The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-23 00:00:00

ALS. j3usin o done 1151 `.3 32i 3 ._,„„ isines 9 0097 5 l~ 26 5 D 161° .... t" 0,1 00 , : g ; irio:ud ver ef 4 Oe n- V ra 1 W' (IO l yo Of 31DA' 13 . ItO,C Eb z ief 0111401 1 OA tile or, 'll'' COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC. 22. .lie r 1 t ,_ lajesty and his Royal Highness Prince A lbert, 4 e Roy a l c hildren, accompanied by his Se rene bless the Prince of Leiningen and attended by the /$ elli°n e 4 ss of Ely, the Hon. Mary Seymour , Colonel },l °ll . Charles Grey, Colonel Bouver ie, and Mr. l, left O s b orne, a t a quar ter before 10 o'clock this tIl i ng, and arrived at Windsor Castle at half - p ast one. ,A. r gliard of honour from the third battalion Gren adier 4 4 1 , With the band of the regiment, rece ived the kit Party at the railway station. Viscoun t Hawarden 4 , ajor-G enera l B. Drummond have arrived as lord ,7°oln in waiting to the Queen ; also, the Honour latilda Paget, as maid of honour in waiting . I '4l Earl o f Aberdeen arrived from London at five 010 had an audience of her Majesty, and ret urned W n in the evening. lit a MAJESTY'S RETURN TO WINDSOR. tie r GOSPORT, .DEC. 22. Majesty th e Queen, his Royal Highness P rince ' e rt, the Royal children, and their respective suite s, : nain ated their visit to the marine palace of Osborne th is 6: ,— L r ig, a day earlier than was announced , which ma y att ributed to the state of her Majesty's Ministry. The 11" embarked from Trinity-wharf, Cowes, on board her t eB tY's steam-yacht Fairy, Commodore Lord Adolphus larence, a little before ten, and the royal standard , saluted by the " R.Y.S." battery and her Ma j est y 's k Incounter, at Cowes. On the royal yacht passing i tea a lotherbank, the Prussian man-of-war Mercuri k g h el ship and fired a royal salute. On passing,through it ct e e ad, her Majesty was saluted and cheered by the 1 0 : 44. 0f th e London, 92, Captain Mundy ; the Leand er, t t ,„e, QP'tain King ; the Arrogant, 46, Captain Fre t , "e ; the Archer, 14, Captain Strange ; all of whom "-'se(l ship," and fired royal salutes. The platform i t Cr'ST followed, and her Majesty's ships Victory, Blen -47, Sze., fired as the royal yacht entered Portsmouth i)e our. Ih m r Majesty was received at the Royal Victualling aq. , Gosport, by Rear-Admiral Arthur Fansha,we, : ii i t l 'g commander-in-chid; Major-General Simpson , i e nant-governor of Portsmouth ; Captain-Superin t4(est Hope Johnstone ; Lieutenant - Colone l Cam p bell FL e 38th Foot ; and a guard of honour o f that regi 'l,'-`'. 'Her Majesty was pleased to recognise Rear -1 o t siral F ans h awe , who was presented by Commod ore 441 Adolphus Fitzclarence to the Queen. li o tfew minutes past eleven, the royal train left by the I M "Q .: Western Railway for Windsor, via Basing stoke b_ 44 eakiing. . . . ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, be pantomime at this house is,. we und erstand, a t it Z e lnation of gorgeous splendour, mixed up with 5ur .4,24g fun. The subject is taken from the celebrated ri tal e , b y th e C o untess Danas, called "Cherry and : n i l' Star." Many will recollect the splendid spectac le th 'went Garden Theatre, some 3 0 years ago , bearin g e t aame name ; but the incidents are now m ateriall y kit t ed- The hero is dispatched in search of the "Green li d," the "Dancing Waters," and the " Singing Tree," h. of which he must acquire possession of to lib erate t ; l 4 cousin and betrothed wife, the lovely Fair Star, from t i l : N Power of a potent evil geni, rejoicing in the name t o "jilum Sling. The lovers are assisted by Everwe bliall) the Peri Queen, and her faithful attendants , Irmo k44 ,ee and Truth. After many miraculous adventures hi. hair-breadth escapes, surpassing any that have ever been described, either by Marco Polo, Sir John Man ", or Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, all ends, of () ,,.. l e, happily—the lovers being united, after under 'eeh inseparable probation of the usual temporary a ' a ge into Harlequin and Columbine, with their per aors as the Clown and Pantaloon. The story, as it is 4indled, affords an almost unlimited scope for mecha- N ea l effects, active evolutions, fairy metamorphoses, ', Th a eeful Terpsichorean tableaux, and scenic display. ."e ..pantomime is by Mr. George Ellis, the stage eager, assisted by Mr. Cormack in the harlequinade. ,e resources of the establishment have bern actively Cl'loyed, from the very commencement of the season, p - ..ake this grand Christmas entertainment before the 'le in a style unprecedented at this theatre. THE TVARDMOTES. t 2 l le polling in the various wards in which there were `ttested elections took place yesterday , and we re pro ttluetive of but very slight excitement. Hardly any dis thBBion upon subjects of civic interest took place, with 4 e exception of Farringdon Without, where an ani mated b ate sprung up on various topics. It may be al so 'ed that, in the majority of cases, the number of votes Ray much lower than on former occasions. BASSISHAW. The polling for this ward took place at the paris h direh of St. Michael's, under the presidency of Mr. Al ttnan Farncomb. I „.At the close of the poll the numbers were— 'lessrs. Britten (deputy) 54 I Messrs. Wilson 46 Li s t er 52 I Fuller 4O C lark e , rejected candidates were Mr. Locke and Mr. Clar CANDL M essrs. result of the day's po '"gsrs. Evans 53 Dakin 5l Blades 49 Town 47 Elliott 4O , Ur. Matthews and Mr. 0, fleeted candidates. WICK. Li showed— Messrs. Frinneby 39 Rowe Matthews l5 0ake5...... 8 akes were:therefore the re- COLEMAN The result of the polling 4 essrs. W. S. Hale 81 F. H. Hall 81 W. Webster 81 J. Perkins BO H. W. Valiance 78 STREET. ras as follows : Messrs. J. Davies 77 S. Lidington 77 G. Hogg 6O Bracher lO CORDWAINERS'. kYlle polling took place yesterday at the White Hart, :„turn"church-lane, when the close o,f, the poll .. showed the of the following gentlemen :—Messrs, Lott (de the r), Croucher Joyce, Taylor, Tress, and Chapper in room of Mr. Clarke. FARRINGDON WITHOUT. Sir James Duke, Bart., M.P., the alderman of the Ward, presided. At four o' c l oc k' the Alderman. retired with the poll L ooks, and, after an absence of about 20 minutes, de tared the state of the poll as follows :-- essrs. George Walter 223 Messrs. Langham Dep. Bedford 219 Hodgson Dep. Obbard 214 Lias Anderton 212 1 Bates Butler' 2 ll. Pearce Williams Cotterell 203 1 Gresham .. Barnard., 2OO Ross_ Fox The announcement of the name of Mr. Grege Walter , 64 , head of the poll, occasioned repeated round s of ap vialise. The Alderman appointed Mr. Bedford and Mr. Ob //al'cl his deputies for the ensuing year. . 186 . 182 . 179 . 176 .. 162 .. 157 .. 144 .-. 128 LANG-BOURN. a The Alderman declared the following gentlemen to be L I IIY elected :—Messrs. Unwin, Snelling . Howard, Shaw, 4, 1111e r , Beache, Sully, and Webber. The alderman then aliPointed. Mr. Unwin his deputy. PORTSOKEN. liessrs. Christie BO Messrs. Davis Thompson 7B Raymond. Annis 72 Israel... Hayward. Vire 6B Venables 6O The first eight gentlemen After some formal busines Gardner Were declared elected. 3s the court broke up. TOWER. The poll for this ward closed at four o'clock. The ' W orshipful.. alderman (Finis) declared the numbers Dolled for each candidate to be as follows : kessrs, H. N. Nissen... 54 Messrs. T. Turnbull... 47 Thomas Barkley 54 T. S. Smith ... 45 John Briggs .... 49 James Cornell 38 L. Redhead ..... 49 I IL W. Ward 18 G. Aitchison ..• . 47 The Alderman then declared the election to have fallen on •the first-named eight gentlemen, who were t hereupon sworn in. The Alderman then appointed Mr. Briggs as his deputy. After -passing votes of thanks to the alderman and the deputi es for their services for the past year , the court broke up. DETERMINED SUICIDE AT THE HOUSE OF DETENTION ".„ This morning the utmost constern ation p revailed amon g st t he authorities at the House of Detention, in consequence of its being discovered that ono of t h e p risoners, a man railed Francis Amos, had put a period to his existence, strangling himself. The deceased prisoner was corn kitted for trial from Marlborough-street Police-court, on Z.:_esday last, on the charge of haying stolen four 5/. notes, " property of his master, and as is usual in such cases, Z'''.as sent to the above place of confinement, preparatory to s taking his trial. This morning, about half-past six 1 :1 3 CIO'ck, on one of the warders going into the cell occupied Y the deceased he was horrified at finding him sitting in 14 1 arm chair quite dead. He immediately alarmed the governor of the prison, who, with the resident surgeon, Was soon in - ittendance, and on examination, it was found ,o tYI ?.t th e unfortunate deceased had strangled h i mself by p . his handkerchief in a slip knot round his neck, and ~,?c l og one end to an iron hook, pressed h imself forward t ' 4, life was extinct. An inquest will be held on the body t o - morrow. CAPTURE OF A MARINE MONSTER.—On Monday last, • 1 .). little mudlark, named David Muggeridge, while wander ing around the oozy quagmire on the opposite side of the 'i t s N 'er, nearly opposite to Duke-shore, known by the na me Cuckold's Point," beheld, to his amazement, an extra ordinary commotion near the centre of it. The mud flew ;1) in clouds, and falling backwards, the whole place exhi bited the appearance of a boiling cauldron. while it was nake n as if by an earthquake. With great courage , und er the circumstances, the little fellow approached near enough ( 2 : 0 see some immense reptile writhing and twisting his peneving in: , en, volumen in manifold contortions an d sin uosities. the in forme ingens to be the great sea serpent, he 1! . ° ,1 precipitately, spreading the most alarming reports as he ran. In a short time a number of pers ons assembled, armed with a variety of weapons, who , af ter a shar p but t ;° l 't conflict, succeeded in dispatching the mo nster. Man y With mud. assailants were overthrown and horribly besplashed "".Thucl. It proved to be a conger eel, of large size-13 bitin g in length, and of proportionate girth. It is now exhi 4og in Rotherhithe where it is attracting great crowds. out 14 years ag o a n eel of the same kind was caught by 11°1110 ballast gers, but such captures are very =frequent. A MARKET 2rTEWS-(THIS DA V.) "" " FRENCH EMPIRE who, after having been so long imprisoned at Naples, has had his punishment lately commuted into perpetual exile from the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and is now in Turin, has obtained letters of naturalisation as a Sardinian subject. The Iffessaggere of Modena states from Rome that the consulta for the finance has named a com mission to examine and propose means for providing for the deficiency in the coining year's expenditure which will exceed that of 1852, and another com mission for the consideration of the projected rail ways, that in particular, which, touching at Ancona, is to connect Rome with Bologna. The tax on professions is henceforward to be exacted by the communes, which are to be held responsible for THE CARLTOI COLONIAL. SUGAR.—There has been an increased demand fm . British Plantation at advanced quotations this week, the rise being about 6d per cwt at the auctiorrs, and both the grocers and refiners have bought largely. Barbadoes pub licly went at 38s to 38s 6d for fine yellow, and at 34s to 35s for ord. Refined brown lumps were 44s 6d. to 465, and low to fine grocery 45s to 48s. Mauritius was in improved , st, and sold at full prices to a slight advance ; fine 363 to 39s ; low to good, 32s to 35s 6d. ; and corn .on to fine grey, 33s to 375. Madras was in active re- Publicly grocery white sold at 41s to 44s 6d ; mid .row Mauritius kind, at 34s to 35s ; and good soft brown 28s 6d. Bengal sold at full quotations ; ord toted m and white Benares, 37s to 38s ; mid and good 32s 6d to 33s 6d, and fine grainy yellow, 39s to 41s 6d. Penang was in request and dearer ; white selling at 36s to 38s, low and mid grey at 33s 6d to 353 Od, and brown at 30s to 31s, and foreign was higher. Manilla pri vately has been sold to the extent ell of 8,000 bags at ah at 30s 35s 6d to 31s for unclayed brow n ; and yow Hann to 39s 6d. per . cwt. • Java, by auction , b rou g ht 38s to 41s for mid to fine yellow, and 34s to 35s 6.1 for mid to fine - - On Tuesday, the Emperor visited the Hotel Dicu and the Hospital at Compiegne. He was accompanied by General Canrobert, the prefect' of the Oise, and the mayor of the town, and was received by the directors and the attendant swurs de charite. After going through the different wards, and addressing many of the patients in the most affable manner, his Majesty retired amidst marks of the most respectful sym- yellow pathy. The Emperor has just sent two handsome flower vases in bronze, and a magnificent Russian snuff box to the authorities of Agen, and a splendid silver sugar-basin to those of Privas, to form prizes in lotteries which are being organised in those places for the benefit of the poor. The Pays states that a company with a capital of 25 millions of francs, has been formed for turning to profit the forests and other property of the State, - now comparatively unproductive in Corsica. Captain Benson, the aide-de-camp of General Pelissier, arrived at Marseilles on the 18th, with the colours taken by the French at Laghouat, the amount. The Austria, a Vienna paper, gives an account of the progress of railways in Austrian Italy, from which it appears that the Verona and Brescia line is to be opened in June, 1853, as well as the Brescia and Coccaglio section. The remaining section from Coccaglio to Milan is already traced. The Milan and Piacenza, Mantua and Borgoforte, Verona and Bol zano, Trevisio and Isonzo, lines are being at present surveyed. The Chamber of Deputies at Turin was to dis cuss, on the 18th, the bill relative to the sequestra tion of ecclesiastical property, the object of which is to put a period to the pretensions of the munici palities with regard to the said property. The city of Turin had resolved to construct a commercial dock, on the plan of the Dock Napo leon in Paris. The Sardinian Government had contracted for the construction of a screw frigate in England, for the sum of 2,214,000 f. It was M. Cavour, who, during his journey to Scotland, signed the con tract with a shipbuilder at Newcastle. Letters from Ticino, of the 13th, state that on that day a letter from the Archbishop of Milan was communicated to the Grand Council, complaining of :the suppression of the Convent of Capuchins, and of the inhumanity with which the measure had been executed. The clerical party has r esolved to show the greatest interest for these expelled friars. brown. COFFEE.—The demand has been limited and prices have been heavy. Plantation Ceylon of favourite marks has been taken in at 61s. to" 635. for mid. good ord. Native has been sold at 465. 6d. to 475., privately. Mocha has de clined ls. to 25., and by auction, sales were made at 71s. to 765. for mid. and good clean-garbled small berry, and at 555. to 60s. for ungarbled. Rio has been sold at 495. to 50s. Gd. ; and Mysore good ord. at 475. RICE.—The market has been dull. Bengal mid. and good white at lls. Gd. to 12s. per cwt. ; and Java mid., and good rather broken 10s. to Ils. Gd. SPlCES.—Cassia Ligna has been taken at Ills, to 112 s. for third pile, and at 100 s. to 105 s. for broken Java. - Pep per was taken in at 3d. to 3ad. per lb., and white sold at 70. to 7,-Id. for mid. Batavia Pimento brought sd. to 5,1 d. per lb., and Cinnamon ls. 4d. to 2s. sd. for ord. to mid. Batavia Mace sold at 2s. 6d. to for mid. pale, rather wormy, and Nutmegs at 2s. sd. to 2s. Gd. for limed.. Rtim.—Not much is doing, but prices are steady. SALTPETRE.—There is a rise of 6d per cwt. low and mid. ; Bengal 191 to 91 per cent. ; Refraction 25s to 20s 6d, and good and fine 1 4 to 2i per cent. 27's Gd to 30s. COTTON.—This article has been rather firmer, with moderate sales. TALLOW.—The demand has improved a little, P.Y.C. being about 46s per cwt. TEA.—There has been a firm but not active market. GREEN FRUIT.—The trade is brisk, which is usually the case at Christmas time. The market has been well sup plied with oranges; 3 cargoes St. Michael, 1 Seville China, 1 Terceira, sold Keeling & Hunt at public sale, went at a reduction of is. to 2s. per box. Lemons without altera tion. A small cargo of black Spanish nuts and chestnuts has been received by steamer from Gisin, which is a novel feature from that port. Algeria. The Moniteur Alggrien contains a new list of commutations of punishments accorded to persons transported in 1852, amounting to 67 in all-53 from the department of the Lot-et-Garonne, 5 to the Var, 7to other departments, 1 Italian, and 1 Swiss. In the Debuts there is a long article on the Derby Ministry, ending with an appeal in favour of the free trade principle in France. The Debuts says : "Although they retire from office, the assent given by Lord Derby and his colleagues to the principle of free trade puts an- end in England to the discussion which had arisen on the 'subject of that freedom. It remains definitely master of the field, and it cannot fail to excite the attention of Europe. Already, in conse quence of the demonstration made by Sir Robert Peel, all the powers who exercise any ascendancy in the world have materially modified their tariffs in the sense of free trade; in Europe they are Austria and Russia, and in Ame rica the - United States ; to this list we may add Spain, Pied mont, Holland, Belgium, and Portugal. To this im posing unanimity of civilisation, France alone, absorbed as she was by internal cares, has hitherto made the ex ception ; she retains the most prohibitive tariff in Europe, although at the Exhibition of London m 1851 she, to her own astonishment, eclipsed every nation, including England, in a number of branches of industry. Now, that France has no longer to dread the anarchy which had threatened her, there is nothing to prevent her from joining in a commercial policy which is recommended by so many suffrages and by so many examples. We have the experience of the whole world and the conver sion of the most decided English Protectionists to give confidence to timid minds. We have, in order to secure every interest, the moderation of the most devoted friends of free trade, who all declare that time and gra dation are the necessary elements of all reforms. We have besides, in order to secure respect for this salutary transformation of our commercial legislation, the solemn words of the speech at Bordeaux —Umpire c'est la paixi What more striking pledge of peac e can be given to the Powers than to substitute for the commercial system of isolation that of commercial relations, which would be come every day more and more intimate?" The Constitutionnel, in a leading article, traces the causes of the late change of the government 'in France, and congratulates the country on the accession to the throne of a Prince wbo has an nounced his determination to promote the develop ment of the resources that it possesses for grandeur and prosperity when favoured by the blessings of peace. The Constitutionnel draws a faithful picture of the evils which have been brought upon the French nation by a succession of revolutions, and observes with truth that the natural result was the eager adoption of a government able to put down the spirit of anarchy, and protect society against the machinations of the designing few, and the turbulence of an ignorant and misled mass. This, as the Constitutionnel says, is the natural and in evitable result of all revolutions which have not , reason and justice for their bases, or which, when founded on both, become greater evils than those which they were intended to throw off, when the administration of affairs falls into the hands of bad or unskilful men. It is in the natural and indeed inevitable course of things also, that when a nation at the point of anarchy is rescued from its danger by the intelligence and energy of an individual, the extreme of absolutism must, for a time at least, replace that of unbridled freedom ; but it must not be forgotten that a government which derives its strength and the confidence and obedience of a nation from a feeling of gratitude for being rescued from impending destruction, must, in order to preserve that strength, gradually enlarge the sphere of liberty, in proportion as the nation feels security against the advent of anarchy, and yearns for the constitutional liberty which the experience of past errors will protect against abuse. Extremes are always dangerous, and are always transitory. The strongest governments become weak when they do not take into account the spirit of the age and the demands of intelligence. The surest mode of preventing revolution is to exercise power with energy but prudence, to make no com prise with the revolutionary spirit, but to remove from the minds of the intelligent and well disposed anything like regret for the past. The market was firm, without much business doing. The Four-and-a-half per Cents. opened at 106 f. 50c., and closed at 106 f. 35c. for the end of the month. The Three per Cents. closed at 82f. 80c. ; Orleans Railway New Shares, 1,040 f. ; Rouen, 975 f.: Havre, 325 f. ; Great Northern, 902 f. 50c.; Basle, 365 f.; Paris and Stra sbur g , 837 f. 50c; Paris and Lyons, 927 f. 50c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 777 f. 50c.; Western of France, 795 f.; Caen and Cherbourg, 635 f. ; Dijon and Besangon, 577 f. 50c ; Bordeaux and Cette, 617 f. 50c. ; Shares of the New Bank of Credit Mobilier issued at 500 f., 995 f. RUSSIA. The Journal de St. Petersburg announces that on the morning of the 7th there were 466 cholera pa tients under treatment. 56 new cases were re' ported during the day, besides 21 cured and. 20 deceased, the total number of cases being in the evening 481. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN For the Week ended Dec. 23, 1852, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in tho different Cities and Towns in England and Wales per Imperial Quarter. IWHEAT. IBARLEY. I I OATS. RYE. I BEANS. I PEAS. :433 lOd 29s 9d ISs bd 1 298 21 34s 6d 32s Od DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. \V!IEAT. I BARLEY. I OATS. I BYE. BEANS. YEAS. IS Od is Od is Od Is Od lis Od Is Od QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, 121,950; Barley, 116,239 ; Oats, 30,351; Rye, 153; Beane, 6.151 ; Peas, 3,503 quarters. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCLVIII. INTRODUCTION TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH DERBY. (Concluded from No. 357.) The Derby and Oaks have been won only once by the same horse—Sir C. Bunbury's Eleanor, in 1801, a feat, that, in the ordinary course of events, will never be re peated. The winner of the Derby has in four instances figured at Doncaster as the conquering hero of the St. Leger race ;—Mr. Wilson's Champion inlBoo, being the first that carried off the great race of the North, in ad dition to that of the South ; and what was termed the " Champion charm," was not dissolved until nearly half a century had elapsed, when, strange to say, the deed of note was done three years in succession ; in 1848, by Lord Clifden's Surplice ; in 1849, by Lord Eglinton's Flying Dutchman, and, in 1850, by Lord Zetland's Voltigeur. In each instance, these celebrated horses were the best of their respective years. The Derby has been won on thirty-three occasions out of the seventy-three, by the best horse of the year ; and during the last eight years, a full moiety of the Derbies have fallen to the lot of the "great guns" of the year. The instances in which the contrary was the case are the following :—ln 1845, the Derby was carried off by the Merry Monarch, a remarkably inferior animal ; Alarm, who could have conceded some eight or ten pounds to the winner, and beaten him into jelly, having had his chance disposed of by getting loose and running all over the course. This latter animal, and the. Baron (winner of the St. Leger), were undoubtedly the cracks of that year. In 1846, the three best horses were Pyrrhus the First, Sir Tatton Sykes, and Sting ; the last named being considered by all to be the "flower of the field," but reports of dosing—which were but too true, I believe—suddenly sent him from the rank of first favourite to the extreme outside lot, and Pyrrhus and Sir Tatton, the two next best horses, swept the Derby and St. Leger between them. In 1847, Van Tromp ought to have headed the lot, both in Derby and St. Leger, being a much better horse, as was afterwards proved, than his Derby conqueror—Cossack ; but, as in Sting's case, Van Tromp was the victim of underhand proceedings, and only finished a bad third at Epsom ; but afterwards won the St. Leger easily. This year the leading horse ought to have been Stockwell, but on the Derby day, from want of preparation, both he and the second best of the year—Kingston—were nowhere. It is difficult to determine the exact preten sion of Barbarian and Chief Baron Nicholson, both of whom are undoubtedly superior horses • and had Nat been on either one or other on the Derby day, Daniel O'Rourke's portrait would never have had a place in the gallery of Derby winners. Beth of these animals, how ever, went amiss almost immediately after the race — Barbarian from his wretbhed legs---4aii3lia,ve not been in form since. Hobbie Noble is a first-class mile-horse, and I am very much deceived if he is anything more ; and should the Chief Baron, in form, ever meet him at a longer distance, I expect that Hobble will succumb easily. As the three-year-old races of the spring, more especially the Two Thousand Guineas and Newmarket Stakes, influence the Derby betting at least, if not the race, I think it will not be a work of supererogation to glance at the past records of these stakes. I will not go further back than eight years, that being the extent of my experience ; and as this period has been the most rife in sport, and what we may call the "golden days" of the turf, I think that will be sufficient for my present purpose. Singular to say, the winner of the Column, during the time just mentioned, has never, except in the instance of Tadmor, obtained even a place in the Derby, although on several occasions has, by winning this race, been made a great favourite for the event at Epsom. The race in the forthcoming year having only three animals of any particular note in it—Filbert, Defiance, and Estrella, without Jack the Giant Killer s hould turn out something good, victory, not impro bably, will attend Lord Exeter's colours ; and conse quently we may expect to see Filbert a good favourite for the great race. Since the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes were first run for in 1809, although the winner of this race has been made in many instances the favourite one for the Derby, yet on former occasions only has the double triumph been effected, namely—in 1813 by Smolensko, in 1828 by Cadland, in 1836 by Bay Middleton, and in 1843 by Cotherstone. In the course of the last eight years but three of the winners have gained a front posi tion in the Derby ; and yet this rac e is considered the key to it. I n 1845, 6to 4 was laid on Idas for the Guineas, which h e won in a canter, and immediately be came first favourite for the Derby. At starting he was actually7standing at 2 to 1 ; but, being a mile horse and nothing more, was beaten at the road. In 1846, 13 to 8 was laid on Tom Tulloch for the Guineas ; ' he finished second to Sir Tatton Sykes, against whom they laid 5 to 1. The latter afterwards ran Pyrrhus the First to a neck for the Derby, and I think might have won but for the imprudence of his eccentric owner and jockey, Bill Scott. In 1847, 5' to 4 was laid against Pl an et for the Gu ine as , who ran second to Conyngham, which was priced at 4 to 1; the latter afterwards was an unplaced fourth in the Derby. In 1848 Blaze was the favourite for the Guineas, at 6t6 4. He was beaten at the bushes, a nd finished third to Flatcatcher, who beat the second f a vourite—Glendower—by a neck. For pe culiar reasons Flatcatcher did tot start for the Derby, or probably he would have been is his stable companion, Shylock's, place (third). Glendower was fourth. In 1849, 6 to 5 was laid on Nunnykirk for the Guineas, and 10 to 1 against Honeycomb. The former won by half a length, but was nowhere in the Derby, while the latter ran in fourth. In 1850, Pitsford, the favourite at 2 to 1, won the Guineas by a neck, and afterwards got a good second place in the Derby. In 1851 the favourites were Mountain Deer and Confessor, who respectively finished second and fourth to Hernandez, who obtained the fourth place in the Derb y , and „ l ight have been third had he been persevered with. This year the favourite was Homebrewed, who was nowhere in the Derby, but finished a good second to stockwell for the Guineas. The latter animal, had he been up to concert pitch throughout the season, would not only have swept the Guineas and St. Leger, and Derby also, but every other race he was engaged in. So much' for the effects of the Guineas upon the Derby. I will just take a glance at the bearing the Newmar ket Stakes has had upon the greatest race of the year before closing this present analysis. In 1846 Pyrrhus won this stake, and afterwards the 'Derby. In the fol lowing year Cossack and War Eagle ran first and second for this stake, a nd obtained the same positions in the Derby. In 1848, Glendower won this stake, and ran fourth at Epscna. In the three following years the winners of this race—Vatican, Cariboo, and Midas — were nowhere in the Derby. This year Stockwell car ried it off. I need say no more with reference to him. This race is run over the D.M., and, from the running . of would seem to afford a better clue the last seven years to the Derby winn than the Two Th ousan d Guineas. But little more need be stated to conc l u d e this intro duction ; the last eight years give the following Derby notabilia. The winter favourite has been the winner twice (Surplice and The Flying Dutchman). The Merry Monarch and Daniel O'Rourke are the only outsiders who have won—Voltigeur, in my opi n i on , n ot coming within this category, as he was backed tremendously by those in the secret. Pyrrhus the First and Cossack, in the winter were quoted at 1,000 to 15 each, and scarcely mentioned until each had achieved his Newmarket Stakes victory. The first favourite won thrice. In five in stances the price of the winner at starting was under 8 to 1. Early next week I shall commence my analysis of the Derby, with the great stable of the North. TII4 SPIRIT OF THE TURF. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4l 4s ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 41 18s ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 11 lOs per load. Trade dull, - at barely late rates. CIIMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 4s ; clover ditto, 31 15s to 4/ 15s ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 11 12s per load. A full average supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL. —Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ Os ; clover ditto, 31 15s to 51 Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 10s per load. Supply good, and trade dull. • • MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEA.DENHALL.—AIthough there was an extensive supply, the demand ruled steady at full prices. Beef, 2s 4d to 3s Bcl ; Mutton, 2s 10d to 4s 6d ; Veal, 3s Od to 4s 2d ; Pork, 2s fid to 4s per 81bs, by the carcase. SOUTHALL, DEC. 22. — The supply good, and the demand steady at full prices. Beef, from 2 s 6 d to 4s Od ; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 10d ; Veal, 3s -to 4s Od ; Pork 3s Od to 3s 8d per Sibs, to sink the offal. ROMFORD, DEC. 22.—We had a very steady market to-day, and the quotations were very freely supported. Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s Od ;- Mutton, 3s 6d. to 5s Od ; Veal, 3s Od to 4s 2d ; Pork, 3s Od to 3s 8d per Sibs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 19s to 22s each. LEWES, DEC. 22.—Our market was steady to-day, as follows :—Beef, from 3s 2d to 4s 2d ; Mutton, 4s to 5s 2d ; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s Od ; Pork, 3s to 3s 8d per 81bs. TEE EWT ATTEMPTED CASTLE.M ND SUICIDE IN On Tuesday morning, at the borough police-court, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Robert Knox, a tailor, was brought up for further examination, on the charge of attempting to murder his wife. Mrs. Knox, who was disinclined to appear against her husband, but had been summoned by the magistrates to attend, said, that on the evening of Saturday, the 28th of November, her husband came home very tipsy, and a 'qua rrel took place between them, but she lost all recollection of what happened until she found herself wounded, and police-officers in the room. They had been married twenty-eight years, and had nine children. Mrs. Brennan said she lived in the room adjoining the prisoner's. About one o'clock in the morning of Sunday, the 29th November, she heard a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Knox screaming on the stair-head, and on going to their room she found the prisoner and his wife lying on the floor. Both were bleeding. The prisoner said, "I have done it, and want to die in peace." Mr. Brennan, the husband of the last witness, said that on the morning in question he followed his wife into Knox's room, assisted to lift Mr. and Mrs. Knox from the floor, and then went for policemen and medical assistance. Mr. Finnigan, clothes dealer, Dog-bank, said that, at one o'clock on the morning of the 29th ult., he heard the prisoner's daughter shout, "My mother is stabbed—he had a knife to my mother." He ran into their room, and saw Mrs. Knox lying on her left side, near the window. The prisoner was lying close to her, and a large carving knife was sticking in his breast. Vitness inquired who did it, and the prisoner then drew the knife from his body, threw it upon the grou nd, and said, "You see I have done it myself." Mrs Knox screamed a nd said, "Oh, my heart — l am dying ;" to which the prisoner replied, "Die hard, you b--."—Mrs. Finnigan, wife pf r `the'last witness, said that when she entered the i:oom,on the morning in question she heard the prisoner, who had been told that his wife would recover, say, " I wish I had done it more effectually, and I wish to die in peace." She unloosed Mrs. Knox's sts.is, and found that she had been stabbed. —Mr. J. L. Miller, surgeon, said that between one and two o'clock on the morning of the 29th ult., be was sent for to the prisoner's house in Dog-bank. Mrs. Knox had a wound two inches in depth over the eighth rib, which must have been inflicted with great violence by a sharp knife. For several days she was dangerously ill, but was now out of danger. The prisbner had a wound two or three inches deep immediately over the breast bone, but it was .not a dangerous one, the knife having been arrested in its progress by the bone. Several other witnesses -were examined, after which Mr. Stoker, solicitor, who appeared for the prisoner, said that Mrs. Knox had no wish to prosecute, but if the magistrates considered that that was not sufficient reason why the prisoner should not be sent for trial, he could say nothing after the evidence that had been given. Mr. Airey, the sit ting magistrate, said that the case must undoubtedly be ,• sent for trial. The prisoner was fully committed for trial at the next assizes. THE CONTINENT. SPAIN. The Madrid Gazette of the 17th publishes a royal decree, annulling the prosecution which had been commenced against the Heraldo, for publishing the address to the electors of the Electoral Committee of the moderate party. The Heraldo mentions a report that M. Pio de la Sota, the fiscal of the press, has either resigned or been dismissed, and a Madrid letter of the 17th informs us that the poli tical chief of Madrid, under whose authorisation the prosecution had been instituted, has also ceased his functions. The Diario Espanol; which had shown some hostility to the new government, was seized on the 16th, and a fine of 500 reals was in flicted. In its number of the 17th, the Diario says it shall abstain from any further comments upon the new Ministers until their policy shall be more clearly defined. The Espana announces that the government had refused permission to the electors of the Progressist party to hold a public meeting. The Madrid Gazette announces the ap proaching payment of the dividends on the 3 per Cents. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY.—The up express train from Liver pool and Manchester last night ran off the rails near Har row, in consequence of the tyre of the driving-wheel of engine No. 289 flying off. At nearly the same instant a down merchandise train was passing and caught the corner of one of the carriages. Both lines were blocked for some time, and the night goods trains and morning passenger trains were much delayed in consequence. Providentially, none of the passengers were hurt, but the guard was killed. We understand that the engine which caused the accident, was nearly a new one, manu factured by Messrs. Sharp and Co.„ of Manchester. THE LATE EXTRAORDINARY C HILD DESERTION.—It will be remembered that a short time since a Mrs. Hughes, after having place 4 two interesting girls in a school at St. John's-Wood, deserted them, and absconded from her own residence, and that thereon the proprietress of the school placed them in the Marylebone-workhouse, the authorities of which, with much difficulty, discovered the mother, who, upon being arrested, took the children out of the workhouse. The affair, through publicity given to it by the press, excited deep interest, and many parties gene rously offered to contribute towards the support of the children. Amongst the benevolent offers on their behalf, the latest and most extraordinary were the following :—A lady residing in the country, possessing 12,0001. a year, and having no children of her own, proposed adopting the elder girl, and with that view came up to London, and made arrangements to meet the mother at a certain place, to take the child with her. But the mother did not keep the ap pointment, and the lady departed from London without achieving her object. The next offer was from a gentleman residing in Edinburgh, who, having six sons and no daugh ter, was anxious to rear one of the children as a companion to his children, and even sent his brother to London to prepare an outfit and send the girl to Scotland. The brother, having ascertained Mrs. Hughes's residence, gave her the required sum to send her child to Edinburgh. The parochial authorities of Marylebone, who are still anxious for the fate of the children, have not as yet ascertained whether Mrs. Hughes has sent the child to her proposed adopted father ; and as the mother has left her late resi dence, Mr. Weeland, the master of the workhouse, has written to him upon the subject. A FRENCH GENERAL AND THE RETIRED LIST.—The Council of State, in two of its recent sittings, was occupied in hearing a demand made by General do Brigade Chadeys son against a decision of the President of the Republic, dated the 11th December, 1851, by which he was placed on the retired list. It was stated on his behalf that he had entered the army on the 29th June, 1813, and had served for 38 years, 20 of which had been in war, namely, three years under the Empire, fourteen in Africa, and three in Italy • that, unconnected with political parties , he owed his different promotions solely to his courage, which had been eight times mentioned in orders of the day in Africa ; but that he had been placed in the retired list in Decem ber, 1851, because ,he had declined to accept the com mand of the department of the Basses Alpes, at that time in a state of insurrection • and that thereby the law of August, 1839, which enacts that generals of brigade shall only be placed on the retired list at the age of 62 had been violated, his age being only 56. In reply to the general, a dispatch was read from the Minister of War, setting forth that in the extraordinary circumstances which prevailed in December, 1851, he was perfectly justified in placing him on the retired list, in consequence of his refusal to take the military command of the Basses Alpes ; that ho fell within the application of a law of 1834, which gave power to the Government of placing generals on the retired list after they should have been 30 years in service ; and that apart from that point the constitution of 1852 ex pressly confirmed all the acts done by the President from the 2d of December. After hearing pleadings, the council decided that the demand of the general should be rejected in 'virtue of the law of Mi. BELGIUM. A statue , of the King of the Belgians was inau gurated on Sunday, in the Place Commimale of Ixelles, near Bruxelles. Although no extensive announce ments of the ceremony had been made, it attracted a large attendance of the inhabitants of the commune and the capital. The Prince Royal and, his brother attended ; they were received by the mayor and common council. The mayor de livered a brief speech, and it was greeted with en thusiastic cries of " Vive le Roi 1" " Vivent les Princes !" When the statue was uncovered canons thundered, and several bands played. The diffe rent societies, communal schools, and national guards of the commune and the neighbourhood, together with detachments of troo p s, afterwards filed off before the Princes. THE TRINKET CAsE.—The Stewards of the Jockey Club have decided that Mr. Hughes shall not henceforth be allowed to run any horse at Newmarket, or to go on the race-course or exercise-ground there. INCREASE OF SALARY TO THE ASSISTANT-INSPECTORS OF LETTER -CARRIERS.—The Earl of Hardwicke (Postmas tor-Genoral) has oanctioncd a very considerable increase in th e salaries of this very useful class of public officers. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1552. GLADSTONE DISGRACEFUL SCENE IN THE CARLToN CLUB. We find the following statement in a contemporary : —" A scene took place at the Carlton Club on Monday evening winch has excited much attention, and may yet lead to very unpleasant consequences. The version of the affair which has reached us is to the effect that, while Mr. Gladstone was reading a newspaper, and not having conversation with any one, certain Tory mem bers of the House of Commons, who had been treating Major Beresford to a dinner by way of celebrating his acquittal by the Derby Committee, came into the room, and employed extremely insulting language to the right hon. gentleman, telling him, among other things, that he had no right to belong to a Conservative Club, but ought to be pitched out at the window in the direction of the Reform Club. Mr. Gladstone addressed the par ties in the most courteous terms ; but, instead of this producing a proper effect upon them, they repeatel their insulting language, ordered candles in another room, and then left Mr. Gladstone alone. One of the principal performers in the scene is a gallant colonel, and another who played a prominent part in it is a gen tleman - whose name has figured a good deal of late in the public journals in connexion with another scene. The affair; as might be expected, has caused a great sensa tion in the Carlton ; and it is supposed that an inquiry into the circumstances must be instituted."—Tintes. ( From the Times.) It is with much regret that we call public attention to a short paragraph, which will be found in another por tion of our columns this day, under the heading of " Disgraceful Scene in the Carlton Club." It appears that certain members of that institution had met to gether for the discreditable purpose of giving a dinner to Major Beresford on account of his connexion with the recent transactions at Derby. Major Beresford has, within the last few days, incurred the strongest censure which could be pronounced upon his conduct by a Par liamentary committee, short of being found guilty of actually administering bribes. The opinion is very general that, even as it is, there is a strong discrepancy between the statement of facts set forth by the commit tee and their deduction from it. It appears that if evi dence had been called which may still be called before the committee which will have to try the right to the seat now held by Mr. Horsfall, the case would have been pressed home to Major Beresford in a manner which must have instantly led, as its least consequence, to his retirement from the house. The affair is by no means brought to a conclusion. The resignation of the Derby Ministry may have smothered the inquiry for a short time, but it cannot escape a thorough investigation, save by an entire dereliction of duty on the part of those who are bound to see justice done. But, even as it was, the censure contained in the report of the Select Committee was so strong as to necessitate the immediate resigna tion by Major Beresford of the post he held in the ser vice of the Crown. We may even go further than this. It has been universally reported—and if the report be false it can be readily denied by the person whom it most concerns—that the reason why Major Beresford's colleagues united to support him was, that he had assured them, "upon his honour," that he was guiltless of all participation in the Derby bribery. Now, although it was open to him to prove his innocence in every way that he could desire, and although one of the principal witnesses against him —if not the principal witness—was not called, he could not, after an investigation of many days, satisfy Lords Barrington and Harry Vane, Sir William Moleswortb, and Messrs. Goulbourn and Deedes, that he was innocent. So far from this, and merely looking at the clipped evi dence before them, they returned against him a verdict which must consign him for the future to oblivion as a public man—even if the matter should rest there. The offence of which Major Beresford stood accused was, that he, a Minister of the Crown, had been actively en gaged in corrupting by bribery an English constituency. Now, let us ask, was this a time to give a festival in honour of such a man and such an event ? Is it to go forth among that numerous section of the community which is only too eager for violent changes in our repre sentative system that the members of the Carlton Club — Lord Derby's compact phalanx of 310—stick at nothing in the shape of bribery and corruption, and that, even when their chief agent is detected, his detection merely leads to festivities in his honour, that he may exert him self more strenuously at the next election in his honour , able career ? _ _ _ -The particulars of the Beresford Banquet we must leave to the imagination of our- readers. " Beresford, Bribery, and Three Times Three"—"The Man in Drab," —in solemn silence,—" Tliree Groans for the Select Com• mittee," and so forth, were appropriate toasts for such an occasion ;—whether given or not, we cannot say. But, while these good old Tories were fuddling them selves in one room of the Carlton, Mr. Gladstone, for his misfortune, had entered the club-house, and was quietly reading the paper in another— he was not en gaged in conversation with any one. Presently some of the topers who had been whitewashing the Major came into the room where Mr. Gladstone was sitting. We will not for the moment divulge the names of the parties to the most disgraceful scene which followed, but content ourselves with copying the guarded language of the re port :—" One of the principal performers in the scene is a gallant colonel, and another who played a prominent part in it is a `gentleman' whose name has figured a good deal of late in the public journals in connexion with another scene." It appears that no sooner had these worthies become aware of Mr. Gladstone's pre sence, than they Used towards him the most insulting language, ,They-told him "he had no right to belong to a Conservative Club at all"—that he ought — ." to be pitched out at the window in the direction of the Reform Club," &c. Mr. Gladstone, according to the report we have received, answered them in the most courteous terms. Courtesy to such persons was of course but as pearls to swine. They repeated their insulting lan guage, ordered candles in another room, and then re lieved Mr. Gladstone of their presence. Such is the version of the story we have received, and, as far as Mr. Gladstone's share in it is concerned, we doubt not that it does him but scant justice. Political oppo nents he may have in abundance ; but certainly his name stands high as that of a man who could not under any circumstances be thought to violate the decencies of life, or to do aught unbecoming the cha racter of an English gentleman. As for his antagonists —his assailants, rather—the public can best judge of probabilities when their names are made known. There can, we imagine, be but one conclusion to so disgraceful a transaction. The committee of the Carlton Club are the best judges of the character they would wish their society to wear for the future. Any step on Mr. Gladstone's part beyond the most contemptuous silence would be as misplaced in point of judgment as it would be mistaken on principle. He has had the mis fortune of belonging to a society to which persons were admitted ignorant or regardless of the decencies of life. If they are not expelled from it at once, he has nobody to thank but himself, should he incur at a future period any repetition of similar conduct. Assailants such as these, if actively dealt with at all, are fitting subjects for the station-house and the police-court, —nothing more. Does the Carlton require a detachment of the A division to keep order among its members ? LORD DERBY'S CHARGE OF "COMBINATION. The following has been published by a contempo rary : " 6, Carlton-gardens, Dec. 22, 185 " My dear Phillimore,—lt causes me no surprise to earn that the unwarrantable statement of Lord Derby, in the House of Lords, on Monday night, to the effect that his defeat on Thursday last was the result of a concert or combination between the friends of Sir Robert Peel and other political parties, should have / caused much soreness among those who supported me at the late contested election for Oxford. For they will no doubt remember that I avowed before and during that election a wish to find the policy and measures of the Government such as would justify me in giving them my support. " That wish I sincerely entertained, and I am ready to show it by reference to all my subsequent acts ; but the main question, one really of personal honour as well as of political consistency, is this—whether the concert or combination alleged to have taken place fo r the pur pose of ejecting Lord Derby's Government from office is a fact or a fiction ? " I have not the slightest hesitation in stating to you that it is a fiction. "I give you this assurance absolutely as regards myself, and with all the confidence, as regards my immediate friends, that one man can have in the veracity of an other. I shall denounce it as a fiction upon every legi timate occasion that may offer 'itself to me, and shall complain of the propagation, from such a source, of a statement so injurious and so entirely unsupported by legitimate evidence. "It was entirely unsupported by such evidence, for the only presumption in its - favour was this, that we voted against the budget of Mr. Disraeli in strict con formity with every principle of finance we had professed through our political lives, and with the policy of former finance Ministers from the time of Mr. Pitt, against the new principles' and new policies' which Mr. Disraeli declared at Aylesbury his intention to submit to the House of Conamons, a pledge which I admit that he completely redeemed. " You are quite at liberty to make known the purport of this letter, and especially, in its full breadth, the de nial it contains. "I remain, most sincerelyours, " W. " Robert Phillimore, Esq." Form MEN DEOWNED.—A melancholy accident oc curred on Friday morning off Gosford, resulting in the loss of four Cockenzie fishermen. A boat named the Rising, Sun, left Cockenzie early in the morning, manned by five fishermen, in pursuit of their hazardous calling. The wind blew a strong gale from the north east ; and it is supposed that a gust caught the sail, capsizing the boat. Three of the fishermen on board were drowned in a short time ; the two remaining men managed to hold on by the capsized boat, but one of them, after keeping his place for some time, was at last washed away by a large wave. The other man, however, got upon the bottom of the boat, where he remained, in spite of the buffeting of the waves ; and the signal of distress which he raised was fortunately seen about ten o'clock in the forenoon by a Fisherrow boat's crew while running before the gale. They at once bore dovir hove a rope, which was eagerly grasped by the hal_ drowned man, who, after fastening a coil of it round his body, plunged into the sea, and was hauled on board in a very exhausted state. His name was found to be Archibald Horn, and he was shortly afterwards brought into Cockenzie by the fishermen who rescued him.— , Edinburg4 Advertiser. GERMANY• Lord Westmoreland, British Envoy at the Court of Austria, arrived at Frankfort on the 20th on his way from Paris to Vienna. Mr. Orme, Second Secretary of the British Legation at the Germanic Confederation, is about to proceed in the same quality to Copenhagen. The Vienna Gazette of the 18th publishes an Imperial decree regulating the right of meeting and of forming associations throughout the whole monarchy with the exception of the military fron tier. No financial, manufacturing, or commercial companies, or societies for the encouragement of arts and sciences can exist without the special au thorisation of the Government. Auy associations having for object to occupy themselves with the legislation and a dministration are forbidden. , The Bonn to Cologne railway Company having solicited authorisation to continue the line as far as Bingen, the Prussian Goverment has replied that it could not give that permission until the communi cation between Cologne and the German railways on the right bank of the Rhine shall have been established. ITALY. ---- In its sitting of the 17th, the Senate of Turin continued the discussion on the Civil Marriage Bill. M. Roberto d'Azeglio said that he had voted in 1850, for the abolition of Ecclesiastical privileges, because he considered it constitutional to do so; but that the present bill was contrary to the Con stitution, since matrimony was a purely religious concern; consequently, he must vote against the bill. The Minister of Justice, and other orators, supported the bill, but no new arguments of any importance were brought to bear upon the ques tion. The discussion was adjourned to the follow ing day. The Risorgimento announces that M. Scialoja, quest PIRIT OF TILE 4LS. THE NEW ML PUB. VISTRY.-S FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. TIMES.—We may as well state at once, for the relief of those legislators who wish to spend the re mainder of this week otherwise than in dancing at tendance on Parliament, that, according to Lord Aberdeen's first and very reasonable intention, nc thing will be announced this evening. Of course, we must regret, on Lord Derby's account, that his fervid curiosity and irritable temperament will be deprived—the one of its satisfaction, the other of a new stimulus ; but after his lordship himself took a whole year to form his Mtn Cabinet, out of one political section, he cannot complain if his succes sor has not finally arranged every particular be fore the expiration of one week. The House of Lords will be adjourned this evening to next Mon day, when there is no doubt the country will pos sess a Government with a fair promise of support and durability. We say the country, for notwith standing the special anxiety with which a crisis is watched by expectants of every degree, the nation is far more interested even than would-be Minis ters and ambitious subordinates. It certainly is for the interest of the country that it should have not only a good Government, but one which can command a Parliamentary majority of its own, and which is therefore a source of security, in stead of being, like our two last Governments, itself an uncertainty, a weakness, and a trouble. Something like terra firma we trust to arrive at before long, though how that is to be done in the present state of parties, without a good deal of mutual forbearance and gene rous co-operation, no one ventures to say. Notwithstanding the wear and tear of heart and sense by our late political controversies, there is happily enough patriotism left for the formation of a comprehensive Government. There are not many men who would rather fish in troubled waters for the great prize of power than help to reconcile fac tions. The proper policy of the country is scarcely any longer a matter of dispute. In all the declama tion that we read in and out of Parliament, we don't see so much as an attempt to make out that the grand principles of our Government depend on the selection of this or that set of men. The only question is who will best carry out the principles already adopted by Parliament and the nation at large. Attacks by anticipation are at least under stood. When writers are so candid as to inform us that they intend to abuse Lord Aberdeen, his col leagues, his Cabinet, and his policy, whatever they are, to give no quarter to anything or anybody that crosses the threshold of Argyll-house, and to think worst of those measures that look the best, they necessarily disarm themselves of what strength they might accidentally possess. For our part, we are always disposed to give a new Government fair play, especially when its very formation is an act of patriotic risk or self-denial. That is not the course adopted by Lord Derby and his sup porters. Though they claim to be the largest party in the State, they are not strong enough, as they confess themselves, to wait. They must crush the new Government in its very cradle, or it will, they seem to think certain, speedily be too much for them. They cannot afford to be candid or patient. The stakes are planted, the faggots piled, and the sentence pronounced, before there is any body to burn. We may judge how rapid will be the process of justice when the men and the mea sures are in court. Next week we shall know the men. Then will come storm the first on the de voted heads of the unfortunate statesmen from the phials of disappointed protection. In February we shall know the measures. Then will come storm the second. How kind to be told all this before hand ! What an immense improvement it would be on the existing state of things if all people pro claimed their purposes and character on their very forehead so promptly and so plainly as our late Pro tectionist contemporaries ! When the fatal out break of ungovernable passion, unlimited personali ties, and scandalous insinuation is at last poured upon us, it will be a great comfort to reflect that we had fair warning, and that as it was threatened be fore the men or the measures were so much as set tled, no choice of men or measures could have averted the infliction. But before these gentlemen de nounced so very positively the men and the measures, whatever they may happen to be, of the new Admi nistration, they might as well have agreed among themselves what ground to take as to the known facts of the case. What is the particularcrime or folly of which the statesmen in consultation at Argyll house are guilty ? Is it that they are too well pre pared, or that they are not prepared enough ? In one speech or one column we are assured of a long, a deep, a well-organised conspiracy to wrest the Government from the Conservative party ; in a sister speech, or an adjacent column, we are as sured that all its surprise, confusion, disagreement, and everything that usually argues want of pre meditation in the statesmen charged with this sin gular conspiracy. Both these charges cannot be true. Will the assailants be so good as to elect which charge they mean to insist upon ? Is it a conspiracy, or is it a misadventure ? Were the parties agreed before the opening of Parliament, the terms arranged, the spoil divided, or, to take the other alternative, are there no parties as yet, no terms of co-operation, no agreement as to the spoil ? Just now the last seems the favourite topic ; and when it becomes known that the Cabinet is not yet entirely filled up the run will be stronger in that direction —namely, that the three anti-Protec tionist sections of the Legislature have been taken by surprise. There is actually some truth in the charge. But as contradictions cannot be equally true, it is not so true that there has been a league of long standing to overthrow the Ministry and divide the places amon g the confederates. The fatal division of last Thursday night happened to be about as little premeditated or concerted as fatal divisions have generally been of late years. An unusual variety of motives contributed to the re result. Besides merely political considerations, every one of the five measures constituting the Budget furnished its quota of dissentients, and if the debate on them, as it went on, turned more and more on the question of confidence, that was owing rather to the Ministerial orders that it should be so than to any mischievous combination of par ties. HERALD.—AII sorts of rumours are of course afloat as to the arrangements in progress for the formation of the new Cabinet. Many of the minor appointments are said to be settled, and we think it probable that this evening Lord Aberdeen will be able to state in his place in the House of Lords that matters are progressing, although not finally arranged. Amongst the on Bits, we may mention, that it is strongly rumoured Lord John Russell is to be pitchforked into the House of Lords, and is to be Lord President of the Council ; that the leader ship of the House of Commons lies between Sir James Graham and Mr. Gladstone ; and that the first-named of these two gentlemen is to be First Lord of the Admiralty. Th at Sir J. Graham may be desirous of securing this appointment we think extremely likely, but when we take into consideration how h e acted when occupying the same position in a former Administration, we cannot nna,gine a more injudicious appointment, especially at the present time, when it is a matter of essential consequence to the country, that this, the most important arm of the public service, should be rendered efficient, as we do not hesi tate to say it is not at present, but which Lord Derby had determined upon effecting without any delay. A more injudicious appointment, we say, than that of Sir J. Graham to be First Lord of the Admiralty, we cannot conceive, or one more likely to disappoint the great mass of the English people ; and should the report of his appointment turn out to be correct, we shall take an early op portunity of proving what we now assert. We have reason to believe that this place was offered to Lord Palmerston, and in our opinion his lordship is eminently qualified for the post, and his appoint ment would, we are convinced, have given great satisfaction to all naval men, but we are informed that his lordship has flatly refused to have anything to do with the embryo Cabinet ; and we are not, we confess, surprised at this determination, for we can not understandhow a nobleman of Lord Palmerston's high character and gentlemanly feeling could for one moment sit in the same Cabinet with Lord John Russell, from whom he has received so flagrant an insult. Another rumour, and one which some of our Liberal contemporaries seem to give credit to, is that Lord St. Leonard's has been strongly pressed to retain his office of Lord Chancellor. No doubt Lord Aberdeen would be glad enough to avail him self of the noble lord's splendid talent and high character, but then the difficulty remains—the Lord St. Leonard's has a c haracter to maintain, and his lordship has too much penetration, to say nothing of his feelings as a hi g h-minded nobleman, not to know that he has nothing to gain in public estimation by lending himself to assist a cabal which has overturned one of the best Governments ch the country has see n for many a year, and hi ca n only obtain power by swallowing all its former opinions. It is an affront to Lord St. Leonard's to suppose him capable of such conduct for the mere sake of remaining in his present position, and, but that we are co mpelled to allude to the matter, as some of our contemporaries have already done, we should be asham ed of seeming to countenance such a report, even whilst we are contradicting it. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE YELLOW FEVER.—The Lords of the Admiralty have issued instructions to the Ad miralty agents on the West India station not to permit in valids and distressed seamen from places where the yellow fever is raging to be received on board the homeward bound, mail-packets. NAVAL tENCE. WOOLWICH, DEC. 22 The following appointments have been made, to take effect from the ,Ist of January next, according to the new regulations :--- Paymasters.—C. E. Cottrell, to the Neptune, 120, ordinary guard-ship, Portsmouth ; S. G. Bunn, to'the St. George, 120, ordinary guard-ship, Devonport B. Dyer, to the ;Prince Regent, 92, western squad ; on ; Joseph Marsh, to the Hogue, 58, screw guard-ship, Devonport ; Thomas Hookey, to the Edinburgh, 58, screw -steam gunnery-ship tender, Devonport ; W. P. Carrigan, to the Leander, 50, Portsmouth ; W. P. O'Brien, to the Simoom, screw troop-ship. Clerks in Charge. —T. E. Terry, to the Resistance, troop-ship, Woolwich ; W. Ward, to the Rhadaman thus, steam-transport, Woolwich. Lieutenant Thomas S. Pasley, flag-lieutenant to the late Commander-in -Chief at Portsmouth, has been ap pointed to the Imperieuse, 50 gun screw-frigate, at Woolwich. • Captain Bullock is doing the duty of senior officer at Woolwich, in the room of Commodore Eden, absent on leave. Lieutenant.—Armine Wodehouse (1845), has been appointed to the Amphion, 33, screw-frigate, Sheerness; Robert Mansell (1852), to the Desperate, steam-corvette, Devonport, vice Bullock, whose appointment has been cancelled; Henry D. Hickley (1847), to the Argul, steam-frigate, Devonport ; Thomas M. B. Fellowes (1852), to the Odin, 12, steam-frigate, Portsmouth. Mr. Dyer, of the 111;adamanthis, steam-transport, at Woolwich, has applied to be superseded, and the Ad miralty have appointed Mr. George Gilpin to supersede him. The following medical officers have been nominated to the steamers just commissioned : Surgeons.—John King, to the Argus ; Henry Ed monds, to the Desperate ; Robert Grogon, to the Im.- perieuse ; John A. Paterson, to the Barracouta; Edwd. Hodges Cree, to the Odin; ames Harvey, to the Medea; Edward D. Auvergne, to the Cruiser; James Buchanan, to the Amphion. Assistant Surgeons.— Joseph Coulter, to the Amphion ; John Eccles Hamilton, to the Odin ; James Henry, to the Argus ; Francis Anderson, to the Desperate ; John Gunn, to the Imperieuse ; Augustus R. R. Preston and Beresford C. Christy, to the London ; John Mortlock Tronson, acting, to the Barracouta ; J. C. Ingles, to the Medea ; W. T. Carr, acting, to the Cruiser ; Edward M`Sorley, acting, to the Firebrand. The complement of the Imperieuse, 50, screw-frigate, Captain Watson, C. 8., at Woolwich, is to be 586. PORTSMOUTH, DEC, 22. The remains of our late gallant and respected Com mander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.M.G..) will be removed from the Admiralty-house to-morrow morning at half-past 5 o'clock for London, by the 6 o'clock South-Western train. Captain Martin, flag captain, and Mr. Triphook, secretary and executor, ac company the body to London. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., the ap pointed successor of Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, will come down and hoist his flag on Monday. Captain Mundy, of the London, has declined being flag-captain, and Captain John Charles Dalrymple Hay, late of the Columbine, is named as likely to have the post. The Simoom, 18, screw troop-frigate, Captain King come, arrived at Spithead at 7 o'clock last evening from the Clyde, with the residue of the screw machinery for the Duke of Wellington, and came into harbour to dis charge it to-day. The Admiralty having ordered the Archer. 14, screw sloop, Commander Strange, to proceed from Portsmouth to Falmouth, to enter men for the navy, she sailed from Spithead on Tuesday evening for Falmouth, for the pur pose of entering seamen for general service in the navy. She returned to Spithead this evening, supposed to have met with an accident. The Avon, Master Commander Veitch, arrived this morning with supernumeraries from Plymouth, And sailed again in the evening On her return. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 22. The alterations and repairs of the mail steam-packet' Adelaide, bound to the Cape and Australia, will detain her here certainly until Saturday, and probably until Tuesday next. SHEERNESS, DEC. 21. The Devon lighter, Second Master J. Bond, arrived here yesterday from Plymouth and Portsmouth with stores for this yard and for Chatham. She has this day completed her discharge here, and sailed this afternoon for Chatham-yard. The Hope lighter, Second Master J. Rich, arrived here to-day from Chatham-yard with stores for the Rattlesnake, 8 guns, fitting in dock here. The Ordnance hoy Marlborough, J. Cook, master, arrived here to-day from Woolwich with guns, gun car riages, &c., for the Agamemnon. The Agamemnon, 91 guns, screw steam line-of-battle ship, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, has this day been secured by her mooring chains in the fitting basin, in order to try her machinery, preparatory to her leaving the basin on the 27th inst. The Rattlesnake, 8 guns, is having her copper stripped, and is progressing actively in being rigged. She is to be fitted with the masts, spars, and sails of the Larne, 14, gun sloop, which have been sent from Chatham yard, the Lame having last paid off there. THE FATAL FEVER ON BOARD THE DAUNTLESS. TO THE EDITOR OE THE SUN. SIR,—I have read with the deepest sorrow the melan choly accounts of the fatal fever on board her Majesty's screw-ship Dauntless at Barbadoes, and I and thosf who have friends on board that ship, and in another fngate, the Highflyer, also in the West Indies, wait with pain ful anxiety for later information. In the mean time, however, I trust the Admiralty will have already ordered the Dauntless to England, for she must be utterly use less now as a man-of-war on the west India station.—l am your obedient servant, A NAVAL OFFICER. Junior United Service Club, Dec. 21. ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY. WOOLWICH, DEC. 21. A board of officers, consisting of Lieut. Gen. Sir John F. Burgoyne, G.C.8., Inspector General of Fortifica tions (President) ; Lieut.-Gen. Sir Hew D. Ross, K.C.8., Deputy Adjutant General of Artillery ; Major General • Griffiths G. Lewis, C. 8., Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Military Academy ; Col. E. C. Whinyates, C. 8., K.H., Commandant of the Garrison ; and Col. Thomas Blanchard, C.B:, Commandant of the Royal Engineers and Royal Sappers and Miners at Woolwich, assembled at ten o'clock a.m. to-day in the hall of the cadets' lear racks at the Royal Arsenal, for the purpose of witness ing the examination of the gentlemen cadets whose period of study in the practical class was com pleted, and decide upon their qualifications to be appointed to commissions in the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Lieutenant-General Sir Charles William Pasley, K.C.B. Royal Engineers ; Col. J. A. Chalmer,lnspector ofArtillery; Col. 3..Nisbet Colquhoun, Inspector of the Royal Carriage Department ; Lieut.-Col. R.Hardinge, K.H., Superintendent o f the Royal Military Repository; Lieut.-Col. Joseph E. Portlock, Inspector of the Royal Military Academy; Lieut. -Col. Wilson, Director of the Laboratory Department at the Royal Arsenal ; Brigade-Major Bingham ; Capt. Eardley Wilmot, of the Cadet Company ; and a number of officers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, were also present during the examination of the gentlemen cadets of the practical class in practical artillery, fortification, and other require ments of officers in the ordnance service, which occupied until past one o'clock p.m. At the conclosion of the ex aminations the following gentlemen cadets were passed for commissions in the Royal Artillery and :Royal Engi neers, subject to their approval by the Mas,%er-General of the Ordnance :- 1. Francis Towry Adeane Law. 2. John Henry Stockmar Carter. 3. Frederick William Gilby. 4. Major Francis Downes. 5. James Bevan Edwards. 6. Albert Charles Hugo Light. 7. Francis Henry William Nisbet; 8. Falkland George Edgeworth Wo.rres. 9. Henry Clement Swinnerton Dyer. 10. Thomas Lloyd Still. 11. Joseph Hanwell. 12. Joshua Frederick Betty. 13. Francis William Eveleigh Savage. 14. John Kelly Holdsworth. 15. William Frederick Moore. 16. Maurice Henry Fitzmaurice. 17. Wilbraham Digby 'Ullman. is. Arthur Richard Robinson, 19. Henry Richmond Martin. 20. William Alexander Patrick Wyllie. Lieutenant-Geniral Sir J. F. Burgoyne eongratulat ed the gentlemen cadets who had passed on the highly sat i, factory examination which they had gone through ; =O. Lieutenant -Colonel Portlock then called forward to the board table Mr. Falkland George Edgeworth Warren, whose invariable good conduct since he became a student at the Royal Military Academy entitled him to receive a r egulation sword, which was presented by the Lieuten ant-General, who expressed himself much gratified in handing him that valuable prize, which is conferred on hr very meritorious conduct. The other prizes were handed by the President to th Following gentlemen cadets : For Practical Artillery.—Mr. Edwards. For Surveying.—Mr. Edwards. First Prize Chemistry. —Mr. Donnelly. First Class Mathematics.—Mr. Wrottesley. Second Class Mathematics, First Prize.— Mr. Prizzl Second Class Mathematics, Second Prize.—Mr. Darra 3 Third Class Mathematics.—Mr. Grant. Fourth Class Mathematics. -=Mr- Boileau. First Class Fortification. —Mr. Dumaresq. Second Class Fortifieation.—Mr. Candilands. First Prize, French. —Mr. Watson. Second Prize, French. —Mr. de Montanoreney. First Prize, Gerrnan.—Mr. Pringle. Second Prize, German.—Mr. Malcolm. First Prize, Historyand Geography.—Mr.Wrottesley. Second Prize, History and Geography.—Mr. Lewellyn Military Plan -Drawing and Sketching.—Mr. Lem priere. sth Room Landscape Drawing.—Mr. Bolton and Mr. Wilson. 6th Room Landscape Drawing.—Mr. Franklaud. Descriptive Geometry.—Mr. Macquay. Second Prize, Chemistry.—Mr. de Winton. There were a number of fine drawings exhibited, and a model of a suspension bridge for conveying troops across rivers, formed entirely of herupea cable and the branches of trees. I 51 6i 1 .iO ll " warn! , PL Of 'OP bor t 0 0 00 ,