The Sun. — London, England, 1848-12-26 00:00:00

Now ready at all the Libraries, THE NEW NOVEL, LUCILLE BELMONT, 3 vols. post Bvo. Henry Colburn, PublLsher, la, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready, in one vol., with Frontispiece, 10s. 6d. bound, MISS BREMER'S CHRISTMAS BOOK " THE MIDNIGHT iiittiN." A PILGRIMAGE. By FREDRIKA BREMER. Translated from the Unpublished Swedish Original. By MARY HOWITT. henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready, at all the Libraries, in Three Vels., post ttvo., THE LILY OF PARIS; or, THE KING'S NEESE. By J. PALGRAVE SIMPSON, Esq., Author of " Glsella," " Letters from the Danube," " Second Lo're," &c. Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street. THE SECOND EDITION of MR. MACAU LAY'S HISTORY of ENGLAND will be published on Fri. day, January 5, 1849. Lo - ndo'n : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton. The public is respectfully informed that this Theatre has, during the recess, undergone very extensive repairs and alterations and the whole re-decorated. THIS EVENING. Will be performed the Tragedy of THE GAMESTER. Beverley, air. Charles Kean ; Mrs. Beverley, Mrs. Charles Keai. After which, a new Farce, entitled YOUR LIFE'S IN DANGER, To conclude with an Arabian Night's Entertainment, entitled CAMARALZAMAN AND BADOURA ; or, The Peri who Loved the Prince. Characters by Messrs. Bland, Keeley, Mrs. Keeley, Miss Horton, and Miss Reynolds. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. TTnder the direction of Madame Celeste• During the Recess this Theatre has been entirely re-decorated, the original designs by Digby Wyatt, Es(., executed by Mr. Sang. A new Stage, Curtain, Act Drop, and Chandelier. An approved sys tem of Ventilation, &c., &c. The Private Boxes enlarged, Backs added to the Seats, and Stalls rendered more comfortable. THIS EVENING Will be performed a new Drama, founded on Mr. Dickens's Christ mas Book, entitled Tll HAUNTED MAN. Mr. Redlaw, Mr. Hughes: the Phantom, Mr. 0. Smith ; A. Tetterby and Co., Mr. Wrigkt ; the Eoy, Miss E. Chaplin ; Milly, Miss Woolgar ; Mrs. Tot terby, Mrs. F. Matthews. To be followed by THE ENCHANTED ISLE. Alonzo, Mr. Paul Tedford ; Prospero, Mr. 0. Smith ; ArieL Madame Celeste. To conclude with a Kew Farce called SLASHER AND CRASHER. Mr. Slasher, Mr. Wright ; Mr. Crasher, Mr. Paul Bedford. !LOYAL LYChUM THEATRE. • Under the Management of Madame Vestria. S o le Lessee, Mr. Charles Ms: he NS. THIS EVENING, • Will be performed A CURIOUS CASE. Characters bylMessrs. 'Parselle, Selby, Charles Mathews, and Miss H. Gilbert. After which, a new Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE KING OF TILE PEACOCKS. Characters by Messrs. Harley, John Reeve, Selby, H. Hall, Marshall, and H. Marshall ; Miss Kathleen Fitzwil liam, Miss L. Howard, Mrs. Macnamara, Miss Marshall, Miss L. Narshall, Miss Coleman, and Madame Vestris. To conclude with AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. Dress Boxes, 5 8.; Upper Boxes, is ; Pit, 15. . ; Gallery, Is. No half-price to any part of the house. The New Box-office, No. 2, Wellington- Btve.f, Is open to the publib every day, from Ten till Six. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Mr. J. IC Maddox, Sole Lessee and Manager. During the Recess this Theatre has been re-decorated and embel lished in a superb and costly manner ty Mr Hurwitz. A new Chan delier has been fitted, and the best arran,,, meats have been made for the due Ventilation of the Theatre, and the couuort and cenTeaience of the audience. THIS EVENING, Will be performed a ne;lialllOPeni, ' entitled ROBIN GOOD FELLOW. To conclude with a new grand Pantomime, entitled BLUFF KI.NG HAL ; or, Harlequin and the Charmed Arrow. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. DUMBOLTON'S SERENADERS. This celebrated Treupe, whose performances leave excited univer sal admiration throughout the United States, will repeat a short Series of their popular ETHIOPIAN ENTERTAINMENT at the above Theatre TO-MORROW and Friday Evenings. The Programme will include a variety of original Songs, Glees, ece.,. entirely new to this country. Doors open at Eight. Mr. ROBERT-HOUDIN will repeat his SOIREES FINTAS TIQUES THIS BITENING, and on Thursday, and -aturday. The Programme will include numerous experiments entirely new. 'ours open at Eight. Boxes and Stalls may be secured at Mr. Mitchell's Iteyal Library, 33, Old Bond-street ; and at the Box-eftice. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Under the Patronage of her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, &c. Novelties for Christmas Holidays most astounding In the Metropolis. --A gorgeous Spectacle.—Brilliant Scexes of the Arena.—The Arabs ha their wondrous Performances.—A new comic Pantomime. THIS EVENING, The curtain will rise at Seven o'clock precisely to the magnificent Spectacle of the WARS OF THE JEWS ; or, The Fall of Jerusalem. To be followed by an inimitable disp!ay of SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, supported by the first Equestrian talent of the day. To conclude with a new Equestrian Pantomime, entitled BOLD ROBIN HOOD ; or, The Pretty Whits Horse and Enchanted Prin cess of Sherwood Forest. The Celebrated ARABS will appear. Box-office open from Eleven till Five. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. TO CORRESPONDETS. No communication can be attended to unless autheiti• sated by the name and address 01 the writer. Rejected communications cannot be returned. TIIE WEATHER.—Star OFFICE, DECNMBER 26. THRIMONETER, Lowest, 40; Highest, 45; Noon, 47, BAROMETER, 30.7. WIND S.S.E.; dull hazy weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TR'S DAY. Morning .. IS rain. after 2 1 Evening .. X 6 rain. after 2 tivnrat Vint LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1848. Again and again are we compelled to recognise the insufficiency of the Bill of 1830—that Bill which was expected by the mere sanguine class of politicians to effect a complete reform in the construction of Par liament. Again and again do we perceive that pocket boroughs are still very far indeed from being obsolete. The detestable trade of boroughmongering still thrives ; and, in divers nooks and corners of the country, landlords still traffic unmolested in the votes of their snug and most subservient constituents. It is from a profound sense of the demoralizing in fluence of this system—this system which CHARLES Fox once hoped to destroy, and which CHARLES Gxav subsequently attempted to mitigate—that we are disposed to reiterate our demands for the Ballot even more pertinaciously than our entreaties for the dis tribution of the possessors of the suffrage in electoral districts. Without some safeguard against the un constitutional effects of intimidation, without some adequate guarantee for the free exercise of the fran chise, the proportioning of the constituents to the representatives, would be only an idle re-arrange ment of the component parts of an edifice the very foundations of which are rottenness and corruption. First enable the multitude to elect the man whose views coincide with those of the majority, without any respect being paid to the predilections of the aristocracy, and then, if you will, allow those electors the prerogative of sending one or more Members to the House of Commons, according to their own nu merical magnitude. While matters remain in their present anomalous and disgraceful situation, while landlords are per mitted to force their puppets upon the acceptance of their family boroughs, while Peers are permitted to meddle directly and indirectly in the choice of the people to their representatives —so long will the triune structure of our constitution be imperilled. The Crown, the Lords, and the Commons are in the popular allegory presumed to constitute the tripod upon which are burning the flames of our national liberties. To afford security, however, to the pedestal of these liberties the three powers of the State should stand erect in their independent energy. The one should not lean toward s the other. The symmetry of their relative positions should be duly regarded as identical with the strength and solidity of the whole. The Lords have their Chamber in the Parliament—let them rest satisfied with the enormous prerogative thereby afforded them for participating in the labours of legislation. And the only means by which the population may compel them to be contented, and may prevent them from tampering henceforth in the popular elections of Members to the House of Commons, is—the Ballot. We undertake to say that had the Ballot been re sorted to the other morning at King's Lynn, hardly two score of the tickets would have been inscribed with the name of Mr. STANLEY. And yet Mr. STANLEY has been returned for King's Lynn tri umphantly. On the oceasion when the candidates stood before the electors upon the hustings of King's Lynn the returning officer proclaimed that the majority of hands had been held up in favour of a Chartist, not of a Protectionist. When, however, a poll was demanded in behalf of the eldest son of Lord STANLEY, that gentleman very speedily distanced his competitor—insomuch that the latter was soon, according to the turf phrase, nowhere. Now, although there were doubtless a numerous body of non-electors among the crowd who declared in favour of the ultra-Radical before the borough hustings, it would be an absurdity to believe other wise than that the subsequent open-voting at the ...„..„,p9ll-b y ooths brought into play a formidable store of influence. That man would be bold lifiedi- who • should assert that any candidate, 110\N:ever despicable his pretensions , to tie confidence of the constituents, backed by his Grace the Duke of r47 7 ..Amzs,,wouid have a dubious chance of election. f 1 4:V. • r %, C l. f A AN .3. 4 a • * i ds .4 f , • • i f t)i • :41 • Aill% • , • ~,, .""• n - Wyce‘" - • THE SUN, LONDON, As far as efficiency is required, a dummy, a polichinello, or a stable-helper, would be found to possess ample qualifications to represent the opinions (not of the pocket borough, but) of those great mag nates of the land, who hold in their grasp not only the rent-rolls of their estates, but the wills and the consciences of their tenantry. Especially is this found to be the case upon emergencies, when the convenience of a political warming-pan is required. Howbeit, at King's Lynn, the aristocratical nominee is graced with a name illustrious in the records of oratory. The son of Lord STANLEY carries off with a certain air the odium of the villanous system from which he has now derived his Parliamentary initials. Yet for all this, that system is not one jot the less villanous. Neither is the shame of its recollection diminished by the pompous eulo giums with which the maiden career of Mr. STANLEY is inaugurated by the organs of monopoly. We are assured, with a flourish of trumpets, that we are to look for an exhibition of " spotless and chivalrous honour, proud and upright bearing, passionate eloquence, and masterly argumentation," from Mr. STANLEY, the newly elected Member for King's Lynn. Well may that unfortunate young gentleman exclaim, " GOD deliver us from our friends I" For those friends have raised him to the top of such exalted and attenuated stilts, that he looks small—somewhat. With the aid of GOD we will at least do good if we cannot achieve great things I" It might have been possible for the French President to have appended a more brilliant peroration to his inaugural address, but it would have been impossible for any combina tion of words to have con►eyed more earnest assur ances as to the sincerity and the consolidation of the new Government. The very simplicity of this sen tence gives us confidence in the speaker. In the solemn earnestness of its tones we no longer recognise the voice of the hero of Strasbou,rg and Boulogne. The new President has not forgotten the meditations of the prisoner of Ham. In his solitary confinement in 1844 the favourite of France in 1848 pondered over the miseries of the poor, as may be seen in his pamphlet on the " Extinction of Pauperism." His reasons for dwelling on such a theme are touchingly told. "In adversity," he says, " it is natural to think of those who suffer." Let us hope that in prosperity he will find it possible also to relieve them. This pamphlet on the " Extinction of Pauperism " (which appeared in The Sun of Thursday) will at the present moment be regarded with peculiar interest. The plan therein projected is, in many respects, practically objection able, admirable as it may appear in theory. The general principles laid down are, however, excellent, and it is much to be hoped that the French President will now bear them in mind—now that he has an opportunity (rarely accorded to a dreamer) of realis ing his once visionary schemes—now that he has that fulcrum for which ARCHIMEDES sighed. For instance, Prince Louts will now do well to ponder over his own somewhat figurative, but very effective, definition of the word taxation. " The levying of a tax," he says in the commencement of the pamphlet, " may be compared to the action of the sun absorbing the earth's vapours, in order after wards to dispense them back in rain wherever the ground requires water for fertility. When this return is duly made, fecundity is the result ; but when the sky pours back the collected vapours in storms, water spouts, and hurricanes the germs of production are destroyed and barrenness follows, for some receive more than they want and others less than they need . Nevertheless, at the end of a year, the same amount of moisture will be found to have been absorbed and returned. The only difference, then, is that caused by the distribution. Regular and just, it creates plenty ; thriftless and uneven, it produces dearth. So it is with a good cr evil administration. If the sums annually raised be employed for unpro ductive purposes taxation becomes a crushing burden : it exhausts the country. But if, on the other hand, those resources are employed in the creation of frsreh elements of production, then certainly taxation, as a Minister once said from the tribune, is the best of investments for the citizen." The correctness of the Minister's assertion may be called in question ; but there is much truth in the reasoning of the whole paragraph. " Society," serves Prince Louis in another place, " is no fictitious being, but a body with flesh and bones, which can prosper only in proportion as all its component parts are well and thriving." This is a fact (already ad mirably set forth in the eloquent words of Pore) which is too often forgotten by the political econo mist : " Still o'er the crush'd the social car proceeds." It is not our purpose now to inquire into the ma nifold causes why this is so, nor to dwell on the yet more numerous reasons why it should Rot be so. We are merely desirous of calling attention to the opinions of the French President, on one of the most important subjects which can engross the attentio❑ of the legislator. Adversity—the adver sity which, according to Prince Louis makes us think of those who suffer—is an excellent preceptor. The meditations of the prison -house often produce good fruit. When the great BONAPARTB, in the com mencement of his military career, was on one occasion imprisoned in consequence of the machinations of his enemies, he was found employing his solitary hours in pondering over the map of Italy , projecting the plan of his future glorious campaign. It will be well if the prison-dreams of his descendant meet with similarly glorious realisations, and the ex- tinction of pauperism, projected in the dungeon of Ham, be consummated in the palace chamber of the Elysee Nationale. On Saturday we alluded to the extensive reforms in the financial legislation of the United Kingdom, suggested by JOHN MACGREGOR, Esq., M.P., which appeared to us more desirable than the more recent propositions of the Hon. Member for the West Rid ing of Yorkshire. It should not be forgotten that, at the time when Mr. MAcGaaGois put forward his views on financial reform, he occupied the influential and lucrative situation of Secretary of the Board of Trade—a situation which he subsequently resigned, in order to become the free and independent repre sentative of a commercial constituency. He unhe sitatingly sacrificed his own private interests, and relinquished emoluments which many would consider a handsome remuneration for Parliamentary services, in order to devote all his energies to the removal of those restrictions' which his great experience, and sound practical knowledge, convinced him were deeply injurious to his country. He endea voured to promote those sound principles of fiscal and commercial legislation which, if duly carried out, would render England the most flourishing and happiest nation of the world, or, to use his own forcible language, " Far more inde pendent, prosperous, and far more rich and powerful— and with the whole population far less poor, far better employed—more fairly paid for their labour, better sheltered, clad, and fed—and more independent than that, at the present time, of any other country in the world." These are indeed objects worth seeking. How different would be the condition of the labouring class!s, un d er such circumstances, from that which un happily exists under the present system of a fettered currency, and i n di rect taxation, a s s u y ffi st c e i m ent by cir w cu h l i a c t h the very li fe-blood of industry--g - is checked an ing Inediara—ia withh ld, and by which produ c t ion Inmanyr d e i s z e d ts the budget of the Hon. M em b er for the West Ridin g of Yorkshireltisi s borrowed from the Hon. Member for Gl asgow thesuggesttruepracticable national expenditure t od a av advocate c a a single tey eve every blow. ne is, however, pre pared insist upon the most rigid economy consi stent with the maintenance of the national honour and th e national safety. Wlaen, therefore, specific reduc tions are proposed, he will be found, as h . ever has been, recording his votes in favour of eco nomy and retrenchment. The extension of the probate and legacy duty to real estate, which Mr. COLIDRN properly insists on, was recommended by Mr. MACGREGOR two years since. He says (" Progress of America," Vol. 11., p. 1100), " We cannot defend the principle of mak ing personal estate liable to, and exempting resl estate from this duty. This requires an equitable adjustment." Both gentlemen, therefore, sug gest the establishment of this new source of income. Mr. MACGREGOR, however, recom mends that any deficiency in the revenue occ&- sioned by his proposition should be provided for, " not by doubling, or rather more than doubling, the present income-tax, but by the less inquisitorial, and more direct and equitable plan of an annual assessment in the pound upon the annual value of all realised pro perty."—(P. 1303.) This is the true position to assume. It is carrying out one, and by no means the least important, of the objects to be attained by the labours of the Liverpool Reform Assocation, and we trust that body will never relax their exertions or abandon the cause, however great may be the influence, or valuable the past services of those who recommend a temporary cessation of their efforts, until the great principle has been fully established and brought into practice. Mr. MACGREGOR suggests the following simplifica tion of the taxes upon the more sound principles which he:advocates. He is manifestly desirous that the entire income of the country should in time be levied di rectly upon the rents and profits of all realised property , viz., "the rents and profits of all lands, tenements, houses, constructions, funds, stocks, and shares, includ ing factories, warehouses, docks, shipyards, railways, canals, public funds, Bank of England stock, East India and South Sea stock, and the stock and shares of all companies whose stocks and shares are bought and sold in the market." To this condition we are satisfied the nation must ultimately arrive, and we are convinced that it would be beneicial for all classes, :even for the possessors of property, while Industry and labour would be perfectly free and unincumbered. Mr. MAcunsoon does not, however, call for the immediate introduction of the improved system ; his legislation certainly tends towards it, but for the present those articles which produce the largest revenue would be retained, and all others excluded from the tariff. The Excise,is the most , odious of every description of taxation ; its character is necessarily inquisitorial ; while it exists " an Englishman's house" ceases to be " his castle." He is exposed to domiciliary visits at all hours of the night or day.l_ His domestic privacy may be interfered with on no better: foundation than the whispered insinuation of a malicious and anonymous scoundrel, and no redress will be afforded to his well-founded complaints. It is also objectionable, as checking production, interfering directly with the industry of the people, and preventing those experiments in arts and manufactures that would lead to new and valuable Inventions, and great improvements in the processes of manufacture. It also costs more in the collection than any other branch of the national revenue, 6i per cent. of the sums levied from the people being deducted for expenses. It is stated (in the report of the Commission on Excise Manage ment) that in a single year no less than 587,917 establishments were subjected to visits or surveys of Excise officers. Mr. MACGREGOR would abolish the whole of the Excise establishment, merely retaining for the :present the duties on malt and spirits, which he would transfer to the Customs. By these means, and other alterations in the mode of collecting the Customs, the expense of the whole of the present Excise establishment might be saved the country. The 'hop duty, a most partial and oppressive impost, charged upon particular pro ductions, which can only be cultivated in certain parts of the country, which is as: iniquitous as a tax on wheat, or any other description of produce, and which prevents cheap and wholesome beer—noxious drugs being substituted,.for highly taxed hops—and also prevents employment to vast numbers of labour ers— we say prevents employment, for it is well known that no crop requires so much care and atten tion, or keeps so many labourers in occupation —would be completely done away with. The soap duties and, paper duties: would also be abolished, as we ll as a ll t h e other vexatious imposts that so strongly excite the indignation of the people. 'We confess that we should greatly desire to add the malt-tax to the list, but it is certainly less :objec tionable than many of those that would be retained, according to Mr. COBDEN'S tariff. That gentleman indeed admits that he has not "felt quite free to choose in every instance those items of the Customs and Excise duties which he should himself have preferred to abolish or reduce." We may, therefore, fairly sup pose that it is owing to the desire to obtain general co operation that he has resisted his own impulses and retained many traces of a . system which Mr. MAcszatE -0011 would abolish in We. On a future occasion we shall allude to the other reforms suggested by the Honourable Member for Glasgow which involve the abolition of the entire Customs' tariff, except on eight articles only, and the extinction of the assessed taxes, except the unre deemed land-tax, and also the exemption of the marine and fire insurances from stamp duty, and an equitable adjustment of the stamp duties generally. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. We have received the Paris papers of yesterday. The review on Sunday passed off very quietly. The weather was delightful, and the crowd of spec tators great. Very few cries were uttered—" Vive la Ripublique," was occasionally shouted ; " Vive Napoleon" was only sometimes heard, but' Vive l'Empereur," not at all ; neither were there any cries for the " Republique Democratique et Sociale." The only incident of the day was occasioned by the folly of an individual, who while the troops were filing before the PRESIDENT of the Republic in the Place de la Concorde, flew a large paper kite in the shape of an Eagle over the PRESIDENT'S head. By some it was imagined that this kite-flier intended to excite an outbreak in favour of the Empire, by others that he intended to ridicule the Boulogne escapade of the PRESIDENT. The public peace, however, re mained undisturbed. An aide-de-camp of General CEIANGARNIER cut the string, and brought the kite to the ground, and the kite-flier himself was arrested and taken to the Prefecture of Police. Marshal BUGHAUD has published an address to the army of the Alps, in which he says he will join them as soon as his health will permit. The Marquis of NoaMANDr had a long private interview with the President of the Republic on Saturday, which was of a most satisfactory character to both. The policy of the Government of the Pre sident will be pacific, and there is every disposition on the part of the President and his Ministers to cultivate friendly relations with England. The Patrie says.—" Several journals have affirmed that in a council of Ministers, held on the 22d, a de cision relative to the Roman States was come to. The statement is wholly incorrect." 111. VAVIN, who was appointed to liquidate the claims on the Civil List of the ex-King Louis PHILIPPE, has written a letter to the journals, re commending the creditors of the ex-royal family not to sell their debts on unfavourable terms, as even tually every claim will be discharged in full. M. DUPIN has also written a letter to the journals, stating that he has received full power from the Orleans family to mortgage their properties, and that he has placed certain funds at the disposal of the Liquidator- General, M. VAYIN, who will: at once make a pay ment on account to the, creditors. The Mouitettr announces that M. LEON FAUCHER, the Minister of public Works, has appointed M. FRIDAY, ea-maitre de requetes in the Council of State, to be Chef du Cabinet in his department. M. HERMAN retains his post as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department ; at the request of M. LaoN DE MALLETILLE, he has taken up his resi dence in the hotel of the Minister. M. JouaDairg, Professor 'of Philosophy, has been appointed Chef du Cabinet of the Minister of Public Instruction. The following officers have been appointed to the personal staff of the President of the Republic Colonel AMBERT ; Chefs-d'Escadron PAJoL, EDGARD, NET, and FLEURY ; and Captain FILIPPI. M. MOCJLRT has been appointed private secretary of the President of the Republic. The bureau of the National Assembly examined on Saturday the Bill relating to the advances to be made to agriculture. M. TOURRET, the late Minister of Agriculture, demanded a credit of ten millions, destined to aid associations or landed proprietors in forwarding agricultural purposes. The advances the Bill purposes are to be examined by a special com mittee, and the repayment is to be secured by a mortgage on the property to be improved, and the clams of the State are in all cases to take precedence Eu Ton the f eaof all ot h ers. This last clause was objected to by many oth ers , b ut in general the tendency of the Bill was consider e d to be good. 13ATahTen CommitteeEL Finance traord i h n e a a r r y d the cred r t ofe o p f o 6 r k), o 0 o M f demanded for the affairs of La Plata. The Com mittee concluded in favour of granting the credit ; but, on the proposition of MM. DAVID and GRELLET, the Committee decided that it would demand from the Government the communication of the instruc tiohs given to the agent. of France sent to Alonte Video, a return of the expenses incurred, and an ac count of the forces which that city could dispose of. EVENING-, DECEMEER 26, 1848." TUESDAY The Minister for Foreign Affairs has addressed a circular to the various Ministers at Foreign Courts of a very pacific character. M. D'HAaCOURT iS to be recalled from Rome, M. Bois La COMTE from Turin, and M. DB RATNEVAL from Naples. Yesterday, being Christmas-day, the Bourse and public offices were closed. In the Passage de l'Opira some speculators assembled, and the Five per Cents. were offered at 77f. 70c., but not a single transaction took place. GERMANY AND THE NORTHERN STATES. AUSTRIA. The Wiener Zcitung of the 20th publishes the official announcement of the abdication of the Hungarian Crown by the Emperor FBRDINAND. This official document is dated the 2d December, but was not published until the 20th, that is, not until after the Pesth Assembly had published its proclamation, in which it declares that it was only made acquainted with the EMPEROR'S abdication through the means of the public prints and private information. The fact is, this document was not drawn up until after the publication of the Pesth protest, and then the honest Ministers concocted it, and ante-dated it to serve a purpose, and yet it is such forgers as these that the people are called on to trust. What faith can be placed in the promises of such men? The news of the surrender of Presburgh is con firmed, but it cannot be considered as any advantage gained by the Imperialists over the Hungarians, inasmuch as the latter had long since determined to evacuate Presburgh on the approach of the Imperial troops, and to concentrate their forces at Raab and Comerin. It is more than a month since they dis armed the National Guard of Presburgh preparatory to evacuating the place, which the Imperialists oc cupied without resistance. The finances of Austria are in such a desperate condition that KRAUS, the Finance Minister, has resigned his office in despair. Vzsairia, Doc. 19.—The Wiener Zeilung of this day contains three army bulletins of Prince WIN DISCHGRATZ, dated the 17th and 18th, giving an ac count to his MAJESTY of the progress of the Imperial troops, before whom the insurgents everywhere give way. Prince WINDISCHGRATZ removed the outposts on the right bank of the Danube: just opposite Pres burg, on the left the second corps d'armee occupied Stampfend without any resistance, and the avant guard were ranged before Pzesburg. Intelligence is, of course, continually arriving that Preslgurg has surrendered, but - no official communica tion to that effect has yet -been received. The Aus trians have lost several men and officers. The en gagement at Kerchare especially was attended with considerable loss. At Tzered the Imperial troops captured six field-pieces, a quantity of arms, a standard, 43 horses, and made 768 men prisoners; the remainder fled in all directions.—l.russels Papers, Dec. 24. The Austrian papers of the evening of the 19th instant contain a short bulletin of Prince Wiranscn- GRATII, dated Presburg, the 18th instant, in which the Prince informs General WELDEN that he had just entered Presburg, which had been completely evacuated by the Magyars. He adds that he should advance his head-quarters the next day to Carlburg. These papers also announce the occupation of Wieselburg on the 18th inst., after a sharp action by the Ist corps of the army, under the command of the Ban JELLAIUICIS. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. At Liverpool, as in the metropolis, yesterday was observed as a strict holiday, consequently, we have nothing to report concerning the Cotton or the Share markets. The present being a time for pleasure rather than business, people are engaged chiefly with calculations of the past and consideration* of the future. Of the result of this year's business, for it may be said to have 'closed now the holidays are on, the matter for congra- tulation is rather that 60 much has been done, fcr the influence of revolutions abroad and excitement at home could not but be expected to prove injurious. We have had a year of vicissitudes, and we seem now to be on the threshold of improvement. The Funds are re covering gradually to a better price. The Bank bullion stores are more amply replenished than for a long time. Money generally is abundant and cheap, and confidence grows stronger. Although many firms, large and small, merchants and retailers, still feel severely the effects of the panic of October, 1847, the manufacturing districts are becoming more active, and the stocks of goods in foreign ports are becoming reduced. These form the ground for pleasant prognostications of the future, and relieve the more sombre feeling produced by the de pression existing in the West India colonies as an inevit able result of .the changes which have been judiciously made in our commercial policy. The Hamburgh mail brings the exchange on London 13 9 with bills in request. The satisfactory advices from France have produced a favourable impression here in the Stock Exchange, al though very little business has been done. Console have advanced to $B/ I. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. are $9 to and the Three per Cents. to 88i f. Exchequer -bills are 38s. to 41s. prem. The Peruvian affair excites still a great deal of atten tion, and no doubt the bondholders will be assembled in public meeting to decide upon it. Whatever the Peru vian Consul-General may say, and we observe that he has written to an evening Contemporary on the subject, the belief is general that the Peruvian Government has for a long time past been obtaining, both by the guano contract payments and by :quiet purchases, a large amount of , its own bonds at most depreciated values. The dividend's in arrear amount to more than the original debt, if our memory serve us righily, and it is now totted when proposals for a settlement are made, that the stock is exceedingly scarce, and that, conse quently,. the Peruvian Government would have not the slightest difficulty in carrying opt even better terms. The creditors, however, are so thoroughly tired out that it would not surprise us to find them submitting to great sacrifices. The Foreign Stocks are very buoyant. Mexican have touched' 242- for - Account. Peruvian have ranged - from 44 to 46. Brazil Bonds have been 74 to 75t. Spanish Three per Cents. are 27i; and Portugnese Four per Cents. 24 to f. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been 49i A duty of 5 per cent. is to' be levied on the Coupons paid in Holland. Railway• Share- are rather quiet. Caledonian, Mid land, Great Western, Great Northern, and some others, are higher. Eastern Counties and North British scarcely so 'good. ONE CLOSING PRI 'ES OF HRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. 'PRICES. 8 per Cent. Reduced Anns. 88 % 3 /4 8818 New 34 per Cent. Anne...... Long Anne. to expire Jan. 1860 B% 11-16 8 11-16 India Bond., 1,0004 ........ ... , . Ditto under 1,0001. . ..... . 39 p _ _ Consols for Account BB% 1,0,1 Exchequer Bills. 24d. & 2d. i 1,0001. March I 1,0001. June "37 40 p 40 p 5004 March 500/. June r Small,March .. 38 42 p 42 p Small. June .. - ...... ..... 41 37 p 37 p • PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. ONE CLOSIN +- O'CLOCK. PRICES. Brazilian Bonds Ditto, Account 7 5 14 . - Ditto, Small ... 74 74 Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent. 24 Equador Bonds Grenada Bonds, 1 per Cent. Ditto, Deferred 2% 2% Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1846 2l 24% Ditto, Account •—• 24% 3 / 4 24 3 / 4 Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cents 44 46 45 Portuguese 5 per Cents. — Ditto, 3 per Cent Ditto, 4 per Cent — Ditto. Account 26 26 1 4 Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840 Ditto, Account l4 Ditto, Passive . 3 l /4 Ditto, 3 per Cent Venezuela Bonds, 2 1 / 4 /per Cent — 19 Dividends on the above payable in London. 36 p asyfi Dutch iIA per Cent., 12 Guild 49 1 ,4% 49% Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certificates 74 1 4 14 74 1 4 Ditto, Account 74% 74% PRICES OF PAID, EUSINESS DONN CLOSING RAILWAY SHARES. AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES. Aberdeen 5O •• •• --- Amber. Nott., Boston, and Eastern Junction 4 1 4 — Ayrshire and Galloway.. 7% Belfast & County Down 19 Birmingham and Ox ford Junct., calls duly paid, or with a guaran. 20 Do, without guarantee 20 . ... Birming, Wolverh'ton, and Dudley, calls duly id, or with guarantee 10 ..... 14% Do. withoutguarantee 10 Birming.,Wolverh'pton, and Stour Valley 131. 14,5... ........ Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire June 10 Boston, Stamfd & Birm. 5 Bristol and Exeter 9O ... 14% Ditto, Thirds .... ..... 27% Buckinghamshire... 141. 4e. Caledonian . . ..... 50 Ditto, Hell Shares .. 8 3 4 ...... 7 1% 1 34 Do. New 10/..Pref 7%..... % 3 4 7% Di tto,Clydesdale June 50_ ...... Chester and Holyhead... 50 Ditto, Preference. - l6 . . ... . .. — Clarence Do. let Class, 6 per Ct. 10 Do. 2d Class, 5 per Ct. 10 ...... ... — Do. Government Loea, 4 per Cent. ~ lO ...... .... — Direct London & Ports- -•-. _ _ month Dublin and Belfast June. 35 ...... Dundalk & Enniskillen 20 East Anglia, 251., L. & . E. and L. and D...... 25 ...... Do., 181., E. & 18 — Do., 3/. 10s. Eastern Counties—. 11 j Do. New Guaranteed 6 per Cent. . .. 10 Ditto,Extension,s per Cent., No. 1 61.135. 4d.... Ditto ditto, No. 26L 13s. 4d... Do. North. & Eastern 50 Do., 5 per cent. Do. Quarters ..« 12% Do. New Eastern Union, Class A (late E. U. Shares) 25 Ditto, Class A, ditto.... Ditto, Class B (L. & and B.) , 2O ........ Ditto, Class C, ditto 2O . .... Do. Scrip (6 per cent.) 10 Ditto, ditto - • — ........ Ditto (C. &E.) guar. . 5 per cent.......--.. 2% - East Lancashire - Ditto, New . 2l ......... Ditto, New Quarters 6 1 4 4% V 1 1 1,4 % P ,7 1 h 4~ Do., 6 per Cent. Pre ! , ' ference Quarters ... 614 ..... East Lincolnshire Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 Ditto, Half Shares.:: 20 .... .. _ EdinburghandNorthern 25 '-- • - '— Ditto, Newport • 11 ...- ~_ ... Exeter,Yesvil, & Dorch 2% l„3g Glaigow, Dumfries, and • . . Carlisle Glaagow,Kilmar., & Ayr 10 .... . . . Do .Preference 'Preference Consol. ... .. I &ea .. Great Northern Do., % A Deferred ... 12% 4 /4 % % ..... ... Do., % 8,6 per Cent. guaranteed ... ..... 6% ...-;:. Do. Extension 2% ..... . Great South. and West. ... (Ireland) Great North of England.loo ...... Ditto, New, 401. .... .... 40 • Ditto, ditto Ditto, New, 30/ 3O ...... 67% ......... ...... Ditto, New, 151 l4 .. Great Western 9O ...... 79% Ditto, 1 , 4 Shares 5O , . ... . . _.. Ditto, Shares ...... 21 ..... 174 17 Ditto, fifth 5............ 20 ...... ..... .. .e. Ditto, New 171.....«. 13 ... .. 104 .... IN sklerafield and libuich. 30 - Ditto, Thirds ....... .. 10 ..... Hull and Selby .. ....... 50 •••••• Ditto, Half Shares ... 25 ..... 49 Ditto, 4 Sha res L anc aster and Carlisle.— 50 Ditto, Thirds *- 10 Lancashire Si' Yorkshire 8693 . ... .... 1 - 2%. ,...„ . ...... : ...... .... .... Ditto, ditto — Ditto, % Shares ...... 43 ... .. 62% Do. Quarter Shares... 17% ll ... ' "le Do. Fifths.. .. 10 ...... ...... "' Do. Sixteenths."... 64 Do. Thirds (Reg.)..... 13 Do. New, Gua.6 per cL 7% _ Do. Liverp and Bury 43 — - 26% 39 16 8 3 4 24% 67% 7R4 Ditto 1 ,4 '(late Hud dersfield and Shoff.) 43 - .• De.(Wakefield,Ponte tract, and Goole) ... 50 ............... ..... Do. (W. Riding Union) 7 -._ -- ,_ ..._ ..... 17 Do. (Preston & Wyre) 25 Do. IA Shares (A)... 9A — .._ .......... .... Leeds and Bradford Leeds, Dewsbury, Soc. ... 50 • Do., Half Shares 25 .... Do., (blue) Scrip...... 2%...7.. ..... Leeds and Thirsk ...... 50 Ditto, Now ...... ••-*** 35 Do., Prefer., 6 per Ct. 3 4 — ....... ........ -_ Liverpool, Crosby and Southport 3 1 42 — Liverp., Manckster, and Newcaqtle Junction... 2 1 ,4 — London & Black wa11...13/. 6s. id.— Do. Extension ..... ... 22,..... London, Brighton, and South Coast 5O ..... 31 Do.Guarant.s per ct—, 9 •••—•• . Do. Pref. Con. 5 per ct. 50 .. ... .. Ditto, ditto...—. 1852 50 — 00000 ". 00000 0 Ditto, New Si., guar. . ' • 6 per cent. .. 5 „ii• - •'. ' 5%. - London and Greenwich 12/15s 4d .. Ditto, Preference... 18/ 175 2d... ••• London.... .. ........ and N. Western 100 „....122 123 1 / 2 124 Do Quarters (L.& B.) 22 Ditto, New ....... ..... 7 ,8% Bl4 aIA Ditto, Fifths ..... .. 2 ...... Do. 401.Sly.res(L.M r ) 25 . Do. 10c. (M. & B.) A. 9 ...... Do. 10i. (M. & B.) B. 9 ...... 11 ...... Do. 10/. (M. & B.) C. 1 ..... 3 1 4 B l4 Lend. &S. Western 5O ...... 40% 39 3 4 ... .. 40% Do. New 501. ... Do. New 401 34 Do. Tenths (Consol.) 50 Ditto ditto Ditto. Thirds.. ......131. 6s. 8d... 4%% dis 4% die. Do.. New Scrip, 1848, Pref. 7 per Cent. on Deposit, and 5 per Cent. on Calls 5 'l..)ndon, Salisbury, and Yeovil ......... ........ 1 1 4--- Londonderry&Coleraine 28 3 A ...... ... — Londonderry and Ennis killen ... ........ ... 27 1 ...... ..... ... ..... ..... Lowestoft (4 per ct.) ... 20 ... Ditto (6 s pe'r ct.) Manchester,Buxton,and Matlock MAnchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire ...100 Do. Quarters (No. 1) 18 Ditto ditto (No. 2)... 25 Ditto ditto (No. 3) ... 11 1 A ..... Ditto, New IN. Pref... 10 Ditto, Gt. Grimsby ... 40 Ditto ditto . ......... 13 Ditto ditto Ditto Sheffield and Lincolnshire l5 . ... Do., Grimsby Dock 2O Do. Manchester and Lincoln Union..... 41.2 s Midland ... ...•..11X1 33%...... .... Do. Consolidated Pref.loo Do., do., JO/. Shares... 21/ ..... Do. Birm., and Derbyloo Do. Consol. Bristol and Birming., 6 per et.... 100 122 Ditto, Bruit. & Glircstr. 38 Ditto, ditto ......... 141. 18s — Ditto,leieest& Swan nington, 8 per ct.guar.loo Midland Great Western Irish Middlesbro' and Itedcar, 6 per cent. guar. NewcastleandCarlisle...loo Do. Quarters 25 ...... Newmarket Do. Extension ...... 125.... Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford 6 .•.... Newry and Enniskillen 7 Newry, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor Norfolk 100 - ••• • • Do. New 20/. Do. Guaranteed 5 p ct. 20 Do. Guaranteed Mt pc. 5 Do. do. Waveney Val. 2 Northern Counties Union 4 North British ........ ... 25 ...... 15 3 / 4 Ditto, Halves .. Ditto, Quarters Ditto, Extension O% — • Ditto, Thirds .... .. .. 11 1 , 4 —.• 4Vi North & South-Western 2 — North Staffordshire North Wales ... ...... .... 3% — North-Western . lO Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton 5O Reading, Guildford, and Reigate lO Royston and Hitchin ... 2 Scottish Central Scottish Midland Ditto, New Sheffield, Rotherham, & Goole (Nor. Div.) _ „_. . Do. do (Sou. Diy.s ... 4 — Shrewsbury ancißiria... 9 Ditto ditto. Class B. b ...... Ditto, New Guaranteed 6 Shrewsbury and Herefd. 2 ...... Shrewsbury & Chester (Nor. W. Alin.) l7 . Ditto Halves ... ditto 8% ..... .. Ditto Oswestry ...... 17% — Ditto New Do. 8 per Cent. Pref Shropshire Union .- • ..•• South Devon 5O ..... ••• Do. Preference south Staffordshire 6i, , South Eastern l33th 23 3i 24 110., No. 1 24 Do., N 0.2. ' -.. 22 Do., No. 3 ....... . ..... 25 Do., No. 4 Thirds ... 10 ...... 7% South Wales ...... 28 South Yorkshire, Don caster, and Goole 6 Swans. & Loughor &Ca meron's Stm. Coal. ... 6 Taw Vale Extension ... 8 - ..• •• Thames Haven Dock and Railway 17%...... Vale of Neath ... .. 4 Waterford And Kilkenny 17% — .. Waterford and Limerick 47% Waterfd,Wafrd,Wicklw, and Dublin Wear Valley 6 per Cent. Guaranteed . .. 5O • Do. do. do. ... 25 Do. do. do. ... 10 ..... - ... ..... - - West Cornwall West London : ..... - Do. Do. Ist Class ... 21 Do. Do. 2d Class 20 Whitehaven & Furness 14 Windsor, Staines, and South Western ..... 12 Wilts, Somerset, & Wey mouth 4O York, Newcastle, and Berwick. .... ......—... 25 .. ..... Do. Original New and Berwick ...... .. 25 2 6 14 Do. Extensiox No. 1. 15 Do. do. No. 2. ... lb Do. G.N.E.Preference 8 York and North Midland 50 Diite, Preference 10 Do. East and Westßid ing Extension FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Anglo Italian (late Ita lian and Austrian).... Boulogne and Amiens... 20 Central of Franca (Or leans and Vierzon) ... 17 Ceylon Demerara 15 Dendre Valley... 4 Direct Bombay and Madras eeeeee •:•••••••••• si• • ••• Dutch Rhenish 714.. ...... East Indian Bl — ...... Great Indian Peninsular 1 4 ............ ... Louvain Ila Sambre ... 7 4 — ............... Luxembourg — ............ Ditto ........... Madrid and Valentia... 2 ...... Namur and Liege Northern of France l2 ...... 8 Orleans and Bordeaux... 7 Paris and Lyons ll .•• ............. Do. Do. 4 , Paris and Orleans ...... 20 .............. Paris and Rouen 20 19 18% 19 1 ,4 Paris and Strasbourg ... 9 MINES. United Mexican 28% JOINT STOCK I3ANKS. Union of Australia ..... 25 27;/ 2 26% 18% 133 7% 53 10 1 ,1 25:zi 8% 2% 8 2 3/1 19% - - -- ----- LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, DEC. 26.—Wind this this day at noon S.S.E., light breeze and dull hazy weather; greatest pressure of wind, since noon 23d, 4} lbs. ttronteter 30.8, ther mometer, 49. WIND AND WEATHER, THIS DAY, 9 A.N. Glasgow Edinburgh Newcastle S.E., very cloudy. Hull Southampton S.S.E., rainy. Liverpool DEAL, DEC. 25.—Wind S., fresh; r.ar. S.S.W., mode rate.—Arrd. from the river, 23d, Highbury, Walker, Jamaica. Arrd. from the river, and sailed, William Forster, Killick, Algoa Bay ; Manchester, Brown, Mo bile; Elizabeth Archer, Cobb, Sydney, New South Wales; T. J. Roger, obinson, Charleston ; Gipsey, Gibson, South Seas. PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 24.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrd., 23d Mary Bannatyne, Ficken, Whampea ; Natalia, Nielson, Sur;nam, for Amsterdam; Sld. her Majesty's ship Driver westward, to relieve the homeward bound. RAMSAY, ISLE OF MAN, DEC. 23.—The Columbine, of Glasgow for Liverpool, drifted ashore at Point Ayr this morning. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 24.—The Marchioness of Bute, Cardiff, to this pdrt, was in contact, 20th instant, off the South Stack, with the Lady of the Isles, hence to the Azores, the former lost cutwater, bowsprit, &c., and sprang covering board ; the latter was dismasted and takgn in tow till the 22d, when she bore away with a fair wind for the Isle of Man. Sld. Venture, Africa ; Superb, Buena Ventura ; Peruche, St. Domingo; Switzerland, New Orleans ; Caroline, New Or leans ; Princeton, New York ; New World, New York ; M. A. Keming, Newfoundland. Off port, American, Susquehana, Paragon. Arrd. 23, Ashling, Harding, New Orleans ; Harriet Au gusta, Robinson, Mobile; Isaac Wright, Marshall,' New York; Orleans, Bogart, ditto; Columbus, M'Cowan, ditto. - - 24 - , - Ihrichifer, Demerara. 25, Bark hill, Collins, Newfoundland. Sld. 23, Allerton, Hong- Kong; Hannah Salkeld, Calcutta; St. Ann's, Sierra Leone; Maria Jane, ditto; Selma, ditto; Columbas, Per nambuco. 24, Secret, San Francisco; Astra, Mobile. 25, Navigator, Buenos Ayres; Commodore, Mobile; Historian, New York; Caroline, St. Lucia; England, New Orleans; Viceroy, ditto; Governor Davies, ditto; Cumberland, Apalachicola; Defence, Charleston; Me dora, ditto; Piscator, Newfoundland. MARGATE, DEC. 25.—The Sophia, Cobbledick, from Gibson to London,whieh was on shore on Foreness Rock, was got off this morning, and brought into the harbour. NORTH FORELAND, DEC. 23.—The Lady Hilda, of and for Jersey, from London, is on shore under the North Foreland light; crew saved. WEYMOUTH, DF.e. 24.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Joseph Bushby, Sparks, Chins, for London. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 24.—Wind S.E. by E.—Arrd. Jo seph Bushby, Sparks, China. SCILLY, DEC. 21.—The Arietes, of Baltimore, Ame rice ' was passed, dismasted, full o f wa t er , an d a b an d one d on the Ist ult., in lat. 32, long. 76, by the Wannan, arrd. off port. BRISTOL, DEC. 26.—The Hope,' Liverpool, to this port, was run down by the Eugenia, Calnest, from Liver pool to Mobile, on the 21st inst., thirty miles off Holy head; crew saved. BALLASUIM POINT, Dm 24.—The Lady of the Isles has &rifted on shore this morning. Is expected off with out material damage. TA.RBERT, Dzc. 21.—The ilydrus, of Barnstaple, PRUSSIA. The Prussian Government has, it is said, given orders to concentrate an army of 120,000 men in the provinces of the Rhine on the frontiers of France. This is no doubt intended to be the advanced guard of the re-actionary faction. Prussia is to restore royalty in France, while Russia keeps Germany in obedience. The KING, in reply to an address, presented to him the other day by a Rhenish deputation, said, in allu sion to the election of Louis NAPOLEON, " There is no doubt that Germany is menaced, and I hope that should I call my people to arms, they will show them selves worthy of their fathers in 1813 and 1814." The words of the Duchess of ORLEANS, who has been in constant communication with the Prussian Court since February, afford a pregnant commentary on these military preparations. " The time to work for a restoration," said the Duchess, " will be when Louis NAPOLaN shall be elected President of the Republic." The French Republic will, :no doubt, be prepared to give these foreign reactionaries a warm reception ; but it would perhaps be as well that the President of the Republic should not appoint any more Orleanist Generals to important commands. FRANKFORT. In the sitting of the German Parliament on the 22d, Simrsos, of Koningsburg, the new President, took his seat as President for the first time, and delivered an inaugural addresS, in the course of which he passed the highest eulogium on his predecessor GAQSRN. The Parliament afterwards proceeded to discuss the report on the budget. POLAND. The Russian Government has established a cordon of watchmen, extending from the vicinity of Thorn, round the whole of the Prussian frontier of Poland. These watchmen are in companies of five each, sta. tioned at short distances from each other. Each company has a hut, and the men patrol constantly to the next hut and back. They stop every traveller, and send back all whose papers are not en regle. They keep a journal which is sent every day to the superior officer, whose duty it is to make a ?Terme of these: journals, which is daily transmitted to Prince PASEEWITCH at Warsaw, who, having perused it, sends it on immediately to St. Petersburgh. ITALY. We learn from the Pensiero Italian. of the 20th that the Roman Ministry has resigned en masse. The Alba of Florence quotes a letter from Bo logna, announcing that Senator Zuccnim has refused to form part of the Provisional Government, and at the same time has sent in his, resignation as Senator. The consequence of this act has been an address of the national and popular clubs to the Roman people, censuring in strong terms the conduct of M. ZUG- M. CAMPRLLO, Minister at Rome, has answered General Zuccin's letter to him in the following terms : —" General CARLO ZUCCHT, your words are unworthy of a man of honour. I pity you, and excuse your age He is vile who betrays Italy." The Contemporaneo of Rome, of the 15th, con tends that, before leaving Rome, the Porn was not, even for a single instant, a pri soner i n t h e P a l ace o f the Quirinal. On the contrary, General G xmazsio went to him to assure him that the post of the civic guard at the palace was purely a guard of honour, ready to retire if its presence was displeasing to his Holiness. The Speranza of Rome asserts that the PM, has made up his mind to reside temporarily at Civita Vecchia, under the protection of an Anglo-French fleet ; and that in such case he would name a new Ministry, composed as follows :—Cardinal ART°. NELLI, President of the Council ; Moirrorlear, Inte rior and Police ; Rosmtra, Public Instruction ; Mar quis BBVILACQUA, Finance; Marquis Rtccr, Com merce ; General Zuccar, War. It is said that this determination has been suggested by the English Minister at Naples. The French fleet is expected in the Adriatic. The Venice Gazette, of the lath, publishes two decrees of the Provisional Government, the first or dering the formation of a legion of Chasseurs of the Alps, composed of the inhabitants of the Cadore, Bel lunese, the province of Feltro, and the seven com munes present at Venice ; the second ordering the formation of a Dalmato-Istrian Legion, composed of inhabitants of those provinces. Mr. TEmplat and Sir WILLIAM PARKER went from Naples to Gaeta on the 17th to pay their re spect to the POPE. Nothing further had been done by the negotiators with regard to the affairs of Sicily. ~ THE POST MAGAZINE ALMANACK.—In addition to the usual information contained in an almanack, the Post Magazine Almanack gives us an Insurance Directory, a Trades Directory, a useful resume of the Laws regulating Fire and Life Insurance Com panies, and much useful advice to parties desiring to effect either fire or life insurance. It should be the insurer's vade mecum. OLIVER AND BOYD'S THREEPENNY ALMANACS, — Considering the immense amount of information con tained in this almanack, it is certainly the cheapest we have ever seen. It is neatly printed and ad mirably indexed, so that the information desired can be found in a moment. SHIPWRECK AND NARROW EICAIE OP A DOVER PILOT.—On Tuesday night, Mr. Gutsole, Cinque Ports pilot, was shipped from Dover, by a Deal boat, on board a Sicilian brig, from Pernambuco for London. The wind blew strong from the eastward, and on arriving off Sheerness had increased to such a degree that the pilot was compelled to let go his anchors in Panson•hole. The gale still continuing, the brig drove with her anchors, and at four o'clock ran on the sands. The crew launched the long boat, which they entered; but the painter broke adrift, and the captain and Mr. Gutsole were left on board, where they remained in a most perilous situation till nine o'clock, when they were taken from the rigging by a French fishing boat, and landed at Boulogne. Yes terday morning they arrived at Dover by her Majesty's packet Undine. The brig has since become a total wrecii, her topmasts only being visible. We hear that the crew in the long boat succeeded in landing at Sheer ness.—.Dover Telegraph.. Limerick, to Liverpool, has put into Welt Tarbert Loch with pumps choked, and will probably hale to discharge part of cargo. FALMOUTH, DEC. 23. —Wind E. to E.N.E., fresh gales. 24.—E.5.E., strong gales.--Arrd. llamburgh packet, Dinner, R )be, Porto Plata. Sld. Carlisle, New York. 25.—W.5.W. moderato breezes.—Arrd. Au gusta, Ehmeke, Now York , for Amsterdam. It blew a violent gale yesterday from S.E., moderate during the night, rainy to the southward and westward, The shipping rode well. ‘k. FOWEY, DEC. 25.—Wind N.E.—Sld. Comet, Straw, Charleston. DEAL, DEC. 24.—Strong breeze and fine, P.M., cloudy.—Arrd. B arman, Guthree, Penang; Douglas, Douglas, Quebec. DUNDEE, DEC. 22.—Sld. Vera, Porto Rico. MARGATE, DEC. 24.—Wind S.E.—The Hamburgh ship lost on the Tongue Sand has become a total wreck. BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE, DEC. 24.—Wind S.E.—A quantity of wreck has been picked up here: a case of plate glass, marked " Glas, B. H., 11. Oden," and some broken cases, marked A. 1, and No. 83. A. Z. 11., 182. COWES, DEC. 23.—Wind E.—Arrd. Lewe Van Ne gestein, Siekins, Batavia, for Amsterdam. PORTSAIOUTH,:DEC. 2 3.—Wind S. to S.S.W., hasy.— Arrd: Julia, from Newport, for Bridgewater, leaky, and with pumps choked. PENZANCE, DEC. 24.—1 t blew a tremendously severe gale yesterday and last night at S.E., with a heavy ground sea. The fleet all more or less sustained damage, and had to get under weigh. SCILLY, DEc. 22.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Emma and Louise, Haesloop, Batavia. SWANSEA, DEC. 24.—Wind E.S.E. Sld. William Nicholson, Cuba. MILFORD, DEC. 23.—Wind E.S.E., moderate.—The Gazelle, of and from Port Madoc, for Newcastle, was in contact last ni g ht o ff S t. Ann ' s Head with the S ydney, also of and from Port Madoc. The latter sank imme diately; crew saved by the former, which austained con siderable damage. - MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.) 8.11.1 r ZKALIILICETS. OMITIIFIELD.—ISISIWO/V EV, 21 85 to 31 13s; Clover ditto, 31 lOs to 41 143 ; and Straw, 11 2s to 11 9s per load. A fair average supply, and a sluggish demand. ComaEuLAND.—Meadow Hay, 21 105 to 31 15a; Clover ditto, 81 lOs to 41 12s; aid Straw, 11 55 to 11 105 per load. Supply very moderate, and trade dull. WHITECHAPEL.—hteadew Hay, 21 8s to 31 14s; Clover ditto, 31 lOs to 51 ; and St raw , 1 1 43 to 11 10 . per load. Trade dull, at the above quotations. MA RLBRCV-ST REET— ( THIS DAY.) Mary Ann Bradford and Ann Johnson were brought before Mr. Bingham charged with having stolen from the person of Mr. George Gibbins, tobacconist,3B, Queen. street, Edgeware-road, a silver watch, value 5!. The prosecutor deposed that on Sunday morning about one o'clock he was proceeding along Carlisle street, Soho, when the tw o p r i soners came up and importuned him to go further up the street with them. He refused and was proceeding on 'his way home, when the prisoner Bradford made a snatch and pulled his watch from his pocket, and ran away. He followed, and seized her before she had proceeded many yards. The other prisoner ran away as fast as she could, and witness called out "Police," and "Stop thief." A constable shortly came up, and witness gave the prisoner Bradford into custody. The prisoner John son was subsequently detained by another constable in Wardour-street, and the watch was found down an area close by. _ _ Polic - e-eonstable 176 C said about a quarter put one on Sunday morning he was on duty in Dean-street, Soho, when he he ar d th e cry of " Police! " He pro ceeded to the spot and saw a person standing in the street, who pointed to the prisoner Johnson, who was running down the street, and said, " That is her; she has thrown something down the area." Witness pur sued her and took her into custody in Wardour-street. He subsequently went to a house in Dean -street and fousd the watch produced in the area. A witness of the name of Hartwell proved seeing the prisoner Johnson running from the direction of Car lisle -street and throwing something down the area of a house in Dean -street. He met a constable and informed him of the circumstance. The prisoners were fully committed for trial. THE RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND IN IRELAND. LETTER VI. TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, 111.1 1 , My Lord,—l believe that I have now clearly established two of the objects which I proposed in writing these letters to your Lordship. First, I have shown that those members of the Cabinet who are opposed to your Lordship's views on this subject have acted unwisely. Secondly, I have shown that the parties on whom your Lordship relies for infor mation on this subject have given erroneous advice. I now proceed to my third object, to show to the public and to your Lordship a plan for the reclama tion of waste land, involving as little interference as possible on the part of Government, securing th e state from the loss of a single shilling, and employing the people in adding to the resources of the State instead of feeding them in idleness. The plan I strongly recommend is to place at Lord Clarendon'a disposal 150,0001., with power to accept the proposal already made, upon proper security being given, and upon such terms as his Lordship shall think proper.. Persons of enlarged views and sound judgment will immediately see that the interest of all parties is precisely the same. Neither the State, the party effecting the reclamation, the labourer, or the union, could possibly receive a benefit or an injury without its being shared by the others. This plan would be far better than introducing a Bill upoa the subject. Such a man as Lord Claren don would require nothing which was not essentially necessary for the security of the State; but if an:Act of Parliament were passed, his Lordship would be bound to adhere to its very letter, although he might be satisfied that doing so would be injurious to all. Who will object to this plan ? Assuredly not those in whom the public place confidence as the guardians of the public purse. These men look at figures and facts. They see the Government at the present time obliged to collect rates in many unions —to advance money —and to distribute rations to the people without g i v i ng th em emp l oyment. These men act in public as they would in private life—seeing, on the one hand, an evil daily increasing, and which, if left to itself must increase in intensity, —and, on the other the loss for a few years, of the interest of the outlay 5,0001. per annum, they would not hesitate to give the plan a fair trial. But will there be no objectors ? Oh, yes. All " One- wed men"—all red tapists—all 'lrish land lords who are desirous of having their es tates cleared at the public expense ; all colonial speculators who are anxious that their property should be improved by a Government outlay for emigration ; all those who have long looked forward to the reclamation of waste lands as an elysium of places for themselves, their friends, and connexions. On the other hand, the proposal will be approved of by the wise and good of all parties, by all those who are capable of appreciating the inevitable demoraliza tion of the people, consequent on feeding them in idleness. Such men will gladly hail any measure which shall give a fair prospect of staying so fearful a calamity with so little cost to the public.l Without at all presuming to say or even to think that the plan I have proposed is perfection in all its details, I. entertain no doubt that the principle is cor rect; that principle being for the Government to do as little as possible in direct, operation—no other can profitably succeed for the reclamation of waste lands. Give the plan I have proposed that fair play which it would receive at the hands of your Lordship or Lord Clarendon, and I believe success to be as certain as is consistent with human operations, and if success ful the example is sure to be followed. In my second letter I said, that any partial applica tion of the national revenue to clear estates of Irish landlords would inevitably be attended with jobbing, never yet equalled, both in selecting the estates to be cleared, and the colony to which the emigrants would be sent. . Since that period it has been announced in the public prints, that Lord Monteagle, better known as Mr. Spring Rice, has had' 'an interview with your Lordship on the subject of the emigration of persons from his property on the Shannon. Lord Monteagle is known as opposed to the poor law; Lord Monteagle is known as a great supporter of emigration at the public expense. I trust that he received no encouragement from your. Lordship on these important points— if he requires a loan of money from the State on the security of his property to as sist the labourers to emigrate, by all means let him have it. But lend no money to unions , for this or any other purpose, or your Lordship will indeed be sowing dragon's-teeth. Money lent to individuals on secu rity of their property is safe; money lent to unions upon the security of the rates may be considered as lost. The wit of man could not devise a more effectual means of reviving the cry of the repeal of the union, than for the Saxon to lend money to every union in Ireland on security of the rates. I have the honour to remain, Your Lordship's most obedient servant, RIGBY WASON. Corwar, Dec. 22, 1848. CHRISTMAS DINNERS FOR POOR DERTORS.—Yes terday the whole of the prisoners confined in the Debtors' Prison, Whitecross-street, were provided with a sub stantial Christmas dinner, consisting of beef, bread, and porter, by the Sheriffs, Alderman Finnis and J. E. Goodhart, Esq. At iforsemonger• lane Gaol and the Queen's Bench, the poor prisoners received meat, the gift of J. Capell, Esq., and bread, the gift of the Dra pers' Company. A SINGULAR CRAB.--TO the list of marvellous things is now to be added a full-grown crab, bearing on its back, in addition to its natural burden, no less than two score and a half of oysters, the whole being apparently as firmly imbedded in the shell as though they were a proper part of it. This curiosity MU shown by one of the Hull fishmongers. 48 103/4 10 3 / 4 11% ..., 15% ...... 4% - 2% 6 3 / 4 15% 7% 742 Th( these Assur at the held a early chairs "G in sub receipt year appenc CUraci "In directs the de three ably a its in( amour it F, the av, ended year ei averag 77 pei "D increa the ex "0 " IA stated ductin in rem went I nearly means mises this e: now e cent. presen "T their a dividu mind 1 1851. sarilyl societj Abu" Was pr, on his . David Nichol presen Moore intere! withot Mercy eheeri Subj ec passing reminc nally, season hear.) of fort trade, lysed, have N - "T "A at si "T