The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-13 00:00:00

"[JP, MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— EXTB,A PERFORMANCE. This Evening, Saturday, Feb. 13—Last Night but Six, THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. THIg EVENING, Feb. 13, will be repeated, for the 4th time , in England, LA ZINGARI, being the Italian version of Mite's Opera of The Bohemian Girl, by Madlles. Piccolomini and Sannier ; Signori Belletti, Violetta, and Giuglini. To conclude with the successful Divertissement, by M. Massot, entitled L'HYMENEE, by Madlles. Clavella, Mor. lacchi, and Pasquale. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 12s 6d; boxes (to hold four persons), p it and one pair, 21. 2s; grand tier, 31. 3s ; two pair, li. 55.; three pair, 158; gallery boxes, 10s ; gallery stalls, 3s 6d pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2e, THEA TR E-R OYA. L, DRURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, will be performed the new comic drams, A LUCKY HIT. After which, TWO HEADS BET TER THAN TLE ONE. ACK Followed by the new grand pantopantomime,LlT J ORNER. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee--Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVE.>.TING, to HE RIVALS commence at Seven o'clock, with T. After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE BLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD; or, Harle quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ; Columbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq. Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the evening). 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. Ed. Second pries. s. a n Boxes 5 0 Dress 80xe5............---- 3 6 Uppvr Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes ........•••••• 2 u Pit Gallery' ------. 0Y AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVEbTING, will be performed Shakspero'e Play of A MIDSUMIILD.R.NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a new grand. comic Christmas Pantomime entitled HARLEQW IN WHITE CAT ; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor. ma ek ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. T HEATRE ROYAL, A DELPHI. Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed the new drama, THE POOR STROLLERS, in which Madame Celeste, Mr. B. Webster, Paul Bedford, and Mr, Wright will perform. With the Farce of THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER. Yellowed by the original Apropos Sketch, entitled THE DRAPERY QUESTION ; or, Who's for India! Messrs , , Wright, P, Bedford; C. Selby; Miss M. Wilton and Miss Mary Keeley. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—SoIe Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.— THIS EVENING, Shakspere's Tragedy of HAMLET. Hamlet, Mr. Charles Dillon. To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAII ROOKH, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU BADOUR ; or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert. Supported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White, Eliza Webb, Maria Tertian, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ; Messrs. Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Poynter, and J. L. Toole. Clowns, Messrs. T. Matthews and R. Stilt ; Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites, Herr Zeleski and Sons ; Columbines, Misses Malcolm and Lees. Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans formation Scene. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. 'iox-office open from 11 to 5 daily. STRAND THEATRE.—lmmense Success. — THIS EVENING, will be performed comic drama, entitled FALSE CONCLUSIONS. After which, JOHN STREET, ADELPHI. Followed by the Latest Edition of THE LADY OF LYONS; or, Twopenny Pride and Penuy-tent©. To conclude with a now and screaming Farce, entitled A WOMAN IN MY DUST. HOLE. Boxes, 25.; Stalls, 3s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery 6d. Half. price at Nine. Commence at Seven. IDp OY A.L SURREY THEATRE, 111.) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, will be performed an original English Play, RIGHT AND WRONG. After which, QUEEN MAB ; or Harlequin Romeo and Jolliet. Clown, by the Surrey Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Brad bury. CANTERBURY HALL, Westmin3ter-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of S Ilections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DUETS, &c,, viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Madlle. Marietta, Miss Brunel]. ) Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Henshaw, Russell Grover, S. Jones,' J. Barker. W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badgey, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Ber nard; Messrs. W. T. Critchueld and E. Mackney. Piano forte, Mr, Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, dis., until twelve o'clock. Mr. AUGUSTUS BRAHAM will appear every Evening. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY—Morn., 53 min. aft. I—Even., 10 min aft. 2 To-ktonitow—lforn., 28 min. aft.2—Even., 46 min. aft. 2 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, FEBRI7AIIY 13. IHICIWOYETICR, IN TEIZ SHADE. 46—highest since noon yesterday. 33—lowest this morning and during the night. 46 —this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.15—falling again. WIND, North-Easterly; light, with dull hazy weather. Rain in the night. 3 O'CLocK.— WIND, S.E., light, with heavy rain. VA) un LONDON, S,TURDAY, FEB. 13, 1853. Last night Lord PALMERSTON introduced the promised bill for transferring from the East India Company to the Crown the government of her MAJESTY'S East Indian dominions. The Com pany had already received notice to set their house in order, and to be prepared to surrender the anomalous functions which they had so long exer cised. But the details of the contemplated change were withheld ; we had to await the promised explanations of the Minister ; and although good guesses were made, or possibly information oozed out, as to the nature of the intended alterations, nothing could be known with certainty by the community at large, or oven by the Leadenleall street Board. Everything is now revealed ; a clear and can• did statement has been made, and we can com pare the future Government of the Anglo ludid.o Empire with that which is now in operation. The great experiment has been made in the most moderate manner. There will certainly be a vast improvement on the existing state of affairs. But the chief objections are rather for acts of omission than of commission. It does not go far enough. Too much deference has been paid to the captious arguments put forward by the Company and their advocates, and the Premier has manifestly been trammelled by specious but untenable positions, which he has had sufficient firmness to capture by direct assault. It is not merely that the cumbrous machinery of the double governments will be got rid of, or that at last th ere will e full responsibility to the British Parli ament for tl ie portion and manage ment of a very important dominions, i 7 ; .11 g the welfare, fi li f appines,', and prosperity of one hundred and our fellow-subjects. The prestige th y at ra wi-ilili°n attendaof the name of the QUEEN of Great Britai n will be an important amelioration. It must necessarily be far more respectable, and exercise far gre a t er political and moral influence with princes exer cising indpendent sway, or in a certain degree in dependent, than that of a company, nominally incorporated for trading purposes, however respectable its directors and managers may be. Such persons would naturally feel jealous of the interference of men, their inferiors in rank and social position, while they would feel no degradation in submitting to the views and wishes of the SOVEREIGN of the United ,Kingdom, who would be enabled to bring the whole power and weight of her vast empire to support her demands. The alteration may, in that respeol, be more apparent than real ; but we all know how much depends on appearances, and the weight and dignity of a name. It has been well said by a contemporary " that the Board of Con trol represents a fact, which is the dominion of the British Empire. The Court of Directors repre% sents no actual power or living fact. It is only TUE SCN LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING,_ FEBRUARY_ 13, 1868 a tradition, existing by sufferance." Surely, then, if is well that we should learn to call things by their right names, and no longer be trammelled by obsolete, albeit respectable, "traditions." We have already demonstrated that neither the Directors nor Proprietors have any just cause of complaint against the proposed alteration. Their interest in the affairs of India is merely one of s . ti. All they have to look to is the payment of the dividends guaranteed by the British nation until the time when they may be redeemed on terms already arranged and concluded. It is really monstrous that persons entitled to receive 630,0001. per annwn for a term of 15 or 16 years, and then a capital of 12,000,000/. —double their original investment —should also be enabled to interfere with the destinies of 150,000,000 of human beings, or 25 persons for every pound originally invested. All that the proprietors really lose is the possibility of obtaining cadet ships in return for their votes at the election of directors, and that is a demand which will scarcely be sustained or ventilated in Parliament. As to the provisions of the measure, they are very simple. The powers of the Directors are to cease and determine, and their functions are to be transferred to a President and Council of eight members, nominated by the Crown, for a limited term of eight years, and not entitled to sit in Parliament. Two are to be replaced every second year. There will thus be the pos sibility of obtaining the services of eligible men, and infusing new blood into the Council, while there would be a sufficient tenure of office to pre vent them from truckling to the Executive for the time being. The President and Secretary are alone eligible for seats in Parliament, and they will go in or out with the Government of the day. The decision of the President will be final in political matters, and properly so, inasmuch as he will be responsible to Parliament and the country for his conduct. But the members of the council will have power to record their protests against any measures which he may adopt contrary to their advice. In financial affairs, however, the President must obtain the assent of at least four of the Council before any outlay involving an increased expenditure should be decided on. A moiety of the patronage will be vested in the Go ♦ernment and the remainder in the members of Council, so that the dreaded increase of patronage will be comparatively trifling. Writerships will, as at present, be given to the successful candidates at competitive exminations. The local patronage will remain with the authorities in India. There can be no jealousy in this respect. Indeed, Lord PALMERSTON seems to have yielded too much to the outcry put forward, and thus forfeited the opportunity of improving the administration of justice in our Eastern Dominions. The revenues of India are to be applied solely to tho purposes of the Indian Government, and although the Indian army will be transferred to the Crown, there will be no changes in the conditions on which it is embodied. The debate has been adjourned to Monday, but we cannot for a moment suppose that the House will refuse to sanction a measure, the chief objec tion to whieh is its extreme moderation. In the good old times, before duelling had become obsolete, and men had ceased to hazard their lives in defence of their honour, it was uni versally considered that the same, or even more extended, publicity should be given to an apology than to the affront, for which it was demanded. It was in that respect, at least, a sound and whole• some practice—one that rendered the amende what it ought to be, complete and satisfactory. Were it otherwise many persons who heard of the insult would know nothing of its redress, and would re main under the erroneous impression that the in jured party had patiently swallowed his leek, and submitted to the castigation previously adminis tered. One of the vexed questions in the arrange ment of these so-called affairs of honour was the nature and extent of the publicity that should be given to the explanation or apology, and it was almost invariably settled in the way above alluded to, viz., the same publicity to the act of reparation as had been given to the offence. The Emperor LOUIS NAPOLEON does not, how ever, act on that sound principle. Although the truculent addresses of the French military bullies, designating Great Britain as a den of assassins, and demanding its invasion and even its destruc tion, were published ostentatiously in the official journal, and thus recognised and adopted by the EMPEROR, although the objectionable despatch of Count WALEWSICI received similar publicity, the illoniteur has maintained a total and unbroken silence respecting that of the Gth of February, which contained the tardy and inadequate expres sion of Imperial regret for the improper and insulting publication. This omissien is the more reprehensible, inas much as no French journal would dare to publish the despatch, and the extensive and almost daily i i seizures of English newspapers would prevent any I extensive circulation of the explanations given at the British channel. The insolent sabreurs i who penned these mendacious and outrage -1 ous documents may therefore remain under the erroneous impression that their thl.eats had influenced the •Parliament, and people of Great Britain, and that they were still sanctioned and approved by the EMPEROR and his responsible ministers. The limited nature of the apology should therefore be known to every popular representative, before the bill for restrict ing and eventually subverting the right of sanc tuary to political exiles comes on for second reading in the House of Commons. The waverers who halted between two opinions and reserved the right of future action, should know how futile and inadequate was the apology offered, ,and the 256 absentees should be stimu lated to a better performance of their duty on the next division. The Ministerial measure, as we have already repeatedly pointed out, was wholly unnecessary and uncalled for ; as the highest legal autho rity on criminal questions—the Lord Chief Justice of England —clearly pointed ou t, the existing law is amply sufficient to punish any conspiracy, either to murder, or in any way to injure any persons, whether princes or private individuals, at home or abroad. If life be lost, the offender:may be indicted as an accessory before the fact, and we have at this moment a large re ward offered for the apprehension of an English subject, who is charged with a guilty knowledge of the offence against the EMPEROR. Should Mr. ALSOP be arreste d , and there is every reason to suppose that su c h w ill spee d ily be the case, we shall have reason really so defective knowl‘ r Y e l i e u t i ii r whether e r s a as the exi s ti ng l aw o f theland is lt h e a ra s t b io e n en o r s t m a t o e d d i , and wheth er it really - ficati he on- Talteration of the nature of the crime from misdemeanour to felony, may be productive of results far more serious than at present supposed. On a charge of felony, any man may be apprehended without a warrant, his most secret papers may be ransacked, and ample bail may be refused for his appearance. We can easily conceive what an instrument of oppression It will be suffi and coercion this may be made. cient if any man utters strong opinions to justify his incarceration, although there may be no overt act to showthat he had the slightest intention of car ryiug these views into ex.ecutior. We are usually tolerant of opinion in this country, but hencefor ward it will no longer be so, and any Political fugitive will be subjected, or at least liable, to such persecution as to make Great Britain no longer a haven of refuge, where he may earn a humble but honest livelihood, despite the denun ciations of his persecutors. Surely the chosen representatives of independent constituencies will hesitate before they give their sanction to so great an inroad on the once-prized British Constitution, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUY. SlR,—The inclosed letter was sent to the Editor of the Times, but has not appeared. I request the favour of a place for it in the Sun. It is surely degrading the thanks of Parliament, to obtain them for any man, on the ground of services rendered by another ; and most degrading when, as in this case, they are made by implication, to convey a slur upon the man who really per formed the service so lauded. W. NAPIER, Lieutenant-General. Feb. 12, 1858. TO THE EDITOR OF TFIE TIMES, Sir,—ln your report of the debate on the motion of thanks to the Indian army, Lord Panmure is stated to have said, " that Mr. Frere as Commissioner of Scinde had reconciled the people of that province to British rule, and by his prudence and firmness confirmed the conquest of the gallant Napier." This I qualify as a foul attempt to detract from Sir Charles Napier's reputation. The people of Ssinde ware entirely reconciled to British rule— not only reconciled, but entirely attached to it under Sir Charles Napier's government, and by his " wisdom and prudence," long Mars before Mr. Frere had anything to do with the province. Mr. Frere is not the man to deny this, though Lord Panmure does so, and most foully, by implication. But how should Lord Panmure know anything about reconciling people by wisdom and prudence ? Wm. NAPIER, Lieut.-General. February 9, 1858. ROYAL VISIT TO THE ADELNII THEATRE. Last night, her Majesty, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Alice, and attended by the Duchess of Wellington, the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, Lord Byron, and Major• General Buckley, honoured the Adelphi Theatre with her presence. The pieces selected for the occasion were, " The Drapery Question," " The Poor Strollers," and the " Spitalfields Weaver." The royal visitors arrived just priorito the commencement of the second piece. The splendid acting of it Webster and Madame Celeste frequently drew from the royal box unmistakeable marks of admiration, and the oomicalities of Wright, of course highly pleased the Prince and Princess. H?r Majesty, on quitting the theatre, ex- pressed herself highly pleased witb the evening's enter. Lainment. ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. Mr. Pepper's new lecture on the " Great Solar Eclipses of 1858," is the last very notable addition to the manifold attractions of the Polytechnic Institution. It is one of the most remarkable evidences of ability yet afforded, moreover, by this accomplished caterer for ;sublic instruction and entertainment. The Lecturer, after explaining the principle of solar eclipse, in a manner the most lucid imaginable, because the most familiar and conversational, by means of visible representatives of Sun, and Earth, and Moon, aff.)rds his auditors ocular demonstration of the fact that an eclipse of this kind is produced by the passage of our satellite in a right line between the globe and the great central lumi nary. Mr. Pepper next gives the clearest definition of the differences between partial, total, and annular eclipses, illustrating this portion of his discourse by some ex quisite representations of the glory of light, or corona, displayed after the disc of the sun has disappeared. In elucidation of the phenomena of the rose-coloured protuberances apparent round the edge of the eclipsed disc, reference is then made to the injurious hypothesis of M. Faye, according to whose theory, those mar vellous appearances are nothing more than optical illusions analogous to those producing the mirage and the fats mergana. And, hereupon, no sooner is mention thus incidentally made of the mirage of the wilderness, than there appears before the audience a magnificent panoramic dissolving-view of the Arabian Desert, wit's the spectral islands, irrigated by imagi nary water—of which mention is made by every oriental traveller from remote times down to the " Eothen" of Kinglake, and the "Crescent and the Cross" of Eliot Warburton. Finally, there is, towards the close of this really admirable Lecture, a superb delineation of the Norwegian coast, as witnessed during the Total Eclipse of the Sun in 1851, by the Astronomer Royal of Scotland—the whole et those splendid pictorial illastrations being effected by means of the same beautiful dissolving scenery so long familiar to the frequenters of the Polytechnic. This astronomical Lecture by blr. Pepper, is to be repeated, we are heartily glad to observe, twice every week during the ensuing season—namely, on Wednesdays and Fridays. Cordially do we commend it to the general public in words of unaifected and unstinted admiration. It cannot fail to enhance Mr. Pepper's individual repu tation ; and, while doing this, it reflects a new lustre upon the fame and popularity of the Polytechnic Institution. His Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen arrived at Clarence House, St. James's, the residence of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, from Portsmouth. - His Serene Highness Prince Victor of Hohenlohe has left Howckin's Hotel, St. James's-street, fir Ports. month. His Excellency the Ambassador of France left Albert. gate House, yesterday morning, for Paris. The Marquis and Marcbionese of Exeter left town yesterday, for Burghley Hall, Stamford. The Countess of Desart has left town for Desart House, county Kilkenny. The Earl and Countess of Warwick have arrived at Howchin's Hotel. The Viscount Cheverie has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, St. James's, from Paria. Lord Claude Hamilton arrived in town last evening, from Aldershot. Sir Clifford and Lady Constable and Miss Chichester have left Claridge's Hotel, for Burton Constable, York shire. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Luca have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, - Upper Norwood. INDIA MAIL";-The following notices were issued from the General Post-office yesterday, viz. :—The next mail from Calcutta direct, Penang, Singapore, and China, eia Marseilles, is due in London on the 13th inst. The next mail from India via Bombay and Marseilles is due in London on the 19th inst. Mails for the Mediter. ranean, Egypt, India, and Mauritius, via Mareeille4, will be despatched on the evening of the 17th inst. No United States mail packet will leave Liverpool until the 3d proximo. DEATH OF WOMBWELL'S ELEPHANT " CHUBBY."— HARTLEPOOL, Thursday.—Wombwell's No. 1 Colltc, tion arrived here yesterday for exhibition, and its arrival was unfortunately attended with a very serious loss to the proprietor by the death of the elephant commonly called "Chubby." About three months ago a large tumour weighing 41b. was remcv d from his right side by Mr. Hyde, of Hull. The wound appears to have healed prematurely, for since that time the animal has never been well, and continued to lose flesh almost daily. When at Sunderland last week his right fore leg was fomented by a veterinary surgeon. Yesterday the collez.tion travelled from Essington-lane to Hartlepool, a distance of about 15 miles ; " Chubby" and his fellow. onnpanion travelled under a covered van, and, as they were entering the town " Chubby" fell to the ground from exlaustion. Great efforts were made to raise him, and large quantities of stimulants were given him. But all was of no avail, and after about two hours poor "Chubby' breathed his last. His companion was taken out of the van, and walked tLeough the streets to the market place. He was then raised from the ground on to the false floor of the van, and dragged into the town. He was about 20 years old, and weighed between 4 and 5 tons. ROSSINI AND THE ORGAN GRINDER.—The Courier de Paris contains the following :—" On the 27th of last month as Italian organ grinder stationed himself in the court-yard of the house occupied by Rossini, at the corner formed by the Boulevard and the Chauseth. d'Antin, and began playing several airs from the repor toire of the great composer. He had played the serenade from the " Barbiere," and was about to repeat it when Rossini, accompanied by a friend, passed through the court-yard.;The maestro felt in Lie pocket for a few sous, and while doing so he inquired of the man if was aware whose music he was playing. 'Of course, I do,' replied the man, 'it is from our great Rossini,' `And the air you played before.' `Also from Rossini,' said the man, ' I should not think of playing anything but Rossini in the senerade which I am now offering rfto him.' You offer a serenade to Ros sini ! and why ? ' inquired the composer. ' B e . cause to-lay is his birth day,' replied the man. Rossini, on hearing this reply, was deeply touched, and he turned to his companien and said, ' This poor fellow is the only person that has remembered the date ; all my friends have forgotten it ; even I myself had done so. Believe me, when I say that the greatest triumphs of my career have not moved me more than the attention of of this poor man.' And the mxi.'ro drew from his purse hundredaturn eturned i ,is franc bak piece, and presented it to the organ P e la in y g er af::rih e r s e. t r i: o h s, 1 n g l r i e , a test astonishment at his Z y c o n u ep w sit h y i . sp 't i t s ia, ert Rossinifriend,. . when t who he has call s p p o e s k er en ha t d o his cloak, and exclaimed, not money that yonirlameve I shall preserve al my lifegi'vl7n me . 1 cried the Italian, and run• ing d uczeitro, he kissed the hem of '.Thanks, mtestro I but it is it is a medal which LATEST NEWS. INDIA. We have received from Trieste a telegram of the Calcutta mail, confirming the news already received 'act Cagliari. The following telegram, received at the India house, contains some few additional particulars : "MR. R. SIMSON, UNDER-SECRETARY TO TAE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, TO TUE HON. THE SECRET COMMITTEE, EAST INDII-HOUSE. " CALCUTTA, JAN. 0. " The Commander-in-Chief, having marched towards Futtyghur, was opposed by the rebels at the bridge over the li:lalee Nuddee ; he attacked and defeated them on the 2d of January with heavy loss, capturing seven guns, two of them 18- pounders. "Futtyghur was occupied without opposition on the 4th of January ; the enemy have now evacuated it, after their defeat on the 2d, taking with them three guns. The heavy guns were found in position. Much property belonging to the gun and clothing agencies has been saved. " A quantity of gold and silver plate and other property belonging to the Nana has been cap tured near Bithoor. " The insurgents at Puttia were attacked and dispersed by Colonel Seaton's column on the nth of December. Twelve guns were captured, and 300 rebels. We lost one man only. " The enemy were also defeated at Mynpooree by Colonel Seaton's column on the 27th of De cember ; all their guns (six) taken, and 250 killed ; none reported killed on our side. " Sir James Outram on the 22d of December attacked and dispersed the rebels, who had ap proached his camp in force. The loss on our side was trifling ; we captured four guns and several ammunition waggons. This defeat has dispirited the enemy and given confidence to the villagers, who are beginning to bring supplies into our camp. " Brigadier Campbell crossed the Ganges at Allahabad, and on the sth of January attacked a nd defeated a rebel Nazim, near Secundra, killing 350 men. Our loss was one man killed, and one (gun ?). " The frontier Tubseels were attacked and some buildings burnt. " The defeat of the rebels at Secundra will restore tranquillity in this quarter. " Nothing new from Azimghur. " The Goruckpore rebels were attacked and de feated by Rowcroft'a column on the 26th of De cember at Sohumpore, losing three guns and all their ammunition baggage, and one casualty on our side. " Brigadier-General M'Gregor writes that Ma harajah Jung Balladeer's force was at Pudravna. " On the Ist of January the rebeLs retired to Captan Gunge. " The Ghoorka army has been most orderly and well conducted, and the villagers nook to the camp in numbers with supplies. The force was expected to reach Goruckpore on the 6th of January. " Goruckpore was taken on the 6th by the forces under Maharajah Jung Bahadoor. The enemy had entrenched themselves strongly but made a feeble resistance. Seven guns were taken, and 200 men killed. Our loss was only two Ghoorkas killed, and seven wounded. " The country is very friendly, and supplies abundant. " Captain Osborne, with the troops of the Rewah Rajah, took the city of Myhere by storm on the 28th of December, capturing two guns. " The fort of Myhere was also taken on the 3d of January. " The direct route to Bombay has been re. opened. "Nothing new from Indore. " The Maharajah of Gwalior has come to Agra mutineers crossed th e T eesta r i ver and on a visit. through dense jun g l es i n t o N epau l. regiment has been sen t aga i ns t "A made Th G e h Dacca o w o a r a them by Jung Bahadoor, and it is supposed they will fall back again to the Eastward. 'A bryule is keeping a sharp l oo k ou t f or them.' " The Chittagong mutineers are wandering about in the Eacher jungles ; many have been killed and captured by the Sylhet Light Infantry and the Korkiea. " All quiet at Julpigoree. " A portion of the ladies and wounded of the Lucknow garrison arrived in Calcutta on the _9th of January. "RAVEN. "Trieste, Feb. 12, 9.15 a.m." THE INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. The Peninsular and Oriental Company have received the following despatch from Marseilles this (Saturday) morning :-- " The steam-ship Euxine, with the India and China mails, arrived at Marseilles last evening. " The mails left for London at 10 p.m. SCHAIVIYL STILL UNCONQUERED. The Nord of Brussels reduces the report of Schamyl's submission to Russia to its proper pro portions. That chieftlin is still unconquered, although a considerable portion of the plain of Tchetchnia has been cleared by the Russian o accompanied by the moue t c ai lm n u eer n. s s wh Se os halnY still el l i ng to his fortunes, has retired to the mountain retreats beyond the above plain. [We doubted very much the report when it first arrivud.] " A rumour of the resumption of diplomatic re lations between Austria and Sardinia," says a Vienna letter, " continues to gain ground, and w e learn that it is no t w i thout f oun d a ti o n. We are assured that Baron de Bourqueney, the French Ambassador, now here, who is entrusted w ith the affairs of the S ar di n i an L ega tion, will shortly make overtur es on the su bj ec t to the Austrian Cabinet ; the Sardinian Ministry having, through the French Minister at Turin, expressed a wish that he should do so." PARIS, SATURDAY, 10.5 A.M. The Moniteur contains an article which says exaggerated comments have been made on the new law, and declares the policy of Government is unchanged in its firmness and moderation. The now law is to be applied only to criminal con spirators, and thus guarantee order and stability. The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition) says :—. " There are still misgivings about the stability of certain of the Ministers—whether anything will come of it I caunot say. Marshal Vaillant and M. Walewski particularly were on the point of quitting the day before yesterday. We are now told it is all settled, yet in some quarters it is believed that the retirement of M. Billault has really unhinged the Cabinet. Marsbal Vaillant thought that one military man in the Council cf Regency was not enough. I doubt if he has changed his opinion. M. Walewski was to make room for some one at the Foreign-office (M. Drouyn de Lhuys probably), and was to be made Grand Equerry. General Fleury, who, it appears, is First Equerry, thought the place, which i s vacan t s i nce Mar shal St. Arna.tul's death, waq 1111 by ripht. His friends said that if any ono else was. named he would ask for a ca remand i n Af r i ca. Marshal Magnan's raf). - gnitude seems di m i n i s h e d by his not I .;eing in the Council of Re gency, though he commands the army of Paris—a most important post; and he is hardly delighted with the five great commands just created, and which throw him into the shade. M. Drouyn de Lhuys has, it is said, been offered the St. Petersburg Embassy ; some say he declined on the ground of his health not permitting him to leave France. In case of the Foreign Affairs being vacant, it would of course be better to be on the spot. On the other hand it is affirmed that M. Drouyn de Lhuys will after all accept the Russian Embassy. "The lame explanation about the careless ness," 41 - c., of the editors of the Moniteur is, I per ceive, dropped as untenable ; there is, however, something still said about inadvertence,' owing to the mass of these addresses and the short time allowed for selection. This is not the fact. The publication of the addresses bears, on the contrary, all the marks of selection. There is no appearance of haste or confusion. They did not come in all in a heap, and they were not published the same day, but for several days, with an occasional inter val between them. The first might have passed unobserved, but not those that followed. So far from any inadvertence,' the addresses were regu larly classed in the Moititeur." PRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. Tho recent debate ou the " Conspiracy to. Murder Bill" in the House of Commons, an analysis of which fills the columns of the Paris journals to the exclusion of leading articles, is thus briefly com mented on by the Patric : " In the other readings of this bill we shall doubtless have to report numerous speeches, but we cannot expect to meet with new arguments for or against the measures propose- by Lord Palmerston. If the discussion has not closed, it appears to us at least well nigh exhausted. It is to be eapposed that the majority, far from decreas ing will obtain fresh adherents, for amongst those who have opposed the bill figure several members whose opposition was mainly directed against minor details. The presence of Lord J. Russell amongst the adversaries of the bill will not be re marked without astonishment. And, assuredly, the objections he started are not of a nature to diminish that surprise. The noble lord does not wish to see the existing law modified, for the singular reason that increase of punishment is unable to prevent crimes. The consequences of this theory would be, as Lord Palmerston judiciously observed, the aboli , h meat of all penal systems. We regret that our want of space compels us to shorten the firm, lively, and sensible reply of Lord Palmerston, which summed up the debate in a clear manner. It was, doubtless, one of the best and most judicious speeches ever pronounced by him. This speech, far from compromising his popularity, as Lord J. Russell charitably suggested, will strengthen it. The warm applause of the house was a proof of this." The following telegraphic despatches have been received here : _ . " TRIESTE, Feb. 11.—Accounts have been re ceived from Constantinople to the 6th. Fuad Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will, it is said, represent Turkey in the conferences of Paris, Mr. Murray, the English Minister at Teheran, has re covered from his serious illness. Accounts from Athens announce that, in consequence of the indis position of the King, the fetes which were to have taken place at Nauplia were celebrated at Athens on the 6th, Their Majesties, on proceeding to the cathedral, were received with the loudest acclama tions." " DRESDEN, Feb. 12. —The Journal de Dresde publishes a telegraphic despatch which states that the Germanic Diet, yesterday, voted the proposi tion relative to Lauenbourg just as it was presented by the committee on the 14th ult." " BEILNE, Feb. 11.—Baron de Krudener, the Russian Minister in Switzerland, died yesterday evening ©f an attack of apoplexy." BOURSE, FEB. 12.—The following were the last quotations per Cents . 94 75 Do. end month 3 per Cent. ..... 69 65 Do. end month 69 96 Bank Shares 3025 Credit Mobilier 961 25 Do. Acoount 963 RAIL' Orleans Northern Credit Foncier -- Belgian 4,1 - Piedmontese (5) Roman BS4 Austrian Spanish Threes Homo Debt 37i New Ditto BO5 Midi Western 690 Strasburg Grand Central Ssrdinian Austrian Lyon and Mediteran. 872, New Ditto B4O Geneva BELGIUM. The third prosecution (the Froletaire) instituted against Brussels journals for " offending and in sulting" the Emperor of the French was called on yesterday before the Court of Assizes in that city. Mme. Baugnies, the printer, and M. Coulon, the responsible editor of the journal, appeared, in obe dience to the summons sent them. But they de manded an adjournment of the case, on the ground that they had appealed to the ourt of Cassa tion against the decision of the examining magistrates ordering them for trial. The public prosecutor said, that the appeal was based on the allegation that ' the prosecu tion had not been instituted on the formal com plaint of the French Government, as required by law, but that allegation, the learned gentleman affirmed, was erroneous, as the prosecution had cer tainly been instituted on the express application of the French ambassador. The appeal was only a pretext to gain time, and was a proof that the de fendants feared to meet the jury, because they knew that they bad incurred public reprobation. Nevertheless, as their appeal had been made within the period fixed by law, he thonght that the de mand for delay must be granted. After some ob servations from the counsel for the defendants, in the course of which he said that his clients did not fear public opinion, but wished for time to allow it to be formed, the Court ordered the case to be postponed. wom.MINSIC ITALt The Nord of Brussels publishes some extracts from a memorandum some time ago addressed by CJunt Cavour to the Court of Naples on the seizure of the Cagliari. In this document it is asserted, contrary to the Neapolitan statement, that the Cagliari was captured in the open sea, 30 miles from Salerno, and 12 from Sapri ; that, therefore, all the insurgents had already landed, and there were none left on board at the time, and that Captain Silzia, having resumed the command of his vessel, was at the time steering towards Naples in order to inform the Sardinian consul, and Nea politan authorities of what . had happened. Hence the Neapolitan frigate Tancredi had no right to seize the Cagliari in a neutral sea, and the Neapo litan Government has no right to detain it after the said seizure, and whatever the result of the trial at Salerno, Sardinia would insist on the resti tution of the vessel. HERZEGOVINA. A letter from Vienna of the 7th iu the Constitu tionnel says :—" The last accounts received from the Herzegovina represent the state of affairs in that province as k_Aing rather better than it was at the commencement of last month. Strong bodies of Turkish troops baying been concentrated at Mostar, the Pacha had been able to clear the roads and the country districts of the numerous armed bands which had been with impunity committingall kinds of acts of spoliation on the authorities and the inhabitants who were of a different creed from themselves. The arms and ammunition which had been promised to the insurgents could not reach them from the Danubian provinces, in consequence of the cordon of surveillance which the Pacha had established along tha frontiers." A telegraphic despatch of the 10th states that the last bulletin published re 4pecting the health of the King of Denmark is not satisfActory. His Majesty had passed a bad night, and been tor mented by a violent cough. The Carlsruhe Gazette states that the person ar rested some days ngo at Kehl, and who was sup posed to Le connected with the attempt of the 14th January, is a legitimist agent of 'auspicious antece dents. The Conspiracy Dill of Lord Palmerston seems likely to meet with determined resistance in Westminster. A public meeting is called for Monday evening next, at the Freemasons' Tavern, to which have been invited several influential gentlemen and all the members who voted against this attempt to legislate under foreign dictation. We hear of numerous meetings about to be held in various parts of the country to petition against the bill. TRIAL OF THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK DIRECTORS—(This Day). COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH—CITY. (Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury,) The long-expected trial of the Royal British Bank Directors, for conspiracy and fraud to cheat the de,iosi tors and others of the bank, commenced this morning at the Queen's Bench, Guildhall. The public excitement was not so great as might have been expected. The ex terior of the hall presented its usual appearance, and the admirable arrangements for keeping order and free in gress and egress to the Court were not called in requisi tion. The interior of the hall commenced filling in a slow and regular manner, and at the commencement of the proceedings was not above three-parts filled. The body of the hall has undergone considerable alteration to facilitate the trial and give increased accommodation to all concerned. The benches allotted to the bar have been put further back so as to admit of tables being placed in the open space in front of the judge for the attorneys in the case, andf the numerous voluminous documents and books required. Additional accommodation of an excellent character was also provided for the press in front of the bench under the Associate. The city authorities are deserving of the highest praise for the facilities they have rendered the representatives of the press for the discharge of their arduous duties. The defendants are charged with conspiracy and fraud. There are three indictments. The first embraces the names of H. Brown, Esdaile, M'Cleod, Alderman Ken nedy, 0 wen, Stapleton, and H. J. Cameron. The second the names of Stapelton, Esdaile, F. Vailliant, 11. D. M'Cleod, Kennedy, and Cameron. The third the names of Esdaile, Browne, L. M. Vailliant, M'Cleod, Ken nedy, Owen, and Cameron. The indictments contain several counts varying the indictment. A t 10 o'clock Lord Campbell took his scat accompanied with his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who took his seat on the immediate right of his lordship. Lord Campbell, before the special jury was called, expressed his earnest hope that whilst the trials were proceeding no comments would be made on them during their progress. It was not fair to the jury, who were secluded from the public during the trial, and it was very important their minds should not be prejudiced one way or the other against the defendants. It would be indecorous in the court to make such comment, and as he looked upoe the pressia an enlargement of the public tribunal, it was equally so for them to do so. After the trial was over, all her Majesty's subjects might freely comment on what had been said and done in this Court. The jury, which consisted of the following gentlemen, were then called and sworn : John Lowe, Foreman. William Dimsdale Jonathan Chapman. Thomas Paget. Henry William Ripley. William Nesbitt. Augustus Toulmin. Beaumont Hankey. Henry Augustus Bevan. James Benjamin Harman. William Medland. George Hamilton Penney. Mr. H. Browne etated the nature of the information against the defendants. Sir F. Thesigor then rose to state the case to the jury, and in doing so expressed his satisfaction at the delay that had taken place in the trials, which had enabled the public mind to cool down to a state proper for a deliberate inquiry. This was now no longer a singular case from what had since transpired, and they were now prepared to approach this inquiry with that calmness and attention which the importance and gravity of the case required, and with that impartiality which happily was the charac teristic of the administration of criminal justice in our courts of justice. The facts ho should lay before theta in reference to this case would be both various and volu minous, but they would tend to the point, that of a charge of conspiracy to deceive the public. The bank commenced operations on 17th Nov., 1849, continued till 3d Sept., 1856, when an application was made for winding up in bankruptcy, which was now going on. It was proposed to start the bank with a capital of 500,0001., with liberty to increase it to one million; and there was a remarkable passage in the prospectus, and afterwards embodied iu the charter, that the concerns of the bank should be wound up when it had lost one-fourth of its paid up capital. It was, however, found that a sufficient amount for starting the bank could not be raised, and the amount of capital was reduced to 250,0001., end afterwards 100,0001., but in neither case could they raise sufficient money on which to get the registratioo. The bank, however, became registered on false represen tation, and when the charter was granted, the title of Royal British Bank was unhappily conceded, which, no doubt, had rendered the bank more attractive and im posing to the public. Mr. Cameroa was to be appointed manager with a salary of 1,250/. for the first year, 1,500/. for the second, and 2,000/. for the third, till the succeed. ing seventh year. He was also to have an allowance for house rent, and a commission of the profits of the bank, In the course of the appeals to the public, the directors repeatedly issued prospectuses to the public, addressed particularly to the middle and humbler classes, in which they accounted for the delay in opening the bank from being unable to get the premises completed, reminding the public that "though these steps were slow they were sure," that " certainly was to be preferred to speed," and that " the oak was but an acorn." The pro moters a ere unable to raise the 50,0001. necessary to register the bank, and although they paid to the banker a promissory note from Cameron for 4,3001. for shares, &0., never purchased, there were 7,402/. deficient when they made the representation that the money was paid up. The registration was com pleted, a charter was obtained, and the bank was opened with great solemnity. The terms of the charter were so stringent that one would hardly have considered men would have deviated from the straight path of duty, and from protecting the interests of the shareholders. Be thought he should be able to prove that the transactions of the directors had been of a most imprudent and improper character—not, how ever, of a speculative but charges of impru dence and improper mismanagement, which had brought the bank into a state of helpless embarrassment, and insolvency of many of the shareholders, by various fraudulent and dishonest acts and representations of the directors—by deluding the customers and the public into a belief that the bank was in a sound, stable, and flourishing condition, when, in fact, it was not so, to the ruin of many of the contributors. He should endeavour to lay the case before them under three points : first, to the conditioa of the capital, and the state and condition the bank was brought into by the mismanagement and misconduct Of the defendants ; secondly, if they were aware of its condition at the time the representations were made ; and thirdly, whether with that knowledge they made false and frau dulent representations, and performed fraudulent act for the purpose of concealing the true state of things, and in that manner had brought themselves within the range of a charge of conspiracy. The honourable and ° learned gentleman then proceeded to, state the advances that had been made to the direc tion. Mr. Macgregor's advances, who is now dead, were all lost. Gwynne's advances amounted to 137,0001, all of which had been lost except 700/., the advance to Mr. Mullene, the solicitor, who had died insolvent, amounted to 10,C00/., which was all lost. Cockram's advance amounted to 10,3001., out of which only 3,0001. had been recovered. The advance to Cameron amounted to 36,000/., 33,0001. of which had been lost to the bank, of that amount promissory notes to the extent of 10,6001. had been given by him for shares in the bank to prevent them being forced on the market, and the credit of the bank depreciated. In Feb., 1855, Mr. Cameron was taken ill and had to leave the bank for some time, and in his absence Mr. Esdaile took the management. Cameron's am tints were then trans ferred to " the green ledger" under seven different heads amounting to 27,000/., for which he had not given the slightest security, but before leaving the bank he was pressed to give security, and he handed over to the bank a mortgage on his estate called Dingwall, in Scotland, worth 6,0001., but which was at the time mortgaged to the Bank of Scotland for 3,0001 ,audit was from that estate 3000/. had been recovered. He also assigned two debts, both of which had been decreed, and eleven life policies, three of which had lapsed, three bad been sold, three had been assigned over to his son-in-law, and too bad been pledged for the WI amount before he handed them over. The next case was that of Humphrey Brown, which was of a remarkable character. Brown became a director in February, 1853, qualifying himself by giving promissory metes for the amount t.f the required shares, which now remain due. He at the same time opened a cash account by depositing 18/. lle. Od.—(laughter)—on the same day borrowing of the bank, 2,0001., which within three months was increased to 9,000/., and for which he gave p no security, though he had promised to do so. Having, however, to renew two hills deposited with the tank, he gave a bill of sale on a vessel called Helen Lindsay, and afterwarsi , , oa a further advance of 5,000/., he deposited a bill of sale on the Magdalena. In tie February following he mortgaged to Mr. Walton, then governor of the bank, two vessels, the Hero, and another. 10,000/. was advanced by Walton on bills of Bruun, which were discounted by the bank ; and it appeared that Brown bought all his vessels out of advances fr , m the bank, and which he afterwards propdsel as ,ceurity for other advances. 15,000/. was afterwards advanced to him. He gave the security of five ships, know as " the Gloster ships," to tee bank in this way : two of them to Mr. Walton for his advances through discounts of the bank, amounting to 44,000/., and for which he had made himself liable ; and the other three ships were assigned to the bank, two of which ships it was afterwards discovered had been previously mort gaged to the Gloucester Bank for 10,000/. advanced to Brown, and he afterwards sold them. The advances made to Brown amounted in the whole to 75,000/., on which there had been a loss of 40,000/. There was also a regular transaction in reference to the Islington Cattle Market to the extent of 8,600/., the only solvent person in the concern being a Mr. Harrison, who left the country and went to Boulogne, and befog aex4tue to proceed against him, they indorsed the notes ov,r to Friend's attorney at Boulogne, and the result was that he was enabled to recover the amount from Harrison, and the agent became liable to the Com pany to the extent of about 11,0001., both of which stuns had been lost to the Bank. There were trans actions also with Mr. Oliver, of Liverpool, and when that person was paying only 2s. 6d, in the pound, his debt was included on the balance sheet amongst the assets of the bank. In a transactien with a person named Tart, out of 39,000/. ad• vanced, 23,0001. were lost. But the matter which pressed most heavily on the bank was the trans- rAYS. action with reference to iron and coal mines in the north and in Glamorganshire, on the latter of which they advanced 48,0001. out of the 50,0001. paid up capital, and the losses in connection with these works amounted to 120,000/. In the balance-sheet of 1855 the director stated that out of 26,5011. bills discounted the doubtful bills amounted to 6,3721., whilst out of bills amounting to 112,847/. only 18,9741. were good, showing an actual deficit of 93,5401. The learned pntleman then referred to dividends, which in some cases amounted to 6 per teat., the consequence of which was that they could not have been paid out of profits. The question therefore was, were these circumstances known to the directors ? He thought he should have no difficulty in proving it, because he should be able to show that the affairs of the bank were divided under certain heads, and placed under the direction of different directors as members of the various committees. The learned gentleman then pro• ceeded to enter into the details by which he should establish his case, reading from documents and letters to show the knowledge of the directors of the separate acts charged to them, and the time they joined the bank, which will be better understood from the evidence. The all-important and most painful part of the inquiry re lated to the conduct of what he was compelled to call false misrepresentations which were made from time to time by all the directors who were defendants ou this record with respect to the actual state of the bank, and representing that instead of being helplessly insolvent it was in a flourishing condition, and who had been guilty of resorting to the deceptive means to entrap the public into connection with the bank, which theiz fidelity to society and their honest integrity to other■ should ha►e not led them to do. The bank never was in a solvent state, and was started with a ridi culously small capital for the amount of business aimed at. No profits bad ever been made, and what dividends had been paid must have been paid out of capital. In June, 1851, the bank was in that state, yet a supplemental charter was obtained for the raising of 200,0001. by new shares, when circulars were issued inviting the public to become shareholders, the object of which was to supply the vital capital, without which its existence would be at an end. As it was undesirable sbare• should go into the market, it was arranged that as the directors could not deal with them, Cameron and Hempson, solicitors to the bank should purchase or intercept them, the directors making ' advances from the bank to enable them to do so as required. The shares were not taken up, notwithstand ing their vaunting and flourishing them forth to the public by the circular they issued, and they wereobliged to have recourse to their issue on several occasions. In these circulars they stated the bank had not been less successful than much older banks, if re comparison were made of corresponding periods of their existence. Several persons were at last attracted by the statements put forth in their circulars, and went to the bank respecting them. One of them, Mr. Marcus, a respectable tradesman, went to Tokenbouse-yard, where the bank was then carried on, and saw Mr. Esdaile, the deputy-governor, and on his asking him how it was they proposed to issue shares at par when the bank was so flourishing, and asked to be in formed about the state of the bank. Mr. Esdai:e handed to him the balance-sheet of the previous half-year, in which it appeared there was a reserved fund of 12,5001., which the new shareholde -- s were to anticipate at 5 premium. He said that the number of shareholder■ were limited, but that they wanted to increase the busi ness of the bank, which was in a most flourishing con dition, notwithstanding the prestige of the London and Westminster Bauk, which he said it fairly rivalled, and he advised Mr. Marcus to lose no time in getting shares from the number of applicati•ins that were being made, or he would be disappointed. Mr. Marcus then became the purchase of 20 shares, and he had in consequence been ruined. Mr. Alderman Kennedy was present at the interview. Alderman Kennedy called on a friend of his named Nichol', and in February or March, 1855, anl asked him to take shares to qualify for a director, to which he replied that before doing so he should like to examine the accounts, but he was told he could not do that unless he became a share holder. Alderman Kennedy presented Mr. Nichol' with one of the circulars, and that gentleman was induced to become a shareholder, [ro be continued in our last edition.] LAW INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.) VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT. 'Bzfore Vice-Chancellor Sir William Page Wood, and Mr. Baron Bramwell.) MONEYPENNY V. DERING. This cause was fully heard before Vice-Chancellor Sir William Page Wood, and Mr. Baron Bramwell, and Mr. Baron Watson last term, and stood over for judg ment. The point in contention was, whether the plaintiff had contracted a legal obligation to burden bis estates generally, and in particular his estates in the county of Sent in favour of the defendant. Mr. Baron Bramwell delivered, in writing, the joist opinions of himself and Mr. Baron Watson, this morn ing, to the effect that in point of law the plaintiff had not contracted a legal obligation to burden his real estates either in general or particular. (Cumminieg Digest, p. 4, Devises.) The Vice-Chancellor, Sir W. Page Wood, was of the same opinion in equity. The case will afterwards be disposed of in accordance with the opinions delivered. TIM WEATHER IN THE EAST. A letter from Constantinople of the 3d, in the Gazette du Midi, gi ves th e f ol l owing account of the severe state of the weather at that place : "It is alm os t i mposs ibl e for me to give you an idea of the extremities to which this city is reduced by the snow, which night and day has been falling in such abundance that it lies in the streets to the depth of upwards of six feet. In the outskirts of the city, in parts little frequented, it is still deeper, and in the country there is no lcnger any trace of a road, and the ravines which are $0 numerous in the neighbourhood of Constantinople, are all filled up to a level with the roads. Th e cold is most intense, and men, horses, and whole flocks of sheep have perished. All the horpitale in the city aro filled with poor people who have had their feet frostbitten. Certain parts of the heights of Pera have been for some days corn' pletely unapproachable. The Sultan one dal left his palace to proceed to Yeni-lieuchk, below' Tcheragan, but the Imperial carriage could not proceed far on the road, and was compelled t° return. The port of Constantinople has been frozen over for the last f our or f i ve days, with the exceP: tiou of a very narrow channel in the centre. number of wild fowl congregated together in this stream, and afforded some amusement to sports' men. One m an i n hi s eagerness to get h o ld o f a wild duck w hi c h h e h ad killed went on sei ne ice which was rather weak, and, falling through, was drowned. To add to these horrors, wolves have come down from the mountains, an d have approached the gates of the city. So daring have these animals become from hunger that, in front of a cafe near the artillery barracks at Pell a horse w as a tt ac k e d an d devoured by a pack ° them. At Scotari a poor woman was killed others at only a short distance from a guardhous e, and in the country parts the most dreadful ravages have been committed. The blocking up f of the roads has p reven t e d t h e usual suppl y °f fuel from reachin g th e cap it a l , and the pr i ce of charcoal has risen to one franc a pound. Ouan•Cahan, a boat laden with this article, which was moored off the quay, was so besieged 1 0 ' 4 customers that two pers o ns f e ll i n t o the vat, and were drowned. A more th an or di nar y ctua".., tity of snow has also fallen this year in Asia Min e d At Messina it continued heavily for 32 hours; 3 completely buried the Greek convent o f Alaka .1)3 was with the greatest difficulty that a passage coo l be cut in order to release the mon k s f ro m their . perilous position. The operations for releasil 6 them were directed by a Turkish officer of engioe'..: who had been sent on a mi ss i on t o M ess ina to OM a plan of the town, which is about to be rebuilt and fortified on a new system." 7.118 GREAT SEA SERPENT HOAX. Mr. Frederick Smith, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, gift° the following account of the great sea serpent :—On the 4th instant, Captain Harrington, of the ship Castilian , stated his belief that be had seen the great sea serpes it near St. Helena. His confidence is strengthened fr° 6l ~ the fact of something simila r h av i ng b een seen by her Majesty's ship Dx lulus n ear th e same position. following circum s t ance , w hi c h occurred on board t he ship Pekin, then belonging to Messrs. T. and • Smith, on her passage from Moulmein, may be of PI service respecting thi s " queer fi s h." O n D ecem ber 2 8th ' 1848, being then in l a t. 26 S., l ong. 6 E , near ly ere 1 ; ship having only ste er a ge wa y, saw a b ou t balf-s -mthie on port beam a very extraordinary-looking thing i° 1 , 0 water of considerable length. With the telescope e a could plainly discern a huge h ea d an d nec k, covf i t with a long shaggy-looking kind of mane, whi ch 3 ; 0 kept lifting at interval s ou t o f th e wa t e r- T at was sewn by all hands and declared to be the g r o sea serpent. I d e t erm i ne d on k now i ng son: l9 °a g about it, and accordingly lowered a boat, in vibi eb bog chief officer and four men went, taking with theca small line in case it should be required. I v at them very a ! zi ous ly, an d t h e mons t er seeree", lo oo to regard their approach. At length they got b uo y to the head, They seined to hesitate, and the°,, ac it , themselves w ith th e li ne , th e mons t er a ll th e time o tly ing its head, and showing its great length. Pr °3e s tor the boat began pulling towards the ship, the nv got following slowly. In about half-an-hour they alongside ; a tackle was got o n the mei° :,, AO and it was hoisted on board. It appeared san l , w ith supple when hanging, but so completely covere,u st f ie snaky-looking barnacles about 13 inches long, t i . ; be had it some time on board before it was discovereln`choll a piece of gigantic seaweed, 20 feet long and 4the diameter, the root end of which appeared whe n 1 jou water like the head of the animal, and tho motiel 2 dy • it by the sea caused it to seem alive. In a few 4 0 0. dried up to a hollow tube, and as it had a rath er sive smell, it was thrown overboard. the I had only beau a short time in England w i l t oe o Do talus arrived and reported having seen the gr ° on cee serpent—to the best of my recollection near th e t o locality, and which I have no doubt was a pie" is ar same weed. So like a h uge li v i ng mons ter did ti- c i i " pear, that had cirourast ancf n prevented my thei -- se boat to it I should certai n ly L ave b e liev e d I had great sea snake,