The Express. — London, England, 1850-12-31 00:00:00

110 1 1 4 7 THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1850. -) lt our .ia. ar w iqi , Mtg. ! he oti p jl'etdy ' , whtt ? . n• , ery 13 Ceo, , : Lt•ndo 4 the litter iff:eted, lan ie csd dtcto, .t: I• ; .led. s I,ttn a PNA rq • Cf. E t.: Itta!r) a 1,,• devErti.cd JE. t• pr., 'owl I t 1. ar, 1 ~e r. F. E.rai Dire 1 ,. L' ' l 4 c: rte c 0 : :he a- d y at k o trat.E• d. , i• • ord tr•• e ntr d, .rt. to.• d .z• : p .cti4 hto (). CA: r i c , a It : ' .f . ; , •kd • JC, • e t:. BRAZILS. ONE HUNDRED COMB of NATHALIE, sad 1 ILF a gespordwasta supply of saw, ether good sew work, are la ehreehtten et UUDIrs cELZLT LIBRARY, 26. Upper King.etrect, Iltscseaslierigquare. Slagle eab.eaipttos, Ong Game* per name. Firet.elsor country eatseription.TwoGulneas and upward', according to the number of volumes required. ♦ prospecting will be tcewor en applkatson. certain and very limited market, or sending their told to be coined at the Mint, they are enabled to deposit it at the Bank, and weave thereon in advance within a fraction of its value. For want of much a mutation, we perceive bow the French Mint is pressed in supplying the wants of the public, by converting their bullion into coin, again to be melted down and sent beck to the source from whence it came—the Bank of England. Bat that arrangement which has worked so well in ' ordinary times, giving the bank a kind of monopoly of the gold bullion market, and the sole privilege of coining gold, by opening a market for the purchase II bullion at all times, cannot be maintained in all its integrity, if the value of gold were to undergo any considerable depreciation. The arrangement is one beneficial to both parties—buyer and seller—but it cannot be supposed that the bank should by law be compelled to submit to what the act never contem plated—namely, to buy gold, noktu tialsns—st a price considerably above the market value. An amend ment of the act would therefore be sought for if such a consequence were apprehended; and an alteration of the gold standard would also be forced on the attention of government. Parties here, as in Paris, would rush to the Mint to have their bullion con verted into coin, at the rate of 3L 171.100. an canoe, while the market price might command no more than 31. 17e., leaving, therefore, a handsome profit on the transaction. But this, as yet; is but a vague apprehension, never perhaps to be realised. No satisfactoi y proof has been given that the sudden appreciation of silver arises from a change in the value of gold. It more likely arises from an extraordinary demand, depending on recognised causes, and when the demand is satisfied the price may f+ll, and tbirgs return to their level. There has yet been no such abundant importation of gold from California or the United States sa to materially affect the price; and when we see the vast treasures of silver bullion kept uselessly in the vaults of the Bank of France—exceeding in value the gold in the Bank of Eogland—w - 'wn scarcely anticipate any such demand for silver ... to exceed the amount available for coin. The tempta tion of the present enhanced price will, no doubt, act as a key to open to the world so great a storehouse of silver, and so relieve men from some of those anxious but vague fears which assail them. But it ought to be observed, at the same time, that if governments apply artificial laws to restrain the cir culation of the precious metals, and, while they draw silver to them by temptation of high prices, at the same moment expel gold, it will follow that gold must flow into particular countries, to the great inconvenience and embarrassment of all commercial transaction'. And it is a gross error to suppose this can be done without affecting the price of silver, causing great commotion in the rate of exchange, and materially acting on the standard of value. Such great fluctuations in price may ensue, upon the interference of hasty legidatien, that banks requiring bullion in deposit shall hesitate to buy except as merchants, on speculation of making profit; and, instead of having steady and equable markets, we shall have the contrary. Everyone with any knowledge of the bullion market can certify that if the Bank of England refused to buy gold, leav ing the market open to the natural laws of supply and demand, there would be an immediate depreciation of price. It is true, merchants could have their gola coined at the Mint, on such a conjuncture, but if ten millions of gold were turned into the circulation when not needed, the effect would be the tame. It is now a recognised truth, in spite of the late Sir ROIART PEEI:B Netting, that the cur rency of the country, though it can be restricted by human means, cannot be increased beyond the re quirements of the people. And gold is not an article in which any one would incest money for the sake of profit. Existing regulations considered, it is manifest that eventually England will be the mighty ocean into 'which all the golden tributaries moat flow ; for where ever a man may be, he can with safety speculate on find ing here a certain market and a fixed price for his bul lion. The abolition of gold currencies on the continent renders this contingency more certain ; for after all, the smit iot demand+ for manufac:uring pur - --n never keep pace with the supply, one ad that gold most be a drug. On the er hand, silver bullion will constantly flow to the continent, as it always has done, and whether the price fall, or permanently rise, as may bel the case, aneh an seeident will rant matiwi.llyallka Ilk with a gold standard and a token silver coinage *bleb can not be destroyed till the price of silver exceeds ss. 6d. an ounce. the rate of coinage. Any significant fall in the value of gold is evidently an event yet a great way off, though looked for by some weer-cautious speculators on the future ; and when that occurrence arrives, it will be time enough to determine upon what is wise and necessary to avert such a cense iuence. CARDINAL WISEMAN is to have no sinecure of it. Gentle and asgentle challenges to controversy come upon him fres all sides. The latest comer is a lady, and, as becomes a man born in Spain of Irish parent age, his eminence will doubtless have the gallantry to giro tier precedence. The quarrel between Lady MORGAN and Cardinal WISEMAN is not exae'ly new, but it has never been fairly fought out. The expression of the lady that gave rifeness was uttered in her " Italy," a publication not of the most recent date. It was called in ques tion by Cardinal Wtstwart at least as long ago as 1830. This literary dtsrUo has hung fire most unac countably. Still, as her ladyship declares that she is now anxious for the fray, his eminency can scarcely refuse to give her satisfaction. The point at issue is one of some importance for his eminence's church. The head of the 'bluish church claims not only to sit in St. PETER'S chair, in a figurative sense; he professes to be in possession of the identical chair which the apostle honoured by sitting in it. This relic is preserved and shewn in the Vatican Wilk.. Lady M O RGAN has impugn ed its authenticity. This her ladyship hea done on the strength of an anecdote related to her by Dieteore. When the French armies, under NAPOLEON THE GREAT took possession of Rome, somewhat after the same fashion as the French armies lately took possession of it under NA POLEON THE LITTLE, DEMON, CHAMPOLLION, and others, set to scrutinise the relics of antiquity therein preserved, with a prying curiosity of which the de vout Italians were incapable. Among other articles the chair of St. PETER was uncased, wheeled into the light, scrubbed, and dusted. The result was about as deplorable aa the scouring of SCRIBLERUSII shield by his housemaid. On the apostle's chair was discovered an inscription in Cufic characters declaring that " There is but one God, and MAmoMET is his prophet"—rather an awkward confession of faith to be enshrined in the Vatican. Cardinal Wisariete, then a nameless priest, under took to vindicate the authenticity of the relic ; the attempt is understood to have been his first literary effort. In no measured language he rebukes the fair licoffer ; argues that the chair is just such a one as a Roman senator might have been expected to present to a saint; and maintains that there are distinct proofs of its existence in its present place from the tame it came into the saint's possession, to the present day. Our contemporary, the Morning Chronicle, who has installed himself umpire and judge of this gentle passage of arms between a priest and a lady, is evi dently disposed to adjudge the victory to the former. He objects to Lady MORGAN that there is " no con temporary evidence" that the chair was examined by the French weans. 'lois is true, and yet it appears to us that the diffi culty may be got over by a propose that would spare much waste of words and ink. The chair itself, we presume, is still in existence: let it be tried by a jar, composed of_ equal numbers of catholics and prows tants. Let Lady MORGAN and Cardinal WISULUI each name an equal number of acute and learned antiquarians to premed to Rome and examine the chair. It is not for the purpose of gratifying an idle curiosity that we propose this alternative. If the chair really be so heterodox as to m-ke the declara tion attributed to it by Lady MORGAN, it is high time that it should cease to desecrate the place it occupies. Who knows but the misfortunes to which the Popes have been subjected under the NAPOLEONS, uncle and nephew, may be a punishment for their allowing this infidel piece of furniture to maintain such an honourable position? GERMANY , On Sunday her Majesty's packet Crane, Lieut. Parsons arrived at Falmouth from Rio Janeiro in 47 days. She brings on freight a moderate sum, the exact amount not ascartainabh but supposed to be about 10,0001. On Oct. 29 the Spider sailed for the River Plate; the Cormorant steamer arrived on the 30th, and left on &cruise on Nov. 1 ; the Rifleman steamer came in on the 3rd, and left on Nov. 9 ; the Conflict ste tmer arrived on Nov. 4, and quitted on the 10th. Remaining at Rio Nov. 12 : the Southampton and the Crescent ; the United States ships of war Rari tan, Congress, and Saratoga. General Guido, the Buenos Ayrean minister, who, by the last packet, was reported to have demanded his passport, had received his dismissal. A movement of troops had taken place. General Oribe had made for the frontiers of Maria Theresa with a force of 1,500 men, and the imperial troops bad likewise been moving towards the borders. Nevertheless, the general opinion at Rio was that the matter would end in smoke. [For Commode Intelligence, see page 4.] UNITED STATES, DItUDEN, Dam 27. A postscript to my letter yesterday contained the information that Prince Schwarseeberg would accompany Manteuffel to Berlin to-morrow. I sea add now that Count Boot, who has wind from St. Petersburg, and Count Al veulsben will likewise proceed to Berlin. This Chet appears to he but slightly known in the town, or among the members of the con ferences; but, to the minds of those to whom it hu spread, it has created the most mixed sensations. To the Bavarian, Wurtemberg, and Saxon representatives the information will have appeared like a thunderclap. The disagreement of the two ministers was the means by which they intended to work, and they flattered them selves with the idea that an agreement be tween those two was an impossibility, and that they had but to wait for the moment when the contrary would appear publicly to be the ease, to step forward with their plans and propositions for the humiliation of Prussia. The journey of the two mi nisters to Berlin is to them, therefore, the most unfavourable augury. They see in it a proof of the possibility of union, for the result of the confer ences between the two ministers has been kept so profoundly secret that Herr von der Plortden is perhaps at this moment still in I utter ignorance of what has taken place in the palace of since John. Those who know the secret see in the journey of Schwarzenberg to Berlin the strongest possible demonstration against the pretensions of the minor kingdoms— a desire to give a dramatic colouring to the dogleg act of the ,quarrel between Austria and Prussia. I may state that the offer came from Schwaraenberg himself, and was motived by the wish to do honour to the Prussian minister. The Prince is said to feel how deeply the interests of the empire of Austria have been promoted by the preservation of peace, and that this peace is emi nently due to the exertions and influence of his Prus sian colleague. He is moreover impressed with a very high opinion of the abilities of Manteuffel, whose talent in keeping silence even when bitterly attacked is said to be great indeed, equality which the Prince respects, but which he himself fails to exercise. The ministers and their companions will be doubtlessly feted and honoured in Berlin, where an understand ing between the two great powers, so perfect as the present is said to be, was held to be a Herculean task, and the work of weeks, if not of months. They leave to-morrow morning early, but will return for the next sitting of the conferences, 1 which will not take place until the 31st instant or Ist proximo. It is anticipated that at this sitting the first step towards the real "(micros of the conferences will be taken by some kind of proposal from one or other of the two great powers. The nature of the altera tions and proposals upon which they have agreed is still kept secret, but the friends of Nlanteuffel assert that they will be found to be more advantageous for Prussia than was to be expected, and hints have been let fall that the dualistic plans of the Prussian minister have in some shape or other secured the approbation of the Austrians. It has been impossible to learn any details of the plans, and we must await patiently, therefore, until they are laid before the conferences. NEW vox Great anxiety is felt i n thi s °Gantry tha t moth line of battle ship the Pen 14 ally .1 sent to England, to he ex hibi ted oa y our the Work's Fair. It will require er ne r her up, and Congress, as Mal, must deba , From present appearances I trick hhe sent ; but it is a mooted pint whetter th will go to London or stop at Suuff ar o; active and intelligent co nsu l t h ere hes" $ exercising his influeorse in flavour of Se and really the advantages of that port an and seem marvellously to be overlooked thinks it might easiiy compete with. Liverpool, having vast advantages over t far as continental intercourse is to he , actual facility of approach. This gentlemi vowing, through his American cur r, spot the magnificent new steamer, the 11e4l i to make a few trial trips to South a M i should not at all be surpri se d if he sure ; he be successful you will ate the fastest steamer that ever yet crowed the Much to my surprise, I have noticet days put an announcement in our ti.y the transit of the Nicaragua route ia at commenced. A new steamer called th, advertised to depart in a tew days f r ta•. the price of passage from New Yrok fixed at a low figure. I must say tt.i. bold adventure. Tee very man who the agent of this route but a few wie . .s lished a letter, the result of hi, u observations, to the effect that the at present impracticable. Whether attempt is intended for effect 16 not say, but this I will pred'e., will not be the subject of many anth;:i The two steamers, the Cyrus and the hire to be some wht re on the San Juan, betel e. respectively which thi y eminent sect r el. are expected to foot it round thee plac to trust themselves in bungee, or nat:vz a passage through the lakes. If V.( le of enterprise among these Central Amer; of Nicaragua would lung ago have ILA plement of steamers. The engineer corps for the final sun huantepec route has sailed from New n i ! you perceive the nnafeilised rand barba the men whom the Times delights to undertaken to complete three lints of ti the Atlantic and Pacific, quite tinai:.s d and with a risk of some trouble from 1.0 while the high and mighty monarch., capitalists of Europe, those mint n: regard the prowess of the human 1 very dangerous, have for many y ear; but talk as to 1112 propriety of the n a contemplation of their own in concluded, that %hat they did not v ist not be done. I regret to say that the cholera is p Mi:sissippi river, nearly every steamer ber of paseergers. the mortality is the emigrants, who, moving in crow , : little regard to cleanliness, pay tie p incaution. A number of the states have ain't policy of the Homestead Exemption has passed au act which exempts from only the dwelling and the land, but the land. This is a step beyond any '1 principle is working well. It is re:! class of :persons from idle and wortf.l.l for fear of continued persecution Iron abandoned themselves to despair. We have ofd heard of the accept an the terms of the compromise, and ni Carolina has resolved on nisi! g military purposes, a menace quite big, forts in the harbour of Charleston Sr. , manned by government troops, and l oar's from the neighbouring states could be r.i. days to occupy the principal teat:sof possible her factiooiets may raise the tt. volt, but this is all they can do. Apr .lass from the President would probably be ,:he tr however to overthrow them. Jenny Lind has reached Washingt,n, her first concert, which was crowded t , , ix attended by the President and all '!.. n. She visited the Senate Chamber for but withdrew in consequence of the t •,., arose on her appearance. Jenny was ,1 ceseful at Baltimore, the enthusiasm ef , no wise abating. Large preparivioss made for her at Havanna, where a , t•ry residence has been taken for her. Our lost set from thence are however that the Rearm are very great doubt whether they shall admire her not. They have the conceit that they are the grit amateurs in the world, and that there to at music in the world than that of the Pa%an who They are, therefore, in great doet th-rmry sal to like Jenny Lind or no. If the esi.lat confine herself to Italian music for a nii;L: or tin think she will carry all before her. Parodi, after a few months, will return to E o not fully succeeded here. All the recent • of foreign actresses and singers appear to ee cessful. Netball° Fitz•Jamee seset.y attn Parodi is a quasi-failure. Sir Wm. lion , :! - .t et trio comedian," has only distinguished hou,lt bra lie , to resume her engagement with Lren.ty. ing the temperance pledge; in short, se Lave . of id, nes folui, but few veritable star e. 11 ela MIN to see and hear Griei, and the northern Tteffz. Either of these may be sure of a terse IX" if they will visit the United States. MALTA, Dec. 22. The fleet of Sir William Parker, now daily ex pected, has not been yet telegraphed. The Terrible and Scourge steam-frigates are still in port, and do not appnr to be making any preparations for a start. The Medusa, with the London mails of 7th, entered Malta harbour at 1 o'clock p.m. on the 13th, having made one of her good runs from Mar seilles. She loft on the same day for Alex andria, and may be momentarily expected on her return. To Alexandria she conveyed the In dian mails and 31 passengers, two infants, and seven servants. Of the gentlemen, six were obliged to be contented to sleep upon or under the table for want of accommodation, whilst the ladies' cabin, with 16 ancurtained berths, was rendered more agreeable to its occupants by the introduction of the female ser vants to the number already there, and to whom the sofas were assigned as dormitories. Whilst reformation in the comfort, &c. of the naval packet service is under the consideration of the Lords of the Admiralty, another observation may not be misplaced—it refers to the public being prevented from availing themselves of 11. M. packets for the conveyance of merchandise, parcels being limited to N lbs, weight, a fact that is very detrimental to this island, and one by which the benefit of the overland route from India is entirely lost to those who would wish to avail of it for the conveyance of goods from India or China to the French markets since packages so sent, under existing regulations, must wait at Malta one month at least for conveyance to Mar seilles. ~~1 The Peninsular and Oriental Company's boats arrive in Mal•a about the 13th of each month, gene rally after the departure of the Hostand Company's French steamer for Marseilles; the Hostand boats run only once • month. Now, if H. M. packets should be allowed to carry merchandise, the goods brought down from India and China could be trans mitted at the UM, time na the mails which leave Malta about six hotirs after the arrival of the Com pany's vessel. The difficulty does not exist to such an xtent on the return passage from Marseilles to Malta, as the French government packets take goods on fie:ght (a very heavy one, however). The want of concejatice is much felt between Malta and Alexandria, and Malta and the lonian Islands, and it will probably continue so long as the commercial enterprise of the British is thwarted by the mails being conveyed by government packets instead of by mercantile steamers, to which freight would be an assisting revenue. Three officers of her Majesty's 44th Regiment and a youngster of the Powertul are now lying in prison on a charge of having premeditatedly assaulted Win. Limb Arrowemith, Esq., on the night of Thursday last. From some events that have taken place—not, however, in which the present party is at all mixed np—there may appear some reason to havo induced a belief that the assault was premeditated; but the fact is far otherwise, as I have the firmest conviction. Yesterday's sitting was not of great importance. The section for editing the protocol was appointed, and Count Alvensleben, as you know, was named as its chairman. It was further decided that the secretary for the protocol should bs chosen from without the conferences, and their choice fell upon the most experienced hand in these matters, viz., the Austrian Councillor of Legation, Thierry, who filled the same office in the Diet for several years. Several other plenipotentiaries have arrived. From Mecklenburg-Schwerin Count Balow ; from Nassau, Minister Dungern ; an d from Hesee-Homburg, Minis ter Holzhatisen. It is anticipated that the journey of Schwarzen berg to Berlin will have an enormous effect on the funds. _ _______ _ Time appreciation of the value of silver bullion, and the relative depreciation of gold in the market, are incidents of peculiar interest m the present day. For many years past the two metals have barns an almost undeviating proportion to each other, and have served as the standard of value every where. Commer cial transactions have been consequently carried on to a large extent in the full confidence of the unvary ing values of these metallic mediums; disturbing causes are, however, at work. Aod while we remain, ass nation, insensible or indifferent to these disturbing cancel, promoted no doubt by the facilities of selling any amount of gold under the regulation of the Bank of Ragland, other countries seem to anticipate a consi derable fall in the price of gold, and are already con templating changes in their respective currencies. llolleod has for some time withdrawn her gold coins from circulation; Belgium is shoot to follow the example; and France, too, excited by the same fears, r otscussul the question whether the double standard of gold and silver shall be maintained. or that of gold abolished altogether. If the currency committee decide on the latter, we may be allowed to question the propriety or necessity of such a measure ; because although both gold and silver coin be coined as nigh as may be to the market price of bullion, no country, strictly speaking, has the power to maintain two metallic standard', and agreeably to this, gold coin in France has always semmanded a premium over silver; and the effect, therefore, of allowing the currency to remain intact would be simply a gradual and uniform fall in the value of the gold, provided, of course, that the anti cipations are fulfilled of a permanent depreciation in the value of gold bullion. Now, what will be the effect of a sudden transition from a mixed currency to one purely of silver? No doubt • sudden and rapid rise in the price of silver, which must inevita bly disturb the currency far more than a gradual depreciation of the value of gold ; and we may look forward to those results, which effected us in England prior to the introduction of our purely gold standard, and which puzzled the sages and economists of those days—the conversion of the silver currency into bullion for the sake of the large profit it would Field. To prevent a recurrence of this disaster, th e rench republic would be compelled to diminish the cogent' of their silver coins, so as to meet the en hanced price of silver in bullion, and no one can fore ' see where that would end. As a proof of what we meet, it may be observed that, partly owing to au animal demand for silver all over the continent and in India, the price has in a few months risen from 44. II Id. to 6s. 1.;:d. per ounce ; and it needs no prophet to foresee how much greater the price would be enhanced if, in France, gold were withdrawn as a medium of exchange, contemporaneous with a consi derable increase of the amount of gold from California —an increase, perhaps, exaggerated in the anticipa tion but still sufficient to tell on the marketable value of that metal. DRESDEN, DEC. 28. Schwarzenberg, Mantenffel, Buol, and Aloensleben left for Berlin by the early train this morning. The parties are Lieut. Barchard, Lieut. and Adj. Colpoys, and Lieut. Micklethwaite. Mr. Vaughan is the middy. It seems that Mr. Arrowsmith returning from the opera with his lady in his celesee, had the window of his carriage broken. The carriage pro ceeded on till Mr. A. reached a police-station, and getting oat he made his complaint, took a policeman with him and stopped the gentlemen. The language on the occasion seems on both sides to have been strong, and Mr. A. received from Lient. Barchard a blow, slight indeed, but intended to mark ►is sense of Mr. A.'s language. Mr. A., however, appealed to the police, and Mr. Harper, the magistrate, has re manded thma tiU to-morrow, but as the fact of premeditation has been sworn to, he holds oat the fear that his daty will compel him to cmimit them for trial. It becomes necessary to explain upon what surmise the charge of premeditation is grounded. It is this. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. ment In the National Assembly the Ministerial motion for the dismissal of M. Yon was negatived after a protracted debate, with a very small majority. PARIS FUNDS, Dec. 30. 68f. 90c. 94f. 95c. 2 237f. 30c. Three per Cents. Fire per Cents. Bank Shares.. Our usual Paris correspondence of last evening's date had not arrived when we went to press. About the 12th or 13th inst., Mr. Arrowsmith made a complaint to the governor that some sixteen lamps at Florian had been broken by some officers of the 44th, and the conclusion is jumped at that the officers now incarcerated took this mode of revenge. Now, the high character they bear for gentlemanly conduct, and the emcee from all former rows, to which may be honestly added the fact that they were not the lamp breakers, renders it improbable they would have avenged the simple act of Mr. Arrowsmith having reported them; but it is moreover due to them to affirm, that had they known a lady was in the carriage, the act of breaking the windows, however stupid and unjustifiable, would never have been committed. Iby no means wish to palliate the folly, but 1 do wish to palliate the unfounded charge of premeditation. The prisoners are remanded till to-morrow. The proceedings are looked forward to with intense anxiety, for the prisoners are much be loved, and cannot by our laws be held to bail, should the magistrate resolve on committing them. The prof csional services of Dr. Dingle, a young advocate of high promise in his profession, are engaged by the gentlemen thus placed in so unenviable a position. AmERNI:: EMIGRATION MOVEMENTS. The following notice appears in 111 AM paper: " BOSTON, DEC. 16.—The ship South Cardin, Liverpool, arrived here, had the ship heel' .0.11 passengers. Dr. Moriarty ordered 61 of them to be ass Deer Island Hospital. They were is a week. id ono sick, and filthy. The ship had 323 pusell": 1. , 1r five of the number died on the pas•see Fihp( tar are reported to have been sent to this country tS landlords. Those sent to the hospital are doieg them are sick of the ship fever." Will the emigration agent at Liverpool give s r swat. the circumstances in which the South Corohat met The state in which it reached Boston requites some planatien on his part, it he would escape tile stcpmts havieg neglected his daty. Should that gentleman chance to he reluctant to himself upon public notice, will the Colonial Lud sad E station Commissioners call upon him tor as ez,Satti Since they have not been able to prevent the mocha'. lout they can do is to ascertain whether it has twin and unavoidable, or the result of culp , ble neglect. a security for the future. plo l y f some independent member will draw attention to tte.m l, a n rg ei iii tke m r , : tm e e i m ns i t gr er at m io o n ve ag in en t t ha at ui L at i t t e r r rp i o t ., ;; n t o o e b . hS 4 soon as parliament meets. We should always bear in mind that gold and silver being convertible mediums, bear a proportion to each other by which the value relatively is deter mined, or, more truly, regulated. If the proportion, hitherto about 15 to 1, alter, the relative value must, of course, change. To fa a prioe on such articles is beyond the power of any government, or of political eoonomists. Supply and demand, scarcity and abundance, have the same influence over the precious metals as other things, though their uses in some degree prevent the great fluctuations in price to which other commodities are subject. If, therefore, gold be withdrawn from circulation as a medium of exchange, its very abundance, far beyond its use in manufacture, moat depreciate its price; and the proportion between the two metals being changed, a rise in the price of silver will ensue ; or speaking more accurately, while silver may remain of the same value in relation to other things, a larger portion of gold will be given in exchange for a pound of silver. But there is another important consideration which should not ..bs overlooked, and which may eventually cause a far greater fluctuation in the value of the precious metals than can be anticipated. The proportion of gold to silver is a 15 and a fraction to 1 : that is to say, it takes about 15 pounds of silver to buy 1 pound of gold ; or that gold is above fifteen times more valuable than silver; but, unlike other things, this ' proportion is really no criterion of the relative quantities of the two metals in the world ; for it is mired, by a rough calculation, that silver ex gold in quantity, ounce for ounce, more than fifty times; and, if so, is it not manifest that a fall in the marketable value of the more precious and least abundant metal, must enhance the price of silver beyond what mere ordinary experience might determine on i For then appear to be elements in the calculation not as plimble to the fluctuation in the et other com modities. And, if this sup bon be founded en truth, we cannot see how a Ter standard can be lees variable than a gold one. The existing proportions between them have in some measure been supported by the policy of the Bank of England, in buying all gold bullion tendered at the fixed price of 775. 9d. an ounce. Merchants know fall well the benefit and convenience of such an ar rangement, by which, instead of waiting for an un- brings advises Rom the Argentine capital sil BUENOS AYRES.—The Navigator, it Livefil °ember ; but. though this is tome eleven days leer tb , :: . : 01 last advice., the only news of interest that ma St ..L ....' , - from the letters is, that a general opinion was 1 0. 7 i: Buenas Ayres that the talk about war was s olely tar change ruled at life. Qtr doubloon. 2. pia* THE THIEVES' NEW DODGE.-011Mmid4 - last, about live or six minutes before seven o'clock. 0 t Barlow, who resides at Petrierofe, was prorieke 'a ~, Victoria Railway . Station, Manchester, in order to itobf seven o'clock train, while proceeding along Todd etrem; the opposite side of the street, and nearly opoomt. t h l,e thedral School, he perceived some one rapidly aPlav; him from behind, and immediately a riaht_r 2 ,, *a flung round his neck, and tightly comPf'" • ".,,," ~' to thiet's obi hand grasping the right wrist , "'' - u sr scribed as ng moat powerful in producise issit o a l ously . the first symptoms of stratigulationoWfP 4itt . I d and inducing speechlessness and await utter would d• =' string been applied, than two =ow to die '.. rtneffSh. Persevered in for a little time, death wow. ',.... ler ensue. In thepresent case,no sooner had this tiara7.l of Mr. Barlow, one of whom snatched his watch from f o r; pocket, and jerked the guard chain, a saw' G "' sal than ordinary strength, with such force as to besot it..„. k sato"' poisoned himself of the watch . The other too from some ash in Mr. Harlow ' s pocket ; but fortuostell tis this moment, before the robbery bad been cooPlt t. : po rifling other pockets, Mr. M'Clure, who was s' this es Seed by the same railway train, came up, and tbV__ a hurled Mr. Barlow down, his head goer. 1, wall with great force, and ran off in di ffer e nt direcusr!'„„ Mr. M'Clure saw them throw Mr. Barlow Cove, l?'"i o , and overtook one of them, but was unable to CeWV . ,. ~. and all three escaped. Mr. Barlow has since been !dims appeared iii.itr., 1 from the effects of the outrage ; he bas not yes re l ' se voice ; his throat is much swollen, and his bead hen , .. A b . • he has suffered repeatedly from attacks of spasms. as"Sj She strangulation to which he was only for Sw Pat' subjected. . • 1J 'e eravressgi. TO CORRESPONDENTS. &berthamead Intended Ise . The Loyeso." Laden waft paper, mast to at tbe Gem, le, Ileavadoetwoot. W Two ealost to tie day ot pabdoadad. MOH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Toss DAY—Morsleg. UL MIS*46IIIIOOII. ISL OM. LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31. EIGLITILN HeNDRED AND FIPIT will be * bered amongst the most eventful years, and, after its stirring predecessors, must appear a dull one. Indeed, Its great characteristic has been its lulling tendencies, its dative to set old movements to sleep, and check the starting of new ones. There sever was a year, per ham in which it wu so difficult to get up anything like enthusiasm. In vain did protectionist., colonial 11001111erli, domestic economists, sympathisers with foreign liberalism, seek to stir up public sentiment. The English nubile remained dull, mistrustful, and incredulous. Nor do we believe that anything could bare stirred ii, has than a genuine Hiberno-Roman cardinal in red ht,t and stocking., astride his bull, and tossing prime minister and bishops on his very first advent". There is reason to be grateful to the soporific cha racter of 1830, fur having set finally to rest the dragon of protection. How wakeful it was this ti me last year ! How alive and menacing in every county! Not a politician but thought it necessary to mos'er his partisans and address to them words of comfort and advice. Conflicts, indeed, were avoided, for protectionists prefer long shots; and when Mr. COBDEN came to argue the matter at Aylesbury, Mr. DISRAELI preferred coming no nearer than Great Marlow. Bat the pea came in aid to the tongue. And even those grave personages, the landlord., thought it necessary to address their farmers on the all-engreesing 'abject of rent and teems. It is just a twelvemonth since Sir Roemer PEEL wrote his memorable letter, which was far hem being a solution of the difficulties ot the crisis. But the crisis solved itself ; and we see the great results at each county or rural electioo, in the fact o' tenant-farmers seeking to set up for themselves, and find at length a voice in the h gislature. In burying protection, the political undertakers have, we are sorry to say, consigned to the tomb, at least for a time, other questions, that might with advantage have survived. Financial economy, with all its resolutions and essays, its oracles and its asso ciations, where is it? We do not see even Manches ter stir in its behalf. Lest year we bad a surplus, and every sulfuring interest was open-mouthed to have it applied to its relief. Are people now more prosperous, or more apathetic, that they allow the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEGUER to sit upon a still larger surplus, as easy and unmo lested as Lord TRURO himself upon the woolsack? Some good citizens do indeed get together to grumble at the window tax. Bat in general, and for the season of the year, JOHN BULL is more than usually qoiescent on fiend matters, even with a renewal of the income tax impending. And he is fool enemata to lose all self-possession in fear of the POPE, when the CHAN CELLOR of the Excileill: ea is the rogue whom he should chiefly think ot guarding against. In his anxiety to prevent the rove from depriving him of his family Bible, he is leaving his pocket-book at the mercy of that greater thief, the tax gatherer. The secret, however, of our apathy in worldly mat ters is, no doubt, as we have said, increseed anxiety in spiritual things. And on this subject indeed there has been enthusiasm, there ha been agitation. Bat has there been progress? We fear not. Never, per haps, was there a more apt or noble opportunity for all protestant creeds, and followers of religious liberty to unite, not for persecution, bat for self-eman cipation. Nothing could bo more evident than that the move ment towards the re-establishment of personal sacer dotal authority amongst us, either on papist or quasi papist principles, proceeded from the exclusively cle rical organization and influence of the church and of its great seen navies of education. Had there been a national demand for the opening and secularising. of these universities, an immense point would have been gained, both for religious freedom and for the maintenance of the protestant principle. But no, the dissenters flew off from the churchmen, desiring no better than to see Anglican bishops worried by Roman cardinals. And one dissenting writer clapped his hands and exclaimed, that the Anglican and Roman establishments were two cats, which would inter-devour each other and leave nothing but the tail of one to contend with. It is the senti ment and the policy conveyed in such an expression as this that has kept the great dissenting interest and community under water for now nearly two centuries, aid may keep it so centuries longer. For by uniting every aristocratic interest, religions and political, against it, it can have nothing to hope save in democratic advance, and to that the great body of the dissenters are as disinterestedly averse as if they were the dominant sect. Never was a large body of intelligent men so blind to anything like a common policy, or so thoroughly determined upon the fling ing away of every opportunity that fortune offers them. This time last year things promised better. We were then just issuing from the GORHAM contro versy, and the great body of the English Church, supported by the government, were assuming a ma nifestly liberal and comprehensive attitude. This led to the most absurd lengths on the part of those of all creeds appestat to freedom and toleration. The year was propitious, its tendencies good, its opportu nities immense. But all have been flung away, and each protestant church will now renew its normal state either of inertness or mutual antagonism ; whilst the enemy of all secures its dominion over the seats of learn ing and extending it over the haunts of ignorance and destitution, will he able to defy in the last half of the nineteenth centurythose effortiewhich, if well directed and combined in 1650,m4ht have swept clean away the very foundation of this renascent ltmunism. In a year during which great questions are stationary small ones are often found to program. Yet this cannot be said of 1830. Whoever will turn to the records of Dumber, 1819, will be surprised at the sameness of events. Then we find the government commissioner and the City delegate, in 1819, holding a cooference on the state of Smithfield, with as little result as in the present day. We find the Times congratulating the country on the abolition of French passports; and French passports are quite as troublesome and ex pensive as ever. We find strikes on the Midland thin, as on the North Western now. In Ireland we find, in December, 1849, Lord RODEN getting up a green bag of accusation against the Viceroy, for the cries' of corresponding with Orangemen, in order to induce them to defend their country. n December, 18.50, we find the suss Lord RODEN getting up a similar green bag against the same lord-lieutenant for corresponding with some Catholic bishop in portibus on the subject of the godless colleges—in fact, the same cock and bull story over again. If Irish officials are fishing in much the same water, what is the colonial government about? Ceylon is certainly quiet with Lord TORRINGTON in London, Sir 1311113110te TEMENT going to St. Helena , and Mr. WOODHOUSE to Honduras—the play carding by a dispersal of the corps dramotique. But we see no solution of great colonial difficulties. What we are to do with our convicts seems as little capable of receiving an answer as ever. And the Cape, which was thrown into effervescence last year by the advent of the Neptune with its cargo of convicts, still con tinues its agitation, and seeks to guarantee itself against the future caprice of a colonial minister by the reality of a constitution. Had we space or mind to extend our contempla tion and comparison from domestic and colonial qua time to the state of foreign countries, we could much more fatly incubate the remark with which we set out, which is, that 1854 ha proved a year of suspen sion, of slumber; the little activity that it has die played having been turned to no useful purpose, whilst the enthusiasm, wanting great and generous purpose, has been frittered upon the ephemeral and the idle. The advantage ;we owe to 1850 hes, not in the good which it has originated or advanced, but in the evil which it has happily set at net. 'l' 1 TURKEY. The news received to-day through the ordinary channels from Constantinople, comes up to the 14th inst., but presents no feature of interest. Mehemet Puha arrived at Aleppo on the Ist De cember by way of Alezandretta, and found the city of which he has been appointed governor in a state of complete tranquillity. Detailed reports of the operations of Omer Puha in Bosnia had been received by the Turkish steamer from the Bocche del Cattaro. The expedition wu completely terminated. The Puha had sugained some serious engagements in the pashalik of Tousle, before the insurrection could be quelled. While Omer Pasha wu acting in Bosnia, a column of his troops under the command of Iskeoder Bey gave the rebels of Herzegowina a check on the river of Narrinta, and gained time for Ali Puha, Vizier of Herzegowina, to collect imposing forces for the extinction of the rebel lion of this province. NEW CHURCHES IN WESTMINSTER.—The Bishop of London has given instructions to the contractor of the new church now being erected in Peter-street, Westminster, to push forward the works, in order that it may be ready for consecration early in the issuing spring, by which time it is expected that the church now being erected by the lady of the V hie Archdeacon Bentinck, at Vauxhall bridge, will also be ready. As the foundation stones cf both churches were laid on the lame day (November, 8, 1849), it is intended, if possible, to coaseerate them on the same day. HEREFORD, ROSS, AND GLOUCESTER PROJECTED RATLWAT.—HEREFORD, MONDAY.—On the motion of the chairman, Cel. Clifford, 11.1'., the !minces of the County Quarter Sessions was this morniag suspended for an hour, for the purpose of enabling the magistrates and others in court to adjourn to the grand jury-room, to bear a statement hem a depu'atlon from the provisional committee of the above liar. Mr. Brunel, the engineer of the company, entered into details, the object of which was to show that a sum of 14,0001. remained to be subscribed for, so as to enable the Mr. i roo t it th r appear before p g i eriz t t i °,2l , 77; oheniiond i . . Rev. A. Clive, Mr. Vaughan,. of tiourtfleld, and other'inffaentiel person present, volu nteered to enlarge the amount of their original subscriptions; and, from the alacrity shown, it was evident that the amount [wanted to complete the share list would be supplied before the aloes of the day. Intimation was made that it was imperative that the sub scriptions should be filled up by tomorrow. - - EXTRAORDINARY CAPTURE OF A GANG OF GAM ILAILL—At the Managua Sessions, Lancashire, 22 men were brought up ; the first, named Wilson, charged with being the keeper a • common gaming home, and the others with aiding and abetting. It appeared that, a short time before, polio, sergeant Farkas neared information that numbers of persona were in the constant habit of frequenting Wilson's house, for the purpose of gassing, very much to the disturbance of the neighbours, who were frequently aroused from their rental slumbers by quarrels such as are customary amain gamester. of this ascription; and on Farkas going to the plan of rendmons, he heard Tate sufficient to assure him matters were not altogether right. He senordiagly obtained a warrant, and also a sudiskat body of polies °Moen, and on Sunday morning lest repaired to the spot, and from the noise which could be distinctly heard outside, he was fully convinced that dm was his time. A large sledge hammer having been obtained, at one blow from Fa lam smash want both the door and locks, sad down went the defendant (Wilson's) wife (who war Bantling If she could hear anything outside), and in rushed the police men. A souffle sassed on their appeannee, diukg which the candle was nit out, but the potions= not having for gotten that they might require a lantern, had one with them sad soon suesseded fa quelling the row. The de fendaists, sedan they were going to be mastered, ran Into all omen of the bean, and one actually undressed and got into bed to the defendant (Wilson's) children. In • short time, however, all wen sufSciently secured and handcuffed, and is this way starched two and two to donnas vile, greatly to their astonishment. The defendant Wilson was committed to the Howe of Corns*. hr two °slender months, and the other defendants wen each thud le. end mop, which they all paid, THE WEST INDIA STEAM MAIL PACKETS. Oa the 10th instant a paragraph appeared in the Express, stating that the West India steamers were due ocoording to the Admiralty at one time, by the General Post. office another, and by the West India Company a different one altogether. The object of that paragraph wss to draw public attention to the anomaly, in order that it might be discussed and exposed. It had the desired effect, for it drew forth the inclosed from a patty competent to discus the matter. It would be of some interest now, as a West India steamer will shortly be due : " Bristol, Deo. 15, 1860. " Sir,—A paragraph appeared in your paper of the 10th which has note little puzzled many of my mercantile bre thren swell as myselt ; and in the hope of having the mys tery elucidated by thou having the power to do so, I am induced, at the instigation of several colonists to trouble you with this letter. Referring to the West India steamers, you inform the public that by the Admiralty Tables they are due at Southampton" on the 4th and 18th of every month; according' to the Post-office on the 6th and 29th ; and by the West India Company's calculation on the 7th and 22nd." Barely, sir, with such • superior and well regulated department as the General Poet-office (which is the admiration of all the civilised world), you will perceive the difficulty of believing that in so important a matter there should be three so widely different versions as to when the West India steamers are due at Southampton; and in the shames of other information on this point, allow me to state the substance of what I have been enabled, through the kindness of a friend, to read in a book having on its title- me "printed for the company," oopies of which, I am credibly informed, are handed ever to the Admiralty for the guidance of their alms. Theellal Mall Packets le TO Southampton on the 2nd and 17th of every month, their outward voyage ending at Grey Town on the 26th day, lb hours, calculating from 6 p.m. on the day after leaving Southampton, to which latter plus they are timed to return on the 62nd day 8 hours, simi larly calculated. Renee, it is cle ar th a t their legitimate days of snivel are the 3rd and 18th, at midnight, and on the 4th and 19th at midnight—the difference of 24 hours sometimes arising from the inequality of the length of the months. Your remarks, sir, about the dif fi culties of cont. mandating with Tamp ion during the northern seasons, are, by what I learn of practical men, perfeetlz correct. It, however, appears that when such cases exist, 24 or 36 hours ore given to affect, if posaible, a communication; and should that extra delay occur, still, by the " book" I have referred to, the packet ought never to be liter at Southamp ton than Bam on the 6th and 2lat of every month. It would, indeed, be unreasonable to omit making due allow ease for contingenafee (in so vast a navigation) which would be likely to prevent a packet from keeping faith, but when they are overdue and anxiously looked for, I do not think it fair to put forth statements to the effect that they are not due, with a view of bolstering up a want of power in the machinery of Ike vaniela.—l am Sir, &11., "A WBST INDIA MERCHANT." BISHOP OF JAMAICA. TO THE EDITOR OP THE =MN. - - Sta,—There Wan an article in tne Ezpreu a few days since which, in treating of the cholera en Jamaica, bore very hard upon Dr. Spencer, the bishop of that diocese. It is now neatly 32 years ciao, (in 1819) that he left a pas , total charge in England and went out as a missionary to Newfoundland; he was then about 25 years of tine. In 1821 he was obliged, on account of his health, to change to the milder climate et Bermuda, where he was immediately inducted into • living. In 1825 be was made Arch deacon of Bermuda, and in 1828 (after being nine yean abroad) he visited England for the first time. lie returned to Bermuda in 1829, and remained there, in close attention to bit duties, for eight yeare—viz., till 1837, when he came to Enehuid on business connected with the arceideaconry. In 1838 he went back to Bermuda, and in 1839 was recalled to England, to be consecrated Bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda. Immediately after his consecration he went to his diocese, and remained there till he war translated to Jamaica, in 1843, when he ;eased from one diocese to the other without visiting England. He was obliged to come home in 1845, on account of Mrs. ' Spencer's severe illness, but returned in 1846, leaving her behind him. Since that period he has been labouring dili gently in his vocation, until his own health, in the spring of this year, forced him to try another climate. Fever and ague, withelfien he had been repeatedly attacked, had so undermined his strength, that his physician in Jamaica told him he mill not answer for his safety union he left the tropics, and remained in another climate until the deem wee driven from his system. The bishop tried • change of work in the first instance, by going to Nassau (a pert of hie diocese) in the early part of this year, bat the voyage war of use only as it enabled him to settle some difficult business in that calmly, and to leave the church there benefited by his visit. Soon after his return to Jamaica he bad another attack of fever; be tried the mountains, bat it followed him there ; and in May be went to the United States to 800 what the Saratoga springs would do for him, but he experienced no decided benefit from them ; and it was consequent on the failure of these remedies that he consented to the earnest entreaties of hie family and friends to winter in England. He arrived here in October, and has ever since been under medical are. I need scarcely add that Ja maica was entirely free from epidemic when be left the 'n ifty, end that the blow under which it Wren wee inflicted since be reached this country, From this statement you will perceive that the Bishop of Jamaica has been nojainienit, and that out of mere than thirty-osee years' service en the colosies, he has been in Bog land only three yews altogether, leaving eight-end-twenty years of nealonely-performed duty in colonies of • tropical I character. _ _ _ Tbe archdemen's absence at this Jungian, however unfor tunate it proves, arises from • lastly muse of a most di& messing nature. His young wife was confined about eight months since, and has never left her bed except for transit to • couch or litter ; nor could • removal be attempted until last September. The srehdeama could not leave her bed. side, and they came to England In the hope of saviag her life, which Is still • very dangerous gnostic' ; Dr. Ferra ris, in whom heads she is, attesting to her ceaditios. C. CHOLERA Lir ISHSlCA.—Memorislit to Earl Grey sad the Admiralty preying them to relieve the salmon from eholen in J emelce, not by cirmiers and medical pre- scriptions, but by sending government surgeons, and from the various stores Bangles of medicines, have bees lying at the Stook Exchange, sad have been ntimeeessly sad in liseetially signed. Among the stamens are the following James Hutchinson. Robert W. Carden, Alderman, William Ruassand, 8. J. Willey, Louis Bannon, W. B. Morgan, Francis Whit., Thomas Brown, Edward Levy, George Webb, John Banes, James Buttes, William Chaplin, N. Wilkins, Frederic kA. Bakal's. Edward Levies, Charles J. Reentry, William Roes, H. J. Bostock. Albert C o h en , curioHsrtridg., Robert Bowden, J. B. Bond, 8. W. Wally, Alfred J. Walley C. Pothergill, Hoary Cohen, J. F. listakews, William C. Clifton. Charles F. Gould, Thomas Buses, 8. B. Worms, A. A. Eloghtss. A. De Symms, OD. B. Maior, D. Title Frederick Manch, Homy Tuner, T. Whielli, Lair. H. Pulley, 8. Rerepeth. 'The subject of relief her been taken up very warmly la the provinces. As it was doubtful whether there would Its Wm to get up a sainearial .t Birmisgbam, Mr. Joseph ßtarge wrote a strong letter to Me Colonial Gees, urging disclaims of die sufferers. At Southampton a meeting was - held by the corpo rator Mr. Joseph Clark, sad other members of the sorpo sad the strongest sympathy ezpreseed, but no memo risi was drawn up, a. the shamuses of the time precluded soy earth step being taken, or a special meeting of the town Milli being aenvinted.—frra memorisla above referred to, were, we understand, presented We morning to Earl Grey widths Admiralty.] mpo;!at