The Sun. — London, England, 1837-01-04 00:00:00

---- PRICES OF STOCKS 'I HIS DAY AT (PNE cycLocK E , Datil:. Stock. 3 pet Cent. tied . st4F4 9!, i i 9 !Ditto Tionßs 3 per Cent. Cons .., — !South Sea !i•t;c1: :3 1 4 per Cent ..... .. rhtto Red 97!435,N : New Ditto New 314 per Cet t ... — !:1 per ( Pot. Annuities, MI — New Sper Cent.. Bank LongAnruiticstoexpire !Ditto Jan. 5. 114 - 4 1 ...... .......... . 14A 13 Ditto Small Oct 10, IFC9 — . Ditto Commercial ..- pm. J. m. 5.. 1W0.... ... .--Ditto Advertised pm Jan. 5, -Md..... ........ — !Bank Stock for Account__ .. April 5, IMO~ Jan. 3, 1870 — Consols for Acconnt 90 89y,„ 91a 93 ChAnium .._, , PRIL,Lo OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Austrian Ninds ... —! Peruvian Bonds ........ ........... 19.4 Belgian Bowis .... ........ Ditto Account Bra ziii: , n Bonds ... Ditto Account ..... .. ......... 86 7 Ditto New Bonds _4N 7. S 4 8 lluenoo Ayres Bonds .. Ditto Account 46 774 Bk 4 s Ditto Account — Ditto, 3 per cent 29% 31N3 Chillian Bonds .............. ..... —I Prussian Bonds — Ditto Account tolinnhian Bonds . —; Ditto Account _ ;Ditto Accoui.t ColirObian Bonds, :8:21 117 4.7 ii Spanish Bonds Di t to _Account 27N 8; Ditto Account .. D.,,a4;, ilf, ; nds ............... ..... —: Ditto Bonds, 1k34 ..... .. ‘.21% 5 1 4 5 Ditto Accriunt 5 UreGreet:Bonds ,• ........ ...... ... ren_ ,, h,per cent__ „„ —c. , ._f. Ditto Bonds, 18. 25 —l v ---- 4 per cent. —f. --c. Ditto Account . . ......... Mexican Bonds, 5 per c00t.... —' -- Exchange -f. —c. Ditto ACCOI4I -, Dutch, 2 , ,.., per cent 54% Ditto, 6 per cent ....,..,..... Ditto Account l 4!iki Ditto Account .. ......... .... --i Ditto, 5 per cent l O - 2 , , ,i 74 Neapotitan.....,... ................. Ditto Account — ~____----_ PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONF. O'CLOCK. Paid. Per Share. nyen, 'Western Railway Company 3O 44 mi g non (Rennie's) 3 1% Lon d on . -ind Southampton Railway Company J ont i on a n - and Junction Railway Manchester South Union Railway Company 2 4% South Easter!. and Dover Railway Company 2 2% South Brightort, Lewes, and Newhaven Railway 2 32N S ou th Western Railway Company I 0% COURSE CF EXCHANGE YESTERDAY. Amsterdam ... ............. C.F. 12 6 Leghorn..., 26 47U Ditto, at sight Rotterdam 2U. 12 6% Milan._ . 3l Antwerp... _._.. .... 12 5 Venice 4; Ham10urg„....... ........ M.B. 13 12% Naples 4O A1t0na..... ~.. .................. 13 12% Palermo per oz. 120 Paris, 3 days' if...47...ht ..... . . .... 25 65 Lisbon ....... 53% Ditto ....... .......... ....2 .... 25 05 Oporto 53% Marseilles. ...................... 26 0 Rio Janeiro 34 Frankfort OR . M aine, Ex.3l. 153% Bahia 26 Petersbuigh, ruble ..... .3 Us, 10 0 Buenos Ayres /Oulu' .... 0••••• Vienna, effective t1......2 sf, 10 16 Cork l% Trieste..„..ditto lO 18 Madrid si cadiz............ ....... -.. Bilboa 35 Barrelona Seville 95% 48 Gibraltar Arrived. Due. 0 AMeriCa 0 0 Brazil ...... 0 0 Buenos Ayres 0 o Carthagena 0 I Dublin... 1 0 Flanders PRICE OF BULLION, PER OZ. Portugal Gold, coin...„ £0 0 0 Foreign Gold, in bars 3 17 9 New Doubloons ...... 0 0 0 New Dollars Silver, bars, standard 0 0 0 MA Arrived. 1 France, 0 Guern., 0 Hambui 0 Holland 0 Jamaica 0 Leeward .ILS. Due Arrived. Due 1 0 Lisbon 1 &Jersey 0 0 Malta 0 rg ~,,.... 9 :2 0 Mexico 0 , 0 Ostend 0 I 0 Sweden 0 Islands 1 1 1 :liaterford 1 HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TO-MORROW. M0rning.........14 minutes after 0. I Evening 50 minutes after 0. EDINBURGH REVIEW. No. CXXX. To ADVERTISERS —Messrs. Longman and Co., beg to inform Publishers and Advertisers in General, that THURSDAY, the 22th of January is the LAST DAY for receiving Advertise ments, and SATURDAY, the 14th, for bills for insertion in the forthcoming Number. Patenioster-row, January 4th, 1837. JUST COMPLETED. In 21 Vols. ;mall octavo ; 55., each, bound in cloth, uniform with Byron and Shakspeare, With 80 Engrmings on Steel, The HISTORY OF ENGLAND, By HUME and OMOLLETT : Continued to ;.835. By the Rev. T. S. HUGHES, B.D. Prebendary of Peterborough. Being the only complete and uniform History, Flume may be had separately in eight vols. ;—Smollett in five ; and the Con tinuation in eight. This work can be supplied periodically by any Booksener, com mencing with Vol. 1. Printed. and Published by A. J. Valpy, M. A, Red Lion Court, Fleet-street ; and sold by all Booksellers. EDITED BY THEODORE HOOK, Esq., And Illustrated with a Portrait of the LADY CHARLOTTE BURY. THE FIRST NUMBER FOR 1837 OF MONTHLY COLBURN'S NEW MAGAZINE, EDITED BY THEODORE HOOK, Esq. Who commences the Number for January with THE GURNEY PAPERS. The New Publication announced under the title of THE HUMOURIST Is, at the suggestion of Mr. Hook, incorporated with THE NEW MONTHLY, and forms a prominent feature of Wit and Comi cality in that Magazine, which is accordingly increased in quantity, and contains various other improvements. N.B. With the exception of an article promised to another Journal, Mr. Hook will, in future, confine his periodical writing to the New Monthly. PRINCIPAL CONTENTS OF THE JANUARY NUMBER. The Gurney Papers, No. I. By Retrospections and Anticipations Theodore Hook, Esq. for 1837. The Manager's Room at Little The late Georza Colman, his Pedlington. By J. Poole, Esq. Wit and Genius. Achates Digby. ByAlfred Crow- The Mother's Heart. By the quill. Hon. Mrs. Norton. The Grand Kentucky Balloon. A Tale of the Voyage of Hen- By One of the Authors of drick Hudson. By N. P. " The Rejected Addresses." Willis, Esq. The Disasters of Carfington Subjects for Pictures. By Blundell, Esq. By Leigh L. E. L. Hunt, Esq. Recreations on N aural History, Songs of the Blacks. By J. B. No. I. Buckstone, Esq. 1. The New Memoir of the Lady Charlotte Jim Crow. 2. A Nigger's Bury (with a P..rtrait). Reasons. Notes on Literature, the Arts, Moralities for Families. By &c. Douglas Jerrold, Esq. State of Agriculture and Corn- Club Law—Christmas, &c. merce. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. And to be had of all Booksellers in the Kingdom. HAMRURGII, DEC. 12. ON approach of the COMMENCEMENT of JANUARY, all those who may have to write to us before that time, are requested to do so without delay, and to be particular in directing, HEINE BROTHERS, in HAMBURGH, and to observe, that a letter with one inclosure doubles the Postage only, but several inclosures would by far increase the same. Thus 101., 201., Dr 301., for instance, if remitted in One Bank of Eng lan Note would only cause double Postage, but 101. remitted in two notes, would be liable to a much higher charge. It is there fore most advisable, for any Person having to remit Money to Ham burgh, to forwas-1 the amount in One Note; or having to receive Money from Hamburgh, to receive the same in One Note, when ever possible. Of :nurse remittances from Hamburgh to England, surpassing the usual amount of One Bank of England Note, may rather be made in Bilis of Exchange, on London. We request not to overlook these particulars. HEINE BROTHERS in HAMBURGH. P. S. To persons having to remit Si., on receiving a Ten Pound Note. wo return Two Pound in the cheapest way possible. The publication of THE SUN NEWSPAPER commenced this day at 10 minutes past Three o' Cock. ... ~ ......t.„, (Z .-.. 4 ,- .„.,,,, r 7 ..-i , •- •1 , .......‘ ...,tt 1 . 41000 . 4 . 9 :: .. i ~- 14P- ^ . ..:1?: ; . it ..4., • • t , ' 'Tr 4- LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 4, 1837. A small pamphlet, entitled " The Monetary System," has just been published by RIDGWAY. The author's object is to recommend a plan which he thinks would obviate the great inconvenience attending the rapid fluctuations which take place in the value of money under the present system, and which are the necessary consequence of a sudden contraction or expansion of the circulating medium. The Bank of England is the regulator of the monetary machine, but expe rience has proved that it is incapable of performing this office effectually. In saying this we do not mean to impute blame to the Directors of this great Insti tution. On the contrary, our opinion is that they have discharged their duty to the public faithfully and con scientiously. Occasions may have occurred, as in 1825, when they adhered too closely to their principle of con tracting their issues when there is a drain on their coffers. They made no distinction between the drain occasioned by 9. sudden panic when gold is demanded for the purpose of hoarding, mid that which is the consequence of an ad verse state of thefo re i gnexc h ancres' when it is wanted for exportatio n . Thi s was an error in judgment and was—until it was discovered to be so, and a directly opposite course adopted —productiv e of great mischief. The Bank was in fact reduced to its last guinea, and the panic was still increasing, when a seasonable issue of notes produced an instantaneous re-action. In a short time confidence was restored, and the gold which had been drawn out in a moment of unreflectir, alarm soon found its way back again to Threadneedle -street. But the Bank of England cannot by possibility re gulate the currency, and for this plain reason that it is not the sole issuer of the notes which form so large a proportion of the circulating median- If the Bank contracts its issues, other banks may exi.')d theirs, and vice versa. Its operations are thus liable to be counteracted and neutralised by the operations of other banks, and have in fact been so counteracted to a con siderable extent during the last twelve months. It is therefore unfair to blame the Directors of the (kV: kuL4l(l ^f@r tlia\whicla they . cannot help. ' e fault is inTh6 syNem—in the constitution of the Bank and in the state of the law—and until these are altered, it is in vain to expect that equability in the motion of the machine which is so essential to its sa• lutary working, and which cannot be attained while the regulating power is too feeble and subject to per- petual jars from the collision of other antagonist powers The author of the pamphlet before us gives a sketch of the history of the Bank of England, which, as it is very brief and cannot fail to be interesting to many of our readers, we here subjoin : " The Bank of England originated in the necessities of the Government. In 1694 the Government borrowed 1,200,000/. of Mr. William Patterson, and granted to him and his associates in that loan the original charter of the Bank of England, with the right to have a capital of 1,200,000/. ; and the charter was to continue in force till the Ist of August, 1705. Thus the Bank started with an advance to Government of the full amount of its capital, and was authorized to issue Bank notes exceeding that amount. " In 1696 the notes of the Bank were at a large dis- count. It was doubtless well known that the issues of the Bank far exceeded its funds in specie, and the credit of the Government was not good enough to sustain the credit of the Bank. Wrong in its origin, this institution has been bound ever since, by the circumstances which pre sided over its birth, in a close and reciprocal dependence with the Government ; sometimes of infinite benefit to the nation in its emergencies, but nevertheless, by the necessity it has felt of sudden contractions of its circula tion, pregnant with mischief to the enterprising and indus. trious mechanic, manufacturer, tradesman, merchant, and shipowner, whose success in business constitutes the wealth and welfare of the nation. " In 1696 the Bank suspended payment of its notes, under favour of the Government, and was relieved by the privilege of augmenting its capital to 2,201,1711. This brought, of course, a supply of coin and bullion into the Bank. " In 1708 the Bank made a further advance to the Government of 400,0001., making the amount of its advances to the public 1,600,000/. ; and by an Act in the same year, the charter was extended to the Ist of August, 1732, the Government being precluded from re fusing its renewal then, as now, without repayment of its loans. The Bank was allowed to take further subscrip tions to double the amount of its capital, making the new capital 4,402,343/. ; but upon the condition it would cancel 1,500,0001. of Exchequer bills which, it had previously agreed to circulate ; which sum, with interest, amounted to 1,755,027/.,'making the aggregate of advance to the Go vernment 3,375,0271., while its capital was 4,403,3431. " In February, 1709, and December, 1710, the capital was further increased, so that its amount in the latter year was 5,599,995/. " In 1713 the charter was further extended till 1742. " In 1717 the Bank cancelled Exchequer bills to the amount of 2,000,0001., making then the advance to the public 5,375,0271. " In 1722 the Bank bought of South Sea Company Stock 4,000,000/. ; and to sustain the Bank in making this purchase, it was allowed, on June 24, 1727, a further subscription to its capital of 3,400,0001., and was repaid out of the sinking fund 1,000,0001., on account of the above-mentioned aggregate of 1,775,0271. At this period the actual advance to the public was 8,375,0271., and the capital 8,959,9951. " In 1728 the Bank advanced, upon a pledge of cer tain duties, the sum of 1,750,0001., making its ad vance to Government 10,125,0271., while its capital was only 8,959,9951. Shortly after, the Bank received two pay ment,s, amounting to 1,275,0271., reducing the advance to 8,850,06,9/. But shortly after it advanced on lottery, under the Aet 2 Geo. 11., c. 2, 1,250,0001., making the ad vance 10,100,0061: " In 1742 the Bank advanced 1,600,0001., and its charter was extended to 1764. Its capital was further augmented at this time in the sum of 840,000/., and afterwards, in 1746, in the sum of 980,0001., the Bank agreeing to cancel Exchequer bills to the amount of 986,800/. ; the amount of advance being in 1746, 11,686,800/., and of capital, 10,780,000/. " In 1749 Parliament exacted a reduction of interest on the loans of the Bank to Government. " In 1764, a further advance of 1,000,000/. on Exchequer bills was made, and the charter renewed till August 1,1786. In 1781 the Bank was allowed to increase its capital 8 per cent., 862,400/., making its capital 11,642,400/. ; and its I charter was extended till August 1, 1812. But at the same time it was required to advance 2,000,0001. at 3 per cent. for three years. "In 1800 its advance stood at 14,686,800/., and its capital at 11,642,400/. Then its charter was further extended to August 1, 1833, for which the Bank advanced 3,000,000/. without interest, for six years. " In 1816 a further sum was advanced to Government of 3,000,0001., making the aggregate advance at that time 17,686,000/., the Bank being allowed to add to its stock 25 per cent., 2,910,600/. out of the accumulated profits ; so that in 1832, when the question of the renewal of the charter was under consideration, and the Committee of Se crecy was appointed, the capital was 14,553,000/., and the advance to Government was 17,686,000/. " This rapid sketch and the evidence of the Bank officers, and of bankers, and brokers before the Committee of Secrecy in 1832, demonstrates beyond question that the notes of the Bank of England have never been the representatives of coin and bullion ; that its only means of providing for pay ment of its notes, beyond the small portion of specie retain ed in Bank for this purpose, viz., one third or less of its cir culation, is by forced sales of public and private securities in its possession : that however such sales may be effected on some terms in ordinary pressures upon the Bank, ori ginating in drains of coin and bullion for mere purposes of trade, yet in political panics, when coin and bullion is sought for the purpose of hoarding, or from distrust in the stability of Government, or in extraordinary drains from other causes, the Bank has no power to sustain the credit of its notes, and can have no relief against such pressures but in suspension of all payments of specie under the protection of Government." The author then proceeds to make some remarks on the monetary affairs of the United States, anticipating the immediate adoption of a system of currency in that country which will compel us to resort to a simi lar plan in self defence. The Americans, he argues, are without any national debt ; the treasury contains ten millions sterling in coin and bullion, and a like sum may be annually accumulated from duties on fo reign merchandise. With this capital, a national bank may be formed, issuing treasury notes, not payable in money, but receivable in payment of Government dues, and of debts to the Bank. A branch would of course be established in each State for the purpose of equal izing the exchanges, as well as accommodating the citizens at a low rate of interest. The coin and bullion, which he supposes might in a few years amount to fifty millions sterling, would never be withdrawn ; and the Treasury notes thus- issued, being the true representatives of the precious metals, would, he con ceives, " form a circulating medium, perfectly stable, and eventually adequate to all the monetary wants of that republic, in war as well as in peace." After stating the effects which the establishment of such a system in America would produce on our mo netary system, the author proposes his own plan which we give in his own words. How far it would be prac t'cab e we shall not take upon us at present to say : " Why may not England adopt a monetary system in some respects like this ? Why may not this richest and most powerful country in Christendom expand its resources to have, as Rothschild avers she may, ' the trade from the whole world ?' She has only to establish a stable circulating medium, capable of self-expansion to the utmost limit of rational prospects of gain. " This may be done, and without infringement on the privileges of the Bank of England. A measure may be adopted in Parliament which that Bank will rejoice to ac cept, as an amendment to its charter. " Let an Act of Parliament authorise the Bank of England to receive in deposit coin and bullion, and from the same depositor an equal amount in Government stocks, and thereupon issue a new emission of Bank notes, not pro mising to pay specie, but pledging the Bank and the Go vernment to receive the same in payment of all debts and dues to them respectively, and binding the Bank to pay the amount in specie if ever the Bank or the Government should refuse to receive them in payment accordingly—the amount of such Bank notes so to be issued being one hundred and fifty pounds for every one hundred pounds of bullion, and one hundred pounds of stock so deposited. The depositor or his assigns to receive the interest, on the stock, through the an d stock Basaink, until the stock be redeemed by Government, :El th b e a d nek p redeem the whole cent. at the Bank, in " name of the Bank, the depositors or their 3l3 notes,os:tor the will have Go received vernm e nt shall fifty per have cent. rig o h n t his to " Let the Act of ege on as aa p s a ps y ilg nie s n . t of the remaining fifty per specie or bank notes, at the option of of Government. The .stock to stand in the i vernmeni shall have • ht to Parliament.. further provide that the Go rig deposit coin, and bullion, and stocks from the :inking-fund on the like terms, one hundred and fifty pounds in bank notesfor every one hundred pounds of eoin and bullion, and receive and every one emn a THE SUN. LONDON, WEIJNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1837. pounds of stock •so Ndeposited. It, is plain the Govern ment may thus realize an annual bonus of fifty per cent. upon its revenues ; applicable among other objects to the redemption of the depositors' stock, who, on receiv ing fifty per cent. more from Government will have realized the full amount of their just dues, and yet Go vernment will have actually paid for it only fifty per cent. in this new circulating medium. A circulating medium, it may now be observed, more stable than coin and bullion, hocanse this can never he withdrawn from the place of its deposit so long as the Bank of England and the Government will receive the new emission of Bank notes in payment of dues to them respectively ; for these Bank notes will be in fact the representatives of specie, coin, and bullion, and Govern ment stock to a greater amount than their face by 331 per cent. ; and whenever refused by the Bank or Govern ment in payment, they will become instantly demandable at the bank in specie. They should be issued at the lowest denominations, say from ono pound to one thousand, so as to circulate most extensively among the whole people of England, as their circulating medium. The more exten sive its circulation the better. " The provisions of this Act might be extended to the Bank of Scotland, and the Bank of Ireland, and the Bank notes of each may be made receivable in like manner by all at their respective banking houses, and by Government i❑ every part of the three kingdoms. The same system may be extended to the colonies. " It will be perceived that a circulating medium thus constituted, will expand with the wants of the money mar ket, whenever money is rising in value, because the holder Of coin and bullion and of stocks, by making his deposits of bullion and stock, will realize an interest on the invest ment of his bank notes to the amount of one hundred and fifty pounds of principal, instead of one hundred pounds, besides his interest on the whole of his stock. Here then is motive enough for all capitalists, large and small, to deposit their specie and stocks, and thus aug ment the circulating medium of the country. And this augmentation will go on steadily advancing with the wants of trade, subject to no decrease nor contrac tion. Over-trading' will cease to be denounced as a cause of scarcity. The whole community never over trade, and the small portion of them that do will suf fer for their own errors, without involving the prudent and discreet in their calamities. " Adverse foreign exchanges,' drains of corn and bul lion to foreign markets' political panics,' and the host of causes to which the Bank of England in its efforts to do its best in trying emergencies, and from a natural wish to keep its own imbecillity unblamed, has been forced to denounce as the causes of scarcity, will be reproached no more. The Bank of England will never be subject again to a run for its bullion, but will become, with the Banks of Scotland and Ireland, what perhaps it should have been before, —an effectual instrument of providing and sustaining a stable and adequate circulating medium for the Empire. " The operation of this circulating medium, as a means in the hands of Government to reduce the National Debt within convenient and useful limits, is quite too apparent for elaborate explanation. The Government acquires by this system a bonus annually equal to 50 per cent. on its revenues, and with this 49.11 purchase annually the double of the amount in stock (timed by depositors in the Bank. The Government may At its own convenience purchase bullion to the amount 1,000,0001., and pay for it out of the notes received from the Bank, and retain 500,0001. for use in any way, having deposited 1,000,0001. of old stock. What makes tkia sotem perfectly effective to this extent is the provision that the coin and bullion which this circulating medium rapressnots, can never be withdrawn from deposit." The whole of the French Papers of Sunday have been received ; Monday's raails are due, but the state of the road continues to prevent their regular arrival. On Saturday the Chamber of Deputies proceeded to the election of the Committee charged with drawing up an answer to the Speach from the Throne, when Ministers were so forttntate as to obtain a decided majority. M. THIERS f however, was himself elected, and no doubt will employ all his eloquence to infuse a spirit into the address, calculated to raise the spirits of his already desponding supporters. Ministers are much stronger than they expected to be before the opening of the Chambers. MEUNIER'S ill-directed shot was a most lucky affair for them. It threw the Chambers eff their balance, and sealed the lips of the few who came prepared to assail the conduct of the Government. According to the Nouvelle Mi nerve, the late attempt to assassinate the KING has given birth to a variety of the most extra vagant projects. Every visitor at the chateau considers the fabrication of some new plan for the safety of the KING'S life as an indispensable piece of court etiquette. The one most in vogue with Minis ters is the appointment of the Duke of ORLEANS to a participation in the Government of the kingdom during his father's life. By associating his Royal Highness with his august parent, on the throne of France—the Cxsar of " the best of all possible Re publics !"—Ministers would very prudently and saga ciously provide against the worst. This, doubtless, would be a great consolation to the KING, who would thus be flattered by seeing the few obstacles that stand in the way of his being shot entirely removed. But looking at the question in a rational point of view, what would be the inevitable consequence of such a step ? The Duke of ORLEANS would adopt the line of policy followed by Louis PHILIPPE since his accession, and clearly chalked out for the future, or he would not. If he would, the next assassin would arm himself with two pistols instead of one ; or else ALIBEAUD and MEU NIER would fire together, instead of at intervals of months' duration. If his Highness would not follow hi s father's course of policy, a struggle would ensue, which would terminate in the forced abdication of one or the other, if not in the expulsion of both, by the nation. We are merely reasoning upon the report of a project which we are aware has been talked of in the hearing of members of the Royal Family, but which, neverthe les, we are almost confident will never be carried into effect. The philosohical M..GUIZOT has of late been try ing to rival M. PERSIA in the good graces of the Royal Family. The Ministerof Public Instruction is, however, no match for that incomparable Court-LISTON, the Mi nister of Grace and Justice. M. GUIzoT has attached himself to the QUEEN, to whom he delivers lectures on all manner of subjects. PERSIL, on the contrary, keeps close to the KING anti the male members of the Royal Family. The Queen of the FRENCH, greatly to her ho nour, takes no part in the political intrigues of the Court. Her MAJESTY eschews politics in every shape, con tenting herself with the discharge of those duties which properly belong to persons of her sex and exalted station. Never was There a more amiable, or less ambitious woman, than- the illustrious consort of Lours PHILIPPE. There is therefore no hope for M. GutzoT in this quartac„ and we are confident that so very little cares the K v& for his philosophy, that he will dispense with his services at the earliest oppor tunity. There is no other news of any moment in these papers, save what will be found in our extracts from them. The news of the relief of Bilboa. by General ESPARTERO was conveyed to Paris by telegraph on Saturday. Don CARLOS is reported to have fled from Durango to Villafranca. On Sunday, being New-year's day, the King of the FRENCH received the congratulations of the Ministers, the Officers of the Royal Household, the National Guards, and the whole of the Foreign Ambassadors. Four Paris Journals, the Siecle, the Temps, the Courrier Francais, and the France, have bee❑ seized at the Post Office, for violations of the laws of Sep tember, which forbid the introduction of the KING'S name in articles on political topics. Two of these were seized on Saturday. Want of space prevents us from taking further notice of this scandalous violation of the liberty of the Press and of the subject, to-day. We shall, however, not remain long silent. A numerous meeting of an association of merchants connected with the East India and China trade was held at the Jerusalem Coffee-house, Cornhill, yesterday, for the purpose of receiving the report of a committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of extending our commercial relations with China, and opening a communication with India by means of steam naviga• tion. The report was favourable to both these objects, and entered at great length into details calculated to show that our Government need only adopt a firm, de cisive line of policy, to enable our merchants to gain a respectable footing in the great trading towns on the coast of the celestial Empire. With respect to the communication with India by way of the Red Sea, the committee considered the project as worthy of the cordial support of the society. Possibly we may return to this iinportant. subject. EAST INDIA HOUSE.-(THIS DAY.) A General Court of Proprietors of East India Stock was held to-day ; Sir J. R. CA rtNAc in the Chair. The CHAIRMAN acquainted the Court that it had been made special for the purpose of submitting for confirmation the resolution of the General Court, held on the 21st of December, approving the resolution of the Court of Direc tors, granting to Sir John Campbell, late Envoy from the Government of India to the Court of Persia, a pension of 4001. per annum, on the grounds therein stated. The resolution was carried ; and there being no other business, the Court adjourned. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) DEAL, JAN. 3. —Wind N. N. W.— Arrived the Hoop de Boer, from Bremen ; and Triton, Connell, from Belfast. Ar rived from the river the London, Lamb, for the Cape of Good Hope ; Unity, Gater, for Rio Janeiro ; George, Brown, for Demerara ; Woodbridge, for the Westward, and remain, with the Margaretha, for Batavia. Passed through the Downs on the Ist instant the Sarah and Elizabeth, Dennison, Sydney. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 3. —Wind W. N. W.—Arrived the George Canning, Krabb, from Hamburg for Valparaiso ; and Ranger, Dring, from London. Sailed the Cambrian, Dring, for Hull. LONGROFE, JAN. 2.—Arrived the Rankin, Mitchell, and Nancy, Rogers, from Quebec. LONDONDERRY, JAN. I.—Arrived the Oak, Ritchie, and Pandora, Banks, from Riga. FRITII OF FORTH, Dac. 31.—Arrived the Patriot, Denni son, from Riga. KIRKALDY, JAN. I.—Arrived the Hotia, from Riga. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 2.—Wind N.W.—Arrived the Grace, Higgins, from New Orleans; Chieftain, Stephen, from Que bec ; Deborah, Start, from Newfoundland ; and Frederika, Knall, from Dantzic. GRIMSBY, JAN. 2.—The Reopdale, Tucker, got off the mud the 31st ult., after discharging part of her cargo. Hum., JAN. 2.—Arrived the Alexandria, Vagt, Wismar. RAMSGATE, JAN. 3.—The Amanda, Batland, from Gamla Carlby to Leghorn, having struck on Smith's Knowl the 26th ult., and lost her rudder, has been towed into the Gull stream. The Edward, bound to Boston, is condemned at Cork. THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. A meeting of the merchants and others interested in the East India and China Trades, was held yesterday to re ceive the Report of the Committee of the Association formed last year, to protect the interests of those concerned. The Committee submitted the expediency of sending out a commercial agent, or consul to Canton, with judicial functions, with the view of preventing the infraction of Chinese laws, and that all the power and servants of the East India Company should be withdrawn ; that domiciles should be obtained at Canton for British merchants and their families. Lord Palmerston, in a letter addressed to the Committee, stated that the suggestion would meet the due consideration of his Majesty's Government. Our only arrival this morning is one French mail—one due ; two Hamburgh are due. No ship-letters. THE FUNDS. Consols, which left off yesterday at 90 for the Opening, opened this morning at the above quotation, soon after they receded t0.89i 90, at which price they are at present; Reduced 88n ; Exchequer Bills 26 28 ; India Bonds 14 16 ; Bank Stock 209 210. In the Foreign Market Spanish Active has improved, owing to the confirmation of the relief of Bilboa ; left off at 24—at present 24i- ; Passive 6/ 7 ; Deferred 81 4 ; Portuguese 46 47 ; Three per Cents., 29 30 ex. dividend ; Dutch 21 per Cents., 54; ; Colombian 27i 28 ; Mexican 264 27 ; Brazilian 84 86 ; Chilian 43 45. HALF-PAST ONE. Consols, which were in the morning heavy, at 89i for the opening, have resumed a better appearance, and may be quoted at 90k. Reduced, 89 ; Exchequer Bills, 26 ; India Bonds, 16 13 ; Bank Stock, 209. In the Foreign Market Spanish Active has reached 254 ; Passive, 6i ; Deferred, 10-1- ; Portuguese, 48 ; Three per Cents., 30:1 ; Columbian, 28 ; Brazil, 87 ; Dutch, 54i ; Spanish dividend Debentures, 44. THREE 0' CL 0 CK. Consols for the Account, 90. On Thursday last the Hon. Sidney Herbert and Colonel A'Court drove into this city in a sledge drawn by a pair of horses.—Salisbury Journal. Theodosia Dowager Viscountess Powerscourt died of scarletina, at the residence of her step-son, Lord Powers court. The Monmouthshire colliers, who were standing out for an advance of wages during the last three weeks, are again at work, and coals may now be bad at Newport, as usual.—Cambrian. The measure adopted by Mr. Bunn at Drury-lane Theatre, in reducing the prices to the level of the minor houses, has succeeded beyond expectation—at least if crowded houses are any criterion. Whether the receipts at the lower prices leave a surplus after the payment of the expenses is another affair. The first meeting of the Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs for the season, was held yesterday evening at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, the Rev. F. J. Stainforth in the chair. The specimens exhibited were of an interesting character, being one of bunzea elegans, a dwarf variety of beautiful habit, and Mr. Chandler also had a seedling chrysanthemum of very beautiful form, which he named heal perfections. Several members were ballotted for and others proposed for election, and the meeting ad journed to January 19, when the anniversary dinner of florists and gardeners will be held. A somewhat novel exhibition was witnessed in White haven harbour, on Monday noon, to wit, that of a gentle man belonging to the theatre sailing in a washing tub drawn by two geese! The web•footed towers did not seem to relish their harness, and even though in their proper element re fused to move, save a yard or two immediately after the unsightly vessel was launched. The crowd of spectators was immense. On Tuesday last, an inquest was held at Waltham Abbey, on the body of Rosetta Culver, the daughter of a labourer, who died from fright. Extract of a letter from Calais :—" The quantity of snow which has fallen is prodigious, far beyond any that we have experienced for many years. Some of our streets are covered with it to the depth of several feet. At the north of the rue Royale an immense white barrier has been raised by the drifted snow, so as completely to blockade the houses. But this is trifling compared to the state of the surrounding country. Between Boulogne and Calais, the accumulation of snow on the road, in several places, is so vast that all communication has been cut off for two days. The esta fettes, diligences, and waggons, have been compelled to stop. It is said that at the bottom of the bill of Saint Inglevert, at the place called La Muraille, the snow is eight feet deep ; and further on, at the Pont de l'Assassin, near Leulinghen, there are twelve feet of snow. The diligence which started from Calais on Monday could proceed no further than Haut Buisson, and the passengers returned to Calais on foot. The same day, the two estafette mails, one coming from Paris and the other going back, were stopped by the same impediment, and neither of them being able to advance with their carriages, the couriers exchanged bags, and each re turned the way he came. One hundred men are employed in cutting through this immense mass of snow, and our com munications to the south have been again opened, the car riages and other conveyances passing between two walls of ice. We are fortunate in not having any serious aecident to deplore." Though water expands with so great a force by heat, its expansive power is still greater in freezing, for there is nothing in mechanics can resist it. The cause is, the diversion from its figure in its fluid state. Water, says Sir Isaac Newton, when pure, is a highly fluid salt, in form com posed of minute globular particles ; now, it is a well known fact that no figure contains so great a quantity within super ficies as the globe. Water in freezing is diverted from its globular form, and assumes figures composed of planes and angles of various degrees—consequently it occupies a greater space, which is shown by ice floating. _ _ The actuary of a savings bank, in the neighbour hood of Fitzroy-square, has invented a machine for expedi tiously and accurately calculating the interest due to depo sitors, the value of which may be deduced from the following particulars :—The accounts open on the 20th Nov., 1835, were 2,421, and occupied the late actuary four weeks. The accounts open on the 20th Nov., 1836, were 2,733, and oc cupied the present actuary only 74 hours. An opinion may be formed of the assistance given by the machine, from the following detail of the minutia 3 necessary to arrive at the ma terials for the annual return required from savings banks by the Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt. The time taken to calculate the interest to 2,734 accounts —to enter it in the ledgers —to make the additions—to rule the lines—to take out each account under its proper classification—and to take out the folios of 4,192 closed ac counts, amounted to 74 hours, making an average of 94 hours fer each of the eight ledgers, or 90 34-37 accounts per hour. CRNTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. THIS DAY. OLD COURT. Mr. Justice Park, Mr. Baron Alderson, and Mr. Justice Pattison, are the Learned Judges named in the Commission for the present month, and at 10 o'clock took their seats on the bench. Wm. Primer was indicted for stealing one sovereign, three half-sovereigns, two sixpences, with violence from the person of Peter Ludwell. The prosecutor said he resided in Bermondsey ; on the 10th of December he was going home ; he was not drunk, though he had been drinking. Two men met him in Nel son-street ; one held him, while the prisoner put his hAnd in his trowsers pocket, and stole a sovereign and other monies which were in a purse. Witness said, " You ras cals, you are robbing me." The prisoner struck him, and knocked him down. There were three gaslights near, and he was quite certain that the prisoner was the man. Mr. John Nichols was in Nelson-street on the night in question, and saw the scuffle, and the last witness knocked down. In consequence of what the prosecutor told him, he pursued the prisoner, who was running away. He over took him, and took him into custody. He bad then some money in his hand, which he dropped. A policeman came up, end witness gave him into custody. The policeman corroborated this testimony, and picked up three half-crowns and two sixpences on the spot. The sovereign was not found. The prosecutor identified the purse ; he had no doubt of it. The prisoner contented himself with denying the whole statement made against him. He had been in a public house where there was a row. Two men had been taken away, and he was running up to the station-house to see if they had been detained. Mr. Baron ALDTRSON, in summing up, passed a high eulogium upon the conduct of Mr. Nichols upon the occasion. The Jury instantly found the prisoner Guilty. Two mere boys, named Barthwith and Thomas Sher win, were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house of Charles Colliner, on the night of the 31st July last. The prosecutor's daughter said, on the night in question she and her father went to church, and left the house, on Deptford-green, well fastened up. On their return they found a pane of glass had been taken out, and a watch, value 21., two gold rings, a pair of earrings, and 21. I Is. Gd. in money, had been stolen. James Wiley, policeman, went and examined the pre mises. He was certain that the pane of glass had been taken out by a person of very light weight. He appre hended Sherwin. Sergeant Ludwell also assisted in taking Sherwin for this and another robbery. On going to the station-house he said he had nothing to do with the robbery himself. Barth with got in at the window, and took all the money and things, and only gave him 2s. Bd. out of it. He had not made either threat or promise. The constable of Deptford took Barthwith on the 6th of August. He said always, " Take Sherwin—it was him who did it." A little boy, named John Dooly, only 11 years of age, was sworn, and deposed that he was near the prosecutor's louse ; he was playing with some other children, and Barth with gave him two cherries to go away, and take the chil dren with him. He went away, but saw Barthwith getting over a wall to Mr. Colliner's house. Sherwin was with Barthwith. He did not see them after. Mr. Justice PATTISON recapitulated the evidence, and the jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners, whose ages were stated to be only 14 John Charles Hackney,a very respectable-looking young man, was indicted for feloniously forging and uttering an order for the payment of the sum of 8/. 11s., with intent to defraud Mr. Miskin, a surgeon in Newington. Mr. Bennet, a wine and spirit merchant of the Walworth Road, said he had known the prisoner as an assistant to Mr. Miskin. On the Bth December prisoner called upon him with a letter, purporting to have been written by Mr. Miskin, and enclosing a cheque for which he was in want of money. The prisoner said Mr. Miskin was attending a lady, and might be long engaged. He gave him Si. 1 ls., as he thought the cheque was genuine. Mr. William Miskin said the prisoner was in his employ ment for about six months previous to last July, when he left him. The letter produced was not in his handwriting, nor was the cheque. They were both in the handwriting of the prisoner. Witness had never given him leave to write for him, or to sign any cheque. Cross-examined—While in his service he had conducted himself much to his satisfaction, and was most respectably connected in Staffordshire. Witness was aware that the prisoner had got involved in difficulties, and was pressed for money. Mr. DOANB, for the prisoner, said the case was so clear that the verdict must go against him. In fact, the unfor tunate young man wished to have pleaded guilty, but he had been advised to take another course, in order to see if there were any extenuating circumstances. He trusted, that if the jury found there were any such, they would ac company their verdict with such a recommendation as might be useful to the prisoner hereafter. The jury found a verdict of guilty, -and were about to recommend the prisoner to the mercy of the Court, when Mr. Justice PARK said it was his duty to inform them that there was another case of a similar nature against the prisoner. As there was a disposition to recommend, the other case must be proceoded with. As a Judge, it was his duty to forward the whole of a case to his Majesty, when he forwarded the recommendation of a Jury. The prisoner was again indicted for uttering another forged cheque for W. 6s. 6d. to Mr. Punalove, of Oxford street. The circumstances were the same as in the pre ceding case, only that the prisoner represented himself as the nephew of Mr. Miskin, and that the money was wanted to take him to Oxford. Verdict—Guilty. Mr. CHAMBERS was instructed by the prosecutor to re commend the prisoner to mercy, on the ground of his pre vious good character, and as he had good reason to believe that the young man had been made a dupe of by older persons. Mr. Justice PARK said the law was imperative —the crime of forgery must receive the sentence of transportation for life. By an old statute, however, the Judge had the power to award previous imprisonment. He intended to take that course here, and would instruct the Recorder to give two years imprisonment in the Penitentiary, and then transportation for life. If his conduct was good while under confinement, it was then in his Majesty's power to remit the transportation. NEW COURT. John Woodcock gas indicted for stealing, on the 15th o December, nine pounds weight of mutton, the property of James Houlton. The wife of the prosecutor stated, that on the day named in the indictment she observed the prisoner, in company with his son, lurking about her husband's (a butcher) shop, in Rosemary-lane, Whitechapel ; that having gone away for a few minutes, on her return she missed a shoulder of mutton, and search being made b y a police man i t was found in Woodcock's house, a part of it at the moment being pre pared for dinner. The prisoner, in his defence, said he bought the mutton from a butcher in Newport-market. In proof of character, he mentioned having worked for many years as a labourer in the Tower.—Guilty. James Kerridge was indicted for stealing on the 19th of December, a handkerchief, value 3s. the property of Charles Pocock. In appeared, that the prosecutor finding his pocket picked, charged the prisoner with having done so, and found the handkerchief in his hand, whereupon he (Po cock) knocked him down, and a policeman coming up at the time he was given into custody. Guilty. Elizabeth Thomas, was indicted for stealing on the 9th of December, one spoon value 4s. a table cloth, and other articles, the property of Charles L. Smith, her master. From the testimony of Mr. Smith, it appeared that the prisoner, who was in his service, pawned several articles, and the pawnbroker's duplicates were found in her pos session. The prisoner, in her defence, stated that she had no in tention of defrauding the prosecutor, and was induced to pawn the articles from extreme distress, resolving to re deem them in a few days. " Guilty."—Recommended to mercy. William Stewart was indicted for steiling on the 23d of December one spoon, the value RN:, the property of Thomas Stollard. On the day named in the indictment the prisoner was called into the house of Mr. Stollard at Islington, for the purpose of removing some dust ; and, while there, he took away the spoon, which was placed on the table in the kitchen. It was subsequently found in his possession by a policeman.—Guilty. William Bagster was indicted for stealing on the 3d of December eight window blinds, value 165., the property of James Custon.—Guilty. Edward Rogers was indicted for stealing on the 23d of December, 271bs. weight of fat, value 3s. 4d., the property of Thomas Salter, his master. _ The prosecutor, it appeared in evidence, kept a butcher's shop in Lambeth ; and, on the 23d of December the pri soner sold the quantity named in the indictment. _ Mr. PHILLIPPS, for the defence, said the prisoner was allowed the fat as a perquisite ; his wages being only 2s.°6d. a week.—Guilty. Recommended to mercy, Lord Alexander Russell has joined the party at Baron's Court, in Ireland. Mr. G. R. Robinson, Member for Worcester, has left town for Brussels and Paris, intending to return at the meeting of Parliament, LONDON SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.) This morning these Sessions were held before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and Aldermen Farebrother, Lucas, and Wood. MISCONDUCT or A SHERIFF'S OFFICER.—Mr. John Wood, an attorney, residing in Falcon-square, complained to the Court that Walbanke, the Sheriff's Officer, had summoned him to serve on the Jury, the summons being directed to Mr. William Wood, who resided in Aldersgate street, in the same neighbourhood. As he did not attend the Sheriff's Officer carne, after the last sessions, with his follower, and brought a warrant of distress, which was read aloud by his follower ; and he (Mr. Wood) was told, that if his goods and chattels were not of the value of 101., he must take his body, and behaved himself in a very insolent manner. The Court called upon Walbanke to explain. He said that he had fallen into an error through a mis-direction, for which he was very sorry. Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER said the matter should be taken before the Court of Aldermen, when he might make the best defence in his power ; for it was quite clear, if be •ould use menacing language to a gentleman like the com plainant, he (Walbanke) would go to greater lengths, if he had entered the abode of poverty and want. SURREY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY. These Sessions commenced this morning, before R. HEDGER, Esq., an d a f u ll b ench of Magistrates. The calendar contains a list of fifty-nine prisoners, thirty eight of whom are charged with felonies, and the remainder with misdemeanours. The trial s that took place this morn inn-, were devoid of public interest. The Sir Edward Banks steamer has been fmzen near Rotterdam, which gav e r i se to a s i lly rumour that she had been lost at sea. There was a large concourse of skaters yesterday in the Regent's Park, where th e i ce was tolerably good, not withstanding the thaw. The Serpentine did not bear. The list of members of the Skating Club who assembled in the Regent's Park on Saturday did not include the name of Mr. Wallace, as he was not present upon that day, but he has been there since, and although not quite so active as he was some five and thirty winters past, was nevertheless observed to move with good effect. Yesterday morning William Kingham, one of the land officers of the Thames Police, who has been attached to that establishment as messenger and office-keeper for the last six years, died in the London Hospital from the effects of a severe wound in the throat, which he inflicted with a razor in the Waterman's Arms public-house, adjoining the Thames Police-office, on Saturday last. A letter from the frontiers of Poland, in a Frankfort paper, announces that several arrests had taken place at Warsaw, but not for any political reasons. The persons arrested are young men, and are accused of rioting at taverns. The Emperor of Austria is recovering, w a d d rove out before the 17th, for the first time since his ill'aess. It is not, we believe, generally known, that during Lard Melbourne's visit this shooting season at Mr. Coke's, of Holkham, his Lordship very narrowly tscaped being se riously injured, whilst out one day with a. shooting party, on M his gun, part of the shot accid entally came in contact with Lo r r . d Co A k i e e ' l s bo g u ro rn u e n , d s s. foo A t, n b e u p t h e fortunatelyvvof&r. Coke, h av i ng fi re d r the charge was nearly spent. TOLERATION I—The toleration of the spoiler to wards the despoiled ; continuing just as long as the latter does not attempt to withhold the booty !—There is an affinity of insolence in that word,—toleration. Men pro fessing to be Christians, indeed, tolerating the worship of God by a f e ll ow Christian , and c on t ent i ng t h emse l ves with merely taking, for their ow n use, a portion of his goods and chattels ! There is toleration for gambling-houses all over the metropolis ; for tea-gardens and open shops on the Sal..)- bath ; for gin-palaces in all directions ; for the thousands and tens of thousands of prostitutes who nightly defile. our streets and public ways with obscenity ; and the dir,senter has also toleration, and ought, forsooth, to be well con tented to pay for it. — Manchester Guardian. Three days have elapsed, and no London post has arrived! and y e t, tell it not in Gath, proclai m it not in the streets of Askelon, we are alive, and the world seems to go on much after its usual fashion. Tbs is all " passing strange." There is, in this, as the newspaper writers say, a wonderful coincidence of circumstances. The Tory m " snowed up" during a w h o l e S ess i on o f ajoty' Parliament, ri''a vas yet the Party still claims an existence. The world around us is snowed up—London is lost, Edin burghet we are mi g hty we ll i n h ea l t h , andab i o s u n n o d t in w g it i h n in sp h ir a i i t l a Cariisie JournaL EMIGRATION FROM CAITHNESS. ---Since the conclusion of the fishing season, 600 or 800 persons have left this neighbourhood. They are mechanics, labourers, &c., and their wives and children. The greater part have gone in search of employment to the ports and manufac turing towns south, while some have left for America.-- John o'Groat Journal. On Monday information was received at the various police-offices, that between the hours of 1 and half-past 5 o'clock on Monday morning the house of Mr. Booth, the Cross Keys, Broad-street, Lambeth, was robbed of a cash box, containing a 501. Bank of England note, a 40/. Bank of England note, and between 40 and 50 sovereigns. The cash-box was afterwards found in the dusthole, quite empty. On Tuesday, an awful instance of the uncertain tenure of life occurred at Bradford. About noon on that day, Mr. Willett was suddenly attacked by indisposition, and before five o'clock in the afternoon his mortal existence had terminated. On the day previous, in a neighbour's shop, on seeing the funeral of young Mr. Holmes pass, the deceased remarked, how true is that passage of Scripture, " in the midst of life we are in death."--Halifax Express. So general has become the custom of holding what are called " Social Tea Meetings" of the Teachers and friends of Sunday Schools in Sheffield, that every evening during this week the various schools in Sheffield, belonging both to Churches and Chapels, have respectively had their annual social assemblages. No accounts have as yet reached us as to the fate of the six unfortunate whalers which are bound up in the ice of the Polar seas. It is to be hoped, however, that some prosperous gale will yet disentangle them from these dreary regions of eternal snow, and waft them to the shore of a southern and more genial clime. No less than two hundred and forty lives are thus exposed to the rigours of an Arctic winter.--Glasgow Herald. Twelve quarts of very fine new potatoes were brought into Carlisle market on Saturday last. They were grown in the open air. On Sunday se'nnight a chimney of a house, at Southend, fell upon a bed, in which a Miss Bewett, l 9 years of age, was sleeping, and crushed her to death.— Essex Herald. The Bradford Reform Association, at their last meeting, determined to divide the borough into districts, and to institute a general canvass, to ascertain the real strength of the Reform party, and the opinion of the elec tors on the two proposed candidates, E. C. Lister and W. Busfield, Esqrs. The delegates have waited upon a great number of the electors, and the utmost satisfaction has been expressed at the result.—Halifax Express. Ciftc AsslA.—We learn from Tiflis that the Tcher kes, after a Council held at Soutcha, immediately attacked all the military positions of the Russians, who retired ...kit great loss into the small fort of Souhan-Kale, and into the entrenched camp of Souchouk-Kale. The Trans-Cauca sian Journal of Tiflis says, that " in consequence of the severity of the season, the outposts had withdrawn into the fortified places ;" but it is not the less true that the country of the eastern and southern Caucasus is now cleared of the Russians, and that the Tcherkes can now arm and prepare themselves against the Czar without molestation.— German Paper. CHRISTMAS.—Now hoary-headed winter, like a shivering pauper, with a freeze coat and a hurricane in hand, walks abroad.—Ladies, young and old, appear like the Hartz mountains, covered with furs.--The grateful perfume of roasting pippins fills the frosty air, some singing and others hissing, as is the wont in most musical meet ings. —The fields are glistening with snow, awaiting, like sheep, the coming of spring, to shear them of th e i r fl eecy covering.—Now, littl e c h ar i ty b oys , in leather very-smalls, run about presenting their pieces to the ad mirers o f calli graphy ; and Co c k neys l eave their counters, to present their pieces at little birds.--The fishmonger's lad leaves his. basket upon the banks of the Serpentine, and exerts 1,13 muscles in propelling a solitary skate.—Eaves-droppir, g i s at an end ! the drip being congelated to a fringe of i c i c l es . —G eo rge Barnwell is performed at the theatre':, to teach apprentices that, when they are in want of money, they must go to their " uncle's."—Cooks are up early, and plums suffer the martyrdom of St. Stephen ; and all show their politics by cutting up — pee/.—Gre,engrocers become bar barous; for after cruelly cropping hollies for the holydays, and misletoes, they—take their leaves.—Snow-balls and fancy-balls are to be met with in every quarter of th e t own . i —Young b uc k s an d o ld h orses appear n rough coats ; and the coaches are so laden with turkeys and game, that they seem as if they had all been through the Poultry, and run foul of each other.—Urchins from school come driven home. huddled together, like so many rams in a market -cart, with their horns sticking out on both sides.—Country dances are all the vogue, from the ball-room down t o th e twelve-foot square parlour ; an d, lik e sailors In a storm, its " all hands to the pumps" with the shoemakers.---Farewell, old Christ mas! May thy temples ever bo crowned with a snow wreath! May all English hearts be long delighted with Christmas gambols ! " Christmas gambles!" exclaimed m y old maternal aunt, as her ear caught the concluding words of my apostrophe ; " I am very sorry to hear that r. —The Humaricl4—.Arew ihronth.