Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 369, 17 May 1856, Page 8

Miscellaneous.

The Czar states positively that it is the intention of the Russian Government to effect the immediate emancipation of the serfs of the whole empire. The Emperor personally is favourable to the measure, and the land-owning aristocracy, _wiio have been sounded, oSer no resistance.

The Berlin correspondent of the Times mentions the important fact that the population tables of Russia, since ISSI, shows no increase whatever.

Letters from St Petersburgh speak with great confidence of the Grand Duke Constantine succeeding Prince Paskiewitch in the vice-rova)ty of Poland.

Despatches receired fron St. Petersburgh state that the Russian Government is using every exertion to form a line of steam gun-boats.

A despatch from Paris announces that, in order to facilitate pajraeuts from the treasury, the Russian Government has ordained that the nominal proportion of bullion to notes in circulation held by the bank shall be diminished. It is feared that the payment of interest on the debt of Russia will be suspended.

Hamburg, December 12.—A Russian loan of fifty mi lion of roubles is issued, bearing interest at five per cent. A money panic has commenced in Russia At Moscow, Nijni, Astrackan, and other places,.baak notes are refused. People are hiding rtoney.

The Invalide Russe states that a sanguinary affray took place, on the 6th ult, between the corps of GeneraPKoucherinko and the rebel tribe of the Tchefflchienieffs. The Russians at first crossed the Kuban, between the Caucasus and Circassia, but afterwards retired behind that river,

General Rovalevski, the Russian commander, has died at St. Petersburg, from the effects of the wounds he received at the assault upon Kars,

The military commission at St. Petersburgh, to deliberate on the defence of the Empire, has commenced its labors.

.Russian troops are marching in the direction of Bessarabia.

It is stated at Berlin that about the middle of Nov. the Prussian Government sent an urgent despatch to St. Petersburgh, praying the Czar's advisers to approach peace.

We read in the Hamburg Boersenhalle.—' A private letter from Moscow, written towards the end of November, tell us that the confidence of the small shopkeeper in the Russian paper money is completely destroyed : and not only does he refuse to take it —a fact that has occurred at Moscow, Isijni, Astracan, and other places —but he hoards specie and secret? it. The so-called patriotic gifts are paid in kind—that is to say, in goods, agricultural produce, images of saints, hank notes, or state bonds ; so that the greater part of what returns to the treasury consist of assignats previously issued by itself. The price of specie is rising because a great deal of it is smuggled out of the country, where it is melted down and re-imported as bullion."

The Berlin correspondent of the Times states that there is in Russia an enormously increasing number of estates for sale. These are all estates th ;t have been pledged for loans, and have been forfeited for the want of said loans not having been duH' paid.

Lord Clarendon has complained to the Prussian mitij>Urr in London of the complicity of his Government in aiding Russia by allowing and aiding the transport of munitions of war to Russia through his territory. He announced that any repetition would be visited by the blockade of Prussian ports in the next Baltic campaign.

Sweden is preparing for active participation in tbe next campaign—but Denmark remains neutral. Count M«ntalf.kbert on the Future of England—The 'Assemble Nationale' contains a long extract from an admirable extract communicated by M. de Montalembert to a journal called tbe ' Correspondent.' This eminent statesman has taken for his subject the future of England which be treats in the most masterly manner. Whilst admitting tbe many defects which are found in the national character and institutions, M. de Montalembert warmly enumerates tbe thousand virtues which have placed England in her present high position. After a most generous review of the national resources and character, he gives bis delibeiate opinion that England, so far from haying attained tbe summit of her power, is still destined to play a still greater ' role' in tbe history of the world.

The Grand Cross of tbe Legion of Honour has been conferred by tbe Emperor of France, upon the Sultan of Turkey. This is really a most interesting, important, memorable, and significant incident. It is the first time of a Sultan of Turkey having accepted a decoration from a Christian power. Surely tbe present war it working for good—it is Christianizing tbe East, for it is removing religious intolerance and prejudice; tbe Crescent and tbe Cross are becomi"g more and more united- This great event is a pledge of the alliance wbicl; places the Ottoman Empire under the guarantee of the international law of Europe. The speech of His Majesty the Sultan is well worthy of your notice. There is news from India of the capture of Kerat by the Persians, believed to be at tbe instigation of Russia, for the purpose of endangering tbe tranquillity of India. Tbe first act of tbe new Governor General of India will doubtless be to compel the Shah of Persia to relinquish bis conquests, as it brings Russiau influence too close to our Indian Empire.

Our New Campaign.—lt is said that the French Emperor has made a requisition to tbe English Government for transports for the conveyance of eighty thousand men, and six thousand horses, and the shores of the Baltic are indicated as the destination of the intended expedition. The Russians, on their side, seem to expect a change in the scene of war, and are making strenuous exertions to oppose any army which may offer to threaten Cronstadt, and at Petersburg. It is rumoured that Prince GortschakofPs forces are to be withdrawn from tbe Crimea, for the defence of the more vital points of the Empire ; and even the Caucasus is to be denuded of troops, in order that an overwhelming force may be concentrated on the Baltic seaboard and the Western frontier.

American Sympathy with Russia. —The Russians receive great supplies of arms and ammunition from this part of America, or from all New England. . They have bought all the saltpetre that could be got hold of through means of agents, and this has had a great effect upon our market. Last spring there was so much saltpetre on hand here that all the places in the United States warehouses appropriated for its stowage were filled to overflowing, and much of it had to be stored where it was damaged, or in danger of being so. Now not a bag of it can be bad. It has all been taken on Russian account, and shipped to Hamburg. This is not all- Po%vder and arms have been sent to Russia in immense quantities. A famous clipper ship that sailed from New York " for San Francisco and a market," some months ago, took out nothing but Hazard powder, Colt's pistols, and similar Connecticut "notions," the "market" being the most convenient port in which they can be landed for the Czar's use. A large quantity of powder is now being put up in such a "way as to be mistaken for logwood by careless examiners, and will be sent to Russia from Portland. The intention is to get into the Baltic after the English fleet shall have left, it being supposed that there will be as much time left for action then as there was gained by British slowness last spring. If the Samuel Appleton—which vessel every one here belives to have had arms and ammunition for her cargo in part— could get in ahead of the English, it is not unreasonably inferred that there will be time enough for operations at the close of the season to admit of some dashing skipper landing powder enough at Port Baltic to blow all Europe to pieces, if it could be used directly for that purpose. The saltpetre that the Russains have brought here all came from Calcutta—so that the English may have the satisfaction of knowing that their dominions have supplied tbe Czar %vith this most important material of war. Why did she not shut down the gate a year ago? By the steamer which came outlast week, I am told instructions were sent to some of tbe principal British consuls in America to enquire into the matter. That is England all over; tbe mischief being done, she proceeds to show how it could have been preveuied.

A return of ' colonial expenditure,' incurred by Gr^at Britain for the year 1853-4, for the colonies, gives the grand total at £3,288,338, of which w«s appropriated to New South Wales j67],318,,t0 Van Diuinen's Land £26'J-,287, to Western Australia £133,835, and to New Zealand £87,326.

Prussia is becoming uneasy, as sure as fate she will have both France and England down upon her in—as I beard two little urchins in the street observe to each other —' in a brace of shakes, and two twos, and that's all about it.' Another.couple of ragged young hopefuls were looking into a linendraper's shop at the preface on the lid of a box of cambric handkerchiefs. The picture was that of some Russian soldiers, one lad said to tbe other,' Oh, I say Jim, how I should like to pitch into those cbaps.' Correspondent ' 5. M. Herald.'