The Sun. — London, England, 1859-12-20 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 10h. 25m.—Afternoon, 1111. Om. To-monuow.-Alorning, 11h. 32m.—Afternoon, Oh. Om. '44 ? _ .. 4 7stite I . 4 4_ C; c 4 -"N `. s- 4- e t . . ,i,..., ~, t ' 4 e' A.-- 4 ,'` i : •Ul i t*. . '•) f 's's. , ''.." r '") • .-- -- , `' , -'4_ 1 . , .7 1 !. -- r t - n ,i, ...,...., ~,,, ,___4,, 0 ., „,„ .., • ....• . , ' 4 • C` r i.....-.... t 4,7,, T ..,...0....' ''• ' ' -11 K, THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1859. It is well known that the late Duke of WEL LINGTON—the Great Duke of WELLlNGTON—re garded the National Defences of his country, towards the close of his long life, with profound and peculiar solicitude. That he did so, is not mere matter of conjecture, is not mere matter of rumour—it is matter of absolute notoriety. It might almost be said, without exaggeration, that the l.osing period of that prolonged and prosperous career was embittered by the Duke's vivid and painful sense of the liability' of England to the horrors of some sudden and overwhelming catas trophe. And whatever else we may think of him, we-may be quite certain of this that the victor of Waterloo was, constitutionally, no alarmist. We may go further, and say with confidence, that had Lord NELSON survived to the same epoch, that he, too, must infallibly have partaken somewhat of that rational anxiety expressed by the Duke as an octogenarian. For common sense tells us at a glance that even the dauntless valour of the mightiest sea-captain that ever trod the deck of a line-of-battle ship would have been of no avail— must necessarily and quite obviously have been of no avail—without a fleet to lead on against the ar maments of an invader. At the time at which the Duke raised his voice in remonstrance against the apathy of the country and the indolence of the Go vernment, we actually had no Channel fleet what soever ! Until yesterday, as it were, we still had no Channel Fleet. We have one now, it is true, once again, as we had in the days of NELSON —we have one now again, thanks neither to the parsimonious Whigs nor the cheese-paring peace at-any-price economists of Manchester, but thanks to the- patriotism of the Tories, thanks to the energy of the Conservatives, thanks to the resolu tion and the civism of that great party (so long abused and so long banished from power by the jealousy of the great Whig families), that party which has thus again earned for itself in a nobler sense than of old their pristine title of PROTEC TIONISTS ! [Thus applied to them anew, it is a word, in truth, of good omen. For never was Eng land more powerful, more safe from the chance of invasion than when under the guidance of a Lord Protector.] Once more then, thanks to the late Government, England has her Channel Fleet cruising hither and thither, always in trim, ever on the alert, "Ready, aye Ready," between the cliffs of our " Snug little Island" and the confronting coasts of the Continent. Again, too, thanks in a very great measure, to the encouragement of the ex-Cabinet, the National Guard of England is rising far and wide all ,over the land, as it did the last time now fifty-six years bygone, as it did in 1804 ! When the first Imperial ruler of France had mustered his legions near Boulogne, under those eagle banners that through his wondrous guidance had already so often conquered, and were again so very frequently afterwards, to con quer so very many of the great Powers of Christen dom! Could the warrier Duke but now revisit once more " the glimpses of the moon," like the Royal Dane in SIIAKSPERE'S tragedy, he would find his old anxieties in a fair way of being utterly and effectually dissipated. Already even, though we have as yet, as it were, but just commenced our de fensive armaments already England is not by any means in that precarious plight, the vivid re cognition of which awakened the solicitude of a re solute and powerful intelligence, like that of the late Duke of WELLINGTON. Several excellent speeches have recently been delivered by men of mark ). in furtherance of the great movement leading in all directions to the formation of corps after corps of Riff, Volunteers. Perhaps the most admirable among; all these recent speeches was the one delivered on Friday afternoon to the rifle corps for the district of Sovcnoaks, by that accomplished peer and man of letters, the Earl STANHOPE. " I take it," said Lord STAN HOPE, at the outset of his remarks, "that we are here animated by the most sincere love of peace; we are determined that we will never,, without the most just cause, either suffer ourselves, or in flict upon others, the dire calamities of war. We will go further and say, that whatever influence we ' possess—whether as members of one or the other house of Parliament, or whether as electors of those who represent us in the one House of Parliament —we will use that influence decidedly to oppose —if it could be supposed to exist—any aggressive or encroaching spirit, or anything inconsistent with the sincere desire for the general tranquillity of Europe. But," said he, in continuation, " I say it is perfectly consistent with these sentiments to feel the necessity of a more extended system of national defence;and I'would in no degree trace that necessity to any recent feelings, or any recent events. I ascribe it entirely to the complete change which has been produced in the system of warfare by the introduction of steam navigation. It does not arise from any other feeling than an ardent love of peace, not from any reference to recent alarms, or to recent differences, but entirely from this fact—that where the system of war fare must of necessity be different, there also must be a difference in the means of national defence." Earl STANHOPE went further than this —he observed, " For my own part I am not one of those who apprehend the invasion of this country. I am persuaded that in neighbouring countries the advantage of a friendly understanding with this country is felt and appreciated as it ought to be. I believe that there is no idea of an invasion of this country, and that no such danger threatens us at the present time. But does this in any degree prove that we ought not to provide against it, if in future times such necessities should arise ? I should give the same advice upon this subject as I should to a person in private life,whose doors should be open, and who should imagine that his house was in danger of being attacked ; I would not say to that person, I do not believe any one intends to assail you ; there is nobody in the neighbourhood with that design; but I would rather say Put bolts and bars to your doors, and dismiss the subject from your mind ; then mind your other business." Now all this, we do maintain, is perfectly logical ; it is manly, frank, rational, unanswerable. It leaves no room for dudgeon even to the most captious and sensitive of foreign potentates. It leaves no reason or plea for future misapprehension. It tells the whole world beyond our shores that we are arming within those shores, purely and simply for defensive purposes. And having proclaimed that fact, it is enough—let us go on arming until our system of national de fences shall have been perfected so far as anything human can be perfected—at any rate, until such time as it shall be completely and thoroughly orga nised. Elsewhere, in furtherance of the same patriotic scheme, will be found reported in our impression of this evening the earnest and patriotic speeches of Sir HAMILTON SEYMOUR and of Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. In glancing through which speeches, by the way, let it not be forgotten, that England owes to the shrewdness of Sir HAMILTON SEYMOUR the fact that her diplomacy (prior to the Crimean war) was not for one instant cajoled by the wily arts of the late CZAR of all the Russias—and that upon the other hand England owes her being in the possession once more at this moment of a powerful and efficient Channel Fleet, directly, almost personally to Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, to his skill, daring, resolution, and perseverance as the first naval administrator of this country under Lord DERBY'S Government. It has been one of the prime articles of the Aus trian creed that " Italy is but a geographical ex pression"—a creed like many another originating in the wish. At all times, in modern history Aus tria has been truly enough but a geographical ex pression—a word to denote an unamalgamated as semblage of diverse states, diverse in language, , civilization, religion, manners, municipal govern ment—in everything which could separate one people from'another people. And most remarkable is the retribution of history—Austrian statesmen have been labouring for this last half century espe cially to compress all these diverse states into one — to bring them all under the centralized despotism and bureaucracy of Vienna; but the more they have coerced, and persecuted, and afflicted through task masters sent from Vienna, the more they have alien ated in heart those whom they combined into an apparent systematic unity. Austria is less one than she was when KOSSUTH held the Crown of the Hapsburgs in his hands, and when, with the generosity of genius and nobility, he returned it to brutal and perjured meanness. Meantime, the Italy which Austrian lieutenants and the POPE dismembered is evincing its real unity. With one language, one religion, one hatred of priestly government, one detestation of Austrian interference, one demand, to be one united Italy—it is fast moving onward to a political position corresponding to its real character. Rea— lities, indeed, are triumphing over artificialities. Italy is one, and is assuming the form of unity. Austria is many and diverse, and is falling into her component parts. Hitherto she has continued to play off the races one against the other. Every one remembers how she perjured herself by employing the savage villain JELLACHICH with his Croats to attack the Hunga rians, while denouncing him to them. But the Croats, deceived like all others, now turn' against her. The Transylvanians—Saxons most of them —have not hitherto joined the Hungarians readily. They now, as the Klansenberg Museum demonstra tion was Wended to show, declare themselves one people. And turn whichever way we will, Bohe mians, Servians, and even Tyrolese, all burn with hos tility to the hated central rule. What will, what can, Austria do ? Without a costly army the iron ,hand which clamps all together is gone. With a vast army she is beggared, and lives only by forging State bonds and coupons ! Bat above all Hungary is her difficulty. She is nothing without Hungary, and she cannot humble herself to dealing honourably with the most power ful part of her Empire. More than once in her history the Hungarians, like the Poles, have saved her, to be rewarded, like all her benefactors down to the Czar NICHOLAS, with shameless ingratitude, and,if possible, with perfidious violence. In 1848 her treasonable conspiracy with JELLACHICII compelled the Hungarians to depose their faithless Emperor. NICHOLAS, aided by GEORGEY'S treachery, tram pled them again under his feet. Her butcher HAYNAU compelled. KOSSUTH to flee, and hanged and flogged every patriot, male or female, on whom he could lay his hands, imperfectly expiating his brutalities in the dust-bins and under the cart whips of Bankside. But he and the Austrian Government abolished the Hungarian constitution both in Church and State; and this perfidy it is which is now troubling its perpetrators. Smitten and humbled in Italy ; saved only by the peace of Vitlafranca from the yen /geance of a Hungarian arm e d revo l ut i on, t h e weak-headed boy EMPEROR and his old and crafty advisers thought they must do some thing. Cunning is the resource of defeated cowards, and the vanquished in Italy tried to cheat Hungary with apparently liberal offers. A patent was issued seeming to establish the Protestant churches on' a liberal foundation—even Prussian Protestant papers did not see through the juggle, ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENING (the 2d time) VICTORINE. Messrs. Santley, Haigh, IT. Corri, G. Honey, Bartleman, &c. Misses Parepa, &c. ROYAL Conductor, Alfred Mellon, Ballet, LA FIANCEE. Messrs. W. 11. Payne, 11. Payne, F. Payne, Mthle. Lavine, Pasquale, Pierron, Clara Morgan, and Mons. Vandris. - Doors open at half-past 7—Commence at 8 o'clock. T HEATRE -ROYAL. HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. TUTS EVENING the performances will commence with A GAME OF SPECULATION. After which, by desire, THE CONTESTED ELECTION Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mr. Buckstone, Sro. And SHOCKING EVENTS. Commence at 7. MEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. 11 Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE DEAD' HEART. Messrs B. Webster. J. L. Toole, David Fisher, Paul Bedford. Stuart, Billington, C. J. Smith, Eburne, Moreland; Miss Woolgar, and Miss K. Followed by the successful piece of extravagance, called DINORAH UNDER DIFFICULTIES. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith, Eburne, and Miss K. Kelly. Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box- Office open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor fer bills of performance. Alfees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Actmg Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM.- Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, a new Vaudeville Comedietta, called THE KEY UNDER THE DOOR-MAT. iiiessrs. James Vining, Jno Rouse, &c. ; Mesdames A, H. Hatton and Julia St. George. To be followed by the new Drama Fantastique, entitled PARIS AND PLEASURE ; or, Home. and Happiness. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Vininz, J. John stone, F. VOliers ; Misses Julia St. George, Hudspeth, Kate Saville, A. Burdett, and Madame Celeste. Po conclude with ST. MARY'S EVE. Madame Celeste and Mr. Rouse. A STLEY'S I.igl!iLnster- road Sole Lessee—Mr. William Cooke, his Farewell Season. THIS EVENING, the grand melo-draniatic production, by Tom Taylor, Esq., called GARI BALD! ; illustrating the principal events in the Life of the Great Italian GeneraL To be followed by New and Brilliant- Equestrian Changes in the Arena, introducing a vivid Four-horse Scene by John Henry Cooke, as the Nemnan Conqueror—More Wonders by the Educated Elephant—Elegant , Equitation by Miss Emily Cooke, the Queen of the Circle—Young Alfred Cooke's sur passing evolutions on a naked CourSer—Electrifying Feats by the Athenian Athletx, J. H. Cooke and Crouses—Novel Flag Exercises on horseback by Madlle. Jenny—Varied by those heralds of fun, the Clowns, Mimes, and Drolls. To commence at 7. Especill Notice.—Three Grand Morning Representations of the grand new Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN TOM MOODY ; or, Old Towler the Huntsman and the Goddess Diana, on Monday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 31, and Monday Jan. 2, 1860, at Two o'clock each day. 0 ANTERBUR Y HALL CONCERTS.- EVERY ;EVENING. Sterndale Bennett's MAT QUEEN. And a Grand Se:ection from Meyerbeer's new opera of DINORAH. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfleid, and E. W. Mackney. Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. ROSA BONHEUR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE FAIR is now added to the already magnificent Collection of Paintings in the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER.—Surr Orricm, DECEMBEE 20. THERHOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 31—lowest this morning and dnring the night. 36—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.80. WIND, South-Westerly ; light, with fine wintry weather. THE7StiN, LONDON, TUF.SDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1859, and at a distance it doubtless looked well. We ourselves, though of course with apprehension, hoped that Austrian fears had produced something like reason. But Hungarians best know their own business. They soon proclaimed to Europe that Austria is Austria still. The patent was lint ' Jesuitical scheme to abolish the old and valued Protestant constitution, to destroy even the dioceses or districts by which its synods had acted, and to create new ones under the power of the Minister of Religion at Vienna. Their independent Church government was wholly gone. _ _ . Now what is remarkable as the issue is, that this treacherous attack on their religious constitution has aroused all classes of Hungarians to demand not only their old religious but their old political constitution. Catholics drink toasts in honour of the Protestant remonstrants, and tho Protestants insist on national liberties for both. The Govern ment has abolished the old districts, but they meet in these districts and petition against the patent. They are threatened with prosecution, arrests are made, and they reply by adding to the signatures. Imprisoned pastors become popular idols. Students who had gone to Vienna to petition for the restoration of the old privileges of their university, and are snubbed and warned there, come back to receive am ovation. Old quarrels are all forgotten, aristo cratic counts, the Cardinal Archbishop, the very Commissioner from Vienna himself, all join to tell the Empire of Austria that Hungary must be again a free and constitutional kingdom. May the issue be a triumphant revolution ! The Hungarians, warned by the past, seem to have determined to try what passive resistance can do. They intend to give the Austrians the task of pro secuting a whole nation ; of hindering them from assembling according to their old habits, and of getting taxes out of them how they can. KOSSUTII has turned out right. There is still vigorous national life in Hungary. May it prove too vigorous for its unworthy foe ! THE WEST INDIA MAIL. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY. The Royal Mail steam-packet Parana, from the West Indies, arrived here at 10 a.m. this day, and will leave for Southampton at eight p.m. COAST DEFENCES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—The article on coast defences in the Times of this day resembles in so many points one of mine which you inserted early this spring, that I imagine I am the " authlrity" you allude to. I repeat, without fear of contradiction from any practical soldier or sailor, that no considerable land ing could be effected on our southern coasts if op posed by field batteries of 80 or 100 Armstrong's heavy guns, supported by 5,000 or 6,000 good rifle men. Rail and tramroads run along the coasts. Tele graphic wires, a few watch towers on commanding heights, some half a dozen rapid steamers to watch and communicate the direction of the enemy's move ments, frequent stations of Armstrong guns, ar ranged so as to effect easy and rapid concentration on threatened points, accompanying the movements of the enemy's convoy or fleet, would as effectually secure the southern coasts of England (even were the attempt made in a fog, or at night), as if we had 50 sail of the line in the Channel. It is a vital point to prevent an enemy landing, except to give themselves up as prisoners, to escape being drowned or uselessly shot. The extensive fortifications now proposed as necessary to efficiently defend our great naval arsenals of Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Woolwich, would alone require such strong garrisons as would in the aggregate form an army more than sufficient to encounter and destroy any force that could be suddenly landed. I here leave out of the question our volunteer yeomanry and riflemen. It has been said that an enemy could land in three or four places at once. Any one 'acquainted with naval matters would know that this is impossible if our navy were only of equal force, besides which the rail and tram road meet this contingency also. A few rapid "nimble," well-constructed steam rams, where there are no railroads, would soon settle vessels laden with troops by their beaks or shells, loaded with molten iron or liquid fire. Double, the number of similar craft could not save the enemy. Our magnificent engineering establishments and iron manufactures would enable us to build five times the number of these vessels that any other nation could in the same period.—l am, sir, your obedient servant. G. R. SARTORIUS, Vice-Admiral. Charlton, Dec. 19. A GREEK SPEECH TO A MODERN PARLIAMENT. —The Ephemeris (official paper) of Corfu gives a Greek versian of the recent speech of the Lord High Commissioner to the Legislative Assembly of the lonian Islands, the English original of which appeared in The Sun ofyesterday. Sir Peter Braila read the Greek speech after his Excellency himself had read it in English. The elegant and high sounding euphemism of the Romaic is rather di luted in the process of translation; thus, Eaaki irpOrare IlpoiSpe degenerates into " Mr. President," and EiriEvio-raroc Kiytot into " gentlemen." Her Majesty's Lord High Commissioner is styled (Re maice) AOpB McyciAov Appocrroi3 (genitive case) ri)s. AirrCis MeyaXeconros, and the elegant compound word, Nopee-xiBLov (which, like the French projet de loi, explains itself), aptly replaces our own vul gar and unmeaning word "Bill," applicable alike to the draught of a new statute, to the origin of a suit in Chancery, a stamped piece of paper cur rency, and a butcher's or baker's " little account" sent in at Christmas: The " Civil List" is styled (rather unhappily) MvreeXoyi.os ; the judges, as in Mr. Grote's " History," become once more "di casts.' The postal tariff is raxthlpoiloci) Starilio-ts ; and joint-stock banks are called (in the genitive plural) TparreCc - ov. The Duke of Rutland arrived at his residence at Princes-gate, on Saturday evening, from Belvoir Castle, Grantham. _ The Duke of Dovcnshire and Lady Louisa Caven dish left Chatsworth a few days since for Holker Hall, Westmoreland, where they will pass the Christmas holidays. The Duchess (Dowager) of Norfolk has returned to town from visiting, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland at Trentham. The Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn and family have left Chesterfield House, Mayfair, for Brockett Hall, Horts. The Marquis of Hartington arrived in town yes terday morning, from Ilolker Mall, Westmoreland, and has since left town on a visit to the Earl Cowper, at Pans hanger, Herts. The Earl of Craven has arrived in town from liamstead Marshall, Barks. The Countess and the Ladies Craven will return to town to-morrow, from Ashdown Park, for the winter. The Earl and Countess of Ashburnham, who have lately arrived in town from Scotland, where they have been on a visit to the Earl of Iladdington (her ladyship's brother), and to the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane, aro now passing the season at Ashburnham Place, their mag niffcent seat in Sussex. The Earl and Countess of Dalkea!' were to leave Boughton House, , near Kettering, yesterday, to join the Marquis and Marchioness of Aborcorn at Brockett Hall. The Earl Grosvenor left Safford House, St. James's, yesterday, for Calverley Park, Cheshire. Count and .Countess do Flahault and the Hon. Miss Elphinstone'de Flahault will leave Coventry House, in a few days, for Bowood, Wilts, on a visit to the Marquis of Lansdowne. . Viscount and Viscountess Campden have arrived at Claridge's Hotel, Brook-street, from visiting the Earl and Countess of Derby,,at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. Viscount Utlington will return to town to-morrow from Ashdown-park. Lord and Lady Foley and the Hon. Adelaide Foley, who came to town at the close of the past week from Worksopp Manor, Notts, left yesterday on a visit to Mr. St. John Foley. The marriage of the Hon. General Ashburnham with the Hon. Miss Foley, daughter of the late Lord Foley, and niece of the Duke of Leinster, will be solemnised early in February. Sir George Grey and Lady Grey have returned to Howchin'e Hotel from a tour of vibits. - • LATEST NE WB. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, TUESDAY, DEC. 20. The Moniteur of to-day says:—Yesterday evening Prince Jerome had less fever, and the state of his health continued to be rather satisfactory. MADRID, DEC. 19. The Cadiz journals announce that Marshal O'Donnell has declared Ceuta a free port. Mr, Moon has arrived at Madrid. PARIS, MONDAY, DEC. 19. Prince Metternich received to-day at his hotel the principal members of the diplomatic corps, the grand dignitaries of State and of the Crown, the officers of the Household of the Emperor, of the Empress, and the Imperial Princes. These receptions will be continued to-morrow and the following day. Princess Metternich will hold her receptions next week, immediately after having been pre sented to the Empress. The Pays of this evening states that the opening of the Congress will definitively take place on the 20th of January. The same journal announces that Prince Gort schakoff will arrive in Paris between the 7th and 10th of January. ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 18. Mohamed Amii, the principal chief of the moun taineers of the right wing of the Caucasus, has sub mitted, the consequence of which is the submission of the whole people of this country. The Czar has raised General Bariatinski to the rank of Marshal. DEC. 19. The journals of St. Petersburg publish news from the Caucasus, announcing that the people of Abadzekhe, numbering 100,000 men, with their chief, Mohamed Amine, have declared their sub• mission. Other tribes are also preparing to submit them• selves to Russia. LITERATUR,E. Against Wind and Tide. By Holnie Lee, author of " Sylvan Ilolt's Daughter," &c. 3 vols. Smith and Elder. The many works by this author that have from time to time delighted the lovers of fiction have borne ample testimony to his distinguished powers and varied abilit:es. The present is a decided suc cess, and is quite equal to " Maude Talbot," or " Gilbert Messinger," while it far surpasses the latter productions of " Kathie Brand," and " Syl van Holt's Daughter." There is much that is pain ful in the story before us, but that is necessary for the complete working out of momentous scenes and strong characters. The position of the two brothers was a very peculiar one, and in every way calcu lated for the development of a deeply interesting story. Robert and Cyrus Hawthorne were as dif ferent as possible in tastes and feelings ; one, all impulse and ever intent on self-gratification, while the other, was constant and true to his own good purposes, and always seeking the welfare of others. Perhaps under happier auspices Cyrus with his fitful talents might have become a bright star in the literary horizon, but his general habits were so un certain that he would have been ono of those dis appointing heroes who dismay, instead of dazzling, and whom their best friends at last are weary of watching. Robert, on the contrary, possessed that solid frame of mind which in itself, is far more pre cious than the illusory promises of such gifts as Cyrus's. Had he been well educated and placed in a fitting sphere he would have been one of those men who are widely known and universally respected, who aro the founders of families whose members look back with pride to him who raised their name from obscurity to eminence. The sad story of their birth hnug like a cloud over the path of the brothers. Their father had married their mother, the beauty of a rural domain, while his first wife was living abroad. Immediately on the discovery Mary returned home, where her twin sons were born in their granfather's quaint old home to bear his name, and not to be the proud inheritors of their wealthy father's worldly rank and goods. It is impossible for the reader to feel indifferent on the perusal of this story—all the events seem so naturally described, all the characters so truth- fully depicted. Human nature, with its virtues and its crimes—the cunning of crafty age, the folly of giddy women, the love of enthusiastic youth, and the sterner records of trials that quench the hopes of this world, and the steadfast faith that can trust to another and a better, are here displayed before us with an earnestness and a pathos that irresistibly enchain and enchant the attention. Sir Philip Nugent is a sketch of many who are now shining in th world's high places, admired and courted, but whose conscience will whisper in the dull hours uncheered by the festive throng that a broken heart and a crushed spirit have been regis tered to their charge on that dread page of account where the magic of wealth and rank will hush no crimes and conceal no sinner. Cyrus is a striking ' instance of what a misguided youth will lead to. His talents were remarkable, but his fatal course of action rendered them really obstacles to his path in life. Few more impressive chapters have been written, in their peculiar style, than those which trace his wretched struggles in the great wilderness of London, when he was without a crust to eat or a roof to shelter him. His pride, which had held him up in so arrogant a career, went before a fall indeed, and painful above all the sad scenes of their anomalous position was the meeting in the poor lodging-house, between Sir Philip and his sons. Robert had hurried at the summons to his brother's side ; the false motives which actuated Cyrus forbade him to let any one know of his whereabouts till it was almost too late. He ex pressed a wish to see his father, but it was too late, for Sir Philip found him unconscious, and on his re turn home was himself seized with paralysis. Father and son never met again in this world; but it is satisfactory to find that Sir Philip parted in a better frame of mind from his other son than that which had hitherto been apparent through out his course. It was his last night on earth, for when the morrow came that was to hail the re-union of the long-estranged pair, who were really so attached to each other, the great bell at the Minster informed the brothers that he who had so deeply wronged them had departed from amongst them. There is quite a different story connected with the old town where Robert passes the happiest portion of his life, and in the quaint simplicity of its style it forms a refreshing contrast to the vexed turmoil and angry strife that raged like the troubled sea around Cyrus and his father. In the old house of his uncle Robert dwelt, and when the good old man died he succeeded to the most important part of his property. There is some skill in the portraitures of the various per sons connected with the concern, and the cunning and duplicity of Deborah Eliotson is a life-like sketch of her class of disposition; Reuben Otley, the partner of Robert's uncle, was a very disagree able and contentious man, and Robert had many arduous encounters before he could claim his rights as chief proprietor. There is a touch of nature in the description of old Tom Aldin, with his strange ways and his curt speech, yet so devoted to the old s place, and rooted in the old habits, that nothing could induce him to relinquish his situation. Mr. Otley was determined he should go, and Robert strenuously supported him, but the old servant saved them from the dilemma, and himself from dismissal, by " retiring from the firm, in a dignified yet pathetic manner, while in the discharge of his duty." One day the clerk was sent to rouse him, he having been surprised asleep at his post, which was a grave fault, never before committed by the watchful veteran ; but. on reaching the spot, he found that his sleep was that which knows no waking. "Tom had gone home, and taken the wages of his long and faithful service from the Great Master's hand." The scones in which Lilian appear are the most pleasing in the book, there is something especially charming about all we see and hear of that fair young being from her early child hood to her early . death. There is a gentle graci ous manner that irresistibly attracts, and it is the most touching passage of the story, when she is summoned from her innocent life, passed in good offices of service to her poor neighbours, and in forning the delight of her friends, to her last rest ing-place "in the green graveyard that slopes sea ward on Arbon Cliff's." It was there that Robert's mother was laid when her sad life was over, and her young daughter-in-law, whom she never saw, was placed beside her after a very different exist ence; More force is often revealed in the imper ceptible touches that depict some scenes, than in the stirring narrations of wild passions and terri ble deeds. There is a pathos and beauty in the sketch of Lilian's simple annals that do credit and honour to the author, even more than the many powerful scenes and striking characters who here figure before us. When Lilian stood with her friend in the deserted nursery, and wept " over the use less garments that once enfolded the tender limbs of her little one in Heaven," and exclaimed in heartfelt anguish , " Oh, surely, . Deborah, when I die, God will give me my darl ing into my arms a gain," the reader seems to behold a page of real life unfolded, with its purest affections and saddest bereavements. In the descriptions met with in this book then, is often an impressive and animated style. The author seems to enter into them, and not to be Merely re citing a trite and commonplace account. In especial m ust be noticed the momentous visit of Cyrus and Phillis to the abbey ruins. It was prophetic of the fate of their tragic love, that its confession should have been made amid the echoes of crumb ling walls and the shades of departed splendours. In describing the character of the scenes around, it is observed that the glory had long departed from the stately chapels and the solemn cloisters, but the beauty of the stream, and the trees, and the sunshine in the valley, was the same. " Man's pride and man's labour pass away, but God and nature endure, and these connect us with the great hearts that went to dust at Eurevaulx centuries ago more than all the arches and columns they ever reared." It is always gratifying to meet with a work like the present, in which something far superior to the everyday productions of romancists is placed before us. Trifling as some may deem the pages of a novel, they are not necessarily so, if they display on their passing scene the true reflex of the passions and prejudices that will remain among men till the fashion of the world itself shall pass away. In all the works of this author there is some high endeavour manifested, some ruling pas sion strongly marked out, and some deep feeling evinced that invest them with real interest. " Against Wind and Tide," is an admirable title for the record of such a life as that of Cyrus, who might truly have exclaimed— " Me, howling winds drive devious, tempest-tossed, Sails ripped, seams opening wide. and compass lost; Amid day by day some current's thWarting force Sets me mure distant from a prosperous course." To all who appreciate a powerfully concentrated work this one may be fairly recommended, in the confident expectation that they will not be dis appointed in the perusal of its brilliant pages. Narragansett ; or, The Plantations. 'A Story of Three vols. Chapman and Hall. The author of this work lins proposed to write an historical romance of the early days of the Ameri can War of Independence, and had he carried out his intention with clearness and vig our th er e is no doubt that the subject would have had many re commendation% There, is, however, a want of coherence and consistency in his narrative ; his canvas is crowded with so many figures that they jostle each other and prevent thp reader tom having a cl , :ar perception of their individuality._ _ The dramatis personae are often introduced without ceremony and disposed of in an equally summary manner. There is no expression of political feeling, but the author seems to uphold the principles of the republicans, while individually and collectively pourtraying them as rapacious, dishonest, and fero cious. He has little mercy on his heroes or heroines, for all the love affairs terminate disastrously, while Death plays a most prominent part in the winding up of his story. It is the very opposite of the ter mination of " Rasselas," and might truly be styled "a conclusion in which everything is concluded," seeing that the lives and fortunes of the actors in its pages are put a decided stop to. The old friends and scholars, Dr. Hartley and Fitzgibbon, are pleasantly drawn, while some of the minor sketches are amusing. Miss Hartley is a bright and sensible heroine, though we see but little of her; and Leah, the gentle daughter of the heartless Jew, Seixas, is a pleasant contrast to her surroundings. The un fortunate Prescott awakens the commiseration of the reader ; 1 his fate is very unromantic and un usual for a hero, but it is probably the more life like. Many of the writer's extravagancies may doubtless be attributed to inexperience and a too great effort for an untrained writer. We should recommend him in future to be less ambitious in the size and compass of his work ; to aim at a clearer plot, a style more succinct, and a smaller number of characters, when he will probably produce a much more attractive and successful narrative. THE CONGRESS. The Pays publishes the following as a definitive official list of the Plenipotentiaries who will repre sent the great powers in the Congress : Count de Rechberg and Prince de Metternich for Austria. Lord Cowley and Lord Wodehouse for Great Britain. Baron de Schleinitz and Count de Pourtales for Prussia. Prince Gortschakoff and Count de Kisseleff for Russia. Spain will be represented by M. Martinez de la Rosa and M. Mon. Portugal by Count de Lavradio and Viscount de Paiva. It adds that " the names of the plenipotentiaries for the Holy See, the Two Sicilies, Sardinia, and Sweden are not yet officially known." According to the latest news, it is still supposed that Cardinal Antonelli will represent Rome; and the Vienna journals give out that he is assured be forehand of " triumphant success." FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. Some new diplomatic arrangements have taken place. M. le Marquis Chateaurcnard is named first Secretary of the French Embassy 'at London ; M. Fournier, first Secretary at St. Petersburg ; the Count de Bondy, first Secretary at Madrid ; M. Rothan, first Secretary at Frankfort ; the Marquis de Cadore, first Secretary at Rome ; and the Count de Masbourg first Secretary at Vienna. The cold is still severe in Paris. At six this morning the thermometer stood at 12 deg. below p freezing point ; at ten o'clock, 11 deg. ; and at three o'clock, between 7 and 8. Accounts from Marseilles state that the cold there is more intense than any experienced for many years. The coun try is covered with snow. The mistral raged there with such violence for several duys last week that not only pedestrians but carriages were upset in the streets. The thermometer stood at 10 degrees below freezing point at Lyons on Saturday. The ground is covered with snow. A severe snowstorm occurred in Rouen on Friday last, which prevented carriages from moving in the streets. The theatres were deserted, and several persons who ventured into the streets met with ac cidents. The fall of snow at Arras was so great that it was impossible for the inhabitants to quit their houses for several hours. The mail train from Paris to Strasburg was detained nearly three hours at Bar le Duc. THE BOURSE, Dee. 19.—The market has been heavy, with a very limited amount of business doing. Threes, after having b2en at 70f. 50c., declined to 70f. 40e. ; Mobilier varied from 845 f. to 8-10 f. ; Lyons, 940 f. to 937 f. 50c.; Orleans, 1,422 f. 50c. to 1,415 f. ; Northern, 972 f. 50c. to 970 f. ; Southern, 537 f. 50c. to 535 f. ; Austrian, 575 f, to 572 f. 50e. ; Lombard, 577 f. 50e. to 575 f. The following were the last quotations: 4f per Cents. .... 96 4 1 Credit Foncier 725 Do. end month.. 96 75 I Belgian 41 99 50 3 per Cents 7O 15 Piedmontese (5) .. 85 50 Do. end month 7O 35 Roman B3 50 Bank Shares 2895 i Austrian Credit Mobilier .. 837 50 ' l Spanish Threes Do. Acceunti ..... 837 50 I Home Debt 43 33 E.LILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern 972 50 .. 970 New ditto B6l 25 .. 863 75 Lyons and Mediterranean" 935 .. 935 Geneva 540 .. 545 Southern Western 575 .. 577 50 Eastern Sardinian 422 50 .. 423 75 ' Austrian 571 25 .. 572 50 Lombard .. . Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 10e. ; money, 25f. 9e. ; three months, paper, 24f. 95c. ; money, 24f. 93Ac. SPAIN AND MOROCCO. The Madrid Gazette of the 14th inst. publishes the following despatch from the Captain-General, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Africa, dated from the Camp of Otero, Dec. 12 : " The reserve division, under General Count de Reuss, left the camp this morning with a view to protect the works of the road to Tetuan. Towards noon the Moors debouched from the Anghera-road; they commenced the attack on our left, and on the rear guard of the division. I immediately order©d it to be reinforced by the battalions of the Ist corps, holding all the forces ready in case the engagement should become general along the whole line., This did not take place. From the Prince Alfonso re doubt, where I had placed myself, I saw the enemy driven back by Our victorious troops. Their loss must have been considerable, as the ground, though much broken, was not quite suited to their mode of fighting. Our loss was 40 men killed and wounded. " General Ros has arrived with his corps d'armee —the infantry landed t day, and during the course of to-morrow the landing of the materiel, horses, and mules will be effected. The Ost Deutsche Post contradicts the report that the dispossessed Italian Dukes have any in tention of presenting a memorial to the Congress in support of their rights. The dukes have re ceived no official notice of the meeting of the Con gress. The concordats concluded with the Holy See by the Governments of Wurtemburg and Baden are each day regarded with stronger antipathy by public opinion in those two countries. It is now thought that they 3,vi11 not obtain the constitu tional approbation of the Chambers. • THE SUEZ CANAL SCHEME. Our French neighbours must not be surprised if a good many people on this side the Channel should persist in taking them at their own word in the mat ter of the Suez Canal Scheme. When a writer so conversant with the policy of his country and the ideas of his countrymen as M. de Girardin distinctly declares that the project in question is founded on hostility to England, and when that declaration coincides, as it does very curiously, with other indi cations pointing in the same direction, Englishmen may well be justified in preparing to parry the thrust of which such plain warning has been given. Even where little weight is attached to these threats the uneasiness of politicians finds scope and object in the absence of any reasonable explanation of the scheme on ordinary grounds. If the project, as we all believe admits of no defence in a p ecun i ar y o r commercial point of view, why should it be prose cuted with such uncommon energy, and sustained by such extraordinary support ? Is there not some thing wrong where there is so evidently nothing right! These are the reflections now passing through the public mind. Our daily correnpondence seldom fails to apprise us of all the currents of popular opinion, and accordingly we have received one communication after another in condemna tion of the scheme and proceedings of M. de Lesseps. We cannot say that these arguments have changed our opinion as to the policy of resisting the conces sion, but, at any rate, they shall be placed at the public service. If the Isthmus of Suez, we are told, were actually pierced by a navigable canal, that canal would be the shortest route to the East, to the Mauritius, to Ceylon, to India, and to Australia. It would also, according to the terms of the enterprise, be in the hands of the French, or, at any rate, the French would be able, in the event of war, to despatch an expedition from Toulon or Algeria, and seize the canal without delay. This done, they would com mand the Indian Seas, for, as they would be in pos session of the shorter route, they could send their squadrons and cruisers down the Red Sea, and fall upon our commerce or our colonies long before we could arrive in the same waters by way of the Cape. All this seems plain enough, no doubt; but not to mention that we have stations in the Mediterranean nearer Egypt than either Toulon or Bona, and con sequently might get a start in the supposed race for the canal, it is the sincere conviction of English men that the canal itself is an impossibility, and that a navigable channel through the isthmus from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea can never be maintained. That conviction, indeed, is one of our motives for looking askance at the whole proposal, and we cannot therefore accept an argument founded on the opposite assumption. To this reasoning, however, it is rejoined that, even if the proposed works should be found utterly impracticable, much of the mischief would still be done. Egypt has been regarded for more than one generation as a point from which France might menace England . with serious injury. Napoleon I. thought so, and England evinced similar convictions when she encountered his schemes by a rival expe dition. Louis Philippe thought so too, and M. de Girardin's pamphlet may safely be quoted to show what Frenchmen think at the present day. Now, however complete may be the failure of M. de Les seps' project in other respects, it might probably suc ceed in promoting or even establishing what, accord ing to these traditions, are called" French interests" in Egypt. For instance, the scheme comprises very considerable grants of land to the company in con nexion with the canal, so that the result would be equivalent to the settlement of a French colony in the heart of Egypt, giving endless opportunities of intervention to the French Government. More over, the enterprise would tend directly to the con summation of the first step towards bringing Egypt entirely under French influence—viz., the severance of this province from the dominions of the Sultan. At present Egypt is part and parcel of Turkey, pal the Porte, as we see in this very matter, exercises a control over Egyptian politics. If, however, the Viceroy could be rendered independent, this check would be removed, and the province be made more amenable to the influence of France. Here, also, history is appealed to for practical evidence of these impressions on both sides. The French have always supported the Pashas in their refractory moods ; we have always upheld the authority of the Porte. Now, slowly and gradually, but by step after step, have matters been so ordered in Egypt that any future intervention on behalf of the Sul tan would be a work of far greater difficulty than before. The Mediterranean coasts of the country have been fortified so strongly that the famous landing under Sir Ralph Abercromby whichoul made under represent could not easily be repeatedmad% the present day. These fortifications were under the auspices of Louis Philippe'sai Government. Again the road from the Red Sea to Alexandria a by t way of Cairo, which our Indian ny traversed that same period, has beau closedby a work osten sibly devoted to agricultural purposesr , but in reality as a strong military post. lhere still re mains one route open, and one only, and that would i be effectually barred by the Su acertain Suez Canal. distance A. de Lesseps need only carry his works into the country, and all access to Egypt from Syria along the coast would be completely prevented. The Suez Canal would effect to good purpose what it was thought that our own Hythe Canal might effect half a century ago. It would oppose to an army advancing from Syria a trench 300 feet wide and 30 feet deep, which, if defended by batteries on the Egyptian side, would be a serious obstacle to a Turkish army, so that a Viceroy might confidently set his Sovereign at defiance. These results, we are reminded, would be entirely irrespective of the completion of the canal, so that England, in the fair pursuit of her own interests, may reasonably oppose the project, although convinced of its im practicability. We are further assured that, in point of fact, neither the Sultan nor the Pasha needs any instigation to look upon the scheme with sus picion. The Sultan comprehends very clearly the danger impending over his province ; the Viceroy discerns that, though he might indeed be enabled to defy his present master, the issue would not ultimately be conducive to his independence. Eng land, therefore, is not called upon to put a control upon the policy of the Porte, but only to approve and support a resolution wisely conceived. We have now given these views a full, and, as we believe, an adequate expression. We do not deny—indeed, after M. de Girardin's confession, it would be impossible to deny—that some such con ceptions as have been here delineated may be at the bottom of French policy in the Suez Canal scheme. We might impeach the value of these designs by certain counter - considerationa, but should not the question rather be estimated on broader and more enlightened grounds ? In a few words, have these struggles for " influence " ever been productive of much advantage ? Have these national oontests for ascendancy or equilibrium usually resulted in any political success ? Have not affairs generally gravitated to a natural position, and left all States and Governments with their natural powers and advantages, in despite of the artificial conditions imposed by virtue of treaties or force of arms ? To take the strongest of all ex amples, what lesson can we draw from the position of France herself ? Fifty years ago she was placed. as it were, under European custody, and the most elaborate contrivances, including even a rediqri bution of Europe, were designed for the purpose of perpetuating the arrangements. 'What has' been the result ? is France powerless ? Has she lost every pretension to military ascendancy? Is the Imperial dynasty proscribed ? M. de Girardin can answer these (per ks —probably much to his satisfaction ; but we may perhaps suggest in return that his ideas of reducing the British Empire to impotence by piercing the Isthmus of Suez are at the least as preposterous as those by which it was hoped to stifle the growth and energies of France. Such notions, in fact, had better be discarded alto gether. The Suez Canal scheme is so manifestly a delusion in its ostensible purport that we have been, and even still should be, completely justified in op posing it on the ground of the designs it covered. We believe, however, that those designs themselves would fail as completely as the pecuniary specula tion, and we have questioned , accordingly, the wis dom of perpetuating a contest in which, though our d interests were perhaps really attacked, we id not see that they were really endangered.—Times. DEATH OF THE RIGIIT .FT IL FITZROY, JILT., FOR LEN7S. (Rod; the Sussex Express.) It is this week our melancholy duty to announce the death of the Right Hon. H enr y Fitzroy, MP., which took place on Saturday evening last, a little before six o'clock, at his residence , 3, Sussex-square, Kemp Town, Brighton. The r i g ht hon. gentleman, as our readers are aware, has for some time been dangerously ill, being assailed by a combination of fever and ague ' • and it will be remembered that his colleague, the Hon. H. Brand, in referring to his absence from a late dinner, then stated that Mr. Fitzroy's health had suffered from over-anxious and zealous attention to the dutie s of the important office he occupied at the period of his decease. He was attended by Mr. Furner, surgeon, of the firm of Messrs. Taylor and Furner, and we understand that the more immediate cause of t he hon. gentle man's death was exhaustion, arising from the dura tion of the attack. The Hon. Henry Fitzroy was a son of th e second Baron Southampton, and only brother and heir presumptive of the present lord. He was born on the 2d May, 1807, in Stanhope-street , and was con sequently in the 53d year of his age. As it i s not stated in the usual sources of inform ation that the hon. member was brought up at a n y of our great public schools or at either of the universities, we presume he was privately educated. At 24, how' ever, we find he was returned for Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire, a town of very much the same pelt lation as the borough of Lewes, and having upWaw' of 800 electors. It was a dark December night, in 1834, that a travelling barouche drew up at the White gal Hotel, amidst the speculation of groups gathereu• about in different parts, and from it emerged the Hon. H. Fitzroy, M.P. He w as a fine-looking ntl/ oung man, with an intellectual fac e, emir prepossessing in his appearance, and dressed in the most Friends fashionable style of t the t he da. quickly rallied he then'un knoWn q candidate, and in allied very few days an electi on Was progressing in full vigour. The Whig candidates were Mr. T. It. Kemp and Sir Charles Blunt, the former members for the borough. T h e n ominat ie ! took place on the sth Jannary. Mr. Fitzroy We: proposed by R. Gear, Esq., and seconded by P e ' Lowdell, Esq. The numbers at th e close of th ; poll were—Sir C. Blunt, 511 ; Mr. Kempt, 3,2 and Mr. Fitzroy, 359. On the retirement of orn ing Kemp, in 1837, Mr. Easthope, of the Chronicle, appeared -s his successor in the Liberal interest, when Mr. Fitzroy again contested th seat, and the Conservatives were this time succer ful, Mr. Fitzroy polling 397 votes, w hilst inr". Easthope received only 371. The death 1001 William the Fourth speedily followed, and t .d. two parties now found themselves fairly arreY`pd The Hon. H. Fitzroy and Capt. Lyon b.ling opns by Sir Charles Blunt and Thomas Brand, -Det the result was—Sir C. Blunt, 413 ; The election came off on the 24th July, 1837, 1 : 11 ' 401; T. Brand, Esq., 338 ; and Captain Lyon, 34 ' d In 1841, the most memorable election on ree B l / took place in this bdrough. The struggle .in, l n d had showed how nearly parties were divide" , ° the the result was, every vote was deemed of highest importance. The Conservative candidaT were the Hon. H. Fitzroy and Viscount Cantillp and the Liberals were represented by Mr', 9 ; Hon. H. Fitzrep Elphinstono and Mr. Somers Harford. At the close of the poll the numbers were—Harford 411, ElPh l _ i r stone 409, Hon. H. Fitzroy 407, and Viscount Calfi: tilupe 388. The Conservatives immediately tioned, and after the first day's hearing the Liberal_ further exposure, agreed to a finding their case desperate, and anxious tole, esean comprom an the Hon. Henry Fitzroy retained the seat i. , o „ had so gallantly fought for, whilst Mr. ElPT er stone being preferred to Mr. Harford, the 10 '4 gentleman, who was at the head of the:poll, found himself, to great surprise, deprived of his seal .. ., In 1846 Sir Robert Peel, it will be remetahe,fe_: resolved on repealing the corn laws, and the llo r u_ H. Fitzroy having given in his adhesion to the p position, became a Lord of the Admiralty. He then returned for the borough without opposition., and from that period to the present time, althoygl; his seat. In December, 1852, he frequently opposed, the hon. member has retainedec_ retary of State for the Home Department, andln mained iu that position till February,, 1 g( ) % March of the same year he was appointed C a man of Committees of the House of Cornnions.,„ Under the present Government he became - " du n became Under-_ re' dent of the Board of Works, which office he held to the time of his decease. As a member of Parliament, Mr. Fitzroy wil l be remembered by actsj_ both relating to eminently practical subjects. The regulation of Lo ndon and the protection to females from brut al assai6rs are no mean contributions to our legislation- ~„2. still more valuable character was the act exten i ,"„ l * - t '; the jurisdiction of the County Courts from X;''.,„ £5O. These were perfected whilst the hon. ber was Under Secretary for the Home had all ment, and is is not too much to say that, equsll, Lord Palmerston's subordinates served him well, his Administration would not have been e" short-lived an inglorious. Some time d must elapse before a new election can take place. As Conservative candidates _p! names afloat in private circles are those of Niri Amphlett, Q.C., or Lord West , the eldest on e l the Earl Delawarr. Mr. Blencow e and Colone' Cavendish have been mentioned as pr obable in the, Liberal interest ; but the death of the h on. slernb % has at last come upon us all so sudd enl y , that l would be premature at present to indulge in sPe culation. That Mr. Fitzroy, during his represenii tation of this borough, has always proved him to be a man of no ordinary talent, cannot be gil' tioned ; and in private life he has ever been high l y esteemed even by those who were politically Or bic h eee i cdantl regrettedsim. 1 ot y inat nu a ry t ea t nt e tgthh n seea t ;nr i t v tathl e nh: mds t a o ntet han e s le v aete e cnog r rt y i hsffioa m eer negn a doep t t rhmt e i hi r vsaeay o iatr f eme posed to him. He was courteous to all, and p rove r dt pfoiinterestramoibleeilfriendship, political hav e le isa t pp_ ets h i yet cannot be surprised at such a result. . _ EXTRAORDINARY ANNO UNCISAIR A r f OF TILE LOSS OF TILE GREAT BRITAIN• • - LIVERPOOL, MONDAY. The following announcement appeared yesterday amongst the shipping intelligence at the Under writers' Rooms here : . " A small tin canister was picked up this Me rl ; i s n t ide, on which was written the following !11, near the mouth of the river , with two paPer' Sorel ( eamship, Great Britain, foundered off the IVestera Islands.' ` Mem.—The Great Britain screw steam only y, wl sailed on the 11th inst. for Mel bourne, alll was off Tuskar at four a.m. next da W i th Wil l ' N.E." We sincerely hope there is no foundation for t he report, but, if a hoax, it is one of the most diabolical that can be imagined. All the proba bilities ar e against the truth of the statement, and the under' writers place no confidence at all in it. It Worto: unlikely that, in the prevalence of cutting .ue east winds, the great Britain would take t i ! northerly run to clear Ireland when would suit her better ; and the fact that shew he : seen off Tuskar on the 12th inst., 1 _s Again fv o f would having taken a southerly course. it be almost a miracle for a tin canister to have drifte d from the locality of the Western islands right int o the mouth of the Mersey within the time requ isite the to support the statement, and especially witn southeraiy North•easterly wind blowing, though a curr ent,• does flow from that direction towards Liven? li l t An ingenious assumption is mentioned, whi.c n it once relieves us from the necessity of suppeellg it a hoax, and enables us to believe that the el" speeding on her voyage in safety. About t wel ve months ago the Great Britain encountered a dr :" 0 . ful storm off the Western Islands, in which she " in imminent danger, and sustained some datetg°l At this time it is quite possible that, in the fear of the e mergency, some canisters may have 0 g thrown overboard, and that they, have been tOSSI ..,, d.ll n o i: a b o ut ever since, and one has at las t been pieke n ear the Mersey. We trust that this explanati l° will be realised, and that all will be found to ha ended prosperously. --....•........... .... f d MR. FREDERICK -- DOUGLA----SS AND THE FfAltrEit !guying, i lT i t if i ‘ t a y x, laNtsluvhniietti:r tocnoN.—F'rieldeerißeekv.vitou.glLa.ssCisarritenter, --,. states that the latter was concerned in thePrrei7oirs insurrection in the following way only :—,, He is charged bl Captain Cook with having abetted the Harper's Ferry In. surrection, and then desertiwr it. As ha has informed t°', American public by a letter, which has appeared in ratinY °i their papers, Captain Cook is wholly unknown to him, 01:1 is accusation is untrue. Unless Captain Cook was a poll who once called on him with Captain Brown, he does _11!! _ even know who he is. Wi th Capt. Brownwn Mr. Doug h ! has long been very intimate, and he entirely approved of DI plan of helping' the slaves to escape to the mountains, WI! secure their freedom. He was cognisant of the Harper," Ferry plan; but did his utmost to dissuade him froulN_ In his anxiety to avert what he deemed an impractic scheme, he went, about a month before the event, to Visit,,. Captain Brown at Charnbersburg, about t h e from llarper's Ferry. His arguments were, however, _vi. availing; and his visit would no doubt be taken as 011 _, ° _,, dente that he was a party to the plan. Ile is in no 7%,'. therefore, mixed up with the insurrection, except in sO t ' o i that did not betray his knowledge of it ; and he is n u . • Browns sines any way chargeable with deserting Captain -eight %one: Captain Brown well knew that ho was opposedto it." mai Mal Wer Sha pric maz ral hom hou on nem At /leg still cen are riti arf an Tr Ca IJ I