The Sun. — London, England, 1860-11-26 00:00:00

• 111 ' ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVEN T -1 GARDEN. —Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. IV. Harrison, role Lessees. SPECIAL NOTlCE.—Production of a new legendary ro mantic op , ra, by Balfe, _Production THE BizAvo's BRIDE. The music composed by the popular English composer. Halle. Miss Louisa Pyne, 7Vliss Thirlwall ; 31r.-W. Harrison, Mr. IT. Corri, Mr. St. Alhyn, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. J. Wharton, Mr. G. Kelly, and T. Distin. Conductor, Mellon.—DoorA open at 7 ; commence at hall-past 7. ____..------ OY AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT , GARDEN—under the Manatr,ement of Miss LOUISA FYNE and Mr. W. HARRISON, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, THE AMBUSCADE. The new Operetta, THE 3IARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE, Miss Louisa Tyne and Mr. 11. Corti. To conclnde with Kelly, IGHT DANCERS. Messrs Ilah,h, Corri, G. Distin, and Lyall ; Madame Palmieri, Miss Albertazzi, Miss Lefikr, Miss Thirlwall, and Miss iludda.rt. Conductor —Mr. Alfred Mellon. Doors open at Seven. Commence at Hall-past. THEATM-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Le44ee, Mr. J. B. Backstone. THIS EVENING the nerforraanceg will commence with THE SUN AND THE WIND. By the Leclercqs. After which, THE BABES IN TILE WOOD. Followed by THE LION SLATER. To conclude with ANY PORT IN A STORM. Commence at 7. OYA PRINCFS S'S TUE ATRE.-- Loggpe and Manarrer. Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENTNG, an adaptation of Victor Titum's cele brated l'lay of RUY BIAS, by Edmund Falconer, Esq. when Mr. Fechter, the favourite actor of Parisian renown. will make his 26thapoearance on the English stag - e, suppoond,rted by Messrs. W. Lacy, Meadows, Carden , Graham, Raym Morland, Collett, Paulo, Daly, A. llarris ; Miss Rose Leclercq, Mrs. Weston, and Miss Heath. To be preceded by SUSAN SMITH. To conclude with THE GARIBALDI EXCURSIONISTS THEATRE.- ROYAL LYCEUM. soie Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING, THE PE rs, OF THE PARTERRE. Scenic Department under the direction of Mr. Wm. Callcott. The Music by Mr. George Loder. - Principal characters by Mr H. Neville, Mr. John Rouse, Mr. .1. Morris. Miss M. Ternan, Miss Neville, Missiludspeth, Miss Stine, Miss Turner, Miss Douglas, Miss Annie Collinson, and Miss Lydia Thompson. After which, a new Drama, entitled HANDY ANDY. Messrs. Campbell, .Tolinstone, T. Lyon. Forrester, Villiers, Butler. and John Drew (his first appearance) Mrs. J. House, Miss Hudspftb, Miss M. Ternan, and Miss Neville. Followed by the - Incv drama, entitled ADRIENNE ; or THE Nevill e, OF A LIFE. Principal eharasters by Mr. Henry Mr. John Rouse, Mr. H. lintior, Mr. Villiers, Mr. G. Vining, Mr. Forrester. Mr. Campbell„ Mr. Clifford, Mr. J. JOllliStOne ; Mrs. Keeley, and Madame Celeste. To commence at a quarter to 7, on accou nt of the length of the entertainments. I)KT.PT-ri, N-FlAr THEATRE-ROYAL. P-lorfe+or snci Manner. Mr. Benj. Webster. Enzae•ement for a limited number of nights of Miss Agnes ltobert.on and Mr. Dion Roucicault, who will appear every evenln. - in the highly successful Drama of "The Colleen !lawn." THIS EVENING. THE RIFLE BRIGADE. Messrs. W. Smith, D. Fisher, C. Selby, Miss Woolgar, Miss Kate Kelly, and Mrs. Billhagton. After which, TFT E COLLEEN BAWN. D. Roucicault, D. Fisher, Billinz ..ton, alconer, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Acrnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS. Messrs. J, L. Toole, C. Selby, Billington,7 Mrs. Chatterley, Miss K. Kelly, .Cc. Doors open at half-past ii—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No thane for booking. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes:XL Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 45.: Front Circle Stalls, 35.; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, Is. Rd. ; Amphitheatre, Is ; Gallery, fid. Actinz Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. A STLRY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE , A Proprietor and Manager, Mr. We. BATTY. Notice.—ln consequence of the vast preparation necessary for the introduction of the Wonders of the ftorld, " The Groupe of Performing: 'Lions" in the new Spectacle, their ap pearance is unavoidably postponed until MONDAY next, December 3. This Evening, the highly successful new Spectacle, in Three Acts, by E. Fitzball, Esq., entitled ROBIN HOW) ; or. the Merry Outlaws of Sherwood ; introdueincr, the Stud of highly trained Horses, Herd of real Deer, Stag Hounds, Arc, Agan a-Dale, Miss Rebecca Isaacs ; Robin Hood, Mr. John Prit chard. To be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by the celebrated Madame Newsome, Mr. James Newsome and their Troupe of uneqnalled pert , rmers, Arc., including . the incomparable Young Charles Ducrow, the Greatest Wonder of the age. Concluding with a laughable Farce. Doors open at half-grist it, performance commence at T. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. Wymr. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS, EVERY EVENING. A. Grand Selection from the opera of NORMA. Norma Miss RUSSELL. Adahrisa .......• • • .......... Madame MARIA, (Her first apnearance in this country.) After which (for this week only) the ET II 1014 ANS, consist incr, of Seventeen Performers of Vocal and. Instrumental Music, Comic and Sentimental, with Nef, ,- ro Delineations, Anecdotes, &c. Principal Negro Artistes, Messrs. Joe Brown, G. W. Pell, H. Drummond, and Charley Fox. Musical Director, Mr. F. JONGHMANS. Italctony, 1. ..1-11111. ed. TRE WY E OFFIcz, Nov. 25, 1860. THrRMONCETER, IN THE SHADE. 43—highest sines noon yesterday. 36.—lowest this morning and during the night. 38—this day at noon. BAROINIETP.R-29.51. WlND—Easterly; light, with dull cold weather, with rain in the afternoon. Nov. 20. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 33—highest since noon yesterday. 36 —lowest this corning and during the night. 37—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.43. WlND—Easterly ; with rain. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 12h. 14n2.—Afternoon, 12h. 33m, To-Moßßow.-Morning, 12h. 53m.—Afternoon, Ih. 13m. 4 A t 41. • t • ••• G 4-71,.. • Sqat.' • r oyr , • THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, NOV. 26, 1880, ♦ The intelligence from China is certainly suffi ciently startling, now that the telegram has brought us news from the allied head-quarters, only eight miles distant from Pekin, down to the date of the 23d of September. It tells us that the Chinese had then taken as prisoners of war, and carried off to Pekin, not only Captain BRABAZON and two of '!VANE'S Horse, Messrs. BENORMAN and ANDERSON, but, with these, three civilians of no incon siderable importance—Mr. BOWLBY, Mr. Loci!, and Mr. PARKES—the Times' Corresponden the Secretary to: Lord ELGIN, and her Bri tannic MAJESTY'S Consul. Gladly wil: every one learn what we earnestly trust may be the next tidings received in regard to these gentlemen, that they have been released by their captors in answer to the imperative requisition of the noble Earl out there as the Queen's Ambassador and Plenipoten , ti ,"Y Extraordinary. Aware- of the rumours that were flying about, late on 'Saturday evening and throughout yes terday, 'to the effect that the half dozen im portant -1.,1„1,„ o f War above named had been barl l , '° . asly murdered by the Chinese—it is profoundly consolatory to learn now by tele gram that not only are those reports altogether unfounded, but that these Prisoners of War we have just mentioned were, on the contrary, when the last despat c h es Wt, being well treated by the Pekinese. Their speedy release, moreover, is really and truly—so far as w e can judge from facts indisputably now upon record_ au but a matter of absolute certai nt y . And we cannot b ut regar d the probabilities thus hopefully f or the few simple reasons" we shall ,here in a word or two par e were the In the first place—there ere the I tilled forces actually within range of the Outp( ists of Pekin, armed with , all the re smut sea and weapons of modern civilization, in. end ing among these the terrible ARMSTRONG gun al There were those Allied Forces actually sight but clt miles from Pekin — an d within the very 0 weolf 1 of the capture of these six Eaglishn3ea the Chin ese had suffered two successive defeats, each of theist tof considerable magnitude. On the 18th of Sept ember at Chang-kia-wan, and again on the 2 ll' ',t of September at Jang-chan—upon each of the .se occasions-30,000 Tartar horsemen were cot npletely routed by the soldiers of France and ET igland. And while the Allies themselves in tb ese two sharp contests had only eighteen to ounded—Tiyo TTIOUSAND Tartars had been X ILLED, and FIFTY Chinese guns had been taken As trophies of victory ! It was upon the morrow of of the second of these signal defeats, and while the eh inese themselves were sending a flag of truce to • ' thefrglo-French victors, then advancing with thoso formidable ARMSTRONG field-pieces (as we ha 34- Nv said) to within range of the outposts of the capital—it was at this moment and under these circumstances that the three soldiers and the three important civilians before enumerated, were unex pectedly pounced upon by the watchful Chinese and carried off as prisoners of war to Pekin. They appear to have been engaged at the moment of their seizure in choosing camping ground, when the net, being suddenly drawn round the little in sulated group, the Chinese must have been rather elated to find that they had actually taken at one " haul"—with Captain. BRABAZON and two of FANE'S Horse, the Times correspondent ! the Secre tary of the English Ambassador !! and the Consul of the British SOVEREIGN !!! So far as the Chinese themselves were concerned in this little incident, it was certainly a magnificent coup ! So far as her MAJESTY'S Ambassador was concerned on the co ntrary—the sudden withdraw al from him (into Pekin) of his Private Secretary, and still more of that able and intelligent Consul,whom he must have found almost essential tohina, for the facile conduct of his negotiations—their being thus abruptly snapped up and carried away as prisoners of war within the walls of the Chinese capital, must assuredly to him (Lord ELGIN) have been in the highest degree (to say the very least of it) embarrassing and in convenient. His lordship's instant reply, however, to the Chinese flag of truce bringing to him the provisions for a new treaty of peace, was on in every way calculated, we may be quite sure of that, to put an end to this temporary difficulty, and to lead to the return safe and sound to the allied head-quarters of our six captured fellow ' countrymen, Our ambassador, in point of fact, simply demanded the release of those six per sons as a sine qua non before the opening up again of any negotiations! This, recol lect, with our forces there—before Pekin ! This with 30,000 Tartar aavalry routed by our troops on the 18th, and 30,000 more artary cavalry routed on the 21st of September ! The French carrying with them as they advanced their terrible little rifled brass cannon ! The English those ter rifle Armstrongs that have already become (and no wonder) the terror of the Chinese!! The Government at Pekin meanwhile being so far brought already to a consciousness of the imminent peril of its position that the Commissioner now appointed by it to open up, if possible, fresh, and, it is hoped, final negotia tions, appears to be no other than the own brother of the Emperor, Hein-fung. Under these circum stances, it must be sufficiently obvious, at a glance, what the probabilities are as to the release, in per fect safety, of the six gentlemen now heard of as in durance among the Chinese. However satisfied any of us may be, however, upon this point, we shall all of us indubitably be right glad when the mere probability shall hare become a positive cer tainty. As a foretaste of the indemnity—as a sort of whet to the national appetite for compen sation, comes that little intimation towards the close of the telegram,—" Tea to the value of £250,000 sterling taken at Chang-kia-wan." The latest morsel of intelligence dates down to the 4th of October, at Shanghai, bringing news that the rebels were seriously threatening Hang chow, The incoming mail (that may be now looked for very speedily) would bring the tidings down to the ensuing day (the fifth of October) at Shanghai, and nine days later still (i.e. to the 14th of Octo ber) at Hong Kong. The friends of the French EMPEROR have always assured us that if he could with safety confer con stitutional liberty on France he would do it to morrow. Now they seem to think that fugitive day has really arrived. Constitutional liberty has so far dawned on France that we are to be sure the sun must soon be above the horizon. The dawn, such as it is, has certainly followed very quickly on the first breaking of the day, for it is hardly eight•and-forty hours since wo had the in timation that liberal changes were at hand; if the daylight follow the dawn, with anything like the same quickness, France will not be, what it now is, about the most despotically governed country in Europe. We desire to view in a friendly spirit any approaches to Liberal Government. Let us see what these are fairly worth—what can be done through them to make intelligent public opinion powerful in France ; what to insure that the country should have a voice in its own Govern ment legislation ; what to attain the desirable result that the Monarch should reign but not rule The exordium is rather imposing. The elect of the Grace of GOD and Universal Suffrage wishes to mark his confidence in the " great bodies of the State," which he created, and therefore proposes to give them " a more direct participation in the general policy of the Government ?" The way in which he proposes to do this is—he first authorises the Senate and the Legislative Corps to vote an Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne. Next a discussion of the Government projects de Zoi is to be permitted, and lastly, he proposes to allow the publication of debates in a fuller form. Trim concessions seem fair on the surface; but, overlook ing the ugly fact, that they are not made because, as in England the " Great bodies of the State" felt their rights and demanded them from the Monarch, but because the Monarch finds the great bodies so worthy of his confidence that he can trust them— passing by this—we find every precaution taken that the great bodies shall exercise their new pri vileges under proper surveillance. Government commissioners are to attend the discussions, for the purpose, it is said, of making the necessary expla nations ; but may they not also have an eye on refractory members. Then, again, the Government still reserves to itself the initiation of all the bills, as we term them, which will be discussed by the Legislature; while in regard to the reporting, if we understand the scheme rightly, the Government will provide the reporters, the President of the Assembly will supervise their work, it will appear then in the 211oniteur, and finally bo furnished in extenso to the other journals. Of all this we may say, everything depends on its working. One of our contemporaries, professing to • have the advantage of spe cial knowledge of the EMPEROR'S intentions, understands all in the most hopeful sense. We are told that it is the announcement of au assimilation of French to English liberties. All is to be " under derstood" i n th e mos t constitutional sense. It is " und ers t oo d" t h at h ost il e amen d men t s t o th e ad dress are to be cons id ere d as a bar to the further em p lo yment of the Ministers whose policy is cen sureth e e ; b a s; eas it s is also understoodll statement" t t e h m a e t n t t h ” e roerptohr them. f . Miserably short as even then the. French system would be of any approach to cons tit u ti ona l G o v ernment, were the above view correc t, w hi c h we have no means of denying, we shc u ld ac k now l e d ge that the proposed concessions might be the com mencement of something like political liberty in France. If the Ministry can be made responsible to public opinion,.arid if the speeches of a small but honest and able Opposition can be fairly published, we in England well know the potency of even these simple means, and should certainly be disposed to hope the best from them. The hold the EMPEROR ..> 5 ~ !~. w , ~ p TRE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 26, 1860. has on the t i vo bodies is such at present as to insure that he shah( always have an immense majority, except possibly, in the case, that even an Emperor might prefer to throw on the Legislature the work of ejecting so me particular minister whom he would rather dismiss indirectly than directly. The Sonata is his own nomination and in his own pay; and even his Legislative Corps, elected by universal suffrage, consists, in great part, of persons nomi nated directly, as candidates at least, to the constituents, by the Government. Slow, in deed, must be the process of forming that invaluable aid to all good government, an effective opposition. Long, we fear, will be the time during which most of the dissentients will be afraid to speak their real sentiments ; or, perhaps, before many will even dare to differ in opinion from the master of 600,000 bayonets. But what, it may be asked, is the political signi ficance of these concessions, be they real or only apparent? We rather think that the course of things both at home and abroad inclines the EMPEROR to utilise, as far as he can, the support of the people. Since the Italian war he has had far less to fear from all the parties opposed to him. The Orleanists and Legitimists, especially, seem almost to acquiesce in their eclipse, since the great military feats of the Imperial arms on the plains of Lom bardy ; he has now little reason to fear that they will trouble him in the Chambers. But another party has become very troublesome. Ultramontanists, headed by several noisy and viru lent bishops, and by one noted layman, have done what they could to give France a second Emperor in the person of the POPE. Ungrateful men they, to be sure, to one who has done so much both for them and the PorE but when were any clergy grateful for anything short of supre macy over both the bodies and souls of men ? The EMPEROR, with good reason enough, wishes the civil power to be supreme ; he has given the bishops several lessons lately; they had one on Peter's pence, another on their political pastorals ; a third, more instructive than all on which we lately commented, has just issued from the pen of M. CAYLA, and sets forth the advantage of the EMPEROR being their sole master, and of the priest being first a citizen, then a priest. Is the last move of all really in the same direction ? Does the EMPEROR think that to elevate the layman in the scale of political power, as in England, is the surest means of counterwork ing a hierarchy ? If again he looks abroad, he sees all his neigh bours moving of necessity in the direction of liberty. Italy he, himself, has enabled to inaugurate a great constitutionally governed kingdom ; and Austria itself is obliged to propose such measures for the representation of the empire, as but two years ago she would have scouted as visionary—measures, which if adopted just as FRANCIS JOSEPH has proposed them, would confer more power on the Austrian States to express, and perhaps give effect to public opinion, than will be enjoyed by France even under the new arrangements. Louis NA POLEON would, under these circumstances, be one of the most isolated despots of civilised Europe, if he did not admit some degree of constitutional liberty into the working of his system. There might even be danger from the comparison his own people would make of their position with that of inferior countries. As to this country, the effect of these proposals will all depend on the sincerity with which they are carried out. Since 1852 there has been no sym pathy, but the reverse, between the people of Eng land and the Government of France. ,We are unable not to hate despotism. It may be a national weakness, but the fact is undoubted. And just as an anti-Slavery policy in the United States will:most certainly better our feelings towards that country, so as rapid an approach as possible to constitutional liberty on the part of the French Government will better the feeling between the English people and the EMPEROR. Every Eng lishman would rather be well abused by a free speaker in a French House of Commons, than have fifty letters to "my dear PERSIGNY" about good intentions towards ns, and in timacy with our Premier. We like to to tell others all our minds, and to hear others tell us theirs too. We can be hearty friends when we all know each others' thoughts; we have then the basis of confidence, though it is, often enough, the basis of agreeing to differ. But we cannot confide, cannot therefore be friends, when we are ever sus pecting some mysterious plot; especially when all that we know is, that the one man who rules as well as reigns in France, labours abOve all things to be strong enough to invade our shores, and makes us pay £35,000,000 a year to make sure against him. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and Princess Mary leave Brighton on Thursday next, for Cambridge Cottage, Kew. Prince Louis of Hesse and his Serene Highness the Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, with their suites, have left Maurigy's Hotel, on a visit to her Majesty at Windsor Castle. The Prince and Princess Kotchoubey and suite have left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for Paris. His Excellency the Austrian Minister arrived in town on Friday, from Plymouth, and has since left town, accompanied by the Countess Apponyi, on a ♦isit to Frances Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Harcourt, at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll arrived at Staf ford House, St. James's, on Saturday, from Trentham, the Duke of Sutherland's seat in Staffordshire. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury arrived in town on Saturday from Folkestone, axd will leave town to-day for Dunmore-park, near Falkirk, on a visit to the Countess of Dunmore. The Countess Dowager of Cuwdor has arrived at Durwood, Surrey, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, where her ladyship will remain some months in retirement. The Countess Estella has arrived at the Bruns• wick Hotel, en route for Scotland. General Le Comte A. d'Essen, Aide-de-Camp to the Emperor of Russia, has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, from St. Petersburg.' Lord and Lady Wodehouse have left town on a visit to Frances Countess Waldegrave and Mr. Harcourt, at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. Lord and Lady Ashburton are expeCted at Bath House to-day from a tour of visits. Lord and Lady Rokeby left Montagu House a few days since for Brighton. LORD DERBY.—The health of the noble chief of the Conservative party, we rejoice to say, is quite reestab lished, and the opening of Parliament will find him leading the Opposition with his accustomed vigour and sagacity, and with that chivalrous patriotism which is acknowledged even by his opponents. We need hardly add that the noble earl never had the slightest intention to retire from the leadership of the great party with whom. he has been so long associated, and who are so devoted to him as their chief.--. Press. The Hon. Julian Fane, now Secretary of Legation at Vienna, is appointed Secretary of Embassy to the Aus trian Court. Lord Augustus Loftus is appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Berlin. Mr. Henry Lockwood, paid Attache at Constan tinople, is appointed paid Attache to her Majesty's Mission at Stockholm. The Hon. Henry Wodehouse is appointed paid Attaché at Constantinople. The Queen has conferroi the honour of Knighthood on Jean Edouard Ramond, Esq., First Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court at the Mauritius. _ - DEATH OF THE REV. DR. CROLY.—A Sunday contemporary announces that this distinguished divine and scholar died on Saturday af ernoon in the neighbour hood of his own residence, Queen-square, Bloomsbury. The rev. gentleman had only left home a few minutes, and was seen walking apparently in good health, when he staggered, fell, and almost immediately expired. Tidings of the melancholy event soon reached the parishioners of St. Stephen's, Walbrpok, and the deepest sorrow was evinced. The bell of the parish church was tolled for an hour. The rev. gentleman had been rector of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, for 25 years, and was much respected by his flock. We believe that he was to have preached in the church which he had so long adorned with his eloquence yeste . rday. At a late hour on Saturday night other and n nured arrangements were made for the services. THE LATE LIEUT.-COL. 11013 T. MACDONALD, C.B. —ln Lieut.-Col. Macdonald another Waterloo veteran has passed away, at the advanced age of 82. This officer com menced his career in 1797, as ensign in the Strathspey Re gimant of Fencible Infantry. On its reduction he entered the Surrey Rangers as lieutenant in 1799, and served in North America. In 1803 he was appointed ensign in the Ist Royals., and in the same year le sailed with the 2d bat talion of that corps for the - West Indies, where, as brigade in4jor to Brigadier-Oieneral Nicholson, he was engaged at the siege of Fort Bourbon and capture of Martinique in 1809. In 1812 he joined the 3d battalion Royal Scots in its retreat from Burgos, and served in the Peninsular cam paigns of 1813-14 ; was engaged at Osma on the 13th, and the battle of Vittoria the `2lst of June; at the successful assault ou the Convent of St. Sebastiaa on July 17; and, _ _ _ _ though severely wounded on July 25, at the assault on the town, on Aug. 31 he volunteered to the breach in cotnmand of two companies of the Royals, ordered in advance of the Ist Brigade, sth Division, and was on duty in the town during the conflagration, and present at the surrender of the Castle of St. Sebastian, Sept. 8. The wound rec ived at St. Sebastian subsequently compelled him to use his left hand in writing. For his conduct at this siege he obtained the rank of major on Sept. 21, 1813. He was engaged at the passage of the Bidassoa, on the 7th of October; at the battles of Nivelle, on Nov. 10, and the Nive on Dec. 9, 10, and 11, 1813. The gallant officer assisted in repelling the sortie from the citadel of Bayonne on April 14, 1814, and served with the 3d Battalion Royal Scots in the campaign of the Netherlands, 1815. He was present, and enraged, on June 16 and 18, at the battles of Quatrebras and Water loo. At Waterloo, Colonel Campbell, commanding, being wounded early in the afternoon, Major Macdonald took the command of the 3d battalion. Here, near the close of the action, being exposed on an eminence rallying his men, he became a mark, and fell wounded by a ball in the hip, and was for a time left f.or dead, but was ultimately conveyed to Brussels. For these actions he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and received from the Emperor the Order of St. Anne of Russia, After commanding for some time the 35th Foot, the deceased officer, compelledlby ill-health, in 1831 reluctantly quitted the service, receiving in 1849 a war medal,with five clasps. HER MAJESTY'S SHIP SHANNON.— A handsome monument has been erected on Southsea-common, Ports- mouth,:by - the officers and crew of Her Majesty's ship Shan r,on, to the memory of the late Sir William Peel, captain of the Shannon, who died in India of a wound received at the head of his indomitable Naval Brigade during the Sepoy mutiny. The monument is a square pillar of polished red granite, on the four faces of which are inscriptions, with base, cap, and cornices of gray Aberdeen granite, the whole surmounted by a trophy of flags and naval emblems in bronze, cast from a gun taken at the capture of Lucknow, and which was afterwards presented to the Naval Brigade by General Lord Clyde, then Sir Colin Campbell. On the north side is the following inscription :—" Sacred to the memory of Capt. William Peel, K.C.8., and Capt. Thomas Grey, R.M., Mr. H. P. Garvey, mata, Mr. M. A. Daniel, midshipman, and the seamen and marines of the Shannon's Naval Brigade who fell employed in the North-West Pro vinces of Idia during the mutiny of 1857-8. As a tribute of their gallantry this monument is erected by the officers and men of her Majesty's ship Shannon. 1860." On the west side—" The Shannon's Naval Brigade, with six 8-inch guns and four fieldpieces, left Calcutta for the North-West Provinces Aug. 1867. Served at the battle of Kedjiva, Oct 29, 1857; relief of Lucknow, 857 ; defeat of the G walior Contingent, December, N0v. , 1857 ; Battle of Kula- Nudde-bridge, January, 1858; capture of Lucknow, Mare]a, 1858; and returned to the Shannon, August, 1858." On the east and south sides the inscriptions relate to the pre sentation of the gun from which the trophy was cast, and give the numbers of the brigade who fell in action, were wounded, or died of disease during the campaign. It is in tended to inclose the monument with guns taken during the Crimean campaign, in which also Sir Wm. Peel, with many of the Indian Naval Brigade, had formerly distin guished themselves. The work has been executed by Messrs. W. and J. Freeman, of Westminster. THE ARMSTRONG GUN.—A very extraordinary and serious accident occurred on board of her Majesty's gunnery ship Excellent, in Portsmouth harbour, on the 16th inst., which has been the subject of anxious delibera tion among the naval scientific officers of the port. The men were at practice with the 42-pounder Armstrong gun,which is still under trial before final introduction to the service ; on the word being given, and the lanyard pulled as usual, a concussion took place, which instantly proved to those standing about that something had gone wrong. On exami nation it was found that the handles of the heavy vent piece which blocks the chamber of the gun were blown completely off, and passing along the deck to a distance of over 50 feet, they struck and shattered the bulkheads of the sick bay, and smashed the bottles therein. It was evident that the breech screw was not "home," and therefore that the vent piece had not been properly jammed up; but the most extraordinary part of the whole affair was, that the vent piece itself, which is loose, had not been blown out of the chamber, and that the wrought iron handle should have been wrenched off instead. At the time of the accident an experiment was being made to ascertain the time in which five rounds could be fired at a target 2,600 yards distant, and this particular shot fell about 1,500 yards short, the force of the powder having been wasted by the chamber. The very serious question, therefore, arises, how far these guns are adapted for rapid firing, when, although there is risk at all times, the danger then necessarily increases in a multiplied ratio. The want of ramming home of the vent piece may arise from the slightest bit of the flannel cart ridge protruding over the lip of the chamber, and therefore intwinine• itself between the flat surfaces which ought to meet with mathematical precision; or it may happen at any time from a little caked powder, or grit, in spite of all precau tions. Some shot are of higher gauge than others, and take mere ramming home into the chamber, which might, and probably would not, be perceived in the heat of action. It is not a very uncommonthing inthe Armstrong field-pieces for the vent-piece to fly out altogether for want of tighten ing the breech screw; and although, from its great weight, it was, in the first heavy guns, proposed to place the vent-pieces in the chamber sideways, yet the wisdom of dropping them in perpendicularly is now apparent ; for otherwise one acci dent such as this might sweep a dozen men into eternity, The flaw in.the construction is by no means irremediable; and it is very fortunate that attention has been so promptly called to it; as before the general introduction of the gun into the navy, either by means of a slot, or a flange, or a groove, or some such simple mechanical contrivance, the matter must be remedied. It is of paramount importance that our sailors should have unlimited confidence in the fearful weapons which science and experiment are together forging for the maintenance of our power and prestige throughout the world.—Army and Navy Gazette. ST. GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST. Yesterday wit nessed a complete transformation in the parish church of St. George's-in-the-East, all the decorations which Mr. Bryan King the rector so highly prized having been swept away under a monition directed by the Bishop of London to the churchwardens. The super altar has been removed, and there is now only a low table, covered with a red cloth ; all the crosses have been taken away ; the credence table no longer stands in its place; indeed every concession has at length been made to the popular will. To such an extent has the work of demolition proceeded that Mr. Han sard, the clergyman who was licensed by the Bishop to the sole charge of the parish during Mr. King's absence, has considered that the changes made involve a violation of his agreement with Mr. King, and has declined any longer to discharge the ecclesiastical duties in the parish. In conse quence of this state of things, the Bishop had to provide for the services of the church yesterday, and they were taken, both morning and evening, by the Rev. Edward Parry, M.A., Rector of Acton, his Lordship's chaplain. At the morning service there were few persons present, but in the evening the church was crowded, but those present were perfectly orderly, and there were none of the indecent manifestations of feeling which have been so frequently displayed. KIDNAPPING AND MURDER.—In America, the Chteago Press and Tribune of the 26th ult. states that Jerry Boyd, an honest, industrious, and inoffensive coloured dray man of Galena, Illinois, where he bad led a sober and reputable life for twenty years; his wife, Mary Boyd, whom he had bought out of slavery with money earned by the sweat of his brow; a girl, also coloured, but a l so free, aged 12 to 14, who lived in Jerry's family ; and a white child that Mary took care of for a poor woman at service, were enticed away from their homes two or three weeks ago by a couple of persons, upon the pretence that the three oldest persons of the party were to have profitable and pleasant employment on a farm and in a hotel at Des Moines, lowa. They were last seen in Johnson County, of that State, in a covered waggon, going westward. A few days after their departure from that bounty, the body of a man was found by the roadside near where they were last seen, and from papers in his pocket it was plain that it was the body of Boyd, and that he had ,been murdered. News of his death went back to his friends in Galena, and then for the first time a suspicion that the party had been kidnapped for sale into slavery was excited. That suspicion grew into a certainty by further develop.. ments, and the people who used to see Boyd every day at his work, earning honest bread, offered, though he was a mulatto, a reward of .500 dollars for the apprehension of the villains who had committed a double crime, and de spatched two trusty men to follow the criminals up. The kidnappers effected a sale of their victims in MisSouri, but before the money was paid over, one of the negroes, Mary Boyd, revealed the whole truth, in consequence of which the kidnappers and murderers were arrested. Their names are John Goodwin and Peter I. Bolton. One of them, Bolton, the first captured, was committed to gaol in St. Joseph, under a charge of kidnapping, in default of 2,000 dollars bail. The other Goodwin, was taken charge of by the gentlemen from Galena, who brought him within -40 miles of Hannibal, Missouri, on their way to Galena, where he slipped his irons, and jumped from the ear win dow while the train was running at the rate of 13 miles an hour and escaped. Mrs. Body states that when the party had travelled three days out from Galena, they encamped by night about 16 miles from lowa city. Here some 'movements made by Goodwin and Bolton excited the sus picion of her husband that all was not right, and he loaded his gun and revolver in the presence of the kidnappers. The next morning Goodwin and Bolton held a consulta tion, Goodwin urging the necessity of getting rid of Jerry by killing him. While Jerry was sitting down near the waggon, Goodwin stepped up to him, saying " Jerry, I am afraid of you," and fired, first shooting him in the breast and then in the head. The murder was committed in the presence of Mrs. Boyd and the mulatto girl. A LITERARY ARTISAN.—One of the artisans em ployed in the wheelers' branch, royal carriage department of Woolwich Arsenal, has published an exceedingly com mendable work, under the title of " Chips from the Block," being a summary of intelligent and useful information to working men of his class. Although closely engaged at his daily employment from 6 in the morning till 6 in the even ing, he has succeeded in writing and bringing through the press a book which cannot fail in being extensively circu lated among those for whose benefit and instruction it was compiled. The work is dedicated to Col. Tulloh, superin tendent of the department, who, having consented t o f or • ward a copy for the inspection and approval of the Queen, last week received the following reply :—" Windsor Castle, Oct. 23. —My dear Tulloh,—l have had the honour to present to her Majesty the Queen Mr. Knell's book, which seems to be written in an excellent spirit, and to be full of practical good sense. I have received her Majesty's commands to request that you will present him with the enclosed cheque for £lO in token of her Majesty's approbation of his praiseworthy occupation of his time.—Sincerely yours, C. B. Pullers." The under : mentioned communication was likewise received on Satur day, from the 'War Department, on the same subject : " War-office, Pall-mall, S.W., Nov. 9.—Dear Colonel Tul loh, Sir Benjamin Hawes desires me to send you the accompanying parcel, and to ask you to be so kind as to present to Knell the books which it contains. Yours faith fully, J. W. COOPER.—Colonel Tulloh, &c." The parcel contained Dr. Andrew Ure's sth edition of the "Dictionary. of Arts, Manufactures, &c.," elegantly bound in three quarto volumes, and illustrated with 2,000 engravings. The fly leaf bears the subjoined testimonial, written by Sir Benjaiain Hawes, Under-Secretary of State for War:— " The gift of Sir Benjamin Hawes to Henry Thomas Knell, in acknowledgment of the pleasure he has received from reading his essay Oa social science.--Nov. 9, 1860." L A ,L'A E. THE WAR IN CHINA. FOREIGN-OFFICE, Nov. 26. A telegram has been received from her Majesty's Consul at Marseilles, dated this morning, and stating that the allies were within six miles of Pekin on the 23d of September; that on the 18th and 21st they had completely defeated the Tartars near Tangchow ; that Mr. Parkes had been taken prisoner and sent to Pekin; and that the rebels had retired from Shanghai to Hangchow. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) HEAD-QUARTERS, EIGHT MILES FROM PEKIN, SEPT. 23. Mr. Boulby, Times correspondent; Mr. Loch, secretary to Lord Elgin ; Mr. Parkes, Messrs. De Norman and Anderson, of Fane's Horse; and Capt. Brabazon, have been made prisoners whilst en gaged in choosing camping ground. They have been taken to Pekin, where they are well treated. Engagements were fought on the 18th and 21st September at Chang-kia- wan and Jang-chan. On both occasions 30,000 Tartar cavalry advanced, and were completely routed by the allies; 2,000 Tartars were killed, and 50 guns taken. The allies had only 18 wounded. The Chinese have sent in a flag of truce, with the provisions for a treaty. Lord Elgin demands the release of the prisoners before negotiating. The Emperor's brother has been appointed chief commissioner to make peace. Tea to the value of £250,000 sterling was taken at Chang-kia-wan. SHA . NGHAT, OCT. 4. All is quiet. The rebels are threatening Hang• ehan. JAVA, OCT. 14. The Dutch troops at Banjerraassing have been thrice repulsed by the rebels. POINT DE GALLE, Nov. 1. Sir Charles Macarthy assumed the government of Ceylon on the 22d October. TURIN, Nov. 24. The municipality of Ancona has opened a sub scription for the construction of a war vessel which the March provinces will offer to the Marine of State, in commemoration of the annexation of those provinces to Sardinia. NAPLES, Nov, 24 The news contained in a Marseilles telegram, published by the French papers, that disturbances in the Neapolitan provinces had been repressed by force, is completely false. Many persons who have escaped from Gaeta have :aken refuge at Pozzuoli and Baja. It is rumoured that Francis 11. is ill. ROME, Nov. 24 At the request of the King the whole diplomatic corps have quitted Gaeta. They arrived yesterday [n Rome. The Pontifical Nuncio and the ambassadors of Austria, Prussia, and Russia have received the grand cordon of the order of St. Januarius from the King. VIENNA, Nov. 25. The official Wiener Zietung of to-day says:— "The war report of General Lamoriciere con. tains the following passage : "' A person who is fully competent to know wrote me from Trieste that 11 Austrian vessels were about to cruise towards the south of Ancona, in order to prevent the blockade of that place.' "This part of the war report requires rectifica tion. The news it contains could only proceed from an ill-informed person." AGRA'S', Nov. 23, The principal inhabitants of this city will hold a Conference to-morrow, in order to settle the details in reference to the approaching elections to the Diet, and the question of the relations between Croatia and Hungary. PESTH, Nov. 25. The administration of Hungary has been every where reorganised, with the concurrence of the most eminent men of all parties. Contrary to the rQports in circulation, the Con ference which is to meet at Gran in order to arrange the mode of election to the Hungarian Diet, will assemble on the 10th of December next under the presidency of the Cardinal Primate of Hungary. The congregation of the Comital of Pesth will assemble on the Ist December, under the presidency of Count Carolyi, who has accepted this office. THE BOMBAY MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY, The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Delta, with the heavy portion of the above mails, arrived off Hurst Castle Telegraph Station at 11.25 a.m.. FRANCE. CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS. The following Imperial Decree is published in yesterday's Jloniteur : " Desiring to afford to the great bodies of the State a more direct participation in the general policy of our Government, and a marked proof of our confidence, we decree : " Art. 1. That the Sonata and the Corps Le gis latif shall annually vote an address in reply to our speech at the opening of the Chambers. " Art 2. This address will be discussed in the presence of the Government Commissioners, who will give the Chamber the necessary explanations of the interior and exterior policy of the Empire. " Art. 3. In order to facilitate to the legislative body the expression of its opinion in the prepara tion of the laws and the exercise of the right of amendment, Art. 54 of our decree of March 22, 1852, is put in force, and the regulation of the legislative body is modified in the following manner : "Immediately after the distribution of the pro jects of law, and at the day fixed by the president, the legislative body, before naming its commission, assembles in secret committee, a summary discussion is opened on the project of law, and the government commissioners take paet in it. The present dispo sition is applicable neither to projects of law of local interest, nor to cases of urgency. " Art. 4. In order to render the reproduction of the debates of the Senate and the Legislative Body more complete, the following project of a seratus consulte shall be presented to the Senate : " The reports of the sittings of the Senate and the Legislative Body drawn up by the secretaires-. redacteurs under the authority of the President of each Assembly, are addressed every evening to the journals. Moreover, the debates of every sitting are reported in -,host-hand and inserted in extenso in the official journal of the following day.' " Art. 5. During the session the Emperor will name the ministers without portfolio to defend before the Chambers, in concert with the President and the member of the Council of State, the pre- jects of law of the government;. "Art. 6. The ministry of our household is sup pressed; its functions are joined to those of the Grand Marshal of the Palace. •" Art. 7. The ministry of Algeria and the Colo vies is suppressed. The administration of the colo nies is united with the Ministry of the Marine. " Art. 8. Services which do not directly belong to public instruction or the special establishments of the University, are withdrawn from the Ministry of Public Instruction, and placed among the func tions of the Ministry of State. "Art. 9. The Stud Department is removed from the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, and placed among the functions of the Ministry of State." The decree also orders some changes in the func tions of the Ministries of Public Instruction, Works, Agriculture, and Commerce. " Art. 10. M. Chasseloup Laubat has been ap pointed Marine and Colonial Minister. " Art. 11. Marshal Pelissier has been appointed Governor-General of Algeria. " Art. 12. Admiral Hamelin has been appointed Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour. " That part of the public service which is not directly connected with public instruction, as well as the special establishments of the University, are transferred from the Ministry of Instruction to that of the State. " Art. 13. The Ministers without portfolios have the rank and treatment of the Ministers with func tions; they form part of the Council of Ministers, and are lodged at the expense of the State. " Art. 14. Our Minister of State is charged with the direction of the present decree. " Done at the Palace of the Tuileries, " Nov. 24, 1860. " By the Emperor. " The Minister of State, A. WALEWSKI." BOURSE, November 24.—The market has shown some little indecision today, owing to the. Minis terial change announced in the Moniteur. . There was, however, but little fluctuation in prices. Threes opened at 70f 10c, or 5c below the closing price of yesterday, and were afterwards done at 70f 50c ; Mobilier are quoted 761 f 75c ; Orleans, 1,391 f 25c; Northern, 988 f 75c; Lyons, 911 f 25c; Austrian, 516 f 25c ; Lombard, 488 f 75c. The following are the last quotations : ft per per Cents ... 96 10 Credit Fonder 9lB 75 Do end month.... Belgian 41 9B 25 3 per Cents Do. end month 7O 30; Roman Bank Shares 2950 Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 770 —; Spanish Threes 49a Do. Account 772 50 ; Home Debt " NAPOLEON. RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern .. 98.5 .. 986 25 New ditto 892 50 .. Lyons and Mediterranean 908 75 .. 912 50 Geneva 405 .. 405 Southern 523 75 .. 523 75 Western Eastern Sardinian 395 .. 392 50 . Austrian Lombard Q . AUSTRIA. The Vienna Gazette publishes the following Im perial decree : " Considering that the present agio on silver causes perturbation in the circulation of copper coin, and considering that it is necessary to satisfy the urgent wants of the retail trade, it pleases me to order, after having taken the advice of my Minis ters, and of my permanent Council of the Empire, that the issue of monetary notes in all the provinces of the Empire, with the exception of the Lombardo- Venetian Kingdom, shall be submitted to the deli berations of the general assembly of the Council of the Empire in its next sitting, in the following terms :—Art. 1. Monetary notes shall be of the value of 10 kreutzers, a new Austrian money, and shall be received in all payments of less than a florin in the public treasuries of the said provinces. Art. 2. The general treasury shall remit the monetary notes to such other public establishments, communes, and private persons as may express a desire to have them in return for an equal sum in bank notes. Art. 3. The total amount of monetary notes which must only be issued in proportion to the most urgent wants of circulation, cannot exceed 12,000,000 florins. As soon as the want of means of exchange in the retail trade shall no longer exist, the monetary notes shall be withdrawn. Art. 4. The falsification or forgery of these notes shall be punished with the same penalties as those of paper money. Art. 5. The present measure is placed under the control of the Commission on the Public Debt. Art. 6. The Director of the Ministry of Finances is charged with the execution of the present ordinance. "FRANCIS JOSEPH. " COUNT RECHBERG ; DE PLENER ; RANSONNET. " Schcenbrimn, 17th November." According to recent accounts from Austria, the greatest inconvenience has long prevailed in all parts of the Empire from want of specie, which is so scarce that it can hardly be said to exist. A great sensation was produced by the promulgation of the above decree, inasmuch as by creating notes for the low sum of ten krcutzers (little less than a sou each), the Government proves that the penury of the Treasury is so great that it cannot even make an issue of copper coin. The lowest notes in Austria have hitherto been of one florin (2fr. 50c.), but it was the practice to tear them in two for the purpose of giving change. VENETIA. The Ausbur•g Gazette publishes the following proclamation, which is being distributed among the people on the coasts of Venetia and Dalmatia : TILE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF VENICE TO THE VENETIAN SAILORS. Venice, Oct. 25, 1863 Sailors of the Venetian coast,—The time is come for you also to do your country good service. Whether you are in the merchant service, or serve against your will on board Austrian ships, you cannot but see how degrading is your position. The Austrian fleet is no longer that which was called Royal Venetian, and had both Italian sailors and Italian officers. Now Germans alone com mand, while the unhappy Italian sailors are obliged to serve under the stick. The Italian fleet, which you have heard thundering beneath Ancona, will also deliver poor Venice, and in this fleet alone should you serve. Venice has neither navigation nor trade, nor money to pay her sailors, and she can do nothing for them till she is made free. For this reason even merchant seamen had better serve on board Neapolitan, An conese, and Genoese steamers, under the tri coloured flag, so es to return as conquerors to their own country and assure the liberty and prosperity of Venice. Send, at least , the youngest and most experienced among you to represent. us in the Italian navy as so many do in the armies . of Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi. When Italy is free we will return to our arsenal s and yards —we will have a numerous war fleet , o n board iof which the sailor of Venice shall win h onour as n the palmy days of Venetia; and we will have merchant ships to en gage in the commercial enterprises whi c h s h a ll en rich us. V ene ti a n ships shall fill the ports of the East, and comfort shall again be enjoyed by the sailors' families. Italy expects much from the bold seamen of the Venetian coasts—f rom you w h o f or so long made the Lion . of St. M arc respecte d an d feared. Long live Ntor Emman ue l, Ki ng o f It a l y ! Long live Garibaldi! Long live Admiral Persano, the conqueror of Ancona! Free Venice for ever ! GAETA. A letter in the Moniteur de la Flotte, dated 22d inst., says— The French squad ron , u n d er Vice-Admiral Barmerde Tinan, is still a t a nchor at the same place —that is to say, in the middle of the roadstead in front of Ga e t a , a t a di stance o f five or six miles from Mola di Gaeta, and nearly opposite the Marine District, the theatre of the last affair. "The Piedmontese squadron has not approached nearer Gaeta. It seems to have renounced the idea of attacking the town by sea. It is no longer commanded by Admiral Persano, who has left for Naples. The French squadron has its full number of vessels, with the exception of Le Tage, which is stationed at Messina, and the two despatch boats Mouette and Prony, which are moving about from point to point." MR. BRIGHT, M.P,, ON _REFORM. The Glasgow Herald publishes a correspondence between Mr. Alexander Drew, of Glasgow, and Mr. Bright. INlr. Drew, it appears, desires to know from Mr. Bright himself whether or not he has done a certain amount of mischief to the cause of reform, as alleged in some recent speeches delivered in the west country by Mr. Bouverie, 'M.P. In reply, Mr. Bright writes as follows : " Rochdale, Nov. 19,1880. " Sir,—l can only refer you to my published speeches bit what I have said on the question of reform. It is a mistake to suppose the possessors of power in this country can be persuaded to part with it, or to share it with the people, by smooth words. If Mr. Bouverie is dissatisfied with ICI y mode of arguing the question, he may give us a sample of his mode—we shall see if he succeeds any better. Ido nee recollect that he has ever shown any earnestness with No• gard to it, and it is not unlikely that he may not like earnestness in others. Twenty years ago we were charged with strong language and great severity when discussingthe question of the corn laws. The country surely knows by this time whether our accusations were well founded or not ; at last it was only by the help of a famine, which killed thousands and exiled hundreds of thousands, that we pre - vailed. We were then charged with creating hostility be - tween classes ; and yet now everybody knows that nothing in our time has done so much to remove discontent, and to put an end to the war of classes, as the abolition of the corn law. I suppose the present holders of power will wait till some accident brings a hurricane about them, and then they will yield without honour what they now retain without right. With regard to your proposition as to fixing a mini mum of wages, I have only to say that I think the scheme wholly impracticable, and that any attempt to do what you suggest could only lead to confusion. How could a mini mum of wages be fixed, without fixing a minimum of priees? And who could do this, not for this country only but for the world? Is it possible that any rational man can believe that such a measure is possible ? And how can a Scotch man, living in the city where Adam Smith lived and wrote, believe it ?—I am, respectfully yours, " JOIN BRIGHT." FRENCH FINANCE. (From the Honey Market Review.) Now that the attention of the commercial commu nity in this country is in an especial manner directed to the operations of the Bank of France, it may be considered a fitting moment to take a brief glance at the financial position and the fiscal burthens of the French nation. We will confine ourselves to citing a few pregnant figures :—ln the year 1814 the National Debt of France was £50,646,108. In 38 years, that is to say in 1852, it had increased to £213,825,492. It is now £356,883,871 ; so that in the last eight years it has increased no less than £143,058,379. In 1855 the annual charge of the public debt of France was stated to be £9,000,600, whilst in January -of the present year it was ad mitted to be £16,000,000, and is probably much more. We have not space to enter into, nor the full particulars of, the manner in which this large in crease has arisen in so short a space of time. In France the financial secrets of the Government are well kept. But it is a terrible fact that in the face of the unprecedented amount of taxation with which France is at present burthened, it is even now necessary to add largely, year after year, to the national debt. _ . During the same space of 40 years the English national debt has undergone several alterations, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, but it is at present very little more than it was in 1820, when it stood at £790,000,000 ; whilst the charge on the debt has considerably lessened. It may convey a lesson to those who complain so bit terly of our system of taxation if we place in juxta position the account of the revenue derived from the taxes of the two countries. It will be seen that France actually outstrips us in the amount of har revenue from taxation. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that the figures do not include any local taxation, which in many towns in France, as here, is considered very great. It is especially heavy in Paris. "REVENUE OP GREAT BRITAIN POR 1860. 1. Income-tax 2. Stamps 3. Crown lands 416,531 4. Customs 5. Excise 6. Post Office 3,310,655 7. Miscellaneous £71,104,127 " REVENUE OF FRANCE FOR 1860. 1. Direct taxes, land, house, personal, and patentes .. £18,800,000 2. Stamps and domain Gs.. .. 14,300;000 3. Woods, forests, and Fisheries.... 1,500,000 4. Custom Ad tl it.. 9,100,000 -ustoms an. Atx on sun, 5. Excise 19,500,000 6. Post Office 2,300,000 7. Miscellaneous... 7,500,000 £73,000,000 It must be difficult—nay, impossible—for France to continue for any long period the immense sacri fices she is now called upon to make. Unless the heavy load of taxation which she is forced to bear be speedily mitigated, the eff , cts will be most lamentable. Thee is a point beyond which na tions, any more than individuals, cannot carry their expenditure without tempting ruin. TILE SITITTIFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHO V. On Saturday the spacious area of the Baker- street Bazaar was entirely cleared for the reception of the various specimens of stock, &c., intended for exhi bition at the ensuing Cattle Show, to take place on Tuesday, the 11th, Wednesday, the 12th, Thursday, the 13th, and Friday, the 14th December. The amount of prizes given this year are quite upon a par with those of any former years, and the show will consist of 42 classes, namely :—Four to the Devon breed, four to the Herefords, four to the short 'horns, two to the Sussex breed, two to the Norfolk or Suffolk polled breed, two to the long-horns, two to the Scotch horned, and two to the Scotch polled breed ; two to the Irish, two to the Welsh, and three classes to the cross or mixed breeds, making a total of 29 classes devoted to cattle. The sheep will he divided into nine classes, three being devoted to long-woolled breeds, three to the short wools, two to cross breeds, and one to short-woolled breeds not being Southdowns. The pigs will be divided into four classes, namely : Pigs of any breed not exceeding four months old, above four and not exceeding eight months, eight and not ex ceeding 12 months, and above 12 and under 18 months old. There will be six gold and, 42 silver medals awarded by the club, in additien 'to the money prizes, to the exhibitors of the best speci mens in the various classes, and the silver medal of the club to the butcher who makes the largest amount of purchases from the show yard. Notwithstanding the death of the Duke of Rich mond, the pens of Southdowns already entered in his name will be sent to the show by the present duke, and will enter into competition with those of Mr. John Rigden, of Hove, for many years the antagonist of the late duke, and who last year was successful in beating the hon. president. Lord ' the Earl of L e i cester , L or d B erner s, of Huntley, th e E ar l o f H ar d w ick, the Earl Earl l‘ o ilna f grclh YaT s borough, Lord Faversham, and others of the nobility are also amongst this year's compe titors, as well as the Prince Consort. Some cri terion will no doubt be formed of the probable character of the Smithfield show, from that which precedes it at Birmingham, as on former occasions, a very large number of animals are entered for both shows. 211 E SE.RI.3IETER. This is an apparatus newly invented by M. Fro ment, for testing the tenacity and elasticity of silks of different sorts. The dynamometrie portion of the apparatus is composed of a small thin and very flexible lamina of steel, horizontally fixed in its centre. Its extremities are connected by.two small rods to a single shaft rising to some height, and havinc , its upper extremity finely split for the purpose dfixin ,, the thread to be tested. When this thread is subjected to traction, it causes the la mina orspringabovedescribed to bend,and this motion is communicated to the hand of a dial-plate. When the thread snaps, this hand remains at the point to which it had been brought by the effect of the trac tion. The other portion of the apparatus, by which traction is effected, is a piece of clock work which descends by its own weight. It is provided with a pair of pincers, into which the other end of the thread is inserted. By means of this apparatus M. Persoz has been enabled to make experiments on the tenacity of various silks, the results of which he has communicated to the Societe Imperiale d'Ac climatation. Thus, the threads tested being all of the length of halfametre, M. Persoz shows that the tenacity of the Calcutta cocoon is represented by 5.3, Teneriffe 5.2, while those from Avignon and Prus sia were 12 and 12.9 respectively; that of Neuilly marked 8. The elasticity- of these sorts p er me tre was respectively 9. 9 ; 12.8 ; 14.4 ; 13.4 ; an d 12.9. The following general conclusions derived from these experiments are interesting: -1. The male cocoon yields a fin er and mor e tenacious silk than female soil ma and e ene i 2. The same spe c i es reare d on dif ferent n different cli mates d oes not y i e ld the f threads of the same tenacity. The latter fact, 1%1. Persoz thinks. should induce the Societe d'Acclims tation to undertake experiments for the sake of de termining with precision the effects which soil and climate, as well as the kind of food, produce on the silk-worm. easi to a befc of 1 efts: rats real eau in 1 Sur ann lie, tile init con mic disc p1o: con Rill Ale is d Rai busi firm Erni 6 pi Me: Sar and any 'van 971 and hav rati pc 3 pc NeN Ind Dit Col Ea( Me; 1 Nel Poi au