The Sun. — London, England, 1859-12-26 00:00:00

THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, the comedy of THE EVIL GENIUS. Miss Reyno:ds. After which, the new Haymarket Comic Christmas Panto mime, VALENTINE'S DAY; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' Knot. The pantomimists the unrivalled Leclercqs. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM.-- Sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING (Boxing Night) the performances will commence with Planche's popular Drama of THE CHILD OF THE WRECK. Maurice (her original charac ter) Madame Celeste. After which, will be produced a new Grand Christmas Ex travaganza and Pantomime, KING THRUSHBEA.RD, the LITTL 14: PET and the GREAT PASSION. Clown, Mr. H. Marshall—Columbine, Miss liosino. -•"•% OYAL' ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the management of Miss L. ryne and Mr.W. Harrison. IS EVENING (lloxim-r-Nic7nt) VIGTORINE. Santley, Haigh, R. Cciri, G. Honey, Bartleman, &c. Misses rarepa, Thirlwall, Conductor, Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the new grand pautomime, called PUSS IN BOOTS ; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the Golden Palms. Doors open at hali-past 7—Commence at 8 o'clock. Commence at 7. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE._ Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. Re-engagement of the Wonderful Danc:r, Mons. Espinosa. First appearance of 3fdlle. Marietta Rosetta, Principal Dan souse of La Scala, Milan ; and first time of the Delapierre Family. These highly-talented Children will appear every night. The Royal Princess's Rifles on parade every evening. TILLS EVENING (Boxing-night) the new drama,' HOME THIITHS. Messrs. G. Melville, J. G. Shore, F. Matthews, Miss C. Lec'ercq and Mrs. Charles Young. After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by H. J. Byron, called JACK TILE GIANT KILLER ; or, Harle quin King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Jack, Miss Louise Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack—Panta loon, Mr. Paulo—Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams—Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. Morning Performances on Monday, January 9, 16, and 23 commence at two o'clock. W THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. STEW Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Holiday Attractions.— The Christmas Carol and the New spectacular Extravaganza, by IL J. Byron, Esq., the Nymph of the Lurlyberg ; or the Knights and the Naiades. THIS EVENING, THE CHRISTMAS CAROL. Messrs J. L. Toole, C. Selby, Paul Bedford, Stuart, Billington, C. J. Smith. Romer: Min Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. Chatte rley, Miss Laidlaw. After which THE - NYMPHS OF THE LTIRLEYBERG'; or, The Knight and the Naiades. Messrs. Toole, Bedford, Eburne, Smith, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, C. Webb, K. Kelly, Laidlaw. Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box- Moe open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor for bills of performance. All fees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlico, and West minster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passen gers all hours of the night. TO-NIGHT, MONDAY (Christmas Eve) a new Farce, GARIBALDI'S ENGLISHMAN. Messrs. Barrett and C. Young. Followed by a new sketch, A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY. Miss Wyndham and Mr. H. T. Craven. To conclude with the new pantomime of PUNCH AND JUDY. Introducing Miss Lydia Thompson and the Corps de Ballet. Clown, Harlequin, Columbine, and Pantaloon, and the wonderful Performing Dogs. _ Reduced Prices—Gallery, ad; Pit, ls. The Box-ofnce open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half - past six; perform ance commences at 7. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee—Mr. William Cooke, his Farewell Season. Great Attraction for the Holidays. The new bombastic hippodramatic, operatic Pantomime, abounding in comicality, called HARLEQUIN TOM MOODY ; or, Old Towier the Huntsman and the Goddess Diana, with 'songs by Miss Esther Jacobs.—Gorgeous and Dazzling mechanical transfor mation scene. Harlequin, M. Richarde ; Pantaloon, Mr. P. Abbot, Columbine, Muddle. Mazzoni ; Clown, Mr. Hilde brand ; a family of Sprites by the Elastic Incomprehensibles. Scenes in the Circle by the Star Riders of the World. Three Morning performances of the Pantomime, and Scenes in the Circle, on Monday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 31, and Monday Jan. e, 1860, at Two o'clock each day. CANTERBUR Y HALL CONCERTS.- v EVERY EVENING. Sterndale Bennett's MAY QUEEN. And a Grand Se , ection from Meyerbeer's new opera of DLNORAII. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. Georze Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), W. 'l'. Critchfield, and E. W. Hackney. - • Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. ROSA BONHEUR'S celebrated PICTURE of the HORSE FAIR is now added to the already magnificent Collection of Paintings in the Canterbury Hall Fine Arts Gallery. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, CHRISTMAS, DEC. 25. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 49—highest since noon yesterday. 42—lowest this morning and during the night. 42—this day at noon. Benomwrzn-29.02—5ti1l WIND, South-Westerly; fresh, with dull damp weather for Christmas—something like the last, with rain, but not so stormy. Two o'CLocx.—Wind veered round to N.E., then to E. and S.E., blowing strong, with continuous rain. DEC. 26. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 45—lowest this morning and during the night. 45—this day at noon. BA.TtomLrEn--25.65—a proof of the late stormy weather. WIND, North-Westerly ; all the morning Easterly, with rain and dull weather. lIIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Turs DAY.—Morning, 3h. Bm.—Afternoon, Oh. 26m. To-moußow.-Morning, 3h. 41m.—Afternoon, 4h. 2m. ; ;: .4, ( 4 ? ,"" 4 1_ • .11 THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, DEC. 26, 1859. Despatches coming to us from China via Berlin and St. Petersburg—despatches dated from Berlin the 24th December and from China the 17th of October—announce that the Russian Embassy at Pekin enjoys the most perfect liberty and the greatest security : it being added even emphati• tally by the quidnuncs of the Russian capital that " all alarming reports which have been in circula tion on that subject are entirely false." Trust the Muscovites for that ! We can readily conceive that JOHN RUSSIAN and JOHN CHINAMAN are at this juncture in the most perfect accord, now that the latter is in open war with JOHN BULL and JOHNNY CRAPAUD. We readily and instantly, with the most complete confidence accept as perfectly authorita tive and conclusive this distinct contradiction. We believe that at Pekin the Russian Embassy does enjoy the greatest liberty and security, and that any alarming reports to the contrary are as the St. Petersburgeans are now told en tirely false. But having accepted this contra diction of so many floating rumours of an opposite kind, we may surely ask for some degree of cre dence also for the statements put forward at the time of the Pieho disaster—that certain grey-coated Muscovite artillerymen were seen here and there very busily occupied upon those murderous and treacherous fortifications. Not only are the two things compatible, but they are in a mea sure almost essential to each other. They help each other, they corroborate one another, they render each other comprehensible. Besides there is not any reasonable probability, we had almost said possibility, that any Chinese could, by the dim sighted Jack tars, be mistaken for a Musco vite. Their flat pauper caps and long grey Noah's ark-coats have not the slightest resemblance to the roundabout Chinese in their light-coloured tunics and pointed skull-caps, like the renowned cap of the Great Rampanjander, with the little round button at top ! And there upon those infernal fortifications of that accursed ambuscade those long grey Noah's ark coats, and those flat pauper caps were recognised at the time of the Pieho disaster flitting hither and thither—with the wearers of them pointing the guns and enabling the unskilled Chinese bombardiers to do deadly execution upon our• gunboats. Let us hope that explanations of all this may be required betimes from the Government of St. Peters burg, and that the retributive war now about to be commenced by the Anglo-French arma ments in China may in no way be paralysed or interfered with in its action by the treachery of the Russian, or, to say the very least of it, the dubious diplomacy of the American Government. The closing words in this last sentence having re ference to the sinister rumour from Shanghai to the effect that the Chinese Government has applied for an American mediation in the late.differences ! An American mediation,obser ve! —at the very time when the Russian Embassy at Pekin is in the enjoyment of the most perfect liberty and the most entire secu rity ! In regard to the diplomacy both of St. Petersburg and Washington again we cay, let our Ministry Beware ! A complete and correct catalogue of the Civil List pensions for the current twelvemonth enables us at last to judge of the manner in which the sum of £1,200 per annum, placed in this way at the yearly:disposal of the Prime Minister, has been ap portioned by Lord PALMERSTON. Upon two of the awards we have already commented—those two awards, however, only referring to £225 out of the total of £1,200; leaving consequently a whole thousand, minus £25, still to be accounted for. £125 has been, as we have taken occasion to intimate the amount bestowed upon the bereaved sisters of that late learned popularizer of scientific knowledge—Dr. DIONYSIUS LARDNER, author of the History of the Steam Engine, and editor of that far-famed literary microcosm, " Lard ner's Encyclopaedia." Even this item of £125, however, small enough, if profferred by the nation to two sisters merely of the dead philosopher, shrinks into an insignificance that is almost painful to contemplate, when it is found that the recipients are actually no less in numberlthan the " six" sisters of Dr. LARDNER ! Again we cannot help reiterating our regret (already expressed by us in these columns upon the first announcement) that nothing more than the wretched little tribute of £5O a-year should have been awarded by this wealthy commercial country to each of the two sisters of that HENRY CORT, whose inventions in regard to the manufac ture of iron have enriched England during the last two or three generations to an extent almost incal culable. We cannot, we repeat, but reiterate our regret that the two sisters of this remarkable benefactor and enricher of his country should have been insulted by the award of so paltry an amount as a wretched £5O each, a miserable total of £lOO in the aggregate ! £100,000,000 but poorly represents the extent (in m oneyvalue)towhichEngland is indebted to this noble benefactor, and in consideration of this magnificent gift of £100,000,000 (to say nothing of the amount of increased employment it represents) England we repeat, insults HENRY CORT'S sisters with two little doles of £5O! Thus outraging the memory of the inventor in the very attempt (we presume) to evidence the national recognition of his good ser vices. As for the rest of these new pensions on the Civil List, to the extent of £975 additional making up, with the before-mentioned £225 the annual sum of £1,200 placed at the disposal of the Premier—we find among the late awards some rather curious, one or two rather painful, in the manner of their distribution. For example, there is one of £lOO per annum to Dr. BIGSBY, for his services to literature, and his gift (when in better circumstances) of the Astrolabe of DRAKE to Greenwich Hospital; For the gift of an astrolabe, the nation is to pay £lOO a year. The next is a very excel lent award, though here, again, we cannot but wish the amount had been larger—£loo to Dr. BLAKEY, in consideration of his philosophical works, and his present straitened circumstances. The same amount, we observe, is given to Mrs. , GALwAY,daughter of Hopn er, the painter,on account of the long services of her late husband in the con sular service; and to Mrs. LE BLANC for the benefits conferred upon naval science by her father, the late Sir SAMUEL BENTHAM. Another £lOO being accorded to Dr. LOGAN in consideration of his con tributions to mathematical literature and the loss of his eyesight. £lOO, moreover, is given to Miss Pardoe, for her contributions to literature and her support of a number of helpless relations—an award gratifying in regard to the pension, painful in refe rence to the circumstances necessitating it. What shall be said, however, in allusion to the next item —the grant of £l5O to Mrs. REGIAD in considera tion of the labours of her husband, late Bishop of Antigua, and of her being left with seven children unprovided for ? What but that the widow and orphans of the Bishop might surely have been more appropriately cared for by the enormously rich Church Establishment, instead of being pensioned out of the poor little £1,200 set apart nominally for the encouragement of the promoters, or for the support of the relicts of the promoters of art, of science, and of literature ! There is a little pension, we observe, of £5O to Mrs. Row- CROFT, in consideration of her husband's services in South America and the United States, and his being poisoned on his return home. And another little pension of £5O to Mrs. JANET TAYLOR, for her benevolent labours among the seafaring population of London, and for her learning and skill in the construction of treatise on navigation, nautical tables, and nautical instruments. While a third sum of £5O has been bestowed on Mrs. BEECROFT, in consideration of the services of her late husband, Captain BEECROFT, for 25 years' service in the slave trade, on the coast of Africa, where he at last fell a victim to the climate. These, with £25 to Dr. ATHERSTON, in addition to a former sum of £75 per annum, for his services to literature and his ad vanced age complete the catalogue, and make up the full total of £1,200 a-year in the annual gift of the First Lord of the Treasury. Our two fold regret, once more in regard to these Civil List Pensions, must be again and yet again specified. It consists, in the first place, of a regret that any others should be cared fnr other than those directly or indirectly connected with art, with science, or with literature—recipi ents such as the surviving relatives of naval or military officers, or of church dignitaries—and in the next place of a profound and earnest regret that the total of £1,200 a-year should be cut up and subdivided into such wretched little driblets. Surely it were better that less should be cared for annually, that there should be numerically fewer recipients, and that these few should be given pensions really in some way worthy of accoptance. Pensions of £l5O, or of £2OO, or of £250, or even of £3OO per annum, instead of :trumpery doles of £75, of £5O, or even of £25 a year —scarcely enough to pay for the salt of one's porridge. In regard to this double regret, we would say, in fine, that our twofold wish is—First, that England should be JUST; and, secondly, that she should be GEN EItOUS The unfortunate "victims" of the Princess Royal are to-morrow to be released from prison —by way of a New Year's Gift. The "impartial?'' trial to which they were subjected has found sympathy in every heart throughout the land, but in the breasts —some of them possibly covered. with "stars"-- of those by whom they were precondemned and sentenced to an ignominious settlement of what might hare been considered more as an exhi bition of ill-humour, for having the promised cup of enjoyment dashed from their Tips at the very mo ment of expectant hope. Of course, sailors have PRET rSUNPLONDON, MONDAY: - E'VENING, DECEMBER 26, 1859, no feelings—feelings, and proud, but too often ill-deserved promotion, only belong to men in high place. Your old Admirals and Tartar Captains are the best men in the service, if we credit their own modest account of themselves. But your able seaman, who has so fearessly faced the storm, and gallantly weathered it too, is only a subject for the caprice of his officer and the tender mercies of the cat-o'-nine•tails. The very men who have merited well of their country are con sidered but as fitting slaves for the lash of the commander when he " gets them into blue water." Really the forbearance of men who have so often risked life and limb to obtain promotion for their officers are surely worthy of better treat ment than that accorded to their valour and patriotism. For one patriotic officer we suspect there are thousands of the true blue tar. But the successful exertions of the many arc too coolly concentrated into a " puff of glory" for the benefit of the few. Whatever merit has been achieved by the seamen is appropriated by the officer who as sumes all the honour, while Jack is left to rumi nate over the pleasure of his hard knocks, as a reward for his valour, We have for many a long year and oft called public attention to this subject—to appeal to those in power were as idle as it was useless. But now that the exigencies of the country are pressing trumpet-tongued on our national sal vation, and that some mere attention must be directed to better the condition of our hearts of oak—why, even the Admiralty begin to feel that the times of cruelty and hard:discipline are past, and that justice must at length be awarded to those from whom it has been so long denied, but it is now allowed to be due. On this subject. we have much pleasure in copy ing the following" from the Times" : " The prisoners from the Princess Royal are to be released to-morrow. It is a pity that, since the favour was to be granted, this course had not been taken on Saturday last. There is somewhat of churlishness, even at the moment of grace, in the refusal to release the men for Christmas-day. The authorities have, no doubt, been led astray by their love of arithmetical symmetry. The sentence has been commuted from imprisonment for three months to imprisonment to one month, and it happened un fortunately that the month did not expire till the second day after Christmas-day. With this slight expression of regret that one drop more had not been added to the cup of grace, we are bound to add that this decision will be received with univer sal satisfaction throughout the country. The sen tence was a harsher one than the offence de served, even if it had been fully made out. It was felt, besides, that the Port Admiral had not been altogether free from blame, even though the men were in the wrong. As the remission of the sen tence, however, implies that the men had been too rigorously dealt with, we are not anxious to re-open any discussion which might result in censure of the course adopted by Admiral Bowles. No doubt he, too, has been on bread and water ever since the sentence was passed, and will now be restored to more genial fare. The whole affair was one grand blunder from beginning to end, and now that it has been put to rights as far as may be it is best forgot ten, save in so far as it may prove a profitable warn ing for the future. If, on the one hand, It be true that the existence of a naval force which is not amenable to discipline could not be tolerated for one moment, on the other, our naval officers—espe cially our old Admirals—must be prepared to re oognise the fact that the condition of the Navy is very different from what it was some years ago. The delusion of hoping to maintain order in ships of war by means of the cat-o'-nine-tails and terror ism must be dismissed from their thoughts as a thing of the past. The simple result of such an endeavour would be that our ships of war would lie idle in our ports for want of hands. A good and able seaman can command his own service in the market of the world, and he will not consent to be flogged and imprisoned when he can obtain better wages elsewhere without a slight drawbacks. There is nothing for us but to look the truth boldly in the face ; if we would have the pick of the market in the way of seamen for our naval defence we must offer the most favourable terms of engagement. The conditions of service should be made such that dismissal alone would be a punishment, and a naval officer be able to keep his men in order without scored backs and county gaols. If, as in the pre sent case, the men misconducted themselves just as their term of service was at an end, let it be re membered against them exactly as such an occur rence would be remembered against a discharged servant. We most heartily rejoice that there is now an end of this series of mistakes, that the pri soners will he set free to-morrow from Winchester Gaol, and that Admiral Bowles will be enabled to spend his Christmas week without the reflection that 108 seamen are suffering to expiate what was at least partially his error." LATEST NEWS. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY NIGHT. The steamship Europa, from Boston on the 14th, and Halifax 16th, arrived at Queenstown this morn ing. She brings no specie. The steamship America arrived at Halifax on the 16th. The House of Representatives was still unorga nised. No Speaker was yet elected ; and it was quite uncertain when the organisation would be effected and the President's message delivered. Californian dates to the 7th ult., and 1,900,000 dols. in specie had reached New York. General Scott had returned by the steamer. News unimportant. Affairs at San Juan are without change. Affairs in the South Pacific were in a very dis tracted state. General Blanco, of Bogota, had been assassinated by his brother. In Peru civil and foreign wars were imminent. General Castilla had left Callao for Guayaquil with 10,000 men and 14 vessels. The British Consul at Havannah had made a return showing that 10,000 Africans had been landed in Cuba within three months. The King of the Sandwich Islands had abdi cated in favour of his son. VERA CRUZ, Nov. B.—The victories of Miramon were confirmed, and it was thought probable that Miramon and Robles would attaek Vera Cruz. Her Majesty's ship Amethyst had captured three Mexican vessels, and some firing had taken place. The Amethyst was blockading the port, in order to obtain reparation for the imprisonment of the Bri tish consul. HAVANNAH, Dec. 10. Sugar unchanged. Freights dull. Exchange on London 161 prem. NEW YORK, Dec. 13.—Money market was with out ',material change. Stock market was steady. Sales of New York Central shares, at 80: ; Reading shares, 40k; Erie shares, 91 ; Illinois Central shares, 59. Cotton was firm. Sales of the day 3,000 bales, at unchanged rates. Breadstuffs and provisions were without material alteration. Produce generally steady. NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 13.—Cotton in this market is stiffer, but not quotably higher. Sales to-day 10,500 bales ; ditto, three days, 31,002. Receipts, 41,000. MOBILE, Dec.l3.—Cotton easier. Sales to-day 3,000 bales. The Halifax latest was not landed at Queenstown, The City of Manchester had also arrived at Queenstown from New York on the 10th. Her advices are anticipated by those of the Europa. THE INVASION OF ENGLAND. TO WHE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—Mr. Horace Moule, in giving a lecture lately at Dorchester, on the invasion of England, alluded to the collision between Carthage and Rome. Rome, he said, was the France of those days, and Carthage was the England. Yes, in those days Carthage was, as England now is—rich, commercial, and confident in the command of the seas ; but the grave question moots itself, is Eng land's present policy calculated to preserve and maintain her maritime supremacy ? I fear not; and I feel convinced that every practical, honest, thinking man will agree with me when I say that England is seized with the madness of Carthage, so far as her maritime power is concerned ; her eyes are shut to the vast progress of the French navy and the French mercantile marina. We may build ships of war, but the day is fast approaching when we shall have no merchant sailors to man them. Why? will be the question asked by thou sand■ of heavily-taxed Englishmen. Here is the answer. By Act 12 and 13 Vic., cap. 29, England repealed her old navigation laws—or, in other words, she gave permission to ships of all nations to trade with her and her colonies upon the same footing and privileges as her own ships; but other nations persist to this day in excluding British vessels from their direct trade. Hence the reason for the enormous increase, equal to nine to one Eng lish, that has taken place in all foreign mercantile navies during the last ten years. By Act 16 and 17 Vic., cap. 131, British ships are allowed to be manned entirely by foreign seamen. I think these two Acts will prove that England is seized with the madness of Carthage. For the sake of £ s. d. we are sacrificing the honour and safety of this sea-girt isle. England's main bulwark—her mercantile marine—is fast going to destruction. When the British sailor's avocation is gone, can we depend on those foreigners whom we are encouraging by our free trade nonsense, or rather one sided trade, in supplanting our own shipping in every quarter of the globe ? Can we, I say, depend on them to stand by us in the hour of danger ? Are not France, Russia, and other maritime powers intently watching the effects of our shortsighted liberality, in the unconditional repeal of those navigation laws which made England the mistress of the seas? Compare our present policy with what it was in 1660, when the celebrated Navigation Act was passed to remedy the evil of our merchants employing foreigners, because their freight was at a lower rate than that of the English ships, whilst our own shipping was rotting in har bour, and our sailors, for want of employment at home, went on board Dutch ships. In consequence of the scarcity of British able seamen in 1859, it is found necessary to put the country to a great expense for the establishing of a reserve of Royal Naval Volunteers ; bud where are the men to come from ? Since the apprentice system was abolished, and foreign seamen have been allowed to earn and eat the bread of English sailors, the number of efficient able seamen in our merchant service has been reduced by tens of thousands. May the people of England see the fallacy of our present policy before we have given to the foreigner that which we may soon find it too difficult to avert —the supremacy of the seas.—l am, Pa., Dec. 23, 1859. A PROVINCIAL. L.dDY FBAAKLIN TO CAPTAIN MCLINTOCE. Capt. M'Clintock's narrative of the discovery of the fate of Sir John Franklin was published on Saturday. It contains the letter placed in Capt. McClintock's hands by Lady Franklin, containing the only . instructions that he could prevail upon her to give him : " Aberdeen, June 29, 1857. "My dear Captain M'Clintock,— You have kindly invited me to give you instructions,' but I cannot bring myself to feel that it would beright in me in any way to influence your judgment in the conduct of your noble undertaking ; and, indeed, I have no temptation to do so, since it appears to me that your views are almost identical with those which I had independently formed before I had the advantage of being thoroughly possessed of yours. But had this been otherwise, I trust you would have found me ready to prove the implicit confidence I place in you by yielding my own views to your more enlightened judgment; knowing, too, as I do, that your -whole heart also is in the cause, even as my own is. As to the objects of the expedition and their relative importance, I am sure you know that the rescue of any possible survivor of the Erebus and Terror would be to me, as it would be to you, the noblest result of our efforts. To this object I wish every other to be subordinate; and next to it in importance is the recovery of the unspeakably precious documents of the expedition, public and private, and the personal relics of my dear husband and his companions. And lastly, I trust it may , be in your power to confirm, directly or inferen tially, the claims of my husband's expedition to the earliest discovery of the passage, which, if Dr. Rae's report be true (and the government of our country has accepted and rewarded it as such), these mar tyrs in a noble cause achieved at their last ex tremity, after five long years of labour and suffer ing, if not at an earlier period. lam sure you will do all that man can do for the attainment of all these objects; my only fear is that you may spend yourselves too much in the effort; and you must, therefore, let me tell you how much dearer to me even than any of them is the preservation of the valuable lives of the hale band of heroes who are your companions and followers. May God in his great mercy preserve you from all harm amidst the labours and perils which await you, and re store you to us in health and safety as well as hon our. As to the honour I can have no misgiving. It will be yours as much if you fail (since you may fail in spite of every effort) as if you succeed ; and,be assured that,under any and all circumstances whatever, such is my unbounded confidence in you, you will possess and be entitled to the enduring gratitude of your sincere and attached friend, "i4Ng ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. On Saturday evening after a very pretty little French vaudeville, entitled the " Household Fairy," adapted by Mr. Frank Talfourd, from the new pantomime of " Punch and Judy," was performed for the first time, and the intro duction embodies an allegorical war between the Queen of Mirth (Miss Julia Ashton) and King Humbug (Mr. Robins), resolved to terminate the reign of the mighty monarch of imposition, the Queen makes Punch (Mr. J. Francis) the general of her forces, and at last puts her enemy completely to the rout. This martial tale, so re plete with moral instruction, is told in fashion some what loose and disjointed, and may be advantageously curtailed. However, it is lively and by no means deficient in humour. Punch rapidly goes through the aacient tragedy of the streets, knocking through trap-doors the various personages who habitually descend behind the mys terious curtain, and the Court of King Humbug serves as a vehicle for satirizing the "shams" of the day, his Majesty being introduced to "Big Ben," and a long series of unpopular personages, which, to the infinite mirth of the audience, terminates with the "Four Liver pool Merchants," on whose backs are depicted the heads of those animals which the Hyperboreans once sacrificed to Apollo. Dancing is always a feature at the St. James's Theatre. Miss Lydia Thompson, as Terpsichore, executes one of her most showy pas in conjunction with the corps de ballet. Punch goes through grotesque evolu tions with his wife Judy (Mr. Cockrill) and his dog Toby (Master Purvis, a clever little fellow), and Miss Ranoe and Miss Evans dash through a couple of "nigger pas de deux" with an amount of force and spirit that carries along all beholders. Particularly felicitous, too, is the manager in the discovery of a new scene painter named Coventry, who really elevates the once shabby St. James's into fair com petition with rivals of noted splendour. The " Crystal Caves of the Queen of Mirth," in which the fairies are sleeping after Troglodyte fashion, beneath a spreading land scape, is a good specimen of refined threatrical painting, and the " transformation scene" is a most effective com bination of all those glittering figures and mechanical deve lopements which are now 'deemed assential to the success of a pantomime. At the end of this scene, Mr. Coventry, the painter, and Mr. Chatterton, the manager, were both called by the audience. Tha harlequinade followed. The two clowns are Mr. Paul Herring, a veteran from tho suburbs, who displays a great deal of old school humour, and arr. Alfred Glanville. Among the mechanical tricks is a clever transformation of a grocer's shop into a tea• gardens. Morning performances are already announced for four successive Wednesdays, when the children of different schools will attend. MR. ALBERT SMITH.—A rumour was in general circulation in the metropolis on Saturday evening that this public favourite had expired at his residence at Fulham. We have the greatest pleasure in stating that the report is without foundation. On inquiry this morning at North End Villa, Fulham, the residence of Mr. Albert Smith, the reply was that he was progressing favourably to a speedy convalescence. A change for the better took place yester day afternoon, and from that time to the hour of going to press he was gradually getting better, and all apprehension of danger from a relapse is removed, in the opinion of Mr. Rae, his immediate medical attendant, and Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Oscar Clayton. Mil. COBDEN AND THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. — Mr. Cobden, M.P., had a lengthened audience of the Bm peror of the F renc h a t t h e Tuileries on 'Wednesday last. The Duke do Nemours and his son leave South ampton to-morrow in the Lisbon mail packet, on a visit to the King of Portugal. The Earl and Countess of Gainsborough and Lady Victoria Noel have arrived at St. Leonard's-on.-Sea, from their seat ; Exton-park, Rutland. INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : " ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 19. " The Colombo, with the mails from :Calcutta and China, arrived at Suez on the 17th inst. " The Delta and Valetta (known to have been delayed by adverse gales) not yet in sight." The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, DEC. 26. The Constitutionnel of to-day, in an article signed by the principal editor, M. Grandguellot, says the Times is perfectly correct in considering the pam phlet " Le Pape et le Conges" as a political expres sion of the good understanding and cohciliation between France and England. The Constitutionnel congratulates itself on the result, as it is necessary that the two great nations of the West remain united in the interest of civili zation and of the European equilibrium. M. Grand guillot calls, however, the attention of his readers to the difference in the political motives of the two nations, and states that France, far from intending to destroy the temporal power of the Pope, will, on the contrary, consolidate it by transforming it ac cording to the wants of modern times. PARIS, DEC. 25. It is stated that the Papal Nuncio visited Count Walewski yesterday in order to demand explana tions on the rumoured official origin of the pamphlet "Le Pape et le Congres." Count Walewski gave a positive denial to this rumour. PARIS, DEC. 24. The Patric of this evening states that Senor Calderon Colantes will be First Plenipotentiary of Spain at the Congress, Senor Martinez de la Rosa having refused the post on account of his health. The Pays pretends that all the journals are in error in their interpretation of the pamphlet " Le Pape et le Congres," which, according to the Pays, guarantees to the Pope all his present possessions. VIENNA, DEC. 23. The following official denial has been given to some statements published lately in different news- papers : The reports of numerous arrests having taken place in consequence of the meeting of Protestants in Kasmarkt and Miskolc are unfounded. The authorities have brought accusations against three persons only, for having excited the inhabi tant* to disobedience, but these three persons have been set at liberty, Two domiciliary visits have taken place by order of the competent tribunal and not of the police. MARSEILLES, DEC. 24. Letters from Constantinople of the 14th instant state that after numerous sittings of the Divan a definitive resolution was adopted, calling upon Europe to settle the Suez canal question in its political bearing by guaranteeing the integrity of the Turkish Empire. M. Thouvenel and the foar other ambassadors had agreed to that arrangement. The Grand Vizier and Fuad Pacha had drawn up the necessary notifications to that effect, which were to be sent to the different Powers. The Bulgarians, to escape the tyranny of the Pacha, were seeking refuge in large numbers in Servia. There was some rumour of the Turkish Government intending to interfere. The religious investiture had been granted to the Bey of Tunis, but the Porte claimed tribute from him. STOCKHOLM, DEC. 24. General Nordin and the Swedish Ambassador at Paris, Baron Adelsward, have been appointed Plenipotentiaries of Sweden to the Congress. In yesterday's sitting of the Diet, the Minister for Foreign Affairs deelared that, at the Congress, he will pursue a policy in conformity with the constitutional interests of Sweden. BERLIN, DEC. 24. The official Staats Anzeiger publishes an ordi nance, according to which the decree prohibiting the exportation of horses to foreign countries will cease to be in force from the Ist January next. DRESDEN, DEC. 24. The official Dresden Journal contains an ordi nance of the Minister of Finance, removing, from Ist January next, the prohibition to export horses over the frontier. BERLIN, DEC. 25. P rince Gortschakoff, on his journey to Paris, will stay here one or two days. NEUFCHATEL, DEC. 24. Count Pourtales, Prussian Ambassador at Paris, is expected here this evening. He will pass Christmas at this place with his family, and proceed nett week to Paris. TRIESTE, DEC. 25. The Calcutta and China mails have arrived, and bring the following news : SHANGHAI, DEC. 25. It is stated that the Chinese Government has ap plied for an American mediation in the late dif erencas. SINGAPORE, Nov. 21. Admiral Regnault de Genouilly has arrived here from Turon. The American vessel, Flora Temple, having on board 800 coolies for Havana, has been wrecked in the Chinese sea. The submarine cable, destined to be laid between Singapore and Java, has arrived here. FRANCE. PARIS, SUNDAY. TIIE BOURSE, Dec. 24.—The market has been dull, but without any material change in prices; Threes, after having been done at 70f. 35c., are new at 70f. 45e. Mobilier varied from 838 f. 75c. to 843 f. 75c. ; Lyons, 936 f. 25c. to 938 f. 75c.; Orleans, 1,4-12 f. 50c. to 1,417 f. 50c, ; Spanish Mobilier, 475 f. to 400 f. A letter from Paris says—" It is thought by some in Spain that the English Government might do something towards mitigating the horrors of this ill-advised war. England is now the only Power that has an accredited agent in Morocco ; and the English Government might use its influence with the Sultan with as good a chance of success as be tween Carlists and Christinos. The attempt could do no harm, and might do much good. At all events it is worth trying. I hear that, in order to check as much as possible the practice of reprisals, General O'Donnell offers an ounce of gold (about £3 95.) for every Moor brought in prisoner. The officer who is to command the Basque volunteers came to Paris a few days ago, with three or four members of the Provincial Deputation, with the object of purchasing equipments for his men; They proceeded to Liege to buy muskets, but it appears Liege was exhausted; and they have finally gone to England to try their chance there." LITERATUR.E. The Family Doctor: an Encyclopedia of Domestic Medicine and Household Surgery. Houlston and Wright, Paternoster-row. We have a high estimation of works which pre sent an epitome of a broad science and an amount of important information, in condensed form, for the general reader; and the volume before us is well adapted to meet the wants of many a house hold, and enlighten many minds on points of vital interest which might never be approached through a more abstruse and elaborate medium. This manual is a valuable compendium of medical, surgical, and sanitary experiences, avoiding all difficult and technical phraseology, yet dealing freely and intelligibly with facts and circumstances connected with our physiological existence, and forming a most available book of reference for family use. Emergencies and accidents frequently preclude the possibility of medical aid being immediately pro cured, and in such cases a volume of this character constitutes an important possession, and should hold a place in the book shelves of all classes. It contains, moreover, a mass of knowledge, which im parts to it somewhat of the tone of a general cyclo pcedia ; and the careful completeness of its compi lations and arrangement, combined with its authen tic and practical worth and inexpensive cost, re command it to the hands of all those who aspire to be useful members of society, and able to render assistance under the numerous " ills that flesh is heir to." Manners and Customs of the English Nation, front the Invasion of Julius Cesar to the Present Time. By John Brookes. James Blackwood, Paternoster Row. There must have been considerable research and industry on the part of the author of this volume; for to enter into the habits, customs, and curious particulars of the English people from the dis tant shadowy days of tattooing and 'wolf-skin robes to the present moments of crinoline and Beaufort paletots, is no light task to essay with success ; but Mr. Brookes has done his work well, and presents as with a most instructive and interesting account of the changes which have marked our state in all things. Social manners, political cabals, church ceremonies, the fluctuating fashion-books, the sys tems of " diatetics,". the styles of locomotives, pub lic pastimes, sports, trades, offices, and the whole) pantomimic shiftings on the face of " merrie Eng land" are " shown up" in vivid colours, and exhibit a connected narrative of events and appearances which we do not think can be equalled in any of the numerous volumes on the subject hitherto published. Among other somewhat startling facts, we are told that Richard 11. kept two thousand cooks, and that when he celebrated Christmas at Westminster Hall the daily consumption was twenty-eight oxen, three hundred sheep, and fowls without number, and on his coming to the throne the City fountains were made to flow with wine instead of water. Our Lord Mayor's Feasts may hide their dimished tables after this display of profusion. We are also told that James I. was a great trader in titles of nobility. His price for a barony was £lO,OOO, for the title of viscount £20,000, and for that of an earl £30,000. He also invented the new title of baronet, and by it raised £225,000; at the rate of £1,095 each baronetcy. Thus the King got money, and: many of the English aristocracy got their honours. This was the man who first styled himself " His Most Sacred Majesty." It strikes us, after reading of many wonderful circumstances connected with by gone Royalty, that we may congratulate ourselves on living in the reign of Queen Victoria. Mr. Brookes's entertaining work will amply repay the reader's perusal, and form a valuable addition to books of reference when we are discussing our forefathers. Now or Never. A Novel. By M. Betham Edwards, author of " The White House by the Sea." Edinburgh : Edmonston and Douglas. This is a very interesting story that cannot fail to please the reader. There is a great deal of life and character displayed in the course of the com plicated narrative. The unstable Polish Count Korvinski is well sketched. He was not badly disposed, although want of favourable circum stances, and the peculiar position he occupied, made him appear at first sight very unprincipled and hard hearted. Tom Winter is a fine specimen of his class, one whose honest heart and unpretending manners form an agreeable contrast to the insinuating ad dress and fascinating ease of the polished Count. Bertha Greene is a naturally described girl, one who would have been very happy in her own sphere of life, and indeed have been conspicuous there for her modest grace, and unassuming deportment, as it was transplanted to a society for which she was not at all fitted, she was completely thrown away. It was merely a passing fancy of the volatile lovers, when he married the farm-house beauty, and an in fatuation on her part which induced her to listen to vanity and accept the brilliant offer, than to be guided by reason and choose her faith ' ful cousin, Tom Winter. It is a very satis factory point in the tale that after the melancholy death of the Count the cousins were not united. There is always too much of that sort of re-adjustment in adverse cases to be met with in stories, which improbability would never have coincided with a work whose object is to set forth that one should be decided in action in this uncertain life, where, for the most part, it is to choose between " Now or Never." Once let the opportunity pass by and there is no second chance afforded. The best character in the story is Essex Ray, a young physician. He is admirably pour trayed, and his firm course of conduct, actuated by the highest motives, and sustained by the most unflinching energy is a marked contrast to the irritating existence of the Count, who might be so much better had he only improved his op portunities. Agatha Sherlock is a first-rate delinea tion of a heartless coquette, whose sole aim in life was to make a grand marriage, and whose only amusement was to attract the attention of distin guished men by her airs and graces. The solemn lesson she received was no warning to her, but it was nevertheless satisfactory to see the crafty caught in their own toils, and the machina tions of the wicked rput to confusion. An nette Hawthorne is a charming maiden, re freshing to contemplate after the insipidity of Bertha, and the audacity of Agatha. The only flaw in Essex Ray was that he was attracted by such:a girl as Agatha, but it is often the case in life, that the most sensible men form the most unsuit able attachments. He was saved in a marvellous manner from such a direful fate, and it is welcome tidings, at the conclusion, to hear that he at last appreciates the superiority of Annette. She had been travelling about for many years after her uncle's death, and Essex had lost all trace of her. There is enough in this book, with its varied sketches and its clever descriptions, to render it an attractive study to the many who would pass som e hours agreeably at this holiday season. Heathen and .Rely Lands. By Capt. J. P. Briggs. Smith, Elder, and CO. This is a very agreeable volume of travels, which gives the reader a panorama of various countries. The writer spares us the details of his voyage or settlement abroad, but commences his sketches in Taboz, in which province he occupied the official position of Deputy Commissioner. After describ ing this locality and the Tenasserim and Martaban provinces, with some interesting chapters on the national habits and character, he gives us an account of a chase after Dacoits, in which pursuit he was very successful. In the second and larger portion of the work Captain Briggs relates his im pressions of the countries he visited during some years of leisure which he employed in travelling. He traversed Egypt, and was greatly impressed by the magnificence of the ruins of Thebes and Karnak, and the still existing pyramids and Sphinx. He penetrated into some curious recesses more pleasant to read of than to explore; an cient mummy pits where sleep the con temporaries of the Pharoahs and Ptolemies ; dark winding passages and secret chambers where a breath of air from the outer world rarely penetrates. Having finished his sur vey of the wonders of Egypt, he fulfilled a long cherished wish by starting for the Holy Land. In a sympathetic and reverent spirit, without super stition or flippancy, he trod the Holy Places, and gives us some account of the present state of Jeru salem, and of the Jews in their own land. He mingles a little historical and geological informa tion with his pictures of people and places; his style is fresh and simple, without any degree of affectation or pretension, and there is little need for the apology which he makes for his inexperience in the literary craft. Much pleasant information may be gathered from his pages, which, without possessing any remarkable degree of ability or originality, are freshly and sensibly written, and are calculated to interest and gratify readers of very various tastes. THE INDIAN MAIL—The departure of the India and China mails via Marseilles is postponed until to-mor row (Tuesday) evening.. DUEL IN PARIS.—A second hostile meeting took place yesterday, at noon, between the Marquis de galiffet and Count do Lauriston, As on the former occasion, the combatants fought with swords. Both being perfect mas ters of their weapon, nearly half an hour passed over before either party could succeed in inflicting a wound on his ad. versary. At last, the Count's sword entered the Marquis's hip, inflicting a wound near the bone, but not of any gravity. The seconds then interfered, declaring that hon• our was fully satisfied. The two opponents shook hands, and the affair terminated. .RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN . The adjourned special meeting of this company was held on Saturky at the Euston station, for the purpose of authorising the affixing of the compa n y 's seal to the lease of the Lancashire and Carlisle Rail way, and also to an agreement between the London and North-Western, Lancaster and Carlisle, and Kendal and Windermere Companies, in relation to the leases from the Kendal and Windermere to the Lancaster and Carlisle Company, and to other ar rangements subsisting between the companies re spectively—Mr. R. Benson in the chair. Mr. E. C. Stewart, the secretary, read the notice convening the meeting. The CHAIRMAN explained that the meeting wee of a formal character to authorise the seal of the company to be affixed to the lease of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, the terms of which h ad been approved at meetings of the proprietors of both. companies held on the 10th of September last. The only matter that remained was an arrangement with the Kendal and 'Windermere Railway Com pany, which had an agreement with the Lancaster and Carlisle Company to take a certain proportion of the net receipts for the use of its railway. The proportion was 1-28th part, which was a very pro' per agreement between the two companies ; but when the Lancaster and Carlisle Company leased their line to the London and North-Western Com pany the position of the Kendal and Windermere was somewhat altered, and it therefore became ne* cessary to make an arrangement with them so as to compensate for the change. That had been done by the London and North-Western Company under taking to pay the Kendal and Windermere Rail way Company £2,590 4s. half yearly. This wee about £4OO a year more than under the old arrange* ment, and was about what it would be under the new arrangement when the London and North" Western paid their proprietors 5 per cent. per au* num. By this arrangement they would s ave the trouble and expense of keeping separate accounts! which would be some equivalent for the increased allowance. That was the only new matter since the agreement had been sanctioned. The solicitor would read any portion of the documents that might be required. term of the lease was altered from that the Mr. SWIFT, the solicitor, then explained years. The debenture debt of the Lancaster and Carlisle Company was fixed at £440,000, and the capital at £2,420,000, neither of which could be in/ creased without the assent of the London and Nor th " Western Company. The terms were that when the London and North-Western Company paid 41. per 1,000 to 900 cent. dividend the Lancaster and Carlisle would re ceive 81 per cent. ; when they pay 41- per cent. the Lancaster and Carlisle - vould receive 9 per cent.; when they paid 41 per cent. the Lancaster and Ciu; lisle world receive 91 per cent. ; when they pad per cent. the Lancaster and Carlisle would receive 91 per cent. ; and when the paid 6 per cent. the Lancaster and Carlisle would receive 10i per cent.. and so on for any greater or less fraction than per cent. The London and North-Western Weal, have to pay interest on any increase of the capital of the leased lines. There was a small increase made in the allowance for the services of the offical* and £5O a-year would be paid in lieu of tr ansfer fees, in order to place the whole matter under the control of the London and North-Western Corn" pan. After some observations from two proprietors l'e; specting the terms which had been already decided on at a former meeting. The CHAIRMAN moved a formal resolution ar proving the lease of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, dated December 22, 1859, and authorizing it to be sealed in duplicate. The motion was seconded and carried. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the directors were authorized to affix the company's seal to the agreement between the North-Western Company' the Lancaster and Carlisle, and the Kendal an , anies relatin g Windermere Comp to the leases the latter railway to the ' Lancaster and Carlisle and other matters. Another formal resolution was also passed unaei - mously, authorizing the directors to carry out t. preceding resolution, and to affix the company '' seal to all such documents as might be necessary for that purpose, to make arrangements with regard to the allotment of any new stock that might here after be issued by the London and North-Western Company, so as to enable the Lancaster and Car. lisle Railway Company to participate therein. The meeting then siaparated. DUBLIN KINGSTOWN. On Friday an important extension Of ingstovrF• way was opened to the new pier at King The pier was erected by the Board of Public Workd and the extension line, also, was made by them, and both were now rented to the company. SP' 3cua i n eon trains run from Westland-row, Dublin nexion with the steamers, to and from Dublin, yhand i this rail throe times a-day—viz., at 8 30 a.m., 1 30 an d '1 p.m. These trams run direct to the pier w ithons stopping. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK. It appears the local shareholders in this conk. play have issued a circular to their fellow pro' prietors, in which they represent the offer recently made by the Great Southern and Western Compaq' as being wholly incommensurate with the value.of the property. The offer of the Great Southern and Western Company was 1 per cent. for the year commencing June 30, 1861, and three per cent. thereafter. They state that in 1854 the receipts were £50,137; in 1856, £57,000; in 1857,158,3 231 in 1858, £61,000 and in 1859, £67,772, while e, red. duction of £3,000 was made in the working 0% 4 penses of the line. The receipts in five years show an increase of .£17,600, which enabled the directors to pay the original shareholders for the last half. year a dividend at the rate of 1 per cent. per annum and they state that the current receipts will afford a dividend at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum for the present half-year, after paying all interest on borrowed capital and providing :for the dividends of the preference shareholders. LORD ABERDEEN ON RIFLE CORD'' The landholders of Aberdeenshire met on Weir' nesday afternoon, in the County-buildings, deen . --- . -Mr. Thomas, the convener of the countii presidin—anent imposing a voluntary assos illen on their property, for the purpose of defraying cessary . expenses in the formation of county 11 1 and artillery corps. There was a numerousattenu.‘ ance. From a statement read by the convener, i lk appears that at the present moment there are nearli 800 volunteers in the various districts of theconnti: Li ners many of whom, through their own and the . fa liberality, will require very little assistance in re gard to uniform, &c. The following letter was "'— from the Earl of Aberdeen, lord-lieutenant of t'- from county : tc Argyle House, December 19, 1859. cc My dear Sir,--I have to transmit to you, for the infer. mation of the county received my the to my circula r of the 26th ult. My absence from Scotland, and the present s tate of make it impossible for me to atten d that oat' 0 alb§ ing, and I am, therefore, desirous of availing myse lf f nno s opportunity to put you in possession of my con -5 d the subject with respect to which it has been ened, an to inform you of the course which it is my intention to adopt. Different opinions no doubt exist as t o the necemitt or expediency of volunteer corps. Argument s not defteic, their in weight may be urged, both against them and on behalf. Individually, I entertain a very decidod 01).111i1 rt in their favour, but I apprehend that this question Is ,11, one which we are now called upon to discuss. The Pu s P a. opinion of the country at large has been expressed ill l a . ner too unequivocal to be mistaken, and as regar d ,. 1 ,,,, noir deenshire itself, it does not appear to me that We tr v - i ithin. to consider whether a volunteer force is to be ral ° ,7,y be of the county, but what the most efficient inean°4,7,4'whink carrying into execution the resolutions le that °u — T ~.n no t were adopted during the course of past summer. . • doubt that the expenses which must attend the organisation of such a force should not be allowed to fall entirely upon its members, and that to a considerable extent at least WI should be defrayed by the country at large whether bathl of general subscription, voluntaryassessinent, or such!: mode as may appeur preferable. In two parishes ill, r e f t own immediate neighbourhood more than /200 has be en subscribed by the tenant farmers and volunteers alon e ' A I wards the expenses of the companies there formed ; an cannot but feel that such patriotic liberality °di' deserves teil n: responded to in a similar spirit. I make no doubt t hat other parishes will, if called on , be ready to display equal , fl i s ation But it is absolutelp necessaryto the successful org of any such movement that it should p ossess a centre and ro of cogn i s ed head. Such a centre might natura ll y be supposed to exist in the lord - lieu tenant of the count y . My age sli d i r firmities, however , render it im p ossible for me to u nderta ! the increased fatigue and responsibility which these Iron d u ti e s would involve; and I have therefo re netermined to reques t her Majesty's permission to appoint a vice-lieutenans who will take charge of the whole m ilitar y business of the county, whether relating to militia or to volunteer coirt and who will exercise all the power s at present invested 01 myself. I have requested Col. Fraser, of Castle Fraser, to undertake this o ffi ce, and lam happy to sa y that he hal consented to do so. His experience in affairs of a similar nature, and the personal weight of his position and character, will, I trust, ensure a general approval, by the county" eg this appointment.—l remain, my dear sir, yours very faith fully, b y A f terNirhi" ABERDEBIi." "A. Thomson, Esq., of Banchory, Convener of the County." which the discussion gentlem e gentlemen im posed resolution u upon an assessment of 1 -d. in the pound on their property. ~., berdeen Tow wThheicahpphoeinlstmasenntoomfiCnoaltoendelbFyrroerrd t . o t the office to received with warm applause. eci:serriiveedo, onwilthg ------ . The Irish papers state that Kirwan, who wits sentenced to death some years ago for the murder of hie wife on Ireland's Eye, and whose sentence was commuted to transportation for life, and who was finally deported to Bermuda, has obtained through the energetic and enduring sympathy of his friends at home a furthr commutation of his sentence • and, on a report of his ' very proper conduct while in foreign parts, he has been liberated and %In b e allowed to return home. 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