The Sun. — London, England, 1865-01-07 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company. Limited.) THIS EVELING, THE BRIDE OF SONG. Renee, Miss Thiriwall ; Ha ßeatrix, Madame Fanny HA. nddar ; Adel 'pert, Mr. Henr j igh ; and Hannib , Mr. Laurence. Conductor, Mr Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, er titled CI:N. DERELLA •' or, Harlequin and the magic Pumpkin. and the Great Fairy of the Little Glass Slipper, i n which the celebrated Donato will appear. Commen.e at Seven. A MORNING PERN OR3IANCE of CINDERELLA next 310 N DAY, Jan. 9, ac Two o'clock, and every Monday, till further notii R. IT ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.e: 11 'PICTS EVENING , the new Operetta , i n one act, n tit ied PUNCHINELLO. Followed by the new Grand Christmas :IL'orr,iime,yrn l'l°N AND THE UNICORN FIGHTING -k Ott T CLOWN. rrIHEATRE-ROY AL, DRURY-LANE, 1 Managers, Messrs. E. Falconger andw F. B. Ch A a YOUNG tterton. THIS EVENING, and durin the eek, LAD FROM THE cOUNTRY. Alter which, the Grand Christmas Pantomime, HOP O'MY THUMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven -League Boots ; Messrs. a Bel more, Tom Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, 45c. Nisses Lydia Thompson. R. Lcclercq, Ac.; Messrs. Boleno, W. A. Berne", T. Morris, Cormack, Saville ; &Rime. C. LLuri, 7luleno, the Misses Gunnies, and Signor Tescano. • T E .A. T R E-R OYA L, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, Jan. 4, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Chippendale, Sothern, Buckstone, Rogers, Clark, Coe, Wee- Mesdames Moore, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, &c. thereby, Srm• ; After which, LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND D UNE FOR Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Braid, Gordon, Clark, White, Coe, Weathersby, &e. ; Mesdames Snowdon, 11111, &c. With PRINCESS SPRINGTIME. Mr. Compton, Miss L. jjeeley. And MRS. WHITE. - To commence at 7. itOYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Mr. PECHTER will perform his universally allowed great impersonation of RUY BLAS EVERY EVESLNG until further notice. THIS EVENING, to commence with MY WIFE'S OUT. Ilessrs. Widdicomb, Charles; Miss B. ,Perey and Alias E. Lavenu. After *hich, at 8 o'clock, RUY BLAS. Ruy Blas, Mr. Fechter. Messrs. Ryder, Fitzpatrick, F. Ch glee, M'lntyre, Garden, Raymond, Collett, C ifford, Moreland • Misses Car lotta Le:lercq, B. Percy, and Mrs. Winstanley. To conclude with a Farcical Oriental Extravaganza, en titled BEARFACED IMPOSTORS. Schahabaham (a pasha of three tails, Mr. Raymond; Mustapha, his vizier, Mr. liarden ; Bill Stumps and Jack Hocus, quondam proprietors of the original lint ed happy family, Messrs. Moreland and - iTirldicomb ; Ali, chief guardia n of the ladies of the Harem, Mr. Collett; Osman Khan, chief executioner, Mr. Bunch; Achmet Aga, an officer of the Sultan, Mr. Kelly; Mirzs Ilsj.ji Baba, chief keeper of the monkeys, Mr. Regan; Ayesha, formerly Jemima Stumps, but no first favourite of the Miss Miss Lavenu ; Fa t i ma, secon d f avou rite of the pasha, 3liss B. Percy; Shekerleb, third favourite of the pasha, Miss Travers; Beda, fourth favourite of the pasha, Mis , Watson; Zenobia, formerly banou of the harem, chief wile of the pasha, but now di scar d e d f or A yes h a , Miss Hatch. Various choice specimens of zoology, guards, slaves, and attendants , by the numer o us an d talented Smith family. Divertissement des Odalisques. Doors open at Half-past Six. The Box-office open daily from Elevai till Five. EW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.— oole l'copri.tm and Managur. Ar. B. 0 candor. THIS EVENING, ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS. Mr. J. L. Toole. At er which, at 8, LEAH. Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. George J rdan, Swinbourne, R. Phillips, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne ; Miss H. Simms and Mrs. Bildngton. To conclude with DARK DOINGS IN THE CU P BO ARD BY THE KNOTTIN(PE BROrIIERS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, R. Phill ps, Billington ; Mrs. A. Mellon. Miss A. seaman. Commence at 7. MISS BATEMA N.-NEW THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.— Mr. Webster begs to announce that the great Tragedienne, hiss BAT e.:MAN, having per formed with unparalleled success the character of "Leath" fora period of nine consecutive mo.,ths during the last season at this Theatre, and since won the plaudits of thousands in Liverpool, Birmingham, Dublin, Manchester, and ulasgow, she will RE-APPEAR at this Establishment To-night, Jan. 7, 1865, in her original character of the Jewish Maicen for a limited number of nights, previously to her appearing in other illustrations of the Lisusic Drama, which are in prepa ration. [LOYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. Tins EITSNUSTG, a new Extravaganza, entitled THE MAGIC 'HORSE AND THE ICE MAIDEN After which, THE SMELT OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11. Forrester. H. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma Barnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7, SHORT AND SWEET. After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, THE " GRIN" BUSHES ; or, the Mrs. Brown of the Missis-sippi. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton, &c.; Mesdames Ada auborough, Raynham, Simpson, J ohnstone, ctc. To cinclude with THE WILFUL WARD. Miss Palmer. GRATIS AND POST FREE. E. MOSES and SONS' New Pamphlet, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DitESS. MOSES AND S 0 N E• respectfully call attention to their large and well wisorted stock of JUVENILE CLOULINO. The newest jaorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable destns, and the best workmanship. E. MOSks and SON gin particular attention to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices Are such as must satisfy the most economical. Tills depart went is in a oistinct part of the premises, which will beton/ad a great conv,nience for ladies and children, MOSES AND SON ~(. respectfully invi . e public attention to their large and weir-asatirted WINTE it STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S • "SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH" WRAPPER ntroduced by them) is the newest and most lashionsb.e style of Overcoats for the season. MOSES AND SON'S E• READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLO rIIIN Lll ior all classes and all ages. El MOSES AND SON'S E,a• CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, from 30s. fp MOSES 'AN-D SON'S • HOSIERY and Dital-ERY, for all elassei and all ages. EMOSES AND SON'S BATS AND CAPS, • fie all c asses and all ages. J 1 MOSES AND SON'S J. BOOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. Ft MOSES AND SON'S OUTFITS, for alt classes, all age 4 , and all climates. I MOSES AND SON'S 1 .4. LONDON HOUSES, 154, 155, 156, 157, Minories ; 83, 8 , 1, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate 500, 507, 508, New Oxford--street; 1,2, 3, Hart-street; 137, 138, Tottenham-court-road; 288, Euston-road Also, Bradford, Yorkshire. L, MOSES AND SON'S • Ebtabtishments are closed tve-y Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business Is re sumed nn it ti o'clock. A.l articles at,: marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article nut appr.vedoi will be exehauged, or the money returned. List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card. and our new pamphlet, " The Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post tree. C OALS. —The LILLIESHALL COMPANY'S COAL Direct from their own CoMerles. Marquis'. 264. per ton. I Double.. 2ls. per ton. Top 255. „ De. p ....22e. We 11 screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, south Whart, ,eaddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Beat Coke l&s. per chaldron. Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole .cent. THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER. (Lite BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish- ,treet, Oxford-street. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," contatuin g the Latest SPORTING HiTELLIGENtt, ta_ De had :Crory Evening of Li. tt. GL XNII,, NEWS AGENT, 110 . 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE . THIS DA-Y.—Morni ng, 9h. 46111.—Afternoon' 10h. 24m, To-M 11b. Om.--Afternoon, 11h. 40m. I . t c m "r. Winks 4 4 114. W. LONDON, SATURDAY, JA X 7, 1865 -+-- The Report of the Metropolitan Inspector of Poor Laws cannot fail to interest those who study such subjects, and enter upon the details with the necessary care and consideration they require, and do .not suffer themselves to be deterred by the dry ness of the theme or the complex character of its accounts. Just now this matter is particularly appropriate, when we are constantly hearing of such cases, and also are called upon to consider the causes that lead to deplorable destitution, and that seem to preclude remedies and militate against relief in certain quarters. It is impossible to read a report like this without feeling that great as are the appa rent efforts made to relieve the poor, in reality the effect is very different from what it should be. It is one tJaingto make a law and another to carry it out in ouch a manner that its workings are profitable and pleasant to those who come under its statutes. Parliament may do its utmost, administrators exert themselves, and the public feel quite satisfied that the best has been done, and that henceforth there v...., .....__ will not be so many appalling cases of wretched want and deaths from starvation to be recorded. Mistaken mortals, they forget and are ignorant of the important fact, that between the formation of the laws and the recipients of their good intentions there lurks a fatal influence which casts a blighting shade over all who come in its way. It recals to mind the old story of the wicked fairy who was always forgotten at the christening feast, and ar rived in time to undo the effect of all the gifts showered down by her beneficent sisters, when we contemplate the marring effects of the Poor-law agents, and the fatal blunders which their insatiable rage for economy everlastingly entail. It is irritating to reflect upon the apparent hopeless task of mitigating the sufferings of destitu r tion which the perusal of this report • brings before us. The best way to realise the efficiency of the Poor-law, as it is carried out, is to consider the fact that the accommodation is too much for the needy, yet we find many dying of cold and starva tion outside the walls where the grim shelter is pro vided. Perhaps the most direct way of ascertain ing the cause of the failure—for such it egregiously and unmistakeably is—will be to reflect upon the circumstance that the persons who carry out the laws seem to ignore the fact that they are dealing with human beings. The consequence of this is that a very important agency is overlooked, and thus want, cold, deprivation, and death are welcomed rather than the ordeal through which the sufferer knows he must pass if he enter the house be gone through. A feeling which is never engendered by the treatment of criminals certainly is created by the intercourse of paupers with officials, and that is the knowledge that they are looked upon with contempt. Unless this idea is removed, or in a great measure counter acted by more benign measures and more generous treatment, it is idle to hope or expect much pro gress to be made ; and until the day arrives when the affliction of poverty is counted more worthy of respect and regard than the commission of crime, it will be found that complaining will not cease from our streets, and that gaunt famine and grim want will slay their thousands in defiance of acts of Par liament and statutes for the relief of the destitute. It is worthy of note that the new regulations passed last session for the benefit of the homeless vagrants are rendered comparatively futile by the maladminis tration of the decree enforced. It is possible to in sist upon the poor being admitted for a night's shelter, but it seems a work of supererogation to enable them to be so treated that they will again seek such shelter, or advise others to do so. The tender mercies of workhouse treatment seem suffi cient to defy the rules and regulations which justice enforces and humanity counsels. When all is done and said, the ruthless guardian, the stern official, is king after all, and the latter end is worse than the beginning, became in a Christian land it has 'been seen that laws are powerless, and the sympathy of the community of no avail to afford protection to those so grievously in need of it. Little more than half the number of beds are required for the accommodation of those for whom they are provided, the utmost that the Unions can receive being 1,400, and the greatest number that have availed themselves of these extra chances being 712. So much for the counteracting influence of parish administration of Parliamentary enactments. It is one thing to peruse in this Report the fair-seeming and well sounding arrangements that are made, and another to draw on the memory for a history of the dis graceful and deplorable incidents of deaths from want. The practice of refusing out-door relief is inhuman, and also most suicidal in a business way. Many, by timely aid, might be rehabilitated, instead of sinking into hopeless penury, turning vagrants, or enduring one misery after another until the burden of life is gladly laid down and another victim passes away, a mockery to our civilisation, and a reproach on our charity. Why it is persisted in, that the destitute must come into the Union, would be incomprehensible if a sad answer was not at hand to give to the inquirer. In other words, it is a genteel way of informing them that they had better die off and get rid of the surplus population, for many have attested with their lives the fact that they prefer death at home to life in the Workhouse. Too many have passed from the jurisdiction of man's laws into the presence of their GOD for any doubt to be entertained upon the subject by those competent to judge. Unless the guardians of the several districts will insist upon out-door relief being more readily afforded it is im possible that any change for the better can take place among our destitute. To be a pauper is rightly reckoned as one of the greatest afflictions of the thousand ills to which flesh is heir. Lord STANLEY, whose remarks upon public affairs gene rally bear the evidence of keen observation, never made .a truer statement than when he said that to pauperise a man was to degrade him. Why, in the name of common sense, should it be the study of those intrusted with important functions to attain this object, it is difficult to understand, except upon the supposition, that refusal is almost certain, and hence a saving is effected. It is always easier to discourse upon an evil than to suggest a remedy, to find fault with an old system than to propose a new one, but this affair of the Poor Laws is an old grievance. No one will venture to say that it is ex aggeration to style it a grievance. Sir ROBERT PEEL called Ireland his difficulty ; may we not term this a national difficulty, and more, a national dis grace. The richest country in the world cannot or will not save its starving children from death. The enterprise that amazes mankind is powerless to con front this difficulty, and the zeal which sends mis sionaries to the uttermost ends of the earth stops short at home for lack of ability or good will. The good things of this world are not to be despised, but if the desire of accumulating wealth gives rise to this hard and harsh treatment of the poor, this neglect of the destitute, and this immolation of the needy, it will belabour that profits not, and, like the skeleton at the Egyptian feasts, the starving victims of our Poor Laws will belie our sense of justice, and remain a scandal to the generation in which we live. The arrival of the Bombay mail brings us intel ligence up to the 14th of December. Happily there is no news of great importance, although some agitation has been created in Calcutta by Mr. MAINE'S Bill for abolishing Grand Juries. It seems that this measure is very unpopular among the non official class of Anglo-Indians, who apprehend great inconvenience and even injustice from the pro posed abolition. Grand juries, and, in fact, juries of every kind, are certainly an invaluable safeguard. They are a l ega l guarantee f or the liberties of the subject, a n d, consequently, their suspension or dis continuance must naturally be looked upon with a jealous eye. This jealousy in the case of the Indian Bill has been increased by an alteration which has been made in it since it was first proposed. It was then intended to place non-official Europeans on the Mofussil bench, and to imitate, in some degree, our Quarter Sessions' Courts. This 1 tention has been abandoned, and the European community con sequently look with great ouspicion on the abolition rHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1865, of the jury system. Great excitement prevails in the usually tranquil Legislative Session of Calcutta, and a very strong opposition is being organised against the measure. The feeling of the non official world is said to be decidedly adverse to the proposed change, and now that the merchant and planter classes have so largely increased, their opin ion has more weight than of old. It is undoubtedly a difficult thing to legislate for a mixed community like that we govern in India. Not only is there the difficult and dangerous combination of two totally different races and religions, but the Euro peans have among themselves almost as many divi sions as the castes of the Hindoos. What with the official, the non-official, the civil and the military, and even the different branches of the same service, there. are rivalries and antagonisms enough to puzzle the -wisest legislator. There is no doubt that the settlers have, as a general rule, been forgetful of the rights of the native, especially in the earlier days of our dominion ; neither is there is any doubt that it is extremely difficult to legislate for natives who do not obey our moral laws, and to whom truth and honour are often empty words. Under these perplexing circumstances the authorities have not always pursued the wisest possible course, but we should hope that in the present instance some compromise might be arrived at. The grand juries might be retained, whether as an ultimate appeal or otherwise circumstances might decide, while some of the inconveniences attending them, according to the present routine, might be removed. It is always a pity when a Government feels itself compelled to carry a measure in face of a determined popular opposition, and it will be only weakening the na tional prestige and authority among the natives to let them see divisioith in the camp of their rulers. It is a pity, too, to disgust independent English men with Indian life, and the great advantage of securing their presence in the country is worth some sacrifice, so long as it does not tend to in justice and oppression. It is very seldom that a mixed body of Englishmen offer strenuous opposition to ' a measure without some good and substantial reason, and therefore the Calcutta au thorities would do well to give their attentive con sideration to the arguments against the bill. From Bombay we hear that matters are not improving in Cabul. UFZUL KHAN'S uncle, MAHOMED JAN, has succeeded in getting together a large army—it is said, with the view of making an attack upon the Ameer. The son of UFZUL KHAN has taken refuge in Bokhara, and the Bing refuses to surrender him. Cabal is in an agitated and uncertain condition, and it is feared that an interference may be neces sary before tranquillity is restored. The Bhootanese affair does not give ground for much uneasiness, since it is confidently ex pected that the enemy will yield before long ; and even should the submission of the Government be withheld, the people will, it is thought, put them selves under our protection. Our force was to ad vance on the Ist of December, in four columns by the Bhootan Dooars, and it was hoped that a speedy settlement of the troublesome and vexatious affair might be looked for. It reminds us that India is still in many respects a primitive country, and that the reign of civilisation is not yet universal, to learn that the Central Provinces have been suffering very severely from the depredations of wild beasts, of which more than 2,000 have been killed during the past year, all of them more or less dangerous to human life. The wild elephants are so numerous that the people have in some places been driven to abandon their houses and crops, so that the Zemindars have applied for a reduction of tribute. Whether the evil has been exaggerated with this end may be doubted, but it appears to have been Here is work Tor idle sportsmen, since, when life and property are threatened to this ex tent, it is time some active steps were taken. The North-West has suffered from drought, which has serious. affected the food crop and the indigo crop. We may hope as the railways are carried out more fully, and / the canal system distributed throughout the country, that these oppressive and paralysing droughts may be robbed of much of their dangers. It is satisfactory to find that some of the native princes through whose territories it is proposed to carry the line from Baroda to Indore have given ready consent to as much land being used as may be requisite. It is evident that the native mind has been fully impressed with the marvels of steam locomotion, and that they are acute enough to com prehend the great advantages which it will confer on the country. The general aspect of affairs is satisfactory in the North-West, although the small pox is raging with great violence in some parts, despite the introduction of vaccination. We should suspect that it had not been practised to a full ex tent, but that native prejudice or some other reason has stood in the way. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, Jan. 6.—The market continues qniet, and is somewhat more depressed than it has been this year. We have had no business of any moment to-day in shipping yarns, and lower prices would again be submitted to if buyers were disposed to make offers ; but for the time being buyers seem determined to make no sign, believing that we shall have still lower rates shortly. This branch of the market is, in fact, very flat, and shipping yarns are down from the highest point fully ld to lid per lb., and even at this decline buyers are inclined to ope rate. In home-trade yarns we have also had a very quiet and inactive market. Prices are nearly no minal, and spinners, whose contracts are drawing to a close, show some anxiety to replace them. The extreme depression in this class of spinnings is not less than from ld to 2d per lb. In the cloth market we have had an exceedingly quiet day. There has been an almost total absence of business. There is a decided increase in the value of goods, but in the present inactivity it is difficult to arrive at any fair estimate of it. We can only say that prices are lower since Tuesday. While sellers, as a rule, are not pressing goods on the market, buyers, on the other hand, seem totally undesirous of entering the market. The only offers made are at very low rates —so low, in fact, that manufacturers would not re spond to them to any extent. What sales have been made have been of insignificant amount, and we close what may almost be described a blank day, so far as business is concerned, with a feeling of general depression. NOTTINGHAM, 6th.—At this Exchange-hall to-day there was a small attendance, and the demand for lace yarns was limited. Late rates were generally maintained, but in some cases prices were the turn lower. In hosiery yarns there was not much altera tion. Silks steady, at full rates. The demand for brown nets was very dull, and prices were nomi nally unaltered. VIOLATION OF BELGIAN TERRITORY.—The Echo du Luxembourg states that the Belgian territory was violated a few days since by some of the Luxembourg police agents, under the following circumstances :—A Prussian named Schmitz, who had been arrested for a murder com mitted at Trois-Virges, escaped from the grand ducal gen darmes and fled to Belgium. Early the next morning M. Herman, the echevin of Trois-Vierges (Luxemburg), went to Gouvy (Belgium), accompanied by three gendarmes in disguise. Herman there obtained the aid of a communal couneillor named Andre, and of Lepot, a customs-officer. With these two officers he entered the inn where Schmitz lodged and seized him, the gendarmes meanwhile keeping watch at the door. Herman and his two aids then took their t that t him to theprisoner custody to of the tbe frontier, gendarmes. Belgian Government will demand explanations concerning this violation. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) AMERICA. Arrival of the Cuba via Crookhaven. CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. NEW YORK, DEC. 28 (Morning). Sherman has occupied Savannah. Hardee's army escaped. Admiral Porter made an attack by land and sea on Fort Fisher, Wilmington. The land attack has been repulsed. The firing by the fleet continues :uriously. NEW YORK, DEC. 28, MORNING. It is officially announced that General Sherman occupied Savannah on the 22d inst., capturing 150 guns, 30,000 bales of cotton, and 800 prisoners. Hardee escaped with the main body of his army by crossing the river to Union Causeway, opposite the city, after destroying the iron-clads and navy yards. Twenty thousand inhabitants remained in the city. Correspondents state that Sherman, having captured Fort Lee and several outworks, demanded the surrender of Savannah on the 21st inst., stating that if refused he would take no pri soners. Hardee refused. and escaped during the night. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. Gold declined yesterday to 214, and has since advanced to 2161. Exchange on London, 238 ; ditto, Paris, 2.84 2.14 Stocks steady. New York Central, 1144 ; Illinois, 1248 ; Erie, 861 ; 5.20 Bonds, 108 i. Cotton much lower. Middling Upland, 115. Flour dull. Wheat and corn very dull. Provisions and coffee quiet. Sugar steady. Molasses dull. Petroleum, crude, 51; refined, 70. Despatches from Beauregard to the 24th inst. state that Hardee reports that a Federal force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry was moving from Savannah towards the Allamah River. Hardee had made dispositions to check their advance. Their object is supposed to be to destroy the Savannah and Albany Gulf Railroad. The cotton captured at Savannah is believed to belong to foreign owners. General Thomas continues a vigorous pursuit of Hood. He advanced on Sunday 20 miles south of Columbia. Hood on Saturday, being 20 miles north of the Tennessee River, having abandoned his means of transportation to his pontoons. One pursuing Federal brigade had been repulsed by Hood's forces and one gun was captured. Grant reports that the Richmond papers state that the Federal fleet numbering upwards of 50 vessels, including 12 monitors and several armed frigates, furiously attacked Fort Fisher, below Wilmington, at 10 o'clock on the 24th inst., firing on an average 30 shots per minute until night. The attack was renewed on Sunday morning, and was furious and continuous. The fort replied to the enemy's fire slowly and deliberately. The enemy, under cover of a heavy fire, landed three brigades two and a-half miles above Fort Fisher, and a smaller force immediately engaged them. At night the enemy held the ground. Admiral Porter bombarded Fort Fisher on Sun day, driving the Confederates into their bomb proofs and silencing their fire. A detachment of troops landed on Sunday and pushed up to the fort, some entering the works and capturing a flag. The bombardment continued on_ Monday. A Federal gunboat captured and brought off a company of North Carolina troops in the outworks. Late on Saturday night the enemy's infantry attacked Fort Fisher, but were repulsed with con siderable loss. I The Southern papers state that the enemy having effected a lodgment above Fort Fisher is a serious matter. It will cost double the force to dislodge him that would have prevented his landing. A portion of Lee's fornea has left Grant's front for some unknown point Of the Federal column. They have left Suffolk, and are marching towards Weldon. The Federals have been repulsed at Fort Branch, on the Roanoke River. The Federals have renewed the attack but the result is unknown. The Richmond papers claim that Breckenridge had defeated the Federals in several encounters in Western Virginia. The Federals are retiring towards Tennessee. Nashville despatches assert that the high state o the river would impede Hood's crossing•the Ten• nessee. The Associated Press announced this afternoon that Admiral Porter and General Butler's expedi tion have withdrawn from Wilmington and arrived near Fort Monfoe; The Government afterwards ordered the withdrawal. The despatch states that only one vessel had returned to Fort Monroe, bring ing a report that a powder ship had exploded on Saturday within 300 yards of Fort Fisher. Gold advanced to 224, in consequence of the re ported return of the Wilmington expedition, and has since receded to 220*. SPAIN. PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF SAN DOMINGO MADRID, JAN. 6. The War Committee of the Congress has decided by 13 votes to 9, on recommending to the Govern• ment the evacuation of Saint Domingo. The Espiritu Publico contains an article accusing France of sowing discord in Spain, in order to obtain an opportunity of invervening and keeping the Basque provinces as an indemnity. ITALY. TURIN, JAN. 7. In consequence of a convention between the Society for the sale of the Crown domains and Messrs. Mackenzie, of London, the Society wi 1 advance.lso,ooo,ooof. to the State. The subscrip tion for Bonds will be opened before the 15th of January, in the principal cities of Europe. FRANCE. BOURSE, Jan. 6.—The market has been buoyant, with a fair amount of business doing, at improved quotations. Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f. 95c. Mobilier, which are quoted ex div., 52f., have been at 965 f., showing a slight advance, Railway Shares have been rather in demand, and many of the lines are somewhat higher. The fol lowing other Securities are also quoted ex. div. : Austrian Railways, 12f. 50c. ; Madrid to Saragossa, 15f. ; North of Spain, 15f. ; Northern, 25f. ; Southern, 20f. ; Transatlantic Company, 12f. 50c. ; Suez, 10f. ; Immobiliere, 12f 50c. The market closed as follows : 41 per Cents 94 10 Do. end month — ___. Italian Loan 64 40 Do. end month 64 70 Ditto Threes 64 25 New Mexican Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred 3 per Cents. 66 80 Do. end month 66 85 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3460 Credit Foncier 1267 50 Roman WAYS. RAILV Cash. Acct. Orleans B9O ... 877 50 Northern 9BO ... 987 50 Lyons and Mediterranean 9lO ••• 910 Southern 5BO ... 580 -- Western 530 ... 592 50 Eastern Sardinian 306 25 ... 302 50 Austrian — ... 437 50 Lombard 525 ... 525 North of Spain 362 50 ... 362 50 a Saragossa .... 422 50 ... 425 Ditto to Barcelona -.- 111/ ..." ..". [eras. THE TURKISH PRESS LAW, CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 28. The following is a summary of the new ordi nance concerning the press in Turkey : Article 1 provides—That no journal whatever shall be published in the empire without the pre viously-had authorisation of the Government. Art. 2. That in the case of a native the demand for this shall be addressed to the Minister of In struction ; and in that of a foreigner, to the Minis ter of Foreign Affairs. Art. 3. That such authorisation shall only be granted to natives of at least 30 years of age, and in the full enjoyment of their civil rights, and to foreigners who shall submit themselves absolutely to Turkish jurisdiction for all the purposes of this law. Art. 4. That application for it shall be accom panied by a written declaration, signed by the responsible conductor of the intended paper, indicat ing all its conditions of publication, &c. ; that a copy of the journal, if in the provinces, shall be sent to the local governor, if in the capital, to the Bureau de la Presse ; and that every number of the paper shall bear at its bottom the printed name of the manager or proprietor. Art. 5. That on the occasion of every transfer of the paper to a new proprietor, the incoming owner must obtain a new authorization. Art. 6. That existing journals need not obtain such authorisation, and are released from all " warnings" they may hitherto have received ; they are, however, in all other respects to be subjected to the provisions of this new law. Art. 7. That the signing manager shall be re sponsible for everything in the paper by whomsoever written. Art. 8. That all communications received from the Bureau de la Presse by the local provincial authorities must be inserted gratis, as also must the answer of any person mentioned in any article published by the paper addressed,--the length bf space occupied by such answer not to be more than double the length of the article which may have provoked it. Art. 9 Prohibits the entrance into the Empire of any foreign publications hostile to the Turkish Government. These nine Articles constitute what are termed the " general provisions" of the law, and the re maining 26 comprise its " penal provisions," which though inconveniently vague are, it will be seen, both comprehensive and severe. Art. 10 Provides that every publication issued without authorisation shall be subject in the person of its conductor to a fine of 10 liras (9/.) for each number so published, and the paper itself shall be suppressed. Art. 11 Prescribes a fine of 10 liras for every violation of Art. 4. Art. 12 inflicts a fine of from 2 to 10 liras for every refusal to publish the communications re ferred to in Art. 8, besides leaving the editor liable to whatever judicial proceedings the incrimi nated article may justify. Art. 13 pronounces liable to punishment (what not stated) any one who may through the press provoke the commission of any offence which is recognised by the penal code as a " crime" or " misdemeanour" (delit) : the offending journal shall also be suppressed by the discretionary action of the authorities. Art-. 14 punishes every offence against " public morality," good manners, or any one of the re ligions or creeds professed in the Empire, with a fine of from 1 to 25 liras, or with imprisonment of from a week to three weeks. Art. 15 inflicts a fine of from 25 to 100 liras, or imprisonment of from six months to three years, for offences against the person or autho rity of the Sultan, or against the members of the Imperial family. Art. 16 punishes offences against the Ministers of the Porte or against its vassal princes with a price of from 50 to 100 liras, or with imprisonment of from 1 to 12 months. Art. 17 protects "friendly and allied sovereigns" against attack by a penalty of imprisonment of from 3 months to 3 years, or a fine of from 15 to 100 Art. 18 declares every imputation on the " honour or consideration" of the person or body against whom or which an allegation is made to be a " de famation," and every "outrageous expression, term of contempt, or invective which insinuates the im putation of any fact," to be an " insult." Art. 19 punishes either " defamation" or " injury' , against the tribunals or other constituted bodies of the State with an imprisonment of from 15 days to a year, or with a fine of from 2 to 50 liras. Art. 20 visits the same offence against any agent of the public authority with from 10 days to 10 months' imprisonment, or a fine of from 1 to 40 liras. Art. 21 protects ambassadors, ministers, and other diplomatic agents from " defamation" by a penalty of from 8 days to .8 months' imprisonment, or by a fine of from 1 to 30 liras. Art. 22 forbids defamation of private persons under peril of a fine of from 50 pias to 15 liras, or of incarceration for 5 days or 5 months. Art. 23 threatens the most absolute application of these penalties in case of offence against persons and depositaries of the public authority for facts purely personal, unless the imputed facts can be proved. This conditional immunity, however, is still to be " without prejudice to penalties pro nounced against every insult addressed to these persons. [Whatever this may mean, for the word ing of this article is most clumsy and unprecise.] Art. 24 protects the parties mentioned in Arts. 30 and 21 from " insult" under penalty of impri sonment of from five days to five months, or a fine of from 56 pias to 15 liras. Art. 25 punishes the same offence committed against private individuals, with ,incarceration for from two days to two months, or with a fine of from 30 pias to 5 liras. ' Art. 26 forbids' the publication or reproduction, " intentionally and in bad faith," of false news, and of fabricated or falsified documents, under a penalty of from one month's to one year's imprisonment, or a fine of from 10 to 50 liras. Art. 27 punishes offences under Arts. 15, 16, 17, and 21 by administrative suspension for one month. Art. 28 compels publication by the condemned journal of all judgments pronounced against it as also payment by it of the cost of such publication, also in one or more other papers besides. Art. 29 provides for the suspension or total sup pression of any paper which may have been con demned thrice within two years. Art. 30 permits the continued publication of a journal during the imprisonment of its editor, only by some other 0-ant who submits to the law. Art. 31 declares that press prosecutions shall take place, except in the case of the Sultan or the impe rial family—when they are to be official—at the in stance of the aggrieved party. Art. 32 creates a prescription of six months, from the date of the 6ffending article, within which the prosecution must take place. Art. 33 provides for the doubling of the previous penalties in case of repetition of the offence. Art. 34 appoints a commission of five persons (all employe's of the Porte) to decide on alleged offences under Arts. 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21, on whose report the Grand Council is to pronounce the penalty. Offences against the other artices are to be dealt with by the police. Art. 35, and last, declares that this new law shall come into operation on January 1, 1865. THE COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT WIGAN.—The ear nest and laborious exertions of the men engaged in remov ing the bricks and ashes which had fallen on the eight sinkers whose sudden entombment at the Douglas Bank Colliery we reported on Thursday, were successful on Wednesday evening in rescuing three of the men alive and in recovering the bodies of the remaining five. Thehoppit in which the men were descending would appear to have been lowered into the falling brickwork, which, striking the bucket, threw it on its side, thus affording those who were able to keep their places a protection from the mass of rubbish which soon lay upon them. Death in nearly all cases seemed to have resulted from suffocation, as but few bruises were to be noti‘d The bodies were removed to the Martland Mill-briZrTnn to await the coroner's inquiry. The Austrian Police in England. The authenticity of the following narrative is guaranteed by the gentleman who communicates " In the middle of November a young Jewish lady, E. S., came to London on her way to New York, and proceeded to Bucker's Hotel, Christopher street, Finsbury-square. Her father, a commercial man from Galicia, who had carried on business as commission agent for 20 years in Vienna, and had failed, had preceded her to New York in the month of September. The lover of his daughter, formerly an Austrian officer, was also in the American capital, and the young woman's journey was taken in order that their marriage might be celebrated. She wished her younger sister to accompany her, but the latter was unable to leave Vienna in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining a passport. As the delay was so long continued, E. S. telegraphed to her sister that she should proceed without her if she did not come soon. A telegram which came in reply said— 'l am coming to London. I shall start on Decem ber 11.' This telegram was false. It had not come from the sister, but from the Austrian police. " The subjoined details are necessary in explana tion of this trick. The lover of E. S. during his stay at Vienna, by the wish of an officer of his acquaintance, M., introduced him to the family of his intended bride. M. sought the further acquaint ance of the family, and was a frequent guest. In the last days of November, after E. S. had already departed, and whilst her father was already in America, M. reported to his superior officers that there was a deficiency in his accounts, and stated that he had lost the money at play. Immediately afterwards the remaining members of the S. family were arrested and kept in confinement for 14 days. During this imprisonment the telegram from London arrived, and the answer already mentioned was re turned by the police. E. S. knew nothing of all this, but daily awaited the arrival of her sister at the railway station. On the 16th of December two men came to Bucker's Hotel and desired to speak to the young lady. They declared that they had been sent by her lover in New York to conduct her thither. This story was a little too lame for a cute child of Israel, and many questions put by her to them made the untruth too clear. These gentlemen then un masked themselves as Austrian police, took away the passport by which E. S. wished to show that she was properly accredited, and also the keys of her boxes, which they routed over in vain, and then de clared that the lady must accompany them to Aus tria. Naturally E. S. refused to go with the chief police commissioner, as he called himself. The lat ter, however, had obtained an arrest warrant from the Sheriff of Middlesex, after taking an affidavit that the lady owed X., whose agent he was, the sum of 10,000 gulden. By means of this unheard of proceeding the catchpoles of the Vienna police succeeded in lodging the unfortunate young lady, who is little more than nineteen years of age, in the debtors' prison at Whitecross street, where she has already been incarcerated for nearly three weeks. Possessing thousands at a distance, she was compelled, through the brutality exercised, towards her, to give the rings 'rom her fingers to procure necessaries, as she at the first expected to receive her passage money from her father. We doubt not in the least that Miss E. S., whose case has been confided to one of the best attorneys of London by a zealous friend, will soon be set at liberty. Supposing that the above narrative is completely correct, (and its authenticity is guaranteed), but one opinion can be passed on the conduct of the Austrian police, namely, that with highly improper means, on the most frivolous reports, they have persecuted a lone young woman with entirely unnecessary torments, even on the free soil of England, and have challenged public opinion by a highly obstinate proceeding. The Vienna police must surely have lost their heads when, by the abuse of English regulations, they sought by their agents to find the money which an officer had made away with, and, according to accurate reports, had lost at play, in the boxes of a poor girl, wherein, as the result showed, scarcely the shadow of a trace was to be found. The Vienna police have already departed, so as to promptly obtain their laurels, because by delay these might become changed into chaff."—Bender's Londoner Anzeiger. Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution. .-.4o,.____ The fifth lecture of Dr. Frankland's Christmas course was on the manufacture anti properties of foal gas. Having shown how coal *jay be cltieel in the bowl of a tobacco pipe and a gas light pro duced by that simple process, Tie proceeded to describe how gas is manufactured on a large scale for the-lighting of towns. In this description he re ferred to a series of large diagrams exhibiting the various processes through which the gas has to pass. In the first place the coal is introduced into long iron or earthenware retorts, intensely heated, which are then immediately closed, and the products of the distillation of the coal are conveyed throught up right tubes into a large horizontal vessel called the hydraulic main, in which a great portion of the tarry matter carried away by the heated gas is de posited. The gas then passes through a series of perpendicular pipes that are kept cool, called con densers, in which the gas deposits a further quan tity of condensed vapour. The gas next passes, by a continuous process into vessels called " scrubbers," where it is exposed to contact with a large surface of water, which absorbs nearly all the ammonia con tained in the gas. From the scrubbers it is passed through purifiers, to abstract the sulphurated hydro gen. The purifiers as now generally used consist of vessels containing a number of perforated trays one above the other, over which are strewed rust of iron. The gas on being thus brought into contact with the iron rust, the oxygen of the latter seizes on the sulphur, and - concretes it into a sulphur com pound of iron. On exposure to the air the iron be comes oxydised, and the same material may be used as a purifying agent over and over again. The gas when thus purified passes into the gasholder, whence it is distributed through the mains and pipes to all parts of the town. The purified gas, Dr. Frankland stated, contains no sulphur ; but in making that assertion he was more complimentary to the gas companies than is warranted by a strict exa mination of the facts. The Metropolis Gas Act, which recognises the difficulty of extracting all the sulphur from gas, by permitting 20 grains df sul phur to remain in every 100 cubic feet of purified gas ; and that quantity, which when burnt is suffi cient to impart an offensive odour to many thousand feet of air, is generally exceeded in the gas supplied by the London companies. The purified gas, Dr. Frankland observed, consists of olefiant gas, fire damp, hydrogen, carbonic oxide, and a small por tion of carbonic acid. The flames of the first four gasses were exhibited, and the brilliant effect of what is called carburetting the gas was shown by passing hydrogen gas, which of itself gives little light, through liquid hydrocarbons, such aS naphtha, when the flame became brilliantly luminous. This plan has been for some time past tried in the street lamps in the City, but there are difficulties attending bringing it into practical operation which have prevented it from being successful. From the fact that gas and other flames are usually burned in atmospheric air, the former are called combustibles, and the latter the supporters of combustion ; • but Dr. Frankland showed that the conditions may be reversed, and that, by introducing a jet of air into a glass vessel containing coal gas, the air seemed to be ignited, and the gas becomes the supporter of combustion. The general subject of the manufac ture of coal was illustrated by numerous other inci denial experiments, and towards the conclusion of the lecture Dr Frankland described the recent ap plication of the explosive force of coal gas as a motive power. He exhibited and explained the action of Lenoir's gas-engine, whith is actuated in that manner, and he said he should put it in opera tion in the next lecture. ALARMING FIRE AT HOLLOWAY.—ShortIy before five o'clock yesterday morning a very alarming fire broke out on the premises belonging to the Great Northern Rail way Company, situate near the Holloway station. Before the arrival of the engines the tool-house was in a blaze and the flames were attacking the pallisading adjoining the timber-yard, but eventually the fire was extinguished and the timber-yard saved. Owing to the strong gale of wind at the time it took the conductor of the escape ten minutes to reach the fire. 4, Crain HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Jan. 6. The Queen and Princess Helena drove in the grounds yesterday. Princess Louise rode on horseback. Lady Churchill and the Hon. Emma Lascelles have succeded the Dowager Countess of Mount- Edgcumbe and the Hon. Lucy Kerr as lady and maid of honour in waiting. The Prince and Princess of Wales at llolkham. HOLKIIAIif, Jan. 6. The ball given last night by the Earl and Coun tess of Leicester to - their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales was a most brilliant and successful entertainment. The company alighted at the great entrance, and entered the Egyptian-hall. This was brilliantly lighted, an tique vases on pedestals being placed at intervals along the side, - while blooming flowers were inter twined between the fluted lonic pillars. The apart ments devoted to the ball were the saloon, the south-west and south-east drawing-rooms, and the statue and Claude Lorraine galleries. The saloon and south-west drawing-room were especially de voted to dancing. The statue-gallery was the sup per-room, while the south-east drawing-room was adapted as a card-room. The earl and countess received their guests in the saloon, which was brilliantly lighted by 300 wax lights. The portico of the south front, into which the saloon opens by three large windows, was en closed for the orchestra. It was formed in imita tion of a bower; two large vases filled with flowers were in the centre, and it was lighted by candelabra on pedestals. The Prince of Wales led off with the Countess of Leicester in the first quadrille, and the Earl of Leicester's partner was the Princess of Wales. Supper was announced soon after midnight, when the Prince of Wales led the Countess of Leicester, and the Earl of Leicester the Princess of Wales, to the statue-gallery, where a choice entertainment was provided. A select party accompanied the royal guests to the supper-room, and after a short interval parties of the general visitors followed. Dancing was prolonged to an early hour this morning, the prince and princess remaining to the last. • It is expected that their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will honour Lord and Lady Walsingham with a visit at Merton Hall, Norfolk, during the present month. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester, who arrived in town on Wednesday from Paris, have left town for Kimbolton Castle, Hunts. _ _ _ The Earl and Countess Craven and the Ladies Craven return to town in the early part of the ensuing week, preparatory to tho marriage of the Earl of Coventry and Lady Blanche Craven. Lady Griffith, wife of Sir Richard Griffith, Bart., expired at Dublin, on the 2d inst., in her 10th year. Sir Vincent Corbet, Bart., and Lady Corbet have left the St. George's Hotel. Sir Augustus Clifford has left town for Broad lands, on a visit to Lord and Lady Palmerston. _ Sir George and Lady Macpherson Grant and Mr. and Mrs. Silvertop have left Brown's Hotel. The Right Hon. the Chanceller of the Exchequer [eft town yesterday for Hawarden Castle, Chester. The Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson arrived in town yesterday afternoon from Theberton House, Suffolk, and proceeds to-day to Osborne, to attend the Queen's Council. A marriage is arranged between Lord Rosehill, of the Scots Fusilier Guards, and Miss Elliot, eldest daughter of Admiral George Elliott, Admiral-Superinteu- , dent at Portsmouth. The marriage between Viscount Sudley, eldest son of the Countess of Arran, and the Hon. Edith Jocelyn, second daughter of Viscountess Jocelyn, will take place next month. A Talk with Mr, Charles Sumner, The Scotsman gives the following from the diary of a Scottish gentleman who has recently visited the Northern States : Newport, Rhode Island, Monday, August 22, 1864.--- Met Mr. Charles Sumner at dinner. He spoke of Lord Russell's speethes ; said that on the whole he preferred their style to that of most speeches which are now delivered in Parliament ; that there was something very terse and ~i.,,,,at - about trui -- Olctimr3 -- Qua-- that ,he preferred Lord Russell's speeches even to Mr. Gladstone. Of ) Mr. Canning's despatches, ho said that he thought their sarcastic tone had had some share in exasperat ing the disputes between England and America, which culminated in the war of 1812. In point of style, however, he considered them the finest specimens extant of this kind of writing. When he adverted to the Trent affair I asked him how it happened that Mr. Welles, a member of the - Cabinet, in his report, which was appended to the President's Message, had thanked Capt. Wilkes for seizing Mason and Slidell. He said it was in consequence of the unfortunate manner in which the Government is con- ducted under Mr. Lincoln ; that each member of the Admi nistration considers himself responsible solely for the affairs of his own department, and acts without concert with the others. He thought Wilkes's seizure of Mason and Slidell might be justified by British, but not by American, precedents ; nor by American interpretations of international law. He has evidently a great contempt for Seward says that he knew nothing of international law when he came into office, and that when an awkward case arises he never thinks of inquiring into it till a formal demand is made for reparation. Mr. Sumner said he had objected strongly to Cassius Clay's appointment to Russia, but that Lincoln and Seward had urged him so strongly about it that at last he had agreed not to take an active part in opposing the nomination. He says Gortchakoff complains bitterly because Clay will write to him in French. Gortchakoff understands English perfectly, but can make nothing of Cassius Clay's French. He said there was one of Lord Russell's despatches which would give rise to trouble hereafter. I asked him which ; he said that despatch in which he replies to some demand for compensation for damage done by the Alabama, by re questing that no more demands of the kind may be sent in. I said that as Lord Russell had, before that despatch was written, gone fully into the case of the Alabama, including the question of the liability of the British Government for damage done by her, it could not be expected that he should re-open the matter on every occasion on which a claim for compensation might be put forward. He admitted that was so, but still objected to the curtness of the despatch. He complained of the recognition by the British Govern ment of the Confederates as belligerents. I asked him how we could refuse to recognise the Confederates as bel ligerents when the United States had done so ? From the very first the United States authorities had treated Con federate prisoners, not as malefactors, but as prisoners of war. He said the United States had done this for fear the Confederates might retaliate on Federal pri soners. I said the very fact that the United Staten authorities were afraid of retaliation by the Confederates, went far to show that the latter ought to be recog nised as a belligerent power, and that, looking to the actual state of things, considering that there were 6,000,000 of people in insurrection, that they had placed large armies in the field, and that there wag it regularly organised Government firmly established at Richmond, the British Government would have beers acting in contravention of the principles which had always guided them if they had refused to recognise the Confederates as belligerents. He said that the recogni-. tion of the Confederatei as belligerents was a step toward recognising the Confederacy as an independent power—n course which the British Government ought not to take under any circumstances ; that at the beginning of the war the British Government ought to have declared that they never would recognise a State whose existence was based on slavery. I said—Suppose, for the sake of argu ment, that the United States were to give up their attempt to bring back the Confederates by force into the Union, that the war was to come to an end, and the United States were to acknowledge the independence of the Confederate States, would it then be reasonable to expect that the British Government should refuse to recognise the Confederate Government ?—for that is the course to which we should be committed if the British Government had taken the step which you say they ought to have done. Yes, said Mr Sumner, whatever the United States may do the British Government ought to refuse to recognise the Confederate States. Mr. Sumner said that the war now going on was a war against slavery, and that we ought to have recognised it.as such. I quoted the declaration of the President, that the war was being carried on to restore the Union ; that if doing away with slavery would restore the Union, he would do away with slavery ; and if maintaining slavery would save the Union, he would maintain slavery. Mr. Sumner said that if I looked to the action of the United States Government I might no doubt make out a case, but that I ought rather to look to those anti-slavery principles by which , England had hitherto been actuated. RESIGNATION OF AN IRISH JUDGE.—DUBLINI Friday.—Mr. Justice Ball has announced his intention of resigning. It is said that the Attorney-General, Mr. O'Hagan, M.P., will succeed him.