The Sun. — London, England, 1869-01-11 00:00:00

H O'S GRAIN GER? LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST. .SHEPHERD'S-BUSH. SPORTING 10 N of "TIC 141 SUN " can be seen at GB tINGER'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight a'cl3ck. PORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the kj LATH'S C EDITION of "THE SUN" as soon as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. THEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LANE. gole Lessee and Manarer, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. TIM EVENING; at 7. MY WIFE 9 OUT. Followed by the Grand Pantomime, PUSS IN BOOTS. Commence at 7. LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the Storms of the year 1868, the National Lifeboat Institution contributed to the saving of 853 lives from various ship wrecks and 25 vessels from destruction. The Institution also expended X 20,433 in the same period on its Lifeboat Establishments, in addition to granting X 2,432 for re wards. The Committee of the Institution earnestly appeal to the public for assistance to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on their 194 Lifeboat Establishments. Contributions will be thankfully received by the London and country bankers, and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Cbatt.rton. Special Morning Performances of the Grand Pantomime on every Wednesuay and Saturday during the Christmas Holidays. THIS KVENING, will be performed MY WIFE'S OUT. To be followed by the Great Christmas Pantomime, entitled GRIMALKIN THE GREAT; on, HARLEQUIN PUSS IN BOOTS, iND THE MILLER'S SONS, with new and magnificent Scenery by Mr. Wm. Beverley. Characters in the Opening by the entire strength of the company. In the Harlequinade a Double Troupe of Pantomimists; and combining the grandest stage effects of any Pantomime ever produced at this theatre. Doors open at half-past (1, commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5 daily. THEATRE ROYAL, HA rmARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, A HI. RO OF ROMAN! E. Messrs. Buckstone, Sothern, Compton, Chippendale, &c.: Mesdames Ada Cavendish, Chippendale. Burke. Fitzwilliam, &c. Concluding with THE FRIGHTFUL HAIR. essrs. Comp ton. Kendal, Weaihersby, Buckstone, jun., &c. ; Mesdames Wright. Burke, Gwynn, &c. Commenee at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. ii.lft•ed Mellon. - THIS EVENING, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CAMBERWELL. Mr. G. Belmore, Mrs. L. Murray. &A a quarter to 8, MONTE CRISTO. Mr. Fechter, Mr. Benja min Webster, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. Arthur Stirling, Mr. Ashley, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. Stuart, Mr. C H. Stephenson, Mr. C. J. smith, Mr. Romer, Mr. W. H. Eburne, Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Carlotta Leclereq,Mrs. Leigh Murray, and Miss Nelly Harris. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, THE SECRET. After which (at 8 o'clock) Dion Boncicanit's new drama, in f )ur acts, entitled AFTER DARK. a Tale of London Life. Messrs. Vining, Walter Lacy, Dominick Murray, C. Harcourt, J.G . Shore; Miss Emma Barnet. and Miss Rose Leclercq. Entirely new Scenery by Slr. F. Lloyds awl assistants. To conclude with MASTER JONES'S BIRTHDAY. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. Box-office open daliy from 10 till 5. R STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs Swanborongh. THIS EVENING, at 7.30, THE WIDOW HUNT. Messrs. Cl irke. Belford, Joyce; Mesdames BuLin and Maitland. After which, THE FIELD 01? TIJi CLOTH OF GOLD. Messrs. Thorne, James, and Robson Mesdames M. Long more, F. Hughes. L. Maitland. &c. To conclude with HUE AND DYE. QT. GEORGE'S THEATRE (ST. GEORGE'S HALL).—Great Success of SARDANAPALUS.—The new Drama, SAVED, and the original Ninevitish Burlesque of SAR DANAPALUS (received with roars of laughter and applause). Eveiy Evening, at half-past 7.—The best Shilling Pit in Lon don.—Morning Performances, preceded (by special desire) by SAVED, on Tuesday, Van. 12, and Saturday, Jan. 16, at Two CILOBE THEATRE-ROYAL. -At 7, GOOD kJ! FOR NOTHING. At a quarter to 8, Mr. J. Byron's original Comedy, in five acts, entitled CYRIL'S SUCCESS: Messrs. Warner, Vernon, David fishe , Newbound, Andrews, Tindale, Huriston, and J. Clarke; Mesdames Henrade, C. Thorne, Breman, Berend, Hughgs, and Stephens. ROYAL AMPHITHEA THE AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN. The most charming entertainment in Loudon. Two Thousand Five Hundred : eats. No crowding. N o confusion, The SCENES in the ARENA unparalleled and matchless. The beantiful Horses alone worth seeing. Great success of the Holiday Programme. The Great Cane Troupe every evening, introducing Herr Oscar Cane and his magnificent stud of Fifty Performing Horses. The laughter provoking Clowns, Burgess and Loyal, in a series of whimsicalities, novel and new. In ad dition, a spectacular bit of Pantomimic Extravagance, entitled THE M a RVEL' OF ELECTRICITY, in which the whole strength of the establishment will take part, besides 250 troops and beautiful ponies. Doors open at Seven, commence at half past. Morning Perftrmances Monday, Wednesday, and Satur day, commencing at Balf-past Two. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN (1 R. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, iat he has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in ddition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " THE Sus," nd can supply the same on Fricay evening, if required, in town br country._ G. li. Ci. begs to inform the Trade that ae is Agent for the IoATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can stipply it earlia t)an any other man in London or Country the eyening of p,CH: !IL tion. No connection with any other persons. ➢nii; •:. :3. lirigtt's, and 11`Call's Guides. All the Daily p,rs, Ines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent fur the Jtrio.• !oal Company. Orders by post attende.l to THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " to I. be seen Every Evening by 810 at Mr. ROBERT MEACOCK'S, ltannia, Kensal New-town, pHE THIRD EDITION OF cc THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may be seen at JEM tY M NTO• 'S house, "The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published, Every Evening, by W. ALF.XA \ DER (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, No. 4, Old Cavendish street, Oxford-street. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied as so Dn as published, containing all the LATEST ICEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENC by II W HARRIS, lirewspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. THE "SUN" NE WSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road. delivers the LATH; FDITION of "THE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. Ho is able to deliver Jopies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9.45 o'clock Orders by pos punctually attended to- THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE delivers the LA TE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn, 8 ; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford, 9.45. rrIIE LATE EDITION of " TILE SUN' at L JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street. Strand. riIHE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." 1 J. 11)LMES begs to inform his friends and the pnblie Venerally that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road N.W. IIIHE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. THE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN" at W. mints ~ Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden town. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, A HERO OF ROMANCE, Messrs. Buck stone, Sothern, Compton, Chippendale, &c.; Mesdames Ada Cavendish, Chippendale, Burke, Fitzwillimn, &c. Concluding with THE FRIGHTFUL HAIR: Messrs. Compton. Kendal, Buckstone, jun., Weathersby, &c.; Mesdames Wright, Burke, Gwynn, SP Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHT. TITIFIEVFNM, at 7, DID YOU EVER SEND YOUR WIFE TO CAMB7.RWF.LL. Mr. G. Delmore, Mrs. L. Murray. At 7.45 MONTE CRISTO . Messrs. Fechter, B. Webster, G. Delmore, A. Stirling, R. Phillips, Stuart, Ashley, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, W leburne, R. Romer; Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss C. Leclercq, and Mrs. Leigh Murray. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and ➢tanager. Mr. Vining. TUTS EVENING, at 7, to commence - with THE SECRET. At 8, AFTER DARK, a Tale of London Life: Mr Vining, Mr. W. Lacy, Mr. Dominick Murray; Messrs. C. Harcourt, J. Shore, Maclean, Holston: Misa Emma Barnet and Miss Pose Leclercq Concluding with MASTER JONES'S BIRTHDAY. GLOBE THEATRE-ROYAL. TUTS EVENING, at 7. GOOD FOR NOTHING. At a quarter to R. CYRIL'S SUCCESS: Messrs. Warner, Vernon, David Fisher, Newbound. Andrews. Tindale, Mir!stone, J. Clarke; Mesdames Remade, C. Thorne, Bremen, Berend. Hughes, and Stephens. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manazeress. Mrs. Swanhorongh TTITS FVENINn. at 7.30. THE WIDOW HUNT. Messrs. Bel ford, Clarke; Miss Bufton. THE FIELD OF THE CI OTH OF GOLD: Messrs. Thorne, James, Fenton; vesdames Maria Longmore, B. Goodall, Lvdin.Maitland, Claire, and Hughes. To conclude with HUE AND DYE? QUEEN'S THEATRE, LONG-ACRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Liston. THIS EVENING, DOT. Messrs. J. L. Toole, S. Emery, W. H Stephens, C. "Wyndham. and L. Brought Mesdames Montagne, J. Rignold, Maxe. and Everard. And THE GNOME KING Mr. Toole. With A RACE FOR A DINNER THEATRE-ROYAL, OLYMPIC. THIS EVENING, at 7, SL A SHER & CRASHER : Messrs Atkins, Vaughan, G. Vincent, &e.: Miss Lennox Grey and Mrs Caulfield. After which, at 7.45, THE YELLOW PASSPORT : Messrs. H Ne• ille, G. Vincent, E. Atkins, H. Vaughan. H. Cooper. and H. Wigan; Mesdames Furtado, Lennox Grey, and Caulfield ROYALTY THEATRE. Under the Management of Miss M. Oliver. TnTs EVENING, at 7.10, A LOVIN1: CUP. Mr. Dewar. Miss M. Oliver. To be followed by THE RISE AND FALL OF ;ICH ARD III.: or. A New Front to an Old Dicky: Mr. Dewar \fr. Danvers: 'Miss roilinson. and Miss M. Oliver. To con tin& with EVERYBODY'S HUSBAND. PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL TIIEATRE. Under the Management of Miss Marie Wilton . Tins EVENING, SOCIETY: Messrs. Hare, IT. J. Montazne, Blakeley, Montgomery. and Bancroft: Yrs. Buckingham White, Miss C. Addison, and Miss Marie Wilton. Preceded by A WINNING HAZ A R ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUS, TIOLPOTIN. THIS EVENING, The Great Carre Troupe and magnificent Sind of 50 Horses: also Alfred Bradbury, M. Clifton, and THE MARVELS OF ELECTRICITY. CHRISTY MINSTRELS. St. James's Hall, Every Night, at F Wednesdays and Faturdays, at 3 and 3 all the year round. ROYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE. THREE BALLET::, Promenade Concert. Band of 60. Begin at S. Is. Box-office open from 11 to 4. ,111144 . 7 " • , 414 Is I,ol\DOlll, MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1869. The English do not bear the palm in the matter of public buildings, and it has long been a mortifying subject of reflection that those who have visited foreign cities invariably return to gaze with indigna tion and contempt at the monuments of home archi tecture they see around them. If the Emperor NAPOLEON does not rival his illustrious brother of the past, who found Rome brick, and left it marble, he may at least lay claim to respect and admiration for the zeal and energy with which he has prosecuted the work of remodelling Paris, and the fair city of the Seine, " with its streets of palaces and walks of state," bids fair to prove a lasting memento of his taste, and a living witness of his perseverance when the glories of the Imperial purple have faded, and the might and majesty of his reign have vanished as a dream. It seems desirable for many reasons that care should be taken in the elaboration of any new scheme of architecture, in order that the next gene ration may not add its history to the chronicle of failures already too voluminous. The site of the new Law Courts is a question of considerable interest just now, and it is well worth while to weigh the matter over before coming to a conclusion that must be irre vocable for the time being to all intents and purposes. The suggestion of Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN, to which we referred the other day, gains on the attention as times passes on, and affords increased opportunity of judging of its merits. Without condemning the deci sion of those who selected Carey-street as the scene of operation for the Palace of Justice, it may suffice to say that the present scheme is a change for the better, and offers advantages that may not be gainsay - ed. In looking at the arguments for and againstthe proposal to change the site, it is no exaggeration to declare that the balance is in favour of the alteration. We may briefly dispose of all other objections, and come at once to that which will be of consequence in the eyes of some individuals, the money that has been invested in the purchase of the property. In the first place, money should not be the first consideration in a scheme of this kind, it will surely be better and wiser to fix upon the most advantageous place first, and to count the cost afterwards ; and next we miy look at the subject practically, for the eight hun dred thousand pounds paid out need not be looked upon as lost. There is nothing to prevent the sale of the property already purchased, and it would realise nearly all that has been expended on it. We need waste no time in speculating upon the many uses to which this land could be applied, and it must suffice to say that enough, and more than enough, will be found for the purposes of its adapta- tion. On the other hand the advantages that arise out of Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN'S proposals are maillfold, and it appears almost incredible that they should be overlooked by persons of experience and judgment. The Thames Embankment promises to be a noble site for the erection of a building that may be classed among the national undertakings of the day,. and it will be a legacy to future generations that will indicate our spirit and our right appre ciation of the significance of the struc ture. However excellent the design of the Carey -street edifice, the effect would be in a great measure spoiled by the want of light and air, occa sioned by the surrounding structures. On the other side of the way it is evident that these disadvantages will not present themselves, for among the pleas urged in favour of th 3 embankment proposal are those of light and ventilation. Another point gained would be the opportunity for display. If we are to spend so much money and be at so much pails, let it not be for nothing—let us not hide our light under a bushel, but do our utmost to improve and adorn the great city of which we are so justly proud. We have not the invidious task before us of attaching blame to any one in the affair, because at the time when Carey-street was fixed upon for the site of the new Law Courts the Thames Embankment was not in existence, and it was quite impossible to form an eitimate of the change it would produce in the way of improvement and position Without indulging in vain regrets for the past, or anticipating too much for the future, it will behove us to consider if the present is not the fitting time for a comprehensive survey of the subject. An ad ditional £700,000 is needed to complete the purchase of the place that has been fixed upon. Surely, then, before this large sum be advanced in addition to that which has gone before, it will be advisable to take heed to our ways and not run counter to the wise and prudent plan that is put before us. We do not say that, apart from the additional expen diture required for the carrying out of the original scheme, there is not much to admire in the plan of Sir C. TREVELYAN, but the mention of the increased outlay tends to confirm and strengthen his argument. He is interfering with no finished affair, he is check ing no fully conceived work, but at a pause in the un dertaking, when a notice that more funds will be re quired has arrested attention, he puts forward a pro posal that is of infinite importance, and may well challenge interest and attention. We seem to be on the high road to improvement in some respects in the comprehensive changes that have taken place in cer tain localities, and this project of selecting the Embankment for the site of the Law Courts is a golden opportunity not to be lost. It is a step in the right direction, and if it will require an effort to carry out the scheme, still it is one that is deserving of all praise. The public can hardly fail to appreciate the merits of this plan, and even those who now hesitate to agree to the change may be in duced to give in their adhesion when they have taken a little time to consider the matter. Whether we look at our past failures in the way of architecture, or at our present improvements and alterations of the metropolis, we shall find cogent reasons to sup port this notion. Let it not be said by foreign nations that ignorance or indolence prevented the adoption of this noble scheme, when there seemed some chance of redeeming past errors, and ridd ng the community of a reproach that was only too true to be heard with equanimity. The question may not be clearly un derstood by all, but let those who doubt consider it in all its bearings, and they will in all probability acknowledge the justice of the change that is advo cated. A mistake now made cannot be rectified hereafter, and therefore time and trouble are not thrown away in looking at the scheme in all its bearings. It may be truly affirmed that a little more care and caution at the outset of these undertakings would be followed by the happiest results, and if more consideration had been given to the structures around us iefore they were definitively fixed upon, the Lon doner of to-day would have less cause to be ashamed, and would be spared the mortifying reflection that large sums have been spent in vain, for the one thing needful has been omitted, and nothing can compen sate for its absence. THE interest excited in commercial circles by the " Overend and Gurney " trial becomes more intense. It is impossible to say when the present preliminary investigation will be over. Until it is over we should do wrongly to comment upon the merits of the case. There are, however, one or two circumstances connected with it which may be noticed without pre judice to the defendants, In the first place, sufficient THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1-69. evidence has been given to prove (provided it be unshaken) that the prosecutor was justified in seek iug for a judicial investigation. It is stated, for instance, that three of the defendants were, after crediting them with everything that could fairly be deducted, indebted to the company £2,070,000 ; that they paid no calls on their shares and that one of the defendants had just before the stoppage reduced his deposit from £71,000 to 4s. 4d. It is important to bear these statements in mind, because very powerful in fluence has been used to prevent the prosecutor from proceeding. The Times—which some two years ago published a very remarkable article on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, suggesting that cer tain persons ought to be brought to the Old Bailey, and promising an article of the same kind on " Overend and Gurney," which for some unexplained reason never appeared—has attempted of late, in its money article, to deter Dr. THOM, by pointing out to him the immense responsibility he will incur if it should turn out that he has falsely accused the defendants. Nor is this the only mode in which a demonstration has been made on the part of City men against the prosecutor. The sureties who have come forward as bail for the defendants are men of such high standing in the City that they have almost a right to be considered as representing all Lombard-street against Dr. Tnom. In the third place, the conduct of the counsel for the defence is seriously open to criticism. It is one thing to take lofty ground, and to assume that the defendants are men of such high character that they scorn the accusation which has been made against them ; it is another to carp at every word of the witnesses for the prosecution, and to seek to trip them up for every trivial expression. It is compatible for counsel to take either course; it is not compatible for them to take both. When we find Mr. HOWELL caught up because he used the expression " I candidly believe," and asked if that was the first time that he had been candid, and when we see resort on the part of Serjeant PARRY and Mr. GIFFAItD to innumerable minute technical objections, nearly always overruled, we cannot but infer either that the defendants are very unfortunately represented, or that their case is not quite so clear as has been assumed. Finally, the prosecution ought never to have been instituted by a private person, nor brought before the present tribunal. We attach no importance to the argument that Dr. THOM may be suspected of acting out of revenge. He is no more and no less liable to that suspicion than the man who, having had his handkerchief stolen, appears against the thief. It is for quite another reason — because the enormous responsibility, labour, and cost of such a trial as this ought not to be borne by any private person—that we say the trial ought to have been undertaken by a public prosecutor. As to the court, it is simply monstrous that two gentle men who have had no legal training, hence no knowledge of the value of evidence, should be called upon to adjudicate in such a case as this. It is true that the present is merely a preliminary investiga tion ; but clearly a great wrong will have been done if the LORD MAYOR and Sir THOMAS GABRIEL Should commit the defendants for trial on insufficient evidence, or should discharge them in the face of evidence which the public generally will think criminating. LATEST - INTELL IGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) REPORTED LOSS OF H.M.S. GNAT. ADMIRALTY, Jan. 11, 1869. The Secretary to the Admiralty presents his compliments to the Editor of The Sun, and begs to enclose an extract from a letter just received] from the Naval Commander in Chief on the China Station, from which it appears that the report of H.M. gunvessel Gnat having been lost (which was received by telegram a few days ago, and appeared under the head of " Latest intelligence" from Ja pan) cannot be true : Extract from letter, dated Penang, Dec. Gth : " The Gnat, having visited Labuan on the pas sage to complete coal, proceeded to Hongkong on 9th November." ITALY. FLORENCE, Jan. 11. Th© Correspondance Italienne of to-day says that, at the first meeting of the Conference on Saturday last, the Greek Plenipotentiary protested against his position as compared with that of the Turkish Representative, and subsequently withdrew from the Congress. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, SUNDAY, January 10. The official journals are not coming on very well in their defence of the Government in re Baron S6guier's resigna tion. They evidently do not like it the affair is too dirty for any paper except the Pays, and in consequence their half-hearted apologies are of little benefit to the Imperial cause. So far as the logic of the question goes, it is very restricted. The official journals rely on the argument of passive obedience ; the public prosecutor may have a conscience, they affirm, but his conscience cannot cover an act of treason. But this does not prove that a public prosecutor should strive like an advocate to bring about a certairL verdict. The aim of a State trial is, or ought to be, to administer the strictest justice. But how could Baron S4guier preserve due impartiality when he had received in formation from Paris that the accused were guilty, and that he must act on that assumption ? The enormity of such a procedure may appear less glaring in a country where such discreditable tricks on the part of the Adminis tration are common, but transfer the circumstances to England. 'We have no public prosecutor, but we have lawyers who undertake that dutywhen occasion requires it. Imagine, then, a trial at the Central Criminal Court, and the counsel for the Crown receiving a private notification from Mr. Bruce that the prisoner was guilty, and that counsel must endeavour by all means to ensure his conviction. Such a proceeding could lead only to one result on your side of the water. The Minister who was guilty of it would speedily have to seek refuge in retirement. The law students of Toulouse, to the number of 300, turned out a day or two ago, and marched in procession to Baron Seguier's house. They had previously posted up a notice at the doors of the school inviting all the students to unite themselves in a body for the purpose of this demonstration. " Honour and independence are senti ments too profoundly engraved in the hearts of youth to render it necessary for us to insist upon the utility of such a measure." Assemble in a body the students accordingly did, and presented themselves at the Baron Seguier's house. He was, perhaps fortunately, not at home ; but the enthusiastic youths forthwith resolved themselves into a committee of the whole house, and drew up an address. Baron Seguier responded by a letter in which he expressed his intention of thanking them in person. Prince Napoleon is getting better. He is so far recovered as to be able to sit at table. There can be no doubt, however, that the attack has been very severe. Five doctors have been called in, and the Prince, who was once so stout, has been reduced to a comparative shadow. Excessive exhaustion, arising from his continued travels, is spoken of as the cause of this illness. It will be some time before he regains strength. Of the Marquis de Moustier I can give no good account. The reports are contradictory, but, according to the latest and most trust worthy, he had passed a bad night. The Society Immobiliere will speedily make its appear. ance before the civil tribunal of the Seine. Count de Germiny, the president of the board, sought to postpone the trial for two months, on the ground that negotiations were now on foot, and that a convention of a nature to satisfy all parties had been agreed to. It required only the sanction of a general meeting which had been convened for the 30th of January. This convention, I hardly need say, is founded on an offer of the directors to pay an indemnity to the shareholders of nearly a million and a half sterling out of their own pockets. The court, however, decided that the question of right had been opened, and that the convention could not interfere with it. This action, which has been brought by eighty-four shareholders claiming full restitution of the value of their investments, must there fore take its course. Your readers will doubtless remember the account I gave a short time ago of M. Oudet's remarkable experience while imprisoned for a political offence in Ste. Paagie Gaol. A communiqué has been sent to all the papers, denying the truth of these statements. M. Oudet, therefore, gets the lie direct, but then—the public is inclined to believe him. Some rumours were current that, the Chinese Embassy, now in Paris, would meet with rather a cold reception at the European Courts, on account of an American being selected as the representative of the Celestial Empire. There is no foundation for such statements. I believe that for once the Liberte represents the French Government in saying that the desire of China to enter into the course of civilisation will meet with general sympathy and assistance. The Emperor has received a letter from the King or Bavaria, announcing the marriage of the Princess Sophia Charlotte, daughter of Prince Maximilian, a Bavarian duke, with the Duke of Alencon. THE WEATHER TABLE-THIS' DAY. TUTS LAW BUSINESS OF THE NEW TERM. The common law cause lists shew a large amount o f business for the term commencing to-day. In the Queen's Bench new trial paper there is one case standing for judg ment and sixty for argument. In the special paper there are four for judgment—amongst them Phillips v. Eyre and forty-nine for argument. In the enlarged rule paper there are eight cases for argument and three motions standing for judgment. In the Crown paper there are thirty-six cases for argument. In the Common Pleas new trial paper there are four enlarged rules, five matters for judgment, twenty-two for argument, and three postponed motions. There are thirty-six cases for argument in the special paper, and there are seventeen registration:appeals. In the Exchequer there are three matters in the peremptory paper; in the new trial paper three cases standing for judgment, and twenty two for argument ; and in the special paper there are eleven cases for argument. In the Exchequer Chamber there are two for judgment, and four for argument from the Queen's Bench; four for argument from the Common Pleas ; and one for judgment and seven for argument from the Exchequer.—Law Tidies. ALARMING FIRE-7111S D.Y. Considerable excitement was created amongst the inhabitants of Doctor's Commons, owing to the springing of policemen's rattles and the general cry of " Fire." It was then about three o'clock a.m., and owing to its being Monday morning none of the privileged licensed houses were open for the sale of refreshments, consequently few persons were out, which was fortunate, as it enabled the escapes and engines to pass along the narrow streets from Ludgate-hill and St. Paul's without any interruption. Messrs. Westley's premises oc cupy an immense space of ground in Friar-street, facing the City Mission House, and in order to in crease their works, another house was added to them, and the different rooms were used as paper cutting stores, and it was in this part of the works that the fire commenced. Its discovery was made by the policeman on duty by seeing red smoke issuing from the basement. Mr. Bridge, the senior foreman of the metropolitan brigade, as well as Captain Shaw, the chief offi3er, came down in rapid succession with several en gines, and a powerful force of firemen. The mains of the New Company having been drawn, a bountiful supply of water was obtained, the land steamers, by Shand, Mason, and Co., were set t) work, and the fire was prevented from reaching the warehouses, in which many thousand volumes of an expensive description were in different stages of finishing. The damage done is thus officially re ported by Captain Shaw :—" No. 15, Friar•street Doctors'-commons, Messrs. Westley and Co., book binders. The basement and ground floor used as paper-cutting stores, and underside of stair from ground, were much damaged by fire, and upper part of building slightly by heat. The cause of fire un known. Insured in the Hand-in-Hand Offic." COURT-M ARTIAL ON CAPTAIN A. WILIIISHURST. PORTSMOUTH, Jan. 9. The court re-assembled at 9.30 this morning. The first witness called was Navy Lieutenant Molloy, who was re examined in relatio❑ to the provisions landed from the Rajusthan, and the distance between the pier-head at Ascen.iion and the storehouses on the island. Mr. Lewis, paymaster of the Flora, was the next witness examined relative to the drawing up and Bigniug of the statement and the bond respecting the wreck of the Bremensis, and the delivery of the cotton for conveyance to England in the Rejusthan. The examination and cross-examination of this witness was not concluded until past five o'clock, but nothing of any importance was elicited the whole day. The last witness closed the case for the prosecu tion, and the prisoner requesting time to prepare his defence, the Court granted him till Wednesday morning. The Court adjourned at 5.20 p.m. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH-E ASTERN. The total traffic receipts on the company's lines, after deducting cost of collecting and delivering goods, &c., and adding the receipts for rents and sundries, and also for steam packet service, to the traffic, amounted for the 20 weeks and one day, ending the 19th of December last, to £620,886, and the expenditure, including rates, taxes, tolls, Go vernment duty, and expenses of steam packet ser vice, to £268,127, leaving a net return of £352,759. NORTHERN OF FRANCE. The traffic receipts on the old lines of this com pany for the week ending the 22d of December last amounted on 622 miles to £63,221, and for the cor responding week of 1867 to £64,631, showing a de crease of £1,210. The traffic receipts on the new lines, 225 miles in length, amounted to £7,556 against £5,584 in:the corresponding week in 1867, showing an increase of £1,972. The total receipts on both lines amounted to £70,777 against £70,015, the increase being £762. SAN PAULO BRAZILIAN (LIMITED). The traffic receipts on this company's line for the month of November last amountod to 125,790930 milreis, and for the 'same month iu 1867 to 170,122.800 milreis, showing a decrease of 44,331.870 milreis. B UENOS AYRE'S GRE VT SOUTHERN. The traffic receipts on this company's line from Jan. Ist to Nov. 15th, 1868, amounted on 71 miles of railway to £82,744., and for the corresponding period of 1867 to £71„816, showing an increase of £10,928. KING'S COLLEGE, LON DON.—The professorship of Mathematics, in King's College, London, will become vacant in July next by the: resignation of the Rev. Pre bendary, G. T. Hall, M.A. FRANCE. PARIS, Jan. 11. The official report of M. Magne, Minister of Finance, published to-day, states that the floating debt has been reduced from 902 to 727 millions of francs, and that the revenue from indirect taxes in 1868 has exceeded that of 1867 by 34 millions of francs. The estimates for 1869 will not require a cor rected budget, because the supplementary credits which will be asked for do not amount to 28 mil lions, and are therefore amply covered by the in creased receipts from taxes. The estimates of the ordinary Budget for 1870 are—Revenue, 1,736 millions of francs, against expenditure, 1,650 millions. The surplus of 86 millions, together with the surplus left from the preceding budgets, will be applied to the require ments of the extraordinary budget. The sinking fund for 1870 will amount to 42 millions, which is to be appl.ied to the purchase of rentes. The Minister remarks on the year 1868 that " It was characterised alternately by confidence and fears, activity, and stagnation. However, public opinion has by degrees accustomed itself to judge political affairs more correctly. A sensible recovery has been observed principally during the latter months of the year. This result, due to the revival of confidence, proves how much peace is necessary to this country, and to what degree prosperity will be developed by it, and how much public opinion is right to approve the efforts of your Majesty to prevent, as much as depends on you, by friendly intervention, any conflict by which peace might be disturbed." PARIS, Jan. 11. The 21Ioniteur de l'Armee of to-day, in an article reviewing the year 1868, says : " Our military state places France in a position to face every eventuality. We are strong enough to-day to live in perfect harmony with all the Powers of Europe, or to fight advantageously those of them who would undertake an unjust war and force us once more to draw the sword. BOURSE, Jan. 9.—Three o'clock.—The markEt closed as follows : 4} per Cent. End of month — 3 per Cent End of month 7O 221 Credit. Mobilier End of month 2Bl 25 Credit Foncier _1515 End of month — Bank Shares 3115 Itaran Loan ' End of month.„ !Mexican Loan Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred Cash Orleans ... 923 Northern ............................. Lyons and Mediterranean Southern..... 5731. Western Eastern ............ Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Roman ....................................... 51 RAILWA" MILI7ARY AND NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Field-Marshal Conarnanding-in-Chief will hold a Levee at one o'clock on Thursday next, the 14th just. Orders were received at Chatham garrison yes terday from the Ilorse Guards, directing reinforce ments for the Ist Battalion of the 2d (Queen's Royals) Regiment to be held in readiness to embark for India, on board her Majesty's iron steam troop ship Serapis, 3, 700-horse power, Capt. J. C. Soady, to join the service companies of the regiment in the Bombay Presidency. A draught of the 84th Regiment about to pro ceed to Jamaica is expected to leave Colchester on Friday. Three p en sions for distinguished or mer it or ious service have been placed at the disposal of his Royal Highness the Field-M a r s h a l Commanding in -Chief, by the deaths of Major-General W. Hamilton, C. 8., and Col. A. F. W. Wyatt, C. 8., 65th Regiment, and the appointment of Major-Gen. C. Trollope, C. 8., to the colonelcy of the 53d Regi ment. The screw steam frigate Liffey, 31, Captain John 0. Johnson, which left Plymouth on the 30th of September, returned to the Sound on Friday. After disembarking at Colon supernumeraries for the Pacific squadron she proceeded to Jamaica and Bermuda, where orders for her immedate return were waiting. She left on the 22d of December, and brings home Lieutenant Fryer and 100 inva lids and time-expired men belonging to the 61st Regiment. '1 he crew of the double screw composite gun vessel Lynx, 2, Commander James W. East, at Plymouth, were inspected on Saturday by Captain Preedy, of the Royal Adelaide. The Fly was in spected to-day. The new double-screw composite gun-vessel Growler, 2, built at Glasgow, which put into Pem broke, arrived at Plymouth on Saturday. Her Alajesty's screw steam storeship Fox, 2, Staff-Commander John 11. Allard, from Pem broke, arrived in the Sound on Saturday morning, having in tow the brig Cambria, of Shoreham, from Swansea, with patent fuel for Alexandria. The brig lost her rudder in a heavy gale from W.S.W. on the 21st of December, in lat. 47 27 N., long. 8 38 W., where all her boats were washed away. On the 2d inst. she was taken in tow by the schooner Tantivy, of Yarmouth, but the tow ropes having broken the schooner was compelled to leave the brig. The Fox picked her up on the 6zli inst., at 3 p.m., 12 miles south of the Smalls. Two of the brig's crew, being irostrated, were transferred to the Fox. In addition to the double screw iron armour plated turret ship Cerberus, 2, 250 horse power, just completed at the yard of the Palmer Ship building Company, Jurow-on-Tyne, for the de fence of Melbourne, the Government has ordered two other armour plated turret ships—the Abys sinia and the Alag,dala to be constructed for the defence of Bombay, both vessels being built from he same drawings and patterns as the Cerberus. The contract for building the Abyssinia has been taken by Messrs. Dudg!on, of Poplar, and that for the Magdala by the fhames Iron Shipbuilding Company, Blackwall. SABRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER HALL.- Elaudel's " Judas Maccabaus" will be performed on Friday next. Principal vocalists—Madame Lemmens Sherring ton, Miss Edith Wynne, Nadania Sain 4 .on Dolby, Mr. V. Rigby and Signor Foli. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS. Extreme Sea I F. 0 Monday, B. T . L:t:§ . W. ;I to F. 11), WR. to Jan. 11, CA. I 1 8 a.m. 12 9 --- -- - - Nairn Aberdeen Leith Shields Scarborough 30'24f. 37 76 5.E.3 S.W. 1 c.o. 3 Yarmouth 3o'27f. 40 .9 F)l_ 4 5 b, o.c. 4 11elder 30:36 37 ---__ S.E._E _3 —_ __ __ —_ Cuxhaven Skudesnses _ ...... Ardrossan Green castle 30'07r. 47 45 S.W. 1 4 S.S.W, o. Holyhead Liverpool Valen tie .... 29•95 r. 50 49 S. 4 7 S. m.o o'lB 4 Cape Clear.. 29 94r. 49 48 S.E. 2 5 S.S.E. f c o'o7 2 Roche 's Pt. 29975. 49 49 S.S.E. 6 7 S . S.E. 0 . . r. o'so 4 P enzan ce .. 30'02f. 50 50 S.S.E. 4 6 S. o. *— r Plymouth .. 30'12f. 47 45 E. 2 4 S.E. o 2 W eym outh 30 21f. 48 46 E. 5 6 Rs p C ;:-, _ 2 Portsmouth 30'20f. 45 43 S.S.E. 4 5 . S.S . E . O* 3 London .... 30'22f. 40 39 S.E. 2 3 8 E • in .. _ _ C'peGrisNez 30•2:1. 32 32 S.S.E. 4 S.S.W oin 1 Brest .. • ... 3.0'065. 48 44 S.S.E. 4 4 SE. ci f 2 L'Orient.... 30•115. 43 41 S.E 4 4 S.S.E.'o' i 3 Roch.efort .. 30•131. 41 59 S.E. 4 4 2,.. .b.. 1 Biarritz .... 30'31r. 52 52 S. 4 c. 3 Brussels .... 30'31 34 N.E. 1 b. p a r's...... 30 26 32 E. 2 St r asbourg.. 32 N.E. 3 _ b . _ Lyons .. •• • • 3018 46 N.E. 3 0 . _ Toulon Heart's Con- tent (9 a.m. local time) -- - _ _ _ llXPLartarioN Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 A... .4. ... 7.-.1 rm,. =PLANATION Barometer correc and reduced to 32 deg. at sea level. The letter r, rising ; f, falling ; s, steady—indicates direction of motion of the mercury within last 14 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade. Extreme Force with its Direction during last 24 hours. Z.—calm. Weather ; b.—blue sky ; c.—clouds, detached ; f.— fog; h.—hail ; I.—lightning ; m.—misty, hazy ; o. —overcast, dull ; r. — rain ; s.—snow ; t.—thunder. Rain-fall, snow or hail (melted) daring last 24 hours. Sea disturbance. REMARKS, Since Saturday atmospherical pressure over the British Isles has generally diminished, and its distribution is somewhat changed, the lowest readings being now in the S.W. of Ireland. At Valencia there has been, however, a rise since yesterday morning, but at other stations pressures have slightly diminished : the difference in read ings between Yarmouth and Valencia is o'3ln. Temperature is generally lower ; tne fall has been most on our E. coast. Fresh south-easterly winds prevailed yesterday on the Channel coast and in the S. of Ireland, but elsewhere they were generally southerly and moderate. This morning the wind at southern stations is south easterly. A considerable amount of rain has fallen in the S. of Ireland since yesterday. Fog and mist were reported yesterday, and still continue in places. The sky is generally overcast. TI - Tv COAF_ERENCE ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. _ ~. A curious little difficulty intervened at the last moment during the winding up of the arrangements for the Con ference. The Austrian Ambassadar, Prince Metternich, desired to represent both Austria and Hungary, but Russia and Prussia objected to this double quali fication. They would recognise Prince Metternich only as the representative of the Emperor Francis Joseph. This trifling obstacle was, however, speedily surmounted. There can be no doubt that one Ambassador cannot sit for two Powers. Prince Metternich could not be the envoy both of Austria and Hungary ; but lie could repre sent the Austro-Hungarian inonarchy, which is now the title of Francis Joseph's dominions. The Turkish Minister received part of his instructions in writing, and th e res t by telegraph. It is noto rious that the Pcite was the last to consent to the Conference, and only did so with extreme reluctance. The Presse says that the son-in-law of the French Foreign Minister will be charged with the duty of secretary. The Illoniteur affirms that the most complete accord exists between Austria, France, and England. Italy ranges herself on the same side. • A man named Bourke has been sentenced to six month s ' impri so nment at the Sligo quarter sessions for riot ing at the lato borough election. Several others received somewhat shorter sentences. At a meeting of the Metropolitan Commanding Officer; held on Friday afternoon, tim -question of the place of holding the forthcoming Easter Volunteer review was discussed, and the committee appointed to report at the next meeting. TERMINATION OF THE RIiFFORD fashionable and old-established hunt will come to a close at the end of the present season. A meeting on the sub ject was held at 011erton, Notts, on Monday, when Earl Manvers, the Speaker, Mr. S 'vile, the lion. Col. Monck ton, Mr. Manners Sutton, Colonel Welfitt, Colonel Bod dam, and others, were present. A letter from the master, Mr. Harvey Bailey, was read, in which he tendered his resignation, the chief reason being that foxes are scarce, not being preserved properly. A resolution was unani mously passed " That Mr. Bailey has fully and honour ably acquitted himself of all his engagements to the coun try ; that he has shown very good sport, and is entitled to the thanks of all members of the hunt." It was then decided that at the close of the season the hunt should close and the hounds be sold. ONE WAY OF OBTAINING EVIDENCE. Another " attachment" motion in connection with an election petition was made on Friday in Dublin, before Mr. Justice Keogh, on behalf Mr. Francis Russell, M.P. for Limerick city. The attachment was sought against four persons—Abraham, Corbett, Gamble, and Guinan — on the ground that they had attempted to interfere with the pending petition, and that they were guilty of a con tempt of court. The affidavit set forth that they had posted a certain placard in Limerick, and" offered money for the subornation of perjury." The placard contained an extract from an article of the Freeman's Journal, which stated that persons giving evidence in election petitions would free themselves from all risk of punishment, and "be well compensated in addition." Affidavits were sworn to the effect that Corbett, Abraham, and others tendered sums of from £lO to £25 to various persons. "Abraham (as one Nicholas Dorr alleged) said to him that if he would swear before a magis trate that he got money for his vote he would give him £20." Counsel characterised such proceedings as shocking in the extreme. Counter affidavits stated that money had been offered "to discover the bribery committed at the election," but "not to induce the committing of perjury." Mr. Justice Keogh said that counsel had failed to convince him that he ought to exercise an extraordinary jurisdic tion in the case. THE COMING CHANGE. The Irish Methodists are giving considerable atten tion to the subject of the uses to which the surplus of Irish Church property may be put, with a particular view to the protection of their educational interests. The Irish Evangelist, their organ, has pointed out that the National Board is tending towards the " anti rninational" character, and added that the Roman Catholic episcopacy are endeavouring to bring its machinery " more completely under prevailing denominational influ ences, in the hope that a considerable portion of the na tional property withdrawn horn the Establishment will be devoted to national education, and that they will get the lion's share." The subject is taken up by the Methodist Recorder, whose comments are copied in Irish papers. The journal computes the " surplus" at £300,000, and having de clared hostility to any secularisation of the fund, favours its appropriation to national education. The Irish Wesleyan Conference in 1857 declared the existing system of united education to be "eminently suited to the condition of the country," and the Methodists would with reluctance abandon the present plan ; but if it is becoming "denominational" they would prefer "a new plan altogether, which should place secular instruction under the care of the State, leaving the religious bodies to provide from their own resources for the instruction of their own children." THE WIGAN COLLIERY ACCIDENT. - The details which we have received respecting the col liery accident in South West Lancashire confirm the re ports of its serious nature. Three men have died of their injuries, and two of the four others injured are not expected to recover. The accident took place at the No. 7 pit of the Rainford Coal Company, which is about eight miles from Wie.an. Tho upper scam of the colliery has been worked out, so that sinking to a lower shaft has been commenced. On Thurs day, about noon, it was found that the shaft pillars at the old moulting wore on fire, the ventilating furnace in the up-cast having ignited the coal. Preparations were at once commenced for extin guishing the fire, and an arrangement was made for con veying water down by means of a syphon. Shortly before midnight the work was nearly completed, and eight men were sent down to assist. Seven of them seated them selves at a short distance from the burning coal, while the eighth had gone to look after the water in the downcast. Suddenly the flames were driven upon the seven men who were near the furnace, and all were severely burned. It is not thought that any explosion occurred, and no clearly defined cause can bo assigned for the accident, though it is probable that a fall of roof may have occasioned the temporary reversion of the ventilation. There was no disarrangement of the shafts, and in the course of a few minutes all the injured men ware brought to the bank, and conveyed home. Two of them died early the same morning, and another in the course of the afternoon. We are sorry to add that two of them have left widows and children. Yesterday the mouthings of both shafts were closed, and it is hoped that by this means the fire at the mouth of the old seam will be extinguished. The Paris correspondent of the lndepenclance Beige has reason to believe that the speech of the Emperor on the 18th will be favourable to the crowning of the edifice in France. The Bishop of Winchester, who is blind, and in his 94th year, recited to the congregation in the cathedral the whole of the prayers at the afternoon service on Christmas Day. There is likely (says the London correspondent of a Yorkshire contemporary) to be a very curious case before one of the sitting judges at the Guildhall in February, which will throw some light upon the inner working of some of our Government departments. Tho case will assume the form of an action of libel on the part of an ex-official of good standing against another official who is closely connected with a late Secretary of State. Ono of the most curious features of the affair is, that the alleged libel was contained in a letter ad dressed by the defendant to a relation, which letter was ac cidentally seen by a friend of the plaintiff in a Government office, and copied and forwarded to that gentleman. THE LONG FIRM PRACTICES AT BIRMINGHAM. A distiller in Liverpool lately received extensive orders for whisky from a branch of the long firm in Birmingham. On an order for £5O worth arriving, he wrote to say that his terms were cash in a first transaction. The firm, nothing daunted, sent their bill for the amount, when the distiller informed them that he never accepted bills from strangers. The firm then wrote to have their bill returned, but the distiller resolved to return it in person. On visit ing their office at Birmingham, he found " sample" rooms, " private " offices, and " packing room," but not a soul in charge of them. A singular case was tried at the Barnsley Court. house on Friday. It was an action claiming £sb damages, by Joseph Penner, a weaver, of Ardsley, against four gamekeepers and watchers employed by Mr. 11. Micklethwaite, of Ardsley House, for an as sault committed by them upon him last September. lie had been walking with a friend in a place called Quaker's-lane, and left him to enter a field for a law ful purpose. There ho was set upon by the defendants, and so severely beaten that he sustained serious injuries. The plaintiff and another man were taken before the magistrates and committed to prison for a month, but it was urged that he was not armed in any way, and the violence used against him was excessive, and it was pointed out that the keepers bad no deputation to arrest any person on the land, although their master had the power of shooting over it. The jury gave the plaintiff a verdict with £25 damages. An application was made for a new trial, and it was reserved f consideration. THE HEAVY FLOODS AT WINDSOR.—The con tinued rush of water from the west country of Oxfordshire and the river Loddon, has caused another rising of the Thames in the neighbourhood of Windsor of upwards of a foot, and the" Cobbler," the criterion of watermen for many years, has at last disappeared altogether. This great in crease to the overflow has extended the flood to the greater portion of the Home Park, under the north terrace of Windsor Castle, and every part on the north side of the slopes and all the fields in the Thames Valley, ex tending for miles above and below Windsor Bridge, have the appearance of one vast sea, and the little village of Datchet is fast becoming peninsulated. Romney Island, opposite to Eton College, the residence of the well-known " Charley Tull," of the Locks, is almost submerged, the cellars in the lower part of Windsor and Eton are fast filling, and if the water continues to rise, as it is expected, for several days to come, the neighbourhood of Windsor and the adjacent towns and villages will experience a flood which has not been witnessed since the death of the Duke of Wellington, in 1852. The barge traffic of the shames has been stopped since gxiday month. • • 4 V 1 II Ty, 1%, 4,14 i HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Jan. 10. ller - Majesty, accompanied by Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, attended Divine service at Whippingbam Church this morning. _ _ Earl and Lady Constance Grosvenor arrived at Osborne yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and the Royal Family. POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day. MARLBOROUGH- STREET. DISOP,DER IN CONDUCT AT CIIURCII DOORS. William Gatwood, a boy, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with disorderly conduct at the doors of St. Luke's Church, Berwick-street, St. James's. The Rev. Harry Jones, the rector of St. Luke's Church, Berwick-street, said he was about entering his church last night, when he heard a great dis turbance in the church directly afterwards followed by the rush of four or five boys halloaing out and apparently trying to trip up persons entering the church, aid as the prisoner rushed into his arms, he transferred him to a constable who took him into custody. In reply to Mr. Tyrwhitt, The Rev. Harry Jones said that he had suffered from the nuisance before and let the boys off, but he thought he would not the present one. Mr. Tyrwhitt—The complainant only pressing the case as a caution to the unruly boys of the neighbourhood, ordered the prisoner to be put back and discharged at the rising of the Court. John Macarthy, a rough-looking fellow, was charged with playing at pitch -and-toss near the doors of St. Luke's Church yesterday afternoon, during divine service. Richard Kent, 191 C, specially employed for the purpose in plain clothes, proved seeing the prisoner and others playing at pitch-and-toss, and he took him into custody. The Rev. Harry Jones spoke of the nuisance of lads gambling near his church on Sundays. Mr. Tyrwhitt fined the prisoner 10s., or eight days. Dennis Keefe, Francis Toole, and John White were charged with a similar offence near the doors of St. Patrick's Chapel, Sutton-street, Soho, and after hearing the evidence of Kent, who said that Toole had been at the court before, Mr. 'ryrwhitt tined Toole 205., or 14 days, and the others 10s., or seven days each. A CAB PROPRIETOR COMMITTED FOR CRUELTY. James Hart, a cab proprietor, was charged with cruelty to a horse, by working it in an unfit state. An officer of the Royal Society for the Preven tion of Cruelty to Animals watched the case, the prisoner leaving been twice before committed for cruelty. Sergeant Leech, 17 C, saw the prisoner driving a horse attached to a cab, the horse being very lame, and having an open wound on one of its legs, from which a discharge was issuing, and he took the pri soner (who was convincted of cruelly beating a horse on the Haymarket rank in March last and fined £3 or two months) into custody. Mr. Cherry, veterinary surgeon, said the horse had broken knees, both sore, and it was entirely lame, and unfit for work of any kind. The magistrate having made some very strong remarks on the prisoner's conduct, committed him for two months with hard labour. Patrick Carrol, a costermonger, was charged with cruelty to a donkey. The prisoner was seen driving a donkey attached to a barrow laden with vegetables, the donkey having a large wound on its shoulder, and although the collar had been hollowed out so as to ease it, it merely had the effect of aggravating the wound. Otherwise the donkey appeared to be well cared for. The prisoner was fined 10s. or seven days. TITAiIIES. AN IMPUDENT ROBBERY..—William Brown, a labourer, was charged with stealing, a coat, hat, and scarf, the property of Johann Urquhart. The prosecutor was employed in the West India Dock on Friday, and in the course of the day he put away his coat in what he thought was a place of safety. On looking for it again it was gone. There was a scarf in one pocket and a knife in the other. On Saturday afternoon the prisoner, why had been at work in the dock and was suspected, was stopped by a constable, named Joseph Cleaver, as he was about to leave the dock, and charged with stealing the coat. He stoutly denied it, on which Cleaver said you are the thief, and I will search you. The prosecutor's knife was found upon him, and on inquiry being made the missing coat was discovered at the pawn-office of Mr. James Nathan, a pawnbroker in Poplar, whose assistant, Benjamin Poole, said that he received it of the prisoner on Friday afternoon, and lent him 10s. upon it. Haine, an officer, said the prisoner had been ill custody before for stealing a quadrant from a ship, and after being two days in custody, escaped ill consequence of the owner going to sea. The prisoner was committed for trial. ACCIDENT TO THE Duc DE GUISE.—On Thursday morning last the flue de Guise, only son of the Duo d'Aumale, of Orleans House, Twickenham, was throve from his horse while hunting, and unfortunately broke hie leg. The illustrious sufferer was at once conveyed to Orleans House, and surgical aid was immediately forth coming. The duke is progressing favourably. THE SOMERSET PROVINCE OF FREEMASONS. —To morrow the installation of the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon as Grand Master of Freemasons for the Pro vince of Somerset will take place at Bath, and the cere mony is to be followed by a banquet. Invitations have been sent out to a large number of lodges, and the event is one that excites much interest among the fraternity. HOURLY COMMERCIAL CORRESPONDECE WITS Paßis.—Although much importance is attached to the construction of Boutet's Anglo-French railway bridge, from the immense facilities it will afford for the transport of passengers and merchandise between England and the Continent, it seems that there fe another purpose to which the bridge can be turned , which will confer even greater benefits, commercially speaking, upon the two countries. A friend of Mr. Boutet suggests that a light steel tube, a metre in diameter , might be affixed to each side of the bridge, either outside, or forming part of, the balustrade. These tubes could be continued along the eetisting lines of railway (or a single tube would suffice, except on the bridge), and might be used for the conveyance, by atmospheric pres sure, of letters, ecc., in a specially constructed car riage which the inventor has designed. The tubee would add comparatively nothing to the cost of th e bridge, and could add materially to its rigidity. P 1 this means a letter posted in London, if addressed to the Place do la Bourso, could be delivered almost as quickly 0 0 as if addressed to a suburb of London, and there would be nothing to prevent the establishment of ten deliverie s daily of Paris letters in London, and of an equal number of deliveries of London letters iuraris —Mining Journal. On Saturday morning, the Liverpool police found the body of a very respectably-dressed middle-age woman half imbedded in the mud of a road which rune through some brickfields at the east end of the town' From marks of violence upon the face, it is thought the deceased did not come to her death by fair means. The police are investigating the matter. A serious accident has occurred to two workmen/ named M‘Gowan and Conway, employed at the West Cumberland Ironworks, at Workington. One of the men, it appears, had incautiously thrown some cold water into a furnace where there was some molten iron at the bot tom. The consequence was an explosion, and both. AN:rowan and Conway wore somewhat severely bureee about the face. WINTER WEATHER.—There have been years is which no frost and snow whatever were seen. In 117: 3 so mild was the season that the trees were covered with leaves ; and the birds built their nests and hatched thef t young in the month of February. In 1289 there was 1 3 ° winter, and in 1421 white blossoms were to be seen on tll l3 ordinary trees in March, and on the vine i❑ April ; ch °r ' . ries ripened in the latter month, and the grape in Mai In 1538 the gardens were bright with flowers in January' 1572 was like 1172; and 1607, 1612 and 1617 were re' markable for their genial temperature. Neither ice 1 1( ° snow was visible in 1639 ; no stoves were lit in Germany in 1692; and the softness of the weather in 1791, 1807,1 10 1822 rendered those years quite phenomenal.