The Sun. — London, England, 1860-12-24 00:00:00

t HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Lessee, 11r. E. T. SMITH. NOTIC E.—The L es see respectfully informs the Nobility , PatronsFOR,THE FIRST and Supporters TIME," he ef this eleg ill t ll attempt a G Theatre, thatr and, " Pantomime. The greatest care has been taken to produce and make it suitable to the taste of children. Every objec tionable matter has been omitted in the Harlequinade, which has always been considered too long and tedious, and the Lessee has studied the tastes of the junior branches of society, for whom, at this season of the year, this par ticular e ntertainment is produced. There tyill be Morning Performances of the Pantemime on Saturdszys, December 29, January 5 and 12, at Two o'clock prec.lsely. On Wedne.lday, Boxing-day, December 26th, 1860, and *Yeti evening L iuring the week, an original Opera, entitled, QUEEN TOPAZE. Raphael (a Captain' ) rich Barbiano ~"Itich -Vene • .... tian) 1 Mr. PATEY. FrancatripPa , (Gipsies) • • • • • • t Mr. TERROTT. Fritellino _ _ Mr. BARTLEMAN. Gritti Zeno (Mr. BEALE. N Mr. ST. ALBYN. Loredano (Young Venetian Manfred Nobles) Vr. BAKER. THOMPSON. Bembo Topaze (a Gipsy) Countess Flioniela ALESSANDRI. Hostess of an Inn Mi ss _HEMMING. Nobles, Ladies, Male and Female. Gipsies. The scene is laid at Venice, 1," 2 ,. Aft e r which (the first ever represented a t ner Majesty's Theatre) will be produced, an entirely New and Original Grand Musical, Magical, and Comical Burl,lsque Ballet Pantomime, founded on one of the most popular ' of our Old National Stories, and entitled HARLEQUIN AND TOM THUMB ; OR, MERLIN THE MAGICIAN AND THE G O ,9D FAIRIES OF THE COURT OF KING ARTH Uit “ The Scenery, entirely new, under the superintendence Mr, WILLIAM BEVERLEY. Artists, Mr. CHARLES BREW, Mr. SANDERS, &c., &c., &c. The Overture, Choruses, and the whole of the Music composed by J. H. TULLY. The Libretto by Mr. E. L. BLANCHARD, and the whole produced under the direction of Mr. ROBERT ROBBY, assisted by Mr. R. PHILLIPS. The Panto mimic Physiognomy and Desi g ns forthe Dresses by DYK WYNKYN. The Machinery by Mr. Tucker. The Tricks and Properties by Mr. NEEDHAM, Mr. GLINDON, and Mr. H. ADAMS. The Costumes by Miss DICKINSON and Mons. LAURI. The Harlequin ade by the LAURI FAMILY. INTERIPR OF GAFFER THUMB'S COTT KGB. Gaffer Thumb. Mr. Forster. Goody 'Thumb. Mrs. Linden. Merlin (the Wizard of the Early Ages, and Professor of Parlour Magic) Mr Dixon. I-locus POCliff, Popalorum, Shixtum Stixtum, Cockalorum Jig (his Four Familiars) Masters Quick, Pass, Fly, a nd Begone. Tom Thumb (" The abridgement of all that is pleasing in man." Engaged especially for Juvenile Patrons) LILIA ROSS. Schoolboys.. Masters Hop, Skip, Jump, Trap, Bat, Ball, Chevy, &c., ' &c. " The famotts magician Merlin, being once in a dark forest, when he wanted food and rest called at a poor ma n ' s co ttage. The Go od Dame grieved, and shed many tears, because she was MO lonely all day long, as she and her husband wanted a little child to keep them company. My husband,' quoth she, would be happy if he had but a child no bigger than his thumb, and so—."—Legend of Thomas Thumb. RosEWATER LAKE OF THE AND ROMI RANTIC HAUNT FES. R osa lie (Queen of the Fairies) Miss Mason. Frangipani, Musk, Petcheuli, Verbena, Heliotrope, Ron doletta, Violet, Moss Rose, Sweetbriar, Eglantine, Car nation, Bergamont Jasmin, Myrtle, Lavender, Eau de Cologne, &c., &c. Attendants, Toilet Fairies Mdlles. " And he danced with the young Fairies, whose eyes were like diamonds and whose hair was like silver thread, and \ vhose skin wag white and smooth like ivory, and they gave him wine made of the sweet smelling wild flowers."— The Leemd. GAFFER THUMB'S COTTAGE. Tom the Tinker Mr. Solderwell. " Once he got into a playfellow's bag of cherry stones, and was shaken din-lost to death for his tricks ; and another time he fell into a large batter pudding, and the pudding wa s put to boil, but he ,kicked about in it so violently that his mother thought some evil spirit was in the pot, so she gave it to the Tinker , when—."—The Legend. FARM YARD AND DISTANT COUNTRY. "Another time his mother 6;3 , 1 him to a thistle, whilst she milked the,Cow, and the Cow did eat the thistle, but he kicked about so in the Cow's throat that he was soon up again in his mother's apron ; when a great Crow The Legend. TURRETS AND TERRACE OF GIANT'S CASTLE. Hurlothrumbo (the Giant) ....... Mr. Feefawfolum. " The Crow dropped him on the top of the Giant's Castle, when the Giant swallowed him, but he was soon glad to give him up. and he fell into the sea where —"—The Legend. BANQUETING lIA,LL IN THE PALACE OF KING ARTIIUR. King Arthur ("Ile was a goodly King." Minstrel of the Period) ...., Mr E. St. Albyn. His Cook His Scullion Huncafnunca (his Daughter) —.Miss Highbury Barnes. His Knights of the Round Table by distinguised repre sentatives of the days of ancient chivalry, and laustrat ing a Long Knight, a Short Knight, a Green Knight, a Dark Knight, a Wet Knight, a Baron Knight, a Box ing Knight, &cc., &c. The Discovery! The Recovery ! And the Catastrophe! " My name is Tom Thumb, from the fairies I come. Vi hen King Arthur shone, this Court was my own. In me he delighted ; by him I was knighted ; Did you never hear of Sir Thomas Thumb I*" Metrical Legend. Changing to THE CHAMELEON TEMPLE OF THE FAIRIES. GRAND MAGICAL METAMORPHOSIS. Harlequin, )Jr. J. Lauri. Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. Clown, Mr, C. Lauri. Pantaloon, Mr. H. Lauri. Sprites by the celebrated Arabs. NoncE.—During the Pantomime the doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven o'clock. T HEATRE ROYAL, DRURY - LANE. Lessee, Mr. F. T. SMITH. NOTICE.—The Lessee has much pleasure in announcing his Ninth Pantomime at this national establishment. Every care has been bestowed on it to make it suitable to the taste of his patrons who have honoured the theatre with their presence, and have pronounced the Pantomimes under his management superior to any 'produced. Great objections have been made as to the length of the comic scenes in pantomime. This has also undergone the necessary prun ing, and the pantomime will be so arranged as to leave off at Half-past Eleven, that the audience may avail themselves of the late Trains. The Lessee, having selected Wednes day morning for eight years for his morning performance, begs to inform his friends the Pantomime will commence every Wednesday at two o'clock. Re-engagement of Mr. and Mrs. CHARLES MATHEWS. On WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 1860, and during the week, her Majesty's servants will perform a now Comedy, in two acts, entitled THE ADVENTURES OF A BILLET-DOUX. - -- Principal Characters b y Mr. Charles Mathews, 11Ir. Tilbury, Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss E. Arden, Miss H. Howard, &c. After which the new Grand Comic Christmas Annual, which, for a considerable time having engrossed the atten tion of every department, will be produced on a scale of unprecedented magnitude and magnificence, under the title of PETER WILKINS ; or, HARLEQUIN and the FLY ING WOMEN of the LOADSTONE ISLAND. Founded on the most remarkable and beautiful romance in the English language, written early in the last century, and recording the " Life and Adventures of Peter Wil kins," a Cornish man, relating particularly his shipwreck near the South Pole, his wonderful passage through a sub terraneous cavern into a kind of new world, his there meet ing with a. Gaurey, or Flying Woman, whose life he pre serves, and whom he afterwards married, and his extra ordinary conveyance to the country of Glumms and Gauries or Men and IVOmen. that Fly. The new and splendid scenery by Mr. WILLIAM BEVERLEY (to whom is due the merit of originating and bringing to perfection the present state of grand scenic effects now adopted at this sea son of the year by every theatre in the kingdom), assisted by Messrs. H. CRAVEN, C. PITT, GOMPERTZ BREW, &c., &c. The Overture and Music composed and arranged by Mr. J. H. TULLY. The Grotesque Burlesque Opening invented and written by E. I. BLAN CHARD, author of the great Drury lane Pantomimes for the last eight years. The whole- arranged and produced under the superindence of Mr. ROBERT ROXBY. The Masks, personal Appointments, and designs for the Costumes, from the best authorities, by DYKWYNKYN. 'roe Machinery by Mr. F. TUCKER and Assistants. The Tricks, Properties, Changes, and Transformations by 1 4r.- NEEDHAM, assisted by Messrs. H. LANGAN, P ALMER 11. ADAMS. &c. The CostumeS by Mr. A and Miss DICKENSON. The Gas Appoint ments HINCKLEY. The Dances and Chore graphicn(3ll` Arrangements by Mr. CORMACK. The Comic ke. Scenes by Messrs. HULINE, CORINIACK, R. POWER. Programme of the Incidents and Scenery : A TIN MINE IN CORNWALL. Black Ralp h (eaPtain of the Mr. Glindon. Peter Wilkins (a Miner) Mr. W. Templeton. The Earl P olwholfol tolderydd e l Fit z Arthur . Trevanion Constantia (his Daw-Thter} ... Mr. R. Power. Y know the Cornish Men." and Pen, y e •••• • • . . Miss Conway. " By Tre, Po t, Miners ...... Messrs. Tr,,ern.or troop, r myt Trem eeirnicendus, Politticks, Pol k, Poldig, Pendeve, pencutaY, &c., s te. Feldsvur (Chief of the Kobolds or goblins of the Aline) Mr. , parsby. Little Kobolds or Goblins of the Mine. Ti s lip, Tap, - 6 - 4 13, T a tp e , Nip, Flip, How Peter is struck by the bard hands of r, —lack R alai and the soft% eyes of the fair Constantin, and being driven to extremities, he takes a medium knocking Spirits c r r s 5 ea and r gets a true communication per rap s from t,e knocki n Spirits of the Mine—The Divining Rod—tile Magiera Mysteries of tine Crystal, and the change to ELFIN LAND IN THE'CRYSTAL SPHERE Nymphidia (Queen of the Elves—with an original Song , composed by Mr. J . , H. Tully, "Starlight, Starlight") Miss 11. Howard, ;Mlles. Attendant Elves GRAND BALLET FANTASTIC/UR How Peter, having become invisible, finds, though out of sight, he is not out of mind, and how the Elfin warning is? receives causes him to change his situation. TREVANION CASTLE, ON THE CORNISH COAST, NEAR THE LAND'S END. Cornish Milk Girl Miss Pollychalk. Baker's Boy Master Treble. Maid Servant Miss Allwork. Cornish Fisherman Mr. Pennylot. Jeat nes (the Head Footman), , Mr. Redplush. Black Page Master Bob Ridley, Domestics of the Castle, Messrs Fag, Brag, Lag, Gag, Tag, Rag, and Bobtail. Cornish 'Wreckers, Messrs. Smash, Crash, Dash, Flash, Splash, Breakup, and Goaway. J ack - Robinson (firs t male of theAd venturer) Mr. T.Mat thews Giles Grogrum (the Pilot) Second Mate.. Mr. Rigout. 1 19 W Peter runs away and goes to 'ea, aid how the , - wreckers, having missed a prize, receive a quid-pro-quo from Jack Robinson. QUARTER DECK OF THE ADVENTURER. THE LOADSTONE ROCK. By NIGHT. FLIGHT OF THE FLYING IS LANDERS TO THEIR AERIAL HOME. Great Gathering of the Winged Women at the Trysting Place by the SPREADING BANYAN TREE. Descent of the Glumms and Gauries borne through the air on their beautiful wings, and BRILLIANT TRANSFORMATION. Harlequins—Mr. Cormack and Mr. St, Maine. Columbines—The Misses Gunniss. Pantaloons'—Mr. Naylor and Mr. E. R. Martin. Clowns—Mr. Huline and Mr. R. Power, and a little one in by Young Huline. Sprites—By the. celebrated Lavater Lee Family. Scene I—EXTERIOR OF A GREENGROCER'S, A PRINTING OFFICE, AND A PUBLIC TAVERN. Cormack, Huline, Naylor, E. Gunniss, and Lavater Lee and Sons. Cheap Publications—Plum Pudding and Pantomime for ever I—New Edition of Oliver Twist—The Ink-era-Taz —A Prima-facia Case—A new Sheet, just printed—The Head of a Staff well Chased—Clown kicked out of Office — Who's your Hatter —Heavy Swell (of Indignation) — Clown enters into the Hop Trade, and of course does his Duty—Dance, Mr. Huline and his Son, in their Pas de Polichinello, on Stilts —Harlequin well up in the Print ing Business—a Rise in Spirits—Change for the Better — Duty off Wines—Light Wines—The Spirit of Fashion — and as it is the Fashion (Pantomimic) to finish the Scene with Spirit, a Rally will really take place and place before you Scene 2.—A NURSERY GROUND AND SCHOOL. St. Maine, R. Power, Martin, Miss Gunniss, and Lavater Lee and Sons. Hop, step, and a jump — What are y ou at?- out for an Airing—Bell ringing extraordinary—Clever at School, but you can't lodge here—Beware of Steel Traps andA change in Mile-stones and a fall of Finger posts—A miss as good as a mile—Fine Shooting, in perspective —The New Treaty —French Fruits—Pas des Dames des Halle, with Chinese .ecompaniment, by the Ladies of the Corps de Ballet— T.me Blue for ever I—Rather a rise in the School, and a floo ver for Clown. • Scene 3. FAR OUSE USE AND SPORTING Naylo a r, E. Gunniss, and Lavater Lee CO Cormack,i and Sons. Harvest Dance by the Ladies of the Corps de c. Harvecit Home is a glorious day, so jolly let us be 1" Old and a . _, ) ,haracteristie Pas de Deux by Mr. Cormack Old English' Ballet, and Miss E. G na.'niss — A farmer's life for me I—Clown and Pantaloon in NvaLlt of employment—Not allowed to be drunk on the p i :enlises —Crinoline to its right use—Dog cart early laden with heavy swells—No end of pointers—A fall in game and a .rise in turnips—The right man in the right place. Scene 4. EARL Y MORNING AND EARLY LOSING. St. Maine, Power, bte2rtTn, Miss Gunniss, Lavater Lee, Ara SOILS. An Early Breakfast—i{avt% your boots cleaned ?—Early love—Why don't you pay the m , an?—Clown's true polish —Beware of the Police—Alas 1 poor Bobby—The true Young Englands—The present fast:lon—Clown v. Wright —Harlequin's cab, or wheels withi n wheels—My noble commander—A few Sandwiches, and Sm!th's advertising b oa rd—Flunkeyism the present fashion—O4'2 I what a Guy—A new mode of dog stealing—A sight at the moon— A heavy cannon, with a heavy " troupe" of Volikuteera—A slap at the bull's eye—John Bull and his /wife- .Always reward true merit. Scene—MlSTY VIEW. Characters in the dark, but oft a cloudy and rainy melt' ing brings forth " A bright and sunny day." REDUCED PRICES AS USUAL. Doors open at half-past 6. Commence at 7 o'olock. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. IMPORTANT NOTICE. The Management find it necessary to announce to their Patrons that It will be impossible for a few nights at Christ mas to perform Balfe's eminently successful Opera with the Grand Pantomime. The time in representation and scenic preparation required for a Harlequinade of such magnitude, renders this temporary suspension of the brilliant Opera im perative. Boxes and places will continue to be booked daily at the Box-office for its reproduction at an early date. On BOXING NIGHT', Dec. 26, and during the week. Commence at Seven. Order carriages at half-past 11. On WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, Mr. W. I] arrison's popular Operetta, THE MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. H. Corrl. After which, with entirely new Scenery, Machinery, Dresses, and Decorations, a Grand Christmas Pantomine, BLUE BEARD; or, Harlequin and Freedom in her Island Home. Written by J. V. Bridgman, Esq. ; pro duced by Mr. Edward Stirling embracing the chief panto mime talent of the day. A perfect galaxy of ( Mr. Barry Boleno, Mr. Henry Payne, Hr. Clowns Hildvard, and the Lilliputians. Harlequins ..... Mr. Milano, Mr. F. Payne. Pantaloons .Mr. Barnes, Mr. Tanner. Columbines ....Mme,Bolena, Miss Clara Morgan. Sprites.......... The Zelinski . Family. 26 Ladies, Mr. W. IL Payne, Mdlle. Lamou- Ballet reux, Mdme. fierron, and Mons.Vandris. Gorgeous scenery, from the pencils of T. Grieve and Telbin, illustrating the moving events of the year ; decorations, by Blamire, on a sca - e of magnitude and expenditure without parallel ; fairy costumes, by Miss James and Mr. Coombes ; Eastern splendour, Processions, marches, dancing, fun, and frolic, united to magical transformations by Sloman, pro ducing a combination of the grotesque and beautiful, recalling the golden days of pantomime for which Covent Garden stood alone and unapproached. Morning Performances every Wednesday and Saturday, commencing Saturday, Dec. 29, at nvo o'clock. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. Stage Manager, Mr. Ed. Stirling. Acting Manager, Mr. Edward Murray. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Managenvnt of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. On Wednesday, Dee. 26, MARRIAGE OF GEORGETTE : Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. - 13, Corrie. To conclude with the Grand Christmas Pantomime, BLUE BEARD ; or, Harle quin and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleno, H. Payne. Hildyard, and Lilliputians. Harlequins, Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. PantaYoons, Messrs. Barnes and Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Bolen() And Clara Morgan. Sprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle. Lamoureux, &c. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. T HEA TRE-ROYAL, HAYMAUKYT, Lemee, Mr. J. B. Bankstone. On WEDNESDAY (Boxing Night) SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Tony bumpkin, Mr. Buckstone ; Young Mar low, Mr. Howe ; Miss Hardcastle, Miss Fanny Stirling (her first appearance here). After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND TIER CHILDREN. The Pantomimiets by the un rivalled Lcclercqs, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. ROYAL PR TNCES S'S THEATRE. T,essee and Manat;er, Mr. A. Farris. 0 t. `'On BOXING NIGHT, Dec. 21i, ERNESTINE. Messrs. J. G. Shore. R. Cathcart, Basil Potter ; Mesdames Heath, Car lotta Leclercq, Weston, and Murray. After which. a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE ; or, Harlequin Friday, and the Kim of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal cantinental theatres, will appear. Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. • DELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Engagement for a limited number of nights of Miss Agnes • Robertson and Mr. Dion Roucicault, who will appear every evening in the highly successful Drama of "The Colleen Hawn." THIS EVENING, AN UGLY (USTOMER. Messrs..T. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss K Thorne. Atter which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Roucicault, D. Fisher, Ilillington, Falconer, Stephenson, C. J Smith, Romer. 'hiss Aznes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. After which, THAT BLESSED BABY. Mr. Billington, Slr. J. L 'Poole, and Miss K. Kelly. Doors open at hall-past 6—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for bookin , "*. Private boxes, £2 25.; Family Boxes, £l. )rchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 45.; Front Circle Stalls, Ss. • Pit Stalls, •2s • Pit, is. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d: Acting Manager—Mr. Win. Smith . ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Wm. BATTY. This Evening, a new Spectacle, entitled TTTE LION CONQUEROR ; or, The Death Jungle, expressly for the introduction of the Wonders of the World, " The Groupe of Performing Lions." The Lion Conqueror, Mr. J. Crockett. To be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and Bri`ish Artistes. Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Goad Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE; or, Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery. by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing in the comie scenes Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley, and Brandon Ledger. Harlequin Mr. Sylvester. Columbine Miss Hariet Dalton. Pantaloon Mr. G. Perks. Clown Sprites—Messrs. Thorne, Lockhart, and Sons. Doors open at halt-past ti. performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from II till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. CANTERBURY HALL. Open Every Eveninv, at Seven. GRAND SELECTION ,4 (First Time) from LA FTGITA DEL REGTMENTO (Donizetti), NORMA, SONNAMBULA, and MARTHA. Principal Artistes Miss RUSSELL, Madame MARIA, Miss TYRRELL, Miss WILLIAMS, Mr. HENRY HERBERT, C. W. BERNARD, and Signor TIVOLI Musical Director Mr. F. JormitmAxs. The Comic Department compriFes Messrs. J. BLA Nen ARD, A. B. HOLLINGSWORTH, Master BARRY, G. W. PELL, CHARLEY Fox, and E. MARSHALL. The Fine Arts Gallery has been enriched by the addition of the late John Martin's three Grind Pictnres—viz., " THE GREAT DAY of HIS "THE PLAINS of HEAVEN," and "THE LAST JUDGMENT," on view until 12 o'clock at Night. The telegram from Suez, in advance of the China Mail, was not received at a late hour on Saturday night, although it is daily expected. The mail itself cannot arrive (via l Ma rseilles) v lilGn AY ROBBERY.—A daring highway rob bery, accompanied with considerable violence, took place Melton, mornng, in broad dayli g ht, i n th e v ill age o f on Saturday i Thomas Davi s , of near Portsmouth. th Royallt appears that Pay sergeant Marine Artillery, was pro ceeding from his house Kingston to Fort Cumberland, the head-quarters of the corp s , ( possession amounting to zi o o ri r ; the men, and had reached thells. with a sum of money in his when he in Melton at Wee received a violent blow , for the purpose of paying another on the right eeseedntsible. On par about half-past 7 o'clock, some under the left ear from afilacunewedsosituhlait their ra p en ar in tia t l h ly e turning round, immediately recegrivneandpnau: , and on temple, which felled him to the consciousness he discov tially regaining act of rifling his pockets, who no sooner victim gave signs of:reanimation than they off with their plunder. The men wore slouched hatYs made with soldiers' grey coats thrown over their shoulders. A. clue is in the hands of the p olice, which it is full y belie ved will lead t i p the detection and capture of the thieves, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1869, THE WEATHER... -SUN OFFICE, Mac. 23, 1860. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADS, 33--highest since noon yesterday. 23—lowest this morning and during the night. 28—this day at noon. BAROMETER- 2b .63. WIND --Westerly to South--. :ry light ; with line sharp frosty weather, the hardest we have had yet. DEC. 24. THERMOMETER, IN THE SEADR. 29—highest since noon yesterday. 24—lowest this morning and during the night. 27—this day at noon. BAROmazEn-29.45—n0w up to 29.48. WlND—WesteTly, inclining to South —light ; with con tinuous frosty weather, but fine. HIGH WATr*R AT LONDON BRIDGE. Cale DAY. —Morning, 10h. 51m.—Afternoon. 11h. 23m. To-monnow.-Morning, 12h. —m.—Afternoon, --h. —m. THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 24, 1860. Another Austrian Reform Bill Not the last, however, we expect. There have been several already which might ll date from Solferino. There was first the Patent for the Hungarian Protestants in September of the same year; then the Reichsrath, and the Hungarian scheme such as it was; then the plans for all the other States ; but all would not avail. Hungary would hear of nothing but histori cal rights, and the most faithful old provinces kicked at the shabby constitutions offered them. At last, therefore, another move was made. Baron VON SCHMERLING, who was a good Liberal in 1848, and who has not been a very bad one for Austria ever since, was made Minister of the Interior in the place of the memorable Count GOLUCHOWSKI ; and, as was understood at the time, with the concession to him of such liberal demands as it was hardly expected the EMPEROR could have digested. What the chief of these are Mr. REUTER now tells us. Our information is from a circular addressed by the Baron to the Governors of provinces, apprising them of his intended policy. Referring to the ' Imperial manifesto of October, the value of which, d O ßbtless, depended far more on the spirit with w hi e lh it was worked than on the letter of the docu• ment, he declares that it is " the mission of Minis ters of State to carry out fully and effectually the resolutions szud intentions of the EMPEROR as therein expressed. And since Austrian charters ys meant to admit of the of every kind are o.lwa narrowest or most ;latitudinarian construction according to circumstances, we may hope that the EMPEROR is convinced that he must adopt the most liberal interpretation of his own document. If we are to interpret Baron SCIIMERLING'S own circular, as liberally as he proposes to construe his master's character, with two great exceptions, the promise to the ear is almost marvellous. Religious worship, education, the nationality question, the press, municipal administration, the administration of police, the provincial statutes, the Council of the Empire, are all adverted to, and past concessions retouched in the liberal sense. Freedom of reli gious worship is spoken of in singularly circumlo cutory phraseology—civil and political rights, it is said, shall in that respect be preserved against encroachment. A sentence which in England must express the common creed of our country, that no man should be damaged in his civil and political relations by his religious views ; but which in Austria might mean that such civil and political rights as the different religions confessions already enjoyed, should not be interfered with. We will hope, in such a circular, that the former is the real meaning, since with characteristic German senti mentality we are told that the different confessions are to be placed on an " equitable footing"—and more than that, on the footing of" real love for our neighbours." Happy sects ! Baron SCHMERLING might do us some*good here too. Education is of course to be promoted in every way ; but what means the clause that " the free develops: ent of nationalities is to be accorded ?" It can be, from the clause relating to the Reichsrath, but a federal development ; it is not intended that the union of the provinces should be merely per sonal under the Crown of Austria. The Press is promised the removal of " every preventive inter ference." For some little time the Vienna papers, even under the former Minister, have been writing with unwonted freedom on public matters; we may hope, therefore, that even more freedom is intended than French editors yet enjoy. Agricul ture, commerce, and industry, Von SCHMERLING seems to think, like all Continentals, it is in his power to develope ; he means to work in the paths already pursued, which are in great part the paths of protection, not unmixed, however, with some liberality in the Customs' tariff. We fear the Baron will also need Mr. COBDEN for a guest, before he comprehends the gain of commercial liberty. The independence of the Communes, we in England hardly understand ; our municipalities are all so perfectly independent that we think of them in no other form. Pro bably the heads of the Communes have been hitherto nominated by the Crown. The admi nistration of justice is to be separated from the Government administration, and trials are to be public, and oral forms of proceeding introduced. But here we find one of the great omissions adverted to—there is no provision for trial by jury before irremovable judges. An open trial and a free press will do much, very much ; they are great securities for justice; but we in this country know full well that, at certain times, despotic governments will face both these, and juries only have saved patriots from the vengeance of the Crown or a Cabinet. From the two paragraphs relating to the provincial statutes and the Council of Empire—the Iteichsrath, we gather that the provincial assem blies will be elected in a tolerably liberal manner, and have power to originate business independently of the Government which had not at first been con- ceded. it is especially mentioned that the provincia Diets will be competent to legislate only on provin cial questions; that the Council of the Empire will be composed of members elected unconditionally by the provincial Diets, and that it will, besides, "receive additional members." Who, and what will these additional members be ! We who have a House of Lords, however, cannot say much on that delicate subject. The Council is, however, :o have the right of originating "projects of law with publicity of debate." It will be, on the whole, therefore, a body enjoying vastly greater constitu tional powers than tha Chambers of Louis NAPO LEON, which can originate nothing, and are but scantily trusted even now with the right of discus- sion and of amendment. Indeed, with the very important exception of trial by jury, if Baron SCHMERLING'S views are fairly carried out, Austria will be a country enjoying far more of civil and religious liberty than the nation which asserts itself to be at the head of European civilisation. But this leads us to the second important ex ception before adverted to—there is no mention of Ilungftry. Is it the intention of the Baron to assume that she is one of the provinces, and is that powerful kingdom to occupy a position similar to that of oilZ C f. thO petty provinces of the Empire. He must know that will never do. He cannot govern Hungary, now, from Fe ought not to be able to do so. The kingdom of Hungary, with its free dependencies, is the half or nearly so, of the Austrian Empire, and supplies the best part of its army. Not only its historical rights, but its actual importance at this day, de mand for it a very much higher relation to the Empire than one which may suffice for Styria or Carinthia, or even the Tyrol. This is the difficulty SCHMERLING has to meet. Hungary contributes so much to the strength of the Empire that it will not submit to have its soldiers and money voted away by others. She will not rest till she secures those only guarantees for liberty, the power .0 say what military and pecuniary strength she will furnish her SOVEREIGN. We expressed a fear the other day that our Government would need looking after on this subject. If M. KOSSUTH be right, and on such a subject he is not likely to be wrong, it seems our Government, is, as we feared, not unlikely to pursue a course, in regard to Hungary, the opposite of that which has made it so popular at home as well as abroad in re gard to Italy. If Ministers do they will hear of it with the opening of the Session. The charge is, indeed, a serious one, that they are allowing again Russia and the Principalities to help Austria ! We refer the reader to M. KOSSVTH's interesting letter to the Glasgow meeting; and we warn the country that it must be on the alert. Our Court always leans to Austria, and all Cabinets incline to their Courts. We also fear that, in addition, even Lord JOHN RUSSELL, unlike his country, cares more for Austria than for Hungary. The Frost is suggestive of the State of the Drainage. In reference to which latter subject the Registrar-General's accounts have recently shown how directly that affects the amount of the annual mortality. If anything could have tended to hearten the authorities at the Board of Health and at the Board of Public Works to the develop ment of the Main Drainage scheme, it would have been the record given by the Registrar-General throughout the chief part of the expiring twelve month. That record was demonstrative of the remarkable fact that the last spring, summer, and autumn, the most humid seasons consecu cutively almost within any one's recollec tion, have constituted at the same time one of the most salubrious years of which London holds remembrance. This—not in spite of, but by reason of, the extraordinary quantity of rain that has fallen flooding the streets, flushing the sewers, and thereby sweeping them clear of all their feculent and pestilential contents. Nothing, we repeat, could more distinctly have proved than this has done, the direct manner in which the Drainage of a great city affects the state of the health, affects the extent of the mortality of its inhabitants. The result of that prolonged rainy season beginning, as far back as September, 1859, and ending only in September, 1860—a steady and almost uninter rupted downpour of one whole twelvemonth, the lengthened cataract of rain, rain, rain, very nearly without any intermission. The result of that unusual humidity has shown quite clearly, now for once and for all, that by clearing out the shores of a great and populous capital, the deaths numbered up among its inhabitants are inevitably brought down very much indeed below the average. It is no longer matter of conjecture. It has become, in regard to 1859-1860, in reference to London, matter of absolute certainty. Given such and such a fall of water to bear away the impurities of the metro polis from the subterranean channels through which those impurities are ordinarily allowed to pass sluggish on Iowa: 4s their destination, and you may be quite sure that within that current season and the season immediately following the mortality will be found to have appreciably diminished. This happy consequence of the heavy rains, the Regis trar-General has recently -computed through the medium of his periodical statements. And it is a consequence that has come upon us at the very tithe that the destination of the contents of the slums of London has still continued to be the River Thames! The tide of that river or open sescer of the metropolis twice every day, carrying the filth poured into it up and down be tween bridges to the pollution of the water itself and to the inevitable pollution, more or less, of the whole atmosphere. Let the outlet of our drainage system be removed to a reasonable distance from the capital, and the dimunition recently noted in the amount of the annual mortality among its in habitants must inevitably under similar circum stances—that is to say with a recurrence of plen tiful and prolonged rains like those excessive rains of the last year—be far more noticeable. Diminu tion upon diminution, in point of fact, might be insured equally well by the diver gence of the' channels of the Main Drainage from the river Thames itself, the great tidal river, almost bisecting the twin cities of London and Westminster—by the divergence of those channels from the river away either to a sufficiently remote part of our coastline or (after the deodorisation of the sewage matter) far and away, for the purposes of manuring, into the agricultural districts. Only let the drainage of London be facilitated—only let it be diverted from the tidal river—only let it be carried away with sufficient rapidity and with suf ficient completeness either to the distant seashore, there to be emptied as rrefuse into the great deep, or (better still) to the agricultural dis tricts, there to apply the deodorised sewage matter to the purposes of cultivation—and the already diminished and diminishing mortality of the metro polis must be brought down to a still more remark able minimum. Happily for the people of this vast metropolis the simple truths here insisted upon have already long since come to be recognised, not as they were a few years back by an inconsiderable minority, but by a very considerable majority of the thinking part of the population. Nay, these wholesome and most salutary truths are more than merely recognised—they are being energe- tically , acted upon to the general satisfac tion of the public, under the express autho risation of the Legislature, and through the resolute labours of the active officials working under her MAJESTY'S Government. The Herculean task of cleansing more than an Augean stable, of purifying a city ten miles in length, seven miles in breadth, and peopled by 3,000,000 of inhabitants, this immense Herculean labour is no longer being talked of, it has literally and posi tively been commenced. The excavations are being made simultaneously in various parts of Lon- don and Westminster. Larger and larger channels of purification are worming their way under this wilderness of dwelling-houses. Little by little, inch by inch, gradually it will come in the end to be mile by mile the main Drainage Scheme resolved upon to be carried out by ,he Imperial Legislature, will have bored and moled its way under the whole of the metropolis, until London shall hayebeen undermined by the salubrious network of one completely organised subterranean labyrinth. The hastening of this admirable work towards its conclusion ought to be among the most cherished designs of every Administration in this country holding the reins and entrusted with the responsibilities of Government. Professor Sterndale Bennett is busy upon a new oratorio to be brought out at the Leeds Festival next year. Mr. Bailey, curator of the Soane Museum, died on the 17th inst. The appointment of a successor rests with the Royal Academy. The R0y2,1 Mail steamer Tasmanian left South ampton yesterday for St. Thomas. She will bring home the West India mail due at Southampton on the 29th proximo. She took out a mail for St. Thomas, and cargo, but no passengers. We are authorised to state that there is no truth whatever in the very scandalous report which appeared in the Manchester Guardian, and copied into several other papers, of certain proceedings on board the yacht Sylphide, at Naples, letters having been received from Captain Grandy on the 23d inst., dated Dec. 11, at Naples, all well on board at that date. REINFORCEMENTS FOR NEW ZEALAND.--The Bombay Government, in pursuance of instructions from England, have chartered the Castilian, 1,064 tons, at £24 per head, and the Star Queen, 836 tons, at £l9 10s. per head, for the conveyance of her Majesty's 57th Regiment from Bombay to New Zealand. THE CATTLE TRADE.—NORWICH, Dec. 22.—To day's market was only tolerably supplied with store cattle, but the miserable state of the weather—snow falling at in tervals all day—caused a thin attendance of buyers, and trade was extremely dull. Prices tended downwards, and were ss. to 10s. per head below the quotations current three weeks or a month since. Sheep, which were in small supply, were also dull. Fat beasts and sheep made full rates. THE RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—NEWPORT) SATURDAY.—PubIic announcement has been made to-day of a meeting in aid of the sufferers by the Risco. Colliery explosion. The meeting will be presided over by the Right lion. Lord Tredegar. The notification has been received with general satisfaction, as a desire to subscribe had been already manifested in many quarters. SUICIDE OF A GAMBLER.--At Frankfort two suicides were committed three days back from the same cause—losses at play ; and in the same way —the discharge of pistols at the head. One of the victims was Prince Von proprietor of a large estate in the Grand Duchy of Posen, who is said to have lost at Hamburg about 100,000 thalers (380,000 fr.) ; the other was a commercial traveller named Mayer, who lost at Nassau 2,000 . thalers (7,600 f r.), belonging to his employer, a merchant of Lubeck. The following particulars have been furnished of the accident that occurred to the William Cory while laying the submarine telegraph cable destined to connect Toulon with Algiers. The shore end of the cable was safely landed in the Bay of Sablettes on Friday, the 14th inst., and the William Cory got under way in the afternoon about 3 o'clock. The following day, at noon, having run a distance of 89 miles, she signalled the Gomer (a frigate appointed by the French Government to attend upon her) to commu nicate for the purpose of exchanging observations. In doing so the Gomer ran stem on into the William Cory, striking her on the port side just abaft the main rigging, and carrying away funnels, rnizenmast, steering wheel, and paying out machinery. It being then impossible to pro ceed with the operation, the cable was buoyed in about 1,300 fathoms' water, and the Gomer towed the William Cory into Toulon harbour. Up to the time the cable was cut (after being buoyed) the communication between the ship and the shore was perfect, and there is said to be every hope that as soon as the 'William Cory is repaired the operation will be successfully completed. The steam cor vette Caton has been despatched by the French Govern ment from Toulon to watch the buoy. SHIPWRECK ON THE GOODWIN SANDS.—RAMS. GATE, Saturday.—During the sharp snow-squalls of yes terday, the wind blowing fresh from the north, a shocking shipwreck took place on the Goodwin Sands. A Deal lug ger, which has come in, reports that about noon yesterday they were cruising near the North Sand Head, where they observed a brigantine with painted ports (apparently laden) go upon the Goodwin. The snow was falling heavily at the time, and almost immediately after the ill-fated vessel struck. She disappeared, and there is little doubt that the whole of the unfortunate crew perished. The state of the weather prevented any assistance being ren dered them, even if the destruction of the ship had not been so rapid. TILE HENLEY-HILL MURDER.—The inquest on Martha Anne Greenway, who was murdered by her husband a few days ago, was resumed on Saturday morning at Ease bourne Union Workhouse, near Midhurst, before Mr. R. Blagden, coroner for the western division of Sussex. The accased, William Greenway, was present in the custody of the keeper of Petworth Gaol, and appeared much depressed. "Witnesses were examined whose evidence corroborated the account already given of the occurrence, and the jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of "Wilful Mur • der" against William Greenway, who was committed to Petworth Gaol, to take his trial at the next Sussex Aaaizoa. SEMI. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS,—We under stand that Margaret Hannah, the young woman recently sentenced to death at Edinburgh for the murder of her infant, will not bo executed, and that her Majesty has been pleased to commute the sentence to penal servitude for life. No female kas been executed for an offence of this descrip , tion for several years. The sentence of death passed upon Thomas Richardson at the last Lincoln Assizes for the mur der of a police-officer has been respited during her Majesty's pleasure. It appears that the deceased officer was entirely unknown to the prisoner, who could have borne him no ill will, and that the fatal shot was fired at the impulse of the moment, probably without any intention of destroying life. Mr. Henry Thring, conveyancer, of Lincoln's-Inn, who has had considerable experience in preparing Government bills, is appointed Parliamentary draughtsman to the Home-office, in the room of Mr. Waller Coulson, Q.C., deceased. The Rev. Hamilton Dicker is appointed chaplain to the British Consulate at Dunkirk. THE MURDER OF A FRENCH JUDGE.—The Journal de la Haute-Saone publishes the following docu ments :—" A murder was committed on the night of the sth December in one of the carriages of the Eastern Railway, on the person of M. Poinsot, President of the Imperial Court of Paris. The murderer carried off the following articles :- 1. A black and white travelling rug, of English manufacture; 2. A leather travelling bag, containing some books on gar dening, a work of Debreuil, and a knife with buck-horn handle; 3. A gold watch, No. 2,638, by Souriau, Rue de la Paix ; 4. A gold chain having a key attached, set with a ruby, engraved with the letter P ; 5. A porte-monnaie, in black morocco, with a steel clasp. The undersigned requests all officers of justice to arrest any person having such articles in his possession. Paris, Dec. 3, 1860. Cordoeu, Procureur Imperial." The same journal gives the following description of the murderer :—" Murderer of M. Poinsot—Charles Jud, 27 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches in height, brown hair, high forehead, long and thin face, a scar above the left eyebrow, some of his teeth broken; beard reddish brown, and, if worn, not more than of ten days' growth. He has some times gone by the name of Jud, and at others of Montalti and Matricou. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The undersigned requests all officers of justice to endea vour to arrest him.—Paris, 10th Dec., Cordoeu, Procureur Imperial." FATAL EXPLOSION.—Some additional particu lars are now known of the fearful and destructive explosion which occurred in Hetton Pit, in the Wear coalfield, on Thursday night. The colliery where the sad calamity has taken place belongs to Messrs. Archibald Cochrane and partners, and is under the management of Mr. N. Woed, the well-known north country viewer, and president of the Northern Institute of Mining Engineers. Mr. John Dag leish is the, resident viewer. The accident, the exactnature of which has not been ascertained, occurred about 9 o'clock on Thursday night, destroying, it is feared, 23 men and lads in the pit, for that is the number unaccounted for. The ordinary pitmen, about 200 in number, left their work about 6 in the evening and came to bank, having completed theirday's work and the men who went down about the time when they came up, and were employed in the mine at the time of the explosion, were stonemen—masons whose duty it was to ,repair the road or roller-way, and do other work of a similar character in the pit. The very valuable stud of horses and ponies employed in the pit have been destroyed by the firing of the hay and straw in the stables near the shaft. The Hetton Pit was reported to be one of the best ventilated in the north of England. Through its down-cast shaft between 170,000 and 200,000 cubic feet of air is stated to pass to the workings every minute. The pit is a very old one, and the regulations appear to be of the strictest character. The surgeon of the colliery, Mr. Edger, has been most diligent in his attentions to those who have been rescued. The men saved are 12 in number. Four bodies have been recovered, and according to the last intelligence from the colliery either 18 or 19 men and lads are missing. TERCENTENARY OF THE SCOTTISH REFORMA TION.—At its meeting in May last the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland appointed Divine service to take place in all the churches and chapels on Thursday, the 20th of Docembei, being the tercentenary of the first meeting of the Assembly and the establishment of the Presbyterian Church. The Free Church and United Presbyterian Church also appointed the day to be observed as one of thanksgiving for the blessings of the Reformation. The celebration, though a Presbyterian rather than a national one, received the sanction of theinagistrates of Edinburgh. who recommended the suspension of business, but in Glas gow and various other towns the magistrates declined to issue any such recommendation. In Edinburgh, n.itwith • standing magisterial patronage, the atte'.idance at the churches was extremely small, this bei!ag partly owing to the fact that the law courts, banks ; and public offices were all open as usual, and at leP.St half the shops and work shops, and partly owing; to the very severe snowstorm. Several of the church es held only one diet of worship through the tbv, and others met only in the evening, and various public meetings were held at night and speeclies delivered on the events of 1660. On the whole the demon- . stration may be pronounced a failure, having been felt by the great majority of the people of Scotlandto be wholly superfluouv, and only serving as an occasion to the Popery" party. L 1 F " . N REUTER'S TELEGRAMS. ROME, DEC. 21. The posting up of the bills in favour of annexe tion to Sardinia has not led to any arrests. Crowds of people are reading the bills. NAPLES, DEC. 21. The insurrectionary bands have intrenched them selves in the mountains. It is said that a decree is in course of preparation ordering an extraordinary levy of men between 18 and 65 years of age. NAPLES, DEC. 21 (EVENTNG). It is stated upon reliable authority that the French fleet is about to quit its station off Gaets. Great demoralisation prevails among the besieged army. The batteries planted on the heights of Tortola reply to the fire of the city. Naples is tranquil, and the state of things in the provinces is satisfactory. A reactionary conspiracy, organised at Rome, has been discovered. The city of Naples will give a grand ball to the army. A. great rise in the Neapolitan and Sardinian funds has taken place here. VIENNA, DEC. 21 The official TViener Zietunq of to-day publishes a circular addressed by Baron von Schmerling to the governors of the provinces, explaining the leading principles of his policy. The Baron says : " It is the mission of the Ministers of State to carry out fully and effectively the resolutions and intentions of the Emperor as expressed in the Imperial Manifesto of the 20th of October. As regards freedom of religious worship, it is the will of the Emperor that political and civil rights shall in this respect also be preserved against any encroachment, and that the mutual relations of the different confessions shall be established upon an equitable footing, and upon the real love for one's neighbour (Nachstenliebe). " Public instruction will be promoted by every possible means. " The free development of the nationalities is accorded. " With respect to the public Press, every pre ventive interference is removed. " The development of agriculture, commerce, and industry will be pursued with redoubled energy on the path hitherto followed. "The communes will enjoy an independent exis• tence. "The administration of justice is to be separated from the Governmental Administration. " Publicity and the oral form of proceeding are to be introduced into the civil and penal courts of law. " As regards the Pontifical Statutes, thCAlinistry of State has been authorised to introduce into the fundamental laws the principle of representation of the different interests by means of direct elections, and the extension of electoral rights and eligibility, the right of initiative, and the publicity of debates. " On the Council of the Empire, to whose pro vince belongs the general legislation—while the Provincial Diets are only competent to legislate on provincial questions—is therefore conferred the right of originating projects of law and publicity of debate. " The Council of the Empire will be composed of members unconditionally elected by the Provincial Diets, and will besides receive additional member a. "The provincial Governments of the minor Crown lands, recently suppressed, are to be re established." In conclusion, Baron Schmerling exhorts the public functionaries to a conscientious discharge of their duties, to the furtherance of the interests of the inhabitants of their provinces, to a strict observance of the laws, and to candour in their official reports on the condition of the country. ROME, DEC. 21 The Pope delivered an allocution in the -Con sistory held on the 17th inst. His Holiness spoke of the persecution of the Christians in Syria and China. He condemned the pamphletrof M. Cayla. entitled Le Pope et l'Empereur, and announced that the Grand Duke of Baden had violated the Pontifical Concordat. The Roman patriots have posted up on the walls of Rome bills bearing the arms of King Victor Emmanuel, and the words, " We desire annexation to Sardinia. DRESDEN, DEC. 22 The official Dresden Journal of to-day announces that the King, after having suffered during six days from a severe cold, was attacked en Friday by measles. BERNE, DEC. 23. The sittings of the National Council and the Council of the States were both closed yesterday by their respective Presidents, who in their speeches reviewed past events, and exhorted the members to union. Dr. Blumer, President of the Council of the States, especially alluded to the internal differences which had arisen in reference to the question of Savoy, and warned the Press to avoid raising suspicions against those who may entertain a different view of things to their own. ~ •:d., ' 4 ':;*:' 1„, \i ' ~11 , . ~,,, ,,:2-4 -''.‘ V . - V ' • , , . 4 , 7 .‘ • It . - a * : '. , -4-,*-V2 \.. _ •, „ z' , , ' ~/ o _ , , ems. ' vit , •ri, i ' ' tt, ir "i ° ' ' bile IT ' - f. _ _.,,, , FRANCE. BoußsE, Dec. 22 —The market continues heavy, and Stock having again been offered, prices have undergone a further decline. For the Account, Threes are now at 68f 25c; Mobilier, 755 f ; Orleans, 1,380 f ; Northern, 985 f ; Mediterranean, 910 f ; Austrian, 505 f; Lombard, 481 f 25c. The following were the last quotations :- 41 per per Cents 96 40 Do end month 96 501 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 30 Bank Shares 2940 Credit Mobilisr 755 Do. Account 760 Credit Fonder 930 Belgian 4 Piedmontese Fives BO Roman Austrian Spanish Threes 5O Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1382 50 •• 1382 50 Northern 990 .. 990 New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean Geneva Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 895 - • • 910 - • • 912 50 375 .. 375 522 50 .. 520 - 561 25 .• 561 25 600 • . 601 25 395 - • • 391 25 503 75 .. 506 25 478 75 47 8 75 THE CORNISH FISHERIES.—During the past few days large quantities of herrings have been brought into Porthleven, which were taken off Plymouth ; one boat had 32,000, others 10,000 and upwards, amounting in the whole to 80,000, which were freely sold at 2s. 6d. ler 120. The pilchard fishery at St. Ives is closed for the season ; nearly all the seines are in the lofts, and the boats are hauled up. Not many herrings have been caught there during the week. COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL. --DOVER, DEC. 22.—Last night the brig Mary Wilie, laden with slates, from Bangor, for Sunderland, was run down by the barque West Indian, off Beechey Head. She sank immediately. The captain and crew were picked up by the barque, and were landed at Dover, at 11 a.m. The men lost everything, and were in a very destitute condition ; one poor fellow's arm w: crushed by the anchor. They were all received at the Sailors' Home, where every possible caro was taken of them till passed on to London by the South-Eastern Railway. The weather was clear at the moment of the collision, but the barque must have nearly closed in upon the brig in a previous snow storm. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY. The Royal Mail steamship Arabia, Captain Stone, which left Boston on the 12th, and Halifax on the th, arrived in the Mersey at noon to-day, bringing SI passengers. On the 16th passed the steamship Persia, and on the 19th the steamship Canada, bot h bound west. The Arabia touched at QueenstoWn yesterday (Saturday). The steamship Europa was intercepted off Cape Race on the 11th instant by the newsboat of tke Associated Press. Advices from Washington show a more hopeful political feeling and some slightly better prospect of the pacification of the country. The New York Times of the 10th says :—Con gress, after resting since the 6th, will meet again to-day, when the final determination of those mem bers of the house who have expressed a disinclina tion to serve on the Special Committee will be known. It will probably be an exciting session, and the reports of the proceedings will be looked for with much anxiety. Meantime our despatches from Washington are not of a very encouraging character. The senators from the slaveholding states held a conference at the capitol on Saturday , at which the present condition of the country was freely discussed. The only result which seems to have been arrived at was the conviction that secession is a certainty. A large majority, according to our correspondent, considered it too late to save the present confederacy; but they expressed the belief that a new one would be speedily formed. They do not seem to hare given any opinion as to the basis on which it would be constructed. Persons recently arrived at Washing ton from the south report the excitement there as intense. At Charleston, if we are to be lieve the statements which reach us, s misunderstanding has already arisen between the Federal authorities and those of the city or State. Major Anderson, commanding Fort Moultrie, has been refused the privilege of sending to the arsenal for supplies, and his messengers have been sent back without them, simply because among the articles desired were some percussion caps. The Government, it is understood, has been appealed to to send an additional force, as Major Anderson has at present only sixty or seventy men p o orly supplied ; but the Administration has absolutely refused to do so. In connection., with this refusal vague rumours prevail that a formal notification will soon be given by South Carolina that she intends to capture the fort, when the Government will order it to be evacuated without a contest, to avoid a civil war. Of course it is impossible to tell how much truth there may be in such rumours. Secretary Cobb, it is asserted, has already resigned, and will vacate his post to day, in which case it is believed he will be fol lowed by the representatives from South Carolina and others. There is one thing, however, which tnay serve as a check upon too hasty action, and that is the character of advices from England. Tile sympathy expressed there for the Federal Govern ment on the reception of the first reports of the secession movement somewhat surprises the Die unionists, and they have no hesitation in saying that it is not what they expected. As a measure or financial relief to the Government the House Com mittee of Ways and Means have resolved upon the issue of treasury notes. The Hon. Mr. Cobb, the Secretary of the Trea sury, resigned his office on the 11th instant. The Secretary of the Navy would fulfil the duties until a successor to Mr. Cobb was appointed. The Hew York Tones of the 11th says :—The session of Congress yesterday was attended with far less excitement than we were led to anticipate from the tenor of our despatches on Sunday night. The discussions upon all topics connected with the subject of secession were conducted with calmness , and altogether a decidedly better feeling was exhi bited on every side. In the Senate, the standing committees of the last session were continued. A memorial from Mr. Thaddeus Hyatt, presented by Mr. Sumner, relative to the suffering people of Kansas, was referred to the committee on Territories - and the Homestead bill was read the first time. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, then called up his resolution, presented on Thurs day, relative to the present condition of the country, and made a few remarks expressive of his views. Mr. Collanner, of Vermont, made a motion, which was agreed to by Mr. Powell, to strike out everything from the resolution except ing that which referred to Federal affairs, and that it be referred to a Special Committee. Daring a discussion which intervened Mr. Sathana, of California, said that his state would remain with the Union under all circumstances, inti mating that she could otherwise never secure that great desideratum, the Pacific Railroad. Mr. Douglas hoped that there would be no more talk of party until this grave question was settled. Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, did not regard the proposition as one promising a good result. Several other speeches were made on the subject, amongst which was one by Mr. Dixon, of Connecti. cut, who combated the idea that it is impossibl for the two systems of free and slave labour to exist in the Confederacy, and the Senate adjourned at a late hour. In the house Mr. Hawkins, of Florida, proceeded to give additional reasons for asking to be excused from sitting on the Special Committee on the Perilous Condition of the Union. He concladed by a warning that Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina were certain to secede, and to be followed by Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. The tone of his remarks, however, was rather more moderate than was expected. The vote on Mr. Hawkins' request w as not taken, being interrupted by th e i n t ro duction, from the Committee of Ways and Means, of a bill authorising the issue of ten millions in Treasury notes for the relief of the Government. The bill was passed after a brief debate, and the house adjourned. The Ten Million Treasury Note Bill, which passed the House on the 10th, gives power to the Secretary of the Treasury to sell them at the market rates, as the wants of the Government may requii e, bids being limited by a ten days' n otice. A Washington telegram of the 11th, to the says :—" G enera l S cott has pre ' adjust men t wh i ch the comm i tte e desire s h ou ld b e placed b e f or e paredfao rstet thirty-three r a ta y J p. . o tl t ha 4 r rn n e a o l f , t h em . The select committee was organised to -day; the members of it from Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina declining to appear. Mr. Houston , o f Alabama, urged prompt action, freely ex pres• sing an opinion that the committee might adopt a report which would restore the Union feeling in the South, and thus avert secession. The com mittee, after organising, adjourned until to morrow." The Democratic members of Congress from the North 'West have had several conferences, and generally adopt Mr. M'Clarnaud's and Vallandig ham's position that the Union cannot be peaceablf dissolved, and that under no circumstances will th e North West consent to be cut off from the Gulf of Mexico or the•city of New York, The leading Wel l is that of a central government, embracing the middle, Western, and border Slave States, which, however, is to be dependent upon future circum stances for its consummation. The President has just been assured from all authentic source that the authorities of South Carolina will make no resistance either to the collection of duties, or to the possession of the forts guarding Charleston harbour during the remainder of his administration. There is a better feeling among politicians, but every mail brings news of the spread of the dis- union sentiments. On the 10th the extra session of the Louisiana Legislature commenced, and -the Governor sent in his message. He recommends a convention, and . _ says that Louisiana ought not to refuse to meet her sister slave stares in demanding a repeal of obnoxious laws at the North, and a guaranty against such legislation in the future. These questions should be met before the inaugu ration of Mr. Lincoln, and because the honour and self-respect of the State does not comport with her • Ilik( thE B an i, 3 Per N ew 1124 Dit Ditto , it Cavil Dit rati ,I)it frit . rortt ttuas] Dfi , Pani Dit bit , v , 4 kPani bit bit P R th e p Assat ttsea aaciet• tion Mr, Itance them, In Th e 8e able Air %treat lived 11 141. /gm. D e at an befor Mt take, Co F dig Of nu SL 1 31 a c; *ith P o after tetno PriEfo l mpr Pelle kil sub hav eo n] eeQc trill !Cr Ceni a la the Nver, brie Po real] atre4 tllla fell , br ea 4 eal You, ku t Itl a i tele gaa Wit I '4ll t