The Express. — London, England, 1852-12-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVBMINO, DECEMBER 25, titANCE• • . c ILIICTItiO TILIONAIPIL) PARIS, FAIDAT Evaniso. The Semite has adopted by a majority of 64 against 7 votes the &nears Cbasaltuni fur aggrandising the power of the Emperor. The Emperor is expected in Paris to morrow. M. Corneille is elected deputy for tho &ine Inferieure. The Convection with France hu passed the n Chambers by 62 against 8. B e l g ian IV( PARIS, TuI'INDAT ETENTNO. .te read in tho Cuttatautieneesi :—* M. Demerson mayor of Compiegne, who accompanied the Emperor in his visits to the Hospital and the Hotel-Dieu, having expressed to his Majesty the happiness he @Mould feel at commemorating his appointment to the mayor' , by the establishment of Sales d'-isile, bat observed that he dated not think of it oti amount of the limited resources of Compiegne, the Emperor replied, *And what would the expense be?' About 30,000f.,' said the mayor. *Well, then,' TO plied his Majesty, 'take this then while waiting for something better,' at, the same time handing to M. Demeraoo ten notes fora thousand franca each." M. do Persigny, Minister of the Interior, has just decided on immediately carrying into execution the idea of the Emperor to make the entrance into Paris by the Barrier, de l'Et o ile the finest in tho capital. The place do l'Etoile is to be made 370 metres in length, and 1110 metres in width. lids great sur face, larger than the Carre Marigoy in the Champs Elysees, will serve for an exercise ground for the troops in summer, u well as a convenient place for public fifes. The Prefect of the Seine has already given orders to have the preliminary envoi. com menced. The expropriation is to be made at the cost of the state. An application has just been made to the goverm meta for the concession of a railway from 1 oolongs to Foix, branching from the line from Bordeaux to Cette, and serving that part of the country comprised, between the Garonne and the Ariege. The sale of autographs forming the collection of Baron de Tremont, which hu been going on for the last ten days, has just terminated. The following are • few of the prices given :—Abd-el-Kader, Of. ; La Rochefoucauld, 3001.; 4301; Madame' Lafarge, 141; Pope Alexander VI. (Borgia), 341; Jacques Amyot, 1001.; Oliver Cromwell. 72f.; George Monk, 3f. ; Bossuet, 391 ; Louis XIV., 401. ; Fooquier-Tinville, 63f. • Frederick the Great, 1601. ; Galileo 2061.; Baya rd, 3111. • Leon X., 1571. ; King Leopold, 61.; Mlle. Ouio;ard, 61.; sad Arch bishop Affrr, 101. Our usual French express had not arrired at the hour of going to press. GERMANY. The Emperor of Austria left Berlin at 2 p.m., on Tuesday the 21st, to return to his dominions through Dresden. He was accompanied to the station of the Mihail railway by the King, the Queen, and the Princes and Priocesees of the royal family then pre sent in Berlin. Before entering the train, the Emperor embraced the King and Queen, and saluted them in the German fashion. The King of Hanover left Berlin for his capital on Monday last. On the 21st the First Prussian Chamber discussed the government bill for repealing so much of the constitution as provides for the annual meeting and triennial election of parliament, and the voting of the budget every year, and substitutes clauses pro viding for the meeting of parliament once in two years, sixennial elections, and a two years' budget. The committee of the Chamber appointed to consider this project found that it was not reactionary enough, and recommended that the ordinary budget be voted for six years instead of two, the extraordi nary expenditure only to be voted at shorter inter vals. The ministers naturally accepted this gratui tous augmentation of their power. When the vote was taken upon the biennial amiss of the Chambers there was 73 for and 16 against the preposition. PORTUGAL. LISBON, Dec. 19. The general result of the elections is iltvonrable, in a government sense. Not that all the elected deputies, lire government men—far from it—but, in the present mate of Europe, they will support the existing administration, rather than the government shall fall into the hands of extreme parties; it may, therefore, be considered that the majority will be one upon • hich the government may depend in all questions of a beneficial or improving nature, but not one which will blindly vote at the minister's nod. The Chamber, in tact, will be composed of moderate men, I may say, of all parties; the ultras being foe the most part, it not entirely, excluded. This eke ion, however reprehensible the means may have been that were used to obtain returns, is not, however, without its importance; it has demon strated a fact which was known here, but which might have been doubtful in other nations; that the Cabrnlistas are not a party, hat a faction ; and conse quently all their elections were of coercion, and their government, one of force. Notwithstanding that they have had more than fair play, that indeed an importance and sn i.npulie have been given to thaw by many of their authorities being restored from motives which I have already had occasion to explain to you, yet on going to the urn as a party. perfectly unrestricted, their list in the capital could only boast of 410 votes: there is therefore no hope of the resuscitation of that faction, except under ex traordinary and uolooked for events. The Portuguese me not indifferent observers of what is happening in the neighbouring kingdom. As to the projected railroad, the plans and esti mates were given in on the 10th, and a commission having been charged with their examination, the report of the day goes so far as to say they have been approved. Be this as it may, the government has named the 24th as the day on or before which they will come to a decision on the subject ;•no defi nite opinion can therefore as yet be given to the grand question—ls there to be a railroad or not ? The news of the proceedings at Madrid have caused some excitement, and fears are entertained that the example of the Spanish ministry may have a bad effect as respects the Portuguese government. The Emperor Napoleon the Third having been re cognised, has been saluted here by the Portuguese and other vessels of war lying in the Tagus. Exchange, 34; discount of notes of the Bank of Lisbon, 2j per cent. ereasing—our manufactures are Pinproving—ber labouring thousands are better clothed, better fed, better supplied with labour. Increased astir it' , and , energy seem to he visible ainongsoval *Woes. A new world is opening its treasures for us, bidding us @apply It with espittl unlimited, when shall reap unwonted profit, sad labour, which shall enjoy unheard of wages. This new world is to owe its development, its cus toms, laws, and institutions to us. It wit. spring up into a wonderful and powerful existence as un offshoot of the great English race. The language of the deathless writers whose glory is our When. taste, will be that of the people who inhabit this land of gold. Thousands of ties will be formed connecting thc mother country with its youngest, but most pro mising offspring; and as the years roll on, the chorus will increase by millions, of those who, animated wish English modes of thought and feeling, shall greet each other at the national festival with that national expression of psi will—" A Merry Christ mas" THE NEW MINISTRY. The New Ministry were not yesterday truly to move for their new writs in the House of Commons. and we have now to wait till Monday for the official programme. Meanwhile the following has been handed about the clubs as the "latest intelliAence" on the subject. The many changes in the ministerial scheme will, however, throw doubt on all assertions till the list is Uasetted: CABINET. First Lord of the Trea sury Foreign Secretary Home Secretary ColoDila Secretary Board of Control Sir CHARDS WooD. Board of Works Secretary at-War Chancellor of the Ex etieqaer Lord Chancellor Fro.ident of the Council Earl GRANVILLE. Lord Privy Seal Duke of ARGYLE. Admiralty Baud Gl 'Trade The Marquis of Lansdowne will bare a seat in the cabinet without office. l'oetmaster-General CANNING, or Lord CLANMICARDE. Secretary of the Admi ralty Lord-Lieutenant of Ire- land It must be mentioned that the statement given yesterday of Sir WILLIAM MOLFAMOMITI having re fused the office of Secretary-at-War without a scat in the Cabinet, was at that time perfectly correct. Sub sequestly to that refusal, however, the honourable Baronet received an offer of a seat in the Cabinet, though to what particular office it would be attached was not then stated. This offer was accepted by Sir WILLIAM Mot.►.swoat'tt, and it is now understood that he will be Commissioner of Publics Works. LORD P, AND THE m TIMES." "Is oulyosie instsuos, that "It is impossible to mor d a certain great unattached, stets the valets of his lord. is time any reluctance to ship's adhesion , sad his im am* her Majesty and this plied testimony to tbe proe people in a united srmens- poets of the new administra. meat. Had the Earl of tins; still less is it possible Clarendon been Foreign Se- to deny the uoiversality of rotary ia the Russell Cabi- his genius, and that tact set, it would, probtbly, have which is the first requisite survived to th i s day. Ws for the successful discharge can only regard, therefore, of any public ofillee. As tie introduction of his name Home Secretary, ton, it must sad this omission of another, not be forgotten his lordship us by no means an oafs• will have the management of 'curable omen. " Times that militia, in the constits. Wednesday, December. tion of which he hat per- formed so prominent a part. These two Dam s" (i e. Lord Jaw Russell and Lord Palen mites) "are in themselves a sentient guarantee for the support of the whole whiff zfti;— Thous Friday, De- TAXES ON KNOWLEDGE. The following address was agreed to at a meeting of elation favourable to tho repeal of the tate, on know- ledge, held yesterday sub* atidkell C4ffwe house Francis Boasoek. Rao.. in • •LOLVOISE TO 1141 MORT 505. LORD TORN RUSSELL. " My Lord,—We. the undersigned electors of the City of Loudon, respectfully claim your lordship's good of upon • mitject which appears to WI to be of vital importance and on which we have reason to believe that your lirdship's views, u an earnest friend to popular education, sre in harmers, with our own. We allude to throe nisei which ' are justly stigmatised as the taxes en knowledge,namely, the duty on paper, the advertisement duty, and he stamp , 1 duty oa newspaper,. In connexion with this subtject which we refer with much pleasure to some expressions o your lordship has lately given utterance at Perth—vin., The way in which the power of democracy ought to be dealt with is. by listening to every complaint, by cotaider lug every grievarce, and by giving a legitimate and legal organ to that power and influence which otherwise may be mischievous, irregular, and injurious.' To direct and en lighten the path of that progress which is inevitable, is • duty worthy of a modern stateeman. We appeal to your lordship, in accordance with these sound and statesmanlike views, to remove obstructions which prevent legialators from listening to every complaint' and considering every grievance,' by stifling their expressing; and which, by this repression, tend to make the progysio of,deenopeey ' mischievous, irregular, and injuriousY - Tn - trobi"oseemy for the purposes of public education while these justly termed taus on knowledge are still levied, is surely very inconsistent. In regard to the paper duty, the amount of the tie thrived from it being nearly • million, we can only venture to commend its removal to the earnest attention of the government when the budget shall be under consideration; but, is we need nut remind your lordship, the other *bunions taus to which we hay refined, namely, the advertisement seri stamp duties, are obviously not maintained for the purposes of revenue, and thereto(' Imperatively demand im mediate abropti m. The advertisement duty has been repeatedly shown to be destructive of I awe revenue thou it produces, and the incon siderable slim of 250,000/., the whole amount involved by the repeal of the compulsory stamp, is clearly not the oh jest for which it was imposed or is maintained. We de sire on this point to call your lordship's attentims to the extreme uncertainty and vagueness in the administration of the law, which necessitates the stamping of Certain classes of peri odical publicatioss; and to the extreme unfairness to which this uncertainty continually gives rise. In roa dsides, tberelere, we earnestly request that your lordship wdg Wes 1111111111P111 for the immediate repeal of the stamp and adoerdsososse duties, for the abolition of the system of demanding security for offences neither committed nor contemplated, and for making such financial arrangements as will enable parliament to repeal the duty on paper at no distant period." OPENING OF THE MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART.—The very beautiful and costly Museum of Ancient and Modern Ara Manufsemrse and Vernon Gallery, at Marlborough.bouse, Pall-mall, will be open (free) daily, from ten till four, from Monday neat, the 27th inst., to Jan. 6. The splendid collection of ornamental and decora tive art, and forty-Eve pieties of rare and magnificent pores lain and portraits in enamel, lent by the Queen and Prince Albert, also • specimen of I'alisy ware, are in the uprairs rooms. APOTHECARIES' HALL—Names of gentlemen who rtheir examination in the science and practice of MS. 01 1 . and received ontiSsates to practise, on Thursday, Dee. 23, 1862:—John Davison, Wolsiogham ; William Henry Felker, Oxford; Thomas Wild, Wintshoitotn, Lan cashire; Peter Pinyon, Ashburnham, Sussex ; John Wick ham Berms, Bath ; James Sherwood Dodd ; John Augus tus Sommens. Liverpool; Henry Bullock, Reading; Jrcibis Lick Balky, Cambridge ; George Terry, N rthainoton. MURDER IN BOOTLAND.--At the High Court of J uiriser itikaltreegh. as Thuroday, George Christie, an old , keksseing tis Aberdeen, was convicted of the of a widow Emma Ras sad her grandchild, • boy shoat live ipiarard appe, OM Rile Oh et Octoher last. The •14 waamdßvad in a small Mange along with her grand e , about • mile hem Aberdeen. She kept • few cows and said milk. It was that she had • little moray, and as to as the went, the sole motive ika Ma murder on the part a the SINRISed OM !o posse. lama, of the property. The manier amen to have been seamdtted in • very atioeleaut mamma; DO fewer than alas liimee—any of Wild' warm salisiest to have sawed deeds—fission been Masted on the woman, .eibiletbis skull oldie child was split epee down to the now. The eeismer was seen in the home en the night of the murder, sad was afterwards apprehended with several articles, including • purse with • small sum of money, and • gold ring, belonging to the deceased. Blood was also found as his person. Hie guilt was quite clear, and the jury had no hesitation la convicting him. His execution is appointed to take place at Aberdeen on the 19th of J an_ncrj. 'ROYAL COLLEOE OF PHYSICIANS.—At the guar terly meetleg of the GRIM& Majors, held on Wednesday, 1 4.0 the 23nd lam, the rolkorfai gentleman having endergone the thstatcsry eausingisse tee diploma, were admitted megshere M the :—De. Masai Dash, 9, lian ot ta:- . ; Dr. seraisMs.at.Tyas ; Mei . mere Mauritius, wee admitted as sites lisaadrat. r SPAIN. The new Spanish government has spoken—one can hardly say spoken out, although the circular of M. Lorente, the minister of the interior, to the governors of provinces, which is given below, ex presses intelligibiz enoirch the dears of the minis. ten to exalt the influence of the throne in the system of the mate. The new ministers declare fairly enough that they are no friends of the existing eonstitution, and would make the aberrations and crimes of their various predecessors the justification of their own attempts to change its form and substance. The difference between the cabinets of M. Bravo Murillo and of General 'toucan seems to be, that the first was reactionary and bold, but weak; while the latter is reactionary, without either mutate or strength. However, Spain and constitutionalism are the gainers. The government, by submitting the late bills to free discussion; promise in effect not to use the violent means resorted to by the fallen cabinet for shielding their measures from the free operation of public opinion. Let them cloth* and the constitution will be safe. After announcing the change of ministry, M. Lorente says : Hsi Majesty's Ministers thiek that they am* miaow my doubt to exist us to the Isepristy, the and ems the necessity of trying and a sow points the political laws of the elate. TM heti moony which has been given by the diffaset misdoing, who have governed the country desks the het soma mars, ministries composed of persona of dillimast psalm& epi aims, thwogh all animated with lig INN ligior dein to sans with loyalty their Queen MA Set= sal tar the mast part endowed with the met the temsted massims as while *gm Marna titat tisk awn desire to megsme West the laws to their mardiacship, has bees obliged M depart diem the literal test of thent, r 2 ft less eampellell do so by the imperative law of safety—all time sistramunneas are at ones sad muss of lin its poises nesessfep at modifying. asid palitigg Illu b ola with the dosentstames soder mil* lie is p sets points of the fundamental law. The meMs ambient prom Mid to her Majesty and M tlieennarg mimes at wets= et the annuitants gad w agraill imp V i ll t io gomensamt of her Majesty thins that libs pert Iniaillat is arrived to enlighten tie pain ea the minas of • Isoderats bet Moe silsomeles P rt is istnht ground minains apse twes this nieseint le ail legitimate Vissad to ail deism spieless, sad wise the day shall e arrived, the advisors et the crown, attar.loMbet doll weighed the spring, 1 alt, and with the and of her Majesty, will_ east vole ohm et dm to lie Igo partial sad selightmod imentea et dm Osetse. To emit, if it is ponible, its apismbear and 'Mg, et tiss throne, the symbol of all dm traditions, and at all the sleeks of the nation, without watiming in any way the i sentative riguise, and without removing pu blicly the right of examining end discussing the acts of the ministers ; to ad d to existing institutions new elements of stability and con servatism—euch is the great problem which we shall end. &- your to solve, and on which, when the moment arrives, the legislative bodies will pronounce their solemn judgment. Such are the ideas and views of the government relative to the electoral straggle which is being prepared. The will of her Majesty is, that you should seek to inculcate them into public opinion, in order that the electors may deposit their votes in the balloting urns with conviction, and with sentiments in conformity with proverbial Spanish loyalty, end I make this communication to you for your guidance and government. A letter of the 18th Mates that the Minister of Finances had that day received several of the princi pal capitalists of Madrid, and consulted them as to the financial measures necessary for the interests of the country. M. Bravo Murillo was to leave Madrid for Bordeaux on the evening of the 18th. BELGIUM. BRUSSELS. Die. 23. The Chamber of Itepresentatives has just voted the provisional treaty of commerce with France, the one signed on the 9th inst. The discussion took place in a secret sitting, but the result of the debate was communicated as fdlows :—ln favour of the treaty, 62 ; against it, There were sixteen mem bers who, for various motives whi 1 they explained to their colleagues, but which have not been made public, took no part in the vote. I can state on good authority that, during the three secret debates, some warm and even violent speeches were delivered, the hon. member • not having, as in times of ordinary discussion, the fear before them of the ladies in tie gallery--spectatore who, as Mr. Berkeley said some years ago in the House of Commons, " bridle the manly passions." After voting the treaty, the cham ber commenced the discussion of the budget of foreign offuirs, and agreed to nearly all the items. Baron (l y, of Antwerp, expressed the hope that steps I would be soon taken to effect a treaty of coatmer ba with Spain and its colonies. THE CAPE MAIL. PLYMOUTH, FIIDAY. The Harbinger, Cape mail steamer, arrived here at eleven a.m. Her dates are : Calcutta, October 15; Madras, 21; Ceylon, 25; Mauritius, Novem ber 6; Cape of Good Hope, 20; St. Helena, 21; Ascension, I)ee. 2 ; St. Vincent, 12. The Mauritius arrived at St. Vincent, Dec. 12; spoke the Lady Jocelyn, Oct. 22. The news from the frontier is of an improved cha racter. The enemy has no where rallied in any force. General Cathcart with 2,000 troops, has crossed the Orange River. Seyrol Ambie, chief, was sentenced to death by court martial. The general opinion is that the Kaffir war is drawing to a cleft. The eon catalog' question is still under discussion. The Australian steamer had not arrived at the Cape when the Harbinger left. EMIGRATION.—SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY. In antieipation of the government emigration to Australis, which is to commence from this port In January neat, sod for while two ships of nespoLtively 600 sad 1,200 tons hays been chart• rod by the commisuonen, the Southampton Dock Company are prepariag a depot ow their premises for the reception sad accommodation of emigrants prier to their embarkation. For this purpose a large and substan tial warehouse is being fitted up, with sleeping berths for 460 emigrants; to this will be sttsehed eooking-hoese, bathe and weak-booms, meas. rooms, &large space of Around for amusement and recreation, together with commissionen . Mikes, end other conveniences for the emigrants. The building will be lighted thriughoot with gas, end every de scription of comfort will be provided fur the benefit of tea the emignuats during their transient stay in the Soutttsmp depot. A T 1111?" TRIGHTENED Be A 131108?.—On Sunday sdght the shop of Mrs. Cross, eanteetleaer, Hank-top, was Wein into, but luckily the thief was fnutrated in his bigot by the sudden add swill apperldsu Ma 'boot. An euthethe was effeeted late the preabst tbreagb • windew la as bete hitches, • parties of tibia had beam removed. The thief thaw appears is have emelt the back-door. in order, prelabb, b seem his free erne in ease of inter ruptive. Me dm seem be have eautimmly spprosched the door leading into the shop, bet whether bent en securing the contents of the till, or anticipating a rich hermit of giagerbread and lollypeps , is. only be a matter of coajee. tare. Rs stealthily lifted the latch of the shop door, and was just on the point of reaching the scene or his contem plated depredations, when, behold! clime to the door stood a figure in white, which caused all his courage to I ems oat at his finger ends. Without waiting for a closer onnferenee with the napernatural apparition before him, or apostrophising it in the language of Hamlet—. Angels and ministers of grace defene us !" • @nada' scream of alarm, darted through the bu , and Membered over the yard wall, without daring to east • shells gleam behind, and evidently dreading the =of lie *her by which his atoms to the toffee had hese Itherdleted. It sow only remains fur us to state OM rare the vellum was making his way to wards that e lea laor Ceeste 'ming down stairs for the roma of some water for her mother, for which Mirlffie paw through the shop into the kitchen. a* el& ladammation of the eyes at the time, she had • white Mmiffierchief tied over her temples, which, with a white shawl thrown over her bead, and a long white nightdress, gave her a sufficiently ghost-Mks appear ance to frighten any man of superstitious Inclinations. How far the thief raa before he considered himself in safe y (rem " the ghost" we cannot telt, but we have so doubt that be has gives a Weide maim of the affair to he " pals." It is to be hoped that afar such an unearthly ethenter he will grave " a wiser sad a better man." After the thief had semped on alarm wee gleamy sad polies maelabie Fashions was immediately ea tee bat far had made the bests of the fugitive We afmble ter plat.- emit, awl Ile War et west isle both ithersteed. Mrs. Crouse& bur aditheray mush thermal by the inci dent.— Blestioni firsudard. SALLE Rontn.—lddlle. Prodding Bernard, who some year and a half ago, exhibited at the Hungerfoid Bomar the wooden of clairvoyance and mesmerism, gave • private " weenie " last night at the " Salle Robi n ," in Tichborno-West, Haymarket, preparatory to the opening of her public performances on Monday next. The lady is now under the mesmeric guardianship of Professor Roux, with whom it is stated she has made • successful bar in Francs and Germany. The experiments are conducted in this wise. After Iddlle. Prudence Bernard Ins bean placed in a magnetic sleep, the wishes of any of the audience era commusicated secretly to M. Roux, who, by a series of passes, compels her to fetch and carry to a wonderful ex. teat; and next, to distinguish in • glass of water the testa of any liquid which may be desired by any of the spectators. The first experiment in this department though finally successful was rendered some what didlcult to the mesmeric patient, in consequence of the interrogator being an Irish gentleman whose mind nat.. rally reverted to" whiskey."a liquor with which th e l a dy was evidently net familiar. Mdlle. Bernard then played cards with her eyes tightly hound, still being in a state ofcorna,snd concluded by • sense of dramatic posturing., the whole of which were privately suggested by different members of the audience. The experiments of the evening were all quite successful, and one or two sceptical gentlemen who wen allowed every latitude in testing the boosafides of the exhi biting, &eland themselves perfectly satisfied. The enter tainment was varied by the performanese of the " Parisian Orpheonistes," a sort of chorus comprising twenty mole voices. There can be so doubt as to the perfect training and considerable taste of the singers. ORGANISED ROBBERIES BY A GANG OF SWELL tdowiNsw.—During the present week•series of daring and well-srreaged robberies have been committed by a gang of accomplished thieves who, there is reason to believe, are attached to a well-organised gang of planderen, and who travel in their own carriage. On the evening of Wednesday a phaeton drew up at the Mendip Inn, situ a t e on t h e hi g h rand to Sheptaa Mallet, Somerset, and three well dressed persons alighted from it, entered the hone, and called tor refreshment. It was supplied to them, and two of them re maimed drinking and engrossing the attention of the per sons in the bar, while the third withdrew, as was supposed, for some temporary purpose. After a little time he again joined hie companions, when all three of them re-entered the carriage and drove off. At first no suspicions of them were entertained. but it was soon discovered that one of them had contrived to go up stairs to the landlord's bed room, from • drawer in which he had abstracted two silver tankards, a number of silver spoons, and a considerable sum in cub. The neat day a robbery was committed either by the same parties or by some eonfederives acting in con cert with them at the inn, Temple Cloud, S omerset . Th e parties in that instance also were in a carriage, but, instead of entering the house and calling for refreshment, two re mained on the outside while the third got in through some back door or window. They were seen, to drive off in the direction if Bristol, and very soon afterwards it was ascer tained that the landlord's bedroom had beets entered, the lock of a drawer picked, and some silver spoons, 121. or 131. in gold and silver moneys, a watah, and other property abstracted. Fortunately the scoancreb overlooked a ega d Ivelds amount which the landlord had put away in error. m part of the Teem for the pu of paying his reat. The seems ofjortios hare waomdad In treeing the parties to Bristol, and esall4sat hopes aro eatoetalaed that they will yet be brought *Jobs*. 862. A ITALY. SUFFERINGS OF TILE MADIAL FLORENCE. nee. 8. Sin.—ln Galiynans's Meisenyer of the let of December appears a letter addressed to the editor of the Tab'et, which refers to the copy of the memorial to the Queen of England on the Madiai emir, dived so far hack u the beginning of October, and supposed to be from the pen of his Grace the Archbishop of Dublin. The introductory remarks of Mr. Luau, the editor of the Tablet, are, I think It will be allowed, not in the best taste, or calculated to ad vance the cause he espouses. The tone of his corres pondent's letter, which is dated Lucca, November 16, is, on the contrary, particularly . praise worthy and free from sectarian spirit, and evidently emanates from the pen of a conscientious, upright and liberal-minded man. There are, how ever, two or three errors in the letter in question, and these material ones; and is they are calculated', to injure the cause of "truth and justice," to which the writer of the letter alludes, and which I am fully convinced he sincerely wished and intended to be friend, I take upon myself to correct those errors, pledging my honour for the veracity of all I assert, and, free from party feeling or prejudice, having no other object in view than that of preventing sta+e• mental not founded on facts from gaining publicity oncontradicted, unintentional as may have been the error of the publisher of them. The Lucca correspondent of the Tablet, speaking of Rosa Medial, says :—" She is allowed her Bible, and the use of any other book she pleases, and the visits of an ecclesiastic and medical man us often as she wishes for or requires such." Now lam sorry to say that this is not the cue. When Madame Madiai was confined in the Bar. geilo at Florence, the governor of tho prison, a humane man, allowed her to have her Bible ; but when her trial was concluded, and the order was received for her removal to the Ergastalo, at Lucca, he took the Bible (rota her, telling her he did so with regret, knowing the pain its loss would cause her; but that as she was going to another prison, and out of his jurisdiction, he felt he could not allow her to take it, as he did not know whether the authorities of the prison at Lucca would approve of her retaining it. Noono can justly blame his conduct, his course of duty was plain, and like an upright man he followed it. Madame Medial did, however, succeed in obtaining another Bible, and fur a short period it was her solace in her new abode. As soon as her possession of it came to the knowledge of thote in power, she was deprived of it, and the reason assigned fur taking i• away was, that as she was there a prisoner for heresy, tkey could not allow her to retain a book which would so essentially tend to confirm her in her heretical ideas and senti ments ; she was offered the Mortini, the Roman catholic version of the Bible, with notes and com mentaries ; but for her that is not the Bible—the pure, unad ulterated, inspired writings. With diffi culty some chosen parts of the Mortini Bible have been conveyed to her. With regard to the expression, " she has an eccle siastic," it is necessary from its ambiguity to ex plain hat the ecclesiastic is a Roman catholic priest, whose conversation and teaching cannot be either very edifying or consoling to one who is under going severe punishment for differing from the very tenets which it is his duty and privilege to inculcate. She is never allowed to see a protestant clergyman, ' , and the only visit she receives is that of an English gentleman, who has ever taken the deepest interest in her case and that of her husband, and who is' allowed to visit each of them once • month, this favour having been grudgingly accorded to him through the kind intercession of Sir Henry Bulwer. Doubtless she has many visits from those of the Roman catholic faith—indeed, the ])owager Grand Duchess his been to her cell, and I believe the clergy, high and low, of the Roman church evince great anxiety for her conversion, as such they would naturally call her return to her former creed. It is right to state that criminals in tho Tuscan dominions —whether Jews or of any other religious denomina tions—are permitted to receive the visits of their respective pastors and teachers; but this otherwise universal privilege has not been accorded to the Madiais. Francesco Madiai's cell has been searched three times, and a copy of the New Testament wnich was found was taken from him. The Lucca correspondent is quite correct in stating that Rasa Medial is not " condemned to the degrad ing company of the worst criminals;" but she can hear, and does frequently hear, the fearful impreca tions and obscene jests of the fallen of her sex, her fellow prisoners; and such is no slight aggravation of her punishment ; they are not, it is true, in her cell, but they surround her; and although silence is inculcated and commanded, the rules arc frequently broken, and the wretched criminals often give free expression to their depraved feelings and ide4s. I say not, mind, that this fearful companionship is wilfully and knowingly inflicted upon Madame Madiai,—perhaps the avoidance of it might entail considerable local difficulties, but I do say it exists, and that therefore virtually " she is surrounded by the lowest and most degraded class of her own sex;" though not literally so. I have now, I hope, clearly and satisfactorily cor rected the misstatements contained in the letter of the Lucca correspondent of the Talet. I have felt it my duty to do so, as, from peculiar circumstances, few are so intimately acquainted with all the details as myself, and the case of the Madiais is one of European and universal interest. It grieves me to have to add, in conclusion, that I learn from the English gentleman I have already alluded to, and who yesterday returned from his monthly visit to the Madiais, that Francesco Medial is seriously ill, wasted, and debilitated, and unable to stand for more than an instant. His vigorous frame and robust constitution have at length succumbed under the continued influence of prolonged confine ment, anxiety of mind, separation from his wife, and the hopeless prospect of imprisonment for years, uncheered, unalleviated, at the close of life, and without the solace of the prayers and exhortations of a minister of the creed he professes, glories in, and suffers for. It is, however, most cheering to be able to add, that he remains "steadfast in the faith," calmly beholds his approaching end, which, humanly speaking, cannot be far distant; and though feeling acutely his position, imprisoned as a felon, treated with scorn and contumely, he remembers with joy and gratitude that he has been thought worthy to suffer in so good a cause, and piIICOS his hope and reliance in that future where " the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." CIVIS. ROME, Die. 18. THE POPE VERSUS THE CRYSTAL PALACE --- The new Crystal Palace has received a rebuff at the hands of his Holiness. Permission has been refused by the papal govenment for casts to be taken of many of the most interesting monuments of art and antiquity which had been selected by the com missioners of the fine art department during their visit to (tome, three months ago, as worthy of a place in the splendid series destined to embellish the Sydenham Exhibition. As Messrs. Owen Jones and Digby Wyatt had made large purchases of plaster casts at Paris, where moulds of the most celebrated statues exist, previous to visiting Italy, 'tome was not so much called upon to contribute fac similes of her Laocoon, Gladiator, and other well known chtfa dcrurres, to the grand collection provid ing for the Crystal Palace Coinpauy, us to furnish specimens of thou treasures, the knowledge of which has hitherto been limited to the Eternal City. 1)r. Braun, the learned antiquarian, a man profoundly acquainted with Rome and the tine arts, to whom Messrs. Jones and Wyatt entrusted the execution of their extensive commissions, was anxious to obtain casts of several monuments and statues of the highest interest, both historically and artisti cally speaking, and for this purpose requested M. dThedoin, the Prussian Ambassador, to apply to the government of his Holiness fur the necessary per mission. The obelisks of St. John Lateran ; the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius ; the bansi reliesi of the Arch of Titus, respecting the triumph of that Emperor, with the seven branched candlestick and other spoils of the temple borne by the captive Jews ; the Mena of Michael Angelo, in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli ; the Pieta, by the same great master, in the Vatican Basilica ; and many other masterßieees in different churches of the cite, required special permission, besides the works in the Vatican sad Capitoline Museums. This permission was granted to M. d'Usedom in writing, and Dr. Braun made a model for the scaffolding necessary for taking casts of the Lateran Obelisk, and had entered into contracts for the execution of the work, when he was taken aback by an intimation from the Minister of Commerce and Fiue Arts, that upon second consideration the government had detetm.ned to withdraw the permission, and that therefore he must suspend his operations. The pretext,. tidtlueed were various, as that some of the wotks had oever been cast before, others, like the arch of Titus had been injured by fire and would not b ea r hand ling, whilst others were in consecrated places and could nut be made use of for profane purposes; bat ec strong a spirit of opposition pervaded these flimsy ex. cute*, that hostility to the whole undertaking mast rather be assigned as the real motive. 'thus if Father Mac Hale declaims against the Crystal Palace, Fati.er Macilule's master does more. This hostility on the port of his Holiness is the more deplorable, when we reflect that the return of the treasures of the Vatican to Morrie arc owing to British valour and justice, that British soldiers packed them up in Paris, that British generosity fur nished the means of transport, and that Lord Chen cellor Herries signed the cheque for 10,000 e e s a free gift to the Pope to enable him to meet the ex. ponies. The museum in the pontifical palace of the Lateran, also contains, amongst other masterpieces, casts of our Elgiu marbles, and we might surely have expected a little more gratitude in return. 1 Dr. Braun's activity has, however, surmounted many obstacles. The Ccanmendatore Visconti and the fine arts commissioners have granted everything in their power, as have also the Chevalier Febbris, director of the Vatican Gallery, and the Marquis Melchiorri, director of the Capitoline Museum. In. deed it is feared that the latter will incur the dis pleasure of the government for the ample concessions he has made in favour of the Crystal Palace. The Capitol will furnish a beautiful series of historical busts, portraits of eminent men, as interesting to the artist as to the biographer. To these we may add the !grand antique collection of eniperors and philo- sophers, and several very tine statues. The Vatican also contributes many works,but there prohibition has prevented the collection from being rendered at, rich as could be desired. Still, few of the classical aubjects will be wanting, and many pieces have been secured which never appeared before in a similar series. Amongst these are the Guistiniani Vesta ; the Pieta of Michael Angelo, which, although prohibited from casting from the original in St. Peter's, Dr. Braun was fortunate enough to obtain from an unique i mould taken many years ago, and still n existence in this city; the group of lierniiii in the Corsini Chapel at St. John Lateran; the St. Sebastian by Giorgetti; Michael Angelo's Christ, in the Minerva church, through the indulgenie of the Dominican Superior; and Itaphaers Jonah, in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, through the complaisame of Prince Chigi, the proprietor of the chapel in which the statue ataxia. Many noble works have been obtained from private collections not generally known, and some interesting architectural sprci wens will be reproduced in plaster, such as a whole set of arches from the cloister of :it. John Lateran, enriched with mosaic ornaments. Fifty large cases of casts have been already sent off, and fifty more are now packing up, thanks to the indefatigable energy of Dr. Braun, and the abund ance of skilful modellers in plaster, to be found in Home. In this series modern art will be repre sented, not only by the works of Canova and Thor waldsen, but also by selections from those of living artists of all nations who make the Eternal City their residence. These gentlemen have very liberally re nounced all idea of remuneration for themselves, and have gratuitously superintended the. Nesting of their respective statues. Mr. Gibson, MA., sends his Venus, Hunter, Actreon, Hours, and other coble works. About twenty of the late Mr. Wyatt's statues have been selected, amongst which are his beautiful groups of leo and Bacchus, Flora and Zephyr, the Penelope, originally executed for the Queen, and several exquisitely graceful nymphs. The casting of these works is going on under the inspection of Mr. Speuce, who will likewise contri bute from his own studio the " Highland Mary," exhibited at the Crystal Palace last year, which he is now repeating for Prince Albert, u well as the statue of Lavinia, and an extremely beautiful series of female figures, with appropriate attributes, repre senting the four seasons. Mr. Macdonald sends his Ulysses, Andromeda, and ten busts selected from his admirable gallery of eminent men. Mr. Cardwell will have a large group of great merit and vigour in the collection, which will also comprise the great Washington monument by the American sculptor, Mr. Crawford, and several well selected works from the chisels of Wulff, Tcnerani, Gnaccherini, Bientsime, and other artists of distinction, which will do full honour to the inventive talent of the day. The casts are finally submitted to ia hardening wash, which imparts, as much as possible to such a mates rial, the hardness and consistency of marble. Dr. Braun provided Messrs. Jones and Wyatt with letters to influential men at Berlin, his native city, which greatly facilitated their researches there, and the liberality of the King of l'russia forms a striking contrast to the petty hostility shown by the government of his Holiness to an establishment of such splendour, utility, and universal interest, as the new Crystal Palace. AMERICA. (By ELECTRIC TELEGRAM) ARRIVAL OF THE BALTIC. LIVERPOOL, MIDNIMIT, FRIDAY. The American steam-ship Baltic, Capt. Comstock, which has been most anxiously looked for during the last day or two, has just arrived. Instead of sailing on her usual day, Saturday, the 11th instant, she did not leave until the following day, the 12th. She brings GO passengers, and 230,000 dole. in specie She met the out•going reamer Arctic, on the 13th instant, at half-past 2 in the afternoon. The news from California by this arrival is 14 days later than the previous advices. The City of Sacramento had been again laid in ashes, and many lives were lost. The mining reports cont d good- From Mexico we learn that Sonora had been de dared independent and annexed to France. The business reports do not differ very much from the previous accounts. The rate of exchange con tinued the same. The cotton market was steady. How TIME GOES AT NAPLES.--A correspondent at Naples writes, Dec. 18 Alter four years of languor Naples has resumed its former gaiety. Strangers, howeaer, are not so numerous as in past tiring ; and, except among the Russians there are few of title. During Advent We have hut routs and assemblies, which, alter Christmas', are to be some. &umlaute,. M. de Barrot, the French minis ter, gives a grand ball in honour of the reestablishment of the empire, at which the King and Queen, and all the I court, are expected to be present. Lady Holland onus Palazzo &wean& on Thursdays during the season, and the balls of the Real Accademia begin en the 27th, and ran tinue every Monday till the end of the Can:teal. The King • brother, the Count d'Aquils, hunts ' , Lb his fax hounds at Carditollo once a week, and gives a splendid dinner afterwards to the party invited, usually from twenty-four to thirty guests. Upon the Corso J 1 Ching° are to be seen a hundred equipages, rivalling them of. Hyde•park, arid several of them teams of four hemitifal English horses. Their It.ll. Counts de Syracuse and Aquila drive each teams of bays and cheanuts ; Lady Strachan has a barouche and four greys; the I)uc de Fifth, bees ; Dee de Psomnies, hays and chesnuts; Marquis de Seise, hays; and Count de Noeiglia Treensa, roans. Whist parties re gularly follow the dinners, and the Amphytroins whew chefs are in most activity are Sir William Temple, Coast Creptowich, Baron Adolphe de Rothschild, Lady Strachant l'rince Cimitala, Count de Tdontesantangelo, ano. chess:am Meurierfe ; and though last, nut least, Lied Ilolland'•, veritable cordon bleu. To this agreeable picture, the dal/ drawback is the arrival, for the season, of SW beggars. hor rid objects, who distribute themselves daily along the sese ?Al promenades to annoy strangers more particularly," CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN Noßw.tT.—At Chrurifilla and in other Norwegian towns them is a delicate Christm st way of offering to a lady a brooch, or a pair of ear ni r, la a truss of hay. The house door of the person comp:smioted is pushed open, and there is thrown Into the house a trust of hay or a raw , _ a sheaf of corn, or bag of chaff. In time part of this " bottle of hay " envelope there is a "needle " of a present to be hunted for. A friend ut miuc volved from her betrothed, according to this Christmas ratan."' exceedingly large brown paper parcel, which, on Isaig opened, ri sealed a second parcel with a losing matzo on the cover. And so on, parcel within parcel, motto wall'' , motto, till the kernel of this paper husk—which WO at length discovered to be a delicate piece of minute jeavehi —was arrived at. One of the prettiest of Chrrtmas toms is the Norwegian practice of giving, on Chrrtinsr day, a dinner to the birds. O n Christmas morning. gable, gateway, or barn-door, is decor a t e d with a 'hist or corn, that the birds shall mak e th e i r Cl ar i s t ma dinner. Fro do fixed on the top of a t a ll p,l e , w h ero from it is int( laded peasant will contrive to have a handful set by for this pur pose, and what the birds do not eat on ehriatnneoday , re` mains for them to finish at their leisure through the ewer. The carolling of birds about these poles made a Norare, Christmas in the fields quite holy to me.— Diiksass "Household Words." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Faume, Dec. 24. The 8 took the chair at two o'olvek. Very tow monthen wen peewit. PUBLIC BUSINESS. PETITIONS PRESENTED. Petition. were presented by Mr. CAYLEY, from places ha the North Wiling, against ths principle of a state church ; awl by Mr. W. J. VOL hoes °pretties claims in Oldham, ageism any remission of the malt tee, they be Miring that beer was not • necessary of dfo, and, from in habitants it the metropolis, praying Amnia an attendant is the law may take place as will eatable th. new Crystal Palos. to two °postilion Sundays. FURTHER ADJOURNMENT OF TUE ROUSE. Mr. DISRAELI said-1 believe it will be lot the conve nience of the putene ureic. if I move that at its noon the house du adjourn to Monday near, at 2 o'clock. 1 therefore move aceordinily. Cul. bl lITIIORP mode some remarks ezpressive of his disapprobation of the present suspension of the public business. Sir It. INOLIS took advantage of the opportunity the motion othwed to him to (sprees • hope that the New go- Irmo. at would folio* out the intentions of the Duke oil Ifertliniumrlaud, eo lot, First Lwd of the Admiralty, vie., to mad another expedition to Behritig'• Struts in March of the nuoinit snips; aid that those intentions would be so for unplowed upen that the expedition should be of steam ships and nut or sailing vs mal. This was • .00400, nut of .6, rice nu rely, but of justice ; and all governments, and each side .1 ' the hou.e, would, he hoped, take the mine view of the duty which still timained foe the country to diwhai ne in t h is mowr. TM question am then put, and The h-nee adjoin mil to Monday n( at, to meet at 2 o'clock. gity OlCpref4o. ru t.d td.twAs .4- TA. P.loces.. watatatag .I.aante. * * puba.al onty wawkay Yl ilk •4bt. la unit lag 1". 4 . ai.vitAra.r.t.nniev!el •a/ "Tat MErna.,"Lons y,,,,aar tam. avoi be .1 the I /bee. W. Beimew..tries. y Two q'elook us the lay •t RVs. MUNI WATIlit AT LONUON BILIDOIL To I. Dar—Warms., Is. M 0...-. «Albinism, 14.34 V. T.Nleßaul.-1147111.11if. .k. I 26. ,310. LONDON, B.ITCRD4 F s DECEMBER 25. IN the memory of man there has not been a Christmas at which the "compliments of thu season" —the wish " A merry Christmas and a happy new year"--memed more certainly to promise a pleasing fulfilment than at present. Many of the dark clouds that " loomed over the future , that cast a heavy shade over the present, in Christmas days long past, are scattered, never we hope to return. In times past, the condition of the poor struck a mournful note amidst the jubilant sounds that are the natural accompaniment of Christmas. The thoughts of the Pilfering, out of doors occasionally obtruded at our merry makings, like the skeleton at the ancient festi val. Nay, so much was this the case, that many of the allusions to Christmas in the old writers turn upon the fact that this season was the one when the " heritage of woe " to which poverty succeeds, was to be especially lightened. It was to be u time wham, as at URA 'S feast, *. Slavery half forgot bar feudal Asia." It wag, however, ouly half forgot. We trust, how ever, that we have "changed all that." There is • every reason to believe that the time is fast vanish ityr when the industrious poor will look at Christens/- tide upon a soup kitchen as an elysium, or depend for the happiness of a Christmas Day upon the presence of eleemosynary plum-puddings and pints of ale. The workhouses are in process of being emptied. Their customary tenants era " picking up gold and silver," in the plains of Australia, or sailing towards its shores with hopes —for the first time excited—of being able to avoid those miseries which philanthropists in England used to assure them they were "born to." The men ' who used to be singing Drink sbout--sast army sem— Tbe wish is Mw/ to lad us ; are now looking with confidence to a strong arm end a determined will, to do more for them than any "parish" could ever do. This is a remarkable fea ture of the present day. It removes the only wrinkle en the brow of " Jolly old Christmas." Labour is well rewarded and plentiful, the *sceneries of life are cheap and abundant, and the labourer himself is elevated from a state of debasing dependence to one I. which he may hope to secure the comforts and seceseexies of life without the si AL nee neighbour. Without any wish to sober the revelry of the sea son with a dash of grave polities—giving way completely to the popular idea that at this time the wl.ole nation should be turning its back upon the severe realities of life, and allow ing full play to all kindly and genial affec dose—still it ta impossible to sink the reflection that the nation will dance rather more lightly in the universal festivity than if the legs of the DEBAT Mini-try had been round its neck, cramping its ac tivities, like the celebrated legs of the Old Man of the Sea on the shoulders of our veracious friend, SINDBAD the Sailor. Many en old father of a family would have tottered down the last country dance less nimbly at the thoughts of the double House Tax in store for him. Many a dapper clerk might have made a false step in a polka, at the image of the slice of has income which Mr. DtaltAFJ.l intended appropriating. If the brewer, amidst the general relief, sighs at the loss of the thousands of which the ellaMeauma was to have made him a Christmas box, we may console ourselves with the reflection that there are very few brewers to suffer, and that they can very well afford to lose. While therefore we are enjoying the luxury of dipping into the new books which the season introduces to our notice, we may count as en additional item to our gratifies tin the absence of that CIIANCILLLOkin Christmas book—" the Budget." Perhaps the fact of there being no Ministry at all may be considered a very sensible subject of Christ mas merriment. It is so much more likely that a Ministry will go wrong than right, that the chances are, that if a Cabio et had been finally formed we should have had our attention turned away from the solid grounds of enjoyment before us, to the troublesome coasideratioa of ministerial blunders. If we were witnessing the representation of the old games in which the Lord of Misrule takes so great a share, it would have been impossible not to con nect this mythical personage with the First Lord of the Treasury. On the whole, and considering how marvellously England seems to get on during a ministerial interregnum, it will be as well to look upon the absence of a Ministry as one of the happy fulfilment, of the greeting of the season, "A merry Christmas." If any very political Eng lishman finds it imp Bible to banish politics from his thoeghta on Christmas Day, let him do his beat to do what political leaden so often do for bins— turn polities into a "farce.' Let him make a " mummer's play or masking" of the late political events, and he will find ample material to chase away his gravity and contribute to the amuse meat of his friends. Should he not happen to be of a literary torn of mind, he will find the thing done to his hand in the "play or disguising "—mentioned by Mr. SANDYS in hie amusing book on Christmas-tide—which was anciently enacted before the benches in Gray's-inn The plot of thin antique _piece of merriment was, we are told, " that Lord Governance was ruled by " Dissipation and Negligence, by whose misgovern " meat and evil order Lady Public-Weal was put " from Governance, which caused Rumor Popasii, "Inward Grudge, and Disdain•of-Wanton " flovereigntie to rise with a great mul " titude to expel Negligence and Dissipation, and restore l'ublic Weal again to her es " tate." What an ingenious summary is this of the plot of the drama that has been acted during the last year by her MAJVATT . I4 servants and the public. Who does not see that while the landlord's slaver Dissipation and Negligence, were m i n i s t ers , e ll id ei of tiublfc weft was lost in that of private compensa tion, and that nothing but a union between Rumor Popsii (public opinion), Inward Grudge (deceived friends), and Disdain-of-Wanton-Sovereigatie (gene ral disgust at arbitrary changes), would have sufficed to see Public Weal made the principal object of the care of governmen ts. It is no mere compliance, then, with an ordinary formula which leads us to wish our readers a "Merry Christmas." The mans of the timee are sheering. We have durin the last yea killed ass loaned the waster i Oar commerce is In.