The Sun. — London, England, 1862-01-21 00:00:00

DR UR Y-LANE THEATRE ROYAL. Lessee, Mr. E. T. SMITH. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. D MORNING PERFORMANCE of the PAN ~very WEDNESDAY, at Two o'Clock. THIS EVENING, a new Operetta, entitled ONCE TOO OFTEN. Herr Reichardt, Herr Formes, Mdlle. Jenny Bauer, and Miss E. Heywood. After which will be produced, with that attention to com pleteness in every department by which the Christmas Annuals of this Theatre have been so pie-eminently dis tinguished, the New Grand Comic Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN and the HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT or, Old Mother Hubbard and het tii onderful Dog. "If a man do build a dwelling upon common land fnim sunset to sunrise, and enclose a piece of ground, wherein there shall be a tree, a lnast feeding, a fire kindled, a chim ney smoking, and provisions in the pot, such dwelling shall be freely held by the builder, anything herein to the con trary nevertheless notwithstanding."—Old Forest Charter. The Novel Effects and Splendid Scenery by WILLIAM BEVERLEY. Assisted by Messrs. C. Pitt, Craven, Brow, &c., &c. Masks, Symbolic Devices, Personal Appointments, and _Designs for the Costumes, by the celebrated Dykwynkyn. The Overture and Music composed and•arranged by Mr. J. H. TULLY. The Machinery by Mr. Tucker and As sistants. The Tricks, Properties, Changes, and Transfor mations, by Mr. Needham, assisted by Messrs C-lindon, H. Adams, H. Langham, &c. The Costumes by Miss Dickin son, Mr. Lauri, and Mr. Palmer. The Gas Appointments by Mr. 1-1 inckley. The Choregrauhic Arrangements by Mr. Cormack. The Harlequinade and Comic Scenes by Messrs. Cormack and B. Jones. The Perfume of the Flowers supplied by Rimmel's process. The Grotesque Burlesque Opening invented and written by E. L. BLANCHAR D. And the whole arranged and produced under the imme diate superintendence of Mr. ROBERT ROXBY. Synopsis of Scenery, Incidents, and Characters, OLD MOTHER HUBBARD'S COTTAGE, With Rural Landscape, and Rookwood Manor Hall in the Distance (Daylight), "Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, to get her poor Dog a bone; when she got there, the cupboard was bare, and so the poor Dog had none."—Ancient Nur sery Legend. Old Mother Hubbard, Mr. Atkins ; Her Dog, Signor Lorenzo ; Jack (the " Man all tattered and torn "), Miss F. Hunt; the Squire, Mr. Tom Matthews ; Dame Wiggins of Lee, Mr. Dixon ; Dame Trot, Mr. Barsby ; Her Won derful Cat, Master -Waggles ; the Great Goose, Master Sageaninguns ; Constables, Messrs. Grib and Grab ; Parish Beadle, Mr. Bumble; Villagers, Messrs. Yokel, Pumpkin, Whackstraw, Chawbacon, &c., &c.; Rosetta (the " Maiden all Forlorn"), Miss Stuart. How Mother Hubbard has a certain " party" to tea and turn out, and of the remarkable pranks played by her comical Dog—The Head, the Hat, and the Hose—The Dog's Tale and Mrs. H.'s Narrative-- Arrival of the Squire—Proclamation of Witch Burning— Threatened incremation of Mother Hubbard on her own hearth, and her Mystic Flight upon a Broomstick. THE WITCHES' GLEN AND WATERFALL, in the Valley of Perfumed Flowers, by Moonlight. Will-o' -the-Wisp Miss Lanza. —-- - - Ignes Fatni—Mdlles. Sidney, Tracers, Barnes, A. Barnes ; Livermore; Webb, Taylor, Braithwaite,Hammil ton, Stap , ley, Harris, Candy, Copeland, Archer. Hawkins, Delaney, Wilson, Williams, Robinson, Wood, W arean , an d Hamel ton. Grand Ballet, Chagne-a-Lanterne, by the Misses GUN. NISS and the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. The Invocation! The Incantation!! and the Evapora. tion I II THE VILLAGE GREEN AND ROADSIDE ALE HOUSE. Old Grype (the Steward), Mr. Glindon ; Old Scratche (his Clerk), Mr. Tanner ; Tenantry, Messrs. Cringe, Scrape, Shuffle, Cut, Packoff, Moonraker, and Runaway; Tailor, Mr. Snipshears ; Bootmaker, Mr. Tighfflt ; Mum mies, Messrs. Grinner, joker, Magger, Cracksides, O'Reilly, M'Phun, &c.; St. George, Mr. E. Roe; the Dragon, Mr. Scalyfellow ; Valentine, Mr. Febbyerry ; Orson, Mr. Wildman; Still-Walker, Mr. Longlegs; Bear- Warden, Mr. Smuggins ; the Bear, Mr. Huggins ; Land lord, Mr. Treblex ; Morris-Dancers, Messrs. Trip, Tap, Flip, Flap, &c., &c. ; Jack Padding, Mr, Merryman. How the Squire celebrates his birthday, and the Village Revel that follows—Coming of Age in the Olden Time How the Tenantry treated in one way and how Jack is rested in another—the Dog's instinct and Mother Hub - bard's reason. THE " CAGE" ON THE COMMON (Sunset). Grand Scena Comique and Pas de Broomstick, by Mother Hubbard. The Dreamer and the Worker—The Vision of Pleasure and the Division of Labour—Figures of Fun (from the Fancy-store of Dykwynkyn) Messrs. Mason, Drainpipes, Carpenter, Hodman, Old Brick, and Young Shaver, Lilli putian Labourers, Pig m y Plasterers, Tiny Tilers, Minia ture Masons, Baby Bricklayers, Short Sawyers, Dwarf Drain Makers, and Child Carpenters by a Host of Juvenile THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. The Rat, Master Longwhisker ; The Cat, Miss Mouser ; The Dog, By Himself; The Cow, Madame Brindle; The Priest (" All shaven and shorn"), Mr. Jollyman ; The Cock (" That crowed in the Morn") Master Cocky-doodle doo. Realisation of the famous Picture in the National Gal lery of Little Britain, taken (by permission) for Boys, from a rare work in the collectien of Master Smith, London. FROGPOOL IN THE MARSHES (Twilight). Song, " Will o' the Wisp," composed by J. H. Tully, Esq. How the Squire goes Hunting and loses his way and his temper, and what follows in consequence—Another curious instance of Canine sagacity—Bull-frogs, Masters Hop, Skip, Jump, Creak, &c. SQUASH-HOLLOW SWAMP AND BED OF BULRUSHES. How the Squire comes to grief and afterwards to repent ance, and how Jack is recognised as the rightful heir—The reward and harmonious movements of the Fairies on a Grand Chromatic Scale towards WILL 0' WISP'S HOME BENEATH THE WATERFALL. The Transformation. Harlequins Messrs. CORMACK and ST. MAINE Columbines Pantaloons Messrs. G. TANNER and MORLEY. Clowns Grotesque 1861-1862 SPRITES by the RIDGWAYS and SUWELL FAMILY. 1.-EXTERIOR OF TWO SHOPS IN " UP-OR DOWN" STREET. Messrs. Huline, St. Maine, Tanner, and Miss S. Gunniss, • Christmas Presents—every Man (and Boy) to his Post, oven the Post-Man—Clown rides the high horse, which proves his rock a-head—Two Young Men from the Country, and Clown gets over them—a Sewing Machine (not a poor Needlewoman)—a thorough Blow out—a Man in very re duced circumstance—Clown finds the Fruits of stealing Apples in an elephantine way —a Band of Brothers—the Police in Great and Small Force—Clown gets into a row and blows up a policeman—the end of this scene is all Bustle—N.B. Not Crinoline. 2.—THE GREAT SENSATION KITCHEN. llessrs. Forrest, Correack, Morley, and Miss Gunniss. 'Harlequin seeks Protection, although a Free-trader— The Cook's Guide—Clown tries to take the chair—the head ish of the table—Harlequin goes through a Deal, and Clown becomes a Board-er—Silence those dreadful Bells— Clown and Pantaloon make an ap-Peal to the Audience on the Merry Musical Bells—Pantaloon rather hard pressed— arrival of a distinguished Foreigner—Clown falls into his own trap, and kills a Blue-bottle, which proves a bad Buzz-ness for him—a Lecture on the Gorilla, by a well known character—Clown meets with a few Friends (not Quakers)—this Scene ends at the finish of it. 3.—THE IN TERIOR OF A RAILWAY STATION. Eight, hours at the Sea-side for 2s 6d—Duty off Paper— "'1 he TirneA" reduced and the Times on the rise—a book that takes leafe of Clown—Harlequin gets his horse from a Stall am! sets up a trap. No Smoking a•Loud, only on the Quiet—Clown makes a Tremendous Christmas Tree— late arrivals—Messrs. Neverintime, Toolate, Dearme, and Blessme—Clown burns his fingers (not the only person that has done so)—Clown gives Good Bail and finds a Bale o goods. 4.—The SEA-SIDE. The Sands I The Sands ! I The Sands II I Come unto these yellow sands. A Sailor telling a Yarn and a boat Lying too—the Pier Master's ap-Pierance—Clown makes a Man's hair turn sandy and proves himself in the wrong box—by a slight Miss-Take, which a certain Miss won't Take—Pantaloon gets some shell-fish in a very Selfish manner—Clown asto nishes the Natives—Sailors that use their Cut-Lasses but don't Cut Lasses when they can join with them in a National Hornpipe—Clown gets a Sensation Leader—The Great Donkey Stir St. Leger—Clown and Pantaloon's Coneert— fine ears for Music—they fish in troubled waters Divided Interest—a sudden Squall (Children and all) ---The latest Novelty in Parrchutes. Sene—A DISMAL SWAMP—After a storm a calm appears, a "HARLEQUIN'S HOME ON HIS THRONE OF SPLENDOU R. Doors open at half-past Six, to commence at Seven o'clock. Tickets for Boxes , and Galleries, may be had at the Box Office before the opening. IF) 0 YAL ENGI Tv COVENT 0 AIRD'ENIT. .ZOPERA, Under the management of Miss Louisa "Me and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS E VENING, THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER in-: Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan I'yne ; Mr. Santley, Af t . v,,,Z..,..1 9 Mr. George Honey, Mr. Patey, Mr. A. St. Al b . —. 3,i',.`:" / : pfstin. Mr. Wallworth, Mr. Eugene Dussek, Mi. '' , b. Ly and Mr. W. Harrison. all, Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. After which will be produced (written expres•ly by J. M. 3lorton), a Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled lIARLEQUIN GULLIVER ; or, A Trio to Brobdignaz a Peep at Lilliput, and a Flying Visit to Laputa. Gulliver, Mr: W. H. Payne ; Mrs. Guld ver, Mr. F. Payne. Principal danseuse. Mdlle. Lamoureux, supported by the sde Ballet. The Harlequinile sustained Ladies of the Corp by the eminent Pantomimists, Messrs. H. Payne, F. Payne, B. Lauri, E. Lauri, S. Lauri, and Miss Jenny Lauri. • - w ~'~ Commence at Seven, • HEA TR Ri)Y A L, HAYMARKET, Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bacirstorie. 'l' IS EV! , :NTI) ) ."G to commence with THE T T ONEYMOO'c J u liana, Miss Jane Coombs; Jacques, Mr. Buck tone. • :VI-or which, a Comic Christmas Pantoniime, LITTLE isS hi U FEET AND LITTLE BOY BLUE ; or, Harle quin flr(1 ()Id Daddy lonfllev. Louise Leclercq, Chad, a Lc ciercq, Ilca Cole, G. Becket, and Miss Uesine. Wmmence a 7. .CEUM THEATRE. I t ()YA 3 i r j aniv ,; ll e 'r--Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, Jan. 2L' the new and original Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. :I!essrs. Walter Lacy, 'Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal coner ; Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston. Alter which, a rew and original Burlesque Extrava,zanza, entitled LITTLE RED RID ING HOOD ; or, Th Fairies of the Rote, the Thistle, and the Shainreck. Pr inci p al charac ters by Mr. Chaa. Selby,lllr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and Miss Lydia Thoq ,q)son. Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chstterton. II r. Prices as usual. Doo, re open a t h a lf- pas t 6 , to commenCe at Box-oilice open chit from 11 tills. % rr HE CREATION, by the NATIONAL CHORAL SOClETY.—Conductor, Mr. G. W. MARTIN. EXETER HALL, WEDNESDAY, 8 o'clock. Soloists, litadlle. Florence Lancia, Messrs. George Perrin and Lewis Thomas. Complete Band, and the largest Cnor,.. in Eng land. Tickets, is., 25., and 3s. each; numbered stalls ts. ; of the principal music -sellers, and at the offices of the Society, 14 and 15, Exeter Hall (first-floor).—WM. HAMMOND, Secretary. LOYAL PRINCESS'S THE ATRE.- Lessee, Mr A. Harris. THIS EVENING, THE IRISH EMIGRANT. Mr. W. J. Florence. Followed by THE YANKEE HOUSEKEEPER. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Florence. After which a Comic Christmas Pantomime, WHITTING TON AND HIS CAT ; or, Harlequin King Kollywobbol and the Genius of Good Humour. The grotesque opening invented and written by Henry J. Byron, Esq., author of the Princess's Pantomime of "Jack the Giant Killer." The Scenery by Mr. James Gates, Mr. H. Cuthbert, and numerous assistants. Good Humour, Miss Helen Howard ; Princess Popsiwopsi, Miss Rose Leclercq ; Alice, Miss Pauline Le clercq ; Messrs. Garden, Cathcart, Morland, Collett, Hast ings. Raymond; Dick Whittington, Miss Maria Barns; Robin Goodfellow and th e Cat, Master John Haslem, pupil of the celebrated Gabriel Ravel ,• Clown, Mr. Hildyard ; Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; •Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Colum bine, Miss Caroli ne Adams. Morning Performances will take place at Two o' c l oc k every M on d a y till further notice. NEW THEATRE-1W YAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor end Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, and during the week the great Drama, entitled THE OCTOROON ; or, LIFE IN LOUISIANA : Messrs. Grace Billington, Emery, Phillip 4, Jamison, Smith, Stephenson,Homer. Lewis ; Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Mar ston, Miss C. Denvil, Miss Latimer, and Mrs. IL Lewis. After which, at 20 minutes past 9, the great Irish Drama of THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr.D. Bouccault, Missßanoe, Mr. Fisher, Miss Woolgar, dm. Box Office open from 10 till 5. NEW ROYALTY THEATRE, Dean-street, Oxford-street. THIS EVENING, A NICE QUIET DAY. After which (3d time) Offenbach's Opera Buffo, entitled LE MARIAGE AUX LANTERN ES. Mr. John Morgan, Mesdames Stanley, Payne, and Mason. To conclude with THE EARLIEST EDITION OF IL TROVATORE. THE suN , k LONDON, IVES!) A.Y EVEN! NG, JAN CJARY 21, 1862. Commence at half-past 7. AS rLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- T lIIS EVENING, 2d appearance of Young GUNE RIUS (Ecuyer Norwezien), who created the greatest sensa tion at the Cirque, in Paris, in his original performance, Le Passage du Pont, and Madame lIALVESTON, the most daring Equestrienne in the World, with their highly-trained Steeds. To co nmence with THE COLLEEN BAWN. New and daring Scenes in the Circle by the Great Nor. wegian Wonders. Conoludinz with the Grand Comic Pantomime of JOHNNY GILPIN'S RIDE TO EDMONTON. A MORNING PERFORMANCE on Saturday next, at Two o'clock. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS, AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. Triumphant Success of Mr. Marshall's Grand Christmas Entertainment, "THE ENCHANTED HASH " (SECOND EDlTlON)—Wonderful Transformations—Every Evening at a quarter-past ten—in nddition to the following Comic talent: Mr. Frederick French, the great Shakesperian Bur lesque Vocalist, Mr. Wood and Son, Mr. J. G. Forde, Miss Harriet Coveney, and Miss Greene. Grand Selections from LA TRAVIA'fA and TROVATORE, at ten o'clock, By Miss Russell, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, and full Chorus. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls aad Balcony, ls. CANTERBURY HALL.-VICTOR JULIEN " THE FLYING MAN " Every Evening at half-paw Nine o'clock. THE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET, OPEN EVERY EVENING AT 7 O'CLOCK. Selections alternately from " Ernani," "Lucrezia Borgia," "La Circassienne," "La Traviata," " Simon Boccanegra," &c., by the entire Company, Full Band and Chorus.—Conduc tor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Solos by Mr. Viotti Collins (the great English violinist). And other attractive Entertain ments, the Comic portion by Miss Harriet Coveney, Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Marshall, M. P. Foster, and W. Randall. Hall, 6d.; Stalls and Balcony, ls. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, sh. 19m.—Afternoon, sh. 38m. To-MORROW. -Morning, sh. 54m.—Afternoon, 6h. 16m. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, JANUARY 21,1862. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 28—highest since noon yesterday. 26—lowest tnis morning and during the night. 30—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.56. WlND—Easterly ; light, with dull weather. Snow fell euring the night and this morning. Smart thaw set in. LNt 4 , 5 Sa u trig , Nqp-' & 01 1 4 _ . " '4;7;0 , c THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 1862. An amusing conversation on a very serious sub ject is reported to us as having occurred in the House of Representatives. It was as an episode to the main business of the sitting, which was re specting an investigation into the circumstances of the disastrous battle at Ball's Bluff. While dis cussing the competency of Congress to enter into the investigation at all, the house was informed by Mr. LOVEJOY, the well known abolitionist, that the reason why they were not successful was " because they stood before an incensed GOD"—they were " not true to the principles of justice and truth, and those of human equality," and their idea was that " if they did not hurt anybody the rebels would return to their allegiance." Now-certainly, on the ground that the Most High hates oppression, and of course those who befriend oppressors, the Northern States can enjoy but little of his favour. Only the Southern States are at least as bad ; so that assuming the direct in tervention of Providence, Mr. LOVEJOY'S inference should have been that North and South equally in censed the Maker of all men, and that he was using them both to chastise each other for their common sin. We inc;ine, however, to think that Mr. LOVE JOY had some right to speak to the North as the greater offenders, because they better understand what liberty and human rights are, and are therefore more guilty on account of their greater knowledge. We are, however, pretty sure he is right in ridiculing the supposition that the rebels will return to their allegiance if the North does but let alone the slaves. A Member from Kentucky then rose and recalled to Mr. LOVEJOY'S mind that last February he had voted that the North had neither the right nor pur pose to interfere with or legislate on the subject of slavery in the South. Mr. LOVEJOY, confessed it, but pleaded that at that time the States were all loyal. A defence which surely rested on policy rather than on the high moral principles on which he had just discoursed. He prudently therefore came back to the practical view of the subject—argued that the people were determined to carry on the war in the manner which would most speedily put down the rebellion—and he had no doubt the Government would speedily yield to the popular sentiment. Mr. LOVEJOY then fired his great gun—" Did his opponent pre fer the perpetuation of slavery to the Union ?" The Kentuckian, in reply, was for preserving both. He would not violate the constitution in regard to any citizen, when it was not essential to the p r i nc i p l es of the U n i on, C arry i ng out the principles of the PRESIDENT'S inaugural, and then our February resolution, he had no fear for either the Union or Slavery. Mr. LOVEJOY, however, asks, but "if the ship must be saved by throwing overboard a portion of the crew, which would the gentleman prefer ?" Mr. WICKLIFFE, the Kentucki an , could have no hesitation in answering such a uestion ;he in- Abolitioni s t s overboardstantly responded—" I would u preferquestion throwing the bially no refuting a jok e or a s e n d e e t r o ; t still,he charge. M r LOVEJOY, nothi ng daunted, n Thi p t, he said, was tantamount to throwing the Union overboard, r a th er than slavery. It being, of course, quit e c l ear t o himself that if the aboli tionists went overboard the Union went with them; but also clear that if slavery was thrown over, the Union was more secure than ever. Other argu ments not having yet produced their proper effect, he appealed to GOD and to justice, and demanded that slavery should not stand between them and triumph, and—Sir ROBERT PEEL'S maxim having no weight at Washington—he caused to be read the seventh chapter of Joshua, and showed that slavery was the " accursed thing" which stood be• tween them and prosperity. Hereupon the theological argument waxed warm. Another Kentuckian came to the rescue of the first. He reminded Mr. LOVEJOY that if slavery was the accursed thing, the face of the ALMIGIITY must be against the South ; however, in Kentucky they know better than to regard slavery as incom patible with the freedom established by their fathers. He retorted on Mr. LOVEJOY with the question, would he destroy the Constitution to get rid of slavery ? Mr. LOVEJOY would not—but stuck to his first text that slavery must rather give way than the Constitution and the Union. A kind of mediator now arose in the person of an Indiana member. He went to the Bible too. He stood on the parable of the tares and the wheat. We were to wait patiently till the last day, and not pull up unadvisedly the tares of slavery. If Mr. LOVEJOY'S views had been proclaimed at the beginning of the war, they should never have got the band of 600,000 men to fight for the Union. If it had been proclaimed that the object of the war was to overthrow slavery, only a few JOHN BROWNS would have joined them. He, however, believed and hoped that by the war slavery had re ceived its deathblow. Eventually this debate closed rather on the right side than on the wrong. The Indiana member was joined by another from Penn sylvania, and between them they seemed to agree that this Government could not be perpetuated by declaring for emancipation, but that if slavery really stood in the way of their success, perish it must. If we may judge of popular feeling on the subject by the language of representatives, who must soon reappear before their constituents, we should say that the fact is becoming apparent to them that either slavery or the war must be given up. They begin to see that the South, with its slaves, is not to be conquered even by the 600,000. Financial pressure, whether in the shape of depreciated paper or of quadrupled, rather decupled, taxation, will soon make the Northerns furious against the cause of it ; and the men who could send a stone fleet to fill up a much-wanted harbour will not be the man to stickle at emancipation. Hitherto it has sadly illustrated the pro-slavery temper of the North that it could outrage interna tional law, outrage natural law by destroying har bours the gift of the CREATOR himself, outrage their own constitution except as against slavery— but not, if it could be helped, touch a hair of the head of this unnatural offspring of an ille gitimate Union. And this is the Government which asks the sympathy of slavery-hating English men. It is just as well that the promoters of the views advocated by the Cotton Supply Association should have availed themselves of the opportunity of com municating with the Earl of ELGIN in regard to those same views prior to his lordship's departure for his Indian Government. The interview which took place at the Palace Hotel near Buckingham gate on Saturday, between the Governor-General (elect) of Hindostan and two important deputations, representing one of them the association already mentioned, and the other, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, though it led to nothing more than a very interesting discussion, followed by a very vague response from the Earl to the various re marks which had been addressed to him by the different speakers taking part in that discussion— may be yet regarded as having brought about one good result at least, It placed the Earl of ELGIN au courant with the opinions entertained upon this vitally important question of the Cotton supply before his lordship's entrance upon the responsibilities of his new position. The successor of Lord CANNING will not leave these shores now for his remote desti nation at Calcutta in ignorance of the hopes, nay, more than the hopes, of the earnest convictions, rife in the mercantile world of England, in refer ence to the feasibility of developing, to an almost unlimited extent, the growth of cotton in our East Indian Possessions. Naturally enough, like a prac tised administrator, like a cautious and skilled diplomatist, the Earl of ELGIN returns none but very oracular answers to the reasoning of the deputation, whose members spoke before him on Saturday, answers that commit him to absolutely nothing, answers that are, for the most part, essen tially inscrutable and enigmatical in themselves. After thanking the deputation before him for the very complimentary terms in which they had spoken of his former services, "he expressed his regret at not having been able to visit Manchester. He hoped, however, that that pleasure was reserved for him at some future day. He was fully impressed with the fact that of all the public offices he had ever held the one which he had just accepted was by far the most important. There were some points referred to by the deputations on which he could not pledge himself to take administrative action till he had had the opportunity of examining facts connected with them for himself, and in cases where allusions had been made, to some extent inculpatory of his predecessors in office, he must of necessity be silent. Without committing himself to any specified measures, he would candidly admit that he fully concurred in the general policy which had been advocated by the gentlemen who had addressed him, Especially was this the case regarding what had been said about the operation of import duties and the impediments to internal communications. He was as firmly convinced as any gentleman present that the prosperity of India mainly depended on the combination of European enterprise and capital with native industry ; but his experience in China and other countries, where widely diverse races came in contact, had shown him the difficulties with which the subject was invested." Now all this of course may mean just anything or just nothing. Even the fag end of a sentence, italicised above, though it may imply really and truly all that we could possibly wish, may yet at the same time never lead to any admi nistrative action whatever of the kind hoped for by the deputations, from the beginning to the end of the Earl of ELGIN'S administration. Still, if acted upon or not—there is the admission. The Governor General of India (that is to be) concurs fully with the general policy advocated both by the spokes- men of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and by those of the Cotton Supply Association. Lord ELGIN'S answer, we may depend upon it, will not be forgotten. The utterance of it de- volves upon him, so far, a distinct responsibility. And impressed though he avows himself to be afterwards with the magnitude of the difficulties surrounding the subject referred to, we have that sense of his political boldness and moral determi nation that we are absolutely certain that no diffi. culties, however vast or however numerous, will deter him from undertaking any change for the better, supposing he himself has once come to recognise the necessity for it. For this reason alone we are sanguine that good may yet come—that good will yet come both for India and for England from this interchange of thoughts, opinions, and arguments between the Earl of ELGIN, as the new Governor-General elect, and the throng of able mercantile men who formed the two important deputations referred to, that from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and from the Cotton Supply Association. One by one the diffe rent phases of the subject under consideration on Saturday were brought under the notice of the Earl of ELGIN, in his official character. His Lordship was reminded that while undoubtedly much had already been effected in the desired direction under the new regime now established in our oriental dominions, still more remained, up to this moment, to be accomplished. There were ob vious and glaring improvements, for example, to be made in the way of facilitating communications between the seaboard and the interior of Hindostan. There was the eagerly looked for repeal of the grinding import duties still levied there upon twist and cotton manufactures. There was the manifest need of some considerable amendment to be brought " equall y prevent i ng, " about a s o one e i n o t f h e thelaw contract, s o p f eakers on Saturday remar k e d , " evasion on the part of the ryot, and oppression on the part of the money lender." Much of this, in truth, was embodied in the comprehensive resolu tion passed at the last board meeting of the Man chester Chamber of Commerce, a resolution passed there no doubt with a distinct view to its perusal before Lord ELGIN, on the 18th instant, by one of the authorised members of the deputation appointed by the Chamber to wait upon him. Read the resolution, here referred to was, on Saturday, a resolution running to the effect now following :—" That, in the opinion of this board, it is of vital importance to the interests of the cotton trade, and more particularly so as regards the very existence of our operative popu lation, that every sound and legitimate effort should be made to procure an increased supply of the raw material at the present juncture. That, in the opinion of this board, the duties on cotton yarn and textile fabrics imported into our Indian do- minions are economically unsound, and thus seriously prejudi c i al to the encouragement of the export of cott on , tending also to create tective interest i n I ndia, and thus restricting a ex ports.pro- That the foregoing resolutions be presented to Lord ELGIN by a deputation from this board, and -that every effort be made to promote the early abolition of all duties on yarns or textile fabrics im ported into India." Even if some few only of th e changes and r e f orms here proposed to be effected during Lord ELGIN'S administration be adventured upon, while his lordship continues to be Governor- General of India, the resolution above quoted will not have passed in upon the Earl' s a t tention. vain, or have been idly thru s t Perhaps the most interesting and remark able speech delivered on Saturday afternoon, during the discussion which took place before the new Governor-General of India, was the one addressed to the noble Earl by Mr. CHEETHAM, the able and energetic Presi dent of the Cotton Supply Association. That gentleman explained auccimtly at the outset of his remarks, much that was demonstrative of the extra ordinary cotton-producing capabilities of Hindostan —much that was ellucidatory of the now pretty generally recognised practicability of enabling India to compete in that particular with the Southern States of America, and to compete with th e states (as a Cott on producing country) successfully ! Yet the speaker frankly admitted, at the same time, that "Though India had an immense advantage over other sources of supply in an abundance of free labour, it had not the improved agriculture, the fine system of river and canal navigation, and the Anglo-Saxon enterprise and skill of its Ame rican rival. Until the two countries were placed more on an equality in these respects, it was hope less to expect any great improvement in the character of Indian cotton. There had been little hitherto to attract English capital a9cl energy to the soil of India" and so forth. Yet, in spite of all these considerations in regard to the difficulties in the way of improvements, difficulties still requiring to be vanq u i s h e d b e f ore th ose i mprovements could be rendered in any way practicabl e, the speaker last quoted, and others with him, on Saturday, fully itthwatas suggested by think the diffi cu l t i es m i ght i e n x g pl m ai e n n ed in in th d i e s t c a o il u h nt o r w y one by one be got rid of, and the improvements hoped for, one by one be introduced. Above all things, the President of the Cotton Supply a public insis ted board o f works, which u pon, the a d v i sa bilit y of Association establishing should have the power of borrowing a sum of twenty millions, to be expended at the rate of three road and river c o mmunicati ons and other works or four milli ons p er annum in the cons t ruc ti on o f re quired by the commercial necessities of the coun try; the establi s h men t o f l oca l councils; and the para mount importance of impr ov i ng the quality, whilst increasing th e quan tity, o f I ndian cotton. " We will, at least, hope that Lord ELGIN will lay these things to heart. DRURY-LANE THEATRE. L A new operetta by Howard Glover, entitled " Once Too Often," was produced here last evening, and met with the utmost success. The incident illustrated has been taken L from a French vaudeville, and turns upon the stratagems I used by a French gallant, Count Marcillac, to obtain pos session of one of the maids of honour, Blanche de 'Very, by a fictitious marriage. In this he is defeated, and the usual result follows, viz., a real marriage, and happiness to every body. The opera is of the most sparkling and delightful description, and abounds with gems of harmony, which are all rendered in a manner that elicit the most enthusia , tic applause. Mademoiselle Jenny Baur, as Blanche, sang with delicious sweetness; and it is much to la.) re gretted the young lady does not resign herself to remain I in London, and fill that position on the lyric stage which her great talents would undoubtedly secure for her. Miss Heywood, as Hortense, sang the contralto music with a taste and expression that left nothing to be desired ; her principal ballad, " Love is a gentle thing," is without dLubt the gem of the opera, and the applause it elicited was something extraordinary even in these times of " sen sation" dramas. Our old friend Formes was heartily wel comed on his re-appearance, and never was in better voice than last evening. Herr Reichardt, as the lover, was all that the most romantic lady could have desired. At the fall of the :curta'n all the principal performers were recalled, and received that applause which their exertions had most deservedly merited. The magnificent pantomime of " Old Mother Hubbard" terminated the evening's amusement. The house was crowded to the ceiling, PRINCESS'S I'iIE,42RE. a long absence, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Florence made their reappearance at this theatre in two of their most amus ing " The Irish Rmigrant" and "The Yankee Housekeeper." Th e f i rst was for Mr. Florence, and although it is not l ong s i nce the piece was performed by another artiste at a neighbouring theatre, it was received with the greatest relish. The part sustained by Mr. Flor ence was, of course, Tim O'Brien. Mrs. Florence made her entree in " The Yankee Housekeeper," and during the whole of the piece sho kept the house in an incessant state of laughter by the drollness of her Yankee sayings. Shoe sang a number of songs, amongst them a new one, "Riding in a Railway Car," which, without doubt, will soon become popular with the million. Both artistes receiv ed the honour of a recall at the terrainatiora of their performances. The splendid pantomime of " Dick Whittington," in which Master Haslarn, astonished the audience with his feats on the flying trapeze, seems to increase nightly in attraction. Afte: The Marquis of Exeter returned to Burghley House, Stamford, last evening. The noble marquis and. marchioness and family are expected in town early next week for the season. The Earl and Countess of Dartmouth are ex pected in town in a few days from their seat in York shire. Viscount Falkland has left the St. George's Hotel. LATEST NIEWS. --,..- THE COLLIERY ACCIDENT. stnELDs, JAN. 21, 9 A.M. Little hopes are entertained of rescuing the buried men. It is feared that all the men and lads buried are dead. Four of the sinkers in the shaft were nearly suffocated this morning by gas. THE SUMTER. GIBRALTAR, JAN. 18. (Received Jan. 20, at 7.30 a.m., via San Roque.) The Sumter is cruising about three leagues to the eastward of this place. She has two barks in tow. JANUARY 19, The Sumter has arrived. She has burnt the American bark Neapolitan, of Kingston, from Mes sina for Boston, with fruit; but has allowed the American brig Investigator for Newport, with ore, to proceed. MADRID, JAN. 20. The Spanish Government has refused to accep Gen. Serrano's resignation. BERLIN, JAN. 20. In to•day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies M. Grabow was elected president. M. Behrend, member for Dantzic, first Vice- President, and M. Bockum-Dollffs, second Vice- President, of the Chamber. Both, ♦ice-presidents belong to the Progressis party. FRANCE. Lord Cowley had the honour of being received yesterday by the Emperor, to deliver a letter writ ten by the Prince of Wales, on the command of the Queen of England, notifying the death of Prince Albert. Afterwards Baron Beyens, Councillor of Legation of the King of the Belgians, had an audi ence, to deliver a letter from his Sovereign, confer ring on him the rank of resident Minister during any absence of M. Firmin Rogier. Several of the journals announce as positive that Prince Couza will pay a visit to France in the corn ing spring. The /lioniteur publishes the following note : " Several journals have announced that in virtue of a decision of the Emperor, no warning will for the future be given to the press without a previous de liberation in the Council of Ministers. That state ment is completely unfounded." BOURSE, Jan. 20.—The market continues firm, and a fair amount of business has been done at an improvement on the closing rates of Saturday. Threes, for the Account, left off at 69f 95c. Rail ways firm. ITALY. The last disaster of Torre del Greco has suggested to Garibaldi the following letter to an inhabitant of Naples : " Caprera, Jan. 10. " Dear Belezzi,—The population of Torre del Greco ought to interest Italy. If there is a time when the national sympathies ought practically to apply, it is now. Italy finds herself in a solemn moment, when from the bases of her political edifice ought to arise the fraternity of the populations com posing it. Rome and Venice—sister slaves—pos sess the love of free men, who have sworn to tear them from their execrated rulers. Torre del Greco is not so unhappy as Rome and Venice, because lava and earthquakes have nothing equivalent to the evils caused by priests and tyrants. Notwithstand ing that, the desolate people of Torre del Greco offer Italy an occasion to show her generous character, and to prove by the liberality of her offerings how the coterie of priests and tyrants lose their time in trying to disunite children of the same family, in dissolubly bound together by the same glories and the same misfortunes. I join, therefore, my feeble voice to the generous voices which are raised in favour of that unhappy population, in order that all Italians may co-operate in relieving it. " G. GARIBALDI." CANADA. A letter from Montreal, dated Jan. 6, says: When my last was sent off we were without the text of the correspondence between Lord Lyons and Mr. Seward, and the telegraphic abstract produced an erroneous impression of the grounds of the surrender of the Southern Commissioners and their Secreta ries. If the argument of Mr. Seward proves as un satisfactory in England as it has done in Canada, the irrepressible smartness of the Federal Premier will have brought him face to face with a new and worse difficulty ; but if the reparation and apology he offers is satisfactory to the British Government and people, the seldomer they demand such satis faction iu future, the better for their dignity. Here Mr. Seward's communication to Lord Lyons is re garded as a greater outrage than that upon the Trent, because, so far from containing any disavowal of the insult to a neutral flag, it justifies it in all but the form ; and the surrender of the raptured gentle men is not the recognition of a wrong, but the effect of a declaration that the vessel from which they were taken opght to have been captured also. The settlement of the difficulty, if it be settled, has had no effect on the military preparations here. The formation of Volunteer corps and drilling con tinue unabated, and the preparations by the mili tary authorities for defence have not been checked, The remainder of the 16th Regiment, Engineers, and Commissariat Corps, brought out by the Persia, with the exception of those on board when she was compelled to leave Bic, arrived here on Monday afternoon last, in much better condition than the previous detachment, the weather having been more moderate during their journey. They had an en thusiastic reception, and marched to their barracks accompanied by an immense crowd cheering them all the way. Both officers and men were disap pointed to find there was no immediate prospect of their taking the field against an enemy, and growled, "Just like our luck." The regiment is one of three, I believe, in the service which has never been in action, and has not a single name upon its colours. The 62d and 63d Regiments are on their way from Halifax, and may be expected to arrive at the ead of the week. Their destination is said to be Canada West. The Guards will be quartered at Montreal, in a splendid range of stone buildings, just completed, on the site of the Hotel Dieu. The Engineers are in the Roman Catholic College, where quarters are also prepared for the Rifles. Threats having been made by Americans on the frontier to blow up the tube of the Victoria-bridge, steps have been taken to prevent any such attempt. 'the tube is to be closed at both ends by strong gates, which will only be opened to allow the pas sage of trains ; the doors of the passenger cars will he locked while passing through the tube, to pre vent any person leaving them; and a picket guard is to be stationed at each end, Winter fairly set in on New Yeat's-night with a furious storm of wind, which did a large amount of damage on the Atlantic coast, and it is feared has occasioned many wrecks. On Saturday the total loss of the Parana was reported at Halifax, but it could not be traced to any reliable source. The rumour occasioned much painful excitement for a time, but it was dispelled by the result of inquiries at the various telegraph stations on the Gulf, where the story was neither known nor believed. The re port appears to have originated in Halifax, whence it was telegraphed to New York. Since New Year's-day the cold has been intense, with a high wind, and the St. Lawrence is at last frozen over opposite this city. Very little snow has yet fallen, and the roughness of the country roads is an im pediment to the usual winter business. The only noticeable novelty of the past week has been the extraordinary virulence of the attacks of - the Federal journals upon Canada ; her determina ton to resist invasion and the resolute unanimity which her people have shown in taking up arms in defence of the honour of the national flag and their own liberties are the admitted causes of these attacks. The Federal journals profess them selves unable to account for the antagonism of Canada, which they declare to have received no thing but benefits from the United States, and from which they had therefore reason to ex pect a more friendly disposition. These benefits were the Reciprocity Treaty, for the abrogation of which the North is now clamorous. The treaty expires by limitation, after notice, in 1866, and the Executive is hardly likely to take the responsibility of such a violation of public faith as its abrogation before that time, even should Congress pass the threatened Act for that pur pose. That it has been largely beneficial to Canada cannot be doubted, but it has been more than equally so to the United States. At the present time its advantages to Canada are sus pended by the Southern blockade, and the flood of Western produce which it pours into our markets, by lowering the value of home products, occasions heavy losses to our farmers. We were indebted to Southern votes for the treaty, and it was in the South that we found a market for the great bulk of the exports under it. The loyal States cannot afford us a market for raw lumber and agri cultural produce, for they are competitors with us in their production, and produce more than they can consume. With the exception of wool, for which there has been a large demand for blankets and army clothing, all articles of Canadian pro duce usually exported to the United States under the Reciprocity Treaty have, since the closure of the Southern market declined in value folly a third, with a prospect of a further decline. Butter, which has seldom been below 20c. per pound for the last six years, bas not averaged 14c. since June; mess pork has fallen from 20 dols. per barrel to 13 dols. ; hogs from 6 dols. 50c. to 4 dols. 50c. per 1001 b. ; beef, cheese, coarse grains, lumber, and ether articles have fallen in like proportion, and would be unsale able at any price if pressed upon the market. THE INTERVENTION IN MEXICO. La Paine announces that it is the intention of France to send to Mexico a body of troops equal to that of the expeditionary corps to Syria. This corps will be placed under the command of a general of infantry. "We are also informed," says La Patrie, " that the last despatches received from Mexico have decided the allied nations to adopt final measures as regards that country, and to oc cupy its capital until a permanent and regular Government is established there with the free con sent of the population. The Paris papers publish the following letter, which is dated Vera Cruz, Dec. 20th : "On the Bth of December, in the morning, the city of Vera Cruz was thrown into confusion by the appearance of a Spanish naval division, composed by two frigates and nine steam transports. The impression produced by the arrival of these forces in the roads of Sacrificios was the greater in asmuch as a hope bad been indulged in that the foreign in tervention with which the people knew that they were threatened might be avoided, or at least adjourned through diplomatic negotiations, which would allow them to pre pare for resistance. These illusions were doomed to dis appear before the reality, and a great panic succeeded the inexplicable indifference which they had previously shown. An immediate attack was expected ; the entrance of the port was closed, and while the populace rushed towards the gates which led into the country, the authorities hastened to carry off the war materiel ; the city was declared in a state of siege, and the National Guard was convoked in all haste. The public agitation was calmed a little when it was ob served that the Spanish squadron went to take up in good order a position in the anchorage of Anton Lizardo, 12 miles from the city ; nevertheless, a species of emeute took place in the evening, and the Government having caused the Spanish three-masted vessel the Maria Concepcion, which had been seized during the past year, to be brought near the Mole, the people set fire to it. Tile Government continued during that and the following day the disarma ment of the Fort San Juan d'lTlloa ; and of the 132 pieces of artillery which it contained, it is estimates that from 50 to 60 were carried off. "On the morning of the 10th the second Spanish division, composed of 13 ships of war and sailing transports, came to join those which were lying at anchor at Anton Lizardo. The following day Admiral Rubalcaba, com mander of the fleet, announced to the captain of the French and English vessels, the Foudre and the Ariadne, anchored in the roads of Sacrificios, his intention to summon the Governor of Vera Cruz to deliver into his possession the town and fort of San Juan d'Ulloa, declaring to him that if within 24 hours he (the Spaniill Admiral) did not receive a satisfactory answer, he would take the place by force, leaving upin the Governor the responsibility as to what might happen. It was agreed in the meantime between the Spanish Admiral and the commander of the Foudre that until the arrival of the commander-in-chief of the French forces, the troops of her Catholic Majesty should take under their protection the k rench and all French pro • perty which might be found in any Mexican territory oc • cupied by the Spanish army. " It was understood also— " 1. That the consul of France and the superior French commander should previously receive notice of any attack by force against the city, so that measures might be taken for the security of the French, as the case might require. "2. That even after taking possession of Vera Cruz in the name of her Catholic Majesty, the admiral commanding in chief the French forces might, after his arrival, cause a number of his troops, equal to those placed there by the Spaniards, to enter the town and fortress. "3. That the sums found in the public treasuries, as well as those received at the Custom-house or the different administration during the Spanish occupatian, should be verified by a mixed commission, appointed ad hoc by the Ministers of the three allied Courts, and placed in reserve until the arrival of the commanders in chief, and that it should not be disposed of for any purpose whatever. " 4. That no fort, no fortification, no public establish ment should be destroyed, unless in case of absolute neces sity, or if required for defence. " That the blockade before the port against Mexican vessels by the Spanish admiral should in no manner concern French vessels, which should remain free to anchor in the ports of Mexico, and carry on their commerce as previou•ly. " 6. That the commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces, even when in possession of the city and forts of Vera Cruz, should not advance into the interior, nor conclude any treaty with the Mexican Government, without the partici pation of the Emperor. " 7. In fine, that all rights soever belonging to France should be reserved, the same as if she had assisted in taking the place. " Captain Von Donop, commander of the Arindne, re quired on his own part the same conditions stipulated for by the commander ofthe Foudre, and, like him, he believed it to be his duty in the absence of precise instructions, from his Government, to abstain from joining the Spanish forces in their attack on Vera Cruz. " This last eventuality could not, besides, be realised, for the very same day on which the interview took place on board the Foudre a proclamation from the Mexican general announced the approaching abandonment of the city, and forbade the inhabitants to furnish provisions to the Spaniards. "Prevented from moving for two days by the fury of the north wind, it was not until the 14th that Admit al Itubal caba could succeed in sending to the Governor the summons to surrender the place. As soon as the summons was known in the city it hastened its evacuation. The Mexican General Uraga, who had been appointed a few days previously to the command of the eastern army, in the evening took posses sion of all the horses in the place, and forced all the owners of beasts in the environs to derart to a distance of eight leagues at the least from - Vera Cruz. The different roads were encumbered with chariots and flying multitudes of people inspired with terror ; in the interior of the city the houses were barricaded, and foreigners expected nothing but pillage. "On the 15;h the reply of the Mexican authorities to the summons was transmitted to the Spanish Admiral through the Consul of France and the Commander of the Foudre. It stated that the city and fort would be evacuated the same day at noon- On the receipt of this reply the Admiral quitted the anchorage at Anton Lizard° to go, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, arid cast anchor before Vera Cruz, of which the population, assembled on the terraces of the houses, waited with a sort of unquiet desire the arrival of the Spaniards. A deputation of the Ayuntamiento pre• pared to open the gates; but the weather, which during the day had been favourable, became bad, and the debarka• tion could not be effeceed. " On the 16th the Admiral himself advanced under the walls of the Fort of San Juan d'Ulloa on board the steam frigate Isabel la Cutolica. Ile was joined towards the even ing by the Don Francisco de Assis, on board of which was General Gasset. On the morning of the 17th the Spaniards entered the city. They there found in the fort guns which had net been even spiked, and considerable materials of war. At Loon the Spanish flag, hoisted over Vera Cruz, was saluted by 21 guns by the Admiral's vessel. "From that moment tho Spaniards commenced to orga nize themselves. They disembarked at leisure their troops and ammunition. But the proclamation of General Uraga, who denounced as traitors to their country and threatened with death all the Mexicans who remain( d with the enemy, caused the departure of a great number of the inhabitants of the city. Travellers arriving from the (Iry of Mexico found the roads choked up with abandoned carriages, and cannon and baggage thrown into the ditches; and they met soldiers Without arms, clothing, or bread, Suffering groat misery, and the irritation ;aused thereby, it may be expected that there will I speedily be found in the country bands of guerillas, causing great disorders ; against which the arrival of the French and English forces will be regarded by the majority of the people as the surest and best guarantee. The possibility of a modification in the political government of the country appears to many as the only means of snatching it, once for all, from an anarchy now become intolerable, and there is reason to think that the honest and peaceable portion of ti nation will receive favourably, under present circumstances, any measures which, while respecting their independence and not affecting their amour propere, will assure to Mexico in a durable manner order and security. " The Minister of France at Mexico arrived on the IGth December at Vera Cruz. He embarked the same day on board the Foudre." 3IALTA. VALETTA, JAN. 16. Orders were despatched by the last mail to Gibraltar for the Algiers, 89, to return immediately to Malta, and the Queen to proceed to Corfu ; and it is reported that the re mainder of the ships of war at Gibraltar that have not yet started for the North American station will follow in about a week, including the Edgar, 91, flagship of Rear-Admiral Dacres, who is the second in command of the Mediter ranean Fleet. The Edgar, when last heard of, was at Lisbon, with one or two other vessels. The ships at Gibraltar on the Bth instant were : The Queen, 86 ; Algiers, 89 ; Doris, 32 ; Scylla, 21; Firebrand, 6; Alacrity, 4; Cuckoo, 3 ; and Procris, 1. The French paddlo steamer Coligny was also there. The Algiers went out on the morning of the Bth to exercise the crew at her Arm strong and other guns, and returned the same day. The Exmouth, 90, was at Naples; the James Watt, 89, at Messina; the Victor Emmanuel, 89, at Corfu; and the Mars, 80, at the Pirceus, by the last accounts. The Pelican (17), the Malacca (17), and the Gannet (11), were at Bey rout, the Hon. H. M. Nelson, captain of the last-named vessel, being senior officer. Her Majesty's ships in Malta harbour are—the Marl borout;h, 131 (flagship of Vice .Admiral Sir W. F. Martin, K.C.8.) ; the Hibernia, receiving ship (flagship of Rear- Admiral H. J. Codrington, C. 8.) ; the London, 90; Nep • tune, 89; Wanderer, 4; Foxhound, 4; Surprise, 4; Trident, 2 ; Medina and Firefly, surveying vessels ; and Hearty, tug. Foreign—ltalian corvette Tripoli. MR. SEWARD'S OPINION OF CANADA. - It is appropriate t o this time to reproduce the following extract from a communieatim made by Mr. Seward, after a tour in Canada during the fall of 1857, to the Albany Evening Journal. He spoke then under the influence of facts, the impression of which had not been weakened by time or effaced by the return of the wave of error, and he spoke the truth, which he realises in a still larger degree to-day : "Hitherto, in common with most of my country men, as I suppose, I thought Canada —or, to speak mere accurately, British America—a mere strip lying north of the United States, easily detachable from the parent State, but incapable of sustaining itself, and therefore ultimately —nay, right soon— to be taken on by the Federal Union without mate rially changing or affecting its own condition or de velopment. I have dropped the opinion as a national conceit. I see in British North America, stretching as it does, across the continent from the shores of Labrador and Newfoundland and the Pacific, and occupying a considerable belt of the temperate zone, traversed equally with the United States by the lakes, and enjoying the magnificent shores of the St. Lawrence, with its thousands of islands in the river and gulf, a region grand enough for the seat of a. great empire. In its wheat fields in the west, its broad ranges of the chase at the north, its inexhaus,- tible lumber lands—the most extensive now on the globe—its invaluable fisheries, and its yet undis turbed mineral deposits, I see the elements of wealth. I find its inhabitants vigorous, hardy,. energetic, perfected by the Protestant religion an& British constitutional liberty. I find them jealous of the United States and Great Britain, as they ought to be; and therefore, when I look at their resources and extent, I know they can neither be conquered by the former nor permanently held by the latter. They will be independent, as they are already self maintaining. Having happily escaped the curse of slavery, they will never submit themselves to the dominations of slaveholders, which prevails in and determines the character of the United States. They will be a Russia in the United States, which to them will be France and England ; but they will be a Russia civilised and Protestant, and that will be a very different Russia from that which fills all Southern Europe with terror, and by reason of that superiority they will be all the more terrible to the dwellers in the Southern latitudes. The policy of the United States is to propitiate and secure the alliance of Canada while it is yet young and incurious of its future. But, on the other hand, the policy which the United States actually pursues is the infatnatod Ono o f re j ect i ng and spurning vigorous, perennial, and evergrowing Canada, while seeking to establish feeble States out of decaying Spanish provinces on the coast and in the islands of the Gulf of Mexico. I shall not live to see it, but the man is already born who will see the United States mourn over this stupendous which is only preparit the way for ultimate danger and downfall. All Southern political stars must set, though many times they rise again with dimi nished splendour. But those which illuminate the pole remain for ever shining, for ever increasing in splendour." SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, LIVERPOOL.—On Thursday night, during the ballet scene in the pantomime at the above theatre, great commotion was suddenly excited by a shriek from the wings. The alarm of fire was immediately raised, and had its usual effect upon the audience, who rose in great perturbation. A gentleman, however, came forward, and reassured the house, which was persuaded without difficulty into its wonted tranquillity. The occasion of the alarm, however, was very serious. Miss Power's ballet dress ignited while she was standing or walking backwards close to one of the side lights, and she was immediately enveloped in flames. These being quickly extinguished, and the young lady's dress, or what remained of it, having been rapidly re moved, she was attended in the green -loom by Dr. Roger son. Miss Power bore her sufferings with great fortitude. She is very severely burnt--chiefly on the arm and shoulders—but generally all over the upper part of the body. A little child was also burnt on the arm ; its burn was immediately dressed, and the little thing bore its trouble very patiently. TEE LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CHARLESTON BLOCKADE —This subject Was discussed at the meeting of the council of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Mr. William Brown presiding. Mr. Brown was of opinion that the blockade at Charleston and Savannah could be but of a temporary character from ph) sical causes, such as the confluence of two rivers, &c., and that the pas sages could easily be re-opened when necessary. He was of opinion that no representations should proceed from the chamber on the subject, but that the whole matter be left in the hands of the Government. Mr. M'Fie and Mr. Chilton were of opinion that as Government naturally looked for support to the public bodies of various towns, it was advisable for the chamber to pass a resolution approving of the course which Earl Russell had taken (in remonstrating with Mr. Seward as to the blockade), as shown by the correspondence just published between the Liverpool Shipowners' Association and his lordship. Mr M 4 Fie therefore moved, and Mr. Chilton seconded, a reso lution—" That this chamber views with great satisfaction the remonstrances made by her Majesty's Government with regard to the blocking up of Charleston harbour by sink ing - vessels laden with atone. Mr. Campbell opposed the motion, on the ground that Earl Russell had only acted upon partial and imperfect representations and reports, and that as Mr. Seward's reply would come to hand in a few days, it would be the wisest course for the chamber not to pass any resolution at present. He (Mr. Campbell) was assured by gentlemen who had only just returned from America that the vessels were sunk by the boring of holes in the 'LA - Item, and that they could easily be raised when necessary by plugging up these holes and pumping out the water. Mr. C am pb e ll moved an amendment in accordance with eE p r u n t npi a eA n nß d t lost, Kads.o Lt a e n d d i Mr. 111 Tie's motiTs whichtAop w the Government o ' i v i HE i s o f v Ft i h e n w ask , weather was much milder on Sunday evening, the frost set though the in again with great intensity after 12 o'clock on Sunday nigh , , and large numbers of people assembled in the parks during the whole of yesterday. The ice, however, was stil in a very insecure state, and the icemen and park-keepers prevented, as far as possible, the public from going on it, by breaking the ice along the sides of the water. Notwith standing all these warnings and vigilance, several hundred persons managed to force their way on to the treacherous surface, and number's of them paid for their temerity by im mersion in the water. In the ornamental water in St. James's-park as many as thirty young men and boys wero struggling in the broken ice and water at one time; and no danger to life being apprehended, owing to the water being shallow, their efforts to extricate themselves were received with shouts of laughter from the persons on the banks. In some instances, however, where they had been some time in the water, on being taken out they wero found to be so exhausted by their efforts and benumbed with cold as to necessitate their being carried to the tent of the Humane Society, and restoratives had to be ap• plied before they were enabled to proceed to their homes. On the Serpentine and in Regent's -park th e waters being much deeper, the numerous immersions that t oo k pl ace were of a more serious and . dangerous c h arac t er, an d i t was entirely owing to the actlvity . and co urage o f th e i cemen that several lives were not sacrificed. Accordin g t o th e re port of the icemen will require another twenty-four hours' hard frost before the COl will be in a fit state for skating with any degree of safety. The is oon the water in the Crystal Palace grounds was yesterday thronged with visitors, and such was the soun d condition that not a single immersion took place. t z , nc bt U Nol Ir e ] Ce t Ilas Soo