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

HE 1' ALL-MALL GAZETTE. An Evening Newspaper and Review. It is difficult to des ribe the plan of an enterprise like the PALL-3IA LL GAZETTE without seeming to boast, or to decry the efforts ot others. But we are unwilling to lose the advantage of a few words of explanation, and we therefore trust the candour of the reader for a just interpretation of our meaning. The PALL-MALL GAZETTE will contain all the news proper to an Evening journal. But, addressed as it will be to educated men and women, the space o f the paper will not be occupied by trifling chronicles, nor by that excess of words which adds nothing* to the interest of newspaper records, or ts while it destroys their significance. Literary considerations written alone would determine us to have ou r News Rep Li plain English ; bat beyond these there is the fact that the lessons to be found in many an accident of human they life or so tat polity are lost in the turgid lanavuage inavnich are commonly narrated. vents made the 3lorning Papers may be dis cuss .E ed in tre PAknownLL-MAby LL GAZE rr E of the same day, but they wi 1 not be reported anew. Trustworthy advises from the Money Market will be included in the news of the Day. 'llie rest of the paper (by far the grea ter Dart) will be mad e up of origami a rticles, upon the many things which engege tne rho gh:s, or employ the energies, or amuse the leisure cf mankind. Public Affairs, Litelature, the Arts, and all the influences which strengthen or dissipate s-eciety, will be dis cussed by men whose independence and antic) , ity are equally unquestionable, and who are aseusto ed to regard the public ex, ression et opinion as a serious him , . This is the Llref aim a the PALL-MALL GAZETT :to bring into daily journalism that, full measure of thought and cu lture which is no w iound only in Reviews. At the same time, we by no means intend to mak e the paper pedantic or solemn. Rumour is too owerful, as well as too pleasant, to be lett out ot the design; which will lose none of the aovantages of occasional trifling. If a thing can be said better in verse than in prose, it will be said in verse. k:pigram, but not spite—burlesque, but not vulgarity—will be rea ldiy a dmitted into its columns ; and since a joke is often as illustrative as an argument, good jukes will be wel come too. It will be understo,d that this adiertisement is rather a proclamation of idea and of effort than of promise. But t h e proclamation is not made befcre a l ar g e num ber of able writers have accepted the idea, and pledged themselves to the effort. Office of the Pall-Mall Gazette, 14, Salisbury-street, Strand, W.C. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Sole Manager and Director, Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENING the. performance will commence with the new Open., LARA. Principal characters by Al essrs. Swift, G. Honey, Forbes, Terrott, and Renwick; M saes Lou,sa Pyne, Cottrell, Burrington, and Homer. Conductor, Signor A RDITL After the Opera will be given the Burlesque. entitled THE LION AND THE UNICORN. Piincipalcharacters, Messrs. Rouse, Anderson, Arc. ; Misses E. Button, Cottrell, Furtado. To conclude w.th the GRAND TRANSFORMATION SCENE. Doors open at Halt-past Six. Commence at Seven. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company. Limited.) CONTINUED SUCCESS OF CINDERELLA AND THE WONDERFUL DONATO. THIS EVENING, (Feb. IN, a new Opera, the music by F. CV, the words by T. W. Robertson, entitled CON ST AN CE. Principal characters by Mdlle. Martorelle and M iss Thirlwall ; Messrs. 11. Corri, A. Cook, C. Lyall. and henry Haigh. Conductor, Mr. A. MELLON. After which, at a quarter-past 8, the Grand and highly successful Pat.tomime, CINDERELLA, in which Donato will reappear. Magnificent Scenery and gorgeous accessories. Commence at Seven. THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE, Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, Shakespere's Play of HENRY THE EIGHTH, to mtaating with the fall of Wohwy. Messrs. Phelps, Walter Lacey, II: Marston, E. Phelps, Barrett, Sin clair; miss Atkinson, Mrs. Vandenoff, &C. Alter which, the Grand Christmas Pantomime, HOP O'MY TII UMB AND HIS ELEVEN BROTHERS ; or, Harlequin and the Ogre of the Seven-League Boots : Messrs. G. Bel more, Tom Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, &c. Misses Lydia Thompson. It. Lcclercq, &c. ; Messrs. Boleno, C. Lsuri, W. A. Barnes, T. Morris, Cormack, Saville ; Itchne. Boleno, the Misses Gunniss, aad Signor Teseallo. xAUL BEDFORD AT HOME.-DRURY LANE THEALRE.—THURSDAY MORNING. Feb. 2.—Doors open at One.—All the DRAMATIC TALENT of LONDON at the CO3IPLIMENTARY BENEFIT. T.eKets m iy be had of Mr. H. Williams, Hon. &actlry, at the Box•of£ce, from One till Pyre. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKEy. Lessee. Mr. Buckotone. THIS EVENING, Feb. 1, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Chippendale, Sothern, Blackstone, Rogers, Clark, Coe, Wea thersny, ; Mesdames Moore, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, &c. After which, LORD DUN D R,E A.RY MARRIED AND DONE FOR Messrs. Sothern, Bnekstone, Braid, Gordon, Clark, White, Coe, Weathersby, &c. ; Mesdames Snowdon, Hill, &c. With PRINCESS SPRINGTIME. Mr. Compton, Miss L. Keeley. And THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. To commence at 7. RCYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Extravaganzi, entitled THE MAGIC HORSE AND THE ICE MAIDEN I RINCES3. Atter which, THE bTIIEET3 OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher. D. Murray, J. Nelson, H. Forrebter. 11. Mellon ; Mrs. Henry Maaston, Miss Emma Barnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. k echter. THIS EVENINU, MY WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. IL Widdicombe, F. Charles • Mis-es B. Percy and E. Lavenu. Atter which, at- halt-past g, a New Dr..ma, entitled THE .40A OS IDE INN. ILbert Mazatte, Mr. t echter. Messrs. Wid.lieorub, C. licrsinan, Fitzpatrick, Garden, Moratand, Haymow", tjollett; Mesdames EisNorthy and B. Percy. To conclude with BEARFACED IMPOSTORS. Mr. Whidleomb. Doors open atlf -past Six. The Box-office open daily from Illev.n till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- owe ert,,,rl.Cox nazi Altut»get. YLi. iS. by 6.0 b tz. THIS EVENING, THE IRISH Stephenson, Ebuzue ; Miss K. Kelley. The Play of "THE HUNCHBACK " is unity( y post pon,a in consequence ot the sudden indisposition of Miss Lateman. Messrs, To conclude with DARK DOINGS IN THE CUP BOARD BY THE KNOTTINIVE.O BROX:MRS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford ; Mrs. A. Mellon. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. Til EVENING, at 7, LAWRENCE'S LOVE SUIT. Mr. ,Parselle ; Mesdames Palmer, Carson, and llughLs. Attu" which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, THE " GRIN" BUsII ES ; or, the Mrs. Brown of the Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton, ac.; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, Baynham, Simpson, Johnstone, 4itc. - - To conclude with NIBS. GstEEN'S SNUG LITTLE BUSIN ESzi. Mr. Belford. C OALS. —The LILLIESIT A LT, COMPANY'S COALu. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'. 263. per ton. I Double 21s. per ton. Top 255. „ Deep ....22e. „ Well screened and delivered within live miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, .eaddinp,ton, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, dole Lent. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish- d treet, Oxford-street. frHE THIRD EDITION OF " THE . SUN,' tAgualning the L4test INTELLWENLI., /Su De had Every Evening oh G. H. GL kN.EI4I, NEWS AGENT, • O. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ilyde-park. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN ' supplied as soon as Published. containing all the LA LEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. W. HARRIS, NeAspaper Agent, 4, Blacktrlars-road, London, S. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, sh. 33m.—Afternoon, sh. 55m. TO-Moitnow.-Morning, 6h. 20m.—Afternoon, 6h. 44m 4 - • LO_VDOY; TVERVESD ;IY; FEB. 1, 1865. - Mr. BLAIR has returned from his mission to Rich mond ; and, as might have been expected, without any result being apparent. 'Whatever may be the desire of the South for a peace founded upon the recognition of their independence, they are not likely to lay down their arms by these non-official emis "xieB, who come alternately to cajole and to threaten them into submission, like refractory children' The Confederates have never attempted to conceal their anxiety for peace, provided it is peace with that one condition. It would indeed be but idle hypoc r i sy f casual obs erver can or them to do so w hen the most ace the miseries which war has inflicted on the Southern population, and the suf ferings and sacrifi ces which it has entailed upon every one in the Confederate States. B u t w h a t ever their desire for th e cessation of th ehostilitiessligh,tensetithiner rulers nor people have ever shown dication of a readiness t o abandon they their indepen dence. When their affairs have prospered have not expressed any eagerness for the x of their lands or other material advantalg;hes.etnclintshii have kept to the one point at issue. prospects were gloomy, and their arms suffered tem porary reverses, they only declared that there w as no alternative they would not prefer to subjugation by the North. In either case they have refrained from making slavery a prominent question, neither rejoicing at the security of the " institution" when triumphant, nor maintaining it as their sine qua non when defeated. The pretext which the North puts forth to Europe, and- to England especially, is therefore conspicuously shallow, and the rumours whyclae dustr i ous ly circulated relati to e li the b S f' o in uth g rn eia eagerness for peace are not to be trusted. Presi dent LINCOLN is straining every nerve to improve the aspect of Northern affairs before the notable 4th of March, bo th in civil and military matters. In the military line he hag spared no effort or expense to push forward matters at Wilmington, and he has been rewarded by the capture of Fort Fisher, which Federal pride will easily convert into the most im portant part of the enterprise. In civil affairs he has despatched BLAIR with his unauthorised pro posals, he has circulated reports of the universal desire of ‘ the Southern people for peace, of the wish of the inhabitants of Georgia to re-enter the Union, and other kindred rumours. Further, he has endeavoured through his emissaries to tamper with the loyalty of :the Southern people to their self-chosen President. Spies and Northern agents are insidiously busy in trying to sow dissension between the two great leaders of the Confederacy, by the exaltation of LEE at the expense of DAVIS ; they have tried to incite the people to overt acts of disaffection, and they have succeeded apparently in opening communications with an ex-representa tive, and in securing the allegiance of a Richmond organ of opinion. Still the wishedfor submission has not come, and neither President, General, Congress, or press, shows any signs of approaching it. Mr. DAVIS has, indeed, expressed his willing ness either to receive or to send properly accre dited Commissioners to treat of peace, which is all that could possibly be expected of him, but it is not likely that he would pay much heed to the proposals of an emissary who could easily be disavowed when his suggestions were agreed to. It is no sign of the decadence of the South that the mission should excite some interest in Richmond, or that the prospects of peace should be the chief topic in the Southern capital. That is but the natural result of such a visit, but so long as President LIN COLN declines to send duly qualified persons on a mission of so much importance, and prefers to shel ter it under the elastic title of " semi-official," that very mode of communication proves his persistent determination to withhold that recognition of Southern independence which is the one step inse parable from a firm and lasting peace. We are in the habit of boasting a good deal of the decent and orderly conduct of London mobs. We pride ourselves on the self-control and respect for the law which our lower orders share for the most part with those above them ; and on all great occasions of public festivity or solemnity which gather together a vast concourse of men and women, we point with pride to the few unarmed officials who are thinly scattered among the crowds which line our highways, and whose blue coats are sufficient to keep order, and contrast the conduct of a London crowd with that of any other metro polis in the world. It would seem, however, that either our race is deteriorating, or that we have boasted too soon, from the experience of the last few days. However undesirable or unseemly may be street riots on the occasion of a royal marriage, a public funeral, or any other impressive spectacle, there is certainly more excuse for any ebullition of excitement at those exceptional times. But in the ordinary routine of daily life, without any shadow of reason or excuse, we find riotous mobs, con sisting of several hundreds of persons, collecting in the public parks, and, under the excuse of snow balling, assaulting and annoying every respectable person—going so far as to knock gentlemen down, to cut open the faces of ladies and children with sharp missiles, and tc pelt with granite stmt and flints those who were endeavouring to convey a cul prit to the station-house. This does not look much like English order and respect for the law, and it does not say much in favour of the improvement produced by education in our lower orders. Such scenes as those which took place in the parks, both at the east-end and west-end, on Sunday, were a disgrace to our civilisation. Our self-government is not worth much if it cannot secure the safety of respectable citizens in the metropolis itself. A great deal was said about the danger of the streets at night in the time of the garotters, but here, in broad daylight, an army of ruffians take possession of our public gardens and inflict what unprovoked injuries they choose without let or hindrance. Two or three men were taken, it is true, before the magistrates and punished with a few days' imprisonment, but the great body of the offenders pursued their sport unmolested. A labourer was brought before Mr. KNox, at Marylebone Police-court, chaiged with snowballing in the Regent's-park, and from the evidence of the constable it appeared that he had been apprehended just as he had succeeded in knocking off two gentlemen's hats, bit it was with the greatest difficulty that he was got to the station-house, as an attempt was made to release In this instance the prisoner was one of the ringleaders of " a large mob of rough fellows" who had formed themselves into a gang and pelted every respectable person, yet Mr. Kliox let him off with the easy sentence of five shillings fine or three days' imprisonment. Mr. TYRWHITT, at Marlborough-street, was more severe, and two lads, who were admitted not to be foremost in the fray, were sentenced respectively to fines of £2 and £3, and a month and six weeks' imprisonment. These punishments were not too severe, considering the nature of the charge, but the other was much too light. In Kensington-gardens, where these lads were taken, a gentleman, who appeared in court, gave evidence of having been knocked down seve ral times, and his stick broken. When he first saw the snow-balling going on he thought it was merely a game, but he soon discovered his mistake. Of course, this witness did not see a single park keeper or constable present to stop the riot, though here it was more manageable, since at last the mob was driven off, and, as we have seen, two of the offenders captured. But disorder seems to have reached its height in Victoria-park, where the rioters numbered, it is said, 1,200, and where their conduct was beyond all bounds. Vehicles were pelted till their windows were broken, and their horses in 1 some cases took fright, so that dangerous accidents were narrowly escaped. Heads were cut ope n b y stones and ice being rolled up in the snowballs, and women and children escaping from the riot were seen with bleeding faces and clothes spoilt with the merciless pelting. The police endeavoured to stop the outrages, but, being few in number, were poi eerless to keep order. One of them suc ceeded in capturing one of the ringleaders, and with the assistance of some gentlemen started for the station. The mob, numbering many hundreds, tried to rescue him, but they kept them off until, unfortunately, they came to a part of the road which had been recently strewed with flint and gra nite. These missiles were poured upon those who were guarding the prisoner, several of whom were badly hurt. The officer in charge was at last throw n a having out -without the a - c i wil om :d al ki eci cked until he was obliged to let an go after all The • the boe. obrijeocr; the way of their an th d en ha dis vin p g ers h e a d d , their fun arrival found the windows ows broken, police, who on their tardy any payment, they got out of culprits, and other traces of disorder, b u t t h e as might have been ex pected, vanished f rom The two o r three rioter's who had been scen e,capt 'Rea were brought him. THE bi3N, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1865. up yesterday at the Worship-street Police-court, and fined 10s. or seven days' imprisonment ! Con sidering that serious injury might have been in flicted, and probably was inflicted, on orderly and respectable persons, that blindness or other seri ous consequences might ensue even from the vio lent pelting of snowballs, much more from the reckless use of flints, such a sentence is prepos terously lenient. If a man had been found drunk and incapable of taking care of himself in the streets, he would have been fined 55., without doing any real mischief, and for all this active and willful injury he is only to pay two shil lings more ! In fact, the infliction of a fine at all was a mistake. Those were cases in which offenders richly deserved to be made to suffer personal inconvenience, and should have been made to feel that such refined pleasures must have their cost. If a person or a child had been killed, as might well have happened, a frightened horse, a flint on the temple, a dangerous fall, or even the pressure of the excited mob, there would have been a general outcry : as it is, the affair is passed over, and only the immediate sufferers concern themselves with it. It is quite time, however, that some steps should be taken to preserve better order in our parks. What the bystanders were about, not to take more active measures on Sunday ; by reporting the state of things at the station and demanding the immediate despatch of a strong . body of police, is difficult to understand. The L authorities of the park were still more to blame for not earlier bespeaking some such assistance, since, from the character of the " roughs" who filled the park, it was apprehended from the first that they meant to create a riot. It is a mere sinecure to undertake to keep order in a park on ordinary occasions ; but certainly the protectors of Victoria Park have shown themselves totally un equal to preserving the public peace in a time of confusion and disturbance. As for the behaviour of the populace themselves, it was disgraceful to Englishmen. There must have been many pre sent who did not belong to the " dangerous classes" who joined in the riot. Our parks are laid out with taste and elegance for the recreation of the people, and are thrown open alike to all ranks. The opening of parks in the eastern and less fashionable quarters has been hailed as a step in the right direction in providing for the pleasures and the wants of all our citizens alike. It would seem, from the experience of Sunday, that a large proportion of those thus benefited are not only un worthy of the privilege conferred on them, but incapable of enjoying any gratification of taste and intelligence—a most disappointing and unsatisfac tory result. It is quite time that the Poor Law Board did something to alter 'the workings of their statutes, and to allow the unfortunate paupers through the land a chance of some relief, without insolence and a total want of feeling so often prevailing to mar the effect of the benefits provided for them. If Bethnal-green has been for some time distinguished for its failures of a melancholy kind in respect to the relief it afforded, or often refused to afford, the conduct of Mr. RUNCIE3IAN, the re- lieving officer, at an inquest last evening, is a sufficient answer to the statements made by those who declare that there is a great deal of exaggeration mixed up in the details of the ill-treatment and neglect of those who seek relief in such quarters. It is, indeed, seldom that such want of respect for the decencies of life and the solemnities of death is exhibited in a court of inquiry as that shown by Mr. ItuNeictirAN during the inquest. He distinctly stated that he objected to paupers coming to his house at all, and to get rid of the importunity of the application of the husband for his wife's admittance, as he had been told it was a case of life or death, he said he was going to church. As it was half-past twelve, a juror told him that was an unusual hour. He stated that he was always at his office to give relief to paupers, and certainly whether he is or not the chances of relief are about the same. If this is a specimen of the manner in which he conducts his business and comforts himself, Mr. 111.7NCIEMAN'S great idea of managing his arduous duties seems to be to contra dict all that is said which does not suit his views. He found time during his conversation with JENNINGS to extract from him that he earned thirty six shillings a week, but he professes not to have heard that Dr. CHAMBERS had said that it was a case of life and death. The inquest was held on the body of an infant who had died from various causes accelerated by injuries received from its mother, who had become insane after her confine ment. As Dr. CHAMBERS stated it was a case of life or death, and not the application for ordinary pauper relief, Mr. RUNCIEMAN is very clever in sneering at " doctors and their law," but he had better show himself a little more proficient in his own duties before he attempts to criticise • others for enunciating the principles of common humanity which should guide all those functionaries who have responsible offices in a Christian country. The poor woman was subse quently admitted into the lunatic ward by another relieving officer, and the Master of the workhouse had sent JENNINGS to Mr. RITNCIEMAN on the Sun ' day, which visit had caused such dire offence to his feelings of propriety, and interfered so much with his devotional exercises. So that, according to the rules and regulations of the establishment to which Dir. RUNCIEMAN belongs, it appears quite compe tent for a person in the condition of Mrs. JENNINGS to be admitted. It had been asked by a juror as to whether or not he had the powet to admit the woman into the asylum ; Mr. RUNCIEMAN replied that it was quite optional with him to do so or not. The verdict returned by the jury was an excellent one, and more satisfactory than often met with in such cases. After stating the preliminaries of the case, it concluded with the following impressive ad denda : that the " jury say that Mr. RUNCIEMAN, relieving officer of Bethnal-green, was open to grave censure for his conduct in the matter." Such a reproof did not suit the polite ears of Mr. RuN ciEmAx, who called out in an impudent manner, that the verdict would not do him any harm. It really seems impossible to influence some persons by any any mode of censure or argument. Here was a flagrant case of non-fulfilment of duty by a man in a responsible position, and yet he appeared quite callous to the consequences of his neglect, and only intent upon contradicting in the rudest manner all who made any statements which he did not like. It is certainly very extraordinary that he should have heard just enough from JENNINGS to allow him to refuse the request, and yet no one important item which showed the necessity of the case and the urgent character of the appeal. It really looks as if his wish was father to his deaf ness, for had he been so entirely ignorant as he pro fessed to be, he would have expressed regret before the jury, instead of indulging in vituperative vio lence. The question which suggests itself to our notice after reading such a statement is, How long is this state of things to be suffered to continue— how long are Jacks-in-office to be allowed to bully the poor and to oppress the weak, to turn the starving into the streets, and teach misery there is a deeper degradation than any that want and suffer ing can inflict—the oneers and contempt o unfeel- ing officials ? The proof of the veracity of the lines that assert that "vain man, dressed in brief authority, plays such fantastic tricks before Heaven as make the angels weep," is never better exemplified than in the dealing of so-called relieving-officers with the wretched beings who come to them for succour. Of course there are exceptions, but too often is it shown what needless harshness and what overbearing assumption distinguish the conduct of these officials. They are greatly to blame, but a share of their wrongdoings will lie at the door of those in autho rity if they do not at once peremptorily insist upon a change that will put a stop to those unseemly occurrences which are constantly reported. When they have done so it will only be an act of simple justice that they render, and it is no extraordinary one that is asked at their hands. The chief danger to society now is the anxiety to get rich, and the chief reproach that really respectable people deserve as a class is their contempt for poverty. Vice can hide itself in showy attire, but - the rags of poverty mark it out to be hunted ruthlessly down until the worst stage of penury is reached, that which compels the sufferer to seek the sad relief of parish assistance. LITERATURE. Charles Dickens's New Serial Story. Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. No. 10. Chapman and Hall. Half of the story of Our Mutual Friend has now been told. And yet—upon closing this tenth num ber (ending at once the' second book and the first volume of the serial) —we have not, to this moment, the merest glimmering ghost of a notion as to the pat tern into which all these numerous and complicated threads of the narrative will be found to have been woven, by the period of the work's completion, nine months hence. Looking at it, now, at this inter mediate stage of its artistic fabrication, we are still, as we acknowledged ourselves to have been last month, fairly baffled—even when striving to penetrate the carefully-secreted design of the author by means of our very shrewdest conjectures. Continuing still, for a moment, our little illustrative figure of speech about the tapestry, we would say that, to our view, there is often no apparent con nection whatever between the devices woven by means of several of the principal threads in this marvellously variegated narrative ! For, in very *truth, " Our Mutual Friend," as it appears to us, really has this distinctive peculiarity about it, among others—that instead of being furnished, as usual, with one thread only, it has many threads ! Several of the chief among these, having apparently little, if anything, to do with one another. The silver thread of Lizzie Hexam's fortunes and; the golden one of the fortunes of Eugene Wrayburn, it is true, cross and recross each other repeatedly. There is an appre ciable connection ,moreover, among the more fine-spun threads of the distinctly conventional and artificial lives here delineated—the brazen Podsnap thread, let us say, and the lacquered Veneering thread—the gingerous Lammle thread, and the vague, neutral tinted greyish threa,d of the Twemlow interest. But the dark, sombre thread of the history of the poor drowned " Bird of Prey," and the grimy, blood-tinged thread of the " Honest Man," similarly a Bird of Prey, too, even, for that matter, once upon a time, it should be said, Gaffer Hexam's partner in that horrible river-side trade—appear to have nothing whatever to do with the Tippins thread, the Riah thread, or the Wilfer thread, any more than with the threads of the histories of the Doll's Dressmaker, of Lawyer Lightwood, of Schoolmaster Headstone, or with those of Boots and Brewer, let us say, of the Boffins, Fledgeby, Wegg, Betty Higden, Love, Sloppy, and all the rest of them ! The mere enu meration, thus, of the names of these wonderfully various characters, will serve to mark, not merely what we have been just now saying in regard to the complicated diversity of the materials of the plot, but the extraordinari diversity also of the original characters introduceTto us'in " Our Mutual Friend." As a creator of character, Mr. Dickens might have his panegyric written, it has occurred to us before now, perhaps the most forcibly, certainly in a manner quite unanswerable, by putting on record one after another a mere catalogue of the names of his prin cipal characters—grouping them together simply under the titles of his famous books. As, for example— CO R F mAu l EgrirLn.aDeAh:fiiaea_ MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. Mr. Pecksniff, I Montague Tigg, Mrs. Gamp, I Baily Junior, Tom Pinch, M. 'lodgers, Mark Tapley, &c., &c., &c. Or, let us say again— DAVI D Aunt Betsy, • heap, Steerforth, Mr. Peggotty, Steerforth, Traddles, I &c., &c., &c. Enumerating, under the head of The Pickwick Papers—Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick, Old Weller, Bob Sawyer, Mr. Winkle, The Fat B oy , Ji ng l e , &c. Sampsoner ß T ra k s e s, Ol L d it e tl u e rosity Shop—Dick Swiveller, Nell, Daniel Quilp, The Marchioness, Kit, Whisker, &c. And so on—work after work ! The mere names—suggesti ve , they ,as are, of the extraordinary variety of original cha racters created by our great Novelist—the mere names, we repeat, form a panegyric, and about the best panegyric of all, upon the rare and perfectly exceptional genius of Charles Dickens as an imagi native author. Some such panegyric we have but just now, casually and quite undesignedly, pronounced upon the last of his serial fictions, the one now in course of publication, and of which only one-half has yet been issued from the press. Nevertheless, although " Our Mutual Friend" is at this moment merely half-finished—what characters has not our author therein added to . his already crowded gathering of living, speaking por traits--The Boz Gallery, as we may call it ! Eugene Wrayburn, to begin with—and Sloppy, and Lizzie Hexam, the Veneerings, the representa tives of PodsnapperY, the Boffins, the Wilfers, the Literary Man with a wooden leg, the love-lore articulator of Skeletons, Betty Higden, Johnny, Bradley Headstone, Riderhood, Jenny Wren, &c. Turning to this present number of " Our Mutual Friend," however—the one, as we have said, com pleting the first volume—the opening chapter of the instalment recounts, first of all, a walk and talk that Harmon, Handford, Rokesmith (how shall we call him ?) has with R. W., who likens himself, oddly, to one of the African Kings, King Bill, or King Boy, or what not, dressed in a uni form coat, with his legs in the sleeves, or something of that kind ! Later on in the same chapter we learn how dear old Betty Higden " runs away" from Sloppy ! And how Noddy Boffin " lets out," in a burst of good-humoured indignation, upon those Pa trons and Patronesses whose bounties in that capa city (merely as Patrons and Patronesses) are so very plentifully advertised in the public newspapers-- Mr. Boffin remonstratively insisting that " they ain't Pills, or Hair Washes, or Invigorating Ner vous Essences to be puffed inithat way !" In the next chapter Bradley Headstone " has it out" ( fiercel y enough) with poor Li zz i e Hexam, in a little paved court by a churchyard (d ee p in the very heart of the city) where the tomb s t ones ar e wonderfully described by Mr. Dickens "droopingly incline d f rom the perpendicular as if they were ashamed of the lies the y told !" Out of this expl ana tion (of mingled love and hatred), we hardly know which of the two comes forth to view the more detestably, Mr. Headstone or the boy Charley. The last chapter of the number,bringing the first volume, as has been said, to an end, is full of keen, trenchant, scarifying strokes of wit, in the further delineation of those worldly haunts at th e W es t- en d—in it but not of it—peopled by creatures like the Lammles, the Podsnaps,and the Veneerings. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHL—We regret to an nounce that in consequence of a severe cold Miss Bateman cannot, for this evening at least, appear as Julia in " The Hunchback." The intimation of this fact in our columns may just possibly prevent some disappointment. Your card if you please. 50 Printed from plate, Is. 6d. (post free). No charge for stamping envelopes or paper. Colour stamping reduced to ls. per_loo. Alvratra GitarmEß, 308 7 High itolborD, W.C. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN. (Via Greencastle.) NEW YORK, JAN. 20 (Evening). Advises from Port Royal confirm the news of the capture of Pocataglio Bridge, with 12 guns, on the 14th inst. The Federal loss was small. The Con federates evacuated Pocataglio during the night, and retreated to Asheroo, in the direction of Charleston. It was expected that they would make a stand at Asheroo. The monitor Patapsco has been destroyed off Charleston, while on picket duty, by several torpe does. Fifty of the crew were drowned. Richmond papers reiterate the report that Breckenridge has been appointed Secretary of War. Contradictory reports are current at Washington concerning Mr. Blair's movements. Some corres pondents still assert that he has returned to Rich mond. Mr. Stanton announces that the cotton captured at Savannah has been transferred to a Treasury agent for shipment. The Richmond Examiner thinks that the capture of Wilmington is not a necessary but a probable consequence of the fall of Fort Fisher, and urges the burning of all cotton in Wilmington. The same paper, in criticising the fall of Fort Fisher, assails President Davis's management of affairs, and declares that the struggle must con tinue, neither Northern compromise nor Southern submission being possible. A change of men has become a public necessity. It further urges the call of a convention in Virginia, the reform of mili tary and civil affairs in the South, and an end of the present misrule. The tone of the Southern reports, although re garding the situation unfaviourably, shows no dis position to relinquish the struggle. In the Confederate Congress Mr. Orr, of Missis sippi, complained of an article in the Richmond Sentinel denouncing as treasonable the resolutions said to have been passed by Congress in secret session to send commissioners to Washington. Mr. Orr denied that treasonable resolutions had been passed. The peace movement was not in the hands of time-serving men, but of men determined that in some form the statesmanship of the country should be invoked to end the carnival of death by negociation. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Money easy. Gold and Stocks excited. Gold declined this morning to 99, but subsequently rose to 106. Exchange on London, 2251 ; on Paris, 2121. Stocks depressed. New York Centrals, 108 ; 1141 ex-dividend ; Erie, 71i, 5 . 20 ; United States Bonds, 1081. NEW YORK, JAN'. 21 (Morning) Admiral Porter reports from Wilmington on the 16th that the rebels destroyed the works on Smith's Island. He says that, "if they do not destroy Fort Caswell, as it is of no use to them, we shall get it after a little while." He declares that the Malakoff would not compare in size and strength to Fort Fisher. The New York Tribune asserts that the 'Con !ederates are contemplating another extensive raid 'rom Canada. No one is authorised to say that terms could not be made with the North without abolition and re construction. The South could make it the interest of the Federal Government to recognise the South as an independent people, without inN olving either slavery or reconstruction. It was not treasonable to resort to efforts to restore peace by negotiation. The Federal Navy Department designs establish ing an European squadron under the command of Admiral Goldsborough. The Brazil and East India squadron is to be largely increased. The Tennessee State Convention has unanimously passed a resolution declaring slavery for ever abolished, and prohibiting it throughout the State. The Convention also adopted a resolution pro hibiting the Legislature from recognising property in man, and forbidding it requiring compensation to be made to owners of slaves. A resolution was also adopted abrogating the declaration of State inde pendence and military league made with the Southern Confederacy in 1861, and all laws and ordinances passed in pursuance thereof. All officers appointed by the acting Governor since his accession to office, were confirmed. The propositions of the Convention are to be submitted to the people for ratification on the 22d February, and on the 4th of March an election will be held for Governor and members of the Legislature. Nearly 300 delegates participated in the proceed ings, and the greatest harmony prevailed. Parson Brownlow was unanimously chosen for Governor. NEW YORK, JAN. 21, 2 p.m. Mr. Blair has proceeded to City Point in a Government steamer for another visit to Richmond. Admiral Porter reports that his gunboats at Wilmington have hermetically sealed the river against blockade runners. It is rumoured that the Confederates have blown up Fort Casswell, at the entrance of the Cape Fear River. The gunboats are preparing to advance agains Wilmington. The anticipations of early peace, together with the successful military operations, have caused heavy decline in gold and stocks. NEW YORK, JAN. 21 (Morning). Thomas and Hardee, with 20,000 men, are re ported to be in a strong position 20 miles above Hardeeville on the Savannah river. Federal tran sports have ascended the river, carrying troops i n that direction. Augusta papers assert that Johnston has been reinstated in the command of the army of the West. President Davis has written a letter to the Presi dent of the Georgia Senate opposing separate State action for peace. He says that the Confederate Constitution provided the only practicable mode for the negotiation of peace. The difficulty is not to find an agency to negotiate peace : the obstacle is that the enemy will not treat at all or entertain other propositions than that the South should sub mit to acknowledge themselves criminals and sue for pardon. The Confederate House of Representatives have appointed a committee to prepare an address to the Southern people assuring them of tile unalterable determination of the Congress to continue the struggle for independence. The House of Representatives have passed an amendatory loan bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means to issue legal tenders restricted to the amount authorised by the previous Act. The City of Baltimore has arrived out. NEW YORK, JAN. 21 (Evening). Money easy. Gold, 2031. Exchange on Lon don, 2251 ; on Paris, 2121. Stocks lower. New York Central, 1071 ; Illinois, 113/ ex-dividend; Erie, 70i ; 5.20 United States Bonds, 1081. Cotton declining. Middling Upland, 98. Flour, wheat, corn, and proyi§ion§ declining. Coffee heavy. Sugar C ou rt CiltilTO quiet. Molasses heavy. Petroleum very dull ; crude, 47 'refined, 67. CANADA. OPENIN.,'C- OF THE CANADIAN PARLIA- MENT. QUEBEC, JAN. 20. The Canadian Parliament assembled yesterday. The Governor's message states that a bill to arm the executive with further powers to deal with political refugees who abuse the Canadian Asylum by committing outrages on the border, will be pre sented to Parliament. Regarding the Confedera tion of the provinces, he says that circumstances afford the opportunity, not only for the settlement of the question of provincial republics, but also for the simultaneous creation of a new nationality. A plan for the constitution of the Confederation will be presented to the Parliament, which plan has been approved and sanctioned by the Imperial Govern ment. The Toronto Court has declared Burleigh, the Lake Erie raider, guilty of robbery, and that he must be given up under the Extradition Treaty. His counsel has applied for a writ of habeas corpus. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, FEB. 1. The Bill regulating the strength of the army in time of peace and the length of military service has been submitted to the King by the Ministry, and approved by his Majesty. It will be brought for ward in the Chamber of Deputies next week. ITALY. TURIN, JAN. 29. The following Bill granting an indemnity to the sufferers by the September disturbances in this city has been brought forward in the Chamber of Deputies by Signor Boggio :-- "Natural equity and social justice require that the State should indemnify citizens for injury un justly suffered in the public cause. " The Chamber by its vote of the 23d January, 1865, has declared that the victims of the events of the 21st and 22d September were blameless. " The families- of these victims are, for the most part, very poor. " It is just and incumbent upon the State to aid those who, through having lost their support by death or being rendered unable to labour, are now plunged in extreme misery. " In order, therefore, to effect the fulfilment of this duty, I propose the following law : " Art:l. A life pension of 600 lire annually, dating from the Ist October, is granted to those persons who, on the evenings of the 21st and 22d September, 1864, received such wounds in the Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo of Turin, as for ever to incapacitate them for further labour. " A pension of equal amount will be accorded to the widow, children, or descendants of any person who may have lost his life on that occasion, or died subsequently from wounds he may then have re ceived. " Art. 2. To those sufferers who may have been temporarily incapacitated from pursuing their avoca tions by the events in question, a temporary allow ance is granted at the same rate as stated for the pensions in Art. 1. Art. 3. To provide for these pensions and allow ances, the sum of 60,000 lire will be charged in the Finance Balance for 1865." HER MAJESTY. _____, OSBORNE, Jan. 31. The Queen, the Princess of Wales, and Princ es : Louise, drove out yesterday afternoon in a car riag and four, attended by Colonel Ponsonby. drove Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice also out. The Right Hon. W. Gladstone arrived, an d h i the honour of dining with the Queen and Eqa Edward -Everett. Mr. Edward Everett, forinerly Minister of th e United States at the Court of St. James's, has died ' according to the latest accounts from New Vl.'" He was a great orator, scholar, and diplomatist' and it seems strange to read in the American corl.e. spondence—" Mr Fry, the composer, is dead; also Mr. Edward Everett." Edward Everett was the son of a Dis sen is ti i ll ei g i Minister at Boston, whose lay character ena', him to hold, in commendam, the judgeship of •°- Court of Common Pleas for Norfolk County, Nil!' sachusetts, April 11, 1794. - After a course of ilt; struction at Dorchester and Boston, young Fs el he ' e was sent to Harvard University in 1807. He li came a Unitarian minister in Boston, and yet Pe lished a " Defence of Christianity." In 1815 he h ;;; came Professor of Greek Literature at Cara hri " ' U.S., and visited Europe. He was in London ca ' - ' o i ing the excitement consequent on the succes s jo Waterloo, afterwards went to study Germa n atitioed University of Gottingen, and consequently trace' f in Saxony, Holland, aud.Brusia. In the winter h o , 1817-18 he was in Paris ; in the spring of 1 8 ,' was again in London, and visited Oxford bridge, Wales, the Lake country, and S eetia li The most illustrious men in England g ia welcomed him, notably Scott, Jeffrey, 13),,r°1,0 Hominy, Campbell, and Davy. In 1818-I',d, travelled through the south of France, Swi tzerl ; North Italy, Florence, Rome, Naples, Greece, C°o, stantinople, Hungary, Wallachia, and AtinstrtlO After his return to his native country he be eae the - editor of the North American Review, which , f°r lso first time, under him had a great success. lie 3 t he popularised his " University Lectures," f or lit purpose of delivering them before the general P in Boston ; and he also published a Greek gr ain and Greek class-book for the use of his pi--P as 'i n A Mr. Everett is chiefly known for his success ,tor truly American Institution—" orations." LaftlY-tot was present at the first, and, of course, the 01' for made great capital out of this fact. Ile s ib ' Middlesex (U.S.) in Congress for over tea Y,e`the As a preacher he stands high in the opinion of the A learned ; but he was more permanently use fli „'„ on politician. He was chairman of the ConaPl' it teo Foreign Affairs, chairman of the Select C ° ' 1 0 0 on the Georgia controversy, the author of the % c o rity's report on the Bank Investigation CoOlien in Philadelphia, and of the Committee ort Relations' (minority) report on the French eel i o is. versy (1835), and of the report on the Pall aillA c i fret sion and the affair of Fulton. He advocate o il trade and the fixed tenure by Indians of th eir dor land. In 1835-9 he was Governor of 3la ss3 a eP• setts ; in the latter year he was defeated when " ing re-election by a majority of one. of 3 1f. It was in 1842 that the name and opinions - th en Everett attracted very great attention in the a the very heated religious atmosphere of Oxford a ll , or country generally. At the Commemorat ion the ford, held June 28, it was proposed to corlf c t er honorary degree of D.C.L. upon Mr. Everett . e ives the undergraduates had nearly exhausted theoli_a tho by shouting against Mr. Jelf, of Christ Churcui; unpopular proctor, the hooting was ren ewed . ° Unit presentation of Mr. Everett, " formerly a o or minister." The minister's degree was l oudly a t y placeted, amid shouts, groans, and h isses ; 3n , sr dissenting members of Convocation (Dr. well, Mr. W. C. Lake, Father R. G. ga e ?ss.) Father T. D. Dalgairns, Mr. A. ,E --- Clstl e t 'eol drew up a protest against the degree, most * 9 ' ' ere tt at the same time signing an address to Mr. " I t , ol llt l exprwssing their regret that their consciences jog not permit them to sanction his degree, and P ra his " virtues and talents." .debt e, - In 1849 Mr. Everett was appointed Fres' death Harvard College, and on Daniel Webatera's o toh Secretary of State. In 1853 he becanle a Pe put retired. ts fore t he The ex-Minister has lately been again be fore public as an orator on the side of peace ill T or a i Mr. Everett was undoubtedly a very gr ea :po 01 " and preacher—according to American /s o lar, a h speaking and preaching—a precocious s e ; lo firm, intelligent, and business-like Pn bi f to He was, on the whole, a great OrnanSen' 923 75 Country 1007 50 The King of Prussia's Reply to the 111) House. , 2 9 ' BERLIN, d' /1- ,' Upon receiving the Address presented "ilj Upper House in reply to the Speec h f1 2, 1 r/ Throne, the King delivered the following an 5 7 00. 9 1; " I thank the Upper House for the renewed rof festation of its sentiments, which is so well e:(l3,,aceo both in the contents and force of the •IS-L'tag handed to me by you. It is a matter of cot e or; I thankfully recognise the exploits of my o f 4 4' but much has also been effected in other deP; O O ments of the administration of my Goverillii? during the past year, by which Prussia 118:v°10,04 raised to that stage of reputation in he w hich corresponds to her power. I ha ve ; 0 ' with pleasure that the Upper House z' oc ot . fully acknowledges this action of my GOVril,. 13'4 I am convinced further that this than well for the praiseworthy attitude of the 31. t" for the successful efforts of my Governrilegvicti°,ll exists among my people, and it is this e og t which is so agreeable to my heart. The g reg a,' however, is that all that has been done 11`-coii." accomplished upon the basis which alone, I),s)rg)C blessing, affords durability and perman e li c ' T the basis of the fear of God. ,ii " The fear of God has been conspiettcne l , o army, and from it has proceeded that sy011)3" D O' readiness to make sacrifices which the natic)g cod warmly and zealously displayed towards tile co bating troops. A•fief eli fy "It is my most ardent wish that the La f ee existing between my Government and the reV tatives should be brought to reconciliatiml• civov, " In the speech from the throne I m ade g 00! to the representatives ; it is now for the 1.4 ;11 ; tives to make advances to me. But s alterably adhere to what I said from tileo with regard to this reconciliation, as I m il e olg li g scientiously endeavouring to do everythiweo 1.)01r tible with the welfare of the country. r f li , e o f 1) ; I J my sentiments, I may trust that the 30, 11 ' 0 0 mony, which undoubtedly still exists, 11 ' 0 11 ' removed. for " Be good enough to express to the TJPP h , and in especial to the movers, my Royal ba the address now before me." RESIGNATION OF Mu. JUSTICE WILL/ A 6 0 1° ,17° rumour respecting Mr. Justice Williams 11 4 ' e d yesterday turns out to be correct, and he has ce h . a d c , / : ic ol r a member of the Court of Common Pleas. IF ) , 1 0‘ 1 ', to go to the Norfolk Circuit, but found th at 11° able of the necessary fatigue, and therefor() 1134 Like the late Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Just i ,i ce o is afflicted with deafness, and although his I . lle- 4 ,,c0e! 1 o; 4 ° for business is still unimpaired, he found it,'",r e c ° with the strict discharge of his duty to struge c oP, o ir infirmity, which prevented him very often fr °l ' 3 . o iSe u l l i 4 taking the evidence given before him. The3°„l.ol/c P t ' or stuff-gownsman, to the bench in 1846. ll - 1 1., 04 4: retirement have lost the services of a strietilto °el., upright man, a sound lawyer, and one devoted s' . l " Ho was valued by all the members of the Delleiii,ello,ll assistance, and almost an authority in t heir ue j th °s° f ie° His kindness of disposition endeared him to t', i l a 11 0 ,, e ' ' ' f oP ° were in any way thrown in contact with 1111 r, into private life the sincere wishes of all hise ft friends that he may live for many year s in e r 130 and in the enjoyment of the retiring pen , justly earned. hag ra il His Excellency Sir Henry Howard Brown's Hotel. FRANCE. BOUItSE, Jan. 31.--The market has been rather dull with little business doing, but prices have been pretty well maintained. The response des primes (option) was made at 67f. sc. for the Three per Cents., and 966 f. 25c. for the Mobiiier. For the Account, Threes opened at 67f. 2ic., and are now at 67f. sc. Mobilier have been somewhat inactive, but quotations have scarcely varied. The Railway Shares Market continues firm. The market was more animated towards the close, and prices im• proved. The following are the last quotations :- 4 per Cents 1o: end month Italian Loan — Do. end month 65 15 Ditto Threes — New Mexican Russian 9O Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred 3 per Cents. 67 20 DO. end month 67 15 Credit Mobilier 972 50 Do. end month 973 75 Bank-Shares 3550 Credit Foncier 1275 Roman — Acct. RAILT _RAYS. Cash. Orleans Northern lOO5 . Lyons and Mediterranean.: 943 75 Southern 582 50 ... 580 Western 537 50 ... 540 Eastern Sardinian BO5 ... 305 Austrian Lombard 543 75 ... 542 50 North of Spain 340 ... 340 Saragossa 405 ... 402 50 Ditto to Barcelona 177 50 ... 172 50 Her Majesty's Theatre. The new opera of "Lara," the music composed by . Maillart, the libretto by John Oxenford, was pro duced successfully last evening. Miss Romer made her first appearance as the Countess. The young lady is tall, and graceful in person, and has a pretty middle soprano voice, well under control. Miss Louisa Pyne played and sung the page, Kaled, admirably. Mr. Swift took the role of ,Lara, but was labouring under a severe cold, no uncommon malady at this inclement season. Ezzelin was sung with force and judgment by a new barytone, Mr. Renwick. Carilda, a peasantess, and Antonio, a fisherman, were amusingly played and sung by Miss Cottrell and Mr. Terrott. Mr. G. Honey, a great favourite, gave comic humour and vitality to the part of old Lambra, the faithful servant of the long-absent Lara. The plot combines, with varia tions, the two poems of the " Corsair" and " Lara." For Lara has been, after leaving his father's halls, a pirate, under the name of Conrad, while Kaled the page, is Gulnare. Lara's dream (represented and sung in the third act), make this fact plain to the audience. A song and trio, " Blessings on this day," by G. Honey, Miss Cottrell, and Mr. Terrott, was encored warmly, as was also a romance by Miss Romer, "To a far distant past." Mi ss Louisa Pyne also was encored in a quaint Arab song, " Where the planes." " Fill high, the wine is Spanish," a chanson a boire of re markable spirit, sung by Mr. Swift, and the sub ject of which is worked into the finale and chorus closing the second act, was followed by a call of the principal singers before the curtain. It was answered by Mr. Swift, Miss L. Pyne, Miss Romer, and Mr. Renwick; but the audience called for Mr. Honey, who bowed, and thus had an ovation to himself. A similar call followed the third act, and Signor Arditi received a similar compliment. The music is light, pleasing,. and full of marked passages that prevent the interest of the listener from relaxing. All the artists, and the conductor, exerted them selves, and the result was the satisfactory perform ance of an opera combining much lively music with a good melodrainatic plot. Arrival of Gold Ships. GRAVESEND, Jan• 31. The following gold ships have arrived in the Thames : The Monarch, from Port Phillip Oct. 31, with 109 passengers, 26,0000 z. of gold, 1,980 bales of wool, and 308 casks of tallow. The Star of Peace, from Melbourne Nov. 8, with 10,9000 z. of gold, 3,925 bales of wool, 120 bales of leather, 6,639 hides, and 86 casks of tallow. The Omar Pasha, from Melbourne, Nov. 1, with 12 cabin passengers, 4,3080 z. of gold, 3,555 bales of wool, 14,000 hides, 80 casks of tallow, and 22 tons of spelter. The Lincolnshire, from Melbourne Nov. 10, with 130 passengers, 9,8000 z. of gold, 1,800 bales of wool, and 103 casks of tallow. fus e D, C,„ t; Ti ivaji ri ot; C f: 4l r„. h ave tE ‘ ,, e 41 b , Y tt