The Express. — London, England, 1864-01-07 00:00:00

ALFRED WEBB MILES, Everybody know* Mr. MILD, REMOVED from Bond-wreet, to 73, BROOK•STREET, Hanover-square, In 1859. The 16a. TROUSERA (originated by him, in all the New P3tterna for Winter. •• better than ever." SPECIAL NO [ICE TO GENTLEMEif • A. W. MILES begs most respectfully to announce that his rock In the various departments of his establishment is now replete for Overcoats, Vesting% Bedford Cords, and scarlet waterproof cloth for hunting. The wool-dyed Black and Blue Frock Coats, bOs. A choice of SO pieces of indestructible woaded West of England Cloths. ESTABLISHED Icel. Only address. TROUSERS.—SpeciaI attention is called to the Two WINTER STOCK ano gentlemen who do not mind paying a fair price for a good pair of Trousers can depend on material and patterns that CADOOL he excelled, at HAMILTON and KIMPTON 10.. strand, opposite Exeter Haft DEPOT AIITHENTIQUE DE LA REGIE, for SALE .1 ►Tench Caporal SMOKING TON.WCO and PRENCiI SNIFF 153. for 2 1.5 lbs., kilogramme ditto ditto Foreign, at Pis. :if per 2b5 the.. kilogramme. French Coin, from Is. to 3, Jr• dozen. Warranted Ilavanna " Cigars, Tobaceos. and molls. as imported by the FRESCO tL ItEGIE, 252. PICCADILLY. . . . N car Si. James's .Church. HOW COLD IT HAS BEEN.-NEGRETTI and ZANIBILVA celshrated TUEIttI()METERS will cor rectly resister the lowest temperature. ?rice as. c.l. —l, Hatton trvalen ; Sa, Corthill ; Ilcet-street: and 122, Regent-street. Agents **awed. WHERE CAN WE MEET AFTER THE PANTOUINIE4 ? My dear ! gentlernva !alp at EVA N 5 . 7 4, Covent-garden. Eke ervrelifS. TO C9REISPONDIENTIL Advent sareeola hiteoded for "The krprees" London Peados Paper, most be of the once, 10, Boarerlewtreet, by Two o'clock on the day of publlestlon. COVENT-GARDEN. Tuts EVENING. I'‘.I..*IiI;CTE. --- Nri;sTPyne and Mr. W. -And HARLEQUIN ST. GEORGE AND THE DEAGON, !lean. W. H. Payne, H. Payne, F. Payne, the brothers SWnette, Shine. Esther —Connuence at 7 II A VII ARKET. Ervinwo, or 11..61ER1(iVZii;i'SIN. Messrs. &Ahem, Chippeudsle, Gordon, Rogers. Con, nod Clark; SleNlameS Aug.-1 and Snotou.—And KIM: ARTHUR. lir. Compton ; Meslones L Keeley. Terry. Lindley, E. flower. ritiNCEV. THIS Erh:trirn. 11164:1731.1.1N.—And HARLEVIN LItTLE TUN Messrs. Seyton. Cath:art. A. and C. Lreleren, Hulke and ion, Thlatin, Naylor, MA Chaptue; Mead-tuna li.tractt. Adams. and Ilu.ard LYCEUM. "rni Evra,o, TIIF. Llkif 19I1LD. Mr. Wl.l•licomb and Mtn P. Lech rv.; —Br.L SIONIO. a Love St.ry. Meant. ?octant. ltroll,tharn, mery, ("harks, and Jordan; Miasma Terry, Lwenue, and Klenorthy, and Mr.. Lee. BRITANNIA. TIM ETExTNG. thr \,:w rant nmirne HICKORY. HICKORY, Ist al:. Sirs s. Lane an.l IrM • rate Canton' mints—The Mande of Peru. -THEE:REA 1' JidgT E KFEC and Bertrand. THE GORILLA HUN t. 111011 WAT"R AT LONDON BRIM'. nes DAT Morning. ob. Om Aflernoen. Ob. To-igolloli limning, 4h. 44m... Atternoini, lb. him LONDON, TBURSDAY, JANUARY 7. THE law of England is proverbially full of anomalies and inconsistencies, but it would be difficult to find any case in which these defects have shown themselves more conspicuously than in the case of I:Foil:GE VICTOR ToWNLEY. This miserable youth bad unquestionably committed an act of the most revolting atrocity. Apparently with the utmost deliberation, and without the faintest disguise, he murdered an innocent girl because she had transferred her affections, or at all events her hand, to another. It is obvious that, unless every man is not only to avenge his own wrongs, but to determine the tit penalty which belongs to them, such a man as GEor.GE Vicroß ToWNLEY ought to die. The only possible ground upon which his life could be spared would be that he was insane at the time he com mitted the act, or had become insane since its commission. No law is so barbarous as to deny that a man must be sane in order to be respon sible—that lie must be sane when put upon his trial—and that lie must be sane at the time he is about to suffer death upon the scaffold. It may appear to some that this is carrying things too far; that as soon as a person has been convicted he is practically in the hands of the executioner, and that thenceforth ail hope of safety ought to be cut off. In such an opinion we cannot concur, and our dissent has already been expressed upon this subject. But most certainly the fact of insanity ought to be established beyond all possibility of doubt, and if the decision of one tribunal upon the .iuestion of sanity is to be overruled, it ought to be by some other tribunal, of equal if not of higher authority. Now consider the case of GEORGE VICTOR TOWNLEY. It is scarcely pretended that he was mad at the time he committed the murder of the unfortunate girl to whom he had been engaged. Even Dr. FORBEs WiNALoW, according to his own Published letter, did not venture to form any opinion of the state of his mind at that period. And the jury, with the concurrence of the Judge, had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that if TowNLEv had been tried on the fatal evening he must have been considered perfectly sane, and must therefore have been convicted. Nor is this all. The Judge, the jury, and the prisoner's counsel must have gone even further. They must have thought that TOWNLEY was tole rably sane on the day of his trial. If such was not their opinion their course was clear. It is a maxim of English law that a prisoner must be able to understand what is going on, and must therefore have intelligence enough to put in a plea of guilty or not guilty. If he be unable to do so there is an Act of Parliament--39 and 40 C Eo. 111., c. 94—which provides that "if any " person indicted appears insane," the question of sanity may lie tried by a jury, and the insane person may be kept in custody during the royal pleasure. Now, ToWN tEI was allowed by his counsel to plead to the indictment, and neither counsel, jury, nor Judge suggested a doubt as to his competence to understand the charge wade against him. On the contrary, the very point was submitted to the jury, and they practically overruled it. For Dr. FoRIIES WINSLoW and the Chaplain of the prison both seemed to be of opinion that at the time of the trial he wns insane, and their opinion was overruled both by the jury and the presiding Judge. It is absurd to suppose that both Mr. Baron MARTIN and the prisoner's counsel were ignorant of the law on so ordinary a point, or that they would have hesitated to urge the prisoner's insanity as an objection to proceed ing with the trial at all. The truth probably is that the prisoner's counsel had no confidence in any such plea. They believed that their chance of success lay in attempting to prove not that he was insane at the time of the trial, but at the time when he committed the offence. Perhaps they relied upon the chance that some authority would intervene to stop the execution of the sen tence even after it was pronounced, on the ground that by that time at least TOWNLEY had gone mad. And their anticipations have proved correct. Under the provisions of an Act of Parliament two justices of the peace, aided by two local physicians, have certified that TOWNLEY is insane, and accordingly, the Home SECRETARY, in obedience, it is said, to the law, has respited the prisoner. Tow N LEY will, therefore, be confined in an asylum until he recovers his reason. Can any state of things be more unsatisfactory Y It may be that man who, in the opinion of his own counsel, of Mr. Baron MARTIN, and of twelve of his fellow-citizens, was perfectly sane on the day of his trial, has THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1864. lost his senses within a fortnight. But if an event so remarkable has taken place, it ought to be established by unimpeachable evidence. This is not so here. If any two justices of the peace, ' aided by two doctors, are competent to decide questions of sanity, what need is there of solemn inquiries, conducted before learned judges and a host of jurymen ? No reasonable man would propose that the humblest person in the realm should be deprived of his personal liberty or of the management of his property on the decree of any two magistrates and any two doctors. Society is entitled to the like privilege. If the question of a man's sanity require to be investigated by a Judge and jury in one cue, it ought to be investigated by a Judge and jury in any other case. There is neither justice nor con sistency in trying the sanity of the very same man by two different methods, one public and the other private—one before four men selected by haphazard, the other by a judge of assize and a regular jury. Least of all is such a course defensible in such a case as that of TOWNLEY. For in his case the solemn verdict of a criminal court has been prac tically reversed by the opinion of four gentlemen who have acted upon whatever evidence seemed to them reasonable, and who are all but irresponsible. The public arc not even permitted to know the grounds upon which the convicted man is to escape the penalty of his crime. It is bad enough that the CEO RETARY of STATE should upon his own responsibility override the verdicts of juries in criminal cases. The time has come when, both for the sake of the public and for the sake of the SECRETARY of STATE himself, a tribunal should be appointed for the purpose of reconsidering the guilt of a condemned criminal. The investigation should be made in public ; the tribunal should be composed of competent judges; and, in fact, it should be clothed with the same jurisdiction which is now exercised in secret by the Home office. The duty of such a tribunal would be rather to exercise an old jurisdiction than to ex ercise a new ore. In short, the HOME-SECRETARY for this purpose would be transformed into a court. But great as the importance of such an alteration would be, it is as nothing compared with the importance of getting rid of an Act of Parlia ment by which four irresponsible persons are enabled to relieve a condemned prisoner from the sentence which has been passed upon him. paternal and filial affection. I have no doubt many such spa:limas have often lewd, and still often issue, from these namable pedals : " At church with meek and unaffected grace His looks adorned the venerable place ; Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools who came to scoff remained to pray. The service pans'd, aroned the pious man, With steady seal each honest milk ran ; Even children followed with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown to share the good man's smile ; His ready smiles parent's warmth expresed, Their welfare pleased him and their cares distrees'd ; To them his heart, his love, his griets were given, But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven ; As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale and midway clears the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are weed, Eternal sunshine settles on its head." (Loud cheers.) I had meant to convey to you one or two specimens of his power as a satirist. I always cousidered Pope to have been the greatest master that ever lived, both of the molt exquisite panegyric and the most fierce levee ' tire. Witness in those lines in which he refers to the chi. ranter of Lord Bolingbroke and Lord Hervey. But Gold smith, between those two extremes, hit off the characters of his friends with a touch that was incisive but not severe. I can only refer you to his characters of Burke, Garrick, and Reynolds. (His Excellency having quoted some further specimens of Goldsmith s poetry went on to say)—We are met here to-day in the presence of rank, station, and learn. ing. For what purpose ? To do honour to that which was neglected and despised—to that which was his shame in crowds. We are met here before his own university, where he came in, an obscure sizar. and has given occasion ever since to every sizar to feel proud of his position— even here where, as we are told, be was laid prostrate on the floor by his brutal tutor. (Cheers and laughter,) There are no such tutors now in Trinity College--(cheers and laughter)—the seat of all dignity and gentle learning under the mild sway of the venerable Provost. (Cheers,) We are met here to-day to do honour to his statue before London his raised one statue in the open air to any one of England's mighty poets. Mr. Foley has fully atoned for Mr. Wilder. I have already, in the opening of these remarks, adverted to the fact that when engaged in the inauguration of the statue of Moore I ven tured to anticipate that we would present to Dublin a statue of Goldsmith. Six rears hive elapsed since then. Let not sir years elapse before we have a statue of Burke. (Cheers.) Gentlemen. the authorities of the college have been considerate and wise enough t.. leave a corresponding space which absolutely requires some one to fill it, and who can fill it so fitly as he who was. probably, the foremost in tellect of Ireland, the consummate orator, philosopher, and statesman—Edmund Burke" (Loud cheering.) Why the very statue of Goldsmith seems to invite the presence of him who was both his most cherished companion in the bode! hour sod his ardent and warmest friend in his tore and frequent need. Well, then, my sympathising hearers, men of high station, men of varied learning, men of large heart—and I will not omit the fair daughters of Dublin, so full of sympathy always for genius end for virtue—(loud applausel—yon will not. I know, be wanting to this most obvious and patriotic duty. I know already that this work has enlisted the sympathy and ext lions of many eminent and many publicapirited citizens, and I trust, indeed, that no long time will now elapse until on this very spot, where the historic memories, architec tural beauties, and the main thoroughfares and pulses of Dublin most converge, the passer -IT as lie halts for a moment shall look up, not without some feeling of patriotic pride and emotion. to the two statues of Goldsmith and Burke. (Loud applause.) . . Lord tALROT . 10E 31.asiitnr moved, and the Right lion. J. WBIIL'.IDE, M.P., seconded, a vote of thanks to hie Excellency. LORD STANLEY ON THE OXFORD LOCAL EX.LIU-VA TluNs. Lord STANLEY, M.P., in di , tributing the prizes yesterday afternoou to the successful competitors at the Oxford Local Examination at Manchester, mid I find the examiners say of the theological teaching:— "By far the most general defect was the almost entire absence of any iutelligent knowledge " of the matters which bad been verbally learnt.. They go on " words which boys use or hear every Sunday, convey either no meaning to their naiads, or a wrong one." Of the mathematical part they say that " it is generally sufficient in quantity, but there is a want of intelligence displayed wherever the text is reproduced verbatim." In au earlier report they speak of candidates who have "a verbal acquaintance with the rules of grammar, but who utterly fail in their application," and they end with a sentence which conveys the whole moral of that which I have been trying to urge upon you. More marks would be gained, and the process would be more beneficial to the candidates, were they to confine their reading within narrower limits, selecting one or more of the optional subjects and learning them thoroughly, instead of eudeavouriug to obtain a less acquaintance with the whole." (Hear, hear.) Now lam glad to cite these passages, partly for their own value, partly also because they answer an objection which I have often beard—that examinations promote cramming—meaning by that wont a temporary pretence of knowledge, which is got up to serve a special purpose and useless in all other respects. Not only do I believe that not to le the truth. but I believe it is the very oppo site of the truth. Cramming implies just that show and parade of things superficially sic iuired which may impose upon parents who have forgotten their own early teaching, but which will never impose on an examiner who under stands Lis busluess. (Hear, bear.) The fault, or the ten. dency to the fault, is in the school ; the detection of it is the duty of the examiner who tests the schooL There is one more word 1 have to say on a matter connected with this. Many sensible people are afraid that IT the increased iti retains of a wider competition we shall tempt young boys to hurt their health by over-reading. That is a reesoneble apprehension, but it admits of an answer. Overwork is seldom good work. We used to may when I was an nod• r gradute at Cambridge. that anybody who had it in him to become • senior wrangler, might become one—that is might obtain the highest distinction in one kind which the I. ni. varsity can give—by reading steadily six hours ► day. I believe that was true, and I hold it certain that those, whether boys or men, who hurt their health by overstudy are not thee who labour steadily or at a moderate pace, but those who neglect healthy exercise and care in other respects, and more especially those who haying been idlers for the greater part of their time, try and make up lost ground by • desperate push at the last. (Hear, hear.) And now, a word as to the IDOCCIIS which thew exaruinatioos have met with. It has been stated in the report that after the first year (11 1 3e4) the number of candidates tell off. and has only just reached its original level. The juniors were 77,0 in 18-56, 573 in 11160, and 762 in the past year. Does that imply failure? I think not. It shows that • great many came up, not in the least know ing what to expect, and haring had some unpleasant expe rience in the first sear did not come to try again. (A laugh.) Out of the first 7750 only `>o passed. and no wonder that there should have been some reluctance to incur such expo sure. But the effect has been good, for of the 762 who went up last year 4'7 hare passed. Wog a proportion of about 64 per cent. ; whereas the proportion in ]hill was only 38 percent. I take the returns of the junior candidates only in order not to multiply figures, but the other would give a similar general result. You cannot have a better measure of the improvement in the art of teaching which these yearly coruparisons between school and school have created, and when one considers that no class of men how ever excellent like to have their pretensions criticised and their shortcomings made public, least of all these who exer cise a kind of authority on a small scale, it seems to rne singular and creditable to the schoolmasters as a body that so littleopposition has been made in a• 7 quarter to the whole scheme. I shall detain you no farther, but only mention before I sit down that Manchester holds in these examiaa tiara, as might be expected from the character of its people, a place considerably higher than the average. You sent up last year 157 candidates in all. oat of 1,029 from all parte of England ; that is in round numbers more than one.seventh of the whole. And if I assume that for this purpose Man chester represents all the neighbouring towns, with • popu lation of perhaps a million altogether (Liverpool and Leeds being both rival centres), you will have one-seventh of the total number of studeets from one twentieth of the total population. So much for the numbers examined. In point of success you stand a little, though only a little above the average, having passed 68 per cont., as conieareti with a general average of 64 per cent. I am justified, therefore, in arming that on your part • certain superiority exists. But while I say that I must add also that as a Lancashire man, I shall not be satisfied, and I think von ought sot to be satisfied =ail we make it more marked and more decisive. (Cheers.) It meta with you to accomplish that. The power is there, the will, I am certain, is not wanting; all that is needed is to keep alive a (drone sod healthy public interest in the matter; and that such in terest exists your presence here, the numbers that have met in this room to-day, the character of this audience, and the increasing pormlarity of these yearly gatherings, are a sufficient and satisfactory proof. (Loud applause.) Mr. Baxley, M.P., and Mr. Turner, M.P., briefly addressed the meeting. Mr. Ponder, M.P., wasalso present. A vote of thanks to Lord Stanley for presiding terminated the proceedings. DEATH OF THE DEAN OF CORK.—CORK, WEDNES DAT EVENING.—The Cork Examiner announces the death of Dean Newman, of Cork, which took place at the Deanery house, St. Finial's, yesterday afternoon. DEATH OF DEAN METLER.—We regret to an nounce the death of the very Rev. Dean Hagler, which took place yesterday. at the advanced age of 80 years. Dr. Meyler wee a contemporary and intimate associate of the late Archbishop Murray, and was, we fear, the lest of a generation of ROl3llll catholic priests—of those, at least, apparent on the surface of public life—whose sympathies were rather British than Roman. rather catholic than ultranicrataiie. He was a kiorlly, social man, who sought pewee mid the advancement of the country in civi lles and knowledge, occasionally even at the risk of somewhat compromising his own professional interests. He did, how ever, fully succeed is obteiniog the general respect of hie fellow-citisena.—Dublin Evening Moil. CRYSTAL PALACIL--ONE SHILLING WEDYNSDAT, JAN. 6.—Admissions on payment, 3,029 ; ditto by season tickets, 1,326 ; total, 4,355. AMERICA. (arum's maesui.) QUEENSTOWN, JAN. 7. The Inman steamship City of Washington, from New York on the 26th ult., arrived here this even ing with 550,000 dollars in specie and 70 passengers, of whom she landed five. She proceeded at 12.10 a.m., all well. (Per the City of Washington.) NEW YORK, DEC. 26. Intelligence received from Charleston states that the firing on the city from Battery Putnam continued• at regular intervals. The Weehawken was about to be raised. No news of consequence has been received from the army of the Potomac. The state of affairs in and around Knoxville and Chattanooga remains unchanged. The Federals in Western Virginia under General Averill have cut off Longatreet's communication with Richmond on the Virginia and Tennessee Railway. The line was cut in two or three places. The telegraph wires were broken, and the depots at Salem, with their contents, destroyed, together with several bridges and culverts. General Averill, on his return front this import ant feat, found his path blocked up by the Confe derates at different points under no less than seven generals. He, however, evaded them under corer of night, and returned to headquarters with trifling loss. General Joe Johnston has been appointed to the command of the Confederate arm_•: of Tennessee. Despatches dated Fort Smith, Arkansas, 24th instant, state that several Indian chiefs of the Choctaw tribe, hitherto in friendly alliance with the Confederates, had voluntarily surrendered to General M'Neill, being desirous of returning to their allegiance to the Washington government under President Lincoln's amnesty proclamation. The Confederate loss in the late affair at Bean Station was about 800 killed and wounded. The funeral service of ! the Federal general Cor coran took place at Fairfax on the 24th. His remains were to arrive in New York on the follow ing day. The New Orleans steamship Cromwell was seized by the authorities at New York on the 24th. Large quantities of powder and percussion❑ caps, supposed to be intended for the use of the Confederates, were found on board. Several passengers, present ing suspicious appearances, have been arrested. All weapons found in the possession of passengers on board vessels plying between American porta are now taken from them by a Provost guard, just previous to their sailing. The weapons are gives in charge of the purser or the captain, and are only returned to the owners on ' their arrival at their destination. This regulation has been adopted to prevent occurrences in future similar to that of the Chesapeake. It has also been extended to English and other foreign vessels. The English barque Circassia has been seized at New York by the Provost Marshal, and many arrests, both male and female, had been made. General M'Clellan was adopted as a candidate at the next presidential election by a meeting of the Conservative Union National Committee, held at Philadelphia on the 23rd. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, Dre. 26. Yesterday bring Christmas-day, bu,iness was suspended. This morning gold was quoted 511 per cent. premium. Exchange on London : Bankers' bills, 166. New York Centrals, 13'21 ; Erie, 1071 ; Illinois Central, 1171. Petroleum, crude, 32c. ; refined, 46c. to 47c. NEW YORK, 1nc.?6,1 General Joe Johnston has assumed the command of Bragg's army. There is no news of any importance. Aberdeen Leith Ardrossan Greencastle Gl:vra): i'7le - n - tla :30.12 - 130..1 - pa... 34 0 130.24 31 - ,30 23 32 - t 0.22 i 4 1 30.25 39 2 30.2 . 2 34; 1 30.16 30 - 1 20.31 21 - 30.24 31 - Cape Clear.. Queenstown . Liverpool .. Bolslsetl R.W. , 1 W.S.W. ?. .I. W. 1 R.E. 3 W. 1 S.S E. NE. 1 ENE. .4 N.E. 3 R.E. 1 E.N.E. 4 E. I 1 N.E. 1 N.E. 4 IL • 3 Z. .. N.E. 3 N.E. 3 N N.E. 1 Y.E. 2 E.N.E. . 4 W. ! 1 W.N W. 2 &E. • Q I. X. IS b =i 12 m 20 , c 14 • c 14 ; 6 12 . c 2 4 t 2 12 t 4 8 c 1 4 m 2 2 o Pembroke Inset L'Orket ILochefort Plymouth Weymouth Portsmouth London Dover 1 .30." 10 2 • 30.1 , 27 - . 30.04 30 - . 30.2:3' 1 . 30.24 2U - .30. 2 2027 30 27 '2O - I 90.1 / - .30.252;' - 30 Ye i 5! - 30.46 2.5 - 3 1 3. 4 3 4 4 8 I 4 4 ; 1 , 10 4. 14 3 16 i 28 Yaremath Scarborough trais;isid Zig Court. OSBORNE, J. 6. The Queen, accompanied by Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold, walked in the grounds yesterday. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-office from the Governors of the North American Provinces. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, ac companied by the equerry in waiting and attendants, went out shooting yesterday morning. In the afternoon the Prince of Wales and suite went skating on the ice, which now covers the canal or ornamental water at Frogmore. The increasing frost of Tuesday and yesterday has rendered the ice extremely thick, and it is now in first-rate condition for the skaters. The Prince and suite enjoyed this healthy recreation for some time, and were on ths ice till slate hoar in the afternoon. PKINCE ALFRED.—His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, accompanied by Major Cowell, arrived in Edinburgh on Tuesday morning, having travelled from London by the night train. It is expected that his royal highneu will be the guest of Lord and Lady Belhaven, at Wishaw House, to-morrow and on Saturday nest. The Duke of Hamilton left the family mansion in Arlington.street, Piccadilly, on Tuesday, for his seat, Easton Park, Suffolk, where his grace and a select party of friends intend to have a few days' shooting. The Earl of Westmoreland has taken a residence in Upper Grosvenor-street, for a few months. The Earl and Cuuntes, of Derby are entertaining his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and a distin guished cu:npariy at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester, the Esrl and Countess of flardw•icke and Lady Amnia Yorke and Hon. Eliot Yorke, Viscount Hamilton, M.P., Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, ALP., Sir Henry and Lady- Sophia Des Crux, and Colonel Clifton, in waiting on the Duke of Cambndge, are of the party enjoying the hospitalities ut the noble earl and countess. ISAUGURArroy OF . OLIT . 1:1: GOLDSMITHS .sTATCE IN DUBLIN. The ceremony of inaugurating the statue to the memory of ()liver Goldsmith took place in the court in front of Trinity College on Tuesday. Twelve o'clock was the hour appoiuted for the proceedings to commence, and long before that hour a numerous concourse of persons bad assembled before the gates of the college, and at either side from Grafton-street to Westmoreland•atreet, and in front as far as the King William statue, presented an array of anxious spectators. At 12 o'clock his Excellency the Lord Lieuteuaut (armed, and was received on the platform by the Provost of Trinity College. the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Talbot de Malahide. His Excellency was attended by Major-Geseral Larcom, Colo.tel Forster, Mr. Hatched) (private secretary), Lady Barbara Leeson, and the Hoe. H. Leeson. The Rev. J. H. J ELT Err baying formally banded over the statue, on behalf of the Committee, to the l'rovoet, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College. The PEON o , l' requested his Excellency to inaugurate the statue. His E XCELLENCT on presenting himself wasloudly cheered. He said—lt in now little more than six years ago since I met many of you for the purpose of doing honour to a most truly Irish and delightful poet, Thomas Moore. (Cheers.) At that time I took upon me to rev that upoo the spot where I now stand there ought to be raised • statue of Oliver Goldsmith. (Cbeers.) The proposal seemed at once to meet with approvaL lam sure you all agree with me that whatever delay has occurred is amply made up for by the grace, dignity, and excellence of the finished work. (Cheers.) Look upon him as he stands before you : the genial-hearted Irishman, the gentle moralist, the consum mate poet—(cheer.)—stands here is front of the college which gave shelter to his early youth. Loving biographers have done full justice to his history, and an eminent orator who is at once the representative and ornament of this uni versity—(cheer:)—has unfolded the rich gift of his genius with filial revereoce and with congenial ability. (Cheers.) We contemplate the character, not free from imprudence. from error, nor from ridicule, but fully redeemed by the most guileless sympathy, by the most romantic benevo lence, the most manly independence. (" Hear," and cheers.) We contemplate • genius of which no more cor rect summary can be made than in the words which his greet friend, Dr. Johnson, inscribed on the stone that bears his name in Westminster Abbey—" There was no style of composition which be did not essay—none which he essayed that he did not adorn." (Cheers.) Out of so much variety and out of so much excellence, if I were called upon to select the most striking specimens. I should naturally mention "The Traveller, " " The Deserted Vil lage," and perh a ps a b ove all " The Vicar of Wakefield." The walls of the Royal Academy of London would scarcely know themselves if a single year went round without exhibitiug some subject from "The Vicar of Wake field." Perhaps 1 may remark that the prison scene is that fascinating novel preceded certainly and perhaps suggested some of the benevolent exertions of Howard and of Fry. Still novelist, his torian, essayist, satirist, dramatist as he was, it is as • poet that we mainly represent to ourselves Oliver Gold. smith. and if I were to search for an adjective to distinguish his poetry, I do not know that I could find a more fitting one than exquisite. (Hear, hear.) Others have soared to greater heights said shed iutenser light in the poetical heaven, but where were there ever combised more perfect rhythm, more mellow harmony, more refined simplicity, more perfect truth 'I (Cheers.) I should have much liked to justify my praise by the most convincing proofs I could toe by recalling some of the notes of the music of his stride to your, I am sure, not unaccustomed ears, but I fear I most use it sparingly. and take the decline of • virtuous old age—lines which I myself once heard applied with sin gular effect by Lord Brougham to Mr. Wilberforce : " For him no wretches born to work and weep, Ex pima the mine or tempt the dangerous deep ; No early porter stands in guilty state, To spurn imploring famine from the gate ; But on he moves to meet his latter end, Angels around befriending virtue's friend, Bends to the grave with unperceived decay, While resignation gently slopes the way—. And all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences ere the world he pass'd." (Loud applause.) It is no violent tranaitioe to the country clergyman. It is most refreshing to find hew Goldsmith, amid all his weaknesses sad irregularities, cherishes is his heart of hearts the moat genuine sympathy and goodness. Perhaps in those instances those feelings were heightened by LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE BRITISH SQUADRON. The Constitutionne/, in reference to the rumour that a British squadron was to proceed to the Baltic to protect Denmark, remarks : No despatch from Lambe has confirmed the news. We may therefore suppose that the statement is unfounded, and that, if the rumour of sending an English squadron into the Baltic has been current, the reason is that such a measure appeared to accord with the comminatory language made nee of to Germany by the English cabinet. That aggressive policy of the British government has moreover met with but liWe success beyond the Rhine. Fax from intimidating, it has become the object of raillery on the part of the German press. The Auttrian Gamtte qualifies it as a " blustering Policy," and advises Earl Russell "to go to school to the prudent Napoleon." The BoterhaPtr only regards the English note delivered to the Diet "as a diplomatic curi osity of the present day," sod declares that Germany will not allow herself to be frightened "by a grim threat." As to the " idea that the English ministry would lend assist ance to King Christian, no German journal admits it. Much noise for no result, is the general opinion entertained ia Germany of the present proceedings of England. THE DUCHIES. The Saxons and Danes are still facing each other at Rendsburg ; but, though the delay of 24 hours originally fixed by the Saxon general has expired now for some days, we bear nothing yet of the com mencement of hostilities. According to some of the continental journals there is a divergence of views between Prussia and Austria, the former Power showing a disposition to go the whole length with its confederates in the Diet. Meanwhile, arrangements seem to be making in Germany for an occupation of the Duchy of Schles wig. The Kreuz Zettung says that a division has received orders to concentrate immediately at Preignitz ; the Gazette (Its Posts "1 Frankfort says that the authorities of the Grand Duchy of Weimar have received notice that 30,000 Austrians will pass through it next week on their way to the north ; and a third paper speaks of the intention of the German Powers to form a camp in Franconia, in order to have close at hand troops which it would be necessary to send to the scene of hostilities. According, however, to a letter from Berlin one more step is to be taken at Copenhagen before proceeding to the occupation of Schleswig. Au ultimatum is to be sent to the Danish govern ment, which will declare that King Christian can not be recognised unless he re-establishes in the Duchies the state of things which existed before 1846 —that is to say, on the condition that the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein are only joined to the Danish crown by a prsonal union. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) INDIA AND CHINA MAIL. MARSEILLES, JAN. 7. The Messageries Imperiales mail steamer 3ioeris arrived here at 9 a.m. to-day, with the India and China Mails and the English mail, ex the Candia. THE CALCUTTA, CHINA, BOMBAY, AND MAURITIUS MAILS. The Valetta, with the above mails, arrived at Marseilles at 7 a.m. this day. The mails were to leave at IL3O FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The draft of the address presented to the Legis lative Body is considered by most of the Paris journals as more decided in tone and more liberal iu sentiment than that which has been already dis cussed in the Senate. Most of the journals are, however, dissatisfied with the favourable manner in which Russia is spoken of, and some express regret that Poland has not fouu.l more sympathy iu the document. The subjoined amendment relative to Poland has been presented by Baron .L. , reue David, M. Cazellcs, M. Belmontet, M. Roy de Loulay, M. Cure, M. Pagezy, General Baron Gorsse, Colonel Reguise, M. Corneille, M. I. iron de Buzareingues, and Vicomte Clary : Replace the paragraph relative to Poland, commencing with theme words, **The rensiniscenc.--s of oar history and the sentiments of humanity which animate us excite our warmest sympathies for the Poles," Sr., by the following : --"Sire,—The Polish question is one of humanity and of public European order ; France has not the mission to take up arms for a canoe which, examined in all its bearings, cano3t be considered as having produced any offence against our honour, or a menace against our frontiers ; we ought, nevertheless, to exhaust all the action of our moral co-operation in favour of Poland, to which your Majesty has publicly given • testimony of deep sympathy ; we be lieve in the opportuneness of recognising the Poles as bel ligerents, not as rebels, but heirs to a right inscribed in his tory and in treaties." A very serious accident took place last evening on the Northern Railway at the Pierrefitte station. A passenger train which was due at Paris from Calais at a quarter past 4, and which had been delayed by some injury to its locomotive, had continued its way with difficulty to the station just mentioned, and there stopped. The usual signals were immediately made to protect it, but at that moment a train from Brussels came in sight of the station, and notwithstanding the signals made to stop it, ran violently into the former and knocked five of the carriages into pieces. Seeing the impending danger, an inspector at the station had opened the carriage doors, so that a number of persons were abli: to alight. Five passengers were, however, killed, and nineteen more or less seriously wounded. The persons in the Brussels train experienced no injury beyond the shock. All the wounded passengers were brought to Paris in the evening. Another account makes the number of sufferers, killed or wounded, to be 50, and states that all the passengers' luggage has been burnt. The accident is attributed to the neglect and mis management of a pointsmau. The frost continues iu Paris with unabated se verity. Skating is now going on with great spirit on the lakes in the Bois-de-Boulogne, and on the other sheets of water around the capital. In the public gardens, when the ice is broken and removed, the front is sharp enough to congeal the water iu a single night strong enough for skating and sliding. Yesterday, at U in the morning, the thermometer of M. Chevalier marked 9.4 below zero, C. (IN F.); at noon 6.1 below, C. (21 F.), and at 3 o'clock 4 below, C. (24 9-10ths F.), same as the day before. DEATH OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR WM HALL GAGE, G.C.8., C.C.H. We have to announce the death of the senior Admiral of the Fleet, Sir William Hall Gage, who died as Tuesday last, at his country seat in Norfolk. The venerable officer, who was in his 87th year, was the third and youngest son of Thomas first Viscount Gage, and entered the navy in 1789. He was midshipman of the Princess Royal is Lord Hotham's actions in 1795, and of the Bedford at the recapture of the Ceoseur by the French squadron ; was lieutenant of the Miters& at the rapture of the Babies sod action with the Ceres. Spanish frigate; and off Cape St. Vincent com manded the boats of the Minerva. its was captain of the Terpsichore at the capture of the French vessels in Tunis Bay, and was also at the blockade of Malta. As captain of the Urania, was present when the bade of that vessel assisted in cutting out the Chevrette from under the batteries of Camaret, near Brost. The deceased mbesquently com manded the Thetis and the Indus. From September, 1841, to July, 1846, daring Sir Robert Peers government, be M/ed the adios of ate of the Lords COMMilleaoolllll of the Admiralty ; and from 1848 to 1851 held the post of oom mender-la-chief at Plymouth. He had been Reer-Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, and after hold ing in succession those honorary appointments, was, early in 1862, made Admiral of the Fleet. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Business was suspended yesterday on account of the holidays. Money tight. Gold, 511 per cent. pretnimu. Stocks steady. New York Centrals, 132:; ;Illinois, 117. The City of Washington takes out 530,000 dots. in specie. WEATHER REPORT.--(T1118 DAY.) TRUISDAT. JANUARY 7. 8 R.H. B. E. D. w. r' 2 SATURDAY. FRIDAY Si. to 5. W. PROBAILI 01 NOITRIL.II CQ g. w. to N.W. and N. E , _ _ ....... moderate. tine. trevh. N.E. to 5.E. and S.W., wrimas. E. to 8. and 8.1 V., moderate to treat. teeth. snow In places. As next above. MIDDLE. A, next shove. to ft IL, moderate N.E. to S.E. and kW., to fresh, hue gene- fresh to moderate. rally. S.& w S and S.W., Loma. W. to N. and L, mode moderate, fine. rate. fine. Noetlieru=scotland. Western= Ireland. )fiddler-Wales. opposite au.l adjacent. Ematitern=Engllsh Channel and &way Bay. Eastern= Eastward England and MsEvian& R.—Barometer corrected and reduced to S±e at half tide level. Each ten feet, of vertical elevation. amain/ about one hundredth of an inch TIMINCTION and each ten degrees, above M. caus big nearly three hundredths MeRFASIL —Exposed thermo meter in shade. —Differeocc of wet bulb ,for evaporation and dew point). W.—Wind, direction of Titus—two points uerr of magnetic). F.—Force Ito 12—estimated X.—Extreme force liner loot report. Q —Quarter whence ItXTRTSIR force (N to 52= SI. 1. : b.—blue sky; c.—clouds u demehed) • f.—fog. ; I.—lightning; M.—misty (hal) ; o. —overcast (dull.; r.—rain. a.—sooty; L—thuuder. K Ralrefall, snow er had melted), since last report B.—Sea disturbance (1 to 9). The Moniker de la Flail, states that a rifled steel cannon has been cut in one of the imperial foundries, which is superior to anything yet produced by Sir William Armstrong. It was tried at the Polygon of Gann, near Lorieat, and the ball passed through a target as strongly plated as any frigate afloat at a distance of 1,000 yards. Ita superiority over Sir William Armstrong's gun is said to con sist in its comparative lightness, and in the facility with which it can be nisweuvred. A telegram, received by the Electric and Inter national Telegraph Company, announces that the telegraphic station at Irkoutak, or' the route to China, was opened on the 2nd of December, the distance from St. Petersburg being 5,700 roma. It is believed that messages which for merly took 23 days by post will now reach that point is eight hours, _ _ An Anglo-Italian Bank, which has been for some time in preparation, will, it is said, be shortly introduced, all the preliminary ermagementa baring been completed, Sir James Hudson and Baron Ric soli will be members of the board of direction. The Correspondent of Nuremburg says :—" By the protocol of tondos the number of persons plead be tween the throne of t►e Danish monarchy and Russia was reduced to four. By the nomination of Prince George of Glocksburg to the throes of Greece there remain but three. Those three persons have only to die without male summon for Russia to ester in poesesidou of Denmark and the Duchies, by virtue of the stipulations in question." THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS. The fineness of the day yesterday caused an immense assemblage of people in the various parks, some to enjoy the recreation of skating, but the majority as spectators. The banks of the water in the Regent's-park, Hyds.park, and Kensington-gardens were lined with people, and the carriage drives were filled with equipages of every description. On the broad water in the Regent'.- park the members of the Skating Club, both ladies arid gentlemen, mustered in great force, and performed variety of the most graceful evolutions on the ice. A few accidents by falls on the ice, and one or two immersions of venturesome lads were the only casualties that took piece amongst at least 10,000 persons upon the ice during the day. The Long Water in Kensington gardens was also largely patronised both by metubere of the Skating Club and the general public, and about 8,000, persons were on the frozen field in the course of the day. A few accidents of minor importance ouly occurred there. Notwithatandhm the great depth of the water, the skaters and sliders were enabled to pursue their amusement with a feeling of security owing to the admirable arrangemeato made by the Humane Society rendering a fatal accident from immersion highly improbable. On the Serpentine a great portion of the ice was still unsafe, and but comparatively few persona ventured upon it, and those who did so kept near the banks. Several immersions took place, but none attended with fatal consequences. The ice in St. James'op ark tolerably firm, and many thousands of persons, ct..oty boys, amused themselves upon it. The immersioua were very numerous, and the Humane Society men were k-pt well employed. The attendance at the various tents of the Humane Society was all that could be desired. The thermometer during some portion of the day was as low as 27 degrees, and never higher than 30 degrees. The Victoria-park was visited by about 12,000 persons, and probably a quarter of that number amused themselves upon the ice. Several persons had a duck,og, and some of the moat venturesome had either to return to their horuei or go to the London Hospital, as they had received injuries to their heads and limbs through fella. _ _ The Clapham and Hampstead ponds were both crowled with skaters and sliders. Oa the latter piece of water a little girl about 11 years of age skated in a manner that astonished the lookers-on. After cutting out her name upon the ire, she led several couples over the frozen surface. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. The Crystal Palace awl its gr.muils have charm; for every wawa. Now that the frost has set in, the ice on ita ornamental waters may compete with any in the country ; for it has been carefully protected while it was forming from the conclusions which im petuous youth is so prone to try in such casts with pebbles and brickbats. During the whole of yesterday the lower lake was thronged by skaters, of whom no inconsiderable proportion were ladies. After sunset the amusements by no means ceased. The managers of the Palace Company do not apparently subscribe to the Shake sperian dogma about season seasoning all things. If they did, it might have occurred to them that there was some incongruity in the bare notion of setting out on a skating expedition after dark. Undeterred by considerations of that kind, however, they invited the public to a grand ice party by torchlight ; and the summons was attended by several hundreds of persons. The way down to the lake was carefully invited out by lows of lamps ; and along the borders of the ice large coke fires were lighted, round which crowds assembled to gossip, to put on or take off their skates, or to Tea when they were tired of executing those arithmetical devices which are the pride of all proficients. A great number of the party personally curled blazing torches ; and the sceue at a distance was very singular, for the ice seemed covered with au eccentric species of fire fir, or a new kind of shoot li ing star. The evening paced off, so far as our reporter I could learn, without the smallest occident ; and the party was pronounced "an agreeable," " a jolly," or " • stunning" novelty, according to the idiom in which those present were severally accustomed to express their approval of things in general. HORRIBLE DEATH OF A CIIILD "FROM FIRE. INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.) This afternouu Mr. H. Rattles Walthew, deputy coroner, held= inquest at the Whitmore Head, Whitmore road, Hortoo or. the body of William Fraucis Sayler, aged one year, who was buret to death under very shocking circumstances. Mrs. L. Sayler, 1,, ('opsall-street, Heaton, said that last Monday afternoon she placed the deceased, wrapped up in • blanket, in his cot opposite • co►e tire, which was very large on account of the extreme coldness of the weather. She went upstairs, and had not been absent 10 minutes when she heard terrible shrieks. Upon running down she found the cot and the child one mass of flames. She caught the burning child up in her arms, and would have been burnt to death herself had not Miss Williams, a lodger, come into the room and extinguished the flames with a blanket. The fire must have taken place from the lining of the cot, which was white calico, first scorching and then breaking into a blare. The cot was destroyed, the half next the grate being completely consumed. Dr. Hicks said that the child was shockingly charred and died immediately. Verdict, " Death by misfortune." LATE FIRE IN BIR.VINOHAM. SERIOUS CHAID:E OF FRAUD. At the Public-otlice, Birmingham, yesterday - , before Sir J. Retrial and Mr. C. Sturge (ex-mayor), a respect ably-dressed young man, named Thomn Lowden. 24 years of age, described as a draper, living at Leicester, was brought op on warrant, in the custody of Detective-inspector Man too, charged with having, on the Ilth of February. lati3, unlawfully and by false pretences obtained from Mr. Matthew Smart, insurance agent, of Temple-street, a cer tain valuable security (to wit), one bill of exchange, of the value of 1,4&•/. ss. Mr. Humphreys (of the firm of Messrs. Humphreys and Morgan, solicitors, Giltepur Chambers, Seagate-street. London) appeared to prosecute. He stated that he appeared in the case ou the part of the pro secution. The charge against the prisoner and another person of the name of Reston, his late partner, was for obtaining money by false and fraudulent pre teases. The person Beeton was not at present appre hended, but no doubt he would soon be in custody, and would be brought before the magistrates on a future day. He (Mr. Humphreys) had to Rieke an application that the prisoner might be remanded until his partner was appre hended. The prisoner had been apprehended by detective inspector Manton, at Leicester, upon a warrant granted by Mr. Kynnersley, the stipendiary magistrate; and when the other person was apprehended, he (Mr. Humphreys) would be prepared to go fully into the CAN. Evidence eufiicient to justify Mr. Kynnersley in granting a warrant having been given when the application for the warrant was made, he did not know whether the magistrates would, upon the simple application for a rem mil, think it neceaeary that he should call any evideace in support of his application. When the other person was apprehended, be would have to go through the evidence de noro. It was a very serious charge against the prisoner, and 1,48. V. had been obtained from the Liverpool and London and Weetrninater Fire Insurance companies. The money had been actually paid over to the prisoner and his partner. The companies would not in say way be benefited by the prosecution, and they were carrying it on simply as a public duty. He applied that the Prisoners might be remanded until next Thursday, the 14th inst. Atter a little consideration, the magistrates remanded the prisoner accordingly. The prisoner Lowden earned on businces with a Mr. Beaton, nutter the firm of Messrs. Lowden and Bootee, in High-street, Birmingham, and iu January last their premises and stock were totally destroyed b► fire. The charge of obtaining the 1, 185/. NB. by fraud has some connexion with the tire. THE Foo.—ania DAY.)—This morning a dense fog caused considerable interruption to kinsioeta and ren dered the navigation of the River Thames very difficalt and dangerous. The train' on the carioca railways were delayed at various periods of the day through the density of the fog. The river steamboats and all other kinds of small craft ceased running after 9 o'clock in the morning. The various beakers and all the public offices in the City and West-end, together with several wholesale warehouses, were lighted up with gas till now. LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.— During t►e lut few days great activity lies been manifested in connexion with this oompany's city and metropolitan extensions. Arrangements having been made with the owners and occupiers of all the land and houses required between Ferl-street. Ludgate-hill, and the old Fleet Prima, in Farringdomstreet, workmen have been daily scgaged is the labour of demolition, and, with the exception of a few houses, there Is now a clear opening from Apollo caries' Hall to the site of the Fleet Prison in Farringdoo street. Workmate are also sowed in pulling down the York Hotel, in Bridge-atreet, and to expedite operatics* they work by ton►lybt The arrangements for the pur chase and poleresice of the remainder of the land and houses from the Fleet Prison to the Metropolitan Rail way in Victoriautrest are understood to be completed. ADMISSION or Arroaasrs.—The number of new applications for next term is RI, and seven rearmed appli cation', besides other notices for admission. The number already on the roll exceeds 10,000. The certificate duty yield■ about 70,0001. a year, and exertions are being made to reduce or to repeal the tax. It ap o the the .0 vo pick that 'th, eldic wu teetc Jo ay a Mast tobe hich Evid lei ye I Mr. it OTC hap bit c The ' Po 'deo The Tho -ur d ere k erabl tare r. N loon Mr. nese we Mr. • re al embi I Mr Berl oft= he PI 3, t a th e Di Id t • me d pl • Wel ke mole itai awn e imd been im tl ocaa ye tl Sery oraa ty o .tied tie, tied Ire fir ea ow Bey npplu It t Mr. jinn if how ft tl y ith Mr .Per • tut wit it t It ho, Th. Wag T 1 h ~1 ',I rthe al i), x . f. me pt riae I plied Mr. 1 e ba b 1 en w Mee The( Than ras ind llotigel Mr. 1 and MI