The Sun. — London, England, 1865-12-04 00:00:00

HOUSES. —Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, Suburban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. Particulars forwarded for three stamp, upon stating exact requirement s and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit -street, Regent street, and South Kensington, facing the Museum. QOUTII KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK, vz_, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's -gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, and Princes Gardens, Elvaston-place, Cromwe ll-road, Onslovr and Thurloe Squares, Bo lt o ns. &c. Meb srs TOPLN and ROBE itTS have RE .4- DEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and Boutb Kensington, facing the Museum. LIFEBOAT SElWloES.—During the storms of the past twenty-two months the National Lifebsat Institution, by its i iteboats and other means, contributed to the savin! of 1,188 persons from tlifferent wrecks on our coasts. The Institution also expended .C37,:'84 in the same peri,,d on its lifeboat establishments, in addition to granting .V,711 as rewards. The Committee of the Institution earnestly A i'I"I4IIAL to the 3 üblic for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 151 lifeboat establishments. Contributions arc received by the London and country bankers ; and by the Z, , eeretary. Richsrd Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, L.muon. ITER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Signor ARDITI'S CONCERTS, Every Evening . . POSITIVELY THE LAS r WEEK BUT ONE. TO-NIGHT IMonday), December 4, a GERMAN NIGHT. VOCALISTS. Mdlle. Laura Harris, Mdlle Sarolta, Mdl!e. Sinico ; 'signor Stagno, and Signor Foli. VIOLIN. Mdlle. Emilia Arditi. The First Part will contain Schumann's Orchestral Sym phony. No. 3, in E flat (performed for the first time in Eng land), and the New Grand Selection from Wagner's Romantic Opera, " Tannhauser." The Second Part will be Miscel laneous. THE ORCHESTRA OF HER MAJESTY'S TBEATRE, Conductor —Signor ARDITI. Commence at Eight. Promenade, One Shilling. The GRAND BAL D'OP ERA will take place on TUESDAY, the 19th December. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, C OVENT GA It DEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) Last Night but Seven.of L'Africaine. THIS EVN ING will be performed Meyerbeer's Grand N Opera, L'AF It I CAIN E. Mdlle. Ada took Gilliess, Ma srs. dame Alberto Lem mens-Shar HenryC gton, and Mrs. A. ; Mes Lawrence, Ho rr', A. Cook, E. Dussek, J. G. Patey, C. Lyall, and Charles Adams. Conductor, Mr. Alfre Mellon. Acting, Manager, Mr. E. Murray. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Commence at a quarter to 8. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE._ ana,gers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. LEIS EVE SING the berformances will commence with Shaks, ere's Tragedy of KING JOHN : Messrs. Phelps, James Anderson, T. Swinbourne, Raynor. G. Belmore, E. Phelps, C. Harcourt; Miss Atkinson, Mrs. 11. Vandenhoff, Mrs. liodson, &c. After which, GALIVAY-GO-BRAGII ; or, Love, Fun, and Fighting : Messrs. Edmund Falconer, F. Barsby, C. ilarcourt ; Misses Ilszlewood, E. Falconer, nose Leclexcq. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and Mantga, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE OVERLAND ROUTE : Messrs Chas. Mathews, Buekstone, Chippendale, Compton. Rog is, Clark, Gordon, Braid, Coe, &c. ; Messdames Mathews, Snow den, Hill. Wright, Coleman, Lovell, kc. To be followed by WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN? Mr. Chippendale, Mr. C. Mathews ; Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Fitz william. dic Concluding with THE BALLET. Messrs. Arthur and Charles Leclercq, Miss Fanny A right, Miss C. Adams, and She Corps de Ballet. Commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM TREATRE.- Under the sole Management of Mr. Fechtex : . THIS EVENING, it Seven o'clock, THE DAY AFTER ILI I'2, WEDDING. Mr. and Mrs. Horsman. After which, at 8, a New Drama, entitled THE WATCH CRY. Mr lechter, supported by Messrs. H. Wideicombe, S. Emery, C. l'orsman, Raymond, Fitzpatrick, Clifford. and Miss 'Unworthy. To con' ude with the Farce of NURSEY CHICKWEED. Mess; s. H. Widdicomb, Raymond, Moreland ; Mrs. Lee and Miss Lavenu. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. Actin4 Manager, 11. Barnett. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING. at 7, MOTHER AND CHILD ARE DOING WELL. Messrs. Felix Rogers, P. Bedford, ,Szo After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip this 79th appearance), Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billing tun, P. Bedford, It Phillips, loelix Rogers, Ashley, 11.burne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Biltingtor. &c. To c mclude, at half -pa4t 10. with THE WIDOW'S VICTIM. Messrs. BiLington, r'elix Rogers, Ashley; Miss Godsell, Miss Seaman, and Miss Jenny Willmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. (leo. Vining. THIS EVENING-, QUIET LODGINGS. After which. at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO 31EN 0. tliaracters by Messrs. Vining. T. Mel vilie, T. Mead, D. Murray, S.lhaern. F. Vil iurs, J. G. Shore, G. Murray, tl.,M,lion, C. Seybin, R. Cathcart; 'Miss L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. bole Lessee a id Manager, ts, Mrs tiwauburough. Tlll3 EVENING, at Seven, I\ ()THING VENTURE NWT LUNG NVI,N. After whicl will be pro4uced a new Opera Turlebque, L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the CanuibAl Islan s : Messrs. Stoyle,ames, Thorne; Mesdames Swanborough, Itaynham, Johnstone, Jr.c. cor.clude with MRS. GREEN,S SNUG BUSINESS. THE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPOUTING INTEL.LIGENC fan be had Every Evening of G. R. GLkNIE, NEws AGENT, No. 4, COnnaught-terrace, Hyde-park. 'IIHE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish- street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing all the LATEST NEWS ant SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackdriars-road, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubilo generally. that he supplies the LATEST EDITIuN of THE SUN " as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead road, N. W. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau DAY.—Morning, 2h. 46m.—Afternoon, 3h. 10m. To-Monnow.-Morning, 3h. 33m.—Afternoon, 3h. 55m. -- 4 0 0 00* • ••,');" . - SUIT. LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1865. The cattle plague still continues with increased severity, and the coolness of the weather has not been at all of the service that we had hoped in allaying the virulence of the disease. Such a state of things is well calculated to give rise to the most serious apprehensions on all sides, and it seems diffi cult to exaggerate the evil effects that will inevit ably ensue unless some immediate change for the better occurs. The returns for the last month are indeed fearful to contemplate, more especially when we notice how much the sad list has increased week by w eek. November was the month to which many looked forward as the time when we might witness some marked decrease in the figures - which told the number of those attacked, but on the con trary an alarming increase. The first week th ere were 1,765 ; the next, 2,580 ; the third, 2,669 ; an d the fourth, 3,610. This shows an increase in one week of 940, truly an alarming subject for contem plation. Bad as the case is now, what will it be if the same fatal progress be made in the ensuing weeks? It is very difficult to say what might have been done, or what may yet be done, to arrest the fatal course of this disease. No doubt had our authorities at the outset more fully esti mated the nature of the affair, and issued more peremptory and comprehensive orders, the plague would not have spread with such fearful virulence, but it is hardly fair to blame them for a want of precision which others did not possess, nor for neglecting to resort to desperate remedies under a condition of things which did not at first look so alarming. had all fairs been prohibited, and all traffic of cattle stopped, the ports closed, or the most rigid examination made at the period of land ing, much might have been done ; but it is now too late to dwell on the past , except to p o i n t out t h e desirability of some p eo p le t aking a warning to themselves from the late terrible calamity that has afflicted the community. It is sad to think that during the time when we were free from this infliction so many deleterious habits prevailed and through neglect of proper observances an d a s h a meful grasping for gain, the unfortunate animals who were brought to this country had to endure great sufferings and undergo cruel privations. The long voyage, which in some cases was unavoidable, was rendered doubly irksome by the want of food, drink, and proper tending ; then on landing no tithe was allowed or opportunities afforded to supply these deficiencies, but the wretched animals were hurried on and consigned to the rail way authorities,who, on their part, proved inefficient to discharge their duties properly. Water was no% supplied to the poor creatures, and the trucks in which they were moved were often not kept suffi ciently clean, so that the most baneful results :as to health were experienced before the beasts were exposed for sale in the markets. It is impossible to deny that we are now reaping the consequences of all this wrong doing in the enervated health of many of our herds and their liability to infection. It does not follow that the disease came from abroad ; but no doubt it was developed into the deadly form it has now assumed through the many evil influences at work in the transit and sale of cattle. In Scotland a more patient course has been pm-- sued than that we have followed in this country, and many more recoveries have taken place. It has been a great mistake to have recourse to this whole sale slaughter, and we have had ample evidence to show us that the enormous sacrifice has been in vain. In Scotland they have saved 10 per cent. of those attacked, while in the counties of England only 6 per cent. have survived. When we look at the returns for the United Kingdom comprehen sively, we find that out of every hundred cattle that have been situated in places infected by the disease forty-four suffered ; and of those so attacked 29 were killed, 48 died of the malady, and seven sur vived it. It is worth while at this juncture to dwell upon the advice of the Commissioners, and consider how far it may relate to the future as well as affect the present. It has been recommended by these high authorities and excellent judges that dead meat should be sent to market instead of live, for the purpose of arresting the spread of infection. It stands to reason that if the adoption of such a course should stay the plague and be instrumental in doing so, that a return to the old method may again at some other period renew the evil. Because plenty of dissentients will be found to urge their objections to this scheme, and declare it to be a most perni cious one ; but we all know that a great change like this cannot be effected unless great persever ance and patience are employed, and unless a deaf ear is turned to many deep-rooted prejudices and obstinate notions of doing with to-day as we did with yesterday. Surely it would be very desirable to do all in our power to prevent the possibility of the spread of infection ; and if it be shown that the relinquishment of the practice of sending live ani mals to market be more conducive to public welfare, why should it not be done? General good should supersede individual interests and particular claims. Besides, if an effectual stop is put to the dread of infection, at all events to an alarming extent, all must in time feel the effects in a beneficial manner. As for the more immediate agencies that might be adopted with a view to check the disease we may observe that more alacrity might be advantageously displayed in the experimental application of the remedies thathave been advocated. Mr. URQUHART'S plan for radiating heat is quite worthy of a trial, and the homoeopathic system should also have its turn. It is certain at any rate that these measures cannot do any harm, and they may be productive of good. At any rate the most sceptical or the most jealous of innovation must admit that no experiment is so fatal as the pole-axe. It is not much for science to boast of that in this age cf mineral discoveries and improvements no better device could be resorted to than a resource which the savage might have availed themselves of cen- tunics ago. Mr. DISRAELI'S advice to the farmers of Bucking hamshire will do as well for those all over the country, and they cannot do better than avail them selves of the security and protection of insurance societies. Such a scheme cannot but be pro ductive of beneficial results, and it is only to be regretted that this excellent plan was not earlier put into practice and more widely spread over the country. It is stated that the law officers of the Crown have decided that the time has not come when the large sum left by Mr. BROWN can be made available in this emergency. It seems most absurd to allow so considerable an amount to lie idle while so many are in need of assistance, to satisfy some quibbles or scruples of legal critics. The more honest reading of the case would be to look to the spirit of the intentions, and not to be so precise to a particular year or so. Is it likely that the generous donor would have de sired a period of such calamity as the present to pass by when so excellent an opportunity is afforded of making his bequest available, and thus prove a benefit and blessing to the community ? According to the latest intelligence received from the Peninsula, the Spanish Government is not in clined to moderate its arrogant pretensions, or to retract any part of its unwarrantable demands on Chili. The Correspondencia of Saturday says that it has been stated that the Government has sent orders to Admiral PAREJA to suspend the attack upon Chili, but it confidently affirms that no such orders have been given, and that, so far from mak ing any concession, the Government is not even dis posed to accept the mediation of a neutral Power. This is promising, certainly ; and the rest of the Spanish news, even taken cum grano salis, is not more satisfactory. The Minister of Marine has, it seems, been giving orders to push forward all the works at the naval arsenals. Three new steam frigates and two transports, with 2,400 ma rines, will soon be ready for sea, and it is in con.! templation to increase the Pacific squadron to 25 vessels. So far so good ; but this is allowing that the Spaniards are to have it all their own way. We apprehend that three times 25 Spanish vessels would not be able to blockade Valparaiso against the active opposition of France, England, and Ame rica- Very possibly the Spanish Ministry reckons on the.timidity and inertion which has of late years characterised our English foreign policy, and its members may reeal some of the eager disclaimers of any hostile intention which our statesmen were so ready with at the first rumour of a European difficulty. But we sho u ld b e very unwilling to will believe that Earl RUSSELL, in notwithstandingDenmarkk his " meddling-and - muddling" policy i naugur ate his Premiership with so pusillani mous and unjust an act as the abandonment of Chili. If he should attempt to do so he will soon have plenty of critics and censors in the new Parliament ; that is to say, if public feel ing be at all accurately represented. But, even supposing England to be thus indifferent alike to her moral obligations, and to the general ' interests of commerce of which she is the chief pro tector, there remain France and America to inter fere with the Spanish progamme. France, if the humour seizes her, is as likely to go to war in one hemisphere as another ; her movements are not to be regulated by precedent and routine, or to be foretold from the necessities of the Minister or the strength of a particular party. America is near at hand to Chili ; she has darin g enough and oppor- Wray enough t o c h ange the aspect of affairs in the P ac ifi c in a very few weeks, to say Aothing the threatened priyateers, THE SUN, LOISDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 18b5. which may before this have " carried the war into the enemy's camp," even though that camp be on the high seas. The Chili= question bids fair to add considerably to the perplexities of 1866. In the meantime M. ROSALES, the Chilian Minister in Paris, has published his reply to the Circular of the Spanish Foreign Minister. M. ROSALES enters very fully into the various statements made by M. DE CASTRO, as might be expected, putting a very different construction on the matter. M. DE COSTA, after disavowing M. TAVIRA because he had not kept to his instructions, refers to a Circular which the Chilian Foreign Minister addressed to his diplomatic agents at the various courts, ask ing them to use their influence to obtain the approval of the arrangement with M. TAVIRA. Such a Circular, says M. ROSALES never existed. He himself was the only one who received a de spatch of the character described by M. de CASTRO, and it was dictated by the anxiety of the Chilian Government to remove every possible cause of misunderstanding between their own country and Spain. It was no secret at Valparaiso that there was no difference between Admiral PAREJA and N. TAVIRA, and the Chilian Government fear that " mischievous rumours might prevent the QUEEN'S Government from accepting the arrangement" which had been in fact concluded. 111. ROSALES points out that the Madrid Official Gazette of the 23d November publishes the instruc tions given to M. TAVIRA on the 24th of February, in which there was no mention of a salute to the Spanish flag. Fresh instructions were, however, sent on the 25t of March—a month after the first ones—in which M. TAVIRA was de sired to demand the salute. " What, then," asks M. ROSALES, " had occurred between the 24th of February and the 25th of March, that could occa sion this fresh demand ? Nothing, for no com plaint had been made against Chili." It appears that the recall of M. TAVIRA was principally due to his having continued the negotiations, according to his first instructions, without introducing the ques tion of the salute. Such, at least, is the apparent reason, the real motive being more truly expressed in the decree appointing the Admiral, " finding in you the qualities which the mission requires," a ques tionable compliment, judging from subsequent events M. ROSALES finds occasion to criticise the Admi ral's observance of his instructions. It seems he was told to confer with " the Plenipotentiary ap pointed by the President of Chili," which he did not do. He was desired to hold a conference with the Diplomatic Body, but M. ROSALES remarks that in this case he should have proceeded to Santiago, since it could scarcely be presumed that the Diplomatic Body would perform a journey of 30 leagues, and then proceed in a body on board the City of Mad rid to confer with the Admiral. M. ROSALES adds with a quiet satire directed against M. de CASTRO'S attack upon the diplomatists. " Had the honourable members of the Diplomatic Body acted thus they - would undoubtedly have been blamed by their respective Governments." They corresponded with the Admiral, however, and the paragraph which M. ROSALES quotes from their second letter is sufficiently significant. They believe that the Chilian Government would not have refused explanation had they been asked in a friendly manner; but it was impossible for it to grant demands made in the absolute terms and in the menacing tone by means of a peremptory ulti matum. The Spanish Minister asserts that the in vidious :selection of the anniversary of Chilian independence for the reception of the ultimatum was not premeditated, but adds, " Even if it were true, it is not worth the trouble of being discussed." N. ROSALESis probably not mistaken in regarding it as an international affront to the Republic, and it was certainly not calculated to conciliate either rulers or people, while, happily, it has not suc ceeded in frightening them into a humiliating sub- mission. Professor Anderson.—St• James's Sall. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (NEUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, DEC. 4. The Moniteur Beige of to-day says : " The new phase upon which the illness of the King has entered had not altered up to yesterday evening. But the improvement in his Majesty's health has not made progress." TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 3. It is asserted that a new loan of six millions, bearing 6 per cent. interest, to be issued at 60, has been con cluded by the Porte with the Credit Mobilier of Paris. LITERATURE. Chronicles of Carlingford. The Perpetual Curate. New Edition. One vol., pp. 430. Wm. Blackwood. and Sons. In originality if not in power, the " Chronicles of Carlingford" may take rank with the " Chronicles of the Canongate." In vivacity, if not in eloquence, they may be placed side by side with the " Chro nicles of Clovernook." And this without imply ing thereby that her admirers can seriously claim for Mrs. Oliphant any such extravagant elevation in the literary Walhalla, as might be supposed, to rank her powers in their capacity as upon a level with the creative genius of Scott, or even upon an equal footing with the caustic wit of Jer rold. Whatever vitality there is in these pages, it is the vitality of a woman's vivacious, volatile, ver satile, and refined animation. If there is an appreci able lack of any quality in the whole run of this series, it is in that strength or force of purpose which tends so recognisably in the grander schools of imagi native literature, to realise to the world's recogni tion, as though they had been realities instead of dreams, here the poet's, there the novelist's ima ginings. In " Salem Chapel," it is true, there is ono exceptional character, standing out as vividly drawn, as substantially real, as humorously true to nature and to life, as almost any creation that could be named in the whole range of fiction. A com mon-place, vulgar, homely personage, enough, in his way, but inimitable in his intense individuality. Who that has ever read " Salem Chapel"—and those who have not, as yet, would do well to set about reading it immediately—will not fail to recog nise, upon the instant, that allusion is here made to no other than Tozer the dissenting butterman ! A character somewhat of the same kind, but not nearly as good in its way, appears here, in the pages of this last completed work of the series—namely, Elsworthy, the book seller. But, in a still more striking proportion than that in which we may suppose a bookseller to be above a butterman, is the Elsworthy of " The Perpetual Curate" below the Tozer of " Salem Chapel." Vulgar, pig-headed, crass in their ortho dox self-sufficiency, they both are. But the vul garity, the pigheadedness, the crass self-sufficiency of Tozer has about it an unctuousness to which Elsworthy can lay no claim whatever, an unctuous ness beyond the reach of any librarian, even a librarian such as Elsworthy, a sublimated unctuous ness, as we may say, only possible in and worthy of —a butterman. There is one peculiarity in regard to these novels of our authoress, in which she appears to us to be almost unrivalled, to be entirely unapproachable. We mean that by which she con trives to crowd within one family picture a throng of brothers and sisters so numerous as nearly to bewilder the reader, but of whom, throughout, the characters are, by the author's hand, from first to last, to a very nicety, most dexterously and deli cately discriminated. Something of this kind was accomplished some time since, with a good deal of success, by Miss Yonge, in her domestic story of " The Daisy Chain." And Mrs. Oliphant her self, long before " The Chronicles of Carlingford" had been commenced, evidenced her skill in the performance of this literary feat with signal ability in the opening of the story about the little brown " Zaidee." There, too, was a whole, large, rambling housefull of members of one family— brothers and sisters galore ! But, it is as nothing beside the feat accomplished in this way by the Carlingford Chronicler in the delineation and discrimination of the family to which the Perpetual Curate belongs, the family of old Squire Wentworth. There is the Squire's family—rather, perhaps, we should say there are Squire's families, seeing that he has married more than once, having a numerous offspring in each in stance--there is the Squire's family, and there are the collateral branches of it ! A very world in little of itself—so far as relates to diversity of character or of idiosyncracies ! There is old Squire Went worth himself. There is the Reverend Frank Went worth, Perpetual Curate of St. Roque's. There is his brother the Reverend —or, to be plain, ex- Reverend—Gerald Wentworth, formerly a member of the English Church, now a convert to Catholic ism. There is Jack Wentworth, the eldest of the brothers, the old squire's handsome scapegrace heir —the best drawn character of them all to our mind —the very beau-ideal of the perfection to which cool effrontery can be carried in the person of a comely and accomplished but utterly worthless vaurien. There are all the other brothers and sis ters, step by step, through the various stages of childhood, down to all-but infancy. And then there are the three old maiden aunts—Miss Wentworth, the confirmed invalid Miss Leonora Wentworth, and, best of all three, poor, dear, tearful, timerous, all but hysterical, Miss Dora Wentworth. Besides whom, have we not, here, among the many amusing characters introduced to us for our entertainment in "The Perpetual Curate," the Rev. Mr. Morgan, the Rector—and, we were going to say, the Reverend Mrs. Morgan, the Rectoress—of Carlingford To say nothing of our old friends the Wodehouses—including among them that wretched ne'er-do-weel Tom Wodehouse—the brute ! Altogether it is a delightful picture of life in a country town, this third division in the unrolling before us of " The Chronicles of Carlingford." A fourth is still in progress from month to month in the beloved double-columned pages of Blackwood, where they have each of them in turn made their first appearance—these pleasant" Chronicles of Car lingford." We should be very loth, however, to believe that the last of the series is th same current serial tale about " Miss Marchmont." For we would not willingly have pass away from amongst us, in her distinctive character as such (even though it be to produce works of art as exquisite in their symmetri cal proportions, as her last sad tale entitled " Agnes") the historian of " The Rector," the deli neator of " The Doctor's Family," the celebrant of " Salem Chapel," the authoress of the story here immediately under notice, this story of " The Per petual Curate," the serio-comic annalist of the career of " Miss Marchmont," in a word, the already world-famous Carlingford Chronicler. LA VIE DE CESAR.—A portion of the second volume of the Emperor Napoleon's " Life of Caesar" is now in the hands of the printers and publishers, Messrs , Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. THE " GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE" now entering on its 136th year, and once edited by Dr. Johnson, will be published by Messrs. Bradbury and Evans from and after the Ist of January. THE LAST TOWN RESIDENCE Of LORD PALMER STON is about, it is said, to disappear from Picca dilly, to be replaced by a Roman Catholic chapel. The site was once occupied by an inn ; next by the present mansion, which has been known by the names of Egre mont, Cholmondeley, and Cambridge House, from the names of its various tenants, previous to its occupancy by Lord Palmerston. One of its early noble tenants used to take his chop and spend his evening at "the Glo'ster Coffee House," when his lady had a rout. "He didn't care for such things," he said, "and liked to be quiet." The third Earl Cholmondeley acquired Houghton by marrying Sir Robert Walpole's only legitimate daughter. The son of the first Marquis Cholmondeley (Lord Malpas) embraced the Roman Catholic faith, was converted from his conver sion, by the mother of the lady whom he afterwards mar ried, and susequently left the Established Church for the Wesleyan connexion. During the Cambridge occupation, her Majesty was leaving the house, when she was assaulted by the last of the imbeciles who hoped to become celebrated by such a guilty proceeding. MISS BATEMAN.—But one week remains (says the Manchester Guardian) of this talented lady's en gagement at the Theatre Royal. Those who have not yet seen her Leah will have the opportunity of doing so on the first three evenings of next week. On Thursday Miss Bateman will take her benefit, and appear as Bianca, in Dean Milman's tragedy of "Fazio." On Friday she will play in the " Lady of Lyons," and on Saturday in all pro bability " Fazio" will be repeated. From Manchester Miss Bateman proceeds to Bristol, and thence to London, where she will give a farewell performance as Juliet, on the 22d December, in Her Majesty's Theatre. A rumour has been in circulation to the effect that Miss Bateman is married. Such is not the case, but we believe that at the close of her three months' engagement, which commences in New York on January 15, she will retire from the stage, and bo married to a gentleman who, like herself, is a native of one of the Southern States of America. TRADE BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.—The exports of Swiss goods to the United States, from the district of the United States Consulate Df Zurich, for the year ending Sept. 30, 1865, amounted to 18,810,458 fr. NEW RAILWAY BILLS. --- - The notices of intended application to Parliament for railway purposes in the Session of 1866 are very numerous, exceeding in number those of any pre ceding session since 1846. The number of notices issued is about 450 for 1866, as against 415 for 1865, 360 for 1864, and 280 for 1863. Plans and sections for new railways and works have just been deposited with the Board of Trade f0r•340 bills. The powers sought in many of the notices for ex tensions of time to purchase land and complete works, for deviations from authorised lines, increase of capital, and entire abandonment of certain lines authorised in the two preceding sessions, testify to the hasty mode in which many of them were de signed, and the unsatisfactory nature of the inquiry adopted by Parliamentary committees. The enor mous costs incurred by those annual inquiries, and the uncertainty of their results, instead of tending to diminish the number of those applications, it is feared that they form the great inducement to law yers, engineers, and others to endeavour to swell the number every session. Bills for extensions of railways not yet commenced, and for others in course of construction, are comparatively very numerous, and ought to attract attention in the new Parliament. The Metropolitan Railway Company seek for additional powers to substitute an open cutting for a tunnel on the Notting-hill and Bromp ton extension of their line ; to purchase lands and houses at Paddington, Marylebone-road, in St. Pancras, in the Euston-road, near King's-cross, in Ely-place, Holborn, in Bishopsgate-street, in Ald gate, and the Minories. They also propose to con struct on the Pneumatic Despatch system " collect ing lines" from Baker-street station to Oxford street, from the Portland-road station to Marlbo rough-mews, from Gower-station to New Oxford street, from Aldgate to Mile-end-old-town ; and a line from Kensington to Westminster. It is also proposed, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Dis trict Company, to construct a Pneumatic Despatch branch from Brompton to Cheyne-walk, Chelsea. The Mid-London Company propose to make a rail way from the West London at Shepherd's-bush to the London, Chatham, and Dover and Metropolitan Railways, near Smithfield, and to make new streets from New Bond-street to Hanover-square; from Tottenham-court-road to Lincoln's-inn-fields, and from thence to Holborn. The Metropolitan Tram ways Company propose to lay down rails upon the streets for the conveyance of passengers from Upper Holloway to Shoreditch, and from Seven Sisters road to Tottenham-court-road. The Waterloo and Whitehall Company propose to extend their railway from Waterloo Station to Newington-butts. The Clapham and London-bridge Company prOpose to form junctions with the latter line at Newington butts, and to make a railway from Clapham-com mon to the Elephant and Castle, and thence to London-bridge. The City and London-bridge Com pany propose to make a railway from the corner of St. Thomas's Hospital, passing under the Thames to Leadenhall-market, and from thence to the East Indian Railway-house, Alderman's-walk, and in its course to appropriate the under surface of streets and squares. The London, Chatham, and Dover Company intend to make new streets in St. Ann's, Blackfriars, the main one being from Earl-street to Ludgate-hill opposite the Old Bailey ; and railway curves at Peckham, Denmark-hill, and Knight's hill. The Thames Subway Company propose to make subways from Deptford under the Thames to the Isle of Dogs, with approaches. The Bricklayers' Arms and Elephant and Castle Junction Company propose to construct a railway between those sta- tions. The East London Extension Company pro pose to make a railway from the authorised main line of the East London at Whitechapel to West Ham, and to Galleons Reach, near the Victoria Dock, and a branch to Mile-end-old-town. The East Lon don Company propose to make a railway from Deptford to Vauxhall station of the South Western Railway, and junctions with it at South Lambeth road; and with the Chatham and Dover at Camber well. They also propose to make au up-junction with the Great Eastern Railway at Bethnal-green ; and also a junction at the Brick-lane goods station. The London, Chatham, and Dover and the South Eastern Companies jointly propose to make. new railways from Blackfriars-road station to Clapham, Kennington, and Brixton. The Regent's Canal Company propose to make a railway from the King's cross station of the Metropolitan Railway, to Isling ton and Limehouse, with branches. The Pneumatic Despatch Company propose to purchase vaults and cellars under the streets, without purchasing the houses to which they are attached. The Metropolitan District Company propose to purchase lands and houses at Kensington, Westminster, Holy Trinity the Less (City), Garlick-hill, Queen-street, King William-street, Love-lane, St. Mary-at-Hill, St. Dunstan's-hill (near Great Tower-street), Redcross square, Seething-lane, Trinity-square, and Bark ing-churchyard, with power to underpin buildings in its route. SEARCH FOR THE FENIAN LEADER AT AYR.-OD. Thursday a telegram was received in Troon from the police authorities in Belfast, ordering a search of the steamer Black Diamond, which trades between Troon and the Irish ports, and was on her voyage from Belfast. The object of search was Stephens, the leader of the Fenian movement, who it was supposed might be on board of the steamer. The police authorities in Ayr were immediately communicated with, and a posse of constables were de spatched to Troon to institute a thorough search for the missing Head Centre. The Black Diamond, however, had arrived in Troon about two hours before the telegram was received, and ample time had thus been given for the escape of Stephens. The steamer was minutely searched, and the captain and crew were examined on the matter, all to no purpose. Various vessels lying in the port, and about to sail for America, were also searched, but in vain. SECRETARY M'CULLOCH ON THE NEGRO AND THE PUBLic DEBT.—The Mobile Times publishes an account of an interview between Judge John L-- of New Orleans and Secretary M'Culloch, the two being old school-mates, and the interview frank and cordial, in which the Secre tary, it is alleged, expressed himself on two interesting topics as follows :—Secretary M'Culloch, knowing well the influence which our friend possessed in Louisiana, told him in substance that so far as the pretended equality of races was concerned there could be but one opinion among all good men, North and South, and this was that wher ever the Anglo-Saxon race had come in cbntact with an inferior one, the history of fifteen centuries had proven that the Anglo-Saxon race must dominate or exterminate. That the Indian race, far superior to the black, had been utterly annihilated before the advance of the whites, and this, al though the Indian race was morally and intellectually vastly superior to the black race. That no sane man, no American, could dream for a moment of making this country, where God had showered so many blessings on the race made after his own image, the inheritance of any but those he had endowed with an intelligence all but divine. The question of labor sinks into insignificance before that of races, and the march of human progress is not to be suspended by the idle theories of dreamers. The next question which that intelligent and sagacious states man touched was that of our public debt. Large as it may be, it has nothing calculated to strike terror or create dis couragement in our people. England, however great her credit abroad, could never have stood the brunt of her public debt, small as is its interest, had not nearly the whole of the evidences of that debt boon held at home in stead of abroad. By a judicious exercise of the supreme powers of Congress, combined with the patriotism of our people, Secretary 31`Culloch expects, and very justly too, to be able not only to keep the debt at home, but to re duce the interest most materially. The rash, crude, and undigested measures of Secretary Chase have overflown the country with evidences of debt at a rate of interest and short maturities as never before were witnessed in the world ; but his successor very truly expects to convince the people that the longer the term and the lower the in terest the safer becomes the investment. By such intelli gent process as a man of high financial capacities can de vise, the interest of the debt, which now exceeds six and a half per cent., must be easily reduced to five, and even lower, as even that rate would give it a preference over any European investment. Then patriotism and self-in terest combined would induce the people to monopolise the whole of the public securities, and thus, in case of need, leave open to us the market of the world." POLITICS OF THE NEXT CONGRESS. —The Congress of the United States at its next session will stand politi cally divided as follows, without the Senators and members elected from the States lately in rebellion the Senate there are thirty-eight Union or Republican Senators and eleven Democrats. Eleven Southern States are at present unrepresented in the Senate, and these will be entitled to twenty-two Senators, who will, in all probability, vote with the Democrats. In the house (exclusive of the newly elected Southern members) there are one hundred and forty-three Union or Republic members, and forty-one Democrats. The Southern States now unrepresented aro entitled to fifty-eight members, most of whom will pro bably vote with the Democratic side. POLAND. The Journal of Warsaw announces the formation, in that city, of a new navigation company, the ob ject of which is to develope the traffic of the river Varta. The vessels of the company will convey cargoes of grain from the town of Kola to the port of Stettin, taking return freights of colonial pro duce. SWEDEN. Count Platen, the Minister of Marine, is effecting a total re-organisation of the fleet. It will be divided into two distinct classes of vessels-19 large ships of war for operations on the open sea and 20 ironclad gunboats for the defence of the seaports and islands. To these will be added 24 gunboats or galleys on the ancient model, to be propelled by oars. The officers and crews will also be placed in separate categories. THE OUTWARD CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS. MALTA, DEC. 3. The Massilia, from Marseilles Nov. 29. arrived here yesterday at 7 a.m., and left at 4 p.m. for Alexandria. The Tanjore, from Southampton, Nov. 20, ar rived to-day at 6 a.m., and left at 11 a.m. for Alex andria. FRANCE. BOURSE, Dec. 2.-Two o'Clock.-It is settling day for Railway Shares, Foreign Stock, and Mis cellaneous Securities. This important monthly operation is proceeding satisfactorily. The reports continue moderate. They have been quoted from 25c. to 27c. on Italian Stock, 25c. to 75c on Lom bard Shares, and lf. 50c. on Lyons. Credit Mo bilier Shares maintain a deport varying from 2f. 55c. to 3f. Except vhat refers to the settlement little other business is doing, but the market is well maintained. Threes, for the Account, have ad vanced Tic.-to 68f. 75c. ; Italian Fives are doing at 64f. 95c. Credit llobilier Shares are stationary at 882 f. 50c. Lombard Shares, owing to the un usual cheapness of the report and the necessary purchases of the decorvert, are in active demand at 437 f. 50c., with a rise of sf. English Consols are telegraphed with a decline of -a- per cent. The cours de compensation has just been fixed on the securities settled to-day as follows : -Bank of France, 3,800 f. ; Credit Mobilier, 875 f. ; General, .612 f. 50c. ; Comptoir d'Escompte, 1,015 f. ; Or leans, 822 f. 50c. ; Northern, I,loof. ; Eastern, 517 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 827 f. 50c. ; Southern, 567 f. 50c. "Western, 540 f ; Gas, 1,700 f. ; Suez, 430 f. ; Trans atlantic, 545 f. ; Immobiliere, 540 f. ; Austrian, 430 f. ; Lombard, 4301. ; Sardinian, 215 f ; Roman, 155 f. ; Spanish Credit Mobilier, 457 f. 50c. ; Sara gossa, 200 f. ; Seville, 40f. ; North of Spain, 160 f. ; Barcelona, 90f. ; Portuguese, 140 ; Italian Fives, 64f. 90c. ; Spanish Threes, 43f. ; Home Debt, 37f. 50c ; Deferred, 37f. 50c. ; Austrian, 76f. ; Russian Fives, 91f. 50c. ; Mexican Sixes, 50f. Three o'clock.-The market closed as follows :- 41 per Cents 97 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 6B 80 Do. end month €B 72i. Credit Mobilier Do. end month 878 75 Bank Shares 3800 Credit Foncier 1317 50 Italian Loan 6l 95 Do. end month 65 Roman Ottoman Fives 44 25 Mexican Loan 5O Do. Bonds 335 Russian - Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred RAIL)) WAYS. Orleans Northern Cash. Acct. ... ... 822 50 ... ... 1102 50 ... ~. 828 75 ... 568 75 - - ... 516 25 - - ... 220 - - - ... 432 50 - - ... 426 25 - - ... 163 - - - ... 201 75 Z 2 50 Lyons and Mediterranean. SOuthern Western Eastern Sardinian . Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman REMOVAL OF THE FENIAN PRISONERS.-D ÜBLIN; Sunday.—All the Fenian prisoners -35 in number—were removed from Richm3nd Bridewell to Kilmainham Go vernment County Prison between 12 and 1 this morning. Slr Robert Peel was present. REFORM BILL RETURNS.—We have just seen copies of the circulars issued from Whitehall calling upon the local authorities to forward to the Poor-law Board schedules of the ratings of different classes of tenements in counties and in cities and in boroughs; obviously for the purpose of ascertaining, according to the latest assess ments, what accessions will be made to the present con stituencies by a " vertical" extension of the franchise. Downing-street would like to know, if the qualification be lowered, what numbers of additional voters will be let in at certain downward steps, and, therefore, asks, in respect of the counties, for th. number of occupiers rated at £lO and under £l2 ; at £l2 and under £l5 ; at £l5 and under £2O ; and at £2O and under £5O. With regard to cities and boroughs, the particulcrs sought are the numbers of occu piers in each at £4 and under £5 ; at £5 and under £6 ; at £6 and under .£7 ; at £7 and under £8 ; at £8 and under £lO. The returns are to be filled up from the rate-books in respect of the " rateable value" of each tenement, not ac cording to the "gross estimated rental" as heretofore used for electoral statistics. The difference, we need hardly say, is very material between the gross and the rateable value.—Manchester Guardian. THE NEGRO IN GEORGIA.—In a letter from Mil ledgeville, Georgia, in the Cincinnati Gazette, we find the following passage :—" With regard to the neg,ro, I am both pleased and pained—pained that so many of them still entertain such erroneous ideas as to the nature and responsibilities of freedom ; pleased that so large a number, contrary to the predictions and wishes of their enemies as well as the fears and misgivings of their friends, contrary to all that might have been expected from the mental, moral, social, and physical degradation to which they were so long reduced, have arisen as if by an inspiration to a proper comprehension of the circumstances of their case and have like true men and women gone steadily and earl nestly to work to improve their condition in the only way it can be improved— by honorable and honest toil. I con versed in Macon with seven colored men, whom I picked out at random from the crowds passing along the streets. The first was head waiter at a hotel, and was receiving in wages twenty-five dollars per month, having started at ten dollars. The second was an old man, a dray driver, who was getting a dollar a day, and was sending four children to school. The third was a cigar manufacturer, who was receiving twenty dollars a month and board for his labor ; he too having commenced at ten dollars. The fourth was a laborer engaged in transporting cotton from the ware house to the river side, preparatory to loading in flatboats, and was paid for this one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. The fifth was a lazy, lubberly-looking fellow, whose worthless appearance would, in nine cases out of ten, pre vent him from obtaining work, and whose innate worth lessness would probably induce him to abandon it very shortly after it was obtained. He endeavoured to make me believe that ho had been at work and was willing to work, but his whole story was confused and contradictory, and I set him down as a very trifling sort of a boy. The sixth was a restaurant cook, a good-looking young fellow, who seemed as merry as a lark, and chuckled with delight when he told me he ' got fifteen dollars a month and found.' The seventh was a porter in a wholesale grocery store, received eighty cents a day for his services, and liked his employer ' fust rate.' Thus, of the seven with whom I talked, six were at work and doing well, while the seventh was so entirely sensible of his duty and obligations that he was ashamed to own he was idle. Now I ask any man, no matter what are his partisan views and prejudices, to look at this statement candidly, and say what more or what better could be expected of these poor creatures, who have been degraded by many years of servitude ; who, from the hour of their birth, have never been taught the rudest elements of responsibility and self-dependence ; who have systematically been deprived of the wages due to toil, and who, in this condition, without money, property, or resources, have suddenly been set adrift, and leit to make their own way in the world." TO THE EDITOR OF TUE SUN. Site,—As the lessee of the Great St. James's Hall, I have to offer to the public and my patrons in general an apology for the abrupt closing of the above-named hail ; but as the facts connected with the matter are under legal considera tion, I beg respectfully to ask the public to suspend their judgment until that issue, and remain, your obedient ser vant, • JOHN HENRY ANDERSON, Great Wizard of the North. Groat St. James's Hall, Dec. 2, 1865. Mr. James Carson, of Jamaica, had an interview with the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell at the Colonial office on Thursday. The unexpected return of M. Du Chaillu to Eng land, says the Court Circular, has created a little excitement in geographical circles. We believe that this adventurous traveller has on this occasion reached a spot much further in the interior than on his previous journeys, and that he was about 400 miles from the sea when an un fortunatefracas arose between the black servant of his party and the surrounding natives, one of the native black women being accidentally shot. Although the traveller offered compensation, an attack was commenced on his party, which was compelled to retreat with the loss of all the scientific instruments which M. du Chaillu had brought with him, as well as the collections of specimens. M. du Chaillu was seriously wounded with poisoned arrows in the encounter. The journals of the expedition were for tunately preserved. As careful astronomical observations were made by M. du Chaillu, we anticipate that the account of his travels will on this occasion prove not merely of great interest, but scientific importance. A description of his journey will, we believe, be laid before the Royal Geographical Society at an early meeting ; whilst the ac count of the natives, as well as description of some valu able skulls, will, we understand, be communicated to the Anthropological Society of London. Mr. J. L. TooLE.L-Mr. Toole has proved one of the most successful of the numerous star engagements at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, the houso having been crowded every night. He has played the characters of the Dodger in " Oliver Twist," Joe Bright in " Through Fire and Water," and Caleb Plummer in the drama of " Dot,"--each a perfect and distinct realisation of a dif - ferent phase in human life. Saunders's News-Letter says, "No tragedy could give rise to feelings more earnest and deep-seated than the marvellous fidelity to nature dis played. by Mr. Toole as Caleb." " The beautiful drama of "Dot," says the Dublin Express, " was last night pro duced before a'crowded audience with wonderful success. The part of the old toymaker, by Mr. J. L. Toole, is one of the finest pieces of serio-comic acting we have seen up on the Dublin stage." The Freeman's Journal declares Mr. Toole's personation of the old man to be "grandly natural, simple, and truthful—the most faultless of the kind we ever saw." The London Consul for Chili having resigned his office, Mr. Henry Rendall has been appointed Acting Consul, and has removed the Consulate to No. 1, Great Winchester street. THE BRITISH CONSUL AT HAVANA.—The New York papers make the following grave charges against Mr CRAWFORD, the British consul at Havana : " Upon the breaking out of the rebellion Mr. Henry Holze, of Mobile, was sent to London to manufacture let ters and articles to be inserted in the English and French newspapers, in order togive the mcst favourable coloring to the Southern transactions, and with full instructions to pay for their insertion, if the matter could not be managed otherwise. Upon his arrival at Havana, his visit to the British Consul, Mr. Crawford, was of a very friendly na ture, and they became so intimate that Holze, B. Helm, and the Consul, pledged themselves, individually and col lectively, 't o a id th e h o l y cause of the Confederacy to the chief rendezvous werealwuye w between written utmost of their p ower w hil e lif e rema i ne d t o th em . From that hour th e B r i t i sh Consulate at Havana became the h t t e R e n i b e e 1 triplicate,d o m one copy Europe. beDineg elsent through the English Post Office, addressed under cover to the British Consul, as being a sure transit. Moneys, munitions of war, &c., all were consigned to the kind offices of Mr. Crawford. The captains of the block ade-runners also first steered to Mr. Crawford as being the trusted depository of the current port signals. These signals were changed by the rebels every month, and Mr. Crawford, as being the most trusted employe, was first made acquainted with the change, for the purpose of in forming the blockade-runners, two business-houses at St. Thomas, and thence to Bury-street, London. It has been estimated that by Mr. Crawford's direct assistance up wards of 2,000,000 bales of cotton and 50,000 boxes o f tobacco wero thus smuggled out through the blockad©, t o say nothing of the munitions of w ar supplied to the So u th a slight formed idea may be from England, and of which_ , forces in Texas t that Magruder s by the single statement from wore entirely armed and supplied Europe ( principally_ from London,) directly by the aid aud personal assistance of Ur. Crawford." rt IC. Ott, hOll - HER MAJESTY• - WINDSOR CASTLE, Saturday. The Queen, with their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, and his Serene Highness Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, walked in the grounds this morning. His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Castle from Greenwich-park. Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Princess of Prussia, with Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Henry, and Prince Sigismund, left the Castle at ten minutes before one o'clock, and drove to the South-Western. Railway Station, where a special train was in readiness to convey their royal highnesses to Gravesend on their return to the Continent. The suite consisted of Countess Hohenthal, Ba roness Dobeneek, Count Eulenburg, and Captain von Normann. Her Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, at tended by the Countess of Caledon, Major-General Hon. A. N. Hood, Major Elphinstone, and the Count de Rantzau, accompanied the Crown Prince and Princess to the railway station, and took leave of them. Lieutenant-Colonel Du Plat attended their royal highnesses to Gravesend. During the past fortnight their Royal Highnesses Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Henry, and Prince Sigismuud of Prussia have honoured Mr. G. Koberwein with sittings for their portraits. S UNDAT. The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High nesses the Princesses Helena and Louise, drove in the grounds yesterday morning. His Royal Highness Prince Arthur and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein went out riding, attended by Major .General the Hon. A. N. Hood. The Queen, with their Royal Hignesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince Arthur, their Serene Highnesses Princess Hohenlohe, and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, and the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapel. The Rev. Stopford A. Brookes, M.A., late chap lain to the Embassy at Berlin, preached the sermon. DEPARTURE OF THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRIN CESS OF PRUSSIA.—On Saturday afternoon, at one o'clock, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Prussia, with their infant family, the . three Princes and one Prin cess, took their departure from the Castle on their return to their country residence, Potsdam, in Prussia. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury will entertain a distinguished circle at Hatfield House, Herts, during the week. The marchioness will give a grand county ball on Thursday night. The Marquis of Hartington, M.P., will join the family circle staying with the Duke of Devonshire at Chats- worth. The Earl and Countess of Cardigan have arrived at Deene Park, Northamptonshire, where they will receive a succession of distinguished visitors until the meeting of Parliament. The Earl and Countess Spencer leave Althorp Hall, Northamptonshire, to-day, for Gunton Park, Lord and Lady Suffield's seat in Norfolk, having been invited to meet their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Proposed Restoration of the Westminster Chapter-House. -e On Saturday a meeting was held in the old Chapter-house at Westminster Abbey, to consider what steps should be taken for obtaining the resto ration of this memorial of early English civilisation. The chair was occupied by the Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, and among those present were Earl Stanhope, Lord Lyttelton, the Right Hon. F. W. Cowper, the First Commissioner of her Majesty's Office of Works ; Mr. Beresford Hope, M.P., Right Hon. Sir Page Wood, the Rev. the Sub-Dean (Lord John Thynne), the Very Rev. Canon Bickersteth, the Deans of Chichester and St. Paul's, Mr. Tite, M.P., Mr. Goodwin, and Mr. De Morgan. The chairman opened the proceedings by giving the history of the Chapter-house. It was a remarkable coincidence, he said, that the original Chapter-house was erected just 800 years ago this year, the date of its erection being given as 1065, and for three centuries it was used by the monks as a Chapter-house. In 1365 it was first adapted as a meeting-house for Parliament, so that it was, in fact, the cradle of our constitutional government and liberties. The house remained the meeting place of Parliament until the reign of the eighth Henry, namely, until the time of the Great Reformation, when it became the Record-office of the kingdom, and so remained until the removal of the records a few years since to the new Record office in Fetter-lane. The very rev. gentleman pointed to the desolate condition of the house now, it being left with all the dusty fittings of the Record office, and said that a place of this historical and archaeological interest should not be neglected; and the Antiquarian Society had convened this meeting with a view of adopting some measures whereby the neglect of former times might be remedied. Mr. G. G. Scott was then called upon by the chairman, and he at once proceeded to give some account of the house. The date of the present structure was not a matter of doubt or mystery, for it was recorded by Matthew Paris and other authorities that in 1845 Henry 111. undertook, at his own cost, the re-erec tion of a portion of St. Edward the Confessor's structure. The building being one marking the epoch of a great transition, the perfection of the fully developed window tracery, and one of the earliest specimens in this country, it was important to know when it was first commenced, and by the records it was shown that in 1253, eight years after the commencement of the work, certain ma terial was bought to fill up the windows, so it ap peared to be coeval with La Sainte Chapelle, at Paris, with which it accords perfectly in style. He pointed to the present condition of these beauti ful windows—decayed, mutilated, and blocked UP with brick. The building had exquisite vestibules, and these were as much disfigured as the win dows. He then proceeded to give a detailed account of the architecture of the building, which he described as very beautiful, and then said that if those present wanted to know how decay, mutilation, misuse, and squalor continued over a period of three centuries, had reduced what was once one of the noblest of in teriors to a disfigured wreck, they had only to look around. He went on to show that a perfect and faithful restoration could be effected, and resumed his seat amidst loud cheers. EarrStanhope proposed " That this meeting shares the regret experienced by the meeting convened by the Society of Anti quaries in May, 1862, that nothing had been done to repair the noble Chapter-ho Use, W es t m inster : which is rich in archaeological and historical interest. , The Very Rev. the Dean of St. Paul's seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. 13 ' Hope, M.P., said he addressed the meeting as th e mouthpiece of the architects of England, and he could say that they were as enthusiastic for the restoratio n of this noble building as the antiquarians. fl e . had been asked to propose this resolution, " Th at this meeting anxiously desire to impress upon her Majesty's Government, and upon both Houses 01 Parliament, the propriety of restoring the Chapter: house, without delay, to its original architectural beauty." He said that foreigners reproached us wit h allowing—what was not allowed in a despoticallr governed country—our national monuments t: decay, and he urged that we should take speedy ster ol to show that we were quite equal to any kingdoms or empire in the world in our love for our memorials of bygone times. This restoration would cost sortie £20,000 £20,000 or £30,000, let them say £ 30 , 000, and . e s House of Commons, which had spent ma n y to the this sum on people's parks, would not grudge ; sum. Sir E. Head seconded the resolution, liviu'd Woo was also carried. The Right Hon. Sir Page reed then proposed a third resolution (which was i a.. ons , to), reappointing the committee with some aduilii; the with power to form a deputation to w ait up a o s Chancellor of-the Exchequer. The meeting t` addressed by Mr. Tite, M.P,, the Dea n of oca t hes ter, and Lord Lyttelton, D Chi] D Col( e r ,lib .va,/, U;e, t Ilia D !tali D telex D Ne„ • DD D, Peri P D Pori k Ctr ( 'Pai D. 4 a , D Nve ~„4 4 g4 Zei a : 131 1( 1)( ko u ha rel IV