The Express. — London, England, 1862-12-26 00:00:00

CRePIONA DRY sad DELICATI. ba Hes, QII•Hr 401. Per dons *Ming =Tier PIM. knootommilled with conbLesos.—NCLNILY lIRLIT and innpoillere, Old Insalvare DIAA llory , Holborn. LC., and Oa SO,, laseatalreet., Warstioo.plaor, B.W. MO. SMITH AND 00.2 PURE EXTRACT of CALVES' FEET, he Invalids and Oalimy ;Jim Said In dd., la, IL, and aa. paMmuft,, by all idonsiata. mom. Da. NANDYACTORY, U. IT PIATLAND4ST., laeat4A.. W. °mom oti, BIIIILLANE. Oannan-atamt. iTdawardsd fat azaalleaco of guilty. 140X-1118-EARS. P !ESSE and LIIBI WEI p.m run= for the teetlvltlee, the sequel to Stolen Mee, abet* Rorer de Coverley hes lenwer, throe UMW, In • crettp , me, Te : or single bottle, to tY News denubie without wiz name en wrltlng.-11123E and LUBIN, Boodstrwit, London. SZOOND-HAND PIANOFORTIIB. MUM. DLL; and WOOD hive a loge .refit W seeted-band Ptsrahertee, by the nest embeentet leithees. et treelayeedtteed geriew—DL Iteeewb4Wwh Ent erpreoo. Idoertisomento tdlialed for "!Le &prows" London Imam Yager must le at the office, 10, Boniodootroot, by Two .6 clock on the day of poblkoselow. 90VElfT OAEJDIN. two tvisme, toralrird — lets — si THE 11011141111( VIILL —And %be grand wok Christmas Pantomime, salltled ZAWIQUIV 112AUTY AND THE BUST.—Commence at T. ILITMARKIL Tim WAWA% OM COCAIN. Meads. Bothers add luck:tom ; Mrs. IL Alltssams.—lLASAlLAB WSCL ate AMYSIDIMA. Mr. Oo o. sad Mir L. garder. —And A DAY AIPTIM MI WAD EL—MMs Haillear. PaINCEINS. THIS EVIIIIINO, 11111T11116 ALL NW Cheetiinee Ayhner. -AN the Pantenaleme, =AUET WITH THE VITT or, liarleon.le and Mather ehiptea. Kama Maas, IL rower, and liallord , Yhn A...Colleaoa. .BEI7A 1 A, THIS Maiumia Mowing-LA al — lndt.paat I!. and TN Evr..Nism, at a numbering& 13. the Pantomime, AEON HAMA N. Mrs. Law. dleaars. Wank Loa* Ilevbenk Stantohn. and If dile. C. 3teidian . Tom Sayan and histwo paaortnivg Malec 111 , 3 H WATICIL AT LONDON' BMWS. Tits Ysfntss. lb. ..Aftassaa. 6h. To4rocsow--llarolait 16a.....ATherasoa. do. 46m. LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26. 1r , is very natural that, in a crisis like that of the -Lancashire distrem, distant observers should conin.to one of two conclusions which seem to be more tenable than they are. On the one hand, we bear that political economy has broken down ; and •en the ether, that political economy is out raged by what is done in the direction of relief. Tbis latter allegation was made the other day by a correspondent, who thinks us remiss in not having pointed out the indefensible character of the•existing method of relief. Pf the drat complaint—that political economy has broken down—we shall say nothing now, be yond referring to the truth, which cannot be too clearly understood, that the system of alarm./ is itself such a violation of all the principles of pol;- turd economy that the real breakdown is in get ting involved with it as we did by depending on the Slave States for our cotton ; and tFat the miserable consequences of such a dependence are, in 'fact, a vindication of political economy. There fore it is that the manufacturers have been wrong in trusting to demand and supply as a remedy for evils created by a violation of the primary laws of demand and supply. When such a case occurs, is is always safe to conclude that political economy, in its great laws, can no more fail than gravita tion or numbers can fail, and that any apparent failure must be due to the intervention of some mistake. The mistake of trusting to the perms nem° of American slavery for the maintenance of four millions of our people is one which will be a blot on our day and generation through all time to come. As for the complaint that we are vio lating economic principles in our methods of relief, it seems to us that the remonstranta overlook some of the main points of the case. The case is • perfectly singular one. It bears no resemblance to the distress which follows a long strike, the remedy for which is a return to work under impaired conditions. It is unlike the distress consequent on A financial panic, by which the capital of the employers is to a Certain extent destroyed, leaving behind it the certainty of a diminished amount of manufacture. It is widely different from the distress caused by a failure of the food supply, which leaves the sufferers feeble in body, as well as ruined in their fortunes. It is a sudden arrest of a manufacture from known causes, certainly temporary, and clearly reparable. The occupation itself is peculiar, requiring quali fications which unfit the workers for moat of the ordinary methods of industry. These are the features of the case, the singularity of which 11 in creased by the vast number of workers who are struck idle at onoe. Now, what does sound poli tical economy indicate in this unprecedented state of affairs ? It is, above all things, necessary to feed, clothe, and warm this great multitude of people without the loss of a single day. We cannot stop to look about for methods of employment by which the people may earn the means of supporting them selves. Next, the great object is to keep the people in fit condition for resuming their employ ment as soon as the raw material becomes avail able. Thirdly, as the pressure brings down into distress all who depend on the activity of the manufacture for their employment—the shop keepers, the artisans, the labourers—nothing must be done which can interfere with their proper work and pay. After these come several smaller considerations, which we may pass over here. As the distress is circumscribed and calculable it would be bad politic/ 0 economy to sacrifice the future prospects of the manufacture to any pre sent chance of getting money by irregular and pre carious industry, or by any encroachment on classes already in possession of fields of industry. It would be bad economy to set the operatives generally to work on any digging opera tions, which should spoil their hands for their pro per work ; or on any business like buket•making (already overstocked) or ta'oring, or other work ' s pursued under cover, and already insufficient for' men who are skilled in it. It would also require some time to teach and practise the spinners and weavers in the new business, and before they can reach the point of sufficient earnings the mills will be opening again. It is necessary that the suf ferers should be employed, in order to save them from moral deterioration and from the hopelessness which attends upon involuntary idleness ; and therefore it is that so many adult schools are and that as many as possible of the best engaged as visitors and messengers. The im gain of money is not only an inferior con in, but it is not a good object, if it requires sacrifice of any qualifications for cotton spin or if it adds new classes of workers to the itude of tho distressed. The very best economy I preserve the number whom the mills will require in health and heart, though their lintcnance for a certain number of months borne by the rates sad by private charity. be observed that we limit this charity by consideration of the number that the mills will 're. It seems to be quite true that a large pro of the distress has been cansed by a rash , k of the manufacture beyond any existing years . ally at best, and the circumstances of demand will have changed. We may therefore admit (and we, for our part, have steadily insisted) that a conside rable number of the operatives of both sexes should at this time be permanently removed from the cotton manufacture. Those who are to be trans ferred to other fields of industry should clearly be the younger members, leaving for the mills the trained and practised hands, who would find it hard to succeed in any other business than that in which they have paned their lives. If, hereafter, more should be needed, there will always be plenty of young people growing up to meet the demand. What shall be deem with those who may now awe bo be Lancashire operatives? Our readers are well aware that we consider a kigration the best method of relief, the moat economical use of our money. It will clear the labour market in Lancashire, and supply that of the Colonies, which clamorously demand • continuous supply of new hands. We rejoice to see what seal and liberality there was at the meeting in Birmingham Town-ha", when Leading citireas from most of our great colonies were present, and when the offers of money were so large as to open the prospect of an emigration which would really relieve the Lancashire labour market very effectively. A scheme so begun would soon become self-supporting, as the emigrants would be more able to repay the expenses of their transfer than the borrowers from loan societies at home, who are generally very faithful in fulfilling their obligations. Let, then, the Lancashire young men and boys, and young married people and their chodren, and young women who are fit for domestic service or are willing to learn it, go to the colon'es in any number that the funds will allow ; and let as many of the poor overlookers who pine for • home in a new land get conveyed if they can. We have given oar encouragement to every scheme of emi gration, migration, and industry which has been put in action, whether by Miss RYE, Mrs. Parma, or the organizers of sewing schools, kitchens, or industrial schools for men and boys. All these are good, but the reading-rooms and ordinary and adult schools are good likewise—economically as well as morally. We shall approve of any new sort of employment that can be proposed, pro vided it interferes neither with the future working of the mills, nor with the existing occu pation of the workers, who have as much right to live by their labour as the operatives ever had. Wages are • great consideration ; but when profits and the means of producing them fail sudderly, other requisites rise into higher proir'lence ; and if any one doubts this, let him go and look at the public works in Ireland, begun in the famine, and ending in being the grave of vast amounts of the money, even though the people employed were used to handle the spade instead of fingering the fibres of cotton. Some authorities say that the pro - Teets of Lan cashire will improve in two months ; sore say four, some six, but nobody now doubts the ; many countries will send us more cotton every year. The true economy is to provide for the best use to be made of it when it cornea. TO-NIGHT, at all oar minor theatres, without an exception, and at moat of our West-end theatre:, the oldest drama in the world will be revived for the gratification of thousands. Every stage will unfold its pictures of fairy land, and will become a vast keotto of ever varying delights. The Prin ciples of Good and Evil will be arrayed against each other; and the first, represented by hun dreds of sparkling fairies, will always overcome the red-eyed demons who represent the latter. The waive of a gliCeiing wand, or the smack of a harlequin's bat, will unfold the gilded glories of • theatrical Paradise. That rampant humourist and active cynic whose organ of veneration has not been properly deve loped, who dashes into the portly stomach of humbug, and tears off the hundred and one masks of deception and fraud, will roll upon the stage once more with the diamond-painted cheeks, and preach b;s practical lessons to mankind. His life is short, but it is merry and useful. He is always dying, he is always being born. He is as old as the Pyramids, and as fresh as the youngest child. ' We welcome him at Christmas, and in March we bid him an affectionate farewell. Over his grave we may say with more appropriateness than over the graves of kings—The Clown is dead—Long live the Clown. ,c wit , society. We may say of him as hundreds say of their pet rogues, " Poor fellow ; his heart is in the right place, " though his hand is often in the wrong pocket." The taste for Pantomime with all its daring ec centricities is never likely to die out while the sun rises or the earth revolves on its axis. It cannot be smothered by a generation of bad clowns, who sure throwing flip-flaps when they ought to be Ong faces. Performers who think more of the tricks of the circus than of the traditional humour of GRAMALLI, who neglect the substance of butter idides to hunt the phantom of acrobatic excellence, caa hardly destroy a drama of such merit and anti quity. They may encumber it for a brief season with features which have no affinity with its nature, but the appearance of the first real Clown—a Clown born and not made—will relieve it from these encumbrances. Every season, as surely as the Christmas time comes round, we look for the advent of this chi'd of inspiration. We are not diverted from our search by all the bril liant glories of elaborate transformation scenes, nor by the display of verbal fireworks in the burlesque openings. True to the ancient faith of our fore fathers, and possessing a talismanic test which reveals to us the true Clown the moment we see bim, we roam restlessly from theatre to theatre, ever on the watch. If we meet with nothing but disappointment in one season, still we begin the next with fresh energy. Hope lives eternal in the human breast. For this reason we welcome the feast of healthy folly which opens to-night, and feel inclined to sing its praises in the spirit of Disarms. We know what it will brirs us ;we know what a vast amount of labour, thought, and capital has been devoted to our amusement. Per haps in the crowd of clever and .hardworking pan tomimists rolling before us, we shall be able to detect that idol of old and young—the genuine Clown f fbe Court. No satirist that ever wrote—no Swirr in his study—no DIOGSNES in his tub—hu • truer in sight into the philosophy of linch-pins than this Christmas jester. He seems to know exact'y what eve►/ man is worth, and where those linch-p;ns lie which sustain the whole shoal, bust self-important fabric of humanity. With ronicking humour, and unostentatious design, he draws out these sustaining atoms, as • dentist would draw • tooth, and chuckles with Mephistophelian mirth when he has exposed the hollowness of all earthly appearances. He trips up the carcase of bloated dignity ; he divides the real from the unreal ; he shows us what is padding and what is solid flesh; he is the sworn enemy of wig-wearers, cheek painters, and sailers under false colours; he is never so happy as when he is exposing an adultera tion in food, or any other trading deception ; he likes to know exactly where the clean shirt front ends and the dirty shirt begins ; he cannot keep his hands off any dandy who has not been fairly and honestly turned out by the tailor ; he fears a policeman, but he despises a beadle ; he has • supernatural ignorance of the value of money, and a supernatural disregard for the rights of property. If the Clown were not accepted as a great teacher —a practical satirist who exposes our smallest and our greatest faults for our instruction and improve ment, he would be arrested as • robber, and hanged as a murderer. He claims, however, the usual privileges accorded to lecturers, and if he blows up half a street while playing pretty expe riments with gunpowder or other explosive mate rials, he is no more punished for the act than rail way directors after an aocident are punished for manslaughter. If he kills a baby and divides it in many pieces while strigling with the Panta loon, he is regarded like a demonstrator of ana tomy at one of our hospitals who is strongly addicted to the vivisection of animals. He merely shows us how easily murder may be committed, and work provided for well-paid judges and lawyers. If he failed to commit murder, robber f, arson, and illegal pawning, he would not be such a true representative as he is of human nature. OSBORNE, Die. W. Yesterday afternoon, by her Majesty's command, the ehih'•en belonL'og to the Whipp;ngbam Boys' and Girls' Schools attended at Osborne, where Christmas trees were prepared for them, and each child received a present of clothing. The Queen awl Royal family were present on the own aloe, and personally distributed the gift to many of the children. The Ladies and Gentlemen r - Waiting, and the Rev. George Prothero, Mrs. Prothero, and family, had also the honour of being invited. This morning her Majesty, and Priam Louis of Hems, Princes. Helena, Prince Arthur, sod Prince Leopold at tended Divine service at Osborne. The Rev. G. Prothero reed Prayers. The Prince of Wales and Princess Louise attended Divine service at Whippingham Church this morning. Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, arrived at Osborne yesterday, from Greenwich Park. The Judge Advocate-General had an audience of the Queen on Tuesday. The salary of Mr. Maguire, M.P., who has been re-elected Mayor of Cork for the ensuing year, has been in creased from 6001. to 9001., by a vote of the COl3llOiL The total amount of the Ceylon relief fund for the distressed British operatives has now reachei 1,0241. The screw steamer Calcutta lately took out a peck of hounds for the Madras Hunt. The dogs, thirty-one A number, araibe►utiful specimens of their race, and have received a thorough training in their work. A'ready they have been tested at Madras, and found fully up to the work. The Madrae At/tem:rum of Nov. 28 says : " The °paving of the Emit Indian lianway to Patna, distant 403 miles from Calcutta, is an acoomplisbedffact and marks an important are in the history of railway enterprise in India. Ere our present issue is io the hands of our English readers, a further section of 137 miles—the distance be- tween P►tes and Became—will also be opened ; and it is anticipated that the extension to Mirzapore, distant 572 miles from Qalcutta, will be completed easiest the end of January next. How largely the public interests will be advantaged by the opening up of these important districts and bringing them into close oonner'on with the sea, it is impossible to over estimate." The Madras papers of Nov. 28 chronicle the ap pearance in the Madras roads of the " first vessel " of the Meassgeriss Imperials Company. The fares are, first class, RS. 1,100 ; second class, Rs. 900 ; third class, Rs. 450. The first and wood class passengers share the sans table, and the only difference is in the dimensions of their respec tive cabin room. A single cabin is allotted to two first class and to four ascend clue passengers. A letter from Siam says :—" On the 18th Octo ber the Major-King of Siam completed his 58th year, on which occasion, ma is customary, a grand banquet war given to the whole of the foreign community. On oar arrival at the royal grand palace we were conducted to an apartment where we found the dinner laid oat in perfect European taste, though the table was covered with Asiatic fruits and sweetmeats. There was, however, a profusion of all the good things of Siam. Everything was singularly neat and comfortable; when his Majesty entered the room we all rose, and his health was proposed, which was beartilydrunk with three times three. The royal fireworks on the river, oppo site both Kings' palaces, came off on the nights of the sth sth, and 7th instant. The display was in a manner grand." The present King and Queen of Madagascar are first cosine, and both were also first cousins of the late pre tender, Ramboualama, • man of retrograde ideas, whose death last year has probably been a turning point in the destinies of this magnificent island. They are both of smaller stature than Europeans in general, and are sin gularly easy in manner, and dignified without stiffness. Th e King speaks English remarkably well, havieg been educated by the present Minister for Foreign Affairs, who spent eight or nine years in England ; but her Majesty le sot acquainted with any European language. The King is very partial to foreigners and European civiliaation. Though not professing Christianity, yet he and many of his nobles, too enlightened to bow to the gross superstitions of the country, encourage ' and Wanda all sects that unite the practical duty of the secular education of the people with religious instruction. A correspondent, writing from the Madagascar capital, speaks of a visit to the execution ground at Antho hipotsy, or the Tarpeian rock, where so lately the native Christians were tortured to death. "To an English mind (he says) It was scarcely possible, in this age of the world, to realise the hard, dry fact that the dump of wood at the former place was the foot of across on which our Christian brethren had been crucified, and that the bleached and lifeless bones in the ditch were those of men sod women who had died but • few years ago for the name of the Saviour ; that on the spot where we now stood on its bank, and surveyed one of the noblest panoramas is nature, had knelt these martyrs 'of whom the world was not worthy,' while a spear was being driven through either lobo, inflicting mortal wounds that did not kill at once, but made the wretched sufferers roll in torture into the ditch below with the spears still fixed in their bodies, while not even the nearest or dearest relative dared to soothe one dying struggle, or evince by a look of sympathy • doubt of the justice of the punishment, under pain of • like fate." The Italian government has despatched a remon strance to the French government on the subject of the arrest at Rome of Madame Mastriegola, wife of the Prefect of Rieti, who, being a Roman lady by birth, WS visiting the city on family affairs. The lady was provided with a special afe•conduct from the French government ; but when she arrived at the frontier she sod her two daughters, one aged eight, and the other thirteen, were arrested and conducted to Rome by the Pontifical earbineers, and put in prison there au secret. If humanity were a little more perfect than it is the Clown would doubtless be less reckless and criminal, as he shows nothing which is not put before him to be reflected. Supposing, however, that he could be regarded u a distinct and respon sible being, a thousand apologies might still be made for him. His thefts might be referred to " kleptomania ;" his murders to " lunacy." Like many more mapegracsi who are industriously de, &truely a week this sown has passed at Paris without the world bibs startled by an advertisement that at the auction mart will be disposed of the marvellous collection of bljouterie, forming part of the expeueive toilette of Dome fascinating daughter of Eva This week the celebrated Taglionl, who for years was the admired goddess of the demos, devotes to public competitima the wetly promote even to her by kings, prison, and asedelers of the pirouritc, , THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENTWO, DEOMBERIII6,III62. _... _.....4. demand. It is our opinion thektbaugh Hsi mik fended by adadsittionds, he has " rush spirits I" • • LATZEr INTELLIGipon. may soon be getting gradually to work wain, Hvnli He it as much en to bare the c rime o f w h a t be very long before they will matisranythipg iip he does /overlook . for thy ansming manner in the number of operatives HIM were in them two which he does it, as a vatfeki of clever funny TE: OVERLAND aun. ago. The cotton *elf mai increase gradtt. numb whom we meet with id - . ... INDIA. We have advice; from Calcutta dated Nov. 22, and from Madras dated Nov. 28. The unexpected death of a faithful ally of Eng land, the Rajah of Puttiala, is announced. The rajah excused himself from attending during the present session of the vieeroy's council on the ground of ill-health, bet the sudden termination of his illness was wholly unexpected. He is succeeded by his son, a mere youth. The wild tribes in the Cossysk and Jynteah dis tricts are again in open revolt, and give promise of causing much trouble. A police battalion has been despatched to assist the troops already there, and it is understood that the government are pre pared to send off additional forces, if it should be considered necessary. The volunteer movement at Calcutta may be said to be fairly inaugurated. Three hundred effective members are on the roll, and drilling is the order of the day. Cholera, we are happy to say, has entirely disappeared at Peshawur. The number of fatal cases has been great, particularly among the 93rd High landers, several officers of which corps are among the number. The Lancashire Relief Fund is daily increasing, and a further remittance is made by this mail. A subscription ball in aid was to take place early this mouth, and will add materi ally to the assets. As soon m a response is ob tained from the Mainsail, a considerable addition is expected. • - 1 AUSTRALIA. NEW SOUTH WALES. We take the following from the Sydney Remit( of the 21st of October : The money market cautious' without alteration, and the rates of discount charged by the banks are the same, viz., 7,8, and 9 per cent. The rates of exchange rule u follows :—Buying rate for bills in London, at 60 days sight, par; selling rate, l i per cent. premium. There have been no failures of any importance during the month, and the insolveacies have been rather below the average. The miners generally are suffering very severely from the long•cootinced drought, the want of water preventing the washing up of stuff that would be payable were water bandy. Although the question of water supply bas been more than once mooted upon several of the diggiogs, so apathetic have been those more immediately interested, that as yet no step has been taken towards the desired object, and the result is that now, after an unusual period of drought, and with every probability of its continuance for the next three or four months, the great body of the diggers will End their labour unproductive until the next rainy season sets in. The speculation that has heretofore been so rife, more particularly at. the Lachlan, in the buying and selling of shares, ham lately received a severe blow. One of the so called leads, the Eureka, has turned out to be a dead sell, it having been proved beyond the possibility of doubt that neither a lead, nor anything in any way approaching to a lead, existe on the spot, and yet claims and shares in shims on this supposed lead have been sold at fabulous amounta, and hundreds have been victimised. One Red Jack was the originator of the swindle, but he took care to clear out before the bubble bust, and so escaped the vengeance of the numerous victims whose time, money, and labour have throngh his means been ao long thrown away. As some satisfaction to their irate feelings, the sufferer, burnt Red Jack in effigy, and proclaimed a reward of USX for him, dead or alive—a Californian rather than Australian mode of procedure under such circumstance*, THE 800THISILK OOLDPIILDR. At Burrangong mining matters are exceedingly dull, hundreds leaving for the New Zealand or other goldfields, driven off by the scarcity of water, and the consequent cost of carriage for the washdirt before it can be made available. The rush to the Wheddie Mountain is reported to have turned out even better than was at first expected ; whilst the Wombat rash is fast extending, with army promise of a pet manent paying field being established there. We have occasionally noticed the Gundagai diggings es being likely, at some future day, to turn out good paying pound. There is now a probability of its being tested somewhat more extensively than it has yet been. A nugget weighing 3.5 oz. was found there • abort time back in com pany with several smaller nuggets of from 2 on. to 6 oz. This discovery has caused a rush to the spot. The Braidwood diggings are suffering very severely from the want of rain, so much so that in some places water for domestic use is running short. Many localities are now un workable through the drought, in which the miners have heretofore found the chief difficulty they bad to contend against to be the over supply of the element that is now wanting. The Jernbalcumberie Swamp, however, is an ex ception to this tale , as the miners can now get at and work places which • few months ago they would dreamt of touching. A very magnificent nugget, weighiog2l3 ounces, has been unearthed at the Gulf Diggings, within • few feet of the surface of the earth, sod is now being exhibited in Sydney. The fortunate finders, whoare in town, inform us that there are about 1,030 diggers on the ground, and that all are doing so well that no complaints are heard. He must be getting something satisfactory when the digger ceases to punthle. Nelligen is reported to be all bdt deserted by its male population, they having gone forth in • body to test some new ground that his been opened between Nelligen and Medulla. No particulars have as yet reached Sydney, nor have we any information in respect to the grounds they have for the rush. THE WESTERN GOLDFIELDS. Mining at the Lachlan is some excitement has been caused there by the Eureka lead swindle. The assort returns have not been so large as had been expected; but this is owing to the little waahing np that is being dome. On all the established leads the chifinholders, as they bottom, are striking gold more or less payable, and this very materially tends to enhance the confidence now felt in the permanence of this important goldfield. Robberies and outrages of every kind are !still very prevalent, although the police ►uthorities deny their existence ; sod, as there are no better judges of good pay able ground than the bushranger, the thief, and the rowdy, we may conclude by their continued presence and active operations that matters must be in a thriving state. Eight toes of quartz from the Pinnacle reef turned out, on being crush(l, 16 on. of gold. The Wellington diggings have not answered the great expectations that were entertained respecting them. Of the numbers that the lint rush brought on the ground not more than 70 mania, and, though a few of them are doing wen, the great balk are hardly making wages. From Avisford we learn that a party of Chinese have made a very heavy find of gold, although the amount has not bass stated. The Louisa Creek, however, has maintained • steady population for some years past, during which period the escort returns have not fluctuated very mate rially. A very rich yield was obtained at lifereedee • few days back. A bucketful of earth, picked stuff, taken from the casing of • quartz reef, yielded no leas than 96 ounces of gold. We need hardly add that the whole line of the reef was taken up immediately upon this becoming known. r, although THZ NORTHITUI GOLDPTILDS. The parties who expected to strike the old' bed of the river on Maitlard-point have been so far successful that they have struck a run of good wash-dirt, about 12 feet wide and 1 foot thick, that has yielded 9 oz. gold to 72 buckets of stuff. Our correspondent, however, declares from an examination of the gold, that it is not from a river lead ; and that the parties have, consequently, struck upon some independent lead. The want of water is here operating very hardly ripen the miner, all work, except in the river claims, having entirely ceased. The tunnelling parties and those working the hills have knocked off, and taken to moister localities, their wash-dirt being stored to await • more propitious state of the weather. A couple of Chinese have been doing • rare stroke of business by the manufac ture of gold out of old brass candlesticks. The celestial in genuity and skill were so great, that many persons were victimised before the imposture was discovered, and by that time the delinquents had made their pile and cleared out. The Peel River diggings are in • state of great dowser *ion through the continued drought. Little, if anything, is doing. A considerable area of auriferous ground is re. ported to exist at • spot on the river about 30 miles from the present diggings, with several extensive quartz reefs intersecting the Ground. Mr. Commissioner Dalton has been making some in quiries into the yield from Wood's Reef, at the hauberk, and he has been informed that, since the Ist of January last, 211 tons of qu►rtz from the reef have been crushed, and that the yield has been 637 ounces, or rather more than 3 ounces to the ton, an amount that pays handsomely for the labour bestowed on the work. Some parties have set in to work upon the Crow Mountain, near Bingera, and are reported to be making fled-class wager. The country for miles round is said to be very promising, and to very much resemble the beet ground of the Ovals. tneretore opened, a men are el mediate a deration 'the sacrif tang, or multitude is to probe entireher hereafter ter 7 l i must be b It will I the consid require. I portion of expansion CHINA. The Hong Kong papers of Nov. 15 state that there had been no rebel movements of importance reported during the previous fortnight. It is by no means certain that the city of Kanding and the other positions, lately taken by the allies and given up to the imperial occupancy, will remain unmo lested during the winter. It is understood, how ever, that the imperial troops charged with the defence are of superior mettle to those who lost them before. The Overland Mail says : "It is to be hoped that this is the case, and that the admiral has not been a second time imposed upon. The strong force of British troops in Shanghae is the only real protection to the province, and the rebels have no desire to encounter them, however ready they may be and doubtless are, to fight any imperial force that can be brought against them." Rumours of the rebels occasionally reach Shanghae ; bands of them continue to make their appearance within the thirty mile radius, but no further hostilities are recorded. There were also rumours to the effect that the Taepings, having failed with Shanghae, will move away to Hankow and attack that city. A large lire is said to have occurred at that port just as the last mail was leaving. From the other ports on the Yangtsze there is little news. Kinking still promises to become a prosperous port, and to divide with Hankow the trade of a large district. The latest accounts say that the rebels have been as near as 25 miles to Hankow, and that much alarm prevailed ; that they had afterwards retired to a distance of 100 miles ; and that imperial troops were advancing for the protection of the place. Less uneasiness prevailed, moreover, owing to the presence of foreigners. If there be any danger, it is probable that a gun-boat or two will be sent up to assist in defending the port. At Shanghae the ravages of cholera among the foreign residents and on board of her Majesty's ships of war have been considerable. From Canton we hear no further news of the incendiary movements lately detected, and, as far as possible, punished. A district city 200 miles from Canton has been surprised by robbers and taken possession of. A man was recently cut to pieces in Canton for the murder of his mother— one of thy highest offences known to Chinese law. JAPAN. We read in the Over!awl China Mail : From Japan our intelligence is of a perplexing and myste rious kind. Fur some time beck it has been understood that much consultation and deliberation has been going on among the Daimios both at Yeddo and elsewhere. The only inform►tion that noted be had regarding certain im• portant meetings which were understood to be held at Yeddo, was to the effect that they only concerned the in ternal affairs of the kingdom, and did not affect foreigners. By the advice, come to hand this has, so to speak, proved both true and false. These advice' tell us that a bloodless revolution has taken place in Japan, whose chief result is no line than the destruction of Yeddo•-as (vital city of the empire. For two centuries Yeddo has, by the peculiar laws of the country, formed a political centre in Japan ; while the more mired functions of sovereignty have been secluded at Mikado, where has re sided the Miako, that Emperor of Japan who bad the only real claim, in the eyes of the nation, to " the divinity that doth hedge a king." For grave political reasons, however, now leas urgent than then, the pomp and bustle of royalty was decreed to be enacted at Yeddo, under the auspices of a prime officer, who bee been designated the Tycoon. The great Daimios were bound to reside in Yeddo for a certain period every year, and their families were bound to re nain in the capital, ►t Least during the Daimios' absence. The effect of this regale tion was to render the Tycoon a man of greet authority and influence ; to check the independence of the Daimice ; and to make Yeddo a city of the first importance in rank, wealth, and fashion. It will now readily appear that the abrogation of I the law which enforced a residence by the Deltaic*, or their families, at Yeddo, if taken advantage of, must denude that city of nearly all that ever rendered it great. Moreover, a change so grave as that involved in even the temporary suspension of the law referred to amounts to a change the constitution of the country itself, and must have bean prompted by considerations of the most serious moment. Such a change, however, is not only reported as having taken place, but as being generally availed of by an the noble families in Yeddo, who are leaving the city as fast as possible. It would be useless to view this startling alteration in the traditions and laws of Japan otherwise than in the light of the country's foreign relations. It discloses to western nations the true position of the Tycoon, as • dependent whose importance can be destroyed in • day, not by his own pommel degradation probably, but by the more circuit ous and more competent process of releasing the nobility from • forced attendance at the city where he resides. The position of foreigners is now perplexing is the extreme. We reported • fortnight ago that the Tycoon had asked for foreign assistance. He is now abandoned to the foreign powers on whom he proposed to rely ; • city Las been, to achieve this result, as effectually sacrificed as if it had been bombarded and set Ore to. And all this has been done without the slightest grounds for foreign interference just as many other inimical acts have been done since we entered Japan, for which we could not by any possibility call its rulers to account. It has been advanced fre quently in these columns that the main object of the Japanese ambassadors in Europe is to discover how the terms of the treaties can be beat evaded ; and the ample moans at their disposal for learning our views and measur ing our strength will have enabled them to communicate to the Goregio, or to some of their fellow noblemen, the true rendition of European powers. This movement at Yeddo, whether temporary or otherwise, is perhaps merely preps- . story to that attitude of hostility which they expect to be celled upon to occupy in course of time. The present di- plommy of Japan contrasts markedly with the former po licy of China. THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. The Sydney Herald publishes t h e following tele gram from Melbourne : _ _ _ Mooday, OaL 20, 8 p.m. The Melbourne and Murray River Railway opened to Sandhurst to-day. The governor and a large number of people were present. Three extra trains were required for excursionists. The stoppage of Wittkowski Brothers, large speculators in tobacco, is announced. Liabilities 55,0001. sterling. It is rumoured that secured creditors will give bills for 15e. in the pound, and take assignment. The new reef at Beechworth continues to yield richly. Splendid specimens of gold have been taken out during the last few days. The Waltham, from London, is off Cape Otway. Markets without transactions. AUSTRIA AND ROME. The Paris Prase of to-day remarks : Letters from Rome bring a pieos of intelligence which, under present circunvitances, has a certain significance. It Is the departure of Baron de Bach, ambassador of Austria to the Pontifical government. It is well to remem• her on this occasion that Baron de Bach has always shown himself very hostile to the reform movement, and to the changes in the Austrian constitution. Ileireover, he was one of the principal promoters of the sowoordat concluded between Rome and Vienna, and on many occasions he his not concealed the dissatisfaction which he felt at the opposition manifested against the cesoordat in parliament. The recall of Berm de Bach cm. minly gives thin opposition greater importance. (saorses rnsozAws.) THE PAPAL STATES. ROME, D. Z. The Pope did not officiate at the Vatican today. His indisposition, however, is not severe, as be was able to receive individually the members of the diplomatic oorps. INDIA. BOMBAY, Dec. 12 OA Juba). There is no political news of importance. Shirtings dull. Cotton nothing doing. Males opium, 1,475 rupees per chest. Exchange on Lou don, 2s. o}<l. Government Securities, Four per Cents., 94} ; ditto, Five per Cents., 105 ; ditto, Fi.ve•and-a-Half per Cents., 112 f. THE LOSS OP THE COLOMBO STEAMER, The following telegram was received at Colombo from Lieutenant R. G. Jenkins from Minicoy Wand, new Cochin : " Immediate.—Nov. 25, 13.10. Peninsular and Oriental skimmer Colombo struck on north end of Minicoy Wood on the morning of the 19th instant—passeneen and crew all saved, mail partly saved. Ship become total •reek, Send insistence immediately—Calentre, Medina and Gal's; intimation to the above effect ham been made to the Penin sular and Oriental Company at Bombay, and the rum• mender of the Berenice at Sedashegur has been telegraphed to, vi► Dharwar, to proceed on and render aid." The government Ammer Berenice, et Sedashegur, wan ordered by telegraph to proceed immediately to the island, and the Peninsular arid Oriental Company's agent at Bora. bay sent a steamer also. Sedashagur I. about 400 miles from Minicoy Island, so that there would not be much time lost in the steamer proceeding to the spot. No doubt the more precious articles, including 4,003 f. worth of gold from Australia, will be recovered by the aid of divers. The Mono Times of the 18th says :—" As soon as the news of the disaster reached Bombay, two of the company's steamers, the Ottawa and the Acuff, were immediately ordered to proceed to the scene of disaster to render assistance to the shipwrecked vessel. The Ottawa conveyed the mails and parisengers to Sum. As an instance of the energy and real displayed by the company's employel in an emergency of this kind, it may be mentioned that under ordinary circurostanoes it would probably have taken three or four days to prepare the Ottawa for sea. She had neither coal, provisions, nor water on board ; her boilers, moreover, were oat of order, and required nearly 150 new tubes. Notwithstanding all this, she was fully equipped and ready for sea in is.. than sixteen hours from the first order being given, The Minicoy Wand, where the Colombo stranded, is about 6a miles in length and half a mile in breadth, extending In the form of a crescent from N.S. to S.W., with the cos' cave ads to the N.W., where a circular coral reef projects about 3 miles, and is joined to the extremes of the island on the reef near the west point of the island. It is sup. posed that it was on this coral reef that the Colombo struck." NAVAL AND MILITARY. CHATHAM, Dec. 25. The Racoon, 22, 400-horse power, in the first class steam reserve, is or reedy Sc, the pandaet, and I to be commissioued by Captain his Berens Highness the Prince ot Leiniogen, to convey his Royal Highness Prime Albed on a lengthened cruise. WEATHER SPORT.-(THIS DAY.) SAT, .A.: 0. sai c e.7..... lo W s . Nw . 4 Y. IL s U. 1 4 ILL i 0.66 IS. Aberdeen '18.70381 3 W.N.W. 6 7 0 8 0.26 6 Leith. __lmo a, 4 W. 6 6 e-I 6 Berwick .. ,20.119 48 , 3 W. 2 4 h - 1 Ardrossan B.Ol 46' 4 N.W. 7 8 0 3, 6.19 6 Pommel ;30.10 I 1 &W. 4 9 0- 8 Galway 303 10, I W. 2 6 0 - 0.01 1 Valentin 30.40 48 1 0 Z. 0 4 a 3 0.17 1 Qneenstown 80.40 501 1 W. 1 4 0- 1 Holyhead 3O. 49, I W.S.W. 1 1 a 8 0.98 1 Liverpool 30.1 1 3 0. W. 1 6 o 4 0.14 8 Pembroke 491 8 W. 4 II 0 - 1 Nuance 36. 4111 1 W. I 3 a - 3 Plymouth 39.41 1 3 W. I 4 0 1 0.12 1 Jersey 30.16 501 1 &W. 6 1 rl2 0.11 4 Weymouth KW 48' 3 W. 4 8 0 2 Portsmouth 110. 44, 3 W. 1 4 0 4 Dover , London W. 46 8 W.N.W. 6 1 • Yarmouth 80.1844 I W. 1 3 o II ' Scarborough! W. 48 3 W.N.W. 7 8 • 6 Shields ~ . 720. W W 3 N.W. 9 I • I Heligoland td. 41 • W.S.W. 8 4 la 4 Helder — - - - - - - Brest L'Orient Rochefort - 1 --i- Lisbon — - — I - - - -- SATURDAY. SUNDAY. W. to N. and N.Y., 10/1613/0. N.V. to N.L. fresh lo Wong to fresh, Utl- isodersto. settled. N.W. to N.M., moderate. W.N. W. to trash to WILAND. N.N.S., W. Coma. N.N.W. go EN.K., mo• dente. Doe. N.W. to N.Y., mode• _, fresh. fine. rate, fine. F. to N. and N.N.L. s.w.smouirp. N.N.W. to &N.Y., mo• fresh, floe. derate, fine. F.N.W. to N.N.L, S. L DIGLAND. N.N. N. to 16., mode. moderate. fine. rate. fine. N. to N.E., strong Z. Marc. N. to F., fresh to mode to fresh. rate. An "Athletic Club " has been formed at South. ampton. A Naples letter of the2let says :—"The event of the days the general subject of conversation, is neither the Iniuistre, oar brigandage, nor the Italian federation, but the first representation of the Muerte de Portei at the San Carlo Theatre. You understand, however, that the episode of our history upon which Auber wrote his opera is not one of thole which the fallen dynasty was anxious to display i to the Neapolitans. Not less than thirty-five years of expectation and two revolutions have been necessary for the Neapolitan public to be able to enjoy and applaud this masterpiece. The public enjojed it as red amateurs, and applauded loudly and spontaneously." One of the most curious of the series of the Napoleon correspondence is a memorandum in the 11th volume just issued. It seems to be a carefully diswn-tip aooount by the Emperor himself of the gigantic plans for the invasion of England in 1805. It is addreesed to Vice' Admiral Decria, then Minister of Marine ; and it completely removes whatever doubt may still rondo as to the reality of his schemes fir the conquest of Eugland. It is said that the bulletins, written at St. Cloud or Boulogne, and dated St. JUDOS'S Palace, announcing to the French people the meter* of London and the dispersion of the parliament, really exist, though they are not jet given in this collection. It appears that the Naples Railway will hardly be ready for public traffic so soon es the let a January, on account of the extensive lino of wall which will be news nary to render the escarpments of the cuttings beyond San Germano safe. The company has therefore resolved to establish a regular merriest of omnibuses from Ceprano to Proem:maim, in coincidence with the finished portions of the lilts, by which it is expected that travellers from Rome will reach Naples in twelve hours. Travellers from Naples will have to sleep at San Germano, because of the district trhe versed by the omnibuses not being entirely free from the raids of brigands. Although strong military patrols are always ep and down the road, it is cot deemed prudent to risk the lives and property of passengers by allowing the omnibuses to travel after dark. A case exemplifying the working of the Prussian military laws is the trial of two Landwehr officers by • "court of honour," for subscribing towards the national fund. Of the two gentlemen, one is a banker and the other • merchant in the city of Trves, both has oo other con• maxim) with the force than what may be implied in their obligation to go through a fortnight's drill every year in the capacity of second lieutenants. To judge from precedent, however, they stand a fair chance of being cashiered in consequence of the verdict of the court, which is composed of officers holding commissions in the regiment of the line quer tired in the district. The Paris Prase of yesterday contains an article upon the opposition recently offered by the O'llonoghne to the sulenriptios it favour of the starviog Lanca shire operatives. The Prate censures that opposition in every strong terms, and elouscternme it as a vulgar demon stration of envy sod egotism.