The Sun. — London, England, 1866-01-26 00:00:00

HO USES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, kuOurban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. Particulan upon application forwarded for two stamps, upon stating requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit street, Regent-street, and south Kensington, facing the Museum. OUTH KENBrN, GTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's -gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen'b-gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort Gardens, Elv tston- place, Cromwell-road, On slow and Thurloe Squares, Boltnns, &c. Messrs TOPL IS and RO BE KTS have I DEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Offie-2a, 2, Conduit-street Regent-street, and !South K e nsington, facing the Museum. LIFEBOAT SERVICES. —Daring the storms of the past year the National Ufa.4at Institution, by its i_ifeboats and ocher means, contributed to the savin of 707 persons from different wrecks on our coasts. The Insti tution also expended .£21,374 in the same periA on its life boat establishments, in addition to grantiug £4,950 for re wards for saving life and exercising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution e,rnestly A i'PEAL to the public for ASSISTAN GE to enable them to meet the continued heavy 'demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat stations. Contributions are received by the London and country bankers ; and by the I,4ecretary, itichard Lewis, hsq., at the Institution, 14, John-ttreet,Adelphi, London. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT- G. (Opera Company, Limited.) THIS EVENING (Thursday), - Mr. Charles Deffelli's new opera, in one act, CHRI6TMAS EVE. Madame F. Lancia, Madame E. Heywood; Mr. A. Cook, and Mr. D Miranda. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. After which, at 8, the grand comic, si,ectacular, and ope ratic Christmas Pantomime, entitled ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Flying Palace: (See other advertisements). Commence at 7 o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.__ Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Comedy of THE JEALOUS WIFE. Mr. Phelps, Mrs. Hermar n Vezin, &e. Atter which, the Pantomime, LITTLE KING PIPPIN; or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishing Cap. Messrs. G.Belmore, H. Lrayton, G. Weston. Maste r P e rcy Rosen' ; Misses Aaziewood, A. Thomson, E. Falconer, l'antomirnists, Messrs. H. Boleno, C. Lauri, Cormaca, Saville, Miss Morgan, and Madame Boleno. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, BROTHER SAM : Messrs. Sotherm Backstone, Compton; Mesdames e]]y Moose, Snowden, &c. To be followed by ORPHEU3 IN THE HAYMARKET Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bartleman, Weichersby, &o. ; Diesdames Keeley, Snowden. Moore, Lindley, Wuolgar, Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, 'Prevot, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence at Seven. ROY AL LYCEUM T ELEATRE.- Under the bole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. B. Widdicomb. After which, TETE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. F.xliter ; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, J. H. Fitzpatrick, D. Evans ; aesdames Ternan, E:sworthy, Lavenn, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. "NT i ENV THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. .I_ll , Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, at Seven, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RUSTIC RE T itEAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Bediord After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 124th appearance). Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billington, F. Bedford, R Phillips, leelix liog‘rs, Ashley, Lburne, C. Jr. Smith; Mrs. Biliingtcr, &e. To conclude with 6EHIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips. Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. :;eaman,&c. OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After which, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. characters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel ville, T. Mead, D. Murray, S. Caihaem, F. Villiers, J. G. Shore, G. Murray, H. Mellon, C. Seyton, R. Cathcart; Mimi L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL S 1 RAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. ttwanborough. TIIIS EVENING, at Seven (never acted), LENDING A HAND. Mess: a. Beliord and Turuer ; Misses Situpson and After which will be produced a new Opera Burlesque, L'AFRICAINE; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islan is. Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne; Mesdames Swanborougla, itaynham, Johnstone, Arc. To conclude with THE ARTFUL DODGE. (JIHE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN," AL Containing the Latest SPORTING IN fitiLLlti EAU , : eila be had Every Evening - of G. L. GLENIE, Nnws AGENT, No. 4, ecnnaught-terrace, Hyde-park, THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every livenirw, by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendisn-street, Oxford,tract. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing alt the LA TEST isiEWS and SPORTING- INTELLIGENC6, lay IL W. lIAKRIS, NeAspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road. London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN." .1. Htf.r:.AlE6 begs to inform his friends, and the pubiie generally, iLs,..; lie supplies the LATEST EDIT!: )N 01 •• THE 61.J.N " as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead road. N.W. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE, THIS DAY.—Mgrning, 9h. 33m.—Afternoon, 10h. 12m. T3-MORROW.-Morning, 101 a. 52m.—Afternoon, 11h. 30m. tirig tt• s'. ~~ ~~1~% ,_S tut, LONDON, FRIDAY, JAN. 26, 1866. Whenever a great question of public interest is under discussion, there is sure to be plenty of specifics for its treatment, plenty of private schemes and individual devices for attaining all the desirable objects and getting rid of all the attendant incon veniences. The topic of Parliamentary Reform is no exception to this rule, and the general belief that the coming Session will not pass over without some active measures being taken has brought for ward a number of theorists, who have each some suggestion to make or some plan to propose for a better and more satisfactory settlement of a con fessedly difficult question. A sign of the improve ment which has taken place among our politicians of late years is to be seen in the fact that Parlia mentary reform is no longer treated exclusively as a party matter, on which Whigs and Tories, what ever their individual shades of opinion, must rank themselves on opposite sides, but it is rather re garded by the more thoughtful and intelligent men of all classes from the same point of view—a desire so to enlarge and adjust the representative system as to give a fair representation to every class of the community, while preserving unchanged those con stitutional guarantees which have hitherto proved in spite of every obstacle and deficiency the safe guards of European liberty. The tendency towards dealing with the matter of Reform in a cautious and yet comprehensive manner is shown by the growing objection to retaining a mere money standard as the qualification of the voter. There is certainly no logic to prove that the man who lives in a £lO househas superior capacities or claims than the man who pays £9, and the same argument may be adduced against any limitation of the kind. Again, if we accept a system of household suffrage, why are we to include a man who pays £5 a year for his house and exclude a man who pays £5O for his lodgings, when the one has, perhaps, no inte rest whatever in the maintenance of our political system, and the fortunes of the other are identified with it. In spite of Mr. BRIGHT'S objection to the c 4 f a ncy franchises," there is a very strong feeling in favour of their adoption, at least in part. It is certainly very desirable th a t our electoral system should be as simple as possible, but at the same time it must be comprehensive, and in our com plex•,,,;lisation there must be something a mere rul e o f figures, more' elastic t hen if we wish to have an actual representatio n of t h e people, not a mere theoretical House of Commons. Mr. CLAY'S ViCWS on the subject are just and sen sible, and he has recently taken the opportunity o f explaining them to a reform meeting at Hull. H e has a plan of his own, which we will not dignify by the name of a Reform Bill, but which he calls a bill for a supplementary franchise. He intends to intro duce this bill in the new Parliament, and its object is to admit every man to the franchise who is able to pass through such an examination as is required of the out-door officers of Customs. Indeed the ex amination which Mr. CLAY proposes as a test of political intelligence is less rigid than that to which the Custom -house officers are subjected, inasmuch as ho does not, of conue, include the knowledge or weighti and measures indispensable to their position. He would have an examination of reading, writing, spelling, and the four rules of arithmetic;_ and this proposal of his concerns two classes—those who already have the requisite knowledge and those who have not. The first of these divisions would include all the members of the professions, the clerks in commercial houses, the sons of shopkeepers who live with their fathers, the shopkeepers assistants, &c. All these classes already possess the requisite knowledge, and a good many of the work ing classes may also be included in the computation. As for the working men who cannot come up to the necessary standard, they cannot com plain of the exclusion. Mr. CLAY says, from a long and intimate acquaintance with the subject, that it only requires a working man of average intelligence to devote his leisure hours for three or four months to the acquirement of the knowledge necessary to pass the examination to ' gain it with ease. No man, therefore, can reasonably claim to influence the legislation of the country who is not willing to devote this time and trouble to a little mental training. We fear, however, that there will be some difficulties in the way of any such measure. Objections will be raised against any departure from the ordinary routine, and there will be prejudices of various kinds to con quer and overthrow. Still it is quite cer tain that our representative system can never be permanently settled at the limit of a par ticular rental, when every year in our populous cities the number of intelligent, conscientious, and educated men who are now householders is on the increase. The paper read by Lord HENRY LENNOX, in the Hall of the Society of Arts on Wednesday evening, was very interesting, and its subject was one which could not fail to attract. " The Uses of National Museums to Local Institutions" is a question which, at the present day, can hardly fail to meet with serious attention, for we are becoming more and more alive to the necessity of improving our posi tion respecting those matters, and of keeping pace with foreign countries in all those matters in 'which we have lagged 'behind. Lord H. LEN NOX'S remarks appear to be very sensible in most points connected with this important subject, and he takes a very fair view of the state of the case, both particularly and generally. It is now a quarter of a century since this subject was first• Mooted in the House of Commons, and among others Mr. JOSEPH HUME condemned the manner in which these national collections were conducted. It has happened, however, that up to this period nothing effectual has been done on this subject, although from time to time many suggestions have been made, and Parliamentary Committees and Royal Commissions have advised the adoption of various changes. Several causes have led to this inactivity in high places, but, as the noble lord stated, we may now consider that the case is much altered. Mr. - PANIZZI, ho is the chief officer at the British Museum, has resigned, and only continues to hold his appointment until matters have been arranged in a suitable manner. We cannot doubt that the Government have at last awoke to theknowledge of their responsibilities, and that they are fully determined to do something in a definite form. It is therefore evident that now is the time for a careful consideration of the subject, in order that the proposed changes may be conducted in a manner that will redound to our credit as a nation, and to the interests and instruction of the community. It is a curious coincidence that the National Gallery has also lost its chief by the death of Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE, and here additional reasons are found for alluding to these institutions, and for making plans and forming projects for their alteration and improvement. The time had indeed arrived when some amelioration in our system was loudly called for, and as the noble lord very truly said in his comprehensive paper, " While the governing bodies of the national collections have been slowly jogging along, or rather standing stock-still, regardless of the wants of the age, and apparently blind to the vast changes that are every day taking place around them, the public taste for the beautiful and scientific has remained equally stagnant. Unaided by Government support, and untutored by those who should be the promoters of knowledge and the refiners of the public taste, the general tone of the community has been elicited, and the want of mind is every where discernible in the most striking and satisfac tory manner. In several quarters of London strenuous efforts have been made to establish local museums; but they met with no success, on account of the apathy and indifference of those who should have fostered and encouraged them. Lord H. LENNOX was not flattering certainly, but he was a faithful portrayer of circumstances which, he said, the British Museum was the same as it had been 50 years ago, and not at all in consonance with the wants and requirements of the age, and ' cannot be called " educational." The reading ' rooms and library are closed at dusk, just when they would be most useful to a numerous class. Most mistaken views have been taken of their responsibilities by the Trustees of the British Museum, and they totally ignore that they are called upon to support and encourage branch institutions in Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, &c. The management of the Museum at South Kensing ton offers a commendable example in this respect, and it has been recognised by the Parliamentary Committee as most efficient in promoting the im provement of the public taste. The plan of circulating pictures is very advan tageous to the provincial student, and it may readily be conceived how vast is the gain thus afforded to those who have no other means of studying diffe rent styles. As for the objection which might be raised by the Directors of the National Gallery, that damage and disaster would arise in consequence of the removal of the pictures, the noble lord briefly disposes of that by referring to the fact that the two most remarkable of modern pictures, FRITH'S " Derby Day" and ROSA BON HEUR's " Horse Fair," that were confided to the keeping of the trustees of the National Gallery, have been allowed to leave this country, and to encounter perils by land and water in travelling round the globe " for the benefit of a distinguished publisher." After referring to the death of the late lamented Sir CHARLES EASTLAKE, and the great toss thereby sustained by the National Gallery and the Royal Academy, the noble lord said that he had on more than one occa sion heard Sir CHARLES express himself on the various " controverted points" relating to art, and he felt convinced that the " principle of irre sponsible Boards without Parliamentary chiefs met wish no sympathy from him." The trustees of the National Gallery, however, are not nearly so formidable a body as the trustees of the British Museum, who are hedged in and fenced round with conventionalities, until, as is appropri ately said of them, they " form a board which, in the words of JEREMY BENTHAM, is a screen." The nation at large has acted very differently to the ex clusive mode adopted by the guardians of the treasures in Bloomsbury, and, following the example of the QUEEN, nearly all the chief objects in the principal collections of the country hays from time to time been offeadto the inspection of the public, and following other important efforts in the right direc tion, we are " promised a further advance still in a collection of many of the finest national portraits, which is to extend over to:the spirit and taste of the Earl of DERBY." We cordially concur in the decla ration of Lord H. LENNOX, that "now" if " ever" is the time for bringing about a reform in the matter, and altering the relations between the Government and the country and Board of Directors. He proposes to place all the national collections under the " immediate authority of a Minister of the Crown, who shall be directly respon sible to Parliament for all that is ill done, or left undone in those collections." If such a scheme be carried out no doubt we should speedily witness a great and comprehensive change for the better taking place, and these im portant collections, which should be rendered so conducive to the interests of the community, would stand a fair chance of fulfilling their mis sion in a worthy and creditable manner. It is quite inconsistent with the spirit of the age and the rapid development of taste that such serious obstacles should be interposed to the efforts made by those who seek to improve and elevate their own minds and those of others. If the manage ment of our national collections have not hitherto been confornied to the changes taking place around us, it is high time that they should be so, and that without further waste of time and loss of opportunity. The public meeting which was held on Wednes day last, at the Mansion-house, to consider the best means of preserving the commons and open spaces round London, was very large and influential. The public are much indebted to those gentlemen who have bestirred themselves in this matter, and who are endeavouring to organise some scheme of securing to the population of London those advan tages which threaten at present to melt rapidly away from their possession. What is everybody's business is nobody's business, says the proverb, and, consequently, those individuals who have identified themselves with this movement deserve a double share of credit. It is quite time that something was done, for all parties agree in the statement that piece after piece of land is being quietly enclosed, so that before we have done defining the extent of the popular rights there will be no rights to dispute about. The Crown lands, thanks to mismanagement, have fared no better, for the Government, when they gave up the Crown rights in the forests of Epping and Hainault, took no steps to secure the rights of the people, and consequently in Hainault Forest alone 100,000 oak trees have been uprooted. As Mr. LEFEVRE very justly ob served on Wednesday, " What the public has to fear is less the entire enclosure of any common than the gradual taking of it bit by bit, the encroach ments of railway companies, and the general dete rioration of the commons." Mr. SCOTT (Chamber lain), in an amusing address, gave a very forcible proof of the necessity of keeping some open spaces about London. In 1801 he said it was calculated that, were the population arranged at equal dis tances, every man would stand 21 yards from his neighbours. In 1851 that distance was reduced to 14 yards, in 1866 to nine yards, and a similar computation fifty years hence, allowing for the same rate of increase, would leave only standing room for the population in a given area! Mr. SCOTT, " seared at the sound him self had made," thereupon urged that the proposed radius for the protection of open spaces was not enough, but that 50 miles should be substituted for 15. The fact is that London is growing so rapidly that unless some means are taken to preserve our commons it will soon be a physical impossibility for families living in the centre of Lon don to walk out of the sight of streets and squares. Our parks, beautiful and healthful as they are, can not supply the wants of 3,000,000 of people, and even they leave something to be desired, for children at least, who have no otherplayground. It is a public question and concernsthe public health. Why cannot the public money pay for what is wanted. It is a matter, in fact, for the Chancellor of the Exche quer, and if he wishes to gain popularity he can hardly follow a wiser course. Millions are given for our armaments, and great sums for the maintenance of our civil establishments. Wny is not the public health as important as any other consideration ? While Government is hesitating, doubting, and ob jecting, a valuable opportunity will be lost, for which the people of this generation, and those that follow it, will wish in vain. Let the matter be boldly and persistently urged in the new Parlia ment, for the members may be sure that the com mon sense of the country will support them, and the most inflexible financier must yield to the resolute and reiterated demand of the people. THE SUN, LON.CON, 'FRIDAY ---I VEINING,' JANUARY 26, 1866. CORRESPONDENCE FROYI PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Thursday Evening. According to a letter from Lisbon in the 3loniteur, the Chamber of Deputies has expressed its satisfac tion at the conduct of the Government in reference to the insurrection in Spain. The entrance of the insurgents into Portugal is crnfirmed. The officers have been sent to Setubal, and the men to Cascals, where they will be imprisoned. A voluminous blue-book has just been issued by Government, containing statistics and other infor mation with regard to politics, taxes, finances, and various incidents connected with the progress of affairs. A great portion of its contents has already been published, but there are some branches of the information given which deserve a more care ful analysis than I can give to-day. From returns given of the newspaper press in France, it appears that there are 330 political journals, of which 63 are printed in Paris, and 267 in the de partments. From the Ist of January to the Bth of June, 1865, 18 warnings were given, three in Paris and 15 in the departments. Two newspapers, suspended for two months, were issued against a d e p ar tmental newspaper. Since the am nes t y awarded by the Empress Regent 15 warnings were given, six in Paris and nine in the provinces. There has not been either suspension or suppression since the Bth of June, 1865. With respect to the tele graph, the price of messages has been considerably reduced by virtue of a treaty entered into with 20 European States. A remarkable and melancholy incident has taken place at the Jewish Church in the Rue Notre Dame do Nazareth. While M. Rubel, the guardian of the church, was preparing the ornaments for the celebration of a marriage, news was brought to him that his wife had become suddenly ill. A doctor was immediately sent for, who somewhat indiscreetly and hastily said that nothing could be done. The husband was so shocked and affected at the inti mation that he fell down dead almost immediately. Yesterday the remains of husband and wife were conveyed to the cemetery. It will interest your sporting readers to know that the Spring Meeting at La March will take place on the 25th of February. The Great Military race will be run on the 21st of May. The Vincennes Steeplechases are fixed for the 11th and 20th March and 20th May. M. Delamarre's Count Arthur and Oramaiha have been bought on account of the Emperor. West Australian will in future form part of the Government breeding stud at Le Pin, in Normandy, and Partizan at La Lorie. M. Wamaxt hay bought Mr, Eptip Katinka, and is with Lamplugh 'at Chantilly, in training for the races there. Madame Saqui, who obtained great celebrity in former days as a rope-dancer, and for her exploits in the Blondon style at Vauxhall, died the day before yesterday at Passy, near Paris, in her 80th year. Madame Saqui danced on the tight-rope with grace and agility when she was nearly 70. The Paris papers continue their remarks and laudation upon the Emperor's speech, and there has seldom been more unanimity among them than they display upon the subject. All applauded his pacific sentiments and aspirations to the very echo. One only shadow of objection seems to be raised--that the Speech devotes more attention to the internal affairs of France than to the vexations of foreign politics. Such an objection, if it is meant to be one, is surely a strange cavil on the part of a Frenchman, who generally boasts so much and so loudly of his love of country. The opposition papers chiefly censure distant foreign expedition, meaning, of course, to censure the interference of France in Mexico ; but the explanations of the Emperor on this subject must have satisfied all reasonable and moderate people. A writer of some note, M. Alfred do Brehat, has just died in Paris, in his 41st year. Among other novels which made his reputation, were " Les Etrangers de Paris," "La Sorciere Moire," and " Les Aventures du Petit Parisien." The death of a learned lady of 80, Madame Eloise Voiart, has also just taken place at Nancy. She was the mother-in-law of another authoress of repute, Am able Tastu. Under the patronage, and indeed at the sugges tion of the Empress, a step is abcut to be taken for the welfare of the working classes, similar to that carried into execution by means of the munificence of Mr. Peabody. Five hundred houses are about to be erected at Montrouge, under the direction of M. Chassaignier, the architect. The rows will be large, airy, and well supplied with water. Near the houses public baths and wash-houses will also be erected. The rent of a convenient room for a single person will be £4 a year, but there will be rooms for families at the rate of £6, £B, and £l2. The houses will be open both day and night, under proper charge of a porter. The rent may be paid by instalments, and as is the case in regard to Peabody's houses, a con dition is made that the furniture is not to be seized for rent, but if the occupier be unable to pay he may take away his goods upon a verbal promise to pay when he can, reliance being placed upon his honour. Winter has returned again to-day. It has been very cold, and a thick fog—a very good imitation of a London fog—has prevailed the whole of the day. The sun was only conspicuous from his absence. Banquet at Fishmongers' Hall. A banquet took place last evening at Fishmongers' Hall, when the chair was taken by Mr. Yenning, prime warden of the company. Among the numerous guests present were—Mr. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. Forsyth, M.P., Sir J. Musgrove, Bart., Sir S. Morton Peto, Bart., M.P., Mr. B. Moran (Secretary to the United States Legation), Mr. J. WHenry, Col. Du Plat, Alderman Salomons, M.P., the Deputy Recorder, Alderman Lusk, M.P., Mr. R. C. Hanbury, M.P., Aldermen Allen and Besley, Under-Sheriffs Duffett and Rawlins, the City Comptroller, the City Re membrancer, Major Kitson, &c. The interior of this magnificent building has re cently been entirely redecorated and embellished from the designs and under the personal superin tendence of Mr. Owen Jones, whose careful and laborious studies have led him to the conclusion that colour formed an essential part of Grecian orna mental architecture. The hall of the Fishmongers' Company, built in the purest Grecian style, although grand in its proportion and elaborate in its detail, was formerly rather sombre in effect from the dead uniformity of its colour. A woadei•ful transforma tion has, however, now been effected, and in splen dour and beauty it surpasses the halls of all the other City companies. The semicircular roof of the hall is divided into sunk panels of a delicate blue tint, the relieved flowers in the centre of which are of blue picked out with gold, with alternate gold and red centres. The raised portions of the roof separating the panels are ornamented by a sort of loose plat, blue and gold on a deep red ground, and the delicate tracery of the cornice and the capitals of the pillars are picked out in contrasting colours, enlivened with gold. The com pany have much reason to congratulate themselves on the change that has been effected in the appear ance of the interior of the hall, and commercial London may well be proud of a guild possessing a noble building decorated in such exquisite taste. Dinner having been served, " The health of her Majesty" was drunk with the usual honours. The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The health of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales," referred to the loss the company had sustained in the person of the late King of the Belgians--a loss which would be equally felt by the various courts of Europe, all of whom had benefited by his large experience and matured wisdom. The toast was drunk with loud applause. The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers." Colonel Du PLAT responded for the army, and Captain MACGREGOR for the volunteers. The CHAIRMAN, in proposing " The House of Commons," deplored the loss the company, in com mon with the House of Commons and Europe, had sustained by the death of Lord Palmerston, whose genial countenance would never more be seen in their hall. The members of the House of Com mons had so long looked to him for guidance in cases of difficulty and danger that they would scarcely feel in their proper position when placed under the leadership of any other Jaaan. However, when the new House did reassemble, great things would be expected from them ; and although the session would doubtless prove a stormy one, and many changes would be effected, he trusted that the party which had hitherto steered the country through so many perils would still keep at the helm, and would ultimately bring the ship of State into a port of safety. (Hear.) Untried as the House of Commons was at present, he was sure it would be a faithful exponent of the wishes of the country. He regretted the absence, through indisposition, of one of the members of the City of London—a gen tleman whose abilities had induced her Majesty to call him to her assistance at so early a period of his political career. It was a great triumph to the City of London that they had first discovered those qualities in Mr. Goschen which had since rendered him so useful to the country, and so acceptable to her Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubt but that Mr. Goschen's future political career would fulfil the promise with which it had opened. Mr. CRAWFORD, M.P., in responding to the toast, said, although it was easy enough to answer for him self, it was rather a difficult matter to answer for the new Parliament. The Parliament about, to assemble would, however, he had no doubt, represent truly and faithfully the feelings and wishes of the country upon all public questions. It was easy enough, in general, to indulge in prophecy, but in all ordinary cases it was still easier t o i n dulge in hope, but in the present case he was afraid of expressing his hopes lest they should not coincide with the hopes of some other gentlemen present. (Hear, hear, and laugh ter.) He trusted, however, with the chairman, that those who occupied the post of honour at present might remain there. In the words of the song they had just listened to, he might say— " War returning, Danger spurning, Still in the cause he'd ardent prove." (Cheers and laughter.) And in the new House of Commons he should always be at his post ready to stand by the ,principles he had always professed. (Cheers.) " The healths of the Magistrates of the City," " The Officers of the City," and several other toasts were drunk and duly responded to. During the evening a selection of music was per formed by Miss Banks, Miss Eyles, Mr. E. Ball, and Mr. T. Harper (trumpet), under the direction of Mr. H. Buckland. Wile company separated at a late hour, LA TEST IN TEL LIGENCE (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) FRANCE. PARIS, JANUARY 26. The Constitutionnel of to-day publishes an article, signed by M. Paulin Limayrac, with reference to the recently published despatches of Mr. Bigelow. In this article M. Limayrac shows that M. Drouyn de L'huys could not give explanations with regard to acts of internal administration in Mexico, for which the Mexican Government alone was re sponsible. The writer adds:—" The United States cannot call the resistance offered by a number of plundering adventurers war, after refuting the title of belligerents to the Confederates of the South." BOURSE, Jan. 25.—Two o'clock.—The opening takes place on a well disposed market, and improved quotations. Threes are quoted at 68f. 75c., with an advance of 10c. Italian Fives are being done at 62f. 75c., with a rise of 15c. Credit Mobiliers have gained 7f. 50c., the present rate being 832 f. 50c. The advance on Spanish Mobiliers is if. 25c. The Railway Department likewise shows an im provement, Northern Shares having an advance of 2f. 50c. ; North of Spain, if. 25c. ; and Lombard, 2f. 50c. Immobiliere Shares have gained 2f. 50c. —at 2501.—Three o'clock—The market has closed on the following quotations:— 41 per Cents 9B 50 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 6B 75 Do. end month 6B 67i Credit Mobilier Do. end month 827 50 Bank Shares 3665 Credit Fonder 1317 50 Italian Loan 62 . 75 Do. end month 62 55 Roman Ottoman Fives 4O 35 Mexican Loan Do. Bonds 328 75 Russian - Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred RAIL' VAIN. Cash. Act t. 857 50 ... 1116 25 860 - 552 50 Orleans Northern . Lyons and Mediterranean.. Southern Western A.. Eastern Sardinian. Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman '''''' '-' •• • - - ... 530 - - - 200 - - 412 50 - - ... 428 75 --- - ... 185 225 - ••• 100 - 155 - SPAIN. MADRID, JAN. 25. The draft of an address to the Queen was read in to-day's sitting of the Senate. It expresses re gret-at the breaking out of hostilities between Spain and Chili, but hopes that after the refusal of the latter to satisfy the Spanish claims, the Queen's Government will cause the honour and dignity of Spain to be respected. The address also expresses the satisfaction of the Senate at the domestic re forms announced by the Government. MADRID, Jan. 22. On the evening of the 20th inst., Senor Hurtado again brought forward his request to the Govern ment in the Chamber of Deputies, for information relative to the capture of the Covadonga. Senor Posada Herrera, Minister of the Interior, in reply, confirmed the news of the capture of that vessel and the suicide of Admiral Pareja. Relative to the present intentions of the Cabinet he said— " The Government is resolved to take every measure necessary to retrieve this misfortune. What these measures may be, and what form they will take, I cannot inform the Congress at the present moment. What I may state to the Congress is, that all that can be done by a Government determined to main tain the honour of the Spanish flag, and to defend the interests and rights of the nation, the present Ministry is ready to do." The official despatch announcing the entry of the insurgents, under Prim, into Portugal is as follows : " The Governor of Badajoz to the Minister of War. Badajoz, Jan. 21, 10 2 a.m. " At two o'clock yesterday afternoon the insur gents reached the frontier and entered Portugal, delivering up their arms and equipments and some horses to the Mayor of Ericinasola. They had no encounter with the Royal troops pursuing them. The bearer of the despatch lost his way, thereby delaying the arrival of the intelligence." The Captain-General of Catalonia reports that the advanced guard of the royal column operating in the Priorato saw at Gratallops, towards noon, on the 20th, a body of about 40 insurgents, who dispersed upon perceiving them. The Captains- General of Arragoq; Valencia, Navarre, and Seville announce undisturbed tranquillity in their respective districts. The Madrid journals continue their excitations to the Spanish Government to take summary and un sparing vengeance upon Chili for the disgrace suf fered by the Spanish flag in the capture of the Covadonga. The Espanol demands that the 50 guns from the Spanish frigate Isabel, deposited in the military museum of Santiago, should be transferred on board the Villa de Madrid, and the Spanish flag, from the Covadonga, now displayed in the Cathedral of Santiago, should be recovered and hoisted on board the Esmeralda. It urges, in con clusion, that there should be no truce and no quar ter, and says, " Wherever may be seen a palace, a house, or a hut, inhabited by those spurious sons, by those parricides, upon all these let the Spanish bombs rain fire." The Pabellon Nacional says the hour of consideration is past, and treaties cannot now come until after the triumph of the Spanish arms. It is thought very probable that Admiral Pinzon will be appointed to the command of the Pacific squadron. The entire want of support from the Progresists experienced by General Prim in his insurrectionary movement is attributed to the suspicion in which he is held by the mass of that party who do not recognise him as their genuine leader and represen tative. Senor Olizaga is said to be resolutely op posed to General Prim at the present moment. He has also, it is stated, written from his retirement at Vico energetic letters to the most important men of his party in Madrid, counselling them to remain tranquil, and to impress upon their friends that the seditious movement of Prim was a wild and ill judged attempt: It was nothing more than a mili tary movement, and General Prim was not the man whom Providence reserves to assure the destiny and the future of the Progresist party. THE BODY FOUND NEAR WATERLOO-BRIDGE.— Yesterday Mr. W. J. Payne, coroner for the Duchy of Lancaster, resumed at the Essex Head Tavern, Essex street, Strand, the inquiry relative to the discovery of the body found near the site of the old steamboat-pier at Waterloo-bridge. It will be recollected the remains were found sft. below the surface "sanded up" in the bed of the river, where some excavators were digging for the founda tions of the Thames embankment. A gold eyeglass, pencil case, the remnant of some articles of clothing of military make, and other articles were dug up at the same time. A key which was found was identified by Mr. Chubb, of St. Paul's -churchyard, as one of a set of 30 which he made in 1839 for one of the officers of the War Department, and the court was adjourned in order that inquiries might ke in stituted at the Government offices with a v:ew to the iden tification of the deceased. Upon the reassembling of the jury, the coroner said that he had communicated with the Royal Engineers-office at Buckingham-gate, for which department Mr. Chubb had made the key, and he had re ceived an answer stating that a search of the books, tt.c., had led to a negative result. He had received a letter from &person in Leman-street, Whitechapel, whose name was undecipherable, stating that a person had disappeared about 25 years ago who was in the habit of f equenting gambling houses. His brother, a man in poor circumstances, was always of opinion that he had been murdered after a suc cessful night's gambling. The writer thought it more likely that he had committed suicide after an unsuccessful night. He was on terms of intimacy with people of rank, and he used to boast of his fashionable associates. The writer, however, thought that the supposed age (50 or 60 years) of the skeleton was much greater than that of the person referred to. Mr. Bell, coroner's officer, said that he had made inquiries and he found that Messrs. Ash, of Broad-street, Golden-square, had made the teeth found with the remains, but they did not know who had put them in the gold case. He proposed that at the next meet ing of the Dentists' Society the case of teeth should be ex hibited, and as every dentist knew his own work it would be most probably identified. The coroner adjourned the inquest to await the result of further inquiries. • LIIERATITRE. Tangled Weft : Two Stories. By Mary L. Boyle. One vol., pp. 300. Smith, Elder, and Co. The name of these pleasant tales is appropriately selected, for " tangled" indeed are the threads of which they are woven, and very dexterously in each instance is the entanglement maintained until the right moment comes for the denouement. The first story (a "true story with false dates," we are told, is entitled " The Companion," and introduces us at once to Grace Maynard, the graceful and charming companion of the widowed Mrs. Hamilton, whose failing eyesight can hardly discern whether or no the name of her soldier son is included in the list of Crimean sufferers. The Companion reads, in tremulous ac cents, " Captain Chas. Hamilton, slightly wounded," and then continues to peruse the list—" that ter rible list, where a well-known name would start out before its time, and thrust itself upon the reader's observation, so that you had to go back and see under what head it came, while the letters danced before your eyes, till you could scarcely be sure of what you read. It seemed like a search for the killed and wounded on the field." Captain Hamilton loses his right hand, and returns invalided, to the great delight of his devoted mother, who is, however, now unable even to see his face. Mrs. Hamilton submits to an operation for cataract, which is de scribed in a very effective manner. After awhile, also, terrible to relate, the young Soldier falls in love with the Companion ; and although she returns his affection, and even although, after some hesitation, the mother agrees to an engagement, the course of this " true love" is even more stormy than is pro verbially expected. Grace Maynard, who is her self " perfection," has unfortunately a previous history which she insists upon disclosing, and which she declares to be a perpetual bar to her union with Captain Hamilton. This history we shall not at tempt to betray, neither shall we, even by a whisper, attempt to indicate the result of the perplexity. Suffice it to say, that even in these days of story telling, the plot is very original and is very cleverly contrived. Miss Boyle evinces considerable skill in the construction of a plot and in the relation of a story. She manages also, which is a great point, to interest and please her reader throughout the whole narrative. The second story, " Mildred Fawkener,'' is another, although a very dissimilar, specimen of "tangled weft." We will select from it one little scene which contains a somewhat original and very graceful manner of making a Proposal, not, how ever, in this instance, very successful in its results. Like Paul and Virginia, Lord Malvern and Mildred Fawkener have, from childhood, been constant and devoted companions. Some alterations having taken place at his father's seat, Lord Malvern conducts Mildred to inspect them, and then introduces her to THE BOUDOIR. Mildred seemed brighter, and comparatively better, and her white cheeks had picked up a little colour, as she jumped off her horse (with unnecessary haste, Malvern thought), before he could assist her, at the door of Farn brook House. What a metamorphosis ! What improve ments weie the beautiful new ceilings and cornices and the large bay windows ; and how proud and delighted were the masters of the house to show their renovations. The prin cipal rooms were still unfurnished, and great discussions were taking place—or rather harangues ; for, to say the truth, neither Mr. Fawkener nor his daughter could find many words, though they tried hard to exert themselves. " Come with me, Mildred,will you ?" said Malvern, lead ing the way through a swing door by a narrow passage, into what appeared the only furnished room of the new apartments. It was a fairy little spot, and the girl gave Utterance to an exclamation of delight, as she entered a small circular room like a little temple, opening on one side to a little conservatory, blazing with flowers, and heavy with perfume. The walls were pale grey, of a silvery hue, with the silver cornices, arabesque designs and ornaments which combined to produce an effect of opaline tints. A frieze of Amorini representing the arts and sciences, beautifully designed and executed, ran round the top; and the curtains, sofas, chairs, and table-covers were of a brilliant yet tender rose colour, which harmonised with the china ornaments, that were all of the Rose de Barry tint. Two Venetian looking-glasses, a candelabrum with crystal drops, and a carpet, of the two prevailing co lours charmingly mingled, completed the decoration of the new boudoir at Farnbrook House. " How beautiful, bow exquisite !" said Mildred, as if speaking to herself. " With a pianoforte, and some books, and some luinta tures, and a dear, dear little lady to sit at the writing table, or lie on the sofa—will it not do, Mildred ?" he half whis pered ; for now what Ernest had called the calm nature, seemed agitated. Had she heard aright ? Was her cup of bitterness quite full. She did not dare speak or move, lest word or move ment should hasten a crisis. Malvern went on speaking; but he did not look up to her. "Do you know," he said, "my father was so hopeful, so sanguine, that he wanted the two initials, the two M's wreathed into a monogram with the little cornet above ; but of course, darling, I did not dare. I had no reason to feel quite so certain as poor Babbo did : he always believes what he hopes. Still I flatter myself I have remembered every word of a description you gave me some years ago— grey and silver, and rose—will it do for you darling ? Is it good enough ?—Will you come and pass your life in it, if I try to make that life a happy one ?" " Malvern !—friend, brother—what can I say—what can I do ? How can I answer you! I have already so much to bear : spare me this fearful, this awful trial. Oh, Ido not believe there is on God's earth a living being more miserable than I am." What an answer, to a man who had looked for happy smiles and loving words, breathing blessedness and hope for his future life ! Here, too, we shall not give a hint as to the disen tanglement. Assuredly, so gallant a contrivance deserved a worthier recompence! We take leave of the fair Mildred, commending her, like the yet more attractive Companion, to the favourable at tention of the novel-reader. THACKERAY'S CHRISTMAS BOOKS-or at any rate two of them, each having been long since out of print —have just now been issued afresh from the press by the Great Novelist's publishers, the Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co., of Cornhill. One of these two ex hilarating little volumes is that famous story about a Holiday Excursion in Germany during the long vacation, The Kickleburys on the Rhine—the best thing in regard to which we still conceive to be that most happy after-thought, consequent, in point of fact, upon the onslaught directed against the first edition of the work itself by a reviewer in the Times —a reply prefixed since then to every subsequent edition of " The Kickleburys" under the facetious title of " An Essay on Thunder and Small Beer." Better, however, by far than " The Kickleburys on the Rhine," better even than that most delightful apology for them, "The Essay on Thunder and Small Beer," is the other Christmas Book here re published with it as a companion, the last of all Thackeray's Christmas Books—that fantastic, ridi culous, and utterly preposterous Fireside Panto mime for Great and Small Children, The Rose and the Ring, being the history of Prince Giglio and Prince Bulbo. 0 the fun, the frolic, the laughter moving, side-splitting absurdities of the book, who that has once dipped into it can have forgotten them. The incongruity of the work—as one of the effusions of a genius as tender, sand virile, and vigorous as that of Thackeray—is a phenomenon hardly to be described. It is Adonis laughing through a horse collar. It is Hercules disporting himself in the contortions of an acrobat. It is St. Leon dancing a pas-seul in hob-nailed boots. It , is Edmund Kean at Richardson's. It is d'Orsay in a shock ing bad hat. It is Eclipse harnessed between the shafts of the sand-cart. It is the very tom-foolery of genius—touched off alternately with incom parable quips of the pen and inimitable quirks of the pencil. 0 the charming extravagance of the nonsense of the ridiculousness of the tale here told to us, here prattled to us, by the fabricator of this Fireside Pantomime " 0 Mussy ! O Jemmany ! O Ciel 1 My Eyes ! What a' pretty girl"—for instance—" is Betsinda !" Whether regarded as a blooming chambermaid armed with a warming pan ! Or, as we first see her and hear her, — dancing her dance, and eating her bun, and sing ing her song (the prettiest little baby song surely that ever was penned!) in the Palace Garden— O what fun To have a plum bun, How I wis It never was done ! Gruffanuff, too, the royal porter, straddling with his great calves on the palace, doorstep, making the most odious vulgar sign (with his outspread fingers and his thumb to his nose) —insolently jeering the Fairy Blackstick until his impertinences die off into dumbness with a " O—o —ll'm !P—At a wave of her wand, when he is caught up and collapsed and solidified into a brass-knocker ! The King, again, smacked down by a blow from the warming pan (at the hands of Prince Giglio) as flat as a pan cake ! And Prince Bulbo tearing quantities of hair out of his head, until it covers the room like so much tow ! And the ravening lions roaring out-- Wurra wurra wurra wur-arr-aw-aw ! and gobbling up the Count Hogginarino bones, boots and all, until there is an end of him ! From first to last it is altogether too ridiculous to think of, to speak of, to write of, in any way seri ously. And yet—like the prettiness of Scrooge's niece by marriage —that was " provoking you know"—but, for all that, satisfactory, 0 perfectly satisfactory. tart titular. HER MAJESTY• OSBORNE, Thursday. Their Serene Highnesses Prince Christian of S€hleswig-Holstein and Prince Hermann of Haw" lohe, attended by Lord Alfred Paget, visited the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley yesterday morning. Her Majesty drove out in a carriage and four in the afternoon, accompanied by Princess Helena, Princess Hermann of Hohenlohe, and Prince Christian. Sir George Grey arrived, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and royal family. The Prince and Princess of Wales. LILLESHALL, SALOP, Thursday. The Prince of Wales and party had a capital day's shooting yesterday in the. Large Wood. This is one of the finest coverts in the midland counties, being upwards of 800 acres in extent, and yielded the royal and distinguished sportsmen some excel lent shooting. Shortly before two o'clock the Princess and the Duchess, in her grace's pony carriage, proceeded to join the shooters, her royal highness driving ; they were preceded by Lady Gertrude Talbot and Lady Adelaide Talbot, and followed by the re mainder of the ladies. The luncheon party in the duke's shooting-box comprised the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Suther land, Earl and Lady Grosvenor, Lord and Lady Hill, Lord and Lady Vane, Lord Shrewsbury , Lady Gertrude Talbot, Lady Adelaide Talbot, Lord and Lady Lichfield, the Earl of Dunmore, Earl Sefton, Hon. T. Bourke, Major G. H. Grey, and the Countess of Morton. The shooting box Was tastefully decorated, and outside was a large motto, " Welcome the Prince and Prin cess t o Sh rops hire ;'' and others of a like character decorated the interior. At the conclusion of the day's sporting it was found that a bag of nearly 800 head had been ob tained, which was considered a very fine bag for the district. The Princess of Wales with the Duchess walked in the beautiful grounds in the afternoon. The party at dinner were the same as on the pre vious day. This morning the Prince of Wales, Earl Grosve .nor, Lord Hill, Lord Shrewsbury, Lord Lichfield, Lord Dunmore, Lord Sefton, Major Grey, and the Hon. T. Bourke have joined the noble duke for day's shooting in the Abbey Wood. There will be a mall this evening at Lilleshall House, and to-morrow (Friday) the Prince of Wales, with the Duke of Sutherland, will proceed to Crewe, and thence to Trentham, where the Princess and Duchess will have arrived by road , probably escorted by the Shropshire and Stafford shire Yeomanry. A Sketch Evidently of Sir Wm. Ferguson. -+- On the black board by the door of a London hos pital there is attached by four wafers a simple an nouncement. Simple as it looks, it meets with a very great notice, for as the students keep dropping in, some in little knots, others singly, a good many in pairs, the first thing they look at is the little sheet of paper with but few words in print, and fewer in writing upon it, " Has it begon - "-Is Mr. --- here yet ?" are the constant questions addressed to the important man with the zed collar on his coat of blue. This functionary is the porter, whose chief business consists in keeping order among the crowd of people in the out-patients' room and in letting uP and down a wooden bar to allow them as their turn arrives access to the celebrities they have come to consult. Let us follow the students as they pass through the various passages and corridors of the building. The out-patient practice has ne charm for the students to-day. The physicians are going their rounds alone ; for, however often the theory may be enunciated that in rank the practice of physic takes precedence of the practice of Bur" gery, yet the fact remains patent that a brillian t operator creates more enthusiasm than the best physician, his test-tubes, stethescope, and microscope notwithstanding. Passing up a narrow staircase , we find ourselves at the top of a tier of steps, at the bottom of which is the room proper. The bright rays of the sun pass through the ample skylight, and dis cover a densely packed mass of people filling the gal lery. We are in the operating theatre of the hospital; Around us we see, let into the walls, medallions 01 the great surgeons of old times—the apostles of the art, whose names are held in veneration 11 their clever, eager followers of to-day. Here an d there among the students we have pale-faced, an xious looking men, who have called in during their round of so-called " general practice." They have come to see their former master operate—the our; geon who is at the pinnacle of the profession an d who has earned fame, wealth, and now a title, 11 his talents, and who has been the instrument in God'O hands of alleviating much human suffering and dis; tress. In the a rea o f th e th eatre t h ere are s i g ns °l ' the approaching operation. There is the peculisf table that can extend and fold in all directions, wit', its straps and appenda g es. Th ere are th e cans e c l hot and cold water, the basins, the sponges, an many other things. The surgical dressers flit about/ anxious that nothing shall be forgotten, and th e house surgeon, with ligatures ready in the button' hole of his coat, is examining for the last time th e glittering array of knives and other instrunieu tO preserved in a case as delicately lined as a lady jewel-box. By degrees the minor luminaries of th e medical and surgical staff of the hospital arrive, a nd the students ranged above, so noisy of their college in awarding approval to their favourite teachers, only show here by a half-stifled buzz their reeegni tion. At last the lion of the hour arrives, a strong! stalwart man, placid, cool, and smiling, the least anxious of the whole assembly. A smothered roar of approbation meets him as he lifts his eyes a nd nods to the assembled crowd. A gesture of 13 4 hand checks any unseemly noise, for now t he patient is being carried in and laid tenderly ~ the cushioned table. The latter gives a sha r P' half-frightened glance above at the dense mass o f hushed, eager, and expectant students. The ti me has at last arrived which has been in his thoughts for days and weeks—aye, may be months. It is moment of agony for the' poor man, in spite of the care and kindness shown him. The great sur geon whispers in his ear and pats his back kinclll. ;n The patient grasps the hand of his friend, and o ; stantly another medical man fits the apparatus inhalation of chloroform. In a little he is wand er but ing in his talk, he gesticulates with his hands, soon he drops off like a sleeping child. Q njetll turning up his cuffs awl giving a scrutinising gl a t ij i l s through the gleaming instruments spread on „ e a white-clothed tray, - the surgeon turns to the dise a ;be limb. There is a dead stillness throughou t theatre as with steady hand the operator coolly „,, c 1 rapidly proceeds. His knife is cr imson now/ 1 "; n d. the warm red blood wells up and spurts arn The saw is quickly used, and a few more dexter ioo . movements with the k n if e p er f ec t s the operstod All the pumping arteries are caught and tied, i tity the parts are skilfully adjusted. Then the still bed conscious patient is carried off to awake in ,ul;,,ge and find himself surrounded by all that skill' eying nuity, and wealth can bring to bear for st`,.,la man. The surgeon has done his best within the limit ; the issue rests with God ; for, " Ex ce in .' that Lord build the house, they labour in "'— build it."—iledical Mirror. a , N