The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-24 00:00:00

MONETARY REPORTS.--.YEBTERDAY. The discount m rket has been fairly supplied with capital. Thereh I been more inquiry for accommodat ion, and three months paper has been taken at 2i to 2a per cent. The consol market was quiet, but rather firmer in value, the quotat n being 912, 914 for money, and 91 13-16, 91 15-16 for the account. Reduced and New Three per Cents., 911 914. Transactions in railway stocks were restricted, but prices were maintained. Metropolitan, 63, 63* ; Cale donian, 861 861 ; Brighton, 41, 41* ; South Eastern, 74, 74*; Great Northern A, 133*, 134 ; Great Eastern, 39, 39/ ; North Eastern, 144, 144* ; Midland, 1281, 1281; North Western, 128, 128/ ; Great Western, 70, 701. The foreign bond market had a firm tone, although the business doing was very limited. Peruvian (1865), 93*, 934 ; Egyptian (1868), 77*, 77i ; Italian (1861), 551 551 ; Spanish (1867), 31i, 311 ; Turkish Five per Cents., 44/, 441 ; ditto (1869), 501, 50.2 ; Mexican, 13g, 131 ; French Scrip, * dis. to * prem ; and the North German Loan, 1 to 4 prem. Money has been quiet, and three months' paper has been taken at 2/ per cent. Messrs. Pixley, Ahell, Langley, and Blake thus report on the state of the bullion market :—" The only arrival of gold to report consists of £10,730 per Ceylon, from China. A few orders have come to hand for Belgium, and as the supply on the market was not sufficient, about £69,000 had to be withdrawn from the Bank. Silver. — The Ceylon has brought £2.5,800 from India and China, and we have also received about £109,000 from New York. The price continues as quoted by us, the demand being only for Holland. Mexican dollars to the extent of about £20,000 have come to hand during the week, and they have been sold at 58/d. per ounce for the old coinage. A second dividend of Bs. in the pound is payable to-day to the creditors of the Hop Planters' Joint Stock Com pany (Limited), at the offices of Messrs. J. Carding, Whinney, Gibbons, and Co. The Sheffield papers announce the conversion of the celebrated cutlery firm of Joseph Rodgers and Son into a limited liability company, with a capital of £130,000. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE.-FmAr, The prices under the lines indicate the business done. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Three per Cent Consols 911 911 V ict 6 p °Jan &July 1891 115 117 912, 1 x d 1165, 16 Do for Account Three per Cent Reduced 911 911 Viet spc Jan & JulylB9l. 10351015 94 1 104, i New 3 per Cent 911, i 21 Exchequer Bills, March 10 15pm Egyptian 9 1862, 7po .. .. 79 81 10s pm Do Rail Debeu 7 p o .. 101 IU3 Do, June lO 15pm Italian 1865, 5p a pm Peruvian. 1865. sto a Bank Stock 233 Portuguese 1869 3po .. 315 325 India 5 per Cents 110 z d Russian. 1862. 5 n c.. .. 83 85 India Bonds — 84, 3 41 22s pm Do Nicolas 4p a Can 6pa Jau&Julyll77-84 105 107 665, it 1055 Spanish. 1867. 3pa Do March & Sept. 103 105 311, 1 Do 5p c Jan & July .. 99 100 Do, 1869, 3n c Do Inscribed Stock .. 98 100 311, 1 Dom of Can 5p o 1903 .. 97 99 Turkish. 1854, 6p a 7B 80 Ceylon 6 p c May and Do. 1865. 5p a November 1878 lO6 108 441, 5 Mauritius tp c Jan and Do, 1865 6p c July 1873 lO3 105 U.5.5-2080nd5,6 p a 1632 881 88 New SWales 5 p 01871-76 102 103 Do do 1885 888 88 New Zealand 6p c 1891 lO9 111 Do 10-40Bnds, spa 1901 871 87/ Do 5p a Do 5p a Consolidated 995 1005 Illinois Central Shares .. 11151125 1001 Atlantic and G W R Con •Do 6 p c Mar l¢ Sept 1891 108 110 Mortgage Bonds — Do June & DeclB9l 107 109 RAILWAYS. Bristol and Exeter B7 89 Do 2nd do Scrip .... par 21 , ni Caledonian 84 i Grand Trunk of Canada Great Eastern 39 391 2nd Pref Stock 391,1 Do 3rd Prat Stook .. Great Northern —. _. - 1:lo A 13341344 4th Pref Stock Great Western 7O 704 Great Indian Pen g 5-. o 107 108 704, 4 1074 Lancashire & Yorkshire 133 134 Great Weetern ofCanada 141 HI 13 Lon, Brigh. 3l and S Coast 401 411 Do Op 0 141 Bonds. 1873.. 98 100 41, 1 Do 54 do, 1877-8 94 96 Lon, Chat. and Dover .. 121 121 Do 5p c pref. Issued 80 Nis inin Lon and North-Western 128 1281 Madras guar 5p o 128. 71 81 N. Railway of Canada, Lou and South-Western 90 91 6 904 0 Man, Shot and Lincoln 151 451 s uNe and Rohilkund g . Ist Pref Bonds u. 10211031 45i Scinde. Punjaub, and Metropolitan Midland l2B 1281 1034 1284 Bahia and San Francisoo North British North-Eastern Consols.. 144 145 181 1141 Belgian R Junction South-Eastern l4l 741 Buenos Ayres G t Sthrn.. 24 25 'Taw.' -- 15 D- Abuv- id Witepak 18 19 "1 9' ttlautlo and St Lawrnoe 75 - 77 iunaburg an. _ '3ombay, Deroda., mid Dutch-Rhenish 2 2 .1 Central India, g 5 p 0.. 106 106 Eastern of France — - Buff and Lake Huron .. si 4i Great Luxembourg Do !Sipe 80nd5.1872-3-4 79 81 Lemberg Uzernovntagua Cape guar 6p o East Bengal guar 5 p 0.. 10411051 Northern of Frauoe .. East Indian, g 5 p c .... 114 111 Ottora (Smyrna to Aidln) 5 5i 1101 Recife and San Francisco Grand Trunk Canada .. 12 12) (Limited) guar 7p a Do Equip Mort Bud I San Paulo (L) guar 7p a 21 21 charge 6a e 91, 1 South Austu & Lom-Ven 141 141 Southern of France .... BANKING COMPANIES. Pd Pd I Agra Bank (L) A 7l 81 10 Imperial Ottoman .. 1121 pm 25 Alliance ILI 10 Anglo-Austrian o n and County 49 50 161 5 20 Anglo-Egyptian (L) 201 211 15 London Joint-Stock 331 "41 50 British N American 53 55 20 Lou and Westmnster 621 631 20 Ch of India, Austrlia 14 15 631, 1 11*. 1 10 Metropolitan Bl 9 25 Char Marc of India 221 231 20 Midland (Li 23/ 20 New South Wales .. 36 38 10 City 25 Colonial 4 Consolidated IL .. 20 Eng. Scot. and Aug . 0 151 161 381, 8 20 Imperial %Li TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. P 0 Pd 100 Anglo-American Ll 78 80 10 Great Northern .... 111 12 781 6 Great N. China, and II) Anglo-Meditrn (L) llB 121 Japan Extension.. 21 11,110. 119, 214 5 Indo-European (1.).. 10 12 100 Atlantic — 10 Marseilles, Algiers, 100 Do Bpc — and Malta (LI .... 51 5 1 13 British Australis (L) 5 41dis 10 Mediterrn Ex (L) .. 44 5 21 Puma and S. Patella 31 21 dis 10 British Ind Exton (L). 51 6/ dis 10 :British Indian Sub- 8 Reuter's marine. (L) . 61 7 20 Soo Trans France (L) 131 13/ 61, 13-16 ' 100 Submarine 237 24 7 China Submarine (L) 5/51d is Do Scrip 2l 21 10 Falmouth. Gibraltar, 10 W India &Panama(L) 41 51 and Malta (1 . 4 1 MISCELLANEOUS SECURITIES 1. la Anglo-Austrian Bud- ia It Irrig Can Cavour 71 4 holders' Certificate 11 21 100 Do 6p c Bonds. re -10 BerlinWMerworks(L) 141 159 deematie 1870 64 66 30 Bolckow-Vaughan L) 30 35pm 30 London Fin Assoc:lL) 20 18,1 is 100 Boston City (U.S.. 4 Lon Gen Omnibus .. 21 3 p c Sterling Loan 91 93 2 Lon &Prov Marine L) 1 1 pin 4 Brit & Fgn Marine( L) 2931 pm 100 Madras Irrig. &Canal 15 Canada Company. 73 75 gsn c by Ind Gov. 101 102 10 Ceylon Company L) 32 31dis 2 Mauritius Laud IL) 9 dis., par 35 City Offices (L) 251241 dis 5 Natnl Disct Comp Li 11 111 26 Colonial (L) 5 Com Union Assurnce 39 4pm Mere Agency tL) .. Ii pm 89 5 N Zealand Loan and 10 Crdt Fonc of Eng IL) 2 29 Trust IL) 100 Crystal Palace 100 Do Prat 100 Do 5p c Perp Deb ll2 117 50 P and 0 Steam 45 47 271 Ebbw Vale Steel L).. 9185 dis 10 Do do New. 1867 3 2 die 100 Viceroy of Egypt 7p c 50 Rhymney Iron Mortgage Loan— 78 80 15 Do New Bl 91 100 Egyp 9 p cV'roy Loan. 60 Royal Mail Steam guar by Egyp Gov.. 94 96 12 Tel Con and Main L) 26 269 949 2 Thames and Mersey 13 Fore-st Warehouse (L) 7 Bpm 'Marine Insur (L 100 Fgn and Colonial Gov St. Tobacco 6 p c Loan Trust 6p c Bonds • • 98 100 guar by Italian Gov 87 89 Ti Gen Credt &Disct IL) 1 I dis 5 Trust and Loan Co of 14 Gen Stin Navigation 274 289 Upper Canada .. _ 2 Ipm H 7 oopels Tel Works f }dis 5 0 Marine. Lvpool IL 44 Spin 17 Hudson's Bay 8 81 20 Union Steamship (L) 23 25 45 Indrbbr,GutPer.and 6 United Dis Corpru IL idle par Tel Works L) .... 431 449 5 UnivMarinelnsur (LI 6171 pin 441 12 Warrant Finance.... 9 7 ills 5 Interul Finan SocIL) Madill MARKETS. LONDON CORN EXCHANGE, FRIDAY.-Influenced by the improved state of the weather, coupled with the activity which is apparent in the floating grain trade, the tone of the Corn Exchange to-day was firm. Nevertheless, the business doing was on a limited scale, and higher rates are not likely to be obtained. There was a better show of English wheat both as regards quantity and quality, whilst the receipts from abroad were moderate. Sales of all descriptions were effected quietly, but Monday's currencies were well , sup ported. There was a fair supply of barley on sale. The inquiry was dull, and prices were unchanged. Malt was inactive, on former terms. There were large supplies of oats on offer, which were purchased cautiously, at Monday's quotations. Beans and peas were in limited demand, at about late rates. The flour trade was depressed, but prices were firmly sustained Arrivals :-English and Scotch : wheat, 1,250; barley, 430: malt, 42 0 ; beans , 90 ; peas, 140. or : wheat, 6,790 ; barley, 6,220 ; oats, 41,880: flour, 8,970 barrels. LIVERPOOL CORN MARKET, FRIDAY.-There vas a mode rate attendance at this market to-day. Market was a little dearer. Imports : -Wheat, 28,195 quarters ; barley, 376 ; oats, 1,270 ; beand, 186 ; peas, 1,134 ; Indian corn, 933 ; oatmeal, 1,543 loads ; flour, 440 sacks 4,936 barrels. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, FRIDAY.-There were fair average supplies of meat on sale at the market to-day. The inquiry for all descriptions was inactive, but prices were sus tained. Per 81b. by the carcase :-Inferior beef, 3s. 4d. to 4s. Od; middling ditto, 4s. Od. to 4s. 4d.; Prime large ditto, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d. ; prime small ditto. ss. Od. to ss. 4d. ; inferior mutton, 3s. Bd. to 4s. 4d. ; middling ditto, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d ; prime ditto, ss. Od. to ss. 4d. ; veal, ss. Od. to ss. 4d ; large pork, 3s. 4d. to 4s. Bd. ; small ditto, ss. Od. to ss. 4d. BOROUGII HOP MARKET FRIDAY.—There has been a good amount of business in the market, considering the period of the year. Choice hops have continued in request, and full rates have been obtained. Low and medium qualities have been purchased on a smaller scale at previous quotations. Mid and East Kents. £1 158. to £7 ; Weald of Kents, £1 15s. to £3 15s. ; Sussex, £1 10s. to £3 10s. ; Farnham and country, £3 15s. to £6 6s. ; and olds, £1 to £2 los. per cwt. LONDON WOOL MARKET, FRIDAY. —The wool market has become rather quieter, owing to the approach of the holi days; hut, at the same time, the tone has been healthy, and the quotations have been well maintained for both colonial and English qualities. - - BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS POTATO 31ARKE1.7., nu_ nny.—Only moderate supplies of potatoes have been on sale. The trade has been quiet, at late rates :—English regents, 60s. to 905.: Scotch regents, 60s. to 85s. ; rocks, 60s. to 70s. per ton. LIN ERPOOL COTTON MARKET, FRlDAY.—Opening Report. —This market opened to-day with a good demand. Probable sales, 12,000 to 15,000 bales. Imports—American, 9,032 bales. Other kinds, 1,112 bales. FEMALE SUFFRAGE. A public meeting, at which there was a numerous attendance of ladies, was held in the Corporation Gal leries, Glasgow, on Wednesday, when Miss Tay lour, of Belmont, Stranraer, delivered a lecture advocating the extension of the political fran chise to women. The Rev. W. Smith occu pied the chair, and in opening the proceedings he said the political ideas of our ladies just now were not particularly clear. He was afraid too many of them would simply vote for the best looking or best speaking man that, came forward, or for la variety of other reasons altogether apart from any of the great questions of the day. But he freely confessed that in regard to the whole question of woman's suffrage, he was in what some of his friends would call a most unsatisfactory state. He was, however, open to conviction—that was the least he -could say—and he was not so bad as the opinionative man who said he was open to conviction, but added he would like to see the man who would convince him. In the present case it was not a man but a woman who was going to try it. Miss Taylour, ;who was received with applause, then proceeded with her lecture. She maintained that elec toral rights should be given to women—first, because, living as they did under a Government, the fundemental laws of which professed to provide for the due represen tation of all classes and of property, it was anomalous and unjust that so many of those subjects and the property they held should go unrepresented on account of sex being made the sole ground of disqualification ; second, because, as it was another fundamental principle of the Constitu tion that taxation could only be levied by a Parliament elected by the ratepayers, it was as unconstitutional as it was unjust to impose the burden on women while withholding from them the privileges belonging thereto ; and third, as vast numbers of women in the present day were forced to be self-supporting, it was not only unjust, but cruel, to lay upon them an unneces sary disqualification, which often formed a serious obstacle to them in their hard struggles for bread. It had been objected that women did not generally desire the franchise, and that only a very small number of them would exercise the power if they had it. She thought that the rapid progress of the present movement was a distinct denial of this assertion, and last year, at the mu nicipal elections in England, a rough estimate shelved that while about one out of every three men had regis tered his tote, one out of every five women had availed herself of her newly-acquired privilege. Another objection was, that as politics were quite beyond a woman's province, and unsuited to her, she should be excluded from them. Those who offered this objection seemed to attach some abstruse meaning to the word " politics." However, it meant neither more nor less than the regulation of relations between human beings ; and were not women human beings as well as men ? and if so, did not politics equally concern them ? It had been further urged that women should leave poli tical affairs to men, as it was unfeminine of them to come out of private life. Now, if it was not 'unfeminine and indecorous for a woman to dance at a public assembly or stand behind a stall in a fancy bazaar, it surely could not be unfeminine and indecorous for her to perform the short, simple act of recording her vote at the polling booth, or even, if she pleas€ d, to attend an occasional political meeting, where the publicity was no greater than when she went to a concert or any place of amusement. Miss Taylour afterwards referred to the objection that if women gained the fran chise they should next demand seats in Parliament; which, she said, was confounding private right with public office. The dislike entertained by the male sex for females meddling with politics, and the roughness of electioneer ing work, so unsuited for the female constitution, were afterwards noticed, and Miss Taylour concluded by dis cussing the question as to whether the political equality of women was contrary to Scripture. No doubt, she said, St. Paul wrote many things which might be con strued into a wish that woman should not be the equal of man, but then it must be remembered that he wrote in times when women presided as priestesses over religious rites. Besides, the truth of particular passages could only be ascertained by comparing them with others, and the law of love and equality was most emphatically set forth in the Bible. Miss Taylour resumed her seat amidst much applause. The Rev. Dr. Pulsford then proposed a motion award ing a vote of thanks to Miss Taylour, and resolving that Mr. Stuart Mill should be requested to deliver a public lecture on the subject of "Woman Suffrage" in this city ; and this having been seconded by Professor Young, wax agreed to. A vote of thanks was afterwards given to the chairman, and the proceedings terminated. CHARLES KEENE, THE ARTIST. The fact that an Englishman has betaken himself, con amore, to the study of the bagpipe is probably wholly un precedented in the annals of Great Britain, and certainly deserves to be recorded for other reasons than its rarity. And when it is mentioned that this student is one of the most accomplished artists on the staff of Punch, I am sure the satisfaction of Scotchmen will only be equalled by their astonishment. Punch cannot, I fear, be altogether exone rated from participation in that senseless depreciation of the musical properties of the Scottish bagpipe which so many small wits have been guilty of ; but the injured instrument has nobly revenged the insults that have been heaped upon it. By its own inherent power and pathos, it has penetrated the ranks of its enemies, and has capti vated one of their most distinguished leaders. Some months ago, readers of Punch might have observed an initial illustration representing a gentleman playing the bagpipe. That was a portrait of the convert at his favourite recreation, executed by himself, and sent forth as a formal public declaration of his conversion. As the gentleman to whom I refer has thus given pro minence to his partiality for the bagpipe, I need not hesitate to mention that his name is Mr. Charles Keene, and that he is the artist whose highly-finished drawings, signed "C. K." have ap peared in Punch almost every week during the past twelve or fiteen years. The artistic excel lence of Mr. Keene's work has long been recognised by all lovers of art, but few of those who weekly admire his sketches know the name of the artist who produces them. He has somehow never acquired a personal reputation like that enjoyed by Mr. Tenniel, for instance—and re mains comparatively unknown, while his sketches are laughed at and approved by all. In his own walk, Mr. Keene is unrivalled. No artist has ever succeeded better in depicting the common places in face and figure. Properly speaking, he is not a caricaturist ; he is simply a great artist, with a predilection for humourous and somewhat vulgar subjects. He has never drawn a beautiful woman or child, or even a heroic man's face, but his prospective is marvellous, and every figure is sur rounded with the atmosphere. His sketches are fuller reproductions of what they represent than the paintings of nine-tenths of the Royal Academicians. His range of subjects. is very limited, artists and volunteers forming the staple of his studies, but his mastery is perfect within that range. Nothing will explain the restricted scope of Mr. Keene's personal reputation, however, except his own modest retiring disposition. His friends affirm that he finds more pleasure in playing dance music to his children on one of those sets of bag pipes he possesses than he would in any sort of fame. I may state that Mr. Keene is a native of Ipswich, and about forty years of age, and that he is an accomplished fiddler as well as a piper. —London Correspondent of the Dundee Advertiser. MAN LOST IN THE SNow.—During the heavy gale and snow-drift on Tuesday night, William Skene, sheriff's-officer, Tarland, near Ballater, perished in the snow while on his way home from Dunnet. THE POLITICAL PRISONERS' FAMILIES. —On Sunday placards were posted in Cork, announcing that the annual collection in aid of the families of the political prisoners would be made there on Christmas Day.— Cork Examiner., ICE ON THE ELBE.—Telegrann have reached New castle-on-Tyne, from Hamburg, with instructions not to send any more screw steamers out at present with coals, as the Elbe was blocked with ice, and heavy snow storms were prevailing. The weather on this coast is more settled. PRUSSIA AND THE NETHERLANDS.—SOIIIO days back four escaped French prisoners, who had taken refuge in the territory of the Netherlands, were given - up to Prussia by the Dutch authorities. This must afford evi dence of the intimidation which Prussia exercises over the small States surrounding her. HER MAJESTY'S NEW YEAR'S GIFTS. The Queen's New Year's gifts to the poor of the parishes of New Windsor, Holy Trinity, and Clewer will be distri buted on Saturday, the 31st of December, New-Year's day falling on Sunday. The gifts consist of beef and coals. PRESENTATION TO THE EX-CHAIRMAN OF THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. — The testimonial voted by the Mid land shareholders at their general meeting on the 16th of February, 1870, to their late chairman, Mr. W. E. `Hutchinson, has been presented to him at a complimen tary dinner given at the Midland Hotel, Derby. The chair was taken by the present chairman of the company, Mr. W. P. Price, MT., and was attended by all the directors and principal officers of the company. The tes timonial took th e f orm o f a p or t ra it of the late chairman, painted by'Mr. John Lucas, of St. John's-wood, London, and also of a handsome service of plate. 11 SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBI4.:II 24, 16 7C. THE WEATHER AND THE LONDON PARKS. "HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS !" " Cry Havock !' and let slip the dogs of war," is no unworthy expression of Shakspere, to intimate a coming state of hurly-hurly and disastrous confusion; but we have strong doubts whether more mischief—albeit less poetry—would not have been conveyed in the " Cry, ' Home for the Holidays !' and let slip the girls and boys." These few days are traced in illuminated letters that we would not exterminate for the world. They are the beacon-lights that guide many a tiny craft through the stormy waters of "grammar, geography, French, Latin, and history." Many a small breast with large heart would sob itself to death, were it not for this El Dorado ever kept in sight.. The frosty discipline of school duties, and the sharp atmosphere of "classes" and " examinations," would try many a susceptible constitu tion severely, were it not for the six weeks of relaxing climate found in the southern latitude of " Home for th e Holidays !" There seems every probability of Londoners experienc ing a Christmas of the good old fashioned sort. During the past few days the accidents generally concomitant of frosty weather in the Metropolis have taken place, and travellers have witnessed the usual sight at this time of the year of fallen horses and overturned vehicles in many of the principal streets. The frost was very severe on Thursday night and yesterday morning a thick sheet of ice was formed on the ornamental water in St. James's Park. Early in the morning numerous venturesome youths tried the strength of the ice, and there were numerous immersions ; but owing to the frost continuing throughout the morning it became firmer. and towards mid-day a number of persons skated ; and if the freezing continues the ice will be in an excellent condition for both skating and sliding by this (Saturday) morning. " Home for the Holidays," stares us in the face, as we look round the boxes of Old Drury, and see a grinning, rosy-faced regiment in white collars and• smart frocks. " Home for the Holidays," jostles us in every highway, as the troops of independent youngster 3 make a dead stop at some enticing shopwindow, With various pulls at the maternal arm, and corres ponding inquiries as to whether certain desired articles cannot possibly be purchased. " Home for the Holidays" is stamped on the tailor's bag, containing loosely-fitting suits of dark blue, and the dressmaker's parcel, teeming with deeply-tucked dresses. " Home for the Holidays " is detected in the pifes of new shoes, new stockings, new hats, new bonnets, new everything, all coming in with the New Year. " Home for the Holidays ! "—oh, words of magic might t Who does not recollect the time when they had the power of sending the warm blood bounding through the heart with quickened glow ? Who does not remember the joyous sense of liberty experienced as the stage-coach whirled away from academic walls, and visions grew stronger of fun, freedom, pantomime, and plum-cake? Midsummer was merry enough ; but Christmas—jolly, happy, glorious Christmas—was,the acme of delight, with its beef and pudding festival, its Boxing-day, its New Year's-day, its Twelfth-day, and all its appliances of clowns, columbines, family feasts, juvenile parties, roasted chestnuts, smoking flip, and " Blindman's Buff." Bright, warm, young spirits—rollicking and romping; as we once rollicked and romped—we bless you from our innermost souls, although we are compelled now and then to scold, and occasionally wish you back again at Mr. Whackem's and Mrs. Trimtail's. Health and happiness attend ye, and may the days to come never cause ye to look back with a sigh on the days gone, when ye shouted " Home for the Holidays !"—Eliza Cook. " I HAVE NO CHANCE." THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR. Don't say that, young man. You have' five chances on each hand. Thou you have thirty six at least in your head. Every facility you have will vote you into office, if you only enfranchise it, and form a confederation be tween the freemen in your brain and the freemen at the ends of your arms. Chances, plenty of them, fall under our eyes, if we have only eyes to see them, and hands to pick them up. The falling of an apple was the opportunity for Newton to solve the secret of the skies. A floating seaweed, drifting by the vessel when the crew were uttering mutinous threats, was the chance seized by Columbus to pacify an incipient rebellion, and to inspire his men with the promise of a new continent and a new world of enterprise. The picking up of a pin in a street of Paris by a poor boy, as he was going from a great bank, saddened at the denial of his application for a place, was the founding of the success and prosperity of one of the greatest bankers of the queen city of the world. That simple act, illustra tive of the economical spirit asserting itself over present grief, was observed from the window ; the lad was recalled, and the refusal recalled at the same moment. Industry, patience, and honesty did the rest. A chance remark from a peasant girl, in an obscure country district, falling upon the ear of the young observ ing thinker, Dr. Jenner, gave vaccination to the world, and saves hundreds of thousands of lives annually. A pewter plate founded the Peel family. Robert, in the poor country about Blackburn, seeing a large family growing up about him, felt that some source of income must be added to the meagre products of his little farm. He quietly conducted experiments in calico printing in his own home. One day, thoughtfully handling a pewter plate, from which one of the children had just dined, ho sketched upon its• smooth surface the outline of a parsley leaf, and filling this with colouring matter, he was de lighted to find that the impression could be accurately conveyed to the surface of cotton cloth. Here was the first suggestiOn towards calico printing from metal rollers. The " parsley leaf " on the pewter plate opened up a world of industry to Lancashire ; and Sir Robert Peel, to this day, is called, in the neighbourhood of Blackburn, " Parsley Peel." Richard Arkwright, the thirteenth child in a hovel, with no knowledge of letters—an underground barber, with a vixen for a wife, who mashed up his models and threw them out—gave his successful spinning model to the worli, and put a sceptre in England's right hand such as the Queen never wielded. A jumping tea-kettle lid is said to have put the steam into that boy's head who gave us the great giant of modern industry. A kite and a key, in Franklin's hands, were the grand parents of our telegraphs, and all the blessings of modern nventions applying electricity. - - A swinging greasy lamp, just filled with oil by a verger in the Cathedral of Pisa, caught the eye of Galileo at 18 years of age, taught him the secret of the pendulum, made many a discovery in astronomy and navigation pos sible, and gave us the whole modern system of the accurate measurement of time. Don't say you have no chance, young man ! You have the same chance, and better, than the world's greatest and best men have enjoyed. "Men uniformly overrate riches and underrate their own strength ; the former will do far less than we suppose, and the latter far more." " The longer I live," says one of earth's noble sons, " the more I am certain that the great difference between men, between the feeble and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy—invincible determination—a purpose once fixed, and then death or victory ! " That quality will do anything that can be done in this world ; and no talents, no circumstances, no• opportunities will be worth much without it. A. M. W. Ceylon abounds with , insects of all kinds, mos quitoes and fireflies more especially. Two Irishmen who had just arrived in that country were so pestered with mosquitoes the first night that they put out the light and covered themselves completely up, head and all, hoping thus to keep out their tormentors. After a time one of the men looked cautiously out from beneath the bedclothes and saw a firefly wheeling about the room. He called out to his comrade, "Arrah, thin, Pat ! What's the use of hiding up ? Here's one of them crayt ures a seatching for us wid a lantern." CHRISTIAN NAMES.---The taking of the United States' census, now nearly completed, has brought to light some curious specimens of given names. A man in Illi nois has five children, who have been christened—lm primis, Finis, Appendix, Addendum, and Erratum. In Smythe county, Virginia, a Mr. Elmadoras Sprinkle has called his two sons Myrtle Ellmore and O'iyz Curwen, and his six daughters Memphis Tappan, Empress Van dune., Tatnia Zain, Okeno Molette. Og Wilt, and Win tosse Emmah. The great number of persons surnamed Sprinkle in that county is given as the excuse for these extraordinary names. TEE OLDEST TREE IN THE WORLD.—The Rev. 'J. I. Jones has been making a missionary tour in the interior of Ceylon. He visited Anuradjapura, the city of residence and burial of the old Singhalese kings. One of the buildings there, called a Dagoba, was built 160 B. c. But the most interesting sight was the 130-tree. " This," says Mr. Jones, "is the oldest tree in the world. It was planted in its present position before the coming of Christ, and still flourishes, bearing few marks of great age. It has been time after time banked up, and now occupies a place considerably above the level ground, being approached by several terraces. It is surrounded by an iron railing, and is guarded with great care, no one being permitted to break a branch, even pluck a leaf." NAPOLEON'S FLowitn.—The violet is the emble matic flower of the Buonapartes, as the lily is of the Bourbons. When Eugenie agreed to accept Napoleon's offer of marriage, she expressed it only by appearing one evening dressed in an exquisite violet toilet—violets in her hair, in her dress, even to a bunch in her hand. Louis Napoleon understood, and it was his only answer. Napo leon the First, while consul, selected this as his flower. It was through Josephine asking him to bring her a bouquet of violets on her birthday —a desire he was only able to serve after great difficulty. He cultivated violets assiduously while a prisoner at St. Helena ; and they were profusely planted over the grave of Josephine. After his death his coffin was covered with the humble flowers he loved. It is even said that in the earlier days of Louis Napoleon he was silently made acquainted with who his secret friends were by a cautious display of violets.— Journid of Horticulture. • BREAKFAST.—EPPS'S COCOA.--GRATEFUL AND COM FORTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa. Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which. may save us many heavy doctors' bills." Each packet is labelled—JAMES Ergs Co.. Homoeo pathic Chemists. London. Also, makers of Epps's Cacaoine, a very thin evening beverage. —Advt. FORCES OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA. The New York Tribune advises the bellicose people of the United States to make ready for war before they embroil their country in hostilities. America has at present neither army nor navy. Her land forces number only 30,000 men, and these are so scattered over the immense extent of territory that not a whole regiment remains in any one place. Many volunteers who had served in the war could be found, but there are no weapons for them. As for the United States navy, it does not con tain a single sea-going ironclad. A few "iron death traps," as the Tribune calls the monitors, yet remain in a serviceable condition, and could be made useful for har bour defence; but in the writer's opinion they are not worth counting. "We have some forty odd vessels of all kinds in commission, and about as many more laid up at the various navy yards that could be fitted out and made serviceable in a few weeks — wooden vessels all of them, and most of them small, useful for cruising and capturing merchantmen, or for blockading purposes, but of small account as fighting ships, when fitted against such powerful ironclads as the Monarch, which visited our shores last spring, Nor have we, like Great Britain, a steam mercantile marine that could be made available in case of war. As far as naval strength is concerned, the United States is 'snot even a second-rate Power. If we want to fight England, there fore, we must first spend at least 100,000,000 dots. to create a navy to meet her." Of the coast defences the writer says they are mostly brick and mortar structures built upon theories now obsolete. BANKS AND MATRIMONY. The directors of the Union Bank of London have re solved to become more than fathers to their clerks. The young men, it seems, are imprudent, and will fall in love. We have heard of other instances of a similar kind out side the walls of the Union Bank, but that, of course, is b side the mark. The important fact with which' we and the directors are just now concerned is the propen sity of the clerks in the Union Bank to fall in love and get married on very small salaries. The motives of these young men cannot be mercenary, for there is nothing to gain, and something to lose in a worldly point of view, by contracting a marriage on slender means, and with no very brilliant prospects. Love must be the mischief-maker, for he is a most troublesome sprite to control ; and, as he is known to laugh at locksmiths, we suppose he laughs also at bank directors, and bank directors are a class of people who won't be laughed at with impunity. Happily for the world, love is not bread and cheese, and though love may defy the terrible board in the bank parlour, the magnates of the city still have some control over the bread and cheese on which love in its more prosaic moments subsists. The Board of the Union Bank has, therefore, resolved to use this power as a lever to coerce love, and has made a decree " that any clerk who after this date shall contract marriage, unless his salary shall amount to £l5O per annum, shall be considered to have resigned his appoint ment, which shall cease accordingly at the end of his notice specified on his appointment." Had the directors accompanied their resolution with an announcement that all clerks about to marry who could make out a case to the satisfaction of the board should have their salaries increased to the sum of £l5O a year. the fatherly goodness of the directors would have reached its utmost bound, but as they have fallen short of this, they have failed to justify any interference at all. Suppose every bank and every employer took the same course, what would be the result on the morality of the country ? Have the directors of the Union Bank arranged to bring their institution under the special care of the Contagious Diseases Act? for if they have not, they have only discharged one half of their duty. "In the interests of the clerks," they are very anxious to have efficient servants, and efficiency is not promoted by immorality nor by holding out such induce ments to immorality as that contained in the directors' cir cular. Youngmen are quite bad enough without any assist ance, and even if marriages are sometimes a little im prudent they are better than the systematic evasion of marriage that is now so fashionable. Possibly a touch of the mercenary spirit might be more congenial to the bank directors than love in a cottage. If a young man could shew that he was marrying for money and not for love, an exception might be made in his favour, but that feature of the case appears to have been overlooked. If the directors do not feel disposed to accept our sug gestion to increase the salaries of marrying men, they might, without any violation of the money prineiplo, add an explanatory clause to the effect that aur clerk assuring the board that tho lady of his choice had private means, which, together with his own salary, would bring their joint income up to the charmed limit of £l5O, should not be deemed to come within the operation of the resolu tion. Then would be tho time for fortune hunting. Cash would become the first qualification of adored ones, and after cash, character. No pretence will justify any em ployer in placing such an embargo on his servants as the directors of the Union Bank of London have had the in discretion to attempt —Sheffield Independent. The John Bull completed the 50th year of its existence on Monday last. It was established by Theo dore Hook. Complaints are still made of the slowness with which recruits come in. The number offering themselves, says the Times, " bears no proportion to the number required to place the army on its proper footing," In many parts of Ireland the influence of the Roman Catholic priests has been brought to bear upon the publicans, so that in a large number of rural parishes the public-houses are closed totally on the Sundays. Two boys met with a horrible death at Dinting Vale, Glossop, on Tuesday. They were employed in the bleaching house of a cotton mill, and were both at the time in a large vat. Into this vat the engineer turned on some boiling hot bleaching liquor, and the poor lads were scalded to death, being unable to get out. •A meeting to express sympathy with the Pope \lran held on Thursday evening in the College street, Chelsea. It was resolved to send a memorial to Mr. Gladstone, asking the Government to take such steps as may-best secure the full restitution of the States of the Church and of his sovereign authority to the Pope. The Christian Knowledge Society has made a grant of £5OO for the permanent Endowment of the See of Bloemfontein, to be paid when the sum of £4,500 shall have been raised to meet it, and when both the nature of the investment of the capital raised, and the method of appointment to the See, shall have been arranged in a manner satisfactory to the committee.—The Rock. A. pig-dealer of Berwick-upon-Tweed was on Thursday charged at the London Guildhall with having sent four quarters of beef to the London market, unfit for human consumption. For a sum of 10s. the defendant had purchased a diseased steer with the object of boiling it down ,and feeding his pigs. He subsequently altered his intention, and sent it to London for sale. Sir Sydney Waterlow sentenced him to two months' imprisonment. The iron trade at Birmingham seems to be in a fairly healthy state for the time of the year, and confi dent hopes are entertained that with the cessation of the disturbing cause, the trade will speedily resume the state of prosperity in which it was found by the war. At yesterday's market there was a moderately good attend ance, but the business transacted, as usual towards the quarter's end, was limited. SHIPPING INTEL LIGEN C E.—The United States mail steamer Wisconsin sailed at nine o'clock on Thurs day night from Queenstown, for New York. The National steamer France, from New York, arrived early yesterday morning, landed passengers, and proceeded to Liverpool. The Royal Mail steamship City of Brussels arrived at eight o'clock yesterday morning, and sailed at four in the afternoon for New York. The annual festival of the wood-engravers of London took place on Thursday evening at the usual place of entertainment, the St. John's-gate Tavern, Clerkenwell, and was more numerously attended than of recent years. This was partly owing to the presence of several French engravers who have • come to London in consequence of the siege of Paris ; they were very cordially received, as were the other foreigners who were present. The assemblage was also joined by sume gentlemen repre senting other professions. SMALLPDX IN A lIESTAIIIIANT.—Sorne conception may be formed of the difficulties now felt in consequence of the want of hospital accommodation for cases of small pox from the following case. A servant maid has been attacked at a considerable restaurant in the Holborn district. The underground kitchen of the establish ment is the room in which she sleeps, and has been treated for four days. During the whole of this time the " chef " of the restaurant has continued his cooking operations with such interruptions as the presence of a sick female imperatively required. We do not envy the patrons of this establishment, who, if the truth were known to them, would be horrified at finding that they have been both eating and breathing smallpox poison. Lancet. THR PROGRESS OF BRUTALITY.—The following remarkable paragraph is from an authority not much given to writing anti-German matter—Dr. Russell :—I have written already of some effects on character pro duced by this war—on individual as well as national cha racter. What think you of a Prince—a Chris tian gentleman - the administrator of a great charity—an officer of State, whi, being asked . as to the means of communicating with the wounded officers of the enemy's army who might be in his hospitals, said, "I know nothing about them. They give us quite trouble enough as it is. I wish they were all dead !" Well ! There is a British officer who has stated he heard this Christian Prince use these words, and it was a British officer who repeated them to me. And a German gentleman, speaking of some things.he had witnessed, de• Oared he could not have believed, had he not seen with his own eyes, that Germans could be so violent, so unscrupulous, and so dishonest. He spoke but of common soldiers, of acts of plunder and wrong ou their part; it would be monstrously unjust to affix the stigma to a large part of the army. But in the politics of the con quering race the taint will be apt to spread. Germans, for instance, see nothing but what is natural and right in the annexation of Luxemburg. And in a short time they may conceive it is of the very highest equity and morality to seize on Holland. For the thought is ventilated and the words are on men's lips. And who are we who have Gibraltar and" Malta and the Isles of th e Sea, they will ask, that we pretend to see in such a natural and wholesomS addition of sea coast any wrong doing? If the Dutch do not like it so much the worse for them. AMERICA AND ENGLAND. The correspondent of the Times at Philadelphia writes home on December 9th to say that if the Alabama contro versy is to be reopened with a view to a settlement by the British Government dealing directly with the claim ants, it is evident that some of these claimants are prepar ing to make large demands. A. correspondent writes to the Boston Traveller that in case of such a set tlement England ought to pay, first, the crews of the vessels destroyed, their unrecovered wages, and the full value of every rag of clothing and all nautical instruments lost ; secondly, the full value of every uninsured vessel and cargo captured ; thirdly, all the extra insurance premiums paid to those who paid them ; and fourthly, the underwriters, where they can shew their losses to have been greater than their profits. The Tra veller is of opinion that this is the honest way to settle the Alabama claims. Canada is still excited about the paragraphs of the President's Message referring to United States' disputes with the Dominion, especially those relative to the fishery question. The Montreal Gazette argues to shew the inconsistency of the President's complaints against the Convention of 1818, and says that, while Canada is always ready to negotiate for the settlement of all matters in dispute, it cannot submit to any " stand-and-deliver " arguments. The Montreal Herald, taking a more moderate view of the subject, trusts there will be sufficient right feeling among the people of both countries to peacefully get over the existing difficulties. The Toronto Globe thinks that for President Grant thus to come down upon Canada with his threats and bluster is the antipodes of courage. It asks how he is going by his acts to recognise as an equal and independent Power the Dominion of Canada, of which, as his language implies, he has no official knowledge. It is for the United States and Great Britain to settle the construction of the Treaty of 1848, and in the maintenance of the Treaty for the rights and preservation of the fisheries England with Canada has a common interest. It hopes, if Grant cannot see the false position in which he is placed, that Congress will discover it for him.. He may exclude Canadian vessels from his ports, and try by other petty means to harass the Canadians. That was tried when the Reciprocity Treaty was repealed, and Canada has grown ever since beyond all anticipations. The President's will is not omnipotent, and should weigh but lightly against the clear and obvious interests of the American nation. These interests, thr Globe continues, point at once to the removal of all grounds of irritation, all pretexts for tirades by un scrupulous party leaders, and all risk of collision between Powers that ought to show the world an example of amity and peace. In thus paying homage to a higher principle, the pecuniary gain to both Canada and the United States would be beyond all calculation. From Ottawa two telegrams have been received. One states that the Dominion Government has no idea of abandoning its present line of policy, although thoroughly desirous of behaving in the most friendly manner to the United States. It feels, however, that the people of Canada have endorsed and will sustain the Go vernment policy, and also that the Imperial autho rities have approved the action of the Canadian Government. The second telegram from Ottawa, which is sent to the New York Tribune, says that the paragraphs of the Message have caused considerable excitement in Government circles, that the Message is almost unani mously looked upon as hostile and insulting to the Dominion, and that reference is made to the fact that no condemation appears in the Message of the late Fenian raid. In the American Congress no allusion has been made to the matter beyond a call for papers about a vessel seizure. THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.—The Empress of the French is at present actively employed in raising a fund for the relief of the wives and families of the French sol diers prisoners in the hands of the Prussians. As a means of increasing the fund, it has been decided that a dramatic performance be given in London, under the patronage of her Imperial Majesty. It is stated that negotiations hhve been entered upon to secure the occupation of Drury-lane Theatre at an early date. THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The herring fishery may now be said to have terminated off the eastern coast. The total number of herrings landed at Great Yarmouth is calculated to have been about two hundred and forty millions. Many of the boats engaged in the fishery have earned from £l,OOO to £1,500 each. During the current week wages have been distributed at Great Yarmouth among the crews engaged to the amount of about forty thousand pounds. THF. MURDER NEAR WARRINGTON.— The War rington Guardian states that James Halloran and Patrick M'Grath were charged on Thursday, before the borough magistrates, with being implicated in the murder of Mr. John Forrest, at Sankey, last month. A witness swore that M'Grath was asleep at his stepfather's house when the murder was committed, and a clear alibi was esta blished for Halloran. At the conclusion of the case, however, in consequence of other evidence against the prisoners, they were comntted for trial. DEATH OF GEORGE FISHER.—OId students of King's College and the Royal Academy will regret to learn of the death of George Fisher, many years the attendant on the Professor of Anatomy at the above-named institu tions. For some days past he has been missing from the scene of duties which he had long and efficiently per formed ; severe illness, arising from a puncture in the thumb, received in some way while assisting in the dis secting-room. at King's College, had kept him a prisoner in his house, which proved fatal on Tuesday last. The loss off one so popular has caused a feeling of sorrow throughout the college, any many an old pupil of Kin:._; - 's will grieve over the untimely end of poor Fisher. A. MYSTERY OF THE SEA .—A Frelich schooner haS been brought into Scarborough harbour by two fishing smacks belonging to Mr. James Sellers. The smacks were on the fishing ground of the Dogger Bank, when they espied a vessel drifting wfth the sea. They bore down to her, and found she had been abandoned by her crew. She bore no name, and there was not to be found on board any book or paper or other indication whatever of the port to which she belongs. It is possible that in the strong weather that has prevailed in the North Sea the crew may have been unduly alarmed and taken refuge on board another vessel,. or they may have been taken prisoners by a Prussian cruizer. From her build, she is a French vessel. She is timber laden. THE BANKERS AND THEIR CLE RK S.—l t was reported last week that the directors of a well-known London banking establishment had issued an order pro hibiting all the clerks in their employ whose salary is under £l5O a year from marrying, on pain of instant dismissal. The unfavourable notice wh,ich the Press has taken of this decree has been far other than serviceable to those whom it most nearly affects. In reply to a petition from the clerks to have the hours of business lessened in "some slight degree, the rep y of the Board has been that chronometers are to be set up in all its offices, and that any clerk whose arrival is even one minute after nine o'clock in the morning will be fined half a ,crown, and that six repeti tions of the offence will subject the offender to suspension or dismissal. There has been some discussion lately as to the practical advantages of encouraging the use of the Welsh language. The probability is that it is now socially, ia bar the material interests and national progress of the Welsh themselves ; but,. in a religious point of view, the follopiw , anecdote may indicate that it is the means. f con veying Co them advantages which English clergymen have seldom the inclination or courage to impart to their congrega tion. An English resident in Wales recently, walking from church with his rector, compliinented him upon the ex cellence and importance of the sermon he had preached; and added that it reminded him of Bishop Horsley's re markable sermon on ".Our Lord's Descent into Hell." " Did you recognise any similarity of language ?" he in quired. " No," was the reply, " but a close resemblance in the treatment of the subject." " Well, now," said the rector, " I'll tell you a secret. The original sermon is by Bishop Horsley. My general practice is this. There are not half a dozen in my congregation, either. Welsh or English, who have the remotest chance of ever know ing anything of the teaching of our best divines, unless. I impart it to them. So I translate the sermons (with cur tailment) of our standard authors for my Welsh congrega tion, and re-translate them for my English congregation ; by which process—unless, like yourself, an individual happens to be well acquainted with the original—there is not the slightest chance of my useful piracy being suspected," THE AAT I?. PARIS AND THE PROVINCES. The Siecle has a strong article on the difference between the conduct of the Parisian population and that of the provinces. Paris is the heart and head of France, and the heroism of her resistance will serve to purify her from all her faults. After the war he r regeneration will be complete. The clerical organs say that if the defence of Paris has been as noble as that of the provinces has been 'unworthy, it is because Troche is a man of war and Gambetta of the• long robe. Th e Siecle prefers to attribute Trochu's success to the genuine Republicanism of Paris, whose citizens have shevin themselves ready for any sacrifices to preserve their ideal In the provinces we have the towns and the rural dis tricts. The towns have for the most part done their. duty, and if some have too readily opened their gates to the Prussians, it was because their defenders had left them to join the armies elsewhere. As for the peasants, it must be ac,knowledge d that for the most part throughout the war they * have proved the real allies of Prussia. Subdued under the despotism of the mayor and the curd they have lost all sense of patriotism. What matters it to them if France succumb so long as their fields and houses remain intact? What are they to let themselves be killed for? To save Alsace and Lorraine? What care they for Alsace and Lorraine ? To preserve a free and liberal Government for France ? But at what rates under this free and liberal Government' can they sell their eggs, their fowls, and their cattle ? From all this it must be gathered that if France is to be saved, she will be saved by those who do not consult their personal interests, but think no sacrifice too great when it is a question of saving a country. The French Government have begun to "requisition" for cavalry horses. The Bordeaux shopkeepers have gone clean crazy in the expectation of making enormous profits out of the sudden crowds of visitors. At one cafe five francs were charged for a duck's liver, the average price of the whole duck being three francs. The Phan de la Loire says that M. de Keratry will soon be reappointed to the command of the Breton arn3Y- Great deputations of influential citzens have waited u pon him, and he has expressed his willingness to defend Brittany the day the Government gave him the mission to do so. Accordingly several leading Bretons have gone to Bordeaux to cbtain the necessary consent. The Prefect of the Nord visited the cantonments of the mobilised National Guard on the 20th inst. He found the National Guard in excellent spirits, and bearing with the best possible grace all the discomforts of a soldier' 4 life. Their greatest privation was the want of tobacco, and the Prefect gave orders that this requirement should be supplied without delay. An address from the Lyons Commune to the Provi sional Government sets forth that the Department of the Rhone alone, besides its contingent to the regular army and to the Garde Mobile, has furnished 10,000 volunteers and that Lyons has spent at least 12,000,000 francs. It also insists that the Government should be stimulated by the zeal shewn by the Departments, and above all things should chew itself to be pitiless towards • functionaries, inerts, or incapables." The following is Garibaldi's reply to the offer of a sword of honour :—" Autun, December 18.—My dear Chevas sus,—l consider a sword given by France as the most glorious of gifts, and you will certainly be astonished that Ido not accept it. Having closed the door against all decorations for the brave men who accompany me, I can admit no preference. At the close of the war I ill accept with them whatever Republican France chooses to award. Not before. My gratitude to the generous initiators of an idea flattering for me and for you. —Yours, G. GARIBALDI." A correspondent says that one French general who, if not shot richly deserves shooting, was riding quietly in his carriage on the road between Blois and Orleans, when en aide-de-camp warned him of the presence of Prussians in a wood hard by. "We will see to that," said the General, still lolling in his carriage. Presently some shots came from the wood in question, and then the General got out, and, jumping on the horse of a private soldier, gallopped away from his men as hard as ever he could. To use a French idiom, it court encore. The Constitutionnel thinks that another argument against the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine may be found in the fact that, in spite of the Prussian occupation, the Alsatians have come en masse to assist in the National Defence. About 4,000 of them, after having crossed the Prussian lines, have arrived from different points. The people of Lorraine have also sent volunteers ; and there fore Alsace and Lorraine may be considered to have pro tested in the most eloquent manner against the German annexation. La Liberte announces that Count Chaudordy has sent a diplomatic despatch to the Cabinet of the Hague, de claring that France and civilised men of all countries have learnt with horror and indignation 'that the four French prisoners who had escaped from Germany and reached Dutch territory were surrendered by the Dutch authorities into German territory, where they were shot. Count Chaudordy in strong terms recalls to the Cabinet of the Hague the principle of the right of peoples, and that law of superior justice which everywhere protects courage in misfortune, and gives it a claim to inviolable hospitality amongst civilised people and in all regularly constituted States. The correspondent of the Union de la Sarthe at Tours, writes to complain of the manner in which he has been treated. He was arrested on the charge of having been guilty of acts which militated against the National De fence. He was taken to prison in daylight, and after being subjected to a strict interrogatory he was set at liberty after thirteen days of imprisonment. He would not mention these facts if he did not feel that the great principle of liberty was interfered with by such a course of proceeding. He will, however, reserve his defence for a more fitting time and opportunity, but he thinks it expedient to hold out a warning to those who have so violated the rules of justice, and renounced the respect that is due to journalists in a free country. The German governor of Alsace has issued a decree empowering courts-martial to inflict the following punish ments : For enlisting or procuring enlistments in military service against the German army, 20 years' hard labour and a fine of £1,500 ; if under extenuating circum stances, of imprisonment with hard labour and £l5O fine. For defaming the King of Prussia or any of the allied German princes, not less than two months' imprisonment or " interment " in a fortress for any term not exceeding five years. For obstructing any official or soldier in the execution of his duty, three or five years' imprisonment for active, and a fine of £3O, or a year's imprisonment, for passive obstruction. In consequence of the " strike "of the French judges, the military tribunals are also autho rised, until further orders, to try charges of murder, theft, and embezzlement. A meeting was lately called together at Vienna for the purpose of passing a congratulatory vote to Count Bis marck, but it resulted in a failure. The Prussian, party wished to hoist the German flag, but a struggle took place, in the midst of which the partisans of Prussia were turned out. A Democratic meeting was subsequently held, at which a resolution was passed condemnatory of the course pursued by sone Vienna journals, in defending the Prussians, whose policy was denounced as execrable. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills. With the changeing season it is prudent for all to rectify any ailmentlafficting them ; but it is incumbent on the aged, suffering from ulcerations and similar debilitating causes, to have them removed, or worse consequences will. follow. This Ointment is their remedy ; on its powers an may confidently rely it not simply putetheir sores out of sight, but extirpates the source of mischief, extracts the corroding poison, and stimulates nature to fill up the ulcer with sound, healthy granulations, that will abide through life. Under this treatment bad legs soon become sound, scorbutic skins cast off their scales, and scrofulous sores cease to annoy. Such hope for the deceased was unknown in former days. BIRTHS. On the 18th inst., the wife of J. Stewart Hardy, Esq., M.P., of a son. _ On the 20th inst., at 56, Rutland-gate, the wife of R. F. F. Campbell, of Craigie, Ayrshire, of a daughter. MARRIAGES.' On the 22d inst., at St. Mary's, Yatton, Charles Wathen, third son of the late John Sayer, of Yatton, So' merset, to Susan Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the, late Thomas Burton, of Madley, Salop. On the 20th inst., at St. Mark's, Hamilton-terrace, Adolph Herschell, Esq., of Liverpool, to Anne, daughter of the late, W. Emerson, Esq., of Hamilton-terrace, London. DEATHS. On the 21st inst., at Edinburgh,John Ritchi e , E sq ., of the Scotsman newspaper, aged 9. At sea, on board the ship. York, near Madras, on the 15th Nov., Ebenezer Thomson, aged 21 years, son of Mr. V• Thomson, 91, Englefield-road, Islington. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by hinl h t THE SUN OffiCe, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Saturday, December 24, 1870, N°. 24,5 ~_ CRYSTAL MIME, GULI proe o rPllse, and the s Ueed by E. T. i t ,,Y) and during ( il4ster Percy Rose ioeilsrs. A. kktgo, and Adolpl ot‘ scenes de Ballet -151 Decorations, Scenes, by MI - p. Decorations, G wileaalace agreeably t 4l B Day, T w esides the Pa atoh e lve, on the Gres icy Brothers Me: h„ 3' Brothers C : hilie.lll l : l2, : i e aurt i li a cac ; rrhea D hasnr ' e A igs u eto b minf an escusi q l extei Bp,„ a Season 'I 11 1 one Arts and In( 4 ( i ) i tosculptural V ot 4 l, e rY, Egyptian (1 00 'agic, the Stala( e; amusements. , creased railws b li d,ge, Victoria, s outh London v t i ci gate-hill, Viet° London line fr " 4 0, via Newcrai ALLTAMML k „ Managiiik' fr'zi CiEMENTS.— ilil?erb and !mint et the 1. 1; 4 413 : . ina s e a g Georgeos tnnr um (* t he Scots Fusin( k7 l , e ,er). War Son' Degrange tellar km) Jullien's anel e4ing,le thßobe marl, i , Litt m ats an . The Aeris 47 daring gymna: ./',„age or country Commence at E 5s • Priva.',o 'eh trot); D. till 7 GyLr, 1 11 : be extraordinal th Stitdow eleetri it, C lisht in conabit Selections 4 .7 .v6 had the gra ..pet extensively Zebre.ted Orchea er i , SiEnor Luigi tiona ot dis 3, R iqeed to tae en Graves L. Sill ` 4ol .flas Pitts. Pr SCIENTIV ()IMAM E r n am: Eining-1 , th. ent of VASES, beautiful' 1 % baster, Paean a i 4 Manufacture a s leStY, 149, Stra r. Tennant L IA 'LNELS Yell's Elements r a e s s ,,tlng studs of A 10 •:.0, 50, /.4",itACTIOAL , -*Y is given b: rrEA, especi , and cheap 1 r; 4,, , containing t :e, to all Eng ll A a Merchants, ob n Y quantity ma ° n application. t. For 11011' ng all the COWS, i the qual ‘ , l lit for fee t-BBITS, and Q expectation. London, and 4 '46 COUntrY• UST lINSUR AUSTIt 150, B. %t • SPrRIT b s r eet, and Que in eade with IRIF. berry casks. and or duty TIIE AN( " PAY'S, "Litt other ALE at the London I 4l ci a Pale Ale, VINE ASK REQUIRIN I 3 • CUE' London I R BLUE, i n a 3 no rev i 5! who has .11t1 cheapness '143 , othe r Blu PRENOI 444 6d. and 1 INKM i n a SOlution POWD v enting dang, II ether kFLind ll s 0 'IRE R. h . TOWN "" l h edicine ha .""xlchea anC Vanllea the ? NifYing tc g-atandin fief depot,et Isri othdrge a n bi t , 1 0 e ' B . The medicine kr r inplaints, arsap , B ealds ; arilla eac r 80, and S- PA AL N E II . lkees Whisl 408. Ed. sei 48, High IL WON] Ott( th e O N it :g raroc - - _ .. ...._ _ ... _ ... ... ii c Alit 'the face, n ALE ~. 7' 6 d., 58. ad of all lIDIMP I e, are i pm / t r a- or -•olbc;rn, \ .---__ R AL] ti lediately If eq. 4 , and 14