The Express. — London, England, 1862-12-27 00:00:00

QvroLleN HD3131123.—P11D381 and LUBIN'S bo NEW PIR/131118 for the teetivtlies—Otolen Mices sod their *Aqua, Bat•ltis•Rers. also Sir Beyer de cowry, less Savour, Wee bottles. le • pretty ars, 7•—E New Road -greet riIiAMPAGNR, DRY and DELICATE. V Plots Wa., Quota Ma par dom. _asatiags paid. Rooommendi4 with ooniklaion.—KlNßY IPXIT and 00., Importer', QM Tarnivars Itplborn. LC., and ID, Wagent-street, Waterloo-oam S.W. NW YEAR'S PRESENTATION ARTICLES, W be redly acceptable. should be useful in thelr adaptation, novel in their menuberare. depot and pleasing in design, good Ino.=, and yet seemendoal in wet. All these conditions are In the roaltibrions productions displayed by Messrs. 111C1111 and BAZIN, In their show-rooms, 4. Leadenhallatrees and 112, Regent-otreet, London, and comprise objects from Ons Shilling to /Ire Hundred Guinea& each. Photographic Albums, inkstands of deecription, Teach:eta and Cad Men Workboxes, Cases of Scent Writing Desks In wood, leather, and rapier inlets% ikeelling Bottles. Carriage Sega, Batlailes Play. tag Card Boxes. D i r k echli Cases for latlegi ox an .. lope Case i ttrilletting Books, Letter Weighers. Cesii of atm meets, Baton in came. Backgwmon and Chew Boards, Baga telle Tables, Cane de Visite Pertralts, Pocket Beata with and without instawahnts, Coal Cases in mother otoLtolambell, silver, and leather. Needles in Cases, dtc. post tree nn upplleatioa.-112, Seventatreet, and s. atallatreet, London. A TBLE KNIVES and ELECTRO-PLATED SPOW23 and FOILS for CARISTMAB 1781,. at Ileum MICHI sad gums, t. Leacitaltall-otrast, and lit, Ragout street, Loadlaa. Catatogra pout M. BAGATELLE TABLES for CHRISTMAS AMVSLY HST, i gm lad pricer. at Ileum MYCHI and ItAZIN'S, a. Les driniad/dizeat, and 112. legantalreet, Loadan. Cataloging pod km (Mil MENIAL AWARDED. ALLX2PF i PATENT PORT 138 sad TBJ MILLING BAGS with LADIES It fARDBOBI TILDNKS,IMIMOTAOS, with Weer fittbala. DIBPATCI I MOLES, WRITING red DIMINO CAS, aad GOO other art him ler hamar testimonial travelling. Maeirataal wilalefure tat tree. Aloo Atte vie •Barrack Pareltere Catalogae of Portable Bed steads, Dra at Many Matra Weakhaad-ataada Cantors'. dc.. nest tree. J. W. AI Silf, Manotataarer aged Pa/mate" EL Watt Strand. Londoe, MAI ?1 BROTHERS' WRST-KND HOUSE is eatety end distim* a$ ni itECIENT-BTRIZT. !or 50 3 awe VAPPIN BitOTHltti4 Manufactures bare been gaining seletatty and a good name : bat it le quite a mistake to sappers Etat t►e) WO ISM iD Oxfordetreet at W. In Sbeateld A.D. 1810. err i IlioutS-67 seat 88. ICING WILLIAM-STILE= SC. Kam aereaw—Qvairs PLLTS do C171141i WORKS, BifilffLlLD. I.l4kitlfONlUM&-NEW MODEL. Ji. CRAMER, MERLE. AIM WOOD, W. EsEentARNIE wite earprefso. TO . Op==POIfDINTIL Ado artistenenta lateZded for "1 7 1;13PieTa • London Eveulus 1., nee, tou,t be at the odic% 10, kooverlauteuet, by Two den& on the day of publication. OVKNT °AYDIN, TRIP Drammo, 2nd ainrirtiAciaa THE BOHEIIIAN GIRL— tn.! the grand comic ChriltloBl Pantomime, entitled HAELIM IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.—Commence at 7. HAYMARKET. Tare ETCIMPO. OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. Bothers and Haddon. ; Kcs. E. tlts.Oßam. -RASSELAS . - ______ PRINCS ABYMINLL Mr. Compton end Mime L Keeley. —AM A DAY API= THE WIEDDING.—MIie Illereent. PRINCESS& Tore EVENING, TIME TRIES ALL KW Constance Aylmer.- And the Pantomime. RIQULT WITH THE TUFT or, Harlecialn end Mother Shlpton. Mews. Milano, R. Power, and Ballard, Mae A. Volllnsou. BRITANNIA. TIM EVENING, the Pantomime, ABON ILUZAN. Mn. two. Mesons. Leans, Louis, Newham, litantohn, and lidlle. Celeste Stephen ; Tom Seen and hts two performing Mules.—• COMMOIDOO at a quarter-past I. HIGH WATER, AT LONDON SILIDOX Tm DAY;isiontiii, 6 1 1. I.Sce.....Aftersoce, 8!. 45w. Xu-illosmow—Moraisg. Sim. LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27. THE increased liberty of discussion which the Russian Government has lately permitted to its newspapers makes it more difficult than formerly to assign a source to the opinions which they ex press on European affairs. But unless the Journal th , St. Petersboury has taken a liberty which even in constitutional countries would be thought extra ordinary, we have in the extract of its columns, which we published yesterday, a declaration by the Russian Government respecting the disposal of the lonian Islands. We have what is far more impor tant, a declaration of the principles of international right, which the Russian Court recognises, and according to which its participation in the affairs of Europe will be governed. Of late years it has been customary to refer very little, and in slight ing terms, to the influence of Russia in Europe. Soon after the Crimean war the Government of that empire took an opportunity of intimating diplomatically that it had resolved to withdraw from that leading part in European affairs in which ita action had been so misunderstood. And for a long while since it has done little more than place on record, from time to time, its dissatisfac tion with the general course of events. We do not anticipate that it is now about to surprise the world by a sudden return to its old policy, or to assume new and great responsibilities abroad ; it is, however, interesting to know how one of the great Powers regards the progress of the modern doctrines of national right, and especially how they are regarded by one which, though for a time, by a peculiar combination of circumstances, debarred from an active part in European affairs, is not only still powerful but is rapidly increasing in all the elements of power—in pop.ilation, wealth, and liberty—and to which events may soon restore its old importance. It is well known that the English Government is disposed to take advantage of the opportunity offered by recent events in Greece to terminate the anomalous political position in which the lonian Isles were placed by the treaties of 1815, and to carry out the often-expressed wishes of their inhabitants, by effecting their incorporation with the Hellenic kingdom. In England this resolution has been universally approved of. We have held the Islands by a tenure which is repugnant to a free and high-minded people. We have held them solely by force, according to , treaties indeed, but treaties which represented no thing but the superior military strength of those who made them. We have governed the Islands as well as we could, and much better than might have been expected under the circum stances. We have done all we could for a people who have never cordially co-operated with us, but uniformly set themselves against our Government. We have given them material and administrative advantages. In the lonian Islands, as M. EDMOND ABOUT bears witness, communication is easy both by land and wrter. The country is intersected in all directions by admirable roads, and all the Islands are con nected with one another by an excellent steam-packet service. The traveller sees at • glance that they are better cultivated and more flourishing than any part of the kingdom of Greece. Nevertheless the people wish we were gone ; their Legislature declares that such is their wish ; and Englishmen, who so promptly and so proudly reject the thought of preferring material advantage to national feeling, cannot find it in their hearts to blame them for aspiring to union with their countrymen, under an independent and national government. Our beit statesmen and politicians are anxious to relieve this country from the disadvantage of appearing to tyrannize over a disaffected population in the lonian Isles, while everywhere else we recommend the principles of freedom. The possession of these Islands, it is felt, impairs our influence abroad, and even makes us at home uncomfortably conscious of a wide diner°. , priaiibler procialw pancy between our practice and the which we sincerely bold and constantly The Greeks and lonians say that their welfare would be promoted by the very course which our prin ciples dictate. Yet at this point we are met by en objection from a quarter whence we might least have ex potted it. When we were thinking of marl ficing somewhat of the sentiment of empire in favour of higher principles which we believe are bound up with the progress and happiness of the world, it might have been expected that Russia, which has always professed so much interest in the Greeks, would have hailed the arrangement with more than ordinary satisfaction. At present, however, if we may judge from the language of its press, Russia is the principal Power which raises objections to our proposed action. La France, indeed, which probably has means of knowing, asserts that Rusiia is not alone ;1 t..king this course, but that at !east two of the great Powers oppose the cession of the lonian Islands to Greece, and maintain that if the present Protec torate were to cease they would become a focus of insurrection. However that may be, and which ever may be the two Powers referred to, and whether Russia is one of them, or forms a third objector, it is from St. Petersburg that we get the first distinct expression of an adverse opinion. It seems that although Russia loves Greece very such, there is something—the principles of Trop pau, Laybach, and Verona—which she loves yet more. Europe is to consider its honour and islet/ concerned in the violent repression and extino- tion of every movement wl"ch originates in the moral necessities o: peoples, and not in the Cabinets of ambitious Kings. The Journal de St. Pehrsbourg says that "if England is at liberty to renounce " the Prot:ctoratx of the lonian Islands, it is for " Europe to deter mine their destiny." The states men of the Russ'ln Empire know that that is a doctrine which the English nation has strenuously opposed. And we may take leave to inform them that it is one which it will never accept. If we renounce the lonian Islands we shall do so in favour of a right better and stronger, and not weaker and worse, than that by wh;ch we now hold them. All the right in them which the consent of Europe could confer we already have. We are not too weak to retain them, or too poor to en counter the pecuniary sacrifices which possession of them entails. But our treaty rights have not proved a source of dignity to the rulers, nor of coatentment to the goverred. Moreover, we have embraced the conviction that no nation has so good a right to govern another nation as every nation has to govern itself. We can give the lonians to no Congress, no Holy Alliance. We can give them only to themrslves, and irlie“. union with Greece will be in the fullest sense t'ieir own act. There is no reason why justice should not be done, in the transfer, to any European interests, whether general or special, for which a clear and defirite case can be made out. If there are such, doubtless an opportunity will be offered for their consideration. If it could be showy, for instance, that the inhabitants of the Islands only desired our absence in order to be at liberty to indulge in piracy or the slave trade, or in other entsrprlsrs inimical to peace and civilization, that would be a good reason for keeping them under the guard of a stronger Power. But the right which the Journal de St. Petershourg seems to assert is the abstract and original right of the Courts of Europe to combine and hinder arrangements which have fieir origin in popular wants, and which have the sanction of popular principles. Enropi has ow , - fered enough through the enforce•nent of a doc trine which has been rudely shaken by the events of the last ten years, and which happily may now be considered obsolete. We expect that the objec tion made by Russia will be allowed as much weight as was allowed to our objection to the incor poration of Cracow. We have no desire to have a Poland in the Mediterranean, in order to keep Russia in countenance. And if France migEt take Lombardy from Austria by force of arms, and give it to Piedmont, receiving Savoy and Nioe in re:aim, we may be permitted to give the lonians to themselves without compensation, and even " for an idea." Loss OF MAIL PACKET COLOMBO.—An official an nouncement from the General Post-office states that, besides the mails already received, one box of letters from the Mauritius, six boxes of letters and 74 of newspapers from Australia, dame:,ed slightly, and 275 boxes from India and Australia, much damaged, saved from the wreck of the Colombo, are now on their way to England, and may be ex pected at Southampton about the 29th or 30.1 instant, Further intelligence has been received that 159 more boxes have been recovered, and rent to Pont de Chile. They will be due in London MA Marseilles on the 12th, and via Southynpto - i on the 18th January. ELECTION OF THE KING OF GREECE. The voting of the Greek subjects in London for the election of the King of Greece has terminated th's day at the offices of the Consulate-General of Greece: One hundred and thirty-nine members of the Greek community have registered their votes, all, without exception, for Prince Alfred of England, but of these 123 have voted without indicating any alternative ; 6 have named " Pi:nce Wilhelm of Denmark ;" 3, "A republican 'form of govern ment," and 1, " Joseph Garibaldi" as eligible in the event of Prince Alfred not accepting the throne of Greece. Correct extract. A. C. loranze, cheek Conattl-General 17, Gracechurch-street, London, 14 (26) Dec., 1862. Last night's Gazette contains an official notifica tion that the Right Honourable Cornwallis Viscount I Hawarden has been chosen, by a majority of votes, to be the peer to .it in the House of Lords oft he United Kingdom, in the room of the Right Honourable Arthur Viscount Duo. giODOD, deceased. RESIGNATION or MR. BALL, M.P.—ln another column will be found a document, which to most of our readers probably will come as a surprise. It is an address from oar respected reyresertative, Mr. Ball, informing his constituents that he has made up his mind to resign his seat for the county ; and though he says nothing about the time of his resignation, we conclude from the general tone of his address that be intends, like Mr. Steuart. member for the town, to take the steps necessary for such a pro- ceediog immediately on the opening of the session, and without taking the chance of a dissolution of parliament. What steps will be taken to fill up the expected vacancy we are not at present in a position to say. Until to-day Mr. Ball's intention to resign has not been made public, so there has as yet been no time to spout arrangement.. We take it for granted, however, that Lord George Manners will be in the field ; probably his lordship might bare been made acquainted with the intended resignation of Mr. Ball, and hence the paragraph inserted last week by way of feeler in the London newspapers. In addition to Lord George Man ners, we have beard the following gentlemen named as not unlikely, one or other of them, to be candidates :—Mr. C. Townley, Major Fryer, and Mr. Young, the Mayor of Wis. bech.—Cambridge Independent Prem. PERSIAN GOLF CABLE.—The materials will be about 2,500 tons of wire ; 1,000 miles of tape ; nearly 300 tons of hemp ; between 200 and 300 toes of allies ; about 130 tons of pitch ; and 1,001) barrels of tar ; besides the core, &misting of 2251ba. of copper wire, and 275th.. of gutta percha per nautical mile. The length of cable to be mazu factored by Mr. W. T. Henley is 840 nantidll miles of main cable, 33 nautical miles of shore end, together 875 nautical mils. The manufacture of the cable is to commune within twenty.one days after the tender is accepted, and to be com pleted within fi ft een weeks after it is be b un. After the first few weeks have eLpeed, not less than Pfty nautical miles a week must be mark.—HCreptitit, THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER n, 1862. 'at court. lltlflt, " ORBOIL 4, Duo. 26. Her Majesty drove out in the grounds this morn ing. LATB3T INTELLIGENOK:f- (Rrovia's numax.) AMERICA. A deputation from the vestry of the parish of St. Pancras, Yids'lmes, had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir George Grey yesterday, and pressated a memorial to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, calling atten tion to the prevalence of robberies with violence to the per. son and other outrages in the public streets, and be-gltries. The members of the deputation were Mr. Farrer, Mr. Roes, Mr. Paris, and Mr. Plow, vestry-clerk. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colosial-offios from the Governors of Canada, Malta, the Lord High Commisaionsr of the lonian Islands, and from the Gover nors of Ceylon and Hong Kong. Despatches were sent to the Governor of Gibraltar. _.___ GREAT BATTLE AND RETREAT OF THE FEDERALB. QUEENSTOWN, Dso. 2T. The Roysi Mail steamship Chins, from New York on the 17th inst., arrived here at L9O a.m., with 60 passengers and 395,000 Bola. in specie. She landed 67 sacks of mails, and proceeded for I'velpool at 12 a.m. All well The China was detained off the land eight bouts by the fog. NEW YORK, Dm 17, Nomura. General Burnside, with hiz whole army, has The Marquis of Lansdowne is entertaining a family party atitowood. Amongst the company are Count and Countess de Fialsault and Miss Elpbinstone de SU built, the Earl and Countess of Shelburne, Mr. and Lady Louisa Howard, Ito. The Earl Delawarr, who has been suffering from indisposition for some days past, is now much better. The Countess Cowper is entertaining a select party at Panshanger, Herts. Lord and Lady Southampton have strived at the Clarendon Hotel from Wbittlebury Lodge, Northampton shire. evacuated Fredericksburg and recrossed the Rap pahannock. The movement commenced at dark on Monday night. The artillery crossed first, and the last of the infantry brought up the rear soon after daylight. The heavy rainstorm and the darkness appear to have prevented the Confederates from perceiving the Federal movement. All the wounded were brought across the pontoon bridges, which have been raised, and all communication between the Lord and Lady Tredegar are entertain'ig a Bun combe of visitors at their seat, Trrdsgar House, Monmouth shire. Lord Henry and Lady Ulric& Thymic, have left Maiden Bradley for Worthing. Sir Culling and Wu Bardley have ani►ed at Olaridgeh Hotel from Bedwe" Park. ‘s two shores of the Rappahannock cut off. The river is rapidly rising. It appears that the engagement of the 13th inst. was a general battle, in which all the divisions were engaged, resulting in the failure of the Federals to accomplish their object. Lord Ashburton last evening was somewhat better. The Federal loss is not exactly known. The estimates range from 8,000 to 20,000 k"led and The Oxford Chronicle contradicts a statement that Mr. J. H. Langston is about to resign bin seat for that city in consequence of failing health. Mr. Langston's health is so much improved that the hon. member will be able to attend his parliamentary duties at the noromanoc ment of the ensuing session. _ _ wounded. No estimate is given of the Confederate lose, but as they fought nearly entirely behind en trenchments it is supposed to be comparatively small. The press generally attribute the Federal defeat The death toot place on Wednesday, at King's Cliffe, of the Vim. Henry Kay Bonney, D.D., rector of King's Cigfe, Archdeacon of Lincoln, and Canon &el dentistry, The folloning comparative estimates of univer sity expenses, taken from Mr. Latham for Cambt:dge, and from Professor Rogers for Oxford, are interesting. The cantion-mouey for ordinary students is, at Cambridge 151., at Oxford 301. The average cost of obtaining a degree, including fees and outfit, but independent of annual expen. diture, is about the same at both universities, and may be to the bad management of the War Department. General Burnside is but little censured, as the responsibility of his movement is attributed to the Federal Cabinet, the immediate reconstruction of which is urged by the press. The Federal expeditions wbich left Helens and Memphis for the Mississippi, have rani Jed to their point of departure without obtaining any material result. - Several steamers have been Been south-east of Cape dated at between era. and fio/. The avenge annual amount of college bills is 1037. at Oxford, 901. at Cambridge. An under-graduate's annual expenses, neitber stint( nor ex travagant, but some margin being allowed, lel be at Oxford 2007., at C.miln:dge 1801. Hatteras, and passing Port Royal, bound south. It is supposed that they belong to General Barks's expedition. It is rumoured that he will operate in the Gulf, and replace General Butler at New . _ " It is not easy to understand," says the Army and Nary Gazette, " bow the Confederate troops are Orleans. The report' of troops landing in North Carolina _ . in such good condition and efficient order, but the testimony of the British officers who have lately visited the Southern army goes to show they are admirably organised, full of spirit, and well equipped. Colonel Woheley, • very com petent judge, notwlthstand;og hie youth, whose experience has been large and varied, bee forum' • very high opinion of their state as a fighting body. Means. Wynn, Garden, and other officers have left Canada wit'i the view of getting is not credited. One ghastlier of Banks's expedition put into Port Royal disabled, and another has re turned disabled to Philadelphia. Twelve Federal regiments have left Newbein, North Carolina, it is supposed for an attack on Weldon. Three hundred Confederate cavalry have aga'n to Richmond, if possible, and several British officers have contrived to run the blockade, and have been almost as well received as their comrade* have been in the Faeral camps." Mr. Benedict's composition for next year's Nor wich Festival is anuesinccd to be a cantata. The Popular Concerts will be resumed on the 13th of next mootb. dashed into Mai/land, and retired, after doing some damage. President Davis is travelling in Tennessee, where he has made speeches stating that he left the issue io Virginia with General Lee, and that his own pre sence was not needed in the south-west. At Murfreeebro' be declared that Tennessee must be The meetings of scientiio societies for the week ensuing are :—Mondav, Actuaries, 7, "Rates of Mortality and Marriage of Europeans and Indians," Mr. Brown.—Tuesday, Royal Institution, 3, " Air and Water" (Juvenile Lecture), Prof. Frankland.—Thursday, Royal Institution, 3, " Air and Water" (Juven"e Lecture), Prof. Fraokland.—Friday, Itori Academy, 8, " Architeoturs," Prof. Smirke ; Philologic A.—Saturday, Royal Institu tion, 3, " Air and Water" (Juvenile Lectim), Prof. Frankknd. held at all hazards. It is said that President Davis will concentrate his troops on the west bank of the Mississippi, and will hold conferences with the Confederate genera" iu Arkansas. The Governor of Virginia has addressed a letter to the .Richinond Whig, stating that Virginia will never entertain any proposition from any quarter having for its object the restoration of the Union A special general meeting of the Geological So ciety will be held previous to the ordinary meeting, on the evening of January 7, 1863, to consider certain proposed alterations in the constitution of the moiety relating to ft. reign members, and the future Flare of meeting. K Ingrea is engaged to draw, for the Life of Julius Crave by Mspoleon the Wird. • best of Caner barred upon all existing authorities. "This play," says the Atliencettm, " of compiling • portrait from various sor-me is not quite novel, end is certainly very absurd. Some years ago the same sort of trick was practised &pipit Shake. pears" The great Constantine Simoniden (says the Plus grated London New) has turned up again, and acmes Pro fessor Titchendorf of passing of m original manuscript of the Codex Sinaiticus sundry excerpts tranacr:lri, proprio mann, by 'him, Simonides, when employed as caligraphist or caligrepher (run a r attire • e dig) to a Oreek monastery at Mount Athos. The Tirchendorfites fiercely deny the charge of Simonidea, and the pundit of pe'seolographs re ' torts, and a pretty little paper war is bear kept up. A Berlin correspondent writes :—" The appear ance of the fifth and lust volume of Humboldt's 'Cosmos' is, I regret to say, not the literary event it had been ex pected to be by the adm , rers of the greet philosopher. Of . . on any terms or conditions whatever. The Richmond Examiner considers it extreme absurdity to suppose that any Confederate state would listen to the proposal contained in President Lincoln's message to Congress. The Alabama returned to Martinique on the 26th, and was taking in coal from a British barque in harbour. The ship George Griswold is loading with grain for the Lancashire operatives. The relief fund now reaches 160,000 dohs. The New York National War Committee has petitioned Congress to authorise the granting of commissions to private armed vessels to capture the Alabama and similar cruisers, and to offer a reward for their capture. A resolution has been introduced in the Fede ral Congress instructing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to inquire whether some method cannot be adopted to show the sympathy of Congress with the Lancashire operatives. The House of Representatives has adopted a _ - the bulky contents of this posthumous tome, but one huu . 1 resolution stating that, in their judgment, there dyed pages belong to the author, th i -ty or forty being de- should be no legislation changing the law providing voted to a treatise on volcanos, while the rest is fi l 'ed with explicit remarks on ga 'logical strata. As regards the re. for the payment of interest on the publ i c debt in maining portion of the book, it is entirely taken up with coin. a general index of the preceding volumes—a production Another resolution, authorising the Secretary of of stupendous industry, from the pen of Dr. Buschman, the Treasury to pay in coin the bonded public debt who had been entrusted with the teak by the author himself." due previous to January, 186 2 , was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. We read in the Frankfort Journal that the A bill has been introduced reducing the duty on colonel commanding the Faustian Brandenburg Fusilier Regiment, No. 35, has published a regimental order an- paper to 10 per cent. nouncing that every soldier of his corps who should possess The Committee of Ways and Means have been or read the Berlin Volk. Zeitung would be punished with instructed to inquire into the expediency of increas e week's close arrest. The sentence, the letter adds, has regi. just been carried out in the case of three unfair tunate lug the duty on foreign goods not of prime necessity, so that the importation of foreign goods shall not mental tailors who had transgressed the new commandment exceed the amount of American manufactures and of their chief. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer growth exported exclusive of specie. Colombo was lost in the Indian Ocean about the same time The House of Representatives has endorsed Fre itag the Royal Mail steamer Avon was lost at the extreme sident Lincoln's emancipation proclamation by a western verge of the Atlantic. vote of 78 to 51. MASTER ATrENDANTS or DOCKYARDS.—We tin- Mr, Conway (Republican), of Kansas, has intro &inland it to be in contemplation to retire forthwith all traduced a resolution, in effect dissolving the the master attendants of dock and victualling yards who have served ten years in those appointments. Ouch a U n i on, and acknowledging the Southern Confede proceeding will be but just to the class of masters who now ra y , It was laid on the table, Mr. Conway, alone, see the most eligible appoiutments monopolised by 11001(1 of . in its favour. the existing holders of them.—United Seri-ice Gazette. voting THE AxmsrsoNo AND WHITWORTH GUNS.—The The steamer Champion, from Aspinwall, has ar committee appointed to test the merits of the Armstrong rived at New York with 700,000 dole, in specie. and Whitworth guns will consist of the following officers : Major-General Himalaya, inspector-general of infantry, me. The steamers Antonin& and Leopard, from Char - Major-General• ; Colonel Taylor, R.A., commandant of the school of , leston, on the 22nd, have arrived at Nassau. gunner.; Major Young, R.A. ' director of artillery studies; I Colonel Simmons, C. 8., R. E. ;Captain Erectly, C. 8., R.N. ; 1 Plymouth, North Carolina, has been destroyed sad Commander Singer, R.N., with Captain Dyer, ILA., by by fi re. wortierY• It is to be () beer" that the membe rs ha v e The Great Eastern has been inspected, and again , sot previously served on similar inquiries, and are free ' from official bias an regards the merits of either invert.. declared sea-worthy. Lion. We understand that, by order of the War COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. department, six 110-ponnders on the Armstrong brava. loading principle, are immediately to be constructed at the NEW YORK, Dxic. 16, Erman°. Ral Arsenal, Woolwich, and in their manufacture steel Money abundant. Gold, 32k. Exchange on ooj, prepared according to the method latel y noticed b y London, 145 g. Stocks buoyant. New York us, are to be used. Mr. Whitworth is busily slimed, we uuderatand, at Southport, in carrying out experiments with . Centrals, 103 ; Illinois, 78f ; Erie, 61f. Cotton a view of perfecting his gun, which is to be tested against one of Sir William Armetrong's of similar weight, fro. . firmer. Provisions dull. Co ff ee, corn el ightly quiet ; middling Upland, 67c. Flour, wheat , and We are informed that the Admiralty have authorised him to send iu a monthly account of his expenditure , so that it ,sugar, and molasses quiet. may be settled ; and they have also directed Captain Inglefield, of the Majestic, coast guard ship at Liverpool, to supply him with any number of seamen he may require to assist in the manipulation of the artillery under trial.— The Times published the following telegram : NEW YORK., D 50.17. Army and Nary &aunt. DONATION FROM HER MAJLOTY. — The ROT. S. B. The battle before Fredericksburg on Saturday was Craig, of Mariners' Church, Hull, has received the follow- one of the fiercest, and decidedly the most oolo n; letter ;—" Sir Charles Phipps has received the com mand of her Majesty the Queen to forward to the Rev. I mitous, of the war to the Federal army. The troops 1 Stewart Craig the inclosed post.office order for three ponixhi, , fought with the most determined courage, but payable to him, and to deans that be will have the goodness General Lee's position on the heights commanding to heed the amount to Mrs. Harriet Harding, as a donation " from her Majesty, to assist her after her confinement of we city Wa2 impregnable. three children at ire° birth ; that circumstance having been I The Federal Generals Bayard and Jackson were brought under her Meleetv's notice is consequence of an killed, and General Meagher, of the Irish Brigade, application from' r. Locking is Mrs. Harding's behalf,— • • AY wounded. Buckingham Palace, Dec. 20, 1562."—8a1l Packet. The %deml attack was repulsed with the heaviest slaughter, admittcl to amount to 10,000 men, and, by some reports, asserted to be at least [double that number. _ The struggle was not renewed on Sunday or Monday, the Federal' being busily engaged on both days in removing the wounded and burying the dead. On Monday night, after a short and earnest council of war, General Burnside issued orders to rearms the Rappahannock. The movement was safely effected in the darkness, amid a storm of wind and rain, the Confederates offering no opposition, and being, probably, unaware of the movement. The army of the Potomac is now encamped in Falmouth and the vicinity, and the winter campaign is believed to be at an end. Great discontent prevails at Now York and Washington. The President is called upon to dismiss General Haneck and Secretary Stanton. General Burnside is blamed for undertaking a movement against his own judgment, and which he is said to have expressly disapproved in an inter view with the President, the War Secretary, and General Halleck. General M'Clellan received a telegram from Washington yesterday afternoon, and left far that city in the evening. The object of the summons is not known. It is surmised that he will be again offered the command of the army of the Potomac, and that he will refuse unless he have full power to carry out his own object without interference from the War Department or any other quarter. There is no truth in the ;report that General Banks's expedition has landed in North Carolina, and marched upon Weldon and Petersburg. The flotilla has been spoken on its way to Gulf Mexico. A body of Confederate cavalry, 2,000 strong, under General Wade Hampton, entered Dumfries on Friday, and captured the Federal picket guard, the telegraphic operators, and destroyed and car. tied off a large quantity of stores. Gold reached a premium of 33 per cent. yester day on the news of the defeat of General Burnside. Mr. Jefferson Davis has visited the Confederate army in Tennessee. He made a speech at Knox ville on the morning of Thursday last. General Rceencrans is between Nashville and Murfreeeborough, at the head of a large force, and General Grant is at Oxford, on the line of the Mis sissippi Central Railroad. The visit of the Southern President had led to a change in the relative positions of both armies, and important movements are daily expected to result. The Great Eastern has been efficiently repaired, and is now ready to return to Europe. ROME. The Debate seems to doubt of the reality of the reforms which have been lately announced as on the point of taking place at Rome. No one, it observes, can affirm whether they are to apply to the government or to the administra tion, and the clerical journals evince great incre dulity on the subject. The writer then proceeds to say : The Union regrowing us with having Inacuurately staled Its opinion on the subjcct by funning that it had declared all reforms impossible. That journal reminds us that it has always directed attention to Cardinal Antonellth remarks that "the reforms were reedy," and adds that it will be the first to hal them gladly when the wisdom of Pim IX. shall think the moment opportune for proclaiming them. But on what condition will this opportuneness be recog. nised by the Holy Father ? The Union has told us a hundred times that the reforms will not be promulgatt 3 till the provinces detached from the pontifical territory she" have been restorcd to the Holy See. As there are many reasons for supposing that the accomplishment of such a condition is impossible in the present state of things, we do not think that we misrepresented the opinion of the Union in stating that it considers the said reforms impos. sible. On the contrary, we think that we have understood it correctly, and interpreted it as faithfoly as possible. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. OWN OM OWN 00111XSPONDINT.) PARIS. FRIDAY linarma. Fresh reinforcements are leaving for Mexico. Yesterday and Wednesday various detachments were on the march for Toulon, to embark on the Entrepreneur, which is to sail next week. Another transport, the Seine, now on its way to Alexandria with troops for Cochin China, is to take on board at Alexandria 1,000 Egyptian auxiliaries, and will proceed with them to Vera Cruz. [The Opinion Nationale gives this as "Latest News," without any reserve, but it seems very improbable that France should ask the aid of Egypt to conquer Mexico.] The steam frigate Panama left Toulon on Monday for Algiers, to take up troops from the army of Africa for Mexico. Bullier's Correspondence says : I must tel you that the relations between Paris and Madrid are still somewhat cold. No doubt there is an end of the incident referred to by the Mcntitesir. I am quite sure that the matter is completely settled. But it is im possible to be pleased with the attitude assumed by General Prim in the Mexican question, and it is especially to be regretted that the cabinet of Madrid should support the policy of that officer, notwithstanding that he is disavowed by the Senate, the Chamber, and the country. The same lithographic sheet says that the rumour of Victor Emmanuel's visit to Paris is neither cor rect nor absolutely incorrect. The visit is on the tapis, but depends for its realisation on conditions easily to be guessed, but " which are not yet ful filled." This means, I suppose, that the King of Italy will not be a welcome guest until he reverses his policy, and crushes the hopes of Lis country by renouncing all claim to Rome. At the Bourse, after a dull opening, there was a sudden rise, owing to false news of a great success of the French army iu Mexico. Qua of the evening papers says, " there was a rumour that the cannon of the luvalides was heard firing to celebrate the taking of Puebla." I can certify that up to this hour nobody has " heaxd" anything more than the rumour. Some people at the Bourse, not contented with Puebla, went so far as to say that the city of Mexico had fallen. Bente rose 25c. both for cash and account, closing at 69fr. 85c. and 69fr. 90c. Mobilier rose 15fr., and the Italian Loan 50. The Orleans Railway rose 3fr. 75c. In the other lines no important change. General Fleury has returned to Paris from Brus sels. His "mission" was, as I surmised, hippie and not diplomatic. Instead of seeking in the Belgian royal family a candidate for the throne of Greece, he went to seek new types of reproductive horses for the Emperor's stables. He bought eight stallions of Count Orloff, the Russian ambassador, who had lately made a large importation from choice studs in his own country. _ _ Cardinal fiferlot, the Archbishop of Paris, is dan gerously ill from an attack of pleurisy. He has received extreme unction, and prayers were offered up for him in several churches this morning. His death would be an important event, because the party whose mouthpiece is Gueronniere would use all its influence to put an ultramontanist in the first see of France. The present archbishop, although somewhat of a trimmer, passed for a Gallivan when he was Bishop of Tours, and is, at any rate, a moderate man. It would be very easy to change for the worse. The Archbishop of Cambrai, in a Christmas address to his clergy, sings a song of triumph over the defeat of Garibaldi at Aspromonte, and repro mute Colonel Pallavicini, whose men shot him down, as a manifest instrument of Providence for the protection of the Pope. The prelate exhot;4l his flock to contribute liberally their " St, Peter's pence," giving as a reason th►t the money is wanted for "an immense administration embracing the entire universe." He states that the contribution to the St. Peter's pence fund has amounted in bis diocese alone to 151,100 fr. 2c. in the course of a single year. This is, within a little, as much as all France has hitherto subscribed for the distress( 1 cotton manufacturers. The Pope, as we are in formed by the Moniieur this morning, sends the latter 10,000 fr., but takes the opportunity of pleadfing poverty as a reason fur not giving more. The advertisement, aided by the episcopacy, will no doubt return him his own with usury. The Siiele, alluding to the Pope's regret at being prevented by the state of his finances from sending a contribution to the distressed operatives of the Seine-Infdrieure more in harmony with the marks of devotedness which he receives from the French people, says : Those proofs of devotedneas are manifested by the send ing of funds, often in very considerable sums, if the journals are to be believed which take the trouble of informing as from time to time of the amount of the receipts of Peter's pence. Thus, while feeling obliged to the Pope for having taken part in the subscription in aid of the workmen, we cannot but regret that the state of his financed, have not permitted bim to proportion his offering to that which is collected two or three times a year in France by all the archbishops, bishops, minis, superiors, superioreeses, and directors of the innumerable parishes, religious seminaries, convents, and other religious establishments of the French empire. ITALY. (non OM OWN CORENIPONDENT.) TURIN, DEC. 23. In my last letter I alluded to the annoyance which bad been occasioned by the rather unceremo- nious conduct of the Prince of Prussia to.wards Prince Humbert, at Milan. The annoyance has been increased by the appointment of General Wil limn as representative of Prussia a.; Turin. The general is noted for his openly expressed dislike of liberal ideas in general, and of Italian freedom in particular. When at Turin he was an ardent champion of Austria, and his nomination taken in connexion with other circumstance, seems to indi cate a most determined antipathy to Italy on the part of Prussia. The subject has already been discussed in a cabinet council, with the view of determining what steps ought I to be taken ; and I believe I am justified in stating I that the Minister of War, General Della Bovere, expreased himself in favour of according an on limitedanicie to Count de Launay, the Italian minis ter at Berlin, or even of breaking off all diplomatic relations with the Prussian government. Count Pasolini and theother ministers thought it would be wiser to adopt a middle course, and to see if General William would not be sent elsewhere. What Prussia wants it would be bard to say. The Italian government has in no way changed its policy ; is is a more regular and a more moierate government than it was awhile ago, and yet Prussia withdraws Count Brassier de St. Simon, whom everybody liked, and who was here at a moat criti cal period, and throws out a kind of provocation to the Italian government without the slightest justification. The strangest thing of all is, that according to reliable information from Berlin and Paris this is a blow struck by M. Drouyn de Lhuys ; and some French agents even spread the rumour that Eng land has had a hand in the matter, in order to render a service to Austria. I need scarcely say that no one pays any attention to this silly story. and I hope you have paid no attention to the contra diction the Cuturtitutsonnel was pleased to give of the statement I made to you, which the °patient also published, of the unwillingness of the Italian go vernment to take part in any more discussions with France respecting the Roman question. In fact it is impossible to heed to the views of a power so ready to write uncivil despatches and to teach Italians what sort of a thing the Papal government is. It would persuade us, forsooth, that that govern ment is in earnest when it talks of reform ; as if the present Italian ministers, three of whom were subjects of the Pope, had forgotten the memorandum of 1831, and all the previous and a ucceed ing promises, which have never been fulfilled. When the French government talks of its 500,000 men and their value it is right, and it may say for the present at least— Bic ,010, sic jnbeo, stet pro rations volantas ; but it will never succeed in making as rocept as true what is notoriously false, even by the aid of its soldiers. The manner in which the Italians have passed through the last crisis proves that they have too much good sense and too much energy to be checked by the obstacles placed in their path by Imperial infatuation. Yesterday the Chamber of Deputies was formally prorogued, not more than thirty members being present. In a few days the decree closing the session, and convoking parliament for a fresh one, will be published. The exact day of opening, which is not yet fixed, but which will be in the last week in January, is to bo announced in this document. The weather has been remarkably beautiful for the last week, and the foreigners who have arrived in Italy are delighted with it, while the numberless Neapolitans here say Naples has come to pay them a visit. The last days of the year have consequently been unusually lively, and the vendors of new year's gifts are doing a large business. The principal trade is in sweetmeats, which are far superior per hvs to those of Paris. They are presented to ladies on New Year's-day and ou their birthdays. As the sweetmeats are often sold in glass or china vases, or in other elegant receptacles, the expense frequently mounts up to a hundred or even to a thousand francs. Meanwhile politics are at a stand still, owing, to some extent, to the confidence felt in the new ministry. But the present calm will not be of long duration. The Sphyux of Paris will soon afford fresh material for political discussion, and January will not pass over without some grave questions arising, for this is a moment of prepara tion, and though the work going on is hidden it is not leas active or extensive for all that. Garibaldi, after being compelled to put back to Leghorn by the gale, has now safely arrived at Caprera with his friends. His health is good, and he is in the best of spirits. Re has faith in the triumph of the Italian cause. " Union, union," be said, upon quitting his friecds at Leghorn, " Italian unity will soon be accomplished." THE CONDEMITED OONVICE MOROAN.—Yesterday morning this unhappy man was visited at the gaol by the high-sheriff, C. D. Cave, Esq., accompanied by the under-sheriff, Mr. William Ody flare, who officially co m municated to him that on Friday, the 9 th January, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the sentence passed upon him would be carried into effect. The prisoner was sxmedingly nervous, and breathed heavily, but otherwise manifested much fi rm . news. Though doubtless not unaware that exertions are tieing made to obtain • remission of the awful sentence, he has since his condemnation expreseed his intention of preparing for the worst, and pays the strictest attention to the religious consolation and advice of the chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. C. Britten ; and though applications have been made by other ministers of the Gospel to ass him, he has decliusd an interview, and expresses himself perfectly satisfied with the ministrations of the gaol chaplain. The visiting justices of the gaol, together with the other magi*• tastes, at a meeting held at the Council-house on Widnes• day, determined to memorialise for a remission of the gen. tence, And we understand that the widow of the deceased constable Wickham, in calling yesterday upon Mr. Gardner at the gaol for • weekly sum which he bands to her for the support of Intraelf and soma children, out of a fund which he Au been instrumental in raising, expressed her readiness to sign the memorial.—Brisfol Mercury. ' ;i