The Sun. — London, England, 1862-01-18 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE ROYAL. Lessee, Mr. E. T. SMITH. -- • --- CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. URAND MORNING PERFORMANCE of the PAN TOMIME every WEDNESDAY, at Two o'Clock. THIS EVENING (18th January) her Majesty's Ser vants will perform the popular Farce, by J. B. Buckstone, Esq., en'itled AN ALARMING SACRIFICE. Bob Ticket, Mr. Atkins ; Pugwash, Mr. Barsby ; Mr. Skinner, Mr. Hope ; Susan Sweelapple, Mirts Keeley ; Miss Wadd, Miss Stuart; Miss Tibbit, Miss Bland; Miss Gimp, Miss Harfleur ;_Deborah, Mrs. Dowton. 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 hex R onderful Dog. "If a man do build a dwelling upon common land fr. , m sunset to sunrise, and enclose a piece of ground, wherein there shall be a tree, a br.ast 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 Glindon, H. Adams, H. Langham, &c. The Costumes by Miss Dickin son, Mr. Lauri, and Mr. Palmer. The Gas Appointments by Mr. E inckley. The Choregrathic 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. BLANCHARD. 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 wens 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 Ines Fatui—Mdlles. Sidney, Travers, Barnes, A. Barnes, Livermore; Webb, Taylor, Braithwaite,Hammi ton, Stap • ley, Harris, Candy, Copeland, Archer, Hawkins, Delaney, Wilson, Williams, Robinson, Wood, Watson, and Hamel ton. Grand Ballet, Chagne-a-Lanterne, by the Misses GUN NISS and the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. The Invocation! The Incantation I I and the Evapora , ton I I I THE VILLAGE GREEN AND ROADSIDE ALE HOUSE. Old Grype (the Steward), Mr. Glindon ; Old Scratche (his Clerk), Mr. Tanner ; Tenantry, Messrs. Cringe, Scrape, Shaine, Cut, Packoff, Moonraker, and Runaway ; Tailor, Mr. Snipshears ; Bootmaker, Mr. Tightfit ; 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. Trebles ; 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 reated in another—the Dog's instinct and Mother Hub - bard's reason. - • ). •-•1" ROYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE...— Lessee, Mr A. Barrie. THIS EVENING, PLAYING WITH FIRE. Mr. John Brougham. 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 Harris; Robin Goodfellow and the Cat, Master John Haslem, ;pupil of the celebrated Gabriel Ravel; Clown, Mr. Hildyard ; Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Colum bine, Miss Caroline Adams. Morning Performances will take place at Two o'clock every Monday till further notice. EW THEATRE-RO YAL, ADELPHL- Sole Proprietor and 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 Jamison, Smith, Stephenson, Romer. Lewis • Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Mar ston, Miss C. Denvil, Miss Latimer, and Mrs. H. Lewis. After which, at 20 minutes past 9, the great Irish Drama of THE COLLEEN HAWN. Mr.D. Bouc.cault, Missßanoe, Mr. Fisher, Miss Woolgar, &c. Box Office open from 10 till 5. NEW ROYALTY THEATRE Dean-street, Oxford-street. THIS EVENING, A NICE QUIET DAY. After which (first time) Offenbach's Opera Buffo, entitled LE MARIA GE AUX LANTERNES. Mr. John Morgan, Mesdames Stanley, Payne, and Mason. To conclude with THE EARLIEST EDITION OF IL TROVATORE. . 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, Pigmy Plasterers, Tiny Tilers, Minia ture Masons, Baby Bricklayers, Short Sawyers, Dwarf Drain Makers, and Child Carpenters by a Host of Juvenile Auxiliaries. 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 collection 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 The Misses GUNNISS. Pantaloons Messrs. G. TANNER and MORLEY. Clowns Grotesque 1861-1862 SPRITES by the RIDGWAYS and SUWELL FAMILY. 1.-EXTERIOR OF TWO SHOPS IN " 13P-OR- DOWN" STREET. Messrs. Huline, St. Maine, Tanner, and Miss S. Gnnniss. 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. Messrs. Forrest, Cormack, 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 thos , , 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 a ell known character—Clown meets with a few F r i en d s ( not Quakers)—this Scene ends at the finish of it. 3.-THE INTERIOR OF A RAILWAY STATION. Eight hours at the Se-side for 2s 6d—Duty off Paper— "'l he Times" reduced and the Times on the rise—a book that takes leafe of Clown—Harlequin gets his horse from a Stall and 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 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 s li g h t 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-1 he Great Donkey Stir St. Leger—Clown and Pantaloon's Concert—fine ears for Music—they fish in troubled waters —a Divided Interest—a sudden Squall (Children and all) —The latest Novelty in Parrchutes. Scene —A DISMAL SWAMP—After a stfisi_ a calm appears, a HARLEQUIN' S HOME ON HIS lIIIRONE OF SPLENDOUR. Doors open at half-past Six, to commence at Seven o'clock. Tickets for Boxes, Pit, and Galleries, may be had at the Box Office before the opening. it 0 YAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. tinder the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENING, THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER. Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne; Mr. Santley, Mr. H. Corri, Mr. George Honer, Mr. Patey, Mr. A. St. Albyn, Mr. T. Distin, 31r. Wallworth, Mr. Eugene Dussek, Mr. C. Lyall, and Mr. W. Harrison. Conductor, Mr. AL FR ED MELLON. After which will be produced (written expres.ly by J. M. Morton), a Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled lIARLEQUINGULLIVER ; or, A Trip to Brobdignao• a Peep at Lilliput, and a FlYinz Visit to Laptita. Gulliver, Mr. W. H. Payne; Mrs. Gul,iver, Mr. F. Payne. Principal danseuse. Mdlle. Lamoureux, supported by the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet. The Harlequin/ le sustained tty the eminent l'antomimists, 3lessrs. If. Payne, P. Payne, Lauri, E. Lauri, S. Lauri, and 3iiss Jenny Lauri. Commence at Seven. •rHEA TR ~S . ROY A 1, HAYMARKET, Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING to commence with THE HONEYMOON. Juliana, Miss Jane Coombs; Jacques, Mr. Buckstone. After which, a Comic Christmas Pantomime, LITTLE MISS MUFFET AND LITTL E BOY BLUE • or, Harle quin and Old Daddy Lonalegs. L ouise Leclercq, Charles Le clercq, Herr Cole, G. Becket, and Miss Rasine. C, - ;tarnenee a 7. IT I OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE, Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING-, Jan. 18, the new and oric.rinal Drama, entitled PEEP O'DAY ;• or, Savourneen Messrs. Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fal cone,/ Mes. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston. Atter which, a new and original Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, '1 h Fairies of the Rose, the Thistle and the Sh amrc ck. Principal charac ters by Mr. Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and Miss Lydia Th ompson. Acting Manager--Ifr. F. B. Chatterton. Prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 8, to commence At Box-office open daily from 11 tlll5. commence at half-past 7. A srLEY's ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.— Engagement Extraordinary of Young GUNERIIIS (Ecuyer Norwegian), who created the great sensation at the Cirque, in Paris, in his original performance of Le Passage du Pont, and Madame HALVERSON, the most daring Equestrienne in the World, with their highly-trained Steeds, who will make their first appearance on Monday, Jan. 20. THIS EVENING, THE COLLEEN HAWN. New and daring Scenes in the Circle. Concluding with the Grand Comic Pantomime of JOHNNY GILPIN'S RIDE TO EDMONTON. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle. CA NTERBU ItY 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 addition 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 TRAVIATA and TROVATORE, at ten o'clock, By Miss Russell, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, and full Chorus. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, is. CANTERBURY HALL.-VICTOR JULIEN, " THE FLYING MAN " Every Evening at half-past Nine o'clock. 1: 1 HE 0 X F O R D, 8, OXFORD-STREET, OPEN EVERY EVENING AT 7 O'CLOCK. Selections alternately from " Ennui," " Lucrezia Borgia," "La Ccrcassienne," "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 Bliss Harriet Coveney, Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Marshall, M. P. Foster, and W. Randall. Hall, 6d.; Stalls and Balcony, Is. ; Private Boxes, 10s — . 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.—Morning, 3h. 30m.—Afternoon, 3h. 45m, To-monnow.-Morning, 4h. 3m.—Afternoon, 4h. 22m, THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, JANUARY 18, 1862. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 28 —loighest since noon yesterday. 22—lowest this morning and during the night. 27—this day at noon. BeRomETER-30.12. WlND—Southerly ; light, with fine, bitter, frosty weather. • ....w..,......... ) % k ,-,..1 _ ~,,q,-,----a r ,-...A-•-,\.s. _ • ..... - 0 , - 4 " t e, 4 : ".% ...t 7 ,- .1 , 4,4 F. t, - 7- sz;O•A L .,_ 4 ,„.!D.; r. , --- •!,. , ' , .. 1 •3io. ' ' s .,- • . • :... , '..* tt• ,---.--;;:ath, DI:oli ' . - .2:-.- 4--..., THE SUN. LONDON, SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 1862. It would be unfair to taunt the Federal authori ties as acting under fear inspired by the result of the exploit of the naval hero WILKES, but we may be allowed to observe that a similar promptitude in making the obviously indispensable reparation in that case would have prevented several weeks of painful uncertainty here, have saved us an out lay of some millions of money, and, above all, would have gained for the Federal Government a measure of goodwill from us it can never henceforth secure. We are gratified with the final settlement, and we gladly recognise the honourable behaviour reported in these last despatches—but nothing in the case of the Trent, or in any subsequent ease, can place the Federal States in the same position as they would have been in had we not had to demand justice, but had they proffered it on the instant un asked. The Trent insult was quite as plain and unmis takeable in its character as the two which have now been spontaneously repaired. We accept the spontaneousness of the act as a proof that Mr. SEWARD intends to abide by his own friendly state ments in his long despatch. We feel little doubt that Mr. SEWARD, having entered now on the right course, the one so obviously for his interest, of care fully cultivating the amity of a powerful nation while engaged in a vast civil war with half his own, will continue in that course, Both in our own waters, where forbearance seems likely to be tried, and in American waters England will be sure to observe a studied neutrality; and if the Federals will but make up their minds to be satisfied with this, we may get on comfortably enough. It can be no secret to them that we are strongly solicited to give up recognising the blockade; but they want us not only not to do this, but to pay them the homage of denouncing and discountenancing the Confederates as rebels. Almost in one breath they tell:us that we have no right to know anything of the rebellion at all, that it is a little kind of domestic and private matter, yet that we are to treat the rebels, whom we are not to know, as rebels. Like themselves, in this age of telegraphs and railroads and steam packets, we are to be ignorant, or at least to ignore the news we look for anxiously from day to day. The first of the despatches, which we take from the Gazette of last evening, is one from Mr. SEWARD to Lord LYONS, informing him that the two Ame rican citizens who were taken from the Eugenia Smith, a vessel bearing the British flag, and under circumstances resembling those of the capture of Messrs. MASON and SLIDELL, are discharged and permitted to return to Norfolk, in Virginia, by way of Fort Monroe. Lord RUSSELL had intimated that the law in the case of the Trent would, of course, rule in that of the Eugenia Smith, and, by this act, without further correspondence on the subject, Mr. SEWARD acknowledges that the rule is now settled. So far Mr. SEWARD has shown his willingness to abide cheerfully by his own extorted decision. In the next case Mr. SEWARD appears as the purely spontaneous apologist for the insult, and in this character we are, of course, still more pleased to meet him. The reparation was very prompt. It was made even upon unofficial information. In that way Mr. SEWARD had been infoimed that a British schooner had been brought to New York for breach of blockade, with the British flag flying under that of the United (Federal) States. The insult sufficiently shows the class of gentry who are intrusted with commands by the Federalists, ind their ttmper and that also of the mob, the patrons of promotion. Mr. SEWARD could not have acted better, and Lord LYONS is able to write—Mr. SEWARD condemns this act in the strongest terms ; the act was disavowed with equal promptitud e by the naval authorities of the United States, under whose notice it was brought. Why was not the same promptitude displayed in the case of the Trent ? The insult was certainly THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVE NI N'G, not less, But we must not ask such questions ROW. The third case was a half ludicrous one. Again official information was not wanted, for the navy department had been informally apprised that Com mander WOODHALL, of the United States steamer Connecticut, recently exacted as a condition of the release of members of the crew of the British schooner Adeline, captured for breach of the blockade, that they should enter into an engagement not to be employed in a similar proceeding in future. The engagement seems to have been demanded in a solemn way indeed, for Lord LYONS, adverting to Mr. SEWARD'S letter, says, "it refers to the circum stances of an oath having been exacted as a con dition of release, by the Commander of the United States steamer, from three British seamen, captured for breach of blockade, to the effect that they should undertake not to be employed in similar proceed ings for the future." Happily Lot d LYONS could add, " Your Lordship will see that Mr. SEWARD strongly condemns this act, and releases the seamen from the obligation taken by them." Mr. SEWARD'S reasoning, addressed to the Sec retary of the Naval Department, is as sound as could be wished, and again it is spontaneous ; he argues thus :—" It may be lawful to detain such persons as witnesses, when their testimony may be indispensable to the admi nistration of justice; but when captured in a neu tral ship, they cannot be considered, and ought not to be treated, as prisoners of war. ANGUS SMITH, JOHN MOONEY, and JOHN H. MIIENRY, the alleged British subjects above referred to, are consequently to be considered as absolved from the obliga tion represented to have been required of them by Commander WOODHALL. Macte Virtute, WILLIAM H. SEWARD ! We shall certainly have no more such months as that of this year's midwinter, if you proceed as you have done since your Trent dispatch. A few such acts are worth fifty long lawyerlike letters. We may wish that they had preceded a threatened quarrel, but it is not in Englishmen to forgive by halves. If the quarrel is shown by acts to be really over on the side of the aggressive party, we are just the people heartily to accept a better understanding, and to act upon it as if nothing had happened. Federal commanders will soon know the better policy of their Govern ment, and prompt explanations and redress will be quickly.followed, by avoiding all occasion for them. Mr. THWAITES' last document upon the subject of a Southern embankment of the Thames, appears to us not only very remarkable but—as nearly as possible—conclusive. It is closely reasoned through out, And it is reasoned throughout, moreover, quite calmly and dispassionately—not as if upon a fore gone conclusion. Let any indifferent member of the general public turn to the perusal of this argument, given in extenso in another column of our impression of this evening —and glance through it, however cursorily, and it will be impossible for him not to re cognise the cogency of the various reasons adduced in favour of adding at once to the project of a Northern embankment, the companion scheme of a Southern embankment. The embankment upon the North shore of the Thames is a thing, as we all know, decided upon. The arrangements are all marked out. The funds are calculated and for that matter tolerably well provided for already. A Commission has scrutinised the whole difficulty from first to last, and, aided by the wondrous powers of modern engineering skill, has come to the recognition of the precise manner in which that same difficulty is to be vanquished. C'est un fait accompli. Time alone is now want ing—as time advances funds will be daily forth coming —and gradually, bit by bit, the Northern Embankment of the Thames will rise from the ooze, and mud, and litter, and squalor now dis figuring so frightfully the margin of the noble stream bisecting the grandest city in the world— the grandest not, alas, architecturally, but in dimen sions, in wealth, in industry, and in population. As the northern embankment rises, however, into existence it will absolutely necessitate a southern embankment. Mr. THWAITES' whole argument goes quite clearly, and to our thinking, quite un answerably to prove this. It is visible already, upon the mere anticipation of what will follow from the effects of a northern embankment of the river Thames, that a southern embankment must—by ne cessity—confront it. And in maintaining this much, we are not alluding to the force of appearances. That alone, we are satisfied, would prove in the end imperative. But we set aside the consideration of the painful contrast that would glare upon us im mediately upon the completion of the northern embankment. We set aside that as a matter for after consideration. We turn rather to exa mine into the actual necessities of the case as they are already recognizable. And we there see to begin with—we can't possibly help seeing —that it is a positive question of safety, not of appear ances merely, not of simple convenience, but a posi tive question of safety our at once coupling with the scheme (already decided upon) of a northern embankment, the scheme (not yet decided upon) of a southern embankment. Mr. THWAITES in his way of putting this is very plain spoken indeed. He says, " The plan already reported on for the northern side demands the remo val of very large quantities of deposit frcm the shoals in the river many of which immediately adjoin the southern shore. The operation will have a great tendency to cause a constant settlement towards the deepened portion of the river's bed, and conse quent injury to the piling, wharf walling, and other defences on that side. Some of these are already old and decayed, or were originally but imperfectly adapted to their situation, and hence we may conclude that it will be necessary to provide a solid wharf wall along all that part of the southern shore which fronts the embankment previously recommended." There is nothing whatever to be said in answer to this. It is the most reason able argument that could well be brought forward. And it certainly does appear to us as forcible as could be wished. But it is not all. " There is," writes the Chairman of the Metropo litan Board of Works, " another urgent reason for a southern embankment. which must exercise a considerable influence on the framing of any scheme for that side, namely, its constant liability to in jury from flooding. The extent of this evil, its heavy pressure on the large labouring popula tion of the parishes adjoining the river, the misery, sickness, and death produced by its periodical recurrence, with the consequent heavy charges on the rates, can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who have themselves witnessed its effects." Now those two arguments alone—in favour of the southern embankment—supposing we could recognise no other, we should deem in every way sufficient. Yet are they very far, indeed, from being the only ones. There is the certainty— already hinted at in the outset of these remarks— the manifest certainty of a contrast of the most lamen- 1 table kind being presented to view immediately upon the completion of the embankment of the river upon the north. Discreditable though the delapidation and filth bordering the Thames must be allowed even now to be—contrasting as the solitary dilapi- dation of the southern bank will then do with the stately and orderly effect of the northern embank ment, we shall have no choice whatever before us as to the construction of the southern embankment with all convenient speed. But meanwhile the already perilous weakness of the walls and so forth, along the southern shore, will have been dread fully enhanced, the periodical floodings will have been miserably multiplied, and the general wretchedness, and insalubrity, and discomfort of the adjacent densely populated quarters of the metropolis will have been deplorably increased. By taking time by the forelock in this matter we shall ward off from nearly one moiety of the capital a dreadful series of miseries and expensive makeshifts. It will be as well to remember be times, therefore, in regard to this still undecided question of a Southern Embankment, one or two points really worthy of serious consideration. Let it be remembered, for example, that the localities to the south of the Thames, while they are, all things considered, poorer than those to the north, are more thickly peopled, and at the same time lie much lower than the level of the river, The expense of carrying out the double scheme is as nothing. It will be an economy in the end. FLAG PROMOTIONS 1N THE ROYAL NAVY. In consequence of the death of Admiral of the Red Sir Edward Durnford King, Kt., K.C.H., the following promotions will take place, dated from the 15th inst. : Admiral of the White Sir Thomas John Cochrane, G C. 8., to be Admiral of the Red. Admiral of the Blue Henry Hope, K.C.8., to be Admiral of the White. Vice-Admiral of the Red the Right Hon. Maurice Frederick Fit zhardinge, Lord Fitzhardinge, G.C.8., to be Admiral of the Blue. Vice-Admiral Hayes O'Grady, on the reserved list, to be Admiral on the same list. Vice-Admiral of the White Sir James Hanway Plumridge, K.C.8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Red. Vice-A dmiral of the Blue Sir Henry John Leeke, K.C.8., K.H., to be Viee-Admiral of the White. Rear-Admiral of the Red Thomas Bennett to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Rear-Admirals Follett W. Pennell, William A. B. Hamilton, Edward Purcell, and Sir Charles Elliott, K.C.8., on the reserved list, ,to be Vice- Admirals on the same list. Rear-Admiral of the White Joseph Nias, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the Red. Rear-Admiral of the Blue the Right Hon. Lord Clarence Edward Paget, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White. Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman to be Rear- Admiral of the Blue. Retired Vice-Admirals Edward Gambier, Her cules Robinson, and Thomas Dick are entitled to the rank and title of rear( d Admirals ; and retired Rear-Admiral Theobalcl Jones to be retired Vice- Admiral. His Excellency tlie French Ambassador and the Countess de Flahaul'c entertained a select party at dinner on Wednesday evening, at Coventry House. The Duchess of Montrose and Lady Violet Graham are on a tour in Italy. Her grace will not return to England until April. The Marquis and Marchioness of Bath have ar rived at Tottenham Park on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury. Sir George C. and Lady Theresa Lewis enter tained a select party at dinner last evening at Kent House. The expedition against the Confederate batteries on the Potomac was expected to sail shortly. ' The Earl and Countess of Derby have arrived at their mansion in St. James's-square from Knowsley-park, Lancashire. Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Wheatley are expected in town in a few days from the Continent. THE NEW CHINESE PREMIER.----The Prince was of middle stature, his face cleanly shaven, with a naturally high forehead, which looked still loftier from the manner in which he wore his turned-up mandarin hat, far back upon his shaven crown. His features were good, being far more regular than is usual with Chinamen, but his eyes were small and on a level with his forehead, which is the great peculiarity of the race, who may almost be said to have no eyelids, and very small apertures for their eyeballs to ap pear through. He looked round upon the assembled "bar barians" almost with a scowl, but this supercilious, sneering expression may have partly resulted from his most strangely set eyes. He was dressed in mandarin robes, the only pecu liarity in his clothes being that there were figures of the Imperial dragon embroidered upon his sleeves and shoulders, and that, instead of a coral or other button upon the top of his hat, he wore only a small twisted knot, made of scar let silk, very much like that upon the Emperor's cap found on his bed in the Summer Palace. It is most difficult to give an accurate estimate of his age from his face, as the absence of all hair upon it gave him a youthful air, which, however, was contradicted, upon examining him more closely, by a worn-out expression indicative of debauchery, so very common with Asiatic potentates. He might have been, in fact, any age from 20 up to 35, and I believe that his exact number of years was a mean between these two figures. He looked a boy as well as a gentleman, among the crowd of bilious, bleated, small-pock-marked and hide ous-looking faces of the mandarins who surrounded him, and with whom he frequently took counsel during the course of the proceedings.— Wolseley's War with China in 1860. MR. SMITH O'BRIEN AND HIS PROPERTY.— Mr. Smith O'Brien says :—" Applications for money are addressed to me, day after day, on the supposition that I am the owner of the estates which were bequeathed to me by my grandfather ; and even some of my nearest relatives are unacquainted with the exact circumstances in which I am at present placed." He has, therefore, published a state ment, from which it appears that in 1848, before the out break of the Irish rebellion, he executed two deeds, assign• ing the whole of his property to his eldest brother, Lord Inchiquin, and Mr. W. Greig, a personal friend—to be held by them in trust for the use of his wife and children. On his return from exile, he " lived with Mrs. O'Brien and his family, at the family residence of Cahermoyle, and was per mitted by Mrs. O'Brien to enjoy the rents and profits of the I said estates, and to enjoy the said trust premises as he had formerly done, tut the receipts were given in the form fol lowing, that is to say, Trustees of William S. O'Brien.' " Mrs. O'Brien died in June last, and immediately afterwards Mr. S. 0 Brien called upon the trustees "to re-convey to him the estates granted by the deed of 1848, to which de mand they declined to accede, as they were apprehensive that they could not legally or with propriety comply therewith; but•the said W. S. O'Brien insists that it is against equity and good conscience that he should be held bound by the said deeds." He has threatened proceedings in Chancery to compel the trustees "to execute a re conveyance, and at other times it has been stated by the said William Smith O'Brien that he intended to defeat the said deeds by effect ing a sale of the lands comprised in them to .a purchaser for value." Under these circumstances the trustees have filed a petition in the Irish Court of Chancery, praying to be re lieved from further responsibility in relation to the deeds, and that the trusts may be administered under the direction of the Court. Mr. John Mungall, whose sudden death, at Edinburgh, appeared in the Era last week, has left the bulk of his fortune, £2,000, to Mr. Gourley, a brother Scotch comedian, a native of Ceres, Fifeshire, both being pupils of the celebrated Mackay. We understand Mr. Mungall ac cumulated his property in Australia.—Era- THE FLEXMORE MONUMENT.—After many de- Ays, which have originated in the necessity for complying with the regulations in forte at Kensal-green Cemetery, this memorial of our popular Pantomimist is now completed. The monument consists of a double plinth, surmounting a noble pedestal, with base and cornice moulding. The upper part of the pedestal has, on the angles, four masked heads, representing Tragedy and. Comedy on one side, and Music and Poetry on the other, suspending on the four sides fes toons of oak and ivy leaves bound with ribbons. On the front is carved, in rend, a tambourine, walking-stick, and fancy slippers, with an urn entwined with a laurel wreath The height of the whole monument, complete, is 9 feet 6 in. The design, furnished by Mr. Richard Wynn Keene, an artist so familiar to the public under his punning pseudonym of Dykwynkyn, has been . ably executed by Mr. John Chapman, sculptor, 23, Mast-place, Walworth. The fol lowing is the inscriptiv a • In Memory of RICHARD FLEXMORE GATTER, who ~ died August 20th, 1860. " A fellow c ,f infinite jest."—SHAXSPERE. This Tribute, in est imation o f W or thi ness an d T a l ent, i s Erected by Stacere Friends and Fellow Artists. The day at present fixed for the last tribute to be paid to the memory of the , clever and esteemed pantomimist is Wednesday, the 26th inst., when the monument will be placed over his grave.—Era. THE AMERICAN ROSTILE STEAMERS.-SOUTH AMPTON, Friday Eve aing.—The Nashville (Confederate) and Tuscarora (Federal) steam-ships, are still quietly lying here, and there is no appearance at present of either of them taking their depart are. The Tuscarora took a cruise yes terday, but to-day she has not left her moorings. The un easy feeling respecting them —mow quietly settling down. exists lig here during the past week or ten days JANUARY 18,1 1862. LATEST NEWS. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY MORNING. The Royal Mail steamer Persia, from Halifax on the 6th instant, passed Holyhead at 9 a.m. She is expected to arrive at Liverpool between 2 and 3 p.m. MADRID, JAN. 17. M. Adolph Barrot, French Ambassador to this Court, has received the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Maurice. It is said that tho official announcement will shortly be made that the Queen is enceinte. PARIS, JAN. 17. Monsignor Chigi has brought an autograph letter from the Pope to the Emperor Napoleon. TURIN, JAN. 17. In to•day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies Signor Brofferio addressed a question to the Minis try respecting the Peter's-pence contributions. He called the attention of the Government to the pro ceedings of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and said :—" The activity of Lamoriciere and Chiavoni is due to these Peter's •pence contributions. We are in a state of war with the King of Rome. We must enforce the penal law against those who are in cor respondence with our enemies, and who furnish them with money and arms." Baron Ricasoli replied :—" These Peter's pence ruin the Catholic religion. Their object is war against the nation ; but, of all the countries in the world, Italy has contributed the least. The amount of the subscriptions in Italy is so small that it is not worth while to attach any importance to them. The Pope is no King, but the chief of the Catholic religion. Our institutions forbid any measures which might lead to an inquiry into the inten tions of those who subscribe." The Chamber, on the conclusion of the discus. sion, passed to the order of the day. ROME, JAN. 16. A detachment of French troops has entered Alatri, and arrested 10 Bourbon officers. Alatri will be jointly occupied by French and Papal gendarmes. CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 11. An Imperial Hatt was read to-day at the Porte promising immediate financial reforms. The payment of all official salaries has been stopped until March. It is reported that the Bulgarian emigrants in Russia are ill-treated and universally desire to return. The system of farming the taxes has been re sumed. There have been many wrecks in the Black Sea, attended with great loss of life. Exchange on London remains stationary. BOMBAY, DEC. 27. Shirtings dull, and declining ; mule twist dull, and quotations unaltered. The cotton-market is paralysed by the news of the arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Copper _tile, 56r. ; Malwa opium, 1,475r5. per chest. Exchange on London, 2s Oid. Government Securities—Fours, 86i; Fivea, 981 Five-and-Halfs, 1651. Freight for cotton to Liverpool, 47s 6d to 50s. (BY TELEGRAPH TO BOMBAY.) CALCUTTA, DEC. 26. Shirtings tending downwards ; mule twist ad vancing ; copper declining; indigo and rice active at previous quotations ; linseed quiet. Exchange on London, 2s 17d to 2s lid. Government Securities—Fcur per Cents., 87 to 871 ; Five and a Half per Cents., 105/ to 106. Freights, 65s to 755. LISBON, JAN. 17. The Messageries Imperiales Company's steamer Estremadura, from the Brazils, arrived here at 2 a.m. to-day. She brings 155,000 f. in specie. RIO JANEIRO, DEC. 25. Exchange on Lan don, 25/ to 251 ; Paris, 364 to 368. Coffee—Good first,6,4oo to 6,600 reis; shipments since the departure of the English mail steamer, 30,450 bags, including 17,300 for the Channel ; stock, 300,000 bags. Freights for the Channel, 50s. to 608. At Bahia exche nge on London was quoted 251; Paris, 365. Sugi,r, 2,600 to 2,700 reis. Cotton, 10,500 to 11,000 -reis. PERNAMBUCO, DEC. 31. Exchange on . London, 261 ; Paris, 360 to 362. Sugar, white, 3,,200; brown, 2,000 reis. Cotton, 10,500 reis. The Royal Mail steamer Tyne arrived at Per nambuco on tb,e 29th ult. FRAN CE. BOURSE, J./D 17.—The market has been very buoyant, and a rather large amount of business has been transact el 1 at an advance on the closing rates of the previous day. Threes are now at 69f 60c. Railways fin n... The follow g are the last quotations : ft per per Cen is ... 97 10 Credit F oncier 1240 Do end m0nth...... 97 25! Belgian 41 3 per Cents ........ 69 35, Piedmontese Fivus 66 75 Do. end month:..... 69 50 Roman Bank Shares ........2950 Austrian Credit Mobilie 735 Spanish Threes 47 75 Do. Account 737 501 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. 0r1ean5...... 1335 1337 50 Northern . ... New ditto Lyons ana' Mediterranean 1038 75 .. 1040 Geneva.. . Southern Western Eastern Sardinian ... Austrian Lombard - - • • - ---- 680 - .. 682 50 573 75 .. 575 - .541 25 .. 542 50 330 - .. - - 500 - .. 501 25 530 - .. 531 25 POLAND. (FROni OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WARSAW, 11 th JANUARY. The conflict 'ihich for nearly a year has been going on between I cltle Poles and their Russian oppressors is by no means limited to that part of Poland generally at:, r'ed " Russian Poland," it extends to other ancient elominions like Galicia and the Grand Duchy of Po: tt.n. Thus in Lemberg, national mani festations SU Ph as were held in this city are of frequent occ , zrrence, and the patriotic hymns are sung in spite of the interference of the authorities, who, in man: r instances, are compelled to give way to the popula r outburst. A certain latitude being left to the Pr e se, several Polish journals published here, and pint is u)arly the Czas at Cracow, keep up the patriotic flat zo by diffusing reliable information on the state oft hinge in Russian Poland. This freedom of publi( ation may be ascribed to a not very friendly feel ing that exists between Austria and Russia, the fc rmer having been now convinced of the heavy fine i tis paying for her share in the partition of Polan I ; and lam not the only one to suppose that she - would willingly abandon her prey, provided it 141 not fall into the paws of Muscovy. In the Grand rfr ac hy of Posen, where all satanical means are employed'. to destroy the Polish element, under the plausible pret - txt of diffusing among the Poles the Germa' a ivilitiation, the same feeling of patriotism, the •same n ational spirit prevails. This has been exemt2lified i'L• the recent elections, which turned out in favour of i.the Poles, and we shall soon, I dare say, hear them ring their complaints and sufferings into the ears of their German colleagues in the Prussian Diet at Berlin. Indeed, as it was observed by an Austrian Ambassador at Paris, " the Polonism is raising up its head" over the whole ex tent of its ancient land. Not long ago the Rev. Mr. Tomicki, curate of the parish of Wozniki, had been brought before the judiciary court at Kosten on the charge of having pronounced a discourse on the anniversary of the national fete of John Sobieski. He offered to defend himself, but in the Polish lan guage, to which he was fairly entitled by the royal patent letters of 1815, and the decree of the Royal Chancery of Berlin. The court, after a short de liberation, refused to acquiesce with the request of the curate, who retired by protesting against such monstrous treatment. He was ultimately con demned to three months' imprisonment. Another occurrence with regard to the employ ment of the Polish language took place during the elections. In the town of Kozmin the electors re turned, as their deputy,Mr. Niegolewski, one of the chiefs of the Polish party, who, on the same day, received an official notice to that effect from the Prussian Commissary. Mr. Niegolewski declined to receive the notice because it was written in German, and the postman was obliged to nail up the letter on Mr. Niegolewski's door, who up to this day has not acknowledged the receipt stamp. This shows plainly that the systematic persecution of the Prussian Government is far from being successful. The Russians who arrive here from St. Peters burg (I do not speak of the officials) bring no cheer ing news with them, and do not appear to be more satisfied with the liberal and paternal Government of the Czar, Alexander 11., than the Poles are. These assertions are corroborated by the cruel punishments inflicted on several Russian officers and men of letters who had been discovered con spiring against the present system of government in Russia, by the closing of the St. Petersburg university, and by stifling the spirit of freedom which, despite of ukases and knouts, penetrates into Russia, and pervades the intelligent part of the population. The Emperor Alexander may no doubt possess a great deal of bonhomie, but nurtured as he was in the love of amusement and Asiatic splendours, he is addicted to them, and can hardly live without them. Opera court balls, sports of every kind, engage his attention as much as the mighty and intricate affairs of his shaky empire. How, therefore, can he avoid the shoals and dangers by which he is beset, and willing as one is to make every allowance for the Emperor's good disposition it is dreadful to contemplate the catastrophe now menacing this colossal empire. Such is the opinion of the Russians themselves, both in their own coun try and abroad, and also that the present dynasty cannot much longer occupy the throne of Russia. The absorbing matter is still the closing of the churches. The Government has, in its official organ, endeavoured to show that the wrong was with the Canon Prialobrzeski, and published several refuta tions of the facts repeated by the press in France and in England. But as not a single fact has been disproved, the impression of the Russian barbarities remains as strong as ever. In some towns of the king dom a relaxation from the present state of siege has been promised ; it chiefly relates to the places in habited by the German settlers, who are always favourites with the Russians. As to Warsaw, the usual daily quondam of sentences and deportations to Siberia seems to be the only occupation of the Governor-General and his tools. But for that, the Russians would be tired of doing nothing, since balls or other entertainments are impracticable. The invitations sent to the Polish aristocracy by General Ludors to a State ball met with so many polite excuses as to lead to the abandonment of the same. Efforts are being made to open the theatre, and the price of the tickets has been lowered; but the people's hearts here are so filled with sorrow that they prefer prayer and solitude to any public amusement. I fear Warsaw, for a long time to come, will be for the Poles a city of mourning and desolation. PRUSSIA. A letter from Berlin, dated the 15th inst., says— " The speech from the Throne has produced gene rally a satisfactory impression, It has been ob served with pleasure that it did not show any bias towards any particular party. As yet it has not been decided whether the Chamber will reply by an Address to the speech. The utility of a debate upon the Address is much questioned. It would occupy much time, and lead to no result. The Progressist party especially are against such a de bate, and, it is thought, propositions on the subjett will be made in the next sitting. The Upper House constituted itself yesterday by electing for its Presi dent Priuce Hohenlohe-Iffingen, and as Vice Presi dents Count Stolberg and Bruhl. The health of the King is still a cause of some anxiety to the public, and, despite the official denials, the report prevails that the King still suffers to a slight degree from the effects of the attempt at Baden. His Majesty was not present at the last hunting4)arty, but is often seen out walking, and at the theatre. It is certain that the Princess Royal will visit England in the spring. She will not be accompanied by her hus band, because he is much occupied with the affairs of the State," TERRIBLE COLLIERY ACCIDENT. NORTH SHIELDS, FRIDAY, 8 P.M. The greatest anxiety has prevailed in this dis trict during the past 24 hours for the fate of 215 men and lads buried in Hartley New Pit, belong ing to Carr and Co. Yesterday the beam of the pumping engine broke in two, and one half of it, weighing 20 tons, fell down the pit shaft, carrying timber, brattices, and everything before it. Of eight men who were being drawn out of the pit at the time it fell, five were thrown .out of the cage and killed. Their bodies were not recovered. The 'timber and other debris choked the shaft half-way down, and cut off the 215 men and lads in the pit from communica tion with the bank. Since yesterday the ablest mining engineers and pitmen in the coal trade have been engaged in attempting to force a way through the obstructions in the shaft, to reach the men and boys below, but up to the time of your correspon dent's leaving the pit, at six to-night, they had not succeeded in doing so. The pump of which the shaft has broken pumped 1,250 gallons of water a minute out of the pit, and, as that is stopped, the working seam will be drowned out by this time, and the horses, worth £5OO, lost. Fortunately, there is a communication between the " working seam" by means of a staple, or ladders, and the " yard seam," 29 fathoms higher up, and out of reach of the water. The buried men have been distinctly heard to-night working in the shaft from that seam, trying to clear away the obstruction in it from below. I was confidently assured by Mr. Foster, consult ing viewer to the coal trade, that in the opinion of most competent authorities they are in safety, and out of reach of the water. It is believed that they will be reached to• night, the ground for this im pression being that water falls freely down, while the shaft ventilation is good. The buried men and lads are in charge of able over-men, who thoroughly know the pit and its workings. Numbers of the wives and sisters of the men have been watching at the pit's mouth, in the bitter cold, since last night, and great numbers of people are gathered together at the bank. LEGAL OPINION OF THE CHARLESTON STONE BLOCKADE.—The meeting of the Law Amendment Society on Monday evening was occupied with the discussion of a paper by Dr. IN addilove on belligerent rights. In the course of the debate Mr. G. Roohefort Clark condemned the destruction of Charleston harbour by the Federal Go vernment as a wicked and wanton act, and said the atten tion of the public and the Government had been so much di • verted by the Trent case that I hey had failed to fully esti mate the frightful dimensions to such a mode of warfare would lead. Upon the part of the Federal States it was a manifest abandonment of the blockade, because they con fessed before the world that they had no maritime foie() to blockade the port. Thcy had no right whatever to destroy a harbour which was the common property of mankind, and he hoped that the English Government, as well as public opinion in this country, would declare that such a precedent cculd not be tolerated. (TILE WASHINr;TON CABINET ON 211 E TRENT AFEAIR. The true history of the Trent affair at Wash ington is briefly this : At the first Cabinet meeting held after the seizure of Slidell and Mason the President expressed himself in favour of restoring them to the protection of the British flag; if it should be demanded. He said it was doubtful if the course of Capt. Wilkes could bejus tified by international law; and that, at all events, he could not afford to have two wars upon his hands at the same time. Attorney-General Bates echoed this opinion. He thought the seizure unjustifiable, and was in favour of giving up the men upon de mand. Secretary Seward was non-committal. The other members of the Cabinet disagreed from Mr. Lincoln positively, and Secretary Chase argued forcibly and with warmth that the course recom mended by the President would be dishonourable to the United States as a nation. Thus matters stood until the first belligerent note from England. No further discussion took place, nor was the ques tion again maoted in the Cabinet until Christmas day. The despatch from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons was delivered at the State Department on Saturday, and Mr. Seward immediately went to work on his reply. Remembering the views of the Cabinet previously expressed, Mr. Lincoln was not in haste to call them together. One meeting was adjourned to prevent premature discussion, and another on the regular day did not take place. The first was on Christmas day, and after Lord Lyons had made his communication. Immediately after Thouvenel's despatch had been delivered, Seward's reply was read to the Council, in a session prolonged for five hours. The despatch of Thouvenel had con vinced the opponents of the policy of surrender that the public opinion of Europe would sustain Eng land, and it was used to secure unanimity in that policy. Mr. Seward's despatch, was subjected to much criticism. Many alterations and modifica tions were suggested. The next day a revised copy was read to the adjourned Cabinet meeting, further changes were suggested, and the despatch as a whole was not approved and adopted until Friday morning. —New York Tribune. ROYAL UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION. A lecture was yesterday given at the house of the insti tution, Whitehall, by Captain Ward, R.N., on the subject of life boats, the hon. gentleman being the inspector of the life boats of the Royal National Life-boat Institution. The gallant officer's lecture was admirably adapted to the perception of nautical men (and, indeed, landsmen also), and was of the most searching character as to the origin of life boats, and the progressive improvements which had been made in the construction of such boats. He described every principle on which life boats were con structed, as opposed to that of every other boat; and he specially called attention to the boats which had been built by the National Life .boat Institution. In the case of open boats it was imagined that they were liable to be swamped, and assuredly the chief thing requisite in a life boat was, if possible, to counteract this difficulty. To secure extra buoyancy was one of the great principles in building life boats. This was promoted by air-tight compartments. which added to the stability of the boat, throwing water to the centre, which became ballast. A variety of dia grams, which were suspended from the walls, were here pointed out and explained. He next dilated upon the boats which were constructed upon the self-righting prin ciple, and to the consequent self-discharge of water re quired, which added to the buoyancy of the boat, this being effected by relieving tubes open at both ends. The gallant officer discussed in succession the merits of the various inventions from the year 1789, when a lifeboat was built in one of the northern ports, and 18 boats of that kind had been built. The lecturer gave a mar vellous nu wber of facts (and included sound reasoning upon them), the object being chiefly to show the ♦ast benefits which had arisen from the self-righting lifeboats adopted by the National Institution. The lecturer showed upon unmistakable data the superiority of the principle of self righting boats, an idea which at one period had been laughed at, and which in its practical application sub sequently was for a short time believed to be wanting. Statistics, however, were adduced showing the small loss of life in these boats as compared with all others, and in conclusion the gallant officer showed the superiority of the National Lifeboat Institution boats ; and alluded to the necessity of the use of really good life belts, which now formed a part of the equipment of life boats, his own in vention, a sort of cork jacket, having been adopted—this jacket being divided into sections, so as leave plenty of room for the play of the cheat, whilst covering the shoulders, chest, and upper part of the back. The lecture was listened to with great attention, and the lecturer was thanked far his kindness. BANK RETURNS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Dee. 14. These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the 11th Dec. (the nearest date furnished by their returns), will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : Nov. 16, Dec. 14, 1861. 1861. Increase Decrease. Bank of England 20,804,876 .2 0 ,049,8g5'• 754,981 Private Banks 3,503,810 3,354,5031 149,307 Joint-stock Banks 3,009,131 2,908,938, 100,193 Total in England 27,317,817 26,313,336 1,004,1 81 Scotland 4,513,062 4,647,725 134,663 Ireland 6,458,197 6,407,249 60,948 United Kingdom 38,289,076 17,368,310 £920,766 And, as compared with the month ending the 15th lee. 1860, the above returns show a decrease of £106,529 in the circulation of notes in England, and a decrease of £187,994 in the circulation of the United Kingdom : On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral banks the following is the state of the circulation : rhe English private banks are below their fixed issue The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue £393,49 Total below fixed issue in England £1,386,82 4 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue £1,898,4 51 The Irish banks are above their fixed issue £52,7 55 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 11th Dec. was £15,016,454, being an increase of £791,821 as compared with the previous month, and an increase of £1,433,884 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amountsof specie held by the Scotch. and Irish banks during the month ending the 14th Dec. :-- Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,701,08 9 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks 2,392,919 £5,094,00 9 Being an increase of £220,889, as compared with the previous return, and a decrease of £73,268 when compared with the corresponding period of last year, DEATH OF COMMANDER THOMAS PICKERING CLARKE, R.N.—We have to announce the death of the above officer, which occurred at his residence at Bath, on. the 11th instant, in the 75th year of his age. The deceased officer entered the navy in April, 1800, and while cruising off Bordeaux witnessed the capture, 26th October following, of La Diable a Quatre, privateer, 16 guns, and was pro moted to lieutenant 28th April, 1807. He shared in the bombardment of Dieppe, St. Valery en Caux, and Bou logne ; was present in several smart skirmishes with the French flotilla, and attended the expedition to Flushing in August, 1809. He was next employed in rocket service ill North America, and returned home in 1813. After fur ther serving in the Downs and on the coasts of America, and Fiance, he went on half-pay in September, 1815. He retired with the rank of commander, January 17, 1843. NEW 'BANKRUPTCY ACT.—We learn that Mr. Charles Dance, chief clerk of the Court for Relief of In solvent Debtors, retired at the end of September, but has occasionally given his attendance since to the present time, to make up his accounts. This circumstance gives no rise to the other officers and clerks, as the new act provides that no vacancy in that establishment shall be filled up. Mr. Dance has only been chief clerk since May, 1858, but many years in the office. We are also informed of the retire ment of Mr. William Pennell, one of the official assignees in London, and that two or three other gentlemen of that class are spoken of as likely to retire soon. No vacancy ill the number of official assignees in London will be filled uP until reduced to three. There were nine. We are not at present able to give the sums the above named gentlemen have retired upon, but we believe them to be from £l,OO O to £1,500. Intimation has been given that the estimate of retiring allowances under this new measure will amount to £lO,OOO in six months from its coming into operation..' Civil Service Gazette. In consequence of the Spanish steamer discon tinuing to run between Cuba and St. Thomas, the mail will in future be made up for Cuba on the 17th of the month. The Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company have for the present ceased to issue debentures, havins raised £1,000,000, or three-fourths of the total sum to b° ultimately so obtained by them. The new shares, to the amount of £1,500,000, which they have just put out, com' plate the share capital estimated to be required for this un' dertaking. The Mercantile Fire Insurance Company P si " terday issued their table of rates for the insurance of nor" chandise, (Cm, in the port of London, and a full inspection by their surveyor of the various docks and wharfs enuni e ' rated in the tariff. rho reductions of rates from those of 010 combined offices are, on the docks and their uptown ware" houses, about 30 per cent., and on th e fi rs t- c l ass w bar' about 20 per cent. ri lii ni a I," N e N e 1111