The Sun. — London, England, 1846-12-24 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. The eminent PANTOMIME THEATRE, and the FIRST PANTO- MIME COMPANY. ON SATURDAY NEXT, DECEMBER 2G, Will be performed Balfe's Opees. entitled THE BONDMAN. Marquis de Vernon, Mr. Weiss ; Floreville, Mr. Rafter ; Morliere, Mr. Horncastle ; La Valliere, Mr. Galli ; Ardenford, Mr. Harrison ; Mal-a-Propos, Mr. Harley; Madame Corinne, Miss Romer; Grisette, Miss Rebecca Isaacs. After which will be produced the Grand Comic Christmas Panto mime, being a mixture of the historical and legendary, entitled HARLEQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. The Overture and Music composed by Mr. R. Hughes ; the new and ex tensive _Scenery by Mr. Grieve, Mr. Telbin, and numerous as sistants ; the Tricks and Transformations by Mr. Blamire ; the Ma chidery by Mr. R. Sloman ; the Dresses by Mrs. Bovey, Mrs. Balls, and a host of auxiliaries. The whole produced under the superin tendence of Mr. W. West. Scene 1. ABODE OF KALYBA, THE ENCHANTIESS.—Date and lo cality not exactly known, but considered by the Antiquarian Society to have been discovered " somehow or other," " some time or other," near " somewhere or other " Kalyba (the Enchantress, not by Balfe, mistress of all the elements, e xcept those of " Arithmetic," having quite miscalculated her power), Mr. H. Horncastle ; Fiends and Fu ries (illustrating a common expression of eech, with anything but a common expression of countenance), M sp essrs. J. W, Morgan, Burt, Connell, and H. Payne ; Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, (the four Ele ments, with a strong love of mischief), by Dealers in each ; the March of Intellect (travelling " in cog." as:" Young England," a true bit of British blood, by Intellect out of Industry, dam by Science, out of Perseverance, has never been beaten, and can be matched against anything), Miss Annie Payne.—How the March of Intellect pays a " flying visit" to Kalyba ; and how, being empowered by the Committee on National Education, he gives the old lady sudden no tice to quit, by as suddenly changing the premises to Scene 2. INTERIOR OF INFANT SCHOOL.—Schoolmaster, Mr. Big wig, who, at the request of his " Illustrious Visitor," gives the boys a half -holiday on tha occasion. Scene 3. F:XTERIOR AND BARRACAN OF COVENTRY CASTLE. The Earl of Coventry (Lord High Steward of England, and his own into the bargain), Mr. Mazzoni ; the Countess of Coventry (a good housewife, and supposed to have been the inventor of the ce*Orated " Coventry Cake"), Miss Haines ; Head Nurse (with a good character from her last place), Mr. Clieel • Master George (afterwards cele brated for a battle he fought with a dragon, but at present without any knowledge of " arms," except his nurse's), Miss Marks ; Masters Andrew, David. Patrick, Denis, James, Anthony (very youthful knights, but destined, with their " cousin George," to astonish the natives by and by as " The Seven Champions of Christendom"), Mas ters Coyle, Savell, Dix, Wel3h, Desborg, Francis.—How the youthful St. George is feted on his birth-clay—how he makes his" first," and nearly his " last " appearance in public on the occasion—how his " cousins " Andrew, David, Patrick, Denis, James, and Anthony come to s ish him many happy returns of the day—and how Kalyba shows her " love of children" by taking the " whole brood under her wing." Novice.—" Nothinge material to our historie" occurring during a period of fifteen years, the author trusts that the audience will al low him to cut it, and come again to Scene 4. KALTBA'S HOUSE OF CORRECTION !—St. George of Eng land (a rum'un to look at, but a rare'un to go), Mr. W. 11. Payne ; St. Andrew of Scotland, St. David of Wales, St. Patrick of Ireland, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy (all pretty much of the same kidney !) Mr. Heath, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Marks, Mr. Chapin, Mr. Sanger, Mr. J. Haynes.—How St. George and his brother champions (considerably grown since their last ap pearance in public) arc kept in durance vile, and on " very shOrt commons" by Kalyba—how Kalyba pops her affections on St. George, who " can't abide her"—in short, how—but wo won't anticipate— merely observing, that the upshot is the Downfall of Kalyba, and the Emancipation of the Seven Champions of Christendom ! Scene 5. DOVER Roans.—How the Seven Champions of Christen dom set out for their respective destinations—" the management having, in the handsomest manner," made special arrangements for that purpose with the various " Metropolitan Conveyance Com panies." Scene 6. BANKS OF THE NlLE.—Almanzor, King of Morocco (lilt own Lord High Admiral, Commander-in-Chief, &e., on his way to King Ptolemy's Court, to court King Ptolemy's daughter), Mr. T. Matthews ; Ptolemy, King of Egypt (rather a remote ancestor of Ibrahim Pacha, better known as Abraham Parker), Mr. Priorson. Moorish Sailors, Attendants on King Ptolemy, &c. How Almanzor came to Eigypt to be married—the Princess having a decided objec tion to their being " bound in Morocco ;" and how St. George, not Laving even " dipped" into the question of " lights," runs his steamer on shore, and saves himself on the funnel. Scene 7. GRAND HALL IN TILE- PALACE OF PTOLEMY THE FIRFT, KING OF EGYrT.—The Princess Sabra, Mr. Hance, about to be mar ried to the King of Morocco, hut patriotically devoting herself to the digestive organs of the Dragon (a gentleman, whose prodigious allowance of jaw enables him to speak for himself ), Mr. Wielund. How this " marriage in high life" ig suddenly interrupted by the Dragon, who, not only forbids the banns ; but elopes with the bride ; thereby plunging " her illustrious parents and several families of dis tinction at the - west-end of the town into the deepest affliction," &c. (vide Morning Papers), ROYAL PROC'LAMATION " Who'll kill the dragon? " Or me he shall gorge ; I, says St. George, I'll kill the dragon."—Old MS. Arming of St. George for the approaching Fight. Latest odds at the "Corner," 1,000 to I on the Dragon (taken). " May the best man win." Scene 8. THE DRAGON'S HAUNT IN THE DESOLATE VALLEY. How the Dragon introduces the Princess Sabra to his " country quarters ;" bow St. George follows on horseback (the railroad not being quite finished); how he and the Dragon fall in, and then tall out. The Battle (for particulars of which keep your eyes fixed on 31eisrs. Payne and Wieland). - How the result of the last round not only elevwes St. George to the " Crown" of Egypt and the " five shilling pieces" of England, but at the same time introduces the audience to Scene 9. GRAND HALL OF CIIIVALRY.—HOW St. George receives the " Battle Money" (alias the hand of the Princess Sabra). Re appearance of the March of Intellect. Introduction of Old Friends in New Characters. Harlequin.. • • Mr. Howell, I C10wn.... Mr. T. Matthews. Pantaloon.... • Mr. Priorson. Columbine Miss Hicks. Scene 10. DEALER IN CURIOSITIES AND IRONMONGER AND CUT LER'S SlloP.—lmproved Surgical Instruments. " Holding the mirror up to nature." " Families furnished" on a novel principle. A Jowl Report on the New Houses of Parliament. A fashionable complaint flies to the Clown's head. Scene 11. CORNCHANDLER'S SHOP AND GRANARY.—More ways than one of being "in clover." Specimen of the very best "Britannia metal." Plenty of "game" in high preservation. Cabinet measures and corn measures. A lot of " chaff " in both. harlequin gives Clown " the sack." Abundant specimens of the New Tariff. Scene 12. SIAMESE VILLAS AND NURSERY GROUND.—" To be let, to gether or separate." Ethiopian Serenaders provided on the shortest notice. " Get out of the way, Old Dan Tucker," and make way for " patent elastic India-rubber boots." Effects of " putting your feet In it." The Spanish marriage horticulturally illastrated. Spanish nut and Orleans plum. " A plague o' both your houses." Scene 13. TINMAN AND TAILOR'S SHOPS.—The original little Tin Kettle. Water always hot. A grate mistake. " Going out a shoot ing.' Grand Experiments in Gun Cotton, ending in an awful Catas trophe. Scene 14. INTERIOR OF BRITISFI AND FOREIGN TOY WAREHOUSE.— Toys for the Million. Magic Cards. how to " cut and shuffle." Jack In the Box and out of it. First-rate teem and turn out. ",See the Conquering Hero comes." Scene 15. TIIR STATUE As IT Is ; or, Wellington at Byde-park corner. Scene IG. TuE STATUE As IT WA , ; or, Wiellingtort at Waterloo. " Look here upon this picture, and on this." THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. B. Webster. sole Lessee. On SA TUMMY EVENING, Dec. 26, " ' Will be performed a new and original Drama,' called THE ROUND OF WRONG. Sir Arthur Foljambe, Mr. Stuart ; Lichen, Mr. Rogers ; Reuben Gwynne, Mr. Webster ; Ducks, Mr. Buck stone; Harwood. Mr. Howe ; Lady Charlotte Willoughby, Mrs. Clifford ; Mary Ryland, Miss Fr,rtescue ; Jenny, Miss iVoulds. After which the New Comic Drama of STORY TELLING ; or, Novel Effects. In which Messrs. Farrell, Buckstone, Mists felbin, aed Mrs. Humby wall appear. To conclude with (first time) an Original Grand Fairy Extrava ganza of the IN VISIBLE PRINCE ; or, the Island of Tranquil Delights. Principal characters by Mr. James Bland, Miss P. Horton, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham, Miss Reynolds, and Miss Julia Bennett. THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM. Under the Management of Mrs. Keeley. On SATURDAY EVENING Next. Will be performed a Drama, founded on the New Christmas Annual of Charles Dickens, Esq., and adapted to the stage (by the exclusive permission of the author, from the proof sheets) by Albert Smith, Esq., called THE BATTLE OF LIFE. Principal cha vacters by Messrs. Leigh Murray (his fourth appearance here), Turner, F. Matthews, F. Vining, Meadows, Keeley ; Mrs. Woollidge, Miss Daly, :Miss May (her fourth auearance here), Miss Grove, Miss Foster, and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with a :New Comic Pantomime entitled THE BUT. TERFLY'S BALL. Harlequin (Ist time), Mr. John Lauri ; Clown, Mr. J. W. Collier ; Pantaloon, Mr. Gough ; Columbine, Mrs. Laid. law ; Attendant Sprites, Masters. C. and F. Lauri. THEATRE ROY-AL, ADELPIII. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MADAME CELESTE. On SATURDAY EVENING Next Will be performed an original romantic Drama, called CO LOMBA, THE CORSICAN SISTER. Characters supported by Madame Celeste, Mrs. Yates ; Messrs. ,Wright, Worrell, Bedford 0. Smith, &c. Between the pieces the celebrated ENTORTILATIONISTS, Mr. John Lees and his three Pupils—the Masters Hanlons, will ex hibit their wonderful Jeux Gymnastiques. After which a grand Fairy Spectacle, founded on the Ballet of LA GISELLE, entitled THE PHANTOM DANCERS ; or, the Wilts Bride. Principal characters by Mr. Wright, Mr. P. Bedford. Mr. 0. Smith, Mr. Cullenford, Madame Celeste, Miss Marian Taylor, Miss Emma Harding, Miss Ellen Chaplin, and Mrs. Laws. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. J. M. Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager. ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, will be presented a Drama in Twe Acts, by Bayle Barnard, Evi., called BLANCHE DE VALMY. After which, (3d time) a new and original Musical Romance, entitled THE SEVEN MAIDS OF MUNI•:11 ; or, The Ghost's Tower. Col. Bertrand, Mr. C. Fisher ; Capt. d'Armincourt, Mr. Allen ; Capt. Bellejambe, Mr. Leffler; Lieut. Adolphe, Mr. Wynn; Cornet Grosdos, Mr. Compton ; Baron Bristlebach, Mr. Walton ; Bumps, Mr. Honner; Seven Maids of Munich, Misses Sara Flower, Rourke, E. Honner, flincks, Millar, L. Marshall, Laporte ; Uriel, Miss Marshall ; Madame Groutz, Mrs. Fogbroke. To conclude with (first time) an entirely new Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled The ENCHANTED BEAUTIES of the GOLDEN CASTLE ; or, Harlequin and the One-Eyed Genf. FRENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. John Mitchell. On MONDAY EVENING Next Will be performed L'ECOLE DES MARIS. Sganarelle, M. Carttgny ; Valere, M. Langeval ; Ergaste, M. Lucian; Artiste, Frere de Sganarelle, M. Dorgebret ; tin Commissaire, M. Masquil lier ; 1.7 n Notaire, M. Pagenier ; Isabeile, Mademoiselle Angele ; Eleonor, Madame Fouquet ; Lisette, Mlle. Thin. After which, LE PARRAIN. 31. Therand Rentier (Le Terrain), Perlet. To conclude with MONSIEUR PIQUE ASSIETTE. Plque- Assiette, Monsieur Perlet. Boxes, 65.; Pit, 3s. 6d. ; Stalls, 35.; Gallery, 2s. Doors opened at half-past Seven, and the performances commence at Eight. ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. It is respectfully announced that this evening being Christmas eve, there wil be no performance; but this Inimitable Entertainment will be resumed on SATURDAY EVENING NEXT, and continued every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday ; and, in compliance with numerous applications, they will give a GRAND MORNING PER FORMANCE on WEDNESDAY NEXT, commencing at Half-past Two o'Ciock.-- St. James's Theatre, Dec. 24. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AAIPIIITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. *Patronised by her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, Pri nce Albert, Prinee of Wales, and Royal Family. Grand Christmas Holiday Fetes. On SATURDAY next (Sexing-Night) a double rotation of Equestrian and Gymnastic Novelties. The "Demcn Horse ; or, The Twelve Wishes and the Charmed Bit." n or Neuparte, the great Dutch Bottle Equilibrist. On SATURDAY EVENING Next Will be performed a grand new Magical Equestrian Romance, en titled THE DEMON MORSE ; or, The Twelve Wishes and tl.e Charmed Bit. New and entire change in the SCENES of the CIRCLE. To conclude with the Grand Ghristmas Comic Fairy Pantomime, entitled THE FORTY THIEVES ; or, Harlequin and Ali Baba and the Robber's Cave. Clown, Mr. Rochez ; Harlequin, Mr. W. Har vey; Pantaloon, Mr. Laffarint ; Columbine, MissLoulsa Waite. Box-office open from eleven till live o'clock.—Doors open at six and commence at half-past six o'clock.—Stage Manager, Mr. W. Broadfoot. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessee, Mrs. Frances Davidge. On SATURDAY EVENING Next Will be performed an original Drama, entitled THE HAND OF CARDS—GAME, LIFE, STAKES, DEATH. The characters will be supported by the whole of the talented Company. To conclude with a grand fairy Pantomime, called TIIE KING OF THE CASTLE ; or, Harlequin in the Land of Dreams. Har lequin, Herr Deulin ; Pantaloon, Herr R. Dentin ; Columbine, Mdlle. Theodore ; Clown, Herr E. Dentin. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—The total number of deaths registered in the metropolitan districts during tho week ending Saturday, the 19th inst., was 1,262 —an amount, we regret to say, considerably above the average of the five last autumns, in which the mor tality stands as 1,000. Under the head of zymotic (epidemic, endemic, and contagious) diseases, the deaths (171) fall, fortunately, a good deal short of the autumnal average, but end er almost every other class of disease a ve ryve ea grea i ncrease of mo r t a li ty i s perceptible. Thus, e deaths from diseases of the brain and nerves were 181 for the week, while in the average they stand as 151; those fromaffections of the lungs and organs of respira tion amount to th e enormous number of 525 for the w eek, against 313 in the average; and those from dis the heart and bloodvessels to 52, aga i nst 29. eases of The deaths from violence, privation, cold, and intem perance, during the week were very near l y double the being 46 against 27. D ur i ng the autumnal avera ge , 3ii births were r eg i stered in the metro 58M chi* .•,.. ea c , an e , ss over th e mortality of skit 4 311 - r, ,,1 c 4 4 itily ' ~.. I a ~~ ~'7 r~ Now ready, at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., MRS; .-TROLLOPE'S NEW ROMAN CE. FATHER EUSTACE ; A TALE OF THE JESUITS. " This work will awaken eager curiosity in certain circles. It will strike people wi• h dismay ; it will confirm the creel of some, and disturb the opinions of others."—Atlas. Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Just ready, in 3 vols. post Bvo., price 11. I Is. Gd. MEMOIRS OF T HE LIFE OF GENERAL PEPE. Comprising THE PRINCIPAL MILITARY AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF MODERN ITALY. WRITTEN BY lIIMSELF. Richard Bentley, New Burlington. street. (Publisher in Ordinary to her Ms..!esty.) ILLUSTRATED TALE IN " THE MIRROR," Price Is. On January 1, 1847, Chapters I. 11., 111., and IV., of THE WILL; Or, LOVE AND AVARICE. An English Tale. By PERCY B. ST. JOHN. The Mirror will continue to be Edited by Mr. St. John, assisted by several eminent writers, and will be Illustrated in the first style of art by Hine, Archer, and Walmsley. Now ready, Vol. 1., new series, price ss. Gd. H. Hurst, 27, King William street, Strand. NEW ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY PERIODICAL. Price lid. ; stamped 2%d. If°WITT'S JOURNAL of LITERATURE and PROGRESS. Edited by WILLIAM and MARY HOWITT, supported by the first talent of the age. Early Nu nhers will contain articles by Leigh Hunt, Barry Cornwall, Dr. Soutlovood Smith, W. J. Fox, Miss 3litford, 3liss Bremer, It. 11. Horne, etc., etc. The First Number will appear on the Second of January. *** William and Mary Howitt have no further literary connexion with " The People's Journal." Published (for the Proprietor) at 171, Strand, corner of Surrey street. pORTSOK EN WARD. At a COURT of WARDMOTE, holden in and for the said Ward, before the Worshipful FRANCIS GRAHAM MOON, Esquire, Alderman, on Monday, the 21st day of December instant, and by adjournment, to the 22d and 23d Instant, for the choice of Ward officers for the year ensuing— It was unanimously resolved — That this Wardmote considers the privilege claimed by the Court of Aldermen to originate all ordinances, resolutions, &c., to amend the bye-laws intended for the good government of this City, and thereby interfering with the qualification of persons to be elected members of the Court of Common Council, is contrary to the spirit of the age, and destructive of the rights of free citizenship. That this Wardmote condemns the right of the Court of Aldermen to draw sums of money from the City's cash (further than for the due administration of justice) without the consent of the Court of Common Council, they (the Aldermen) not being subject to re-elec tion, and consequently irresponsible to the freemen of this City for the just expenditure thereof. That the thanks of this Wardmote be given to Francis Graham Moon, Esquire, Alderman, for his great attention to the public duties devolving on him as a magistrate of this City, for his kindness and urbanity to the inhabitants of this Ward, and for his able and impar tial conduct in the chair during the continuance of the Wardmote. That the best thanks of this Wardmote be given to George Wright, Esq., Deputy; William Christie, John Parker, Samuel Hawkins Jutsum, Thomas Carlyle Ifaward, John Danford, James Killby, and James Richard Thomson, Esquires, who have this day been re elected Common Councilmen of this Ward, for their services in the Court of Common Council during the past year, and the constant at tention paid by them to the comfort of the inhabitants, and the local interests of the Ward. That the foregoing resolutions, signed by the Ward Clerk, be in• - scrted In the usual papers. Dec. 23, 1846. WILLIAM MORSE BATIIO, Ward Clerk. RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE. MESSRS. LAAIOND and Co., RAILWAY :HARE AUCTIONEERS, beg to thank their Friend", and the Public for their continued support and patronage, to announce that their Public Sales or Railway Shares, &c. take place every TrEIDAY and FRIDAY, at One o'clock, at tin hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-street, London, to which place, favours, containing instructions (with a reference), are respectful') equested to be addressed. All Scrip and Share Certificates must be deposited, the day orevious to their being offered ; and advices of results will b. forwarded by the first post after the sale, ant the proceeds Imme diately disposed of according to instructions. °Mc , 9, Ilall of Commerce. Threadneedle-street. London. IHI WEATHEIL—SIIN OFFICE, DECF.3IBER 24. rUERMOMETEn, Lowest, 34; highest, 39; Noon, 33 BAROMETER, 29.29.—W1ND E., rain. HIGH WATER AT LONDON-RU[I)OE Tlllh DAY, Iforning .. 17 minutes after 4 I Evening .. 41 minutes after 4. •i•mo au - 04,1 e -. b u r • 3to•- _• AT:7— T c • R° SECOND EDITION. 'elatlting '7.: Ant LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1846 Incidentally the views of the present Government have been in a measure divulged with respect to the propriety, the advisability, and even the necessity for some national system of education. During the customary proceedings at a dinner given at York, on Tuesday evening, in connexion with the York . and Ripon Diocesan Board of Education, the Right lion. Chairman, Lord MORPETII, took occasion to raise a corner of that curtain which it is to be hoped will be altogether removed before the close of the ap• proaching session. After an apologetic assurance of his incapacity to enter fully into the consideration of the various local exigencies, on the plea of his being now " more confined to the streets of London than to the woods and forests, with which he is nominally associated," the Noble Lord very adroitly touched upon that grand question which has latterly engrossed so much of the public attention, and the settlement of which is anticipated from the wisdom and liberality of her MAJESTY'S advisers. The concessions, the principles, the acknowledgments, and the half pro mises embodied in the expressions uttered by Lord MORPETII will be peculiarly gratifying to the popu lation, as they will be regarded as an official assur auce that the moral and intellectual wants of the community will not be neglected by the Administra tion. More than this, the observations made on Tuesday evening by the Noble Lord, the Chief Com missioner of the Woods and Forests, will be devoured with peculiar avidity by the multitude as the 19th of January becomes day by day a more appreciable and conceivable " to-morrow." So long has the necessity for some State assistance to the education of the populace been apparent, so repeatedly has the aid of the Government been postponed, so numerous and con flicting have been the plans propounded, and so con tinually have the expectations of the public been disappointed by the dilatoriness of successive Cabinets, that anything like a mere announcement of opinion on the all-important subject seems like a perceptible step in the right direction, and is welcomed accord. ingly. Since the last election of Lord Joss RUSSELL as representative for the city of London, there has been no such definite exposition of the views of the Ministry upon the question of national education as that contained in the brief but satisfactory remai k 5 of the Noble Lord the Member for the 'West Riding of Yorkshire. With a very natural circumspection, Lord Mon- PETII deprecated any anxiety to extract from him any inferences or conclusions as to the ulti mate intentions of the Legislature. "I will not," he says, " encounter the topic as to how far the State ought to act—how far the State ought to move—or how far the State ought to stand aloof with respect to the education of the people: , That concealment of the machinery which has been, or is being constructed by himself and his colleagues, was indeed the only course the Noble Lord could pursue under the circumstances. It would have been miserably premature and marvellously inappropriate to expound the schemes of the Government in detail, or to commit the Ministry by any decisive declara tion. In making this reservation, however, Lord MORPETM very judiciously insinuated the readiness of the present Administration to meet the wishes of the people to a considerable extent. " I may per haps," he observed, " without incurring the imputation of great rashness, tenture to conjecture that the fittest course to pursue would be, not that which is indicated by an extreme view on either side of the case." In other words, we are not to anticipate from the Government any educational measures resulting from the dictates of party zealots or religious zealots, from fanatics or latitudinarians. That is unquestionably the declaration which might have been anticipated from a Russell Cabinet. That is precisely the prin ciple most in accordance with the present enlighten ment and with the present prostration of factions. The Legislature is neither to be influenced by the voice of passion nor by the promptings of indiffe rence. It would be equally monstrous to com mit the Department of Popular Instruction to the direction and discretion of Arts- CUARSIS CLOOTZ or of SOLOMON EAGLE. Bigotry would be as repressive and pernicious in its effect upon an independent people as the most frantic and mischievous infidelity; and anything at all border ing on either of those extremes would be found to be essentially prejudicial. Undue earnestness in behalf of anything dogmatic or conventional would exercise a baneful influence over the intellect and morality of the people, if it did not actually breed insubordination. Indifferentism would in like manner counteract all the advantages which might be otherwise experienced from a legislative interference. In a subsequent portion of his speech, Lord MOE.- PETII expressed himself yet more definitely. "With respect to the country at large," he exclaimed, " I am not satisfied with the exact state of things which prevails at present." That is IF 51 iredly emphatic and significant enough ! That is I i 1 tually an engagement that something will be done the present Government towards the amelioration of these mental wants of the populace, and this be es use a distinguished member of that Government has explicitly announced his dissatisfaction with the 'existing state of things. Lord MonrETH was not, however, contented with this simple declaration. He proceeded further. Ile enter into the minutiae of these national exigencies. "I think there is a call," said he, "for more schools than we have"—so much for the extension and diffu sion of education by the Ministry. " I think there is a call for better schools than many of those we 'have"—so much for the remodelling of the sys i'em or systems at present adopted before the I latter is embodied in a Ministerial propo si 'tion. Then, again, that little dissylable " many" ii nplies that good may be extracted from tI a systems of some; that all the schools at present :isting are not improveable in every particular ; and at advantageous clauses in the scheme to be here :. if ter introduced to Parliament may be drawn from 1 :perience, as well as suggested by Anticipation. " I think," he continues, " that many of oin r masters are ill qualified for their office; a n d almost all less well paid than we could wish"— t b at is tantamount to an engagement that the normal s.tools must undergo a thorough reformation. No t' li ing, indeed, could be wanting to inspire us with c o nfidence as to the intentions of the Ministry in re- E rd to national education after the lucid and c tl ndid enunciations of Lord Monrrru ; nothing cos ald be wanting to confirm our most sanguine ex stations of the principles likely to be sanctioned by ird JOHN RUSSELL, after these assurances from the )uth of the Right Hon the Chief Commissioner of h, U • Majesty's Woods and Forests. Not the least valuable portion of the harangue de axed by the Noble Lord on Tuesday evening was ti s 1 in which he directed his remarks to the children st it vrintended by the York and Ripon Diocesan Board ot! Education, in which he inculcated in graceful tot ms the holiness of probity, of purity, of industry, al ii I of morality ; in which he alluded to a a .t superb minster, which is not only the a, znment of the ancient city of York, but w I ich is one of the noblest architectural memo rials of England. " I hope," he said, "that you will ver look at its grey walls and massive roofs, tower- it i g as they do above the more humble buildings aund them, without remembering that you your s( A-es ought to aspire to rise above the grovelling c t res and the low passions of the life around yc u; and that you will never see the fi. it beams of the morning, nor the last h 3 es of evening reflected from its shining pyramids, or• its gorgeous traceries, without remembering that t} i are are still more exquisite proportions in the har rr e any of well-regulated affections, and that there are sr c ,sets still more valuable in an honest spirit and in a t veil-spent life." In upholding thus the cause of Ii erality, enlightenment,' and civilisation, and in Si a 'aking thus to the ductile intellect of childhood, L t , rd MORPETII is worthily employing one of the nci blest prerogatives of his rank and fulfilling one of hi loftiest duties as a Minister of the Crown. 'Destitution, and pestilence, and famine now reign in Ireland. At present their only active opponents art British wealth and British sympathy. The misery, ho'r wever, that now overwhelms that unfortunate cct untry does not spring from recent events, it has 0r , ,:1y been aggravated by them. If the true annals of It v2land be searched at almost any period during the la s t six hundred years, they will be found to afford, in the quaint language of Lord BELLAMONT, " a pf criodio record of progressive ruin." Living for ages up on the edge of famine, a slight increase of their usual misery has been at all times sufficient to pre ci i)itate myriads of the Irish people into that fearful During the reign of ELIZABETH, so prosperous for E c.gland, the Irish seem to have descended to an abrvss of misery deeper, if possible, than the present ; for " notwithstanding," saith the poet SPENSER, " the x+vince of Munster was a plentiful country, full of noun and cattle, yet they were brought to such w r etchedness as that any heart would rue the same. Oiut of every corner of the woods and glens they came ciloeping forth upon their hands, as if their legs could nut bear them ; they looked like anatomies of death, they spake like ghosts crying out of their graves ; they did eat the dead carrion, happy when they could find them—yea, and each other soon after, insomuch that the very carcasses they spared not to scrape out of their graves." Coming down to a later period, we find Mr. FITZ. GIY3BON, the grandfather of the present Lord CLARE', dee.cribing Ireland, in the year 1763, in the following ter ma :—" It is always with regret that I discover the nakedness of my country, but upon this occasion I ought not to hide it. Upon this occasion I must remind you that Ireland is not more than one-third poopled. This island is supposed to contain three trillions of inhabitants, and of these two millions lire like the beasts of the field upon a root picked out of the earth, almost without hovels for shelter, or clothes for covering. 'What method can be found to prevent the ruin of a state in which these evils not only continue, but increase ?" These evils have notoriously continued and in creased up to this very hour. Why have these evils so long existed in Ireland ? Why does the state of Inland differ so widely and so miserably from the state of England ? The reason is plain and undeni thle; it is because the laws—those great trainers and educators of nations—are different, and have always been different, in the two countries. Every one can point out active and immediate causes of Irish evils, but few will take the trouble of tracing them to their ultimate cause—the difference of laws, which we assert, without fear of disproof, to be the common origin of all the woes and agitations of Ireland ; for what, after all, have these agitations been but irregular efforts to redress injurious laws, resembling in this respect blotches upon the drunkard's face, which are only violent efforts of nature to remove the poison improperly admitted into the system. Holding this opinion as to the cause of the evils of Ire land—an opinion entertained, we believe, by nine -tenths of the educated inhabitants of both islands—we read with hopeful pleasure a report of an argument lately made, at an Irish court of registration, in which it was insisted, that under the articles of union with Ireland, all statutes attempting to establish a differ ence in civil rights between the two countries, are ipso facto null and void; and that, consequently, Ire land can obtain perfect equality in such rights by an appeal to the existing laws. We noticed this argu ment in a former article, and pointed out what would be the results of establishing its correctness. We resume the consideration of this argument, and shall here shortly consider what is the nature of the in strument commonly called the Act of * Union between Great Britain and Ireland, and by what law its pro. visions are to be tested. In the argument to which we allude, the origin, objects, and nature of the Act f Union are thus stated : " For some time prior to the year 18CO3 no power on earth (to use the words of the declaration of Irish rights) had authority to bind the people of this country, except the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. In that year a treaty was entered into and concluded, for the purpose of uniting the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland into one kingdom. This treaty is commonly called the Act of Union. This instrument is not, however a mere Act of Parliament, but a treaty—it is so expressly termed in the second paragraph of the fourth article, which runs thus:—' That such Act as shall be passed to regulate the mode by which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons to serve in the Parliament ~f the United Kingdom, shall be summoned and returned, shall be considered as forming part of the Treaty of [Lion.' No other Act of Parliament is styled a treaty. What is the me an i ng o f t h e word treaty ? It does not signify a law enacted by a governing body to bind its subjects, but it means a compact entered into between so-ordinate and sovereign powers. The co-ordinate and sovereign powers who were parties to the Treaty of Union sere the separate and independent kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, represented respectively by the King, Lords, and Commons of each kingdom. The Treaty of Union commences with the following recital : Whereas, in pursuance of his Majesty's most gra cious recommendation to the two Houses of Parliament in Great Britain and Ireland respectively, to consider of such measurs as might best tend to strengthen and to consolidate the connexion between the two kingdoms, the two Houses of Parliament of Great Britain, and the two Houses of Parliament of Ireland, have severally agreed and resolved that in order to promote and secure the essential interests of Great Britain and Ireland, and to consolidate the strength, power and resources, of the British empire, it will be advisable to concur in such measures as may best tend to unite the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland into one kingdom, in such ' manner and on such terms and conditions as may be es tablished by the Acts of the respective Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland. And whereas, in further ance of the said resolution, both Houses of the said two Parliaments respectively, have likewise agreed upon cer tain articles for effectuating and establishing the said purposes in the tenor following.' Immediately after this recital, the treaty sets out the articles of union, eight in number. These articles were first settled by the Irish Parliament, and sent to England as the terms and conditions upon which Ireland would consent to be united to England. England accepted these, conditions with some slight alterations. Ireland agreed to these altera tions, and confirmed the articles so ; altered. The ar ticles of union thus became matters of stipulation and bargain between the two independent kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain solemnly pledged herself to an exact observance of these terms and con ditions, and Ireland confiding in that solemn pledge, con sented to the union, which she w as a t th a t ,ti me f u lly competent to reject." The statements above quoted are no doubt histo rically true. The Act of Union is a treaty entered into between the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ire land, at that time sovereign and independent, and connected only by the golden link of the Crown ; the very nature of the instrument would prove it to be a treaty even although that denomination had not been affixed to it, as in point of fact has been done in the fourth article. A treaty is a common law enacted and ratified by two or more nations for the due execution of which each nation, party to the treaty, pledges itself to all the other nations parties to the same. The paragraphs or divisions Of a treaty are not termed sections, as in an Act of Parlia ment, but articles, and a treaty is said to consist of so ma ny articles. All these forms are observed in the Treaty of Union. It consists of eight articles, and the ratification of these articles was thus solemnly declared by the Le gislatures of Great Britain and Ireland :—" In order, therefore, to give full effect and validity to the same, be it enacted by the KING'S most excellent Majesty, by and with, &c. &c., that the said foregoing recited articles, each and every one of them, according to the true intent and tenor thereof, be ratified, confirmed, and approved ; and be, and they are hereby declared to be, the articles of the Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and the same shall be in force and have effect for ever, from the first day of January, 1801." And as if to mark a difference between the Treaty of Union and an ordinary Act of Parliament, and to intimate a superior and more lasting obligation, the Sovereign did not give his consent in the usual form of Le roi le vent, but on the part of the nation solemnly swore to observe it, by saying, " So help me GOD I will maintain this Act." The law of nations is the interpreter of all treaties. The law of nations may be cited and relied upon in all British courts of justice, for it is part of the law of England. In the case of TRIGUET and another v. BATH, 3d BURROWS, 1478, it was decided that the law of nations in its full extent is part of the law of England, and that the law -of nations was to be col lected from the practice of different nations and the authority of writers, such as GROTSUS, VATTELL, BARBEYRA C, BLNKERSHOEK, &c. To the test of the law of nations all questions of law arising out of the Treaty of Union must therefore come, and by the rules laid down in the law of nations the British courts of justice are bound to decide all such questions. That the Act Union is a treaty, and that the law of nations is its proper interpreter, thus appears to us to be positions altogether undeniable. We pro pose, in another article, to apply the test of the law of nations to the sixth article of the Treaty of Union, and to examine whether, according to the strict rules of law, that article can bear the interpretation at tempted to be given to it in JACKSON'S case; that is, whether that article extends to Ireland, as of right, all British civil privileges, and restrains the United Parliament from passing any laws which would de prive our Irish fellow-subjects of any civil rights privilege, benefit, or advantage that is possessed by the subjects of Great Britain, and thus affords to Ireland the means of acquiring every British civil right by an appeal to the ordinary legal tribunals of the country. At the adjourned Middlesex Sessions, which com menced last Monday at the Court-house, Clerken well, the Assistant-Judge, in the presence of a full bench of magistrates, addressed the grand jury upon two important subjects ; the first related to the insti tution of the grand jury ; the second to the impera tive necessity of taking some decided steps with the view of effecting the reformation of juvenile offenders. Upon the latter topic we have for a long time cordially concurrred in the opinion entertained by Mr. Sergeant ADAMS, and have frequently pressed its paramount importance upon the attention of our readers, But, upon the former, we differ very widely from the leaning which, as elicited by his recent observations, the mind of the Assistant-Judge evidently manifests in favour of the abolition of grand juries. His opinion seems to have been formed from the following considerations :—The fact, that a com mittee has been appointed to report upon several presentments made - by Middlesex grand juries, de claratory of their comparative inutility, regard being had to the nature of the charges brought before that Court ; the belief, that police magistrates had the fullest opportunity . of judging wh e th er th e charges preferred were pr i ma facie supported or not; the evil and useless system of bringing, 24 times every year, never less than 36, and frequently 72, gentlemen from their different localities ; and, lastly, the circumstance, that statements are often made be fore grand juries quite at variance with the original depositions taken before the committing magistrates. We except to very much of these several allegations ; but, even granting them all to be true, we deny them to be of sufficient weight to warrant the object for which they have been specifically enun ciated. In the first place, it would not be wise to attach much importance to the above-men tioned presentments of the grand juries, seeing that, if they were abolished, they would be freed from a duty which must necessarily entail some personal sacrifices ; and men are not unfrequently spurred on, from selfish considerations, to recommend changes in existing institutions, of either the origin, or present value for which, for the protection of the reputation and liberty of the subject, they may be in compar a ti ve ignorance, or upon which they have never been at the pains to bestow any deep reflection. The Assistant-Judge concedes that, " when grand juries were first established, they were a most important institution, to counteract any ten dency to despotism by the coroner, or to lessen the evils of popular excitement ; but that, at present, their appropriate sphere of utility seemed to be in the higher criminal courts." We answer, that to-morrow a man may be exposed to be harassed by the despotism of a coroner, or the pernicious effects of popular prejudice; and that as against the injury of continued persecution, to the accused, who is con scious of his innocence, the grand jury presents a powerful bulwark for his protection. The graver the offence imputed, the greater is the necessity for such an institution ; and we confess, therefore, we neither admire the discrimination of the Judge, in limiting the superior criminal tribunals as the only appro priate sphere for grand juries, nor can we extol the judicial perceptions of the several grand juries, who seem so ready to concede their " comparative inutility, regard being had to the nature of the cases brought before them," when, in the very last calendar, 65 of the 68 prisoners, whose names it contained, were charged with felony. Keeping in mind the heavy sentences to which persons convicted of felony are liable, we hope this country will never be without a grand jury to intervene between the prisoner and his threatened appearance in a criminal dock before a petit jury. We protest against a judge lamenting, in the presence of grand juries, the inconvenience to which they may be occasionally put by having to attend the sessions ; and we have no sympathy with men who grudge the time which they are herein called upon to devote to the public service. It is a duty, grave and humane, which they owe to the State. The protection which it is benevolently meant they should give to the innocent, overtaken, it may be, by adverse circumstances, speciously, and perhaps vindictively concatenated, which have led an ignorant, or weak-minded, or prejudiced magistrate, to commit him for trial—the like protection, which it is the solemn duty of every grand juryman, by a rigid and impartial investigation, to afford to a subject, thus unhappily placed, it may be his own lot to look for and desire, before the close of his life. It is all very well to observe that police magistrates have the "fullest opportunity " of decid• ing whether charges are prirnd facie borne out or not. The opportunity may be the best possible, but if the magistrate be incompetent. to avail himself of it, what becomes of its vaunted val ue? Country magistrates, taken as a body, are sha; n' afully unfit for the functions incidental to their office; and the indiscretions of the metropolitan are not so •". few and far between " as to sanction the abolition of tine " most important" insti tution of the grand jury.. Statements may be made before these bodies diffe sing considerably from those received by the magist !rates. These discrepancies may often be the result of a venial humanity. With the subsidence of the vari at is gusts of passion by which the mind of an injured pl tr ty may have been prompted to put the law in motion against his aggressor, and the subsequent knowledg ;e of marks of deep contri tion on the part of the ofl a nder, the prosecutor may be benignly disposed to SF iv e the prisoner from suffer ing further punishment ; nd thus, yielding to the pardonable errors of his rtat - ure (if such they be), be come the means of prevent ing the grand jury from finding a true bill. That, on the other hand, the ends of justice are defeate d by witnesses being tam pered with, and bribed I,y " hush money," may not admit of dispute ; but t his corrupt practice is not confined to witnesses befoft ; grand juries —it is noto rious that witnesses are, by , the like means, kept out of the way when they ought to be forthcoming at the trial itself. But would this constitute an adequate reason for abolishinglrial by common juries? Would it not at once be said that its advantages .far counter vailed the solitary abuse ? We give theTharne response to the project for sweeping away the venerable and valuable institution of the grand jury. We have so recently \written upon the desired reformation of juvenile delinquents, that it is unnecessary to dilate furtl er upon this subject at the present moment. Five hu udred of these youthful offenders, whose ages var 3 from seven to twelve years, have been committed to prison within the last twelve months. A boy was last week sentenced to six months' imprisonment, iwhich the Assistant-Judge intimated he would gladly have avoided passing, had the law left any other coui-w open to him. Shall this conflict between law and philanthropy be longer en dured ? Madrid papers to the 14th have arrived. Senor PIDAL, on the sec , xad election, has been re turned for Madrid, by 287 :against 214, the number of votes polled for the Marquis DE SOCORRO, the Pro gressista candidate. The manner in which the Count DE MONTEMOLIN has been, received in London has created a great sensation in the Spanish capital. Senor Mori had been clofeted for some hours with Senor BRAVO MURILLO ; the subject of the confer ence being, as is supposed a modification of the Cabinet. MADRID BOLSA, DEC. 14.—The Three per Cents. were done on the 14th at 3414 for cash ; the Four per Cents. at 21; the Five per Cents. a t 21* ; th e V a l es at ; the Debt without :Interest, at 6i. ; and the Coupons, at 191-. We have received the Paris papers of Tuesday. The affairs of Germany and of Spain are com mented on in these journals. The Courricr Francais thus describes the state of opinion in Germany, and the alarm prevailing there. We fear that the state ment of the Courrier, that the free states of Germany have nothing to hope for from official France, is but too true " The state of opinion in Germany seriously alarms the three Powers. That alarin betrays itself in all their official organs, whose diplomatic correspondents bitterly reproach the German press with making common cause with the French press. The petty states of the Confederation, menaced in their existence by the destruction of Cracow, look up to France for protec tion. They have, however, little to expect from that quarter, and they are told by the diplomatists of Vienna, that the protest of the French Cabinet, on which the Germans appeared to rely, had produced less sensa tion than even the English note.' Now, we know with what indifference Lord Palmerston, entirely preoccupied with the Spanish marriages, protested (hypothetically) against the incorporation of Cracow. We may judge from that of the tenor of the note -of M. Guizot. The Germans, consequently, have nothing to hope from official France. Still they hope, knowing well that a brave and humane nation is to be found behind a false and egoistical Government. Moreover, Germany has no choice left. All that badly balanced scaffolding, raised by the treaties of Vienna, threatens to crumble entirely under the states of the Confederation, shaken in their very foundation by the downfal of Cracow. None of them are sure of their existence for one day, being surrounded on all sides by predatory Powers. Upon what country should they rely in their imminent danger, if not upon France, the only supporter of democracy in Europe? Dreading the effects which French ideas still exercise in Germany, in spite of the pitiful attitude of our Government, Austria preaches a crusade against France. One day she asserts in the Austrian Observer. that we dare not accept war, and that were the Powers to share among th emse l ves axony and a.l the states of the Confederation, France would look on as she did in the case of Cracow. The next day.M. de Metter nich writes to the Augsburgh Gazette, that if France de termined on war it would be to absord Rhenish Germany, as she had lately absorbed Spain and Italy, as she pre viously absorbed Belgium, and we know not how many other imaginary countries. Behold M. Guizot and the Court of the Tuileries denounced to Germany—and by Austria!—for their extravagant ambition. Louis XIV. and Napoleon are outdone by our sublime Minister for Foreign Affairs, who must certainly wonder at himself, and perhaps consider himself bound to refute such an imputation. It is reported that the Germanic Diet will refuse to recognise the act of incorporation of Cracow. Germany, they say, ought to decline all participation with the three Powers in the political complications that may arise from the violation of the treaties. The commercial cities, injured by the incorporation, in their interests and their relations with Cracow, loudly complain and expostulate. Breslau has sent deputations to Berlin to demand that Cracow should remain a free city. Prussia perceives, rather late, that her connivance with Au s t r i a and Russia has estranged from her the affection of Germany, and is now endea vouring to justify herself in the journals devoted to her cause. ' In conjunction with the London and Paris press,' says the Universal Gazette, the Ger man papers particularly attack Prussia in the case of Poland. Nevertheless Prussia does not possess I-30th part of the partitioned kingdom. She could not, without endangering her own safety, oppose that par tition, and it did not behove her to undertake, for the restoration of Poland, what England and France de clined to do. Did she not alwa3 s treat the Poles with kindness ? &c. Would Prussia make use of that lan guage if she did not find her influence compromised in Germany? And, if the fate of Cracow excited such agitation in the public mind, what shall be the alarm produced by the last absorption of Poland now ef fected by the Czar, and which is the mere conse quence of the act of Cracow ! That absorption of the kingdom of Poland places Russia in the heart of Ger many. The Czar dreaded so humble a state as Cra cow. What jealous domination will he not now inflict on Germany, from which in future no barrier will se parate him?" On the subject of Spain the National says that the Ministry is dislocated; that- Mr. BULWER has re sumed his influence with the young couple, and that the departure of CHRISTINA for France is probable. But still it contends that the desire of independence on the part of ISABELLA has as yet produced no fruits ; the scandal of the Palace has not affected general politics, and, although the Ministry is dislocated, the person charged with its reconstruction is Senor .1110 N, the creature of the Count BRESSON. The Constitutionnal, in noticing a rumour which prevails in Germany, that it is the intention of the Emperor of RUSSIA to destroy even the name of Poland, and to call that portion of it which is sub mitted to his yoke New Russia, expresses its dis belief of the rumour, (because there is already a province named New Russia, of which Odessa is the capital ; and, secondly, because Poland, being an older country than Russia, to call Old Poland New Russia would be a solecism. There does not appear to be much force in the latter objection. One who, like the Emperor of Russie, has set all rules of morality and justice at defiance, will scarcely be re strained by the rules of grammar. In consequence of the measures adopted by the English Government for the reduction of the duties on 'sugar, produced by free labour, some of the towns in the Nord have demanded from the Minister of Commerce permission to export, free of duty, beet root sugar taken direct from the manufactories. The Minister has acceded to this application. The Minister of Finance publishes the returns of the quantity produced and the consumption of beet root sugar during the present season, from which it appears that 293 manufactories of the article were in operation on the Ist of December. The quantity manufactured down to that date amounted to 16,559,180 kilogrammes (16,559 tons) ; that sold for consumption amounted to 7,355,886. The duties levied on beetroot sugar during the year amounted to 14,217,916 f. It was not yet known on what day the KING and QUEEN of the BELGIANS would leave Paris for London. Their MAJESTIES would, however, spend the Christ mas holidays at Windsor. Prince VICTOR DE RORAN• GTJEMENE, Duke de Bouillon and de Montbeloo, expired on the 10th instant at the Château of Sichrow, in Bohemia, in the 81st year of his age. We read in the Journal du Hc;vre . "A letter from Vera Cruz of the 25th of October, speaks of the arrest of a midshipman of the French navy, on suspicion of having carried ashore some dispatches of the American Commodore. After having kept him a week in prison, it was discovered that the pretended dis patches were merely an American newspaper, which this young man had carried by order of his captain to a com mercial house. The discovery was rather tardy, and, consequently, the French commandant had expressed great indignation at this conduct of the Mexican autho rities towards a French officer." Some fluctuation took place on the Paris Bourse on Tuesday. In the end prices improved, but no reason for it was stated. The Three per Cents. cloned on that day at 80f. 80c. ; the Five per Cents., 118 f. 65c. ; the Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2651. ; Rouen, 9101.; Havre, 660 f. ; Great Northern, 6481. 75c. ; Avignon, 885 f.; Yierzon, 61014, Bordeaux, 5621. 50c.; Troyes and Monte r e au , 346 f. 25c.; 'Tule, 2201. ; Dieppe, 360 f.; • Paris and Strasburg, 485 f.; Tours and Nantes, 490 f.; Paris and Lyons, 511 E 25c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 490 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 451 f. 25c.; Spanish Do , restic Debt, 32:r i . MARSEILLES, Dr.c. 17.—Marseilles and Avignon, 850 f.; Northern, 643 f. 75,:.; Paris and Lyons, 505 f. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 23. Boulogne and Amiens, 15—Dutch Rhenish, 4;l4—Lux embourg, %—Namur and Liege, 3 1 4—Northern of France Constituted, 10%—Paris and Lyons Constituted, 8 l i—Paris and Strasburg Constituted, 4 1 / 2 —Sambre and Meuse, 4%. AMERICAN NEWS LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The packet-ship Europe, Captain Farber, has jusi entered the river. ller accounts are of the Ist inst. They add little to the intelligence received by the last mail-steamer. A frightful steam-boat collision had occurred on the Mississippi, about seven miles above Natchez, on the 21st ult. ; '2O or 30 lives were lost, and about the same number were miserably scalded. Nothing new had occurred in the political news. No later accounts from the Rio Grande, Vera Cruz, or Canada. The commercial accounts add nothing to our last reports. The commercial article of the New York Herald of the Ist, dated Nov. 30, six P.M., quotes the rate of exchange at 106 to 1061 premium. THE CAPTURE OF TAMPICO, " United States steamer Spitfire, before the Town of Tampico, Nov. 14, 1846. " Sir,—l have the honour to inform the depart ment, that I entered the river of Tampico this morning, with all the small vessels of the squadron, and a strong detachment of seamen and marines from the Cumberland, Mississippi, St. Mary's, Princeton, and Porpoise. " On my arrival at the city I was met by a depu tation from the citizens, offering the surrender of the place, on condition that their laws, institutions, and property should be respected. "I will hold the place as long as possible. Its im portance requires that a garrison of 500 or 600 men should be sent to occupy it as speedily as possible. To obtain this object I have dispatched Commodore Perny to Matamoros to make arrangements with General Patterson to have a force without delay. "As I deem it important the Mississippi should sail without delay, I must defer a more particular statement to another opportunity. " I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, " D. CORN NOR, Commanding Squadron Hon. J. Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, *Washington." TWO EXTENSIVE FIRES (THIS DAY.) This morning the metropolis was visited by the out break of two extensive fires which were not extinguished until a vast amount of valuable property was consumed. The first outbreak took place at four o'clock, upon the premises in the occupation of Mr. Banfill, and Mr. Hatch field, cabinet-makers and upholsterers, 20, Ed ward street, Langham-place, St. Merylebone. The discovery was made by a police-constable passing along his beat. He immediately aroused the inmates, but the fire had obtained such a firm hold that it was with great diffi culty the residents were able to effect a safe retreat. The engines of the parish, London brigade, County, and West of England offices, together with an escape belonging to the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, were remarkably early in arriving, and there being plenty of water at hand, the firemen under the direction of their foreman, set to work most vigorously, but it was nearly six o'clock, before the fire could be rubdued, and not nntil it had passed throughout the building, de stroying in its progress the whole of the furniture, stock in trade and other effects. how the fire originated could not be learned. The second fire broke out at seven o'clock. at 32, Old street-road, the property of Mr. R. Harris, also an upholsterer and cabinet-maker. The flames originated in the manufactory. At the time of the outbreak, one or two of the workmen and apprentices were in the place, and they immediately tried to subdue the fire, by throw ing buckets of water upon it ; in that endeavour they were foiled. Finding that they were unable to get the mastery over the flames, one of the parties started off to Whitecross•street engine station, with intelligence of the disaster. Mr. Mallett, the head engineer, immediately started to the spot, but before sufficient time had elapsed to set the engine to work, the whole of the extensive back premises, and the front ware house and dwelling, were wrapped in - one immense sheet of flame. The sparks and large flakes of fire were at the same time ascending high into the air, threatening destruction to the surrounding habitations. As soon as possible the engine was set to work, and by distributing the water over the tops of the adjoining houses, they were prevented from becoming ignited. Numerous other eugines from the parish of Shoreditch, and the London Brigade, with Mr. Superintendent Braidwood, followed in rapid succession, and owing to the combined exertions of all, the further progress of the destructive element was cut off, but not until the back premises were levelled to the ground, their contents destroyed, and the whole of the costly furniture in the front building consumed. At eleven o'clock this fore noon the engines were still working upon the smoulder qg ruins. THE ROBBERY AT MESSRS. ROGERS AND CO.'S.— A BILL RETURNED.—An acceptance, forming part of the property stolen from Messrs. Rogers and Co. for the recovery of which so many efforts have been made, and such large rewards offered, was returned yesterday to the accepters, Messrs. Batty, Melville, and Co., whole sale stationers, Aldersgate-street. It was contained in a letter, the writer of which stated the affair would never be traced, and the bill being of no use to him, he re turned it to its owners. This is the second of the stolen documents which has lately been returned, evidently by the same party. The writing of both the letters in which the securities were enveloped is similar, and ink of the same colour. The orthography, also, is equally defective. So far as we can learn, no clue to the reco • yerz of the stolen property is afforded by these letters. CLOSING THE EQUITY COURTS AND OFFICES.— Yesterday the Lord Chancellor, the Vice- Chancellor of England, the Master of the Rolls, and the Vice -Chan cellors Wigram and Knight Bruce, sat in their respective courts, for the last time before Hilary Term. The Re gistrars, Masters, and Six Clerks' Offices, as also the Affidavit Office, closed this day for the purposes of general business, and will continue closed until the 7th of January next. The office of the Accountant-General of the High Court of Chancery will also be closed dur ing the same period. Notwithstanding the closing of the offices and the rising of the respective courts, in cases of positive emergency, where the parties are desirous of filing a bill for the purposes of obtaining an injunction, &c., in pressing cases, a limited attendance at the offices will be given, to file the necessary bill and affidavits pre paratory to an application to either the Lord Chancellor or one of the other judges at their respective houses for such injunction. BRITISH PHILANTHROPIC PENSION SOCIETY.— Yesterday a dinner was given to the pensioners on this admirable institution, at the house of Mr. Titchener, the Britannia Tavern, Bishopsgate-street Without, where an excellent meal, consisting of meat, poultry, mince-pies, &c., was provided for the aged receipients of the society's bounty. In addition, gratuities of half-a crown to each pensioner were kindly given by Mrs. Perrin and Mr. J. Flemming. The British Philan thropic Pension Society, which, we are informed, was established in the year 1838, for the purpose of affording permanent relief to the aged and infirm of both sexes by means of a small weekly allowance for lite, is dis tinguished from other associations of a similar character by requiring no claim to its bounty beyond that of age and distress--its charity not being restricted to the members of any particular trade or class—it is there fore eminently worthy the support of the benevolent, in order that its sphere of usefulness, at present bounded within a somewhat scanty space by its means, may be extended still further, and thus gladden the hearts of many now sinking beneath the accumulated afflictions of age, poverty, and sickness. IMPORTATION OF POULTRY.—It is known that large quantities of poultry are imported weekly from France, Holland, and Belgium—the latter more particularly; but the arrivals now taking place are much be yond the usual average, which the festive season of Christmas will readily account for. The steam-ship Harlequin, from Boulogne, brought on Monday 94 cases, 2 hampers, and 4 baskets, the production of France ; the Belfast, from Calais, 5 baskets and 14 cases ; the Rapid, from Harlingen, 10 b as k e t s , o f Dutch prod uce ; the Sir Edward Banks, from Ostend, 4 baskets and 43 cases, of Belgian production.. These, with other arri vals, took place in one day, and comprised every descrip tion of poultry, both in a live and dead state, suitable to this particular time. The arrival by the Harlequin is one of the largest we remember to have taken place, and as further large snpplies are expected during the week, in addition to those from all parts of the country, of home growth, it is anticipated that poultry generally will he obtainable in the metropolis at a moderate price. The sl.ght change Nt hieli has again taken place in the weather will have a beneficial effect on the immense quantities of all sorts of meat and provisions with which the town will be stocked during the present week. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were 5,000 hales, of which 2,500 were American on speculation. There was no alteration in prices. Shares were rather higher. Speculation in Cotton at the port above named is now exceedingly flat indeed. It appears to be a settled point that the directors of the East India Company, and the Board of Control have ' granted the concession of the first line of railway to be commenced in India to the East India Railway Compa n y' the managers of which, after incorporation, are to have the power of extending branches in those directions from Calcutta which may r eceive the sanction of the Indian Government. Interest et the rate of four per cent., is to be guaranteed, and the Government of India are to have ower to purc h a se the lines out and out, at the currents alue of the day. At first the East India Railway Company are to provide a capital of three millions sterling. There are not any late arrivals announced in the Cit.f: Many in mercantile circles, especially connected with the East India trnde, have recently heard with re gret of the sudden death of Mr. James Wilkinson, th e indigo broker. Having on many occasions availed our' selves of the information practically possessed by him , annexed we give a remarks contained in a strictly comma _ inertial contemporary, believing in sincerity that WS picture drawn of the deceased is not overcoluured "Died on the 15th inst., James Wilkinson, of Lead en: hall-street. Ile was a n a tive of Yorkshire, and as welt known and respected by the manufacturers of that dustrious district as he was in London. For wan/ years his monthly circulars have been quoted for ea:: wercial information by journals of all par ties. Hi s od tachnient to the late William Cobbett is wyll known, we have often heard him repeat the pleasure he felt the predictions of his prototype with regard to the failure of the potato and introduction of In dian c c s o n r o tt into Ireland. Mr. Cubbett called the potato the debasing root,' and ascribes to its general use the elg s r; dation of that unfoi tenate country. M r- Wilk be tto was himself averse t o potatoes as a substitu te for eci i n food, yet at the moment of his death he Was e° g l t a la the purchase of a cargo to ship to Ireland , tl stance of a Noble Lord with whom he had r eee t h the formed an acquaintance. In fact, whether w f l noble working man, the merchant, or the man ° a coo birth, his demanour imparted cheerfulness al.rtisiaed tent. Like Cobbett, Mr. Wilkinson ar e e nua his strong opinions in favour of his country law opposition to Cobden at the Anti-Corli-iecw W ee trade , the Guildhall ; for, although in favour th. id hire th e Mr. \% ilki nson f e l t t h at nat i ve produce sbou niustice of p ta r x e i f i e l r g en in ce al o t, v h er op fo s r , eign, and maintained the was im &c., whilst foreign ported duty free. 2.1 r. Wilkinson was a good ' t e t t _ is et tic o i :d and the principal officer of that department t was of Trade has publicly declared that his informetn%entian to be depended upon. We must not forget usefulness, that amongst his numerous acts interest in there is one to which the maritime nre I n .. . e t of debted, namely, the alteration in the adeles.,Eure.ws gr eat merchant vessels ; and in assisting to effect tb o i tir ow , change, he bad the proud satisfaction of seeil lor °P eed vessels made equally, if not better, adaptecylrbe subject and stowage to the ships of other nations. advance of these remarks devoted his - time more to Ile ono ment of the public weal, than his own pecuoie r Yht him tage, which, with the changes in trade, brelT feas iorl, down from the pinnacle of grea t ne ss in his Pr o u ue with to circumstances when money had lost his W I" n otaer' him. He has, h owever , brought up respectably him is ous family, mostly sons, some of whoo2 folly t o g gle, his established business. He died without apparently in a tranquil state." Thi s Mor ning The Consul Ma r k e t h as b een very firm nine oaf at 93 to 94 for the Account. At the sameboa be noted that but few investments for cash esl. been. as made in the Stocks now open. There , bevel upward movement in the prem ium upon eJ 2 t e bills, the value of w hi c h i s now at 12s. Bank Stoer per rallied to 206. Th e N ew Three•and.a - Qua rte Cents. have been quoted at 95k. reques t ' The Foreign Funds are rather i n more ...40; the Mexican for the Account have been sold t , t 2 e gt; Portuguese Four per Cents. are at 36 for rho Two. the Three per Cent. Spanish at 38k; the Put n at and-a-Half per Cents. are at 64; tor the Accoun, 60i; and the Four per Cent. Certifica tes at 92t_, ?111 With the exception of the North Statfords u7 t wet the East India Railway Shares, the m arket has nu brisk to day. The quotations are annexed. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCIC* (From the Official List.) , o Bank Stock... ................................ 20 a zO 3 per Cent. R e d uce d A n nuities... •••••.... 96 '95% New 34 per Cent. Annuities ....... Long Annuities, Jan. sth, Expire 1860 9 3 , A 94 Consols for Opening .....• •••' '•" 14d. Exchequer Bills. I,oou/ ........ 5001. 11 8 1212 r-nu. 11 8 12 -- Ditto Small ... - NE O'CI )CL. 1 - RICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT 0 Mexican Bonds, 1846, 5 per Cent. 24% Ditto for the Account ............. ... Portuguese 4 per Cents 38 Ditto for the Account Spanish Bonds, 5 per Cent, 1840 — Ditto 3 per Cent 3B l'a Ditto for the Account . Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch 2% per Cents Ditto for the Account 60 3/4 , , Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates Ditto Bonds BUSINESS DONE IN RAILWAY SHARES AT ONE O'CrO RAILWAYS. PAID. Pas &USX. Aberdeen - Amber., Notting., Boston, &c. 2% 2 583/... to -- Armagh, Coleraine, & I'ortrush 13g — Belfast and Ccunty Down .. 4% .. .. Birmingham and Dudley 42s. ... . ...... to --- Bit nungliam and Gloucester 100 ......128 ...... to --- Do. New (iss. at 712 dis.) 171...... ..... to •-•• Birmingham & Oxford June Birkenhead, Lancashire, and tO "'- Cheshire Junction 2 3 /4 .— . ••• Boston, Stamf , & Binning... 225. .....'" Bristol and Exeter . to ..... Do~ .New to --. Bristol and Gloucester... Bristol and Liverpool June.. 2 1 A • .. to --- Buckinghamshire.. ..... Caledonian to --- Ditto, half Shares Ditto, Clydesdale Junction 25 ...... 2% ...... ... -- ...... to 2 1 h.. - • - to ...... to --- Chester and Holyhead... 27% —..... to ---' Churnet and Blythe.. ...... .. 2 ...... ....... Chester and Manchester 42s. 2 -- to -- Cheltenham and Oxf or d ..... ..... Clarence. .-- to Do., let Class, 6 per Cent... 10 - ' .... to -'- Do„ 2d Class, 5 per Cent... 10 ...., ..... --- to Do., Gov. Loan, 4 per Cent. 10 - ..... to "'- Cork and Killarney 2%...... •-- ..... to -". Cork and W a t er f ord l% —• ..... .to --. Cornwall .. to Ditto, Half Shares Direct Lincoln, East Retford, to "" and Sheffield Junction 2% — ;', 79 . ... to --- Direct Northern Direct Norwich - "". to --. Dublin and B e lf ast J unct i on.. 12% —•• to ''... Dublin, B e lf ast, & Coleraine 2%, — ...... to ..... Dundalk and Enniskillen ... 10 - Eastern Co un ti es 1 4 / . 16s 23 %• ••• .' t o •-•• t Do. New .. to --- Do. Perpet., 5 per ct. N o . 1,6/. 13 s. 4 d — ....... t o ---* Do., do N 0.2, 6L 13s. 4d..• .... •••• Do., York Extension .. to East Dereham and Norwich 1 - Eastern Union Ditto, Quarter Shares 4 Do. Extension to Harwich 1% Do. Cambridge and Ely ... 21 East Lancashire •.... I': to --- o --- — B% ....... . to ••••,'" Ditto, New 5 Do. ( late Preston &Orrnsk.) 5 ... - Do., do., New Scrip ...... ... 1 1 / 4 — ...... to East Lincolnshire East and West of England... Vg — ...... t : , Edinburgh and Glasgow .... . to. Ditto, Half Shares Ditto, Quarter Shares 122 — ••.... 0 ___„, Edinburgh and Northern ... 12% — ..... t ...- . o Edinburgh and Perth __— .......... t t o •••.'" Ely and Huntingdon Enniskillen and Sligo ... 2% ...... ...,.. to •••., to Exeter Yeovil, & Dorchester 5 1 / 4 — •••••• Glasg., Dumfries, & Carlisle.. 5 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, & Ayr 50 - Ditto, New to Do. 1 / 4 Shares (5 per ct.g ua .) 12% Goole, Doncaster, Sheffid., & c . 2 - Great Eastern and West ern ... 2% to --.— -••••.-- Gt. South. & West. (Ireland) 27% 28% ...... to to --- Great Munster 2 l/„ — ...... ,•,.., _- Great North o Scotland 2 ,/i ...... _ ...... to ..... Great North of England 100 Ditto, New Ditto, New l5 ... .. .. .. to --- Ditto, New Great Western Ditto, Half Shares 5O - ..„ ....- Ditto, Quarter Shares - Ditto, Fifths Do. New ~,,, Lo Huddersfield and Manchester 13 .. . ...... to --- . Ditte, Extension 3 • to --- ..... ..... Hull and Selby SO Ditto, Qaarter Shares l 2 l /2 — ..... • t° „..... Ditto, Half Shares Ipswich & Bury St. Ed mun d s 11% — ...... to Do. do. and Norwich Lancaster and Carlisle 5O ..... Do. New to --- 5 ...... ...... ..... Leeds and Bradford 3O • 761/ _ ...... to Leicester and Bedford - .-- ..... ~„ Leeds, Dewsbury, & blanches. 22% — ..... Ditto, "- Branch (Blue) ..... 2% to .. .......... to Ditto, Extension (Green).. 2% — - Leeds and Thirsk . ...... - Ditto, New - / Do., do., Prefer., 6 p er C en t. 3% . .... 4%..... to Liverpool, Manchester, and -•"- _ .. to Newcastle Junction 2t, to -- Loudon & Blackwall...l6l. 13 s . 4d — ..... Do. New .. 3 ...... to -- Do. Extension Lond., Bright., & So u th C oas t 50 to 4, Do. Consolidated Fifths.. 40 --- Do.to --- Consolidated Eighths... 10 ...... Do. Guaranteed sper C en t. 9 . ..... .....• to to .-** London and Greenwich... 12L 15s. 4d.:. Ditto Preference lBl lis 2d... —..-.. t° --- London,Hounslow.&We s t ern 2 . ..... -•••••.... to to 194 London and North Western..loo ......19 5 to --- Do. Quarter Shares Do. do. New ...... .... ...... 2 - Do. do. Fifths ...... 123 4 %„.. to •••"' --"' Do. Quarters ... G. J. 5 Do. 401. Shares.....L. &M. 8 --- .. Do. 401. Shares...M. and B. 40 .... 1° -2 Do. 10/.... M. and B. (A.) 5 . Do. 10/. .. M. and B. (B.) 5 - Do 10/.... M. and B. (C.) 1 --- . London, Oxford, and Chel tin • 1 4 1.; ...... to ° -- --- London and York...-. did -- ...... W --- Ditto Extension to . to .. London, Salisbury, & Yeovil 2% 0 ...... Londonderry and Coleraine... 15 ~' • Zsrc No l ] Noi xOl Not °Xi Pri e 44ea, ..• g ict 13 cO l t kot Bhet baer aw . t t ale " Goo Go o / Vat ary , d ater "ater, t la tra h lasi e o iti g C h tli Perei Nj i 4 4 11 )11 P ltt ,,°nal U 11 1 , - I° 4 of -.oi l of 44 t] tt4T olv - erave to s tiP i tto itiß4, 'Lviy`gQ", kto:litc% th 4.3.81 THE SU)! 4, LONDON, THUIVSDAY EVENING, DECEIVII IER 24, 1845.