The Sun. — London, England, 1866-12-25 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckstone, TO-MORROW EVENING, A MERE CHILD. Messrs. Howe, Gordon, White, .tic. ; Mesdames Chippendale, Fitz william, Laws, Rebecca Powell, &c. Alter which, A LESSON FOR LIFE. Messrs. Eothern, Chippendale, Compton, Howe, Kendal, Gordon, Rogers, Braid, Vincent, Sm.; Mesdames Chippendale, Wright, Moore, bre. Followed by JENNY LIND AT LAST. Messrs. W. Farren, White, Rogers, &c ; Miss lone Burke. To conclude with a GRAND BALLET DIVERTISSE MENT. Mdlle. Sophia. Commence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. TO- KORROW EVENING, at Seven, A SISTER'S PENANCE. Miss Kate Terry, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt; Messrs. H. Vezin, BilLington, Ashley, Eburne, Ronur, and Stephenson. To conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of THE MOUNTAIN DHU; or, THE KNIGHT, THE LADY, AND THE LAKE. Messrs, J. L. Toole (his first appear ance since his provincial tour), Paul Bedford, Ashley, K. Homer, and C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Furtado, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt, &c. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE, New Management—Boxing Night. MR. AND MRS. CHARLES MATHEWS. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. On Boxing Night, NEIGHBOURS. Messrs. Parselle, Belford, and G. Murray; Misses Swanborough, Johnstone, and Hughes. After which, will be produced the Grand Burlesque of KENILWORTH Messrs. Thorne, James, and Fenton; Mesdames Swanborough, Johnstone, and Raynham. To conclude with BOOTS AT THE SWAN. Commence at Seven. HOLBO-RN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. On Boxing Night, a new Farce, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Belmore, Miss Foote, Miss Lennox. After which, Boucicanit's drama of FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Belmore, Blake. Garden,Vollaire Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders, B. Foote, flaym nd. THEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S, Under the Sole Management of Mr. H. C. Nation. On BOXING MG HT, and every evening during the week, the periormancea will commence at Seven o'clock with a Comic Drama, entitled DELICATE GROUND Concluding with, i►t a quarter to 8, the Great NATION-AL Pantomime, written by Charles Igillward, and entitled HUSH-A-BYE, BABY, UPON THE 'FREE TOP. In the Grand Burlesque Opening, Misses Caroline Parkes, Nelly Nisbett, Polly Marshall, Fanny Gwynne, Neliy Burton, Fanny Howard, Lizzie Kelsey, Mrs. CAulfleld ; Messrs. Atkins, W. H. Stevens, Arthur Milano, Miss Bessie Sim monde, Premier Danseuse ; and the favourite Children Danseuses, Misses Fanny Higgs, Florence and Annie Wright, will appear. The Harlequinacie will include—Clown, the Original Little Rowelia; Pantaloon, Mr. Beckingnam ; Harlequin, Mr. Honeywood ; Harlequin ( la Whatteau). Miss Ester Austin (from Paris); Columbine,', Misses Gros venor and Simmonds. The truly magnificent Scenery painted by Messrs. Julian Hicks, H. Y. Hall. and numerous assis tants. The Dances, including an entirely novel and charac teristic Ballet of Ladybirds, arranged by Mr. Milano. N.B.—Mr. W. H. C. Nation begs to announce that MORN ING PERFORMANCES of this, the best Children's Panto mime in London, will be given every MONDAY, WEDNES DAY, and SATURDAY, being the only Morning Perft•rm ances on the Surrey side of the water. First Morning Per formance on Saturday, Dec. 29, at Two o'clock. Box-office open from Eleven till Four. No charge wha' ever for bills or booking. It will be absoiu ely necess , iry, to prevent disappointment, that seats should be secured in adv +nee. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIk, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed AGS P. 4 r to dqlver the LATE EDITION of THE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. tic is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9 o'clock. _ . Orders by Post punctually attended to. T " R. "SUN " NEWSPAPER.- G. GLENIII: delivers the LATE EDITION a Chelsea, 7.40 ; Kilbu:n, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30 ['abridge, 9.20 ; Walford, 8.45. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic Rtnerally, that he supplies the LATEST EDITIuN of 4 .THE SUN" as soon as published —No. 16, kli.mpstead road, N. W. 11HE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing all the LATEST NEWS and 62ORTING INTELLIGENCE, by IL W. I:IAItRiS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blaokiriars-road, London, S. SPORTING. —JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATEST EDITION of "TIIN SUN" as soou as pub tatied.-1, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. FOR THE LATEST POLITICAL and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE see the Edition of " The sun" at Mr. Blake's, Queen's Head, Late Windsor- Street, Uxbridge. LATEST INTELLIGENCE.- Samuel SMITH, late of Chelse fnst the White E.- hart, Acton, Middlesex, begs to inform friends and neighbours that the Latest Edition of "The Sun" can be seen at his house as above. 11;LE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by W. ALIsIXAN DER. (late BROOKS). Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish- treet. Oxford-street. MOSES and S ON, • Ready-made and Bespoke Tailors, Habit Makers, Woollen Drapers, Hatters, Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manu facturers, and General O ut fi tters for all Classes. E. MOSES and SON respectfully invite an inspection of their STOCK, which will be found to comprise all the most fashionable styles and an extensive assortment of the newest fabrics. A very large and well-assorted stock of OVERCOATS, p and rices: Winter Clothing generally, at their usually moderate The following are the London addresses of E. Moses and Son:- 154, MINORIES. 155, MINORIES. 156, MINORIES. 157, MINORIES. 83, ALDGATE. 84, ALDGATE. 85, ALDGATE. 86, ALDGATE. 87, ALDGATE. 88, ALDGATE. 89, ALDGATE. 506, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 507, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 508, NEW OXFORD-STREET. 1, HART-STREET. 2, HART-STREET. 3, HART-STREET. 137, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD. 138, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD. 283, EUSTON-ROAD. Also, 19, BRIDbE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. 20, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS are CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY EVENING at sunset till SATURDAY EVENING at sunset, when business is resumed till Eleven o'clock. All articles axe marked the lowest price in plain figures, from which no abatement can be made. Any article not approved of will be exchanged, or the money will be returned. Of late years we have seen many changes and alterations in our customs and manners, but we trust that Christmas hthriestaaa day s will be far distant w h en th e approach does not meet with a hearty welcome in England, for it is a record of the good old times which we would not willingly lose sight of. Noth ing tends more to foster unity of feeling among various classes than to have a common point to start from, and to form as it were a mutual ground, so that social distinctions and differences may in a approach s h otfherehasgreat measure be lost sight o f never been a year in which th e Christ mas mirth and festivities have seemed more unsuit able to some, for since the d u ll season last came round what sorrows and sufferings have not been the lot of many ? A catalogue of misfortunes seem to have formed in a great measure the epitom e of this year's calendar, and whether we look abroad or at home we may see the traces of losses and sick ness, and the sad gaps exhibited that have been made by the arch-destroyer—death. As if we had not already more than enough to fill up the dreary tale within thelast seven days we have heard of the awful accidents in the mines which have been the cause of so much distress. However the true work Lists of Prices with rules for Self-measurement and Fashion Sheet, with Patterns and "History of London," gratis and post free. A . POPULAR HISTORY of LONDON from the Invasion of Julius Camar to the Present Time. Part the First, from B.C. 55 to A.D. 1066. E. Moses and Son, corner of Minories and Aldgate ; New Oxford-street, and Tottenham-court-road, Loudon; And Bradford, Yorkshire. Gratis and post free on application. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 4h. 2 0m.—Afternoon, 4h. 46m. To - Mmutow.-Merning, 511. Gru.—Afternoon, sh. 30m. z. . 1 cif ) 1 . 4 . Ate...7* ..... ~...-x ~, ' , * *.... ..:,.,....z..,,,,,„pr. 4).1! -0 4 LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 25, 1866. The recurrence of the time-honoured festival of Christmas, always so widely and universally celebrated among ourselves, bids us look abroad and see how our continental neighbours are likel 3 to the welcome season. With the Frenchman Christmas day is secondary as a fete, whatever it may be as a religious festival ; as among our Scotch kinsfolk the first day of the year is with the French the great anniversary holi day, when greetings and good w i s h es are exc h ange d , and when pleasant companies assemble in family gatherings. When we begin to think of how Christmas is E peat abroad, therefore our thoughts naturally turn to Germany, where the customs and affections of the people are in some respects more kindred to our own, and where Christmas is still the clay of most cherished associations. It cannot be a very peaceful celebration one would think that will be held this year at Berlin. The schem es and intrigues of BISMA RCK and his master have prospered beyond their wildest dreams, but yet before the tower is completed it is already tottering to its fall. The reckless ambition, the shameless hypocrisy which, under the pretence of defending national rights and liberties, have absorbed independent states in the circle of the Prussian dominions, have not indeed been without a temporary success ; nevertheless, if Ring WILLIAM and Count BIS3IARCK choose to moralise over their Christmas gaieties they of Christmas need not be stayed on account of these trials, grievous though they have undoubtedly been, nor need we always insepa rably associate the time with the gayest rounds of mirth, and the most exuberant display of spirits. If so few circles could depend on meeting to cele brate the time, because the youngest and brightest must ever and anon find their paths clouded ; the true lesson that Christianity should teach is that of unity, that the strains that swelled the song of angels on the first Christmas morn may still linger in our minds, though they echo through the shades of eighteen centuries—" Peace on earth, good-will to men." Those who seek to illustrate the principles contained iu these words need never pass a dull or an unprofitable time, although they do not spend their holiday season in the sounding halls of revelry, amid the glitter of wealth, or the gaiety of the light-hearted. , To each and all this Christmas season should be a treat in the landscape of their lives. The rich may well rejoice that they have such an oppor tunity afforded to them of making others sharers in their treasures, or of letting in a gleam of kind times to them, and irradiate what is Loo often the selfish tenure of their satisfied at th e r lives. Th e b usy can b e spite from their labours which this time generally afford s t h em, and as for the poor th ey have especial cause for thanksgiving. Christmas is their esp.xial and se MR. SOTHERN.—TO-MORROW EVENING can hardly be very well satisfied with the FOR 11 3 1.?E, xi "13y Tom Taylor, Haymarket Theatre. G -NIGHT), in a New Comedy, "A LESSON position they have gained. They have hope lessly alienated the sympathies of England. and have aroused the national jealousy of France. Brs manic must be uncomfortably conscious policy leaves open only too many opportunities thst f h o i r s o " picking a quarrel," should smaller States Franceld s fi t n es d f Prussia growing too strong. T Ger many may be ready enough now to acknowledge, le droit du plus fort; but should an equally strong pretender appear upon the troubled stage of Ger man politics, they will be glad enough to avail themselves of the excuse and break off from their despotic leader. As for those free States whom Prussia has forcibly incorporated with her own ter ritory, it is only too certain that they would, if they had the chance, throw off the yoke forced upon them under the specious plea of German unity by the advocates of the real cause of nationalities. The retribution which deliberate wrong-doing usually brings upon both rulers and people has cer tainly not been long in overtaking some of the offenders against poor Denmark. Austria, who leagued with Prussia as the joint executors of the will of the Gorman Diet, has been bitterly punished. She found that the same course which was pursued against Demark was to be followed with respect to herself, and she was less inclined to admire it. The occupation of the Duchies was, we were told at first, only undertaken in the interests of the Duke of AUGUSTENBERG ; but here are the Duchies for cibly dissevered from Denmark, and the Duke AUGUSTENBERG is about as far from his throne as ever. He served as a very good pretext for the transparent designs of Prussia, but all the smaller States of Prussia were so blinded by their eager desire to extend the importance of their Con federation that they did not see, or would not believe, the snare, and have ended in the total dis ruption of the Confederation itself. They are likely to pass through some bitter experience before they regain their former position, and others, besides the Kings of HANovEn and of SAXONY, may well look back with regret a few years when German unity was still a theory, not a disappointing fact, and when Germany itself meant eomething more than an ever-growing Prussia. The disaffection of the Liberal party in Prussia itself must be anything but reassuring to the heads of the State. This wise and benign Government, which is so competent to administer the affairs of such divers nations, fails strangely in giving satis faction to its own people. Free thought, free speech, civil liberty in all its phases, is not the possession of the King of PRUSSIA'S subjects under BISMARCK'S enlightened Administration. They must learn to be contented without such trouble some additions to their blessings ; but, unfortu nately for BISMARCK, he cannot control Europe, and he is well aware that his conduct is being dis cussed pretty sharply in more than one neighbour ing kingdom on Christmas-day. Austria, if she can conciliate Hungary, and learn how to conso lidate her vast possessions by the bonds of loyalty and contentment, has yet a fine future before her beyond the limits of the Fatherland. Italy has advanced so rapidly on the path of progress and unity that she is fast realising the visions of her poets and romancists. Denmark, stripped of so much, is yet rich in the peace and prosperity of her brave and simple people, their freedom, their loyalty, their devotion to their dynasty. Through the agency of the fair Princess DAGMAR, too, she has just found an alliance more durable than that of Cabinets and diplomatists with her most powerful northern neigh bour. This alliance can hardly be welcome at Berlin, since it would easily enable Russia, if she chose to combine with France and Austria, to curb the un scrupulous flight of the Black Eagle. Prussia, however much she may plume herself upon her military triumphs over unprepared or unequal foes, could never stand against such odds. It is an ill assured victory that she has wen, and to obtain it she has sacrificed national truth and honour, the respect of men of all nations, and that confi dence which no one can feel in a Power who bends her obligations so completely to her wishes. It will be, we fear, but a dreary Christmastide in Germany, though no doubt every effort will be made to keep up a good appearance, and to pretend that the great and startling changes which have taken place since last year have been entirely in accordance with the popular wishes, the rights of nationalities, and the general feeling of Europe. Before another Christ mas has come round we may see still more startling changes, though none can teach us more forcibly the moral that the gains won by hypocrisy and aggression are neither enjoyable in the present nor encouraging for the future. liar holiday, and in some respects they can claim a greater share in its privileges, for He whose day it is when He dwelt on earth came not to dwell among the rich, the titled, or the powerful, but was the lowliest of the lowly, and had not where to lay His head. Who can, then, boast of pomp and power on a day which records His advent among us in lowliness and humility ? Who can complain of his poverty at a period which renews the thoughts of Him who left the Throne of Heaven to be born in a manger. All our distinctions, which sometimes seem so great to us here, sink into their native in significance, and resolve themselves into their primi tive nothingness. It is well that it should be so. This festival is either worth nothing or a great deal ; it is as nothing if we are to let pride and selfishness, bitterness and complaining show themselves according as tempta tions of different stations of life suggest themselves. It is worth a great deal if we will all look faithfully and truthfully upon it, and recognise its meaning and its character. The rich and the poor meet together and the LORD is the maker of them all, is a true saying, and never more applic able and appropriate than at this time. They meet as divided by the accidents of birth and station, but united by a common tie, for they celebrate this fes tival of Him who redeemed them, and before whose throne they must one day stand at His second coming upon earth. What would this world be if He had never came to visit it ? and how can the rich look at their unfading treasures, and the poor dwell upon their better inheritance, in a more im pressive manner, than by cultivating kindly feeling one towards another, and acting in a spirit worthy of the dweller in a Christian land, and the servants of the PRINCE OF PEACE. Masters and servants, employers and employed, should ponder over these things at this special season, and contrive to make this festival truly a time of peace and quiet. The family gatherings that now abound are mos interesting sights, and far exceed in real enjoyment some of the more splendid affairs of grander man sions. There are, however, many who cannot join in the brilliant throng, and mix in the social circle of happier days, but each who has the power should do something to cheer and solace their loneliness and affliction, and thus show that they really comprehend what should be the celebration of their times. Again, all who have abundance of means should seek to improve this time by bestowing what they can spare upon those who need. They may not be permitted to witness another anniversary of their SAVIOUR'S birth, and what better thought can cheer their last hours than the remembrance that they have served the poor, whom he left to them as a precious legacy and a solemn trust. We have seen, then, how, in many ways, Christmas may be kept, so as to form, as it is right that it should, a landmark in our years, as they roll on to bear us nearer to him whom we this day delight to honour. The hum o: business and the strife of politics may well be hushed for a brief space, while we think of those better things which shall last when they have all waxed old as a garment and are put away for ever, Solemn thoughts like these need spoil no right re joicings ; and when the time for merriment is past, all may go cheerily to their work again, refreshed by the interchange of kindly feelings, and gladdened by the thought that they have not missed a chance of improving their opportunity. Christmas muss afford to all some relief, even in a secondary sense ; while, if they follow out its meaning still further and higher, they may realise that it brings them glad tidings of great joy to cheer the weary world around them, and to be the herald and harbinger of that better world to come, where peace and charity shall eternally flourish. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Monday Evening. The official part of the Moniteur records the recep tiou yesterday at the Tuileries of M. Djemil Pacha, the new Turkish ambassador, to present his letters of recall to M. Safret Pacha, and also the creden tials which appoint him as the successor of the latter functionary. M. Djemil Pacha made a speech expressive of the desire of the Ottoman Porte to in crease the relations and cordiality and friendship between France and Turkey. The Emperor replied in the same spirit. Mr. John Bigelow, the American Minister, had a private audience of the Emperor, to take leave, and Major-General Dix, his successor, was also received by the Emperor. The General, in his address to his Majesty, expressed the desire of the United States to cultivate cordial and friendly relations with France. The Emperor thus replied : —" I thank you, General, for the sentiments which you express to me in the name of the Government of the United States. The historical recollections to which you allude form a sure guarantee that no misunderstanding will trouble the amicable rela tions which have so long existed between France and the American Union. A faithful and sincere understanding will, I have no doubt, turn to the advantage of industry and commerce which every day astonish the world by their prodigies, and will insure the progress of civilisation. Your presence among us cannot fail to contribute to this happy result by maintaining the relations to which I attach the greatest value." In its bulletin the Moniteur says : " The American papers bring us very incom plete extracts from the diplomatic correspendence which has just been submitted to Congress. Among these extracts is a despatch, dated November 23, addressed by M. Seward to M. Bigelow. The French Government has never had any knowledge of this document. The journals of the United States, however, confirm the good understanding - which exists between the Federal Government and that of the Emperor. A letter received in Paris, from Cherbourg, dated Dec. 21, gives some rather startling news. It says : " A „ Ministerial despatch, which has surprised every one, has been received this evening by the Maritime Prefect. It gives orders that the iron armed division of the Channel, under the com mand in chief of Vice-Admiral Baron La Ron ciere de Noury, is to take in provisions and com - bustibles, and be ready to sail at the first signal for hMearegetnhtea acnodmtmheatiFdlearnsdraerealtoopseanil eirTa,hwere fllolrexmicoad. the secret despatches which will be remitted to them at their departure." The letter then mentions various changes which are to take place in the sta tions of other vessels, and proceeds— " People here are lost in conjectures as to the ' mission of the Division, and even in official quar ters nothing is known about it. It is, however, generally supposed that the vessels employed in it have the orders to protect the transports which are engaged back our troops from M ex i co. The which are to bring back the F renc h vessels troops are expected reach Vera Cruz towards the end of January. The embarkation will commence in February, and will be finished by the 15th of March." The Oaks Colliery Explosion. Count de la Ferrango has died suddenly from the rupture of a blood vessel at Frobsdorff. The Count was a man of some note in the political and diplo matic world. A fog has prevailed all day in Paris, and it has been very cold. At five this afternoon there was a slight fall of snow, and there seemed every proba bility of more snow during the night. The streets of Paris have presented a scene of great animation and excitement to-day. Crowds surround the shops to see the mar vels of French arts and industry, and thousands hay e flocked to the churches. To-night all Paris will " keep it up." The first order of the night is the Midnight mass, and, that over, according to old tradition, there will be black pudding suppers in all directions, the consumption of which may be counted by tons. They are supposed to be made of pork, but pigs at this season, whatever may be the desire to oblige, ,J I are scarcely to be had in sufficient quantities to fur nish forth the cormorant demand for black puddings. The Cardinal Archbishop of Reims, Senator, died yesterday at his residence, in the 75th year of his age. BARNSLEY, Monday Afternoon. ' It appears likely that the course adopted by the mining engineers of extinguishing the vast body of fire in the mine by sealing up the two shafts will be attended with success ; therefore it is not expected that the last resource in such cases, the flooding of the mine with water, will be necessary. Were the water to be allowed to run into the workings, as was the case at Lund-hill and Edmund's Main, it is questionable whether it would pay the proprietors to get it out, and the result would probably be the abandonment of the pit. With the workings ex tending over 1,900 yards on the dip the expense of cleaning out the water would be something enormous, and in all probability require the sinking of a new shaft. On Saturday the furnace and No. 1 shafts were sealed up—the former to the extent of 117 yards from the bottom, and the latter 92 yards. Nearly 4,000 tons of spoil were put down the two shafts, on the top of which was a layer of fine puddled clay, five yards thick. On Sunday the re port issued was to the effect that the furnace drift had sunk three yards since the previous day, whilst there was about 80 yards of water on the top. To day there was a meeting of mining engineers at the King's Head Hotel, which was attended by the leading men in the kingdom, including Mr. Wood house, Mr. Forester, Mr. Potter, and the principal local viewers. After taking into consideration the report presented to them of what had been done since the last meeting, it was agreed that the No. 1 shaft should be filled up in the Melton-field seam, a little below the No. 6 drift, leading into the pump ing shaft ; that a scaffold in the No. 2 shaft, at a point marked on the section, be lowered from the surface to that point, together with a pipe three or four inches in diameter placed at the side of the scaffold, for the purpose of allowing the gas to escape, such pipe to come to the surface, and to be turned into a cistern of water at the top. The meeting then adjourned until Jan. 7. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) Speculation is rife as to the probable time when the colliery will be opened out, and an attempt made to reach the bodies. At present there can be no doubt that there is a great fire raging below, and it remains to be seen whether the steps taken will be effectual in extinguishing it. Of the men brought out alive after the first explosion only five are now alive, four having been buried in the vault at Ardsley Churchyard on Saturday. Another victim has been added to the already long list of killed. On Saturday forenoon Thos. Hard castle a young boy, died from the effect of burns sus tained in the Oaks Colliery on the day of the sad calamity. Out of the 18 bodies recovered alive on the day of the sad catastrophe only three, or at most four, are still living, and one of these is not expected to survive long. A young man named Keithley is in a very precarious condition. The Barnsley Sub scription fund amounts to nearly £5,000. On Friday a town meeting was held at Birmingham to raise subscriptions for the benefit of the bereaved in connection with the late colliery explosions in York shire and North Staffordshire, when, at the close of the meeting, the mayor stated that the sums already received amounted to about£4oo,including £5O from the Grocers' Exchange. Messrs. Chance Brothers had subscribed £5O to a fund in Oldbury. iiiNIMIT THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1866. MANSION-HOUSE RELIEF FUND. Up to last evening the fund now being raised by the Lord Mayor and a committee of bankers, mer chants, and other persons of consideration in the City towards the relief of the widows and orphans of the men who lost their lives in the colliery explo sions in Barnsley and in North Staffordshire amounted to upwards of £lo,ono, of which about £l,lOO was received at the Mansion-house in the course of yesterday alone. The principal donation yesterday was the munificent sum of £763 odd which had been subscribed on the Stock Exchange. Messrs. J. and R. Morley, of Wood-street, Cheap side, sent £lO5 to the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Samuel Morley £52 10s. Voluntary collections are now being made in churches and chapels, and among the clerks and other persons connected with various business establishments, and these go materially to supplement the subscriptions. The clerks in the savings' bank department, General Post-office, sent yesterday £B, collected among themselves ; those of Messrs. Brettle and Co., £2l; those of Messrs. Kemp, Cannan, and Co., £l6 155.; and the firm of Kemp, Cannan, and Co., £lolos. ; Mr. Dart, of Lincoln's inn, £lO 10s.; the congregation of Marlborough Chapel, Old Kent-road, £l3 3s. 6d. ; and that of Whitton Church, Twickenham, £6 15s. 4d. ; M. L. contributed £25 as " A Thanksgiving from Tom in India," and £1 in addition to herself ; and the Misses Dermold, of Arlington House, Tun bridge Wells, £23 11s. 10d., which they had col lected among neighbours and friends. There were other donations of smaller amount, all of which will be acknowledged by the authorities at the Mansion House. AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS. Last week opened with a moderately dry day, but foggy and thick at times, and wind mostly blowing from the south-west. Monday morning was damp and thick, with slight rain, and a moist atmosphere throughout the day ; wind S.S.W. ; thermometer, 42 degrees; barometer, 30.20 inches. This is not suitable weather for wheat-thrashing, and the far mers are sending in but small supplies to market in consequence ; scarcely sufficient, indeed, for the im mediate wants of the millers, who are anxious buyers of any parcels in fair condition, and have generally had to pay more money, notwithstanding this is the week when usually large amounts are forced to mar ket, and prices, nineyears out of ten,recede from the middle of December up to Christmas. This year is a❑ exception from the peculiarity of last harvest, and until searching winds have blown through the stacks, there is not much probability of drysamples appearing. The millers, therefore, are compelled to resort to foreign qualities to enable them to fur nish their customers with the manufactured article. Tuesday was a thick, muggy day, but the evening was bright and fine, with a high barometer, up to 30.25 inches. Our advices on. that day from the West Riding of Yorkshire stated : " The mild, open weather enables farmers to sow close up, as the turnips are eaten off, and the land becomes moderately dry, but there must be a great breadth of land that cannot be worked until spring." From the East Riding it was remarked : •' The weather still continues very mild for this period of the year, and communication with the nor thern ports, Russia excepted, is still uninterrupted, and steamers are enabled to run as usual." This affacts the farmers more as regards supplies than field-work of any description, but is still of interest to them at the moment. From Northumberland our advices run : " The weather has been damp during the past week, with westerly winds." Wed nesday was a fine dry day, with some appearance of frost at night, being so very clear ; while such a day would give some farmers an opportunity of commencing to thrash, and a little of this work might be accomplished. From the west coast of Scotland the weather was reported to be " wet and boisterous." Throughout Thursday a dense fog prevailed, after a slight frost ; wind, N.N.W. ; ther mometer in the morning 33, and at noon 38 degrees ; barometer, 30.45 to 30.40 inches. Our advices from Warwickshire remark :—.." Weather during the week has been unusually mild for the season, mostly fine, but foggy, dull, and dreary ; wind chiefly W. and S.W." On Friday the atmosphere was thick, but not so foggy as the previous day ; wind W.N.W ; barometer still high, up to 38.40 inches, but slightly inclined to fall. On Saturday the fog returned, and was thick all the day, with scarcely any wind ; thermometer 38 deg. at mid-day ; barometer 30.25 inches, and falling. At night a change of weather appeared very probable, slight drizzling rain haying set in.—Mark-lane Express. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 24, Two o'clock.—The marked firm ness of the last few days on French Stock is main tained, and Threes are again 20c. advance, at 60f. 50c. Credit Mobilier shares are quoted at 493 f. 75c., or 3f. 75c. higher. Italian Fives have fluc tuated at about the price of 56f. 50c., and are now worth 56f. 45c., with a decline of sc. Credit Foncier shares gain If. 25c., at 1,386 f. 25c., and Comptoir d'Escompte 2f. 50c., at 840 f. Railway shares re main dull, and English Consols are still quoted at 90. On the whole, although the market is stronger, business is very limited. Three o'clock.--The market has closed as fo] lows : 44 per Cents 9B 10 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 69 50 Do. end month 69 474 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Credit Foncier — Do. end month 1390 - RAIL' Bank Shares 3630 -- Italian Loan 56 45 Do. end month 56 30 Mexican Loan Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred 'AYE,. For Account. Orleans BBO Northorn 1195 Lyons and Mediterranean 897 50 Southern 582 50 Western 566 25 Eastern 533 75 Sardinian — Austrian Lombard North of Spain ll5 Saragossa l3O Ditto to Barcelona — Roman.. i SPEECH OF COUNT BISMARCK. The following is the speech delivered by Count Bismarck in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies on the 20th instant : " The European system of 1815 meant a defensive system against France. It afforded security to Prussia, but at the same time restricted her action ; it fell in consequence of the policy followed since 1850 by Austria towards Prussia and the Crimean war. The subsequent situation has been such that Prussia seemed to have need of support against France and Austria, and the secondary States then speculated on the disposition of Prussia to make concessions. But in reality Prussia had no need of being sup. ported against France, and there were no natural causes of hostility between those two countries; for, unlike former French Governments, the Emperor Napoleon desires in his wisdom to remain in harmony with Prussia. Their interests are the same, France, like Prussia, being desirous of promoting in common the development of civilisation. An independent Prussia could alone enter into such relations with France. This is a truth which could not be admitted to the same extent by all the Emperor's subjects. But we have official relations only with the French Government. In order to walk side by side in this path of progress the interests of the two nations re quire kind and reciprocal forbearance. Now what are in general, and without stopping at the chance clash of passing events, the interests of France with regard to Germany ? Divesting ourselves of all German prejudices, let us consider them from a purely French point of view, which is the only mode of judging justly of the interests of others. France could not desire that there should be formed in Germany a preponderating German power united under the head of Austria—an empire of 75 millions, an Austria extending to the Rhine and against which a France even extending itself to the Rhine would not form a suffi cient counterpoise. For a France desirous of living in harmony with Germany it is an advantage that Austria should not form a portion of that Germany, for the interests of France are found to be in colli sion at several points, whether in Italy or in the East, with the interests of Austria. On the other hand, points of contact of a nature to produce hos tile conflicts are far less numerous between France and a Germany separated from Austria. Moreover, is it not the interest of France to have a neighbour with which it can live in peace, and against which 35 or 38 millions of Frenchmen are perfectly capable of making head in a defensive war ? I think that in a just appreciation of her interests France could not allow Prussia any more than Austria to disap pear as a power. Furthermore, the policy of France is based on the principle of nationalities, and for this reason she showed herself in 1864 less hostile to the pretensions of Germany to Schleswig-Holstein than to any other power. Prussia has always de clared she would not consent to compromise her line of defence, but that she might take into account the reasonable and proved wishes of the population. I have always been of opinion that a population which strongly desired to be neither Prussian nor German but to belong to a neighbouring State, could not aug ment our strength. Such was the state of things when France was induced by the events in the month of July of this year to emphasise her desires by an unusual pressure. I have no need of drawing a pic ture of the situation ; it is sufficiently well known, and nobody could wish to ask Prussia to burden herself at the same time with two great European wars, or to compromise, at the moment when she was engaged in one of these wars, and when not yet assured of the result, her relations with the other great powers. In thes3 circumstances France was called in by Austria its a mediator in the difference ; she had, therefore, a legitimate ground for insist- ng on her opinion. Nobody can blame France for having taken into account the exigen cies of her own policy ; I think it is still too soon for the public to judge whether she has urged her opinion with moderation, and I must beg of you to leave to the Government the appreciation of this incident. It was a question for us whether we should accept or reject the w h o l e o f what Aus- tria, through the intervention of France, offered us. Our decision had to be guided by the general situa tion of Europe. We could confidently reckon upon Italy, whose unalterable fidelity to treaties I cannot sufficiently praise —a fidelity which affords the best hope for the future. But for all this, it would not have been wise to stretch the bow to the breaking point and to risk all that we have acquired for some secondary concessions. I therefore advised his IVIa- jesty to accept the clause in the Treaty of Prague as it has been drawn up, in order not to place the whole in jeopardy. This clause in its actual form allows a certain latitude, but the Government can in no case refuse to fulfil the engagements which it has contracted, and in accepting the bill as it has been drawn by the commission, it must protest against any intention of withdrawing from its in ternational obligations, in consequence of a decision of this chamber. We must take care that no doubt should exist as to the freedom of the vote to be given by the inhabitants of North Schleswig. Ido not know whether this discussion will be prolonged, or whether it is to be wound up by a motion. In the first case I beg of members not to take advantage of this discussion in order to make attacks more or less hostile, but to turn their regards exclusively abroad, and not to forget the necessity of remain ing with our ranks closed and our eyes fixed exter -1' • nally in order to protect our interests." THE AMERICAN YACHT RACE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.—Captain John Britton, the United States Con sul at Southampton, has received a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty, of which the following is a copy, together with the captain's reply :—" Admiralty, Dec. 20.—Sir, —I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of tho Admi ralty to acquaint you that they have directed Admiral Sir T. Pasley, on the arrival of the three American yachts, which left New York on the 11th inst., to race to Cowes, Isle of Wight, that he is to communicate with their cap tains or owners, and, in case of need, offer them the assist ance of the dockyard.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, H. G. LENNOX.—John Britton, Esq., American Consulate, Southampton." "United States' Consulate, Southampton, Dec. 24.—Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge the re ceipt of your letter of the 20th inst., and in reply I beg to state that I shall have great pleasure to inform the cap tains and owners of the American yachts now on their way to Cowes of the offer of assistance extended to them by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. I have the honour to be, ecc., J. BRITTON, United States Consul. To the lion. Secretary of the Admiralty." Preparations are making at Cowes to give the yachts and the gentlemen on board a suitable reception on their arrival, and it has been decided to invite the American visitors to a grand banquet, to which the authorities of neighbouring towns aro also to be invited. LITERATURE. Anthony Trollope's Masterpiece. Already we cannot hesitate to declare our convic tion that there will, in all probability, be even tually recognised in the new serial story, now appearing, from week to week in sixpenny numbers, from the band of Mr. Anthony Trollope, a work that, if it only be continued and completed as it has commenced, must inevitably take rank as his masterpiece. Than in it, the easy grace of his narrative has never been more apparent. His style, always pure, fluent, and conversational, is, here, in this story of his, entitled 7he Las Chronicles of Barset, in its very perfection. It is,t moreover, wholly without affectation. But beyond that, it is more than ever idiomatic, winning our attention as we turn the leaves almost unconsciously. The novelist, for one thing, is on familiar ground. With the bulk of imaginary people introduced into his new story, we are already long ago perfectly familiar. And they are all of them in their several ways thoroughly welcome to us—Mrs. Proudie, Bishop Proudie, Archdeacon Grantley, the Mar chioness of Hartletop, Mr. and Mrs. Crawley —even those of our old acquaintance of whom as yet in the Chronicles but just now commenced we have only heard of once more, and not yet again actually seen or listened to—such, let us say, as Dean Arabin and the Duke of Uranium, and his grace's heir, the phlegmatic autocratic, aristocratic Chancellor of the Exchequer in the hereafter, Mr. Plantagenet Pal liser. As for the delineation by Mr. Trollope in these opening chapters of this his latest, and, as we confidently anticipate it will prove, his greatest fiction —as for his delineation, we say, of Mr. and Mrs. Crawley, they are as true to life as anything he has ever yet penned. The irritated, sullen, obdurate, half-maddened curate— the suppressed anguish, the tearless, tender, wo manly solicitude in his behalf of his long-suffering and long-enduring helpmate—than these two, as they are here pourtrayed by a series of minute but masterly touches, nothing in its way could well be finer. In effect, the few chapters of the tale that have already appeared, and as yet they only number up eleven altogether, in the four instalments that have now been published since the tale commenced, show that the novelist, much and industriously as he has written for a good many years, so far from having in any respect written himself out, has only attained the full and complete mastery of his powers—writing about no mere puppets, of which he has caught the trick of adroitly handling the strings, but about human beings, people of flesh and blood, as real, some of them, in their way, as any within the range of fiction—such individuals as Mrs. Proudie and Archdeacon Grantley—or such, let us say again, as poor, afflicted Mrs. Crawley, or as poor, half-maddened Mr. Crawley—people as well known to us—as Mrs. Nickleby or as Parson Adams. Fortunate as are the readers of Mr. Anthony Trol lope in finding him thus so completely " in the vein"—he himself appears to us to have been, in his turn, in luck's way, as Mr. Wilkie Collins was before him (ride "Armadale") when he selejted Mr. G. H. Thomas as his illustrator upon his thus un dertaking for the last time to limn again the Chronicles of the Notabilities of Barsetshire. Does any one doubt this ? Let him or her glance but for one moment at the embellishment prefixed to the last (the 4th) number of the tale, the No. issued from the press on Saturday ! Do but for an instant look at the world of character thrown into the Mr. Thomas's sketch (to the very life) of Mrs. Proudie —the low-browed, supercilious, delightfully intoler able old harridan there revealed (as usual) harangu ing the Bishop and inveighing in no measured terms against somebody or another—this time, of course, the somebody being no other than that most unfor tunate Wight, the Rev. Mr. Crawley. Christmas Numbers of the Periodicals, lAs radiant in colouring as the holly boughs— , as variously composed as the plum-puddings—as plentiful as blackberries in October—are the Christ mas numbers poured forth by the popular periodi cals of the day every December. The most modestly attired, the cheapest and yet the most seasonably welcome of them all, has already been noticed by us, and that too at some length—meaning, of course, Charles Dickens's Christmas Number of All the Year Round; this time entitled " Mugby Junction." A collection of stories, giving us a good deal of the romance of our railway system ; and the sale of which is understood to have already very far advanced beyond the astonishing number of 260,000 —thanks less to its own intrinsic merits doubtless than to the fair fame of its immediate predecessor, the incomparable " Doctor Mangold." Besides the blue-green fourpenny Christmas Number of the greatest of all our Christmas Tale-tellers, however, there have dropped in, now one by one, now by twos and by threes, in resplendently parti-coloured coverings, clusters of Christmas Numbers appealing to every taste, grave and gay, prose and verse, stories upon stories, pictures upon pictures. Routledge's, and Warne's, and Beeton's have com peted with each other by the brilliancy of their illustrations, by the variety of their contents, by the celebrity of their leading contributors, by the popularity of the artists engaged upon them, and last, but not least, by their cheapness. Once a Week has spoken in the same way seasonably enough upon the approach of that festival proverbial for coming but once a year—to wit, Merry Christmas ! London Society, after the same fashion, has again made good its annual claim to be ad- mitted into itself—in association with all kindfio _ . . hilarious home-festivities, dinners, balls, private theatricals, games of romps, and cosy chats by the fireside. Punch's Almanack, though amusing enough upon the whole, again makes us wistfully recall to mind that irreparable loss which came home to us, one and all, when the ill-tidings were heard more than a year ago that John Leech had died prematurely while a children's party was taking place in his house. As for the Fun Almanack, it would be well worth its price thricetold if only for that wonderful group of likenesses (hardly in any way distorted, they are so true to the life--such veritable likenesses) by Bab (who is Bab ?) portraits of the leading dramatic critics of the day—John , Hollingshead, John Oxenford, Leicester Buckingham, G. F. Tom- Ens, and E. L. Blanchard. The Band of Hope Re view again wins a wintry welcome with its rich store of boldly-drawn and beautifully-executed wood cuts—the very cover of the publication, a cover richly colour-printed and varnished, is well worthy of being framed and glazed for preserva tion on the nursery walls. The same equally well might have been said of the British Workman, had the subject selected for that still larger publication only been a trifle more attractive. Chambers's Edinburgh Journal revives in its Christ mas number our recollections of Albert Smith's Mont Blanc, by recounting a similar exploit in scaling the Monarch of the Mountains. As a mat ter of course, however, The Illustrated London News by the splendour and variety of its embellishments, sets all competition at defiance, considering the price at which it is published and the scope of its enterprise as a Christmas gala-number, full of fun, frolic, and festivities, described in thoroughly readable letterpress, and delineated in admirably executed drawings. Separate stories, again, drop in, here and there, from the press —as in the instance of Alfred Garduer's interesting Christmas tale, entitled, The Cloud and the Beam, recalling to mind the world-famous " Trap to Catch a Sunbeam." Almanacs, too, still continue to follow each other in rapid succession—one of the last that has come to hand being M'Corquodale and Co.'s surprisingly comprehensive and perfectly reliable one for the Railways —an indispensable broadsheet for every well appointed counting-house in the United King dom. Anson's Dranzatic and Musical Almanac, again, still bears off the palm, or the bell, or however you may like to express it, as the companion to the box-lobby and the green-room. t he Law Almanac for the New Year is, according to usual custom, issued as a most acceptable and valuable supplement to the Law Times. Blackwood's Shilling Scribbling Diary also reappearE very acceptably, as does the same publisher's more compact and portable Diary No. b. atwi do rt ettalbr. HER MAJESTY, &c. OSBORNE, Dec. 24. The Queen walked and rode in the grounds this morning, accompanied by Prince Arthur. Prince and Princess Christian drove out. Princess Louise walked in the grounds, attended by the Hon. Caroline Cavendish ; and Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Henry of Prussia, went out. The Queen will hold a Council at Osborne on Friday next, the 28th inst., at one o'clock. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial-office from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, St. Helena, and Heligoland. De spatches were sent to the Governors of the settle ments on the West Coast of Africa. The Right Hon. Spencer Walpole left town yes terday for Cambridge. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury will receive a large party at Hatfield House, Harts, during the festive season. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon and Lady Emily Villiers have arrived in Paris, on their return from Italy, and are staying at the Hotel Mirabeau. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., has returned to Drayton Manor, near Tamworth, from visiting Lord Clan brock, at Clonbrock Park, Ireland. Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart., M.P., left town on Saturday for Pynes, Exeter. The Duke of Richmond, as Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, has given his casting vote i favour of Mr. Grant Duff as Lord Rector. RECEPTION OF THE AMERICAN MINISTER IN PARIS. PARIS, Dec. 24. Major-General Dix yesterday presented to the Emperor hii credentials as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, accompanying the presentation with the following speech : " Sire,—ln presenting my credentials upon the part of the President of the United States, I am charged by him to express his best wishes for your Majesty and for the prosperity of the French Em pire, as well as his sincere desire that the good un derstanding at present subsisting between the two countries may be perpetual. Since the establishment of their Government it has always been the aim of the United States to cultivate friendly relations with all nations. There are especial reasons for their desire to entertain the most amicable relations with France. They can never forget that she afforded them most opportune and most effiacious assistance in recognising their independent and equal rank among the other nations of the earth. The two countries—France during your Majesty's reign, and the United States during the corresponding period —have made extraordinary progress in the indus trial arts, and the applications of science to practical uses. Each upon its side occupying an eminent position at the head of the civilisation of two vast continents, the influence of their sympathetic movement in giving expansion to ideas and im printing progress upon material interests, so im portant to the welfare of nations, cannot fail in making itself powerfully felt, and with advantage far beyond their immediate action. I feel con vinced of not exaggerating the sentiments of the Government and the people of the United States if I say that it is their sincere desire to see this union, which attached them to France in times gone by, ripen in the future, to change into still closer and more cordial friendship. I shall esteem myself the happiest of men if, during the accomplishment of my official duties towards your Majesty's Govern ment, I am in a position to contribute, in any degree, to this object so intimately bound up with the pro sperity and the happiness of the two countries and with the interests of humanity throughout the entire world." The Emperor replied : " I thank you, general, for the sentiments you express towards me in the name of the Government of the United States. The historical reminiscences you call up are a sure guarantee that no misunder standing will arise to disturb the friendly relations so long existing hetween France and the American Union. A loyal and sincere agreement will, I doubt not, contribute to the profit of industry and commerce, which daily astonishes the world by their marvels, and will secure the progress of civilisation. Your presence among us cannot but contribute to this happy result by , upholding the relations to which I attach the utmost value." Recovery of the London Steamship. The steamship London, belonging to the Dundee, Perth, and London Shipping Company, which NO lain on the Horseshoe Shoal, in the Tay, since the 18th November, 1865, was on Saturday taken off and brought up to Dundee. It will be remembered that the London left Dundee on the afternoon of the day mentioned (18th November, 1865), with a cargo of goods valued at £12,000, and a number of passengers on board, on her weekly trip to London, and that when about two miles below B r oughty Ferry she came into collision with the Harvest Queen, coal laden, from Newcastle, then coming up the channel of the river. The result of the col lision was that the London went upon the Horse shoe Shoal, where she sank, her passengers escaping with difficulty, some on board the Harvest Queen, and some on board a tug sent to her assistance. The Harvest Queen, after proceeding up the river about three miles, sank upon the Newcome Shoal, within a short distance of the south shore, where she was nearly dry at low water. After a good deal of difficulty she was brought off several months ago, and has been renovated, and is now again in the coal trade. In order to recover the London it was resolved first to take out the cargo ; and this was effected by Captain Hicks and several divers under him. The value of the goods recovered amounted to £9,000, or three fourths of the original value. After this had been done several attempts were made to raise the steamer by Mr. Page, of London, Admiral Keppel, and others, but without success, and it was generally considered that there was no hope of her recovery, and that the loss of £15,000, at which she Was valued, would have to be submitted to. In the end of September, however, air arrangement was made with the Messrs. Gourlay, engineers and iron ship builders, Dundee, to endeavour to raise her, and of ter some preparations the first attempt was made by them on the 24th November, but without success. It was then found that several of the leaks, which were supposed to have been closed up by the divers, were still open. These were carefully closed up under the superintendence of Mr. Macnidder , manager for the Messrs. Gourlay ; and it was re solved to make another attempt to raise her ou Saturday, the tides being then at the lowest. Ac cordingly, the steamer Queen went down on Friday afternoon, with two powerful pumps on board, 10 addition to two which had been erected on the Lon don, and at three o'clock on Saturday morning 3 vessel left Dundee with a fifth pump. The weather was favourable. At half-past seven the two pul°P ° on board the Queen and the two on the Loudon were set agoing, b e i ng wroug h t b y the Q ue en's engines, and they were kept going until 9 o'clock, when, on putting down the lead, it was found that the London had risen two feet. The fifth pump 1 ° 313 then added, and by a quarter past nine she had risen four feet. At half-past nine the two tugs Atlas a nd Samson took the London in tow, when sh e came away with them. The tide was then mak" ing, and she was slowly floated up to Dundee, the pumps working all the time. The hull, when seen, appeared a melancholy spectacle, bei ng c ) vered with barnacles and mussels, and the ma sts all gone. Tn: ‘ , London was beached in th e aft ern oon to the east the Camperdown Dock, w he re s he will receive partial overhaul, previously to being taken into the dry dack to be thoroughly renovated. 11 -48 trian elpq a F,P O • 4 1 3 N. 5 eo !Ws, ' O . di I, ME: 11 1 t he kie quotetot„"`lot 44 'Dari n g 4 bo I°id • Pet the la Cc 8, in Argo a.usi Bra 2 D ( 13tiei Do van, 4 0 111 a DU DO 3 yi) Do DO, ureol CT late It • pal Do, Do. nexic UO. Do, °lite ew Do Do r)0/