The Sun. — London, England, 1865-12-23 00:00:00

••••••••• The Late Fatal Collision in the Channel THE BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY. Yesterday (Friday) his worship the Mayor of Dover (Mr. W. Mummery) and Dr. Astley, a b ro ther magistrate, opened an inquiry at the Town hall, Dover, into the circumstances attending tee fatal collision in the Channel between a steamer n amed the Samphire, belonging to the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, and a bark called the Fanny Buck. Mr. O'Dowd, solicitor to the Board of Trade, appeared for the Board, and Captain Harris and Captain Baker attended from the Board of Trade as nautical assessors. Mr. Fox appeared on behalf of Captain Bennett, of the Sam phire ; Messrs. Ed w ards and Son, on behalf of Mr. Bowden, agent to the owners of the bark ; and Mr. W. Knocker represented the mail service. Mr. O'Dowd first addressed the Bench, and then called _ _ _ William Richards, who stated that he held a cer tificate of service as mate. (The certificate was then handed to the bench). He had held the certi ficate for about 14 years. He had been in the em ployment of the company for four years, and he was the chief officer of the Samphire. He remem bered the night of the 13th of December. He left the Admiralty pier on board the Samphire at 10 5 p.m., bound for Calais on that night. They carried the mails, and had on board 78 pas sengers. The crew, including the captain, num bered 18. The weather was hazy and the wind moderate. The Samphire was " well found " with regard to the lights and other things. lie sa7 the lights were in their proper position about 20 minutes before they started. There was a white light on the masthead, a green light at the starboard paddle, and a red light on the port side. Ile placed a seaman named Northbourn on the starboard side of the bridge, and a man named Northover on the other side. He went to see if they were keeping a look out about 10 minutes after leaving the pier. He again looked at the lights and found them in their right places. He and a second officer took thewheel on leaving the pier. He remained at the wheel while the second officer went to see after the lug gage. The second officer subsequently relieved him. He, as he before stated, went to see if North bourn was keeping a good look-out. He then went down to his log-book with the mail master. He generally checked the log-book soon after leaving the pier. As he was going down he heard North over call out, " A sail on the port bow." He then heard the captain call, " Port, port ; hard-a-port, ease her, stop her, turn her astern." He imme diately ran on deck, and saw the bowsprit of the bark nearly over his head. He saw no lights, nor heard any one call out on board the bark. He then ran aft and found the , a heel hard-a-port. He re ceived orders to get the lifeboat ready, and proceed for assistance. The bark. remained in contact with the'Samphire about two minutes. The bark had not her lights in the proper position, or witness would have seen them. He could not see the port side on the starboard side, where the lights ought to have been. After the vessels parted he did not see the bark again until she arrived in Dover har bour. On the bark coming into the harbour he saw her name painted on her, the Fanny Buck, of the United States. The Samphire was moving at the ordinary speed of 10 or 12 knots au hour. He believed the engineer kept a log ho,?k. The only canvas he noticed the Fanny Buck us. s ng was her topsail. He did not see any one on boa:d the bark before she cleared away. He took with hin22. in the lifeboat four of the crew and three passengers. He made for Dover. The three passengers rushed into the boat. It was an hourand a half before they reached the pier. He asked the captain of the Bel gian boat for assistance. The Belgian boat was named the Belgique, and had just come in. The Belgique went to the assistance of the Samphire, and found all herfore compartments ut2der. water. There were three passengersin the fore cabin--two women and one man. He learned that afterwards. The pas sengers were taken on board the Belgique, and sub sequently the Samphire was towed into Dover har bour. He did not think it would have been possible to save the three persons who were drowned, because the rush of water was so great. The Samphire had three compartments (subsequently corrected to bulkheads). The water did not get into the second compartment. About half-past lor 2 o'clock on the Thursday morning the water had subsided in the cabin, and he found the persons in the cabin drowned. The man was lying on the top seat, and the ladies on the floor. lie did not know what had become of the master of the bark. Cross-examined by Mr. Fox—l have been mate 14 years. The call-boy was put upon the bridge. It was extra precaution, because it was dark and hazy. It is the duty of every one of the crew to keep a look-out, though there are two or three appointed specially to do so. On leaving the pier I heard the captain tell Northover to keep a good look-out. There was a moderate breeze that night. When the vessel left the pier the captain was on the bridge. From the time she left the pier until the collision took place the captain did not leave the bridge. He had a night-glass over his shoulder. He is in the habit of using a glass. The captain has good eye sight. It is the practice of masters to use a glass. When we started I could see the South Foreland light. I was not aware in the first instance that there was any one in the cabin. From the time the captain gave the order to lower the boat after the collision, about eight minutes elapsed before it was lowered. IV e pulled towards the Foreland light to sweep the bay round for assistance, as we thought we might fall in with some tugs. Myself, two sea men, the carpenter, and a boy and three passengers went in the boat. The captain and crew that night were all sober. I did not see immediately after the collision took place some men jump from the bark on to the steamer. Cross-examined by Mr. Edwards—l could not get near the compass when I went to the stern, and saw the helm hard-a-port. I should say the vessel's head was south-east by south, or thereabouts. The collision took place immediately after the order was given to put the helm hard-a-port. If the collision had not taken place we should have attained our full speed in a few minutes. If any one had jumped from the bark into the steamer I could have seen them, but they might have got on without my no ticing them. If the bark had a light on her mizen rigging I must have seen it from where I stood. I know the captain did not leave the bridge before the collision, because I saw him there all the time. By Captain Harris—lt was not called out, « A light on the port bow," but " A sail on the port bow." The second mate and an able-bodied seaman named Boyce were at the wheel at the time the col lision took place. When I was at the helm I could see from half a mile to a mile seaward. I did not see the captain use his glasses. It was nearly slack water that night when we left. Our ordinary course is S.E. half E., according to the state of the tide. Charles Daitlin said—l am second officer on board the steamer Samphire. On the evening in question I left the Admiralty pier on board the Samphire, bound for Calais. I was at the wheel when we started, but I left the wheel after clearing the pier to see if the lights were all right and the baggage covered up. I was engaged in settling the baggage nearly up to the time that the collision took place. I was on the poop, close to the wheel, when the captain sung out, "Port, hard a-port." I was on the starboard side of the wheel, and I put the helm a-port, with the assistance of a man named Boyce. Immediately afterwards the bark ran into her. About a minute elapsed before the bark ran into her. The shock threw me and Boyce over the wheel. We picked ourselves up, and kept the helm hard aport. When I assisted Boyce at the wheel I did not see any lights on the bark, nor did any one call out. The weather was hazy—low haze. By Mr. Fox.—l have been in the service—all night service—about nine years. When we started I gave up the wheel to Boyce and gave him the course. I did not see any sails immediately before the collision took place. At the time of the collision I saw the bark's jibboom and flying gib very plain. If the bark had any lights I think I must have seen them, as I was on the poop, and the poop is higher than the deck. It was my duty to keep a good look-out, and I always do so, and did that night. When the vessel left the pier the captain was on the bridge, and I believe the call-boy was there too, and the captain did not leave the bridge until the collision took place. I received orders from Capt. Bennett after the collision to clear away the boats. Both the lifeboats were lowered very quickly. The star board boat, I believe, was first lowered, but I an' not quite sure of it. I got into the starboard lifeboat with two hands. The captain told me to pull away for the bark, to tell her to heave to and take the passengers in. We pulled for the bark for nearly a quarter of an hour, but we could not reach her. I hailed her several times, but no one replied, and the bark continued on her course. I did not see any lights in the bark when we pulled after her. I could not tell you how many passengers were in our boat while pulling after the bark, but the boat was full of them. They all rushed into the boat. The pas sengers would not go back to the vessel again, so I landed them between 2 and 4 o'clock in the morn ing at the Admiralty-pier. Cross-examined by Mr. Edwards—Our vessel's head was S.E. E. when we left Dover. I don't know how fast the vess el was going. I should guess about 13 knots an hour. I could hardly see half a mile from the vessel to the seaward. Cross-examined by Captain Harris—We were about five miles from the shore when the collision took place. I could see the Foreland lights on the port quarter when the collision took place. There was another man, named Malpas, on the bridge be sides the captain and the call-boy. I think it was Malpas. Both lifeboats were uncovered and lowered. Cross-examined by Captain Baker—We always sound the fog whistle in foggy weather, but we did not blow the whistle that night. _ _ ... Re-examined by Mr. Fox—lf the bark had a light should have seen her. The Court then adjourned until this day at 10 a.m. A Warning to London Printers. Lately there has been an extensive and well organised system of robbery in London going on for many months past, and which, we hope, has now been put a stop to. During dinner hour, between one and two o'clock, " a man" has stationed him self in a large open space in the City, where he could obtain an uninterrupted view of considerable extent. He has appeared exceedingly on the alert, hence the police have had great difficulty in watching him. Happily, however, they have succeeded, even to conviction ; but with very poor results in compari son with the magnitude of the injuries inflicted upon a large number of the master printers of the metro polis by men and boys who have been followed and found to come from printing offices and type foun dries situate in different parts. (This remark applies more especially to large firms.) Their mode of procedure was to surround " the man," so as to obstruct the view, and no doubt pass small pages of type to him. They then gradually dispersed, when the receiver proceeded to the neigh bourhood of Hoxton, and thence to the house of a man ostensibly carrying on the business of a type founder, and always had a hot-pot in readiness. The result of all this has been, that after several months' watching and angling by the police for the whole gang, they have only been able to seize one of the depredators, who, as an occasional hand, worked at a large office in the neighbourhood of Fleet-street, and considered hitherto as respectable and trust- worthy, and " the man," whom they apprehended at the door of the receiver with 401 b. of type in pages upon him, only one of which was identified as belonging to the office where the other culprit worked. The house of the receiver was immediately searched, but the only evidence against him was a hot-pot, ready to receive the valuable type, which it would turn into almost valueless metal. We write this as a caution to the London trade, as there are still loose a number of thieves, who, as soon as " the man's" six months' leave of absence has expired, may again resort to this method of plunder. We should have advised before, but were cautioned by the police not to do so, for obvious reasons. 7 ypographic Advertiser. Report of the A merican Secretary of the Treasury. The report of Mr. Secretary M'Culloch was presented to the American Congress on the 4th instant. The report is of great length. We ex- Tact some of the most important portions :-- RESOURCES OE THE COUNTRY. The fact that means have been raised, without foreign loans, to meet the expenses of a protracted and very costly war, is evidence not only of the great resources of the I country, but of the wisdom of Congress in passing the ne cessary laws, and of the distinguished ability of the imme dia to predecessors of the present Secretary in administer ing them. It is hardly necessary to suggest, however, that au) legislation which was proper and wise during the progress of hostilities may now be appropriate or even jus tifiable in a time of peace. The right of Congress, at all times, to borrow money, and to issue obligetions for loans in such form as may be con venient, is unquestionable ; but their authority to issue ob ligations for a circulating medium as money, and to make these obligations a legal tender, can only be found in the unwritten law which sanctions whatever the representa tives of the people, whoLle duty it is to maintain the Go vernment against its enemies, may consider in a great emergency necessary to be clone. The present legal-ten der acts were war measures, And while the repeal of those provisions which made the %United States notes lawful money is not now recommended, the Secretary is of the opinion that they ought not to renuin in force one day longer than shall be necessary to eiiable the people to prepare for a return to the constitutional currency. It is not supposed that it was the intention of Congress, by these acts, to introduce a standard of value, in times of peace, lower than the coin standard, much less to perpe tuate the discredit which must attach to a great nation which dishonors its own obligations by unnecessarily keeping in circulation an irredeemable paper currency. ISSUE OF NOTES. The issue of United States notes as lawful money was a measure expedient, doubtless , and necessaryin the great emergency in which it was adopted ; but thin emergency no longer exists, and however desirable may be the saving of interest, and however satisfactory these notes may be as a circulating medium, these considerations will not, it is respectfully submitted, justify a departure from that strict construction of the Constitution given to it previous to the war by patriotic men of all parties, and which is essential to the equal and harmonious working of our peculiar institutions. The strength of the Government has boen proved by the manner in which it has carried on the greatest war of modern times ; it only remains, for the vindication of its excellence and the perfection of its triumphs, that all powers exercised for its preservation, but not expressly granted by the Constitution, be relinquished with the return of peace. While, therefore, the Secretary is of opinion that the immediate repeal of the legal-tender provisions of the acts referred to would be unwise, as being likely to affect injuriously the legitimate business of the country, upon the prosperity of which depend the welfare of the people and the revenues which are necessary for the maintenance of the national credit, and unjust to the holders of the notes, he is of the opinion that not only these provisions, but the acts also, should be regarded as only temporary, and that the work of retiring the notes wlueh have been issued under them should be commenced without delay, and carefully and persistently continued until all are retired. PAPER cuRRENcY. An irredeemable paper currency may be a necessity, but it can scarcely fail, if long continued ' calamity to be a to any people. Go ld and sil ver are the only proper measure of value. They have been made so by the tacit agreement of nations, and are the necessary regulator of trade, the me di u m by which balances are settled b e t ween diff e rent coun tries and between sections of the same country. As a universal measure of value they are a commercial neces sity. The trade between different nations and betw een sec tions of the same co untr y is carried on by an exchange of commodities, but is never equally balanced by them ; and unless credits are being established, the movements of co i n unerringly indicate on which aide the balance exists. INFLATION OF THE CURRENCY. The present inflation following the suspension of 1861 is the result of heavy ex p enditures by Government in the prosecution of the war and the introduction of a now measure of value in the form of United States and Trea sury notes as lawful money. The country, as a whole, notwithstanding the ravages of war, and the draft which has been made upon labor, is, by its greatly developed resources, far in advance in real wealth of what it was in 1857, when the last severe financial crisis occurred. The people are now comparatively free from debt ; the banks, with their secured circulation and .large investments in Government securities, although not in an easy condition, and doubtless too much extended, are, it is believed, generally solvent ; but the same causes are at work that p ro d uce d the evils referred to. There is an immense volume of paper money iu circulation—under the influence of which prices, already enormously high, are steadily advancing, and speculation is increasing—which must be contracted if similar disasters would be avoided. There are no indications of real and permanent pros perity in our large importations of foreign fabrics ; in the heavy operations at our commercial marts ; in the splen did fortunes reported to be made by skilful manipulations at the gold room or the stock board ; no evidences of rHE SUN, LObTDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, lE€ ncreasing wealth in the facts that railroads and steam boats are crowded with passengers, and hotels with guests ; that cities are full to overflowing, and rents and the prices of the necessaries of life, as well as luxuries, are are daily advancing. All these things prove that a foreign debt is being created, that the number of non-producers is increasing, and that productive industry is being dimi nished. There is no fact more manifest than that the plethora of paper money is not only undermining the morals of the people by encouraging waste and extrava gance, but in striking at the root of our material prosperity by diminishing labor. The evil is not at present beyond the control of legislation, but it is daily increasing, and, if not speedily checked, will, at no distant day, culminate in wide-spread disaster. The remedy, and the only remedy within the control of Congress, is, in the opinion of the Secretary, to be found in the reduction of the currency. the public debt, and leave the handsome balance of $111,682,818.12 to be applied toward the payment of the debt itself. PROPOSAL TO PAY THE DEBT IN THIRTY YEARS. After careful reflection, the Secretary concludes that no act of Congress (except for raising the necessary revenue) would be more acceptable to the people, or better calcu lated to strengthen the national credit, than one which should provide that two hundred millions of dollars, com mencing with the next fiscal year, shall be annually ap plied to the payment of the interest and principal of the national debt. The estimates for the next fiscal year in dicate that a very much larger amount could be so applied without an increase of taxes. FIVE-TWENTY BONDS. Before concluding his remarks upon the national debt, the Secretary would suggest that the credit of the Five twenty Bonds under the acts of February 25, 1862, and June 30, 1864, would be improved in Europe, and, conse quently, their market value advanced at home, if Congress should declare that the principal as well as the interest of those bonds is to be paid in coin. The policy of the Go vernment in regard to its funded debt is well understood in the United States, but the absence of a provision in these acts that the principal of the bonds issued under them should be paid in coin, while such a provision is contained in the act under which the Ten-forties were issued, has created some apprehension in Europe that the Five-twenty Bonds might be called in at the expiration of five years, and paid in United States notes. Although it is not desirable that our securities should be held out of the United States, it is desirable that they should be of good credit in foreign markets on account of the influence which these markets exert upon our own. It is, therefore, important that all misapprehensions on these points should be removed by an expliUt declaration of Congress that these bonds are to be paid in coin. placed designated for sales—including 38,319 bales obtained at Savannah, 4,151 bales at Charleston, and 2,331 at Mobile —about eighty thousand bales. The general rule under which agents have been acting • since the surrender of the forces which had been waging war against the Government of the United States, is to collect and forward, as captured property, all cotton de scribed upon the books and list of the pretended Confede rate Government, or which there was sufficient reason to believe was owned or controlled by it, and that which belonged to companies formed for the purpose of running the blockade, in support of, if not in direct co-operation with, the league which had been formed to overthrow the Government of the United States, leaving individual claimants of the property to their recourse before the Court of Claims, as provided by the third section of the act ap proved March 12, 1863. In the performance of their duties, the agents have had great difficulties to encounter, from the unwillingness of the planters to surrender the captured property in their possession, from extensive de predations upon it after it was collected, and from power ful combinations formed to prevent, under various pre texts, the property fairly captured from coming into the possession of the United States. In spite of all these obstacles, however, it is estimated from the accounts already received, and from data furnished by the agents, there will be secured to the Government not less than one hundred and twenty-five thousand bales of cotton, includ ing the eighty thousand bales already referred to. What part of the proceeds of this property will ultimately be re tained by the Government will depend upon the success of the claimants before Congress'and the courts. In collect ing this cotton there have been doubtless some instances of injustice to individals who may be entitled to t)ie con sideration of the Government, but the Secretary'believes that the cotton which has been taken by the agents was rightfully seized, and that no equitable claims for the return of any considerable portion of it or the proceeds thereof can be presented. PAPER CIRCULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. The paper circulation of the United States, on the 31st of October last, was substantially as follows: 1. United States notes and fractional currency 5454,218,038 20 2. Notes of the national banks 185,000,000 00 3. Notes of State banks, including out- standing issues of State banks con verted into national banks 65,000,000 $704,218,038 20 The amount of notes furnished to the national banks up to and including October 31 was a little over 205 million dols., but it is estimated that 20 million dols. of these had not then been put into circulation. In addition to the United States notes, there were also outstanding $32,536,900 five per cent. Treasury notes, and $173,012,140 compound interest notes, of which it would doubtless be safe to estimate that $30,000,000 were in cir culation as currency. From this statement it appears that, without including seven and three-tenths notes, many of the small denomi nations of which were in circulation as money, and all of which tend in some measure to swell the inflation, the paper money of the country amounted, on the 31st of Oc tober, to the sum of $734,218,038 . 20, which has been daily increased by the notes since furnished to the national banks, and is likely to be still further increased by those to which they are entitled, until the amount authorised by law ($300,000,000) shall have been reached, subject to such reduction as may be made by the withdrawal of the notes of the State banks. NATIONAL BANKS. On the 30th of September last the deposits of the na tional banks alone amounted to $544,150,194 ; their loans —estimating their national securities as a loan to the Go vernment—to $913,045,629 ; both of which items must have been increased during the month of October ; while on the 31st of that month the circulation, bank and na tional, had reached the startling amount of upwards of $700,000,000. Nothing beyond this statement is required to exhibit the present inflation or to explain the causes of the current and advancing prices. If disasters followed the expansions of 1837 and 1857, what must be the conse quences of the present expansion unless speedily checked and reduced ? It is undoubtedly true that trade is carried on much more largely for cash than was ever the case previous to 1861 and that there is a much greater proper demand for mone y than there would be if sales were made, as heretofore, on credit. It is also true that there is a larger demand than formerly for money on the part of manufacturers for the payment of operatives. But, making the most liberal allowances for the increased wholesale demand arising from these causes and from the advance of the country in business and population, it is apparent from the foregoing statements, if the advance in prices did not establish the fact, that the circulating medium of the country is alto gether excessive. RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS. The Secretary, therefore, respectfully but earnestly re commends : First. That Congress declare that the compound interest notes shall cease to be a legal tender from the day of their maturity. Second. That the Secretary be authorised, in his discre tion, to sell bonds of tho United States, bearing interest at a rate not exceeding six per cent., and redeemable and pay able at such periods as may be conducive to the interests of the Government, for the purpose of retiring not only compound-interest notes, but the United States notes. THE PUBLIC DEBT. At the close of a great war, which has been waged on both sides with a vigour and energy, and with an expendi ture of money without a precedent in modern times, the people of the United States are encumbered with a debt which requires the immediate and careful consideration of their representatives. Since the commencement of the special session of 186., the most important subject which has demanded and re ceived the attention of Congress has been that of providing the means to prosecute the war ; and the success of the Government in raising the money is evidence of the wis dom of the measures devised for this purpose, as well as of the loyalty of the people and the resources of the country. No nation within the same period borrowed so largely, or with so much facility. It is now to be demonstrated that a republican government can not only carry on a war on the most gigantic scale, and create a debt of immense mag nitude, but can place this debt on a satisfactory basis, and meet every engagement with fidelity. The same wisdom which has been exhibited by the National Councils in pro viding the means for preserving the national unity will not be wanting in devising measures for establishing the national credit. As all true men desire to leave to their heirs unen cumbered estates, so should it be the ambition of the people of the United States to relieve their descendants of this national mortgage. We need not be anxious that future generations shall share the burden with us. Wars are not at an end, and posterity will have enough to do to take care of the debts of their own creation. Various plans have been suggested for the payment of the debt, but the Secretary sees no way of accomplishing it but by an increase of the national income beyond the na tional expenditures. In a matter of so grave importance as this experiments are out of place. The plain beaten path of experience is the only safe one to tread. The first step to be taken is to institute measures for funding the obligations that are soon to mature. The next is to provide for raising, in a manner the least odious and oppressive to tax-payers, the revenues necessary to pay the interest on the debt, and a certain definite amount annually for the reduction of the principal. The Secre tary respectfully suggests that on this subject the expres sion. of Congress should be decided and emphatic. It is of the greatest importance, in the management of a matter of so surpassing interest, that the right start should ba made. Nothing but revenue will sustain the national credit, and nothing less than a fixed policy for the reduc tion of the public debt will be likely to prevent its in- crease. On the 31st day of October, 1865, since which time no material change has taken place, the public debt, with out deducting funds in the treasury, amounting to $2,808,549,437.55. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. The Secretary estimates that the receipts for the remain ing three quarters of the year ending June 30, 1866, will be as follows : Balance in Treasury October 1, 1865 Receipts from Customs $100,000,000 Receipts from Land 500,000 Receipts from Internal Re venue 175,000,000 Receipts from Miscellaneous Sources ---305,500,000 00 $372,658,515 44 The expenditures, according to the estimates, will be For the civil service $32,994,602 38 For pensions and Indians 12,256,760 94 For the War Department 307,788,750 57 For the Navy Department 35,000,000 00 For interest on public debt 96,813,868 75 484,853,462 64 Deficiency $112,194,947 20 The receipts for the year ending June 30, 1867, are esti mated as follows : $100,000,000 00 From customs From internal revenue 275,000,000 00 From lands 1,000,000 00 From miscellaneous sources $396,000,000 00 The expenditures, according to the estimates, will be : For the civil service 542,165,599 47 For pensions and Indians 17,609,640 23 For the War Department 39,017,416 18 For the Navy Department 43,982,457 50 For interest on public debt 141,542,068 50 -- $284,317,181 88 Leaving a surplus of estimated receipts over estimated expenditures of 1111,682,818 12 DEBT OF THE UNITED STATES. The debt of the United States was increased during the fi s cal year ending June 30, 1865, during the first q uar te r of the $941 present 9o2 ' s37.o4 and fiscal year, $138,773,0 97 . 22 . The S ecret ary has , however' the satis faction of being a ble to state that durin g the months of September and October the public debt was diminished to the amount of about thirteen millions of dollars. If the expenditures for the remaining three-quarters of the present fiscal year shall equal the estimates, there will be a deficiency, to be provided for by loans, o f $112,194,947.20, to which must be added $32,53, 901 for the five per cent. Treasu r y notes (part of the public debt), w hich become due the present month, and are now being paid out of moneys in the Treasury, and all other payments which may be made on the public debt. The statement of the probable receipts and expenditures for the next fiscal year is, in the highest degree, satisfac tory. According to estimates which are believed to be reliable the receipts of that year will be sufficient to pay all current expenses of the Government, the interest on INTERNAL REVENUE. The present system of internal revenue is one of the results of the war. It was framed under circumstances of pressing necessity, affording little opportunity for care ful and accurate investigation of the sources of revenue. Its success, however, has exceeded the anticipations of its authors, and is a most honorable testimonial to their wisdom, and to the patriotism of the people who have so cheerfully submitted to its burdens. With the restoration of peace industry is returning again to its former channels, and a revision of the system now becomes important to accommodate it to the changed and changing condition of the country. Every complicated system of taxation opens the way to mistakes, abuses, and deceptions. Temptations to dis honesty and fraud are placed before the revenue officers and the taxpayers, and both are often thereby demora lised. Honest men, who pay their taxes in full, are in jured, if not ruined, by the ingenuity of those who suc cessfully evade their share of the public burdens. The multiplicity of objects at present submitted to tax ation is one of the most serious objections to the present system. Many of these yield little revenue, while its col lection is troublesome to the collector, and irritating an d offensive to the taxpayers. This multiplicity also involves as many temptations to fraud, and as many difficult questions for decision, as the objects from which large re venue is derived. THE SOUTHERN STATES. In view of the recent and 'present condition of the Southern States, the Secretary recommends: — First. That the collection of internal revenue taxes which accrued before the establishment of revenue offices in the States recently in rebellion be indefinitely post poned. Second. That all sales of property in those States, under the direct tax law, be suspended until the States shall have an opportunity of assuming (as was done by the loyal States) the payment of the tax assessed upon them. Third. That all transactions in such States, which may be invalid by the non-use of stamps, be legalised as far as it is in the power of Congress to legalise them. What action, if any, should be taken for the relief of persons in those States, whose property has been under the direct law tax, and is now held by the Govern ment, it will be for Congress to determine. The Secre tary is decidedly of the opinion that liberal legislation in regard to the taxes which accrued prior to the suppression of the rebellion will tend to promote harmony between the Government and the people of those States, will ultimately increase the public revenues, and vindicate the humane policy of the Government. THE RECIPROCITY TREATY. The Reciprocity Treaty with Great Britain will expire on the lith et March next, and due notice of this fact has been given by circulars to the officers of customs on the northern frontier. There are grave doubts whether treaties of this cha racter do not interfere with the legislative power of Con gress, and especially with the constitutional power of the House of Representatives to originate revenue bills ; and whether such treaties, if they yield anything not granted by our general revenue laws, are not in' conflict with the spirit of the usual clause contained in most of our com mercial treaties, to treat each nation on the same footing as the most favoured nation, and not to grant, without an equivalent, any particular favor to one nation not conceded to another in respect to commerce and naviga- tion. It appears to be well-established that the advantages of this treaty have not been mutual, but have been in favor of the Canadas. Our markets have been strong, exten sive, and valuable—theirs have been weak, limited, and generally far less profitable to our citizens. The people of the Canadas and Provinces have been sellers and we buyers of the same productions for which we are often forced to seek a foreign market. It is questionable, in fact, whether any actual reciprocity, embracing many of the articles now in the :treaty, can be maintained in the two countries. Even in regard to the fisheries, it is by no means certain that, instead of equivalents having been acquired under the treaty, more than equal advantages were not surrendered by it. But, whatever the facts may be, this subject, as well as that of intercommunication through rivers and lakes, and possibly canals and rail roads, are proper subjects of negotiation, and their im portance should secure early consideration. NATIONAL BANKS. The national banking system was designed not only to furnish the people with a sound circulation, but one of uniform value ; and this is not likely to be fully accom plished until the banks, by compulsion, of their own volun tary act, keep their notes at par in the principal money markets of the country. The establishment of the national banking system is one of the great compensations of the war—one of the great achievements of this remarkable period. In about two years and a half from the organisation of the first national bank the whole system of banking under State laws has been superseded, and the people of the United States have been furnished with a circulation bearing upon it the seal of the Treasury Department as a guarantee of its sol vency. It only remains that this circulation shall be a redeemable circulation ; redeemable not only at the coun ters of the banks, but at the commercial cities, to make the national banking system of almost inconceivable bene fit to the country. The present law limits the circulation of the national banks to three hundred millions of dollars ; and it is not probable, when the business of the country returns to a healthy basis, that a larger paper circulation than this will be required. Indeed it is doubtful whether a larger circulation can be maintained on a specie basis. Should an increase, however, be necessary, it can be provided for hereafter. It is, perhaps, unfortunate that a greater re striction had not been placed upon the circulation of the large banks already organised, in view of the wants of the Southern States. It is quite likely, however, that the an ticipated withdrawal of a portion of the United States notes (not to speak of the effect of the restoration of specie payments) will so reduce the circulation of the Northern banks as to afford to the South, under the present limita tion of the law, all the paper currency which will be re quired in that quarter. RECEIPTS OF COIN. The receipts of coin have been for some months past so large that there have been constant accumulations beyond what has been required for the payment of the interest on the public debt. The Secretary has, therefore, deemed it to be his duty to sell, from time to time, a portion of the surplus, for the purpose of supplying the wants of im porters and of furnishing the means for meeting the demands upon the Treasury for currency. The sales have been conducted by the Assistant Treasurer in New York in a manner entirely satisfactory to the Department, and, it is believed, to the public. The sales up to the Ist of November amounted to $27,993,216 11, and the premium to $12,310,459 76 ; thus placing in the Treasury for current use the sum of $40,303,675 87, without which there would have been a necessity for the further issue of interest-bear ing notes. UNITED STATES MINT. The total value of the bullion deposited at the Mint and branches during the last fiscal year was $32,248,754 97, of which $31,065,349 74 was in gold and $1,183,405 23 in silver. Deducting the re-deposits, there remains the actual deposits, amounting to $27,982,849 09. The coinage for the year was :—ln gold coin $25,107,217 50; gold bars, $5,578,482 45 ; silver coin, $636,308 ; silver bars, $313,010 69; including the two and three-cent pieces, $1,183,330 ; total coinage, $32,819,248 64. Of the bullion deposited, $5,570,371 27 was received at the Assay Office in New York. Of the gold bars, $4,947,800 21, and of silver bars, $165,003 45 in value, were stamped at the same office ; At the branch mint in San Francisco the gold deposits wore $18,808,318 49, and the silver deposits and purchases $540,299 20 in value. The value of the gold coined was $18,670,810 ; of silver coined, $320,800 ; and of silver bars, $145,235 58. Total coinage, $19,144,375 58. At the branch mint in Denver the total deposits wore $548,609 85, of which $511,552 01 was in gold, and $7,050 81 was in silver. GOVERNMENT COTTON. Since the suspension of purchases by the Government the duties of the agents of this Department have been con fined to securing the property (chiefly cotton) captured by our military forces in pursuance of the acts of March 12, 1862, and July 2, 1864, relative to captured and abandoned property. Up to the 31st of March last there had been received at New York, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, the ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCUIT.—MAIDSTONE, Dec. 22. (Before Mr. Justice Mellor.) POACHING. John Catt, Thomas Foreman, and Eli Simmons were indicted for night poaching and unlawful wounding at Tamworth on the 22d Nov. last. Mr. Addison appeared for the prosecution ; the prisoners were defended by Mr. F. J. Smith. From the opening statement of the learned counsel for the prosecution it appeared that on the night in question two gamekeepers in the employ of Mr. Goddard, of Somer-hill, Tunbridge, were watching a preserve on the estate, when the sound. of firearms attracted their attention. Proceeding in the direction from which the sound proceeded they. found the two prisoners, Catt and Foreman, in a cover, called Burgess's Wood, and they saw some pheasants on the wing close to the spot. One of the gamekeepers then seized hold of Catt, and en deavoured to detain him. He was immediately struck very violently on the head with a gun by Foreman. The blow compelled him to release his grasp, and Catt then, as soon as he was free, jumped back and struck the unfortunate man again on the head with the butt-end of his gun, and, not content with this, actually broke one of his arms in three places by means of the same instrument. An under keeper then came to the rescue, and struck Catt on the head with a stick. He was immediately knocked down by Catt, who went so far as to strike him when he was on the ground. Other men, appa rently belonging to the same party of poachers, were observed close to the spot where all this occur red, and amongst them the prisoner Simmons, who was armed with a bludgeon, with which, it seems, he struck one of the keepers. The evidence against him was not so strong as against the prisoners Catt and Foreman, who were wel known and positively identified. When they were apprehended and searched some pheasants' feathers and wet leaves were found in their pockets, and near to the place where the affray in the wood occurred there was found a brass ferrule, which exactly fitted a gun stock proved to be the property of the prisoner Foreman. A great many witnesses were called, and their evidence supported in substance the opening state ment of the learned counsel. It was elicited in cross-examination that the en counter in the wood only lasted for about three minutes, and that there were no marks of blood on the gun-stock traced to Foreman. In addressing the jury for the defence, Mr. F. J. Smith contended that it was not satisfactorily proved that Catt and Foreman were the men who committed the assaults in question. The jury must bear in mind that the struggle which they had heard des cribed took place in a thick wood on a murky morn ing in November. But whether those two men were concerned in the affray or not, he said it was greatly to be regretted that the keepers had provoked re sistance by attempting without any kind of warning forcibly to apprehend persons whose names, accord ing to their own account, they knew, and whom they could have summoned before the magistrates at any time for the less serious offence of simple poaching. As to the prisoner Simmons, he (Mr. Smith) be lieved he should be able to establish an alibi. Two or three witnesses were accordingly called to prove that this prisoner was sleeping at a public house in the neighbourhood on the night in question. Mr. Addison replied on behalf of the prosecution, and, after a very careful and impartial summing up by the learned judge, the jury found a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners, but they recom mended Simmons to mercy. In passing sentence his lordship observed that as far as Catt and Foreman were concerned this was one of the worst cases of night poaching with vio lence that had ever come before him, and he sen tenced them to five years' penal servitude. The case against Simmons was very different, and having regard to the recommendation of the jury, he should pass upon that prisoner the lenient sentence of six months imprisonment, with hard labour. INC ENDIARI S.M. John Stock, 22, a private in the Royal Marines, was indicted for having, on the 23d of August, .set fire to a stack of wheat, the property of John Rose Baker. Mr. R. S. Wright procecuted ; and Mr. H. Ormerod defended the prisoner. It appeared that on the day stated in the indict ment, about half-past one' o'clock, the prisoner was observed to go along a private road towards the stack, and in a few minutes was seen to return back by the same way. Immediately afterwards the stack was observed to be on fire. The alarm was given ; and suspicion resting on the prisoner he was apprehended on the spot by one of the farm labourers. • On having been taken to the police station he said he saw a civilian set fire to the stack. On being searched a lucifer match was found in his pocket, and also a bank book It was also proved that on the morning of that day he had been seen in a public-house in the neighbourhood, where he procured some lucifer matches, saying they would be useful to him in the guard-room. He also said he was sick of the service, and would be glad to leave it in any way he could. This statement was relied on on the part of the prosecution as suggest ing the prisoner's motive for committing the alleged arson, soldiers having frequently been known to commit this offence for the purpose of being dis charged from the service. Several witnesses were called, who testified to the facts above stated. For the defence, Mr. Ormerod contended that the circumstances of suspicion were not strong enough to bring home guilt to the prisoner. As for the fact of his having been seen near the place where the fire took place, it may happen to the most innocent man. Then, what other criminative fact existed against the prisoner ? As to the lucifer being found on him, and his procuring some the same day, it was very natural for a person in his position to have them for the purpose of lighting his pipe.' The possession of the bank-book showed not that he was a desperate character, but rather that he was an industrious and saving man. And if, as alleged, he wanted, by committing this crime, to be discharged from the army, why did he not confess he did it when he was apprehended ? His lordship, in summing up the evidence, said the learned counsel for the prosecution had, in his very able speech, put everything which could be urged in favour of the prisoner before them, and they were bound to give them the weight they de served. The jury at once returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner, having been cautioned by his lord ship, was discharged. This concluded the business of the session on the Home Circuit. FELONIOUSLY WOUNDING. Charles Hills, aged 43, a carpenter, was indicted for feloniously wounding Susannah Hills. The Hon. E. Stanhope prosecuted. The prisoner was undefended. In this case the prisoner and prosecutrix were mother and son. The case against the prisoner was that he had been heard to utter the most dreadful threats against his mother, and that he had struck and kicked her in the most brutal manner. When, however, she was called up to give evidence, she declared she had no recollection of what took place on the day in question, alleging that she was subject to fits, and remembered nothing of the alleged assault. The learned judge then told her to stand down, and the other witnesses were called, who proved that she was quite bruised and bleeding on the occasion referred to, and a witness swore that the prisoner uttered a threat of violence against his mother some days before. There was, however, no direct e vi deuce against him. The mother was recalled, and, though she was very much pressed by the learned judge, she per sisted in saying she had no recollection of what had passed. The counsel for the prosecution proposed to con tradict her by putting in her own depositions. His lordship thought this could not be done under Denman's Act. The prisoner, in his defence, proved that his mother was subject to fits, and that the injuries re suited from a fall while in one of those fits. The jury found the prisoner guilty of unlawfully wounding. His lordship sentenced him to 18 months' impri sonment, with hard labour. THE MURDERER FORWOOD. It was reported in court to-day that the con demned man Forwood, alias Southey, had sent a letter to his lordship praying to grant him a new trial, but that he (the learned judge) had refused to receive any communication from him. It is said the prisoner continues to exhibit the same peculia rities of temper and manner as he has hitherto done. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—" Anything but history," said Sir Ro bert Walpole, " for that we know must be false ; and certainly, when we are able to inquire into the manner in which history is made for us, we see much more reason than at first sight appears in confirmation of the cynical observations of the old Whig leader. Any one who considers how fre quently it falls within his own observation that men will pervert, misstate, or colour to any extent facts concerning which they have an interest in mislead ing mankind, must be astonished at his own cre dulity in accepting without question so many statements on the faith of persons who also have an interest to mislead him. Even our painful retrospec tive searches into events the best evidence of which has long since perished often enable us to detect the very process by which an error has been magnified into a stroke of genius, a crime converted into a hard necessity, and a happy chance into a superb combination. But how much better, one thinks, it would be if facts were carefully sifted by some com petent tribunal before they were received and credited by mankind! Knowing things as they really are, we might, from these well ascertained data, hope to make some solid progress in politics and the other moral sciences, instead of, as at present, being obliged to base our reasonings on things which, if we knew them as they really happened, might very likely lead to conclusions the very reverse of those we draw from them. The investigations into shipwrecks conducted by the Board of Trade furnish an excellent illustra tion, not only of the difference between facts as they really happen and as they are presented to us, but of the difficulty, even with an impartial inquiry, of arriving at the - truth. The first thing we almost always hear when a catastrophe such as 'a shipwreck has occurred is that "no one is to blame." The utmost vigilance, forti tude, and care have been exerted, but a series of untoward incidents have baffled the wisdom and forethought of man. The captain is an object of general sympathy and admiration, the owner is in demnified by the insurance, and unless it happens that a passenger or two is drowned the impression made upon one's mind is that nobody is in fault, and no harm has teen done to anybody. Then comes the investigation of the Board of Trade,which seldom fails to detect the negligence, or ignorance, or other preventible cause which led to the catas trophe, and we have just had a case in which even its verdict is questioned and condemned. A very renowned Australian steam packet called the Dun can Dunbar was wrecked some months since on a reef called Las Rocas, on the east coast of Brazil, between three and four degrees south of the Equa tor. It was known that the ship was in the neigh bourhood of this dangerous reef. Nevertheless, she went straight upon it at 8 o'clock in the evening and became a complete wreck. Two witnesses were examined on behalf of the captain—the first a former master of a merchant vessel, now holding a com mission in the navy ; the second, and more impor tant one, Captain Selwyn, of the Royal Navy, who stated that he had himself been employed on board her Majesty's ship Siren, in 1857, in surveying the reef on which the vessel struck. The currents round the reef are described as running westward, whereas Captain Selwyn states they have a southerly with an easterly tendency. Thus the captain of the Duncan Dunbar, being misled as to the real direction of the currents, might naturally and excusably suppose that he had passed to the west of Las Rocas when he really lay to the north of them. Had he not taken an observation of them at four o'clock that day it would only have misled him more. The inference which Captain Selwyn drew from this statement was that no blame at tached to any one, and that a lighthouse ought to be erected on the reef to prevent such accidents for the future, and to afford a mark by which vessels could steer. The representative of the owner of the ship was perfectly satisfied. He had never been able before to understand the reason of the wreck, it was now made entirely clear, and the captain had behaved with courage and humanity after the misfortune. The Court bad nothing to do but to decide in the captain's favour amid general applause, and everybody being satis fied the inquiry came to an end. Stiange to say, however, the Board of Trade felt just as much dissatisfied with the evidence taken on this inquiry as everybody else had been pleased with it, and, on referring the matter to the Admiralty hydrographer, this high authority says, first, that the ship's log book had been altered after the event so as to give her a more westerly course than that assigned to her at the time ; and next that, supposing the ship to have been at noon in the position stated, and to have gone at the rate and steered in the direction described, she should, experiencing the usual cur rents, hare run ashore exactly at the time she did, and that her having done so is the best proof of the correctness of existing charts. There is no record in the Admiralty of the southerly and easterly cur rents described by Captain Selwyn ; in the plans made by Captain Parish in 1856, and by Captain Selwyn in 1857, there is no mention of any current. But in the paper accompanying Captain Selwyn's plan he mentions a westerly current, though he says nothing of the southerly and easterly currents which did such good service on the investigation into the wreck. A single observation of longitude at 4 o'clock ought, in the opinion of the hydro grapher, to have prevented the catastrophe, which occurred only four hours later. A lighthouse is, he thinks, not urgently required, because, although it would be valuable to the local trade, no ocean-going ship ought to go as far westward as Las Rocas, unless driven thither by extraor dinary stress of weather. The latitude of the reef was determined within less than three miles, quite near enough for all practical purposes, and there is no ground, in the opinion of the hydro grapher, for the argument which has been raised in favour of the captain on that ground. This is a very remarkable case. A splendid merchant vessel is wrecked in calm weather on a well-known reef, and the master is pronounced by the Court to which the case is referred to have been in no respect in fault. When this sentence comes to be reviewed by higher authority, it is alleged that the master steered directly for the reef, and that, allowing for the currents, the wind, and the rate at which the ship was going, he ought to have pitched upon it at the precise moment when he did. He neglected to take an observation at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, which ought to have prevented the catastrophe, and, in fact, steered straight to his destruction without taking a single precaution to avert it. Certainly, if a wreck occurring under the circumstances thus stated is to cast no blame upon anybody, it becomes impossible to conceive for what cause a certificate can ever be withheld. The Board of Trade and the Admiralty Hydrographer have duly discharged their duty to the public in pointing out their view of the case, and exploding doctrines which, if once ad mitted, would be fatal to the security of voyages by sea ; .but whose record are we to believe in the in stance of current history we have selected as an example of the difficulty of arriving at truth? " THE ANGLO-AMERICAN TIMES" ON CHRISTMAS TIDE.—We think it proper and appropriate that this journal, which professes to be the exponent of American opinion in Europe, should pause at this festive season, and, turning from the discussion of questions of politics and commerce, seek to give expression to those emotions which are upper most in the minds of all Americans to-clay, in whatever part of the world they may be sojourn ing. As this merry Christmas comes round there is much reason for rejoicing everywhere. All Christendom is happy and at peace. There is now no marshaling of mighty hosts, no noise of trumpets, no flouting of warlike banners. Eng land, turning from the grave of her long-trusted statesman, dries her tears and girds up her loins for renewed efforts in the race of Reform. France, proud and mighty under the sway of a monarch whose empire is peace, sets an example of wisdom and moderation to the nations around her. Italy, young but sturdy, pursues her career of vigour and glory ; and America --the last hope and the last promise of civilisation —joins with the nations in the celebration of this merry Christmas Tide, with joy which is not the less joyous that it is chastened by thoughts of those lost ones who will never sit at the Christmas board again. For this Christmas is to Americans second only to that Christmas nineteen centuries ago when the angel brought glad tidings of great joy to all people. That day saw the promise of Israel ful- filled ; this day witnesses the fruition of all the dearest hopes and expectations of the American people. It will not, we feel sure, cloud the joy with which Americans all the world over will contem plate the blessings of this Christmas season, if they turn their thoughts back to the departed Christmas Tide of last year. That day was a day of gloom to them. They felt almost as if the message of peace was a mockery—for was not their sky lit with the lurid glare of bloody war ?—and was not the smoke of the sacrifice of their best beloved ascend ing to the Demon of Slaughter from a hundred thousand altars? Were not their fields red with the blood of the sons of the Republic,who had gone down into the valley of death, and whose unburied bones lay bleaching on a hundred battle fields ? Aye, it was indeed a sad, sad Christmas day to them. For they had seen the Christmas season come and go, and come and go again, and yet a third time come and go, and still hideous Treason stalked over the land, marking his path with a wide track of desolation ; ---and the youth, the promise, the strength, the vigour of the Republic had gone out to wrestle with the giant and had perished in the conflict ! And so they could not rejoice, for Christmas brought no t , geed tidings of great joy" to them. There were other reasons, too, why the American people mourned rather than rejoiced when the last year's Christmas came. It was not merely that wherever the Christmas boaad was spread there were some vacant places:--it was that the Republic, which had been consecrated first by the blood of their ances tors, and a second time by the blood of their brothers and their sons, was still in dire extre mity and peril ;—it was that the beautiful fabric of freedom had been torn and rent asunder ; —it was that the free Government of which they were se proud and which they had so learned to love bad been attacked by fratricidal hands, and was wounded almost to the death ;—it was that Christian nations looked coldly on in this death struggle of liberty with treason, and had no word of sympathy for the right, no word of rebuke for the wrong ;—it was that their faith had been so sorely tried, and yet in all the black and frowning heavens there was no bow of promise to be seen. But this Christmas-day opens up a new dawning to Americans—a new dawning to humanity. Last year there were four millions of slaves on that new continent—to-day there is no single slave in all the land. Last year's Christmas was looked forwa masters those bondmen as the sad day when their would let them out to the highest bidder for the ensuing year—a husband here, a - wife there, and children yonder ! This is the first merry Christmas those four millions have ever known. They will meet together this Christmas morning, husbands, wives, and children reunited, never again to part at the bidding of the slave driver—free as the free air they breathe. Their Christmas pudding this year will be their own, and glorious will be its relish—glorious as the ambrosia of the Gods —for has not liberty been proclaimed throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof ? And shall they not sit them do wn- -- those dusky sons of the soil—as it were beneath the shadow of their own vine and fig tree, and with none to molest them or make them afraid? For the starry flag of free America waves ver them—but it is their flag now,. and though its threatening stripes are still there to scourge those who would dishonour it, in all its sacred folds there is not a single stripe for them. We would not write of this auspicious Christens Tide in too enthusiastic terms, but we feel that any language of ours will be poor indeed to express how deeply the American people appreciate the blessings which it has brought to their country. A few days since we witnessed a meeting between two repre sentative Americans in this country, who had not met before for many years. One of them was an officer of high rank in the American army, who had fought gallantly through the war; the other was anAmerican statesman whose name is as wellknow n to Englishmen as to his own countrymen. These two men met in London, clasped hands in a warm fraternal greeting, and the first words that leaped to their lips were " Glory to God in the highest!" They had no thought of the cold forms of etiquette H o w do —none of individual commonplaces , of 4, you do ?" and " I hope you are quite well I"—but it was that the Almighty had blessed them?—tha t their land was redeemed, and " Glory to God in the highest !" was all they could say in remem brance of a Deliverance as grand and solemn as that which came to those of old who were led through the desert by the pillar of fire. And so say we —reverently, devoutly, earnestly- - " Glory to God in the highest !" We throw to the winds all stately phrases, all fine -sounding words. Feeling, as we do, that on this Christmas day, as on that of old, " the glory of the Lord shines round about them," we congratulate the American people oil what He hath done fcr them. Lift up your heads, ye mighty mountains, and re joice! Roll on, ye turbid rivers ! Blossom, ye wide spread prairies ! For lo ! the yoke of the oppressor is broken, and those who were oppress ed are freel And now, in conclusion, a word to England the to Englishmen. Away across the At lantic, in e highest place of the Great Republic, s its a man who as it were but yesterday came from his tailor's bench to do his country's bidding. He has spokeu to you, and his voice is the voice of thirty millions. He would have by-gones be by-gones. His mes sage is peace—and how opportunely it comes at this friendly Christmas season ! Stretch forth your broad palm, John Bull, and grasp the band extended to yours. Let your yule-log sparkle and glow on the ruddy Christmas hearth your Christmas tree spread itsbroad, well-laden branches over your heads. Put an extra plum in , your Christmas pudding, and,with glorious,old-fashione d English cheer, drink to your young, sturdy cousin over the sea. For, behold, he brings you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; He has broken the fetters of the enslaved, an a four millions are free ! " Glory to God ill the highest, and on earth peace, good will tower°. Len I" COUNTRY MARKETS __...r._--. RIPON—FRIDAY. There was about the usual supply of wheat and other grain at market to-day, and a fair attendance of buhe yer°' The currency was about the same as las t week, with t exception of wheat, which sold at a decline. LIVERPOOL.—FRIDAY. To-day's market was moderately attended by bu9e' and there was an indifferent demand for French descrier tions at the rates of Tuesday. Amer i c an unaltered. Flour neglected. Indian corn at about Tuesday's rates. Bets firm ; peas weaker ; oatmeal slow and unchanged. MONMOUTHSHIRE —THURSDAY. At this season the corn trade is g enerall y dull, and th e markets of this district have not p roved exceptions to th e rule. Buyers demand a reduct ion in prices, which Belle refuse to submit to. In barley quotations easier. had an upward tendency. Beans advanced is per qr. , 5 The following are the average quotations :—Wheat, 3d to 5s 6d per bushel barl, 3s 3d to 38 8d ; oats , u" Id to 2s 7d ; beans, 58 to s ey s 8d per 601 b. DERBY—FumAY. There was a middling supply of wheat to-day, and asl es were made at late rates. 3 6 New white wheat, 50s to 55s ; old red, 50s to 53s per stone. Barley for malting, 32s to 40s per qr. ; griocuT, 27s to 30s per 30 stone. Oats, new, 21s to 265; old, 28 5 , 4 31s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 50 s to Us ; new, 4 1 s to " per 38 stone. .—FRIDAY. A thin attendaWnce. Market AKEFIELD of a holiday character. 42,411.0 b us i n ess passing in wheat is at last week's prices. change in barley or oter articles. od; Averages, December h 16—Wheat, 2,015 qrs, at 500 barley, 1,069 at 36s Od ; oats,s9 , at 27s 9d. S T AMP ORD.—PRIDAY. Wheat came tolerably to hand ; the trade ruled lei 3 g lii4 at about tormer quotations. 3 6 Old white wheat, 50s to 528 ; red do. 42s to 48s Pel.ao:/ ' stone. Barley, malting, 32 s to 36s • gr inding, 27s to e per qr. Oats, new, 22 s to 28 s ; old, 25s to 27s per 24 et°ll Beans, 44s to 548 per 38 stone. Peas as of late. BRISTOL SUARIDAY s‘' t A. fair amore t of business has .—FR en do been this 'we ° 0,8 full prices. The market closed to-da y for the Chris tsi holidays, and will re-open on the 3d of next month. Births. ad/ BLOIS.—On the 19 th inst., at Cockfield Hall, Suff o lk, r-pßlois, of a daughter. k Of CLARK. —On the 20th inst. the wife of Fred. J. 0 131.- :f A Lancastelace, Strand, , and Oak Lodge, Kilburn , - daughter. . i i tool SMITH.— On the 21st inst., at 34, Albany Villas, Brig.„Thle, the wife of C. Manley Smith, Esq., of the Inner Te''' of a son. Marriages. HANcocK -PARSONS.—On the 20 th inst., a t Saint ..- D e t , i ' l 7o ' Eaton-square, Robert Hancock, of 128, Fleet-stree" of Ellen Parsons, only daughter of Jos. Parsons, Somerset House. j o ts , M UMFORD —On-011 the 21st inst.; at All Safora, Wandsworth, Peter, younger son of Peter gu ru on l y Esq., of Lewisham High - road, to Harriott Jex, di e , 3 of daughter of Sir John Thwaites, J.P., D.L., the Metropolitan Board of Works, of Wandsworth. Deaths. . I)la ce ' BEAUCHAMP. — On the 20 t h inst., at 42, St. Jaine?'"x Mr. Beauchamp, aged 61 . • ~ A W" . CRABB.—On the 21st inst., James Crabb, Esq., '-' I) B e l grave -place, Pimlico. 13. FOSTER.—On the 19 th inst., at Scratby sail, 0 1 ° 13€ ' '' ' '. Foster, vicar of , aged 61. bill, SIM —On the 20th inst., Ormsby at his res id e nce, 11, Craven' Hyde-park, Lieut.-General Sim, R.E., aged 75. ------SAND. EV°. London : Printed and Pub - fished by WIL LO i l O. IA i of No. 112, Strand, Ptlnter, at Tar.• Sur/ Ottin,... „; a vj ' 7 ' Strand, in the. Precinct of th e :.:svov. in the v° hliddleaer..—Saturday, December 23, 1865. LOND Roc Thytree. ICNA This tele Prize Med 2 It i+ Pur ;Sold in I Ithe Agents 8, GE ÜbBerve 4Kinaha'n ~_. lUTI 14 , itussi „A:ovA.N rreehold f ee, or an , three year; discounted made tows la Years eifelopC. T HE p to the Subscri sup French, at Booth's, %died 1..] technic In THE henry This Asi %Mile an, posn 14 or the 0 1 Three 1 of the As lashed, pa 27, Lom 'WET NOTIC the rate 0 trAt te-1 0nn3162 and of t Wlll be PJ 27, Austir Yrovish to the WI dead war 2 7, Ausl conf4 flonds of ?sued to Per cent at the 0 Throgtno Notary, a Precisely. The ant 2,00 dour p( !t.) 'Nre da 4, 3 fond, v Zi LOO dol. estinini and site! that day. On pay Presence Offices, 11A111 AT i• „l'ARR's -nea, Indulge y d O, And ot an iyA In Dereeptib t he head deaf pers and publl meat.--S bringing ll flavour, a th e i mp( (ir SPAI AL Produces 6(1 .• sent titih uc Tills pre ] r einovini — 248, Ili Ladies' ( at 3,. 6d. Btam p , J 1 AI . hltnedia fural in Post for II I `kithout heck, an , (l aY as of Latel the CI Stir ROSS, 2 DIM RI TABLE 2s. ALEx.