The Sun. — London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

P Olat ilifOU.7ll AND ITS DEFENCES. S . ince the notice in The uas of the 10th of January last, of 'the new lines and works for the defence of Pcirtstd(outh by land and sea, considerable progress has been made in their construction, and many al#,eratiens and 'additions have been made to the plans as originally laid down, the most important , of all being the proposed fortification of Portsdown hill, in front of the Hilsea lines, and apparently comme.ndi ng the entrance by land to Portsea Island. This yosi.tion (Portsdown) is seven miles in extent; and, from the important bearings towards each other of Portsdown and Hilsea, we propose to leave their consideration until the circuit of the remaining 'line of defences has been gone through, commenc ing at its south-eastern point, Fort Cumberland, and proceeding by Southsea Castle, Forts Monckton and Gomer, the chain of forts hence to Frater-lake, the proposed detached forts in advance to the - westward, and thence to Portsdown and Hilsea. The island of Portsea is of an irregular oval figure, about 16 miles in circumference, separated from the mainland 'by a creek between Hilsea and Cosham, which unites the harbours of Portsmouth and Lang ston ; is bounded on the east side by Langston Har'oour and Hayling Island, on the west by Ports mouth Harbour, Gosport, Fareham, Ac., and on the feauth by Spithead and St. Helen's. The new lines of defence, it will be seen, extend considerably into the peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, taking their course along the sea beach to the westward, thence stretching across the country at right angles until the upper portion of Ports mouth Harbour shores are reached, and the pro posed intrenchments on Portsdown completing the circuit thence to Hilsea. Returning to our starting point, Fort Cumberland, this work stands at the mouth of Langston Harbour, on the end of a line of sea-beach 4,300 yards in length, the correspond ing end of which is held by Southsea Castle with its auxiliary earthworks, both strongly enclosed works, the first-named mounting about 50 guns of the heaviest calibre ; and Southsea, with its auxi liary batteries, mounting about 53. Southsea Castle, as the outpost guarding the entrance of Portsmouth harbour channel, is the more important work of the two, and its earthworks are consequently to be considerably increased and strengthened. The line of beach between these two forts is to be further defended by two intermediate forts—East ney and Lumps, the latter of which is nearly completed, and, as both will be of p rec i se l y similar construction, a description of one will suffice. Lumps is constructed to carry nine 8 and 10-inch guns, and is provided with revetements 27 feet high, with a ditch in front, flanked by caponussres for musketry. In the interior of the work accommodation is made under the terresplein for 100 men. The rear of the work is closed by brickwork, with a building for officers' quarters, entrance gateway, ix. The sea face of the work is covered in the usual manner by an earthen glacis. The fort in front presents a sufficiently formidable appearance, especially taking into consideration that the whole line of beach from Southsea Castle to the eastward is only accessible to gunboats of light draught at high water, or boat flotillas. The rear of the fort is, however, very weak. It is sup posed that two or three pieces of light calibre may be mounted on the roof of the officers' quarters to assist in defending its rear face, but it is also evi dent that a couple of field-pieces, landed from an enemy's boats and brought to act on the same spot, would render the fort untenable. Straith and other authorities lay it down as a rule that all detached works at a distance from the main fortress should be surrounded by a ditch, and present the same obstacles in the rear as in front. Passing by the entrance to Portsmouth harbour, defended, exclusive of Southsea Castle, by upwards of 100 guns of the heaviest calibre, the next point reached is Fort Monckton, flanking, with its 48 6, 8, and 10-inch guns, the line of ditch and rampart erecting for the defence of this portion of the lines along Stokes Bay, and extending to beyond Gomer Fort. The greater part of the earthworks here are finished, or nearly so, and the brickwork and masonry for the batteries flanking the line of ditch are also drawing towards completion. The main defences on this line, consisting of detached forts and batteries on the rising ground in the immediate rear of the lines, have, however, not yet been begun, but the whole, when complete, will form an almost invulerable line of defence. This had need to be the case, for an enemy effecting a landing in the bay and forcing any portion of this line would turn the whole position, and Portsmouth, its dockyard, arsenal, and shipping, would lie at his mercy. Great care has been taken in designing the plans for this portion of the defences, owing to their great importance, and where the water deepens on the beach the line of rampart and ditch, the outer defence, recedes, while at the point where it shoals the line more boldly advances, until it approaches to within a very short distance of high-water mark. Seawards this is the most tempting point for an enemy to attack, should his object be the capture or destruction of the dockyard and shipping. He has but to force the line at this point, and the monster line of fortifications at Hilsea and the chain of forts from Stokes Bay to Frater Lake would be useless, and must fall into the enemy's hands, and that without the necessity of striking another blow. Stokes Bay presents every facility for landing troops; while at high-water the Gloire could approach within less than 250 yards out of the outer ditch and rampart. This line of outer defences, com mencing at Fort Monckton in the midst of swamp and morass, ends with a square casemated work in a similar description of ground slightly in advance of Fort Gomer, an enclosed work in an almost inac cessible position, and mounting 32 6,8, and 10 inch guns, and two 13-inch mortars. In advance of both, on the shingle of the beach, are the auxiliary Browndown batteries, mounting 21 8-inch guns. The ground in the rear of the line just described rises to an average of 18 feet, and on this will be constructed the works which will form the really defensive portion, connecting Monckton with Gomer, none of which have, however, yet been commenced. From Gomer Fort to Frater Lake are the forts of Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, and El son, the latter of which only is finished, armed, and manned. The remainder are nearly completed but are to be connected by a line of ditch and rampart, their rear faCes being weak in a similar manner to Lumps Fort. In advance of this line of connected forts, and commencing at Hill-head, a point of land to the westward of Stokes Bay and terminating near Fareharn, will be erected a line of detached forts, considerably in advance of the main line of d, fence, and each complete as a work of itself. The northern fort Neill prevent an enemy who may have effected a landin g in any part of the Solent from seizing on the approaches to Portsdown-hill. From Fareham to Chichester runs the public main road, , is most lik ely an enemy would ad along which it vance, either from the (2estward or westward. In making this advance his first o bj ect wou ld b e to take possession of the he i g h ts of Portsdown, but to do this from the westward will be a l most impossible owing to the position o f the det ached advanced forts, and especially of the one at Itsonae. The approach to the hill on the eastern side has not re eeived equal attention. A strong detached work near Bedhampton would effectually protect th e hi lt from any enemy advancing direct upon it by the main road from Chichester. This fact deserves seri ous attention. Selsea Bill, with a wind at south west in the Channel, affords, in conjunction with its reefs of rocks running off miles into the Chaotic if I a safe and easy spot for the debarkation of troops. The" Bill" itself with a few works thrown up by an active enemy would assure him a base of operations. From Selsea to Chichester is a capital road, fit for the passage of artillery, &c., while from the city itself to the foot of Portsdown is one of the best roads in the kingdom, and the whole length— some 21 miles—as level as a bowling•grecn. To prevent anything of this kind taking place, Chi chester possesses but two 18-pounder field guns. The commanding position of Portsdown has se cured for it an unwonted degree of attention, until, from its having been hitherto only celebrated for the magnificent panoramic views obtainable from it' crest, both seaward and landward, it is now likely to become as celebrated for the extent of its fortifications. The fortifications proposed for the purpose comprise nine distinct works, exclusive of the lines scarfing the hill on each end or flank, and mounting together 226 guns, requiring 2,260 artil lerymen to man them. The cost is ( stimated at £500,000. Colonel Ross, Royal Engineers, and Staff are already engaged marking oct the sites for the forts, but ground has not yet been broken, nor may the progress here be so rapid, perhaps, as has been anticipated. Portsdown is one of the finest positions in the kingdom to experimentalize upon, but it can never be turned, as was at first thought, into a second Torres-Vedras affair. The latter was a rock, and Portsdown is chalk. If the position is fortified, as at present contemplated, it must be with the intention of holding it at some future time, possibly in the presence of an enemy, and would then afford hint a grand opportunity to dis play his skill in mining, The siege of Schweidnitz took place in 1793, and the Prussians prosecuted it for 63 days, the Austrians defending it ; 49 of these days, we are told by Straith, the autho rity we have before referred to, were passed in a subterranean war. In like manner would the possession of Portsdown-hill be contended for, and the question naturally arises, is it a good policy to erect a line of permanent forts when the ground on which they must be erected offers such facilities for mining operations and their conse quent destruction ? It has been stated by eminent military authorities on such matters that the erec tion of permanent works of any great extent on Portsdown can be but an ill-judged proceeding, and that the only method in which the case can be met would be by the construction of a sunk re doubt on the crest of the hill, in its centre, with the entire crest scarped, in conjunction with the proposed scarping and batteries on the flanks, a subterranean passage to communicate with the sunk redoubt. The same authorities contend that an engine, covered properly with a blindage, and fitted with a seven-foot borer, would run a gallery in any direction in an incredibly short space of time, and enable the assailant to blow any fort into the air. Straith says in hi s wor k, " Ch a lk i s th e best soil for mining, as the slow and troublesome process of supporting the gallery with frames and sheeting can be dispensed with. Eliptical shafts and arched galleries will stand without support in chalk." Opposite to Portsdown, and on the crest of the slight ridge at the entrance to the island, contain ing Portsmouth, with its Royal dockyard, its vast storehouses and shipping, are the immense works erecting for the protection of the island from an enemy landward. The distance, as the crow flies, is 2,250 yards. The greatest elevation of Ports down is 444 feet above high-water mark, while the slight ridge on which the Hil sea lines are being constructed is only six feet above high water. This causes the lines in course of development at Hilsea to look somewhat contemptible when viewed from the greater eleva tion, but a closer inspection does away with this ideas, and proves it to have been in the character of an optical delusion. At the foot of the hill lies the village of Cosham, and from hence to Post-bridge, the first approach to the lines, the ground has a gradual ascent, the whole of the ground for 600 yards between the hill and Hilsea, in front of the latter position, being below high-water mark, and, con sequently, by simply cutting the sea-walls at high water, the whole of the land in front to the extent named could he inundated. The only possible ap proach to the position is by the main road from Cosham, which may be likened to a causeway amid broken ground, swamp, and salt lakes. This will give some idea of the nature of the ground intervening between the foot of Portsdown and the new lines of defence at Hilsea. When com pleted, these works, entered by the road from Cos ham, just described, will present themselves in the following order :—The railway and turnpike roads enter the works at different points, and are the only portion which can by any means be enfiladed by an enemy's fire. The first obstacle met with in enter ing will be the channel connecting Portsmouth and Langston harbours, 200 feet wide, and of sufficient depth to allow heavily-armed gunvessels to pass through, and which would materially assist in de fending the works, their guns sweeping the marshy ground in front in all directions. Means will be applied for retaining the water in this passage during ebb tide. Three wide and deep moats, together with two im mense hornworks, each of the latter of an equilateral triangular shape, have yet to be passed before the main line is reached. These outworks will have casemates armed a la Haxo, with light pieces of the same character of weapon as the main lines, where it is intended fortheArnsstronggun to enter largely into the armament. Passing these outer defences, we enter by the double gates of the western bastion, which is now receiving its earthen front and profile. The bastion trace has three fronts, with exterior sides of about 730 yards, the lines of defence being 500 yards long. The flanks of these fronts are casemated a/a Haxo, and will contain 10 guns each. In the rear of each gun is a bomb-proof chamber for 10 men. These batteries will deliver a heavy flanking fire over the Channel on the flanks of each bastion. The base is 116 feet. The command of the line will average 26 feet. The parapets of all the works ex posed to a direct fire will be 24 feet thick. The whole of the works, with the exception of a portion of the road and railway, as before stated, will be perfectly defiladed from the fire of any batteries that can be planted in any position in front or on Portsdown. On the east and we end of the line a demi-bastion casemated protects that part of the work, and a continuation of the earthwork is car ried for some distance along the shore of each har bour. This latter it is not intended at present to arm with guns ; still, it would seem necessary to do so, especially on the Langston harbour face, as an enemy advancing on the Chichester road might seize boats at Havant, &c., as he came along, and, crossing the harbour, take the works in reverse. The top of the works will have a parapet for rifle fire, the terre-plein of which will be well reversed, with a slope of 2 feet to the rear. Along the entire length of the main line, in its rear, is being con structed a military road for the supply of material, &c. In the rear of this road a large sewer is in course of construction, which will intercept the natural drainage of the land in the roar, and receive the sew age from the new barracks building in the rear of all. The magazines, 36 in number, are situated at inter vals under the main line. The greater portion of the brickwork and masonry of the main line is com plete, and the line of earthwo ks to corer and con nect the whole has been fairly commenced, and in parts, where the profile is complete, gives some idea of the immense strength and solidity the whole will possess when completed. 130,000 bricks per day are now being laid on this portion of the line of de fences alone. About 1,200 men are also employed upon them-500 in fixing the material, and the re mainder in preparing it. The late wet weather has been pre-eminently calculated to try the great masses of brickwork and masonry forming the casemates for the flanking batteries of each bastion. A careful inspection of the whole, however, proves the perfect soundness of their construction, not a single crack or ) flaw being visible in any part. These works, forming as they do one of the most important points in the defence of Portsmouth, deserve an extra amount of attention, and, as their profile has not yet been formed, their apparent deficiency on certain points may be pointed out. They now contain accommoda lion for 600 men, but by slightly raising the height of their profile, and bringing the interior slope of tho ' , corks square with the base or ground plan, sufficient space could not only be gained in which to quarter all the troops proposed to be quartered in the new barracks in rear of the lines, but also to a fford shelter to the whole of the inhabitants of the h i e new islan d in the e vent of any bombardment by sea and land. he ni ea i barrack s now of n aing under wbu theildin building for oft t e he . i roo la t works, are e nt i rely the t unprotected, and troops i enfiladeis also firfrora intended anyto s p t o o i r n e t t h In tlle greater se portion of the m aterial required for war service in the new lines. t c a e i s ning seaward t he o b p ar e r n ae toks, an too, This concludes the defences o f the port by land. The proposed d e c f e e n n are fully reported in the Blue-book taken before the Nat ional Defence Commissio n. They consist of a series of heavy stone forts on the Noman, Horse, Spit, and S tearbrid g e shoals, backe d by strong batteries erected on the Isle of \S ight THE SUN, 'LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1860. shore, and a considerable strengthening of the existing defences . immediately surrounding Ports mouth, or the inner lines of defence. With regard to the fortifications surrounding the town of Ports. mouth, the Commissioners report " that the major portion of the works are entirely useless." This may also be said of some of the works recently constructed, and the Commissioners also report that they strongly disapprove the mode in which Fort Victoria, at Sconce Point, erected to defend the en trance by the Needles Passage, has been constructed. The evidence given before the Commission on the subject of booms, or floating barriers, to throw across the passage between the Noman and Dean shoals, or at the Needles, was very inconclusive, but the publication of the evidence has attracted much attention among scientific men, and a Mr. Austen, C.E., a gentleman who has had consider able experience in engineering works under Sir Morton Peto and other eminent firms, has prepared models of a plan by which he proposes to eflectu ally close and defend any similar passage, and that shall give free ingress and egress to the strongest tideway, and that the cost of the construction shall be about £l,OOO per gun, the cost of a sailing frigate. This gentleman proposes to arm his structures with Mr. Lynall Thomas's gun, or a similar weapon. The models appear to be simple in construction, possess a large platform for the working of their guns, and are so constructed as to give the least possible resistance to the rush o f a tideway. All parts liable to be struck by shot or shell present the end grain of the wood, in a like manner to the surface of a wooden pavement, and are coated with iron plates on a scale of 6 inches. The portion cf the special estimated sum named by the National Defence Commission for the defence of the United Kingdom set apart for Ports mouth amounts to £2,800,000. selves. (Cheers.) lam a Volunteer to testify my high approbation, humbly though it be, to the credit and honour of the captain of your corps whom you honour—respected and admirable in all the private relations of life, and devoting his time, at the sacri fice of other serious and important avocations, for the welfare of the 12th regimental corps of the Essex Voknteers. (Cheers.) And what a cause, gentlemen, is it ? Why, it is that simply of defence ; no one can be fairly and justly annoyed. I can remember in my early days, at the University of Cambridge ; that there was no objection raised by the authorities to Messrs. Angelo coming down to teach us the art of fencing ; there was no objection raised to that remarkably celebrated well-formed Englishman, Jackson, teaching us the art of self defence—(laughter)—a man who, I remember, was stripped by request of the Prince Regent, to show what an Englishman was made of, in the presence of the Emperor Alexander of Russia, the King of Prussia, Marshal Blucher, and the Hetman Platoff. We became self-reliant, but not therefore prepared to stop every Englishman we met in Cambridge, although it 6d sometimes happen that we knocked down the first bargee who crossed our path. (Laughter.) So I say with reference to apprehen sions from foreign Powers, why should such exist ? No offence is intended. We are annoying to no one, but we are prepared to meet every one. (Cheers.) The cup having been presented to Captain Sparrow with a highly complimentary speech from Lieutenant Conrtauld, Mr. Du CANE, M.P., addressed the meeting. In proposing " The Army and Navy" the hon. member said.—" I cannot help thinking that we have learnt during the last few days one especial subject for congratulation conneeted with this toast. We must all congratulate ourselves that through the firmness and courage displayed by Lord Elgin and Sir Hope Grant, and that gallant allied band under their command, our far distant friends the Chinese have been brought to their senses, and that which this time I trust will be a solid and durable "treaty has been formally ratified under the walls of Pekin. (Cheers.) We do not know the terms as yet, and the former violation of the treaty of Tien-tsin, combined with the recent sad episode of the death of our two gallant countrymen, Capt. Brabazon and De Nor man, has taught us that too much reliance is not to be placed on the faith of a Chinaman. (Hear, hear.) But if I have no faith in the Chinese, I have faith in the salutary horror they have evinced of our Armstrong guns—(hear, hear)—and I will never believe that without some strong guarante .s for indemnification as regards the past and better behaviour as regards the future, the sword of the soldier has ceded the vantage ground to the pen of the diplomatist." (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman, in subsequently responding to the toast of " The County Members," observed—" I could almost have wished to have appeared before this gathering in some more military capacity than that of a plain member of Parliament ; for I know it may be said that the duties of a Parliamentary representative are not incompatible with those of an officer of a Volunteer corps, and that the present House of Commons affords signal instances to the contrary. But I thought, I can assure you, somewhat deeply on this subject, and I have long ago come to the conclusion that, whatever other amusements it may be lawful for M.P.'s to indulge in, playing at sol diers is a game that benefits neither the player nor those with whom he plays. If you wish to be an able and efficient officer or menaber of a Volunteer corps, you must make up your mind for hour after hour of hard drill and rifle practice; and above all it appears to me that you must make up your mind to be a permanent fixture for many months of the year in the neighbourhood in which your corps is established. (Hear.) I have watched somewhat attentively the progress of this great movement as it affected those members of the House of Com mons who have taken a leading part in it ; and I may mention one name that I think never ought to be mentioned in connection with this cause without a burst of enthusiasm—l mean Lord Elcho. (Loud cheers.) Lord Elcho is a nobleman of very high talent and varied attainments, and he had earned for himself a position of no mean importance in the House of Commons—of no mean importance both as a debater and a man of business. If any man could do two things at once, I think he could, but he has been obliged almost entirely to relinquish that position, many will say, to assume a more glorious one in connection with this movement. I became thereby convinced that so long as I am honoured with the confidence of a majority of this consti tuency I had better act, save so far as an honorary membership is concerned, on the favourite English principle of non-intervention. I did not rise for the purpose of making a long speech, and if I had done so, I should be somewhat puzzled to find a subject. Politics, we all know, are most strictly and properly forbidden; of agriculture during the last few months you have had enough, and more than enough ; oven Garibaldi has retired into pri vate life ; and the future intentions of the Emperor of the French are as much a mystery to the world at large as the Road murder. (Laughter.) We now hear on all sides inspiriting martial music, and patriotic exhortations to Form, form, Riflemen form.' I trust the day may never come when another well known military air may be more in vogue—l mean, The soldier tired.' (Hear.) I confess I thing that as time goes on some means besides what you have at present in this county may be desirable to keep the steam up to its pre sent high pressure, and, if I may be allowed to make the suggestion, I would say why not follow the example other counties, and set on foot in Essex a county rifle association ?" (Hear.) Mr. T. S. WESTERN, M.P., responded on behalf of the "Members for the Essex Boroughs," and in the course of a brief address, said,—" There was a time when liberal politicians viewed with jeal ousy any increase in the land forces of this country ; when a standing army was not seldom spoken of as a standing menace to liberty; but the stanchest Liberal may well unite with the stanchest Conservative in hailing the creation of our army of Volunteers. (Hear, and applause.) Drawn from the ranks of civil life, and continuing to bear his part in all the duties and social interests appertain ing to his position, the gray-coated or green-coated rifleman may well be considered as suspected by nobody of being dangerous to freedom—(hear, hear) —and, although perhaps at the present day one cannot contemplate the possibility of a despotic Government—if such a calamity should ever befal us, if such a Government should ever threaten us, I am sure it will not be among the Volunteers that it will look for its tools. (Hear, hear.) Several other toasts were given in the course of the evening. Her Majesty, through Mr. Sidney Herbert, the Secretary of State for War, has, after the necessary preliminary inquiries, been pleased to accept, through Lord Fortescue, the Lord Lieutenant of the county, the services of the Artillery Corps connected with the Devonport Dockyard, which are to be termed " the 12th Devon Volunteer Artillery." The number of men belonging to the Dockyard Volun teers is about 200, and to the Keyham Steamyard nearly 100. Mr. T. Knight is honorary secretary at Devonport, and Mr. Curry at Keyham. An effi cient hand (21 each) is attached to each corps. For shot practice these volunteers will have the use of the guns in Plymouth Citadel, and for shell practice the battery at Picklecombe Point, Mount Edg- ' cumbe. CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SIIILLING DAT.— Tuesday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25.—Admissions on pay ment, 1,190; ; ditto by season tickets, 816—total visitors, 2,806. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills and medicine invariably ag gravate and perpetuate diseases; their annoyance, dis appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons in indifferent health sending only their address to E. S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they will receive gratis and tree by post the " INVALIDS' OWN ( , ;vinr," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex -11 Itse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal 01 indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitatiot, cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea, dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds, noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, spasms, sinking, fits, bronchitis " Unouestionably the safest Guide to health." PASTORAL LETTER OF CARDINAL WISEMAN. The following pastoral from his Eminence Car dinal Wiseman was read in all the Roman Catholic churches and chapels of the archdiocess of West minster on Sunday last, being the fourth Sunday of Advent : Nicholas, by the Divine mercy of the holy Roman Church, of the title of St. Pruden tiana, Cardinal Priest and Archbishop of Westminster : To our dearly beloved brethren and children in Christ, the clergy, secular and regular, and faithful of the said diocess. Health and benediction in the Lord. The Word of God, the co-equal, Son of the Father, eternal, infinite, God Himself, taking our human nature, with all its miseries, except sin and corruption, maimed, nevertheless, and subject to pain and to sorrow, coming among us as a helpless infant, as a poor outcast, as an unknown, unheeded, neglected, despised babe of poor parents, presents Himself vividly every year at this season to our wonder and admiration. And is this all ? Oh, no, far from it. It is to our love—onr inmost, tender est, purest love—that He offers Himself as the most special object. To an adoring love, if we please, but to a love unmixed with reproach, with fear, with anxiety. Happiest indeed and sweetest of all the Church's holydays—Easter may be more glori ous, Ascension more triumphant, Whit Sunday more mystical ; but Christmas-day is the day of simplest affection, of most untroubled confidence, most human feelings when looking towards God, or rather looking into His very face, gentle and loveable as that of an infant, in the first visible radiance of His incarnation. Hence has this festival worked its way into our very social institutions ; it excites a charity for the poor, more wanted indeed at this period, yet inti mately connected with it, or rather inspired by it. It is not a winter charity, or a New Year's charity, but Christmas charity, which clothes the naked, feeds the hungry, warms up many a cold garret with its fuel ; which penetrates the prison and the workhouse, to regale their inmates with Christmas fare. It is this season, the coldest of the year, which warms again affections chilled by separation, by conflicting interests, by strange mis understandings ; which draws close once more bonds relaxed by worldly cares, or by the formation of new ties, straitens them for a season, and gathers round one family hearth the disjointed members of one house as they were in earlier and happier days, like young olives round the father's table, like unanxious children about the joyful mother—matreinjiliorum letantent. Christmas is thus the love-feast of the Christian calendar, endowed by the force of domestic affection and social institutions with power enough to have resisted every Puritanical and unloving effort to efface it, with so many other commemorations of Divine mercy. It remains a holiday because of the very intensity of its sweet love ; for •o other festival, as we have said, brings more directly and unre proachingly to our hearts the charity of God, " The benignness and humanity of God our Saviour ap pearing to us." And - we have seen how instructively this sense of our Lord's great charity to us inspires imitation and the gratitude which he loves best, the repayment in kind to those who need our help. Oh, how slight, how insig nificant is all that we can do to mark our sense of this charity to us, of that fathomless, immeasur able, dimensionless love and unspeakable goodness which, being one with His infinite wisdom, is an abyss the depths whereof angels cannot reach, in comprehensibie to their intelligence, inexplicable to their hearts. The treasures of this immense good ness have been unstintedly lavished upon us, giving not only riches where before was poverty, but lite where was death, light where was darkness, happi ness where was wretchedness, bliss where would have been woe, God where would have been the wicked fiend, glory with the One on high where would have been infamy and torture with the other. It has not been a diminution of evil, or an increase of good that the charity of God has brought or given by the incarna tion ; but it was the substitution of positive good for positive evil (if we may so popularly speak), the transition from one extreme to its very opposite. What can we do, in imitation of this excessive kindness and love, that can be worth His acknow ledgment—how much less His acceptance ? If His goodness had not come to our assistance even here, how helpless would have been our condition ! We must have sunk into hopelessness and remained contented with bare utterance of thanks. How simple, however, the method which He adopted ! He knew that we should easily understand how everything, slight though in itself, nay, worthless, which to/lolled Himself, would receive infinite value in the eyes of those that loved him gratefully. And this He gave us power to make our poor charity do. " Clothe the poor," He said, " and you clothe Me. Feed the hungry, and you feed Me. Give but a cup of cold water to one of my thirsting little ones and ye have quickened Me." How simple, and yet how noble ! How easy, and yet how sublime, this sanctification of kindness—this almost deifica tion of humanity ! If, then, the love of Jesus Christ was meat pro fuse to us when He was made flesh and first dwelt among us, and was, in fact, the germ of all His love —if in proportion to His love ours ought to be in return—if, in fine, this, our thankful love should be exhibited, as He wishes, towards His poor brethren and ours, let our Christmas be one of out pouring mercy, overflowing generosity, exuberant charity, towards all who need our assistance ! But what class of poverty and misery can put forward a more prominent claim by association with the mystery of love now specially brought before us ? For surely it is natural for us, when looking for His image in the indigent or afflicted, to study those many resemblances of His sufferings which are to be found on earth, and select such as best suits the particular form for our devotion. St. Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary, found a poor man covered with sores and ulcers from a foul leprosy which afflicted him. Moved with com passion, anxious to relieve him, she had him borne upstairs, and finding the Royal bed nearest at hand, placed him in it, and there nursed him, The King suddenly returned home, and was soon informed by envious courtiers of the loathsome spectacle that awaited him in his chamber. Angry, he drew his gentle and holy Queen thither, and drew aside the rich curtains, and what he did find ? The figure of Our Lord, lying in it, with the thorny crown on His Lord, His body bruised, cut, and la cerated by blows and scourges, and His hands pierced by nails; and he worshipped instead of reproaching, and begged pardon instead of reprov ing. For he saw now what his saintly Queen had all along seen with herinnocent eyes, that the sick, the sore—those tossed on the hospital bed, ulcera ted within or without—those who moan with pain or writhe in agony, are the truest types to us of Jesus, their friehd and lover, scourged at the pillar or racked on the cross for the love of us. St. Eliza beth saw Him in that leper, and thought no bed too soft, too white, too dainty, for that lovely image of her dear Lord. Thus, dearly beloved children in Christ, when you wish thus to requite your Saviour's love to you in passion and death, ought not your grateful affection naturally to turn to those indeed more lowly beds, where day and night so many of your poor brethren and sisters and little ones are nursed by devoted imitators of that saint in the hospital which bears her name ? Ought you not to feel as though the alms-box which solicits your charity for this holy purpose were fastened to the. trunk of our Saviour's cross, below His blessed feet, rather than to the door of a poor dwelling in darksome London. Or, again, do you read in the Annals for the Propagation of the Faith the touching accounts of recent martyrdoms, far, far away its the Eastern world, young women and old men, tender boys and venerable ecclesiastics, tarn by scourges, pierced with lances, fastened to crosses, tortured even like the heroes of the first three Christian centuries ? If you do, and rightly feel honour and love towards those your brethren, do you not behold in them more than images, repititions of our blessed Lord's own torments; and, if so, do you not run at once to send your charity where it so imme diately reaches Him whom these represent so truly, by pouring it into the coffers of that ad mirable institution which, under the name just quoted, directly ministers to the relief of those poor afflicted, but most honourable of the Church's children ? But, if our Divine Redeemer is thus represented to us in the sublimcst and most awful of His ap pearances on earth, He stands before us living day by day, in the irore ordinary forms of suffering. " The poor ye have always with you." How beau tiful this His word ; how cheering, how consoling. Yet it was not understood by those who heard it— by Magdalene any more than by Judas ; but to the children of the kingdom. They have reached their maturity, and they say—" Upon me personally you will not be able, like this faithful woman, to lavish spikenard and alabaster, but the price of these you will be at any time able to give to the poor who will represent me." In fact, do you wish to relieve the destitute in this bleak season and city, to give a home to those who lay their weary heads on stone doorsteps, or huddle together for warmth in the mud of dry river arches,—do you wish to give but a small coin to one who cannot pay the smallest just claim to him Do you long to fill the hungry and faint after long fast? And do you strive to cheer your charity by the thought that thlse forlorn, abject, arid ragged creatures can in any way receive your alms as with Christ's outstretched palm and speak blessings on you in His dear name ? Oh I surely yes ; do so and fear not. "The foxes have their holes, yet the Son of Man hath not where to lay Hig bead !" Who more like Him than the houseless A penny is demanded of him for toll, and so empty is his purse that he must needs send Peter back to his'renounced occupation of fisherman to obtain, though miraculously, what was needful. Then how like to Him the utterly destitute and penniless I And, finally, whom but angels will you resemble when you feed the hungry,—those angels who, when Jesus hungered after long fast, spread a table for Him in the wilderness P If, again, you wish to sustain the efforts of honest industry, to give work to those who would gladly undertake it, to cheer on the languishing but virtuous household by the kind visit and apparently ca , ual order which leaves no sting or shame of discovered struggles and patient endurance, surely we can transfuse these good works in mind arid intention to the humble workshop of Nazareth, and honour in the industrious, though unsuccessful poor the inmates of that humble but happy home. Nevertheless, we do not seem as yet to have reached that special class of poor who best represent Jesus in Bethlehem, a child laid on straw, in a stable on a manger, left by the world to suffer, sometimes to die. Surely the orphans of either sex may put for• ward here a high pretension and advance good claims to be His representative! Jesus lies before us a little child, and such is the orphan who wants our charity; Jesus is poor and destitute, and such is our little one when first he needs it. Jesus is desolate—cut off from the world, and is there a creature more destitute than the orphan re turning from its parents' pauper funeral to what was once ite wretched home- 7 -now not even that In one respect the likeness would be complete, but for the greater misery of such a child. Our Lord never had one whom He could call His father upon earth. In this respect He was the type of the orphan child, and may well transfer to us a father's duty to him. He had, indeed, from the beginning, the love and attendance of the tenderest of mothers, and He had the affectionate care, equal to any parent's, of the most affectionate of foster fathers. Alas ! had the poor orphan in London always one, even the second of these, deprived often of both parents, perhaps in company of several little 'brothers and sisters hapless as himself, he may for a time be tossed from the precarious support of one relation to another, till at length he is allowed to drop into the oblivion of the union, where he grows up a lonely youth who prays not for his unknown parents' souls. There are among the poor heroic exceptions to this sad history ; we find constantly the poorest relations struggling manfully to keep their rela tions' or even friends' children from this terrible fate, but a melancholy experience teaches us that many, very many, fall through this utter helpless■ ness into those abysses of perdition. And, strange to say, even in this we can trace a resemblance to the lot to which our Divine Redeemer was doomed by a malicious world. Herod is described as having sought His life in singular words :—" Mortui aunt gucerebant animam pueris." "They are dead," it is written, "who sought (literally) the soul of the child." Yes, Herod sought to take away the life of the body of the Holy child. Many strive to take the soul's life from our poor orphans ; and observe, Herod did not threaten and bluster, nor did he use violence at first. No, all was gentle and respectful ; he loved, nay, he worshipped the child whom he was about to destroy. " When you have found him tell me, that I also may come and adore him." Such were his words to the wise men of the East. The crafty false friend ; the hypocritical destroyer of all that was best on earth, had not God foiled him ! And it is always with smooth words and kind looks that the little orphan is claimed for destruction. "I will educate and support him," a benevolent patron or rich relation would most winningly say. But one condition is inexorably added--he must be put into a Protestant institution; the child's soul must be the purchase-money of charity. " Let me have your child," whispers a truly well-meaning, kind-hearted lady to the sickly mother or burdened kinswoman, " and I will make a lady of her ; she shall want for nothing." In what religion will she be brought up ? "Of course not in the Catholic." Al ways the same—:it if; the child's soul that is beg ge d f or . And if this be refuse the poor thing is flung back, remorselessly, to the risk of losing its earthly life. And it is even batter so. It may be thought that, after all, if our orphans are placed in the receptacle for varied misery pro ♦ided by the nation, though their existence may be solitary their religion at least will be safe under the guarantee of the law. Would to God it were BO ! It would be difficult to frame a law in favour of Catholic children which the craft or the power of petty Herods will not elude or violate. We have learnt how, by vexatious delays, intri cate correspondences, harassing denials, and put ting to proof of uneducated relations, by the divi sion of jurisdiction between boards and committees, and by no end of paltry excuses and mean eva sions, months and years can be dragged over till a child's affections have been weaned from a sister, or its mind poisoned against the only inheritance of a mother. No, they are far from dead who seek the souls of our children. We earnestly hope that not another Session of the Legislature will be allowed to pass over without a united and power ful and a universal effort of all Catholics to redress this crying evil, and lay bare this mystery of ini quity to the detestation of the fair and the honest. But this is not our present scope. The only real effectual remedy is to secure to ourselves, as far as we can, the education of our own poor orphans. To snatch the very babes from the danger of sucking in poison with their very milk, we have an excellent charity under the invocation of the Immaculate Conception ; but the especial object of your charitable contributions to-day is the education of Catholic orphans in the two noble establish ments of North Hyde and Norwood—the first for boys, under the fatherly care of Brothers of Mercy; the second under the maternal direction of the Sisters of our Lady of the Orphans. Both are doing their work efficiently; both are worthy of your utmost support. Your contributions on 26th February last added £135 to the funds of each orphanage. A full state ment of the accounts of that at North Hyde will be made public at the beginning of the ensuing year. The number of boys at present in the institu tion is 70, being an increase to the amount of 19 in the establishment during the current year. There is ample space to accommodate 100 boys, but frequent applications for the admission of poor destitute orphans are refused through the want of means to support them. At the Asylum of Our Lady of the Orphans at Norwood, the accounts of which are published with the pastoral, there are in all 203 orphan girls, of whom 74 are from the diocess of Westminster, 15 of this number being maintained by the diocesan collections. Here, too, although the vacancies which occurred during the year were immediately filled up, no less than 59 orphans have been refused admission, either for want of room or of funds to support them. Now, to you who are rich we say, make this your great Christmas cha rity. Draw near to our Lord's humble resting place, to His bed of straw, and offer him your gifts. The kings bring him gold and spices, tie shep herds lay before him the:fruit of their fleas. Do yoi come before him with far more welcome offerings. Bring to Him many little ones like Himself, souls more precious to Him than gold, lambs more tender than the firstlings of Abel's flock. Better than in any mirror will He see His own likeness reflected in the inno cent looks of these dear children, when thus by your charity brought close to Him. And a happy, thrice happy Christmas awaits you if you bless it by this charity. And not to the rich alore do we speak. You honest sons of toil, stGut and fearless in your inde pendent industry, take intoyour powerful clasp the desolate orphan. Let him share your honourable gains, nay, work expressly for him. Put aside a mite of your earnings. Give him, if you can, a few hours of extra work, and happy may you also be if, in the course of many years,' ou shall have saved or given enough to rescue but one child from the detestable workhouse, as it generally proves for our little ones. How noble you will appear one day, and how you will hold up your head before your Judge, if you bear in your arms triumphantly be fore Him one living image of Him, more like Hi m than any painted or sculptured portrait as He was on his first Christmas-day on earth, all innocen ce , all love. And you pale and sinking followers of Mary, scarcely able to fight against poverty and ill-health, faint not in your work of charity. N urse still your poor friend's child ; lend it some of your scant warmth ; divide with it your hardly -earned bread. You are nursing and feeding the infant Jesus and bringing eternal blessings upon y our last hour, though bitter with the feeling that your adopted child will be soon a second time an orphan. But no ; the charity of your brethren and sisters, aroused this day, will come to your succour, will snatch your little one from perdition, and ease your pillow of one anxiet y . Th e l onely Babe of Beth lehem will bless you in your parting moment. And, dearly beloved , may He ble ss you all; g i ve H i m your love at this holy season by your abundant charity to His poor orphans, and He will give you h ap py homes and m uc h devotion to Him and rich spiritual graces. " Orphuno to eris adjutor," "Thou shalt be the orphan's helper," says the prophet to God Himself, Be ye like to Him, like to the Father, that He may recognise in you the image of Him self, gracious, and benevolent, and merciful; while His infant Son sees His own likeness in the help less innocents on. whom the attributes of Gs 'd ate lavished. The blessing of Gotl descend upon you, an d a bide with you for ever. A.men. Given in Westminster this fourth Sunds3' of Advent, December the 2,3 d, 1860. N., Card. Anchbik hop of WESTMINSTEIV. TEE NAVE In consequence of the activity now observable in the shipbuilding department at Chatham dock yard, and the exertions which are being made for the completion of those vessels now on the stocks which are ordered to be brought forward for launch ing, orders have been issued for the whole of the mechanics and labourers employed in the steam sawing mills at the dockyard to work extra hours, both morning and evening, in order that no delay may be occasioned in furnishing the timber re quired in the shipwright department. The follow ing line-of-battle and other screw steamers are now building in the dockyard, several of which are in a forward state and will be ready for launching— seon—the Bulwark 91, 800-horse power, about half completed; the Royal Oak, 91, 800-horse power, only recently commenced, bat already making con siderable progress ; the Undaunted, 51, 600-horse power, completed, and waiting to be launched on the Ist of January ; the Belvcdera, 51, 600-horse power, a sister frigate to the Undaunted, commenced a few months since ; the Rattlesnake, 20, 400- horse-power, one of the improved screw corvettes designed by Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, the late Surveyor of the Navy, and about one-half finished ; the Reindeer, 17, 200-horse power, one of the last vessels commenced at this dockyard; and the Myr midon, 4, 200-horse power, just pat in frame. In addition to`above, the line-of-battle ship Bom bay, 91, built in the East Indies, is in dock, being lengthened and converted into a screw steamer, and the large sailing frigate Arethusa, 51, is in the adjoining dock undergoing the same process. The Isis, 40, sailing ship, is lying alongside the dockyard wall being fitted for a coal ship for the African coast; and the Trincomalee, 26, under going the necessary alterations to adapt her for a training ship for the Naval Coast Volunteers, at Sunderland. The Linnet, 5, 200-horse power, is being complete afloat for the second-class steam reserve. The paddlewheel steam sloop Styx, 6, Comman der John Cave, four days from Halifax, arrived at Bermuda, November 24. She is under orders for the West Indies, to relieve the screw steam cor vette Cossack, 20, Captain Richard Moorman, which vessel, according to the Bermuda Royal Gazette, is ordered home. The Cossack was com missioned June 15, 1859, when she went to her present station. The screw steam gunvessel Lan drail, 5, Commander Thomas H. M. Martin, from England, was expected at Bermuda about the Ist inst. The paddlewheel steam sloop Spiteful, 6, Com mander Wilson, from Sheerness and Portsmouth, arrived at Plymouth on Monday morning with supernumeraries and with seamen and marines paid off from the Amethyst, 26, at Sheerness. She went up Hamoaze in the afternoon, and should the weather continue fine, will tow to Pembroke the coal depot Alarm, which will be in charge of Assist.-Master-Attendant Commander Paul and a party of riggers from the Devonpert dockyard. Rear-Admiral Stopford struck his flag on Satur day evening on board the Royal Albert, 121, Capt. Henry Lacon, in Hamoaze, and is gone on leave of absence. THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT. The following correspondence has been sent us for publication : St. James's-place, Dec. 13. My Lord,—Some of the officers commanding volunteer corps in the metropolis met at the Volunteer Service Club, on Monday, Dec. 3, to consider the question of the admis sion of,rnembers of the Society of Foresters into their re spective corps. Having reason to believe that the Government were opposed to the admission of members of secret societies into the volunteer force as separate bodies; whether small or large, and agreeing- with this view, we passed the following resolution : " That the commanding officers present do all in their power to give effect to the views of the Government, as above stated, and pledge themselves not to admit into their respective corps members of secret societies in separate bodies, small or large." Since then my attention has been drawn to the enclosed paragraph, headed "Foresters Rifles," which appeared in the Volunteer Service Gazette of Saturday last. From this it would seem that Lord Radst . ock had communicated to a body of metropolitan Foresters what passed at the meeting to which I have referred, and had likewise expressed to them the views which the Government are believed to entertain with reference to the admission of Foresters as separate bodies into the volunteer force. Nevertheless they resolved : " That this meeting is of opinion that one or more com panies of Forester Volunteers should forthwith be orga nised in this (the west) district, and pledges itself to co operate in the movement now being made for that pUrpose, notwithstanding the communication from Lord liadstock." This resolution can, I imagine, only have been adopted by the Foresters in the belief that the views of the Govern ment, as expressed to them in Lord Radstock's letter, would not be enforced ; and as this question of tho admission of members of the Society of Foresters, or of other secret socie ties, into the Volunteer force, as separate bodies, is one the importance of which cannot, I think, be exaggerated, I would venture to suggest to your Lordship the propriety of some public official announcement being made of the views and intentions of the Government upon this subject which may serve as a guide to officers commanding Volunteer corps.—l remain your lordship's obedient servant, ELcilo. War-office, Dec. 20. My Lord,—l am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, relative to the admission of members of the Society of Foresters into Volunteer corps. In reply, I am to inform you that while Mr. Herbert is fully sensible of the public spirit displayed by the Foresters who desire to form separate corps or exclusive companies in the various metropolitan corps, he is absolutely precluded from sanctioning their proposal, as the regulations of the service do not allow the members of any secret society, as such, to constitute corps, or portions of corps, in the Volun teer force.—l have the honour to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's obedient servant, DE GREY AND RIPON. Lord Elcho, St. James's-place. The presentation of a silver cup to Captain Basil Sparrow, of the 12th Essex Volunteers, was made the occasion of some interesting proceedings and speeches. The cup was presented at a public din ner in the Corn Exchange, Braintree, Mr. Onley Savill Onley presiding ; and Mr. C. Da Cane, M.P , Mr. T. S. Western, M.P., the Rev. Sir J. Page Wood, and several of the leading local country gentlemen being among the guests. The Rev. Sir J. P. Woon, in responding to the toast of "The Bi s hop and Clergy," said : "Although my coat is black and my neckcloth is white, yet lam a Volunteer to-night as well as your- CAPTURE OF .1 SLAYER. The Cora, of New York, 'under command of Henderson Eastman, sailing master of title Com:deflation, flagship of th e African squadron, arrived .off this p ort on Saturday fora Monrovia, and anchored off the Navy Yard at 4 p.m. Sh e was captured on the coast of Africa by the Constellation en the 26th September, with 705 slaves on board. The follow' ing is a detailed account oi ,:he capture and subsequent events connected therewith Constellation left Boston in July, 1859, with a crew of abox it 350, all told, officers an d men She is a 22-gun sloop, and was rebuilt at Norfolk In 1853, fr, m the old frigate that, in th'e war of 1812 attained some fame under the command of Commodore Truxoe- She made one cruise to the MediterraJtean in 1853- 4 4 For nearly a year•and-a-half she has bet 'l2 actively em' played in cruising on the Western Coast of Akt:Tica, between. 18 deg. south latitude end 32 deg. north. Du.nlng the first six months of her trip she captured, after ten hou,-a a brig without colours or papers, named t h e Delicia, whic h was sent to Charleston. There were , howeve r, no slat e!'37l board. The Constellation left Loanda on the Bth of ISs e r , tember, and cruised off the Congo River up to the 254 1 ' On that day her course wag shaped to return to that plan's for the purpose of getting wood, water, and provisions. At half-past 7 o'clock in the evening, while 30 miles south cf, Congo, the cry was made of " SAtil on the weather bow. At the time of making the sail, w x . rich was about five miles distant it was thought she was a pae.ket from Loanda bound for Boston, no slavers being supple 'ed to cruise on that part of the coast. The Constellation, lw .waver, immediately gave chase. In an hour and a half the p ursuers had gained enough on her to make out from her rig that she was not one of the regular packets. Mier getting within about two miles of the stranger a gun was fired for' the p ur p ose of bringing her to ; but, tnstead of heaving tk . ‘ , she kept on he slave r. her course. At this time the Constellation was goi n g eight knots an hour, and slowly gaining on 1 After an interval of some 30 minutes another guts .was fired but to which no attention was paid by the slaver. It wag then 11 o'clock, the breeze bad freshened a little, am! .th . Constellation was going at the rate of nine knots by loft , The fugitive was now within range, and nearly ahead. .b 32-pounder was shifted to the bow port of the Constellation, and another shot fired, but the slaver did not seem to mind it, and kept on her cocrse. The pursuers then kept away a little to get ready to set their stun' sally. if necessary. BY this time they had approached to within 500 yards of the vessel, and were still gaining on her, but eh e did not heave to. The Constellation now fired another gun loaded with shot, which cut away some of the slaver's port stun'salil gear. The bark then braced her mainyard aback, the Constellation rang ing up under her lee quarter, and Commander Eastman or dered her to haul up her courses. An armed boat was then lowered, and the prize boarded. Commander Eastman asked what ship -it was, and where was the American car tain. He was answered in Spanish, by a gentleman who received him very politely, that it was the barque Cora, that the American captain had remained ashore, and that he (the Spaniard) had command of the ship ; that she had 705 slaves:on board, was 24 hours out from Mangul Grande, and concluded by congratulating Commander Eastman on the excellence of the prize. Commander Eastman this called all the crew of the slaver to the gangway, and sens all of them except three Americans and five Spaniards, the latter being retained to take charge of the Africans, in e boat to the Constellation. They numbered about 25 men, and were made up mainly of Portuguese, with one China man and three Americans. Commander Eastman, assuming command of the Cora, now began examining the ship and cargo. She appeared to be new, handsomely fitted oat, and far superior to the class of vessels that are generally em ployed in the slave trade. Those vessels engaged in the Cuba trade are very poor as a general thing, and are usually burnt after landing a cargo. The hold was filled with men and boys, and her cabin with women. Two thirds of the whole number were under 15 years of age. All were in a perfectly nude state. They were classified as follows :-172 men, 106 women, 343 boys, 81 girls, and three babes at the breast. Commander Eastman represents them to have been fat and hearty, seemingly unconscious and careless of their situation, and all gabbling at a great rate, while the sounds emitted were void of any well-defined articulations. Thirty tierces of rice, 90 barrels of bread, and a large quail' tity of beans, with a light store of beef, were found. During the voyage two meals per day were given the negroes. The morning meal consisted of a junk of bread and some water, and at 3 p.m. a dinner of boiled beans one day and boiled rice the next was served. Their appetites appeared to be first-rate, and there was little ueeeseity for washing the dishes atter a meal was over, for the Negroes displayed am expertness in licking the tubs that would defy competition on the part of the most painstaking dog. The five Spaniards who took special charge of the dining arrangements would set the blacks in masses of 15 and 16 in a circle on deck, with a wooden tub of boiled rice or beans in the centre of each group. After all were duly ranged round the smoking tubs, the Spaniards made them go through an exercise of clapping their hands and singing which lasted about three-quarters of an hour. By this time the repast would have partially cooled off, and the Negroes were allowed to "pitch in," the one having the largest hands getting most. They seemed, however, very kind to each other, and if a boy got an extra large piece of bread he was always ready to share it with his companions. They appeared contented and in good spirits throughout the voyage. Arrived at Monrovia, the captured Africans were delivered over to the United States agent, Mr. Seyes, whose duty it is to apportion them out to families, a. certain. amount being paid by Government for the support for one year of the recaptured Africans. The Cora, with a'crew of 10 men, and the three Americans found in her at the time she was taker, left Monrovia on the 18th of October, and arrived at this port, as stated above, last Saturday. Mon day she was to be put into the hands of Marjjial Rynders, who retains control of her until the properunal shall have declared her a lawful prize. The first, second, and third officers, named Frederick Wilson, and Olson (the three Americans referred to), are also to be put in the Marshal's custody to await their trial. It will be remem bered that the Cora was detained in port for several days last May on suspicion that she had been fitted oat for the slave trade, but was finally allowed to depart.—. New York Tribune. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) Do. Brazil and Cape Verds Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. Bahamas and Havana (via New York) .. Cuba and Mexico .. Canada, &c. (via Galway) ood .. . .. .. Jan. 18. (via Marseilles) Jan. 12. .. Jan. 4. .. Dec. —. .. Dec. —. .. Dec. 29 .. Dec. —. Cape of G _ Hope, &c: .. .. .. .. Jan. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) Jan. 2. Do (via Marseilles) Dec. 27 Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. • • • • Dec. 25 India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) Jan. 2. • • Dec n. 4. . 25. • Ja Do. (via Marseilles) Dec. 27. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. • Do. (via Marseilles) • • Lisbon .. .. Dee. 2I Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) • • Dee. 25. Do. (via Marseilles) .. Jan. 4. Vigo, and Oporto •• •• .. • • .. Overdue. United States, California, &c. . • .. .. Dec. 26. Western Coast of Africa, Madeira, Teneriffe • . Jan. 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, Ste. Dec. 29. [ADVERTISEMENT.] - Holloway's Ointment an d Pill s. — Look to your Chillren.—Diseases incident to early life fall more under the management of the mother than the medical man ; were parents duly impressed with the preser vative powers possessed by Holloway's ointment in fully bringing out the rash in measles and scarlatina the bills of mortality would not weekly register 58 deaths against the former and 50 against the latter disease. This invaluable ointment may be rubbed twice daily upon the throat and chest of the youngest invalid with a soothing rather than ann oying effect. When the child is placid and obedient Holloway's pills should be likewise given, but not if their a dministration tease the infant, as the ointment, unaided, w ill certainly, though more gra d ua ll y , cure. BIRTHS. ANDERTON.—On the 22d inst., at Euxten Hall, the Lady Emma Anderton, of a daughter. BARNARD.—On the 24th inst., at The Vicarage, Yatton the wife of the Rev. Henry J. Barnard, of a daughter. Hu GRES.—On the 22d ult., at Peahawur, the wife of Lieu tenant -Col. W. T. Hughes, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. ROBERTSON—STOCIMALE.—On the IBth inst., at Milton, near Lymingtos, Hants, Major-General William Donald Robertson, of H.M.'s Indian Army, to Elizabeth, third daughter of Captain Stockdale, R.N. WIITT—BRACE.—On the 22d inst., at St. Andrew's, Montpelier, Bristol, Thomas Waitt, Esq., Yetholm Hall, Kelso, §cotland, to Tryphena Brace, daughter of the late Rev. Ran Brace, Montpelier, Bristol. DEATHS. A.TTENBOROUGH.—On the 24th inst., at Islip, Northamp tonshire, Mr. John Attenboreugh, aged 88. BULLEN.—On the 23d inst., at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Robt Bullen, jun., Esq., of Mauritius. CHAMBERS.—On the 19th inst., at The Cottage, Benham, near Newbury, Berks, Commander Ennis Chambers, R.N., aged 35. CORBETT.—On the 22d inst., Sarah, widow of the late Wm. Cobbett, Esq., of Sunbury, Middlesex. HAMBLEY.—On the 21st inst., at North Cheam, Surrey, William Hambley, Esq., late of Queen-street-place, Southwark, aged 70. SAMUELS.—On the 23d inst., at 1, B ern ard Villas, Upp er Norwood, Edward Al ex ander Samuels, Eeq., C. 8., of H.M.'S Bengal C.S., aged 47. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex, WeduesclaY, Desember_2l, 1660. PINE L tow reld)uicel CHEJU NDMORI2 SII A.t a m ee ing mot on the Bth }Rs Royal 11 d t It _ 1 a1d,,,r1 oae, ,epih a ui Was lnl. inooaeansPachtd. author. j o e :Boseb p h c , i yc o iol r a n oa s i it d .our d er e tct, Iji:, military 1 d t th o , , Portuga. vaa countries ii ir , oat instrue ;fel by the h p o sed by G ktonded I 3 art., G,C 1, ." at a subsea n ll of a statu e 841 Tassed an C O l l O Royal rel P'At K.( (l e ; °r al Sir Jol t r iel - al Sir Rol roil Sir Job I leral Sir Jol i el lt.-General k e ttt:-General t t ain Claxton ti ,Widow of I C a Duncan Mai 11 n Frederi General t ; ! , Earl of Ell I, r Grace the I Field Gre.cearshal ] the I G a 's Gen. the F. to T the Right ono P. Mac( eral Sir The t(.711•Y l B Rruceath, o neboi Ql e ntenant-G en l enten an t Gen eral S!r Jan drew Lawrie. t n ' l lteriant-Gen v .Esq. k 4 Ptain John N Butt Q l) erston, or-G enera l %not J. W. 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