The Sun. — London, England, 1860-12-25 00:00:00

THE BRIGHTON ANTI-HOTEL COM PANY 11 (Limited). Capital, D 75,000, in Shares of D 5 each. Deposit D 1 per Share. Incorporated under the Common Sense Act, which ex pressly limits the liability of each Shareholder in the degree of his prudence and acuteness. DIRECTORS. NICHOLAS NOBODIE, Esq, Chairman. Thomas Brown, Esq. John Smith, Esq. P. Green, Esq. John Doe, Esq, John Jones, Esq. Richard Roe, Esq. James Robinson, Esq. Auditors—Solicitors —Brokers —Secretary. The aforesaid having observed the advertisement of an extraordinary Prospectus bearing a title not unlike the heading of this present, together with the names o f sundaidry p er sons "unknown to fame," an d seeing that the s Prospectus may in some instances be mistaken by the un wary for a serious and practical project have resolved be to and do hereby propound a few inquirieq which calculated to convince the most credulous of the jocular and delusive nature thereof. 1. Had those persons unknown to fame, whose names occupy the same honourable position as do the names of our respected directors, John Doe, Richard Doe, &e., at the time of publishing the said Prospectus of the " Brighton Hotel Company," possession of, or any sort of legal claim to land w hereon the professed Hotel could be built '2. Is it p o ssible that business men could be in earnest in proposing to carry into effect a project including purchase of land on the sea frontage of central Brighton, and the construction of a building. advertised to contain " two hun dred bedrooms, apartments 'with bed and bath rooms en suite, dining-rooms, coffee-room, salon library (sic), ladies' coffee-room, reading-room, music-room, billiard-room, smo king-room, hot, cold, and vapour baths," with the furniture and appurtenances essential thereto for the sum of £75,000 ? 3. And if the foregoing could be "done for the money," would the freehold tenement found and furnished for the sum of £75,000 —considering that unlike other commercial undertakings operated in by a company capable of indefinite extension, hotel business is confined at its utmost opportu nity to four walls soon occupied—require for its profitable administration eight directors, one architect, two auditors, solicitors, brokers, and secretary ? 4. On what authority is it stated in aforesaid pro spectus that the ability of the said " Company" " to pay largo dividends is fortified by the fact that the Great Western Hotel Company has paid dividends of 25 per cent. per annum out of actual net profits, and that the Euston and Victoria Hotels, and other similar companies, have also paid unusually large dividends ?"£2ss it not, rather, true that the once published profit of per cent. of the Great Western Hotel was taken on the small private capital, less than £lO,OOO, of the Committee, whilst the enormous investment of Great Western Shareholders' money on the building and furniture was set off at 4 per cent., no aceount being taken of the land, which belonged to the railway company ? Again, that the Easton. Hotels wee for years in a bankrupt state ? Further, can the specialators concerned in said Prospectus adduce conducted of authentic evidence that any hotel in the United Kin g dom by a company not es tablished by the money railway shareholders nor fed by a railway terminus has been a success ? 5. Even if it could be shown that an h otel at a metropo litan railway terminus hadfoerinats p board of directo rs, itc., management, s l uc e e d ess th fu e l suitability o a would that prove the same " w ith regard to an hotel in the town of a " wate r ing-place, where, at the best, the profit able plentitude of business occurs only during ten or twelve weeks of the year? 6. Finally, though all the rest were granted, what evi dence is there, precedent, professed or presumptive, of the qualifications of the "Directors" named in the said pros bymeto ex,arcise the mo effi ney of cientl shareholders ? the functions ofMay hotel keepers means o fthey not possibly be more competent as share dealers ? HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. SMITH. NO TIC E. —The Lessee retpectfully informs the Nobility, Patrons, and Supporters of this elegant Theatre, that, " FOR THE FIRST TIME," he will attempt a Grand Pantomime. The greatest care has been takn to produce and make it suitable to the taste of children. Every objec tionable matter has been omitted in the Harlequinado, which has always been considered too long and tedious, and the Lessee has studied the tastes of the junior branches of society, for whom, at this season of the year, this par ticular entertainment is produced. There will be Morning Perfirmances of the Pantemime on Saturdays, December 29, Janiary 5 and 12, at Two o'clock precisely. On Wednesday, Boxing-day, December 26th, 1860, and eve.'ry evening during the week, an original. Opera, entitled, QUEEN TOPAZE. Raphael (a Captain) Annibal Barbiano (a Rich Vane- Mr. SANTLEY. thin) Francatrippa I (Gipsies) f Mr. PATSY. 1 Mr TERROTT Fritellino etr. - • Gritti . Mr. BARTLEMAN. Zeno Mr. BEALE. Loredano (Young Venetian Mr. ST. ALBYN. Manfred Nobles) Mr. BAKER. Bembo Mr. THONIPSON. Topaze (a Gipsy) Countess Filomela ALESSANDRI Hostess of an Inn Nobles, Ladies, Male and Female Gipsies. The scene is laid at Venice, 1512. After which (the first ever represented at her Majesty's Theatre) will be produced, an entirely New and Original Grand Musical, Magical, and Comical Burlesque Ballet Pantomime, founded on one of the most popular of our Old National Stories, and entitled HARLEQUIN AND TOM THUMB ; OR, MERLIN THE MAGICIAN AND THE GOOD FAIRIES OF TEE COURT OF KING ARTHUR. The Scenery, entirely new, under the superintendence of Mr. WILLIAM BEVERLEY. Artists, Mr. CHARLES BREW, Mr. SANDERS, &c., &c., &c. The Overture, Choruses, and the whole of the Music cmposed by J. H. TULLY. The Libretto by Mr. E. L. o BLANCHARD, and the whole produced under the direction of Mr. ROBERT ROXBY, assisted by Mr. R. PHILLIPS. The Panto mimic Physiognimy and Designs for:the Dresses by DYK WYNKYN. The Machinery by Mr. Tucker. The Tricks and Properties by Mr. - NEEDHAM, Mr. GLINDON, and Mr. H. ADAMS. The Costumes by Miss DICKINSON and Mons. LAURI. The Harlequinade by the LAURI FAMILY. INTERIOR OF GAFFER THUMB'S COTTAGE. Gaffer Thumb. Goody Thumb. . Mrs. Linden. Merlin (the Wizard of the Early Ages, and Professor of Parlour Magic) .. Mr. Dixon. Hocus Focus, Popalorum, Shixtum Stixtum, Cockalerum Jig (his Four Familiars) Masters Quick, Pass, Fly, and Begone. om Thumb (" The abridgement of all that pleasing in man." Engaged especially for Juvenile Patrons) Miss LILIA ROSS. Schoolboys.. Masters Hop, Skip, Jump, Trap, Bat, Ball, Chevy, &c., &c. " The famous magician Merlin, being once in a dark orest, when he wanted food and rest called at a poor man's cottage. The Good Dame grieved, and shed many tears, because she was• so lonely all day long, as she and her husband wanted a little child to keep them company. 'My husband,' quoth she, would be happy if he had but a child no bigger than his thumb,' and so-."--Legend of Thomas Thumb. ROSEWATER LAKE AND ROMANTIC HAUNT OF THE FAIRIES. Rosalie (Queen of the Fairies) Miss Mason. Frangipanni, Musk, Pet cheuli, Verbena, Heliotro pe , Ron doletta, Violet, Moss Rose, Sweetbriar, Eglanti ne , Car nation, Bergamont Jasmin, Myrtle, Lavender, Eau de Cologne, &c., &c. Attendants, Toilet Fairies Mdlles. " And he danced with the young Fairies, whose eyes were like diamonds and whose hair was like silver thread, and whose skin was white and smooth like ivory, and they gave him wine made of the sweet smelling wild flowers."— The Legend. GAFFER THUMB'S COTTAGE. Tom the Tinker.. — . Mr. Solderwell. " Once he got into a playfellow's bag of cherry stones, and was shaken almost to death for his tricks ; and another time ho fell into -a large batter pudding, and the pudding was put to boil. but he kicked about in it so violently that his mother thought some evil spirit was in the pot, so she gave it to the Tinker, when ."—The Legend. FARM YARD AND DISTANT COUNTRY. "Another time hi-3 mother tie• him to a thistle, whilst she milked the Cow, and the Cow did eat the thistle, but he kicked about so in the Cow's throat that he was soon up again in his mother's apron ; when a great Crow The Legend. TURRETS AND TERRACE OF GIANT'S CASTLE. Hurlothrumbo (the Giant) Mr. Feefawfoluro. " The Crow dropped him on the top of the Giant's Castle, when the Giant swallowed him, but he was soon glad to give him up. and he fell into the sea where —"—The Legend. IBANQUETING HALL IN THE PALACE OF KING ARTHUR. _ Ring Arthur ("He was a goodly King." Minstrel of the Period) Mr. E. St. Albyn. Ri's Cook Mr. Kitchener. I ts Scullion „ His Knights (his _Daughter) Miss Highbury Barnes. i'l Knights of the Round Table by distinguished repre sentat• inz a c n e of the . days of ancient chivalry, and illustrat a Dar ,_ .....g i Knight, a Short Knight, a Green Knight, Knight, a Wet Knight, a Baron Knight, a Box ing&c. The Discovery! The Recovery I And the c B ; t 4cc., ti 3 ry name is ;strophe ! Om Thumb from the fairies I come. TV hen King Arthur shone, : this Court was my own. In fl o he ( 0 1 4,-111, 4;l him I was knighted ; Did PI never hea r of by Thomas Thumb ?" Metrical Legend. 17, .an.F. , ,inp, , to THE CfIAMISLEOI‘.gp 'XPLE OF THE FAIRIES. ."1- GRAND :11AG Harlequin. -“r. J. Lar• Colr. ne, Mr. H. Lauri. I Miss Jenny Lauri. Clown, Mr. C. Lluri. . Sprites by tb7,celetobra:ittiaieTa9bs. --Et doors open at NOTICE, —Daring the Half-past Six, commenc e at. seven o'clock. ___.----- -------- THEATRE ROYAL, PTlClt l ir . Lessee, Mr. r. T. S3IETIT. L ANE. NOTICE.—The Lessee has much pleasure announcin g his Ninth . Pantomime at this natio nal establishment. Ev ery care has been bestowed on it to make it s uitable to th e ast of his patron.% who have honoured the thcatre with their presence, anti. have pronounced the Pantomimes under his management sUperior to any produced. Great objections have been rnada. as to the length of the comic scenes in pantomime. Tb is.' has also undergone the necessary prun ing., and the pant oininie will be so arranged as to leave ves off at Half-past Eleven, that the audience may avail themsel of the late Trains. 'The Lessee, having selected Wednes day morning for eight years for his morning performanc e, begs to inform his friends the Pantomime will commence every Wednesday at two o'clock. Ito-engag,ement of Mr. al 'd Mrs. CHARL 1 7 , S MATHEWS. On WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26. 1860, and during the week, her Majesty's servants perform a new Comedy, in two acts, entitled THE ADVENTURES OF ,A. BILLET-DOUR. Principal Characters by Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. Tilbury, Vrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs, Frank Matthews, Miss E. Arden, Miss H. Howard, &c. After which the new Grand Comic Christmas Annual, hich, for a considerable time having engrossed the atten tion of every department, will be produced on a scale of unprecedented magnitude and magnificence, under the title of PETER IVILKINS ; or, HARLEQUIN and the FLY- Founded WOMEN of the LOA-DSTONE ISLAND. on, the most remarkable and kaAutifal romance . THEATR , !:-itUYAL. H.AYIVIAUKFT. T,psqee, Mr. J. B. Baekstone. On WEDNESDAY (Boxing Night) SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Tony bumpkin, Mr. Blackstone; Young Mar low, Mr. Howe ; Miss Hardcastle, Miss Fanny Stirling (her first appearance here).. After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND TIER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. wit.o , 'we at 7 LP() "i" . 1 .. I. (' f4 - `, Timssef, and Nranat , ,er, Mr. A. Harris. On BOXING NICHT, Di C. '26, ERNESTINE. Messrs. J. O. Shore, K. Cathcart, Basil Potter ; 'Mesdames Heath, Car lotta Lech-req, Weston, and Murray. Atter Which, a new rliristmas comical pantomime, entitled 11(111IN SON CRITSOE • or, Harlequin Friday, and the King of the P ar ibb e Islands': in which Monsieur Espinosa and will la e. Marie Dumilatre of the principal cantinental theatres, Near. Clown' Air. A . F . A F Forrest. -3,t D HI, P 1 , 11 , N sot,. Peonrieto i:\V THEATRE-ROYAL. War de CU. , TOMER. Messrs, J. T 0 -3ro BP ow, i T , :; ,(I Msnager, Mr. 13enl. Webster. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Thorne. A tt e r which, THE COLL EEN e ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. BAWN. D. Boucicault, D. Fisher, Billinf.tOn, Falconer, miss A ves Robertson, Miss Stephenso n C. J. Smith, Romer. Mrs. Chatterley. Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and To conclude with a new Burlesqu e -. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith —T OF, HUE BEARD F , ;OM A NEw.'' x p tr 4 L T N azanza, entitled BLUE Messrs. .T. L. pen at halt-past 6—Commence at 7 K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and 1 . Thorne. ; Miss Woolgar, -office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. ox oxes, ; Family Boxes, 41. Balcony, 45. ; Front Circle Stalls, is.; ROOTS Privates o Orchestra Stalls, . ; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, la ; Gallery, r x i . __. Acting Manager—Mr. Win. Smith; in the English language, written early in the last century, and recording the "Life and Adventures of Peter Wil kins," a Cornish man, relating particularly his shipwreck near the South Pole, his wonderful passage thr.,u.AiL a sub terraneous cavern into a kind of new world, his there meet ing with a Gaurey, or Flying Woman, whose life he pre serves, and whom he afterwards married, and his extra ordinary conveyance to the country of Glumms and Gaurios er Men and Women that Fly. The new and splendid scenery by Mr. WILLIAM BEVERLEY (to whom is due the merit of originating and bringing to perfection the present state of grand scenic effects now adopted at this sea son of the year by every theatre in the kingdom), assisted by Messrs. H. CRAVEN, C. PITT, GOMPERTZ BREW, &c., &c. The Overture and Music composed and arranged by Mr. J. H. TULLY. The Grotesque Burlesque Opening invented and written by E. I. BLAN CHARD, antkor of the great Drury-lane Pantomimes for the last eight years. The whole arranged and produced under the superindence of Mr. ROBERT ROBBY. The Masks, personal Appointments, and designs for the Costumes, from the best authorities, by DYKWYNKYN. Tie Machinery by Mr. F. TUCKER and Assistants. The Tricks. Properties, Changes, and Transformations by Mr. NEEDHAM , as sisted by Messrs. H. LANGAN, GLINDON, 11. ADAMS, &c. The Costumes by Mr. PALMER and Miss DICKENSON. The Gas Appoint ments by Mr. HINCKLEY. The Dances and Chore graphic Arrangements by Mr. CORMACK. The Comic Scenes by Messrs. II CLINE, CORMACK, R. POWER. &c. Programme of the Incidents and Scenery A TIN MINE IN CORNWALL. Blaok Ralph (Captain of the Mine) Mr. Glindon , Mr. W. Templet on, Peter Wilkins ( a Miner) The Eacl Polwholfoltolderyddel Fitz Arthur M Trevanioweron. r. R. vapor. Constantia (his Daughter) .... Miss Conway. fl " By Tre, pa ; and Pen, ye may know the Cornish Men Pol. Mi ners .. geors. Tremor, Tremendus, Co is Pencleve, cks, 1%1.062: Polytechnick, Poldig, Pencutaj; ecc, ece. Feldspur (Chief of the Koboi;..la or Goblins oft Mine) Mr. Barsby. Little Kobolds or Goblins of the Nine ..Masters Tip, Tap, Top, Tip, Nip, Flip, drip, B re. How Peter is struck by the hard hand: of Black Ralph 1 an d the soft eyes of the fair Constantia, 8 2nd how, after being driven to extremities, he takes a medium' .course and gets a true communication per raps from the knocking Spirits of the 11ine—The Divininc , Rod—the Magical M ys t er i e s of the Crys tal, and the change to NyEmLphFil2 LAND(cineen l o N f rh T e ll E E lve C s ß — Y w S it T h A a L n S o P ri ec,isaposed by Mr. J. H. Tully, " Starlight, St He ar nE li aß g l h;) nr '' Miss H. Howard. A tt en dant Elves - Mdlles. GRAND BALLET FANTASTIQUE. How Peter, having become invisible ' finds, though out of sight, he is not out of mind, and how the Elfin warning he receives causes him to change his situation. TREVANION CASTLE, ON THE CORNISH COAST, NEAR THE LAND'S END. _ _ Cornish Milk Girl Miss Pollychalk. Baker's Boy Master Treble. Maid Servant Miss Allwork. Cornish Fisherman Mr. Pennylot. . Jeames (the Head Footman) ..Mr. Redplush. Black Page Master Bob Ridley, Domestics of the Castle, Messrs Fag, Brag, Lag, Gag, Tag, Rag, and Bobtail. Cornish Wreckers, Messrs. Smash, Crash, Dash, Flash, Splash, Breakup, and Goaway. Jack Robinson(first mate of the Advent ure r) Mr.T.Matthews Giles Grogrum (the Pilot) Mr. Sowester. Second Mr. Rigout. Mate How Peter runs away and goes to sea, and how the wreckers, having missed a prize, receive a quid-pro-quo from Jack Robinson. QUARTER DECK OF THE ADVENTURER. THE LOADSTONE ROCK. By NIGHT. FLIGHT OF THE FLYING ISLANDERS TO THEIR AERIAL HOME. Great Gathering of the Winged Women at the Trysting Place by the SPREADING BANYAN TREE. Descent of the Glumms and Gauries borne through the air on their beautiful wings, and BRILLIANT TRANSFORMATION. Harlequins—Mr. Cormack and Mr. St. Maine. Columbines—The Misses Gunniss. Pantaloons—Mr. Naylor and Mr. E. R. Martin. Clowns—Mr. Huline and Mr. R. Power, and a little one in by Young Huline. Sprites—By the celebrated Lavater Lee Family. Scene I—EXTERIOR OF A GREENGROCER'S, A PRINTING OFFICE, AND A PUBLIC TAVERN. Cormack, Huline, Naylor, E. Gunniss, and Lavater Lee and Sons. Cheap Publications—Plum Pudding and I l antomime for ever I—New Edition of Oliver Twist—The Ink-em-Tax —A Prima-facia Case—A new Sheet, just printed—The Head of a Staff well Chased—Clown kicked out of Office — Who's your Hatter—Heavy Swell (of Indignation)— Clown enters into the Hop Trade and of course does his D u ty—Dance, Mr. Huline and his Son, in their Pas de Polichinello, on Stilts—Harlequin well up in the Print ing Business—a Rise in Spirits—Change for the Better— Duty off Wines—Light Wines—The Spirit of Fashion— and as it is the Fashion (Pantomimic) to finish the Scene with Spirit, a Rally will really take place and place before you. Scene 2.—A NURSERX GROUND AND SCHOOL. St. Maine, R. Power, Martin, Miss Gunniss, and Lavater Lee and Sons Hop, step, and a jump—What are you atY—Out for an Airing—Bell ringing extraordinary—Clever at School, but you can't lodge hero Beware of Steel Traps and Spring Guns—No end of a distance to Turnham-green—A change in Mile-stones and a fall of:ger posts—A miss as good as a mile—Fine Shooting, in perspective—The New Treaty —French Fruits—Pas des Dames dew Halle, with Chinese Accompaniment, by the Ladies of the clorps de Ballet— , True Blue for ever !—Rather a rise in the School, and a floorer for Clown. Scene 3. FARMHOUSE AND SPORTIIni COUNTRY. Cormack, Milne, Naylor, E. Gunniss, and Lavater Lee and Sons. " Harvest Hom• is a glorious day, so jolly let us be I" — Old English Harvest Dance by the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet, and a characteristic Pas de Deux by Mr. Cormack and Miss E. Gunniss—A farmer's life for me I—Clown and Pantaloon in want of employment—Not allowed to be drunk on the premises—Crinoline to its right use—Dog cart early laden with heavy swells—No end of pointers—A fall in game and a rise in turnips—The right man in the right place. Scene 4. EARLY MORNING AND EARL'!" CLOSING. St. Maine, Power, Martin, Miss Gunniss, Lavater Lee, and Sons. _ _ _ _ An Early Breakfast—Have your boots cleaned F—Early love—Why don't you pay the man ?—Clown's true polish —Beware of the Police—Alas 1 poor Bobby—The true Young Englands—The present fashion—Clown v. Wright —Harlequin's cab, or wheels within wheels My noble commander—A few Sandwiches, and Smith's advertising board—Flunkeyism the present fashion—Oh I what a Guy—A new mode of dog stealing—A sight at the moon— A heavy cannon, with a heavy " troupe" of Volunteers—A slap at the bull's eye—John Bull and his wife—Always reward true merit. Scene—MlSTY VIEW. Characters in the dark, but oft a cloudy and rainy morn ing brings forth " A bright and sunny day." REDUCED PRICES AS USUAL. _ Doors open at half-past 6. Commence at 7 o'clock. OYAL ENGLIS II OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. IMPORTANT NOTICE, The Management find it necessary to announce to their Patrons that it will be impossible for a few nights at Christ mas to perform Balfe's eminently sth cessful Opera with the Grand Pantomime. The time in representation and scenic preparation required for a Harlequinade of such magnitade, renders this temporary suspension of the brilliant Opera im perative. Boxes and places will continue to be booked daily at the Box-office for its reproduction at an early date. On BOXING NIGHT', Dec. 26, and during, the week. romm ,, nce at Seven. Order carriages at half-past 11. On WEDNESDAY, Pee. 26, Mr. W. Barrison's popular Operetta, THE MARRIAGE OP GEORGETTE Hiss Louisa Pyne and Mr. R. Cond. After which, with entirely new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations, a Grand Christmas Pantomine, BLUE BEARD; or, Harlequin and Freedom in her Islano Home. Written by J. V. Bridgman, Esq. ; pro duced by Mr. Edward Stirling ; embracing the chief panto mime talent of the day. A perfect galaxy of Mr. Harry Boleno, Mr. Henry Payne, Mr. Clowns Hildyard, and the Lilliputians. Harlequins,....Mr. 31ilano, Mr. F. Payne. Pantaloons ..... Mr. Barnes, Mr. Tanner. Columbines ....Mme. Bolen 21, Miss Clara Morgan. Zelinski Family. 26 Ladies, Mr. IV. H. Payne, Mdlle. Lamou reux,Ballet Gorgeous scenery, from the pencils of T. Grieve and Telbin, illustrating the moving events of the year; decorations, by Blamire, on a sca . e of magnitude and expenditure without parallel; fairy costumes, by Miss ,Tames and Mr. Coombes ; Eastern splendour, processions. marches, dancing, fun, and frolic, unitA to magical transformations by Sloman, pro ducing a combination of the grotesque and beautiful, recalling the golden days of pantomime for which Covent Garden stood alone and unapproached. Morning 'Performances f•very Wednesday and Saturday, commenc:ng Saturday, Dec. 29, at Two o'clock.' Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. Stage Manager, Mr. Ed. Stirling. Acting Manager, Mr. Edward Murray. R OY AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. _ Harrison, Sole Lessees. On Wednesday, Dec. 26, MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. IT, Corrie. To conclude witn the Grand Christmas Pantomime, BLUE BEARD ; or, Harle quin and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns, Messrs. IL Boleno, H. Payne. Hildyard, and Lilliputians. Harlequins, Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. Pantaloons, Messrs. Barnes and Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Boleno and Clara 3lorcran. Sprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle. Lamoureux, &c. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. THE LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING; DECEMBER 25. THEATRE* ROYAL LYCEUM.' Soie Lessee and Din 3ctress, Madame CELESTE. TO-MORROW EVEb'IN G (Boxing Night) THE IRISH TUTOR. Dr. O'Toole, Dir. John Drew. Alter which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, rHE visiov OF A ROE. E. ITS FADING AT EVE, AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. Followed by the comic Drs '.ma, entitled HANDY ANVilliers, DY. M es srs. Campbell, Johnston e, T. Lyon. Forrester, Butler, and John Drew; Mrs. J. Rouse, Miss Hudspeth, Miss M. Ternan, and Miss Neville. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.---- r = 3l - Proprietor and Manage 'r, Mr. WM. BATTY. This Evening', a new Spectt Icle, entitled THE LION CONQUEROR ; or, The Death Jungle, expressly for the introduction of the Wonders o 4 the World, " The Groupe of Performing Lions." The Lion ,conqueror, Mr. J. Crockett. To be succeeded by Scenes in 'the Arena, supported, by talented Parisian and Bri`ish Art •Istes. Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and G Iris, by T. L. Greenwood, en titl e d HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE ; or, Percinet and Grocios s, the Ugly Dnchess and the Greedy King, produced with G, orgeous Scenery. by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appoin, tments, and introducing in the cosaie scenes Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley, an..d Brandon Ledger. Harlequin .................. Mr. Sylvester. Columbine Clown r 11198, Hariet Dalton. Pantaloon . Mr. (;,.. Perks. Mr. , Tames Cooke. Sprites—Messrs. Thorne, Lockh art, and Sons. Doors open at halt-Fast ti, pertormamte commenee at 7. Box-office open daily fro 11 till .1 Stage Manag m er—Mr. W. V irEFer. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. CANTERBURY Open Every Evening at Seven. GRAND SELECTIONS (First Time) from LA FTGLIA DEL REGIMEN TO (Donizetti), NORMA, SONNA3IBULA, and MARTHA. Principal Artistes Miss RUSSELL, Madame MARIA, Miss TYRRELL, Miss WILLIAMS, Mr. HENRY HERBERT, C. W. BERNARD, and Signor TIVOLI. Musical Director...., Mr. F. JONOIMANS. The Comic Department compri , Ts Messrs. J. BLANCHARD, A. B. HOLLITQGSWORTH, Master BARRY, G. W. FELL, CHARLEY Fox, and E. MARSHALL. The Fine Arts Gallery has been enriched by the addition of the late John Martin's three Grand Pictures—viz., " THE GREAT DAY of FITS WitATFI JUDGMENT , " " THE PLAINS of HEAVEN," and " THE LAST on view until 12 o'clock at Night. HALL. THE WEATHER.-.—SIIN OFFICE, Dic. 25, 1660. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADB. 29—highest since noon yesterday. 11—lowest this morning and during the night. The coldest yet. .22 this day at noon. BAROMETER--29.40. wr , D __yorth-Easterly—almost a calm ; with fog, and bitterly cold HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. 'fins DAY.—Molll,'ng, 1211. —m.—Afternoon, —h. —m. TO-14d.ORROW.-Morning; 12h. 19m.—Afternoon, 12h. 43m '9 g p-At i ........„, r 4 ; .. . , --, ; 4 ,, \ a ..i ,tt , --1 . 7.---. . f . .., --'•., Attrait'' "...r.' 4 g g ,; . ~ w " 0 .40 , A.. „brut I , .. v.ar .......- --.. THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 25, 1860. The Telegram received at the Foreign-office, as well as by REUTER, at length confirms the news from China via St. Petersburg in all its integrity. We refer to another column for the conditions of the Treaty of Peace, or rather compulsion, for the Chinese would never listen to reason while any chance remained for evasion—even from their own professed compliance. While we may now exult that the haughty bearing of the Tartar-Chinese Govern ment has been brought to its fitting level of abject submission, we cannot but regret that the lives of our confiding officers, beguiled under the sanctity and protection of a flag of truce, have been sacri ficed to the mortified vengeance of a cruel people. But the Chinese are now made to learn their own weakness, and to pay proper homage to what they in their vaunted pride styled us as mere " outside Barbarians." Aye, and in that submission they are made to pay—nothing, indeed, comparable to the extent of their treachery—far less their cruelty—yet still enough to humble them in their own opinion throughout their immensity of space and population, but in the eyes of the civilised world. This is, indeed, a fitting sequel to their assumed superioriy over the rest of the universe. One of the articles stipulates that the treaty of peace, with the humble apology of the Brother of the Sun and Moon, shall be published all over China, so that the people shall know who are the real masters—the barbarians or the Emperor of the Sacred Glance, as the Mandarins have styled the tool of their cunning. The sum of one hundred thousand pounds has been extorted as a poor recompense to the families of those victims to Chinese cruelty. But we can not agree that the Island of Chusan, the very commanding key of the Great River of China should have been given up to the Chinese a second time. True, we have acquired a strip of land or promontory near Hong Kong of more salubrious quality, but that we might have got, and kept Chusan as well. We affect to be generous in our negotiations—but there are times for justice —if not policy, as well as generosity. Had we kept Chusan it would have acted on the fears of the Chinese, and be the best and cheapest guaran tee for the continuance of peace, for such people are kept on their good behaviour more from love for their own safety than from any respect for their rulers. We hope the Taku Forts will be retained as an impartial guarantee. The commercial business of the treaty promises well. Universal free trade is to begin at onco, and Tien-tsin, the Gravesend of Pekin, is to be opened for commerce. So far so good. We wish it were better. Another Christmas Day! The world's eighteen hundred-and-sixtieth ! Another of those anniver saries that—year after year in the very depths of each wintry season—came to gladden the hearts of us all, and bring us nearer in thought and feeling to one another—bringing us we might even (at the risk of the reproach of sermonising) venture to add, though it be through the columns of a newspaper, nearer and nearer in thought to Heaven. Gladdening the 'Harts of us all we have said—bringing us all nearer and nearer in feeling to one another, and in thought to wards Heaven ! Can we, however, say it ? Are we justified in writing—with a strict and rigid regard to truth—in words of such comprehensive generalisa tion ? It is true that the conviviality of this most happy season spreads s• far and so wide, sinks so low down in the social scale, that it penetrates even to the poor pauper inhabitants of our humble work houses. Christmas fare, Christmas cheer even to the grey clad pauper population of the Union ! But to all the population indiscriminately, to all ranks and classes of the community without exception ? THAT unhappily it were, alas ! rash to assert with any confidence. For of whom was it that the late Lord MACAULAY spoke almost as with a cry of lamentation—when he bewailed the existence of some who were no better, according to his famous dictum, than " savages in the midst of civilisation and heathens in the midst of Christianity." The) are here amongst us to this day, these forgotten pariahs of our social system. They are hid away in the thick of this vast throng of 3,000,000 men, women, and children peopling these wondrous twin cities of London and Westminster. They are close beside us, they are at our very doors ; they are there in swarms in the back-slums and rookeries, festering down dark lanes, behind our magnificent square: , and gay thoroughfares. It is one of those Two Nations of whom one of our most eminent states men and administrators—the right hon. gentleman the member for Bucks, the leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposition, has written a brilliant and affecting story—that " ower true tale," that fiction foundec upon fact, that enthralling romance based upon ax appalling reality, " SYBIL, or the Two NatiOtif." Old and hackneyed though the words are, they can I never be reiterated too frequently, those aphoristic words averring that one half of the world does not know how the other half lives. It is a familiar saying that can never be repeated too often, that can never be uttered or written more appositely than at Christmas time—when One Half, when more than One• Half, when the immense majority of the population is in the midst of its holiday enjoyments. For all the while, even when the hapless paupers in the workhouses are regaling on their Christmas rations of roast beef and plum pudding—all the while, outside the walls of the Union, hid away in overlooked and unfrequented corners, there remains a residue, a miserable minority of the people, even in this happy and thriving country, even in this rich and prosperous capital, who are in no measure what ever influenced beneficially by the recurrence even of Christmas. Nay, the wretchedness of this low liest minority of all (the very dregs of im poverishment) is such, is so extreme and utter that the old threadbare axiom might, in their regard, more appropriately run—that the other part of the world knows nothing, not of the way in which their neighbours :live, but of the way in which they die ! It was the recollection of this simple fact, that awoke the sympathies of an anonymous philanthropist only the other day, the recollection of this undeniable, notorious and most lamentable fact, that occasional deaths are recorded in Englard, in London, that occa sional deaths take place here amongst us, deaths caused by actual starvztion ! Men, and women, and children, it seemed frightful to this phi lanthropist to remember, are at intervals ab solutely fainting and dying in London, in the midst of plenty, in the midst of luxury, nay, in the midst of a charity that would rejoice to alleviate all their miseries, were only these woes we speak of brought to the knowledge of this sur rounding world of benevolence—a world inactive in these instances, because unconscious of the depth of poverty close at hand requiring instant alleviation ! Clothes, fuel, bread, medical aid, reli gious assistance—all these in these extreme cases— I are wholly and entirely wanting. And it was with a view to lunt out these hidden distresses, and to prevent thereby, as far as may be, in every way practicable, the possibility of their recurrence in future that a movement was recently organished by W. D. B.—a movement cordially aided towards its development by the co-operation of many zealous sympathisers—a movement that we do most earnestly trust may date a long and prosperous course of beneficence from this very Christmas Day. It is especially upon this first Christmas Day that has arrived since the period of its original advancement that we are desirous, in a few matter of fact, but deeply heartfelt, words, to commend this kindly scheme pro posed by W. D. B. to the sympathies of the general public and to its powerful and active co-operation. Let it be particularly borne in mind in regard to this new scheme of Charity for the most forlorn and the most destitute that it has claims upon all who hear of it, claims of a very impressive and remarkable character. It is a charitable project, for example, that is to be worked out wholly and solely by Volun teers. It is a charitable project of a kind in no way whatever sectarian. It is a charitable scheme that will give succour to those who are at once most in need of it, and are nevertheless the most entirely neglected. Above all, it is a charitable scheme that will expend upon the poor themselves every single farthing that may be contributed to the funds of the association. Knowing this, remembering this ' —let us now, more particularly upon this holy festival of Christmas, say from our hearts, GOD bless and prosper this scheme of W. D. B. and his numerous sympathisers. Are infidels in England to enjoy the protection of Law ? The question is suggested to us by a I recent proceeding in the Rochdale County Court, which, we confess, struck us as about one of the hardest cases of religious intolerance we have seen for some time. The essential facts were these. An artist of the name of SAMUEL MADEN sued his wife's stepfather for £6 35., the estimated value of a - pianoforte, which it was alleged the stepfather had wrongfully detained. The defence was that the piano was the property of Mrs. MADEN'S mother, the defendant's wife. The plaintiff, it seems, had but one witness, Mrs. MADEN, or pro bably her evidence would have been so complete that nothing further would be needed. She was not, however, permitted to give it, so that we can form no conception of what the grounds of her claim would be. But, probably she would have proved that her mother had given it to her before she married her stepfather. C. TEMPLE, Esq., the judge, did not, however, see fit to let the plaintiff's witness tell the facts to the jury. The reason for this will appear from the following dialogue be tween the witness and the judge. When Mrs. MADEN stepped into the box, instead of allowing her to be sworn and examined, the defendant's counsel, Mr. STANDRING, commenced questioning her on her religious belief. He asked her whether she believed in a future state of rewards and punishments. She answered in the negative. The judge himself then took up the examination : Judge—You do not believe in any human re sponsibility for telling a lie ? Mrs. Maden—Yes I do. Judge—Except to society ? Mrs. Maden—No. Judge—Do you believe in a God who can punish you for telling a lie ? Mrs. Maden—No. Judge—Then I cannot hear you, and I nonsuit the plaintiff, with costs for the defendant's advocate. If people will- insult public opinion in a court of justice they must take the consequence.. Now, perhaps, Exeter Hall will applaud such administration of justice—or rather of injustice, and we shall be deemed infidels' friends, infidels ourselves, perhaps, for uttering our protest against such conduct on the part of a judge. But if we mistake not, it is not merely a grave infraction of religious liberty, and a violation of common justice and Christian principle, but if the same principle were carried out in Spain or in Rome, Exeter-hall would be the first to complain. It would get up a deputation to the Foreign Minis tar, and complain that Protestants were excluded from the protection of the courts of justice, because they " insulted the public opinion of the country." Flad Mrs. MADEN been guilty of wantonly annoy ing any sect of religionists, by conduct offensive to their feelings, we should have been the last to excuse her. Nothing ought to be re pect ed more than even the religious supersti tions of others ; but she merely answered, without bravado, questions she was compelled to answer, she was willing to take the oath and tell her story quietly; and a judge from the bench, because her creed, unfortunately for her, is at variance with that of nearly all of us, declares her guilty of " insult" for simply telling the truth in answer to his own questions. We suppose if she had refused to answer she would have been committed by him 'for contempt, or insult, of court; if she answers, it Di still deemed insult, and punished with denial of justice and costs. What, in the name of common sense, was the poor woman to do ? We say this is a denial of justice. In this indivi dual case, every reader will perceive that the piano did belong to her husband, probably through her. Mr. STANDEING would assuredly not have relied on so outrageous a defence, if he had had a better one. Inexcusable as we think his questions, we cannot think so ill of him as to believe that he would have demeaned himself to put them, had it not been his only hope, and we may be allowed to suppose, also, that he knew something of the tempel" and religious prejudices of the judge before whom he was to conduct the defence. But it is the general case which is most im portant. Generalise it, and what does it amount to, but denial of justice to infidels in every case in which their obtaining it depends on their own oath. Indeed it might easily happen that an infidel's testimony would he the only one some such Christian as Mr. TE➢IPLE himself might be able to bring in his own case. What would he then think of being nonsuited and saddled with costs, because his witness happened not to be of the same faith with the judge in regard to what constituted the binding nature of an oath. But the infidel himself, in a thousand cases, might be wronged without the possibility, of re dress. He might be robbed with impunity in solitude, since however certainly he might identify the criminal, his oath, if he were willing to take one, would be denounced as an "insult." We do not see even how he could easily in any case prove that his own name had been forged, or that he did not owe money in cases'in which receipts are not common, or even prosecute the man who had half killed him by violence. The truth is, that sound principle requires the placing of all evidence before a jury which can be got ; with or without oaths makes little difference; the Jury and the Judge, too, are com petent to sift its value. It is quite easy from the manner of witnesses, from the results of cross examination, and from accordance or discrepancy with other testimony, to judge of the value of un sworn evidence—and it is for those who have to decide in regard to the fact to have everything before them. Evidence, even, which we cannot altogether or at all believe, may yet afford a clue to better evidence. One thing we hold to be clear —infidels are Englishmen—they pay taxes—they must obey the law, and if the laws will not protect them, it must be made to do so. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen, accompanied by Priticess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse, walked in the grounds of the Castle this morning, attended by the maids of Honour in Waiting. Prince Louis skated on the ice in the Home Park. The Prince Consort, with the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, and the Prince of Leiningen, west out shooting, attended by Major-General Seymour and Lieut.-Colonel Keprel. Prince Arthur skated on the ice, attended by Major Elphinstone, R.E. His Excellency the Sardinian Minister has left town on a visit to Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, at Broadlands. Viscountess Stratford de Redcliffe and the Hon. Misses Canning have returned to Grosvenor-square from visiting Lady Margaret Beaumont, at Bywell Hall, New castle-on-Tyne, The Lord Chancellor's Vicarage of Nusson, near Bawtry, Nottinghamshire, has become vacant by the death of the Rev. Wm. Thorp, M.A., of Jesus College, Cam bridge. The benefice is worth £360 a year. CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.— Monday, Dec. 24.—Admissions on payment, 10,244 ; ditto by season tickets, 2,175.—T0tal visitors, 12,419. THE GREAT EASTERN.—The required repairs of this vessel, now lying securely and snugly on the beach at Milford Haven, have been commenced, and are vigorously being carried on under the efficient superintendence of Cap tain Jackson, of the firm of Ford and Jackson. They will be completed early in the spring of the ensuing year. THE REPRESENTATION OF ABERDEENSHIRE.— The Aberdeen Free Press says—" There are two candidates, if not both formally, yet to all intents and purposes, in the field. Both Sir A. Bannerman and Mr. Leslie (of Warthill) are organising the machinery for an active canvass of the county, and the address of the former has been issued. Mr. Leslie starts in the Conservative interest, and Sir A. Bannerman comes forward as a Palmerstonian. There has been some talk about the likelihood of one of the brothers of our late member coming forward. As party distinctions are now very much broken down, so proportionately, a$ least, we should hope, would pressure—particularly of landlords on tenants—be abated. We have, however, just learned with some surprise that a certain noble lord has already issued a circular to his tenantry in this quarter— not, of course, `dictating' to them how they should vote, but intimating that he is a Conservative, and that this is a time when there being so much false liberalism abroad every good man and true should rally round the ' institu tions of the country.' Now, the noble to whom we refer may personally, or in what he deems the interest of his order, have a very great horror of John Bright. Still, 'we think, such a use of the influence of his position is a little too strong for these days, and such as make people rather desire to see measures carried calculated to abate the power that can wield it." _ _ FlRES.—Yesterday and last night a great many fires occurred in different parts of the metropolis. The most serious was at Mr. Groves's, wheelwright, Abbey street, Bermondsey, whose premises were completely destroyed. THE LAW AND EQUITY COURTS_ yesterday the offices of the common law courts were closed until Satur day, and with the exception of the Court of Queen's Bench, the courts stand adjourned until the commencement of term. The Court of Queen's Bench will sit to-morrow (Wednesdays to conclude the case, " Stokes v. the Eastern Counties Railway Company," and on its rising will be adjourned until term, which begins on the 11th proximo. The equity courts adjourned on Saturday, and the offices were closed until the 7th January. The courts will not open before them. The Divorce Court has also closed its sittings until term. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—It appears that the directors of this company intend to recom mend to the shareholders that the vacancy caused by tho death of the late Mr. Uzielli should be filled up at the ordinary meeting of the company in February next. As 30 days' notice prior to the meeting is required to be given by candidates for the office of director, shareholders who may wish to become candidates will have ample time to give the requisite notice prior to the meeting, which it is understood will be held on the 14th of February next. THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The parties engaged in the herring fishery off the eastern coast are now " making up" and congratulating themselves on the success which has attended their vigorous labours. It is estimated that the boats connected with Great Yarmouth have taken 8,000 to 10,000 lasts, or the enormous number of 100,000,000 fish. The sum thus obtained by each boat has been from £4OO to £l,OOO, and all taken above £5OO per boat is regarded as profit. At Lowestoft equally encouraging results have been obtained, the value of the fish caught being estimated at £50,000, one boat alone having taken 1,000,000 fish. The fishermen are paid according to the success which follow their exertions, and some of them will have £3O, £4O, and even £5O, to receive at tho hands of their employers. -WEIGHING A THEFT.—A citizen missed two pounds of fresh butter, which was to be reserved for him self. The maid, however, had not only stolen it, but fas tened the theft upon the cat, av-Jrring. moreover, that she caught her in the act of devouring the last morsel. The wily cit immediately put the kitten into the scales, and found it to weigh but a pound and a half. This city mode of accurate reasoning being quite conclusive, the girl con fessed her crime.—American paper. THE FROST IN BRISTOL.—The temperature of the air 101 l to 17.0 on the 21st, reaching a maximum of 3233 in the day. On the 22d a wave of warmer air mod.- rated the frost, and the thermometer, four feet above the soil, did not descend lower th.an 27.4. It remained, how ever, during that day in 'a nearly stationary condition, the maximum not being above 32.8. On Sunday another start was made, the ni;:nimum attained being again low (19 . 7). The mercury in the barometer has continued to fall. The maximum temperature for the week ending the 22d was 42 . 3 ou he 16th, and the minimum, 17.0 on tb.e 21st. How TO BRING DOWN RAIN.--Jr. Weeks, of Sandwich, writes as follows to Mr. Howell, who, at the British Association, suggested the possibility of bringing down rain from the clouds at pleasure :—" I have from very early life been an assiduous experimenter with electric kites, atmospheric exploring wires, &c. Now I beg to assure you that it has several times happened that when my kite has been raised immediately under a distended, light, fleecy cloud, at a moderate elevation, a free current of sparks has passed from the apparatus during some 10 or 12 minutes. I h ave su dd en ly f oun d m y se lf bedewed with a descent of line misty rain; and, on looking up, have seen the cloud up on w hi c h I was o p era ti ng sur p r isingly reduced iu maguitude,"-2he a rn N • THE PEACE WITH CHINA. FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 24. The following telegram was received at the Foreign-office, via Trieste, at 7.30 p.m., from her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General at Alexandria dated Dec. 18 : Mr. Loch has arrived, with despatches from China, and leaves this day for Malta. The ratification of the treaty of Tientsin was exchanged, and convention of Pekin signed October 24. The English and French ambassadors took up their residence in the capital, and would remain there till Nov. 9. The French army retired from Pekin on the Ist of November. The English would remain till the ambassadors left. A large force is still to remain at Tientsin till ,reaty conditions be fulfilled. Principal clauses :—Apology from Emperor for the affair of Peiho last year ; ministers to reside at Pekin ; indemnity fixed to be doubled; Tientsin to be opened to trade immediately ; emigration allowed ; Kowloon ceded to British crown ; treaty of Tientsin and convention of Pekin to be put in immediate operation, and to be published through out the empire. Palaces of Yeun-min-Yuen have been entirely burnt to the ground by British force. Bodies of the prisoners who died in the hands of the Chinese brought in and buried with hone ars, in the Russian cemetery, on Oct. 17. Captain Brabazon and Abbe Luc beheaded on or about Sept. 21, after the battle of Pah-li-chow; bodies not recovered. Indemnities expected from Chinese for families of deceased. English and French Ministers left Shanghae for Tientsin. Major Anson has arrived charged with despatches from Sir Hope Grant for War-office, and leaves this day. Trieste, December 24, 1860. (Signed) H. RAVEN. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) PEKIN, OCT. 31. The treaty of Tientsin was ratified and the con vention signed here on the 24th October, by Lord Elgin and Prince Hung. The same formalities were gone through with Baron Gros on the following day. The indemnity to be paid by the Chinese has been fixed at 8,000,000 taels in all. The following is a summary of the convention : In Article 1 the Emperor regrets the misunder. standing at the Taku Forts last year. Art. 2 stipulates that a British Minister shall reside at Pekin, Art. 3 arranges the payment of the indemnity by instalments. Art. 4 opens the port of Tientsin to trade. Art. 5 removes the interdict on emigration. Art. 6 cedes Cowloon to the British Crown. Art. 7 provides for the immediate operation of the treaty of Tientsin. Art, 8 orders the promulgation of the treaty throughout China. Art. 9. stipulates the evacuation of Chtisan by the British force. The allied armies are to leave Pekin on the Bth November. It is reported that the Ist Royals, the 87th, the Queen's, the Buffs, and the Marines proceed to England. Lord Elgin resides in Pekin. The Emperor is at Zhehol, in Tartary. Bowlby, de Normann, and Anderson have been buried with great solemnity, Brabazon was beheaded about the 21st of Sep- tember. The Abbe de Lue also met with the same fate. The sum of £lOO,OOO has been exacted for the families of the British officers who have been murdered. The summer palace of the Emperor was burnt by the British on Oct. 18. SHANGHAI, Nov. 8. The insurgents are still levying tribute in various places and are menacing Ningp. NAPLES, DEC. 24 (ETENTNG). The King has held a reception of the nobility of the Court, which was very numerously attended. An enthusiastic demonstration in favour of his Majesty took place in the evening. The King will leave Naples on Thursday next, after having assisted at the ball of the National Guard. Farini is about to publish the communal law for Naples. The state of the provinces is very satisfactory. The news from Rome is of an alarming character. The Kennard and the Ballcras, which left Naples for the Roman States, were not allowed to land their passengers at Civita Vecchia, the pretext being that 6,000 Garibaldians were on board. Against this Mr. Odo Russell has protested. Lacaita has arrived at Naples. It is said that a decree is in course of prepara tion ordering an extraordinary levy of men between 18 and 55 years of age. GAETA, DEC. 18. An enormous quantity of shells and shot were thrown into Gaeta yesterday by the Sardinians. Some of them fell into the garden of the palace where the King and Queen were dining with the Spanish Ambassador. The bombardment has since slackened, and the damage caused in the town is not considerable. The King has received a letter from the Emperor Napoleon. In this letter the Emperor expresses his sympathy for the King, but tells him that he has carried on the siege long enough for his honour. The King, in his reply, thanked the Emperor, but added that he considered it his duty to persist in the defence. PESTH, DEc. 24. The appointments of the members of the Gover norship Council for Hungary have arrived here from Vienna. Count Ladislausliorolyi is appointed Vice-Presi dent of the Council. Court Councillor Szalay has been appointed Director of the Chancery. The councillors are to enter upon their duties on the 2d of January next, when the present offices of the governorship will be abolished. The circular of Baron von Schmerling has created a great sensation. BONN, DEC, 24. Judgment has been pronounced in the affair of Mr. Macdonald. The defendants Baddeley, Rapp, Washington, Rochfort Thurston, and Oldfield, were acquitted; P erry, Anderson, Cumberland, and Drummond were found guilty, with extenuating circumstances, of having committed an offence against the State. Procurateur Moller while in the performance of his official duties. The extenuating circumstances were declared to apply in a less degree in the case of Parry, who was fined 100 thalers, or five weeks' imprisonment , in default. The other three were fined 25 thalers each, 0 nine days' imprisonment in default. 111. DE MORNY AND TrIE ROMAN RAIL WAYS. PARIS, DEC. 24. Speculators, stock-jobbers, and the commercial public generally have been much taken up with occurrences which took place towards the close of the last week and the whole of this, and which have brought the name of M. Mires, the contractor for the Turkish loan, prominently forward. I have refrained from alluding to the subject until now, from an unwillingness to meddle with the internal affairs of a private firm so long as these affairs did not come in some official or tangible form before the public. As these matters will probably give rise to some inquiry in the approaching session of the Legislative Corps, and as they have been made the topic of frequent discussion in the Cabinet Councils, and have assumed a constitutional and legal character, it is impossible to pass them over any longer in silence. From the different versions that circulate it would appear that M. Pontalba, who is well known in Parisian society, had various transactions with M. Mires in the Roman Railways, of which the latter u the director. Those transactions were very ex tensive, and no doubt promised to be highly advan tageous to all the parties concerned had they con tinued to act together throughout. A rupture, however, took place, for what reason or on what grounds I am not so accurately informed ; but the consequence was that a claim was made by M. Mires on M. Pontalba to the amount Of 1,500,000 f. or 1,600,000 f., or between £60,000 and £70,000, and an immediate settlement demanded. The justice of the claim was disputed in whole or in part, and M, Pontalba met it by certain charges, which he drew up in due form, and placed in the kends of the Procureur. A summons was issued to M. Mires to appear before the Juge d'lnstruction. The summons was complied with ; he appeared, but declined to answer the questions put to him. The affair having assumed a form other than a merely private transaction, an attempt was made to settle the difference between the parties, and through, 1 believe, the instrumentality of M. Periere, I‘l. Mires either greatly reduced or withdrew altogether his demand on M. Pontalba. The matter having been formally brought before the law officers of the Crown, it was judged that whatever settlement may have been come to between the parties, it should not and could not be held to stay proceedings that had already commenced with the Juge d'lnstruc tion. The affair was brought before the Council of Ministers on Saturday last, and discussed in pre sence of the Emperor, who presided. Some of the Ministers, and two or three legal authorities, alleged that no authority could stop the regular course of justice, and that a private arrangement should not act as a bar. No Government in France hsd so interfered since Napoleon 1., who quashed the decision of a Court in 1810, but the effect on the public mind was such that even he never ventured to repeat the usurpation. The Mini sters who took this view did not pretend to prejudge the question, but they demanded that out of defer ence to any private influence the regular course of law should not be arrested. No decision was come to on that occasion. The next day or the day after a person deeply interested for one of the parties had, it is said, an audience of the Emperor, and let it be understood that if matters were pushed to an eX' treme the party attacked would be compelled, ill self-defence, to make public certain facts which would show the participation in these and other transactions of certain' persons who fill very high offices in the State. The question whether the law officers of the Growl ), should be ordered to desist from proceeding further with the matter has twice or thrice been before the Cabinet during the present week, and among those who demonstrated the illegality of staying pro' ceedings on the ground of private arrangement* Messrs. Baroche, Delangle, and Rouher—the first President of the Council of State, with a seat in the Cabinet, the second Minister of Justice, and both first-rate lawyers, and the last Minister of Public Works—are said to be prominent. Another Cabinet Council was held yesterday, but I am unable to state whether any decision was come to. The person whose beneficent action is said to be felt in this as well as other matters of the kind is M. de Morny. It is possible that his intervention in so many enterprises, great and small, which held out advantage to the projectors, is founded on the best motives,—it may be, pure benevolenoe, and desire to promote the happiness of mankind in general, and of the French people in particular; but the fact is that there is hardly anything too vast or two minute for his watchful care. It 1 0 like the trunk of the elephant, which can pick a pin from the ground or lift a cannon. No one is A prophet in his own country, and unfortunately, the generation with which M. de Morny's lot is cast he not so deeply convinced as he himself and his corn' panions are of the sincerity of his benevolence, or of the immense advantage of his schemes to the country or to the Imperial government. If the Emperor has any doubt on this subject (and it is difficult to suppose he has), he may ask his Minis - ters what their opinion is of the influence which the public is led to believe sweeps everything before it. He may ask the senators what are the whisper' ings in the Luxembourg, or the rumours and mur' mure heard in the committee-rooms, and on the benches under the President's chair, in the ante' chambers of the Palace, and in the very Council room where the Ministers meet to deliberate. And let the Prefect be called upon to repeat what is brought him by his agents of the remarks current in the workshops of the faubourg. He will hear much of that one grasping influence which beats down all others, before which everyone quails , of the things which that influence is used t o pro mote, of the belief that the protection of one is in' dispensable to the success of every project or specu lation, great or small, legitimate or otherwise, and of the astonishment of the public how the Emperor 'e naturally strong mind seems to recoil before the man who carries almost everything before him. Several members of`the Senate and Legislativ e Corps are of opinion that such things should ne t a ny longer go.on without an attempt to check them' and that the authority of the Government and the prestige of the Sovereign ought not to be lowered 11 public estimati on , even t o sa ti s fy M. de Morny an d his coterie. They regard the decree of the 24th 0 ; November as seriously meant, and they are resolved to make the experiment. In virtue of that decree, they may in the debate on the Address treat ?l topics connected not only with foreign but domestic policy. Domestic policy is comprehensive enough to embrace many objects; and information wi ll probably be asked as to the manner in which th e interests of the public, in an industrial and comma' vial point of view, have been cared for in several' recent transactions. The press will, of course, ne, be prevented from commenting upon what p asev i I merely echo the general opinion in saying till neither decrees, nor reforms, nor concessions, viPO have their due weight with the public, so long L a e one fatal influence predominates. Even und er Restoration, the Soverei g n could overcome his ap e % or postpone his private feelings to the just dem o n )f his people. When the intrigues of the ultr a Royalist party—very different, after all, from th°! / now in question—disturbed the legitimate action u) Government, excited the hostility of the Chamber:: and scandalised the public, Louis XVI II. did 13 hesitate to remove his own brother, the Collo; l'Artois, from the command in chief of the Nation_e. Guard on the requisition of his Ministe r, the Dux' Decazes. p r o r N t ' need cwoimthminertchiaellassttawteeeokf. France proved within the last week. Letters rheeaesivnedotfriol froth the provincial markets state t hat there has beene 'nanifestf'al is lin r g en off ia i r n ke t d, the amounthowever, tbusin ess Feted. It ret a e t sealers are those who complain most. The ',v e fficial Custom returns confirm this unfavoura u . 4 tatement. The falling off in the Customs' dut l : o luring the 11 mon ths of the present year,l:l compared with the two preceding y ea rs, is olu greater than was anticipated. 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