The Sun. — London, England, 1858-12-25 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT by all the sinews of war, and crowned with the GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa glory and the glamour of many, recent victories. Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison On MONDAY EVENING will be presented an entirely Simultaneously with the success achieved by our ew and original romantic Opera, by Mr. W. Balfe, entitled SA-TANELLA ; or, THE POWER OF LOVE . diplomacy and by our arme d f orces, both military Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. and maritime, in the uttermost extremities To conclude with the new Pantomime of LITTLE RED • RIDING HOOD ; or, Harlequin and the Wolf in Granny's of the Eastern hemisphere —comes to us in Clothing. 1858 the promise, and not only the promise, but as we may reasonably term it the substantial gua rantee of a grand and remarkable achievement in an exactly opposite direction, namely, at the extremity of the western hemisphere. The costa blishment, that is to say upon the opposite shores ' of North America, along the sea-board of that great continent upon the Pacific Ocean, of a new and splendid colony—notable, henceforth, as the colony of British Columbia—the energies of which .working in-land towards the opposite colony upon the Atlantic coast of North America, the twin colony of the Canadas, will lead at last by inevitable necessity to the opening up of the fruitful, but yet wholly uncultivated, regions known hitherto only as the haunt of the wild beast and the furtrapper, under the same style and title of the Hudson's Bay Company's Terri tories. So that the year marked by the extinc tion of the East India Company's monopoly in Asia has been further illustrated is the deve lopment of our imperial resources, by the promise of the eventual extinction (probably in 1859), of the companion monopoly, that by which the Hudson's Bay Company has :for two hundred years, closed against the Anglo-Saxon race a vast portion of the great northern American continent. Memorable, in this way, by the triumphs won by us both in the Eastern and Western hemisphere -1858 will for ever be regarded as a year peculiarly deserving of remembrance in the history of science and civilisation, by the glorious incident demon strative of the fact that, by an electric thread of metal, trailing under the depths of the Atlantic ocean, these two hemispheres can be brought together —lreland and Newfoundland, Europe and Ame rica talking to each other in the twinkling of an eye by means of the subtle thrills of electricity along those 2,000 miles of submerged cable. The temporary interruption of this mystical and all but miraculous intercourse has only delayed for a time the enjoyment of the advantages that must accrue to the world at large from the establishment of the practicability of this sublime achievement. That one grand feat—the successful submergence of the Atlantic cable--would be sufficient to render this wonderful year of 1858 distinguishable among its predecessors. Together with all the foregoing achievements of 1858, however, are there not within the scope of comparatively recent recollection a variety of events and incidents specially deserving, at this moment, of satisfactory remembrance ? Miscellaneous oc currences of the most diversified character, each of which it is impossible to recal to mind without some degree, more or less vivid, of really unaffected gratification. From the happy marriage, in the' spring, of England's Eldest Daughter gathering in at last, in this recent autumn, of vintage unknown for years and years past, unpre cedented, in fact, by a curious coincidence, for abun. ante and general excellence since 181 I—a year memorable, like that of 1858, as one in which a great comet was for many successive weeks flaming resplendently in the heavens. The catalogue of the happy events of all kinds marking 1858 will add largely indeed, and very notably, to the world's chronology. Glancing down that catalogue, how ever cursorily, we cannot, as a nation, but recall to mind upon this Christmas-day the events of this year of grace last past, with a sense of profound gratitude to the beneficence and wisdom of Divine Commence at Seven, ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. On MONDAY EvENING next will be presented THE JEALOUS WIFE. Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE KING OF THE CASTLE; or, Harlequin Pri nce Diamond and Princess Brighteyes. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. On MONDAY EVENING, Dec. 27, the performances will be performed SHE STOOPS TO COWQUER. Messrs. Bnckstone, Chippendale; Mesda mes R eynolds and Poynter. After which, a new grand Comic Pantomime, entitled ; or, Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager. Mr. Edmund Falconer, A MORNING PERFORMANCE on MONDAY (Boxing day), Dec. 27, when will be produced a new Burlesque, written expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Brough, and entitled THE SIEGE OF TROY. The new and gor geous scenery by Mr. William Callcott. The principal cha racters by Mrs. Keeley, Miss Julia St. George, Mrs. Weston, Miss Portman, Miss Talbot, Miss Kate Saxon, Miss E. Romer, ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. .1. Rogers, Mr. Barrett, &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. Henry Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. To commence at two o'clock precisely ; doors open at half past one. The Performanees will commence on Friday, Monday and Tuesday with the Comedietta of TOO MU C K' FOR G OOD NATURE. Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Stalls, fis. ; Gallery, Is. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at hall-past 6, to commence at 7 every evening. - ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke. On MONDAY, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA ; er, The Fugitives and their Faith ful Steed. After which SCENES IN THE ARENA, istroducing Mr. W. Cooke, and his beautiful horses, Mr. Runnels, Madame Blanche, Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Fleurette, and the finest troupe of equestrians in the kingdom. Te conclude with a famous, magnificent, and matchless Christmas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUNCHAUSEN ; or, The King of the Pumpkins, unprece dented for comicality and splendour. Two Performances of the Pantomime on Boxing-day, viz., at Two and Seven o'clock. Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 25, ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, fid. ;o the Providence. It is quite needless for the Times to go across the Channel, or the Atlantic, for illustrations of the ins - possibility of working Democratic institutions in England. Its own columns will furnish one, and will show too that Democracy must ever seek relief, as Mr. BUCHANNAN expresses it, under the shade of "Despotism. The most democratic of our institutions , one democratic in name as well as in fact, is in danger of surrendering its liberty, because, like our neighbours over the water it has abused it till the public safety is in danger; and the aid of despotism will be invoked, became those who put forward not only " the many," but literally the whole com munity as their object, quarrel who shall serve the said community, till the poor community is likely to get the worst of it in the fierce struggles of its benefactors. Whether " the Constitution " be for all, or primarily for ten-pound householders and fifty pound tenants-at-will, we must leave Mr. BRIGHT and the Times to settle; but it is no fiction that the Omnibus is for all. It is constructed for all, it hails all, it admits to a seat, on the payment of twopence, fourpence, sixpence, and occasionally double the last sum, all residents in the United Kingdom. It is supported not only by universal or manhood suffrage, but by female and childhood suffrage too. It knows nothing of privilege. If Lord DERBY should condescend to ride in one, the cobbler would not yield him priority of choice, and if his Countess should step in, her milliner's assist ant would retain the best seat in the 'bus, if she had taken it. There is, however, one take off from such irrational Democracy. It will not work, it never will work, and we see, now as ever, that the Omnibus "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," is altogether by the ears, and that Sir RICHARD MAYNE and an Act of Parliament are talked of as the only hope for our omnibuses. Our readers may have seen that the grand in quiry before Mr. PAYNTER has been renewed this week, and apparently brought to a premature close. It is now hoped that arbitration may'do something, though the very parties who indulge this hope seem to think that an act of Parliament will yet be ne cessary. The general case, almost every one of us who walks or rides in the streets of London, knows just as well without legal inquiry and columns of evidence, as we can do by their aid. We have all of us seen the " nursing," and laughed or been wroth, according to the temperament of the mo ment. We never laughed, however, if we were about to enter the tenderly-cared-for 'bus, and found our ears assailed by the oaths and curses of quarrelling conductors, and our head or shoulders, perhaps our honour itself, threatened by the pole and horses of the nurse behind. This said nursing must be a very effective system, but we should think rather an expensive one ; otherwise we might have recommended it to Lord MALMESBURY as a solution of the great American Flag difficulty. Put a man-of-war before and another behind a slaver, which, appropriately enough, hoists the flag of the great Sl ave R epu b l i c, and she would find some dif ficulty in getting her complement of black passen gers. She certainly would, if res nautiece per mitted the men-of-war to keep as close a-head and a-stern of her, as do the nursing omni buses in th e Very busiest thoroughfares of London. Expense, however, is nothing to the chancellor of the exchequer of a great omni bus company. When he meets his house of shareholders he can easily persuade them that the outlay piece of most prud en t f oresight ; and then,m asr. a BRIGHT'S pacific hopes f rom an extended w suffrage notwithstanding, he knows that be can at least appeal from the pockets to the pugnacity of Stage Manager, Mr. B. Phillips. THE WEATHER.—Surr OFFICE, DEc. 25. THERMOMETER, TN THE SHADE. 49—highest Since noon yesterday. 42—lowest this morning and during he night. 48—this day at noon. THE SUN. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 25, 1858. Christmas-day happily comes to us this year without a Ministerial crisis, and with very many of our past troubles, both foreign and domestic, brought long since to a satisfactory termination• Wars have ceased--insurrections have been sup pressed—alliances have been confirmed. There is general tranquillity among the nations of Christen dom. Industry is no longer paralysed by a com mercial crisis. The finances of the country no longer threaten an inevitable deficiency. Thera is really at last a tolerable certainty before us, in the next session of the Legislature, that comprehensive reforms will at last be applied in earnest to the reorganisation of the Imperial Parliament. The retrospect, altogether, for the past twelve month furnishes us with many a remarkable sub ject for grateful exultation. Recollect how many extraordinary events have to be crowded together in the record of 1858—events of the utmost im portance not only to the British Empire, but that sublime cause with which the interests of this empire are directly identified, the cause of modern Civilisation. The insulation from the rest of th© world of a power comprising within it, as the aggre gate number of its inhabitants, a third of the entire population of this globe, has, at length, in 1858, been ended after the lapse of thirty cen turies China is henceforth open to the outer barbarians. Within the Chinese dominions Chris tianity is now, for the first time since the epoch of the Redemption, to be respected. Missionaries are no longer to expect martyrdom as the one inexo rable result of their labours in China. The arma ments of France and Spain are at this moment preparing the way in Cochin China for the recog nition there also of the same high principle of religious toleration. Another secluded race has recently, moreover, in those_ eastern seas, thrown down, after the lapse of hundreds and hundreds of years, the bar riers separating them entirely from the rest of the human family. Relations have in 1858 been established between the empire of Japan and the chief Powers of Christendom. In Hindostan, again, the Sepoy insurrection has not only been effectually suppressed during this same year of grace 1858, but British rule there within the same memorable interval has been permanently and triumphantly conoslidated. An Oriental pearl of priceless value has been added to the symbolical jewels in the diadem of the British Sovereign— YIeTORIA, by the grace of GOD, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the colo nies and dependencies thereof in Europe, Asia,• Africa, America, and Australasia, h as assumed in Indi a the place hithe r t o occup i ed by that great conquering, company of mer chants—that H.E.1.C., whose initials will now remain emblazoned upon ou r annals only as a glorious memento of their rul e , and with the splendour of which must henceforth contin ue for the most part merely traditional. The Royal Proclamation announcing the new order of things to a Hindoo population of from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000, moreover, has been welcomed but very recently by that vast multitude with an unaffected enthusiasm, proving the happ iest auguries as to the f u t ure awa i t i ng the reorganised Anglo-Indian Government. Insomuch that the tranquillity of India, from the Himalayas to Cape Commorin, from the mouths of the Indus to the mouths of the Burhampooter is recognised as resting now more upon the loyal devotion of the people than upon the bayonets of an army of very nearly 100,000 Europeans, disciplined to battle CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor --C. MORTON. The public is most respectflly informed that the Frivz ARTS GALLERY, in connection u witk the above Hall, IS NOW OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec tion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters • and is also devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist ing Music 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 ant Eleven o'clock. BAROMETER -29,68, WIND, South-Westerly; light, with•finn morning, and wet afternoon. ' s ,"'' - -, ~'.(., • V '. 'tr:,,, '''--p,,. ''' v iik.. .,;: i c e ~, ),-?, _ • .., -a. 4--- %Ple- ' i t: .5. ..4. 'ir ' 67 , a bo:Alk1 ;/. E -44 ., 4 Nct '..,,z-,,. . .. N , ti -0 , r•,,os_ _Jr. - 0 . -DRorr l'• —. .._ _ - ...•;'*i10a..1 N t r- A." a_ his countrymen, and obtain indemnity for dimi nished dividends by the cry, " Beat them and put them down we will." Whether the charge 'of conspiracy could be made out in the legal sense or not, it is not for us to decide. We suppose the attempt to prove it is now abandoned. That the thin charged was done—that the Saloon' Company's omnibuses were " nursed" by those of the London General Omnibus Company, the evidence, so far as given, seemed to prove conclusively. Indeed, the evidence could be needed for formal purposes only. The object, how ever, in order to prove conspiracy, was to connect the managers of the great company with the deeds of their servants. In this respect the evidence seemed to bear hard upon some of them ; and, in so far, it only confirmed the impression which every one must receive from seeing the servants of any employer publicly and regularly pursuing a course of which it were absurd to suppose the em ployers could be ignorant. Probably, apart from prejudicing themselves in their legal position, the masters of these " nurses" would boast of what they did in their own circles, and be only too well pleased to be able to add, that they had nursed the objects of their solicitude to death. One thing is certain—the nursing system must be, and will be, put down. The magistrates be fore whom such charges have been brought are agreed, as they ought to be, that they will deal severely with the nurses if they cannot reach the companies whom they serve. Let the omnibuses compete as much as they please in furnishing good accommodation and civil conductors, in keeping well their time and lowering their fares, and doing everything else that may render their omnibuses attractive ; but the public will not tolerate any dic tation as to which omnibus it shall use, and much less being driven from the door of one, which has been hailed, by a rival making it dangerous to enter. We shall not enter into any discussion of the merits of one company's or another's omnibuses ; we have already acknowledged that the new company did lead the way in considerably improving these vehicles, and the old companies are following its lead. But we shall insist upon the right of getting unmolested into any omnibus which suits us, whether it be one, indeed, fitted up like a saloon, or be one of the most ricketty old waggons in the metropolis. As to what an Act of Parliament can do, we are not so sure. Perhaps the best thing it can do is to give large powers to the magistrates in the way of conviction and punishment for such interference with rivals as at all annoys the public. Nothing limiting the number which shall run on any par ticular line can be allowed; that would of course confer a monopoly on those who first obtained the line. It does, however, seem practicable to force the companies to compete, as all other rival com panies must, by the quality or cheapness of the article they offer.to the public—not by making it dangerous or inconvenient to use the article pro vided by their rivals. RAILWAYS. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1858. A letter from Schwerin, in the Duchy of Meck lenburg-Schwerin, states that notwithstanding the failure of the recent conference to come to an un derstanding for the reduction of the tolls on the Elbe, Prussia and Austria have entered into diplo matic negotiations with Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Denmark to obtain the realisation of that object. A correspondent from Copenhagen, the 20th, says :—" M. de Levetzan, who was royal commis sioner in Holstein in 1857, will fill the same post:at Itzehoe, where the Diet opens in a fortnight ; the report of his having declined the honour is un founded. An important pamphlet has appeared on the constitutional relations of the Danish mo narchy and the Germano-Danish struggle,' from the pen of M. Raaslif, a member of the first Scheele-Hall ministry of Schleswick. M. Scheele himself has been on a visit to the King for three weeks, a circumstance which has given rise to un founded rumours of intrigues and a probable minis terial crisis. The weather, after having been very mild until the night of the 17th, changed, and there was a sharp frost. The Diet of the kingdom will close before Christmas, although a number of bills remain undisposed of. SPIRIT-RAPPERS DISTURBING A CONGREGATION. of the immense resources possessed by Spain and France will be the more rapid and tho more effi cacious when accomplished with the constant accord of the two governments and the close union of the two nations. It is towards the realisation of this great and fruitful idea that my efforts will be con stantly directed. I venture to hope that the august kindness of your Majesty will deign to encourage them." Her Majesty replied :- 1 " Monsieur l'Ambassadeur—l receive with the mostly lively satisfaction the letters by which the Emperor of the French accredits you as his ambas sador near my person. I see with pleasure reiterated the desires which his Imperial Majesty has constantly manifested to me to strengthen the bonds of friendship and of good neighbourhood which happily unite two nations who have so many reasons for feeling reciprocal esteem. Ani mated by the deep conviction that the close union of the two nations and harmony between their Governments must powerfully contribute to the rapid development of their immense resources, I shall neglect nothing to secure them. The time, the civilisation, and the position of the two countries render the realisation of such noble and exalted views very easy. Be assured, M. l'Ambassadeur, that you will find in my Government the most friendly dispositions to facilitate you in the accom plishment of the important mission which your august Sovereign has confided to you. The qualities which distinguish you, and the honourable antece dents which I am pleased to recognise in you, will contribute to the realisation of so interesting an object, and will give you a right to my g rea t es t kindness." The ambassador then delivered the letters from the Emperor into her Majesty's hand, and after having had an interview with the King, was conveyed back to the embassy with the same ceremonial as attended his arrival at the palace. On the same day, M. Barrot paid a visit to Marshal O'Donnell, President of the Council, and M. Calderon Col ludes, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Gazette also contains a royal decree enacting that a cathe dral in honour of the Immaculate Conception shall be built in the capital. The Senate had again been occupied an entire day in a debate on the address on the Queen's speech, and had again adjourned the discussion. The only point of in terest in the debate was that M. Pacheco, a Mode redo ex-Minister, had declared that he would support the Cabinet, because he believed that for the present neither the Moderadoes nor the Progressists are capable of carrying on the Government. The Monarquia, an Absolutist journal, had been fined 20,000 reals for a seditious libel. A telegraghic despatch, mentioning what the President of the United States had said in his message on the subject of Cuba, had created some sensation. The .Espana expresses the opinion that his proposition to purchase that island ought not to be regarded seriously, inasmuch as it is pro bably only made to catch popular applause, and to obtain re-election. A somewhat extensive decline had taken place all over the country in the price of wheat. According to advices from Vienna, the projected voyage of Prince Danilo, of Montenegro, to Paris, is to be postponed until the spring, when it is expected he hopes to meet the Emperor Alexander there. Meantime, he has just given his subjects a Code Danilo, which contains in 30 pages and 95 articles the whole of the Montenegrin Corpus Juris viz., the civil, penal, ecclesiastical, and political codes. It cannot be said, at least, that the inhabi tants of the Black Mountain are likely to lose them- selves in the labyrinth of their laws. MR. CHARLES DICKENS. Mr. Dickens reads again on Monday and on Twelfth-night. COURT CIRCULAR. WIND, Y. There was no additi on t o her Majesty's SOR dinner FRIDA party yesterday. The Queen, with Prince Arthur and Princess Louisa, walked in the Home Park this morning, and visited the Princess of Leiningen at Frogmore. His Royal Highness the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales went out shooting. Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar and the Prince of Leiningen, accompanied his Royal Highness. Lord Chamberlain's-office, Dec. 24. Notice is hereby given that th e St ate apartments of Windsor Castle will be closed to the public after this day, until further orders. A deputation, consisting of Dr. Babington, P.R.S., Pre sident of the Epidemological Society ; ''Dr. M‘Williara, C. 8., P.R.S., Hon. Secretary of the Society; Dr. Seaton, Hon. Secretary of the Small-pox and Vaccination Com mittee ; Dr. W. Camps, and Mr. Marsons, had an inter view with the Lord President of the Council, yesterday, at the Privy Council-office. The marriage of the Hon. Miss Byng, eldest daughter of Viscount :Enfield, with Captain H. Hylton Jolliffe, M.P., son of Sir Wm. G. Hylton Jolliffe, M.P., is appointed to be solemnised on Thursday next. 'A marriage is announced to take place shortly between Capt. Charles George Tottenham, Scots Fusilier Guards, eldest son of Mr. Charles Tottenham, M.P., of Ballycurry House, county of Wicklow, and of New Ross, county of Wexford, and Miss Catherine E. Stapleton, eldest daughter of the Hon. and Rev. Sir Francis J. Stapleton, Bart., of Mereworth Rectory, Kent. His Excellency the Baron Bentinck has returned to town from a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, at Hatfield House. The Duchess (Dow.) of Cleveland, we are in formed, continues in a weak state of health at Newton House, Yorkshire. The Earl , and Countess of Jersey have removed from Middleton Park, Bicester, to Selby Hall, the seat of the Hon. Frederick and Lady Elizabeth Villiers, in North amptonshire, to pass a few weeks in retirement. The Earl of Carnarvon left town yesterday for Highclere, his seat in Wilts, for the Christmas holidays. The Earl and Countess of Norbury have left Claridge's Hotel for Valence, Westerham, Kent. The Countess Castellac and family have left the Brunswick Hotel for Paris; Count d'Alton Shee has re. turned to the same establishment. Gen. Sir Harry and Lady Jones have arrived at Farrance's Hotel, Belgravia, from Sandhurst: The Right Hon. Frederick and Mrs. Peel passed through town yesterday, from Hampton Park, Warwick shire, for Avington, on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Shelley. Col. Edward A. Somerset, C. 8., who retired from the Rifle Brigade last week, is about to enter on the duties of Assistant Quartermaster -General of the South-Western Distric Great excitement was produced at the convent to which Mercadante has retired for the last three years by the arrival of the telegraphic message from Calzado, which announced the succes of "Il Giuramento " in Paris. The holy brothers, roused from their slumbers by the event, deemed that nothing short of the death of the Pope could have occasioned anxiety great enough to warrant a special messenger, and already was the whole convent repairing to the chapel, when the real fact was announced, creative of disgust and pity, rath er than awe and sorrow.—Court Journal. An English girl, of good fortune, who has long lived in Paris, was about to be married to a young French advocate of great renown and immense popularity at the present moment. The young man, being rather nervous about the qu'en diia-t-on, imposed, however, as condition, that the mother of the bride elect, an English lady well known in Paris and London, should bind herself to the adoption of one single colour in her dress, leaving the same to her own choice, scarlet and yellow excepted. The lady, however, being of independent character, and addicted to all the colours, has peremptorily refused the terms pro posed, and the marriage is broken off in consequence. The gaily-attired matron hto just left Paris for Heidelbert, where she intends to reside for the future.—Court Journal. After a three months' provincial tour of the most unparalleled success, succeeded by a short respite, Mr. Dickens last night again addressed a metropo litan audience at St. Martin's-hall. The building, which has been thoroughly renovated and refitted, and now presents a most comfortable appearance, was crowded in every corner. Independently of the ordinary attraction of hearing one of the most beautiful prose poems in the language; "The Christ mas Carol," from the mouth of its author the " seasonableness" of the date of reading (Christmai Eve), on which the action of the story is supposed to take place, lent an additional charm to the entertainment. The second part of the reading, " The Trial from ' PickWick,' ". was a novelty in London, although it had proved one of Mr. Dickens's greafest successes in the provinces, but it assuredly will take rank among Mr. Dickens's happiest efforts. It is difficult to which impersona• tion to awardthepalm, whether to the stammering, lisping, idea-bereft, mind-wrecked Winkle, to the Loquacious, Lindley Murray-defying Mrs. Cluppins, or to the imperturbable, good-humoured, opposition counsel-badgering Sam Weller. One and all are perfect in their way, and the entire reading was greeted with applause which rendered it a personal ovation. LATEST NEWS. The following telegram has been received a Mr. Reuter's office : VIENNA, DEC. 24. According to advises from Belgrade, the Skoupts china, or National Assembly, demanded on Wed nesday last, the 22d inst., the abdication of Prince Alexander Karageorgievie. The Prince promised his reply for the 23d, and repaired to the Turkish fortress in order to place himself in safety. The Skouptschina thereupon resolved on the deposition of the Prince, because, in their judgment, the country was left without Government, and the Prince was to be considered as a fugitive. The Skouptschina further proclaimed Prince Milosch Prince of Servia, in the presence of the people summoned for that purpose. FRANCE. 41 per Cents. 97 Do. end month — 3 per Cents 73 15 Do. end month 73 35 Bank Shares Credit Mobilier Do. Account ' Credit Poncier.... 695 Belgian 4i . ...... 100 Piedmonteso (5) .. 93 75 Roman .......... 93 Austrian • ..... 94 25 Spanish Threes .. 47 75 Home Debt ...... 43 50 Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto. 845 -- • 845 Lyons and Mediterranean BB5 885 New ditto Geneva 620 • 625 Midi Southern 590 • 688 75 Western 607 50 610 Eastern Grand Central Sardinian 425 • 420 Austrian 640 • 638 75 sight paper 25f. llfc. ; money, Exchange on London, at si 25f. 9c. ; three menthe, -p aw, 244. b 7. c.; 95c. money, 24f. BELGIUM. The Belgian Senate at its sitting of the day before yesterday adopted three bills which had been previously voted by the Chamber of Repre sentatives. One was for a credit to pay the funeral expenses of M. Partoes, the late Minister of Public Works; another for granting a pension of 3,000 f. to his widow ; and a third, reducing the duty on patentes (licences to trade) hitherto paid by. Belgian and foreign boatmen by 51/-- per cent. The loss to the revenue by this redaction will be about 160,000 f. a year. The following is a more detailed account of the proceedings relative to the proposition of M. Dolez, in the Belgian Chamber af Representatives. When the general debate on Art. 4 of the second part of the Penal Code was concluded, that gentleman, who was the president of the committee on the bill, proposed that the examination should be then considered at an end, and that the c Bider the whole bill. adopted, the debate came c ommittee should recon- This proposition being to a close. The Chamber then took up the consideration of the budget of the Foreign-office, when a proposed addition of 43,000 fr. to the allowance of Ministers at foreign Courts was opposed by MM. Coomans, De Muelenacre, and De Vandenpeereboom. Eventually, the House divided on the point, when the Government project was adopted - by 37 votes to 24, SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 19th contains an ac count of the presentation on the previous day of M. Barrot to the Queen as French ambassador at her court. The court carriages, as usual on such occasions, conveyed the ambassador and the persons of his suite to the palace, where they were received with the usual Ceremonial. M. Barr of addressed her Majesty as follows : Madame,---I have the honour of delivering into your royal hands the letters from nay august Sovereign which accredit me at your court as his ambassador. These letters give to the mission which has been confided to me its true t character; they, in fact, express the sentiments of Iligh esteem and inviolable friendship with which his Imperial Majesty is animated t owards your royal person, and the lively desire which he feels to see strength ened more and more the bonds of friedship and good neighbourhood which ought always to unite France and the fine and noble country over which you have been called by Providence to reign. The Emperor is deeply convinced that the deyelopment • PARIS, FRIDAY. Prince Jerome yesterday gave private audiences to the following Ministers Plenipotentiary :—M. Corvaia, of the Republic of the Equator ; M. Alberdi, of the Argentine Republic ; M. de Marco leta, of the Republic of Nicaragua ; and Baron d'Adelsward, of Sweden and Norway. The Debats thus observes on the appeal of M. Montalembert, and the explanation certainly throws a new light on the effect of the altered sentence, which will surprise many readers : " The most important point to be noticed is that of the two articles, 1 and 3, of the law of July 27, 1849, alluded to by the judges of the First In stance, Art. 3 is the only one alluded to in the new judgment, Now, Art. 1 being the only one by virtue of which M. de Montalembert was brought within the purview of the law of Feb. 27, 1858, relative to measures of public safety, it follows that M. de Montalembert is relieved from this consequence. Further, the Court reduces the imprisonment from six months to three. Such are the essential differences which we observe between the judgment in the first instance and that just rendered. The result shows that M. de Monta lembert's appeal was not, as has been pretended, without any serious object or real interest for him, since the effect of the judgment of the Court of ' Appeal is to d ; scharge him from all the most serious consequences of the judgment of the court below." Vice-Admiral Romain-Desfosses, Commander-in- Chief of the Mediterranean squadron, has visited all the vessels of the Russian squadron. Each ves sel gave him a salute of 11 guns, and the French ship of the line Algesiras returned each salute. Vice-Admiral Jacquinot, Maritime Prefect of Toulon, the day after, visited the flag-ship of the Russian Admiral. He also received a salute of 11 guns, which was returned by the French flag-ship, the Bretagne. The Napoleon had been making experiments near the Iles d'Hyeres with a cannon of a new model. The result is not stated. The Moniteur publishes the following report to the Emperor from the Prince Minister of Algeria : " Sire—ln creating the ministry which y ou h ave deigned t o pl ace undr my charge, and in forming in it the direction of the affairs of Algeria and the direction of the colonies in general, the idea of your Majesty was not to maintain the separation of those two services, but on the contrary to unite and to impart to them one common impulse. Could, in fact, the object of the institution of a Ministry for Algeria and the Colonies be attained, if, for instance, the administration ofjustice, ofpublic instruction and worship inAlgeria continued to be separated from that of the same services in the other colonies ; or if, in matters of finance, public works, and commerce, those services should continue to be managed on different principles ? I thought, from the first day, of substituting for that territorial division a divi sion of the services according to their different at tributions, but it was advisable not to embarass the progress of affairs by any sudden change. At pre sent there is nothing to prevent this organisation, the necessity of which has been confirmed by ex perience, and it is moreover desirable that it should be accomplished before the commencement of the next year. I have consequently the honour to sub mit to your Majesty the subjoined decree, which suppresses the direction of civil affairs in Algeria and the direction of those of the other colonies, and which approves of the division, according to their attribution, of the services of the Ministry of Algeria and the Colonies.—Accept, &e., " NAPOLEON (JEROME.)" The report is followed by the decree above alluded to, signed by the Emperor. BOURSE, Dee. 24.—The market has been very flat, owing to reports about the new Industrial Bank, and to the uncertainty as to its attributes. Threes have been done at 73f. 25c., and are now at 73f. 350. ; Mobilier varied from 975 f. to 982 f. 50e. ; Austrian, 638 f. 75c. to 641 f. 25e. ; Lyons, 885 f. to 887 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,392 f. 50c. to 1,395 f. ; Southern, 588 f. 75c. to 590 f.; and Northern, 1,005 f. to 1,006 f. 25c. The following were the last quo tations A number of Spirit-rappers in Dudley, Tipton, and the neighbourhood, have formed a society. On Sunday afternoon they held a meeting for " prayer and inspiration," and professed to have held com munication with the spirit of John Wesley, who had commissioned them to preach the doctrines of John the Baptist in Dudley, promising if they obeyed this injunction to assist them; but, if they failed, threatening them with the deprivation of the power of speech. Thus " direeted,' a body of them proceeded to the Primitive Methodist Chapel, New George-street, Dudley, where the congregation (about 500) were assembled for evening service. Mr. Rollason, of Oldbury, was the preacher, and was in the midst of his discourse, when a Mrs. Stocks (a woman well-known in Dudley), seated i x the gallery —th e appo i nted leader of the Spirit rappers —extending her right arm, and upturning her face as if in prayer, with many strange gesti culations, burst forth, crying—" Lord, I thank Thee that Thou hast permitted me to come to this congregation, and to talk to poor sinners of their souls!" About twenty other Spirit-rappers simul taneously commenced similar displays of ges ticulation and action, groaning and shouting. The minister stopped his discourse ; and the functionaries of the chapel went about to the Rappers to endeavour to procure silence and order, but this only added fuel to the flame; the shoutings and noises only became louder, the Rappers calling on the Deity in the most revolting way. One man, a carpenter, held one of his arms upright and stiff, and declared he could not put it down. One woman, a member of the congregation, was so much alarmed that she was attacked by fainting fits, and was carried out. One man asked. Mrs. Stocks how she could so conduct herself, be ing one of a "wicked and-adulterous generation " herself'. She took no notice, but continued to de nounce judgment, &c. So great was the tumult within that hundreds of persons collected outside the building; and some time elapsed before the riotous Rappers could be ejected and quiet restored. Mrs. Stocks has been called on to give an explana tion, and she says she and her friends did what was dictated to them, on peril of losing their speech. The circuit minister of the Primitive Methodist body, aided by the stewards, is investigating the matter, and has demanded a public apology for these unseemly proceedings. If this be refused, then the Rappers will be brought before the magis trates on a charge of disturbing religious worship, under the act which renders offenders liable to a penalty of £4O Unless some effectual stop be put to these strange freaks, it is apprehended that vari ous other congregations will receive similar noisy visits from the Spirit-rappers.—Manchester Guar dian. THE SUEZ CANAL REPUDIATED.—The Pres'se d' Orient speaks of a circular of the Porte which utterly re pudiates all responsibility with respect to subscribers to the cutting of a canal through the Isthmus of Suez, and adds that the Sultan has not yet given his approval to the en terprise. ROMAN REMAINS.._ Roman remains, /consisting of fragments of columns more than three feet in diameter, stones of a large size richly sculptured, portions of walls, some medals, and numerous fragments of pottery, have just been found in the park of a gentleman, named Caillau, at Cantles (Indre-re-Loire). According to Gregory of Tours, a Roman temple stood on that spot, and was demolished by. St. Martin. From the investigations already made, it ap pears that the temple must have been about 100 feet long by about 25 feetwide. At Andelot (Haute-Marne), Roman baths in a good state of preservation and other antiquities have been discovered. THE MISTLETOE.—Mistletoe, formerly called " All heal," was probably used on account of the respect paid to it by the Druids. The ancients had a superstition regarding this custom which it may not be out of place to mention here. According to their mystic religion, which gave to every tree its attendant spirit, and every grove its divinity, they believed that the sylvan deities, finding it too cold in winter in their forest homes, sought a shelter in the dwellings of man, if prepared for their reception by being adorned with evergreens, in which they remained till the spring, when the people returned the boughs to the forest from whence they came, trusting that the wood spirits, in gratitude, would watch over and protect from all danger those who had afforded them a shelter from the frosts of winter.—ComAnion for Youth. THE MILITARY _RIOT AT WOOLWICH WOOLWICH, FRIDAY EVENING. The most energetic measures have been taken by the commandant, Major-General Sir W. F. Wil_ Hams, to prevent a repetition of the disgraceful scenes whieh occurred here last night. This after noon the troops in garrison were assembled by order of the commandant, and informed that any soldier apprehended for creating a disturbance in the town would be tried by court•martial, and dealt with by military law.l lA. deputation of tradesmen residing in those streets in which business was suspended by the riot of the previous night waited upon Major-General Sir W. F. Williams in the course of the day, to represent the serious injury , inflicted upon them in consequence of being com pelled to close their shops during business hours. Major-General Williams, in reply, assured the deputation of his earnest desire to preserve order and maintain that good feeling which had hitherto prevailed between the military and civilian popu lation. He should take immediate repressive measures, and orders had already been given that pickets should remain in the streets from sunset to sunrise. Several soldiers are now in hospital under treatment fcr wounds received during the melee of Thursday night, but all are expected to recover. It appears that during the height of the riot in High-street, a number of Antrim Rifles belonging to the picket of that corps broke away from the ranks in order to join the combatants, when the lieutenant in command drew his sword and com pelled them to return. A sergeant of Artillery was made prisoner, and will be tried by court martial, for a desperate attack upon this picket, and during the contest an Artilleryman received a fearful bayonet wound. As a proof of the bad feeling which prevails between the regulars and the militia, this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, the sentry on duty at the main gate of Woolwich Dockyard, being an Antrim Rifleman, was assaulted by three Artillerymen. Police -Constable Wright, on duty at the gate, immediately called a picket from the militia guard-room, who captured one of the offenders, after a smart• chase, and he was conveyed to the Royal Artillery Barracks. BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS. The Board of Trade returns for the month and eleven months ending the 30th of November, 1856, 1857, and 1858, were issued yesterday. We subjoin a statement of the total declared value of the ex ports of British and Irish produce and manufactures during the month and eleven months : -•••• •.• •.•7 • For the month. For eleven months. 1856 ...... X1 0,272,075 .... £105,845,631 1857 8,285,815 .... 115,007,196 1858 9,976,436 .... 106,555,562 Compared with last year, there is an increase on the month of £1,690,621, or about 20 per cent., and a decrease on the eleven months of £8,451,634, or 71 per cent. A comparison with the year 1856 shows a decrease of £295,639 on the month, but an increase of £709,931 on the eleven months. Examining the chief items of these exports, we arrive at the subjoined general figures for the month, viz. 1856. MOnth of Novemb er . 185. 1858. £186,463 £178, 098 £235,040 128,214 101,097 128,327 196,587 253,514 191,333 2,744,642 2,105,888 2,960,144 681,668 613,575 849,051 Apparel and slops Beer and ale Coals and culm Cottons Cotton yarn. Earthenware and porce- lain Haberdashery and milli- 132,938 93,928 99,960 nery Hardwares and: cutlery Leather, unwrought Ditto, wrought Saddlery and harness Linens ( cloths, of all kinds and cambrics) Linen yarn Machinery, steam en gines Ditto, other sorts Iron, pig Ditto, bar, bolt, and rod Ditto, cast 4 Ditto, wrought Copper, unwrought Ditto, sheets and nails Lead Tin, unwrought Tin plates Silk manfactures (silk oly) Other articles (silk only) Silk, thrown Ditto, twist and yarn Spirits (British) , Wool Woollens (cloths, &c.) Ditto (mixed stuffs, flan nels, &c.) Worsted stuffs Woollen & worsted yarns 262,358 184,725 288,372 The striking feature is the enormous increase in the exports of cotton goods and yarn, principally to meet the E as t ern d emand. In haberdashery and millinery, leather goods, silks, and woollen and worsted manufactures and yarn, an important in crease is likewise presented. On the other hand, on a comparison with the corresponding month of last year, there is a rather important falling off in machinery and iron. Linen goods have also been very dull. The annexed shows the quantities of the chief articles of food taken for consumption during the month : 257,651 172,300 294,631 371,564 315,092 261,531 24,932 19,622 31,053 126,323 118,985 130,292 23,924 27,048 26,971 455,079 287,561 285,339 128,170 139,998 149,065 101,516 44,624 45,044 172,249, 250,262 150,463 119,802 108,919 59,537 454,733 388,892 395,436 79,216 60,429 49,095 329,410 321,454 245,494 50,246 82,866 81,822 159,720 108,338 141,305 40,899 25,613 36,959 17.555 17,381 10,941 136,260 53,592 100,874 55,065 42,373 • 52,361 27,832 . 12,008 19,393 86,844 18,970 79,753 22,121 14,284 21,871 83,235 35,436 14,585 69,971 14,180 38,025 198,128 200,482 155,619 Month of November, 1856. 1857. 1858. Cocoa lbs. 353,711 140,520 355,824 Coffee lbs, 2,739,651 2,595,940 2,903,479 Wheat qrs. 429,882 456804 276,007 Flour cwts. 205 , 88 4 267,,160 236,850 Currants cwts. 58,653 37,974 68,121 Butter cwts. 41,611 , 29,281 30,241 Rice cwts. 126,498 135,879 195,098 Cheese cwts. 33,554 32,240 32,936 Eggs .no. 5,399,200 6,645,000 7,736,800 Pepper lbs. 410102 Rum ,102 328 , 9 7 0 455,072 Rum gls. 329,156 294,954 362,44 Sugar 6 Brandy (unrefined) s. 131,392 93 , 3 54 108,148 cwts. 526,611 502,249 682,155 Tea lbs. 4,909,707 4,888,534 6,204,435 Wines gals. 643,344 508,410 621,391 With the exception of wheat and flour, nearly every one of these items exhibit an important in crease. The increase in the entries for consumption of sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, wine, pepper, currants, and cheese, is especially worthy of remark. MONEY-ORDER OFFICES. ENGLAND. 1. Money -order offices will be opened in the sub ur b s 01 London, at— Postal District, Albany-road (Walworth) S. Dudley -grove (Padding-ton) .. W. Hoinerton (Hackney) .. • • N.E. And at the Chief District Office in Islington N. 2. The money-order office at 86, Upper-street, Islington, will be discontinued. 3. Money -order offices will be opened in the country, at Baschurch Salop County. Head -office. .. . • .. Shrewsbury. H Berriew Montgomery .. Shrewsbury. Everton Lancaster .. Liverpool. yson- green .. Nottingham : .. Nottingham. Llenberis.. Carnarvon Carnarvon. Lower Bunbury .. Chester • Tarporley. Netley Abbey.. Hants .• . • Southagipton. Newchurch • Lancaster .. • Manchester. Parkend Gloucester y. Porlock . : Some rse t .. • . Taunton. Sheepscar •• York .. .• .. Leeds. Syresham Northampton .. Brackley. Uffculme .. Devon. .. Cullompton. Woodchurch .. Kent .. • Staplehurst. 4. The undermentioned money-order offices will be dis continued, viz. : Aldridge .. KralHead Office. Brixton .. Newport, I, of Wight Capel .. Dorking Church Eaton Stafford Church Stoke Shrewsbury Clifton Camp- Tamworth Coleford ..Frome Collingbourn Duels .. Marlborough Combe Martin Ilfracombe Evershot . Dorchester Golcar .. Huddersfield Henstridge Blandford Horley .. Crawley Howey .. Brecon Head Office, Lacock Chippenham Lewdown Creditors Longdon ..Rugeley Ludwell .. Salisbury Lund . . Beverley Milbrook Devonport New Radnor Kington Shenstone .. Lichfield Shrew ton .. Devizes Thornton .. Bradford, Yorkshire Tolleshunt D'Arcy .. Kelvedon. Tredeastle .- Brecon Troedyrhiew Merthyr Tydvil Whickham ..Gateshead 'LAND. be opened at— nty. Head Offic e . g lin .. Glasgow. ~, .. .. Beith. mey-order offices will be dis SCOT 5. Money-order offices will Com Balfron • Stir] Kilbirnie Ay 6. The undermentioned m continued, viz.:— Head office. Head Office, Edzell Brechin Aberchirder Banff Bailliestown..Glasgow Liliesleaf .. Selkirk Colintoa .. Edinburgh Methven .. Perth Costorphine.. Edinburgh Tarland .. Aberdeen IRELAND. 7. A money-order-office will be opened at— County. Head Office. Cong • • • • Mayo ym Hollunt. 8. The undermentioned m oney - order offices will be o dis continued, viz. : Head Office. Head Office. Bundoran .. Enniskillen I Clady.. Hollymount. By command of the Postmaster-General, ROWLAND HILL, Secretary. General Post-office, Dec. 21. SUICIDE OF A GIRL OF FIFTEEN.—On Satur day, Elizabeth Butler, aged fifteen, a pupil teacher, at Trinity Schools, Derby, committed suicide by throwing herself into the river Derwent. In her copy-book was found an entry bidding all her friends good-bye, and stating that she had made up her mind to do away with herself, a s s h e ha I had a quarrel with Miss --- d tha the latter was always doing h er some injury. She asked the forgivenegs of he r f r i en d s, and hoped God would also forgive her.-- Leeds Mercury. On the Ist of January the following alterations will take place : STATE OF TRADE. THE VISIT OF MR. BRIGHT, M.P., TO BRADFORD. —We understand it is probable that Mr. Bright will address a meeting of the reformers of Bradford on some day between the 10th and the 15th of January, but the precise time has not yet been fixed. The Mayor of Bradford will preside at the meeting. MR. MIALL'S SUPPORTERS AT BANBURY._A meeting of the friends of Mr. Miall was held on Wednes day evening, at the Buck and Bell, Parson's -street—Mr. Payne in the chair. Mr. Williams, of London, a personal friend of Mr. Miall, attended and addressed the meeting on his behalf, warmly urging his claims to the support of the constituency. A resolution was passed on the motion of Mr: Pearson, seconded by Mr. Stephenson, pledging the meeting to support Mr. Miall as a candidate for the repre sentation of the borough.—Oxford Chronicle. The Ceylon-steamer which has b een appo i nte d in place of th e P era to take out the next mail to India and China, will not leave Southampton till the 6th of January. two additional days being required to prepare her for sea,. The Marseilles portion of the mail will be despatched from London'on Monday, the 10th. The draught match between Martin and M'Ker row, for £2OO, commenced in St. Mary's Hall, Glasgow, on Tuesday. The first game, which was drawn, lasted up wards of thr ee h ours. Out of the four games played Mar tin won one, th e rema i ning three being drawn. In the match for £lOO, between Drummond and Hudson, six games were played, of which Drummond won four and HudsorL one,__ the remainin g one b e i ng drawn THE LIVERPOOL MERCANTILP MARINE TRAINING SuiP.—The Lords of the Admiralty have appoints(' the Conway, 26 guns, instead of the Vestal, to be sent to Liver pool as a training ship for the mercantile marine service. Their lordships have also promised to make her ready for use, to send her to Liverpool, find moorings, and moor her in the Mersey free of ex_pense to the assoc i at i on. A BRAVE DOCK G ATEMAN.—On Tuesday r noon a seaman, named William Callow, fell from the fo te re topsail-yard of the ship Acorn into the Prince's Dock, Liverpool, and would have been drowned had not Dock gateman Morgan jumped into the water and rescued him. Callow was taken to the hospital where he now lies. This is the third life that Morgan has saved within the last two months. FALLING OF A BREWERY NEAR NOTTINGHAM.-- A MAN KILLED AND 2,000 GALLONS OF ALE LOST. —A shocking accident happened at Old Basford, near Notting ham, on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Beetgood occupies a brewery there, known as Robinson's Brewery, and they were making the cellar deeper. On Tuesday three men, named Jackson, Walker, and Harper, were engaged in the alterations. About half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, they had removed a buttress pillar, and before they could substitute a temporary support, Jackson shouted out that the place was falling. He was fortunate enough to get into the street before the catastrophe; but Walker, who tried to follow him, was caught on the foot by a tumbling barrel, and pulled partly back among the ruins, under which the still more unfortunate Harper was completely buried. Walker was extricated with but little difficulty, but his spine was so injured that he had to be conveyed to the General Hospital. It was six o'clock before the body of Harper, who was found standing nearly erect, and quite dead, was dug out. The premises are a co ruin , 2,000 gallons of ale being d es t royed, as well as all lete the ma chinery. The victim was only 19 years of age.—/fanches ter Guardian, yesterday, FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE STOCKTON AND DAR LINGTON RAILWAY. —On Wednesday night, as the engine which takes the last train from Darlington to Red car was returning, two men, i n th e employ of Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan, who were going home along the railway, were accidentally run over and killed: The night was so bois terous and dark, that neither the engineman or stoker were aware of anything being in the way, and it was only by some unevenness in the running that caused the persons on the engine to have a suspicion that all was not right. They, consequently, stopped the engine, put back, and found the men —one of them in a very mutilated condition, and the other so injured that he was not expected to recover. There is a public path by the side of the railway; and, as the accident occurred in a cutting between Eston and Cargo Fleet, there can be no doubt but that the men sought pro tection from the weather by walking on the railway, where they met with such an unexpected misfortune.—Aretasastle Chrcn We. THE FIRE ON BOARD A PASSENGER SHIP IN THE MERSEY.—AS stated in The San yesterday, the burning New York emigrant ship Isaac Wright, was scuttled by shot fired into her stern from a boat worked laymen belong ing to her Majesty's ship Hastings. Forty 12-Ib. shots were fired at intervals of three or four minutes into the hull of the Isaac Wright. Only2l shots, however, took effect, and even then the vessel made water very slowly, owing to the cargo being packed exceedingly close. She, however, ultimately sank in a sufficient depth of wat er to cover her de ck. A steamer was left last night in charge of the Isaac Wright, and, if th e we a t h er should prove favourable, the cargo will be soon discharged, and the vessel floated into dock. Of course it is yet impossible to estimate the damage, but both to vessel and cargo it must be very great. .The ship and her cargo, the latter consisting . principally of fine good s and about 800' tons of iron, were Insured. The origin of the firs has, not yet been ascertained. The Isaac Wright belongs to the " Old Black Ball Line" of American packets, and the agents, Messrs. Baring Brothers, will forward the passen gers to New York in the ship Great Western, which is in tended to leave the Mersey to-day (saturday). SINGULAR DEATH.—Yesterday evening an inquest wr a held in the Board-room of the Strand Union, Bow-street, before Mr. Bedford, coroner for Westminster, on the body of Joseph Mace, aged 25, whose death occurred under the following circumstances :—lt appeared from the examina tion of several witnesses that the deceased was a French man, and followed the business of an interpreter. He re sided at a foreign lodging house, No. 10, Chandos-street, C.went-garden, kept by Mr. Deleroux. On Tuesday morn ing he went out in his usual health, but returned home shortly after, when he was scarcely able to breathe. He !name worse, and Mr. - Watkins, a surgeon, was sent for, but before reaching the house the unfortunate man had died. Mr. Watkins said that he had made a post mortem examination, and found that death resulted from conges tion of blood upon the brain; from the condition of the body he (Mr. Watkins) was decidedly of opinion, from the deceased's mode of li v i ng, that he did not allow himself /, sufficient sustenance to keep up the circulation of the blood -` and to preserve vital energy. Mr. Deleroux said the de ceased had ample means to support himself comfortably, but he was of very penurious habits, And would restrict himself to.the smallest possible amount of sustenance.— The jury observed it was a very distressing and extraordi nary case, and then returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. MR. DIS.RBTLI IN THE HO USE OF COMMONS. As a parliamentary orator, Mr. Disraeli stands forth, in some respects, almost without a rival among his contemporaries. It is only, however , upon very rare occasions that those prominent powers in debate are conspicuously manifested. Under the influence of ordinary circumstances, his manner in speaking is cold, impassive, cautious, marked at times even by an almost painful delibera tion. Even when most earnest, he scarcely ever indulges in very animated gesticulation. His• eyes downcast, his brows raised, his voice low but sin gularly clear in its articulation, he has the appear ance of one who is addressing the house by an effort of condescension, with an undisguised air of super cilious indifference. Irritated by a rash taunt, roused by the immi nence of some critical juncture, incited by the pres sure of an emergency, or goaded by an unwonted display of opposition,—Disraeli, in voice, look, manner, in his every movement, in his whole ap pearance, is like one suddenly transformed. His delivery at these times we have heard likened, and not inaptly, to that of Edmund Keam, the trage dian. A glance of the eye, an inflection upon syllable, a sudden gesture towards an antagonist — something as slight altogether in itself as a glance, or a tone, or a movement, has lent a barb to the arrow of invective, suffusing upon the winged steel as it flies the poison of a deadly derision. It is thus that has been driven home to the heart of some formidable foe many a rankling dart of scorn and ridicule. The cutting jibe, for example, inflicted only last session upon the Whigs, when taunted upon the morrow of their ignominious overthrow, as an " obsolete oligarchy ;" or, years ago, that still more pitiless alliterative allusion to , s the catastrophe of a sinister career," completing the peroration of one of his most memorable outbursts of vituperative eloquence. The rhetorician, here, is also a consummate actor—and it is the highest kind of acting : it is upon the stage of history, in the arena of Parliament.—The _Derby Ministry Cabinet Pictures. By Mark _Rochester. MANCHESTER, Friday: —Water twists at large, and mule yarns from 60's downwards, are so well engaged that buyers still find sellers hardening in price. Th e manufacturers who have entered into contracts with the Indian merchants are en gaging yarns so far as they can to recover their sales. The Germans are doing more ; and the Eastern houses are still in tie market. The demand which is still in progress for India renders suitable goods dearer than they were last week, in about the proportion of 3d. upon a piece of 40-inch shirtings. The degree in which shirtings are bought up causes attention to be turned to jacco nets and other articles. Goods at large are firm in value; some kinds still hardening. Domestics continue to lay behind the rest. LEEDS, Friday.—Our market has been held to day in consequence of to-morrow being Christmas. The weather was very unfavourable, and this com- • bined with the period of the year, had a tendency to produce a quiet market this morning. The trade of the district generally has not been quite so active this week, but the prospects are satisfactory, and the general tone of business is unimpaired. There is really no special feature to notice in connection with commercial matters. • BRADFORD, Friday.—The various branches of the worsted trade may be reported steady. Spin ners are pretty well employed, but there has been rather less demand this week for piece goods. Wool maintained its high rate, and the transactions are limited to immediate requirements. HALIFAX, Friday. -=As usual at this period of the year, business operations have not been so brisk within the last few days; but there is no material change in the general state of trade, and increased aotivity i s ant i c i pated after the begin ning of the new year. HUDDERSFIELD, Friday.—Trade continues mode rately active and satisfactory. There is, however, no briskness in any department, nor any per ceptible change in the tone of business since last week.. GLASGOW IRON MARKET, Friday.—Nothing doing. No. 1, 525. 9d. to 535. ; mixed numbers, warrants, 545. 3d. to 555. 6d. ; makers' iron, 525. 9d. to 535.; No. 3, 525. 9d. to 535. ----_ MON' The B all place! Christi-11f Subjoi l and reti showing continue Since b een ab, exclusiv London Thursda Gold Silve Messy is the p] ti lited S ""°. 6 per Alabam a ketttuck l karYlani 4assaehr Bonds Ohio 6 p( 1 1 :.emrsylN ,eimayb emriesse BOBon 5 !lanais C lu imois C Illinois (Preels ' • shoal alichi gat d_o New , ew Yor I ,trot cor 4 . l eW Yor conver 1• 857_5. .1.!,o. d o 8 : ▪ eal Yor ,„.°Q nior "evr Yor ~,converi Yoz sinking '" b o• do. e Panama D gage S uo. do., B] Stc Per Cei oi. 3 pi 4 .iong An Ditto Rlia St( Ditto Be Ditto Bo Ditto uni Consols f 7 c':thequ Ditt o £5( Ditt o Sri] Exchequ b FC .uraziliar chilia. kezie.;. Dittol Nruviat Ditto Ditto I Russian, Ditto Sardinia Spanish Ditto — . 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