The Sun. — London, England, 1858-12-21 00:00:00

On Thursday will be published, WILL HE DO WITH IT ? By PISISTRATITS CAXTON, Author of "My Novel," &c. Originally published in " Blackwood's Magazine." Four Volumes, Post Octavo, price £2 2s. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London. , Nv HAT W INTER. —NO GENTLEMAN during the Winter should be without one of MACDOUGALL'S FAMOUS HIGHLAND CLOAKS, Universally acknowledged to be the most comfortable, useful, and gentlemanly upper Garment now 'D in use, either o r Town wear, or the Rail , the Co ach, Riding, and Walking. They are made of Scotch Tweeds, in every variety of Plain Colours, and very pretty Mixtures : also in dark Grey and Black, for Clergymen's wear. Good useful qualities from.... 265. to 365. The best do. do. .... 38s. to 50s. The Height and Size round Shoulders is sufficient measure. Patterns and price per post, free. Any number of Cloaks forwarded in four days from date of order, free to London. D. MACDOUGALL, THE ROYAL TARTAN WAREHOML INVERNESS. 4 • ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa. Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison.—The public are respectfully in formed that this new and ekgant Theatre IS NOW OPEN for the first ENGLISH OPERA SEASON THIS EVENING D e c. 21, when will be presented an entirely new and original Opera, by Mr. W. Balk, entitled SATANELLA ; or, THE POWER OF LOVE. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. After which the National Anthem. Commence at Seven, ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, LIVING TOO FAST. And MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. Followed by a new Farce, in one act, entitled THIRTY-THREE NEXT BIRTHDAY. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET.. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS ETENING will be performed a new Comedy, THE TIDE OF TIME. Messrs. Buckstone, Chippendale &c. ; Mesdames Reynolds and Poynter. A new Spanish Ballet, THE INFLUENCE OF GRACE. In which Perea Nena will appear. THE TOODLES. Sir Win. Don, Bart. And A DAUGIITEII TO MARRY. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE, Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, Will be Opened for the season on CHRISTMAS EVE, Fri day, Dec. 21, when will be produced a new Burlesque, written. expressly for the Lyceum Company by Robert B. Brough„ and entitled THE SIEGE OF TROY. The new and gor geous scenery by Mr. William Callcott. The principal cha racters by Mrs. Keeley. Miss Julia St. George , Mrs. Weston, Miss Portman, Miss Talbot, Miss Kate Saxon, Miss E. Romer, ; Mr. Emery, Mr. Charles Young, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. J. Rogers, Mr. Barrett, &c. ; Miss Rosina Wright, Miss M. Charles, Miss Harriet Dalton, and a numerous Corps de Bal let will also appear. After the Burlesque a new Comic Pantomime, replete with new tricks and mechanical devices, entitled HARLEQUIN TOY HORSE ; or, The Cremorne Fete. Clown, Mr Charles Lauri ; Harlaquin, Mr. John Lauri ; Pantaloon, Mr. Henry Lauri ' • Columbine, Miss Jenny Lauri. The Perfornianees will commence on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday with the Comedietta of TOO MUCH FOR GOOD NATURE. A Morning Performance of the Burlesque and Pantomime on Boxing-day, to commence at two o'clocky precise! ; doors open at half-past one. Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 35. ; Pit, 2s. ; Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, is. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at hall-past 6, to commence at 7 every evening. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, THE RULE OF THREE. After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. THE LITTLE SAVAGE. And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. Commence at 7 o'clock. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING, and four following nights, the great Eastern Spectacle of THE REVOLT IN INDIA; •r, The Fugitives and their Faithful Steed. After which SCENES IN THE ARENA, introducing Mr. W. Cooke, and his beautiful horses, Mr. Runnels, Madame Blanche, Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Fleurette, and the finest troupe of equestrians in the kingdom. To conclude with the Farce of SHOOTING THE MOON. A famous, magnificent, and matchless Christmas Panto mime on Boxing-night, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUNCHAUSEN ; or, The King of the Pumpkins, unprece dented for comicality and splendour. Two Performances of the Pantomime on Boxing-day, viz., at Two and Seven o'clock. Dress Circle, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, is, ; Galleries, 6d. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road. — Proprietor --C. MORTON. The public is most respectfully informed that the FINE ARTS GALLERY, in connection witk the above Hall, IS NOW OPEN DAY AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec tion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters -and is also devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist ing Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the Kingdom. The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at Seven o'clock. In addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight. in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. TILE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 21. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 48—highest since noon yesterday. 48—lowest this morning and during the night. 53—this day at noon. BanomrrEx-29.73. WIND, South-`Westerly; moderate breeze, and hazy, Rain in the morning. THE SUN. TUESDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1858. The President's Message, to which we referred in The Sun of Saturday, has been duly received, and will be found in extenso in our impression of yesterday. The telegram, however, contained its most prominent features—all, indeed, that would materially interest persons on this side of the Atlantic. Mr. BUCHANAN is anxious to teach a salutary lesson to the great nation of which he is chief magistrate. He sees that they possess the elements of greatness, but that there are many drawbacks which may prevent the full development of the power and prosperity which he anticipates. He there fore lectures in a graver manner than may be quite agreeable to the parties ; but still the censure is joined with a modicum of praise that sweetens the dose, and renders it sufficiently palatable to be swallowed without any extraordinary effort. Our transatlantic bretlifetiare - not very willing to accept anything that may be considered derogatory to their dignity ; but when it is so judiciously mixed that it can be taken without any injury to the motel' propre it may prove highly beneficial to the go-a-head race. We are told that Kansas is at peace. It is time that it should be so. Unfortunately, however, the system of slavery forced on the inhabitants, under the pressure of bowie knives and revolvers bran dished and. pointed by a set of truculent ruffians from a neighbouring state, still exists. Kansas is now a slave state, and must continue so for a cer tain period, which the inhabitants who have the may correct, right of voting they have not in the interim been demoralised by the hideous prac tice. The "domestic institution" has been forced on unwilling s ubjects, but it may be difficult to refo rm an evil, to abate a social nuisance, that has once taken root in the soil. The slave. s y ste m was most unfairly and unconstitutionally forced on K ansas, and now it must be. maintained against the will of the people for a certain time. Slaves, it appears, are considered as property in the American tribu nals, and they may be taken even into the Free States, and held there without the odious claim being in any degree weakened. Utah has submitted. BRIGHAM YOUNG has had sufficient wisdom to see that in a contest with the United States his party must have failed, and he has acted prudently before the question had become too serious, and his party had been implicated be- a I s , .a Saito a. 4( "1 1 • . Wftzt, , Aft ..„ik..1114 . dig F:' , •••1„,1 • ~! ! yond the possibility of extrication. " War to the knife " has been averted just at the last moment, and the Mormons may still indulge in p )13-gamy and other tastes scarcely more justifiable. The abandonment of " the right of se - rch," and the adoption of the principle that " free hips made free goods," were, of course, very pleasing to the PRESIDENT; but although he speaks of his detes tation of the Slave Trade, we do not see that effi cient measures have been taken to put it down. He thinks if Cuba could be ceded to the Government at Washington that something might be done. That is the single obstacle to active inter ference. but we cannot quite see how the desired annexation would improve the prospects of emanci pation. Let slavery be abolished at home ; let the planters show that they recognise liberty in black, as well as white, and then we may be prepare, l to witness the surrender of Cuba by Spain, if it can be obtained on fair and equitable terms. A Marquisate, we doubt not, will reward the Earl of ELGIN upon his return homewards. Never has Minister Plenipotentiary more brilliantly earned that high recompense. Entrusted with a most weighty responsibility in the midst of a general confusion both at home and abroad, Lord ELGIN has so triumphantly acquitted himself of it in those remote Asiatic seas that his course has been everywhere marked by a series of swift and bloodless successes. Scarcely had he been de spatched eastwards upon his great mission of pacification when the material forces, both military and maritime, backing up his claims upon the respectful attention of the Chinese Government, were diverted from their original destination in consequence of the sudden and alarming outbreak of the Indian insurrection. Deprived of those forces for a while, his Excellency retraced his steps as far as Calcutta, prepared, if requisite, to dedicate his energies to the service of the Crown in connection with the suppression of the revolt in Hi ndostan. Thanks to the calm self-reliance, however, of Clemency CANNING and to the rapid triumphs over the herd of sepoy mutineers, won by the comparative hand ful of English soldiers, led on against their swarm of foes by heroes like HAVELOCK, and NEIL, and OUTRAM, and NICHOLSON, and INGLIS, and afterwards by the daring Commander-in-Chief, newly created Lord CLYDE of Clydesdale—the Earl of ELGIN and KINCARDINE was soon enabled to return to the still more eastern scene of war, the arena, as it was soon destined to be, of his almost unparalleled series of rapid and comprehensive pa cifications. Under the auspices of this able diplo matist, the second and most memorable of our great wars with China was brought about immedi ately to a happy termination. But little was re quired to be accomplished to this end by our naval armament under Admiral SEYMOUR, and still less by our land forces under General STRAUBENZEE. An empire constituting more than one entire third of the human race was conquered at the point of the pen rather than at the point of the sword. The insulation of Cbina from the rest of the world was in a few days terminated, after its existence as a system uninterruptedly during all these past cen turies. Mr. Consul PAluas had not long had the doubtless ineffable satisfaction of literally " collar ing" his old antagonist, Commissioner YEII, and carrying him off summarily to durance vile in the cus tody of some half-dozen blue jackets, led on by two or three stripling midshipmen. Sir JOHN BOWRING had not long witnessed the complete expiation by the Chinese authorities atCanton, of the flagrant and wan ton outrage committed by them quite unprovokedly in the midst of a profound peace against the flag of England—when the famous treaty of Shanghai was authenticated and completed under a few strokes of the-pen by Lord ELGIN and the Chinese Commis sioners. Scarcely had the tidings of this great and peaceful triumph reached the Home Government, when they were followed by others equally sur prising and equally satisfactory :—those recounting to us the terms of the companion treaty completed by Lord ELGIN directly afterwards at Jeddo— opening up for the first time political and commer cial relations between the British and Japanese Empires. Between the date of Lord ELGIN'S no mination to this great Eastern mission and that of the latest of his now renowned and historical diplo matic triumphs, the administration at home had changed hands completely. The Government and the Opposition had exchanged places in Parliament. Lord PALMERSTON was out—Lord DERBY was in. A Whig Ministry had despatched his Excellency to the Chinese seas—a Conservative Cabinet received the intelligence of his speedy successes within a few months from the time of its unexpected instal lation. Neither the political changes at home nor the internecine conflict raging comparatively close at hand in the Bengal Presidency, in any way seems to have appreciably affected the fortunes of the mission intrusted to the Earl of ELGIN and KINCARDINE. It mattered apparently little to his excellency who might be installed in offi at home, or what might be the perils encountered elsewhere by the forces of the Crown—those intrusted to the guidance of his will, as ambassador extraordinary to China, and incidentally also to Japan, were to testify in a signal manner his rare and remarkable capacities as a Diplomatist. They have done so. Everywhere his excellency has triumphed over all opposition. Upon the completion of his crowning , success over those gigantcsque governments of Asia and the Eastern Archipelago, he will return home wards. Lord ELGIN is now only in the forty-eighth year of his age. Nobly has he served the Crown and the country in both hemispheres—as Governor- General of Canada, as Ambassador to China, as Plenipotentiary to the Japanese Government. He has deserved well of his country. He should bo greeted by no common welcome on his reappearance amongst us. The ancient motto of his heuse— Fuimus—should apply henceforth to the earl- doms of ELGIN and KINCARDINE. He has fairly earned for himself the loftier honours symbolised in the velvet cap and the jewelled coronet of a Marquisate. His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the Countess Bernsferff have left town on a visit to the Mar quis and Marchioness of Salisbury, at Hatfield. The Marquis and Marchioness of Drogheda have been entertaining a distinkuished company at Moore Abbey, the family seat in county Kildare, including his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Eglinton, the Earl and Countess of Donoughmore, the Countess of Desert, Lady Cloncurry, Lord and Lady Naas, Col. the Hon. C. H. Lindsay, Hon. Col. Feilding, &c. There have been amateur theatrical performances and a grand ball in compliment to the Lord Lieutenant, to both of which a large number of the neighbouring aristocracy and gentry- were invited. Lord and Lady Huntingfield have left the St. George's Hotel for Heveningham Hall, Suffolk. Sir Thomas and Lady Redington have left the St. George's Hotel for Ireland. Mrs. Lane Fox has arrived at the St. George's Hotel from Hatfield House. DEATH OF SIR HENRY JOHN LAMBERT, BART. —We have to record the demise of the above respected baronet, who died on Friday at Aston Hall, Oxon. The deceased baronet was born in 1792, and married, in 1821, Anna Maria, youngest daughter of the Hon. Edward Foley, son of the first Lord Foley. In 1802 he succeeded his father in the baronetcy. The first baronet was an opulent mer chant of the City of London, 'who supplied the Treasury with large sums of money, and was, in recognition of his services to the State, created a baronet. The deceased is succeeded by his eldest son, Henry Edward F ranc i s , b o r n in 1822, now sixth baronet. SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1858. LATEST NEWS. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. The Emperor yesterday gave a private audience to M. Corvaia, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Equador, and M. Alberdi, appointed in the same quality by the Argentine Confederation, who presented to his Majesty their credentials. M. Marcoleta, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Nica ragua, who, in the absence of the Emperor, had delivered his letters of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also had a private audience. The Emperor afterwards received General Almonte, the Mexican Minister. A journal says that Prince Jerome is again suffer ing from slight indisposition. The statement is quite unfounded. The Grand Duke Constantine arrived in Paris this afternoon at half-past one o'clock. His Impe rial Highness was received at the railway station by the Russian Ambassador ; H.I.H. and suite was immediately conducted to the Palace of the Tuileries. At four o'clock he paid a visit to the Hotel of the Embassy. To-morrow at 12 o'clock the Court of Appeal of the Correctional Police will hear M. de Montalem bert's appeal against the sentence which the Em peror had by the note in the .Zloniteur sought entirely to efface. • The Toulonnais gives some account of the arrival of the Grand Duke Constantine at Toulon :—" The Russian squadron on its arrival was received with a salute from all the vessels in the roadstead. Early in the afternoon the Grand Duke landed at the arsenal under a second salute from all the vessels, and proceeded in an open carriage to the Prefec ture. In the evening, there was a grand dinner given to his Imperial Highness on board the admi ral's ship the Bretagne, at which all the prineipal civil and military authorities were present. salute of 24 guns was fired by the Bretagne on the arrival of the Prince on board, which was returned by the Russian line-of-battle ship the Rattvisan. On the following morning his Imperial Highness left for Marseilles on board the Advice boat Rurik." On his arrival there, a letter states, the authorities went on board to pay their respects, and H.I.H. entertained them at breakfast, and afterwards left for Paris. The Moniteur publishes the official return of the customs revenue for last month and for the expired 11 months of the present year. The receipts of November amounted to 12,627,411 f., being an in crease of 270,638 f. as compared with the corre sponding month of last year. The amount received during the 11 months was 167,365,099 f., showing a decrease as compared with the same period of 1857 of 2,575,106 f. Those items of revenue which have shown an improvement from the beginning of the present year to the end of November are French colonial sugar, 14,591,918 f. ; cocoa, 256,069 f. ; coffee, 642, 673 f. ; hemp and flax, 413,701 f. ; cochi neal,4l,s2of.; raw cotton, 131,922 f. ; coal, 645,007 f.; oil, 521,795 f. ; rough salt, 15,096 f. ; raw and spun silk, 45,303 f. ; sulphur, 47,432 f. ; pepper, 8,478 f. Those which show the greatest falling off are—fo reign sugar, 6,222,153 f. ; cattle and sheep, 100,975 f.; mahogany, 62,462 f. ; potable liquors, 5,879,079 f. ; corn, 573,905 f. ; hemp and flax thread, 261,510 f. ; oleaginous seeds, 311,054 f. ; tallow, 167,082 f. ; indigo, 197,299 f. ; raw wool, 402,840 f. ; rough castings, 1,669,731 f. ; bar iron, steel, and copper, and 'lead, 575,245 f. ; linen and hempen cloth, 129,520 f. ; gold and silver, 63,003 f. (the amount of the former was 1,683,808 f., and of the latter, 7,096,188 f.) ; sundries, 3,275,744 f." The number of French vessels which entered the different ports during the 11 months of the present year was 9,838, measuring 1,496,083 tons, being, as compared with 1857, a decrease of 378 vessels, and an increase of 42,776 tons. The number of departures in 1858 was 8,471, measuring 1,288,296 tons, being an in crease on the preceding year of 2,072 vessels and 175,000 tons. The number of foreign vessels which have arrived in the 11 months of the present year was 12,433, measuring 2,014,553 tons, being a de crease, as compared with the corresponding period of 1857, of 1,373 vessels and 312,649 tons. The departures gave 9,788 vessels and 1,358,804 tons, being an increase of 1,561 vessels and 93,106 tons. BOURSE, Dec. 20.—The market has been very flat ; capitalists are unwilling to take the lead in any important movement, so long as nothing is decided about the newly-projected Bank of Credit. Threes have been done at 73f. 15c. and 73f. 10c. ; Mobilier at 975 f. and 970 f. ; Orleans, 1,392 f. 50e. and 1,390 f. ; Northern, 1,005 f. and 1,002 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 881 f. 25c. to 878 f. 75e. ; Southern, 587 f. 50c. and 582 f. 50c. ; and Austrian, 640 f. and 635 f. The following were the last quotations : tt per Cents. .... 96 55 Credit Fonder -- -- Do. end month Belgian 4} 3 per Cents. 72 95 Piedmontese (5) Do. end month.... 73 5 Roman 93 Bank Shares. 3005 Austrian Cr6dit Mobilier 967 50 Spanish Threes Do. Account 966 25 Home Debt 43 50 BE-ORGANISATION OF THE INDIAN ARMY. THE NAVY. From letters which have recently been received from Australia it appears that up to the time of the despatch of the mail nothing whatever had been heard of the Sappho, 12, Commander F. Moresby, which sailed from the Cape of Good Hope for Aus tralia in the month of Jan. last. H.M.'s screw steamer Cordclia, 11, Commander C. E. H. Vernon, had arrived from making a careful search along the whole track the missing vessel was supposed to have taken, but without meeting any traces what ever of her. There is, therefore, too much reason to fear that the vessel has foundered at sea, and that all on board have perished. Nothing whatever had been heard in Australia of the alleged wreck of the vessel on an uninhabited island and the rescue of a portion of the crew, and the statements to that effect which were made public a short time since have been ascertained to be without founda tion. A court-martial will take place to-day on board the Victory, at Portsmouth, to try Capt. Thos. H. Mason, commanding H.M.'s ship Curagoa, and the master of that ship, Mr. E. Maunder, for getting the ship ashore in the Mediterranean. The lads belonging to the Illustrious, Captain R. Harris, at Portsmouth naval cadet training ship, were mustered yesterday morning on board, after which they were granted the usual Christmas holi days. The repairs of the machinery of the screw steam ship Victor Emmanuel, 91, Capt. J. Wilcox have been completed at Devonport. It is expected she will be out of the shipwrights' hands on Thursday. The paddlewheel steam sloop Virago, 6, Com mander M. B. Dunn, will be ready for sea on New Year's-day. The screw steamship Desperate, 8, Commander R. G. Craigie, was inspected in Plymouth Sound, on Saturday by Capt. W. J. Williams. She dis charged her powder in the evening, and on Sunday morning went alongside the jetty at the Devonport Dockyard preparatory to her being paid off. The steam tender Avon, Second Master J. Palmer, left Plymouth on Saturday for Wales. The screw steamship Liffey, 51, took in her pow der-at Plymouth on Saturday. Mr. Dunbar has, by arrangement with the au thorities, substituted the Cospatrick for the convey ance of detachments to India in place of the dis - masted Bombay. The troops in Cork will go to Plymouth for embarkation. Captain the Hon. J. R. Drummond, C. 8., was yesterday appointed Commodore Superintendent at Woolwich, vice Commodore Shepherd, appointed to flag rank. The gallant officer relinquished his duties as one of the Junior Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty yesterday, and will hoist his flag at Woolwich to-day. Rear• Admiral the Hon. F. T. Pelham, C. 8., is mentioned as likely to suceed Cap tain the Hon. J. R. Drummond, C.B. Commander G. P. Mends is promoted; Lieut. J. Moresby is promoted to Commander ; and Lieut. E. Keane is to be Commander on the reserved half pay-list, vice Rabbett, deceased. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—The attention of Government—that of the Royal Commission appointed by it—but especially that of a vast body of the people of Britain, being called to the reorganisation of the Native Indian Army, I venture to make a few remarks on it. In doing so I must, in the first place, say that it never was my lot to serve in India, and I will not, there fore, presume to give any opinion on various points which may be considered as placing that army on a different footing from European armies ; but will confine myself to a few facts, as respecting our Portuguese allies at the commencement of the Peninsular War. It will, of course, be remembered what the state of that army was in the beginning of 1809. During that year it took little part in the great operations under Wellington, except an elite body of them, which did good service ; first under Colonel Trat, in the north of Portugal, after the rout of Soult from Oporto, and afterwards under Sir Robert Wilson, at the Battle of Talavera. Their main force had been left in Portugal for organisation under Marshal Beresford. In the campaigns that followed the system adopted was this—a Brigade of Portuguese troops was usually attached to two Brigades of British, and right well did they always do their work to the end of the war. Would not a plan somewhat similar to this be likely to succeed, if adopted with regard to a new-formed Indian Army ? Our regular army in India being at this moment called 100,000 men of all arms, could not it be thereby reduced to—say 70,000—thus liberating 30,000 troops who have fought and suffered so severely, so long and so suc cessfully ! This number might also be greatly re duced after a time. Another word, Sir, on the point. Raise 100,000 native troops—unite them judiciously in every pos sible way and place, with even 50,000 British troops, and there would be no fears for our sway in India. —I am, faithfully yours, AN OLD SOLDIER. The Welch Hills, Dec. 20, 1858. LONDON BRIDGE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. am an old inhabitant of Southwark, and well remember the dangers for many years affecting life and property in connection with the narrow arches of old London-bridge. I remember, too, as a matter of course, the present bridge being built, and often contrast the destruction of life and pro perty under the old bridge with the comparatively small inconveniency of the present magnificent structure. But the bridge is inadequate to the traffic, never theless, and some remedy must ere long be found. Sidney Smith told us long ago that it would re quire some bishop to be killed on a railway before due precautions were taken to guard against acci dents. The same, perhaps, may be said of the perilous traffic over London-bridge ; but this is no reason why, in endeavouring to flee the ills we have we should incur others which will be worse. We are now in danger of this. I remember that when the present bridge was built, painful excitement was created by the settling down which took place on the eastern side, through the widening of the bridge, without adequately strengthening its foun dations ; and yet this very absurdity is now proposed.. As a practical man, I am con vinced, that however pretty it might look to have an outside pathway alongside the bridge on either side, they would not only destroy the fine massive appearance of this noble bridge, but the structure itself would be im perilled by such excrescences. The free opening of Southwark-bridge is the legitimate remedy for the over-crowding of London-bridge ; but in any case, the efforts of all who would preserve the structure from such pitiful tinkering as that to which I have alluded, should be directed towards the diversion of the traffic from that particular spot where it is now most concentrated. At present the overbear ing mass of traffic tends to the south-eastern corner of • the bridge. Here steamboat companies seize upon the public stairs for private monopoly, at the expense of the public good. • Here railway com panies build their termini, and here pedestrians and fruitsellers, cabs, omnibuses, and vehicles of all sorts, congregate in alarming disorder. To remedy this should be the object of all—and yet we are actually threatened with a perpetuation of the nuisance in increased force. The Thames Conser vators (?) now threaten us with large floating piers, fixed upon piles occupying the inner arches, both at the City and Surrey ends of the bridge. The public must be alive to this move ment. Once before the nuisance was attempted at the Surrey side, but law, as the guardian of the public right, removed it. Renewed efforts in the same direction are being made, not only setting law at defiance, but interfering with the founda tion of a bridge which ha s cost a m illi on and a half of money. To block up the arches is to contravene one of the most important purposes of its erection. Their width and freedom are essential to the safety of life and property in navigating the river. If unanswerable evidence as to the truth of my re marks be asked for, what better testimony can be adduced than that of Sir John Rennie, as reported to the Court of Common Council on Thursday last —" That the structure, after the lapse of 23 years, having attained its final bearings, it would be injurious to do anything which might have a ten dency to disturb it, and other means should be adopted to g i ve increased accommo d at i on to the traffic." Hoping that public attention may be called to this important subject, I am, Sir, yours respectfully, AN ENGINEER. December 15, 1858. TILE _ROYAL RN6LISII OPERA, Covent-garden Theatre was opened last evening by the Pyne and Harrison management for the performance of English opera, with a new work in four acts, entitled, 4t satanella, or the Power of Love," composed by Mr. Balfe. The house was crowded to excess, and the opera received, from first to last, unqualified applause. The composer was called for three times, and the principal singers were hon oured with similar ovations at the termination of each act. STRAND THEATRE. A little piece, by Mr. Frank Talfourd, entitled " The Rule of Three," was produced at this theatre last night, in the presence of a crowded and fashionable audience. An old man married to a pretty young wife is as jealous of his treasure as veterans so blessed invariably are (on the stage) ; and, on the principle of neutralising one poison by another, he makes it a practice, whenever one young fellow come dangling about her, to send for a second, and so prevent the possibility of a tete-a-tete. This practical illustration of "two is company, but three is none," does well enough for a time, but a third interloper appears on the scene, and, by falsely representing himself as a married man and the father of three children, imposes on the4tredulity of the old husband, who allows him to flirt away to his heart's content with his wife. The mutual jealousies of the three young bachelors give rise to some amusing scenes, but, though the piece was very well acted, it had but a moderate success, and we have often seen "metal more attractive" from the hand of its clever and accomplished author. ST. MARTIN'S HALL. Handel's chef d'ceurre, "The Messiah," was performed in this Hall last night, under the able direction of Mr. Hullah. The audience was large and attentive. The chief vocalists were Miss Banks, Miss Dolby, Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr. Thomas. Miss Banks possesses a good soprano voice, but is scarcely equal to an effective rendering of Handel. The solo airs demand a first-rate singer. Miss Dolby sang the contralto part very effectively, and intro duced the beautiful air, "He was despised and rejected of men," which was so long omitted. Mr. Montem Smith was the tenor singer, and Mr. Thomas, who has a good bass voice, was very successful in his performance of " Why do the nations," which is the most effective air allotted to the bass. The choruses, which are among the finest in the whole range of oratorio music, were well given, and Mr. Hullah deserves public encouragement for his indefatigable efforts to bring these glorious masterpieces of the musical art within reach of all classes. VIOLATION OF THE FACTORY ACT.—At the Acrington Court-house, on Thursday, Messrs. Watson Brothers, of Church, were fined £2 with costs, in each of 20 cases, for allowing young persons to work after six o'clock in the evening. The number of cases was much smaller than might have been taken, as the mill was found to be in full operation at a quarter past six.--Manchester Guardian, RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern . lOOO .. 1005 New ditto. 845 840 Lyons and Mediterranean BBO —• .. 878 75 New ditto - - Geneva . Midi . --" """ • • Southern Western 6lO .. 607 50 Eastern Grand Central — .. Sardinian Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 111 c. ; money. 25f. 9c.; three months, paper, 24±. 971 c. ; money, 24f 95c. SERVIA. A letter from Belgrade of the 12th says "On the occasion of the assembling of the Skuptchina a salvo of cannon was fired last evening, and this morning the Servian troops were drawn up in front of the cathedral, and a large crowd assembled there. Shortly after the Prince arrived in a carriage, escorted by lancers, and was received at the entrance to the church by the metropolitan, by two bishops, and the clergy, who accompanied him in procession to a place in the church. Divine service was then celebrated, and the metropolitan preached a sermon, in which he defined the sense of the word liberty. After wards there was a grand reception at the palace. A certain number of deputies, however, refused to attend it, and they will probably also refuse to attend a grand banquet which the Prince is to give this day to the National Assembly. Many of the deputies base their refusal on the ground. that _they have come to discharge. ,the. business of the country, and that until that is done there ought to be no amusements. The formal opening of the Skuptchina cannot take place to morrow, because a commission, consisting of the Minister of the Interior and three senators is to verify the powers of all the deputies." Accounts from Martinique to the 28th ult. have arrived. The council-general had voted the estab lishment of a careening dock at Fort de France, and the introduction of 18,000 immigrants-7,000 Africans and 11,000 Chinese. This large number was considered necessary in consequence of the great and increasing desertion of labourers in the island. A detachment of 515 coolies had arrived from Pondicherry. The Seine, transport, had sailed for France with numerous functionaries, and the brigs Mercure and Olivier had arrived from France, and had left to join the French squadron under Ad miral Penaud off Vera Cruz. Accounts from Gua daloupe to the 28th ult. have also been received, but they are unimportant. A letter from Vienna states that the reinforce ments which the Austrian Government has sent to Lombardy amount to about 8,000 men. The Madrid journals of the 16th, due this morning, have not arrived. A letter, however, states that in the course of the debate in the Senate on the 14th, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in reply to the Marquis de Viluma, said that the Government could not for the present produce documents relative to the expedition to Cochin China, undertaken in conjunction with France, but would do so hereafter, and would at the same time give all the explanation that could be required. THE ARMY. The Director-General of the Medical Department, Mr. T. Alexander, C. 8., accompanied by Mr. Sid ney Herbert, M.P., and Lieut.-Gen. Sir De Lacy Evans, G.M., M.P., have made an official visit to Fort Pitt Hospital, Chatham, for the purpose of in specting that establishment. On their arrival they were received by Mr. J. It. Taylor, C.B. the prin cipal medical officer, and the other officers con nected with the establishment, who conducted them through the various portions of the hospital, the inspection of which occupied some time. In consequence of the numerous applications from the officers of the army quartered at the home sta tions, the War Department has proposed to set apart certain rooms in the barracks for the purposes of a school-room exclusively for officers' children, who would be instructed by a schoolmaster of the first class, with separate instruction in the conti nental languages, the parents paying a merely nominal sum to cover incidental expenses. THIS LAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. SMITHPIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 18s to £4 lOs ; clover, do., £4 Os to £5 ss; and straw, £1 ss. to £1 10s. per load. A heavy trade. CUUBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £2 18s to £4 lOs; clover do., £4 Os to £5 ss. ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 lOs per lead. Both hay and straw sold slowly, at our quotations. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay,!£2 18s to £4 8s Od ; clover, Jo., £4 Os to £5 ss. ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 12s per load. A fair supply, and a heavy demand. COLONIAL. TEA.—There has been very little business transacted by private contract, buyers awaiting the result of the public sales, which commence this day. Common Congou is quoted lid per lb. SUGAR.—The market continues very inactive, and no sales of any importance have been reported. In the refined market the dealings have been to a moderate extent, and late quotations are fully supported. COFFEE.—There has been very little inquiry in the private market, but prices continue steady. Public sales of Plan tation Ceylon are advertised during the present week, and prices are expected to rule rather higher. RICE.—A fair demand has been experienced for the com mon qualities at slightly advanced rates. Other descrip. tions meet with very little attention. SALTPETRE.—The market continues steady, but few dealings have been reported, and former rates are current. TALLOW.—Rather more firmness has been apparent, but there is very little variation to report in prices. P.Y.C. on the spot 50s. 9d., all the year 50s. 6d. January to March 50s. 6d , April to June 50s. 6d. 2 and last three months 51s. per cwt. . . . FRUlT.—Messrs. Houghton and Levy, of Liverpool, state that the arrivals of currants this week consist of about 1,000 tons per Rhone and Corinthian, the principal part of which is of medium quality, and our dealers having imports of their own by these vessels, not much has been done in the market: at auction, yesterday, forced sales were made of about 30 tons of good fair fruit, from 33s to 42s 6d ; pri vately there is a steady demand for export, and several parcels of good fruit have been taken at 45s to 48s. A large business continues to be done in the lower qualities of last year's fruit at 22s to 265, and our market is nearly clear of this description. The clearances for home consumption are again favourable, and reach two hundred tons for the week ; the exports about thirty tons. Raisins have been quiet. Valencias—ln consequence of the sudden alteration in the London market, our dealers have refrained from operating ; our stock is, however, only light, and sound parcels being scarce, our holders are not willing to submit to any reduction in late rates. Some sales of good old fruit have been made at 20s. Muscatelles have been taken pretty freely at fully last week's prices. Layers, common, 50s to 53s ; medium, 62s 6d to 70s ; good, 85s ; market quite bare of fine quality ; bunch more slowly at 42s to 435. Sultanas continue in good demand. Turkey Red—A small parcel of common quality sold at 345. The duty-paid clearances reach 140 tons. Almonds —Good Jordan are wanted, and command about £9 ; other qualities in retail demand at former rates. 'Prunes—Our dealers are well supplied with their own im ports, prices firm at 27s to 28s. Figs—Turkey continue scarce ; at public sale various parcels of common and me dium qualitieg found buyers at 55s to 60s. Malaga in good demand at 28s. Nuts—The demand for Barcelona con tinues unusually limited, but holders firm at 35s 6d. Bra zils, steady demand at 15s. Chesnuts—Some small par cels of French, out of condition, sold at lOs 6d to 11s. Green Fruit—Our market is largely supplied with oranges, but, with the near approach of Christmas, prices are well maintained. Lisbon, 20s to 22s ; Palermo, 9s to Ils ; Lemons—Messina have improved in value, market nearly clear. Grapes of good quality command high rates. THIS DAI'S SHIPPING. LONDON, Dec. 21.—Wind this day at noon, S.W.; moderate breeze and hazy. QUEENSTOWN, Dec. 21.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Robert Bright, from Mauritius ; Bellissima, from Callao ; Delta, from Callao; Alice Watson, from Callao, with loss of fore topmast, bowsprit, &c.; .London, from Mobile; Bavaria (steamer), from New York for Bremen, with machinery damaged. PLimouTn, Dec. 20.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Smerid deren, from Quebec. VARDIFF, Dec. 18.—Wind 7.—Arrived—Mary Bell, from Havannah. HOLYHEAD, Dec. 20.—Wind W.—Arrived—Maria, from Liyerpool for Bahia; Elias, from Liverpool for Ma nilla. CLYDE, Dec. 20.—Arrived—Morton Castle, from Lecata. Sailed—Cocoa, for Trinidad. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Morning. Wind W.; rain. Arrived—Liverpool Packet, from Denia ; Waterford, from Cardiff. Sailed—lndus, steamer, for Alexandria; Havre, steamer, for Havre LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning. Wind S., fresh. Arrived, Dec. 20—Petrel, from Old Calabar ;• Bate, from St. Michael's. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning. Wind S.S.W. ; tide, half flood; weather light and cloudy. DEAL, Tuesday Morning. Wind S.W., fresh. Passed—Sebastopol, from Calcutta; James Booth, from Manilla. MAILS FOR THE UNITED STATES BY CANADIAN MAIL PACKETS.—GeneraI Post-office, Dec. 18.—In ac cordance with arrangements made by the United States Post-office, the line of Canadian mail packets plying between Liverpool and Portland will, on each occasion of leaving Liverpool, take the place of United States mail packets during the winter season, and all letters, &c., addressed to the United States, which are posted at, or reach Liverpool previous to the departure of those packets, and which are not directed to be otherwise sent, will be forwarded by the Canadian mail packets. The day appointed for the depar ture of the Canadian mail packets from Liverpool during the present winter are :—Wednesday, Dec. 22 ; Wednesday, Jan. 26 ; Wednesday, Feb. 23, and Wednesday, March 23. Mr. George William Saunders, •of Rolls-yard, Chancery-lane, London, has been appointed Commissioner of the Birmingham Court of Bankruptcy, in the place of Mr. Balguy, Q.C., whose decease we announced on Satur day. The new commissioner wa; called to the bar in June, 1820, and has for several years filled the office of secretary to Lord Justice Turner. He will enter upon his duties forthwith. LITERATURE. New Pictures and Old Panels. By Dr Doran, author of " Table Traits with Something on them," " Monarchs Retired from Business," &c. Bentley. " Another volume from the; pen of this somewhat whimsical, but brilliant and successful writer, is a welcome visitor. The work before us is a general collection of scraps and sketches, relating to artists, authors; kings and queens of bygone days, and other celebrities. A group of friends of all nations meet on circle nights and discuss whatever reminiscence of art or literature, history or travel, may present itself to them. Occasionally a picture will prove the subject of the evening ; the artist will tell the club the story of its subject, and draw incidental pictures of the time it chronicles. Many pleasant scenes from our own English history are shown us in this way ; many a quaint old legend bears its part in the general entertainment ; many a group from foreign lands, and many a .celebrity of the middle ages take their place among the memorial records. Thus, " A group of queens un -queened," tells us the fate of our English queens who resigned the dignity of a queen dowager for a lower, but not always a happier sphere of life. The "Portraits of Farinelli and Pompadour," show us in impressive contrast the honoured career of the distinguished singer, and the dreary dissipation of the Court of Louis XV. The sketches of the careers of Andre Chenier, the poet of the Revolution, and of Adam Oehlenschlager, his happier Danish contemporary, are full of interest. The mere names of many of the other divisions are fascinating and sugges tive; such as " Pictures and Painters in the Rue St. Denis," "Pictures of England by Foreign Sketchers," and its companion, " Foreign Scenes drawn by English hands," or still more attractive in their associations, " Pictures of Old and Young Christmas," and " Pictures of Rhine-land and its Romance." The rival portraits of " England a Century Ago," and " Tableaux at Paris in the Last Century" are not very inviting in their reminiscences of either nation. Perhaps the most striking and interesting portion of the work is the, opening one, entitled, " A Picture in three panels," in which, by a happy combination, are intro. duced Oliver Goldsmith, the poor literary drudge; J9hn Wesley. then the mere preacher •, Dr. Dodd, the fashionable clergyman and forger; and Mrs. Bellamy, tlie popular actress. These discordant charaeters, with their surroundings, are skilfully broight to gether and vividly portrayed. Wesley, after being made somewhat ridiculous by the furious temper of his Xantippc, induces the whole party to accompany him to the " New Wells" Theatre, which he tells them is under a new and better management. The following passage gives a curious picture of the scene at one of the sermons of the founder of the Wesleyans : "At length the coach halted up to and before the house. The building had, and it still has, a right theatrical aspect. The doors for box, pit, and gallery still remain, still conduct the visitor to yellow parts of the edifice—but the edifice itself had ceased, as Wesley had intimated, to be what it formerly had been, about five years. It was in truth a large .‘ Methodist chapel,' and strangely enough that fact had been forgotten by Mrs. Bellamy; was not remembered by Dodd ; and had never been known to Goldsmith. The publisher Griffiths, - however, who loved excitement, was often there with the partner of his cares and house. " The edifice was entered by Wesley and his coa nions. The latter did not discover its character till they were seated, and then an imperative gesture, as he left them, kept them in their places, —not silent, neither remon strant, but pleased, and curious to see the course and end of the novel incident. Dodd, to do that reverend gentle man justice, was a little ashamed to find himself in a con venticle ; he who was not ashamed to sit in the front row of a Theatre Royal, and whose brother' was so lively a gen tleman at tavern revellings. But the moment came when no one present had eye, or thought, or feeling, or memory for any worldly thing but the individual in the pulpit. There, Wesley was altogether another being, resembling only in features the visitor at Mrs. Bellamy's. From the first moment, he spoke as one inspired, and there was not a hearer in his presence who did not apply some portion of the portentous message as an intimation made especially from Heaven to himself. Griffiths was so touched with a diatribe against meanness, that he looked at Goldsmith and determined to pay him a trifle more liberally. Mrs. Griffiths had a persuasion that, it did not cost much, she would better the fare of the poor drudge. And in the eyes of that poor drudge, worldly , fame was again rendered so contemptible that he felt —he almost felt, even he could despise it. Even Mr. Dodd and his wife were seen to blush at certain passages which seemed to strip the covering f:om the souls—at the nakedness of which they shuddered. Mrs. Wesley herself, in a seat apart, looked upon her husband with some thing like fear as bis Ithuriel's spear pointed slowly in her direction. Finally, his eye fell with pity on the brilliant Mrs. Bellamy. For awhile she withstood that, and even the words that fell from the speaker's tongue. But these were powers that could not be resisted long. As word fell after word, like coals of fire upon her head, or pierced her as repeated stabs from a dagger might her heart, she wept, sobbed, shrieked ; and as glad tidings of love and salvation descended like balm poured gently into torturing wounds, she flung aloft her arms ap if to pray to Heaven, or to im plore Heaven's messenger, for fewer miseries an more pro mises of love. Straightway, with arms still uplifted, she fainted—and not she alone, for before John Wesley had closed his discourse, more than one sinner—young, old, hopeful, or despairing—lay senseless before him, testimonies of his wondrous power over the living soul." Tke style of the work is vivacious and animated. A little more refinement and polish would have improved it, and rendered it more agreeable to the reader of fastidious taste. Hypercriticism would be out of place, considering the ages and epochs treated of, but a little sharper revision would have refined the style without destroying the vigour. It is a volume well calculated to beguile a leisure hour, offering amusement to the most superficial reader, while affording those of graver tastes, en tertainment without frivolity. The History of France. By Eyre Evans Crowe. In five vols. Vol. I. Longman. Many years ago the author of this work contri buted a history of France to Dr. Lardner's " Cabi net Cyclopedia." The limits assigned to him by that useful work prevented him from extending his narrative by a comprehensive and minute detail of events. It has ever since been his aim and inten tion to write a history of France from the ample original materials which "the care of the French Government and learned bodies have collected, and which many of their able historic phil oso ph ers h ave elucidated." The first of a series of five volumes is now offered to the public, who will, no doubt, gladly welcome the appearance of a standard work on a subject so interesting as the eventful history of our continental neighbours. Mr. Crowe has evidently bestowed much time and labour on his work, which is written in a good and solid style, suitable to a standard history. The earlier portion is somewhat dry, but this is almost unavoidable, from the nature of the subject and the disconnected and unsettled state of the country in the earlier ages, when the immediate successors of Charlemagne inherited little of his ability. In another point of view, however, these early records are not without their importance. The author carefully traces the rise of the French monarchical power. He shows how the premature extinction of feudalism threw uncontrolled power into the hands of the king without freeing the people ; whereas in England the authority of the barons was in the end benefi cial to the people, since they stood firm against the encroachments of despotic power, and wrested from the monarch those concessions which laid the foundation of English liberty. Then, when in after ages the people learned their strength, and the progress of time and thought had fitted them to take some part in the government of the country, the aristocracy by degrees sunk into their natural position, between the Crown and the people, each class having its fair share of influence and power. In France, on the contrary, the nobles were crushed before the people had gained strength or knowledge, and that• opposing barrier removed, the tide of despotism swept unchecked over the country. But for the premature annihi lation of feudalism in the thirteenth and four teenth centuries, France might not, onr tiiithor tells us, have had to mourn the tardy growth of free in stitutions in the nineteenth. The best monarchs of those days exerted a despotic influence. Even Louis the Ninth only thought of governing his subjects according to the strict patriarchal system. In narrating the disturbances of the reign of John, the author makes the following observations, the truth of which must strike every reader of French history— " It is startling, indeed, to find how closely one epoch of French history resembles another, and how, with an inter val of centuries between, similar situations re-occur with similar causes, events, characters, catastrophes, and results. It is impossible to contemplate or narrate the period on., which we are now entering without at once looking for ward to 1789 ; the embarrassments of the crown and the administration, bringing to an abrupt close a Government which had been so long absolute and uncontrolled ; the deputies of the several orders assembled, undertaking at once to supersede the absolute Government by taking power into their own hands ; good and moderate men hoping to predominate, and conduct the reform so as to save at once the crown and the country; demagogues, at the same time, continuing to organise and to wield the power of the lower classes, manifested in insurrection first, in murder after wards ; princes of the bleed flattering and favouring the popular passions, and trying to turn the ascendancy of the people and the demagogues to their own account ; nation, disgusted at these scenes of political turpitude and folly, diverted from them by the stern necessity of providing for the defence of the country against the foreign foe, this necessity producing a resuscitated respect for the authority of a sovereign, and leading the country and its opinions back to the very same point from which they started at the commencement of the revolution—the maintenance of absolute power. Such is a sketch which unfortunately ap plies to every attempt made bythe French to establish their national liberties, and which is as true of the events of the fourteenth'as of those of the eighteenth century." The conclusion of this first volume brings us down to the death of Charles V., and the narrative will consequently soon arrive at still more eventful pe riods of French history. Charles VI., his unhappy successor, as is well known, ended his life a maniac. He was soon after followed by Louis the Eleventh, one of the most remarkable, though certainly one of the lea s t es ti m abl e , of French sovereigns , Charles VIII., his son, the ititader of Italy, was succeeded , by his cousin, Louis XII., the " Father of his people." The brilliant reign of Frangig I„ his suc cessor, brings us into the eventful sixteenth cen tury, wheti the reign of Henry 11. and the days of Catherine de ltiedicis are succeeded by the happier epoch of Henri Qtiatre, A line of four Louis's brings the monarchy to a dismal eclipse in the gloomy chambers of the Temple. After which, down to our modern days, every page is a ronisnee, Thcre is, therefore, scarcely a dull passage in our thor's future task, which is one he is fully qualitit3t to fulfil. It is one of the most vivid and exciting narratives that the volume of history can show us, and most fitted to evoke the sympathies of a great and free:nation for their neighbours and rivals, great also, brave and intellectual, but not free. Yet the record of their past should teach them wisdom It should show them how, in grasping at the shadow, they have flung away the substance ; how the wild tumult of excited popular feeling has made them blind to their best interests, deaf to their wisest councillors ; how passion, and not principle, has been their guide in too many of those popular struggles, which have bought an hour of triumph and exultation, dearly paid for by years of restric tion and defeat. It should teach their rulers a lesson as well. It should show them how tyranny has crushed the people for a time, but has been inevitably overthrown in the rebound; that a quick feeling, excitable nation, is never more dangerous than in enforced calm, and that the voice of history ceaselessly repeats the solemn warning, that Tyranny and Anarchy must alternate, until Free dom sits on the throne, and bids Reason curb the passions of the people. Struggles in Falling. By Henry John Lester. Bentley. This is a peculiar story, which cannot be called pleasing. It is difficult to find the exact aim Of the - writer in introducing us to so many strange scenes of mesmerism and clairvoyance. The morbid sentimentality which indulges in such descriptions may be gratified by dwelling on the extraordinary capabilities of Douglas, but the general reader will regret that the talent, so unmistakeably evident in these pages, should not have been employed in the construction of a work more desirable in its perusal, and more instructive in its tendencies. The only character possessed of interest in this sketch Is Gerard O'More. He is ,thus described :—" He wore God's own writing on his brow, and the bright, sunny, truthful expression of his face was like a holy spell." He was soon removed from the sphere of his usefulness by an early death, which was unfortunate for the welfare of Charles Vescy, over whom he exercised a most beneficial influence. Some of the scenes are depicted with great skill, especially the adventure which betel Vescy and Agnes on the rocks ; and it is to be hoped that, on a future occasion, the author's production may be free from the drawbacks of this work. EAST INDIA COMPANY. Yesterday morning a general Court of the com pany was held at the house in Leadenhall-street, to receive the report of the committee of proprietors appointed at the general Court of the 30th of August last, " for the purpose of consulting with the directors in reference to the measures to be taken for the future management of the company's . affairs," and for the discussion of the said report, and on other general business. Colonel Sykes, M.P. (the chairman), presided. The minutes of previous meetings having been read, it was announced that Colonel Sykes, M.P., had been elected chairman of the company. (Cheers.) Dr. BEATTIE inquired whether a deputy chair man had been appointed ? The CHAIRMAN said that the election would be reserved for the meeting. The CHAIRMAN then announced that the capital stock of the company would be payable on the 6th of January next. Mr. CRAWSHAY, the chairman of the committee, • read the report of the committee appointed in August last, to take measures with reference to the future management of the company's affairs. It contained a recital of previous proceedings, and a correspond• ence with Lord Stanley in reference to the subject. In the last letter from his lordship it was stated that his lordship was unable to decide upon the amount to be paid annually to the East India Company, con sequent on the duties and responsibilities devolving upon them, until he was aware of s the arrange ments which the East India Company proposed to make for the execution of the duties referred to. His lordship therefore requested to be informed whether it was the wish of the proprietors of East India Stock that the entire control and distribution of the fund set apart for the payment of their divi dends should be committed to their directors, or whether the arrangements under which these divi dends have hitherto been issued from the house should be continued. The committee came to the following resolutions :—With reference to the offer of the Secretary of State for India in Council, ad dressed to the chairman of this committee,. dated Sept. 16, 1858, to make his establishment available for the purpose of transfer and audit in the business connected with the capital stock and dividends of the East India Campany, this committee is pre-, pared to recommend to the Court of Proprietors the acceptance of such an arrangement upon the fol lowing conditions : that in accordance with ss. 2, 3,4, Wm. 4, c. 85, there shall be paid to the corn paxy to their own use, that is to say, to the account of the East India Company with the Bank of Eng' land, the yearly dividend, after the rate of £lO. 105. per annum on the present amount of their capital stock, and that such dividend be so paid by equal half-yearly payments on or before the 6th of Jan. and the 6th day of July in every year, and f u rther that together with the first half-yearly dividend so paid, the amount of all unclaimed dividends u p to that day be paid to the above-mentioned amount with the Bank of Englund. That all dividend warrants be signed by two directors and the secre tary of the East India Company. That accom modation be provided in the East India House for the directors and proprietors—namely, that the proprietors' room remain devoted to its former use; that at least one room be assigned to the directors for their regular use. That a room be provided for the secretary of the company. That the general courts of the East India Company be held in the East India House. That with reference to the sections 69 and 72 of the late Act, 21 and 22 Vic. , cap. 106, by the power of which the number of the directors of the East India Company is for the pre sent to be maintained at 12, and finally to be re duced to six, provision be made by the Secretary of State in Council for India for the payment of salaries to such directors, and of a salary to the l i secretary of the company, and also for defraying other expenses incidental to the legal management of the company's affairs not otherwise provided for by this arrangement. That the Secretary of State in Council and the East India Company respec tively be at liberty to terminate this arrangement on giving six months notice. That the above re' solutions be sent by the chairman to the officiating secretary of the Court of Directors, with a request that they may be forwarded by them to the Secre tary of State in Council for India. It was stated that since the report was prepared another communication had been received from Lord Stanley, and signed by Mr. Melville, containing the following passage :—" I am instructed to in form you that, in proposing to leave the signing of the warrants for the payment of the dividends on East India Stock to the directors after the war rants had been prepared in the usual menner, it was the intention of Lord Stadejto transfer to the cre dit of the East India Company, at the Bank of Eng land, half-yearly, the aggregate amount of the dividends, viz. £315,000, it being understood that the amount of any unclaimed dividends are to be retransferred to the Secretary of State in Council for India at the expiration of 12 months after the/ become due." Mr. CRAWSHAY then moved the reception of the report. The East India Company had been eon' demned to live—the question was ho w were the/ to live ? (Hear, hear.) It was, at all events, their duty to watch carefully what rights they had left , and carefully to mai n t ain th em. Th ey h a d a r ight to require from the Secretary of State in Council: the requisite am oun t o f money f or the managemen t of their stock and the payment of their dividends. They had a right to the independent management of their stock, their dividends being untouched. They had, moreover, a right to have their affair s managed in that house. Capt. SHEA seconded the motion for the reception of the report, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. CRAWSHAY move a resolution claiming, O n the part of the company, the current and unclaime d dividends. Mr. ARBUTHNOT moved an amendment, that Lord Stanley's offer, that the business should continue t ° . be transacted on the establishment, a n d t o transf er to the account of the company the gross amount °, all recurring dividends, leaving the responsibiliti e s attached to the unclaimed dividends to be attache d to the Government, should be accepted. pot Mr. Sergeant GASELEE moved the adjournni-,,,, of the debate, a proposition -which wa s fiereou resisted by the directors. On a division there were— For the adjournment l9 Against it Majority The motion for the adjournttlent was then d! r ; dared to be carried, an d th e meet i ng broke up disorder, it being understood, however, that the discussion should be resumed at twelve u'clooP' this day. 11 14 11 .1T] 1 , 3 Per C .Ditt c w 3 A India Ditt o o itto u n-u Aa s t ric niu eou~ ~10~ inl Iv] is At ; \v (2 era