The Sun. — London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. The following naval officersstudyingat the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, were examined at the quarterly examination held at the college on the 12th, 13th, and 14th inst., and having passed have received the certificates of qualification as steam officers of her Majesty's Navy : —Commanders Philip R. Sharpe, Henry G. Belson, John T. Swan, Henry L. Perceval, Geo. Parsons, Henry J. Challis, Edwd. T. Parsons, Claude E. Buckle, and Lieut. E. D. Law. A naval court-martial assembled yesterday morn ing on board 11.M.5. Victory, in Portsmouth Har bour, for the trial of Capt. C. T. L. Usher, Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving on board ILDI.S. Lion, Capt. J. H. Hayes, C.B. (Coastguard ship at Greenock), on a charge of drunkenness on board .U.M.S. Lion on the 28th Nov. last. The Court was composed of Capt. the Hon. F. Egerton, C. 8., Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, of H.M.S. Victory, president; Capt. C. Fellowes, Duke of Wellington; Capt. W. C. Chamberlain, Asia ; Capt. H. Bur goyne, V.C., Wivern ; Capt. Goodenough, Mino taur ; Capt. M. Dunn, Megrera. Senior Lieut. G. E. Barnes, H.M.S. Lion, appeared as prosecutor, and called Lieut. R. Ross, the Rev. Bartholomew Ring, D.D., and other witnesses, in support of the charge. In reply on his defence the prisoner read to the Court a statement, in which he expressed his pain and regret at finding himself in the humiliat ing position . of defending himself against such a charge after 19 years' service. Repudiating altoge ther the charge brought against him, he attributed the appearances which led to the charge being made to an overdose of chlorodine and brandy, which he had taken as a medicine. He further called upon Capt. Goodenough to testify to his general conduct while formerly serving under him, and handed in to the Court a number of written testimonials from various other officers, all giving favourable evidence to his character as an officer and a gentleman. The Court found the charge proved, but, in conse quence of the prisoner's long service and the high testimony given iu his favour, sentenced him only to be dismissed from H.M.S. Lion and a loss of two years' seniority as captain in theßoyal Marine Light Infantry. Her Majesty's screw troopship Orontes, Capt. H. W. Hire, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from Ire land. She will be paid out of commission by her present captain, and afterwards recommissioned by Capt. H. Phelps. - Her Majesty's screw troopship Megmra, Capt. M. Dunn, arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon from Malta and Gibraltar, with military and naval in valids and passengers. The Megmra sailed from Gibraltar on the 11th inst., leaving there her Ma jesty's screw gunboat Skylark and the steam-tug Redpole. On the 13th, just after passing Cape St. Vincent, the Megtera met her Majesty's ironclad frigate Ocean, under steam and fore and aft sail, bound for Gibraltar. The weather was fine, and the Ocean appeared to be making good progress and to be moving along under ordinary frigate behaviour. The invalids will be disembarked from the Mega3ra at Spithead, after which, this morning, she will proceed round to the Thames to discharge stores, &c. Previous to leaving Spithead Commander Simp son will relieve in the command of the Megmra Capt. M. Dunn, who has been appointed by the Admiralty to the command of the new screw troopship Eu phrates. TEE VOLUNTEERS. Last evening, at 8 o'clock, the members of the 3d City of London Rifle Volunteers assembled in their old mustering ground at Guildhall to take part in the annual ceremony of the distribution of prizes. Though the display of plate and trinkets which the regiment has in its power to make on such occasions may not be of as ample a character as in other and more opulent corps, it is nevertheless substantial, and has this distinguished characteristic—that the rewards and inducements to exertion tendered to the men are not the fruit of extraneous contribu tions, but are confined to dOnations by the officers of the corps. The regiment on parade enjoys a de cided advantage over many Volunteer battalions by reason of its scarlet uniform, the excellence of its tailoring and general accoutrements, and not less, it is just to say, by the admirable bearing and drill of the men themselves. Although the body enjoys the distinctive name of the •" Working Men's Corps," there are rumours that its prestige attracts to the ranks a higher class of recruits than the title would kiCrieUy icuporb .:ea oorinh.„ ;f io iti,r character has a great deal to do with the facilities awaiting a member on his entrance. A man who can be trusted to pay for his uniform eventually has no difficulty in obtaining this, in the first instance, and, if tem porarily out of work, will not be pressed for arrears. The regiment now musters 1,100 men of all ranks, of whom 750 are efficients earning the Government grant. The Lord Mayor last evening, in presence of the corps, expressed his admiration of the con duct of the members—a circumstance which, in the face of recent controversies,w as not without import ance or encouragement. lie hoped next year to be permitted to testify iu a practical manner his sense of the value of the services of the battalion, at once to the country, and to the credit of the class from Which it drew its strength, by a contribution to the regimental prize list. Col. Richards acknowledged in suitable terms the kind and complimentary ex pressions of the Chief Magistrate, and the s erv i ces rendered by the Lady Mayoress in giving, by her personal co-operation, additional value to the prizes in the eyes of the recipients. To the music of the ex cellent band of the regiment the corps then marched out of the ball in the direction of head-quarters. The sixth annual distribution of prizes to the members of the North Middlesex Rifles, who had distinguished themselves in the various competitions during the year, was held last night in St. Pancras Vestry-ball, which was crowded to its utmost capa city by " citizen soldiers" and their friends. Mr. Thos.Chamberk Q.C., M.P., presided, and was sup ported on the platform by Lord Ranelagh, Mr. 11. Lewis, M.P., Lieut.-Cul. Whitehead, Major and Adjutant Charter (Qqeen's Westminster), Quarter master Greene, and several of the other officers of the regiment. The men of the corps were drawn up at both sides of the hall, and the regimental band, - which was stationed in the gallery, played at fre quent intervals during the proceedings, which were throughout of a very interesting character. Lieut.- ciol. Whitehead, in opening the meeting, said the Volunteer movement was no longer an exp riment, but had now all the attributes of a permanently established institution. He was glad to be able to inform those whom he had the honour of address ing, and especially the friends of the North Middle sex Rifles, that the numerical strength of their re giment had been reinforced during the past twelve months. They had had 67 recruits, as against 53 who bad resigned, leaving a gain to the corps of 14, which was a small addition in itself, but still , constituted a proof that its efficiency was not de clining. They could not realise now the rapid in creases which were made in the infancy of the mo ve ment, when enthusiasm was high, but he was con fident th a t if ever an occasion arose thousands who how kept alo o f wou ld fl y t o t h e ranks of the Volun teers to sustain their fellow-citizens in defence of their country. Since their last meeting a great war bad been waged between Prussia and Austria, in which a mighty army had been destroyed, not so much on account of deficiency in numbers or physical strength as inferiority in the arms which it had used against an enemy provid e d with breech , -loadin g rifles. Aus tria was now raising 1,000 soldiers, all told, while it was said th a t France was endeavouring to exceed that number by 200,000. Under such a state of circumstances England sh ou l d be prepared so it was advisable that every br anc h of the 7 and army should be kept in the highest possibl e position of efficiency. After an allusion to the recent reception of the Volunteers in Belgium, and having express e d a confident hope that the hospitality which had been extended to themselves in Brussels would be returned tenfold when the citizen soldiers of Belgium would pay a visit to England in 1867, the Lieutenant- Colonel concluded by thanking the men under his command for their exemplary conduct, not only during the past year but also duringthe entire period be had the honour to presideover the interests of the regiment. The chairman then called on Mr. H. Lewis, M.P. (who was compelled to leave at an early hour), to present the battalion challenge cup given by Mr. P. Graham. Mr. H. Lewis said that he was greatly pleased at being allowed to take a part in the pro ceedings of the evening. He did not agree with some who said that non-efficients were not worth re taining on the roll, for they should remember that even though not equal to others of their comrades they still retained some of their military knowledge, and would be valuable as assistants in time cf emer gency. The chairman said that 4,000,000 soldiers— some said s,ooo,ooo—were now being armed on the Continent, and England should be watchful when such an attitude of things was presented throughout Europe. A universal war was imminent, and we should use our exertions to promote the efficiency of our vo lunteer army. The moral influence of the movement was considerable, as events in Belgium proved, and it behoved all good men to assist in its development. The presentation then took place. The list of prizes was so lengthy that we can merely specify the prin cipal rewards and the names of those to whom they were severally awarded. No. 7 Company challenge cup, presented by Lieut. Bebb, to be competed for once a year and to become the property of any mem ber winning it twice—Colour-Sergeant Heathcote ; first of No. 7 Company's prizes, Private Church ; No. 1 Company's first prize, Private Thurston ; No. 1 Company's first ladies' prize—Sergeant G. 0. Wells ; No. 2 Company's first prize—• Corporal Jackson ; No. 4 Company's first prize—Sergeant Humphrey ; No. 5 Company's first prize Corporal Barker; No. 6 Company's first prize —Private Rose; first of the drill prizes —Corporal Harris ; No. 8 Company's first prize —Private Abbott ; No. 6 Company's first extra prize —Corporal King ; first of the Non-commissioned Officers' prizes—Corporal G. Davey ; battalion prize presented by Colonel Viscount Enfield, M.P.—Private Thurston ; bat talion prize presented by Colonel Whitehead ; first of Major Peter's prize —Private Berry ; Ladies' prize —Colour-Sergeant Robinson ; the St. Pancras Board of Works prize —Private Simpson ; first of Churchwarden's of St. Pancras prizes—Private Malkin ; Mr. Pole's prize—Sergeant Pickworth ; Mr. Robertson's prize —Private Macdonald ; sub scription prize —Private Church ; Mr. Forbes's prize —Private Chappell; Mr. Berry's prize—Private Walls; Mr. Francis's prize—Corporal Wells; Tradesmen's prize —Private Withers ; first of Con solation prizes —Private Bromley ; first of subscrip tion prizes—Sergeant Johnson ; first of adjutants' prizes —Private Malkin (No. 8 Company) ; Staff prize, presented by Mr. W. Brown—Sergeant-Major Guerin. The battalion challenge cup, presented by Mr. Peter Graham, finally competed for by eight members of the regiment who had won the cup during the year—Private Thurston (No. 1 Com pany), who scored 50 marks. Sergeant Pickworth (No. 1 Company), who had scored 89 marks, was declared to be the winner of the battalion medal and badge. After the prizes had been distributed, Lord Ranelagh, in reply to a vote of thanks, said that though the Volunteers were able to perform evolu tions in small bodies, they were not yet able to do so in collected masses. He recommended one uni form for all the Volunteers. For this he gave seve ral reasons. He concluded by expressing his satis faction at being allowed to be present at the meet ing of the evening. Votes of thanks were then ac corded to the donors of prizes, and to the chairman, and after three cheers for the Queen had been given, the meeting terminated with the performance of the national anthem by the regimental band. Execution of thA New Zealand ThugF. (From the Otago Daily Times, Oct. 20.) In our last summary it was stated that. Bur gess, Levy, and Kelly had been tried and found guilty of the murder of Felix Mathieu, one of four persons who were murdered by the prisoners, in company with James Thos. Sullivan. Sullivan was afterwards tried and convicted .of the murder of James Battle, an old whaler ; but the sentence of death passed upon him was commuted to penal ser vitude for life, in consideration of his having been the means of convicting the other three, who were left for execution. On Friday, Oct. 6, the sentence was carried into effect on Burgess, Levy, and Kelly, in the gaol yard of Nelson. All the men died protesting the truth of the statements they had made, and Kelly and Levy repeatedly declared themselves innocent. Burgess was the first to speak. He declared that Sullivan was the murderer of Battle, Mathieu, and the surveyor Dobson, and that Levy and Kelly were innocent of all the murders. He acknow ledged himself to be morally guilty of Dobson's murder, because he knew of it both before and after it was perpetrated; but he asserted that Sullivan was actually concerned in all the rest. He expressed him self happy on a morning so glorious and bright, and had it not been for the regret he felt at the unme rited fate of Levy and Kelly he could die happily. Kelly read a long statement, of the style and cha racter of which the following extracts will give an idea. It commences :—" A good morning, but an unpleasant morning to you all gentlemen, country men, brothers, and spectators of one of the most awful, terrible, dreadful, fearful, shameful, pain ful, mournful, revengeful, hateful, wrongful, un justifiable, ignominious, inglorious deaths and mur ders that ever took place in the wide world since the creation of Adam, and a sad morning to my poor self ; and may God be merciful to me, a sinner, and not a murderer !" After referring to the atonement of Christ, he continued--" Since I have been born I trust Almighty God has searched and tried me, to see if th ere h as b een such wickedness in me as ever to know the certainty of the Maungatapu murders until Sullivan confessed. May I never be forgiven my sins upon earth, or after I shuffle off this mortal coil and appear before Almighty God, if I am not innocent of killing, did kill, on the IN latiti o g r at b ap ei u n° o " r w eilstiel w a h n e y r e p , e a r s n o y n o t t h h e a r t he world ! If in not truth, I h m o y p e d m y u in a g ier w e o d rd me b n e a s t s h e a r t ti a o f n ter and l ascend the fatal and unwelcome scaffold, and the bolt is drawn that will launch me out of this world, and that whilst my flail and worthless body of clay is dangling Li the air, the devil will be watching for the Moment my soul (lc p art s f rom this body,t'and it.may be borne on the wings of the devil to the bottomless pit of hell at a speed more rapid than the light of the sun reaches our earth. Yes, at a speed as quick as that which I believe to be the fastest thing that travels, for I can think to hea ven in an instant." He next termed Sullivan " The De mon of the West Coast and the Maungatapu Moun tains Assassin." He prayed fora blessing on the heads of the people of Nelson for their efforts to discover the bodies of the murdered men. He praised what had taken place on the part of the people of the town named after the gallant hero of the sea and ocean, and the conqueror of old England's enemies, Nel son, the inimitable wonder of sea-fights and war, and hoped he was happy ; calling upon God to bless him, for he liked a patriot. He then copied a hymn referring to the hour of parting with all earthly things, and concluded his dying speech thus --"And this hour has been fully before me the great part of my life ; but never as it should have been, until after my arrest. But may I find life and heaven with God ! So farewell to everbody, from Tommy Noon, called Kelly." Levy evinced the least emotion. He complained that the authorities did not allow him money to se cure witnesses, that he had been unfairly treated by the Press, and that had he been tried elsewhere he would have been acquitted. He appealed to the editor of the Colonist to give his statement for pub licity, and declared by Jehovah (putting on his hat), and mentioning the place of the murder of the four men, that he and Kelly had been six hours away from the society of Burgess and Sullivan. He com- plained of his treatment in prison, and of favour having been shown to Sullivan, and concluded by protesting his innocence. The preparations being completed, the men ascended the scaffold with their Burgess reli g i ous advisers, an d a ll k ne l t d own i n prayer. professed penitence, and hope in God, thanked all the officials for their kindness, and said he was quite ready to submit to the sentence of the law. Kelly ejaculated, " Oh, God, I am not ready. Give me a few more minutes to speak." Levy, who was still kneeling on the drop, cried out in a loud and distinct voice, " I am innocent." Kelly, while kneeling, attempted to rise and address the people assembled. He called out, " I am no t b e i ng h anged; II am being murdered." The drop fell—in a short time the men were dead. Burgess appeared to die instantly, without a struggle; Levy suffered two or three slight convulsions ; Kelly showed signs of life the longest. While in gaol an imgenious attempt was made by Levy to convey a note to Burgess, of which the Colonist gives the following account : " One of the under-assistants in the gaol had been attending on Levy at breakfast, and Levy asked him to take a small fish to Burgess, for his breakfast. The man was proceeding to do so, when one of his stopped him, and on opening the fish found a small billet artfully concealed within. It was couched partly in slang, but its main pur port was to the effect if he and Kelly were to put their heads together to endeavour to get off Burgess must bear them out in what they said. The con cluding part of the note stated that Levy was puzzled how to account for the £2O, or the money he had about him when he was apprehended ; and that if he could only do that it would be hopeful, or some ex pression of a like nature. When Levy learned that the note had been discovered he became greatly agi tated, and implored the officer to return it, saying that he would not on any account that the Rabbi should know he had written such a note, as it would cause the Rabbi to think worse of him. He was told that the note was already in the hands of the authorities, and that the Rabbi would certainly know its contents. Levy on this became as pale as death, and trembled violently. He was supplied with restoratives, which he could not properly con vey to his lips." THE SUN, LONtiON, TUESDAY EVtNING, DECEMBER 18 rilio. an extent the Customs' revenue of the United States is defrauded by French exporters. Every sort of trick is resorted to evade dues, and the Government is compelled to employ agents on this side to counteract the dishonest devices. Heavy duties will be evaded if a loop-hole of escape can be found, and there are plenty of people in New York and other American ports ready to aid French and English exporters in " doing" the Revenue. It is not probable that the Government at Wash ington will budge an inch from the position it has taken, for not only the national interest, but also the interests of honest dealers, are too heavily con cerned. Admiral Dahlgren is about to leavo Washington and assume command of the South Pacific Squadron. Senator Doolittle returned from Texas to New Orleans, Nov. 22d, en route for Washington. General Rosseau is, also in the city on a short visit. Paymaster - General . Benjamin W. Brice has, under the new Army Bill, had conferred upon him the rank of Brigadier General in the Regular Army, his former rank being that of Colonel and Brevet Major- General. Dr. George Fries, a prominent Democratic poli tician of Cincinnati, died on the 13th Nov. He was formerly a member of Congress. When John Quincy Adams was stricken in the ball of the House with the paralysis, that terminated his exis tence, Dr. Fries was his medical attendant, and was among those who heard his last sublime exclama tion that has passed into history, " This is the last of earth 1" Major Augustus Rawling's visit to Shaftes bury may be considered a complete success. His oratorical powers have been fully appreciated by crowded audiences ; his readings are origi nal in their style, and very effective, and there is no doubt that he has a splendid career as a lec turer before him if he chooses to devote his time and talents to such a course. His readings of " No thing to Wear" and the " Raven" are perfect gems, which once heard are not easily forgotten.—Shafies bury Gazette, Dec. 1. Amongst the ladies who graced with their pre sence the late Thanksgiving dinner, celebrated at the Langham Hotel, was one well known at Wash ington for her philanthropic efforts in behalf of the sick and wounded of both countries during the war ' —Miss Jeanette Lesley Douglass, following the ex ample of Florence Nightingale, threw herself per sonally into the good work, and liberally supplied the means at her disposal in the task she had taken up. Miss Douglass has spent the last three months in making herself acquainted with all-in and 'about-what she happily styles, this grand old city. English people can little conceive the deep feeling of enthusiasm inspired in the descen dants of old English and Scottish families in America by this ancient seat of Government, learn ing, and of art—so full of historical associations, and so intimately connected with the deeds of their own ancestors. The records of London are better known to this class than they are, generally, even to the upper circles of English society, and when these enthusiasts find themselves on the scene of Which they have read and dreamt so much, they throw into their efforts, to become acquainted with every spot of renown, an energy that surprises those to whom many of these places are familiar. For this reason the English are often astonished in discussing with Americans, the land of their birth, that theirs is but a superficial knowledge, compared with the intimate acquaintance displayed by their kinsfolk on the other side of the Atlantic. Miss Douglass, like most of her fellow-citizens, has a happy way of combining business with pleasure. One of her objects is to receive a considerable fortune inherited from the Scottish family, to which she belongs. But the great, idea which has taken possession of her mind is to obtain a correct knowledge of the Old World, and to impart that knowledge to her country. Her tour will embrace Paris dur ing the Exposition, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Rome —without the French— and thence to the Holy Land. The journal of one so intelligent, and with so many opportunities of seeing all that is to be seen, can scarcely fail to be interesting, and we hope that no untoward cir cumstance may prevent the fulfilment of her inten tion. She has met with so much kindness since her visit to England, and appreciates so highly all she has here seen, that we feel assured that the pages of her journal, when given to the world, will tend to cement the friendly feeling which is now strengthening year by year between the two coun tries. EUROPE AND PHILADELPHIA.—We are truly happy to be able to announce, which we do on the best authority, that new and ample arrangements are being completed to secure a permanent first class line of steamers between Philadelphia and Europe. The Inman line was continued until the breaking out of the Crimean war withdrew the ships that were employed here, and they would have resumed their regular direct trips but for the combined influences that have been brought to bear at New York. These adverse movements are now being counteracted, in a way that is certain to in sure success. Mr. J. Edgar Thomson, President of the Pennsyl vanuia Railroad, and Mr. Gilead A. Smith, an American banker, now resident in London, have secured the active co-operation of English capitalists for the immediate establishment of a line to Liver- pool. Conditional contracts have been recently signed in that city for two A 1 ship 3 of 3,000 tons burden, to run between Philadelphia and Liverpool direct. These are to be followed by four others, all of the best construction, of the greatest speed, and possessing.all the advantages of any line now afloat. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has already taken the initiatory steps for fur nishing the funds for the first ship 4 of the line. They will all run from the wharves of the com pany in Philadelphia, where 'ample accommo dations will be provided. The Legislature of the State will readily grant any legal facilities, so as to give the American end of the line all the requisite control. It is expected that two of the ships will be running in the course of the next eight month 3. It is scarcely necessary that we should' repeat here the arguments so often advanced in the columns of the Inquirer in favour of this new line. Our readers,more especially those actively engaged in com merce, all understand and appreciate its advantages. Philadelphia commands a direct communication with St. Louis, St. Paul's, and New Orleans, that is shorter and more available than any other from the West and South-west to the seaboard. It is a centre of traffic by railway from Chicago to Kansas City, by the way of Cincinnati. A straight line drawn across the map of the United States conclusively establishes this fact. We hear a great deal the moment any ocean commercial enterprise is started in Philadelphia of the superior advan tages of the harbour of New York. But it will be found, on a careful examination, that they are al together imaginary. Philadelphia brings 27 feet of wharves of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which is as much as can be brought over the bar at New York. The beneficial influence of the fresh waters of the Delaware on the bottoms of ships in clearing them of barnacles is well known in the com mercial world. The capes of the Delaware Bay are accessible and quite as safe as the lower bay of New York. The ice of the upper river, of which so much is said by our commercial rivals, is always manageable, as much so as that of any other Northern seaport in America. Not a vessel is known to have been injured by ice in the Delaware, any more than in the Hudson or East rivers. It is nothing to compare with that of Boston harbour, which receives and maintains a portion of the Cunard line. The proof that the ice argument is a fallacious one is found in the action of the United States Government in laying up its iron clads in our harbour, and making the immediate vicinity of our city the station of several of its largest ve sse l s o f war. In addition to all these local advant ages there is the super i or i ty o f t h e southern passage across the Atlantic, almost in a direct cour se f rom Philadelphia to L i verpool and back. By thi s Passage the dangers and delays of ice, fogs and w i n t er gales, which l i e on the route to New York, are all avoided. The voyage is thus made not only safer and pleasanter, but much more speedy. It is a remarkable historical fact that every ocean steamer to Europe that has been lost was on the most northern route. We cannot close this article without congratulating our readers on the prospects that this line of steamers is opening up to Philadelphia. We speak by authority when we say that failure is impossible. The money and the men are now at work that cannot and will not stop short of success. The work has been begun right this time, and it will go on right, without variableness or a shadow of turning.—Philadelphia Inquirer. The army in New Mexico consists of the Fifth infantry, commanded by Brevet Major-General George Sykes, headquarters at Fort Sumner ; Third cavalry, Colonel Marshal S. Howe, Fort Craig ; and Fifty-seventh regiment coloured troops, Colonel P. Harwood, at Fort Stanton. Speaker Colfaxleeturedn Williamsburg, Thanks giving night, on " AcrOss the Continent." lion. J. L. Jones, of Phillips County, has been elected United States Senator by the Legislature of Arkansas. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens has just returned from a journey West as far as Fort Riley, and is now at the Fifth avenue. SPIRI C OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The terrible examples of yellow fever which have been been brought this winter to our doors will enable us to appreciate the havoc which such a disease can work in congenial climates and on favourable soils. Happily for us, the poison cannot long retain its vitality in our atmosphere ; but so severe and deadly has been the pestilence in the West Indies during the present season that the French packets, as we yesterday announced, have been forbidden even to stop at the most infected of the islands. That island, however, is not a British possession, nor have we until now received any re ports of the existence of the epidemic in any of our garrisons in those parts. This morning, unfortu nately, another tale must be told. Demerara has been the scene of mortality scarcely less appalling, as far as we can judge, than that at Hongkong or Bermuda a short time ago. The victims have been the men of the 16th Regiment. We have not yet received the actual statistics of the outbreak, but a local print says that the troops were " more than decimated," and, in speaking of the tardy move ment of the garrison to a healthier station, describes the detachment embarked as comprising " those who j survived and were capable of removal." We are compelled, therefore, to infer that the story when completely told will be as bad as that of the fever at Hongkong, and that if the actual results should be less startling, the difference will be due rather to the smallness of the West Indian garrison than to the lightness of the visitation or the prudence with which it was encountered by those in authority. On this point, indeed, the case appears to bear a most unhappy resemblance to former examples. What yellow fever is, or what mischief it can work if uncontrolled, we need not again describe. Under conditions favourable to its development it is one of the most frightful diseases to which humanity is exposed ; but these conditions, fortunately, are often to be evaded. The plague seems peculiarly local ; it visits some places and not others, and is so confined in its actual ravages that it can generally be escaped by flight. In Jamaica it was found that troops had only to be moved from barracks in the plains to camps half way up the mountains, and all danger would be over. Scientific men could tell exactly the altitude at which a regiment would be out of the range of fever. All these conditions, apparently, were discoverable at Demerara. The ships in the harbour were infected with the disease ; indeed, they had probably brought it to the colony. The troops in garrison soon began to suffer, but outside the garrison not a single case occurred. Yellow fever was raging in the settle ment 'certainly, but only among one class of the population—that is, the British soldiery. Had the men, therefore, been moved at the first appearance of the disorder, it is almost safe to conclude that the mortality would have been escaped. It was only within the limits of the military station that the fever existed, and within those limits the men were kept to die. All this seems to have been perfectly understood on the spot. The colonial authorities, with a very creditable solicitude for the reputation of the settlement, put themselves in communication with the authorities of the garrison, and proposed to inquire into the origin and circumstances of the outbreak. It was remarked that the consequences might have been entirely escaped if the troops had been moved in time. The true method of encoun tering an enemy of this kind is not to light, but to fly. So well is this now known in India that when cholera breaks out at a station the regiment marches out, witho;it waiting even for medical or hospital appliances. It is better to encamp on an unin fected spot without drugs, physic, or surgeons, than to remain within reach of the plague and medicine together. In fact, medicine is all but useless. There is a certain percentage of recoveries under all systems of treatment, and about the same where no treatment is attempted at all ; hut when once the troops have changed their qitarters it is often found that the attacks cease altogether. It was not .believed at Demerara that the mere climate of the colony itself was much to blame, though it was acknowledged that young soldiers coming fresh from England, without any intermediate acclimatization or seasoning, would be more liable than other classes to suffer from occa sional epidemics. This may be very true, but, on the other hand, if soldiers are exposed to greater risks, they have also greater facilities of escape. A regiment is far more movable than a body of civilians Troops may at any minute receive orders to march, and it is, indeed; of the very essence of military discipline that such orders should be met with promptitude and ease. Suppose a demand had suddenly arisen in some West India Island for the services of the military, would not the 16th have been brought from Demerara at twelve Lours' no tice ? Why not, then, do as much for the preser vation of the men themselves ? Nowhere, indeed, could such movements be effected more readily than among the stations in the West Indies. It could not possibly be of any consequence whether this unfortunate regiment was quartered for a few mouths in Demerara or Barbadoes, and yet the removal was not effected until all this mortality had occurred. At last, when a tenth of the men had been buried, and the survivors could hardly crawl, they were taken off to Barbadoes, and there, as one of the papers of the island reported on the 22d ult., they were " free from Yellow Fever." So they might have been a month or two earlier, but for routine, incompetence, or whatever species of maladminis tration may be found to have been at work. We do not, of course, attempt to apportion the blame in this scandalous case with our present imperfect information. That the troops were retained in Demerara when they might have been transported to Barbadoes, and were thus allowed to die when they might have lived, appears to be a fact in itself beyond dispute ; but how, why, or through whose proceedings the misfortune occurred is more than we can say. One thing only ought to be added, in conclusion, and that is, that it is stated, though only as a report, that the garrison doctor objected at first to the removal of the troops to another locality. If this is true, the case may be one rather of profes sional miscalculation than military default, but in any event it should receive strict inquiry. In these days we do not hear with indifference of the sacri fice of British soldiers, and the Colonial authorities were perfectly justified in anticipating that the public at home would be startled by the intelligence, and that all concerned would be assuredly pub on their defence. HERALD.—The latest accounts from Ireland point to the gratifying conclusion that the Fenian enter prise has been abandoned by its projectors, and that the Christmas of 1865, in spite of all the threaten ing omens, is likely to pass over in peace. The vigi lance and resolution displayed by the government, backed by the active loyalty of the better cllss of the Irish people, have frightened the Fenian leaders from their purpose. The Yankee sympathisers are reported to be making their way quickly from the ungrateful country. The local patriots are subsid ing from ambitions of an Irish republic into the safer and more familiar path of vituperation. The Centres are being scattered to the Poles and ter ribly disturbed in their gravity. The Head Centre of all, Mr. James Stephens, whose capture was pre maturely announced on Saturday, is reported to be somewhere on the French coast, preparing for a descent—an attitude which it is probable he will maintain as long as the funds of the Fenian Brotherhood remain unexpended. In Ireland itself I the panic has almost, spent itself, and confidence is once more fully restored. It may be premature to congratulate ourselves on the final passing away of this peril, but we may fairly take credit on behalf of the Government for the present effectual suppres sion of the mischief. 'We can attribute the fE ilure of the project only to the vigorous and resolute action of the Irish authorities, aided by the sympathy of the loyal portion of the people, and the support which has been lent to the cause by nearly the whole respect able press of the two countries. A timid or vacillating Government might have easily plunged us into all the horrors of an Irish civil war before Christmas. We were never so near, we believe, as we have been during the last few weeks to that calamity. Fe nianism itself never had so fair a chance, and pro bably never will have one again. We can almost sympathise with Mr. James Stephens in his great disappointment. There was a good deal to encou rage him to make his attempt in the winter of 1866 if ever it was to be made at all. He might fairly reckon upon the political circumstances of the United States as being especiaily favourable. The struggle between the two native American parties occurring in the midst of a general bad feeling to wards England on the part of the American people seemed to promise the very opportunity which the Fenians wanted. The conclusion of the American civil war had thrown a swarm of loose military ad venturers out of employment, who were precisely the material required by the founders of an Irish republic. Nor were there wanting at home many conditions essentially advantageous to the Fenian leaders. Ireland was in one of her periodical moods of sullen discontent—uneasy she knew not why, and wanting she knew not what for her relief. There had been a long interval since the last outbreak, and a great many looked upon the promise of a " row " with longing eyes. It was not that there was any particular grievance to complain of in the winter of 1866—that the Irish Church bore more heavily on the shouldersof the country, or that the tenants were more than usually aggrieved at their landlords pos sessing the property ; but from a variety of causes, each trivial and insignificant, but making up a sum, which to the dys-logical mind was irresistible. Ire land was in a more unwholesome state in the autumn of 1866 than she had been for some time previously. In England Mr. James Stephens had all the sympathy which Mr. Bright and his friends could give him. He might look for a civersion in his favour at least from those who showed themselves no less disloyal to British institutions than he was, and who were just as ready to found an English as he to create an Irish republic. With all this in its favour Fenianism, fortunately for its advocates as well as for the peaceful people of the two countries, has failed even before it was put to the trial. Mr. James Stephens must be convinced, unless he is the most foolish as well as the vainest of men, that the day has not come for a separate Irish republic. Such a day can never arrive until the last hour of England's decadence has sounded. It is the wildest of conceivable delusions, this dream of an indepen dent Ireland. We have seen many wonders in this generation, and have realised many seeming impos sibilities. We have had a United Italy, a powerful Prussia, a constitutional Egypt ; but it is more rational to imagine a revival of the Byzantine Em pire, a regenerate Poland, with an elective King and the liberunz veto, or a limited monarchy in New Guinea, than to talk of the independence of Ireland. There are twenty-five millions of people in Great Britain who, however they may differ in other respects, will oppose any such project to the last extremity. And there cannot be a greater mistake than to suppose that the English Radicals are not quite as strenuous enemies of Fenianism as any other party in this country. We believe that under man hood suffrage there would be even less a prospect than there is now of an independent Ireland. There can be no doubt that an English democracy would repress an Irish insurrection just as sternly and energetically as a Conservative Government would; nor is there any hope at all from the political divi sions of the English people to such as Mr. James Stephens. Even those extreme journals which re present Mr. Bright's policy would find cause to change their pacific tone if it were a question between a Government of its own kind and a Fenian insur rection. The wisdom of a prompt and energetic policy in the beginning has never been better illus trated than in the present instance. A weak and irresolute Ministry could hardlyhave been able to prevent the outbreak of a civil war in Ireland this winter. Irish sedition has been so often assisted by English forbearance that the Fenian Senate might have been almost jus tified in feeling some degree of confidence insurrection for they would have had at least an for their money. But there has been no other dis turbance than what has been created by the domi ciliary visits of the Irish police. The revolvers and the pikes are innocent of loyal blood. The green uniforms remain unstained by Saxon crimson,- and will probably be returned to the tailors. The Greek fire has burnt only the fingers of those who played with it, and the soda-water bottles of explosive mix ture may be put away into the same repository with Mr. Meagher's sword and Mr. John Mitchell's vitriol, to remain as emblems of a folly the most extravagant, purposeless, and desperate that ever lured brave men to their own destruction. THE " SATURDAY REVIEW" ON THE LATE DE IIONSTRATION.—Mr. Hartwell, " Secretary of the Demonstration Committee," writes to the Times, expressing his satisfaction with the result of the procession of last Monday week. He accounts for a good deal, excuses here and apologises there, and, after the fashion of abler generals, makes out en tirely to his own satisfaction that, in a strategic point of view, 25,000 are equal to 200,000. Know ing that military critics have assured us that, strictly speaking, Waterloo was a French victory, we have no objection to Mr. Hartwell's complacent estimate of his great success. We should never have thought it worth a moment's discussion what numbers the Demonstration mustered had we not been pro mised 200,000. A much more serious issue, how ever, is raised by this person's letter. In account ing for what he admits to be the breakdown of the day—that the procession was unable to enter the ground at Walham Green—he has the impudence to say that he holds Sir Richard Mayne responsible for it. The Leaguers and Unionists were unable to get into the ground because they found a certain lane " blocked up by a dense crowd, a large pro portion of whom were roughs and thieves of the lowest character, who, with au eye to the best situa tion for business, had selected this narrow spot for their avocations." From which statement the natural inference would be that the Chief Commissioner of Police had summoned all the blackguards of London for the express purpose of interfering with the march of Beales and his followers. The thing complained of is this dense assemblage of the dan gerous classes ; the only matter to be discovered is who brought them together—that is, did Potter and Hartwell, or did Sir Richard call the procession out ? Even accepting the Secretary's ridiculous doctrine, that the police and the guardians of the public are responsible for any consequences which may result from a breach of the peace, never mind by whom encouraged, instigated, or invited—what follows ? That the police are to be called from their local duties to concentrate all their strength on a particular spot, to which anybody may, if not directly yet in directly, invite all the scum of a population of three millions. We regret to say that this is a conclusion which, after all, is not so very unnatural for the Leaguers to draw, after the amenities and high politeness which they received at the Home-office. Mr. Walpole did not lay it down in words that the Demonstration was an admirable thing, but when he said that the police would use their best en deavours to prevent any obstruction to their march, he really went very far towards enunciating Mr. i Hartwell's doctrine. If t was the b us i ness of the police to keep Piccadilly clear for the Leaguers, it was their business to keep th e B rompton lanes clear. As we have hitherto understood the law, it is the duty of the Executive to prevent any such assem blage of people as, th oug h the meeting itself is for an object not unlawful, may yet collect such crowds that a breach of the peace may reasonably be anti cipated. What might have been anticipated on Monday week, and what was anticipated by every body, police and Hartwell included, did occur. A breach of the peace, after all, was the result. It was, we repeat, all along anticipated. Mr. Walpole an ticipated it ; the Leaguers anticipated it ; Sir Richard Mayne anticipated it. The gathering of the roughs was foreseen by everybody. According to the Hartwell doctrine, it was the duty of the police to have dispersed the roughs ; that is to say, what he regrets is that. there was no charge of horse and foot, headed by Sir Richard in person, on the crowd which had blocked up the lane. Because this was not done—that is, because blood was not shed and lives were not lost, for it would have been absolutely impossible to have dispersed the roughs without a riot and bloodshed—Mr.. Hartwell com plains. These are the tender mercies of advanced Liberalism. The Leaguers admit that the meeting which- they convoked, and the procession which they marshalled, resulted in the gathering together of . 4 hordes of desperadoes and ruffians;" and the fact that a " terrible scene " did not take place, " which would probably have resulted in serious injuries, if not loss of life," is to be attributed only to the virtual collapse of the whole proceeding. If these frightful consequences were only averted by the s c an t y num b ers of the processionists, what could have prevented their oc currence if the summonses with which theyplacarded all London, inviting all the working men, had been listened to? This whole subject of the right to bring organised masses through the streets requires more consideration than it has received. No doubt the law, if there is any, on the right to hold public meetings and organise public processions, is vague enough. And it is so because the present conditions of society did not exist when the present law or custom grew up. Six ty-five years ago the popula tion of London and its suburbs was under a mil lion ; now it is trebled. London grows at the rate of nearly 50,000 a year. Good sense, or at least common sense, has hitherto prevented any mass meet ings of formidable magnitude in the capital of the Empire. But if we are to accept the views of the Home-office, there is no moment at which London may not be exposed —we will not say to the roughs, but—to an occasion which is certain to assemble all the roughs. And whenever this occasion arises— that is, when any fool or knave is able to collect together thousands or tens of thousands of people —it is the business, we are told, of the Home-office and the police to leave the rest of London most im perfectly protected in order to defend the quarter specially menaced. If this is to be the law, or is already the law, the sooner we get a change the better ; or we must demand an extension almost indefinite of the police force. It was this sort of thing which made a Parisian National Guar d necessary. ' And Paris, left t o it s own f re e will and only protected by itself, ended in a certain day of December. The legitimate and logical consequeli e ! of the Walpole-H ar t we ll d oc t r i ne o f pu blic wee/ ings and p rocess i ons wo uld b e e i t h er a R e ign ° Terror or a coup d'etat. Miscellaneous American News. The following are from . the Nation :—The ru mours of the President's having determined to sub mit to the popular decision and govern his conduct accordingly increase in number, if they do not gain strength, as the meeting of Congress draws near. They probably have some foundation. It is plea sant to learn from the correspondent of a Mobile paper, who seems well informed, that Mr. Johnson does not anticipate a "physical collision" with Con gress this winter, although he does not disguise his apprehensions that an attempt will be made to im peach him. As regards the impeachment, we fear a great deal of very valuable time will be spent in discussing it in the House—the reorganisation of the South and the regulation of the currency mean whilelying neglected. .Some tremendous speeches are doubtless in preparation on the origin, rise, and progress of impeachments, beginning at the first recorded Olympiad, and coming down by way of Ancient Egypt, Republican Rome, Moorish Spain, and modern England to our own day and country. We hope the public is ready. One of the largest and most perfect mastodons known, has been discovered at Cohoes, near Troy, in the United States. It was found eighty-three feet below the surface of the ground, and in so per fect a condition that it is believed that the skeleton can be restored. The animal must have been at least twenty feet in length and fifteen in height. The tusks measure eight feet, and the jaw is four feet nine inches in length from the mouth to the cranium. The remains have been carefully col lected, and it is stated that Professor Agassiz will draw up a report on them. Three thousand mineral specimens have been collected at San Francisco for the Paris Exposition next year. The project of sending a section of the big tree of California to the Paris Fair has been nearly abandoned. The longest message yet transmitted through the Atlantic Cable was a despatch from the United States Government, at Washington, to the Ameri can Minister at Paris, early last week. It consisted of more than 4,000 words, occupied ten hours in transmission, and was sent on an average at the rate of seven words per minute. The cost was over £2,000. If printed it would have occupied three columns of a daily paper. During the war, the Washington Steam Fire En gine Company removed in their ambulances 2,113 wounded soldiers. A . certificate of the committee of the Citizens' Volunteer Hospital has been got up in handsome style, and is to be presented to the Company. It contains pictures of the hospital and the Washington's ambulance. The whole is inclosed in an elegant and massive gilt frame, elaborately decorated. On the top is an eagle, and underneath it a bust of Washington. On each side are torches and axes, and at the bottom, a miniature steam fire engine. The testimonial will no doubt be highly prized by the members of the Washington Steam Fire Company. It is now on exhibition at the store of G. W. Pitcher, Chesnut-street, above Eighth. We hear that the several delegates from Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, appointed to arrange the terms of union of those provinces in one confederation, have organised themselves into a conference. The conference is composed of the fol lowing gentlemen :—The Hon. Messrs. Macdonald, Cartier, Galt, M'Dougall, Howland, and Langevin, from Canada ; the Hon. Messrs. Tupper, Henry, Ritchie, M'Cully, and Archibald, from Nova Scotia ; and the Hon. Messrs. Mitchell, Wilmot, Tilly, Fisher, and Johnson. They commenced their sit tings on Tuesday, the 4th inst. ; the Hon. John A. Macdonald, of Canada, being chairman, and Lieu tenant-Colonel Hewitt Bernard, the secretary of the conference, which sits daily at the Westminster Palace Hotel. On account of the despatch of great quantities of war material and military stores in Canada, the Mi litary Store Staff at Quebec has been augmented by Deputy-Assistant-Storekeeper Taylor, from Alder shot Camp. His Excellency the General Command ing in that colony, Sir John Michel, 1C.C.8., has also thought it desirable to establish military store depots at Toronto, London, and Hamilton, the for mer being placed under the charge of Assistant- Superintendent Russell whose appointment to Quebec, vice W. H. Tapp, has been cancelled—and the latter under Assistant-Superintendent Miller, from Dublin. A recent letter from Springfield states that Pro fessor Wilbur, the geologist, has selected and labelled a series of fossils and minerals from - the duplicates belonging to the State Cabinet, to be ex hibited first at the coming State Fair, in Chicago, and from thence to be forwarded to Paris, in care of the llon. J. P. Reynolds, the accredited State agent for the Paris Exposition. After the close of the exhibition they will be exchanged for European specimens, to be returned to the State Cabinet. The collection will embrace about 600 species of mine rals and fossils, to which will be added, in Chicago, such specimens of coals, building stones, potters' clay, &c., as have been collected by the agent of the State Agricultural Society, Mr. Minier, who has been actively engaged in this work for the past two months. Such an exhibition of the natural resources of the State in this department will thus be made to Europe as will, no doubt, have a beneficial influence in drawing t o our own State a fair share of the capi tal and enterp r i se th at yearly seeks a new and wider field of labour on this continent. The following is from the Pall-Mall Gazette : " We noticed some weeks ago a statement of the Economist that there was some fear of an interrup tion of the wine trade between Franc© and the United States. It has since given some fresh parti culars by no means reassuring. The French Go vernment directed its Minister at Washington to remonstrate with the American Cabinet, but M. Montholon found his representations were without avail. He was told that the seizures complained of were in virtue of the law ; that the courts, not the Government, must decide on the legal point ; and that, as the Customs' officers had a pecuniary inte- rest in the seizures, it would be difficult for the Courts to annul them. The whole question seems to turn on the zeal of the Customs' officers for the profits of seizure, and this zeal is probably only another feature of the extensive jobbery which has been shown to prevail in New York. It is said that a large import house in New York telegraphed to France to countermand some orders it had given, for fear of its goods being seized, and that the Custom-house officers managed to intercept the telegram. Either the merchants have been cheating the Customs for some time past, or the Customs have been cheating the merchants." Our contemporary is probably not aware to what COUNTRY MARKETS. COLCIIESTER--DEc. 15. A moderale supply of wheat at market, which sold . 11 . ti about late rates. Other grain was quiet, with no n2aWri l " change in value. „. 408 Wheat, white f2s 70 s Beans, Ilaza,gan....••a '' 45s red 60s 66s Middle and 5ma11,.44s ~,, . Barley .... l2s 56s P ea s, w h i t e 56d ' — Oats ..... ... s 8 grey ..3 03 0 CHELMSFORD—DEC. 1.4. Alia At the market to-day w h ea t was i n s h or t supPlY, O, the trade was active, prices being firm at format to:T l'o Barley receded is per qu ar t er , except b est sor ts. Bu fully 2s, and peas and oats is cheaper. Cli Wheat, old white 52 3 66 a , P eas , Partrld , e ...... Vs new 5 s 67s Wh i te ' ..32s so old red 50s 59s Wiling.. ...... F 2 40 new. s's 58s Dun—. ..... .• •.. ' Bl ' ~...a Barley.... t,hevalier - s —s Beans, Tick, 01d...••• 4 °" 4 23 Oritid ng ss 30s new. • •• 36 * 4 8 3 Malt 58 s Ws Harrow t icks.-12i 41, Chevalier 6)s 623 new.. • • 4 ° 3 0 . . 3 Oats ... 2ls 27s Maz:igan.... :06 GRANTHAM—DEC. 15. Old white wheat, 58s to 61s; old red, 54s to 580; .u , 17 , white, 54s to 58s ; new red, 49 s t o 54 s per 36 s t o ne. r ley for malting, 38s to 455 per qr. ; grinding, 30s to 34s 30 stone. Oats, old, 30s to 32s ; new, 25s to 30s pe r e. stone. Beans, old, 42s to 52s ; new , 39s to 46s per 38 s t°j2 Peas, 35s to 40s per 36 stone. NORTHAMPTON—DEC. 15. old New white wheat, 56s to 60s ; new red, 50s to 5 6 5; white, 58s to 62s ; old red, 56s to 59s per 36 stone. Bar y o for malting, 42s to 51s per qr. ; grinding, 29s to 36s ' P er o . stone. Oats, old, 26s to 83 s • new, 23s to 32s per 2 4 s to n e ' Beaus, old, 46s to 49s ; n ew , 42s to 45s per 38 stone. r e ' w 38s to 42s per 36 stone. ABERDEEN—DEC. 14. The attendance at ,the corn market to-day lb w i a l b s us: ::: rate, and there was little busi ness d o i ng . White wheat 52s Od t o GO s 01 lied wheat 48 s Od t o 55 s Od Potato oats 24s Od to 26s Odf Common oats 23s 6d to 25 s Od Bere 31s Od to 32s Gd t : 11: 11 : : bushel. Barley 32s Od to 33s Od " 11) Oatmeal 20s 6d to 21 s 6d ? b o ll of 2 50 ',, . Flour, fine 43s Od to 50s 6d ?sack of 28 " " KIRKOALDY—DEc. 15. WheO Moderate supplies of wheat, b ar l e y, an d oa ts. • sustained a reduction of about 1s per qr. Oats dispoow of at 6d more money. Barley 6d to is down. Wheat. Barley. Oats. First...... 55a ud ; 33a )d 22s Od becond.... 578 Od I 37a Od 25s Od Third . 59s Od 35s Od 298 Od COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the close of the market. " s. d. s. 6 West Hartley 18 0 East Hartle p ool ..... . 8 Lambert's W.Hartley 17 6 H e tt on Ly ons ...••••• 0 Kelloe 21 Tees S W o all uth s ........••• : Trimdon Grange lB 9 Hastings Hartley .. ; ... 17 0 Cassop 2O 0 Holywell Main. .....••• North Pelton Gas Ships at market, 65—sold. 56. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, vi a S outhamp ton rt.,L.&— 20. Ditto, via Marseilles Jan- '- Brazil and Capa Verde. by British pa0ket.......• • •J an ' Ditto, by French packet Cape of Good Rope, Ascension, an d St . Ilelena D6-m 28.„0. China, Penang. and Singapore, via S out h ampton Dec 29 Ditto, via Marseilles Da Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Dec. 14 ' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Del 2). Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. Dec.. - • . 23 Ditto, via Marseilles . Malta., Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton De 21. 2 . 3 ; . Ditto, via Marseilles Dee Mauritius, via Southampton - %- Ditto, via Marseilles Newfoundland ••• 0000 o 2' Portugs) Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon United States and British North America, Sy Bri tish packet. Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry —Dec' %Vest Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Twice& .. • Ja il ' " West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) Do- 29 Bahanrj. via New York. _Jan 1 : Cuba aqd Mexico Deo. " - 9 Bermuda, via . A MONDAY CHRISTMAS.—The Worcester Hera t " gives the following from the Harleian MSS., 4 ' 4° ' 2,252, folio 153-4 : "If Christmas-day on Monday be, A great winter that year you'll see, Aud full of winds both loud and shrill ; But in summer, truth to tell, High winds shall there be, and strong, Full of tempests lasting long; While batiles they shall multiply, And great plenty of beasts shall die. They that he born that day, 1 weep, They shall be strong each one and keen ; He shall be found that stealeth aught; Tho' thou be sick, thou diest not." Here, it is said, are three prophecies—the l i e which lasted from January to well on in Mays ' war which ended at Sadowa, and the rinderpesb all fulfilled this ye'ar after a Monday Christi:a% The cattle plague, it is true, was a legacy from year ; but still the ancient prophet has proved 111 10 1 self a better m an th an Old M oore an d Z a dkiel, a score of modern pretenders. Better, too, t u an the moon—which has been singularly at fa ll ive this year, wind a n d ra i n com i ng on j ust as lifidia had never had a change of moon at al—Pall - J.' Gazette. The Government printing-offices are P rin l large numbers of documents. It is stated th ab l Pope is about t o p romu l gate reforms, accomPa.,leso by a decl ara ti on o f t h e reasons for which Is' e , reforms were deferred while the French troops r mained in Rome. e 3 The high price of oyst ers i n F rance has ill—Au- c via an enterprise to the nor th ern seas— i t i s no t ics ° o precisely where—for the purpose of supplying ung e market with che a pe r an d b e tt er oy s t er s than tP en which are now sold re t a il a t 2f ., or ls. Bd. pet &r rise (Ostends), and Is. id. th e d ozen f or t h e l ar ge, " 0 0 French oysters. Some of these oysters have they landed at Calais, and a f ew d ozens h ave f o und " to way to Paris. They are large oysters—larger t ot , the common French oysters, but much more full, and tender, w hil s t th e fl avour i s delit us. o They were selling th e o th er d ay at C a l a i s for 7f. to 9f. the 100. ri [ADVERTISEMENT.I - Holloway's Ointment and - l OL n ly Every Day Want.—Skin diseases, blotches, and un s LicDl eruptions, which pr eva il so f requent l y, an d anno y s° ling can be removed with facility by this cleansing and c,ruta ointment, the sa l u t ary propert i es o f which over a" ow neous affections have b een l ong an d indubitablyl,l be blished. Moderate doses of Holloway's Pills sh ° . o l 13 1 ° taken while the outward a il men t i s b e i ng trea t e d g? , iota ointment, they will dep ura t e th e bl oo d an d free 11'4the every taint that mi g ht i n d uce a re l apse, deterioiro o ro' general health, and oth erw i se ac t i njur i ous ly. meting digestion, and by p ur ifyi ng th e circulation o af" loway's Pills ever help to k ee p th e s ki n c l ear an d to, 0 , g o cate the many rashes and s p o t s so f requent l y denotin. infirm stomach. Births. ~, the ANTRODUS—On the 17th inst., at 65, E us ton-eel wife of H. L. Antrobus, of a daughter. wife FORCE—On the 13th inst., at 25, Arundel-square, the of F. W. Force, of a son. .gdvr and the 16th inst., at Bournemouth, 3fre' Grey, of a son. sto ke, LIDDELL—On the 15th inst., at 9, Trafalgar-place , L S.' Devonport, the wife of Commander W. H. Liddell, '' H.M.S. Zealous, of a daughter. 3 161. OuvEß—On the 15th inst., at West Hill, Sydenha lTh Henry Oliver, of a son. ee, ,-..;t ne s6 l STOCKS—On the 11th inst., at Lather on w h I u ---13 f P the wife of Major Stocks, of Latheronwheel 0 " daughter. Marriages. of GALTON—Bnocx—On the 17th inst. Mr. Mr. J. C. O tili tiite t the General Post-office, to Harriot . Mary, eldest dal'. /40 of Mr. James Brock, of Great Marlboroug ll-Btre°t. cards. 1 LO° B NORTIICOTE —l3Roovi -Oa the 13th inst., at g •-• f -• St& s tet% Piccadilly, Charles James Northcoto, Esq., of Stanizoi. Lodge, L ew i s h am, to Isabella, second daug hter of Brooks, Esq., of Jermyn-street, St. James's. ALDHAM —On the 15th inst Deat ~ Bo hs ys Robert Aldhare, I SO lei' tor, King's Lynn. „ v . Stl*/ CHEERY - On the 13th inst., at Brighton, A. Che'''' late of Pilstie, Cuckfie/d, Sussex,aged 56. ro ;ff Pc‘ t LAWSON—On the 13th inst , at Headingley v":,,' 0 0. Leeds, S. Lawson, Esq., senior partner in the au" - Lawson and Sons, aged 85. r 03 10 ' LocKE—On the 15th ins t , at 23, Lowndes-squar e, - h widow of the late Joseph Locke, M.P. -fiityrer WASS—On the 13th inst., at Charlotte-street, . 1 square, Mr. W. Wass, aed 84. so t, of WESLEY— On the 15th inst., at Hastings, George, Lt.-General Sir Ebbed Wesley, K.C.8., aged 25. ........% vto • London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM A.N9g"v of No. 112, Strand, Punter at Tax SUN (Am O. of C o Strand, 1n the Precdnet of the Savoy , in the ,'"'" Mlddlesez4—Tuesday, December 18, 1868. i . ~~►:s ~' ~t~ . I St, ( 1 blißh e( Price 1.41)011 ie anol