Potter's Electric News

THE 'AMNESTY' TO THE POLES. The following is the text of the ukase of amnesty issaed by the Czar respecting Poland, nnd dated Warsaw, May 38. It is addressed to the Adminis- trative Council of the Kingdom of Poland:— '.All political prosecutions relative to the last' insurrection and to the disorder caused by it which are not yet terminated, whether before thte tribunals cr the commissions of inquiry, shall be annulled, and the incriminated parties be set at liberty, if they have l;ot been guilty of ordinary crimes, such as murder, arson, &c. 2. No new proceedings shall be taken against any for havinc participated in the insurrection, and persons suspected of having joined in it shall not be prosecuted. 3. All persons, natives of the king- dom of Poland, and sent in consequence of recent political disturbances to different localities in Russia by order of the administration, may return to their country, if their conduct has been judged satisfactory by the local authorities. This measure does not extend to ecclesiastics, whose return will depend on the personal decision of the Emperor's lieutenant in Poland. 4. A similar permission is accorded to all persons natives of the Western States, who have been expelled from their homes by order of the Adminis- tration, if their conduct has been certified as satis- factory by the local authorities, and if they declare expressly their intention of establishing themselves in the Polish kingdonl. This measure, like the last, is not to apply to ecclesiastics, who will require a special authorisation from the Emperor's lieutenant. I therefore communicate to the Administrative Council of the kingdom the supreme will of the Czar, in order that measures may be taken in conformity with it. 'BERG, General Field Marshal Lieutenant of the Kingdom.' • ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE CZAR. The review which took place in the Bois de Boulogne was most successful. By ten o'clock the infantry, with bands playing, slowly marched along the broad avenue of the Champs Elysees, whilst other troops entered by various routes. It is no easy matter to get 60,000 men on the field at a given time when they have to march through portions of a crowded city. The arrangements. however, answered very well, and the various corps all took up positions by one o'clock. There was not sufficient accommodation for one of the krgest crowds ever huddled together at Long- champs the army was deeply fringed with a black living border of civilians, but thousands could have L seen little more than tl"e heads of the mounted troops and the caps of the infantry. The tribunes of the racecourse were filled with the gay toilettes long before the arrival of the sovereigns and their staffs. The King of Prussia arrived at the Tui- leries about one o'clock in a magnificent uniform, with elegant helmet. His Majestev certainly looks a soldier every inch of him. It was arranged that he should take up the Empress Eugenie accord- ingly Her Majesty got into the carriage with King "William, and they were the first of the illustrious personages who drove down the grand avenue de Champs. Elysees towards the Bois at 1-30. The Emperor Napoleon soon after got into an open carriage with the Emperor of Russia. The Emperor of the French wore the uniform of a general of division, with cordons of Russian and Prussian orders. The Emperor of Russia. was conspicuous for his handsome helmet and decora- tions. They followed immediately after the King nf Prussia and the Empress, and were cheered by one unbroken line of well-dressed spectators from ,he Tuileries up to the review ground. The field now presented a most imposing and glittering aspect, and the excitement of the spectators was expressed by frequentjeheering. The infantry of the was line massed before the tribunes of the race- course the Gardes de Paris on the right and the artillery on the left. Further on was fix- Infantry of the Guard and the Eeole St. Cyr; and in front was assembled a show of cavalry, and then came the artillery. It was, before this corps that the sovereigns grouped together to witness the defile. Since the memorable clays of the meeting of the allied sovereigns in Paris-no military fete has ever been witnessed that could compare to that which must have been seen by it least eight hundred thousand people, for a dense crowd covered the undulating surrounding grounds in all directions. All P;iris made holiday, including the working- classes. The Emperor Napoleon, the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, the Imperial princes, marshals, generals, and aide-de-camps presented a glittering group of more than a hun- dred and fifty men in varied and magnificent uni- forms. Alter the review was fairly over, the Royal personages dismounted and re-entered their carriages, which had been kept in waiting. The Emperor Napoleon, the Czar, and his two sons got into one, the King of Prussia and the Empress into another. Escorted by Cent Gardes they pro- ceeded towards Paris, but at a slow pace, the throng of equipages rendering anything like rapid movement impracticable. Ot the terrible incident that followed it is not easy to give the exact par- ticulars, for every individual who witnessed it gives a different account lrom his fellow. Sergeant Major John Laverty, employed on the British staff at the Exhibition, makes the following statement: — 'He was in full dress, returning from the review, hs the carriage containing' the Emperor passed. He saluted, and, being in the front rank, was spe- cially noticed by the Emperor Napoleon who was nearest him. At the moment the Emperors were in line with him, about ten feet off, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and instanteously a deafening report. Turning rapidly, he confronted a man with a revolver minus the barrel in his hand, whom he secured, the crowd rushing to the rescue, and the excitement being tremendous, the assassin was torn from his 'grasp, and shortly after taken charge of by the pa:ice. The correspondent of a London contemporary says :—" It was on a spot on the Paris side of the cascades that the event took place. The assassin, instead of being up a tree, as the rumour ran, was concealed behind the trunk of a tree, and it is said that while taking him he supported the pistol on the shoulder of an English officer in uniform, who was walking on the roadside close to the wood. At the noise of the shot there was great confusion. The Cent Gardes forming the escort galloped to the front, but naturally did not know what to do. The police agents about rau here, there, and every- where, and were at first for arresting the English officer. Meanwhile they lost sight of the right man, who, had he not been laid hold of by four private individuals, might have escaped. He wa.s speedily bound hand and foot, placed in a carriage, and conveyed under escort to a police office. The pistol, which appeared to have been loaded for some time, had burst in his hand, tnd wounded it badly. Whether or not it is true, as at first re ported, that the Emperor of the French received a scratch from a bullet, I cannot ascertain with cer- tainty. But all the versions agree that a woman was severely wounded—not killed. Some say this woman was a lady of rank.' After the shot was fired, it was observed that the Emperor was pale, but the Caar and his sons were 'calm. Napoleon then turning to Alexander, smiling said, Sire, we have been pnder fire together.' The Czar replied, Our destinies are in the hands of Providence.' The illustrious party reached the Tuilleries, and afterwards the Russian Sovereign and princes proceeded to the Elysees, where they are residing. As to the assassin, he stated his name to be Beregowski, and that he is a native of Volhynia. He seems to be only about twenty years of age. It is reported that he was concerned in the last insurrection in Poland, and that some members of his family suffered death for participa- tion in it. He was employed at Mr Gonin's, an instrument maker, after which at M. Gail's whom he left on the 4th of May, and he has since been living on his savings, augmented by the pecuniary assistance given to refugees. When brought up for examination, he was asked, 'How could you fire fit a sovereign, the guest of France, who nou- rished you?' He replied, with tears in his eyes: I t is true I committed a great crime towards France.' But you ran the t, risk of killing the Emperor Napoleon.' 'No,' he replied, I a Polish bullet could not go astray. It must go straight when aimed at the Czar. I wished to deliver the world of the Czar, and the Czar himself of the re- morse which must weigh upon him.' He was subsequently questioned by MM. Rouher and SchormalofF, and in reply said that he was an in- surgent at sixteen, when be broke off all intercourse with his family. He bad not communicated to anyone his intention of assassination for fear of being betrayed. After the examination Beregow- ski was perfectly collected. He signed the reports of the proceedings and showed no sorrow, but ex- pressed his regret at not having been successful. It is stated that some eleven Poles bad placed themselves at different points on the road, and that therefore this abortive attempt must be re- garded as a pre-arranged plot to assassinate the Czar. The rejoicings at its failure have been great. At the sitting of the Legislative Body, M. Schnei- der, the President, said, Yesterday, at a moment when our glorious army had just excited the ad- miration of the sovereigns assembled in Paris, an odious attempt at assassination was committed by a person of foreign origin. But Providence was watchful, and Evil was powerless. I shall inter- pret your sentiments and those of our noble and hospitable country, by proclaiming the profound indignation which this abominable attempt has excited in all our hearts, and by expressing on this occasion our sincere and respectful sympathy for the august guests of the Emperor and of France.' M. Schneider concluded his remarks amid renewed cheering and cries of 'Long live the Emperor A thanksgiving service has been celebrated at Z, the Russian Church. Addresses of congratulation, one signed by Poles, have been presented to the Czar, and Paris has been illuminated. THE RITUAL CO M M I S S I O N. WHITEHALL, JUNE 6, 1867. The Qaeen has been pleased to issue a commission, under her Majesty's sign Royal manual, to the effect following, viz. I Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, ¡ Defender of the Faith, to the Most Reverend Father in God, our right trusty and right entirely-beloved Councillor Charles Thomas, Archbishop of Canter- bury the Most Reverend Father in God, our right trusty and right entirely-beloved Councillor Macus Geryais, Archbishop of Armagh; our right trusty and ri¡;ht well-beloved Cousin Philip Henry, Earl Stanhope our right trusty and well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Dudley, Earl of Harrow by, Knight of our Most Noble Order of the Garter our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin Frederick Earl Beau- champ the Right Reverend Father in God, our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Archibald Campbell, Bishop of London the Right Reverend Father in God, Connop, Bishop of St David's the Right Reverend Father in God, Samuel, Bishop of Oxford the Right Reverend Father in God, Charles John, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol our right trusty and well-beloved Edward Berkeley, Baron Portman our right trusty and well-beloved Coun- cillor Robert, Baron Ebury; our right trusty and I. well-beloved Councillor, Spencer Horatio Walpole; our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor Edward Cardwell; our right trusty and well-beloved Coun- cillor Sir Joseph Napier, Bart; our trusty and well- beloved Sir William Page Wood, Knight, a Vice- Chancellor our trusty and well-beloved Sir Robert Joseph Phillimore, Knight, Doctor of Civil Law, our Advocate our trusty and well-beloved Travers Twiss, Doctor of Civil Law; our trusty and well- beloved John Duke Coleridge, Esq, one of our Counsel learned in the Law; our trusty and well-beloved John Abel Smith, Esq our trusty and well-beloved John Beresford Beresford-Hope, Esq; our trusty and well-beloved John Gellibrand Hubbard, Esq; our trusty and well-beloved Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of our Collegiate Church of Westminster; our trusty and well-beloved Harvey Goodwin, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of our Cathedral Church of Ely; our trusty and well-beloved James Amiraux Jeremie, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of our Cathedral Church of Lincoln, Regius Professor of Divinity in our University of Cambridge our trusty and well-beloved Robert Payne Smith, Doctor in Divinity, Regius Professor of Divinity in our Uni- versity of Oxford our trusty and weTl-beloved Henry Venn, Clerk, Bachelor in Divinity our trusty and well-beloved William Gilson Humphry, Clerk, Bachelor in Divinity our trusty and well-beloved Robert Gregory, Clerk; and our trusty and well- beloved Thomas Walter Perry, Clerk, greeting. Whereas it has been represented unto us that differ- ences of practice have arisen from varying inter- pretations put upon the rubrics, orders, and directions for regulating the course and conduct of public wor- ship, the administration of the Sacraments, and the other services contained in the Book of Common Prayer, according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland, and more especially with reference to the ornaments used in the churches and chapels of the said United Church, and the vest- ments worn by the ministers thereof at the time of their ministration. And whereas it is expedient that a full and im- partial inquiry should be made into the matters afore- said, with the view of explaining or amending the said rubrics, orders, and directions, so as to secure general uniformity of practice in such matters as may be deemed essential. Now know ye that we, reposing great confidence in your ability and discretion, have nominated, con- i stitutei, and appointed, and by these presents do constitute, nominate, and appoint you to -be our commissioners for the purpose of the said inquiry. And we do hereby enjoin you, or any ten or'more of you, to make diligent inquiry into all and every the matters aforesaid, and to report .thereupon from from time to time as to you or any ten or more of you may appear to he most expedient, having regard not only to the said rubtics, orders, and directions contained in the said Book of Common Prayer, but also to any other laws or customs relating to the matters aforesaid, with power to suggest any altera- tions, improvements, or amendments, with respect to such matters, or any of them, as you or any ten or I more of you may think fit to recommend. And whereas it has farther been represented unto us that some alterations may advantageonsly be made in the Proper Lessons appointed. to be read in morn- ing and evening prayer on the Sundays and holidays throughout the year, and in the calendar with the table of First and Second Lessons contained in the said Book of Common Prayer. Now, we hereby further enjoin you, or any ten or more of you, after you have completed and i-eported I on the matters referred to in the former part of this commission, to inquire into and consider the Proper Lessons so appointed to be read as aforesaid, and the table of First and Second Lessons contained in the said Book of Common Prayer, with the view of sug- gesting and reporting to us whether any and what amendments may be advantageously made in the selection of lessons to be read at the time of Divine Service. And for the better discovery of the truth in the premises, we do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any ten or more of you, full power and autho- rity to call before you, or any ten or more of you such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be the better informed of the truth in the pre- mises, and to inquire of the premises and every part thereof, byall other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And our further will and pleasure is that you, our said commissioners, do, with as little delay as may be consistent with a due discharge of the duties hereby imposed upon you, certify unto us under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any ten or more of you, your several proceedings in the premises. And we do further will and command, and by these presents ordain, that this our commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you our said commissioners, or any ten or more of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter or thing therein con- tained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment. And for your assistance in the execution of this our commission, we have made choice of our trusty and well-beloved William Francis Kemp, Esq, barrister-at-law, to be the security to this our com- mission, and to attend you, whose services and assistance we require you to use, from time to time as occasion may require. Given at our Court at St James's, the 3rd day of June, 1867, in the thirtieth year of our reign. 'By her Majesty's command, GATHORNE HAUDY.' -*• THE MKCCA PILGRIMS.—The pilgrims of Mecca have so much to do with the occasional introduction of cholera into Europe, that we are accustomed to watch their movements with some interest and no little anxiety. It is, therefore, satisfactory to learn that this year the pilgrimage has been attended with more favourable results than usual. Intelligence from Suez states that 8847 pilgrims had arrived, and that, owing to extreme attention to sanitary measures, not a single death had occurred. The pilgrims from Jerusalem are returning, a Russian steamer, the Vladimir, having no fewer than 850 to Constantinople. Medical 7'itnes and Gazette. THE VOLUNTEER CAPITATION GRANT, In the House of Commons on Friday, Mr Schreiber asked the Secretary of State for War whether the capitation grant due to volunteers for the year ending the 30th of November, I860, had z;1 yet been paid; and, if not, what was the cause of the delay; and whether it might not be pre- z., vented in future. Sir J. Pakington said the pre- sent state of the capitation grant was this—that, of the £ 120,000 voted on account at the com- mencement of the year for the efficient service of last year, £76,000 had been issued. The delay in issuing the money arose from various causes, among which the prinsipal one was that the money was not issued till applied for, and when applied for experience had proved that it was necessary to examine the accounts closely in order tp ascer- tain that they were completely made up. FULFILMENT OF A Vow.—A letter from Bel- grade says:—'A curious and somewhat ludicrous little incident occurred here the other day which has been much talked about, and is not without a certain significance. A body of well-known Servians, all members of the extreme patriotic party, marched through the streets with long beards down to their knees, escorted by a number of barbers, razors in hahd, and, in this array, entered the fortress, where the barbers proceeded at once to strip these bearded pards of their hirsute adornments and send them out clean shaved. The fact is, that, at the bombardment of Belgrade in 1862, these Servians bad vowed never to let a razor touch their faces until they could do so in the fortress itself on the day in which the Turkish troops abandoned it, and they completed their vow in the manner I have de- scribed.' MR PEABODY'S PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN.-On the 26th of April, a communication was addressed to Mr George Peabody, by Mayor M'Michael and other citizens of Philadelphia, requesting that the portrait of Queen Victoria, recently presented to him, might be placed on exhibition in that city, proceeds to be devoted to charitable object's, under such directions and restrictions as Mr Pea- body might prescribe. Mr Peabody responded on the 30th ult, as follows :—' New York, April, 30, 1867.—Gentlemen,—I beg to acknowledge the re- Iceipt of your note yesterday, requesting that I tvould permit you to take charge of the portrait of her Majesty Queen Victoria, which she has presented to me, and to place it on exhibition iu the city of Philadelphia. I am glad lo be able to accede to your request, and therefore will now place it in your bauds, to exhibit as you think best and as you propose that I the proceeds be applied to charitable objects,' I beg to say that I believe no distribution of any benefit whTcIT might be dcmed from it could be more pleasing to the kind benevolent heart of the Queen than that one-half should be appropriated toward the relief of the suffering and destitute of the South, and the remaining half devoted to such charitable I purposes in your own city as you may yourselves think proper. With this suggestion, gentlemen, I will place the portrait in your hands, and it will be transported to you during the present week. It has as yet been seen only by a few citizens of this city, who have callcd for the purpose at the house of the friends with whom I am staying. I have no directions to give in regard to its exhibi- tion, as I am sure you will take every precaution in fhe care of it, while it remains in your hands, to secure from the possibility of injury the me- mento which, aside from its artistic merit and intrinsic value, [ must ever prize so highly from the associations with which it is connected. You will, therefore, after exhibition, retain the por- trait, subject to my future instruction.—Respect- fully and truly, George Peabodj.'—JSew York Times. CRICKET AT CONSTANTINOPLE. — On Friday, May 24, a very interesting cricket-match was played in the Ok-meidan between the pupils 01 the Eng- lish Chapel School and the apprentice engineers of Haskeui. Though Mr Coldham's little ones played hard and well, the victory on this oc- casion was to the strong,—the young engineers Z5 winning the game with a margin of several wickets. The Rev C. G. Curtis was scorer, and the Rev C. Hanson one of the umpires on the oc- casion.-Levant Herald. PROBABI.E EXTINCTION OF THE ELEPHANT.-An enor- mous number of elephants are destroyed in the course of I every year, often as unpleasant neighbours to man in the wild. state, prone to make havoc with the rice and grain fields, but far more' persistently and fully to meet the demands of commerce for the ivory of the tusks. Though. f the largest and the strongest of all existing quadrupeds, the animal Is very readily decoyed into captivity in order to be domesticated, apd is easily slain by the hunter's rifle. The great bull elephant of three tons weight- leader of a lierd-generally falls lifeless in an instant, if a ball is skilfully planted in the eye, or at the base of the trunk, or behind the ear; and 'crMk' sportsmen have j been known to kill right and left, one with each barre!. In part of the northern province of Ceylon, upon the reward of a few shillings per head being offered by the authorities, 3500 were despatched in less than three years by the natives. Sheffield alone requires annually the slaughter of a large army of the huge pachyderms, estimated some years apo at 22,0,10, to furnish ivory for the various articles produced in its manufacturing estab- lishments; and every civilised country needs a supply of the material for the useful and ornamental arts. Hence, not being prolific, it is by no means improbable, that long before our human story is over the elephant will be numbered with extinct species.—From The Supply ef Ivory, in the PEOPLE'S MAGAZINE. THE RICHfS OF RusalAX AMERICA.'—The same animals are probably to be met with—with the addition of Polar bears, walruses, And reindeer—in Russian America aq in British Columbia, only to a lesser extent, and many only a certain distance to the north. Such are the great deer—the wapiti, the eDi, and the caribou; also the black-tailed deer-the fa!low deer of the Pacific. There are also arctic harps and rabbits. The beaver is to be met wall in some rivers. Black bears and grizzly bears are alllo met with, as well as Polar bears; but the skins are of little marketable value, although making good rugs. Racoons are numerous in some parts of the coast. There are two species of marten, the yellow- breasted or pine marten, and one of a whole colour, the skins of which are in great request, and are collected in large numbers by the fur traders. A good one is worth from 6s to 8s. There are also common minks and skunks. The skins of seals and otters are, however, the most | sought after. There are two kinds of otters-the land otter and the sea otter. The land otter is frequently shot by the Indians, but the skin is of little value; whereas the skin of a foil-sized sea-otter, undressed, and measuring six feet, commands the price of3"b!dnkets— Y,12 to £ 14. There are also red and silver foxes, squirrels, (which are shot in great numbers for the table), and marmots. Birds including swans, geese, ducks, plover, snipe, and some land game birds are to be met with; and the seas and large inlets, as also the bays and river*; south, of the Arctic circle, ace literally alive with fish. The shores also contribute large edible crabs, shrimps, muscles, cockles, limpets, clans, and other shell fish. Salmon are so numerous that some of the rivers have actually been known to become offensive from the putrid i bodies of sneil as have tailed to make their wa) up the various tails.