The Sun. — London, England, 1860-02-27 00:00:00

of inco ROYAL VOLUNTEER BALL.—Under the f e xcept by a passing sarcasm from the man who immediate patronage of t must have felt it most, and its most important parts Her Most Gracious Majestythe QUEEN. M r . WALPOLE His Royal Highness the PRINCE CO NSORT. are likely to remain unanswered. His Royal Highness the PRINCE of WALES. His Royal Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE, Commander- makes no pretensions to oratory, beyond the in-Chief. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of CAMBRIDGE. „E • , oratory of facts, and a kindly appreciation Her Royal Highness the Princess MARI of CAMBlaliu of their actual bearing on society, but we are LADIES PATRONESSES. Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort mistaken if, when all the illusions of the debate Her Grace the Duchess of Arg,yll Her Grace the Duchess of Roxburghe have died away, one part of Mr.WALPOLE'S speech Her Grace the Duchess of Montrose Her Grace the Duchess of Wellington will not be remembered by thousands ; they will H Her Grace the Duchess of Inv erness look to him as the man who told the House of The Marchioness of Salisbury The Marchioness of Dow nshire Commons their case. Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury The Marchioness of Westminster: His whole argument was, that all the tea- The Countess of Shrewsbury The Countess of Derby sons assigned by Mr. GLADSTONE for giving The Countess of Kinnoul Th e Countess Frances Walde g rave up the paper duty applied yet m ore stron g l y The Countess of Harrington The Countess of Sefton to the Income-tax. The first was that the The Countess de la Warr Th e Countess Spencer house had pledged itself by a resolution to g ive u p The Countess of Clarendon The Countess of Malmesbury the duty ; but, as Mr. WALPOLE observed, that was The Countess of Donoughmore The Countess of Beauchamp only a general pledge, and avowedly quali fied b y The Countess of Uxbridge The Lady Laura Meyrick the state of the revenue at the time ; the ple d g e to The Lady Constance Grosvenor Lady William Powlett give up the Income-tax in 1860 was on e em- Lady Alfred Churchill The Viscountess Palmerston bodied in an Act of Parliament , a nd had been The Viscountess Ingestre the very reason by which the nation was induced Lady Saltoun Lady Panmure to submit to so galling an impo s t for seven long Lady Elcho Lady Stanley of Alderley years. Again, in regard to the obstructions sal The Hon. Lady Phipps The Hon. Mrs. Sidney Herbert to be placed in the way of trade by the Excise The Hon. Mrs. Edward Curzon The Hon. Mrs. Smythe Vereker regulations, he showed by irrefutable documen- Lady Armytage Mrs. Baillie Cochrane. tary e vidence that this was a mere fictio n . On the COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. Earl Grosvenor, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Westminster other hand, such are the perplex i t ies arisin g out Volunteer Corps.of the working of the Income-tax, that not fewer Viscount Ranelagh, Lieutenant-Colonel of the South Middle-sex Volunteer Corps. than 250,000 claims annually are presen ted Lord Elcho, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sc ottish Volunteer Corps. for exemption or repayment , accom p anied Lord Colville, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Hon. Artillery Company Volunteer Corps. w ith powerful appeals frequently to c orn- Li eu t enan t-Colonel the Hon. C. Lindsay. Lieute nant-Colonel of the St. George's Volunteer Corp s. passion or forbearance. Such is the stateme n t of The Royak.Volunteer Ball will take place (under the imme diate sanction and patronage of her Majesty) on Wednesday, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. March 7, 1800, being the day which her Majesty the Queen has specially appointed to hold a Levee to receive the patriotic But it is the third point insisted on by Mr. Volunteers from the different parts of the kingdom. The Ball will be given in TIIE NEW FLORAL HALL, GLADSTONE, in reference to the repeal of the Covent-garden, which building has recently been completed, and from its great dimensions, its form, and general arrange- Paper Duty, which is infinitely more strik ment, will, when decorated for the above special occasion, in form a Ball Room of unsurpassed grandeur, ng in regard to the Income - tax " i t s A raised Gallery will be devoted to the exclusive accom- greater pressure on the poor compare d with modation of the Ladies Patronesses. It is proposed to give, out of the proceeds of Ball, Four the in re and to cheap literature." Th e Prizes for the four best Rifle Shots, to be contest ed duringrich, g the ensuing Summer by the Volunteers of the London Dis _five pressure of the Income-tax on a cla as of trict. Each Prize will be of the value of Twent y Guineas. The Winners of these Four Prizes are then to persons, who relatively arc among the poorest in compete for a Fifth Prize of the value of One Hundred Guineas. the kingdom, is intolerably cruel. Take schedule Further details of the Entertainment will be published next week. D—trades and professions — the number of person s TiexETs.—Gentlemen, being Volunte ers, may obtain vouchers for their Tickets through the Commanding Officer assessed under it to the Income4ax amounts to of their respective Corps, , or through the Committee of Management, Floral Hall, Covent-garden. 258.000. Of these more than 200 , 000 are assessed Each Volunteer who may wish to be accompanied by a Lady, will, through the same source, be furnished with a on incomes under £3OO a year. "These," exclaimed Voucher for a Double Ticket. Gentlemen, not being members of any Volunteer Corps, as Mr. WALPOLE, " are the persons on whom this tax well as Ladies who desire to be present, will please to apply for vouchers to either of the Ladies Pa tronesses, or to the is weighing so heavily. It is not your landed Committee of Management, Floral Hall, Covent-garden. Every Lady and Gentleman's name must be inscribed on Proprietor—it is not your rich manufacturer — their Tickets, as the Tickets are not transferable. Dancing will commence at Ten o'clock. it is not your opulent and powerful merchant. Refreshments will be supplied during the evening by the Messrs. Gunter, of Berkeley-square. No, itlis your hardworn tradesman, your struggling At One o'clock the Supper will be served by Messrs. Staples. clerk, your needy professional man." Tickets for the Ball, 255. each ; which will include refresh ments, supper, and wine. This is the class which so rarely finds an advo- The Vouchers must be exchanged for Tickets on or before Saturday, March 3d, at the Floral Hall, Bow-street, Covent- eate in the House of Commons, yet the class which garden ; or at the Libraries of Mr. Mitchell, 33, Old Bond street, and Mr. Sams, 1, St. James's-street. needs one as much as any. The artizan and N.B.—As the number of Tickets to be issued is, of necessity, limited, preference will be given to those who first present operative are thought of. Mr. GLADSTONE tells their Vouchers for exchange, us that his budget is meant to find them em ployment. The rich, of whom for the most part the House consists, want no advocates they say little about themselves, but always vote for themselves. But those who are in the condition, which appears at first sight the one we are taught in Scripture to pray for, " neither poverty nor riches," are those who are most severely scourged by the GLADSTONE Income-tax. It is remarkable that in the same prayer we are taught to say " remove from me vanity and lies." Mr. WALPOLE tells us that to this class the Income-tax schedule is an irresistible tempter to lie to the collector, who, they are quite sure, is wronging them. There is not, in truth, a poorer class than the middle class, whose incomes are below the line drawn. by Mr WALPOLE, and yet above the low water mark of the Income-tax. It is a class which must have a respectable dwelling ; which must have decent furniture ; which must keep a table not to be quite blushed for if a friend steps in; which must dress so as to not betray the difficulty of paying a tailor's bill ; which must educate its children fairly; and must keep a servant and keep up appearances, and not unfre quently must pay a Church-rate from fear of the con stable, while it pays too liberally for its means to wards the support of Dissenting worship, from honest conviction. And this class is increasingly feeling its relative poverty. The highly-paid artizans press on its sensitiveness from below ; the different grades of the wealthier classes from above. The first men rise from illiterate intelli gence, find a competency in an income of between £lOO and £3OO a year; but their children feel the position a trying one. They can not dress as servants, or well do menial work. They have no capital. The girls become governesses, the boys clerks, and some of them, luckier than the rest, contrive to marry before the reign of the more generous instincts and sentiments is subverted by that of a selfish prudence. This is the class—to 200,000 of whom Mr. GLAD STONE is a merciless taskmaster. For him they must make bricks without straw. Would to HEAVEN they would bestir themselves to force him to make a budget without an Income-tax ! They could do it. They form half the constituency of most boroughs. They have but to tell him—We will no longer smart for your " landed proprietors," whose rents rise with the foreign commerce of the country; nor for the " rich manufacturer," who makes his hundred thousand a-year out of the treaties for which we pay Income-tax ; nor for the " opulent and powerful merchant," who rolls in wealth by wholesale dealings in the manufacturers' products. Let your landlords, and manufacturers, and mer chants pay what they please—for tariffs which over fill pockets—we demand to be dealt with on totally different scale. If the class whom Mr. WALPOLE pleads for would but bestir themselves, they could even now give this tenpenny-tax on their uncertain lives and labours a rude shake. They can do the two things which, combined, never fail to tell on mem bers. They can write to their own represen tatives,them and t e ll their minds. These Senators, as Mrs. BEECHER says, are men, after all. They have h ear t s lik e other men e —and while they will vote grandl y w i t h party in the House, when an individual case comes before them they feel it like others. They are generally gentlemen, and would not violate confi dence. Let now several of their constituents in each place but write and tell them confidentially how this tenpence grinds on their very soul; an d half the members written to would see Mr. GLAD STONE himself, or the 'Treasury whip, and tell him that some great change must be made. The other way, that of petitioning, is obvious, and should be adopted where a false shame does not prevent. But ill electors can write ; and they will be wise if they do, and at once. BENSON'S WATCHES. " Perfection of mechanism."-3lorning Post. Gold Watches 4 to 100 guineas. Silver Watches 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, B.C. Bend 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet on Watches ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GA RDEN. __ _ There is hope at last for us that the Serpentine may really be cleansed. The new Chief Commis iioner of Public Works acknowledged, on Saturday afternoon, that he did not think the plan now be ing carried out, nominally to that end, was at all " a good plan,"—indeed, the Right Hon. .Gentle man went the length of saying, quite frankly, that he, for his own part, should never have thought of adopting such a plan ! " But," said Mr.IOWPER, "my hands are tied." The work has actually been commenced with a view to the carrying out of that expensive and ridiculous and dirty scheme of Mr. IiAWKSL EY—that perfectly absurd, and worse than worthless scheme, which was adopted in a moment ROYAL Under the management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr.W. Harrison. THIS EVENING (Monday), will be produced the grand Opera, entitled LURLINE, by W. Vincent Wallace. Messrs. W. Harrison, Santley, Corti, and G. Ileney ; Misses Louisa Pyne, Pilling, and F. Cruise, Conductor, Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the new grand pantomime, called PUSS IN BOOTS ; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the Golden Palms. Messrs. W. H. Payne, 11. Payne, F. Payne, Barnes, 'Xallien, Infants Lauri, and Miss Clara Morgan. Doers open at half-past 6—Commence at 7. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new and original Comedy, in three acts, entitled THE OVERLAND ROUTE. Messrs. C. Mathews, Buckstone, Compton, Chip pendale, Mrs. C. Mathews, Miss Weekes, and Mrs. Wilkins. After which, the new Haymarket Comic Christmas Panto mime, VALENTINE'S DAY; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' Knot. The pantomimists the unrivalled Leclercqs. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM.- Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste. Brilliant _and Increased Success of the new Drama —Colette Dubois and Therese Defame, by Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, th 6 new Drama of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, by Tom Taylor, Esq., from the story of that name by Charles Dickens, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. James Vining, Walter Lacy, Villiers, House, Forrester, J. Johnstone, T. Lyon, Morton, Palmer, White, 11. Butler, Clifford, and Fredericks ; Misses Kate Saville, Stuart, Turner, Mrs. Campbell, and Madame Celeste. After which, will be produced the Grand Christmas Ex trava:ranza and Pantomime. KING THRUSIIBE Alt 0, the LITTLE PET and the GREAT PASSION, in which is pre sented one of the most novel, costly, and brilliant effects ever witnessed - designed and painted by Mr. William Callcott.— King Thrushbeard, Miss Julia St. George. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE , Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. - - - THIS EVENING, the Comedy of MONEY. Messrs. Geo. Melville, Ryder, Frank Mathews, Widdicomb, H. Bland, 11. Saker, Garden, Graham ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Clifford, and Mrs Charles Young After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by 11. J. Byron, called JACK TILE GIANT KILLER; or, Harle quin King Artliur and the Knights of the Round Table. Jack, Miss Louise Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack - Panta loon, Mr. faulo—Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams—Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPH I . Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. - First Night of a New and Original Comedy, by Watts Phillips, entitled PAPER WINGS. THIS EVENING, ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS, Mr. J L. Took, Chas. Selby, Billim.l - ton, Mrs. Chatterlev, Mrs. Bil lington, Miss Kate Kelly, and Laidlaw. After which, PAPER WINGS, Mr Alfred Wigan, J. L. Toole, D. Fisher, Billington, I'. Bedford, Stuart, C. Selby, Eburne, C. J. Smith, Poweil, Romer, Mrs Alfred Wigan. Miss H. Simms, Miss Kate Kelly, and Mrs Chatterley. Followed by DINORAII UNDER DIFFICU LTIES. me ssrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Eburne, C. J. Smith, Miss K,Kel y. Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box- Mace open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor for bills of performance. AU fees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. R OY AL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Kind-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. Directress, Miss Wyndham. The nearest Theatre to chwisea, Pimlico, and Westminster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passengers all hours of the night. ENING the performances will commence with I WILL, IF YOU WILL. After which, FIRST AFFECTIONS. Messrs. 11. T. Craven, G. Spencer, and Miss firyndham. Followed by a new burlesque called DIDO. Mr. Charles Young, Mesdames Wyndham, Clara St. Casse, Murray, kliza Arden, C. Itanoe, A. Evans, and Corps de Ballet. To conclude with MAGIC TOYS. Miss Lydia Thompson. CONCERTS.- CANTERBURY HALL THIS EVENING, LUCREZIA BORGIA, (Donizetti). Donna Luerezia ................ Miss RusselL 3latlio Orsini .................... Mrs. Anderson. Gennaro ........................ Mr. Henry Herbert. Signor Tivoli. Don Altonzo .................... Conductor Mr. Jonglimans. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. GeOrge H o dson (the Irish Come . dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Mackney. Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. The gallery is open from 5 till ll on Sunday Eveninp.:. THE WEATHEL—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 26, 1860. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADS. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 44—lowest this morning and during the night. 52—this day at noon. BAILO3IETER-29.70-a fall of three quarters of an inch. WIND, South -Westerly ; fresh, with rather fine weather —some rain in the night. Three o'clock—Wind more Westerly ; fresh and squally —rain all the evening and night. FEB. 27. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. .51—highest since noon yesterday. 42 —lowest this morning and during the night. 47—this day at noon. atuosiETEß.-29.33 ; still falling W.N.W. ; strong and squally, with gusts of rain, and sunshine occasionally. It blows a strong gale. 111G11 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Txis DAY . — Morning, 4h. 57m.—Afternoon, sh. 12m To-mounow.-Morning, sh. 27m.—Afternoon, sb. 44m ~,,., , ,„ a ..*7.0,,,,,NV...._ey. , el) 4Q , 4N'f s ' v. ' c'''A'''''jd lutri., \.: THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 27, 1860. We wrote the other day—" Tax Manchester for a Manchester budget." Mr. WALPOLE, on Fri day night, illustrated very forcibly the justice of oar remark. His speech was wholly unanswered, THE SUN V.71.,0D0N, MONDAY EVEt 4 IING, FEBRUARY 21, 1860. aprehensible fatuity by the late Mr. HENRY FITZROY, and more than that, was posi tively championed in a moment of still greater fatuity by the late illustrious engineer Mr. ROBERT STEPHENSON. We all know too painfully what this plan was—what, alas, it is, for it is literally now being carried out ! Namely, an elaborately arranged method of puddling and mess ing and dabbling in all kinds of filth—drawing the foul water off, and filtering it, and pumping it back again —and, while periodically carting away the oathsome and putrescent residum, still carrying on he nasty process in one ceaseless round of drip and drizzle and stench under a fluctuating atmosphere of more or less odious exhalations. Say whatever the contriver of this absurd and abominable plan may, in extenuation of it,—the fact that it involves all this is a matter perfectly obvious, perfectly and absolutely undeniable. It is so wholly undeniable that we cannot in any way wonder at all for a single instant that Mr. COWPER on Saturday after noon should, have spoken as we have here al- ready intimated, that he should have said in so many words—for what he said upon the subject is so entirely in accordance with our own often ex• pressed views, that we here gladly reproduce the ipsissima verba of the Chief Commissioner of Public Works :—" As to myself, I have no responsibility for that which has been done, yet still I do not think it a good plan, nor should I have ever thought of adopting such a plan." Then follow the obnoxious words before quoted—" But my hands are tied." Cannot some one untie them for the sake of the public, for the Chief Commis sioners' sake himself ? Cannot the House of Com mons ? It is in these matters politically omnipo tent. It can do, when it is put to it, pretty nearly any thing. It was only the other day (compara tively but a few hours since) that we saw it doing with the greatest sang froid the most sur prising thing we could almost expect to see done even by a House of Commons — namely, while swallowing an Income Tax of £10,000,000 upon the twelvemonth, for the luxury of having a Treaty of Peace with France that binds us for ten years to the chariot wheels of NAPOLEON, signallising the Ministerial acceptance of that treaty by setting apart (chiefly because of the im mense army and the formidable navy of our imperial ally) £30,000,000 upon the year for our war establishments ! Surely a House of Commons that can go that extraordinary length can achieve the far less difficult feat of untying - Mr. COWPER'S hands so that he may wash them clean of all the dirty work of filtration con trived by the whimsical engineering genius of Mr. HAWKSLEY, and now unhappily in course of being practically commenced upon the banks of Serpen iue. It was the House of Commons that came blindly to the conclusion that £17,000 had better be spent in carrying into effect this nasty process —a process in its character as filthy as in its result, it must prove ineffectual. If the House blunders into a wrong path, it can surely retrace its steps. The present Chief Com missioner thinks now, with many thousands of other persons who are not Chief Commissioners, that the path entered upon at the instance of Mr. HAWKSLEY, with the consent of Mr. FITZROY, and under the astounding mismanagement of Mr. STE PHENSON, is a wrong path altogether. Do let us hope, then, that the House having—as it certainly must have—the power, will also have the good sense to stop these outrageously absurd proceed ings. Let it acknowledge that it was acting in the dark and under insufficient information. Let it annul its own mistaken decision. Because a thousand pounds or so have already been wasted in the preli minary works—that is manifestly no valid reason why the whole remainder of the £17,000 should also be squandered in building up this nuisance alike to Hyde•park and Kensington-gardens. Twelve years have already been consumed in the agitation of this really important metropolitan question of the puri cation of the Serpentine. It was in 1848 that a meeting was held that appointed to this end a com• mittee, the representatives of which committee on Saturday last waited in deputation upon the Chief Commissioner of Public Works to protest against the folly of a scheme which the right hon. gentle man himself has the manliness to acknowledge .to be self-evident. What plan ought to be adopted in stead of Mr. HAwKSLET'S, we have ourselves, over and over again, in these columns explained. It is a plan that would be clean instead of dirty—though rough instead of being merely partial—and it is a plan that would cost £ll,OOO at the outside, instead of £17,000! It is the very plan that has been em ployed with such eminent success in the treatment of the ornamental water in St. James's Park. Let the present filthy current of the Serpentine accord ing to this rational plan be cleared out, the holes at the bottom of it filled up, the unequal channel be reduced to one uniform level say of four feet, shal lowing off to the margin, and then having lined it all with concrete, or sand, to be had in abundance in Hyde Park, brim it up with fresh water and provide then for a perpetual sup ply of fresh water that would pass off at the end in an ornamental cascade ! By this plan we should no longer have as a bathing place in summer, and as a skating place in winter, and always as an adorn ment (?) to the noblest park and the most beautiful garden in all London a gigantic " man-trap," filled with a liquid like " green pea soup," and called aptly enough from its treacherous and deadly na ture the Serpentine ! We observe, through the Gibraltar Chronicle of the 10th February, that at a general meeting of the friends and supporters of that Catholic division of the Civil Hospi tal of Gibraltar, held there on the 6th inst., Henry Felix J. Recano, Esq., Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, was elected Deputy Governor. ORDER OF THE THISTLE. Her Majesty will hold an investiture of the Order of the Thistle on Friday next, at Buckingham Palace, on which occasion the Earl of Fife, it is understood, will be enrolled a knight of that noble and ancient order in the place of the late Earl of Camper down. We believe that there will be an examination for direct commissions at Chelsea immediately after the Easter week, No day has been actually fixed, but candidates will do well to attend to the above intimation.—Army and Nqvy Gazette. EXPERIMENTS WITH FRENCH COAL.—It may be of the being atrin: 0 Navy Eugenie,aa d v e each Gaz e t d to a en y . interesting at this juncture to . know that experiments are economical at F r e T n o c u h l o coals on al s board o f different the frigate pro vinces, now" i ttt ,. p n e l r y a particularly on those of Graissessac, and of the basin lirep,rsoocemses forof NcV.ohnicshumaprteiopnreipnarset'deambyfuarnneaNcvesa.n—d eco • A SINGULAR PARISH.—It is a singular fact that in the parish of St. Pe Peter and St. Paul, Bath, though situ ated in the centre of the i ecity, and contliininw the Abbey church (which gives the title to the Rectory of Bath), the Guildhall, the bath s , principal hotels, and c -an pump-rooms,i markets, and four of the house, nor 3,000 inhabitant s , there is not a single private a census as "gentleman," nor i s there returned in the clergyman, yman surgeon resident in it. — Bath and aelteergnl, lawyer, or tanz Gaiette. THE CHINA WAR.—The composition is of the Chi n ese Staff shows that. Lord Clyd e old officers and friends, at the same timenottl f a o t rgetful of his e ffi c i e nt body. We see Colonels Mack enz i e and is is a most t of the o ld Highland Brigade , and formerly on the Quair s ' General's Staff at Ba laklava, in char g e o f the Chineseerna t force All good, in higher grades o f the de p artment. Ca p tain G eorgel - good, the Assistant Quartermaster-General of Lord Clyde's head-quarters, is also on the staff—no more active or zealous officer in the service. The appointment of Colonel Hay thorno will be most agreedble to all whd know the merits of that excellent soldier. Lieut.-Col. Stephenson, C. 8., has seen much service in the Crimea and elsewhere, and Lums don is a man whose name goes far and wide through India, and on whose career many eyes are fixed in great expec tancy. In fact, if the expedition fail, it cannot be unsuc cessful on account of any incompetency on the staff, for most of them have already gained by actual experience in the field the knowledge in which our Crimean staff was at first so disastrously deficient.—"lnny and Navy Gazette. LATEST NEWS. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office.:— PARIS, MONDAY, FEE. 27. The Constitutionnel publishes a despatch of M. Thouvenel, dated. the 31st January last, which was addressed to the French Ambassador at Vienna, to be communicated to Count Rechberg. M. Thouvenel draws a historical outline of the useless endeavours of France to bring about a solu tion of the question of Central Italy. The inhabitants of theseprovinees having refused to recognise their former Sovereigns, M. Thouvenel appeals to the conciliatory spirit of Austria in favour of the English proposal. As regards the Romagna, M. Thouvenel expresses his regret that the Pope should have allowed the state of things in that province to become so ag-; gravat ed. France would, however, consent to a less radical combination than one proposing the dismember ment of the States of the Church, on condition of the principle of non-intervention being maintained. PARIS, SUNDAY. It is stated that the Cabinets of Berlin and St Petersburg, in their reply to the English proposal for the settlement of the Italian question, have made counter-proposals, to be submitted to a future Con gress after having been examined by a conference of the Five Great Powers. It is further said that M. Thouvenel, on receipt of these counter proposals, stated that the French Government will give its answer to them in concert with England. The report of the intended departure of Count Walewski for Vienna on a special mission is with out any foundation whatever. The Moniteur publishes a decree on the reorga nisation of the artillery, suppressing the regimental lists of the storehouses for field artillery, increas ing the number of batteries of infantry by creating three new regiments and re-establishing the artil lery train. The Moni€eur also publishes the programme of the opening of the Legislative body on the Ist of March, and announces that the Emperor presided yesterday at a Council of Ministers. MADRID, FEB. 24 Yesterday two messengers from Muley Abbas presented themselves at General O'Donnell's quar ters to inform him that Muley Abbas, accompanied by El Ketib (Minister of Foreign affairs), was wait ing for him on the Tangier road. The interview took place. It commenced by the discussion of the question of the occupation of Tetuan. As the Moors obstinately objected to such occupation General O'Donnell was on the point of breaking up the conference. Muley Abbas earnestly entreated him to renew the discussion, but it led to no result. The Moors requested a further delay, which Gene ral O'Donnell refused to grant. The armistice was declared at an end. The General-in-Chief returned to Tetuan, and immediately issued orders to Bus linos, who commands the naval squadron, to con cert active operations." The Spanish squadron has left Algeciras, in order to bombard the seaport towns of Morocco, and will probably commence operations by the bombardment of Arcilla. TURIN, FEB. 25. A circular of the Minister of War, dated 24th February, says : " The presence of Lombardian sub-officers and private soldiers already in service under the flag of the Royal army rendered it necessary to reunite with them the soldiers of the old provinces, now on unlimited leave, in order to bring both classes into close union with their chiefs, to consolidate the organisation of the different corps, and to make the instruction uniform. The King has, therefore, ordered, the individuals of the class 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1833 to be recalled to service." FEB. 26. The Russian Ambassador • has, in the name of his Government, represented to Count Cavour the heavy responsibility which would fall on Sardinia if, at the very Ltioment when the European Powers are endeavouring to make the state of affairs less threatening, she were to take steps for the annexa tion of Central Italy to Piedmont. It is said that in consequence of these representations, and following the advice of France, all projects in reference to Central Italy are to be suspended for the present. NAPLES, FEB. 18 (via GENOA). A decree of the Minister of War orders officers on leave to join their regiments on the Ist of March. Part of the Municipal Guards have been mobilised. Agitation prevails in Palermo and in the Abruzzi. MARSEILLES, FEB. 25. News from Constantinople to the 15th states that, Prince Milosch being seriously ill, his son has re quested the Sultan to recognize him as hereditary successor. This demand was supported by Russia. Fears were entertained that in case of refusal an insurrection of the Sclavonicos in Turkey might break out. Said Pasha had written a letter to the Sultan expressing his desire to come to some ar rangement on the question of the Suez Canal. El Hami Pasha, son-in-law of the Sultan, had been sent to Egypt on a special mission. It was asserted that the Porte had ordered a loan of £6,000,000 sterling to be negotiate' in London. CHINA. SHANGHAI, JAN. G. The tonnage dues have been reduced by an edict from the Emperor on ships of all nations under the American treaty. Arrivals from England.—The Potosi, the Illi mani, the Clarendon, the George IV., the Medina, the Marie, the Gabrielle, and filo Westburn. From New York.—The Superior and the Golden Rule. From Philadelphia.—The Mountain Wave. Departures for London.—The Spray of the Ocean, the Australia, and the Solent. For New York.—The Sancho Panza, the Sky lark, and the Surprise; Cleared for London.—The Chryseis. HOMEWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : MARSEILLES, FEB. 26. The Vectis, ith the above mails, arrived here at 10 a.m. this day. Mails left for London at noon. Letters will be delivered in London on Tuesday morning. TELE9RAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA. The following message has been received at the office of the Red Sea Telegraph:— We arrived off Maculla this day, and are about making the splice, which will complete telegraphic communication between Alexandria and India. All well on board the Imperatrioe. The submarks cable has been successfully laid and Alexandria is in telegraphic communication with the capital of her Majesty's Indian possessions. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY. The Itioniteur publishes an Imperial decree mak ing a considerable number of judicial appointments in Paris and the departments. THE BOURSE, Feb. 25.—There was an improve ment at the opening of the market, but it was not maintained, and prices again receded. Threes, after having been done at 68f 15e, are now at 67f 90c ; Mobilier varied from 752 f 50c to 746 f 25c ; Austrian, 505 f to 502 f 50e ; Lyons, 890 f to 866 f 25c ; Orleans, 1,375 f to 1,370 f ; Northern, 917 f to 912 f 50c. The following are the last quotations :- 41 per Cents. .... 97 50 I Credit Fonder 740 Do. end month .. 9 7 75 Belgian 4} 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 85 ! Roman BO Bank Shares 2 B OO Austrian Craft, Mobilier .. 748 7.5 I Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... 743 75 !Home Debt 43 RLILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto 827 50 .. 827 50 Lyons and Mediterranean BB6 25 .. 885 Geneva 490 .. 490 Southern Western 582 50 .. 582 50 Eastern Sardinian 390 .. 397 50 Austrian Lombard . Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 11ic. ; money, 25f. 10c.; throe months, paper, 24f. 80c. ; money, 24f, 871 c. PR USSIA. A letter from Berlin, dated Feb. 21, after allu ding to the various rumours of a rapprochement be tween Austria and Prussia, says : "At Vienna, as well as at Berlin, nothing will be done until the state of affairs in Europe is clearly defined, and this must shortly take place, on ac count of three questions which must soon be re-' solved—the result of the debates in the English Parliament; the issue of the negotiations between France and Austria concerning Venetia, and the war which may ensue therefrom; and, finally, the annexation of Savoy to France. "When the hour of decision shall have struck, Prussia may, probably, have more difficulties to overcome than last year, for it may be necessary to make an offensive war. Now it would be neces sary to induce the German States to take the field, while last year Prussia had only to ask them to follow her." GREAT FIRE IN THE CITY. (THIS DAY.) A most destructive conflagration, attended with immense loss of property, broke out this morning about half-past ten, on the premises occupied by Messrs. Morley, late Keen, Rippen, and Co., silk and shawl warehousemen, 122, Wood-street, Cheapside. It is almost unnecessary to ob serve that, on an alarm of fire being raised in such a narrow thoroughfare as Wood-street, Cheapside, occupied as it is almost entirely by wholesale silk, lace, and Manchester warehousemen, the greatest excitement was instantly produced, which became heightened by the fact that all entrance to the building in which the fire was raging was barred by immense tongues of flame which kept issuing from the basement and ground floor doors and windows. The police, as soon as the cala mity became known, took possession of the street, and the numerous entrances thereto were strongly guarded by the constables, so that on the arrival of the engines no impedi ment was offered to their bein g got instantly into operation. At least a dozen engines from the Fire Brigade Establish ment were quickly in attendance, and the greatest exertions were used to extinguish the flames, but all efforts to accom plish this appeared futile, as instead of decreasing the fire was rapidly extending itself backwards. The moment this became known a number of engines were ordered by Mr. Braidwood to be taken round into Gutter-lane, and there set to work. The most successful results fol lowed this arrangement. For at least an hour and a half torrents of water were poured on the burning mass by the brigade men, and a number of auxiliaries in Wood street, who manfully kept their station at the engines despite the cataracts that were momentarily falling upon them from the engines in operation in Gutter-lane. But one point seemed to defy all efforts, namely, the cellar of the ware house. At length it was discovered to arise from the main gas pipe in the front cellar, when one of the servants of the Chartered Gas Company, Benjamin Branch, with the greatest coolness and courage volunteered to enter the place and plug up the orifice. Having possessed himself of the necessary tools for the operation, he allowed himself to be lowered into the cellar, and in a minute or two the immense flame became invisible. Branch shortly afterwards returned from his perilous position in perfect safety, having successfully accomplished all he promised to perform. The gallant fellow, notwithstanding the ex citement that prevailed, was highly complimented by a number of gentlemen who had witnessed the daring act. At 12 o'clock the fire, so far as any fresh extension was concerned, was subdued, but the engines were kept in ope ration until the flames were completely subdued. The back premises of Messrs. Hedger, Sturgeon, and Peacock, No. 121, Wood-street, suffered severely from the effects of the fire, whilst Messrs. Young and Rance's ware house must have sustained great injury from the water. The premises and stock of Messrs. Morley are totally destroyed, but we believe they are fully insured. The fire was occasioned by an explosion of gas from the " centre plate " which had been placed under the front windows on the ground floor. Some of the assistants of Messrs. Morley were injured by the fire in their efforts to escape, but none, as far as we could earn, fatally. The loss of property is immense. MR. MOORE'S " APOLLO AND MARS YAB." (From the Gazzetta Offlziale de Venezia of Feb 18.) The Supreme Ministry of Worship and Public Instruction, by a despatch of the 28th of last January, No. 1,592-23, ordains that room be made in the halls of the Accademia for a public exhibition of the painting representing " Apollo and Marsyai" belonging to Mr. Morris Moore, of which the Acca demia preserves the original drawing. The Presi dency therefore hasten to make known the follow ing notice, to the end that the public have full cognisance of this exhibition. Mr. Morris Moore, possessor of the famous paint ing, by Raphael, representing " Apollo and Marsyas," the original drawing N. which is preserved in this I. R. Accademia di Belle Arti, after having exhi bited it in the principal cities of Europe, as Paris, Munich, Dresden, Vienna, &c., to public admira tion, which was full and entire, resolved to come among us, that the painting itself might be placed, after a separation of three centuries and a half, beside the drawing which re veals the first idea of the immortal artist. For the period of ten days, then, commencing on Monday next, the 20th of February, the painting in question will be exhibited from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., together with the drawing, that all may see it who love the polite arts, which have risen in Italy to imperishable glory in virtue of the mighty spirits of whom she was mother, and over whom sits Prince the Urbinate. And, as the kindness and humanity of the aforesaid Mr. Morris Moore has desired that, as was elsewhere by him effected, the proceeds of the entrance fee, fixed at 25 soldi for those not belonging to the I. R. Accademia, should be devoted to the fund for succour to un fortunate artists ; thus all are incited to contem plate a most celebrated work of Sanzio, of whom Venice suffers entire defect, and so to co-operate towards augmenting that fund from which art and artists await aid and comfort. AMERICA. The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office : LIVERPOOL, MONDAY. The Cunard steamship Asia, Captain Lott, has arrived with dates from New York to the 15th inst., and 460,000 dollars in specie. The steamer Canada arrived at Boston on the 11th ; the Etna at New York on the 12th ; and the Bohemian at Portland on the 14th inst. The Senate at Washington was discussing the constitution of Kansas. A committee had been appointed to inquire into the expediency of removing the discriminating fees on patents. Mr. M'Lane's treaty with Mexico had been pub lished, but the Senate had as yet taken no action thereon. The Assembly had agreed to the amendments proposed in the Post-office Appropriation Bill, but refused to abolish the franking privileges. Vera Cruz advices are to the 4th inst. The victories of the Liberals continued. The Church party were reduced to a very small extent of territory. Cobas, with 2,000 men, had been defeated in Oajaca, in consequence of which Miramon's expe dition to Vera Cruz would probably be abandoned. The English Charge d'Affaires had presented an ultimatum to the Mexican Government, demanding payment of all the British claims within eight days. CONIMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money steady. Loans on call, sto 7 per cent Stocks very dull. Exchange on London, 1081,tc 1081; on France, sf. 17Ie. to sf. 20c. Flour mar• ket quiet; superior qualities easier. Wheat firm but quiet. Coffee steady. Cotton firm; sales in three days, 5,300 bales ; middling uplands, 111. Ashes steady. Iron dull ; Scotch pig, 25 dols. to 25 dols. 50c. Provisions steady. Tallow firm. Sugar buoyant. Freights tending upward. NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 13, Cotton easier, but quotations unchanged; sales, 7,000 bales. Sugar steady. Freights and ex change unaltered. CHARLESTOWN, FEB. 1 Cotton unchanged; sales, 2,400 bales. LATEST NEWS BY THE ASIA. NEW YORK, FEB. 15 The steamers Arago, from Southampton, and the Sir Robert Lowe, from Genoa, arrived to-day. A fire broke out at Elizabeth city, North Caro lina, and destroyed 40 houses. NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 14. Cotton has declined kc. Middling 10tc. to 11c, Sales in three days, 30,000 bales; receipts, 33,000 bales. QUEENSTOWN, FEB. 27 The Royal Mail steamship America. Captain Millar, arrived hero yesterday at 10.30 p.m.., em barked mails and proceeded at 11.30 p.m. for MR- fax and Boston. All well. QUEENSTOWN, FEB. 26. The Royal Mail steamship Asia, Captain Lott, from New York on the 15th inst., passed Roche's Point at 5.30 a.m. THE ITALIAN QUESTION. ♦ - (From the Second Edition of the Times.) The " Italiun question" is becoming a more com plicated riddle every day. As in the " Eastern question," human ingenuity exhausts itself in searching for a solution that will satisfy, or, at least, not dissatisfy all ; but as successive solutions are suggested new complications arise. The Pied montese Governmenthave more than once entreated to be informed from Paris as to how they were to act. The Piedmontese were getting impatient, the Tuscans impatient, the Romagnols impatient ; all was uncertainty, and if time were lost might soon be confusion. Would the Emperor Napo leon decide for the annexation of Tuscany ; or would he declare against it ? They were ready to yield to his wishes or his orders, what ever they were. Were they to attribute his con tinued silence to tacit assent to a " policy of action" on their part—that is, the final and definitive in corporation of Tuscany ? If they were thus to in terpret it, they were ready for action, and, ap parently, they had little apprehension of the result ; but if, the contrary, they entreated him to speak. Up to Friday last this vexatious uncertainty pre vailed. I cannot affirm it has ceased, but it is repeated that at last an answer has been sent to Turin, something to this effect :—The son of the late Duke of Genoa (a child six years old), and nephew to Victor Em. maned, is to be offered to the Tuscans as their Prince—whether by the title of Grand Duke or King does not much matter; d ur i ng his minority a regent shall be appointed to act in his name ; and, most delicate of all, a Grand Vicar shall adminster the Romagna under the suzerainete of the Pope. Such, substantially, is the project said to be transmitted within the last two days to Turin. Victor Emmanuel will, I presume, offer no difficulty. But with the Pope the case is different. To the proposal for the separation of the Romagna, under any form, however, modified, Rome will still answer, " Non possumus ;" and, if she continues to resist, will force be employed ? I doubt much as to the mysteries and profound policy often attributed to the Emperor Napoleon. I rather believe that he is sometimes as much puzzled what to say or do as the most uninitiated of the public. THE SPIRIT DUTIES. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will move that the fol lowing resolution be substituted for resolution No. 3, in Committee on Customs' Acts :- 3. SPIRIT DUTlAL—Resolved, that in lieu of the duties of customs now charged on the articles undermentioned, the following duties shall be charged thereon, on importa tion into Great Britain and Ireland, via.:—Spirits or strong waters, not being sweetened or mixed with any article se that the degree of strength thereof cannot be ascertained by Sykes' hydrometer, for every gallon of the strength of proof by such hydrometer, aid so in proportion for any greater or less strength than the strength of proof, and for any greater or less quantity than a gallon, Bs. 6d. the gal lon. Of and from a British possession in America or the Island of Mauritius, and rum of and from any British Pos session within the limits of the East India Company's Charter, in regard to which the conditions of the Act 4 Vie. c.B, have or shall have been fulfilled, Bs. 3d. the gallon. Rum, shrub, liqueurs, and cordials of and from a British possession in America or the Island of Mauritius, or a British nossession within the limits of the East India Com pany's Oharter, qualified as aforesaid, Bs. 3d. the gallon. Rum of and from any foreign country being the country of its production, Bs. 3d. per gallon. Tafia, of and from any colony of France, Bs. 3d. Other spirits, being sweetened or mixed so that the degree of strength cannot be ascer tained as aforesaid, and perfumed spirits to be used as perfumery only, 12s. the gallon. Spirits or strong waters imported into the United Kingdom, mixed with any ingredient, and, although thereby coming under some other denomination, except varnish, shall nevertheless be deemed to be spirits or strong waters, and be subject to duty as such. Water, Cologne, the flask (thirty of such flasks containing not more than one gallon), sd. each. When not in flasks, as perfumed spirits, 12s. the gallon. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will also propose in Committee of Ways and Means the following additional resolutions : STMTS.—EXCISE DUTIES.—That, in addition to the duty now payable on spirits distilled in the United King dom, there shall be charged on every gallon of such spirits at proof which, on or after the date of this resolution, shall be distilled or be in the stock of any distiller, or in any duty-free warehouse, or removing to such warehouse, the additional duty of one penny. ALLOWANCES.—That, in consideration of the loss and hindrance caused by Excise regulations in the distillation and rectification of spirits in the United Kingdom, there shall be paid to any distiller or proprietor of such spirits in a duty-free warehouse, on the exportation thereof, on or after the date of this resolution, an allowance of twopenc e per proof gallon. And to any licensed rectifier who, on or per proof a an after the date of this resolution, shall have deposited i n a Customs warehouse for exportation spirits distilled i n t h e United Kingdom, the following allowances on the exporta tion thereof ( that is to say) :—on spirits of the nature o f British compounds , an allowance of threepence p ga ll o n; and on spirits of the nature of spirits of wine, allowance of twopence per proof gallon. STATEMENT DIES RESPECTINGRIES. LOWER CANA FISHE (From tlw Toronto Sentinel.) Extent of coast in Canada where the cod, her ring, mackerel, salmon, &c., fisheries are carried on miles 800 Number of British fishing vessels frequenting our shores from 500 to 600 Number of American vessels frequenting our shores and the Gulf of St. Lawrence from 300 to 450 Number of boats belonging to Canada fishing on our shores front 1000 to 1200 Nearly 100 vessels belonging to Canada are occupied in the fisheries of Canada, either fishing or carryi ng th e fi sh 100 Schooners from Gaspe carry on the whale fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence success sully 10 Quantity of codfish exported to foreign coun tries quintals 120,000 Quantity of codfish consumed in Canada, do. 30,000 Quantity .of pickled fish (herring and mac kerel) exported barrels 60,000 Quantity of do. do. consumed in Canada barrels 10,000 Quantity of salmon taken do. 3,600 Value of fish taken on our shore by British and American fishermen dollars 1,200,000 The action of th e C ana di an G overnmen t i n respec t to the fisheries of the St. Lawrence and the effect of the Recipro city Treaty (which admits fish into the Union duty free) has given a great impetus to the Mackerel Fisheries in the Gulf axd th e L ower P rov i nces , an d cause d a corresponding Billing off in the State of Massachusetts. _ The quantity of mackerel inspected in the latter State since 1851 is as follows ; 211,052 barrels. 1855 . Miles. 1856 1857 185,388 „ 1858 131,602 „ 1859 99,818 ~ CHRISTY'S MONSTRELS.—This troupe of melodists have returned to London, and appear for a short season at the Polygraphic-hall, King 'William-street, Strand, com mencing this evening. The National Portrait Galler) , has acquired a portrait of Sir William llerschel, the famous astronomer of George the Third, and father of the present distinguished Sir John. It is one of the productions of Abbot, who is chiefly known as the painter of Lord Nelson. lle is repre sented in a reddish brown coat and powdered wig, looking upwards. The picture was found in a house at Bath. LITERATURE. Twice Round the Clock ; or, the Hours of the Day and Night in London. By George Augustus Sala. Illustrated by Wm. Houlston and Wright. " Half of the world does not know how the other half lives," says the adage, and certainly but a very small portion of the denizens of London are aware of the strange scenes and eventful stories hourly taking place within the wonderful circle of the same metropolis. The motley combinations and appalling contrasts which a few hours reveal within the circuit of a few miles are brought vividly before us in these felicitous sketches, drawn by the graphic and vigorous hand of George Augustus Sala. An enumeration of some of the " hours " will give an idea of the varied character of the collection. The day begins at four a.m., with the arrival of fish in Billingsgate market, and concludes at three a.m. of the following day with a bal masque and the night charges in Bow-street : the contrast is sufficiently striking and significant. At seven a.m., we wit ness the departure of a Parliamentary train ; at nine, we follow the clerks on their way to the Bank ; at ten, we are in the Queen's Bench ; at eleven, we take part in a marriage at St. George's ; at one, we contemplate " dining London ;"- at three, an auction at Debenham and Stores; at four we stroll to Tattersall's, and at five we drop in at the fashionable club, and then take a glimpse at the prisoners' van ; at six, we stand amazed by the windows of the Post-office, - while a storm of news papers are being thrown in amid clamour and con fusion almost incredible ; at eight, we visit her Majesty's Theatre, and look in at a pawnbroker's. After attending an evening party, a dancing aca demy, a discussion at the Belvidere, and an oratorio at Exeter-hall, we venture at midnight into the sanctum of the sub-editor of some morning paper, but, finding no rest in that scene of bustle, we stroll to Evans' Supper-rooms at one, and then to a debate in the House of Commons, being startled on our way by the turmoil of a fire. These are only some among the scenes illustrated with great life and spirit by Mr. M'Connell, and described with Mr. Sala's customary vivacity. The reader, following the hours on the dial with this marvellous because truth-telling commentary, may well close the book with the reflection, " Ah, day and night, but this is wondrous strange." The Merchant's Polyglot Manual, in nine lan guages. Compiled and Edited by E. H. Michel sen, Ph.D., of the Board of Trade. London : Longman and Co. 1860. We live at a time when commerce is not only a source of wealth and prosperity for nations, but also the best means of rendering tighter the links that unite them to one another, and of establishing among them the reign of peace, which ought to be the perpetual state of the civilised world. Placing ourselves in that point of view, we hail with joy every attempt made to facilitate the communica tions between the various trading countries; and, in our opinion, few have been as successful as that . made by Dr. Michelson, of the Board of Trade, who has just edited " The Merchant's Polyglot Manual," in collaboration with Mr. Sasse, of the Foreign Office. That most valuable book contains in a small compass the substance of eight dictionaries, with this especial advantage that, being exclusively intended for the use of the mercantile classes in their international intercourse, it gives to every article its proper technical name and appellation. The work is divided into three parts. The first embraces, in alphabeticel order, all articles of com merce and industry; the second, an index (also in alphabetical order) of all these articles for each language separately-, with a reference to the number corresponding to that in the first part, each index forming thereby a complete 'dictionary of itself; and the third all technical terms in use in trade and commercial transactions, together with separate indices for the same. This work, full of judicious learning, appears under the highest patronage. The Treasury and the Board of Trade gave encou ragement to the authors, and the Foreign-office subscribed for 150 copies, which are to be distri buted among the consuls, a class of functionaries to which this work is particularly useful. We need not dwell upon the importance of such a book : we only wished to announce its appearance to our readers, and to give to them an idea of the plan on which it is conceived. Now, having fulfilled our task, we leave the polyglot " manual" to await its infallible success. " liabeut sua fata libelli !" Buchan. By the Rev. John Pratt, M.A. Second edition, illustrated. Blackwood. The microscope reveals more wonders than the telescope—the concentrated examination of details excites far more interest than a general glimpse of some stupendous whole. What battlefield ever excited the beholder's sympathy like the contem plation of a hand to hand engagement ? But the fact is well known, and needs no amplification. It has been recalled to us at this moment by the volume before us, in which we are surprised to find so much matter of interest. A district of Aberdeen forms a subject of some 300 or 400 pages, art , it found capable of arresting the reader's attention throughout. Its natural peculiarities, its old tra ditions, tales, and ballads that ever abound on Scottish soil, alternately arrest and attract us, while the skilful pencil of Mrs. Pratt has doubled the work by the introduction of a series of most charm ing and romantic illustrations. Land Sharks and Sea Gulls. By Captain Glas cock, R.N. Knight and Son. The author has endeavoured in these pages to combine the exposure of some of the short comings of those high in command in the British navy at the beginning of th e p resen t cen t ury , with a romantic tale. As regards what appertains to sea manship and sketches of naval character we have no fault to find. Captain Glascock is at home when he is at sea, and he is certainly at sea when he enters the Court of Common Pleas. It would seem that the learned profession is going to the dogs altogether ; Sir Robert Peel will not suffer it to meddle with firearms, and Captain Glascock in sinuates that to bring any nautical dispute into a court of law is equivalent to tossing up . for a ver dict. Plot the story has none ; the heroine makes her debut about fifty pages from the conclusion ; and the father of the hero, who the reader is led to believe has been murdered, and on whom a coro ner's inquest has been held, suddenly reappears on the stage ; which event might havn led to unplea sant consequences, his wife having, after seeing his supposed body comfortably interred, married again. But the author, foreseeing this difficulty, conveni ently brings about his death a short time before the resuscitation of the defunct husband. Despite these drawbacks the book has this recommendation that, Captain Glascock's writings are amusing, and writ ten in an off-hand style, therefore the tale having no particular plot, the reader may open the novel at any page and while an odd half-hour away. Netley frail; or, the Wife's Sister. Smith and Elder. This is a story of domestic life, which turns upon the vexed question of the legality of marriage with a deceased wife's sister, which has lately engaged so much of the attention of the Legislature and the public. The author is strongly in favour of the proposed alteration in the existing law, and the case is, of course, put in the strongest light. The objections which are by some conscientiously raised on moral grounds are altogether slighted, but the legal and scriptural arguments are thoroughly en tered into. Ancient authorities are cited, the doc trines of the early fathers of the Christian Church are examined at length, and those who are occupied in the consideration of this question will be much interested in the perusal of these arguments. The characters introduced are, many of them, pleasing and ably drawn, and the general style of the work promises well for the author's future success. 031NIBUS ACCIDENTS. TO THE EDITOR. OP TIIE SIR,—It is by no means an uncommon accident in London for one of the horses of an omnibus to fall down, in which case great difficulty is experi enced in unfastening the traces and giving the animal liberty to rise. It is impossile to advance the omnibus, to slacken the traces, on account of the chains connecting the horse's collar to the pole, and nee versa, the vehicle cannot be backed on account of the traces. All this inconvenience could be obviated by a s i m pl e mec h an i ca l contri vance to discon nec t th e t races w i t h out t h e necessity of slackening them. It is needless to propose any particular plan, there being already more then twenty different ways of performing this simple operat ion. If omnib us propr i e t ors wou ld on ly loot to this matter they would consult the convenienc e of the public, and prevent injury both to their cat tle and their rolling property. W. FOUNDERING OF ANOTHER STEAMER AND LOSS OP FOURTEEN LIN-Es.—A telegraphic desp a tch, receive d on Saturd a y f rom M a lt a , at Lloyd's, reports as follows :-- " The Pomona, a screw steamer, Capt. Penn, master, from Odessa for London, laden with wheat, foundered on Thurs day morning during a heavy gale of wind. The passengers and 11 of the crew were saved, the remainder, 14 in number, were drowned. She only left Malta the previous day. The Pomona was a new iron steamer, about - 700 tons burthen, and was chartered by Messrs. 1{ obinson, of Mark-lane, charterers of the screw steamer Ondine, which vessel was in collision on Sunday morning last in the Channel, and immediately sank with many lives. The loss of the Pomona and cargo is roughly calculated at upwards of ,10,000." ,*1