The Sun. — London, England, 1858-12-10 00:00:00

WINTER. —NO GENTLEMAN during the superlatives. It was the recognition in so many Winter should be without one of words of the good fortune we miquestignably en- MACDOUGALL'S FAMOUS HIGHLAND CLOAKS, Universally acknowledged to be the most comfortable, joy is living under "the best Sovereign that ever INt.fut, seed gentlemanly upper Garment now in use, either o r Town wear, or the Rail, the Coach, Riding,":Drivirlg, and reigned in this or any other nation." Again, in Walking. They are made of Scotch Tweeds, in every variety f Plain Colours, and very pretty Mixtures : also in dark giving, the twin toast of the national services— Grey and Black, for„Clergymen's wear. Good useful qualities from.... 265. to 36,.. Arm, y and Navy--in referring to the Alma and The best do. do. 38s. to SN. The Height and Size round Shoulders is sufficient measure. Inkermann, L or d P ALMERSTON spo k e o f th em as Patterns and price per post, free. " glorious exploits that might rival any of the acts Any number of Cloaks forwarded in four days from date of order, free to London. contained in the brightest page of this or any D. MACDOUGALL, other nation." And so on—everything 'particn- THE ROYAL TARTAN WAREROUSA. INVERNESS. I larised by the noble Viscount in that most amiable strain of sustained and ecstatic panegyric was—not good but the best, not high but the highest. Altogether the effect must have been rather cloying than otherwise to the simple and unsophisticated palates of the Hampshire agriculturists down at Romsey—being pelted thus sedulously immedi ately after the cloth had been drawn, with this storm of oratorical sugarplums. Apparently the noble ex-Premier must have been impelled to the some what monotonous utterance of these good-natured generalities by a sense that to touch upon anything like debatable ground in regard to the political future, besides being, as the phrase is, eminently oat of place, would also have been singularly perilous. Without acknowledging it quite as ex plicitly as the right hon. gentleman, the member for Kidderminster, had done before his amused constituents only the previous evening, Lord PALMERSTON might have said, in the very words of his late Vice-President of the Board of Trade, as candidly as whimsi cally—" As to the state of parties, I say nothing. I know nothing nothing; I can conjec ture nothing ; I can foresee nothing ; and yet I be ' lieve I am not much more ignorant than the rest of my fellow-citizens." Those words of Mr. LOWE might have fallen as truthfully and appropriately from the lips of Lord PALMERSTON. Only they would have astonished the farmers of Romsey in that case a great deal more than they did the car pet manufacturers of Kidderminster. By whom soever uttered they are honest words at any rate, and they go far to illustrate at this moment the forlorn and helpless condition of the chiefs no less than of the rank and file of the Opposition. THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.—Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W Harrison. . _ — TILLS EVENING (Last Time), Balfe's ROSE OF CAS TILLE Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne, Miss M. Pres c ott ; Mr. Ferdinand Glover, Mr. A. St. Albyn, Mr. Bar. tieman, and Mr. W. Harrison. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. -- -- ---- To conclude with a new Ballet Divertissement, LA FLEUR D' AMOUR : Mesdlles. L. Alichelet, MorlacchL and Pasquale. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Manageme n t o f M r . Ch ar l es K ean. THIS BVENING will be presented Shakspere's Tragedy of MACBETH. - Macbeth Mr. C. Kean ; Lady Macbeth, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by a new Farce, in one act, entitled THIRTY-THREE NEXT BIRTHDAY. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckatone. THIS EVENING will be performed THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM : Mr. Buckstone and Miss Reynolds. Anew Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE, in which Perea Nena will appear. With WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH. John Small, by Sir Wm. Don, Bart. And A DAUGHTER TO MARRY. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborongh. THIS EVENING, THE LITTLE SAVAGE. After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. WOOING IN JEST AND LOVING IN EARNEST : Miss Swanborongh. And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. Commence at 7 o'clock. A s TLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke. The Lessee has the honour to call public attention to the pro duction of a new grand military and equestrian drama, on Saturday, Nov. 4, for the first time. THIS EVENING, and during the week, will be repeated a new grand Spectacle, entitled LIFE IN THE EAST ; or, The Fugitives and their Faithful Steed. Written expressly for this amphitheatre by Mr: R. Phillips, and embracing the entire strength of this vast Hippodramatic Temple. Princi pal characters by Messrs. R. Phillips, Holloway, J. Anson, Mark Howard, Francis ; Miss Dowton, Miss Weston, &c. Followed by the inimitable SCENES IN THE ARENA, in which Messrs. W. Cooke, Runnels, W. Cooke, jun.; Mes dame Blanche, &c., will go through their unrivalled feats. No fees to box-keepers. The art of riding taught. Commence at seven. Carriages at Eleven. Prices of admission :—Dress Circle, 3s. ; Upper Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is, ; Galleries, 6d. ; Private Boxes, from £1 is to £2 2s. and upwards. _ _ _ Lord PALMERSTON came out strongly at the annual dinner of the Romsey Agricultural Society, of which he is president. He was, however, true to the red-tapist principles, and the rule on which he has in variably acted of letting no inkling as to his intentions re specting the forthcoming session ooze forth. The policy of abstention as to any revelations that might possibly prove inconvenient at any future period was clearly recognised by the ex- Premier. On political subjects, therefore, he restricted himself to what had already been accom plished, carefully avoiding the slightest hint of what may be looming in the future. He claimed credit for the late Government on account of what he considered " the successful and glorious issue of the late Russian war." The people of Great Britain have, however, felt deeply that a fair equivalent has not been received for the many sacrifices to which they had submitted in that sanguinary and costly struggle. Our faithful allies were permitted to appropriate the lion's share of the glory and advantage resulting from the war. We had the satisfaction of knowing that we had fully and fairly discharged our duty, and feeling a peaceful conscience. But " virtue was its own reward," and we had no other recompense for the lives of 50,000 true hearted Englishmen, and of nearly one hundred millions of money. In the other political matters referred to, the seed had only been sown by the late Government ; the harvest was gathered by their successors ; the mutiny and rebellion in India occurred when Lord PALMERSTON was Premier. It has been virtually suppressed under Lord DERBY. We shall, however, gladly state that when the full extent of the emer gency was ascertained an unexceptionable com mander was appointed ; and that in obtaining the services of Sir COLIN CAMPBELL, now Lord CLYDE, they were fortunate enough to place the right man in the right place. In selecting Lord ELGIN for the mission to China they were also peculiarly fortunate, or, to render full justice, were very judicious in choosing a well qualified person for the arduous duties to which he was appointed. But it was under Lord DERBY that our most gracious SOVEREIGN became QUEEN of INDIA and EMPRESS of HINDOSTAN, and surely no exclusive credit can be claimed for the fortunate results in India, China, or Japan. On agricultural topics the Noble Lord was very felicitous. lie spoke of implements, machinery, and manure, and as, might easily be anticipated, where he had a clear stage, there was no failure or shortcoming. He showed the necessity of good cultivation in his own peculiar style—spoke of the variety of colours in fields, which a painter might have wished to illustrate, but which origi nated in matters which the farmer should avoid, and which abstracted a large proportion of the products of the soil. The removal of these weeds ought to be one, at least, of the chief objects of every occupier of arable land. The question of how town sewage may best be applied is one of no less important to the farmers than to the Sanitary Commissioners. What is at present a nuisance may be converted into a source of national wealth which would double the produce of land—make two blades grow where one only could previously be produced. This matter has been disregarded, or, at least, has not received the attention to which it is justly entitled up to this period; but now there are inquiries going on that will, we believe, lead to a happy result. The question of the " labourers' rewards" was one of a peculiarly delicate character. It was by many regarded as verging on the ridiculous, that a:man should, for producing high testimonials re. specting his unexceptionable conduct during the greater part of half a century, be rewarded with a sovereign or a coat; but Lord PALMERSTON assimi laths it to the grant of a Victoria Medal for some ae of daring bravery. We believe, however, that the Noble Lord can scarcely expect that even the labourers themselves who have been honoured by the coat, or card, or what, perhaps, they more highly appreciate, " the sovereign," will feel that they are placed on an equality with the heroes who have meritedjthe high distinction of the cross. It was a good bait for [the auditors, but it will nol " take" with the community in general. A Paris letter LA the Independance of Brussels says :—" The court charged with the regulation of titles of nobility is overwhelmed with business. A vast number of petitions have been sent to it by persons wishing to be authorised to assume the names of families, in some cases completely extinct. The still more severe in such cases, on the ground that there have existed within late years several establishments which created titles on false pretensions." A letter from Tangiers of the 21st alt. says : " The Emperor's p resents to the English government mares,arrived Likewise, o h n eertlion, or yesterday. Th ey consist of eight horses, three c o h ne sa lo o a r n es the a r, g ( o ) la ne stag,amdnine sa r le anichesd. bridle, and a fine horse for Mr. 'embroidered H a y, the English consui general." A letter front Bome, in the G aze tt e de Liege, states that the Sacred College at Rome ha s reso l ved to pre vent the recurrence of any case s i m il ar to that of Mortara in future, by directing that Christians shall not in futu r e be allowed to enter the service of Jews. THE OUTWARD BRAZIL AND RIVER PLATE MAILS.—The steam-ship Avon, Captain Revett, left Southampton yesterday with the above mails, ninety p as _ sengers,specie value £10,426, jewellery value £28,900.a full cargo, Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor -. C. MORTON. The üblic is most respectfully informed that the FrNE ARTSGALLERY, 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 Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters • and is also devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist ing Music Ilan, 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 Kingdom. The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT COnliftenCes as usual al 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.-Sux OFFICE, DEC. 10. THERMOMETER, TN THB SHADE. 44—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 41—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.33. WIND, South-Easterly; fresh and cold, with dull hazy weather. ~., :a- 4.* , - ',- ,. 0 - .A .pIf.CLUI. m &4 z • 42 •,.....,,;-;..4-wer.... s:., a — l '"' , lV,:t-1 ..?, e, S r* A ", ,zrr • Un a ~r--_ „,,,-. ~ -,.......\ T.,. , ...... ~ ~,,,,,..„,,,, - iall—k , -,, .-- THE SUN. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1858. The Fishmongers and the Farmers are severally striving to elicit something in the way of political revelations—whether from the side of the Govern ment or from that of the Opposition. Neither of them, however, have gained much by their move— one in the borough of Romsey, the other in the City of London : both on Thursday, the 9th of December. The young Earl of .CARNARVON has spoken in the latter instance as a guest of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. The veteran Viscount PALMERSTON has presided in the former instance as chairman of the Local Agricul tural Association. Lord CARNARVON, however, as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies—with a due regard to official reserve—utters scarcely anything beyond an echo of what has already appeared in the Bow Street police reports, in re ference to the purloined despatch of the lonian Lord High Commissioner. His Lordship accom panying the repetitions of the now thrice told tale —first in the office of the police magistrate, secondly in the columns of the newspapers, thirdly at the din ner table of the Fishmongers—with an assurance on his part that now that the public really did know the history of the whole case he was satisfied that it would recognise it to have been purely an accident—" such an accident," he added naively, " that would happen in the besteregulated esta blishments." In the Earl of CARNARVON'S inci dental allusion to his Excellency Sir JAMES DOUGLAS, the Governor of the new colony of British Columbia, we are at once rejoiced' and interested to observe an official recog nition of those great services which we as public journalists took occasion to specify recently in the columns of The Sun—services which, if we remember rightly, were promptly and eloquently eulogised a month or two since in a published despatch penned by the right hon. baronet her MAJESTY'S Secretary of State for the Colonies. Reiterating the authoritative encomiums of his political chief, the Earl of CARNARVON said, in words as emphatic, that the satisfactory state of things in the recent settlement was attributable in a great degree to the tact, judgment, and firm- ness of Governor DOUGLAS. Adding, that " very few men placed in his position would so soon have appreciated the difficulties of the case, so readily have accepted its responsibilities, or succeeded so well in organising a new country." Here, again, as in regard to the stolen lonian. despatch, Lord CARNARVON spoke with admirable reserve in words of excellent discretion —revealing nothing that was not already known, and, by the more discerning at least, thoroughly appreciated. Not, however, that, even by implication, we would h ave it for a moment supposed that we regard this ki n d of ministerial repetition as in any way superfluous, or matter of mere supererogation. On the contrary, it appears to us that it is only applying a very acceptable emphasis to what is so true, but yet not so gene- rally known already as to be well deserving indeed of being thus discreetly emphasised. As to the after-dinner utterances indulged in simultaneously at Romsey by the Noble Viscount, the ex-Premier, and now LeadGr of Her MAJESTY'S Opposition, they mounted to such diffuse and couleur de rose compliments, scattered about on all hands, that the general effect of all must have been somewhat spoilt by the mere force of their uniformity in over -sweetness. Never, for exapPle,. . _ was the loyal toast of toasts given with more courtierlike exquisiteness in the way of encomiastic THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1858. LATEST NEWS. The following_ telegram was received at' Al Renter's Office, -Dec. 10 :-- PARIS, FRIDAY. The Moniteur of this morning contains the balance-sheet of the Bank of France, made up till Thursday last, which shows the following results as compared with the previous return : INCREASED. Cash in hand Advances Treasury balance Current account Francs. .. • . 28 millions. .. . . 11 „ .. . . 261 „ .. .. 141 „ " We understand that British magistrates are to be appointed to reside in Basutoland." THE NIGER EXPEDITION. By the African mail advices have been received from the steamship Sunbeam, attached to the Niger expedition, dated off Rabba, 0ct..6. The Sunbeam entered the Niger on the 30th of June, reached Ebo on the 15th of July, where she remained a month, and arrived at Rabba on the 2d of October, with the loss of only one European—the cabin steward. After embarking the collections of Dr. Baikie, R.N., and his assistants, she was to leave on her descent of the river, and may be expected to arrive at Fernando Po in December. A great portion of her native crew had deserted the steamer on the second day of her entering the river, carrying off some of her boats ; but notwithstanding this untoward cir cumstance, no opposition or difficulty was ex perienced from the natives, either in the Delta or the upper parts of the river, and the different trading factories established last year were in full operation. Dr. Baikie and the government mem bers of the expedition were in good health a ft er their twelve months' encampment on the banks or the Niger, during which period there had not oc curred the slightest disagreement with the natives. The comparative impunity from' African diseases, whether among the crew of the Su n b eam or t h e party of the encampment, is to be ascribed to the free use of quinine, with which they were abun dantly supplied. The Rainbow was daily expected at Rabba, having been heard of above the Brass, and the river having abundance of water. THE NEW GALWAY LINE OF STEAMERS, BELFAST, THURSDAY NIGHT. An important special meeting of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce was held this day, at which Mr. J. 0. Lever was present, accompanied by Mr. Pliny Miles, of New York, and Mr. Alfred B. Richards, of London. Mr. Lev er ma d e a statement concerning the operation of the undertaking so far, its present position and future prospects, urging the Belfast Chamber of Commerce to use its in fluence with Government for the grant of an ade quate postal subsidy to the line. After some inquiries had been made by the President, a series of resolutions, strongly- advocati ng t h e project were unanimously carried. The Atlantic Telegraph was next discussed by the meeting, and a resolution Was passed empower ing the council of the Chamber of Commerce to memorialise the Government to give a guarantee for a moderate per tentage on new capital required, irrespective of risk. ARREST OF _RIBBON:3IEN IN IREL.IND, CORK, THURSDAY. The second edition of the .Daily Reporter of this day contains the following : "At half-past 11 this day 15 prisoners charged with being members of an illegal society arrived by the Bandon train, under the es cor t o f a l arge party of police. They are all young men and of respectable position in society—twelve of them are from Skibbereen, and three from B an t r y. Th e captures were effected last night, while most of the parties were in bed. They aro members of the Phoenix Society, and the informations have been sworn against them by one of their body named. Sullivan. The object of the society is said to have been for the purpose of obtaining an invasion of our country by American filibusters." TELEGRAPH BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND HOLY HEAD.-At the meeting of the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board, yesterday, it was decided that a telegraph cable should be laid between Liverpool and Holyhead, the Liver pool end of the cable crossing the Mersey at Woodside, in order to avoid the danger of being subject to injury by the numerous anchorages of flats and other small'eraft south of that point. Loss OF A LIVERPOOL SHIP.—The ship Science, Capt. Gibson, from Buenos Ayres to Liverpool, was aban doned on the sth Dec. in lat. 50 N., long. 10 W.,. having experienced tremendous weather for the last month. The crew were picked up by the ship St. Patrick, which arrived yesterday from New Orleans at Liverpool. DEFENCE OF THE COAST.—A special meeting of the Town Council of Hartlepool was convened on Tuesday evening, to consider a communication received from the War-office relative to the leasing of two portions of corpo ration ground on which to erect powerful batteries Por the defence of this part of the coast. This communication was supplementary to one received some months ago on the samo subject, when such information relative to the ownership of the ground in question, &c., as was required by the authorities, was duly supplied, and upon this the pre sent application was made for the sites pointed out on plans forwarded with the application. One of the sites proposed is a little to the northward of the Hough Lighthouse, being a portion of the Town-moor, and comprising an area of about 7,493 square yards ; the other site is in the Farwell -field, about three-quarters of a mile further north, and containing 2,383 square yards. Both sites are on ground belonging to the corporation, having been purchased by them from the freemen of the town for annuities terminating with the lives of the annuit ants. Aunanimous desire was expressed on the part of the council to aid the project as far as possible, and a resolu tion was agreed to granting a lease of the sites at a merely nominal rent for the term of 31 years, that being tho longest period for which, by virtue of the Freemen's Lands Act, the corporation can grant a lease, except by the special consent of the Treasury, which in this case will doubtless be immediately granted, if it be required. 28s to 305., according to mark. Meal from the western province, the usual source of supply to this, has been to a large extent superseded by success ful attempts to grow wheat throughout the frontier districts, and since the removal of so many troops, these districts are found equal to the local supply ; and the quality known ar.' "golden ball meal" is plentiful at 30s. to 335. the 1961b5. , , in eluding bag. The exports from the colony for the year ending 30th of June last are returned at £1,835,509, and the imports daring that period £2,929,097, showing a balance of £1,093,588 against the colony, made up of course from sources not shown in the Government returns. The influx of immigrants, of whom we have received 1,749 to date, will, we trust, force the colony to a greater develop ment of its resources, by reclaiming its wastes and by enlarging the breadth of agriculture. A go vernment system of irrigation is much needed ; some comprehensive scheme, under which, by a union of talent and capital, the waters of our several rivers may be retained for the purposes of irriga tion, instead of running to waste as now. By Go vernment debentures of £1,000,000 sterling, a mil lion of acres of land, now profitless, might be made to yield at least one pound's value of produce per annum, clear of all expenses. " The state of the frontier is not so settled as it was a few months ago, and this is attributable to the removal of troops. A strong front, and the means of coercion to employ when needed, is indispensable. Several thefts of stock have been committed throughoutithe frontier districts during the month, and small bands of plunderers still harass the farmers from their bushy lairs. The mounted police are still energetic in the pursuit of these marauders, but the strength of th'e force is quite unequal to the immense and incessant duty required of it, and ought to b e augmented and b etter paid. The Kaffirs are known to be conciliating the Fingoes within the colony, it is feared with some sinister motive. A few years ago the latter were considered by the liaffirs as ' dogs but now, the barrier is so far removed that intermar riages take place. The colonists dread any com bination of the coloured races, and look upon any thing tending thereto with well-founded apprehen sion. To watch these movements and to prevent their ripening into mischief and disaster a local government is needed. " The trial of the chief Umhala has, by the mouths of witnesses frorct his own people, estab lished the complicity of that chief in warlike attempts against the colony. The witnesses de ' scribe how men were sent to wade into ponds up to the neck, and to hold the heads and horns of oxen over their heads, and to low, in imitation of kine, whilst a prophetess, duly instructed thereto, was made to explain to the poor Kaffir dupes that these cattle were rising from the dead, and that their chiefs and deceased relatives would so rise, provided the people killed all their stock and destroyed all their corn. The evidence then went most conclusively to show that this slaughtering of cattle was for, the purpose of reducing the Kaffir tribes to starvation, and thus to incite them to a bloody war upon the colony ; and that further, having no flo c k s t o t en d , the whole force o f Kaffirland would be available for a general descent on the colonial farmers. The plot, although at the outset disbelieved by many, especially of the western colonists, is now fully proved to have existed, and the able administra tion of Sir George Grey, under the blessing of God, has alone saved us from a Kaffir war of the most fierce and bloody character. To this day, these tribes are so unsettled and uneasy, both those within and without the colony, that the utmost caution is needed to preserve peace, and the with drawal of troops under these aspects imperils the colony. The ready and rapid combination of these people renders them a formidable army. " The .sister colony of Natal is producing sugar to some extent. Many Germans, it is said, intend to remove from British Kaffraria thither. The cotton interest of Manchester has made some defi nite proposals for lands to cultivate that staple. An association, with a capital of £2,000, has been formed for the importation of improved breeds of sheep, to be sold to farmers at cost price, and upon credit, paying interest. " Sir George Grey is said to have handed to President Boshof the draft of a feasible federative system. _ REDUCTION IX THE BANK RATE OF DIS'COUATT. -4-- (F,•oliz the Daig Stews city .41, tide.) flie City was yesterday taken completely by surprise in consequence of a notification that the directors of the Bank of . England, at their weekly court to-day, have reduced their minimum rate of discount from 3 per cent., at which it was fixed on the 11th of February last, to 21 per cent. Al though the terms current in the open market have long been a to a per cent. below those of the Bank, people had quite given up the idea of any altera tion being made during the present year. Merely from its being unexpected at the present juncture, the announcement created quite a sensation. In the Stock Exchange, as is well known, a rise in the prices of securities, and a fall in the value of money by a fall in securities, simply because changes of this description are almost invariably anticipated by the speculators. Upon the present occasion, however, the alteration has b een imme diately followed by a rise of no less than a half per cent. in the funds. During the earlier part of the day the market was flat; and at twenty minutes past one o'clock, when the Bank broker first made the news public in the Stook Exchange —for nobody thought of making inquiry at the Bank itself—prices were quoted at a reduction of about 1, per cent. Renewed firmness was the immediate consequence ; and, after a general but brief pause, which was attributable solely to the unexpected character of the intelligence, a steady upward movement set in. Consols left off a per cent. higher than yesterday. English railway stocks exhibit a sensible advance, and French and Indian were likewi se decidedly firmer. The four o'clock quotations were in every instance the high est of the day ; and after the close of the Stock Exchange a fresh improvement was established. During the morning the discount market re mained easy, the minimum rate for the best bills being about 2i per cent. ; and at the Bank the applications were rather more numerous than of late. Upon the alteration at the Bank, the entire market became, for the time, unsettled. The pro bability is that the terms for the best paper will range, for the present, from 2 to 21 per cent. That the Bank of England will be still underbid by the other monied establishments is certain.. Mean while, the latter have not yet adopted any uniform resolution with regard to the rates of allowance for deposits. Of the joint-stock banks, four have altered their terms, viz., the London and West minster, Union, Commercial, and Bank of London. These establishments will henceforth allow only 11 per cent. per annum for deposits, instead of 2 per cent. ; but in the case of the London and West minster Bank, sums below £5OO are exceptionally treated, and will be allowed only 1 per cent. The London Joint-Stock, London and County, and City . Banks have as yet made no change, but will prob ably follow the example of those already mentioned. No notice has yet been put forward by the Lom-_ bard-street discount houses, who, however, are ex pected to-morrow to l ower th e i r t erms to 1 per cent. for money "at call," and 11 per cent., subject to seven days' notice of withdrawal. The same remark will apply to the two discount companies. The rate now fixed I.y the Bank applies likewise to loans on Government stock, but the terms in the Stock Exchange are still lower. The motives which have actuated the Bank Di rectors in taking the step at the present period of the year have already given rise to lively discus sions. Probably it is felt that the Bank's regular customers claim consideration. The firmer appear ance assumed by the continental exchanges during the last fortnight, the fact that gold is flowing into the Bank, and the subsidence of the demand for money in the German markets have also doubtless had an influence. It has already transpired, how ever, that in to-day's de c i s i on th e B an k b oar d were far from unanimous, a minority attaching import ance to the generally low level of the foreign ex changes, which causes the diversion to the Conti nent of the bulk of the gold imported. Remittances on account of the Turkish and Chilian Loans have likewise to be met; and the prospect that numerous other foreign projects will soon be brought forward is not undeserving of attention. The present is the third occasion since the year 1844 on which the Bank rate of discount has been reduced from 3 to 21- per cent. The annexed comparison shows that, so far as can be gathered from the figures quoted, the step is justified by precedent : Coin. Reierve of • Bullion. Notes. Nov. 17, 1849 ' £16,037,690 .. £11,027,655 Dec. 27, 1851 Dec. 9, 1858 (last return) 18,776,314 .. 12,324,040 RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. NORTH-WESTERN. A spacial meeting of the shareholders in the North-Western Railway Company was held in the Philosophical Hall,. Leeds, yesterday, for the pur pose of considering, and, if approved, of confirming the lease of the North-Western line to the Midland Company, for a term of 999 years, to commence on the Ist of January, 1859. Mr. HENRY ALCOCK, the chairman of the direc tors, presided. WHELAN, the secretary read the minutes of the company, explaining the various steps which had been taken with reference to the contem plated lease, and the terms upon which it is pro posed to be made. The terms of the lease, it ap peared are—That the Midland Company shall pay every expense connected with the North-Western undertaking, including debentu re i n t eres t an d divi dends on preference stock, and a half -yearly sum equal to a net dividend, without deduction, except for income tax upon the ordinary shares of the company, after the following scale :—For the year 1859, £1 10s: per cent, per annum ; for the year 1860, £2 do. ; for the year 1861, £2 10s. do. ' • for the year 1862, £3 d o . ; f or th e year 1863, £3 do. ; for the year 1864, £3 10s. do., with such addi tional dividend (if any) as one•half of the excess net earnings of the North-Western undertaking will pay beyond the rates aforesaid. The amount of ordinary stock upon which the guarantee is to take effect is £BOO,OOO ; the preference stock (5 per .ent.) is £126,285 ; the debenture stock is ab £260,000, and is not to be increased, or the ex i A ;ug debentures renewed, without the consent of the Midland Company. The CHAIRMAN expressed his belief that the terms of the lease were fair to both companies, and moved the following resolution :—" That the terms and conditions of the lease, as now explained to meeting by the reading of the aforesaid documents, be, and the same are, hereby confirmed, and that the directors be authorised to affix the common seal of the company to the lease, and to do all such acts as may be necessary for carrying the same into effect." Mr. R. HINDE (Lancaster) seconded the resolu After a little conversation, in which Mr. William Douglas (Bradford), Dr. Cowan (Brentford), Mr. James Kitson (Leeds), and Mr. J. Sharp (Lancaster) took part, the resolution was adopted unanimously. The general effect of the remarks was that the directors of the North-Western Company were deserving of great credit for the manner in which they had conducted the negotiations respecting the lease, but that it would prove very advantageous to the Midland Company. A vote of thanks was awarded to the directors, on the motion .of Dr. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Kit son. and was acknowledged by Mr. Alcock. The proceedings then terminated. THE GREAT SOUTHERN AND THE WATER FORD AND LIMERICK. A circular has been issued by the directors of the Waterford and Limerick line to their share holders, setting forth the terms of the offer for amalgamation made by the Great S ou th ern Com pany. The propos a l is substantially to give at the end of three years 10s. in the pound of the Great Southern and Western stock, and in the meantime a dividend equal to 3 per cent. on that half. As suming. as we may, that the Southern and Western dividend is 5 per cent., it is equal to guaranteeing 21 per cent. on the Water ford and Limerick stock. Upon the whole, therefore, it seems a proposition which the Water ford and Limerick shareholders should hesitate to refuse, notwithstanding they may not relish the style displayed in the last letter from the intending , purchasers, and which, if it pervades all their nego tiations, partly accounts for the continuance of the war. The Waterford and Limerick proprietors would receive, under the proposed terms, an ave rage dividend of 11- per cent. on their present stock for three y ears , w hil e, under present circumstances, they have no reasonable, prospect of any at all, and at the expiration of three years they would have a pretty secure dividend of 24 per cent. DECREASED. Francs. 3 millions. 3 1 • • • • • • '2 1) Bills discounted not yet due.... Notes in Circulation. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. A council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday at the Tuileries. The Emperor received yesterday the replies of the Senate of the free city . of Frankfort to the letters recalling Could de Montessuy and accre diting Count de Salignac-Fenelon as his successor. The 21st inst. is the day appointed for hearing M. Montalembert's appeal. The President of the Court will be M. Perot des Chezelles ; the .Rappor teur, M. Treilhard, of the Cour Imperial ; and M. Chair d'Est Ange will act as Procureur. There are several versions afloat; the one which seems most credited is that the Emperor's pardon will be pleaded in answer to the appeal, but nothing is said as regards the law of the 14th of FebrUary last. The Commissioners appointed by the ,Emperor to make a report on the snbject of the engageMent of free negroes in the French Colonies have declared in favour of the system of immigration as at pre sent conducted. The Moniteur publishes a decree promulgating the convention of extradition concluded between France and the Grand Duchy of Saxe Weimar. " It may be remembered," says the Union," that three years ago Soulouque suddenly invaded the territory of the Dominican Republic. He was beaten, and a short time after an armistice was concluded between him and Santana, under the guarantee of France and England. That armistice expires on the 15th February next, and Soulouque has already announced it to the Government of San Domingo. War is, therefore, considered, pro bable, and Santana is said to be very actively preparing for it." BOURSE, Dec. 9.—A momentary check was given at the opening to the upward tendency of the Rente by several heavy sales, but an improvement afterwards set in with renewed rapidity. The project of the new Imperial Bank is considered as having no chance of being authorised. Threes, after having been done at 73f. 30c. and 73f. 25e., rallied to 73f. 50c. ; Mobilier varied from 990 f. to I,olof. ; Austrian, 652 f. 50c. to 655 f.; Orleans, 1,402 f. 50c. to 1,407 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 885 f. to 890 f.; and Southern, 590 f. to 592 f. 50c. The following were the quotations : 41 per Cents. .... 96 60 'Credit Foncier Do. end month .. 96 75 Belgian 41 — 3 per Cents. 73 20 Piedmontese (5) Do. end month.... 73 40 Roman ' 93 Bank Shares 3150 —` Austrian Credit Mobilier .. 1012 50 Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... 1007 50 Home Debt 43 75 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto. 845 .. 847 50 Lyons and Mediterranean BB5 .. 885 New ditto . -• • • Ueneva Midi . Southern ... Western Eastern Grand Central Sardinian . Austrian - - - 590 --. .. . 590 - - .. 610 - 700 - .. 702 50 . . 436 50 653 75 6.55 - Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 121 c. ; money, 2.5 f. 10c. ; three months, paper, 24f. 951 c. ; money, 24f. 95c. RUSSIA. The Pairslavist movement in Russia and Poland, which has frequently excited attention, and which is said to cause some uneasiness to the Austrian Government, is, according to the Abellle du Nord of St. Petersburg, progressing. It says :—" For some time there has been an evident tendency to a fusion between the different Sclavonian nationa- lities. But it is particularly since the Easter war that the two nations, Russian and Polish the most powerful and most civilised among the Sclavonian populations, though just before im placable enemies, have drawn closer and become reconciled. And it now seems as if those two nations have completely abandoned their old anta gonism, and sworn on the altar of Panslavism to forget the past. Up to the epoch referred to, the Russian and Polish journals were completely indif ferent, if not hostile to each other; but now they examine and criticise the works in each other's language, and literary and learned men, professors and statesmen of St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Warsaw, are becoming more and more imbued with Panslavist ideas." PRUSSIA. The Prinee of Wales, according to advices from Berlin, will leave that city ou Saturday to return to England. A number of members of the Chamber of Nobles of Prussia some time ago sent an address to the King, and his Majesty has returned the following reply to the Prince de Hohenlohe Ingelfingen, President of the Chamber : " Dear Prince,—The address of the members of the Chamber of Nobles which you have sent me has been to me a consolation and a joy in my state of sickness, which, to my great regret, still continues. I have recognised in it, dear Prince, your love and fidelity to me personally, and also those of the other nobles. lam convinced that in these times of distress the Chamber of Nobles has not lost courage, but, as becomes Christians and faithful subjects will, under existing circumstances, carry higher the flag of Prussia. However painful it may be for me to be prevented from fulfilling the duties of my Royal position, I nevertheless feel confident that the King of Kings, who has in his inscrutable decrees afflicted me with this malady, will continue to give to my beloved brother the wisdom and the strength necessary to direct the government to his honour, to protect the Church, to secure right and justice, and to main tain the laws and the constitutions of the Country. You, Prince, and all the members of the Chamber of Lords, cannot give me a better proof of your fidelity and of your attachment than by support ing my dear brother in his difficult mission by your counsels, and by aidieg him with your zea lous co-operation in all he may undertake for the honour of God and for the welfare of the country. I remain, my dear Prince, your kind friend. a FREDERIC WILLIAM." THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. We yesterday published, a telegraphic summary of the news brought by the Ethiope, which arrived at Plymouth on Tuesday with the African mails. We take the following from the summary of the Graham's Town Journal ; " The colony is steadily recovering from its late depression, and trade, though dull, with limited transactions, is steady, and as the wool season is approaching we shall in a few weeks have to notice a more decided improvement in commer cial matters. The money market is light, al though the banks readily discount first class paper at a rate of six per cent. per annum. Remittances to England are very difficult to procure, and rule as high as 1 per cent. premium for 30 days' drafts in bank paper or Treasury bills. £30,000 in specie, sent round to the frontier for the British Kaffralian chest, will shortly be in circula tion. Stocks of British goods are still heavy and move slowly. In Rio coffee the stocks are low, and• prices tending upwards. The quotations are 735. to 755. per 1001bs. for inferior, and 765. to 78s. for first samples. Tea is in little request at 30s. per per 121 b. box. The supply of Mauritius sugar is limited, and will continue so until the new crop reaches. Prices are 275. to 30s. per 100 lbs. gross, for dark qualities, and 30s. to 40s. for light. Rice is plentiful at 30s. to 31s. 6d. per bag of 150 lbs. for white, and 265. to 275. per Mooghy. Fine flour, 31s. to 335. per 100 lbs., and seconds CORK AND YOUGHAL, _J. . We congratulate all concerned in this line, and all interested in the acceleration of the communication between Cork and Youghal, that matters arc now in a very satisfactory position. The difficulties were great, but they have been overcome. The directors have negotiated a loan with parties in London to enable them to complete this important undertaking. The two first instalments have been paid to the company's bankers, and the remainder is to be paid before the middle of this month. The directors have also made arrangements with respect able contractors to commence the works at once, so that the completion of the York and Youghal Rail way is now no longer a matter of . speculation. What we state is not conjectural, but positive, and the works will soon be in active progress.— Cork Constitution. FRANCE UNDER NAPOLEON (Tram the Daily i'Veas.) Ten Sears ago, on Decemb er 10 , 1848, Louis Napoleon was elected President of the French Re public. For the greater part of the period which has elapsed since that date he has wielded a power as absolute and uncontrolled as that of the most despotic monarch of Europe. The pretext for the Coup d'Etat of December, 1851, was the necessity for establishing a strong government, as the only panacea for the chronic evil of political discontent which retarded the progress of the French nation, and prevented the establishment of permanent and sound institutions in that country. The time has now arrived when we may reasonably examine how far the prophecies of the admirers and abettors of the Coup d'Etat have been borne out by events. As regards the position of the Chief of the State himself, and of the French people, .politically con sidered, there can be no two opinions. The fre quent " warnings" given to the press, and above all the prosecution of Count de Montalembert, are official declarations that the dynasty Louis Napo leon hoped to found has as yet taken no real root in France, and that his throne is so insecure that it is shaken by every one that criticises unfavourably the acts of his Government. Nor has he been more successful in obliterating the political dissen sions of the people, for his legal authorities have told us that to speak of the free institutions of England, or to refer with regret to those which France possessed before the Coup d'Etat, is to bring on danger of civil war. The "strong govern ment," in those respects, has, therefore, been an utter failure. Happily for our neighbours, however, there is a brighter side to the picture. In spite of M. St. Marc Girardin's bitter and clever article on the Danubian Principalities, it can hardly be contested that the influence of France on European politics is as great as at any time during her recent history. When looking back to the position she held before Louis Napoleon arrived at absolute power, we can not avoid attributing to , him personally a large share in strengthening that influence. His alliance with En - gland, and, above all, the good faith with which he has carried it out, has largely contributed to consolidate the diplomatic position of France. That alliance gives the two nations, as united, an overwhelming preponderance in the councils of Europe, and we trust that the blunders or preju dices of no individual Minister on either side may ever seriously affect their peaceful relations. But the most remarkable feature of the ten years which are completed this day is the progress of the material wealth of France. The advance made in her manufacturing industry is not less striking that that in her foreign trade ; and. it would be unjust to deny the share which the Emperor has had in bringing about those results. Although there is still a compact body of manufacturers who hold that their private interests should override the public advantage, and who arrest the progress of free-trade doctrines and legislation, it is to Napoleon 111. that France is indebted for a series of acts which have modified the absurd tariffs and fiscal regulations of former years, and given an impulse to manufactures and commerce most beneficial to the community-at large. Ile has done but little, it :s true, compared with what remains to be done; but we must estimate the merit of his progress by a reference to the past, when neither unlimited freedom of the press nor of the tribune prevented the parliamentary influence of the manufacturers from effectually stifling every tendency towards more rational and liberal fiscal regulations. The result of the system which prevailed under Louis Philippe was that the official value of the ex ports and imports increased between the years 1837 and 1847 only £41,920,000, while during the subse quent ten years the augmentation was £79,140,000, being an increase in the first case of 67 and in the latter of 75 per cent., notwithstanding the disturbing causes of deficient harvests, war, epi demics, and inundations. But it must be remem bered that the period of Louis Napoleon's rule has had the entire benefit of the results of the gold dis coveries, which have given such an extraordinary stimulus to commerce throughout Europe; and if we compare the progress of France with that of neigh bouring countries, it becomes a great question how much of that progress can be fairly attributed to a regime which shuts out the nation from any voice in the regulation of its own affairs, political or com mercial. The extension of the railway system of France is undoubtedly, in a great measure, the work of Napoleon 111., and the especial patronage he bestowed on the Bourse largely facilitated that ex tension. In 1847 the length of railways absolutely made was only 1,250 miles ; the gross receipts, £2,549,308. In 1857 the length opened was 4,662 miles ; the gross receipts, £12,442,000. It cannot be doubted that these circumstances must have had a direct effect in increasing the general wealth of the nation, but at the same time it is equally certain that the general burthens the country II a3to bear have been also largely increased. The corrupt influences exercised at elections, and the extravagance of the executive, were among the re proaches addressed to the Government of Louis Philippe, and the attempt to limit the right of ex pressing public opinion filled up the measure of the disaffection which existed, and which hurried on the Revolution of 1848.. The Government prose cutions for distributing electoral tickets, and the scandalous interference of Government enzployes which was disclosed at the trial of Count Migeon, show that the art of nmaging elections is not suf fered to rust under the Imperial sway. Public opi nion is not only shut out from the tribune, but from every other channel through which it could make itself heard ; while as to public expenditure, the figures will speak for themselves. The budget of 1847 estimated the expenditure at £58,349,000, of which, however, £3,548,000 was for railway works; that of 1858 was estimated at £68,686,000. The chief items of increase are, £4,748,000 on the charge for the national debt ; £991,000 for flota tions; £296,000 public worship; £1,625,000 mini stry of the interior ; £1,687,000 ministry of war; £544,000 ministry of marine; and £485,000 for the new department of the ministry of state. The two items which show a 'diminished expenditure are, for public instruction, £125,000 ; and £1,832,000 for the Ministry of commerce and agriculture. These figures are very suggestive. The funded debt of France, which was £229,791,000 in 1847, had grown to £321,239,000 in 1857, an increase of £91,148,000 ; while the floating debt of France, which was £18,335,000 in 1847, had reached £38,621,000 ten years later. It is, how ever, but just to point to the fact that while the direct taxes have only increased £1,000,000 during the above period, the produce of the indirect taxes has increased by £5,200,000 ; and as these an swer to our Excise duties, they may be fairly taken as indicating a larger consuming power in the people, and consequently an augmented degree of prosperity. But taking every favourable feature into con sideration, we must arrive at the conclusion that the programme of 1851 has yet to be carried out : Louis Napoleon has enjoyed his "strong govern ment" for seven years. The trade, the commerce, and the revenues of France have, it is true, in creased but the burdens on the nation have in creased with them. He has not succeeded either in introducing economy into the finances, or in extinguishing the political uneasiness which reigns among the people ; for France has been for seven years under a sort of martial law, and only slaves and parasites will say that the degree of materia prosperity which has been attained is a compensa• tion for the extinction of liberty. PATENT LAW AMENDMENT.—Last night a public meeting was held, at the Belvidere Rooms, Pentonville, to consider the present Elate of the patent law, and to take measures for its repeal or modification. The chair was taken by Mr. Sergeant Parry. The Chairman, Mr. Yeatcs, Mr. Campin, Mr. Browne, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, and argued that the fees paid on p a t en t s were a tax on industry, inasmuch as they discouraged inventors from the publication and development of the manufacturing industry of the country, and were, moreover, altogether disproportionate to the benefit they secured the patentee. They also held that, as there was now a large surplus fund in the government office for the issue and regulation of patents, the proper time was come when a reduction at least should be made in the scale of charges upon inventions. Authors had a copyright in their works, for which they paid no taxes, and it was but fair that inventors should also have a property in their inventions, without having to pay taxes for it. Resolutions, condemnatory of the tax on the grounds above stated, and pledging the meeting to co-ope rate with the RN ational Patent Law Amendment Associa tion in getting the law altered, were then agreed to, and a memorial drawn up for presentation to the legislature, praxing for the abolition of a tax they held to be so ob noxious. — PROPOSED PUBLIC DINNER TO LORD BROUGHAM AT EDINBURGH.—In accordance with a strong feeling found to exist among all ranks and secti ons of the inhabi tants, the following invitation was yesterday put in circu lation, and signed by the Lord Provost and Magistrates, oa , M.P., Mr. Black, M.P., the Dean of Faculty, Sir W. Gibson Craig, and others :—" To the Right Hon. the Lord Brougham—Edinburgh, Dec. 4—We, the under signed, the Lord Provost, Parliamentary representatives, magistrates, town councilors, and other citizens of Edin burgh, desirous to give some expression to the admiration and gratitude with which we regard your lordship's long and illustrious services to civil and religious liberty, to li terature, to education, and to social welfare, and rejoicing in the prospect th a t an oppor tunity•for such , an expression convenient to your lordship is likely to occur by your wel "come presence here as president of the Burns Centenary Festival on the 25th of January next, respectfullysolicit the honour of y our acceptance of a public dinnerin this city, by means of which some utterance, however imper fect, will be given to feelings which the undersigned know to pervade all classes and parties of their fellow-citizens.— Scotsman. At the meetings of the Council of the new Prus sian Ministers, which are frequently held, the Prince Frederick William is now almost constantly present, and the knowledge of the wants of the country, the judgment, and the aptitude for business which he displays are spoken of in high terms. !DEATH 0.1% 1 THE SISTER OF ROBERT BURNS. - 4.- - - Our obituary list to-day contains a name which will arrest the notice of very many; both here and at a distance, and, at this particular time especially, excite regret and sorrow—l he name of Mrs. Legg, the youngest sister of Robert Burns, the poet, and the sole surviving child of that family circle of which he was the elder brother. She expired quite unexpectedly at her cottage near Ayr, on Saturday morning, at half-past 8 o'clock. Isabella Burns, or, as she was more familiarly known, Mrs. Begg, was born at Mount Oliphant, near Ayr, on the 29th of June, 1771, and had she lived till her next birthday would have completed her 88th year. She was the seventh child and third daughter of William Burns and Agnes Brown, the members of whose . family we may men tion in the order of their age Robert, Gilbert, Agnes, Annabelle, William John, a n d Isa bella. About the year 1794 or 1795 she was mar ried at Mossgiel, Mauchline, to John Begg, who was accidentally killed at Lesmahagow in 1813, and whom she thus survived for the long period of 45 years. Her history has all the charm which a tale of humble and honourable independence can possess; and as such we shall give it with the de tail of which we are capable. Her husband was an orphan who had been brought up by an uncle, Mr. Campbell, Roughdyke, parish of Sorn, and he assisted him in his work on the farm. On his mar riage with Mrs. Begg, his brother-in-law, Gilbert Burns, who had by this ti me ta k en a l ease of the farm f Dinning, in Dumfriesshire, on being ap pointed factor to Lord Blantyre, sent him and his newly married *ife to take charge of Dinning, where they lived for several years. Here their four eldest children were born, and being near the Academy of Wallacehall, had superior advantages in point of education. Mr. Beggs afterwards ob tained the situation of factor to Mr. Hope Vere of Black wocd and Craigie Hall, and removed to La narkshire. There he lived till the period of his death, whicn happened at Lesmahagow, in conse quence of his horse falling upon him. His widow was left with a family of nine children, the eldest of them being only 18. Except an allowance of £2O per annum for three years from Mr. Vere, she had no other means of support; but with the inde fatigable spirit of a Burns she set herself to eke out her scanty income by teaching a school at Kirk moorhill, a small village near Lesmahagow, where she continued for three years. Her eldest son, who, as we have said, had received a superior edu cation, and had been intended for the medical pro fession, was unable to follow out his original views, owing to the slender resources his mother had at her disposal ; and after having prosecuted his studies a certain length, he obtained the situation of parish schoolmaster at Ormiston, near Tranent, where he taught for nearly 10 years. A younger son, Robert Burns Begg, subsequently became parochfal schoolmaster at Kinross, a post which he has long and honourably occupied, and where he continues to this day much respected. Wil liam took his mother and all her _ family to live with him. Here too Mrs. Begg resumed her work of teaching, in a female school at Ormiston main tained` - by the Counte ss o f H ope t oun, and from that noble family, also, considerable employment was obtained in the way of sewing, knitting, &c., suffi cient to keep the girls' needles going, and to enable them all to contribute to the common stock. A few years after this, two of the elder girls, Agnes and Isabella, set up for themselves as dressmakers in Tranent. Her son William afterwards went out to Canada, and Mrs. Begg removed to the house of her two daughters in Tranent, where by the united exertions of the family they managed to support themselves honourably, if not by any means in affluence. For a long period they struggled on in Tranent. In those days the name and fame of Burns made comparatively little noise. Few even of his admirers knew their relationship to the bard . at all, and those who did know it had probably to make the discovery for themselves, at least the fact was never obtruded upon public notice. One gen tleman in Edinburgh who had dealt with the family for twenty years never heard of the relationship till they came to live in this neighbourhood, al though he was an enthusiast about all relating to the Scottish poet. At last, however, interest was made with the Government, and a pension of £lO was obtained for Mrs. Begg, if we mistake not, through the late Mr. Fergusson, of Raith, M.P. Afterwards, in 1842, by the exertions of Mr. Robert Chambers, a sum of £4OO was raised by public sub scription, part of which was sunk in an annuity for Mrs. Begg, and which dies with her, £l9O being reserved for the two daughters. The proceeds of Chambers' life of the poet, which amounted to £2OO, also fell to the daughters, and the late Sir Robert Peel, when in power, granted them a pen sion of £lO ea c h ; so t h at i n coming to reside in the neighbourhood of Ayr, the united sums of mother and daughters made up about £73 of annuity, no great stipend certainly, if we remember that it was given to those who are in a manner flesh of the flesh and bone of the bone of one who has made our country so illustrious, one, too, out of whose own reputation and writings so many splendid fortune& have been made.—Ayr Observer. INDOPHILUS AND THE NEW ALPHA BET FOR INDIA. ' The Persian running hand is, as is well known .• to all Indians, hard to decipher, and by no means such that he that runs may read. Some may think • that it is called Shikastah, or "the broken," be ' cause lie that attempts to read it will rend the col lar ofpatience and break the strings of perseverance. India was long afflicted with the curse of this inscrutable character, and only grey-bearded munshis, who in learning it had forgotten all else, could penetrate its mysteries. At length time, the great mediciner, produced the decree which swept it, for ever it is to be hoped, from the offices of the Sahiban i 'Anshan, that is, of the English gen tlemen, and from general use. Unfortunately., the same decree substituted a dozen curses for the one defunct, in pro scr ibi ng t h e use' of the vernacular dialects. Of these the Urdu is the least formidable, being a very mild approach to the terrible Shikas tah. The written character of the Hindi, how ever, compensates amply for all that is gained by the comparative facility of the Urdu. It is called the Kaithi, from the Kayasths, or writing class, of natives, who use it, and who, if they can read what they write, must be men of extremely subtle parts. The difficulty of the Kaithi, again, is barely equal to that of the written character in the south of India, where the. Telugu, Lanarese, and Tamil rejoice in a system of scratches which can be made revoltingly obscure. All these, however, must hide their minished head s b e f ore the Mod, or letter character of the Marathi. This ingenious mode of torment is said to have been invented by one Himar Pant in the end of the eighth century, A.D., who, if he was really sensible of th e m i series he was about to inflict by it on a large family of mankind, must, indeed, have been a fiend in human shape. Some ingenious persons with more ,imagination than etymological truth have supposed the n ame M o d to come from a w or d signifying "an ant," and to imply that the character is such as if ants, escaping from an inky grave, had run over the paper and blotted and scrawled its fair surface. But Mor, " ant," is a Persian word, and the odious Mod is Marathi, from a Sanskrit root, which signifies "to twist or break." Mod, therefore, in Marathi, cor responds in sense to Shikastah in Persian, and hopelessly illegible as it is, it sinks into utter insig nificance in that respect when compared with the . Marwari and Sindhi. Concerning these latter scribblings many strange tales are told, as of a' pleasant gentleman, who having received a letter announcing something undecipherable that had happened to his son, went through the ceremony of lamenting for his decease in the morning, and gave a fete in honour of his nuptials at night, not know ing which of the two events had occurred. The above is a very frigid and tame account of some of the difficulties which attend what may be called the India i Har ICaran, or general corre spondence i n I n di a. Now as life, leisure, and vision are all limited, it does seem an utter absurdity to hesitate about the adoption of an easy substitute for the abominable scrawls used by the natives. The English alphabet, properly adapted to express the Indian letters, is that substitute, and to Indophilus is due the gratitude of all par ties for recommending it. This is not a question as to the disuse of the Indian languages in business transactions and official proceedings. Such a pro posal would be preposterous ; but it is simply a suggestion for an alteration which would be as convenient and beneficial to the natives as to our selves. We are well aware, indeed, of the difficulty attending all such changes; but, in the meantime, we give to the proposal of Indophilus our heartiest good wishes and support.—Homeward EMBLEMS OF PROGRESS.—Mr. Mayhew, th e cab proprietor, of Great Ormond-yard, has commenced running Hansom cabs with patent caoutchoue wheels, from the inventor, Mr. Davis, of Lyon's-in n , St rand. Wo have no doubt all England will pledge success to the wheels Lat do not chop the roads into filth, relieve us from the tax of maintaining disgraceful public ways, and produce ci r state of happy peace and quietness.—Horning Post. RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN LINCOLNSHIRE.—On Monday morning, as the train. from Manchester to Hull, starting at 9 15 a.m., was proceeding- between Gains borough and Blyton, at ordinary speed, the tire of a first class carriage wheel flew off. Ile driver immediately pulled up, and, consequently. the injury to the carriages and rails was riq serious? A gentleman named Stewart sustained - a fracture of one of the ribs on his left side, and was subsequently taken back to Sheffield, where he re ceived medical attendance, and is likely to recover in a few days. No other passengers were injured, al lief we Ya] En ad , ha. tw