nistriluutnns.

The appointments rendered necessary by the promotion of Sir William Molesworth and Sir Benjamin Hall, and the resignation of Mr. Baines, have now been made. hlr. Bouverie sacceeda Mr. Baines as head of the Poor-law Board ; and Mr. Lowe succeeds Mr. Bouverie as Vice-President of the Board of Trade. The post vacated by Sir Benjamin Hall— President of the Board of Health—has been given to the Honourable William Cowper, Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Among the Parliamentary papers recently issued are a batch of docu- ments relating to the Hango Massacre, containing the despatch of Lieu- tenant Geneste to Captain Fanshawe, on which the Journal of St. Peters- burg based its statements ; the reply of Prince Dolgorouky, refusing to give up the prisoners, and contending that they were prisoners de mire and de facto ; and the reply of Admiral Dundee to that despatch. The most interesting document is that from Lieutenant Gencate to Captain

Fenshawe. "liaising/ors, July 8, 185.5.

"Sir—In obedience to your order, on Monday, the 5th of June, I pro-

ceeded to the landing-place at Hang° Head i,u the cutter, carrying a flag of truce, in order to land Russian prisoners and communicate with the officer at the telegraph station. We arrived at the pier, and no person being visi- ble on the shore except two or three women standing near the houses, I landed the Russian prisoners, and, in company with them and Dr. Easton, proceeded towards the houses to communicate with the people and with the officer of the telegraph. The three stewards also accompanied us, in order, if possible to purchase fresh provisions. But all the boat's crew were left in the boa, with strict orders not to land, as you had directed. We also carried with us a white flag of truce on a boarding-pike; Lorton, the mid- shipmen's steward, carrying it beside me. We had only proceeded about fifty yards from the boat, when suddenly Russian soldiers (who had lain concealed behind the rocks and houses, and of whose vicinity We were com- pletelyignorant) rose and fired on us and the boat from all sides. Taldng the white flag from the steward Lorton, who was shot dawn by my side, I endeavoured with it in my hand to prevent the soldiers firing at the boat, and so called the attention of their officer, who came near me, to it How- ever, I regret to state that the firing did not cease until many of our people had been hit. As we were completely surrounded by soldiers it was impossible to effect our escape, the soldiers being within a few yards of the boat on every side ; and seeing the inutility of making any resistance, not having a loaded musket in the boat, and the greater number of our ataalL boat's crew of eleven men being killed and wounded by the first fire of the enemy, not a shot was fired on our side. We were all seized by the soldiers, taken to the houses, and, without a moment's delay, placed in carriages, which appeared to me to be ready for us, and transported to Eckness, where we arrived the same afternoon. I regret to have to state that we have lost six of our men killed, and four have been wounded badly, nearly all the others haying slight scratches. One Finnish captain was also killed, and two Russian captains wounded. The wounded men were carried to Eckness, and placed in hospital there. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded. The fate of several of the killed I know only by the Russian report, as we were hurried away too quickly from the scene of action to ascertain it for ourselves ; but I fear the report is too true, as we have six men missing, and they report seven dead bodies at Hango Head, which would be correct with our six men and the old Finnish captain, whom we saw shot down and bayoneted. We remained at Eckness during Tuesday ; and on Wednesday Mr. Sullivan, myself, and the four unwounded men, were removed to this place' leaving the four wounded men at Eckness, with Dr. Easton to attend them. The wounded men were all doing well when we left Eckness. One of them, Glidden, had to undergo amputation of his right arm, near the shoulder, which ad been successfully performed. Since our arrival at Eckness we have received every attention and kindness from the Russian General and officers that our position would admit of. The wounded men have been treated with the greatest care and consideration. I requested General !dot- ter, the officer commanding at Eckness, to send a boat on the day following this unfortunate'affair to the ship with a flag of truce, to inform you what had happened ; but he declared it to be impossible. I do not know how this letter will reachyou, but the General will forward it by the first opportunity. As we were taken prisoners under a flag of truce, I presume we shall be shortly released, but am at present in perfect ignorance of their intentions with re- spect to us. I send this letter open and unsealed.

"I am &c., Louis GerresTE, Lieutenant. "To Captain Fanshawe, H.M.S. Cossack."

Admiral Dundee having perused this letter, writes to Prince Dolgo- rouky, reviews the whole case, and states that he considers the facts as establishing his original position that the transaction was a violation of the privilege of a flag of truce. He insists that the flag must have been seen from the telegraph station, that the boat should have been warned if her approach was objectionable ; that "timely warning would have prevented the catastrophe, but wilful neglect of the flag, and con- cealment of those on shore, could be nothing but gross treachery." In re- illy to the assertion that a cannon was thrown overboard, he states that

the boat was never fitted with one, and has never mounted one ueon. any occasion." For what purpose, he asks, were the carriages mentioned by Lieutenant Geneste previously collected ?

"Some stress is laid on his avowed intention to endeavour to communicate with the officer of the telegraph, and with the people, and to purchase pro- visions; but in the absence of troops some little explanation to the nearest authority, or to the nearest residents, was at least desirable and natural on behalf of the prisoners intended to be released. A moment of forbearance on the part of the officer who planned the ambush would have been sufficient to afford it ; and you are well aware that acts of courtesy, and even gifts of ordinary refreshments, are not uncommon on occasions of truce. The Cos- sack was in no sense short of provisions, nor bad she been long without re- freshments, and I can discover nothing in the statement of Lieutenant Ge- neste to justify the inferences which had been wrested from them." The other documents show that no soundings were taken at Kertch under a flag of truce that the alleged abuse of the flag at Twermine never occurred; and that a similar allegation respecting the affair at Elw- in° has no foundation.

In lieu of the emoluments derived from clothing contracts, Colonels of Regiments are in future to receive the following allowances per annum— Grenadier Guards, 10004; Coldstream Guards, 10006; Scots Fusilier Guards, 10001.; 1st Dragoon Guards, 8006; other regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons, each 4506; 1st Regiment of Foot, 12004, to be reduced to 10001. in the event of a vacancy occurring ; 60th ditto, 18t battalion, 6004; 2d ditto, 600/. Rifle Brigade' 1st battalion, 600/. ; 2d ditto, 600/. ; other regiments of Infantry of the Line and West India Re- giments, each 6004, if appointed before the let June 1854, but if ap- pointed subsequently, only 500/. per annum.

All the London joint-stock banks have now held their usual half-yearly meetings. Their accounts show a continued increase of prosperity. The aggregate of deposits at the end of last year was 26,315,4734; in June it had swelled to 29,376,410/. The paid-up capitals amount to 3,066,3324; and the guarantee-funds to 601,2296 The dividends and bonuses for the year ending June 30 were at the following rates—London and West- minster Bank, 14 per cent ; London Joint-Stock Bank, 23 per cent ; Union of London, 20 per cent ; London and County, 10 per cent ; Com- mercial, 10 per cent ; Royal British, 6 per cent. These six banks will henceforth have to compete with others: one' the City Bank, commenced business last week ; a second, the Bank of London, will open two esta- blishments on the 22d; while there are other companies projected.

There have been many complaints respecting the operation of the News- paper Stamp Act. Among them this—that newspapers forwarded to the Colonies were charged twopence, because the act required both an im- pressed stamp and a Queen's head. To remedy this, the Treasury have adopted a suggestion of the Postmaster-General—that newspapers going abroad shall not require the impressed stamp at all, but that a single ad- hesive stamp shall suffice, so that only a penny will in future be charged upon newspapers to the Colonies. The impressed stamp, therefore, will be only applicable hereafter to newspapers circulated at home, which it will entitle to transmission and retransmission through the post. But all newspapers going abroad or to the Colonies will require the Queen's head affixed, whether they have the impressed stamp or not.

The first order issued by Sir Benjamin Hall, after his acceptance of the office of President of the Board of Public Works, directs that 200 new seats shall be placed in the public promenades of the Regent's Park ; and he has given orders for the throwing open of Kew Gardens to the public during the whole of Sundays.

The Ministerial white-bait dinner took place: at the Trafalgar Hotel, Greenwich, on Wednesday.

Lord Palmerston and Sir Charles Wood had dinner-parties:on Saturday. Lady Palmerston held an assembly.

The Speaker gave his annual dinner to the officers of the House of Com- mons on Wednesday.

M. Magne, the French Minister of Finance, has been raised to the dignity of Grand Cross of the order of the Legion of Honour, as a mark of the satis- faction of the Emperor at his eminent services while Minister of Commerce and Public Works, and of Finances.

Mehemet Bey, the new Turkish Ambassador, has arrived in Paris.

Said Pasha, the head of Omar Pasha's Staff, has arrived in Paris "on leave of absence."

Count Alexander de Girardin, father of the editor of the Freese, has just died in Paris, in his seventy-ninth year.

The late M. Salamon Rothschild, of Paris, has left a fortune of two mil- lions and a half sterling, which will be divided between his two nephews.

The late Baron de Dietrich, of Vienna, has left a fortune of fifty million francs to his grandson, a child of seven.

Result of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last.

Ten Weeks of 1845-54. Week 0(1855.

Zymotic Diseases 447.9 .... 301 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat . 38.7 .... 51 Tubercular Diseases 187.5 .... 168 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 112.7 .... 95 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-veasels 31.9 .... 38 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 76.0 .... 83 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 68.6 .... 63 Diseases of the kidneys, arc. 10.6 .... 11 Childbirth . diseases of the I/terns, Sc. 8.1 .... 10 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Se. 7.3 .... 7 Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, &e. 1.4 .... 2 Malformations. 3.0 .... 1 Premature Birth 29.4 .... 31 Atrophy 33.1 .... 58

Rae

37.4 .... 26 Sudden 4.1 .... ..

Vloience,Prira'tion, Cold, and Intemperance 28.6 .... 17 Total (including unspecified causes) — 963 1,130.9

The accounts of the state of the crops in the Three Kingdoms continue to be, on the whole, favourable. There are complaints here and there of disease among the potatoes, and some of smut in the wheat, but these are exceptional, if not doubtful. Much corn, however, has been laid, and of course exposed to deterioration from wet. Haymaking has been much re- tarded. Complaints come from most parts of England and Ireland of the continuance of wet last week, and fears'are expressed of the consequences of a prolongation of such weather. But this week there has been an im- provement, at any rate in London ; though a good deal of rain has fallen,

fair weather has predominated ; and during the last three days the barome- ter has been steadily riming. A period of warm and dry weather would insure us a fine harvest, Mark Lane furnished a pretty good proof that up to Monday last the crops have not materially suffered from the wet—wheat fell 38. in price. Rain again fell, and on Wednesday the market was "firm," though no advance took place. Yesterday, it was "quiet," with an advance of Is. in some cases.

Continued rains created some apprehensions for the crops in the Northern States of the American Union.

In the Southern districts of France a grain e.rop, in every respect superior to that of an average year has been gathered 111.

Thirteen officers and midshipmen of the Ilger have recently been liberated by the Czar, in exchange for Russian officers. They arrived at Stettin, on their way home, last week.

The Emperor of the French has given General Beals' co" and his two aides. de-camp captured Bomaraund, liberty to return to Russia. The General has published a letter in the Courrier de l'Eure warmly thanking the people of Evreux for their kindness to him and his family and cfficers during their residence there.

A story has been circulated in some papers, couched in malignant phraseo- logy, that Chief Justice- Jervis was about to retire with a peerage and a pen- sion, and make room for the Attorney-General to ascend the judicial bench. The Globe authoritatively denied that there is any truth in the concoction ; and subsequently Sir John himself, at Chester Assizes, indignantly coin- mented on the fabrication.

A return has been published of the results of the examination of candi- dates for the junior offices in the Civil Service from the 21st May to the 26511 tuly: 76 persons were examined ; 46 were reported as qualified; 24 were rejected as unqualified. The names of unsuccessful candidates are not pub- lished. The persons reported to be qualified have to undergo six months' probation before they are finally appointed.

The town of Huddersfield belongs to two proprietors only—Sir John Wil- liam Ramsden, and Mr. Firth, a Quaker, the latter, however, holding but a minute portion. Sir John's ancestor long tried, by great offers, to buy this bit of ground, but in vain ; but Sir John himself has effected an exchange with Mr. Firth, the Quaker still remaining one of the proprietors of the town, but giving up the section of land which was greatly needed by his co- proprietor to enable him to carry out an important public improvement.

It is said that Mademoiselle Rosa Bonheur'a picture, "The Horse Fair," hat been sold to an Englishman, resident abroad, for nearly 20001.

The Great Northern Railway Company have supplied their servants with red neck-ties, to be used in cases of emergency as signals.

During the late thunderstorm, the earthen pinnacle, raised on the highest peak of Benledi, was struck with lightning, when both it and the ground at the bottom of it were torn up. Fortunately, no tourist happened' to be there at the time.— Glasgow Daily Mail.

The Emperor of Russia has sent diamond rings to the editors of the West- phalia Gazette and the New Prussian Gazette.

A number of reaping and mowing machines deposited in the Paris Exhibi- tion have been practically tested on a field of oats at Trappes, five miles from Versaillee. There were several utter failures. M'Cormick's machine Was the most successful, acting admirably.

M. Alexandre Dumas has been appointed by the French Government to collect all the popular ballad poetry ot the South of France.

A dreadful explosion has occurred in the Castello Nuevo at Naples, in it portion of the structure occupied as a manufactory for percussion-cags. The whole building was destroyed, and a great number of persons were killed. i or seriously hurt. Some of the people n the city thought an earthquake haft occurred ; the military flew to arms to meet a revolution. The affair seems to have been a simple accident ; but such is the state of Naples, that it has given rise to strange political rumours.

Adviees from Madeira tell a lamentable tale. The disease in the vine threatens to utterly exterminate the plants. No wine has been made for three years, and there will be none this. Attempts are in progress to intro- duce the sugar-cane ; but it is feared that they will meet at best with only a partial success.

CRYSTAL Peutoth—Return of admissions for six days ending Friday August 10th, including season-ticket-holders, 53,061.