The Sun. — London, England, 1846-12-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATITRDAY DECEMBER, 19, is 6. -- ---- WIN' COURT CIRCULAR. ' LITERATURE. I lik'hn' e 's°,ll,. FRIDAY.—Her Majesty and his Royal PARTNERS FOR LIFE. A Christmas Story. By l ira , ss 1 !Ince Albert, aceomanied by the Prince of Camilla 7 bulntin eess l63 , Prince A!tred, t ,- !e Princess lioyal, the Prin- This is another Christmas story—another of those liellsouti.,,il.,tet,ivaond the ii'rincess Helena, arrived at the little volumes' remarkable fur their elegant appnr rs,' -, Isle of ‘l7°,:e. l ll P, r ek this afternoon, from Osborne ante and graceful illustrations, but, above all, fbr the t ue ro i - 4, • good moral which it is their high privilege to incul (Lad.,l i y„ Ex7 e- se.ite consisted of the Marchioness of Douro cate, and the kind and Christian sympathies with 411eli; n TY ' . .-ding), the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Baron which they are suffused. In these essential -rhi pti ; , the Groom in Waiting, the Hon. Colonel (E quer _kf-querry in Waiting), and Colonel Bouverie qualities, kiss ' Toulmin's book is certainly not deficient. It bears a good recommendation on its T he 'l 1 -11 Waiting to the Prince). Ti ,_ escort was composed of the Ist Life Guards. face; the binding is splendid, and the illustra -140 Qtteen and Prince Albert were received, on tions, by John Absolon, are many of them . very 14 ta ,,ng from their carriage, by the Hon. Miss Kerr , graceful. The most beautiful of these designs— Wi t i t :" e Hon. Miss Pao•ettheMaids of Honour in ' rendered more beautiful by the idea which it sym -11 •ng), the Earl of Listowel (Lord in Waiting), and bolises—represents the Angel of Life chasing the Nor T h General Bowles (Master of the Household. ' Shadow of Death from an infant's couch, while ill e i ti( r e r?).al dinner party at the Castle this evening will I a woman kneels in weeping gratitude by the 1 4ri, ._ o, l* Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the rescued child. The tale itself is purely domestic, ron4 e 4 ;', Nk siting of her Royal Highness, and the Ba.• Th., r et. but it is not the less interesting on that account. Unlike its competitors, this Christmas da r h i " °and of the ScotF, Fusilier Guards will attend 4tt et , 4 dinner. II M ' '• -* • bandafterwards story contains nothing supernatural , . _ • its heroes •Ai i ll the Castle. are only assisted by " the generous intentions and ~, 'th e i r , _ deep sympathies, which, moving in the hearts of their d` 4 l6 Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of friends, are busy for them, like the good genii of a i t rid,. es k , se, and },is Serene Highness Prince Frederic of tesi fir visited 1 - er R . l Il• h D hof Glou- • , ou „,• oy ig ness the uc ess fairy t ' ale." The story is , interesting, and is told in an interesting manner, and it certainly A eav Thursday, at Gloucester ouse. ''‘aatil ' kindly - \timents. 'et we have I ll ore" tb iziet 'ConnCH was held yesterday afternoon at the 11 n+aej a-of sc•a. The Ministers present were, Lord John . 81 :r0„„ u ' the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, eh — urge Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the s 4114811er of the Exchequer, the Earl of Auckland, the 411 1 , 11 ,9,,,bhc use, Lord Campbell, Viscount Morpeth, i t The 'l4lendon, and the Right Hon. T. B. Ma,:au aj. lei th e Lord Chancellor subsequently joined his coi -17:86 Ear l sat two hours and a half. "lin 14 - 44ar l of Mountcashel had an interview with Lord yesterday at his official residence in Do wn -44 ea t . n te ,.. /t ham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes, Nerd — "oview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer kr, 4 aiY at official residence in Downing•stree eilltl t in ai(4ll ))* had alio an interview with the Right Hon. CO 1 11 YeAterday. -re , Anson had en interview with Sir George ells, at the Home-office. tends to stimulate _inctly sentims s y some doubts as to its beneficial tendency. Although Miss Toulmin's object is, apparently, to prove that " fathers and children, and brothers and sisters, so to speak, are partners for life—this is nature's deed, signed and sealed from the begineing ;" and although the Christmas meeting at the conclusion represents the happiness of an united family, we hardly think the general hearing of the whole tale happily calculated to illustrate her idea. The story turns upon the different fortunes of two brothers, sons of a very " great man," whose mental grandeur " was de rived from two sources—pride of birth and pride of wealth. Like two streams meeting and crossing, they hedged him round on every side, perpetually threatening to swamp those better sympathies which still did occasionally stretch beyond this chilly bar rier." The eldest son, in opposition to his father's wishes, marries a governess, and was, in con sequence, utterly disowned. This misfortune being, however, somewhat compensated by the happiness which he found in his new home, while his brother, sacrificing his affections in obedience to his father's commands, sought forgetfulness at the gaming-table. This is how matters stand at the commencement of the book. We will not spoil the interest by further details ; suffice it that all ends as all Christmas tales are bound to • do. in social harmony and the triumph of kind and ge nerous sympathies. The characters are well drawn, and their various peculiarities nicely discriminated. First and foremost, of course, is Mr. Hamilton Howard Hamilton, the " great man, literally and figuratively the head partner of the great firm of Hamilton and Co., and then there is the " Co." Mr. Jeremiah Morrythorpe, a most interesting individual, whose " heart " seemed to pervade his whole being." This Mr. Merrythorpe, whose character is the very opposite to that of his partner, is of humble origin. "There was a family tradition about a grandfather, but beyond him even the oracle of rumour was silent," a circumstance which gives some concern to his aristocratic partner, who feeling great interest in him, tries to believe that he is, nevertheless, descended from a good family, because he has none of the bad quali ties which seemed to him characteristics of the plebeian ; " though really I must own," he observes, " the world is so changed ; education, popular lec tures, and cheap literature have worked such marvels, that a gentleman needs to carry his pedigree about with him now-a-days, if he wishes to be dis tinguished from the herd." Such observations are hardly required to assure Miss Toulmin's readers how much she sympathises with the revelling spirit of the age. It is hardly necessary to particularise the various portions of such a little volume—one simile struck us as somewhat pleasing, where, alluding to the memory of some long-past sorrow, she speaks of the gentle and kindly effects of time, which "shows the past by a softened light—even as, touched by the silvery moonbeams, ruins are beautiful." The scene in which the gambler confesses his errors to his father, is very forcibly written ; and the various emotions of the stern proud father, struggling, not quite successfully, with the promptings of his better nature, are all very naturally described. The picture of the humble home of the exiled son is full of inte rest ; and the character of his wife, minutely drawn, so perfect and yet so natural, is worthy of general imitation. We are always glad to meet with such homely sketches, and such pleasing and imitable in dividuals; not only do they render a work more interesting during perusal, but they are calculated to leave a good impression upon its readers—it is far easier to teach by example than by precept. These, and many other good qualities, are possessed by Miss Toulmin's little book : our only objection to it is, that, to our thinking, it seems to show how much happier are those who act in opposition to parental commands. We are not for a moment disposed to contradict the universal theory of all romancists ' ancient and modern, in prose and verse , w hi c h h as, we believe, been agreed to nemine contradieente namely, that in forming the indissoluble partner ship, love is everything, and parental authority nothing. Yet however correct the theory, it may be somewhat modified in practice. It is possible in most cases, by time and care and a thousand nameless inci dents, to effect a compromise:and avoid both unfortu nate extremes, neither sacrificing the hearts best affections nor destroying the tender relations of parent and child. Consequently we are not, in this respect, quite pleased with this otherwise pleasing volume. It is true, there may be such men as Mr. Hamilton, and some children may be justified in their disobe dience, but such cases are rather exceptions to the general rule, it is, therefore, as illustrating such an e xception that we must be satisfied with their Christ mas tale, and we are satisfied with it the more readily, because it merits such an appellation by showing how kind and generous feelings ultimately subdue selfish ness and pride, and because it closes with the truly Christmas celebration of a Christmas day—the for giveness of wrongs and the union of the long estranged. • u t ati FLANDERS MAIL. * * C ` p s- ip.,; 3 9 DEC. 15.—The average price of wheat in Thding Saturday, Dec. 12, was 26f. 71c. ; and bd m _ l4 Ye 21f. 56e. per h. hese riesre rty;gft those of last week ectolitre by 23c., both on e wheat — "hin t i t 4 ljesti es t h e Ki ng an d Q ueen se t ou t thi s The or Paris. leilO,th h ainber of R e p resen t a ti ves unanimously voted, , %t 0f1,4 debate the roject of law proroguing till the Ldtteil:-'eceraber, ' lB47 l , the law of the 18th June, 1842, "to tZ th orises the Government to modify the regula -46e -Pecting importati o n s an d t rans it. ep a l sitting was terminated by the adoption of se- NisaPioretiects of law for granting the arts of nate -0111,2. 41 ,7 1 4 11 7 1 ., 114 te, on its sitting to-day, appointed the commit y-I'lre to examit e the budgets and projects of law Stiv"„„ v "ed by the Chamber of Representatives. o aslfe days past th e r i gour o f the 'season has been p t lt 4 tsel: 3 Porti o h y the poorer classes, whose wants increase It is the moment for charity to manifest I P,Pe k l at iLl thank s to Providence, it is not deaf to t grist: we couldonly wish that the exercise of this e th e v L rtre irtue by indduals mig t cea . t ri h ter Part of the ifts for the poor might be dtstri ,_9lieli ; b " r °tlgh the channel of the Public Boards, by 4°ll R:i j i e ta they would be more equally distributed ygo needy. - Z tl tbi t e`" r o that the King has commissioned the elm- wh i "oraittee to distribute the extraordinary sm ell givns every year to the poor at Brussels. 0 4 11 DUTCII MAIL. th itt ' t "rt. -4 " D c 15.—The official journal published g a l, 03 P o i r ' eu e r,e; o o E f the 10th of this month, for putting p lib t ,, af ter .t e tln the old coins of one florin and half 4, 'Ae s ft,'" 2 s th December. The same journal on o i —le conditi of of the loan of one million, being lei_ earth %Min g t heme s of tke loan . of eight millions for 4a, 'Jake of trexpenses occasioned by the draining of 1 1 ,7 of Decezterlem, fixed by the . royal decree of the te r toe of th t r, 1 846. This loan i m s to be contracted h 1839, with i t i e st of 41 2 law of the 22d 1 1 4 t ali o f ti2litier cent. There remains a series of one PI-- 3 loan to be negotiated, which will not b_ ..ce durin hirrl'Ea r , g t h e year 1847. 431 , DEC 14.—1 n consequence of the heavy tf ,'llitt ° , / sn ow, the Me . s is covered with frozen snow, ,o, —ert ae sl ral , ste am-bo u at e sare prevented from leaving the ip .vr. p;: t itti this mornin g. 'N.. 'TERSBITHCH D g E . C. I.—On the 28th of No ild ,risear winter be' n with a very sharp N. E. wind, n th th lfe(l4, et t ; !Y fall of g sn a ow, with 6 degrees of cold.. 0 .0 6; 4 the k": 1 g day the Neva brought down much ice, s • the urtdge Saud the cold between the city and the islands had to Ille tea 44- Tot day the snow was deep, an $ %I to 4 ; El tt ,,. 9 degr ees . . e: t, is c o DEC. 11.--The police were on the alert last t 0 43 - ;,,, e , 34 sequence of the discovery of Communist , Plitic,:i°, and has arrested several mechanics ap i ll ! I let - 4 .8 .. i _ t ; 4 public-house. It is added, that many of o'ate o ' c lasses, among others, the well-known writers i!Et e 8 , are said to be seriously . implicated, and have, 14411 t f4e ' been taken from their houses during the , Pit Av ar ld lodged in safe custody. k l itl tt-i",!(FORT, DEC. 12.—The report of O rio n , conspiracy, i le ta l c h ave been discovered o w n ar t n is ing n s hi have, ap h p o e w ar e s ve t r o , 84% 4:landed. Very % 11 lent by diploma ti c fro e m f Paris to several i b r ,le4 t ri ts ' announcing emissaries gcehnat in e lchannels . the Propaganda l ` 4 Ol. " e ll to visit thl Rhenish provinces and eI 4 Y. eat t) t s•lii.tE, DEC. 13.—We learn that ice floated down %t o ktlay from the Marne, and to-day from_dathye Moselle, as far as 44; 4 e Rhine. The latter came down to h. 114 4 ,:h• The bridge here is taken !lc , . . -4., ti ,,,,,,, bEe. I.—Our commercial journal pub- Chants*, undersign official notice:— and mer of el•algud deputies of the ci ty . ell their- reBlllll consider from Berlin, it to ie inform cknow the duty, the Pledubglejeci that trheetuhrighest public authorities have 'kith th Lae ia.Vortance of the preservation of free a trade, le B,e territory of the republic of Cracow, secured by kid t h of the 3d o f m ay, . 1815, in the fullest extentassurance t hat th llt t he, have received the satisfactory hun_ tat maintenance of this free trade will be atteeci"Mal basis of the commercial regulations t t e o be ,„.I.lPon with the Austrian authorities." kriere follow the signature of the merchants.) ro copied THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. {role Your jou rna l of yesterday, I find a story, Rov e It i l l! a Wor cester paper, which is calculated to It isgnlY-seasoned treat for lay and clerical zealotry. vo l , s _s.romance of th e con f ess i onal, and told with mar trosT. circum stantiality ; but so closely analogous to a t hat IP ° d e nt ure pra c ti se d i n this town some time ago, it reasonable to request your readers to sus. 4 te , 4 _ their it until further inquiry be dispassion- Isl.:Ude into the nature of the direful tale. V t `'• tt e!okort time previously to the death of the Rev. Jas. gentleu is late minister of St. Paul's Church in this town, the man much esteemed for kindness of heart and hitell'?ssession, in an eminent degree, of clerical attri pepo)s he was vi s i te d b y a lady of good address and 4 0 , se ssing appe arance, who announced herself as a lit l e" Catholi c w h o was anxious to relieve her over lie, felled conscience from the perilous stuff which made *5 ithnlY wretched, and then s he sobbingly w en t on to liv d at she h a d b een seduced i n the con f ess i onal—had % e e , W ith the wi c k e d man , l e f t h er h us b an d, an d was Ned' persecuted ! The amiable Mr. Francis commise fop-C we apparently penitent one; lodgings were taken 80 r, the " h orr ibl e f ac t " t o ld aroun d the town to ofr 4 .„ . ,People who turned the whites of their e y es to te k —u ed Heaven, and invoked curses on the naughty 140 Pter. Well, the current . of sympathy went on ; 1 Was raised to support the interesting Magdalen ; kid . . . sins in sackcloth and ashes, when, lo ! the murder came i t il; i nquiries were made as to the real circumstances, ale — r i e „ ll eighbourhood which she mentioned, and it was party 4,4eertained that the too credulous clergymen and who ;L : i lewport had been the dupes of a vile impostor, a te' decamped. -Lr, the r m are such striking similitudes •in the °roester and Newport romances, that I am induced to livel y 'Touble You with this letter, as The Sun is very circulated in Monmouthshire, and it is well that °Pie should not judge hastily. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, PHILALETHES. I C l P ewport, Monmouthshire, Dec. 17, 1846. BEEN AND SHADY ME R RAMBLES IN G PIC TURES OF COUNTRY LIFE, AND SUM% PLACES. By•Thoinas Mill e r . the great All admirers of t he sta g e must have often felt, that attraction of any perfo rmance lies not so admire or applaud the fine ever much we may much in the merits of the play, as of the actors. flow from different ' different is their effect coming v•ery the most common-place language or the noble sentiments in any case, yet, speakers. The dullest drama, when, instead of acting his part, only speaks, but feels what he says ; f, the time the dialogue, is invested with interest when the actor not so it is individual he is supposed to personify.. all the world over ; a good earnest purpose and real he really becomes fur And reelin g are worth more than any fine speaking, or plausible rhetoric, or hypocritical eloquence (if there can be such a thing). In few things is this more ap p whatr e n . t i t thanmay in be l p i trie;saet.uorre verse, half gay y e vaille of a book consists in the style of fts author. It matters not or grave, politics, love, learning : perforce feel what w ever more enthusiastic on any con amore. If the author feels what he write, we must e si: e n a ifi d e . s N lit o tle a , u s t o ho i r t . be s writtenperhaps d with its spirit, or beauties, than is Thomsubject, more imbue impressed Thomas with admiration for its the country. only faithful delineations of country His "pietur Miller when he writes about country life" are not rural scenes; the s d to pervade them.er all h er var yi n g forms; full of appreciation for the very glow of the sunshi ne seetn n Full of reverence for N a t ure beautiful;; full of en thusiasm and admiration f or a thousandn d rustic trifl e s, u glades o f merr i e groves g and companions of hi s he wanders luring through t is the on, deii ; with book i s th e mingled le ‘ d 'a ; aeration for the poetry of old customs way. One very strange feat ure i ns close union of contending principlesFilledan)ll strong predilection for new reforms.' is anger at the thoughts of the Enclosure Bill —filled with ill—fill e d with sorrow lest any rude hand should melest his beloved country scenes, he yet can rejoice, and heartily, over the great improvements of modern times. For instance—" Look at that hoard— web this very woodland is to be let on building le ase ?! Heaven only knows where unborn generations will have to go, in the course of time, to get out of London into the country ! And yet, strange interposition of Providence ! what we lose by distance we make up for by the increased speed of travelling." These op. posite feelings are, however, most apparent in the chapter, entitled the " Twenty-ninth of May," which commences with animated reminiscences of the author's boyish days, and the exceeding delight ex perienced by youthful gatherers of hawthorn and oak-apples, in honour of the royal festival. After di lating on all the pleasures and beauties of the "dear old custom," he turns from the poetry of romance to the reality of politics : " Oh, Memory! 'tis hut little use thou and I journey• ing back to these gri en, dreamy, secluded haunts; the light of truth, reflected from the pages of history, falls upon these dear old customs, and, in spite of all our love for them, shows that they are truly ridiculous! Sorry are we, grave old oaks! that ever we rent a leafy honour from your aged heads to commemorate so silly a ceremony! Ancient homes of the grim old Druids! we were innocent invaders of your sanctity,—we knew not %%Ira we dni! " What then were we guilty of? Let us look hack through this night of years. Alas! the image of the Merry Monarch overshadows; it not, traitors that we are! his memory is not even there. We but went out to do ' observance to May;' to bring her home ' with much green' and a sound of merriment: it was, after all, to the month of flowers we paid homage. The representa tive of majesty we did not kneel down d worship, even when he sot enthroned in the royal ol.k ; for it had been the custom of our forefathers ' to pelt and hoot him;' unmannerly dogs that they were, they valued not his FRENCH ITALIAN OPERA. When M. Gardoni made his first appearance at the e ti e ade- • Royale two years ago, we recollect we stated at he bad gone to the wrong side of the Boulevards, 6 " that hi s p l ace was a t the Italian Opera. His brilliant : f at this theatre on Thursday proves the correctness , tu ut Opinion. His fine pure tenor, cramped and dm. rod by his singing in French, came out iii his native te n .guage with a fulness and beauty of tone which atd i/le d to take the public here entirely by surprise, 4014 , aided by his gallant youthful figure and hand e- features, at once established him a favourite—a, the which, we must remark, the fairer part of ttn: a uditory assisted in ratifying with unusual zeal and The opera selected for the occasion d'Amore, which had the merit also of par - : ) " ° eing another novelty, namely, Ronconi, in the uf Dulcamara, and in which, though succeeding the mitable Lablache, he was brilliantly successful—keep thati.tha Public in continued roars throughout the whole vFmOllis great predecessor is more spontaneous in his mr, but it is difficult to imagine a more perfect picture Italian charlatan than Ronconi in this character. He 414 im mensely appl a ud e d. Mme. Persiani sang with all du r o usual exuberaiice of ornament, and was encored in the Ronconi, whose imitations of some of her fiori ge; " uv ulsed the house with laughter. Tagliafico's ,Reant is by many degrees his best character, but, with ZLetti in the . theatre, why was such a part confided to and w 0 waste? The opera went off admirably, si nu we have to congratulate the director on the posses diu of a tenor who relieves us from all apprehensions of v au PPuintment in futur,.. Gsrdoni's first :IT drew down kore 41)111411s e , and in the duo T,glitifico he was even u ecessful, for h e was compelled to re .eat the entlreelPal passage, by an irresistible demand from the f °r thea"emblage. At th e c l ose of the piece the calls to b o debutant were loud and general, and ho appeared w his th an k s, accompanied by the principal enters. •11--enit.4r],,bie (Ja of • ult. a ; IL kii , pcAr,(l Tit. t° rrent of K• witi a — Silower of falling stars, and was 1151 ble for about twenty seconds. royalty a rush. And yet there is a poetry about his perils, a something to linger and sigh over, even in the cold, uncharitable pages of history) and while we censure the man, we seem to have a wish to love him. Poor his• torians should we make after all; our love of leaning towards human frailty would often cause us to show jus tice a cold shoulder. " What a doing and undoing does this short sketch present ! Ten years ago it would have been a pic ture overhung with green and garlands, teeming with flowers and steeped in sunshine- Poetry without re flection, sentiment without thought, life such as we see on the stage, where the actors move, and cross, and smile, and bow to each other, but have no other share in the stirring events of the drama; they come and go, and so ends a pretty scene. Neither Charles nor Cromwell would have appeared in our part had we written it then. Whence comes this change ? Is the day at hand when the name of the Royal Martyr will be blotted out of our Litany, and that, too, by the consent of good and pious men ? When Cromwell, instead of being considered a kingly scourge, will be hailed as the great benefactor of his country, and looked upon as one of the mightiest minds that ruled the age in which he lived? That day,we believe, is not far off, neither is that change very re mote. The light which two centuries have clouded is about to bratk forth, and reveal all the progressions and improvements which science has made during this long night of silent labour ; and the old mind, which during this long period has seemed to sleep, is up and look ing out upon the new field which time has prepared for ac tion. The fossil bones of freedom have become hard as iron durirg their long slumber, and now clothed with a new body and a new life, they bid defiance to the old batter ing rams of bigotry, become stronger through the very blows which are rained down upon them, and shrink not, as of yore, at the touch of ancient superstition. What England has been we know; what it will be hath not yet entered into the heart of man to conceive.' " This constant antagonism of principles—the linger ing love of old prejudices, and the earnest advocacy of the very reforms calculated to overthrow them, somewhat reminds us (to compare small things with great) of Mr. Macaulay's description of Milton's "inconsistency" where the imagination of the poet is captivated by illusions against which the statesman is proof. "It is the very struggle of the noble Othello. His heart relents, but his hand is firm. He does nought in hate, but all in honour. He kisses the beautiful deceiver before he destroys her." Perhaps the most interesting chapter is the " Summer Ramble," where our author, taking us by the omnibus to Camberwell, leads us a delightful ramble through the beautiful country in the close vicinity of London. From the wonderful naturalness of the descriptions, from the careful painting of the minutest objects, the whole is invested with an air of reality—rather let us say the whole is real. We do not read the author's book, we hear him speaking at our side ; we do not ponder over his descriptions, we see before us the scenes of which he speaks. "English Villagers" contains some very natural portraits of country people. After giving us some mournful details of the domestic economy of the rustic poor, the author very justly observes, "one half of the world do not know how the other starve." The following is a beautiful comment on the example afforded by the life of the poor, speaking of a very aged man grown old in poverty, the author asks : "For what purpose was he born? what gap has he filled up in the world, during his long life? Reader! that old man is set before us as an exemple of patience, endurance and long-suffering,—one of those set up to show, that FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. WHITEHALL, DEC. 17, 1846. The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto the fallowing gentlemen, and the respective heirs male of their bodies lawfully begotten, viz.:— Henry Robert Ferguson Davie, of Greedy, in the county of Devon, Esq., Colonel in the Army; Frederick Currie, Esq., Secretary to the Government of Bengal ; and Anthony Rothschild, of Grosvenor-place, in the county of Middlesex, Eeq., with remainder in default of such issue male, to his nephe ws , Nathan Meyerl Rothschild, Charles Alfred Rothschild, and Leopold Rothschild, Esqs., sons of Lionel Rothschild, Esq., brother of the said Anthony Rothschild. WHITEHALL, DECEMBER 17. The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Robert Lee, D.D., to be one of her Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary in Scotland. "! They also serve who wait.' " All his life-long - has he had to battle with poverty. What veteran ever endured such continued hardships, without murmuring ? His very rags are venerable me dals, won in a long warfAre with privation and want. They tell of the hard campaigns he has weathered, while his placid countenance bespeaks that all is calm within. Is he forgotten by the rich ? No. There aro moments when his silver hairs, and his calm, resigned features, rise up before them, and they feel as if they ought to touch their hats, and pay respect to him, in stead of receiving such an act of undeserved honour when he passes." " County statutes," contains a little tale—very me lancholy, and rendered doubly so, because it is almost true, founded on some of the cruel regulations which cast such disgrace upon the authorities of poor houses, but which are now, we believe, somewhat modified. Mr. Miller is as enthusiastic an admirer of Shakespeare and of poets, as of the country, and his volume is adorned with many quotations. The illustrations by Samuel Williams are beautifully designed and beautifully executed, infinitely superior to those generally found in such works. The tale of "Morton Marsh Manor-house," is not natural, it may be as the author tells us, founded on fact, but it would have been as well omitted. We have, how ever, said enough of this pleasant volume, we will conclude, by quoting the author's remarks on the changes of modern days. In the preface, he observes : " Surely that man has lived in an age worth recording, who, from travelling three miles an hour in the old pon derous stage-wagon, or snail-paced market-boat, has been whirle fifty miles in the same space of time by a railway engine; who has sent a letter three hundred miles for a penny, and seen her Majesty " black•balled,' by her own paid postmaster, after she had been kind enough to countenance the transmission; and when there are grave men who believe with Wilkes, that hanging a man is the very worst use you can make of him; and others who think that it would be no sin to erect a statue to Oliver Cromwell—that the stern Protector did not govern England so badly after all, and that had not King Charles been a knave, he would never have been a martyr. These are bold thoughts to utter, yet we hear them every day, and no one now seems to make them a matter of wonderment." " The sun himself has turned portrait-painier, and our likenesses are now drawn by the light of Heaven ; while Titmarsh, having a week's holiday, sets out to have a peep at the Pyramids, and just makes as much preparation for leaving Cornhill for Grand Cairo, as our forefathers did when they journeyed from Cheapside to Clapham. If these are not changes enough, let us glance at the days when Dryden was paid sixpence a line for his poetry, to our own, when five hundred pounds ore offered for the best play, the finest picture, and the choicest statue, and neither a first rate author, artist, nor sculpture, thinks it worth his while to become a competitor for any of the prizes." BANK OF ENU-LAND. (From last Night's Gazette.) An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and kith of Victoria, cap. 32, for the Week ending on Saturday, the 12th' day of December, 1846. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Yotes i55ued........ 28,4:0,735 Government debt • • 11,015,100 Other securities ... • '2,984,900 Gold coin and bullion 11,935,818 Silver bullion ...... 2,474,9►7 £28,410,735 £ 28,410,735 AIARSTIA.LL, Chief Cashier. 1846. EPARTMEN T. Dated the 17th day of Decembe: Government securl- ties (including Dead Weight Annuity) .. 12,807,417 Other securities •• • • 13,879,900 Notes •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ...............8,23,e15 Gold and silver coin.. 742,778 £36,053,970 Af. MARSHALL, Chief Cashier. !, 1846. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, DEC. 18. Royal Regiment of Artillery. Major-General James Power to be Colonel Commandant, vice Dickenson, deceased, Dec. 6. ADMIRALTY, DEC. 7. Corps of Royal Marines Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Peebles to be Colo ne l an d Second C omman d an t, vice Swale, deceased ; Captain and Brevet Major James Whylock to be Lieutenant- Colonel. vice Peebles; First Lieutenant John Hoskin Wright to be Captain, vice Why lock; Second Lieutenant John James Douglas Barclay to be First Lieutenant, vice Wright. ADMIRALTY DEC. 9. Corps of Royal Matines—Firs't Lieutenant Robert John M‘Killop to be Captain, vice Morrison, retired on full-pap; Second Lieutenant George Sheddon Dunbar to be First Lieutenant, vice M‘Killop. ADMIRALTY, DEC. 16. The name of Captain the Honourable George Rolle Wal pole Trefusis is to be included in the list of Captains of the Royal Navy, having accepted the retirement of their rank on the terms proposed in the London Gazetta of Ist September, 1846, on the half-pay of eighteen shillings per diem. Commission by the Queen. Dumfriesshire Regiment of Militia—Lieutenant and Ad jutant Robertiee CaptainCompton sw N a o n a s k on e, , f r r e o t m ired 44 o t n h f ß ul e l- g p im ay e : nt, to be Adjutant, vice Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries. Dumfriesshire Regiment of Militia—Lieutenant and Ad jutant Robert Compton N oa k e to have the ran k o f Captain. WHITEHALL, Dac. 9. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Joseph Brodribb Sherring, jun., Gent., of the city of Bristol, to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. WHITEHALL, DEc. 11. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Frederick Baker, of Derby, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COURT OF ALDERMEN AND THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Immediately after the Lord Mayor quitted the Court of Common Council on Thursday, after the Aldermen had one by one abandoned it, in order to render the pro ceedings upon the new Bill of no avail, the Common Councilmen called Deputy Peacock to the chair. There were then in the Court 85 members, all of whom were decidedly opposed to the course taken by the Aldermen in expressing. their dissent from the Bill and any fur ther proceedings thereon, notwithstanding the fact, that they had sanctioned it in all its former stages. The most active members of the Corporation were the foremost in denouncing the conduct of the Aldermen, and a spirit appeared to exist which was likely to gain strength from the announcement that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen were determined to persist in adopting measures to de feat the object of the Common Council. Mr. ASIMBST moved, and it was unanimously agreed to, that the Town Clerk, the Solicitor, the Remetn braneer, the Comptroller, and the Common Sergeant, all of whom are officers appointed by the Court of Common Council, be requested to a•tenil the meetings of the com mittee thus constituted, upon the departure of the Lord Mayor from the chair. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Worcestershire lids., Tues., Howell ; Thurs.. Bre:ion Hill. Shrop,hire lids., Mon., Pimhill ; Wed., Pitchford ; Sat., Shawbury—i to 11. Atherstene hds., Mon., Cadeby Gate ; Wed., Arbury ; Thurs., Fisherwick ; Sat., Three Pots-11. Badsworth Wentbridge ; Thurs., Askern ; Sat., Ackwort h Moor Top-14 flufford lids., Mon., Kennels; Tues., Cocking Moor; Thurs., Kelham ; Sat., Clown Village-1011. Cheshire lids.. Mon., Stamford Bridge; Wed., Hoon Green ; ' Thurs., Astle Hall; Sat., Bri , ltield Gorse. Sir W. W. Wynn's hds., Mon., Greddingtcn ; Wed., Al dersey ; Thurs., Chirk ; Sat., Overton Bridge-10i. Montgomeryshire hds., Tues., Pentrenncck ; Sat., Bryn derwen Bridge-10. North Staffordshire lids.,Tues , Walgherton Lodge ; Thurs., I Trentham-10b. Brighton hrrs., Mon, Patcham ; Wed., Racecourse; Fri., Dyke—A to 11. Brookside hrrs., Mon., Newmarket Hill; Thurs., Tels comhe-tye-101/2. Crawley and Horsham Hs., Mon., Crawley Village; Wcd., New Inn, Climsford ; Sat., Duo Horse. Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Mon., Calton ; Thurs., Edmeston Lodge; Sat., Blythfield—A to 1. Donnington hds., Mon., Kigworth Station; Wed., Stan tonby Dale; Sat., Kigworth Kennel—A to 11. Devon hds., Mon., Keythorpe Hall ; Tues., Bradgate Park ; Thurs., Beggrave Hall; Sat., Kettleby—il. Essex Union hds., Wed., Totham Maypole ; Sat., Kennel. RACES TO COME. The following list of the next seaeos. will be useful not 4ettirtnined on the time Covent Warwid Spring Newmarket C. Bath Cat t erick Epsom S. Mr. Anderton and Mr. Benno:.k, at the request of the committee, took down the names of all the members present. Mr. ASHURST moved, and Mr. W. JONES seconded, the following resolution:—" That a committee of the mem bers of the Corporation of the city of London, being members either of the Court of Aldermen or of the Court of Common Council, be now formed to consider the course to be pursued by them, the rights and privileges of the citizens of London. their constituents, being in their opinion in danger."—Carried una?limously. The same gentleman proposed that a sub-committee, consisting of twenty-one be formed to consider the sub ject and prepare resolutions. The resolution was unani mously agreed to, and the following members were ap pointed .—Messrs. Peacock, Ashurst, Wire, Anderton, Lawrence, R. L. J ones , W. J unes Burn, F. H. Hall, Farrar, R. Taylor, Prior, Bower, Bannock, Finnis, Selson, King, Blake, Norris, Hartley, and Dr. Lynch. The Committee then broke up, and Yesterday the sub-committee assembled for the pur pose of preparing the resolutions. Much discussion took place, and a series of resolutions was prepared for the consideration of the general committee, before which, a full explanation of all the circumstances connected with the matter in dispute, which is said to be the determina tion of the Court of Common Council to prevent the Court of Aldermen from any further extravagant expen diture of the City cash, will be made. Newmarket, S. S. Shrewsbury Ascot Heath 1 Hampton Bibury Club Newmarket Lirerpool Brighton Horwich Wolverhampton *Chelmsford .. Lewes ll York SEPTE: Warwick Doncu ter OCTI fixtures already made for the to these stewards who have of holding their meetings:— RCII. Northampton I Newmarke, S. Durham i Chester Epsom I Newton INE. I Stockbridge Newcvtle I Carlisle LY. Goodwood 27 ___ . •Egharp 24 Derby : *Hereford .... ........ *Hunti6gdon 26 *Canterbury MISER. *Lincoln Newmarket, F. O. Newmarket, S. 0 ll [The meetings against r terisk have not been officiall bability will take place at th ;Newmarket, H 25 vhich No have placed an as y announccd, but in all Fro time mentioned.] THE WEATHER. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNF, TUESDAY NIGHT.—The snow storm continues here with unabated severity, and with every appearance of being prolonged still further. Last night a very heavy fall of snow took place, and lasted throughout the night, and, with intervals, during the greater part of to day, of course deranging all the ordinary means of commuuicatiom Yesterday morn ing's papers, which should have been delivered here at six P.m., did not reach until two this morning ; and the =Ha have been quite as much beyond their time. Letters usually delivered early in the forenoon were not in the postman's hands until about four o'clock, and the delay has necessarily occasioned much annoyance to business men. On the North Shields Railway no train run this morning until eleven o'clock ; and a serious delay again occurred on the Carlisle line. On the Newcastle and Darlington no trains have run, except the mail and one or two expresses, so that we are nearly completely cut off from neighbouring towns. The frost continues in tense, aid tells seriously on the navigation. Altogether, we have not suffered so severely in these respects for many years. A sad result of the inclemency of the weather has oc curred on board the Londonderry steamer. She left that place on Thusday morning, but was detained in the Loch by the strong gale that was blowing for several hours, and only arrived here, after a very severe pas sage, on Saturday morning, between seven and eight o'clock. She had a great number of steerage passengers on ,board, all of them in a most wretched condition, and these suffered very much from hunger and cold. Among them was a tolerably well-dressed man, apparently about sixty or seventy years of age, who was discovered to have died on deck from the severity of the weather. A little child, two or three years of age, also died on the passage. The body of the latter was brought ashore here, and the TI-IE ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE. (From the Roman Advertiser.) The amphitheatres originally built in Rome were of wood; the first erected of stone was that named after its architect, Statilius Taurus, and raised by order of Au gustus, who was passionately devoted to the games called Venationes, or chasing of wild bea s ts. Th e Fl av i an was commenced by Vespasian, and completed by Titus in the year 80 of our era; it is said to have been finished in two years only, at an expense answering to 50 millions of Roman scudi, without calculating the labours of 15,000 Hebrew slaves employed in the works; and to have been capable of containing 300,000 persons. It received the n'me of Colosseum either from the colossal bronze statue of Nero opposite to it, or from its own vast proportions, on account of which the poet Martial celebrates it as the greatest wonder of the world:—" Mephis may be silent as to the barbarian miracles of ber pyramids, nor let Babylonia boast any more of her assiduous labours; nor let the luxurious honours paid to the temple of Diana be extolled; and let the altar abounding in horns conceal the god. No more let the Carians laud to the skies with immoderate praise the Mausolea pendant in the void air; every labour may cede to the Amphitheatre of Caesar; and instead of all others, Fame may now publi,:h only one achievement." Spectac. Epig, IV.) It was covered by an awning, for protection against sun and rain, of the finest linen ; afterwards, when Roman luxury rose higher, this was made of silk, and Nero ordered one to be prepared of purple, with his own figure, driving a chariot, in the centre, and golden stars scattered round. The rank of seats nearest the arena, in the part called the Podium, was appro. priated to the senators, ambassadors, and other high functionaries ; also to the vestal virgins. Whilst Rome was free, all ranks, and both sexes, sat together promis cuously ; but under Augustus this was entirely abo lished. The knights and tribunes sat above the senators ; the common people above these, who were again subdivided by a law of the emperor, the soldiers, the married and the unmarried men having their sepa rate compartments ; and the women, out of motives of delicacy, in the rows of seats farthest from the arena. For security, a net work, which at one time is said to have been of geld, was stretched round the podium, and stakes of ivory were fixed in its front, so contrived as to give way, turned by wheels, if any wild beast should leap against them, and thus repel it. A canal was also carried round the arena, called the Earipus. The splendour of its general ornaments may be divined from the works of the poet Calpurnius : —" Behold the baltheus" (a terrace carried round the amphitheatre), " set with gems, and the porico with gold." Tubes were conducted through the cunee (01 benches). to sprinkle perfumes, especially that formed of the crocus pounded with wine, which were made to des cend from above, and rise from below, pouring their fra grant shower over all the spectators. Thus Ovid : "Nor were yet the seats red with liquid crocus." These perfumes were also made to flow from statues, which appeared to perspire. It was first dedicated to the Scy thian Diana. who was supposed to delight in human ,apritice ; afterwards to the Stygian Jupiter, as we are informed by the Christian poet Pradentius :—" These ;ire the delights of the infernal Jove ; in these he re poses satisfied, arbiter of dark Avernus." An altar was erected to Dis, and the combats of wild b e a s t s were placed under the special protection of Saturn. Hence, it was observed by Tertuli an, that the amphitheatre was consecrate to the sternest deities; that it was " the temple of all demons." The spectacles were exhibited down to the time of the invasion of the Goths in the beginning of the fifth cen tury, for though forbidden by a law of Constantine, as irreconcileable with the Christian religion, they were never efficiently suppressed till the reign of Honorius. Every invention of art, every resource that wealth and power could command, was expended to add to the fas cinations of these sanguinary shows, not, as a more re fined taste would have required, to idealise, and thus soften the ferocity of their chaaacter ; but to invest them with all the vividness of terrific reality. One writer (Vopiscus) describes how, on throwing open the portals communicating with the cages of the beasts, issued forth 1,000 ostriches, 1,000 stags, and 1,000 boars. Neho exhibited, on one occasion, a succession of dif. ferent sports ; first the Yenationes ; then (the arena being filled suddenly with water) a sea fight ; then a combat of gladiators, and lastly succeeded a banquet. The ship Nero had formed to be the instrument of his mother's death, was taken from the model of one of those introduced in the amphitheatre. Of this Dio says, that it was contrived so as suddenly to fall to pieces, when 700 animals of different kinds leapt forth from its womb ; and then t o re-unite, assuming its original form. Aquatic and amphibious animals were introduced, the former when the whole arena was overflown, the latter, it appears, at o th er ti mes , as Calpurnius spe aks of having seen the hippopotamus and sea-calf fighting with the bear. But the most perfect illusion was produced by the representation of forests, when the whole arena was planted with living trees, shrubs, and flowers ; and we reed that the earth was contrived to open, and send forth the wild beasts from its yawning clefts, which were in • stantly re-covered with shrubs and bushes. Apulcius peaks of a spectacle in one of the provincial amphi theatres, where Mount Ida, as sung by Homer, was re presented, planted with trees, and with a fountain spring ing from its summit. Martial describes one of these scenes very graphically :—" Whatever is said to have been seen in the Orphean Rho :lope, Caesar has exhibited to thee on the arena of the theatre : the rocks extended, and the marvellous forest spread itself, such as one be lieves to have been the grove of the Hesperides." Gladiatorial combats possessed much more attraction for the Romans than the most splendid exhibitions in which bestial blood alone was shed. Gladiatorial com bats had their origin in the belief that the souls of the dead delighted in human blood. Thus Homer makes Achilles slay twelve noble Trojan prisoners on the fune ral pyre of Patroclus ; and Virgil makes Aneas send slaves to Evauder, to be sacrificed in the funeral of Pal las. This idea was received by the Romans from the Etruscans ; hence the practice of immolating servants an I slaves when their masters died, and, as an improve ment upon this, the first combat of gladiators was given at the funeral of Brutus, in the year of the city 535, by order of his two sons. It was once proposed to intro duce these combats among the Athenians, out of a feeling of jealousy against the luxuries of the Corin thians Tho philosopher Demonates rose in tho midst of the assembly, and exclaimed—" Before ye do this, first cast to earth the altar which, more than a thou sand years ago, our fathers erected to mercy 1" These sanguinary honours to the departed were often ordered in the testaments of Roman nobles, and even the funerals of women were celebrated by the same. It was a severe reproof against the barbarism of these spectacles, that Spartacus, the general of the Gauls, gave to Rame, when on the death of his brother, during the war, he compelled 300 pairs of her citizens, his prisoners, to fight together as gladiators. The combats were generally given on the spot where the funerals were celebrated, but more frequently in the forum, the camps, or the circus; it was not till the avidity of the populace for such sights so increasing as to demand them distinct from the rites of burial, as separate entertainments, that amphitheatres were built. The combats were then given by pretors, consuls, questors, pontiffs, Sze. to celebrate the day of their en trance into office; by emperors on their birthdays, o every fifth and every tenth anniversary of their acces sion; also on occasion of festivals, victories, and triumphs. Those who filled high places had often their o en pur poses to serve, in averting the attention of the people from themselves. Thus Julius Coeur, whilst i'dile, gave gladiatorial shows in which 320 pairs contended and would have employed a larger number, but that the senate decreed that this should be the maximum. One may imagine the frantic excess to which the taste had been carried in Rome from the preventive laws made by Augustus, that gladiators should no more com bat without permission of the senate ; that the pretors should not give these spectacles more than twice a year; that more than sixty couples should not engage at the same time ; and that knights and senators should never contend in the arena. Still more may one do so, from the fact that some years after he was obliged to repeal this last, because totally useless and contemned ! It need not surprise us to find a Nero, a Commodus, a Caracalla, delighting and participating in these contests ; but . it awakens sorrowful astonishment to see Titus sacrificing the lives of several thousands at the inaugural games of the Colosseum ; Adrian giving, in one month, spectacles in which 3,000, and Trajan continuiig for 123 former was carried on to Glasgow. A circumstance of this kind is very rare, and not more rare than strange is it that such a fearful affair should happen on board a large roomy vessel, where means might have been taken to prevent it. The authorities will, of course, inquire into the matter, to see that all proper means were adopted to to prevent the fatal result. The passage across was tremendously severe, and very likely all the crew were required to look after the vessel.—Greenock Advertiser. The frost continues with unabated rigour, our ther mometer having indicated for the last few nights a point varying from 12 to 16 degrees below freezing point. The canal being frog n over, and large masses of ice on the Severn, render the navigation very dangerous. The condition of the abject poor must now indeed be wretched, while that of many artisans, who are. obliged to suspend their work in consequence of the cold, is scarcely any better. The relief committee, it will be seen, have come to a resolution for the distribution of soup at a penny per quart in the first wcek of January, and also for the sale of rice and coal at greatly reduced prices. These measures will prove most beneficial, and the subscription List will undoubtedly be soon crowded with liberal sums; but we think it is a pity that these humane operations had not commenced with the present week, when hun dreds of the poor are shivering under all the horrors of fireless grates, empty cupboards, and uncovered b_ds.— Worcester Chronicle. DELAY OF NEWS.—The frosty weather continues to cause all the railway trains to be late. On Tuesday the morning mail train from London was about an hour late, from the slippery state of the rails; and, owing to the same cause, the train which leaves London at a quarter past six A.m. freighted, amongst other things, with the morning papers, was an hour beyond its time in reaching Birmingham; consequently the train, usually leaving that town for Manchester about twenty minutes after its ar rival, proceeded without waiting for it, and the news papers were brought on by the mail-train, which reached Manchester just one hour and three minutes atter its due time.—Manchester Guardian. An otter, of unusual size and weight, was shot in the river Thames on Thursday morning. near Clown., by Mr. George Chapman, of Windior. The animal wa making for the bank with a large jack, alive, in its jaws, when Mr. Chapman fired, and killed it, close to tilt. shore. It measured from its nose to the tip of its tail between four and five feet, and weighed nearly thirty pounds. BRONZED IRON CANNON.—It will be remembered that some months ago ieveral iron cannon were bronzed oy the galvanic process at Berlin, by order of the Prus sian government. They were tried on the 7th inst., in presence of Prince Adalbert and several artillery officers, and were found to answer admirably. Although one third less in thickness than the ordinary iron cannon they bore a larger charge of powder. A " STRIKE " AMONG TILE MAGISTRATES.—It is rumoured that our metropolitan magistrates have been putting their heade together* and come to the determination of making a combined call upon the Joverement for an increase of salary. We wonder if the gentleman who lately committed the ship carpen ters fur refusing to work with an inctividual they did not like. is one of the members of the magisterial " strike ?" —Dublin Pilot. Mr. Hudson, it is said, has given orders for all the persons engaged on the Eastern Counties to be regaled with a good dinner, and to receive 55., during the Christmas holidays.—Leeds Mercury. HOW TO MARE A QUARTER?i. LOAF OUT OF A DEAL BOARD!—To make wood flour according to Pro• fessor Autenrieth, the wood, after being stripped of the bark, is to be sawed transversely into disks of an inch in diameter. The saw-dust to be, preserved, and the disks reduced in a pounding mill. The whole ahould now be boiled, or subjected for a length of time to the action of cold water, which will free it from anything harsh or bitter. It is afterwards to be dried and ground in a flour. The ground wood is next baked into small flat cakes, with water rendered slightly mucilaginous by the addition of some marshmallow roots, linseed or lime-tree bark ; an ounce of mallow-root is suffi cient for eighteen quarts of water. The cakes are baked until they are brown on the surface ; they should be again broken, re-ground, and re-baked. The Professor found fifteen pounds of birch flour, with three pounds of sour wheaten leaven, and two pounds of wheaten flour mixed up with eight measures of new m ilk, yielded thirty-six pounds of very good bread. The Learned Professor tried the nutritious properties of wood flour in the first instance on a young dog ; after wards he fed two pigs on it ; and from the success of the experiment he attacked it himself. His family, he says, ate it in the form of gruel or soup, dumplings, and pan cakes, and found them palatable and quite wholesome.— Abridged from Quarterly Review. SINGULAR APPLICATION TO TILE GUARDIANS OF THE LEER UNION.—Some few weeks ago a highly respect able tradesman, from Lancashire, obtained permission to inspect the above establishment, merely for the pur pose of amusement and information. When introduced into the school, he was struck with amazement at the cleanliness and proper demeanour of the scholars. lie also expressed his astonishment at the progress they had made in education at so early an age, and in such a place, observing that he had a son about the same age in a respectable school, who had by no means acquired so much knowledge as those poor boys. Qn Wednesday last, Dec. 9, the said gentleman made a formal applica tion to the board of guardians for his son's admission into the house for the purpose of education, at the same time proposing a handsome remuneration and submission to the rules of the house, as to clothing, diet, and all other restraints put upon the pauper children. The board, which was numerously attended, unanimously passed a re,olu.iou for :pc of the b'y, sujac, to the approval of the Poor-law Commissionere.—Cor respondent of the MaccleVield Chronicle. 1, days those in a hick 10,000 p a i rs were t h e victims. Even the amphitheatre of Flavius did not suffice ' • and luxury introducing mttlic and d a n c i ng a t the banquet, in troduced also the gladiatorial combats before the very table of the guests, which was often s p r i n kle d. as they feasted, with the blood of two, three, and sometimes many couples of these hirelings, whose pro fession had become of the first importance, whose numbers and seditions at times perilled the safety of the city ; and who, in their vanity, adopted a sanguinary modishness, classifying their performances according to the people whose manner of fighting they imitated. There were the Gallic, the Dacian, the Thracian, and Samnite games ; the Retarii gladiators, who used nets to entangle their adversaries, defending themselves with sword and shield ; and the Essedari, who fought on chariots drawn by two horses, and armed with spears like tridents. At times was erected in the midst of the arena a machine called the Pegna, resembling a tower, whose different stories were garrisoned, its apex crowned with weapons and armour, the prize of victory. These were besieged, and taken, unless successfully defended, to represent the assault of a fortress. The Pegna were made with such skill of mechanism, as to open and close, to increase and diminish their altitude, as if spontaneously. They were sometimes painted, at oJiera plated over with gold and silrer ; their re cesses were often filled with persons condemned to death, when thel'egna was made to fall to pieces, precipi tating these among the wild beasts. Under Diocletian, the exhibition of these towers in a blaze of fire, which 3et did not hurt the material, was carried to great mag nificience. Gladiators were originally none but slaves, servants, or prisoners of war • but th e arm i es who con tended in later a g e s were divided into compulsory —that is, slaves, prisoners of war, and condemned criminals-- and volutktary gladiators, which latter want through a laborious education of gymnastics,, were supported and well fed by the Lunista, or master of arms of each troop, and are said to have been remarkably temperate. To the eternal disgrace of the morals of these ages, it is re corded that women sometimes made themselves gladia tors, and fought with no other covering than the armour used by the men. The passion of the populace for these amusements was excessive. The seats used to be filled long before daylight, as the performance was generally kept up from morning till evening; and we read in Sue tonius, that Caligula, once disturbed by noises in the amphitheatre of the people taking their seats at mid night, ordered them all to be driven out with clubs. AN AMERICAN CURIOSITY SHOP. A new curiosity shop has been established in Broad way. Among the rare articles it contains we notice the following:— A chip from the log which they are everlastingly roll ing in all our Legislatures. One cake of the soap with which politicians try to wash their hands clean. A piece of the bond of union, manufactured of South Carolina cotton by Yankee rope-makers. The identical first glass which has created all the drunkards. The tongue of the very bell which Dr. Young heard strike one. Pity it is not in that of St. John's, which never strikes less than twelve. Some of the iron which entered into the soul of Ugo lino, and every prisoner and slave since that day. A pint of that exceedingly het water into which people are perpetually plunging. Also the same frying pan that multitudes have been always jumping out of into the fire. The lock on the door through which silly youths have in all ages rushed to destruction. Picture of an infant manufacture, with Polk and Dallas in the act of nursing it with the cold water douche. The bag that contained the specie which Secretary Walker did not get in Wall-street. The celebrated piece of chalk which has ever been the universal standard of measure among men. The portrait of the " oldest inhabitant" who is sup posed to have forgotten more than any person now exist ing ever knew. The band of Charity, standing open, with a counter feit sixpence in it. One string of that famous instrument which tickles people much more than that of Sivori or Paganini ever did—namely, the Scotch fiddle. The new yarn, which was spliced into the cord of Evangelical union on board the Great Western during ;he late fearful gale, and taken out again as soon as the storm was over. A specimen of a bug, which lives through all the seasons, and thrives the more for every attempt to ex• terminate it—the Hum- bug. —New York paper. FREIGHTS. —Accounts from Gottenburgh of the 28th ult., state that 17s. per ton for iron had been paid to Hull ; and from Dantsic of the Ist current, that char ters for spring had been closed at 181. for London and Liverpool per last for beams.—Dundee Advertiser. THE NEW HOUSE OF LORDS.—It was generally expected that their Lordships would meet in their new House on the assembling of Parliament, but it is now ascertained that the decorations and embellishments, which are of the meat magnificent description, cannot be c,rnpleted in sufficient time. Consequently the Peers will for a short period continue to sit in the prelim', House. AUSTRIAN JUSTICE.—It will be remembered that at the last Waterford assizes two Austro-I aliens, be -I.nging to the Anna, of Trieste, were acquitted of the murder of Keane, the carman, the jury agreeing that it was in self defence that homicide was committed. It was believed that one of the Austrians, the small man in par ticular, gave the fatal stab to Keane. The men returned to Italy, but not by the ship Anna, as she sailed previ ously to their liberation. But the merciful hearts of Irish jurors were not of the stuff which administers Austrian justice. On the arrival of the two sailors in Trieste, they were imprisoned for the murder of the Irish man, and brought to trial. The small man was found guilty, and sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Such is his penalty in his own land, for killing a man in so distant a country. It will be seen by this that the Aus trian authorities have no great affection for the knife, and that murder is not thought lightly of in Austrian Italy. The crew of the ship Anna, which has returned to this port from the Adriatic, brings this intelligence.— Waterford Chronicle. EXPERIMENTS IN GUN COTTON.—Since the expe riments recorded in a recent publication of our paper we hare received the following information from Mr. Hain- . day of experiments made with a superior gun cotton to that used previously:—Fifteen grains in a common fowl ing-piece projected a ball at fifty yards through three boards, each II- inch thick, the latter board being covered with copper 1-16 inch thick. Between the first and se cond board there was a space of 36 inches; between the second and third 44 inches; the latter resting against a gate from which a portion of the spars were broken, the ball projecting it to some distance: the ball could not be found. Eight grains at the same distance, and with the same boards situated as before, sent a ball through the first board into the second, which had a cross-bar of the same thickness as the board, making-if inches altogether, and was stopped by an iron bar: the ball when taken out was found slightly injured. Three grains, in one of Edge's rook-rifles, sent a ball, at a distance of 25 yards, through If-inch plank. Experiments were also tried in the Ardwick lime pits, when it was found, after several trials, that 222 grains of gun cotton produced a better effect than four ounces, or 1,750 grains, of the usual gunpowder employed in mining operations. So w e may safely estimate the power of the gun cotton as eight times stronger than gunpo•A der, Another remarkable fact with regard to this interesting body is, that when exposed to a temperature from 200 to 300 degs., or, if kept at the latter temperature for a short time, the cotton becomes brown, and loses its property of explosion ; but if thrown into a vessel heated to 350 degs. it imme diately explodes. Steaming it, as calico printers steam their cloth, has no effect upon it ; if any, its efficacy is increased. The acids used (equa mix:toes of nitric and sulphuric acids) were as strong as they could be made, and used only in such proportions as would wet the cotton employed. This is the most difficult part of the operation, and requires dexterity in the a.anagement, as the cotton is apt to take fire unless it is speedily satu rated with the acid. This circumstance, we fear, will prove a practical difficulty in the manufacture of this article on a large scale.—Mancheser Times. A ROBBER SHOT.—A distres.sieg itfLir occurred on Monday night last, at Forneett Peter's, a small village in Norfolk, near New Buckinglsam, and about twelve miles from Norwich. This is an agricultural village, and the name of one of the farmers residing there is Robert Bailey. Mr. - Bailey has two sons living at home with him, and about the middle of Monday night one of these observed some men enter his father's barn. He had no doubt but their object was to rob it, and be awoke his brother and father, and these being dressed, all three proceeded to the barn. Here they found three men in the a?,t of filling sacks with wheat, having already filled three, when Mr. Bailey surprised them, and demanded them to surrender. One imme diately struck him a severe blow with a large bludgeon with which he was armed. One of the sons bad taken the precaution to arm himself with a gun, and the moment he found the blow struck he fired at the man who struck it, and the contents entered one of his eyes, and were chiefly lodged in - his head. The others were so frightened that a second was secured, while a third fled. Messrs. Bailey recognised them all as their own labourers, and one of them the thrasher. The man that was shot, whose name is Brown, arrived at the Norwich Hospital about three o'clock on Tuesday morning, and we have not heard that he is at present dead. The other who was apprehended has been examined, but had not arrived at Norwich Castle in the early part of this afternoon. He will, no doubt, be committed for trial. lIINT TO THE CREDITORS OF MILITARY GENTLE- MEN.-A bookseller, in Glasgow, allowed a military gentleman, stationed in Glasgow, to run up an account with him. The regiment, after some time, was ordered to England, and the officer alluded to forgot or neglected, as miatary men as well as others cometitnes do, to pay his account. The creditor took cecasion, after he had left, to rerdni him of it very civilly, and to request pay ment when convenient. No answer whatever was re turned. After a decent interval, another application, equally polite, was made for the money ; but still the result, or non-result, was the same. Five applications, extending over a considerable period, Ivere thus made, to each and all of which the gallant officer mkintained a most pro7oking silence. The bookseller at last wrote him, d i t Chief . or, true to his more sharply than before, that if th e d e b t were not paid in eight days, he would lay th e w h o l e of the circum satnasnnceers evenb efore t the thiand Commander-inthe c r Tlferw w as or n d o , did as he had threatened to do. Ina few days, h e h a d received a letter from the military secretary of the Duke of Wellington, announcing that the officer alluded to had been apprised from the Horse Guards of this demand against him, and that doubtless the account would be paid. Almatt simultaneously the money was sent by the recusant officer, but without a word of explanation. We record the fact, as it may be useful to other creditors in similar circumstances to know that the present autho rities at the War-office consider 'officerfibound to na their debts.—Glasgow Argus. BANKRUPTS. Charles Robert Sauerbrey, ship broker, Fenchurch-street, to surrender Dec. 22, at half-past tea, and Jan. 26, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Belcher, official assignee; Goles, Lime-street. ThOmas Tappenden, tailor, Friendly place, Old Kent-road, Dec. 26, at twelve, and Feb. 6, at ele ven, at the Court o f Bankruptcy. Follett, official assig nee . S ambrook-court, Basinghall-street ; Walsh and Thomso n , Li ncoln ' s Inn-f i e ld s. Henry Farman, baker, Pulham St. Mary Magdalen, Nor folk, Jan. 12, at two, and Feb. 12, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street ; Abbott and Wheatley, Roll's_ and Chan cery-lane; Miller y , and Sons, Norwich. James Dixon, millwright, Spa road, Bermondsey, Jan. 5, at eleven, and Jan. 26, at twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Edwards, o ffi cial assignee, Fr e d er i c k' s - p l ace, Old Jewry ; Holmer and Son, Bridge-street, Southwark. George Combes Bignell, stock jobber. Leeds, Jan. 6 and Feb. 2, at eleven, at the Leeds District Cou r t. Young, offi cial assignee, Leeds; Naylor, Leeds; Sudlow, Sons, and Torr, Chancery-lane. Henry Brook, clothier, Loagley, Yorkshire Dec. 28, and Jan. 26, at eleven, at the Leeds District Yorkshire, Young, official assignee, Leeds; Broadbent, Sheffield; Tattershall, Great James-street, Bedford-row, London. David Rees, grocer, Swansea, GlatnorganAhire, Dec 31, at twelve, and Jan. 29, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Smith and Son, South ampton-street, Bloomsbury; Franklin, Bristol. John Newby, haberdasher, Leicester, Jan. 1 and 29, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, offi cial assignee, Nottingham; Hoskins, Loughborough. Edward Thomas Bradshaw, stock-broker, Manchester, Jan. 4 and Jan 26, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Fraser, official assignee, Manchester; Johnson, Son, and Weatherall, Temple; Bagshaw, Stevenson, and Lycett, Manchester. Isaac Sharland, jun., tailor, Bath, Jan. 5 and Feb. 5, at twelve, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol ; Mansford, Bath. William Smith Dorsett, iron dealer, West Bromwich, Staf fordshire, Dec. 30, and Jan. 20, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Hier), Stafford ; James, Birmingham, DIVIDENDS DECLARED, T. Nelson, hosier, Nottingham—first div. of 83. 9 1 ,0. in the pound, on Friday and Saturday Dec. 18 and 19, on Satur day, Jan. 2, and on every alternate Saturday until Nov. 20, 1847, inclusive, at the office of Mr. Bittleston, Nottingham. D. Stanton, grocer, Bristol—second div. of 4s. 11%cl. in the pound, on any Monday, at the office of Mr. Acraman ' Bristol. S. Purser, draper, Cheltenham—first div. of 3s. 77 1 / R d. in the pound, on any Monday, at the office of Mr. Acraman, Bristol. W. F. Geech, corn merchant, Pontypool—third div. of I %d. in the pound, on any Monday, at the office of Mr. Acraman, Bristol. R Gill, grocer, Richmond, Yorkshire—first div. of 3s. 4d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Kynaston, Leeds. H. Savage, apothecary, Dorset-place, Dorset-square—a div. cf 4s. 3d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street. A.Wildy, hatter, Oxford-street—a div. of 3s. 10d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook court, Basinghall-street. W. Elliott, corn merchant, Petworth, Sussex—a div. of 4s. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Pasinghall-street. J. Teasel, Carpenter, Norwich—a div. of 2s. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook court, Basinghall-street. W. Erick, baker, Hackney-road—a div. of 73.3 d. in the pound, on any Friday, at the office of Mr. Follett, Sam brook-court, Basingkall-street. F. Syder; grocer - , Fakenham and Wells, Norfolk—a div. of ss. in the pound, on any Friday. at the office of Mr. Follett, Sambrook-court, Basinghall-street. M. and 11. Emanuel, goldsmiths, Hanover-square—second div. of 3s. 7d. in the pound, and first and second div. of 10s. ld. in the pound, on new proofs, on Saturday Dec. 19, and two following Saturdays, at the office of Mr. Edward, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry. M. Emanuel, goldsmith, Hanover-square—first and final div. of 20s. in the pound, on new proofs, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's-place. Old Jewry. DIVIDENDS. At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street. I. Bird. grocer, Harrow on the Hill, Jan. 9, at half-past twelve—E. Cawdell, toy dealer, Hull, Jan. 9, at half-past eleven—A. Yeatman, chemists, Fore-street, Jan. 9, at eleven —R. Bowerman, corn dealer, Ensham, Oxfordshire, Jan. 8, at one—R. Walter, ribbon-manufacturer, Wood-street, Cheapside, Jan. 9, at half-past eleven—E. Whitmore, J. Wells, J. Wells, jun., and F. Whitmore, bankers, Jan. 8, at eleven—T. Benson, stationer, North-place, Gray's Inn-road, Jan. 8, at half-past one—J. Munsey, shoemaker, Bedford, Jan. 14, at eleven—C. Maltby, provision merchant, Assem bly-place, Assembly-row, Mile. end, Jan. 14, at eleven—W. Joy, plumber, Tonbridge, Kent, Jan. 9, at twelve. In the Country. M. Oliver, innkeeper, Langtown, Cumberland, Jan. 12, at eleven, at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Di s trict Court—J. G. Schott and J. C. L ava t er , merchants, Manchester, Jan. 12, at twelve, at th e M anc h ester District C our t—J. Senior, brewer, Salford, Lan cas hi re, J an. 28, at e l even , at the Man chester District - Co ur t—J. Riding and J. Fielding , cotton manufacturers, Leyland, L anc ashire, Jan. 15, at twelve, at the Manchester District Court. CERTIFICATES to be granted, unless cause be shown to the contrary, on the day herein mentioned. G. F. T. Fowler, printer, Lillington-street, Pimlico , Jan. 12 —W. Wells and J. Claxton, coal merchants, Bankside, Southwark, Jan. 13—L. A. V. Rudolphi, merchant, Sunder land, Jan. B—W. Chambers, shipwright, Southwick, Durham, Jan. 12—J. Stout, shoemaker, Liverpool, Jan. 11—C. 11. Purnell, coal merchant, Liverpool, Jan. 11—T. Bateman, victualler, Coventry, Jan. 9—J. Cramp, cowkeeper, Margate, Jan. B—J. Hatcher, butcher, Poole, Jan. B—J. Hannen, tallow melter, Little Britain, Jan. B—T. Cooper, umbrella manufacturer, New Bond-street, Jan. B—C. C. Clancep, sad dler,. Chorlton-up on -Id e dl oc k , J an. B— J . 'Wilcox, Wlor, Little Bell-alley, .aloorgate-street, Jan. B—G. Kidthan, victualler, Long-alley, Worship -street, Jan. B—J. Walker, jt . in., woollen cloth manufacturer, Leeds, Jan. B—l. Sansome, ribbon manufacturer, Coventry, Jan. B—W. Arburrow, druggist, Liverpool, Jan. B—H. Woadthorpe. grocer, Aveley, Essex, Jan. B—B.C. Sothern, coal dealer Liverpool, Jan. 8. PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED. J. Binington and W. Marshall, japanners, Hull—ll. R. Morley, J. W. Morley, and J. Wakinshaw, iron manufac turers, Sunderland—C. Fowler and W. Jone s , commission merchants, Liverpool—W. Miskin and J. N. Vinen, surgeons, Broad- street, Horslydown, Southwark—J. Thompson and J. Eaton, cotton spinners, Manchester—S. J. Hennis and G. Whittle, house agents, Old-street, City-road--J. Hall and T. Spawforth, woolstaplers, Bradford, torkshire—J. Clifford and J. Porter, lace manufacturers, Radford, Nottinghamshire —E. Parker and T. M. Weddall, attorneys, Selby, Yorkshire —E. Parker, T. M. Weddall, and R. J. Parker attorneys, Selby, Yorkshire (so far as regards E. Parker)—A. Horsfield and S. Barrass, ironfounders, Leeds—G. Beaumont and J. Stocks, woollen manufacturers, Huddersfield—W. Bradley and J. N. Mappin, brewers. Sheffield —N. Longshaw, W Longshaw,Lonshaw, and J. Longshaw, cotton spinners, Manchester (so far as regards N. Longshaw)—J.-Hamer, R. C. Bateson, and J. Hargreaves, cotton spinners, Constable, Lancashire— R. Tate and R. C. Tate, jewellers, Regent -street—W. Stace and P. Valiance, farmers, Berwick, Sussex—J. Halstead and T. Bowker, cotton manufacturers, Redcliffe, Lancashire—C. D. Broughton and H. Dyson, drysalters, Liverpool—W. Rimington and T. Cooper, ironfounders, Skipton, Yorkshire, w est riding—J. Redish and T. Williamson, coal d ea l ers , Bir kenhead, J. Rowe, and J. B. R ea d, ja twelve, brewers,mes Scarth, broker, Glasgow, Dec. 26 an d J an. 22 , at p C e h n e r s y h n i , re c — or ll nw en a ry ll. Rowe, SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS . at the chambers of Mr. Steele, jun., Glasgow. James Robertson , George A g ilv ie Robertson, and Thomas Robertson, iron merchants, Glasgow, Dec. 28 and Jan. 18, at one, at the chambers of Messrs. Macdowall and Murray, Glasgow. John Reavev, merchant, Ayr, Dec. 23 and Jan. 13, at twelve, at the crown Inn, Ayr. at t we lve, at Yule's Inn , C romart y . Y, Dec. 25 and Jan. I 2• • Al exa nder Simpson, Esq., Cromarty, PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed from the returns made in the week ending December 15, 1846, is 325. id. per cwt. SUDDEN DEATII IN A BAKER ' S SIIOP.—An inquest was held on Thursday evening at the Unicorn, Henrietta street, Covent -garden, before Mr. Bedford, on the body of Theophilus Thomas Hill Cox, Esq ' aged 58, of Hen rietta. street , C avendish- square. Alexander Moore, that Covent.garden, said, e into his shop, and stating that he had been taken ver y ill, b e gg ed to rd th g e es- d s e t e r: l e s t e , d came be allowed to sit down a while. Ile then sat do wn, but ker, 0 , 11 of Tuesday 25, last, B Ice. in a few minutes fell back in the chair almost insensible. Mr. Davison, a neighbouring surgeon, was instantly sent for, but deceased died in twenty minutes. The surgeon attributed death to a sudden spasm of the heart, probably caused by the severity of the weather. Verdict — "Natural death." At the meeting the night before last, at the City Hall, for the benefit of the starvinQ people of Ireland, an wzoeutivo colunlittee four to make colleedons in each ward of the city. — New York Herald, Nov. 27. BANKING D, Proprietors' capital . • 14,553,000 Rest •• • • Public deposits (In cluding Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt, Sav ings-banks, and Di vidend accounts) • • 9,185,471 )they deposits ••• • • • 7,991,126 Seven day and other bills .•••••• • • •• •• 885,995 £ 36,053,970 Lted the 17th day of December, POISONED SEA PIE. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. ole fami • by partaking of a sea pie, poisoning — HULL,DEocf. a l6 w .-- h The inquiry y conci-rn ing the recent . f was or e lsir . brought Th 0 t r o m a y c, theth i e s h y vo e er s ro t y e a r gm d h a y y se t , oer a roi t no t ue h rs e. affair T T o h w e n ah - r h rei a et l ! h. , eps h ae e r ..: titulars respecting 6 h inst , a man named Waites, who is —On Sunday, the r a ess a e r i to l o y k ing or i a n s th ea e p ri i v e er ior w d i i t n h n h e i r s . an hour afterwards they were all Within a quartero three o'clock on the following morning taken ill, and at thewif wife a w a n d e owner o o u t r . Waites, was found but the relatives being too ill to a children, sm alt i l inquiry was held, investigation was adjourned. The be d s e i c a k l y I b ti oy di e course e o r i a th r e day underwent a pose mortem examination, and body then detected to show that death had resulted was hsufficientadjourned inquiry the mother of one ganive o e f v i t d h e e e se e h ild d re t n o , At t from poison. described i e t . h e Theci rc u c m o - . stances that attended of the deceased looked very much roner said the death not suppose that any of the like design, but they couldit. They had all partaken of family were concerned m lost their lives. If the poison the pie, and had nearly the deceased was exam:eel poisoned. Ile recom 'akanindg have heard of more families beingury found, "That the had been in the flour when itwas mended an open verdict. The i ' mixed in a sea arsenic bought, they would deceased died from the effect of pie, of which he had eaten, but evidence to show." the arsenic came there, there was no Those who THE NATIONAL BATHS, HOLBORN.-- season, were wont to visit these rooms in the summer . . reception sa will find them now converted into elegant what means loons, for the lovers of music and votaries - chore. The space hitherto occupied by the swimming i s placed how or by of Terpsi chore. baths is floored over, at the one cnd of which the orchestra ; it is tastefully and elegantly fitted up, and on either aide are commodious refreshment rooms, and above, is a beautiful apartment devoted to the accom modation of those wh o wis h to indulge in the luxur i es o f a cigar. This Casino ' under th e managemen t of Mr. Coleman, was opened for the first time on Thursday night, when a crowded and respectable audience listened with pleasure to an excellent band, playing the most fa vourite overtures and quadrilles. Some choice and ex cellent singing followed, diversifying the entertainment of the evening, which was loudly applauded. After a short interval, dancing cornmencA, which was kept up with great spirit. A visit to this novel entertainment will well repay those who wish to enjoy an evening's en tertainment. REMEDY FOR CRAMP.—A writer in the Medical Times asserts that he has discovered in the,followirm simple process an effectual remedy for this distressing and frequent complaint, to which he bad himself been, for many years, a martyr. His plan is to sleep upon an inclined plane, which is effected by taking care that the bed or mattress should incline at least twelve inches from the upper to the lower portions of the bed; and for this purpose either the lower feet may be cut down to the requisite inclination, or the inclined plane may be made by an arrangement of mattresses, or by removing the feathers from the lower end or the bed. The writer was led to adopt this plan, by ots•ervit: , _;- bleeping in a chair, with the lower limbs near ly tuticniug the floor, he never, in that position, was disturbed by cramp. UST. . iti ii r%