The Sun. — London, England, 1865-01-12 00:00:00

R°Lak ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) THIS EVENING, THE BRIDE OF SONG. Renee. 'Miss Thu' ;lx, Madame Fanny Haddam ; Adel bert, Mr. Henry Haigh ; and Hannib..l, Mr. A. Laarence. Conductor, Mr Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled CINDERELLA ; or, Harlequin and the Magic Pumpkin, and the Great Fairy of the Little Glass Slipper, In which the celebrated Donato will appear. Commence at seven. A MORNING PER N ORMANCE of CINDERELLA next MONDAY, Jan. 113, at Two o'clock, and every Monday, till further notice. TIER MAJESTY'S THEA.TRE. 111 THIS EVENIN(i, the new Operetta, in one act, en ti Lied PUNCHINELLO. Followed by the new Grand ChristmasG Pan,omime, TIL E LION AND THE UNICORN FIIITIN ii FOA CROWN THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE, Managers, Measi s. E. Falconer and F. B. eek, A Con YOUNG nexion. TH I S EVENING, an d during the w LAD FROM THE COUNTRY. HOP O'MY Alter which, the Grand Christmas Pantomime. THUMB AN.° HIS ELEVEN 131t0T riEttS; or, Harlequin and Ogre a the Sev en -League Bo ots : Messrs. G. Rel- Sno the re, Tom Matthews, G. Weston, Master Percy Roselle, Stc. Jr/isses Lydia Thompson. Mo rri sqMessrs. Bolen°, C. Lauri, W. A. Barne,, T. Cormack, Saville ; Zion. Boleno, the Misses Gunnies, and Signor Tescano. T REATRE-R OYA L, HAYMARKET. Lessee. Mr. Buckatone. tits r - vE NING, Jan. 12, DAVID GARRICK. Messrs. Chippendale, Sothern, Buckatone, Rogers, Clark, Coe, Wea tilevoy, &c. ; Mesdames Moore, Snowdon, Fitzwilliam, After which, LORD DUNDREARY MARRIED AND pc,NN Fun Messrs. Sothern, Buckatone, Braid, Gordon, Clark, White, Coe, Weathereby, &c. ; Mesdames Snowdon, &a with PRINCESS SPRINGTIME. Mr. Compton, Miss L. Beeiey. And MRS. WHITE. To commence at 7. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Mr. r•ECHTER will perform his nnlverbally allowed great impersonation of RU Y BLAB EVERY EVENING until further notice. THIS E VEXING, to commence with Hy WIFE'S OUT. Messrs. Widdicomb, Charles; Miss 13. ,Mercy and Miss E. Lavenu. __ — After which, at 8 o'clock, 'WY BLAB. Buy Blas, Mr. Fechter. Messrs. Ryder, I.'itzpatrick, F. Ch hrintyre, Garden, Raymond, tollett, C ifford, Moreland ; Misses car lotta Leclercq, B. l'ercy, and Mrs. Winstanley. To conclude with a Farcical Oriental Extravaganza, en titled BEARFACED IMPOSI' ORS. Schahabaham (a pasha of three tails, Mr. Raymond; Mustapha, his vizier, Mr. Garden ; Bill Stumps and Jack Home, quondam propiietors of the original named happy family, Messrs. Moreland and "iriddicomb ; Ali, chief guardian of the ladies of the Harem, Mr. Collett ; Osman Khan, chief executioner, Mr. Bunch ; Achmet Aga, an officer of the Sultan, Mr. Kelly; ajji Baba, chief keeper of the monkeys, Mr. Regau; Ayesha, formerly Jeminaa Stumps, but no" first favourite of the pasha, Miss Lavenu; Fatima, second favourite of the pasha, Miss B. Percy ; Shekerleb, third favourite of the pasha, Miss 'Travers; Bede, fourth favourite of the pasha, Mis., Watson ; Zenobia, formerly banou of the harem, chief wile of the pasha, but now discarded for Ayesha, Miss Hama. Various choice specimens of zoology, guards, slaves, and attendants, by Ihe numerous and talentea Smith family. Divertissement des Odalisques. Doors open at Hall-Past Six. The Box-office open daily from Alevai till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- dole rrupriet4r end Manager, bit. b. ar ouster. THIS EVENING, ICI ON I'ARLE FRANCAIS. Mr. J. L. Toole. At er which, at 8, LEAH. Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. George J,.rdan, Swinbourne, It. Philips, Stuart, Stephenson, Lburne ; Miss H. Simms and Mrs. Bil.ington. To conclude with DARK DOINGS IN THE CU.'. BOARD BY THE KNGTI'ING'EaI BItOrHERS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedtord, R. Billington; Mrs. A. Mellon. Miss A. seaman. Commence at 7. ItO,YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Ueo. Vining. THIS EVENING, a new Extravaganzl, entitled THE MAGIC HORSE AND THE ICE MAIDEN lItINCESI. Alter which, THE STREkT3 Ol•' LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Fisher, D. Murray, J. Nelson, H. Forrester. H. Mellon; Mrs. Henry Marston, Miss Emma s4rnett, and Miss Fanny Gwynne. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Atanageress. Mrs. Swanborough. THI3 EVENING, at 7, LAWRENCE'S LOVE SUIT. Messrs. Parselle and Thorne; Mesdames Palmer, Carson, and Hughes. AiLtr which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, THE " GRIN" BU sH ES ; or, the Mrs. Brown of the Mississippi. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton, &c.; Mesdames Ae.da Swanborough, It aynham, Simpson, Johnstone, dm. To crnclude with THE WILFUL WARD. Miss Palmer. - _ GRATIS AND POST FREE. E. MOSES and SONS' New Pamphlet, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DRESS. MOSES AND S 0 N • respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest laorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable besigns, and the best workmanship. E. 3IOSES and SON give particular attention to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices ♦rt such as must satiety the most ,conoutical. Tule depart went is in a uistinet part 01 the premised, which will be lound gre A conv,nience lot ladies and children, - LI MOSES AND SON ‘.4• respectfully invite public attention to their large and Nvea-assurted WINTEtt STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S •"SANDKINGitAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER ;introduced by them) is the newest and most lashiontb.e style of Overcoats for the season. MOSES AND SON'S • READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHO lor all classes and all ages. EI MOSES AND SON'S • CELEBRATED "INDISPENzABLE" SUIT. irom 30s. 1. 4 1 MOSES AND • HOSIELtY and DEAL EitY, for all classes and all ages. S 0 N'S - MOSES AND SON'S E• HATS AND CAPS, fur all c asses and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S ~. BooTs and snozs, for all classes and all Ages. L - 1 4 MOSES AND SON' S • 0 UTFI i s, for all classes, all age 3, and all climatei. E• MOSES AND SON'S LONDON HOUSES, • 154,155,15, 157, Minorles ; 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate 506, 507, 508, New OKI ord—street ; 1,2, 3, lfart-street; 137, 138, Tottenham-court-road ; 288, Easton-road Also, Bradlurd, Yorkshire. io MOSES AND SON'S Jul • Establishments ate closed every Friday evening at suuset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business to re sumed until 1► o'clock. A I articles are marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article nut appr4ved of will be exchanged, or the mousy returned. _ List of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our new pamphlet, •"fhe Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post tree. COALS. —The Tan JIESHALL C OMPANY'S COAL,. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'. 269. per ton. I Double 21e. per ton. Top 255. „ De,p Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De- RAN, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, south Wharf, .Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. JOHN SC'OTT, Sole Lzent. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening by ALEXANDER , (late 131tOOKS), Newspaper Agent, 2*, old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,' tdontaining the Latest lIITELLItitazotE eau De had Every Evening of Ur. R. GLEN [E, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Flyde-park, ---- HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY. —Morning, 2h. 23m.—Aftemoon, 2h. 44m. To-Monßow.-Morning, 3h. 3m.—Afternoon, 3h. 22m. St 7 tAll/ PLPf '"'‘ mi.""1111161‘1.- LONDON, THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 1865' he prospect s and position of the rival combat ants, in the greatest civil war of modern times, naturally engage so m uc h attention, that an article recently published in a Southern The journal ßichntoi 7il a l T ti g ead of with very great interest. fullY into the the 22d of December enters very re sources of the Confederacy, and gives an elaborate calculation, based on the census tables, silo g the number of men capable of bearing arms still left to the South. It is very possible that these comput a . tions arc not infallible; the premises may be in. correct ; the conclusions inaccurate ; too mu c h margin may have been allowed on some points, and too little scope given on others, but the main fea tures of it can hardly fail to be genuine, and as such very unacceptable to the enemies of the Confederacy. The writer begins by remarking on the current report that the resources of the South in point of population are well-nigh exhausted, and the Yankees have naturally enough fomented this to the utmost. The idea that the depopulation with which they threaten the rebel States should be fore- I stalled by the accidents of war and the operation of disease, leaving the fertile fields and plains of the South ready for them to step in and take possession, is too acceptable to be doubted. It is also a very welcome suggestion that the recruits of the Con federacy will soon be exhausted, so that the weary and costly struggle which many in the North itself are beginning to think is hopeless, may terminate from sheer inanition. This notion, so exhilarating to the North, and so injurious in its effects from encouraging them to the further prosecution of the war, is also prejudicial in the South, where it fosters any lingering traces of despondency or discontent, and seems to diminish that firmness of pur- pose and unanimity of spirit which are the most powerful weapons of the Confederacy. Yet although many both North and South have yielded to this impression, it is altogether a mistaken one. "No proposition," says the writer we have been referring to, "is more erroneous than that the Con- federacy is exhausted, or even nearly exhausted, of its arm-bearing population." To prove this, he examines carefully the statistics of the whole popu lation of the Southern States, with the exclusion of Missouri and Kentucky, as given by the United States census of 1860. At that date the total num- ber of white men in the 11 States now composing the Confederacy was 2,799,818. He then proceeds to eafeulate the number between the ages of 17 and 50, adding those that have arrived within those limits during the last four years, and deducting the amount of the natural average mortality of that time. The aggregate remainder leaves nearly a million and a half, which number, however, has to be put through several more processes before the final estimate is arrived at. Allowance has to be made for those killed in battle, dead from the exceptional diseases of the campaigns, or permanently disabled by wounds. It is very difficult to make this com putation, since there are no actual figures to go upon, but the calculation does not proceed without some foundation to go upon. He says, first, that the casualties of General LEE'S army during the last campaign have not amounted to 85,000 ; there fore, if he takes that number as an estimate, he will be certainly over rather than under the mark. Of these 85,000 he allows 5,000 to have been killed and 5,000 permanently disabled ; and reckoning the same for the army of Tennessee, and for the other forces of the South collectively, he arrives at an estimate of 30,000. To this he adds 45,000 for the losses by exceptional diseases of war, allowing for them at the rate of 50 per cent. above the ordinary standard. But this is only the loss of one year, and there remains to be added the casualties of the previous years. He reckons these on a different scale, as at first the losses were comparatively trifling, and in 1862 and 1863 they were much less than in 1864. For those four years, then, he allows respectively 30,000, 50,000, 60,000, and 75,000, so that the losses from the casualties of war stand at 225,000. But these are not the only deductions to be made from_the numerical strength of the Confederacy. There remain deductions for 50,000 prisoners of war now in the hands of the North ; for exemptions from disability and other causes, and for the population belonging to Southern States under the control of the enemy, which, in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Virginia, he reckons at one-half of the white population of those States, and in Tennessee at two-thirds. He is still not satisfied with these reductions, but reckons 5 per cent. as having left the country, a ratio which, he observes, is much too high. The result of all these calcula tions, which can scarcely be objected to as being too favourable to the Confederacy, leaves to the South a force of about 700,000 fighting men. Allowing two-thirds of these for active service, the Southern armies in the field should consist of more than 460,000 men, a larger number than any force which they have yet had under arms. The labour of these calculations must have been amply repaid to the ingenious Southerners who undertook the task by the gratification of being able to publish such a fact to his countrymen. It is to be hoped that it will not be unheeded in the North, but that Washing ton and New York may pause to consider the pos sibility of subduing an army of nearly half a million, animated by a fervid patriotism and an uncompromising hostility to the invaders, and the expediency of prosecuting such an endea vour with a national debt already amounting to hundreds of millions. Europe, too, may read a lesson from these figures. In the first place, the estimated amount of losses during these four years must strike the most unreflecting. Nearly a quar ter of a million on one side alone to be reckoned as a reasonable computation of the destruction of human life and health within that brief period. The Thirty Years' War, which remains the terror of modern history, was said to have cost the lives of a million of men, but, according to a calculation based on estimated probabilities, these four years have cost the young Republic of the West already half that number. No country can stand such a rate of depopulation, no exchequer can endure the maintenance of such a war. Heavy taxes press more and more upon the people, the necessaries of life grow more and more costly to the rich, more and more inaccessible to the poor. The rate of pre mium on gold, looked for so eagerly in the American mercantile news, represents but feebly the sufferings of the people, while of domestic and individual misery these four years of warfare have been fertile enough to supply a thousand tragedians. Half a million deaths and hopeless invalids represent an amount of mourning in families terrible to contem plate ; and when we add to this the misery inse parable from civil war, the feuds, the dissensions, the bitter separation between friends and relatives, the suf ferings of prisoners, and in the Souththe - wretchedness caused by burning houses and devastated property, we shall shudder at the result. How much of all this was preventible, and preventible by the inter vention of Europe, is a question which conscien tious men may well ask themselves. Had England agreed to the proposal of France two years ago— had she recognised the Confederacy even a twelve month since, many a brave man now wept over in vain might be alive to serve his country in some better cause—many a vigorous frame now help lessly maimed and crippled might still rejoice in its strength—many a broken heart might have been spared its Affliction. These considerations, of course, cannot always be allowed to prevail. There are times when the sword must be unsheathed at whatever cost : when nations are called upon to make such sacrifices and to shrink from them, is that moral cowardice which is the worst of evils. But the question now is, to what purpose is all this misery ? Are we called upon to stand by and watch the struggle until both combatants pause from exhaustion—until the fair and flourishing na tion we were proud to call our descendants shrink into physical and financial collapse ? We boast of our neutrality, but even granting it to be genuine, we can hardly appl au d th e strong man who stands by and sees two frenzied, weaker brothers fighting to the death, and we have quoted prov e th at there is life enough left boasts of his love of peace, because he will no t li ft his artn to stay them. The figures in the Confede racyt° preserve a resolute stand. The latest n ews we have received and courage. skill testifies to their Surely, the n , after four continued warfare, wh ose only rn,L* • years of military conclusion, THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12, 1865. the visit of the Prince and Princess of WALE—and he was also very fortunate in having to record a local triumph as well as a public festival as marking his tenure of office. The dearly-prized privileges of the City had not been wrested from its grasp, as had been threatened, and he reminded his consti tuents that in this they had a share of rejoicing, because such an arrangement as the one contem plated would have deprived the borough of the control of their local police. Mr. FLEMING, M.P., in returning thanks for the House of Commons, improved the opportunity by stating that, while a member of the House was burdened with great responsibility, still his position conferred upon him a far higher distinction than that appertaining to the legislative representatives of other lands, and an English member of Parliament met with a world-wide consideration. On the whole, there seams to have been no cause for dissatisfaction in this entertainment, which, without being remark able for any one distinguishing peculiarity, possessed the advantage of a genial sympathy, and a general sentiment of unanimity prevailing among its cora ' pany, than which nothing more certainly ensures success. Replies to the Confederate Manifesto, The Index publishes the following notes that have been received from the Governments of Sweden and of the Netherlands by the Confederate commis sioners in reply to the manifesto issued by the Con federate Congress : Stockholm, Dec. 18, 1864. The undersigned, Minister of State and of Foreign Affairs of his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway, has lately received the letter addressed to him, under date of Paris, the 11th of November last, by Messrs. Mason, Slidell, and Dudley Mann, commissioners of the Confederate States of America, and which communicates to the Government of the King, his august sovereign, the manifesto adopted by the Congress of the Confederate States on June 14, as well as a resolution setting forth the intentions, principles, and views of those states in reference to the war being waged between them and the United States of America ; and he considers it a duty to aclmowledge receipt of the same, and to state that he has not failed to place these documents under the eyes of the King., It is by his Majesty's order that he must confine himself to a declaration to the com missioners that the Government of Sweden and Norway is resolved to maintain, as in the past, the most strict neu trality in regard to the deplorable struggle which has sprung up between the states heretofore forming the great and powerful American Confederation, at the same time that its earnest wishes are for the cessation of so disastrous a conffict, and for an arrangement which may meet the just claims of each of the statesthat were members of the Union with which, from its beginning, the Government of the United Kingdoms has entertained the most cordial relations. In obeying this order, the undersigned profits by the op portunity to offer to Messrs. Mason, Slidell, and Mang, the assurances of his very distinguished consideration. (Signed) MANDERSTEDEM. Messrs. J. M. Mason, J. Slidell, and A. Dudley Mann, at Paris. The Hague, Dec. 30, 1864. Gentlemen, —I have had the honour to receive through the King's Legation at Paris your letter of 11th November last, accompanying a copy of the manifesto issued at Rich mond on the 14th June, 1864. In thanking you for this communication, and with an earnest wish for the prompt re-establishment of peace in America, I beg you, gentle men, to accept the assurance of my high consideration. (Signed) E. CREWENS. Messrs. J. Slidell, J. M. Mason, and A. Dudley Mann. Foundering of the Steamer North American. LOSS OF NEARLY 200 LIVES. LIVERPOOL, Wednesday. The steamer Peruvian, which arrived here to-day from Portland, brings intelligence of a fearful calamity which occurred on the morning of the 23d December last in the Mexican Gulf, by the foundering of the steamer North American, and the loss of 197 lives. The commander of the ill-fated steamer, Captain Marshall, states that the North American left New Orleans on the 16th December, and the South West Pass on the 18th, with 203 sick sol hdiaedrsnle2 w ca e b a in the p r a un sse t n il n gerlan e d f t a h c e r 2 e Owth. number ing cl " ock p.m. of of that day it commenced blowing heavily from the S.S.W., with a heavy sea running, and the vessel laboured and strained greatly. On the 22d the weather moderated in the early part of the day, but at noon the gale began to increase, and the engineer reported that the ship was leaking badly. At 1 p.m. he reported the water to be gaining in the hold. The course of the ship was then changed to the westward. Took off the fore and main hatch, and discovered waterrunning in forward. They cut away the ceiling, to try to stop the leak by caulking it, but could not. They next put blankets and sails over the bow, but all to no purpose, as the water continued to gain very fast. At 2.15 p.m. they spoke the barque Mary E. Libby, Captain Libby, bound from Cardenas, Cuba, for Portland. Captain Libby, upon learning the situation of the steamer, said he would remain and take all on board his vessel, if necessary. At 2.30 p.m. the water put the fires out. The boats were then got ready, and at 3.30 the first boat started for the barque, with the chief engineer and all the lady passengers. Six boat loads were got aboard the barque ; the seventh boat at dark, with the purser, pilot, and eight men, is supposed to have been lost, as it never reached the Mary E. Libby. The eighth and last boat, with the captain, first and second officers, and eight men, left the steamer at 7.30 p.m. The boats were hoisted aboard the barque at nine p.m. It being impossible to return to the steamer that night, the barque made sail and proceeded towards the steamer, her lights all in sight—distant about six miles. About one o'clock a.m. the lights disappeared suddenly, and the steamer must have foundered then, as at daylight nothing could be seen but a water-cask belonging to the steamer. The barque cruised about until noon, when all hope was relin quished, and she proceeded on her course. Out of 259 souls which were on board when the North American sailed from New Orleans, only 62 were saved. Among those who went down with the vessel were Colonel Saunders and Lieutenant-Colonel Horne. The suspension is announced of Messrs. James Lunham and Co., who for many years have carried on an extensive business in the Borough as whole- sale provision merchants. The liabilities are esti mated at 200,00 Q/. The following circular has been issued to creditors by the solicitors to the firm :-- 7, Walbrook, London, E.C., Jan. 11. Gentlemen,—We have to inform you that Messrec. James Lunham and Co., of the Borough, provision merchants, have this day been-compelled to suspend payment. The books have been placed in the hands of Messrs. Coleman, Turquand, Young, and Co., who will forthwith prepare a statement of affairs, and convene a meeting of the creditors at the earliest opportunity. —We are, &c., J. and J. H. LINKATER and HAmwoon. EXTRAORDINARY POISONING CASE.—At Bath, on Monday, Henry Fisher, a shoemaker, was charged with poisoning his wife. It seems that trade hav ing become dull, Fisher dreaded poverty, and suggested to his wife that they should mutually destroy themselves by poison. Having agreed to such a course to put an end to their existence, Fisher set to work to procure a sufficient quantity to' effect his purpose. He went, therefore, to seve ral chemists' shops throughout the city, and asking at each place for only two pennyworth was served without any hesitation. On Friday night the prisoner and his wife were in their apartments, and w ere v i s ited by his mother-in law, who, after knocking at their sitting - room door, and failing to receive any an swer, ma de inquiries of the lodgers all of whom pronoun ce d b o th to b e a t home. After listen ing a short time a movement was heard in the room, and suspecting something wrong, an attempt was made to force the door open. The man then came and opened the door, and said that he and his wife had both taken poison and were determined to die together. The woman lay in a state of insensibility in bed. Two medical men were soon in attendance, but she died on Sunday morning. From the appearances the room exhibited the husband no doubt had vomited, causing him to discharge a large portion of the poison he had swallowed. He was removed to the United Hospital, where the proper remedies were applied, and he quite recovered. The unfortunate fellow, it appears, has on one or two occasions exhibited symptoms of in sanity, and has been confined in a lunatic asylum. Fisher has admitted that his wife swallowed from eight to eleven teaspoonfuls of the laudanum, and that he took a similar quantity.—He was remanded. DONATO IN PARlS.—Donato, says a Paris paper, has cancelled his engagement with the proprietors of the Alcazar, because he would have been obliged to ap pear in plain evening dress, the authorities in Paris not allowing a performer to figure in costume at a Cafe Chan taut. Dancing in public on one leg in the evening dress of private life would certainly be a difficult undertaking ; and we are not surprised that Donato should shrink from such an ordeal before a Parisian audience. CHRISTIAN'S MISTAKE. By the Author of 1 "John Halifax, Gentleman," &c.—This new work by one of the most justly popular writers of the day will be warmly welcomed by all her admirers. It is full of the same deli cate and truthful delineation of character, the same touch ing pathos, the same acute observation, and, above all, the same power of deeply interesting the reader, which distin guished "John Halifax." The heroine, Christian, is a charming character, and we think it will be generally acknowledged that the story of her " Mistake" forms one of the most attractive books that have appeared for a very long time past. according to the leaders of both sides, must be the exhaustion of one of the combatants, it is time for England to step boldly forward and carry out in her policy that principle which is older than any modem theory of non-intervention—the recogni tion of the right possessed by every free and intelli gent people to choose their own ruler and their own form of Government. At the eleventh hour Mr. AYRTON has addressed his constituents, and it certainly would have been a pity if they had lost his sensible and sound speech, which entered so fully into many important subjects, and embraced so many topics in its discursive range. The hon. member made some very sugges tive allusions in regard to many local matters, and . - among other domestic questions pointed out the most unsatisfactory state of the poor in this country. He truly styled it a national disgrace that there should be so many " chargeable poor, and at such a tremendous cost of maintenance." Perhaps one of the best explanations of this state of things was given by Mr. AYRTON, when he attributed it mainly to the prevalent practice of infant labour. The report of the commission of infant labour showed that " mere infants were kept at work for ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day." When we find that children of five years of age are thus employed it is only wonderful that greater evils and more grievous results do not follow as the natural sequence of such an anomalous course of action. Those who think that business must be attended to whatever else happens, will do well to ponder upon the passage in this speech, in which such bartering of health and strength are compared to the traffic in slavery, so repugnant to English ears, and so revolting to English prin ciple. " Slavery, whether of adults or children, was a moral pest, which brought in its train ignorance, poverty, and crime." That the deadly harvest of such a poisonous seed is being reaped in this country at present many could now attest ; and surely it is the duty of all to endeavour to mitigate the extent and lessen the evils of this practice of children's labour. As Mr. AYRTON remarked, those young ones thus treated in their turn reared a generation like themselves, and hence no end or limit could be found for the evil. There is no doubt that the numerous cases that meet the eye, in workhouses and other institutions and asylums of deformity, imperfect intellect, and confirmed afflictions of a painful nature, originate in a great degree from the pressure of work, of so hard a description, at a tender age. In the course of his remarks, Mr. AYRTON touched upon the education grant, and declared his belief that the sums were not properly applied, like many others. He stated that Mr. LowE had not beeil well used by the Government, for he had done good service in the cause, in many instances and in various ways. It is to be regretted that the hon. member did not show the same discernment in his remarks on foreign affairs as he did in his discussion of home questions. There is never any use in attempting to make the best of things when facts are too stubborn to be controverted, and the arguments too tough to bear any moulding into a convenient form and suitable shape. Thus expressions of dissent were made in a decided form when Mr. AYRTON said that the United States had not made more sacrifice of life and pro perty than had this country at the time of the Crimean War, " considering the number of the armies fighting on both sides." Such an exposition is quite irrelevant, and not at all to the purpose. It is a relief to find, at the conclusion of this speech, a home thrust at head quarters, when the hon. member said that Reform had been placed in the background by those who had actually been placed in office under the supposition that they were its best friends. When he said that "it was the duty of a Government to lead, and not to lag behind, and that he for one should not respond to the cry of PALMERSTON for ever,' while all reforms were shelved and shirked," he gave utterance to opinions that many entertain who have not the honesty to make them known, or are wanting in the spirit to do so. The banquet to the Recorder and Bar of Southampton was a very successful entertainment; and the speeches delivered on the occasion possess more than the average interest of those generally made at such affairs. The Rev. Dr. BRADSHAW, in his short address, made some effective allusions to the duties of those in a responsible position ; and, although speaking at a festive gathering, he endea• voured to improve the occasion by a word in season, and to draw the attention of his hearers to elevated subjects and improving contemplations. After remarking that the many who had passed away from that place to their long home led to serious reflections, he appropriately added that wherever they looked at arts and sciences, at the works man's mind had composed, or even at a tree or plant, God was in them all. "It was by teaching such as this that men might be led forth to love nature, and say all these beauties are mine, because he could raise an unpresumptuous eye to heaven, and, smiling say, 'My Father made them all." Certainly a discourse like this is not often read at a public entertainment, but it is not unsuitable that occa sionally a higher tone should be infused into such assemblies, and the mind led to dwell upon loftier themes than the politics of the time and the fancies of the hour. The Rev. J. ADKINS also spoke in a suitable style, and expressed his satisfaction that no exclusiveness had been shown in the manner in which the toast of the day had been proposed, for although differences of opinion were sure to exist hatred need not accompany them. Major ROSE, in returning thanks for the volunteers, contrived to make this hacknied theme more stirring by his apt representation of the chief circumstances of the case. Thus, he said that, by the Volunteer movement, it had been well exemplified that they all recognised and also appreciated their blessings and advantages in living in this free country, and truly declared that the chief advantage of the Volunteer movement would be to put a stop to the " panics" that ever and anon were wont to come when any great con vulsion perplexed foreign affairs. The Sheriff, in proposing the health of the Recorder, was enabled to make the usual complimentary address without having recourse to flattery to aid him in his course, and stimulate his flow of eloquence, for the subject of his discourse well merited all the encomiums passed upon him, and in his brilliant career had given satisfactory proof of his zeal and ability. In testimony of the very comprehensive form in which his duties were fulfilled, the Sheriff said that, when Lord Chief-Justice COCKBURN was their Recorder, his decisions " never gave more satisfaction than those of the present occupier of that office." Mr. MONTAGUE BERE, the Recorder, made a brief but very effective spdech, in which he said that speaking was his trade, and so he would not avoid it on the present occasion ; and he then, as most men do with a grave subject, before them, made a jesting allu sion to his duties in that place, by saying that he would not be looked upon as merely a " criminal lawyer, " whose province it was to take orders at certain times for the a dministration of justice, but as one who took a deep interest in the welfare and interests of the place. Mr. Alderman RosE, in his discourse, ap propriately brought in the interesting circumstance which had dietinguiehed hie mayoralty—namely, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, JAN. 12. The Inman steamship, Kangaroo, from New York, on the 31st inst., arrived here at midnight with 153 passengers, $505,700, and precious stones valued at popo. She landed 10 sacks of mails and 25 pas sengers, and proceeded at 130 a.m. to-day for Liverpool. SPAIN. MADRID, JAN. 11. In the Senate, to-day, Signor Gonzales Bravo in troduced a bill to make all contravention of the press laws punishable under the common law. The Correspondencia of to-day asserts that the Committee of the Progressist party are discussing the conditions upon which to cease their policy of abstention. FRANCE, PARIS, JAN. 12. The Moniteur of this morning announces that the letter of the Bishop of Moulins upon the Encyclical has been referred to the Council of State as exceed ing the Bishop's legal functions. Mr. Pope Hennessy, M.P., was at the party given at the Tuileries on Wednesday evening by the Emperor Napoleon. BOURSE, Jan. 11.—The market has not been animated, but previous prices have been pretty well maintained. Threes, for the Account, are un varied at 67f. Mobilier have improved to 960 f. Railway Market quiet, but in general firm. The market became weaker towards the close, and left off as follows : 4-} per Cents 94 75 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 66 85 Do. end month 66 90 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3440 Credit Foncier 1275 Roman Italian Loan — Do. end month 65 35 Ditto Threes — New Mexican Russian B5 50 Austrian Spanish Threes Rome Debt Deferred PAYS. Cash. Acct. Orleans Northern 992 50 ... 992 50 Lyons and Mediterranean-- 917 50 ... 920 Southern 582 50 ... 577 50 Western 530 .. . 537 50 Eastern Sardinian 3OB 75 ... 308 75 Austrian Lombard 531 25 ... 533 75 North of Spain 361 25 ... 360 Saragossa 431 25 ... 430 Ditto to Barcelona ---- --- ••• AUSTRALIA. VICTORIA. The general election terminated in the first week of November. The result is a disgrace to the colony. Public men of unblemished reputation, high stand ing, and approved ability, have been rejected for men comparatively unknown, and possessing no legislative experience whatever. Mr. W. C. Haines, who has been twice Premier, has been defeated by a gentleman totally strange to public life, and many other instances of a similar kind have occurred. The new Parliament was to meet on Nov. 28, but it was not expected that much work would be done until the new year. The Argus thinks that Minis ters should do something for colonial defence, " particularly as the weakness of our position has been forcibly brought home to us by the intelligence received this month from Europe of the attack which Russia contemplated on the Australian colonies in the event of any war with England." The anti-transportation movement is still prose cuted with unabated zeal and energy. Numerous petitions to the Queen and Imperial legislature— the result of public meetings in all parts of the colony—have been dispatched to England by the present mail. A great metropolitan demonstration on the subject took place at St. George's Hall on the 13th of November, when the Anglican Bishop of Melbourne, a dean of the Roman Catholic Church, and ministers of other denominations, united in protesting against the continuance of the evil. A strong petition to her Majesty was adopted on that occasion. _ The Argus contains the following information respecting the gold fields :—" A want of water is beginning to be already felt on those of our goldfields which are worst supplied, and if dry weather should continue the yield of gold must be seriously affected thereby ere long. It is some years since we have had a really dry summer, and the effect of such a season would now be rather serious on the diggings, as many of the worst provided of the miners have not the means to support them long without getting gold, and will not know where to betake themselves, any great extent of poor man's ground being scarcely ever available during the summer. Many of those with means will find their ways to the mountains, but even the richest of net . reefs will support only a few men until crushing mills are erected ; and it will be long yet before machinery enough has been taken to the reefs in this region, which have been opened for some time, and are known to be rich, even though the tracks through the mountains have been sufficiently cleared and opened already to allow of loaded drays being taken as far as the Crooked River. As a result of the late speculation in shares, a number of new companies have been formed, principally for deep sinking, and these will afford employment to a large number of men on wages. But even this resource will scarcely suffice for the many miners who will be thrc4vn out of work if the summer should prove dry. In the meantime, there is plenty of activity on many of the old spots, and we have had a new rush or two of some little promise within the last few weeks." NEW SOUTH WALES. The chief news from this colony relates to a de feat of the Ministry, and a dissolution of Parlia ment. On the subject the Sydney Herald of the 21st of November says : " The session of Parliament which commenced on the 18th of last month was of very short duration. In consequence of a vote of want of con fidence in the Martin Ministry being carried in the Assembly, Parliament has been dissolved, and a general election is about to take place. " The debate on the reply to the governor's opening spe6ch, which was pending when we pub lished our last monthly summary, extended over seven sittings. Mr. Cowper had moved as an amendment on the address resolutions expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Government, and stating that the Ministry did not possess the confidence of the Assembly. In the course of the discussion the various administrative acts of the Government were brought under review and were freely criticised. The two measures that subjected the Ministry to the greatest amount of censure were the new commission of the peace and the delay in calling ParliaMent together. The ex tending of the recess to nearly six months, with an increasing deficit at the Treasury, was espe cially complained of, and was but feebly jus tified by the Government. The debate was car ried on with much warmth on both sides of the house, and recriminations were freely indulged in between the supporters of the present and of the late Government. The house was unusually full. At some of the sittings the whole of the members were in attendance, and only six were absent from the division. The amendment censuring the Go vernment was carried by a majority of 36 to 29. " At the following meeting of the Assembly, Mr. Martin entered into a lengthened statement of the course that the Government intended to take ; there were two courses open to them—either to resign, or to advise a dissolution of Parliament. As they believed that no combination of members on the Opposition benches could afford a strong Government, they had felt it their duty to advise a dissolution ; and his Excellency had accepted that advice. Mr. Martin further stated that the Government were entitled to a vote of supply for three or six months, and justified the request by reference to oeyeral English prece- dents. The remarks of Mr. Cowper and other mem bers of the Opposition indicated that the proposal would not be assented to, and the application was not formally made. On the following day a Government Gazette Extraordinary was issued pro roguing the Assembly, and on the day after Parlia ment was dissolved. Preparations for a general election were immediately made by the Govern ment ; the writs were issued on the 11th inst., and all are returnable on or before Jan. 24. It is ex pected that the house will meet the last week in that month. ' The issue to be tried at the forthcoming elec- tions is—whether the people approve or disapprove of the conduet of the Martin Ministry ; and their merits and demerits are being freely canvassed at the meetings of the various candidates. The ques tion that is being brought most prominently for ward is that of ' protection to native industry.' The Government have, by their protective tariff, rendered themselves very unpopular with the mercantile and trading classes, who clearly saw the injurious conse quences to the commerce of the country which that measure would have produced if it had passed into law. Mr. Martin is in favour of protective duties, but Mr. Foster and Mr. Eager have hitherto de clared themselves to be freetraders. They are now, however, courting the favour of the Protectionists, and are depending on their votes for re-election. Although no announcement has been made by either of the ministers of their intention to bring for ward another protective tariff, the circumstance of their being so warmly supported by the Protec tionists has excited the suspicions of the Freetraders, and has roused them to adopt every means in their power for the return of free-trade candidates. Many of the questions that have been agitated at previous elections are at present to a certain extent laid aside, and the battle cry of the present elections promises to be free trade or protection.' " By this mail, Mr. W. C. Mayne, late auditor general, proceeds to England to fill the office of colonial agent in London, rendered vacant by Mr. Edward Hamilton's retirement. The auditor gene- ralship has been conferred on Mr. C. Rolleston, whose former appointment of registrar-general is now filled by Mr. T. Jaques." CHINA AND JAPAN, (From the China Mail.) The news of the fortnight is not of very great interest. Affairs in Japan appear to hang in the balance. It would puzzle a conjurer to tell the next move that the Japanese authorities will make with regard to foreign relations. The virtue of patience, it would seem, must be exercised in re gard to our relations with that strange people. Every new experience that we acquire with respect to them only stimulates further inquiry, and it appears very plainly that Japan cannot be any longer a closed country to foreigners. Turning to China we have little to report. With regard to the Taeping rebellion, now broken up, there remains only this to be said, that if the man darins cannot cope with the straggling bands that constitute the dregs of that insurrection it will be idle to assist them any further. We have, neverthelesss, accomplished two things through our late operations. We have given to the Chinese authorities, both local and Imperial, a proof of what English prowess and English skill can accomplish. Merchants now send agents into the interior with no fears for the fate of the money entrusted to their charge, for the pur chase of tea or silk. It is even affirmed that the treaty right of residing in the heart of the coun try is about to be accorded to such merchants as choose to avail themselves of it. This is a step cer tainly in the right direction. It looks as if the soil we have freed by the sword was now to be turned to useful account. A body of rebels is said to be in the vicinity of Amoy, but it is also affirmed that the people have surrounded them, and are determined to stop their 'operations. This is as it ought to be. We hear that the merchants of Shanghai have joined in giving their unanimous testimony to Col. Gordon, R.E., for his services in opening up the country and rendering its resources more available. r' l / Court , HER MAJESTY. 0 OSBORNE, Jan. 11. The Queen, accompanied by Prince Leopold, drove out yesterday morning. Princess Helena took a drive with Princess Mar garet of Orleans. Princess Louise also went out, attended by the Hon. Emma Lascelles. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colo nial-office from the Governors of the settlements on :he West Coast of Africa. Despatches were sent to the Governors of Gibraltar and Malta. PRINCE ALFRED.—His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, who had been on a visit to the Court of Berlin for a few days, returned to Bonn on Sunday evening last. His Royal Highness was accompanied to the railway station by the Crown Prince of Prussia. His Excellency Baron De Cetto, the Bavarian_ Minister, who has been labouring under a severe attack of gout, is much better, and is able to take carriage airings. The Duchess of Somerset and Lady Gwendoline St. Maur arrived at the Admiralty, Whitehall, yesterday evening, from Stover Park, near Totnes, Devonshire. The Marquis of Northampton remains in town. His lordship is in a very unsatisfactory state of health. The Earl of Dunmore arrived in town last even ing from his seat in Scotland. The Earl and Countess of Fife and Viscount Macduff do not leave town this week as reported. The Earl Russell will come to town on the 19th inst., in order to meet his colleagues before the assembling of Parliament. • The Countess Rapp and family have arrived at Edwards's Royal Cambridge Hotel, George-street, Rollover square, from Paris. Lord and Lady Ebury are entertaining a large' party at Moor Park, Rickmansworth, Herta. The Lady Emily Peel is progressing satisfactorily. Her ladyship has been in a very precarious state. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected in town on Wednesday next from Hawardeu Castle, Flintshire, in order to attend the Cabinet Council. Death of the Earl of Ilehester. The Right Hon. the Earl of Ilchester expired on Tuesday afternoon at his seat, Melbury Home, near Evershot, Dorsetshire. The late earl, who was 69 years of age, succeeded to the title and estates in 1858, on thb decease of his half-brother. He married, in 1857, the daughter of Sir Robert Sheffield, Bart., and that lady survives him. He had been suffering from indisposition for some time, but within the past few days he was attacked with bronchitis, and, although every means were employed to relieve the sufferer, he expired somewhat suddenly between ono and two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased earl leaves no issue, consequently the title and estates fall to his nephew, Mr. Henri Edward Fox Strangways, who is 17 years of agel_ and son of the late Hon. George Fox Strangway* by a daughter of Mr. Edward Marjoribanks. The late earl was attached to the embassy at St. I Petersburg in 1816, at Constantinople in 1820, and at Naples in 1822. Two years later he was ar . pointed paid attaché at the Hague, in 1825 was secretary of legation at Florence, and was at Naples in the same capacity in 1828. He was also secre tary of embassy at Vienna in 1832, and was pointed Under Secretary of State in the Foreign' office in August, 1835. From August, 1840, to January, 1849, the late earl acted as envoy extra' ordinary and minister plenipotentiary at the Frank' fort Diet, when he retired on a pension. His lordship was a great horticulturist, and dur ing his residence in Vienna was the means of intro ducing into this country the seeds of i the Pinus Aus triaca, or Austrian pine. Since his retirement he has devoted a . great deal of attention to the culture of flowers and plants, and his gardens at Abbotsburl bear evidence of the care and attention bestowed upon them. The late earl was a liberal landlord and a kind-hearted friend to the poor, and his loss will be greatly felt. During the past few years li e , has improved his est a t e b y erect i ng a num b er 01 model labourers' cottages, containing all the neces' sary offices, and the tenantry have had good re ason to thank him for his attention to their comfort. 00 was patron of 17 livings. The first earl was the projector of Chelsea Hos pital, towards which he contributed 13,0001. DEATH OF THE ARCHDEACON OF GLOCESTER. We have to record the death of the Ven. Timbrell, D.D., Archdeacon of Glocester, who had attaioe to the great age of 98. D r . Ti m b re ll was educated 3t Worcester College, Oxford, where he graduated in Il r o In the following Noar he was admitted into holy orderS7% that he was for more than 70 years a clergyma n i n Or Church of England. In 1797 he was instituted to the family living of Breckford with Ashton-under-Hill at' flexed, a benefice which has only within the last few dg e been offered for sale. The living being now vacant, th e presentation cannot be sold. In 1825 he was nominated t° the Archdeaconry of Glocester, to which is annexed th e vicarage of Dursley, and these various appointments 11 held up to the time of his death. The Archdeaconry ° A Glocester falls to the gift of the Bishop of Glocester 8 11 " Bristol. CONTEMPLATED RESIGNATION OF MR. ROBARTES, M.P. FOR EAST CORNWALL.—At the annual meetir►° of the Wadebridge Farmers' Club, held at the Moleswor tl/ Arms Hotel, Wadebridge, Cornwall, on Tuesday, l Robartes addressed the meeting at some length. In the course of his address, the hon. gentleman renewed the si r nouncement that he made some three years since of his tention to resign his seat in the House of Commons at 01 ,1 1 ; next election. He said he felt himself physically unequ' to do justice to his constituents as their representati ve ? and should not stand again as a candidate, unless for theft convenience, until they could find another gentleman tore' present them. REPRESENTATION OE BUTESHIRE.—We Allde rO stand that Mr\ Mure, whp ha s b een e l eva t e d tot vacant seat on the bench, i n li eu o f L or d M ac k enz i e , B ' l / 4 present his commission to the Court this morning, and rfr sit as Lord Probationer. He has, we also understand, 1.6 ; signed his seat as member for Buteshire. Contingent iii this, a requisition has been got up in Buteshire, solicitiv the Hon. George Frederick Boyle, J.P., of Millport, / stand for the -county. The requisition h as been sign° of among others, by the provost and magistrates of Rothe 04 ; The hon. gentleman has been waited upon by a d e puttitio of the electors, as we understand th a t h e has consented i t ! allow himself to be nominated as the Conservative eau' ' , date. Mr. Boyle is well known in the county, and wil l Pot doubt be backed by the Bute influence, which, toge t 'l, o with his connections and residence in the county, will ca ti to " him to be a formidable opponent to Mr. Lamont, who li r e i also announced his intention of coming forward.-10 British Mail of yesterday. NATIONAL REFORM UNION.--A public ineeti° l7 ; in connection with this union was held last eveni ls3 ; in the Assembly-room of the Free-trade H a ll , M r Georgi Wilson in the chair. The Chairman h av i ng commen t ~'; upon recent speeches delivered i n o th er par t s a tY country, Mr. J. B. Torr said he wanted to see the worldof, men come upon the platform, and either say that tot Union was doing what they wanted, or that it was P i :t According to his (Mr. Torr's) notion, the working men the present time were a great Conservative element. it they really wanted a Reform Bill they must throw off ti le 0 apathy and work. Mr. R. D. Rusden said that we " 0 0 { governed with anomalies, one of which was the House 5 Lords. But that, like many other anomalies, would eta away when the conditions for its existence were gone. 19 would like to see this agitation short, but uncommo n ; sharp. All that was wanted was to get the working rna angry, and when he was angry he could carry anytil il ti Mr. Mark Price said it was unfair in the working moil 13 K to take share in the agitation. He believed he was the °, 13 ; working man who had appeared on the platform. middle classes were as powerless in this matter as worin men, but if both united they would be all-powerful., the struggle go on, let it be strong and sharp, and th e re i ; sult would be bloodless and decisive. Mr. J. P. Cob said he would rather write than speak. No man was jil t° fled in proposing change unless he was duly guarded 116 the precise measure he wished to adopt, and he had tb el e o fore prepartd and republished a pamphlet which was wr i l e il by Granville Sharp in 1783, and which he rcoranle v working men to read. A vote of thanks to the chair ° concluded the proceedings. P as o STARS AND STRlPES.—lmmediately on the f ing of the bill creating the rank of Vice-Adinir 3 ' the United States navy the President nominated Rear miral Farragut for this distinction. By the present relo.ti; lations shoulder-straps of a rear-admiral are decorated '' sf l l ll6 an anchor in the centre and two stars at either end• v 4 stripes upon the sleeves are eight in number. The eisti o for the vice-admiral will probably be decorated vid tj3 : l lJ anchor and star in the centre, and a star in each the sleeve with nine stripes. The cap front of a ',ol' admiral is decorated with two silver stars. The vi ce mina will probably wear throe—New York Times. S LATE OF TRADE CARDIFF, Jan. 10.—The steam-coal trade is more active, and there is a large business doing at the docks. Merchants have a good number of orders on the books, and with an ample supply from the collieries the January returns are expected to be favourable. The current quotations are well main tained, and the tendency of the market is to in creased firmness. Freights are as a rule firmer to the Mediterranean, but to other foreign ports there is no change to note. Considerable vitality is evinced in the house-coal trade, and there is no lack of employment at the collieries. Coke commands a fair sale, and patent fuel is in average request. The new company are about to take pos session of Aberaman Works, and important im provements and extensions are expected to be car ried out, which will give employment to an addi tional number of hands. There is only a limited business doing in the iron trade, and makers show a disinclination to accept contracts until it is defi finitely known what course the men will take at the expiration of the month's notice which they have received. DUNDEE, 10th.—The American advices have given a quiet tone to the market, and buyers showed little disposition for business to-day, excepting to supply present wants. Scarcely a transaction in flax, tow, or codilla is reported, and prices are nominally as before. An average amount of sales of jute have been made at firm prices, and new jute is much sought for, and rather dearer. The demand for yarns in to-day's market was entirely consumptive, the business done being of limited extent, but prices are unchanged. Canvas yarns are rather quiet, and prices barely supported. Linens—Fifeshire. fabrics are less inquired for, and Hessians dull and easier to buy. Other descriptions of goods are without change in demand or price, and manufacturers generally foresold. LEICESTER, 11th.—There is very little doing in hosiery, but business is always stagnant at this time of the year. At Loughborough, Hinckley, and the country districts generally, business is very flat, and the operatives are only partially employed. Yarns are not materially altered, and spinners only pro duce what is required. Wools are high in price. NOTTINGHAM, llth.—There is a little more doing in lace good generally, and plain nets would sell better if yarns were cheaper ; as it is, what business it doing in them is at an unwarrantable rate. The demand for most classes of goods for the home market and for the continental is expected to improve by the end of the month. Black silk laces will shortly command a better sale. There is a little doing both in silk quillings and mechlins. In hosiery there is fully an average amount of business doing. Yarns are not so firm, and in fact have a downward tendency. Ernani was given at the Italians at Paris on Sunday night, with Fraschini and La Grange, whose daughter and granddaughter assisted at the performance in a loge d'avant-scene. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF A STRAW BONNET.— There was a little of the soil in which Bedfordshire wheat is ;mostly grown ; there, were grains of different kinds of wheat, there were some good stalks of corn, ear and straw included ; there were the straws after the ears had been thrashed out ; there was the inner tube after the outer sheath had been removed; there were straws dyed in different colours ; there were straws split up into two, four, or more strips each, and a woman at work to show how this is done with the aid of a very simple little appa ratus ; there was a girl at work, busily plaiting the split straws into the narrow ribbons or plaits of which straw head-gear is made ; and lastly, there were the finished hats and bonnets, with and without the decorative appendages that belong to the milliner's art. All this was very good ; so good, that we would advise An extension of the same system in any future Industrial Exhibition.—Dickens " All the Year Round." REFORM MOVEMENT AT NOTTINGHAM.-A requi sition is now in course of signature to the Mayor of Not tingham, requesting his worship to convene a public meet ing in order to consider the state of the representation of the people in the Commons' House of Parliament, and to adopt a petition calling upon Parliament to redeem its pledges on that subject ; and also to solicit the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone to take the lead in introducing a reform bill into Parliament at an early period of the ensuing session.