The Sun. — London, England, 1858-12-23 00:00:00

THE SUN,. LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBUI lB5B. GREAT SOUTHERN of INDIA RAILWAY COMPANY. (Incorporated by Act of Parliament.) FIRST SECTION. Capital £1,000,000, in 50,000 Shares of £2O each. Interest at 5 per cent., guaranteed by East India CompanY• FIRST CALL of X 1 18s. per Share, making, with the deposit of 25., Z 2 per Share. Company's Offices, 2, Leadenhall-street, London, 23d November, 1858. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Directors of this Company have this day made a Call of One pound eighteen shillings (£1 ISs.) per share, making, with the deposit of Two shillings, Two pounds per share ; and that the same is re quired to be paid to the Union Bank of London, on or before Wednesday, the 29th day of December, 1858. Shareholders will have the opt until further notice, of paying the whole or any part of the remaining £lB per share, on all, or any number of their shares, and, on the above Call and payments made respectively, interest will accrue at the rate of five per cent. per annum from the date of payment into the Treasury of the E ast India House. S cr ipholders are required to insert in the forms attached to the Scrip Certificates their full Names, Professions, and Ad dresses, and to present the same at the Offices of the C om pany, on or before the said 29th day of December, between 11 and 3 o'clock, when the necessary printed forms for payment to the Bankers of the Call, and of any sum in anticipation of Calls, will be furnished to them ; a receipt for the Scrip will also be given, which will be exchanged, on a day to be named therein, for Share Certificates, under the common seal of the Company.—By Order, ROBT. R. NOTMAN, Manager and Secretary. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison.—The public are respectfully in formed that this new and elegant Theatre IS NOW OPEN for the first ENGLISH OPERA SEASON THIS EVENING Dec. 23, when will be'presented an entirely, new and original Opera, by Mr. W. Balfe, entitled SATANELLA ; or, THE POWER OF LOVE. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. After which the National Anthem. Commence at Seven, P OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, .1-1) 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 Prince Diamond and Princess Brighteyes. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bnoluitone. THIS EVENING will be performed a new Comedy, THE • TIDE OF TIME. Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale &c. ; Mesdames Reynolds and Poynter. A new Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE. In which Peres Nena will appear. THE TOODLES. Sir Win. Don, Bart And A DAUGHTER TO, MARRY. Commenea at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, Will be Opened for the season on CHRISTMAS EVE, Fri day, Dec. 24, 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, &c. ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. J. Boors, Mr. Barrett, Jec. ; 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 frisks and mechanical devices, entitled HARLEQUIN TOY HORSE; or, The Cremome Fete. Clown, Mr Charles Lauri ; Harlaquin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Henry Lauri ; Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. The Performanees will commence on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday with the Comedietta of TOO MUCH. FOR GOOD NATURE. A Morning Performance of the Burlesque and Pantomime on Boxing-day, to commence at two o'clocky precisel ; doors open at half-past one. Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, 2s. ; Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, is. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7 every evening. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE, Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, THE RULE OF THREE. After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. THE LITTLE SAVAGE. And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. Commence at 7 o'clock. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA; er, The Fugitives and their Faith ful Steed. After which SCENES IN THE ARENA, introducing 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 the Farce of SHOOTING THE MOON. A famous, magnificent, and matchless Christmas Panto mime on Boxing-night, 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, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls, ; Galleries, 6d. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor —C. MORTON. The public is most respectfully informed that the FINE ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS WOW OPEN DAY AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m. The New Gallery , contains an extensive Collec tion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters land 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 c,omniences u usual a 1 Seven o'clock. Is addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. THE WEATHER.-Sux OFFICE, DEC. 23. THERMOMETER, TN THE SHADE. 50—highest since noon yesterday. 49—lowest this morning and during the night. 47—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.42 —falling rapidly. " WIND, Southerly ; rather fresh, with rain and dirty weather. . THE SUN. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 23, 1858. Mr. BRIGHT possesses the great element of sue cess---an unflinching energy, combined with that devoted seal which induces him to enter heart and soul into the cause with which he identifies himself, and which in his conscience he believes to be just. Now that he has accepted the responsibility of bringing forward a Reform Bill, he is determined to explain the nature and extent of the contem plated measure, so that "he who runs may read," and every man may understand what is expected at his hands. There is no mystery or concealment. He is too earnest and straightforward for such a course. He does not bide his time in order to feel the popular pulse, and ascertain the smallest pos sible modicum of reform with which the quasi repre sentatives of the people will be contented, or rather which may be regarded as a colourable redemption of the pledges solemnly given on the hustings in Afarch and April, 1857. He has, in this respect, taught a valuable. lesson to Lords PAL3IERSTON and JOHN Iti ' /SS ' E LL; and the cartoon, in which our facetious contemparar) - Punch represents him as offering "satisfaction to the Liberal party," contains a sound moral. The lordly candidates have been floored by the superior candour and honesty of the Member for Birmingham. Mr. BRIGHT declares that " ho is no conjuror." The remedies which ho invites those who are suffering either from being rendered political cyphers, by being altogether depri ve d of the fran chise, or from not receiving their fair share in the representative scale, is not a modern inventio?.. It was ventilated, more than sixty years since, b y Lord GREY, and repeated by Lord DURHAM. The Act of 1832 was, unquestionably, a great amelio ration on the former system ; and, although we can sympathise with the delight with which JOSEPII HUME, perhaps as single-minded and honest a re former as ever sat in the House of Commons, listened to the plan proposed by a Cabinet Minister, he would not have put forward the doctrine of finality, or urge that the experience of six-and-twenty years should be disregarded, or that five-sixths of the adult male population should remain without votes, that two or three hundred electors should return as many members as twenty or thirty thousand, or that these few electors should be driven to the poll by 141.ndlord, priest, employer, or customer, so hat they could not conscientiously exercise the sacred and important trust confided to their charge, and the privilege was rendered a curse instead of a blessing. The first great "point"—for it appears the im provements required are still to be designated as "points"—is the extension of the franchise. There are but one-sixth of the adult male population who are now represented. The five millions can only resort to bludgeons and brickbats, if they wish to express an opinion. That is what Lord JOHN RUSSELL, while condemning the Ballot, seemed to consider the legitimate mode of expres sion of public opinion. Mr. BRIGHT would give the franchise to every ratepayer and to every per manent lodger ; but every contributor to the revenue in any form should be included- The constitutional theory is, that " there should be no taxation without representation," and a person directly assessed should certainly be entitled to a vote in the district wherein he resides. An educated man should also have a voice in the national legislation. But we know many possess ing high intelligence and sound judgment who have no means of publicly declaring their opinions. We heard of a remarkable instance of this description lately. A gentleman who took high honours in one of the old universities, a barrister of consider able standing, and well known as a political writer, is deprived of the franchise because he " resides" outside the limits of the neighbouring borough, and his rent is a mere fraction under £5O per annum. The next topic is the gross inequality of the elec toral districts. Bad as it is when popu lation is regarded, it is still worse when property is taken into consideration. Mr. BRIGHT being in Scotland naturally accepted Scotch measures, and he showed that Edinburgh and Glasgow, returning only four members, possess taxable property to the extent of £7,800,000, and actually contribute to the support of the National Establishments and the liquidation of the Public Liabilities no less than £556, or £139,000 per annum for each member ; white a number of minor boroughs, returning 126, and therefore possessing thirty-one and a half times the political weight and influence, only pay £568,000 or a little over £ll,OOO more than Edinburgh and Glasgow—not much more than £4,000 for each representative. The Ballot, however, above and beyond all, is the great matter on which the public mind is set. It is the only way by which every corrupt influence can be averted—by which parties can honestly bestow their suffrages in favour of those whom, in their heart and consciences, they believe best qualified to represent their wants and wishes. Any one who votes differ ently is, as Mr. BRIGHT justly remarked, " a "demoralised and degraded man," one who has literally bartered his birthright for " a mess of pot tage." We know the temptations by which the poorer voters are assailed—the terrible pressure that may be brought into operation should he vote in accord ance with his convictions. He may be ejected from the farm on which he was born, married, brought up a family, and fondly hoped to close his eyes in peace may be deprived of an occupation in which he had justly dis charged his duty, because his ;political views happened to differ from those of his employer— may see his shop deserted, and the local aristocracy contenting themselves with inferior goods at higher prices, because his competitor is contented to ac commodate himself to their prejudices ; or have to encounter sacerdotal fulminations, or the outra geous insults of an infuriated mob or hired bludgeon. aries. This is the blessing of open voting. With the Ballot, although the best man may not invariably win, the man whose opinions are most in accord ance with the majority of his constituents will do so. Bribery and intimidation will be num bered with the past, and although the nation may not be well represented, it will at all events be honestly represented. There are many points on which we differ from Mr. BRIGHT, but we give him full credit for his manly, honest, and straight. forward conduct on the all-absorbing question of Parliamentary Reform. A few days ago we had a letter, a rather touching one too, from Mr. President BUCHANAN ; then a tele graphic summary of his Message ; then the full length Message—of such a length, and on so many topics, that to master it fairly was not the work of a leisure hour. Looking calmly back upon the whole, one thing especially strikes us. The Mes sage is, quite undesignedly, expository of the letter. What is more remarkable, the letter deplores the melancholy prospects and the lowered political morality of the Union, while the Message unfolds the very policy which makes a Jeremiah of the President. Mr. BUCHANAN himself glories in the shame of his country, and claims a civic crown for what threatens to shake the Union to pieces, com mendation for abetting the most odious social crime in' Christendom, and the credit of patriotism for a hardly disguised filibustering foreign policy. Some hundred years ago a detachment from General ABERCROMBY'S army captured Forts Du quesne and Pitt on the Ohio ; the citizens of Pitts burg thought fit to hold a centennial celebration of this English success, which has resulted in the creation of a large and flourishing American town. They invite the President to the fete. He is unable to attend, but he does the next best thing—he sends them a letter. It is a letter, too, which might fur nish the citizens with much more matter for grave consideration than for jovial self-laudatory deela " Assuming the privilege of advancing years," as he_ says, he speaks out to them on the subject of " public virtue," and that, too, in the admonitory strain. He distinctly indicates the entrance for the first time into their electoral practice "of the employment of money - to carry elections ;" he notes the frequent use now of the word " disunion,"—a word which it would have been thought treasonable but to pronounce some years ago ; and he asks, and apparently not rhetorically, but in all seriousness, Will the next centenary of the event now celebrated witness a breaking up of the great federation, a conflict of rival and jealous States, or the triumph of a despot over the exhausted republics ? While, as he says, every patriot must rejoice in the change which has converted an obscure fort, almost in the wilderness, into a large and populous commercial city, have we not reason to see in the present of the Republic a crisis which may either consolidate the Union or break it up into fragments ? But, then, turn to the Message ; almost its first paragraph affiliates to Mr. BUCHANAN and his im moral policy all the evils he deplores, and the dangers he foresees. Is there any evil which in every way so endangers the Union as slavery, and the social and political violence and injustice of the slaveholders, and those who make them a ladder to office ? In regard to everything else, political power is equa lly apportioned among the free citizens of the United States. But the slaveholders, by in cluding their slaves in the population, while of course they have no vote, obtain a share of the representation wholly disproportioned to their real numbers, and though but a small minority, contrive thus to domineer over the numbers and intelli- mation. gence of the North. To keep their numbers equa in the Senate with those of the free States, there is no jugglery, fraud, or violence from which they have shrunk. Kansas, with the ready help of PIERCE and BUCHANAN, has been the well-known scene of their last outrages on liberty, law, and order. And it is just this Kansas with which the Pre sident occupies a column or more of his long Message—of course altogether a laudation of his own policy, and a censure of the determined Free soilers, who would neither be threatened nor cajoled into a surrender of the slavery question. Mr. BUCHANAN exults in the fact that, by the help of the thoroughly partisan and corrupt Supreme Court of the United States, he can now bid the slaveholders welcome into every " territory" under the administration of the republican Congress ; and though he has lived some years among us, and might be supposed to have imbibed some of our spirit of genuine freedom, yet this aged Statesman adopts, with gusto, the hateful language of slavery —" American citizens have equal rights to take into the territories whatever is held as property under the laws of any of the States ; and to hold such property under the guardianship of the Federal Constitution so long as the territorial-con ditibn shall remain." Heaven grant that long be fore " a second centenary of the capture of forts Duquesne and Pitt," American Presidents, if they exist, may blush for predecessors who could unctu ously discourse of property in man ! who could put in one bill of sale houses and land, cattle and pigs, dogs and native Americans of a different com plexion to the PRESIDENT ! • The PRESIDENT deplores the employment of, money at elections. To what is this to be ascribed? What has made it worth while to employ money ? Who have done it ? Have the Free-soilers employed anything but argument ? No, it is the mad tyrants who fear that their despotism, and their infernal traffic, is in danger ; who, as they were ready to pour forth others' blood in Kansas, have been also ready to pour forth such funds as mortgages have left them to uphold their bankrupt slave 'system, and all its cruelties. It is this, too, which has generated that 'coveting of tropical countries which has again given birth to the demoralising love of filibustering, and the readiness to concede their flag to pirates and slavers rather thanallow British cruisers, by any chance, to ask a sight of an Ame rican vessel's papers. With millions on millions of acres westward, the Slave States have been ever coveting the warmer adjacent territories of Mexico, Central America, and especially of Cuba. Politi cally, they will be an injury to the Union; but slavery hates free States near it, and longs for territory specially adapted for it. American de moralisation, in regard both to foreign and domestic policy, is chiefly due to slavery. It is the poison which is corrupting the whole body—social, eccle siastical, and political—and Mr. BUCHANAN, who deplores the disease, has done all in his power to increase its virulence. There are now sundry bankruptcy amendment bills ,before Parliament, and it is essential that there should be a complete revision of the entire law of debtor and creditor during the ensuing ses sion. The great object is to distribute whatever assets may be available fairly and impartially between bona fide creditors, not to let one sweep away the entire amount, receiving 19s. or 20s. in the pound, while those who have been more indulgent do not receive as many pence. The present law holds out a premium to sharp practitioners to in duce them to crush the unfortunate debtor, whom a little forbearance might save from total ruin. hoWever, undue'advantage can be obtained by the party first issuing an execution, there is a premium on harshness, an inducement to proceed to extremes, which few can resist ; and the result" is that both debtors and creditors are seriously damaged—the former being involved in ruin, and the latter losing the entire amount of their claims. Were the law different all parties would be mate rially benefited, save the one who, if really a creditor, is probably the least meritorious of any. The opportunities of collusion and fraudulent pre ference would be completely got rid of if it were provided that the proceeds of any fi. fa. levied within three months of an act of bankruptcy or insolvency should be paid into court for the general benefit of all the creditors. Indeed, it may be assumed that, when any man allows his pioperty to be disposes of by sheriff's sale, he has but little prospect of retrieving his position. It is absurd to maintain the distinction between traders and non-traders. The law for both should be assimilated, so as to compel every person unable to meet the demands for which he is responsible to submit his affairs to the consideration of a compe tent tribunal. At present, until a non-trader can be taken into custody, no account can be obtained of his affairs. He may himself petition for protec • tion from process, but that, as we have already stated, involves a heavy outlay in the first instance. It is also purely optional with the debtor. What ever may be the state of his affairs, whatever may be the injury inflicted on his creditors, he cannot be called to account until he has been captured and placed in - prison. Even then he may continue /0 set them at defiance; for although a vesting order may be obtained, he cannot be compelled to file his schedule, or to appear before the court. Such contumacy should not be tolerated, and the Commissioners should be invested with ample flowers' to deal with obstinate persons who are unwilling to make full and complete revelations respecting their affairs. Bankruptcy is an expensive process, while insol vency is comparatively cheap. The former requires at least £l5O for fees and other necessary outlays, while the tenth, or, mote frequently, the twentieth part of the amoupt is sufficient to carry a petitioner through the other court. It is obvious, then, that the latter cannot be done away with, while there are thousands whose entire liabilities would be defrayed for less money than would entitle them to apply for relief at Basinghall-street. Indeed, the majority of cases that appear before the Insolvent Court are those of small traders, who do not owe more than £lOO or £l5O. These men should obtain relief, and on the most economical terms. There should be no imprisonment in the first instance. The matter should be fully investigated before any punishment—and imprisonment even in a debtor's prison is a punishment of no ordinary magnitude — ;Ind when the entire property had been given up ra , r distribution there should be no further liability ; irbo mortgage on a man's future labour, to tempt him to improvidence, and reduce him to spend his receipts as fast as they come to hand. !The proper course will be to retain both courts— sentling those where there are large assets to Bastogliall-street, and retaining those of smaller means in Portugal-street. The parties should be bound to surrender on the like notice, and the cer tificate of the Commissioner:l to be a good discharge for all future time, and all ,future earnings. We trust that due attention may hie paid to these imL portant topics, so that the barb arous system of im prisonment, at the mere will and Measure of a vin dictive or ex asperated creditor, nu,sy be set aside, and that no man shall be incarcerated unless he has deserved punishment by his misconduct. The Mitrquis d'Almasy and "Baron Meyer have loft the Bruirowiek Hotel, for the Cc) ntinent. THE CONTESTED WARDMOTES. The following are the results sf the polls yesterday in the six wards in which contests took place on the previous day, the names given being the gentlemen elected : ALDERSGATt.—Messrs.Chaplain, Bosley, Godson, Wood , De Jersey, Woodward, Lockin, and Harris. BISHOPSGATE.—Messrs. Hopgood, Richardson, Peacock (deputy), Stapleton, Stevens (deputy), Neddes, Ashley, Kerry, Gilpin, Owden, Pilcher, Jones, Pricker, and Warren. COLEMAN-STREET.—Messrs. Davies (aeputy), Perkins Webster, Valiance, Westall, Saunders, Roberts, and Haines. FARRINGDON WlTHlN.—Messrs. Deputy Holt, Wheeler, M'Laughlan, Deputy Virtue, Glover, Dolland, Morris Young, Reed, Bengough, C. Phillips, Blake, Rudkin, and Kelday. FARRINGDON WITHOUT. Stu-ridge, Walter, Ross, Lawley, Barnard, Butcher, Bedford, Obbard, Scamell, Wol torton, Cotterell, Stanborough, Anderton, Lias, Langham, and Butler. LIMB-STREET.—Messrs. D. Cook (deputy), Simpson, Symonds, and Harris. The marriage was celebrated a few days ago at the parish church, Stoke Dameril,Devon, of the second son of the late Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.8., of Lucknow, Lieutenant in the 6th Bombay, N. 1., to the second daughter of the late William Creak, Esq., Com mander R.N. The Earl of Dartmouth has accepted the office of President of the Wolverhampton. Working Men's College, succeeding Lord. Wrottesley, who has just retired. The 'following persons were on Monday last. licensed to the undermentioned curacies :—William Wyke Bayliss, St. Mark, Lakenharn; Clement Ogle Smith, Hing ham; Albert John Porter, Heigham ; Frederick Greene Littlecot, Thorndon ; Corbett Metcalf Moore, Shingham. DEATH OF'THE PRINCESS DORIA.—We announce to-day with much regret the death of the eldest daughter of John, Earl of Shrewsbury. The Princess Doria expired on Saturday last, at her residence in Rome, after a lengthened illness, lealring a family of five children—three daughters and two sons. The Princess's death will be a severe blow to society in Rome, of which she was one of the brightest ornaments. _ • • DEATH OP THE GOUNI'ESS LATRADIO.—We regrpt to learn that the Countess Lavradio, wife of his-Excellency the Portuguese Minister, died yesterday morning at half past 10 o'clock, after a short illness, at the Portuguese Legation, in Gloucester-place; Portman-square. Many of the members of the Corps Diplomatique paid visits of con &Renee to his Excellency during the afternoon. The Coun tess, up to a few days back, was to all appearance in the possession of excellent health. The Queen and the Prince Consort, and the members of the Royal Family, sent to inquire as to the condition of the Countess when the melan choly result of her illness was communicated. LIVERPOOL, Dec. 22.—The screw steamship City of Manchester sailed to-day for New York with a full cargo and 110 passengers ; and the Montreal Ocean Company's Canadian mail steamer North American also sailed to-day with a full cargo, 72 passengers, 270,000 dols. in silver for the new Canadian decimal currency, and the Canadian and United States' mails. AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MAILS.—The screw steamer North American sailed from Liverpool yesterday (Wednesday) for Portland, with the Canadian and United States mails. The City of Manchtster also sailed, taking out a ship's mail and 143 passengers to New York. On Saturday next the steamer Africa sails for New York. The letter box closes at 10 a.m., and finally, with a late fee, at 11 a.m. The box on the landing stage remains open until within a few minutes of the departure of the steamer. THE INDIA AND CHINA MAIL SERVICE.—SOUTH AMPTON, Wednesday.—The four screw steamers recently purchased and added to the Peninsular and Oriental Com pany's fleet, heretofore known as the Barcelone, Franc Comtois, Cadiz, and Alma, have been re-named respectively the Behar, Orissa, Ellora, and China. The Behar, Capt. Field, is appointed to take out the Bombay mails on Mon day next, the 27th inst., and the Orissa, Capt. Joy, the Calcutta and China mails on the 4th proximo. The Malta, Capt. Black, is expected to-morrow (Thursday), with the heavy portion of the Bombay mails. The next mails from Calcutta and China will be brought by the Ceylon, Capt. Evans, due here on the 4th of January. AFRICAN STEAM-SHIP COMPANY.--A special meeting of the proprietors was to have been held yesterday at the company's offices, 3, Mincing-lane, at one o'clock, to consider the resolution submitted at the last half-yearly meeting, with reference to the reduction under the 88th, 89th, and 90th clauses of the deed of settlement, of 20 per cent. per annum out of revenue on original first cost of the company's ships for wear and tear, insurance, and depre ciation, and to confirm the same, or take such steps thereon as might be'deemed advisable. As, however, the deed re quires the presence of 20 shareholders to constitute a meet ing, and only 17 had arrived at - half-past one, no meeting took place. The following is' a copy of the amended reso lution which was to have been proposed "That in order to simplify the accounts of the company, the directors be authorised in future to charge the actual disbursements for wear and tear and insurance, against the receipts of the vessels respectively, and to reserve 71 per cent. per annum out of revenue on the cost of Company's ships, as shown in the books at the expiration of each half-year, to form a De preciation Fund." Mr. Hadow stated on behalf of the board that, notwithstanding the failure to secure the passing of the foregoing resolution, ,the accounts would be kept upon the new system during the next half-year. .CHARLES LEVER, THE NOVELIST.—The follow ing announcement, which will be received' with gratifica tion in literary circles, is made in the Evening Packet on the authority of a private letter from Spezia : The Irish public am ong which Charles Lever reckons so many friends and admirers, will be glad to learn that the distinguished novelist has been appointed her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Spezia." A servant girl of Pilleboure (Gers) was three mornings ago found lying dead in a pool of blood in the road, having beem murdored by means of a firearm dis charged close to the back of her head. Various circum stances, and amongst them footmarks near her dead body, indicated that the murderer was her master, one Mont, and he has been arrested, but his reason for the crime is not known. lie has been committed for trial. PROOF OF A HELPLESS OLD BACHELOR.—" I always know a helpless old bachelor (says a clever lady) by looking at the corners of his pocket handkerchief. if I notice in them anylittle piece of red, blue, or yellow worsted —such as washerwomen run in to identify the property of each separate customer —I know at once that he has no one at home to mark his linen, and that he must be a poor, pitiful, misanthropical, friendless, helpless old bachelor."— Punch's Almanac for 18,59. A very remarkable result of pisciculture has been lately obtained in the department of the Meurthe when from a small stream the enormous weight of 25 , 000 kilogranimes of bleak Ives taken during the last season. The scales of the fish are used for milting artificial pearls. By an ingenious process they are reduced to a kind of lus trous paste called Essence d'Orient, and the French arti ficial pearls are simply small hollow glass balls coated in side with this paste and filled with white wax. WRECK OFF CAPF. GRISNES.—At 4 a.m. yester day, a vessel of 550 tons, called the Carl Slorgomann, of H am burg, coming from the coast of Africa, laden with ivory and palm oil, went ashore off Cape Grisnes. She had been at sea 36 days. During the last 12 days she had not seen the sun, and had lost her reckoning, and mistaking the lights of Cape . Grimes for those of Dungeness, was the - cause of her running on shore. The crew, 23 in number, were got off by a French fishing boat, and brought in safety to Boulogne,. s COLLISION ON Trig SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. —Yesterday afternoon a collision occurred at the Basing stoke station of the South-Western Railway. The particu lars are as follows :—.The train which leaves Southampton at 11.30, meets at Basingstoke a train from the Salisbury and Andover branch; and the latter is invariably shunted off to a siding until the Southampton train has poassed. Yesterday the Southampton train arrived at Basingstel;e shortly before one, and just as . the Salisbury and Andover train was being shunted. A collision was the consequence, resulting in the destruction of the break-van and damage to several car riages, besides injuries to several passengers, some of which, howeveros-ere of a very serious nature. ATTEMIg TO POISO N A FAMILY NEAR NOTTING nin.—A shocking attempt to poison a family took place en Monday night, at Mr. John Blagg's, Crifton-house, Epper stone, 10 miles from Nottingham. It appears that a ser vant girl named itsannah Twells was preparing some potatoes for supper on the night in question, when the nephew of Mr. 131agg went in the kitchen; and there being a strong smell in the place, questioned the girl as to the cause of it, and front her confused manger and silence he suspected that all was not rigjit. smell The smell was like that of a washswhich ha d been recently used for the purpose of washing the feet of some sheep. Upon examining the potatoes he discovered that nicks had been cut in the ha m d been with a knife, and the wa sh, whic h is a deadly p oison, inserted. A policeman was immediately sent for, and the girl taken into cu stod y . She had been.frequently told that the liquid was poison, and not allowed to meddle with the bottle for any purpose*Whatever. On Wednesday morning she was brought before the county magistrates at Notting.- ham and remanded. No cause for the perpetration of this mallet Ass act has been ascertained. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.—On Monday after noon, between four and five o'clock, an old locomotive engine exploded on the Hetton. Railway, killing instanta neously James Ford, the engineer, and his son, a boy nine or ten years of age. Two men named Harrison and Thomp son and another man were blown a considerable distance, and severely bealded. The three men are seriously hurt, and lie in a dangerous condition. It appears that the boy Ford had gone with his father's tea, and waited till he came forward to Old Hetton, where his father stopped the e ngine to take his meal. The boy climbed on to the engine to be beside his father, and as they sat together the boiler of the engine exploded, and father and son were blown nearly one hundred yards from the spot. They were fright fully mutilated and scalded, and both survived the accident but a short time. Ford has left a widow and two children. The engine was the oldest on the line or in the employ ment of the company. Latest accounts say that the other three men are very ill. The railway plates were torn up for some distance and broken to pieces, and 'several persons were slightly injured.—Newsoatle Daily Chroniele, DAMAGES BY SPARKS FROM A RAILWAY ENGINE. —The Right Hon. Jane Douglas of Douglas, Lady Mon tague, raised an action against the North British Railway Company, before the Sheriff's Small Debt Court, Dime, on the 14th of December, for £5, as damages eaused to a small plantation on the estate of Buncle, known by the name of the Brockholes plantation, near the line of the North British Railway, by a spark front the tender of one of the engines belonging to the company having set firo to the plantation on the 30th of March last. At the hearing on 4th November Mr. M‘Watt took the preliminary objection that there was no allegation of snipe on the part of the company, and stated that without such an averment there was no ground for dares es, the company being engaged in a lawful eat at the time. The sheriff remitted to the ordinary roll for debate upon the point : and the case was on the 14th December allowed to be withdrawn on payment of a small sum of expenses to the eempany. It may be stated that long before the summons was t4lPan out the railway com pany offered to pay any damage that might have arisen, provided they were reasonably satis d9 4 that the fire was caused by them.—lfeliso Jfail, STATE OF TRADE.—MANCHESTER, Tuesday.— There has been a decidedly firm market to-dal for all sorts of yarns and cloths at a general advance in price. The de mand just now is greater than the production; spinners and manufacturers consequently obtain their own quota tions for any sales made. THE BALLOT SOICETY.—The weekly meeting of the executive committee was held at the offices in Guildhall Chambers, on Tuesday. Mr. Elt presided; Mr. White hurst, Mr. Jame - s Campbell, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Nodes, and other gentlemen, were present. Mr. Washington Wilks was authorised to represent the society at reform meetings in the North of England and in Scotland. A letter respect ing the ballot in America, from a citizen of Edinburgh, for merly resident in the States, was read. This letter states : " In the last session of Parliament, if I am not mistaken, Lord Palmerston said that he defied any one to bring proof that there was anything like secret voting in America. How Lord Palmerston got this information I am of course igno rant, but I am not ignorant of this, that there is secret voting in America, andfurther, that all Americans, who look up with pride to their constitution, look upon the ballot as ono of the most important safeguards of that constitution. A re sidence of 12 years in the United States gave me a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with its use in the great republic ; and when I think of its efficacy and sim ' plicity, I cannot but admire it. In confirmation of what I have said—that there is secrecy in the elections in Ame rica—at some of the elections at which I have been pre sent, and party politics have run high, I have heard it suggested that it was possible to buy some of the votes ; the answer to this invariably was, What is the use of trying to buy, , when we cannot possibly know, when we have paid for the vote, which way it will be given.' " THE BALLOT MEETING AT HORSHAM.--A crowded public meeting of the electors and other inhabitants of Horsham, convened to promote the adoption of the ballot in any new reform bill, was held in the lecture-room of the Literary Institute on Monday evening. A deputa tion attended from the Ballot Society, consisting of Mr. Whitehurst (vice-chairman), Mr. James Campbell, and Mr. George Staveley (from the colony of Victoria). Mr. Honeywood, an elector of the borough and of West Sussex, was called to the chair. The deputation addressed the meeting in speeches of considerable length, in the course of which it wat shown that not one member for the county of West Sussex or the boroughs therein is really and• freely chosen by the people. The working of the ballot in Victoria and its success was at- tested liy Mr. Staveley on his own experience. The mis statements of the Times as to the-ballot in America, and the true state of the case as to the ballot in the great republic, were clearly laid before the meeting. A resolution in favour of the ballot accompanying any reform bill was voted una nimously, and it was arranged that the proceedings of the meeting should be communicated by letter to Lord Derby, to the members for the county, and to Mr. Seymour Fitz gerald, M.P., Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs and member for the borough. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF A PRISONER IN A POLICE, VAN.—On Tuesday evening, shortly after six, one of the prisoners in the Government van, while being con veyed to Wandsworth House of Correction, made a most determined attempt to commit suicide by cutting his throat. The name of the prisoner is George May, and he was on Tuesday charged before Mr. Combe, by Mr. Town son, one of the relieving officers of the parish of St. George's, Southwark, with deserting his wife and leaving her charge able to the parish. His conduct before the magistrate was very indecorous, and on his refusal to maintain his wife or make any arrangements for her support, Mr. Combe committed him to the House of Correction with hard la bour for one month. When removed by Downe, the gaoler, to the cells to wait for the prison van, he seemed quite un concerned. Shortly before six o'clock he was delivered up to Sergeant Russell, V diviSion, who has charge of the van, for removal to Wandsworth, and placed as usual in one of the compartments by himself. While passing Vauxhall gardens Sergeant Russell heard an extraordinary noise in the compartment where the prisoner was, and on opening the door he perceived him reclining on the side with his throat cut. He immediately conveyed him to a surgeon's, where the wound was sewed up, and afterwards took him with the other prisoners to Wandsworth House of Correc tion, when he was placed in the infirmary. Yesterday the medical authorities pronounced him in great danger, with very little hopes of recovery. The Sentinelle du Jura says :—" An accident occurred two days back at the Mesnay paper mill.. M. Vannoz, son-in-law of the proprietor, had been showing a new steam-engine to some visitors, and on their departure, being alone in the engine-room, began to arrange some thing belonging to the machinery, and in doing so, pressed down the regulating weight of the safety-valve, and the sudden compression caused the boiler to explode. M. Vannoz fell to the ground nearly suffocated by the vapour, and the windows having been all blown to pieces, the noise attracted the attention of the visitors who were departing, and several men at once rushed to the room to see what had 'taken place. But not one was able to enter at first, and it was only at length that a servant by creep ing in on his stomach, could reach M. Vannoz, lying in sensible, and bring out his body. Restoratives being applied, that gentleman after a time recovered, but was found to be very badly burnt by the steam. His life, how ever, is not considered in danger." EMBEZZLEMENT.—The Military Tribunal of the division of Algiers was a few days ago occupied with the trial of a sub-lieutenant of infantry named Boutier, on a charge of embezzling sums of money which came into his hands as paymaster of a district, the deficit in his accounts amounting to the sum of 5,303 francs. It appeared that about two years ago a deficiency on his part to the amount of 1,865 francs was discovered, but the sum was made up, and .Boutier was continued in his post of paymaster. When, however, the second deficiency was discovered, he was placed under arrest. Previously to his trial he posi tively protested his innocence, and said that there must be some error in the accounts, but when before the court he made a full avowal, which rendered the examination of wit nesses unnecessary. The court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. A e strange affair is stated to have occurred in the neighbourhood of Dinan (Cotes du Nord). A young man named Crespel, of Trevron, and a young woman of Dinan, to whom he was attached, went together into different cafes and public-houses in the town, and drank a good deal ; after which they went together to the house of the girl's parents and ascended to her chamber. There the man poured some liquid into a cup and pressed her to drink it, but she seeing some black substance floating on the surface, took it out with her finger. Her finger was at once burned — a proof that the substance was some corrosive poison. She shrieked for help—the neighbours rushed in, and Crespel took to flight. - The vessel being found to contain sulphuric acid, a warrant.for the arrest of the man was issued ; but when the police went to his house to execute it they found that he had blown out his brains I No explanation of the man's reasons for acting in this way is given. An Italian dancer named Appiani, was yester day cited before the tribunal of Correctional Police to answer a complaint of his wife of having committed adul tery ; but, instead of answering it, his advocate raised a singular technical objection, namely, that the complainant was not his wife at all, inasmuch as though they were united in 1838 before the Burgomaster of the Hague, the marriage was void, he being a Roman Catholic and she a Protestant, and. the Austrian Code, to which as a Lombard he is subject, declaring that marriages between different religions are not valid. It was added that the wife herself had considered the marriage null, since fourteen years ago she had left the man and had never since cohabited with him. The woman's advocate, however, maintained that it would be dangerous to allow such an objection to be pleaded as an answer to a complaint of adultery, and that the tri bunal must assume the validity of the marriage. Taking this view, thp tribunal dismissed the objection, and fined the man 300 fr. The Court of Assizes of the Tarn-et-Garonne, three days ago, tried a married couple named Garrigues, of Fonbonne, and their daughter, a married woman named Gaugiran, for attempting to poison the husband of the lat ter. This husband, a man of weak character, confided some time ago to the Garrigues a sum of 800 f., all he pos sessed, in order to avoid payment of a claim made on him ; but when he wanted it back, he was unable, in spite of re peated applications, to obtain it. At length, in the hope of getting his money, he consented to marry the daughter. But this woman and her parents, soon after the marriage, began to treat him with contempt and neglect, and mani fested an unmistakeable desire to get rid of him. On the 6th Oct last, on returning home from his work, he found a large basin of soup on the table prepared for him—an un usual circumstance ; he at once ate some of it, but it was so bitter that he could not take much. He pressed his wife and her parents, who were seated near the table, to taste it, but they refused. He at once suspected foul play and kept a close watch on the three. The next morning he saw his mother-in-law take the soup to a field at some distance, and throw it on the ground. He, however, having followedher, collected a quantity of it, and on submitting it to a medical man, it was found to contain sulphuric acid. All the three prisoners were. declared guilty, but extenuating circum stances were pronounced in favour of the father and his daughter. ' The woman was condemned to death ; the daughter to 12 years' hard laboury and the father to five. ADUENTURES OF A BELGIAN SEAMAN.—A Bel- gian vessel, called the Leopold, ran in a violent storm on a rock, on the 12th April last, near one of the Falkland Islands, on the coast of Patagonia, and went to pieces. It was supposed that all her crew, nine in number, and their officers, had perished, But the Authorities of Ostend have just received a letter from a sailor, named Declerk, of that town, one of the crew, announcing that he alone escaped It appears that he swam from the wreck with the captain and some of the men towards an island which they saw near, .but he alone "reached it; the others being..drew)agaly the violence of the sea. He found no inhabitants on - The island, and had to live on some bits of bread which had been washed ashore, wild celery, and some birds, which he killed with a stick. He happened to have some matches on him, and he succeeded in lighting a fire, which he fed with turf. To make his fire burn well, he partly surrounded it with some planks washed ashore from the wreck. In the night of the sth, the wind blew these pl an k s I n t o the fire, and they were construed. He thought this a terrible misfortune, but it was the means of saving him. An American shiphappened to be passing two miles off, and seeing the rising smoke—an extraordinary thing on .-.. desert island—some of the crew disembarked. They found the poor fellow crouching over the fire, and on hear ing his tale they took him on board, provided for his wants, and on the Ist of June landed him at the port of Stanely. The Belgian sailor does not give the name of the ship, but says the captain's name was Smyley, and he ex presses the warmest gratitude to him and his crew. ORIGIN OF THE NATIONAL DEBT.—The National Debt consists, as we all know, of sums borrowed by Govern ment to make up deilaioncies of revenue. But all do not know that Charles II.—" old Rowley," the pensioner of Louis XIV the merry monarch"—was the first king of Great Britain who borrowed money on the national credit : this 'Ann in 1660. At the abdication of James 11. in 1688, the amount of the debt was £660,000. But it was his successor who established the system—a system which has unfortunately taken deep root in eur finance, for the ill-weed has systematically increased until it has now reached the fearful amount of eight hundred millions ster ling The following table will show its progressive in crease at various periods of our history down to the con clusion of the late war with Russia : Year, Occasion. Amount. 1688. On the accession of William 111. £660,000 1702. On the accession of Queen Anne. 16,500,000 1714. On the accession of George I 54,000,000 1749. At the end of the Spanish War 78,000,000 1763. At the end of the Seven Years' War 139,000,000 1786. Three years after the American War 268,000,000 1798. Afte r the Irish Rebellion and Foreign War 462,000,000 1802. Close of the French Revolutionary War 571,000,000 1814. Close of the War against. Bonaparte. 1817. When the English and Irish Exchequers were consolidated 848,282,447 1830 1840. 1845. 1850. - 774,022,638 1856. Conclusion of the War with Russia 800,000,000 goo we are Governed," by Albany Fonblanque, LATEST NEWS. AMERICA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY MORNING. The United States mail steamer Arago, from New York, passed Hurst at 8.40 a.m. She brings advices to the 11th inst. THE KING OF SWEDEN. BERLIN, DEC. 23. Intelligence from Stockholm states that the health of the King of Sweden is seriously impaired. His appetite and power to sleep diminish, and his strength fails. BERLIN, DEC. 21. The Prussian Moniteur contains an ordinance which convokes the Chambers for 12th January. FRANCE. PARIS, THUSRDAY. The Emperor went yesterday afternoon to the Russian embassy, where the Grand Duke Constan tine was at the time. His Majesty remained there about half an hour. Last evening, Count de Kis seleff, in honour of the Grand Duke's arrival, gave a grand dinner, at which were present Count Walewski, M. Fould, and a number of French and Russian personages. The Grand Duke leaves Paris to-night for Marseilles. Viscount de Paiva, the Portuguese Minister at the Court of the Tuileries, has, says the Patrie, received orders to return to his post, his leave of absence having expired. _ BOURSE, Dec. 22.—There has been but little business doing, but prices have been steady. Threes quoted from 73f. 30c, to 73f. 35c. ; Mobi- Her, 987 f. 50c. to 990 f. ; Austrian, 638 f. 75c. to 640 f. ; Orleans, 1,392 f. 50c. to 1,395 f. ; Lyons, 880 f. to 882 f. 50c. ; Southern, 587 f. 50c. to 590 f. ; Lom bardo, 602 f. 50c. to 605 f. ; and Saragossa, 512 f. 50c. to 513. 75c. The following are the last quotations : If per Cents. .... 96 80 Credit Fonder Do. end month .. Belgian 42 . lOO - 3 per Cents. 73 35 Piedmontese (5) 94 - Do. end month.... 73 45 Roman 93 - Bank Shares 3OOO Austrian - Credit Mobilier .. 995 -- Spanish Threls 47 75 Do. Account 997 50 Home Debt 43 25 RAILWAYS. Cash. Accoun Orleans - Northern New ditto. 845 .. 847 50 Lyons and. Mediterranean BB2 50 882 50 New ditto Geneva Midi . Southern 590 590 Western 6lO 607 50 Eastern Grand Central -* .-. • • 625 Sardinian 417 50 420 Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. llfc. ; money, 25f. 9c. ; three months, paper, 24t. 97ic. ; money, 24f. 95c. The Imperial exequatur has been granted to M. Remon de la Sagra, Consul-General at Paris for Uruguay ; M. Tomas Orluno, Consul at Oran for Spain ; M. Valery, jun., Vice-Consul at Bastia for Austria ; and M. Kerros, at Brest, for Russia. —,:,.., ~.:.,' .1 . 11 '..% . ....; ; . . .. .... • ~ k. . t; 11 .' 1 ' 0 " 44 ~ , i l ° il illi*S ` - .1. 1 r-iii ' ...., -,-...:.:::„, dirw„AlLik‘,.. - .9):1, '..':- ~,,,-wff7ipaigli .<•',*:.!-•? , ,-. ii „.'`.%'• ',! 'A , VAaa, ''',..,,,.., ' BOSNIA. A letter from Trieste, of the 15th, says :—" The melancholy question of the sufferings endured by the Christian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is about to enter upon a new phase, as Dervich Pacha, the new commandant of the Turkish troops intended for these districts, has arrived at Ragusa on his way to Trebigue. The Porte, it is said, is seriously determined to pacify theSe unfortunate countries. It is to be hoped that guided by a sense of justice and proper consideration for all its sub jects, it will really put an end to their misfortunes, and will, with that object, make a difference be tween the cry of revolt and the moans which are drawn from men really suffering severely. Ragusa has been converted into a sort of small Turkish camp ; the troops from Constantinople have established there a depot of arms, ammunition, and provisions ; temporary barracks have been erected at Gravosa, by the care of the Austrian government, for the reception of the new corners, and the official population seizes every opportunity of being useful to them. Dervich Pacha was received by the autho rities with marked attention. Unhappily his reputa tion and the recollections which he left behind him in these countries in 1853, at the time of the expedi tion of Omer Pacha against Montenegro,in which he took a very active part, are not in keeping with the enlightened views and generous intentions which probably presided over his present appointment." RUSSIA. The Nord announces that the St. Petersburg com mission of emancipation has terminated its labours. The result is that the advocates of emancipation have triumphed over their adversaries. The mem bers of the commission appointed to draw up the report were—Comte Pierre Schouvaloff, the Senator Wcimarn, the Councillor of State Likhonine, Comte Nicholas Levacheff, Aide-de-Camp to the Emperor, and M. Philippe Doepp. BAVARIA. The Cologne Gazette makes the following re marks on the late elections in Bavaria :—" The result of the elections throughout the country is now known, and the people have, answered the appeal of the Ministry as all the world foresaw —that is to say, by returning their former repre sentatives, with few exceptions, such as M. de Pfordten, President of the Council, Dr. Jager, Comte Larosse, &c., with the addition of some new deputies of very decided opinions, who will strengthen the Loft. It will be difficult for the minister to have recourse a second time to the dis solution of the Chamber. It is therefore probable that the cabinet will not be long before it resigns. Already new lists of ministers are in circulation, but in all of them the Minister of War and M. de Pfordten retain their places; the latter because he is indispensable, and because there is no one to re place him." THE GERMANIC DIET. The following is the text of the proposition which the united committee have submitted to the Diet of Frankfort concerning the affair of the Duchies, and on which the Federal Assembly will be called on to vote on the 23d :—" The High As sembly declares lst,—to suspend provisionally the Federal proceedings commenced on the 12th Aug., for the purpose of securing the execution of the resolution of 11th Feb. last. 2d, the united commit tees propose to make a report on the results of the coming deliberations of the States of Holstein, or even to do so during the course of these delibera tions." SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 17th ,which were duo Yesterday, have come to hand, but the mail of the 18th, which is likewise due, has not arrived. Some sensation had been occasioned by M. O'Donnell, brother of the Premier, having given notice in the Chamber of Deputies that when the discussion on the election of M. Egana, principal editor and pro prietor of the Espana, an opposition journal noted for its bitter hostility to the Cabinet, and to the Prime Minister personally, comes on, he will move, for reasons connected with the dignity and decorum of the Chamber, that M. Egana be required to pro duce the property qualification he has sworn to. ITALY. NAPLES, DEC. 18, Mr. Fenton, a paid attaché of the British Lega tion at Florence, has been in Naples to make some inquiries into a case of complaint made by the Neapolitan Government. It appears that the British Vice-Consul at Brindisi, Signor liemetric Nicazza, an lonian subject, had been charged with screening Neapolitan subjects pursued by the police. The complaint was made dirgaly to the Home Government, but as the "Vice-Consul of Brindisi is under the jurisdiction of the British Consul at Naples, Mr. Fenton was sent here to make some inquiries. Certain papers, or extracts of papers, were given to Mr. Fenton, but before leaving I understand that he saw Signor Carafa more than once, and explained to him that the British Government were not of opinion that the charge was justified. STOPPAGE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN TELEGRAPH. A telegram from Cagliari, in the Island of Sar dinia, yesterday afternoon, has announced a sudden stoppage of electrical communication by the sub marine wire between that port and Malta, belong ing to the Mediterranean Extension Telegraph Company. The cause is not known, but is sup posed to be from some vessel dragging her anchor at Malta, in which case there will be a prospect of speedy repair. Owing to this accident the next telegraphic news from India will experience a delay of two or three days, the distance between Cagliari and Malta being 300 miles. The break occurred on Monday afternoon. MR. ALBERT SMITH. Last night Mr. Albert Smith's entertainment of his " Tour to China," which has been so eagerly expected by the pugg,was. given for the first time to an audience whisW*oked every corner of the Egyptian-hall, and which comprised many of the notabilities in literary, artistic, and fashionable circles. The arrangement of the room is of the prettiest and most elaborate nature. The pro scenium represents a flower-garden pavilion in the neighbourhood of Canton, fitted up for " Singsong Pigeon," or theatrical entertainments. To the left is a portion of a garden, with a circular opening in the wall for entrance, containing a joss -house, or - temple, with a veritable bronze joss. In addition to these there is a Canton shop, fitted up in exact imitation of the original, and co vered , with bills, placards, bamboo work, ban ners, and various other properties, which are lite rally genuine, having been purchased in China and brought over by the enterprising lecturer. Those acquainted with the room in its Mont , Blanc days —by which expression we mean the entire of civi lised England—will recollect the thorough Swiss appearance of the entire place : to them it will be sufficient to say that the Oriental details are equally scrupulously carried out. In the introduction we find our entertainer asleep on the deck of the Peninsular and Oriental Com- pany's boat, and the air " Ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming" serves as the key-note to his vision of his old love, his ascent of Mont Blanc, which is pictorially represented in a passing diorama. This first part commences at Shepheard's Hotel at Cairo, most faithfully represented, where we make the acquaintance of the outward and homeward-bound mail passengers. To this succeeds views of a street in Cairo, of the Sphynx and the Pyramids, and of the Desert and the Railway, all most admirably painted. In this portion of his journey Mr. Smith renews his acquaintance with his old friend Brown, as the type of the travelling young Englishman, and he winds up his first part with a medley song, descriptive of the passengers, crews, and tracks of two of the Peninsular and Oriental steamers from Suez to Hong Kong, which is a marvel of neat composition and of telling and rapid execution. The second part of the entertainment is devoted to China proper. From Mr. Beverley's brush we have the most admirable views of the city and harbour of Victoria, of a Waterside Bazaar in Hong Kong, of the old European factories at Canton, and of Howqua's gardens ; but from Mr. Albert Smith's mouth we have a rapid hydrostatically compressed notion of Chinese life and manners, commencing with our infantile ideas, and concluding with his actual experience, told in that pleasant, chatty, familiar manner, of which he is the sole master. In his passage in a gunboat he encounters Edwards, the ill-used engineer, who has a more wonderful grievanco than he has ever yet developed, and who sings a more unintelligible and lachrymose song than has ever yet penetrated beyond the walls of a country ale-house. Other old friends too are introduced with great effect, and a rapid resume of the " Home News" is given in place of Galignani ; but a further account of these and of the entertain ment generally we must reserve for a subsequent notice. At present it will be sufficient to say that Mr. Albert Smith was received on his appearance with a deafening round of applause, again and again renewed ; that throughout the entertainment there was no single hitch; that the sound of laughter and applause rolled unceasingly from first to last, and that there is every reason to believe " China" . will prove as legitimate a success as " Mont Blanc," and reflect as much credit on its talented andspirited originator. THE NEW PALACE FOR THE PEOPLE AT MUSWELL-HILL. This undertaking, which until quite recently has been considered chimerical, seems likely to become an accomplished fact. On Tuesday afternoon the designs for its construction were privately exhibited at St. James's Hall ; they are by Mr. Owen Jones, and do vast credit to his experience and skill. The grounds of the new palace will be entirely sur rounded by a carriage drive. In order to give the public an idea of the progressive development of the gardening art, portions of the land will be planted in the early English style, and in that of the French, Italian, Dutch, and our own modern day ; there will also be special grounds for archery and cricket. In the centre of the gardens, on an eminence, will stand the palace to which they are accessory. Like its predecessor, it will be erected with iron and glass. There are no transepts ; circular dome, upwards of 200 feet in diameter, rises from , the centre of the building, between four towers 'Wfth cupola-shaped tops ; this elevation with the towers forms a square block, 276 by 276. It is intended that the dome should be separated by glazed walls from the rest of the palace, and will, when heated, form a winter garden in the most prominent site in the building, visible from all its parts. From this point two naves, each 336 ft. by 120 ft., stretch east and west, terminating in two towers of similar design to the four centre ones. At eacb extremity of the building proper is a semicir cular colonnade of 120 feet internal diame ter. These, with the area they enclose, will 'form the refreshment department. The total length of the proposed building is 1,296 ft., the greatest width, 492 ft. There will be two galleries 48 ft. wide running round the dome and naves, and the total area of these, with the ground floor, reaches 740,862 ft. Each nave will possess two aisles 72 ft. in width. The nave to the east will be devoted tolthe general illustration of fine arts, the aisle to the north being specially assigned to ancient, and the southern to modern art. In the western nave`, productions of a purely industrial character will be represented. The courts of the palace will be in the principal gallery ; those over the industrial nave will be severally dedicated to tapestry, m ixed fabrics, clothing, cutlery, painting, and the cera mic art, while the courts over the fine art portion will be devoted to sociology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, and physics. The south front of the building is quite plain, but that towards the north is built out in the centre to a large semi circular projection 216 feet in diameter, th e m t e rior of which will be fitted up as a lecture theatre* capable of seating nearly 10,000 spectators, all or whom, it it stated, will be able to see and hear dis tinctly. This theatre is surrounded by corridors, 24-feet wide, communicating with the main build ing, and which will form the principal entraT;tee from the north. The now palace will be distant from / 3x ford street about five miles, and will h a v e it 4 princ ip a l communication with the metropoliel,,y th e Great Northern Railway, fr om w h ose station of Night ingale's Nest, a branch will be e:onstructed of about a mile and a half in length te, the palace direct. It may be su mmar il y s t ated that the designs 0 1 Mr. Owen Jones are both elegant an d practicable; The general effect of the building is light ana, graceful. Its s it e i s i n th e m i dst of a crowde d a nd respectable neighbourhood, and if it could be erected at a moderate cost, it might prove a specula tion as profitable to the shareholders as it certain*" would be advantageous to the public. STATE OF TRADE. LEICESTER, Dec. 22.—The hosiery trade has still a healthy tone, and in many departments there is I I fair stroke of business doing. The demand b as slackened to some extent, but the trade continue s to be much more active than i s usua l a t thi s period of the year. In the neighbourhood of Leicester, also, the hosiery, trade is tolerably good. WI continue very high in rice. Ya rns are firm, an will, it is thought, be higher. NOTTINGHAM, Dec. 22.—The lace trade remain s in the same inanimate state as has been report e d for some months past, and thi s wee k there h a ° been very little doing in the warehouses. Very little is transacting for export, and the home d u : wand is exceedingly depressed. Stocks arc, h°. w , ever, low, and manufacturers are wisely keeP l 7, them so, There is a g en era l f ee li ng in the trade' that business will thorouhlv revive in a few W eel(6 o The hosiery t ra d e continues v brisk; many o:der_ still remain to be completed, and both the, hall and foreign demand are. much better than, is usu al at this period of th e year. The same animatio n ; . ::lists in the countr,i framework-knitting localities' v , A fir, .ato o k tr ol l y litr e hea fe rred the Sc issu e , 3 Irnpr ov ii , 1 8 and 'Dan is Th e ] to this 14 1.3 0uth.. - vi idi and t'reat N, a jleaSh 1,, -- ` lB tol a Ch es 'i' e East ' La' hl a toheE -. orth s o xford 6 4 1a ill s bur gow Northr i t aad T r] Tiler t he Rai 13everal Weste r North 411prov4 ee n It In th e Qnd Grl kent, ai Quotati Joint 1 1 ,ceedi Unio n krap hLand , h Per B: ,Per India 3 P t r St ft, , D , i to °44013 D; 141 At°eqt Ditto Sn b Fja Ditto biti" 0 " 11 , Ditto 4-o rtuxii bitto Dl r i mh Ditto big V eti bi e t z i ue DittO IE 4 ,;•Y Play .1 1 , 147 deci flier th ; , Jr eec th e 1 !4 e 1 11 ; r gt R t a be vrei t aa ?', l Bud Wor II an n Pena