The Express. — London, England, 1862-12-25 00:00:00

eIAMPAGNE, DRY Ana DELICATE. V Mee (Made Mb. re dean. conwof _oecWlB ll Pold• Recommended Mei cooldemen—HUßY IRXIT sad Ock. Importers, 01d Furthers DielinOTY, Holborn. RC.. and SO. Iteseateireek Wakeloo-pleoe, &W. HARMONIUME-NEW MODEL MUM, DIAL; and WOOD. WI, lagantatzest. STOLEN KISSES. —PIESSE and LUBIN'S NEW PERVITIMI far tbs Wativ we itiee--84440 Own and their Sequel. Doz-liteatn. SW U al Offeetr. kW Ulm &MAIM Is • PrinT Ts.-4. low ica•-streo• alma. gut entrtoo. dvsetlcemento tabZolo7 lon "11o~P'r• Lamina Wonky Tapir, must boo an dr ono% 14, boavalowlemb by Two o'clock on the day at yablicallon. COVINT GARDEN. To-iorararaw Itvonrara, and sad ad ACAS of THY'. 130REIIIAN GlRL—Arad the paid mole flAatataeYaitomtme,e fUWd NALLIQIIIN DRAUTY AID TAR RLlAT.—Commeaoe at 7. NAYNABNIY. To.Neasew !MONO, 001 ANIIILICAN COUSIN. Yam &Abut sod Backdoso ; Km IL nig-SMILAX PILINCS OF ABYSSINIA. Xt. Campton and Mins L. Betio. —And A PAY AFT= THI WEDDING.—Irso Harem. To-t .6m Emma, TIME TEM ALL Wm Ommtanee Aylmer.. And the Pantonthae, lIQUIT WITH THE TUFT , or, Aselsersin and Sethi. 80ipion. Messrs. Milyto, IL. Power, and lisilerd; Ifise A. Cations. . SIZTANNIA. Iltandirg Performanar at half-out 12 tomorrow or'y of Um New Pantomime entitled AMON MAMAS. Abort. lire. Lae. Tem Omen, er-Chaamioq and hiatwo perform'," Merl, walk frat.rate Pantaw'etta, a &ppm- HIGH HAUG AT LONDON BRIDGIL Tam DAT —lkeda& 4b. 50ea.....Attanom. 54. Ifts. rt..-moutOw—llardmg. I. Mea.....Afbarsoos. 61%. oe. LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25. " RaJores, ye righteous, this is the birthday of " the Jnerirtas ; rejoice, ye weak and sick, this is " the birthday of the SAVIOUR ' • rejoice, ye pi:- " Boners, this is the birthday of the Riunauzit ; " rejoice, ye slaves, it is the birthday of the LORD ; " rejoice ye freemen, it is the birthday of the " LIBERATOR ; rejoice, all ye Christians, it is the " birthday of CHRIST." These are the inspiring words in which Sr. Ai:Totem hails the return of this great Christian anniversary amidst the ruinous decline of the most powerful Pagan civilisation, and the general dissolution of the old Roman world. And though our circumstances are so widely different from his, the words of the great Christian Father are as fresh and applicable to-day as they were fourteen centuries ago. When he peened this stirring invocation the strongest and most perfectly organised civilisation of • purely material type which the world bad ever seen was just completing its fatal cycle of civic hardihood, military conquest, social corruption, and hopeless national decay. Tyrannical selfishness and unbridled sensuality, the abuse of power and the lust of self-indulgence, had utterly eaten out the once boasted virtue of the Roman, and the mighty fabric he had raised was falling on every hand beneath the attack of the invader. Amidst this wide-spread ruin the eloquent apostle of the African Church celebrates the advent of a new and regenerating power—the appearance of • Pi:nce who was at the same time a Saviour, a Redeemer, a Deliverer; and the establishment of an empire whose conquests are not over the persons but over the wills, the consciences, and the affect'ons o' men. The triumphs of that spiritual kingdom have I largely multiplied since then, and its Divine Power , has been manifested on the widest @cafe. We still , celebrate with sacred joy the advent of its Div;ne Founder, and recognise in his life and teaching the germs and principles of a new and noble life for the individual and the race. Christianity proves its claim to be the true life and sovereign hope of the world, not only in the purity of its pfnciples, but in its practical results. Its success is as yet only partial, but so far as its influence extends it not only raises the individual but regenerates society. To it we owe the idea and the existence of the English home. It consecrates the mar riage bond, lays the foundation of the social state in equal wedded love, and reveals for the first time the depth and sanctity of the domestic affections. Wherever it goes it carries with it the sacredness o family life, die true germ of all social progress. The birthday of its Divine Founder is thus in all Christian countries appropriately set apart not ()ply or even chiefly for public thanksgiving, but more especially for private family intercourse and domestic enjoyment. It is the tame-honoured season of family gatherings, when the value and sanctity of home are inipresaed afresh on the hearts of its united members. All the enjoyments and associations of the day are closely connected with that sacred spot, and help, even in mines touched with the hardness and huni of the world, to revive with salutary power, if not in all their early strength and tenderness, the influences and affections of home. But the principles of the Kingdom whose advent ' ; the Christian world celebrates to-day have a scope ' and application beyond the limited circ'e of family life. It is a kingdom of justice and trutl - , of peace and freedom, and those who own its sway are virtually pledged to co-operate with its Divine Founder in helping by every means in their power to further the progress of these principles. This imposes public duties and responsibilities of the most distinct and important nature. Those who bear the Christian name are in virtue of that pro fession pledged to resist every form of tyranny and opposition, every species of selfish aggran disement and social injustice. They are bound to oppose every form of unrighteous vio'eroe and strife ; to subdue in their own minds, and, as far as their influence reaches, in otheii, the turbu lent passions and violent prejudices which natu rally lead to these calamitous restate. Yet, on looking at the state of the so-called Christian world, at home and abroad, we are sign — tcai tly rerr *nded of how much Christianity has yet to do in order to assure Le triumph of its Brat prirciplel over the life and conduct of its proles/ohs. We see in too many instances that, however much men may act under Christian influences in their private life, they are often no better than heathens in discussing public questions and dealing with their public duties and responsibilities. In this region any reference to the higher law which Christianity reveals is not unfrequently treated as fanaticism by those who loudly claim the Christian character. This sufficiently proves that the trit"nph yet achieved by Christianity over communities is only of a very partial and imperfect kind. Much of what daily happens around us tends to show that we have yet to learn the first principles of Christian freedom, justice, and temperance—so far, at least, as their wider applications are concerned. In the conflict which unhappily divides the North American continent for instance these principles come directly into play. It cannot be denied that the deliver ance of four millions of human beings from a wicked and degrading thraldom is the real issue at stake in that conflict ; yet many on this side of the Atlantic have not only lost sight of this great fact, but are disposed, when it is insisted on, to treat it as of small practical account. They ignore altogether the prime object of that Divine Advent celebrated to day. It revealed in the most striking form the individual worth and sacredness of humanity, and branded time es the worst form against the Divine economy of happiness; free- 1 dom, and peace which Canna came to set up. Many, however, looking from the lower pound of monetary ooevenienos, and judging the mourned institution by its fitness to rapport some favourite theory of government, are disposed to consider slavery no great evil. It is satisfactory, however, to find that notwithstand ing the partial prevalence of this tone on both sides of the Atlantic, the great cause of humanity is not wholly sacrificed, nor the hopes of the world dis appointed in the progress of that conflict. It ought to be reoorded as a cheering fact on this Christian Anniversary that the President of the UNITED STATES has for the first time in the history of that people taken decisive action against this curse of his country and the world. Mr. LINOOLN ID urging his scheme of Emancipation on the atten tion of Congress, says emphatically—" In giving " freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the " free, honourable alike in what we give and what "we preserve. We shall nobly save or meanly " lose the last, best hope of the world." That at least shows that one great Christian com munity is gradually rising to a clearer perception of the higher law of justice which Christianity enjoins. We have our own public duties in relation to that great contest ; and first and foremost amongst them is, as far as possible, to act justly and keep up the friendly relation be tween the two nations. The leading ideas connected with this Christian celebration are those of deli- versace and peace, of peace secured through de liverance from the selfish passions sad social injustices that lead to violence and war. In this direction we may all do something towards extending the triumphs of the PRINCK of Paxca, whose advent we recall with gratitude and joy this morning. IT is a pity that the action by Mr. HUDSON against the Benchers of the Middle Temple was not tried some few weeks earlier. The playwrights of the Christmas pantomimes have scarcely com pleted their work before Mr. HUDSON suggests the screaming tableau of himself struggling on the floor of the Parliament chamber for the possession of a letter-book, with what be calla a "clustering" of the " grave and reverend" Masters of the Bench and all the porters of the Society. To those whose youthful freshness for pantomimes is past, and who are sick of Harlequin and Panta loon, the entrance of the inevitable policeman only to have his hat knocked over his eyes, and buried under an avalanche of gigantic hams, sacks, and sausages, is always reviving. Bat the daring artist who will have the courage t 3 repla,3 the policeman by Mr. HUDSON, and the mis chievous crowd of idlers, shopkeepers, and smrll boys by Sir FREDERICK SLADE and his brother Benches, in silk gowns and longwiga, produ.) a sensation scene, before which the lake scene the Colleen Bawn, and even Lord Dundreary, " must pale their uneffectual fires." There is a well-known entei :ainment famirar to the initiated at which all the Judges on the Bench and the eminent Counsel at the bar are nightly burlesqued. The audience is large—the speculation sucoessfoL But to appreciate its merits needs special know. ledge—the rapt auditor must at least be a lawyer's c'erk or a bum-bailiff. Of Buzfuz without his wig and gown, neither TOY TAYLOR nor even Diorites has been able to make anything. True, Mr. Brief less in his chambers in the Temp's in dressing gown and slippers with a library of empty shel zes, his feet on the hob, and a pipe of Ohs :co, has long possessed the stage. Still the silent moments of a working lawyer's lift—when, artsr the noisy labours of the day, he retires to the sumptuous inner chamber of his Inn to discharge the solemn duties of the mahogany, have defied the plastic hand of the playwright. But this is the era of transformations. We literally turn diseases to commodity. The sewage of towns is utilised— and, according to some enthusiasts, even the mud of the streeta, if properly manipulated, may be turned into gold. The imaginative Mr. HUDSON has used his materials with in finite ingenuity. And though his dramatic picture was little adapted for the arena of a Court of Justice, for it was the simple creation of his own brain, still it is well worthy to be transfers% d to the boards of Drury-lane or the Adelph . l. The circumstances which gave rise to the action are very simple. Dru:ng the late inquiry by the Benches' of the Middle Temple into the conduct of Mr. DIOBY Szywous, Mr. HUDSON attended as a witness in Mr. Szistoes's favour. During his examination the Benchers handed to him a book which he recognised as one formerly kept by him in connexion with the " Waller Gold Mining " Company." This book Mr. HUDSON put into his pocket, declaring that. it was his proper..-, and defied the Benches, to take it fro-n him. This book, as it appeared, contrned seventeen letters, it only of them copies of Mr. HUDSON'S letters, the remainder being copies of letters written by the secretary of the company, and one written by Mr. Dicier SEYMOUR. The Bombers were naturally irritated, and demanded I the book back. But Mr. Huroost refusing, they Galled in their set rants and porters, and attsmpkd to take it by forca. In the meantime, some one summoned the police to the room. The violent scene ceased, and Mr. HUDSON went to the station-house with the pol'oe-constable. Mr. Boasnows, one of the Benchers, arrived about the same time, who made a charge of " im " properly taking the book." The superintendeat of police declining to accept this charge Mr. Mun son was dismissed. For the treatment thus re ceived Mr. HUDSON brought his action. His complaint was, that he had been assaulted, imprisoned, and given into custody. The answer of the Bendier, was, that they were entitled to make the assault in order to recover the book, which was fraudulently taken out e their possession, and that Mr. HUDSON was never iu fact given into custody. The trial has lasted four days, and was only concluded yesterday. After three hours' deliberation the juij were ( 1 :15- charged without being able to agree upon a verdict. The result is, that each party will be obliged to pay his own coats ; and probably Mr. HUDSON will not think it worth his while to try his fortune a second time. One object has cer tainly been gained. He has had an opportunity of giving his own version of the insults heaped upon him ; of having his persecutors, the eminent lawyers who oCensively cross-examined him, cross examined themselves in return ; and of heap ing as much public ridicule as he could upon the Inns of Court and upon those con nected with them. As to the legal points involved, there is not much difficulty. It is clear that unless the letter-book in question was proved to be the private property of Mr. HUDSON, he was not justified in detaining it; whilst, on the other hand, it is also clear that the Benchers were jus tified even in resorting to violence in order to re cover possession of the book in question. That this book was not the private property of Mr. Hopson is tolerably obvious from its contents— for only six out of seventeen letters were Mr. VRESB9 A unacies. list although the Bineleers may have Ulm jailbird in haviscrecourse to *lance, tt i■ difficult not to agree with tithe Loso Cam Juane; that they would have better consulted their own dignity if they had allowed him to depart with that divified con tempt which he deserved, and not have suffered the Parlianent•ohamber of the Middle Temple, where the interests of the profession have been watched for so many generations by some of the most distinguished lights, to be converted into a theatre for inch a scene. As to the question whether Mr. HUDSON was given into custody, it is not surprising that the .jury should have found it impossible to oome to an agreement. Whatever impropriety Mr. BUNION may have com mitted in taking possession of the letter-book, it certainly was no act of stealing. It is well known that if a man takes a thing under the belief that it is his own property—and this was evidently Mr. EIIINION'S conviction—it is no act of theft, it is no crime. The distinction between " taking " and " stealing " is a crux as well known to young lawyers as the pans asinoruns to Cambridge freshmen. It is oomical to observe the instinctive way in which the old Common Law foxes shrank from the trap. It was only Mr. BAGBHAWE, who never strays be. yond the dingy purlieus of Lincoln's-inn, that is supposed to have committed himself to the charge of " stealing." Upon this point, however, there was a conflict of evidence. The police swore one way, the Benchers another. The jury, therefore, may well be excused for declining to come to any conclusion on the subject. . This trial, which may probably conclude the celebrated cam of Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR, suggests some useful reflections. There is no reason to sup pose that in that case the Benchers of the Middle Temple arrived at any but a just conolusior. At all events, it is obvious that Mr. DIGBY SEYMOUR submitted to their jurisdiction, and that if he is dissatisfied he may appeal to the Judges. At the same time it is impossible to say that the mode in which Mr. DIOBY SEYMOUR'S case was investigated was satisfactory. The time was inconver;ent, and the Judges were variable. Eat the Benchers of the Middle Temple, who were practically put upon their trial, the other day at Westminster-hall, when Mr. DIOBY SZYMOUR brought h's action for the libel in the Law Review, and yesterday at Guildhall, must now be able to appreciate the importance of having a trial conducted in due form. Would it be hyper ciAical to ask how they would have been satisfied if the trial just concluded had taken, place at in tervals of some days—but always after dinner— if, instead of having the same judge, and the mire jury, the Chief Justice had been replaced sometimes by one of his pulsar* sometimes by a Baron of the Exchequer, and sometimes by a Judge of the Common Pleas ; whilst the twelve jury men who ultimately were to pronounce a veil:Pet se'dom sat for two nights together? Would they have been satisfied to have bad the evidence of Mr. HUDSON and the police heard by the jury, whilst the evidence of Mr. BAGSHAWE rod Sir F. SLADE was allowed to be gathered from the shot.' band writer's note.? We suspect not. But if so, the procedure adopted in the Parliament-chamber needs instant reform. CO Coun. OSBORNE, Du. 20. The Queen, with Princess Louis of Haase, drove out yesterday. Cowden Blusher had the honour of booom pen) :eg her Majesty. On Vriday and Saturday in the past wet her Majesty's bounty and pte alms, to aged and meritorious poor who had been recommended by the clergy in the various parishes and districts in and round London, were distributed, at the Almoniy-office, in Scotland-yard ; and on Monday and Tuesday in the current week three distributions were re ' slimed in anticipation of Chistmse. Three distributions were made under the directing care of the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Lord High Almoner, and the Rev. Dr. Jell, D.D., Sub-Almoner, by Joseph Hanby, Bog., Secretary and Yeoman of the Armour in Ordinary. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-oece from the Govemers of (Marotta, and Malta. Despatches were sent to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian lolanda, sad to the Governor of Oanada. Sournanrroze, Dec. 24.—His Royal Highnem Prince Arthr., attended by Major Elphinetono (governor), embarked from the dock., this day at half-past one, on bo..rd her Majesty's yacht Airy, Master Commander Welch, for Osborne. Hi■ Royal Highness was re ceived by Mr. P. Hedger and Mr. John Levy, principal officers of the docks, and Mr. R. Beach was in attendance on the pert of the South Western Railway. His Royal Rieman appeared in the enjoyment of the been of health. The Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung says :—" The visit of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia to Vienna, it is stated on the best authority, has promoted the most intimate relations between the royal guests and the imperial house. The Crown Primes speaks highly of the grace of the Empress, who, on her pert, is much charmed with the engaging ami►bility of the English princess. The intercourse of the two exalted ladled wri by no means confined to the nu stings prescribed by the pro gramme, for they sought each other's society as often as they found a moment's leisure, and pawed hours in the most oonfidential conversation. The Emperor used the ' Du' (the second person) in addressing the Crown Prince, se did the Empress in her conversed= with the Crown Princess. Her royal highness did not appear at the theatre, in compliance with the wishes of her royal mother, and in accordance with her own feelings, on account of the mourn ful event of this tune last year. Her royal highness wore mourning on appearing in public." Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge entertained a select pu.y at diner !Ist evening at her residence at Kew. . . . . . The Duchess of Inverness received a select party at dinner last evening at her apartments in Kensington The Earl and Countess Stanhope are receiving a succession of visitors at their seat, Chesaning Park, Seven oaks. Frances Countess of Albemarle and Colonel the Hon. Peregrine Cast left town yesterday on a visit to the Hon. and Rev. Richard Cost, at Belton Rectory. Viscount Mahon will leave town in a few days to join the oink assembled at Chansons Park, Kent. The Lord Chancellor has presented the Rev. Augusta James Parson; 8.A., of Trinity College, Cam bridge, canto of Southover !ad All Sainte, to the re ;tot y of St. Anne, Lewis, rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. Charles Stroud Green, M.A. The honorary canonry of Driffield, in York Minster, rendered vacant by the death of the Hon. and Very Rev. Dr. Rice, dean of Gloucester, has been conferred upon the Hon. and Rev. William Howard, M.A., of Christ Church. Oxford, rector of Whiston, near Rotherham. The Caledonian Mercury commenced yesterday the publication of the correspond/Doe between Major Yelverton and Miss Longwortb, with "An introduction and explanatory notes by the Hon. Mrs. Yelverton." A New York paper says that a daughter of the late Mr. G. P. R. James has elapsed a roues ladle? school in that city. EItANCIPATION Socurrv.—Mr. John Stuart Mill, the Rey. Baptist W. Noel, Professor Cairns', Lillail6lll2i. General Annan Tbompsoo, Mr. Stansfekl, ALP., Dr. C. J. Foster, Professor Newman, the Rev. Newness Hall, Mr. Thomas B. Potter (Manchester). Mr. Duncan M'Leren (Edisburgh), Mr. B. Scott (City Chamberlain), the Mayor of Manchester, Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., Mr. Hugh Mason (asiitoepeador-Lyss), and Mr. Edward Mien, have an epled invitation to become member of the committee of the 6 Emancipation Society. , < IN TELLIGENI AMERICA. (acorn's 'ITLIGIUM) BATTLE AT FREDERICKSBURG. (Ns. City o Manchester, via Cap Rem) NEW YORK, D. 15, Kann. Early on the morning of the 13th inst., in the midst of a dense fog, General Reynolds, command ing the left of the Federal army at Fredericksburg, advanced and engaged the Confederate infantry. The Confederates immediately opened Bee from batteries of heavy art"lery. Two hours later the fog disappeared, and two divisions of infantry charged the Confederate posi tion in the rear of the city. The Federala expe rienced •a check. Having been reinforced they again charged the enemy, but were again repulsed. From that time Leavy firing oontiquedon both sides till dark. The Federal General Franklin, who commenced on the left, succeeded in driving the Confederates about a mile. The latter then attacked him, but were repulsed with loge of 400 prisoners. On the night of the 13th the Federals slept on the ground where the battle had been fought. The Federal Generals Jackson and Bayard were killed. Ave Federal generals were wounded. The Con federate continued to throw shells into Frede ricksburg until 8 p.m. General Longstreet com manded the Confederates' left wing, and held the main works. General Hullo and Edmonds were in front of General Franklin, with Edmonds' right wing resting on the Rappahannock. No battle occurred on the 14th. The Confede rates were occupied in extending their works and strengthening their position. The Federal dead in front d the Confederate works remained where they fell. It is supposed that 40,000 Federah were engagec in the battle of the 13th. The whole of General Lee's army is believed to be at Fredericksburg. The Confederates are supposed to have six lines of works behind the city. _ _ It is expected that General Burnside will renew the engagement to-day. A large number of Federal officers were killed, and the loss of life on both sides is believed to be very heavy. The following is from the latest editions of the Portland journals : Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Dee. 13. In the field-11 A.m. The great battle so long anticipated between the two contending armies is now progressing. The morning opened with a dense fog which has not entirely disappeared. Gene ral Reynolds' corps on the left advanced at au early hen; and at 9.15 son. engaged the enemy's infantry. Seven minutes afterwards the rebels opened a harry fire of artil lery, which has continued so far without intermission. Their artillery fire must be at random, as the fog obstructs all view of !almost everything. Oar heavy gnus are answer ' ing them rapidly. It is hoped that the fog will soon lift. At this writing no results are known. Not much infantry has yet become engaged. A portion of the enemy's cavalry crossed a ford above here, and yesterday were found on our right and rear. &Solent force has been sent out to meet them. THE BOMBARDMENT AND CAPTURE OF FREDERICKSBURG. Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Des, 11,1862. To-day has witnessed one of those rare, grand spectacles of war—the bombardment of a city. For days the attack had been looked for with feverish anxiety, and with each successive evening the morrow was prophesied as the inaugural occasion of the much-telkedof winter campaign ; but weeks slipped by and yet we rested in our camps, while all along the ridges just across the river bat teries nightly sprang from the earth, as if by magic, and the increasing smoke of the enemy's camp fires wrapped bill and valley in undistioguishable gloom. Wild, exciting rumours were gm dily accepted for facts, and • thousand statements, as ridiculous as they were contradictory, flew like wildfire from damp to camp. Throughout the week there had been indications that the crisis was rapidly approaching, and each night the troops retired at tattoo fully confident that the roar of artillery would be their reami'le. Last evening, at amodosn, the movement commenced. Batteries hastened to the frout,wriggon trains were removed from the vicinity of the anticipathl Battle, the ponderous pontoons joined the current hurrying river-ward, and night closed down upon us bright and beau tiful, with our pulses throbbing quick with eager ex pectations. Artillery never seemed to rumble so noisily before, and the sharp cluck of the iron axles echoed far and war, as if in league with the enemy. Down by the river everything was as quiet as peace. Om. picket., composed of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania regiment, est list lessly about their fires, watching the rebel *entries and crunching hard tack. The river swept smoothly by, placid as the sky above, and just over there, so close one almost wished to tell them of their error, stood the rebel sentries, while • soothing movement of rushing waters in the rapids up stream swelled softly down the valley. Front the thresholds of the city the sharp yelp of cum ran now and then discordantly upon the ear ; but, with the batteries in position, the arse of their outcry would be reLved, and silence stain settles down upon the town, broken only by the tones of the town clock toiling the midnight hours. And so the time slipped along. The moon climbed higher up, and the falling dew whitened into frost upon our ponchos, while the horses, restless in the chill night air, moved to and fro uneasily in their harness. At two o'clock our pickets were withdrawn, and at three the pontoon train drove down to the water. Lumber was noiselessly piled upon the ground, and the huge boats slid from off their trucks. Then we hear a splashing in the river—a dark pathway lengthens out upon the silver sur face, shadows flit here and there along its track, the lusty blows of the hammers re-echo from side to side. And yet no sound comes front the enemy. "Have they evacuated the placer " Are we not to fight here after all!" is asked. Suddenly. Crack! crack! crack! from a hundred muskets tells us the ball is opened. A cry of pain comes up the bank from the gallant engineers, mules dash off, with pontoons thundering after, eaves the plot ; the musketry grows louder, and the whiz of bullets more frequent ; frightened teamsters fly, panic-stricken, and the artillery horses plunge at the Suddenly, boom ! goes a gun—another and another, until thirty pieces are pouring shot and shell upon the devoted city. Graham, who did so gloriously at Antietam ; Kirby, with Ricketts' old Bull Run battery ; Miller, Duren, Tyler, Smith, Hazard, Kinsey, and Dickson, all join in the uproar, and musketry is lost to the ear in the mighty roar that re-echoes again and again from hill to hill. Gradually the fire slackens, and the engineers again attempt the comple tion of the bridge, but in vain ; and after a third trial they fall back, bearing in their arms their wounded, dead, and dying. It was designed to lay down two bridges at once, one at the lower and the other at the upper end of the city. The enemy, posted in the houses and cellars, upon the bank of the river, were safe from our infantry, and maintained a continuous fire. Our infantry returned the fire spiritedly, but finding it impossible to drive the rebels from their cover, finally withdrew, leaving the disposition of the enemy to oar artillery. By this time it was sunrise. The engineers (Fiftieth New York) and the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth New York regiments bad suffered heavily, and the wounded soon be gan to crowd the floors of the Lacy House. Other regi ments had also suffered, though much lees, and the sur geons soon had work enough. About 8 o'clock the artillery fire ceased. The fog Wei as dense that objects were invisible 100 yards from tin gam Fredericksburg was as sileot as before. Again the eniginemes advance, and again the enemy drive them hack ; ordediss gallop to the different batteries with instructions; a message orders from Mule a special !milt with solid shot ; and again the thunder breaks out anew. For • time the mar is indescribably awful. The city from its wells of brick hurls back a thousand echoes, which beat up against the Falmouth hint roll back again beyond the town, and , ..... • MI _25, 1862. . _.. . ithi., from the distant hills cogs more a irei over to us, r• then& the lisavent Fere Teat asunder. At Genteel Sum nees headquerters, half a tole distant, it I rooms. 'difficult to COGVIM in a low tope, while at the batteries orders most be sigetalin 1. By and by the firing oessei, and one is almost awe-sit:clean with the larolownd snipes. The mist sti" cl:ugs to the river, -the as similes no red and fury, and the sir is suffocating with the odour al gunpowder. Presently the bank of fag WSW to lift a little, the glistening roofs gleam 'shady dm* the veil, then the sunbeams seratter the clouds that tatteertne, sod Fredericksburg, utterly desolate, steads out helm. A huge column of dense black smoke towers Qs a sionement above the livid flames, that leap and hies end mookle, licking up the snow upon the roofs with lambent tongues, and stretching like a giant. The gons nose the:- rear, and we see the solid shot plunge through the lawkaary en though it were pasteboard ; other buildings are fired, and lam loodown a soon of homes are in ashes, wh:le not one semen to have escaped the pitiless storm of iron. Akw noffiner have been fired than was anticipated ; but the storage does by solid shot is terrible, and will mut., years to repair. Among the sufferers is Mr. Garland, a loyal re. !ogee, who witnessed the bombard'neut from the head carters of General Sumner, of whose staff his son is a nesesber. The residence of Mr. Slaughter, father of the neyer, Dr. Wallace's, Mrs. Hayes', and Ilmberiske's auction and oommiseion store, are among the buildings horned. An English ensign hung conspicuously from one of the house& which, fortunately for the Rouges, was lens Arnessd to our fire. Females could be seen darting through the elteete, Degrees catryiog furniture from burning lees" sad now and then a rebel glirliog from one biding Were to another. Oar artillery would drive the enemy from their cover upon the bank of the river ; but, when compelled to cease, in order not to endanger the lives of the regiments, the rebels would immedMtely stet! back and pick off or- men with the rile. In the meantime our own troops Pled the hlls upon this side as far as the eye could reach, all intensely watching the operations. Arti"sry, cavalry, and infantry, in solid columns, covered every plateau, and every camp in the vicinity was well nigh abandoned in the desire to whom the bombardment. A number of females appeared at the windows in the city from time to time, waving white gni and shouting to us that they wished to come over. As we were in the same predicament, the disappointment was mutual, and the affrighted females were left to the undisturbed enjoyment of our sympathy. Whenever each signals were displayed, however, the buildings were spared by our artillerists, so that the inmates were bat :Ids less safe than they would have been upon tb:s ride. As night approached it was found that the enemy bad no idea of yielding to no a free passage across the river With their facilities for shielding themselves, our artillery could not permanently dislodge them, and Compariee C and G, of the Seventh Michigan regiment, gallantly volun teered to cross in boats and drive them out of town. Re ceiving sweet to their proposition, they sprang into a couple of pontoon boats, rowed briskly across, dashed up into the city at double quick, broke open the houses, and captured 36 prisoners, including • staff officer. This gallant act secured to us the opposite side until the bridge could be completed, and our troops are now in possession of the city. Immediately after taking possession of the place, the enemy opened upon it with artillery from the hills beyond, but without effect, and at this hour (9 o'cicck p.m.) evert thing is perfectly quiet. Not a shot was fired by the rebels from their batteries daring the entire day, with the exoeps Lion of the few shots just at night. Some of our men suf fered from our cis a guts, however, a few shells basing ex ploded this aids of the river. Our logs in killed sod wounded is not large. Toe rebels, owing to their sheltered positions, have probably arffeerd less than we, though at times oar shells seemed to brat among them with considerable effect. General Burnside remained at Goner"! Sumner's head quarters during the bombardment, in plain i:ew of the whole some. (mimes TILLEGRAII6) FRANCE. PARIS. Dzo. 26. The Moniteur, in its bulletin of to-day, says : " The Papal Nuncio has remitted to M. Drouyn de Lhuys the sum of 10,000 francs, sent by the Pope for the poor workmen of the department of the Lower Seine, at the same time stating that his Holiness re gretted that the state of his finances prevented him from sending a more considerable offering. His Holiness, however, wished' to testify his sympathy for the French people, and his grati tude for the tokens of devotion which he receives from France." ITALY. CIINNZAL GANSDALDI AND 818 GLASGOW BY*. PATHWIDIL The subjoined communiestiose have fast bass received by Mr. Arrow, at Glasgow, from General Gaelbaldi s—" Pia, 181 k Densinber, 1802. Robert MIN; Faq., Secretary to the Garibaldi Committee, Glasgow. My dear sir,—l exesediogly sweet that the state of my health has prevented my sooner acknowledging the receipt of your favour containing an account of the meeting which you did me the honorn:to hold at Olugow oath. 23rd September last. Your expressions of kindness and sympathy are mast vela. able. I truly appreciate them ; and beg you to assure your felow-countaymen of my lasting gratitude for remembering me at a period when your sympathy wu doubly welcome to my heart. I to ast to be permittedat some future time to enjoy the privilege oft :siting Glasgow, that I may have the oppor• tunity of expressing, in pencils my deep sense of the kiwi. ness I have received from her worthy citizens—l am, my dear Sir, your fikrad, G. GAIIDALDI."—" Pin, Dec. 18, (11011 ODA Owl 0011DIAPONDINT.) 1862.—My dear Sir,—l fear, from what I have lately heard, PARIS, WIDNESDAT ESILDINa that no acknowledgment has been received from me regard. The France professes to be informed from Lon- ieg the valuable Bible; which were so kindly presented to my family and self from Glasgow. Pray a cce p t m y siseme don that at a cabinet council held y esterda y (Dec. apologiesappreciate forthelonl ering delay, .. 23) it was resolved that, before calling for a diplo-id Bibles will be bel i eve how i matic conference, the British government wouldprumen - ----- ' the by my childre n and . myself, in testimony of nor consult the lonian people upon the question gratitude for the repeated proofs of affectionate friendship whether they wished to be annexed to Greece. which we have received from your noble city.—l am, my "The lonians," the France continues, "do not dear Sir, your friend, G. Ossusaun. Robert Idlest, seem to be unanimously in the affirmative. The Erna." city of Corfu, in particular, declares that its &ban- The Ent,' Acte,the well-known theatrical journal donment by England will be its ruin if Prince Alfrr •1 which has been published in Paris for s o inl ay. Y ams. seized the other night by the authorities, for giving at hr refuses the throne of Greece." perfect programme of the performances at the theatre. The France, in a feuilleten which stigmatisms as e The English government , " say s the Moniker fabulous the greater part o f the anecdotes which of yester d ay , " has just granted to the Massagerin lux' have been current about the Emperor's visit to perialea Company some land at Pointe de Calle, for a coal Baron de Rothschild, gives the following as posi- station. This kind concession will ensure the efficient tively true:—When the Emperor, having in hand working of the Indorekinnoo lino of French. tiam . '". _ the golden trowel with an ivory handle, planted the The committee appointed by the Ital ian b.t Ceamber cedar tree intended to commemorate his appearance a hu l: h *Put h ' iL i ° !p ea . aa m ia l airi ". d t ,, h ,, e t, a ndj N. Mawr{ as at Ferrietse, he asked one of the gardeners how long esue taryMen .it would be before the sap lin g g ot to its full growth. Advioes from Turin state that t he Italian govern- Baron Rothschild, taking the words out of the gar- meat has decided on moodier t o Corsica a special m dener's mouth, and being , as the Prance rap- composed of an officer of the staff and a high civil NIX. turously says, "filled with an inspiration worthy C discipline of the Conklin Voltig eur s end the means w hic h omity, for the purpose of study in g the organisaton of an old courtier of days gone by , answered in the inion, true spirit of a marquis' of Versailles, ' Sire, the the French government employthed . f land. isor extirpating tare tree will not grow so long as your Majesty.'" podia= formerly prevailing in at .. Elihu Burritt is shortly expected in England. The Silcle, noticing a statement in the Moniker, His v i s it to this ~,,,,,t i. , ~11 be a b o ng one. that the Papal government will allow all exiles to N zogo C o xpABBlo/r, When I was in Jefferson return home on condition of their "stating to police- city last Fall (says the oorrespoodeut t of an al Am a e d r i ta c : officers on the frontier the reason why they went PaPi Tou r) ii l ima gin e . "ca nu' Pear:not stp t to he teTi you t of the ° acmes I away, and why they wish to come back," observes saw It isouli to aay that one poor fellow bad l am that this measure of clemency affords • standard there sick on the hard boards, a i n l el ai see a z . five H m a eLearL e r : for estimating the value of the " reforms" now so e-wessYseeleanewaft" another, oUgl OO M l l hat great sores were all much talked about. over his back, and filthy beyond telling. a One day, alit: r ig. Notre Dame, which has long been closed on it . o wl' hu r i ny.. m l e alt ^ log Hannah , o for abladcetterw, welt account of extensive repairs, is to be opened for the midnight mass of Christmas eve. The Ceediesi deoece, or :ltimdrgtelli:Dnr,Weedn4eidied "a u o Archbishop, who was to have presided at this down the ward to hunt him up. She saw this dy . i , of keep h im off e the m floor." °g The dot or said. "The man 1! ceremony, is prevented by serious indisposition. dying ;he will be dead to-morrow." Tozoorro l Leani m s ., s i oj A universal exhibition of dogs will be opened at bled a s = = o ld . "Ann she got wsoemn, the Jardin d'Aoclimation, on May 5, 1863, and will put the man on it, and carried him bodily to her s a br a ty , l last a week. Only dogs crelite (choice dogs) are to I tordni:llehiwuh. with ahim Wou, all :d er fought uw death hand to bud be admitted ; but competition within the Hittite of I i day and night, and beat him bank and saved the soldier s that standard, whatever it may mean, is open to I life. The day I :3ei t O o re i ! i• West to J tome ionffeiZio. the vas e b ill:l sm % all the world. Application must be made to the . a f help, took her bed. ° Ha i nub to go with hi., bet she would not spare time ; tbw° directors of the gardens before April 1. was all that washing to do. She went with him to tbe The. Bourse,which yesterday did not recover, not- Ih a abr. son at lifted up his voice as ace withstanding the Moniteur's note, from the fall oc- I wept like a abqd. I say we have grown noble in oor got him , ll . lld just to. h e r . nuoil,.. , _sad iati theo hi r ed aaa csaioued by the Monday's rumour of a diplomatic srlerry. TUBtN, DIM 25. Garibaldi arrived at Caprera on the 22nd inst. General Wininon, the new Prussian minister to the court of Turin, has arrived here. CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND Al MAIM. The following telegram has been reoeived at Mr. Renter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : MARSEILLES, Dia. 24, 10 Lic. The Valetta, with the above mails, arrived this day at 8 p.m. The mails leave for Loudon at 10.30 p.m. I EXPRESS FROM PARIS• rupture with Spain, has sustained a further decline to-day. Ratite fell 10c. forcash and 15c. for account, closing at 69fr. 60c., and 69fr. 65c. Mobilier fell 2fr. 50e. The Italian Loan, however, rose lbc. The Orleans Railway fell Mr., but some of the lines were a franc or two better. , . ITALY. (nom 001 OWN TALI, Mc. 21. Within the last few days Count Stakeiberg, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Rus sia at the Court of Turin, has returned to this city ; 'returned, too, exceedingly well pleased that the Rattami ministry no longer exists. Indeed, he distinctly said so in a long interview he bad yester ! day morning with Count Paasoliui, the new Minis ter of Foreign Affairs. "I so much prefer," he re. marked, "to deal with men whose opinions are ° clearly defined, and with whom there is no chance of petty squabbles." Both Victor Emmanuel and the ministry have been much annoyed by the attitude of the Prince of Prussia while in Italy. Not only did be maintain the strictest incognito, but he was excessively reserved towards the authorities. While a t Milan Prince Humbert called upon him, and he returned the visit, but he would not accept an invitation to dinner. Yet no sooner had he crossed the frontier than he accepted invitations to reviews and dinners, received the authorities openly, and showed infinite sympathy for Austria. This con duct has caused annoyance in other than ministerial circles, especially at Milan, where the facts were well known, and where Prince Humbert is just ' now very popular. The Prince of Prussia will be ill advised if he passes through the city again ; for he would doubtless meet with a reception from the people the very reverse of cordiaL News from Southern Italy for the last fortnight ° has been so much more favourable that the reac h tionary pm iy is in high dudgeon. It is trying now to excite the extreme party, hut it certainly will not succeed by such manceuvres in causing divi sions in Italy. M. de Bartiges is vexed beyond measure, it is said, by the taciturnity of the new ministry. They say so little that he cannot Emil materials for even a single despatch. THE COTTON !AMINE IN PRANCE. The Tempo of yesterday contains a letter from If. Albert Tachard, upon the cotton famine in France, in which the writer says :—" There is unfortunately no doebt about the immensity of the calamity, and nobody refusar to believe that thousands and tens of thousands of opera tives, in good health, fel of energy and willingness, are without work and dept:voll of the means of existence? , Y. Tachard suggests that order to &Pinkie the distress of the French operatives people shor'd buy largely of cotton goods whether they want them or not, end so give fresh employment to the factory hands. The Temps also con• tains a letter from soother correspondent, who states that the oottou famine in es severely felt in the depart ment of Calvados as in that of the Seine Inferieure, and that the former should accordingly participate in the subscription now being collected for the latter alma In the course of the letter the writer contrasts the apathy of the French people in responding to the appeal made on behalf of the Seine Inferieure with the prodigious enthu siasm of England, where the people have "risen as one man to relieve Lancashire and Cheshire." He even goes so far as to suggest that the mom of that apathy is perhaps to be found in the restricted limits of the subscription organised. To this communication Y. Nether, the editor of the Tempo, replies in the following terms :—" We need scarcely say that we for our part have no objection to see the subscription extended to the department of Weeder if its condition is the same as that of the Seine Inferieure.. But we do not think with our correspondent that the mere addition of a department will bring about that really national enthusiasm (elan) the English have given us an example of. We fear, on the contrary, that assistance will diminish as is is dispersed. Besides, the omission pointed out by our correspondent is far from being the only one. ' What we want is the English meetings ; the discus' sions ; and that striking, immense, and wonderful publicity which lights up, like the sun, the most hidden racemes of social life in England, sad constantly brings Englishmen fate to face."