The Express. — London, England, 1863-12-25 00:00:00

JO. sad J. FIELD, original manufacturers Deese& TAIAPEt NZ e•N UL M. to wheat the prim Mme ~ (llloNine leer awarded. mid their candles od•prill brat !WWI Geggiretant for meat the military Malian man candles out be obtained of all chalkier* sad ha the Vatted Mendes& Trice la. dd. per petted aloe 'a cele brated Vaned &Int* Soap Tabletn W. and Id. and The pal& an cautioned to see that Ittebra label Is tn. the llatall Lm er haute Wlioiscale only. sad ter eapertatien.—Lipper Leen" L CRINOLINES.—SANSFLECTU?dfi 10s. 6d. PHILNYII9I, 37, PICCADILLY. CRINOLINES for NVEIfING WEAR. 15e. 6d. paltrorrs, 37, PICCADILLY. (CRINOLINES for LITTLE GIRLS. 3a. 6d. PRP-2011W IL PICCADILLY. ORINOLINES.—ONDINA, or WAVED. J no PATE2f TON DIN A, or Waved !upon. does away with the unsightly results of the ordinary hoos. pram. t *re the wavelike bands, that a ladymay ascend a stoop mr, lean amthist a Mb* thpier hermit into au arm-chair, pass to her atall at the opera, or occupy a fourth seat in a carriage. without Immure itleo,-e to herself or others, or provoking rude remarks of the onaervers, thus modifying to an important draes all those pects- Parities tending to destroy the mo.leuty of Math worm.: and, hotly. it allows the dress to fall Into gractful folds. Price, Its. sod 9Ja. 13d. Mustrations free. EIIIILPO - TI:17, PICCADILLY. W. ALFRED WEBB MILES, Everybody knows Mr. MILER, REMOVED from Rued-s root, to Ty 1161:107t1ITREILS, Senor to 196 P. The 16e. TR.OI6EBM ;orighated by him la aU the New Patterns for trioter.:hettentltsu ever." SMUG NOTICR TO GEN'TLEMIN. A. W. MIL begs most respectfully to announce that his stock In the rations departments of Mt establishment ts now replete fee Overcoats, Vesting:a. Bedford Cords, and scarlet waterproof cloth fur huntins The wool dyed Black and Blue Frock Coats. 50s. A choice of 50 pieces of indettructilde *aided West if Zeeland Cloths. ESTABLISIIZD Ic4l. Only address. HOW COLD IT HAS BEEN.—NHORILTTI am UMBRA'S celebrated THSYYUWEYW will eor me* radiate the lowest temperature. Print ea. dd. -1. Hatton trades le, Coruhill 16.1, Pleet-etneet . sad 122, kelleat - attest. Arab mated. Eke ersreoo. TO 0070JIBPONDINIX Avertlemeale biteided ter " - liel;We.; Leedom Weenie. Pew, moat be at tbe /Mee IA . beeverfeetrdeb by Tiro idea eis lie day of ribbonlike. oovNmoAsoix, T0•31 , 61t0W in 4 ct of TRI BOREVIAN GIRL -And BAMAKO:TIN RT. OROBOR AND THE DRAGON. Mews. W. H. Payne, N. Parse, Y. Pe.w se. the Brothers Nowa*, Ildlle Esther.—Commence at 7. HAYKARErr. TO-3101IROW I'VlNDia.7lliiiffilieAN COUSIN. Messrs . Bothers, Buckstone. Chippendale. Gordon. Rows, Coe, and Clark Mesdames Angel end Snowdon.—And SING ARTEMIS. Mr. Compton ; Mesdames L Seeley, Terry. Lindley, E. Romer. LYCIIIbI. TO-XMILOW avrinte. TillLiliT CHILD. Mr. Wlddleomb awl Min P. Leclereq. —DU Dl WWI% a Love Stem Maws. peak/. Dreaghaeo, !men Mirka. aad Jordan Mime Terry, Lemma, arid and Mo. Leo. To-roiutow Women. at 12. and In the Evening. the New Pantomime HICKOtY. DIMWIT; DUCK. llta S Lane and first-rate Pantom mlita.-11te Ilarve/a of Peru. THE GREAT GHOST EMCT.—Artliernmelettrand.—The Fa.t) Fountaka. MN WALVIS AT IDADOD BREDOM. T D*T Di Is Animism. Vt. Va. foaosaew Moneta& ID. Mi... A.ftassis. tb as LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25. Tea revolving year brings Christmas again, and with it the memories of pesos and good-will which its first advent heralded. Nor, though there be now not peace on earth, but rather the sword and the fire which were foretold, and which must needs do their work while iniquity still prevails, ought we with doubting hearts to accept the peculiar message of the day. As the rainbow shines in shower and storm, the blessed pledge that no flood shall again sweep the earth, so the sound of Christmas bells, through the air thick with rumours of war and echoes of bloody pas sions, comes to remind us of that Eternal Love which once appeared in bodily form on earth, and which shall yet bring all mankind as children to a FATitss. So, for one day at least, let strife be forgotten, and let us accept the inspiration of that popular belief which tells us that, in the season wherein our Ssviouit's birth is celebrated, No spirit dares stir abroad; Tlin nights are wholesome ; then no planet strikes, No thity takes, nor witch bath power to harm, klo bellowed and so gracious is the time. But even if this effort be beyond our faith, and our saddened thoughts cannot rejoice in hope while so much misery abounds, there is one re membranes still which is stronger than faith and hope, and which can never fail. That personal love which was due to Himself our RSDILMILIL be questbed to the poor. He left them in His place to receive the benefactions which were a weak tribute of gratitude for His immeasurable sacrifice. Though He should depart, they should, He declared, ever be with us. And thus we may recall His presence, and realise His yet living words by turn ing to those of whom He was, from whom He chose His friends and followers, and by whom, we know from His own announcement, • humble offering made in earnest love was •ooepted as more than all that the rich, men gave of their abundance. It is true that even in Divine charity, when it passes through human hands, there is the inevit able stain of human imperfection. To give largely is not enough unless we give wisely--to give with the purest motives is not enough unless we give with the best of our judgment also. Indiscrimi nating alms not only cheat the deserving of their due, but harden the reprobate in their evil lives. There is no escaping from the necessity of investi gation. Nor can the investigation be delegated. Before we delegate we must ascertain the charac ter of those we trust, and if a public body under takes to administer our gifts, we must first inquire into its system of selection and management. But after all, this is only to come back to the old truth, that we cannot buy an outran°e into the kingdom of Heaven with gold alone. To the money we bestow we must add personal exertion and pains taking. Whether we go among the poor and with our own hands distribute to their wants, or whether we confide our donation' to the application of others, they will be meritless on our parts, and probably hurtful to the recipients, unless we sanc tify them with sacrifice of ease. So, though civi lization opens up a thousand new channels through which charity may do its holy work, it never supersedes the simplest and earliest form in which brotherly kindness showed itself. The magnificent institutions with which our cities are studded, in which it seems as if every form of human suffering might find succour, do but methodist, and divide the labour. If for a moment the watchful superintendence of those by whom they are supported is withdrawn from the manage ment, neglect and fraud creep in. Nor may we even implicitly trust to those in which there is the most assiduous supervision. Benevolence unfor tunately is often foolish, and selects wrong objects for its bounty. Many of the old forms of bene faction are become unsuitable to modern society. Many that do real good in their immediate influ ence, do a far larger amount of harm in their re motor consequences. Still, therefore, we are brought back to the inevitable condition, that we cannot with safety bestow an alms unless we do what is in our power to ascertain that it is de served, and that it will be truly biniefictiaL We may, however, take leave to point oat one class of establishments in which, if we can make sure of good management, the chances of erro neous application are reduced to a minimum. These are our various Orphan Schools. It is quite clear that a very practicable degree of investigation can make aerlmie .. !aL a t: qualification for admission is possessed. Of the need fee. je - slpis case of those thus qualified there cen"in general be but little doubt. As orphans they are home less, dependent at best on the charity of relatives, and bag that resource, having none but the workhonin But the workhouse is, by the law of its existence, a hard end cruel school, and it can scarcely relax its severity in favour of those who have not deserved severity. For such cases the milder and kinder refuge which voluntary charity can supply is justly invoked. Nor let us forget how much the safety and happiness of society de pend on the well bringing up of these involuntary waifs. There is no readier nursery of crime than the bands of youthful orphans supply. On the other hand, they are as yet undepraved, and may by timely care be preserved. It is true political economy, no leas than pure religion and undefiled, to visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction. And to give aid to an institution which is esteblished for this purpose, after due in quiry into its system of training, is in such a case to give aid in the most effectual way, for it is im possible that these forlorn children could be edu cated separately, and it is only by maintaining a combined asylum and school that their wants can be provided for. Yet even in this matter the in fluence of holy sympathy is not excluded—a donor may add to the value of his gift by personal super intendence, and may crown the benefit conferred by effectual aid given to the pupils after they leave the school to enter into the world. There are many institutions fulfilling the condi tions we describe—we may take am example, without seeking to place it above others, the excel lent Orphan Working School at Haveratock-bill. This establishment, originally intended for only 20 boys, now contains nearly 200 boys and 100 girls. It has room for a hundred more, if only the funds were forthcoming for their support, and for the payment of debt incurred in enlarging the premises. The system is to receive orphans between the ages of 7 and 11, to retain them till they are 14 (if girls till 15 or 16), when, if possible, work or situations are procured for them, and an effort is made to keep them in sight till they are 21. That the demands on the institution are numerous we may infer from the fact that it appears that for thirty vacancies in October last there were 129 Candidates ; that it is economically conducted may be judged of from the accounts, which show the average maintenance of each inmate to be under 111. ; while clothing and education, with all the other charges of the establishment, average about IV. per bead more. There can be little doubt that these sums are well bestowed, for the present end for the future, and bear good interest to the community as well as to the children succoured. And such an institution as this is one that we may well think of on the day when we think of the Child of MART and the manger at Bethlehem over which the star of the east stood still, and from which the message of peace and good-will to men was spoken. To lonely men and women of middle age there is probably nothing more mournful in life's weary round than the seasons dedicated to gladness and joy. To those who have tasted early all the sweets of fortune, most bitter is the loving-cup from the bands of happy strangers ! Christmas, that fills human homes as yet unstricken by time and change with garlands of living flowers and the melody of children's tongues, brings to the be lated on life's journey visions of vanished faces, echoes of silenced voices, and of unreturning foot steps. Surely it is wall, ea the shadows lengthen and the golden horizon fades into a cold dull grey, and even music and the laughter of happy children make the eyes dim with tears unshed, that the season of so many meetings, charged with the memory of so many partings, should be the season of everlasting promise alike for the happy and the unhappy here below. This year Christmas Eve, the day of all the year on which a good man would be content to die, comes charged with • sad message to us all. A light has gone out among us ; • light that forty eight hours ego was burning bright and clear aa the piercing flame of genius. A light has gone out that no human industry or enterprise can rekindle : no spark of royal favour or ministerial patronage can relurne. Statesmen, successful lawyers, mili tary chiefs, are little missed, soon forgotten, easily replaced. As often as not they are the creatures of patronage, of intrigue, the favourites of fortune, the reapers of harvests of renown sown by obscure and unrewarded hands. As they sink beneath the horizon, the fame of such men seems to fill the sky, but when they disap -1 pear they leave nothing but darkness behind. But the genius that has warmed the world with its rays sheds • stream of radiance in departing that gives delight to generations unborn. English literature has lost in Mr. THACKSHAT one whose name and works, as long as England has • litera ture, will take rank among the English classics. In the literature of fiction he will take his place by right divine in the goodly company of those English humouriata whose shrine in our national Pantheon he has contributed to preserve and adorn. Beside ADDISON, FI•LDINO, SWIFT, %mass, and GOLDSMITH, WILLIAM IifAiII9LACZ THACKERAT will, we are persuaded, bold a place distinct yet not unequal, by the right of a genius, within its limits, one of the most profound and penetrating in insight, most subtle and delicate in perception, most exquisite in expression, that even England his produced. MACH/21.4'S fame as a writer blossomed late, and in this at least his was no exceptional career. Dying at 52, it was not before his thirtieth year that be became known in his proper person to his countrymen as the author of • world of imaginary men and women, whom in his own pathetically disdainful way he milled " puppets," but whom his readers recognised as beings of flesh and blood. He had written already much and admirably, as he could not help writing; but be had written on water, and his name was still a shadow. But sines, in " Vanity Fair," he first revealed the full strength of his finely tempered intellect and his most learned spirit in human dealings,' what treasures of wit, and humour, and pathos, what a gallery of speaking pictures, be has created And of these writings, however different in in terest or merit, it may be affirmed that all are finished pieces of workmanship, and all destined to survive, because they all essentially belong to the man that wrote them, and to no one else ; in the whole of them there is not • line of mere reminiscence or imitation. There was in THACILZHAY, too, that temperament of genius, that originality of power, that particularity, that flavour which some writers call cynicism, some bitterness, but which is really nothing more nor less than the humorous sadness of • man of the world who, being also • man of genius, has a mental eyesight like a double-edged sword, a heart all tenderness, bet • hand against every pretender in • world full of pretenders. bhe heart to: judge too nicely what remains be to While we are lamenting all that has been so sud- denly Wm. away f This true gentlenan, bi loved bimany, and by all regretto& - gave the world during fi ve-and-twenty years st• life not exempt from pain and sorrow his " immortal " part" Let us know how to be grateful to the memory of one who, having suffered with an equal mind the trials and temptations of good and evil fortune, turned the evil into good, and grew richer and happier as he approached the autumn that was to know no winter, in making the world richer and happier by the work of his heart and brain. Our readers, while they make merry iu their homes to day, will spare a sadder sympathy for that house of mourning at Kensington, which will henceforth be often gazed upon by curious and loving eyes, as the house in which WILUAX hf txzerrce THACILIIILLY died. DEATH OF WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. The evening papers yesterday contained, in just two linen, the sad and startling intelligence that the author of " Vanity Fair" was no more. During the week Mr. Thaelteray's familiar and command ing figure has been seen moving among us, and perhaps there was scarcely any public character whom we associated lees with the expectation of early death. The illness which has terminated thus fatally was of three days' duration, but came to an end suddenly. It was but two days ago that he might be seen at his club, radiant and buoyant with glee. With all his high spirits, however, he did not seem well ; he complained of illness ; but he was often ill, and be laughed off his present attack. He said that he was about to undergo some treatment which would work a perfect cure in his system, and so he made light of his malady. He was suffering from two distinct com plaints, one of which has now wrought his death. 1 More than a dozen years ago, while he was writing "Pendennia," it will be remembered that the publication of that work was stopped by his serious illness. He was brought to death's door, and be was saved from death by Dr. Elliotson, to whom, in gratitude, he dedicated the novel when he lived to finish it. But ever since that ailment he has been sub ject every mouth or six weeks to attacks of sickness, attended with violent retching. He was congratulat ing himself the other day on the failure of his old enemy to return, and then he checked himself, as if he ought not to be too sure of a release from his plague. On Wednesday morning the com plaint returned, and he was in great suffering all day. He was no better in the evening, and his servant, about the time of leaving him for the night, proposed to sit up with him. This he de clined. He was heard moving about midnight, and be must have died between 2 and 3 in the morning of yesterday. His medical attendants attribute his death to effusion on the brain. They add that he bad a very large brain, weighing no lees than 581, oz. He thus died of the complaint which seemed to trouble him least. He died full of plans and hopes. On Monday last be was congratulating himself on having finished four numbers of a new novel ; be had the manuscript in his pocket, and with a boyish frankness showed the last pages to a friend, asking him to read them and see what he could make of them. When he had completed four numbers more he said be would subject himself to the skill of a very clever surgeon, and be no more an invalid. Li the fulness of his powers he has fallen before a complaint which gave him no alarm. So lately asthe 12th of this month Mr. Tbackeray was an honoured guest at his beloved "Gray friars," on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of Thomas Sutton, the munificent founder of Charter House. He was present in his usual hack seat in the quaint old chapel ; lie went thence to the "Oration," in the governors' room, and, as he walked up to the Orator with his contribution, be was received with such hearty applause as only Cartbusians c►n give to one who has immortalised their school. At the banquet afterwards he sat side by side with his old friend, John Leech, at the high table, and, in a humorous speech, proposed the health of the noble foundation which he has adorned by his literary fame, and made popular in his works. Last Tuesday he followed to the grave his relative Lady Rodd, widow of Vioe-Admiral Sir John Tremayne Rodd, K.C.8., who was the daughter of Major James Retina, F.R.S., Surveyor-General of Bengal, by the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Tbacke ray, head-master of Harrow SchooL His valet called him yesterday morning about 9 o'clock and found him in his bed quite dead, lying placid, apparently without having suffered any pain. He leaves behind him two daughters to mourn his loss. It is no secret that one of them, inheriting tnuch of her father's talent, is the author of the " Story of Elizabeth " in the Cornhill Magazine. William Makepeace Tbackeray was born at Cal cutta in 1811. His father, the son of the Rev. Richard Thackeray, of Hadley, in Middlesex, was descended from an old Yorkshire family, and held a post in the civil service of the East India Company. The future author was sent to England in his seventh year, when, the ship having touched at St. Helena, be saw Napoleon. He has himself described the incident. " My black servant took me a walk over paths and bills till we passed a garden, where we saw a man walking. ' That is Bonaparte,' said the black ; ' he eats three sheep every day, and all the children he can lay his hands on." Thackeray was placed at the school of the Charterbouse, commemorated iu more than one of his works in a spirit of affectionate loyalty. From thence be proceeded to Cambridge, but left the university without taking a degree. On coming of age be found himself in possession of a fortune of 20,0001., but not wishing to had an idle life be chose the profession of an artist, in the pursuit of which be visited Italy and Germany. For a time he re sided at Wiemar when Gothe was at the summit of Ibis fame, and in a letter to Mr. G. H. Lewes he has consigned his reminiscences of the greatest of Ger i man poets and critics. The influence of his artistic studies may no doubt be traced in his writings, ' soma of which are illustrated by sketches from his : pencil ; but Mr. Thackeray has given the world no work by which it may judge of the rank he might have acquired in art had he remained constant to his first choice of a profession. It was when be was about six or seven and twenty years of age, and when his inherited fortune had been much reduced by losses, that rMr. Thackeray addicted himself in earnest to literature. His fame, the reward of steady conscientious industry, weeded slow growth. His earliest writings are now confounded and for. gotten with the miscellaneous outpourings of the anonymous press of that day. The first contribu tions be made to literature under a distinctive name were the tales, criticisms, and descriptive sketches which appeared in Fraser's Magazine under the pseudonyms of Michael Angelo Titmarsh, and George Fitz-Boodle, Esq. The keen observation, I delicate irony, and refined style of these magazin e ' papers attracted the notice of readers like the late . John Sterling, who predicted the author's future fame, but left the mass of devourers of monthly' But this is not the hour or the place to yen- , ture to speak critically of one whose loss we mourn to-day. Can we hare at this saaabssi THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENINGS DECEMBER 25, 1863. The 1 form "The literature urnioneciomii of extraordinary first of his works witich appeared in a sa were "Tke Falb Sketch Book " (1840), Second Funeral of Napoleon," and " Chic nicles of a Dream," in metre, published together (1841). But neither these, nor "The Irish Sketch Book " (1843), made a permanent impression on the public, which, so faithful to old friends, was in this case slow to discover unaided merit. Some of Mr. Thackeray's best smaller pieces, as " The Bog garty Diamond"and "Barry Lyndon," appeared in Fraser. The foundation in 1841 of a weekly periodical, serv ing as a vehicle for the circulation of the lighter papers of humorists, had unquestionably au im portant influence in the development of Tbacke ray's talents and fame. From an early date he was connected with Punch, ut first as the " Fat Con tributor," and soon after as the author of the inimitable "Jeames's Diary" and "The Snob Papers." If satire could do aught to cheek the pride of the vulgar upstart or shame social hypo crisy into truth and simplicity, these writings would accomplish the task. Thackeray's name was now becoming known, and people began to distinguish and inquire for his contributions. In 1846 he advanced to • higher form of composition than he had before essayed. His first and perhaps greatest novel, " Vanity Fair," began to appear in that year, and being continued in monthly parts, grew in public favour until, on its completion in 1848, its author was universally recognised as one of our greatest living writers of fiction. Nowhere is Thackeray's peculiar power more concentrated than in this novel, and the heroine—the cool, clever, unprincipled Becky Sharp—will long re main the type of feminine intellect without virtue. Passing over some small occasional and Christmas books, " Notes of a Journey from 03oenhill to Grand Cairo" (1846), "Mrs. Perkins's Ball" (1847), " Dr. Birch and his Young Friends" (1849), we come to "Pendennis," the portraiture of a man of unpleasant character, notwithstanding his sense of conventional honour, whom Mr. Thackeray invited the world, " knowing how mean the best of us is," to receive with charity "with all his faults and shortcomings, who does not claim to be a hero, but only a man and a brother." It was in " Pendennis " that critics first discovered the tendency, which has since been frequently charged on Mr. Thackeray, and traced in nearly all his writings, to dwell by preference on the dark and unlovely aide of human character, and hold up the petty and ignoble aide of all things while overlooking the goodness that exists in the world. The charge first took a serious form in • criticism of "The Kikleburys on the Rhine," Mr. Thackeray's Christmas book in 1859, and provoked an exceedingly caustic reply, prefixed to a second edition of the volume which was immediately called for. In 1851 Macke ray delivered at Willis's-rooms a course of " Six Lectures on the English Humourista," which de lighted the most brilliant audiences which have honoured a literary man in these days, and have since been numbered with Lis published works. In 1852 "The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.," was given to the world. As an achievement of literary art this has usually been considered the greatest of the author's performances, but if the test of literature is the interest it excites, " Esmond" has been surpassed by many of the author's works which exhibit less technical skill. The nobler tone of this work may be con sidered either as a refutation of the cen sures founded on the features of " Penden- Dim," or as an improvement suggested by the taste of the public, expressed through the medium of adverse criticism. " The Newoomes," published in 1855, revealed a deeper pathos than any of Mr. I Thackeray's previous novels, and showed that the author could when he pleased give us pictures of moral beauty and loveliness. The success of the lectures on the English Humourists, and the ten- deny of the historical studies evident in "Esmond," led Mr. Thackeray to prepare • series of lectures ou " The Four Georges," which he first delivered in the United States. The subject was not fa vourable to the display of the author's more genial qualities : very little that is good could be said of the Georges. Yet where in English literatureshall we find anything more solemn and affecting than his picture of the affliction of the old king, the last of that name All light, all reason, all sound of human voices, all the pleasured' of this world of God, were taken from him. 601114 slight lucid moments he had ; in one of which the Queen, desiring Loose him, entered the room, and found him singing a hymn. and accompanying himself at the harpsichord., When he had finished, he knelt down and prayed aloud for her, and then for his family, and then for the nation, ooncludieg with a prayer for himself, that it might plow God to avert his heavy calamity from hint, but if not, to give him resignation to submit. He then burst into tears, and his risme again What preacher need moralise oo this story ; what words save the simplest are requisite to tell it? It is too tenth:* for teary The thought of such a misery smites me 1 1 down in submission before the Ruler of kings and men, the Monarch Supreme over empires and republics, the in. Imitable Dispenser of life, death, happiness, victory. "O brothers," I said to those who heard me first in America— '' 0 brothers ! speaking the same dear mother tongue-0 comrades ! enemies so more, let us take a mournful hand together as we stand by this royal corpse, and cell a truce to battle ! Low he lies to whom the proudest used to kneel oaos, and who was cast lower then the poorest; deed whom millions prayed for in vein. Hush. Strife and Quarrel, over the &ems grave ! Sound Trumpets, a mournful march. Fall, Dark Curtain, upon his pageant, his pride, his grief, his awful tragedy !" The man who wrote these lines was no cold hearted cynic. In 1857 Thackeray solicited the ' suffrages of the constituency of the city of Oxford. He had an odd way of canvassing, declaring that his opponent, Mr. Cardwell, was the better man. The citizens, perhaps, thought that he would be better engaged in writing works for posterity than wearing out his life in committee rooms and late sittings in the House of Commons, discussing railway and gas bills or fixing the rate of d uty'oncorks squared for rounding. Atalleventsthey did not bind him to their service, and in the same year he was writing and publishing his " Virgi nians," the last of his principal novels. In 1860 he became the editor of the Corakill Moraine, which rapidly attained a degree of swoons without example in English magazine literature. "Lovel the Widower" and " The Adventures of Philip" appeared in its pages, but are not to be compared with the aeries of fictions by which they were preceded. This is not the time to attempt to do justice to Thackeray's genius and character. Many of the faults with which he has been charged existed only in appearance. The work he set himself to do, the relentless war he waged with hypocrisy, exhibited the sterner side of his nature, and led people to speak of him as a cynic with only one text, "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity." If this were true, it might be urged that the age has flatterers enough in all conscience. But it is un true. A tone of benevolence accompanies his saddest reflections on human life. Let it be re corded to his honour that he uniformly employed his talents to make men better, and that his literary teachings were supported by the high example of a correct and honourable life. orissigs ors _ EMPRESS 111031 PARIS. I PRIM. THURSDAY EVINIIIIO. M. Pelletan took his seat in the Cape latigislatif to-day without opposition. i - - M. Th i es s s now speaking in support of his amendment to the Loan Bill. The report of the debate, which you will receive by the next poet, will deprive the comments of the evening journals of all interest. I notice, however, as a resume of the situation, the statement of the PMWe that "the war policy so solemnly condemned by the Emperor in the memorable speech of Nov. 6, so manifestly contrary to the tendencies of both chambers, and to the wishes of the country—is now also reprobated by the most influential members of the democratic party." In point of fact MM. Ravin and Gueroult are at this moment the only prominent advocates of war in France. They certainly have not a large following. General Mieroslaweki writes to the French journals that M. Bonjean had no authority for dating in the Renate that he had been dismissed from his post of " organisator of the Polish forces except in certain parts of Poland." Prince Dedham Czartoryslu, however, says that although at the time he wrote a letter cited by General Mieroelawski (Nov. 19) he did not know of his dismissal, he received the news on Dec. 9 direct from the National Government. There seems, therefore, to be no doubt that M. Bonjean was cor rectly informed on the subject. This incident shows that grievous divisions among themselves add to the other misfortunes of the Polish insur gents Nubar Pacha sends the following note to the Nation : Hum Pacha think, it beneath the dignity of the govern ment which he represents to reply to libellous !mirage and a mode of proceeding which he abstain, from describing. He awaits the action which fiL de lemma says he Main to bring. The Bonne remains with acareely any change. PARIS, WIDIMIDAT NIGHT. M. Goalies report on the bill for • loan of 300 millions commences by stating that • proposition of that nature could not be too seriously considered, when it is connected with expenditure as to which it is the duty of the Chamber to form an opinion, but that such was not the present case, because the product of the loan was intended to be applied in liquidation of liabilities which had already been sanctioned in preceding sessions. The Chamber, therefore, in the opinion of the committee, was not called upon to exercise such • severe control as in the cast of • new expense ; but it still had a duty, and that was to assure the fulfilment of the engage ments which it bad consented to. The resources of 1 1 several precediug budgets having proved in sufficient, the Treasury was called upon to cover the deficits, and hence bad arisen a too considerable augmentation of the floating debt. The question before them was therefore very simple—there was no question of any fresh expenditure, but merely whether the present state of things should con tinue, or whether it was not more prudent to diminish the floating debt by creating new re sources for the Treasury. It was a pure financial measure. After explaining the well-known difference be tween the floating debt, which entails a liability to reimburse capital at a abort notice, and tbe conso lidated debt, which is satisfied by regular payment of interest, and adopting M. Fould's opinion that the floating dobt had become too heavy, the report says : We hasten to declare that in accepting this financial op.. ration we by no means intend to give the government the mans of readily incurring fresh expenses beyond those which our budget affords ; on the contrary, we insist with ell our strength that the government should confine itself within the ordinary resources of the budget, and not enter upon *course of extraordinary expenditure which would bare the gravest consequences for our future. Let as henceforth learn to resist the eeductioes of glory : let us be satisfied to enjoy the glory which we have already, sad in the tranquil pomention of which we may very hooourably wish for that pawed which all peoples stand is great need. lAPPlaseall Let us have peace, and our finances will im prove ; we may then spend more upon public works, which will be • fruitful source of wealth and prosperity for our populations. After stating that the committee considered it a mere matter of course to leave to the government, conformably to all precedent, as to the time and manner of negotiating the loan to the beat advan tage, whether by public subscription or otherwise, and after expressing a passing--and probably also a matter of course—hope that the time might come when economy would restore the regular action of the sinking fund which had been long suspended, the report observes : Loans are no doubt necessary under curtain extraordinary circumstances, but they ought not to be consented to with oat the firm intention of demanding from yam of peace the diminution of debts °Detracted in tame of war. (Hear.) The following conclusion of the report anticipates to a certain exteotthe opposition amendment which is now making so much noise : There is a flail question which has been mooted in your committee, and me to which the government 001111WWWZ1011 have been heard. We have asked ourselves whether, geeing that the los& will soon be realised and the proceeds paid into the Treamui, the Firms lliaister should mediums to have the discretion given to him by our financial laws to raise 250 millions annually by Treasury bolls. The govern meat commissaries are agreed with os that the power may, without inooevenieeoe, be successively restricted—in 1864 to some extent, and further still in 1865. As to 1864, we must necessarily take into account the amount of the present floating debt, in respect of which the Finance Minister, by 'decree of September 6, was authorised to issue Treasury bills to the extent of 300 mil lions. Furthermore we must not lose sight of the fact that the lose will only be realized by instalments which will only provide the Treasury with feeble resources during the first months of 1864. After, therefore, having admitted the possibility of reducing, after 1864, the maximum of 250 millions of Treasury,bills fixed by the annual fisancial law, we have come to the conclusion that the amount of the diminution to be made will be best Nettled when the Corps Legislatif come to consider the final budget of 1864. It is for that reason that we do not sow make this subject matter for an additional article. In accord with the government commissioners we reserve the question. We me the lees inoonveoience in this adjournment bemuse the Seestos Consultum of Dec. 31, 1861, prevents the govern. meat from using the resources of the floating debt, except for expenses authorised by a law ; and if, when the house L tot sitting, unforeseen and urgent circumstances should pledge the floating debt to any engagement, the payments cannot be made until they have been submitted to us. That is undoubtedly a guarantee which the Corps Legis- Intl( will not lose sight of. In a supplement to the report M. Gonin notices the presentation of the amendment, proposing that the issue of Treasury bills for 1864 shall not ex ceed 100 millions. He observes that the objects of the movers of the amendment were present to the minds of the committee, and recapitulates the rea sons to which the committee still adheres for postponing the considetstion of any restriction upon the issue of Treasury bonds until after the realisation of the loan, and upon the occeaion of the settlement of the definitive budget for 1864. Let me call attention to the great importance of the above report in this respect, that it emphati cally endorses the views of the Senate in favour of peace. MM. Davin and de Ls rochejaquelein, the eloquent .off of IL Hubert Delia* sod Count de Beaumont (of the Somme)—itopreestious, spoetrophes, and worde which to as. ha the Bust* thought fit to take *aloe of. . So, thee, the matter is settled ; we doll% lika Euphad. Xde Below would say, perhaps, we ditsst her. Awl why. if you plum ? Why? Hearer ! yo( have been told us ones that no one is igooraat of the mum We dislike England because she is an egotist and a b i g ally. ir A that's slaw enough. Let as tIIIMiIIIII, therefor., than two sonata is tha isdicameat. A bad ally ! &island was not so, it same to us, Idy l beneath the walls of Sebastopol her beet blood minglad twenty impagemonts with that of the soldiers of Frame, No, the grievance is mote moot Let us anise at ones 4 the Noxious badness. The ant runners dale from that But take an ! Too have two powers to detest : for Bpi* our second ally at the commencement of the affair, did sot are to follow us either io ao enterprise which assumsdunit lonians proportions. Everybody is not equally &Toted to go and till the soil of Amman and to water it with their sweat and blood in order that it may be more it afterwards to receive some sprig of a Europtan dynasty, That is a glorious experience doubtless, but costly s i g hazardous, the honour and the profit of which oar alliss have preferred to leave to us. When chivalric Spain her. self retired, can we be astonished at the retreat of Eaglet* whose policy sesuredly does not aim at the same renown To ihis Mt ipievanew another, bran new, has to he added. Ensisad (honcho rtferetsa) is the only power which hasdistiactly deelmed that she did not believe is the *Meaty of a Cooper, sod which has refused to participat e in it. Others hare clearly shown that they did sot M. Here in it either ; bat the diplomatic hooey with which their replies were mewed appeared so sweet is flavour that people have been pleased to see in three replies smelting lib sequieeosnos. We willingly admit that with regard to its form the re• ply of England was not satisfactory. But after all, who would dare to say that, the British goverment is really wrong, or even that it has sated badly towards us'' Wlws a government like that of Great Britain believes, rightly cr, wrongly, but sincerely, that the proposition submitted to it is an unreslisabie Utopia, is it not more worthy of it to declare so frankly than to join, from a frivolous courtesy, is an attempt which in its opinion would fatally deceive the hopes of Europe? And if eves, believing la the peal• bility of a relative success, it decided, as far as it was coo. corned, not to contribute its part to this work of salverd abnegation, is there not more freedom, 121011, loyalty, in sb• staining than in acquiescing. like so many others, under the reserve of particular interests No, I repeat it, England haa not betrayed oar *Mace. But it will be said, its policy at least ',dap Irma sa odious egotism. This complaint is not new, sad mdarta. lately it has more than once been justified. England I not like as, always disposed to take the sword in band for the defence of the right. of others. Her temperament and ber internal orgaoiaatios favour but little this noble part. She has not, like us, an imposing army always ready. Cos• tioental wars are with her such weighty affairs that she he sitates fur a long time to undertake them, and does sot like to return to them often. In 1855 she hoped, thanks to our assistance, to humble the power of the Czar. The moderation, a little ill•tiossd perhaps, of our government decided otherwise. Ought es therefore to be much astonished if England, disappoisted then, has not oared to resume now, at great expease, the task voluntarily left nothaisbed? CHRISTMAS-DAY IN PARIS. "Christman-day in Paris and all over France," writes • Paris correspondent, "bean little resemblance le Christ --day in England. This year, si nasal, whilst yes are solemnly feasting—half sad, half inclined to be merry— Pads will not remind us much of Christmas. Some goad people will be going to the churches ; the Bourse will be deserted ; and, as on Sundays the catrs and restaumate will be unusually crowded. There will be dancing and play-going at night ; but little or no abase of Bacchic indulgence. The ' Pies de Noel' Paris, as a French journal observes, are almost universally associaled with dancing. It is the period of public masked balls. There are also balls for the poor ; bells for charitable societies ; bells of artists in disked' ; balls given by the rich. All Paris must dame the old year out, and dance also round the early birthdays of the new year. There are few French families in the country who celebrate Christmas-day as we noderstaad it. The Duke de Persigny, however, has collected a number of Christmas guests this year at his Chateau de Chemarand ; but this is an *scepticism! rase. And what has the Englishman to remind him of Christ. MU ill Paris British society is not what it used to be in Paris in the days of Louis Philippe. The small, honest, amiable Christian families of 4001. or 500'. per annum have left this luminous city since house rests bare doubled ; and the fat poulet costa iCr., and crinoline obligee ladies to purchase double tho amount of silk to make them selves voluminously lovely all round. This highly genteel clam, who attended the court balls in the days of the Orleanists, have sadly diminished. They kept Christmas is Paris in the English way. Some of us remember the Harts horne. The two young ladies used to hang up the misled* and decorate the room" with holly some twenty years ago. Mrs. H. remained at Dome all Christmas-day lowg per paring the pudding and looking after the turkey, whilst the young ladies attended divine service. Old H., the father, Poi sorry to say, was seen profoundly reading the newspir pas at Galignaers. At dingier would assemble • number of ladies and gentlemen, who had no debts or romantic sal cedents which obliged them to live in Paris. They were al people who found Paris cheaper sod more pleasant than Loa don, whilst it was pleasant to write home how they had oeee to the court ball, and declare that the outline of his Majesty's face was not a bit like • pear, for be had kindly spoken to them, and asked after General Hartshorn, whom the Kin know at Twickenham. Very few have we now of these kind good Britons. Parisian tradespeople have lost their good opinion of the English of late years. So many of our countrymen, independent of the nobility and many hooottr able residents, are here on account of the infamous waded of lawyers, who, by a conspiracy with wicked people at home, make it more convenient for the victim to remain in Paris. This class is not the old-fashioned, Christmas-keeping employ of oA years ago in Paris. It is only by turning to Galigreanis Mutative,. that we are at all reminded of English Christmas—the weather is warmish and damp, and not at all deck Frosty—there we find, as usual, Mr. Colom bia' inviting the British subject to try his "mince pies, plum puddings, Lakes—all kinds of pastry, Sc., will be provided as usual ; daily and evening parties executed' . How delightful to find the word "executed" only meaning • pleasant evening party. Many a traveller will re. member the pastry-cook's at the corner of the Rue Castiglione and the Rue de Rivoli. It is there our noble country people congregate daily to eat buns a little before dinner, and then declare that French cookery is not what it used to be. This house also advertises the famous mince pies, which are " respect fay recommended." Several tradesmen look after our national drioks—port 20 years old and pale sherry of .arid ages, pale ale, sad the " Pilule. Morrison ;" whilst • con . • spicuous advertisement is beaded " United Prayer Rohm in oonnexiou with the late visit of Richard Weaver," who is the reformed prize-fighter. These are the things which mainly remind us of Christmas iu Paris. Our great out, as you are aware, is New Year's-slay, and already the s hop windows of the Boulevard' are rich is it rf nate. CHAMPAGNE AT AN AORICULTORAL DINNER. — The champegoe with which Mr. Du Csae, M.P. so gem. roualy supplied the table at the last Ewan Airicultord diouer appears destined to keep up its elltawmcence mob longer then that fluid m arcuatomed to dm At the table itself it caused the ftwiliozs of some of the farmers to bubble over, one of them, it is mid. act cootatot with • bottle or two, actually misted • whole pipe of it ; and now the wine is gorse the case has come fizzing and sperkliog with formate eloquence into • court of law. It seems that Mr. Cable ca' traded to supply the dinner, and so much wine ler bead, but the intruding champagne mune in, pushing aside his humble port sod sherry. awl be theeelore asserted • right to levy an import duty of Is per cork upon it. The charge was accordingly mut in to the committee of the society. and appended thereto was • rather heavy charge for broken glass. consequent we suppose on the memos* of the champagne. These items trete discussed by the com mittee, but struck out of the eccourit as illegitimate, as it was thought the custom of a Loads* Hotel dad Not /Mod to • Witham barn, especially as many were said never to have ordered in the stipulated port and sherry. thoegh 5 1 amuse it was paid for with the ticket. The hest, it will is The Paris Temps of yesterday contains the fol- a ue rra n ;tge has msu so te, w s a i r d th li e r. M C Sllllo lowing remarks iu an article headed "Les Anglo- likely to he • luscious dimussion at the milt sittiot. — w ou h o o t w 7 lts c. ac u t n i active is the dins;m pitches :" Chelmsford Chronicle. & g um' is decidedly out of f avour w ith a pan of tb a RAILWAY OFFIcERs AND SERVANTII.—Mr. Mark official world. We had suspected so far • bog while, bat Lemmai. assousced to read his dramatic story entitle! " Hearts are Trumpe " for the benefice ( t h e Accid ent am the third was I. • Midst state. Doubt is now so longer mid. ws aa dp, p h a „ a i y a w s o f the United Kingdom HOW posable. The echoes of the Senate still ring with the Mu- officers and Servants' Amociation, at the Lmdoodaide precations of M. le Marquis de Bonny, the apostrophes of Houle Hotel, on Jumary 19. A FRENCH DEFENCE OF ENGLAND. Th e Ito York on LI day, after She briar specie. • 8 and prooot Congrem lation in g The ma The reP TressurY unfavonni Money higher. Both IN quarters. On the Fort Rape guns. Th escaped. to give the Western T east comet General Reoonw from Chatl Confederal Longstre north-weet position. General Temaa, pur duke is enc Me rep of inquiry The rept had an into more radios General Scl The repo Treasury w the current pulsory fun Six per Ca he proposer payable in fore April but will be Guarantee rency will in circulati tax payablf per cent a adopted, or preciation for carryini In the i former polii nounoed ti defeat at Ch cosomaAd army. He ruined the affairs, and never visit In the P dtwed arena to Richmom the constituf The propo Ea The lar excited some A resoluti be waged foi soon as the be restored equality of r tived by 82 t Reeoiatia procity tree into the ezp the same foc of aboliehini The Nero will introdu the invasion wards the U the duty of I France in oc A banquo place on Sai at Waahiug Speaker of speeches. The Coot more stores I of iniputati meet eta." ably deliver The Go 4 Legisl►ture, utterly imp aity for eten The Coul hibiting thi army. The steam mington. tx Money ea, but declined reported legi Gokl is now la; excham Siam Mot Wave activit York Oenti 1061 ; Six Cottou in g Flour very Provisions s inquiry ; crude, 30 All is qi assumed the Burnside La The Fede much of Lot also reported Pulsed Chum with heavy Both these r Guerillas OUtoirta . lieherei B. , w hich has ti Aim, and ~, oPerati hne. A p e d alo Pod Charley River, capful 1, C°l, grelle ''' 'Cl 'illan's ( Th e N eu , Grant as a c ur ges public The Charm Nun Scotia. k