The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-22 00:00:00

NEW WORE BY MR E. BULWER LYTTON BART. On let January will be published, 111 . Y NOVEL ; or, Varieties in English Life. By PISISTRATITS CA ETON. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & Sons, Edinburgh and London. This day isyublished, elegantly bound in gilt cloth, price Is. 6d. KATIE STEWART: ATrueStory, Originally pnbEshed in BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZIN). Witk Frontispiece and Vignette Title. William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London. Just published, Price Od., bY post Od., THE BATTLE of the WARRIOR, and the rtURNING of the FUEL of the FIRE : a Divine Contrast. The celebrated Prophecy of Isaiah, which constitutes the First Les son for the Morning of Christmas-daY, compared with the original. A short Exegesis touching the Coining Times. With an Appendix, giving Lowth's and Boothroyd's versions of the passage, and the original Hebrew, with an Interlinear}• Translation. Submitted to the Church, by the Rev. TRESHAM D. GREGG, A. 31,, Chaplain of St. Nicholas Within, Dublin. London: Wertheim and Macintosh, 24, Paternoster-row; M'Glashan, Dublin. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Farewell Beason of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager, THIS EVENING Will be performed the popular and highly attractive Comedy of MASKS AND FACES; or, Before and Behind the Curtain—by Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, and Parselle; Mrs. Stirlin7, Miss Rosa Bennett, Mrs. Leigh Murray, and Miss Fanny Waken. After which (by desire, at second price), the Comedy of MONEY, with a most powerful cast. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Open for the Season. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. Last Night but One before Christmas. THIS EVENING, The successful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Emery, 0. Smith, and Cullenford ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Collins, Miss Harding, Miss Laura Honey, and Mrs. Keeley. After which, the admired Farce of A MODEL OF A WIFE, To conclude with the Comic Opera of GOOD NIGHT, SIGNOR PANTALON. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING Will be performed the new and original Play, In five acts, by West land Marston, Esq., entitled ANNE BLAKE. Principal characters by Messrs. C. Kean, W. Lacy, and Addison ; Mrs. Winstanley, Mrs. Daly, and Mrs. C. Kean. To be followed by THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Principal character by Mr. C. Kean. To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLP7ER. Principal characters by Messrs. Lacy, Meadows, Addison, and Everett ; Misses J. Marston, Ylvash, and Leclercq. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. For the BENEFIT of Mr. STAMMERS. THIS EVENING. THE SONNAMBULA. After which, a Scene from DON CARLOS. To conclude with THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. Supported by Messrs. Farren, Compton, Travers, Tedder, and Stammers; Mesdames Isaacs, Gordon, Phillips, and Lucy Rafter. Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Chatterton. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. The greatest novelty of the season is Uncle Tom's Cabin. In consequence of the crowds unable U. obtain admission nightly , the Grand Spectacle of Uncle Tom's Cabin will be repeated till farther notice. WEDNESDAY, Dec. 22, and following Two Nights, the Enter tainments will commence with the highly popular Dramatic Spec tacle of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. To be followed by new scenes in the Circle by Native and Foreign A'tistes of the first celebrity. To conclude with, for the Last Four Nights, THE DEVIL TO PAY. Doors open at Half-prst Six o'clock. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 58 ; Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 35.; Pit, 2s. ; Lower Gallery, Is; Upper Gallery, 6d. Half Price at Half-past Eight, Box-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager. Mr. W. West. NOTICE.— -A New Grand Equestrian CHRISTMAS COMIC PANTOMIME, by Nelson Leg, will be produced with great splen dour on MOIDAY, December 27, Boxing Night. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tula DAY —Morning 8 min After 11 I Evening 37 min.a ft . 11 To-Moaaow—Morning 0 m i n . after 0 Evening 2 min.aft. 12 THE WEATHER.--Suu OFFICE, Dec. 22. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 48—highest since noon yesterday. 38—lowest this morning and during the night. 47—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29 . 85. WIND, S., slight rain. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 22, 1852. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGS--N.W. gentle breeze—cloudl ess . F OLKESTONE—S.W., light breeze—cloudless. TUNBRIDGE—S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless. GREntwicH—S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless. STRoon—W. gentle breeze—cl ou dl ess . SWINDON—S.W. light breeze—partially cl ou dy. COLCHESTER—W. ' gentle breeze—cloudless. YARMOUTH—N.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Monday morning at nine o'clock : MIILLINGAR— S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. SOUTHAMPTON—W., strong breeze—rain. COLCHESTER—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. ~Atri,, ag LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1852, Every iling is sub rosa, or rather "under a cloud," in regard to the new Ministerial arrange ments. The obscurity of the rumours upon the subject now in circulation would appear to augur unfavourably for the combination under the Earl of ABERDEEN as the Leader of a Whig-and-Peelite Government. This can scarcely be matter of sur prise under the circumstances. It cannot be enigmatical to any single dispassionate observer, that the chiefs of the late Opposition should find a very formidable variety of difficulties in the way of a grand official amalgamation. Take a few very apparent illustrations. Upon the reli gious questions, for example, how can the Right Hon. Baronet the member for Carlisle, who chi valrously came forward in 1850, almost single handed, in defence of the principles of toleration as applied to the Roman Catholics of the United Kingdom—how can he, of all men, coalesce with the Noble Lord the Representative of the City of London, the author of the morally-detonating epistle to the Bishop of DURHAM—the do cument that flashed up into the Ecclesias tical Titles Bill, and lit a flame of fanatical enthusiasm that spread rapidly throughout the community, and the warmth of which can not yet be said to have wholly died out among the more zealous classes of the population. How upon subjects of religious import, how therefore upon matters aCecting Ireland, or Education, or even some of our Colonies, can Sir JAMES GRAHAM join hand and glove with Lord JOHN RUSSELL. One or the other must yield. There must be a concession upon these topics, and a rather considerable concession too, from either Lord JonN, or Sir JAMES—from either the assailant or the defender of those who talk of the suffragans of the Cardinal Archbishop of WESTMINSTER. Which of the two is about to " knuckle down" to his opponent ? Can the ex-PREMIER, after blowing hot, blow cold, like the man in the Grecian Apologue ? Can the ex-Hosin SECRETARY, after blowing cold, blow hot with a like facility ? How is it t o b e ? Or, is the country to have upon this , vital question —a compromise ? Why, a compro -111. 1-43 upon such a question would be little else than Irrede i e mably disgraceful. Then l e t us cons id er I possible to have blended together— Lord J°ll -w RUSSELL'S expansive sympathy for the rights of bentocraev and Mr. GLADSTONE'S stub inexorable devotion for what he conceives to be the iv es and duties of Conservatism ? Again, it must not be overlooked that f or fi ve years Lord Jo b disti with the forei gn nctly associated hi s. C a bi ne t forei Plic hey of L or d P ALMERSTON—a y gn dia metrically the the re verse o f t h at previously maintain e d b y Earl of ABERDEEN. thin Under Lor d eman de h d ABERDEEN we were concedi ng every g to ts of other Governments—we were laying traps for ourselves. in regard to Oregon Boundaries, and opening pitfalls to be comfortabl tumb!ed into at leisure afterwards in referen Y Spanish Marriages. Under. Lora pAtlimit:oro on the contrary, we were maintaining Our dignity abroad, at the same time that tranquillity was preserved by us in our relations with other States and this, too, in the midst of the storms, and panics, and disasters, and convulsions of a serie s of tremendous revolutions. Recollect, we repeat, that the RussELL Ministry was for five years pledged to the wise, the bold, and the patriotic policy of Lord PALMEESTON! And yet here is Lord JOHN, the Leader of that Ca binet, the former colleague of Lord P ALMERSTON, talking of taking office under my Lord ABERDEEN —under the very Administrator whose ideas of diplomacy are the direct antithesis to those enter tamed by the noble Viscount the Member for Tiverton—under, in fact, the very Minister against whose foreign policy the Noble Lorcl the Member for THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, 1852. " The tender infant in its hands shall take The crested basilisk and speckled snake. we called the RUSSELL Cabinet—the Family Party. Henceforth, we may surely, with some reason, in allusion to so many latent differences of opinion —so many smothered hostilities, and so many concealed diversities of character—hence forth, say we, we may surely call the ABERDEEN Cabinet--the HAPPY FAMILY. A better timed, or more useful publication has seldom appeared than that by the consistent and indefatigable Member for Glasgow,* to which we yesterday briefly directed public attention. In deed, since the appearance of the celebrated letter to the electors and non-electors of the city of Glasgow, on the Ist of January, 1849, nothing containing so much sound practical information, on fiscal and financial subjects, has been submitted to the community. The present brochure, with the exception of a salutary warning against any undue tampering with the present sources of reve nue, until the renewal of the Income and Property Tax in some form, so that the national credit may be maintained untarnished and unsuspected,—is merely a collection of facts compiled with immense industry and accuracy, showing the results of the fiscal changes that have occurred since 1830. The Honourable Gentleman allows all parties to deduce their own conclusions from the simple compilation. And if Protection, in place of being quietly entombed, were still rampant--if in place of surviving only in the memories of the 53 im practicables, it were still the watchword and gathering signal of a numerous party, we should desire no other weapon to confute their doughtiest champion, than with which JOHN MACGREGOR has just armed every votary of Free Trade or unre stricted competition, or by whatsoever other title the glorious principle that has conferred such ex traordinary blessings on the community may be designated. It, indeed, affords the greatest en couragement to proceed steadily in the course which has already proved so auspicious, which has increased the comforts of private families, and the national prosperity to a degree hitherto un paralleled—and supplies an irresistible answer to the croakings of those timid politicians who be lieve that any reduction of du vy must necenarily be followed by a corresponding diminution of revenue. We may now refer to some of these extraor dinary results, which would appear incredible if not vouched on the most conclusive and indisput able evidence. We find, then, that the total amount of increased taxation (including the Pro perty Tax and the duties of 5 per cent. on Customs, Excise, and Railways, from 1830 to 1850) has been 8,389,2251., to which if we add the House Tax imposed in the latter year, and estimated, in round terms, at 800,0001., there will be 9 ,185,2251., as the amount of burdens created or increased during that period of twenty years. On the other hand, we find that duties were altoge ther repealed or reduced, within the same period, amounting to 21,352,3931., to which if we add the tax on light and air, amounting to 1,800,000/., abolished in 1850, the reductions will amount to 23,152,3931., showing a relief from actual taxa tion of 13,163,1681. But this immense aggregate, amounting to 25 per cent. on the actual revenue of the country, by no means shows the full extent of the boon conferred on the tax-paying community. It does not include the indirect benefit obtained by the consumer from the alteration in the Corn Laws, and the other imposts on human food, and which, if it could be ascertained, would show an amount far beyond anything that was ever estimated, and which would appear incredible, save to one who had maturely considered the baleful effects of the monster which, assailed in 1841, received its death-blow in 1846, and expired unwept and un honoured in 1852. But if we were enabled to consume an increased quantity of the productions of other lands, so as to make up by the additional demand for the diminished duty, we more than compensated there for in the enhanced supply of our own manufac tures. The following table affords an instructive lesson, the importance of which cannot be over estimated. We find that " the total declared value of the exports of the fabrics of the United Kingdom to all countries amounted— In 1830, to ..X37,927,561 In 1840, to 51,406,430 In 1845, to 60,111,082 In 1850, to 71,367,885 In 1851, to In 1852 (estimated from• the amount during the the ten first months), 77,000,0001." We .thus find that we have supplied goods to the ex !;ent of 39,072,4391., to other nations, more in 1852 than in 1830—an increase of more than 100 per cent., and that is by no means equal to the in creased consumption in the home market within the same period. It is, however, between the financial years of 1840-41, before the first great changes in our Customs' Tariffs were introduced by Sir ROBERT PEEL, and sanctioned by Parliament, and 1850- 51, that the Honourable Gentleman draws the closest comparisons, so as to show the beneficial working of the new system. He first takes the revenue and expenditure of the country at these epochs. In 1841, " the total revenue (including 1,548,506/. for h. 'winces and bills outstanding on sth January, 1841, and deducting balances and bills outstanding on sth January, 1842, amount ing to 1,499,9891.), was 52,363,9491. 9s. The total expenditure at the same period, ex clusive of repaymenc and drawbacks, but includ ing charges of collection, and other payments, amounted to 54,465,3181. lls. 2id., being an excess of expenditure over income of 2,101,369/. 2s. ld." Such was the state of affairs when Sir ROBERT P 41411 1 came into office, and found himself compelled to go seriously to work to repair the mistakes and blunders of his predecessors in office, In 1851, the total revenue of the 'United King dom, s ith similar drawbacks and allowances, was 5 6,729,390/. 175.; while the expenditure (includ ing, among other things, the outlay on account of the " Kafir war"), amounted altogether to 54 ,002,9941. 125., leaving a surplus of income over expenditure of 2,726,396/. 4s. I Od., and that exclusive of balances due, of 105,3191. 12s. 10d. more in 1852 than in 1851, and increasing the actual excess by that sum. " Look on this picture, and on that"—behold the bona fide re sults of even a limited recognition of the doctrines of Free Trade —and say, who would remain wedded t o the obsolete policy from which the country has happily been relieved. We shall not now enter into the various elabo rate calculations contained in the pamphlet. * A Synthetical View of the Results of recent Com mercial and Financial Legislation. By John Mac- London ; Jaxne*Ridgway, M.P. (for Cl asp * . =dilly. Pp. gl. grpiegor, the Cityof London was, session after session, openly in Opposition. "Son of the moming—how art thou fallen 1" So that we are to have, as already shown, sitting down amicably together in the same Cabinet, the Champion of the Catholics and the Champion of the Protestants—Sir JAMES GRAHAM and Lord JOHN Russiwri. We are to have in the same agreeable contiguity and companionship, the Champion of Conservatism and the Champion of Democracy—Mr. GLADSTONE and Lord JOHN RUSSELL. We are to have associated, in like manner, the political foil and the quondam colleague of Viscount PA.LMERSTON—LOTd ABER DEEN, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL. Surely, then, the time cannot by possibility be very far distant when the lion is to lie down with the lamb, when— After all, indeed, Colonel SIBTEORP was not very much in the wrong when he talked about the cat and the dog being emblems of the stil? dimly foreshadowed Government. Thank HEAVEN, we are at least to hear no more of the country being ruled by a snug little groupe of merely your GREYS, your ELLIOTTS, and your RUSSELLS. Eng land is not again to have her destinies presided over by the offspring of that wonderful old lady— the ex-First Lord of the Treasury's Grand mother. Downing-street is not so soon again to be peopled only by blood relations. Yet from signs already clearly visible on the hori zon, if we are to have no more of a clique, we are to have a great deal of a coterie. Formerly Neither can time nor space admit of a reprint, which would be very unfair to the author of this most valuable collection of " facts and figures." It will, we have no doubt, become a handbook for every Member of the popular branch of the Legis lature, by means whereof he may be enabled to follow the enigmatical revelations of the Finan cial Minister for the time being, affording the necessary data for correcting the errors of any new project. It will afford abundant arguments to every fiscal Reformer, enabling him to assign satisfactory reasons for the faith he professes. Although contained in twenty-four octavo pages, there is matter which, in the hands of a book maker, might fill an imperial folio. By its publi cation at the present time, Mr. IVlAconEoon has greatly enhanced his claims on the national grati tude. There is no person desirous of understand ing the intricate problems of National Finance who should be without this excellent key to their speedy and accurate solution. MONEY AID COMMERCIAL NEWS. Bills of exchange at 90 days were negotiated yes terday afternoon, at a slight improvement on Ham burgh, 13 slito 61, at 11 17-i to 18 on Amsterdam ; also an advance, at 11.22 to 24 on Trieste ; a re ducti on, and 25 25 to 25 30 on Paris, being firm. The Stock Market exhibits no feebleness, despite the uncertainty in some quarters respecting the new Ministry. Consols have been 1001 8 for the open ing ex dividend. The New 3i per Cents. have been 104* to ; and the 3 per Cents. 101 f to Bank Stock is very firm at 224. Exchequer Bills have been rather higher, viz., 635. to 645.: and India Bonds, 81s. premium. In Foreign Stocks there is not a great deal of activity, and the quotations have continued much the same. Spanish Three per Cents. are 51k, and. the New Deferred 24 to being steady. Portu guese Four per Cents. are 40i to 41. Mexican Stock is worth 24* -1 2 , and flat. Buenos Ayres Bonds are 74, and Brazilian 1021. Dutch Two and-a-Half per Cents. bring 68/ to 1. Gold Mines are receding still, and parties are selling out to take their profits. Australian Mine Comp:. '3 shares are down 11., fort Philip O s ., 11 Colonial 103., and others in proportion. British Iron are advancing still. Australian Agricultural have dropped nearl y 501. per share, and Van Diemen's Land 51. Railway shares are dull and lower. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business done. Dank Stock 224 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities...—. 3 per Cert. Consols Annuities New 34 per Cent. Annuities 1044 3 ff Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 63 India Bonds, £lOOO ...... Ditto, under £ICO Bl Consols for Opening 18th January Exchequer Ells 13d. March. June. £lOOO. •••• .... £5OO Small PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent, Ditto Small Ditto New, 18 52 , 4i Per Cent 9B 74 103 Ditto, 3 per Cent.... . . 79 o ß h u il en ia o n s B A o yi n • d es s, Br per Cent.., e 6 ent. . Per Cent Equador Bonds Mexican 3 per Cent.........., 24' Peruvian Deferred 3 per Ceit 64 Portuguese 4 per Cent. 4l Ditto for the Account „• 406 i • Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto, 4i per cent lO6 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. .......... . .. . Spani s h Bonds, 3 per Cent sl* Ditto Deferred, 3 per Cert. Ditto Passive (Converted) — Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun, 4 p e Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 6Bi 4 Ditto 4 per Cent. CertifleAtes.. THREE O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 18th January ~.... 1001' i ox div, EXTRAORDINARY DEATA AT MORTLAlCE.—Yesterday Mr. Carter held an inqu on the body of Harriet Eliza Thornton, aged 29, the wif o or James Wm. Thornton, the landlord of the Two Brevers Mortlake. Caroline old stated ames she Th e w rn as to c n to aliedseenhis wife. She went into the Sialda:y night at twelve o'clock by James bed room with Dr. Palmer aid the police. Deceased was on the bed, with her legs hanging over the side. The bedding was saturated with blood, and her head was lying between the pillows. She washed the body. Near the ear was a piece cut off. It was such a wound as a knife would inflict. g off, and hanging by the skin. Witness piece was quite ga s hed tnessfoudnoother cu'z, wound. There were several braises, one ' near the shoulders. There were several and head, but none on the back. bruises had not b een caused lately. Th ere was a pool T he s was congealed, 'tinder the bed where a box lay. It S of blood immediately .was also that o n and between the pillows.he saw blood near the fi re - p l ace, and on the floor near the washing stand. The basin was nearly filled with water, She had no conversation with James Thornton. She saw , and the towel was wet and bloody. elevenod o'clock, and she then said she was v dd e eis r; ais l: eur o d er e l ad y b , bouy th tb at l she had had a dreadful fit in the night and nearly bit her tongue through. Witness knew she was subject to fits before marriage, and she knew from her own statements she had had fits since ; and she had said she believed they wou ld ca use her death. Sh e used to drink befor e s h e was marr i e d. When de cease d wa s in liquor sh e seemed quite stupified. She and her husband were on very good terms when she was there. She had never charged him with ill-using her. She should say deceased fell off her bed, an d struck her head on the e dge of the box. George Thornton said he lived at the house kept by James 'William Thornton, his nephew. Last Sunday night he was awoke about half-past eleven o'clock by his nephew, who told him that the deceased was dead. He saw her at dinner. She was, a s usual, intoxicated. She wen t up stairs at t wo o ' clock to change her dress. About three o'clock he was absent about half an hour. Did not see her again at tea. nephew went up to clean himself a bout four o'clock, and he was minding the bar. Their bed-room is over the tap-room. He was absent up stairs nearly half an hour. Re heard no noise whilst his nephew wa s up stairs. On his coming down nothing was said about his wife. His nephew kept his razors in the bed-room. Sometimes when deceased went up, stairs she would not cone down till the next morning. He did not see the de ceased again alive. She would drink spirits, beer, or any thing she could get. Hi s n ephew awoke him to fetch the doctor ' • he did no;; say how she died. After the doctor came he went into the room, and saw she was dead. She would secrete liquor in different parts of the house. He heard no noise on Sunday evening or night. There had been some words between the deceased and her husband on Saturday about a key. The Coroner then adjourned the inquest to give time to the police to make further in quiries. SOUTHAMPTON AND PLYMOUTH.—We find it stated that the Peninsular and Oriental Company's vessel, " The Madrid steamer, which left Southampton on the 17th with the Peninsular mail, was obliged to anchor in Yarmouth Roads for the night, the pilot refusing to go to sea on account of the terrific violence of the weather." Had she started from Plymouth, like the Screw Com pany's steamer Bosphorus, she would have got away without risk, CITY, Two O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 4,1)00 bales, of which 1,000 American were taken on speculation. The Market closed tamely with but little alteration in prices. The sales comprised 3,500 American, 20 Bahia at 6d., 100 Egyptian at 6id. to 6d., and 400 Surat at 30. to 41d. per lb. Railway Shares were dull. The Corn Market is firm to-day. The amount of Gold by the Lady Flora from Port Philip is r 7,559 ounces, say 310,0001. Her dates are only of August. The great favour shown to new mining under takings, especialy for the colonies, may render it necessary to ere some caution to those who are not fully experienced in such matters. The course taken by some parties who assume to direct public opinion, is, in tills respect, certainly inconsistent. At one period we are told of the immense field for balking operations in Australia, this truism bang specially paraded to favour the views of sone new " pet" concern ; but when a rival scheme of equal respectability is brought be fore the public, the excessive competition, the im probability of adequate profits when a Mint is formed, and various other adverse circumstances, are immediately brought to bear to discourage the projectors and dissuade the public. By a singular coincidence, there is now announced a new Austra lian Company, called the Gold Nugget, by the very parties who secured favourable consider ation for their bank. Our own view has been that, so long as land could be obtained from which gold could be profitably worked, a judici ously and honestly conducted company might be made to pay handsomely, if only by crushing the quartz for others. A most essential point, how ever, is the management, and those who embark as shareholders have the best security where there is a responsible board in E ng l an d, an d agen t s o f approved Colonial experience selected by that board. The Colonial press, and especially at Sydney, has been particularly industrious in disseminating the notion that no companies would pay, and that the shareholders here were utterly deluded. Whe ther jealously or interest actuated that course, we are not about to inquire into ; but there is ground thereby afforded to turn round and inquire how it happens that the attempt is made to force colonial formed companies upon the London Market. The Wentworth Gold Mine a short time back was introduced here, and as a great favour English capitalists were to be allowed to have shares at a premium. It is believed, how ever, that the favour was not appreciated, and con sequently that the public, at least, did not become eager applicants. One may hope, without prejudice or bias, that a similar issue awaits the Gold Nugget Company, despite the high character of the agents, and the praise bestowed upon the undertaking, which, very possibly, may be a good one—because one-third of the capital is to be raised here at an enormous premium. The issuing of shares, otherwise than at par, is objectionable in principle, and unjust in practice. If the proposed company is so very promising, why is not the whole amount subscribed at Sydney ; and if the Australians will not take the shares at a premium, why should we ? In starting an undertaking, the proprie tary should stand on equal ground ; and, if for some special reason, the promoters think they have a claim for bonus, let them apply to local parties who are in a position to judge for them selves. There are several Anglo-Colonial Com panies with equal prospects, already prepared to begin mining, and if these fail to perform their contract, the proprietors can, in public meeting here assembled, bring the Board to account for their acts. We hope, therefore, to hear of no more local companies being brought forward at a pre mium, unless a Board be formed in England, or some other effectual means be found to give full and efficient representation. THE MINISTRY. (From the Morning Herald ) Up to a late hour last evening, we believe that very little progress had. been made in the formation of a new Administration. Lord John Russell, it is said, wishes to become Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, but is quite ready to accept any post Lord Aberdeen may offer him ; and no doubt many others of the hungry Whigs are not only desirous, but anxious, to get some of the loaves and fishes ; but the great difficulty is, upon what common ground can the Peelites and the Whigs form a Cabinet ? for the Radicals appear to be treated as if they were not in existence. Altogether, the cabal seems to us to be in a " fix." DINNER TO LORD ROBERT GROSVENO.R AND MR. BERNAL OSBORNE. Yesterday the supporters of Lord Robert Grosvenor and Mr. Bernal Osborne in the western district of Mid dlesex entertained them publicly at the Albion Tavern, Hammersmith. The object of the dinner was to cele brate the triumph of the Liberal principles at the late election, but political events of a still more recent oc currence naturally imported a good deal of additional in terest into the proceedings. Sir John V. Shelley pre sided, and about 400 of the constituency were present to mark the high honour and favour in which they held their representatives. An excellent and abundant en tertainment having been done full justice to, and the usual loyal toasts having been duly disposed of, Mr. Montgomery, of Brentwood, proposed the health of Lord Robert Grosvenor, eulogising his private and public character, his attention to his Parliamentary duties, and the liberality of his political principles. Lord Robert pleaded illness for making a short reply, but in the course of what he said took occasion to remind the assembly of the great and rapid changes which had recently taken place —changes which almost led one to doubt whether the ground would not pass from under where one stood, and which were enough to make one dizzy. He predicted that when the future historian recorded the events of the last few months, he would call the Administration which had just retired the "Bowing Ministry." That Ministry had retired, and they now found themselves exposed to the inclemency of a Parliamentary Christ mas, without a Government over their heads. The noble lord reviewed the state of parties, and declared himself to be strongly of opinion, that now the Govern ment of Lord Derby were out, their want of principle made it for the public advantage that they should be kept out. He charged them with corrupting the constituencies at the late elections, and with attempting since to drive members •hostile to them, by a system of wholesale pe- Ctioning, from their seats. The noble lord was favour able to a union between the Peelites and the party of Lord John Russell as the best solution of existing di fficulties, but he repudiated any idea of a coalition to over'Arow the late Ministry. The health of Mr. Bernal Osborne was proposed by Mr. Ball, and most enthu siastically received' by the company. In returning thanks the hon. gentleman made one of his usual fluent, witty, and telling speeches, which was warmly applauded throughout. He compared the position of the country party, with reference to free trade, to some people who were nameless, but who believed and trembled. Lord Derby had only followed the example of Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, who had risen in the world by bowing, and with him it was Hobson's choice. There never had been a set of men in office who had done more to lower the tone of morality in the country, and representative institutions did not stand so high that public men could thus aTord to tamper with the confidence reposed in their sincerity. Such men had no claim to talk of being real Conservatives, and as an illustration of this, Mr. Osborne reminded the company that representative Government had been destroyed in France because the character of their statesmen was no longer confided in. He congratulated his constituents on the vote which the House of Commons had given against the Great Magician Budget. Many who had 'supported it now found it a bad thing, and declared that they would have opposed it in detail. It was said that the overthrow of the Ministry was the work of an unprincipled combina tion and a foul conspiracy. He would supply the com pany with a recent instance, in which they would see the old adage exemplified—" Like master, like man." Major Beresford also alleged a foul conspiracy on the part of the Flewkers of Derby, and Lord Derby was only imitating his Secretary-at-War in raising the same cry. He asked the noble earl whether, the last night of the late debate, he had not entered into a conspiracy with certain member of the Liberal party —whether he had not been led to them in the lobby, that their faltering convictions might be re inforced by the shake of the hand and the blendish ments of the great chivalric nobleman ? He could hardly believe that the Prime Minister and a Peer of the realm should descend so low as to come into the House of Commons "to canvass for these ioose fish." The noble earl, he believed, only caught five ; but it was not the less an unprincipled conspiracy. Lord Derby and his Ministry had gone, and there was no deluge ; but even if ',here was, he would remind the company that the debk,e was caused by the sins of those who went be fore it. The hon. gentleman, at some length, proceeded to explain his views of what ought to be done in the pre sent crisis. He recommended, like his colleague, a union between the Peelites and the Liberal party, and his observations upon this point were received by his con stituents with marked approbation. The health of Sir John Shelley, the chairman, and several other toasts were given before the festivities of the evening ter minated. LATEST FROi‘,l FRANCE. The senate met yesterday at two o ' clo ck, Mesuard in the chair. He proceeded to read.''of order of the day for " th e reading of the r e p °l o o o. M. Troplong on the pr o j ec t o f the Senates ' in su/tum, relative to the modifi ca tions to be m 3 78 52, the Constitution of th e 14th of Janualh. -1 a and," as the concluding f orm ula, "Discusg o y a lieu." te ther M. Troplong then read hi s r eport. It is ra Di a lengthy document, a n d, w ith other matter, oe prises a summary of the debates of the Corataiss i° lire& The mere reading occupied an hour an d - t os t quarters. The passages that received the Inthe, marked applause were those which referred tt o , e . good understanding subsisting between the -C 4l ' l. ror and the Senate. The Vice-President put from the chair the c l a i ou tion of the printi ng o f th e repor t, an d the dige rr u b s- urs • was proposed to b e fi xe d f or an ear ly dar - ' wag day next. The decision in the affirmative , 4 , unanimous. It is probable the 16 new Reform Bill will be adopted, and sieee ssl ne f at single sitting. On Thursday evening then 3 ,,r0- Constitution will have been voted, and very d ay, bably on the following morning, or on Satin' clauses ef .v l e ur y , the Moniteur will promulgate it to all France' d a p The hunt in the forest of Compiegne on lue n passed off well ; the weather magnificent. i4 .,,, te d At the hunt all th e p ersons i nv it e d brea' - tlie in their hunting uniform with the Emperor Mona grand gallery. Sev era l o f th e l a di es , and am aa the rest Mlle. d e Montijo, Mine. de Contadeg),v, Mme. Drouyn d e Lhuys, were in official rr t be habits, green and gold. A little before 12, by Emperor not into a hu n ti ng carr i a ge, draw n t he six horses, in which the Princess Mathilde, Countess de Persigny, Mme. Drouyn de fibu ther and other ladi es , t oo k tb e i r p l aces . Fourts, similar carriages followed with the other edit The place of rendezvous was the Carrefe nr „o Cours Bourbon. Th e dogs were there twes off, and almost imm e di a t e l y not less than foli r ; o th were found. Three b e i ng a b an d one d, the f° 00 ]; afforded a good run of two hours, and at last t o , the water in the Etang de Ste. Perrine, abolt,ce miles from Compiegne. It was there fired at ~,s " A t ral times, and after receiving three balls Ir r i t, last killed by Colonel Ney, who, getting into 3 ,1: 1 0 cut the animal's throat in the water. At 113 ' - ' a . 3 the party got back to the Palace, and the f o r took place at 5. Th e cur e s was e ff ec t e d 11 to A light at 8 in the e ven i ng , i n th e cou rtYar'' re• great number of spe c t a t ors were allowed to f o r sent. Afterwards th ere was a so i r é e in the lo ci. peror's private apartment for the specially lull THE FLOODS. ra w- SCOTLAND.—One effe c t o f th e l a t e grea 4-, - ' has, of course, b een f orm id a bl e fl oo d s i n the P rio eig ir cipal rivers of S co tl an d. I n t h e immediate 11,100 e, bourhood of Edinb urg h littl e d amage h as been "tot The Meadows on F r id ay were to a grea t O o 's submerged, and the low ground in the Q.„ 11 c hf- Park was also consid era bl y fl oo d e d . Al on g tu' i e . t he ferent lines of railway l ea di ng ou t o f Edi n burgh /pa fields on either side are in many cases partiallY9 o ay in others totally su b merge d ; an d consideralN,og mage to the land must ensue before the large L'ey of water is drained off. Along the line of th e t he ledonian Railway, from Edinburgh to Carstair s ' fields on either side of the railway present tb! 9 ,0 pearance of large lakes, and several large fiel":,,,a also submerged al ong the line of the Edinburg Glasgow Railway. In some cases in Fife, the r i (fr i , have overflowed their banks, and swept away %ire cultural produce and other ticles. In Pertoy the floods have been very severe—the Tay, 01 and other rivers having been in full floodfor 04011 days. Consid era bl e d amage was done in of by the overflow of the Tay, and the destruction t, property on the b an k s o f th e E arn i s also P:;-ht 'The river Tweed also attained a g reater 11 7 of than it has done fo r some years back, Ine: 9 g ir the laughs on it s marg i n b e i ng ent i re ly l o t dated. The water h a d r i sen so hi g h on S un daY I , et , the road betwixt K e l so an d T ev i ot B r id ges wa s e° red ed to a great ex t en t, an d f or some hours renu,', to impassable. in D um f r i ess hi re an d t h e di s trie o the south, the dest ruc ti on o f agr i cu l tura l prod veto and live stock h as b een very great, an d se og damage has been done to a number of hollsesoo , the banks of th e Nith. S evera l em b an k men tB2 lt o way at Moffat an d b e l ow L oc h ma b en, an d appears that a large portion of the town 01 cudbright was laid under water.—Scotsman. da y SHIELDS, SATURDAY NlGHT.—DuringMull night the rain fell in one sheet of w ater, 00 )&0 Friday morni ng th e T yne was much swollen' t he freshet comi ng ou t w ith great v i olence with ebb tide. Between eight and nine o'clock in „,, d o forenoon, a wherry fro m N ewcas tl e, with some iron castings aboard, came alongside of the cleaLo Messrs. Gouts and Parkinso n ' s wor k s a t Wellinray Quay. The wat er was l eve l w i t h the quay, and she'ety after nine o'dobli a number of laboureas were er e gaged taking the castings on shore. TheY,P r go using roller s f or th e purpose, and had go t a t 3 piece of metal u p on th em, w h en it slid from t, and rolled to the opp os it e s id e o f th e vessel, ,ieovt, ming one man against its side, and with the P le r throwing a second man, William Morisson, ° jo y board, and drowning him. Extra hands were es mediately procured, and the poor fellow, 'Al ° pit jammed against the vessel's side, extricated. „„ 1 0 just as they had go t hi m l oose t h e b oat ' s stern broke, and caught by the tide, she gave, a l ' r eo out and heeled over, throwing both men and TO into the stream. The scene that ensued was friP ir i , beyond des cr ipti on , b u t fortunately all were el, cated but a shipw rig ht, name d Alexander V : 1 04 who had sunk . w ith th e cargo, and having ge,, e rs leg jammed under a large iron frame, was fixed tP eo i until he was drown e d, as th e i ron weighed s°9,fe3. hundredweight. Medical assistance was prop iii. for the other men that were injured, and from Wi e r, ries made this afternoon they are all likely to recol os e The bodies of the two unfortunate men wile drowned have b een t a k en out of the water, o'lll inquest will be held upon them on Monday. inquest was opened in South Shields this eve'sji, in the Golden Inn, on the body of Edward Arthy a boy, aged 14 y ears , w h o was killed yes terd a d, afternoon, by a large wall in front of the York Berwick Railway, C ommerc i al Road, in that tor , , falling down and crushing him to death. The , / j,O quest was attend e d b y M r. T. E. Harrison, ", manager of the line, an d severa l o f the town cowl i ; the wall. having been in a dangerous state for so, months previous to the rains coming on ; and it is leged that the railw a y company rece i ved notice fr4oo the mayor th a t it was i n a b ad condition. of poor boy was standing talking to a young 1u0 11 ,,11 the name of Walker, a carman, when the '''of came away, and buried them under a mag s urt t earth. They were both dreadfully crushed, "di extricated in a few minutes. Arthur died shor t afterwards, but Walker it is hoped, will ; a t cover, though he i s no t considered °,a, of danger by th e me di ca l man this e_tr ing.—A s c h ooner , th e Penelope, of Tel,l) mouth, while towing into the Tyne during the %i t tide, and while th e f res h et was running out wlof great force, on Thursday eveningi broke her t ore line, and drove o n t o th e H ard sand. The crew virg rescued with great diffi cu lt y, an d h ave lost everYt ll,, ' ~ 0' as the vessel went t o pi eces t hi s afternoon. Wril-ug Thirlbeck a Tyne pilot, known to ship captain s ._,,„e the habit of visiti ng th e T yne, on the same eve'', 4 -- got jammed b e t ween th e vessel he was nav i ga t e l e and a steamboat, and all hopes of his recovery 113 „g been given up thi s even i ng. Nine lives have tll,l'o been lost in the neighbourhood of Shields since t floods came away, a number of persons in -Pr e and many thousa n d poun d s ' worth of property cte. „, 1 stroyed. A very ser i ous amount of m i sch i ef h as bm ; occasioned by the wat ers o f th e T yne i nun d a ti n g villages above bridge, Blaydon, Derwenthaug); Scotswood, and Newburn suffering severely. quantity of paper was destroyed at the mills at Scots: wood. A considerable amount of injury has been do r to the railways. In the early part of the week'the floods wa s h e d away a p or tion of th e em b a n ~ ment at Riding Mills, on the Newcastle and Carp ßailway, and impeded the traffic. Last night al two arches of a bridge on the same line wer e washed away at Haltwhistle. A locomotive Y e d terday ran into the river near Kel so , occa sion° by a slip on the Kelso branch of the York and B er i wick Railway ; and on the same a ft ernoon a piece ° wall belonging to the town, burst upon the saf e o , 0 line, below the Manor stati on , at Newcastle, guards of luggage trai ns h ave also been killed ° t the same line —one at Fence Houses, the other Shields— Shields--during the wee k , i n the darkneys of ilJ e night. —Times. WORKING OF PUSEYISM IN WESTMINSTER. -- w ri es t, night a meeting o f th e ratepayers of St. Anne's, f minster, was h e ld i n the vestry-room, for the Pe; P°— o for providing for th e repa i rs of the parish church, and als°og certain deficie nc i es i n the fund for carrying on the ° Ti l e nary service. Th e Rev. Nugent Wade presided.. l2 o/ 4 report of th e committee showed that for the repairs and for other expenses 1101., would be required, o l'Tio. penny rate w as recommended as adequate to this be Mr. C ooper, surgeon, moved that a half-penny 1.3 00' granted, and was expressing his regret that the in n i tions of th e rector had reduced them from a state l i i c h dependence to the necessity of recurring to a rate w vrba n Would strike theirnonconformist fellow-parishioners , to w he was interrupted by the rector, who said he woul i d .o rate no an i ma d vers i ons of that nature, but would o t the meeting were they not suspended. Mr. CA ) °P' suming, obse rve d th a t it was most pertinent to renlai k t heit the condu c t o f th e rec t or was precisely the cause 0,11a.a011 difficulties. Here the rect or aga i n interfered amid st pl oy uproar, but Mr. Cooper wen t on, and conclude d by go ing that half the sum demanded be granted. 3 f r 6. 0 10,5 shall seconded the moti on . A n amendment for adie...„,,0, the question, and another f or grant i ng the entire 104, Wen rejected, and airs Come§ retsclutien TOO V114'7 (From the Times.) The construction of the new Government is so far advanced that it is possible Lord Derby may know all the names even at the very early date ' he has asked for the gratification of his curiosity. , We believe we may state that all the distinguished statesmen whose co-operation was desirable, or to be expected, have done their utmost to smooth the inevitable difficulties of the new Premier's task, and have placed themselves at his disposal with a most generous disregard of purely personal con siderations. In only one instance, that; of a certain great unattached, is their any reluctance to serve her Majesty and the people in a united Govern ment. Had the Earl of Clarendon been Foreign Secretary in the Russell Cabinet it would probably have survived to this day ; we can only regard, therefore, the introduction of his name, and the omission of another, as by no means an unfavourable omen. Lord John Russell, it is said, places him self entirely at the service of the public ; but his friends, with a greater regard for his health and strength than he has ever been accustomed to feel himself, stipulate that he shall be spared the work of a laborious department. As for the other names some are too well known to be further alluded to ; and others a few hours will declare. They who had the task of creating the last Administration may well feel a degree of jealousy at the abundance of material within the reach of their more fortunate successors. The new Cabinet will not be a mere nursery of experimental statesmen. It will not be a political militia, designed to make raw recruits as good soldiers as can be expected after a few weeks' training. It is only a case for selection and manipulation ; and, where all the parties concerned are themselves only anxious that there shall be no difficulties, there can be none of a very serious character. There is every probability that, long before the ordinary period for the reassemblage of Parliament, every preparation will have been made for a session of unusual importance. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS-(THIS DAY.) Mr. Serjeant Adams, and a bench of magistrates, sat this morning at the Guildhall, Westminster, for the purpose of hearing bail and appeal cases, of which there were only 2 in the paper. Both cases were adjourned until the 11th of January, in consequence of the illness of the parties engaged, and the court adjourned until Monday week at Clerkenwell. BOW STREET-(THIS DAY). Jane Thetford, a young woman well known to the police, was placed at the bar before Mr. Henry charged with being drunk, and using obscene language in the Strand. It appeared from the evidence that, this morning about half-past two, a policeman heard some one crying out very loud, and making use of bad expre3sions, and, upon proceeding to the corner of Catherine-street, in the Strand, he saw the prisoner clasping a lamp-post at the corner. As soon as she saw him she ran away, still crying at the top of her voice, and using very foul language. He had great difficulty in taking her to the station-house, she being very violent. The prisoner was a very bad character, and spent the greater part of her time in prison. Mr. Henry said he should send the prisoner to the House of Correction for two months, without the option of a fine. When the prisoner was being removed she said she would have her revenge of the b y magis trate and all the crew when she came out, and made use of other expressions of the most gross nature. MARLBOROUGH STREET- (THIS DAY.) IMPUDENT ROBBERY. Mary Smith. and Mary Robinson were placed at the bar before Mr. Bingham charged with stealing a purse, containing 51. in gold, the property of Henrietta de Bertolando. Mr. Ramon de Bertolando said he resided at Lawn Cottage, Upper Halliford, Middlesex. On the previous afternoon himself and his wife were at Fortnum and Mason's, making some purchases, when, all at once, his wife exclaimed that her purse had been abstracted from her pocket, and that she believed the prisoners bad taken it. Witness ran after the prisoners, who had left the shop, caught hold of them, and taxed them with the theft. The prisoner Robinson then handed him the Damn produced, and begged of him to lot her go. Ho, however, held them till a constable came up, when he gave them in charge. Mrs. Raman de Bertolando said she was with her husband at Fortnum and Mason's, when she felt some person rub against her dress. She looked round and saw the prisoner's hands move from her dress. She then felt in her pocket and missed her purse, containing five new sovereigns and a letter she had received from her children. The purse produced with its contents was her property. _ _ Police - constable 45 C took the prisoners into custody. The purse was found upon Robinson. The prisoners, who are well known to the police, were fully committed for trial. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DA Y. ) Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque was the commissioner of the day, but there was nothing doing this morning of the slightest interest. SECONDARIES' COURT.-(THIS .DAY.) (Before J. K. Potter, Esq.) PALZSCHKE V. VIZETELLY. CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, OR THE GAME OF CROSS PURPOSES.—This was an action on a bill of exchange, and defendant pleaded non acceptance. The plaintiff's attorney put in the bill, and said that to prove the handwriting he must call the defendant's solicitor. Defendant's solicitor was called, but knew nothing of the handwriting, even as to "belief." The learned secondary having observed that as to handwriting it was not necessary to speak positively, the clerk was called, and had "no knowledge," or " belief." Plaintiff's attorney said it was hard upon him ; he had subpoenaed the defendant and all his people to prove the handwriting, but none of them appeared. The Secondary—Then the case falls for want of proof. - Plaintiffs attorney—Then my remedy is to call all the witnesses on the subpoena. This was done. Plaintiff's attorney said he was somewhat non-plussed, but not non-suited. At this moment a gentleman appeared in breathless haste to say that all the witnesses were drinking wine, and making jolly at the Guildhall, and wouldn't come if they could, and couldn't come if they would. The learned Secondary censured any system to keep witnesses away. A witness was at length obtained to prove the hand writing. Defendant's attorney then insisted on the plaintiff to prove his own identity and domicile, to save costs. Plaintiff did not appear, and he also was called on his subpoena in the usual form. The verdict was entered for plaintiff, all points re served for the superior court. MELANCHOLY LOSS OF LIFE NEAR WlNDSOR.—Yes terday afternoon, an inquest was held at the Bells of Ouse ley, Old Windsor, before Rupert Clarke, Esq., coroner, on the bodies of John Tarrant, aged 21, and Henry Tarrant, aged 28, who wore accidentally drowned, under veryjnelan choly circumstances, during the late, or, more properly speaking, at the commencement of the present floods. So long ago as the 23d ult., the deceased, who were own cousins, and the sons of respectable farmers, residing in the parish of Datchet, started doNv a the Thames, towards Old Windsor, in a punt, for the purpose of having a shot at the numerous flocks of wild fowl then hovering about. A neighbour who had proceeded with them was landed on a piece of elevated land, in the hope of intercepting a large flock of plovers in their flight, but had not fired a shot be fore he turned round, and to his horror and dismay found that the boat and his companions had been swallowed up by the turbulent stream. The boat was found entangled in some brushwood near Runnymede, next day, but the utmost efforts of the Windsor and Eton Humane Society's men failed to discover their bodies, and after three or four days, the search was discontinued. On Saturday last, by a singular coincidence, the body of John Tarrant was first descried by John Haynes, the brother of the boy who lost his life on the 24th ult., near the same spot, while assisting Mr. Marr, the surveyor of taxes, in his endeavour to reach the Berkshire side of the river from Magna-Charta John Haynes, who has succeeded his deceased brother in the service of Mr. Marr, was assisting that gentleman to cross from the island to Runnymede on Saturday, and, very naturally, mistaking the corpse for that of his lost re lative, became so extremely terrified that it was with diffi culty Mr. Marr kept him in the punt. Assistance being procured, the body was removed to the public-house, and identified as that of John Tarrant. The parish constable communicated with the coroner, and the inquest was fixed for yesterday, when, within an hour of the assembling of the jury, the body of Henry Tarrant was discovered floating down the river, about 2C9 yards from the spot where the accident occurred. An inquest was consequently taken o n both bodies, and the preceding facts having been proved in evidence, a verdict of " Accidentally drowned" was re turned in each case. The body of the 'boy Hayiies has not yet been recovered. ALARMING FIRE AT CAMBERWELL—Last night, about nine o'clock, a fire, attended with a de s t ruc ti on of property valued at several hunched pounds, broke out in the exten sive premises belonging to Mr. R. Smith, li nen d raper and silk-mercer, carrying on business at Camberwell-grove. The front of the warehouse was all but destroyed, and it is computed that upwards of NU worth of the stock in trade was consumed. The sufferer, it is understood, was insured in the sun Fire-office. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, DEC. 21. Her Majesty, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of Leiningen, and the Royal children, were out in the grounds yesterday. The Court will leave Osborne to-morrow for Windsor Castle. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial Office from the Governors of the North American pro vinces and the Governor of Victoria. BURFORD'S PANORAMA. THE BERNESE ALPS. A more picturesque or beautifully painted panorama has never been exhibited at Leicester-square than this noble delineation of the celebrated view from the sum mit of the Faulhorn, 8,000 feet above the level of the sea—one of the most extensive and superb of Conti nental views. The surrounding mountains embrace some of the highest and boldest peaks in the magnificent range of the Bernese Oberland. From the point chosen by the painter, the Shrekhorn and the Ausser Eiger present the greatest apparent altitude, overtopping the really loftier Jungfrau and Gross Monch. But the part of the panorama on which the eye dwells with peculiar pleasure is the extent of country sti e::,ching northward, the cantons of Lucerne and Urterwalden ' with the lakes of Luce rne an d Z ug i n t h e di stance, and the masses of the Mont Pilatus and Righi conspicuously prominent. From the elevated spot in which the spectator is sup posed to stand, he descries mountains, rocks, glaciers, torrents, lakes, valleys, and everything that makes Switzerland wonderful, depicted with singular fidelity. Of the execution of the painting it is impossible to speak in too high terms of praise. The elaboraLion is ' exqui site, and the colouring rich and natural, and there is an endless variety in the effects of light and shade. The. original drawings were made on the spot by Mr. Bur ford, and Mr. Selous has assisted him in the painting. Of its marvellous accuracy we can vouch from personal knowledge of the grand view from the Faulhorn ; and of the artistic excellence displayed in its execution there' can be but one opinion, that of unqtalified admiration. A better panorama has never been produced. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Lieut.-General Lord F. Fitzclarence, commander-in chief at Bombay, has presented to the 36th Regiment, of which he is colonel, a very handsome flag-staff for their new colours, set in silver gilt, ornamented with oak leaves, and with a crystal in front, containing fragments of the old colours of the regiment, -set in the form of a union jack, with the following inscription beneath :—" These relics of the old colours of the 36th Regiment, which were borne through and witness of so many glorious actions under the immortal Wellington, are presented by Lie - at.- General Lord F. Fitzclarence, colonel of the regiment." LORD DERBY AND THE IRISH LORD CHANCELLOR.-- In the abse nce o f any pos i t i ve intelligence respecting Ministerial arrangements there are abundance of rumours about impending changes, including those connected with the executive and the law in Ireland ; but it is needless to refer to those speculations, as the real facts are likely to transpire in a day or two. It is stated very confidently that Mr. Blackbmme, the Lord Chancellor, has received a communication from Lord Derby, announcing his own re signation, as an event that would necessarily lead to the surrender of the Irish seals by that right honourable gen tleman, but stating it as his decided opinion that circum stances will arise to require his return to office before the end of April next. DEPARTURE OF THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.—It is stated that preparations are in progress at the Castle for the de parture of the Lord-Lieutenant. His Excellency and the Countess of Eglinton will hold an undress morning recep tion at the Castle previous to their leaving. CHRISTMAS BENEFACTIONS TO CLERGYMEN.—At this season of the year a considerable sum of money is annually distributed among poor curates and other clergymen of the Established Church by the governors of the ancient corpo. ration of the Sons of the Clergy, and on Saturday last, the 18th inst., they held their usual meeting for the purpose at the Corporation-house, No. 2, Bloomsbury-place. After a very lengthened discussion in reference to the necessity of taking steps to increase the efficiency and resources, and to make more generally known the character and needs of the charity, more especially in consequence of the very large number of small benefices which have of late years been created, the governors proceeded to the immediate object of the meeting, when the cases of 85 poor clergymen wee e submitted, and sums of 101. to 201. were given to 78. SIGNS OF CHRISTMAS-DAY.—Yesterday evening, for the first time this season, the metropolis began to assu me its unmistakeable Christmas appearance. In all the great thoroughfares the butchers and poulterers' shops displayed to admirin g crow d s an d wa t er i ng mou th s the solid devour ables of an Englishman's table, in the shape of gigantic quarters of beef, Patagonian legs and shoulders of mutton, with enormous sides of pork, some of them feet in thick ness, apparently solid, and strong enough to do duty as bulwarks on board of line-of-battle ships, and bulwarks they are to a man-o'-war's-man, no doubt, in a different sense. LONDON COLONIAL TRAINING INSTITUTION. The object of this institution is to afford to a limited number of adult male criminals the means of recovering the posi tion they have lost in society, by providing them with a shelter and suitable instruction, and after the lapse of a certain period, by giving them a free passage to one of the British colonies. A meeting was held yesterday at the institution in Great Smith-street, Westminster, previous to the departure of 12 of the inmates. Mr. Carter Wood, treasurer of the charity, presided, and there were several ladies and gentlemen present. The proceedings commenced with prayer and the singing of a hymn, after which the chairman, addressing the emigrants, congratulated them on the prospects that were before them, and gave them some good advice for the regulation of their conduct on the passage and in the colony. He also alluded to the pleasing testimony borne by Mr. Nash, the governor of the institution, to the exemplary conduct observed by the emigrants during the 12 months they had been under his care. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Payne and other gentlemen, and Mr. Nash read some letters from former inmates who had emigrated, and who were now in prosperous cicumstances. An J illustrated copy of "Bunyan's Pilgrimr Progrzss," the gift of the the Earl of Shaftesbm7, w's pre rented to each of the emigrants, who rose beforeashey separated and severally expressed their gratitude for t . l- 4 0 benefits which they had received in the instit u ti on , • . Sat,--I concur most completely with your admirable rem irks of Monday regarding Lord Palmerston, and the country will concur with them. The people of England begin to understand Lord Pal merston ; and to understand is to appreciate " the first statesman of the age." They begin uneasily to inquire, what influence it is, hanging over one who has served his country so long and so ably which causes him to be passed over in a crisis like the present, whilst men of half his talent and a tythe of his influence are considered indispensable ? They are puzzled when they ask people, better informed themselves, why Lord Palmerston does not rally round him the many men of talent that respect him, and form an Administration so eminontly national that it would be a disgrace to oppose it ? Surely there is no truth in the insinuation expressed exultingly in the Daily News the other day, an insinua tion which all must regard as the foulest calumny— that Lord Palmerston, notwithstanding his eminent services for more than a quarter of a century is out of favour in a high quarter. It is true that the policy of our patriotic Foreign Secretary was not always consistent with the fancied interests of a few paltry German principalities; that he had the discernment to detect, and the courage to oppose, the encroaching spirit of Russia ; that he was ever prepared to defend the Englishman from wrong and outrage in whatever part of the world he might be ; but it is equally true that his policy was always consistent with the interests and the dignity of this mighty country—to use his own eloquent words, shortly after his ungracious dismissal, he "left the name of England ranking high amongst the nations of the world." The enemies of Lord Palmerston artfully appeal to the timid part of the community who, with a righteous horror of war, would act precisely in the way to bring it upon them with crashing effect. In the great battle of politics, where powerful nations have different in terests to defend, different aspirations to gratify, it is not by quailing^ and aubniigsion that a conflict is avoided, but by showing that you are ready to Boat. It was by preserving an unbending front, by keeping a steady eye that Lord Palmerston kept at bay the grasping spirit of Russia, the vindictive spirit of Austria, and the mighty power of France. He was ready at all times, if neces sary, to place the alternative before us of a just war to protect the interests of England abroad, or an ignoble peace, purchased at the expense of the independence and the honour of the nation. He did not understand a policy which, by affecting ignorance or indifference, would for peace and quietness allow the legitimate in fluence of this great empire to be filched from her. I could write more upon this subject, to show that Lord Palmerston is not only deservedly popular for what he has already done, but that Europe, although appa rently quiet, is really so unsettled, that a large body of people feel that he is necessary to them—that they re quire a man of his unrivalled ability and experience to detect the designs of foreign countries, and to arrest them before they are in a position to carry them out ; but I forbear to do so, having already occupied much of your valuable space. Of this lam certain, that the popula rity of Lord Palmerston is a great fact,—that no Govern ment could be permanent with him in Opposition, —and that he is too patriotic, after having served his country so well, to leave it in the hour of need, and that he will not accept the Vice-Royalty of Ireland.—Yours, &c., Cambridge-street, Hyde-park-square. C. W. S. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Permit me to request a little of your space to make public a matter deeply affecting the welfare and efficiency of the Arctic Searching Expeditions. Dispatches recently brought home by Captain Moore inform us that the Plover, under the command of Captain Maguire, has with great difficulty been moved up to Point Barrow, which is 600 miles in advance of Port Clarence. Point Barrow is an excellent locality for this depot ship, but, to make her effective, it is absolutely neces sary that an annual communication should be maintained with her. The utility of this measure is so obvious, that it would be a waste of time to dwell upon it ; and the Admiralty themselves are fully alive to its importance. The only consideration, is, therefore, how this communi cation can best be effected ; and one would suppose, after the experience we have had of the value of steam power in navigating the Arctic seas, that it would be at once apparent that a screw -steamer would be the proper, and, indeed, only description of vessel, fit to be em ployed on this service. Yet it is, lam sorry to say, actually contemplated to send the Rattlesnake out with out steam-power, and without a steam-tender. If any one will be at the trouble to read the blue books already issued, containing accounts of the recent explorations through Behring's Straits, they will see how very uncertain the navigation is in the direction of Point Barrow ; and, if they look at the excellent chart of the straits as laid down by Captain Beechy, who was there in the Blossom, they will perceive a line of pack ice stretching across the straits to Wainwright Inlet, as it existed in 1827. In 1826, it barred the passage a little further north, and in 1849 it extended across close to the Seahorse Islands. In the ensuing summer, if the pack-ice hangs to the southward, the Rattlesnake will have but little chance of worming her way to Point Bar row ; whereas, on the other hand, a screw -steamer would force her way up, and then not only carry supplies to the Plover, but also be able to return with intelligence to Port Clarence. If the Rattlesnake cannot be navigated to Point Barrow, her commander will, doubtless, endea vour to get her stores to that locality, by means of boats, but that step will not only be most difficult, but highly dangerous, and heavily-laden boats on an iron and ice bound coast, where gales are incessant, are not likely to accomplish it. For the sake of Captain Collinson and A/Velure, as well as for that of Franklin, a steamer shouldbe sent with the Rattlesnake, and she might without any risk, take ad vantage of openings to the north-east. You have on more than one occasion urged in reference to the pro longed and anxious search for our missing countrymen, the desirableness of using every means in our power to bring the search to a speedy, and, .7possible, successful issue ; and, it is, I know, the opiniou of competent autho rities that a fearful mistake will be made if the Rattle snake be allowed to depart on her long and difficult voy age without a steam-tender. The Isabel screw steamer, which has lately returned from the Arctic seas, is admirably adapted for this office, and, being in excellent order, she might be at onto com missioned. The subject is of vital importance, and it is very much to be desired that no change in the govern ment of the Admiralty may interfere in effectually ' organising the searching operations on the side of Behring's Straits. I am, Sir, your humble servant, Somerset-house, Dec, 22. C. R. WELD, THE MINISTRY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —ln reference to your remarks in the Sun, of last evening, respecting Lord Derby's Administration, I beg to acquaint you that, in this city (Norwich), there was no meeting whatever against the budget, and the public, generally, were quite satisfied with Government, seeing that their object was to endeavour to benefit the country. People here are in no way confident of Lord Aber deen's new Administration, which here has already re ceived the soubriquet of the Hotch-potch Government. From the Times having yesterday gone to the Radical market for stock—naming Sir Win. Molesworth and others as likely to be included in the new Administration —and to-day poking into the Conservative market after Lord St. Leonards, Lord Raglan, and others, it is mani- ' fest Lord Aberdeen is already in a fix —trying to please the several opposition sections, he has affronted all, and is, therefore, likely to topple over.--I am, &c., A NORWICH WEAVER, Norwich, Dec. 21, NO A CABINET-MAKER. 1852. T MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A YOUNG- LADY.— Yesterday information was received at the various police stations of the mysterious disappearance of a young lady, of high connexions, who resided in the locality of Eaton square. It appears she went out for a walk on Thursday, the 16th inst., and took the omnibus at the end of Sloane street, Chelsea, and although every exertion has been made to trace the fugitive, not the slightest tidings have been heard of the lady. The following is the description of her : —lnitials on linen are " K. I. Q. ;" about 18 years of age, but looks older ; dressed in a coarse straw bonnet, lined and trimmed with blue, edged with black velvet, with a wreath of pink daisies ; sage-coloured merino dress, black cloth paletot, with brown parasol ; high-heeled black kid boots ; gold ring, with green stone, which she wore on her right hand. She had with her also a brown paper parcel, containing a plaid silk dress. Her height is about 5 feet 4 inches, dark hair, pale complexion, and was last seen in the neighbourhood of Blackheath. Any information respect ing the party will be most thankfully received by the dis tracted friends of the lady, if forwarded to the metropo litan police; or to Mr. Reynolds, Church-street, West minster. THE LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER HALL.—This society will perform upon Thursday, f or th e first time this season Mendelssohn's - " Elijah." An Elegy,r "Mourn fo r the Mighty Dead," th e com p os iti on of Si Henry Bishop, will also be given. Mr. Surman, as usu a l , will be the conductor ; and the solo vocalists will include Mrs. Endersohn, Miss Dolby, Mr. Lockey and Mr. Phillips. END OF THE SIX-MILE -B RIDGE A FFAIR. —e Fre e. man's Journal of Tuesd a y i nt i mates that the chae nge of Government is deemed a suff i cient excuse for the of kin of the rioters sh o t a t Six-mile-bridge to next abandon their proneution of the flOidierfi il3lPliCAtOd th e Array, ha' i TerPool tt, dated 11 ,, t rrIN ap kit e ` ti F a P , rise ee d ingo. C: l 9 one 1,7:4t as 30 of made L t "b3r, Nv; (11 bad The 5( tv 'ne th t z , e x B fo 4 ed f l ' h- erpoi b °l 'eiltr °lleasi "41isbur Nr o . /do n vewmai , ork k till ester e wtaa 4111.(rwral cot.. r Q pto V erle lbUry p i wraa orc eE 44verp( 11 • ) 3 1.1 g4tx 1 1 1 ; i ght, I,:adie,nly Dar ° " . kO4 ci al Leiee°;: N, ste e17,,n, give of 400 40 40 50 I,oc 1,0(