The Sun. — London, England, 1858-12-29 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, und.tr the sole Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Hazrison THIS EVENING will be presented an entirely new and romantic Opera, by Mr. W. Balfe, entitled SATANELLA ; or, THE POWER OF' LOVE. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the new Pantomime of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD ; or, Harlequin and the Wolf in Granny's Clothing. . _ Commence at Seven, QT. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Opera Comique.— L, WILL OPEN THIS EVENING, December 29, with Auber's celebrated opera, LA PART DU DIABLE, in which Mesdames Faure, Celine Mathieu, Helene Morel ; Messrs. Fougeres, Bryon D'Orgeval, Montclar, Georget, &c., will make their first appearance in England. Director and Con ductor—Mons. Reinusat. Nightly Admission—Stalls, 105.6 d.; Box Seats (reserved), 4s. ; Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Amphitheatre Stalls, is. 6d. ; Gallery, is ; Private Boxes, £4 45., £3 35., and .£2 2s. Subscriptions and Tickets to be obtained at Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street. City Agent, Mr. Alvey Turner, 19, Poultry. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5, under the direction of Mr. O. Nugent. Acting Manager—Mr. B. Barnett. Doors open, at half-past 7 ; commenca at 8.: ROY AL iPRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING will be presented THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Mr. C. Kean, After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled irui.; KING OF THE CASTLE ; or, Harlequin Prince Diamond and Princess Brighteyes. THEATRE -ROYAL, lIAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, will be performed SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale; Mesdames Reynolds and Poynter. After which, a new grand Comic Pantomime, entitled U\ DINE ; or, Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters. Commerhz at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, This Evening, will be produced a new Burlesque, written expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Through, and entitled THE SIEGE OF TROY. The new and gor geous scenery by Mr. William Callcott. The principal cha acters by Mrs. Keeley, Miss Julia St. George, Mrs. We?ston, DUE'S Portman, Miss Talbot, Miss Kate Saxon. Miss E. Itomer, &c. ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Hr. J. Rogers, Mr. Barrett, &c. ; Miss Rosina Wright, Miss M. Charles, Miss Harriet Dalton, and a numerous Corps de Bal let will also appear. --—-- - • •• After the Burlesque a new Comic Pantomime, replete with new tricks and mechanical devices, entitled HARLEQUIN TOY HORSE ; or, The Cremorne Fete. Clown, Mr Charles Lauri ; Harlequin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Idenry Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. The Performances will commence to-niilht (Tuesday) with the Comedietta of TOO MUCH FOR GOOD NATUR.V. Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; tipper Boxes, 3s. ; P: 2s. ; Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, ls. - - - Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half -put 6, to commence at 7 every evening. - IVENV THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPEL .1. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. 'THIS EVENING, MR. WEBSTER'S COMPANY IS RV QUESTED AT . A PHOTOGRAPHIC SOIREE. Atunag,er, Mr. B. Webster ; Photographer, Mr. J. L. 'Toole; Mt mory, Miss Woolgar ; Everybody, by Everybody else. After the first piece the New Act Drop by Clarkson Stay - fieki, Esq., ILA., and painted by Mr. Wm. Telbin. With the Oc ca sional Address, spoken by Miss Woolgar, and presented to Virr. Ben. Webster by Shirley Brooks, Esq. G4l OD FOB, NOTHING. Mr. 'Poole and Miss Woolgar. _ _ _ _ To conclude 'ivith the grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled MO TI lER RED CAI' ; or, Harlequin Johnny Gilpin's Rid., to &in onton.:Clown, Mr. Croueste ; Harlequin, Mr. Hilde brand*; Columbine, Miss Hayman ; Pantaloon, Mr. Lupino ; Sprite,. Mr. Le Barr. R 0 YAL STRAND THEATRE. .Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, THE RULE OF THREE. After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH ; or Ze Qeen, yi! Carle, and ye Maydenne. And TIM LITTLE SAVAGE. Commence at 7 o'clock. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE 'Westminster-road. Sole Lessee, .Mr. William Cooke. Dress Circle, 40. ; Boxes, 35.; Pit, 2s, ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. During the week, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA ; or, The Fugitives and their Faith ful Steed. After which SCENES IN THE CIRCLE by the Star Riders of Europe. To conclude with the great Operatic and Burlesque Eques trian Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUN CHAUSEN, AND HIS COMICAL CREAM COB CRUISER. Harlequin, Mr. H. Hemmings; Sprite, Mr. Thorne ; Pantaloon, .Mr.II. Morley; Clown, b e y the inimitable Srotesque, Mr. A. F. Forrest. The gorgeous Transformation cene the perfection of modern art. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor--C. MORTON. The public is most reswctfully informed that the FINE ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec tion if 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 hall, 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 commences as usual at Seven o'clock. In addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 29. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 47—highest since noon yesterday. 41—lowest this morning and - during the night. 44—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.94. WIND, N.W. ; light, with fine weather. Heavy rain lasi evening. THE SUN. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 29, 1858. Notwithstanding the mystery attempted to be maintained in reference to the parties arrested on the charge of being members of an illegal society, the substance of the informations sworn before the magistrates appointed to investigate has oozed out, and is duly published in the columns of our respected contemporary the Cork Examiner. We cannot, of course, answer for the accuracy of the report. No authorised or professional reporter was admit ted ; but the Cork Examiner contrives to procure trustworthy information, and there is a rraisem blance about the statement that induces us to lend it an easy credence. It would seem that as yet the principal witness is a person named DANIEL SULLIVAN, alias GOULD, an approver, or rather informer, according to the Hibernian phraseology. He had been a " process server," a class not much esteemed in Ireland, and certainly not supposed to entertain any especial reverence for the sanctity of an oath. He had apparently entered the society for the express pur pose of obtaining its secrets, and then betraying them. He declared that "he had taken two oaths on being admitted to the society, and had violated them both, but was not bound to answer whether he had violated any oath before that or not;" or whether charges, both of perjury and forgery, had not been preferred against him. He had exhibited the usual amount of treachery and self-contradiction. He was particularly loving to the children of one of those whom he was seeking to betray. One particularly, a girl, was "his little Berry pet." He thus wormed himself into the secrets which he was selling at the highest price that could be obtained therefor. But still, while confessing his villany, he endeavoured to extenuate his crime. At first he declared that, " when taking the two oaths at Santry, he could not say whether he intended keeping them." Again, that it "-was his opinion that he intended keeping the oathshe took," " and that he did not take them with the intention of betraying the parties." There were sundry other contradictions sufficient to deprive his testimony of any weight before a jury unless fully and completely corroborated by credible witnesses. The result of the investigation was that many of the prisoners were admitted to bail, which proved that much reliance was not placed on the testimony of Mr. DANIEL SULLIVAN, alias GOULD. We cannot, however, believe for a moment that Government would institute such proceedings unless on adequate grounds. They must have bad , more authentic information than that supplied by the ex-process server. We fear that it is beyond doubt that there has been a conspiracy—a very foolish and ridiculous one, but which, if suffered to remain unnoticed, might have extended itself and produced very fatal results to the unfortunate dupes engaged therein. There have been too many of a similar kind in the Site kingdom, ~~'~,'!~ tre VF 1. 14 4 :‘ 4 ‘ 14 . 1 r . ' 4 .111K4. 40111.' ort • and we give every credit to the Governmerit for the laudable endeavour to " nip it in the bud," before the misguid _d. young men engaged therein had irrevocabi committed themselves by acts tlaßt might have placed their r lives in jeopardy. The prosecute( n nay break down. No jury will believe a single statement pro ceeding from Mr. DANIEL SULLIVAN, al'ias GOULD, although he did declare that " he would beg his bread before he would become an informer—that if he got money from the prisoners he would not prosecute—and that, whatever wealth he would get from the Government, he would not stain the blood of his ancestors !" But although the accused may be acquitted, a valuable lesson has been taught to the foolish young men who think it a fine thing to be concerned in plots against the State which might never come to anything. It will con vince them that they cannot guard themselves against traitors, and that those loudest in profes sion, and most eager for action, will be the first to desert their cause and become secret emissaries of the Government they are conspiring to over throw; that whatever honour there may be amongst thieves, there will be none amongst the soi disant patriots, or those who are sufficiently gullible to believe that a regiment of American or French fillibusters could, even with the assistance of a few hundred or thousand discontented clerks, or rather grocers' assistants and labourers, conquer Ireland, and constitute it an independent republic. It is fortunate that the bubble has burst, that the delusion has been so easily and so completely dispelled before any serious mis chief could be effected. It is sixty years since the landing of a French army in the west of Ireland, and although disaffection prevailed throughout the entire country, it was speedily accounted for. Every other attempt, from the days of ROBERT EMMETT, of the contest at Carriganimmy—for which 23 men were sentenced to death at the same time in the dock at Cork—of the Doneraile Conspiracy, to the Battle of the Cabbage Garden, have all proved equally abortive. The valorous young " 'prentices" have received a lesson—without the aid of musket, bayonet, or halter—and for that we are indebted to the timely prosecutions adopted by a Government that acted on the equitable principle that "prevention was better than punishment." Criminal Photography was only the other day the suggestive heading of a paragraph going the round of the public newspapers—a paragraph de scriptive of the successful application of photography to the capture, at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, of a commercial traveller from Worcester, charged, even in September last, with embezzlement. The cir cumstances under which this particular capture, however, was effected, are really and truly, we believe, not by any means unusual under the present police arrangements. At any rate, it is certainly not the first instance of the kind upon record, in connection with that elaborated spiderous web of the police system spun from its central point in Scotland-yard, and extending its ingenious rami fications all over this island of ours. Incidentally, before now, criminals, we believe, have been identi fied by means of a similar guide furnished to the modern detective—that improved edition of the old Bow-street runner. Just as Policeman X, in his oil-skinned hat and blue surtout, prowling lynx eyed about our midnight streets, is somewhat of an improvement upon the old somniferous Charley of the times of our grandfathers—that Verges and Dogberry rolled into one, and buttoned up sopori fically in a frowzy greatcoat, as many-caped as an onion or a winter cabbage, snoring in his watch box as sound as a church, as deaf as a post, and as stupid as an owl whenever he chanced to be wakened. In proportion, indeed, to the ad vance and development of art, science, and general civilisation,:the guardianship of the public peace, the improvement of the laws, and the syste- matic repression of criminality, have been subjected to a series of improved and constantly improving regulations. All this, however, is merely the per petual application of new forces to the attainment, more rapidly and more effectually, of the results originally arrived at by much simpler means. A wonderful means of communication was suddenly afforded to the police system a few years back, by the creation of the electric telegraph. That magical agency was first applied to the capture of a great criminal, in the instance of the murderer TAWELL, upon the line of railway extending from the Slough station to the terminus at Paddington. Since then this same wondrous messenger has been employed by the police systematically —not alto gether as systematically as could be wished, but still to a very considerable extent. The period, however, is not far removed from us, we may re,t perfectly well assured, when all the police stations in the metropolis will be connected together by electric <i ires, so as to be brought at once—the whole of them—into instant communication with Sir RICIIARD MAYNE and his officials at head quarters. Precisely the same simple contrivance, we trust may before long bring the whole fire brigade of the capital, scattered though it is piecemeal over the length and breadth of the metro polis, at the different engine -stations, under the instantaneous command of Mr. BRAIDWOOD and his immediate assistants. And as it has been, to a certain extent, in the police system, with regard to the electric telegraph, so in a cursory way it has been hitherto also with that system in regard to the art of photograph. The assistance derivable from that art, nevertheless, admits, in this parti cular, we cannot but think, of immediate and extraordinary development. Everybody remembers that scene in the career of the immortal Mr. PICKWICK—the scene described with such exquisite humour by Boz, and illustrated in a congenial spirit by the pencil of PlllZ—when, upon that great man's first entrance into the oh Fleet Prison, he passes one mysterious quarter o an hour in an antechamber sitting for his likeness. " Here," in this anteroom, writes the Great His torian of the Club—" Mr. PicKwicK was apprised that he would remain until he had undergone the ceremony, known to the initiated, as sitting for your portrait.' Sitting for my portrait !' said Mr, PICKWICK. Having your likeness taken, Sir, replied thestout turnkey. We're capital hands at likenesses here. Take 'cm in no time, and always exact. Walk in, sir, and make yourself at home." Whereupon, after a few characteristic and philoso- phical remarks have fallen from Mr. WELLER, as he stands behind his master's chair, we learn more at length how it was Mr. PICKWICK became aware that his sitting had commenced. " The stout turnkey baying been relieved from the lock, sat down, and looked at him carelessly from time to time ; while a long, thin man, who had relieved him, thrust his hands beneath his coat tails, and planting himself opposite, took a good long view of him. A third rather surly-looking gentleman, who had apparently been disturbed at his tea— for he was disposing of a last remnant of a crust and butter when he came in— stationed himself close to Mr. PicKwicx ; and resting his hands on his hips, inspected hi m nar rowly, while two others mixed with the group, and • studied his features with most intent and thought. I'HE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1858 ful faces." There let us leave the little cluster of celebrities—Mr. PICKWICK sitting uneasily in his chair and wincing a good deal under the operation, SAM leaning reflectively the while against the chair back, with a secret sense that it wouhl have afforded him the liveliest satisfaction to have made a fierce assault upon all the turnkeys there assembled one after another, if his so doing might have been con strued tobe:in any way lawful and peaceable. Turn we from the group to ask, Might not photography be applied as a system in our criminal establish ments, not, as in the instance of the Fleet sittings, for the mere convenience of turnkeys, but with respect to old offenders, ticket-of-leaves, and the like, for the purposes of future identification ? Judi ciously employed, we believe the art would come in effectively to aid in bringing about the further ance of the ends of justice. Altogether, we rest perfectly well assured that the criminal population might be brought more effectually and completely within the reach of the strong arm of the law, if the police system were rendered argus-eyed by means of photography, and in a manner übiquitous by means of a proper application of the electric telegraph to its whole complex and comprehensive scheme of organisation. THE FIRE IN WARWICK-STREET, ON CHRISTMAS DAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—The description given in this day's papers of the calamitous fire on Christmas-day, and the total destruction of neighbouring property, also states that the premises belonging to Messrs. Nicoll were considerably damaged. Permit me to say that such have happily escaped with very slight injury, and the business will not be interrupted. —I am, yours, &c., TILDEN SINES, Manager of Messrs. H., J., and D. Nicoll's Clothing Department. Dec. 27, 1858. Yesterday morning the marriage of Miss M'Alpine, eldest daughter of the late Col. James M'Alpine, formerly of the 15th Hussars, with Capt. A. M. Robinson, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, was solemnised at St. Peter's Church, Eaton-square. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary leave Cambridge Cottage, Kew, the week after next, to take up their residence at the Royal Duchess's apartments in St. James's Palace. His Excellency the Ambassador of France and the Duchess de Malakoff will leave Albert-gate House, in a few days, for Paris. His Excellency the Minister for the Netherlands has returned to town from visiting the Marquis and Mar chioness of Salisbury, at Hatfield House, Herts. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland are sur rounded by a select family circle at Trentham. The Duchess of Athole has arrived at the St. George's Hotel. The Marquis of Huntly, who has been very severely indisposed at Orton Longueville, has so much im proved of late that his lordship is likely soon to be restored to his usual health. The Earl of Gifford and Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin have arrived at Cuba in his lordship's yacht. The Countess of Kinnoul has left Portman square on a tour of visits. Her ladyship is at present on a visit to Lord and Lady Delaraere at Vale Royal, Cheshire. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left Broad lands on Monday, on a visit to the Marquis of Lansdowne, at Bowood, Wilts. Viscountess Jocelyn and her youthful family have left Broadlands, on a visit 'to the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, at St. Giles's, Dorset. Viscount and Viscountess Enfield and family have arrived in town from Wrotham Park, near Hadley, preparatory to the marriage of the Hon. Miss Byng and Mr. H. Hilton Jolliffe, M.P., son of Sir Wm. Hilton Jolliffe, Bart., M.P. Lord and Lady Lilford are still in the south of France. His lordship has quite recovered from his late in disposition. Lady Granville Somerset has left the St. George's Hotel. Lord Alfred Paget has arrived in town from Levington, near Ipswich, for a few days. The Right Hon. W. F. and Mrs. Cowper have left Broadlands on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury, at St. Giles's, Dorset. Sir William and Lady Middleton have left Grosvenor-place for their seat, Shrubland Park, Suffolk. Admiral Lisboa has arrived at the St. George's Hotel. The Duke of Chartres has passed his examina tion at the Military School of Turin in a distinguished manner, and has been classed among pupils of the third year. On the 14th inst. Mr. Gladstone reached Zantc. A letter from Vienna says that when he entered the carriage which was waiting for him, twelve young men in the Greek costume took out the horses and drew him up to the castle. The demonstration in favour of the union with Greece was very general. The death has taken place, at Nice, within the last few days, of the youngest daughter of Orsini, aged six years. She was of frail constitution, and it was thought at the time that she would scarcely be able to survive the fatigue of her journey to Paris with her sister and mother, for the purpose of a farewell interview with her father. A weekly English newspaper, to be called the Levant Herald, is about to be published in Constanti nople. Vice-Chancellor Kindersley proposes, on the ISth January, to make a call of £1 los. per share on the contributaries of the National Patent Steam Fuel Coin- pany. The Moniteur of yesterday contains the follow ing :—" The Emperor of Russia has, by a recent decision, prolonged for another year the enjoyment of the existing privileges of the guilds in favour of French subjects in the ports of New Russia." An Amateur Dramatic Performance will be given on January 11, in the Private Theatre at Camden House, Kensington, by distinguished ladies and gentle mee amateurs ; the proceeds to be devoted to the Prize Fund of the Society for the encouragement of the Fine Arts. The Madrid papers announce the debut of M. Giuglini at the Theatre Re in " La Favorita," and without exception describes his success as something quite unparal leled in that city. The representation was attended by their Majesties and the court. M. Fould, the French Minister of State, has granted the privilege of the new Theatre du Peuple, on the Boulevard de Sebastopol, to the son of Lafond, the tragedian of the Theatre Frangais in the time of Talma. The Bank of Frankfort, which raised its rate of discount on the 10th of October to 5 per cent., has adopted a reduction to 31 per cent. The National Bank of Austria, under the autho rity of the Minister of Finance, have announced the issue of one-florin notes in the same Proportion in the new cur rency in which notes for one, two and five florins in the old are withdrawn. The amount of new notes is not to exceed £10,000,000, and they are secured by the mortgaged State domains. An increase of the metallic reserve is like wise promised. - - The transformation scene, in the pantomime pro duced at the Standard Theatre, was designed and painted by Mr. Thomas Roge rs , an d no t b y Messrs. Gliks and Irwin. LIFEBOATS ON THE IRISH COAST. The National Lifeboat Institution has, during the past week, sent two of its single-banked 30 feet lifeboats to Carnsore, near Wexford, and to Tramore, near Waterford . Each boat rows six oars, single-banked, and both are admirably adapted for their respective localities. They are on Peake's design, and were built by Forrestt, of Limehouse. They possess the usual qualities of the society's boats, the power of self-righting if upset, and of self-ejecting any water they may ship. The cost of the Carnsore lifeboat was generously presented to the institution by a lady, whose life was pro videntially saved last summer from drowning by Mr. H. A. Hamilton, of Balbriggan, who has since distinguished himself by his extraordinary gallantry and perseverance in rescuing with the society's lifeboat stationed at Skerries, a vessel's crew. A carriage, after the design of the inspector of life-boats to the institution, is attach e d t o eac h lifeboat, from which they can be easilylaunched with their crews on board, by the aid of ropes handled by the bystanders on the shore, the crews being then enabled to give the boats way through the sea before it has time to beat them back on the beach. The Lifeboat Institution is also now building lifeboats and carriages for Dundalk (the houses of which Lord Clermont is literally causing to be built at his ex pense), Kihnore, and Dungarvan. The National Lifeboat Institution has now lifeboats and carriages thoroughly equipped and ready for instantaneous service on the Irish coast at the following places :—Groomsport, Newcastle (Dundrum Bay), Skerries, Drogheda, Wicklow, Arklow, Cahore, Rosslare, Carnsou, Ardmore, Youghal, Tramore, and Westport. This humane and important woyk has involved an expenditure of upwards of £4,000, nearly the whole of which has been defrayed from the funds of tl e institution ; indeed, it is a fact that the society has been compelled to sell out a cc miderable portion of its small funded capital, which is so essential to its permanency, to meet this heavy expenditure. The National Lifeboat In stitution has now upwards of eighty establishments on various parts of the coast of the British Isles under its management, to maintain which in a state of thorough efficiency requires a large permanent annual income. We are informed on credible authority that, notwithstanding the publicity which the operations of this truly national and philanthropic institution obtains, it has only been able to pursue its useful course by trenching to a very consider able extent on its funded capital, which, as we have before observed, is so indispensable to its permanient efficiency. LATEST NEWS. CANADA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY MORNING. The North Briton, with the Canadian mails of the ISth, has arrived. The Senate had refused to take up Mr. Clingham's motion for the abrogation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty by a vote of 28 to 22. According to documents presented to Congress Mr. Dallas had intimated that Mons. Belly was not supported by France and England, and that Sir W. G. Ouseley's mission to Nicaragua was with the object of terminating the Mosquito Protectorate. A despatch from Washington states that arrange ments were pending, by which Filibusters would be handed over to the nearest American authorities. At New York, on the evening of the 17th, cotton was firmer at 121 for midling Upland State, and Western flour firmer. Wheat steady. The following telegrams have been received a Mr. Reuter's office to-day : BELGRADE, DEC. 28 The Senate, the Skuptschima, and tho provi sionary Government agree. The military power is given into the hands of Sterka. The political refugoes have been amnestied. The members of the deputation to be sent to Prince Milosch have been elected. VIENNA, DEC. 28. An ordinance of the Minister of the Finance authorises the issue of one florin notes of the new currency in the same proportion, in which notes of the old currency for one, two, and five florins are withdrawn. But the amount of new notes issued, is not to exceed 100 millions. These notes will be issued on the security of the mortgaged State domains. In consequence of this ministerial ordinance, the National Bank of Austria has announced the issue of one florin notes, adding that all notes now in circulation of the old currency, will be withdrawn and exchanged during 1859 for new notes. The National Bank also promises that measures will be taken to increase the metallic reserve. FRANKFORT, DEC. 28. The Bank of Frankfort has resolved to reduce ita rate of discount to 31 per cent, from to-morrow. CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 22. Khami Pacha and Mahmoud Pacha, sons-in-law of the Sultan, and Ethem Pacha, formerly Minister of Foreign . Affairs, again form part of the Grand Council. The difference which had arisen between the Governor of Rhodes and the English consul has been arranges. The telegraphic line between Bagdad and Constantinople has been established. VIENNA, DEC. 28. Accounts from Belgrade of to-day state that the Senate has revoked the decision it had come to relative to the recall of Prince Alexander. The Skuptschina is preparing a petition to the Porte in favour of Prince Milosch, to whom a deputation has been sent. The troops are also well disposed towards that Prince. abrOglittion of the Treaty of 1815, or the cession of the lonian Islands to any State in. Europe. Her Majesty's Go vernment cannot invest him with such powers, nor would they if they could. But it is within his powers to inform himself of existing imperfections and their causes, and to recommend such measures of improvement as may render the practical working of the lonian Constitution more har monious with the natural results of self-government. " With as cordial a desire for the welfare of the lonian Islands as any citizen of their own can form, I would en treat the lonians to, examine existing circumstances with the temperate judgment which belongs to practical politics, to co-operate with her Majesty's Government in the endea vour to turn this favourable opportunity to good account, and to secure from the Protectorate, which Great Britain is bound to preserve inviolate, those advantages which she is able and willing to extend. " I have the honour to be, sir, " Your most obedient humble servant, "E. B. LYTTON " To the Lord High Commissioner, Sir John Youig, Bart , &c." FRANCE. PARIS, TUESDAY. A council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday at the Tuileries. M. de Moges, attache to the French embassy extraordinary in China, arrived yesterday at Marseilles, having with him the Meaty signed between France and Japan at Jeddo, on the 9th October last, by Baron Gros and six Japanese plenipotentiaries. The French ambassador returned on the 7th November to Shanghai, where he bad entered into conference with the high Imperial commissioners. The Bank of France has declared a dividend of 48f. a share for the second six months of the present year. BOURSE, Dec. 27.—The market has been more steady, and stock in fair demand. It was an nounced that the shares of the Northern of Spain Railway Company would be issued to-morrow on the Paris market. Threes have been done at 73f. 5c., and are now at 73f. 15e. ; Mobilier varied from 977 f. 50c. to 985 f.. ; Austrian, 635 f. 25c. to 637 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,390 f. to 1,392 f. 50c ; South ern, 586 f. 25c. to 588 f. 75c. ; Lyons, 885 f to 886 f. 25e. ; and Northern, 1,003 f. 75e. to 1,005 f. The following were the last quotations tf per Cents. .... 97 Credit Fonder 675 Do. end month .. 97 Belgian 4± 3 per Cents. 73 Piedmontese (0) Do. end month.... 73 05 Roman 93 Bank Shares 3OlO Austrian Cr6dit Mobilier .. 980 Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... 980 Home Debt 44 40 THE lONIAN ISLANDS. CORFU, DEC. 20. The excitement consequent on the arrival of Mr. Gladstone in the " islands "—the expression used here to designate Ithaca, Santa Maura, Cephalonia, Zante, and Cerigo—has been wild, and the local papers are filled with the most extravagant hallu cinations and philhellenistie theories, clothed in the purest Hellenistic language. Here follows a freo translation of one, and ex uno dine °nines :-- VOTE OF THE COUNCIL. " Seeing that the independence, the self-government, and nationality of every people is a natural and indisputable right ; " Seeing that the people of the Septinsular State, forming an integral part of the Hellenic race, is deprived at the present day of the de facto exercise and enjoyment of these rights ; " Seeing that the causes which led to their being placed under the protection of Great Britain, in virtue of a treaty to which they never gave any assent, no longer exist ; " Seeing, lastly, that a portion of the Hellenic race to which they belong, viz., free Greece, has obtained its right of self-government and nationality. " For all these reasons, the first free Council of the Dep uties of this island proclaims— , " That the joint feeling, the fixeel and irrefragible desire of the Septinsular people is the recovery of its independence and its union with Greece. " The present proclamation will be transmitted, by order of the Council, to the protecting Power through the official channel, so that it may be public to the rest of the European' Powers for the guidance of their action. " In the Council of the Deputies, Nov. 26, 1858 (Dec. 8)." Then follow the signatures of the 11 self-consti tuted councillors. Zante, the "Flower of the Levant," has loaded its cannon beforehand —see their placard : " Union of the lonian Islands with free Greece. Long live Mr. Gladstone, the Philhellene. "THE ZANTIOTS " So Mr. Gladstone knows what he has to expect from the flower of the Septinsular Republic. In all this there is, no doubt, also much of the panem ad circenses, and advocates greedy of place have no doubt had some hand in the concoction of these 'placards and documents. The patriots of Cephalonia do not, nowever, equivocate, and have met the Lord High Commissioner Extraordinary with a loud and disloyal cry for union with Greece, leaving aside all indirect agitation as too unim portant for the occasion. An Attache of the British Embassy at Vienna arrived here the day before yesterday, bearing despatches for Mr. Gladstone and the Lord High Commissioner. The following appeared the same evening in the official Gazette of Corfu : " Palace, Corfu, Dec. 18, 1858. i 4 Highness, --I have thehonour to transmit to your High ness for your information and that of the Most Excellent the Senate, the accompanying extract of a despatch which I have received from her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, in answer to the address and pro test, forwarded to him by the 10 representatives for Corfu, and the five municipal officers of this island. " I have the honour to be, Highness, "Your most obedient humble servant, • "JOHN YOUNG. " His Highness Sir A. Damaschino, G.C.M.G. President of the Senate, &c." EXTRACT OF A DESPATCH ADDRESSED TO THE LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER, BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIAL DEPARTMENT, DATED THE BTH OF DECEMBER, 1858, No. 34. " I have to acknowledge your despatches of the 25th and 29th of November, enclosing respectively an address from the 10 representatives of the Island of Corfu and a protest from the Municipality of Corfu on the subject of your con fidential despatch to Mr. Labouchere on the 10th of June, 1857, which obtained publication in the newspapers with out, as you are already aware, the sanction or privity ofthe Government. "The tenour of these• two documents is the same, and, therefore, I shall confinemy observations to a single answer. "You will inform the Ilepresentatives of Corfu and the municipality of that island that I have received with regret the addresses which they have sent to me through you. Her Majesty's Government do not entertain the desire, as in deed they do not possess the power, to occupy Corfu and Paxo as colonies under the British Crown. Nor does it enter into the views of her Majesty's Government to appeal to the Powers of Europa for an abrogation of the treaty under which England has hitherto extended, and will ex tend, to the lonian Islands a protection which is required for the interests of Europe, and which is far more effective than any that could be afforded by the sovereignty of Greece. "There is, indeed, tw human system free from imperfec tion, and under every form of government grievances re squiring redress may arise. If any such grievances now exist to impede the satisfactory working of the lonian Con stitution, they need but to be temperately stated, and rationally proved, to ensure on the part of her Majesty's Government their best efforts within the circle of their constitutional pewees to find a remedy or a solution for them. "In the mission of Mr. Gladstone to ths-lonian Islands there occurs an opportunity from which I trust the lonians will not suffer themselves to be diverted by visionary and impracticable schemes. "It is not within Mr. Gladstone's power to consider the RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern • New ditto. 842 50 .. 845 Lyons and Mediterranean BB2 50 .. 883 75 New ditto -- • --- Geneva • 625 Midi . • • -- Southern Western 607 50 607 50 Eastern Grand Central Sardinian 425 .. 425 Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 11fc. ; money, 2.5 f. 9c. ;. three months, paper, 241. 97jc. ; money, 24f. 95c. ROME. We have received the following from a corre spondent at Rome :—" The death of the Princess Doria Pamphili took place after a lingering illness of nearly two years, borne with the greatest resignation and Christian fortitude. The Princess was an Englishwoman by birth, eldest child of John, sixteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, and the last but one of the Catholic line of that illus trious house ; married in 1839 to Prince Doria, the head of the great Genoese family of that name, but long settled in Rome. The Princess for nearly twenty years occupied the highest position, by her popularity and rank, among the nobility of the Eternal City, where, by her unas suming piety, her amiable manners, her extensive benevolence and :charities, she was the respected and beloved of all classes. Having chosen Rome as her adopted country, the Princess Doria and her sister, the late Princess Borghese, whilst ever re taining the feelings of the daughters of a British nobleman, intimately identified themselves, more than any foreigners ever did, with the society in which it was their lot to be placed. The last rites of the Church were paid to the Princess's remains on the 22d in the family church of St. Agnese, in Piazza Navona, in the presence •f an immense Iconcourse of every grade of Roman society, anxious to pay a last homage to her memory. By her union with Prince Doria, the late Princess has left five children ; the eldest, Theresa Mary, was married during the present year to the young Duke of Rignano, the only child of Duke Massimo, one of the most patriotic of the Roman nobility. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY EVENING. The steam-ship North Briton, from Portland, Maine, on the 18th instant, passed Donaghadee to-day at noon. She will probably arrive early to morrow (Wednesday) morning. THE CAPE MAIL. PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY. The Cape Royal Mail steamer Norman, Captain Boxer, arrived here this evening. She left Table Bay Nov. 20 ; St. Helena, 29 ; and Ascension, Dec. 4. She brings the usual mails, a large general cargo, and 27 passengers. Among the latter are Dr. Melvin, inspector of hospitals ; Capt. Lucas, 73d Regiment ; Captain Squire, 2d Regiment; and Lieutenant Harvey, Royal Engineers. The cargo includes £3,380 in gold and silver specie, 678 tusks, and 3 cases ivory, 1,206 bags of copper ore, and 148 slabs of ditto. At the Cape the scheme of settling the Anglo,- German Legion in British Caffraria had failed, and a more promising scheme, that of settling colonial farmers in that district, was in progress. The great reduction of the military force in that neighbour. hood had created some uneasiness lest the Kaffirs should be tempted to rebel within the Cape colony. There was every prospect of a very full harvest. Commerce and agriculture in general were continu ing to progress very favourably. A very serious drought prevails on the frontier ; crops failing, and young stock dying rapidly. The small-pox, from a neglect of vaccination and other causes, has, it was estimated, destroyed more lives in its last visitation to the colony than ever has been known from the same cause. It has proved fatal in 1,500 cases. Intelligence had been received from Dr. Living stone up to the 4th Oct. Writing on that date from the Kongone River, he reported that the membeis of the expedition had been favoured with fair health ; their ailments were more like common colds than fever. Dr. Livingstone has been very warmly received by his former friends among the natives, and the Portuguese had rendered him active as sistance. The Sardinian ship Malabar was wrecked in Table Bay, November - 6th. The crew were saved. Some very valuable and interesting observations on the comet had been taken by the Astronomer Royal. The Hermes was in Table Bay; she was to be sent as soon as possible in search of the Sappho. Boscawen and Lynx in Simon's Bay. The 13oscawen returned to Simon's Bay, Nov. 2. She met the Lyra and Persian on the 18th of October, at Mozambique. The Lyra had taken 16 dhows, one of which went down, with 137 negroes and crew ; all hands lost. The Lyra and Persian were ordered to Simon's Bay. The Phoebe, mail steamer, arrived at the Cape on the 11th of November. MURDER IN EPPING FOREST.—Yesterday Mr. C. C. Lewis, coroner for the district, and the jury pre viously empannelled to inquire into the deaths of a wonian and child, whose lifeless remains were found in a pool in Epping Forest (having both been, as it now turns out, barbarously murdered), reassembled for the third time at the Wake's Arms, New-road, Epping Forest. A good deal of evidence was given, but it was not of a positive cha racter, and did not even lead to the identification of the bodies. The coroner gave his opinion that a murder had been committed, and the jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased were wilfelly murdered by some person or persons unknown ;" and at the same time, in conjunction with the coroner, they expressed their high gratification at the laudable exertions made by the police authorities in en deavouring to unravel this mysterious affair. - - CO IVES, ISLE OF WIGHT.—Dee. 28 [PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MORDERLY SOLDIERS.—Some msn belonging to a detachment of the Limerick Militia, at the Royal Barracks, East Cowes, have been causing some trouble to the inhabitants during the past week, by their unruly proceedings. They had a quarrel with one of the mates and some of the men of an American ship in the harbour, and some fighting ensued. On Friday they became more violent, and ill-treated the ferryman and others. On Christmas evening 16 of them crossed to West Cowes, provided with sticks and their belts, deter mined on a row. The men belonging to the American ship were at the White Hart public house ; but the landlord would not let them out, nor the soldiers in. Finding they could not get at the sailors, they determined on attacking every person who was so unfortunate as to fall in their way. The first was Mr. John Hollis, master o the Marquis Conyngham's yacht, whom they struck with their sticks ; but he ran away, having the whole of the soldiers after him : favoured by the darkness of the night, he escaped. They had a number of stones with them, which they threw in all directions ; and, as they shouted and yelled as they went, those who could got away, but many were struck and injured by these madmen. They knocked down and ill-used Mr. Slade, butcher— his son also got some severe blows, as did many others, and one young man's face was seriously cut by a buckle. The town'speople now began to muster strongly, and, fortunately for the soldiers,- the police arrived and got between the now retreat ing -soldiers and enraged inhabitants, and kept the latter back, enabling the militiamen to effect their escape to East Cowes. Sentinels have been placed at the ferry to prevent the soldiers crossing to West Cowes, and it is said they are to be removed from East Cowes to Parkhurst Barracks. FLOATING BRIDGE TO CONNECT EAST AND WEST Co'Es.—A better mode of communication between the two towns has long been wanted, and a com pany has been formed who intended to run a steam floating bridge across the Medina ; but as the river is very narrow at the ferry, the bridge proposed with the engine in her, it was feared, would draw too much water : and, as it was a matter of great consequence that the bridge should not at all obstruct the navigation, it is now pro posed to have a stationary engine .fixed on the East Cowes side, and to work the floating bridge by it, by means of an endless chain fixed round a drum on the West Cowes side. The bridge is expected to be ready by about the middle of May. EARLIER DESPATCH OF DAY MAIL TO THE WEST OF ENG.bAND, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A DAY MAIL TO PLYMOUTH, DEVONPOR2; TORQUAY, .Ic. On the' Ist of January, and thenceforward, the day mail on the Great Western Railway will be despatched by the express train leaving Paddington Station at 9.30 a.m., in , stead of by the present train at 10 a.m. ; and correspond ence for conveyance by day mail to the undermentioned . towns— Abingdon Hereford S w i n d on Bath High Wycombe Taunton Bradford on Avon Honiton Tetbury Bridgewater Hungerford Tewkesbury Bridport Ledbury Tiverton Bristol Lme Trowbrid Charmouth Ma y idenhead 'Uxbridgege Cheltenham Marlborough Wallingford Chippenham Melksham Wantago Cirencester Monmouth p Warminster Crewkerne NeNibury Wellington(Som.) Cullompton Oxford Wells (Som.) Devizes Reading Westbury Exeter Ross Weston - super- Faringdon - Shepton Mallet Mare Frome Sherborne Windsor Gloucester Slough Witney ifanley on Thames Stud Yeovil must be posted as follows : Receiving Offices—Letters, newspapers, and book packets, 9 p.m. London Pillar Letter Boxes—Letters only, 5 a.m. District Offices, viz. :—Western C en t ra l, 126 , Hi g h Hol born ; Northernz Lower-street, Islington; Eastern, Nassau place, Commercial-road, East; South-Eastern, 170, High street, Borough ; Southern, Westminster-road ; Western, 29, Old Cavendish-street ; North-Western, 28, Eversholt street, Camden-town; and at the Branch Office, Charing cross—Letters, 7.15 a.m. Newspapers and book packets, 6.45 a.m. Lombard-street Branch Office—Letters, 7.45 a.m. News papers and book packets, 7 a.m. General Post-office—etters, 7.45 a.m. and book packets, 7 a.m. ' On the same date, day mails will be established to the following towns, viz. : Dawlish, Plymouth, Teignmouth, Devonport, Plympton, Torquay, Ivybridge, Sidmouth, T o t nes , Newton Abbot, Tavistock, and correspondence for conveyance by day mail to these places must be posted at the above hours. By command of the Postmaster-General, ROWLAND HILL, Secy. Newspapers General Post-office, Dec. 28 SOUTH-WESTERN AND BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST COMPANIES. We regret to learn a very serious dispute has arisen between two of our leading railway com panies, which, unless checked in the outset, will in all probability lead to great public inconvenience. The belligerents are none other than the South- Western and the Brighton and South Coast Com panies, universally admitted to be two of the best managed lines in the kingdom, and until now work ing with a degree of amicable forbearance towards each other which has afforded a favourable contrast to that of almost all other competing railways. It will be remembered that both these lines run into the important garrison of Portsmouth ; the South-Western hitherto possessing running powers over The last seven miles of the Brighton and South Coast Railway, from Havant to Portsmouth. It appears that owing to the South-Western Company having formed an arrangement with the direct Portsmouth line, now in process of construction, the Brighton and South Coast Company are un willing to continue these powers to their neigh bours, and notice given to the South Western a few days since that their trains would be prevented tra versing the railway from Havant to Portsmouth after the 27th inst. The notice was understood by the South Western Company as merely formal, and intended to raise the legal question of right; and accordingly Mr, Scott, the general manager of this line, went down t 8 Fareham yesterday morning, and endea voured to take a pilOt , ,engine, with a few carriages, over the disputed part of the railway. On arriving at the Havant junction, just below Corsham, Mr. Scott found a locomotive engine belonging to the Brighton and South Coast Company standing upon the crossing, with the evident intention of prevent ing him proceeding any further in the direction of Portsmouth. each company had several of its con federates present, The Brighton and South Coast party, with a view further to obstruct their oppo nents had torn up a s ma ll port i on of the i r rails on the main' Portsmouth down line, which the South-Western adherents, who were very early on the ground, carefully relaid. The contest was a drawn battle for- some time, and until one of the South-Western officers observing the Brighton loco motive to be unguarded, suddenly jumped upon it, and putting on the steam, ran a few yards forward, thus allowing the South-Western train to get on to the main Portsmouth line. The Brighton and South Coast party were, however, too quick for their opponents, and before the South-Western train could get her speed on they had succeeded in again displacing several of the down rails, rendering it, impossible for any train to go forward. It was now 11 o'clock, and the South-Western train stood directly upon the crossing, blocking up both roads, and obstructing the whole of the Brighton and South Coast traffic. Mr. Scott held this position for nearly a couple of hours, but at length finding that he could not get forward to Portsmouth with out using more violence than would be justified, he retreated in good order, and left his opponents in undisturbed possession of the road, which was speedily relaid, and the trains of the Brighton and South Coast Company passed on without further interruption to Portsmouth. For the present the South-Western Company are thus prevented booking passengers to what has hitherto been considered one of their termini, but it is hoped,that in a few days the existing difficul ties will be satisfactorily arranged. If both parties continue obstinate the probability is that the Board of Trade will be called upon to interfere, in which case the public will probably be the gainers. PRICE OF GOLD. —The quotation of gold at Paris is about atpar, and the short exchange on London is 25.12 f pc rXI sterling. On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3 17s. lOid. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold is nearly 2-10ths per cent, dearer in Paris than in London.—By advices from Hamburg the price of gold is 4241 per mark, and the short exchange en . London is 13.41 per £1 sterling. St an d ar d gold at the English Mint price is therefore at about the same price in Hamburg as in London.—The course of ex change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is 109/ to 109/ per cent., which, when compared with the Mint par between the two countries, shows that the ex change is about at par. After making allowance for charges of transport and difference of interest, the present rate leaves little or no profit on the importation of gold from the United States, . VALUE OF THE SELF-RIGIITIN 6 PRINCIPLE IN LIFEBOATS• (From the _Lifeboat Journal.) . In the 19th Number of this Journal we replied to the various th eore ti ca l o bj ect i ons t h a t had heel advanced against the self-righting principle , a ll , demonstrated that the same means which were the ployed to prod uce th a t e ff ect contr ib ute d to t safety and efficiency o f a b oa t i n o th er respect`' o There was, however, o ne o bj ec ti on ma d e which, 0 1 ll we then stated, could on l y b e di sprove d by aa' experiment. It was maintained b y some t h at t h e proPer4l, '' o o f self-righting would be of no service to the crew a lifeboat if she w ere upse t, i nasmuc h as that wil e , o she had righted s h e wou ld b e qu i c kl y carr i e d arh by the wind or tid e b eyon d th e reac h o f h er halme' d crew, who could never regain. her in a seaway , I t would then have to t rus t t o th e i r lif e -b e l ts a lone safety. Now it so happens that within the last fl months three accidents to lifeboats have occurr', o one to a small self-righting boat, the other tw° of non-righting boats. By comparing the result s s io these accidents together, we shall not only eb t ; a d an illustration of the value of the self - rig, alit principle, but shall perceive that the partlea 5 objection which we are now replying to is I lot valid one. The three accidents are as follows :- 1. On the 4th Jan., 1857, the Point of Mr ihe boat, when und er sa il, upset at a d i stance f ro m c ut land ; the accident was seen f rom the s hore, ~,ie no immediate h e lp was ava il a bl e, and the orsco of the boat's crew, 13 in all, were drowned. , 4 or three of the m were seen c li ng i ng to her keel twenty minutes, by which time they became e it ,, hausted, were washed o ff, an d, h av i ng no life -be - perished. 2. In February last the Southwold lifeboat; for large sailing bo a t, cons id ere d to b e one o f the fine sr the kingdo m , b u t no t self-righting, w h e n out c , exercise only, was running before a rather hl, surf with all sail se t, w h en s h e su dd en l y ran be.L' or , a sea, broached to, and upset. The crew having A their life-belts, and, the accident being withlnoh short distance of the shore, were all saved, alth °ll ' two or three of th em were i n an ex h aus t e d state' off but three unfort una t e gent l emen who ha d go ne in the boat, and h a d neg l ected to 'put on lifebe'w last their lives. a 3. On the night o f th e 19th o f O cto b er last, ;rie. gale of wind, th e sma ll s i x - oared self-righting `.OO beat belonging t o th e N a ti ona l Li fe b oat i n stituti at Dungeness proceeded through a heal' se , managed by eight C oas t guar d men, to a Weer which was seen t o b e agroun d at about thrf,he quarters of a mile from the lifeboat station. er wreck was reached soon a ft er m id n i g h t, an d of t er aseertaining that she had been deserted bY„ e , crew, the lifebo a t re t urne d f or the 6'llV For the first h a lf m il e s h e was rowed sa.,-,er before a heavy b ro k en sea, b ut on crossing a de%t channel, between two shoals, she was cano n up and struck by three heavy seas in s uccesal L3 e i which followed s o qu i c kl y one on the other tn io the boat could not recover herself, and the cool y losing all comma n d w ith th e rudder, she was et, tied away bef ore th e sea, b roac h ed to, and uP'i,ec, throwing her cre w ou t o f h er. Sh e immediate:l, however, self-right e d, c l eare d h erse l f of a ll ovat e and her anchor having fallen out when she I c io keel up, she was brought up by it. The crevr , e j, the meantime, havi ng on goo d life-belts, flood regained, and got into the boat, cut the cable, I t o returned safely to the shore, not one of them e s • cci • being hurt. Wh en it i s cons id ere d that this g re dent occurred in the middle of the night, and it s , sults are contrasted with those ofthe two similar ° t ic dents above alluded to, both of which occurredil l o t daytime, we con ce i ve th a t we h ave at once , simply a triumph an t rep l y t o t h ose who st ill rep diate the advanta ge o f th e se lf •r i g h t i ng pro per i t u l i s t but a proof that th e di scovery an d a d opt i on of this principle form an era in the history of lifeboaof which promises to materially lessen the danger d, the arduous servic e i n w hi c h th ey are emPloeo and thus to confe r an i mpor t ant b oon on suffer`"° humanity. ; tile May we not even safe` conclude that this -s„1 0 first instance that has ever occurred of a 1 "" ol s boat's crew passi ng unsca th e d t h rough suc h ordeal ? the In justice to the b rave f e ll ows w h o forme- fe, crew of the boat on thi s occas i on, we must st a ` o ; that they expres se d their readiness to h l gone out i n th e b oa t aga i n i mme diate;'i after their landing h a d th e i r serv i ces bee again required ; an d th a t t h ey, unaske & for, certified t o th e i r en ti re con fid ence i n h er a-n a their readiness to t rus t their lives in her whene /et . se they should be ca ll e d on t o d o so. T hey likels:l,,e bore testimony to the value of the lifebelts, onthis plan of Capta in J. R. W ar d , R . N ., suppl i e d by t" institution to its lifeboat crews. STATE OF TRADE. LEEDS, Dec. 28.—As usual with the closing market of the y ear , w h en stoc k takin and halal' s "; ing account s are occupy i ng the attention of ra% men engaged in b us i ness , th ere h as been almost nominal market t o -d ay . A f ew small parce ls goods changed h an d s , some o f them being Jo b loo' 0 f at late prices ; b u t th e pr i ces o f t h e b etter kinds e fabrics have a rather upward tendency. The l° o l/ ci , of the trade is cheerful, and the prospects are go 4 MANCHESTER, Dec. 28.—The India letters v i Trieste, usually th e l a t est t o h and, were rece i ved _ re Manchester thi s morn i ng , an d f rom th i s source ."th learn that the t ra d e i n i mports was good, 011, heavy sales maki ng , b o th f or c l oth to hand as °ea, e as for shipment s t o arr i ve. Th e letters br i n, vices, in fact, not only of continued activity at u. o. cutta and Bombay, b u t o f i mproved markets l China; and they h ave l e d t o an a d vance of 3(1. P er o , piece on shirtings and of lid. per piece on jaec ie ' nets, madapollams, and 'other light c l o th s suitable to the East. Th e business done here at this advan ce has not been heavy, because of the utter scar citl ie goods to sell, m os t manu f acturers b e i ng fully engaged for at least a month or six weeks befor e " hand, and some f or a l onger per i o d i n advance. T'l home trade, as i s usua l a t thi s per i od of the year,, o quiet, but the p ros p ec t s are supposed to be good I° r the coming year, and at the season for resual business in this d e p ar t men t h eavy purchases anticipated. In yarns there has been a 1 10 'J demand this morning for all numbers and qualities' whether suited to the home or foreign markets.An advance h as b een o bt a i ne d of fully id. per h which advance is spread over every description ° twist. Buyers for India and China have bee n among the most acti ve purchasers , but there b' been a fair bu s i ness f or G ermany and the Medite r. ranean. The home trade demand includes not only the counts and qualities suitable for Blackburn goods, but most kinds, including fine numbers. For double yarns there is a good deal of inquiry' but these have not partaken of the advance. RAILWAY CALLS. Subjoined is, a statement of railway calls Ailing due at various periods : ak -4 CalL raid. Great Western of Canada New Shares, Lancaster and Carlisle, £l6l (Aug. 1, 1860) Lancaster and Preston, £ll+ (Oct. 31, 1859) London and North-Western Ei g hth s (July 1, 1859) Ditto ditto ditto (July 1, 1860) Ditto ditto ditto (July 1, 1860) OlO 0 10 Ditto ditto ditto (Jan. 1, i,l 1861) Ditto ditto ditto (Jan. 1, 1860) - 0 .15 0 4 Dublin and Drogheda 5 per cent. Pre ference, 1857 (Oct. 1, 1859) Exeter and Exmouth (Oct. 1, 1889). , 2 0 0 5 London and Blackwall, New (Oct. 1, 1859) Newry and Armagh Extension (Oct 1, 1859) Ditto ditto ditto (Oct. 1, 1859) Waterford and Kilkenny Debenture Shares, £lO (Jan. 1, 1859) Ditto ditto ditto (Jan. 1, 1860) Whitehaven and Furness Junction, Whitehaven Junction, £2O Pref., 5 per cent. (Feb. 1, 1859) 5O 0 10 Ditto ditto ditto (June 1, 1859) 5O 0 15 10 1 0 5 0 0 '2O 1 0 0 ` 2 10 0 3 THE CONVICT MARY NEWELL.--We are re quested to state that the execution of the sentence of deal' passed upon Mary Newell at the late assizes at Reading' for the murder of her infant child has been r es pited, Wit h view to a commut a ti on o f the capital punishment. AN ATTORNEY-GENERAL COMMITTING MUltP° l i —A letter which app eare d i n th e C orriere Mercant ile Genoa states that a short time since M. Raimo, atturne.Yfa general to the Civil T r ib una l o f C atan i a, stilettoed his No in bed out of jealousy, an d th en t oo k to flight. He a,T1.3; seen with the blo o dy p on i ar d i n hi s hand by his had daughter, aged 14, who, sleeping in the next room,, been awakened by h er mo th er ' s cr i es. The latter dieu few minutes afte rwar d s , so th a t th e daughter is the Oriiv . witness against the father. THE PRINCE IMPERIAL'S HIGHLAND DRESt - 7. 6 , The Highland dress p re p are d a t I nverness for the Prw-f Imperial of France has n ow b een completed. The k ilt is• • shepherd tartan, with belted pl a id an d h ose to watc h; t jacket black velvet, ornamented with cairngorm button °, and silver embroidery; the waistcoat of brilliant crirus° fl c i suitably adorned. Wherever it was possibl e High l3ll ... ornaments only were used, an d th e d es i gns are also cber3cts teristic of the north. Thus, the shoulder-brooch re reseed a rook, over which deer' s grass and the cranberry sPreraiu their picturesque tendril s , and beireath the huge ealillt r are sheltered a number o f d eer, beautifully carved in which serve also to support and set off the stone. The dirk' skian-dhu, &c., are a ll f urn i shed in miniature complete' A number of remarkably fine linsoy-woolseys are also In!: despatched for the Empress. They are made speciallY f o her Majesty, and partly from her own designs. The co nth are very brilliant, but harmonise admfrably. Along thevi the underclothing are sent a few choi ce t ar t an s ilks of Stuart pattern, also, for the EmpresS.-10611168 Courier, I I