Inistellantous.
We are enabled to state, and as we believe confidently, that the visit of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia to this country was immediately determined by the publicity given to the maritime note of his Royal Highness the Prince de Joinville.— Standard— [Fudge.— Times.] The Emperor of Russia takes his farewell of London on Monday morning. His Imperial Majesty and the King of Saxony accompany the Queen and Prince Albert to the Opera tonight.
Some doubts have been expressed whether the annual Polish ball would not be postponed, in consequence of the Emperor Nicholas's pre- sence in this country : the Morning Chronicle announces that it will po- sitively take place on Monday next ; and at a meeting of the Lady Patronesses, on Wednesday, it was stated that thrice the number of tickets had been sold in comparison with last year. Frederick, Crown Prince of Denmark, arrived at Leith on Friday morning, in the Danish frigate Gafien. He landed from a barge at Granton Pier, being received by the Lord Provost and others of the local authorities ; and proceeded to Douglas's Hotel. He was to re- main a few days in Edinburgh ; thence he was to set out for a short tour in the Highlands, and afterwards in the Faroe Islands, on a geo- logical inquiry.
More attention than it seems to demand has been directed to some diplomatic correspondence between Lord Aberdeen and Baron Bulow relative to the commercial relations between Great Britain and Prussia. As respects anything like information, the two despatches published by the Augsburg Gazette form a fraction of a correspondence which still continues, and are unintelligible without the context. But what attracts notice is the hostile tone. Lord Aberdeen, whose despatch is dated in November last, complains of heavy duties imposed by the German Cus- toms Union on British commodities, especially on iron and certain mixed woollen stuffs. He accuses Prussia of not acting with a desire to maintain commercial relations on an amicable and advantageous footing ; and makes this direct charge of double dealing- -
" At the commencement of 1842, the rumour ran, that at the next general meeting of the delegates of the Unions it was proposed to augment the duty, al- ready great, upon mixed stuffs, such as mouseline de laMe, and to raise it to the level of that on cottons. On England remonstrating, the Prussian Government replied, that it did not think the report would be confirmed. Nevertheless, as the time approached, assurances on this subject became less satisfactory ; and at last the British Government learned.that the plan of augmenting the duty in question had not only been adopted, but that its adoption was chiefly owing to the instances of Prussia."
Baron Below, whose despatch is dated in March, indignantly repels the charge of dissimulation ; and retorts upon England her heavy du- ties on corn, wool, and timber ; freely quoting Mr. M`Gregor, Dr. Bow- ring, and the Edinburgh Review. Mr. Gladstone, however, stated in - Parliament, the other night, that the correspondence had altered in tone, and become much more conciliatory. The election of a Professor of Music in Edinburgh University took place on Saturday. The candidates were three—Mr. Donaldson, advocate; Mr. Sterndale Bennett, the eminent musician ; and Mr. Pearson, son of the Dean of Salisbury : the Senate divided, giving Mr. Pearson 14 votes, Mr. Donaldson 11, and Mr. Bennett none. The failure of Mr. Bennett is imputed to the injudicious conduct of his friends, who tried to " bally " the Senatus Aeademicus into recogniz- ing his really high claims.
The bank of Johnson and Co., at Romford, stopped payment on Thursday. The principal partner is Alderman Johnson, who lately filled the office of Lord Mayor ; and whose reverse of fortune is a sub- ject of deep regret among his friends and acquaintances.
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