The Sun. — London, England, 1865-02-01 00:00:00

THE PALL-MALL GAZE j An Evening Newspaper and Review. It is difficult to des gibe the plan of an enterprise like the PALL-MALL GAZ ETTE without seeming to boast, or to decry the efforts of others. But we are unwillng to lose the advantage of a few words of t xp'anation, and we therefore trust the candour of the reader for a just interpretation of our meaning. The PALL-MALL GAZ ETTE will contain all the news proper to an Evening journal But, addressed as it will notbe to educated men and women , the sp ace of the paper will be occupied by trifling chronicles, nor by that excess of words which adds nothing to the interest of newspaper records, while it d stroys their significance. Literary considerations alone wou.d determine us to have our News Reports written la plain English ; but beyond these there is the fact that the lessons to be found in many an accident ofad human life or s o .ial polity are lost in the turgid language in w i they are comm only narrated. Events made known by the Morning Papers may E be dis cussed in ts , e PALL-MALL GA Zietr of the acme day , but they wi 1 not be reported anew. Trustwort y arum the Money Market will be included in the NCws of the Day. ahe rest of the paper iby far the eater part) wil . l , be made up of original artictes , upon the many things wni..n engage the tho gli t , or employ t he energies, or amuse the leisure of mankind. Public Affairs, Literature, the Ar s, and all tie influences which strengthen or disipate :,,cciety, will ds au by nien whe independenze and authority are equally unquestionable, and who are alcusto r,ed to regard ttie public ex,ressiou cf opinion as a terioua hang. This is the th of aim of the PALL-;STALL GAZETTE : to bring into daily journalism that full measure of thought and culture which is no w Sound only in Reviews. At the same time, we by no means intend to make the paper pedantic or solemn. Humour is too powerful, as well us too pleasant, to be lett out of the design ; which will lose none of the advantages of occasional trifling. If a thing can be said better in verse than in prose, it will be said in verse. Epigram, but not spite—burlesque, but not vulgarity—will be readil admitted into its columns ; and since a Jake is often as il y lustratt:e as an argument, good jukes will be wel come too. It will be understo,d that this adnrtisement is rather a pi s r e of f v e a s b t le o pro c lamation of idea and of effort than of promise. But the proclamation is not made bet,,re alead rg g e ed ut t writers have accepted the idea, and i h m e b m e the effort. Office of the Fall-Mal Gazette, 14, Salisbury-street. Strand, W.C. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Sole Manager and Director, Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENINU the performance will commence with the new Opera, ARA. Principal characters by At essrs. Swift, G. Honey, Forbe3, Terrott, and Renwick; M sses Lou „ Tyne, Cottrell, Burrington, and Romer. Conductor, Signor ARDITI. Alter the Opera will be ,given the Burlesque, entitled TH E 1 'ION AND THE UNICORN. Principal characters, Messrs. Rouse, Anderson, Misses E. BuTRANSF OR tton, Cottrell, Furtado. To conclude w.th the GRAND MATION SCENE. • - Doors open at Halt-past Six. Commence at Seven. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) CONTINUED SUCCESS OF CINDERELLA AND THE WONDERFUL DONATO. THIS EVENING, (Feb. IN, a new Op.ra, the music by F. Clay, the words by T. W. Robertson, entitled CON STAN CE. Principal characters by Mdlle. Martorelle and Y. i s s Thirlwall ; Messrs. U. Corri, A. Cook, C. Lyall. and Henry Haigh. Conductor, Mr. A. BIELLOI,I. Alter which, at a quarter-past 8, the Grand and highly successful ratitomime, CINDERELLA, in wnich Donato will reappear, Magnificent Sc?nery and gorgeous accessories. Commence at Seven. THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE, Managers. Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, Shakespere's Play of HENRY THE EIGHTH, te. minating with the fall of Vfolsey. Alton's. Phelps, Walter Lacey, H: Marston, E. Phelps, Barrett, Sin clair ; Miss Atkinson, Mrs. Vandenoff, &C. Alter which, the Grand Christmas Pantomime, HOP O'MY THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTIIEIIS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-League Boots Messrs. G. Bel more, Tom Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, &c. I%itsses Lydia Thompson. R. Lcclercq, Ate.; Messrs. Boleno C. Lau:i, W. A. Barnes, T. Morris , Cormac k, ; Mdaie: Buleno, the Misses Gunniss, and Signor Tescano. A PUL BEDFORD AT TIOME.—DRURY LA NE TIT EA tlt E.—T HURSDAY MORNING, Feb. 2.—Doors open at One—All the DRAMATIC TALENT of LONDON at the COMPLIMENTARY BENEFIT. Tickets rnly be bad of Mr. H. Williams, Hon. Secretiry, at the Box-office, from One till Five. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee. M.S. Blackstone. THIS EVENING, Feb. 1, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Chippendale, Sothern, Buckstone, Rogers, Clark, Coe, Wet thersby, &c. ; Mesdames Moore, Snowdon, Frtzwilltam, &c. After which, LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND DONE FOR Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Braid, Gordon, Clark, White, Coe, Weathersby, &c.; Mesdames Snowdon, Bill, Zire With PRINCESS SPRINGTIME. Mr. Compton, Miss L. Keeley. And THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. To commence at 7. ItCYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Extravaganza, entitled THE MAGIC HORSE AND THE ICE MAIDEN I RINCESi. Alter which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11. Forretter. H. Mellon; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma Harnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Hlr. icechter. THIS EVENING, MY WIFE'S OU P. Messrs. H. Widdicombe, P. Charles; Misses B. Percy and E. Lavenn. Atter which, at halt-past 8, a New Drama, entitled THE otOADSIDE INN. It.bert Mantle, Mr. r echter. Messrs. iddicomb, C. Horaman, Fitzpatrick, Garden, Moreland, .LittyMenri, Collett; Mebdames E•SA orthy and B. L'ercy. To conclude with BEM:FACED IMPOSTORS. Mr. iud:eotnb, Doors open at Half-past Si*K. The Box-office open daily from klev, n till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.— :.)41e ervpri4LJr atatl iliaalatz.r. vVitUdter. THIS EVENING, THE IRISH TIGER. Messrs. Stephenson, Eburne; Miss K. Kelley. The Play of "THE lIUNGLIBACK "is unav, id y post poned in consequence of the sudden indisposition of Miss Bateman. ----- To conclude with DARK DOINGS IN THE CU '- BOARD BY THE KNOTrING'EII BROrilEits. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford ; A. Mellon. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. 'IFII4 EVENING, at 7, LAWRENCE'S LOVE SUIT. Mr. Parselle ; Mesdames Palmer, Carson, and IlughtS. After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, THE " GRIN" BUbll ES ; or, the Mrs. Brown of the Missis-sippi. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton, &c.; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, Raynham, Simpson, Johnstone, etc. To conclude with MRS. GttEEN'S SNUG LITTLE BUSINESS. Mr. Belford. COALS.—The LILLIESHALL COMPANY'S lIJJ COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'. .263. per ton. I Double.. 21s. per ton. Top 255. „ 1 11 _et p 22s. „ We 11 screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, raddiugton, W., and Maiden-lane, N. _Best Coke Terms cash. JUIIN SCOTT, Sole-Lent. THE LATEST EDITION of « THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every _Evening by W. ALEX ANDEtt (late BltOOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish - street, Oxford-street. THE THIRD EDITION OF " TIIE SUN,' 4.;ontaining the L.test INTELIAIihZ4 r. 0 , -u. be had Every Evening at G. It. CiLEN.I.E, NEWS AGE:4 T, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-Park. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN' supplied as soon as Published containing all the LA rP.sT N EWS and SPORTING INTELLIGNNCE, by It. W. HARRIS, NeAspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road, London, S. HIGH WATER AT LONDON_BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, sh. 33 m.—Afternoon, ~ oo — 5l. 55 , m, TO-Monnow.-Morning 6h. 2 0m.—Afternoon, Oh. 44m ejyt , LONDON, TVEDNESD,IY, FEB. 1, 1865. --.4k --- Mr. BLAIR has returned from his mission to Rich mond ; and, as might have been expected, without any result being apparent. Wh a tever may be the desire of the South for a. peace founded upon the recognition of their independence, they are not likely to lay down their arms by these non-official emis saries, who come alternately to cajole and to threaten them into submission, like refractory children - The Confederates have never attempted to conceal their anxiety for peace, provided it is peace with that one condition. It would indeed be but idle hy-pocri.:„y fo r th em to d o so w h en the most casual observer can see the miseries which war has inflicted on the Southern population, and the suf ferings and sacrifices which it has entailed upon every one in the Confederate States. But whatever their desire for the cessation of hostilities, neither rulers nor people have ever shown the sli g ht est in dication of a readiness to abandon their dep en _ dente. When their affairs have prosp ere d they have not expressed any eagerness for the e x t ens i on of their lands or other material adva nt ages. They have kept to the one point at issue. When their prospects were gloomy, and their arms suffered tem porary reverses, they only declared that there was no alternative they would not prefer to subjugation by the North. In either case they have refrained from making slavery a prominent question, neither rejoicing at the security of the " institution" when triumphant, nor maintaining it as their sine qua non when defeated. The pretext which the North puts forth to Europe, and to England especially, is therefore conspicuously THE biJ.N, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1865.1' shallow, and the rumours which are now being in dustriously circulated relative to the Southern eagerness for peace are not to be trusted. Presi dent LINCOLN is straining every nerve to improve the aspect of Northern affairs before the notable 4th of Alaxch, both in civil and military matters. In the military line he has spared no effort or expense to pus h forward matters at Wihnington, and he has been rewarded by the capture of Fort Fisher, which Federal pride will easily convert into the most im portant part of the enterprise. In civil affairs he has despatched BLAIR with his unauthorised pro posals, he has circulated reports of the universal desire of .the Southern people for peace, of the wish of the inhabitants of Georgia to re-enter the Union, and other kindred rumours. Further, he has endeavoured through his emissaries to tamper with the loyalty of -:the Southern people to their self-chosen President. Spies and Northern agents are insidiously busy in trying to sow dissension between the two great leaders of the Confederacy, by the exaltation of LEE at the expense of Davis ; they have tried to incite the people to overt acts of disaffection, and they have succeeded apparently in opening communications with an ex-representa tive, and in securing the allegiance of a Richmond organ of opinion. Still the wishedfor submission has not come, and neither President, General, Congress, or press , shows any signs of approaching it. Mr. Davis has, indeed, expressed his willing ness either to receive or to send properly accre dited Commissioners to treat of peace, which is all that could possibly be expected of him, but it is not likely that he would pay much heed to the proposals of an emissary who could easily be disavowed when his suggestions were agreed to. It is no sign of the decadence of the South that the mission should excite some interest in Richmond, or that the prospects of peace should be the chief topic in the Southern capital. That is but the natural result of such a visit, but so long as President LIN COLN declines to send duly qualified persons on a mission of so much importance, and prefers to shel ter it under the elastic title of " semi-official," that very mode of communication proves his persistent determination to withhold that recognition of Southern independence which is the one step inse parable from a firm and lasting peace. We are in the habit of boasting a good deal o the decent and orderly conduct of London mobs. We pride ourselves on the self-control and respect for the law which our lower orders share for the most part with those above them ; and on all great occasions of public festivity or solemnity which gather together a vast concourse of men and women, we point with pride to the few unarmed officials who are thinly scattered among the crowds which line our highways, and whose blue coats are sufficient to keep order, and contrast the conduct of a London crowd with that of any other metro polis in the world. It would seem, however, that either our race is deteriorating, or that we have I boasted too soon, from the experience of the last few days. However undesirable or unseemly may be street riots on the occasion of a royal marriage, a public funeral, or any other impressive spectacle, there is certainly more excuse for any ebullition of excitement at those exceptional times. But in the ordinary routine of daily life, without any shadow of reason or excuse, we find riotous mobs, con sisting of several hundreds of persons, collecting in the public parks, and, under the excuse of snow balling, assaulting and annoying every respectable person—going so far as to knock gentlemen down, to cut open the faces of ladies and children with sharp missiles, and to pelt with granite stuff and flints those who were endeavouring to convey a cul prit to the station-house. This does not look much like English order and respect for the law, and it does not say much in favour of the improvement produced by education in our lower orders. Such scenes as those which took place in the parks, both at the east-end and west-end, on Sunday, were a disgrace to our civilisation. Our self-government is not worth much if it cannot secure the safety of respectable citizens in the metropolis itself. A great deal was said about the danger of the streets at night in the time of the garotters, but here, in broad daylight, an army of ruffians take possession of our public gardens and inflict what unprovoked injuries they choose without let or hindrance. Two or three men were taken, it is true, before the magistrates and punished with a few days' imprisonment, but the great body of the offenders pursued their sport unmolested. A labourer was brought before Mr. lixox, at Marylebone Police-court, charged with snowballing in the Regent's-park, and from the evidence of the constable it appeared that he had been apprehended just as he had succeeded in knocking off two gentlemen's hats, but it was with the greatest difficulty that he was got to the station-house, as an attempt was made to release him. In this instance the prisoner was one the ringleaders of " a large mob of rough fellows" who had formed themselves into a gang and pelted every respectable person, yet Mr. Kicox let him off with the easy sentence of five shillings fine or three days' imprisonment. Mr. TYRWHITT, at Marlborough-street, was more severe, and two lads, who were admitted not to'be foremost in the fray, were sentenced respectively to fines of £2 and £3, and a month and six weeks' imprisonment. These punishments were not too severe, considering the nature of the charge, but the other was much too light. In Kensington-gardens, where these lads were taken, a gentleman, who appeared in court, gave evidence of having been knocked down seve ral times, and his stick broken. When he first saw the a m snow-balling going on he thought it was merely but he soon discovered his mistake. Of course, this witness did not see a single park keeper or constable present to stop the riot, though here it was more manageable, since at last the mob was driven off, and, as we have seen, two of the offenders captured. But disorder seems to have reached its height in Victoria' -park, where the rioters numbered, it is said, 1,200, and where their conduct was beyond all bounds. Vehicles were pelted till their windows were broken, and their horses in some cases took fright, so that dangerous accidents were narrowly escaped. heads were cut open by s t o nes and ice being rolled up in the snowballs, and women and children escaping from the riot were seen with bleeding faces 'and clothes spoilt with the merciless pelting. The police endeavoured to stop the outrages, but, being few in number, were powerless to keep order. One of them suc ceeded in capturing one of the ringleaders, and with the assistance o f some gentlemen started for the station. The mob, numbering many hundreds, tried to rescue him, but they kept them off until, unfortunately, they came to a part of the road which had been recently strewed with flint and gra nite. These missiles were poured upon those who Were guarding the prisoner, several of whom were badly hurt. The officer in charge was a n ac g c o om af p te li r sh all ed . at last thrownh down and kicked until he was obliged to let having t e thTheireobl e o c t t ers ; an th d en ha di vin s p g ers h ed ad , their fun out without any payment, they got out of the way of the body of police, who on their tardy arrival found the windows broken, and other traces of disorder, but the culprits, as might have been ex pected, vanished from the scene. The two or three rioters whv had been, captured were brought up yesterday at the Worship-street Police-court, and fined 10s. or seven days' imprisonment ! Con sidering that serious injury might have been in flicted, and probably was inflicted, on orderly and respectable persons, that blindness or other seri ous consequences might ensue even from the vio lent pelting of snowballs, much more from the reckless use of flints, such a sentence is prepos terously lenient. If a man had been found drunk and incapable of taking care of himself in the streets, he would have been fined 55., without doing any real mischief, and for all this active and willful injury he is only to pay two shil lings more ! In fact, the infliction of a fine at all was a mistake. Those were cases in which offenders richly deserved to be made to suffer personal inconvenience, and should have been made to feel that such refined pleasures must have their cost. If a person or a child had been killed, as might well have happened, a frightened horse, a flint on the temple, a dangerous fall, or even the pressure of the excited mob, there would have been a general outcry : as it is, the affair is passed over, and only the immediate sufferers concern themselves with it. It is quite time, however, that some steps should be taken to preserve better order in our parks. What the bystanders were about, not to take more active measures on Sunday by reporting the state of things at the station and demanding the immediate despatch of a strong body of police, is difficult to understand. The authorities of the park were still more to blame for not earlier bespeaking some such assistance, since, from the character of the " roughs" who filled the park, it was apprehended from the first that they meant to create a riot. It is a mere sinecure to undertake to keep order in a park on ordinary occasions ; but certainly the protectors of Victoria Park have shown themselves totally un equal to preserving the public peace in a time of confusion and disturbance. As for the behaviour of the populace themselves, it was disgraceful to Englishmen. There must have been many pre- sent who did not belong to the " dangerous classes" who joined in the riot. Our parks are laid out with taste and elegance for the recreation of the people, and are thrown open alike to all ranks. The opening of parks in the eastern and less fashionable quarters has been hailed as a step in the right direction in providing for the pleasures and the wants of all our citizens alike. It would seem, from the experience of Sunday, that a large proportion of those thus benefited are not only un worthy of the privilege conferred on them, but incapable of enjoying any gratification of taste and intelligence—a most disappointing and unsatisfac tory result. It is quite time that the Poor Law Board did something to alter the workings of their statutes, and to allow the unfortunate paupers through the land a chance of some relief, without insolence and a total want of feeling so often prevailing to mar the effect of the benefits provided for them. If Bethnal-green has been for some time distinguished for its failures of a melancholy kind in respect to the relief it afforded, or often refused to afford, the conduct of Mr. RUNC I EMAN, the re- lieving officer, at an inquest last evening, is a sufficient answer to the statements made by those who declare that there is a great deal of exaggeration mixed up in the details of the ill-treatment and neglect of those who seek relief in such quarters. It is, indeed, seldom that such want of respect for the decencies of life and the solemnities of death is exhibited in a court of inquiry as that shown by Mr. RUNCIEMAN during the inquest. He distinctly stated that he objected to paupers coming to his house at all, and to get rid of the importunity of the application of the husband for his wife's admittance, as he had been told it was a case of life or death, he said he was going to church. As it was half-past twelve, a juror told him that was an unusual hour. He stated that he was always at his office to give relief to paupers, and certainly -whether he is or not the chances o: relief are about the same. If this is a specimen of the manner in which he conducts his business and comforts himself, Mr. RuNCIEMAN'S great idea of managing his arduous duties seems to be to contra- diet all that is said which does not suit his views He found time during his conversation with JENNINGS to extract from him that he earned thirty six shillings a week, but he professes not to have heard that Dr. CHAMBERS had said that it was a case of life and death. The inquest was held on the body of an infant who had died from various causes accelerated by injuries received from its mother, who had become insane after her confine ment. As Dr. CHAMBERS stated it was a case of life or death, and not the application for ordinary pauper relief, Mr. RUNCIEMAN is very clever in sneering at " doctors and their law," but he had better show himself a little more proficient in his own duties before he attempts to criticise others for enunciating the principles of common humanity which should guide all those functionaries who have responsible offices in a Christian country. The poor woman was subse quently admitted into, the lunatic ward by another relieving officer, and the Master of the workhouse had sent JENNINGS to Mr. RUNCIEMAN on the Sun- day, which visit had caused such dire offence to his feelings of propriety, and interfered so much with his devotional exercises. So that, according to the rules and regulations of the establishment to which Mr. RUNCIEJIA.N belongs, it appears quite compe tent for a person in the condition of Mrs. JENNINGS to be admitted. It had been asked by a juror as to whether or not he had the power to admit the woman into the asylum ; Mr. RUNCIEMAN replied that it was quite optional with him to do so or not. The verdict returned by the jury was an excellent one, and more satisfactory than often met with in such cases. After stating the preliminaries of the case, it concluded with the following impressive ad denda : that the " jury say that Mr. RUNCIEMAN, relieving officer of Bethnal-green, was open to grave censure for his conduct in the matter." Such a reproof did not suit the polite ears of Mr. RuN ciEmAN, who called out in an impudent manner, that the verdict would not do him any harm. lt really seems impossible to influence some persons by any any mode of censure or argument. Here was a flagrant case of non-fulfilment of duty by a man in a responsible position, and yet he appeared quite callous to the consequences of his neglect, and only intent upon contradicting in the rudest manner all who made any statements which he did not like: It is certainly very extraordinary that he should have heard just enough from JENNINGS to allow him to refuse the _request, and yet no one important item which showed the necessity of the case and the urgent character of the appeal. It really looks as if his wish was father to his deaf ness, for had he been so entirely ignorant as he pro fessed to be, he would have expressed regret before the jury, instead of indulging in vituperative vio lence. The question which suggests itself to a notice after reading such a statement is, How long is this state of things to be suffered to continue-- o d turnt o bully the t h h o longpoorto ar a n e d a t to k s o - p i n p r - e o s ffi s e t e h t e o weak e e a a k l 1 , deeper degradation than a s tarving into the streets, an n d y te t a h c a h t w mi a s n e t ry an th d ere isa suffer ing can infli_ ct--tho Oneer§ and contempt of =feel- ing officials ? The proof of the veracity of the lines that assertthat "vain man, dressedin brief authority, plays such fantastic tricks before Heaven as make the angels weep," is neverbetter exemplified than in the dealing of so-called relieving-officers with the wretched beings who come to them for succour. Of course there are exceptions, but too often is it shown what needless harshness and what overbearing assumption distinguish the conduct of these officials. They are greatly to blame, but a share of their wrongdoings will lie at the door of those in autho rity if they do not at once peremptorily insist upon a change that will put a stop to those unseemly occurrences which are constantly reported. When they have done so it will only be an act of simple justice that they render, and it is no extraordinary one that is asked at their hands. The chief danger to society now is the anxiety to get rich, and the chief reproach that really respectable people deserve as a class is their contempt for poverty. Vice can hide itself in showy attire, but the rags of poverty mark it out to be hunted ruthlessly down until the worst stage of penury is reached, that which compels the sufferer to seek the sad relief of parish assistance. LITERATURE, Charles Dickens's New Serial Story. Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. No. 10, Chapman and Hall. half of the story of Our Mutual Friend has now been told. And yet—upon closing this tenth num ber (ending at once the second book and the first volume of the serial) —we have not, to this moment, the merest glimmering ghost of a notion as to the pat tern into which all these ravnerous and complicated threads of the narrative will be found to have been woven, by the period of the work's completion, nine months hence. Looking at it, now, at this inter mediate stage of its artistic fabrication, we are still, as we acknowledged ourselves to have been last month, fairly baified—even when striving to penetrate the carefully-secreted design of the author by means of our very shrewdest conjectures. Continuing still, for a moment, our little illustrative figure of speech about the tapestry, we would say that, to our view, there is often no apparent con nection whatever between the devices woven by means of several of the principal threads in this marvellously variegated narrative ! For, in very truth, " Our Mutual Friend," as it appears to us, really has this distinctive peculiarity about it, among others—that instead of being furnished, as usual, j with one thread only, it has many threads ! Several of the chief among these, having apparently little, if anything, to do with one another. The silver thread of Lizzie Hexam's fortunes and; the golden one of the fortunes of Eugene Wrayburn, it is true, cross and recross each other repeatedly. There is an appre ciable connection,moreover,among the more fine-spun threads of the distinctly conventional and artificial lives here delineated—the brazen Podsnap thread, let us say, and the lacquered Veneering thread—the gingerous Lammle thread, and the vague, neutral tinted greyish thread of the Twemlow interest. But the dark, sombre thread of the history of the poor drowned " Bird of Prey," and the grimy, blood-tinged thread of the " Honest Man," similarly a Bird of Prey, too, even, for that matter, once upon a time, it should be said, Gaffer Hexam's partner in that horrible river-side trade—appear to have nothing whatever to do with the Tippins thread, the Riah thread, or the Wilfer thread, any more than with the threads of the histories of the Doll's Dressmaker, of Lawyer Lightwood, of Schoolmaster Headstone, or with those of Boots and Brewer, let us say, of the Boffins, Fledgeby, Wegg, Betty Iligden, Love, Sloppy, and all the rest of them ! The mere enu meration, thus, of the names of these wonderfully various characters, will serve to mark, not merely what we have been just now saying in regard to the complicated diversity of the materials of the plot, but the extraordinary diversity also of the original characters introduced to us in " Our Mutual Friend." As a creator of character, Mr. Dickens might have his panegyric written, it has occurred to us before now, perhaps the most forcibly, certainly in a manner quite unanswerable, by putting on record one after another a mere catalogue of the names of his prin cipal characters—grouping them together simply under the titles of his famous books. As, for example— MARTIN CIIIIZZLEWIT. Mr. Pecksniff, Montague Tigg, Mrs. Gamp, Baily Junior, Tom Pinch, M. Todgers, Mark Tapley, &c., &c., &c. Or, let us say again— DAVID COPPERFIELD. Aunt Betsy, Mr. Micawber, Mr. Peggotty, A(lWeller,rWinkle, A k re ThePi Pickw ic k, FatAa n i gn c i Dg k ed el , ißssc O tokcloi v i yo d us i —pa sVi Jingle,ewe ituT hoheererrkye Uriah Heap, Steerforth, Agnes and Dora, Traddles, &c., &c. Enumerating, under the head of The Pickwick Papers —Sam rrep U ;i3wo n ion d onr e ek r ßss T l:a h liss e Ti3 O th,e l L d Nmvit C hietl i r c ese r k o 7 s eNz i ar t ,e u mllB: ,:_ c h . 31 81: S af a c tea m . are, of the extraordinary variety of original cha racters created by our great Novelist--the mere names, we repeat, form a panegyric, and about the best panegyric of all, upon the rare and perfectly exceptional genius of Charles Dickens as an imagi native author. Some such panegyric we have but just now, casually and quite undesignedly, pronounced upon the last of his serial fictions, the one now in course of publication, and of which only one-half has yet been issued from the press. Nevertheless, although " Our Mutual Friend" is at this moment merely half-finished—what characters has not our author therein added to t his already crowded gathering of living, speaking por traits--The Boz Gallery, as we may call it ! Eugene Wrayburn, to begin with—and Sloppy, and Lizzie Hexam, the Veneerings, the representa tives of Podsnappery, the Boffins, the Wilfers, the Literary Man with a wooden leg, the love-lore articulator of Skeletons, Betty Higden, Johnny, Bradley Headstone, Riderhood, Jenny Wren, &c. Turning to this present number of " Our Mutual Friend," however—the one, as we have said, com pleting the first volume—the opening chapter of the instalment recounts, first of all, a walk and talk that Harmon, Handford, Rokesmith (how shall we call him ?) has with R. W., who likens himself, oddly, to one of the African Kings, King Bill, or King Boy, or what not, dressed in a uni form coat, with his legs in the sleeves, or something of that kind ! Later on in the same chapter we learn how dear old Betty Higden " runs away" from Sloppy ! And how Noddy Boffin " lets out," in a burst of good-humoured indignation, upon those Pa trons and Patronesses whose bounties in that capa city (merely as Patrons and Patronesses) are so very plentifully advertised in the public newspapers — Mr. Boffin remonstratively insisting that " they ain't Pills, or Hair Washes, or Invigorating Ner vous Essences to be puffed in that way !" In the next chapter Bradley Headstone " has it out" (fiercely enough) with poor Lizzie Hexam, in a little paved court by a churchyard (deep in the very heart of the city) where the tombstones are wonderfully described by Mr. Dickens as " droopingly inclined from the perpendicular as if they were ashamed of the lies they told !" Out of this explanation (of mingled love and hatred), we hardly know which of the two comes forth to view the more detestably, Mr. Headstone or the boy Charley. The last chapter of the number,bringing the first volume, as has been said, to an end, is full of keen, trenchant, scarifying strokes of wit, in the further delineation of those worldly haunts at the West-end—in it but not of ' it—peopled by creatures like the Lammlcs, the Poclsnaps,and the Veneerings, 11 r THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.—We regret to an nounce that in conseque nce o f a severe co ld Miss Bateman cannot, for this eveni ng at least, appear as Julia in " The Hunchback." The inti mat i on of t hi s f ac t in our columns may just possibly pre ven t some d i sappo i n t me nt. Your card if you please. 50 printed from plate, ls. 6d. (post free). No charge for stamping envelopes or paper. Colour stamping reduced to is. per 100, ARTHVR OtitAliCiEß, eOB, High ilolborn, W.O. LATEST INTELLIGENO:G. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN. (Via Greencastle.) NEW YORK, JAN. 20 (Evening). Advices from Port Royal confirm the news of the capture of Pocataglio Bridge, with 12 guns, on the 14th inst. The Federal loss was small. The Con federates evacuated Pocataglio during the night, and retreated to Asheroo, in the direction of Charleston. It was expected that they would make a stand at Asheroo. The monitor Patapsco has been destroyed off Charleston, while on picket duty, by several torpe does. Fifty of the crew were drowned. Richmond papers reiterate the report that Breckenridge has been appointed Secretary of War. Contradictory reports are current at Washington concerning Mr. Blair's movements. Some corres pondents still assert that he has returned to Rich mond. Mr. Stanton announces that the cotton captured at Savannah has been transferred to a Treasury agent for shipment. The Richmond Examiner thinks that the capture of Wilmington is not a necessary but a probable consequence of the fall of Fort Fisher, and urges the burning of all cotton in Wilmington. The same paper, in criticising the fall of Fort Fisher, assails President Davis's management of affairs, and declares that the struggle must con tinue, neither Northern compromise nor Southern submission being possible. A change of men has become a public necessity. It further urges the call of a convention in Virginia, the reform of mili tary and civil affairs in the South, and an end of the present misrule. The tone of the Southern reports, although re garding the situation unfaviourably, shows no dis position to relinquish the struggle. In the Confederate Congress Mr. Orr, of Missis sippi, complained of an article in the Richmond Sentinel denouncing as treasonable the resolutions said to have been passed by Congress in secret session to send commissioners to Washington. Mr. Orr denied that treasonable resolutions had been passed. The peace movement was not in the hands of time-serving men, but of men determined that in some form the statesmanship of the country should be invoked to end the carnival of death by negotiation. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. Gold and Stocks excited. Gold declined this morning to 99, but subsequently rose to 106. Exchange on London, 2251 ; on Paris, 2121. Stocks depressed. New York Centrals, 108 ; Illinois, 114 k ex-dividend ; Erie, 711, 5.20 ; United States Bonds, 1081. NEW YORK, JAN. 21 (Morning). Admiral Porter reports from Wilmington on the 16th that the rebels destroyed the works on Smith's Island. He says that, "if they do not destroy Fort Caswell, as it is of no use to them, we shall get it after a little while." He declares that the Malakoff would not compare in size and strength to Fort Fisher. The New York. Tribune asserts that the Con federates are contemplating another extensive raid from Canada. _ No one is authorised to say that terms could not be made with the North without abolition and re construction. The South could make it the interest of the Federal Government to recognise the South as an independent people, without inN olving either slavery or reconstruction. It was not treasonable to resort to efforts to restore peace by negotiation. The Federal Navy Department designs establish ing an European squadron under the command of Admiral Goldsborough. The Brazil and East India squadron is to be largely increased. The Tennessee State Convention has unanimously passed a resolution declaring slavery for ever abolished, and prohibiting it throughout the State. The Convention also adopted a resolution pro hibiting the Legislature from recognising property in man, and forbidding it requiring compensation to be made to owners of slaves. A resolution was also adopted abrogating the declaration of State inde pendence and military league made with the Southern Confederacy in 1861, and all laws and ordinances passed in pursuance thereof. All officers appointed by the acting Governor since his accession to office, were confirmed. The propositions of the Convention are to be submitted to the people for ratification on the 22d February, and on the 4th of March an election will be held for Governor and members of the Legislature. Nearly 300 delegates participated in the proceed• ings, and the greatest harmony prevailed. Parson Brownlow was unanimously chosen for Governor. NEW YORK, JAN. 21, 2 P.M Mr. Blair has proceeded to City Point in a Government steamer for another visit to Richmond. Admiral. Porter reports that his gunboats at Wilmington have hermetically sealed the river against blockade runners. It is rumoured that the Confederates have blown up Fort Casswell, at the entrance of the Cape Fear River. The gunboats are preparing to advance against Wilmington. The anticipations of early peace, together with he successful military operations, have caused a wavy decline in gold and stocks. NEW YORK, JAN. 21 (Morning) Thomas and Hardee, with 20,000 men, are re ported to be in a strong position 20 miles above Hardeeville on the Savannah river. Federal tran sports have ascended the river, carrying troops in that direction. Augusta papers assert that Johnston has been reinstated in the command of the army of the West. President Davis has written a letter to the Presi dent of the Georgia Senate opposing separate State action for peace. He says that the Confederate Constitution provided the only practicable mode for the negotiation of peace. The difficulty is not to find an agency to negotiate peace : the obstacle is that the enemy will not treat at all or entertain other propositions than that the South should sub mit to acknowledge themselves criminals and sue for pardon. The Confederate House of Representatives have appointed a committee to prepare an address to the Southern people assuring them of the unalterable determination of the Congress to continue the struggle for independence. The House of Representatives have passed an amendatory loan bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means to issue legal tenders restricted to the amount authorised by the previous Act. The City of Balthnore has arrived out. NEW YORK, JAN. 21 (Evening Money easy. Gold, 2031. Exchange on Lon don, 2251; on Paris, 2124. Stocks lower. New York Central, 1071 ; Illinois, 1134 ex-dividend ; Erie, 70/. ; 5.20 United States Bonds, 1081 Cotton *lining. Middling Upland, 98. Flour, wheat, corn, and provisions declining. Coffee heavy. Sugar quiet. Molasses heavy. Petroleum very dull ; crude, 47 ; refined, 67. CANADA. OPENING OF THE CANADIAN PAELLA.- MENT. QUEBEC, JAN. 20. The Canadian Parliament assembled yesterday. The Governor's message states that a bill to arm the executive with further powers to deal with political refugees who abuse the Canadian Asylum by committing outrages on the border, will be pre sented to Parliament. Regarding the Confedera tion of the provinces, he says that circumstances afford the opportunity, not only for the settlement of the question of provincial republics, but also for the simultaneous creation of a new nationality. A plan for the constitution of the Confederation will be presented to the Parliament, which plan has been approved and sanctioned by the Imperial Govern ment. The Toronto Court has declared Burleigh, the Lake Erie raider, guilty of robbery, and that he must be given up under the Extradition Treaty. His counsel has applied for a writ of habeas corpus. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, FEB. 1. The Bill regulating the strength of the army in time of peace and the length of military service has been submitted to the King by the Ministry, and approved by his Majesty. It will be brought for ward in the Chamber of Deputies next week. ITALY. TURIN, JAN. 29. The following Bill granting an indemnity to the sufferers by the September disturbances in this city has been brought forward in the Chamber of Deputies by Signor Boggio " Natural equity and social justice require that the State should indemnify citizens for injury un justly suffered in the public cause. " The Chamber by its vote of the 23d January, 1865, has declared that the victims of the events of the 21st and 22d September were blameless. 'The families of these victims are, for the most part, very poor. " It is just and incumbent upon the State to aid those who, through having lost their support by death or being rendered unable to labour, are now plunged in extreme misery. " In order, therefore, to effect the fulfilment of this duty, I propose the following law : " Art. 1. A life pension of 600 lire annually, dating from the Ist October, is granted to those persons who, on the evenings of the 21st and 22d September, 1864, received such wounds in the Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo of Turin, as for ever to incapacitate them for further labour. " A pension of equal amount will be accorded to the widow, children, or descendants of any person who may have lost his life on that occasion, or died subsequently from wounds he may then have re ceived. " Art. 2. To those sufferers who may have been temporarily incapacitated from pursuing their avoca tions by the events in question, a temporary allow ance is granted at the same rate as stated for the pensions in Art. 1. " Art. 3. To provide for these pensions and allow ances, the sum of 60,000 lire will be charged in the Finance Balance for 1865." ' FRANCE, BOURSE, Jan. 81.--The market has been rather dull with little business doing, but prices have been pretty well maintained. The response des primes (option) was made at 67f. sc. for the Three per Cents., and 966 f. 25c. for the Mobilier. For the Account, Threes opened at 67f. 21c., and are now at 67f. sc. Mobilier have been somewhat inactive, but.quotations have scarcely varied. The Railway Shares Market continues firm. The market was more animated towards the close, and prices im proved. The following are the last quotations :- 41- per Cents 95 80 f Italian Loan — Do. end month — Do. end month 65 15 3 per Cents. 67 20 Do. end month 67 15 Credit Mobilier Ditto Threes — New Mexican Russian 9O Do. end month 973 75 Bank Shares 3550 Credit Foncier 1275 Roman — Austrian Spanish Threes 43 Home Debt Deferred RAILN WAYS. Cash. Acct. Orleans Northern lOO5 ... 1007 50 Lyons and Mediterranean.: 943 75 ... Southern 582 50 ... 580 Western 537 50 ... 540 Eastern Sardinian 305 ... 305 Austrian Lombard 543 75 ... 542 50 North of Spain 340 ... 340 Saragossa 405 ... 402 50 Ditto to Barcelona 177 50 ... 172" 50 Her Majesty's Theatre. The new opera of "Lara," the music composed by . Maillart, the libretto by John Oxenford, was pro duced successfully last evening. Miss Romer made her first appearance as the Countess. The young lady is tall, and graceful in person, and has a pretty middle soprano voice, well under control. Miss Louisa Pyne played and sung the page, Kaled; admirably. Mr. Swift took the role of Lara, but was labouring under a severe cold, no uncommtn malady at this inclement season. Ezzelin was sung with force and judgment by a new barytone, Mr. Renwick. Carilda, a peasantess, and Antonio, a fisherman, were amusingly played and sung by Miss Cottrell and Mr. Terrott. • Mr. G. Honey, a great favourite, gave comic humour and vitality to the part of old .Lambra, the faithful servant of the long-absent Lara. The plot combines, with varia tions, the two poems of the " Corsair" and" Lara." For Lara has been, after leaving h is father's halls, a pirate, under the name of Conrad, while Kaled the page, is Gulnare. Lara's dream (represented and sung in the third act), make, this fact plain to the audience. A song and trio, " Blessings on this day," by G. Honey, Miss Cottrell, and Mr. Terrott, was encored warmly, as was also a romance by Miss Romer, "To a far distant past." Miss Louisa Pyne also was encored in a quaint Arab song, " Where the planes." " Fill high, the wine is Spanish," a chanson a boire of re markable spirit, sung by Mr. Swift, and the sub ject of which is worked into the finale and chorus closing the second act, was followed by a call of the principal singers before the curtain. It was answered by Mr. Swift, Miss L. Pyne, Miss Romer, and Mr. Renwick ; but the audience called for Mr. Honey, who bowed, and thus had an ovation to himself. A similar call followed the third act, and Signor Arditi received a similar compliment. The music is light, pleasing, and full of marked passages that prevent the interest of- the listener from relaxing. All the artists, and the conductor, exerted them selves, and the result was the satisfactory perform ance of an opera combining much lively music with a good melodramatic plot. Arrival of Gold Ships. GRAVESEND, Jan. 31. The following gold ships have arrived in the Thames : The Monarch, from Port Philip Oct. 31, with 109 passengers, 26,0000 z. of gold, 1,980 bales of wool, and 308 casks of tallow. The Star of Peace, from Melbourne Nov. 8, with 10,9000 z. of gold, 3,925 bales of wool, 120 bales of leather, 6,639 hides, and 86 casks of tallow. The Omar Pasha, from Melbourne, Nov. 1, with 12 cabin passengers, 4,3080 z. of gold, 3,555 bales of wool, 14,000 hides, 80 casks of tallow, and 22 tons of spelter. The Lincolnshire, from Melbourne Nov. 10, with ,130 • passengers, 9,8000 z. of gold, 1,800 bales of wool, and 103 casks of tallow. rt iGM DIEN CAA HER MAJESTY. _ n O SBO RNE, Jan. a l ' The Queen, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Louise, drove out yesterday afternoon in a carri a g e and four, attended by Colonel Ponsonby. Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also dove -.*--- out. The Right Hon. W. Gladstone arrived, and . had? the honour of dining with the Queen and nor Family. Edward Everett. - - Mr. Edward Everett, formerly Minister of th e United States at the Court of St. James's, has died? according to the latest accounts from New Yor k ' He was a great orator, scholar,. and diplomatist; and it seems strange to read in the American corre. spondence--" Mr Fry, the composer, is dead ; a lso Mr. Edward Everett." Edward Everett was the son of a Dissenting Minister at Boston, whose lay character enabled him to hold, -in commendam, the judgeship of 1,c1,, Court of Common Pleas for Ndrfolk County, M e ' s ' sachusetts, April 11, 1794. After a course of ill; struction at Dorchester and Boston, young E vet was sent to Harvard'University in 1807. Ile , e came a Unitarian minister in Boston, and yet Puy lished a " Defence of Christianity." In 1815 be be came Professor of Greek Literature at Cambridg e ' U.S., and visited Europe. He was in London ch it. ; ing the excitement consequent on the success o'e Waterloo, afterwards went to study German at t h a University of Gottingen, and consequently travelle, in Saxony, Holland, and Prussia. In the winter o' 1817-18 he was in Paris ; in the spring of 1818 118 was again in London, and visited Oxford Cain' bridge, Wales, the Lake country, and Sco tland ' The most illustrious men in England ,gladly welcomed him, notably Scott, Jeffrey, h e B Y r Romilly, Campbell, and Davy. In 18184 travelled through the south of France, Switze rland' North Italy, Florence, Rome, Naples, Greece, C o : 1Y stantinople, Hungary, Wallachia, and Aus tr ,'`: After his return to his native country he became To lie editor of the North American Review, which, for he io first time, under him had a great success. the popularised his " University Lectures," for vi:c purpose of delivering them before the general pu_ a b' in Boston ; and he also published a Greek gra and Greek class-book for the use of his pupils- Mr. Everett is chiefly known for his success truly American Institution—" orations." Lafg e , t was present at the first, and, of course, the o r3 i ' -a r made great capital out of this fact. He sat Middlesex (U.S.) in Congress for over ten Ye'l; As a preacher he stands high in the opinion of 0 0, learned ; but he was more permanently useful 35 00 politician. He was chairman of the Commi ttee „, , Foreign Affairs, chairman of the Select Comil, on the Georgia controversy, the author of the luilitee rity's report on the Bank Investigation Coratai t . 4 in Philadelphia, and of the Committee on Fora" ) , Relations' (minority) report on the French colltr„ versy (1835), and of the report on the Panama nr, sion and the affair of Fulton. He advocatedr; trade and the fixed tenure by Indians of their '340, land. In 1835-9 he was Governor of Massac i/ ic , setts ; in the latter year he was defeated when see ing re-election by a majority of one. It was in 1842 that the name and opinions off; Everett attracted very great attention in the the very heated religious atmosphere of Oxford ancl,,, country generally. At the Commemoration gt t he ford, held June 28, it was proposed to confer . pel honorary degree of D.C.L. upon Mr. Everett. - 8 -' l .' o the undergraduates had nearly exhausted theinse l iie by shouting against Mr. Jell, of Christ Church, t,O unpopular proctor, the hooting was renewed on presentation of Mr. Everett, " formerly a Unit 3rl ;, minister." The minister's degree was lou&Y 11 % 0 placeted, amid shouts, groans, and hisses ; and L, dissenting members of Convocation (Dr. I V . • well, Mr. W. C. Lake, Father R. G. Macrnilli e " ) ; Father T. D. Dalgairns, Mr. A. J. Christie, drew up a protest against the degree, most of tl w- t t at the same time signing an address to Mr. Eire r i e o expressing their regret that their conscience s CO, not permit them to sanction his degree, and pra i ' s/13 his " virtues and talents." o f In 1849 Mr. Everett was appointed Presid ent Harvard College, and on Daniel Webster's for Secretary of State. In 1853 he became a S en 3 but retired. The ex-Minister has lately been again b e fore .03, public as an orator on the side of peace in Alnerlot Mr. Everett was undoubtedly a very great orli o f and preacher—according to American vie° speaking and preaching—a precocious scholarlo, firm, intelligent, and business-like publi c 111`iii,4 He was, on the whole, a great ornament t° .country. The King of Prussia's Reply to the Rouse. BERLIN, Jan' Upon receiving the Address presented by Upper House in reply to the Speech fronl . Throne, the King delivered the following answer , " I thank the Upper House for the renewed 10;4 festation of its sentiments, which is so well exprei,.%o both in the contents and force of t he Ad :0 handed to me by you. It is a matter of course I thankfully recognise the exp loits of my ar t : but much has also been e ffected in othe r der` i m ents of the administration of my Govertall'efi during the past year, by which PruSsia ha s /3 : 1 10 r aised to that stage of reputation in P IX- o i which corresponds to her power. I have b e te . with pleasure that the Upper House fully acknowledges this action of my Gover nio ' I am convinced further that this thankfulneo' well for the praiseworthy attitude of the arl ll i po for the successful efforts of my Governmen t, , t ioo exists among my people, and it is this cont i o which is so agreeable to my heart. The grea t t e ' el l however, is that all that has been done has i ,, ( 1 . 5 accomplished upon the basis which alone, by C - 13 blessing, affords durability and permanence ---14 the basis of the fear of God. . " The fear of God has been conspicuous 01 43 0 army, and from it has proceeded that sympatl 4 5 0 0 readiness to make sacrifices which the nation 11'100, warmly and zealously displayed towards the bating troops. eli ° "It is my most ardent wish that the diffe r o r existing between my Government and the re P r° tatives should be brought to reconciliation. o ce o " In the speech from the throne I made adl3 , to the representatives ; it is now for the repre e tives to make advances to me. But I shall 006 alterably adhere to what I said from the t'ov with regard to this reconciliation, as I 5111,ipit' scientiously endeavouring to do everything e ° : c iog tible with the welfare of the country. These my sentiments, I may trust that the want of De mony, which undoubtedly still exists, will 0 ° removed. loo p "Be good enough to express to the Upper ft) and in especial to the movers, my Royal thin the address'now before me." rf RESIGNATION OF Mn. JUSTICE W IL LIA3 IS * --- ; " rumour respecting Mr. Justice Williams Wi en to yesterday turns out to be correct, and he has cesse'btte a member of the Court of Common Pleas. He had CAri to go to the Norfolk Circuit, but found that he wa ° able of the necessary fatigue, and therefore has r_ r e s ,;7• l3, Like the late Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Justice !cidt is afflicted with deafness, and although his mental c.r i j ter 4 for business is still unimpaired, he found it inc °/ ; 5 ,:t1 ii . , 4 . with the strict discharge of his duty to struggle s 3-5, infirmity, which prevented him very often from c l:). 1 taking the evidence given before him. He was l'a ise b - y li stuff-gownsman, to the bench in 1846. The p ublic retirement have lost the services of a strictly 1 1 ° /I , e , e t . upright man, a sound lawyer, and one devote d to 11 ' a to He was valued by all the members of the benc h ° ' s ra tic iP 'a assistance, and almost an authority in their clnlib!celo-4 Ms kindness of disposition endeared him to an to;orie were in any way thrown in contact with hi m, and hr°4o3.ori into private life the sincere wishes of all his Pr°e-,poe' friends that he may live for many years in ease an' b SS and in the enjoyment of the retiring p ensl°ll Ca justly . His earned Excellency Sir Henry Howard has arrW Brown's Hotel. le , At Eoea.t a q, D el ' 0 I.r ( 4:3 I n A. 0. e 011,..t )4. btli, Oh Otei; 4 4v Na, a~ Ly th