The Sun. — London, England, 1867-12-28 00:00:00

On New Year's Day, the New Series, prico Threepence, of CIIO E S FROM THE CLUBS! 1 --A A Wednesday Record of Political Topics, Fashion— able Life, and Social Ame nities. Free by post, four stamps. Officea: 19, Catherine-street, Strand, London; Sold at all Booksellers', Libraries, and Railway Stations. On N,w Year's Day, THE FATAL Faz ! a Sensation Novel in Six Parts by Six " Parties" for Sixpence, or free by post for Eight Stamps. Offloes - 19, Catherine-street, Strand, London. Sold at all Booksellers', Libraries, and Railway Stations. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. . lest M,:ruing Performance of the Pantomime on Saturday, Dec. 23, and every Wednesday and Satur day until Feb. 15. Children and schools admitted at reduced prices to the following parts of the Theatre: — Stalls, dress circle, and first circle, for Morning Per formance only.—THIS EVENING (Saturday), Dec. 28, and ever: , evening until further notice, will be per formed a new ~ n d original Faro-, by E. Reece, Esq., en itled HON EYDOVE'S TROUBLES. Characters by ilifessrs. Joe ph keying, 0. Warner, J. Morris ; Mes lames Kate ilarfleur and E. Melville. After which will be performed the Drury Lane annual grand Christmas Pantomime, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq., entitled .-j'AW FEE FO FUM ; or, Harlequin Jack the . Giant Killer. The gorgeously beautiful scenery by Mr. William Beverley. The characters in the opening: Miss Poole, Mesdames Edith Stuart, Kate Harfleur, E. Mel ville, Carew, Blair, Cord, Amy Herbert, Hall, and Mdlle. Anais Tourneur, premiere danseuse ; Mr. Joseph Irving (his first appearance this season), Messrs. Moreland, J. B. Johnstone, Naylor, Pennington, Mitcheson ; Master Edward Lewis, Master Frederick Charles, and Master Russel!, the living Miniatures ; Master Percy Roselle. The Harlequinade iucludes the services of those popu lar pantornimists (forming a treble company), Messrs. Boleno, C. Lauri, and Torn Dot, clowns ; Messrs. Barnes, Morris, cud Master Russel, pantaloons; Cormack, S. Saville, and Algar, harlequins; Messrs. Sidney and Jelina, sprites; Mdlles. Fanny Laud, Adele Marion, and Eugenie Valckenacre, columbines. The Juvenile Christy's Minstrels : Majilton the Gro tesque ; and the celebrated Skaters, Madame Fredreka and Mr. Elliott. Stage Manager, Mr. Edward Stirling. The masks, designs, and dresses, from designs by the humoronsly-renowned Dyk-Wyn-Kyn. The music selected awl arranged by Mr. J. 11. Tully. The dances and action of the Ballet, and the general business of the children's scones, arranged by Mr. John Cormack. Costumes by Mr. S. May and Mrs. Lawler. Private boxes, one, two, three, four, and five guineas ; stalls, is. ; dress circle, ss. ; first circle, 4s. ; balcony seats, 3s. ; pit 25.; lower gallery, Is. ; upper gallery, 6d. Box-office open from ten to five daily. Doors open at half-past six, the performance to commence at seven o'clock. THEAITRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. Sot fern, Raymond, Chippendale, Rogers, Gordon, Braid, Clark, Coe, ere. ; Mesdames Chippendale, Robertson, Dalton, Wright, Burke, 6:,c. After yhich, the New BURLESQUE; Messrs, Rogers, Clark, Braid, &e.: Mesdames Burke, Dalton, Wright, &c. To conclude with A KISS LN THE DARK. Mr. Clark, Mr Gordon, &c, Commence at Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, UP FOR THE CATTTLE SHOW. After which, at 8, NO THOROUGHFARE. Mr. Fechter (his first appearance here), Mr. Billington, Mr. H. Neville, Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. J. Smith, and Mr. Benjamin Webster; Miss Carlotta Leclercq (her first appearance), Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Lewis, itc. Commence at 7. OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. i;ew Management. . - - Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster ;'Manager, Mr. H. Wigan. THIS EVENING, FROM GRAVE TO GAY. Messrs. Ashley H. Wigan, Addison, and C. Mathews; Mesdames L. Moore and Stirling. To conclude with PETTICOAT PARLIAMENT. Messrs. R. Soutar and G. Vincent; Mesdames L. Moore, St. Henry, and E. Farren Commence at Seven. ROY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. THIS EVENING, Grand Combination of the Two Great Dramas, THE COLLEEN BAWN and THE STREETS OF LONDON. Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boncicault as Myles na Coppaleen and Eily O'Connor, and Mr. Vining as Badger. Messrs. Dominick Murray, J. G. Shore, G. F. Neville, H. For rester, H. Mellon, E. Atkins; Misses Elsworthy, E. Barnett, Rachel Sanger, and Mrs. Addle. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. QUEEN'S THEATRE, Long-acre. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, Shakspere's Comedy of KATHERINE AND PETRUCHIO. Mr. H. Irving, Mr. W. H. Stephens; Miss E. Terry. After which, DOING FOR THE BEST; Mr. J. L. Toole. To conclude with THE BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS ; Mr. J. L. Toole. Box-office open daily from Ten till Four. HOLBORN TIIEATItE ROYAL, . Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. -- THIS EVENING, at Seven, THE TWO POLTS Price and Widdicombe. After which, the Grand Comic Pantomime of VALENTINE AND ORSON; or, Harlequin the Big Bear and the Little Fairy. Mesdames Saunders, Goodall, White; Messrs. Garden, Odell Arthur: Mdlle. Montero, Mist Ellie, Lupino, Green, and the Great Little Eowella. Messrs ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at 7, KIND TO A FAULT. After which will be produced a Grand Christmas Operatic Oriental Extravaganza " THE CALIPH OF BAGDAD " Messrs. Thorne, James, Turner, Murray; Mesdames A. Swanborough, Johnstone, Harland, Holt, ewton, &e. To conclude with NOTHING TO NURSE. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN (j. B. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, . 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, that ho has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in addition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " THE Sus," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. G. R. G. be to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier than any other man in London or Country the evening of publi cation. No connection with any other persons. Bally's, Ruff's, Wright's, aid M'Call's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Maga zines, and Periodicals as Boon as published. Agent for the Joint- Stock Coal Company. Orders by post attended to. 14PORTING.—JOTIN ROBERTS suppl7e4 t . kJ LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN" as soon as pub:islw.! —4, Bath-strest, Oity-road, ri 111.'1 LATEST EDITION o "TIIL SU " supplied, as coon as published, every evening, by VT. ALEXA DER (late Erooks), ewspaper Agent, 4, Old Cave ndish resit. THE LATEST EDITION f "THE SIM supplied as coon f43rlfithille.l, Cv11 , 1:11;n 17.173 an , l SPORTING 1.NT.L.1..1.'0.. 1 ; :.y , THE LATEST EDITION of THE EUN." J. HOLIES begs to inform his friends, and the public generally, that ho supplies the I. :TEST EDITIO:: of "THE BUN' aa soon 21f3 1)11 blish3(l.—No. If. N.W. J 1 -If 11 141 "S 11 " E 11 7 SI'AI' E It 0.-. B. GLENIE delivers the LATE EDITrON nt Ch (.44; Kilburn. 8: Starch-green. 3. Woo;w:ch. 7.sn, irxi W,lforrt r;,lr, THE LATE F,DITION of " THE SUN" at W. SMITH'S, Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden town. GRATIS AND POST FREE. E MOSES and SON'S POCKET DIARY r 1868, ADAPTED for PERSONS of all CLASSES, IS NOW READY. 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Orders by Post punctually atialuded "11., \HE SUN" NEWSPAPEII—" The Mitre" Tavern, New Churetreet, near tho Alpha-read, Pad eington. "THE SUN " (Third Edition), containing the latest Sporting News, Results of Races, Latest raf iamentary Debates, ate., can be seen as above "All the year naiad." . 4 ,* A well-selected and eitensive Stool:. of WINES, SPIRITS, THE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. TIIIitl) EDITION of " TII I 2, SUN," •: .• -• • sraariNG:sEWS of the day, Inv bo seen toN'S house, "Tho :Ann Ind Bore Shoo," 32, 7,1.3 Er:tain, L;ity,E.O. lIIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAL —Morning, 3h. 25m. I Afternoon, 3h. 40m. To-Mouttoic.-lioruing, 36. 57m. I Afternoon, 46. 15m. - - ng p, y Min LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 28, 1867. Thanks to the Atlantic Cable and the frequent mails we are kept pretty well au courant with the course of American politics. 'Time was when the names of transatlantic statesmen, with very few exceptions, were absolutely strange to English readers, and when the very cognomens of the rival parties were almost unknown to them. Now, how ever, all is changed, and the great war which at one time threatened to produce an open rupture between the two Anglo-Saxon nations has at least had one beneficial effect. It has drawn England and America nearer together, and by familiarising each people with the daily life of the other, and increasing their mutual interest and knowledge, it has helped materially to remove and lessen those prejudices which had their origin in misapprehension and misunderstanding. It will henceforth be less easy for interested agitators to stir up antagonistic feelings, less easy to misrepre sent the words of diplomatists, the acts of states men, or the debates of legislators. Already these results have been in some degree attained. A week or two since, when Mr. CHANDLER made his ill advised and intemperate speech in the Senate, recom mending the fitting out of Abyssinian privateers, Mr. REVERDY JormsoN, one of the foremost men in the Senate and at the bar, rose in his place and declared that a war with England would be a great national misfortune. Lord STANLEY'S words last session in the English Parliament were not less emphatic, when he affirmed that those who, by tongue or pen, fostered misunderstandings between this country and the United States, wer the worst enemies of both. It is a great thing to have got rid of some longstanding prejudices and preconceived notions, which, for a generation or two, had stood in the way of a better feeling on both sides. For a much longer period a bitter hostility was maintained between England and France, but the rapid advance of education which familiarised each with the other's language, and consequently with the journals and commentaries of the day, and, still more, the faci lities for modern travelling, which brought French men into England and sent Englishmen into France, have altered all that. Steam has now well nigh bridged the Atlantic, and the constant com munication between this country and the United States will do more to promote united good feeling than a host of lectures and addresses. It is gratifying to find, from the intelligence brought by the China from New York on the 17th, I that the House of Representatives has refused by 83 to 55 to suspend the rules in order to receive a resolution offered by Mr. BULLER, for payment of the Public Debt in currency. A similar resolution is still before the Committee of Ways and Means, but it will, we hope, meet with a similar fate. The national credit is surely worth some sacrifice, and the Americans may depend upon it that any such scheme of repudiation, either whole or partial, would in the end prove a very costly experiment. Another vote of the House of Representatives was less to their credit ; but as it was a strict party division it has less significance. By 111 to 32 a resolution was passed declaring thb adhesion of Congress to the Reconstruction Act, and censuring the PRESIDENT for recommending its repeal. As we have said this vote has little weight, for the sentiments of the majority of the represtntatives were pretty well known, and it was not likely they would reverse their former action. The members .can hardly delude them selves into the belief that their scheme has worked well either as regards the rehabilitation of social and commercial order, or as to the relations be tween the races. in Mississippi great uneasiness prevails, and General HUMPHREYS has issued a proclamation referring to the common ap prehension that the negroes in that State were forming conspiracies to seize forci bly upon lands unless they should be distributed among them by Congress by the Ist of January. The proclamation warns the negroes o the impossibility of any such distribution, and also cautions them that any such attempt on their part will be discovered and frustrated. lie urges the negroes to work and obey the laws, and calls upon the whites to give them their full rights. The unwillingness of the negroes to work is one of the' most serious difficulties with which the authorities civil and military, have to contend. There seems, however, to be more unanimity than for merly between the State Governors and the dis trict commanders. This may be partly due to the influence of ,General GRANT, and partly to the increased sense of the gravity of the situation. In the case of Mississippi, for instance, General OltD has endorsed the proclamation of Govern or HUMRPREYS; and has instructed General GILLE M, his subordinate, promptly to arrest any white men found inciting the negroes to violence, and to assist the civil authorities in protecting property and in maintaining order. It is necessary for those in power to repress such .outbreaks with a vigorous hand, since absolute collisions are not unfre queut, and often attended with loss of life. In a recent fight between whites and blacks in:Georgia, the sheriff of the place was killed, and in every such riot there has been more than one life lo t. Their frequent recurrence, too, has a most mischievous effect upon the internal prosperity of the country. There can be little chance of restoring confidence, or of in ducing capitalists to make investments southwards, so long as civil order cannot be maintained. In Louisiana the long continued distress appears to have reached its climax, and great destitution is reported. Thousands of persons, it is said, are in danger of starvation. The notion of famine in any part of those vast and fertile, yet thinly populated States seems not a little strange to English ears. There could SC4lcely be a more forcible illustration of the wretched system of Government which has allowed such a fine territory to sink into so melan choly a condition. With the broad corn fields of the West, and the rapid means of transit every where available through the States, the wholesale starvation in any part of America should surely be impossible. Whether as regards the finances of the THE SUN, LONiay. SATEJRUAY E EKING, DECEMBER 28, I:)ti7. North or the produce of the South Radical legisla latiort seems about equally unsatisfactory. Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE has received intelli gence from Colonel MEREWETHER at Senafe up to the 13th of December, at which date all was going on well. He hal heard from the captives at Magdala, and it is most satisfactory to learn that they were well at that time, the 11th of November, and had received the news of the expedition being o n its way. The KING, it is said, has not been able to advance wore than thirty miles from Debra Tabor in consequence of being encumbered with too much baggage, and also with having great oppo sition to encounter. This is very good news for the captives and their friends, and tends to increase the hopes of those who are fur thering the expedition for their release. Subse quent accounts further on also seem to show that King THEODORE is not likely to treat the prisoners worse in consequence of the succour that is being despatched to them. Indeed it is intimated that of late they have been better used by the KING. This confirms the opinion entertained by Lord STANLEY that King THEODORE was too wary to commit himself by harsh usage of the captives just when the forces of our So vereign were being sent to their rescue. Mr. FLAD, who is with these prisoners, has sent information to the effect that the KING has taken with him all th 3 prisoners who were at Debra Tabor, all the Europeans besides, some of whom are free and some in chains.. The women and children are all well. Accounts from Alexandria report the sad intelligence of the death of Colonel KENNEDY, C. 8., Assistant Commissary-General on service in Egypt in connection with the Abyssinian expedition. He died on the 18th December. So far as we can gather from the collective accounts that have reached us, we may consider that the expedition as yet has prospered as well as can be expected, and there is every reason to hope for its success, notwithstanding the sinister predictions in which some are prone to indulge. The truth is that there have been many exaggera tions in the matter, and the difficulties which are inseparable from such an undertaking have been magnified to an absurd degree. With care and foresight, and the exercise of skill and spirit, there is no cause to fear that any other but a prosperous issue will be come to, and the captives return to their homes in safety. OUR readers may remember that the nitro glycerine which exploded at Newcastle with such lamentable results was manufactured by Mr. A. NOBEL, at Hamburg. This gentleman has written to the Times in reference to the event, and to the agent by which it was brought about. The gene ral purport of his letter is to the effect that nitro-glycerine is a comparatively safe substance, its principal drawback being . a bad reputation. As a set-off to that frightful illustration of its power given on the Newcastle Town Moor, Mr. NOBEL assures us that it is used without any injurious consequences in Norway and Sweden ; and to shew that it by no means deserves its hard name, he enumerates a series of accidents and attributes which have been wrongly attributed to it. Unfortunately for Mr. NOBEL, we have to deal with the terrible fact that this nitro-glycerine, which ought not to have exploded, did explode, and that five persons, one of them a professional chemist, lost their lives in saving Newcastle from an appalling danger. It could be no consolation for what has happened, but it might have been somewhat reassuring, if Mr. NOBEL had shewn that ;the accident occurred through the neglect of some obvious precaution. The case against nitro-glycerine is strengthened by his failing to do so. Mr. NOBEL contends that the late explosion was owing to " the want of useful knowledge as to the pro perties of nitro-glycerine. Even if such is the fact, it does not remove the necessity for all the restrictions we have demanded. If, as several competent persons say, the new blasting oil pos sesses real 'advantages over gunpowder, and is in some respects safer in mining operations, let it be used, but only when the conditions of safety can be guaranteed or the danger incurred only by those who understand what they are doing. One sentence in Mr. NOBEL'S letter throws some additional light on the disaster at Newcastle. "As regards nitro-glycerine," he writes, " the congealed crystals, to be exploded, require a far more potent blow than the liquid oil ; and it was probably owing to adhering drops of the latter that the Newcastle explosion took place." This sentence contains a very probable explanation, of the cata strophe, but does it tend in the slightest degree to lessen what Mr. NOBEL calls our prejudice against nitro-glycerine ? Normally this compound i s in a liquid state. Is it reassuring to be told that it is ten times more dangerous when liquid than when frozen ? Could the danger of hand ling it be more forcibly put than by the admission that the loss of life now deplored was due to the ex cessive explosiveness of a few drops of the liquid oil? After this admission it is unnecessary to answer the unfounded charges made against nitro-glycerine. It is manifestly an agent against which the public ought to be protected with the most sedulous care. Mr. NOBEL'S pleas for " liberal regulations " to allow of its use and transit, founded on the fact that sometimes crystals may be crushed without exploding, are nothing to the purpose after what has occurred at Newcastle, at Aspinwall, and at San Francisco. The danger of using the oil for blasting purposes may have been exaggerated, but its general bad name is too well deserved. Its reputation has become bad only in consequence of its effects. We may have in modified forms of this new substance an agent for mining or military purposes of the utmost value. As it is nowmanufactured and sold, all protes tations to the contrary notwithstanding, its use is precarious, and its carriage extremely dangerous. No penalties, it seems to us, can be too severe against the incautious sale and storage of an element thus circumstanced. It will be well when the inhabi tants of large towns have some better guarantee than they have at present that dangers like that to which Newcastle has just been awakened have been rendered morally impossible by the adoption of the most stringent regulations. All the precautions that have been taken against the Fenians are more than justified by the events which are constantly recorded. If one thing is more certain than another in this cons' iracy it is that its abetters stop short at no consideration of difficulty or danger, and display a zeal and ingenuity worthy of a better cause. The last news is that they have been very busy in Ireland again, and have succeeded in capturing some Government stores. From Cork it is reported that a body of insurgents crossed the river from Passage West, and took the guard by surprise who were in charge of the Government Martello Tower, which consisted of two artillerymen ; they carried off a number of muskets and a quantity of ammunition, and in pos session of these they recrossed the river. In Killar ney three men have been arrested ; one of them is the secretary of the funeral procession, and the others shop:lien's assistants. These have been sent to the county gaol at Tralee under a strong escort. Both these circumstances show that the mischief is still rife, and great caution must be observed to check its course, for at times:and seasons when least expected, it may create confusion and distress to an incalculable degree. An attempt was made to burn the letters in the General Post-office, but fortunately only some were destroyed; however it shows the mischievous design that pervades these culprits to be thus constantly interferinglwith the transaction, of business. A letter from Mr. MAGUIRE will be read with in terest. He states that, as one result of the deputa tion to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thurs day, the Lord Mayor has consented to receive sub scriptions at the Mansion House towards the fund for relieving the sufferers at Clerkenwell, and has permitted his name to be placed on the list of the committee. In consequence of the suggestion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the rev. gentleman offers some brief statement of the position of affairs. " One whole street is in ruins, fourteen other streets, containing two hundred houses, are more or less shattered ; six hundred families look to us for reparation and comfort, forty persons lie badly wounded in the hospitals, there has been loss of homes, clothing, tools, costly working materials; add to these health impaired, limbs lost, and lives forfeited, and now the cost of these evil doings is estimated at between twelve thousand and fifteen thousand pounds. We fully agree with the subse quent passage of this letter, to the effect that the responsive sympathy of the nation would be the most satisfa'tory mode of treating the calamity ; a loyal protest would be borne by Englishmen as well as Irishmen against Fenianism, and the smallest contributions would testify to the feelings entertained as to the nature and object of the perpetrators of these outrages. The swearing in of special constables still proceeds with alacrity, and up to yesterday as many as 3,090 persons had been sworn in at Guildhall as special constables. Some of the Volunteers have been sworn in, which is an excellent azrangement, as they are so well qualified to render assistance when required. Some alarms having been experienced at the Marchand Magazine, near Southampton, the most decided measures have been adopted for the prevention of any outrage, and armed police men and sentries surround it. In various parts of the country alarming rumours have been circulated, and anonymous letters been received, in consequence of which steps have been taken to counteract the evil threatened. On the whole, it may be said that no efforts seem spared to insure the safety of the public from the machinations of the evil-disposed among us ; and in due time it is to be hoped that the efforts of the authorities, aided by the exertions of the community, will be crowned with success, and that the plague of Fenianism may be rooted out from among us. TEE APYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. Interesting and valuable information is now being sent to us from Abyssinia. The Times special correspondent writes from Rayray Guddy, near Senafe. After leaving Upper Sooroo the character of the road was completely changed. The pass widened into a valley, and was covered with copse enough to furnish some for tame. The moun tains grew loftier, though as precipitous ; the acacia, the tamarisk, and tamarind were seen along the line of march. "As night came on," says the Times corre spondent, " occasional fires, glimmering through the dark ness out of some bushy recess on the mountain side, told where a wandering Shoho had fixed his hut, and, as our long line of well-laden baggage animals presented rather a temptation to gentlemen of easy virtue and no par ticular residence, it was some satisfaction to feel that Shoho and Great Britain were just now fast friends and allies. The Shoho's arms arc a long spear, which lie can throw with precision thirty yards, a round buckler of buffalo hide about 2i feet in diameter, and a curved sword worn on the right thigh. As the station of Rayray Guddy was approached the route lay through narrow tortuous, defiles, with windings so incessant as to more than double the dis tance. The existence, says the writer already referred to, of such a pass up into Abyssinia as the Koomaylee is cer tainly a wonderful piece of luck for our force. "There is, I am told by professional men, no other pass known in the world by which so great a height is attained at so gradual an ascent. Senafe, at the summit of the pass, is as nearly as possible 7,000 feet, and the ascent is, on an average, about lin 41. The natural obstacles are, moreover, very few and far between, as your readers may have judged from my account, although, certainly, I did not see the pass until the 10th Native Infantry—who have set a first rate example by the energy with which they have thrown themselves into work out of their own line—had been road-making over a great portion of it, and until by far ' the most difficult part had been admirably handled by a company of Sappers, under the direction of Lieut. Jopp. The path is extremely narrow—at some places I should think not twenty feet from cliff to cliff—and immense blocks of granite, hard enough to turn the best tools, have been washed down by the torrent into the midst of it. These torrents, by the way, are only considered dangerous during the prevalence of the highland rains in Abyssinia, from about June to September. During the lowland rains on the coast, which ought to commence in Novem ber (the Abyssinians say that they have been kept back because God is displeased at the English invasion), and which last till January, the flood is very rarely sufficient to fill the bed of the torrent or do serious mischief, unless it were to stores of food too heavy to be at once moved. Besides, we hope to have established very shortly between Senafe and Annesley Bay a tele graph, which will outstrip even the torrent, and give timely warning to all below of its resistless charge. Except this difficult bit of road at Lower Sooroo, the Koo maylee Pass presents scarcely any difficulty worth men tioning. The Rayray Guddy defile will make some tough work requisite, and there is said to be a steep —and, considering the general character of the Koo maylee Pass, very sudden—ascent from here to Senafe. It will also be necessary to establish in some way a water supply between Upper Sooroo and Ray ray Guddy. The distance—some twenty-nine miles — cannot otherwise be got over, without risk of casualties, by baggage-animals heavily laden. But none of these difficulties are formidable, and there is every reason to hope that our troops, instead of remaining on the hot and during the rainy season malarious plain below, will be moved in succession with ease from depot to depOt esta• blished along the Koomaylee Pass, until they arrive at the healthy table land of Abyssinia. A messenger named Murdja Wurk6, who spoke English fluently, having been educated in Bombay, came into camp here this afternoon (December 4th) with a letter to Colonel Merewether from Kassai, supposed to be now the most powerful chief in Tigr6. Abyssinian politics are in such a hopeless state of complication that I scarcely dare to touch upon them, but, according to all I can learn from those who know the country, our diplomatists will have very difficult cards to play ; and it is fortunate that we have in Colonel Merewether one who has for some time made the Abyssinian question his special study. There seems to be a number of great feudal chiefs in the country, all regarding Theodore, notwithstanding his recent reverses, with a strange superstitious awe, but all prepared on his overthrow by foreign arms to fly at each other's throats, and fight to the death for the Im perial supremacy he once enjoyed. It is probable that most, if not all, of these will try to secure our alliance, in the hope of obtaining by it dominion over their rivals." Senafe has been frequently mentioned. It consists of two or three small clusters of wretched hovels stowed away under the shelter of the mountain side. They are built of clay, stuck with rough stones, are only about seven feet in height, with flat roofs, which must lead a hard life in the rainy season, but are of considerable length and breadth, having to hold all the proprietor's cattle and sheep, as well as the more immediate members of his family. No invidious distinction, however, is made be tween his quadrupeds and his blood relations. The former, in consideration of their number and size, have by far the largest share of the apartment assigned to them, while a small space, marked off with stakes and twisted grass, is reserved as the parlour, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen of the latter. The latest news from Abyssinia is dated December 13th, and consists of a letter from Colonel Mcrewether to Sir Stafford Northcote. All was going on well ; the captives were well ; King Theu• dore had not been able to advance more than thirty miles from Debra Tabor. A mass of interesting and useful information concerning Abyssinia, which has been compiled at the Topograhical and Statistical Department of the War Office by Lieute- Colonel A. C. Cooke, C. 8., R.E., appears to-day in the form of a Blue-book. The object of this compilation is to collect together the information on the routes in Abyssinia which is scattered through the works of diffe• rent travellers. The following notes on the army and fortresses of Abyssinia have been communicated by Capt. Webber, R.E., and Capt. Hobart, R.A., who received the information from M. Legean, who was French Vice- Consul at Massowah in 1863 :—ln the army the battalion is the unit. It consists nominally of 1,000 men, and is commanded by a chief and numerous under officers. The fighting strength only amounts to 250 well-armed men, and about 150 to 200 half-armed followers, the remainder being merely servants. A thousand rations are drawn for each battalion, the number including about 250 women. There is no attempt to carry artillery in the field, but they have many guns and mortars in the forts, or " ambas." Monsieur Legean considers that the Abyssinians are brave even to temerity, and that they would not in the first instance try to defend the passes, but would rather allow an army to enter the country and attack them in the open field. He speaks of having witnessed reviews and sham fights. The irregular army is the feudal following of the great chiefs, and its numbers depend on the willingness of the chiefs to obey the Emperor's summons. They might amount to nearly 100,000 men. The hill forts, or ambas, occupy the summits of small table mountains, where water is to be had. They arc scarped on all sides, and have only one means of access—by a winding ascent. It is rarely necessary to fortify the summits, or build a rampart. M. Legean considered them impregnable to assault and unassailable by mining operations. They could generally, however, be taken by stratagem. Their garrisons only consist of 300 or 400 men, and their chief use is as depots, &c. The greatest number of them being to the south, they. are not likely to prove an obstacle early in the campaign. A GOOD EXA➢IPLE.—The directors of the Nations.. Provincial Bank of England have ordered a bonus of ten per cent. to be presented to the officers and clerks of the company upon their salaries for the year 1867. COLLISION ON THE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.—A collision took place on the Caledonian Railway on Thurs day, which, although fortunately attended with little per sonal injury, was of a somewhat alarming character. It appears that as the train which leaves Motherwell at 12.10 p.m. was nearing Jerviston Bridge, an engine was observed coming out of a siding, and seemed likely to run right into the advancing carriages. The driver of the pas senger train pulled sharply up, but a . collision could not be avoided, although the violence of the shock was doubtless lessened by his promptitude. As it was the carriages were badly smashed, a number of them being thrown off the rails. The passengers were knocked about and much frightened. The conduct of the driver of the engine in leaving the siding without, as we are informed, having authority to do so, is most reprehensible, and will doubt less be made the subject of inquiry by the company.— Glasgow Herald. THE HOMELESS POOR. Friday was the Christmas-day of the homeless poor of London. About ten days ago a dinner was provided at the Refuge for Homeless Boys, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, to which some 400 or 450 destitute children had been invited. On Friday another reunion of a similar character was held at the Refuge, and in no part of the metropolis was Christmas celebrated with greater intensity of happiness. The Refuge at Queen-street is rapidly extending its benevolent influences, and no less than sixty children have been received within its walls during the current month. As we stated some time ago, the com mittee of management have purchased a farm at Risley, near Woking, but £5,000 will be required to provide the buildings necessary for utilising the newly-attained pro perty. A transfer to the farm of fifty of those at present in the Refuge is contemplated, but this cannot be done until the necessary funds are provided. LATEST INTELLMENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. Sir Stafford Northcote has received intelligence from Colonel Merewether at Senafe on the 13th of December, up to which date all was going on well. He had heard from the captives at Magdala, who were well on the 11th of November, and had had news of the Expedition being on its way. Menelek, acting with the Gallas, was moving to attack Magdala. The King had not been able to advance more than 30 miles from Debra Tabor, being en cumbered with baggage, and having great opposi tion to encounter. Accounts up to October 11 had been received from Mr. Flad. The King had carried off with him from Debra Tabor all the Europeans, some in chains, others free. Among the latter was Mr. Flad, who says also that the women and children were all well, and that the prisoners bad of late been better treated by the King. FRANCE. PARIS, Dec. 28. The Constitutionnel of this morning severely cen sures Italy for having Euspended payment of her share of the Pontifical debt. This payment, says the Constitutionnel, is an obligation freely contracted by a treaty, consented to and voted by the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, signed in the face of Europe, and carried into execution. CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. GIBRALTAR, Dec. 27. The Poonah leaves at 11 a.m. for Southampton, where she may be expected on the Ist proximo. OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND AUSTRALIAN MAIL. The Ripon, from Southampton on the 20th inst., arrived at 9 p.m. yesterday, and left at 1 a.m. to day for Alexandria. Experienced strong head winds. ARRIVAL OF THE CHINA. QUEENSTOWN, Friday. The royal mail steamship China, from Boston and Halifax, arrived here at 12.15 a.m. to-day with 60 cabin passengers, $220,000 in specie and £2,500. She landed 90 sacks mails and nine pas sengers, and proceeded for Liverpool at 12.30 p.m. All well. The China took on the Liverpool and Scotch mails. NEW YORK, Dec. 17, Evening. The House of Representatives has refused by 83 to 55 to suspend the rules in order to receive a re solution offered by Mr. Buller for payment of the public debt in currency, except which specified to be due in gold. A similar resolution is still before the Committee of Ways and Means. By a strict party vote of 111 to 32 the House has passed a resolution declaring that Congress will adhere to the Reconstruction Act, and cen suring President Johnson for recommending its repeal. The full returns show a majority for the Con vention in South Carolina. Governor Humphreys, of Mississippi, has issued a proclamation announcing the general appre hension that the negroes in portions of Mississippi were forming conspiracies to seize forcibly upon lands unless they were distributed among them by Congress by January 1. The governor warns the negroes that no such distribution is possible, and that any conspiracy upon their part to seize lands will be discovered and frustrated. He urges upon the negroes to work and obey the laws, and calls upon the whites to accord the negroes all their rights. General Ord has endorsed the proclamation. He has instructed General Gillem promptly to arrest any white men instigating the negroes to violence, and to aid the civil authorities to protect property and maintain order. A fight has occurred between the whites and negroes at Albertson, Georgia, in which the sheriff was killed. Great destitution prevails in Louisiana. It is reported that thousands are in danger of starva tion. The negroes at Richmond are organising a grand reception for General Butler. _ It is reported that a fusion between the rival Fenian facticns in America is being effected. Advices from Hayti state that the revolt is in creasing against President Salnave, who is accused of counterfeiting Haytian notes. General Cabral, with a San Domingo force, is marching upon Hayti. It is reported that Basse terre and Guadaloupe have been burned. LONDON GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY (Ll- MlTED.)—'Traffic receipts for the week ending Dec. 22, .0,664 6s. 4d. "Dear Sirs,—l suffered very much from a pain in my side for twelve months. I tried a great many remedies but got no relief until I used the Pain Killer, when I soon began to recover, and am now quite well.—Yours truly, ANN 3IITILPHY." " Sirs,—l desire to bear testimony to the wonderful efficacy of your excellent medicine, which I be lieve has no equal. I was afflicted with heart disease, and could find no relief till I got the Pain Killer, which soon cured me. -Yours, ac., FANNY SuorEns. Dudley, Wor cestershire, June 10, 1860." Messrs. Perry Davis and Son, 17, Southampton-row, Holborn (W.C.) None genuine without their trade mark, PAIN KILLER, on the Govern ment stamp.—(ADVT.,) NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. The return of the Minotaur to Portsmouth from her lengthened cruise offers a favourable opportunity for noticing the experimental trials that have been made on board with gun-training gear. That other than the ordinary mechanical appliances for working guns were reluired to control the movements of modern heavy broadside guns was soon discovered when fik and 12-ton guns were mounted on the broad side, and the question arose as to the best method of applying improved mechanical power for this pur pose. Two gentlemen, Mr. Cuninghain (of patent topsail fame) and Captain R. Scott, R.N., with the sanction of the Admiralty, entered the lists in friendly rivalry to attain this object, and the plans of both have since been fully and fairly tested. Mr. Cunningham appears to have been the first who went thoroughly into the matter, as in 1862 he carried out a series of experiments on board the gunnery ship Excellent with a com pressor, in which be introduced the principle of large friction surfaces to check the gun's recoil, in lieu of the old-fashioned claw and riband arrange ment, and this compressor was worked for some time very successfully with the breech-loading 110-pounder Armstrorg. In the same year he took out a patent for sundry methods for working heavy guns, including an endless chain for running guns iu and out, the chain revolving on the slide, and connected with four compressors or nippers on the carriage. Capt. Scott, too, soon afterwards brought out a somewhat similar plan. The four 12-ton guns mounted on the main deck of the Minotaur may be looked upon as com petitive guns during the last cruise of the ship they having been fitted experimentally with different descriptions of training gear, &c. The after 12-ton gun on the port side of the deck is fitted with Mr. Cunningham's combined running in and out and traversing gear. The plan is very simple and works the gun most efficiently. Upon the rear end of the slide is fixed a winch furnished with chain and clutch wheels. Upon the tra versing bolt on the slide are blocks, with single traversing chains leading through them. When the gun has to be run in the chains are put on the clutch wheels, which being turned round by the winch handle and back and pinion wheels, draws the gun and its carriage up the slide. To change again to traversing gear, the running-in chains are thrown off and the tra versing chains put in to the clutch wheels. No thing can apparently exceed the extreme sim plicity of this plan, and together with that is the important advantage that it can be fitted on board a ship, thus avoiding the expense and delay of sending the carriage atml slide ashore to a factory. This gun was fitted by Mr. Cunning ham when the Minotaur was lying at Spithead, previous to sailing on her cruise last spring, in less than an hour's time. When Admiral Farragut visited the Minotaur at Lisbon he greatly admired this plan for traversing and running in and out heavy ordnance when mounted on a ship's broadside. The other 12-ton gun on the port side of the Minotaur's deck is also fitted with gear de signed by Mr. Cunningham—a detached traversing gear; that is, with the motive power detached and separate from the carriage, a form of traverse held by many experienced gunners to be the best of all, as it leaves the gun quite clear. The men in using this gear are kept quite away from the gun, and are, in a great measure, out of harm's way when a shot chances to enter the port. The crew of this gun speak very highly of its traversing gear, and profess to have beaten all the other guns with it in point of time in traversing. Mr. Cunningham fitted this gear to the gun nearly three years since, and it remains now in_p-erfect working order. The running in and out provision of the gun are on the endless chain principle, as applied by Capt. Scott, and are of a very efficient character. The traversing arrangements of the two 12-ton guns on the starboard side of the ship's decks is on Capt. Scott's plan, and is markedly different from the plan followed by Mr. Cunningham. Capt. Scott traverses his two guns by means of mas sive toothed and curved metal castings fixed to the deck, on which a bevil wheel upon a spindle on the slide works. On the foremost of the two guns the crank handle which turns the spindle is at the rear of the slide. With the aftermost gun the crank handle is fixed at the side, the motion being conveyed by an endless screw. Both these guns are run in and out by endless chains fitted on Capt. Scott's plan. It will be at once seen that Capt. Scott's arrangements for traversing his guns are much more perfect as pieces of machinery than those of Mr. Cunningham. There is perhaps a trifle too much of engineering skill bestowed upon them. Alr Cunningham appears to have based all his arrange ments upon simplicity and the use of the smallest possible number of working parts. In this he has been eminently successful. There is nothing in any part of the fitting, but what can be applied, changed, or repaired by an ordinary ship's smith or armourer and at once understood by the sea man. In addition to the evident superiority of the Cunningham over the Scott metnod of traversing , and running in and out the guns in point of sim plicity, it has also the advantage in point of cost ; the Cunningham gear, it being understood, can be fitt-d to a gun for £3O, whereas the Scott gear would cost between £2OO and £3OO. The tests to which the gear of all four guns have been submitted on board the Minotaur have been of a very severe character, a large number of rounds having been fired from each with heavy service charges, and under all conditions of sea and weather. THE IRISH IN ENGLAND.-At the last census in 1861, among the 20,066,224 persons found in England and Wales, 601,634 were natives of Ireland, being nearly three in every 100. At the preceding census in 1851 the number was not quite so large, being only a little over 2.9 per 100. One thing, however, must not be overlooked-that the children born in England of Irish parents are counted among the English people, and that, partly at least as the result of this, an unusually large proportion of the Irish in England-in 1861 nearly five-sixths-are adults of 20 years] and upwards. Reckoning only males the census of 1861 shows 9,776,259 male I. ersons of all ages in England, and among them were 298,729 natives of Ireland, being 3 per cent. of the whole number ; but the Irishmen in England 20 years old or upwards were more than 4.5 per cent. of the whole male population of that age. It was estimated by the Registrar-General that the Irish in Eng land were sustained at their number by an immigration of nearly 18,000 a year. Of the Irish male persons of all ages in England at the last census rather more than 100,000; above a third of the whole number, were in Lancashire. In Liverpool, with a total male population of 215,716, 40,059 males were natives of Ireland. In Manchester and Salford 22,096 of the 217,596 males were persons born in Ireland. Other Lancashire towns show considerable numbers of natives of Ireland. In Bolton they were 2,421 of the 33,759 males, and in Preston 2,810 in 38,068. Many other towns in the north show the tendency of the Irish part of the population to the towns. The census gives 4,933 natives of Ireland in the 100,133 male persons of all ages in Leeds; 2,458 in 49,268 in Bradford; 3,265 in 92,140 in Sheffield ; 2,524 in 25,274 in Stockport ; 1,270 in 16,826 in Gateshead ; 1,426 in 46,528 in Hull ; 2,297 in 37,818 in Sunderland; 3,322 in 54,092 in Newcastle. The town of Warrington is not separately given, but in the dis trict the numbers are 1,983 in 22,035 males of all agar. Coming south, we find 1,854 in the 30,010 males in Wolver hampton ; 5,812 in 143,996 in Birmingham; 1,966 in 69,043 in Bristol; 2,472 in 43,868 in Merthyr Tydfil; 1,048 in 11,458 in Newport. lu London there were at the last cen sus 1,307,781 male persons, and 47,5871°f them, 3.6 per cent., were born in Ireland. In Scotland the Irish are chiefly clustered in places where there is a good demand for un skilled labour. In Glasgow, and also in Dundee, the census showed nearly 16 per cent. of the inhabitants natives of Ireland ; in Edinburgh 5 per cent. [ADVERTISEMENT.]- Consumption, and all nervous, bilious stomach and liver complaints in every stage are only aggravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly Curable by Du Barry's health -restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless; such as indigestion (dyspepsia), cough, asthma, con sumption, habitual constipation, diarrhoea, all gastric derange ments, haemorrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, in fluenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impu rities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness, even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach, and between the shoulders, &c We quote a few.-The Pope's health restored by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68,413.-" Rome, July 21, 1866.-The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica, Food, of which he consumes a plateful at every meal. It has produced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly." - From the "Gazette du Midi,' July 25. Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, timber mer chant, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness.- Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Dccies, Lord Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.-No. 49,832. " Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness and vomiting.-MariaJoly." Important Caution.-Be ware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, without authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached. In tins at ls. lid.; 1 lb., 2s 9d. 2 lbs., 4s. 6c1 ; ; 5 lbs., lls t, 1 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 405.-BARRY DII BARRY and Co., No. 77 tiegent-street, London; also Fortnam and Mason, 182 Piccadilly, and at 61, Gracechurch-street; :4, Cheapside ; 63, 150, and 289, Oxford-street; 8.0 trttud i and all grocers and chemists. (AN ht e. etrtillat TIER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Dec. 27. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accom panied by Princess Christian and Princess Hen riette of Schleswig-Holstein, and attended by the Equerries in Waiting on horseback ; and her Ma jesty, accompanied by Prince-s Christian and Prin cess Henriette, and attended by the Dowager Countess of Gainsborough, drove out this morning. The Equerries in Waiting were in attendance. Princess Louise and Princes Beatrice went out in the grounds, attended by the Hon. Emily Cathcart. Prince Leopold also Went out, atteaded by Mr. Duckworth. The Duchess of Somerset has left Brown's hotel for Stover Park. The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort is staying at Badminton with the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort. The Earl and Countess of Dudley are entertain ing company at Witley Court, Worcestershire. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres and Lord and Lady Lindsay intend to entertain a large party at 'Haigh Hall, Wigan, next week. On Wednesday next the noble earl gives a grand ball to the county nobility and gentry. nORRESFONDENCE FROM PARIS• (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, FRIDAY, Dec. 27. There is a widespread feeling against the Emperor'g Army Organisation Bill in France, and in several districts petitions are being signed praying for its rejection. But the Army Bill is known to be the pet idea at present of the Emperor, who is determined at all risks to carry The fate of the Army Organisation Bill is expected to be decided to-morrow. The majority of the Corps 1 4 40. latif were shocked by the speech of M. Louvet yesterdaY upon this subject. If it be proposed to amend the bill, it will be withdrawn altogether, and in that case the dissolve tion of the Chamber will be almost inevitable. News from official sources informs us that Gener al Menabrea has not yet constituted his new Cabinet, which will consist for the most part of the statesmen who wer e associated with himself under the last Government. One change, however, will be the substitution of some one il l the place of M. Gualterio as Minister of the Interior. The Etendard says, M. Gualterio, " a man of energy, IS profoundly unpopular in his country on account of the energy ;" and it further asserts that the vote which over' turned Menabrea's Government was directed specia ll / against him. Religious ceremonies of an imposing description Ive le been celebrated in Paris at several churches during the last week. The principal churches at which these cere• monials were held were Notre-Dame, Saint Sulpiee, an d Saint-Itoch. At the Madeline the Baroness de Caters' daughter of Lablache, sing the solos with incompara ble taste. The Archbishop of Paris officiated at Notre-Dam e ' Mass at the Tuileries was conducted by the Archbis ll ° l3 d'Adras. The Court musicians sang, under the direc tion of M. Auber. The Empefor, with the Imperial Family' the Prince and Princess of Metternich, and a number of the household dignitaries, were present. Experiments with a " perfected " Chassepot rifle are 3 t present being conducted at the Camp at Chalons. T he perfected" Chassepot is to be put into the hands of the chasseurs d pied. At Vincennes a trial of a new cannon , invented by a military surgeon—M. Noell, of Nancy- - W as recently made. A report of the result of the experimen t was made and sent to Marshal Bazaine, who will dray° the attention of the Emperor to this new weapon. Ti le speciality of the cannon is that it can be fired as rapidly the Chassepot. Among the names of the ladies of the palace considered likely to fill the place of the sate Duchess de Bassano as lady of honour, is that of the Countess de Montebello. The giving of presents at this season is one which Pr e• vails in France as well as in England ; but here the c ustom is to present the gift, not at Christmas, but on the first day of the year. The British custom, however, is begin‘ ning to find favour in the eyes of the Parisians, and n° doubt after a time Christmas will be the fashionable gif t. day on both sides of the Channel. M. Panger-Guertier, one of the principal manufactur ers of Rouen, is about to address the Corps Legislatif on th e subject of the prevailing stag,nati(,n of trade. In comm on with many French manufacturers, M. Panger-Guertier fe• gards the treaty of commerce with Eng'and as ruinous to French trade. Fortunately, there is too much political economy and experience abroad to prevent any bad results from his one-sided views. The Invalide Busse sees the greatest danger in th e Franco-Austrian alliance. While endeavouring to pr e : vent the extension of the German Confederation, sa ys th journal, it will only prepare the way for a sanguin 3l. 4 struggle, and while trying to binder the union of Italy , 1 : will raise up the revolution without saving the terre r34 power of the Pope. It will support the Turkish Govern. meat in their policy of persecution, and drive the Easte r° Christians to despair ; encourage the pretensions of the Poles, and make them once more pay dearly for their ere' dulity. The Invalide concludes by saying that Russia 1 by no means responsible for the embarrassments wh ich are apprehended, but if they are not avoided the Pre sent armed peace in Europe must lead to a terrific struggle. The British Legation at Rio, in Brazil, will immediately become vacant should Mr. Lowther stand for Westraere' land. The salary attached to the position is £l,OOO a Ye a ' r ' with an additional £7OO for house-rent. Including se cr u e : taries, clerks, and t rans l a t ors , th e Ri o L ega ti on costs t"" country £6,250 yearly, exclusive of contingent expens es ' outfit, and travelling charges, which last item must re enormous. In a period of less than seventeen years " have sent no fewer than eight different Ministers to Ili (); and as each Minister receives a third of his annual salary for outfit, twenty-one thousand pounds' worth of tazot i°ll must, as the Post thinks, have been worse than wasted ~, wanton caprices, besides the length of time thrown awl. by each new Minister in travelling backwards and forw ards —a very serious deduction from the actual working °e x : vices of diplomatists, who appear to have been only ser`- out to be recalled with a promptitude scarcely decorous An envoy should be appointed to the Brazils who kil.-- something of the work which he has to do there, and who is ready and able to do it. FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A rorter at 31anningtree Railway Station of the Great Eastern Itit, a , way Company, named Edward Howe, was accidenteyin-, killed on Christmas- eve. On the arrival of the last train Harwich, ha was engaged in shunting some trucks and t 0 ing the red light of the approaching train he endeav our the avoid the latter, but was unfortunately caught between buffers and so fearfully crushed teat he expired ininle; diately. The deceased, who was about 50 years of it: and had been in the service of the company for ten has left a wife and family. It is said that the un'clof tnnate man had omitted to take the usual precaution providing himself with a hand lamp: FATAL ACCIDENT AT RYDE PIER.—A accident, resulting in the death by drowning of a Ryde Pier, occurred on Christmas evening. A 'self °,lOO a child in her arms, went down the pier with the inters en of embarking on board the steamer Prince of Viralee, alongside the pier, and nearly ready to start for r° sto mouth. It was dark at the time, and the unforttll'oe, woman mistook the steps, and fell with her child int ° _, t ,.. sea. After considerable exertion on the part o f the. .:•:dj tain and crew of the steamer, the lady was got On uu :dp but the child was drowned. The accident will be Le, the subject of a special inquiry before the board of i u no t tors of the Packet Company at a meeting to be h eld week. fog THE FOG.—In consequence of the dens® which prevailed at Chatham on Thursday, the Sere/fe d vette Blanche, 6, 350 horse power, was unable to pr`r:j,(l to Sheerness, as ordered, and she was accordingly detsi'd.. until yesterday, when she lett Chatham in tow a the r. of dlewheel steamers Otter and Locust, under the obtl e o. Captain R. Stokes, Queen's harbourmaster at Chit" fr . fi ls The Blanche will be docked at Sheerness , a nd afterf" return to Chatham to complete her outfit for sea. jo y DEATH OF THE WALRUS IN THE Z 001,06 to f GARDENS.—Poor "Jemmy," the walrus, the los tP : r is L o ndon sight-seers, has died, and joined th e sea of the happy hunting grounds, if any suc h there Paielia departed sea mammalia. He had been uneasy en d for some days, and on Thursday, the 19th, died sildidl3 5 c . ,' ACROSS THE CONTINENT IN FIFTEEN .' ..Ast The Union Pacific Railroad has already reduced i of time the overland journey to California one wee o hi notable instance of the value of this saving in tue loor e reason of the railroad facilities which this oorePaq.„l fa made available is just announced. Despatches recel;p6o, New York state that the mails from China an d ,„. o D 9 which have heretofore been sent from San Frann''''..oti sea, and which have occupied from twenty-two to t . vr f l 030 four days in transit from that city to New York, left the former city by the overland route on the 20th n'""pys will ho due iu that city this morning, only fifteen on i 0 from the Pacific coast. Such rapidity of transul iP :, do unprecedented, and the fact that it is now possiblee to the energy which has been manifested by th . : gre at Pacific Railroad Company in the construction of tla d . national line which that corporation has had in DeZ le ed total time from Japan to New York is now reu te ceaboutive theirfor addavyis,ceswbhyilethtihseroLuitveerinpouoiluemoerretheanneit,e; lio col oti at L , tr m