The Sun. — London, England, 1865-01-05 00:00:00

Theatrical Representations. Mr Frederick Strange, proprietor of the Alhambra Palace, Leicester-square, was summoned before Mr Tyrwhitt, at the Marlborough -street Police-court, for "that on the 27th of December, at a certain place of public resort called the Royal Alhambra Palace, Leicester-square, he did unlawfully have and keep the I said house and place of public resort for the public performance of stage plays without authority by virtue of Letters Patent from her Majesty or any of her predecessors, and without licence from the Lord Chamberlain of her Majesty's Household for the time being." Mr Besley, instructed by Mr Roberts, appeared in support of the summons; and Mr Poland, instructed by Mr Lawrence, appeared for the defendants. Mr Begley said he appeared i on behalf of the plain tiff, the proceedings being, n fact, instituted by a number of lessees of licensed theatres, among whom were Mr Mapleson, of Her Majesty's Theatre ; the Op er a Company, of Covent-garden ; Messrs. Fal coner and Chatterton, of Drury-lane ; Mr Fechter, of L yce um ;Mr Webster, of the Adelphi ;Mr B hutckestone, of the Haymarket ; Mr E. T. Smith, of A,stley's ; and Alr Horace Wigan, of the Olympic, upon whose information the present summons was taken out. The proceeding against Mr Strange was instituted laF no personal feeling against that gentle man, it was taken simply for the purpose of enforc ing the provisions of an Act of Parliament 6 and 7 Vic.,entituled an Act for the Regulating of Theatres. The second section of that Act enacted that it should not be lawful for any person to keep any house or pface of public resort in Great Britain for the public performance of stage plays without Letters Patent from the Crown or licence from the Lord Chamberlain or from the Justices of the Peace therein provided, and that every person offending against this enactment should be liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O for every day on which such place of resort was kept open. It was agreed between the solicitors on both sides that in order to raise the real issue certain points should be ad mitted. It was admitted by the defendant, "that he kept a house of public resort withing the meaning of the act, and that it was necessary there should be a license from the Lord Chamberlain if any matter was presented there which came within the meaning of the definition clause in the act of Parliament as to what constitutes a stage play." It was further admitted that the defendant possessed a music and (lancing licence, granted by the Justices under the 25th George U. By the second section of the 6th and 7th Vic., the question was raised whether cer tain performances at the Alhambra did not come -within the meaning of the act, and were in fact stage plays. The definition of " stage play" was that it should be taken to include every tragedy, comedy, farce, opera, burletta, interlude, melo drama, pantomime, or other entertainment of the stage, or any part thereof. Before producing evi dence it would be his duty to call attention to the state of the law, and the various enactments that had been passed. The Lord Chamberlain licenced stage plays for the metropolis. In the country stage play licences were granted at special sessions, and music and dancing licences were granted in the same way ; they were signed, sealed, and read by the clerk. It would be important to notice that fact, for if it were contended that the music licence granted under another act of Paaliament justified the defendant in his proceedings, his reply was that the provisions of the act under which music and dancing licenses were granted were perfectly con sistent with the later acts of Victoria. Mr Tyrwhitt—You say that a music and dancing licence does not enable the defendant to act plays. Mr. Besley—The defendant - could not legally give stage play representations without leave of the Lord Chamberlain. The powers given to the Lord Chamberlain to license plays were intended to insure the safety of the public, and the observance of rules which should have for their object the observ ance of good manners and decorum during such re presentations. He would first state what the Royal Alhambra Palace was. It was a building on the east side of Leicester-square ; it had been erected some time, and was now under the management of the defendant, Mr. Strange, the sole proprietor. The building .was one of no mean pretence ; inside it was highly decorated, so as to be consistent with drama tic representations. The stage in size was little in ferior to that of Drury-lane. In front was the or chestra, and a space like the grand yard in the time of Elizabeth, where persons could sit down at table and take refreshment, drinkina and smoking, just as used to be the case at the Blackfriars Thea tre, with the exception that in the olden time the pit was open to all the winds of Heaven. There was no pit at the Alhambra, the area appeared to be divided into three sections for admission, in each of which a different price was asked, and it was in those places the public could sit at tables and smoke and drink. From each corner there was a range of 12 columns, which supported a cornice, and between the columns was a splendid chandelier. There were two rows of boxes, which, however, he believed, were termed bal canies. This would give a general idea of the audience part of the Alhambra. It would not be necessary to notice the refreshment counters placed round the building. There was no open uncovered floor where the public could dance, as at the Casinos. There was a stage, with proscenium, footlights, side scenes, drops, and everything necessary to stage representation. There were also flies for the pur pose of winding up and letting down scenery. There was also a drop curtain made of damask and adorned with gold stars ; the back of the stage was provided with the appearance of rock and water. He believed there was a real cascade ; in fact, there was everything to tempt the public to go to the Alhambra. Mr. Besley here proceeded to read. from the Theatrical Observer an elaborate account of the decorations:and performance at the Alhambra. There was a ballet, with 50 or 60 dancers. It was asserted there was no pantomime, or anything in the nature of a pantomime ; what was represented being a ballet divertissement, such as had been extensively introduced lately into operas. The question to decide was this —were such perfor mances of the nature of a pantomime or stage play? He contended that no ballet could be performed without the aid of pantomime. The ballet dancer required to be taught pantomimic action, for with out such action it would be impossible to convey what was intended to the audience. The ballet was an art which must be acquired under professors. The word " ballet' did not occur in the interpreta tion clause, but there were the words, " stage plays or parts thereof." The decision of Lord Kenyon in the case of ." Gallena v. Laberie," was in favour of his argument that performances having the charac ter of stage representations must be licensed by the Lord Chamberlain. The learned gentleman here quoted Lord Kenyon's opinion at length, also the " Queen v. Handy," "De Begnes v. Armisted," and " Th omas ' appellant, v. Colson, respondent." The latter ea fle referred to certain performances at to repre senmrt about .rryrw 1 Marmite where two persons were enabled t i d t Lfierent characters. led it a duologue, I think. Mr. Besley—The De eY r f e n a rTh l per sonated a variety of characters one of them • My learned f r i en d y e xti was a briefless barrister. -IX Poland appeared in the ac tion that was tried. Mr Poland —But not in that chars Mr. Besley—lt was decided in r. (Laughter.) pantomime occurred th e performantheat case that if tensed, were illegal. Pantomim e weso; being unli- older th an tragedy or comedy. • Mr. Tyrwhitt--I suspect you will have to consult the Shade of Thespis to decide that. Mr. Besley only relied on the authority of books, the legends in which told us that pantomimes and miracle plays, in which the performers did not speak but only represented the incidents by gestures, were the first performances. Pantomime existed from the earliest times, and was performed at Courts by persons under the protection of the Sovereigns and the highest nobles. Pantomimes were, therefore, well known in the time of George H., when the Act he had quoted had passed, and when the word pan tomime was omitted in the Act. The word was, however, put into the next statute, the object of the statute being to give the Lord Chamberlain despotic authority over all such places, to give him authority to make rules for their guidance, and to close the places if necessary. The statute further required that everything intended to be represented b onthe . stage should be first sent to the Lord The Act was a salutary Act, it was passed to pro vide for the safety of the public, and to insure good manners and decorum on the stage. There were no such powers in the Justices Act, an l the license they had power to grant for music and dancing did not cover entertainments of the stage. Their licence only sanctioned such dancing as was indulged in by the visitors ; it did not allow stage dancing or dancing with scenes. He contended that the two Acts, that of the 25th of George 111. and the sth and 6th of Victoria, ought to be read together. The Acts were introduced for the purpose of regulating places where the idle and disorderly congregated, and where robberies were likely to take place, and for the further purpose of preventing anything in jurious to morality or decorum from being repre sented on the stage. He was satisfied the Court would find that what was represented at the Alham bra under the name of a ballet was a stage repre sentation within the meaning of the Act. He had no doubt that great expense had been incurred in presenting the ballet before the public, but he was satisfied that the ballet as there represented was as capable of being written as an opera. An opera might be played only from stage directions, but then those stage directions would indicate to the Lord Chamberlain whether anything improper was likely to be represented, and would thus enable him to stop the performance, or, if necessary, to have the place closed. Mr Poland—Would you have the story of a ballet written ? Mr. Besley did not see any impossibility in the matter. There was the ballet of " Esmeralda," and no one could doubt of that being a stage play within the meaning of the act. As far as the penalty was concerned, he was content to leave that matter in the hands of the magistrate. At the same time he would say, if Mr. Strange would consent to with draw the ballet now representing at the Alhambra, he should be content with a nominal penalty. Mr. Horace Wigan, lessee of the Royal Olympic Theatre, said,—On Tuesday, the 27th ult., I went to the Alhambra Palace. There was a regular pay place, and the basement was fitted up like a theatre, with this difference, that there were tables about. The place was lit by gas chandeliers, the same as any other London theatre. There was an orchestra —a very full one, and there were footlights to the stage. It appeared to have the usual stage appurte nances—wings, flys, drops, &c. There was a set piece, with cascades, and rocks, and real water, and zigzag steps among the rocks. There were several ladies present—about 60 or 70. They were perform ing a ballet and wore the usual ballet dress, and had wands, palm branches, or bull-rushes, andperformed the well-known ballet called °The Dagger Dance." They went through the pantomime of attack and , defence and putting to death an imaginary enemy, who appeared to be on the floor. (Laughter.) There was no chief dancer. What I have described was in the first scene, but was not the first scene. Any thing that represents acting without words is panto mime. A ballet may exist without dancing, but can not without pantomine. Only two kinds of ballet are known to me—ballet divertissement and ballet of action. A ballet of action is a ballet in which a story is told, a ballet divertissement is one in which no fable is narrated, but a mixture of pantomime and dancing, in which incidents are represented by pantomime. If you were to call upon me to dance the Cachuca I could very well do it even here, but if I did so it would be no ballet, but if I did it on the stage it would be a ballet. In the ballet at the Alliambra the dancers formed themselves into ranks. There was only one scene. It was divided into three different and distinct portions. Ballets of action do not always consist of one scene, but ballets diver tissements do. I have had some experience in putting ballets on the stage ; the ballet -master gives instruc tion. A ballet is usually composed. Ballets are composed by other persons than ballet-masters. The ballets of " Ma.saniello" and " Gissella" were writ ten. I could put any ballet into writing. I could by reading a ballet realise in my mind what I saw. By Mr. Poland—l could put the ballet I saw into writing. I think I could put the first set of quadrilles into writing. Mr. Tyrwhitt—lt would be a set of stage directions, telling the dancers how they were to proceed ? Mr. Wigan—Exactly so. Mr. Poland—Suppose the "Lancers" and "Sir Roger de Coverley" were danced in fancy dresses on the stage of the Alhambra, what would you call it ? Mr. Wigan—A theatrical entertainment. Mr. Poland—lf in plain clothes ? Mr. Wigan—yes, if with stage accessories. /4r. Poinn4 -If in aw.lnins. clroao 7 Mr. Wigan—Yes, I should then call it a stage entertain ment. My definition of a stage entertainment is something represented in a theatre, and which cannot be represented without the accessories of the stage. I would not call private theatricals a stage representation. Mr. Poland—You said the dancers went through the pantomime of attack and defence. Was that the case ; or did they merely advance and retreat ? Mr. Wigan—They flourished daggers. Some advanced and some retreated. They all had the same kind of weapons. The dance is a very well-known dance. Others can give a better description of the ballet than I can. All the ladies were not dressed alike. They kept time to the. music. What I saw was a pantomime. I should not call a gentleman bow ing to a lady in a dance a pantomime. If you indicate any , thing it is a pantomime. There - are pantomimists who are not dancers. --_ I should call a contortionist a tumbler. Mr. Poland—What ! though he don't tumble ? Mr. Wigan—He does tumble. Some call themselves contortionists, some sprites, and some gymnasts. I should not call that an entertainment of the style which may be performed without accessories. The first and foremost accessory was the theatre,which meant the scenery, curtain, lights, &c. A pantomime is a well-known entertainment, in which there is a story or legend acted by men and women. Words are spoken in some of the pantomimes, but that has only ofalate years been permitted. Had the Clown or Pantaloon done so in former days they would have been fined. As soon as dialogue begins pantomime ends. There were no men on the stage at the Alhambra There was a premiere donseuse, and she appeared to be a superior person to the rest, as they made arcades for her to walk under. They were not all dressed alike. The chief dancer was dressed as an ordinary ballet dancer. It was a stage play. I should say "Sir Roger de Coverley," or any dance on the stage was a stage play. In what I should term the pit there were tables with seats for persons to sit and take refreshments, and persons were able to move about. There were divisions between the tables as to the prices. I saw no traps used, but there might have been trap doors on the stage. The scene remained unchanged. It was not a drop curtain, but a curtain well known among theatricals. The curtain is called a tableau curtain, similar to:the one used by Mr. Charles Kean at the Princess's, and draws up in festoons. A ballet of action is represented by a certain number of dancers representing characters. Ile-examined by Mr. Besley—l did not see one of the programmes when I was at the Alhambra, but I have seen one since. Most of the dancers were taking part in the imaginary killing. Mr. John M'Lean, comedian—l have been five years in l'the profession, and am acquainted with all sorts of enter tainments on the stage. I went with Mr. Wigan to the Alhambra. I saw the grand divertissement, but I had seen the other divertissement the night before. It was more simple in its general character. Both were ballets diverti,s tissements. Feelings and wishes were expressed by actions by the performers. That is what I understand by panto mime, though there may be a ballet without dancing. I wrote, a.description of the ballet at the Alhambra. I un derstand by pantomime something opposed to speech. Mr. Tyrwhitt—The merit of mimic acting consists in expressing meanings without words. Mr. M'Lean—Yes ; I recognized the grand divertissement as being a reproduction - of the ballet scene from the panto mime of Drury-lane Theatre last year. I recognized not only the general arrangement but the music as well. I did not recognise the Dagger Dance. The scene was different, but there was a fall of real water and rock built up at the back. The ladies were theatrically clad, and provided with wands.(Mr. M'Lean read his description of the ballet.) The grand divertissement occupied about 33 minutes in its per formance, or it might have been three-quarters of an hour. All ballets divertissements are prepared with one set scene. By Mr. Poland—There were no daggers at Drury-lane. The scene was similar in its arrangements. The rocks were built up, and the ladies came down a winding path way. I have seen similar scenes. The same kind of dress 1s Seen in all ballets. There were different principal dancers. The principal dancer has her own solo. There r o . g po inastlifte represented nte l d sh s o o ll e d th ca in ll g. it statues a l d t r h a i m nk at r i e c p e re n - - d_ a: o i n ft le er en t thing. That is called a "draw ing -room entertainment." representing the stat turnmirn.gmf i r L o e m a t_h e i ; out of G a e g o o rg a e lrs iteannint o t_ n an.n U g Se , t d he to sta go tesm abo a u n t , I s ° h u oU e ld o n f not a c r a li l a l call that ? N e V n h t a e :::ll m l d en y:: the stage. If representing a tainment of th e s t age ; numbe gr rs oup I should ca ll it an en wouldl should not ca ll anything are mak e a diff erence. without speaking or ac ti on. present ation of the s t age Mr. Vincent Rourke, of Drury-lane Th • care, actor—l have been 20 years in the profession, and aril acquainted :THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 1865. with the different entertainments of the stage. I went to see the 9 o'clock divertissement at the Alhambra. I saw what I considered to be a ballet. I agree with what has been said by the last two witnesses. Feelings and wishes were represented by pantomime. The attendant nymphs danced round the superior one and formed groups. I did not see the dagger dance. Mr. H. B. lsOnne, inspector of theatres and examiner of stage plays in the Lord Chamberlain's-office, said—l have been to the Alhambra. I saw the whole of the 11 o'clock performance. I saw no difference between it and the ordi nary ballet. I did not know that there were two kinds of ballet till informed by Mr. Wigan. I agree that there can not be ballet without pantomime, but that there can be a ballet without dancing. There was pantomime in it. The Lord Chamberlain exercises power over ballets when there is occasion to do so. I know of an alteration being made in one ballet after its first representation ; after it had been performed some nights, unless the place was licensed, it would not be under his lordship's jurisdiction. By Mr. Poland—l consider there is a story in the ballet at the Alhambra. I cannot tell you the story in the ballet. I never could understand a ballet in my life. There were 40 or 50 persons on the stage, and apparently two kinds of—dresses. I think a story was acted. There was an engagement, some resistance, then some expressions of triumph, and at the end a reconciliation by the principal dancers. There was no individual character. I should call it pantomime, accompanied by dancing. Copies of ballets with the plots are not sent to the Lord Chamberlain. If he found anything wrong in a ballet he would interfere. Re-examined by Mr..Besley—l do not think the ballet could have been represented at the Mansion-house, unless the Mansion-house was fitted up like the Alhambra Palace. I should call it a stage performance. Mr. Besley—Other witnesses were to have been in at- tendance, but they do not seem to be here. Mr. Oscar Byrne, Mr. Morelli, Mr. Bolen, Mr. Milano, and others were called, but did not answer. Mr. Bexley—l have no doubt that, owing to the morning performances, the persons called are absent. That, how ever, is my case. Mr. Poland said no case had been made out against his client. He contended that the music and dancing licence, under the 25th of George 111. justified the performance. But it was said the plaintiff had gone beyond his licence and had infringed the provisions of the Theatre Act, 67 Vict., chap. 68. He would venture to submit that the plaintiff had in no way violated any Act of Parliament. The act 10 George 11. was passed in consequence of the immoralities and indecencies of the English stage. The Legislature wished to put a stop to such performances, and to place all parties under the control of the Lord Chamberlain or the licensing ma gistrates. Afterwards the 25th George 11. was passed, ap plicable to London and Westminster, and for the purpose of enabling Mr. Strange and other proprietors to give public performances—to give music and dancing entertainments and amusements of the kind. Mr. Strange had given such entertainments. He had provided music and dancing for the public as he was licensed to do. Had he gone beyond that he must have procured a licence from the Lord Chamberlain. His learned friend had asserted that music licences were only intended to enable young gentle men to go to casinos, but he differed from him on that point. Tho object of the Act of Parliament was to put all places of public entertainment where music and dancing oc curred under the supervision of the Middlesex magistrates, He could, if necessary, prove that such a license was granted to Mr. E. T.Smith when he had the Alhambra— and now one of his prosecutors—and that the license was granted on the understanding that the Alhambra was not to be turned into a casino, such as the Argyll-rooms and similar places. The Alhambra was, then, a place for public dancing and music ; and the public were to pay for the enjoyment of the entertainment. It was said there was a stage and the performances took place on it. But at Exeter-hall, or St. James's-hall there was also a stage called a platform There was a similar platform at the Alhambra, but called a stage, for the purpose of this prosecution. It had been stated that the plaintiff had no right to have scenes ; but why not ? If the proprietor gave music and dancing to the public, why was he not to be allowed to decomte the back scenes according to his notions of taste ? But nothing of this sort could affect the question whether the performances were stage performances or not. The cir- cumstanco of there being backgrounds and scenes and lights was immaterial, as they were only accessories. The principal amusements were music and dancing—that was all. How could they be considered to be stage plays, or anything of that kind ? If so, where was the line to be drawn ? It had been asserted that a statue was lawful, but the representation of a group was a theatrical repre sentation. Were the theatrical gentlemen who entertained this view of the case to go about and say that the repre sentation of Jim Crow, or Black Sal and Dusty Bob were stage representations. If such absurdities were counte nanced the next thing would be that Punch and Judy would be deemed a theatrical representation, because there were a stage, wings, and curtain. If this prosecution succeeded, they would soon find that little things would be picked out against every place where there was singing, and the police courts of London would soon be called upon to deal with such assumed violations of the law. It had been asserted that the duets at the Alhambra, and the dancing where the performers advanced and retreated, a kind of attack and defence, were 'stage-plays. Why, they were clearly nothing more:than a story represented by gesture. Was ever such non sense talked in a court of justice as to call that a stage-play? He could not see any difference in . a, person going to a place to dance or to see (lancing where the performers were paid and where there were footlights and a curtain. Mr. Wigan had evidently confounded entertainments on the stage with en tertainments off the stage. The position of Mr. Strange was this—he had a licence to sell refreshments, and he had a licence for music and dancing. The public could go into the Alhambra, haVe refreshment, and smoke if they pleased. Nothing against public morality had been alleged against the place, and nothing improper could be alleged or intro duced, for the proprietor was under the vigilant inspection of the police, who if they saw anything objectionable would report it to the licensing magistrates. Mr. E. T. Smith, when proprietor, did exactly the same thing. He was now the proprietor of a theatre, and he joined with others to say to Mr. Strange—" We will bring the provisions of a penal act against you so as to put a stop to your enter tainment. We will not compete with you fairly by giving the public better seats and better performances at our theatres, but we will put your amusements down by the strong hand of an act of Parliament." If the construction contended for was put upon the Act 7 Vic., then a ballet girl performing a part in a stage-play would be liable to be prosecuted and to be fined 101. a day for acting a part in a stage-play. Section 12 would throw light on the act. Every new play or new part of a play was to be sent to the Lord Chamberlain. Mr. Donne, however, stated that a ballet with a plot and incidents and a story, though not always a very intelligible one, were not always sent to the Lord Chamberlain. It was obvious why it was not neces sary to send a copy of a ballet to the Lord Chamberlain any more than it was necessary to send a copy of a dance or of tumbling feats. The interpretation clause enumerated those productions which were to be regarded as stage plays. All these had plots and stories, and, consequently, were stage plays. The prosecutors could not, however, rely on any of the definitions, so they brought forward the words and " other stage entertainments, 'or any part thereof." There was no mention of a ballet in the statute, and the reason was that a ballet had so vague a story that it would be ridiculous to call it a stage play. If Mr. Wigan's defini tion of a ballet was correct, then it was not a ballet that was exhibited at the Alhambra,. The learned gentleman here quoted from the " Penny Cyclopmdia" the definition of the varieties of ballet. Now it was understood that where certain things were defined in an Act of Parliament, that if other things, ejusdem generic, were not named, they wore not included in the act. Mr. Tyrwhitt said specific things of the. same kind were included. Mr Poland would take the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani mals Act. There the cow, heifer, and ox were named, but not the bull. It was held, therefore, that the bull did not come within the operation of the act. The report of the cases of "Sandeman and Breach, 3, Cook's Reports, 46 ; and "Payne," 3, Carrington Reports, bore out this 'view. It was, therefore, improper to strain an act of Parliament of a penal character, and it would be :straining the act to call the performance at the Alhambra a stage play. He felt strongly in this matter, because this was the first attempt to turn a penal statute against persons; who endeavoured to provide the public with suitable amusement. It was necessary to make a stand. A penal Act of Parliament ought to be construed strictly, and recollecting that the governing words in the act were "a stage play," he would respectfully contend that Mr. Strange had infringed no act of Parliament. Mr Tyrwhitt—You :say Mr. Strange is protected by the 25th George 11. Mr Poland did not mean to say that ;Mr. Strange could infringe the law, whatever might be the view lie took of his licence. He contended, however, that no infringement had taken place, and he was entitled therefore for the sum mons to be dismissed. He had witnesses, but he was con tent to take the case the witnesses on the other side had attempted to make out. Mr. Tyrwhitt said on such an indefinite matter different views could be entertained by different parties. He would not venture to express an opinion now, but ho would say that it would be very much better if parties would make a case for the Superior Courts. It was certain that a magis trate's decision would satisfy nobody, for it was not to be supposed that parties so deeply interested in the question at issue would be content with a decision in a police court. He was ready to give a decision, believing that the ma tt er could not stop in a police court, to enable the parties to take the question to a Superior Court, and get the deci sion of the judges. He did not suppose there was any im mediate hurry for his decision. Ho would look over the evidence and cases in point carefully, and then apprise both sides when ho was prepared with his judgment. TIIE PITMAN AND THE GUN.—A pitman, who had not been in Newcastle for a year or two, was lately standing near the northern entrance to the High Level Bridge, when off went the time-gun, and back fell our hero in a fright. " What's that ? " he exclaimed, on recovering from the roar. " Oh," was the quiet answer, "it's only the gun striking one." "Maw sang !" said he, " but aw wadn't like to be here when it's striking twelve !" Naval and Military Intelligence. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, held a levee yesterday afternoon at the Horse Guards. The levee was numerously attended, nearly 200 officers being present. Major-General Hutchinson retired yesterday from the command of the forces in the western district, and was suc ceeded by Major-General Viscount Templeton, who for a short time will reside with the Naval Commander-in-Chief at Devonport, Admiral Sir Chas. H. Fremantle, K.C.B. It is understood that the official residence of the military com mander at Mount Wise will undergo considerable altera tion and repair. His aide-de-camp is Sir Wm. Fairfax. Gen. Hutchinson retires from Plymouth with the respect and esteem of all those who have been brought into com munication with him. For the present he will reside in the North of Devon, near Bideford. Yesterday the Chatham battalion of Royal Marines Light Infantry were marched several miles into the open country, under the command of Lieut.-Col. W. F. Foote. There are still 120 military officers above the rank of captain holding the Waterloo medal. Of theso 18 are gene rals, 22 lieutenant-generals, 24 major-generals, 19 colonels, 24 lieutenant-colonels, and 13 majors. Three or four years since the number of officers wearing this medal (above the rank of captain) was 150. In order to provide accommodation for the new machinery which on the occasion of the visit of the Board of Admiralty to Chatham dockyard they directed to be introduced in the ropomaking department of that establishment, the whole of the upper portion of the range, of buildings hitherto used as hemp stores has been converted and fitted for the re ception of the spinning-jennies and other machines in tended to be henceforth used. The principal building oc cupies a space of some 250 ft, in length by 60ft. in breadth, and in the internal fitments which it is now receiving care has been taken to adapt it to the purpose for which it is intended. On this floor will be erected 48 spinning-jennies for preparing the hemp, the whole of which have been sup plied, and are now being fitted by Messrs. Fairbairn And Co., of Leeds. In order to provide the extra space required for these machines, a portion of the building used as stores for the tarred yarn has been taken in, by which an addi tional clear space of 50ft. in length is obtained. The ope rations to be performed in this building requiring all the light it is possible to obtain, the whole of the old windows have been removed and replaced by windows of large size, while a skylight constructed with self-regulating ventila. :ors and louvres has been made to traverse the entire building. The floor throughout has been renewed. and strengthened so as to bear the additional weight it is in tended to carry. The shafting for driving the new ma chinery will come through the present spinning-room, which will be connected with the new factory by means of a couple of girder-bridges, allowing, at the same time, a communication with the upper spinning-floor of the ropery. The whole of the alterations and buildings have been expe ditiously made by Messrs. Foord and Sons, the contractors to the Admiralty, under the immediate superintendence of Mr. Rivers, the head of the works' department at Chatham dockyard. Nearly the whole of the machinery intended to be placed on the new building has been received at the dock yard, and a staff of engineers' workmen are busily engaged in fitting up the several machines in their assigned places. Some weeks will be necessarily employed in this undertak ing before the new department is in satisfactory working order. The question of employing female labour for this description of work is still under consideration, and, from the advantages likely to result from its adoption, it is be lieved that the Lords of the Admiralty will decide on making the experiment, under proper regulations—the first of the kind ever attempted at either of the Royal dockyards. Vice-Admiral Sir M. Seymour, G.C.8., Naval Comman- der-in-Chief at Portsmouth, yesterday morning embarked from the dockyard on board the steam-tender Sprightly, Commander George Allen, and proceeded out to Spithead, where he officially inspected the 20-gun screw corvette Highflyer, Capt. T. Pasley, which had steamed out of the harbour the previous day to Spithead anchorage on the completion of her outfit for foreign service. To-day the Highflyer's machinery will be tested by the officials of the port over the trial ground in Stokes Bay, when, if the ship passes through the trial successfully, the Highflyer will be reported as ready for sea. The Urgent iron:screw troopship, Capt.lS. H. Henderson, has again been placed in dock at Portsmouth, to examine into and repair some at present unknown, but yet impor- taut defect existing either in the screw seating or the line of the ship's shafting. The Urgent was taken out of Ports mouth harbour on Tuesday, in another attempt to prove her machinery, but the trial again failed, owing to the de fect to which we have alluded. The Octavia screw frigate, 3,161 tons, 500-horse power, remains in the old ship-fitting basin of Portsmouth dock- yard receiving the few remailngifinfshing touches to her rig and outfit for commission at the hands , of the dockyard officials. The Octavia is one of three frigates selected by the Admiralty some five years 'ago to ascertain the most efficient and economical form of marine engines. The two other frigates selected were the Arethusa, 3,141 tons, and the Constance, of 3,213 tons, all three of the vessels having been built from the designs of Sir W. Symonds, when sur veyor of the navy. The most eminent of the engineering firms in the country were invited by the Admiralty to enter into competition in the design and manufacture of the three sets of engines, without any restrictions being laid upon them as to price, and under these liberal conditions Messrs Penn undertook to manufacture the engines for the Arethusa, Messrs. Maudslay those for the Octavia„ and Messrs. Randolph and Elder those of the Constance. The chief features of difference in the engines manufactured by the firinA minted for this :gala purpose are as follows: Messrs. Penn supplied their engines with two cylinders o_ large diameter ; Messrs. Mandalay supplied their engines with] three cylinders tach, while Messrs. Randolph and Elder gave their engines six cylinders. There has been naturally great interest felt in knowing the results which would be obtained from trials between the three vessels, but, strange to "say, those trials have not yet taken place, although the Octaviamade her trial trip over the measured mile in Stokes Bay so far back as the Nov. 20, 1861. It is not that the Admiralty have displayed a total want of in terest in the after fate of the three vessels, but the interest displayed was not sustained. Thus, more than three valu able years have been allowed to slip past, and nothing has yet been done in the second and most important part of a scheme that was liberally and wisely planned in the outset. Certainly all three ships are now being prepared for com mission, and the trials may even yet take place, but, if so, the data that will now be obtained will not be of one-half the value they would have had three years since. The Octavia, on her trial, at Portsmouth, was at light draught of water, 18ft. forward and 20ft, 10in. aft, and attained a mean speed of 12.251 knots. Her engines are fitted with surface condensers, superheaters, and have three cylinders to each engine, with mainstays, patent slide arrange ment, without eccentrics. The cylinders are placed side by side, with a three-throw " crank shaft immediately in front. Nearly opposite the two outer cylinders is placed the condenser, with its horizontal air pump. To cut off the steam at an early part of the piston stroke, and as close to the cylinder as possible, the ordinary expansion valve is rejected and the slide valve is adapted for that purpose. By a particular arrange ment the position of the eccentric is at the same time shifted so as to allow of the stream being cut off at the moment required. This latter is also used for starting and reversing gear, and consists of a train of spur wheels, mounted on a moveable frame, for communicating the mo tion from the spur wheel on the main crank shaft to a spur wheel on the crank Or eccentric shaft for working the sides. The frame can be raised or lowered to permit the eccentric shaft to revolve to the required extent ; and as the opening of the ordinary slide valve for the admission of the steam becomes very much reduced when the lap is proportioned for cutting off the steam at an early part of the stroke, a new description of slide valve is introduced, having addi tional facings, so as to obtain the requisite amount of steam opening without increasing the area of the eduction open ings. The shut-off valve supplies the place of the ordi nary throttle valves, and is worked by a lever from the starting platform, to regulate the admission of steam, or shut it off as required. On the trial of the ship in Nov., 1861, steam was cut off at one-third stroke. By the em ployment of three cylinders, with their cranks placed at an angle of 120 deg. with each other, it is sought to render the motion uniform. By the cranks turning in rotation one after the other, and each having its apportioned one third of the circle,:a continuous pressure is given and the weight of the shaft on the bearings is neutralised. There have been instances of vessels in America fitted with three and four cranks, and these are said to always have broken down, but that is certainly no - sufficient reason for break ing down the engines of either Messrs. Mandalay in the Octavia, or Messrs. Randolph and Elder in the Constance. On the contrary, judging from the trials of the engines in both ships which have already taken place, we have every reason to believe that any further and protracted trials of the engines in these two ships would be most satisfactory. The iron screw steamship Achilles, 20., Capt. E. W. Vansittart, assisted by the steam -tugs Medusa, Confiance, and Scotia, went yesterday from Plymouth Sound into Hamoaze, where she was placed at moorings off Keyham steamyard, preparatory to going into No. 3 dock. The lighter Tortoise, H. Hoskings, master, left Plymouth on Tuesday with stores for Liverpool and Pembroke. The sailing frigate Indefatigable, 50, at Devonport, will be towed by the paddlewheel steamvessel Medusa to Liver pool. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty :—Staff Corama.nder John Stokes to the Britan nia; Jmes Fraser, assist.-surg., to the Rattlesnake, for dis posal ; and W. Grant, acting assist.-surg., to the Meander. [ ADVER TISENCENT.]-IThilOWay'S Ointment and Pills. — Bad legs, bad breasts, ulcers, abscesses, wounds, and sores of all kinds may be thoroughly healed by the application of this Ointment to the parts affected after they have been duly fomented with warm water. The discharge should not be checked at onee, but rather encouraged,:for any sudden check must of course be always dangerous. Na ture is the noblest of physicians, and must not opposed, but seconded ; all sores are for a time the safety valves of the constitution, and should not be closed or healed until they resume a healthier character. Under the action of this powerful Ointment, together with the Pills, the de praved humours of the body will be quickly removed. France in 1864. Several of the Paris journals publish articles on the past year and the incidents which characterised its course. Some express regret that France had not placed herself more prominently forward, par ticularly in the Danish question ; whilst others are of opinion that the Emperor acted with great pru dence in holding apart from a quarrel which did not immediately interest France. One of the most complete reviews of the year, as also one of the. most favourable to the French Government, appears in the France, which praises all :that the Emperor has done during the last 12 months. Referring to the political state of Europe at the commencement of 1864, our contemporary says : The great idea of a European congress had passed away like a dream. Poland was still in arms, vanquished, but not cast down ; Italy was silently agitating ; Hungary and Venetia were also moved by the emotion of patriotism and revolutionary excitations ; Germany was approaching the crisis to which the war with Denmark, the rivalties of the great confederate powers, and the progress of democratic ideas have irresistibly led her; lastly, on the banks of the Danube the slightest spark might have set fire to all the combustible elements of the Eastern question, which was slumbering, but not extinct. What was wanting for a universal conflagration to burst forth from all those, germs of conflict? A word or a sign from France would have been sufficient. Thu revolution, by all its organs and by every means of seduction, was exciting her to act. It was making the most energetic efforts to precipitate the imperial policy into that terrible struggle of revolted na tionalities in which conflict it saw the realisation of its hopes and secret designs. The empire resisted that revolu tionary tendency, and preferred the quiet glory of a peace maker to the sanguinary renown of a conqueror. And in the midst of the passions 'which were endeavouring to hurry it away, it gave a remarkable example of prudence and forethought by taking part in the great foreign ques tions only for the purpose of solving them pacifically. Such is one of the important results of the year which has just ended. Instead of war let loose it gave us a consoli dated peace. Peace has manifestly become the policy of France ; it has for inevitable result disarmament, reduc tion of the military expenses which are ruining all States, and the application of the public revenues to the produc tive works by which the wealth, prosperity, and civilisa tion of nations are developed. After pointing out how great an influence such forbearance must give France in all great European questions, the writer points especially to two acts of the Emperor as worthy of admiration—the Conven tion of April 10, which founded the throne of Mexico, and that of September 15 concerning the position of Italy. The article then goes on to say : The foundation of the Mexican Empire has proved that France, exempt from all personal ambition, was abandoning those distant expeditions which, if they satisfy honour and the national glory, contribute rarely to the public prosperity compensations proportioned to the enormous sacrifices they involve. Thus the year, marked at its commencement by sad prospects of war, is terminat ing in the most happy conditions of pacification. Released from all outward anxiety, France may concentrate all her forces and attention on her internal situation. Peace abroad is liberty at home. War alone could stay the progress of her institutions and the extension of her public liberties. The revolution being reduced to impuissance and war im possible, France cannot remain inferior in political and social progress to so many nations which surround her. In presence of the great feats accomplished by French arms, when France is menaced by no other power, and herself menaces none, the military phase of the Empire may be considered as terminated. Its liberal career commenced with the decree of Nov. 24, and everything justifies the belief that it will be as brilliant, as complete, as that of which the object was to re-establish order at home and the dignity and prestige of France abroad. Referring then to the situation of France at home during the year, the writer remarks : [ As at the commencement of the year the Empire was menaced with the terrible eventualities of war, so was it threatened after the!last elections with Parliamentary agitations calculated to place in peril the principle on which it . is based. Vain , apprehensions ! Tho liberty of discussion has become enlarged, debates have brilliantly re-echoed in the Legislative Assemblies ; and the Imperial Government, far from being weakened by them, has come forth strengthened by all that it had accorded to the free control of public opinion. We have often said that only bad governments can fear liberty of speech ; wise govern ments, friendly to progress and devoted to the interests of the whole nation, derive from it a force and an authority which are better than all restricted laws ; namely, those of confidence and public feeling. At present it is necessary to advance boldly in that liberal path. To the improve ments already realised fresh ones must be added ; and the progress accomplished must be the forerunner of further reforms. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, TIMES.—Lord Grey has republished his " Essay on Parliamentary Reform," with the addition of two chapters, in the first of which he treats of the rival Reform Bills of 1859 and 1860, while the second contains his own suggestions for another Reform Bill. It is due to Lord Grey to say that the son of the Minister to whom we owe the Reform Act of 1832 has discussed the question of an amendment of his father's measure with candour and fairness, and displayed great ingenuity and fertility of resource in the suggestions he has made. In treating such a subject it would be unreasonable to expect any very striking novelty of criticism, but this is amply com pensated by the proposal of most startling innova tions. Lord Grey thinks very highly of the Reform Act of 1832, but he admits that it contains . some serious defects. In the first place, by abolishing a number of Treasury boroughs and greatly popular isingso the system of representation, it has, he thin materially weakened the power of the Executives Government in the House of Commons, and has far placed an obstacle in the way of contemplates the efficient w orking of our Constitution, which that the Legislature should act under the control of the Executive. By abolishing a great number of nom ination boroughs the Reform has. also, he thinks, diminished the facilities for bringing into Parliament young men of talent but of moder ate re sources, and finding seats for able and meritorious s t a t es men who may either be deficient in electioneer ing ability or have incurred a temporary unpopu larity in the discharge of their duty. The Reform Act has not put an end to corruption , and it has not diff u sed political rights as widely as might be desired. The object of a Reform Bill, Lord Grey thinks, should be to provide for the better government of the nation and the welfare of the people at large, not to gratify a love of change,, nor to conform to abstract ideas. He prefers the Bill of 1859 to the Bill of 1860. The former he thinks more complicated, but also more logical ; the second more simple, but less consistent. The effect of both would have been, he thinks, to prepare the way for further changes ; to recognise the prin ciples of Democracy, which would be sure to develope themselves as time goes on. He sees in the very moderation of these bills a source of danger. It is the nature of Democracy to establish itself by degrees, and the possession of political power is not of itself an advantage to the possessors, but only so far as it contributes to secure the objects of good Government. Having thus criticised his predecessors with much justice, though, perhaps, not with tho rough completeness; Lord Grey proceeds to give his neighbours the opportunity of subjecting himself to a similar ordeal. He is in favour of a sweeping measure, the main principles of which shall be en tirely in a Democratic direction. He would equalise the borough and county franchise, sweep away small boroughs as an indefensible anomaly, and re distribute the constituencies, if not into absolutely equal electoral districts, at any rate into aggregates approaching to equality. He does not propose to lower the borough franchise, and certainly, if his view be correct, that in boroughs in which the Small Tenements Act has been adopted any person who rents a single room for 2s. 4d. a week is, with out payment of rates and taxes, without continuous . residence in the same house, provided he have re sided in the borough for a year, entitled to vote as a ten-pound householder, there seems very little rea son for lowering the franchise i n thi s di rec tion, unless on principles which would go the whole length of universal suffrage. This being the outline of his measure, Lord Grey sets himself to work to correct the obvious tendency of the provisions we have mentioned. He sees considerable evil in the abolition of small boroughs —an evil which his re distribution of the constituencies will of course greatly aggravate—and he p rocee d s t o remedy this evil by providing for the representation of minorities and giving facilities for the i n t ro d uc tion into Par liament of men whose merit is more solid than popu lar. The first expedient i s th e cumu l a ti ve vote— that is, the giving each voter as many votes as there are seats to be filled up, and allowing him either to spread thosevotes by giving each to a different candi, date, or to consolidate them by givi ng th em a ll to one, in which case they would count in his favour, not as now, for one vote, but for as many votes as there are seats to be filled up. He proposes to in crease the number of .constituencies which are not of a local character, to augment the representation of the Universities ; and to give to pers ons engaged in particular trades, either as capitalists or labourers the power of returning a member, f orm i ng t h em into a sort of guild for the purpose. He would allow the House of Commons to elect 15 members for life by cumulative vote, no vacancy to be filled up till three occur. These provisions seem meant to correct the evils occasioned by the abolition of small boroughs. In order to strengthen the Government, he proposes that thq House should have the power of electing for the session some 30 or 40 members, not by cumula tive votes, but by majority, so that the stronger party would gain for that very reason an increase of strength, and he would abolish the law requiring re-election on vacating office. He proposes, not very consistently with this object, to extend the qualifica tion of revenue officers for voting. He is opposed to the ballot, he seems to look favourably on voting papers, and is inclined to lean to a plan of double election, by which a limited number of electors, say twenty, may be empowered to elect some person to vote for them, thus abdicating the franchise they possess, and putting on record in the most authentic manner their own unfitness for its exercise. This is the outline of Lord Grey's plan. It occurs to us to ask, in the first place, why on his own showing Lord Grey should desire to have any Reform Bill at all. He does not pretend to say that the• pre sent state of things fails to provide, according to his own requirement, for the good government of the nation or the welfare of the people at large. We nowhere find him expressing any confidence that the changes he proposes would make things really much better. There are serious defects, he says ; the cry for Reform may revive ; even now an active minority is at work, and it is wise to make alterations which may correct these defects while it is yet time. ' This looks very like that love of change and idle search after abstract perfection which Lord Grey himself denounces. We must refer him to his own principles, and then the question will be, does the present system work well, and will any system that is likely to be adopted work better? It appears to us that there is a con . 'union in this matter between means and ends. There is the demand of a not very influential minority for a reduced franchise and redistribution of seats. Lord Grey proposes to comply with this demand. But these things are not asked for their own sake, but with the view of extending Demo cratic influence and giving greater power to mere numbers as opposed to intelligence and property. This is the very thing which Lord Grey sets him self to counteract, and he believes that those who demand Reform will be satisfied with a measure so !ramed as to take away in detail the very concession which it purports to give in gross. We think very differently. If the Democratic party in England are weak and unimportant, there is no need to concede a Reform Bill in order to conciliate them. If they are strong and powerful, they will not be conciliated by a Reform Bill carefully framed so as to appear to comply with their wishes in form, and to elude them in substance. The power that is able to compel a bill is able to compel a bill in accordance with its wishes. The agitators for Reform know what they want, and will either have it or will not be satisfied. It is also apparent that Lord Grey'S Conservative safeguards are calculated not so much to correct the evils of the existing system as that great aggravation of them which his own creation of new electoral districts and the reduction of the county franchise would tend to create. The first division of mea sures consists of expedients for preventing the natural result of electoral districts—the omnipo tence of the majority. The second is for the pur pose of correcting the increased weakness of the Government, sure to arise from the same cause. Is it worth while to let loose so much evil in order to see if we can control it—to instal a majority in absolute power, in order to see whether, bit by bit we can filch it away? Has Lord Grey considered whether the result of introducing such a measure as he proposes would not be the adoption of the con cessions, and the omission of the safeguards with which he seeks to counterbalance them? Has he considered, even if the measure should pass, how long the powerful majority would tolerate impedi ments expressly placed in its way, and submit to restraints which may be almost termed self-imposed? Is it possible to go back to the feudal ages, to re animate and invest with new power the narrow and exclusive spirit of Guilds and Trade Corporations ? Would the House of Commons, elected by the people, long tolerate ameng . themselves the pre sence of members for life, or members for the Ses sion, claiming equality, if not superior, but having no such origin? By what arts would these prizes be obtained? What openings for the corruption of members would they not create, what factions, what heartburnings, what intrigues ! IS it worth while to overthrow so much that has stood the test of experience in order to try whether we cannot invent something which will work almost as well as what we have now ? Let it be proved that the ad mission of the working classes to the suffrage and the equal or nearly equal distribution of electoral power will be a substantial improvement to our Go vernment, and the thing will, no doubt, be done. But let us not do what we believe to be wrong merely because it is asked for, and because we imagine that we are able by a number of subtle de vices altogether to neutralise and destroy the effect of our own concessions. POST.—The events of the past month have wrought so marked a change in the complexion of affairs in America that it may not be out of place to ascertain as nearly as possible what have been the losses and gains of each of the belligerents, and to determine how far they are likely to affect 'the duration or the issue of the war. Hostilities have been carried on in the American. States oh so extensive a scale, the number of in, l ..L'oendent armies employed in different regiOns has teen BO large, and the fortune of the combatants has been so various, that it is scarcely possible. for a spec tator to appreciate at their proper value the successes or the defeats which almost every week the journalist is called upon to chronicle. If the subjugation of Virginia were the sole object which the Northern Government had in view; we might content ourselves with watching the movements of the vast army which for some months past has been encamped on the banks of the James River ; or if the occupation of Tennessee or of Georgia was the end which the North alone sought to attain, we might confine ourselves to following the operations of the armies of Thomas or of Sherman. But, in stead of one, it is a large number of States which the Federal Government seek to coerce into subjec tion,; and he who would form a conjecture regarding the issue of the war must not only regard the results of each particular campaign, but must estimate their relative bearing upon each other. It also happens that, from the number of the armies which the belligerents have sent into the field, and from the variety of places in which active hostilities are simultaneously carried on, we are inclined to under rate, or even to lose sight of, operations which, if they stood alone, would completely engross our at tention. There are few, for example; even of those who have carefully watched the progress of the war during the past three months, who are possibly aware that an expedition has been projected with a view to the seizure of a port on the coast of North Carolina which bears comparison with that which left the shores of Bulgaria in the autumn of 1854 for the invasion of the Crimea. That expedition has actually sailed, and, if we are to trust the in formation brought by the last mail, has been. com pelled to abandon its object. The fleet which under the command of Admiral Porter set sail for Wil mington as soon as Sherman's arrival at Savannah had been ascertained, was composed of 65 vessels of war and 85 transports, and conveyed an army of upwards of 20,000 men. The allied fleets on leaving Varna in September, 1854, consisted of 63 sail of the line and war steamers, and close on 200 trans ports, and conveyed an army of 53,000 men. The naval force in both was numerically about the same, though the army destined for Sebastopol was more than double that despatched to Wilming ton. The circumstance is worthy of notice, how ever, as illustrating the comparative ,linattention with which we have learned to regard the isolated operations of which the great war now waged in America is composed. Yet on the success or failure of these combined operations must ultimately de pend the issue of the war.. It is now admitted on all hands that the removal of Hood's army from Georgia, thereby uncovering the approaches to Sa vannah, was a mistake. After the defeat of Bragg at Chattanooga a twelvemonth since, and the vir tual occupation of the greater portion of Tennessee by the Federal troops, the invasion of Georgia was determined on, and many months were expended - by the Government at Washington in . preparations for an attack on Atlanta. The possession of this town, it was supposed, would enable the North to inter cept the line of communication between the Caroli nas and the Western States, and by establishing a formidable position in the heart of the Confederacy, to paralyse the efforts of the scattered armies of the Southern Republic. Atlanta fell, but the prize was found to be almost worthl ess. S eparated by a long and comparatively undefended line of country from the source of his supplies Sherman found that, with out inflicting any da mage on h i s opponents, ie was compelled to maintain a huge army under difficul ties which might at any moment become insuperable. It was open to him to retire into Tennessee, or to penetrate still further into Georgia ; in 'the former case having no foe to dread, in the latter being com pelled to cope with any force which the Confede rates might be enabled to employ against him. While placed in this position the Confederate Government resolved on the rash expedition of despatching into Tennessee the army which had evacuated Atlanta, and which might by its mere presence in Georgia have deterred Sherman from advancing still farther from his base of operations. It is not difficult to un derstand the motives which induced them to take this step ; but the result proved that they under rated, the abilities of the general to whom they were opposed, and the strength of the force which he had left behind him for the defence of Tennes see. Relieved from all apprehensions of danger in his immediate .front, Sherman abandoned At lanta and marched without opposition across Georgia to the sea coast ; whilst Hood, after having in Tennessee to retire d , e ,.. feated and forced compelled the Federal arrn'Y he first encoun tered resistance in his preVious adv. Inc e. brilliant the advance of Sherman th. rough has been, it is needless to say that he 1. 'las gained no Georgia., substantial advantage by the mere aban'donment of a town which he was at great pains to tak'"el and the substitution of a sea for a land base. A stip of lan on the coast of Georgia is now in the possession of the Federal troops, whilst every other pt rtion of the State is in the hands of the Confederates. ma be, however, that the possession of this ,stvip land will enable him to secure advantages w.hic' will more than compensate him for the loss, of t lanta—and this brings us to consider the probabi lity of Savannah being captured, and made th' . starting point of future expeditions into Georgi , and South Carolina. Seven days have elapsed since Sherman's arrival before the fortifications o that town, and it is a significant fact that no at tempt has been made to carry it by. assault. Th , delay has probably been occasioned by a desire 0 , the .part of the general 'to obtain the assistance o Admiral Dahlgre - n's fleet—but, nevertheless, it be, tokens a want of confidence in his army to achiev , unaided the capture of the city. We now learn the' it is at least doubtful whether the fleet will be Al , to co-operate with the land forces, and, if so, G en' • Sherma'h's task has become even more difficult tha it was on his arrival, as during the interval th , Confederate Government have not neglected to re inforce the garrison. The railroad connectin Charleston with Savannah is perfectly unimpede from the former town to the point where i crosses the Savannah River, a few miles abov , the besieged city; and it is needless to say tha the Confederates have availed themselves of i to despatch all the troops at their disposal to th , assistance of the garrison. The fate of th , beleaguered town cannot, therefore, be con sidered, as the Federals would have us suppose as sealed, and, until it falls, the march of Sherman , through Georgia will be unproductive of results If, however, Savannah shouldsbe taken, the Federa General would unquestionably secure an excellent base of operations for an advance eastwards oft Charleston, northwards on Augusta, or westwar on the towns in Georgia which he left on his rig", flank when traversing the State. The failure of th expedition against Wilmington may enable the Co federates' to despatch a portion of its garrison Savannah, and for the present, at least, the inters tion of simultaneously attacking both towns wi probably be abandoned by the Federal Governmen On the whole, therefore, the strategic position the belligerents in the South is not so unfavourabi to the Confederates as many were at first incline to suppose. As regards Hood, he has only lost th ground which he previously gained ; and the late official accounts show that he inflicted upon h . adversary no less damage than he suffered himse , His advance into Tennessee was, however, unque tionably a failure, for; beside s wea k en i ng his armh he afforded Sherman the opportunity of putting i extreme jeopardy the strategically important to of Savannah. COUNTRY MARKETS. ... Al,. HULL.-T UESDAY. At our market to-day there was a large show of Englis l, wheat, which sold at an advance of is per qr. The de mand was principally upon dry qualities. Foreign whce was also is per qr. dearer—the demand being confined t fine reds and finest Baltic white. All feeding corn Sol readily at the full prices of last week. Malting barley slow sale. NENVCAS TLE-ON-T YNE.-T UESDAY. There was a moderate supply of wheat from the grove and coast, and a small arrival from abroad. The trail ruled firm, but not so brisk as on Saturday, The busines done was at an advance of 6d to is on the rates of Ig 6 Tuesday. Barley was held more firmly, but the deinav ( being extremely limited little was done. Grinding so' sold more readily at late rates. Malt was dull. Beans an peas were unchanged. Oatmeal offered at about previoil terms. Flour was the turn dearer. The averages viercl wheat, 31s 5d ; oats, 19a 10d per cir. LYNN.-TUESDAY. New wheat, 41s . to 42s ; new red, 37s to 39s ; old whit 41s to 42s ; old red, 39s to 40S per 36 stone. Barley II malting, 32s to 34s ; secondary, 30s ; ordinary, 26s to 21 per qr. Oats, 20s to per 24 stone. Beans, large, to 34s ; small, 34s to 36s per 38 stone. MARKET HARBOROUGH.-TUESDAY. New white wheat, 40s to 445.; new red, 38s to 42s per stone. Barley, fine; 34s ; other kinds, 25s to 30s per ' Oats, late prices were maintained. Beans and peas also very firm. _ • MELTON MOWBRAY.—TVESDAY. White wheat, 41s to 458 ; red, 38s to 43s per 36 stOX Barley for malting; 30s to> 33s per qr ; feed, 26s to 29$ stone. The supply of other articles was liniited, and t! rates unchanged. COAL MAR KET, JAN. 4. d. s. Bowers West Hartley 18 0 Hastings Hartley lB 0 Holywell Main lB 0 Howard's W. Hartley 18 0 Lamli•ert's W. Hartley 18 -.0 Walker Primrose l5 9 West Hartley • - .lB 0 - Wylam lB 0 Ships at marke Walls End Byron • :21 v o Walls End Riddell ..• '',..;', I Walls End Hetton ic2' I g Hartlepool Hough Hall Kelloe Eastouii K eno i iiartlepo e ol South- ,t, 88 ; sold, 30. 11 Foreign Mail Packet List. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton Jan. 18. Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 12 , Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet FE b. 3 ' Ditto, by British packet Jan. V' Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Feb. I° ' (shim, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. ..ran 18 ° Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 1 Falkland Islands Jail. '''-' Gibraltar, via Southampton Jan. I I India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, vi a S ou th amp t on— , Jan. 1— Ditto, via Marseilles .. . Jan. l f . India (Bombay), via Southampton. Jan. I's, Ditto, via Marseilles Mauritius, via Southampton . .Jan. 0 ~Jan. 1-5: Ditto, via Barad' e 3 Jan. , a , Newfoundland Jan. '''' $ Portug .1 .. —Feb, Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon... United States and British North America, by Bri- 2 11 tish packet America, by British packet Ditto. by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. 08 11 ' 1 0 West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe.... —Jan* West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas, Cuba, g, and Mexico The Moniteur publishes decrees making 1 promotion to the rank of C omman d er i n th e Legi° ll :4 Honour; one to that of officer, two nomination s knights, and granting 112 military medals. ' BIRTH AT THE DIDCOT JUNCTION RAIL' ' i t JUNCTION.—On Tuesday mornin g - n d sma ll of excitement was occasioned at the Didcot Junction way Station among the passengers oca,hea;ilyladen t rP e r there and the officials of the company. The narrow e i p, Parliamentary train, which left Paddingt o n at 8 . 5 ft ' arrived at Didcot. soon after 10 o'clock, and, accord- 1-v '; of the regulations, it stopped there to allow of the passi i Tr the express. Among the passengers was a respect'' ti attired young woman, who shortly after the arrival of d train was taken ill. lier real condition was not aseerO ill o to and An was only removed. from a third-class carriage the compartment of a second-class. In a few mittute 6 l o cause of illness became more apparent, and she was removed in a chair to the porter's room, where was a g fd fire. A medical gentleman was.sent for, and also a felO s e i nurse from the village of Dideot, but before the arri' l fi l s e either the young woman had given birth to a verf; f itc child. Every attention was s h own to the unfor t ` iii i. tio young woman, and as so on as arrangements could be °;136 she and the child were removed to the Junction Vote" co estimable landlady, Mrs. Giles, ren dering every tw ist :ll 4 and showing the u t mos t ki ndness. The mother una are both doing well. Births. BIRT.--On the 2d inst., Mrs. of Harry Birt, Woodford , - daughter. 10- 1 P Cumin - No.—On the 3d inst., at Palmer's Pam, Pols„ 0 . Kent, the wife of Nicholson Cumming, Esq., of l tl STILWELL—On the 4th inst., at Southfields, W a nds' ° the wife of Henry Stillwell,- Esq., of a son. Marriages. 101 1 BILADNEY--ROUTIL—On the 3d inst., at Tylehurst, te Bradney; Esq., 14th Hussars, to Mary. Frances , ;: 0 0 daughter of the Rev. J. W. Routh, r ec t or o f TYl e Berks.' GREEN—HUSKISSON.—On the 3d inst., at St. Luke's, tenham, Samuel Green, Esq., MA., of the Inrier ie oi pie, and of Beaufert House, Cheltenham, to -Dot. Julia, daughter of J. W. Huskisson, Esq., late of P Ceylon Civil Service. Deaths. ii; DUI'AY.—On the 2d inst., at P ar is, R e ne nufay, 61(/ ' ' 17, Gracechurch-street, I,Jondon, aged 52. W iji. FARR.—On the 2d inst., at If or d, n ear Christchurc-7 Dale Farr, Esq., aged 93. r' s 6 Gniums.--On the 3d inst., suddenly, at the v ,r; - e9 ' the Rev. Robert Gibbings, vicar of Radley, Berks.," NEWRERRY.—On the 3d inst., at Clapham-rise, v Newberry, Esq., aged 84. y eti Pm - torn—On the 4th inst., at 4, Upp er G ros ven°l' s George G. W. W. Pi go tt, E sq ., age d 68. gen t SELLERS.—On the 4th inst., a t B ayswater, George Sellers, Esq., aged 45. P „„ e O Y TEMPEST.—On the 2d in s t. , a t B oswort h Hall, Dl"' Charles Tempest, aged 20. _...%. DIV London: Fri a led an d P ublished by WI L LIAM A' $o 0; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN (Alice: t og Strand, in the P rec i nct of t h e Savoy, in the kA 2 '" Iliddlesex. —Thursday, January 5,1865. T o EST, PROPER TonE n throuptou MI 67, Chl 66 FRre of .landed the n o b ler oottaze ( hvNErtE brace the afrords, b y E6tate Of Lurnley c; Where the 111 ';, -- the (i Terdencee. 'fttEttF. chaser is 41 , 1 then , Auct - IC UT r the ichi,, ; d Roods at (teeglme tri Thf, dist Every art Ntsu ar Co are, equalled i t,dm - a ti lt I :eci:tead post-tree ec',LlPlete Tozether of valitab eitrVete, 133 (0. and Chichest, Wells, 0 Minster, St. A :bai Wrevi ti Lrttn. COB t brblge, I tile pejo \Vitus. RS shall to the rf der, it -1 tionate Intorr Mee, ( Janus TH I MO VA 2(1 Jan. :on at tl their la E - ' The IN DIA that a I of the of the House, Januar on the lug the AT In c Bonds issued of 4 p place rnorto , on T El Lon East N.B. Von above Londe dol las for ev Office next, all in prese Otn L' r. Alr n silk; l'ari r for I bet' exec The fact.