say, alluding to Black, "He's 'sloped' me out of my money but if ever I come across the old fellow, I'll kill him, if I'm hanged for it the next moment." On the morning after the fatal rencontre, when a fellow-prisoner in the cell with Bradley enquired of the gaoler how Black was, and was informed he was dead, Bradley said, He's a d—d old rat, and if he's dead I've served him out as I meant to do five years ago at the Waggon and Horses, at West Retford, but I was prevented." FATAL QUARREL ON BOARD AN AMERICAN SHIP AT BALAKLAV A.-By a letter just received from. Balaklava, of the 26th ult., we learn that a tragedy, attended with fatal results, has occurred on board the American ship Arlington. One of the men, in an altercation with the mate, struck him, when the latter armed himself with a pistol, and discharged the contents into the chest of the unfortunate man. This arbittrary and wanton abuse of power occurred at an anchorage where there were more than fifty sail to render assistance in case of mutiny.

MISCELLANEOUS. THE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION,— a body which has arisen out of the recent meeting held by Mr. Urquhart at Bingley Hall, held a Conference at the Hen and Chickens Hotel, New-street, on Tuesday, and will continue their sittings, to consider the following subjects 1. The surrender of the inhe- ritance of the Danish Crown to the Emperor of Russia, by a Treaty signed in London, on the 8th of May, 1852. -2. The historical comparison of the present with for- mer crises in England. The former war (1838) against Russia in central Asia.-3. Our relations with our Allies, especially France and Turkey.-4. Internal prospects of the country.-5. The food of the people.—6. Law and practice of England in the declaration of war, as applied to the present case.-7. The remedial process.The Committee appointed at the above-named meeting have issued the following resolutions, defining the object of the proposed Conference:—" That the Committee, in re- ference to the various questions addressed to them as to the object of the present Conference, state, that they conceive there has been already laid a case which imposes upon those who have examined it, the duty of concur- rence with them in the adoption of measures to force adjudication upon it, unless they are prepared to come forward and disprove it. That case is no less than the intentional betrayal of the State of Russia; that the Conference is held-first, to examine the grounds; se- condly, to take council as to the means by which it can be brought to speedy trial, so as to save the country from its consequences." ASSIZES AND SESSIONS BILL.-A bill brought from the Lords on the 9th of July, provides for the more fre- quent holding of assizes and sessions of the peace, by allowing the Queen in Council to order adjoining coun- ties and counties and cities to be united for the purposes of the act— that is to say, for trying in one of such counties, at any sessions of oyer and terminer, and goal delivery, usually held in the spring and summer of each year, any persons who shall be charged with having committed any indictable offences in the other or any of the other of such counties. How THEY MANAGE SALES AT MELBOURNE.—We have seen an account of the sales of some goods at Melbourne, which is perfectly astonishing. The cost of the goods in Bristol, with freight to Melbourne, was £93. They were there sold for Yi4 lis. 9d., upon which were the following charges:—Auction charges, £1 17s.; entry, porterage, and landing, 7s. 6d. cartage, receiving, and delivery, jEl Is. store rent, X3 10s. advertising and postages, El 5s.; fire insurance, 7s. 6d.; interest on charges, Ss. 2d.; commission on zC12 14s. 7d., 10s. Id. So that the unfortunate owner received for his goods the nctt sum of X4 16s. 6d! Comment on this would be useless. A CURIOUS PENNY'.—-A person belonging to Grange- mouth, in getting change for a shilling, was struck with something uncommon in one of the pence. On exami- nation, it was found that the obverse and reverse of the coin were divided, but united with a fine screw. Being opened, a half-penny was inclosed, which was also divided; being opened, a farthing was inclosed, and also divided and being opened, a half-farthing was inclosed. This elaborate pcuny is the same as the heavy old penny of George III.-date, 1799. EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE. — A few days since, while one of the ordinary passenger trains was travelling from Bristol to Exeter, the guard, on returning to his box at one of the stations, found a parcel directed ,e E. Weller, Culmstock, to be left at the Cullompton station till called for." On his way down a most offensive smell was emitted from it, and as he threw it out at the Cul- lompton station, he remarked on the unpleasantness of its odour. In compliance with the directions, the bundle was placed in the office, but the smell became so bad that it was taken to the station-master, and opened, when it was found to contain the body of a full-grown male in- fant, which was rapidly approaching a state of putrefac- tion. An inquest was held upon it, and the guard stated that he was unable to give any explanation as to how tho parcel came into his box. Under these circumstances, the jury returned an open verdict. A BRAVE SOLDIER.—-Amongst a party of wounded soldiers who arrived at Dublin, from the Crimea, a few days since, was Sergeant Schomburgh, who has taken part in no less than 20 engagements. He served all through the Indian warfare in the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, and received three medals with four clasps, and exchanged into his present regiment on the commence- ment of the present campaign, for which he is also enti- tled to a medal. In the charge of the heavy brigade at Balaklava, he led on his own troop, there being no officer remaining to do so, and received a wound, having his horse shot under him at the same time. He got out from the melee as best he could, and having succeeded in getting another horse, took part in the second charge at a later period of the day. In the course of that action he killed with his own hand seven Russians, and wounded as many more; and this entirely with the point of the sabre, for, as he himself expressed it, the work was too hot and too close to allow of your striking with it." THE LATE LORD RAGLAN.—" The last time the late Commander-in-Chief of the English army in the Crixne8 visited Bristol, was on the occasion of his attending tbØ funeral of his brother, the Rev. Lord William Somerset* who was a canon of the Cathedral. The attentive) thoughtful, and somewhat sad expression of the late shal, as he stood by the pillar in the nave, at the base of which was the grave in which the coffins of his two brother8 lay, was remarked by more than one present. Lord Ear. lan had a host of personal friends in his native county of Gloucester, to whom his noble nature and courtesy him most dear."—Bristol Times, RESULTS OF OVER-LEGISLATION.—The efforts made iO the United States to suppress the indulgence in ardeni spirits, had led, it appears, to the secret use of opiuDJf which, according to the New York Daily News, is increaS" ing to an alarming extent. A writer in the Dublin Evening Mail states that the adventurous lady alluded to by the special correspondent of the Times, as having paid a visit to the Tower, was the wife of Lord George Paget. THE AFFRICAN TRAVELLER, DR. BARTH.—LETTED from Malta mention the arrival at that island of Mf' Giovanni Bnttista Gagluiffi, Her Majesty's Consul at Mourzouk, up to the date of whose departure from Tripoli (in Barbary) on the 23rd of June, Dr. Barth). hourly looked for, had not yet arrived from Bournon, nof had any caravan come in from the interior by which tidings of him could have been conveyed. In the parish of Denny, Ireland, there are five clergy* men, and all of them bachelors. The chief magistrate and the chief banker are also in the same unequal coB" dition; and throughout the district they have only to" many to keep them in countenance. But the fact, like the condition of Kertch, has become known. Next yellE will be leap year, and the Amazons are already arming for the invasion; and before the advent of 1857 wl expect to see as illustrious a set of captives led to tM altar as ever ascended the sacred steps to the temple Jupiter Capitolinus. THE MILITIA -Two returns relating to the Militia welo printed on Friday last. The first, moved for by Colons Buck, M.P., shows that the total strength of the MilitIa regiments in England and Wales on the 30th of AprOt 1855, was 1,813 officers, 5,420 non-commissioned officers and 28,474 privates (all present) while 275 officers, 268 non-commissioned officers, and 8,392 privates were absen' on leave. The second return, obtained by Lord Lovain?' M.P., shows that the total number of all ranks effective the united kingdom on the 15th of April, 1855, was follows :—viz 94 colonels, 135 lieutenant-colonels, 1^5 majors, 1,054 captains, 961 lieutenants, 681 ensigns, 1*' adjutants, 140 surgeons, 97 assistant surgeons, 75 quartev masters, 144 sergeant-majors, 3,265 sergeants, 2.397 corpo., rals, 1,094 drummers, and 51,312 privates. Of the p1?' vates, 32,449 were serving in England, 4,786 in Scotland? and 14,077 in Ireland. The total number of voluntas1* serving in the united kingdom on the 1st of March last 68,265, and on the 15th of April last 52,835. The nuidbe of volunteers enrolled before the 12th of May, who left their regiments on the War-office circular of the 27th of March, 1855, was 16,269; and the number of volunteer re-enrolled who took jEl extra bounty, 11,909. CRIMINALS.—The following is a list of the tot#* number of criminals committed in England Wales (and not bailed) for crimes triable only at the assizes during the months of January, April, May, June, September, October, November, and De- cember, in 1854, viz :-On the Home Circuit 78 on Midland Circuit, 157; on the Norfolk, 61; on the North" ern Circuit, 144 on the Oxford Circuit, 161; on the Western Circuit, 120; on the North Wales and Chester Circuit, 72; and on the South Wales and Chestet Circuit, 9. ARREST OF A RUSSIAN AGENT AT DOVER.-On ThurS' day, James Abrahams, a Polish Jew, with beard and moustachios, who has been for some time hanging about Dover, under circumstances calculated to excite suspl- cion, was brought before W. H. Payn, Esq., mayor Of that borough, at the Petty Sessions, charged with at- tempting to induce soldiers of the Foreign Legion, en- camped at Shorncliffe, to desert from the service of her Majesty the Queen. Rumours have lately reached Majof Lilham, of the Foreign Legion, that a foreigner WO practising upon the temper of his men, and on receiving more definite intelligence, he authorised some of them tO accept his invitation, listen to his overtures, and en* courage him to speak out. Yesterday, several of tilg soldiers and sub officers gave evidence, and stated that. Abrahams had proposed to them to desert from the Britis^ service, and said he would give them £ 4 a man, and them employment in France. He further said that had made engagements of that character with twenty the men who had undertaken to desert. These inter- views had been reported to the police, and Abrahams waS apprehended. Yesterday, the prisoner pleaded for mercy on account of his wife and family. A$the close of tW examination, and on the application of Major LilhaB>» who promised further evidence, he was remanded and lÐIJ off handcuffed to prison. BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.—The preparation* for this meeting are this year on a scale of unexample<l liberality, the programme before us showing that tbB committee have determined on sparing no efforts to maintain the celebrity which the Festivals of Binning' ham long since acquired. We are informed that greats* care than ever has been bestowed in selecting the bers of the choral department, which, in strength, c06' sists of about 350 performers a fair proportion of theSfl are from the metropolis, and from Bradford and It6 neighbourhood a considerable number have been obtained Such arrangements are, we believe, being made as W] secure the very highest perfection in the execution the choruses-a matter to which sufficient attention 13'' seldom paid. The band consists of about 150 per, formers; so that, combined, we shall have an array of 500 in the orchestra. The principal vocalists include Madame Grisi, Mademoiselle Bosio, Madame RuderS' dorff, Madame Castellan, Madame Viardot, and Mis* Dolby. There are four tenors :—Signer Mario, Signor Gardoni, Herr Ratchardt, and Mr. Sims Reeves; to these are added Signor Lablache, Mr. Weiss, and Hert. Formes. Mr. Costa conducts, as usual. One of the principal attractions of the festival, so far as the musics world is concerned, will be the performance of Mr. CostiS new oratorio, entitled Eli, which has been written for this meeting; the subject is from the four chapters of the 1st Book of Samuel. The words have been composed by Mr. William Bartholomew. The oratorio itself, especially the choruses, is represented to us as highly effective, and the charm of novelty which its first performance pres(Into will add, in a peculiar degree, to the interest with which the Birmingham Festival is always regarded. The se- lections are unexceptionable on Tuesday morning, the Elijah is to be performed; on Wednesday, the netf oratorio on Thursday, the Messiah; and on Friday) Beethoven's Mount of Olives, Mozart's Requiem, and 9 selection from Handel's Israel in Egypt. The three evenings are devoted to the usual class of concerted music. IRON SHIPBUILDING ON THE TYNE..—Iron ship' building is making most satisfactory progress on tW Tyne. At the present time Messrs. Toward, of St. And thony's, are building three large tug paddle steamers fof the Mersey, and Mr. Almond, of North Shields, » fitting engines into two others built by the same firo Messrs. Charles Mitchell and Co, of Low Walker, launched a handsome screw boat on Saturday, which is in' tended to run between Hamburg and France, and they arO finishing two other vessels. Mr. Yernon, of the saws place, has a vessel in progress. Messrs. Leslie, of Helt burn, launched a vessel on Saturday, and will have t\fO others ready by the next spring tides. Messrs. Palmet and Co., of Jarrow, have four large screws and a tug steamer in hand, and are fitting out two other large nelf steamers with engines. Messrs. W. and T. Smith vri also launch a large iron vessel these springs; they another in hand, and are fitting out a large screw, Chasseur, as a floating workshop for the Black Sea. T. D. Marshall, of Shields, have also two large vessel5 in hand, and are fitting out a large iron steamship to • trade with cattle between Bremen and London, and <le* spatched on Thursday a very handsome screw vessel, th? Velocity, built for the North of Europe Company, intended to run between Hamburg and Grimsby. ThefO has been a great demand for Tyne-built iron screw vessel^ for the Baltic and Elbe trades this season. The princip^* purchasers have been the North of Europe Company, Humber and Elbe Company, and the St. Petersburg^, Company. Tug steam-vessels have also been muc11 sought after for Constantinople, and during the past twO months above a dozen sail of Tyne steamers have been despatched for that place. HYDE PARK.—The Sunday demonstrations in thlS park are unmistakeably dying out, and, in another or two, there will be no trace left of the commotion t'o which Lord Robert Grosvenor's ill-advised measure rise. On Sunday last, the number of people assembly showed a decided falling off, and the more respectably classes held themselves carefully apart from the crowds 0 urchins and thieves who had collected. Of course, theJ did all in their power to get up a disturbance, rusbin? hither and thither, making as much noise as possible, »n scurrying away as soon as they came into collision the police. Beyond a considerable amount of pocket' picking, very little mischief was done, and the numb6' of offenders taken into custody tended powerfully to ches* the disposition to riot. The police did not show in tW Park itself, but at the different outlets and in the neigh' bourhood they were mustered in ample force, while mounted patrol kept up with the quick movements of tW mob, and prevented any serious injury to property beinj attempted- No carriages appeared in the drive, so tha* no facilities existed for getting up a disturbance, and W* may fairly hope that next Sunday afternoon the park will present its usual peaceable aspect. All feeling of irrita' tion towards the police has evidently subsided, and wj have no doubt that they will now be heartily supported in establishing and maintaining good order. Two attempt were made by the rabble to penetrate into Belgravia frod Albert-gate, but both were promptly repulsed by th< police, and the ringleaders arrested.. THE COBONEUSHIP OF WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE V vacant by the death of Joyner Ellis,Esq. Mr. Gaisford* of Berkeley, is amongst the candidates. The late Mr* Ellis was a shrewd and capable man, and through assistance of his patron, the Earl Fitzhardinge, from a comparatively humble origin to hold severaj important offices in oonnection with the county, and acquired a considerable fortune. i