The Sun. — London, England, 1852-12-31 00:00:00

TREATER ROYAL, HAYBIARKET. Farewell Beason of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager THIS EVENING Will be performed the popular and highly attractive Comedy or MASKS AXD FACES: or, Before and Behind the Curtain—lw Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, and Parselle; Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Rosa Bennett, and Miss J'anny Maskell. After which. an entirely new Christmas Extravaganza, entitled LEO THE TERRIBLE. To conclude with THE TWO BONNYCASTLES. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Miler the Management of Madame Warta. ISIS lITZVING t Dec. 31, will be performed the Comic Drama sailed ♦ PHENOMENON 11( A SMOCK-FROCK, Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, I. Matthews, and Homcastle ; Miss F. Baker amid Miss C. Mitchell. Alter which (sth time). a new and original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. P. Matthews, Suter, Hornce.stle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson (her sth appearance at this Theatre), Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham. Miss Eglin. lon (her sth appearance at this Theatre), and Miss Rosina Wright will appear. To COnclade with LITTLE TODDLBKINS. sole Agent tor the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New Dond•street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Open for the Season. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Dec. 31, the already popular Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Cullen. lord, 0. Smith, and Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, and Mrs. Keeley. After which (sth time), a new Grand Christmas Pantomime, called NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlecnin Menge Monarch. Principal Danseuse Mdlle. Auriol, and the inimitable Clown, Flexmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING Will be performed Shakspere's Comedy of TWELFTH NIGHT. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, Addison, Meadows, J. Vining, Ryder, Everett, and Cathcart; Misses Murray and Mar- shall, and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormabk ; Clown, Mr. Huline (sth appearance here); Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Car. lotta Leclercq. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, Dec. 31, will be presented ABELARD AND HELOISE. After which, a new Grand Cemie Christmas Pantomime, en titled ROMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and the World of Dreams. Harlequin, Mr. Forest; Columbine, Miss Marie Charles ; Sprite, Mr. G. Thompson ; Pantaloon, Mr. Tanner ; Clown, Mr. Edward Edwards, who will introduce his wonderful dogs. Boa-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Chatterton. - ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Immense attraction of the Christmas Holidays. Fifth Night of the new Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime. 34th Night of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Entire change of Scenes In the Arena. THIS EVENING, December 31, and during the week, the Enter tainments will commence with the highly sncces'ful Equestrian Drama of UNCLE TOM'm CABIN, with all its original effects. To be followed by unusually brilliant and novel Scenes in the Circle, by the most eminent Artistes of the day. To conclude with, for the Fifth Time, the New Grand Equestrian Christmas Comic Pantomime, entitled FORTUNIO AND HIS HORSE COMRADE; or, Harlequin and his Seven Gifted Men. Produced on an unequalled scale of splendour, and in which thd following talented Pantomimists will appear for the sth time here. Harlequin, Mr. Melbourne Ellar ; Columb ne, Mdile. Christine ; Clown, Mr. Gardner Boleno ; Pantaloon, Mr. Priorson ; Sprite, Mr. R. Hemming. Doors open at Half-past Six .vclock. To commence at Seven. Bor-potice open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager. Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. ma DIY —Morning 52 min. after 4 I Evening 14 min.aft. 5 o-Monaow—Morning 36 min. after 5 Evening 59 min.aft. 5 THE WEATHER.—Su OFFICE, Dec. 31. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 49—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 45—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 30'23. WIND, S.W.—Fine weather. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. FRIDAY, DEC. 31, 1852. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGS—S.S.W., gentle b r e eze — overcas t. SOITTHAMPTON—W., gentle breeze—rain. FOLKESTONE—S.W., strong breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—S.W., strong breeze—overcast. BASINGSTOKE—S.W., hard wind—partially cloudy. GREENWICH—S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. STEOOD—S.W., gentle breeze—overcast. Swurnorr—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy., COLCHESTER—S.S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—S., strong breeze—partially cloudy. YARMOUTH— S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock : MITLLINGAR— S.E., storm—rain. HASTINGS—S.S.W., fresh breeze—partially cloudy. LANCASTER—S., hard wfnd—scud, rain. WHITBY—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. DARLINGTON—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy, frost. SHAD—S., strong breeze--partially cloudy. . • LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1852. Wonderfully strong though the ABERDEEN Cabinet undoubtedly is in administrative ability, it contains within it, nevertheless, those germs of weakness which must, we fancy, ripen into a very speedy dissolution. Among the numerous obstacles to its consolidation into a stable Go vernment, two are, to our mind, very glaringly paramount. It has already been remarked in these columns that the new Ministry has too many Leaders. In addition to this really de plorable fault, it must now be observed that scarcely one of the various appointments made by the Noble Earl the PRIME MINISTER of England, is calculated to redound to the credit of his sa gacity as the organiser of an Administration. Hardly one of his Ministerial nominations ap pears to be judicious in the distribution of All the Talents placed at his disposal. Analyse the ABERDEEN Cabinet, and the fact here referred to will be at once transparent. Look at its principal members and see with what egregious blundering they are placed each one at the head of a wrong department—each at the head ofa department where his capacities are the least likely to shine to the best advantage. Beginning with the Earl of ABERDEEN himself, we may be permitted to doubt, from his rather well-known antecedents, whether he will not make a very indifferent First Lord of the Treasury—whereas he might have occupied the position of President of the Council, in a man ner that would have reflected honour upon his re putation, and have materially facilitated the ope rations of a Coalition Government. Again, every fact recorded in the political life of Lord PALMER STON sufficiently indicates that his powers qualify him to undertake, perhaps, no other duties less meritoriously than those connected with the Home office—while the whole character of his mind, his diplomatic skill, his matured experience, his Euro pean celebrity, his genius, and his patriot ism, all point him out as the candidate for the Foreign Secretaryship. Of the emi nent capabilities of Lord JOHN RUSSELL to fulfil the labours of an Administrator, there can not assuredly by this time be any question what ever. We may complain, and we do complain, that he cannot preside over the destinies of this country in any way to the popular satisfaction, but that he can direct the machinery of the State With the hand of a practised statesman, it would he preposterous to deny in regard to one who, during five or six consecutive years—in the midst of famine, and pestilence, and revolution—main tained Iliposition as the Leader of the British Go verninle,4t. Yet, admitti ng a ll thi s, we are b old to ° ee l" , that there is possibly no ministerial post in the Sift of the SOVEREIGN which the Noble Lord is less` calculated for than th e ver y one t o which heha N within the last fdw days, been absurdly " Inina .ted--we mean, of course, the Post of her MAatsTv's Chief Secretary of State in the Foreign Department. As Home Se cretary, Lord JOHN might have bee n spared those blunders which ar e almost inevitable now that he has been chosen to preside over the Foreign Relations of the United Kingdom. What, again, can be more ridiculous than the placing of Sir JAMES GRAHAM at the head of the Board of Admiralty, where no civilian, however gifted, ought again to have been installed, i nstead of entrusting to his rare administrative cap ac i ties and experience the responsible toils of Chancellor of the Exchequer ! Mr. GLADSTONB might then have been named to an office, for the creditabl e discharge of the duties of which he is eminently qualified by his abilities, namely, the office of Colonial Secretary —by which means his financial crochets (and if his intellect has any flaw it has that undeniably of being egregiously and preter naturally crochetty) need not have been dreaded as conducing to the unsettlement of our adroitly balanced system of receipts and expenditure ! Briefly, than, we have protested, and we must protest again and again, that the ABERDEEN 1 Cabinet is weak—in spite of all its grand array of talents—weak, not merely from the circum- stance of having too many Leaders, but from the fact of its principal statesmen being so blunder ingly distributed among the different offices of the Government. Perhaps the best portion of the ministerial catalogue is that relating to the minor appointments. Nothing could be in better taste than the tardy recognition of the services rendered to the country by the Hon. CHARLES VILLIERS—in his nomination to the place formerly occupied by poor CHARLES BULLER, that of Judge-Advocate-General. There is tact, more over, in the selection of WILLIAM KEOGH, as the Irish Solicitor-General in that of BERNAL OSBORNE as Secretary to the Admiralty —as well as in the choice for Under- Secretaryships of such men as ROBERT LowE and AUSTIN LAYARD, the Learned Member for Ayles bury and the astute Representative of Kiddermin ster. Occasionally, too, there has been mani fested by Lord ABERDEEN a laudable sense of hitherto unrequited ability, in the elevation of one or two " outsiders" to the higher departments of Administration. Such, we take it, is the merit of his nomination of Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH to the Chief Commissionership of the Woods and Forests—a nomination which, we 'trust, may be justified by the Hon. Baronet the Member for the borough of Southwark, by his advocacy in office of such popular questions as that of Vote by Ballot. But—saving these well-selected names, " few and far between "—the New Ministry dis plays little more than talent of the very highest order erroneously applied, without any other apparent purpose than that of unsettling still more an already sufficiently distracted and heterogeneous Government. It was said of MACHIAVELLI that his greatest crime was that he dared to write what the Princes of his time did not fear to do. It may be said, however, still more of the Earl of ABERDEEN, that his greatest political fault—(and we say this in the face of his whole foreign policy, of his subserviency to M. GUIZOT, of his truckling to King Louis PHILIPPE, and of his share in the Spanish Mar riages)—the greatest political fault of this " dear " and " excellent " ABERDEEN is, that he has dared to do what the Statesmen of his time had not ventured to contemplate. He has constructed a Cabinet which we have not been extravagant in christening the Happy Family ! He has joined together in a single Ministry men diametrically opposed to each other in principles ! And, not satisfied with this, he has contrived to scatter yet further confusion among their ranks, by distributing the principal Members of his Ad ministration as mistakenly as possible among the different offices of her MAJESTY'S Government ! Every sincere Fiscal Reformer will consider it an imperative duty to exhibit an extraordinary degree of zeal and energy at the present crisis. It is certain that the Property and Income Tax must be renewed in some form, before the conclu sion of the financial year. And it is essential that the great work should be accomplished, in accordance with " the principles of Equity and Justice." The significant hint given by the new Premier in his Ministerial Statement, and to which we directed public attention on Wednesday night, maybe accepted as an implied pledge that the distinction between permanent and precarious in come would at length be recognised ; but with a Cabinet in which GLADSTONE presides over the financial department, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL and Sir CHARLLS WOOD are prominent Members, it is well to make assurance doubly sure, and to prevent the advocates of the present iniquitous system from asserting that the people are indifferent or lukewarm on the subject. If they remain apathetic until the Government are firmly committed to the future Budget, they will only have themselves to blame for the result, how ever unpalatable it may prove. This is, indeed, a golden opportunity, which should not be wasted or misapplied. A similar one may not again occur for a long series of years. The Right Honoura ble and Noble Gentlemen, who, by their accep tance of office, have vacated their seats, are com pelled to solicit a renewal of confidence from their respecti-re constituents. That renewal should not, in:, any case, be granted until they have been closely interrogated, and returned clear, explicit, and satisfactory answers on the point. We do not, of course, desire that they should be called upon to give the details of the forthcoming Budget but they should be unequivo cally pledged to the principle that a dis tinction must be recognised, for fiscal pur poses, between income arising, more or less, from intellectual or physical labour, and from accumulated and realised property. The citizens of London, and the electors of Halifax, and of the University of Oxford, should more especially impress their own views on the candidates for their suffrages. The opinions so earnestly enunciated by Mr. GLADSTONE during the late financial discussion, show that he con siders the question not merely one of expediency. He placed it on a very different foundation in deed, declaring that the national honour, and the maintenance of public faith with the public creditor, were involved in the result. His feelings on the point were so strong that he could not remain silent for even a few days until the debate on the financial scheme afforded him a fitting opportu nity for expressing his sentiments. Not a mo ment could be lost ; and, therefore, at the very next meeting of the House, after the delivery of the Budget, he rather irregularly, but very emphatically, announced his invincible repugnance, his inextinguishable hostility to that portion of Mr. DISRAELI'S proposition, relying on the sup- posed authority of WILLIAM PITT in corroboration of his arguments. Now, we have ever believed, and still believe, the Right Honourable Gentleman to be a strictly conscientious and high-minded man ; and we are convinced that he would not sacrifice what he believed to be a matter of duty, of honour, of national faith, for any benefit to himself personally, or the party to which he has allied himself. He might be content to record his vote against the principle without withdrawing his assistance from those by whom it was sus tained and carried yielding to the decisive and overwhelming majority of his colleagues with in the Cabinet, and generally of the popular Re presentatives in the Commons House of Parlia ment. But how could he be directly instrumen tal in carrying into execution that which he believed to be not merely erroneous, but radically wrong ? It is but an act of common justice to the Right Honourable Gentleman to declare our belief, that he would be and is incapable of such conduct. Now, it must not be forgotten that from Mr. GLADSTONE'S position, the arduous and important duty will devolve upon him of bringing forward the financial scheme of the New Cabinet. The most interesting portion thereof—that, indeed, on which the remainder must altogether depend, will be the renewal of the Income Tax, either in its present shape, or with some modifications. Can we, then, suppose that he will so totally forget his former opinions as to propose a satisfac tory measure in accordance with what Fiscal Re formers believe to be "the principles of Equity and Justice ?" We fear not ! It seems to us that greater reliance is to be placed on the energeti c and unequivocal denunciation of the comparatively trifling distinction proposed by Mr. DISRAELI than on the rather vague expression of Lord ABERDEEN. How can we know what may be considered " the principles of Equity and Justice" by the Noble Earl ? We know that Mr. GLAD STONE considers those principles involved in the maintenance of the present system, and it is im- possible to say by what crotchets his Ministeria] colleagues may be actuated. The great majority have hitherto opposed what we believe to be the principles of Justice and Equity ; and it is, therefore, peculiarly desirable that we should asc ertain, at the earliest opportunity, what the people have indeed to expect on this point, that they may be prepared for the emer gency. This should be obtained from the best authority—the very fountain head—Mr. GLAD STONE himself. Lord JOHN RUSSELL and Sir CHARLES WOOD have, on previous occasions, expressed themselves strongly on the same point. But they are con fessedly made of " squeezable materials." They are, long since, but.too.painfully aware of the fact that, to their unyielding obstinacy on this matter, they owe the dissolution of the Ministry of which one- was the Chief, and the other a prominent Member.. They may now be "wiser," as they are assuredly much " sadder," men ; but if so— if they have, indeed, repented of their former error—they should say so at once. The approaching elections—more especially that for Halifax—will afford a suitable opportunity for exhibiting the required interrogatories ; and, as we have already stated, it should not be neglected or misapplied. Who of all the cliques and classes, parties and politicians of the day, should look forward so cheerily as the MANCHESTER SCHOOL to a happy New Year? Let no lurking ungenial imp whisper in their ears—" Neither your COBDEN nor your BRIGHT, nor even your MI - Lx= GrnsoN, are in the New Cabinet." The schoolmaster's pride is to train men for Cabinets—not to enter there himself. It is in his scholars that he glories. Look, then, at the group composing the ABERDEEN Government,--why, almost to a man, they are the choice pupils of the Manchester School. That celebrated Academy was founded to teach Free-trade principles to the millions both of town and country yet ignorant of them, and to teach their practicability and advantages to those superior minds who, indeed, admired ADAM Sm - Int's doctrines, but were almost as hope less as himself of their ever becoming the creed of an overpowering majority of the British nation. These gentlemen, then, begin a New Year with a Cabinet which is even a more splendid evidence of their success than the minority of 53 in the House of Commons. The leaders of the League are not assuredly the men to despise all but the aristocracy whether of rank or of genius, to be satisfied with a small audience for their speeches, or to be very nice about the taste and style in which the ten-pound householders celebrate their deeds. Had they, however, the pride of the most fastidious of our exclusives they would now have all that heart could wish. They might turn from the " vilest rabble ever seen," shouting the praises of the big loaf, till the polished taste of Sir FREDERIC THESIGER wished it " stuck in their throats," and say, pointing to the ABERBEEN list,-- " Satis est equitem mihi plaudere, Plotius, et Varius, Maecenas, Virgiliusque, Valqms, et probet haec Octavius Optimus, et quo Fuscus ; et haec retinam Viscorum laudet uterque." Nor would any but prosodians object, if for one name they substituted Victoria Optima, so harmo nious would the alteration be with fact and the feel ings of every auditor. What, then, can they wish for more ? They begin a New Year, not only with a nation on their side, not only with Protection buried for ever, although conducted to the place of execution with funeral honours by its friends— not only with Protection, moreover, formally abandoned by the powerful and numerous party which, for years had, used it as their rallying cry, but with a Ministry composed, by universal ac knowledgment, of the ablest men in the House of Commons ; a Government comprising more ability than the celebrated All-Talents Ministry, and nearly each one of these a pupil, more or less, of the Manchester School ! Oh ! how bright the change from the time when VILLIERS was voted down by " overwhelming majorities ;" when Lord Joan RUSSELL snubbed them ; and Lord MELBOURNE declared that, "of all mad things the maddest was to propose repealing the Corn Laws ;" verily, the times are changed," and verily, we may add, on behalf of all but the unchangeable 53, "we are changed with them." Indeed all the 53 are not quite hopeless, for even Mr. E. BALL himself declared "we are all good Free traders now." A happy New Year, then, to our prosperous tutors ; who knows whether, before many years roll over us, the Lord CHANCELLOR, unless " fused" down to a common Law Judge, may not sit upon a bale of cotton instead of a wool sack. How cheery, too, does everything look which borders on their Free-trade Goshen ; our Exche quer never fuller, and that, too, despite the re peal since 1842, of eleven miljions of taxes ; our Customs and Excise all but as productive as ever, notwithstanding the immense remissions of duties ; our Imports and Exports increasing rapidly every year ; our .shipbuilders and merchants not only surviving the repeal of the Navigation Laws, but expressing their satisfaction with the change ; Jamaica, to be sure, sending home some melan choly strains. Only we have been so accustomed to them from our editorial boyhood, that we have hardly noticed them ; sending us, however, as Mr. DISRAELI assured us, much more Sugar also, which somewhat soothes us the consumers thereof ; then, employment is everywhere so much better than in the years of monopoly. Indeed, Free Trade only begins to quake, lest emigration, in connection with it, should make the labour-market too good for the labourer ; a fear which Mr. Ms- RAELI, somewhat too mirthfully, according to Mr. GLADSTONE, described as quite groundless. We think with the former, however, that population would soon overtake almost any demand. Money, again, is so abundant ; and not only did the predicted deluge not follow the retirement of Lord DERBY, but the symptoms continue rather of our being overwhelmed with money than of sinking with our failing credit. It is astonishing how little Consols have fluctuated with the changes of Cabinets, since those who deal in them have been assured that Free -trade principles must hereafter govern the English Exchequer, and since the country has become too enlightened to refuse any amount of taxation needful to pay the na tional creditor. Even the operatives are becom ing capitalists ; the town of Birmingham alone records, for 1851, an increase of more than a thousand depositors in its savings-banks, and an increase of more than 20,0001. in its deposits; the total of deposits in its banks amounting to 400,000/. ! Then as to foreign nations we con tinue, as her MAJESTY says, to receive assurances of amity and good-will from all For e i gn Powers. Mono poly duties abroad, too, ar e beginning evidently to quake. Europe must soon follow the example of England, or see its trade thriftless and stunted beside our all-prosperous and absorbing commerce. America has not only chosen its Free-trade Pre sident by an unheard-of majority, but even before the sound of FILLMORE'S Protectionist elegiacs had well died away, Congress was preparing to con sider, with a view to reduction, the Protectionist duties on imports. Everything betokens a vigor ous state of trade for another year. It were folly to prophesy, folly even to hope, that no overtrad ing, no ebbs as well as flows, will not soon occur ; yet one thing is clear, that never have we had such an abundance of money for so long a time; with so little tendency to merely spe culative or jobbing undertakings. We have not yet forgotten the railroad panic—possibly that may have a very beneficial influence ; but, whatever be the cause, the immensely increased business of the country is, it is universally agreed, carried on to supply an actual demand. Why, even the Crystal Palace is a Free-trade monument. It would never have come into existence under the old jealous system of restricted competition----of timid and selfish monopoly. It was the generous spirit of Manchester principles which invited all the world to come and see what we could do, and which asked the nations also to come and show us what they could do. The toiling artizan, if Ju daising bigotry will let him, will refresh and ele vate his wearied faculties amid the instructive beauties of Sydenham, and will be thankful tha Free Trade has provided him a palace more splendid than Royalty itself can boast, and at the same time the pecuniary means to pay for his ad- mission. And now our strictly rural friends, with equally hopeful expectations, we wish them also a happy New Year. They now begin a wholly new course; they now know the worst—every thought of pro tection, or compensation, or relief from unknown special burdens—all, all isgone. They will now put their hands to the plough without one dangerous glance backwards ; the work before them will be pushed with the vigour and sturdiness of English yeomen ; long leases, fair rents, increased produc tion, extirpated vermin (yclept game), taxation lightened from industry and increased on property, in such things will rest the hopes of the sons of THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1'862. the soil. They have weathered the worst already ; they are tasting with all of us the advantages of lighter shop bills, and of diminished poor-rates. Why should they, too, not look forward, and with good heart, to a happy New Year ? Yesterday we noticed the magnificent scheme set on foot for the construction of a Central Rail way Terminus in the heart of our metropolis. To-day we would direct the attention of the com munity to another and a kindred project of equal utility, if not of equal splendour. A Thames Railway! A railway traversing the noble river that almost bisects the capital of England—from London Bridge to the proposed new bridge - at Westminster. A Company, provisionally registered under the Act 7 and 8 VICT., cap. 110, has already been formed for the purpose of carrying out the enterprise. Its capital is fixed at 600,0001., in 30,000 shares of 201. each, with a deposit of 21. per share. It is even now furnished with Direc tors; Engineers, Solicitors, Parliamentary Agents, Bankers, Brokers, and a Secretary. It has teni porary offices at 18, Cannon-street. Its title is simply that of The London and Westminster Thames Railway : and we have now lying before us its first " Prospectus," illustrated by a plan of the course intended to be taken, as well as by a view of the design in section and in elevation. According to this document, the undertaking is to build not only a railway, but over the railway a commodious roadway —two miles and two chains in length—from London Bridge to the Bridge at Westminster. Both roadway and railway are to be supported on cast iron columns and wrought-iron girders —a hint taken, doubtless, from the framework of the Palace of the Exhibition. Such positions and such levels are to be adopted, as will admit of free access, at all times of the tide, to the various wharves along the Thames--the line taken through out being along the side of Middlesex. As yet it would seem that nothing has been definitively settled as to whether the power of traction will be stationary or locomotive—a question to be submitted to the consideration of the Committee on the Bill when it is laid upon the tables of the Legislature. As to the rate of travelling, passengers are to be conveyed by this railway in six minutes from London Bridge to Westminster—instead of, as at present, twenty minutes or half-an-hour by steamboats dependent upon the fluctuations of the tide, or a still longer period by omnibuses liable to stoppage and some times to a dead-lock, by way of pleasant interrup tion. Between intermediate stations the lapse of time will, of course, be still less, but six minutes will carry the passenger from Lon don Bridge to Westminster. As to the cost of this rapid travelling —it is proposed that it shall be a penny for third class, twopence for second class, and threepence for first class, making an average of three-halfpence per passenger. Surely a magnificent enterprise —an enter prise which we have justly called a com panion one to that of the Central Railway Terminus--and oue which, combined with the long-talked-of embankments on the Surrey side (if not also on the Middlesex side of the Thames) would tend not less to increase the convenience than to enhance the beauty of the capital of Great Britain. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEc. 30. Those who dined with her Majesty yesterday were her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen, her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, and the Baroness de Speth, and Sir James Clark. Her Majesty's private band attended in the Castle in the evening, and played the following compositions : Overture, "Lestocq" Auber. Finale, 3d act, " Le Pre aux Clercs" Herold. Introduction, " Le Prophets" Meyerbeer. Air de Ballet, &c., Scene et Chceur "L'Enfant Prodigue" Auber. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Leiningen, went out shooting this morn ing, attended by Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Colonel the Hon. Chafles Grey, nfl Colonel ,Bouverie. The followThg noblemen arrived from town to-day, and had audiences of her Majesty : The Marquis of Exeter, on resigning the office of Lord Chamberlain. Viscount Newport, on resigning the office of Vice. Chamberlain. The Earl of Sandwich, on resigning the office of Cap taro of the Gentlemen-at-firms, Lord Colville, on resigning the office of Clerk Marshal. Lord E. Bruce, on being appointed Vice-Chamberlain. Lord Drumlanrig, on being appointed Comptroller of the Household. Lord Foley, on being appointed Captain of the Gen tlemen-at-Arms. Viscount Sydney, on being appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard. Lieutenant-Colonel Grant, to deliver up the Stick of office of Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, in the absence of Lord de Ros. Lord John Russell, th 9 Queen's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, held a diplomatic levee at one o'clock yesterday afternoon, at the Foreign-office, Downing-street, for the reception of the representatives of Foreign Powers. The following Ministers were pre sent :—M. Van de Weyel-, the Belgian Minister ; Baron de Cetto, the Bavarian Minister ; Baron de Brunnow, the Russian Minister ; Count de Kielmansegge, the Hanoverian Minister ; the Chevalier Bunsen, Prussian Minister ; Baron de Rehansen, the Swedish and Nor wegian Minister ; Senor Isturiz, the Spanish Minister ; M. Tricoupi, the Greek Minister ; M. Musurus, the Turkish Minister ; Baron Bentinck, the Netherlands Minister ; Count de Lavrtdio, the Portuguese Minister ; M. de Bille, the Danish Minister ; Count Colloredo, the Austrian Minister; Mr. Ingersoll, the American Mi nister. The following charges d'affaires also attended the re ception :—Colonel Facio, the Mexican charge d'affaires; the Marquis Oldoini, Sardinian charge d'affaires ; and the French charge d'affaires. Their Excellencies attended in full official costume. His Excellency Prince de Carini, the Neapolitan Mi nister, was prevented attending the levee by the bap tism of his daughter having been appointed to take place at the same time. The christening of the daughter of the Prince and Princess de Carini was solemnised at the embassy in Park-lane, by Cardinal Wiseman. The infant was named Maria Concezione. The sponsors were, Commre. de Martino and the Countess de Lavradio (proxy for the Countess de Lostanges), There were present at the ceremony, the Austrian Minister and the Countess Col loredo, the Danish Minister and Madame de Bile, the Portuguese Minister and Countess Lavradio, the Bra zilian Minister and Madame and Mademoiselle de Ma,- cedo, M. Minasi, consul-general. for Naples ; the Mar quis Oldoini, and several of the gentlemen attached to different foreign legations. After the ceremony the company partook of a dejeuner. The following Ministers were present at the Earl of Aberdeen's dinner party on Wednesday :—The Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Rus• sell, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Pal merston, the Duke if Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir W. Molesworth. Sir James Graham left town yesterday for Netherby. Lord and Lady John Russell had a dinner party y es . terday at their residence in Chesham-place. HER MAJESTY.--We have reason to believe that an event may be expected in the early part of April next which will add a rew member to the Royal family. We understand Ouseley Higgins, M.P., ha been offered an appointment in the Queen's household. Mr. Peel has appointed as his private secretary Mr. Higgins, of the Colonial-office. This gentleman, who is the son-in-law of Sir Frederic Thesiger, has filled this appointment under the several Under Secretaries of State for the Colonial Department since January, 1848. THE FRENCH EMBASSY.—During the temporary ab sence of his Excellency, the Ambassador of France, his official duties have devolved on M. Charles Baudin, first secretary of the Embassy, in the character of Charge d'Affaires. DEATH OF THE REV. NEVILLE ROLFE.—We have to record the unexpected demise of this gentleman, a close relation to the Lord Chancellor Cranworth. He died suddenly on Christmas-day, at Heacham, Norfolk, of which he was Vicar, aged 63. INCORPORATION OF BRIGHTON.—The people of this town have been endeavouring for some time back to have a charter of incorporation granted to them, but they have failed. On Monday a message was received in the town to the effect, that her Majesty had refused to make any such grant. RUMOURED CATASTROPHE.—It was rumoured in Glas gow yesterday, with what truth we know not, that the heavy swell on the west coast, in consequence of the gale of Sunday, had forced in the gates of one of the docks at Troon; by which the lives of eight persons were sacrificed.—Nora British, Daily Mail. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS- 7 (THIS DAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. Mr. BLAND took the oaths and his seat for King's County. On the motion of Mr. HAYTER, it was ordered that the house, at its rising, adjourn until Thursday, the 10th of February. . New writs were also ordered to be issued for the county of Haddington, in the room of Mr. Char teris, appointed a Lord of the Treasury ; for Lichfield, in the room of Lord Alfred Paget, appointed Clerk Mar shal to her Majesty. Mr. OLIVEIRA gave notice, that after the recess he should move a resolution, that the duties on foreign wines be reduced to one shilling on the imperial gallon. Mr. BUTT gave notice that after the recess he should move for leave to bring in a bill for re gulating the mode of granting new trials in criminal cases. Mr. BLACKIE gave notice that, after the recess he should ask her Majesty's Government whether it was their intention to bring in any measure founded on the recommendation of the Commissioners for enquiring into the University of Oxford. Mr. KEATING gave notice that after the recess he should ask whether it was the intention of the Govern ment to introduce any measures obtaining uniformity in acts of Parliament for the arrangement and consoli dation of the existing statute law. The House then adjourned until Thursday, the 10th of February next. .RAMSGATE HARBOUR. As the case of Ramsgate harbour will most likely be prominently brought before the public view during the present Session of Parliament, and all its faults exposed, we trust that its merits (however partial they may ap pear to some people) will not be passed over entirely unnoticed. We would merely ask any one interested in ship ping to see it at the present moment, with its basin filled with vessels of all sizes and all nations, and the outer harbour affording shelter to many others, and then say whether this noble harbour ought to be allowed to go to ruin, or be rendered useless, as there is every probability of its being reduced to this state, if the proposed mea sure of entirely abolishing the passing toll be carried through Parliament? Has Government so little to do that it is anxious to take the harbour under its own protection ? or has it not had quite enough experience in constructing dockyard; harbours, and breakwaters of its own ? Surely, quite as good or as bad a case might be made out against Dover harbour, which, notwithstanding the immense sums already laid out and now annually ex pended on it, is very often during a south-westerly gale such as we have lately experienced (and to all appear ances are likely to experience again before long) unap proachable even by its own mail-packets—an instance of which occurred on Monday last, when the French and Belgian mail-steamers were both obliged to run for Ramsgate, not being able to enter Dover harbour. The English mail-boat of that day is understood to have landed her mails and passengers at Margate. It rarely happens that any of our English boats come into Ramsgate ; the captains being mostly, if not all, Dover men, seem to prefer the risk of landing their mails and passengers either in open boats on Deal beach, or else, passing by Ramsgate, run on to Margate ; thereby giving those who are consigned to their care the benefit of at least an extra hour at sea in a gale of wind, or the chance of being swamped off Deal ; and most likely this state of things will last till some accident of this kind happens to the mail-bags, or, it may be, to an unfortunate passenger. One advantage might perhaps result to the town if the harbour were to fall into the _hands of Government' Its utterly defenceless state is well known most likely to foes as well as to friends. It has been visited lately by three or four French war-steamers. What they came for nobody knew ; it was reported that they came to look after the French fishing-boats, but the herring fishery has been over some time. One thing is quite certain, that they employed their s p are ti me i n t a ki ng soundings of the approaches to the harbour, &c. Now if, instead of spending money in raising a useless militia, batteries were placed on different parts of the coast, some real security would be granted to the coun try at large, and especially to this part, which, with all due respect to the principles of free ,trade, is really in want of protection of this description. It would be hazardous to trust volunteers with great guns, and as we supply the navy with men and boys to a considerable extent, the country might grant us a few artillerymen in exchange. We have nearly 300 sail of vessels in the harbour at the present time.—From, a Correspondent. AUSTRALIAN MAILS AND POSTAGE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —Would not a reduction to threepence (if pre paid, sixpence if not pre-paid) increase the number of letters to Australia more than fourfold, and thereby in grease the revenue, besides conducing to the interests of trade, and inducing many emigrants to keep up a eon stant and regular correspondence with their families, in stead of their letters being, as at present, "Like angels' visits, few and far between ?"—I am, Sir, yours respect fully, AN EMIGRANT'S FATHER. Strand, Dec. 30, 1852. THE ORLEANS FAMILY.—No right-minded or right hearted Englishman or Englishwoman will hear, with out a mixture of indignation and regret, that the collec tion of pictures made by the late Duke of Orleans, with a view to the encouragement of French art, is to be sold by auction for the benefit of his widow on the 18th inst. in this metropolis. The amiable, excellent, and univer sally respected Duchess, to whom they were bequeathed, is understood to have been driven to this step by con siderations of prudence. The collection consists exclu sively of pictures of the modern French school. Amongst the most remarkable are, "The Francesa di Rimini," and " The Christus Consolator of Scheffer ;" "The Death of the Due de Guise," by Delaroche ; "The cEdipus," and the " Stratonica of Ingres," &c. CASUALTY AT SEA.—lntelligence was received at the Liverpool Underwriters' Room yesterday, t announcing the total loss, in the late gales, of the barque Lily, which sailed on the 23d inst. from Liverpool for Africa. It appears, from what we could learn, that she went ashore at night between the Calf and the Isle of Man, when the captain and crew (with the exception of five), got safely to shore. In the morning the people from the shore, with that portion of the crew who were saved (in cluding the captain), boarded the vessel, and were on board about an hour, when she blew up, destroying every person who happened to be in her at the time. We have not heard how many lives have been sacrificed, but it is feared that the number is considerable. SEVERE STORMS IN NORTH WALES.—The violent gales which have been so prevalent in most parts of the king dom have been severely felt in many parts of North Wales. In the neighbourhoods of Ruthin and Denbigh the country is one mass of water, the high winds being accompanied by heavy and almost incessant rains. The beautiful vale of Clwyd is so completely inundated as to resemble a large lake ; and in the vicinity of Holywell the depth of water is such that not only boats but large vessels might sail upon its surface. A most terrific gale has been experienced at Carnarvon. The force of the tide was such that the massive wall which forms the quay was forced' down in five places, huge stones being scat tered in all directions, and the spray dashing furiously up to the walls of the ancient castle. Many houses were partially unroofed, and windows in some instances were blown in. The landing-stage of the pier was detached from its position, and now floats like a raft on the Menai. A vessel of 900 tons' burden, the Onward, bound from Liverpool for New Orleans, in ballast, has been driven ashore off the bar, her sails being blown to atoms. On Tuesday the weather had somewhat moderated, but to day (Wednesday) it is blowing strongly, accompanied by heavy rain, SANGUINARY RIOT IN DERRY.--A serious riot, attended with bloodshed, occurred on Christmas-day last, at Cas tledawson, in the county of Londonderry. According to the custom of the district on this anniversary, a number of young men assembled to shoot a mark for cer tain prizes. For some time the amusement proceeded happily enough, but as the day progressed and the com petitors refreshed themselves with whiskey, disputes arose, which appeared to have caused no ill-feeling be tween them, and they separated. However, about seven o'clock in the evening a quarrel ensued between the Catholics and Protestants, and shots were freely ex changed. The result was that five persons were seriously wounded. Their names are Mary Brown, shot through the lungs ; Thomas Murray, leg fractured ; Catherine Spear, a ball in the body ; William O'Hara and Marga ret Beckas, slightly wounded. Several others were more or less injured by the stones and other missiles dis charged during the fight. The police stopped a party of upwards of 50 armed men, who were coming into the town to aid thei r s id e . Three of the leaders were ar rested. On Monday an investigation was held before Robert Peel Dawson, Esq., and four other magistrates of the district. The persons who fired the shots are not yet known, as the combatants have refused to give any information to the authorities. ADVANCE IN THE PRICE OF IRON.—Yesterday after nooon the usual preliminary meeting of iron-masters of South Staffordshire, and the neighbouring counties, was held at the Swan Hotel, in this town, for the purpose of considering the present condition of the trade, and fix ing prices for the ensuing quarter. The meeting was most numerously attended ; indeed, a larger meeting of masters for a similar purpose has not been held since 1845. Every house of note in the district was repre sented, and amongst those present we noticed Messrs. Barrows, Forster, Haines, B. Williams, W. Williams, Browning, Matthews, Smith, Sparrow, &c. M. Glaze brook, Esq., chairman, presided. The subject of prices, and propriety of advancing was introduced, and a dis cussion ensued, which resulted in a unanimous resolu tion to advance 20s. per ton upon present prices. It was also agreed to advance the workmen's wages in pro portion to the increase of price on iron. THE LAUDER MURDER.—Williams, who is at present in Greenlaw Gaol, charged with the murder near Lauder, was discovered attempting suicide on the evening of Saturday last. He had his towel, handkerchief, and neckerchief all tied together, and the end fastened to the bars of his cell window, which is some height from the ground, when his operations were discovered from without. Some of the other prisoners have since then been confined with him ; and latterly it has been found • advisable to keep him constantly in fetters, except when exeroising.—Scotiman. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. • CITY, Two o'Cnocx. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 4;000 bales, of which 300 American were taken on speculation. The market closed heavily with prices of all kinds, a shade in favour of the buyer. The sales comprised 3,000 American, 390 Pernam and Maranham at 6/d. to 'ad., 50 Bahia at 61d. to Cid., 200 Egyptian at 60. to 6id., and 700 Surat at 3,1 d. to 4d. per lb. Railway Shares were flat. Privately there has been business done in many staples this week, at very full prices. Of Sugar the quantity consumed this year shows a great in crease. ,Prices are expected to open firmly in January. Native Ceylon Coffee has been brisk at 475. for good ordinary. Tallow has been dull and Cotton steady. In Hemp, Oils, and Tea there is not much doing. The year that this evening closes has been one of almost unexampled commercial prosperity. Mer cantile transactions have been conducted upon a profitable basis. Money has been plentiful ; cre dits have been remarkably short. The artizan has received better wages ; and the necessaries of life, while they have paid the producer or importer, have been, notwithstanding, obtainable at com paratively low rates by the consumer. Such has been commerce generally during the year 1852. The New Year will open with even brighter prospects, owing to the last news from the land of gold—a land included in the British Colonial Em pire, concerning whose future destiny, in a commer cial sense, it would be speculative to make any cal culation, and whose political future it would be hazardous to predict. To the mother country the consequences are obvious. A surplus population that has hitherto been ill-requited for its toil, launched into fields of wealth, the description of which, but for evidence that has put a veto upon doubt, would have found a congenial place in fabled story. The end of the emigration that is daily increasing is to transmute the idle into the indus trious, the dependent consumer of others' earnings into the independent enjoyer of his own. In other words, the labour market is relieved, and the de mand for the productions of the artisan increased. The effect, consequently, is twofold on our hives of industry. Gold, of itself, neither feeds nor clothes, but it can at all times command the necessaries of life. Two millions of the precious metal were shipped in a few days from the Australian ports. A very insignificant proportion of this enormous export was drawn against. It is to be inferred that the bulk is sent here to cover orders for provisions and manufactures to be shipped to these possessions. It will not come here to be warehoused. If people send gold, it is because they require something returned —not to have it invested here permanently. The disposition of an agricultural people is to obtain a status by laying out their surplus moneys in lands. The old country offers no inducement for such pur chases. The attention of the colonists is, there fore, turned to their adopted country. It is to be perceived that this movement is not only by rapid strides producing an equilibrium of the labour mar kets of England and her southern territories, but also equalising the values of their respective lands. The opinion of those who, trom their experience and disinterested position, are able to give an un biassed judgment, is, that purchases on English account of Australian lands are still likely to attract a large amount of attention, although some lands have already advanced 1,000 per cent. in value. We refer not so much to the Gold Companies proper, they being purely corporations of mining adventurers, subject to all the freaks and vi cissitudes that characterise every mineral specu lation. These undertakings, as a whole, will no doubt amply repay the spirit with which they have been set on foot ; but we allude specially to those simple associations that have purchased lands to wait the effect of the enhanced gold value upon such properties. Such companies as the Australian Agricultural, the South Australian Land, and the Australian and the Australian Consols, whose lands are in the auriferous districts, will derive large in comes from their gold royalties, and not small ones from their agricultural leases, since it is quite clear that all farming produce will find their most remu nerative markets where the easy gold getters are located. It is reported that the Adelaide. steamer will not be able to get away to-morrow, but no notice to this effect has been given at the Post-office. The English Stocks are rather heavy again, but with very little doing ; Consols are at 100# to The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been marked 1041 to , and the Three per Cents. 101/ to 1. Bank Stock is worth 2231 to 2241. Exchequer Bills of March have been quoted 695. to 725. premium. The Foreign Securities ; have been rather brisker. Mexican are worth, however, only 23i to #. Grenada Deferred are up to 13* Equador Stock is at si. Peruvian Deferred have been at 65, being steady. Portuguese 4 per Cents. are up to 40 and 41, because of the proximate payment of the dividend. Spanish Certificates are at 4/ and very firm. Sardinian Bonds have been at 95i to Russian 5 per Cents. keep firm at 1211. Dutch 21 per Cents. bring 68/. The Railway Share Market is firmer, but with limited dealings. Gold Mine Shares are at full rates, but the Land Companies of Australia are not generally in de mand. The Banks look up. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business cone Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced A nnu iti es lOll New 34 per Cent. Annuities 1046 Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860..... 6g Consols for Opening 18th January Exchequer Bills 1 Ad. March. June, £lO00. £5OO 69 72 Small 69 72 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 73 Equador Bonds N Grenada Bonds, Deterred, Mexican 3 per Cent Ditto for the Account 23 i Peruvian 6 per Cent. Ditto for the Account Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent Portuguese 4 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto for the Account Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent................... Ditto for the Account 9si Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 514 Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup not fun, 44 p Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 1 Oil 1 p Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates... THREE O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 18th January 1003 gex d. 104 65 4 4i 41 40) ..... 121 UNDER SECRETARY FOR IRELAND.—SORIe very ani mated discussions have already taken place respecting the appointment of an Tinder Secretary for Ireland. One section of the Cabinet insist on the appointment of Mr. Anthony O'Flaherty, the member for Galway, to the office. Another section are equally resolute in their as sertion of the superior claims of Sir Thomas Redington, the former Under Secretary under the Whig Adminis tration ; while a third section of the Cabinet are opposed to the appointment of either gentleman. It is thought probable that the result will be that a third party, not yet named, will be the happy man.—Morning Advertiser. DEPARTURE OF THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND. —The Dublin papers of yesterday, contain the official announcement of the departure of the Lord Lieutenant and Countess of Eglinton on Tuesday next, when an undress levee will be held at Dublin Castle. Few chief governors have left Ireland more sincerely regretted than Lord Eglinton. He has discharged the functions of his high office with singular impartiality and discre tion, and by no section of Irish people will his removal be more felt than by those who disapprove of the policy of his Excellency's political friends and associates. FIRES YESTERDAY.—A great loss of property was oc casioned on the premises of Messrs. Green and Co., clothiers, 13, Bevis Marks, St. Mary Axe, through the outbreak of two fires in their warehouses in eight hours. The first alarm took place about a quarter past twelve in the morning, in the cutting rooms. Two powerful engines soon subdued the flames. The stock of the rooms, as also the staircase, was, however, damaged. At the hour of eight the contents of the third floor had ignited, but the firemen left on duty on the premises from the previous alarm soon extinguished the latter. The property destroyed is insured in the Sun Fire-office. SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY FlRE.—Yesterday a fire broke out at 10, Wellington-street, Pimlico, by which three young persons were seriously injured. The sufferers were William Street, aged 17, and his sisters, aged re spectively four and six. Their parents had a few days before received some fancy fowls, for which the young man was preparing a coop, the roof of which he pro posed to cover with gas tar. Yesterday he was heating a quantity of this material over the kitchen fire, when the liquid became ignited and blazed up with great fury. In order to prevent, if possible, the premises from taking fire, the lad laid hold of the vessel containing the tar, and was in the act of carrying it into the yard, when the inflamed liquid ran over the children and over the lad, setting the three in flames, and also igniting the furni ture in the basement and stair's. Had it not been for the prompt attendance of the neighbours the whole building must have been levelled with the ground, and several other persons seriously if not fatally injured. When the fire had been extinguished the three sufferers were found quite blackened with the flames, and with the flesh burned off here and there in patches. FATAL APPLICATION OF CHLOROFORM.—A poor fellow named Henry Hollingworth, a factory operative from Newton-moor, near Hyde, has fallen a victim at the Manchester Royal Infirmary to the use of chloroform, administered to nullify the pain consequent upon a serious operation. No blame was attached to the medical men present (most of whom are very eminent in their profession), and the jury returned a verdict of " Died from the effects of chloroform." AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANY. Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of til l ! shareholders of this company was held at the L ondon Tavern, to receive the director's report on the result of Captain Hit c hi ns ' s i ns pection o f th e company ' s properts; in Australia, and to take upon it all advisable measurellf Mr. R. F. Davis in the chair. The SECRETARY read the report, which stated thata t the general meeting held in July last the directors D'ir t pledged themselves that when in receipt of the r eport Captain Hitchins (a gentleman sent specially to the °e" bony to report upon the condition of the company's Pr a i perty) they would convene an extraordinary-meeting °f shareholders to impart to th em the result. I n con formity with that pledge the present meeting was called. As gards the past management of the company's propl business had been ca rr i e d on i n a mos t ex t ravagan t an injudicious manner, but measures have been taken t° arrest all unnecesssary outlay. The Tunkillo DSln e had not been properly tried, but their existed go,' grounds to anti c ip a t e f rom it a most pro fitable return so soon as the labour market should b e more efficient. The direct ors were i n t r eaty M . the leasing of other mines w hi c h th e y cons idered as profitable investments. Mr. Hitchins had surveyed the estates of the company, and report them as excellently suited for dairy farms. Since 1 1 had arisen, from Australia a new s t a t e o f things 'l' arisen, for gold had been found so near the comPTV: i property as to induce the expectation that it e xist° there. It already had the effect of checking the raigr a „; tion of the miners from the com p any ' s wor k s t o the goid fields of Sydney and Melbourne, and several of them had agreed with the company's manager (Mr. Forster)/ upon the conclusion of their engagement as cenPf miners, to commence a search f or go ld. Sh ou ld they be successful, and find the gold mixed, as in California" with quartz rock, the company, from having stainP i i l l machinery at Tunkillo, a 16-i nc h s t eam - eng i ne , an" a crushing machine, with a larg e s t ore o f i mp l em ents in store at Adelaide—machinery w hi c h cou ld no t, in tha t present state of the market, b e o bt a i ne d w i t h ou t a v as outlay—would be in a position more favourable than that of any other in the col on y. Th e report con clude d with the statement, that in the opinion of the directorsthe time had now come to in cor p ora t e th e company " Royal charter. The Chairman stated that to himself an d brothe l ; directors it was most satisfactory to present a reP, ° . r d like that which had just bee n rea d, diff er i ng a s it rf, from the unfavourable ones whi c h hith er t o t h ey ha°, -,, submit to the proprietors, and th a t th ey f urt h er satisfaction in the reflection th a t s i nce th ey h a d had '- honour of having the charge o f th e company's affei,ri, they had presented no repo r t w hi c h h a d not b een fu borne out by after - events. They had taken the 1 11 ° ° active measures to stop all unnecessary expen diture' They had stated that th e y wou ld sen d out an a ctive and intelligent gentleman to inspect their propert , await his report, and then ca ll th e s h are h o ld ers tog e; ther. The result was now before them. He regrett ed that the copper-works were suspended, from the cir: cumstances they had heard mentioned, but he COilla assure them that their property had been materially improved by the discovery of gold in its neighbour" hood. That discovery was not yet completely dove' loped, on account of the severity of the winter; by reason of the heavy fall of rain in South Austa'n°, it was impossible to sink pit s th ere , so t h at in ibic' operations were as yet confined to the !surfac e ' With respect to the machinery, its purchase had been censured as extravagant, but by a won d er f u l change It was become a most valuable possession, for with it they would be able to crush 15 tons of ore p er di e m. i i. had received specimens of copper ore identical in quality with that of the Bur r a-B urra Mi ne ; b u t i n stating IL': he did not wish to l ea d th em t o thi n k t h at the / Wer e going to work their copper mines—such could n ot be until labourers became more plentiful; at present, wh en a day labourer received 15s. or 11. per diem, it was L ur possible. With respect to the propriety of reducnis,. the shares from 201. to some other amount, it was, his opinion, a question to be considered in connection with the disposition of the Government to grant . : charter to the company. So s oon as th e di rectors Ww:„ made aware of the exact terms on which the chartw would be granted, they would take whatever steps 046 could to gratify the shareholders. (Cheers.) Mr. ANDERTON inquired into the state of the col' pang's finances. The CHAIRMAN stated that there was ne want o f money, and that there existed a most friendly confidenc e in the directors on the part of the holders of the loa n ' notes out. Mr. ANDERTON, expressing himself highly pleased an d gratified, moved that the re p or t b e rece i ve d , adopteus printed and circulated. _ _ M. ASHWELL seconded the motion, and in doing, so dwelt much upon the advantages of the location and capabilities of the River Murray as a channel fo r commerce. Mr. BRANDT entered into some details showing the increased value of the land at Adelaide. ~ A SHAREHOLDER und ers t oo d from Captain Hitching report that iron of good quality existed upon their Pr? perty, and seeing th a t it h a d r i sen i n th e mar k et from 1 per ton to nearly double that sum, he wished to know the company would work it. The CHAIRMAN stated that iron was best worked IT private enterprise, and therefore he would not advise the company to do so ; but he felt assured that as soon a th y could get labou rers , i n di v id ua l s wou ld b e f o und r. ANDERTON s ugges t e d th e propr i ety o f i mpor ting r4 m dy to le ase th e p ro p er t y f or t h em. Chinese coolies. The CHAIRMAN explained that under existing arrang e ' ments all monies for the purpose of providing laboured had to be sent to this country, but that the colonw legislatures would soon act in the manner suggested by Mr. Anderton. Distinct votes of thanks were then passed to Capta ill , Hitchins, Mr. Forster, and Mr. It. Devonport, a mesa ber of the Coloni a l L eg i s l a t ure, w h o h as exerted hirase most actively to forward the interests of the company. A SHAREHOLDER here stated that a million of mope) / was at present hoarded at Sydney and Melbourne ff, r , the purchase of land a t Ad e l a id e , so th at t h e l an d o f the company was likely to be a most profitable property. The proceedings terminated with the usual complimen t 6 to the chairman and directors. THE CANA_DA COMPANY. The half-yearly general meeting of the Canada CO''ll pany took place yesterday, at the offices of the compali.,_Y: St Helen's-place ; Mr. Charles F ran k s , governor, in to' chair. The CHAIRMAN stated that the object of the meeting was to declare a dividend. At that period of the yef, it was impossible th a t th e i r annua l accounts cou ld made up ; but he would give the proprietors a stat e ; ment of their affairs up t o th e 10th o f t h e present, month. The lands sold an d l ease d up t o th e 1 0th e t .l December, 1852, w er e as f o ll ows : —S o ld 22 ,430 acres , a: an average of 14s. 2d. per acre ; l ease d 55 , 356 acres, 16' on average of 19s. 2d. Total, 77,786 acres, at an air rage of 17s. 9d. The receipts in Canada up to the 10th of December, 1852, were 51,9461. 9s. 3d. The following was a comparative st a t emen t o fl an d s l ease d an d t oner' freehold from I s t J anuary t o 30th November. e 1852 there were 17,082 acres, amounting to 11,497/.....; 11 ! 1851 there were 10,517 acres , amoun ti ng to 7 ,16 1 . increase in acres was 6,565, and in money, 4,336/. Tt e leases expiring in 1853 w ere , acres , 50,083, w i t h a rign" , of pre-emption valuing at 25,607. The balance upon hand now was 8,408; and there was, moreover, 5,000/- due upon loans. Th e c h a i rman congratulated the pr o. prietors upon the prosperous condition of the company and announced to them that th e di rec t ors h a d secu re' the services of Mr. Robinson as their agent in the place of Mr. Jones, who retired. Mr. Robinson had been for 20 years a member of the Legislative Assembly, and Wa s a most desirable acquisition to the company. A dividend of 6 per cent. upon the half-year amount ing to 321. 10s. per share, clear of income tax, was thea announced, and the meeting terminated. DEAD BODY FOUND IN REGENT'S-PARK.—Yesterclal, morning the body of a man respectably attired w as foun d in the ornamental water, Regent's-park, and was CO'' veyed to the dead-house, Marylebone Workhouse, whe re it now remains awaiting the coroner's inquest. His ag e is apparently about 45 years, and is five feet six ine_ in height. The dress i n w hi c h h e was f oun d i s a blael` Oxonian coat, black vest, and tweed trousers, and he has a plaister on the right cheek. A razor was found in the coat pocket, but there was nothing found on the body bi which it could be ascertained who the deceased person was. PROCLAMATION OF OUTLAWRY. —At the Sheriff's Court yesterday, the following persons were called upon to surrender under penalty of outlawry :—Charles ?re' derick Augustus William Guelph and Charles Cassimer Reinhold, at the suit of the Queen ; Samuel Lucas Lan. caster ; C. B. Reynolds ; John Edwin Spalding ; George Broderick Hartwell ; Edward John Upton, and Susan his wife ; Henry Dundas C.mpbell ; Henry H. Griffin; and Porter Brown Francois Charles Gillies. GREAT LANDSLIP ON THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.-' Dec. 29.—A most tremendous fall of cliff took place yes' terday on this line between . Dawlish and T e i gnmou th. On the formatio n o f the line it was found necessary to cut a tunnel through the rocks kno wn as " The F a r son and Clerk." A portion of L angs t one c liff w ail thus cut off, and its base being undermined bY the action of the water, great fears were enter' tained for its safety. The recent heavy rain and hur" ricanes increased the danger, and men were s t a ti on ed at various points to give notice immediately anything 00 curred. The necessity of the adoption of such a c ourse was first experienced on Sunday, when a portion of the cliff fell down near Holcombe tunnel. The B'2 a•r f !' k down train had just left th e D aw li s h station w h en 1t occurred, but by the promptness with which the mail on the look-out gav e . no ti ce o f t h e acc i dent it was stopl or in time, or there would have been a fearful crash. large body of me n was soon o b ta i ned, and the line vn in cleared time for the 121 up train. Yesterday ra°_, ( l/1- ing, however, there w a s a t err ifi c f a ll o f c liff ; at a b ou t ham" past 1 o'clock several tons of Langstone-cliff fell with s' tremendous crash, covering the line for some distanc e ' and renderi ng a ll traffic impossible. Th e p assen gers , all the trains were obliged to be conveyed from DavOl s ci to Teignmouth, and vice versa, in cabs, omnibuses, as every other description of vehicle which the compact could obtain. The telegraphic wires were also broke° , and all communication with the stations below was thus: , for th e ti me , p reven t e d. L arge gangs of men were speedily put to work to cl ear th e li ne o f t h e debri Mr. Brunel, the engineer, with several of the director!:, went to the spot and superintended th e remova l of th e fallen mass. Fortunat e ly, no lif e was l ost, nor h a ve W a heard of a single accident t o th e p erson. I t is supeen that the storm on Sunday night hastened the demi:Alt ° ,of the cliff, as it visited this neighbourhood with grld severity, stones weighing half a cwt. each being 0 111 up into Teignmouth by the force of the wayee. it% FR] Qat • rte says tl Was retard J l :3 result, tluenee yes ) nainess wil tmperor w ',,the re reset : 1 , _Opera. H ' nalf-past ei 'rations. On audeville. ' r ing the stay ~4 1 , which foi 48 5 was sp] • upon the 1 4 bi the de 4 1 t) the Min " 14 0 win tele It er . al of the 1 a, 27th De , 8 and in sou piegne the I upon his life, ?ea killed of announce hued to his ,Excellency ‘;er to the ( from Loud( A e Moniteur r: ,Ys the c( 4 01 d. Thi ror in 181: of comparii the order besides 1 of the of the ; the gra berlain, an had a nt The session esday. at ,,, lltia4r i l y ti G o ici n az i e o ° t i ~they con ...to rs of 4 " 4 ilited gc t tra bi az tilitiareelonf b .,„q of Gre