The Taranaki Herald. " Open to All—Influenced by None." NEW PLYMOUTH, JUNE 21) 1854.

Taranaki Herald, Volume II, Issue 99, 21 June 1854, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. " Open to All— lnfluenced by None." NEW PLYMOUTH, JUNE 21) 1854.

Tjie Eclipse arrived here on Saturday last, direct from England, after a fine run of 108 days, having left the Downs on the 2nd of March. By the courtesy of L. Nash, Esq., a passenger by this ship, we have been put in possession of a copy of the Times of the 28 th February (we believe the latest paper brought by the Eclipse) and from which copious extracts will be found in another part of our present issue.

By the Sub-marine and European Telegraph intelligence from Paris of the 27th February had arrived, giving advices from St- Peterburgh of the 18th, which state that Sir H. Seymour had left without seeing the Emperor, having been told that hia passports were ready for him. M. de Cas- ' telbajac (French Ambassador) had desired i to be treated in the same manner as his i colleague, but, the Czar having expressed a wish to see him, the General acceded to the Emperor's desire, and was invested during the interview with the insignia of the Order of St. Alexander Newsky. |

As the season for naval and military operations approaches, the Governments of England and France are adopting prompt and efficient measures to bring the Eastern question to an issue. An address to the Emperor of Russia had been resolved on, which takes the shape of a formal summons calling upon him. to give within six days from the receipt of that communication, a solemn promise and engagement to evacuate the principalities of the Danube on or before the 30th April. This, communication will have reached St. Petersburgh within ten days, and the consequences of this measure have been considered in an editorial of the Times of the 28th of February, which from its importance we have copied verbatim from that journal.

Meanwhile, it will be seen, that preparations for the War are carried on with unabated vigour on both aides of the channel.

The Tagus fleet had been recalled to form a part of the Baltic fleet, and was at tho date of the departure of the Eclipse, outside the Isle of Wight. This fleet, which is to consist of 30 ships, carrying 2,020 guns— twenty of the vessels being Screw-Slearaers ' —was to muster in the Downs early i n March. Vice Admiral Napier hoisted his flag as Commander-in-Chief (blue at the fore) on the 27th on board the Princess Royal, 91, at Spithead, where it flies until taken by the Duke of Wellington, 131. The military operations for embarking the Fiist Battalion of the Scotch Fusileer Guards on the following day, the 28th, were completed. The Commander-in-Chief, Sir Harry Smith, paid an official visit to Portsmouth on the 27th February, and inspected the battalion of the Rifle brigade, and the Sappers and Miners under Captain Hansard. Instructions have been issued to supply the Minie-rifled muskets to the various ships of the Baltic fleet for the marines, and a limited number were to be issued for the use of the seamen. Tho embarkation of the 93rd regiment on board of the Himalaya took place on the 27th, and that splendid vessel was to sail on the following day for the Mediterranean. It is intended to forward a first division of Infantry, 10,000 strong, to Constantinople immediately. The division will consist of three battallions of the Guards— the 4th, 28th, 33rd, 50th, 77th, and 93rd rtgimenls of the line, aud the 2nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade. The artillery force will include five field batteries and one brigade for small arm ball cartridge ; each of the batteries will have 180 men, or double the peace establishment. It is estimated that, taking the force now in the Mediterranean, a brigade already formed there, and the Regiments next for service, the British contingent for the defence of Turkey will amount to 20,000 men, and forty guns admirably horsed, and provided with a full proportion of ammunition«waggons. The efficiency of the whole corps is universally admitted.

| Besides the recent proceedings in Parliament, which we are enabled to copy from the summary in the Times of the 28th of February, other very important matters have been under consideration, A long and animated debate on the Eastern question after the papers on the subject had been supplied to Parliament took place in tho House of Lords on the 14th February.— The substantial result of the debate was to bring out some evident truths that would lie buried in the blue-books, and proves that the quarrel was, at its beginning, essentially and wholly French, having originated in the endeavour of France to obtain for the Latins a better position in Syria.

In closing a paragraph on this debate, the [Spectator writes "In fact and act the two Governments are levying a war againej. Russia to sustain the public law of Europe. With the past we have done, and the future alone concerns us 'now. Lord Clanricarde admits as much ; Lord Derby promises a zealous and national coaction. We shall see whether patriotism can so far prevail over party spirit. It should — for tho contest now opening is of such a kind that no man can predict for it a speedy close, Dr even calculate what shall be the nature of its very next stage. Of one thing alone can any of us be certain, Foreseeing the momentous and incalculable consequences of war, whichever side conquer, our Ministers persevered to the last in offering to Russia accommodation on the three conditions — continuance of the treaties, evacuation of the Principalities, and peace : Russia rejected the offer, preferring war ; and we know well that if she should be defeated she ought to expect different terms— some compensation for the cost of war, and some " material guarantee" for her better behaviour, such as we might obtain by depriv-

ing her of the power to close either the Euxine or Baltic." Lord John Russell in the House of Com- , mons introduced a new Reform Bill on the J 13th of February. The bill may be taken j to consist of four parts — one depriving the smallest boroughs of their single members, and many small towns of one member out j of two ; a second re-distributing the sixty ' two seats thus vacated ; with the four belonging to Sudbury and St. Albans, by ad- , dilions to the important towns or counties, and enfranchisement of newly-grown boroughs ;— a third extending borough and county franchise, with a six pound rating test for the former, and a ten pound occu- ( panci/ tot tho latter, or establishing new franchises of an educational or industrial kiud -, and a fourth, repealing the rate pay- j ing clauses, rendering the register absolute,' 1 aud thus freeing the actual constituency 1 from practical diminution by the working ! of oblique checks. It has been estimated J that the bill will augment the present oon- | atituency by about one third. Tbe possession of learning in the individual attested by an academical degree, becomes in itself a qualification for a vote. It is also proposed that members should retain their seats, notwithstanding their acceptance of office under Crown. Members cannot be Ministers save by the concurrence of the majority in the House of Commons ; and thus the country by its representatives at large affords that check .which no single constituency can poss ibly secure under the present system. Independently of the Reform Bill several other measures h4ve been brought under the notice of Parliament ; some of which deeerve special notice. The first of these is a Bill for the abolition of the Law of Settlement, and calculated to effect a great revolution in the administration of the Poor Law ; save the time of the Queen's Court at Westminster j and tbe expenditure of vast sums in litigation to determine pauper settlement. Another Bill for the appointment of a Public Prosecutor in criminal cases. This bill, though introduced by an independent member (Mr. Phillimore), is likely, it is asserted, to be adopted by the Government. A third measure is a proposal for throwing open to public competition all the civil appointments in the gifts of the Crown and the Government. " This measure" says the Jllustruted News " will if carried in effect, be sufficient in itself to earn for the Aberdeen Administration a title to the gratitude of the nation. To abolish patronage by one blow ; and say to the youth of the nation, irrespective of party or party ties — irrespective, too, of wealth, station, and influence—' the State requires the services of the best men ; qualify yourselves, by study and education, and the highest prizes shall be given to those amongst you who shall prove yourselves to be the most competent and the most deserving' — this is a proceeding wor« thy of a great nation."

The Eclipse left for Auckland yesterday morning j a small portion of cargo for this place could not be got at and is carried on with her. We regret to record tho death of the chief officer of the Vessel, who died on board on Sunday night last after a lingering illness. The body was brought ashore for interment, which we understand will take place to-morrow. The arrival of the Artemisia is looked for impatiently by those here who havo cargo on board of her. She is stated to have reached Auckland on the 4th of April, and although we are well accustomed to the detention of vessels for this place in the Fort of Auckland, jet after eleven weeks delay our friends must excuse an inquiry after her.