218 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
{Aprit 1, 
being suckled 47 the she-wolf. This opinion is strength- 
ened by the nown fact of a Roman encampment having 
been soms time ago traced in the immediate neighbour- 
hood, vith unquestionable relics of that people. 
Spatn.—We have accounts from Madrid to the 20th 
ult) They state that the results of the elections were still 
doubtful; but that, although the belief prevailed that 
they were ble to the G t, the Cabinet 
seemed determined to meet the Cortes. The speech to 
be delivered on the occasion was under discussion, The 
some admirable rung in the Campagna; and almost all 
the aristocracy of Rome were assembled, either to witness 
or join in the chace. Lord Chesterfield has presented the 
pack to the society there, and a large subscription has 
been raised to keep it up-—The Diario di Roma says :— 
« As it is well known that the great number of paintings 
composing the gallery of the late Cardinal Fesch must 
require several successive sales, it has been decided that 
they shall commence on the 17th of April.” 
TurKey.—The Levant mail has brought letters from 
list of the Senators to be appointed by the G 
was already drawn up, and it included none of the candi- 
dates of the Moderado party. A change of Ministry was 
however talked of, and Gen. Chacon was mentioned as 
likely to be selected to form a new Cabinet. Three of the 
Ministers—Rodil, Almodovar, and Zumalacarreguy—had 
been returned neither as Senators nor Deputies. The 
election of the Infante Don Francisco de Paula had given 
the more disp] to the G t, as the extreme 
fraction of the Opposition intended to raise him to the 
Presidency of the Chamber of Deputies. It was expected 
that the Regent would do his utmost to have his election 
annulled.—It was reported at Madrid that Mr. Aston, the 
British Minister, would retire, and be succeeded by Lord 
Mahon.—Private letters state that the Government, intent 
upon its own safety, pays no attention to the innumerable 
assassinations, highway robberies, kidnappings, false coin- 
ing, and hundreds of other atrocities. Almost every pro- 
vince has now its dominant band of brigands, who mock 
the pursuit of the troops, and commit all kinds of enor- 
mities in open daylight. A member of the Infante Don 
Francisco de Paula’s household, who had arrived in 
Madrid for the purpose of preparing a residence for the 
Prince, was robbed on the road of all his wardrobe. 
PortTuGAL.—We have Lisbon news to the 20th ult. 
Lord Aberdeen’s answer to the Portuguese ultimatum had 
arrived at Lisbon. The latter was not considered satis- 
factory, and our Government adheres to its own proposals. 
What the Portuguese Government intended to do had not 
transpired, and much anxiety existed, business being in a 
great measure suspended by the uncertainty.—The Cortes 
had been occupied with the Roads Bill, which was still 
before the Chamber of Deputies. The latter had given 
the Government a vote of confidence, empowering it to 
carry into effect, during the recess, such measures as it 
deemed necessary for the welfare of the colonies : giving 
an account of its p dings at the t of the 
following session. 
Hoxrtanp.—The Dutch papers give extracts from the 
Jaya journals, containing the following singular account 
from Rambang of 31st Oct. :—We have lately had extra- 
ordinary natural phenomena several times, but always in 
the daytime. In different places, at some distance from 
each other, there have been heavy storms of hail, accom- 
panied by high winds. The hail-stones were of the size 
of tamarind-stones, not round, but angular. On the 
whole, but little damage was done, except to some tobacco 
plantations. The natives, who had never seen so strange 
a phenomenon, shivered when they took up the cold hail- 
stones, and were quite annoyed when they melted in their 
hands. 
Gurmany.—The Cologne Gazette states, that the 
Austrian Government, having at last become convinced of 
the political influence which Prussia has obtained by 
placing herself at the head of the German Customs Union, 
has resolved to accede to this union as soon as the northern 
states shall have done so. The Zollverein will then be 
considered to make an integral part of the confederation. 
This arrangement will operate advantageously for Austria, 
as the questions of the tariff will be decided by the Diet 
at Frankfort, the presidency of which belongs to Austria, 
and the Prussian Government, which aspires to the first 
rank, will be placed in the second by this skilful manoeuvre. 
The accounts received from Vienna state that the Arch- 
duke Charles is much better.—The King of Prussia has 
been pleased to transmit, through his ambassador in 
London, a gold medal, bearing his portrait, to the author 
of “Frederick the Great, his Court and ‘imes,” ‘in 
token,’’ says the letter from his Majesty which accompa- 
nied this present, ‘‘ of my approbation of your meritorious 
work.’’? The great establishment in Berlin, known by the 
name of the Coliseum, was totally destroyed by fire on 
the 2lst ult. The origin of the fire is not known. The 
presence of several members of the royal family encou- 
raged the firemen.—The Hanover Gazette of the 17th 
ult. states that Madame Caroline Herschel, sister of the 
celebrated astronomer, the late Dr. Herschel, resides in 
that city, and, though arrived at the advanced age of 94 
years, enjoys excellent health, and has acquired a distin- 
guished reputation in the scientific world. Itis unders- 
food that the King of Hanover is expected to arrive on a 
visit to this country about the middle of May, orders 
having been received to prepare his apartments in the 
Ambassadors’ Court for his reception by that period. The 
King is expected to remain six weeks in town. The go- 
yernment of the kingdom during his Majesty’s absence 
will be delegated to the Council of State, of which Prince 
Bernard of Solms Braunfels is President.—The comet has 
been observed in Germany. The journals are filled with 
details from astronomers beyond the Rhine, agreeing very 
closely with the observations made in Paris.—Letters from 
Vienna were received in town on Thursday, announcing 
the accouchement of the young Princess Nicholas Ester- 
hazy, the daughter of the Earl of Jersey. She was con- 
fined on the 21st inst. of a son and heir, and when the 
accounts left Vienna both the Princess and infant were 
doing well, 
Iraty.—By a letter lately received from Rome, we 
Jearn that the sport afforded by Lord Chesterfield’s fox- 
hounds has created a great pensation there: they have had 
ple, which refer chiefly to the contention 
between Russia and Turkey regarding the internal affairs 
of Servia, and to the course pursved by the French and 
British agents in that quarter, but they contain little that 
would interest our readers, They state that the Greek 
Government has consented to open direct negotiations for 
the adjustment of the preliminary questions, which have 
hitherto rendered a definitive settlement impracticable. A 
letter from Semlin, March 6, states that the Sultan intends 
this spring to visit Belgrade, and from thence to proceed 
to Vienna. Several persons had been arrested at Bel- 
grade, as conspirators in the recent plot for overturning 
the government of Servia., 
‘apr or Goop Hopr,—Advices have been received, 
by the Blonde frigate, from the Cape, of the 23d January. 
The accounts regarding the insurgent Boers are very con~ 
flicting. Some state that no resistance will be made, 
others exactly the reverse. .A messenger from Philipolis, 
who arrived at Graham’s Town on the 3]st of December, 
brought information that the Boers were assembling in 
that neighbourhood in force, and that if the troops should 
attempt to cross the Orange River, their passage would be 
disputed. The latest accounts state positively that Colo- 
nel Hare had determined to cross the Orange River. The 
Kaffirs are said to be anxiously watching the movements 
of the authorities as regards the disaffected farmers, and 
only waiting the result to decide upon their own measures. 
Marauders were lurking on every part of the colonial bor- 
ler, and carrying off cattle. Apprehension had been en- 
tertained that the Kaffir chiefs had organized an extensive 
combination of their tribes to attack the colony, but it 
seems to have been postponed or abandoned, if, indeed, it 
had ever been seriously entertained. At Cape Town an 
unseemly display of feeling on the part of some of the 
Dutch residents had taken place, during the festivities of a 
dinner given to the officers of the Netherlands ship Palam- 
bang, the healths of the Court at the Hague and the Minis- 
try having been most enthusiastically responded to, while 
that of her Britannic Majesty was most slightingly treated, 
and by several absolutely unacknowledged. This dinner, 
it is stated, was presided over by M. Van Breda, one of 
the Legislative Council of the colony, and several of the 
party were subordinate officers of the civil service. The 
ape papers are much occupied in canvassing the merits 
of the Natal question, and this incident, among others, is 
introduced to give weight to the arguments they bring to 
bear upon it. 
= 
ABarlfament. 
HOUSE OF LORDS. 
Monday.—The Marquis of Lanspownk asked information of 
Lord Aberdeen respecting the occupation by the French Govern- 
ment of the island of Tahiti. He did not view this acquisition of 
territory on the part of France with any unnecessary jealousy, 
but wished that the interests of a number of British subjects who 
had taken up their residence in the islands of the Pacific, and to 
whom the natives were indebted for considerable advancem nt 
jn the arts of civilisation, might be protected.—Lord AnErp 
‘was also of opinion that no injury to the commercial or political 
interests of this country was to be feared from the establishment 
of the French in these islands. With respect to the missionaries, 
he had already caused representations to be made at Paris, and 
they had been met by the most satisfactory assurance of protec- 
French and of M, Guizot for its due execution. 
‘Lord Campseur laid on the table the five resolutions which he 
intended to propose on Friday, on the subject of the Scotch 
would be regarded by the House as a national calamity, and that 
the demands of the church, contained in the papers laid before 
the House, should be conceded by the Legislature, as far as they 
can be safely granted consistently with the permanent welfare of 
the church and the existence of subordination and good govern- 
ment in the country. 4. That, considering that patronage has 
subsisted in Scotland from the remotest times, and is recognised 
in the most venerable authorities of the law ofthat country, that 
the preservation of patronage was made an express condition 
on which the present Reformed Church of Scotland was esta- 
blished and endowed by the State; thatit has been confirmed by 
several subsequent statutes, that the present Ministers of the 
Church of Scotland were introduced into it according to the law 
of patronage; and that if this law be under due superintend- 
ence and control, there appears to be no other law more likely to 
secure the introduction, as pastors into an endowed church, of 
men of learning, piety, zeal, good morals, and sound doctrine, 
the demand of the Church of Scotland, that patronage shall be 
abolished as a grievance, is i i 
sonable and unfounded, and ought not to be conceded. 5. That 
ing the indep exclusive, and 
supreme jurisdiction of the Courts of the Church of Scotland in 
the Church Courts absolute authority in every case to define the 
limits of their own jurisdiction without any power in any civil 
Court in any way to question or interfere with their proceedings, 
matters, and may violate the statute or common law of the land, 
and that no action or proceeding shall be instituted against any 
members of the said Courts for a refusal to do acts required by 
the Legislature to be done, by which refusal the Queen’s subjects 
are prejudiced in their civil rights; notwithstanding that such / 
demand be under the qualification that the decrees ab orders of 
the Church Court shall not be binding in other courts, or fetter 
them in any way in the regulation of their conduct, according to 
theix conscientious conviction in regard to the matters they have 
to decide, is unprecedented in any Christian Church since the Ree 
formation, is inconsistent with the permanent welfare of the 
Church of Scotland, and the existence of subordination and 
good government in the country, and oug! 
Thursday.—The Consolidated Fund (8,000,0002.) Bill was read @ 
third time and passed.—The Coast of Africa Settlements and Falk- 
land Island Government Bills passed through committee.—The 
¥arl of WicKkLow moved for returns relative to the amount of 
duty from the distillation of spirits in Ireland, He didnot blame 
the Government for imposing the additional duty on Irish spirits, 
as it had been considered as an equivalent for the income-tax. 
But the experiment had proved a failure, for it had yielded only 
15,0002, a-year to the revenue, while itled to a total disorgani- 
sation of society, by the encouragement which it gave to illicit 
distillation, the fruitfal parent of every immorality, He hoped 
had increased in Ireland during the past year; on the con- 
trary, it could be proved that it had considerably decreased. 
—Lord MonrKAcue affirmed that crime had increased concur- 
rently with the increase of duty on spirits. Many of the distillers 
in Ireland were, he said, i r of the existing state o! 
things, in the hope that illicit distillation would have the effect 
of breaking up the temperance system, by which, on the reduc- 
tion of duty, the trade would fall into their hands, The tax pro~ 
duced nothing, and was no equivalent for the income-tax ; 
even if it were, it was better that the property rather than the 
morals of Ireland should suffer.—Lord Firzeeraup said that, if 
he were convinced that increase of crime and social demoraliza- 
tion were the result of this increase of duty, he should not for a 
moment argue for its retention. Buthe didnot think that it had 
produced these mischievous effects ; and the Government were 
the Earl of HApDINGTON, Corrennam, and the Lord 
CHanowunor, censured the conduct of the majority in the Kirk, 
after which Lord Camrsevu replied, and said he would not press 
his resolutions to a division, 
HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
Monday.—The first order of the day was a committee of supply, 
the civil and miscellaneous votes being the subject of considera- 
tion. The first vote was one of 110,000/, for civil contingencies, 
which being made up of a great variety of items, some f 
very small, o a long and desultory conversation.—Mr, 
Witrams contrasted the moderate expense of the United States 
for embassies with the amount expended by this country. It was 
a disgrace to the nobility of this country that none of them would 
do honour to their Sovereign without coming on the heayily- 
taxed people of this country.—Sir G. CLeRx said that the mission, 
of the Earl of Wilton to carry the order of the garter to the King of 
Saxony was an example of the desiderated disinterestedness ; he 
received no recompense, and it was but reasonable to pay the 
expenses of his journey. 
Capt. Pecunu, drew attention to the state of the relations 
between this country and France with respect to the mutual 
right of fishing, which has so long excited ill feeling. Thereupon 
a somewhat lively discussion occurred between Sir R, Puen 
and Lord PALMERSTON as to whether the Whig government or the 
‘Tory government which preceded it were to blame for leaving 
this question, amongst others, unsettled. 1t concluded by Sir R. 
Prue assuring the House that Government was labouring to settle 
it, and that as soon as possible he would communicate all the 
requisite information on the subject. 
Hume commente: nm some of the items of the vote, 
contending that they should be referred to a committee. There 
was hardly one item which ought not to be the subject of separate 
and mature deliberation. e found a charge in the civil con- 
tingencies of more than 1,000/. for the mission of Lord Wilton to 
ci f Saxony with the insignia of the garter, He had no 
objected to other items, " 
large aggregate burden on the publi: 
sir R. Peet explained, that the items objected to by Mr, Hume 
might think the Garter a bauble, yet, aslong as its insignia were 
an object of ambition to the greatest Sovereigns of Europe, the 
present Prince of Wales, had divested herself of the whole of 
those revenues, and assigned them to trustees for the Prince. 
The expenses of his christening had been defrayed by the Queen 
from her own funds; and the only charge to the country was for 
the fittings of St. George’s Chapel, her Majesty having thought 
it proper, at whatever inconvenience to herself, that the sacred, 
rite should be performed in public, for the sake of example to all 
her subjects: So little had she sought to relieve the Privy purse 
at the cost of the people, that she had voluntarily submitted her 
Captain Bernat objected to the item for the expense of con- 
yeying the Bishop of Jerusalem to the coast of Syria, which was 
cussion, and, on a division, the vote was aflirmed by 112 to 37. 
Sir G. CumrK then proceeded to move the miscellaneous esti- 
mates.—Mr. Hume took occasion to blame the practice of closing 
the National Gallery for six weeks of every spring.—Sir R, PEEL 
answered, that it was necessary to allow some vacation to the 
officers having charge of the pictures, and that there was great 
difficulty in finding temporary substitutes to whom that charge 
could be safely confided. He spoke of the good effect which had. 
attended the opening to the public of places where national taste 
tton 3 and the of a proces: b 
which tables of logarithms could be secured against the possis 
