The Sun. — London, England, 1859-01-01 00:00:00

TRUST AND LOAN COMPANY OF UPPER CANADA. Incorporated by Royal Charter. TRUSTEES. Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. George Carr Glyn, Esq., M.P. DIRECTORS. T. M. Weguelin, Esq., M.P., Pr6sident. William Chapman, Esq., Deputy Chairman. The Right lion. Edward Pleydell Bouverie, M.P. James Hutchinson, Esq. Charles Morrison, Esq. William Gordon Thomson, Esq. Matthew Uzielli, Esq. At an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, held at the Offices of the Company, No. 65, Moorgate-street, on Friday, the 31st December, it was unanimously resolved : —That the Directors be authorised to exercise the borrowing powers of the Company, in accordance with the 10th clause of the Act of the Parliament of Canada, passed 18.58. T. M. WEGUELIN, President. ROVAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa Fync and Mr. W. Ilarrison THIS EVENING, Auber's ~ r and Opera, FRA DIAVOLO. Mr. Harrison, Miss Susan Pyne, Miss R. Isaacs, &c. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the new Pantomime of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD; or, Harlequin and the Wolf in Granny's Clothing, Commence at Seven, p OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. V Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. 'TIE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Mr. C. Kean, Auer which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE KIN( OF THE CASTLE; or, Harlequin Prince Diamond and Princess Brighteyes. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckgtone. 'Fills EVENING, will be performed SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale; Mesdames Neynolds and Poynter. After which, a new grand Comic Pantomime, entitled ITNDINE; or, Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters. Comment,;e at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. ' Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, This Eyening, will be produced a new Burlesque, written expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Brough, and entitled THE SIEGE OF TROY. The new and gor . eous scenery by Mr. William Calicott. The principal cha acters by rs. Keeley, Miss Julia St. George, Mrs. Weston, _Miss Portman, Miss Talbot, Miss Kate Saxon, Miss E. Romer, ;?Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. .1. Rogers, Mr. Barrett, ttc.; Miss Rosina Wright, Miss M. Charles, Miss Harriet Dalton, and a numerous Corps de Bal let will alto appear. After the Burlesque a new Comic Pantomime, replete with new tricks and mechanical devices, entitled HARLEQUIN TOY HOIt.SE; or, The Cremorne Fete. Clown, Mr Charles Lauri ; Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Henry Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. The Performances will commence the Comedietta of TOO MUCH FOR GOOD NATURE. Reduced Brices--Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Stalls , 55.; Gallery, is. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half -paa t 0, to commence at 7 every evening. NEW -THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHL Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. • THIS EVENING, MR. WEBSTER'S COMPANY IS REQUESTED AT A PHOTOGRAPHIC SOIREE. Manager, Mr. B. Webster ; Photographer, Mr. J. L. Toole; Memory, Miss Woolgar ; Everybody, by Everybody else. After the first piece the New Act Drop by Clarkson Stan field, Esq., ILA., and painted by Mr. Wm. Telbin. With the Occasional Address, spoken by Miss Woolgar, and presented to Mr. Ben. Webster by Shirley Brooks, Esq. GOOD FOR NOTHING. Mr. Toole and Miss Woolglir. To conclude with the grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled MOTHER. RED CAP ; or, Harlequin Johnny Gilpin's Ride to Edmonton.' Clown, Mr. Croueste ; Harlequin, Mr. Hilde brand; Columbine, Miss Hayman ; Pantaloon, Mr. Lupino ; Sprite, Mr. Le Barr. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, THE RULE OF THREE. After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH ; or re Qeen, ye Carle, and ye Maydenne. And THE LITTLE SAVAGE. Commence at 7 o'clock. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee Mr. William Cooke. Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s, ; Gallery, is. ; rpper Gallery, 6d. During the week, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA ; or, The Fugitives and their Faith ful Steed. After which SCENES IN TIIE CIRCLE by the Star Riders of Eur Ope. To conclude with the great Operatic and Burlesque Equos trian Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MITN CHAITSEN, AND- HIS COMICAL CREAM COB CRUISER. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings ; Sprite, 11i r. Thorne ; Pantaloon, Mr. H. Morley; Clown, by the inimitable grotesque, Mr. A. F. Forrest. The gorgeous Transformation Scene the perfection of modern art. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor --C. MORTON. The public is most respectfully informed that the FINE A RTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW OPEN DAY AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec tion of Pier urea, by Ancient and Modern Masters and is also tkevoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist inz Music the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations 'Within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the ingdom. The MuslcAr. ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at Seven o'clock. in addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. THE WEATHER.-SuN OFFICE, JA.N. 1. . THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 47—highest since noon yesterday. 45-lowest this raorning and during the night. 4K—this day at noon. BAROMETER,-29.42. WIND, South-Westerly ; with rain. THE SUN. SATURDAY. JANUARY 1, 1859. New Year's Day, 1859, happily brings with it Hope as its chief accompaniment. An assured hope, and not merely vague aspirations. Hope not tending in one direction alone—but in every direction simultaneously. It is the amiable and time-honoured custom at this peculiarly auspicious season to regard everything as much as possible in the best light, under one prevailing tinge of the &mienr de rose. Ordinarily, our so doing is, for the most part, little better than the indulgence of a genial and wilful hallucination. At this present writing we are fain, however, -to regard the general aspect of affairs distinctly otherwise — we are disposed to look upon, them as reasonably suggestive of the most encouraging anticipations. -As matters stand in regard to our home policy —we have surely never before been so near the attainment at last of a comprehensive series of Parliamentary. Reforms. Our statesmen generally upon this head appear - to be openly bidding one against another. The movement is encouraged by the Opposition 'as well as by the Government. Lord DERBY and his . colleagues are pledged to it. The energetic leaders of the Manchester school—at their head the eloquent and patriotic member for Birmingham—are labouring heart and soul to further the popular cause by the timely champion- ship, during the remnant of the recess, before the Ministerial measure can be announced, of the boons most desired by the advanced liberals throughout the United Kingdom-Ist., the Ballot; 2dly, a considerable extension of the franchise; 3dly, the more equarlstribution of electoral districts ; 4thly, the diminution of the periodical duration of Parliaments. Whatever We amount of reform obtained before the close of this •Reform Year of 1859, we may, at an. rate, under any circumstances, rest perfectly well assured that from whomsoever it may be received, it will - not be inconsider a ble. The melancholy fate of the two abortive projects, brought forward by the noble lord the Member for the City of London, is demonstrative clearly enough of the futility of attempting any further hairsplitting or cheeseparing compromise. The increasing majprities supporting ses- sion after session the motion of Mr. LOCKE KING in .regard to the Franchise, and the motion of Mr. HENRY BERKELEY in regard to the Ballot, afford, moreover, sufficiently satisfactory guarantees that, even in the existing state of the House of Commons, some of these vitally important problems may obtain a certain amount of candid con sideration. Not. that we donceive, for a sin gleinstan t, that the rival Reform measures about to be sub mitted to the popular branch of the Legislature, on the one hand by the Chancellor of the Exche- - suer, and on the other by the Member far Bir- 4- 4' *-4 ~‘ ?:•.1, ir _ _ e - -• ~ 4 :;:: I ~, .4 7 , • t & Z VI . :- . '..f10 \ , ' . bit, ' t- —. . r mingham, can in any contingency obviate th k necessity of an appeal to the country, before ei;:her one scheme or the other can be formal'y embodied in an Act of Parliament. But—that in. the existing state of public opinio i from. one end,of this country to the other are persuaded that even the present House of Comtnons is pre pared in this year of grace, 1859, to prepare the way for the substantial realisation in it subsi3quently of many of the long deferred hopes of the popu lation. Again, as to the present " situation" in reference to the vitally important alternative of scar or peace —is not the New Year now commencing fraught, with the most cheering promises at the ve.ry moment of its commencement ? During the lapse of its immediate predecessor how many dark and threatening, and some of them disastrous and de structive clouds of battle and revolt have been most happily dissipated ! The Sepoy iusurrectio n in the Bengal Presidency has been for the most part triumphantly suppressed—the last smouldering embers of the flame kindled by Hindoo fanaticsm are even now being trampled out by Lord CLYDE'S army, and utterly extinguished. The Victorian era has commenced for Hindostan. The Honourable East India Company is no more--the three Presi dencies—together with Scinde, and the Punjaub, and Ceylon—own their allegiance henceforth as due en tirely and directly to Her Most Gracious Majesty ICTORIA India© Imperatrix. While this moment ous transfer of authority, moreover, has been peacefully accomplished, the Envoy froin the Crown of England to the Empires of China and Japan has been securing not only to his own country, but to the world at large, the invaluable advantages certain to accue sooner or latter from the final overthrow, the complete and instant overthrow of the barriers of separation hitherto dividing one entire third of the human race from their fellows unanimously regarded by them as the outer barbarians. Civilisation, that is to say the modern civilisation of the Europeans 4 may now look forward confidently to new and gigantic conquests in those vast regions, sacred to the tea shrubbery, and the mulberry plantation, to the growth of " green" and " black," and the manufacture of silk and crape—regions eventually, we may now believe, to be traversed by the rail .guided steam-engine, and threaded by the magical wires of the electric telegraph. The Hindoos, therefore, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Asiatics generally, yield Hope for England in 1859—thanks to those bloodless victories won by British state craft during thememorable year just terminated. Happier than in 1858 are the anticipations opened up to view in 1859 in regard to our alli ances, both in the eastern and western hemispheres. The thunderous cloud of estrangement in the early part of last year hanging over the Anglo-French alliance—a cloud, at first, no bigger than a man's hand, but rapidly assuming to itself, afterwards, a very formidable magnitude —a cloud rising originally (as marvellously, in its way, as the Geni out of the Arabian Fisherman's casket) out of the explo sion in the Rue Lepelletier—has long since passed away, let us trust, never to return, with its evil threat of a sullen mutual suspicion, ready to burst, at any moment, into an open rupture between the two great champions of modern civilization. The mis understanding, again—which, in 1858, gave promise only of becoming increased and intensified in bitter ness between the United States and the United King dopi, has now, by the New Year's Day of 1859, cleared away from the political horizon. And though the last Presidential Message is in some measure ominous of a stormy future for the American Republic—if the affairs of that demo cracy are allowed to be swept on in the direction of war and pillage by one who, like BUCHANAN, indi cates clearly enough a sympathy for filibustering schemes of wholesale annexation—we will yet believe that the goodfellowship now existing be tween the Governments of St. James's and Wash ington may be maintained intact, through the good sense of the great trans-Atlantic population. Re turning peace in Asia , —continued peace in Europe, in Africa, ix America—an advancing development of the resources of Australia—the dis covery-of new goldfields, and the establishment of a new colony around those new goldfields on the the north-pastern shores of the Pacific—are conspicuous among the.abuadant external sources of Hope to England upon this New Year's Day. May some, at least, of all these golden hopes be realised during the auspicious year, across the threshold of which we are now advancing in san guine expectancy. Notwithstanding the extraordinary cheapness of money which has distinguished the latter part of the year just terminated, trade and commerce have not revived to anything like the extent that might reasonably have been anticipated. With " money a drug in the market"—the great discount establishments underbidding the quasi National Bank, which had reduced its rate to 23. per cent., it might be supposed that all would " go merry as a marriage bell," and that every fair and bona fide trader would obtain the legitimate accommodation which he might require, and to which his antece dents fairly entitled him. Such, however, is not the case. The terrible commercial crisis of 1857 has left a bitter sting behind, and still exercises a paralysing influence over the industrial interests of the country. Capitalists, proverbially a timid race under the most favourable circumstances, were panic-sfricken by the monetary convulsion, so that what might have beeii considered as salutary cau tion degenerated into abject terror. Credit, on which the foundation of national prosperity so greatly depends, received a heavy blow and great discouragement. The worst feature of the transac tion, too, was, that it was withdrawn from the small hard-wailring parties to whom it would have. been a real boon; Any person putting forward high pretensions can obtain any facilities, albeit a strict investigation might show that it was by no means merited. He-may be the daring speculator, gam bling with other people's money, against whom so many cautions have been delivered, but so long as he carries a lofty head, money will be freely tendered . for his acceptance ; while the tradesman who has paid his way fairly and honourably for a series of years will find his name scorned and his bills rejected unless he consents to pay an extravagant rate of discount. And yet the commercial frauds that have excited so much comment and so much terror were not committed by the latter class. The offenders oc cupied a more exalted position. They dealt in hundreds, or in thousands--not in twenties or thirties. They talked largely, and presented a good appearance to the world ; and, therefore, capitalists were quite willing to discount or en dorse their obligations. We are told that " a bitter wail has gone forth against the criminals," but the punishment is inflicted on those who have had nothing to do with the offence, but who are made the victims of a system for which they could not in any degree be considered as justly responsible. They are deprived of the accommodation which they justly deserve, and which would be peculiarly bene ficial in their trades or callings. Foreign loans or companies, however, possess far greater attractions than the _legitimate demands of our own fellow. subjects, or of our own colonies and depende'ncies. We have, accordingly, a large allotment of such investments tendered for our acceptance, respeCting which it would be well if small capitalists exercised the caution which they are disposed to exhibit on every domestic matter. Such commercial delinquency was prac tically unknown in the olden time. Men en tered into speculations, and occasionally failed ; but there was not the wholesale manufac ture of fictitious paper, nor the gigantic stakes played for, that have been witnessed in later days. Then discount vibrated between 4 and sper I cent., and the main point required was, that the "-merchant adventurer"—a designation that beto kened:a certain amount of risk—should make himself thoroughly acquainted with the state of the pro duce market, and the fair prospect of improvement or depreciation in the particular article in which he was about to speculate. Another element occa sionally entered into the calculation. He might have to estimate the probable price of gold ; but as the balance of trade was generally in favour of Great Britain, and there were no rapid fluctuations in the value of the precious metals, no great per turbations were occasioned to compel men to re• sort to criminal means to bolster up their affairs, or to incur the danger of penal servitude, in order to carry on a few months longer; those' few months being capable, however, of changing the bankrupt speculator into a wealthy and respectable merchant. It is the Act of 1844 which has occasioned all the mischief. The fluctuations in the value of money e., in the rate of discount) have led to com mercial fraud. They proceeded directly from that unjust and impolitic law. Before its enact ment the changes were of comparatively trivial amount and inconsiderable importance, but since its fatal operation we have seen discount varying from 23 to 10 per cent. at head-quarters, and in almost a duplicate ratio out of Thread needle-street. The soundest calculations were thereby defeated. There might be famine in the land, our brothers and sisters starving, and yet orders for flour should be countermanded. Cheap ness was of no importance when the merchant could not obtain credit to pay for that which he desired to import, or the purchaser for what he wished to consume. The former might recklessly dash onward on the principle that, if he succeeded he would realise enormous profits, sufficient to extri cate him from other embarrassments ; but, if other wise, the consequences of his failure would be scarcely more disastrous. The speculation might prove the plank to the shipwrecked sailor, that would bear him from the sinking ship, and although some might have strength of mind to resist the temptation, many would yield. Such arc some of the results of the Bank Charter Act, which, should it remain unmodified, will be the cause of the decline and fall of British prosperity and British honour. The Revenue Returns for the year and quarter are once more before us. They present no very remarkable features, and all that can be said is, th - at they are about what might have been ex- petted. There is an increase on the quarter of £1,125,496, but it must be borne in mind that the comparison is made with the most disastrous period which the nation has witnessed for many years, when trade and commerce were completely paralysed, and no money was paid that could possibly bo avoided, the mininutm rate of discount at the Bank of Eng land being 10 per cent. The decrease on the year, however, is no less than £4,103,347. Far more than that has, however, been lost by the Income Tax on which the diminution on the year has been no less than £7,546,809, a result Iby no means astonishing when we consider the reductions that have taken:place in the duty, in consequence of Mr. DISRA.ELI having kept faith with the na tion in reducing it to sd. in the pound, and it may be remembered that each penny of the tax was estimated to produce £1,000,000 sterling to the revenue. There is an increase in the Customs on the Quarter of £619,169 when compared with 1857, but a decrease of £20,000 if the comparison be made with 1856 ; on the Year the increase as com pared -with 1857 is £1,627,648, but £518,000 only as compared with 1856. These increases are owing also in part to a reduction of balances in the hands of collectors; the net increase arises prin cipally upon Sugar, Tea, Corn, and Tobacco. The increase in the Excise on tho Quarter is £235,000, and £494,000 on the Year, arising chiefly from the Malt Duty. The results, when compared with 1856, are less favourable, there being a decrease on the year 1858, as compared with 1856, of £lOB,OOO. As the increase of duty on Irish Spirits was estimated to yield an increased revenue of half a million, the result-in this respect is no satisfactory. We fear that the failure of the duties on spirits to produce the estimated additional revenue may, in a great degree, be attributed to the increase of illicit distillation which invariably attends high duties, Where a sufficient premium is offered to the unfair trader to engage in the demoralising traffic. The Revenue from Stamps is more encouraging; the Quarter shows an increase of £268,000 beyond the same quarter of 1857, and of £191,000 beyond 1856 ; the increase on the year 1858 as compared with 1857 is £727,120 and about the same Sum as compared with 1856 ; the augmen tation arises from an improvement in the receipts from the Succession Duty and other heads of Revenue, and from the new tax on Bankers' Cheques. In taxes there is a slight improvement. This does not go far to indicate any great prosperity. As an enlarged population must have a greater number of dwelling houses.! The:increase on the quarter is £22,000, and on the year £51,013 small but satisfactory results. As we have• stated, the loss on the Income-tax for the year is £7,546,809, but on the quarter it is only £261,307. This proves that the smaller amount is more cheerfully and promptly liquidated. The Post-office exhibits an increase of £50,000 on the Quarter, and of £83,000 on the Year, due mainly to the progressive increase of the busi ness of that department. The Crown lands show a trifling improvement on both' year and quarter. Much more might, however, be, and doubtless, will be, effected. There is also an in erase on miscellaneous both on the quarter and the year. On the power of £192,264 and on the latter of £453,895. This is, however, but casual revenue, the mere waifs and extra that come into the clutches of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. On the whole, as we have stated, the result is as well as could be expected, and seems to indicate a good time coming, when the country is recovered from the paralysing effects of the undue caution now exercised respecting honest and solvent traders. There passed through the General Post-office this morning (Jan. 1) not far short of 2,000 pack ages enveloped in folding-papers, upon each of which was imprinted, .in staring characters, " WRONGS WHICH CRY FOR REDRESS." Some hundreds of them were directed to Members of Parliament. • It is said that her Majesty has written a most affectionate letter of condolence to the Bishop of Peter borough on his late severe bereavement. The bishop, it will be remembered, was tutor to the Princess ViCfCiria (the Queen). DEATH OF THE ARCHDUCHESS MARIE ANNE (Or AUSTRIA).—A telegram from Vienna announces the death of this lady on Wednesday. The deceased duchess was born on the Bth of June, 1804. She was sister of the Emperor Ferdinand 1., who abdicated in favour of the present Emperor, and of Archduke Francis Charles, father of the latter. She was consequently aunt to the present Emperor. RUMOURED ROYAL MARRIAGE,—A letter from Munich, of the 27th, says :—" The departure of the future Princess Royal of the Two Sicilies remains fixed for the 12th of January, and her brother, Prince Luis, is to accom pany her Royal Highness to Trieste via Vienna. It is said that the Princess Matilda, born in 1843, and fourth daughter of the Duke Maximilian of Bavaria, is to marry the Count do Trani, born in 1838, younger son of the King of Naples ; but the marriage is not to take place for a year. These two Princesses are sisters of the Empress of , Austria." The Duke and Duchess of Montrose are expected in town in a few days, from visiting the Countess of Powis, at Powis, Welshpool. The Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter have returned to Burghley, from Hastings, where the noble marquis and marchioness have been residing for several months past. The Count and Countess de Jarnac have arrived in town from Ireland. Sir John Shelley, M.P., has left Alaresfield House for Chirk Castle, North Wales. Sir Edward and Lady Hulse have arrived at their residence in Burlington -street. HEALTH OF THE EARL OF CHARLEVILLE.—WC have authority to state that the Right Hon. the Earl of Charleville has been pronounced to be convalescent, 'find that he is now rapidly progressing towards recovery. This is an announcement which will afford very great and gene ral satisfaction throughout this and the adjoining counties, his lordship being deservedly respected and esteemed.— King's County Chronicle. It is rumoured that by the Budget of 1860 the salary of the professors of the college of France will be doubled—that it is to . 'say, increased from 5,000 f. to 10,000 f. There is &rumour that Mr. Berkeley, M.P. for Bristol, is about to assume the editorial pen, in the direc tion of a paper to advance his favourite topic, and to be called the Ballot Box. General Garibaldi is passing a few days in Alice, where he is respected and liked. He is one of the few public men who rose to eminence in Italy in 1848, and have preserved the good opinion of their followers and of the people. RINGING THE OLD YEAR OUT.—Last night, according to ancient custom, tho departing knell of the year 1858 was tolled on the bells of the several churches throughout the metropolis, and at midnight a merry peal heralded and welcomed the commencement of the present year. A piece of intelligence appears in Thursday's Constitutionnel, not alluded to by any English paper. It is to the effect that Lord Palmerston has received a severe injury to the knee, and that, in the opinion of his lordship's physicians, he will consequently be unable to resume his place in the House of Commons next session. The Con stitutionner s authority is " a letter from London." The officers of the garrison of A lessandria— where, by-the-bye, the works are at a stand-still, in spite of the declaration to the contrary of certain Piedmontese journals—have established a first-rate club, on continental principles, that is, provided with a concert-room, fencing room, library, reading-room, &c. • IMPROVEMENT OF BOULOGN E HARBOUR.—The commission appointed to examine the question of a low water landing, or quai de maree, have been unanimous in approving of the plan which has been sanctioned by the Government. We learn from the best authority that the works will be commenced next month, and that there will not be 20 times in a year in which a vessel cannot land her passengers at low water. • The Galway Vindicator has been given to under stand on good authority, that the report of the commission ers has been presented to the Lords of the Admiralty, and that it is highly favourable to the port of Galway as a transatlantic packet station. Sir Allan M'Nab, one of the directors of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Company, ar rived in Galway on Wednesday evening. HER MAJESTY'S DOCKYARDS.—As a sequel to the Order in Council making it compulsory to retire at seventy, we are informed that officers and clerks who shall have attained the age of sixty-five, and those ranging from that age to seventy, on the 31st of March next will be at liberty to retire. This will add materially to the efficiency of our dockyards, and doubtless will prove the best minute ever issued by their lordships for the benefit of the public service. As there is a committee of inqviry into the eco nomy of her Majesty's dockyards now sitting, we would draw their attention to one of the principal sources of the waste of public money in the dockyards—v:z., the system of dismantling ships and returning their stores after three years, instead of re-commissioning such vessels Or another period of three years.—Civil Service Gazette, •• - RECOVERY OF AN ENLISTED APPRENTICE.—An application was made to tho Liverpool stipendiary magis trate yesterday, for the delivery up by the 28th Regiment of a youth named Thomas Byrne,lB years of ago, whehad enlisted while- yet an apprentice to Messrs. Renalds and Jackson, rope manufact urers , Old S wan , near Li verpool. Proof of Byrne's age, and also proof of the apprenticeship (which will not expire before November, 1860) having been tendered and accepted by the court, the apprentice was given up. Mr. Mansfield remarked that the law in such cases was, that at the expiration of the apprenticeship the young man would be claimed by the regiment, and if he refused or evaded this claim he would be punishable as a deserter. Mr. Garnett, the law clerk, said that the• law recognised another punishment, namely, that the delin quent could be prosecuted for obtaining money by false pretences. MILES" STAN DISH'S PIPE AND PISTOL.—At the administrator's sale of the effects of the late Zachariah Standish in this city yesterday, by S. M. Parks, the veri table pipe of Captain Miles Standish, which came over with him in the Mayflower, and was smoked by him till the day of his death, was sold. It is a little iron affair, of about the size and shape of a common clay pipe, and though some what dilapidated by time, is still capable of being smoked. It was struck off to- Mr. Gates, of Lebanon, for 15 dols. A pistol, which also belonged to the Puritan hero, was sold at the same time. It is of antique make, worn and rusty, and is past military service. It brought 15 dols. from Mr. MeCanunon—cheap enough, considering the antiquarian interest which will always attach to it. —Albany Journal. THE CASE OF SUSPECTED MURDER IN EDINBURGH. —We understand Francis Thorburn, who was apprehended on Tuesday in his house at Heriot's-buildings, Leith-walk, for assaulting his wife, who had that morning been found dead, and bearing various marks of violence, on her body, has been remitted for examination on a charge of murder. A post mortem examination of the body of the decease,. was made on Wednesday; arid it would see.... co be the opinion that the cause of death was suffocation, and that the suffo cation was evidently not self-caused.—,E...nburgh Courant. ANOTHER COLLIERS' STRIKE IN WEST YORK- • lIIRE.—The colliers in the employment of Messrs. J. Lock and Co., of Kippax, have refused to resume work on the same terms as all the other men, who have gone in at a re duction of 71 per cent. instead of 15 per cent., b u t as k f or an advance of 5 pet cent. above the rate of wages paid before any reduction was made in April. The Messrs. Lock refuse to accede to this demand, but offer the same rate of wages as agreed upon when the rest of the men went in. A meet ing of the coalowners of the district was held on Tuesday, at the White Hoise Hotel, Leeds , when it was resolved t o support the Messrs. Lock in resisting the demand. SPECIAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT ST. JAiIEs'S HALL.—We have received the announcement of a series of special Sunday evening services to be held in St. James's hall,.Piccadilly, to which all classes are invited. The list of preachers for the first quarter includes ministers of the Wesleyan, Baptists, Countess of Huntingd on ' s' Indepen dent, and PresbyterianNeemtexions, and is as follows : Rev. W. Morley F'unshon, Rev. Newman Hall, •LL.B. Rev. William Landels, Rev. John Graham, Rev. J o hn Stoughton, Rev. Henry Allen, Rev. Francis Tucker, Rev. J. Baldwin Brown, 13. A., Rev. William Chalmers, M.A., Rev. Thomas Archer, D.D., Rev. Francis A. West,'Rev. William Brock. HORSE RACING IN FISKNCE.—From a statistical return published by the Sport, it appears that in the course of the present year the stakes at horse races consisted cif 66,500 f. given by the Emperor, of 302,200 f. given by the Government, of 77,900 f. by the Jockey Club, 118,340 f. by racing societies, 77.900 f. by municipalities of towns, 39,600 f. by councils general, of departments, and .16,500 f. by railway eolapanies. 18,304. .were, given for flat races at Ghent,. Spa, and. Tourney, in Belg,itun, and 63,950 f. for - Steeplechases ..at La Marche, Bordeaux; Dieppe, Spa, and Weereghena. The total of all was 780,790 f. The amount of entries for the vari ous races and . „_ ...._ .....- steeplechases was 342,000 f. Of the total stakes 121,500 f. were run for at Paris in 37 events, and 73,000 f. at Chan tillS, in 28. Of the steeplechases 27,450 f. were given at La Marche in 13 events,—G`alignani's Messenger. - . GUN ACCIDENT.—A lamentable accident occurred at the house of Mr. M. Mitchell, farmer, at Greystones, Wheatley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, on Monday evening last. Mr. Mitchell's son had been out shooting, and on returning home he left the gun, loaded but without a cap, on a rack above the fire. Some time afterwards, when the family were seated round the fire, Mr. Mitchell took down the gun. Not knowing that it was charged, he put a cap upon the nipple. and t rie d t o bl ow ou t th e can dl e z way of amusement. The eldest daught er o f M r . Mit e ell, who was nearly opposite her father, at a dis , tance of but lour or five . yards, was severely wounded on the left side, and the other members of the family were thrown into a state of great consternation. Mr. Jubb, surgeon, Halifax, was early in attendance. On examining Miss Mitchell he found 30 shot ' wounds, nearly all on the left side, and succeeded in extracting eight shots. Hopes are entertained of her recovery, Had it not been for the thickness of her clothing where the shots penetrated, she would probably have been killed on the spot. AUSTRALIA.—So much importance is justly at tached to all matters connectod with our Au s tr a li an colo- nies, which are so rapidly increasing in the commercial scale of nations, that it is well to separate from the recently published return of the Board of Trade those details of our exports which refer exclusively to those territories. By these statistical documents, we find that, in the month of November of the year 1858, the total value of enumerated exports was declared at £837,700, which for the same period of 1857 wore £635,008 ; so that there is -an increase of £202,792; and this is allowing for a collective de crease of £31,469, which' occurs in iron to the extent of £12,112, spirits to £9,722, hardwares to £8,751, and earth enware to £BB4. Of the increase, apparel and slops take first rank, being to the extent of £41,394 over 1857. Next in imvortance as to value is millinery, .which was £46,497 ; third is stationery, in £31,557;, fourth, woollen stuffs, in £27,202; fifth; wrought leather, in £20,183; cottons are sixth, in the sum of £14,454 excess; woollen •cloths are seventh, in £13,094; eighih is linen, in £11,282; and so downwards in beer, silk stuffs, tin-elates,_ lead, saddlery, &c. _ —Xining Journal. LATEST NEWS. AMERICA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY MORNING The Persia has arrived, with the New York mails of the 22d December and 675,417 dollars in specie.. The Ariel, from Southampton, had put into Halifax for coal. It is stated that Mr. Field had received on the 19th or 20th some very good current through the Atlantic Cable, including the name "Henley." - Foreign exchange was firm at the high prices asked, and the leading drawers, best bankers' bills, 109 a to 1091. The following were the latest quotations at the Stock Board :—Missouri Sixes, 891 ; New York Central, 831 ; New York and Erie, 171; Reading Railroad, 51,1 ; Michigan Central, 491; Michigan Southern, 20 ; Cleveland and Toledo, 81;-:i i ; Panama Railroad, 120 ; Illinois, 671 ; Illinois Central Bonds, 86'; Chicago and Rio, 591 ; Milwaukie and Missis sippi, 12; Galena and Chicago, 701 ; La Crosse, ; Del. and Hudson, 96.1 ; Pacific Mail Steam ship Company, 90a. State and Western flour heavy, and prices in favour of buyers. Middling uplands cotton, 12c. At Havannah on the 16th exchange on London • was 121 to 13 premium. • THE WEST INDIA, MEXICO; AND PACIFIC MAILS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY MORNING. The Royal Mail steamer Atrata, Captain Woolley, has arrived, with the West India, Mexico, and Pacific mails. She left St. Thomas on the 19th ult. Her dates are—Jamaica, Dec. 11 ; Demerara, 19 ; Trinidad, 10 ; Barbadoes, 12 ; Grenada, 10 ; Colon, 9 ; Vera Cruz, 5 ; Tampico, 1; llavannah, 10. She brings 53 passengers, 932,135 dols. in specie, diamonds and jewellery value 16,105 dols., 382 serons cochineal, 235 cases cigars, 384 bales tobacco; and general cargo. Business at Jamaica very limited. Sugar ranged from 19s. to 21s. ; coffee, -38 s. to 505., at Which over 500 bags changed hands. East India rice 145., and Patna 17s. Freights very dull, nothing offering. Exchange on London, 90 days, I per cent. pre mium ; 60 days, 1 ditto ; 30 days, 14 ditto. Crops damaged by heavy rains. Public health good. Legislative Council still:in session. A bill : to extend steam communication with the island was before the House. Trade was animated at Grenada, and a large number of vessels landing their cargoes. Shipping plentiful at Demerara, and freights low, averaging ls. for London and Bristol. Very little news from the South Pacific. Trade at Valparaiso reported unusually dull. A large part of the city was destroyed by fire ou the 13th November, and some of the firemen lost their lives. Ecucador continued blockaded by Peru, the mail steamers being the only vessels allowed to enter or clear from Guayaquil. The Chili= Congress opened on the 7th of November. The British schooner Lord Raglan, from Halifax, for Cuba, with fish, put in at St. Thomas's, dis masted, and leaking badly. CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 29, Numerous 'sittings of the Council of Ministers have been held relative to the state of affairs in Servia, which seriously occupies the attention oftl the Porte: The Presse d' Orient states that instructions have been forwarded to Cabuli Effendi, at Belgrade, and that a note has been sent to the different embassies. The Sheik-ul-Islam is dead. Two Russian . line-of-battle ships have arrived from Nicolaieff on their way to the Baltic. FRANCE. PARIS,- FRIDAY, The 3foniteur publishes a series of decrees making sundry promotions and nominations in the magis tracy and in the sub-prefectures ; also, a long list of promotions in the higher grades of the army. Among the number are Generals of Brigade Dupuch de Fcletz, Beuret, Guerin de Tourvillo, and Fros sard to the rank of generals of division, and Colo nels and Commandants Blondel, De Fayet de Cha banes, De Bailliencourt, Le Rouxeau-Rosencoal, Chambarlhae, Saurin; Favas, Raguet de Bran cion, Deb Pontbriant, Fiereck, Dejean, and Chau win to that of generals of brigade. A number of promOtions and nominations has also been made in the Legion of Honour among officers in the army and navy. The list contains six to the rank of grand officers, the names being—Generals Reibcll, Fie& de Lievreville, Cuny, Baron Guillot, Count d'An thouard de Vraincourt, and Chanfroid ; eight t o that of commander; 39 to that of officer; and 45 to that of knight. It is stated that despatches have been received from Algeria positively announcing that the tribes in' tbk,thountains were still in full insurrection. Though no fears were expressed for the safety of the colony, reinforcements were demanded in order to resume the offensive. Prince Napoleon has appointed a commission to report on the expediency of establishing a service of French steamboats between Suez, the Island of Reunion, China, Cochin China, and Japan. The Minister of War has presented to the Em peror a topographical album of the war in the Crimea, executed by the officers of the staff under the direction of General Blonde], Director-Genel4l at the War-office. 'lt is said to be the finest topo graphical work yet executed on the Crimea. BOURSE, Dec. 31.---The market continues flat ; the option of premiums :was declared at '72f. 95c. Shares steady. Threes were done at 731. 10c. to. 721. 950. ; Mobilier, from 985 f. to 987 f. 50c. ; Austrian, 641 f. 25c. to 642 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 885 f. to 886 f. 25c. ; Northern, 1,0031. 75c. to 1,005 f. ; and Southern, 686 f. 25c. to 587 f. 50c. The follow ing _were the last quotations : I per Cents. .... 98 Credit Fonder 675 Do. end nipntk .. 97 85 Belgian 4f lOO 25 3 per Cents. -72 90 Piedmontese (5) Do. end month—. 72 90 Roman 93 Bank Shares 3OOO Austrian - Credit Mobilier .. 980 Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... ' 983 75 Home Debt 43 50 RAILWAYS. Account. Orleans — • . 1390 northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean BB5 885 Now ditto Geneva Midi . Southern . Western 6lO .. 610 Eastern Grand Central . Sardinian . Austrian Cash. "'"' "--• • • - - .. 622 50 420 - 640 - .. 420 - .. 640 - Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 15e. ; money, 25f. 121 e. ; three menthe, paper, 241. 97fe. ; money, 24L 95c.: AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Dec. 28.—Some time ago it was made known that certain measures would be taken by the State for ' facilitating the resump tion. of cash payments by the Bank, the sub joined official statement will show that the in formation is, in substance, correct. The Imperial Royal Finance Department will deliver over to - the Bank on the 15th of January, 1859, 10,000,000f1., Austrian currency, which is the first instalment of the sum to be paid by the newly-constituted Rail road Company for the Vienna-Trieste and other lines of railway. Further, the. State will pay to the Bank on the Ist November, 1859, the second instalment of 10,000,000f1., Austrian currency, and also the instalments-600,000,0001, Austrian cur rency,—which will become due on the Ist of Nov., 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864. The State, however, reserves to itself the right in case of need to demand from the Bank the sum of 20,000,000 florins Austrian currency in notes, instead of the two first-mentioned instalments, which will be paid in silver. The State will also give to the Bank " Grundent-lassungs- Obligationen" (Soil Emancipation Bonds) of the value of nearly 20,000,000f1. This sum and the instalments for the years of 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, will reduce the debt of the State to the Bank, for which the State domains are held in mortgage, to 100,000,000f1. Austrian currency. It is credibly related that the French Govern ment wishes, to bring the Moldo-Wallachian clues. tion before the Paris Conference again, but it is not probable that either England, Austria, Prussia, or the Porte will approve the idea. Reliable information has reached here that the state of public feeling has not improved in the Austrian provinces in Italy. The army in the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom has been re-inforced by four regiments, and all the men who were on leave of absence have returned to their posts. SERVIA. The Skouptschina made . known to Prince Alexander its wish that he should abdicate in the following ords : "Sir (Gospodartc),—The nation has had sufficient -opportunity of observing that you have neither .the talent nor the wish to make Servia happy. The nation, therefore—through us—begs of you to ab dicate, but permits you and your family to remain in the country, where not a hair of your heads will be injurrd. The nation expects your reply ; abdi cate without hesitation, and by so doing prove your' o be a good patriot.' SPAIN. The following telegram has been received:— " MADRib, Dec. 30.—Yesterday the Congress approved the address in reply to the speech from the Throne, by 186 to 26 votes. " The Senate resumes its sittings to-day." THE IRISH SECRET SOCIETIES. BELFAST, Friday Evening. The inquiry into the case of the 16 prisoners ar rested in Belfast on the sth December, charged with being members of an illegal society, com menced this day at eleven o'clock in the county gaol. It was believed that the authorities had previously determined that the proceedings should be•conducted in private, but one of our reporters attended at the gaol, and was admitted to the board-room, where the investigation was to take place. He was duly accommodated by the officials, but on the arrival of Mr. Tracy, the stipendiary magistrate, our reporter was informed that the presence of representatives of the Press would not be permitted. gr. Hamilton, Crown Solicitor, conducted the case on the part of the Government. Mr. John Rae, solicitor, appeared for the pri soners, but previous to the commencement of the proceedings, he addressed the magistrates, stating that he was about to withdraw from the inquiry, and stated his reasons for adopting that course. He then handed in to the magistrates (Mr. Tracy, R.M., and Mr R. Thomson, J.P.) a written protest against the inquiry on the following grounds. First, that it was contrary to practice and repug nant to the laws of a free country, to hold any ju dicial inquiry in a common gaol: Secondly, that it was derogatory to, the po:_ition of an advocate to - .diSchary his duty in such a place. Thirdly, that he considered his personal safety imperilled in the event of any conflict between him and the Crown in such a situation. Fourthly, that the Mayor of Belfast and the county magistracy were excluded. Fifthly, that it was unconstitutional to rest the adjudication of such a case solely in the hands of a stipendiary magistrate ; and on other grounds. Mr. Rae then withdrew, and the investigation was conducted in strict seclusion. We have ascertained the following particulars : —Two of the prisoners have turned approvers. The informer, one of the approvers, was examined, and also Mrs. M'Kay, in whose house the arrests took place, and her servant. This evidence occu pied six hours, at the end of which the investiga tion was adjourned until next morning at ten cielock. It is believed that sufficient has transpired to warrant the committal of some of the prisoners. The extreme secrecy of the inquiry is regarded with great dissatisfaction in the town. In conse quence of Mr. Rae's withdrawal, the informations have not yet been furnished, and the prisoners have been entirely undefended. BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST AND SOUTH-WESTE.RN RA,ILWAYi The dispute between these two companies came formally before the Vice-Chancellor's Court yester day, when Mr. Rolt, upon the application of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, ob tained an injunction, restraining the South-Western Company from running ovcr the disputed portion of their railway, pending the decision of the arbi trator, Mr. Harrison, upon the terms on which the traffic from Godalming and Havant Railway is to be allowed to pass into Portsmouth. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.--FRIDAY. MANCHESTER STEEPLECHASES. 4 to 1 offered on the field. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. 4to 1 agst Proinised Land (offered) 6to 1 agst Ralpho (offered) CHESTER CUP. 35 to 1 agst Polestar (taken) 50 to 1 agst Drogheda (taken) Nothing done on the Derby. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Day.—Friday, Dec. 31.—Admissions on payment, 1,557 ; ditto by season tickets, 623 ; total, 2,180. A STARTLING FACT.—When the passenger ship Isaae Wright was on fire a week ago, and all hope of saving her had been given up, she was towed up the river to the Sloyne, so that sir might be scuttled, out of the way of the other ships. Some of the guns of H.lll.'s frigate Hastings were fired into her at a short range, with the view of aiding in the sinking ; but, strange to say, now that she lies dry, it is apparent that not a single shot penetrated her hull. This being the fact, the question naturally suggests itself, of what use are such guns in naval warfare, and =ore par ticularly when war ships are built of stouter timber than the merchant service. With regard to the Isaac Wright no good can be done to her hull, and she will have to be broken up.—Liverpool Post. ti FATAL OCCURRENCES AT PADDINGTON.--Yes terday Mr. Wakley, coroner for West Middlesex, held a joint inquiry at the Bank of 'England Tavern, Paddington, touching the deaths of Henry Ryman, aged 29, a railway porter, late in the employ of the Great Western Railway Company, and John Thomas Coppins, aged 22, a labourer, also in the service of the same company, both of whom met with instantaneous and frightful deaths at' the Paddington terminus, under the following circumstances :—lt appeared that Ryman, on Monday night, fell between the platform and a moving train ; his left leg was crushed in a most fearful manner, the limb being twisted round like a piece of cord, and cut to pieces by the wheelsof the carriages, while the whole .of the lower part df his person was crushed and mutilathchnost shockingly. He was conveyed to St. Mary's Hospital, where he expired a few minutes after his admis sion. In the case of Coppins it appeared that the hapless man was proceeding along the roof of..the engineer's resi dence, at the station, on Wednesday morning, when he fell over on to the pavement, the height of 60 feet. Death was instantaneous, for he was literally dashed to pieces. A ver dict of accidental death was recorded in each case, a recom mendation being added in the latter that the company should erect a railing onithe roof of the engineer's residence for the protection of others who might be engaged in such perilous work as the deceased. The inquiry then termi nated. VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.—Foreign Department.—The consul ship at Naples has become vacant by the death of Captain Thomas Gallway, R.N. General Post Office.—There are several vacancies in the secretary's office for junior clerks ; commencing salary, £l2O per annum. There are vacancies for junior clerks in the mail office ; commencing salary, £BO per annum. There are vacancies for junior clerks in the receiver and accountant-general's office ; commencing salary, per annum. There are vacancies for junior clerks in the money-order office,- commencing- salary, £BO per annum. There are vacancies for junior clerks in the circulation department ; commencing salary £BO per annum. Mr. David Ogden, third assistant inspector of letter-carriers, General Post-office, Dublin, has been appointed inspector of letter-carriers, in the room of Mr. John Banmen, retired on full pay, after 50 years' service. Law Department—There are va( ancies for twelve clerks in the New Court of Probate and Divorce. Audit Office—There is a vacancy for a junior .clerk in this office ; commencing salary, £9O per annum. Customs—The inspectorship of patrol at Plymouth has become vacant by the death of Mr. James Owen. The offices of third clerk, of fourth and fifth searchers, and two Second-class tidewaiters ; also b oa t men an d weighers, are vacant at Newhaven. These vacancies are consequent upon the largely increasing trade with Dieppe. Mr. Wm. R. Stavely has been appointed a landing waiter at New haven. Mr. William A. Wetherall has been appointed a landing-waiter at Ramsey, Isle of Man. Mr. A. Baker, landing-surveyor at Folkestone, has been promoted to Greenock. Mr. Leitch, landing waiter at Greenock, has been promoted to be landing surveyor at Folkestone Mr. C. Heyward, comptroller at Folkestone, has beenipromoted to be collector at Gool e . Th e comptrollershipi at Folke stone is to be abolished,-- Chid Yervice Gazette. . Comet (iv.) by M. Bruhns, at Berlin, on the 21st of May ; also visible for several weeks. Comet (v.), by Dr. G. B. Donati, at Florence, on the 2d of June, visible in Europe for about five months. Comet (vi.), by Dr. Forster, at Berlin, on the 7th of August ; visible for about nine weeks. Usually known as Eneke's comet. Comet (vii.), by Mr. H. P. Tuttle, at Harvard College, on the oth of September ; visible for about three months. Comet (viii.), by M. Bruhns, at Berlin, on the Bth of September; visible for about eight weeks. Usually known as Faye's comet. Planet (54), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, on the 11th of September : named Alexandra. Planet (55), by Mr. G. Searle, at Albany, U.S., on the 14Ith of September. Planet (56), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, on the 9th of September. The following are among the more important events that will take place during the year 1859 : Eclipses of the Sun.-2d of February, 4th of March, 29th of July, and 27th of August; all par tial eclipses only, and all invisible in England. Eclipses of the Moon.-17th of February and 13th of August ; both total, and both invisible in England. There will be 11 occultations of the planets by the Moon, viz., 9 of Saturn, 1 of Venus, and 1 of Mercury ; all invisible in England except 1 of Saturn on the Bth of May. The well-known Comet of Biela, remarkable for its double nebulosity, will return to perihelion in May. A remarkable conjunction of the planets. Venus and Jupiter will occur on the morning of the 21st of July. At the moment of least distance, their edges will be separated by an interval of 13 seconds, rather more than the diameter of Venus, but less than one half that of Jupiter. This shighly in teresting phenomenon will be visible in this country, and at the moment of conjunction th• two planets will appear as one star. The Sun enters Capricornus and Winter begins —lB5B, December 21, 14h.:12m. The Sun enters Aries and Spring begins-1859, March 20, 16h. 20m. The Sun enters Cancer and Summer begins -1859 June 21, 11h. 58m. The Sun enters Libra and Autumn begins--1859, September 23, 2h. 10m. The Sun enters Capricornus and Winter begins --1859, December 21, 20h. 3m. .... ... The Sun will be in the Winter signs, 89d. h. Bm. The Sun will be in the Spring signs, 92d. 90h. 38m. The Sun will be in the Summer. signs, 93d. 4h. 12m. The Sun will be in the Autumn signs, 89d. 7h. 53m. The Summer is therefore 4d. 13h. 4m. longer than the Winter ; 3d. 20h. 10m. longer than the Autumn ; and Od. 17h. 34m. longer that the Spring. The Sun will be north of the Equator (com prising the periods of Spring and Summer) 186 d. 10h. 50m. The Sun will be South of the Equator (com prising the periods of Autumn and Winter) 178 d. 19h. lm. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WOR KS. A meeting of this board was held in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, yesterday. The President, J, Thwaites, Esq., took the chair at 12 o'clock. FINANCE. The cash statement for the present week shows a total general balance of £230,061 ss. A report was brought up from the finance com mittee, recommending, among other things— " 1. That, inasmuch as a special fund is created by the act of the last session of Parliament for main drainage works, the sums in the hands of the board, or which may hereafter he received bs them, in respect of the £140,000 borrowed from the Clergy Mutual Society, be appropriated to general pur poses, under the ordinary precepts for 1858, so far as concerns the charges included therein applicable to entire parishes. _ " 2. That the board do, in the ensuing session of Parliament, seek statutory powers to re-apportion among the several parishes concerned, the debt in respect of the £200,000 borrowed by the Metropo litan Commissioners of Sewers from the Rock Life Office, and expended on sewerage works, according to the actual benefit derived by each parish from that expenditure; and that it be referred to the Works and General Purposes Committee to consi der and frame a propek apportionment, on that basis, and submit the same for the approval of the board. " 3. That the board, do apply, in the ensuing session of Parliament, for statutory powers to re distribute the debt of £43,721 15s. the amount expended in the constr uc ti on o f the dounter's Creek Diversion Works, and to make such debt a charge on the metropolis at large. Mr. TURNER, pursuant to notice, moved as an amendment to the first recommendation—" That, inasmuch as the recommendation of the committee sanctions the permanent application of borrowed money to meet the current expenses of the board, and such recommendation, if acted upon, will throw upon the ratepayers of future years a burden which it is not just to impose upon them, the recom mendation be not adopted ; and that the subject of the appropriation of the £140,000 be referred back to the _Finance Committee for further considera tion." Mr. DALTON seconded the amendment. After considerable discussion, in which several members took part, the amendment was put and negatived upon a division, by a majority of 31 to 3. The original motion to adopt the recommendation of the committee was then , put and carried. The two other recommendations of the committee were adopted without any serious opposition. The other business disposed of was of a routine character. ATROCIOUS AND .EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE. At the Clerkenwell Police Court, yesterday, Philip Cox ford, described as a lathrender and timber merchant, of Kingsland, was charged, at the instance of the London Society for the Protection of Young Females, with a most revolting and atrocious offence. Mr. Buchanan, of Basinghall-street, who was instructed by the above society to prosecute, stated that the charge against the prisoner was one of the most appalling that had ever come under his notice. Prisoner had taken advantage of the tender age and inexperience of two girls, aged respec tively 12 and 11, to ruin one and to materially injure the other: The girls, named Emma Jane and Rosa Bulwinkle, were the daughters of a respectable newsvender. Prisoner had visited the shop for the ostensible purpose of purchas ing papers, tobacco, or ginger beer, but really to accom plish one of the most infamous purposes that was ever conceived. After visiting the shop for some little time, he ingratiated himself into the good graces of the family. On Whit-Monday prisoner invited the daugh ter Emma to accompany himself and daughter to Black heath. He sent his daughter home, and, taking Emma to a house in Whitechapel, succeeded, under circumstances of unparalleled aggravation, in effecting her ruin. Under threats that he would inform her mother, she frequently met him, and he took from her various small sums of money. At last he persuaded her to leave home, and he took ,a room for her. Now one would suppose that that was villany enough for a man. But no I Prisoner 'still con tinued his visits, and, condoling with the distressed mother, said he thought he could find her. To the poor child he conveyed the intelligence that her mother had desired him to say she would infliet some injury upon her if she caught her. In July he called upon the mother, and saw Rosa (aged 11) in the parlour, and he then and there so far succeeded in effecting his purpose that he communicated a foul disease to her--(sensation)—being only disturbed by the entrance of her sister. The child Emma was discovered by the mother ono night outside the Victoria Theatre, and was at once taken home. Mr. Buchanan then called the mother, whose statement contained circumstances entirely unfit for publication. Amongst some other statements, she said that prisoner had offered her daughter some sovereigns if she would be quiet, and he could show her how to get her living on the town. She described with many tears the visits of the prisoner after the abduction of her daughter, and - his condolations upon the subject. In answer to the charge, prisoner, who did not examine any of the witnesses, said it was all lies. He was accordingly remanded till a future day, for the completion of the depooitiouse ASTRONOMICAL SUIIMARY-1818, 1859. The following arc the chief discoveries of the year 1858: Comet (i.), discovered by Mr. H. P. Tuttle, at the Harvard College Observatory, U.S., on the 4th of January; visible for about seven - weeks. This comet was also detected by NT. Bruhns, at Berlin, on the 11th of January, and has been identified with the second comet of 1700. Its period is about 134 years. Planet (51), by M. Laurent, at Nismes, on the 22d of Jan.: named Nemausa. 'Planet (52), by M. Goldsehmidt, at Paris, on the 6th of February : named Europa. Comet (ii.), by 1)r. Winnecke, at Bonn, on the Bth of March; visible for about three months. This comet has been identified with the first of 1819. Period 51 years. Planet (53), by M. Lutlu, at Bilk, - on the 4th of April : named Calypso. Comet (iii), by Mr. H. P. Tuttle, at Harvard College Observatory, U.S., on the 2d of May ; visible for several weeks. , LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1859, littl Phil Acti has Port Per AV (* 10 8 . tine In tl to m Gra / Cant- Jo are Elect Oric 3 per Ne w Indio Ditt o Ditto Ditto Conn tx^ll, rael razi Dit ChiliF I:i . ii Itussi bit brk Dit bit Verse; ette: butel nit PA has bi to all that e ct • cc Si adopt, Port s , each j Wools "T: Befit c With ° , qUesti durati "I You order s cc it (Cowl Sta