l'IASZAiti)’S GAZE'I"l‘E, MARCH 1

A letter from Vienna of the 26th .lan., in the PostAampr Gazette of Frankfort, says :—“ Since the melting of the Council of war in Paris, the attention of the Russian gene- ral has been directed towards Poland. The fortresses of that country, for the repair of which immense sums have been expended during the last 45 years, are all construct- ed on a system worthy of being studied by strategists. These fortresses are now being provisioned for a year, as though the Russians are to have to defend themselves be- hind walls, and not in the open ﬁeld. It is in these places that the divisions of the reserves are being col- lected, and other forces are directed on Sitomir, Kichcneff, Nicolaieff, Finland, and the Crimea. The military Gover- nor ef Orenbourgh is sending reinforcements to General Mouravieﬁ'.”

Tris Aniir.-— It is reported that the 91st will be remov- ed from Greece to the seat of war in the east.

Some new companies of the Royal Sappers and Miners are to be raised, which will give an increase tothecorps of nearly 1,000 men. The officers for the stall‘ of the corps are being increased.

It is stated that, in addition to the augmentation to each battalion of the Royal Artillery, two additional battalions are to be added to that corps on the 1st of April next.

The following will be the change of quarters of the home cavalry in the spring ;-—-The 3rd Dragoon Guards from Edinburgh, to York, the 3rd Light Dragoons from Hounslow to Dublin, the 7th Hussars from York to Man- chester, and the 15th Hussars from Manchester to Houn- slow ; the Queen’s Buys and 16th Lancers remain in Dub- lin. A warrant will immediately be‘ issued granting to sol- diers the bounty money, without the deduction of a single shilling on account of necessaries. An entire kit will be given to the soldier at the public expense. On the score of expediency this is commendable, but the measure merits the higher praise of being fair and just to the sold- ier. The volunteering from the militia regiments is to be superintended by a steady (if possible, a ﬁeld) oﬁicer, with a surgeon, whose approval will be ﬁnal. The height must be 5ft Ggin for the Cavalry, and 5ft 4in for the Infantry. Volunteers will, if over 29 years of age, be allowed to reck- on one half their militia service (over I8) as line service, and their good-conduct pay. &c., is to be preserved to them equally, as if they remained in the militia.

Gsusiui. Wir.i.uus.—A letter from Erzeroum says:—— “ All the oﬂicers and soldiers who have returned from Kars speak in terms of the highest gratitude of General Williams, who has done so much for them, both before and after the capture of Kars. His name is venerated by all. Every one is in hopes of seeing him return in the course of a few, months."

NAVAL.—-II is reported that Rear Admiral Fanshawe, C.B., Commander in-Chief on the West India Station, has applied to be superseded on the score of ill health’ and that he will be suceeded by Rear Admiral Sir Michael Sey- mour, K. C B.

Buttons, rivalling jet in beauty of gloss and ﬁnish, are now made from India rubber. The U. S. navy and seve- ral large clothing houses have adopted the new style.

A Hiudoo Wr-ruEss.—A I-lindoo having been summon- ed to give evidence before the court ofjudicaturo at Cal- cutta, deposed that such a circumstance happened in her presence. The judge asked, where it happened ; she re- plied in the verandah of such a house. “ Pray my good woman." said the judge, “ how many pillars are in that verandah ?” The woman not perceiving the trap that was laid for her, without consideration, said that the verandah was supported by four pillars. The counsel for the ob- posite party immediately, offered to prove, that the veran- dah contained ﬁve pillars , and that consequently. no cre- dit could be given to her evidence. The woman perceiv- ing her error, addressed the judge: “ My Lord” said she, your lordship has for many years presided in this court, and every day you ascend a ﬂight of stairs ; may I beg to know how many steps these stairs consist of ?” The judge confessed, that he did not know. “ Then,” replied she," ifyour lordship cannot tell the number of steps you ascend daily to the seat of justice, it cannot be astenisliing that I should forget the number of pillars in a balcony which I never entered half a dozen times in my life.” The judge was so much pleased with the woman's wit, that he decided in favor of her party.

A certain barrister, who was remarkable for coming into court with dirty hands, observed, “ that he had been turning over Coke,” “Coke!” exclaimed a waggish bro- ther, “ I should have thought it was coal.”

‘Tour Tuavr,—When things are in confusion they are said to be turned Topsy Turvy.—The expression is deriv- ed from the way in which turf for fuel is placed to dry on its being cut; the surface of the ground is pared oil’ with the heath growing on it, and the heath is turned down- ward, and left some days in that state, that the earth may get dry before it is carried away. It means, then, top side turl'- way.—Gentleman’s Magazine.

PRINCE ao1i'rscHAKo1-'1-"s FAREWELL To HIS Amrr.

The Invalide Russe of the 22nd publishes the following order of the day, addressed by Prince Gortschakotf to the army of the South and to the troops in the Crimea:—- .

_ Head-quarters, Baktchi-Serai, Jan. 12. In leaving, by the Emperor's order, for new duties, I bid you farewell, brave comrades!

I give to my worthy successor an army inured to battles, and which has been, for the Czar and the country, a defence and a 'oy.

Your courage and your devotion, brave warriors, will remain graven for ever on my heart. Isincerely return you thanks for the conﬁdence you always reposed in me in the midst of the bloody and terrible struggle, in which you defended the peninsula of the Crimea against numerous foes, who had in their power means of warfare unique and heretofore unknown in the annals of war.

This order of the day will be read in every company, squadron, sotiiia, battery and body of marines.

HOUSE OF ASSE MB LY.

DIBLTI ON

answsa To His uxsi.r.aNcy’s srnscn. On motion of the Hon. Mr. Whelan, the House resolved itself

into a Committee of the whole on the address in answer to His ExcellenKy’s s‘peech. Mr. Perry in the Chair. '

Hon. r. ne1.sN.—Mr. Chairman, I_will make some observati- ons on the general tone of that speech, and will oﬁ'er some obser- vations on one or two paragraphs. First, with regard to the gene- ral character of this speech, it is one, I think. not similar to many that have come before this House. I do not remember one so plain in its character. It is not a long array of Government measures. But I think I may remark, that the advisers of the Governor need not be afraid to come before this House. But, sir, I presume they have ver nearly exhausted the subject. When we look at the Statute ok and ﬁnd the many important measures which they have passed, there was very little to advise His Excellency on. Perhaps, it is well that the Government should come down here without any plan asking support, and that the should not dictate to this House what measures should pass or s ould not pass. It has become the practice, that the fewer Government measures the better. But, Sir, they act wisely and ‘judiciously, I think, in say- ing and leavin it to the House itsel to propose what measures they in their wisdom may deem best calculated for the prosperity of the Island. The first part of the speech is that in reference to the revenue. He says. (see speech, paragraph third):—“ On look- ing to the ‘abstract of the revenue, publishe a day or two ago, I found there was a falling oil’ of £3,952 9s. 43d” Is there any «accounting for this falling of}? I think it is owing, in some mea. sure, to the extended commercial relations which have arisen between this Island and the American Union. No man of common sense could believe, that when that measure was carried into execu-

' it would not aﬁ‘ect the revenue. That may, in some measure. account for the decrease. It is also to be taken into account that in no former period were the riees demanded for West India produce so high in the States. t is a well known fact that many of our merchants who imported largely from those Islands failed, in some instances, to suppl the demands of their customers. It will also be seen. as another item of decrease, that there is a falling off in the land assessment of £329 10s. 5§d. This, is in a great measure, owing to the purchase of the Worrell estate by Govern- ment, which then became exempt from the duties. There was also a small deficiency in the amount of sales of Crown Lands. is easy to account for that ; because the Worrell estate being bought up, other lands were less eagerly sought after. Another small decrease is in the amount of licence duty. This is owin , I think, to the arbitrary system followed by the Grand Jury. Vhatever opinions hon. gentlemen may entertain in the abstract, as to the use of alcoholic liquors, still it must be admitted, that during the last year, the summary power which they enjoyed of refusing, at their pleasure, to license houses of publicentcrtainmcnt has had an injurious eﬁect on the public interests. Turning to the increase column, we ﬁnd an increase in the postage accounts. Nothing is so well calculated to elevate the interests ot'uiiy country. So long as this is on the increase, the intelligence of the country is also on the increase. Another item is £2120 11s. 2d. on the sale of public lands. There is also an increase on interest on bonds. These items of increase are very easily accounted for. That increase requires no ‘explanation, when it it is known that, on the wh e, the decrease ‘amounts to only about four thousand pounds, so that we have reason to congratulate ourselves after the depression in the busi- ness of last year. Now, the next paragraph to which I shall call

our attention is that on the necessity of consolidating the Revenue we. I do not presume, that llis ‘xcellency has discovered that the Revenue Laws are more defective than other Laws. We have been in the habit of patching up our Revenue Laws for six or seven years, and our circumstances are such, that smuggling is curriedon to a considerable extent. We have an extensive coast, and a lar 0 number of American ﬁshermen visit our shores. Owing to t e facilities which they have in landing, and owing to the ease with which our own people can 0 to the other Provinces, it is utterly im cssible to put down all illicit trsﬁic ; but still the laws are such and have been patched so much, that His Excellency probably did well in calling attention to it ’ he next paragraph to which shall refer is that respecting the war. I shall not detain the Com- mittee with any observations on this clause of the speech. I only ex ress my own opinion, that |thc Government has properly x res- it, that our interest is not diminished in the progress 0 the war. Nearl about this time last year we appropriated it sum of two thousau ounds for the support of the widows and orphans

ev- -- O E’

of those who fs I in the war.

_ Taen the British satellit_ss—-the German Courts—found it prudent to renew negotiations for peace. Taking into account these things, we have no reason to fear for our in- terests. But turning from a signiﬁcant en ' tto a try one, what inﬂuence has the war had on our 'own In- land I The Governor says we are exempt from the war TWO. ‘'0 hive had to pay no tax in support of the’ war. but nevertheless we have suﬂered from it as well as eve ' other Province on this side of the Atla’ntic and on tli,o other. And we have sulered from it in another int of ' Her Majesty's Government have thougnt it pro 2 to withdraw every one of the troops which we had '3; our defence. Has this been the case with the other Pro- vinces! As to augmentation of the Crimean arm I at the were of some consideration to us. They spentyt eir mo,- ne here : and we had not to provide protection for our- se ves. But her Majesty's Government have suggested that we ought to provide a force for ourslvee and that a company mi hthe obtained from Newfoundland. -That was done, and a Bill was passed to pay for it - but what _was the consequence! The Bill went home ;' Her Ma- jesty a Government turned round and said—" We will not pass this Bill ; we cannot ss this Bill .” The home Government says, “ We wil not allow this tax on the oprietors." He says, “ The grounds upon which the session of Her Majesty's Government regarding these measures, is founded, shall he commiinieated to you ” I am aware, Mr. Chairman, that we have not the dos ‘t- ches before us, in order to investigate and to criticise '°“‘°"h“ °l°'¢l.y. the reasons. Certain Iam that th; reasons and motives cannot be wei hty oiies. The can not be to relate to the interests of t is Island but or th; beneﬁt of a certain clique. It is well known’ that when these Bills went from here, they were accom Il‘I8d b me- m0|'llll from the proprietors. Now, Sir fdait not umi- listing to stand up here and say that we, who enjoy tho beneﬁts of self-governmen t-—that we have passed two bille- here, and that these measures must be intercepted in their pro ess b an faction of land-agents‘ and that our Legis ature are is rendered a farce and iintlit ‘by a party who have res set to no pcwer—to no author: under heaven. Sir, had he d that that day had'pa's when any part could inter ere between this Island Go- vernment and er Majesty ; but unfortunately it sp are that that accursed inﬂuence still exists in its pristine eloquence. I trust, that this House will call the atten- tion of the British Government to the subject. Would any British statesman dare to interfere with the Govern- ment of Canada or the other smaller Provinces 1 Yet we with a small revenue and po ulation, because we are is; such a condition, is it ri ht t at our measures should be frustrated and overlook ? It were far better to do away with the power of Government, then s measures from year to year, _and then have that Government haulk our measures. Sir, it is humiliating in the extreme, that we eannot(pass acts of a purely local nature, without being baulke in these measures. But perhaps I shall take another opportunity of expressing ni self on the subject. The next paragra h relates to the ublic Lands. e Commissioner of ublic Lands is, I trust, well repared on the sub'ect. But there is one subject to which his Ex- cellency a ludes, to which the whole of us may say some- thing. We all do not require any information from the Government, to know what beneﬁts have been conferred by the free School system. The Governor says, there are 268 schools in operation, attended by 11,000 puplis. In looking over the Journals, I think, for 1849, a car or two previous to the introduction of the Free schoo system, I tind the number of schools 126, attended hv 4,735 scholars. They have more than doubled, both as to schools and pupils. Our population is 71,000, and when the Public Accounts come down, it will be seen that we have given nearly £12,090 during the st year, for the support of Education. Now let us loo at the state of education in the neighbouring Provinces. The population of Nova Scotia is about 300,000; and that province pays for edu- cation, a little more than £4,000 over what we ay—the sum granted by N. S. for education being £l6,£0 Th Revenue of Nova Scotia, is £133,000; ours only £42,000 —not one third. New Brunswick with its £203,000 re- venue, and a population of 200,000 inhabitants, not so large a population as Nova Scotia; and the reason» why the Revenue is so much greater than Nova Scotia, in owing, I believe. to the peculiar nature of thebusinoss of that country—with this Revenue, gives the wretchedly small sum of £9,435 for the support of Education. Now. is it not creditable to reflect, that we ive nearl . £3,000 more than the large province of New riinswic , to the support of education. Surely it is a iourse of ratiﬁca- tion think, that we are so immeasurably ahca of that rovince. Another subject to which His Excellency calls our attention is that of our communication with the neighbouring Pro- vinces. I ma be permitted to state that, much to the credit of the Government, they embraced the proposal of is gentleman from Boston. By his arrangements we shall on- joy all the beneﬁts which New Brunswiek enjoys, and which Nova Scotia will soon enjoy; so that for a very small consi- deration, about £40, we will get our letters two or three days earlier than we could b the ordinary mail routes. 'I'lic [advantage will he felt, before the Session is over. In- deed, I think twice £40 would be well thrown away, if it were simply for the pur se of malrin our American neighbours and ourselves etter acquainted than we have hitherto been. I would be willing to vote any sum, and I do not think it can be too lnr c, for the purpose of koe iing u re ular communication. othing so much detracts from the Is and as the want of an eﬂicient system of communica- tion. '1‘o the credit of the Government they, last summer, ke t u avery creditable means of communication. But sti l I t ink it may be ver materially improved on ; and I trust the Government wil ask a liberal sum; and I think no sum can be too liberal for this pur se. lIon. Mr. Wiir.r.i.v then moved that the first paragraph of the Address be road; which being done, he moved that it be agreed to, which passed. Several paragra he were then agreed to without remark.

On reading the at paragraph of the Address, respecting,

illicit traﬂic.